Pleasure reading. Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser. (Chapters 7-10)

After taking money from Drouet, Carrie lost her head. She wanted to spend them on beautiful clothes and elegant things at once. But when she came back to earth she realized it was impossible, because she would have to explain her sister where she got this money.  That's why Carrie took a decision to return the money to Drouet.

Ultimately Drouet took Carrie under his wing. He persuaded her to leave her sister's house and rent a separate dwelling at his expense. He helped her to dress up in order to appear in society. Drouet wanted to care for Carrie. But Carrie understood: this cannot go on for ever. She must to find a job and support herself  on her own. But Drouet's courtings and beautiful Chicago's life she had so dreamed of made her forget about this problem.

Drouet introduced Carrie to his friend Hurtswood who also impressed the young girl very much.

Meanwhile, Carrie's sister Meeber was very anxious about sister's leaving. She didn't know where she went and it made Meeber suffer from nightsmares. 

Rendering 2. (Art)

The article "Local council hopes to block Banksy sale in America" by unknown reporter that was published on the Telegraph's website on Febraury 20, 2013 discusses the situation concerning the fate of a local mural. This is a piece of street art, which depicts a young boy hunched over a sewing machine making Union Jack bunting.

Speaking about this mural, it is necessary to explain that it was painted on the side of a Poundland shop, in the north of London, just before the Diamond Jubilee, and disappeared from there in order to be fetched up to £451,900 at Fine Art Auctions in Miami, Florida, on Saturday. But as it was revealed Haringey Council intends to bring back the artwork as it is a symbol of local pride. It is also neccessary to note that the Heringey councillors had to call on the Art Council to intervene in this affair. It is hard to predict the course of events, but there is every reason to believe that the Haringey council will keep its end up to return the Banksy mural into place where it belongs.

Giving appriasal of the situation, the author claimes that the Blanksy work possesses not only local but national significance of the art work. He notes that the Banksy created a huge amount of excitement when it first appeared, and residents were understandably shocked and angry that it has been removed for private sale. Moreover it was revealed that less than a year before this mural was painted, an area was rocked by riots, and for many in the community the painting has become a real symbol of local pride.

In the conclusion the reporter gives no assumptions concerning the mural's fate, but as for me, I can guess that it will be difficult for Haringey to gain a success in this affair. Unfortunatelly today art is also can be sold.

Pleasure Reading. Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser. (Chapters 1-6)

A 18-year-old Carrie Meeber went from her home Columbia City to Chicago where her older sister Meeber lived. The later agreed to take Carrie in for lodging payment. In a train, being full of contradictory anticipations, the girl met an attractive travelling salesman Charles Drouet who inspired her by his talks about wonderful city of Chicago. But on her arrival to point of destination the young girl faced an inimical city with indifferent and very busy people. Carrie's first trouble became a way of earnings to pay for her residence in her sister's apartment. Looking for a job Carrie spent all day long without result and nearly despaired of success, when finally managed to get a job in a shoe factory.

Meanwhile, Charles Drouet who wanted to visit Carrie but failed because of her refusal, had a rest in his usual way. He could afford expensive restaurants, but he usually gave preference to his friend Hurtswood's bar where all rich and successful people of Chicago rested. Drouet could be well-connected and Hurtswood's bar was a proper place for good acquaintances.

After several weeks of hard work at the machine, Carrie fell ill because she didn't have enough money to buy   warm clothes. As a result, she lost her job. Carrie realized that she has got no chance to stay here and was going to leave Chicago when she met Drouet again. Having knew about her poor situation, Drouet lended her money in order not to offend her. And Carrie felt that they became closer to each other.

Rendering 1. (Art)

   The article «Nearly 400-year-old secret painting in Rembrandt masterpiece revealed» by Megan Gannon was published on the website Foxnews.com on January 28, 2013. This article reports about a hidden portrait revealing in the masterpiece, "Old Man in Military Costume" by Dutch painter Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn.

   It was revealed that researchers had previously probed the painting with conventional methods, but could not see the behind the top coat, largely because Rembrandt used the same chemical composition for the underpainting and the final version. Speaking about studies of Rambrandt's masterpiece, it necessary to point out that today researchers use new and more sophisticated X-ray techniques named «macro X-ray fluorescence» to get to see who is depicted in the secret image. Giving appraisal of this process the author notices that compared to other techniques, the X-ray investigation is currently the best method to look underneath the original painting.

   Speaking of the hidden portrait, it's interesting to note that it was created by museum intern Andrea Sartorius, who used paints with the same chemical composition as those used by the Dutch master. Sartorius painted one portrait on the canvas and then an imitation of "Old Man in Military Costume" on top.  

