Interesting Personal Statement Essays (563 words) - Computer

Interesting Personal Statement National Merit Scholarship Scholarship Essay "Would you please get the mail," my mother implored as I entered the door. Heading towards the mailbox, I wondered if I would find daily assortment of bills and catalogues or something interesting addressed to me. To my delight, the first item was the new issue of PC Computing. Ever since I was introduced to computers when I was five, I have been fascinated by them. The summer before my sophomore year of high school, I wrote a program called Quickchange 95 using Visual Basic. This program changed the startup and shutdown screens of Windows 95. I distributed the program via shareware archives on the Internet, and I received email from all over the world about my creation. I shuffled through one of my mother's clothing catalogues to find my issue of Money Magazine. I have been interested in business and finance since the day which we started studying the stock market in fifth grade. The summer before my junior year, I combined my interests in business and computers by starting a web design company with a friend. We created a web site for a local bike shop which is only one of two bike shops in Connecticut to have a presence on the Internet. Currently, I am the head web designer for my school. I intend to combine computers and business in my future career. My goal is to work on the business side of a computer firm, and eventually, I would like to start my own computer company. A board of education letter of commendation for my participation in the FIRST robotics program also arrived today. I have been able to develop my entrepreneurial skills through the FIRST robotics program. FIRST is a national engineering competition in which partnerships are formed between local businesses and high schools to design and build a robot-like machine. The team has about six weeks to build a machine, that must be able to compete in a timed sporting event. I have been involved in FIRST each year of my high school career. Last year, I was team captain, and our team finished fourth in the country out of one hundred and fifty-six teams. As a result of my involvement with FIRST, I have improved my confidence, my leadership, and my team working abilities. FIRST gave me experience working with a diverse group of people with a variety of skills. Working alongside engineers from our sponsor company, International Fuel Cells, exposed me to the professional world beyond the classroom . I have a great appreciation for this program which has challenged me to bring out the best in myself and others. My last piece of mail was Tennis Magazine. I began playing tennis at the age of eight. During my freshman year, I played on the junior varsity tennis team, and I received the Manchester Racquet Club deserving player award which is a scholarship for a year of indoor lessons. The next two seasons, I played on the varsity tennis team. Last year, I was named to the Hartford Courant All Academic Team. Tennis has provided a welcome diversion from my technical pursuits. "What took you so long?" my mother asked as I entered the house. "Oh nothing, I really have to start my homework," as I tucked my magazines under my arms and ran up the stairs.

Chinese Book Report Essays - Chinese Communists, Marxist Theorists

Chinese Book Report Essays - Chinese Communists, Marxist Theorists Chinese Book Report China Book Report Book: China Since 1945 Author: Stewart Ross (Note: This book is not described in full depth and detail but is just explained in a very general way, therefore Mahmoud Abdelkader uses The Modernization of China by Gilbert Rozman (Editor) excerpts to support his views) Type of Book: Illustrated Pages: 64 China Book Report The book China Since 1945, written by author Stewart Ross, opens in a description of the Chinese Empire in the 1900s. There it describes the terrain of the Chinese lands and thoroughly states the fact of having the Great Wall of China to keep out the barbarians at 221 B.C. The author uses a very admiring tone of the Chinese Empire and seems to think its one of the very few best empires that have ever formed. In fact, Rozman states, the cultural and scientific achievements of the Chinese had been immense, including the invention of paper, printing and gunpowder, and the creation of the most exquisite paintings and by most Empire Critics China was one of the best Civilizations around. The author starts the book by Revolution and disintegration incident that happened in 1911, where the British and Japanese fought over control of China. Chinese prisoners were being led away for execution during the revolution where they would be beheaded with swords, which the author states is very popular. It mentions the presidency of Sun Yatsen and his reforms which he could not control that he made himself in 1912. Around this time, warlords took over China controlling it and ruining its economy. The author moves on to war that involved China and its neighbors. It describes the Communist Revolution and Mao Zedong, an the Autumn Harvest. The author then relates to Maos victory in 1945-1949 and the Japanese forces pulling out. The authors view toward Chinese views is very critical and then goes to analysis of the book, but supports China. In fact, the way that this was looked upon, is that this is actually a bunch of essays that were put together by the author thats why his mood changes. The only way of finding out what the author really thinks is the way of his introduction. The author, actually, does support China and doesnt take a prejudice side to it. Rozman says, Although critics sometimes critique China and its imperialistic ways, I find it most innovating that China is superior in many of its way and its technologies that keep us alive today are immense and should be recognized as an act of a strong economic nation, not as a communist death hole. He completely wants the reader to understand that he has no offense on China, but China has an effect on itself from many other critics. Stewart Ross on the other hand, uses China in a horrible sense or criticism. He critiques China after 1945 in almost any way he can. His tone doesnt sound biased, but after the first 10 pages, the book starts taking a negative effect towards China. He starts the book as if it is the most intriguing country in the world, but soon it his enthusiasm descends to a lower degree. The conclusion that the reader would be able to see is that the actual author isnt biased about China but about Communism, since it affected China in every way after 1945. The writing of the book looks as if it is directed to any American who is interested in Chinas modern history. The book is written by an American author who directs his views to another American. He directs China from Chinese eyes. He doesnt exactly point it out that there is conflict and doesnt show any biased thoughts or actions. He simply just states facts and doesnt try to criticize it through Chinese eyes, but directs his views as if his research team was the one that was having trouble figuring something out. This may be unclear but Ill state an example. The team didnt know how many millions of people died in the Land Reform, but were pretty sure its around 35%. It is explained that the cruelty of the Chinese during land reforms are extremely harsh, for the landlords were taken from their lands, leaving the warlords

