Thursday, November 28, 2019

Walter Whitman Essays - Brooklyn Eagle, Mystics, Walt Whitman

Walter Whitman Walter Whitman Through the history of the United States there have been a countless numbers of poets. With them came an equal number of writing styles. Certainly one of the most unique poets to write life's story through his own view of the world and with the ambition to do it was Walter Whitman. Greatly criticized by many readers of his work, Whitman was not a man to be deterred. Soon he would show the world that he had a voice, and that it spoke with a poet's words. Afoot and lighthearted I take to the open road, Healthy, free, the world before me, the long brown path before me leading wherever I choose. Thus Whitman began his "Song of the Open Road". This paper will attempt to describe his life and poetry in a way that does justice to the path he chose. He was a man who grew up impoverished, who wrote from his experiences, and who tried to lift his fellow men above life's trivialities. These are the points to be discussed on these pages. To know the essence of Walter Whitman, you would have to understand the heart of his writing. For he is in his pen. Walter Whitman was born in West Hills, Long Island, New York, on May 31, 1819 . He did not have much opportunity for education in his early life. His parents were mostly poor and illiterate- his father a laborer, while his mother was a devout Quaker. Whitman was one of nine children and little is known about his youth except that two of his siblings were imbeciles. No wonder he demonstrated such an insight for life in his poems. In 1830, at the age of eleven, he worked as an office boy for a lawyer, where he learned the printing trade. Whitman would soon take up teaching at various schools in Long Island. He also engaged in carpentry and house building while he edited newspapers. His early years seemed to show an active interest in working with the public. Whitman at one time accepted a job with a New Orleans newspaper, and in doing so exposed himself to a great deal of the country. Getting to New Orleans required traveling over the Cumberland Gap and down rivers, of which he later wrote. America seemed to be both his home and inspiration. In "Calamus", part of his single book, Leaves of Grass, he writes of Louisiana as a "live oak growing", thus showing the joy he felt in everything he saw . In short, Whitman lived trough the nation's heroic age, at a time when people had to be (or seemed to be) a little more than life-size to accomplish all the deeds they undertook. It was natural that Whitman, with his genius and metaphysical inclinations, should have drifted into journalism, a profession that could make some demands on his native endowments. As much as he was a traveler, he was also a man of the people. In one of his reviews, he described himself as"never on platforms amid the crowds of clergymen, or professors, or aldermen, or congressmen- rather down in the bay with pilots in their pilot boats- or off on a cruise with fishers in a fishing smack- or writing on a Broadway omnibus, side by side with the driver- or with a band of loungers over the open grounds of the country- fond of New York and Brooklyn- fond of the life of the great ferries." Whitman obviously felt a kinship with his country, and later exhibited this in his writings. He also was not a man to follow others. "Self-reliant, with haughty eyes, assuming to himself all the attributes of his country, steps Walt Whitman into literature, talking like a man unaware that there was ever hitherto such a production as a book, or such a being as a writer". Whitman's major work, Leaves of Grass, was first published on the fourth of July in 1855. He was thirty-six years old, not yet a published writer, and could not find any company willing to take a chance on his unusual style. His experience in newspapers allowed him to help publish his work himself, even setting up some of the type and distributing the first edition. To get a decent start, Whitman even went so far as to write complimentary unsigned reviews of his book which he had placed in the newspapers- "An American bard at last! "- his own words of his first work, showing his audacity to be well thought of. Whitman wrote only one

