Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Anticipation Guide

1) The key to all emotional healing can be found in nature.

-Agree

2) Nature is filled with harsh cruelties.

-Agree

3) A person's priorities should place family before work.

-Agree

4) Enjoying life is more important than pursuing fame, glory, and

knowledge.

-Agree

--Our parents always want us to become something better, greater. They tell us to hang in there, put in one more hour, one more day. Yet as we run after our newest assignment, or later on in life, after a bigger pay check, we never sit back and think: For what are we doing this? Why are we running around like chickens with their heads cut off, for more money? We could blame it on our parents. Sure. We could blame it on society. No problem.

Why is it so important for our society today to be famous, to be on a big screen or be a billionaire? It’s like the old Greek heroes who ran to their deaths, for “glory” and “fame”. But is that really what gives you joy in life?

Since our lives are so short, we should value them the most we can. That means that we should live the way we want to live, do the things we want to do, and not run after something which will only cause us more grief. There’s always going to be someone there with a bigger pay check then you. That’s why life should be about living your dreams, and having fun. What if fame only brought you despair and problems, would you call that ‘enjoying your life’?

I know that some people measure other people on how much knowledge they have acquired over the years and if they “know anything about the world”. But though knowledge is important, I think that we shouldn’t treat life like a huge puzzle we have to figure out. I think it’s something every single person should handle the way they want and not what society wants from us. A life without happiness would be misty and grey. What would the pay check help, if you were somewhere where you didn’t want to be?

We all look for meaning in life, and often we lose ourselves on the path. That’s why it is important to enjoy it while you have it. Because trust me, life’s shorter then you think.

5) Those born with social and financial advantages have a responsibility

for those who are not.

-Agree

6) Ignorance is bliss.

-Disagree

7) The pursuit of knowledge is a volatile quest.

-Agree

8) Someone's ego will cause a tragic fall.

-Agree

9) Children learn their behaviours by watching and mimicking adults.

-Agree

10) Most people are basically cruel.

-Disagree

--A baby is born. It looks upon its mother’s face and sees for the first time pure love. This tender affection practically radiates of the mother, and the child understands it. As the child grows it is cherished, held closely, for a mother’s love is free. The child knows it and radiates back this tender love between mother and child. Then the child becomes a teenager and contempt rises in his standing and eyes. However there is love always hidden inside him whenever looked closely.

We are not born evil and as my example shows, if nurtured and kept, that little flame of love will stay. However, what would happen if this child was neglected, left alone, beaten, or even orphaned? You think that the child then would show any sort of mercy for other human’s feelings and possessions?

There are many factors which can make a person cruel, and it may not be a person’s childhood. Maybe they become greedy, lose friends, or seek revenge. Maybe they have been shunned so often by society, that in order to protect themselves, they rebuke it with cruelty. I think that there is a glimpse of truth in every person, one just has to look. To say that humans are naturally cruel is like the pot calling the kettle black.

The problem is that polite and loving people don’t end up in the news or are remember in ballads. It is the evil king or monster which we will remember. That is why it may seem that the world is crawling only with cockroaches and evil beings. But looking at it as a whole, I think that the World has a pretty even balance between cruel and loving people.

11) Society makes a person whatever he becomes.

-Agree

12) The "disenfranchised man," who finds himself unable to live within

society for whatever reason, is someone for whom we should feel sympathy or

reverence.

-Agree

13) Rejection and mistreatment can manifest themselves in a person

becoming rage-filled.

-Agree

14) If a person or an animal is treated with cruelty, he will respond to

others in the same way.

-Agree

15) Those people we deem "monsters" in today's society are merely

misunderstood.

