After another hard day's work, it's I who ought to be playing a lovely game of Electro-magnetic golf.
Instead, I'll write about it.
But John, towards the end of his career as a member of civilized society, has no time and no interest in such a game. So I guess I'll be writing about something else. Such as what the savage decides to do instead of civilized life. Any conditioned new worlder would not imagine such a choice. Being alone is terrifying in itself, but alone for days and weeks and months is nearly unbearable. So John is left to choose whatever uninhabited space he can find outside of bustling city life, and gets assigned to an abandoned lighthouse where he can see the burning city lights from the upper story windows. It is too nice a view for one intent on punishing himself. But finally, John the savage gets exactly what he wants. He sees no one for days on end. He is completely and totally alone, praying to gods like Pookong and Jesus and animal spirits of all sorts...
And still, he thinks of Lenina.
So the self punishment continues, as well as the solitude.
Until...
Three Delta-minus workers stumble across the savage in the midst of his self punishment ritual, whipping himself and crying out prayers to the gods.
And just like that, John's solitude and self purification comes to an end.
After the first few curious onlookers, reporters begin to hassle this unique man onto the camera. When John dispatches a reporter or two with a swift kick to the coccix or by shooting an arrow straight for a news helicopter, more fill in and multiply like rabbits. Soon after, the door of his lighthouse implodes with the overflow of reporters searching to capture another shot of this savage's unique behavior. The onlookers and reporters ask for only one thing.
"The whip stunt! Do the whip stunt again!"
The conditioned idiots are trained to want none other than entertainment, thus it's not in the least bit their fault. But in no way is this riot a fault of John's. And in the midst of the chaos, Lenina walks in.
Choosing to beat Lenina with the whip was possibly not the smoothest move of Johns. But everybody's happy nowadays. Whether or not he knew it, John too got a part of what he wanted.
In the excitement, a rioter calls out "orgy porgy"
And altogether in a soma daze, the crowd does just what it does best.
John awakes with total regret.
And hangs himself.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
What Not To Do In the New World
Had John followed the common rules of society, and maybe stayed out of the spotlight immediately after his mother's death, the events that ensued would not happened.
Unfortunately for all involved, these events do indeed occur.
Not only does John refuse to request Linda at the hospital for the dying, but he repeatedly asks for his mother. As shocking as the word is to the young nurse, all are well aware that the enormous and wrinkly cow of a woman in comparison to all other new worlders could be none other than the... Ford forbid, mother of the Savage. What John decides to do next is even more outrageous. He decides to make a scene in this peaceful and pleasant hospital for those quite happy to be dying, and makes such a scene in front of an entire Bokanovsky group in the midst of their death conditioning. Years later, only 100 or so identical Deltas will be absolutely and inexplicably afraid of death. And as if one person mattered as much as that to the new world!
But for John, Linda means the world. So after his death, he does whatever he can to disrupt the world to which his mother meant nothing. He does his brave and stupid act by disrupting the soma distribution.
**INTERRUPTING THIS BLOG FOR MORE IMPORTANT ADVICE**
4. NEVER interrupt the distribution of soma to a group of new worlders. Terrible events/tranquiliz-ation may occur.
As any attentive reader would notice, John learns of this advice only after making a very bold move. He interrupts the soma distribution, in attempting to free the new worlders from their dependence on this addictive (yet amazing) drug of choice. He tosses each pill-box full of a working delta's soma ration out the window of the hospital for the dying.
Then comes the rioting.
The Deltas, petrified and nearly insulted by the disrespectful treatment of the drug they treasure, begin to race toward the Savage. While Bernard watches from a safe distance, does nothing except to fret. Because a crowd of soma-deprived Deltas is a dangerous thing.
Then comes the tranquilizing.
"Everybody's happy nowadays" begins to play from the synthetic music machines. Soma gas is released into the crowds. And once again, the scene disparates into a normal, happy daily schedule of a Delta.
For the instability John causes to society, it's a wonder Mustapha Mond, Fordship of the day, doesn't punish him more heartily. Instead the two spend time relating to one another. Infact, his Fordship actually understands what John knows to be poetry, love, instability, and honor. And his Fordship informs John that he has more rights in the new world than those of which he was aware. John has the right to not conform, as long as it doesn't disturb the rest of society. John decides to claim his right.
