Monday, December 30, 2019

The General Strain Theory And Juvenile Delinquency

Introduction The general strain theory is an established theory that provides a basic understanding relating to different elements leading to specific criminal behaviors. The theory has been of importance in trying to map criminal patterns among individuals involved in criminal behavior, thereby creating a platform for their rehabilitation. The general strain theory has had a close connection to juvenile delinquency, as it creates a platform where psychologists can define some of the key factors prompting teenagers and youths to engage in criminal behaviors. According to Zhang (2008), teenagers and youths tend to become highly vulnerable to lack of emotional control attributed to an aspect of negative emotions, which do not include anger, thereby creating a platform for them to engage in behaviors that would be characterized as criminal. The main research problem of this report is to create a connection between the general strain theory and juvenile delinquency. Literature Review A review of a wide range of literature indicates that researchers have conducted significant research on this particular topic on juvenile delinquency and the impacts that the general strain theory has had in understanding such behaviors. However, the majority of these studies have not been able to provide a clear connection between the negative behaviors shown among teenagers and youths and their criminal behaviors. In most cases, researchers argue that such behaviors may come about due toShow MoreRelatedThe General Strain Theory Of Female Delinquency1253 Words   |  6 Pagestheories. A major theory used to explain female delinquency is the general strain theory (GST). According to Bartollas, â€Å"GST explains female delinquency by contending that many females experience harsh discipline, parental rejection, peer abuse, negative secondary school experience, homelessness, and a strong need for money;† these strains can cause females to cope through delinquent behavior (73). The social learning theory also explains female delinquency as â€Å"some females tend to associate withRead MoreFor the purpose of this research, the proposed theories that will be used are Agnew’s General600 Words   |  3 Pagesresearch, the proposed theories that will be used are Agnew’s General Strain Theory and Labeling Theory. Robert Agnew is one the most recognizable theorist in the criminal justice profession. General Strain Theory is influential very influential with explaining juvenile delinquency. Agnew’s Strain theory is not the main theory of this research but when examining juvenile delinquency as a whole and the beginning it gives an explanation for that not in social science. This theory is used as the basicRead MoreThe Revival of the Strain Theory Essay1272 Words   |  6 Pagesconstantly looking for explanations for criminal patterns and crime rates among juveniles. They have presented many theories to serve as such explanations with strai n theory being one of them; however, like many other theories, strain theory was pushed aside decades ago. It was not until recently that this theory was given new life by criminologist, Robert Agnew. Robert Agnew introduced this new development as the general strain theory. GST was the first supposition that was not tied to social class or culturalRead MoreThe Pattern Of Juvenile Delinquency Is Strain Theory1156 Words   |  5 Pages Another relevant theory in regards to the pattern of juvenile delinquency is Strain Theory. In 1938, Robert Merton developed the theory of Strain to describe how social structures within society may pressure citizens (low socioeconomic status) to commit crimes. Merton felt that too much pressure to achieve goals, such as financial well-being, led to behaviors such as selling drugs. Merton’s theory relates to juvenile delinquency in that adolescents might experience overwhelming stress or pressureRead MoreFactors Of Sociologist Robert Agnews General Strain Theory996 Words   |  4 PagesOverview Sociologist Robert Agnew introduced the General Strain Theory (GST) in 1992, which argues that strain is the leading factor that causes someone to be delinquent or criminally motived. He categorizes three major types of strain that produces delinquency: the failure to achieve positively valued goals, removal of positively valued stimuli, and the introduction of negatively valued stimuli (Agnew et al., 2002, p. 44). These different forms of strain greatly increase the chances for an individualRead MoreThe Chicago School Of Sociology1624 Words   |  7 Pagesresearch is to ascertain if the Chicago school of sociology and â€Å"General Strain Theory (GST) share any type of relationship in regards to stress, criminal behavior that leads to crime, negative emotions base on the community in which they reside, and failure to achieve positively valued goals (i.e., status or money) because of their living conditions or environment† (â€Å"Review of the Roots†, n.d.). Literature Review General Strain Theory symbolizes the most significant theoretic developments in criminologyRead MoreContributing Factors to Juvenile Delinquency1620 Words   |  7 PagesJuvenile delinquency, according to Agnew and Brezina, is the violation of the law by a minor which is any persons under the age of 18 in most states. There are many contributing factors to juvenile delinquency such as domestic issues or stress at school, and there are also four different theories, strain, social learning, control, and labeling, to explain the different prospective of why it is thought that juveniles commence in delinquent behavior. This particular discussion however, is going toRead MoreJuvenile Delinquency A Sociological Approach1408 Words   |  6 PagesA juvenile delinquent is an individual under the age of eighteen years old who fails to abide by the law. When identifying the causes of juvenile delinquency society can slow down or prevent the behavior by using strategies. The quality of peer s, family, parenting, community and school area can all be predictors of juvenile delinquency. Theories help us explain why juveniles are engaging in delinquent behavior and it is important to understand why because it helps us explain the motives for theirRead MoreCauses Of Juvenile Delinquency. Authors John Hagan And1601 Words   |  7 PagesCauses of Juvenile Delinquency Authors John Hagan and Bill McCarthy of Cambridge University offer an insight between the relationship between juveniles and their participation to criminal activities. According to them, the primary theories they employed in understanding the dynamics of youth taking to the street are control theory and strain theory (Benjamin, 1999). Through control theory, the authors point out erratic parenting, family deprivation, neglect and abuse and other forms of parental rejectionRead MoreJuvenile criminal gangs have long been a significant issue with the criminal justice establishment.1100 Words   |  5 PagesJuvenile criminal gangs have long been a significant issue with the criminal justice establishment. Youths coming together to commit criminal acts normally attributed to adult and more vicious criminal organizations are now being routinely committed by juveniles. The reasons for these youths in committing the activities have somewhat baffled author tries as well as scholars and rese archers. It must be noted however, that juvenile delinquency is not new; laws in the past have sought to control the

Sunday, December 22, 2019

United States Economic Financial Crisis - 1639 Words

Throughout the years, different events occurred and influenced the global economy positively or negatively. For example, the oil crisis in the ‘70s negatively affected the economy just as bad as the Gulf War did in 1990. On the other side, the end of other wars had a positive effect on the economy, for example World War 2, which boosted the stock market and ended the Great Depression. When multiple negative effects occur at the same time, or when crises last for a long time allowing other negative effects to surface, crises tend to last longer and prevent a pick-up in growth. The current economic-financial crisis was indeed caused by the simultaneous occurrence of events in different parts of the world that all had a negative effect. These events are subtly different and therefore it is common that only one event is held responsible for the crisis. In reality, the world economy became critical due to the mix of four major events: 1) the unrestrained greed of financiers in the U.S. and U.K., which transformed bad mortgages into toxic financial assets 2) the habit of getting deeply indebted in the U.S. and U.K., 3) the excessive liquidity in Europe, 4) the real estate bubble in the U.S. and some European countries (Thomas, 2011) At the beginning of the financial collapse in the United States, many commentators, among which was the President of the Federal Reserve, hastily affirmed that the situation would only affect the United States and at most, the UK, where the banks,Show MoreRelatedWhat Is A Financial Crisis?1671 Words   |  7 PagesWhat is a financ ial crisis? According to Mishkin and Eakins (2015), â€Å"a financial crisis occurs when information flows in financial markets experience a particularly large disruption, with the result that financial frictions and credit spreads increase sharply and financial markets stop functioning. Then economic activity will collapse† (p.165). Throughout history the United States of America has experienced six significant financial crises. Each crisis left the United States of America’s economyRead MoreThe World s Economy Was Devastated1732 Words   |  7 PagesWith the crash of the United States Wall Street, the realm drove into what is now known as the â€Å"Great Recession†. Its neighbour to the north, Canada also felt these affects as unemployment and poverty grew. After a decade of despair, the massive rise in government spending for the Second World War and the reductions in taxes, the economies returned to prosper. With decades of industrialization, populatio n growth and surging economies, the Western World mainly the United States and Canada, becameRead MoreThe 2008 Financial Crisis Essay1326 Words   |  6 Pagesintroduction The 2008 financial crisis led to a sharp increase in mortgage foreclosures primarily subprime leading to a collapse in several mortgage lenders. Recurrent foreclosures and the harms of subprime mortgages were caused by loose lending practices, housing bubble, low interest rates and extreme risk taking (Zandi, 2008). Additionally, expert analysis on the 2008 financial crisis assert that the cause was also due to erroneous monetary policy moves and poor housing policies. The federal governmentRead MoreThe Financial Crisis Of 20071646 Words   |  7 PagesThe most recent financial crisis of 2007 was felt throughout the world, and brought about huge economic consequences that are still being felt to this day. Within the United States, the crisis undoubtedly resulted in a surge in poverty and unemployment, a significant drop in consumption, and the loss of trust in the capitalist economic system. Because of globalization, this crisis was felt through the intertwined global markets, af fecting underdeveloped countries even more. Historical eventsRead MoreLessons Of Resilience : What We Can Learn From The Subprime Mortgage Crisis Essay1499 Words   |  6 PagesLessons in Resilience: What We Can Learn from the Subprime Mortgage Crisis Like all financial markets, the United States housing market is characterized by its cyclical nature. Markets have ups and downs, peaks and troughs, and without variation, the housing market would not contribute to economic activity in the way that it does. Still, while fluctuations are a necessary and often beneficial truth, housing disasters and market crashes are crises that should and can be avoided with proper foresightRead MoreThe Global Financial Crisis Of Broward College920 Words   |  4 PagesResearch Paper: The Global Financial Crisis Michelle Beira Broward College There have been few financial crises in the United States. The Global Financial Crisis of 2008 to 2009 was the most recent and before that was The Great Depression of the 1930s. The Global Financial Crisis actually began in 2007 when prices of homes tanked. It not only affected the U.S. but it also affected economies overseas. The entire investment banking industry, some of the biggest insurance companies, enterprisesRead MoreThe Global Financial Crisis and The Regulation of Investment Banks1154 Words   |  5 Pagesimportant role in stimulating investments in the United States both from individuals and corporate. The global financial environment has over the last decade experienced enough changes as can be witnessed from the key economic indicators. These changes have significantly impacted various stakeholders such as financial markets, money markets, capital markets and the general micro and macro economics players. Countries have been hit by recession and economic meltdowns. The impacts of these changes areRead MoreEssay on Mortgage Crisis on Money Supply1480 Words   |  6 PagesImpact of the Mortgage Crisis on Money Supply in the US AMESIA HARRIS FINANCE 364 PROFESSOR CROSS Impact of the Mortgage Crisis on Money Supply in the US This paper presents the effects of expansionary monetary policy to macro economic variables in the economy. The United States of America recorded a mortgage crisis since 2007. The financial sector issued out massive amounts of money to individuals to acquire homes. This was in line with government campaigns for equitable housing of US citizensRead MoreChina And China Case Study1578 Words   |  7 PagesDiscrepancies, some of the distinctions in the information on the US imports from the PRC and Chinese fares to the US are explained by the changes in sending out costs from China and import costs in the US for products transported directly from one state to the other. Part of these differences is associated with the transfer of property during the delivery, which leads to a price premium when the owner changes (Xu, 2012). The publication of official statistics on the US trade is often accompanied byRead MoreThe World Experienced A Tremendous Financial Crisis Essay1131 Words   |  5 Pagestremendous financial crisis which rooted from the U.S housing market; moreover, it is considered by many economists as one of the worst recession since the Great Depression in 1930s. After posing a huge effect on the U.S economy, the financial crisis expanded to Europe and the rest of the world. It brought governments down, ruined economies, crumble financial corporations and impoverish individual lives. For example, the financial crisis has resulted in the collapse of massive financial institutions