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Ideal Job Essays

Ideal Job Essays Ideal Job Essay Ideal Job Essay Time and time again, children are asked what do you want to be when you grow up? The answers vary from one child to another according to many factors such as age, cultural background, and personal interest. The dream of the desired job starts from the childhood. However, the important question is what is the ideal job? Achieving the ideal job depends on many factors. The standards of the ideal job are different from one person to another. The qualities of the ideal job rely much on how much it fits with the persons interests and aspirations, the work environment, expected incomes and flexibility. One of the most important qualities of the ideal job is the suitability of the type work. Indeed the most important factor is working in a field that matches the persons academic specialization. People work better if they know the basis of their job and, as a result, they can efficiently handle all the problems they face. Another factor of the ideal job is taking into consideration the cultural boundaries of the job, such as in order to avoid undesirable problems and conflicts. Since, there are jobs that suit some people and do not suit the others. Additionally, the ideal job one that meets the interests and aspiration of the employee. Another important quality of the ideal job is the type of environment the person is working at. The best work environment for the ideal job is collaborative one, successful work can be achieved more efficiently with the collaborative efforts. In this environment, each employee likes to help the others, which ultimately affects the work as a whole and the progress it makes. In addition, workers in these environments should motivate each other, which would help to create warmth and intimacy within the workplace. At the same time, this warm atmosphere should accompany healthy competition. Workers should challenge one another, persuading them to work harder benefit of the company as a whole. In addition to the ideal atmosphere, the ideal boss should also be considered. The boss should be open-minded and cooperative. The boss’ best interest should be that of the employees, being there to supervise, give advice, and maintain a happy work environment. Overall, the boss should be fair when it comes to giving promotions and must pay attention to the importance of rewarding the employees. Expected income also plays a role in the ideal job. People depend on work as a source of money. They work to earn money. The ideal job must provide good salaries so it will provide comfortable living to its workers. Depending on the lifestyle of the employee, the ideal job should supply a salary that allows necessities to be taken care of while still having money to save and spend on leisure activities. The ideal job should also offer intellectual income. It should be a job that can offer experiences where the employees can obtain new knowledge that they may not have been able to obtain in the academic life, as well as acquire new skills or enhance old. Socially, the ideal job should offer opportunities for employees to make new friends and possibly creating lifetime friendships and networks. Finally, flexible work hours are a factor regarding the ideal job. Flexible hours allow workers to save time for their social lives. It gives them a chance to do their social commitments such as family and children matters. Moreover, these flexible hours will give employees the time they need to entertain their selves, and enjoy life. The ideal job is a vision that is formed in childhood and continues to develop throughout the stages of a persons life. When considering this compilation of elements that forms the ideal job, one may say that achieving such job is impossible. In this case, a warm competitive work environment, intellectual and economical gain, and flexible work hours make up the ideal job. So, what is your ideal job? Remember, in reality, nothing is perfect, but in fantasy anything is a possibility.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Critical analysis worksheet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Critical analysis worksheet - Essay Example In this article the author looks at the information presented during the Iraq War. As the author alludes to, the American military is full of people with conflict of interests, not the least retired military officers. These officers are often sought for their opinion by national television networks. The reason why these ex-military men are wanted for expert opinion is because they may have operational insights or at least understand how the military works. The issue about using such experts is that they often present a view that has already been distorted by the American military. It can sometimes even be the case that these experts are duped themselves by misinformation. I would ask the author about why this fascination for publicly funded sports stadiums has recently come into focus. What were the factors that resulted in an upswing for sports stadiums being funded by the public? Another question I would ask the author has to do the effect that a sports team has on a city. Is a professional sports team necessary for a small city because it gives everyone a "feel-good" factor or has this explanation been blown out of proportion? I would ask the author why the military feels that it needs to feed information to the media, either through press releases or ex-military officers, in order to justify military efforts. Is it because the information is distorted or does the American public need convincing? Also, do the network cable channels need to take some responsibility for the appearance of these military experts? Whose job is it to vet these people or establish some basic facts before getting some opinions about an issue? I do agree with the main premise of the reading. The reason why I feel these authors are onto something is because while the benefits of having publicly funded sports stadiums are prominently displayed in the media and by local politicians, to my knowledge there has not been many

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Article Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Article Analysis - Essay Example However, the restrictions have provoked a major reaction from a number of lawmakers and cruise industry players. They argue that the new measure will increase costs for vacationers and the Alaska people who rely on sea vessels for their livelihood (Eliperin, 2012). For many years, huge ships have combusted heavy fuels ( fuels which contain 2,000 times or more sulfur as the diesel utilized by locomotives, trucks, small marine vessels, and construction equipment). The new regulation dictates that large ships reduce the sulfur content of their fuel to 1 percent in August 2012 from the present 2.7%. They arealsorequired to reduce they sullphure content in their fuel to 0.1% by 2015 (Eliperin, 2012; Walker, 2012). The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) indicates that the new regulation will prevent between 12,000 every year and at least 31,000 deaths by 2030, with the benefits offsetting the costs by 95 to 1. In other words, the new standards will reduce emissions from ships and assist in safeguarding the cities and port communities hundreds of miles away from the coast (Eliperin, 2012). The vehicle and the container shipping industries have agreed to meet the new standards but several firms have indicated that the fuel costs may rise by 25 percent. It is important to note that the playersin these industries do not spend as much time as the cruise industry players within the 200-mile zone. It is hard to estimate how much the cleaner fuel will cost because its availability is not certain. It is estimated by EPA that when fully implemented, the program will come with additional costs to shipping (about $18 for every 20-foot container) and passenger cruise tickets (an additional $7 per day). On the other hand, cruise analysts suggest that it can add as much as $19.46 per day to the passenger cruise ticket. The costs of goods in Alaska are set to increase and thuswill affect the economy Alaska.

