Vlog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WihJyNN6wyA

"Elephant who killed veterinarian settles into San Diego Zoo"

"Elephant who killed veterinarian settles into San Diego Zoo"

By: TONY PERRY

Source: LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-killer-elephant-20131125,0,5926905.story#axzz2ldSrvSra

Mila, a helpless elephant has been given a second chance. On April 25, 2012 Mila accidentally trampled over a veterinarian named, Helen Schofield.  Schofield was a very well known veterinarian in a New Zealand zoo. She specialized in care taking of elephants; like Mila, who was a 7,600 pound African elephant. “A coroner's investigation later branded the death as the result of an accident, not an attack.” Many viewers witnessed the very horror that occurred right before their eyes. As Schofield was offering the elephant with her daily fruit, the frightened elephant was electrocuted after accidentally touching an electric security wire. The elephant currently in shock ran over his veterinarian, who had recently stumbled and tripped over due to panic and fear. Witnesses stated that the elephant was merely trying to protect his veterinarian, and in no way cause any harm. Mila did not realize its own strength when trying to protect Schofield. After the terrible tragedy, the New Zealand zoo realized that Mila’s size was unfit for its current living establishment. They soon decided to ship the innocent animal to San Diego zoo, where it is being rehabilitated at the Prebys Elephant Repair Center. She arrived on November 14, 2013 and resides in a quarantine enclosure. Helen Schofield’s family forgives the animal since it is proven that Mila never intended to physically hurt her veterinarian.

Quote

“Ah, but,” interposed, more softly, a young wife, holding a child by the hand, “let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart. “ (Hawthorne 36)

            Judgmental townspeople were hovered around the market place waiting for the punishment of the adulterer, Hester Prynne. Hester was required to embarrass herself and show everyone in the town what she had done. She would be forced to wear a scarlet red letter “A” stitch on all her clothes to represent the sin of adultery. The crime committed by Hester is viewed not only unlawful but morally wrong, due to the heavily religious Puritan religion. Hurtful conversations and gossip buzzed throughout the air regarding the sinful acts Hester has recently committed. As Hester stood atop the scaffold, hateful women, with scornful eyes, were discussing how her punishment should be heightened. The women believed such a crime should result in death or additional torture. As those discussions were held, one of the women stated the quote above. The quote meant that the simple punishment of an “A” adorned on all clothes, was a harsh enough punishment. Hester was to live her whole entire life with the constant reminder of her committed faults and sins. This exemplifies the intensity of Hester’s “minor” punishment. It allowed the women of the town to quiet down and discontinue any other suggestions regarding retribution towards the adulterer’s wrongdoing and crimes.

"How to end ivory poaching"

"How to end ivory poaching"
BY: David J. Hayes
Source: LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/commentary/la-oe-hayes-ivory-poaching-elephants-20131118,0,2238565.story#axzz2kydnqyQf

           Ivory is a very costly and valuable item found on several breathtaking animals. Malicious and vindictive hunters take advantage of helpless animals and their precious ivory tusks. These inhumane hunters are usually classified as “poachers” who benefit off a poor animals suffering. Animals like elephants and rhinos possess tusks made of ivory. Ivory is valuable due to its scarcity. Researchers are worried that the elephant population is decreasing rapidly and if the predicament at hand is not attended to, elephants may become extinct, altogether. Within the past year, more than 30,000 harmless creatures belonging to the wild African elephants have been brutally killed. Recently, “the Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service ground up 6 tons of ivory that had been seized from illegal imports and interstate sales since 1989 when an international trade ban went into effect.” This occurrence was completed in order to raise awareness and allow all powerless creatures voices to be heard. The United States government has put up bans making ivory sales illegal within the states, but that does not mean people have not found a way around it. It is the public’s job to relinquish all suffering to further elephants. Loopholes like the black market, in all, must be removed. The fate of the African elephant population’s future is in the entire human population’s hands.

