Solo Experience free essay sample

Over 50 miles from the nearest gas station and a five-day paddle from any sort of infrastructure, I stepped out of the canoe, waved good-bye to my fellow leaders in training and entered the unknown. Armed with my pocket knife, a tarp, 20 feet of rope, a fishing rod, a Bible, a journal, my sleeping bag, clothes, water, an apple and two granola bars, I suddenly realized that for the next 48 hours, these would be my only companions. As I stood on the shoreline, staring into the decomposing forest of Northern Quebec, with the sun setting on my back, I was frozen and irritated. Swatting at swarms of no-see-ums and mosquitoes, I wondered, Whose idea was this anyway? What benefit is there to spending two days alone with nothing but trees and bugs? Awakening the next morning to a soaked sleeping bag and pummeling rain only heightened my discontent, yet it was under these conditions that I was able to clearly examine my life in a way I never had before. We will write a custom essay sample on Solo Experience or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As my solo experience took its course, the saying The quieter you become, the more you can hear took on a whole new meaning. I had been in the wilderness before; most of my summer had been spent outdoors climbing mountains and growing in a group dynamic. But being here alone, removed from every distraction in such a remote place, had a completely different effect. What started as a seemingly pointless and agitating proposition transformed into a beneficial one that I knew I would take full advantage of. So, instead of sitting under the tarp brooding about my misfortune and cursing the rain, I made the most of it. Every difficulty that came my way, I took on with impassioned vigor. When it started to rain and I got wet because I hadnt set up my tarp correctly, it was my fault. There was no one else to blame. The realization that I was responsible for controlling all time and action and overcoming all conflict had an immediate effect. Consequently, as I went about my day reading, fishing and writing, I underwent some serious introspection. As a result I began to see myself as an individual adept at overcomin g challenges of any environment. As I came to see my own power and potential, I also found myself examining the many relationships and people who have graced my life. From family to friends, away from the everyday hustle and bustle of life, appraisal and investigation of how my actions affected both their lives and mine became increasingly natural. As the hours wore on, my stomach started to growl, and discomfort reached an all-time high. Oddly, though, things became clearer. The adversity had in fact spawned a growth process, one that would stick with me and equip me with a new sense of individuality and awareness of my role as a human being. And although I was miserable, hungry and irritated at the time, looking back, I cherish those moments to myself huddled in a soaked sleeping bag in the middle of nowhere.

The 4 Graph Quadrants Definition and Examples

The 4 Graph Quadrants Definition and Examples SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The Cartesian plane (or the x-y plane) is a two-line graph on which you plot ordered pairs. The two intersecting lines of the Cartesian plane make four distinct graph quadrants. In this article, we’ll discuss what graph quadrants are, how to manipulate data points on graph quadrants, and walk through some sample graph quadrant problems. What Are the4 Graph Quadrants? The two lines on the Cartesian plane form four graph quadrants. In this section, we’ll discuss the graph quadrant definition and define each part of the plane. Quadrant Definition A quadrant is one of the four sections on a Cartesian plane. Each quadrant includes a combination of positive and negative values for x and y. The4 Graph Quadrants There are four graph quadrants that make up the Cartesian plane. Each graph quadrant has a distinct combination of positive and negative values. Here are the graph quadrants and their values: Quadrant I: The first quadrant is in the upper right-hand corner of the plane. Both x and y have positive values in this quadrant. Quadrant II: The second quadrant is in the upper left-hand corner of the plane. X has negative values in this quadrant and y has positive values. Quadrant III: The third quadrant is in the bottom left corner. Both x and y have negative values in this quadrant. Quadrant IV: The fourth quadrant is in the bottom right corner. X has positive values in this quadrant and y has negative values. Graph Quadrants Diagram In this diagram, you can see the four graph quadrants, along with whether or not x and y are positive and negative. Graph Quadrant Numbers, Explained Numbers are plotted on graph quadrants in what are known as ordered pairs. An ordered pair consists of two values, x and y. In an ordered pair, x is always the first value and y is always the second value. In the ordered pair (5, -2) for instance, 5 is the x value and -2 is the y value. When plotting an ordered pair, the x value refers to the pair’s horizontal position on the graph. The y value refers to the vertical position. See how the pair (5, -2) looks when plotted. Graph Quadrants Example Problems Using the following graph quadrant diagram, identify the quadrants for the following ordered pairs. Ordered Pair Quadrant (-9, 11) (4, 8) (-3, -4) Graph Quadrants Example Problems: Answers Find the answers for the above graph quadrants example problems below. Ordered Pair Quadrant (-9, 11) II (4, 8) I (-3, -4) III Math Quadrants: Key Takeaways A math quadrant is another phrase for a graph quadrant. A graph quadrant is one of four sections on a Cartesian plane. Each of the four sections has a specific combination of negative and positive values for x and y. You plot an ordered pair on graph quadrants. Ordered pairs have x and y values. X is the first value in an ordered pair; y is the second. What's Next? Want to brush up on other basic math skills?Then check out our expert guides on how toadd and subtract fractionsand how to use the acceleration formula. Need help preparing for the SAT/ACT Math section?Learn everything you need to know aboutwhat kinds of topics are tested on SAT MathandACT Math.

