Luck be a Sandy Tonight

In The Huffington Post, Wayne Parry wrote an article called, "Hurrican Sandy Megastorm: New Jersey, Delaware, And More States Scramble Before Storm." This article states that due to an upcoming mega-storm, nicknamed, Sandy, residents who live along the coast of Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, and other threatening areas are being ordered to evacuate in order to avoid deadly outcomes such as: penetrating winds of eighty mph or higher and as much as a foot of rain. New York City declared that its transportation utilities will stop running Sunday night, and that its 1.1 million-student school systems would be closed on Monday. Sandy initially started in the Caribbean, where it took approximately five dozen lives; and is now headed north, and is predicted to reach the mid-Atlantic coast, in New Jersey where Sandy will be greeted with a wintry storm coming from the west and cold air emitting from the Arctic.  The aftermath of Sandy is expected to bring chaos over 800 miles from the East Coast to the Great Lakes. Forecasters warned the people, that because of excess rain, the ground can reach to a high saturation level, which will proceed with trees toppling onto power lines and causing the cities to experience a blackout for several days.  Also, it is assumed to snow heavily in parts of West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, and North Carolina.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/28/hurricane-sandy-megastorm-new-york-jersey-photos_n_2032990.html#slide=more259321

Here Lies Reverend Dimmesdale

I cannot obtain the appropriate words to fully and thoroughly represent The Scarlet Letter as for what it truly is: a novel of such sudden and continuous clashing of emotions that the reader cannot experience the full ride of one particular sensation. Throughout the novel, it was evident that Roger Chillingworth and Reverend Dimmesdale had a perpetuating clandestine rivalry between one another. However, I never fully understood Roger's mentality and new found goal: to torture the Reverend for sinning with his wedded wife, Hester Prynne. Yes, after being informed about the sin,  Roger felt as if though a person had mocked his well-being and had attacked his dignity and pride. Nevertheless,  Arthur Dimmesdale is the true victim here. Hester was married not out of love, but because of a horrible tradition that compels individuals to marry for connections. Therefore, there was no attachment or love invested in the marriage between Hester and Roger to begin with. Consequently, Arthur nor Hester are found in fault in this scenario. The Reverend may have committed an act of hypocrisy and sin, but his action was justified by affection. Also, Roger Chillingworth needed not to take matters into his own hands and assume the position of God, Himself. Dimmesdale was already being punished by not being able to take care of his only daughter, Pearl, and by not having the opportunity to live in matrimony with his one and only love, Hester. The narrator commits no mistake by pronouncing a connection between Satan and Roger Chillingworth. This is absolutely ironic, because as Roger attempts to fit into the shoes of Almighty God, he is actually drawing himself closer with Satan and his evil ways. Furthermore, during the election of the new governor, Reverend Dimmesdale made a sermon that was thought to be his best sermon yet. After completing his sermon, his guilt drove him to admit to the people of the town of his wrongdoing and sin. He, later, kissed his beloved woman, bid her farewell, and died. A year after, Roger Chillingworth dies, too, when his sole reason for living was no longer living itself. The latter portrays Roger's atrocious personality, and how his life was wasted due to vengeance and animosity. Ultimately, there is a great amount of sympathy felt for Dimmesdale, because all he wished to do was to live with Hester and Pearl, happily and peacefully.

Important Quote

"When he found the eyes of Hester Prynne fastened on his own, and saw that she appeared to recognize him, he slowly and calmly raised his finger, made a gesture with it in the air, and laid it on his lips." (42) This is when the village surrounded the scaffold to behold the ultimate sinner, Hester Prynne. The narrator starts by describing a man who seemed to have important significance to Hester; but we were only bestowed a limited amount of information about this suspicious stranger. It did not take long before this man, later revealed as Roger, and Hester engaged in eye contact. Without hesitation  Roger raised his finger close to his lips, as in to warn Hester to not say a word. He is later informed that the woman who stands before the people has actually cheated on her husband, who has been away for about two years now. For the narrator to focus on a man who has never been mentioned before in the previous chapters, implies to the readers that he will be one of the main characters throughout the rest of the novel. This scene makes it quite obvious to us, readers, that this man is keeping valuable information away from us. Until this point, The Scarlet Letter resembled to an unfinished puzzle that missed two important pieces: the acknowledgement of Hester's husband and secret lover. Therefore, we can conjecture that Roger Chillingworth must be one of these two puzzle pieces. Unsurprisingly, he is later brought forth as Hester's husband, whose new purpose in life is to make baby Pear's mysterious biological father suffer.