Importance of the Magna Carta to the US Constitution

Importance of the Magna Carta to the US Constitution The Magna Carta, meaning â€Å"Great Charter,† is one of the most influential political documents ever written: it is seen by many modern political scientists as the fundamental document for many of the governing laws of the west, including the United States. Originally issued in 1215 by King John of England as a way of dealing with his own political crisis, the Magna Carta was the first governmental decree establishing the principle that all people- including the king- were equally subject to the law.   Key Document in U.S. Political Foundations In particular, the Magna Carta had a significant impact on the American Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the constitutions of various U.S. states. Its influence is also reflected in the beliefs held by eighteenth-century Americans that the Magna Carta affirmed their rights against oppressive rulers. In keeping with colonial Americans general distrust of sovereign authority, most early state constitutions included declarations of rights retained by individual citizens and lists of protections of those citizens from the powers of the state government. Due in part to this conviction to individual liberty first embodied in the Magna Carta, the newly-formed United States also adopted the Bill of Rights. The American Bill of Rights Several of the natural rights and legal protections enumerated in both the state declarations of rights and the United States Bill of Rights descend from rights protected by Magna Carta. A few of these include: Freedom from unlawful searches and seizuresThe right to a speedy trialA right to a jury trial in both criminal and civil casesProtection from loss of life, liberty, or property without due process of law The exact phrase from the 1215 Magna Carta referring to â€Å"due process of law† is in Latin, but there are various translations. The British Library translation reads: â€Å"No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled, or deprived of his standing in any other way, nor will we proceed with force against him, or send others to do so, except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land.† In addition, many broader constitutional principles and doctrines have their roots in America’s eighteenth-century interpretation of the Magna Carta, such as the theory of representative government, the idea of a supreme law, a government based on a clear separation of powers, and the doctrine of judicial review of legislative and executive acts. Journal of the Continental Congress Evidence of the influence of the Magna Carta on the American system of government can be found in several key documents, including the Journal of the Continental Congress, which is the official record kept of the Congresss deliberations between May 10, 1775, and March 2, 1789. In September and October 1774, the delegates to the first Continental Congress drafted a Declaration of Rights and Grievances, in which the colonists demanded the same liberties guaranteed to them under â€Å"the principles of the English constitution, and the several charters or compacts.† They demanded self-government, freedom from taxation without representation, the right to a trial by a jury of their own countrymen, and their enjoyment of â€Å"life, liberty, and property† free from interference from the English crown. The Federalist Papers Written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, and published anonymously between October 1787 and May 1788, the Federalist Papers were a series of eighty-five articles intended to build support for the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. Despite the widespread adoption of declarations of individual rights in state constitutions, several members of the Constitutional Convention generally opposed adding a bill of rights to the federal Constitution. In Federalist No. 84, published during the summer of 1788, Hamilton argued against the inclusion of a bill of rights, stating: â€Å"Here, in strictness, the people surrender nothing; and as they retain everything they have no need of particular reservations.† In the end, however, the Anti-Federalists prevailed and the Bill of Rights- based largely on the Magna Carta- was appended to the Constitution in order to secure its final ratification by the states. The Bill of Rights as Proposed As originally proposed to Congress in 1791, there were twelve amendments to the constitution. These were strongly influenced by the state of Virginia’s Declaration of Rights of 1776, which in turn incorporated a number of the protections of the Magna Carta. As a ratified document, the Bill of Rights included five articles directly reflecting these protections: Protection from unreasonable searches and seizures (4th),  Protection of rights to life, liberty, and property (5th),  Rights of accused persons in criminal cases (6th),  Rights in civil cases (7th), and  Other rights kept by the people (8th).   History of the Magna Carta King John I (also known as John Lackland, 1166–1216) ruled England, Ireland and sometimes Wales and Scotland between 1177–1216. His predecessor and brother Richard I had spent much of the kingdoms wealth on the crusades: and in 1200, John himself had lost lands in Normandy, ending the Andevin Empire. In 1209, after an argument with Pope Innocent III  over who should be the archbishop of Canterbury, John was excommunicated from the church. John needed to pay money to get back in Popes good graces, and he wanted to wage war and get back his lands in Normandy, so as sovereigns were wont to do, he increased already-heavy taxes on his subjects. The English barons fought back, forcing a meeting with the king at Runnymede near Windsor on June 15, 1215. At this meeting, King John was coerced into signing the Great Charter which protected some of their basic rights against royal actions. After some modifications, the charter known as the magna carta libertatum (great charter of liberties) became part of the law of the land of England in 1297 under the reign of Edward I.  Ã‚   Key Provisions of the Magna Carta Following are some of the key items that were included in the 1215 version of the Magna Carta: Habeas corpus, known as the right to due process, said that free men could only be imprisoned and punished after lawful judgment by a jury of their peers.Justice could not be sold, denied, or delayed.Civil lawsuits did not have to be held in the kings court.The Common Council had to approve the amount of money that vassals had to pay instead of having to serve in the military (called scutage) along with any aid that could be requested from them with only three exceptions, but in all cases, the aid had to be reasonable. This basically meant that John could no longer tax without the agreement of his Council.If the King wanted to call the Common Council, he had to give the barons, church officials, landowners, sheriffs, and bailiffs 40 days notice that included a stated purpose for why it was being called.For commoners, all fines had to be reasonable so that their livelihood could not be taken away. Further, any offense that a commoner was said to have committed had to be sworn to by go od men from the neighborhood. Bailiffs and constables could not appropriate peoples possessions.London and other cities were given the right to collect customs.The king could not have a mercenary army. In feudalism, the barons were the army. If the king had his own army, he would have the power to do what he wanted against the barons.Inheritances were guaranteed to individuals with the amount of what today we would call inheritance tax being set in advance.As stated previously, the king himself had to follow the law of the land. Up until the Magna Carta’s creation, British monarchs enjoyed supreme rule. With the Magna Carta, the king, for the first time, was not allowed to be above the law. Instead, he had to respect the rule of law and not abuse his position of power. Location of Documents Today There are four known copies of the Magna Carta in existence today. In 2009, all four copies were granted UN World Heritage status. Of these, two are located at the British Library, one is at Lincoln Cathedral, and the last is at Salisbury Cathedral. Official copies of the Magna Carta were reissued in later years. Four were issued in 1297 which King Edward I of England affixed with a wax seal. One of these is currently located in the United States. Conservation efforts were recently completed to help preserve this key document. It can be seen at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., along with the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights.   Updated by Robert Longley Resources and Further Reading Documents from the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, 1774 to 1789. Digital Collections. Library of Congress.The Federalist Papers. Congress.gov.  Howard, A. E. Dick. Magna Carta: Text and Commentary, 2nd ed. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1998.Linebaugh, Peter. The Magna Carta Manifesto: Liberties and Commons for All. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2009Magna Carta 1215: Transcript in English and Latin. The British Library.  Hamilton, Alexander. Certain General and Miscellaneous Objections to the Constitution Considered and Answered. Federalist Papers 84. New York: McLeans, July 16–August 9, 1788Vincent, Nicholas. The clauses of Magna Carta. The British Library, March 13, 2015.  The Virginia Declaration of Rights. National Archives.

