The Hunger Games

I have a few questions that I hope you can answer:

Do you think that her mother is a bad mother because she seems catonic?

Do you feel that Katniss has taken over the mothering roll for Prim and her own mother as well?

Thanks a spunch.

My Construction Peet Prowler Article

Construction: What’s Your Opinion?


By: Ben Harter


If you’ve ever been in the Peet Junior High building, you’ve probably heard the construction. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I think it is the most annoying sound ever. Just the sound of the drills and thumping makes me want to go ballistic. But I don’t know what you people think, so I decided to ask.

Does the construction affect your learning?

Elle Stackhouse: No
David Bobst: No Ben, you affect my learning
Taylor Pearce: Yes
Amanda Clark: Yes
John Trunnell: Yes

Now, I asked teachers if it affected their teaching.

Ms. Griffin: No
Mr. Mord: No
Mr. Foth: Yes
Mrs. Dufel:Yes

So, half of those asked, said yes. Apparently the construction is bothering some of teachers and most of the students. That’s the end, tune in next time. Same bat time, same bat channel.

Positive Feedback

Edna Mae and Millie Bruce Interview for my project

Edna Mae and Millie Bruce Interview

Your host: Ben Harter


Hello and welcome back to Interview Show with your host Ben Harter. My guests today are two of Ray Robinson’s past wives, Edna Mae and Millie Bruce. How are you ladies today?

Edna: Fine

Millie: Good

Well that’s good to hear. Now, here’s how it goes. I’m going to ask you five questions about your relationship to Sugar Ray Robinson and you answer truthfully. You dig?

Edna: Yes

Millie: Yeah

Okay, let’s get cooking.

Question One: How did each of you meet Sugar Ray?

Edna: Well one night I was having a drink in his café when he walked in and started eyeing me from his spot in the booth. He came over and talked and we became friends.

Millie: Well I just got back from modeling in Europe and when I opened my door, Sugar was sitting on the couch. He explained that my friends brought him home to wait as they got ready to go to another club. I didn’t think much of him but pretty soon he started to have roses sent to me at my door. It was sweet, really.
Well those both sound like some interesting stories, ladies. Let’s see if we can’t dig up some more.

Question two: Did either of you have any children with him?

Edna: No

Millie: Nope

Huh. I figured that would bring something up. Well, I digress.

Question three: How did you both deal with his going away to train?

Edna: Well when Sugar would have to go off to his camps to train, I understood and wished him luck. I would then stay either at our house or visit his sister. His mother never really liked me that much.

Millie: I was always able to see Sugar during his training. Whenever I said I was going somewhere or I wanted something, he would tag along. I don’t think he ever got much training done, really.

Neat. So I guess NOW I know who to blame for his mediocre comeback! *Ben laughs, studio audience follows. Millie blushes.*

Question four: How was each of your marriages to him?

Edna: Well as I said before his mother never really liked me. She would always complain that I’m just dragging him down and that he didn’t really love me. Occasionally we would get along and go see one of his fights but then she would still feel the same.

Millie: His mother liked having me around. I got along with his whole family. When Sugar and I would have our spats, we would always make up after words. I think that’s what saved our marriage to be honest.

Well it seems that both of you have had your rough patches, but I think it could of worked out for either one of you.

Final question: A lot of people think that Sugars decline was his comeback. Do you agree?

Edna: Even though I wasn’t with him at the time, I still think it was mainly his age. He was just getting to old to box. It was sad.

Millie: He promised me he would retire after his last title shot, and he stuck to his word. He retired with a big ceremony in Madison Square Garden that a lot of his fans went to see. He explained after that the applause was different then any one of his fights. But I agree with Edna that it was his age. He should of quit while he was ahead.

Fascinating. You both agree that it was age. At least he got to have his fun in the ring and make a difference. Well, that looks like our time. So to all you people at home, goodnight!

Just say what you like about it. this is a Transactual piece.

“Sugar Ray” Robinson Essay

By Ben Harter

Jake LaMotta, Randy Turpin, Carl Olson, the list goes on. These are all people that “Sugar Ray” Robinson has defeated. “I fought Sugar Ray so many times I almost got diabetes!” Jake LaMotta would say in an interview about Sugar Ray. From being poor to worldwide fame, anyway you cut it, “Sugar Ray” Robinson is one of the best middleweight boxers in the world.

Walker Smith Junior’s life would change the night that he decided to step into the ring with a stranger for the first time. They were amateur fights in New York where people could have their fifteen minutes of fame under a spotlight. Walker didn’t have his own ID card to box, his mother wouldn’t allow it, and so he had to use one for a kid named Ray Robinson. A stringy little kid, he wasn’t expected to win. He couldn’t believe that he had just won his first fight. (Robinson pg. 46)

Soon he would keep going to the bootleg fights every Saturday night until his mother found out. She was mad at first, but when she saw the $900 he had made over the course of the fights, she changed her mind. “Well, maybe you can keep fighting, but if you start to get cut up, I’ll have to make you stop.” she said. (Robinson pg. 65)

With an undefeated record of eighty-nine wins, zero loses; “Sugar Ray” won the Golden Gloves when he was only fifteen years old. From then on he would start to box professionally, keeping his name, Ray Robinson. His first loss would be the first and only one that Jake LaMotta would get on him. A total of six fights, Robinson and LaMotta would be one of the greatest boxing rivalries along with Fraizer and Ali. (Robinson various pages)

As well as his boxing career, Robinson was just as big outside of his career with his ability to sing and dance. He would do many shows but said he hated the touring. (Robinson pg. 233) He quit once he started to plan a comeback to boxing because of his business and money decreasing.

His comeback was not well received. He started to lose fights in rows and boxing critics did not do him any favors in their articles. (Robinson pg. 247) At this point he was thinking about retirement. He retired with a ceremony in Madison Square Garden that ended with him getting a trophy that said “Worlds Greatest Fighter” (Robinson pg. 365) as well as a standing ovation. He lived a modest life after that. He bought an apartment with Millie Bruce, his second wife, and lived out the rest of his days in New York. (Robinson pg. 368)

Transactional. I would like to know of any questions you had about my piece. Thanks :)

Multi-Genre Paper Poem

Sugar Ray Poem

By Ben Harter


Once there was a man named Sugar Ray
And with his money he loved to play
With all the proceeds from his fights
He would party most of his nights

For all his friends who loved to spend
He would always have money to lend
But when the government wanted a cut
Old Sugar Ray was stuck in a rut

All his money he started to lose
So he put back on his boxing shoes
His comeback didn’t go down well
With tickets being a problem to sell

Four million dollars came and went
With most going toward the government
When asked, he would always say:
“I wouldn’t have had it any other way.


I would like for people to give me feedback on what I should do to make my poem better.

Transactional