IRP Blog Post 2c

Connections

It seems like throughout the book and mainly in this section, the task of government has been to maximize efficiency and disregard any actions that are detrimental to social aspects. The government and class order seems to be the number one priority. As the people keep repeating in the novel, "Cleanliness is next to fordliness."

As mentioned in this online article by "The Guardian," North Korea has been failing to meet growth targets due to the harsh laws set forth on the people. When an entire government tries to put too much emphasis in conformity and serving the country, efficiency quickly falls.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/dec/05/northkorea

IRP Blog Post 2b

Symbol

A huge use of symbolism by Aldous Huxley was the use of soma (an alcoholic beverage). Soma, as other alcoholic drinks do, alter ones way of thinking and perception of the life around them. Bernard drank soma only before having sex with Lenina, something he did not at all want to do but what was acceptable by society's standards. Soma, like the government, has been forcing people to make irrational decisions so far in the book.

http://www.drugs.com/soma.html

IRP Blog Post 2a

Part Two
Chapters 5-6

People:
-Lenina- worker at the Hatchery, in the helicopter
-Henry- “with” Lenina, in the helicopter ride also
-Bernard- awkward tension with Lenina “She looked at Bernard with an expression of rapture, but of rapture in which there was no trace of agitation or excitement.” (85) He later has sex with Lenina but only after getting drunk. He wants to act more “mature.”
-Fifi
-John

Events and Places:
-Helicopter ride over cremated bodies
-Giant orgy
-Wrestling match
-Reservation
-Lenina and Bernard get “freaky”

Symbols:
-Phosphorous recovery- cremated people are used to make plants grow, this shows the dropout of religion and treating bodies reverently
-Orgy- shows a lacking of respect for unity and morales
-Ford- They keep mentioning Ford because of his immense power

Themes and Ideas:
-A growing feeling for rebelling (especially Bernard now)
-Fitting in
-Releasing your wills and inhibitions
-Atheism
-Good vs. Evil


Connections and Questions:
-How many people are going to eventually revolt?
-Will Lenina and Bernard’s love affair somehow continue throughout the novel?

The people are seeming to really let go of themselves and just go with society’s norms. I feel like even in the United States today that kids are viewing sex as being less sacred and more of a recreational activity. While this book is a little extreme, it somewhat does predict this changing belief.
http://www.hi-ho.ne.jp/taku77/refer/sexnorm.htm
[Link about changing views for sex]

R.A.F.T.

Role: Alberto [2]
Audience: You [4]
Format: 5 Tweets [4]
Topic: Chile [3]

@matusjohn The bike is looking sexy as ever and ready to kick off this trip! Can't wait to just leave and feel free! #livingfree
@matusjohn Seeing an old friend from my university. Wish you were here to eat this steak with us! #yum
@matusjohn Messed up bike NF. Full stomach with meat.. Yesss
@matusjohn More meat!!! Leaving tomorrow can't wait to get going again!
@matusjohn Leaving chile! wish you were here to constantly fix my bike #funfunfun

IRP Blog Post 1c

Part One
Chapter 3-4

People:
-Crying boy- Doesn’t like playing a game in the nude with kids his age, finds it too erotic so he’s disciplined
-Babies- Get shocked when they approaching books and flowers so they know not to like them
-Director- Keeps giving a tour, he gets interrupted by crying boys

Events and Places:
-Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre- Place where babies are made so society can utilize them with the characteristics they like. Babies are trained
-World State- Name for their “perfect society”
-Classrooms
-Playgrounds

Symbols:
-Technology used to control masses
-Family terms are considered “pornographic”
-Balance between happiness and truth

Themes and Ideas:
-Propaganda (through technology)
-Perfection
-Accepting the norm
-Atheism
-Language barriers
-Teaching elementary kids about sex


Connections and Questions:
-Was this book written at a time of conformity?
-How can anyone believe this suppression would work? (North Korea)

Technology is playing such a crucial role in containing people in Brave New World. Also, we see people in Egypt having their revolution with technology playing such a crucial role.
http://www.businessinsider.com/egypt-211-start-of-a-new-era-post-911-2011-2

IRP Blog Post 1b

Part One
Chapter 2

People:
-John- A student watching the tour of the human factory.
-Babies- Get shocked when they approaching books and flowers so they know not to like them
-Director- Tells a story about a polish man, Reuben.

