A Thousand Acres essays

A Thousand Acres essays As the story starts to unfold in A Thousand Acres, the deception and betrayal between the father and his daughters becomes the main focus of the film. In the movie, a well respected Iowa farmer by the name of Larry Cook is ready to retire and hes handing down his entire farm to his three daughters, Ginny, Rose, and Caroline. This is about as far as the film gets before the deception and betrayal comes into play. When Caroline, who was supposedly Daddys favorite, told her father she wanted to think over the division before she agreed was totally cut out from it all. Larry wanted nothing at all to do with her because she questioned him. This is where the film starts to make note that Larry isnt the nicest man and that he may have some underlying problems. A Thousand Acres covers a lot of ground, and raises numerous questions about the demons that some families keep buried (Berardinelli). After Larrys betrayal of Caroline, it becomes more and more apparent that hes losing his mind. He starts making accusations that Rose and Ginny are just trying to take his land from him. Hes also making poor decisions like drinking and driving. This is one way the writer really portrays Iowa to an exact T. Iowa farmers drink and drive around on gravel roads almost as if it were an acceptable part of life, which is why, in the movie, nobody is concerned. That is until he wrecks his truck. This is about the time in the film where the viewer learns of the incest between Larry, Ginny, and Rose. After a large dispute out in the rain between Larry, Rose, Ginny, and their husbands, Rose and Ginny are sitting in the dark when Rose brings up how their father used to go into Ginnys room when she was a young teen and have sex with her. Around the time she was 15, he left her room and went to 13 year old Roses room. Rose claims she let him come in until she was 16 so h ...

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY essays

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY essays Americas role for the next century will be to stay economically stable. That will be no problem unless something disastrous will happen like another Stock Market crash or Nuclear Holocaust. America in the future also needs to increase peace to every nation in the world. America needs to get rid of all poverty and increase education. To stay economically stable, America needs to keep trade relations and keep wars out of our future. We need to keep the national dept. low and keep all Americans income as high as possible. Another way to be economically stable is to keep American businesses on top of the national competition, mainly in electronics considering it is the electronic age now as well as the future. If we can keep the businesses on top of every international competition then we will keep our economy going. If the Stock Market crashes then we will have to tighten the buckle and get back on track. If there is a Nuclear War then we will have to recover and go on with the way things were. The next century for America holds many nbew opportunitys for peace. America has always played a role as peace makers and always looking for what is right. To increase our space explorations we need to make a joint effor with other countries to make a super space station and hig tech explorations. If we do not increase our peace offerings to placees like Russia and Japan then we will nerver e as high tech as we could be. America has always been known for its low poverty levels, but we still have homeless and uneducated citizens who need help. In the America of the 30th Century we need to help every citizen to make it in the world. Wheather it is to make an education cheaper or more homes for the poor. If we can help every individual then it will help america as a In conclusion, I think America needs to play a more peaceful and loving ...

Debate Over Airport Privatization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Debate Over Airport Privatization - Essay Example New airport facilities can be added by such a principal means. Historical roots depict that major highways, bridges, tunnels and telecommunication systems have been developed and progressed by the means of privatization. Theoretical researches reveal that airport privatization has become a world-wide trend since the year 1987 and the early-on of 1994 marked the agenda for privatization of airports for more than 50 countries of the world (Poole, 1994). The general concept for such an approach in developed countries includes the principal need of major modernization and expansion and the utilization of long-term franchise so as to possess private sector finance which would commence with the development of new terminals, or entirely new airports. It is an interesting fact of concern that airports are increasingly considered as enterprises rather than public services and around the world, private sector for airport management and development is being acquired by the government of both developed and developing nations. In order to improvise the airport operations, the municipal and state governments of a country can utilize the private sector in various ways. The simplest form of privatization comprises of contracting out the management of an airport on a short-term lease or sale. On the other hand, in order to generate new facilitations or entirely new airports, the private sector can be provided with a long-term franchise to finance, design and operate such facilities. In this way, military bases can be transformed in to commercial airports as well. Objectives of airport privatization are inclusive of a major factor which accentuates in its interest which is government fiscal stress. Since, government of the developing count ries often lack the resources in order to develop new airport capacities, they involve private capital and expertise in their arena. Developed countries view airports as assets and businesses as they are more of non-core functions which can better be managed as businesses by private sector enterprises. However, airport privatization brings about the abdicating control of the government over the management of airports in the private sectors which is quite contemporary, or in other words, deregulatory to some extent. The transfer of an airport, through management or lease, to the private sector is subject to public interest in the airport and its services. Profit-obtainment from a service center is potentially foreseen as a non-profit governmental operation. The funds are harmonized from the pay for the privatization of public airports, the sources of which include the end users and the customers. It, as a whole, criticizes the merits of privatization of the airports as it provides an obstacle to the concept of privatization from both the users and providers of the air transportation services. One of the

