Taking Things for Granted- (Theo)

When we do something that we really enjoy or have something we really like we often take it for granted. Many people around the world can't do or own these things that we can do, So we are extremely lucky that we can do them. I really enjoy doing horse riding in the weekends, but without it I would get bored and upset. I think it would be good for people to realise that a lot of things we do, are impossible to do in other places.

Taking Thingh for Granted Hugh M

It so so ridiculous the amount of things people take for granted. After going to Africa last year, I have really been opened up to the world. We visited a Slum in Nairobi and it was so so vey sad. People sleeping on hard ground nearly on top of each other, people living in 2 by 2 metre mouse invested family houses made of rusty non water proof materials. About 5 people would live in that kind of house. Thay starve, so they eat rubbish, it's so sad.

And here we are living in big nice houses, sleeping in nice big beds with duck down duvets and feather pillows. So next time your in your warm house in your warm bed think about those people in Africa and how they are suffering.

Taking things for Granted - Marcus

Seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting and smelling are all things that we take for granted. But people in places like Bougainville Island are starving while we enjoy what we consider necessities, but what they consider luxuries. But even they can take the five senses for granted. However, if I had a hurt ankle then I wouldn't be too sad because it would mean I could skip some days of P.E. and sport. Things are really easy to take for granted.

Taking things for granted- Harry W

The amount of suffering that there is in this world is incredible. I always take my bed for granted and the comforts of my room when there is so many people in this world without beds and a roof above their heads.

We also take simple things for granted like cool water or 3 meals a day. I think that we should a bit more gratitude for these things even though they a simple every-day items. I think that we should be thinking more about these unfortunate people and that we should be donating more money to charities that support them.

Taking thinks for granted - Callum B.

"Horror bomb kills innocent," "Hundreds killed in mass starvation,"Living conditions too poor to survive."
Just reading the news can open your eyes to the horror, misery and pain some people have to live with.

I recently watched the movie Argo, and it really brought me back down to planet earth, away from the grief, pain and hunger of some countries.
Water, food, shelter and love are the basic things you need to live and survive, but some countries such as India, Iraq and parts of Africa don't even have these basic requirements.

When I was five we had a cleaning woman from Iraq. One day, she brought her son with her, as he was sick and off school. The boy told me and mum what it was like living in Iraq. He said that just to get to school he had to hide, creep round and pray to god that he wouldn't be shot be snipers.
The boy said that it was horrifying. That someone in his family could be the next to die (yes, some of his family had already been killed).

The sick thing is that kids say it would be cool to be in a place like Iraq, that it would be awesome to be in a war. Maybe we should just take a step back, and see how lucky we are.

By Mr. B. F. B. Foamy.
C.E.O of 'Da Foamii Religion.'
All rights reserved (whatever that means).

Taking Things for Granted-Luke E

I have a very recent example of taking things for granted. I took for granted the fact that I didn't have to do that much in the house but now I have more jobs since Mum broke her arm. Taking things for granted is a feature of all humans, but we can lessen it if we don't become lazy and arrogant. It is in our books and all over our society. With that said, I say " See you on the next blog!"

Taking things for granted-ET

These days, we take many things for granted. Most things that we do are taken for granted, like picking up a book your reading and assuming the bookmark is in it. Happily, most of these everyday assumptions come from memory of making that action possible (like putting the bookmark in the book) that bind the assumption with reality.

 We also make many other 'real' assumptions that could turn out either way. I think the most likely reason for this is that we are so used to taking that action, that we do it while our minds are set on other things (a sort of form of multitasking). It can result in consequences but most of the time it will only result in the peaceful apparition of the expected result.

By ET

Taking things for granted Nicholas

I think that taking things for granted is not a bad thing it is just that we need to think about other people who may not be as lucky as us. For example we are lucky to have nice safe homes and most of us take that for granted and that's okay but some people may not live in as nice or as safe homes they might even have nothing. I take things for granted all the time it is very hard not to. We go to school, and yes we do work hard and I suppose some kids would say "uuuuh too much work" and moan but adults work really hard to do their jobs to earn a living and at most jobs you do more hours than school but then again people have to make money somehow.

Taking Things for Granted - Callum H

Personally I think that we take many things for granted like water that's safe to drink, fires or heat pumps for warmth. Also Being injured at the momment I've realised that there are so many things that I can't do which I would normally never think about

Some people also take for granted things like bikes, shoes even pens and pencils. But it is also important not to be not to be on your knees thanking people 1,000,000 times for a ten cent lolly.

Taking things for granted Rob

I have taken for granted the fact that when I fell off my scooter and almost broke a bone inside my wrist meant that I wouldn't be able to play soocer or tennis and I was just about to go on holiday to  a farm stay where we would ride quad bikes etc. We are very lucky that we have eyes and ears. Fresh food and water that we can eat and drink whenever we want to pretty much. Eyes and ears are very important and so if you lose an eye or ear your life will be ruined for enternity because you only have one of them. Definitely have become unstuck lots of times with all my injuries especially my two wrist injuries one of them i have just told you about. So you see you take a lot of things for granted.

Taking things for granted - Noah

I always take things for granted. Its just my nature. It's weird seeing people who can't talk, just because your so used to being able to talk yourself that you automatically think 'oh that's weird'. People in New Zealand that live in poverty can't take it for granted that they will still have enough food or water. So we're luck to be able to take things for granted.

Taking things for granted George

I think that I am guilty of taking things for granted. This is hard not to do so. Things like sight and the ability to walk are so "normal" that I have become accustomed to having them and would find it hard to live without them. Mental health does factor in on physical health and if you are really sad and believe you are going to die then well, you probably will.

Taking things for granted - Matthew

If I take a big step back, it becomes quite obvious that I take a bit too many things for granted. If I start at the start of the day, my bed, my parents, my family, food, clothes. Everything really. The sort of society that we live in relies on a lot of things. Almost every day there are bombings, murders or deaths on the news, and that just got me thinking how most of us take peace for granted. We're lucky we don't have to rush into our garages to escape the risk of bombs. The recent earthquakes in Christchurch demonstrate this point. The people have experienced destruction, grief, death. A lot of us in the classroom really havn't been in a similar situation. They've lost their houses, their lives have fallen apart. A lot of the citizens probably took their houses for granted, but I think it's really important to think that anything can happen. Your life can be pulverised in a matter of minutes.