The right to be unhappy.
Unfortunately for all involved, these events do indeed occur.
Not only does John refuse to request Linda at the hospital for the dying, but he repeatedly asks for his mother. As shocking as the word is to the young nurse, all are well aware that the enormous and wrinkly cow of a woman in comparison to all other new worlders could be none other than the... Ford forbid, mother of the Savage. What John decides to do next is even more outrageous. He decides to make a scene in this peaceful and pleasant hospital for those quite happy to be dying, and makes such a scene in front of an entire Bokanovsky group in the midst of their death conditioning. Years later, only 100 or so identical Deltas will be absolutely and inexplicably afraid of death. And as if one person mattered as much as that to the new world!
But for John, Linda means the world. So after his death, he does whatever he can to disrupt the world to which his mother meant nothing. He does his brave and stupid act by disrupting the soma distribution.
**INTERRUPTING THIS BLOG FOR MORE IMPORTANT ADVICE**
4. NEVER interrupt the distribution of soma to a group of new worlders. Terrible events/tranquiliz-ation may occur.
As any attentive reader would notice, John learns of this advice only after making a very bold move. He interrupts the soma distribution, in attempting to free the new worlders from their dependence on this addictive (yet amazing) drug of choice. He tosses each pill-box full of a working delta's soma ration out the window of the hospital for the dying.
Then comes the rioting.
The Deltas, petrified and nearly insulted by the disrespectful treatment of the drug they treasure, begin to race toward the Savage. While Bernard watches from a safe distance, does nothing except to fret. Because a crowd of soma-deprived Deltas is a dangerous thing.
Then comes the tranquilizing.
"Everybody's happy nowadays" begins to play from the synthetic music machines. Soma gas is released into the crowds. And once again, the scene disparates into a normal, happy daily schedule of a Delta.
For the instability John causes to society, it's a wonder Mustapha Mond, Fordship of the day, doesn't punish him more heartily. Instead the two spend time relating to one another. Infact, his Fordship actually understands what John knows to be poetry, love, instability, and honor. And his Fordship informs John that he has more rights in the new world than those of which he was aware. John has the right to not conform, as long as it doesn't disturb the rest of society. John decides to claim his right.
The right to be unhappy.
Common Advice for the Least Common of People
As Mr. Savage is probably left with only the option of staying in this Brave New World, I thought a set of common advice would make life at least a bit less strange. The letter goes something like what follows.
Dear John,
Here is some advice for you.
1. No using the word "mother". As difficult it may be for you to live without ties to any other human being, it's only what's expected by new worlders. "Father" also, is only slightly taboo and may be used with your shallowly-close friends, and the most frequented acquaintances. Not in front of important individuals, such as the director. Yes, John. Even if the director of the moment is your biological father. And if it's your mother dying in the hospital for... what else? The dying. Do not ask for your mother. It's shocking.
2. No poetry. It's sad. And it's illegal. After all, you're the only one on the earth still enjoying that rubbish. Quit it, and have some soma instead. Which brings us to your next very important bit of advice...
3. For god sakes, just take soma like the rest of us! It's good for you. Try adapting to some of what the luckier, who were conditioned from birth, do on a daily basis. There is no need to fret, just use a repetitive soma-encouraging motto to save the day. One like "A gramme is always better than a damn" serves to justify a dose half that of an all-out soma holiday. Of course those purely accustomed to a 24/7 holiday. But they remain gorgeous until the day it'll destroy their liver. And to some, that's perfectly okay. So try some, John. It's good for you.
So, John. I hope you do your best to follow the ways of modern society, in order to not be perceived as... Ford forbid, odd.
Dear John,
Here is some advice for you.
1. No using the word "mother". As difficult it may be for you to live without ties to any other human being, it's only what's expected by new worlders. "Father" also, is only slightly taboo and may be used with your shallowly-close friends, and the most frequented acquaintances. Not in front of important individuals, such as the director. Yes, John. Even if the director of the moment is your biological father. And if it's your mother dying in the hospital for... what else? The dying. Do not ask for your mother. It's shocking.
