Thursday, August 27, 2020

Othello (2470 words) Essay Example For Students

Othello (2470 words) Essay Othelloâ€Å"If Othello didn’t start as a play about race, history has made it one.†The Venetian culture that Othello is set in is illustrative of the essayists setting. The perspectives and qualities that Shakespeare uncovers through the content are those equivalent mentalities and estimations of Elizabethan culture in England in the sixteenth-century. Despite the fact that Othello is set in Venice and Cyprus, the perspectives and qualities partook in the content are most likely intelligent of the mentalities and estimations of Shakespeares own general public. It is hard to evaluate the mentalities and estimations of individuals in sixteenth-century Britain to the generally barely any blacks living among them. We are given an understanding into those mentalities and qualities through the portrayal of race and sexual orientation in the content of Othello.These perspectives and qualities are characteristic of what a culture has confidence in and underpins. When Othello w as composed the English were turning out to be increasingly more mindful of the presence of different races on the planet other than themselves. There had been a great deal of voyaging and blacks were starting to be utilized in Europe for the slave exchange. During the time the play was composed, the Queen of England had restricted all blacks from entering the city. She discussed them as â€Å"Negars and Moors which are crawled into the domain, of which sort of individuals there are as of now here too many†. It appears that Shakespeare is practically deriding the Queen by describing Othello as a dark man who has a high positioning situation in the Army and who weds a white highborn ladies, without wanting to. Ruth Cowlig recommends that the introduction of Othello as the legend more likely than not been frightening for Elizabethan crowds. This may have been the situation, yet through the portrayal of Othello we can see that a few citizenry, for example, the Duke, investigated his shading to dole out him his position though, others, for example, Iago, look on his shading as an approach to ridicule him. Threatening vibe is appeared to Othello by characters, for example, Iago and Roderigo. This disposition may have been energized by the across the board confidence in the legend that blacks were relatives of Ham in the Genesis story, rebuffed for sexual overabundance by their darkness. The Elizabethans talked about finally whether this skin shading was because of life in a hot atmosphere or whether it was a discipline for wrongdoing. To the Elizabethans, who thought progressively, light complexion was the encapsulation of excellence and in this manner brown complexion positioned beneath it. The term dark was utilized in an assortment of writings to represent sin, foulness, grotesqueness, malicious, and the Devil. This worth is credited to Iago when he portrays Othello as the â€Å"black moor† indicating some different option from simply shading. Perspectives to race aren’t the main mentalities uncovered in the content however. Perspectives and qualities about sex are additionally uncovered in the depiction of ladies and their activities in the content. A prime case of this is when Desdemona runs off with Othello without her father’s authorization, which during that time would have been socially inadmissible. This is uncovered to us through Brabantio’s response as Shakespeare utilizes Brabantio as a vehicle for the portrayal of higher society’s sees on issues. Another worth uncovered in the content is that of marriage. In the Elizabethan time marriage was an otherworldly association as well as a property exchange; the lady of the hour brought an endowment from her dad and the groom’s father (or the husband to be in the event that he had just acquired his home) needed to settle arrives on her consequently, as a jointure. Along these lines, to wed without the ladies fathers consent could be vi ewed as a demonstration of robbery. This may clarify why Brabantio responded so emphatically to the association of Othello and Desdemona.These perspectives and qualities differentiate radically to those credited to society today. These days hued skin is a typical event and a character, for example, Othello would be socially acknowledged. Race is both more acknowledged and more mishandled than in Shakespeares time. With the women's activist development esteems given to ladies have additionally changed radically. This is on the grounds that ladies are currently considered less to be property and a greater amount of an equivalent. Marriage has likewise changed. In the sixteenth century young ladies would in general be offered fairly youthful in their adolescents and to have their spouses decided for them by their dads. Presently young ladies will in general get hitched in their late twenties and are allowed to pick their own accomplice. These perspectives and qualities that are uncovered in the content are done as such through the portrayal of race and sexual orientation. Race and sexual orientation are uncovered in the content by the employments of symbolism, characterisation, plot, expressive strategies, and language. Dear Bethany... EssayAct II scene I shows Iago’s most grounded sees on ladies. Iago makes speculations of ladies, when he says â€Å"you are pictures out of entryways, ringers in your parlors, wildcats in your kitchens; holy people in your wounds, villains being outraged; players in your housewifery, and hussies in your beds.† (II.i.109-112). He additionally presents a typical perspective on that period when he says â€Å"You ascend to play, and hit the hay to work†. (II.i.115) This presents the sixteenth-century perspective on ladies being held to be precarious, possibly or really unchaste, and ethically fragile. Their sexual wants were spoken to as unnatural hungers. They were likewise thought to be â€Å"unstable sexual animals, prone to sell out men† with â€Å"Appetites never satisfied† . The historical backdrop of the hanky additionally proposes the intensity of female sexuality over men: â€Å"That tissue Did an Egyptian to my mom give; She was a charmer, and could nearly peruse The musings of individuals: she advised her, while she kept it, Twould make her genial and repress my dad Entirely to her love.†(III. iv. 55-60) . Brabantio who speaks to higher society’s perspectives on ladies has a romanticized perspective on them. To him girls must be docile, and dutiful, by settling on her own choices in marriage, Desdemona speaks to selling out in his eyes. To the individuals of Elizabethan occasions it would presumably appear that Desdemona sabotages her situation in the public arena and changes sex governmental issues by wedding without her father’s assent. Emilia is an emotional complexity to Desdemona, and she is the main character who appears to offer an alternate perspective on ladies. She herself is a significant solid character as a lady as she is sensible, realistic, fit for mental fortitude, faithful and benevolent. In act IV scene iii she conveys a women's activist discourse that addresses society. â€Å"But I do think it is their spouses flaws if wives do fall†(IV.iii. 87) . She is a pragmatist and acknowledges people by observing their issues yet at the same time tolerating them. She additionally has a women's activist perspective on men â€Å"They are everything except stomachs and we as a whole yet food; They eat us hungerly, and when they are full they burp us† (III.iv. 108-110). How society felt about ladies is appeared by their effects on Othellos conduct and who he accepts about Desdemona’s treachery. Othello trusts Iago over Desdemona, who is his significant other. The ladies in this play dont appear to have especially power, yet in certainty they have significantly more force and control than the vast majority think. They hold the play together like paste to paper. On the off chance that Desdemona never had the ability to submit infidelity, at that point it could never have been thought of and Othello could never have fallen. Every one of the ladies in the play are manhandled by men and a survivor of the green looked at beast which doth mock the meat it takes care of on(III. iii. 168-169). Othello is an ideal case of where the ladies are made to appear to be sub-par compared to the men using elaborate procedures, plot, and utilization of language. Yet, for what reason is this so important?It is significant in light of the fact that ladies in Othello make up the foundation of the play. Without them there to estrange the men and produce extreme sentiments of affection, disdain and desire, the play couldn't and would not exist. The alleged mediocrity of ladies follows from the way that human social orders have been commanded by men. This may not be so obvious now, yet in Elizabethan occasions which is the â€Å"particular time and place† that the perspectives and qualities are uncovered from it was particularly evident. How these portrayals mirror the perspectives and estimations of Elizabethan culture is through how ladies are depicted in the content as I have examined before. In Elizabethan culture there was a legend of womens unquenchable lasciviousness and ladies were viewed as insatiable beasts. It was believed that female sexuality was a danger to the male centric culture, and should be securely contained. In the Encyclopedia of World Mythology it says â€Å"Women in male eyes, should be opposite and secretive animals, bewilderingly joining a wide range of qualities, as alterable as chameleons, but by one way or another vexingly in contact with reality through intuition.† Brabantio is a vehicle for society’s sees on sexual orientation and he shows how society at the hour of Othello would have thought of ladies. Taking everything into account, qualities and mentalities of a specific time and spot are uncovered in Othello through the portrayal of race and sexual orientation. How these perspectives and qualities are uncovered is through the manner in which they are depicted, the character development, the complex strategies, the language, the substance of discourse and the imagery. Shakespeare

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Battle of Petersburg in the Civil War

