Free Essays on Reparations

â€Å"The case for Reparations†, by Charles J. Ogletree, is a piece that attempts to persuade the reader to agree with the idea of reparations. Reparations are designed to â€Å"repair† the damages that have been caused, in this case to African-Americans. It is stated that when slavery was abolished, there was never an apology. Another point is the government did give some land to blacks after they were freed, but immediately took this land away. There is also the idea that this country was built on slavery, and there are millions of black Americans who are still affected by this. In this article, the solution is to set up a trust fund for certain people to bring claims. These points give us something to think about, but aren’t entirely true. These reparations have nothing to do with the present situation of many blacks. Also, there have been many groups persecuted throughout the history of this country. A trust fund would do very little, and there are man y questions that must be asked if this is the suggested idea. This article is written in an attempt to educate people on reparations, but there are some flaws throughout that make it difficult to agree. The author is obviously an avid supporter for the case of reparations. In this article, he cites many examples to prove his case for the â€Å"repairs† that should be done. The main issue is slavery and how the government has not given any apologies in 139 years since it has been abolished. The case for reparations is not all that recent. As far back as 1988, the government has settled claims with Japanese-Americans as well as almost 20,000 black farmers for their sufferings in the past. The idea of reparations has become a growing concern for government officials. One major injustice discussed is the hope for â€Å"forty acres and a mule†. Apparently, this was promised and given out to many blacks only to be stripped away shortly thereafter. Therefore, many of these peop... Free Essays on Reparations Free Essays on Reparations â€Å"The case for Reparations†, by Charles J. Ogletree, is a piece that attempts to persuade the reader to agree with the idea of reparations. Reparations are designed to â€Å"repair† the damages that have been caused, in this case to African-Americans. It is stated that when slavery was abolished, there was never an apology. Another point is the government did give some land to blacks after they were freed, but immediately took this land away. There is also the idea that this country was built on slavery, and there are millions of black Americans who are still affected by this. In this article, the solution is to set up a trust fund for certain people to bring claims. These points give us something to think about, but aren’t entirely true. These reparations have nothing to do with the present situation of many blacks. Also, there have been many groups persecuted throughout the history of this country. A trust fund would do very little, and there are man y questions that must be asked if this is the suggested idea. This article is written in an attempt to educate people on reparations, but there are some flaws throughout that make it difficult to agree. The author is obviously an avid supporter for the case of reparations. In this article, he cites many examples to prove his case for the â€Å"repairs† that should be done. The main issue is slavery and how the government has not given any apologies in 139 years since it has been abolished. The case for reparations is not all that recent. As far back as 1988, the government has settled claims with Japanese-Americans as well as almost 20,000 black farmers for their sufferings in the past. The idea of reparations has become a growing concern for government officials. One major injustice discussed is the hope for â€Å"forty acres and a mule†. Apparently, this was promised and given out to many blacks only to be stripped away shortly thereafter. Therefore, many of these peop...

