p. 382 - 458 Summary: “The Portrait of a Lady” by Henry James

Mr. Osmond has a talk with his wife – Miss Isabel Osmond (Archer, before weeding). He is sure that Isabel does all her best not to marry Pancy on Lord Warburton. The husband believes that Isabel supports Pancy follower – Mr. Edward Rossier whom Mr. Osmond doesn’t let to communicate with his daughter. Mr. Osmond’s main evidence is that one day Isabel has refused to get married on Lord Warburton and for him it means that she wants to stay the Lord unaffected.

The husband and Madame Merle want Pancy to be a wife of the Lord. In his turn, Lord Warburton starts to visit the Osmonds every Thursday. Pancy is really interested in him, but not more. The Lord is a nice man to discuss anything. He is a globetrotter. Consequently he has lots to tell. Mr. Osmond thinks he is a good party for his daughter.

One day Isabel and Pancy go for a dance. There are a lot of upper-class ladies and gentlemen there. Among them there is Mr. Rossier who can’t dance with Pancy, as Mr. Osmond bans it for her. That’s why the young fellow has to stand in the doorway, looking how Pancy dances with others.

That evening Isabel is eager to discuss with her former follower, Lord Warburton, Pancy’s future with him. Miss Osmond cares, there is no reason to make Lord Warburton and Pancy’s weeding. Isabel is sure that Pancy doesn’t love the Lord and he himself doesn’t love her too. Besides, Mr. Edward Rossier is going to marry Osmond’s daughter, because of that, Lord Warburton has to escape. Before departure he wants to send a letter to Isabel’s husband, in which the Lord has it out with Pancy to get married.

But actually Mr. Osmond doesn’t receive the letter and it makes him nervous. But when he realizes that the Lord is brought out to England on business the father falls into a passion. He blames Isabel and, as a result. Their relation becomes ca\older and colder. By the way, Miss Isabel Osmond’s meetings with her cousin – Mr. Ralph Touchett, who can die in any minute, add fuel to the fire.

It’s a boom that all main heroes start to arrive. Miss Henrietta Stackpole becomes a friend of the Countess Gemini. They are going to visit Osmond’s house. Miss Stackpole comes from America with Mr. Caspar Goodwood. Isabel can only see him from the cab one day, but she doesn’t have a chance to talk with him.

p. 314 – 382 Summary: “The Portrait of a Lady” by Henry James

Mr. Ralph Touchett doesn’t want Isabel to get married. He believes that her fellow isn’t a good party to her. Though Mr. Gilbert Osmond isn’t a famous person and, by the way, his name isn’t renowned in the Italian society, Miss Isabel Archer accepts his proposal to Mrs. Osmond and a stepmother of Pancy, his daughter. On knowing that, Ralph leaves Rome to London to pack a luggage to have winter in hot countries, because of his sickness.

Isabel’s wedding isn’t colorful. There are a few guests on it. Except the bride and the bridegroom, the wedding is attended by the aunt – Mrs. Touchett, who is going to visit American after the ceremony, and her son – Ralph. Madame Merle apologizes that she can’t be there and sends a very nice letter wishing them a good life together. Isabel’s friend – Miss Henrietta Stackpole isn’t so polite as Madame Merle, because the American fried doesn’t share Miss Archer’s opinion concerning her future husband. Henrietta takes the same position as Ralph though usually she tries to make the other opinion that he. So Henrietta doesn’t come and goes to a trip with her old friend Mr.  Bantling to Spain. During it she manages to creat best her works which have approval in the ‘Interviewer’. There is a little guest at the wedding. She attracts Isabel. It’s Pancy. Also her aunt – The Countess Gemini is there.

Pancy grows up. She becomes a beautiful Italian lady. Many people are interested in her. Usually Osmonds make a treatment in the Palazzo Crescentino every Tuesday. There are lots of guests among them is Pancy’s philanderer – Mr. Edward Rossier. He is a young, brave and acutely infamous person. Though it doesn’t disturb him to make money for good living. He is ambitious but he doesn’t think that to marry Pancy will be difficult to do. Mr. Osmond doesn’t suppose Mr. Rossier to be a good man for creation a family. Pancy can’t go against a father’s will and asks to wait a little longer. She advices Edward to ask what to do Madame Merle.

