Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The Youth Of Francis Essays - Franciscan Spirituality, Assisi

The Youth Of Francis Essays - Franciscan Spirituality, Assisi The Youth of Francis Giovanni Bernardone was born around September 1182 to Giovanna (Pica) and Pietro di Bernardone. When little Giovanni was born, his father, a very successful cloth merchant, was on a business trip to Champagne, France, to buy fine French cloth. In his absence, his mother had him baptized him John. When his father arrived home, he was outraged to find his son named John, and had it changed to Francesco, or "Frenchman". When Francis was about 10, his wealthy parents sent him to Saint George's, a school near the city walls of Assisi. The school belonged to the Church of Saint George, and was taught by canons. It was here young Francis heard the story of Saint George and the dragon. Then, Francis's heart was set on becoming a Knight. What young boy can resist the story of a brave knight fighting evil dragons in order to save the beautiful princess? Francis turned 14, and then his wild parties began. He and his other young friends would eat and drink themselves sick, at Francis's treat of course. After that, all through the night the large party would dance through the town, Francis leading them and singing his heart out the whole way. Didn?t it disturb the townspeople? Yes, but when they saw it was Francis, everyone would smile and shake their heads. No could not love this charming boy with his looks, generosity, and splendid voice. Of course, all this merry-making cost money. And who was the ever-ready provider? Why, Pietro Bernardone, of course. He and his family were very wealthy, and he kept his boy's pockets well lined. He also made sure Francis wore nothing but the best. He being a clothier, his son wore nothing but the finest fabrics in the newest styles. But still, he would sometimes cringe at the way Francis ridiculously spent money. Or when he gave it away. Francis was very generous, and would give to every beggar. When he had no more, he would give the fine clothes off his back. This pleased his mother, but when would the spending stop? As Francis became older, the dream of knighthood never left him. In January 1200 war broke out with Perugia. For two years, this was nothing more than skirmishes, a game of cat and mouse between the two cities. It wasn't until December 12, 1202, that a true battle was fought. The armies of Assisi were assembled. And where was our young knight? With the knights and nobility. He had been splendidly outfitted by his father, who was anxious to see him with the nobles. With the army, he charged into the fighting plain, along the banks of the Tiber. It was a fruitless massacre. Perugia?s armies slaughtered Assisi?s men. Only knights were taken prisoner, because owning a horse meant one could pay a ransom, horses being a sign of wealth. Assisi?s nobles were put into dark Peruvian dungeons, to be left there for years. Being stuck in a dungeon was not good for Francis, who contracted tuberculosis. He was released early by a charitable organization who cared for sick prisoners. His father paid a ransom, and Francis went home. He was about 19 when he was taken prisoner. He was now 22. Francis?s Calling Francis was having troubles at home. After returning defeated, his father was very disappointed. And upset at the money he spent on fine clothes for Francis. When he was recovering from his illness, he was very quiet and spent much time reflecting and praying. He no longer sang. And Assisi was having a hard time recovering from the war. But after while, things again began to lighten up. Once again, the dream of knighthood was stirred in Francis. It was the time of the Crusades, the Holy Wars. And Francis was drawn to go. This time he would come back victorious. His father spent the equivalent of a large farm fro the armor and horse of Francis. And so Francis went off once again. While on his way to Spoleto, Francis fell ill, and lodged with his squire in an inn. In the silence of the night, a voice called him. The voice asked Francis what he was going to do. When Francis explained,

Saturday, November 23, 2019

CreateSpace is DEAD. Heres what you need to know.

