The Future of the Universe (6)

Currently, I have finished chapter 21 of Life, The Universe, and Everything. Arthur Dent, Slartibartfast, Ford Prefect, are at a party looking for a silver pail which is a part of a key that can help save the universe. The key is composed of 5 different parts, each of which, when joined together, will open a lock that will release bloodthirsty robots into the universe with the sole purpose of exterminating everyone and everything.

At the end of the chapter, Arthur had just heard a lady mention that a man was upset because nobody was asking him about an award he had just won, "Most Gratuitous Use of the Word Belgium." This award is a "small silver thing set on a black base," 160. I believe that this will turn out to be the key. I think that they will not successfully acquire this key as that would most likely signify the end of the book, but there are many pages to go. Maybe this man will refuse to give his award up or perhaps the Krikkits (evil race that wants to exterminate the Galaxy) will make a surprise appearance at the party and take this part of the key. After all, this is only the 2nd part of the key and there are 3 more to go. I expect the main characters to go after 3 more key parts.

A Moving Bowl of Petunias (5)

Life, the Universe, and Everything is an extremely moving book. While the main character, Arthur Dent, is traveling through space and time, he ends up in a mysterious cave with a character who we come to know as Agrajag. Agrajag has vowed to kill Arthur Dent to take his revenge. As it turns out, Agrajag has been reincarnated over the years, thousands of years, and each life has ended with him being killed by Arthur Dent. He has been killed as a rabbit, fly, human, flea, an ant numerous times, and, as it turns out, a bowl of petunias. To understand why this last one moved me, we must first journey back to the first Hitchhiker's book, where as 2 missiles are headed for their space craft, Arthur Dent hits an improbability button where the least probable thing often occurs; this turned the missiles into a bowl of petunias and a sperm whale. These two things fell to the ground below and promptly died. With this knowledge, I was moved to laughter immediately and for a long time ensuing. To think that an author would reference something like two books back was unexpected, and in my opinion, brilliant. I know that the term "moving" often applies to touching situations, but in this book, one that is meant to be funny, I felt that something that moved to me to literally laugh out loud, not something books can often make people do, would correctly describe a moving situation.

This book often moves me to laughter and I find myself struggling to keep quiet while reading it in study hall. Douglas Adams' brilliant story takes very many unexpected twists and turns and is constantly referencing things that happened in the previous books and that makes it an extremely moving and memorable experience, and one which has affected the way I look at everyday things, like a bowl of petunias.

Che's Essential Question

Che wanted to become someone who helped others. His impact he wanted to have was eliminating poverty and improving the lives of millions of people. He saw the poor throughout Southern America as he traveled on his motorcycle journey. He saw what they had to live with and he wouldn't stand for it. He thought the government must help its people, so he set out to make sure that could happen. he fought for it and allied with other leaders who felt the same way as he did. The impact he had was overthrowing the established government of Cuba and setting up a government that would care for its people under the rue of Fidel Castro. He was then removed from Cuba and went to Bolivia to try to have the same impact there, but he failed. He then brought sadness to Cuba and happiness to the united states government.

I do not think Che felt he achieved his goal as there were still a lot of poor people who needed his help when he died.

Life, The Universe, and Titles (18)

Life, The Universe, and Everything. I think this is a fantastic title to the book and really embodies the humorous spirit of the book. Upon first glance it may seem to be a very philosophical and deep book, but once the reader learns of how the title was created, they truly understand it. It has no real deep meaning. It is a reference to the first book in the series where small mice created a super-computer to answer the ultimate question of "Life, The Universe, and Everything!" The answer they received was 42. This made no sense to them and realized they would have to create another computer to find out the question that provides this answer. In the mean time, considering that would take about 10 million years, they manufacture a question to satisfy the public, "How many roads must a man walk down?" I think the title of this book is perfect and that it should not be changed, but if I was forced to create a new title for this book, I would use "How Many Roads Must A Man Walk Down?" In order to replace it, I would need to use something that still referenced earlier in the series and that would be recognizable to those who had read the first book. I would also need to use something that could interest people who had never read the series before and I think that if someone saw a book called "How Many Roads Must A Man Walk Down?" they would be interested in finding out how many roads a man must walk down. Of course, if that is all the book was about, it would probably be very short, perhaps only 2 pages, one a dedication, and the other with a small 42 in the middle.

Independent Reading Project-Life, The Universe, and Everything

I have chosen and started reading my Independent Reading Book. It is "Life, The Universe, and Everything" by Douglas Adams. It is the third book in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. I will be writing 10 features on this book throughout the next two weeks.

1 a day, Sunday-Thursday this week and next week.

The Hitchhiker's series is one of the best series in Science-Fiction and is one of my favorite series. I look forward to continuing the series with this 3rd book.

Chile's 6 Word Memoir

South America's hottest and tastiest country.

Che in Chile

Che visit to the mine shaped his views the most. It probably had a big impact on his political views as well as he saw the poverty around the mine and the little to no compensation paid to its workers' families when they died. "It brings to mind a meaningful shrug with which a manager at Chuquicamata answered my questions regarding compensation paid to the families of the 10000 or more workers interred in the local cemetery." 87 This is one reason he put so much focus on helping the poor and made such an effort to educate people. He wanted socialism so that everyone could afford cheap health care. Che probably wanted to create a union to help achieve better conditions and pay.