If Overestimation of Performance is Common, Management Attempts to Assignment - 1

If Overestimation of Performance is Common, Management Attempts to Introduce Benchmarking Procedures are Likely to Meet with Employee Resistance - Assignment Example Perceived weakness in performance would, therefore, be an important motivator for staff to support activities, such as benchmarking, that is geared towards improving their performance. Furthermore, when we analyze the statement, management attempt to introduce benchmarking procedures what comes to mind is that the organization in its current state lacks these procedures. This essentially implies that management will be engaging in a change effort. Change efforts are done under many banners. The basic goal of introducing benchmarking procedures is to make fundamental changes in how the business is conducted in order to help it cope with new, more challenging market environments. Kotter’s statement confirms this to be a change effort. For this reason, we find the need to discuss this question from two viewpoints: firstly as a Lake Wobegon effect challenge and secondly as a change effort challenge. As the Lake Wobegon effect challenge, this problem is a double whammy. For starters, management is faced with the challenge of transforming employee perception on the organization and secondly, the tool that they think is most appropriate for bringing a solution faces the resistance of adoption because of the very perception that they seek to reign in. This is the dilemma. Let us try to break down the problem into more comprehensible parts. First, employees perceive that their performance is better than it is in reality. This means that they will not see the reason to implement any new performance enhancing procedure such as benchmarking. Second, management has identified that there is indeed a problem that has to begin with changing employee perception. Management believes benchmarking is the way to go and would like to implement it. Third, employees – in our deduced scenario – resist managements push to implement benchmarking since they are convinced that what they ar e currently doing is already better than their peers.

Comparative Financial Analysis of Target Corporation and JC Penney Term Paper

Comparative Financial Analysis of Target Corporation and JC Penney - Term Paper Example JC Penney likewise had its beginnings in a small dry goods store in 1902 (JC Penney, 2011). Target operates some 1,750 stores within the United States; JC Penney also operated some 2,000 stores at one time, although some have since then been closed due to the economic crisis. Sources of data Data for this study were sourced from the companies’ respective 10-K reports and annual stockholders’ reports from the years 2005 to 2010,and from thence sourced the needed financial statements (income statement and balance sheet), and their accompanying notes and explanations. The reports and additional data were downloaded from the companies’ official websites. Capital accounts: Market and book values The spreadsheets attached to this report show the six-year comparative balance sheets and income statement as they originally appear; as common size, per cent of assets balance sheet and per cent of sales income statement; and then as ratios to the accounts for 2005, the desig nated base year. Then a spread sheet shows the comparative financial ratios computed for the two companies, indicating liquidity, activity, debt, profitability, and per share ratios. For the capital accounts, the most recent per share valuation figures, which are drawn from the spread sheets, are as follows: Indicator Target JC Penney Earnings per share (EPS) $4.03 $1.64 Book value per share (BVPS) $21.99 $22.94 Market price per share (MPS) $44.09 $29.17 Price to earnings ratio (PER) 10.78 X 17.8 X Price to book value (PBV) 2.0 X 1.27 X Dividends per share $0.92 $0.80 Payout ratio 23 % 50 % Data sources: JC Penney 2010 10-K Report; Target 2010 Annual Report From these figures, it is apparent that the two companies have nearly identical book value per share, but significantly different EPS. Target’s EPS is nearly three times that of JC Penney, and in that sense it is more profitable for the shareholders. This higher profitability makes Target more attractive to investors, so i ts market price is considerably higher (Cooper & Argyris, 1998:505; Lee & Lee, 2006:176; De Pamphilis, 2009:292). Target may have a higher price to book value (PBV) and therefore appears more expensive than JC Penney in this regard, but based on PER Target is still cheaper at only 10 times, compared to JC Penney’s nearly 18 times. Target also gives out a higher cash dividend per share, even though payout ratio is smaller and more earnings are being retained in the company. Fixed and non-current assets The balance sheets show that Target’s assets are more than two times that of JC Penney although they have roughly the same number of outlets. The common-size balance sheets show that Target’s current assets average only 40% of the total assets, while JC Penney’s current assets average 50% of its total assets. This does not necessarily mean that JC Penney is under-invested and holds too much liquidity. The sales figures show that JC Penney is only undertaking one-third the business of Target, therefore it may need a greater proportion of its assets for working capital and to bankroll the inventory turnover. Target appears to be operating more efficiently than JC Penney, devoting a lower proportion of its assets to generate a higher volume of sales. Both companies have a measure of goodwill and intangible assets, although their fair values exceed their carrying value. Deferred tax accounts and tax

