Geography of the Northern Hemisphere

Geography of the Northern Hemisphere The Northern Hemisphere is the northern half of the Earth. It begins at 0Â ° or the equator and continues north until it reaches 90Â °N latitude or the North Pole. The word hemisphere itself specifically means half of a sphere, and since the earth is considered an oblate sphere, a hemisphere is half. Geography and Climate Like the Southern Hemisphere, the Northern Hemisphere has a varied topography and climate. However, there is more land in the Northern Hemisphere so it is even more varied and this plays a role in the weather patterns and climate there. The land in the Northern Hemisphere consists of all of Europe, North America and Asia, a portion of South America, two-thirds of the African continent and a very small portion of the Australian continent with islands in New Guinea. Winter in the Northern Hemisphere lasts from around December 21 (the winter solstice) to the vernal equinox around March 20. Summer lasts from the summer solstice around June 21 to the autumnal equinox around September 21. These dates are due to the Earths axial tilt. From the period of December 21 to March 20, the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, and during the June 21 to September 21 interval, it is tilted toward the sun. To aid in studying its climate, the Northern Hemisphere is divided into several different climatic regions. The Arctic is the area that is north of the Arctic Circle at 66.5Â °N. It has a climate with very cold winters and cool summers. In the winter, it is in complete darkness for 24 hours per day and in the summer it receives 24 hours of sunlight. South of the Arctic Circle to the Tropic of Cancer is the Northern Temperate Zone. This climatic area features mild summers and winters, but specific areas within the zone can have very different climatic patterns. For example, the southwestern United States features an arid desert climate with very hot summers, while the state of Florida in the southeastern U.S. features a humid subtropical climate with a rainy season and mild winters. The Northern Hemisphere also encompasses a portion of the Tropics between the Tropic of Cancer and the equator. This area is usually hot all year and has a rainy summer season. The Coriolis Effect An important component of the Northern Hemispheres physical geography is the Coriolis Effect and the specific direction that objects are deflected in the northern half of the Earth. In the northern hemisphere, any object moving over the Earths surface deflects to the right. Because of this, any large patterns in air or water turn clockwise north of the equator. For example, there are many large ocean gyres in the North Atlantic and North Pacific- all of which turn clockwise. In the Southern Hemisphere, these directions are reversed because objects are deflected to the left. In addition, the right deflection of objects impacts the flows of air over the Earth and air pressure systems. A high-pressure system, for example, is an area where the atmospheric pressure is greater than that of the surrounding area. In the Northern Hemisphere, these move clockwise because of the Coriolis Effect. By contrast, low-pressure systems or areas where atmospheric pressure is less than that of the surrounding area move counterclockwise because of the Coriolis Effect in the Northern Hemisphere. Population Because the Northern Hemisphere has more land area than the Southern Hemisphere it should also be noted that the majority of Earths population and its largest cities are also in its northern half. Some estimates say that the Northern Hemisphere is approximately 39.3% land, while the Southern half is only 19.1% land. Reference Wikipedia. (13 June 2010). Northern Hemisphere - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Hemisphere