Physical Activity Basketball Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Physical Activity Basketball - Essay Example Basketball has benefited me a lot, in terms of both physical and mental health. The physical activity I recommend is basketball. It is essential for basketball players to build strong mental health in addition to physical health. In order to make great achievements, personal skills alone are not the main contributors to success. Passion, team spirit and willingness to introspect are also essential qualities. I have been playing basketball for at least seven years now and I find it to be a really good sport. Basketball is a unique sport. Through my experiences over the years, I have found that my mind has become more mature and so have my skills. By participating in basketball matches since I was eleven, I have found that practice is not the only key to winning a game. Accurately identifying the opponents’ strengths and weaknesses can help a team gain a higher score. Therefore, I agree with Gladwell and Crawfords argument that physical activities require imagination, creativity as well as flexibility rather than blindly following textbook knowledge. While physical abilities are important for playing basketball, the importance of mental abilities also needs to be acknowledged. The height of a basketball player is one of the most important factors. If the height of an individual is not very low when compared to average height, he has a chance of becoming a good player. However, the main difference between a superstar and a normal player is not just their physical abilities, but their humbleness to improve on their weaknesses and sustain their strengths. In The Physical Genius, Malcolm Gladwell shares the secret of how Michael Jordan, the lord of basketball became the legend of this sport by spending a large part of his time wisely on reflection rather than exercise. He explains that though Michael Jordan and Karl Malone have unique skills that