   In conclusion the author assumes that the results of aforementioned studies will enable connoisseurs to determine the best possible approach to employ in upcoming study of the real Rembrandt painting. As for me I agree with the reporter but I believe that such an interesting case with the hidden portrait like this will become a new step in the investigation of artworks.

Review # 3

"The Pelican Brief"

Cast: 
Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, John Heard, Sam Shepard, William Atherton, John Lithgow

Director: Alan Pakula.

Synopsis.
A student of department of law Darby Shaw knows about assassination of two Supreme Court Justices and begins the investigations. She finds some materials and documents which she passes to FBI consultant throught her lecturer and lover. After that the later was blasted in his own car. Someone starts in pursuit of Darby... Difficult "backstage" mechanisms of the White House set in motion in order to destroy unmasking materials and people who know too much. As it turned out, this affair has a deep pre-history connected with oil business and corruption.

Review.
“The Pelican Brief” is a very interesting but suspenseful movie.  It has lots of twists that make film rich, excited and tense. The film reveals the quite real and possible situation concernig a government conspiracy. The oil tycoon wants to drill for oil on the marshland which is a major habitat of an endangered species of pelican. He stops at nothing for the sake of his business, even if it requires murders. With a help of government he protects his image and remains unpunished. This film proves us that politics is a ruthless business, that allows people who are involved into it do everything want they want in order to reach their goals. Murders of innocent people and destruction of the environment are just ordinary ways in order to manage their dirty affairs.

I think such movies are neccessary for ordinary audience because they help to think and analyze the present situation of politics and its connection with modern world's environmental issue. 

Rendering 12

The article "Green means business" was published at the site of Euronews on October 22. This article covers  a quite interesting business-project that is oriented to environmental protection. The reporter introduces us young persons who made their debuts of their "green" business plans in Paris. One of them is Sarah Smith.
Sarah Smith is part of a new generation of environmentally-aware entrepreneurs. Her drive to suceed has taken her to Paris where she will pitch her idea to a panel of experts and investors. Along with her team she has developed a business plan for a network of urban cargo bikes.

There was general feeling to believe that Sarah's strategy is successful. The “awesome bike” project was one of three winners chosen by the panel. But during the subsequent debriefing, the business coach told her team that their business plan was not realistic.

Speaking of this project, it's necessary to note that about 200 students as well as Sarah, went to the 5-week Climate KIC summer school. The scheme is supported by the European Commission and aims to train entrepreneurs of the future who are capable of building businesses which reduce global warming as well as making a profit.

Analyzing the environmental situation in the world lots of these "green" entrepreneurs express the view that people don’t actually care about climate change too much because it’s a very long process. To motivate people you have to make them save money. And for participants of project it is a business because they want to earn money in the process and want to change the world that people live in.

It's difficult to predict the course of events concerning the business-project in future but as for me it's very likely that most of student's fresh ideas will be carry out and thus there will be another step towards the problem of environmental protection.

Rendering 11

The article entitled "Cyprus's race for liquid gold" was published at the site of Euronews on December 14. The giving article discusses the situation on Cyprus concerning the problem of lack of fresh water. The author which remains unknown reports at lenghth about serious concequences of this problem in some regions of Cyprus and possible solutions.

It was revealed that the second harvest of the year is being prepared in potato fields but water from the surrounding dams isn’t enough to sustain crops. Local farmers have to create places to store water from their own wells and mix it with dam water to reduce the amount of salt. It's necessary to note that about 50,000 illegal wells have been identified in Cyprus and over the years, they’ve contributed to the depletion of the country’s aquifers – water-bearing layers of underground rock. There is general feeling to believe that it became a headache for the authorities, for whom water management is a vital issue.

Speaking of solutions of this problem the author mentions about desalination, one of  non-conventional methods. Analyzing this method it's necessary to remind that during the 2008 drought, millions of tons of water had to be imported from Greece by tankers. So as to never again find themselves in such a situation, the authorities staked everything on desalination plants that provide a portion of the water when the dams are dry. Nevertheless the reporter expresses his critical view that this method is a quite controversial solution as it’s costly in energy, generates CO2 and badly affects marine biodiversity.

Giving appraisal of the situation it's also necessary to note that in the face of global warming, which will cause increasingly important water demand in the driest areas, it is imperative to better manage existing resources. And according to researchers people can use at least clean energy, such as solar energy, to limit the damage.

The author supports opinion of Manfred Lange, director of the Cyprus Institute, who expresses the view that it's necessary to find other energy sources for desalination and enhance water use efficiency. He claimed that rainwater harvesting is much better than urban drainage system and water retention system.

As for me, I absolutely agree with director's opinion concerning other energy sources for desalination. The authority of Cyprus should care not only about financial side of the question but also about environment.