Words That Mean The Most To Me free essay sample

Everyone has an inside joke or saying with their friends or family; so they all know that that joke is even funnier when someone does not understand the story behind it all. People will beg you to know what you are laughing about, but you know giving away the secret would be like spending your leftover birthday money on a cheap toy; in the end it is not worth it. My family and I have inside jokes and sayings we bring up from time to time, and even my friends share a few laughs with me over the silliest of things we remember doing. Inside jokes and old sayings bring smiles to everyone, but it is the ones that nobody will ever understand that makes them all worthwhile. â€Å"Crappa, I have missed you!† That is not your everyday greeting to your grandfather, but for some odd reason my family will never be able to call him otherwise. We will write a custom essay sample on Words That Mean The Most To Me or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The story goes all the way back to when I was just learning how to talk, and â€Å"baby words† were all that would come out of my tiny, never quiet, mouth. Everyone has heard the words â€Å"dadda† and â€Å"momma,† but I was making my own dictionary since age two. I had used creative words like â€Å"chubba† for ‘brother’ and â€Å"teeta† for the word ‘sister,’ but the family favorite word I created was the still-popular â€Å"crappa.† I would call him this name everwhere we went, and the funny looks we got never seemed to bother us. In all of my grandfather’s birthday cards, we cross out the word ‘grandpa’ and change it to his real name, or at least what we consider it to be. To this day there is no explanation for my abnormal word choice, but it somehow found its way to be in the family list of sayings. Now whenever we see my grandpa, we do not call him like most people would call their grandf athers; we call him â€Å"Crappa.† Being the little girl that I was, you would expect me to ask for something like a new Barbie or a tea-set for Christmas, when actually I was beyond thrilled receiving the simplest gift anyone could ever get. That is why that Christmas ended up being one of the most memorable times in our family, and â€Å"shoelaces† would never be taken the same way again. When I was about eight or nine years old, I aimed to be exactly like my older sister, Brianna; I wanted to go to the same school as her, talk like her, and even dress like her. Bri had bought black tennis shoes, along with a pair of shoelaces covered in hot pink stars to match perfectly. Now, if she would have worn those today, I would be embarrassed to be around her, but back then, I wanted nothing more than to have what she had, wardrobe included. My mom got me black tennis shoes so I could match Brianna, but left out the best part, those black and hot pink beauties. Of course I was still happy to be almost like Brianna, but because they didn’t stand out like hers, they were just another pair of boring, black tennis shoes. Christmas time came around, and I was filling out my wish list. On that list you could find the Hilary Duff clothing line from Target or the new Barbie doll, but at the very top of my list wrote the most ridiculous item a little girl could want, â€Å"black shoelaces with pink stars on them, like Bri’s,† capitalized and in bold to emphasize my need for them. My family kept telling me that they were sold out and could not be found anywhere, which lowered my expectations for them until I believed I would not find them under the Christmas tree to be unwrapped that year. Christmas Eve came around and we all sat by the tall, glowing tree, ready to open presents. Everyone was there: my siblings, parents, grandparents, and even my cousins who had come all the way from Minnesota. There was a tiny gift under the tree with my name on it from my sister. I had a feeling I knew what it was, but I did not want to get my hopes up. Excitement filled my eyes as I unwrapped the gift and noticed a hot pink star. Before I could even finish removing the gift wrap, I jumped off my seat and shouted at the top of my lungs, â€Å"shoelaces!† My family had never seen me so excited over something so little. Next thing you know, I was running around the couch and up and down the stairs, waving my new shoelaces around. I immediately went and grabbed my black tennis shoes and started changing the laces. That was one of the best Christmases of my life. Now, whenever someone gets a gift they had been wanting, we scream â€Å"shoelaces!† like that Christmas had just been replayed. Even though none of us are related, I like to consider my dance team my family as well; I am with them every day, and we have the best of times together. There are a countless number of inside jokes we share together, a lot of them even we cannot describe. One of our all-time favorites took place at the dance studio on an early Saturday morning, when â€Å"we knew what to do.† We danced non-stop on Saturdays from eight in the morning to three in the afternoon, so every week was a new and hilarious memory to look forward to. We were in the middle of our drink break, when everyone went out into the lobby to refill their water bottles from the water jug. After a few minutes of filling bottle after bottle, the five-gallon jug became a dry, empty five-gallon jug. As we sat there drinking and breathing heavily in order to catch our breath, the desk attendant, Paige, brought out another jug. All of a sudden, we heard a â€Å"thump† and a â€Å"splash.† Just as Paige wa s flipping the new jug into the dispenser, water shot out of some unnoticeable cracks in the container, spilling all over the floor. Before we could react to the mess, water was seeping into the corners of the walls and under our seats. Every girl’s motherly instincts set in as we raced to the storage unit to grab whatever we could find: towels, napkins, tissues, anything that would soak up the water. Within seconds, every dancer from ages four to eighteen was on her hands and knees cleaning up the flooded mess. After twenty minutes of non-stop drying and mopping, we all sat down, looked at each other, and started laughing harder than we have ever laughed before. Our teacher came out and stated, â€Å"Wow, you guys knew what to do!† Then the little girls repeated her, saying, â€Å"Yeah, that was funny but we knew what to do,† followed by the older girls laughing and stating, â€Å"At least we knew what to do.† For the next thirty minutes, the only words you heard were â€Å"It is okay, we knew what to do!† Words cannot explain why we still say it today, but no matter what happens, we just look at each other and say, â€Å"We know what to do.† My favorite thing about an inside joke or old saying is when you can bring it up at any moment and still be able to laugh about it. You could be bringing up something someone said almost ten years ago or something that had just happened and it will still put a smile on everyone’s faces. Whether it is a family saying or an old memory with your closest friends, it is something that will stick with you forever. Special moments like those bring you and your loved ones closer than ever before and call for even more amazing memories to be made later on.