Puritan Clothing in the 1600s

       During the seventeenth century, life revolved around clothing was vastly atypical compared to present day. Puritan clothing rules coincided with the strict regulations of their religion. In Boston, Massachusetts, the colonist’s dress code was uniform. Men, women and children’s dress was mainly restricted to a small amount of colors. Black and white was the most common dyed colors. Vibrant or flamboyant colors were disregarded in order to avoid unwanted attention. Due to the expensive cost to dye cloth black, many clothes would adjust to a “bruised-blue” hue. Most evidence of clothing in the 1600s is collected through painting and portraits, which can be deceiving at times. Women would be depicted in plain and informal dresses called Brunswicks or Jesuits. Their wardrobe also included caps, capes and cloaks which were usually warn for protection against harsh weather. The wardrobe of seventeenth century men and children were much simpler. Grown men constantly wore coats and breeches, along with a cravat, or neck cloth. Men’s clothing was designed for compatibility for both labor and extensive fashion. Children, on the other hand, remained usually in either gowns, if female, or skeleton suits, if male. Both genders wore undergarments called shifts. Clothes in general for all people, were usually made out of wool and any cloth available. Therefore, during the 1600s, wardrobe was extremely strict and remained quite similar to all Bostonians.

http://thepragmaticcostumer.wordpress.com/2012/07/25/through-the-keyhole-a-peek-into-a-17th-century-ladys-wardrobe/

http://www.history.org/history/clothing/women/wglossary.cfm

"I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Read" SOAPST

            When reading a piece of literature, it is important to thoroughly read and analyze the text, in order to fully emphasize and comprehend the author’s initial mindset. The use of a SOAPST analysis for “I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Read” effectively puts all necessary information into place for greater conception. Francine Prose, the speaker of the text, is a mother, essayist, and critic. The occasion is September of 1999, when it was first published in Harper’s. Prose had no specific audience, it was pointed to a wider multiplicity of people; it was specified for everyone and anyone willing to read her opinion. Prose originally wanted to persuade and inform (purpose) the audience of the level of reading required for high school students (subject). Her sassy and persuasive tone justified the essay’s overall meaning. Without all aspects of the SOAPST coinciding, the piece of literature would not feel complete. All factors rely on each other. For example, the speaker must identify his/her purpose for writing the text in an efficient way for the readers to correctly interpret the overall idea. Another example would be Francine Prose, the speaker; without her credibility and ethos, the text would be viewed irrational and incorrect. This is proven by Prose’s building and automatic ethos as a moth and essayist described in the insert before the actual essay. Therefore, without SOAPST, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Read” and all other pieces of literature would be problematical in the eyes of all readers.

"Glendale man stalked married woman for 6 months, police say"

"Glendale man stalked married woman for 6 months, police say"
By: VERONICA ROCHA
Source: LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-man-stalked-married-woman-police-say-20131103,0,3692890.story#axzz2jbg8PY3X

           On the morning of October 27, 2013, Gamlet Sarkisyan had been convicted of multiple cases of assault and harassment. Over the passed six months, Gamlet, a forty-eight year old presumably Armenian man, had been stalking a married woman as if she were his prey. The had met previously in April, at an appraiser course in Glendale, where the criminal resides. After their first encounter, Sarkisyan became obsessed and began to stalk the thirty-eight year old woman. He flourished her with redundant presents and tried many mindless ways of attaining her attention, but to no avail. He has seriously spooked the victim and her family, to the point where a restraining order was set out. Sarkisyan disregarded the restraining order and broke into the innocent woman’s house to “profess his love for her.” He crawled into her private property at night through an unlocked window. Sarkisyan did not stop there; he continued to break into her house and cause bodily harm and injuries all over her arms and hands. Sarkisyan attempted to “hit the rear sides of her vehicle” and “demanded” for her to speak to him. Sarkisyan pleaded not guilty to all charges and is now sitting in prison with a $400,000 bail.
          The world has become a treacherous place, where restraining orders cannot even perform its initial duty and obligation. Everyone should be aware of their surroundings in order to prevent stalkers. Not everyone is in their right mind and one must not approach everyone. Being precautious and smart excludes one from been stalked as “prey.”