Monday, November 18, 2019

Why Do People Like to Watch Horror Movies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Why Do People Like to Watch Horror Movies - Essay Example The experts and scientists have propounded many theories and models to unravel the reasons as to why people find horror movies which obviously are the precursors and harbingers of such seemingly negative emotions, so interesting and riveting. People who do not prefer or like horror movies sometimes do wonder as to what makes people be so receptive to the blood and gore inherent in the horror movies? Some perhaps consider the experience of viewing a horror movie to be positively an excruciating ordeal. No wonder there is something really powerfully inherent in the horror movies that makes people view them. There are a range of valid and plausible reasons that could account for the peoples’ fascination with horror movies, the most salient of them being an avid desire to expose oneself to experiences that go beyond the mundane real life scenarios, a desire to go through and experience the enhanced emotional sensations that a horror movie facilitates and the immense social, person al and psychological relevance that a good horror movie affiliates to. To a large extent horror movies accrue such a fan following going by the adage that â€Å"normal is boring.† In the current modern civilization, human life is increasingly getting regimented and the individuals and groups tend to be involved in tasks and processes that are regular and repetitive, almost on a daily basis. Consequently, over the time the life gets increasingly boring and the human interest and inclinations do yearn for some sort of experience that is an anomaly, beyond the normal and very unlike the day to day social and individual experiences. Herein lays the relevance of extreme experiences like horror movies. Horror movies enable the viewers to satiate their need for intense and raw excitement, fulfill their innate urge to go through a roller coaster ride of emotions that are gripping, intense and scary and the yearning to get oneself exposed to such dramatical forms that are replete with violence and horror and tend to blatantly violate the regular social norms in a way that is seldom seen in the actual or real life (Weaver III & Tamborini 153). In other words, horror movies cater to the human liking for the bizarre and the extraordinary. While watching the horror movies on the one side people do get a chance to vicariously engage in something that is positively antisocial, sometimes obscene and violent, while on the other side allowing them to engage in evincing reactions and emotions that are more in consonance with the more tamed and socially relevant abhorrence for the antisocial and the violent (Weaver III & Tamborini 153). Since times immemorial human civilizations have been searching for the ways to escape from the grip of the ordinary and regular. For the Bacchanalians it was the indulgence in unrestrained narcotic pleasures, for the Romans it was the gladiatorial contests, and in the 21st century the answer to the human panache for extraordinary has found its full scope in the horror movies. Even a cursory perusal of the basic texts of psychology and neural physiology testify to the fact that the human personality has an indelible primitive side associated with it. There is a part of the human brain that is old and animalistic in its essence and that responds to the intense or threatening situations by resorting to the standard fight or flight mechanisms. In contrast the civilized human brain is more rational and is not that capable of experiencing such intense emotional highs. For instance when a person sees a rope lying in the dark, many a times the first human reaction is to mistake the rope for a snake accompanied by an