Events and Places:
-Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre- Place where babies are made so society can utilize them with the characteristics they like. Babies are trained
-World State- Name for their “perfect society”
-Classrooms

Symbols:
-Early hatred through shocking
-Family terms are considered “pornographic”

Themes and Ideas:
-Propaganda
-Perfection
-Accepting the norm
-Atheism
-Language barriers
-Teaching elementary kids about sex


Connections and Questions:
-How long will it be until John snaps and breaks into action?

There is a lot of talk of when a school district should start talking about sex with kids. Of course elementary school is too young to have full-on lessons but when should they teach it?

IRP Blog Post 1a

Part One
Chapter 1

People:
-John- A student watching the tour of the human factory.
-Director- Giving the tour and describes how great this factory is for making an ideal world.
-Mr. Foster- Intelligent man with many questions at the hatchery

Events and Places:
-Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre- Place where babies are made so society can utilize them with the characteristics they like.
-World State- Name for their “perfect society”

Symbols:
-Splitting/duplicating embryos- a sign that many people lack individualism and human element is lost
-Comparing replicating humans to animals (15).

Themes and Ideas:
-“Bokanovsky’s Process is one of the major instruments of social stability.” (Huxley 7)
-Perfection
-Accepting the norm
-Atheism


Connections and Questions:
-1984 was very similar because human individualism was minimized and a classless society was being forced to form
-How long will it be until John speaks against the “World State?”
-Will John die fighting or create a change in society?


Here is an article about why North Korea is such a backwards nation. While reading Brave New World, it sounded a lot like social injustices in North Korea.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/05/28/welcome-to-north-korea-you-will-love-it-115875-21394846/

Quote:
"Hot tunnels alternated with cool tunnels. Coolness was wedded to discomfort in the form of hard x-rays."
This is a very descriptive passage.

IRP Blog Post 1

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

180 Degrees South Reflection

"The best journeys answer questions that in the beginning you didn't even think to answer."

Journeys should be about doing unexpected events and not knowing where they take you. When doing so, the questions one may think will be answered, are fulfilled with many other others. Doug and Yvan were on a quest to travel the unknown and while they probably thought in the beginning that they knew what would happen, they were lead on a trip unexpected and wild. While I think I know what college and the rest of my life will look like, I will never be truly positive until I experience it.

Gatsby & the Narrator

I am the Narrator from Invisible Man, and I want to be a real man. I want to be an acting citizen in my community, nation, and world. I want people to look at me as if my skin was the same as theirs. People will want to hear my voice and listen to my opinions. I will have the power to improve the community’s standards for all.

I am Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby, and I want to be loved. Daisy is the love of my life and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I tried to win her love with materialistic items but it all crumbled down. I should have just told her the truth from the beginning. I need to be more honest.

Both of these two main characters needed to be more honest to themselves and others. Society transformed both of these people into something that they are not. The main difference is that the Narrator was being forced to act in different ways because it was the way of African-American lives back then. Gatsby did it to impress a girl.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XcXoP_eMu_MaQMPGqpAa4unu9HrS6aHyKxhO-c5SGxzakuu3bEme7xWDFo2k0LU4ufFPTwww8x8Py5of31MRt24M6-n1kbLXlVsdAd8dw34M3C-qehsPYA5EgbYFnhgX7VlhrsBtRJ5x/s1600/honesty.gif

IR Blog Post 4- ESPN

Sports- ESPN

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/news/story?id=5974731&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

LeBron James: No regrets about '10

Fact Check:
1) LeBron James said, "It absolutely was a good year."
2) James lost to the Celtics in the NBA east championship series (many say he bailed on his team on purpose) and carried out "The Decision" in 2010 where he told a national audience that he wasn't returning to Cleveland.
3) The Miami Heat and James won 16 of their last 17 games; the Heat will have a 25-9 record going into 2011 after starting a poor 9-8.

Questions:
1) Did LeBron's agent tell him to have "The Decison?"
2) Can anyone stop the Heat right now??

Extra Details:
LeBron may not have made the smartest decision to air "The Decision" but you cannot solely blame him for the Celtics collapse in the playoffs last year. Even "The Decision" was not as bad as some people make it out to be. He had every right to leave Cleveland but some people make it out to be as if he was made to be there forever.
http://www.nba.com/2010/news/features/fran_blinebury/12/31/resolutions/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt1

Terms To Know:
Akron- A relatively large city where LeBron still calls home in Ohio.