Quotes From Ayn Rands Atlas Shrugged

Quotes From Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand, is a philosophical novel. The theme (according to Rand) is  the role of mans mind in existence. Published in 1957, its a dystopian novel, centering around Dagny Taggart. Here are popular quotes from the novel. It was the joy of admiration and of ones own ability, growing together.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 1, Ch. 3 He was a man who had never accepted the creed that others had the right to stop him.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 1, Ch. 3 Against whom is any union organized?-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 1, Ch. 4 This was reality, she thought, this sense of clear outlines, of purpose, of lightness, of hope.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 1, Ch. 4 If ones actions are honest, one does not need the predated confidence of others, only their rational perception.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 1, Ch. 6 I never believed that story. I thought by the time the sun was exhausted, men would find a substitute.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 1, Ch. 7 This was the great clarity of being beyond emotion, after the reward of having felt everything one could feel.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 1, Ch. 7 Now she was free for the simplest, most commonplace concerns of the moment, because nothing could be meaningless within her sight.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 1, Ch. 7 It was useless to argue, she thought, and to wonder about people who would neither refute an argument nor accept it.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 1, Ch. 7 Mr. Ward, what is it that the foulest bastards on earth denounce us for, among other things? Oh yes, for our motto of Business as usual. Well- business as usual, Mr. Ward!-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 1, Ch. 7 Thought- he told himself quietly- is a weapon one uses in order to act... Thought is the tool by which one makes a choice... Thought sets ones purpose and the way to reach it.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 1, Ch. 7 It was the greatest sensation of existence: not to trust, but to know.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 1, Ch. 8 Dont ever get angry at a man for stating the truth.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 1, Ch. 10 He knew no weapons but to pay for what he wanted, to give value, to ask nothing of nature without trading his effort in return, to ask nothing of men without trading the product of his effort.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 1, Ch. 10 By the essence and nature of existence, contradictions cannot exist.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 1, Ch. 10 There might be some sort of justification for the savage societies in which a man had to expect that enemies could murder him at any moment and had to defend himself as best he could. But there can be no justification for a society in which a man is expected to manufacture the weapons for his own murderers.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 2, Ch. 1 Money is a tool of exchange, which cant exist unless there are goods produced and men able to produce them. Money is the material shape of the principle that men who wish to deal with one another must deal by trade and give value for value.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 2, Ch. 2 Wealth is the product of mans capacity to think.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 2, Ch. 2 There are no evil thoughts except one: the refusal to think.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 2, Ch. 2 Love is our response to our highest values - and can be nothing else.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 2, Ch. 4 Only the man who extols the purity of a love devoid of desire, is capable of the depravity of a desire devoid of love.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 2, Ch. 4 When one acts on pity against justice, it is the good whom one punishes for the sake of the evil; when one saves the guilty from suffering, it is the innocent whom one ​forces to suffer.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 2, Ch. 6 You do not have to depend on any material possessions, they depend on you, you create them, you own the one and only tool of production.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 2, Ch. 8 They told us that this plan would achieve a noble ideal. Well, how were we to know otherwise? Hadnt we heard it all our lives- from our parents and our schoolteachers and our ministers, and in every newspaper we ever read and every movie and every public speech?-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 2, Ch. 10 She felt suddenly as if nothing existed beyond that circle, and she wondered at the joyous, proud comfort to be found in a sense of the finite, in the knowledge that the field of ones concern lay within the realm of ones sight.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 1 Whats wealth but the means of expanding ones life? Theres two ways one can do it: either by producing more or by producing it faster.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 1 What greater wealth is there than to own your life and to spend it on growing? Every living thing must grow. It cant stand still. It must grow or perish.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 1 Any man whos afraid of hiring the best ability he can find, is a cheat whos in a business where he doesnt belong.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 1 I swear by my life and my love of it that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 1 Through all the centuries of the worship of the mindless, whatever stagnation humanity chose to endure, whatever brutality to practice–it was only by the grace of the men who perceived that wheat must have water in order to grow, that stones laid in a curve will form an arch, that two and two make four, that love is not served by torture and life is not fed by destruction–only by the grace of those men did the rest of them learn to experience moments when they caught the spark of being human.-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 1 When nothing seems worth the effort–said some stern voice in her mind–its a screen to hide a wish thats worth too much; what do you want?-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 2 Theres only one passion in most artists more violent than their desire for admiration: their fear of identifying the nature of such admiration as they do receive.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 2 Whether its a symphony or a  coal mine, all work is an act of creating and comes from the same source: from an inviolate capacity to see through ones own eyes–which means: the capacity to perform a rational identification–which means: the capacity to see, to connect and to make what had not been seen, connected and made before.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 2 Every man builds his world in his own image... He has the power to choose, but no power to escape the necessity of choice.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 2 No ones happiness but my own is in my power to achieve or to destroy.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 2 If you are not convinced, ignore our certainty. Dont be tempted to substitute our judgment for your own.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 2 She was seeing the brand of pain and fear on the faces of people, and the look of evasion that refuses to know it–they seemed to be going through the motions of some enormous pretense, acting out a ritual to ward off reality, letting the earth remain unseen and their lives unlived, in dread of something namelessly forbidden–yet the forbidden was the simple act of looking at the nature of their pain and questioning their duty to bear it.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 2 People think that a liar gains a victory over his victim. What Ive learned is that a lie is an act of self-abdication, because one surrenders ones reality to the person to whom one lies, making that person ones master, comdemning oneself from then on to faking the sort of reality that persons view requires to be faked.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 2 You dont have to see through the eyes of others, hold onto yours, stand on your own judgment, you know that what is, is–say it aloud, like the holiest of prayers, and dont let anyone tell you otherwise.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 4 The only guilt of the victims, he thought, had been that they accepted it as guilt.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 5 It was a sense of extreme precision and of relaxation, together, a sense of action without strain, which seemed inexplicably youthful–until he realized that this was the way he had acted and had expected always to act, in his youth and what he now felt was like the simple, astonished question: Why should one ever have to act in any other manner?-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 6 From the first catch-phrases flung at a child to the last, it is like a series of shocks to freeze his motor, to undercut the power of his consciousness. Dont ask so many questions, children should be seen and not heard!–Who are you to think? Its so, because I say so!–Dont argue, obey!–Dont try to understand, believe!–Dont rebel, adjust!–Dont stand out, belong!–Dont struggle, compromise!–Your heart is more important than your mind!–Who are you to know? Your parents know best!–Who are you to know? Society knows best!–Who are you to know? The bureaucrats know best!–Who are you to object? All values are relative!–Who are you to want to escape a thugs bullet? Thats only a personal prejudice!-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 6 Man has no automatic code of survival. His particular distinction from all other living species is the necessity to act in the face of alternatives by means of volitional choice.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 Man has to be a man–by choice; he has to hold his life as a value–by choice; he has to learn to sustain it–by choice; he has to discover the values it requires and practice his virtues by choice. A code of values accepted by choice is a code of morality.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 By the grace of reality and the nature of life, man–every man–is an end in himself, he exists for his own sake, and the achievement of his own happiness is his highest moral purpose.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 Truth is the recognition of reality; reason, mans only means of knowledge, is his only standard of truth.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 Your mind is your only judge of truth–and if others  dissent  from your verdict, reality is the court of final appeal.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 The moral is the chosen, not the forced; the understood, not the obeyed. The moral is the rational, and reason accepts no commandments.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 Emotions are inherent in your nature, but their content is dictated by your mind. Your emotional capacity is an empty motor, and your values are the fuel with which your mind fills it.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 The symbol of all relationships among such men, the moral symbol of respect for human beings, is the trader. We, who live by values, not by loot, are traders, both in matter and in spirit. A trader is a man who earns what he gets and does not give or take the undeserved.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 Whoever, to whatever purpose or extent, initiates the use of force, is a killer acting on the premise of death in a manner wider than murder: the premise of destroying mans capacity to live.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 A morality that holds need as a claim, holds emptiness–non-existence–as its standard of value; it rewards an absence, a defect: weakness, inability, incompetence, suffering, disease, disaster, the lack, the fault, the flaw–the zero.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 To love is to value.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 Love is the expression of ones values, the greatest reward you can earn for the moral qualities you have achieved in your character and person, the emotional price paid by one man for the joy he receives from the virtues of another.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 Public welfare is the welfare of those who do not earn it; those who do, are entitled to no welfare.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 The man who refuses to judge, who neither agrees nor disagrees, who declares that there are no absolutes and believes that he escapes responsibility, is the man responsible for all the blood that is now spilled in the world.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 In any compromise between food and poison, it is only death that can win. In any compromise between good and evil, it is only evil that can profit.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 Every form of causeless self-doubt, every feeling of inferiority and secret unworthiness is, in fact, mans hidden dread of his inability to deal with existence.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 To fear to face an issue is to believe that the worst is true.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 All property and all forms of wealth are produced by mans mind and labor.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 The only proper functions of a government are: the police, to protect you from criminals; the army, to protect you from foreign invaders; and the courts, to protect your property and contracts from breach or fraud by others, to settle disputes by rational rules, according to objective law.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 Every man is free to rise as far as hes able or willing, but its only the degree to which he thinks that determines the degree to which hell rise.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 The evil of the world is made possible by nothing but the sanction you give it.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 All life is a purposeful struggle, and your only choice is the choice of a goal.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 Fight for the value of your person. Fight for the virtue of your pride. Fight for the essence of that which is man: for his sovereign rational mind. Fight with the radiant certainty and the absolute rectitude of knowing that yours is the Morality of Life and that yours is the battle for any achievement, any value, any grandeur, any goodness, any joy that has ever existed on this earth.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7 When you force a man to act against his own choice and judgment, its his thinking that you want him to suspend.-Ayn Rand,  Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7

Basketball Jump Shot Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Basketball Jump Shot - Research Paper Example ir teams practice and play, the coaches develop certain skills over time that can be employed to achieve great success especially if complimented by knowledge derived from biomechanics (Hanes & Bauer, 2006). A jump shot may be said to be a high arching, softly rotating toss where the basketball player releases the ball right or slightly at the apex of his/her jump. While some coaches believe that shooters are born Hanes & Bauer (2006) point out that shooting is also a skill that can be taught to the athlete. For instance, in order to achieve a good jump shot, the athlete will need to apply good velocity to the ball. The velocity will steer the ball horizontally as well as vertical to the target. Biomechanics suggest that the athlete should square up to the basket and jump in a vertical manner before releasing the ball. This is best achieved when a player is doing a â€Å"drive† since the speed of the player will help in achieving velocity for the ball. However, speed may at times be counterproductive since it might affect the stability of the player. It is therefore necessary to establish equilibrium to ensure that optimal speed is achieved while stability is not compromised. The athlete should have a good base of support as this will ensure accuracy of the shot. Different basket ball players have different shooting techniques. For instance, some will concentrate on the backspin while others are more conscious of the balance. Regardless of one’s shooting technique, there are some salient components of shooting that need to be incorporated for optimal performance (Kelley, 2003). The very first important facet is the leg base. Kelley (2003) advises that a consistent exercise involving stretching and lifting of the muscles should be maintained. This exercise will help in providing the muscles with needed force for lifting up over the rim. The other component is squaring up. As Kelley (2003) observes, the athlete’s shoulders and the feet should always be in