Clash of Petersburg in the Civil War The Battle of Petersburg was a piece of the American Civil War (1861-1865) and was battled between June 9, 1864 and April 2, 1865. In the wake of his annihilation at the Battle of Cold Harbor toward the beginning of June 1864, Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Award kept squeezing south towards the Confederate capital at Richmond. Leaving Cold Harbor on June 12, his men gained a sudden advantage over General Robert E. Remains Army of Northern Virginia and crossed the James River on an enormous boat connect. This move drove Lee to become worried that he may be constrained into an attack at Richmond. This was not Grants goal, as the Union head looked to catch the imperative city of Petersburg. Found south of Richmond, Petersburg was a key junction and railroad center point which provided the capital and Lees armed force. Its misfortune would make would Richmond shaky (Map). Armed forces Commanders Association Lieutenant General Ulysses S. GrantMajor General George G. Meade67,000 expanding to 125,000 men Confederate General Robert E. Leeapprox. 52,000 men Smith and Butler Move Mindful of Petersburgs significance, Major General Benjamin Butler, instructing Union powers at Bermuda Hundred, endeavored an assault on the city on June 9. Intersection the Appomattox River, his men attack the citys furthest guards known as the Dimmock Line. These assaults were stopped by Confederate powers under General P.G.T. Beauregard and Butler pulled back. On June 14, with the Army of the Potomac approaching Petersburg, Grant trained Butler to dispatch Major General William F. Baldy Smiths XVIII Corps to assault the city. Intersection the waterway, Smiths advance was deferred during that time on the fifteenth, however he at last moved to assault the Dimmock Line that night. Having 16,500 men, Smith had the option to overpower Brigadier General Henry Wises Confederates along the northeastern part of the Dimmock Line. Falling back, Wises men involved a more vulnerable line along Harrisons Creek. With late evening setting in, Smith stopped with goal of continuing his assault at first light. First Assaults That night, Beauregard, whose call for fortifications had been disregarded by Lee, stripped his barriers at Bermuda Hundred to strengthen Petersburg, expanding his powers there to around 14,000. Unconscious of this, Butler stayed inert as opposed to undermining Richmond. In spite of this, Beauregard remained gravely dwarfed as Grants segments started showing up on the field expanding Union solidarity to more than 50,000. Assaulting late in the day with the XVIII, II, and IX Corps, Grants men gradually pushed the Confederates back. Battling proceeded on seventeenth with the Confederates shielding persistently and forestalling a Union forward leap. As the battling seethed, Beauregards engineers started constructing another line of fortresses closer the city and Lee started walking to the battling. Assaults on June 18 increased some ground however were ended at the new line with overwhelming misfortunes. Incapable to propel, the officer of the Army of the Potomac, Major General George G. Meade, requested his soldiers to delve in inverse the Confederates. In four days of battling, Union misfortunes totaled 1,688 killed, 8,513 injured, 1,185 missing or caught, while the Confederates lost around 200 killed, 2,900 injured, 900 missing or caught Moving Against the Railroads Having been halted by the Confederate resistances, Grant started making arrangements for cutting off the three open railways driving into Petersburg. While one ran north to Richmond, the other two, the Weldon Petersburg and Southside, were available to assault. The nearest, the Weldon, ran south to North Carolina and gave an association with the open port of Wilmington. As an initial step, Grant arranged a huge mounted force assault to assault the two railways, while requesting the II and VI Corps to walk on the Weldon. Progressing with their men, Major Generals David Birney and Horatio Wright experienced Confederate soldiers on June 21. The following two days saw them face the Conflict of Jerusalem Plank Road which came about in more than 2,900 Union setbacks and around 572 Confederate. An uncertain commitment, it saw the Confederates hold ownership of the railroad, however Union powers broaden their attack lines. As Lees armed force was essentially littler, any need protract his lines correspondingly debilitated the entirety. Wilson-Kautz Raid As Union powers were flopping in their endeavors to hold onto the Weldon Railroad, a mounted force power drove by Brigadier Generals James H. Wilson and August Kautz hovered south of Petersburg to strike at the railways. Consuming stock and tearing around 60 miles of track, the looters took on conflicts at Staunton River Bridge, Sappony Church, and Reams Station. In the wake of this last battle, they got themselves unfit to forward leap to come back to the Union lines. Thus, the Wilson-Kautz looters had to consume their wagons and crush their firearms before escaping north. Coming back to the Union lines on July 1, the pillagers lost 1,445 men (approx. 25% of the order). A New Plan As Union powers worked against the railways, endeavors of an alternate sort were in progress to break the stop before Petersburg. Among the units in the Union channels was the 48th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry of Major General Ambrose Burnsides IX Corps. Made to a great extent out of previous coal diggers, the men of the 48th concocted an arrangement for getting through the Confederate lines. Seeing that the nearest Confederate stronghold, Elliotts Salient, was a minor 400 feet from their position, the men of the 48th accepted that a mine could be run from their lines under the foe earthworks. When complete, this mine could be stuffed with enough explosives to open a gap in the Confederate lines. The Battle of the Crater This thought was taken advantage of by their boss Lieutenant Colonel Henry Pleasants. A mining engineer in terms of professional career, Pleasants moved toward Burnside with the arrangement contending that the blast would shock the Confederates and would permit Union soldiers to surge in to take the city. Affirmed by Grant and Burnside, arranging pushed ahead and development of the mine started. Envisioning the assault to happen on July 30, Grant requested Major General Winfield S. Hancocks II Corps and two divisions of Major General Philip Sheridans Cavalry Corps north over the James to the Union situation at Deep Bottom. From this position, they were to progress against Richmond with the objective of drawing Confederate soldiers from Petersburg. In the event that this was not practicable, at that point Hancock was to stick the Confederates while Sheridan struck around the city. Assaulting on July 27 and 28, Hancock and Sheridan battled an uncertain activity yet one which prevailing with regards to pulling Confederate soldiers from Petersburg. Having accomplished his target, Grant suspended procedure on the night of July 28. At 4:45 AM on July 30, the charge in the mine was exploded slaughtering in any event 278 Confederate fighters and making a pit 170 feet in length, 60-80 feet wide, and 30 feet down. Propelling, the Union assault before long impeded as a minute ago changes to the arrangement and a fast Confederate reaction destined it to disappointment. By 1:00 PM the battling in the zone finished and Union powers endured 3,793 murdered, injured, and caught, while the Confederates caused around 1,500. As far as it matters for him in the assaults disappointment, Burnside was sacked by Grant and order of IX Corps went to Major General John G. Parke. The Fighting Continues While the different sides were battling in the region of Petersburg, Confederate powers under Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early were effectively battling in the Shenandoah Valley. Progressing from the valley, he won the Battle of Monocacy on July 9 and menaced Washington on July 11-12. Withdrawing, he consumed Chambersburg, PA on July 30. Earlys activities constrained Grant to send VI Corps to Washington to support its resistances. Worried that Grant may move to squash Early, Lee moved two divisions to Culpeper, VA where they would be in position to help either front. Erroneously accepting that this development had incredibly debilitated the Richmond barriers, Grant requested II and X Corps to assault again at Deep Bottom on August 14. In six days of battling, little was accomplished other than compelling Lee to additionally reinforce the Richmond protections. To end the danger presented by Early, Sheridan was dispatched to the valley to head up Union tasks. Shutting the Weldon Railroad While the battling was seething at Deep Bottom, Grant requested Major General Gouverneur K. Warrens V Corps to progress against the Weldon Railroad. Moving out on August 18, they arrived at the railroad at Globe Tavern around 9:00 AM. Assaulted by Confederate powers, Warrens men battled a to and fro fight for three days. At the point when it finished, Warren had prevailing with regards to holding a position straddling the railroad and had connected his strongholds with the primary Union line close to the Jerusalem Plank Road. The Union triumph constrained Lees men to offload supplies from the railroad at Stony Creek and carry them to Petersburg by wagon by means of the Boydton Plank Road. Wishing to forever harm the Weldon Railroad, Grant requested Hancocks tired II Corps to Reams Station to devastate the tracks. Showing up on August 22 and 23, they viably devastated the railroad to inside two miles of Reams Station. Considering the To be nearness as a danger to his line of retreat, Lee arranged Major General A.P. Slope south to crush Hancock. Assaulting on August 25, Hills men prevailing with regards to driving Hancock to withdraw after an extended battle. Through a strategic opposite, Grant was satisfied with the activity as the railroad had been put down and out leaving the Southside as the main track running into Petersburg. (Guide). Battling in the Fall On September 16, while Grant was missing gathering with Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley, Major General Wade Hampton drove th

