Animal Farm by George Orwell

Animal Farm by George Orwell is a well recognized piece of literature depicting the political environment of the Soviet Union before and during the 1960's from the point of view of an English author. The book is written as a metaphor, using the exploits of talking farm animals rather than directly describing the events.

The plot of Animal Farm replicates the history of the Soviet Union almost to the letter. The book starts with all the farm animals living in fear of the farmer, who kills and sells animals as he pleases. The animals know no other way until the oldest pig on the farm calls a meeting to discuss the farmer's oppression of the farm animals. He describes a world where the animals can eat whenever they please and not have to worry about being brought to the slaughter or sold off the farm. The pig's words inspire the other animals, but soon after the meeting he dies. His underling pigs, Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer, form a sort of religion around the older pig's teachings. They lead a revolution and drive the farmer off the farm, leaving it to be governed independently by the animals. The three pigs take charge, but soon begin arguing and fighting. The most cunning and vicious of the pigs, Napoleon, manages to criminalize the other two pigs and take complete power over the farm. He quickly instills a dictatorship over the animals and forces them to work to make him more comfortable, rather than themselves. Any who question Napoleon are made out to look evil and are often driven off the farm. Eventually, the animals realize that Napoleon and his subordinates are just as bad as living under the farmer.

This book is a to-the-letter description of the fall of the Czar of Russia and his replacement by communists taking the teachings of Karl Marx. Napoleon represents Joseph Stalin and his rise to power, and surrounding farms represent different countries.

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix was an extremely successful rock and roll singer in the 1960's that pioneered the way the electric guitar is used today. His experiments with the electric guitar led to a unique style that was emulated by other musicians ever since. Hendrix was always interested in guitar, but never actually owned one until 1959, when he could afford it. Prior to that, he made due with a one-string ukelele and his father's broom. Hendrix was enlisted in the military only a few years later, but still managed to form a band with other people stationed in his area. After being discharged, he started his musical career with several solo acts, leading to his first band, called "Jimmy James and the Blue Kings." After a time and mild success, his band's name was eventually changed to "The Jimi Hendrix Experience." It only took a few shows in the UK before his band became extremely successful, and his return to the US only served to increase his fame. Hendrix continued his success with "The Experience" until 1969, where he continued a solo career that included his appearances at Woodstock '69. He continued his musical career, reuniting with some of his old band members, until his premature death in 1970. Hendrix's name continues to be one of the most recognized rock and roll names in the world to this day.

Source:
http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/nuclear.htm

Earth Day

"A Fierce Green Fire" was a documentary depicting the victories environmental protection organizations have achieved since their emergence in the 1970's. The video talked about the possible consequences each event could have if their efforts had failed, and described better ways to accomplish the same goals. ("Watch Film: A Fierce Green Fire." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.)

Nuclear power has been an energy source that has supplied the populace of first world countries with power since 1951, and has grown safer and more reliable ever since. The nuclear reactor works by using the heat from radiation to create steam, which turns a turbine to generate electricity, and releasing only steam into the atmosphere. Traditional coal power plants have used the same concept, but rather than using radiation, they burn fossil fuels to generate heat to create steam, and release carbon into the atmosphere. As nuclear energy becomes more widely available, newly industrialized countries such as China are using it to drive the country further toward becoming more powerful and better for the environment.

Links:
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power
 http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/nuclear.htm