Database

After some research, I found the Literature Resource Center database to be a quite informative system. I am going to be writing my paper on World War Z as long as I can find enough information to analyze. If not, I would love to analyze The End of the Whole Mess by Stephen King if it is possible.  The Literature Resource Center is one of the only systems I found to have information on World War Z and its criticism.

During my research in databases in my major, chemistry, I found three awesome systems. Reaxys, SciFinder, and Web of Science are the databases that fascinated me. Reaxys will show any reaction known with a given chemical and find articles on them. SciFinder and Web of Science are both well rounded systems that are very reliable.

Dr. Strangelove

In the film, Dr. Strangelove, a point is trying to be made that a nuclear war is foolish and childish. The movie portrays the child-like nature of the leaders of the US and USSR with satire. In one scene, USAF General Buck Turgidson is speaking with the president, Merkin Muffley, in the ‘War Room' about the attack about to happen from ‘Wing Attack Plan R’ initiated by USAF General Jack D. Ripper (<-- satire). The President speaks of calling Soviet Premier Dmitri Kisov to try and apologize and invite the soviet ambassador in the room. The General’s response is as follows:  “You can’t let them in here. Then they will see the Big Board!”  This shows the childish nature of nuclear warfare and the leaders pushing the issue very well. 

To be compared with another apocalyptic text, The End of the Whole Mess by Stephen King, corresponds in a similar way with Dr. Strangelove. The End of the Whole Mess has an apocalypse that involves a drug spread from a volcano. Although the cause of the apocalypse was different, the effect was the same, the destruction of humankind.

Uglies Part 1

So far I like what I have read. It’s a bit off my normal reading path but nevertheless it is an interesting read thus far. The first part of Uglies that we read had many conflicts in it. There were instances of man vs. self, man vs. man, and man vs. society. 

In the Man vs. Self phase, we find that Tally has a bizarre perception of why she wants to be pretty and what she desires to appear as a pretty. Thus far it just seems to be the norm for her in this society, for her to do her part when she turns 16. She gravely misses her friend Peris which has already become a pretty and spends many of her near sleepless nights imagining thousands of conversation with Peris before she can fall asleep. The inner conflict she suffers from becomes more prominent when she argues with Shay. 

In the Man vs. Man phase of the story, I found a conflict with Shay and Tally. They can undoubtedly learn from one another, but the multiple attempts to educate each other about the next step to take in life are where they often meet with a disagreement. Shay thinks that natural is beautiful, and Tally, like the majority of the people in this town, thinks that artificial is beautiful. Tally argues that artificial is the natural way things should become but Shay is opposed. Tally states that a person cannot change being ugly just by wishing or telling yourself otherwise. She states that it is the whole reason they invented the ugly to pretty operation. On the contrary, Shay states that Tally had only seen the “Pretty Faces” her whole life and that it is unnatural to imagine this kind of beauty in everyone since birth.  She adds that people are just programmed into thinking anything but artificial is ugly. 

In the Man vs. Society aspect, Shay's ideas against artificial enhancements and environments are clearly against the society’s social norms. This is why she wants to escape to a different, more accepting place. When Shay explains why she wanted to leave, she says to Tally that we have a choice; we don’t have to look like everyone else. She says that they have choices and that they can grow up anyway that they want. If Shay were to stay where she was located and not get the operation, she would be hated. This could cause her some serious problems later on in the story and I am excited to continue on.

My readings on, "The End of the Whole Mess"

The End of the Whole Mess, by Stephen King, is by far one of the best short stories that I have ever read in my opinion.  The story brings humor, sadness, and sorrow all in about 20 pages of text.

This is the story of Howard (aka Howie or Bowwow) Fornoy and his brother Robert (Bobby) Fornoy and how they caused the end of the whole mess (world).  Howie was a freelance writer and did pretty well for himself. His brother, Bobby, was the messiah.  Bobby had more intelligence than anyone could imagine, except for maybe Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, or Issac Newton.  Bobby was killed by the beginning of the story via howie by the direct injection of Bobby's own discovery which he called the called "the Calmative".  Bobby had asked him to do this and then write the whole endeavor down.  After bobby had been dead for about four hours, Howie decided he needed a deadline to write the story.  Since, he knew that he was doomed already and lost the thing that was keeping him going, he decided to take the same fate as Bobby.  Therefore, Howie struggles with life and death as he tries to tell the epic tale/tragedy of the fate of all life.

Uglies

Uglies, to me, just seems like the best choice to read for class. Uglies has my vote!

About My Search

First and foremost, I really enjoyed most everyone's presentations from the past week.  There were a load of interesting topics brought up and many were some that I myself wouldn't have even thought to use.