Friday, August 21, 2020

25 Excuses for Not Writing (And Why Theyre Not Valid)

25 Excuses for Not Writing (And Why Theyre Not Valid) Writers (and those who want to be writers) have tons of excuses for not writing. Im not sure theres any other occupation with quite so many excuses for not working as writing. Everyone from school kids who have to write a term paper to novelists and freelance writers have piles of excuses for not doing the work. Worse, many writers and would-be-writers have convinced themselves that these excuses are valid. While some of them may be valid on a limited basis (if youre sick, injured, or in the middle of some kind of true crisis, for example, you may really not be able to write), most of them are just ways we try to justify our fears, insecurities, or laziness. Theyre nothing but excuses, not legitimate reasons for skipping work. To help you sort out valid from invalid excuses, here are some of the most common excuses writers give for not working and why most of them are garbage. I dont have time Everybodys busy. We all have errands to run, jobs to do, family to take care of, volunteer assignments, and appointments to keep. If everyone was too busy to write, wed never have another book published. If writing is something you want to do, you have to make it a priority. Drop whatever obligations you can get out of, delegate stuff to other people, and let the dishes sit in the sink for a little longer. My family will hate me This excuse comes up on two fronts. The first is that your family will hate you if you use real-life experiences in your work. They wont like seeing themselves in print. And they probably wont. But you can change names and alter events to protect the innocent. If they still get mad, well, you can hope that your royalty checks are enough to shut them up. The second fear is that your family will hate you if you start making writing a priority in your life. They may not get as much time as theyre used to and they might (gasp) have to start doing some more things for themselves. Thats not a bad thing. You can work out compromises as you go along to make sure they dont feel left out. Im too old to start You cant get published if youre over forty. Publishers only want hot young authors who are TV worthy. Or, They wont take a chance on an old guy who wont live to give them thirty books. Sometimes this is (sadly) true. But its even more true that publishers are businesses that want excellent products to sell. If youve got a great story well told or an original non-fiction book, theyll want it, even if youve got one foot in the grave and its the only book youre likely to ever write. Im too young to start Yes, sometimes young authors lack experience and training and that comes through in their work, leading to rejections. But the younger you are when you start the learning process, the longer and more successful your career can be. No one will take me seriously They may not. Your work may be ridiculed and pushed aside. Or it may not. You wont know unless you try. And unless your goal is to be a great literary author or the author of a serious non-fiction book, being taken seriously doesnt matter all that much, anyway. Ive got writers block There is no such thing as writers block. If you cant think of a single thing to put on the page, youve got a very big problem and it probably means youve gone blind, deaf, and mute as well. With everything that goes on around you every day and all that has happened in your life, you should always be able to find something to write about. Whether what you write is good or not is a separate problem, but its not writers block. Itll never be published Maybe not, but is publication the only reason you want to write? Do you want to write because you enjoy it, because you like to tell stories, or because you like to learn new things? If so, so what if you dont get published? Writing is often its own reward and publication is just icing on the cake. I have no talent You may not. Lots of people dont. But anyone can learn to write better. Spend some time in classes and working with a good writers group or mentor. You can get better. It may not be so much a lack of talent as you just dont know the mechanics very well. At least try to improve before you write yourself off as a no-talent hack. Im saving it for when I retire/have more free time/the kids are gone Sure. And something else will always insert itself into that, free time. Besides, what if you drop dead before you can retire, or what if the kids never leave? You have to write now, not put it off to some point in the future that may never come. I dont have any good ideas Ideas are all over the place, you just have to learn how to recognize them and then turn that tiny fragment of an idea into a story or article. Everything that you read, watch, see, hear, or smell has the potential to be a good idea. There are too many interruptions You can move your work area to someplace less distracting like the library. Turn off the phone and refuse to answer the door. Buy some noise-canceling headphones. Turn off your internet connection and email notifications. If the kids wont leave you alone, drop them off at the movies for a couple of hours. Dump them on your spouse for the afternoon and go to the library. Distractions can be managed if youre motivated. I need an MFA before I can write Yes, you might need some more training before your work is publishable. Chances are, though, that you can learn what you need through an extension course or by working with a writers group and by practicing on your own. An MFA is nice, but very few people need one at all, much less need to complete one before they can write at all. After all, if you cant write without it, how are you going to get into the program in the first place? The last thing I wrote was rejected Every writer is rejected. Most of them get rejected a lot. Even writers that are now legends like J.K. Rowling were rejected. Its not always a matter of your work being bad. Sometimes its just that the particular publisher didnt need what youre selling, or that they already have something similar on their list. You have to keep writing and submitting. Theres not a market for what I want to write True, it can be harder to get work published that doesnt fit into an established genre. But someone has to be the first to start a new trend. It could be you. Im too tired and stressed Then get your life under control. Go to bed earlier. Try writing in the morning while youre still fresh. Drop some obligations to reduce your stress. Figure out whats stressing you and then work to eliminate or control it. Exercise to burn off some anger and increase your energy levels. Eat right to keep your overall health in balance. Everyone is tired and stressed but you have to learn how to get things under control so that you can be productive. People will laugh at me They might. Generally, though, most people are too absorbed in themselves to care about what youre doing. And no publisher or agent is going to call you up and laugh at your submission to your face. Theyre too busy to bother laughing at you. Youll just get a polite rejection with no laughter. The whole thing is just too hard If its just too hard to write and go through the process of submitting and revising your work, youre in the wrong line of work. Writing is a job and, like any job, its not easy. If it were easy, wed all be getting six-figure royalty checks. Ill never finish, so why start? This speaks to a problem with completion. Do you finish other things you start? If so, then writing just isnt important enough to you to finish. Think about whether its something you want to do. If you never finish anything, then youve got a bigger problem you have to solve before you can write or do anything else successfully. Regardless, starting is worthwhile because you might discover that this is the one thing you do finish. Id rather be doing something else Then go do it. Writing is either important enough to you that you will forego other activities, or its not. If you dont want to do it, dont. If you want to write, youll put your butt in the chair and do the work. Otherwise youll go to the movies and let other peoples work populate the bookshelves. I dont know how to get published A lot of people dont, but they learn. There are plenty of books and magazines to help you and in the age of the Internet, the answer to any question is one Google away. There are also extension classes dedicated to the publishing process. Write the story or book first, then worry about what comes next. I have nothing new to say If everything on the market had to be 100% original, we could all stop writing right now. There is very little that hasnt already been covered. What matters is how you present your material. Is your voice unique? Do you have a slightly different angle on an old problem? Can you improve on something someone has already done? Im not an expert on anything You dont have to be. You can learn what you need to know as you go along. Sure, publishers like people who are well established in their fields, but you have a chance even if youre not that guy. If you are professional and have something original to say, you can find work. And you can make yourself an expert. Start writing for smaller publications and work your way up. By the time you get to the upper echelon of publications, youll be an expert. Im not web savvy It helps if you know how to set up a blog or website, and if you can promote yourself on Facebook and Twitter. But you can either learn these things as you go along, or hire someone to handle them for you. There are plenty of writers who pay someone to maintain their websites or presence on social media. There are also plenty of writers whove gone to classes to learn about these things. I cant handle failure (or success) And if you never write, you wont have to, now will you? Thats the allure of this excuse. But if you cant handle failure or success in your writing, how can you handle anything that happens to you? Do you freak out if you get promoted at work? Probably not. Are you reduced to despondency if your dinner party doesnt turn out the way you hoped? Probably not. The good news is that failure or success in writing is rarely life-threatening. So your story doesnt get published? You had a good time writing it, didnt you? And you probably werent counting on the money just yet. So try again. And if you succeed, the odds are very low that youll succeed to the point that the paparazzi are camping outside your door and the phone is ringing day and night with people wanting interviews. I work full-time and have to take care of the house/kids/pets, too Again, you need to prioritize your time. Can you write on your lunch hour? Are the kids old enough that they can be dropped at a friends house for a couple of hours? Can they carpool with someone else in their activities once a week so you dont have to drive them? And if you do drive them, can you take your laptop and write while you wait? Do you have a spouse that can pick up some of the work? Can you hire a housekeeper who comes in once a month to deal with the worst of the housework? You have to have time for the things that are important to you, whether its writing or something else. Otherwise youll go bonkers. Figure out how to carve that time out of your schedule. If you find yourself offering up excuse after excuse, it might be time to reevaluate your career choice. You probably shouldnt be a writer. If you really want to write, however, you have to realize that these excuses are just that. Excuses. And theyre probably hiding something else like fear, insecurity, or even something like depression. It may be that you really dont want to be a writer. If you deal with the root problem, your excuses will likely go away. (Image courtesy of Achim Hepp)

Monday, May 25, 2020

The Costs and Benefits of Foreign Direct Investment as It Pertains Specifically to the Host Country Free Essay Example, 1750 words

The problem with import tariffs associated with foreign direct investment can be illustrated by a scenario within the United States. In 2002, the US government imposed tariffs on imported steel between 15 and 30 percent as a means to avoid steel products from flooding the US market from foreign producers (Blecker 2002). The imposition of these taxations was to drive more export-led growth in the steel industry. The tariffs were in response to a depreciating dollar. However, this had a trickle-down effect in the long-run. A depreciated dollar makes it more costly for tourists to travel overseas and also imposes higher inflation in the country. By adding tariffs to imported steel, it did not change the tangible demand levels for steel in other countries, thus foreign exporters simply moved their product to new markets to avoid the higher surcharges. Ultimately, the imposition of import tariffs on foreign merchandise impacted the tourist industry revenues and the short-term potential f or export-led growth that led to a trade imbalance between exports and imports that still continues today. When a foreign currency appreciates due to economic conditions or monetary policy, foreign firms have a difficult time selling their products in the foreign market (Carbaugh). We will write a custom essay sample on The Costs and Benefits of Foreign Direct Investment as It Pertains Specifically to the Host Country or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Thus, imposing tariffs on exporting goods or foreign imports to foreign investor have long-run consequences economically and can impact multiple industries in terms of revenue production. If foreign goods are being distributed by the foreign investor into the host country with tariff impositions, it alters the demand factors of domestic consumers that can impact political revenues as well as domestic firm strength and competitiveness. Export tariffs as a strategy to gain additional income from the foreign investor can also impact the pricing strategies of domestic firms, thus removing their competitive pricing advantages in the long-term. Thus, one of the controversies is whether or not foreign direct investment can have long-run consequences regardless of the type of revenue-building strategy imposed by the host country government.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Gender Secrecy Sex And Gender - 1244 Words