A Short History of the Great Depression

A Short History of the Great Depression The Great Depression, which lasted from 1929 to 1941,  was a severe economic downturn caused by  an overly-confident,  over-extended stock market and a drought that struck the South.   In an attempt to end the Great Depression, the U.S. government took  unprecedented direct action to help  stimulate the economy. Despite this help, it was  the increased production needed for ​World War II that finally ended the Great Depression. The Stock Market Crash After nearly a decade of optimism and prosperity, the United States was thrown into despair on Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929, the day the stock market crashed and the official beginning of the Great Depression. As stock prices plummeted with no hope of recovery, panic struck. Masses and masses of people tried to sell their stock, but no one was buying. The stock market, which had appeared to be the surest way to become rich, quickly became the path to bankruptcy. And yet, the Stock Market Crash was just the beginning. Since many banks had also invested large portions of their clients savings in the stock market, these banks were forced to close when the stock market crashed. Seeing a few banks close caused another panic across the country. Afraid they would lose their own savings, people rushed to banks that were still open to withdraw their money. This massive withdrawal of cash caused additional banks to close. Since there was no way for a banks clients to recover any of their savings once the bank had closed, those who didnt reach the bank in time also became bankrupt. 1:44 Watch Now: What Led to the Great Depression? Unemployment Businesses and industry were also affected. Despite President Herbert Hoover asking businesses to maintain their wage rates, many businesses, having lost much of their own capital in either the Stock Market Crash or the bank closures, started cutting back their workers hours or wages.  In turn, consumers began to curb their spending, refraining from purchasing such things as luxury goods. This lack of consumer spending caused additional businesses to cut back wages or, more drastically, to lay off some of their workers. Some businesses couldnt stay open even with these cuts and soon closed their doors, leaving all their workers unemployed. Unemployment was a huge problem during the Great Depression. From 1929 to 1933, the unemployment rate in the United States rose from  3.2% to the incredibly high 24.9%- meaning that one out of every four people were out of work.   PhotoQuest / Getty Images The Dust Bowl In previous depressions, farmers were usually safe from the severe effects of the depression because they could at least feed themselves. Unfortunately, during the Great Depression, the Great Plains were hit hard with both a drought and horrendous dust storms, creating what became known as the Dust Bowl. Years and years of overgrazing combined with the effects of a drought caused the grass to disappear. With just topsoil exposed, high winds picked up the loose dirt and whirled it for miles. The dust storms destroyed everything in their paths, leaving farmers without their crops. Small farmers were hit especially hard. Even before the dust storms hit, the invention of the tractor drastically cut the need for manpower on farms. These small farmers were usually already in debt, borrowing money for seed and paying it back when their crops came in. When the dust storms damaged the crops, not only could the small farmer not feed himself and his family, he could not pay back his debt. Banks would then foreclose on the small farms and the farmers family would be both homeless and unemployed. Bettmann Archive / Getty Images Riding the Rails During the Great Depression, millions of people were out of work across the United States. Unable to find another job locally, many unemployed people hit the road, traveling from place to place, hoping to find some work. A few of these people had cars, but most hitchhiked or rode the rails. A large portion of the people who rode the rails were teenagers, but there were also older men, women, and entire families who traveled in this manner. They would board freight trains and crisscross the country, hoping to find a job in one of the towns along the way. When there was a job opening, there were often literally a thousand people applying for the same job. Those who werent lucky enough to get the job would perhaps stay in a shantytown (known as Hoovervilles) outside of town. Housing in the shantytown was built out of any material that could be found freely, like driftwood, cardboard, or even newspapers. The farmers who had lost their homes and land usually headed west to California, where they heard rumors of agricultural jobs. Unfortunately, although there was some seasonal work, the conditions for these families were transient and hostile. Since many of these farmers came from Oklahoma and Arkansas, they were called the derogatory names of Okies and Arkies. (The stories of these migrants to California were immortalized in the fictional book, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.) Roosevelt and the New Deal The U.S. economy broke down and entered the Great Depression during the presidency of Herbert Hoover. Although President Hoover repeatedly spoke of optimism, the people blamed him for the Great Depression. Just as the shantytowns were named Hoovervilles after him, newspapers became known as Hoover blankets, pockets of pants turned inside out (to show they were empty) were called Hoover flags, and broken-down cars pulled by horses were known as Hoover wagons. During the 1932 presidential election, Hoover did not stand a chance at reelection and Franklin D. Roosevelt won in a landslide. People of the United States had high hopes that President Roosevelt would be able to solve all their woes. As soon as Roosevelt took office, he closed all the banks and only let them reopen once they were stabilized. Next, Roosevelt began to establish programs that became known as the New Deal. These New Deal programs were most commonly known by their initials, which reminded some people of alphabet soup. Some of these programs were aimed at helping farmers, like the AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Administration). While other programs, such as the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) and the WPA (Works Progress Administration), attempted to help curb unemployment by hiring people for various projects. The End of the Great Depression To many at the time, President Roosevelt was a hero. They believed that he cared deeply for the common man and that he was doing his best to end the Great Depression. Looking back, however, it is uncertain as to how much Roosevelts New Deal programs helped to end the Great Depression. By all accounts, the New Deal programs eased the hardships of the Great Depression; however, the U.S. economy was still extremely bad by the end of the 1930s. The major turn-around for the U.S. economy occurred after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the entrance of the United States into World War II. Once the U.S. was involved in the war, both people and industry became essential to the war effort. Weapons, artillery, ships, and airplanes were needed quickly. Men were trained to become soldiers and the women were kept on the home front to keep the factories going. Food needed to be grown for both the homefront and to send overseas. It was ultimately the entrance of the U.S. into World War II that ended the Great Depression in the United States.

