Good posts from everyone this week - very pleasing

And a treat

Are you ready for New Windows? --- Windows 7

Apple just launched its new product MacBook Pro. After that Microsoft launched its new software as well, Windows 7. I chose this as my topic of 'new'. It is new actually, because it is still in the preview phase.

Let's see what are new features of Windows 7.

Engineered by us. Inspired by you.
A few years ago we started asking PC owners what they wanted from Windows 7. The result?
Windows 7 simplifies everyday tasks

HomeGroup
Takes the headache out of sharing files and printers on a home network.

Jump Lists
Speedy access to your favorite pictures, songs, websites, and documents.

Snap
A quick (and fun!) new way to resize and compare windows on your desktop.

Windows Live Essentials
7 great programs, 1 free download. Mail, Movie Maker, Photo Gallery, and more.

Windows Search
Find virtually anything on your PC, instantly.

Windows Taskbar
Better thumbnail previews, easier-to-see icons, and more ways to customize.
Windows 7 works the way you want

Full 64-bit support
Windows 7 makes the most of powerful 64-bit PCs, the new desktop standard.

More personal
Redecorate your desktop with fun new themes, slide shows, or handy gadgets.

Performance improvements
Designed to sleep and resume quicker, be less memory hungry, and spot USB devices faster.
Windows 7 makes new things possible

Play To
Play your media on other PCs, stereos, or TVs around the house.

Remote Media Streaming
Enjoy music and video on your home PC—even when you're not at home.

Windows Touch
Pair Windows 7 with a touchscreen and you won't always need a keyboard or mouse.

A New You? Why Not Try a Hollywood Smile....

Ok, so teeth whitening is nothing new. Celebrities have been doing this for years (but don't tell the press! Shhh!) and in more recent years products have been available on the market which means that us 'normal folks' can achieve the kind of megawatt smile that is seen up and down the red carpet.

The following website provides such a product- Hollywood Sexy Smile

https://www.hollywoodsexysmile.com/

Although the website doesn't claim that this product will wipe the slate clean and the result will be a brand new you, what it does do is guarantee that your teeth will be whiter and give you all the benefits of having a new smile. The following is a small extract from the website that gives you an insight as to what this can do for you

What's in a Sparkling Smile?

Your smile is a indicator of how you're feeling, and who you are. People with brighter smiles and white teeth appear more youthful, healthy, open to conversation and sure of themselves. A whiter smile sends good messages about yourself to others - it tells them you look good and feel good. A beautiful smile adds more to confidence than almost anything. Get back your confidence, feel younger, healthier and be far more approachable. Smile brightly at the world. You'll look and feel great about yourself!

So essentially, if you have this done and you are not a confident person, it will make you more confident and more approachable. Which when all is said and done, is a new you as it is something that you weren't before. And apparently if your teeth are whiter you will feel healthier too! Not sure how that works, but hey, you've got to sell your products to as many demographic's as possible! The idea of the 'New American' is that you were able to escape from your past and re-invent yourself as this new and improved person who is much happier and has a bright and shining future ahead. And if teeth whitening is something that you feel can do this for you, then why wouldn't you buy it for $49.99 a month plus $9.99 shipping and handling?!

The settlers left their home countries behind in order to persue a better life for themselves in America, to wipe the slate clean and to start anew. America still provides this for many emigrants who decide to leave their past behind and start a fresh in the big 'ole US of A. But what of those who already live there? How do they start anew? Well, that's where products like Hollywood Sexy Smile come in. Re-invent yourslef with a new smile, look like your favourite celebrity because maybe one day, you too could walk down the red carpet...and that really would be a new you.

The Ipod

I've decided to choose the Ipod as my product for the topic 'New' I felt this best explained America's thrive for something better. There is at least one new ipod every year and each year the ipod continues to get better and better. Here are a few examples of the changes from 2001 to 2009:

These three examples show drastic changes to the ipod, the Apple corporation continues to develop with the launch of the iphone and other products which are still being developed such as the apple mac.

De Crevecoeur's 'Letters from an American farmer' discusses what it is to be an American, and how the farmer sees America as a country. The idea of a 'New' world is discussed as America had the opportunity to start from scratch and the county still wants to continue to get better today. America has almost become a brand with thousands of products being launched everyday or being developed to become newer and better. The ipod is one of these products which is now being sold all around the world, selling the idea of something 'New'.

