The Hartford, Connecticut Circus Fire

Welcome to the Modern Typewriter, a daily blog to discuss topics that can’t be answered easily, or are just some fun topics! Today is June 1st, 2010, I’m Royce, and I’m here to discuss the Hartford, Connecticut Circus Fire of July 1944.

The Hartford Circus Fire was one of the most disastrous fires in American history that occurred on July 6th, 1944 in Hartford, Connecticut. This fire erupted during an afternoon performance of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which was attended by approximately 6,800 people.

“The ‘big top’ was not waterproof, so if the days were rainy, the circus could not go on. But a common waterproofing method used during this time was coating paraffin (dissolved into 6,000 gallons of kerosene) onto the big top. This prevented the water from damaging the ‘big top’ but initially made the tent into a giant candle, which would obviously burn intensely.” Said an anonymous informer.

What started the fire? Sources aren’t 100% sure. Most historians believe and agree on that it was an unknown cigarette smoker who had flicked their cigarette butt on the ground, near the Southwest side of tent. The bandleader of the circus claimed to have seen the fire start first, and ordered the band to play “Stars and Stripes Forever”, which signal to the other circus workers that there was danger.

Claims say that the fire sprung up to the very top of the tent faster than cheetahs could run. So, naturally, with the paraffin coating the ‘big top’, the entire tent caught fire within minutes. Of the 6,800 people who attended the circus, 169 died and over 800 were injured.

One of the more known victims was a little girl known as Little Miss 1565, because that was the number that marked her body in the makeshift morgue that was set up after the fire. Her body was very well preserved, even from being a victim of the fire. Her identity would remain unknown until this day, even after many attempts to try and discover who this girl was. There has been many claims to who she was, but all of these claims seeming to fall short of something.

“The Hartford Circus Fire would eventually lead to the revolution of safety in circuses. Instead of having just one entrance for 6,800 people, they would have emergency exits in case that something like this would ever happen again. Instead of 6,800 people being in the ‘big top’ at the same time, they would limit the amount of people allowed inside. And most importantly, they would learn not to coat the tent with paraffin when there will be works of fire being done within the tent. They learned many lessons that day, and unfortunately, at the cost of many lives.” Says Rochester, a writer at the Modern Typewriter.

A good book for more information regarding the Hartford Circus Fire is the book, World’s Afire, written by Paul Janeczko. It accounts the the fire from different points of view, written in the form of poetry.

“Janeczko’s World’s Afire is an incredible book. It is addicting from the very start, and you won’t want to put it down.” Says Melanie, another writer at the Modern Typewriter.

What do you think about the Hartford Circus Fire? Could they have prevented it? What other improvements can be done to prevent this for the future? Feel free to leave a comment to express your opinion!

Remember, I’m Royce, and this is the Modern Typewriter, OUT!

Circus Picture Taken From:

http://www.yourememberthat.com/files/73014ef924e1c80d.jpg

Book Picture Taken From:

http://covers.openlibrary.org/b/id/516230-M.jpg

 

Land Redistribution in Zimbabwe

Welcome to the Modern Typewriter, a daily blog to discuss topics that can’t be answered easily, or are just some fun topics! Today is February 5th, 2009, I’m Royce, and I’m here to tell you about a program in Zimbabwe with land redistribution.

A new program in Zimbabwe, Southern Africa is literally taking farmland from some white citizens to give it to impoverished blacks in the country. And if the white family who owns the plot of land refuses to give up the land, the government is threatening them with death or a sentence to jail.

“For one thing, I understand the main point of this, the main idea is good, it has a good intention, but this is basically just stealing land from other people. It is morally wrong to do. If  I was a person whose land was just taken away, I would be completely outraged! Just hearing about this makes me infuriated!” says Cody, a writer at the Modern Typewriter.

