VLOG #1

The Scarlet Letter Quote

" 'He did not send me!' cried she, positively. 'I have no Heavenly Father!' " 
        (Hawthorne, Pg. 90)

In the Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne is impregnated by Reverend Dimesdale. Her daughter, Pearl, has some early childhood issues. During the early years of her life, around three years of age, Pearl was showing some troubling signs. She was not a team player because she despised and did not get along with the other children. Living in a strictly puritan community where pleasing God was everything, Pearl stuck out like a sore thumb. After Hester jokingly and playfully said (although did not mean) that Pearl was not Hester's, but was given to her by the Heavenly Father, Pearl replied the aforementioned quote. She said this because she clearly does not believe in God. Her atheist views are due to a variety of factors. The first and foremost is the lack of a family structure. Her single mother has trouble raising her. Hester is an individual of questionable moral values, and what Pearl learns is from Hester. Pearl is also aware that she was born from sin. This psychological trauma has caused her to rebel from the strict Puritan culture and therefore not believe in God and more importantly God's laws or rules. The audacity of a three year old to be the only character in the novel to commit verbal blasphemy is impressive, and shows how much trouble Pearl really is.

Drone Protests in Pakistan

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/24/world/asia/in-pakistan-rally-protests-drone-strikes.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

Streets in Islamabad Pakistan were filled with thousands of protesters. Pakistani's were protesting the usage of American drone's on their land. They vowed to stop NATO activities if the United States did not stop. The United States has been under major criticism by Pakistani's, the international community, and even its own citizens regarding drone strikes. If one forgets about the inaccuracy of drones and the innocent lives that have been taken away from their families and communities due to drones, one cannot forget that drone strikes on other soil is infringement of sovereignty. If the United States truly did not want to see the Taliban and Al-Qaeda grow, then the United States should not have funded them to weaken the Soviet Union. What is the logic of supporting the "lesser evil" whether for a person or a nation. It is sad to see that the current rulers of Pakistan, although publicly not supporting it, have privately endorsed the use of drones. Both governments have long lost the vision of doing good for the world. Pakistan and the United States of America are clearly not focused enough on the well-being of their citizens, especially economical. What hope is there left in this world?

Hiring in Boston Massachusetts (while it was still a colony)

http://matsumoto.eesd.org/tm28/col09/colne.html
http://www.usahistory.info/colonial/customs.html
http://livingconditionsnew.weebly.com/new-england-colonies.html

Boston, Massachusetts was and has been one of the most important cities in what we call today the United States of America. It has served as the most vital city during the Revolution, was important for trade, and even today is home to the most advanced universities of the world. Living in conditions in Boston have changed throughout time. Today one can be a janitor, a stay-at-home-dad, and even a CEO in Boston. Times have changed, however. People used to have a wide array of occupations during the 1600's. Fishing was a very common occupation. Men and children both enjoyed the art of catching the sea-life. After fishing, a very common occurrence (although used much more in other parts of the colony) was farming. Subsistence farming was key to the diet of many families.Carpenters and shipbuilders were also common. Less common occupations included harvesting, basket-weaving, brick-making, shoe-making, and silversmiths. A very powerful occupation was that of the religious leader. The religious leader was essentially the ruler of the people, because of the strict Puritan devotion to the Church, and the belief that the Church should govern the way of life. Other colonies had government officials, but the simple life of Boston is a bold reminder of how much humans have changed.

Bullying in the NFL...What else is new?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/15/jonathan-martin-nfl-meeting-statement-dolphins_n_4285140.html

The National Football League has been under scrutiny for many problems its players and staff members have endured, much more than ever. It is only now where players of a sport who collide with others and the ground have learned that it is possible to receive a concussion. Now the National Football League is being criticized by the press due to a recent incident regarding harassment. Miami Dolphins player Jonathan Martin is the center of a scandal revolving around harassment by his fellow teammate, Richie Incognito. Incognito has admitted to calling Martin racial slurs (Martin is black while Incognito is white), making verbal death threats, and even threatening to slap his mother. Logically, this is not acceptable behavior. But Incognito's comments are (according to him AND most of the Dolphins team) part of "locker room culture." Players of the National Football League almost unanimously said that the "locker room culture" of teams should not be changed. Only time will tell how this event will end. Will it be years until the next "harassment" case comes up, or will it encourage "victims" to speak up? All that is known is Jonathan Martin has talked to investigators and Incognito has been suspended until the verdict of the courts, the National Football League, and ultimately the public are given.