Aalap Pandya Valorie Ebert ENC1102-8:00 am 4 September, 2014 Poisson First Draft Gender Secrecy Sex and gender are commonly misconstrued to mean the same thing. Which causes stereotypes and expectations to be created on the idea that they are one. The stereotypes and expectations are as follows; boys should be dirty and aggressive who love action figures and the color blue, who have to grow up and have high status roles in society so they can be successful. Girls, on the other hand, should be delicate, who love makeup, dolls, and the color pink and then they have to become mothers or have a caretaking job like nursing. Gender stereotypes This is not the case because sex is biological and gender is how an individual identifies themself. Therefore, the stereotypes and expectations cause consequences in society. The article written by Jayme Poisson, called â€Å"Parents Keep Child’s Gender Secret,† is about one family who is trying to avoid placing gender stereotypes on their children. The couple, Kathy Witterick and David Stocker, are raising two boys, Jazz and Kio , who have the freedom to be who they want along with a baby, Storm, who is going to remain ‘gender-free’ until he/she decides what he/she wants. They want to avoid the the consequences that come with the stereotypes and expectations. The consequences are limitations which prevent uniqueness, high expectations which add unwanted pressure, childhood upbringing which passes down the stereotypes and expectations to theShow MoreRelatedThe Black And Burgundy Made Me Essay1392 Words   |  6 Pageslabel on myself. Many individuals questioned my sexuality and gender. It was like my masculinity was endangered by the colors of my nails and I was no longer considered a man anymore. â€Å"Why do you paint your nails?† â€Å"Are you gay?† â€Å"Is it a new trend?† â€Å"Wait, what is that on your nails?†, I was a threat to what society defines as a man, therefore people were desperate to define the purpose of my painted nails. The interference of sex a nd gender norms causes disruption to social order and people seem toRead MoreThe Role Of Cultural Expectations On Sexual Orientation And Gender Identification924 Words   |  4 Pagesprejudices, are underlined. A transgender individual is one that identifies with a gender that is not associated with their biological sex. An intersexual individual, however, is one that is born with indefinite sexual anatomical characteristics, making it difficult to identify as a male or female (Croteau Hoynes, 2013). In addition, this documentary emphasizes the impact of cultural expectations on sexual orientation and gender identification. The theme of prejudice and fear experienced by transgenderRead MoreEssay on Gender Wage Gap in the U.S1385 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ THE GENDER WAGE GAP IN THE UNITED STATES Name: Alejandra Aguilera Date: Teacher’s Name: Subject: Language B Word count: 1186 THE GENDER WAGE GAP IN THE UNITED STATES Introduction Today’s society continues to argue about the subject of social inequalities even in cosmopolitan and first world countries like United States. Gender inequality is a subject that have been forgotten eventually since the women civil rights movement developed and they startedRead MoreMultiple Norms Of The Reproductive Systems Essay1312 Words   |  6 Pagesthe forefront of both problems and solutions as conditions can sometimes be kept in secrecy (Diamond and Beh, 2008). It is then the aim of this paper to define intersex and those impacted by these conditions. Intersex individuals are marginalized people who struggle for acceptance, want to establish their gender identity and strive for social equality. The difficulty of being intersex begins at infancy. Doubtful sex cannot be conclusively diagnosed at birth. No straightforward remedy can be learnedRead MoreDevelopmente of Sexuality and Gender Identity642 Words   |  3 PagesMost children and youth find that the development of sexuality and gender identity is an extremely challenging process. For intersex youth, this issue is even more complex. On top of the emotional, psychological, social and physical challenges of puberty, intersex children are often at the mercy of their physicians to provide thorough, honest information and to guide their decisions. Traditionally, doctors have treated intersex children with a â€Å"concealment-centered† approach—one that devaluesRead MoreGender And Sexual Attitudes And Behavior1520 Words   |  7 Pagesculture it is certain there are gender dissimilarities in the topic of sexuality. Over time scholarly work has proved an abundant amount of different components correlating t o the difference in sexuality resulting in the distinctions of sexual behaviors as well as attitudes among males and females. Difference in sexual attitudes and behavior can be seen between genders across various studies. This research study indicates the differences in sexuality according to gender. It is known that most malesRead MoreGender And The Practice Of Sexual Behavior1183 Words   |  5 Pagesdouble-standard between both genders and the practice of sexual behavior. The practice of sex was to be hidden from public opinion and the idea that sex has to be done in secrecy has carried over through centuries (Markey Markey 2007). For women, they are to embody all things ladylike which includes the practice of abstaining until marriage. For males, it is encouraged to explore their masculinity and not to apologize for their exploration. As society expands in the knowledge about sex through the growthRead MoreThe Advancement For Equality Of Women974 Words   |  4 PagesOrg anizational Pattern: Categorical I. Intro A. Attention Getter: With a show of hands how many of you all think feminists believe that men are evil and that females are the superior gender? B. Thesis Statement: The actual meaning of feminism is not that women are above men, it is instead the importance of anti-sexism, and anti-gender discrimination. C. Credibility: I am a credible source for this topic through all of the research I have found. D. WIIFM: By understanding the true ideas of feminism, you willRead Moreâ€Å"The Changing Reality of the American Family- Same Sex Parenting â€Å" An estimated two million1000 Words   |  4 PagesAmerican Family- Same Sex Parenting â€Å" An estimated two million children are being raised in a single or same sex parent in the United States. The exact number of children raised in this type home cannot be determined due to the secrecy resulting from the stigma associated with homosexuality (Perrin, Siegel 3). Families of same sex parents often resemble step families formed after heterosexual couples divorce. Due to social acceptance of diversity in sexual orientation (Perrin 2), same sex parenting is foreverRead MoreEssay on Intervening Surgical Intervention1537 Words   |  7 Pagesimplications of early surgical intervention on intersexuals. According to the article, the surgery robs individuals of their sexual gratification, their gender identity, and their innocence. Its argument is noble, yet flawed. Authors Christine Gorman and Wendy Cole spin several sad yarns of intersexed people who are upset with handling of their gender assignment. They tell horror stories of people kept in the dark about their intersex, abo ut a child forced to stop acting like a boy and become a girl

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Was The Second War For Independence - 918 Words

Events leading to War: To so many people the War of 1812 is considered the â€Å"second war for independence . The war takes place between the years of 1803 and ends in 1812. Americas involvement in the war began by British sailors tormenting and enlisting American sailors to sail and fight for the British. â€Å"Most of Americas seven million people lived in coastal states, and for more than a century, seafaring had been both livelihood and lifeline in North America. This way of life was threatened when the British, exercising their advantage, established a blockade along the eastern seaboard, strangling American shipping and commerce.† Britain was already at war with the Napoleon lead French forces, America was profiting greatly by trading with each power, it was when the French and British began braking the maritime laws on the open ocean that citizens of the United States entered the war. Detroit in the 17th and 18th century: Ships had been built by both American and British forces after the American Revolution ended, â€Å"But it was not until the War of 1812 did both sides realized just how important sailing ships could be.† The Great Lakes would become a focal point of the war; they will provide both sides a way to transport trade goods as well as men. The lakes most vital aspect was providing access to the western frontier. Along the waterways to the west were forts, as well as islands within the lakes, these locations would become some of the wars most important battlesShow MoreRelatedWas The Second War For Independence?1199 Words   |  5 PagesDuring the last few years of Thomas Jefferson’s presidency, he was surrounded by conflict. Britain and France had been at war for several years. During the battle of Trafalgar, in 1803, Britain destroyed what was left of the French navy. Napoleon took steps to attack British trade. â€Å"The result was called the Continental System, designed to close the European continent to British trade† (Brinkley, 171). Britain had established a blockade requiring cargo being delivered to Napoleon’s Europe be aboardRead MoreThe Sipahis : Between The Independence And Loyalty994 Words   |  4 PagesChapter 2 The ‘Sipahis’: Between the Independence and Loyalty By the end of 1942, India was witnessing a political drift in the struggle for Independence. The chapter tries to relate the political unrest in India and the problems it brought for the Indian Army who at that time was contributing their men and officers in the Second World War for Britain. The Fall of Singapore again posed the question of loyalty amongst the Indian ‘Sipahis’ who were either captured by the Japanese Army or retreatedRead MoreThe Effects Of World War II On The United Nations863 Words   |  4 PagesThe Second World War has many global effects that some can be seen until now. This war started after the invasion of Poland by Hitler in 1939 and lasted for 6 years. This paper argues that World War II resulted in the creation of the United Nations, the Cold War, decolonization of Europe, famine crises and baby boom. The first effect of the Second World War is that it led to the formation of the United Nations. The United Nations was established to replace the League of Nations which failed to maintainRead MoreThe Fall Of The Second British Empire1702 Words   |  7 PagesThe Second British Empire was once so large it was said that â€Å"The sun never sets on the British Empire†. The Second British Empire refers to British rule after 1783. Following World War I, the Empire was at its most powerful; the territories it held were almost one fourth of the earth’s surface, which consisted of 25 percent of the world’s population; approximately 448 million people (Dolan 1-2). However, following World War II to the late 20th century, the empire’s holdings had been severely dismantledRead MoreThe American Revolution And The War Of Independence999 Words   |  4 PagesRevolution, also known as the U.S. War of Independence, goes back to 1765-1783. One of the major effects of th e American Revolution was that the colonies became recognized as independent. It was now separated from Great Britain. France joined in and became our allies and helped the colonies in 1778. Since France joined the war, they turned a civil war into an international war. There were a lot of causes that led up to the beginning and the end of the war. There was a lot of causes that led up to theRead MoreThe War Of 1812 And The United States1427 Words   |  6 Pages The War of 1812 is the second war between the United States of America and Great Britain that ends in a draw. Also referred to as the â€Å"Second War of Independence,† the cause of this military conflict is often believed to be a direct result of England’s attempt to humiliate the United States, limit the country’s growth and impact (acts of interference towards American trade, which is a sign of disrespect towards American independence), and acts of impressment (taking sailors off American vesselsRead MoreThe Civil War Essay1067 Words   |  5 Pagesrevolution is the War of Independence though which America has won the national independence. And the second is the Civil War. It is the latter that has really cleared the path for the rapid growth of capitalism and has made America a most powerful country in the world. It can be seen from this that the Civil War is an important chapter in the American history book. Its necessary to recall the past. Prewar: The Civil War broke out in 1861 and ended in 1865. During this four years the war cost AmericaRead MoreEssay about The War of 1812583 Words   |  3 PagesThe War of 1812 â€Å"In view of the wants and needs of an infant United States (1783-1812), the War of 1812 was extremely successful in its results.† The War of 1812 is significant to United States history in a number of ways. The War, and our not losing it, reaffirmed American Independence. Second, the war showed the Americans that a stronger military was needed. It strengthened our isolation by giving us courage. The war also served to improve our economy as it stimulated manufacturing. FinallyRead MoreThe Independence Of Poland During The World War II1570 Words   |  7 Pagesnationalistic and heroic after the Second World War. In Polish cultural memory, the struggle of the newly independent nation after the First World War is overshadowed by the patriotic events surrounding the Second World War. The independence of Poland is an achievement for those who remember their heritage and culture. The country existed over one-hundred years before the end of the First World War and had finally gained its independence again. Once it gained its independence, however, the new nation hadRead MoreCuba And The Cuban Missile Crisis1730 Words   |  7 Pagesconsidered Cuba to be a commonsensical extension of their nation; fundamentally because Cuba presents a geographical position that is of strategic political and economic importance. For many born into the present generation, Cuba is synonymous with the cold war as evident in the Cuban missile crisis of 1963, and with the general extravagance of communism apportioned by Marxist and Leninist nuances as a result of the 1959 Cuban revolution. Working from this basis, there can be no question as to the fact that

