Which Witch is Witch? - Salem Witch Trials

I've always had a particular fasination with Magic. Even before I knew the Harry Potter books existed, I loved pretending I had magical powers. From The Sword and the Stone to Kiki's Delivery Service, the media only sparked my interest. I guess it was fifth grade when I first heard about "The Salem Witch Trials." "Witches could have been real and stuff?" I was so intrigued by this little discovery of mine that I yearned to learn more about this particular part of colonial history.

So, in lue of Mary Walcott's anniversary of birth -- I thought I'd post a bit about the Salem Witch Trials

Meet Mary Walcott (July 5, 1875 -- sometime after 1719). The daughter of Captain Jonathan Walcott and his wife Mary Sibley, she was a witness in the Salem Witch Trials. Her Aunt, Mary Woodrow, was the wife of Samuel Sibley (he was the person who first showed Tituba and her husband John Indian how to bake a witch cake to feed to a dog, in order for her friends to determine who was afflicting them. Remember Tituba from The Cruicible? Yep, Susanne Walcott in The Crucible is believed to be based off of the real Mary Walcott.

Mary married Issac Farrar and had several children. They moved to Townsend, Massachussetts then Sutton, Massachussetts where Mary married David Hardwood and had nine children.

From May 1692 to May 1693, a series of trials were held to prosecute and accuse men and women of witchcraft. Events began to unfold when Betty Parris and her cousin Abigail Williams (the daughter and nieve of the reverend) began to have fits. These fits consisted of screaming, uttering, contorting and even complaining of being pinched and pricked with pins. As other young women in the village began having similar behavior such as Ann Putnam Jr. and Elizabeth Hubbard. Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba were the first people to have been arrested for witchcraft.

There is evidence of a family feud that could have been the cause in the start of the Trials, as there was a rivalry between the Putnam and Porter families.

Over 150 people were arrested and imprisoned in Salem, though only twenty-six were convicted (all those who were tried were convicted). Most of the accusations were made due to some sort of jealousy or greed. Neighbors saw it as a way to get back at people they did not like, or to gain land.

Odly enough, spells and charms were actively used in the colonies before the Salem Trials. This "magic" was based on the belief that Satan was on earth. Eventually "white magic" turned into "dark magic," and that is where the trouble begain. Whenever bad events happened in colonial communities, the supernatural was blamed.

What is Happiness?

I guess that there is something about my old philosophy class that sparks a lot of inspiration and thoughts in that adolescent little brain of mine. We had so many conversations about an array of controversial topics. This one was not as much controversial, but it really got me thinking.

If you were to die tomorrow, would you have lived a happy life?


Before evaluating any question, you have to understand what it's asking. In this case, the word "happy" can be taken in many different ways.

hap·pi·ness

 noun \ˈha-pē-nəs\

1

obsolete : good fortune : prosperity

2

a : a state of well-being and contentment : joyb : a pleasurable or satisfying experience

According to Merriam-Webster, happiness is generally associated with "pleasure." But in this case, I am asking about a more fulfilled "happiness."Something more like the Greek word eudaemonia, "the state of having a good indwelling spirit, a good genius" or "the highest human good." In fact there is an entire branch of philosophy based on this concept (I might touch on this some other time). I feel that the true happiness that we seek is summed up in the concept of eudaemonia.

This question can be answered in a series of categories: fulfillment, love, appreciation, and acceptance.

Fulfillment: Did you live your life to the fullest? Did you take every opportunity you could and soak up everything you could in life? This concept can best described by one of my favorite quotes from Titanic by Jack Dawson, "I figure life's a gift, and I don't intend on wasting it. You don't know what hand you're gonna get dealt next. You learn to take life as it comes at you... to make each day count." When you're hands are frail and your heart weak, you'll be able to look back at your life. You'll remember that spontaneous trip to Ethiopia, that exhilarating sky-diving adventure. Take every opportunity you can.

Love: I'm a strong believer that love makes the world go round. If you love yourself, love your family, love your friends, and love your fellow man and neighbors, then your life will be so much better! There would be peace in the world and endless community service.