Why Dickens Wrote A Christmas Carol

Why Dickens Wrote A Christmas Carol A  Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is one of the most beloved works of 19th century literature, and the storys enormous popularity helped make Christmas a major holiday in Victorian Britain. When Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in late 1843, he had ambitious purposes in mind, yet he could never have imagined the profound impact his story would have. Dickens had already achieved great fame, yet his most recent novel wasnt selling well and he feared his success had peaked. Indeed, he faced some serious financial problems as Christmas 1843 approached. Beyond his own worries, Dickens was keenly attuned to the profound misery of the working poor in England. A visit to the grimy industrial city of Manchester motivated him to tell the story of a greedy businessman, Ebenezer Scrooge, who would be transformed by the Christmas spirit. Dickens rushed A Christmas Carol into print by Christmas 1843, and it became a phenomenon. The Impact of 'A Christmas Carol' The book was immediately popular with the public, becoming perhaps the most famous literary work associated with Christmas. It elevated the popularity of Christmas, which wasnt the major holiday we know, and established the idea of Christmas charity toward those less fortunate.Dickens intended the story as a strong condemnation of greed, and the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge provided a popular optimistic message.Scrooge became one of the most famous characters in literature.Dickens himself became associated with Christmas in the public mind.A Christmas Carol was transformed into stage plays and later films and television productions. Career Crisis Dickens had achieved popularity with his first novel, The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, which was serialized from mid-1836 to late 1837. Known today as The Pickwick Papers, the novel was filled with comic characters the British public found charming. In the following years Dickens wrote more novels: 1838: Oliver Twist1839: Nicholas Nickleby1841: The Old Curiosity Shop1841: Barnaby Rudge Dickens reached literary superstar status with The Old Curiosity Shop, as readers on both sides of the Atlantic became obsessed with Little Nell. An enduring legend is that New Yorkers eager for the next installment would stand on the dock and yell out to passengers on incoming British packet liners, asking if Little Nell was still alive. Preceded by his fame, Dickens visited America for several months in 1842. He didnt much enjoy his visit, and he put his negative observations into a book, American Notes, which alienated many American fans. Dickens was offended by American manners (or lack thereof), and he restricted his visit to the North, as he was so offended by slavery that he wouldnt venture into the South beyond a foray into Virginia. He paid attention to working conditions, visiting mills and factories. In New York, New York, he exhibited his keen interest in the poorer classes by visiting Five Points, a notorious slum neighborhood. Back in England, he began writing a new novel, Martin Chuzzlewit. Despite his earlier success, Dickens found himself owing money to his publisher, and his new novel was not selling well as a serial. Fearful that his career was declining, Dickens desperately wanted to write something that would be very popular with the public. A Form of Protest Beyond his personal reasons for writing A Christmas Carol, Dickens felt a strong need to comment on the enormous gap between the rich and poor in Victorian Britain. On the night of Oct. 5, 1843, Dickens gave a speech in Manchester, England, at a benefit for the Manchester Athenaeum, an organization that brought education and culture to the working masses. Dickens, who was 31 at the time, shared the stage with Benjamin Disraeli, a novelist who would later become Britains prime minister. Addressing the working-class residents of Manchester affected Dickens deeply. Following his speech he took a long walk, and while thinking of the plight of exploited child workers he conceived the idea for A Christmas Carol. Returning to London, Dickens took more walks late at night, working out the story in his head. The miser Ebenezer Scrooge would be visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Marley, and also the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Finally seeing the error of his greedy ways, Scrooge would celebrate Christmas and give a raise to the employee he had been exploiting, Bob Cratchit. Dickens wanted the book to be available by Christmas. He wrote it with astonishing speed, finishing it in six weeks while also continuing to write installments of Martin Chuzzlewit. Countless Readers Touched When the book appeared, just before Christmas, it was immediately popular with the reading public as well as with critics. British author William Makepeace Thackeray, who later rivaled Dickens as a writer of Victorian novels, wrote that A Christmas Carol was a national benefit, and to every man or woman who reads it, a personal kindness. The story of Scrooges redemption touched readers deeply, and the message Dickens wanted to convey of concern for those less fortunate struck a deep chord. The Christmas holiday began to be seen as a time for family celebrations and charitable giving. There is little doubt that Dickens story and its widespread popularity helped Christmas become established as a major holiday in Victorian Britain. Popularity Has Lasted A Christmas Carol has never gone out of print. Before the decade ended, it was adapted for the stage, and Dickens performed public readings from it. On Dec. 10, 1867, The New York Times published a glowing review of a reading of A Christmas Carol Dickens had delivered at Steinway Hall in New York City: When he came to the introduction of characters and to dialogue, the reading changed to acting, and Mr. Dickens here showed a remarkable and peculiar power. Old Scrooge seemed present; every muscle of his face, and every tone of his harsh and domineering voice revealed his character. Dickens died in 1870, but  A Christmas Carol lived on. Stage plays based on it were produced for decades, and eventually films and television productions kept the story of Scrooge alive. Scrooge, described as a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone at the beginning of the tale, famously snapped Bah! Humbug! at a nephew who wished him a merry Christmas. Near the end of the story, Dickens wrote of Scrooge: It was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.

Two sides on branding Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Two sides on branding - Essay Example Naomi Klein's book,as it title implies is a criticism to the proliferation of branding strategies launched by business organisations in order to capture customers.The selection lifted from her book outlined the evolution of branding-from its earliest beginning, downfall, recovery, and recent expansion.The concept of branding, according to Klein, began with the company's recognition that production is not the main core of their operations but marketing. The earliest proponents of marketing like Nike and Microsoft stated that manufacturing is only an "incidental" part of their operations and that they are not selling "products" but "images of their brands." This early beginnings started a new age of branding previously homogenous, mass-produced commodities replacing the old shopkeeper who traditionally scoops out generic products like sugar, flour, and cereal in barrels. The popularity of Dr. Brown, Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben, and Old Grand Dad became synonymous with the ascent of branded generic commodities.However, the death of branding came one Marlboro Friday as Phillip Morris is threatened by the intense competition from lower priced unbranded competitors. With this happening, a dramatic shift in customers' buying behavior was illustrated-from prestige to price consciousness.The article concluded with the "rebirth" and expansion of branding. This phenomenon was lead by established companies like Body Shop and Starbucks which were able to safeguard and even expand their market share by investing in their brand images. These, together with other successful companies like Nike, began the more rapid proliferation of branded products which does not only market the attributes of the product by created a "concept" to establish an "emotional connection" with its clients. Naomi Klein concluded that with this age of branding, customers are easily manipulated by branding tactics as marketers can establish a good brand even with the lowliest products. She argued that instead of focusing on production and improving products, companies are embarking and spending time, effort, and money in creating a good brand for which they ask customers for a premium. The Economist-Who's Wearing the Trousers The article lifted from the Economist, hold an antagonistic position on Naomi Klein's book. Though it also recognizes the good arguments raced by Klein, the Economist offer a very different view on what the first author referred to as "brand bullies." Basically, the article presented in the Economist can be summed up into two points-the first one being the exaggeration of Naomi Klein's argument on the power of brands, and the second one on the manipulation of the customers by the branding strategies of the large corporations. The Economist recognizes the importance of brands in selling a company's products. However, it claims that Klien's article exaggerated the role of branding in the strategies of the large business organizations. The article proved this by citing the case of the companies who spent bulk of financial resources in creating a good brand only to fail. As the company treats a "brand" as one of its primary assets, a brand can also be regarded as liability as it makes a company highly responsible in the damages which it can give to customers. Customer loyalty is not only rooted on their perception on brand. This is evidenced by the recent research which shows that customers of all ages shift from brand to brand. This also strengthens the claim of the Economist claim that customers are not highly manipulated by company's branding tactics. It is also irrefutable that companies' are spending a lot of money to retain their customers and develop their products to safeguard their brand. Between the Two Articles Naomi Klein and the Economist hold two seemingly different arguments about branding, company's performance, and customers. The two articles summarized above show some same