Friday, December 13, 2019

Storm Born Chapter Eighteen Free Essays

It was like deja vu. Two fights, two blackouts, and two â€Å"mornings after† back in my own bed. Talk about tedious. We will write a custom essay sample on Storm Born Chapter Eighteen or any similar topic only for you Order Now Only this time, I wasn’t alone in bed. I knew Kiyo was with me even before I opened my eyes. I recognized his smell, the way his arms wrapped around me. They held me with delicacy now, not with the fierceness that usually seized him. â€Å"You don’t quit,† I murmured, blinking the sleep out of my eyes. â€Å"Even wounded, you’re still trying to get me back in bed.† â€Å"I’ve already got you here.† He lay on his side, his eyes staring into mine. Smiling, he ran a hand over my hair, smoothing it back. â€Å"I was so worried about you.† I snuggled against him, slowly dredging up memories from last night. â€Å"I was worried about you too. What happened? Why wouldn’t you change back?† â€Å"I did†¦eventually.† Well, that was obvious. I waited expectantly, needing more. â€Å"Being a kitsune isn’t just about the novelty of turning into a fox. It’s more than that. It’s like†¦I also can turn into – I don’t know – a fox god. No. That’s not right. I don’t know how to describe it.† â€Å"A superfox?† His soft laughter vibrated against my forehead, and he kissed the skin there. â€Å"That’s not quite right either. The foxes of the Otherworld are like the progenitors of mortal foxes in this world. They’re stronger, more powerful, wilder. I can change into one of those, but to do so†¦I almost have to give up my humanity. They’re too animal, too†¦I don’t know, primordial. When I’m a normal red fox, I’m still pretty much the same as I am now unless I’ve been in that form for a really long time. Then the human part starts to go. But for your ‘superfox,’ I’m already gone in one transformation. I can hang on to only a few human instincts – like that I had to fight that thing and that I had to protect you.† I took all this in, frowning. â€Å"But that doesn’t explain why you didn’t change back.† â€Å"It takes time to go in and out of that form. The change is more than physical. I have to give up my human nature to go in, my fox nature to come out. Both are hard. That’s why it took me awhile to even help in the first place. I had to make a quick call, even though it left you undefended. I thought I’d do more damage in the other form.† â€Å"Yeah, you did do a pretty good job. But you sure scared me there.† I fell silent, recalling those terrible moments of uncertainty while I bled all over myself. â€Å"When did you finally change back?† â€Å"Not long after you passed out, I think.† â€Å"That would explain why I’m still alive.† He nodded. â€Å"You lost a lot of blood. You needed ten stitches.† I blinked. â€Å"Did you take me to a doctor?† He grinned. â€Å"You bet I did.† It took me a moment to catch on. I pulled back the covers and lifted the skirt of one of my racier and rarely used nightgowns – how’d I get dressed in that anyway? – and saw black stitches standing out starkly against my skin, off to the side of my stomach. â€Å"You did this?† I exclaimed. â€Å"You stitched me up? Without a doctor?† â€Å"I am a doctor. I do this all the time.† â€Å"Yeah†¦to cats and dogs. Not to people.† â€Å"It’s exactly the same. We’re animals too.† I eyed the stitches uneasily. The skin around them was red. â€Å"Was everything sanitized?† He made a disparaging sound in his throat. â€Å"Of course it was. The standards are the same. Come on, stop worrying. It was either that or let you bleed to death in the car. I had a kit in the back and used it.† â€Å"How’d you have enough light out there?† â€Å"The overhead lamp still worked.† I couldn’t believe he’d stitched me up in a smashed car with a vet’s kit. Improvisation at its best. â€Å"Did the car actually start?† â€Å"Sort of†¦I got us back to the freeway before it died. I found your cell phone and called Tim.† â€Å"Poor Tim. When I first told him I was a shaman, I think he thought it was as fake as his own Indian charade.† â€Å"Wait – he’s not actually Indian? I’ve been trying forever to figure out what tribe he’s from.† â€Å"He’s from the tribe of Tim Warkoski. It’s ridiculous, but – â€Å" The air in the room rippled, pressure building. I had to blink a few times to ensure the shimmering around us wasn’t in my head. Kiyo propped himself up, alert and wary. The pressure abruptly faded. A rift from the Otherworld opened up in front of us, and suddenly Dorian stood on a small table in the corner. Not unexpectedly, it promptly broke under his weight, making a horrible crashing sound as its pieces and contents fell to the floor. To his credit, he sidestepped the disaster rather gracefully, easily landing both feet on the floor. I winced, seeing the anchor ring lying among the debris. I’d set it on the table, not considering the consequences of Dorian arriving exactly where it lay. â€Å"What the hell – † Kiyo started to climb out of bed, but I was in his way. I laid a restraining hand on his chest. â€Å"No, it’s all right. He’s here for our next lesson. Jesus†¦I can’t believe it’s that time already.† I’d lost a lot of time since the car. Dorian wore his usual simple but fine clothes, covered by another elaborate robe. This one was black satin, edged in silver and small seed pearls. If the present circumstances surprised him, he didn’t show it. He kept his face typically unimpressed and sardonic. His smile twisted as he regarded us. â€Å"I can come back later if it’s more convenient. I do so hate to interrupt.† â€Å"No, no,† I said hastily, sitting up and swinging my legs over the bed’s edge. The movement uncomfortably tugged the skin around my stitches. â€Å"We were just, um†¦resting.† Dorian arched an eyebrow. â€Å"You rest in that?† I glanced down, flushing. I’d worn this exactly once when Dean and I had gone to Mexico for a weekend. The nightgown was pale green, its top and bottom hems ornamented with elaborate green leaves and tiny pink flowers. The mid-thigh-length skirt was sheer chiffon. Note to self: Never let Kiyo dress me again, unconsciousness notwithstanding. Tim chose that moment to walk in, summoned by the noise. â€Å"Eug, what†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His mouth dropped – and not just because of me. I looked around at us all: me in my nightgown, Kiyo bare-chested, Dorian in his extravagant robes, and Tim in his Native getup. â€Å"God,† I muttered, standing up, â€Å"we look like the Village People.† I pulled the terry cloth robe over me, wondering how I always seemed to be half-naked lately. Tim continued to stare, wearing the shocked look of one who has just walked in on his parents having sex. â€Å"Everything’s fine,† I told him. He still didn’t move, and I waved a hand in front of his face. â€Å"Hey, wake up. Think you can make some breakfast?† He blinked. â€Å"It’s three in the afternoon.† I gave him a pathetic look. The familiarity of it seemed to snap him back to normal. He could never resist it. That, or he felt he owed me food for the free rent. â€Å"What do you want?† â€Å"Eggs and toast.† â€Å"Healthy or unhealthy toast?† I considered. â€Å"Healthy.† â€Å"Are your, uh, friends eating too?† I glanced at the other two men. â€Å"I’d love to,† replied Dorian with a cordial half-bow. â€Å"Thank you.† â€Å"Famished,† said Kiyo, eyes still narrowed on Dorian. â€Å"Thanks, Tim, you’re the best.† I practically pushed him out the door. â€Å"Charming man,† remarked Dorian politely. He glanced around. â€Å"And a charming room.† The broken table aside, the room’s other contents included: a pile of laundry, the wicker chair, a case of ammunition, a dresser, and a small desk with my laptop and a half-finished puzzle of the Eiffel Tower. The room didn’t have a lot of space, so everything had been jammed in. It all seemed so chintzy compared to the opulence of his bedroom. Kiyo also got out of bed, wearing just a pair of jeans. â€Å"You want to tell me again what’s going on?† â€Å"I already did.† I opened my dresser and pulled out a pair of jeans and a shirt that said I’LL GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO CRY ABOUT on it. â€Å"We’re doing my next lesson.† â€Å"She can’t do it today,† Kiyo told Dorian. â€Å"She was in a fight last night.† â€Å"Unless I’m mistaken, she gets in a fight every night.† â€Å"This one was bad. She was injured. Didn’t you see the stitches?† â€Å"My humble eyes had better things to occupy themselves with than her stitches.† â€Å"Hey, guys?† I snapped. â€Å"I’m still here, you know. Stop talking about me in the third person.† Kiyo walked over and touched my arm. â€Å"Eugenie, this is crazy. You need to go back to bed.† â€Å"Today’s lesson will not require physical exertion,† said Dorian primly. â€Å"There, you see?† I said. â€Å"I’ve got to keep going with our deal.† Kiyo looked darkly from me to Dorian. â€Å"Your ‘deal’ doesn’t seem to be doing a lot of good. I thought it was going to keep your would-be rapists away.† I had turned my back to them, opened the robe, and started pulling my jeans on. I froze, considering. â€Å"The fachan wasn’t trying to rape me,† I said slowly. â€Å"He wanted to kill me.† â€Å"Are you sure?† â€Å"He tried to throw me through a windshield. That’s not very romantic.