Recently I saw a man in the Hutt walking along. He had a strange ambling step to him. It was a bit scary really. A crippled man hunched over and precariously wobbling on his feet. I couldn't quite picture what he looked like from the distance but he was approaching and I thought I better be careful. It was not until I was about to cross the road that I realized he was blind. He looked terribly unhealthy and I felt really sorry. It reminded me of an exercise I did in Year 6 with Mrs. Hook-the blind man's walk. After reading "The Cay" about a blind boy lost on an island with an African man after a war, Mrs. Hook wanted us to feel how the boy coped. She set up a course for us to pass blindfolded, using the sun as time and warmth we were blind for the whole of 20 minutes-that's a long time for someone who takes vision for granted.
(true story approaching) It also reminded me of the time when I was only eight and attempted to walk the whole of a pier to a boat, blind, approximately 100m with a margin of 1 and a 1/2  meters of error. You can probably guess what happened, I fell in and soaked myself. I think we all take our health for granted and with all the medicine we have now, it just makes the situation worse.

Taking Things for Granted - Ben

Taking things for granted is something that I am doing at this moment. When Mr Tait says to the class tablets out and onto blogs he is taking for granted that we all have a tablet of some sort. The 40 hour famine is a perfect example of taking things for granted. When you undertake this challenge you realize just how lucky you are. When I do the 40 hour famine I always do no food because it is the most realistic challenge to what children in third world countries have to live with every day.

So next time you take a bath or shower think about the water that you're using and what difference it could do in the third world countries. 

Taking Things For Granted (The Weather Man)

New Zealand takes quite a few things for granted. One of these is technology. Lots of people complain about how they need new phones or a new tablet/iPad because 'its the old version'. Wellesley College takes this for granted but not too over-the-top. We use tablets for different uses. Buying an electronic device for gaming uses is quite pathetic. We use our devices for working uses mainly so I think thats fine if you play games every now and then.

Taking Things For Granted JD

I think that quite a few New Zealanders take to many things for granted. Food, shelter, immunisation, hospitals, there's a lot of things we take for granted while other people in different countries can't afford, or don't have. I remember when I was stuck in hospital and had a drip in my arm. I was 8 and really hated being cooped up in a bed. Every day for 5 minutes I was allowed off the drip and would run up and down the corridors for as long as I could. I reallised that I took being mobile for granted. Now whenever I run down the soccer pitch or something, I'm grateful that I can run, and don't have a huge, crippling injury.

Taking things for granted-Campbell

There are many things that we take for granted.  We a lucky enough to go home and know that we have a good meal and a warm bed waiting for us.  Those are things that some people don't have but even though they are important I always think that the most important is ourability to walk and even just to stand.  Many of us play a sport that we enjoy and it is hard to comprehend not being able to do those sports which we love.

Recently there was a study on children not having enough to eat.  This study proved that many children in New Zealand went to school weithout any food.  Food is important to your learning and if you do not have enough then your are not peforming to your full potential.

Taking Things for Granted- Jesse R

I think that in the world today, we take too many things for granted. For example, I take a great education here at Wellesley for granted and I am not very thankful for it, but for someone in Africa who has never been to school because they're needed at home, doing farming or something, the opportunity to go to even a public school would massively effect their lives.

Taking things for granted-HarryC

One thing that I think that some people in New Zealand take for granted is the food we have. Compared to the people in Africa we are living like kings. Heres a fact : There is enough food in the world for 7 million people but still many people in Africa are starving everyday day. I think this is a big thing that people in New Zealand take for granted.

A few years ago I twisted my ankle very very badly and I was on crutchers for a month and like Mr Tait I thought about how I had taken my ankle for granted before I twisted it.

HarryC

Taking Things for Granted Henry C

I think that if you want to go somewhere then you are more likely to be well because your mental health is just as important as your physical health because you are able to get sick from being sad. You should also to be grateful for what we have and not want more than have because some people don't have a roof over their heads and a good education.

Taking things for granted - Mr T

Good morning boys.  Have you ever taken anything for granted and then been 'brought back to earth' with a jolt?  What does 'taking things for granted' actually mean?  How can we possibly, consciously, think through and appreciate everything that happens to us?  How often do you appreciate that you can hear?  Can see?  Can walk?  Two weeks ago I picked up a running injury after completely missing a kerb about 8cm high.  I cannot run at the moment and it has got me thinking about taking things for granted.  I now really miss something which was so ingrained in my life that I probably did 'take it for granted'.  I am annoyed, frustrated, grumpy and now, possibly because of my body 'letting its guard down, crook because of it.  I think there is a link between mental health and physical health.  What do you think you take for granted the most?  Is it OK to do this?  How can you fix it?  Do you know a good story where someone has taken something for granted so badly that they have come 'unstuck'?

Rejections - Noah A

It's hard being rejected. Someone being rejected 197 times I would stop after the first 10 times, someone like that would have to have great perseverance to continue.  

My greatest rejection was last week when I didn't make the thirds. But there is still time to learn from your mistakes. 

Rejection - (BY WILLIAM)

197. This may seem false but Jack Andraka has been rejected this many times. To be honest with you I would have probably given up after 20 or less. It's about determination in my point of view. Anybody can do it but you have to be determined. You also have to expect the worst as in you can't get everything first time. I can be determined if it depends on something but otherwise I wouldn't bother so good on him.

Rejection - Jin

To get back up 197 times is amazing and to do this you need a real passion for the thing. Jack Andraka must be one of the most persitent people in the world especially for a 15 year old.

My biggest rejection was the school football trials last year. I was extremely disappointed but this encouraged me to do well this year. Hopefully today I will find out if I have made the team. Even if I don't I will set my goals high for college.

Rejection (and reception) - ET

If you try to gain something that someone else is judging you for , then what depends on weather you'll be accepted or rejected is your reception . With Jack Andraka, because he was young , many of the 'receptionists' (as I call them), felt him maybe to inexperienced to sooner him in such a serious field. They'll be feeling very guilty now!

The point is that rejection depends on reception (as shown by the formula: rejection<reception or request-reception=rejection) and if the receptionist is not satisfied, that is that. The strange thing is that it's always illegitimate things people get judged for, like what age they are or when they got there degree of even what height they are. That's what leaves many people at disadvantages.

