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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PIGLET!!!

Love At First Fight

Mr. McCall is clearly not the perfect husband most women dream of, for he is the complete opposite of Prince Charming. Mr. McCall is a short and clumsy man with eccentric habits and unconventional means of entertaining himself. He isn't the prince who comes to the rescue of the damsel in distress, his wife Mrs. McCall. On the contrary, he seeks for his wife's attention by using physical and verbal violence against her.

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Mrs. McCall is a tall, thin woman with smoothed black hair. She is characterized with an incredible tranquility for she tolerates her husband's atrocious cruelty to her. Mrs. McCall is apparently not a companionable person for the townspeople never call her by her first name, Venita. It is rumored among the townspeople that the couple married not due to endless love, but due to Mrs. McCall's desire to depart her miserable and noisy hometown.

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At the beginning of the story the relationship between the married couple is horrible and brutal. Mr. McCall has no regard for his wife's feelings. He keeps using physical and verbal violence against her. Mrs. McCall tends to remain calm and passive despite her husband's frequent use of obscene language. She would only stare at him with her penetrating black eyes since it makes Mr. McCall feel awkward and bewildered.
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The turning point in the story takes place when Mrs. McCall shrewdly makes her husband think she is going to revenge him for his heartless behavior by poisoning him. Her cunning plan is about to change her marriage life forever. Mr. McCall becomes incredibly openhanded towards his wife for he has bought her a prestigious sealskin coat. Last but not least, Mr. McCall ceases his constant use of physical violence and verbal vulgarity against his wife.
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To my mind, couples who are currently enduring divorce procedures should read this story. The relationship between the McCalls may teach them a crucial lesson about relationships - put your quarrels aside and try to materialize the love between both of you even though you believe your relationship is doomed to fail!
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I loved it. Well done, Michal. (95)
Daphna.

We Don't Need No Education, Do We?

Homework has always been a fundamental part of students' lives since the beginning of formal school. However, the practice has sometimes been accepted and other times repulsed. Some educationists believe homework shouldn't be given to students. Others claim five hours at school is insufficient and must be supplemented by some work at home. To my mind, it is not the homework that is objectionable, but it's nature and amount which provoke criticism.

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Students go to school and gain knowledge in subjects they haven't encountered before, and the only way for the material to be assimilated is by practice. Since the atmosphere in class is quite noisy, one's home is the ideal place to reinforce the lessons covered in class that day. Secondly, homework, given in humanistic subjects such as History and Litreature, may instill a sense of curiosity so that students become lifelong learners.
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Homework can benefit children also in the personal level. It can foster positive character traits, such as self-reliance and responsibility. Homework utilizes the leisure time of the children, which otherwise would have been wasted for nonsense. Thus, homework can teach children how to manage time wisely. It may also establish the habit of working hard and regularly.
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I believe that the significance and necessity of homework cannot be minimized as long as homework is given in the right moderation. It is an essential component of learning since homework carries an enormous burden of benefits. I can guarantee you that homework is not a slavish task, but a wonderful recipe for success and prosperity.

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Dogs Really Eat Homework...

Pros and Cons of...

SPACE EXPLORATION

How would it be to plan a holiday to some tourist destination in the outer space? Wouldn't it be stuperfacient? Definitely, yes! It sounds unbelievable, but it has the potential of becoming a reality! The dream once dreaded is seen with thrill today. Nations have sponsored manned and unmanned space flights to destinations unexplored in view of making the impossible - possible! But is space exploration really a rosy picture? Or do some dark clouds shadow this field?
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Space exploration has the potential of discovering the yet undiscovered facts about space. It has a huge potential of resolving mysteries that surround the outer space. Through the exploration of space, we may find new minerals and new precious materials. Exploring space may lead us to the discovery of better evolved creatures and even humanoid species living in the outer space.
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One of the major cons of space exploration is the vast amount of money spent in the research. Space exploration involves both astronomy and space technology. Both require a huge amount of money to be spent on the journey to space. Why not spend this money to reduce poverty in the undeveloped countries? Why not channelize the national fortune towards the betterment of the downtrodden lot of society? Apart from the expenditure of money, manned missions to space compel a huge risk of human life. Astronauts have to face harsh conditions and challenge themselves to adapt to hostile environments. Unmanned missions and the usage of robots to explore space are a solution to risking the human life. But robots mean another new technology, thus incurring further costs.
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Space research is undeniably a giant leap for mankind. But I wonder whether it is equitable to spend on space exploration when many cannot even meet their basic needs of life. Is it rightful to devote endless endeavors to land the first man on Mars, but not endless efforts to rescue an African child seeking for food that won't be found? I'm afraid that the answer is no.

Intriguing! (100)
Daphna.

UNDER PRESSURE

Peer pressure is a societal situation when your friends persuade you to do something you're not desirous of doing or don't have the valor to do. One of the major problems of peer pressure occurs when you are towed into something you didn't really want to do but due to certain circumstances - become dependent on. It might be positive, but most of the occasions end up with an adolescent smoking a Marlboro cigarette during school break.

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The adolescent suddenly finds himself in a situation of being constantly tested and evaluated not by adults, not by official authorities, but by his peers. He has to prove that he is trustworthy, courageous and not subject to parental dictates. Therefore, the adolescent may find himself doing things he doesn't like, merely in order to be respected by his peers.
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The adolescent may study less than he used to since hanging with friends has become more significant to him. He may skip classes at school in order to avoid a test. He may begin smoking or drinking beer in alehouses even though he can't bear the taste of the cigarette or the beer but won't admit it. He may even be tempted to use drugs. This behavior may be disastrous, and the adolescent may wake up from the dream when it is too late.
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You probably wonder what is the best way to combat peer pressure. Well, all you have to do is arm yourself with wisdom and some decision making skills and remember once and for all - knowing who to listen to and who to avoid is the biggest step in struggling unwelcome negative peer pressure!

Excellent work, Michal. I enjoyed it very much. (95)

Daphna.

Dear Daphna,

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Pardon me for not fulfilling my entire commitment to prepare the seventh writing assignment on time! I wouldn't lie to you by telling you stories that my computer had collapsed, but I want you to know that I didn't mean to disdain this assignment! I deeply apologize and I hope you would accept my sincere apology.
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Michal :(

No need for such an apology. I know you. This could happen to anyone, including me. So, keep up your great work and don't feel too bad about it.

Daphna.