Friday, November 15, 2019

Benefits of Healthy Eating

Benefits of Healthy Eating Health Eating Studies show that by improving personal eating habits can prevent some of the leading causes of death in the world, such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, some lung diseases and injuries. While a deficit of nutrients can cause vitamin deficiencies, lowered immunity responses, weak muscles, osteoporosis, anaemia, and slower wound healing, amongst other conditions, eating unhealthy things can lead to overweight, obesity, and raised cholesterol levels, with all the problems that these bring. By having a diet that is low in fat, cholesterol and salt and is high in fruits, vegetables, grains, and fibre will keep your risk of heart disease low. Therefore, it could be said that a healthy diet could save a considerable number of lives, as heart disease is the number one cause of death in some countries, such as Australia (Australia Bureau of Statistics, 2015).ÂÂ   As there are many other factors involved, even someone who eats healthy could develop heart disease, but the benefits of a healthy diet has beneficial consequences for the body in general and could even delay the event of such diseases. The reason for such considerable benefits is mainly because the body has nutritional requirements and when those requirements are satisfied it has large benefits in the function and health of our body. The body on its own cannot produce carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins and minerals. However, these nutrients can be obtained by consuming healthy food, such as fruits and vegetables. The Department of Health of the Government of the United Kingdom officially issued a dietary advice called the EatwellPlatein2011. It is a pictorial summary of the main food groups and their recommended proportions for a healthy diet, as illustrated in the graphic bellow: This graphic shows that a balanced diet should contain: Large portions of fruit and vegetables Large portions of starchy foods, such as bread, rice, potatoes and pasta Balanced portion of meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein Balanced portion of milk and dairy foods A small amount of food and drinks that are high in fat and/or sugar The human system can generally produce most of these minerals.ÂÂ   However, it cannot produce at least 16 of them. Before, we could only extract minerals from foods, while nowadays we can obtain them from pills that are sold on the pharmacy and even supermarkets. By consuming a variety of different foods throughout the day our bodies will be adequately satisfied and will be able to function properly so one will be in healthy conditions and feel good within themselves.ÂÂ   Eating healthy is about being aware of what is good for our bodies. Eating healthy can also makes a person feel good about themselves, raising ones self esteem. Choosing a healthy food instead of junk food not only helps a person to feel better emotionally but also improves the functions of the body in general. Healthful eating is about creating and maintaining a healthy diet and it starts by educating ourselves with factual knowledge of the great benefits of healthful eating. Many people today enjoy a greater abundance and variety of food than ever before. Nevertheless, countless health and nutritional problems arise from unbalanced diets and overeating. It is not that easy to eat healthy, as the researchers, from the Neuroscience Program in Substance Abuse (N-PISA) at Vanderbilt University, USA mentioned, A high fat diet causes people to eat more, which ultimately impairs the ability of obese people to successfully control their caloric intake, lose weight and maintain weight loss. We have conducted several studies trying to understand why a high fat diet has this effect. This probably explains the reason why people tend to eat unhealthy junk food. To sum up, eating healthy have uncountable benefits and it can lengthen your life by preventing certain diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity at the same time it increases ones self esteem. Also, as the human body does not produce several nutrients that our body requires for its function, individuals need to have a balanced diet. A balanced and healthy meal would include large portions of fruit, vegetables and starchy foods, a balanced portion of meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein, a balanced portion of milk and dairy foods and a small amount of food and drinks that are high in fat and/or sugar. Even though it could be easier to eat unhealthier, a good knowledge of the benefits of eating healthier could change ones life for better. References: Elsevier. A high fat diet leads to overeating because of faulty brain signaling: Offering low fat foods could help prevent obesity, say researchers. ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 September 2015. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Causes of Death 2015 (3303.0) September 2016 Department of Health, Government of the United Kingdom;ÂÂ   Eatwell Plate, 2011 Barbuto, J. E. (2006, July). Mental Energy: Assessing the Motivation Dimension. Nutrition Reviews, 64(7).

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Modes of Power for Women Essay -- Theogony Females Birth Greek Essays

Modes of Power for Women The struggle for control over birth transcends centuries and continents. Gloria Steinem, a women’s rights advocate of the 1990s describes how â€Å"the traditional design of most patriarchal buildings of worship imitates the female body† in order that â€Å"men [can] take over the yoni-power of creation by giving birth symbolically† (Steinem XV). The struggle for control over the power of procreation between the sexes existed in Ancient Greece. It is apparent in the Theogony, an account of the creation of Greek deities, composed by Hesiod sometime between the eighth and seventh centuries. The Theogony depicts how males attempted to subvert control of procreation by monitoring the womb, through force, and by undermining mother-child relationships. The Theogony also describes how women combated the subversion through willpower, deceit, and forming mother-child bonds to preserve the female power of birth, the unique power to control what is created and influenc e the actions of that creation. In the Theogony, creation starts with two powerful initial goddesses: Chaos and Gaia. These goddesses give birth to a plethora of children, all of them born â€Å"without [the goddesses] mating in sweet love† (line 132). Because they give birth through self-procreation the goddesses have absolute control over their wombs. As other deities are born self-procreation is replaced by births of dual parentage. With gods and dual parentage, subversion of the female womb begins. Absolute control of birth is replaced by the struggle between genders for control of birth. Gods gain access to the womb three ways: limiting or monitoring the offspring that the womb releases, using sexual force against women, an... ...by unabating trouble in his heart and in his mind, and there is no cure for his plight† (611-612), indicates men are unable to conquer the female womb. Through desire, deceit, and offspring mortal women and goddesses preserve autonomy over birth. Birth is an amazing ability. It is a uniquely female power. The Theogony provides a portrait of the struggle between the sexes for control of the womb. Men attempt to gain access to birth by monitoring and grasping control over what leaves the womb, through sexual force, and by destroying the powerful mother-child bonds. Nonetheless, women retain autonomy. Sheer force of will, as Hera’s birth illustrates, deceit, and strong mother-child bonds preserve female power of procreation. Through birth women influence and control the course of human (or deities) destiny. Through their wombs women gain powerful agency.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Kimbell Art Museum Essay