The Lord of The Files by William Golding.

The Lord of The Files by William Golding. Of Savages and InnocentsIn William Golding's Lord of the Flies, it is apparent the author is trying to get across the point that evil is inside of each of us.In all cultural stereotypes, even today, anyone who may be different from the typical American white man can be labeled as savage. Man's original sin is overlooked and all the negative energy is focused on the "evil" differences of other cultures. For example, in Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, the author wrote a fictional account of Crusoe and his attempt to civilize a savage. The savage in the story, was an evil creature who did not know the difference between yes and no, and was intent on finding the graves of two dead men and, "making signs to me that we should dig them up again, and eat them". In the story, Crusoe taught the man morals and clothed him, for which the story made him a hero, when all he really had done was rip a man away from his homeland.Mohawk VS GoldingsAnother example is Rudyard Kipling, who wrote the poem "The White Man's Burden" in response to the increased amount of Philippine people in America. Because the people of the Philippines had different customs, values, and looks, they were thought right away to be savages. Kipling wrote his poem to the United States as if to say "now you have to deal with this load of savages". He wrote about the Philippine people in a negative manner of the savages, calling them "your new-caught, sullen peoples, half devil and half child", perfectly reflecting the definition of definition of savagery at the time.Golding's Lord of the Flies was a radical objection in the face of prejudice, stating that white men were just as savage of those others that...

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 - Research Paper Example The Sarbanes-Oxley act of 2002 is actually named â€Å"Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act†. As such, the act sought to change the way in which top management, accounting firms, and investors interacted with one another. By certifying the legitimacy of information, the framers of this act sought to correct many of the issues that had seemingly plagued auditors and oversight committees for years. The first of these changes can be described with regards to the creation of a public company accounting oversight Board (PCAOB). Much as the name implies, this particular entity is required as a means of providing a level of oversight with respect to the registration and analysis of compliance that audits and auditors are able to put forward. Through such an entity, the overall level of oversight that auditors and committees can affect is drastically increased; tangentially leading to a situation in which the potential for abuse is subsequently reduced. A further core component of Sarbanes-Oxley is with respect to what is known as auditor independence. By establishing key standards for auditor independence that help to limit conflicts of interest and promote the overall truthfulness, veracity, and reduction in bias, this particular complement of Sarbanes-Oxley is directed at restricting the level of integration that key firms can provide to another. For instance, prior to Sarbanes-Oxley, it was perfectly legal that a particular accounting firm could also serve the joint function of consulting with the same firm that they were hired to analyze and recommend key accounting practices/approaches (Gupta et al., 2013). Naturally, the conflict of interest within such a case is profound and creates a situation in which either the accounting procedures and/or the consulting would be adversely affected by the conflict of interest

Current Pop Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Current Pop Culture - Essay Example The current pop culture exercises its control over the thought of the people by generating the aspect of â€Å"opinion† through mass media. That is to say it becomes an artistic expression of the people, thus creating solidarity, as Kidd (2007) explains (Fedorak 3). To enhance the role played by pop culture in the lives of the people, I would undertake the examples from television and film fraternity. The television series The Sex and the City and the film The Hunger Games, both adapted from the book series, not only explain the blatant influence created by the pop culture, but also cover the wide genre of pop culture, namely literature and technology, in order to generate a striking effect on the mass consumption. The Sex and the City (1988-2004) is generally applauded for showing the prevalent theme of individualism and the society that rules our lives. It features single women as strong, honest, independent and happy, who are striving to find their individual identity in th e facets of societal foundations. The show is regarded as a post feminist exploration of single women living in New York City. It is a show about women and their friendships, their sex lives and their experiences. It is perhaps because of the issues like identity, the relation between an individual and society, and the underlying theme of sexual sovereignty that The Sex and the City can be used as the foremost example in explaining the workings of the pop culture. The protagonist Carrie Bradshaw is a sex columnist for the fictional paper The New York Star; it is through the lens of her columns that each episode is shaped. This characterization is quite important for the consumer. He meets an individual who is not only a strong, independent woman with a critical point of view, but also a sex columnist discussing sex lives of women, thus claiming sexual sovereignty. Her honesty and imperfection highlight the general thought of the public that make them identify with her. Other female characters, Miranda, a cynical attorney, asserts her independence as a woman reconciling with her motherhood and her marriage; Charlotte, a hopeless romantic lives in a world of fairy tales but eventually realizes the stark distinction between fantasy and reality; and Samantha, the self-proclaimed sex- loving, hyper sexualized old woman dealing with her state of menopause, different yet embodiment of feminism, gives a glimpse of different shades of a modern woman. They are reflection of an era where women were exercising control over their lives without the male interference. They highlight the concept of choice where an independent woman is free from the bounds of motherhood and marriage, where parents are never seen and the family mentioned is of female friendship, thus highlighting the notion of pop culture as an indicator of shared value. The Hunger Games (2012) is the most recent example of human identity being shaped by the interplay of media and individual choice in construct ing personality. It showcases the tenuous division between reality and fabrication through a violent competition in which children and teens are

