In about two and half years of my life in United States, I have faced many questions about my religious identity and my faith. But one particular question I have always tried to answer in length but never got a chance is “Why I do not celebrate Christmas?”
The teachings of Sikhism and also the traditions of my family have always taught me to respect other religions and the beliefs of others, but never give up those of your own. The answer to the question put forth earlier is that in the history of Sikhism, there is a chapter which has been talked about the most by historians and social scientists alike from throughout the world.
The tenth prophet of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh ji had four sons. Sahibzada (Prince) Ajit Singh ji, Sahibzada Jujhar Singh ji, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh ji; aged 17, 15, 9 and 7 respectively. The revolutionary ways and views of Sikhs under Guru Gobind Singh ji and their military success against local rulers and the Mughals in direct combat prompted the Mughal government and local Hindu kings to adopt a policy which caused minimal loss to them. They were looking for a prolonged war. Together they besieged the town of Anandpur Sahib which was the headquarters of Sikhism under Guru Gobind Singh ji in summer of 1704. The siege continued till December 1704 when after being pressed by aides and advisors, Guru Gobind Singh ji decided to leave the town with his family and army of about 1500 (this number is debatable, could be less) after being assured by Mughals and local kings that he will be allowed a safe passage.
On freezing night of December 20, 1704, when they left Anandpur Sahib, they were attacked by Mughals and local kings breaking all their promises and vows of a safe passage. There was a battle which raged for the whole night on the banks of a flooded river. Amidst all the chaos, the family of Guru Gobind Singh ji got separated. He along with His two older sons and 40 Sikh soldiers reached Chamkaur Sahib where these 43 hungry, thirsty and cold men were involved in a battle with One million strong Mughals. On December 21, the two sons of Guru Gobind Singh ji and other prominent Sikhs achieved martyrdom in front of their father after fighting valiantly but Guru ji did not give up. The two younger sons along with their grandmother (Guru ji’s mother) were arrested by the local Muslim ruler. Futile attempts were made to lure the little ones into Islam but they stood firm on their faith and faced the executioner’s sword on December 27, 1704 at Fatehgarh Sahib. Guru ji’s mother breathed her last when she heard this news.
So, this was a pretty hard time on Sikhs back then. Guru ji’s whole family including Himself and His father died for the cause of religion and righteousness while fighting against injustice and oppression. When I think about them, I just don’t feel like being part of any celebrations. I am here today because of all those Sikhs who laid down their lives carrying on the legacy of supreme sacrifices for the sake of others. The legacy must continue, and I need to remember the history. “A nation, sect or society which forgets its past, soon gets mingled with the dust of times. “
“He alone is known as a warrior who fights in the defense of religion. He may be cut apart, piece by piece, but he never leaves the battlefield.”
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
I, You and Me
From beginning to end, I feel you.
From oceans to skies, I see you.
From dawn to dusk, I hear you.
I will rewrite myself in your words.
I will paint myself in your colors.
I will mould myself into your shape.
I will be your umbrella for heat and rain.
I will be your jacket for wind and cold.
I will be your shoes for stones and thorns.
I can never be without you.
There is no “me” alone.
For I need “you” to be “me.”
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
We need a way out of roads!!!
As I sit in my dorm, with nothing really to do (even though finals are next week), and listening to soul-soothing piano instrumentals by my closest friend on Youtube, I am wondering about the road system in US.
I have given the road system in US some thought over past fortnight or so because of some reasons. The first was the video I watched in my American Studies class about the highway system that was constructed using public money. Was it to fulfill the aspirations of the public, or the carmakers and the highway lobby? I must admit that US relies too much on cars and roads becasue of so called "American Way of Life." Not talking about that, I want to just list down some of my worries.
The movie '2012' and my friend Andy Nguyen's research paper on earthquakes in Bay Area has caused me to think about how our over-reliability on roads will hurt us in wake of a natural disaster or crisis. Say there is a powerful earthquake in Bay Area, and it will definitely damage the existing highway system. That will only delay emergency responses and rescue operations by authorities.
The Government as well as the public needs to change their attitudes. We depend too much on cars and automobiles. Some attitudes that have become a part of culture and life need to be get rid of.
P.S. This blog could have been better!!
I have given the road system in US some thought over past fortnight or so because of some reasons. The first was the video I watched in my American Studies class about the highway system that was constructed using public money. Was it to fulfill the aspirations of the public, or the carmakers and the highway lobby? I must admit that US relies too much on cars and roads becasue of so called "American Way of Life." Not talking about that, I want to just list down some of my worries.
The movie '2012' and my friend Andy Nguyen's research paper on earthquakes in Bay Area has caused me to think about how our over-reliability on roads will hurt us in wake of a natural disaster or crisis. Say there is a powerful earthquake in Bay Area, and it will definitely damage the existing highway system. That will only delay emergency responses and rescue operations by authorities.
The Government as well as the public needs to change their attitudes. We depend too much on cars and automobiles. Some attitudes that have become a part of culture and life need to be get rid of.
P.S. This blog could have been better!!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Welcome back.. :)
Nov 18. Thanks Paul. I have decided to blog more now. I just used to blog for English class only. I signed into blogger for first time after 5-6 months.
I have nothing to do. Well I do have something, a research paper. I think I should start soon on that. Why am I so confused about everything? I try not to be, but I am. I just can not help but care about others. Ahhh!!! This is a meaningless blog I think. I will still post it.
I have nothing to do. Well I do have something, a research paper. I think I should start soon on that. Why am I so confused about everything? I try not to be, but I am. I just can not help but care about others. Ahhh!!! This is a meaningless blog I think. I will still post it.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Blog 14A
Book: 1984
Author: George Orwell
Pages read this week: 15
Pages read this semester: 1235
Weekly Style: Questions
Summary
Winston works in Ministry of Truth and uses a machine named ‘speakwrite,’ which types as he dictates into it. His work, like thousands of others, is to rewrite the past. His job involves correcting Big Brother and Party’s past predictions to match with the current results. Then, Winston has lunch with a man named Syme who is working on a revised edition of Newspeak dictionary. Syme tells Winston that the new dictionary will transform Newspeak and limit the extent of thoughts by deleting the words which express discontent and rebellious feelings. Winston fears that Syme is too intelligent and his intelligence may get him vaporized someday.
Questions
Que. 1: What do you not like about the story? Why?
Ans.: I did not like the way the writer has so far narrated the story. In my opinion, he has been too negative and pessimistic so far. Since this novel was written after WWII, it depicts Communism and Totalitarian governments as very dictatorial and manipulative. People at that time had a fear of dictators and that fear drives this book. I understand that human rights and freedoms are grossly violated under such regimes, but I do not think that it is possible up to that extent. Also, I find it ridiculous that one person rules over a huge strip of land, which involves many countries, and still there is nobody to challenge him.
Que. 2: What does the author do well as a writer?
Ans.: As a writer, the author has done a good job in setting up the tone for the rest of the novel by laying a good foundation. He has described everything in an elucidated and detailed manner. A writer’s job is to raise awareness in common masses about a cause so that they do not lose their ability to think and act properly. In 1984, George Orwell has given a glimpse of many ways the government can limit the freedom of thought and speech; and breach the privacy of the citizens. The people should be aware of their rights and duties and should know what is going on in the country and the rest of the world. The people need to participate in the democratic process or they will lose their rights and liberties.
Author: George Orwell
Pages read this week: 15
Pages read this semester: 1235
Weekly Style: Questions
Summary
Winston works in Ministry of Truth and uses a machine named ‘speakwrite,’ which types as he dictates into it. His work, like thousands of others, is to rewrite the past. His job involves correcting Big Brother and Party’s past predictions to match with the current results. Then, Winston has lunch with a man named Syme who is working on a revised edition of Newspeak dictionary. Syme tells Winston that the new dictionary will transform Newspeak and limit the extent of thoughts by deleting the words which express discontent and rebellious feelings. Winston fears that Syme is too intelligent and his intelligence may get him vaporized someday.
Questions
Que. 1: What do you not like about the story? Why?
Ans.: I did not like the way the writer has so far narrated the story. In my opinion, he has been too negative and pessimistic so far. Since this novel was written after WWII, it depicts Communism and Totalitarian governments as very dictatorial and manipulative. People at that time had a fear of dictators and that fear drives this book. I understand that human rights and freedoms are grossly violated under such regimes, but I do not think that it is possible up to that extent. Also, I find it ridiculous that one person rules over a huge strip of land, which involves many countries, and still there is nobody to challenge him.
Que. 2: What does the author do well as a writer?
Ans.: As a writer, the author has done a good job in setting up the tone for the rest of the novel by laying a good foundation. He has described everything in an elucidated and detailed manner. A writer’s job is to raise awareness in common masses about a cause so that they do not lose their ability to think and act properly. In 1984, George Orwell has given a glimpse of many ways the government can limit the freedom of thought and speech; and breach the privacy of the citizens. The people should be aware of their rights and duties and should know what is going on in the country and the rest of the world. The people need to participate in the democratic process or they will lose their rights and liberties.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Blog 13A
Book: 1984
Author: George Orwell
Pages read this week: 14
Pages red this semester: 1220
Weekly Style: Quotation
Summary
It was his neighbor at the door and she requests Winston to repair his sink. At his neighbors’ house, he is troubled by the kids who are junior spies. Back in his apartment, Winston remembers a dream in which a man's voice—O'Brien's, he thinks—said to him, “We shall meet in the place where there is no darkness.” Winston writes in his diary that his thought crime makes him a dead man, and then he hides the book. At night, he dreams of his mother sinking in ship and blames himself for that. He awakes in the morning, hearing a loud voice from the telescreen which signals that it is exercise time. While exercising, he thinks about how the party does his propaganda.
“War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength.”
This quotation is the slogan of the Party in the novel 1984. It represents the propaganda done by the party to brainwash the people. To me, it presents how the meanings of words can be changed by a totalitarian regime. Demagogues like Hitler expanded the sizes of countries by rousing the people through speeches and propaganda. And here, the slogan seems to convey the idea that war is peace because war can result into expansion of the nation, and if the whole world or a huge area is under the control of one country, that country has a lot of resources and is more powerful. Freedom is slavery because one becomes slave of himself, his urges of mind. He becomes undisciplined. So, everyone should be under the control of a central power which sets up moral and behavioral extremes and absolutes. If you know more, you are more troubled and hence you lose the peace of mind. So, the best thing is to ignore what others are doing (here it means government) and just go with the flow. A nation whose citizens are strictly controlled by the government and their lives are heavily influenced by it, including the flow of necessary items, is a nation with no freedom.