-Disagree

Re-writing of TKAM Scene

Atticus had come with that car of his. Quite surprised me cause I was just enjoying my gallon jug of cherry wine when this rumblin’ came from outside. Soon figured it was a car and I thought that that negro be done for it. But all it was, was Atticus. Set himself up all fine nice and dandy with some light and a newspaper. Right in front of that nigger’s cell. And now we’re all jus’ waitin’. I’ve opened my window as wide as it’ll go and can see all of this square just like them hawks.
Well, I sure hope Atticus is reading my Maycomb Tribune. This edition is a fine and nice one, even if I say so myself. Aye, this night will make a good story.
Heck Tate was right about tonight. My nose and my bones are just tellin’ me, there’s something ain’t right! And here I am, with my ramblin’ mind and my gallon jug of cherry wine.
I was just grabin’ for another pull, when I spot some movement down yonder, at the bank. Well and fry me a cootie, ‘em kids of Atticus’ showed up! Just now, seeked right around that corner! And I don’t believe it, they just following Atticu’s light, well, give me some cherry wine! This ain’t good.
‘Em seem puzzled and checkin’ on Atticus he hasn’t noticed a thing! Well, I sure don’t know why he’s risking that neck of his for a negro but I ain’t letting him down. Let’s just hope ‘em kids run off.
And to my luck, they get moving away from Atticus and the light. Just right.
But then I heard it and ‘em kids heard it too. Cars chockin’ themselves down to my square. Well, I just knew trouble had found feet and now these kids gotta make it all the more complicated. Well, no helping now. Atticus don’t look worried nor does he hurry when those men get out of ‘em cars. A whole pack of ‘em, just after that one negro. Well, my double-barrel sittin’ right next to me if they think they can just make trouble…
Well shoot, one of ‘em just asked whether the niggers inside. ‘He is,’ Atticus answered, ‘and he’s asleep. Don’t wake him up.’
Who cares if he’s sleepin’, we just need him and you in one piece, Atticus! That’s when I head that next statement from another one. ‘Get aside from the door, Mr. Finch.’ That got me leaning out the window with my double-barrel, no one knockin’ up Atticus. Not while I’m here. I go him covered.
Just then the men seemed to speak even quieter, but good thing no wind stirred.
‘Heck Tate’s around somewhere,’ Atticus told ’em and I thought good that’ll stump ‘em, but ‘em smart cause Bragg (the one who had an affair with Miss Stephanie, if that ain’t a story) said, ‘Heck’s bunch’s so deep in the woods they won’t get out till mornin’. Called ’em off on a snipe hunt.’
Well, we’ve lost Heck but I’ve got him covered. Atticus got his answer just ready, ‘That changes things doesn’t it?’ ‘It do,’ come form one of ‘em shadows.
And I’ll hurl a spitball, that girl gotta bust outa the shadows, right into the middle of that gang! And her brother followed her along with that runnin’ midget. Now, I ain’t got a clean shot. What in the Sam’s Hill!
‘H-ey, Atticus,’ that girl shrieked.
She’s louder then a shotgun! Well, blow me my rifle! And now they won’t budge. Well, that boy got a stubborn head on him just like Atticus. But anything he says seems to make no difference. Boy wants to stay.
Didn’t surprise me when Bragg tried to drag that boy away. Course got ‘em all covered now. But that girl is just nasty! She kick right in the privates! This is sure turnin’ into some fine story. I can see the Headline, Bragg Cracked by Girl.
Well, Atticus sure is tryin’ with that boy, but he still won’t budge. Why Atticus even pleadin’ with him.
Just took another swing of my cherry wine, since a man pleadin’ with a son ain’t a nice thing to watch, when that girl gets started again.
‘Hey, Mr. Cunningham!’ Lord, she is loud!
‘I go to school with Walter,’ she talks out, ‘he’s your boy, ain’t he? Ain’t he, sir?’
Sure, had me off the chair! What she doin’? What she thinkin’! She talking to him like this is some picnic. Well, lookie at that. All the mouths open, they could catch flies. Even Atticus. ‘What’s the matter?’ she squeaked out. Well, that gal got it going. She as in the dark as ‘em shadows.
And Cunningham bends down, reassures her with an ‘I’ll tell him you said hey, little lady.’ And tells the gang ‘Let’s clear out!’
Gone went those cars, and Atticus looked relieved, but I knew it would end good. Had ‘em covered the whole time. And then that Negro spoke up asking bout ‘em gang.
‘They won’t bother you any more’ was Atticus’ answer. Well, and I could support that one.
‘You’re damn tootin’ they won’t. Had you covered all the time, Atticus.’
That surprised ‘em.
‘Mr. Underwood, you’ve been up there a long time?’ asked Atticus.
‘Yes, sir damn tootin’ right. Even saw ‘em kids come up. Had you all covered,’ I declared.
‘Well, thank you Mr. Underwood.’
‘Ah, no problem Atticus. Jus’ gotta keep ‘em folks in the eye.’ My statement seemed to amuse Atticus.
‘You sure did, Mr. Underwood, you sure did.’
‘Well, Heck’s gonna be just fumin’. ‘Em tricked him.’ I just couldn’t hold that though, made my insides squirm.
‘Yes, indeed. Well thanks again, Mr. Underwood.’
‘Night, Atticus, I’ll keep my eye on that nigger.’
With a nod, Atticus turned and left takin’ ‘em kids with him. Turnin’ to my linotype, I put my double-barrel on the floor and started writin’. The Maycomb Tribune had never been so good before, even if I say so myself.

Character: Mr. Underwood
Scene: Jail Scene, when Atticus guards Tom Robinson
Page: Chapter 15 pgs. 155-161

--The use of the words ‘nigger’ and ‘negro’ are not meant to be offensive in anyway and neither are they my own words. However, they are used by the character in the book To Kill a Mockingbird and thus would be out of character not to use them--

Jem and Scout at the all African American Church

To Kill a Mockingbird Anticipation Guide

1) All individuals in a court of law deserve to be represented.

Agree:

First of all, every person has the right to be defended in front of a court. I believe it is simply the right of every citizen to get the chance to show his side of the story. Even when the person is unquestionably guilty this does not mean that the person should not be defended. There is a fine line between bullying people and showing that a person is guilty. Also, other things might have caused the murdering or committed crime. For example a person may have been in depression or under the influence of drugs when they committed murder. Even just trying to get free of this person’s mind games or oppression will give the whole case a new twist. Without a defender this person might get the same years like a cold blooded murderer would. Or another example would be how a person smuggles drugs to another country for drug dealers in order to gain a living and reach a new nation. People always have a motivation behind their actions, and maybe the defended can just bring this out into the light to show how the person risked everything, even their freedom for the chance of a better life. Sometimes even a person could be innocent but convicted guilty. This person needs a defendant for sure, even though in everybody’s eyes they have done the crime. Of course sometimes these things can back-fire with mafia bosses and real life criminals slipping out of the net like a wet fish, but this does not keep up with the justice we give to a man who can prove his innocence through his representation in court.

7) Received pronunciation and acceptable grammar are an inclination of one’s intellect.

Disagree:

No, I totally do not agree with this. People with bad grammar might have just been taught that way or never received a really good education. Maybe its not their mother tongue, where it, they could maybe dazzle you with intellectual talk. Sadly many people do judge by people’s way of speaking and grammar. Often people are even bullied or laughed at because of their accents and mistakes in a language. But one must not forget that unlike people have different weakness and sometimes it might be languages. Maybe a person can do a mathematical equation so fast it will make your head spin but can’t pronounce the word capricious. Even people born with a slight or strong stutter can’t be said to have no intellect. They where born with the exact brain as everybody else only they have problem with words. Doesn’t mean he can’t do physics. It all depends on the person. When getting nervous certain type of people stutter or start to make no sense. If I get nervous, my whole sentence structure and ideas sound like jelly! I can understand that it can get annoying when a person can’t tell she and he apart or give a verb the totally wrong conjugation, but that just the way it is. No one is perfect and saying that a person is not the smartest cookie in the world due to their way of speaking is close to discrimination, only through words.

8) If the court system fails society, then society should take law into its own hands.