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Knowing Courage free essay sample

What is courage, is the question many people are asking today. Is there a proper definition to this spiteful action and mind consuming word? And how do we explain this to others who ask what courage is and argue certain points on why someone might act courageously? In order to answer these questions, a person must first learn the points and ideas that the word courage brings forth. Courage is related to belief, will, and danger and always having to go down the difficult path. When someone believes in doing something, that something might be a courageous act such as, a person sticking up for their family when people are saying bad or harmful things about them. The difficult path in this scenario is you or me having to confront the angry people to calm them down and help them understand what they dont know about the family. Then also knowing that those people might hurt you for even walking near them. We will write a custom essay sample on Knowing Courage or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page John F. Kennedy once said It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. This means that courage and belief are forever intertwigned and change our history constantly all by people sticking up for what they believe in and their acts of courage for that belief. What one person may believe in will always be different than someone elses belief, but people will always act courageously for what that belief is is. Then that curagouse act that someone might put forth will also include the will to do it. In the What is Courage article, the auther says Courage is often a measure of our self-esteem. This also relates to the Will of doing something and is overall, also measured by our self-esteem. People must have the will to act in a risky maner to protect or save what they believe in, which is determined by how much self-esteem they have. A good description of a person with high self-esteem and will to protect or save are sodiers. These men and women go out to serve their country and constantly go into terrifying situations, or the difficult path. They risk and sometimes give their lives in order for other people to continue theirs. They do thousands of curagouse acts including the simple thing of voleering. The same thing is established in the article What is Courage, when the author tells of the ancient Greeks and how their courage is natural and voluntary. The ancient Greeks volunteered to serve as people do today and to them, it was natural or the natures wasy of courage. But this type of courage and any other kind of courage will always include a continuing aftermath in relult of the actions given in courage. Danger is alway iminate when facing the word and actions of courage. Danger is always thought of to one day be gone. But thats not true; In the article The Eternal Strugle of Good and Evil, James Kirk Wall says, There will always be good and always be evil. One cannot exist without the other. This concept is the same with danger. Danger can not live without safety. Then there are several different kinds of danger that can result from a courageous act. These different kinds of danger are classified in three categories; moral, physical, and moral/physical danger. The difference between these categories are told by themselves. Moral danger is danger created within the mind mainly as what will happen if I do this? The danger might not happen but it is there and could potentially come to life. Then physical danger; danger that can hurt or harm you. Things like getting shot, punched, broken bones, open wounds of any kind, and even death. These kinds of danger can happen all the time even at the most unexpected terms, which comes to the final danger; Physical/moral danger. This kind of danger is a combination of the thought of, if something will happen, then that thought comes to life and becomes physical danger. These categories of danger are all results in facing a simple of complex courageous act, from going off a zip line even though you are scared of heights to serving your country for the benefit of your loved ones and people you may not know or even ever meet. Courage surrounds us, but is always related to belief, will, and danger with having to go down the difficult path. We all have done courageous acts, even when we didnt classify or think it was such an act. We all have faced danger, either from the result of courage or plain life dealings. And we all have had to project the will to go down a difficult path knowing of what is at the end. You and me. So when we think or hear of arguments about if someone should receive a medal or be praised for actions. look back on what that person did and how the did it. Assess actions and be bold in finding the right way. Nothing is wrong, but then again, nothing is right either. so when the answer is found, dont hide it but bring it to the world even if your scared to do so. Be curagouse.

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Greenspan Essays - Edward Greenspan, Massey College, Toronto

Greenspan Greenspan - The Case For The Defence In-Depth Review My fascination with the Judicial System Structure of today's society was furthered and strengthened after reading and analyzing the works of Edward Greenspan. This superbly written biography recollecting past cases and important events in Greenspan's life allowed myself, the reader, to learn more about Jurisprudence and the Criminal Code. The entire casebook revolves around several main themes including the balance of Positive & Natural influences in the courtroom, whether a lawyer's consience intervenes with his duty as a counsellor, and the alarming rate of perjury occuring in front of the juries. To be more concise and clear to the point, Greenspan's book is a diary of controversial and beneficial issues which have hovered around our criminal courts and will continue to plague and pester them for years to come. By observing and understanding certain issues presented in his book, I was able to comprehend what type of person Greenspan is, what he believes in, what he represents and what he would do for his profession. The wheels of Jurisprudence are always turning, and I came to realise how Greenspan worked and bargained for his status in the country to be solidified. This book also flourished with innovative situations pertaining to the most diversified of criminal charges, to the most uncanny regions of law ever dealt. It was this thorough look at Greenspan's life which impressed this reviewer the most. It was quite clear that after the fourth page, I came upon the conclusion that this casebook would create a most influential reaction to anyone who had displayed any interest towards our Law system in general. Part One of the novel, No Little Clients, presents the reader with the author's proposed thesis. His ambition is to defend innocent people accused of crimes. Whether they are innocent or guilty without being proven guilty is irrelevant to Mr. Greenspan. A lawyer's consience must not be his deciding factor when advising or counselling a client. This viewpoint is elaborated in Part Two (Not Above The Fray) and explained frivolously by Greenspan himself. Throughout the entire novel, the theme bends and curves itself around different and unavoidable situations, but retains its original meaning that no one is guilty until proven so. Greenspan refers to this phrase countless times and explains to the reader that he will not allow his moral beliefs to conlfict with the path of justice (delicately and persuasively explained by both Greenspand and the co-author, George Jonas in Parts Four, Five and Six of the novel). Chapter 13, Playing God, emphatically displays Greenspan's concern with the treatment of his clients and the decision to push the client until he can make a decision that is in favour with the lawyer himself. The significance of this chapter is that the reader detects the amount of responsibility and endurance is required in order to become a successful pawn of the judicial system. At this point, Greenspan's thesis huddles itself around the principle of being a Pawn of the System and only serving the system without prejudice and socialistic conflicts. The authors begin their novel with several different themes which branch out and eventually combine. Walking The High Wire is an excellent chapter which focuses on the effects of intended falsehoods employed by the prosecution. When Greenspan takes on a case where the courtroom is changed into a stage for the benefit of a woman who allegedly is raped by his client, it is later realised that through careful investigation and newly discovered evidence, can the truth be used to assist the defendant in being acquitted. In the chapter And Nothing But The Truth, the author presents a situation where even those who enforce the law may lie to obtain a conviction of an innocent person. When two police officers re-create a false scene for the jury, the reader begins to understand why the author ponders upon different moral questions and creates circumstantial, yet fruitful answers. Like a detective fiction novel, Greenspan proves without a doubt that there is more than meets the eye in accepting and defending a client. As witnessed in the chapter Hi Mom, Guess Who's In Jail, the reader learns about how the media and police almost influence a jury

Monday, March 9, 2020

President Bush Lays Down Plans essays

President Bush Lays Down Plans essays The State of the Union is a speech delivered by the president directed towards Congress and the citizens of the United States. In this speech, the president addresses the problems that our nation faces today; both domestic and foreign. President George W. Bush opened his speech with the issue of America's economy. He proposed an income tax reduction that would save a family with a $40,000 income of approximately $1,000. This tax cut would help small businesses throughout the country. He also wants Congress to pass a law that would stop the unfair double taxation of dividends. This would help investors out and in turn strengthen the economy. Another issue stated was to have a reliable health care system. Many citizens are not fortunate enough to have money to pay for health insurance. He wants the government to give financial support to those in need of health care. Also, President Bush wants to pass a reform that helps protect doctors from frivolous lawsuits. These lawsuits are driving doctors to charge more for their service. The third goal that the president wanted to accomplish was improving the environment. He set a comprehensive energy plan to promote energy efficiency and conservation. He passed the Clear Skies legislation that mandates a 70-percent cut in air pollution from power plants over the next 15 years. Also, he proposed $1.2 billion in research funding for hydrogen-powered cars. Being more efficient and cautious of the environment will preserve our country. He also addressed many social problems that Americans face today. Many children are left with nobody to look up to due to parents being in prison. He urged people to be mentors at schools for children who are not so fortunate. Also, he wants to pass a faith-based initiate and Community Service Act to fund groups that help out the needy. He set up a program that gives 600 million dollars to help pay for drug rehabilitation for Americans to receive the treatment ...

