Literature log

Entry # 1

My book is called the Darwin Awards. this series of books are one of my favorite things to read. a Darwin award is presented to someone that removes themselves from the gene pool in a rant of ignorance. you don't have to die, but merely extinguish your ability to reproduce.the event must be verified. the candidate must be capable of sound judgement. and last they must cause there own death. These are true stories celebrating examples of natural selection in action.

entry #2

i am still reading The Darwin Awards, i have gotten through the first 6 chapters. among theese were the seven deadly sin, such as the chubby man who went to an unlicensed liposuctionist that worked out of the garage. he died in vanity. i also went through the women who got off the safari tour bus, in the chapter femme fatalities.

entre

boewulf/Anglo-saxon

Over all I thought the story was interesting (though hard to read and understand at some points). Right off, we start with the traditional, hero saves the day routine. A demon named Grendle takes over the mead-hall, Herot. The king of the Danes, Hrothgar grew desperate from grendle's acts. Then, like a traditional hero, Beowulf comes and saves the hall. with every major modern day hero there comes certain characteristics. They are always brave and strong of course,("But a warrior of Hygelac's heard of Grendel's doings; he was the strongest of men alive in that day, mighty and noble. That man called for a ship, said he would cross the ocean and help the king who needed help."episode 2 part 2 "Beowulf hears of Grendle"). We also see our hero dive under water to fight grindle's mother, that is something straight out of comic book.

The Anglo-Saxon culture was based on honor in country and warriors tradition. When Beowulf first arrives at hrothgars castle a Dane named Unthfar accuses him of being unworthy of the challenge presented by grendle, by twisting a story away from beowulfs favor. Beowulf protects his honor by telling theme of his feats of strength swimming against Brecca.("Well, my friend Unferth, you have said a good many things about Brecca and that trip, drunk on beer as you are. Truth to tell, I had more strength but also more hardships in the waves. He and I were both boys and boasted out of our youth that we two would risk our lives in the sea.") We see here how Beowulf has built his heroic reputation to such a point that people are jealous and he still gives respect to everyone, including Unthfar,as is the culture.

Later in the story,when Beowulf became king it was after the previous kings died. Once you became king you were king for life. This shows the cultural traditions toward being ruled. ("Later it happened,after Hygelac fallen the storm of war,and his son, Heardred, fell too under his shield,killed by the sword fighting the Swedes, that the broad kingdom came into Beowulf's hand."episode nine)

At the end of the story when Beowulf dies he is burned and his ashes are spread in a mound full of treasure, overlooking the sea. This illustrates the cultures belief in the afterlife. Everything was believed to have a soul, and when you died it could keep walking the earth or pass to another place. ("Bid my warriors raise a splendid mound on the shore-cliffs after my funeral fire that a remembrance shall tower high on Hronesness. Sea-farers shall after ward call it Beowulf's Mound when they pilot ships far over the ocean's mists."episode twelve)

Now, about how he died, there are a couple of ways to look at Beowulfs encounter with the dragon. The dragon was the protector of treasure and someone stole that treasure. Would a wise leader not know this? Could he not of found and returned the cup? Maybe that's not fair, attacking the beast could have been the only way. ("Near and far was seen the dragon's violence, how that destroyer hated and humbled the Geat people. The people of the land were enveloped in fire. Beowulf learned the terror quickly, in truth: the surging fires burned his house, the mead hall of the Geats. That was sorrow to the good man.")So the dragon needed to be killed, but for the leader of the country, the KING, to go himself seems like the last resort. Also, before the battle it says he had flashes of previous acts of glory. That causes me to think Beowulf wanted one last act of heroism.

Letter of intent

268 Gilleland Dr.
Athens, GA 30606
8/24/06


Mr. Dana Siegmund
Classic City HS



Mr. Siegmund:

For some time now I have been fascinated with forensic science. Ever since all those new T.V. shows came out, about forensics. The first time I heard of it someone was telling me a story. The story was about a murder in a small town many years ago. A body was recovered partly buried in the woods outside of town. During the investigation, a local man called a meeting of the town. He told everyone to grag there shovels from there homes, and bring theme here. The towns people reluctantly agreed and return. The man said to just stand there in the hot sun and he will reveal who the murderer was. The man had studied the body and decided the blows to the head were a object resembling a shovel. plus , of course the shovel was used to bury the guy. After a while flies started to gather around one mans shovel, and the murder was found.

I plan to do a research on famous criminals who might still be out there today if it wasn't for forensic investigation. I will also include a complete rundown of what forensics is,were, when, how it was developed. In my product(power point) I will show old and more recent cases, and show how forensics improved the chances of a successful capture. I plan on being in contact with someone at the police station for any help I can get.

I'm not to positive at this point, but I suppose I can find someone at the police station.

sincerly,

chris couch