2. No poetry. It's sad. And it's illegal. After all, you're the only one on the earth still enjoying that rubbish. Quit it, and have some soma instead. Which brings us to your next very important bit of advice...
3. For god sakes, just take soma like the rest of us! It's good for you. Try adapting to some of what the luckier, who were conditioned from birth, do on a daily basis. There is no need to fret, just use a repetitive soma-encouraging motto to save the day. One like "A gramme is always better than a damn" serves to justify a dose half that of an all-out soma holiday. Of course those purely accustomed to a 24/7 holiday. But they remain gorgeous until the day it'll destroy their liver. And to some, that's perfectly okay. So try some, John. It's good for you.
So, John. I hope you do your best to follow the ways of modern society, in order to not be perceived as... Ford forbid, odd.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Things That Might Make Machiavelli Proud
Happiness in the new world is paramount. So when Linda and John get their desperately wanted permission to recondition and adapt to the new world, matters of happiness are the very first things that both are encouraged to tend to. Unfortunately for some unlucky new-worlders, the happiness of savages might just lead to the downfall of one of their powerful leaders.
And guess what?
This is exactly what happens.
Linda's entrance is not as glorious as it might've been before. That is, before she'd become one of the savages. Before she'd gained weight and lost teeth and allowed wrinkles to blemish her previously taught face. Her enemy? The very man who did all of this to her in the first place. The director is of course stunned at her return and pretends not to know this beast. Embarrassed, he leaves to never return to power.
Savages: 1
New Worlders: 0
Success for Bernard, however, is only bitter sweet. This small-in-stature Alpha becomes power crazed. Too many girls, and too many parties later, he too comes crawling out of his whirlwind of success.
A list of things that might happen to Bernard is sure to come.
Until then...
Conclusion: What do The Bible, Beauty and the Beast, and Machiavelli's "The Prince" have in common? Why, all were written with Brave New World in mind, of course.
And guess what?
This is exactly what happens.
Linda's entrance is not as glorious as it might've been before. That is, before she'd become one of the savages. Before she'd gained weight and lost teeth and allowed wrinkles to blemish her previously taught face. Her enemy? The very man who did all of this to her in the first place. The director is of course stunned at her return and pretends not to know this beast. Embarrassed, he leaves to never return to power.
Savages: 1
New Worlders: 0
Success for Bernard, however, is only bitter sweet. This small-in-stature Alpha becomes power crazed. Too many girls, and too many parties later, he too comes crawling out of his whirlwind of success.
A list of things that might happen to Bernard is sure to come.
Until then...
Conclusion: What do The Bible, Beauty and the Beast, and Machiavelli's "The Prince" have in common? Why, all were written with Brave New World in mind, of course.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
The Age of Anti-Shakespeare
It seems as if John might be out of place.
He's the only son of both a new worlder and a savage.
The only savage educated on the subject of decanting.
And the only man on the earth reading Shakespeare.
So... as John is quite excluded from most of any society he'd like to blend in with, he is quite eager to tell Bernard his life story from birth to present. He tells about how his mom was what the savages might call a whore. And about how his mom taught him to read. And even about how he was neglected by the other boys for his entire young life. His mother... *gasp*, yes, mother couldn't exactly deal with having the shame that was him. Guilty for her never being able to return, John remains an outcast in his own house. Bernard even gets a useful tip from John passed down to him by his new-world native mother: Mescal is most definitely not soma.
Not all bad things were happening to John in the reservation, however. His depressed mother had quickly taken to her shameful son, as John recalls. She taught him to read by marking letters in the dirt and later, he became well versed on the subject of The Chemical and Bacteriological Conditioning of the Embryo. Practical Instructions for Beta Embryo-Store Workers. Because in the new world, all literature is only for the purpose of instruction. In the overlap between the savage reservation and new world, the dilemma becomes obvious. When little John asks Linda about where the chemicals come from, her answer is quick and definite: the chemical store.
So it's simple:
Either the savages think too much.
Or the New-World doesn't think at all.
ANYWAYS, Bernard devises a wonderful plan for young John and his very, very old mother (by new-world standards at least.) Bernard and Lenina will bring back John to the new-world as the very first savage to be integrated into the new way of living. His mother will be able to get her first dose of soma in years, and get back to the life she misses. And all of this might just make Bernard more of an alpha-plus than he'd ever been before...