Gothic Style Architecture Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Gothic Style Architecture - Research Paper Example (White, 1993) The style is considered to be classical to some extent because it is prominent before the renaissance period came in. At the same time, it originated and had several modifications that were derived from the Romanesque Architecture. (Athena Publications, 1996) This style flourished during the Middle Ages, also known as Dark Ages. The most prominent and influential powers are the Church and the King. Feudal System flourished as well. In most cases, religion has a strong say about what happens in the society back then. However, Gothic period is also reflective of the low status of art during those times. (Thomas, 2000) Most of the Tribes of Goths, Vandals and the like had an intention of eliminating the Greco-Roman culture. (Thomas, 2000) Gothic Architecture was preceded by the Romanesque Architectural which also had arches and several huge domes. To some perspective, the Romanesque style influenced the way Gothic architecture presented itself in history. Mostly, the Roman esque Architecture had its traditions and conventions derived from the Greco-Roman Architectural style. (Athena Publications, 1996) Given that case, we cannot fully consider Gothic art and architecture as something that is highly valued. It’s dark stigma and stereotype manifests the dark period where it is confined and existed. However, despite of its depreciation from the people during that period, specifically the tribes, this downfall period is reflective of the exchange of light and dark art periods: Classical to Renaissance then to Baroque. (Thomas, 2000) Classical is more of dark, emotional themes and style in contrast to Renaissance which is more humanist and scientific. The Baroque which also values shadow and emotions are somehow related to the dark style the perpetrated the Classical or Gothic art and architecture period. What ultimately constitutes the conventions and technical aspects of the Gothic Architectural design? The Gothic Architecture is commonly known to have â€Å"specific structural elements, such as ribbed vaults, pointed arches, and the flying buttress.† (Kidson, 2011) Ribbed Vaults showed the ceiling structure that is somehow seen like a dome on the inside with intricate designs that are supported by the columns. (Athena Publications, 1996) These vaults provided a spacious ceiling that made the Gothic buildings spacious and huge not just outside but also inside. The pointed arches, on the other hand, are viewed on the external of these buildings. On the bare minimum, these arches contributed to the spacious appearance that is working in unison with the vaulted arches on the inside. At the same the arches also reflected the extravagance of the Gothic architecture. The flying buttresses have provided a different role in the existence of the Gothic Architecture. They are actually supporting the other structures of the Gothic Church, mainly the vault. (Athena Publications, 1996) They are usually attached to walls and act as a support to the vaults of the Gothic buildings. To some extent, they provide more spacious ceiling appearance. Even if Gothic Architecture has a certain specific style, several styles of it emanated depending on a specific geographical domain. All of them are relatively the same, however, the French, Italian and English Gothic Architectural design asserted their own identity. France is considered to be the birthplace of this architectural movement. At the same time, there was a strong

The Social Differences of the Afghanistan People Essay Example for Free

The Social Differences of the Afghanistan People Essay In Afghanistan, there are many ethnic groups among whom segregation exists. Imagine being a part of one that’s really looked down upon. The life of that person would be so cruel that nobody would be able to even imagine the misery and the pain that they have to endure. Afghanistan is a country with immense diversity due to the different ethnic groups that it has had for a very long time. Despite living in the same country for hundreds of years, they have their own ways of living and what’s interesting is that there is discrimination among them due to the social class differences that exits in the Afghanistan society today. In the novel The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseni shows through the character of Amir, Hassan and Baba that the social differences of the ethnicities (Pashtuns and Hazaras) have made huge differences in their lives and has also led to the fading away of the moral codes that have been honored in their society for a long period of time. A major factor that makes up society is the environment. It contributes a lot to what the society turns out to be and how it’s seen. The Afghan society is a big impact to the way Amir saw the world. As he grew up in Kabul, Afghanistan, he realized that all the people aren’t considered to be the same. At least that’s had the society had him thinking. Having grown up as the son of a highly respected Pashtun is considered a blessing. But Amir who spends time with Hassan who is a Hazara had a huge affect on his life. Pashtuns are socially considered to be nobility whereas Hazaras are like the peasants. For example, Amir’s public behavior and relation with Hassan was unacceptable and that always had him confused. The two of them were very close but there was always something getting in between that. When Amir says, â€Å"Never mind any of those things. Because history isn’t easy to overcome. Neither is religion. In the end, I was a Pashtun and he was a Hazara, I was a Sunni and he was a Shi’a, and nothing was ever going to change that. Nothing. † (Hossenini 24). Even though Amir had a brotherly relationship with Hassan, it just wasn’t that strong because he was afraid of the way he would be look upon by the others in the community. It becomes a part of his life that he can’t avoid. One of the things that stands in between the unity of all and any kind of people is the discrimination. All it ever does is cause conflicts and makes lives miserable. For example the discrimination of the African-Americans in the 1960’s. Sadly, even today, it is adapted and exists in many regions of the world. Afghanistan happens to be one of them. In The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini does a good job of strongly showing how a Hazara’s life can be affected in Afghanistan since they are considered to be a low ranking ethnic group. In Afghanistan society, Hazrara’s were not respected. Assef was an example of someone who agreed with this. He represented the evil in the novel, as for Hassan represented loyalty and innocence. However, since Hassan was a Hazara, his whole life wasn’t easy because he always cared so much for Amir, but in return he only got hurt and humiliated. In the novel Assef, Kamal and Wali trapped Hassan in an alley. â€Å"Assef unzipped his jeans. Dropped his underwear and he positioned himself behind Hassan,† (Hosseini 75). This shows that Hassan cared for Amir liked nobody else. He would do anything for him but the fact that he was a Hazara and this incident happened, it changed their lives forever. The lives of these two boys separated because of their social differences. It shows how the social class difference can lead to such horrible things such as separation from the ones they loved. The Afghanistan society’s social class differences really changes the way that some people live their lives because when there are people divided into different levels in a society and it has been a tradition and they are required to follow it. Afghanistan is a good example of this, especially the way Khaled Hosseni portrayed it in the novel. Baba was not just rich, but also a very well known man in Kabul, He was someone strong and truly dedicated to contributing to the good of his society. He was quite known for all the good deeds he did in his life, but the novel also views how he didn’t quite live his life respecting all the moral rules. According to the Pashtunwali, the family unit much be glorified under a sacred conviction of responsibility and duty for respect of all the members (Ronna). This is one of the rules that he does not follow and this is found out when Rahim Khan calls Amir over to Pakistan and says to him, â€Å"Baba and Sanubar had Hassan† (Hossieni 222). Baba had kept his secret his whole life and it hurts him to not call Hassan his son. However, it also affected Amir because he never knew about his own brother and had pushed him away from his life when they were young. In order to keep his dignity, he lived a life of a huge life, which always made him suffer. The fact that he was ashamed of letting everyone know the truth was because she was a Hazara and he was a Pashtun. Being someone from a different ethnicity was the problem and that clung to them for their whole lives. Because of the way that Hazaras are looked upon in the society, Baba was not able to tell anyone the truth about Hassan and it always bothered him. Amir wasn’t able to tell what was right and what was wrong because of what the society had taught him and Hassan was deeply hurt as problems between him and Amir started to rise. All of these conflicts happened due to one reason, the social differences between the Pashtuns and the Hazaras. The way that their society works has completely changed the lives of many people as it shown in The Kite Runner. Works Cited Tourism, SAARC. â€Å"Ethnic Groups of Afghanistan† Afghanistan Ethnic Groups, Tribes of Afghanistan. [emailprotected] SAARC Tourism. Web. 3 Apr. 2012. Ildenfoso, Catia, Psithurism, and Anacl â€Å"For You a Thousand Times Over. † Pashtuns and Hazaras. Blogspot. com, Apr. 2008 Web. 3 Apr. 2012. Ronna, Afghan. â€Å"Pashtunwali† The Codes of Pashtunwali. [emailprotected] Ronna. Web 3 Apr. 2012.