Principles of Effective Offender Intervention

Principles of Effective Offender Intervention Introduction From way back in history, the process of correcting those who were believed to be wrong in a way or another was practiced. Communities are guided by certain morals, and whenever one goes against the morals, it is believed that the person might have a problem and it is only good to deal with the problem before it escalates. People are different; whereas there are people who can change by just being advised to do so, there are some who need intense programs to change. Correcting young ones so that they can be part and parcel of the bigger community is a process that must be guided by principles. The four principles are meant to intervene and help the targeted persons to be better people in the society. The four principles of intervention There are four different principles of intervention that are used in making sure that some of the young law offenders are helped to become better people in the society (Guevara, 2009). The four principles are more in a sequence because one must follow the other if good results are to be achieved. Effecting one principle in the absence of the previous might produce different results which might be opposite of the expectations of the community or the program. For a lot of years, the four principles have been used in many correction facilities, and they have produced tremendous results. Risk principle Offenders are divided into different groups as far as risk is concerned; low-risk and high-risk offenders. Low-risk offenders are offenders who do not pose a great threat to the community as well as to themselves. When it comes to such offenders, all that is needed is minimal coaching or minimal intervention for them to fit back into the community. For example, an offender who has been involved in a quarreling that resulted in violence is not a high-risk offender. The reason for stating so is because the offender might have acted out of frustration but not under motivation or passion. Therefore, the attention and resources needed to bring back such a person on the track are minimal. At the same time, the person is not a threat to him or her life. The second group consists of high-risk offenders. These types of offenders are not only a risk to the community but themselves. When it comes to attending to them, a lot of resources are required. The interventions used must also be in line with their needs. Risk principle calls for prioritization of resources in line with the risk of the offender. For example, a person who possesses a risk to a larger community cannot be treated like a person who possesses lesser risk. The methods of intervention used on a riskier person also differ in some ways (TJRC, 2016). The principle helps in addressing cases with all the seriousness they deserve. The principle is effective and reasonable. For example, a person who is used to involving him or herself in criminal activities needs a more effective intervention method. The reason for doing so is because a lesser effective method cannot help him or her. The intervention methods are not meant to punish but to change. Allowing continuous offenders back to the community with the expectations that he or she will change is not helping him or her in any way. Since he or she has proven to be risky, it is only good to make sure that more resources are used so as to make the intervention effective. Need principle Need principle states that the needs of the offenders should be considered in any given intervention process. The need might be direct or indirect. Some people are forced by circumstances to engage in criminal activities. In most cases, they lack a thing or two, and that is why they end up doing what they do. What they lack is what is referred to as a need. The principle states that for a person not to go back to his or her old ways, the need must be satisfied. A person might end up being a criminal for lack of education and knowledge on certain issues. Taking that person through a correctional facility and bringing him or her back to the society only solves part of the problem. Therefore, it is important to enlighten that person on the issues that he or she might not be familiar with so that he or she cannot go back to his or her old ways. The environment, on the other hand, can influence one towards