But, all of this will have to wait.
After all, this had never been done before.
Conclusion: Both sides could think about nothing but Shakespeare. Hopefully it would solve a problem or two.
He's the only son of both a new worlder and a savage.
The only savage educated on the subject of decanting.
And the only man on the earth reading Shakespeare.
So... as John is quite excluded from most of any society he'd like to blend in with, he is quite eager to tell Bernard his life story from birth to present. He tells about how his mom was what the savages might call a whore. And about how his mom taught him to read. And even about how he was neglected by the other boys for his entire young life. His mother... *gasp*, yes, mother couldn't exactly deal with having the shame that was him. Guilty for her never being able to return, John remains an outcast in his own house. Bernard even gets a useful tip from John passed down to him by his new-world native mother: Mescal is most definitely not soma.
Not all bad things were happening to John in the reservation, however. His depressed mother had quickly taken to her shameful son, as John recalls. She taught him to read by marking letters in the dirt and later, he became well versed on the subject of The Chemical and Bacteriological Conditioning of the Embryo. Practical Instructions for Beta Embryo-Store Workers. Because in the new world, all literature is only for the purpose of instruction. In the overlap between the savage reservation and new world, the dilemma becomes obvious. When little John asks Linda about where the chemicals come from, her answer is quick and definite: the chemical store.
So it's simple:
Either the savages think too much.
Or the New-World doesn't think at all.
ANYWAYS, Bernard devises a wonderful plan for young John and his very, very old mother (by new-world standards at least.) Bernard and Lenina will bring back John to the new-world as the very first savage to be integrated into the new way of living. His mother will be able to get her first dose of soma in years, and get back to the life she misses. And all of this might just make Bernard more of an alpha-plus than he'd ever been before...
But, all of this will have to wait.
After all, this had never been done before.
Conclusion: Both sides could think about nothing but Shakespeare. Hopefully it would solve a problem or two.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Annotated Bibliography
"Illegal Human Organ Trade from Executed Prisoners in China." American Education 1/2008 1.1-1.2. 8 Dec 2008 .
China remains one of the only countries that allow the continuation of the sale of the organs harvested from criminals who have been executed. Though many other countries see the practice as dehumanizing and unethical, it poses one possible solution to the organ shortage seen all over the world. Several controversial factors play a part in this ongoing practice. Doctors in China sometimes make record profits off these illegal transplants, and often perform these operations more hastily than they would a legal organ transplant. Both human rights activists and the World Medical Organization alike agree that stricter government control should be put in place to more closely monitor these operations and organ harvests.
BASSOUL, JOELLE. "Egypt's Illegal Organ Trade Thrives on Poverty." New York Times 04/04/2006 8 Dec 2008.
In Egypt, slums are becoming the world’s next big organ factory. In these unsanitary environments, those who live in poverty are often happy to sell their organs to rich buyers ready to pay up and undergo surgeries that often pay them more than they would earn in a year. For some unlucky Egyptians, however, this is not their view of the organ trade. Several impoverished are kidnapped each year and are given medication so that when they awake with only one kidney, they have no idea where they were before their experience from hell. Trickery is also used when applicants for a job are conned out of their organs through a request for some medical tests. After taking these medications, they reawake with no idea as to where they are and with the cons nowhere in sight.
China remains one of the only countries that allow the continuation of the sale of the organs harvested from criminals who have been executed. Though many other countries see the practice as dehumanizing and unethical, it poses one possible solution to the organ shortage seen all over the world. Several controversial factors play a part in this ongoing practice. Doctors in China sometimes make record profits off these illegal transplants, and often perform these operations more hastily than they would a legal organ transplant. Both human rights activists and the World Medical Organization alike agree that stricter government control should be put in place to more closely monitor these operations and organ harvests.