That woman has reliable reputation in Osmond's house. She does all her best to cross Isabel’s and Gilbert’s roads. She becomes a tutor to Edward. He pursues all her steps. But he wants to be with Pancy imidiatly and his out of patience makes big mistakes. Mr. Osmond bans him to visit Palazzo Crescentino except Tuesdays, when others come. The father forbids Edward to speak with the daughter if he doesn’t want to lose her forever. It is a great trial for the young man. He tries to seek comprehension in Mrs. Osmond sight but Isabel can’t make decisions on Gilbert’s behaviour. And also Isabel is astonished because Lord Warburton and Ralph are in Rome, after four years.

Her cousin doesn’t follow his plans. He faces winter in England what makes his health worse. His friend, Lord Warburton, visits Ralph and helps him. He is the bodyguard of Ralph’s health. Ralph is nearly death when they are in a train but the idea of seeing Rome in a day makes him in mind. That is first mews which Lord Warburton tells Isabel. It makes her life happier. Though she loses a child six months before their arrival she isn’t in mournful any more. She is waiting for a moment to see Ralph.

His condition is not good at all. He even has to give up smoking. All days round he is lying on a sofa speaking with his English friend. It is an open secret for both of them that a purpose of their visit is to fight for Isabel’s heart.

 

At the same time, Mrs. Osmond and Madame Merle make a plan to marry Pancy on Lord Warburton. They can have a good party, lose Lord Warburton’s attention to Isabel and at the same time give up Mr. Rossier.

Review of the film "Rendition "

Rendition (2007)

Director: Gavin Hood

Genre: Thriller

Movie Type: Political Thriller

Themes: Terrorism, Crisis of Conscience

Lead actors: Jake Gyllenhaal, Reese Witherspoon, Alan Arkin, and Peter Sarsgaard

Release Year: 2007

Country: US

Run Time: 122 minutes

MPAA Rating: R

Plot:

The director of the Academy Award-winning 2006 crime drama Tsotsi returns to the helm with this tale of a Middle East CIA operative who begins to have doubts about his latest assignment after witnessing the interrogation of a suspected suicide bomber by secret police. When Egyptian-born chemical engineer Anwar El-Ibrahimi mysteriously vanished on a routine flight from South Africa to Washington, his wife, Isabella, embarks on a frantic international search for her missing husband. At the same time, a CIA analyst arrives at a clandestine detention facility outside of United States. As the interrogation of El-Ibrahimi gets under way, the CIA analyst is profoundly shaken by the unorthodox methods used by the man’s captors, and quickly begins to reevaluate his assignment.

Main characters:

Douglas Freeman – A CIA analyst

Isabella El-Ibrahimi – a pregnant wife of Anwar El-Ibrahimi

Senator Hawkins – a boss of Alan Smith

Alan Smith – a friend of Isabella and Anwar El-Ibrahimi who works for Senator Hawkins

Anwar El-Ibrahimi – an Egyptian-born chemical engineer

Abasi Fawal - a high-ranking police official

Khalid – a terrorist and a boyfriend of Fatima

Fatima – a daughter of Abasi Fawal

Corrine Whitman – a CIA hotshot and a boss of Douglas Freeman

Direction:

Personally I think the director of the film – Gavin Hood has chosen a specific way, I would say a very specific way, to tell the story. It’s not new for the cinematograph, but it’s a modern way to viewers to see films. I meant that the whole movie is based on flashbacks, which help us to determine what a certain hero of the film thought thinks and will think.

Actually I’ve never seen other movies, directed by the same person, that’s why I can’t compare them. But I’d like to say, that to my mind it’s a good serious film. You should be a brave director to make such a movie.

Writing:

I dare say it seems to me very inventive and unpredictable. I can’t imagine what will happen next second. It can be explained because of flashbacks. They usually appear in a moment when you don’t wait them.

The words of all characters look very credible to me, as each personage illustrates an idea, proved by his/ her words in which he/she believes.

But words also are nothing without emotions. You can control your tongue, but you have to be a professional secret agent to control your body-language. It’s seen especially from the behavior of the suspect – Anwar El-Ibrahimi.

Editing: Speaking about editing I have to say that the movie is choppy, with the help of flashbacks. Peaceful scenes are changed into scenes with explosion or with picture of inquisition.

The film was made no to amaze us of using of lightning and other ambient effect, but to attract our attention to a certain problem. But at the same time effects have a reasonably good level.