committing a crime. When the environment of the offender is not looked into, the offender is taken back to the same risks after corrections, and that might not bear the expected results. For example, if a person lives in an environment where people live by the gun and earn from illegal activities, taking him or her back to such an environment is exposing him or her to risks (Edward Jennifer, 2004). The principle is effective because it tries to look for a lasting solution in the process of making sure that an offender gains from an intervention program. Helping people and not looking at what they lacked for them to commit a crime is dealing with the problem partially. The best way to make sure that criminals do not get back to their old ways is dealing with the causes, and that means looking at the needs and satisfying them. Treatment principle The treatment principle emphasizes the need to look for the most effective treatment strategy. The principle concentrates much on the high-risk offenders. An offender must go through some effective treatments for him or her to be accepted back in the community. Factors to consider when it comes to treatment are the type of treatment, the interval of treatment, and the length of the treatment. A person who is of great danger to the community must be treated in a different way. Though the main reason why the offender is taken in a correctional facility is not to be punished, a high-risk offender must be treated in a way that he or she will never admire hurting himself or others. The treatment must be intense and if the need calls it must take a longer period so that he or she can be ready to fit in the community after the treatment. There are different offenders, and they are motivated to engaging in criminal activities by different reasons. Some are criminals because they are failed by their brain. In such cases, the treatment must be special and different from others. Regardless of him being a high-risk offender, the person also has a mental health condition. In such a case, double care is required (Guevara, 2009). The facility or the parties involved might choose to provide both psychiatric help and at the same time correctional help. By so doing, the offender gets his or her sanity back and is helped to avoid getting into trouble shortly. The principle is effective because it considers the nature of the offender. By considering the nature of the offender, it becomes easy to help a person with a series of problems by knowing the best way to treat him or her. Fidelity principle Fidelity principle states that the program must be run by people who follow the rule of law and whose integrity cannot be compromised (Edward Jennifer, 2004). It is important to know that the offenders need help and there is no way of doing it better than taking them through a program. The person running the program should leave the responsibility of correcting to the service providers, and he or she should not be bribed to grant favors to some of the law offenders. The principle is effective because it makes sure that any offender goes through the program and benefits from it without any shortcut. Conclusion The four principles guide offenders towards using the most effective ways in gaining help. At the same time, they guide the service providers towards being effective and taking care of the offenders on humane ways of doing things. Though the four principles have dwelt so much on programs and services, their main aim is to help the law offenders so that they can be people who can be accepted back into the community. They are in place to make sure that most humane means are used to correct the offenders. At the same time, they make sure that each offender is provided with help that is suitable to his or her behaviors. References Edward, J. Jennifer, A. (2004). Applying the principles of effective intervention to juvenilecorrectional programs. Retrieved from http://cjonline.uc.edu/resources/criminal-justice Research/applying-the-principles-of-effective-intervention-to-juvenile-correctional programs/ Guevara, M. (2009). Implementing Evidence-Based Policy and Practice in Community Corrections, 2 Nd Edition. Retrieved from http://b.3cdn.net/crjustice/92d6c98633d1448ff0_cfm6iiq27.pdf The Justice Research Center. (2016). What Works Principles. Retrieved fromhttp://thejrc.com/wwi-principles.asp