BASSOUL, JOELLE. "Egypt's Illegal Organ Trade Thrives on Poverty." New York Times 04/04/2006 8 Dec 2008
In Egypt, slums are becoming the world’s next big organ factory. In these unsanitary environments, those who live in poverty are often happy to sell their organs to rich buyers ready to pay up and undergo surgeries that often pay them more than they would earn in a year. For some unlucky Egyptians, however, this is not their view of the organ trade. Several impoverished are kidnapped each year and are given medication so that when they awake with only one kidney, they have no idea where they were before their experience from hell. Trickery is also used when applicants for a job are conned out of their organs through a request for some medical tests. After taking these medications, they reawake with no idea as to where they are and with the cons nowhere in sight.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
The Amazing and Inspirational Fill-In-The-Blank Blog
Oh dear,
It seems I've forgotten to title the last post.
Fill in the blank, if you wish.
Lenina has made a decision!
In order to avoid government suspicion and mind-numbing boredom in going to the north pole with Henry, she decides to make her way to the savage reservation in North America. Just outside the reservation lies a lavish hotel with a soma bar and just about any amenity that a beta from the new world would ever need. Inside the reservation, however, there is absolutely nothing from the future. There is no soma, no planes, no soma, no synthetic material, and worst of all, no soma. Lenina is not happy. Because in the new world state, people don't age. They remain forever content as working people thouroughly drugged out on soma on a daily basis. They never retire, and they never get wrinkles in their faces. They are never allowed time to sit and, Ford forbid, read a book. Nor are they allowed to relax and freely think. They simply work until the day they die, usually around the age of 65 when soma is of no more help to them.
SO... It's a shock for dear Lenina when she sees men of various ages dancing about a campfire in loinclothes, their wrinkles bouncing as they cry out chants. Similar, she thinks, to a lower caste community sing. Because it's easier for this new world inhabitant to compare things to other things. More familiar things. Things that are familiar at all are comforting. All this occurs, while Bernard simply thinks:
Fascinating.
After the initial shock of the savage lifestyle, both Lenina and Bernard return to a pueblo to meet a savage family. This very family is unique, and the overweight and wrinkled housewife of the family is shocked and elated to see Lenina. Once an inhabitant of the new world, she became lost on a visit to the reservation. Her previously and illegally devoted partner, the director (insert collective *GASP* here), took her to the reservation and assumed her to be dead one night after camping (without soma) during a storm. She eventually married a savage man, and had a child. GASP should ensue.
And all of this is known by Bernard.
Who says absolutely nothing.
Conclusion: short writings give me more time to evaluate my own nonexistent desire to travel to the North Pole.
Would I like to travel there?
No.
I still don't want to go.
It seems I've forgotten to title the last post.
Fill in the blank, if you wish.
Lenina has made a decision!
In order to avoid government suspicion and mind-numbing boredom in going to the north pole with Henry, she decides to make her way to the savage reservation in North America. Just outside the reservation lies a lavish hotel with a soma bar and just about any amenity that a beta from the new world would ever need. Inside the reservation, however, there is absolutely nothing from the future. There is no soma, no planes, no soma, no synthetic material, and worst of all, no soma. Lenina is not happy. Because in the new world state, people don't age. They remain forever content as working people thouroughly drugged out on soma on a daily basis. They never retire, and they never get wrinkles in their faces. They are never allowed time to sit and, Ford forbid, read a book. Nor are they allowed to relax and freely think. They simply work until the day they die, usually around the age of 65 when soma is of no more help to them.
SO... It's a shock for dear Lenina when she sees men of various ages dancing about a campfire in loinclothes, their wrinkles bouncing as they cry out chants. Similar, she thinks, to a lower caste community sing. Because it's easier for this new world inhabitant to compare things to other things. More familiar things. Things that are familiar at all are comforting. All this occurs, while Bernard simply thinks:
Fascinating.
After the initial shock of the savage lifestyle, both Lenina and Bernard return to a pueblo to meet a savage family. This very family is unique, and the overweight and wrinkled housewife of the family is shocked and elated to see Lenina. Once an inhabitant of the new world, she became lost on a visit to the reservation. Her previously and illegally devoted partner, the director (insert collective *GASP* here), took her to the reservation and assumed her to be dead one night after camping (without soma) during a storm. She eventually married a savage man, and had a child. GASP should ensue.
And all of this is known by Bernard.
Who says absolutely nothing.
Conclusion: short writings give me more time to evaluate my own nonexistent desire to travel to the North Pole.
Would I like to travel there?
No.
I still don't want to go.
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