† â€Å"A fachan?† asked Dorian. I shed the robe and nightgown and pulled the shirt over my head before turning back around to face them. I gave Dorian the short version of what had happened. He stood up from where he’d been leaning against my desk and strolled over to the window, hands clasped behind his back. â€Å"A fachan,† he mused. â€Å"Here. Curious.† â€Å"Not really. Not compared to anything else that’s happened to me,† I reminded him. He pointed out the window. â€Å"You live in a desert. Fachans like bodies of water. You have a lot of enemies, my dear, but I doubt any fachan would hate you enough to show up here of his own volition.† â€Å"What are you saying?† asked Kiyo. â€Å"That someone went to considerable trouble to summon him here. Someone with either a lot of raw power or simply an affinity for water creatures.† â€Å"Who could do that?† I asked. â€Å"Any number of people. Maiwenn could.† Kiyo took a few dangerous steps toward him. â€Å"Maiwenn didn’t do that.† Dorian smiled, unfazed by Kiyo’s intimidating presence. They were the same height, but Dorian’s frame was lean and slim, Kiyo’s broader and more muscled. â€Å"You’re probably right,† Dorian said after several tense moments of silence. â€Å"Particularly since she’s been so under the weather lately.† Kiyo’s face grew darker. I glanced back and forth uneasily, uncertain as to what I was in the middle of. â€Å"Do you guys know each other?† Dorian extended a hand to Kiyo, cool and collected. â€Å"I know of you, but I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced. I am Dorian, king of the Oak Land.† Kiyo grudgingly took his hand. â€Å"I know who you are.† â€Å"This is Kiyo,† I said. â€Å"Delightful to meet you. You’re a†¦kitsune.† Dorian said the word in an odd tone. It wasn’t exactly disrespectful, but it clearly implied they were not equals. I grabbed both their arms and steered them out. â€Å"No pissing contests. Come on. It’ll only take Tim about five minutes to whip up the food.† Whatever antagonism existed between Kiyo and Dorian, it took a break as the gentry king entertained himself with the rest of my house. He was like a kid, unable to keep his hands off of everything. Well, everything that wasn’t made of plastic or an iron affiliate. My living room was a veritable wonderland, with everything conveniently piled up in junk heaps for him to explore. â€Å"What’s the purpose of this?† He held a fluorescent pink Slinky, tossing it from side to side so he didn’t have to touch the plastic extensively. My impression was gentry could touch the taboo substances in small doses with minor discomfort; prolonged exposure grew much more uncomfortable. Charge it up with power, and it could kill them. â€Å"It doesn’t really have a purpose,† I decided. â€Å"You just sort of†¦play with it when you’re bored.† He tossed it back and forth, watching it spring up in arches. â€Å"Let me see it,† I said. I held it, closing my eyes. My focus was back now with the excruciating pain vanquished. I concentrated on the Slinky, putting a small piece of my essence into it. I handed it back. â€Å"Wrap it up and take it with you. It’ll be my anchor.† He grinned. With so many other distractions, we eventually had to drag him to the kitchen table when the food was ready. â€Å"Haven’t you ever been in the human world before?† I asked, once we all sat down. â€Å"There you go again, assuming we all just traipse over here for no good reason.† â€Å"So you haven’t.† â€Å"Well, actually, I’ve vacationed here a number of times. Not in this desolate place, of course, but several other nice spots.† I rolled my eyes and slapped butter on my toast. It was made of good, hearty bread, chock-full of whole wheat and about a billion other grains. You could use this stuff as sandpaper. I doused my coffee with sugar and cream, gulping it to chase down some ibuprofen. I might not be dying anymore, but myriad aches and stiffness filled my body. I didn’t think I could handle regularly getting into high-magnitude fights every other night. When the whole prophecy thing had surfaced, I had joked that I preferred attempts on my life to sexual advances. I didn’t really believe that anymore. At least when the bad guys wanted my clothes off, it bought me some time. That fachan, however, had had no intentions short of crushing me. And he’d done a pretty good job of doing that. I had never fought something so massive before. Most of my fights, before this all started, had been with spirits and elementals. I could take them out with barely any effort. The fachan had been in a different league. The spirit army from the other day had also been new. Dorian’s words rang back to me. The fachan had been deliberately sent. But by whom? One of the many who had a grudge against Odile? Someone like Maiwenn who wanted the prophecy to fail? Maiwenn herself? This latter thought bothered me. She’d seemed more or less trustworthy, despite her bland personality. If she turned into an enemy, it was going to create some serious friction between Kiyo and me. We finished breakfast, and Dorian declared we had to go outside for our lesson. I took one look at him and the scalding sunshine and saw imminent disaster for that perfect, alabaster skin. Figuring he wouldn’t want my prissy, vanilla sunscreen, I dug him out a wide-brimmed cotton hat of Tim’s that looked only mildly ridiculous. â€Å"Are you going to be able to do this?† I asked, leading Dorian out to my back patio. Tim had left for drumming practice, but Kiyo followed us, still watchful. â€Å"Your magic’s weaker on this side.† Dorian draped his elegant robes over a lawn chair. â€Å"Not me who needs to do the magic. And really, I doubt you will either. Not in the way you’re thinking of. Hmm†¦yes, this area may work better than I’d hoped.† He surveyed the patio area and the small grassless yard surrounded by a stucco wall. Dragging up another chair, he set it near the center of the patio, facing the house, and beckoned me to it. I sat down. â€Å"Now what? More meditation?† He shook his head. â€Å"Now we need a bowl of water.† â€Å"Kiyo? Can you grab us one? There’s a big ceramic bowl in the back of one of my cupboards.† Kiyo silently complied, looking as though leaving us alone for even one minute would result in Dorian trying something. I found that protectiveness endearing, albeit a bit over the top. And then Dorian did try something. â€Å"What are those?† I exclaimed. â€Å"Think of them as†¦learning aids.† He had produced a handful of silken cords from the deep pockets of his robe, all in different colors. â€Å"What are you – no. You are not serious.† He had moved behind my chair and grasped my hands. I jerked away. â€Å"You’re trying to tie me up?† â€Å"Not for sinister purposes, I assure you, although if you’d like to experiment with them later, I’d be happy to show you their various and sundry uses. For now, simply trust me that they’ll be useful.† I continued to regard the cords warily. He shook his head, smiling. Moving behind me, he gently ran his hands down my arms. â€Å"You still don’t trust me. And yet you do. An interesting mix. You fear me but want to connect with me. Do you remember what I said the night we met?† He knelt down, speaking softly in my ear. â€Å"This is exactly the way it will be when you come to my bed. You’ll surrender yourself, and though it’ll scare you, you’ll exult in it too.† â€Å"I think you’re imagining more to our charade than there is. And I don’t really see myself feeling exultant over being tied up.† â€Å"Have you ever tried it?† His fingers slowly slid back up to the sleeves of my shirt, like butterflies on my skin. It was†¦nice. I shrugged him off. â€Å"No. And I don’t need to. Besides, whatever your kinky intentions are, it doesn’t matter. I’ve got something going with Kiyo.† â€Å"Ah. Of course you do. From what I hear, he’s always ‘got something going.'† I stiffened. â€Å"Don’t try to cause trouble.† â€Å"I’m attempting nothing of the sort. Just stating a fact. A man with human blood is just as appealing to our women as you are to our men.† â€Å"I already know about Maiwenn.† â€Å"I see. What do you know?† â€Å"The truth. They used to be involved. Now they’re not.† â€Å"Ah. And that doesn’t bother you? Especially considering it’s likely she’ll try to kill you someday?† I turned around as much as I could and glared at him. â€Å"I meant it: Don’t try to pick a fight. I trust Kiyo, and I like Maiwenn. End of story. Now if you’re going to tie me up, just get it over with.† He rose from his crouch, the sensuality gone from his voice as he began the business of binding me. â€Å"I’d never dream of picking a fight. Your pet fox in there will break my neck if I so much as look at you the wrong way.† â€Å"Don’t act like you’re actually afraid of him. You can supposedly bring down buildings.† I relaxed back in the chair and let him tie my hands together behind me. He took a long time in doing it, like he was weaving or braiding. â€Å"Why, Eugenie, are you saying you’d wager on me in a fight? I’m touched. Very touched. Although, I do hear foxes have very sharp claws. How are those scratches on your back, by the way?† Kiyo walked out just then, carrying the bowl of water. He froze when he saw Dorian tying a cord above my breasts and around my upper arms. â€Å"What’s this?