IR Blog Post 4- Billboard 100

Arts- Billboard 100

http://www.billboard.com/news/michael-jackson-autopsy-tv-special-cancelled-1004137629.story#/news/michael-jackson-autopsy-tv-special-cancelled-1004137629.story

Michael Jackson Autopsy TV Special Cancelled

Fact Check:
1) The show, "Michael Jackson's Autopsy: What Really Killed Michael Jackson," was set to air in several countries in Europe and in the United Kingdom on January 13.
2) Discovery networks said, "Given the commencement of legal proceedings beginning next week, and at the request of Michael Jackson's estate, the scheduled broadcast of the medical documentary related to Michael Jackson's official autopsy has been postponed indefinitely."
3) Co-executors of his estate sent a letter to Discovery Networks calling the program "insensitive" and "in shockingly bad taste."

Questions:
1) Was this show really made just to prove to people he was dead?
2) Was the show already made so it could possibly still circulate?

Extra Details:
It would have been a disgrace if they did air this show. Even the executors of his estate thought it was stupid. There are way too many MJ lovers that want to know every single thing about him in every way possible. It's good that Discovery wised up but they should never have signed him in the first place.
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/12/31/discovery-pulls-michael-jackson-autopsy-show/

Terms To Know:
John Branca and John McClain- Co-executors of the Michael Jackson estate that spoke against the proposed show

IR Blog Post 4- FoxNews

Current Issues- FoxNews

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/12/31/indian-tea-tastes-different-climate-change-1665175282

Tea off: India's farmers say climate changing brew

Fact Check:
1) Growers in tropical Assam state say rising temperatures have led to a serious drop in production.
2) The rising temperatures are also changing the flavor of the teas.
3) The area in northeastern India is the source of the finest black and British-style teas.

Questions:
1) Are the Indians bitter because of the different taste? Does that mean it tastes bad?
2) Have the sales in their tea leaves dropped?
Extra Details:
The problem I see with this tea dilemma is that there are no facts given about temperature rises. This is all very subjective and while it could be true that the temperature has been rising, the proof is not given. It would be horrible to make a signature tasting tea leaf that is not as potent due to the climate.
http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/monthly/INXX0188 (weather for the location of the tea farms in India)
Terms To Know:
Guwahati, India- A major city in eastern India with close to a million people. It is said to be the "Gateway" of the North-east Region.

IR Blog Post 3- FoxNews

Current Issues- FoxNews

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/12/16/grenada-churches-lament-christmas-eve-reggae/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+foxnews/world+(Internal+-+World+Latest+-+Text)

Grenada churches lament Christmas Eve reggae show

Fact Check:
1) The Grenada Conference of Churches condemns an event promoter to host the Dec. 24 show featuring various stars of Jamaican "dancehall."
2) The Grenada Conference of Churches feels as if it's an embarrassment to Christianity.
3) The group publicly came out to speak against the event on Thursday.

Questions:
1) What authority does this organization have?
2) Is there a leader behind the event?

Extra Details:
While I'm all for saying "Merry Christmas" and all that, I don't see a huge signifance in this story. Maybe it's just that it's outside of the US so I don't care.
http://go-jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=25074

Terms To Know:
Grenada- Island country, very Christian

IR Blog Post 3- Billboard

Arts- Billboard

http://www.billboard.com/news/billboard-bits-usher-laughs-off-fan-s-kick-1004134863.story#/news/billboard-bits-usher-laughs-off-fan-s-kick-1004134863.story

Usher Laughs Off Fan's Kick to Face, Don Cheadle Starring as Miles Davis?

Fact Check:
1) During a concert at Madison Square Garden on Monday, a fan accidentally kicked Usher in the face.
2) To avoid embarrassment, Usher is trying to laugh ff the event.
3) Usher said, "In all my years, this is one of the most interesting experiences. I got a kick out of it!"

Questions:
1) Is there a video of Usher getting hurt?
2) Does he have a bruise?

Extra Details:
It's kind of embarrassing but I wish there was a video to watch. Maybe this will be an ongoing joke?
http://www.ushernow.com/


Terms To Know:
Usher- Popular singer/rapper

IR Blog Post 3- ESPN

Sports- ESPN

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5927893&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

NFL sends letter about sideline rules

Fact Check:
1) The NFL sent a letter to the 32 teams Thursday reminding them of the rules and restrictions for the bench area and sidelines.
2) The assistant coach for the Jets tripped a player of the opposing game.
3) The assistant was fined and suspended a few days ago.