The Kimbell Art Museum at Fort Worth, Texas houses some of the most exquisite and fascinating art pieces. The museum boasts of its wide array of collection of paintings, sculptures, potteries and other historical and cultural artifacts from all over the world. Visiting this place is like going through a time machine because of the many artworks from different periods in history that you can see and even touch. Visitors can enjoy both the beauty of the old and the new and at the same time comprehend the perspectives of the traditional and the avant-garde. Ancient masterpieces that date back as old as the prehistoric period are displayed alongside modern artworks. Most of the collections exhibited at the museum had existed way before I was even born. Meanwhile, there are also items that are so recent that I am not even aware of them. The diversity of paintings, sculptures and other artworks is so overwhelming that it inspires the visitors to be in touch with their creative or â€Å"artsy† side. The various collections and exhibitions are not the only attractions of the museum because the museum itself is also considered as a work of art. The modern design of the building and the manner the space and the natural light were utilized â€Å"enhanced the experience of the art (Kimbell Art Museum). Moreover, when I was looking around in and out of the museum, I stumbled upon a collection of a few Greek art pieces. In this part of the museum, there was this one object that caught my attention and interest. To feed my curiosity, I went closer to see the object up-close and to learn more about it. It was a black vase with red graphics painted on it. According to the description, the vase was credited to Brygos Painter which was made around 490–480 B. C. during the late archaic period (Kimbell Art Museum). Back then, the red-figure and black-figure vases were the prominent works of art made by skilful artists. These vases were constructed based on their specific functions for everyday and ritual activities. Meanwhile, the â€Å"pictorial decorations provide insights into many aspects of Athenian life and complement the literary texts and inscriptions from the Archaic and, especially, Classical periods. † This particular vase is called the â€Å"lekythos or the one-handled oil jug. † Moreover, Brygos Painter was considered as a â€Å"second-generation master of the red-figure style. † Most of his masterpieces exuded â€Å"freshness and vigor of Late Archaic art† (The Metropolitan Museum of Art). On the illustration painted on the vase, it displayed the image of a Greek god called Eros who is also known as the â€Å"god of love. † In this particular visual representation, he was portrayed as an archer with wings with a bow and arrow. Also, Eros was nude with only a mantle covering his shoulders. Meanwhile, the facial expression was stoic but with a hint of serene concentration as Eros get ready to draw his bow. In this period, the mastery of human form was not that evident but artists were able to provide a close depiction of the human body which was shown in the muscular definitions of the body of Eros specifically at the chest and torso area. More so, the figure lacked depth emphasizing the two-dimensionality feature of the painting. The position of Eros, with the right foot slightly bent with the left foot stretched and combined with the extended arms pointing to the left holding the bow and arrow, showed motion. Through this body gesture, the artist was able to create movement for the figure which at that time was considered as a sophisticated painting technique. Additionally, the series of repetitive intricate patterns drawn all over the vase gave the painting texture making it more interesting and visually appealing. Also, the floral design on the base of the neck of the vase provided fluidity to the overall painting because of the curves and various shapes incorporated. Works Cited â€Å"About the Museum. † 2008. Kimbell Art Museum. 19 November 2008 . â€Å"Athenian Vase Painting: Black- and Red-Figure Techniques. † 2008. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 19 November 2008 . â€Å"Greek. † 2008. Kimbell Art Museum. 19 November 2008 .