Research paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 7

Research paper - Essay Example Hence I chose to explore about health issues in adulthood. This is a vast topic and to discuss it is beyond the scope of this essay. Hence I chose to discuss a particular health related issue based on my personal experience. Recently, I was staying with my 55 year old aunt and her 60 year old husband during a short holiday. Though my aunts over all health appeared good, she was taking many pills for diabetes and high blood pressure. My uncle had no such problems and he was an active man. My aunt appeared obese and was not active. She would watch lot of television and would prefer not to move out of the house. One night, my uncle woke me up and told me that my aunt was sweating profusely and was having difficulty in breathing. He was in panic and did not know what to do. Even I did not have any experience in handling such situations. However, I called the emergency number and asked for help. Within 5 minutes a team of health professionals arrived and shifted my aunt to the hospital. In the hospital, me and my uncle were told that my aunt suffered from heart attack and any delay in shifting her to the hospital would have cost her life. My aunt was kept in the cardiac intensive care unit for a few days whe re many tests were done. Based on the reports of these tests, a procedure called cardiac catheterization was done. A few days later, she was discharged home. I am thankful to God and the team of doctors for keeping my aunt alive. This episode has a lasting impact in my mind. I have heard of many people suffering from heart attacks. But I visualized this heart attack. This episode made me do a little research on the subject. What I was most interested is What causes heart attack, how can it be prevented and how to identify it? Cardiovascular diseases are diseases and injuries of the heart and the blood vessels of the body. According to the WHO (2009), globally, cardiovascular diseases are the most common causes of death. In the year 2005, it was estimated