Political And Economic Changes In Bulgaria :: essays research papers

Political and Economic Changes In Bulgaria Over the course of the past two months, January and February 1997, Bulgaria has undergone some sweeping political changes and its economy has deteriorated into further collapse. The following is an attempt to describe the events which took place in Bulgaria in January and February of 1997. This is somewhat of a difficult task given the current rate of political, economical and social changes which are occurring in Bulgaria. What follows is an account of the events which have taken place in Bulgaria over the last two months i.e. January and February of 1997, subject to the news material which was available to me and to the time constraints of this project. Bulgaria's economic crisis exploded into popular outrage at the beginning of January 1997, when previously quiescent Bulgarians poured into the streets to demand that the governing BSP, leave power now rather than when their four-year term expires at the end of 1998. After a month of mostly peaceful daily protests that paralysed Sofia and brought much of the country's business to a halt, the Socialists, who lack the kind of fiercely loyal police and media that have sustained President Slobodan Milosevic in neighbouring Serbia, submitted to the protesters demands on Wednesday, February 5th 1997. They agreed to hand over power to a caretaker government until new elections in mid-April, which they are unlikely to win, when recent polls conclude that only 10% of the population currently support the BSP. "We'd better celebrate now, because we have very hard days ahead," said Ivan Kostov, leader of the opposition United Democratic Forces. ( Source : OMRI Daily Digest, 18th February 1997. ). The newly elected Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov named an interim cabinet headed by Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofianski to oversee the country and its collapsing economy until a new parliament is chosen in general elections scheduled for April 19. The appointment means that the mass protests forced the leaders of the Socialist majority in parliament to agree to a new ballot 20 months before the end of their elective term. Sofianski's caretaker cabinet includes strong critics of the BSP and has announced it will abolish the economic development portfolio created by them. This new caretaker government has already begun to dismantle the large number of government Ministries which were set up by the former Communists, the BSP. Literally thousands of Civil Servants are being made redundant, as the caretaker government attempts to pave the way for Administrative Reform in both the Central and Local Governments of Bulgaria. Just before this project went to press, on Thursday, the 27th of

