"Borne Back Ceaselessly into the Past"

"Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And then one fine morning—
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."


This quote is one of my favorites from the books I have read. Nick, the narrator of The Great Gatsby, says the quote on the last page and last sentence of the book. These words conclude the novel and find Nick returning to the theme of the significance of the past to dreams of the future, here represented by the green light. He focuses on the struggle of human beings to achieve their goals by both transcending and re-creating the past. Yet humans prove themselves unable to move beyond the past: in the metaphoric language used here, the current draws them backward as they row forward toward the green light. This past functions as the source of their ideas about the future and they cannot escape it as they continue to struggle to transform their dreams into reality. While they never lose their optimism (“tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther . . .”), they expend all of their energy in pursuit of a goal that moves ever farther away. This metaphor characterizes both Gatsby’s struggle and the American dream itself. Nick’s words register neither blind approval nor cynical disillusionment but rather the melancholy that he ultimately brings to his study of Gatsby’s life. Gatsby believed in this "green light" or this hope that him and Daisy will be together some day. However, he tries his best to fight to move on with his life an to continue towards the future, while fighting to forget the past. Because the present is constantly becoming the past, it is a constant fight to push forward. Stand still in a moment for even a second and you will find yourself in the past.

State Of the Union

In his annual State of the Union address Tuesday – his second to last of his presidency – President Barack Obama issued several liberal proposals that would be very difficult to pass in the new Republican-led Congress. These programs include a child-care tax credit, free community college, and paid family leave. The president set a divisive tone early in the address. “Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well?” he asked rhetorically. “Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort?” Obama reaffirmed his call for a $3,000 child-care tax credit, calling it a “must have.”"It’s time we stop treating childcare as a side issue, or a women’s issue, and treat it like the national economic priority that it is for all of us. And that’s why my plan will make quality child-care more available, and more affordable, for every middle-class and low-income family with young children in America — by creating more slots and a new tax cut of up to $3,000 per child, per year." The president also called for universal paid family leave, noting the U.S. is the only advanced country whose government does not provide it to their citizens. “And that forces too many parents to make the gut-wrenching choice between a paycheck and a sick kid at home,” he said. Along the same lines, Obama called for Congress to pass a law that ensures a woman is paid for the same work as a man along with a minimum wage. The president also reiterated his community college program, which he announced earlier this month. He aims to reduce the cost of community college for those who maintain decent grades “to zero.” The address focused on the improved American economic situation.

Beach Party

On a Saturday in some time in the summer, probably around July, I will be hosting a large party. This party will be taking place at Malibu beach. The beach will be closed down and only open for those who will be attending the party. I will invite a large amount of people, from friends to family members. You will be able to bring a plus one with you to this party. This party will have a  casual attire and will start at around 11 am. The reason I am starting the party so early is because it is taking place at the beach and the earlier the party starts, the more time there is to swim and enjoy the heat. Everyone will need to bring a bathing suit for tanning, swimming etc. There will be bonfires at the beach, so we will be able to cook burgers, hot dogs and such. During the day I am inviting several bands to come and perform for my guests. There will be a stage set up and there will be different artists coming to perform. These performers will also be staying and attending my party after their performance. This party will consist of swimming mostly and having a great time with friends and family, while listening to your favorite artists perform, for free. You will be having a free concert while enjoying the beach. After all the performers have sang, it will be already be night. After it gets dark and cold, we will light the bonfires and roast marshmallows. S'mores will be made and everyone will be given blankets and sweaters to stay warm. My party will not be something so extravagant, but it will be relaxing, soothing and at the same time will be a blast. Hope everyone can make it!