Business Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Business Culture - Essay Example We suggest that those that involve a combination of cultures are even more at risk. The poor success rate due to concentrating only on financial aspects will be even more detrimental in cultures where priorities lie elsewhere. We also believe that corporations actually sacrifice performance by neglecting to profitably leverage differences in culture and that culture mix is potentially advantageous. Western companies working internationally and planning joint ventures in China, Japan or India are unlikely to have put in place a working global strategy for themselves. To do this, they will need to identify what can be standardised between cultures and what must be localised (Yip). Some corporations know how to do this, McDonald's being a good example. Others do not: Burger King failed in at least one European country for this reason. Part of the cultural differences is the business management differences. We have seen companies from both the East and the West unsuccessfully try to impose their own style of management in completely different cultural contexts. In our opinion, there is no one management theory that is generally applicable, just as there is no "one-size-fits-all" culture. Compounded by fundamental differences in values, religions and languages, the business culture between East and West has developed in different ways. Some of these differences are immediate. The difference in language, both spoken and written, characters for some, ideograms for others. From our experience, a westerner's first glimpse of eastern cultural differences comes from the initial business communications, particularly in face-to-face meetings. Where the westerner expects to describe everything in great detail, the eastern cultures are more oriented to a context rich in non-verbal information, where less sometimes means more (Hall). China in particular has occasioned much discussion and revamping of business models. Hofstede in his model of cultural dimensions first defined four dimensions and then added the fifth, "Long-term vs. Short-term", to take account of China (Hofstede). We see this criterion, dealing with the attitude of persevering to overcome problems in time, as be ing typically weighted towards the long term for Asian countries in general. Going further than some of the other models defined, we can start to characterise China, Japan and India for joint ventures in different ways. Thus China is an example of a "diffuse" culture, where responsibility is shared or diffused (Trompenaars), compared with the "specific" culture of a country like the UK, where responsibility is specifically assigned. Japan can be described as having a synchronic culture (doing several things at once) compared to a typical western sequential culture. India with its caste system is a prime example of a culture functioning by ascription (status is given according to social standing) rather than the western ideal of achievement and meritocracy. China - cultural difficulties for a joint venture Of the three nations considered (China, Japan and India), China is perhaps the one that has undergone the most profound changes in the last century. The change from empire to republic and the transfer of power from self-elected dynasty to revolutionary leaders backed by the population were fundamental alterations. However, the

High school graduates should take a year off before entering college Essay Example for Free

High school graduates should take a year off before entering college Essay A woman takes a selfie from a high angle A selfie is a type of self-portrait photograph, typically taken with a hand-held digital camera or camera phone. Selfies are often associated withsocial networking, like Instagram. They are often casual, are typically taken either with a camera held at arms length or in a mirror, and typically include either only the photographer or the photographer and as many people as can be in focus, which is more commonly known as a group selfie Contents History The first known selfie, taken by Robert Cornelius in 1839 Robert Cornelius, an American pioneer in photography, produced a daguerreotype of himself in 1839 which is also one of the first photographs of a person. Because the process was slow he was able to uncover the lens, run into shot for a minute or more, and then replace the lens cap. He recorded on the back The first light Picture ever taken. 1839. Early Edwardian woman taking her picture in a mirror roughly 1900 Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia taking one of the first teenage self-portraits The debut of the portable Kodak Brownie box camera in 1900 led to photographic self-portraiture becoming a more widespread technique. The method was usually by mirror and stabilizing the camera either on a nearby object or on a tripod while framing via a viewfinder at the top of the box. Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna at the age of 13 was one of the first teenagers to take her own picture using a mirror to send to a friend in 1914. In the letter that accompanied the photograph, she wrote, I took this picture of myself looking at the mirror. It was very hard as my hands were trembling. The concept of uploading group self-taken photographs (now known as super selfies) to the internet, although with a  disposable camera not a smartphone, dates to a webpage created by Australians in September 2001, including photos taken in the late 1990s (captured by the Internet Archive in April 20 04). The earliest usage of the word selfie can be traced as far back as 2002. It first appeared in an Australian internet forum (ABC Online) on 13 September 2002. Um, drunk at a mates 21st, I tripped ofer [sic] and landed lip first (with front teeth coming a very close second) on a set of steps. I had a hole about 1cm long right through my bottom lip. And sorry about the focus, it was a selfie. Popularity The term selfie was discussed by photographer Jim Krause in 2005, although photos in the selfie genre predate the widespread use of the term. In the early 2000s, before Facebook became the dominant online social network, self-taken photographs were particularly common on MySpace. However, writer Kate Losse recounts that between 2006 and 2009 (when Facebook became more popular than MySpace), the MySpace pic (typically an amateurish, flash-blinded self-portrait, often taken in front of a bathroom mirror) became an indication of bad taste for users of the newer Facebook social network. Early Facebook portraits, in contrast, were usually well-focused and more formal, taken by others from distance. In 2009 in the image hosting and video hosting website Flickr, Flickr users used selfies to describe seemingly endless self-portraits posted by teenage girls. According to Losse, improvements in design—especially the front-facing camera copied by the iPhone 4 (2010) from Korean and Japan ese mobile phones, mobile photo apps such as Instagram, and selfie sites such as ItisMee—led to the resurgence of selfies in the early 2010s.