“Lord of the Flies”: Qualities of a Good Leader Essay

What qualities does it take to make a good leader? People have always pondered this question especially when electing leaders. They may say that a good leader should be charismatic, intelligent and perhaps good-natured. Their idea of good leadership qualities usually comes from books and movies. In Lord of the Flies there were many various leadership qualities exhibited by the boys, but how can one decide on a leader out of so many boys that would make the society work? Only a leader with the best of the boys’ character traits would have made the society work. For example, we can see that Ralph was logical, but lacked the ability to make quick decisions. On the contrary, Jack was decisive, yet not very logical or civil. Finally, Piggy was the intelligent advisor, however he lacked the charisma and appearance to get his ideas accepted by the group. Ralph was a logical and influential leader, but lacked the ability to quickly enforce the directions. His logical reasoning process helped in identifying the necessities for life. For example, he valued such necessities as fire and shelter above everything else. These were the necessities that would have led them to a stable and civilized society on the island. However, although Ralph had the right ideas, he was not too quick or efficient in getting them done. In fact, the fire was often let out. Similarly, the shelters were something that seemed there to be done until there was something more exciting, at which point the shelters were left uncompleted. Without direction, the boys on the island often went to do things that were fun. This lack of direction was not at all due to a lack of power. The boys instantly viewed Ralph as a leader with his influential looks and speech. For instance, when Ralph said â€Å"fire†, the boys went running towards the woods to build a fire. This kind of authority over the boys was exceptionally important for getting things done, unfortunately Ralph did not use his authority to its fullest. As can be seen, Ralph had the power and logic to do things, yet he lacked the decisiveness to do them quickly. In contrast to Ralph, Jack was an aggressive instigator, who was always quick to act. Jack was an intimidating figure. The boys often feared what he would do should they not listen to him. Similar to Ralph, this control would enable Jack to get things done. Contrary to Ralph, however, Jack used this control. He took his choir with him hunting whenever he saw fit. By being decisive, he could quickly and efficiently get things done. However, his decisiveness was not necessarily a good thing, as Jack was very aggressive in nature. His savage nature influenced the others to let their savage sides come out, most noticeably when they were hunting. They would all paint their faces and carry as little as possible. Since Jack was doing it, it was the thing to do. A good leader would not encourage or intimidate people to let out their aggression. Simply put, Jack was decisive and intimidating, but encouraged the wrong actions in the boys. Last but not least, Piggy was the intelligent advisor to Ralph, yet lacked some important qualities. Piggy’s intelligence was a very important asset to the boys. He knew how things had to be done. Additionally, he had many ideas that would lead the boys to a civilized and safe society. This kind of intelligence is important to any good leadership. Unfortunately, Piggy was not a good public speaker. Not only did he lack the breath to complete a long speech, but he was very shy being a minority group on the island. It is this disadvantage that would prevent him from ever leading, because a good leader must be able to communicate his ideas clearly. Despite not being good at communicating his own ideas, he was open to others’ ideas. He would consider them and give his own constructive criticism. For example, he agreed with Ralph that fire was important, and suggested that if they could not have a fire on top of the mountain, then to have it by the shore. Any good leader must listen to others’ ideas as any one person can not have all of the best ideas. Piggy’s intelligence is vital to good leadership. As can be seen, the combined leadership qualities of Ralph, Jack and Piggy would have most likely worked in creating a civilization on the island. Ralph’s logic, appearance, and influential speeches can guide the group to do what is important. Jack’s decisiveness can get the important things done quickly and efficiently. Finally Piggy’s intelligence would provide important information as to how to accomplish various goals, and would keep the island in a civilized manner. None of the boys could have led the group towards a working society by themselves. In conclusion, after understanding this dispersement of leadership qualities in Lord of the Flies, can it  really be said that any single person is a good leader?

Gender Representation †Boardwalk Empire Essay

As a hybrid genre, the representations in Boardwalk Empire are complex, contradictory, unconventional, conventional and stereotypical, whilst challenge stereotypes. Set in the 1920’s during prohibition, Nucky is a corrupt Republican politician and gangster, who has risen to his position through bribery, corruption, and murder. The series begins as prohibition begins, with Nucky toasting the government who ban alcohol; â€Å"†¦to those beautiful ignorant bastards in Washington†. As a gangster, Nucky knows he can make millions by supplying illegal alcohol to the public and is portrayed as a businessman, making money for all the ‘respectable’ local dignitaries that sit around his table; the chief of police (his brother Ely), the mayor, the head of the port authority, local Politicians, etc. He sees an opportunity through the prohibition to increase his fortune. There is a lot of juxtapositioning in the first episode to show us the various sides of Nucky, as a violent alcohol heist is followed by Nucky addressing a Ladies’ Temperance Society. Nucky weaves a myth of his own childhood of poverty, catching rats for his family to eat, to the gasps of the audience. Embodying the American Dream, Nucky has ‘risen’ from very humble beginnings to be top man in the state, he is merely seeking the ‘women’s vote’ for his Political re-election and often shows their ignorance of world politics proves them an easy mark for manipulation to gain full power over the Atlantic City. Nucky is a complex protagonist and anti-hero who is both despicable and admirable. He is obviously very clever, charming, funny, calculating, ruthless, and a skilful businessman and gangster. He juggles a legal political life with his illegal prohibition life, dealing with a constant flurry of unexpected problems as they arise. He manipulates people in ways that should make audiences hate him but Steve Buscemi (and the writers) manages to portray him as a complex character that seeks more than just money. The low camera angles throughout help suggesting Nucky is a very powerful figure in the drama. The power wield of woman in Boardwalk Empire is largely associated with sex, and furthermore this power of woman is represented through the male characters using it against eachother. For example Gillian Darmody, mother of gangster: Jimmy Darmody and a topless dancer in the city, plays a pivotal role when she sleeps with a rival gangster: Luciano in order to detain him until he can be collected and dealt with. Her sexual power is turned to the gangsters own advantage. Lucy Daziger is another key representation of sexual power and woman in Boardwalk Empire. She is the beautiful mol and mistress of Nucky who is often a negative representation of woman – dismissed constantly in favour of Nucky’s political and illegal life. She is objectified by him and others and is kept at his beck and call. During an evening at dinner with others, Lucy insists she has a brain but is quietened by Nucky, and we see Lucy has no place for opinion at the dinner with the Commodore in terms of politics. When Nucky rejects Lucy, he favours Margaret, because she is intelligent and sees her more as an equal for example at the same dinner Margaret expresses deep knowledge and understanding of politics. Lucy is extremely jealous of Margaret as Nucky clearly shows more affection for her, which is unconventional as Lucy is the beautiful mistress, often seeming powerful, Margaret is the opposite.. Margaret is the other key representation in the drama as she challenges the notion of ‘the little woman’ throughout the series. An Irish immigrant, clever, brave, and moral (but racked by guilt), her motives are often those of a protective Mother. Initially established as naive and unsophisticated, particularly by her dowdy dress codes i. colour codes are very dull: browns, greens, her deferential body-language, and her thick Irish accent, she is represented as a weak, ordinary and poor woman. For example her dress codes of poor clothing often lacking in quality, and colour. Margaret grows in confidence throughout the seasons, as her and Nucky begin a relationship. An Irish immigrant she is wise beyond her years, Margaret quickly becomes versed in the dealings of her â€Å"husba nd† and becomes a supportive and protective ‘wife’ for his chaotic life. In her previous marriage Margaret was represented in a weak and negative way enduring endless beatings from her husband Hans. An incident of abuse had caused Margaret to miscarry her 4th child, and so Nucky ordered to have Hans murdered. Margaret knows of this but chooses to remain silent for the benefit of herself and her kids, later racked with Catholic guilt over the murder, their life, and their source of income. Nucky proceeds to live with her and her children, becoming a sensitive father figure to the kids, and a loving ‘husband’ to her.