Appreciation: It's when we take things for granted that our lives go astray. It is vital that we understand that our lives are a beautiful gift, and treat it accordingly.

Acceptance: People have to learn to accept their lives. There are some things that cannot be changed, and some time it's vital to let them go. Not to say that people shouldn't change things, change is great, but people need to be at peace with their lives and their choices. Don't live a life of regrets, just accept life and learn from your mistakes.

In essence, I think that fulfillment, love, appreciation, and acceptance are the four keys to leading a happy life. Sure, I'm young, but in my eighteen years of life I think that I have been able to live a pretty happy life. How about you, what makes a happy life?

Sources: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/194966/eudaimonia

They See Me Rollin', They Hating

I was innocently sitting on my bed, blogging to my heart's content, when the room erupted in laughter. My step-sister had found a rather amusing video of a man rolling on a tire. Fun stuff. This sort of became "the google" search for me during the rest of the night. I hope to cheer you up with these ridiculous images and videos. I hope it's not one of those things that is only funny late at night. It probably is.

They See Me Rollin', They Hating

A Visit to: "The Rock" - Alcatraz Island

A visit to a prison is generally one met with timid emotions. Either you're visiting someone you know who's being detained in the prison, or you yourself have done something deserving serious punishment. It's funny how the strangest and sadest places are now flocked with tourisrs. In the past couple years I have visited two prisons for enjoyment. The Hanoi Hilton in Vietnam (a prison used to interrogate and torture prisoners, they were mostly American pilots), and Alcatraz. Alcatraz, was a place I had always wanted to visit. Today, I got just that -- going with 22 of my family and step-extended family.

Alcatraz Island --a 22 acre Island located off the shore of San Francisco-- has served as a military base, high security prison, and Native American Occupation. A quick ferrey from the wharf, you can easily tour the Island (just make sure you get your tickets in advanced, and bring a sweater)!

The Island was first documented by Juan Manuel de Ayala in 1775, he chartered SF Bay, and named the island "La Isla de los Alcatraces" which means "The Island of the Pelicans." I'm generally not a bird person, but who can't love cute little chicks? My step-cousin was fortunate enough to receive a little present from the pelicans, the white badge of Alcatraz is what tour guides called it.

Here's one of the cells the prisoners lived in. It's not too bad. Not nice either, but I was expecting something much worse.

Privileges: "You are entitled to food, clothing, shelter, and medical attention. Anything else that you get is a privilege. You earn your privilges by conducting yourself properly."

If you didn't behave you went to an isolation room, basically the same thing but it's pitch-black and you're not allowed out of your cell.

Being a high security prison full of dangerous criminals, there were several escape attempts. They claim that nobody ever successfully escaped. As the three prisoners that dug through the walls with a makeshift drill made out of a vacuum and spoons are said to have been lost at sea. That or there's a rumor they lived their lives in some spanish-speaking country. MythBusters investigated this myth, yep, it's possible!

The other notable escape is known as the Battle of Alcatraz. They managed to get a hold of a gun, and kept the guards in their way captive. Security finally cornered the convicts, when they dropped grenades into areas where they thought the convicts were. Two days later, guards found the dead bodies of three of the convicts. The above picture is in memory of one of the guards who risked his life fufilling his duty.

Other than a few escape attempts, most of the convicts in Alcatraz survived pretty well. Well enough, in fact, for 70 families (of security guards) to live on the Island. This is a picture of what was once the Warden's house. Children that lived on Alcatraz lived the normal life of any small town child. There was a general store on the island! But for everything else, including the school, the children ferried out to the mainland.

After 29 years of running, budget cuts caused the Prison to close. There were many ideas of things to do with the Island, including making another Statue of Liberty, but there was a time when Native Americans protested on the Island. They used it as a symbol of their struggle. In 1972 Alcatraz became a National Park, a place for many of us to spend our money and learn about the place where Al Capone and Bird Man once resided!

From the Island you can see a beautiful view of the San Francisco skyline.