Author: George Orwell
Pages read this week: 14
Pages red this semester: 1220
Weekly Style: Quotation
Summary
It was his neighbor at the door and she requests Winston to repair his sink. At his neighbors’ house, he is troubled by the kids who are junior spies. Back in his apartment, Winston remembers a dream in which a man's voice—O'Brien's, he thinks—said to him, “We shall meet in the place where there is no darkness.” Winston writes in his diary that his thought crime makes him a dead man, and then he hides the book. At night, he dreams of his mother sinking in ship and blames himself for that. He awakes in the morning, hearing a loud voice from the telescreen which signals that it is exercise time. While exercising, he thinks about how the party does his propaganda.
“War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength.”
This quotation is the slogan of the Party in the novel 1984. It represents the propaganda done by the party to brainwash the people. To me, it presents how the meanings of words can be changed by a totalitarian regime. Demagogues like Hitler expanded the sizes of countries by rousing the people through speeches and propaganda. And here, the slogan seems to convey the idea that war is peace because war can result into expansion of the nation, and if the whole world or a huge area is under the control of one country, that country has a lot of resources and is more powerful. Freedom is slavery because one becomes slave of himself, his urges of mind. He becomes undisciplined. So, everyone should be under the control of a central power which sets up moral and behavioral extremes and absolutes. If you know more, you are more troubled and hence you lose the peace of mind. So, the best thing is to ignore what others are doing (here it means government) and just go with the flow. A nation whose citizens are strictly controlled by the government and their lives are heavily influenced by it, including the flow of necessary items, is a nation with no freedom.
Blog 12A
Book: 1984
Author: George Orwell
Pages read this week: 20
Pages read this semester: 1516
Weekly Style: Fan fiction
Summary
Winston Smith lives in London, a city of Airstrip One, which is part of Oceania. This is April 1984. The world is divided into three nations/land masses- Oceania, Eurasia and East Asia. Airstrip One is under strict control of party and Winston works in Ministry of Truth. Still, like everyone else, his life is under strict scrutiny by the party. At the beginning of the novel, Winston comes back home for lunch and thinks about his surroundings. His chain of thoughts is broken by a knock on the door.
Fan Fiction
Winston Smith is a 32 year old social preacher in a church who used to work in a reputed computer company in Silicon Valley of California. He has a very good professional life: good salary, good reputation and good amount of benefits. However, he does not have a family. He had one, but no longer enjoys the warmth of a family. His parents got divorced when he was young. They wanted to live heir separate private lives, without any interference from one another. Neither of them wanted Winston. So, he was kept under supervision of court, and was later raised by a nice family who had adopted him. Forgetting his troubled childhood, he worked hard to become an engineer. Unfortunately, he lost that family in terrorist attacks of 9/11. However, they left a huge amount of property and estate. He was left heavily grief-stricken with no one to share and divide it. He tried to find a soul mate, but all he discovered in people was their likelihood for his money. He was hurt to find that materialism and hedonistic attitude has penetrated deeply into lives and minds of people. Deeply disappointed, he decided to devote his life to spread his message to the world. He joined a charity and began preaching about and raising awareness about social and religious issues.
Author: George Orwell
Pages read this week: 20
Pages read this semester: 1516
Weekly Style: Fan fiction
Summary
Winston Smith lives in London, a city of Airstrip One, which is part of Oceania. This is April 1984. The world is divided into three nations/land masses- Oceania, Eurasia and East Asia. Airstrip One is under strict control of party and Winston works in Ministry of Truth. Still, like everyone else, his life is under strict scrutiny by the party. At the beginning of the novel, Winston comes back home for lunch and thinks about his surroundings. His chain of thoughts is broken by a knock on the door.
Fan Fiction
Winston Smith is a 32 year old social preacher in a church who used to work in a reputed computer company in Silicon Valley of California. He has a very good professional life: good salary, good reputation and good amount of benefits. However, he does not have a family. He had one, but no longer enjoys the warmth of a family. His parents got divorced when he was young. They wanted to live heir separate private lives, without any interference from one another. Neither of them wanted Winston. So, he was kept under supervision of court, and was later raised by a nice family who had adopted him. Forgetting his troubled childhood, he worked hard to become an engineer. Unfortunately, he lost that family in terrorist attacks of 9/11. However, they left a huge amount of property and estate. He was left heavily grief-stricken with no one to share and divide it. He tried to find a soul mate, but all he discovered in people was their likelihood for his money. He was hurt to find that materialism and hedonistic attitude has penetrated deeply into lives and minds of people. Deeply disappointed, he decided to devote his life to spread his message to the world. He joined a charity and began preaching about and raising awareness about social and religious issues.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Blog 11A
Book: Sunrise Over Fallujah
Author: Walter Dean Myers
Pages read this week: 75
Pages read this semester: 1496
Weekly Style: Questions
Summary
The whole unit is feeling the loss of Pendleton. The first squad is asked to accompany another officer to Fallujah. They were to hold talks with a Sheik over there. The talks went as planned and both sides assured each other of mutual cooperation and trust. The squad had to spend a night in a hospital in Fallujah, where conditions are unsanitary and bad. Captain Miller, who is a doctor, goes on to inspect the hospital. Early in the morning, when Robin goes to bathroom, he saves Captain Miller from being raped by two Iraqis. Miller is completely shaken by this disgusted incident. People who need their help are not respecting the saviors. After that, the squad is sent to Doha for some rest. After that, they are sent to an area near Iran-Iraq border where they will work with secret ops to get acquire detonators used to make IEDs from a tribe. In the ambush, Jonesy is killed while Robin is wounded. After that “successful” operation, the squad is disbanded and everyone is sent to different places with all wondering whether or not they will meet again. The writer beautifully portrays the randomness of the war once again.
Questions
Que. 1: Why did you choose this story? Has it met your expectations so far? Why or why not?
Ans.: I chose this story as I wanted to feel the reality of war and experience it. After reading A Farewell to Arms, I had a desire to find out how a soldier in two of America’s notorious wars (Iraq or Vietnam) felt. My decision to read this book was made before we decided to read The Things They Carried in class. I wanted a true picture of war in Iraq because the news media often painted a blurry image of Iraq and the government is, perhaps, covering up stuff. For the most part, it met my expectations. I was exposed to new variety of sentence structure and style which best fits the theme and background of the novel. The author has done a fairly good job of correctly portraying picture of how a soldier feels in a war where neither the motive nor the enemy is vivid.
Que. 2: What does the story make you wonder about, and why?
Ans.: When I finished reading this book, I could not help thinking about the warriors who are fighting in Iraq, and about those who are awaiting their safe return. I even had dreams of fighting in a war. I was not into this book, but into the war. I can feel the war. For the first time in my life I realized that no matter how much courage one has, death is death, and bullets are bullets. It takes a huge amount of courage to both. I had known this, but realized it now.
Author: Walter Dean Myers
Pages read this week: 75
Pages read this semester: 1496
Weekly Style: Questions
Summary
The whole unit is feeling the loss of Pendleton. The first squad is asked to accompany another officer to Fallujah. They were to hold talks with a Sheik over there. The talks went as planned and both sides assured each other of mutual cooperation and trust. The squad had to spend a night in a hospital in Fallujah, where conditions are unsanitary and bad. Captain Miller, who is a doctor, goes on to inspect the hospital. Early in the morning, when Robin goes to bathroom, he saves Captain Miller from being raped by two Iraqis. Miller is completely shaken by this disgusted incident. People who need their help are not respecting the saviors. After that, the squad is sent to Doha for some rest. After that, they are sent to an area near Iran-Iraq border where they will work with secret ops to get acquire detonators used to make IEDs from a tribe. In the ambush, Jonesy is killed while Robin is wounded. After that “successful” operation, the squad is disbanded and everyone is sent to different places with all wondering whether or not they will meet again. The writer beautifully portrays the randomness of the war once again.
Questions
Que. 1: Why did you choose this story? Has it met your expectations so far? Why or why not?
Ans.: I chose this story as I wanted to feel the reality of war and experience it. After reading A Farewell to Arms, I had a desire to find out how a soldier in two of America’s notorious wars (Iraq or Vietnam) felt. My decision to read this book was made before we decided to read The Things They Carried in class. I wanted a true picture of war in Iraq because the news media often painted a blurry image of Iraq and the government is, perhaps, covering up stuff. For the most part, it met my expectations. I was exposed to new variety of sentence structure and style which best fits the theme and background of the novel. The author has done a fairly good job of correctly portraying picture of how a soldier feels in a war where neither the motive nor the enemy is vivid.
Que. 2: What does the story make you wonder about, and why?
Ans.: When I finished reading this book, I could not help thinking about the warriors who are fighting in Iraq, and about those who are awaiting their safe return. I even had dreams of fighting in a war. I was not into this book, but into the war. I can feel the war. For the first time in my life I realized that no matter how much courage one has, death is death, and bullets are bullets. It takes a huge amount of courage to both. I had known this, but realized it now.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Blog 10A
Book: Sunrise Over Fallujah
Author: Walter Dean Myers
Pages read this week: 89
Pages read this semester: 1421
Weekly Style: Quotation
Summary
The troops are feeling the heat of the sun and war as anything can kill them. They do not want to get out of Green Zone. Robin receives a letter from home and thinks that he lacks valor. A marine patrol vehicle is wasted by an IED. One of the soldiers, Victor receives a dead monkey as a gift from somebody in Wyoming. The First Squad names it Sergeant Yossarian. The monkey accompanies them everywhere. The first squad helps out some Iraqis who were injured in an air strike. Few days later, they hold a soccer game with the kids of that place. Jonesy and Sergeant Harris almost got into a fistfight. Random changes and rules were not helping the soldiers. And Pendleton gets killed in another ambush later, saddening the whole unit, especially Robin.
“It’s hard to be brave when you can stumble across a world of hurt any corner, where dying becomes so casual you don’t even notice sitting it next to you.”
Robin Perry is remarking about valor and new developments in war after receiving a letter from home. He is trying to present a real picture of the sophistication that had recently entered into the Iraq War and how it affected the state of mind of a soldier. The beauty of this sophistication is its simplicity. Simple and homemade weapons like IEDs are getting on nerves of the greatest army in the world there. You may think that you are safe, but death can be hovering overhead. And as a soldier, you are not sure if you will be ever back alive. The thought of dying in an actual full-fledged war can and does make a soldier proud of him serving his motherland. But, in Iraq, it is a proxy war, a hidden war. Death can come in any form. But just like Vietnam, Iraq is becoming a burden. Not just a financial burden, but a moral and mental one too. Soldiers don’t know who is friend and who is foe. They are unsure about the plans and motives. And to add fuel to the fire, the apprehension of an untimely ambush and death gives a strong setback to their morale.
