FEELINGS

Look at the faces and decide which one best describes your feelings today. They are very funny!

BUS BOYCOTT

African - Americans paid their fares at the front of the bus. But then they had to get off the bus and walk to the rear to enter it. They had to sit in a special section in the back of the bus. If a white person got on the bus and found no seat, the driver would tell the African - American person sitting nearest the front to move and give the white person his seat.

And that's what Rosa Parks refused to do on December 1, 1955. She was tired after working all day sewing dresses and suits. "I'm not going to move," she repeated to the driver. Rosa was arrested and taken to jail.

Word about Rosa's protest spread. African - Americans refused to ride the buses, and the bus company lost thousands of dollars. Rosa's lawyers went to court to prove that the bus company was not obeying the United States Constitution when it treated African - Americans unfairly. After almost a year, the Supreme Court said that the bus company had to change its rules. African - Americans were allowed to enter the bus from the front and sit anywhere they chose. No one had to give up his seat.

Rosa Parks helped make a big change in the United States because she was tired - tired of being treated unfairly.


ACTIVITY:
List the differences between the treatment of whites and African - Americans in 1955.

ROSA PARKS

"No", Rosa Parks replied quietly to the bus driver. "I'm not going to get up and give my seat to a white person." It wasn't the first time Rosa had felt angry about the rules which treated people differently. When she was a little girl, Rosa had hated the water fountains marked "colored" for the African - Americans to use. She didn't like the old, crowded schools she attended while the white children went to new ones. Rosa disliked the fact that she could not sit down and drink a soda at the same lunch counter where white people were served. But the way African - Americans were treated on the city buses in Montgomery, Alabama, made Rosa angriest of all.

Martin Luther King

On January 15, people in the United States celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. They not only honour a great American and civil rights leader, but they also renew their faith in the dream he had for all Americans. This important day is celebrated on the third Monday of January each year. This year is celebrated on the 19th.

Dr. Martin Luther King thought that prejudice is harmful to everyone because it cuts people off from opportunities to learn and grow from interaction with "different" people. He also believed that deeply in the need for all people to share in a commitment to work together and help each other. He had a vision for America. His dream for a free and equal society became an inspiration for his followers.

POPEYE

by Hy Eisman



"He's short, balding, ornery and downright ugly by anyone's standards. But countless numbers of fans have grown up admiring and identifying with this unpretentious hero since his introduction to the public in 1929. Celebrating his 75th Anniversary in 2004, "Popeye" remains one of the most widely recognized and best-loved personalities ever.
Popeye is an underdog with a long fuse and a keen sense of fair play. Everyone identifies with him when he finally says, "Tha's all I can stands, and I can't stands no more!" And it seems only fitting that our most unlikely hero would fall for the least likely of sex symbols: Olive Oyl. Flat as a board, with a pickle-shaped nose and fickle heart to match, Popeye's "goil" puts him through his paces. Her only real competition is spinach.

Popeye made his first public appearance Jan. 17, 1929, in Elzie Segar's then 10-year-old comic strip, "Thimble Theatre," which originally revolved around Olive Oyl's family. Although he was introduced as a minor walk-on character, Popeye quickly "muskled" his way into the limelight and eclipsed the older characters to become the star of "Thimble Theatre." With Popeye came a host of new, off-beat funny folks such as Swee'Pea, the "infink" Popeye adopted; J. Wellington Wimpy, the world's most hamburger-obsessed moocher; and Bluto, the hairy "heavy" with the glass jaw.

Segar had a genius for creating strong, memorable characters the entire world knows and loves. "Not even Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse or Warner Bros.' Bugs Bunny can top Popeye in the high profile department ... (because) both the Rodent and the Wabbit have known long stretches of inactivity between film appearances ... (but) the monocular seafarer has seldom been caught without a new adventure in the works," wrote Michael H. Price of The New York Times News Service.

Popeye made the jump to the silver screen in a 1933 Betty Boop cartoon entitled, Popeye the Sailor from the Fleischer Studios. Nearly 750 Popeye cartoons were made and many are available on video.

In 1980, Paramount Pictures released a live-action musical motion picture in which Popeye was portrayed by Robin Williams and Olive Oyl played by Shelley Duvall. In 1993, Ted Turner's Cartoon Network celebrated the 60th anniversary of the sailorman's film debut with "Popumentary," a series of six prime-time specials. In 2004, Popeye made his debut in Popeye’s Voyage: The Quest for Pappy, the first-ever Popeye the Sailor Man 3-D, CGI animated production. The half-hour special aired in primetime on FOX during the holiday 2004 season and was rebroadcast in 2005. Lions Gate Family Home Entertainment released the deluxe DVD, which includes additional footage not seen on television as well as an array of exciting bonus features.