British Welfare State Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

British Welfare State - Essay Example This essay discusses that for those in power, it had the benefits of gaining socialist support. Not only liberal politicians but both Lloyd George and Churchill encouraged social policy as a means of avoiding socialism and when labor came into power they were criticised for, ‘failing to introduce a distinctively socialist policy in the field of education.’The government response to poverty in the 1940s is the culmination of different attempts to overcome and replace the Poor Law since the 1820s. The legislation before the 1940s is similar in character to the legislation in the 1940s. It is so similar that most historians and even those bringing about the new laws have commented on the welfare state being just a socially acceptable version of the Poor Law. In addition, the Acts passed can be shown to be a result of the political maneuverings and practical responses to the events of that decade. However, there are some revolutionary aspects that lie behind the governmentâ €™s response. These are the fundamental changes in the perception and understanding of the nature of mankind, the state and the relationship between them. The state took on a responsibility for welfare that involved a greater involvement in its citizen’s lives. Furthermore, the general definition of poverty expanded to include everyone in need, not just those who could not subsist. Beveridge’s report is revolutionary as being the first completely planned social document which envisages Disease, Idleness, Want, Squalor and Ignorance as being the state’s responsibility.... All the features of liberal social policy were actually already covered by the older law yet the reorganisation made using the services socially acceptable. 'A person who was sick, hungry, unemployed or old could in fact turn to the Poor Law for help, and almost all the categories of social need for which the Liberals were now catering for were already being dealt with by the Poor Law Guardians.' (Fraser, 162) Significantly Beveridge himself formulated his proposals around, 'the pre-war system of contributory insurance No other system was seriously considered on the ground that it would be a 'departure from existing practice''. (Lowe, The Welfare State in Britain since 1945, 122) Chronological development before the Welfare State Moreover, the policy developments in the 1940s look like the result of the increasing intervention of the state in issues of welfare alongside the increasing awareness of poverty that had been taking place since the 1830s. The search for a replacement for the Poor Law began as early as the 1820s. In 1834 a report on the law was published investigating and suggesting solutions for the escalating problems of the Poor Law. Moreover in the 1840s a society of doctors envisaged a system of free health care. Movement later in that century began to provide assistance, outwith the Poor Law, for the sick and temporarily unemployed. This was through the Medical Relief Act (1885) and Chamberlain's Circular (1886). Here were the beginnings of assistance from a source outside of the Poor Law. This is the drift which could still be recognised in 1940s policy. More legislation was passed at the beginning of the twentieth century including more and more people in