Education by Emerson SOAPST

Literature is worthless....without the proper analysis into depths which the deepest oceans cannot compete with. Analysis is key to understanding anything, but when it comes to literature SOAPST is very useful to scratch the surface of a text. Ralph Waldo Emmerson is a highly regarded writer. His famous works are a great read, but all his works require analysis. "Education" is no different. Education is what molds the future members of society, and Emerson knows this quite well. Although he wrote about this topic in detail in the early 1800's, they are more than applicable to today's world. The acronym SOAPST stands for six important aspects of a text: speaker, occasion, audience, purpose, subject, and text. The speaker in this case is Ralph Waldo Emerson, a well-known transcendental writer of the 1800's. The occasion is between 1820's and 1830's and because he sees issues with the system of education. The audience is everyone, but specifically teachers, parents, and students. His purpose is to inform, to inspire, and to reform. The education system lacks all three, and in turn needs all three. His subject is education, but more specifically the problems the education system faces. And finally the tone of his text is confident, informative, thought-provoking, and friendly.

News Blog. Glasshouse felon...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/03/bernard-kerik-prison-reform_n_4208504.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

The famous song by System of a Down "Prison Song" and another song of the same name by "Graham Nash" are not just musically enjoyable but have lyrics that are not just emotionally passionate but are factual. The article in question is about mandatory minimum sentences. Former New York Police Commissioner was a not-so-law-abiding after all, because of tax fraud and lying to the George W. Bush Administration. After serving eight felony counts in a federal prison, Mr. Bernard Kerik has rekindled his passion for effecting law enforcement by announcing his position on mandatory minimum drug sentences. Mandatory minimum drug sentences affect even non-violent convictions of some substances. The equation is simple: five grams of cocaine in one's possession  is equal to ten years in prison. It might seem logical to some, but rotting away for 10-years in a federal prison because of possessing the amount of cocaine equivalent to the weight of a nickel is ridiculous. After his time in prison, Kerik apparently felt sympathy for his fellow inmates. Attorney General Eric Holder along with other members of the Justice Department and White House have been promising prison reform, because the system is "outrageous" for the American public. The author of this blog, Aram Manoukian, has had some experience with mandatory minimum drug sentences. He has met the social action director of Participant Media, a politically active production company, who has recently released a Dwayne Johnson film, "Snitch." It is socially relevant because the protagonist's son is facing hard time in prison because of mandatory minimum drug sentencing laws. This shows that this is becoming a serious topic for discussion.

Education in Schools

For me, education is defined in a few ways. An individual with a good education is some one who can identify what is right and what is wrong, has the skills to do what they believe to be best, and what the believe to be best is what is right. Any productive member of society needs to have a good education. It is unfortunate that high schools cannot meet the needs of every student. With the focus of schools shifting to standardized testing, the status quo curricullum now revolves around a test kids are supposed to take. The high school system is taught by highly unqualified educators, who (there are infinite exceptions) teach in order to get a paycheck and not produce a good well rounded youth. Teachers in Finland are required to have a masters in their field of study, are regarded as one of the highest ranking professions in the country, and are paid well. All these are characteristics of a nation with a good educational system, qualities that the United States do not pocess. Do our schools serve the goals of a true education? No. This is an unfortunate reality because there is a rise in students lacking specialized skills, lack of critical thinking and logical analysis capabilities, a higher poverty rate, a higher crime rate, along with many other serious issues that United States citizens must figure out. Yet the question is, can they?

Blog Sixteen

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/28/world/middleeast/syria-meets-deadline-for-arms-destruction-plan.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

In "Syria Meets Deadline for Arms Destruction Plan," Nick Cumming-Bruce writes about a very interesting and unexpected occurrence regarding Syria. Anyone with a slight idea of current events knows that the Middle East, specifically Syria is one of the most conflicted regions in history. The "civil" war in Syria is one of the most talked about and politically engaging topics. The international community avoided heavy military response, and due to Putin's pushing agreed on a peaceful diplomatic way to settle the conflict. There is still fighting to this day, but Assad's regime has successfully created a plan which destroys their chemical arsenal three days ahead of schedule. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is in charge of destroying the weapons. Countries such as the United States have been accusing Syria of not listing at least twenty two chemical weapons sites. It is a great occurrence  however, when a country that is accused of being run by crooks and criminals goes the extra mile to prove to the international community that their ability to run a country is greater than anyone thought. By the middle of 2014, Syria's chemical arsenal of weapons is expected to be destroyed. This destruction of arms plan includes eradicating Syria's capabilities to create and weaponize more chemicals.