Pick one of the countries which became a member of Essays

Pick one of the countries which became a member of Essays Pick one of the countries which became a member of the European Union in May 2004, January 2007 or January 2013. Describe and discuss the process and effects of accession for this country and the EU. http://kypros.org/Cyprus/cy_republic/europe.html http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/archives/enlargement_process/future_prospects/negotiations/eu10_bulgaria_romania/index_en.htm euractiv.com/euro-finance/european-union-cyprus-awkward-pa-analysis-518835 http://kypros.org/CY-EU/eng/05_benefits/questions1.htm Before the application of Cyprus for EU membership in 1990, the EU's involvement in the island was mostly economic: a custom union between the two sides meant that Brussels did not really involve in the messy politics of the island. What is more, those economic relations were between the EU and the Greek-Cypriot-led Republic of Cyprus, which saw no Turkish-Cypriot participation after the gradual division of the country into two territories and administrations during the sixties and seventies. The application for EU membership was thought to have an important impact on the 'Cyprus issue', the ongoing conflict over the fate of the island: for Greek-Cypriots, EU accession was seen as a 'shield' against potential Turkish military action and a diplomatic advantage, especially given Turkey's interest to join the EU. At the same time, there was a hope that the benefits of EU accession will increase Turkish-Cypriot motivation for resolution. And they certainly did. In 2004, the Turkish-Cypriot approval of reunification based on the UN-proposed Annan Plan was hugely triggered by the EU. From the one hand, Ankara pushed for a resolution of the dispute, which was an obstacle to Turkey's road towards the EU (Turkey was already a candidate since 1999). On the other hand, the benefits of European integration appealed to the Turkish-Cypriots, who supported reunification- they only way for them to join the EU as partners to a federal state with the Greek-Cypriots. Ironically enough, the EU became an important reason for Greek-Cypriots to reject the UN Plan: having safeguarded their accession as the Republic of Cyprus, the EU gave them no motive to contribute to a solution before accession. As a result, in May 2004, the EU witnessed the most awkward enlargement to date: the accession of a divided country. Indeed, some EU elites have subsequently regretted the decision to allow Cyprus enter the EU regardless of a solution. People in Brussels stood particularly frustrated with the Greek-Cypriots, who they did not support reunification. In the following years, the Greek-Cypriot efforts to use EU membership to secure concessions on the Cyprus issue has not always gone down well with EU partners. At the same time, circles in Brussels has became more sympathetic to the Turkish-Cypriots, who-in practise- remain outside the EU, despite favouring reunification. Nevertheless, the division has not stopped Cyprus to be a functioning EU member state. The undertaking of the Presidency last year is perhaps the most obvious example of this. But, the remarks of the EU President Van Rompuy at the opening ceremony of the Presidency leave no room for misunderstandings on how controversial the matter continues to be: 'As long as Cyprus is divided, in a way, Europe will be divided'. Indeed, until today, almost half of the country sees no full application of EU law, Turkish-Cypriots do not take part in EU decision-making andtheir interaction with Brussels, albeit greater than before, continues to be limited. The economic crisis puts a new strain in the relationships between the island and the EU. Because, for all the problems that the Cyprus issue has caused to the relationship between the two sides, this is a new and particularly difficult challenge. Once strongly pro-European people, now Greek-Cypriots lose faith in the EU as a result of the painful bailout agreement and the way it was agreed. Interestingly, Turkish-Cypriots are also frustrated with the EU, which, they think, failed to come up to their expectations for many benefits in reward of their pro-Annan vote. The day after the second bailout agreement, finds relations between Nicosia and Brussels at their lowest point ever. However, this is just one more milestone in the often troubled partnership between the Mediterranean island and the EU. As Cyprus is facing up to tough economic challenges, the forthcoming years will put relationships between the two sides to, perhaps, its most difficult test yet."