† â€Å"An awakening,† said Dorian. â€Å"It’s fine,† I said. â€Å"Set the water over there.† Kiyo did so and then stood next to me, arms crossed and eyes on the gentry king. Again, Dorian took his time in tying my upper body. He used multiple cords, and able to see better this time, I realized he had indeed woven them into an intricate pattern. Aesthetic and functional. â€Å"There.† With a last tight knot, he straightened up and regarded his work. â€Å"Not bad. It seems I haven’t forgotten how to tie a decent knot after all. One more thing, and we’re set.† â€Å"One more thing† turned out to be a blindfold. â€Å"No way,† I said. â€Å"Eugenie, my sweet, your outraged protests are adorable, but they only continue to slow us down. If you want me to help you, then let me. If you don’t, then take me to one of those places where human women wear revealing clothing and quickly lose their virtue through alcohol.† I let him blindfold me, feeling uneasy. I trusted Kiyo and sort of trusted Dorian, but the other bindings had already unsettled me. I didn’t like being trapped or in someone else’s control. The bright world went dark as fabric covered my eyes. â€Å"This is all giving me a bad feeling,† Kiyo said nearby. â€Å"On the contrary,† said Dorian, â€Å"it’s giving me a very warm, very pleasant feeling. But I suppose we should return to the lesson at hand, hmm?† â€Å"Is this the part where you explain the bondage getup?† I asked. â€Å"Or where I find out you just did it for fun.† â€Å"No, no. As hilarious as that would be, I do have my reasons. Now. I’m going to pick up this bowl of water that Kato so kindly fetched – â€Å" â€Å"It’s Kiyo,† came the irritated response. â€Å"So sorry. Anyway, I’m going to set it somewhere out here in this miniature wasteland, and you will tell me where it is.† â€Å"Oh. I get it. I’m supposed to, like, work on my non-visual senses? Listen to where you set it?† â€Å"You won’t use any of your physical senses at all.† I heard him walk away, presumably with the water, but I couldn’t tell where he set it. He paced and paced in circles, kicking rocks and scuffing his shoes so I was clueless by the time he returned to me. When he spoke next, his words were right by my ear again. â€Å"Now, given freedom, even with just a blindfold, you’d be inclined to move and want to use something – anything – to find the water. You’d turn around, sniff the air, whatever. Now you have to accept that all of that is gone. You cannot rely on what you usually can. You are trapped and powerless – more or less. Give in to that. Open yourself up to whatever comes. Find the water.† â€Å"How?† â€Å"By reaching out to it. Tap into a sense other than the usual five. Remember the exercises we did last time, about reaching beyond yourself – in this world, not the spirit one.† â€Å"I thought magic was inborn. Isn’t that what separates humans and gentry?† â€Å"It is inborn. And your inner magic summons and controls storms. To do that, you must summon and control the appropriate elements. And to do that, you must be able to find them. Hence, you focus outward.† â€Å"How do I do that?† â€Å"Just concentrate. But relax too. Think about the water. How it feels, what it’s like. Spread your consciousness out around you, but don’t go into a trance and let your spirit slip out. That’d be cheating.† â€Å"How long does it take?† â€Å"As long as you need.† He retreated, and I sat there and waited for some revelation. Okay. Somewhere around me was a bowl of water. And something inside of me was supposed to be able to sense it. I wouldn’t have believed any of it if the living room on the other side of the patio door didn’t stand as proof of my supernatural powers. But I hadn’t had to think to cause the storm. This was different. All I mostly felt at first was my own body. Dorian’s binds didn’t hurt me, but they were snug. The stitched-up cut stung a little. The back of my head ached. My leg muscles felt stretched and inflamed. I slowly took inventory of every part of me, assessing how each one felt. I could feel the beat of my own heart, the steadiness of my breathing. After that, I started concentrating on the stuff around me. I heard someone, Dorian maybe, slide up a chair and sit down. A plane droned overhead. One of my neighbors kept a bird feeder, and sparrows regularly chirped and squabbled around it. The harsher cries of less melodic birds sounded in the distance. My street had few houses and was removed from real traffic, but a block or so away, a car started and then drove off. I thought about water, its appeal growing as the sun beat down. I had put on my own sunscreen and was grateful for it. Still, I could feel sweat pouring off of me. Water would be cool, refreshing. My mom’s house had a pool, and suddenly I wanted nothing more than to dive into that crystal-blue surface. I thought about the bowl of water, thinking of its cool temperature, the wetness on my skin. I tried to feel it, to call to it. â€Å"There,† I said at last. I don’t know how much time had passed. Awhile. â€Å"Where?† asked Dorian. â€Å"Four o’clock.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"She means over there,† I heard Kiyo say. Presumably he pointed. â€Å"No,† said Dorian. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Sorry.† â€Å"Was I close?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Not even a little?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Damn it! Get me out of this.† I wriggled against my constraints. â€Å"Hardly.† Dorian’s voice held mild surprise. â€Å"We must try again.† â€Å"Oh, dear lord. This might be even more boring than the meditation,† I grumbled. â€Å"Can I at least get something to drink?† He hesitated. â€Å"Actually, I think your odds will increase if you’re thirsty.† â€Å"Oh, come on – â€Å" â€Å"Here we go,† said Dorian. I heard him get up and walk around again, and once more, I couldn’t tell where the bowl ended up. When he returned to his chair, I tried again. More time passed as I concentrated my little heart out. At one point, I heard someone get up and move toward the door. â€Å"Who is that?† â€Å"Me,† said Dorian. â€Å"I’m bored.† â€Å"What? You’re my teacher.† â€Å"The kitsune will call if you need me.† â€Å"I don’t believe this,† I said when he was gone. â€Å"Hey, this was your idea,† said Kiyo. I heard him shift in a chair, getting comfortable. I was on the verge of my next guess when Dorian came outside again. â€Å"There. Nine o’clock.† Kiyo must have pointed again. â€Å"No,† said Dorian. He made me do it again, and by then, I was furious. My poor muscles, already put through enough, were locking up from lack of movement. The heat was unbearable. To make matters worse, Kiyo asked if Dorian wanted something to drink and then went inside. He returned, and I heard the sound of a two-liter of pop opening, followed by the filling of two glasses. After that, they started carrying on casual conversation. â€Å"Eugenie will be at my Beltane ball,† Dorian explained, â€Å"as my special guest.† â€Å"Sounds great.† â€Å"Your enthusiasm is palpable.† â€Å"Just not my thing, that’s all.† â€Å"Ah, pity. Because if you wanted to come, I’d be happy to extend the invitation.† â€Å"I wouldn’t want you to go to any trouble.† â€Å"It’s no trouble at all. You could come with Eugenie. I always make special arrangements for dignitaries’ entourages and servants.† â€Å"Will you two shut up?† I asked. â€Å"I’m working here.† They fell silent. Water, water. I needed that goddamned water so that Dorian would untie me and I could return to air conditioning. I’d also drink a gallon of water while I was at it. Maybe two or three. In fact, when I found that stupid bowl, I’d dump it over my head. Sweat pooled along the hem of my shirt and where the cords and blindfold pressed against my skin. I’d probably sweated away the sunscreen and would burn. As if my body hadn’t been through enough. Where the hell was that water? Why couldn’t I find it? I thought again about my mom’s pool, vowing I’d pay her a visit tomorrow. God, it was so hot. I just wanted to be cooler. Water, water, water. I felt like Helen Keller. Or maybe one of those people in the Lakota sun dances where excessive heat exposure induced hallucinations. Maybe I could imagine the water. I sighed, and then, somehow, I felt coolness touch me. It was a reprieve from the heat. I straightened up as much as I could. Had I done it? Was this what it felt like to touch the water? The third time was the charm. Yes. There it was again. Like cool, moist air blowing at me from the east. I could taste its dampness, hanging around me like humidity in the sauna. I inclined my head in the direction I’d sensed the cool air. â€Å"I’ve got it. Three o’clock.† â€Å"No.† â€Å"The hell it isn’t!† I heard Dorian get up. He sighed. â€Å"I think we’d better quit for the day.† â€Å"But I swear I had it! I could feel it! I was thinking about water so hard.† â€Å"I know you were.† He undid the blindfold, and I looked up. Billowing clouds, colored like lead, inked out the sky. Wind blew at me from the east – not imagined after all – picking up in strength. Great, heavy drops fell around us, landing with loud splashes. Water at last. How to cite Storm Born Chapter Eighteen, Essay examples