CreateSpace is DEAD. Heres what you need to know. CreateSpace is DEAD. Here's what you need to know. As all writers know, the process of self-publishing a book is ever-fluctuating and evolving. Case in point: CreateSpace, one of the premier print-on-demand (POD) services for self-published authors, recently merged with Amazon’s KDP Print in late 2018. As CreateSpace was one of the go-to options for anyone aiming to print a self-published book, the switch left many in the lurch and confused.That’s where this post comes into play. In this guide, we’ll look at the differences between CreateSpace and KDP Print, clear up any misunderstandings, and answer all of your lingering questions about the switch.What happened to CreateSpace? For anyone who’s not already familiar, let’s do a quick recap. CreateSpace used to be a print-on-demand service for self-publishing authors. As far as print-on-demand services went, CreateSpace was a popular one: the company made it easy to create paperback versions of books, even providing neat bells and whistles such as expanded distribution and printed proofs to make it a well-liked choice among authors.In 2005, Amazon acquired CreateSpace while it continued building its own POD service (KDP Print). In 2018, there were signs that CreateSpace might step aside entirely for KDP Print. And, in August 2018, that came true: it was announced that CreateSpace and KDP Print would merge completely. CreateSpace books would need to be moved onto the KDP platform, as CreateSpace would hitherto be obsolete.In summary, KDP has completely replaced CreateSpace and taken over its core functions. Now, here’s why that matters to you. First, you needn’t panic. KDP Print is an established platform and Amazon took many steps to make sure that the CreateSpace-KDP Print transition was smooth as possible. And the good news is, like we mentioned before, that KDP Print took on most of the features that had made CreateSpace so popular.With this in mind, most authors have reacted to the merge in one of two ways:Transferred all CreateSpace paperbacks to KDP Print. On KDP Print, you’ll be able to publish both paperbacks and eBooks - and receive your combined royalties - on a single platform.Explored print-on-demand services outside of Amazon’s dominion.So what can you expect to find if you decide to use KDP Print - and what are the similarites and differences between KDP Print and CreateSpace?Similarities between CreateSpace and KDPWhen merging CreateSpace and KDP Print, Amazon (for the most part) kept the best of both worlds.Indeed, there are more similarities between CreateSpace and KDP Print than t here are differences. KDP Print prints paperbacks, author copies, and proof copies for the same amount as CreateSpace. In addition to the printing facilities and delivery times remaining the same, these are other important aspects you can expect to remain unchanged:ISBNs. Authors will still have the option to use their own ISBN, purchase discounted Bowker ISBNs, or obtain free ISBNs with KDP Print as the imprint.Distribution and fees. Just as CreateSpace offered authors distribution to Amazon only (with a fee of 40%), and expanded distribution to stores other than Amazon (with a fee of 60%) - so will KDP Print. There is one key difference in regards to expanded distribution, which is outlined below.Book cover and interior design tools. The same Word templates and Cover Creator tool that CreateSpace offered will still be available on KDP Print.Differences between CreateSpace and KDPNow, these are some of the key differences you will find between the two services:Expanded distributio n. If you want to make your KDP Print book available for expanded distribution, you cannot also opt out of Amazon. Expanded distribution with KDP Print means that you must also list your book on Amazon.Royalties. On CreateSpace, royalties were paid every month, 30 days after the month in which they were earned. KDP Print, on the other hand, pays royalties 60 days after the month in which they were earned, meaning that any sales in February would be paid in April.Non-standard trim sizes. KDP Print offers several nontraditional trim sizes that weren’t previously available on CreateSpace.Updating books. If you upload an updated version of your book, you won’t lose the old version (which used to be frustrating if you’d already garnered many reviews and sales). The old version will continue to be available until the new version is approved.Integrated sales dashboard. Publishing and accounting are combined for both Kindle and print versions of your books, so that the user experience is vastly improved!Amazon advertising. While already available for ebooks, publishers will now also be able to purchase Amazon advertising for print books.Local printing for Europe. Instead of printing and shipping from the US (as CreateSpace did), KDP Print will print books locally for European publishers.Author copies. KDP Print lets you order author copies by adding them to your regular Amazon shopping basket, where they are treated as any other Amazon order. If your order is above Amazon’s minimum spend, or if you’re a Prime member, this should save time and money for you.Expanded international distribution. Authors will now be able to distribute to Japan.In general, most authors do end up switching to KDP Print, and most reports about the KDP Print experience are positive. We particularly recommend KDP Print if you want to distribute to Amazon, as you’ll end up saving on time and fees. (Distributing to non-Amazon online stores is another sto ry. Jump here for our discussion of this course of action). Expanded distribution, non-standard trim sizes, oh my! What are the other differences between CreateSpace and KDP Print?Click To Tweet And here’s the great news: transitioning from CreateSpace over to KDP Print is very seamless, as you'll find out for yourself shortly in the next section.How to switch from CreateSpace to KDP PrintIf you decided that you want to continue with KDP Print, Amazon’s made it pretty simple to transition existing titles on CreateSpace to KDP Print. You might even say that it’s as easy as one, two, three, (and four).Let’s get started.Begin by verifying your CreateSpace and KDP accounts on this page.Hit â€Å"Start your move† to begin importing your entire catalog from CreateSpace to KDP Print. Amazon will do it all for you at this point - the whole process should only take a minute or two!Double-check all of your ported data - just to make sure that Amazon imported everything correctly. This includes your titles, book covers, blurbs, and metadata.Double-check your pricing and distribution fields once everything is imported.And that’s it! From this moment on, everything you do to print your self-published book should go through KDP Print - and once you make the switch, there’s no returning to CreateSpace.Finally, a note on your metadata: KDP will offer you seven keyword fields, in contrast to the five that CreateSpace provided. That’s a great chance for added discoverability, so be sure to use them wisely. You can discover more about Amazon algorithms and ways to use them to your advantage in this free course. Level up your Amazon algorithmsSign up for this free 10-part course! Enter your email below and select 'Marketing - All You Need to Know About Amazon Algorithms' in the drop-down menu. Print and Distribute Your Book with Blurb and Reedsy Read post Of course, you may also decide that this is the perfect time to branch out and learn what exists beyond Amazon. Several other companies offer reputable print-on-demand services - each with its own pros and cons. These include:BookBabyIngramSpark (use that link to get a promo code!)BlurbLast year, we tested the quality of the four biggest print-on-demand services in the industry by sending a book to BookBaby, IngramSpark, KDP Print, and Blurb to be printed. Our comprehensive breakdown, along with the results (and winner) of our test, are in this post. We also go in-depth into our recommended distribution setup and considerations of royalties that may prove important to your decision.Where to print your book - and making sure that you get the maximum quality of service and product - is an important decision that you’ll need to make if you’re not planning to only publish eBooks. When you get to this stage in your self-publishing journey, it’s better to be fully i nformed. We hope that this post has cleared some things up for you, but if you have any more questions and concerns, please leave them in the comments and we’ll be happy to answer them to the best of our ability.Are you a self-published author who recently had to make the switch from CreateSpace to KDP Print? What did you think about the experience? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Middle Class in Urban Britain 1780-1900 Essay

