Outside reading post 12/11

The author starts of quick and straight to the point. Even though John Dillenger was a master thief and killer, he was also cast aside by society. It starts out about Dillenger's first few robberies that were quite small. Stealing potatoes, things like that. His first major job was to attempt to steal from a local store owner on his way home from work, he is caught. Dillenger is given a lengthy sentence for that sort of crime. "It was little consolidation. John Jr. couldn't believe the harsh sentence. Enraged, he felt that he was sold out by both the system, and his father (25)." It shows it right here, had John Jr. gotten a lighter sentence, there could've been a chance that he wouldn't have ended up the person he was. If he had gotten a lighter sentence, Dillenger could've had a better opinion of the justice system, and not been sold out. Dillenger may have been a good person. Matera also provides counter-reasoning on the great criminal. Basically saying he was destined to do bad. "Even if the senior Dillenger had been more aware, it's doubtful he would have been able to prevent his son's next brush with the law. Junior was simly too determined to go bad (21)." This shows that Dillenger, no matter what society did to him, was destined to go bad. Be a terror to society. To be the John Dillenger we know today. When one is destined to go bad, it cannot be stopped.

On the Waterfront

Being a tattletale and being a whistle-blower is like the difference between justice and vengeance. Justice and whistle-blowing come from the mind, from reason, when it is justified to stop one's actions. Tattletales and vengeance come from emotion, from the heart, judgment is clouded. When one is a tattletale, they are one seeking revenge based on previous wrongs committed directly or indirectly. They allow their emotions, often pride, get the best of them and they lose control of reason. They lose control on the fact that by being a "rat," they could really hurt something close to them. Being a rat is for the betterment of the "rat," to settle an old score. When you are a rat, judgement is clouded, and you tattle for personal gain. Not the betterment of society. That is what makes a person a rat. Letting their tattling come from their emotions, and personal gain.

Being a whistle blower is like justice. One sees a problem, and one figures they have the power to fix it. So, they do fix it. However, a whistle blower weighs the options and thinks about it, like justice, it comes from the mind. They realize that it is for the needs of society that it be fixed, not their own personal gain. If a small child tattles on his brother because his brother hit him or something. The reasoning is purely to see his brother get yelled at by mom (I know, I did it plenty of times to my older brother). That is driven completely by a desire for gain. When someone tells an officer about illegal activity, they stand nothing to gain, so it is whistle blowing. Whistle blowing comes from reason, being a rat comes from greed, and emotion. Not reason.

Q2 Blog Question #1 All My Sons

I believe in the script of All My Sons, it is displayed that people will put their family first because it is what matters most. The base of Joe's reasoning at the end of the play is that he did it for Chris and Kate, even though they don't approve. The end of act two and all of act three is Joe defending himself of a mistake he made only to help his family. At first, Joe Keller denies the fact that he did it, because he knew that Chris, Ann, and many others wanted to believe that he was innocent. And by denying, he was able to keep their denial up as well. After he continued denying, Joe Keller started defending what he did. Chris and Kate do not agree, they disagree quite a bit. Even though Joe helped his family, the end did not justify the means. 21 pilots killed so his family could live a better life.

I believe that one should do what is necessary to protect their family. I also believe that there is a point in which a line must be drawn. It is the old situation of stealing bread to feed your hungry family, does one do the dishonorable thing to help what matters most, or keep one's honor. As long as it is something that has a minor impact on society, like a loaf of bread, it should be allowed. However if it hurts society more than it helps, one must set aside their family. Sad but true. Family cannot always come first, if that happens, it justifies doing anything for one's family. That simply cannot be. A line must be drawn.

John Dillinger, by Dary Matera

In my book, Dary Matera introduces John Dillinger in the opening paragraph as "Nail tough, fiercly determined, and bounding with kinetic energy, the rambunctious ten-year-old reigned over a gang of pipsqueak thugs who stole profit" (9). As we know later on in life, he will be one of the biggest criminals in history. Even at a young age, Dillinger was a sort of gang leader. After this, Matera jumps backwards in the story to the Dillinger family history. His grandfather Mathias came to Indiana from France, and had a son, name John. John Sr. had a daughter named Audry, and fourteen years following; their second child, John Jr. Matera says that "he was a happy toddler... show a grinning kid who liked to ride carts and wagons, pedal trycicles, and skitter around outdoors" (11). I think this is where his love of fast cars started up, loving to ride carts and such. The need for speed at a young age. But is mother died when he was four years old. John Jr. was forced to live with his sister Audrey, who had started up a family of her own. Unfortunately, his mother dying was only the start of a constantly changing family for the little Dillinger.