Friday, November 8, 2019

How to Choose the Right Book Cover Dimensions in 3 Simple Steps

How to Choose the Right Book Cover Dimensions in 3 Simple Steps How to Choose the Right Book Cover Dimensions When we talk about book cover design, we often talk about the color palette, typography and use of images. What we rarely mention are the dimensions of the cover. After all, it’s usually determined by the book’s trim size. That, or it’s seemingly inconsequential, as most new independent authors rely on ebook sales anyhow, where the cover only really exists on digital retailers.In this post, we'll look at the standard sizes of book covers in publishing and help you decide on the right dimensions when creating or commissioning your own design.Before we jump too far into the conversation, let's start by looking at the most popular ebook cover sizes used today.What are the recommended book cover dimensions?Kindle Direct Publishing recommended size -   2,560 x 1,600 (1.6:1 aspect ratio)Novels and Non-Fiction -   2,560px x 1,600px (1.5:1 aspect ratio)Illustrated Books -   2,800px x 3,920px  (1.4:1 aspect ratio) or  3,000px x 3,600px (1.2:1 aspect ratio)Audiob ooks -   3,200px x 3,200px (1:1 aspect ratio)These numbers might be confusing at first, especially if you're not familiar with pixels and aspect ratios. In this next section, we'll take a closer look at what these terms mean, and how they will affect your cover. Choosing the size and shape of your ebook coverThe cover on the right has half the dots per square inch (DPI) of the version on the left.Both KDP Print and IngramSpark suggest a resolution of 300 dots per square inch (DPI) for your cover design. And in the case of most printers, a CMYK (Cyan Magenta Yellow) color profile is preferred over an RGB (Red Green Blue) one.To learn more about designing your perfect cover, check out this complete guide to book cover design on the Reedsy blog.Do you have any questions or thoughts on book covers and their recommended dimensions? Drop a message in the comments below.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Amir and Baba Essays