New America - Apple

The website I have chosen is www.apple.com.

"What is an American?" De Crevecouer writes that an American is "We are all animated with the spirit of an industry which is unfettered and unrestrained, because each person works for himself" This is exactly why Apple have been so successful. The success story of Apple is down to its innovation, design and technology but it is also down to apples own employees who are, like "Pixar" employees , encouraged and celebrated in their risk taking and vision.

The apple store is home to the 'largest application store in the world', has just introduced 'the worlds first multi touch mouse' and is also home to the infamous 'i-phone', a phone that has seemingly ripped off by every other phone provider. To see how America is portrayed as 'exceptional' on this website, you don't really have to look much further than the homepage. Images of 'the new Imac', 'the new mac ad's', 'the new, mightier mac mini' dominate the homepage, letting us know that Apple is bigger and better and that seemingly, America itself is also bigger and better.

The "New American" the "Gillette Champions"

The Gillette Company


Worldwide manufacture and marketing of consumer products in the areas of grooming, batteries and oral care.

Products
Promotions
Grooming
Problems & Solutions
How to Shave
Thierry Henry
Hair Care


Follow the link above for the Gillette page, scroll around to the Gillette Champions window, click & enter the window. The page shows an array of superstars in the world of sport, all claiming to use the best products ie Gillette, as Champions.


The Gillette Company is one of the leading global suppliers in grooming & personal hygiene products, based in Boston Mass.

"They are a mixture of English, Scotch, Irish, French, Dutch, German ands Swedes. From this promiscuous breed, that race now called Americans have arisen..."

" What then is the American, this new man?"

I think what De Crevecoeur describes here about those who become American in this melting pot is shown by the stars in the Gillette Champions webpage. They are stars from far & wide claiming to use American products, that lead us the consumer's to think we can become a (New & Improved) being. We are encouraged because the Champions use it so we can too, perhaps suggesting that we can become a New Man, a Champion & American ??? Its very idealistic but that is apart of what America is an ideal.

De Crevecoeur also mentions that settlers who leave behind nothing & settle in America where they can make something, where no one can become someone.

"Formerly they were not numbered in any civil lists of their country, except in those of the poor; he they rank as citizens."

America as a nation loves the idea that people can become something, it loves to be competitive & so the idea of champions. So, to use the American product advertised using an American ideal with Champions recognised by America, is to include us as Americans in a way. Because the reality is we are exposed by 'Consumerism' & 'Globalisation', Selling ideals????

We meet Friday at 12 this week

Comments

I've put comments on each of the posts and I edited some of them to move the opening paragraph up to the top of the post - you should not just plonk down a quotation, introduce it first, then quote.  And, generally if you are going to quote, quote something substantial, not just a few lines.

Accounts From Two Irish Settlers

Below is the link to the website where I have chosen to base my blog on this week.

http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/becomingamer/growth/text4/irishpennsylvania.pdf

These are examples from two Irish Settlers, Robert Parke and Francis Cample.

The first example is a letter by Parke to his sister back in Ireland. Parke moved with his parents and several siblings in 1724 and writes to his sister about the wonder that is America.

"hoping it may find you all in Good Health, as I with all our family in Generall are in at this present writing, & has been Since our Arival, for we have not had a days Sickness in the family Since we Came in to the Country, Blessed be god for it, my father in Particular has not had his health better these ten years than since he Came here his Ancient age considered"

I believe that this may be the most telling of this example as already, even though the family have been there a year, they are able to report that they have not suffered from ill health unlike so many of the other settlers did. Later on in the letter he dismissed the rumour that they were not happy in America and in fact encourages his sister and brother-in-law to join them. Parke goes onto to describe the prices of items compared to Ireland and the difference in the ways of life such as clothes;

"Trowsers which are breeches & Stockings all in one made of Linnen they are fine Cool wear in Summer"

Parke was obviously one of the luckier early settlers as he seems to be enjoying his new life in America without the hardship that some of the others had to face.


My second example is journal entries from Cample's early beginnings in America. He has a different view on life and his entries are somewhat livlier too. He made the move to the USA and went on to become a successful merchant, farmer and land agent.

I'd firstly like to write about what attracted him to move to America in the first instance which I believe to be the attraction to alot of people;

"It is not the grandeur of rocks, cascades and romantic glens, but it is the beautiful panorama of forest and plain spread out in all their beauty which meets you everywhere, and which will, at no very far distant day, become the happy home of intelligent, God-fearing people, when the savage shall have passed forever from its borders. This is the kind of grandeur which surrounds me, and this is what attracted me hither."