How to be a good accountant in the future Essay

How to be a good accountant in the future - Essay Example To investigate and come up with clear responses of professional accountants, in various work settings. Background Recently, many things have developed relating to bookkeepers and their job. Many companies have lost money in unclear circumstances and this has caused many companies to lose trust in many accountants. However, it is unclear whether the mistakes and problems that many companies face emanate from the errors and unethical behaviors of accountants. For this reasons, it good to find out what makes or breaks an accounting reputation. Approach or method This research will employ the use of questionnaires, samples survey as sources of information concerning the ethical standards of accountants. This will answer the questions concerning their future accounting profession improvement. The proposed literature The proposed literature will base on the factors behind a good accounting job and the negatives associated with it; it will give the significance of the investigation to the u pcoming of bookkeeping professionals. The Gantt chart Gantt chart Task Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March April Research proposal Poster creation Literature review Data collection Analysis of Results Presentation of the results Introduction Studies indicate that, many organizations in recent times face scandalous financial situations. These incidences have been associated with accountants who work as employees in various business organizations in different settings in the world. Several businesses have lost cash in the course and the reason of the basis of the problem is uncertain, which has stained the reputation of several businesses. As a result, big and small companies are losing out in terms of business performance and profit making. The blunders leading to the deprived performance are alleged to be caused bookkeeping specialists. In some cases, the mistakes have been associated with the management as a whole; this is because the organization is involved in the decisions that influ ence the working of the auditors. In either way, what the accountants do affects the management and in reverse, the decisions made by the management influences accounting behaviors. This means that there are a number of issues revolving around the same issue of why many organizations have lost trust in accountants as professionals. For this reason, there is need to carry out an extensive research on the issues surrounding accounting as a field of professionalism. Before looking at that, here are some important facts about accounting; this will form the footing about bookkeeping and certified public auditor in particular. According to studies, it is through accounting that a mechanism that provides data, which is a crucial concerning the financial status of an organization in relation to business matters. The information found through this way is essential for investors because it gives critical details, which could be used as the determining factors in line with the decisions the in vestors have to make before investing. It may also help in determining whether the investors could opt not to invest in the organization, as the financial information may not be appealing to them. This will be viewed in terms of return on investments that the organization may receive after the investments. Regarding a good image of a corporate, moral or ethical and expert bookkeeping, comprises a clear image of a corporate financially. This forms the basis on which company managers are set to make informed decisions and shape the

Union Membership Trend Essay Example for Free

Union Membership Trend Essay On January 27 of this year the annual labor report was released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. On this very same day the USA Today along with several other media vultures jumped on this information as if they knew what was already going to be on it. The article titled â€Å"Union membership up slightly, outlook in doubt† written by Sam Hananel, summarized the numbers in detail and left no doubt that the current union membership trend will continue in its downward slide. The fact is union membership has been in decline since 1980, and back then the percentage of covered salaried or wage workers was only about 20%. Today the percentage of unionized workers stands at 11.8% down 0.1% from the previous year. The funny thing about these numbers is the political spin everyone has put on them, to include Mr. Hananel; which makes me wonder if I’ve missed some fine print. Upon further review of the article at hand I still remain convince that a negative union membership trend will continue along with the current government practice of downplaying the numbers. Even though the author tried to put a positive on the numbers that fortunate don’t lie. The current percentages of unionized workers mirrors those on record from the time of the â€Å"Great Depression.† The current recession, that yes, we’re still in, doesn’t bode well for any significant positive upswing in union membership. The government will continue to introduce and press on rhetoric that will equate the union membership decline to republican legislative action as this reporter took the liberty of, in mentioning Wisconsin, while dismissing the actions of a democratic legislature in California that succeeded in reducing union benefits. The numbers provided also shed more light on government efforts, which have been dismal at best at all levels. Now labor organizers are focusing some of their efforts on government workers; in an attempt to lure them in as members, but the reality of this trend is that those numbers are severely limited at a time when government workers have not received a raise in two years and are still waiting to see  if they’ll receive one come January 1st while a world-wide hiring freeze was also implemented in January of this year and thus lifted with limitations on certain agencies in July. I don’t believe union membership will ever attain a level in membership numbers that will come close in comparison to the apex reached in the 1930’s when a 1/3 of the salaried workforce was represented. Government Legislation over the years has provided adequate protection for today’s workforce. As the swell in interest on Human Resources activities has created a better management tool for businesses to not only protect themselves but their employees also. I still believe more can be done to protect all workers regardless of union or non-union affiliation. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/workplace/story/2012-01-27/union-membership-growing/52817346/1

America is currently involved a conflict in the Middle East. The United :: English Literature

America is currently involved a conflict in the Middle East. The United States is trying to stop the terrorism problem in nonconforming nations. America is currently involved a conflict in the Middle East. The United States is trying to stop the terrorism problem in nonconforming nations. The tactics that the United States is using is hurting many civilians and is slowing the process of rebuilding their government. The United States is pushing their conformity on these nations that are refusing to follow their demands. In Kesey's, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, there is conflict between the different levels of the Combine due to nonconformists that parallels the present situation that the United States is presently in. The machines of Chief's fantasies dominate the images of Kesey's novel. In the book, Chief describes Nurse Ratched as the following, "Under her rule the ward Inside is almost completely adjusted to surroundings. But the thing is she can't be on the ward all the time. She's got to spend some time Outside. So she works with an eye to adjusting the Outside world too. Working alongside others like her who I call the 'Combine,' which is a huge organization that aims to adjust the Outside as well as the Inside, has made her a real veteran at adjusting things"(Kesey 30). Chief believes that Nurse Ratched is a member of the Combine. The main goal of this organization is to perfect the world and change people to fit into society. "Combine," the name that Chief gives the organization, is a term for a threshing machine, whose main purpose is to cut down and harvest wheat. The name defines what the organization does; it takes people down and then turns them into something. They are suppose to try to change the patients into better people so they could attempt to one day reenter society as a full functioning person. Yet this isn't the only machine is the ward. There are machines in the Shock Shop that are used to punish people who are disobedient. In the main part of the ward there are fog machines installed into the walls, these manipulative machines are used to isolate the patients and confuse them. The Combine is supposedly trying to help the patients, yet they are ironic. The Shock Shop Therapy kills the patients' brain cells. This is made visible through Ellis. He was considered an Acute when he entered the hospital, until they mistakenly gave him to much Shock Therapy. The result is that now you can see him now standing permanently "crucified" on the wall, an unfortunate consequence of the 'therapy.' They also employ another method of attempting to improve a