An in Depth Look at the Role of Forensic Science and its Impact on Dissertation

An in Depth Look at the Role of Forensic Science and its Impact on Justice - Dissertation Example lso examines the potential for injustice in terms of the CSI effect and the contamination of evidence in the collection and analyses of forensic evidence. It is suggested that attending problems associated with the pitfalls of the use of forensic science are outweighed by its positive role in and impact on the administration of justice. Table of Contents Abstract 4 Table of Contents 5 Chapter One 7 Introduction to the Study 7 Introduction 7 Research Questions 9 Aims and Objectives of the Study 10 Significance of the Study 11 Research Methodology 12 Ethics 13 Organization of the Study 13 Chapter Two 14 A Review of the Literature 14 Introduction 14 The Effective and Efficient Use of Forensic Science in the Administration of Justice 15 Factors Compromising the Effective and Efficient Use of Forensic Science in the Administration of Justice 19 The CSI Effect 19 The Collection, Analysis and Presentation of Forensic Evidence 26 Conclusion 31 Chapter Three 31 Case Studies: The Role of Foren sic Science in the Administration of Justice 31 Introduction 31 Stephen Lawrence 32 Case Background 32 Trial 34 Amanda Knox 38 Case Background 38 The Trial 39 The Appeal 41 Steve Wright 44 Case Background 44 The Trial 46 Mark Dixie 48 Case Background 48 The Trial 48 Colin Pitchfork 50 Case Background 50 The Trial 51 Shirley McKie 52 Case Background 52 The Trial 54 O.J. Simpson 54 Case Background 54 The Trial 55 Chapter Four 59 Research Findings 59 Chapter Five 70 Conclusion/Recommendations 70 Conclusion 70 Recommendations 73 Chapter One Introduction to the Study Introduction In the course of a trial, contemporary forensic science comes under greater scrutiny than any other form of evidence (Saks & Koehler, 1991). Methods of collection and analyses of forensic evidence are typically... This research study also examines the potential for injustice in terms of the CSI effect and the contamination of evidence in the collection and analyses of forensic evidence. It is suggested that attending problems associated with the pitfalls of the use of forensic science are outweighed by its positive role in and impact on the administration of justice. In the course of a trial, contemporary forensic science comes under greater scrutiny than any other form of evidence (Saks & Koehler, 1991). Methods of collection and analyses of forensic evidence are typically challenged by the party against whom the evidence is tendered (Saks & Koehler, 1991). Therefore when forensic science stands up to rigorous scrutiny and challenge it is typically the highest standard of evidence (Koppl, 2005). On the contrary, erroneous calculations, analyses, cross contamination and poor collection procedures can render forensic science meaningless and at times detrimental to its goal of finding the truth (Saks et. al., 2001). According to Saks et. al. (2001) practice and standards of collection and analyses of forensic evidence is the key to the reliability of forensic science. When forensic evidence is reliably collected and analysed, the role of forensic science in the administration of justice is to â€Å"extract the truth† (Koppl, 2005, p. 255). It therefore follows that when forensic science is used properly and appropriately, its primary impact on the criminal justice system is to ensure that culpability is reliably assessed and innocent persons are exonerated. Jayewardene (1988) puts the role of forensic science in simple terms.