Known as Iron Arm in Italy, Karl Alfred in Sweden and Skipper Skraek or "Terror of the Sea" in Denmark, Popeye continues to appear in comic books published around the world.

Interestingly, Popeye's spinach obsession began in the Thimble Theatre strip but became an indispensable plot device in his later animated adventures. Spinach capital Crystal City, Texas, erected a statue in 1937 to honor E.C. Segar and Popeye for their influence on America's eating habits, making Popeye the first cartoon character ever immortalized in public sculpture. The spinach growers credited Popeye with a 33 percent increase in U.S. spinach consumption — and saving the spinach industry in the 1930s!

Today the sailorman has made Popeye-brand canned spinach the No. 2 brand behind Del Monte and he has his own brand of fresh spinach, salads and fresh vegetable snacks. He has also punched up supermarket sales of everything from Pepsi to popcorn, not to mention millions of T-shirts, caps, jackets, collectors' watches. In fact, Popeye was the first character to invade, in an important way, the toy and novelty field. From tin wind-up toys to puzzles and kazoo pipes, early Popeye novelty merchandise now carries staggering price tags in antique shops and flea markets.

And, speaking of collectibles, the U.S. Postal Service featured Popeye in its "American Comic Classics" collection of postage stamps issued to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the comic strip.

Popeye continues to be one of the most widely recognized and beloved characters in the world. It's amazing what a little spinach can do!"

Taken from http://www.kingfeatures.com/features/comics/popeye/about.htm

THE PINK PANTHER

The Pink Panther by Eric and Bill Teitelbaum


No cat is as sly as The Pink Panther. Whether he was cracking a safe or dodging a pink slip, Pink always did it with style. In the Pink Panther’s latest incarnation, Bill and Eric Teitelbaum bring the ongoing spar between the sly Pink Panther and his dim-witted nemesis Inspector Clouseau to the Sunday comics page. The strip will drive your readers wild with its gorgeous artwork and sophisticated humor that could only be The Pink Panther.

Taken from http://www.gocomics.com/thepinkpanther

MARVIN

by Tom Armstrong

"To Marvin, the year-old toddler who stars in Tom Armstrong's celebrated comic strip, adults do the strangest things. Unlike other family features, the world of Marvin is seen through the unique perspective of its carpet-crawling, crumb-crushing star. His biggest fear in life is the growing suspicion that one day he's going to turn into one of those strange, large creatures.
The playpen philosopher lives with his parents, Jeff and Jenny, and Bitsy, his sarcastic canine sidekick. Depending on the time of day, Bitsy can be both Marvin's best friend and worst enemy. Together, they wreak havoc and laughs in their own little virtual reality world.

Marvin first hit the comics pages in August 1982, and King Features now distributes the strip to 380 newspapers around the world.

Marvin starred in his own 1989 special, "Marvin: Baby of the Year," on CBS; has been a licensing and merchandising success almost from the very beginning; and has appeared in a number of paperback collections, including "Marvin Steps Out" and "All I Really Need To Know I Learned While Still In Diapers."

What is the reason for the strip's incredible popularity? Simple. Marvin portrays contemporary families coping with problems in the real world, armed with little more than a sense of humor, some common sense...and a few well-worn "baby expert" books. Readers respond to Marvin's independence — while seemingly being a helpless little baby, in actual fact, he totally controls all the "big people" around him. Like some pint-size potentate, his attitude is that his parents and grandparents were only put there to respond to his every whim. As Marvin likes to say, "Good servants are so hard to find!"

Taken from http://www.kingfeatures.com/features/comics/marvin/about.htm

GARFIELD

Garfield by Jim Davis

What a cat! A cat for all seasons. Sassy. Opinionated. This lasagna loving, mailman chasing, sarcastic cat is a classic that readers love. Garfield, Odie and Jon will leave you wanting a daily dose of this beloved bunch! Garfield’s crafty talent with words and sneaky preference for practical jokes often leave his owner, Jon - and us - speechless, and always wanting more.
Taken from http://www.gocomics.com/garfield

SPIDERMAN

"It was on the pages of Amazing Fantasy No. 15 where the Amazing Spider-Man first appeared. And in March 1963, one year after his first appearance, Spider-Man was starring in his own comic book and on his way to becoming Marvel Comics' most popular super hero ever!

Through the years, Spider-Man has also been a superpower in the world of licensing, appearing in paperback books, on posters, as an action figure, and in video games. And in addition to his licensing ventures, Spider-Man is also capturing bad guys in a hit animated TV show.

In 1977, Spider-Man began starring in his own newspaper strip written by his creator, Stan Lee. "The Amazing Spider-Man" can be seen in newspapers worldwide, and was a part of the first-ever comic strip/comic book crossover story.