He describes America as if it were a storybook, describing the vastness of the country and the beauty of his surroundings- a deciding factor if ever there was one. It is perhaps my last example however that turns the story book back into a reality, as the common dislike for the Native Americans or 'savages' is detail in his last enrty;

"A quarrel occurred last night out at the Spring amongst a party of drunken Indians, during which, four of their cabins were set on fire, and burned to the ground. One of the Indians, named Bright Star, a desperate man, was seriously injured in the fight, and will likely die of his wounds. I saw him not an hour ago, and considered him then in a dying condition. These savages will give us trouble yet."

A tragic situation, even if it was brought on by themselves through drink. Cample seems to keep a neutral attitude towards the situation, but concludes that as the Native Americans have caused trouble on one occasion, it will happen again and they should be wary. Causing a furtyher rift in a already frosty relationship.

Two very different tales from people who originate from similar backgrounds, providing a very interesting and telling read.

Early settlement account

This is an account from Captain James Smith in 1607, the narrative explains the struggles the English men had when settling on to the land. I chose this section of the writing as I felt it showed how much the settlers needed the natives to help them survive on the land and the kindness they gave to the men.

http://www.nationalcenter.org/SettlementofJamestown.html

‘While the ships stayed, our allowance was somewhat bettered, by a daily proportion of biscuit, which the sailors would pilfer to sell, give, or exchange with us, for money, sassafras, furs, or love. But when they departed, there remained neither tavern, beer house, nor place of relief, but the common kettle. Had we been as free from all sins as gluttony, and drunkenness, we might have been canonized for Saints; but our president would never have been admitted, for ingrossing to his private, oatmeal, sack, oil, aquavitse, beef, eggs, or what not, but the kettle; that indeed he allowed equally to be distributed, and that was half a pint of wheat, and as much barley boiled with water for a man a day, and this having fried some 26 weeks in the ship's hold, contained as many worms as grains; so that we might truly call it rather so much bran than corn, our drink was water, our lodgings castles in the air.
With this lodging and diet, our extreme toil in bearing and planting pallisades, so strained and bruised us, and our continual labor in the extremity of the heat had so weakened us, as were cause sufficient to have made us as miserable in our native country, or any other place in the world.’

‘But now was all our provision spent, the sturgeon gone, all helps abandoned, each hour expecting the fury of the savages; when God the patron of all good endeavors, in that desperate extremity so changed the hearts of the savages, that they brought such plenty of their fruits, and provision, as no man wanted...’

The first piece of writing explains that the president appears to be leaving his men to starve whilst working in the heat when he lives on a diet of meat and eggs. The second shows the kindness of the natives as they share their food with the working men. I think this reveals that the natives weren’t savages like the men first thought and that the real savage was the president who seemed to be only looking out for himself. The men seemed shocked by this gesture and thought that god was responsible for their change of heart.

Without this kindness from the savages the British settlers would have starved to death as some did before the natives came to their rescue, and would not have been able to create a settlement in American and wouldn't have what we have today.