The American Ally Who Cannot Move Forward

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/20/netanyahu-pressure-iran_n_4132088.html

Israel is one of the most controversial countries in the world. Since its inception in the 1950's: Palestine has lost a majority of its lands, the Middle East is at unrest, and the United States' wallet gets emptier by the week, all due to Israel. Israel is one of the few nations that has a nuclear arms program. Just like India, Pakistan, and South Africa, it is one the nations in the world who runs a nuclear program illegally. Although it is a signatory of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, it is one of two states that has yet to ratify it. Iran has recently been accused of developing a nuclear program for military use. After harsh diplomatic tensions arose during the past administrations, newly elected moderate president Hassan Rouhani has allowed for transparency for the nuclear program. After the International communities are ready to start peace talks, the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, who declared that this was an undesirable action. The international community should be more harsh and strict regarding Iran. Should the International community desire peace, or conflict? Israel believes conflict. It is not a good choice, and is even considered immoral. It is up to the international community to decide.

Congress' Bipartison Effort (Not a Joke)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/boehner-tells-house-gop-negotiations-have-ended/2013/10/12/fa0d3f42-334a-11e3-9c68-1cf643210300_story.html?wpmk=MK0000205

Anyone with a infinitismal idea of the political situation in the United States knows very well that Congress has run into a few issues. It is clear that the root of the problems is party politics; the personal agenda pf party leaders who are either to liberal or to conservative that own dictionaries missing the word "compromise". The defunding of the Affordable Health Care Act was a process that right wing Conservatives believed to be smooth. It resulted, however, in one of the largest government shutdowns in United States history. It is now this partisan gridlock that prevents the United States government from raising the debt ceiling. It is unfortunate that the secretary of  the Treasury can barely balance the nation's books and soon will be unable to pay the government's bills. The most significant of these payments are the bond interests owed to countries such as China and Japan. These countries are more than willing to collect the trillion dollars in capital owned in bonds. If the decision to collect is made, the United States is far from able to allocate the necessary funding. It is therefore the responsibility of the egotistic and far from serviceful public servants to halt the  effects of this gridlock and move beyond political agenda  to do what they got elected for. It does not seem that constituents are pleased with a representative who cannot focus on one collective mission: do what is best for these United States of America.

How the Shutdown Affects the United States' International Activities

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/white-house-warns-us-sanctions-regime-against-iran-at-risk-due-to-government-shutdown/2013/10/04/6577656e-2d24-11e3-b141-298f46539716_story.html

It pretty much goes without saying that the Founding Fathers of the United States of America are rolling over in their graves knowing that the individuals who represent the most powerful branch of the federal government cease to represent the best interests of nation and instead try to win partisan victories. Each Congressman has the power to do what is right, and as unimaginable as it may seem, compromise. Congress' inability to compromise and do right resulted in a partial government shutdown starting October 1, 2013. The shutdown affects all but the security forces and, ironically, Congress. 

This shutdown, according to White House spokesman Jay Carney, has caused the department of the Treasury to furlough the entire staff that handles the sanctions on Iran. This is a very obvious issue, because Congress' unwillingness to compromise affects the core functions of that department. These sanctions are not just for Iran, the new ones on Syria, drug cartels, and other syndicate groups also have no U.S. government body that can penalize the sanction violators. 

This shutdown allows for many individuals to criticize the United States. Now that the United States has re-opened partial diplomatic ties with Iran, Israel and other nations are concerned.

