IRP Blog Post #9

" You could see it in the easy, confident gait and sun-drenched smiles of the vacationers in every photograph. These people were happy. I don't mean they were happy. They were happy. They were living at a good time in a lucky country adn they knew it....In the 1950s Australia was probably the least confident nation in the English-speaking world.(Bryson 122).

" These days, it is true, in terms of gross dollars accumulated per head, Australia is no longer near the top. It comes in at number 21, in fact. But I ask you, which would you rather be- third richest and thrilled because you have an electric jug and at least one radio, or twenty-first richest and living in a world where you can have everything a person could reasonably want?" (Bryson 128-129).

This two qutoes describe the happiness of the people in Australia. I think the first one is intersting because even though they were the third richest country in the 1950s, they were the lease confident. Also, I like how Bryson put the two different times in perspective. Although they may not be one of the top richest countries in the world, the people are happy and live in a country full of beauty and wonder.

IRP Blog Post #8

" They were packed with large family groups enjoying Australia Day, picnicking and playing cricket with tennis balls. Adelaide has miles of good beaches in its western suburbs, so it surprised me that such numbers of people had forsaken teh shore to come into the city...It seemed odd, too- but again pleasing- that in a country of so much space people chose to crowd together to relax." (Bryson 125).

Bryson describes Australia Day, which was occuring during his time in Adelaide. He compared it to his childhood memories of celebrating the 4th of July. I decided to further research it, and discovered the above pictures. I also found the website for Australia Day, with videos, pictures and information about the celebration.

I think the last line in the above quote is inspiring. I find it interesting that even though the people in Adelaide have so much space to have their own celebration, they chose to spend it in the parks, surrounded by one another.


http://www.australiaday.org.au/experience/

IRP Blog Post # 7

In this section of my reading, there was a passage about a young man Thomas Austin who released 24 imported rabbits from England into the Australian wild in 1859. The passage describes how the rabbits eventually ruined the land and livestock, since there was no predator of a rabbit, the species multiplied rapidly. Until, a virus, myxomatosis was introduced to Austrailia.

" The weapon deployed against teh rabbits was a miracle virus from South America called myxomatosis. Harmless to humans and other animals, it was phenomenally devastating to rabbits, with a mortality rate of 99.9 percent....It took a while for things to get rolling, but today Australia's rabbit numbers are back up to 300 million and climbing fast." (Bryson 112).


I was intersted in this virus and decided to research it and find out what made it so deadly to rabbits. This link provides information about the virus and how it is spread, as well as symptoms of the virus.


http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=18+1803&aid=3422

IRP Blog Post #6

http://www.pictureaustralia.org/apps/pictureaustralia;jsessionid=F97B707CD9F93028948449043B731A43?action=PADisplay&mode=display&rs=resultset-4753931&no=2

This website describes the lethal goblin fish. Bill discusses how he read about this deadly fish in Jan Morris's book, "Sydney". He explains how he never heard about this species of fish until this book. Yet, he describes that in such a vast country like Ausdtralia it is nearly impossible to know all the dangers that lurk in the waters of this country.

I found this interesting because it demonstrates how big our world is. It seems that we are secluded in the world of our own lives, and we do not even know what is around us. It's strange to think that we live in a world and we might never encounter something, yet someone across the globe lives with it daily.

IRP Blog Post # 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wit023qqzjg&feature=related


This video documents various places in Australia in 1969. In this section Bill mentions both the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. He went into the history behind each piece of architecture.

Interestingly, the man who built the Opera House, Joern Utzon, a Danish architecture never got to see his creation. After a dispute in 1966, he never came back to the site.

The history behind the bridge is interesting as well, because when it was being built in 1923, the builders wanted to make it the longest single arch span ever created. Yet, in 1932, right before the bridge was going to be opened, the Bayonne Bridge in New York opened and was 25 inches longer than the Harbour Bridge.

IRP Blog Post #4

"I walked for miles, through Kirribilli, Neutral Bay, and Cremorne Point, and on through the prosperous precincts of Mosman before at last I came to Balmoral with a sheltered beach overlooking Middle Harbour and a splendid waterfront park shaded with stout Moreton Bay figs, the loveliest tree in Australia by far. A sign by the water's edge noted that if you were eaten by sharks it wasn't because you hadn't been warned." (Bryson 57).

I chose this quote, because in just one sentence, he describes five different placed he traveled through. There was a lot of description and details in the first sentence. I also liked this quote because I feel it represents Bill Bryson's writing styles. Although this book is not a real diary, his move by move descriptions make it feel as though I am on the journey with him. I connected this to Che's "The Motorcyle Diaries" because Che's memoirs also make it seem as though I am on the journey with him.

IRP Blog Post 3

http://www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/the-ghan.html

This link provides information about the train "The Ghan". This train travels across Australia and through the Outback. Bill Bryson used this train as a means of travel. He described the compact quarters and simple living in the cabins of the train . I think this ties well into the theme, no matter what the conditions, if the journey is worth taking, so are the hardships. For Bill, the squished room on the train was not important, the fact that he was able to experience the scenery was worth the small living space.