History Comparison Betwen Mexican and African Americans Essay Example for Free

History Comparison Betwen Mexican and African Americans Essay The history of Mexican Americans is comparable to that of African Americans: filled with stories of conquest, racism, and discriminatory acts posed by society. The past has triggered Chicanos to fight back against injustices, in hopes of reforming immoral treatment, and emerging as an equal part of America’s society. The Chicano movement yielded some successes in this aspect. However, mass media and stereotypes confirm the notion that Mexican Americans are still viewed as a â€Å"lesser† people. This stems from the long-established concept of racial stratification. In this case, it indicates that Anglo-Americans have hierarchy over Mexican Americans. Consequently, discrimination towards Chicanos is still prevalent, despite ongoing efforts by activists for change. This nation was socially molded based on the idea that there is a hierarchy of races, and as long as that idea exists, Mexican Americans will continue to suffer inequality. In â€Å"Sexual Violence in the Politics of Conquest’, Castaneda explores the sexual crimes against Amerindian women during the Spanish conquest of Alta California. The soldiers accompanying the missionaries on the settlement raped and violated the native women openly. There were many incidents before rules were set to govern the matter, but even after the rapes continued to occur. One court case recorded in 1773 indicates that there was no intention to grant justice to the victims. The natives took matters into their own hands and formed forces to seek their own justice (similar to Chicano activist groups that seek reform for discrimination), but to no avail. Castaneda goes on to explain that the actions of the soldiers were not farfetched from practices of Western civilization (27-28). Because these dark crimes were normal for the dominant culture, they were automatically imposed on the natives, who were supposed to accept this without resistance. This is similar to Mexican Americans during the Chicano movement, who were not given equal opportunities for education and employment because they were not in the central group. In both situations, the majority emasculates the men and oppresses the women of the minority. The idea of hierarchy is apparent in this passage; Catholic missionaries try to strip the natives of their culture and convert them to value Western practices because they consider themselves the ‘prominent’ people. The history of the Chicano Movement can date back to the Manifest Destiny. In the 1840s, the United States planned to expand its territory and take Mexico, which had become independent from Spain. In reporting these events, Leo Cervantes notes the attitude of superiority that the Americans displayed in their imperialist plan. He notes one adherent’s thoughts, who asked â€Å"why resign this beautiful country to the custody of the ignorant cowards who have ruled for the last 25 years? † (13). Cervantes also quotes Thomas Jefferson, who has similar views of the matter, and promoted â€Å"policies of non-miscegenation† during the expansion (14). Even before Anglo-Americans were acquainted with Mexicans, they held predisposed opinions of contempt for them. As I suggested, Arturo Rosales agrees, â€Å"An underlying cause for the hostility Anglo-Americans felt for Mexicans was a preexisting ideology of racism† (5). These preconceived notions of Mexican Americans were the beginning of negative stereotypes attached to them. Today Chicanos are often represented in the media as uneducated thugs, loose women, or undocumented workers. Even whites who claim they are not racist may practice aversive racism by absorbing the images portrayed in media. It is this ideology of racism has contributed to discrimination over the years and inversely, the building of the Chicano Movement. The movement flourished in the 1950s and 1960s, feeding off other civil rights movements, particularly the African American movement. Both African American civil rights activists and Chicano activist protested the unlawful repression of minorities in America. They protested the terrible education system, police brutality, and denial of economic opportunities. Arturo Rosales compares Chicano activist, Cesar Chavez to Martin Luther King. It is expected that on this path to address the plight and repression of their people, Chicanos were met with resistance from White Americans. Rosales notes that police officers and other uniformed officials â€Å"were employed to suppress manifestations of discontent and did so using violence† (xv). It can be suggested that Anglo-Americans considered Chicanos a threat to the racial hierarchy, so they took action. Cervantes supports this theory, quoting Brooks Adams who said, â€Å"When a highly centralized society disintegrates, under the pressure of economics condition, it is because the energy of the race has been exhausted (18). This point illustrates the pressure Anglo-Americans felt to keep superiority over Mexicans. The American achievement ideology suggests four points: Anyone can make it. American society is fair and open. Success is based on merit. Moreover, inequality is the result of differences in ability and ambition. This ideology contradicts the apparent effects of a racial hierarchy. Stratification of races has formed structural discrimination among minorities, specifically, Mexican and African Americans. The poor education, poor neighborhoods, and badly equipped jobs that these minorities are subjected to prevent them from achieving upward mobility. However, white America still neglects to acknowledge these factors. Historian, Oscar Lewis, believed that people living in poverty are to blame for their own situation, yet minorities’ history in America consists of repression and treatment as inferior beings. There is no questioning it; racial classes have been socially constructed and this has directly affected minorities. The Chicano Movement has led to some advances for Mexican American such as the growing numbers of Latinos attending school, and raise concerns about unequal treatment to Chicanos. However, because underlying values of America are products of a deep-rooted, corrupt social structure, issue of prejudice will continue to exist.

Utopian Society in Shakespeares The Tempest :: essays research papers

The study of Shakespeare’s The Tempest raises many questions as to its interpretation. Many believe that this play shows Shakespeare’s views on the colonization of the new world whereas others believe that this is a play about the ever elusive â€Å"Utopian Society†. I believe that this is a play about the European views of society and savagery at that time. I also believe that, if this is true, the play doesn’t portray a â€Å"conventional† view of native peoples. Shakespeare shows this by having Prospero, the rightful duke of Milan and Usurping ruler of the island, call Caliban, â€Å"A devil, a born devil on whose nature nurture can never stick† but then having Miranda, Prospero’s daughter, say â€Å"I pitied thee, took pains to make thee speak, taught thee each hour one thing or another.† Prospero is saying that Caliban is a â€Å"savage† who can not be educated, yet we hear that Miranda has taught him to speak, amongst other things. This gives a conflicting view over the character of Caliban. Is he an â€Å"uncivilised savage† or is he a â€Å"normal† human being? The treatment of Caliban could be seen as a representation of the colonisation of the new world, (The Americas) and the treatment of the native Americans. However, the critic Meradith Anne Skura believes the opposite, â€Å"We have no external evidence that seventeenth century audiences thought the play referred to the new world.† This interpretation of the play places more emphasis upon the character of the spirit Ariel, who could also be considered as a native of the island. Prospero frees Ariel from a tree and then enslaves the spirit to do his bidding under the promise of total freedom. Caliban’s main speech (1.2.331-344) reveals the nature of his enslavement and treatment, â€Å"Here you sty me in this hard rock, whiles you do keep me from the rest o’th’island.† Though it is not clear, it seems to me as though Prospero has imprisoned Caliban in a cave and is keeping him from the rest of the island. The reason for this treatment is much clearer , as Prospero tells us, â€Å"I have used thee, filth as thou art, with human care, and lodged thee in mine own cell, till thou didst seek to violate the honour of my child.† This tells us that Caliban has tried to rape Miranda at some point and that Prospero treated Caliban much better before the attempted rape occurred.