Armstrong Who?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/14/felix-baumgartner-jump-redbull-skydive_n_1965299.html

A world record-setting jump has instilled national pride into those who were fortunate enough to be living in a time like this. In an article called, "Felix Baumgartner Completes Record-Setting Jump" in The Huffington Post, it is stated that daredevil Felix Baumgartner has landed on planet Earth after jumping from the stratosphere. This is reported to be a twenty-four mile jump. After the ten minute fall from space, he landed safely in New Mexico. Right after his dramatic landing, he lifted his arms victoriously, making the crowd cheer frantically in awe. Felix's main goal was to travel faster than the speed of sound; however, it is not quite certain yet whether he actually reached his ambition or not. How did he do this, you may ask? He was seated in a pressurized capsule which was carried by a helium balloon. As obvious it may be, there are many life-threatening aspects in this jump of a life time. If Felix made contact with the capsule, then his suit would have ripped which would have exposed his body to an environment that lacked enough oxygen for a human being to survive. Around thirty cameras were recording this sensational jump; but what they did not admit to their viewers was that there was actually a twenty second lag during the broadcast. This was done to protect the viewers, in case of a mishap. As a matter of fact, he had made two preparation jumps beforehand. His first attempt was in March-consisting of a fifteen mile difference in altitude; and his second attempt was in June (eighteen miles high). Before his final jump, Felix had declared that if the outcome is successful, then NASA will finally have a new generation of spacesuits to protect astronauts, and to allow them to have an escape option, while being 120,000 feet above Earth. Nevertheless, Felix Baumgartner has retired from his jumping career; and plans to settle down with his girlfriend and fly helicopters for rescue missions in the United States and Austria.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBaV6qZiO6A

Mom, I Found a Mammoth

In The Huffington Post article, " 'Zhenya' Mammoth Find In North Russia, Biggest In 100 Years, Made By 11-Year-Old Evgeny Salinder," published by Ryan Grenoble, the remaining of a mammoth was found in North Russia by an eleven year old boy named, Evgeny Salinder. This second well preserved mammoth is thought to be about 30,000 years old. This discovered creature is known to be the largest mammoth that has been unearthed since 1901. After finding the mammoth, he informed his parents, who alerted to the appropriate authority. The scientists, later, wished to show this young boy respect and their gratitude by informally naming the creature Evgeny's nickname, "Zhenya." However, its actual legitimate name is Sopkarginsky Mammoth. Researchers have estimated the age of the creature when it died to be around fifteen to sixteen years old. Compared to previously found mammoths, this one is profoundly unique. It was not discovered as a skeleton; but as an animal in its standard state of flesh and bones, which weighed approximately half a ton.  The animal's flesh, bones, fat, and organs were properly and naturally perpetuated throughout the centuries! Because of this life changing  encounter, scientist were able to revise their false assumptions by now confidently stating that the "humps" on a mammoths back are certainly not bones. They are actually a large storage of fat that helped the extinct creature survive during outrageous winters. According to Itar-Tass, it will be transported to the history museum of Taimyr. Lastly,  researchers belonging to the Russian Academy of Sciences, will study this magnificent mammal at the Zoological and  Paleontological Museums in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/04/zhenya-mammoth-find-russia_n_1940791.html?utm_hp_ref=science#slide=more250083

The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter has come to be a book of such conflicting information that leads the readers to be confused, but yet curious. However, throughout the book, Nathaniel Hawthorne has dropped subtle clues to the readers by the actions and reactions of Ms. Hester. The community was contemplating whether to allow Pearl to continue living with Hester; or to restrict Pearl from her mother-which will benefit them both equally. Hester became quite worried and wished to meet Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale to discuss the latter; and lastly to be bestowed the privilege of keeping her daughter, Pearl. This already shows the dependence she has towards the Reverend. Also, in the beginning of the story when Hester was being interrogated by Dimmesdale, it seemed as though it was all for show. The Reverend knew his limits, and especially knew how to "harass" Hester to a point where the audience will be satisfied. Therefore, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale will be publicized to be the biological father of Pear. Also, it is no accident that Pearl's biological father and Hester's husband work so closely together. The sole reason of Hester deciding to stay in her hometown is to restrain her husband from discovering her paramour. Consequently, Reverend, the father, possess that same mission. Hence, the Reverend keeping Roger Chillingworth by his side to have a better eye on him, and reassuring that his deceitful secret does not reach any unfavorable ears. However, sooner or later Roger will overhear Hester and the Reverend talking about Pearl, which will make him outraged. Then, Roger and the Reverend will have an undying hate towards each other and will attempt to kill or humiliate each other in any way possible. They will plot to kill one another in multiple secretive ways; but their outcome will not be the one they desired. Hester will become insane from the conflicts that she has created, and  chose to kill not only herself, but also Pearl.