Saturday, February 22, 2020

E-Business Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

E-Business Paper - Essay Example Amazon.com was the first company to move book retailing online. In less than a decade, it has become one of the most recognizable brands on earth. It expanded from being a book retailer to a virtual marketplace where all sorts of buyers and sellers of rare, used, and collectible items found a platform. Today it offers even online auctions including toys, music, DVDs, house ware, and a variety of other products and it is the world’s most customer-centric company. It sells virtually anything to more than 38 million customers (Success story, 2002). By selling a wide range of products it has been able build customer loyalty and by 2005, has 50 million loyal customers (Evans, 2005). One of the main advantages of moving online is the use of sophisticated software that brings in constant innovation. This enhances the customer experience as the software can remember details and sends the shopping cart smoothly and swiftly to the check-out (Evans, 2005). The software also remembers the shipping address and the credit card details. Being online allows fro reviews and recommendations from readers. The key to Amazon.com’s success is the strong customer focused approach. They use technology to constantly improvise and innovate. They work hard to refine the technology, which allows them to make recommendations that make shopping more convenient and enjoyable (Customer Success, 2006). Amazon.com uses the SAS technology to analyze the results of their ongoing efforts to improve personalization. Multi-threading allows amazon.com to apply multiple processors to complex analytic tasks. They constantly evaluate the new product page layouts and new search technology. It is their ‘technology base that allows customers to find, discover and glean out of hundreds of millions of products, those that really interest them (Success story, 2000). Data warehousing allows them to manage growth (Success story). Their

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Holy Byzantine Women Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Holy Byzantine Women - Term Paper Example While we do have well documented accounts of powerful empresses, it is often more beneficial to understand the plight of the average Byzantine woman to truly understand the inner-workings of this particular civilization. Many women during this time period were quite religious and became the saints of their particular generation. Thankfully we do have some wonderful and cherished memories of their lives that will prove most helpful in this endeavor. It is important to see, through the perspective of history, the important role that women played in many different aspects of Byzantine society. This will allow us to envision that life, without Byzantine women, would have been difficult at best. Through a careful examination of four different holy Byzantine holy women, we will establish that the economic, social, and religious contributions of the common Byzantine woman enabled the continued existence of this society for centuries.  Biographical Analysis Saint Theodora of Arta is the fi rst holy woman we will discuss. As is typical of Byzantine women, we do not know exactly when she was born, but it must have been somewhere between 1224 and 1230. She was from Servia and her father was John Pertraliphas. He was quite famous in his own right, being the governor of Thessaly and Macedonia. She became married to the ruler of Epirus and Thessaly, apparently when she was still a child. This happened shortly after the husband’s accession to the throne in 1231. She became saintly due to her circumstances. Her husband preferred his mistress, which meant that Theodora was not allowed in the house or on the grounds, forcing her into a life of poverty on the streets. From written accounts, she suffered through these various hardships without complaining, even while she was pregnant, eventually gaining the attention of a village priest. The priest gave her shelter for nearly five years until Theodora’s husband saw the error of his ways and invited his wife back to live with him. From this account, we envision that Theodora’s mind and heart was pure. She did not choose the life she was given, yet she remained of positive attitude and worked hard to do right by her child and her God. Over the course of her life, she founded the convent of St. George, which was in Arta, and actually lived there after her husband died. To this day, her tomb is a pilgrimage site and many have ascribed miracles to it. Another saintly woman that we have a written account of is Saint Thomais of Lesbos. Thomais was in Lesbos, but spent much of her life in Constantinople. Subsequently, much of what we know about her is confined to that region. The parents of Thomais were named Michael and Kale. From all accounts, they were quite a pious and god-fearing couple. In addition, they were happy as a couple, so we are left to assume that Thomais was raised in a solid and pleasant environment and, while they did not have much, she received love and compassion at home. S adly, her particular marriage was not so happy. She married Stephen and we read that their marriage was a disaster. Thomais was perfectly content staying at home with her parents, and did so until the age of 24, perhaps foreshadowing her own fear of marriage. She did not have children of her own. During her adult life, she was in the habit of walking the streets of Constantinople and was

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Relationship Between Management And Leadership In Childhood Setting Nursing Essay

Relationship Between Management And Leadership In Childhood Setting Nursing Essay In this report I will discuss the relationship between management and leadership in an early childhood setting. I will do this by making reference to the Integrated Inspection Report from the named nursery, government expectations and my findings from other sources. HM Inspectors of Schools have responsibilities which include raising and improving standards and quality of the service offered by settings through self-evaluation, and they do this by inspection of premises and the service these premises provide. They work within the National Care Standards, Scottish Executive (2006) which is underpinned by The Child at the Centre, HMIE (2007) and the performance indicators within. Part of their inspection includes looking at the overall leadership in the nursery setting and using government advice to rate the standards of leadership within the setting. In the named Integrated Inspection Report, the opening statement comments: The headteacher provided excellent leadership. HMIE, (2008) and this shows how this early years establishment has followed government expectations to build on good practice and deliver a professional, caring, quality service of education to children and parents who use this setting. HMIEs comments towards the headteachers leadership reflect the performance indicators laid down in The Child at the Centre HMIE (2007) and these indicators expect settings to have standards of: 9.1 Vision, values and aims 9.2 Leadership and Direction 9.3 Developing people and partnerships 9.4 Leadership and improvement and change These performance indicators help settings to aim for excellent practice through leadership and self-evaluation and encourage professional reflection using the same themes as How Good is our School and The Journey to Excellence and are used to build plans and guide any actions for improvement there be. HMIE (2007) Hay (1997) believes the successful running of a nursery setting relies on someone who portrays a combination of both management and leadership skills. Leadership qualities include being able to influence others to meet goals, not because the leader has asked them to do so but because they want to do it whereas management qualities would include the necessity to get things done constantly and routinely. Hodgkinson (1991) cited by Hay (1997) I agree with Hay (1997) that a combination of skills are required for the efficient running of a nursery and in order for settings to reach the government expectations whilst carrying on with the daily routines, they would need to secure the help and shared focus from colleagues and this can be accomplished by effective leadership and teamwork. Effective teamwork can have a positive impact on the routines of daily life in the setting and if everyone in the team have the same shared focus and they are all engaging in professional reflection and self-evaluation of the quality of service they are providing, the quality of service will not be compromised. Rodd (2006) believes good teamwork is important for meeting the requirements of early education settings and cites Ebbeck and Waniganayake (2003) comments of building effective teams is fundamental to early childhood practice. The headteacher in the report has shown how effective her leadership is by receiving positive comments of her leadership skills. I believe she has been able to achieve effective leadership through building and nurturing a high standard of teamwork within the practice. This was done by using her interpersonal skills of communication, motivation and inspiration, Rodd (2006) and by empowering her team to work with her with the same high standards and aim for the same objective she has succeeded in achieving high-quality teamwork. HMIE (2008) Rodd (2006) believes that this human resource management is typical of an early childhood leader and she cites Taylors (2005) argument that a leaders own behaviour, their actions, beliefs and values, will determine how they are seen by their colleagues and how this behaviour will be rewarded. Leaders can determine whether or not their team will work with them or work against them and being a positive role model can help bring your team together and reach the objective. It is clear in this report that this leaders direction allows her team to work alongside her as they all have the same commitment to the continuous improvement of their setting. This includes their own personal professional development and also relates to the performance indicator 9.3 Developing people and partnerships HMIE (2007) The report comments on how the staff in this setting have the opportunities to continue in their own development through training courses, leadership support and self-evaluation. Another key element of effective leadership is having the ability to allow the personal development of others and use this ability to improve the quality of the team and the service they provide. Rodd (2006) Performance Indicator 9.3, HMIE (2007) states how an important feature of effective leadership is to develop positive working relationships with others and to have the ability to delegate roles and responsibilities within the setting. This can be done through continuous development of staff and relates to the National Care Standards, Standard 12, Confidence in Staff, Scottish Executive (2006) where it states a setting has an effective system for identifying and monitoring staff development needs. Hay lists another of Hodgkinsons views of differences between manager and leader as managers being more concerned with material resources rather than human resources. The leader in this setting is highly involved with her team showing excellent human resource management by allowing each member of the team to develop through on-going training and personal development without impacting on daily routines and allowing team members to use their own individual abilities and talents to benefit the group. Through effective teamwork, leaders can share with her team knowledge and skills, provide support and helpful feedback and in return gain the trust and support of the group and continue to produce a high standard of service. Dawson (2000) HMIE (2008) report that the staff in this setting were fully involved in systematically reviewing, evaluating and improving the nursery. This positive involvement helps to produce the high quality service that this setting provides and also relates to Standard 14 of the National Care Standards, Well managed Service. Scottish Executive (2006) Effective leaders will work with the team, examine their setting and holistically reflect with a view to change or improvement. This reflection will include analysing individual actions, actions of the group or individuals, routines or policies and most importantly analysing if the childrens learning experiences are adequate and can help an early years setting to move forward in terms of the quality of service provided. This setting does this through staff, children and parent involvement and they have received positive comments from HMIE. Reflective practice also relates to The Child at the Centre, 9.4 Leadership and improvement and change and the Codes of Practice for Social Service Workers and Employers. Staff in this setting are all registered with Scottish Social Services Council and work within the Codes of Practice, a list of statements describing professional conduct and practice expected within any setting. I agree with Rodd and Hay that effective leadership requires individuals to be equipped with both management and leadership skills and qualities. The successful, efficient running of an early years setting requires leaders to be able to balance factors of work, legislation and quality in the setting with the commitment to look after the people they need and work with.

