Gatsby Quote

“That's because your mother wanted to show you off" (Fitzgerald, 117).

This quote describes Daisy’s true nature throughout the story. Growing up, Daisy has always tried to be with a rich man, so she can get whatever she wanted. She would always be treated perfectly. These events caused Daisy to become a materialistic person. She knew that girls are only capable of happiness if they are pretty and live with a wealthy person. Daisy would try to obtain expensive items to show off her beauty and wealth, causing more men to become attracted to her and enabling her to be with the wealthier man.

The life Daisy lives caused her to treat her daughter the same way she was and continues to be treated. Because of Daisy, her daughter has become materialistic and is concerned about her looks. Daisy brings her daughter out to show everyone that her daughter is a beautiful, wealthy, and sophisticated young girl. However, Daisy does not bring her daughter out to show the guests that she loves her. She brings her daughter out to show her off. According to Daisy, objects are the only source of happiness in the world. The more items you have, the happier you are. Due to Daisy’s actions, her daughter has adopted a false idea of happiness. Rather than love someone and enjoy everything she has, her daughter has become exactly like Daisy. This quote perfectly describes the lifestyle the people of East Egg live. They only care about money and items. The people of East Egg live a selfish life and they will never realize what true happiness is.

Obama's State of the Union Address

“In State of the Union, Obama Sets an Ambitious Agenda”

By: Michael D. Shear and Julie Hirschfeld Davis

Source: New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/21/us/state-of-the-union-obama-ambitious-agenda-to-help-middle-class.html

In his State of the Union address, President Obama claimed to have plans on improving the economy by supporting a new domestic plan that would be aimed to bring fortune to the middle class. President Obama is trying to make community college free for most students, enhance tax credits for education and childcare, and impose new taxes on the rich to build large financial institutions. In his speech, he vowed to continue a foreign policy that would combine military power with a strong diplomacy. President Obama also called on Congress to lift the embargo on Cuba and pass legislation authorizing the fight against the Islamic State. President Obama hopes to achieve this mission by uniting all the Americans and convincing other countries that they are a powerful authority in the world.

            Obama also addressed the issue concerning ISIS. He explained how they would find a way to end their tyranny, so people do not have to live in fear. President Obama promised to veto any Republican legislation to confront conservative ideologies, such as abortion. He did not mention any concern that the Congress has been filled with a majority of Republican representatives. He wanted to address job growth, falling deficits, and the slowing of the growth of health care costs. President Obama did agree to collaborate with Republicans by approving a business tax, granting the authority to strike trade deals, and an initiative to repair crumbling roads and bridges.

My Gatsby Party

My Gatsby party would have an Italian theme. The party would take place in the roman colosseum, which was the place people used to attend to witness dangerous fights and entertainment. The colosseum would be decorated with statues of people I believe are special, such as Sherlock Holmes, the Wright Brothers, and Ulysses S. Grant. The walls will be hung with paintings that were created during the Renaissance because the Renaissance originated in Italy. An area will be reserved for archery. In my opinion, archery is a talent that requires personal perception. Also, it is much funnier to use a bow and arrow instead of a gun. Because the party will take place in Italy, only Italian food would be served, such as pizza, spaghetti, or gelato. The only people that would be invited to my party would be Italian citizens and one American police officer. The purpose of the police officer being there is to ask him as to why a child would want to grow up and give people tickets for a living. The people attending the party will be allowed to sing whatever they want. A stage will be set for public karaoke. Also, break-dancers will dance throughout the colosseum confusing people by the way they dance.

Finally, I would remember the colosseum’s tradition and provide fights between people and lions. The people would use chariots, spears, and bows and arrows to fight against lions. Some fights would include several people against one lion and others will include several lions against one person. The people who would fight in the colosseum would be French citizens because the French are jealous of Italians.  

Imported Honey

“Food Detectives on a Tough Case”

By: Peter Andrey Smith

Source: New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/20/science/a-lab-is-trying-to-keep-china-from-dodging-us-tariffs-on-honey.html?ref=science&_r=0

            On average, Americans consume over one pound of honey each year. Most of the honey America receives is imported from China. Americans began to raise the price of the import tariff to collect more money from Chinese merchants. Chinese merchants did not want to pay high taxes on honey, so they began laundering honey. Instead of directly importing honey to America, Chinese merchants would send their honey to other countries. Once the honey arrived, these countries would place a stamp on the honey claiming that it was not from China, so the high tax on honey would not be enforced. Through this process, Chinese merchants would export honey to America while avoiding high taxes on import. 

