Read Charlotte Temple!

I have really enjoyed reading Charlotte Temple and I think you should have your classes read it in the years to come for several reasons. Charlotte Temple sticks with the theme of reading complex text, which we have been working on all year. Also having the narrator in Charlotte Temple makes reading the book pleasurable. Lastly, the book is a good lesson for sophomores.

Charlotte Temple was a good book to read for the end of the year because it was consistent with what we have learned all year, which was how to get though a difficult text. Charlotte Temple relates to the concept of reading hard texts because of the advanced language. For example, there was not one time where I would read a page in the book and know every word. I had to look up vocabulary words constantly during the course of this reading. I have learned many words now that I had not understood before. This book has expanded my vocabulary.

One of the main reasons I liked Charlotte Temple was because of the narrator; the narrator was very helpful in making me understand the story more completely. For example, when La Rue, Motraville, Belcour and Charlotte are on the boat and they meet Crayton. La Rue puts herself out there and talks to him which Crayton likes and is impressed by. After this the narrator stops the story to talk about La Rue. The narrator explains: “The reader no doubt has already developed the character of La Rue: designing, artful, and selfish, she had accepted the devoirs of Belcour because she was heartily weary of the retired life she led at the school, wished to be released from what she deemed a slavery, and to return to that vortex of folly and dissipation which had once plunged her into the deepest misery…”(53) The narrator almost gives the reader a summary of what is going on. All the information the reader would normally have to pick up by his or her self was given to the reader. Throughout the book the narrator is constantly giving feedback and opinion to help the reader get a better understanding of the book. I really liked having some else’s opinion as I read. This for me made the book even more enjoyable. The narrator guides the reader by explaining the story and allows the reader insight into the author’s point of view. I think this would make an excellent book for future sophomores because the book provides the reader with a complex story where the reader has a “guide” in the form of a narrator which helps the reader better understand the story. This creates a different learning experience for the student.

In general, this book just has a good moral. What happened to Charlotte is extremely sad and as Rowson said in the preface, she wrote the book to make sure this would never happen to any other person. Of course it is different these days, and if a person was missing, there would be police, and other professionals, looking frantically for this girl. Although it is different these days, we still read about circumstances like this in the news. I think this is a good book for tenth graders to read because Charlotte is the same age and gets pregnant like many teens in our society today. Sadly, many of them get thrown out of their houses, and are left on the street as Charlotte was. This book could possibly prevent others from going through the same pain Charlotte was forced to go through. I strongly believe having your sophomore classes read this book is a great idea.

Harangue

In this picture you can see that this soccer team harangued the referee.

This picture was found on Mail Online.

www.dailymail.co.uk/.../So-respect-then.html

Harangue is a scolding and long intense verbal attack. A lot of times harangue is a speech addressed to an assembly; a load vehement address, a tirade, formally, sometimes, a formal or pompous speech. Harangue can only be used in a denotative way. The word harangue can be used both as a noun and a verb. Scottish writers in c1450 created harangue. It later became part of the English dictionary in c16. This word is helpful to know because in your daily life your parent or a friend might enter into a harangue with you or someone else. If you ever want to describe a verbal fight you or someone else got into, it can be called a harangue.

In Charlotte Temple this word is used when a farmers wife comes to see if Charlotte can pay her rent because Montraville recently left her for Julia Franklin. Montraville gave a note and money to Belcour so that Charlotte would be taken care of. Of course, Belcour never gave this money or note to Charlotte so she was left to fend for herself and live on her own although pregnant and husbandless. Charlotte explains: “When she was surprised by the entrance of a farmer’s wife, who, without much ceremony, seated herself, and began this curious Harangue”(95). Charlotte receives an unexpected verbal assault from a farmer’s wife who wants to see if Charlotte can pay the rent. In this sentence the word harangue is used as a noun. Charlotte then goes on to explain what has happened and how Montaville promised to support her but has betrayed her. Charlotte asks if there is any way the farmer’s wife could ever help and be charitable because of the tuff situation Charlotte is in. An example of harangue is when the farmers wife is enraged by Charlottes call out for help. “ ‘Charity,’ cried the women impatiently interrupting her, ‘Charity indeed: why, Mistress, charity begins at home, and I have seven children at home, honest, lawful children, and it is my duty to keep them; and do you think I will give away my property to a nasty, imprudent, hussey to maintain her and her bastard…’”(96). The farmer’s wife gives a long harangue to Charlotte. In Charlotte Temple there are many examples of harangue.

The word, harangue, can be very useful in your life. For example, you could say: The protesters harangued the politician for and hour. This means that the protesters verbally attacked the politician. You can use this word to explain what is going on or how someone is speaking and so on. I could even use this word when explaining to my parents that my sister harangued me. Using harangue in your daily life can become very useful.

I recently typed harangue into google.com. At first I got definitions of the word but as I scrolled down I came across a website called Harangue.org. I clicked on the website and found that it was a blog that talked about political and social commentary. This proved that the word harangue is still used today.

Saudi Women Speaks the Truth

"I have seen evil from the eyes of the subversive fatwas in a time when what is lawful is confused with what is not lawful;

When I unveil the truth, a monster appears from his hiding place; barbaric in thinking and action, angry and blind; wearing death as a dress and covering it with a belt [referring to suicide bombing];

He speaks from an official, powerful platform, terrorizing people and preying on everyone seeking peace; the voice of courage ran away and the truth is cornered and silent, when self-interest prevented one from speaking the truth."

These are a few translated versus written by a Saudi poet by the name of Hissa Hilal. She read these versus on a show called Poet of Millions. Poet of Millions is said to be the same as American Idol just with poets instead of singers. The versus she read on the show had to do with the criticizing Muslim clerics in general and specifically, religious leaders in Abu Dhabi.