Monday, January 20, 2020

compression :: essays research papers

Due to compression, TV audio and video require less bandwidth and multiple digital TV channels can fit unto one satellite transponder as oppose to a single analogue channel occupying the whole transmission line. A TV signal is captured by a camera and then manipulated during program production. At this point the video must be at its highest quality and full bandwidth for recording, editing and special effects purposes. Then the TV signal needs to be compressed for economical transmission and storage. The possible efficiency of compression depends on a couple of factors. If a signal will be further edited and manipulated in the receiving studio it must maintain a relatively high quality and therefore can’t be compressed as much as a signal that will be sent directly to the viewer’s TV set. Also, the extent to which a signal can be successfully compressed depends on the type of program (E.g. movies can be compressed more than sports). Nevertheless, a typical program mix will fit up to 10 digital television channels on one transmission line. Furthermore, compression techniques that fall into two categories: lossless (reversible, no data loss) and lossy (irreversible, greater data reduction). Effective compression is best achieved with a combination of data reduction techniques such as bit rate reduction and compression. The difference is that bit rate reduction eliminates unnoticeable data, and compression removes unnecessary and excessive data through mathematical algorithms. Due to different forms of redundancy and the fact that the human visual system is unable to detect certain details, information can be altered or removed causing changes that are imperceptible to the human eye or brain. After compression, the structure data, audio and video must be multiplexed. A number of compressed TV signals are combined by a multiplexer and put unto a shared transition medium. This is done by one of the two possible kinds of multiplexers that result in either a transport or a program stream, which is suited for secure transmission paths since it can contain large amounts of information. In addition multiplexing can be done using various methods. Time division multiplexing allocates a distinct time interval for each channel in a set; with the help of synchronization and a fixed interval order the channels take turns using the common line.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

A Game of Thrones Chapter Twelve

Eddard The summons came in the hour before the dawn, when the world was still and grey. Alyn shook him roughly from his dreams and Ned stumbled into the predawn chill, groggy from sleep, to find his horse saddled and the king already mounted. Robert wore thick brown gloves and a heavy fur cloak with a hood that covered his ears, and looked for all the world like a bear sitting a horse. â€Å"Up, Stark!† he roared. â€Å"Up, up! We have matters of state to discuss.† â€Å"By all means,† Ned said. â€Å"Come inside, Your Grace.† Alyn lifted the flap of the tent. â€Å"No, no, no,† Robert said. His breath steamed with every word. â€Å"The camp is full of ears. Besides, I want to ride out and taste this country of yours.† Ser Boros and Ser Meryn waited behind him with a dozen guardsmen, Ned saw. There was nothing to do but rub the sleep from his eyes, dress, and mount up. Robert set the pace, driving his huge black destrier hard as Ned galloped along beside him, trying to keep up. He called out a question as they rode, but the wind blew his words away, and the king did not hear him. After that Ned rode in silence. They soon left the kingsroad and took off across rolling plains dark with mist. By then the guard had fallen back a small distance, safely out of earshot, but still Robert would not slow. Dawn broke as they crested a low ridge, and finally the king pulled up. By then they were miles south of the main party. Robert was flushed and exhilarated as Ned reined up beside him. â€Å"Gods,† he swore, laughing, â€Å"it feels good to get out and ride the way a man was meant to ride! I swear, Ned, this creeping along is enough to drive a man mad.† He had never been a patient man, Robert Baratheon. â€Å"That damnable wheelhouse, the way it creaks and groans, climbing every bump in the road as if it were a mountain . . . I promise you, if that wretched thing breaks another axle, I'm going to burn it, and Cersei can walk!† Ned laughed. â€Å"I will gladly light the torch for you.† â€Å"Good man!† The king clapped him on the shoulder. â€Å"I've half a mind to leave them all behind and just keep going.† A smile touched Ned's lips. â€Å"I do believe you mean it.† â€Å"I do, I do,† the king said. â€Å"What do you say, Ned? Just you and me, two vagabond knights on the kingsroad, our swords at our sides and the gods know what in front of us, and maybe a farmer's daughter or a tavern wench to warm our beds tonight.† â€Å"Would that we could,† Ned said, â€Å"but we have duties now, my liege . . . to the realm, to our children, I to my lady wife and you to your queen. We are not the boys we were.† â€Å"You were never the boy you were,† Robert grumbled. â€Å"More's the pity. And yet there was that one time . . . what was her name, that common girl of yours? Becca? No, she was one of mine, gods love her, black hair and these sweet big eyes, you could drown in them. Yours was . . . Aleena? No. You told me once. Was it Merryl? You know the one I mean, your bastard's mother?† â€Å"Her name was Wylla,† Ned replied with cool courtesy, â€Å"and I would sooner not speak of her.† â€Å"Wylla. Yes.† The king grinned. â€Å"She must have been a rare wench if she could make Lord Eddard Stark forget his honor, even for an hour. You never told me what she looked like . . . â€Å" Ned's mouth tightened in anger. â€Å"Nor will I. Leave it be, Robert, for the love you say you bear me. I dishonored myself and I dishonored Catelyn, in the sight of gods and men.† â€Å"Gods have mercy, you scarcely knew Catelyn.† â€Å"I had taken her to wife. She was carrying my child.† â€Å"You are too hard on yourself, Ned. You always were. Damn it, no woman wants Baelor the Blessed in her bed.† He slapped a hand on his knee. â€Å"Well, I'll not press you if you feel so strong about it, though I swear, at times you're so prickly you ought to take the hedgehog as your sigil.† The rising sun sent fingers of light through the pale white mists of dawn. A wide plain spread out beneath them, bare and brown, its flatness here and there relieved by long, low hummocks. Ned pointed them out to his king. â€Å"The barrows of the First Men.† Robert frowned. â€Å"Have we ridden onto a graveyard?† â€Å"There are barrows everywhere in the north, Your Grace,† Ned told him. â€Å"This land is old.† â€Å"And cold,† Robert grumbled, pulling his cloak more tightly around himself. The guard had reined up well behind them, at the bottom of the ridge. â€Å"Well, I did not bring you out here to talk of graves or bicker about your bastard. There was a rider in the night, from Lord Varys in King's Landing. Here.† The king pulled a paper from his belt and handed it to Ned. Varys the eunuch was the king's master of whisperers. He served Robert now as he had once served Aerys Targaryen. Ned unrolled the paper with trepidation, thinking of Lysa and her terrible accusation, but the message did not concern Lady Arryn. â€Å"What is the source for this information?† â€Å"Do you remember Ser Jorah Mormont?† â€Å"Would that I might forget him,† Ned said bluntly. The Mormonts of Bear Island were an old house, proud and honorable, but their lands were cold and distant and poor. Ser Jorah had tried to swell the family coffers by selling some poachers to a Tyroshi slaver. As the Mormonts were bannermen to the Starks, his crime had dishonored the north. Ned had made the long journey west to BearIsland, only to find when he arrived that Jorah had taken ship beyond the reach of Ice and the king's justice. Five years had passed since then. â€Å"Ser Jorah is now in Pentos, anxious to earn a royal pardon that would allow him to return from exile,† Robert explained. â€Å"Lord Varys makes good use of him.† â€Å"So the slaver has become a spy,† Ned said with distaste. He handed the letter back. â€Å"I would rather he become a corpse.† â€Å"Varys tells me that spies are more useful than corpses,† Robert said. â€Å"Jorah aside, what do you make of his report?† â€Å"Daenerys Targaryen has wed some Dothraki horselord. What of it? Shall we send her a wedding gift?† The king frowned. â€Å"A knife, perhaps. A good sharp one, and a bold man to wield it.† Ned did not feign surprise; Robert's hatred of the Targaryens was a madness in him. He remembered the angry words they had exchanged when Tywin Lannister had presented Robert with the corpses of Rhaegar's wife and children as a token of fealty. Ned had named that murder; Robert called it war. When he had protested that the young prince and princess were no more than babes, his new-made king had replied, â€Å"I see no babes. Only dragonspawn.† Not even Jon Arryn had been able to calm that storm. Eddard Stark had ridden out that very day in a cold rage, to fight the last battles of the war alone in the south. It had taken another death to reconcile them; Lyanna's death, and the grief they had shared over her passing. This time, Ned resolved to keep his temper. â€Å"Your Grace, the girl is scarcely more than a child. You are no Tywin Lannister, to slaughter innocents.† It was said that Rhaegar's little girl had cried as they dragged her from beneath her bed to face the swords. The boy had been no more than a babe in arms, yet Lord Tywin's soldiers had torn him from his mother's breast and dashed his head against a wall. â€Å"And how long will this one remain an innocent?† Robert's mouth grew hard. â€Å"This child will soon enough spread her legs and start breeding more dragonspawn to plague me.† â€Å"Nonetheless,† Ned said, â€Å"the murder of children . . . it would be vile . . . unspeakable . . . â€Å" â€Å"Unspeakable?† the king roared. â€Å"What Aerys did to your brother Brandon was unspeakable. The way your lord father died, that was unspeakable. And Rhaegar . . . how many times do you think he raped your sister? How many hundreds of times?† His voice had grown so loud that his horse whinnied nervously beneath him. The king jerked the reins hard, quieting the animal, and pointed an angry finger at Ned. â€Å"I will kill every Targaryen I can get my hands on, until they are as dead as their dragons, and then I will piss on their graves.† Ned knew better than to defy him when the wrath was on him. If the years had not quenched Robert's thirst for revenge, no words of his would help. â€Å"You can't get your hands on this one, can you?† he said quietly. The king's mouth twisted in a bitter grimace. â€Å"No, gods be cursed. Some pox-ridden Pentoshi cheesemonger had her brother and her walled up on his estate with pointy-hatted eunuchs all around them, and now he's handed them over to the Dothraki. I should have had them both killed years ago, when it was easy to get at them, but Jon was as bad as you. More fool I, I listened to him.† â€Å"Jon Arryn was a wise man and a good Hand.† Robert snorted. The anger was leaving him as suddenly as it had come. â€Å"This Khal Drogo is said to have a hundred thousand men in his horde. What would Jon say to that?† â€Å"He would say that even a million Dothraki are no threat to the realm, so long as they remain on the other side of the narrow sea,† Ned replied calmly. â€Å"The barbarians have no ships. They hate and fear the open sea.† The king shifted uncomfortably in his saddle. â€Å"Perhaps. There are ships to be had in the Free Cities, though. I tell you, Ned, I do not like this marriage. There are still those in the Seven Kingdoms who call me Usurper. Do you forget how many houses fought for Targaryen in the war? They bide their time for now, but give them half a chance, they will murder me in my bed, and my sons with me. If the beggar king crosses with a Dothraki horde at his back, the traitors will join him.† â€Å"He will not cross,† Ned promised. â€Å"And if by some mischance he does, we will throw him back into the sea. Once you choose a new Warden of the East—† The king groaned. â€Å"For the last time, I will not name the Arryn boy Warden. I know the boy is your nephew, but with Targaryens climbing in bed with Dothraki, I would be mad to rest one quarter of the realm on the shoulders of a sickly child.† Ned was ready for that. â€Å"Yet we still must have a Warden of the East. If Robert Arryn will not do, name one of your brothers. Stannis proved himself at the siege of Storm's End, surely.† He let the name hang there for a moment. The king frowned and said nothing. He looked uncomfortable. â€Å"That is,† Ned finished quietly, watching, â€Å"unless you have already promised the honor to another.† For a moment Robert had the grace to look startled. Just as quickly, the look became annoyance. â€Å"What if I have?† â€Å"It's Jaime Lannister, is it not?† Robert kicked his horse back into motion and started down the ridge toward the barrows. Ned kept pace with him. The king rode on, eyes straight ahead. â€Å"Yes,† he said at last. A single hard word to end the matter. â€Å"Kingslayer,† Ned said. The rumors were true, then. He rode on dangerous ground now, he knew. â€Å"An able and courageous man, no doubt,† he said carefully, â€Å"but his father is Warden of the West, Robert. In time Ser Jaime will succeed to that honor. No one man should hold both East and West.† He left unsaid his real concern; that the appointment would put half the armies of the realm into the hands of Lannisters. â€Å"I will fight that battle when the enemy appears on the field,† the king said stubbornly. â€Å"At the moment, Lord Tywin looms eternal as Casterly Rock, so I doubt that Jaime will be succeeding anytime soon. Don't vex me about this, Ned, the stone has been set.† â€Å"Your Grace, may I speak frankly?† â€Å"I seem unable to stop you,† Robert grumbled. They rode through tall brown grasses. â€Å"Can you trust Jaime Lannister?† â€Å"He is my wife's twin, a Sworn Brother of the Kingsguard, his life and fortune and honor all bound to mine.† â€Å"As they were bound to Aerys Targaryen's,† Ned pointed out. â€Å"Why should I mistrust him? He has done everything I have ever asked of him. His sword helped win the throne I sit on.† His sword helped taint the throne you sit on, Ned thought, but he did not permit the words to pass his lips. â€Å"He swore a vow to protect his king's life with his own. Then he opened that king's throat with a sword.† â€Å"Seven hells, someone had to kill Aerys!† Robert said, reining his mount to a sudden halt beside an ancient barrow. â€Å"If Jaime hadn't done it, it would have been left for you or me.† â€Å"We were not Sworn Brothers of the Kingsguard,† Ned said. The time had come for Robert to hear the whole truth, he decided then and there. â€Å"Do you remember the Trident, Your Grace?† â€Å"I won my crown there. How should I forget it?† â€Å"You took a wound from Rhaegar,† Ned reminded him. â€Å"So when the Targaryen host broke and ran, you gave the pursuit into my hands. The remnants of Rhaegar's army fled back to King's Landing. We followed. Aerys was in the Red Keep with several thousand loyalists. I expected to find the gates closed to us.† Robert gave an impatient shake of his head. â€Å"Instead you found that our men had already taken the city. What of it?† â€Å"Not our men,† Ned said patiently. â€Å"Lannister men. The lion of Lannister flew over the ramparts, not the crowned stag. And they had taken the city by treachery.† The war had raged for close to a year. Lords great and small had flocked to Robert's banners; others had remained loyal to Targaryen. The mighty Lannisters of Casterly Rock, the Wardens of the West, had remained aloof from the struggle, ignoring calls to arms from both rebels and royalists. Aerys Targaryen must have thought that his gods had answered his prayers when Lord Tywin Lannister appeared before the gates of King's Landing with an army twelve thousand strong, professing loyalty. So the mad king had ordered his last mad act. He had opened his city to the lions at the gate. â€Å"Treachery was a coin the Targaryens knew well,† Robert said. The anger was building in him again. â€Å"Lannister paid them back in kind. It was no less than they deserved. I shall not trouble my sleep over it.† â€Å"You were not there,† Ned said, bitterness in his voice. Troubled sleep was no stranger to him. He had lived his lies for fourteen years, yet they still haunted him at night. â€Å"There was no honor in that conquest.† â€Å"The Others take your honor!† Robert swore. â€Å"What did any Targaryen ever know of honor? Go down into your crypt and ask Lyanna about the dragon's honor!† â€Å"You avenged Lyanna at the Trident,† Ned said, halting beside the king. Promise me, Ned, she had whispered. â€Å"That did not bring her back.† Robert looked away, off into the grey distance. â€Å"The gods be damned. It was a hollow victory they gave me. A crown . . . it was the girl I prayed them for. Your sister, safe . . . and mine again, as she was meant to be. I ask you, Ned, what good is it to wear a crown? The gods mock the prayers of kings and cowherds alike.† â€Å"I cannot answer for the gods, Your Grace . . . only for what I found when I rode into the throne room that day,† Ned said. â€Å"Aerys was dead on the floor, drowned in his own blood. His dragon skulls stared down from the walls. Lannister's men were everywhere. Jaime wore the white cloak of the Kingsguard over his golden armor. I can see him still. Even his sword was gilded. He was seated on the Iron Throne, high above his knights, wearing a helm fashioned in the shape of a lion's head. How he glittered!† â€Å"This is well known,† the king complained. â€Å"I was still mounted. I rode the length of the hall in silence, between the long rows of dragon skulls. It felt as though they were watching me, somehow. I stopped in front of the throne, looking up at him. His golden sword was across his legs, its edge red with a king's blood. My men were filling the room behind me. Lannister's men drew back. I never said a word. I looked at him seated there on the throne, and I waited. At last Jaime laughed and got up. He took off his helm, and he said to me, ‘Have no fear, Stark. I was only keeping it warm for our friend Robert. It's not a very comfortable seat, I'm afraid.' â€Å" The king threw back his head and roared. His laughter startled a flight of crows from the tall brown grass. They took to the air in a wild beating of wings. â€Å"You think I should mistrust Lannister because he sat on my throne for a few moments?† He shook with laughter again. â€Å"Jaime was all of seventeen, Ned. Scarce more than a boy.† â€Å"Boy or man, he had no right to that throne.† â€Å"Perhaps he was tired,† Robert suggested. â€Å"Killing kings is weary work. Gods know, there's no place else to rest your ass in that damnable room. And he spoke truly, it is a monstrous uncomfortable chair. In more ways than one.† The king shook his head. â€Å"Well, now I know Jaime's dark sin, and the matter can be forgotten. I am heartily sick of secrets and squabbles and matters of state, Ned. It's all as tedious as counting coppers. Come, let's ride, you used to know how. I want to feel the wind in my hair again.† He kicked his horse back into motion and galloped up over the barrow, raining earth down behind him. For a moment Ned did not follow. He had run out of words, and he was filled with a vast sense of helplessness. Not for the first time, he wondered what he was doing here and why he had come. He was no Jon Arryn, to curb the wildness of his king and teach him wisdom. Robert would do what he pleased, as he always had, and nothing Ned could say or do would change that. He belonged in Winterfell. He belonged with Catelyn in her grief, and with Bran. A man could not always be where he belonged, though. Resigned, Eddard Stark put his boots into his horse and set off after the king.