Dressing Appropriately :: essays research papers

Dressing Appropriately In high school, there were the preps, the skaters, and the burnouts, just to name a few. These groups were not only distinguished by the way they acted, but they were also differentiated by the way they dressed. By looking at a particular student in high school, one could probably infer the clique he/she belonged to. So if a person had on big, baggy pants with a oversized T-shirt that had a Etnies logo on it, one could conclude that person to be a skater and if a person had on khakis and a gap sweater, one could deduce that person to be a prep. What is a possible reason that high school students dress as they do? They might use clothing style as a sense of identity(clique) or maybe to stand out among others. I too, in high school, wanted to be included in a group and stand out. During my freshman and sophomore years, I became a skater. Also during this time in my life, my father introduced me to the game of golf. He bought me membership at an exclusive country club and the first day I went I was rejected obviously because of the way I dressed. Private golf courses require a strict rules of dress which is mandatory: khakis and a collared-shirt. Ironically and unknowingly I had gone to the course with an almost exact opposite of the requirements: 38" wide jean pants and an XXL t-shirt! Embarrassed by the situation, I began to realize that there are certain modes of dress appropriate for different occasions. Now, as a college student, I try to dress in a more stylish, refined manner because I want to stand out as a sophisticated student of a distinguished university. Reflecting on my past, I feel it is important to dress to meet the occasion. To clarify, I don’t want to make the mistake off going to a golf course with skateboarding clothes again . Dressing Appropriately :: essays research papers Dressing Appropriately In high school, there were the preps, the skaters, and the burnouts, just to name a few. These groups were not only distinguished by the way they acted, but they were also differentiated by the way they dressed. By looking at a particular student in high school, one could probably infer the clique he/she belonged to. So if a person had on big, baggy pants with a oversized T-shirt that had a Etnies logo on it, one could conclude that person to be a skater and if a person had on khakis and a gap sweater, one could deduce that person to be a prep. What is a possible reason that high school students dress as they do? They might use clothing style as a sense of identity(clique) or maybe to stand out among others. I too, in high school, wanted to be included in a group and stand out. During my freshman and sophomore years, I became a skater. Also during this time in my life, my father introduced me to the game of golf. He bought me membership at an exclusive country club and the first day I went I was rejected obviously because of the way I dressed. Private golf courses require a strict rules of dress which is mandatory: khakis and a collared-shirt. Ironically and unknowingly I had gone to the course with an almost exact opposite of the requirements: 38" wide jean pants and an XXL t-shirt! Embarrassed by the situation, I began to realize that there are certain modes of dress appropriate for different occasions. Now, as a college student, I try to dress in a more stylish, refined manner because I want to stand out as a sophisticated student of a distinguished university. Reflecting on my past, I feel it is important to dress to meet the occasion. To clarify, I don’t want to make the mistake off going to a golf course with skateboarding clothes again .