The most important lesson that can be learnt though is the fact that we must keep on trying, otherwise known as persistence. Even if we do not impress 'receptionists' for some incoherent reason, we must try again (even if it's not 197 times). There are many famous examples of these people. I won't name them all but my personal favourite is Snoopy from the Peanut comic strips by Charles M. Schultz trying to publish a book. He tries again and again but never (as far as I know) succeds. Persistence can be seen in many different forms, but always represents the same thing.

Rejeton Campbell

There are many stories out there about people who have tried countless times and been rejected countless times but who still go on to get the results they want Jack is one person Thomas Edison another, and there are others, Harland Sanders recipe for fried chicken got turned down 1009 times but he still made it into then chain of food stores it is today, KFC.  Everyone has benefitted from these mens endeavours and that is why I think that definitely need more Jack Andrakas, Thomas Edisons and Harland Sanders.

It takes a lot of determination and self belief to keep on trying that many time I don't know if I could do it.  I know I have been rejected many times and I think that even if you don't get what you want you should move on and try it again next year or as soon as you can.

If you really want something as much as Jack did you'll get there in the end.

Rejection-Matthew

After running a really tough race, and not doing so well it's really hard not to feel bad. But in the the back of my mind is one of my favourite quotes. At a basketball match , after a bad performance, Michael Jordan said "I've failed over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed" and he's dead right, you learn so much more  being rejected than when you succeed. And unfortunately, failing happens more often than succeeding a lot of the time. But the word "succeeding '" is subjective, a rejection is more powerful and emotional than a success. And as Callum pointed out "A boo is louder than a cheer" and that's right too, the impact of failing affects you in a deeper way than just winning every time.  And that experience of losing time after time is teaching us a lot about life. Persistence, determination, confidence and strength of mind are all being drilled in. Most people started off just like us (apart from Albert and Jesse) and with a little creativity, some willingness to try hard and a never give up attitude, you can be just like Jesse.

Jack Andraka's story of success has come from a lot of failing and rejection. His persistence has helped the survival of mankind, a real medical milestone. He deserves enormous praise for his work. People like Jack are really needed in our society today. He's a gust of fresh air.

Being rejected is like a strong "fail" is ringing in your mind. But if you treat being rejected like a bugle in your ear encouraging you to try again your dream will become reality. I've never really been rejected for big things. But when I was five years old I wasn't allowed to be part of the class counting up to 50 because I mucked it up every time. It was overwhelmingly sad for me. But if I look back now it seems a bit pathetic. But I thought about it for a long time, almost half the year, until I decided to learn my numbers. I practiced a lot and thankfully I made it and became the class "count". That part is still funny.

Rejections- Nicholas

Being rejected feels horrible. I think that people who persist will achieve their goal but it takes time, Colonel Sanders did an amazing job as he went to 1009 doors after which being rejected each time and finally on the 1010th door Pete Harman partnered with him and they launched the first "Kentucky Fried Chicken" site in 1952. Although being rejected can make you feel sad it often turns out to be character building after all we can't all be winners all of the time. "A rejection is nothing more than a necessary step in the pursuit of success." quoted Bo Bennett. I think that Jack Andraka (age 15) had an amazing idea for testing cancer as it will save the lives of many people. He is also very persistent, it took him 197 tries before he got his method of diagnosing cancer accepted.

My rejection was when I didn't make my cricket club colts team, but I'm not worried because I like and enjoy the sport.

By: Nicholas

 

In my opionin Jack Andraka (like louis said) is like Thomas Edison he persisted so many times and never gave up which I think shows that he doesn't stop trying just when somebody turns him down or something doesn't go right. Jack really does deserves all this credit and success. He has really worked hard. The other thing is that it shows that anyone can make a difference.

My biggest rejection would have to be not making my club football A team last year. I was so disappointed with myself and really wanted to be in the team. When it came to trials this year I decided I really wanted to get back in the A team so I worked hard and it payed off I was moved up in to the A team.

This really shows that if you put your mind to it you can do it.

HarryC

Rejection-Giggles the Lepreclown (Theo)

It is amazing how a 15 year old boy can invent a way to stop 3 different cancers but was rejected 197 Times. It happens a lot with writers who have their scripts for their story, but the publishers don't want to publish it. And then when the book is finally published it becomes a hit. I know I have been rejected before for things like Choir. Last year when I was rejected for choir I felt sad, but I knew I was going to try again next year and I made it this year.

Rejection-Harry W

The story of Jack Andraka is quite amazing cosidering the amount of rejection he was put through and to not give up is incredible. I think we can learn a lesson from that, if you are passionate about your views don't give up on them. My biggest rejection would have to be when I didn't make a stream team but if anything it didn't put me off, it made me a better football player. I am going to keep trying to get into a team

Rejection George

I am in complete awe of Jack Andraka. To be that persistent is a goal everyone should aspire to for it would make the world a better place. Most people will have been rejected, be it in a sport trial (or in a romantic affair!) I know how it feels, and yes I think we should have more Jack Andrakas.

Rejected-Rob

I think he persisted really well even though he was rejected so many times. I think he should of persisted even though he was rejected so much. It helped his career really well. If he didn't persist his career would of be stuffed and that would be the end of that. I would rate his persist an 8 out of 10. He had really high cofidence which kept him going all the way. He had a okay sheer strength of will. If he had given up he would of had a really bad career. In fact he might not of had a career. I have no idea what my greatest rejection is at the moment. I think we deifinitely need more jacks. They would change the world so much and in this case I think change would be good.

Rejection JD

This story is amazing because he is only 15, has been rejected almost 200 times and still kept trying! Trying to compare his persistence to something is impossible, he gets a hundred out of ten on my score! I can't compare to his persistence, I've only been rejected for minor things, my biggest letdown was probably not making the second X1, I thought I had a chance.

I congratulate him for achieving that.

Rejection - Louis

Never give up - Something Thomas Edison said to an interviewer after inventing the lightbulb. If you thought Jack Andraka is amazing, think of this guy, taking over 10000 attempts before it worked. Im not going to be basing my post on Jack Andraka, instead, Thomas Edison.

He seemed outrageously persistent, so much so that he actually continued so many times after the light bulb constantly blew up in his face. Maybe not so confident, as a pose to Jack Andraka, who had to tell people about his invention. He had incredible willpower to continue after all that, just like Jack Andraka. If he were not to make the lightbulb, we wouldve been using candles for a much longer time, until someone else made it (which may not be anythong the same).