In the summer of 2002, Spider-Man swung onto the silver screen and broke box office records with its massive first weekend receipts. Based upon the freak accident that miraculously granted Peter Parker with his incredible spider-like abilities, the movie starring Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst became a smash hit with audiences worldwide. The sequel again set box office records after its release in July 2004."

Taken from http://www.kingfeatures.com/features/comics/spidermn/about.htm

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes has been a worldwide favorite since its introduction in 1985. The strip follows the richly imaginative adventures of Calvin and his trusty tiger, Hobbes. Whether a poignant look at serious family issues or a round of time-travel (with the aid of a well-labeled cardboard box), Calvin and Hobbes will astound and delight you.
Taken from http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes

SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE

"A tale of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy.
A fanciful tale of young Will Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes, Ralph's younger brother) who discovers his muse while struggling with his latest play, "Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter," Madden's film is a tale of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy." movie review by Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

"Set amidst the grime and grandeur of Elizabethan England, "Shakespeare in Love" is an inspired re-imagining of history and a deft look at the relationship between art and life. Young Will Shakespeare ("Elizabeth's" Joseph Fiennes) is under commission from Philip Henslowe (Geoffrey Rush, also of "Elizabeth") to write a comedy, "Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter."
Fiennes and Paltrow make a pleasant, though not distinctive, pair. Surrounding them are some of Britain's finest character players, who happily prove the saying that there are no small parts, only small actors. Crowning them all, as the wily Elizabeth I, is Judi Dench ("Mrs. Brown"), calmly stealing every scene she's in. But the real star is the script. It wears its scholarship casually, almost disguising how well researched and structured it is, preferring instead to delight us with joyful witticisms and adroit plot twists." by L. J. Strom

SOPHIE'S WORLD

I am going to introduce you to a warm and cozy world created by Jostein Gaarner. This will be the place where you will want to stay for good because here you will find lots and lots of answers to your questions about who you are or what other people thought about the world before us. You will be able to understand about your past, about the hidden meaning of religion or you will understand why the culture you are living in is a product of a long process called history. And who are the creators of history? No, no. You are wrong. It is not the politics who make history but indeed we are the ones who make the world go round. Sophie will lead you through her world. She is a teenager like you are. She is a naive and smart girl who feels curious about everything she is surrounded by. She takes delight in finding out the reasons and explanations of her past and existence. So, take her hand and let her guide you through a new horizon in front of you. Let's have a blast together!!

TOM SAWYER

Tom Sawyer is a representative example of the change from childhood to adolescence. The difficulties he has to face make him step into maturity progessively. There is something else about this novel. The treatment the writer makes of Tom Sawyer serves him to ridicule society. It is all the adventures and situations he has to go through that are going to demonstrate that the society Tom lives in is based on hypocrisy. In summary, this novel shows us that when universal values such as love or tolerance dominate society instead of codes of behaviour based on convention, this society works much better. You might feel identified to this character in many respects. There are lots of Tom Sawyers all around us!!
Have a look at this! http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/tomsawyer/themes.html

THE LITTLE PRINCE

Have you ever had the necessity of growing up quickly? I bet you have. But what does growing up mean? Does it mean having more things accessible to you? Does it really mean owning your house and your car? Or does it mean living on your own without parents telling you off? Anyway, now matter what you think about growing up. This little boy I want you to meet is a fragile and delicate creature who is going to show you how to face life with commitment and naivety. He loves the world as it is and he is unable to feel contempt. By the end of the book, you will have learnt that the essential facts in life are invisible to your eyes because it is in your heart where you will find the real answers to the fundamental questions. This is growing up. Now let’s have a look at these lines. They will serve as an example of what you might find in the book: “The stars will be the horizon you will look at while you are smiling. I will be looking at the stars as well and the sun will feed me. You will have five hundred million kisses and I will have five hundred million hugs and I will not cry anymore when I look at the horizon. And we will belong together and things will never fall apart again because we will be looking at the horizon. Thanks for having tamed me.”

OLIVER TWIST

Dickens is one of the greatest writers In English literature. He is a master of the social novel and he knows how to depict the hard conditions of the people living in the Industrial revolution period thoroughly and with a great sense of humour. Some of his best novels are Hard Times, Great Expectations, David Copperfield or Oliver Twist. Particularly, in oliver Twist the reader is going to find all the ingredients present in his novels, namely, the development of cruel, comic and repugnant characters who represent the hypocrisy of the wealthy. This society is based on the double morality of those who own the money and push the rest of society to suffer the consequences of poverty. Childhood is another element which is always present in all novels. In this case, Dickens chooses a mild child who wanders around the city looking for food and shelter. He goes through a series of adventures that will make you laugh and cry. The end of the novel is fascinating and moving.