Presentation Critique

The "Ballot or the Bullet" speech delivered by Malcolm X is considered one of the best delivered speeches with pertaining to civil rights. How unfortunate that the colored man must pay the price of the white man's greed and abuse of power, and the result of this hatred and bigotry is only more hatred and violence. Malcolm X's revolutionary philosophy and ideology was polar to his counterpart Martin Luther King Jr. In this particular speech,  El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (his Islam name) urged the audience on April 3, 1964, at Cory Methodist Church in Cleveland, Ohio,to exercise their civic responsibility, the right to vote. Every citizen of the United States had the right to do so, including African Americans. It would only be useful in a democratic society if people voted. Malcolm X urges his audience to elect individuals who are willing to protect the rights of African Americans, a slow yet effective process. He states that if this effort was to fail, then it would become necessary to bear arms and use violence and force to accomplish goals that defend the interests of African Americans. Samuel Ekimyan and Kevin Koseyan presented a very informative speech. Major improvements for next time are: use flashcards as backup not main source of information, look at the audience, and focus on the essence of the speech (be as enthusiastic and passionate as Malcolm X was.

The Declaration of Independence

The Founding Fathers of America, presented as intellectually capable and bright, could not have foreseen that the signing of The Declaration of Independence would lead to one of the greatest experiments in democracy, nor the fact that the republic they created would remember them in a night filled with barbecue, fireworks, and beer. In the document, however, Jefferson and the other writers listed grievances they had against England and King George. These grievances helped shape our country in a very drastic and deep way. "He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the consent of our legislatures" This is talking about the Quartering Acts England enacted during the French-Indian and Revolutionary war. This affected Americans so deeply that the Framers of the United States Constitution, in the Bill of Rights, wrote the third amendment. The third amendment strictly prohibits the quartering of troops (at least in peacetime). "For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent" This grievance refers to the stamp act, iron act, molasses act, tea act, and the coercive acts. These were all acts that had made Americans feel that were unfair. That is why it is very difficult to pass taxes in the federal government/.

Another Act of Terror. This Time in Kenya

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/22/world/africa/kenya-mall-attack/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

It is always unfortunate to hear about any murder. When a life is taken away from the hands of others, it is a time for humanity to collectively shake its head and sigh. When sixty-eight innocent civilians are murdered, however, it requires immediate action and an immediate evaluation of life. How can an estimated ten to fifteen gunmen enter an upscale mall in Nairobi, Kenya, and open fire? The answer is unclear, but more importantly why would an estimated ten to fifteen gunmen enter an upscale mall in Nairobi, Kenya and open fire? The terror was not random. The terrorists were attacking non-muslims. The gunmen were claimed to have been from around the world, but they are all members of the militant organization Al-Shabaab from Somalia. It is very "fitting" that President Obama was pushing for Congress to approve the arming and support of Al-Qaeda rebels in Syria (an organization in which the government "officially" condemns), and now an affiliate of Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, killed one of his nephews and fiance. There can be no positive progress as a species if acts of unnecessary violence continue. There are no ways to prevent such acts. The only step to take is to lead by example, and rid the world of all the evil that perverts the minds of fellow mankind by committing more acts of good.

U.S. Consulate attack in Afghanistan

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/13/world/asia/us-consulate-afghanistan-attack/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

The sovereign state of Afghanistan has taken many steps in order to be ruled by a democratically elected government. It was not always like this, however. Afghanistan’s history has been defined by different Islamic tribes in conflict for hundreds of years. No other conflict scars Afghanistan’s history than that of the Pashtun people and the Hazaras. The superior Pashtun’s ruled with a radical Islamic fundamentalist ideology during the reign of the Taliban. Ever since the late 20th century, the Taliban have been ruthlessly committing numerous human rights violations against the Hazaras, such as the stripping of basic human rights and liberties. The prejudice, discrimination, and inhumane actions of the ethnically dominant Pashtuns to the inferior Hazaras have proven to be numerous human right violations. The efforts of Afghanistan, numerous other nations, and international organizations have shown to be fruitless. The Taliban translates to “students” in Pashto. They are a conservative Islamic group. The Taliban members believe that the Quran and Sunnah should lead life. The Taliban have strict and extreme interpretations of Muslim documents, such as Sharia Law. The Sharia Law dictates how Muslims should live their lives, ranging from many personal to ideological aspects. Infractions of these extremely interpreted rules would result in punishments that did not fit the crime. The Taliban is a firm believer in Jihad. Jihad is a belief that Muslims should take over all the non-Muslims by any means necessary. This belief results in yet another ideology, that of pan-Islamism. Pan-Islamism is the belief that all of mankind should hold the Muslim faith.

The Taliban recently attacked a United States consulate at dawn on Friday September 13, in the Herat province. Afghan security forces were forced to engage in gunfire, resulting in three casualties. There were no American losses, but people guarding the embassy died fighting a group the United States supported.