It’s an open secret that today most of movies have computer-generated graphics. So our film isn’t the exception of the rule. But, on the one hand, they don’t look realistic, though on the other hand, they fit in with the rest of the film. I must repeat once again that the scene with the explosion is to be in the film, but its quality is under the big question. In the Kino the accent is given to show emotions but not a beautiful picture.

Costume design: From my point of view the clothing choices fit the style of the movie. They fully show us the poor region Middle East. By the way there is an opposition between ordinary people, their clothes, homes and things and Abasi Fawal and his interior, as he is a wealthy person. They absolutely contribute to the overall tone, rather than digressing from it.

Set design: The setting of the film influences other elements too. For example in prison there is a since of horror, in streets of the Arab world – chaos and in the cabinets in the USA is the stretch atmosphere. In this case there are two parallel lines between societies. I like movies which are filmed in a real place, especially when the location is well-chosen.

Background music: it works with the scenes, making prognoses to the future. It’s not over-used or will be not a film but a musical. It is suspenseful as the genre of the movie is thriller. So in this film I like music very much. It works well with all over named aspects.

As for me, I like this movie. It impressed me greatly. I didn’t expect that the final scene of the film would me that one. It’s extraordinary. By the way there are lots of big problems, which are hidden in the film.

One of them is that if you are under torture you can say what they want to hear, even if you don’t do so.

The other one is that it can be when a person, a member of the big system, rolled by the government, goes against it, because of his believes.

All in all the film is great. I like it very much. It will be better to make more such films with such ideas, but they won’t be popular as they are against the ideology of the country. 

p. 265 – 314 Summary: “The Portrait of a Lady” by Henry James

Our big company: Isabel, Mr. Ralph Touchett with his mother – Mrs. Touchett go to Rome, the capitol of Italy, to enjoy the ancient town, its culture, custom, traditions and sights. Mr. Osmond is going to join Isabel gouing by the book, which has been written to him by Madame Merle.

 

Walking around Rome Isabel and Ralph meet Lord Warburgton, their old friend, who is a niegbour of Touchett’s family. Each of them are happy to see each other. Lord Warburton has vocations in Europe, visiting Paris and other Europen capitals and big cities. He still wants to make Isabel a wife of him, but he is as good as his word and Lord has to return back to England but before it he wants to enjoy Rome for two weeks.

Mr. Osmond comes to the capital and starts to spend all his time near Miss Archer. It makes jealous in Lord Warburton and he escapes Italy before two weeks go by.

Miss Stackpole and Bantling, who is her fellow whenether she goes. Henrietta has just arrived from her Europe trip. And she is to visit her office in America to give the materials which and to take a new task. Henrietta can imagine only one man near her friend Isabel – Mr. Goodwood. So she publicizes him that Isabel has a new fellow – Mr. Osmond. The American friend of us deciedes immidiatly to visit Rome to prove his ambisious and his love.

Miss Archer says to him that she is going to marry the other man – mr. Osmond. Whose daughter – pancy – attracts her very much, during her alone farewell visit to their home. Isabel is going to leave Italy not to be disturbed by Mr. Osmond, as she isn’t going to marry him, that’s why she comes to say good bye to this little angel. Miss Acrher hs a plan: she doesn’t like having any contacts with Mr. Goodwood, so she says ti him that she is going to get married Mr. Osmond, but it’s not actually the true. She doesn’t feel herself ready to be a wife.

When Mrs. Touchett comes to know about tyhis fact she disaprove that Isabel wants to be a wife of Mr. Osmond. The old lady supposes that he isn’t a good candidate because he has lack of money and his name isn’t famous in the society. Her aunt give her advice to do a double take after her cousen Raplph. Though Isable is eager to make Mr. Osmond happier and welthier. But it’s still a secret why she lies her aunt. In this case, miss Archer learns a lesson, given her by Madame Merle, who is an unpredicatble lady.

Rendering: week 8: Three Wars on Terror: Ronald Reagan and the battle for Obama's strategie soul

Ronald Reagan and the battle for Obama's strategiс soul

The article which was published in the "Foreign Policy" by John Arquilla is called "Ronald Reagan and the battle for Obama's strategiс soul", from the 10th of September, 2012. It reports at length that there are two different wars on terror. One of them was being led by Ronald Reagan, though the other is still has been waging by Barak Obama.