The Indigo Spell Chapter Nine

AS JILL HAD SAID, Adrian was more than happy to begin our hunt that afternoon. In fact, when I finally got ahold of him, he offered to pick me up when classes ended, in order to maximize our time. I didn't mind this since it meant I'd get to ride in the Mustang. Admittedly, I would've preferred to drive it myself, but I'd take what I could get. â€Å"When are you going to name the car?† I asked him once we were on the road to Los Angeles. â€Å"It's an inanimate object,† he said. â€Å"Names are for people and pets.† I patted the Mustang's dashboard. â€Å"Don't listen to him.† To Adrian, I said, â€Å"They name boats all the time.† â€Å"I don't really understand that either, but maybe I would if my old man ever fronted me the money for a private yacht.† He shot me a quick, amused look before returning his attention to the road. â€Å"How can someone as cold and logical as you be so obsessed with something as frivolous as this?† I wasn't sure which part bothered me the most – being called cold or obsessed. â€Å"I'm just giving the proper respect to a beautiful machine.† â€Å"You named your car after coffee. That's a sign of respect?† â€Å"The highest1respect,† I said. He made a noise that sounded like a cross between a scoff and a laugh. â€Å"Okay, then. You name it. Whatever you want, I'll go along with.† â€Å"Really?† I asked, a bit startled. True, I'd been badgering him about naming the car, but I wasn't sure I wanted to be the one to wield that sort of power. â€Å"It's a big decision.† â€Å"Life or death,† he said, deadpan. â€Å"Better choose carefully.† â€Å"Yeah, but you're the so-called creative one!† â€Å"Then this'll be good practice for you.† I fell silent for a good part of the drive, struck by the gravity of the dilemma that lay before me. What should the name reflect? The car's sunny yellow color? Sleek lines? Powerful engine? The task was overwhelming. Adrian pulled me out of my thoughts when we began nearing the outer Los Angeles suburbs. â€Å"We're not actually going into the city, are we?† â€Å"Huh?† I'd been waging a mental debate between Summer Wind and Gold Dust. â€Å"Oh, no. We're heading north. Take the next exit.† Mrs. Santos had provided me with two neighborhoods known for their Victorian-style houses. I'd researched them extensively online, even going so far as to look at satellite pictures. I'd finally chosen one that most resembled my vision and crossed my fingers I'd have the same luck as I'd had in finding Marcus's apartment. Surely the universe owed me a few favors. Unfortunately, things didn't look too promising when we finally reached the street I'd been given. It was a peaceful residential area, filled with those same distinctive houses, but nothing that quite matched the one I'd seen in my vision. We drove up and down the street as I scanned each side, hoping maybe I'd missed something. â€Å"Ugh,† I said, slouching back into my seat. No luck. The universe had apparently cut me off. â€Å"We'll have to check the other location, but seriously, it didn't look like a match.† â€Å"Well, it can't hurt to – † Adrian suddenly made an abrupt turn onto a side street we'd nearly driven past. I jerked upright as he clipped the curb. â€Å"What are you doing? Think about your tires!† â€Å"Look.† He made another turn, putting us on a parallel street. Most of it was contemporary California housing . . . but one block had more Victorian houses. I gasped. â€Å"There it is!† Adrian came to a stop on the side of the street opposite from the house of my vision. Everything was there, from the wrapping porch to the hydrangea bush. And now, in the full light of day, I could make out the sign in the front yard: OLD WORLD BED-AND-BREAKFAST. Smaller print identified it as a historic site. â€Å"Well, there we go.† Adrian was clearly very pleased with his find, despite the risk to the car's tires. â€Å"Maybe Jackie's sister is staying here.† â€Å"Odd choice to run nefarious magical activities out of,† I remarked. â€Å"I don't know. Seeing as there aren't any ancient castles in the neighborhood, then why not a bed-and-breakfast?† I took a deep breath. â€Å"Okay, then. Let's go make some inquiries. You sure you can muddle the minds of those who see me?† â€Å"Easy,† he said. â€Å"Easier still if you were wearing your wig.† â€Å"Oh, shoot. I forgot.† I ducked down and retrieved a shoulder-length brown wig that Ms. Terwilliger had supplied me with. Even with Adrian's magic, we wanted to take extra precautions. While it would be good if people were visited by an unmemorable blonde, it'd be better still if they were visited by an unmemorable brunette. I tugged the wig on, hoping no one had seen my transformation. I lifted my head. â€Å"Does it look okay?† Adrian's face showed approval. â€Å"It's cute. You look even brainier, which I didn't think was possible.† We left the car, and I wondered if I wanted to look brainier. A lot of people already thought I was boring. Blond hair might be the only exciting thing I had going for me. Then I thought for a minute about my recent experience scaling a fire escape, breaking and entering, and getting into a fistfight with a fugitive. Not to mention that I was now hunting a powerful evil witch alongside a vampire who could control people's minds. Okay, maybe I wasn't so boring after all. We stepped inside to find a cute little lobby with an ornate desk and a sitting area with wicker furniture. Stuffed rabbits dressed in ball gowns adorned the shelves, and the walls actually had oil paintings of Queen Victoria. The owners apparently took their theme very literally, though I wasn't sure how the rabbits fit in. A girl my age sat at the desk and glanced up in surprise from a magazine. She had short platinum hair and hipster glasses. Tons of necklaces hung around her neck in a gaudy display that went against my minimalist sensibilities. Hot pink plastic beads, a sparkly green star, a gold and diamond locket, a dog tag . . . it was mind-boggling. Even worse, she was chewing gum loudly. â€Å"Hi,† she said. â€Å"Can I help you?† We'd had a whole routine planned, but Adrian immediately went off script. He slung his arm around me. â€Å"Yeah, we're looking for a weekend getaway, and a friend of ours swears this is top-of-the-line romance.† He pulled me closer. â€Å"Our anniversary's coming up. We've been dating for one year, but man, it hardly seems like it.† â€Å"That's for sure,† I said, trying to keep my jaw from dropping. I forced what I hoped was a happy smile. The girl glanced back and forth between us, her expression softening. â€Å"That's so sweet. Congratulations.† â€Å"Can we check the place out?† Adrian asked. â€Å"I mean, if there are any vacant rooms?† â€Å"Sure,† she said, standing up. She spit her gum into a trash can and walked over to us. â€Å"I'm Alicia. My aunt and uncle are the owners.† â€Å"Taylor,† I said, shaking her hand. â€Å"Jet,† said Adrian. I nearly groaned. For inexplicable reasons, â€Å"Jet Steele† was a pseudonym Adrian really liked using. In our rehearsal today, he was supposed to be called Brian. Alicia glanced back and forth between us, a small frown on her face that soon smoothed out. I had to guess it was Adrian's compulsion, confusing her perceptions of us a bit. â€Å"Follow me. We have a few vacant rooms you can see.† With one last puzzled look at us, she turned and headed toward a stairway. â€Å"Isn't this great, sweetie?