IRP Blog Post 2

This image is a room in the Dug-Out Underground Motel. It is located in the side of Smith's Hill in White Cliffs. Bill and his fellow traveller, Trevor pass through this town with their Australian tour Steve Garland and his wife Lisa.

The motel, as well as most homes in White Cliffs are built into the side of the hill in an attempt to cool off. Bill describes this town as unbearable and unreal. With a population of 80 and the recent discovery of electricity in 1993, Bill concludes that this is truly a different place.

When I saw this picture of the motel, it reminded me of the underwater hotel being built in Dubai.

IRB Blog Post 1

"'a swollen stinger that could give him 20 minutes of agony and, if he's unlucky, an unsightly allergic reaction to carry on his torso for life....' It occured to me that Australians are so surrounded with danger that they have evolved an entirely new vocabulary to deal with it" (Bryson 17).

The first part of this quote is a part of an article in the "Sydney Morning Herald" weekend magazine, written by Deirdre Macken. Deirdre and a photographer Glenn Hunt are acting as tour guides for Bill Bryson in his journey through Sydney. Although he has been to Australia many times before this adventure, he confesses that he never had a chance to truly see Sydney and "The Outback."

I decided to choose this passage because it demonstrates the intense and dangerous situations Bill has found himself in Australia thus far. In this passage a dangerous jelly fish is just a few feet away from him, and the Australians are simply telling him not to worry. I think this passage is important because it demonstrates the Australians non chalance way of life and easy going personalities.

Independent Reading Book MP 3

Title: In A Sunburned Country
Author: Bill Bryson

Blog Post # 12- Swimming World Coach remains

Sean Hutchison, the coach of the USOC Professional and Post-Graduate Center in Southern California,will remain the coach. Earlier, there was a rumor that Hutchinson was resigning. He coaches swimmers who are a part of the Fullerton Aquatic Swim Team (FAST), associated with USOC. The rumor of his resignation began with reports that he acted inappropriate with his swimmers. But, after no evidence of this improper behavior showed up, the rumor of his resignation was dismissed.

Do you think that Hutchinson should leave the program after these rumors? How will he be able to recover after having so many allegations agasint him?

This websited describes in depth Hutchinson's work and goals as a coach:

http://www.teamunify.com/Contact.jsp?team=king

Blog Post # 11- NYT Books- Publisher Tinkers with Twain

This article describes the current controversial issue over a certain word used in the classic novel, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". The word "nigger" appears 219 times throughout the novel, which has cause some concern and discomfort among teachers. One professor from Alabama, Mr. Gribben brought the idea to have a new edition of the novel to a publisher in July. The term will now be replaced with "slave". Many people are angry at the fact that this classic will be changed and have a new edition. The usage of the word reflects the culture of life during that time. Yet, many book stores have already pre-ordered the book, which will be ready for publication in February. One teacher, who opposes the new edition, described how the language she hears in the hallways is more offensive than the language in this novel.


How do you feel about the new edition? Do you think this book should be banned from schools, or maybe just certain age groups?


In this link, the author of the blog voices his opinion about the new edition of the classic novel:

http://themoderatevoice.com/97181/huck-finn-censored-and-sanitized/

Blog Post #10- CNN Peace in Sudan

In Sudan, an upcoming election will decide whether Southern Sudan should seperate from Sudan and form a new country. After a civil was between the north and south, which ended in 2005, part of the peace deal was a referendum on the independence of Southern Sudan.
The voting will take place in three days, which makes actor George Clooney very excited. As as activists he is hopeful that there will soon be peace at such a chaotic time. George has frequently visited Sudan and even has an organization that will be monitoring violence related to the voting. They will be doing so by using satellite images to get a "birds eye view" of the situation in the country.

Do you think that the voting will be able to come to a clear decision and help the problems going on in Sudan? Do you think it is likely that Southern Sudan will become a seperate country? Also, I think it's nice how celebrities are getting involved in international affairs. Do you think George Clooney's involvement in this situation will affect it in anyway?

Here is a link describing teh atrocities of the Sudan civil war:

http://www.newsweek.com/2009/10/07/africa-s-last-next-war.html

Post # 9- NYT Books- Google Book Database

Google has recently launched a new database for books. The database has a storage of 500 billion words found in various books from the year 1500 to 2008. Mr. Erez Lieberman Aiden, a junior fellow of the Society of Fellows at Harvard, and Jean-Baptiste Michel, another fellow at Harvard, have collaborated to describe how this Google database has revolutionized the people's understanding of language, culture and even the flow of ideas. They discuss how this new digital database has opened so many doors in the world of literature and history. This newly advanced online tool was intended for scholars, yet anyone can plug in up to 5 words and see the graphs of the evolution of those words.

How will this database change our lives? Will they be able to expand the database and update it in the future?