The Middle Class in Urban Britain 1780-1900 - Essay Example Naturally, such a social grouping has to have an organized way of association and this very often involves the formation of exclusive member clubs only for those that can sustain the cost of operation of such a grouping. These clubs formed the base in which the members could not only cool off away from the prying eyes of the media and the lower class but also for communication with like minded individuals. These individuals very often felt that they had the obligation to dictate policy to the rest of the citizenry and very often, the major decisions that affected the society in general stemmed from meetings in exclusive locations. In many occasions, the people that were charged with managing large manufacturer factories were often quoted as saying that the common people, who encompassed their workers, could not understand the intellectual power and the physical energy that was put by a single individual in order to manage a large number of people and to do it efficiently and effectiv ely. Structurally as well as anything, this study does not aim to depict the middle class in the 19th century Britain as a homogeneous grouping. In fact, in many ways, this paper will show that this group of people was manifest in many forms and with a myriad of problems associated with it. The strength of having an unpredictable middle class is that there will ultimately be a balance in all functions of society including the economic and political functions. Organization of the middle class... These individuals very often felt that they had the obligation to dictate policy to the rest of the citizenry and very often, the major decisions that affected the society in general stemmed from meetings in exclusive locations. In many occasions, the people that were charged with managing large manufacturer factories were often quoted as saying that the common people, who encompassed their workers, could not understand the intellectual power and the physical energy that was put by a single individual in order to manage a large number of people and to do it efficiently and effectively. Structurally as well as anything, this study does not aim to depict the middle class in the 19th century Britain as a homogeneous grouping. In fact, in many ways, this paper will show that this group of people was manifest in many forms and with a myriad of problems associated with it. The strength of having an unpredictable middle class is that there will ultimately be a balance in all functions of so ciety including the economic and political functions. Organization of the middle class That the middle class in Britain in the 19th century had immense financial muscle is not in doubt. However, even the elite also have an elite grouping among themselves. This means that the middle class was in turn broken down into two groupings with one being regarded as big and the other as petty. This class of people had to work out the differences within their own structure. In order for them to gain political and religious rights, they had to work through the difficulty of compromise. While the middle class was working through the differences that they had, there was hostility from the rest of the society. This may have arisen from the need for political and other leadership that would drive the

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Transfer admission essay for University of Pittsburgh

Transfer admission for University of Pittsburgh - Essay Example I have resided in Johnstown, Pennsylvania for the majority of my life. The small town charm and characteristics helped nurture me throughout the years. While the town’s features and residents have shaped my current lifestyle, I yearn to live among individuals from various cultures and backgrounds. These individuals are a pivotal part of Pittsburgh’s alluring framework. Since psychology is my desired major, being exposed to a motley of perspectives and behaviors is vital while performing research. Interaction with diversified groups will strengthen my psychological knowledge of human activity. Also, my peers at main campus are not only friends, but resources as well. Being part of a larger class means having more people to learn from. All in all, being a psychology student in Pittsburgh will allow me to evaluate the differing viewpoints of various individuals and will help me to discover ethical issues affecting society. The same will also be very intriguing as I have al ways wanted to involve myself in solving the ethical issues in the society and what better platform than the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to cultural diversity, the amount of educational opportunities at the University of Pittsburgh is unlimited. Seeing that psychology encompasses a vast domain, there are many aspects of which it is comprised. While the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown does offer the psychology major, I feel that the reputable main campus will offer more in terms of exploring subfields and research. While I have not yet decided upon which subfield strikes my interest, studying at the University of Pittsburgh will help direct me towards the proper subfield. Not only is the main campus renowned for its prestigious history, but the option for graduate studies are also imperative to my future. In addition to this, the University of Pittsburgh will also serve as an ideal platform for pursuing my further studies and I have always envisaged a