Saturday, January 4, 2020

Graduation Speech High School - 1027 Words

I’m Going Through Changes Four years is such a small portion of many people’s lives, but the four years of high school can greatly impact one’s life. High school ,for many people, is a time to mature physically and mentally. Many find out who they are as a person and maybe who they want to become. High school teaches life lessons that can not be taught anywhere else and that people would not want to be taught later in life. I started high school as an anxious freshman and transformed into a confident senior in four short years. Freshman year started, and my bad attitude towards school continued from eighth grade. I came into high school with the wrong mindset towards school. I believed that I could give a bare minimum effort and still†¦show more content†¦Playing freshman basketball was some of the most fun I had ever had on a basketball court. Once basketball was over I went directly into baseball where I would play on the junior varsity. Baseball for m e was something to keep me active and occupied in the spring. Once baseball ended, there were only a few weeks until my freshman year would come to a conclusion. Sophomore year was an exciting time for me. I had finally started to mature physically and I was gaining confidence in everything I was doing. I was no longer the bottom of the totem pole. The beginning of sophomore year went very smoothly. I had kept up my grades while still doing the bare minimum to get by and I was enjoying all my classes. Sophomore year was heading in the right direction until winter came around. Once winter came around everything seemed to change. By winter everyone had their license and there was some sort of get together going on every weekend. My friends and I were always in the middle of everything going on. We would be out until 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning every Friday and Saturday night. We were always doing something that we knew we should not have been doing. After every weekend we would come b ack to school and talk about everything we did that weekend and laugh it off. Words started to spread quick and it seemed that everyone knew exactly what we had done that weekend. It was a fun and exciting time, but I would end up