I've never really noticed myself getting rejected for things. I have been rejected many times, but none so vivid as to stop me from continuing. If I was Thomas Edison, I probably would've given up very early, around the 3rd-5th try. I have found it was hard to accept, getting annoyed that it happened. I never really fought back though, just accepting it. More people who dont give up is always a good thing, and if our world was full of people like that, we would be much better off.

Rejection - Callum H

Jack Andraka is an amazing kid, I looked him up on Wikipedia and it turns out his family was very interested in science as well. Jack's father, Steve Andraka, is a civil engineer. Their mother, Jane Andraka, is an anesthetist. She told the Sun "... we're not a super-athletic family. We don't go to much football or baseball." "Instead we have a million [science] magazines [and] sit around the table and talk about how people came up with their ideas and what we would do differently."

Jack's older brother, Luke, won $96,000 in prizes at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in 2010, with a project that examined how acid mine drainage affected the environment. In 2011, Luke won a MIT THINK Award (Technology for Humanity guided by Innovation, Networking, and Knowledge), which recognizes students whose science projects benefit their communities.  

I've never been rejected at least I don't think I have.

Rejection-Luke

Rejection is a natural part of us humans and is unfortunately,  a basic part of everyday life. Our WNBs are rejected for WNB of the Week and Highly Commendeds, our Independent Studies are rejected for 1st Prize, we are rejected for prizes at Prizegiving, etc etc. I myself have recently been rejected, one boy(who I shall not name and shame) 'rejected' my parody of Lord of the Flies where we are the kids. However,  have I continued to work on it. Yes, the counter to rejection is perseverance. Continue, and eventually you will succeed if you really want to, like how Mr Tait approved my Lord of the Flies parody.Persevere and the world is yours. That is why Jack Andraka is so special.

Rejection Hugh

One of my biggest rejections was not getting in to the 1st eleven in term 1. I was really annoyed at myself, although I had a really bad trial. I have tried and tried to come back and prove myself by performing in the 2nd eleven, but it has sadly just not happened :-( I think that getting up after rejection is really important and that you need to fight back!!!!!

Rejection Henry C

I think that it good if you keep trying and trying, then you will probably get there even if people keep reject you heaps of times you can still do it if you keep trying when other people give up. I also think that if you can see the big picture if what you want to achieve then you will go further than the people that don't.

Rejection - Ben

Rejection is defined as; the dissmising or refusing of a proposal, idea, etc. This is what Jack Andrakas had done to him 197 times. I know some similar events that have occured over the past like Dr Suess's first book that was rejected by publishers 21 times before being printed. In my life I haven't had any big rejections but I have had a lot of minor ones. One example is when last year I wasn't picked for the Wellington Reps when there were people picked that had just started playing.

Rejection - Mr T

How can someone get knocked back 197 times and not give up?   Now that you know a little about American 15 year-old Jack Andraka and his amazing breakthrough cancer technique, how do you rate his persistence? His confidence? His sheer strength of will?  What if he had given up?  I think a lot of adults (including myself) have a lot to learn from Jack.  He was able to bat away criticism that at best was ageist and at worst, dismissive because of lack of scientific credentials.  We have talked about many authors who have had manuscripts rejected by publishers (and some which have gone on to become successful and licences to print money).  What has been your greatest rejection?  What did you learn from it?  How do you process it?  Is it hard to accept?  How important is it to keep the big picture in mind?  Did you fight back?  How?  Do we need more Jack Andrakas?

Fahrenheit 451 Campbell

Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopia novel written in 1952.  It was written by Ray Bradbury and is about censorship.

The main character Guy Montag is a fireman who instead of putting out fires starts them.  At the start of the book he is happy with this job but once he meets a girl called Clarisse he starts to review this.  At the end  of the book he is on the run because he has openly opposed government and society.  When he is on the run he witnesses the biggest war of mankind which obliterates a whole city in a second.

This book is most probably written because at that time it was the height of communism and the cold war.  Many other books from that time are referring to communism and its flaws.

This was a very interesting book and I would like to watch the movie if I could.

Fahrenheit 451 review- Matthew

Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel set in a gloomy futuristic United States.  Written in 1953, the way Ray Bradbury introduces futuristic concepts with such accuracy deserves a lot of praise. In the novel everyone is weak-minded; they don't want to have to solve the troubles of the world. They imagine it is far easier to live a life of seclusion and illusion - a life where the television is reality. His writing probably caused a lot of controversy, especially in the height of the cold war; and his strong view on the future is believably on the right direction.

Bradbury uses a metamorphisis of Montag as the main character. At the start a communistic fireman who burns books, then an emotionally detached nobody, and after, a rebellious murderer escaping from the city. Ray's imagery pervades through the novel with nature as Clarisse, and a lot of personification and comparisons of mirrors, fire, water, phoenix, and salamanders. Beatty, the fireman captain is used as the main threat to Montag's plans as well as the mechanical hound. 

After Montag's final confontation with Beatty, we see him running for his life, evading the omnipresent menace of the mechanical hound and the city.

An incredible classic (I think a classic is a story whose story and meaning transcends time and place), just a shame there is no sequel.

Fahrenheit 451 Ben

Fahrenheit 451 is a book written by Ray Bradbury and was first published in 1954 by Rupert Hart-Davis Lmt. It is a book about upside down world where firefighters do not put out fires they burn books. The main character is a man named Guy Montag, he is a fireman and burns books.

The plot is a process of how Montag comes to realise that he is living in a broken world full of dangerous and powerful things and people. The next "main" character would probably the mechanical hound because it was a character that was always lurking behind the scenes waiting for it's chance to strike.

The main characters after that would be Professor Faber and Clarisse because they both helped Montag realise what type of world he was living in. Clarisse being the starter and Faber being the finisher.

Overall I have read better books but if you think back to when it was written, The Cold War was at it's peak. 

3 Stars

Fahrenheit 451 as reviewed by Campbell

The book that we have just finished reading in class is called Farenheit 451.  It is a distopia book but in the terms of the 1950s when it was written.  The book seems to be quite foreboding and is a book similar to many that were written around that time.  Of course that time was in the height of communism and the cold war.

In the book Guy Montag the main character is part of a croup that legally burn homes if they have books in them. these men are called firemen.  Montag is happy with this until he meets Clarisse and starts to question a the way of life.  Eventually he totally ignores the law and that leads him to get into a lot of trouble.