Sunday, November 17, 2019

The Best Alaskan Salmon in Ohio Essay Example for Free

The Best Alaskan Salmon in Ohio Essay If I said it was possible to have fresh, never frozen, Alaskan salmon delivered anywhere in the United States within two days of the fish being caught, people might call me crazy. I know I would but that is exactly what I found being advertised when I began searching for online retailers of Alaskan salmon. I have been enjoying salmon for a long time and living in central Ohio has forced me to try many avenues for the best salmon I could find. My choices were often limited to whatever stock of salmon was available at local retail locations that were often previously frozen. What I needed was a service that offered me a wide variety of wild, fresh salmon and Great-Alaska-Seafood exceeded my expectations with the best tasting salmon I have ever had. The first thing I look for when I buy salmon is quality and to me that means wild-caught, not farm raised salmon. The problem here is the vast majority of salmon sold in stores is sold as being â€Å"wild† from the Atlantic Ocean but this is not completely true. The trick here is fisheries are allowed to market their salmon as â€Å"wild† as long as the fish is allowed to swim in the Atlantic Ocean. However, they are still being fed processed food pellets. The main difference between wild and farm raised is their diet, which affects the overall quality of the fish. There are even health considerations that should be taken if farm raised fish is frequently consumed. Wild salmon from Alaska are considered by many as the best source of quality salmon available. Since this fishery was based out of Alaska I had some confidence I would be paying for the best salmon out there and they delivered on their promise. The freshness of the fish was also a big concern when I began to entertain the idea of making an order for salmon online. Locally I am often left to pick from Alaskan salmon filets that were previously frozen for transportation to Ohio, on the other hand, the first thing I noticed was this company offered free overnight shipping with a minimum purchase that was in my price range. This almost seemed too good to be true. Amongst many other online retailers I could not find a single competitor offering this service. With their service offering free overnight shipping with special packaging that involves dry-ice, I was able to purchase a fresh, never frozen, salmon. When I received my first order I was almost stunned that I could have an Alaskan salmon, just caught a day or two before, delivered to my door. This exceeded my expectations largely because I would have never thought it was possible. As much as I love salmon, everything must be taken in moderation. Eating the exact same type of salmon every week might get boring fast. So, I also needed a good amount of variety available to purchase amongst the different salmon species native to Alaska. The main types between salmon are â€Å"white† and â€Å"red† flesh and they taste distinctly different. When parlayed with the different locations and diets of the Alaskan salmon species, this allows for a lot of different ways to prepare and cook the fish. This is very important to me and I was very happy to see this company offered 8 different species of salmon. To add even more variety the company offers over 10 different smoking methods that add incredible flavor to the fish. All of which I have tried and taste phenomenal, including a variety of other seafood items they sell ranging from colossal crab legs to prawns that weigh one pound each. When I began my search for a new source of salmon I figured I would not have much luck living in Ohio. What I found was a company offering one of the best online services I have ever seen. The free overnight shipping plus the large variety of fresh salmon was exactly what I was looking for. I did a vast amount of research on multiple retailers that sell salmon and other seafood online and what I found is, for us salmon lovers far from the ocean, this is best option available.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Free College Admissions Essays: We Are the World :: College Admissions Essays

We Are the World    How will I make the future a better place? By trying my hardest to develop technology to help others. I also will be better equipped because I have seen the world and lived in it from different points of view. (I certainly don't have the answers to all of the world's problems, but hopefully I will be able to help solve a few of them.) When I was an exchange student to Germany I realized that the world is but a tiny island upon which there are billions of people who are all dependant upon one another. Technology has shrunk our world so that a once difficult travel is reduced to a pleasure of flying or one can speak with a loved one on the other side of the planet with clarity such as if they were in the next room. The political situations of the world and the increasing strength of the United Nations has helped prove that we all depend on one another no matter who we are or where we live.    So where do I fit into the grand scheme of things? Well I have often asked myself that exact same question and have thought of many different things that I could do to help promote world peace and prosperity, such as I believe that I would make a great foreign diplomat. I have already been a miniature version of such when I was an exchange student to Germany. I would also like to do this because I enjoy and am good at settling disputes between to warring parties, this I attribute to the fact that I have a total of six siblings. I would love to do such a task where I could actively affect millions of people's lives.    However, I love the sciences and can never turn my head from trying to gain more scientific knowledge. I then thought of a way that I could affect the lives of many in a much more personal way, This is when I decided to attempt to develop devices to help the infirm. I saw that many could not care less about the wealth of nations in our world, but were rather more concerned about matters within their own lives. I hope to one day through becoming a Biomedical Engineer develop new ways for people to have a personal feeling of peace by making their lives more productive or of higher standards.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Meaning of Justice in Islam Essay