Congressional and Presidential Budgeting Process Essay examples -- Ame

Throughout history there has been much concern over issues regarding the national debt and government spending. The United States has had its ups and downs with the national debt and the balancing of the budget. As a multitude of changes have been made to improve the budget system many believe that too much control over the budget is vested with the president and the executive branch. While the Congressional Budget and Reform Act of 1974 awarded Congress added power and influence in response to this concern over the budget process, the president still has an advantage in the budgetary process. The budget process begins with the formulation of the president’s budget or executive preparation, in which all agencies are required to submit their budget requests to the president. The Office of Management and Budget(OMB) which is the largest office within the Executive Office of the President administers instructions, policy guidance, and tentative budget ceilings to help facilitate departments and agencies fabricate their budget requests. These budget requests are then reviewed and overhauled by the OMB in conformance to the directives from the president. Agencies in disagreement with the OMB’s adjustments have the option of appealing to the president in which the president usually concurs with the OMB. The president then sends the budget to Congress which communicates the president’s discretions and priorities on issues regarding matters of overall size, possible effects on the economy, and allocation of funds among major agencies and programs. (Anderson, 2006) The budget proposal also includes volumes of supporting information intended to persuade Congress of the necessity and value of the budget ... ...ning to the growth or demise of the United States. Each process allows the president and Congress to retain both advantages and hindrances as checks and balances prevent the abuse of power and intrusion by government on individual liberties. Although the president and executive offices hold greater influence in the budget process, Congress has contingencies to assist legislature in obtaining its goals. The president should continue to enjoy leverage in the budget process as he must ensure the movement and progression of the country’s goals and priorities by acting as a facilitator between political parties. Works Cited Anderson, J. (2006). Public policymaking. Belmont, CA: Wabsworth. Library of Congress, Law Library of Congress. (2010). Presidential signing statements Washington, DC: Retrieved from http://www.loc.gov/law/help/statements.php

Nursing as an Entity

Nursing as an Entity Casey Berling, BSN Student Eastern Kentucky University NSC 252 Intro to Professional Nursing Department of Baccalaureate & Graduate Nursing, College of Health Sciences October 31, 2012 If the question was asked, â€Å"What is your definition of nursing,† to the thousands of nurses in the world today, there would be one word that would unite them all, and that is the word care. Nursing strives to be a very unique profession where selfishness, and self-serving isn’t even thought of.It takes a special kind of person who can drop everything at an instance, and provide critical performance of skills and assessment to allow a patient ease in their time of need. My definition of nursing is a selfless entity in which caring, privacy, and safety of patients reign supreme when used with critical thinking essay writer law†¦.. quality assessment and patient needs are met with the most affectionate of hearts and minds, that deliver attentiveness to the pati ents outlook by providing suggestions and help in a non-demanding manner.Defining my Definition My definition above I believe encases not only the technicalities of the nursing profession, but also what entitles a good nurse to give quality care. Without the major points mentioned like safety, and privacy, how can a patient feel secure with not only their provider but with the entire industry as well. Nursing is a very resourceful occupation and to remain this way it must harness every aspect I believe it calls for. Including attentiveness, privacy, and selflessness.Attentiveness Nursing doesn’t judge nor take itself for granted. It utilizes every tool placed in its midst and allows for those caring men and women to take hold and deliver the highest quality of care to its clients. â€Å"Attentiveness entails the detection of the patient and/or family need. If the nurse fails to recognize the need, the patient or family will not experience caring,† (Lachman, 2012). With out paying attention to details a nurse is not allowing the patient to be top priority.This detail is enforced in hospitals when nurses do rounds, to show that every hour a patients needs are met, and they are never left in the dark/neglected. Another facet of my definition involves privacy and this is also extremely important in nursing as a profession. Privacy â€Å"Nurses have always recognized the necessity for confidentiality, beginning with the Nightingale Pledge,† (Kerr, 2009). Especially in today’s society with all the electronic transfer and readings of patient documentation it is harder to keep things under wraps.It remains at such a high standard due to the HIPPA laws, â€Å"To protect this data, rules were promulgated to set a national standard for the privacy of health information,† (Thede, 2010). But with the correct care nurses should put into being confidential it shouldn’t even be a big problem. It is well understood that nurses should al ways keep privacy as a key importance to ensure the fact care is kept to that patient, and to that patient only. SummaryTo take an undivided look at nursing one can see that it takes much more than what is simply asked of a nurse. A nurse must not only provide care with the tools set directly in front of him/her, but with thinking critically and on the spot. Nursing is so unlike any other profession due to the amount of time vested in caring, understanding, documenting, and coping with other people. With what seems like a complex mindset, of being selfless and totally attune to only caring in the moment, a nurse must let all other stresses escape from getting in the way.So when asked what my definition of nursing is, I hope it is noted that the main focus is putting the patient first, and allowing them to receive the copious care they deserve. Works Cited Kerr, P. (2009). Protecting Patient Information In an Electronic Age: A Sacred Trust. Urologic Nursing, 29(5), 315-318. Lachman, V. D. (2012). Applying the Ethics of Care to Your Nursing Practice. MEDSURG Nursing, 21(2), 112-116. Theode, L. (2010). Informatics: Electronic Health Records: A Boon or Privacy Nightmare?. Online Journal Of Issues In Nursing, 15(2).

