As the TV programme "Big Brother" announces its end, let us remember the original "Big Brother" and his world in 1984

https://aeon.co/ideas/orwell-knew-we...sed-against-us

In Orwell's vision of a dystopian future, the State enforced TV usage. Now they queue up to subscribe to the latest Fox and Murdoch TV stations and use Facebook and Twitter non-stop !

I well remember the chilling effect the book had on me when I first read it several decades ago. It never occurred to me then, that our masters in the West would use the bloody thing as an office manual - a sort of "Totalitarianism For Dummies". Airstrip One, eh?

https://orwellsocietyblog.wordpress....dark-cold-day/

A new novel looks at Orwell's last days.

I've occasionally wondered why Eric Blair chose the name that he did choose. This below is what I've found just now. Do you think it's a true explanation, or just a guess?

When Eric Arthur Blair was getting ready to publish his first book, Down and Out in Paris and London, he decided to use a pen name so his family wouldn’t be embarrassed by his time in poverty. He chose the name George Orwell to reflect his love of English tradition and landscape. George is the patron saint of England and the River Orwell, a popular sailing spot, was a place he loved to visit.

That is the explanation I heard too. I will be crossing the River Styx soon. I will ask him and send you back a message.

Ahh. I was still looking up "the River Lethe", while you were editing. Styx I knew about, but not the other! All very esoteric...