Disagree:

I cannot disagree with this statement more, simply by the horrific picture it entails. If a murder fails to be locked up, should society kill him? A woman who wants to be divorced should be stoned to death? I believe different cultures will view things differently but I still think the folk should really not do anything in haste. A nation needs order and a set of rules. If these rules aren’t followed chaos will erupt. All people who believe a jury decided wrong will try to change the verdict and put it into their own hands. Even the jury decided fair some person will still think it was wrong! Nobody would be safe anymore, gangs could start popping up. There is a reason to all this slow yet thoughtful process. Actions in haste will never resolute to anything good in the long run. Another problem with this statement is where is the limit? It can be taken from a warning, to a threat, to killing and everybody will think they are in the right, for opinions are as numerous as the stars above. Taking it back to the jury or protesting is the right way to change a verdict. Taking the slow yet through-through way of our nations is the right way to keep order, find justice, and gain the faultless balance between justice and social murder.

Gist Statement

It was December in Moscow. One of the coldest places on Earth. In this city, the icy wind chased people into pubs, embracing glasses of vodka. Only some remained. During this cheerless season, the most famous Elderly Home in Russia was heated beyond bliss. Within it housed well-cared for Elders, or so was believed. Ruling over the estate was the Doctor, an ironic man, wild in appearance and character, with a shocking gaudy taste. This had already been the cause of many complains from the Elders. Yet the Doctor always gave a loving smile and said, “Of course madam, everything for your welfare.” The sarcasm was missed.
Then, of course there was the candelabra, the pride and joy of the Doctor. Standing upon the mantelpiece, covered in blood red candles with screaming florescent green crystals. Holders molded into complicated agonized swirls of gold, and above it all the glorified portrait of the Doctor. Sadly no one saw, no one heard, the creak of the candelabra’s turning, the sliding of a wall. Only the Doctor, his faithful assistant Sashkin, and the unlucky Elder upon this night, saw the truth of the matter. Yet this is where the story begins.

Uhov, often taken to the nightly experiments of the Doctor, breaks free from the clutches of Sashkin and escapes. A lone figure in a bleak landscape, he stumbles upon Sasha. Sasha, a reporter, has never had luck in his life yet the night Uhov lands before his feet, he knows he has got the story he was waiting for. Gratitude of a well fed body and believing mind, Uhov tells his story, and the horrors come alive.

Will Sasha find out the truth before Sashkin finds them? Sashkin will do everything to cover his embarrassment of losing Uhov. But is he ready to murder? The clock is ticking as the race begins.

To Sasha’s happiness, it seems as if luck has finally found him and he has no problem to uncover the truth. The Doctor has mishandled the Elders in his home, using them for gruesome experiments of a most evil nature. Alarmed by his find, Sasha notifies the police. The Doctor and Sashkin are put behind bars. The Elders, traumatized by their experience are being helped as much as possible.

Sadly, Sasha is the only one to return to the haunted home. Beholding the candelabra, Sasha smashes against it and the secret entrance behind. Where he is stuck, from now until forevermore.

Sin Condomo

Here it is again, the shock. Now that we do finally have a German Pope, who not only was a member of the Hitler youth but also one who sets the right rules! On his first travel to Africa, Benedict XVI, declared that condoms are “the wrong tool to avoid AIDS.” In his experience taking cold showers help just as well, which is what our young Catholic Boy Scouts Campers are already learning. “Controlling oneself helps and abstinence is the surest way of protection.” Well, you may be very good at that Pope, but us common folks don’t really want to take cold showers, you know? Of course that caused quite a steer within the midst of our World of Media. “Wait, hold on did he just say…” “Yep, he sure did.” “Oh dear, I bet that’s not going to go down so…” “….Yeah, maybe someone should…” “Way no, he’s going to put us out of business!” Forget it, that’s my comment. And the French number one condom producer thought so too. Not too soon, what did we find on our condom packages? A lovely picture of Pope Benedict XVI in full glory, where every time you are about to use proper protection (heaven safe us) you first have to rip of his head (Amen). Sure is a fine way to make people use condoms (perfect advertising there pope!) but I don’t think Pope Benedict XVI is too happy about that. Since it’s a sin, it shouldn’t really display the Pope smiling, greeting the mass of faithful ones, yelling “I said NO!”

Shabanu characters

The Superlative Break

In the first week of the Easter Break I was having a great time between my sofa, bike, and pool. Most of the villagers in Pyrga were fast asleep or eating Suvla, thus no sound disturbed the beautiful bliss of the afternoon heat. One could have run around naked, nobody would have noticed. Hours spent on my bike allowed me drink in the green of the fields and enjoy gardens in full boom with varieties of flowers. Days seemed to melt into one another.
Around Tuesday my aunt and I dyed eggs, decorating the baskets they would lay in. We put up Easter figures such as chicks or bunnies. Even pots were graced with new inhabitants. One of the great things of Easter is the Easter hunt! I don’t think I will ever grow out of that. Searching for chocolate eggs, baskets of dyed eggs, chocolate bunnies, and books which I will be getting for Easter. I received five books which I quickly set out to crack, putting me into a profound trance of reading in an incomprehensible state for most of my family members.
In the second week I was quite annoyed at having no more books to read and thus I started to go online most of the time. By the end of that week I was superlative with Windows Vista and short-cuts on the computer. I even started to train my computer to follow my orders through speaking. It is quite fun and handy. Though after a while even the Internet became bored and my bicycle had a flat tire causing me to start active playing with my dogs. ‘Fetch’ became quite popular and sometimes all five dogs would bark at me incoherently that I could only guess what my dogs wanted. Usually it meant they were having fun or that they were irritated that I had stop running. Not often could I really figure out the meaning of their yapping but I found it rather amusing.
One thing I have to admit though is that sometimes quiet fears would creep into my mind that Mr.White might have posted some new homework on our class sites causing me to check these websites like a maniac. But all in all it was an absolutely perfect Easter Break.