Eternal Pleasure - A Type of Suicide

My senior year of high school I took an intriguing philosophy course. I adored soaking up the beliefs and ideals of philosophers throughout the ages. One philosopher, Robert Nozick, proposes a thought experience called "The Experience Machine."

He attacks the belief that pleasure is the only experience that we want. He asks the reader to imagine a machine that can stimulate a person's brain to imagine experiences that one cannot separate from reality. He asks the reader if we would prefer the machine to reality. He proposes that people would not choose the life of the machine for several reasons.

1. We want to do things to do them, not just to have the experience of doing them.
2. We want to be a certain person.
1. If we are in a tank and our actions are outlined for us, who are we? 
3. Plugging into a machine limits us to only man-made situations.

This particular situation has always intrigued me, and it goes back to a situation in The Matrix when Cypher wants to go back to his ignorant bliss rather than live in harsh reality.

"You know, I know this steak doesn't exist. I know that when I put it in my mouth, the Matrix is telling my brain that it is juicy, and delicious. After nine years, you know what I realize? Ignorance is bliss."

In a way ignorance is bliss. Many of us wish to be a smiling-laughing-child once more, with no worries. A sad day was one in which someone stole our lolly-pop. But at the same time, there are so many lessons that we learn during each moment of our lives. And trading any of that for an ignorant, blissful life is a type of suicide.

Please Don't Eat Your Shoes

About Bridesmaids, didn't happen. I ended up having a sleepover with a friend and we just talked about life and drama -- all the shenanigans that comes with being a teenage girl, stuff that doesn't need to be published on the internet.

Anyway, we then went shopping. I ended up buying refills on foundation and a super cute high waisted aztec skirt. I absolutely love it, and it was only 12.99$. Infact, I had been looking for a nice high waisted skirt for a while. Not only is it cute, but I can wear it work. Success. Last time I went shopping with my Grandmother on my Mom's side, my Mimi, I tried on a cute high waisted skirt. But she called it a hooker skirt and said she wouldn't buy it for me, understandable as it defines my tuchas. We then spent the rest of our day pointing out all the hooker skirt wearing bimbos that we saw. Good times.

So then, after Macy's, DeMasque, and Victoria Secret, we went on a mission to find my friend Sonya some wedges. We went into this store called Shiekh, and I was about to buy these gorgeous fake Toms. They looked sort of arabian and were peach, I might go back and get them I loved them so much.

The only bad thing about the shoes was the sign at the store:

Warning: This store carries products that may contain lead, known to the State of California to cause cancer, and bith defects or other reproductive harm.

So please don't eat you shoes.

I'll keep that in mind for the next time I get hungry.

Sweet Honey for a Busy Bee

July 4th holiday weekend is finally here, and with it comes even more time. Yippee! I'm finally going to see Bridesmaids with my friend Sarah tonight, I'm stoked. It got great reviews, and hopefully I'll have my review up later this weekend. I absolutely love Kristen Wiigs, she never fails to make me laugh. I absolutely love her Penelope sketches on SNL. They're my favorite.  I've also been told to empty out my bladder before going into the theater. I hope Bridesmaids lives up to its expectations, as I tried to sneak in with a friend of mine who's not quite seven-teen. I ended up running into a friend that works there who told me that they just radioed about us (they knew we were on the wrong side of the theater). Needless to say we stuck to watching The Green Lantern. It wasn't awful, but the only good part about it was the attractiveness of Ryan Reynolds. Mmmm. Anyway, I'm excited about tonight.

But my weekend doesn't stop there, I'm going shopping with my friend Sonya tomorrow. I need to get foundation and bras, but I don't know if I'll have enough money for the latter. My job doesn't really pay... Like at all. Then I will continue socializing, hanging out at my friend Coral's before heading up to San Francisco.

You see, my step-cousins are flying in from Alabama. So all of us will stay at our SF house and then go to Alcatraz. I have been wanting to go to Alcatraz for quite some time, so it's great to finally get to go. I wonder if it matches it's hype. Well,  I'll be sure to let you know. Happy July 4th! What are you doing for the fourth?