Brilliant Public Speaking: An Informational Video

Brilliant Public Speaking Amber Owens BECOME/275 Business Communications and Critical Thinking August 5, 2014 Brilliant Public Speaking was a very informational video. I enjoyed hearing from each and every person In the video. Each person brought something new to the table and gave their view of public speaking. The one thing that stood out of my mind the most is how each and every one of them said to make the speech personal. One person said that facts are true, but stories sell.In other words make the speech something they want to hear. Don't bore them by constantly repeating the same thing and staying the same tone. This video tied In well with this week's topic because It shows how effectively to communicate when giving a speech in the workplace. The flare factor would be the practice I use. The reason I would use this practice Is because I want to make sure my audience stays focused on the subject at hand. I want them to see the passion and the drive that I have for the subject that I am liking about and presenting to them.I want them to stay excited with me, and as I get fired up, I want them to get fired up. Keeping people's attention is hard so when going with the flare practice you may not keep all their attention but you're sure at least to keep half the audience's attention. Just like one speaker said sex, drugs and rock and roll. That gets people's attention, and the began to want to know more about what you are saying. My advice to anyone giving a speech is to stick to the subject and be passionate about what you talk about.Make sure you have plenty of facts as we as personal stories to back your speech up. Relax, breathe and don't' talk too fast. People want to know what you are saying and why you are saying it. Make the speech fun yet informing so that the audience doesn't have time even to think about nodding off. Start strong and end strong, so the audience knows that you're still Just as passionate.