Twister Deluxe

Twister is a catastrophe film produced in 1996, directed by Jan de Bont starring Helen Hunt as Dr. Jo Harding and Bill Paxton as Jo’s ex-husband. Both are storm chasers mostly focused on tornadoes. As one day Bill returns to Jo in order for her to sign the divorce papers he gets mixed up with the team of “storm chasers” for they want to try ‘Dorthy’ a machine the team had build after Bill’s design. Bill had actually stopped to be a storm chaser; he instead got a job as a weather reporter and wanted to marry his fiancée Dr. Melissa Reeves (played by Jami Gertz). But when Bill finds out that the well-funded and smirking rival to the team called Dr. Jonas Miller has built a almost similar device like his ‘Dorthy’ Bill flips out and decides to help the team get ‘Dorthy’ into a tornando so the censors inside her can pick up information from within the funnel of the tornado before Jonas does. Though the movie is a griping and well done hollywood movie due to its action and to some true facts, I, as a meteorologist must clear up some factors:

If one is trapped inside a F5 tornado it is very unlikely that you will not be killed. Inside the funnel parts of houses can be whirling around, objects as big as automobiles can be thrown 100 meters in each direction and sharp steel objects are shooting around. Not to be hit by them is what I must call sscientifically incorrect. One thing the movie displays well is the unpredictability of the tornadoes. Of course Jo and Bill are trying with their invention to make tornadoe warnings more advanced so the view of how helpless people still were/are against tornadoes is not over-shown. The scene which shows this very nicely is when Jo and the team rescue Jo’s grandmother out of her wrecked house and she says, “The warning only gave us three seconds.” One may find this an emotional sight but one as a professor sees the very truth which, once uttered, these words illustrate.

A detail that I find must be mentioned is that even though all the tornadoes were shown as big black ugly movements of air, there are tornadoes who turn out red or white depending on what they have picked up. Different soils can turn the tornado different colours. A key point which was unresponisble not to put into the movie is that the dimension of a torando does not show the intesity of it. A big tornado could only cause a few chimneys to rip off while a small tornado can be ever so violent like an F5. Thus tornadoes are no measured by their size but by the damage they have caused. After a cyclone has passed the National Weather Service office send professionals to survey the area. A few factors the experts look at are:
- How walls and floor are attached to the foundation

- If there is mortar in between blocks of cinder

- If there are still reinfrocing rods sticking inside walls of concrete or conder blocks

- How the roof is attached to walls and rafters

Like I describe in my book, The Alley of Knowledge:Twister Deluxe tornadoes form from thick cumulonimbus clouds and are mostly found in spring and early summer. A perfect scenario for a tornado to form is when the ground is dryand a warm, humid air mass (maritime tropical) meets a cold, dry air mass (continental polar) forcing the warm air upwards forming a cold front. The warm air flows into the cumulonimbus clouds causing pressure where it then begins to rotate within the cloud. Soon after a funnel reaches down from the sky. Climate regions were tornadoes occur are areas such as humid subtropical, humid continental, and sometimes semiarid. Tornado Alley in the United States is a very likely place for tornadoes to from including the five states: Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa. With the cold front, clouds form which can most likely cause up to 10 or more tornadoes. The scale which used to be utilized to measure the force of a tornado was called the Fujita scale (F-Scale) . Nowadays we used the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF). The force of a twister is found by calculating mostly the damage they have done as one can see on the chart which was helpfully provided by my partner Professor Alfred Morgenstern Morschbach. The Fujita scale was invented by Dr. Fujita (Mr.Tornado) and his colleague Allen Pearson. Looking at the chart there are specific compensations which mark each tornado. Since we are already on this topic let me mention that if you follow this scale there is no such thing as an F6 tornado.

- This chart was provided by Professor Alfred Morgenstern Morschbach.

What is perfect in Twister and makes me support this movie is that Bill’s ‘Dorthy’ is based on an experiment done by NOAA (National Severe Storm Lab ) with a mechanism called ‘TOTO’ (TOtable Tornado Observatory). In the movie, Dorothy collects data by releasing sensors into the funnel of a tornado but in real life this is close to impossible, were both Don Burgess a retired National Severe Storms Lab meteorologist and I agree on. While TOTO did have a few sensors they could only measure temperature, wind speed, pressure, dew point, and other atmospheric qualities but unlike ‘Dorthy’ it does not have thousands of high technical amazing sensors. One thing that is very common about the two instruments was that both were bulky, heavy and not easy to manoeuvre. One of the main problems was getting tornadoes to actually go right over TOTO which is the same thing with ‘Dorthy’ in the fil. Another similarity that the devices have is that both were named after one of the main characters in the Wizard of Oz. Though TOTO was not a great success it leads to its follower VORTEX 1(Turtles).

One may not notice that the movie is giving you hints of were you can find safety but in parts of the movie many times families run for the basement of a well built building or a storm shelter. Tying yourself to a pipe which goes very far down is not an idea I find should be tried or practice for most likely the strings will break or you will be hit by objects being released by the tornado. Seeking something lo-lying and well built is more the way to go.

All in all Twister is a very good movie. Scientific facts here and there are a litle bit shaky but the idea was caught just right and the struggle of these people trying to understand a tornando is something any meteorologist or storm chaser can relate to. What annoys me a little is that the sound of the tornado was produced by recording a camel's moan and slowing it down which saddens me that people do not then really know the actual sound of a tornado but that can not be helped. Cows flying within the twister is something that could happen though I do not think it would still be alive so this part of the movie is heavily over done. But there was once a tornado who picked up 3 horses up at a farm and 12 miles away set them down unharmed. There are miracles even with tornadoes, though many siecentists argue this.

Professor Dr. Sarah Barbara Schönborn Pross is a highly known meteorologist with a master degree at the University of Heidelberg. She has written many sicentfic books including the famous book The Alley of Knowledge:Twister Deluxe, The Unpredictable Funnels, and Rolling Dice with F5.