Something interesting to note was that at the time that Ray Bradbury would have been writing the book he would never have even heard of earphones and yet a depicts them and other things in is story so well.

All in all this was a book worth reading and I would definetly like to see the movie.

F451 George

This book was not as bad as everyone thinks. True, it doesn't have ninja assasins or people getting ripped apart by dogs like the books everyone seems to be reading (but the mechanical hound had potential to!) but I actually enjoyed this book I am, as Jesse puts it, someone who sits and thinks about things (is this normal?) and I liked how he and Faber plotted together. My favourite scene was when the bombs were falling and he built suspense. please enjoy a selection of bomb falling images that I'm including in the post. My gut feeling was good and this is probably one of the only good things to come from the cold war. Please comment on your thoughts.

Fahrenheit 451- ET

Looking back on Fahrenheit 451, I can honestly say I was roused by the amount of questioning and philosophical thought incorporated in this book. It took risks in its boundaries and was definitely written under very 'forced' circumstances. It certainly raises a few points, but is it good sound literature and believable enough to understand?

Ray Bradbury has certainly taken risks in this book. To write things that I'm not saying are offensive, but simply may cause upheaval in society. To think out the future and create many 'futuristic' items such as the mechanical hound and the sea shell radios. To come up with these things must have taken a good deal of thought.

The time of publication is another thing to be wary of. During the height of the cold war, many Americans would not like the sound of a book criticising their society. Therefore, Ray Bradbury had to be very careful what he wrote and said.

Fahrenheit 451 conveys many messages too. The most overlying one being the fact that us humans, in trying to win, can wipe each other out of existence. Some other examples of messages raised by Fahrenheit 451 are that books are special and should be kept safe, and that while we may think we are happy, that might be just an illusion. There are many others of course, but thoughts are just some examples.

All in all, I think Fahrenheit 451 is a very risk taking book, trying to convey many morals without seeming overly critical of the modern society (probably why it is set in the future). It is also written at an unfortunate time, when many people would view him as trying to tip the nations prosperity (another of Ray Bradbury's morals). So while some many see this book as not the best 'reading story', it was written under a confusing tangle of guidelines, and written to serve a purpose. It was not written to be an exiting tale of adventure, it was written to convey Ray Bradbury's thoughts and messages.

Fahrenheit 451 Reviewed (Theo)

Fahrenheit 451 is a book written by Ray Bradbury, published in 1953. Ray Bradbury was inspired to write this book because one night a policeman pulled up next to Ray(who was walking) in his car and misunderstood him and told him not do do it again. He started to write in a cellar under the Los Angeles University for 10 cents an hour and came out with a short story called 'The Fireman'. But he was told to keep expanding it and eventually he came out with Fahrenheit 451.

The theme of this book is a world in the future where people are not interested in much and only really watch TV, listen to their 'Seashell Radios' and drive really fast in their Jet Cars. Books are also banned and are burned by firemen, like Guy Montage who is starting to open up more to the world with the inspiration of Clarrice Maclellan. Other characters are also Mildred (Montag's Wife), Beatty (The Chief Fireman) and Faber (A friend of Montag who is interested in books).

The book was very visionary as it was written in 1953, For example the 'Seashell Radio's are now available today as earplugs.

Overall I think the book was very interesting and entertaining although some parts being hard to understand. I think we could learn that we might need to open up to the world because our society may be turning into Montag's society.

Fahrenheit 451 reviewed - Mr. Foamy (Callum)

Fahrenheit 451 is a modern day 'classic', published in 1953 by Ray Bradbury.
It has a Sci - Fi futuristic theme to it. In my opinion, it is not bad, but I think it could be more exciting.
The main character, Guy Montag, is a fireman who burns books in a futuristic city (probably in America). In this city, firemen burn books, and start fires, instead of putting them out. The people in this society are very 'in their own world' (eg. when a war starts, most of the citizens of this society don't even know about it. Common pleasures of these citizens are: driving very fast, watching excessive amounts of television on wall-size sets, and listening to the radio on 'radio sea - shells'.

Montag encounters a gentle seventeen-year-old girl named Clarisse McClellan, who opens his eyes to the emptiness of his life with her innocently penetrating questions and her unusual love of people and nature. Montag starts to doubt himself, and suddenly he finds his world turning upside down.

I did enjoy, however, how Bradbury predicted future inventions, and clothing. He did so well.

I recon we should get the movie out, as it would

F451-Nicholas

I think that Fahrenheit 451 was a good book but there were key parts that were quite complicated to understand I like the way Ray Bradbury predicted the future and he did a good job of it because we use earphones and other things that never existed when the book was written.  I think that the mechanical hound could be made into a joke quite easily as it sounds kind of funny. Think of the totalspan dog. I think is a good book but at some stages it gets a bit bland because of the old context. I would like to see the movie from seeing the pictures on the web it looks good.

F451 Review Callum H

I thought F451 was an outstanding piece of work but it wasn't really my cup of tea. Ray Bradbury must have an incredible imagination to think of all of the gadgets and gizmos that we take take for granted now. For example the Tv parlours, they might have had little cinemas in those days (1954) but not as big as say the Titan Xc theatre at reading cinemas. I thought the mechanical hound was very imaginative.

Going back to where I said the book wasn't my cup of tea it's just as simple as I didn't really like the story line and it sort of dragged on for a lot of the book until montag started thinking about the books and met Faber.

Fahrenheit 451 Reviewed - Jin

Ray Bradbury was born in Illinois in 1920. He has published over 500 short stories, novels, plays, scripts, and poems since his first story was published when he was just 20 years old.

Fahrenheit 451 was originally published by Rupert Hart-Davis Ltd in 1954 and has since been republished by five different publishers.

Ray Bradbury began this story as a short story, then two, then three, four, five different short stories. These five short stories then became fahrenheit 451 - the temperature that paper burns at. The book was set in a futuristic world ruled by communism and firefighters.

 The story evolves around the journey of a young firefighter by the name of Guy Montag, who works for the firemen, who are employed not to stop fires, but to start them. The firefighters see their role as completing a cencorship of books - their explanation for this being that books are imaginary and impossible worlds that people start to want to be in, there are more choices and different, happier people. Burning of books takes away these choices and stops people wanting to be different than what they are.

Apart from Montag, the main characters are, his wife Mildred, Clarice, Captain Beatie, Professor Faber, and the mechanical hound.