A few years after his mother's death, John Dillinger Jr.'s grandfater Mathias died too. Ironically, this is where his father would meet his second wife, Lizzie Fields. John was forced to move in back with them, taking him from Audrey. "John Jr. was left to go it alone with the new stepmother-invariably a difficult transition" (11). With such a shifting family, a child is often feels neglected. As John was quickly torn from the place he grew to love twice between the age of ten and forced to start all over again, with at least one new person in the mix. Dillinger was set up for trouble. "There were reports of John Jr. being tethered to a wagon wheel or locked in the house while his parents worked" (12). A hard childhood made John Dillinger set up for a life of infamy that all will know of someday.

McCain Gains ground?

In the last few days, the campaign of John McCain seems to be gaining ground on the favorite Barack Obama. Obama's lead in the polls is down to 49-44 suggests that there is still a possibility that. The article says that even a few days ago, Obama's lead was at least three percent larger than today. The article goes on to say that in the 04' election, John Kerry had a lead over Bush with a week to go, but Bush pulled through. It also cited that in 2000, Al Gore was down by a few percent with a week to go but ended up winning the popular vote. Although Obama enjoys a massive lead in states such as Minnesota which is 56-37% (Star Tribune) this race could be undecided until November 4th and could be one of the closest ever. I am very surprised by this because the recent polls have shown McCain way down, and have continued to drop since October 1st. I still am not completely sure who I want to win this, but it will be an exciting election.

Impacts on the bailout???

A question remains if this will be a confidence booster, or if it will be relatively insignificant. Will this lead to banks to loan to one another. Part of the problem is banks, loan guarantees are not satisfied with many industries such as the nuclear one (Kevin). This bailout will partially go to bonds to help with stocks and various other issues. But by doing this, won't it just push it off into the future. Now granted sources say that "The economy will reach full potential by the year 2010," the tag for this is on justin ZZZ's blog under split economy (debate). So will this really save the economy? Is it the first step? Or does the economy just move in cycles that will improve? Will executives of large companies find loopholes in this?

http://www.blounttoday.com/news/2008/oct/08/money-matters-congress-passed-bailout-so-where-rec/

Senate Firmly backs bailout

After this bill was rejected a short time ago by the House of Representatives, the Senate has a new 700 Billion dollar bailout for the struggling economy. The vote passed with a 74-25 vote. Both Minnesota Senators Norm Coleman and Amy Klobachar voted for this. Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV) says "An end to the crisis is now in sight," he added later that "This is not a piece of legislation for lower Manhattan. It's a piece of legislation for all Americans." Reid expects that the U.S. H.R. will pass this bill making it go into effect. Many believe this is the first step to a better economy.

Odysseus hero status

A great pro football player who gets a d.u.i. is still a great football player. This is much the same with Odysseus. Even though he slaughtered many and cheated on his wife he is still remembered for being a hero of Troy. When Odysseus' son travels to speak to Menelaus about the whearabouts of his father. Menelaus speaks of Odysseus' great glory in the field. News has not spread about what Odysseus has been doing since the war ended, but much has been told of his great accomplishments in battle. Odysseus murdered a fraction of an army of suitors mercilously, but he isn't remembered for that as much as his heroism in Troy. By using his head to hatch a plan that would ultamitely end a ten year long war that has ruined both sides, he ensured he would be remembered for thousands of years. No minor event of killing suitors stacks up to this. When we think of Odysseus in modern day, what do we think? Suitor killer? No we think of the god-like tactician who planned the Trojan horse. Heroism overshadows other bad things.

Odysseus had the traits of a hero, not of a murderer. Odysseus had the courage to face a witch trick a massive cyclops and face a witch called Polyphemus. The cyclops had eaten two of his men whole, and could do a lot worse. So Odysseus tricked Polyphemus heroicly and escaped. Odysseus tricking the Cyclops is one of his greatest feats and lives on today, unlike other things that may bring down his heroism. When he murdered the suitors to get his life back even after they offered to leave. The murder of Anticholus started it he slaughtered wave upon wave of suitors. Even attempting this took a lot of courage which makes a hero. The point is, if one does enough to achieve hero status, all else he did that would taint that is all but forgotten. In history, we tend to focus on the good, and Odysseus is no exception. He is a hero in modern day because that is what he is remembered for. Heroics at Troy and overcoming other obstacles on his way home.

Government gives $85 billion loan to AIG

This is from the Boston Globe.

AIG was given  an 85 billion dollar loan to help them stay in business, being the largest insurance company in the world, this could prevent further harms to the economy.

An executive from the fed said, "It could also lead to substantially higher borrowing costs, reduced household wealth and materially weaker economic performance," (if the loan was not passed).

I for one support the move.

We will win one... eventually....

Maybe next week vs. the Carolina Panthers?

First blog

just checking to see if this works.