It is ironic every "revolutionary" group the U. S. supports ends up stabbing the U.S. in the back. The Taliban and Iran are all good examples. Will history repeat itself with Syria?

Ben and Jerry's- Chocolate Cookie Dough

If you have not experienced the glorious flavor of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, manufactured by world-renowned ice cream entrepreneurs Ben and Jerry's, then you have lived an unfulfilled life. Your life has had only some purpose. There has been no true content. (pathos-past three lines)

Men, women, children alike have all been a part of this special movement. (asyndeton) Since 1991, this more than popular flavor has served as the model for all cookie dough ice cream flavors since. Yet, this original and simple recipe stays true even from its humble beginnings. Are you ready to be a part of this historical movement? (rhetorical question)

There is a difference between this flavor and all other flavors. This flavor has variety. This flavor has exquisite taste. This flavor has balance. This flavor has name-recognition. This flavor has a unique combination of vanilla ice cream and chunks of cookie dough. This flavor has an effect so remarkable, it cannot be put into text on this very blog; this flavor is not a taste, it is an experience. Ice cream is a delicacy enjoyed by most of the world.

I urge the world to try this flavor. When in doubt, when there is no progress, when there is no hope, Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream is the first step in making things. Do it for not only yourself, but for the betterment of the world in which you inhabit, ultimately for mankind.

Obama to Syria... On Second Thought

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/01/obama-syria-congress_n_3850848.html

David Espo wrote "Obama Seeks Approval From Congress For Syria Strike" in  light of important recent events. President Barack H. Obama and his administration has been pushing for military intervention against Syria for quite some time. Until the evening of Friday, August 30, it was highly expected for the President to make the call, but after discussion among his closest aides he recanted his previous decision and seeker approval from Congress. The President of the United States, according to the Constitution, is the commander-in-chief; therefore, the President did not have to make this move. However, politically speaking it is in-genius. Congressional support transcends to American and bi-partisan support. This move is no doubt calculated to ensure that President Obama will get the votes, but there is a chance that Congress will reject Obama's proposed draft as fast as the Parliament of the United Kingdom denied Prime Minister Cameron's. Besides unclear domestic support, there is almost no international support. Except for France backing the United States, no major country supports the decisions, they condone it. Specifically from Russia, The United States faces harsh international criticism. The projected death toll by the United States of the chemical attacks was proven to be double the death toll reported by a third party health organization in Syria. There is no telling what the right move for the United States is. This move must consist of action against moral and ethical violations of human rights, not the political agenda of the elite to wage war in an already conflicted region.

Churchill: Speaker of the Century

"Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat"
Winston Churchill

When Winston Churchill addressed the Parliament as the newly elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, a speech of such eloquence was one that surely got the wheels going for Mr. Churchill's eight year term as Prime Minister. Analyzing this speech through the SOAPS-T method, one understands why this speech and Churchill's similar speeches were so powerful and inspirational for the British people. Starting with subject, Churchill focuses on the upcoming battle against Nazi Germany, and the necessary government unity and support that such a fight would require. The occasion is May 1940, in the House of Commons of Parliament of the United Kingdom. The audience is a room full of elected officials, the forefront of representative democracy in England, with many supporters and many skeptics of the speaker before them. The purpose of the speaker is to inform, to inspire, to unite, and to instill passion among the government of England. The speaker is a newly elected Prime Minister, faced with the obstacles of not only forming a new government but creating one that will effectively defeat Germany. Winston Churchill's tone is confident and assuring, but most importantly it is progressive. Lines like "A War Cabinet has been formed...representing the unity of the nation" and "victory, victory at all costs" all make Churchill sound confident, assuring, and progressive. His tone, along with his automatic ethos and diction convey a message so strong and riveting that even practiced politicians felt like doing something.