I found the story average. There were some very interesting parts - especially in the second and third sections of the book. I found the first section more boring but felt curious to see what would happen in the second and third. I would rate the story 7.5/10 and recommend it for ages 11+.

Fahrenheit 451 reviewed Harry C

The book Fahrenheit 451 was written in 1953 by a man called Ray Bradbury. It is a futuristic, sci-fi book. It started off as a short story called 'The Fireman' written in nine days on a pay by the hour type writer at his local library. Fahrenheit 451 was Bradburys most popular book.

The story line is a man called Guy Montag is part of the fire deparment in a futuristic american city.  These firemen are a wee bit different they start fires rather than put them out. There total aim is to destroy all the books. Montag goes through a faze were he wonders if the books have anything to offer. Fire cheif Beatty says that all firemen go through this faze. In the end Montag runs off to a group of people who still love books.

Overall this book was interesting at times, every now and them I got a wee bit lost. That may have something to do with it being published over fifty years ago though. In the end it was okay by my standards.

I would actually like to watch the movie. I think it would offer another view on the book.

Harry C

Fahrenheit 451 Review William (The Weather Man)

For me I was never in to the book. When/if we do a line where we stand across the classroom of what we thought of the book, I will certainly be right next to the window. This type of book is not my type at all. If I read this book way back in 1954 I may have had a different review. I understand that the book was written back in the 90s but I still do not like it at all.

Overall this book is ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. I would not reccomend this book.

Fahrenheit 451 Hugh

Overall, I think Fahrenheit 451 was a horrible book, it was confusing, hard to picture, I don't think it had a very good plot, it was not written very well and it wasn't very exciting/boring. It didn't hook me in at the start and after a while I gave up  trying really hard to listen, as it was boring and confusing. I would not want to watch the movie because I will properly not like it, because I really didn't enjoy the book.

Farenheit 451 Thomas

Farenheit 451 is a truly fascinating book because of its futuristic features . The book being published in 1954 has some very possible ideas. Although I got lost part of the way through it I feel I got a good sense of what was happening.

Main Characters

Montag- Montag is the focus throughout the book who is getting constantly chased down by the mechanical hound who is programmed to kill montag.

Beattie- This man was also trying to hunt down montag because he knew that Montag had a thing for hiding books. Beattie is the proggramer of the mechanical hound who was set out to kill Montag.

Mechanical Hound- This vicious creature started hunting down Montag right from the start of the book. After Montag avoided a number of close calls with this creature he finally injected a drug into Montag called Procaine near the end of the book.

Overall, this book is very different as there are lots of odd events. For example, firefighters have a role of burning books rather than putting out the fires. Once again a very futuristic book but quite hard to understand in some parts.

Fahrenheit 451 reveiw - Noah

Fahrenheit 451 was a book writen by Ray Bradbury in 1954. The book is about a bookless society  where the firemen burn books for a living. And a fireman called Montag who starts to realise that maybe they shouldn't burn books. Personally it was a bit boring in some places. 

fahrenheit 451 review Rob

This is a novel that is written by Ray Bradbury and published in 1953. The Characters are guy montag who is the main character. There is captain beatty who is the captain of the fire makers should I say. Fabre an old guy.The hound and so on. I really liked the book. It wasn't that easy to follow and so you really had to listen at the start which I did so it made it really easy to follow. I really like the theme behind the story about firemen making fire rather than fixing the fire.  I would really love to see the movie I think it would fill that last empty gap in my mind. And so that would make it seem much clearer. I think it was a great book for the class to read. I really liked the authors style of writing. I might try and find another one of ray bradbury's books. And he has made me want to read that book again and again.

Fahrenheit 451 review Henry C

I think that the book was good but it never hooked me in at the start and with me if the start is not good then I kind of don't get it even if I try to listen. I think that the movie would be helpful because you usually in movies they take out the boring bits but you still get what the story is about which I think would help my a bit on working out what is happening.

Fahrenheit 451 reviewed- Luke E

Personally, I didn't really like F451 and the language was rather confusing so I'm not that interested in watching the movie.  I can see how it could be seen as   a 'classic' for it does put good thoughts in your mind and some questions about our own society. Bradbury is definetly pessimist and  I agree with Mr T in that he doesn't believe in the goodness of the human race. Being made in 1953 means that there was the Cold War and the threat of  a Hot War, as well as the death of Stalin in 1953 being a possible influence. The book seemed rather inactive and depressing. As for the definition of  a classic, a classic is  a book that plants questions in your mind and  a book that is remembered generations after. Ultimately,  we as individuals decide what is  a 'classic' book.

F451 Review JD

I didn't really enjoy Fahrenhiet 451 because I couldn't get into it, it just passed by me. It had very futuristic feel for it, especially because it was written before ipods were invented (the closest thing to seashell radios). A classic is defined as an old book, which is well known and read often. My gut feeling is that the book was good, but I needed to read it myself, without gaps. I didn't enjoy it at all, but I would like to try the movie, maybe watch it in our wall to wall TV parlour!

Fahrenheit 451- Jesse R

Overall, I thought Fahrenheit 451 was a good book, but it was confusing at times and I thought our previous book, Phantom Tollbooth was much better. The base idea of the book was very good but I didn't like as much, the way it is written. It did have some interesting characters, and I think it is worthy of it its place as a sci-fi classic. I think it needs to have a certain to be defined as an actual 'classic'. There are good books nowadays which have the potential to become a classic, but for now, I think they are 'modern classics'.

I did not find the book funny, I found it quite serious. I think it teaches us the lesson of how important books are to our society. I would be interested in watching the movie, especially the scene where Montag burns Beatty.

I think this book may be a metaphor for how the Americans pictured living in a communist world. It may have been similar in Russia, getting thrown in jail for writing books about certain things, and people killing each other.

Fahrenheit 451 reviewed - Mr T

Having just finished F451 and, with it reasonably fresh in your mind, I would like to challenge you to write a book review, as I value your thoughts here. A few things to think about:  date of publication (therefore era of thinking which may have been different to our world outlook that we have today), the background to Ray Bradbury writing this novel (see afterword in school copy), the theme, characters, its place as a 'sci-fi classic' (what defines a classic?), the 'futuristic' feel (how visionary - I know we have talked about this before - Bradbury was), and just your 'red hat' thinking (your gut feel - did you enjoy it as a story? Was it funny? Was it unnerving?  Does it teach us any lessons? Oh and...should we get hold of a copy of the original movie?  Would you be interested in watching it?