Food Scarcity in Djibouti

Food Scarcity in Djibouti Djibouti is a small arid country in Eastern Africa. It has extremely important and convenient transshipment facilities at the mouth of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Its terrestrial neighbors are Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. Maritime neighbor is Yemen. Djibouti has a convenient geographical position in means of trade. Its capital and main port Addis Ababa transports about 60 percent of Ethiopian export goods. Djibouti has a lot of problems. Its climate is arid. There are few fertile lands in Djibouti. Neighboring Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia impose additional tension in the region. Conflicts between Somalia and Eritrea adversely affect Djibouti. Bilateral ties between Djibouti and Eritrea were suspended in the period of 1998-2000. Such instability harms Djibouti and aggravates its economic lagging. Djibouti’s population comprises two main ethnical groups: Muslim tribe Issai with Somalian origin and Afars with Ethiopian origin. Scarcity of food and water are the most severe problems in Djibouti. There is also lack of expertise in dealing with these problems (Zoungrana, 2013). High unemployment and high food prices exacerbate the situation. The local government is seemed to be unable to improve the situation. The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET) reports, that Djiboutis urban centers like Balbala, Radiska, and Baulaos suffer food insecurity. Moreover, rural areas encounter food insecurity, too. Imed Khanfir, a programme adviser with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) reports, that about 42,600 people are severely food insecure with 24,300 others moderately food insecure in Djibouti. An overall population is 774,389 citizens by 2012. USAID provide Djibouti with food aid for 150,000 or one-fourth of the overall Djibouti’s population. Unstable economic situation is aggravated by the instant threat of the civil war between the tribes of Issais and Afars. Thus, the leader of ethnic groups dealt to share positions in the government. When the president is Issais’ representative, the prime minister must be of Afars’ origin. The Cabinet of Ministers positions also ought to be distributed among Issais and Afars. In 1990s Issais managed to usurp the whole government. This fact caused Afars’ outrage and provoked a civil war in Djibouti. Another Djibouti’s problem is an undemocratic and authoritarian tendency. Djibouti’s president Ismail Omar Guelleh has already served two terms as a president of the country, but 2010 Constitutional amendment allowed him to be reelected for the third term. Nevertheless, international community and U.S. are seemed to tolerate such situation because of the Guelleh’s agreement to erect US military base and anti-terrorist center in Djibouti. U.S. military base brought stability in the region, but did not eliminate all problems and threats. On the one hand, Djibouti was severely affected by the drought which hit the region in 2011. The number of drought influenced people rose from 120,000 in 2010 to 206,000 in 2011. Drought impact was aggravated by a large influx of refugees fleeing the conflict and drought in Somalia and other neighboring countries. This adds enormously to the burden on the already overstretched social service system. Another huge problem in Djibouti is its government inability to respond quickly the situation due to the elections. Every election makes government stagger and implement different initiatives very slowly. Electoral process makes government inactive and unable to solve the urgent needs of its people. Every new election causes a wholesale reorganization of the government, which initiates a set of new government initiatives which also had the effect of decreasing the government responsiveness. On the other hand, GDP growth remained relatively sufficient though it dropped short of expectations in 2011. The average GDP growth in period of 2005-2010 was around 5%. After five years of growth, economy slowed to 4.6% growth in 2011 against a predicted rate of 5.1%. The main guarantees for growth were foreign direct investment (FDI), mainly from Gulf Cooperation Council countries, into projects located around the port and construction and in the tourism sector. Concerning per capita income, the growth of the economy reached 1263 USD in 2010, qualifying Djibouti for middle income country (MIC) status under international classification. Military presence of France, the USA and Japan guarantee Djibouti’s economy additional significant revenue. Population growth is estimated at 2.18 percent every year. Djibouti Human Development Index was 0.430 in 2011, ranking the country 165 out of 187 countries. In 2010, life expectancy was 58 years, while mean years of school education was 3.8. UN still possesses no data concerning the scales of poverty in Djibouti in 2013. According to the period of the past five years, the situation did not improve, but deteriorated further in 2013. The overall amount of people living below the national poverty line more than doubled between 2002 and 2009 while the rate of people living below the nationwide extreme poverty line increased similarly over the same period. It is obvious that the economic growth of the recent past has not yet affected the poverty reduction for the large part of the population. The Government is seemed to neglect all the possibilities in expanding the humanitarian assistance taking into account the military presence in the country. New middle income country status has closed access to many grant and concessionary lending. MIC status is very unstable according to a huge amount of people living below extreme poverty line. There are no new international NGOs established operations since 2011 despite the drought emergency. The government should take more care about involving international NGO. As a result, Djibouti’s government keeps relying on UN support for technical assistance in key strategic spheres related to poverty alleviation. UN help the Djibouti’s government to accumulate resources from donors to address humanitarian needs of the most unprotected groups, influenced by the recurrent droughts. As a result, Djiboutian households keep experiencing strong food related economic pressures. The average cost of the basic food basket in 2011 remained well above the average cost for the previous five years. In 2011, the drought emergency that hit the region of Djibouti, Somalia and Ethiopia further aggravated the uneasy situation of the most vulnerable segments of the population, particularly those residing in the rural areas. The drought provoked the continued accumulation of livestock losses (close to 80 percent of the cattle in some areas) with a similar influence on the livelihoods of the nomadic population. Rural dwellers keep migrating to the urban areas swelling urban unemployment (60%) and poverty (42.1% extreme poverty). As a result, the UN Country Team had to devote an increased amount of time to accumulate resources to support humanitarian interventions in 2011. Furthermore, the drought and worsening insecurity in South Somalia kept provoking increases in the number of refugees infiltrating Djibouti. The quantity of refugees in the Ali Addeh camp rose from 12,000 to more than 14,000 over the course of 2010 and to 19,500 refugees at the end of 2011, a significant increase for a country of 818,159 people. In addition, the influx of migrants from Ethiopia, rushing towards Djibouti City, in seek of employment, and Yemen, the Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia) via the Bab el-Mandeb Straits also continued, and reached spectacular figures at certain points in the year. The civil war threat follows Djibouti since 1991. Afars’ minority struggled with Issa-dominated government. The conflict ended by signing a peace agreement in 1999 and electing a new president. Thus, recurrent influx of new refugees and immigrants from the neighboring countries reignites the conflict time after time. Peace agreement did not eliminate local violence. Ethiopian military operation in Somalia affected Djibouti negatively. Population was divided in their support of the belligerents. Djibouti has a significant number of people infected by HIV/AIDS. About 1 percent of the population lives with HIV (approximately 7,700 citizens [6,200-9,400]). The most vulnerable group is children, born by HIV/AIDS infected mothers. The UN Refugee Agency prescribes the main objectives and targets for 2014 for Djibouti. Among the main goals is refusal in refoulement and access to the refugee camps in Djibouti. Every month there are up to 400 new refugees in Djibouti from southern Somalia. About 2,700 refugees from Ethiopia and Eritrea also seek for asylum in Djibouti. The UN bodies provide regular trainings for Djibouti’s staff in order to help boarder guards and law-enforcement officials. All refugee children must be provided with birth certificates. Djibouti’s government with the UN Refugee Agency assistance ought to provide basic needs and essential services to the refugees. Basic needs include sanitation and hygiene conditions. The Holl-Holl and Ali-Addeh camps were provided with about 2,000 family latrines and 200 garbage pits. At least once a month UN employees conduct hygiene-awareness campaigns and camp clean-ups. Sanitation interventions must be frequent in order to protect refugees from he alth hazards. Djibouti’s problems are seemed to make vicious circle. On the one hand, arid climate and absence of oil deposits complicate enormously the economic growth in Djibouti. Regional instability, civil war, excessive immigrants’ influx aggravate the situation. The government has no financial resources to instigate industrial development let alone the environment protection issues. 40 percent of citizens live below the extreme poverty line. 1 percent is infected by AIDS/HIV. Djibouti’s GDP grows, but the positive result is erased by the loans’ repayments. . Djibouti imports almost 90 percent of its food and 100 percent of its fuel, which makes it even more vulnerable to the droughts and food prices on the world market. The country is seemed to be hostage of its own climate and lack of mineral resources and oil. Budget income grows due to transshipment and port fees, Djibouti’s monopoly to export goods from Ethiopia by railroads to the port Addis Ababa. Another positive factor is a military presence of France, the USA and Japan. Military bases pay taxes to the state budget and help fighting terrorism in the region. International Monetary Fund praises Djibouti for almost 5 percent GDP growth per annum. Nevertheless, the aforementioned factors burden the economy and oblige to raise taxes. International humanitarian assistance is still insufficient for the overall welfare in Djibouti. IMF recommends the government of Djibouti to implement reforms in the public sector and avoid unnecessary budget expenditures.   Works cited â€Å"United Nations Development Group† .http://www.undg.org/unct.cfm?module=CoordinationProfilepage=CountryCountryID=DJIfuseaction=UN%20Country%20Coordination%20Profile%20for%20Djibouti The World Factbook.Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 29 Dec. 2013. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/dj.html>. The Vital Port of Djibouti Receives International Aid Read more: Djibouti: Geography, History, Politics, and More | Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/country/djibouti.html?pageno=2 Zoungrana, S. Food insecurity looms in Djibouti. 15 07 2013. Web. 29 Dec. 2013. http://www.irinnews.org/report/98408/food-insecurity-looms-in-djibouti>. Resident Coordinator Annual Report 2011 for Djibouti. n.d. n. page. Web. 1 Jan. 2014. http://www.undg.org/rcar2011.cfm?fuseaction=RCARctyIDC=DJIP=1625>. â€Å"Djibouti: Fifth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility – IMF.† 19 May. 2012. Retrieved from: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2012/cr12197.pdf â€Å"2013 UNHCR country operations profile – Djibouti.† Retrieved from http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/page?page=49e483836