Meaning of justice in islam In the Islamic worldview, justice denotes placing things in their rightful place. It also means giving others equal treatment. In Islam, justice is also a moral virtue and an attribute of human personality, as it is in the Western tradition. Justice is close to equality in the sense that it creates a state of equilibrium in the distribution of rights and duties, but they are not identical. Sometimes, justice is achieved through inequality, like in unequal distribution of wealth. The Prophet of Islam declared: â€Å"There are seven categories of people whom God will shelter under His shade on the Day when there will be no shade except His. [One is] the just leader. †(Saheeh Muslim) God spoke to His Messenger in this manner: â€Å"O My slaves, I have forbidden injustice for Myself and forbade it also for you. So avoid being unjust to one another. † (Saheeh Muslim) Thus, justice represents moral rectitude and fairness, since it means things should be where they belong. The importance of justice The Quran, the sacred scripture of Islam, considers justice to be a supreme virtue. It is a basic objective of Islam to the degree that it stands next in order of priority to belief in God’s exclusive right to worship (Tawheed) and the truth of Muhammad’s prophethood. God declares in the Quran: â€Å"God commands justice and fair dealing†¦ † (Quran 16:90) And in another passage: â€Å"O you who believe, be upright for God, and (be) bearers of witness with justice!†¦ † (Quran 5:8) Therefore, one may conclude that justice is an obligation of Islam and injustice is forbidden. The centrality of justice to the Quranic value system is displayed by the following verse: â€Å"We sent Our Messengers with clear signs and sent down with them the Book and the Measure in order to establish justice among the people†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Quran 57:25) The phrase ‘Our Messengers’ shows that justice has been the goal of all revelation and scriptures sent to humanity. The verse also shows that justice must be measured and implemented by the standards and guidelines set by revelation. Islam’s approach to justice is comprehensive and all-embracing. Any path that leads to justice is deemed to be in harmony with Islamic Law. God has demanded justice and, although He has not prescribed a specific route, has provided general guidelines, on how to achieve it. He has neither prescribed a fixed means by which it can be obtained, nor has He declared invalid any particular means or methods that can lead to justice. Therefore, all means, procedures, and methods that facilitate, refine, and advance the cause of justice, and do not violate the Islamic Law are valid. Equality in justice The Quranic standards of justice transcend considerations of race, religion, color, and creed, as Muslims are commanded to be just to their friends and foes alike, and to be just at all levels, as the Quran puts it: â€Å"O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even if it be against yourselves, your parents, and your relatives, or whether it is against the rich or the poor†¦ † (Quran 4:135) According to another Quranic passage: â€Å"Let not the hatred of a people swerve you away from justice. Be just, for this is closest to righteousness†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Quran 5:8) With regards to relations with non-Muslims, the Quran further states: â€Å"God does not forbid you from doing good and being just to those who have neither fought you over your faith nor evicted you from your homes†¦ † (Quran 60:8) The scholars of the Quran have concluded that these rulings apply to all nations, followers of all faiths, as a matter of fact to all humanity. In the view of the Quran, justice is an obligation. That is why the Prophet was told: â€Å"†¦If you judge, judge between them with justice†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Quran 5:42) â€Å"We have revealed to you the scripture with the truth that you may judge between people by what God has taught you. † (Quran 4:105) Furthermore, the Prophet was sent as a judge between peoples, and told: â€Å"†¦Say: I believe in the Scripture, which God has sent down, and I am commanded to judge justly between you†¦ † (Quran 42:15) The Quran views itself as a scripture devoted mainly to laying down the principles of faith and justice. The Quran demands that justice be met for all, and that it is an inherent right of all human beings under Islamic Law. The timeless commitment of the Quran to the basic standards of justice is found in its declaration: â€Å"And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can change His Words. † (Quran 6:115) To render justice is a trust that God has conferred on the human being and, like all other trusts, its fulfillment must be guided by a sense of responsibility beyond mere conformity to set rules. Thus, the Quran states: â€Å"God commands you to render trusts to whom they are due, and when you judge between people, judge with justice†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Quran 4:58) The reference to justice which immediately follows a reference to fulfillment of trusts indicates that it is one of the most important of all trusts. Justice and the Self The Quranic concept of justice also extends justice to being a personal virtue, and one of the standards of moral excellence that a believer is encouraged to attain as part of his God-consciousness.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