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Hide and Seek Essay Example For Students

Hide and Seek Essay In Hide and Seek, the boy is terribly competitive, he almost treats the game like a military campaign; taking the game very seriously and is trying his best to stay hidden from the other children. This character is probably more suited to the situation that the boy in Leaving School finds himself as he evidently enjoys games of strategy. He is in fact so serious about this game, that he withstands the cold floor of the tool shed and tries his best not to sneeze. Throughout the poem he is acutely aware of his physical discomfort and sensitivity which contrasts with his lack of emotional sensitivity, however in Leaving School the readers attention is focused on the boys emotional discomfort. In Hide and Seek, he former tries to outwit the other children and believes that they will think him remarkably clever, when in reality they are laughing at him. Because he fails to realise this, he is in truth over estimating his own capabilities and under estimating theirs. The reader is able to empathise in part with the other children as the boy is portrayed as insensitive and over confident. Conversely the boy in Leaving School lacks confidence, he has no strategic plan , he was told to think of the timetable as a game of Battleships which involves deciphering codes, he is however found wandering aimlessly upstairs in the wrong shoes unable to adhere to the regimented existence. He understands that he isnt suited to this newly adopted lifestyle and the reader may infer that because he is more sensitive to his own inadequacies he is consequently more sensitive to his own predicament, unlike the boy in Hide and Seek. He could only read certain things and he didnt like the work, which implies he couldnt actually do the work. This strongly implies that he wasnt one of the more academic students. Unlike the boy in Hide and Seek who refuses to give up, he is aware that he may be inept and has given up doing most tasks. He realises that the teacher thinks he is absent minded from quite early on in the poem as she is constantly chastising and publicly humiliating him for not doing things properly. That he is further alienated and traumatised is defined in his inability to carry out the simplest of tasks such as brushing his teeth or getting ready for bed. The boy in Leaving School says he wasnt listening, suggesting to the reader that he doesnt fit in. In Hide and Seek the boy is also not listening but in the sense that he is unable to interpret Their words and laughter for what it actually represents. The boy in Leaving School almost accepts the daily humiliation of having his name read out as routine, the feelings of alienation are a constant part of his life. For the boy in Hide and Seek the realisation that he is not accepted by the others comes in the moment that he leaves the shed and finds that Nothing stirs they have all long since gone and left him alone, unwittingly playing the game that he was never really a part of. Both boys are hiding, one literally and the other by retreating into his own world where he doesnt listen and daydreams about the day he leaves school. He realises he doesnt fit in while the boy in hide and seek does want to be there even though hes not wanted initially. He cant see that the others dont like him and is therefore deluding himself. At the end of both poems the reader is left with bad feelings. In Hide and Seek the feeling of something sinister dominates as even nature reflects his emotions The bushes hold their breath in suspense and the garden has darkened as has his optimistic mood. .u8a6f2202e7707a4a5f3ade7b54cb9285 , .u8a6f2202e7707a4a5f3ade7b54cb9285 .postImageUrl , .u8a6f2202e7707a4a5f3ade7b54cb9285 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u8a6f2202e7707a4a5f3ade7b54cb9285 , .u8a6f2202e7707a4a5f3ade7b54cb9285:hover , .u8a6f2202e7707a4a5f3ade7b54cb9285:visited , .u8a6f2202e7707a4a5f3ade7b54cb9285:active { border:0!important; } .u8a6f2202e7707a4a5f3ade7b54cb9285 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u8a6f2202e7707a4a5f3ade7b54cb9285 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u8a6f2202e7707a4a5f3ade7b54cb9285:active , .u8a6f2202e7707a4a5f3ade7b54cb9285:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u8a6f2202e7707a4a5f3ade7b54cb9285 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u8a6f2202e7707a4a5f3ade7b54cb9285 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u8a6f2202e7707a4a5f3ade7b54cb9285 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u8a6f2202e7707a4a5f3ade7b54cb9285 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u8a6f2202e7707a4a5f3ade7b54cb9285:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u8a6f2202e7707a4a5f3ade7b54cb9285 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u8a6f2202e7707a4a5f3ade7b54cb9285 .u8a6f2202e7707a4a5f3ade7b54cb9285-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u8a6f2202e7707a4a5f3ade7b54cb9285:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: A Day In The Life Of Catherine Bana EssayIt is an emotional milestone for the character as he comes to realise that perhaps his own childish perception of being central to the world was not reality. The reader is left with a question and it is assumed that the boy is left with many. In Leaving school the reader is left with an enigmatic line as the boy seemingly either retreats into his own world where in his minds eye he enacts the day he leaves school or he is possibly recounting what had actually happened to him as he was on his way home. In both poems the reader is left to question the outcome.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Media Affects of the Vietnam War free essay sample

War is truly a horrific event that unfortunately occurs in our world frequently. There are a variety of ethical questions surrounding war, such as how much should citizens know about the fighting? When it comes to reporting the news, it is the goal of the network to report the news first. The benefit to this is people will turn to them first when it comes to breaking stories. However if the news is delivered based on speed and not accuracy this can be harmful to society. War is a very serious event and should not be taken lightly. Therefore, reporters must make sure facts are correct and unbiased. In both the Vietnam War and our current war we see reporters going to extreme measures to be the first to report information that may have been inaccurate. There was certainly not a lack Of information to report when it came to the Vietnam War. We will write a custom essay sample on Media Affects of the Vietnam War or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Unfortunately some of this information was highly inaccurate. Such as the event that started the war. The battle of Tontine was proved to have been false as reported by a Japanese Newswire in July 1984.In the bay it was reported outside Vietnam that the North Vietnamese had sunk a US ship killing just soldiers. The American people heard this and became outraged, and the congress gave President Lyndon B. Johnson a blank check to run the war. It was later discovered the tragedy never even occurred. The news networks reported this event and the American Government confirmed the false event and the war began, as the newswire reports. If this lie was never reported chances are the war would have never started.An Asian news source reported the Gulf of Tontine as an illusion from the start (Japanese Newswire, Lexis Nexus), this proved to be true but what Americans at the time period would believe the Asian News Networks. This can easily be related to he current war in Iraq. In order to get the war underway the administration made claims of weapons of mass destruction that could potentially harm us. If American media was not allowed into these war situations the government could simply make up another lie and point out old weapons found in Iraq and there would be no proof of proving these weapons old.Lies and corruption capture people. Therefore people will always pay attention to the stories about our government lying to us. These weapons have still not been found and this is extremely similar to how the ship may not have ever been hot down in Tontine. Despite numerous inaccurate reports there were attempts of trying to report the war accurately. However whenever a news channel would report Americans getting killed in Vietnam the government would work quickly to cover it up. President Nixon is quoted as saying the press is our biggest enemy. This one phrase sums up the war. The press would try to report fairly to the American people, but the government would squash it and make the press look bad (Media Beat Vietnam War, Solomon and Cohen). Therefore the press would only report good things so that the government loud look highly upon them and give them better seating in white house briefings. This highly affected the people working in Vietnam. They were forced to be there, and the stories they were trying to report were not even reported. There are certainly a lot of examples of war reporting being inaccurate. When we read John Seekers letters to his mother we realized what Kerry was telling his mother and what his mother was hearing on TV were novo totally different stories. Kerry wrote to his mother about bloodshed, continuous fighting, and Americans losing their lives daily (Brinkley, 3). While his mother attached the television and was learning how America was easily winning the war. Certainly the American Government wanted the news from Vietnam to be good. This would help their efforts in convincing Americans that the unpopular war was beneficial and worth while to fight.The American Government would set up propaganda that the North Vietnamese were being pushed back and they were not getting any further and that the Americans were taking many captives. However it was the Americans being pushed back and our soldiers like John McCain being captured, Americans were completely unaware of these events occurring. When it came time the 1964 and 1 968 elections believe Americans voted for politicians who favored the war thinking it was a great cause. Come to find out the cause was not worth it.What if a news circuit had reported that Americans where getting murdered everyday. Would the war of ended any earlier? I do believe so. When we look at the current war in Iraq, often reports are given by embedded reporters. They are reporters following and working directly with the certain unit they are with. At the beginning of the war we saw a lot of approval by the American people because we watched on our television the tanks race into Baghdad. However now that we see dozens of Americans killed every week, questions about the benefits of the war are being raised.If Americans were allowed to see directly what was happening in Vietnam would the war be supported as long as it was? There is no doubt the War may have ended earlier if Americans knew exactly what was going on. Reporting propaganda is beneficial to media circuits. If a major story is broken many people rush to their televisions to hear about it. Usually people flip through the channels to see the best coverage. When reporters are told in Vietnam that America has captured 300 North Vietnamese soldiers, every ingle American reporter will rush to the nearest telephone.In order to have there story be heard and to stand out on the news they have to make it sound interesting. This is where news stations may report that the number is higher than 300, just so more people pay attention to them thinking that they are getting the news faster than anyone else. Filling citizens with this false information is both wrong and unethical. American citizens based on the good news may begin to support the war. The same war that is killing thousands of troops a day and is not worth fight for, just so a news station an get a higher viewing rate.The higher a viewing rating on news channels the better the chances they have of receiving more commercial advertisement, and the more money they do receive. It is a very business like atmosphere. The news stations just tell the people what they want to hear so they continue to listen. Reading through various news reports during the war and various others after the war It is obvious news sources spiced up stories for attention. Reporting news is a serious business. Of course people only want to hear great news; however the world is not perfect. News must be reported accurately and fairly.News delivered quickly and incorrectly can be harmful to society and allow things such as the Vietnam War to continue and spawn out of control. News delivered correctly and over time may keep people informed and help them make better decisions when electing officials. An American mother like John Seekers should not hear on the television that the war is going great, but read first hand that many soldiers feel they are losing the war and its not worth continuing. If one can not trust the news media or the government who should they believe? News reporters are obligated to port the news timely and accurately.News Circuits should not be concerned about money and potential advertisement purchases, they should be concerned about the safety and interests of the American people.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Gender Roles - To Each Their Own essays