Arranged Marriages

Throughout the World different cultures handle marriage differently. Arranged Marriages could be defined as a marriage organized by parents of the couple instead of the couple falling in love. There are advantages and disadvantages to this. Arranged marriages still exist in South Asia, Middle East, and Africa. They were once taken in by many Aristocratic Families in Europe. Though arranged marriages are viewed as a terrible thing they can not be confused with forced marriages. While arranged marriages have both children fully obey their parents, forced marriages are done without the will of the participants. There are many different types of arranged marriages such as shotgun marriages, forced marriages, and child marriages.


Since arranged marriages have been done since generations there are many variations such as a shotgun marriage, child marriage, and forced marriage. While an arranged marriage focuses on finding the perfect match for their daughter in forced marriages the main motivation is to get more social or economic standard making family and society the supreme factor. Even though a forced marriage is uncommon in the West it is not so in the rest of the World. The brutal thing about this type of marriage is that to make sure the children do as they are told, they are often threatened with either a penalty or even sometimes disinheritance and death. A child marriage is between two children of even babies who are married. These two children often live apart in their own families until after puberty when they are brought together. These matrimonies are done for political or financial purposes. Of course women are often required to bring along a dowry especially in India were this also supports the man dominance. A form of betrothal called a shotgun wedding is when a bride gets pregnant and the groom is forced to marry her. These types of marriages even still happen in America and it are classified as forced marriages because the groom has to marry the bride.

When the parents chose the spouse of their daughter or son many factors are considered. Though in each country there are some things still left open for the children like first meeting each other before the wedding day most parents though rely on some main points. First of all the reputation of the spouse’s family has to be good. The occupation of the person also is highly regarded. For a groom, jobs which pay nicely are in preference meaning professions like accountant, lawyer, doctor, scientist, or engineer. For a bride, the vocation is not so important but liked careers are a teacher, doctor, or lawyer. Often two people who have the same job are matched in arranged marriages. The wealth of the families also matter. A noble family would want their child to marry another rich family. A factor which comes into play when the parents are looking for a bride or groom is their religion which is a very large issue. Since a couple would join hands, they would have to join hands in their religion as well. Not to forget that when you have a religion such as Hinduism, vegetarians often do not marry omnivores. Some features which seem to be used in matchmaking are height and age where both times the groom should be taller and older which seem quite natural. When choosing, language is often a barrier for the bride and groom must have the same mother language which can sometimes get quite tricky. When a family has a deformity or disability they often match their son or daughter to a person with the same problems which makes everything more easy. Though subjects like city of residence, educational level and other such things are considered they are not as significant as the horoscope. In India the position of the stars when the child is born are matched with the bride and groom to see whether they fit which often comes with a percentage of match.

Though arranged marriage is seen as a bad thing by most non-participants there are arguments for these kinds of weddings. Arranged marriages are good in a way because your parents like the person you will have to marry and they also like his/her family. If your parents did not liker your spouse, the marriage with him will be noisy, annoying, and depressing. People also believe that a couple in love can not make the right choices for they are too blinded by their affections. It is also said that while betrothals may be not welcomed at first, they are still more stable than love marriages. A factor that makes arranged marriages bad is that you maybe would not like the person you are being wedded to but you would still have to live with him/her which would make you unhappy. Having a say who you would marry while your parents had only a little bit of influence would make everyone quite content. Though arranged marriages may seem normal to some countries, in the West it is considered to oppress humans and their rights. The UK even banned it from being done in Britain. For there is a saying that says “A person may find themselves stuck in marriages with persons decidedly not of their own choosing... whom they may find personally repulsive”.


In the Western World people always follow their love, marrying whom they want and please. Dating is also no problem while in countries with arranged marriages it is forbidden. A factor that sometimes causes problems after the marriage is that the parents had not fully looked into the medical condition of a spouse. After being married it is close to impossible to get out of the marriage and their may not be any legal way to do it. This often leads to honor killings. Arranged marriages are betrothals that somehow lay waste to what an individual wants and only focus’ on the family. Even if the couple does start to love each other after the wedding (in which case it was a well match) the probability is low. But one can always hope that the traditional arranged marriages lighten up and leave more freedom for the children to find their own partner.

Shabanu Anticipation Guide

1) It is possible to experience love at first sight.

I disagree with this statement for first of all one could not fall in love with a person by just setting eyes on them. A person could find them attractive (and even get a crush) but one could not feel love. People of can through the beauty they see, find a character very like their own or to their liking so thus they would start to love this person. I have read in several books how “Love enters by the eyes and also leaves by the eyes” but this does not mean to me that falling in love can happen at “first sight”. It seems impossible to me. Loving a person indicates that you know their defects and characteristics but you can not identify these things through mere appearance for looks are deceiving.

2) Two complete strangers stuck on a deserted island could learn to love one another (and yes, stay with one another after being rescued).

I agree to this declaration since on a lonely Island you depend on each. The man needs the skilled hands of a woman and the woman needs the brutal strength of men. Also, after a while a place without anybody else makes you focus on the other person and soon you will start loving. Even if this is not very likely I still find it can happen for the reason that these two strangers could not be so different from each other. They might even be attracted by each other the first time they see one another. Who knows! But even after leaving that deserted Island you would be attached to one another. Hardship and tough experiences had been shared which could brand one another into each other. Love is a tricky thing for it is very hard to predict.

3) It is a good thing to sacrifice your happiness for the desires of others.

I disagree; happiness in life is needed to keep you going and make it more joyful. To sacrifice your enjoyment is making you neglect yourself. How can you live without bliss? The desires of others (or their hopes) may be important but it will not be them who have to live your life. Let’s take an arranged marriage for example; your parents chose the perfect man for you in their eyes, marrying him would make their day but would they have to live with him? Talk to him? Serf him? Bear him children? It is not right to give up something so little but yet so important. Of course there is an exception. If a sacrifice would make another person glad and in the long run makes you therefore happy then this would of course be a good surrender. For you would not really sacrifice your cheerfulness since you would gain it back soon with their contentment.