A Summary of Robert Harris’ Pompeii Essay

The novel â€Å"Pompeii† is basically about one of the most famous natural calamities in known history, the explosion of Mount Vesuvius. Robert Harris should be commended for the immense research that he had infused in the text, both on history and engineering. Readers are treated to a blast to the past particularly during the time of the Romans. The timeline of the narrative is set a few days before the infamous eruption of Mount Vesuvius, an explosion said to be more powerful than the atomic bombs of Hiroshima, an explosion that lasted for a whole day and a whole night. The book is rich in vivid description of the setting, tension between characters, and subtle twist and turns. These elements amalgamate to produce an effect of heavy build-up which would make the novel as explosive as an angry volcano, and yet at the same time undeniably stunning. Throughout the text, enriching history and impressive engineering details are interwoven. This aspect of the novel was particularly interesting because readers would realize and appreciate the importance of aqueducts. The novel shared that it was the ingenious water supply that enabled the Romans to prosper amidst the hot climate. The novel was also written in a modern tone that made it easy to follow. And just like the effect of â€Å"Titanic†, the readers of â€Å"Pompeii† already knew that the volcano is about to explode, but the characters do not. This aspect of the novel is one effective technique to keep the readers turning the pages. Characters Attilius – is the hero of the story. A young engineer from a family of aqueduct engineers. An intelligent person who actions are always guided by reason. He still mourns the death of his wife. Pliny the elder- leader of the fleet who helped Atillius to get to Pompeii. The character in the novel is actually a real figure in history. Revered as a person of knowledge and leadership. Corelia – the young daughter of Ampliatus. The object of affection Attilius. Reminded him of his deceased wife. Exomnius – The aquarius who mysterious vanished without notice. Later in the plot, it would be revealed that Exomnius was a corrupt aquarius in connivance with the more corrupt Ampliatus. Ampliatus – The main antagonist of the story. A former slave turned rich through claiming the properties of his dead master. A greedy and self-righteous businessman. Could only be described as selfish and detestable. Corax – Subordinate of Attilius whose job is overseer. Looks down on Ampliatus probably because of he is older. Brebix – A strong hardworking man who respects Attilius’ position Massavo – a porter with a large head. He posses a cheery attitude. Plot The protagonist of the story is Marcus Attilius Primus. He was assigned to be the aquarius of major aqueduct, the Agua Agusta, which was sixty mile aqueduct. This was an important task because the Agua Agusta is the source of water to all the cities in the Bay of Naples. Even though the task at hand is tremendous, Attilius was determined to do the job. It seems that aqueduct engineering is running through the veins of Attilius. He came from a family of aqueduct engineers. He is a quite a young engineer, even his physical appearance does not lie about his young age. He is viewed by his subordinates as too young to be an aquarius at his age of 27. The term â€Å"aquarius† pertains to the title given to the main engineer of the aqueduct, the one who responsible for the aqueduct. An aquarius could translate to hydraulics engineer. His youth made it difficult for him to gain the respect that he deserve from his work gang. With Attilius in command, his subordinates acted and did their job underperforming, as if it was against their will. One of his subordinates heckled â€Å"boys should stick to their books† (Harris 3). But of all his subordinates, it was Corax, the overseer, who had given him a difficult time. The plot would gain momentum when Attilius received a new assignment. A stack of mystery would build up in the plot. From this point on, the novel would have a detective-story-like taste to it. Attilius reasoning and his talent in problem solving is put to the test. Then comes a mystery that would make Attilius wonder. The previous aquarius of the aqueduct (named Exominus) had mysteriously disappeared. In addition, the area, which the aqueduct is suppose to supply water, is experiencing drought. And as additional concern, fishes die because of the water. Attilius investigates the mystery of why the fishes had been dying. He soon discovers that there was sulfur on the water and the substance was killing the fishes. During this point of the text, Numerius Popidius Ampliatus, the main antagonist, enters the scene. He was a former slave who was liberated when his master died in an earthquake. Ampliatus accumulated his riches by claiming the properties of his deceased master. He seemed to got away with his mischief because no relative came to claim the properties. Actually, it was Ampliatus who was the owner of the fishery where the fishes were killed due to the sulfur contamination. He blamed the slave responsible for the fishery. It should be noted that the fishes that were killed were of the expensive kind. And in a truly villanous act, he fed his own slave to eels. He even seemed to enjoy the sight of the slave being devoured by the eels. As he himself were not born as a slave. Then Corelia tried to save the poor slave. Corelia was a charming, young, and kind woman. The irony in her character is that she is the daughter of the detestable Ampliatus. When Attilius saw Corelia, the woman immediately reminded him of his deceased wife. And from there on, their romance would bloom gradually. Readers would soon witness what Ampliatus is really planning. The villain wants to be the provider of water to Pompeii. In his evil plan, he was in connivance with Exomnius, the aquarius who disappeared. Exomnius was actually corrupt and was stealing from the imperial treasury. Amidst all of these mysteries, the receding flow of water to the Bay of Naples had entirely stopped flowing from the aqueduct. And because he was the aquarius, Attlius had to find a the source of the problem. He concluded that there must have been a blocked section of the aqueduct. Attilius would receive some help from Pliny the Elder. Pliny the Elder was the commander of the fleet that was docked in Misenum. From then on, Attilius organized an expedition to go to Pompeii with the mission of clearing of the blocked section of the aqueduct. During this part of the narrative, Pliny the Elder’s characteristics seemed to mirror that of Attilius. The former was a man of knowledge and of good leadership. The same goes for the latter, but he seemed a little bit unrefined probably because of his young age. The line â€Å"Pliny never had difficulty in issuing for it was the essence of his command† is in contrast to how Attilius was treated by his subordinates during the initial portion of the novel (173). Attilius and Pliny the Elder discovered that there were thousands of Roman coins (or sesterces) at the bottom of the aqueduct. They also realized that Exomnius was plotting to retrieve the coins for himself. Then the complications stated earlier in the novel had started to resolve themselves. Corelia brings Attilius documents that would put a stop to his father’s wrong doings. Then the highlight of the novel would be of course the eruption of Vesuvius. Pompeii and neighboring was completely ravaged. Ampliatus died because he did not want to leave his property. He was truly a greedy man until the very end. Pliny the Elder also died while helping other people to safety. Attilius went back to save Coreliia not mind the risk. The two somehow managed to locate each other. And even though they had tried, escape was seemingly impossible. Fortunately, Attilius knows the underground passageways below the aqueduct. Water was already filling in, they decided to dig even though they know they could be either drowned or buried alive. The book concluded with Attilius and Coreila managing to dig their way through the aqueduct. It was not cleared as to whether the two had survived. However, the last sentence says that there was a man and a woman who came forth the ruined aqueduct after the explosion. Conclusion The complications that Attilius had to face became microscopic when it was compared to the eruption of Vesuvius. The story is derived from one of the most famous natural calamities in history. Fortunately, the novel was far from being a disaster but rather a stunning showcase of how could nature silence us in our petty concerns. Work Cited Harris, Robert. Pompeii. NY: Random House. 2003