It's an open secret that after the October 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut that killed 242 Americans R. Reagan and his close advisers became deeply concerned about the terrorism problem.
Speaking of his policy against terrorism it's necessary to note that President Reagan signed National Security Decision Directive 138 - called for "Secret FBI and CIA paramilitary squads and use of existing Pentagon military units - such as Green Berets and Navy SEAL's - for conducting what amounted to guerrilla war against guerrillas...a de facto declaration of war."

It's very likely that signal success of this first war on terror came in a campaign against the Abu Nidal Organization - the al-Qaeda of the 80s - which was conducting terrorist hits for hire on behalf of Iraq, Libya and Syria. But it's very unlikely that the Pentagon preferred more conventional uses of forces - like the massive air raid on Libya in 1986 in retaliation for the bombing of a Berlin discotheque frequented by GI's.

Analyzing the situation in Barack Obama police it's necessary to emphasize that he is leading his campaign is with a skillful mix of subtlety and ferocity. There is a general feeling to believe that Qaddafi was taken down when Obama engineered and enabled a NATO air campaign that began by preventing a slighter of innocents in Benghazi.

Giving appraisal of the situation it's necessary to point out that Secretary of State George Shultz called a Saturday meeting of terrorism experts, led by Brian Jenkins of the RAND Corporation, and the tem brainstormed until a strategy emerged, one that called for something that strongly resembles the kind of campaign that Obama is now pursuing.

The article concludes by saying that in the battle for Reagan's Strategic soul, the conventional thinkers won out because they convinced hive that there was for too much of the "dark side" in the Shultz-inspired plan. In the battle for Barack Obama's strategiс soul, the "overwhelming force" approach hasn't yet carried the day - and with luck it won't.
Personally I think it maters how to fight against terrorism, so fighters have to choose such methods which don't disturb civilians.

  

Rendering: week 7: C. I. A. Officer Among Dead in Bombing by Afghan

Rendering: week 7: C. I. A. Officer Among Dead in Bombing by Afghan

The article, which was published by Michaul R. Gordon on the 16^th of October, 2012 in the New York Times, reports at length that an officer for the Central Intelligence Agency was killed on Saturday in a suicide bombing in southern Afghanistan.

Speaking of the blast it’s necessary to note that it killed Ghulam Rasool, the deputy intelligence director for Kandahar Province, another Afghan intelligence official, and some Americans, including the C. I. A. officer.

Analyzing the situation in Afghan it’s necessary to point out that the Americans didn’t appear to have been the principal targets but were “in the wrong place at the wrong time”, as the C. I. A. spokeswoman declared.

It’s very likely that it was the first this year attack during which a member of the NATO-led coalition died.

It’s also an open secret that the tradition at the C. I. A. is to put a star on the wall in the lobby at the agency’s headquarters to recognize fallen employs.

There is no mention about personal attitude of the journalism, but as for me I’d like to say that even if a one man dies it’s a big tragedy for a family. I hope that sooner wouldn’t be put a star on the wall in the lobby of the C. I. A.

Rendering: week 6: al-Qaeda bomb plot on New York: Suspect arrested over attempted attack on building near World Trade Center site

Rendering: week 6: al-Qaeda bomb plot on New York: Suspect arrested over attempted attack on building near World Trade Center site

The article, which was published on the 17^th of October, 2012 in The Daily Mirror, discusses the situation about a 21-year-old Bangladeshi man – Quari Mohammad Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis. He is a suspect who has been arrested over attempted attack on building near World Trade Center.

 Giving appraisal of the situation it’s necessary to point out that Nafis has considered several targets for his attack, including a high-ranking government official and the New Your Stock Exchange, but in the end decides to focus on the Federal Bank in lower Manhattan, according to the charges.

Analyzing the situation it’s necessary to emphasize that, after parking the van, he went to the Millennium Hotel near the World Trade Center, where he called the mobile phone in the van. It didn’t explode and he was arrested by federal agents.

Speaking of the situation, it’s necessary to note that Nafis had an accomplice – an undercover FBI agent – who he met on the internet and believed. It’s very unlikely that Nafis recorded a videotaped statement in which he said that they wouldn’t stop until they attained victory.

The reporter, Damien Fletcher, gives no details as to his own opinion. But personally I think, it’s good that there wasn’t bomb in the van that day, but in could exist the other day. So, form my point of view, FBI should keep an eye to the whole situation around terrorism of our world to protect us – civilians.