Jew in a Christian society Essay

Miss Daisy is a 72 year old widow living alone. She is a woman of strong will and values her independence. After having an accident backing out of her garage, her son, Boolie, insists on hiring a driver for her. Daisy resists this wish as she wants to be in control of her own life. Boolie is 40 years old and has taken over his father’s printing company. Boolie takes good care of his mother, but sometimes neglects to take into account her feelings. When he disagrees with her, he will generally override her opinion without thinking about what she wants or why she wants it. Boolie hires Hoke Coleburn to be Miss Daisy’s driver. Hoke is a 60 year old, African American. He is extremely patient with Miss Daisy despite her prejudice and stubborn behavior. Hoke is willing to stand up for himself when he feels his dignity is at stake. Both, Daisy and Hoke have preconceived notions about race. They are both very stubborn but have different ways of expressing it. Daisy verbally protests, as she did when Boolie hired Hoke. Hoke doesn’t verbalize his protests, but will take firm action. Daisy makes demands and Hoke ignores them and continues on his chosen path. The relationships that exist between Daisy and Hoke is that of employer/employee. In the position of employer, Miss Daisy maintains power over Hoke and controls his environment. She is also white, which provides an even greater sense of power, particularly in the south in the 1940s and 1950s. Miss Daisy doesn’t trust Hoke or any blacks for that matter. Miss Daisy has deep seated prejudice but does not acknowledge it, as it is simply part of her society. As an independent, educated, white Jewish woman in the south, Daisy is a formidable force. Hoke is a black, uneducated, unemployed man in the south. Daisy’s life is changing however. She has become physically vulnerable due to age. Socially she is a Jew in a predominantly Christian society. When Boolie hires Hoke as her driver, Miss Daisy loses her independence and she is dependent on Hoke for transportation. In this moment, Boolie demonstrates that he has become a decision maker for Daisy. Although he cares for his mother, by not listening to her or taking her feelings into account, he is losing her trust. Daisy finds herself thrust into a position where she must be cared for by people she doesn’t trust (Hoke). She is no longer making her own decisions. Being placed in a position of vulnerability, and not being able to trust those who care for you, Daisy struggles with her position. When Daisy first meets Hoke, she dislikes him, both because he is African American and because she resents his presence in her home. However, Miss Daisy and Hoke do form a relationship and do in fact become friends. They share something in common. They are both aging and both have some vulnerability in the environment in which they coexist, Daisy as a Jew and Hoke as an African American. Though their relationship is strained at the beginning, they do take steps that promote closeness and trust. They share crucial similarities, yet their differences allow them the opportunity to learn from each other and enrich their lives. Hoke and Daisy are dependent on each other. Daisy needs to be able to get around and Hoke needs employment. It takes Daisy some time to succumb to the pressure of Boolie and allow Hoke to drive her somewhere, but she finally gives in. Daisy tries to maintain the upper hand on this drive, telling Hoke where to drive, where to turn, even when she has simply forgotten or age has challenged her memory. Hoke, rather than challenging her, does what he needs to do and allows her to believe she is right. Hoke does â€Å"listen† to Daisy, and understands her needs. He is honest with her when needed, but always in a quiet and respectful manner. He is loyal to her. He is there for her when her son, Boolie, is not. Hoke demonstrates his loyalty and friendship when he drives to her home on the night of an ice storm, when the road were slick, because he knows she is alone. Daisy allows Hoke to share intimate moments of her life, a sign of trust. When Hoke drives her to the cemetery, Daisy realizes that Hoke cannot read. Daisy teaches him to read and provides to Hoke a new status in the world, while Hoke teaches the her about human rights and wrongs. Their trip to Mobile, they both open up and share intimate stories with each other, the kind you only share with a friend. On this trip, Hoke also realizes how much Daisy needs him and is afraid to be without him. This â€Å"otherness† helped Daisy and Hoke to form a meaningful, lasting friendship that is mutually beneficial. Daisy strengthens Hoke’s inner world, giving him access to the world that she has known and the one that will bring greater self-respect, such as a steady income, a car, and the ability to read. Hoke strengthens Daisy’s outer world, helping her to become a better person, one who can move beyond her proscribed point of view and embrace concepts, such as civil rights, that will bring positive change to others. Boolie, though a competent business man, is challenged in his own right. Concerned by the racial inequalities in the business world and the perception of him by others, remains vulnerable. He has exerted power over his mother, making decisions for her, but maintains a great deal of responsibility for the family business that he has been entrusted with. Boolie is stressed, trying to maintain a business that his father had created and trying to care for his mother. Great relationships were established through the story of â€Å"Driving Miss Daisy. † The underlying issue of trust, on Miss Daisy’s part, had an impact on their relationship. She didn’t want to trust Hoke. It wasn’t natural for her to do so. Her continual questioning of the value of Hoke’s life and others like him (blacks), served as a reminder to him that he was subservient. Hoke persevered, and won her heart, despite the color of his skin and the lack of education. Hoke became her best friend. He was there when no one else was. He listened to her. Through his actions, Hoke became a leader, teaching Daisy the value of their relationship and the value of people, no matter their color of skin. He did this by being honest, respectful, and responding to her needs. He was her best friend. Boolie, though a responsible and caring man, could have furthered his relationship with his mother. He could have and should have listened to her concerns and worked with her to find answers that were meaningful for her. Daisy could have empowered Boolie and Hoke to make better decisions by communicating in a way that acknowledged their concerns and demonstrated her needs as well. Boolie’s focus was on his business and the business community. Daisy could have acknowledged that it must be difficult to take over your father’s business, particularly as a Jew in a Christian society. The discrimination that occurred among all of them, black or Jew, was a common element that could have strengthened their relationships and their ties with the world around them. The relationships they shared were hampered by their lack of belief and trust in the other and their lack of communication. Daisy was failing and prejudiced against the blacks. Hoke was uneducated and prejudiced, although in a positive way, against the Jews. Boolie had his mind made up about what was right and good for his mother, despite her wishes. Given the situation and the time that this story occurred in, each of the characters has equally believable parts and an equally believable resolution. Each of them could have seen benefits from further trust and communication.