Thursday, November 7, 2019

The Communist Manifesto essays

The Communist Manifesto essays The Communist Manifesto is a book that was written by Karl Marx, and Frederick Engels, in 1847. This book was a collection of theories, compounded by these two men. Their work outlined the basis for a society, based on collectivism and equality. These ideals, and theories flourished into those of the Bolshevik revolution, and into those ideals of the communist leaders, i.e. Vladimir Lenin, and Josef Stalin. These mens work, in theory, to some, were amazing ideas. However, in works, these plans were the opening to a very poor economic, and sadly collective society. Karl Heinrich Marx, born on May 5, 1818, a German economist, philosopher, and revolutionist in the rough. Marx held a doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Berlin. Marxs theory, joined with a mans, by the name of Ludwig Feuerbach, who believed that religious people developed the theory of a God by themselves, to be ruled under it, and under a government; he also proposed that religion is the basis of classes, and separation. Marx took these theories and developed them into the context of private property. He concluded that if man werent allowed private property, he would, in effect, do everything for the bettering of the species, and the species would flourish, technologically, economically, in life itself. In 1947, Karl Marx, and Frederick Engels compiled their philosophies into a book called The Communist Manifesto, for a London Organization. These collective philosophies were what would later be established in the Soviet Union by Vladimir Lenin, and the corrupt, Josef S talin. Vladimir Lenin was a very influential in the Bolshevik Revolution. He was the leader of this group, promoting socialism for the country; in a long term, positive manner. His fight for the middle class, against the Mensheviks, against the rights, and evils of private ownership went underway in February of 1917. With the end of...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Impersonal Subjects and Gerunds Quiz

Impersonal Subjects and Gerunds Quiz Compare these two sentences: Studying English is sometimes boring. and It is sometimes boring to study English. Both of the sentences are used to make general statements about an activity - studying English. Here is an overview of the two forms: gerund object to be conjugated (adverb of frequency) adjective Examples: Playing tennis is an excellent exercise.Reading English newspapers is often difficult. It to be conjugated (adverb of frequency) adjective infinitive Examples: It is sometimes exciting to walk in the pouring rain.It was strange to say that Russian is easier than English. Two Exceptions The phrases It is worth and It is no use take the gerund NOT the infinitive form. It is worth / It is no use gerund object Examples: It is worth driving to the lake to have a look around.It is no use studying for this exam. Quiz Change the sentences from the original to the other similar structure. Example: It is sometimes easy to forget your cell phone number. Answer Forgetting your cell phone number is sometimes easy. Playing chess requires great concentration.It is not easy to learn Chinese.It is difficult to understand the motives of many politicians.Interviewing applicants is often stressful and unrewarding.Speaking English is always useful when traveling abroad.It is never simple to move abroad.Thinking about danger is often illogical.It has been difficult to accept his death.Flying to Africa will be great fun.Working hard for so many years has been tiring for them. Original Sentences Playing chess requires great concentration.It is not easy to learn Chinese.It is difficult to understand the motives of many politicians.Interviewing applicants is often stressful and unrewarding.Speaking English is always useful when  traveling  abroad.It is never simple to move abroad.Thinking about danger is often illogical.It has been difficult to accept his death.Flying to Africa will be great fun.Working hard for so many years has been tiring for them. Sentence Changes It requires great concentration to play chess.Learning Chinese is not easy.Understanding the motives of many politicians is difficult.It is often stressful and unrewarding to interview applicants.It is always useful to speak English when  traveling  abroad.Moving abroad is never simple.It is often illogical to think about the danger.Accepting his death has been difficult.It will be great fun to fly to Africa.It has been tiring for them to work hard for so many years.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on Equality in Women and Essay

