The Great Gatsby Movie

               The Great Gatsby movie, in my opinion, was a work of art.  Although its dramatic over-exaggerations were sometimes annoying, most of them spectacularly brought the book to life. Unlike many other major production films, The Great Gatsby nearly stood to every aspect of its plot. There were only a few skips of details and a couple fabricated additions for the director's vision, but none in which I found offensive. 
              One added cut to the movie that I noticed was how Nick's introduction as the narrator was completely different from the book. In the beginning of the novel, Mr. Carraway is given credulity as an un-bias author as he shared his father's advice of never judging anyone who does not have the same advantages. However, in the film, Nick is first shown with a therapist trying to rid his alcohol issues from the trauma after the incident. Ironic, being that his first impression in writing was prestigious and stable, while in the movie, he was simply a wreck. Nonetheless, that was the only major difference that shook me throughout the motion picture. Other minor changes included the disregard to Jordan's dishonesty and the luncheon at the hidden corrupted bar.
              Other than that, I absolutely loved The Great Gatsby soundtrack! Its music dug the depth of the roaring 20's. Sure there was already plenty of jazz music throughout the film to understand the era of the time as well. However, the nostalgic and romantic voice of Lana intensified scenes between Gatsby and Daisy. Likewise, Jay Z's powerful rap told of corruption as Wall Street boomed with business. Bringing in familiar genres of music was not a negative in my opinion, it was in fact a genius way to connect the movie to the audience's perspectives. 
               I praise The Great Gatsby movie because it was a golden classic for us to watch, rather than the traditional mindless film productions that are usually released nowadays. 
             


           
             
             
           

The Suffering of India's Children

The Huffington Post’s “The Subhuman Conditions That Slaves And Child Laborers Face In India Are Worse Than You Imagined” article was written by Eleanor Goldberg on January 30, 2014. 
Think our world has fully promoted civil rights? Think again. Looks like child labor laws have not been enforced yet in India unfortunately. Recently, the Harvard FXB Center for Health and Human Rights has conducted one of the largest research studies on modern slavery. Shockingly, according to statistics, they have found around 3,000 startling cases on forced labor in the Indian carpet industry alone. Horrifically, most of the businesses’ “workers” are kids. As quoted, the data discovered was only “the tip of the iceberg”. Factory owners and guards often denied the researchers access to many work sites, avoiding further evidence to be documented. 
According to the “Tainted Carpets: Slavery and Child Labor in India’s Hand-Made Carpet Sector” report, the children trudge ten to twelve hours a day, six to seven days a week. Usually, they are crammed into filthy, contaminated, hot, and humid factory shacks to weave for the rest of their adolescence. They were even physically abused with frequent beatings with sharp tools like scissors. To top it off, most of the kids earned long-term health issues from the unbearable conditions of the workplace. Many suffered from eye disease or even a loss of vision due to the insufficient light. Others eventually developed spinal deformation due to countless hours bending over and sewing. They all have also experienced headaches, muscle pain, cuts, infections, malnutrition and serious psychological trauma - not quite the ideal childhood.
Bihar, a fourteen-year-old male weaver, pitifully reported “We work from seven in the morning until ten at night”; “I sleep on that mat over there. I want to go home but the owner will not let us leave”. 
         Hopefully, one day our world will gain its humanity back. 

Ukraine Uprises

         Huffington's Post, "Ukraine Protests: Tens Of Thousands Hit The Streets Of Kiev" was written by the Reuters on January 19, 2014.
        Up to 100,000 Ukrainians gathered up in the center of Kiev on Sunday to defy the government's laws that aimed to put an end to the Reuters' protesting. The newly passed rules were published on January 15, which included forbidding any form of public expression of opposition, like camping outside the City Hall or wearing protective head gear. If broken, prosecution held heavy jail sentence. Even other countries denounced these set of laws as unconstitutional. This lovely reunion was far from a peaceful demonstration. All those people who piled into the streets on that day knew that soon they will be known as rebels. 
        It all started when President Yanukovich closed off a great economic deal with Europe just to keep close ties with Russia. From there, Ukrainian citizens began to suspect their authorities of being corrupt. 
        "Yanukovich and his henchmen want to steal our country. Ukraine is united as never before in its struggle against those in power today, in its determination not to allow a dictatorship," declared politician Vitaly Klitschko, a strong enemy and potential runner for future presidency.
          From Syria to this? Our world is just getting darker by the minute. 