4) Women in your society are free citizens.

I disagree with this announcement for if you look here in Cyprus, it is a very man dominated world. Woman nearly are never respected here for even if they say something intellectual their man will still scorn them (either for speaking or thinking I’m not quite sure yet) and woman are often just oppressed. Also here, I don’t think one would really vote a woman as president (even if our Cypriot classmates do not support this theory). Another thing in Cyprus which is also does not support this statement is the treatment of the Asian and Philippine people. A Chinese woman is not paid the same fee as a Cypriot woman to clean a house (a Cypriot woman wouldn’t even clean the house in the first place) and sometimes these fees are so low it’s unbelievable! At Frederick University a Philippine woman who cooks there for Mr. Frederick is paid 1 pound an hour. Also immigrants here are oppressed too (woman or man) which totally makes the woman in my society not free citizens.

The Real and Fake Emotion Show

I like the book more than the movie. First of all, the book gives you more information and a feel for the characters while the film doesn’t even introduce each character, leaving you… I also found that while the book’s scenes flowed, the movie snapped from action to action, never really letting you know where you were right then. For example, I didn’t like how one second Johnny and Ponyboy were on the train and suddenly they are in the old church. Also when Johnny and Ponyboy are originally in the burning church but abruptly they are in an ambulance makes it all choppier. A fact that’s frustrating is how everything is so well painted out in the book while the movie is a hollow frame of a great story. What annoyed me the most was that the film makers left good and important scenes out like the reporters at the hospital- which gives us a very colourful image of Sodapop’s personality-, Ponyboy being jumped, Ponyboy being sick, the trial, and when he is told off by his teacher. These scenes all gave me a better hold on the story and connections with the events. The main reason why I like the book better is the fact that we know Ponyboy’s thoughts and feelings whereas the movie is like a person showing you snapshots of a tragic story. The Outsiders movie is sometimes like a sculpture, cold; unemotional. In the book, the Greasers are tuff and real hoods.

The Day Einstein Came Back

In Ulm, Germany a ghost was staggering about. According to a Professor at the University of Ulm he saw Albert Einstein walking around late at night. “He was just wandering around murmuring something about how the world had changed or he would ratter off a formula without even missing a beat”, said Professor Schneider. No one is sure where the phantom Einstein has gone now (or even if he was ever there) but chemicals have gone missing from the University and smoke puffs sometimes rise out of a cellar. Maybe it’s just an oven or the famous Einstein has come back to dazzle us some more. Welcome Albert Einstein to the year 2009!

Albert Einstein can be recognized by his white, fluffy, crazy hair. He pretty much looks like a scientist whose experiment just exploded. If you sight a man as such please report right away to the Daunting News or the police.

Obama's Podcast

Title – Barack Obama AV Podcast

Episode – Audio; Barack and Michelle Obama Victory Rally

Date – May 20, 2008

Time – 25:07

Website - http://podcast.com/
http://podcast.com/show/98665/

Description of the Episode (from the producers): “Barack Obama's life and times presented in both Portable mp3 Audio & Portable mp4 Video formats. Mastered In High Definition.”

Ever since Barack Obama started running for president elect, the whole world seemed to be turned upside down. America was screaming for change and Obama was just what we all had wished for. I never really watched the news or when some else did I never listened but the moment Obama appeared I was always watching CNN. Before Barack Obama I hated politics. It’s really amazing what just one person can do and that’s why I chose this podcast. In the podcast a woman named Candy Schmieder experienced the same thing as me only many miles away. While I sat staring she took action. In the podcast the opening speech is given by her and gives you a good image off how excited America is and was. Candy says she never could believe that she would be picked to help in the campaign staff for Barack Obama since Candy Schmieder was a normal woman under 30 years old, married, 3 children, and never finished college. Before Obama she was just like me. Candy didn’t like politics, she thought that politicians made it more boring than aught to be, and therefore totally ignored anything happening in Washington; until she heard from Barack Obama. When Candy heard of him, she couldn’t imagine that she would actually be walking around to talk to people, even volunteer in the first place, represent Barack Obama, make phonecalls, donate, or be their on June 14th. The whole reason of Candy doing this was Obama; she was inspired by his words and policy. With that Candy finished her college degree and became an active member in politics. She like many other people in the world also thought of Obama as the perfect next president of the United States of America.

Listening at first to this podcast I though that all I was going to listen to was some lady’s thoughts on Obama. Of course I agreed with her but when she introduced Barack Obama it became great!

Obama coming back to Iowa gives a full speech for all the thousands of people who came out that night, often raising cheers, “Yes, we can” chants, and banging on about change. One of the expressions I like which he used was that it was and had been a long road with bumps along the way, where he had made some mistakes but they had stood by his side, and with that he had thanked so many people for their support. “It’s the same vs. change, the past vs. present” was Obama’s message in that speech giving America its dream: hope.

Many times I had caught glimpses of Obama’s speeches on BBC, CNN, or even on ZDF/ARD but I had never fully heard one of his speeches and just hearing one not as important unlike others still made me aware and amazed me of just how good a president Barack Obama will be. Though there were many stunning things Obama said one other great one was off how he described what change was founding.
“It’s this change which may students stuffs envelopes and knock on doors, made grandparents sit all day and phone with perfect strangers, made woman and men who hardly can pay their bills dig into their saving and write 5 dollars or 10 dollars checks, and letting young folk hope, for a better future and America.”

I encourage anybody who like me never really was interested in politics to have a go at Obama’s speeches for you sure will be standing in your room screaming “Yes, we can!”

The Outsiders Anticipation Guide Response

1. The loss of a family member or close friend, although tragic, can have positive outcomes.

I agree to this statement due to the fact that I have experienced the very same thing. With my mother’s death I moved to Cyprus away from terrible German public schools (with their alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, etc.) and to a wonderful peaceful environment with good books. I also have now no German accented English -which is just dreadful- and speak perfectly normal English. Also losing ones friend can make you get rid of his influence which could be bad but also make you find new friends and adventures. Also losing a family member can make you gain a better life somewhere else or with better care. Many may find it a dreadful thing, which it is, but one can never always fully say that the outcome will be bad.