Talking Back to Civilization Essay -- Frederick E. Hoxie American Indi

Talking Back to Civilization Talking Back to Civilization , edited by Frederick E. Hoxie, is a compilation of excerpts from speeches, articles, and texts written by various American Indian authors and scholars from the 1890s to the 1920s. As a whole, the pieces provide a rough testimony of the American Indian during a period when conflict over land and resources, cultural stereotypes, and national policies caused tensions between Native American Indians and Euro-American reformers. This paper will attempt to sum up the plight of the American Indian during this period in American history. American Indians shaped their critique of modern America through their exposure to and experience with â€Å"civilized,† non-Indian American people. Because these Euro-Americans considered traditional Indian lifestyle savage, they sought to assimilate the Indians into their civilized culture. With the increase in industrialization, transportation systems, and the desire for valuable resources (such as coal, gold, etc.) on Indian-occupied land, modern Americans had an excuse for â€Å"the advancement of the human race† (9). Euro-Americans moved Indians onto reservations, controlled their education and practice of religion, depleted their land, and erased many of their freedoms. The national result of this â€Å"conquest of Indian communities† was a steady decrease of Indian populations and drastic increase in non-Indian populations during the nineteenth century (9). It is natural that many American Indians felt fearful that their culture and people wer e slowly vanishing. Modern America to American Indians meant the destruction of their cultural pride and demise of their way of life. American Indians associated many t... ... the â€Å"advancement of the Indian race† in a Euro-American-dominated society. These endeavors bring us back to the meaning of the title, Talking Back to Civilization . The fundamental of American government that was the greatest aid to the American Indians in their plight was their freedom of speech; without it, it is questionable whether American Indians would have been so progressive in finding justice. Convicting and compelling, words can be a powerful asset. In a way, words and voice were used to preserve the American Indian's distinctive identity; they were used as a weapon to hold on to whatever culture they had left. Words also documented the American Indian plight so people in the future (like us) could understand how distinctive they really were. Works Cited Hoxie, Frederick E., ed. Talking Back to Civilization . Boston: Bedford, 2001.