Gender Roles - To Each Their Own essays The definition of a man and woman is one of those things that everyone has a unique opinion on just like religious beliefs, how to raise a child, or how to run a country. Its hard to choose a concrete sentence that regulates what it is to be a man or woman (OKelley, 1986). Women are allowed to wear pants, but men are not allowed to wear dresses. There are so many double standards including gender that it is frustrating to talk about because everyone should be treated equally no matter their gender or sexual orientation (Sullivan, 2010). Personally, I think gender should be defined by the person being judged. If you want to be called a man but have female parts, go for it. And vice-versa, and everything in between. The culture I live in and I do not hold the same opinion on a lot of things, including gender role. I dont think a man should have to pay for dinner on the first date, just like I dont think a woman should have to drop out of college if she gets married before she graduates. I think men should get the same amount of time of paternity leave as the mother gets in maternity leave, etc (Lips, 1989).Gender is fluid and there are endless combinations of feminine and masculine characteristics that a person could portrait, including who they choose as a sexual partner. Imagine a house - a white house with blue shutters and a red door. There are children playing in the front yard protected from the tree-covered street by a white picket fence. These childrens parents are inside making dinner, and every so often one will peek out of the kitchen window to watch their kids laugh. A typical evening for a typical family in a typical neighborhood. The only real difference between this family and any other family on their tree-covered street is that those loving parents happen to be two women. However, that one difference is a huge challenge for some people to wrap their heads around. Therefore, these tw...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Louis XVI Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Louis XVI - Essay Example Even during his life, when his subjects generally liked him and exempted him from their harsh and bitter sarcasms, Louis XVI did not know how to sell himself to his people" (Padover, 1939, p. viii) The nation cried for a king, and it was given an image of a stout man too shy to play to the galleries. Louis XVI built no bridges between himself and his subjects, and the wonder is that he retained their affections as long as he did. Almost to the very end, Frenchmen were attached to the monarchy, but they demanded something more of the monarch than ritualised inertia. In no way, except intentions, did Louis meet the expectations of his people. This interplay of forces, as expressed by what an aroused nation wanted and a slow moving ruler did not offer. One of the curious ironies in the career of Louis XVI is that his death came to be perhaps more important than his life. From the point of view of the Revolutionary reforms, the king's death was unnecessary because it took place after the Revolution had achieved its program; and from the point of view of French history, the decapitation of Louis XVI was a national tragedy because it tore the country from its traditional moorings and cast it into a sea of violence. One of the major difficulties Louis XVI faced at succession was that he was a young boy devoid of any social contacts. Initially he was frightened at such a responsibility that he was not expecting. Louis XVI as a bewildered boy had never before had to make decisions or take action on his own. Always there had been somebody mastering him father, mother, brother, or wife but now he was king and absolute lord of the realm, and the entire world expected him to rule and command. Yet he did not have the remotest idea of his specific functions, or any knowledge of finance and legislation, or any awareness of the complex problems that waited solution. He knew how to sign papers submitted by ministers and was of course conscious that his signature implied sanction and compelled obedience. But his distrust of all his grandfather's ministers and functionaries was too deep to allow them to remain in office. At court there was no one in whom he had confidence. Yet it was essential that he find one man to whom he could entrust himself and the destinies of the state; such a man could serve as prime minister, as royal tutor, and even as a sort of parent-substitute. But where was the king to find such a mentor He had virtually no contact with prominent men, and some of the persons recommended in his father's list 'Maurepas', for example had not been at court in Louis' lifetime. Immensely worried, Louis consulted the one woman he trusted, his clever and haughty Aunt Adelaide, who was his father's sister and who knew everybody. Together they scanned the late dauphin's list of recommendations until by a process of elimination there remained only Machault and Maurepas, both of them past their allotted span of years. But Madame Adelaide was a pious woman, and when her nephew asked her what she thought of Machault, she replied that the former minister of finance, although honest enough, was a Jan senist and therefore a heretic. Louis, accordingly, decided against him. Thus only Maurepas, equally ancient and presumably equally wise, was left in the field. In this way the king chose a minister who was to shape

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Main Reasons of Market-Garden Operation Failure Essay

Main Reasons of Market-Garden Operation Failure - Essay Example The Battle of Arnhem, known by its Allied codename of Operation ‘Market-Garden’, was the biggest airborne battle in the history, and the only attempt in the Second World War by the Allies to employ airborne troops in a strategic role in Europe. It was a battle of Army Groups numbering hundreds of thousands of men- 21st Army Group under Field Marshall Sir Bernard Montgomery in opposition to Army Group B under General Field Marshall Walther Model- but constantly its outcome hinged on the actions of small forces and individual battalions at critical points (Hercelode 2000, 61). Rather than a set-piece battle with a orderly beginning and end, it began on 17 September 1944 from a perplexed and daily changing pattern of events, and ended ten days later as the only major defeat of Montgomery’s career, and the only Allied defeat in the campaign in North-West Europe (Hercelode 2000, 62). The direct starting point of the Battle of Arnhem was actually Montgomery’s greatest victory, the Battle of Normandy. The annihilation of the original Army Group B in the Falaise Pocket in August 1944 at the end of the battle was a tragedy for Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich. Of 38 German divisions committed to Normandy, 25 were completely destroyed, with at least 240,000 men killed or wounded, and a further 200,000 taken prisoner. General Field Marshall Model, chosen on 18 August as both Commander-in-Chief West and commander of Army Group B, found himself organizing the disturbance of his shattered forces across northern France into Belgium and Holland (Hercelode 2000, 62).

Monday, November 18, 2019

Does it matter whether or not firms pay dividends Why Essay - 1

Does it matter whether or not firms pay dividends Why - Essay Example Therefore, managers should make dividend payouts very consciously regarding the increase of dividend payouts. If they make any wrong decision regarding revised dividend payout, then they have to cancel the increase in dividend in a special announcement to the shareholders. This is substantial impact of change in dividend payout in stock price of companies as well as perceived value and goodwill of a firm. This is one of the most important and debated topic of behavioural finance. Dividend payout also signals the confidence of the companies, which directly affect the stock price. But the main fact that needs to be analysed is that whether dividend payment matters to the companies or not. This topic receives ample of arguments from investors, financial analysts etc. Three different types of views have been found over the argument on this topic. People, who are on the right site of this argument, claim that higher dividend payout generally makes the shareholders and investors better off . At the same time the people who are on the left side on this argument, believe that higher dividend payout may reduce the firm value in future. The people in the middle of the road of this argument say that change in dividend policy does not affect the firm’s value (Brealey, Myers and Allen, 2011, p.35). Irrelevance of dividend policy This topic of whether dividend payment matters the firms had sparked much debate by the financial analysts and the investors. Some individual investors argued that there is no positive or negative relationship between dividend payment and firm’s value. One of the most important theories related to this financial argument was Miller and Modigliani theory which is referred as MM theory of dividend signalling. These two researchers had published their... According to the MM hypothesis, market value of a company determines the market value of assets that the company has and cash flow of the company. Therefore, if total payout increases then shareholders have to fill up gap and generally it can be made up by issuing new shares. However, if the company wants to unchanged the dividend payout then dividend payout will decrease as no of issued share increases. Therefore, the shareholders can repurchase shares to get the same money back as dividend. In this way, it can be said that increasing dividend payment may reduce shareholders’ gain. Before the publication of MM theories, people who are in the right side of this argument believed that higher dividend leads to increase in firm value as well as shareholders’ payoffs. These people prefer to invest only those companies that pay higher dividend because they think there are some natural calamities in the stocks of higher dividend payouts. Shareholders are more cautious in thei r investments and they generally prefer profitable as well as safe investment in terms of the large multinational companies.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Difference Between Boycotts and Lockouts

