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

Is the "A" the True Punishment?

            "Ah, but," interposed, more softly, a young wife, holding a child by the hand, "let her cover the mark ash she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart." (Hawthorne, Pg. 36) 

          A kind-hearted lady amidst the hoard of gossipy Puritan women does not wish the worst for Hester Prynne unlike the rest. She does not believe that any ugly or painful abuse will bring justice to the female name. She understands the dark and beaten soul of the adulteress. She realizes that the true punishment is not within the embroidery of the scarlet letter, but within the mind fostering many years of guilt and regret. Hester will bear emotional torture for the rest of her life by taking care of her lovely daughter, Pearl. For she does not look at the "A" on her chest, but at the offspring born out of her sin. The cheeky three-year old is a constant reminder of the mother's shame. Yet Pearl has become Hester's everything, her treasure. To withstand society's pressure, she brushes off her remorse with dignity. Not only she has decorated the scarlet letter with golden threat, but has sewn extravagant dresses for her little "imf". Pearl, through her mother, has become the living scarlet letter. Hester by doing this, has given off the impression that she is not embarrassed. However, nothing will be able to take away the fault of her crime that will be woven around her heart forever.

One of New York's Beautiful Graffiti Walls Gets Torn Down

                Huffington's Post, "Artists Bid Sad Farewell To 5 Pointz, New York City's Graffiti Mecca" article was written on November 21, 2013 by Mallika Rao.

             One of New York's most marveled iconic walls of graffiti art is torn down to the ground, leaving all of its city's artists weeping. 5 Pointz was a towering 200,000 foot abandoned complex where painters gathered from all around the world to master their skills with the neon colors of the spray cans. It was also a notorious tour stop, where many absorbed the true "big city" spirit by gazing at the never-ending mural. Marie Cecile Flageul, one of the lead supporters of the wall, with her cohorts petitioned the Brooklyn Federal Court for weeks in attempt to stop the property's landlord, Jerry Wolkoff, from knocking down the building and replacing it with a pair of high risers. Even a mob of furious artists crowded the courtyard of 5 Pointz in protest to spook Wolkoff. But sadly by Tuesday morning, a dozen hired men whitewashed the property's facade, stripping off years of unique work and culture. In memory, all the veteran graffiti artists of the fallen wall lit candles along its side. Now, R.I.P posters rest against the building, making a statement... The tragic reality is that art so frequently seems to be the most discriminated in the world. The horrid lies in which philistine moguls hold the power to pursue such prejudice to what gives color and character to the environment.