Directing Act II †the balcony scene of Romeo and Juliet Essay

Romeo and Juliet was originally a play written by William Shakespeare, who was a talented and popular playwright in the sixteenth and early seventeenth century. As there was no cinematography in his time, his plays were performed in theatres.  As I am directing Act II – the balcony scene of Romeo and Juliet, I have many advantages. In this day and age, we have the latest equipment and techniques for filmmaking. As a director I have to consider many technical factors such as camera angle, lights, effects, props and costumes. I am not going to muddle with the story line, but will make some changes, which will differentiate my scene from the original. To present a good performance, I will have to take some imperative factors into account. Such as the place the scene has in the overall structure of the play, historical background, the setting, development of character, themes and the use of language. Let me begin by describing the place the scene has in the overall play. Originally before Act II in Act I, we are introduced to the feuding families of the Montague and the Capulet’s. We learn that Romeo a youth, who is in despair with his unsuccessful love for a girl Rosanline, is the Montague’s son. Eventually Romeo is persuaded by his friend Benvolio and Mercutio to go uninvited to a Capulet ball. There he meets Juliet who is the Capulet’s daughter and falls in love with her at first sight. The events in Act II describe what follows with this new love story. This scene infact is the turning point of the play. The plot begins to thicken from this scene on. I have decided that I will stick to the basic story line and begin my film with similar events. The next factor I have to consider is the â€Å"historical background†. Originally the story is based in Verona, Italy. Verona is a city-state, which is governed by a prince, such as present day boroughs and counties administered. In Verona there are two very powerful and wealthy families the Capulet’s and the Montague’s. They have an ancient family feud between them of blood loss and killing. They are like cats and dogs always quarrelling with each other. My film will be based in Delhi, India. This is a huge district and is under the control of the commissioner of police. In Delhi there are two very powerful and rich industrialists who have a long aged feud between them. They would try to cause harm to each other at any cost. The â€Å"setting† is the factor, which will differentiate my scene from the original. As I have set my play in India. I will also set it in the modern era unlike the original, which was set in the seventeenth century. I will use modern day spoken English and not the original Shakespeare English. Modern day clothes will be worn, modern day props and environment will be used. I will have to keep factors such as camera angle, lights and effects in mind throughout the shoot of the scene. The set will be a massive mansion, which will be the Capulet’s house. This will just be a part of the house where Juliet’s balcony projects out. There will also be projections out of the wall where flowerpots will be kept and there will be creepers on the wall. This will eventually help Romeo to climb up to Juliet’s balcony. The filming of the scene takes place in the same manner as it took place in the original play. The shoot will take place at dawn, so that the dialogues correspond. The scene takes place like this; Romeo jumps over a wall and finds himself in a compound, which has a garden. He finds no one as it is early morning but sees the lights in Juliet’s room switched on. He tries to climb up to the balcony when suddenly Juliet appears. He remains quiet and listens to what Juliet is saying to herself. As Juliet is leaning on the balcony Romeo breaks his silence. Then both them become engaged in a romantic conversation. Then suddenly the nurse interrupts them. Juliet then becomes worried and excited tries to complete the conversation hastily. Eventually the they exchange vows and Romeo cautiously sneaks out of the Capulet’s mansion. The next factor is the â€Å"development of character†. As a director this is a factor I will have to stress upon in order to make my performance an attractive and successful one. In Act II – The Balcony Scene there are many changes in the character of Romeo and Juliet. Basing my scene on the original, I will use the original lines to signify the change in character. Romeo at the beginning of the scene is immature and foolish. After seeing Juliet at the ball and falling in love at first sight, he tries to encroach into the Capulet’s house to meet Juliet. This was foolish of him as he was walking into a pit. Then when he is spying on Juliet, he expresses his feeling for Juliet to himself. He is idealistic about Juliet, for example † It is the east and Juliet is the sun!† Then eventually he becomes romantic and poetic, for example â€Å"It is my lady, O it is my love!† and â€Å"The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, As daylight doth a lamp† and â€Å"Her eyes in heaven, Would through the airy region stream so bright, That birds would sing and think it were not night.† He is very elaborative in his views about Juliet, such as â€Å"O speak again bright angel, for thou art†. When Romeo meets Juliet he carries on the conversation delivering his dialogues in his poetic, romantic and idealistic way. At a point in the scene Romeo even wishes for physical desire. For example â€Å"O wilt thou leave me so unsatisdfied?†Eventually at the end of the scene he becomes mature and plain in his expressions. For example â€Å"By the hour of nine†, he says this when Juliet asks him what time they should get married. Overall Romeo’s character is unbalanced and not focused. He is immature in his approach and gradually matures by the end of the scene. Most of the time he expresses his love for Juliet in an idealistic, poetic and romantic way. He likes to flirt and tries to touch the sentiments of Juliet. On the other hand Juliet is a person who is mature in her views. From the beginning till the end of the balcony scene she remains sober and focused about her views and expression. Her character remains being practical and down to earth. She shows passion towards Romeo at all times but with control emotions and feelings. In the beginning of the play she sardonically refers to Romeo’s and her self’s parents acting as wall between their love. For example â€Å"Deny thy father and refuse thy name. Or if thou wilt not be but sworn my love; And I’ll no longer be a Capulet†. She also goes on describing the significance of their names in their love affair, for example † ‘Tis but thy name that is my enemy: Thou art thyself, though not a Montague†. When Romeo breaks his silence and when they meet, Juliet becomes puzzled and curious about his presence, but she is also pleased within as for the effort he made to come. She refers by saying â€Å"How cam’st thou hither, tell me, and wherefore; The orchard walls are high and hard to climb, And the place death, considering who thou art†. As the scene progresses Juliet’s character remains as same, being practical and focused about her views. She replies to Romeos elaborated comments with control emotion and lucidness. For example â€Å"O swear not by the moon, th’inconstant moon, That monthly changes in her circled orb, Lest that thy love prove likewise variable†.