Good Mothers Bad Gang

Anita Anderson Dr. Mike Calvert Teenage Wasteland 18, July 2011 Good Mom/Bad Gang Kids on the street, parents that don’t care, looking for a sense of family or belonging; do you see a child at risk? While in some cases this may be true, in many instances this is not the case. In her article â€Å"Mothers, Sons, and The Gangs† Susan Horton tells of three different gang members and their families. Although the families had different backgrounds, beliefs, and techniques they all shared in common sons who were gang members. They are mothers who care but have to face alone the battle of raising their sons in a community lost to gangs. In Horton's article we are introduced to three different families whose sons are involved with gangs. Teresa Rodriguez who still feels foreign and timid about the culture of America. Maggie Garcia who was raised in the same neighborhood as her son and believes that loyalty to the neighborhood is just and understandable. Gayle Thomas Kary, because of financial struggles was thrown into the gang community and fought her best to save her son. These young men were all minors living in a society pressured by gang affiliation. Although their homes had loving mothers their gangs had friends, boldness, acceptance, and a way of life. â€Å"There may be several deep-seated, underling motives for joining gangs: â€Å"Those who join gangs are struggling with the classic, desperate needs of adolescence: for the end of childhood; for acceptance as an adult; for sexual, social and economic identity; for status and success; for respect and a sense of belonging†. Sheldon, Tracy, Brown 77) Not all of these aspects are apparent in gang members but at least one is. In Teresa Rodriguez's case her son at thirteen unbeknown to her belonged to the gang Sur 13. Because of his boldness he was shot and the family home has been victim to drive-bys ever since. The bullet missed his heart and fortunately he survived. Still he did not learn his lesson and claimed that he did not care if he died. Finally his mother threatened to send him to l ive in Mexico if he continued to go out. â€Å"He did not want that, so he stayed inside. But that has not stopped him from dressing or acting like a member of the Sur 13. After the incident of the shooting Rodriguez also found out that all three of her older sons were part of gangs. Her 16-year-old threw away his cholo clothes right when he heard about his brother. He had not been with the gang since then. The two older boys are very repentant, but it is the father had always left rearing the children to the mother he did not have a strong, active, male role model. So, perhaps he felt as if he had no other alternatives. Maggie Garcia also has a son who is a gang member but her view and approach to her son’s affiliation is very different. She was raised in the same neighborhood as she raised her son in; she understands how much the neighborhood could mean. During school her son got into a fight with a rival gang member because each claimed a different neighborhood. Her son was expelled and she felt the principal at his school was upset because my son had stated that he would die for his neighborhood, but if he had said that if he would have died for his country, the principal probably would have given him an award. This mom understood that the danger in the inter-neighborhood conflicts that her son gets into because other family members have been lost to such conflicts. Sadly this is not enough for her to forbid her son from being with his friends. She feels that by doings so would be like her son telling her not to be with her friends. Garcia follows similar problems as the Rodriguez family; she mentions her history and connection to the neighborhood. In this story the father is also absent and the mother supports her son and find it difficult to believe that her son is wrong. She does not have a bad relationship with her son but he receives no discipline or clear-cut parameters from her. She seems to feel that he is loyal to his friends and at times perhaps takes his loyalty a little too far. Garcia seems to adopt the â€Å"boys will be boys† attitude and does not want to believe that her son may be committing crimes or may be with the wrong crowd or may be in a gang. When he was arrested she insisted that he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. She could not accept that maybe he is doing wrong and that he should have known better than to be in such situations. She tells him to stay out of the fire but her words are not strong enough to keep him out. Although she is not a bad mother, she is not giving her son reason to stay out of gangs. Because she could no longer afford to live in a community where her son had more opportunities and alternatives her son joined the only other thing, the gangs. The story of Gayle Thomas Kary may be the saddest one because the she tried everything and when she finally thought she succeeded her son, Jamee, died as a result of gang violence. Kary did more than the others, discipline, rules and action. When she caught her son cutting up soap to look like cocaine she sent him to his father, perhaps a change of venue would make the difference, but three weeks later, his dad sent him back because he couldn’t control him. She tried reasoning with him telling him â€Å"†¦ fast life goes fast. â€Å"(Horton) When he was arrested for possession of cocaine Kary was highly relieved but to her disappointment he was let out on probation. Kary refused to accept him and he was sentenced to juvenile hall and a youth camp. When he was released he had a probation officer Kary could turn to. Jamee was tired of life on the streets and his probation officer convinced him to turn himself into a youth facility away from Los Angeles. Finally things were turning around and he really seemed to have changed. He was like the child she use to know Unfortunately when she let him go out with his friends to get something to eat he was shot and died. She did everything she could but still she could not save her son's life. Unlike the other two mothers Kary was really able to turn her son Jamee around. She finally made him understand and she can say that his death was an accident. He was not just a number or a statistic of children lost to gang violence. Although, these mothers were, loving they could not help that a major factor was absent from their son’s lives, their fathers. The fathers may have been there but none seemed to take an active role in their children's lives. Parents can make a difference in their children's lives but many times they cannot do it alone. Gangs are not only the problem of the parents it is a problem of society. â€Å"To prevent gangs, society, police, and parents have to work together to keep gangs out of neighborhoods and also to address the existing gang problem†. Ojile) It may be easier to blame the parents but the truth is the parents are not only the ones to blame. We have to realize that in a society where gangs are the neighborhood it could be our son, our daughter, our nephew, etc. that is lost in the gangs. Works Cited Horton, Susan. â€Å"Mother's, Son's and the Gangs. † Los Angeles Times 16 Oct. 19 88. Print. Ojile, Todd. â€Å"Gang Activity in Wichita. † Teenage Wasteland. Baker University, Wichita Campus, Wichita, Kansas. 25 July 2011. Lecture. Shelden, Randall G. , Sharon K. Tracy, and William B. Brown. Youth Gangs in American Society. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2004. Print.