We recently came across a news article on a family who was victimized by this unfairly played game. A man name Wally and his wife Helen were white citizens living in Zimbabwe. The police came to their 13,000 acre property demanding to see them. They met and the police ordered to take their farm for the program, and if they refused, they could either be jailed or killed, it was their choice.

“I feel the greatest sympathy for this couple, because they were in their fifties, and they are having to start their life all over again.” says Melanie, another writer.

The couple, Wally and Helen, had to immediately pack their belongings and leave. The new family that would be living in their house would be able to take anything they wanted.

Helen remembers asking if the new black woman if she would want a clay vase that their daughter had made in school. The woman said yes and Helen turned and smashed it on the floor.

“The general intention of the land redistribution idea is good, but you can’t just take something that is someone else’s. That is considered stealing.” says Rochester, another writer.

The couple, Wally and Helen have relocated to North Carolina, in the United States. Wally found a job with hogs, but when news that the business was having trouble, the employer said it was alright if Wally started searching for more work. So Wally did. He found a job at a farm overlooking cattle. His benefits would include a nice home right on the grazing field, free of rent. His wife and himself live there currently.

Before, the family that had taken over Wally and Helen’s farm had kidnapped their son and held him for ransom. They completely depleted Wally’s bank account.

“This is a huge issue! Somehow, we can’t just let the President of Zimbabwe steal away property and give it to someone else. That is completely terrible! And what kind of world has it come to when a family holds a son for ransom? Shouldn’t the police get involved? Where were they during all this? Oh right, they were stealing more property.” says Jaycee, another writer.

The American dollar can go a long way in Zimbabwe, since the inflation is so bad. Wally and Helen thought about taking their dollars to Zimbabwe to retire, since just a thousand dollars would take you far in Zimbabwe, but they figured America is where they belong right now.

So, what do you think on the land redistribution program in Zimbabwe? Do you think it is good? Bad? Why? Leave us a comment to express your opinion!

Remember, I’m Royce, and this is the Modern Typewriter, OUT!

News Article:

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/v-print/story/1260755.html

Picture Taken From: http://www.sybergnosis.com/Portals/1/newsletterpictures/ZimAfrica.jpg

 

Marley And Me

Welcome to the Modern Typewriter, a daily blog to discuss topics that can’t be answered easily, or are just some fun topics! Today is January 1st, 2009! I’m Royce, and I’m here to tell you about the recently released movie, Marley and Me.

Some Modern Typewriter writers recently went to a movie theater to view the newly released movie, Marley and Me.

“Most of the movie is funny, but the last fourth of the movie is really, really sad. You could hear sniffles all around the room.” said Melanie, a writer.

Marley and Me is based on a novel with the same title and about a disobedient dog named Marley. The dog is chosen by Jennifer Grogan, who is married to John Grogan, and Marley is a wedding gift from John to Jennifer. They were unaware of this dog’s ‘bad habits’ of barking loudly, chewing everything he sees, instead of taking a walk, he takes a run, and he tends to do this throughout the entire movie. He seems ‘untrainable’ practically.

“The movie is about Marley’s life basically, told in the perspective of John Grogan, the main character. The first part of the movie they pick out a puppy who grows pretty fast, and at the end of the movie, which resembles the end of Marley’s life, everyone can imagine how dog lovers react.” says Rochester, another writer.

Below is the Marley and Me movie trailer.

“If I was a big-time movie critic, I would definately rate this movie a four and a half stars. It’s a really great movie.” says Jaycee, another writer.

Remember, I’m Royce, and this is the Modern Typewriter, OUT!

Video taken from YouTube videos.

 

Animal Poaching – Eastern Africa

Welcome to the Modern Typewriter, a daily blog to discuss topics that can’t be answered easily, or are just some fun topics! Today is December 9th, 2008, I’m Royce, and I am here to share an essay written on the topic of animal poaching in Eastern Africa.