Emotional Intelligence & Its Importance For Leaders Essay

Much has been written about leadership and the qualities that fuel leadership such as intelligence, toughness, determination, credibility, vision, etc. Often left off are the lists softer and more personal qualities, but recent studies have proven that they are equally important. Researchers have proposed a new term called ‘Emotional Intelligence’, and it may well help differentiate the outstanding leaders from the merely adequate ones. Emotional Intelligence must somehow combine two of the three states of mind: cognition and affect, or intelligence and emotion. It has been described by many as the ability to understand and perceive emotions and to be able to generate emotions in order to aid the thought process, and to be able to effectively regulate emotions so as to ensure intellectual and emotional growth (â€Å"EI†). Both nature and nurture feed into emotional intelligence, which is what management literature suggests. Emotional intelligence if deployed wisely and compassionately, spurs leaders, the followers, and the entire organization to superior performance; conversely, if naively or maliciously applied, it might paralyze leaders or allow them to manipulate followers for personal gain, which would lead in employee dissatisfaction and lack of commitment. Mayor and Salovey proposed a four step EI model which can assist leaders in integrating emotion and thinking. Identifying Emotions is the first step which is the ability to recognize how you and those around you are feeling (â€Å"EI†). Using emotions to facilitate thought which is the ability to generate an emotion, and then reason with this emotion, (also called Emotional Facilitation of Thought, or Assimilating Emotions) comes second(â€Å"EI†). The last two are Understanding Emotions and managing them. Understanding Emotions not only includes understanding complex human emotions but also emotional â€Å"chains†, i. e. how emotions transition from one stage to another, whereas, Managing Emotions allows you to manage emotions in yourself and in others(â€Å"EI†). However, according to Daniel Goleman, there are five components to emotional intelligence; †¢ Self-awareness †¢ Self-regulation †¢ Motivation †¢ Empathy †¢ Social skill (Goleman, 1998) Self-awareness is the trait where emotional intelligence actually begins, leaders with higher degree of self-awareness are never hesitant to talk about and discuss their weaknesses and it is this attitude that later brings upon a positive change in them as they are able to improve upon their weaknesses with time. This helps a leader in bringing about change as he is someone who knows his limitations and knows when and where he can actually stand-up and deliver for the rest of the workforce and be a motivator for them, i. e. when can he lead by example. Thus he knows which tasks and changes can actually be brought about in an organization and which ones cannot be. The second trait is self-regulation, and that leaders with this trait can control their emotions and impulses better and channel them for good purposes. This brings about an openness to change in their attitude and behavior, and increases their trustworthiness and integrity, and also helps them remain comfortable in ambiguous situations and scenario. It has a trickle down effect, as no one would want to be known as a hot head in an organization where the boss is known for his cool and calm attitude. Motivation is perhaps the most important trait and the most obvious one that a leader is judged upon. It’s the motivation abilities of a leader that gives the sub-ordinates the notion that the leader has a strong drive to achieve. It portrays the optimism of the leader to the followers, such that they know that their leader would still be optimistic when facing failure, so it has to do more with the mind than anything else. It is the positivity of the mind, it emanates from the mind of the leader and leads its way to the minds of the followers. For a leader empathizing does not mean conforming to other people’s emotions. Rather, it is the ability to understand the emotional makeup of other people. Empathy is the trait that enables a leader to be an expert in building and maintaining talent. It enables him to treat people according to their emotional reactions. With the businesses and economies globalizing, leaders have to lead and manage people belonging to different cultures which is the major reason why change management in such a scenario is very difficult, however, if only a leader can empathize with his followers, it makes the job half as difficult as before. Good leaders generally maintain a large circle of acquaintances. They start off with smaller network of acquaintances and build newer acquaintances from the existing circle. Thus they are not only good at building networks but also finding common ground between individuals in difficult situations and scenarios and build rapport with them. This also improves their persuasiveness and the ability to build and lead teams. True emotional intelligence is not about manipulating people. Emotional intelligence means knowing what you and others are feeling and acting ethically, with a social conscience. Leaders with higher EQ seem to have â€Å"it† together; they are a graceful balance of intellect and emotion. Such leaders possess the ability to inspire their followers, and make them feel good about themselves. All of which is achieved while maintaining their own integrity and sense of personal worth. Hence, no one is diminished by being in their presence. Leadership combines courage with emotional intelligence, courage to ask tough questions, challenge people’s assumptions about strategy and operations, eliminate the existence of the bias caused by conforming to other people’s beliefs and hence risk losing their goodwill. All of this demands commitment, commitment to serving others; skills required for diagnostic, strategic, and tactical reasoning, the resilience to get under the surface of tough realities; and the heart to take criticism and grief, and remain optimistic all the way. A leader has to be aware that surviving will be difficult if one gets into the trouble of a dissonance existing between the inside and the outside – something that is referred as a â€Å"disconnect†. If a single theme runs through this issue, it’s the importance of keeping the two aligned. Every leader ought to want a more supple emotional intelligence, and â€Å"Leading by Feel† is a great place to begin (Mayer, 2004). REFERENCES 1. Goleman, Daniel (1998). What makes a Leader? Harvard Business Review 2. EI. Retrieved April 16, 2008, from emotionaliq. org Web site: http://www. emotionaliq. org/EI. htm 3. Mayer, John (2004) Leading by Feel. Harvard Business Review