Love Cycle Essay

The rain starts pouring that particular early evening. Other students run towards buildings for shelter, but I do not notice the cold. How I feel is more overpowering than the disgust I would have felt for me getting soaked at any other time. My feet automatically stop right next to the bench where I have first seen her. That was what, more than a year ago, and I have not seen her for six months now. My beautiful, sweet Angie. Nothing could have prepared me for that one, fateful night when I passed by the same spot on my way home and, against the darkness of the park, I noticed a girl with her head bowed, her arms propped against the bench, and her hair covering her face. It was raining then, too, and that forlorn figure got me worried in spite of myself. So I had approached where she sat, and carefully asked, â€Å"Uhm, miss? † She did not look up. Maybe she was a stone sculpture, until I heard a hiccup. â€Å"Miss, are you OK? It’s raining and, uh, it’s kind of dark here. † The girl slowly sat upright until she was looking at me directly. I swear I heard angels singing when she trained those eyes on me. But they were sad, tear-stained eyes. I could not help thinking what possibly made such beautiful girl cry. Yes, she was beautiful even with the dark stains in her cheeks. Despite the situation, the guy in me just could not stop checking her out. She looked tall and slender. Her hair was long, almost reaching her elbow. She had these thin eyebrows, the kind I usually looked at in women. They made her eyes look bigger and God, didn’t she have the longest eyelashes. What guy wouldn’t fall for a woman who looks like her? My scrutiny halted when she muttered, almost inaudibly, â€Å"I’m OK. † Her voice sounded sweet to my ears. I have never been a picky person, except when it comes to women. I can eat anything, anyone can be my friend, but I can never just pick out one woman from the crowd and pursue her ‘til she say that sweet ‘Yes. ’ I guess maybe that’s the reason why I fell hopelessly in love with Angie. She just appeared into my life without warning, and she never sent any signal to my direction that she likes me, too. A week after that incident, I was forced to do some researching at the main library. By any choice, I would have chosen to play hoops with the guys, but my grade was on the line. Little did I know that I’d see her for the second time, in the library. The funny thing was we were obviously looking for the same thing because we reached for an old book at the same time. When we looked at each other, I found out it was her. She must have recognized me because she tentatively smiled. â€Å"Uh, go ahead,† I said, ever the gentleman. She took the book and said, â€Å"I guess there’s only this copy here. By the way, I’m Angie. You were that guy. † It made me smile because she did remember. â€Å"Yeah! I’m Skip. † When she looked puzzled, I added, â€Å"Actually it’s Steven, but I’m usually called Skip. † It was a year ago now, but I can still remember the way she smiled when we studied that book, or the way her face lit up whenever she talked. Eventually we became friends as we found out we had the same teacher but a different schedule on a subject. That friendship entitled me to see her everyday and talk with her. As days and months passed, I became more attached to Angie. Sometimes I would decline my mates’ invitation for one basketball game just so I could accompany Angie to wherever she wanted to go. I found out that I immensely enjoyed her company because we have so many things in common. We both grew up in a broken family; she lived with her father, while I grew up with my mother. The comfort we found in each other after talking about a similar experience drew us ever closer. It dawned on me one day that I have fallen in love with Angie. Every time she’s away, it creates a hollow feeling that only she can fill. Even my friends noticed the change in me. I was too afraid to let her know. The last time I pursued a girl, she turned me down even before I could ask her. I felt that it might happen the second time around with Angie. That would surely crush my heart, or any chances of her and me ending up together. More days passed. I got the shock of my life when one night, while I was at the apartment studying with my friends, she came barging into the room wearing the biggest, most beautiful smile. I was imagining her telling me, â€Å"Skip, I just found out that I could not live without you! † Instead, she told me and everyone else, â€Å"Skip! My goodness, you wouldn’t believe this! Will finally asked me! † I frowned upon hearing that name. I only met Will once or twice, and it didn’t dawn on me that he was pursuing my Angie, too. I didn’t even know if the two dated. After Angie told me about him, I felt like the world was crushing me. Would she have worn the same, big, beautiful smile if I asked her? Probably not. I died when she next announced, â€Å"Skip, he asked me. How could I not say yes? We dated a few times but we always see each other during Math II and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I no longer heard the rest of it because I stood up and, without saying anything, locked myself in my room. I didn’t hear her knocking, nor her voice pleading me to come out and tell her what’s wrong. The erratic beating of my barely functioning heart was too loud for me to hear anything. What Angie said, it was like a dagger. After all this time, I’ve been building my courage to finally tell her how I feel. But she beat me to it, with a very cruel message. Anger, regret, and resentment rolled up until I couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted to shout, to hurt myself. But how could I rewind the time, back to the days when I was on the verge of professing to her? I never felt so bad in my life, not even the way I feel about my last unfortunate episode with a girl can compare. I have loved Angie, so much in fact that I can give up anything. I nurtured this feeling until it blossomed into full-blown love that is far from what any man can comprehend. I wanted her back. I wanted back my Angie. It was so unfair. I know I haven’t indicated that I feel something special for her, but how could she not notice? It was like telling me, in my face, that she doesn’t think I’m good enough for her. It was too much that I found myself crying into the night like I never did before. The tears just wouldn’t stop even if I reminded myself it was not a macho thing. But who cares? The woman I’ve secretly loved for so long, just fluttered away. I found out it was hard. Since that night I avoided her, ignored her calls, her messages. I was hurting so much that I didn’t want to see her. Eventually the calls and messages stopped. I barely saw her in the months that followed. If I did, she was in the company of that guy who could have been me had I dared to tell her. I tried to move on because I can see that she’s happy. I was just unsure if it would be a great idea right now to be friends with her again. So the days and months that followed, I immersed myself into studying, hanging out with my friends and signing up for other activities to help me forget. I knew there was no other way but to forget, and forget I did. So in that early evening, I sit where she sat more than one year ago. The rain was accommodating, falling endlessly and washing the tears from my eyes. I was not crying because of regret, but because of the fact that I really did move on after all. I prop my hands over the edge of the cold bench and watch as droplets of rain create ripples in the puddle of water on my feet. Suddenly, rain stops falling in the puddle but it does not stop entirely. A pair of shoes appeared just next to the bench, and I noticed that a shadow stretches over the lawn in front of me. A female voice carefully asked, â€Å"Excuse me. Are you alright? † Yeah, it’s time for me to let go. Time can heal all wounds, and rain can wash away tears. I couldn’t help smiling at the turn of two similar events: one more than a year ago, and the other, right now. With a smile I looked up into the worried face of a girl holding an umbrella towards me and I said, â€Å"Yes, I’m OK. †