Super-Powers Matthew

Having a super-power stirs a lot of thoughts in my mind, and between invisibility and flight, it's even harder. If I had the power of invisibility or flight I would have to consider a few things.

Invisibility - quite simply; how easy is it to learn
- how long does it last - and can you activate it any time

Flight - how easy is it to learn - can you fly long distances - does the amount of effort you put on your wings (if you have any) affect your speed.

Disregarding the article we read I can't really see how the power of invisibility couldn't corrupt or serve a good purpose (other than to furtively sneak into a terroist organisation, but even then they would have infrared photography in operation). So I would definitely choose flight. There's something about flight that captures so many people - soaring on air currents,  swooping down the countryside and gliding weightlessly through clouds. Super-powers are becoming more and more popular in our books, and I think it simply comes down to the fact that it's so natural to look up to a superior body (god in some cases) and the same goes with superpowers. We've already tried drugs several times, and what the future seems to hold for us is some sort of eternal robotic life, and if that fails we turn to super-powers. If we evolved wings somehow then we wouldn't technically be humans, instead we'd be a furry killer machine. We would have to evolve small brains and wouldn't work very well socially as we were built to hunt as a pack. Here's an interesting point to think about - would we have a really tall fly-through for fast food (just kidding)

There are so many animals that have "superpowers" that us humans dream of but they just go unnoticed. If I could choose any animal it'd probably be a hummingbird for its extreme speed and agility. But there's one animal that I think dwarfs all others when it comes to a super-power, and it may seem a weird thing to choose but recent studies from the Football FIFA world cup 2010 assert that they may, in fact, be god himself. An Octopus. That's right, an octopus. Capable of spraying ink, amputating their arms, the most intelligent invertebrate in the world, able to blend in with its surroundings, squeeze through any space larger than a 50 cent coin, move in perfect rhythm with under water currents, and walk on land with two legs.

Flight or Invisibility Callum H

I reckon I would choose flying because I always look at birds with envy and I would like to fly next to a jumbo jet. Also taking in the research and knowing me the urge to use invisibility as a evil weapon. But on the other hand invisibility would be awesome you could scare your friends and spy on people. It would also be very easy if you were an animal to hunt with invisibility. So for some people invisibility would be better than flight but for me I would love to believe I can fly.

Flight or Invisibility - Campbell

When we hear about superheroes in books we immediately think about a few main super powers, two of them are flight and invisibility.  With all superheroes we think that it is your moral  compass that determines what you will do with your super power, good or evil.  Although the article that we have just read in class suggests that good or evil is not determined by the person but their power.  I agree with that to an extent and admit that some powers leave more room for sneakiness than others but I still believe that ultimately the choice is ours.

Given the  choice of flight or invisibility I would probably choose flight.  Taking away the message of the article I would still choose this as in my opinion it is more fun to swoop over the land than turn invisible. If you are invisible no one would see your power and being invisible can create low moral standards.   When you are flying you are very visible so it is harder to commit a crime.  When it is hard to commit a crime most people will not do it, it is when you have a power like invisibility that you do commit crimes as it is tempting and very easy.  In conclusion I think that flight is a more fun and interesting super power.

As a human though we already have a sort of super power which is our brain power.  We are more intelligent than any other animal and to those animals it might be considered a superpower.  Although we do not have anything that we might consider a super power using our brains we can create alternatives, e.g. we may not be as fast as a cheetah but the cars that we create using our brains are.

Invisible vs Flight ET

This question may pose a hard question for many, but before I choose there are a few things to be considered:

1) In terms of morality, invisibility could give you opportunities to be good and kind, although in most way it would lure you into doing just the opposite.

 2) Flying would give you opportunities to be kind or 'hero-ish' yet unlike invisibility it wouldn't let you become to (to put it simply) evil.

 3) They would both take some getting used to.

 From these three facts, my decision would be that if I was to start, I would probably fly. Flying has always been viewed as the 'super human strength' that we as humans, have longed to master. Our fictional heros can fly, in our dreams we fly and we have always imagined what it must be like to glide and swop over the country far below. I think that for the purpose of being a so called 'hero', I would flight. Invisibility would not create much more of an illusion than that you were hidden. With real eye prove how could any body resist the reality, you are invisible.

Flying and Invisibility George

I would choose flight because there are several possibilities for how it would happen, magical levitation and shapeshifting being my favorites. Invisibility would not always corrupt at first but the temptation would be very great. If you have read/seen the LOTR trilogy and The Hobbit you will know what I mean.  For the WNB i'm going to be advertise a shapeshifting elf named Alencaras the raven who can turn into a raven and has Hawkeye style archery skills. I think ravens are sort of "animal supervillains" because they are used as spies for many fantasy villains (a sad assumption) and have a very macabre appearance that inspires dread in many people. 

This is what I mean about what a power may lead to. Gollum dies jumping into a vulcano to save "his precious" which is the reason he can have longer life and invisibility.

Changing into a raven would be my preffered way to fly as they are my favorite animals.

                                             This is my superhero I am advertising.

Flight or Invisibility - Louis

A hard desicision on whether I would chose flight over invisibility, as they both seem to be useful in their own ways:

Flight: Depending on what you can do, this would be better

• If you could fly as fast as you like
• If it was easy to do
• If you could fly for really long distances without getting exausted

Invisibility: If flying didn't have those capibilities, I would chose this

• If you were touched, it would ruin the fact that you can't be seen
• It would take a long time to ajust to
• Depends on the difficulty on doing it

Powers seem to be used very often in literature, as many books that I have read have some sort of power used by someone/something. In movies, it is even more widespread, when things dont have special technology (or some completely different movie about other things).

When it comes to human abilities, nothing is seen as supernatural, but if it was just a comparison to other things, the thing that would class us as supernatural would be how intelligent humans are.

As for animals, when compared to humans, there are many things that make them supernatural comapred to us, such as the sheer size of a whale, or the speed of a cheetah.

The power of invisibility wouldn't lead me to 'the dark side' instead a power of more magnitude, such as mind control or telekenisis, due to them having power over other things instead of yourself.