Orwellian - Definition and Examples

Orwellian s To describe something as Orwellian is to say that it brings to mind the fictional totalitarian society of Oceania described in George Orwells novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. In Orwells novel, all citizens of Oceania are monitored by cameras, are fed fabricated news stories by the government, are forced to worship a mythical government leader called Big Brother, are indoctrinated to believe nonsense statements (the mantra WAR IS PEACE, SLAVERY IS FREEDOM, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH), and are subject to torture and execution if they question the order of things. The word is sometimes used to describe a particularly anti-libertarian government policy, but it is also sometimes used to describe the peculiar, nonsensical thought process behind Oceanias social structure- a thought process in which ideas that are obviously self-contradictory are accepted as true based on the fact that an authority figure is asserting them. Orwellian Policies The Bush administrations No Child Left Behind program (which is unfunded and therefore technically leaves children behind) and Clear Skies Initiative (which weakens anti-pollution regulations and therefore technically makes skies less clear) are often cited as examples of Orwellian policies, but so are Londons omnipresent surveillance cameras and North Koreas patriotism indoctrination camps. The best way to understand what does and does not constitute Orwellian policy is to read Nineteen Eighty-Four itself. Secondhand descriptions of Oceania do not do justice to the oppressive, mind-wracking atmosphere described in the novel.

How Madison Proposes to Solve the Problem of Factions Essay

How Madison Proposes to Solve the Problem of Factions - Essay Example In response to these challenges Madison proposed a number of solutions. This essay considers Madison’s proposed solutions to the problem of factions, and considers how the contemporary legislative branch of government comports to these Madison’s insights. How Madison Proposes to Solve the Problem of Factions There are a number of means by which James Madison proposes to solve the problem of factions. He begins this discussion by first indicating that are two major ways that the causes of factions can be removed; in these regards, he states, â€Å"the one, by destroying the liberty which is essential to its existence; the other, by giving to every citizen the same opinions, the same passions, and the same interests† (Madison). He continues his discussion indicating that in removing the first faction would be a sincere travesty, as liberty is as important as air. In regards to the second method of eliminating faction, he indicates that while this might be the prefe rred approach, it is entirely impracticable. In these regards, Madison’s main contention is that the essence of factions are so deep-rooted into the souls of humanity and the fabric of the nation that removing them is warranted next to impossible. While Madison indicates that removing the causes of factions is impossible, he argues that in dealing with factions they must be managed and controlled with knowledge of the general human motivation that underlies their existence. For Madison, the problem then becomes structuring this managing of governing body in a way that preserves the rights of individuals that may not currently be in majority power. While it is easy to consider the nature of a pure democracy in these regards, it’s clear that Madison is indicating such a governing structure based on majority vote would ultimately result in factions and subsequent violence. Madison also indicates that it is impossible to simply rely on an enlightened leader to manage this form of factional structure, as it will result in them ultimately capitulating to majority concerns. Through acknowledging the impossibility of a pure democracy, Madison goes on to consider the aspects of the democractic structure that fail to address factionalism and the means by which these problems can be amended. In these regards, Madison proposes a Republic. Within the Republic structure, Madison indicates that an appropriate number of representatives will be appointed to guard against factional interests of the majority. As a wide-variety of citizens will be voting on the potential representatives, Madison argues that it will be much more difficult for these representatives to resort to treachery that oftentimes becomes individuals of power. In these regards, Madison gives great consideration to the proportion of representatives to the number of electors, as, â€Å"enlarging too much the number of electors, you render the representatives too little acquainted with all their l ocal circumstances and lesser interests; as by reducing it too much, you render him unduly attached to these, and too little fit to comprehend and pursue great and national objects† (Madison). He argues that the proposed Constitution presents a powerful articulation of this

Contracts and Employment Agreements Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Contracts and Employment Agreements - Essay Example There are exceptions that have become a trend and offer a lot of fortification to at will discharge. These trends comprise public policy, implied contracts and implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. I understand that, in public policy, employees need a â€Å"just cause† for discharge. They need the same to guarantee managerial processes that define whether there is an unbiased cause for discharge. Implied contract entails all that an employee has done in a company, those that show good reputation. It is more significant in employees that have served for a long time without facing lots of critics. On the other hand, implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing comprehensively entails insincerity in a contract. This is vivid when an individual employee does what is in contrary to the laws stipulated in the signed agreement.There is a group of people that are basically not subjects to the earlier stated rule, â€Å"at-will†. This includes contractors and union ized workers, of which Barnes is one. In trying to argue cases that find them, there are certain exceptions that come in an implied contract. As it is indicated in the study, in chapter seven, there is a mode of acceptance that should be followed to the latter in a contract (Gibson & Lindley, 2010). These require adequacy in consideration, in order to explicate the mode of contracts. Arguments arise when Barnes and Pentrix go to court. To justify himself, one of the parties, Barnes says what he was told during an interview.