Fate vs. Freewill Essays

Fate vs. Freewill Essays Fate vs. Freewill Paper Fate vs. Freewill Paper Numerous people use fate as a cover-up in order to take less responsibility over their life. Many people believe that fate controls their every move and decision, and that even the choices they make are not really their own. Man’s Search for Meaning is a memoir written by Viktor Frankl in which fate vs. freewill plays a large part of Frankl’s story. Frankl is imprisoned in a concentration camp during the Second World War. He struggles to find inner peace as his journey progresses and his life unfolds. In The Bell Jar, a novel written by Sylvia Plath, Esther Greenwood is a girl searching to find her place in the world. As she falls into depression, she loses her power of freewill and slowly recedes into herself. Her mind becomes her prison as her will to live disintegrates. In both stories, the characters face indecision and inner struggles. They seesaw between the right to choose through freewill and letting fate take its course. In Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl holds fate as his master. With nothing left to lose and nothing within his reach, he has no other choice but to let fate run its race. He says, â€Å"Fate was one’s master, and that one must not try to influence it in any way but instead let it take its own course. (Frankl 77) By this he’s saying that there was nothing you could do to change your future and that you shouldn’t try to, either. By letting fate guide him, his life is ultimately saved. This happens when he is deported to another concentration camp where he is predicted to be gassed. He could’ve stayed if he tried hard enough, but in stead he relied on his intuition and inner guiding force. As it turns out, the camp was not a crematorium. However, he finds out that after he left the previous camp, cannibalism had sparked into existence. He says, â€Å"Cannibalism had broken out and I had left just in time. (Frankl 76) If he had stayed in the other work camp, he might have been influenced by this immoral act or injured. The Bell Jar holds a story based more on free will. Esther Greenwood is trapped in the painful and challenging coming-of-age period. She has every opportunity in the world to follow her dreams and go far. However, she falls into the throws of depression, and the mental illness complicates her passage through this period even more. She says, â€Å"I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked†¦. : I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn’t make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet. † (Plath 62-63) Esther’s indecision holds her captive, and she begins to lose the desire to choose altogether. Her depression begins to blanket her completely, until neither fate nor freewill can save her. Indecision acts like a vice holding one’s head in a constricting grip. The inability to choose where to go next can be painful and is often confusing. In Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl is not a slave to vacillation. In trudging through life, he acts on his first instinct, his inner guiding force: fate. However, at times, a life changing decision is not made easily. When deciding whether or not to try and attempt an escape from the concentration camp, Frankl is thrown into a battle of fate vs. freewill. He does not know what will happen if he stays in the camp and let’s fate take its course; but if he runs away, he knows he can hope for freedom. In a desperate act of freewill, he decides on the latter. He doesn’t get very far in his attempt, but his actions show his confusion within the battle of fate vs. freewill. Esther Greenwood in The Bell Jar also shows a deep misunderstanding of her life. She wishes for all that she cannot have, and it drives her mad. She says, If neurotic is wanting two mutually exclusive things at one and the same time, then Im neurotic as hell. Ill be flying back and forth between one mutually exclusive thing and another for the rest of my days. (Plath 76) In this quote she’s saying that it is impossible for her to set her mind on just one thing. This shows how her actions are guided by freewill and not fate, as she cannot follow any instincts or premonitions. There are those who say that one creates his fate, and others who say that it is fate that creates us. As for the truth; it lies buried in the struggles of the mind, in indecision, and in the ability to firmly say yes or no. Both Man’s Search for Meaning and The Bell Jar show the struggle of the will of man against instinct and a higher guiding power. It is generally the first instinct that guides people onward in their lives. But how many times does one regret making a decision they should not have? How many times does one regret not making a decision they should have? If instinct ties directly to fate, then it is safe to say that fate is not an indestructible guiding force. Relying solely on fate alone will bind the mind, and limit the spirit. A person will make mistakes no matter what they believe, and it is important to understand the value of choice and consequence.

