Tag: harriet beecher stowe

I’m sorry to start this way but I did wake up, because the story of a day starts at that point generally, and my first thought was, “I better check Slack.” There were no new messages. That was an indication that there would be no new build to test today, and I would not have to go to the office to test it. I was prepared to do so, if necessary, but everyone took their Sunday off. We really needed new builds and they really needed testing, but I would never ask anyone to work on a Sunday. I just respond in kind if they do.

There was an assignment due for my literature class. We needed to post five questions centered around the characters and themes of our selected reading. I am in the Uncle Tom’s Cabin group. I’d never read it and it’s good to finally understand its controversy in modern criticism.

These were my questions. I think I could have done better, but it is done.

1. Christianity (or a lack thereof) is a core part of many characters’ personalities and beliefs. Do you think Stowe agreed with the Christian sentiments in the novel?
2. Stowe often employs stereotype in her depictions of characters. What purpose do these stereotypes serve in her story? How do you think readers at the time of the novel’s publication felt about the stereotypical depictions, and how do you feel about them?
3. George Harris is presented to the reader as a fiery and bitter person who would rather die a free man than live as a slave. Uncle Tom is pious, kind, and often resigned to his fate. Compare these two characters and their impact on the story. How do their differences matter?
4. Augustine and his brother, Alfred, argue about slavery in chapter XXIII, with Alfred stating, “The slave-owner can whip his refractory slave to death,–the capitalist can starve him to death,” referring to the idea that Northerners oppress the lower class just as Southerners oppress slaves. Is this a valid comparison? Do you agree or disagree?
5. Consider the black characters in the story and their treatment by white characters. What are the similarities or differences in the way different black characters are treated? Why do you think that is?

I have very little money in my bank account today ($9.92 to be precise), and I will likely need to use that to cover gas for the remainder of the week. I estimate that’ll happen on the Wednesday evening return trip, which is two days before my next paycheck. In any case, I’m low on dough and will not be going anywhere today so that I may conserve gas and money. I just received a significant raise (to which I internally reacted, genuinely, with “Thank God!”) The raise puts me in a place to pay more than the minimum on the debts I accrued five years ago, pay my bills, and perhaps save for emergencies. Do you know, I don’t plan for financial emergencies? Not a one. I react to them.

These are my questions.

1. Why do I tread water while others go under?
2. Why should I be so fortunate?

I plan to finish Uncle Tom’s Cabin today. I needed to finish last week, but it’s difficult to read, what with the distractions of computer and Internet. The train is a great spot to read, but that’s only about 100 minutes a day. Never enough time for a novel. When I finish, I’ll likely eat tamales, watch something on Netflix, and generally seek something to occupy my mind in this maddening indoor state.

Tonight, at 10 AM GMT, 2 AM PST, I need to tell some folks that they need to remove one of their game’s features in order to hit a deadline. I’ve rehearsed my words, at least in thought. “It’s not that it’s good or bad, but it’s the only path forward at this point.”

If you wonder (because I wonder), “Well, why not extend the deadline so that the feature could be included when the game is released?”, it’s a valid question, but no longer applicable. We are committed. Everything can be modified, updated, and enhanced. The only limits are a willingness and the money to keep going.

I’m sorry to start this way but I did wake up, because the story of a day starts at that point generally, and my first thought was, “I better check Slack.” There were no new messages. That was an indication that there would be no new build to test today, and I would not have to go to the office to test it. I was prepared to do so, if necessary, but everyone took their Sunday off. We really needed new builds and they really needed testing, but I would never ask anyone to work on a Sunday. I just respond in kind if they do.

There was an assignment due for my literature class. We needed to post five questions centered around the characters and themes of our selected reading. I am in the Uncle Tom’s Cabin group. I’d never read it and it’s good to finally understand its controversy in modern criticism.

These were my questions. I think I could have done better, but it is done.

1. Christianity (or a lack thereof) is a core part of many characters’ personalities and beliefs. Do you think Stowe agreed with the Christian sentiments in the novel?
2. Stowe often employs stereotype in her depictions of characters. What purpose do these stereotypes serve in her story? How do you think readers at the time of the novel’s publication felt about the stereotypical depictions, and how do you feel about them?
3. George Harris is presented to the reader as a fiery and bitter person who would rather die a free man than live as a slave. Uncle Tom is pious, kind, and often resigned to his fate. Compare these two characters and their impact on the story. How do their differences matter?
4. Augustine and his brother, Alfred, argue about slavery in chapter XXIII, with Alfred stating, “The slave-owner can whip his refractory slave to death,–the capitalist can starve him to death,” referring to the idea that Northerners oppress the lower class just as Southerners oppress slaves. Is this a valid comparison? Do you agree or disagree?
5. Consider the black characters in the story and their treatment by white characters. What are the similarities or differences in the way different black characters are treated? Why do you think that is?

I have very little money in my bank account today ($9.92 to be precise), and I will likely need to use that to cover gas for the remainder of the week. I estimate that’ll happen on the Wednesday evening return trip, which is two days before my next paycheck. In any case, I’m low on dough and will not be going anywhere today so that I may conserve gas and money. I just received a significant raise (to which I internally reacted, genuinely, with “Thank God!”) The raise puts me in a place to pay more than the minimum on the debts I accrued five years ago, pay my bills, and perhaps save for emergencies. Do you know, I don’t plan for financial emergencies? Not a one. I react to them.

These are my questions.

1. Why do I tread water while others go under?
2. Why should I be so fortunate?

I plan to finish Uncle Tom’s Cabin today. I needed to finish last week, but it’s difficult to read, what with the distractions of computer and Internet. The train is a great spot to read, but that’s only about 100 minutes a day. Never enough time for a novel. When I finish, I’ll likely eat tamales, watch something on Netflix, and generally seek something to occupy my mind in this maddening indoor state.

Tonight, at 10 AM GMT, 2 AM PST, I need to tell some folks that they need to remove one of their game’s features in order to hit a deadline. I’ve rehearsed my words, at least in thought. “It’s not that it’s good or bad, but it’s the only path forward at this point.”

If you wonder (because I wonder), “Well, why not extend the deadline so that the feature could be included when the game is released?”, it’s a valid question, but no longer applicable. We are committed. Everything can be modified, updated, and enhanced. The only limits are a willingness and the money to keep going.