In our school, the Modern Typewriter team recently had an assignment to write a speech on a complication in Eastern Africa, part of our East Africa studies. We had a choice of our topic from the following list: Animal Poaching, Deforestation, Desertification, Civil War In the Congo, Malaria and Sleeping Sickness, Specialized Economies, Famine in Ethiopia, Child Soldiers, Lawlessness in Somalia (piracy), Poverty/Low Standard of Living, Lack of Education and Inequality, Inability to take advantage of their natural resources.

I particularly chose Animal Poaching for my essay. We had to write it in speech format, which we would present to our class. The following is my essay in speech format. I present to you my speech on Animal Poaching, called ‘There Once Was A Time’.

“This is an international problem, not just a local problem,” said Esmond Bradley Martin, an independent expert in illicit wildlife, on elephant poaching for the trade of ivory. The International Fund for Animal Welfare made an investigation done in eleven different countries that kept an eye out on at least 180 websites for illegal ivory sales. The investigation concluded with 7,000 illegal auctions and advertisements ranging from the live animals to wildlife products. 73% of the illegal sales were found on eBay, so the workers for eBay have been working to try to ban the ivory sales on their site. Since eBay’s decision to ban ivory sales, it has been placing ads on the website, teaching it’s users about the trade of ivory and the price to pay to get the ivory. Do you know the price to pay for the ivory you buy? How would you feel if you actually watched the slaughter of thousands of elephants just so you can have some ivory for things like jewelry and piano keys? Until elephant awareness is spread around the world, and reserves are built, elephant poaching will continues to occur mainly in the country of Kenya, to where ivory is exported to gargantuan traders of ivory like China and the United States of America.
The first solution is to raise awareness. How come that every other complication in the world as big as cancer has people around the world knowing about it, but yet something as simple as elephant poaching does not? eBay recently placed ads on their website, teaching it’s users about the trade of ivory, and its effect on Eastern Africa. The elephants, the rhinos, the hippopotamuses, all of the world’s beautiful animals are being killed for the ivory. National Geographic magazine has published many articles describing the troubles with the poaching of wildlife, mainly the African Elephant, in Eastern Africa. One of their more popular articles is called “Ivory Wars”, placed in Zakouma, Chad, Africa. Along with many other studies throughout the world, many people are slowly, but surely becoming aware of this horrific predicament occurring in Eastern Africa. Not long ago, INTERPOL workers discovered a ton of illegal ivory tusks, several animal furs, and hippo teeth on November 18th, 2008. They found the wildlife products in Nairobi, Kenya, the country’s capital. Poaching elephants for ivory is a very popular way to earn money, since ivory in other countries can be worth up to $800. Like in China, just one kilogram can get you $800. If more and more people around the world learn and understand this conflict, people won’t buy the ivory, and that should send a message to the poachers. Like Blood Diamonds in Western Africa, the Kimberly Process has worked finely, and if we can make something like that, then we can once and for all stop these poachers from making the African Elephant, extinct! This beautiful species deserves a place in the world, just like God had planned. There was a time, when no one even cared about poaching, about the profit. There was once a time when the elephants roamed freely, and peacefully, without chancing any harm, I believe we can restore that time to its former glory.
The second solution I have brought to you today is to build reserves, with guard stations to help protect these magnificent beauties. All around the world, even in the heart of Africa where this conflict takes place, there have been reserves where the elephants are placed to protect them. Only few have failed. National parks around the world are part of the reserves. Only few poachers have been able to tamper with the security to get in and murder these fine creatures. Only few have succeeded. Only few. If we continue to sit around and do nothing, this species will die out and will never be heard from again. Up to thousands have been killed each year, just each year. Even if the ivory trade was banned in the year 1989, these killers still murder the elephants. Nothing will stop these poachers, until we get in there and provide some extra security. Build more guard stations; supply the guards with more weapons to battle out the poachers to win the battle of justice. These guards need to be trained in order to protect these animals. We need to get the guards to know the specifics of the weapons, and know what to do in a state of emergency. There was once a time, when we need not weapons in order to stop the species from dying out. There was once a time when we could just let the elephants roam free, wander free all around the Horn of Africa, to the Central Heart of Africa. There was once a time, when we need not to worry, when we could just feel, just know, that the elephants would be safe, secure, and free from the dangers we fear now. And there will be a time, when we can proceed with life, and know that while we’re going through our lives out of harm’s way, we can be assured that the elephants, nay, the entire animal population of Africa can be under one’s wing, safe.
Without awareness raised and guard stations built, these animals cannot live the rest of their lives without being wanted dead. There is no questoin of the importance to this cause. We cannot sit back while one of God’s very own creatures goes extinct. As said in the Ten Commandments, ‘Thou Shall Not Murder.’ As I read this speech to you, I want you to think, about all of the deceased elephants of the past. I cannot imagine anyone here wanting to kill them. If so, may the spirits of the elephants haunt you for all of eternity.