Author: Walter Dean Myers
Pages read this week: 89
Pages read this semester: 1421
Weekly Style: Quotation
Summary
The troops are feeling the heat of the sun and war as anything can kill them. They do not want to get out of Green Zone. Robin receives a letter from home and thinks that he lacks valor. A marine patrol vehicle is wasted by an IED. One of the soldiers, Victor receives a dead monkey as a gift from somebody in Wyoming. The First Squad names it Sergeant Yossarian. The monkey accompanies them everywhere. The first squad helps out some Iraqis who were injured in an air strike. Few days later, they hold a soccer game with the kids of that place. Jonesy and Sergeant Harris almost got into a fistfight. Random changes and rules were not helping the soldiers. And Pendleton gets killed in another ambush later, saddening the whole unit, especially Robin.
“It’s hard to be brave when you can stumble across a world of hurt any corner, where dying becomes so casual you don’t even notice sitting it next to you.”
Robin Perry is remarking about valor and new developments in war after receiving a letter from home. He is trying to present a real picture of the sophistication that had recently entered into the Iraq War and how it affected the state of mind of a soldier. The beauty of this sophistication is its simplicity. Simple and homemade weapons like IEDs are getting on nerves of the greatest army in the world there. You may think that you are safe, but death can be hovering overhead. And as a soldier, you are not sure if you will be ever back alive. The thought of dying in an actual full-fledged war can and does make a soldier proud of him serving his motherland. But, in Iraq, it is a proxy war, a hidden war. Death can come in any form. But just like Vietnam, Iraq is becoming a burden. Not just a financial burden, but a moral and mental one too. Soldiers don’t know who is friend and who is foe. They are unsure about the plans and motives. And to add fuel to the fire, the apprehension of an untimely ambush and death gives a strong setback to their morale.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Blog 9A
Book: Sunrise Over Fallujah
Author: Walter Dean Myers
Pages read this week: 61
Pages read this semester: 1332
Weekly Style: Fan Fiction
Summary
While moving out of An Nasiriyah, the First Squad (Perry’s unit) faced a mortar attack. They got through it safe and sound. Perry developed close acquaintances with Jonesy and Marla Kennedy. One day, the Civil Affairs unit was sent to Ba’qubah. Even though the Army Lieutenant did not want them to treat the injured people in the town, they still did it for humanity’s sake.
Fan Fiction
This is a chat conversation between Robin Perry (Perry420) and Marla Kennedy (Yo-Yo Girl).
Perry420: Hey. Still up? It is like 11 p.m.
Yo-Yo Girl: Can I ever get away from you huh?
Perry420: No you can’t. Im tht vigilant. Do you wanna me to tell u sumthng or ask u sumthng?
??
Yo-Yo Girl: Tell me sumthng
Perry420: I wrote a letter to the governor of California.
Yo-Yo Girl: Wth………….. not for real
Perry420: I did. I dont want him to place cuts on education funding. U wanna read it?
Yo-Yo Girl: DUDE………….. you are hella weird.
Yo-Yo Girl: No one cares boy
Perry420: I had been thinking abt it for a while. Never told you. But I changed my topic. I was gonna write abt more pollution measures in CA, but then I changed the topic
Yo-Yo Girl: No one cares buddy boy
Perry420: I know, buddyboy? Since when did u start calling me tht. U called me “Birdy”
Yo-Yo Girl: NO ONE CARES
Perry420: I do
Perry420: U liked my presents? I forced my mom to but sumthng for you.
Perry420: I m not into shopping. My mom jus bought what she thought was good. She had no idea abt wht u like.
Yo-Yo Girl: Yeah…………..they r cute
Yo-Yo Girl: Thanks
Yo-Yo Girl: Dude……………why u so weird?
Perry420: It is my pleasure.
Perry420: What happened now marla
Yo-Yo Girl: Hey my name is Marla, not marla
Perry420: Ok ok
Yo-Yo Girl: GOD DAMN YOU
Perry420: What God are you talking abt? The one u don’t believe in.
Perry420: Well, im a sinner, and God does damn sinners.
Yo-Yo Girl: Buddyboy, stop being creepy.
Perry420: Im not tht creepy
Yo-Yo Girl: LEARN HOW TO SPELL THAT!!!!
Yo-Yo Girl: T-H-A-T
Perry420: What is wrong with you Marla? U know my English isn’t that good.
Yo-Yo Girl: YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Perry420: Ok ok
Perry420: Have you finshed math hw yet?
Perry420Homework
Yo-Yo Girl: i have a thickass packet that i need to do
Yo-Yo Girl: too bad im stupid and dont remember crap
Yo-Yo Girl: >:O
Yo-Yo Girl: now go die
Perry420: hey, whats wrong huh? Are you mad or something?
Yo-Yo Girl: what is wrong and with who?
Perry420: Ok ok
Perry420: I am sorry.
Yo-Yo Girl: I don’t wanna hear ur crappy story again
Perry420: Wow, u r giving me electric shocks tonight :(
Perry420: Im really wondering if I am talking to you.
Perry420: Cant believe u behaving with me like tht!!
Yo-Yo Girl: LOL did you know that you were talking to my cousin for the whole entire night?
Perry420: What??????????????? I had some idea. With who
Yo-Yo Girl: Darcy
Perry420: Wow, tell her she freaked me out. Nice job. I hope it is Marla now
Yo-Yo Girl: Yes seriously it is me
Yo-Yo Girl: just go to sleep
Perry420: ok I will. Don’t forget to call me when u safely reach Hawaii, ok?
Yo-Yo Girl: Sorry, I g2g
Perry420: np
Perry420: good luck, good bye, good nite my closest frnd
Yo-Yo Girl: sweet dreams
Yo-Yo Girl: lol bye
Author: Walter Dean Myers
Pages read this week: 61
Pages read this semester: 1332
Weekly Style: Fan Fiction
Summary
While moving out of An Nasiriyah, the First Squad (Perry’s unit) faced a mortar attack. They got through it safe and sound. Perry developed close acquaintances with Jonesy and Marla Kennedy. One day, the Civil Affairs unit was sent to Ba’qubah. Even though the Army Lieutenant did not want them to treat the injured people in the town, they still did it for humanity’s sake.
Fan Fiction
This is a chat conversation between Robin Perry (Perry420) and Marla Kennedy (Yo-Yo Girl).
Perry420: Hey. Still up? It is like 11 p.m.
Yo-Yo Girl: Can I ever get away from you huh?
Perry420: No you can’t. Im tht vigilant. Do you wanna me to tell u sumthng or ask u sumthng?
??
Yo-Yo Girl: Tell me sumthng
Perry420: I wrote a letter to the governor of California.
Yo-Yo Girl: Wth………….. not for real
Perry420: I did. I dont want him to place cuts on education funding. U wanna read it?
Yo-Yo Girl: DUDE………….. you are hella weird.
Yo-Yo Girl: No one cares boy
Perry420: I had been thinking abt it for a while. Never told you. But I changed my topic. I was gonna write abt more pollution measures in CA, but then I changed the topic
Yo-Yo Girl: No one cares buddy boy
Perry420: I know, buddyboy? Since when did u start calling me tht. U called me “Birdy”
Yo-Yo Girl: NO ONE CARES
Perry420: I do
Perry420: U liked my presents? I forced my mom to but sumthng for you.
Perry420: I m not into shopping. My mom jus bought what she thought was good. She had no idea abt wht u like.
Yo-Yo Girl: Yeah…………..they r cute
Yo-Yo Girl: Thanks
Yo-Yo Girl: Dude……………why u so weird?
Perry420: It is my pleasure.
Perry420: What happened now marla
Yo-Yo Girl: Hey my name is Marla, not marla
Perry420: Ok ok
Yo-Yo Girl: GOD DAMN YOU
Perry420: What God are you talking abt? The one u don’t believe in.
Perry420: Well, im a sinner, and God does damn sinners.
Yo-Yo Girl: Buddyboy, stop being creepy.
Perry420: Im not tht creepy
Yo-Yo Girl: LEARN HOW TO SPELL THAT!!!!
Yo-Yo Girl: T-H-A-T
Perry420: What is wrong with you Marla? U know my English isn’t that good.
Yo-Yo Girl: YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Perry420: Ok ok
Perry420: Have you finshed math hw yet?
Perry420Homework
Yo-Yo Girl: i have a thickass packet that i need to do
Yo-Yo Girl: too bad im stupid and dont remember crap
Yo-Yo Girl: >:O
Yo-Yo Girl: now go die
Perry420: hey, whats wrong huh? Are you mad or something?
Yo-Yo Girl: what is wrong and with who?
Perry420: Ok ok
Perry420: I am sorry.
Yo-Yo Girl: I don’t wanna hear ur crappy story again
Perry420: Wow, u r giving me electric shocks tonight :(
Perry420: Im really wondering if I am talking to you.
Perry420: Cant believe u behaving with me like tht!!
Yo-Yo Girl: LOL did you know that you were talking to my cousin for the whole entire night?
Perry420: What??????????????? I had some idea. With who
Yo-Yo Girl: Darcy
Perry420: Wow, tell her she freaked me out. Nice job. I hope it is Marla now
Yo-Yo Girl: Yes seriously it is me
Yo-Yo Girl: just go to sleep
Perry420: ok I will. Don’t forget to call me when u safely reach Hawaii, ok?
Yo-Yo Girl: Sorry, I g2g
Perry420: np
Perry420: good luck, good bye, good nite my closest frnd
Yo-Yo Girl: sweet dreams
Yo-Yo Girl: lol bye
Blog 8A
Book: Sunrise Over Fallujah
Author: Walter Dean Myers
Pages read this week: 57
Pages read this semester: 1271
Weekly Style: Questions
Summary
Robin “Birdy” Perry is from Harlem and his Civil Affairs Unit are sent to Iraq. He joined Army against the wish of his father. Robin wanted to do something for his country after 9-11. His uncle Richie had served in Vietnam War (Conflict). Robin is named “Birdy” by his fellow unit member, Marla Kennedy. Most of the soldiers go into Iraq excited. The quick war is soon over, but they face the hard realities of the situation after that. Because they belong to Civil Affairs, Robin’s unit is away from direct combat and they are there to help rebuild Iraq. However, during a search operation in An Nasiriyah, they have to kill a young boy after they were attacked. And the truth dawns on them, as Birdy questions the causes, motives and justification of this war.
Que. 1: What does the author do well as a writer?
Ans.: Walter Dean Myers has done an exceptional job of providing an insight into a much hated war so far. I loved the details he supplied about how troops are made ready for combat physically and psychologically. This book, so far, seems to be focusing on the issues that circumstances make a soldier think about. The language is neither grave nor funny. It is real. I feel as if it is happening to me. The author is presenting the correct and true image of Army and war. He probes the problems faced by both the American soldiers and common Iraqi people. Through all the incidents, he magnificently depicts the uncertainty among people on either side about the war.
Que. 2: Write a brief diary entry from the perspective of a character in your book.