Hilal speaks of her country and the laws that she feels are unjust. She lives in a country where people and their ideas are suppressed by unfair laws that are justified by religious ideas. Hissa explains: "I have seen evil from the eyes of the subversive fatwas in a time when what is lawful is confused with what is not lawful...(Robert Mackey). Hissa says that the Clerics are making unjust laws.The very act of Hissa reciting her poem on national television could put her in danger of being convicted as a religious criminal, imprisoned, and even put to death.

This Poem has really opened my eyes to how lucky I am to live in a country where women are treated with equality, where the words that are written and spoken are judged on their intellectual merit rather than the sex of the person who spoke them. I am astonished by the courage of this women, who stands up and reads her poems to protest the unjust laws. Hissa states:"When I unveil the truth, a monster appears from his hiding place; barbaric in thinking and action, angry and blind; wearing death as a dress and covering it with a belt..."(Robert Mackey). Hissa explains that freedom of speech is not a right that anyone in Saudi can exercise when speaking against the Fatwas. Hilal points out: "He speaks from an official, powerful platform, terrorizing people and preying on everyone seeking peace; the voice of courage ran away and the truth is cornered and silent, when self-interest prevented one from speaking the truth"(Robert Mackey). Hilal explains that the Cleric dislike people seeking peace and they strive to get rid of anyone with the courage to speak the truth about the Fatwa (religious laws).

This poem makes me appreciate the country I live in. I feel so lucky to be treated as an equal and have the ability to express my feelings. Although Hissa was able to read her poem on television and express what she was trying to say, women every day are forced to wear cloths that cover them head to toe because men have said that women are to dress that way. Women are discriminated against.

The hope, for the people of Abu Dhabi, is the truth of Hilal's words will somehow bring about change. The fear is that these Clerics and the Fatwa have such power over the country that no matter what anyone does things will never change. My feeling is that the only way change can begin is when one persons courage speaks the truth.

For more information visit:

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/19/female-saudi-poet-known-for-controversial-verses-reaches-game-show-final/

http://religiouscrossroads.tribe.net/thread/5ed2a31e-3c1d-4c36-89b9-85a80a8df36a

Walmart Shakes up India

Walmart is the worlds largest retailer. Their has been great controversy throughout the years related to Walmart's competitive practices. In its latest moves to expand, Walmart is attempting to develop in India.

India's controversy is about Walmart's growth into the Indian market. India's reluctance to allow Walmart into their economy is that other Indian grocery related businesses will be unable to compete due to the low prices and and better food quality that Walmart offers. In an article from ABC News by Dan Mitchell stated: "Take India, where Wal-Mart is helping small farmers by supplying them with the means to ward off insects, increase productivity, and otherwise succeed in getting their crops sold for a good price" (Wal-Mart Inches Into India). Walmart is helping Indian farmers by improving their crops and enabling farmers to be paid a higher price for their produce. They're doing this because they currently have a business partnership with one of the larger produce wholesalers in India.

The main issue that India has with the expansion of Walmart into their economy, is that Walmart will destroy the way India currently sells groceries to its consumers. India has many wholesalers who buy crops from farmers and sells them to the grocer. If Walmart comes into the picture, and works as it does in the United States, there is a good chance that wholesalers will be cut out of the economy. In addition, the small grocers would disappear form India's landscape, and be replaced by Walmart's large stores. India has long been concerned about large foriegn companies taking over specific markets in their economy.

In my opinion having Walmart expand into India's culture would be more beneficial. Walmart supply many jobs, and it would improve the quality of food distribution. It would lower the cost of the food to the consumer because, it would buy directly from the farmers, manage transportation of the products directly to the stores, and sell straight to the consumer. The negative is the possible loss of the small independent grocer and Wholesaler to the Indian economy. Although, there are many barriers to Walmart's growth in India, the benefit to the Indian people should out-way the negatives. The changes to the Indian society would be painful due to the change in the current system, but in the long run, the improvements will be worth it.

For more information visit: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/TheBigMoney/wal-mart-inches-india/story?id=10363987&page=2

CLASH OF THE TITANS

One of the biggest battles unfolding this year is between two titans of technology. Apple and Hp are squaring off in what promises to be a war between two of the biggest rivals in consumer electronics.

There has been great anticipation concerning the release of the iPad and it seems as though Apple will dominate the market. "Sure, the Apple iPad was the first tablet to surface this year-but that doesn't mean it will be the only, or even the best" (CNM News Network).The question is will this product fulfill the expectations of anxious consumers.

After reading the reviews and several articles I have learned the pros and cons of both. I think that the iPad has many good features, however the Hp Slate seems to provide more of what consumers will want.

These devices seem to be designed to replace books, magazines, and your laptop computer, as a tool to read and review internet content. If your goal is to download books and magazines along with listening to music, then the iPad will do the job nicely, and at a reasonable price. One problem with the iPad is you are not able to watch T.V. and movies freely because it does not have the capability to play Flash content. If your desire is to have a full browsing experience, including being able to freely view T.V. shows, movies, and much of the animation that Flash is responsible for on a great majority of websites, then you should spend your hard earned money on a tablet PC, such as the HP Slate.

From my point of view, it seems more logical to spend similar money on a device that multi-tasks, and can provide more options for viewing all internet content. Although, the iPad has a great variety of applications, I feel that the Windows 7 operating system, which comes with the Hp Slate, will provide a vast number of applications that will satisfy the consumer. The Hp Slate proves to be the better buy.

If you want to learn more visit: http://cnmnewsnetwork.com/17010/hp-slate-release-date-hp-slate-tablet-pc-anticipation-and-ipad-3g/

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