2. Sometimes violence can be justified.

I also agree to this because if one is beaten at home they sure would have to let their anger out at other people, or maybe their was never anybody to show them how to really behave. Not to forget if one is being misused or bullied it can cause great emotional extremes. For example a person who may be under alcohol influence could do something they later regret or even forget. Being hit at home by your father can make some people retreat into themselves while others may just lash out at other because they never learned anything else. They might find it unjust for it to be happening to them not to others. So yes, sometimes violence can be justified even if it is still wrong.

3. It's easier to make friends with someone very much like yourself, than someone who is very different than you.

This declaration is also true for the reason that if someone loves to party and you don’t I do not believe this is a person you want to hang out with. Not to forget getting them as a friend would be real hard, you would have to act like your someone your not and make sure you do not do something which they hate (such as read books). A person who likes to watch a movie in silence and think about it- like Ponyboy- should have a hard time being friends or becoming friends with someone who talks all the way through the movie. Another thing which makes it hard is that a person who like books would much easier make a conversation, and become friends with another person who also read books instead of a person who loves video games. Even though it might work out making friends with someone who’s not so much like you it is still much easier with someone who is like you, who makes you comfortable and lets you be yourself.

My Ending of A Taste of Salt

Though Djo could only first move his hand and toes he slowly recovered. Jeremie was full of joy and they started a new story of hope. After a while Djo could finally walk again and the two love birds became boyfriend and girlfriend. The life for the Haitians also became better because Titid was an extraordinary president, getting rid of the Macoutes and sending his boys out to change or help people. For the reason that things improved, Jeremie doesn’t leave for France since she would lose Djo and even if he was aloud into France, Djo would never go. He would want to stay in Haiti and help Titid as president, making life better for the whole of Haiti; not just for himself.

Hunters become the Hunted

Nothing is as it seems…

Produced in 2006.
Director: Paul McGuigan
Language: English
Actors: Josh Hartnett (Slevin Kalevra), Morgan Freeman (The Boss), Sir Ben Kingsley (The Rabbi), Lucy Liu (Girl Next Door), Stanley Tucci (Detective Brikowski), and Bruce Willis (Mr. Goodkat).

The Thriller Lucky Number Slevin is an exciting movie were because of a confusion between the main character Slevin Kalevra (Josh Hartnett) and his friend Nick Fisher (who always seems to have one foot in the ground), Slevin finds himself between the most infamous crime bosses: The Rabbi (Ben Kingsley) and the Boss (Morgan Freeman). Not only does Slevin have to fight his way out there but also must be careful because he is being followed by Detective Brikowski (Stanley Tucci) and the legendary assassin Goodkat (Bruce Willis). It is not until very late that the cat becomes the mouse and that’s when everything is turned upside down.

I think that this movie is one of the best thrillers made because everything is so well planned out and connected. 105 minutes of pure action keep you on the edge of your seat and take you into the story of Slevin. I loved how Josh Hartnett made all the emotions seem so real and I believe anyone would congratulate him for it. Josh also showed his dark under current and not to forget his very good looks. Slevin’s struggles, fighting back, and pure intelligence make you adore this suspenseful legend. Not only does his big mouth keep him in trouble but it also makes you laugh. I think that this is a very dynamic and lively tale, which just shows how small the world is. This is also one of those films were at the end you can’t believe how clever it is set up. It is just one of those perfect crime shows which leads you on a wild goose chase.

The plot is very clear even though it leaves clues all over the place the yarn still keeps its mystery. I encourage children under 13 not to watch Lucky Number Slevin because of its violence but for an adult and teenager it is just right. It is just like Alan Frank from the Daily Star said,” Utterly Unmissable. 10 out of 10.” I totally agree for this thriller lays out how much unfairness and revenge there is in the world.

One of the main emotions shown is vengeance. For the once tied crime bosses split up and now have started a raging war across town. They lock themselves up into skyscrapers across each other and try everything to make the other fall. Because of their fighting both lose many important people in their life causing a killing atmosphere. Another strong emotion is love. Love between Slevin and his family make this movie take form and it all plays back to one day, to one pure brutal act.

One thing which marks Slevin is when he says, “I’m just a guy who is in the wrong place at the wrong time.” This displays his character and actions for he has loads of bad luck. If it wouldn’t be such a Tom & Jerry game between him and the two crime bosses he would probably have other problems with his terrible fate.

The lighting in this suspenseful story is very good and the setting always fits with the mood, such as a bright cheerful room when the Girl next door comes in (Lucy Liu) or a darker room when the boss comes along. The music is also remarkable because one can relate to the feelings of the scene. Even though the songs in Lucky Number Slevin were not extra written for it, it still all fits to the scenes. One famous song, which has a very meaningful role, is the Kansas City Shuffle by JR where you look left; they go right; to the Kansas City Shuffle.

One very cute thing Slevin says is, “I think I caught a pigtail.” Meaning I think someone is following me such as the cops. Another thing which is very noticeable is the fact that Detective Brikowski is always fuming and trying very hard from not letting a gang war break out between the Boss and the Rabbi.

Many may say that this tale strips the world down to it bad sides and makes you wonder how strongly horrific humanity is. Another thing Slevin declares is, “People are connected by the slightest of events.” Of course through his fight he finds his only love but peace doesn’t fill Slevin until each and every one of them dies who destroyed his life. Many may say this murder secrecy has a very violent side or like my father says, “Too much loathing in ones heart can cause people to fall like flies.” But I still encourage you to watch this movie for even after you have finished watching, it will still be playing around in your mind. For one thing that this fairy-tale makes you ask is how long does the feeling for punishing someone last? And how far would you go to revenge everything you ever loved?