Ans.: Robin Perry: The day had a bit late start. We were shocked to know that the women from 507th we had met earlier while on our way to Iraq have been held as POWs. There was als0 first big news of confirmed casualties. 507th is having a tough time in An Nasiriyah. They were supposed to be in a safe area. Later, we were asked to go there and assist the 3rd Infantry Division there. We survived a rocket attack. I think such surprise attacks are turning this war into an intrusion. The people seemed friendly; at least this is what Ahmed, our interpreter, told us. We found a RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) launcher in a house while searching that area. We arrested a kid, even though he and his family pleaded ignorance. While he was being taken out, some sniper tried to target us. In the confusion, the kid tried to run away but was shot dead by a soldier. I think I will never forget his face. It was so innocent. It is going to haunt me for the rest of my life.
Author: Walter Dean Myers
Pages read this week: 57
Pages read this semester: 1271
Weekly Style: Questions
Summary
Robin “Birdy” Perry is from Harlem and his Civil Affairs Unit are sent to Iraq. He joined Army against the wish of his father. Robin wanted to do something for his country after 9-11. His uncle Richie had served in Vietnam War (Conflict). Robin is named “Birdy” by his fellow unit member, Marla Kennedy. Most of the soldiers go into Iraq excited. The quick war is soon over, but they face the hard realities of the situation after that. Because they belong to Civil Affairs, Robin’s unit is away from direct combat and they are there to help rebuild Iraq. However, during a search operation in An Nasiriyah, they have to kill a young boy after they were attacked. And the truth dawns on them, as Birdy questions the causes, motives and justification of this war.
Que. 1: What does the author do well as a writer?
Ans.: Walter Dean Myers has done an exceptional job of providing an insight into a much hated war so far. I loved the details he supplied about how troops are made ready for combat physically and psychologically. This book, so far, seems to be focusing on the issues that circumstances make a soldier think about. The language is neither grave nor funny. It is real. I feel as if it is happening to me. The author is presenting the correct and true image of Army and war. He probes the problems faced by both the American soldiers and common Iraqi people. Through all the incidents, he magnificently depicts the uncertainty among people on either side about the war.
Que. 2: Write a brief diary entry from the perspective of a character in your book.
Ans.: Robin Perry: The day had a bit late start. We were shocked to know that the women from 507th we had met earlier while on our way to Iraq have been held as POWs. There was als0 first big news of confirmed casualties. 507th is having a tough time in An Nasiriyah. They were supposed to be in a safe area. Later, we were asked to go there and assist the 3rd Infantry Division there. We survived a rocket attack. I think such surprise attacks are turning this war into an intrusion. The people seemed friendly; at least this is what Ahmed, our interpreter, told us. We found a RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) launcher in a house while searching that area. We arrested a kid, even though he and his family pleaded ignorance. While he was being taken out, some sniper tried to target us. In the confusion, the kid tried to run away but was shot dead by a soldier. I think I will never forget his face. It was so innocent. It is going to haunt me for the rest of my life.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Blog 7A
Book: Deception Point
Author: Dan Brown
Pages read this week: 314
Pages read this semester: 1254
Weekly Style: Quotation
Summary
After getting a tip about malfunctioning of software which detected the meteorite, Gabrielle Ashe meets Chris Harper, in charge of PODS at NASA, and cleverly makes him spill out the truth that it was NRO which informed NASA about the meteorite after catching a faint signal from Charles Brophy. Marjorie Tench and William Pickering set up a meeting outside FDR memorial at 2 a.m. after Tench expressed her concerns about Rachel and her behavior. The Delta Force (Assassins) receives orders from their chief to kill somebody outside the FDR memorial. The job is done and then they fly off to coast of New Jersey where Micheal’s boat Goya was anchored and the trio of Corky, Rachel and Michael was reaching there. While the trio tries to get more data about the bug, they are ambushed by the Delta Force. After a battle involving machine gun fire and smart maneuvers including Corky urinating on his injured leg to keep the sharks away, it is found out that the person behind whole deception was none other than William Pickering himself. Rachel had somehow managed to fax the GPR data to his father’s office. Pickering wanted all of them killed, but they escape unhurt as Goya and water current becomes the graveyard of Pickering and the Delta Force. The next morning, Senator Sexton arrived in time at the Washington Monument to reveal that the meteorite was fake. He wanted political gains, a last nail in coffin of campaign by Zach Herney. Rachel arrives at the scene and distracts him. He does not budge to her requests. He hands over the packets to the press. However, he is shocked to find out that the packets contained images of him and Gabrielle having sex. The packets were exchanged with original ones by Gabrielle while Senator was talking to his daughter. The President assumes full responsibility for the whole matter, but is more likely to get re-elected now. Michael and Rachel find out that they can’t live without each other and shed all barriers between them in Lincoln bedroom. The rock is thrown back into ocean.
“There is just no substitute for the truth.”
President Zach Herney says this to Gabrielle Ashe before assuming full responsibility for the whole meteorite deception in a press conference. I completely agree with this quotation. Truth is truth, no matter what. Like Ken Kesey wrote in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, “It is the truth, even if it didn’t happen.” I understand that sometimes it is hard and impossible to acknowledge the truth because it is so disturbing that it could upset others completely. Sometimes, its weight is too much to bear. Bill Clinton, at first, refused from having any sort of affair with Monica Lewinsky. However, when the truth came out, he was definitely ashamed, I guess. He apologized to the nation, but tried to blame everything on her in his autobiography.
One can never run away from the truth. It comes back to haunt one at some point in life. In recent years, my attitude has been to admit the reality. But, at times, I have found it very hard. There are some things from my past which I would like to bury. May be the world will never know them, but I know this happened. I have a huge load on my conscience. It seems an old, bad dream now, but I can never forget it. Because it was, is and will be the truth.
Author: Dan Brown
Pages read this week: 314
Pages read this semester: 1254
Weekly Style: Quotation
Summary
After getting a tip about malfunctioning of software which detected the meteorite, Gabrielle Ashe meets Chris Harper, in charge of PODS at NASA, and cleverly makes him spill out the truth that it was NRO which informed NASA about the meteorite after catching a faint signal from Charles Brophy. Marjorie Tench and William Pickering set up a meeting outside FDR memorial at 2 a.m. after Tench expressed her concerns about Rachel and her behavior. The Delta Force (Assassins) receives orders from their chief to kill somebody outside the FDR memorial. The job is done and then they fly off to coast of New Jersey where Micheal’s boat Goya was anchored and the trio of Corky, Rachel and Michael was reaching there. While the trio tries to get more data about the bug, they are ambushed by the Delta Force. After a battle involving machine gun fire and smart maneuvers including Corky urinating on his injured leg to keep the sharks away, it is found out that the person behind whole deception was none other than William Pickering himself. Rachel had somehow managed to fax the GPR data to his father’s office. Pickering wanted all of them killed, but they escape unhurt as Goya and water current becomes the graveyard of Pickering and the Delta Force. The next morning, Senator Sexton arrived in time at the Washington Monument to reveal that the meteorite was fake. He wanted political gains, a last nail in coffin of campaign by Zach Herney. Rachel arrives at the scene and distracts him. He does not budge to her requests. He hands over the packets to the press. However, he is shocked to find out that the packets contained images of him and Gabrielle having sex. The packets were exchanged with original ones by Gabrielle while Senator was talking to his daughter. The President assumes full responsibility for the whole matter, but is more likely to get re-elected now. Michael and Rachel find out that they can’t live without each other and shed all barriers between them in Lincoln bedroom. The rock is thrown back into ocean.
“There is just no substitute for the truth.”
President Zach Herney says this to Gabrielle Ashe before assuming full responsibility for the whole meteorite deception in a press conference. I completely agree with this quotation. Truth is truth, no matter what. Like Ken Kesey wrote in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, “It is the truth, even if it didn’t happen.” I understand that sometimes it is hard and impossible to acknowledge the truth because it is so disturbing that it could upset others completely. Sometimes, its weight is too much to bear. Bill Clinton, at first, refused from having any sort of affair with Monica Lewinsky. However, when the truth came out, he was definitely ashamed, I guess. He apologized to the nation, but tried to blame everything on her in his autobiography.
One can never run away from the truth. It comes back to haunt one at some point in life. In recent years, my attitude has been to admit the reality. But, at times, I have found it very hard. There are some things from my past which I would like to bury. May be the world will never know them, but I know this happened. I have a huge load on my conscience. It seems an old, bad dream now, but I can never forget it. Because it was, is and will be the truth.
Blog 6A
Book: Deception Point
Author: Dan Brown
Pages read this week: 297
Pages read this semester: 940
Weekly Style: Fan Fiction
Summary
Corky Marlinson and Michael Tolland inform Rachel Sexton that the meteorite underneath the ice shaft has a fossil of a bug, which confirms the notion about Extra Terrestrial life. The other two civilian scientists present there are Dr. Norah Mongar and Dr. Ming. However, what nobody knows is that a secret team of special ops is keeping an eye at them. Their motive is secret. They have hi-tech equipment to watch the scientists at the discovery site. The rock was taken out using laser to melt the ice. In CNN debate, President Zach Herney’s top aide, Marjorie Tench appeared against Senator Sexton and the Senator promised to kill NASA as it was draining funds. Someone from inside the White House was providing details about NASA to Sexton’s aide Gabrielle Ashe. After the debate, the informer asked her to meet him outside the White House. Rachel was asked to debrief the White House staff about the discovery by the President. Wailee Ming found that something was wrong with the meteorite. While collecting the water sample, he was hit with microbot by the assassins (Secret Team) and fell into the extraction pit and died. Meanwhile, Gabrielle Ashe was shocked to find that her benefactor was Marjorie Tench. She asked Ashe to confess her affair with Senator Sexton because the White House did not want to do negative campaigning by revealing illegal campaign contributions by private Space companies to Senator. Ashe was given proofs of both the affair and the contributions. She did not answer one way or the other.
Norah Mangor decided to use Ground Penetrating Radar after Tolland reported the presence of plankton in meteorite. It confirmed that the rock was not a meteorite since the shaft continued all the way to the ocean. It seemed the rock was inserted there. Before they could report that to the President, they were attacked by the assassins. Norah died, but the high wind took Corky, Rachel and Michael to the ocean where they were saved by USS Charlotte before they succumbed to cold. Rachel tried to stop the press conference by the President but Marjorie Tench did not let her talk to him. Senator Sexton was shocked to learn about the discovery. His dreams came crashing to ground. NRO Director William Pickering ordered the three survivors to be picked up from the submarine. The NASA Director, Lawrence Ekstrom, was surprised when the NASA radar caught a submarine off coast.