This link talks more about the database and how it is a cultural revolution.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/12/cultural-evolution-google/

Blog Post # 7- Swimming World- Steve Lochte resigns

The Daytona State College head swimming coach, Steve Lochte recently has stepped down from his position. Steve, as well has his daughter Kristin have been placed on administrative leave since December 2, 2010. During this time, Daytona State College has been investigating the poor behavior of some swimmers. The school feels the need to intervene, after there have been reports of some swimmers testing positivley for marijuana, having posession of weapons, and posting racist posters throughout the pool. Also, Lochte has recently been arrested for DUI. According to the resignation terms, he will continue to receive pay until April 15. Meanwhile, Kristin will continue to be a member of the staff until the end of March. After that, she will be able to decide whether or not she wishes to continue working at the school until the end of her contract in June. Apparently, Steve will continue to coach his USA Swimming club team, Daytona Beach Speed.

I was extremely shocked after reading this article. When I first started reading, I wondered if Steve Lochte had any relation to the Olympic swimmer, Ryan Lochte. Towards the end of the article, it describes how even though Ryan Lochte helped his father with the team, he is not a part of the investigation from the college. I could not believe that Steve and Ryan were father and son. I think it's sad that the actions of the team affect the coach, yet I know it is necessary that he resigns. His recent arrest is clearly not a good model for his swimmers. I never realized that at the collegiate level a coach could be affected by the behavior of its athletes.

How Kristin got involved in the investigation? Also, what is her job at the college? Do you think the coach is to blame for the athletes' behavior? I am curious to learn what happens to Steve and Kristin after they officially leave the school, and how it affects Ryan in the 2010 Olympics.


This link goes more in depth about Steve's arrest, and has quotes from Steve and Kristin about the resignation.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/east-volusia/2010/12/14/coaches-speak-out-about-arrest-few-bad-apples.html

IR Blog Post 3- Swimming World: Tom Dolan Invitational Featuring the Fran Crippen Memorial Mile

The Curl-Burke Swim Club in Virgina hosted the 2010 Tom Dolan Invitational swim meet. At this invitational meet, the mile long race will be dedicated to Fran Crippen. The race will be open to the 13/14 age groups, as well as the 15 and over age group for both males and females. The race to honor Fran Crippen was named the Fran Crippen Memorial Mile. Fran graduated from the University of Virgina, where he was a captain of the swim team. Also, he graduated from Germantown Academy. Fran was dedicated to the sport of swimming, especially open-water swimmer. He volunteered his time to help younger kids, and aspired to be a part of the U.S Olympic team.

I want to find out the results of the meet. As well as, How much money the event raise for the Fran Crippen Foundation.

Growing up in the area, The Crippen family is a well-known family in the swimming world. When Fran died a month ago, many questions were raised about the cause of death and how someone could die at such a large event. I found an article, that was published after his sudden death during the FINA Open Water 10 km World Cup. This article provides background information on Fran's death, which is the inspiration for the Fran Crippen Memorial Mile event at the Tom Dolan Invitational Meet.

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/swimming/news/story?id=5718372

IR Blog Post 2- New York Times Books: C.I.A Agents ,Blowing Their Own Cover

This article is a book review of the book, "The Human Factor: Inside the CIA's Dysfunctional Intelligence Culture." This book was written by a former spy who goes by the name Ishmael Jones. The C.I.A has sued him for writing the book. They are accusing him of revealing secrets that he agreed to keep confidential. Also, they claim that he did not recieve the proper approval for publication. After word got out that the C.I.A has sued the author, the Amazon ranking for the book have increased since the release of the book in 2008. Jones fights back against the C.I.A's claims, saying that except for a few paragraphs, the censors he submitted his manuscript to, approved it. Also, this review talked about the recent trend of former spies sharing their experiences.

The article said that most of the money for secret intelligence efforts goes to the C.I.A. I was wondering where the rest of the money for secret intelligence efforts goes?

Also, I want to know what long term effects these memoirs will have on the C.I.A.


This article described how most memoirs, like Jone's talk about requirements for getting hired for the C.I.A. On a "How to" site, I found out what it takes to become an agent for the C.I.A. I find it funny that for such a secret agency, the information about how to get in, is so public.

http://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-CIA-Agent

IR Blog Post 1- CNN: China's aid for North Korea

This article discussed the current tensions in North Korea. Part of the reason for these tensions, deals with the recent deaths of South Korean's during a military drill. But, North Korea is insisting that the South provoked the attack after shells from their military drill landed in North Korean waters. In order to keep peace between the Korean Peninsula China wants to have an emergency meeting with the six-party pack. The six party pack includes the countries- United States, Japan, Russia, China, South Korea, and North Korea.


After reading the article, I am still confused about the six-party pack. China said they wanted to have a consultation with the other members about the growing tensions, yet they also stated that this does not mean a resumption of the six party talks. I just did not understand what it meant to consult them but not resume the talks.

Also, the article said the six-party talks were put on hold in 2008. I am curious to why the talks were put on hold.

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Fresh-US-South-Korean-War-Games-Under-Way--110929494.html

This link is to a website that discusses South Korea's view on China's proposal to intervene. South Korea rejects the proposal from China to intervene with the North/South Korean tensions through multi-national talks.