That Gatsby Party In Greece

          The concept with the "Gatsby Party" is to create an atmosphere that is so fabulous and grand, that one cannot help but dance till dawn! The bigger the festivities, the better! My idea of such an evening is that not only it should be indulgently lavish, but outrageously unique and exotic.

           I picture it in a luxurious Grecian palace looking out into the crystal waters of the Mediterranean Sea. As the clock chimes 8:00, guests begin to pour in with beach bags stuffed with spares and changes of sexy bikinis and sequined dresses. They walk up the outdoor marble-stone stairs into an elegant beachfront mansion with a Dj perched on a stage ready to blast his music. But first, an international elaborate cuisine is served alongside a fountain oozing out delicious streams of chocolate. After bellies fill, the bass drops while club lights shine and glittering confetti rains on the raving crowd. Heels and shoes passionately strut and tap against the intricate mosaic floors. The partying rages on till the late night, and then the after hours' sea dipping begins. As lambada plays in the background, many lounge in romantic infinity pools hanging over the waves of the ocean blue reflecting the luminous moonlight. When the fireworks begin to erupt, flocks of people cheerfully dive into the swell out of celebration. 

CES "Wearable" Gadgets 2014

     Huffington's Post "CES 2014: Wearable Gadgets All The Rage, But Will People Wear Them?" article was written by Ryan Nakashima on January 6, 2014.

      The trend for the CES's innovative technology this year is for it to be "wearable". The article reports, "Several companies are expected to unveil wearable devices that are easier to use, extend battery life, and tap into the power of gestures, social networks and cloud computing." A great example of the concept is the FitBit Force Activity Band. It tracks a wearer's steps, calories burned, sleeping patterns and progress toward fitness goals. For sure this product will become a hit in the future due to presenting a new efficient way to promote health.

      Not only may these inventions sense, but also have sensors that respond to pressure, temperature and even blood sugar. A Nymi wristband at CES verifies a user's identity by determining his or her unique heartbeat. One day, this technology will replace the need for passwords, car keys and wallets.

        However, this idea is typically fresh, therefore, it is not ready get into mainstream consuming. These new gadgets are "like the first generation of the iPod," says Gary Shapiro, chief executive of the Consumer Electronics Association, "It was bulky and it wasn't that pretty. Look what happened. It got slimmer. It got better."

The 1920s American Mafia

The American Mafia is an Italian-American secret organized-crime network that rose to its power through its success in the illicit liquor trade during the nineteen twenties Prohibition era. It emerged in New York's Lower East Side and eventually spread to other major metropolitan areas in the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. Its roots came from Sicilians whom immigrated to the United States. They created small ethnic gang communities which over time evolved into one big Mafia.

After the eighteenth amendment was passed, alcohol was banned throughout the nation. To supply the rich with beverages to party with, street thugs established a bootlegging business. From the enormous profit that they made, the Italians became lavishly sophisticated criminals. Mafioso bosses like Al Capone, Johnny Torrin, and Salvatore Luciano made sixty to seventy million dollars a year. They had so much money, that they were able to bribe politicians and policemen from disrupting the flow of the mafia life.

Although the Mafia is generally referred to as a whole, it was split into many rival "families" that constantly competed to better one another. However, they all commonly engaged in illegal activities like money laundering, gambling, drag trafficking, extortion, hijacking, and murder for hire. The top five were the Lucchese family, the Bonanno family, the Gambino family, the Colombo family, and the Genovese family. Although all were strong, the most powerful was the Genovese, known as the Ivy League and Rolls Royce. These clans of mobsters became the entertainment and interest of many. Soon enough, they grew into the American culture.

http://lifeinthetwenties.wikispaces.com/Mafia+in+the+1920s

Scarlet Letter Blog - Who to Pity For?

youtube.com/watch?v=7xU_3FE68tg&feature=youtu.be