So overall my answer to which power I would chose wouldn't be either, instead being mind control >:D

Flight or Invisibility-Harry W

Flight or Invisibility? It is quite a hard decision. Invisibility is an awesome power but you would have to think about the outcomes. First, you would probably start off with doing small little things like robbing your local dairy or stealing something from someone when they aren't looking and then it would lead to bigger things unless you did something to stop yourself and stopping would be hard. While on the other hand  if you chose flying it is easier to be good then evil as you good fly around saving cats from trees or saving old people from burning buildings. I personally would choose flying because I don't think I could overcome the urge to do little acts of evil and flying would be awesome.

Flight or Invisibility? William

Flight or invisibility? What would you chose? This question is certainly very arguable. For me it is a very tough decision but invisibility comes out at top. I'm very aware that other people's decisions may be different except in this world, I think that invisibility would be the most helpful. Nobody has yet found anything similar to invisibility yet. Flight has already been invented; jetpacks, planes, helicopters, hang-gliders etc.

Flight or Invisibility Hugh

Personally I would go for the power of flight over the power of invisibility because if you could fly you could get places alot quicker and in an alot cooler fashion. Plus if everybody had invisibility it would get really confusing because people would disappear and then randomly reappear. Also you never when someone is around you! This would means people would possibly spy on you when you are having private time to yourself.

Flight or Invisibility!? (Theo)

Personally, I would like to have the ability to fly because you could go to any spot in the air and you could look down on the world and see a great view. I think the ability to think like we do is extraordinary and we have taken it for granted. And insects; They can hung upside down on roofs and crawl around on them.

Flight or Invisibility? HarryC

If I could could have either flight or invisibility I would probably choose to have flight as this power would be way more fun than invisibility. I would be able to fly around! The other thing is that this power would be better for a superhero as it would be more helpful than invisibility. If I was a villain invisibility would be greatly superiour. You could sneak into a jewel store and steal lots of stuff. Overall invisibility does tempte with all its riches. But I think I am going to go with flight as my superhero power because I could get out of bad situations. HarryC

Flight or invisibility - Marcus

Although invisibility would be a great superpower to have, one of the reasons you would want invisiblity is because you could get away with anything you want. Invisibility leads you down a path of mishief. Flight however, is not only a great superpower but has been the envy of human beings for years. However, in the eye of a superhero, flight is not a power that can help. Super-speed of some sort is necessary, but you can't fight crime with it. Super-strength is what you need. But, of the two choices of invisiblity or flight, I would choose flight.

Invisibility or Flight Thomas Watkins

In my opinion, invisibility would by far be the best option as it would decrease the chance of you dying (not sure how to spell it) as it would be hard to see you. When I was younger I always thought about being a superhero, but now I know it is just impossible. I am surprised at the use of superpowers in movies not just for kids.

Flight Or Invisibility-Luke E

I think I would like the power of invisibility myself but since that has more potential for darkness I'm not sure if I'd choose it. Anyway, I would also quite like to fly and that would be nice.  Think that if  I could have superpowers for a short amount of time(eg a week) then  I would choose invisibility has  I don't have much time to go evil and wreck havoc. One superpower we have already, compared to some creatures is our strength.

Flight or Invisibility? Jesse R

I would rather prefer the ability to fly than to be invisible. If people can turn invisible then that leads to all sorts of ethical questions involving people's privacy. But what does technically define a 'super power'? We humans have super powers which we don't acknowledge such as great sight and the highest intellect of all animals. I think a super-power is just something we don't have. For example if all humans can't see then being able to see would be classified as a super power.

Flight or Invisibility Ben R

If the future which replaces humans for robots doesn't work then the world will need another "solution". I think Super heroes are the next best thing after robots go wrong. Super
heroes are a risky idea because people can use them for the wrong reasons like sneaking into a bank with invisibility. I personally would like to have a super power that is different to the "normal" i.e. flying and telekinesis so that I would be unique.

It would take a long time to get to the stage where we can "implant" of "provide" super powers to people so in that time we can make a wise decision wether or not to let humans have super powers, or maybe by that time we will of found another life sustaining planet with who's citizens have super powers. But we won't know until then.

Flight or Invisibility Jin

Ignoring the consequences given in the article, I would definitely chose the power of invisibility. Even after reading the article and considering the consequences I would still chose the power of invincibility because I could still put it to good use.

Flight or Invisibility - Mr T

Welcome back to the second term boys.  Given that you have just read the article "Give a man a cape and he'll soon turn crusader" (and know that it wasn't written by Mr G), which would you choose: the ability to fly or the power of invisibility?  Before you answer that question, consider the outcome of the research (earthquake search, knocking pens off desk, even the eye poster).  How prevalent are superpowers in our literature?  Our movies? I have just watched Star Wars - Attack of the Clones with my son in the holidays and there is enough superpower in there to make me think about the good vs evil idea. What human trait would you consider to be 'super' but has perhaps been sidelined as being 'normal'?  What about other species from the animal kingdom?  Do they have 'superpowers'? How tempting would it be for a superpower such as invisibility to "...lead you down a dark path"? The culture of superpowers seems to permeate our society and really gets me thinking...what are your thoughts?

Flight or Invisibility JD

I think I would choose flight over invisibility, because with flight I would have fun flying and would make things easier while if I had invisibility I might try steal stuff or something, I wouldn't trust myself. Quite a few books and movies have superpowers in them. Animals have super smelling and can fly, see well and stuff like that but all animals are different, and  their bodies suit whether they are predetors or prey.

Flight or Invisibility - Callum (part one)

As most of you know, I would like the power of 'foaminess' (be able to manipulate foam), but if it was between flight and invisibility, I would choose flight, as flight would help me, but invisibility would more corrupt me and 'lead me down a darker path'.
But, overall, I'm just happy with how I am, just a regular guy.

Flight or Invisibility Henry C

If I could choose between flight or invisibility I would definitely choose flight over invisibility because if you could go invisible then you would go around robbing shops and annoying people because you wanted something, which would lead you to the dark side. But with flying you can't do that to people because they can see you and you can get stuff out off tall places to help people.

Flight or Invisibility? Rob D

I would much rather be invisible than able to fly but not by much. If I was stuck invisible forever I would much rather be able to fly. But I probably wouldn't like to have wings. I would much rather just be able to fly like superman. I think superpowers are quite prevalent but not to much. But in movies they are more prevalent than in books I think. We have the power to make fire that most people think is relatively normal. Animals have all sorts of powers. Some animals can see in the dark as well as we can see in the day. Some animals have a very strong sense of smell and so on. I think a power like invisibility has the temptation to lead down a very dark alley and I mean it.