Story
Michael Tolland, 16, lost his family in Hurricane Katrina. He was left alone in the world. He decided to move with his aunt, Rachel Sexton, to California. Michael had nothing left. Rachel had been a very nice aunt. Every time she visited her sister in New Orleans, she brought many gifts for Michael. Michael hoped that his grief will be halved if he stayed with his aunt and pursued his studies there. However, things took a sharp turn when he soon realized that his aunt was not what he had imagined. His aunt imposed severe restrictions on him. Michael was allowed to use computer for not more than an hour. Her son, Zach, was friendly with him as always, but he could feel the heat of his mother also. Rachel always kept a strict eye on both of them. Michael was not allowed to go out for community service because nobody could drive him. He was new, but soon found a trustworthy and close friend in Norah Mangor. As Michael opened up slowly, Norah realized he needed help. Norah decided to give him a ride wherever the duo went together. Soon, they became very close friends. They would always make fun of each other. Their bonding prompted talks and rumors about them being together, but Norah would always call it rubbish. Actually, Norah did not want to get between Michael and his Louisiana sweetheart, Gabrielle Ashe. They had limits, which were unspoken. When Michael neglected Norah for some time to put a full stop on the rumors, it hurt Norah a lot. She accepted Michael’s clarifications that he was just trying to stop those talks. They decided that they will continue being friends, but there will be again unsaid limits. It was a sense of belief and trust which kept them together. And they decided to continue like that, no matter what happens.
Author: Dan Brown
Pages read this week: 297
Pages read this semester: 940
Weekly Style: Fan Fiction
Summary
Corky Marlinson and Michael Tolland inform Rachel Sexton that the meteorite underneath the ice shaft has a fossil of a bug, which confirms the notion about Extra Terrestrial life. The other two civilian scientists present there are Dr. Norah Mongar and Dr. Ming. However, what nobody knows is that a secret team of special ops is keeping an eye at them. Their motive is secret. They have hi-tech equipment to watch the scientists at the discovery site. The rock was taken out using laser to melt the ice. In CNN debate, President Zach Herney’s top aide, Marjorie Tench appeared against Senator Sexton and the Senator promised to kill NASA as it was draining funds. Someone from inside the White House was providing details about NASA to Sexton’s aide Gabrielle Ashe. After the debate, the informer asked her to meet him outside the White House. Rachel was asked to debrief the White House staff about the discovery by the President. Wailee Ming found that something was wrong with the meteorite. While collecting the water sample, he was hit with microbot by the assassins (Secret Team) and fell into the extraction pit and died. Meanwhile, Gabrielle Ashe was shocked to find that her benefactor was Marjorie Tench. She asked Ashe to confess her affair with Senator Sexton because the White House did not want to do negative campaigning by revealing illegal campaign contributions by private Space companies to Senator. Ashe was given proofs of both the affair and the contributions. She did not answer one way or the other.
Norah Mangor decided to use Ground Penetrating Radar after Tolland reported the presence of plankton in meteorite. It confirmed that the rock was not a meteorite since the shaft continued all the way to the ocean. It seemed the rock was inserted there. Before they could report that to the President, they were attacked by the assassins. Norah died, but the high wind took Corky, Rachel and Michael to the ocean where they were saved by USS Charlotte before they succumbed to cold. Rachel tried to stop the press conference by the President but Marjorie Tench did not let her talk to him. Senator Sexton was shocked to learn about the discovery. His dreams came crashing to ground. NRO Director William Pickering ordered the three survivors to be picked up from the submarine. The NASA Director, Lawrence Ekstrom, was surprised when the NASA radar caught a submarine off coast.
Story
Michael Tolland, 16, lost his family in Hurricane Katrina. He was left alone in the world. He decided to move with his aunt, Rachel Sexton, to California. Michael had nothing left. Rachel had been a very nice aunt. Every time she visited her sister in New Orleans, she brought many gifts for Michael. Michael hoped that his grief will be halved if he stayed with his aunt and pursued his studies there. However, things took a sharp turn when he soon realized that his aunt was not what he had imagined. His aunt imposed severe restrictions on him. Michael was allowed to use computer for not more than an hour. Her son, Zach, was friendly with him as always, but he could feel the heat of his mother also. Rachel always kept a strict eye on both of them. Michael was not allowed to go out for community service because nobody could drive him. He was new, but soon found a trustworthy and close friend in Norah Mangor. As Michael opened up slowly, Norah realized he needed help. Norah decided to give him a ride wherever the duo went together. Soon, they became very close friends. They would always make fun of each other. Their bonding prompted talks and rumors about them being together, but Norah would always call it rubbish. Actually, Norah did not want to get between Michael and his Louisiana sweetheart, Gabrielle Ashe. They had limits, which were unspoken. When Michael neglected Norah for some time to put a full stop on the rumors, it hurt Norah a lot. She accepted Michael’s clarifications that he was just trying to stop those talks. They decided that they will continue being friends, but there will be again unsaid limits. It was a sense of belief and trust which kept them together. And they decided to continue like that, no matter what happens.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Blog 5A
Book: The Deception Point
Author: Dan Brown
Pages read this week: 125
Pages read this semester: 643
Weekly style: Questions
Summary
Geologist Charles Brophy was murdered by unknown assassins in Arctic. Rachel Sexton, daughter of likely Republican Party Presidential nominee, Senator Sedgewick Sexton, works in National Reconnaissance Organization. She manages intelligence reports for the President Zach Herney who is running for reelection, but has been out of public life for a week. She refuses her father’s offer to work for his campaign. She is summoned by the President for some unknown and secret reason. The NRO director William Pickering sends her to him hesitatingly. Rachel is sent to Arctic by President Herney, asking her to verify a recent NASA discovery which will kill Senator Sexton’s criticism of overspending on NASA. President’s main advisor, Marjorie Tench, decides to face Senator Sexton in a CNN debate. At Arctic, Rachel is thrilled to find out that NASA is planning to announce this discovery on a grand scale. And two of the four civilian scientists present there to authenticate the discovery are celebrated Oceanographer and documentarian Michael Tolland, and award winning astrophysicist, Corky Marlinson.
Que. 1: Write down a line or quote from the book that interest you. Tell what you like about the quote and what it says. What does it make you think about?
“Never trust a politician.” (Chapter 12, Page 74)
Ans.: One day, my AP Government teacher, Mr. Marr, asked us, “How can you tell a politician is lying?” We gave all sorts of answers, like, his eyes have a dirty look, he looks unconfident, he could not find right words, he avoids questions on a topic etc. Mr. Marr, after rejecting all sorts of answers, gave a reply which established that the question was basically a joke. He answered, “His lips are moving.”
Well, I have grown up in the biggest democracy of the world, India. Politics is a daily part of one’s life. I was attracted to it as a child. When I was 8-9 years old, I had more interest in newspapers and political news on TV than Aladdin or Winnie the Pooh. That is why I have political convictions and ambitions too. I like how this quote depicts public hatred of elected officials, and this is indeed the lesson I have learned from my experiences. Politicians are most untrustworthy persons in the world. Not all, but most of them. However, what really interests me is then why do we believe them. They are the policymakers, and we have made them what they are today. We say that they need to change. Oh really! I think we need to change even more. I know that in this country, there are not a lot of choices. The question is who created choices. Ultimately, it is us, the citizens. We don’t want to change. We wish to stick with old guns. May be it’s right too. Still, out attitudes need to change. We cannot say that ‘government is a problem” as long as we don’t participate in it and don’t wish to change it. [An interesting fact: India is going for general elections in April-May. Some organizations have asked for an option for the voters which will say,” I don’t want to vote for any of the candidates listed. I am not satisfied with them.”]
Que. 2: Why did you choose this story? Has it met your expectations so far? Why or why not?
Ans.: The main reason behind me choosing the story is my illness. Over the spring break and the following week after that, I was sick very badly. I needed something to kill my time. So, I decided to go with Dan Brown again.
I had been interested by the idea of the story. And since it involved bits and pieces of politics and conspiracy, I decided to go for it. So far, it has met my expectations almost completely. The story is sophisticated, fast paced and many sub-plots run simultaneously. However, I am looking for more political stuff.
Author: Dan Brown
Pages read this week: 125
Pages read this semester: 643
Weekly style: Questions
Summary
Geologist Charles Brophy was murdered by unknown assassins in Arctic. Rachel Sexton, daughter of likely Republican Party Presidential nominee, Senator Sedgewick Sexton, works in National Reconnaissance Organization. She manages intelligence reports for the President Zach Herney who is running for reelection, but has been out of public life for a week. She refuses her father’s offer to work for his campaign. She is summoned by the President for some unknown and secret reason. The NRO director William Pickering sends her to him hesitatingly. Rachel is sent to Arctic by President Herney, asking her to verify a recent NASA discovery which will kill Senator Sexton’s criticism of overspending on NASA. President’s main advisor, Marjorie Tench, decides to face Senator Sexton in a CNN debate. At Arctic, Rachel is thrilled to find out that NASA is planning to announce this discovery on a grand scale. And two of the four civilian scientists present there to authenticate the discovery are celebrated Oceanographer and documentarian Michael Tolland, and award winning astrophysicist, Corky Marlinson.
Que. 1: Write down a line or quote from the book that interest you. Tell what you like about the quote and what it says. What does it make you think about?
“Never trust a politician.” (Chapter 12, Page 74)
Ans.: One day, my AP Government teacher, Mr. Marr, asked us, “How can you tell a politician is lying?” We gave all sorts of answers, like, his eyes have a dirty look, he looks unconfident, he could not find right words, he avoids questions on a topic etc. Mr. Marr, after rejecting all sorts of answers, gave a reply which established that the question was basically a joke. He answered, “His lips are moving.”
Well, I have grown up in the biggest democracy of the world, India. Politics is a daily part of one’s life. I was attracted to it as a child. When I was 8-9 years old, I had more interest in newspapers and political news on TV than Aladdin or Winnie the Pooh. That is why I have political convictions and ambitions too. I like how this quote depicts public hatred of elected officials, and this is indeed the lesson I have learned from my experiences. Politicians are most untrustworthy persons in the world. Not all, but most of them. However, what really interests me is then why do we believe them. They are the policymakers, and we have made them what they are today. We say that they need to change. Oh really! I think we need to change even more. I know that in this country, there are not a lot of choices. The question is who created choices. Ultimately, it is us, the citizens. We don’t want to change. We wish to stick with old guns. May be it’s right too. Still, out attitudes need to change. We cannot say that ‘government is a problem” as long as we don’t participate in it and don’t wish to change it. [An interesting fact: India is going for general elections in April-May. Some organizations have asked for an option for the voters which will say,” I don’t want to vote for any of the candidates listed. I am not satisfied with them.”]
Que. 2: Why did you choose this story? Has it met your expectations so far? Why or why not?
Ans.: The main reason behind me choosing the story is my illness. Over the spring break and the following week after that, I was sick very badly. I needed something to kill my time. So, I decided to go with Dan Brown again.