1776-1830: Native America

1776-78
James Cook (England) explores the Pacific Northwest.
1778
Treaty between United States and Delaware Indians, the first United States and Indian treaty, is negotiated in which Delaware tribe is offered the prospect of statehood.
1778
Iroquois Indians under Joseph Brant and British regulars attack American settlers on the western New York and Pennsylvania frontiers (Cherry Valley and Wyoming Valley massacres). In 1779, the Americans launch a counteroffensive under Generals Sullivan and Clinton, and Colonel Brodhead that lays waste to Indian towns and crops, and breaks the power of the Iroquois League.
1778
Peter Pond (Canada) explores the Canadian Plains and Rockies.
c. 1780
Great Lakes Indians develop ribbonwork style of dress, using European materials. The craft spreads south and westward.
1780-1800
Smallpox and measles among Indians in Texas and New Mexico. In 1782-83, a smallpox epidemic among Sanpoils of Washington.
1781-89
Under the Articles of Confederation defining federal and state relationships, it is accepted in principle that the central government should regulate Indian affairs and trade.
1782
Christian Delaware Indians massacred in Ohio at Gnadenhutten.
1783
Continental Congress issues a proclamation warning against squatting on Indian lands.
1784
Congress orders the War Office to provide militia troops to assist commissioners in their negotiations with Indians. In 1786, the secretary of War is made responsible for Indian affairs. In 1789, Congress establishes a Department of War and formally grants the secretary of War authority over Indian affairs.
1784
North West Company is chartered in Montreal, to compete with the Hudson's Bay Company.
1787
Northwest Ordinance calls for Indian rights, the establishment of reservations, and sanctity of tribal lands, echoing the British Proclamation of 1763, but it also sets guidelines for the development of the Old Northwest, leading to increased white settlement.
1787-89
In the Constitution drawn up in 1787, ratified by the required number of states (nine) by 1788, and put into effect in 1789, the federal government alone is given the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the states, and with Indian tribes.
1789-93
Alexander Mackenzie (Canada), seeking northern river route to the Pacific Ocean, discovers the river now bearing his name and travels to Arctic Ocean. On a second expedition he completes first overland journey across North America north of Mexico, making contact with many tribes.
1790
Spain signs the Nootka Convention, ceding the Pacific Northwest to England and the United States.
1790-94
Little Turtle's War, involving many tribes of the Old Northwest. In 1794, the Battle of Fallen Timbers.
1790-99
Four Trade and Intercourse Acts regulate Indian commerce and create the "factory system" of government trading houses. An informal Indian Department within the War Department is responsible for enforcing these regulations. In 1802, a new Trade and Intercourse Act, a continuation of the four earlier acts, becomes federal law.
1791-93
George Vancouver (england) explores the Pacific Northwest.
1792
Robert Gray and William Broughton (U.S.) sails up the Columbia River.
1794
Canadian Jay Treaty guarantees Mohawk Indians the right to travel unrestrictedly between the United States and Canada.
1797
Smallpox epidemic among Indians of Mexico.
1791-1811
David Thompson (Canada) explores the Canadian and American West.
1799
Russian American Fur Company chartered under impetus of the traders Gregory Shelikov and Alexander Baranov.
1799
Handsome Lake, a Seneca chief, founds the Longhouse religion.
c. 1800
Silverwork becomes widespread among the Indians of the Northeast, eventually reaching the Indians of the Southwest.
1892
Federal law prohibits the sale of liquor to Indians.
1802
Congress appropriates funds to "civilize and educate" the Indians.
1802-67
Tlingits resist Russian incursions into their territory.
1803
Louisiana Purchase by the United States from France (who had gained the territory back from Spain two years before) adds a large Indian population to the United States. In 1804, the Louisiana Territory Act shows the intent of the United States to move eastern Indians west of the Mississippi.
1803-06
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark Expedition opens the American West.
1805-06
Zebulon Pike (U.S.) expeditions to source of the Mississippi River and the Rockies.
1805-20
Simon Fraser (Canada) explores river now bearing his name, and he becomes the first white man to visit the Carrier tribe.
1806
Office of Superintendent of Indian Trade is established in the War Department under the secretary of War, to administer federal Indian trading houses.
1808
American Fur Company is chartered by John Astor to compete with Canadian fur trade. In 1810-12, an Astorian overland western expedition established trade relations with Indians.
1809
The St. Louis Missouri Fur Company is charted by the Chouteau family.
1809
Treaty of Fort Wayne. General William Henry Harrison obtains 2 1/2 million acres from Indians in Ohio and Indiana.
1809-11
Tecumseh's Rebellion. Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief, endeavors to unite tribes of the Old Northwest, South, and the Mississippi Valley against the United States. His brother, Tenskwatawa, is defeated at Tippecanoe in 1811.
1809-21
Sequoyah single-handedly creates a Cherokee syllabic alphabet so that his people's language can be written.
1812-15
War of 1812 between the United States and England. Tecumseh, brigadier general for the British, is killed in 1813.
1812-41
Russians maintain Fort Ross in northwestern California, Pomo Indian country.
1813-14
Creek War in the Southeast. In the Treaty of Fort Jackson, Andrew Jackson strips Creeks of their land.
1816
The Selkirk incident between the Metis and settlers in the Red River Valley of Canada over farmland.
1817-18
First Seminole war in Southeast. Andrew Jackson invades Florida in a punitive expedition against the Indians. In 1819, Spain cedes Florida to the United States.
1819-24
Kickapoo Resistance to removal from the Illinois Country.
1821
Hudson's Bay Company and North West Company merge.
1821
Mexican Independence from Spain. In 1824, Mexico becomes a federal republic.
1822
Office of Indian Trade and Indian trading houses (the "factory system") are abolished by Congress.
1822
Henry Rowe Schoolcraft is appointed Indian agent and begins his ethnological research of Indians.
1824
Bureau of Indian Affairs is organized as part of the War Department. In 1832, it is formally recognized by a law of Congress.

