Pit and the Pendulum ending

As the walls were closing in, i could feel my last portion of hope exscaping me, knowing that this will be the end. Just when the walls get so close that i let out my last scream, the lights in the room turn on. I can see a hidden doorway and i run to it to see if it is a way to get out. Just as i turn the knob to open the door, a man opens it abruptly and makes me jump back. This man explained to me that it is all over and that i will be safe from now on. I got taken into another room and given food and a warm blanket until we could find a way of transportation. That night i got to go home to my family and knew that the terror i had gone through that day would never escape the back of my mind.

Team Poe

I believe the Edgar Allan Poe was a really strong writer. The way he wrote his stories is actually kind of cool. I like the fact that the words he uses add to the dramatic effect. It's nice to be able to read a story that has that chilling factor. It's actually kind of refreshing after reading about nature so often before. I think it's unique how he builds up to the climax, he sets the picture out for you and leads very slowly and steady and then BAM the climax hits. Then, right after the climax the story is basically over. It's a very good tactic to shape your story line that way because it keeps the reader at the edge of their seat wanting to know whats going to happen and therefore they keep on reading on. Poe uses very strong senses to describe the scenes in his stories. It gives a very vivid picture to the reader. I think Poe is a very unique and creative writer.

Voki Assignment

Nature plays many roles in life. Its how we keep going. Crops are what keep us alive, and the sun gives us heat. Flowers bring joy and help keep insect life stable. To me, nature a major asset to our world. When you think about it, nature inspires so many people. There are books, movies, drawings, paintings. It is hard to find things that don't have nature involved because it has such a big impact on us. The sun is what keeps our world bright. Without that, depression would be a lot easier to come by and everything would be illuminated with a creepy shadow in the dark. But then the moon and the stars come out and it gives off peace and serenity. Nature gives way to animals, bugs, and insects. Nature is the very core of the circle of life, and that's a very big deal.

Poem Reflection

"A Psalm of Life"

The main point of this poem was that we aren't put on earth to do nothing. We are here to make a lasting impression and that's exactly what we should do. It talks about our "footprints" and i think that is the key word of the whole poem. It is our job to make the world a better place and to leave our positive "footprints". This poem really touched me because it says to stop being lazy and get out there and make a difference and I think that many people are just lazy. I feel like many people think that they are just one person and they can't make that big of an impact just by themselves. But that's the thing, you can. You can touch so many peoples lives without even noticing. Just by helping someone out in the day or donating to charity, you are giving a glimpse of light into someones life and i think that's really touching.

Blacklisting

black·list

 /ˈblækˌlɪst/ Show Spelled[blak-list] 

–noun

1.

a list of persons under suspicion, disfavor, censure, etc.: His record as an anarchist put him on the government's blacklist.

2.

a list privately exchanged among employers, containing the names of persons to be barred from employment because of untrustworthiness or for holding opinions considered undesirable.

3.

a list drawn up by a labor union, containing the names of employers to be boycotted for unfair labor practices.

 

    As you can see, blacklisting is a list of people in which someone has decided they are untrustworthy or are under suspicion in any way. Since we have been reading The Crucible the last couple weeks, it is pretty obvious how well this fits into the story line. During the Salem Witch Trials, so many were accused and found guilty just by one person who saw them as unfit. Back then, their black list, was of all the women that these young teenage girls accused of being witches. If your name was on that list, then you were a complete outcast and sinner, people saw you as some kind of threat to the community. So many tried their very hardest to stay off that list, but most of the time there wasn't anything they could do. Take Elizabeth Procter for example, she never did anything against the town, and was very religious, but since Abigail was in love with her husband, she was accused and therefore put on the "black list." 

   I also think that blacklisting is eminent today, there may not be an actual list, but there are always rumors and accusations. Once some rumor gets around, that changes everyones personification of you which then changes how they act around you. Something as little as "blacklisting" can change a person's life.