I had been interested by the idea of the story. And since it involved bits and pieces of politics and conspiracy, I decided to go for it. So far, it has met my expectations almost completely. The story is sophisticated, fast paced and many sub-plots run simultaneously. However, I am looking for more political stuff.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Blog 4A
Book: Great Expectations
Pages read this week: 115
Pages read this semester: 518
Writing style: Quotation
Summary
Pip is waiting for Wemmick’s signal to ship back Magwitch, but he refuses to use any more of his money and his debts keep piling up. When he goes to theatre, after the show, Mr. Wopsle tells him that one of the convicts from the marsh was sitting behind Pip during the show. Pip is worried that Compeyson might be following him. At Jaggers’ house for a dinner, Pip learns about Estella and Drummle’s marriage. He also notices Jaggers’ servant Molly whose movements resemble those of Estella. Some more details make him certain that Molly is Estella’s daughter. Pip goes to see Miss Havisham where she begs his forgiveness. He acts with kindness and saves her from fire, but she becomes an invalid. He is wounded too. Jaggers confirms that Molly and Estella are related, but he has no knowledge about Magwitch’s role. Pip escapes an attack from an angry Orlick who accuses Pip of coming between him and Biddy. The plan to send Magwitch away fails as the police calls for him to surrender on the boat. He sees Compeyson in the other boat and dives on him. Both of them go under the surface of water, but only Magwitch comes back and is arrested. Pip still remains loyal to Magwitch even though he knows he will be found guilty. Herbert gets married to Clara. Wemmick has a weird and funny wedding with Miss Skiffins. Magwitch is sentenced to death. Pip reveals to him about Estella and he dies in peace. Pip falls sick very badly and is nursed back to health by Joe. Joe tells Pip about Miss Havisham’s death and how she distributed her money among the Pockets. Orlick was arrested for robbing Pumblechook. Before leaving suddenly, Joe pays off Pip’s debts. Pip decided to reconcile and reunite with him and marry Biddy. When Pip goes back there, he is disappointed to find that Biddy and Joe are getting married, but he expresses delight on this. He goes out of England and takes up a job with Herbert. He returns eleven years later. He visits Joe and Biddy and convinces them he is content with his bachelor life. He goes to the ruined Satis House. He had learned about Estella and Drummle’s troubled marriage and Drummle’s death. There, he finds Estella wandering n the ruined garden. They leave the garden holding hands and Pip hopes they will never part again. (This was a revised ending. In the original ending, Pip meets Estella in London while moving around with Joe and Biddy’s son. They do not discuss past, but do shake hands. Pip had known about Drummle’s death and Estella’s remarriage to a country doctor. He said that he could see her suffering and hopefully she understood how he felt before when he was the one to suffer.)
“To me, parting is a painful thing.” (515)
Estella says this to Pip when they meet again at Satis House. Parting, indeed, is a very painful thing to everybody. I have parted from a lot of people and have been away from them, and it is indeed not soothing. Before I write some of my views, I would like to mention a historical incident. When the tenth prophet of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh ji, asked Bhai Gurdas Singh, one of the poets in his court, to explain pain in one word, the latter replied that the most appropriate word is “Parting.” I learned about this from my father, who wrote a speech for me to deliver on the farewell party of my class in 2007.
When I left India, I had to bid goodbye to a lot of people whom I have known for the whole of my life. Some of them have died recently, including my grandmother and my neighbor. And since they are gone forever, it pinches me even more that I would never be able to see them again. I had studied with some of my classmates for the entire student life over there, 12 years in same school. And I was unable to see most of them before I left because the school was off due to summer break. I may see them again in my life, but perhaps not together at one place.
A lot of literary works that have focused on partition of lovers are considered masterpieces. ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is one example. It is said that literature dotted with pain and partition is more liked by the readers. Some people even say that the bird Cuckoo owes its sweet voice to the pain it suffers due to loneliness and partition. Overall the conclusion is that sad stories are more emotional and thus closer to the reader’s heart.
Pages read this week: 115
Pages read this semester: 518
Writing style: Quotation
Summary
Pip is waiting for Wemmick’s signal to ship back Magwitch, but he refuses to use any more of his money and his debts keep piling up. When he goes to theatre, after the show, Mr. Wopsle tells him that one of the convicts from the marsh was sitting behind Pip during the show. Pip is worried that Compeyson might be following him. At Jaggers’ house for a dinner, Pip learns about Estella and Drummle’s marriage. He also notices Jaggers’ servant Molly whose movements resemble those of Estella. Some more details make him certain that Molly is Estella’s daughter. Pip goes to see Miss Havisham where she begs his forgiveness. He acts with kindness and saves her from fire, but she becomes an invalid. He is wounded too. Jaggers confirms that Molly and Estella are related, but he has no knowledge about Magwitch’s role. Pip escapes an attack from an angry Orlick who accuses Pip of coming between him and Biddy. The plan to send Magwitch away fails as the police calls for him to surrender on the boat. He sees Compeyson in the other boat and dives on him. Both of them go under the surface of water, but only Magwitch comes back and is arrested. Pip still remains loyal to Magwitch even though he knows he will be found guilty. Herbert gets married to Clara. Wemmick has a weird and funny wedding with Miss Skiffins. Magwitch is sentenced to death. Pip reveals to him about Estella and he dies in peace. Pip falls sick very badly and is nursed back to health by Joe. Joe tells Pip about Miss Havisham’s death and how she distributed her money among the Pockets. Orlick was arrested for robbing Pumblechook. Before leaving suddenly, Joe pays off Pip’s debts. Pip decided to reconcile and reunite with him and marry Biddy. When Pip goes back there, he is disappointed to find that Biddy and Joe are getting married, but he expresses delight on this. He goes out of England and takes up a job with Herbert. He returns eleven years later. He visits Joe and Biddy and convinces them he is content with his bachelor life. He goes to the ruined Satis House. He had learned about Estella and Drummle’s troubled marriage and Drummle’s death. There, he finds Estella wandering n the ruined garden. They leave the garden holding hands and Pip hopes they will never part again. (This was a revised ending. In the original ending, Pip meets Estella in London while moving around with Joe and Biddy’s son. They do not discuss past, but do shake hands. Pip had known about Drummle’s death and Estella’s remarriage to a country doctor. He said that he could see her suffering and hopefully she understood how he felt before when he was the one to suffer.)
“To me, parting is a painful thing.” (515)
Estella says this to Pip when they meet again at Satis House. Parting, indeed, is a very painful thing to everybody. I have parted from a lot of people and have been away from them, and it is indeed not soothing. Before I write some of my views, I would like to mention a historical incident. When the tenth prophet of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh ji, asked Bhai Gurdas Singh, one of the poets in his court, to explain pain in one word, the latter replied that the most appropriate word is “Parting.” I learned about this from my father, who wrote a speech for me to deliver on the farewell party of my class in 2007.
When I left India, I had to bid goodbye to a lot of people whom I have known for the whole of my life. Some of them have died recently, including my grandmother and my neighbor. And since they are gone forever, it pinches me even more that I would never be able to see them again. I had studied with some of my classmates for the entire student life over there, 12 years in same school. And I was unable to see most of them before I left because the school was off due to summer break. I may see them again in my life, but perhaps not together at one place.
A lot of literary works that have focused on partition of lovers are considered masterpieces. ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is one example. It is said that literature dotted with pain and partition is more liked by the readers. Some people even say that the bird Cuckoo owes its sweet voice to the pain it suffers due to loneliness and partition. Overall the conclusion is that sad stories are more emotional and thus closer to the reader’s heart.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Blog 3A
Book: Great Expectations
Pages read this week: 175
Pages read this semester: 403
Weekly Style: Fan Fiction
Joe meets Pip in London and tells him that Estella is back. When Pip goes to meet her, he finds Orlick in Satis House. He gets Orlick kicked out by expressing his fears to Jaggers. Estella treats Pip with indifference and he is upset. Coming back to London, Pip and Herbert go to the theater, where Wopsle plays a ridiculous Hamlet. Pip receives a note from Estella notifying him about her arrival in London. She treats him with arrogance, but could not remember who she resembles with. He believes that they are destined to be married, and even Miss Havisham desires this. Pip feels sad about his treatment of Joe and Biddy. Debts are rising on both Pip and Herbert. Pip’s sister, Mrs. Joe dies and Pip is astonished at the intensity of his sadness. He decides to visit the Joe and Biddy more often. Pip’s 21st birthday arrives and he begins to receive 500 pounds a year. However, Jaggers reveals nothing about Pip’s benefactor. Pip decides to help out Herbert anonymously in his business. Estella’s cold behavior towards Pip continues as time passes on. Pip turns 23 and one night, the old convict, whom Pip had served in marshes years ago, comes to him and tells him that he was his benefactor. The convict is running from law and Pip allows him to stay with him until Herbert is back. Pip’s dreams of marrying Estella are razed. The name of convict is Abel Magwitch, but Pip calls him Uncle Provis. Herbert comes back and they plan to send Magwitch abroad. Magwitch tells his story which comes out to be related to Miss Havisham. Pip decides to leave Estella, and she tells him that he is going to marry Drummle, one of Pip’s ex-fellow students at Pockets’. When he comes back, he gets a note from Wemmick, asking him not to go home. He spends night at an inn. The next morning, Wemmick tells him that Magwtich’s old foe, Compeyson, who had stood up Miss Havisham on her wedding day, is pursuing Magwitch. Magwitch is hidden at Herbert’s fiancée, Clara’s house. Herbert and Pip discuss a plan to sneak Magwitch away on the river, and Pip begins to consider staying with his benefactor even after their escape.
Fan Fic
Pip was a 17 year old young boy and a high school student. He never had a girl friend. He was, actually, shy of girls, and tried to stay away from them. He did not mix up easily with fellow students. His main focus was his studies and nothing else. Unusually, he developed a strong bond of relationship with Estella, a fellow classmate. They shared many interests even though she was a year older than him. They got along together pretty well, and were always teasing each other. Pip began to feel something for Estella. Before he could decide what, Estella told him that she already had somebody else in her life. Pip found out that it was some guy almost 10 years older than Estella. She wanted to marry him and apparently, her family had no objection. Discreetly, Pip decided to question her more about that guy, Herbert. Pip was worried because of the age factor. He thought Herbert might dump her. Somehow, coincidentally, Estella invited both Herbert and Pip to a dinner. By talking to Herbert, Pip became sure that he was a nice guy. For the first time in his life, he had been so much concerned about somebody else. Partially, because he liked Estella; but he was not really sure about it. Some days later, when asked Pip asked Estella when she planned to marry Herbert; she shocked him by telling him that they had broken up a couple of days ago. Pip felt a mixed feeling of joy and sorrow. It was his good conscience that took over him, and he persuaded Estella to try for a patch up. After some initial hesitation, both sides agreed to Pip’s proposal. This time Pip really felt overwhelmed by joy as he thought that he had done some good deed. However, he was left wondering if he could be the same old Pip again.