Here I chose another settler---James Cook. Well, technically speaking he was not a settler, he was an explorer, but he landed on the North America as well, and he brought people to there.
About the Native America I dont't know too much before, all of I know are from films. For example Dances With Wolves, Pocahontas. Although these are only films, but they also let me have a ceratin understanding of the Native America tribes.

Early Native American account (wk 4)

This is an account of a letter written by a Native American named Logan written to Dunmore, the Governor of Virginia. The speech is about the unjust killing of Logan's family amongst other Native Americans. Logan was known to be a friend of the 'white men' and and was an advocate for piece, unlike other Native Americans that went to war against the 'white men'



http://www.publicbookshelf.com/public_html/Our_Country_vol_2/nativeame_eg.html


He would not hold council personally with a white man; but he sent the following remarkable speech in the mouth of Colonel Gibson, which the latter wrote down and delivered to Dunmore:

"I appeal to any white man to say, if ever he entered Logan's cabin hungry and he gave him no meat; if ever he came cold and naked and he clothed him not. During the course of the last long and bloody war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, an advocate for peace. Such was my love for the whites, that my countrymen pointed as they passed and said: `Logan is the friend of the white man.' I had even thought to have lived with you, but for the injuries of one man. Colonel Cresap, the last spring, in cold blood, and unprovoked, murdered all the relations of Logan, not even sparing my women and children. This called on me for revenge. I have sought it. I have killed many. I have fully glutted my vengeance. For my country, I rejoice at the beams of peace. But do not harbor a thought that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan? Not one!"


The section that I consider most revealing about this letter is "I appear to any white man to say, if ever he entered Logan's cabin hungry and he gave him no meat; if ever he came cold and naked and he clothed him not" this quote is the most significant to me as it shows the friendliness of the Native Americans towards the settlers. Without the help of the Native Americans the Settlers wouldn't have got very far. It also shows the brutality of some of the killings, such as the murder of a Native American man's family, even though he was a friend of the 'white men' and stayed out of the way of rising arguments between the Native Americans and settlers. It shows how little care the settlers had for the Native Americans.

Early settlers account Task wk 4

The quote is from Capt John Smith who is defending the men & state of Jamestown in reply to a dissapointed Capt Newport who has returned with supplies & a threat from the Crown in England. King James and the Virginia Company who financed the exploration & settlement wanted instant results, The king expected riches to be sent back from a new Kingdom, nobody in England had anticipated the hardships that had struck the New World settlement.

And yet the greedy corporation who had sent out such men for the founding of a state, disappointed and unreasonable, demanded impossibilities. They sent a message to the settlers by Newport, saying, in substance:

"Unless you shall send us back in these ships sufficient commodities to pay the charges of the voyage [Pound 2,000]; unless you shall also send us a lump of gold, the product of Virginia; assurances of having found a passage to the South Sea (Pacific Ocean), and also one of the lost colony sent to Roanoke by Raleigh, you shall be left in Virginia as banished men."

To this threat Smith replied with spirit, showing them the absurdity of their demand, assuring them that it was as much as the settlers could do to sustain life with the assistance of the Indians, and saying:

"I entreat you rather send but thirty carpenters, husbandmen, gardeners, fishermen, blacksmiths, masons and diggers of trees' roots, well provided, than a thousand such as we have."

"He who will not work shall not eat,"

This quote is from www.publicbookshelf.com/public...1/johnsmith_eb.html


The 2nd Quote from John Smith is to his men in Jamestown, & is an attempt to turn around the failure so far & try to produce something to send back to the Crown.

This clash in the Quotes between Capt. John Smith vs Capt. Newport & the Crown are what I find most revealing & is evidence of the lack of awareness to the obstacles that face the settlement & also of the qualities of Capt. John Smith. Because had It not been for his leadership & discipline over the settlement, the mortality rate would likely of been higher or worse no-one may have survived winter. Not forgetting his diplomatic skills with the Natives, which you could argue influenced them in saving the settlement from starvation when the natives brought food to the Fort one day.