Be My Eyes

"Be My Eyes' App Helps Guide Blind With iPhone Video Calling"
Alejandro Alba
NY Times
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/eyes-helps-guide-blind-iphone-video-call-function-article-1.2083796

Copenhagen-based app Be My Eyes, which launched on Thursday, connects blind people and sighted people through their iPhones and iPads. If you're blind, you can sign up for the service and reach out to sighted users through a live video connection on the app. Once connected, blind users can ask sighted users questions over video chat. If you're sighted, you can sign up to help blind users.If you're a sighted user and you get a request, it will come through your phone as a push notification with a ringing sound. If you tap the notification, you'll be connected and a video will pop up, showing whatever the blind user is filming. You'll also be able to hear him or her speak and ask a question. Sighted users might be asked to help navigate a new place, read a sign or label, or help in some other way. iPhones and iPads have services built in to help blind users. You can use VoiceOver for iOS to get your iPhone or iPad to help you navigate your screen, type, read, use apps and more.If you're a sighted user and a notification appears but you don't answer it, the request will simply go to someone else. As of now, there are currently more than 17,800 sighted people and 1,500 blind people using the app, according to the Be My Eyes website. The entire service is free, and Be My Eyes is a nonprofit. It's only available on iOS devices for now, but you can request to be notified when the Android app is available. I think that with today's technology it is useful and helpful to use it in ways that can affect everyone. This is a different approach to using iPhones and iPads. Its a great idea and it can be of use to many blind and also sighted people.

1920's Attire

"Fashion Clothing and Accessories From the 1920s"
The People History
http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/20sclothes.html

The clothing attire in the 1920's is much different than the clothing that is worn today. Mena nd women dressed and looked much different. The two most iconic pieces of clothing worn by women were the cloche and the flapper dress. These two were usually worn together. The basic description of the cloche hat is that it is a very snug-fit hat that was often worn tilted, covering the forehead, yet allowing room for vision. The hair was often cut short and styled flat to fit under these types of hats. Cloche type hats often covered the ears as well, and even sometimes the ends of women’s short haircuts of the time. The flapper dress is much different than the regular dresses. The specific flapper type of dress was cut in a straight and loose style and throughout the decade the length of the flapper dress varied a little. In the early 1920s the length of dresses and skirts were about calf length, with some a little longer and some a bit shorter. From around the years 1926 to 1928, the hem lines of dresses were the shortest, and this is what most people remember when they talk of the flapper dress. During part of this decade the waist line of dresses dropped to the hip to promote more of a “boyish” look. The clothing did not only revolve around the cloche and the flapper dress. During this time a more casual look was introduced to the public. Women began to wear pants and wore different types of shoes. Some of the shoe styles included the ankle strap button shoe and the t-bar shoe. The men during this time began to dress casual also. They stopped wearing long jacked suits and started wearing shorter ones. Men also began to wear flannels. Some of the casual shoes that were worn by men were made with fringed tongues. The black patented leather shoes were still worn for more formal dress. However, the lace-up styled shoe was becoming more and more popular for men. The styles changed and differed greatly in the 1920's.

March in Paris

"National Unity March in Paris Draws World Leaders and Crowd of Over a Million"
Huffington Post 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/11/charlie-hebdo-rally_n_6451286.html

On Sunday, about 1.6 million people gathered in the heart of Paris, along with about more than 40 world leaders. They all gathered together for a rally of national unity to honor the 17 victims. The french officials have claimed that this march was the largest demonstration in national history. The aftermath of the attacks remained raw, with video emerging of one of the gunmen killed during police raids pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group and detailing how the attacks were going to unfold. "Also, a new shooting was linked to that gunman, Amedy Coulibaly, who was killed Friday along with the brothers behind a massacre at satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in nearly simultaneous raids by security forces.'Today, Paris is the capital of the world,' said French President Francois Hollande. 'Our entire country will rise up toward something better' (Huffington Post,1). There were also rallies planned in London, Madrid and New York. These three days of terror broke out when brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi stormed the newsroom of Charlie Hebdo and killed 12 people. "Al-Qaida's branch in Yemen said it directed the attack by the masked gunmen to avenge the honor of the Prophet Muhammad, a frequent target of the weekly's satire" (Huffington Post,1).On Thursday, Coulibaly killed a policewoman on the outskirts of Paris and on Friday."The terrorists want two things: they want to scare us and they want to divide us. We must do the opposite. We must stand up and we must stay united," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told French TV channel iTele on Sunday.