Pages read this week: 175
Pages read this semester: 403
Weekly Style: Fan Fiction
Joe meets Pip in London and tells him that Estella is back. When Pip goes to meet her, he finds Orlick in Satis House. He gets Orlick kicked out by expressing his fears to Jaggers. Estella treats Pip with indifference and he is upset. Coming back to London, Pip and Herbert go to the theater, where Wopsle plays a ridiculous Hamlet. Pip receives a note from Estella notifying him about her arrival in London. She treats him with arrogance, but could not remember who she resembles with. He believes that they are destined to be married, and even Miss Havisham desires this. Pip feels sad about his treatment of Joe and Biddy. Debts are rising on both Pip and Herbert. Pip’s sister, Mrs. Joe dies and Pip is astonished at the intensity of his sadness. He decides to visit the Joe and Biddy more often. Pip’s 21st birthday arrives and he begins to receive 500 pounds a year. However, Jaggers reveals nothing about Pip’s benefactor. Pip decides to help out Herbert anonymously in his business. Estella’s cold behavior towards Pip continues as time passes on. Pip turns 23 and one night, the old convict, whom Pip had served in marshes years ago, comes to him and tells him that he was his benefactor. The convict is running from law and Pip allows him to stay with him until Herbert is back. Pip’s dreams of marrying Estella are razed. The name of convict is Abel Magwitch, but Pip calls him Uncle Provis. Herbert comes back and they plan to send Magwitch abroad. Magwitch tells his story which comes out to be related to Miss Havisham. Pip decides to leave Estella, and she tells him that he is going to marry Drummle, one of Pip’s ex-fellow students at Pockets’. When he comes back, he gets a note from Wemmick, asking him not to go home. He spends night at an inn. The next morning, Wemmick tells him that Magwtich’s old foe, Compeyson, who had stood up Miss Havisham on her wedding day, is pursuing Magwitch. Magwitch is hidden at Herbert’s fiancée, Clara’s house. Herbert and Pip discuss a plan to sneak Magwitch away on the river, and Pip begins to consider staying with his benefactor even after their escape.
Fan Fic
Pip was a 17 year old young boy and a high school student. He never had a girl friend. He was, actually, shy of girls, and tried to stay away from them. He did not mix up easily with fellow students. His main focus was his studies and nothing else. Unusually, he developed a strong bond of relationship with Estella, a fellow classmate. They shared many interests even though she was a year older than him. They got along together pretty well, and were always teasing each other. Pip began to feel something for Estella. Before he could decide what, Estella told him that she already had somebody else in her life. Pip found out that it was some guy almost 10 years older than Estella. She wanted to marry him and apparently, her family had no objection. Discreetly, Pip decided to question her more about that guy, Herbert. Pip was worried because of the age factor. He thought Herbert might dump her. Somehow, coincidentally, Estella invited both Herbert and Pip to a dinner. By talking to Herbert, Pip became sure that he was a nice guy. For the first time in his life, he had been so much concerned about somebody else. Partially, because he liked Estella; but he was not really sure about it. Some days later, when asked Pip asked Estella when she planned to marry Herbert; she shocked him by telling him that they had broken up a couple of days ago. Pip felt a mixed feeling of joy and sorrow. It was his good conscience that took over him, and he persuaded Estella to try for a patch up. After some initial hesitation, both sides agreed to Pip’s proposal. This time Pip really felt overwhelmed by joy as he thought that he had done some good deed. However, he was left wondering if he could be the same old Pip again.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Blog 2A
Book: Great Expectations
Pages Read this week: 125
Pages read this semester: 228
Weekly style: Questions
Summary
Pip is apprenticed to Joe and Miss Havisham pays them some money. Pip does not like this turn around in his life. Time passes as Pip begins working in Joe's forge; the boy slowly becomes an adolescent. He hates working as Joe's apprentice, but out of consideration for Joe's goodness, he keeps his feelings to himself. As he works, he thinks he sees Estella's face mocking him in the forge, and he longs for Satis House. Mrs. Joe is attacked by somebody after she had a verbal face off with Orlick, the other worker at the forge. Her brain is severely damaged and she becomes ‘invalid.’ Pip suspects its Orlick behind this, but Mrs. Joe shows no contempt for him. Biddy moves into Joe’s house to help them with household tasks. Pip is saddened when he comes to know that Estella has been sent abroad. He is attracted towards Biddy, but tells her about his love for Estella. Biddy warns him about her. Pip comes to know that he is soon going to inherit large sum of money through some unknown benefactor. He thinks it is Miss Havisham. He has to go to London where he will be tutored by Matthew Pocket, Havisham’s cousin. Pip leaves Joe’s house regretting his snobbish behavior towards people who had loved him. Pip does not like London at first. He meets Mr. Jaggers, the lawyer of his benefactor. He befriends Herbert Pocket who helps him in becoming a gentleman; and Wemmick, the clerk at Jaggers’ office. Pip does not like his fellow students. However, he tries to become good at table manners and observes everything he thinks is important for him.
Basically, Pip is learning things about his surroundings and himself in this part. We see him going through various developmental phases of life. And the changes in hi behavior and thinking become apparent as he enters adolescence.
Que. 1: What do you think will happen next and why?
Ans.: I am almost half way through the book, but with every page I read, I think more and more about what will be the ending of the story. I cannot find out where the story is headed towards. Indeed it is very sophisticated novel. Still, I have a general feeling that like most stories, this novel will also have a happy ending. I believe that Pip and Estella will marry. May be the story can go even farther from their marriage. It seems to me that some complexities will arise in their relationship, because Pip does not really know how to express his feelings in the most appropriate way. And since he is not very sure about Estella, may be somebody else will enter his life too. Pip’s past may come to haunt him again. Perhaps there will be something about Joe or somebody else that will again drag him bag to his slippery past of marshes. I think so because this usually happens in novels.
Que. 2: What/how does what you read make you feel? Why?
Pages Read this week: 125
Pages read this semester: 228
Weekly style: Questions
Summary
Pip is apprenticed to Joe and Miss Havisham pays them some money. Pip does not like this turn around in his life. Time passes as Pip begins working in Joe's forge; the boy slowly becomes an adolescent. He hates working as Joe's apprentice, but out of consideration for Joe's goodness, he keeps his feelings to himself. As he works, he thinks he sees Estella's face mocking him in the forge, and he longs for Satis House. Mrs. Joe is attacked by somebody after she had a verbal face off with Orlick, the other worker at the forge. Her brain is severely damaged and she becomes ‘invalid.’ Pip suspects its Orlick behind this, but Mrs. Joe shows no contempt for him. Biddy moves into Joe’s house to help them with household tasks. Pip is saddened when he comes to know that Estella has been sent abroad. He is attracted towards Biddy, but tells her about his love for Estella. Biddy warns him about her. Pip comes to know that he is soon going to inherit large sum of money through some unknown benefactor. He thinks it is Miss Havisham. He has to go to London where he will be tutored by Matthew Pocket, Havisham’s cousin. Pip leaves Joe’s house regretting his snobbish behavior towards people who had loved him. Pip does not like London at first. He meets Mr. Jaggers, the lawyer of his benefactor. He befriends Herbert Pocket who helps him in becoming a gentleman; and Wemmick, the clerk at Jaggers’ office. Pip does not like his fellow students. However, he tries to become good at table manners and observes everything he thinks is important for him.
Basically, Pip is learning things about his surroundings and himself in this part. We see him going through various developmental phases of life. And the changes in hi behavior and thinking become apparent as he enters adolescence.
Que. 1: What do you think will happen next and why?
Ans.: I am almost half way through the book, but with every page I read, I think more and more about what will be the ending of the story. I cannot find out where the story is headed towards. Indeed it is very sophisticated novel. Still, I have a general feeling that like most stories, this novel will also have a happy ending. I believe that Pip and Estella will marry. May be the story can go even farther from their marriage. It seems to me that some complexities will arise in their relationship, because Pip does not really know how to express his feelings in the most appropriate way. And since he is not very sure about Estella, may be somebody else will enter his life too. Pip’s past may come to haunt him again. Perhaps there will be something about Joe or somebody else that will again drag him bag to his slippery past of marshes. I think so because this usually happens in novels.
Que. 2: What/how does what you read make you feel? Why?
Ans.: To be honest, I have experienced all sorts of emotions by reading this ‘magnum opus’ of Charles Dickens. I smiled at young Pip’s innocence, and I felt hatred towards the type of life the opulent people lead. Sometimes I often wondered what the significance of this event is because it seemed to slow down the momentum of the story for me. I am pondering why money means so much for people. And definitely, why some people like to brag about some act of goodness they did for somebody. Since this is very complicated novel, I often feel lost trying to figure out the ages
Friday, February 6, 2009
Blog 1A
Book: Great Expectations
Pages read this week: 103
Pages read this semester: 103
Weekly Style: Quotation
The story starts with Pip (Philip Pirrip), a young little boy, paying homage to his parents and his five deceased siblings in the graveyard. He is being brought by Joe Gargery, a village blacksmith who is married to Pip’s sister. A runaway convict catches him and asks him to bring a file (“a long, narrow tool of steel or other metal having a series of ridges or points on its surfaces for reducing or smoothing surfaces of metal, wood, etc. Source: www.dictionary.com), and some food. He steals some food and brandy from his house. The next night is Christmas night and some relatives pay a visit to the blacksmith’s house. The thought of stealing keeps haunting Pip, and he is terrified when some soldiers arrive at their house late in the night. He is a bit relieved to know that they had something which needed repairs from Joe. After that is done, Joe, Pip and Mr. Wopsole accompany the band of soldiers who are out to catch two convicts. Both are caught, with one being the same culprit Pip had fed. However the culprit says that he himself stole food from the blacksmith’s house. This leads to the awakening in Pip’s mind. A year later, he is summoned to show up at Miss Havisham’s house up town. She is a rich lady and wants to see somebody play. Pip gets really acquainted to that house and has sweet and bitter experiences with Estella who works at Havisham’s house. By the end of chapter 12, Miss Havisham summons Joe, to whom Pip will be apprenticed to.
“In the little world in which children have their existence, whosoever brings them up, there is nothing so finely perceived and finely felt as injustice.”
Pages read this week: 103
Pages read this semester: 103
Weekly Style: Quotation
The story starts with Pip (Philip Pirrip), a young little boy, paying homage to his parents and his five deceased siblings in the graveyard. He is being brought by Joe Gargery, a village blacksmith who is married to Pip’s sister. A runaway convict catches him and asks him to bring a file (“a long, narrow tool of steel or other metal having a series of ridges or points on its surfaces for reducing or smoothing surfaces of metal, wood, etc. Source: www.dictionary.com), and some food. He steals some food and brandy from his house. The next night is Christmas night and some relatives pay a visit to the blacksmith’s house. The thought of stealing keeps haunting Pip, and he is terrified when some soldiers arrive at their house late in the night. He is a bit relieved to know that they had something which needed repairs from Joe. After that is done, Joe, Pip and Mr. Wopsole accompany the band of soldiers who are out to catch two convicts. Both are caught, with one being the same culprit Pip had fed. However the culprit says that he himself stole food from the blacksmith’s house. This leads to the awakening in Pip’s mind. A year later, he is summoned to show up at Miss Havisham’s house up town. She is a rich lady and wants to see somebody play. Pip gets really acquainted to that house and has sweet and bitter experiences with Estella who works at Havisham’s house. By the end of chapter 12, Miss Havisham summons Joe, to whom Pip will be apprenticed to.