Now for my search, I have found quite a bit of material on my topic, Nuclear Fusion, but I have run into some problems with more research. I know I can talk to a Physics and Nuclear Engineering Professor. Also, I can set up a survey but is there any other type of hands-on research for topic? FEEDBACK PLEASE!!!

Another thing about nuclear fusion, if it can be harnessed without total destruction then it would still end the world as we know it. Think about this, can you imagine having unlimited energy? If we had Unlimited energy would it not change the world as we know it? Nuclear Fusion would give and relative infinite amount of energy. The society that can harness nuclear fusion would have more energy than they knew what to do with. Remember The Jetson's, our society would end up a lot like theirs. We would have flying cars and automated everything just because we would be able to power it all with no consequences. Would this not be the end of the world as we know it? Can you fathom this change in our society?

The Road 1/26/2011

In The Road by Cormac McCarthy, a father and his son journey to survive in a post-apocalyptic society. I have noticed that many contexts of this book show hopelessness, darkness, with little humanity portrayed. In the opening passage I have found the descriptions of the days, nights, and surroundings to be very close to how I would envision  a post-apocalyptic society would look and feel to the people living in this distraught world. It states in the beginning, nights were dark beyond darkness and the days more gray each one than what had gone before (3). The darkness and grays portray a common loss of hope and that the world can be violent and full of death. Although there are times where there are signs of humanity between the father and his beloved son, I cannot get over what the world has come to at this point. How could a person survive conditions like this, and how could anyone raise a child? It is a possibility with religious beliefs behind a person. I have found on the first page a couple of sentences that portray a scene in the Bible. It states, their light playing over the wet flowstone walls. Like pilgrims in a fable swallowed up and lost among the inward parts of a gigantic beast. This seems to portray the story of Jonah. Also, on page 31 it talks about reciting a litany. A litany is a tedious ritual or prayer that is common for someone of the catholic faith to take part. Although the father has not mentioned God or any particular religious deity to his son, he has told old stories of courage and justice. This could be from a religious text that the father had remembered. The text that I have read so far imply that the father is a religious man and it seems to be helping both the father and the son as they struggle to survive in this dark and gray society.

A Little Bit About Myself

             Some of you may be wondering, "What kind of people are in my class?" or, "What are the people in my class like?"

             Well here are a few things about myself to give you some background information, a perspective on what I am like, and what activities I enjoy.

             My name is Joshua Ray Alfrey and I am a sophomore in BCMB (Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology) with a Concentration in Pre-Pharmacy. I am originally from Maynardville, TN (as made famous by Brad Pitt in Inglorious Bastards). I attended Union County High School, where I graduated Valedictorian in Spring '09. I am a Volunteer Firefighter with Paulette Fire/Rescue in Maynardville, TN. I have been firefighting since 14 as an explorer (Jr. Firefighter), and I am now a registered firefighter in my county. I am working on state-wide registry so that if I wanted to become a full-time or part-time firefighter with a paid department. I got into firefighting because my Dad is a fireman and I saw it as a way to spend more time with him, and I just fell in love with nearly everything about it. I find it hard to enjoy working a scene where there has been a vehicle accident that caused fatalities. However, the feeling I get from helping others is unlike anything other that I have experienced before, which is why I keep coming back despite the unfortunate horrors that come with the job.

           On a lighter note, I am also a musician. Drums are my specialty and have taught myself many different styles of playing, anything from Jazz to Thrash Metal. However, I play guitar as well. The styles that I play most are Acoustic or Hard Rock on a rhythm guitar level. I live in Gibbs Hall and I am the residing Vice President. I have lived in Gibbs Hall since the start of my Freshman year in Fall '09. I am a former member of the Pride of the Southland Marching Band; I played cymbals on the drum line in Fall '09. Unfortunately, my major gave me more than one schedule conflict and I was unable to march with The Pride this past season. 

          I am the kind of person that is not judgmental and I am very relaxed and laid-back. Listening and playing music are some of my favorite past-times and I always am up for going to concerts and just lounging around with some good music playing. I am normally up for anything because I just enjoy being around people, It really doesn't matter the activity. Like I said, I love meeting new people and making new friends, so if any of you (my classmates/instructors/TA's/whatever) want to get to know me please send me a message or an email or look me up on facebook (whatever you like best), and get to know me. I'm looking for new friends and some good study partners, like any good college student would. (By the way if you want to add me on facebook look me up by my full name Joshua Ray Alfrey, and my email is jalfrey1@utk.edu just like my blog address)

         That's about all I can think of about myself currently, but if any of you that read this want to know more about me feel free to ask.

         Good Luck this Semester in English 102 (and in all of your other classes) and Happy Studying

~Josh