Amir and Baba Essays Amir and Baba Essay Amir and Baba Essay Amir and Babas relationship changes throughout the novel. The novel starts out with Amir doing whatever he could to win his fathers attention, which includes betraying his best friend, Hassan. He betrayed Hassan for his fathers full attention. He then earns it when Hassan and Ali move out and Baba and Amir move to America. Here are the examples. 1. Amir and Babas relationship is fake. Amir is pretending to be someone he is not by pretending to enjoy the soccer games Baba always takes him to see. 2. Amir and Babas relationship becomes real when Baba is diagnosed with cancer. Amir cares for him and stays with him until he dies. They become very close. 3. Amir and Baba are very alike. They both betrayed their best friends. Baba betrayed Ali by sleeping with his wife, and Amir betrayed Hassan by not standing up for him while getting assaulted. Then they both try to redeem themselves with doing other good deeds. Baba, running an orphanage, and Amir going back to Kabul to save Sohrab, Hassans son. I hope these work for you 🙂 ONE DECISION CHANGED EVERYTHING Too late we learn, a man must hold his friend unjudged, accepted, trusted to the end (John Boyle OReilly). Khaled Hosseini’s story of The Kite Runner showed a vast amount of love, trust, and betrayal towards two completely different people. Amir, the son of a wealthy and well-known man in the northern area of Kabul, develops a friendship with one of his servants named Hassan. As years progressed, Amir had a chance to save Hassan but the way he acted affected their lives which led them to follow two separate paths in life. Looking into his past, an aged and wise Amir struggled with the choices that he made as a young child that ultimately altered the friendship with Hassan. As young boys becoming adolescents, Amir and Hassan enjoyed doing everything together. However, Amir never considered Hassan and him friends. Amir felt this way because he knew that neither history nor religion changed who they were. In the end, Amir was a Pashtun and Hassan was a Hazara. But, they were kids; they fed from the same breast and they learned to crawl together. Nothing was going to change that either. Amir spent most of the first twelve years of his life with Hassan. They used to play hide-and-seek, cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, and they loved insect torture (Hosseini 25). They took strolls together through the parks and saw many movies together. One of the most memorable times that Amir and Hassan shared together was underneath their pomegranate tree on top of a hill. They climbed the tree and Amir read many stories to Hassan. Hassan was uneducated and Amir made fun of him because he could not read. One summer day, Amir and Hassan took knives to the top of the hill and carved their names in the tree. It read, â€Å"Amir and Hassan, the sultans of Kabul†. No matter what would happen to these two in the future, this saying was permanent and the story of the lives of these two individuals never left this tree. Those words made it formal: the tree was theirs (Hosseini 27). Hassan was the one who helped Amir choose the path of his future career. Amir had taken advantage of the friendship between Hassan and him. He made fun of him whenever he had the chance, but Hassan never took it to heart and still perceived Amir as his best friend. One day while he read to Hassan, Amir made up the ending of the story and Hassan loved it. He said, â€Å"That was the best story you’ve read me in a long time† (Hosseini 30). That same night, he wrote his first story. In The Kite Runner, Hassan was both physically and mentally stronger than Amir. According to Baba, Amir’s father, there was something wrong with Amir since his birth. Amir never stood up for himself and he was different for the fact that he liked poetry, something that Baba believed was not normal for a young boy. One day while Hassan and Amir were walking towards their tree, they came upon Assef and his friends. Assef was the son of one of Baba’s friends, an airline pilot. He was known for his brass knuckles and wanted to start an argument with Hassan and Amir. Right before he was going to hurt them, Hassan grabbed his slingshot and aimed it right at Assef’s left eye. He let the boys go but said he was going to get revenge. This part of the story foreshadowed an event that occurred later in the story in which Amir and Hassan’s lives were changed forever. Throughout the entire story, Amir felt that Baba was not giving him the attention he needed. Anytime Amir wanted to be alone with his father, Baba asked Hassan to join him. Many examples were written in the book, but the general idea was that Amir was never left to be with his father alone. This presented another foreshadowing scene that was resolved at the end of the book. This was a large twist to the story that many people never saw coming. Kite flying was a major event that took place every year. The object of the game was to be the last kite flying in the air. After all the other kites were cut down, a person chased the kite to redeem their pride and glory. During the tournament, Amir cut down the last kite and Hassan ran to get the kite for Amir. Amir went looking for Hassan after he did not arrived home. This is when the devastating incident occurred that changed the friendship of Amir and Hassan. â€Å"I opened my mouth, almost said something. Almost. The rest of my life might have turned out differently if I had. But I did not. I just watched paralyzed† (Hosseini 73). Trying to find Hassan, Amir walked through the streets of his home town as he looked and asked others if they saw a Hazara running for/with a blue kite. All of a sudden, Amir heard voices and he found Hassan. Amir saw the blue kite behind the back of Hassan; he protected the kite from the one person that he hated the most. It was Assef. Hassan did not give up the kite and was given two options: He either gave the blue kite to Assef or expected something bad to happen to him. Hassan refused to give up the kite and was molested. Amir caught a glimpse of Hassan’s face and ran away. He betrayed the person that once stood up for him; the one person who was willing to do anything to be loyal to Amir. He was a coward. At that instant in time when Amir decided to run, life was no longer what it used to be. â€Å"I lifted Hassan’s mattress and planted my new watch and a handful of Afghani bills under it. I waited another thirty minutes. Then I knocked on Baba’s door and told what I hoped would be the last in a long line of shameful lies† (Hosseini 104). Amir could not stand living with Hassan any more. He tried to make it seem as if Hassan stole money from Amir. After Baba was notified about this incident, he made everyone sit in a room. Hassan took the blame for the stealing because he wanted to save Amir. Amir was surprised when Baba had forgiven Hassan for the stealing, but Asi told Baba that they could not stand living there anymore and they decided to leave. As Hassan and his father loaded their belongings into Baba’s vehicle, Amir realized that this was the last time he saw Hassan in person. Forever. Due to the war going on, Amir and Baba were forced to move to America. Here, Amir started a whole new life and began a family. Amir and his wife tried to have a child, but they were unlucky. Baba later died in the story and Amir had to live life on his own. He kept thinking back to the old times in Kabul where he grew up. However, no matter how hard Amir tried to forget about the rape of Hassan, the dreams kept coming. The phone call. Amir received a phone call from a past friend that wanted him to return to his home country. Amir did not want to leave his life in America, but he went anyway. After he arrived, Amir received the shocking news; from this moment on everything in his past now made sense! Rahim Khan, the friend of Amir who told him to come back to Pakistan, said that Hassan was not just their servant; Amir and Hassan were brothers. Asi, the man who raised Hassan, was sterile and Baba was his true father. The secret had been kept between Baba and Rahim Khan throughout the lives of Amir and Hassan. Amir was very upset and yelled, â€Å"I’m thirty eight years old and I’ve just found out my whole life is one big fucking lie! † (Hosseini 222). The main reason that Rahim Khan brought Amir back to Pakistan was not for the sake of telling him that Hassan was his brother. Amir found out that while he was living a life in America, Hassan started his own as well. They had a child named Sohrab; however, this child was now sought to be found because Hassan and his wife were killed during the war. In the end, Amir decided to stand up for himself and knew that he had to find this child. He was not going to be the same coward that was back as a child; those days were over. Amir had found Sohrab and took him back to America. As time progressed, Amir saw many similarities in Sohrab that he had once seen in Hassan. Through the long journey of finding and rescuing Sohrab, Amir finally began to see who he really was. There is a way to be good again (Hosseini 226). Rahim Khan was one of the few men that knew everything that occurred in Amir’s life. He knew about the raping. He knew that Amir had been a coward and ran away. He knew Amir was suffering and he wanted to relieve him of his guilt; the only way to do this was to have Amir come back to Pakistan and care for Hassan’s only child. After saving Sohrab, Amir no longer felt like a coward. Amir realized that the past could not be changed or altered to how he wanted his life to end up. He now understood his goal in life and that was to take care of Sohrab. He needed to repay Hassan back for all the good that he has done for him, even though he knew that nobody could live up to the loyalty and trust that Hassan gave him. Amir loved Hassan and wanted to repay him in as many ways as possible; he would have done anything for him if he was still alive today†¦a thousand times over.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Financial Management of the American Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ Essay