The Legend of the Double Happiness Symbol

The Legend of the Double Happiness Symbol You may  have heard of the term Double Happiness but know little about what this symbol means, let alone how it came about. With this profile of the Chinese good luck character, get better acquainted with its history and discover if it can be applied to the circumstances in your life. What Is Double Happiness? Double Happiness is a large Chinese character  featured  on red paper. The characters that signify happiness are spelled  xi or hsi in Mandarin  and  pronounced shuang-xi. It is exclusively used in Mandarin  to celebrate weddings. The Story of the Symbol The symbol dates back to  the ancient Tang Dynasty. According to legend,  there was a student on the way to the capital to take the national final examination in which the top learners would be selected as ministers of the court. Unfortunately, the student fell ill halfway when he passed through a mountain village, but an  herbalist and his daughter took the  student to their house and expertly treated him. The student recovered quickly due to their good care. When  the time came for him to leave, he found it hard to say goodbye to the pretty herbalists daughter, and so did she. They had fallen in love with each other. As a result, the girl wrote down half of a  couplet for the student: Green trees against the sky in the spring rain while the sky set off the spring trees in the obscuration. The student replied,  Well, I can make it, though it is not easy. But youll have to wait until I have finished the examination.  The young girl nodded. The young man ended up winning first place in the competition. The emperor recognized his prowess and asked him to finish part of a couplet. The emperor wrote: Red flowers dot the land in the breezes chase while the land colored up in red after the kiss. The young man realized immediately that the girls half  couplet was the perfect fit to the emperors couplet, so he used her words to answer. The emperor was delighted with this turn of events and appointed the young man as a minister of the court. But before the student began his new position, the emperor allowed him to pay a visit to his hometown. He ran into the young woman who gave  him the couplet and repeated the emperors words to her. The half couplets complemented each other, and they soon wed. During the ceremony, they doubled the Chinese character happy  on a red piece of paper and placed it on the wall to express their pleasure with the two events. Wrapping Up Ever since the couples wedding, the double happiness symbol has become a Chinese social custom.  It  can be found  all over  during Chinese weddings. It is also used for wedding invitations. In both contexts, it simply means that the new couple will now be united.

Reading Response # 3 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reading Response # 3 - Assignment Example The loss of a few thousand innocent lives was something which radically changed the way Americans think about Muslims and their religion. In order to argue whether there is really a clash of civilization as suggested by Huntington or the reaction is just Muslim or Arab Phobia, it is important to understand the roots of this conflict and how this difference emerged. The theory of clash of civilization is basically based upon the notion of clash of cultures and civilizations with each other. Underlying this theory is the belief that future conflicts between people will be based upon culture of people and that democracy or free markets is not the only ideology of the world. This notion therefore suggests that the primary axis of conflict will be religion as well as the culture of the people. Considering this position, the post 9/11 scenario may not seem as a clash of civilizations but rather Muslim or Arab phobia. The obvious reasons for the attack of 9/11 were based upon the belief that US has supported or illegally occupied and plundered the resources belonging to the Muslim world. This conflict was however by few groups against the State rather than a Muslim State against America. The videos suggested that there is a general Arab and Muslim Phobia because in the War against terror many Muslim countries actually supported the US in its war against Al-Qaeda and other extremist groups. In a way, the Muslim world on the whole, except for a few countries, was officially supporting the US and its war against Islamic extremist groups. There is therefore a general fear regarding Muslims and how may they create a threat for Americans within America. People generally believe that Muslims may harm them and therefore in order to avoid being harmed, Muslims should be labeled and wear bands so that they can be identified. There is a

The Women's Kingdom - Mosuo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

The Women's Kingdom - Mosuo - Essay Example tradition are highly controversial, including the ‘walking marriage’ or Axia marriage, the matriarchal family structure, the religion, and the interaction of the minority group with the outside world (PR China). This article seeks to address the controversial issues concerning the minority group, with verification of the facts from five interviewees from the community (appendix 1). A typical Mosuo family consists of ten family members, though the size varies and some may consist of between 20 and 30 members. Nonetheless, a female leads each family. In essence, the family head is the most proficient female in the house and all other members of the family respect her. She has important responsibilities and honorary status because all other members of the family depend on her decisions on family matters. Lugu Lake is the home for the Mosou community, which has about 35,000 to 50,000 members. The community enjoys plenty of space and building material for building, thus each family poses its own courtyard, with the number of rooms in each courtyard dependent on the size of the family. However, one room stands out: the grandmother’s quarters. The Mosuo family uses this room to offer sacrifices to ancestors, receptions, dining, and discuss family matters. However, the room has a dark atmosphere and low ceiling, creating a sense of intimacy with the only source of light coming from the flames in the coal-stove chambers. Here rests a stone representing the entire ancestry of the family (Vogt). Mosuo tradition holds that the stone carries the souls of the past generations, and thus the fire must remain lit throughout the year to keep the ancestor warm. In some families, the grandmother’s room may contain a big chink of meat that symbolizes the wealth of the family. The Mosou preserve the meat of slaughtered animals using salt and ash, then stitch up the skin and keep it dry in a shady and clean place. Such preserved meat usually lasts for over three years before