Crucible Act 1

So, as i have read through act one of the crucible i have really started to understand the ways of the Puritan life. I've also discovered that even though their ways were very over the top, things are still similar in todays generation. Back then so much judging was going on, and thats actually what led to the Salem Witch Trials. People were accused just for being disliked or because of jealousy. In todays world, jealousy and gossip is as big as ever, especially in the schools. People think it will make them feel better and be a better person if they can find faults in others. During the trials, the accusations were made because of hatred and fear. They were so afraid of their real thoughts and feelings that they just blamed it on witch craft. That still happens a lot now, to hide a person s insecurity they make fun and ridicule others in the hopes that it will make them feel better. So even though the Puritan way of life was very strict and proper, the way they acted has a lot of similarites to they way people still act today.

Puitan's Relgious Beliefs

"The Puritans considered the Bible as the true law of God that provided guidelines for church government. They wished to shape the Church of England to meet their ideals. They called for a less priestly church that emphasized preaching. Puritans believed that all Christian churches should be organized through councils called presbyteries or church courts rather than under bishops, as in the Church of England. Some Puritans believed that each congregation was a complete church in itself and should have total control of its own affairs.

The Puritans emphasized Bible reading, prayer, and preaching in worship services. They simplified the ritual of the sacraments. They also wanted more personal and fewer prescribed prayers. The Puritans stressed grace, devotion, prayer, and self-examination to achieve religious virtue."

http://www.laughtergenealogy.com/bin/histprof/misc/puritan.html

So, the main emphasis in class has been that the Puritans live according the the Gospel. In their community, they believed that all laws and punishments should be guided by the Lord's Word. I think that is a good idea, but the fact that you could get 5 hours of Public Humiliation just for not going to church is over the top. I feel like, they had the right idea by using the Bible as a guide, but they took it too far. Back then, if you had a position of authority in the church that instantly meant you were high ranked as an advisor for the community.
I feel like it is pretty harsh to force everyone into the same exact beliefs. Back then if your mind strayed from what their Bible had taught you, it was a very large sin, which actually led to the Salem Witch Trials. The types of sermons that the Puritan Churches had were very blunt about how they felt about sinning and sinners. They would always tell you that you have already made God mad, there is nothing you can do about that, and that it is pure grrace that He hasnt just killed you on the spot and sent you to Hell. I think thats a little harsh.

 
Puritan Church

SQUANTO

Squanto used to be a Patuxet Indian. When he was young he had an encounter with some English men from a trading ship. He decided to go back to England with the men, and was actually part of an Indian Exhibit on a stage. After a while, he got homesick and wanted to go back to America. The man he was staying with got in contact with John Smith who was sailing over to America, so he would take Squanto with him. Almost home, Squanto was tricked into going on another ship and was captured and turned into a slave. Eventually he got out of slavery and made his way home once again. When he got back to where his tribe once was, everyone was gone and he found out that everyone had died of a "great sickness". He then joined a nearby tribe called the Wampanoag Indians. After a while, the tribe heard about an English group settling nearby, so they went to go negotiate rules with them. Squanto decided to stay with the English men. He then helped them grow more crops for food and when they should plant more crops. He also helped them build warm houses to live in. Overall Squanto had a very eventful life. But he also made a great contribution towards the Mayflower Men, and they probably would have either died or had a very rough life if Squanto hadn't helped them.


http://www.workersforjesus.com/f25-14.htm 
 

Jamestown

This is a picture of the early settlement at Jamestown. It shows the fort that the explorers built for the protection from the Indians. When they settled here, they tried to act tough and not show their weaknesses in hope that the Indians would back off. But I believe that this caused the Indians to come on even stronger because they felt that the settlers were a threat. This picture seems pretty accurate, because they have the two higher raised corners with the cannons on them. One of the raised platforms was to protect them from the Spainyards out at sea, and the other was to protect them from the Indians in the woods.

Yeha-Noha Native American chant

This is a native american chant from yeho- noho native americans. I think this is really interesting because no matter how much us Americans have done to the Native Americans, they have still stayed true to their culture. They dont care what other people think, they have strong beliefs and they follow them. I really respect that. I love how their chants sound so different from anything you hear on the radio. Its really interesting.

watch me dance:)

Hey guys. So this blogging thing is completely confusing to me.

But i guess we will see how it goes.

Wish me luck.