Antigone

The play â€Å"Antigone† written by Sophocles in 441 BC represents the conflict between religious beliefs and state rule which is still a relevant issue in modern society. As rules in faith can contradict the law made by the state. In the play, Greek ruler, Creon, denies justice in society in order to maintain power.   The play â€Å"Antigone† centers on a woman living in ancient Greece, who defies the laws of the state in order to give her brother a burial. As a result of this action, she faces punishment at the hands of the state. Antigone feels her defiance against the state is justified because of her love towards her brother and belief in justice and humanity rather than the state laws. Through the use of imagery and diction and Structure, Sophocles shows the contrast between divine and state laws in order to illustrate the idea that justice within society.Response through in justice is represented emphasized by the break in the line. â€Å"And now- have the told you a new decree of King Creon. No one shall bury him, no one shall mourn him. Enjambment and repetition is used in the same sentence in order to provide emphasis to his order whereas repetition and use of â€Å"decree† can also signify Creon imperious nature. (Line 5, Prologue)Ismene fear against the laws which stops her from joining Antigone for burying Polyneices, The sentence â€Å"I beg the dead to forgive me, but I am helpless : I must yield to those in authority† represent the conflict between justice is denied when state laws overpower religious laws for Ismene. Use of words such as I am helpless represents her fear. Whereas Antigone’s reaction was contradictory towards Ismene. (Line 45, prologue)â€Å" It is the dead, who make the longest demands not the living: We die for ever†¦Ã¢â‚¬  . Antigone’s statement is presented by confidence whereas Ismene’s was with fear. In this statement Antigone condems state and Creon who is abducting antigone from burying her brother. Use of ellipses in the sentence focuses on the fact that dead lives forever whereas living does not which can emphasis that the rule of dead or god matters more. (Line 55, prologue)Use of god by creon for his power â€Å"I have honor to inform you that our ship of state which recent storms have threatened to destroy †¦. Guided by the merciful wisdom of heaven†. This statement is uses a metaphor which shows comparison between state and a a ship facing storms, and attack of Polynices. By using â€Å"merciful wisdom of heaven† represents his beliefs in Gods but is contradictory to his actions of providing Justice. Line 10 scene 1â€Å"I call for God to witness† is use of God for making belief in of state in people. When the sentry first arrives to see Creon his words are broken because of fear and use of slashes and long pauses representsThe sentence used by Choragus in order to represent justice and god’s action â€Å" can it be gods who have done this† shows that Choragus tries to convince Creon that his decision could be wrong. 95Through use of words such as â€Å"The Gods!† Intolerable† â€Å"pious thought† it represents Creon’s arrogance and his viewpoint of being above Gods.Reference of corruption of mankind could be represented by statement such as â€Å"Money! ..Homes gone, men gone, honest heart corrupted† it shows parallelism between corruption by money and power as by power to, Homes and money can also be destroyed through corruption of power.â€Å"The wisest Have sometimes been known to count a few coins too many† This also represents irony in the statement as Creon interprets that he has too much power which resultsIt is ironic al that Creon uses God in order to represent his own justice or the justice of the state. â€Å"I swear by God and by the throne of God†. Use of oxymoron â€Å" a fortune won is often is fortune†   is used for the sentry here but it it could be foreshadowed to Creon who is corrupted by the power provided to him.First sign of Justice is interpreted in the play when the Sentry reacts to Creon in order to signify the justice â€Å"your very voice distresses me, Are you sure it’s not your conscience†This represents the feeling frustration and anger of Creon is blowed up on the Sentry without being his fault. The use of conscience could be for explaining Creon to question his decision and denial of Justice towards the Sentry. However, it could also indicate for denial of Justice towards Antigone for burying her brother polynieces. It could also indicated the denial of justice for burying Polyneices for Antigone. â€Å"How dreadful it is when the right judge judges you wrong†? 125The use of word dreadfulBibliographySophocles, Antigone, Greece

It security Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

It security - Case Study Example It largely depends on IT infrastructural resources and assets for the completion of its transactions and operations. The average users of the system include the IT administrators and the staff, most of which posses above average computer literacy. The staff basically requires a computer running on a UNIX platform networked to the company’s server especially those located at the satellite offices across the country. Security policy is the most crucial element of a company’s security program given that it entails all the rules and procedures that must be adhered in order to ensure information security; the integrity, confidentiality and availability of data 1. It is the policy of DechTech Solutions that information, in all forms, is protected from unauthorized modification, destruction or disclosure in order to ensure the integrity, confidentiality and availability of data to all the employees and the and other users. The Chief Information Officer (CIO) alongside the Information Security Officer (ISO) has the primary responsibility for the policy implementation and assuring compliance. They work closely with owners, user management and custodians in development and implementation of the security policies of DechTech Solutions. Their responsibilities include; the provision of basic support for users and systems, ensuring that DechTech Solutions security procedures, policies and standards are in place and are adhered to, the provision of advice to owners in the identification and classification of computer resources, performing security audits, advising system development owners in the implementation of security controls, providing employee security education and providing regular reports DechTech oversight committee on information security. Information owner, the manager responsible for the creation of information and is usually the primary user1, is responsible for authorizing access and assigning