Questions:
1) Is the punishment too harsh? Not harsh enough?
2) Has this happened before? Or in college games?

Extra Details:
It's awful to hear that such a great sports team would stoop down to a level like this. He should never coach in the NFL for what he did. Did he do this ever before?
http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-1/GM-Alosi-Now-Suspended-Indefinitely/6679af19-7487-4e93-8cd8-848347202cad

Terms To Know:
Nothing.

IR Blog Post 2- ESPN

Sports- ESPN

http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/5874550/qatar-russia-host-world-cups-us-shut-out

U.S. 2022 World Cup bid falls short

Fact Check:
1) Russia will host the world cup in 2018 and Qatar will host it in 2022.
2) The USA lost the 2022 bid to Qatar as the runner up.
3) The entire country of Qatar has 500,000 less people than the city of Houston and in area is smaller than Connecticut.

Questions:
1) Why Qatar????
2) How obvious does the World Cup panel want to make it that they hate the US?

Extra Details:
While I understand that the US hosted the World Cup in 1994, they are the most qualified to host it in 2022. The desert nation of Qatar has nothing going for them other than oil and gas. It regularly reaches over 100 degrees in the summer and is not suitable to host a world event. It was a poor decision by the FIFA team and their bias towards America was transparent.
http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/vacationclimatology/monthly/QAXX0003

Terms To Know:
Qataris- People from Qatar

IR Blog Post 2- Billboard 100

Arts- Billboard 100

http://www.billboard.com/news/britney-spears-new-album-coming-in-march-1004133488.story#/news/britney-spears-new-album-coming-in-march-1004133488.story

Britney Spears' New Album Coming in March 2011

Fact Check:
1) Spears' March 2011 release will be her first since 2008's "Circus."
2) Britney Spears celebrated her 29th birthday today (Dec. 2) with this announcement.
3) The album "Circus" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, marking her fifth chart-topping set.

Questions:
1) Will her new album be as successful as her last one, Circus?
2) What has she been up to since her last album?

Extra Details:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/britney-spears-release-seventh-album-55709
This news article also hypes the new album and states her past success. While Britney is getting older, it's amazing to hear that she is only 29. All the early hype for this CD already makes me feel like it will be disappointing.

Terms To Know:
--Nothing--

IR Blog Post 2- Fox News

Current Issues- FoxNews

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/12/01/soviet-republic-giving-nuclear-materials-656026089/

Former Soviet republic giving up nuclear materials

Fact Check:
1) Belarus in 1994 gave up the nuclear weapons it inherited in the breakup of the Soviet Union, but it retained its highly enriched uranium stocks.
2) Belarus will transfer 485.01 pounds (220 kilograms) of highly enriched uranium to Russia.
3) In July, Clinton cited Belarus as among countries across the globe where a "steel vise" of suppression is "slowly crushing civil society and the human spirit."

Questions:
1) Why are they waiting until 2012 to give up the nuclear materials.
2) Was this decision made possibly to lead other countries to do the same?

Extra Details:
http://www.newsok.com/in-boost-for-obama-belarus-gives-up-nuke-material/article/feed/218784?custom_click=pod_headline_asia
This news article says that the decision made by Belarus boosts Obama's image. The questions are how much did Obama do to influence this situation and will this really affect his reelection

Terms To Know:
Astana- Capital of Kazakhstan

IR Blog Post 1- ESPN

Sports- ESPN

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5859464&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

Plaxico Burress' agent upbeat for 2011

Fact Check:
1) Burress went to prison in September 2009 for violating New York's gun laws and was expected to serve 20 months with credit for good behavior.
2) Burress comes up for potential full release on June 6, 2011, but also will be on probation for two years.
3) In an incident in the fall of 2008, Burress accidentally shot himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub with a gun that had not been licensed in New York.

Questions:
1) Has Plaxico been training and working out in jail?
2) What two teams have been contacting him? Giants?

Extra Details:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/stats?playerId=2139
Burress' statistics show the caliber of a player he once was. Burress can be a steal for a team wanting to get a solid receiver averaging 15 yards per catch. Many people are saying that he might be able to rebound like Michael Vick has but it may be harder for a wide receiver to get back in shape.

Terms Or People To Know:
Drew Rosenhaus- NFL agent trying to get Plaxico a team to sign with