† Adrian asked loudly as we walked up the creaking stairs. â€Å"I know how much you like rabbits. Didn't you have one when you were little? What was his name, Hopper?† â€Å"Yeah,† I said, resisting the urge to punch him on the arm. Hopper? Really? â€Å"Best rabbit ever.† â€Å"Oh, neat,† said Alicia. â€Å"Then I'll take you to the Bunny Suite first.† The Bunny Suite had more of those well-dressed stuffed rabbits as part of the decor. The quilt covering the king-size bed also had a border of alternating hearts and rabbits stitched in. Several books sat on the mantel above the wood-burning fireplace, including The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Rabbit, Run. Until that moment, I hadn't realized just how absurdly far a theme could be taken. â€Å"Wow,† said Adrian. He sat down on the bed and tested its bounciness, giving it a nod of approval. â€Å"This is amazing. What do you think, buttercup?† â€Å"I have no words,† I said honestly. He patted the spot beside him. â€Å"Want to try it out?† I answered with a look and felt relieved when he stood up. Adrian and beds stirred up too many conflicting feelings in me. After that, Alicia showed us the Morning Glory Suite, the Velvet Suite, and the London Suite, all of which competed to outdo the others in tackiness. Nonetheless, despite the absurdity of Adrian's ruse, the tour had given me the opportunity to take note of the other labeled doors in the hallway. We followed Alicia back downstairs. â€Å"We don't get to see the Sapphire Suite or the Prince Albert Suite?† I asked. Alicia shook her head. â€Å"Sorry. Those are occupied. I can give you a brochure with some pictures, if you want.† Adrian had his arm around me again. â€Å"Angel cake, wasn't the Prince Albert Suite where Veronica stayed? She's not still here, is she?† â€Å"I'm not sure,† I said. This, at least, was similar to what we'd rehearsed. I glanced over at Alicia. â€Å"You probably can't tell us that, huh? If our friend Veronica's here? She's really pretty, has long dark hair.† â€Å"Oh, yeah,† said Alicia, brightening. â€Å"Of course I remember her. She was in the Velvet Suite, actually, and just checked out yesterday.† I resisted the urge to kick the desk. So close. We'd missed her by a day. Yes, the universe was definitely done giving me breaks. I wouldn't be able to cast the scrying spell until the next full moon, which was a month away. â€Å"Oh, well,† said Adrian, still with that easy smile. â€Å"We'll see her for Christmas anyway. Thanks for your help.† â€Å"Do you want to book a room?† Alicia asked hopefully. â€Å"We'll get back to you on that,† I said. I actually wouldn't have put it past Adrian to book one and then claim it was part of our cover. â€Å"We're checking out a few places. A one-year anniversary isn't something you want to make a hasty decision on.† â€Å"But,† said Adrian, giving her a wink, â€Å"I've got a good feeling about the Bunny Suite.† Alicia walked us out, her eyes widening when she saw the Mustang. â€Å"Wow, nice car.† â€Å"It's an amazing car,† I said. â€Å"That's our baby – well, until we have real ones. Don't you think it needs a name?† asked Adrian. â€Å"I keep trying to convince Taylor.† Once again, I had to fight the urge to punch him. â€Å"Oh, definitely,† said Alicia. â€Å"That kind of car . . . it's like royalty.† â€Å"See?† Adrian shot me a triumphant look. â€Å"And Alicia's an expert on royalty. Didn't you see all those paintings?† â€Å"Thanks for your help,† I told her, steering him forward. â€Å"We'll be in touch.† We got in the car, and after waving goodbye to Alicia, Adrian drove away. I stared blankly ahead. â€Å"Much like with the Bunny Suite, I have no words to describe what just happened. I mean, really? Our anniversary? Jet?† â€Å"I look more like a Jet than a Brian,† he argued. â€Å"Besides, that was a much better story than the one about how we wanted to pay a surprise birthday visit to our ‘friend' Veronica.† â€Å"I don't know about that. But it did give us the information we needed. Which isn't good.† Adrian grew serious. â€Å"Are you sure? Maybe Veronica left the area altogether. Maybe you and the other girls are out of danger.† â€Å"That would be good, I guess . . . except, it just means some other poor girl somewhere else would suffer instead, and we wouldn't have any way to stop it.† From my purse, I pulled out Ms. Terwilliger's list of magic-using girls. â€Å"One of these addresses is in Pasadena. We can at least swing through on our way back and warn her.† The girl we sought was named Wendy Stone. She was a student at Cal Tech, which seemed like an odd vocation for a wannabe witch. Of course, Ms. Terwilliger had said these were girls who weren't actively studying the magical path. They simply possessed magical ability, and I supposed the fact that they had no mentors suggested that they might actually be resistant to their inborn abilities – kind of like me. Wendy lived in an apartment near campus that was easy to find. It was a no-nonsense, primarily student residence, but it seemed like a luxury palace after Marcus's building. As we passed busy students carrying backpacks and talking about classes, I felt a pang of longing that I hadn't experienced in a while. Inheriting the Alchemist mantle meant I couldn't go to college. College was a dream I'd held on to for a long time, though enrolling at Amberwood had helped ease some of my longing. Now, in this buzz of academia, a surge of jealousy sprang up in me. What would it be like to have this kind of life? To have your days solely devoted to the pursuit of knowledge, with no intrigue or life-threatening situations? Even Adrian, with his part-time art classes, was able to have some sort of collegiate experience. â€Å"Don't be so down,† he said when we reached Wendy's floor. â€Å"You might get to college someday.† I looked over at him in wonder. â€Å"How did you know that's what I was thinking?† â€Å"Because I know you,† he said simply, no mockery in his eyes. â€Å"Your aura got sad, and I figured being on a college campus had something to do with it.† I couldn't meet his gaze and turned away. â€Å"I don't like that.† â€Å"What, that someone actually knows what's important in your life?† Yes, that was exactly it. But why did it bother me? Because it was Adrian, I realized. Why was it that a vampire understood me so well? Why not one of my friends? Why not one of my human friends? â€Å"You can be Jet if you want,† I said brusquely, trying to get us back on track and cover up my troubled feelings. After all, this wasn't Sydney's Therapy Hour. â€Å"But we are not posing as a couple again.† â€Å"Are you sure?† he said. His tone was lighter now, turning him back into the Adrian I knew. â€Å"Because I've got a lot more terms of endearment to use. Honey pie. Sugarplum. Bread pudding.† â€Å"Why are they all high-calorie foods?† I asked. I didn't want to encourage him, but the question slipped out before I could stop it. â€Å"And bread pudding isn't really that romantic.† We had reached Wendy's door. â€Å"Do you want me to call you celery stick instead?† he asked. â€Å"It just doesn't inspire the same warm and fuzzy feelings.† â€Å"I want you to call me Sydney.† I knocked on the door. â€Å"Er, Taylor.† A girl with freckles and frizzy red hair answered. Her eyes narrowed warily. â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"We're looking for Wendy Stone,† I said. She scowled. â€Å"Are you from the registrar's office? Because I told them the check's on its way.