Strong Response

Preserving What We’re Losing If you don’t like something the way it is, or if you think you can make it better, then you can change it. That is the mindset of most Americans. Not only do we apply this to our working and family life, but we also apply it to things that I believe should not be changed; nature and the wildlife around us. Why must we â€Å"fix† what is already set in harmony to our benefit? Edward Abbey explores this idea in his essay, â€Å"The Damnation of a Canyon,† published in Beyond the Wall: Essays from the Outside in 1971. In this piece he attempts to communicate with others who have either a small or great interest in the environment and to spark their concern to a greater level. Abbey talks about his disapproval towards technological changes on a place that was once a natural habitat, the Glen Canyon. He believes that the canyon he has grown to love over the years has been robbed of its wild beauty. He points out that even though the scenery is still pleasing to the eye, it is not the same if you look closely. He implies not only has the aesthetics been changed but access to Lake Powell only allows people in who can afford it. Also, because of the changes in the way the water moves, only motor boats are allowed and these are extremely expensive to rent. Before the dam was built all you needed was a raft to float down the river in and a friend to join yo u. A guide was not needed because there was no danger, just calm sailing. Abbey ends with an idea that he believes would make for a better environment. He would like there to be alternative ways for producing energy rather than dams. He believes that if the dam were to be taken out of Glen Canyon it would only be a matter of time before it would begin to restore itself back to its natural beauty. Even though Edward Abbey’s solution is far fetched and his points are a bit repetitive, I believe that this is an issue that cannot be ignored and people need to un... Strong Response Free Essays on Summary / Strong Response Preserving What We’re Losing If you don’t like something the way it is, or if you think you can make it better, then you can change it. That is the mindset of most Americans. Not only do we apply this to our working and family life, but we also apply it to things that I believe should not be changed; nature and the wildlife around us. Why must we â€Å"fix† what is already set in harmony to our benefit? Edward Abbey explores this idea in his essay, â€Å"The Damnation of a Canyon,† published in Beyond the Wall: Essays from the Outside in 1971. In this piece he attempts to communicate with others who have either a small or great interest in the environment and to spark their concern to a greater level. Abbey talks about his disapproval towards technological changes on a place that was once a natural habitat, the Glen Canyon. He believes that the canyon he has grown to love over the years has been robbed of its wild beauty. He points out that even though the scenery is still pleasing to the eye, it is not the same if you look closely. He implies not only has the aesthetics been changed but access to Lake Powell only allows people in who can afford it. Also, because of the changes in the way the water moves, only motor boats are allowed and these are extremely expensive to rent. Before the dam was built all you needed was a raft to float down the river in and a friend to join yo u. A guide was not needed because there was no danger, just calm sailing. Abbey ends with an idea that he believes would make for a better environment. He would like there to be alternative ways for producing energy rather than dams. He believes that if the dam were to be taken out of Glen Canyon it would only be a matter of time before it would begin to restore itself back to its natural beauty. Even though Edward Abbey’s solution is far fetched and his points are a bit repetitive, I believe that this is an issue that cannot be ignored and people need to un...