Mubarak Released into House Arrest

"Mubarak To Be Placed Under House Arrest After Release

By: Matt Bradley and Tamer El-Ghobashi

Source: Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324165204579026572361918800.html?mod=WSJ_0_0_WZ_0_0336_RIGHTTopCarousel_1

Former Egyptian President (dictator) Muhammad Hosni El Sayed Mubarak was released from jail, because the courts found no legal evidence to keep him. However, he will be kept under house arrest due to the scheduled trial date for other charges soon to come. After eighteen days of protest, Hosni Mubarak stepped down on February 11, 2011. It was on April 13, 2011 that Mubarak and his two sons were ordered to stay in the country and face multiple charges, ranging from premeditated murder to abuse of power. The trial ran from May 2011 to January 2012. In June, 2012 Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison, being found guilty of not putting a stop to killing innocent protesters. Due to many personal financial and political assets, the system of Egyptian courts, and his top-notch legal team he appealed his case in January 2013. On August 21, the judge handling his case ruled that the petition presented by the defense team was upheld, and Mr. Mubarak was to be released from jail but kept in custody. He is awaiting a retrial, in order to overturn the previous conviction of guilty. Mubarak's defense strategy in the original trial was claiming his resignation was no official so he was immune; Mubarak claimed he was still President of Egypt.

This article describes a delicate situation. This former symbol of undemocratic power and corruption and abuse of power (yes, that was a polsyndeton) has been released from jail after serving only months of a life sentence. Egyptian citizens who are already protesting or supporting ousted President Mohamed Morsi all agree that Mubarak is evil. He symbolizes all that is wrong with the governing of a people once so advanced that instigated the first technological and industrial revolution. Mubarak's release from jail, legal or not, was followed by more protests in Tahiri Square and throughout Cairo. 

The commercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5HLsvwLPpQ

This commercial is an ad used for the DSTV television company and provider. It starts off with two traditional Indian families meeting to marry off their children in an arranged marriage. After the bride to be disapproves, she uses her remote control to switch between different grooms, anywhere from a Indian Elvis to a cool biker, demonstrating how important and good choice is, specifically in the channels you watch. Using SOAPS-T to analyze this advertisement helps in dissecting it and understanding it more clearly. The subject is the kind of man this girl wants to spend her life with,. The occasion however is the meeting of the the bride and groom to be. The audience is anyone flipping through the channels, but considering DSTV is an African based company and caters to mostly African nations, then English-speaking Africans are the target audience. The purpose of this ad is to get more people to switch to DSTV as their entertainment provider. The speaker is unclear to me, but I guess it is DSTV satellite company. The tone of this ad is very relaxed, traditional, and funny. The ethical appeal in this commercial is the traditional clothing and the important of choice. The logical appeal ceases to exist, except for when it shows an example of choice ( the grooms). The emotional appeal is again the choice, making people feel that if they support choice they support this provider. This advertisement is not effective because it does not give any incentive for a commoner to switch his plan, except for the large array of choices there is no positive factor that would come into play. Financial and cost differences, quality assurance, and good customer service are all points the company could have used to make them more appealing.

1984- genius in 266 pages

George Orwell wrote 1984 in the middle of the twentieth century. It is about a society (today dubbed an Orwellian society) in which the government has utmost and total control over its citizens. Big Brother uses his influence through propaganda and force to get what he wants, every time. This world in which the protagonist, Winston Smith lives in, is constantly at war, and even the slightest hint of rebellion is shut down. The Ministry of Truth, the Ministry of Love, the Ministry of Plenty, and the Ministry of Peace all work together to make up the government of Oceania. There is a telescreen everywhere, allowing the government to keep an eye on its people. This book is great because it reminds of how our everyday advancements in technology, the constant dumbing down of the everyday citizen, and the policies along with the legislation passed by government is shaping our society more and more to that of 1984. This book is also very well written, and the ending is one of the best endings imaginable. It just shows how the elite's agenda can influence the globe in such a large way. Anyone who wants a book that they cannot put down and would like to see a glimpse of our world fifty to two hundred years down the road should check this book out. And always remember, BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU!

  

Biography

On April 11, 1997 Earth was fortunate enough to receive one of the greatest gifts nature has produced. Aram Manoukian was born in the quiet suburb in Glendale in which he currently resides in today. He soothes beautiful women with his deep voice, plays mental chess with himself, eats Nutella, and actively works in the Armenian-American community to help advocate certain ideas that make society better: nationalism, equality(in all senses), democracy, revolution (mostly just change and progress), freedom, security, activism, patriotism, love, happiness, humility, inspiration, imagination, health, optimism, critical thinking, leadership, education, compassion, dedication, faith, hope, vision, understanding, respect, and success. He has aspirations to get his education in international relations, go to law school, and receive his PhD in Asian Economic Studies. He is known for his attentiveness to his peers, his passion for basic human rights, and his soft and rosy cheeks.