Desideria Bernardine Eugénie Désirée Clary

Queen of Sweden

Désirée was born on November 8th, 1777 in Marseille, France. Her father was a prosperous silk maker and trader called François Clary and her mother was Françoise Rose Somis (second wife of Désirée’s father). Désirée had one sister called July Clary who married Joseph Bonoparte (brother of Napoleon). July became Queen of Naples and Spain while her husband became King during the rule of Napoloen. Nicholas Joseph Clary was Désirée’s brother, who married Anne Jeanne Rouyer. His daughter was named Zénaïde Françoise Clary. She married the son of Marshal Berthier, Napoléon Berthier de Wagram, 2nd Duc de Wagram. All in all Désirée was married into and came from a gracious family.
Désirée’s full name was Bernardine Eugénie Désirée Clary. It said that she was Napoleon’s first love but when he left for Paris he asked Joséphine Bonoparte to marry him instead of Désirée. After that Désirée travelled with her sister July and brother-in-law to their many houses in France and Europe. During 1796-1797 Désirée lived in Italy and when she finally returned to France she met the French general Marshal Jean Baptiste Jules Bernadotte. On the 16th of Augst, 1789 Désirée married him at Sceaux. Jean Baptiste became governor of Hanover in 1804 until 1805. In 1806, he was also made Prince of Pontecorvo and turned out to be one of the best generals of the french Napoleonic army. In 1810 Jean Bapiste became sucessor to the Swedish throne and also to the Norwegian throne in1814 after a sucessful battle. He became King in 1818 and ruled until 1844 when he died on March 8th. Jean Baptiste changed his name then from Marshal Jean Baptiste Jules Bernadotte to Charles XIV John (Karl Johan). During his reign Désirée became the Queen Consort with the name Desideria. Together they had only one son called Oscar who became King after his father’s death. His title was King Oscar I of Sweden and Norway.
Désirée first came to Sweden in 1810 but did not like for first of all it was too cold and she was also treated badly by the court. Mostly by the Queen Hedwig Elizabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp. The only friendly person was the very old dowager queen Sophia Magdalena of Denmark. It is said that Désirée acted “spoiled” and did not try to be liked. She soon left in 1811 with the name “Countess of Gotland” (Gotland is a small island in the Beltic Sea). Désirée got this name because of her health problems. With her departure she left her small son Oscar and Jean Baptiste alone in Sweden and went back to Paris. She resided in Paris for 12 years. Whenever someone would ask her about Sweden she would say,”Do not talk with me of Sweden, I get a cold as soon as I hear the word.” Even though Jean Baptiste begged for Désirée to come back she would not so he was forced to take a mistress called Mariana Koskull.
It was not until 1823 that she went back to Sweden. Along with Oscar’s (Désirée’s son’s) bride called Josephine of Leuchtenberg. In 1829 Désirée was crowned and during the 1830s she truly tried her best at being queen. It is said that there were more balls and parties than during the reign of the crazy King Gustav III of Sweden. But yet she could not become happy and soon gave up trying to act as the Queen. Before long Désirée desired to go home to France but Jean Baptiste would not allow it. Thus she never turned out to be liked nor did she try to learn Swedish. After the death of her husband it is said that Désirée became peculiar. She would get up when others slept and drive through the streets of Stockholm without any reason. Just before she died on December 17th, at the age of 83, Désirée entered a box at the opera reserved for her where the concert had just finished. In 1860 Bernardine Eugénie Désirée Clary died in Stockholm.


"Bernadotte." Britannica Student Encyclopedia. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. 12 Oct. 2008 <http://school.eb.co.uk/all/comptons/article-9273190>.

"Joséphine." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. 12 Oct. 2008 <http://school.eb.co.uk/eb/article-9044003>.

Désirée Clary (2008). Wikipedia, Retrieved October 10,2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desiree_Clary.

During bad traffic yesterday in Nicosia on Athalassa street a robbery was under go. Drivers could witness how a small pet shop on the corner of Athalassa was stolen of one of its newly born puppies which are of a pure hunting breed. The robber was not found until the Police switched on the SGWD (Secret Gang for Whiskery Dilemma). According to General Headstrong, (see below) the bandit was a monkey which was supposedly ordered to under go the theft by the TBS (Transatlantic Banana Syndicate).

(Only existing picture of General Headstrong)

Anticipation Guide Response

Agree or Disagree
1) Politics and political problems are a subject for adults to deal with
I disagree to this statement because even though adults may have more experience than young people, we still have ideas and what is if we do not like the choice the older people made? I think teenagers should be able to have a say because adults might see it from one perspective while we may see it from another view. Thus I believe young people should also participate in political matters for the choice the adults make may be against/suppress our rights and ideas. One way though young adults participate in politics is by student council for we organize, decorate, and form the ideas of the Middle School.

2) All stories can have a happy ending if those involved work towards it.
I agree with this prompt because like Mariam said nothing is impossible and if you work hard to change things in your life (like relationships, grades, and make families more bearable) then it will become a happy ending. Of course fate or luck play a big role in this ( if were born into the connections or not) but I think even if you really want something and be positive about it then even you can change your destiny.

3) Literacy (being able to read) is a form of freedom.
I agree with this statement because reading gives you the key to knowledge, to another person’s life, world, or thoughts. Reading can give you so much and even create feelings such as, love, hate, or sadness that being able to read anything you like can give you a sensation of freedom. Of course books are not the same as a car but with books one can read or not read this book, one can believe, or not believe. There are a number of things which can give you a sense of freedom and still the author can write what he wants, so you can either read it or you get another book, finding freedom there.

4) Civilizations without a written language cannot document history.
With this prompt, I disagree because maybe the civilization or people did not right it down but they could have left paintings, pictures, or portraits of what happened and we would have an idea what had happened in that culture. Another way they could have recorded there history is verbally. I have heard of many societies that had wards or poets retell and memorize stories of people which made up the history. The tales were handed down from generation to generation never to be forgotten. I think it is possible because history does not have to be written down to be memorized and recited.