Well, I hope you liked my essay/speech. Remember, I’m Royce, and this is the Modern Typewriter, OUT!

Picture Taken From: http://photos.mongabay.com/07/0226tusks.jpg

 

The Supposedly ‘Lost’ Tribe…

Welcome to the Modern Typewriter, a daily blog to discuss topics that can’t be answered easily, or are just some fun topics! Today is June 24th, 2008, I’m Karina, and I’m here to tell you about the supposedly ‘lost’ tribe in the Amazon Rainforest.

A few months ago, a photographer claimed that he found a Native lost Indian tribe in the Amazon Rainforest. Pictures of this ‘lost’ tribe helped back up his claim.

But just recently, he came clean and said that he faked half of the true story. The Indians pictured were actual Indians that were a part of a tribe, but they weren’t considered ‘lost’ or ‘undiscovered’.

“I think it is actually really arrogant of that photographer to do something like this. This one photo was so popular over the news, and he knew it was a fake. He should’ve come clean way before this photo came popular, because I mean he pretty much fooled a lot of people into thinking we actually contacted a ‘lost’ tribe.” says Royce, a writer at the Modern Typewriter.

The photographer took the picture to emphasize the importance of not cutting down trees in the Amazon Rainforest. He wanted people to understand that there are people out there living in the Amazon, and are becoming endangered because of logging.

“It’s actually in a way funny to me, because I mean he (the photographer) must’ve been a good practical prankster during his high school years, because to pull something like this off, you got to have not only guts, but some wit. And what else is funny is that all of the major news companies literally wrote articles on this one picture and now, when you go back to look for that article, you can’t find it. They deleted it.” says Melanie, another writer at the Modern Typewriter.

So what do you think? Do you think it was right of the photographer to take a fake picture to fool the world? Or do you think it was a mean prank? Leave us a comment to express your opinion!

Remember, I’m Karina, and this is the Modern Typewriter, OUT!

Picture Retrieved From: http://tinyurl.com/5sl4u4

 

Siamese Cats

Welcome to the Modern Typewriter, a daily blog to discuss topics that can’t be answered easily, or are just some fun topics! Today is February 14th, 2008, I’m Anna, and I am here to talk about Siamese Cats.

The breed originated in Siam, which is now Thailand. That is where the name, Siamese, came from.

All Siamese cats have almond-shaped blue eyes, and a cream-colored body, with colored points on their snouts, ears, paws, lower legs, and tails. All Siamese kittens at birth are pure-white. They eventually grow cream-colored fur later on.

An interesting fact was that most of the early Siamese cats were cross-eyed.

An organization that helps the adoption of Siamese cats in the United States is the Siamese Rescue. They have helped the adoption of over 14,500 cats. With different centers across the USA, this lets you find a cat closer to you.

What do you think about Siamese Cats? Do you have one? Leave a comment to express your opinion!

Remember, I’m Anna, and this is the Modern Typewriter, OUT!

Picture Retrieved From: http://tinyurl.com/34my6n