Financial Management of the American Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ - Essay Example Their similarities and differences will also be outlined. In order to evaluate how events in business entities affect the valuation of their stocks, it will also deem worthwhile to look at how the Former WorldCom Inc. Chief Executive Bernard Ebber's case affected WorldCom Inc., and the whole telecommunication industry. The origin of the American Stock Exchange can be traced back during the colonial times when "stockbrokers created outdoor markets to trade government securities." During 1921, the trading began to be conducted indoors with the hand signals developed remaining popular during transactions. Nowadays, the AMEX has evolved to become a trading platform not only for securities but options. The AMEX also specializes in trading Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) like Standard and Poor's Depository Receipt (SPDR) and Powershares, and hybrid or structured securities (AMEX.com 2006). On the other hand, NASDAQ, whose name is originally taken from the acronym National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations, is the largest screen based equity securities market in the United States. It prides of having 3,200 listed companies which are recognized leaders in their industries. Its technical capability as well as reliability enables it to list more companies as well as gain the recognition of having the most number of shares traded per day (NASDAQ.com 2006). Both AMEX and NASDAQ are financial intermediaries aimed to transfer surplus funds from investors to companies by the trading of securities. In their profiles, it can be seen that they both facilitate the trading of stocks from companies. However, AMEX has long changed its core business of stock to option trading. Furthermore, AMEX also facilitates the exchange of other financials instruments like EFT and hybrid/structured securities. It should also be noted that stocks traded in NASDAQ are often more volatile and geared for growth like electronics and internet companies. On the other hand, AMEX is recognized to have more liberal policies on company listing attracting smaller, less established firms. Aside from the financial instruments traded, AMEX and NASDAQ also differ in other operational aspects. It should be noted that as opposed to AMEX which operates on a physical location, the transaction in NASDAQ occurs not on a physical trading floor but on a telecommunication network. IN AMEX, people are on the trading floor matching exchange buy and sell orders in behalf of investors. In NASDAQ, trading occurs directly between investors and their buyers and sellers, who are referred to as market makers. This is made possible by the technology installed by NASDAQ which elaborately and electronically connects companies. The AMEX is an example of an auction market where the highest bidding price is often matched with the lowest asking price while NASDAQ is a market maker or dealer that buyers and sellers go through to facilitate their transactions. The WorldCom, Inc. Fiasco WorldCom, Inc. once became the second largest long distance company in the United States after AT&T. However, the company suffered financially and finally filled bankruptcy in July 21, 2002. This event became so detrimental to not only to WorldCom but the whole telecommunication industry (MCI 2006). The fiasco was traced to the corruption of the company's former CEO Bernard Ebbers who accumulated wealth

Friday, November 1, 2019

Human bodys nonspecific second line of defense Assignment

Human bodys nonspecific second line of defense - Assignment Example Immunity is further subdivided into a number of concepts to facilitate the learning for students. The concept chosen here to demonstrate the learning method is human body’s nonspecific second line of defense. This is aimed towards college students and it has been assumed that they have prior understanding of the components of the defense mechanism and know the structure of proteins and WBCs (Glucksman, 2006). In Part 2, using examples and non-examples the concept will be explained in an east-to-grasp manner for students. These examples and non-examples have been chosen to make the concept easier for the students and will be analyzed further to allow students to distinguish between the relevant and irrelevant details based on their relation with critical features to gain clarity of concept. Part 3 will finish the learning exercise with a set of questions aimed at testing the comprehension of the project by the student. They will be different than the examples and non-examples so as to gauge student’s learning. For each short question, the student should be able to give a brief explanation and identify the critical feature involved. Answers have been provided in the Appendix for reference of both students and teachers. Human body’s second line of defense system protects the body against all types of nonspecific infections and antigens. All the features work together to provide the body with the immunity enabling it to survive and fight the foreign invasions. The critical features are: Each critical feature will be further explained in detail. Their function, site of action, and effectiveness in combating the disease will be discussed with the students. Also, the results if second line of defense is compromised will be highlighted. Phagocytic cells are involved in the nonspecific immunity as they attack and ingest the foreign particles, antigens. There are a few types