† â€Å"No.† I lowered my voice and made sure there were no witnesses. â€Å"My name's Taylor. We're here to talk to you about, um, magic.† The transformation was sudden and startling. She went from suspicious and cautious to shocked and outraged. â€Å"No. No. I've told you guys a hundred times I don't want to be involved! I can't believe you'd actually show up at my door to try to convert me to your little coven freak show.† She tried to shut the door, but Adrian managed to stick his foot in and block it. Very manly. â€Å"Wait,† he said. â€Å"That's not what this is about. Your life might be in danger.† Wendy turned incredulous. â€Å"So you guys are threatening me now?† â€Å"No, nothing like that. Please,† I pleaded. â€Å"Just let us talk to you for five minutes inside. Then we'll leave and never bother you again.† Wendy hesitated and then finally gave a nod of resignation. â€Å"Fine. But I'm getting my pepper spray.† Her apartment was neat and tidy, save for a pile of papers and engineering books scattered on the floor. We'd apparently interrupted her homework, which brought back my wistfulness. She made good on her promise to get the pepper spray and then stood before us with crossed arms. â€Å"Talk,† she ordered. I showed her the picture of Veronica. â€Å"Have you ever seen this woman?† â€Å"Nope.† â€Å"Good.† Or was it? Did that mean Veronica might have Wendy tagged as a future hit and was waiting to pounce? â€Å"She's dangerous. I'm not exactly sure how to put it. . . .† â€Å"She finds girls with magic and sucks away their souls,† supplied Adrian helpfully. Wendy did a double take. â€Å"I'm sorry, what did you say?† â€Å"That's not exactly the case,† I said. â€Å"But it's close enough. She seeks out girls with power and takes it for herself.† â€Å"But I don't use magic,† Wendy countered. â€Å"Like I told you, I don't want anything to do with it. There's a witch who lives in Anaheim who's always telling me how much potential I have and how I should be her apprentice. I keep telling her no, and I've never even tried any spells. This soul-sucking lady has no reason to come after me.† Ms. Terwilliger had warned me some of the girls might say this. In fact, she'd said most would have this argument. â€Å"It doesn't matter,† I said. â€Å"That won't stop her.† Wendy looked terrified now, and I didn't blame her. My reaction had been similar. It was frustrating to know the very thing you were trying to get away from might come after you. â€Å"Then what should I do?† she asked. â€Å"Well, avoid her if you can. If she comes to see you . . . I mean, don't let her in. Don't be alone with her.† That was slightly lame advice, and we all knew it. â€Å"If you do see her, I'd tell that witch in Anaheim. In fact . . . I know you don't want to, but if I were you, I'd get in touch with that witch now and try to get her help. Maybe even learn a few defensive spells. I understand you don't want to – believe me, I really do – but it could save your life. Also . . . † I held out the agate charm. â€Å"You should take this and wear it at all times.† Wendy eyed the charm as though it were a poisonous snake. â€Å"Is this some trick to get me to learn magic after all? You come here with this whole act about how if I don't learn, I could get my soul sucked away?† Again, I had to give her points. I would think exactly the same thing. â€Å"We're telling the truth,† I insisted. â€Å"There's no proof I can offer – well, wait. Give me your email address, and I'll send you this article about another girl it happened to.† Wendy looked like she was on the verge of using the pepper spray. â€Å"I think I would've heard if some girl had her soul magically sucked away.† â€Å"It wasn't really obvious to those who don't know about the magical world. Let me send it to you, and then you can make your own decisions. It's the best I can offer.† She reluctantly agreed and wrote down her email address. Adrian stepped forward to take it from her, but he must have moved too quickly because she suddenly thrust the can of pepper spray in his direction. â€Å"Stay back!† she exclaimed. At the exact same moment, I sprang in front of him, terrified he was about to get a face full of pepper spray. I cast the first spell I could think of, a simple one that created a flashy – but harmless – show of colored light. A shielding spell would've been much more useful, but I hadn't practiced any yet. That would have to be rectified, in case our future errands involved more pepper spray. â€Å"You back off,† I warned. As I'd hoped, the brilliant display was terrifying to someone anti-magic like Wendy. She retreated to the far side of her apartment and thankfully didn't use the spray. â€Å"G-get out,† she stammered, eyes full of fear. â€Å"Please take precautions,† I said. I set the charm on the floor. â€Å"And please wear this. I'll email you the article.† â€Å"Get out,† she repeated, making no move toward the charm. As Adrian and I walked out of her building and into the sun, I sighed loudly. I was dismayed enough that I didn't even have the chance to feel down about being at a college. â€Å"That didn't go so well,† I said. He thought about it, then grinned. â€Å"I don't know, Sage. You threw yourself in the line of pepper spray for me. You must like me just a little bit.† â€Å"I – I figured it'd be a shame to ruin your pretty face,† I stammered. In truth, I hadn't been thinking of anything that specific. All I'd known was that Adrian was in danger. Protecting him had been instinctual. â€Å"Still, that spell was kind of badass.† I managed a small smile. â€Å"It was harmless, and that's the thing. Wendy didn't know any better. The reason Veronica goes after these girls is that they don't have any magical protection – and that's exactly why they probably can't stop her. I don't think pepper spray will help, but maybe the article will convince her. Oh, shoot. I'll have to make a fake email address for Taylor.† â€Å"No worries,† said Adrian. â€Å"I already have a Jet Steele one you can use.† This actually made me laugh. â€Å"Of course you do. For all the online dating you do, right?† Adrian didn't comment one way or the other, which bothered me more than it should have. I'd meant it as a joke . . . but was there truth to it? If rumors – and some of my own observations – were true, Adrian had experience with a lot of women. A lot. Thinking of him with others upset me, far more than it should have. How many other girls had he kissed with that same intensity? How many had been in his bed? How many had felt his hands upon their bodies? He couldn't have loved them all. Some – probably most – had been conquests, girls whose faces he forgot the next morning. For all I knew, I was just the ultimate conquest for him, a test for his skills. You probably couldn't find a greater challenge than a human with hang-ups about vampires. And yet, thinking back on all the things said and unsaid between us, I was pretty sure that wasn't true. No matter how crazy this romantic entanglement was, he loved me – or thought he did. I was no superficial conquest. It'd probably be better if I was, though. Without an emotional connection, he'd eventually give up and easily find comfort in someone else's arms. This would probably be a good time for me to suggest he do that anyway. But I stayed silent.