            To prevent these scandals from continuing, America has funded a lab to examine the honey and determine where it originated. The lab found that 90% of the honey Americans use originated in China, but was imported from other countries, such as Shanghai or South Korea. Scientists in this lab use chemicals to find changes in the honey that are undetectable by taste and sight. This evidence caused federal agents to prosecute American importers for illegally buying Chinese honey without obeying the import tariff. In 2006 the lab found that the honey was not pure. The honey included a blend of rice sweeteners and corn syrup.

            People may not always agree with the laws enforced by the American government. These people try to find ways to obtain cheap products and sell them for high prices. However, the product may not serve its purpose. It is important that products that are purchased are guaranteed to serve its purpose. Without import security, people would purchase products without knowing it may be a variation of the intended product.

1920s Mafia

http://thebackbencher.co.uk/al-capone-and-the-rise-of-the-american-mafia/
http://www.history.com/topics/mafia-in-the-united-states

In the early twentieth century, many Italians began to immigrate to America. Most of them settled in New York or America. The American mafia was organized in the 1920s, which was known as the Prohibition era by Italian-Americans. In the prohibition era, the manufacturing and transportation of alcohol became illegal. The mafia began to illegally trade alcohol because members of the mafia were experts at smuggling, money laundering, and bribing government officials. The most famous of these experts was the notorious al Capone. Al Capone caused a major change in the way gangs are organized. He introduced influenced crime bosses to become publicly famous and formed an empire. Al Capone was in charge of a mafia group that led the black market responsible for smuggling alcohol.

Due to the rise in mafia groups, the rate of smuggling increased. It was proven that the amount of alcohol consumption increased during the prohibition era. The mafia began to introduce new types of liquor that caused people to get sick. After making a lot of money, many mafia groups began to expand their business and increase crime. Al Capone took charge of these new businesses and organized crime in more dangerous ways. However, the new forms of crime caused a major mafia war in Chicago that took the lives of mafia members and innocent civilians. Under al Capone’s reign, the black market made much more money than before and the government had a difficult time trying to end the black market. Until the end of his reign, al Capone had made millions of dollars and completely changed crime in America.

Rhinovirus

“Unraveling the Key to a Cold Virus’s Effectiveness”

By: Carl Zimmer

Source: New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/13/health/unraveling-the-key-to-a-cold-viruss-effectiveness.html?ref=science&_r=0

The rhinovirus is the reason why people begin to cough and sniffle during this time of the year. The rhinovirus can easily infect people. Scientists have discovered that the rhinovirus is the leading cause of infection in America because it causes about one billion people each year to catch a cold. In a conducted study, scientists at Yale University found that the rhinovirus infects humans by attacking the cold air in peoples’ nose. The rhinovirus was discovered to multiple at lower temperatures. Once a singe rhinovirus infects the nostrils, it begins to multiply as people continue to breath in cold air. In order to determine why this phenomenon occurs, Dr. Iwasaki conducted an experiment where the rhinovirus was introduced to cells at body and cold temperatures. Dr. Iwasaki found that the rhinovirus multiplied at cold temperatures, but was contained at body temperature. Dr. Iwasaki continued the research by using rats and discovered that at body temperature, the rat’s body sent signals to nearby uninfected cells that would protect them from being infected by the rhinovirus. This discovery showed scientists that the immune system begins to weaken at low temperatures. The nose is a place that is out of the immune system’s reach. This is the reason why the rhinovirus infects cells in the nose. In serious cases, the rhinovirus is linked to other health issues, such as asthma.

            People need to understand that the smallest change in our body can have significant effects. The rhinovirus attacks the nose, which is a location unaffected by the immune system. This virus finds a strategic location in the body that would keep it safe from white blood cells. People need to be cautious of their surroundings because they may encounter a virus that might significantly affect their health.