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on Equality in Women and Race in Collegiate Sports - Essay Example ACLU remains in the forefront in promoting the Bill of rights and ensuring that citizens are protected by the government through the laws that are formed. It is watchful on lawmakers and frequently issues public statements on pending national, state and local legislation by campaigning in support or against certain laws. It strives to ensure that each individual enjoys their civil rights. This paper will be a discussion on ACLU on equality in women and race in collegiate sports. Women and people of color are some of the people that are widely subjugated in the society. Females have always been interested in athletics, besides it makes them physically fit and have better body structures. When females were excluded from Olympics in 776 B.C, they created their own version, the Games of Hera. This shows that women have desire in sports, opposing the viewpoint that the society has that women are not interested in any physical activity (ACLU 1). The ACLU in conjunction with Title IX, this is a law banning discrimination on the basis of sex in educational institutions, have been instrumental in ensuring that women and people of other races get an equal opportunity in sports just like their male counterparts. The ACLU has written literature on the issues of women and race in relation to sports. A project of the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington foundation wrote the following literature in 2007. In the early 1900s, physical education instructors strongly opposed competition among females, as late as 1972, only one in 27 females participated in high school athletics compared to one in two males. In the public arena, there were more females following various sports proceedings, this challenged the notion that females were incapable or uninterested in sports (ACLU 5). Law makers responded and in 1972, the U.S Congress enacted Title IX, banning discrimination on the basis of sex in educational institutions. Washington added the Equal Rights Amendment to its const itution in 1975, this together with the Sexual Equality Act advocated for gender equality in educational institutions. As a result of this, the number of females in collegiate athletics increased from 32,000 to 171,000 (ACLU 5). On the other hand, female athletes of color are still underrepresented in athletics. However, with continued sensitization, the 2004 College Sports Racial Gender Report Card found that 14.9 percent of females participating in sports were African-American (ACLU 6). This was an indication of a slight improvement. In the year 2005, the court made it clear that if a coach or any other school employee complained on behalf of students with regard to discrimination based on sex or race, title IX protected such an individual from any action from his or her employer (ACLU 8). The ACLU Function of Washington advocates for the fact that sports programs in schools should accommodate the interests and abilities of members of both sexes. Funding is another issue that is r aised. Female and male sport programs must receive equal funds. In the situation where there is a club supporting a team that was dominated by one gender and not the other, the school is supposed to compensate for this imbalance by ensuring the other team got an equal share of funding. On the same level with funding, provision of equipment and supplies, travel allowances, assignment and compensation of coaches and provision of locker rooms also have

Friday, November 1, 2019

1.Use an example of your choice to discuss how corporate restructuring Essay

1.Use an example of your choice to discuss how corporate restructuring transformed market, productive and financial performance - Essay Example However it should also be noted that the excessively managed organization of the company was another reason that can be attributed to this chronic stage which led to the complete restructuring process (Denis and Kruse, 2000; Baek, Kang and Park, 2004; Bae, Kang and Kim, 2002). Given the fact that Caterpillar Inc realized consistent profits over the course of its operation, the internal issues that escalated within the organization itself were overlooked and the company started lagging behind in terms of gathering information regarding he external environment. Following this, Caterpillar Inc became completely out of touch from the market realities. Thereafter when the international economy came under recession, the flawed structure of the company was not able to mitigate the challenges of the external environment and consequently became an attractive target for many of its competitors. The arguments mentioned above will be set forth throughout the essay according to the following stru cture: In the beginning the insinuation of the market maturity for the company (Caterpillar Inc) will be determined through the Product Life Cycle theoretical framework. Thereafter, Michael Porter’s five forces analysis will be done in order to assess the level of competition that the company faces which might provide the researcher with a valuable insight about the forces that compelled the company to go through a complete restructuring phase. Following that an in-depth analysis of the company’s original structure will be conducted in order to develop an understanding of the internal problems that weakened the company’s opportunities to prosper. The restructuring process of the company will thereafter be studied in order to understand the impact of the process on the company’s performance in terms of market, production, finance and efficiency. Finally a generalized conclusion will be provided