Ref.
www.publicbookshelf.com/public...1/johnsmith_eb.html

Has America lost all common sense?

I thought this would entertain us & at the same time remind us how terrible & Hollywood like subjects can be, even with something as professional as the news. What an earth were everyone from the rescue crews to the parents to the News presenters thinking when this "Drama" unfolded??

U.S. House passes sanction bill against Iran CCTV-International

U.S. House passes sanction bill against Iran CCTV-International

Shared via AddThis
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a sanction bill against Iran, permitting U.S. state and local governments to divest investments from companies involved in Iran's energy activities.

Under the bill, which was passed by a 414-6 vote, the state and local governments would obtain legal authorities to divest investments from those companies investing more than 20 million dollars in Iran's petroleum or natural gas operations.
The bill extends legal protections to shield the state and local governments from legal lawsuits regarding their divestment decisions.
Similar legislation has been sponsored in the Senate.
The move by U.S. Congress came after the Iranian government told the UN nuclear watchdog that it has a second uranium enrichment plant near Qom, 160 kilometers south of Tehran. The plant is believed to have facility for 3,000 centrifuges.
The United States, its European allies and Israel claim that Iran's nuclear program is aimed at developing nuclear weapons, while the UN Security Council also requires Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment activity.
However, Iran insists that its nuclear plan is only for peaceful purposes, and continues its uranium enrichment activity despite pressure from the western countries and relevant resolutions and sanctions of the United Nations.
The Obama administration said on Tuesday that the option of economic sanctions remains on the negotiating table with Iran, urging Tehran to address the international concerns on its nuclear issue.
"We think there are still opportunities to apply pressure, if Iran is unwilling to address the concerns the United States and the other members of the international community have about its nuclear aspirations," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told a Tuesday press briefing.
"Our strategy involves a two-track approach. That includes engagement, as well as pressure. We have a suite of sanctions that are in place, so we continue to work to see how to make them more effective," said the spokesman.

News of the U.S. in a Chinese website

Here is the news of the US in a Chinese website, but it is about US and Iran.

Critics from next door neighbours - Mexico

US border patrol agent Nicolas Jimenez wipes the sweat from his face at a landing area along the Rio Grande river. Photograph: Rick Wilking

Associated Press
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 24 March 2009 19.34 GMT
Article history

Critics have been expressing their anger on the US policy to spray herbicides on the foliage along the Rio Grande river in Texas. The strategy will cost around $2 million and is designed to expose illeagal immigrants and smugglers.

However there are critics from both sides of the border. Some Americans are unhappy that about the destruction of landscape, the idea of an expanding strategy if successful; also the cost of $2 million.

Mexico is most concerned especially city councils in Laredo and Nuevo Laredo, they are worried that it will contaminate the local water supply, & that it will effect a populated area with the community college of Laredo nearby. Concerns are so high that critics requested Mexican President to intervene.

Views on America from a non-United States website - Iran

http://jadi.net/tag/us/

The website that I have chosen is from Iran and is written by an Iranian citizen. The blog was banned in Iran so the writer has now decided to write a separate blog in English so he can express his views.

Jadi's view of America and having Obama in office is positive. Jadi writes more about what the Iranian government wants him to think rather than his actual own opinions. Any criticisms in the blog come from the government and not Jadi, he writes that his government tells him:

"- US is Bush
- Bush is bad
then…
- US is bad"

This seems to be the view on America from Iran's point of view, the Iranian political leaders also go as far as calling America 'evil'. The blog is aimed at people that may not know about a civilians life in Iran, it is informative and interesting as you do not usually get to here about Iran from a civilians point of view. I also find it interesting that the blog has been blocked in Iran as it shows how little freedom of speech Iranians have.

An Outsider's View of The USA

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article812453.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1

My website is from right here in the UK, in fact it's a British newspaper- The Times. Novelist and former MI5 Agent John le Carré has written an article that dates back to 2003, just before the USA's occupation of Iraq.