Difference Between Boycotts and Lockouts Difference between boycotts and lockouts 1- INTRODUCTION Human Resource Management (HRM) is the function which works within an organization .It focuses on recruitment of staff, managing them and giving them direction to the employees who work in that organization. Human resource management can be performed by line mangers (Tesco superstores line manger performs the duties of human resource management ).Human resource management function includes several activities and key among them is deciding to use independent contractor or hire employees to get the job done .Ensuring they are high motivating, able to work in a team and dealing with performance issues. Human resources management also include employee benefits and compensation and managing your approach to employees records and personnel activities. Managing human capital means to conquer and to maintain people in the organization, who will work and give the maximum of themselves, with a positive attitude. The following work will attempt to answer the question Do you think boycotts and lockouts are two other anti-impasse weapons sometimes used by labor and management? An impasse occurs when the parties arent able to move further toward settlement. Sometimes, a strike occurs. Responding to the strike involves such steps as shutting the facility, contracting work, or possibly replacing the workers. Third party involvement namely, arbitration, fact-finding, or mediation- is one alternative. Examine the steps you will undertake as part of the HR management team, in order to answer this question this project will open with a review of the literature that has been written on the issues raised by the question above. It should be noticed that a vast amount of writing has been done on this issues but only a few of them dimmed to provide the most benefit to the purposes and intend of this assignment have been sited. Those countries their economy is operating full employment the bargaining power of the worker is strong and his employer is weak. When there is short fall of full employment then employer is more stronger than employee. In this case employees are compulsory to accept employer conditions. It is recognized that the right of workman to strike is an essential element in the principle of collective bargaining. In a non unionized work place, managers use their discretion in organizing work, selection, promoting and training people and other duties of human resource management but it can be change if the worker join the union. Once the join the union they comes across so many agreement and knowledge about employment relationship. Union main demand is all of its representatives are getting right wages ,no job cuts ,no over load of work They have an interest in work related learning and employee development. 2-BOYCOTT A group refusal to have commercial dealing with some organization in protest against its policies, usually it happens because of political reason. In other words boycott can be defined as a rejection of an individual, cop ration or nation to give political and social pressure for change. Example 1: Swadeshi Movement Against British Rulers In 1905,when India was a part of British empire ,a boycott of foreign goods was declared, which is known as swadeshi movement..Indians boycott all British products, to setup local stores where only locally manufactured goods had been sold. They could use British products but it was against their sovereignty. This movement was a good step for their freedom movement. (www.india_resource.tripod.com) Example 2: United States Boycott Against French Products In 2003,France tried to stop bush administration to build international support for a war to depose saddam hussain.In response united states have declared a boycott of French products specially French wine. French wine producers claims their sales are effected in united states because of boycott. (www.nber.org) Example 3: Greenwich Council Workers Boycott Against New Office In Greenwich council six hundred staff reused to work because there was no security screens on new office entrance .They have boycott to work in new office because of security reason. (www.personneltoday.com) Example 4:International Campaign The international campaign organized against A E Stanly, the corn processing plant in Illinois in early 1990s when 10 12 hours four days weekly shift was introduced. The campaign entailed a boycott of important A E Stanley customers like Tate Lyle, Pepsi and miller. (Scullion and Lineham, 2005). 2.1 TYPES OF BOYCOTTS There are two different types of boycotts Those in which users , consumers, or member register their disappointment through avoidance. Those in which an individual or organization takes a leadership position by increasing an active campaign against a product, service, company or organization. 2.2 Silent boycott Silent boycotts are unorganized boycotts spread by gossips in revenge of number of reasons and hit the company before they realize what is happening. Example 5: Toys R Us Boycott Toys of Violence Toys r us, was the subject by silent boycott. Their top management decided not to sell toys of violence like toy tanks, guns, aircraft and similar products. They did not sit with their customers. As a result their market shares never fully recover. (www.boycottnet.com) Example 6: IBM Vs Compaq IBM became target of a successful silent boycott, because of its superiority in which they have treated self-directed distributors. In a result Compaq computers became a very serious threat. (www.boycottnet.com) 2.3 Focused boycott Its simplest term, it involves dissecting the problem into its components and then zeroing in on the most vulnerable point. Example 7: Slaves Boycott Sugar Products The earliest example of focused boycott was in England when slaves boycott sugar products. In 1791, when parliament refused to eliminate slavery and result of this boycott sugar sales dropped by third and half. (www.ethicalconsumer.org) 3-Lockouts When an employer withhold work and denies workers to access their work place. Its a strike by management to induce settlement to a labor dispute on employers terms. when several employers take this action together its called shut down or joint lockouts. A lockout is defined as being the act of an employer in: Closing the employers place of business, or suspending or discontinuing the employers business or any branch of that business; or Discontinuing the employment of any employee; or Breaching some or all of the employers employment agreements; or Refusing or failing to engage employees for any work for which the employer usually employs employees; and Is done with the view of compelling employees, or to aid another employer compelling employees to accept terms of employment or comply with the demands made by the employer. 3.1 REASONS OF LOCKOUTS There can be many reasons of lockouts such as: When union goes on strike and employers want to put pressure on union for reducing the number of members who are able to work. employers can announce a lockout until the strike ends. Another case is when an employer mat compel a lockout to avoid slow down or irregular work stoppages. Example 8: Golden Reach Factory Lockout Its Workers In year 2003, between march and September when the management of golden reach factory in India locked out,1400 of its workers in response to strike called in protest. The golden reach factory is a subsidiary of unilever an Anglo Dutch conglomerate ,unilever has never declared a lock out in Netherlands conglomerate seems to have different policies towards labor, depending on the country which its operates. (www.britannica.com) 4-STRIKES Union and labor associates use strike as weapon to get their demands accepted. Its starts when bunch of workers want to push pressure on their employers, they cease work until they get there demands accepted by employers. In an industry when trade unions and labor associates denies to work until they get their demand accepted is called strike. In a strike people are agreed to stop their work and protest against their employers or government to put pressure on them to pay rise or any other changes they want make on their work place. 4.1REASONS OF STRIKES Trade union and labor associates calls strike for several reasons such as: Salary and incentive problem Increment is not up to mark Dissatisfaction with company policy Dismissal of a staff wrongly Withdrawal of any privilege or concession Hours of work Paid holidays Provident and gratuity Minimum wage dispute Environmental problem on work place Example 9: Royal Mail Strike For Wages Royal mail strike called in because of jobs cut, services, wages, benefits and privatization .Strike is hitting postal services. Communications workers union (CWU) said 25,000 workers participated in this strike. That was the biggest strike after 2007.Major cities (London, Edinburgh, Ipswich, Bristol, Birmingham) got effected of this strike. Workers are protesting against â€Å"panic driven† cuts being made at royal mail to pay job and services. It effects customer trust on royal mail. Postal workers are fed up because of lacking ability of management and their behavior. Royal mail has accused the union of reneging a modernization deal that ended the 2007 strike. (www.guardian.co.uk) Example 10: RMT Vs TFL RMT(rail maritime and transport workers) is largest of the four unions which deals with TFL(transport for London).RMT wants to cancel their contract with TFL because they redundant RMT workers. Even they denies to pay rise.RMT wants a guarantee to protect job of its members.RMT workers called a strike because their demands were not accepted. It effects all the people of London who travel by public transport. (www.guardian.co.uk) Example 11: British Airways Staff For Redundancies British Airways chief .executive (Willie Walsh) has given three weeks notice to BA staff to agree job redundancy and pay cuts. He offered his staff to voluntary redundancies because company is fighting for its survival. As a result strike occurred.BA passengers faced difficulties for traveling. Most of the flights were cancelled. That was the worst time for British airways and still not fully recovered. (www.guardian.co.uk) Example 12: National Strike Against Economical Policies 19 March 2009,union have called for a strike in France ,to protest against French president Nicolas Sarkozys wrong policies in the economic slump. More than 1.2 million people came on the streets. Employees from the private sector and civil servants demonstrated in the cities from Paris to Marseille, schools have been close and transportation have badly effected. President Sarkozy has offered 2.6 billion euro (3.5 billion dollor) tax cuts and aid to unemployed and law paid workers unions in France demanding for more to protect their workers in the recession time when unemployment has reached 2 million and its expected to increase further. Bernard Thiboult ,general secretary of the confederation general du travel. The country 2nd largest union have said if the government says we will not change the policies then there should be no surprise if climate gets tougher. (www.bloomberg.com) Example 13: Massive Strike In Italy April 2002, millions of employees have ceased work and went for strike against government plans to giving special powers to the employer to hire or fire employees easily. The strike was called by three main unions of the country which has brought parts of the country to stand still. Union said rallies in Rome ,Milan, Bologna ,each rally had a crowd of more than 200,000.It was the first all day work stoppage in 20 years. Schools ,banks were remain closed all day even the public transport ,buses ,rails ,air and sea has stopped. There was no live TV no news paper were published. Prime minister silvio Berlusconi said after the strike that he is ready to start talks with union leaders but he insisted that reform of the labor laws was necessary. (www.bbc.co.uk) Example 14: Protest Against Bridgestone The international campaign against the Japanese tyre Bridgestone which is subsidiary of firestone. The workers were replaces with their substitute workers. (www.laborrightsblog.typepad.com) 4.2 TYPES