Nike Marketing Report Essay

The purpose of this report is to use concepts, models and theories to critically assess and evaluate Nike’s digital marketing activities. Within the report models such as the Marketing Mix and Assofs Matrix are used to demonstrate the importance of Nike’s digital campaigns and evaluate their validity. The report begins with an introduction to Nike as a company; this is a brief history into how the company was conceived. After this we explore different  product ranges Nike have to offer and their share within the sporting goods market. I go on to discuss how â€Å"Nike create anâ€Å"ecosystem† of digital services that complement its product range and encourage consumers to connect with the brand daily†(Olander, S., 2012). I continue to use evidence to support the importance of digital based marketing at Nike. I demonstrate the way in which they target their specific markets using social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. My conclusion focuses on the flaws and achievements of the companies digital marketing efforts. Nike is a company that has an impeccable record when it comes to marketing and its reflected within the examples I present throughout. Using Assofs matrix model I assess what Nike will have to do to remain dominant within its market. These include: – Diversifying into emerging foreign markets such as Chine and India. – Utilizing relationship marketing more effectively with marketing campaigns segmented to the consumers individually. – Market development within its pre-established markets – Product development to keep up with current digital trends Introduction to Nike As smaller companies are fading away and large multinationals are flourishing its hard to think of them having any similarities. One company that boasts of being that largest sportswear company in the world, started out with humble beginnings. I have chosen to analyze Nike due in part to their large online presence, which continues to grow and adapt to their ever-changing environment. The way in which we consume information has drastically changed in the last 20 years causing companies to rethink their marketing strategies. I believe that Nikes success as a company is due in part to its effective use of marketing to create a strong brand image and its adaptability when faced with a digital revolution within the global markets. Track athlete Philip Knight and his coach, Bill Bowerman created Nike in 1964. Originally called Blue Ribbon Sports, the company started as an American distributer of footwear made by Onitsuka Tiger, a Japanese shoe maker that would later go on to found the sportswear company ASICS. Originally Blue Ribbon Sports conducted their business out of the back of Phillip Knight’s car after training. Knight’s and Bowerman’s business grew and 2 years after they had first created their brand they had opened their first store in California. This is when they adopted the name Nike, inspired by the ancient Greek goddess of victory. This was the time they would also start using the iconic image of the â€Å"swoosh†. After this point their business started to expand rapidly. It did so by â€Å" Pursuing different advertising strategies in its various markets, while at the same time striving to communicate an identical brand identity worldwide† (Von Borries, 2004, p19) . In 1988 Dan Wieden of the Wieden and Kennedy advertising agency coined one of the most famous advertising slogans of all time. The Iconic â€Å"just do it†. The slogan has been chosen as one of the most iconic slogans of the 20th century by Advertising Age magazine. (Nike: History and Heritage , 2012). Financially Nike has seen a massive growth from its humble beginnings of selling products from the trunk of a car to having revenue of $24.148 billion and a income of $ 3.040 billion in 2012 (United States Securities and Exchange Commission, 2011) Nike has been extremely effective at expanding beyond its domestic market of the United States to become a global brand that boasts 44,000 employees worldwide. When it comes to the products produced by Nike it is clear that they have diversified slowly over the years to produce an extremely broad range of sporting goods. Their range of products includes shoes, team kits, clothing and base layers to name a few. As a company they also produce goods for an array of sports including, ice hockey, track and field, tennis, football, lacrosse, baseball, basketball, and cricket. Like any other sporting goods companies they face many  competitors within the market. These include Adidas, Reebok, Fila, Puma, New Balance, Asics, and Skechers though Nike is the largest company within the group. Adidas is its closest competitor with a 16 % market share compared to 31% help by Nike. Not only is Nike the leader within its market but it also has the most creative marketing campaigns, which I believe to be the key contributor to its international success. Though they have faced controversy over the years with accusations of poor working conditions and low pay for staff they have managed to continue their dominance within the market. They are a true testament to what branding and marketing can achieve within a retail company.

5 Disadvantages of Bad Time Management

5 Disadvantages of Bad Time Management Poor planning and bad time management are often part of the learning experience for many new students in college. For others, however, poor planning becomes a habit. The consequences of putting that paper off, not turning in your work on time, and missing key deadlines, however, can be much more of a problem than you might initially think. Things May Get Expensive If you miss housing deadlines, incur late registration fees, or apply too late to get priority when your school is allocating financial aid, things can quickly become even more expensive than normal. Having good time management skills can help you avoid costly mistakes later. Things Can Become Harder Logistically If you think studying for your Spanish final is a pain in the brain, wait until you see what happens if you dont pass it/sleep through it/generally dont plan for it. You May Miss out on Opportunities Because You're Too Late That amazing study abroad program, Spring Break trip, and summer internship all have deadlines for a reason. If you apply too late or dont have everything you need ready in time, youll miss out on what could have been the experience of a lifetime. You May Miss out on Opportunities Because People Notice Your Pattern of Lateness and Disorganization People who you think dont notice your frequent lack of planning and lateness may, in fact, notice more than you realize. When your favorite professor is trying to think of students for an awesome summer research gig, you might get passed over because she knows you wont have your stuff together when needed. Keeping your schedule balanced and your time managed may open doors you dont even realize are there. You Will Always Feel Behind Not sure if you have poor planning skills? Ask yourself to remember the last time you felt ahead of the game. If it wasnt recently, chances are youre constantly feeling behind- because you are. Bad time management skills mean you are always playing catch-up and experiencing stress. And with all thats going on in your college life, why add more stress to the mix?