“In the little world in which children have their existence, whosoever brings them up, there is nothing so finely perceived and finely felt as injustice.”
Pip is commenting about how he felt after he was ill treated, well not ill treated, but given harsh comments on his appearance by Estella. He also felt that “all that glitters is not gold.” Miss Havisham’s house was big but lonely and had nothing for him. It was in a bad shape. So he really felt weird and sad at the shattering of his hopes of a lavish rich household and availability of everything including love.
Whenever children feel hurt, they feel that they had been subject to partiality. I was a kid once and there is still a kid hidden somewhere in my mind. When I was younger, I used to feel that at certain moments, I was biased at school or home, although now I understand at most occasions I was not, well never at home. However, the matter of concern is that increasingly more and more young kids are starting to feel this way. And one of the biggest, perhaps the biggest and most important reason is the parental lack of care towards them in this rapidly transforming world of technology. Having lived in two nations and in two separate cultures and societies, I have observed it a lot. Parents, especially the rich and the working class are very busy in their scheduled lives. If the children protest, they are hushed up by the parents saying that they are living hard lives just for them. Some kids are contented with this argument, but some are not. The latter group wants love and affection.
I remember that in December 2007, there was an Indian Bollywood movie about a seven year old child who is neglected by his parents. That movie was highly acclaimed by both eastern and western critics, but could not reach the final five in Oscars this year. I have not watched the movie but the music, reviews and reports give me a feeling that it directly deals with this problem of the “neglected” generation. Not all parents are like that, but such negligence can lead to bigger psychological and social problems. That is what my father says who is often pointed out by some of his relative here who feel dejected with the way how my parents (over) care about us.
Whenever children feel hurt, they feel that they had been subject to partiality. I was a kid once and there is still a kid hidden somewhere in my mind. When I was younger, I used to feel that at certain moments, I was biased at school or home, although now I understand at most occasions I was not, well never at home. However, the matter of concern is that increasingly more and more young kids are starting to feel this way. And one of the biggest, perhaps the biggest and most important reason is the parental lack of care towards them in this rapidly transforming world of technology. Having lived in two nations and in two separate cultures and societies, I have observed it a lot. Parents, especially the rich and the working class are very busy in their scheduled lives. If the children protest, they are hushed up by the parents saying that they are living hard lives just for them. Some kids are contented with this argument, but some are not. The latter group wants love and affection.
I remember that in December 2007, there was an Indian Bollywood movie about a seven year old child who is neglected by his parents. That movie was highly acclaimed by both eastern and western critics, but could not reach the final five in Oscars this year. I have not watched the movie but the music, reviews and reports give me a feeling that it directly deals with this problem of the “neglected” generation. Not all parents are like that, but such negligence can lead to bigger psychological and social problems. That is what my father says who is often pointed out by some of his relative here who feel dejected with the way how my parents (over) care about us.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Blog 12
Book: Angels and Demons
Pages read this week: 270
Pages read this semester: 1570
Weekly Style: Fan Fiction
The 'Hassassin' leaks out the news of first cardinal's death to the BBC correspondent in Vatican, Gunther Glick, who is there to report the conclave. He and his camerawoman record the footage of the dead body of the first cardinal. The second cardinal is found dead in the St. Peter's Square. Olivetti, Langdon and Vittoria go to save the third cardinal. Olivetti is killed while trying to catch th 'Hassassin' who kidnaps Vittoria to satisfyhis sexual hunger. Robert barely survives death in the process, but the third cardinal is burnt to death. Camerlengo disrupts the conclave at 10 p.m. and reveals the threat to Vatican through BBC by condemning science. Robert, on the other hand, figures out the place of fourth murder, where he gets distracted and again miraculously survives death on the hands of Hassassin. The fourth cardinal dies also. The search of Vatican was not yielding anything. Robert Langdon, meanwhile, figures out Hassassin's hiding place where he finds a tunnel to Vatican. The 'Hassassin' is killed by Vittoria and Langdon. They reach the Vatican through tunnel and think that Kohler is the 'Illuminati' guy about whom 'Hassassin' told them. They disrupt Camerlengo and Kohler's meeting. The Camerlengo is found branded with an 'Illuminati' diamond with Kohler holding a gun. Kohler and Captain Rocher, who was accused by the Camerlengo to be an 'Illuminati' are guned down. Kohler gives Langdon a camcorder and asks him to give it to the media. A crowd of thousands outside the Vatican and on TVs are horrified when the Camerlengo "receives a message" from the God which rveals to him the hiding place of antimatter canister. The Camerlengo takes the canister and get into the helicopter. Langdon also joins him. They start their flight towards the sky zt 11:57 p.m. Langdon is stupified when the Camerlengo locks the cansiter in a box, takes the parachute out and jumps from the chopper two minutes later. Langdon jumps too using a peace of tarp. The antimatter blast almost blinded everyone, byt no harm was caused. People are taken aback when Camerlengo is discovered on the roof of the Vatican. Langdon manages to fall into river Tiber and is treated at a hospital. He listens to the conversation in the camcorder after regaining consciousness. The conclave is about to choose Ventresca when Langdon and Vittoria, through the camcorder footage shot by Kohler, reveal that Camerlengo Ventresca had plannned to deify himself by saving 'Vatican' from destruction. He killed the Pope, who was later found to be his biological father, four cardinals, Leonardo Vettra and devised the whole plot. Ventresca gives a speech against the new innovations of science, their questioning of God, and the destruction caused by it. However, he is completely shaken when 'The Great Elector' Cardinal Severio Mortati reveals that the late Pope was Ventresca's real father and he was born using a new scientific way. He committs suicide by burning himself. The Vatican decided not to reveal the truth, to which Langdon and Vittoria agree. Mortati is elected as the new Pope; and he gifts Langdon with the 'Illuminati Diamond.' The novel ends with Vittoria and Robert in a hotel room.
Pages read this week: 270
Pages read this semester: 1570
Weekly Style: Fan Fiction
The 'Hassassin' leaks out the news of first cardinal's death to the BBC correspondent in Vatican, Gunther Glick, who is there to report the conclave. He and his camerawoman record the footage of the dead body of the first cardinal. The second cardinal is found dead in the St. Peter's Square. Olivetti, Langdon and Vittoria go to save the third cardinal. Olivetti is killed while trying to catch th 'Hassassin' who kidnaps Vittoria to satisfyhis sexual hunger. Robert barely survives death in the process, but the third cardinal is burnt to death. Camerlengo disrupts the conclave at 10 p.m. and reveals the threat to Vatican through BBC by condemning science. Robert, on the other hand, figures out the place of fourth murder, where he gets distracted and again miraculously survives death on the hands of Hassassin. The fourth cardinal dies also. The search of Vatican was not yielding anything. Robert Langdon, meanwhile, figures out Hassassin's hiding place where he finds a tunnel to Vatican. The 'Hassassin' is killed by Vittoria and Langdon. They reach the Vatican through tunnel and think that Kohler is the 'Illuminati' guy about whom 'Hassassin' told them. They disrupt Camerlengo and Kohler's meeting. The Camerlengo is found branded with an 'Illuminati' diamond with Kohler holding a gun. Kohler and Captain Rocher, who was accused by the Camerlengo to be an 'Illuminati' are guned down. Kohler gives Langdon a camcorder and asks him to give it to the media. A crowd of thousands outside the Vatican and on TVs are horrified when the Camerlengo "receives a message" from the God which rveals to him the hiding place of antimatter canister. The Camerlengo takes the canister and get into the helicopter. Langdon also joins him. They start their flight towards the sky zt 11:57 p.m. Langdon is stupified when the Camerlengo locks the cansiter in a box, takes the parachute out and jumps from the chopper two minutes later. Langdon jumps too using a peace of tarp. The antimatter blast almost blinded everyone, byt no harm was caused. People are taken aback when Camerlengo is discovered on the roof of the Vatican. Langdon manages to fall into river Tiber and is treated at a hospital. He listens to the conversation in the camcorder after regaining consciousness. The conclave is about to choose Ventresca when Langdon and Vittoria, through the camcorder footage shot by Kohler, reveal that Camerlengo Ventresca had plannned to deify himself by saving 'Vatican' from destruction. He killed the Pope, who was later found to be his biological father, four cardinals, Leonardo Vettra and devised the whole plot. Ventresca gives a speech against the new innovations of science, their questioning of God, and the destruction caused by it. However, he is completely shaken when 'The Great Elector' Cardinal Severio Mortati reveals that the late Pope was Ventresca's real father and he was born using a new scientific way. He committs suicide by burning himself. The Vatican decided not to reveal the truth, to which Langdon and Vittoria agree. Mortati is elected as the new Pope; and he gifts Langdon with the 'Illuminati Diamond.' The novel ends with Vittoria and Robert in a hotel room.
Story
This is a story of early 1930s when Italy was under Mussolini ruled over Italy with an iron hand. Leonardo Vettra was a political activist who was working underground to topple the brutal regime of Mussolini. He was a government official, but he was trying to gather support for his clandestine plan. He was against the social and economic policies of Mussolini. He was in contact with the British secret services. They sent Robert Langdon as an undercover agent to Italy. Robert went there as a news correspondent. When he went to meet Leonardo Vettra, he fell in love with his daughter, Vittoria. Love at first sight. However, Vittoria did not seem to show any interest in Robert at firs, but slowly she began to change her behavior. . Her father was a bit reluctant about Robert since he was an Englishman, but Robert had no wrong intentions. . Also, she was unaware of her father’s plans. Another Italian official, Carlo Ventresca, was one of the most faithful persons of Mussolini, and was also interested in Vittoria. Somehow, he got the wind of Vettra’s suspicious activities. He started preparing to catch Leonardo red handed. And one night, the police along with Carlo Ventresca started for Leonardo’s house which was on the hillside. When Leonardo saw his house surrounded from all but one sides, he made Vittoria tun away along with Robert to Leonardo’s confident Severio Mortati. Leonardo blew himself up when the cops approached in order to prevent any kind of revelations from his house. Ventresca and frantic Italian authorities began a widespread search for Vittoria. After facing many odds and surviving the Police many times, Vittoria fled Italy along with Robert. They reached England where after assurances from Robert, Vittoria was granted a refugee status. They got married soon after that and lived a happy life.
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