OF STRIKES There are several different types of strikes such as: Sit down strike Slow down strike Economic strike Sympathy strike General strike Sick out(sick in) strike Wildcat strike 4.3 Sit down strike Its a strike when workers do not absent from work place. They dont leave control on production facilities but do not work. This strike is also known as pen drop strike or tool down strike. In this type of strike employees shown up to their jobs but they refuse to work and refuse to leave, in these circumstances they make it very difficult for their employers to resist against union and take control of area. Example 15: ACPA On Strike for Pay Rise In Pakistan(Punjab) more than 2.2 million clerks went on a pen drop strike on call of APCA(all Pakistan clerk association). According to the press release more 2.2 million clerks protest against government and to support their demands regarding their pay rise. They demanded that government should increase the salaries of lower sub- ordinates to the inflation rate. (www.dailytimes.com.pk) 4.4 Slow down strike In this type of strike employees do not stop the work they remain on their jobs but they control the rate of productivity in organized manner to pressure on employers. Example 16: Chief Justice Of U.S Wants More Salary Chief justice of united states district court judge (Carl B. Rubin) went on slow down strike when congress refused to increase his salary more than 51% to reply that only he only hear two cases usual ten cases a month. (www.washingtonpost.com) 4.5 Sympathy strike When employees of one unit , industry, factory go on strike to support employees of separate but related industry, profession, unit is called sympathetic strike. Example 17: Renault 1997,French Motor manufacture company Renault announced the closure of its Belgium production plant at Vilboorde, company dismissed almost 3100 workers without consulting with workers representatives. The colure of the company leads another 1000 redundancies among supplies and subordinates. Unexpected colure of the company in Belgium generated very high level of sympathy action not only in Renault workers across the Europe but also car workers in Belgium were fearful of the same fate. Representatives of the unions of France, Belgium and Spain met and agreed to seek the reasons of the colure of the plant at Vilvoorde and find all possible legal avenues. They organized one hour strike and involves the union of Portugal and Slovenia . Car workers in France, Spain and Belgium protest against Renault, Their plants in 3 different countries were hit by one hour work stoppages. workers of related motor manufactures industries like Polo ,Opel and Ford in Belgium staged sympathy actions. (www.eurofound.europa.eu) 4.6 Sick out(sick in) strike When all the members of union called in sick at the same day is called sick out strike. They dont break any rules but sickness of majority of the staff at the same day leaves very strong impact on employer, that if the staff really went on strike. Example 18 : Air traffic Staff On Strike For Wages In 1969 when united states air traffic controllers called in sick strike because of wages and condition. The traffic controllers walked out and stay out of job for three weeks and called in sick, attempting to avoid the legal penalties for striking. (www.libcom.org) 4.7 Economic strike In this type of strike labor stop their work and put pressure on their employer to increase their economic needs like wages and bonus. Example 19:Lublin Strike In 1980 the workers of eastern city of Lublin (Poland) went on strike for increase of their salaries and cheap prices of food products. July 1980 almost 50,000 local workers from more than 150 companies went on strike. Its also called Lublin strike. (www.tnn.pl) 4.8 General strike It means a strike by all members of union in the region or an industry. This strike can called in by all the members of the union in the region for their common interests. In these types of strikes workers intend to put pressure on the government. Example 20:Union And Non Union Worker On Strike In the year of 1934 in san Francisco union and non union workers went on strike. They have protest against police and employers tactics that had killed two picketers. (www.newdeal.feri.org) Example 21: Trade Union Conflict With Coal- Owners A general strike had occurred in 1926, By the trade unions of great Britain. they were supporting miners federation in their dispute with coal-owners Government had granted a year subsidy to the coal-owners because of the bad state of coal-mining industry and set up a commission of inquiry under sir Herbert Samuel. the commission suggested a scheme of reorganization the industry as soon as practicable when government subsidy was due to expire the coal-owners made up their mind that they are not going to employ the miners except lower rate and longer hours, but they did not give them any proposal until after expiry of the notices, and then did not include any plans for considerable reorganization to result of this trade union congress called a conference of its unions and reported that there is no alternative to a general strike majority of the organized workers stop their work, essential services partially carried on by volunteers acting upon plans outlined by government in the light of railway strike 1919 and miners strike 1920 (www.historybookshop.com) 4.9 Wild cat strike This strike takes place by employees with out the authority and permission of union. Example 22: Prison Officers On Strike Hundred of prison officers went on strike to support their colleagues in HMP (Liverpool). The prison staff at Cardiff, Preston and wands worth are expected to stop work unless managers agree to talk with prison officers association Staff at Liverpool are on unauthorized strike. (www.news.sky.com) 5) Collective Bargaining The process through which members of management and the union meet to negotiate a labor agreements. According to Dessler(2005), the good faith refers to the conditions of both partiesto make every reasonable effort to arrive at agreement good faith bargaining may include the following Surface bargaining Inadequate concession Inadequate proposals and demands Dilatory tactics Imposing conditions Making unilateral changes in conditions By passing the representative Committing unfair labor practices during negotiations Withholding information Ignoring bargaining items Example 23: Northwest Airlines has refused to negotiate with mechanics union representatives because of a reason that their representative have met with mechanics union representatives three times before but they did not respond on their proposal. (Dessler, 2005). Example 24: Employer international union has said that baryant college representative are not fully responsive on the issues of wages, respects and benefits. 134, unfair labor claiming that baryant college negotiators are failed to negotiate with union. (Dessler, 2005). 6)Intervention of the third party When the parties fail to handle the situation then they want to refer this matter to third party. 6.1 Types of intervention 1) Mediation: Mediation is a third neutral party which only arrange a meeting with both parties ,listen both parties issues and try to bargaining common points. Mediation dont have any authority to come to decision .They just offer a settlement package. 2) Fact finder: Fact finder is a neutral third party which deals only to study the issue and make public recommendations for settlement. 3) Arbitration : Arbitration is the only powerful intervention because arbitration has a authority to give them decision for settlement. 4) Conciliation : Conciliation has no power, their role is only to clarifying the issues and offers advice. 7- Recommendations These are the following steps to helps company to come out from this situation. 1) Salary: Company have to make sure employees dont have any issue with their salaries. Their salaries should be on time. Every six months their contract should be renew and give them a pay rise. That should be good step to make them happy .They will be more productive. 2) Bonus: Company should give bonuses to their staff. like Christmas bonus. It would be a step to motivate them. 3) Benefits: If employee are getting benefits like discount card, pensions, insurance and other benefits then employee cannot think for strike. 4) Job guarantee: Employees should have a job guarantee. IF they have a job guarantee they will be more loyal with company because they know their job is secure and employer fulfills all their demands. 5) Paid holidays: Employee should have a privilege of paid holidays. Its the extra benefit that employees are getting from company. This way employees have a relief from work and makes them more energetic to work after holidays. 6) Dismissal of the wrong staff: Company must have rules and regulations for their staff. Do not dismiss any member of staff. who does not deserve to be dismissed. If there is a situation then try to observe then make a decision because wrong decision effects on company† s image. 7) Redundancies: If company is running with any financial crises and want to redundant staff , then company should give them one month notice , give them redundant pay according to law. 8) Dissatisfaction with company policies: Employees must be satisfy with company policies. They should not have any problem. If there is any thing which they think is not on the right place they should complaint and give suggestions to the management. 9) Hours of work: Employees working hour should be accurate. If they are working more than normal hours then they should get their time back or pay them as overtime. 10)APPRAISAL: Employee should get promotion at work. If they have skills employers should promote them with a good salary package. 8- Conclusion: The conclusion of this report is that strike, lockout and boycott are not healthy for company, Organization must have proper strategies to run a business . If there is good relationship between employee and employer then company will run fine. and organization will able to achieve its targets If company polices are not meeting staff requirements then they will disappointed and could take a step towards strike. Employer should always prepare to solve these kind of situations. IF strike occurred then it is a issue for employer, employee and organization. It effects. on everyone related to the company Its better to sit together and resolve the issues. Overall in labor relations worker should be happy working with their employer and employer should keep an eye on workers needs and their work. IF any of them fail to fulfill their duty then it can become a huge problem and one day worker can go for strike , lockout and boycott. Arbitration can try to solve the situation. Collective bargaining is step where they can control the problem.. They fix a meeting between employee and management and open channel for communication for each other. If collective bargaining fails then management need to prepare to deal with one of the anti impasse weapon strike. The best way is to resolve it with intervention. The main causes for strikes are wages, pay cuts, job cuts and wrong policies. If human resource management team properly control these factors then there is no cause for strike.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Graduation Speech -- Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

I agonized over writing this speech for a long time, because I felt like nothing I could say would make a difference, first because I don't know if what I could say would be good advice, and second because I don't know if advice about things like being true to yourself and setting goals and all that is actually helpful. How can I give advice that I can't even follow in my own life? And even if you are mesmerized for my two minutes, you would walk out of here and your life wouldn't be any different. Or maybe you'd be inspired for a day, and then forget. But still, the speech had to be written. In my writing process, I would talk to various people, who were all very encouraging, and get all excited about a new speech and brainstorm a lot of ideas. Later I would sit down at my computer, a...