Pericles (Leader of Athens) Biography

Pericles (Leader of Athens) Biography Pericles (sometimes spelled Perikles) lived between about 495–429 B.C.E. and was one of the most important leaders of the classical period of Athens, Greece. He is largely responsible for rebuilding the city following the devastating Persian Wars of 502–449 B.C.E. He was also Athens leader during (and probably fomenter of) the Peloponnesian War (431–404); and he died of the Plague of Athens that ravaged the city between 430 and 426 B.C.E. He was so important to classical Greek history that the era in which he lived is known as the Age of Pericles. Greek Sources about Pericles What we know of Pericles comes from three main sources. The earliest is known as the Funeral Oration of Pericles. It was written by the Greek philosopher Thucydides (460–395 B.C.E.), who said he was quoting Pericles himself. Pericles gave his speech at the end of the first year of the Peloponnesian war (431 B.C.E.). In it, Pericles (or Thucydides) extols the values of democracy. The Menexenus was probably written by Plato (ca. 428–347 B.C.E.) or by someone who was imitating Plato. It too is a Funeral Oration citing the history of Athens, and the text was partly borrowed from Thucydides but it is a satire ridiculing the practice. Its format is a dialogue between Socrates and Menexenus, and in it, Socrates opines that Pericles mistress Aspasia wrote the Funeral Oration of Pericles. Finally, and most substantially, in his book The Parallel Lives, the first century C.E. Roman historian Plutarch wrote the Life of Pericles and a Comparison of Pericles and Fabius Maximum. English translations of all of these texts are long out of copyright and available on the Internet. Family Through his mother Agariste, Pericles was a member of the Alcmeonids, a powerful family in Athens, who claimed descent from Nestor (king of Pylos in The Odyssey) and whose earliest notable member was from the seventh century B.C.E. The Alcemons were accused of treachery at the Battle of Marathon. His father was Xanthippus, a military leader during the Persian Wars, and the victor at the Battle of Mycale. He was the son of Ariphon, who was ostracized- a common political punishment for prominent Athenians consisting of a 10-year banishment from Athens- but was returned to the city when the Persian Wars began. Pericles was married to a woman whose name is not mentioned by Plutarch but was a close relative. They had two sons, Xanthippus and Paralus, and divorced in 445 B.C.E. Both sons died in the Plague of Athens. Pericles also had a mistress, perhaps a courtesan but also a teacher and intellectual called Aspasia of Miletus, with whom he had one son, Pericles the Younger. Education Pericles was said by Plutarch to have been shy as a young man because he was rich, and of such stellar lineage with well-born friends, that he was afraid hed be ostracized for that alone. Instead, he devoted himself to a military career, where he was brave and enterprising. Then he became a politician. His teachers included the musicians Damon and Pythocleides. Pericles was also a pupil of Zeno of Elea, famous for his logical paradoxes, such as the one in which he was said to have proven that motion cant occur. His most important teacher was Anaxagoras of Clazomenae (500-428 BCE), called Nous (Mind). Anaxagoras is best known for his then-outrageous contention that the sun was a fiery rock. Public Offices The first known public event in Pericles life was the position of choregos. Choregoi were the producers of ancient Greeces theatrical community, selected from the wealthiest Athenians who had a duty to support dramatic productions. Choregoi paid for everything from staff salaries to sets, special effects, and music. In 472, Pericles funded and produced the playwright Aeschylus play The Persians. Pericles also gained the office of military archon or strategos, which is usually translated into English as a military general. Pericles was elected strategos in 460, and he remained that for the next 29 years. Pericles, Cimon, and Democracy In the 460s, the Helots rebelled against the Spartans who asked for help from Athens. In response to Spartas request for help, Athens leader Cimon led troops into Sparta. The Spartans sent them back, probably fearing the effects of Athenian democratic ideas on their own government. Cimon had favored Athens oligarchic adherents, and, according to the opposing faction led by Pericles who had come into power by the time Cimon returned, Cimon was a lover of Sparta and a hater of the Athenians. He was ostracized and banished from Athens for 10 years, but eventually brought back for the Peloponnesian Wars. Building Projects From about 458–456, Pericles had the Long Walls built. The Long Walls were about 6 kilometers in length and built in several phases. They were a strategic asset to Athens, connecting the city with Piraeus, a peninsula with three harbors about 4.5 miles from Athens. The walls protected the citys access to the Aegean, but they were destroyed by Sparta at the end of the Peloponnesian War. On the Acropolis at Athens, Pericles built the Parthenon, the Propylaea, and a giant statue of Athena Promachus. He also had temples and shrines built to other gods to replace those that had been destroyed by the Persians during the wars. The treasury from the Delian alliance funded the building projects. Radical Democracy and Citizenship Law Among the contributions made by Pericles to the Athenian democracy was the payment of magistrates. This was one reason the Athenians under Pericles decided to limit the people eligible to hold office. Only those born to two people of Athenian citizen status could henceforth be citizens and eligible to be magistrates. Children of foreign mothers were explicitly excluded. Metic is the word for a foreigner living in Athens. Since a metic woman couldnt produce citizen children when Pericles had a mistress Aspasia of Miletus, he couldnt or, at least, didnt marry her. After his death, the law was changed so that his son could be both a citizen and his heir. Artists Depiction According to Plutarch, although Pericles appearance was unimpeachable, his head was long and out of proportion. The comic poets of his day called him Schinocephalus or squill head (pen head). Because of Pericles abnormally long head, he was often depicted wearing a helmet. The Plague of Athens and the Death of Pericles In 430, the Spartans and their allies invaded Attica, signaling the start of the Peloponnesian War. At the same time, a plague broke out in a city overcrowded by the presence of refugees from the rural areas. Pericles was suspended from the office of strategos, found guilty of theft and fined 50 talents. Because Athens still needed him, Pericles was then reinstated, but then, about a year after he lost his own two sons in the plague, Pericles died in the fall of 429, two and a half years after the Peloponnesian War began. Edited and updated by K. Kris Hirst Sources Thucydides. Pericles Funeral Oration from the Peloponnesian War (Book 2.34-46). Ancient History Sourcebook. Fordham University. 2000. Web.Monoson, S. Sara. Remembering Pericles: The Political and Theoretical Import of Platos Menexenus. Political Theory 26.4 (1998): 489-513. Print.OSullivan, Neil. Pericles and Protagoras. Greece Rome 42.1 (1995): 15-23. Print.Plato. The Menexenus. Translater Benjamin Jowett 1892. Project Gutenberg, 2013. Web.Plutarch. Comparison of Pericles and Fabius Maximus. The Parallel Lives of Plutarch. Loeb Classical Library 1914. LacusCurtius Web.- -. The Life of Pericles. The Parallel Lives of Plutarch. Loeb Classical Library 1916. LacusCurtius Web.Stadter, Philip A. Pericles among the Intellectuals. Illinois Classical Studies 16.1/2 (1991): 111-24. Print.- -. The Rhetoric of Plutarchs Pericles. Ancient Society 18 (1987): 251-69. Print.

Primary source analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Primary source analysis - Essay Example His spiritual level is supposed to be at par with Buddha. So, the issue is defined in clear terms in the sutra that enlightenment does not depend on initiation. Vimalakirti belonged to Licchavi, one of the ruling clans of ancient India, and he commanded high respect from all. The second chapter makes a reference to his illness. There is passing reference to his feigning illness but the fact is he probably has taken the illness of one of his devotees upon himself. People come to enquire about his welfare and Vimalakirti takes that opportunity to preach the finer aspects of dharma and many of them are blessed with enlightenment. In the ensuing chapters Lord Buddha advises his disciples and bodhisattvas to visit Vimalakirti as well. But they are disinclined to go and make pretexts, because in the past they had all been overwhelmed by Vimalakirtis loftier understanding of the ultimate spiritual truth. Vimalakriti owns extraordinary spiritual talent. Evan Manjusri, bodhisattva of wisdom, is no match for him. When he agrees to visit Vimalakriti, a galaxy of Buddha’s disciples, bodhisattvas, gods and goddesses decide to follow him to avail the opportunity to watch the two great spiritual giants conversing with each other. All of them know that it would be an astounding and illuminating experience. Soon the room where Vimalakirti is convalescing becomes the spiritual dispensation center. A large number of people keep on arriving to that place and proclaim that they have enjoyed the realm of bliss with his audience. In the discussion with visitors and Buddha’s disciples, Vimalakirti’s elucidation leads them to higher realms of spirituality, and their existing grasp of the issues are rectified. In the meantime, Buddha is delivering his spiritual sermons in the garden. Vimalakirti presents himself there along with his large number of