Le Carré's opinion was the general consensus back then, as it is now- George W. Bush was doing a bad job as President and that America has gone mad. Quite an outlandish statement- but do we trust his opinions? Le Carré writes mostly about the backlash from 9/11 and the consequential fall out all over the world. In a time where people had lost faith in both President Bush and PM Tony Blair, I can't help but think that maybe he is just fuelling the already blazing fire and just feeding the public what they want- a good Government bashing. What interests me the most though is the following quote from the article:

"Those who are not with Mr Bush are against him. Worse, they are with the enemy. Which is odd, because I’m dead against Bush, but I would love to see Saddam’s downfall — just not on Bush’s terms and not by his methods. And not under the banner of such outrageous hypocrisy."

This seemed to be the opinion of the majority of the population- I know I certainly felt like that, even at 12 years old I was interested in what was happening in American Politics and certainly George Bush's new found "War on Terror". The article is opinionated and aimed at the Average Joe in order to feed the hatred for Bush and the growing concerns about America's seeming constant need to dominate the rest of the world- the bully boy making his voice heard. In some respects I agree with le Carré, he seems a sensible fellow and able to back up his article with some interesting facts and figures, and as a former employee of MI5, you would assume that his writings are credible.

I hope you enjoy the article and I'm looking forward to your opinions!

Hoping to see your posts of non-United States websites - the UK

in time for our meeting at 11 tomorrow - remember if you don't post, we have no basis for discussion.

Positive and negative views of the United States

I pick as the positive thing of the United States the technology, and the negative thing is the price of oil is too low which makes a lot of people buy a car, then causes the environmental pollution.

Here is the link to the positive one. http://www.atcsd.com/site/content/view/268/110 This is a website for high technology.

Here is the negative thing, because the price of oil is not that expensive, therefore, there are many people who buy a car. As a result of this, people are less concerned about environmental issues.

Oil prices are monthly average import prices at the refinery. Notice that the first OPEC crisis, cut oil imports in half. The economy responds to price dramatically, but it takes about 5 years to really get going and 10 for near full effect. Prices in Feb. 2009 dollars.

Do you know what "Security" means in Waxman's Cap-Trade Bill?In the "American Clean Energy and Security Act," "Security" does not mean "energy security." Every single time it's used, it means climate security! OPEC has finally leaned act as a cartel. When the recession ends, we're in deep trouble. If you think energy-security should be part of this bill, Carbonomics is the book for you.

Probably my post is not good enough, but I will try to do it better and on time. ~~~ :]

Barack Obama Wins 2009 Nobel Peace Prize

Woke up to find this on MSN this morning...

Dental care in Virginia

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I found choice limited, however this image interests me. I only know One motto off by heart, which is "Live Free or Die" the reason being I have visited New Hampshire. What I love is that you can't go anywhere outside in New Hampshire without seeing the state motto. This is because it's on almost if not every car plate around.

No matter which state or the motto all of them show that pride & belonging is important. To me it says ambitious, creative & proud. The car plates always amuse & interest me when I'am there. I find that this tradition & this image very attractive, as though it adds character to such a diverse country. Very quaint.

The McProblem Today

I didn't have to look very far on Strangemaps to find a quirky and revealing map of the US. These little lights show the locations of the world's biggest hamburger chain, McDonald's, that have restaurants all over the US. With America's current obesity crisis becoming an even bigger problem by the day, McDonald's seems to shine like a beacon of light in the world of fast food and shows no sign of decreased popularity. It sells cheap convenience food for the idle masses who would rather pay for big greasy patty of beef (if it really is beef at all!) than open a cookbook and start from scratch like their ancestors did. I'm not just pointing solely at America for this, I dread to think what this map would look like on a global scale!

It's interesting to look at the density of the restaurant locations around the US in this map. The locations seem to follow the general pattern of population. Most Americans are located by the coast, as are the restaurants, and then it seems to get sparser as we move towards the West to states like Montana, Idaho and Nevada. You will, of course, usually spot a McDonald's on the highway at some point- everyone needs to stop and refuel!! But notice how there are nowhere near as many restaurants in California compared to New York or Florida for instance. Could this be because the weight-obsessed residents of Los Angeles and the surrounding cities are trying to outlaw junk food? Possibly. Within 3,000 miles, you seem to go from one extreme to the other as far as eating habits are concerned. Whereas a lot of New Yorkers and Floridians are obese, like their junk food and are comfortable with their lifestyles, the celebrity obsessed culture on the West coast are focused on diets of every sort, denying the body of any pleasurable food (not that I'm suggesting that McDonald's is ever pleasurable) and desperate for the perfect body- obtaining it my any means necessary. Of course, it could just be that McDonald's is just practicing good business management and building more restaurants in the more populated areas- money matters, right?