Moral Corruption at Its Finest Essay Example

Moral Corruption at Its Finest Essay Example Moral Corruption at Its Finest Essay Moral Corruption at Its Finest Essay Moral Corruption at Its Finest How human beings behave in society is dictated by moral standards of conduct that are generally accepted as right or proper. This sense of morality can become perverse such that the lines between right and wrong are blurred. The person becomes depraved and their behavior eschews what is generally considered to be right. In the novel The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald the characters are portrayed in an immoral manner. F. Scott Fitzgerald displays the destruction of morals in society during the era of the Jazz Age. The main characters: Nick Carraway, Daisy Buchanan, and Jay Gatsby are categorized as morally corrupt; they lose their values in attempt to find their place in the social world. These characters act this way naturally; their immoral actions are common nature to them and feel no guilt for their actions. The Great Gatsby displays moral corruption in the main characters lives, by showing their immoral decisions and actions. Jay Gatsby is one of the main characters that blatantly displays moral corruption. He obsessively pines and pursues a former lover even after she becomes another mans wife. At Gatsbys party, Gatsby talks to Jordan Baker in private and asks to rrange a meeting with Daisy. Jordan meets with Nick and says Daisys not to know about it. Gatsby doesnt want her to know. Youre supposed to invite her to tea (Fitzgerald 85). Nick calls up Daisy and invites her to tea, he tells her she cannot bring Tom and Daisy playfully agrees. Gatsby relies on Nick to arrange this meeting, he knows its wrong because shes married and hes involving her own cousin, but he doesnt care, his desire for Daisy is too powerful. Daisys husband, Tom learns who Gatsby is and attends one of Gatsbys extravagant parties, he says, l picked him for a ootlegger the first time I saw him and I wasnt far wrong (Fitzgerald 141). After Gatsbys young romance with Daisy, he falls in love with her and what she represents; he then dedicates his life to becoming wealthy and superior. He obtains this dream quickly by being in the bootlegging business, illegally transporting alcohol. In the beginning of Daisy and Gatsbys love as young adults, He might have despised himself, for he had certainly taken her under false pretenses (Fitzgerald 156). Loving Daisy made Gatsby the man he was, he became a man of wealth and he aspired to be this powerful for Daisy. In the beginning, he lies to Daisy because he doesnt want to lose her; rich girls dont marry poor boys. Gatsby uses his war uniform as a mask to hide his true identity causing her to believe he was of the same social class. Gatsby is immoral under these events in the novel; he alters whats right to get what he wants. Daisy Buchanan is a married woman who is completely morally corrupt; she finds it acceptable to cheat and lie to keep herself happy. In June she married Tom Buchanan of Chicago with more pomp and circumstance than Louisville ever knew before (Fitzgerald 80), she married Tom for the money, l never loved im, (Fitzgerald 39), said Daisy. Daisy marries Tom to earn her status as a socialite ana to ootaln tne power tnat nls wealtn orlngs. Dalsy truly only cares aoout nerselT and will stop at nothing to get what she wants. One evening, Gatsby is in the Buchanan home and, As Tom left the room, Daisy got up and went over to Gatsby, and pulled his face down kissing him on the mouth (Fitzgerald 122). Daisy is in her own home with her husband in the next room and guests around and thinks it is acceptable to kiss Gatsby nonchalantly. She enjoys spending time with Gatsby and he does not care who knows about their relationship because she only cares about her happiness. At the end of the novel, Tom says to Nick, The fellow had it coming to him. He threw dust into your eyes Just like he did in Daisys, but he was a tough one. He ran over Myrtle like youd run over a dog and never stopped his car (Fitzgerald 187). Daisy never owns up and admits that she was the driver that night and she was at fault for killing Myrtle. She is careless, she only cares about the material things in life and the messes she makes are left for others to clean up. Daisy is inconsiderate nd unconcerned with other people, she only cares for herself and will go to any length to get what she desires. Nick Carraway tries to be the neutral party that remains peaceful with everyone, but trying to do so causes him to be utterly unethical. Early in the novel, Tom says to Nick, l want you to meet my girl (Fitzgerald 28). Nick is Daisys cousin, but he meets Toms mistress anyway without much objection. Although Nick finds himself to be decent, he allows all the cheating and lying to occur. In order for Gatsby to rekindle the love with Daisy, he uses Nick to, call up Daisy from the office he next morning and invite her for tea (Fitzgerald 88). Gatsby goes to Nick for help to see Daisy. Nick knows she is married but arranges their secret meeting anyway; he allows the people around him to cheat on each other. At the end of the novel, Nick runs into Tom and thinks there was nothing I could say except the one unutterable fact that it wasnt true (Fitzgerald 187). Nick knows the truth about Daisy being the driver of the car that kills Myrtle, but he doesnt tell the truth in order to clear Gatsbys name. Nick allows everyone to do as they please and he does nothing o stop the moral corruption that occurs. Because of this, Nick is unquestionably morally corrupt, he allows the people he associates himself with to be immoral, but claims he is the most decent; you are the company you keep. F. Scott Fitzgeralds, The Great Gatsby is filled with morally corrupt characters. The characters are too interested in their selfish lifestyles in the East. Nick Carraway is a middleman of all immoral failures tthroughout The Great Gatsby; he tries to be a nonjudgmental person but instead he is the epitome of a depraved person who continuously blurs the lines between right and wrong. Gatsby is obsessive, he becomes consumed with his belief that he is driven by love but it is more of a reckless destruction that ruins his moral compass. Daisy is fanciful and impetuous, but savvy and cunning enough to maintain her place in society; she is motivated by impulsive desires and earthly pleasures. The characters in The Great Gatsby clearly illustrate that ones path to social acceptance can be a precarious step towards moral depravity. In the end, Nick, Daisy, and Gatsbys moral ambiguity leads to the destruction of one and the continuity of immoral lives without consequences for the others.