The Odyssey Themes and Literary Devices

The Odyssey Themes and Literary Devices The Odyssey, Homers epic poem about the decades-long journey of Trojan War hero Odysseus, includes themes such as cunning vs. strength, coming of age, and order vs. disorder. These themes are conveyed with the use of a few key literary devices, including poems-within-a-poem and flashback narration. Cunning vs. Strength Unlike Achilles, the Iliad protagonist known for his physical strength and prowess in combat, Odysseus earns his victories through trickery and cunning. Odysseus’ cleverness is reinforced throughout the text by the use of epithets accompanying his name. These epithets and their translations include: Polymetis: of many counselsPolymekhanos: many-devicedPolytropos: of many waysPolyphron: many-minded The triumph of cunning over strength is a running theme in Odysseus’ journey. In Book XIV, he escapes the cyclops Polyphemus with his words rather than a traditional duel. In Book XIII, he disguises himself as a beggar in order to probe the faithfulness of the members of his court. When he listens to the bard Demodocus retell the end of the Trojan war and the building of the Trojan horse- his own invention in Book VIII- he weeps â€Å"like a woman,† realizing how dangerous his own cunning is. What’s more, Odysseus’ cunning is almost matched by the intelligence of his wife Penelope, who manages to remain loyal to Odysseus and stave off her suitors in his absence through trickery and cunning. Spiritual Growth and Coming of Age The first four books of The Odyssey, known as Telemacheia, follow Odysseus’ son Telemachus. Odysseus has been absent from Ithaca for two decades, and Telemachus sets out to uncover his father’s whereabouts. Telemachus is on the brink of manhood and has very little authority in his own household, as he is besieged by suitors seeking to marry his mother and rule over Ithaca. However, thanks to Athena, who teaches him how to behave among Greek leaders and takes him to visit Pylos and Sparta, Telemachus gains maturity and knowledge. Ultimately, he is able to serve as an ally to his father when it comes time to slay the suitors, a scene that demonstrates how much Telemachus has matured. Odysseus undergoes spiritual growth of his own, becoming less brash and more thoughtful over the course of his journey. At the start of his journey, Odysseus is brash, overconfident, and taunting, which results in numerous obstacles and delays. By the time he returns home, Odysseus has become more cautious and careful. Order vs. Disorder In The Odyssey, order and chaos are represented by the contrasting settings.   The island of Ithaca is orderly and â€Å"civilized†: inhabitants tend to animals and agriculture, engage in handiwork, and lead orderly lives. By contrast, in the worlds visited by Odysseus during his travels, plants grow freely and the inhabitants eat anything that they find. These worlds are depicted as obstacles to Odysseus journey, threatening prevent him from returning home, Consider the Lotus Eaters, who spend their days languorously eating lotus plants; the lotus plants cause a sleepy apathy that Odysseus and his crew have to escape. Another example is the cyclops Polyphemus. Polyphemus, who reaped the fruits of his island without labor, is depicted as one of Odysseus main antagonists. Poems Within a Poem The Odyssey features two bard-like characters, Phemius and Demodocus, whose roles offer insight into the ancient art of oral poetry and storytelling. Both Phemius and Demodocus tell their court audience stories tied to the heroic cycle. In Book I, Phemius sings of the ‘returns’ of other Trojan War heroes. In Book VIII, Demodocus sings about the disagreements of Odysseus and Achilles during the Trojan War, as well as the love affair of Ares and Aphrodite. The vocabulary used to describe the poetic practice suggests that it is a performative art intended for an audience of listeners and accompanied by a lyre. In addition, both bards took requests from their audience: â€Å"But come now, change thy theme,† Demodocus is asked in Book VIII. Such requests suggest that these poets had a wide repertory of tales to draw from. Flashback Narration The narration of The Odyssey begins with Telemachus’ journey. Then, the narrative moves back in time, as Odysseus recounts his journeys for the length of three entire books. Finally, the narrative moves forward in time to Odysseus return to Ithaca. The most notable flashback in the text is the multi-book tale recounted by Odysseus himself, but other sections feature flashbacks, as well. The poem utilizes flashbacks to describe events of the past in detail, including the end of the Trojan War and the return of other war heroes.

Can Foreign Speakers Help The Irish Language Survive Essay

Can Foreign Speakers Help The Irish Language Survive - Essay Example However, the author of this article could have elaborated on the use of the Internet to learn languages, as this may lead to the rise of slang, which may further complicate language development. This article has much strength in that it is based on analysis from typical examples of individuals chipping in various points. Nevertheless, it leaves a loophole for various an array of interpretations due to the author’s failure to state his aim for writing it.Assessment of the ArticleFrom my assessment, this material may be very resourceful in my future career on analyzing the rise and loss of various languages. For instance, the use of digital techniques such as internet and Facebook to facilitate the learning of a particular language as mentioned in this article may ease my future research. This article is a clear analysis of the current problem of language loss among the contemporary generation who feels that using native language is a primitivism. Besides, it is an encouragement to learners on the need to preserve languages for future identifications. It is, therefore, one of the best as far as anthropological research is concerned.Lingua Globa: How English Became 'Globish' by Robert McCrumSummary of the ArticleMcCrum, the author of this article, explains the various ways in which the English language developed and spread to the entire world. He asserts that English never developed from one language group, but rather a contribution of various languages such as Celtic and Anglo-Saxon words.

Self Evident Truths Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Self Evident Truths - Essay Example Self-evidently, today, the popular notion argued by Alexander has grown to become an accepted tenant of the American democracy. Moreover, further arguments were initiated to preserve the culture and democratic processes, reform civilian response efforts, appropriately prioritize defense resources, and effectively employ the National Guard with an ultimate goal of proscribing overreliance on the military. Alexander proposed the use of the military in domestic situations as an eventual and practical consideration. The American political culture remains consensual due to its broad basis on shared political values. Arguably, most of these conflicts arise because of disagreements on how to implement the values provided and not on the basic beliefs themselves. A survey of racial categories in American history depict changes with the politics and prejudices of the time. Fredrickson argues that cultural pluralism offers the best hope for a just and cohesive society since individuals are able to construct and reconstruct their own ethnic identities.