There are over 13,000 McDonald's restaurants in the US. That works out at about 1 for every 23,000 people (according to article on Strangemaps). Thank God that it isn't a bigger number, otherwise we could be looking at a much, much bigger problem than we already are now. America is sometimes seen as a nation of slob's, which I don't think is entirely true. But I'm glad to see that the there are some parts of the American landscape that the Golden arches have yet to penetrate- there may just be some hope yet.

To Me America Is....

Okay, so this weeks blog post is about what signifies America to you. Pick two images, one must be positive and the other negative. Here goes...

Arnold Schwarzenegger. Body Builder, Actor/Action Movie Star, Restauranter......Governor of California? Who saw that one coming?! Well, he's been office now for coming up six years now and despite being in the press recently and being labelled as weak, 'The Governator' is still going strong. He's probably one of the only Republicans I have any respect for! The reason I've chosen Arnie is because to me, he signifies 'The American Dream'. From a little boy who was born and raised in a small Austrian village, he has moved on to become possibly the most famous Action Hero of all time with the most quoted phrase, "I'll be back." This is in additiion to becoming a multi millionaire, owning a chain of restaurants around the globe and eventually becoming the Governor of one of the largest states in the US. It proves that America really does embrace people from all backgrounds and cultures, and it really can make dreams come true. And as if all this wasn't enough, it's rumoured that Arnold might run for US Senate in 2010! He's come such a long way from being known as a European Body Builder and he is now a respected member of Government, tackling climate change and trying to make the world a better place. And it's all because he made the move to America. If that doesn't show the USA in a positive light, then I'm not sure what does! And the person who inspired Schwarzanegger to pick a party not long after he arrived in America? Richard Nixon. Who knew? Anyone can embrace the American Ideals and make it work in their favour, all you need is a little faith in the system and a little hope and determination in your heart.

The NRA. National Rifle Association. To me, this is everything that is wrong with America. Well, gun control in general. Or lack of it should I say. I do realise that I am complaining about something that is part of the Constitution, The Second Amendment, a 233 year old law that I believe was only really put in place to protect the American's from the invading British. It angers me when I think about how many innocent lives have been taken because it is so easy to get hold of a gun. Thank god for the Brady Bill otherwise we'd all be in a whole heap of trouble! I'd like to reference two tragedies that have happened in the past decade. The Columbine High School Massacre that happened in 1999 and the Virginia Tech Massacre that happened in 2007. Both threw up huge red flags as to why these boys were allowed access to guns. In Columbine, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murdered 12 of their fellow students, a teacher and injured 21 others, while 3 were injured whilst trying to escape and then they turned the guns on themselves. 8 Years later in Virginia, Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 people around campus and injured 23 others before he too turned the gun on himself. It was later revealed that Seung-Hui Cho was declare 'mentally unsound' which prompted people all over the world to ask: "Why was he allowed a gun?" Since then, various laws (especially in the State of Virginia) have been tightened, but these events should have never occurred in the first place. I mean you can now buy a gun from Wallmart (the company that owns ASDA) along with all the necessary equipment! That is insane! I won't say too much more because I think you can see what I'm getting at, but something needs to be done. There are alot of things right with America, but there are a lot of things that are wrong, and to me, this is one of the biggest problems facing America's youth today. Us Brit's have recently seen a rapid rise in knife crime, but imagine having to live in fear 24/7 when you know that any nutter, even your next door neighbour can walk off the street into the local supermarket and purchase a shotgun. Scary stuff, huh?

A positive & a negative Image of United States

I think this is a straight foward cheesey advert which highlights a very familiar problem. A problem that is now more than ever common between the UK & the USA. Its awful to think that this catch phrase "Insanely Delizioso" and those hideously looking burgers are considered attractive. It makes me thankful that we in the UK have a tradition called the Sunday Roast.

I chose this picture of Bank North Gardens Boston, the home of sport & entertainment in Boston. The Bruins of the NHL & The Boston Celtics of NBA. To me this Image a (positive) shows how big Sport is without using words. To me It boasts power & Pride. These are two charateristics that I think are not only found in American sport, but are reflected in the mannerisms America has as a nation. A desire to always be competitve & involved not just on the field but on the international scene aswell, & more recently a desire to fit in rather than be isolated or passive..... Maybe they can eventually be made to feel welcome?

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