The History of Miniature Golf

The History of Miniature Golf According to the American Heritage Dictionary, miniature golf is a novelty version of golf played with a putter and golf ball on a miniature course and featuring obstacles such as alleys, bridges, and tunnels. Garnet Carter was the first person to patent a game of miniature golf which he called Tom Thumb Golf in 1927. However, there were a few earlier unpatented versions of miniature golf type games. For example, in 1916, James Barber of Pinehurst, North Carolina had a miniature golf course on his estate called the Thistle Du. There were also patented processes that related to the game. Garnet Carter built his miniature golf course on Lookout Mountain in Tennessee to draw traffic to the hotel he owned. His wife, Frieda Carter did most of the designing of the courses obstacles which had a fairyland theme. Patented Cottonseed Hull Surface In 1922, Englishmen, Thomas McCulloch Fairborn who was living in Tlahualilo, Mexico built a miniature golf course with a surface made from crushed cottonseed hulls mixed with oil, dyed green, and rolled on top of a sand foundation. Fairborn also founded a company called the Miniature Golf Courses of America Inc. Fairborn patented his method of making a playing surface, which was an inexpensive method. In 1926, Drake Delanoy and John Ledbetter built New York City’s first outdoor miniature golf course on top of a skyscraper. Delanoy and Ledbetter copied Thomas Fairborns process of using crushed cottonseed hulls and infringed upon Fairborns patent. Eventually, a financial arrangement was arrived at between Delanoy and Ledbetter and Fairborn that let the cottonseed hull process be used over 150 roof top miniature courses in New York City. Garnet Carter also had to pay a royalty to Fairborn since he used the cottonseed hull surface on his miniature golf course. Carter founded the Fairyland Manufacturing Corporation, which by 1930 manufactured and sold over 3000 of his Tom Thumb miniature golf course franchises. Â   Continue The History of Golf or Photo Gallery

Why we should be far more skeptical about the death penality Essay

Why we should be far more skeptical about the death penality - Essay Example Basically, the bone of contention has always revolved around religious beliefs, and the application of utilitarian theory whereby the advocacy has been to go by the side that yields greater benefits. For those that advocate on the death penalty, it is evident that they wish for the end results to have impact on reducing the number of crimes. On the other hand, those that feel that the death penalty is not a better solution hold the view that there are other ways through which penalties can be applied in order to curb the crime menace (Shaykh 84). Nevertheless, whichever the side that people go by, it is apparent that the underlying principle is for everyone to be skeptical about the reality on the ground. As Bertrand Russell argues in his article, it would be necessary to consider articulating on uncommon opinions, which would in a way be of help in the transformation of social and political systems. In this regard, it is analytically correct to argue that the side that people could be less skeptical about could be the side with potential to offer solutions to an issue with dilemma. For example, it is unclear if many people endorse the death penalty. Nevertheless, going by the hypothesis that many people do not advocate for the death penalty, it could have some implications that having the death penalty in place could help in reducing the incidences of crime (Yorke 205). For example, one would argue that putting the death penalty in place would create some fear to persons with deviant behaviours. In fact, in another dimension, some victims of deviant behaviour by the defendant would only feel that justice has been done if the death penalty is executed on the offender. Perhaps, this would go in line with what others would term as favoring offenders if the death penalty is not imposed on them. All in all, I would not advocate for the death penalty. It is evident that those that advocate for it would be less skeptical about it. Nevertheless, I would argue that hav ing the death penalty in place would not for example cause resurrection of somebody killed by the offender. If anything, this would be causing another crime of murder. This is where the issue of religious beliefs comes in. Many religions do not advocate for the death penalty as it is associated with going against the will of God (Stewart 102). In a broader sense, if an alternative punishment can be put in place, it is apparent that the offender would in a way be helped and could probably change his/her behaviours. This could arguably be true because, for example, if the offender is subjected to parole or probation sentence, there is a possibility that the offender could be reformed and change his ways. However, since the death penalty has been viewed as an inhuman act that violates human rights, civil right groups have been campaigning to have it fully eliminated. Many countries have abolished execution and adopted other forms of punishment. Many people have argued that the death pe nalty is useless and does not help the victims or even the offender himself. Opponents of the death penalty belief that right to live is the most important human right and needÃ'‹ to be honored. The death penalty cannot be compared to normal death as it comes with physical torture to the victim from the time one has been convicted to the death penalty. One is subjected to a state of fear and mental torture as he has been made aware of when he will die. An act as this one should be discouraged as it is against the human rights. In another dimension, opponents of the death penalty argue that in the quest to have justice done, many people are punished for the crimes they did not commit. Many innocent people have been subjected to capital punishment as at times arm