Tuesday, November 26, 2019

A Lesson Before Dying essays

A Lesson Before Dying essays Throughout the duration of the book, the main character endured numerous challenges and problems. The main characters challenges and conflicts encountered resulted in a variety of outcomes. In the novel A Lesson before Dying Grant the main character of the novel, Grant is the son of cane-cutters on a Louisiana plantation. When his parents moved to California leaving Grant behind, Grant's aunt took responsibility for his upbringing. Over the next few years, he worked as the Pichots' errand boy. He fetched wood in the winter and flowers in the spring. He bought food for their larders. He resented his position, but it was the only one available to him. When he was old enough, he left the plantation to attend college. Upon arriving in Bayonne, he discovered that he was still a "nigger" in the eyes of the white people. Grant often criticizes his society. He bitterly resents being treated like an inferior, and he cannot stand to think of Jefferson's unjust imprisonment. For most of the nov el, however, he never seems to do anything about these things. This is a severe problem that Grant faces where he bottles in anger and depression and does nothing about the situation. He longs to run away, essentially acknowledging that society will never change from the racism and violence he encounters from a day to day basis. Grant strongly believes that no one can change society without being destroyed in the process. Grants attitude towards society and life hinders his potential for positive change. His inability in supporting society and his community is also a problem Grant faces. Even Jefferson's trial cannot alter Grant's pessimistic attitude. Grant sees the wickedness of a system designed to uphold the superiority of one race over another. He views the judge and jury unjustifiable punishing Jefferson. Grant says that the judge was white, the lawyers were white, and every member of the jury was white as well. Grant continues to r...

Friday, November 22, 2019

Biography of Meyer Lansky

Biography of Meyer Lansky Meyer Lansky was a powerful member of the mafia during the early to mid-1900s. He was involved with both the Jewish mafia and the Italian mafia and is sometimes referred to as the â€Å"Mob’s Accountant.† Meyer Lansky’s Personal Life Meyer Lansky was born Meyer Suchowljansky in Grodno, Russia (now Belarus) on July 4, 1902. The son of Jewish parents, his family immigrated to the United States in 1911 after suffering at the hands of pogroms (anti-Jewish mobs). They settled in New York City’s Lower East Side and by 1918 Lansky was running a youth gang with another Jewish teen who would also become a prominent member of the mafia: Bugsy Siegel. Known as the Bugs-Meyer Gang, their activities began with theft before expanding to include gambling and bootlegging. In 1929 Lansky married a Jewish woman named Ana Citron who was a friend of Bugsy Siegel’s girlfriend, Esta Krakower. When their first child, Buddy, was born they discovered that he suffered from cerebral palsy. Ana blamed her husband for Buddy’s condition, worrying that God was punishing the family for Lansky’s criminal activities. Though they went on to have another son and a daughter, eventually the couple divorced in 1947. Not long afterward Ana was placed in a mental hospital. The Mob’s Accountant Eventually, Lansky and Siegel became involved with Italian gangster Charles â€Å"Lucky† Luciano. Luciano was behind the formation of a national crime syndicate and allegedly decided to murder Sicilian crime boss Joe â€Å"The Boss† Masseria on the advice of Lanksy.  Masseria was gunned down in 1931 by four hitmen, one of whom was Bugsy Siegel. As Lanksy’s influence grew he became one of the mafia’s major bankers, earning him the nickname of â€Å"The Mob’s Accountant.† He managed mafia funds, financed major endeavors and bribed authority figures and key individuals. He also channeled a natural talent for numbers and business into developing profitable gambling operations in Florida and New Orleans. He was known for running fair gambling houses where players did not have to worry about rigged games. When Lansky’s gambling empire expanded to Cuba he came to an agreement with the Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista. In exchange for monetary kickbacks, Batista agreed to give Lansky and his associates control of Havana’s racetracks and casinos.   He later became interested in the promising location of Las Vegas, Nevada. He helped Bugsy Siegel convince the mob to finance The Pink Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas – a gambling venture that would ultimately lead to Siegel’s death and pave the way for the Las Vegas we know today. World War II During World War II, Lansky reportedly used his mafia connections to break up Nazi rallies in New York. He made it a point to discover where rallies were taking place and would then use mafia muscle to disrupt the rallies. As the war continued, Lansky became involved with anti-Nazi activities sanctioned by the US Government. After trying to enlist in the US Army but being rejected due to his age, he was recruited by the Navy to take part in an initiative that pit organized crime leaders against Axis spies.  Called â€Å"Operation Underworld,† the program sought the aid of the Italian mafia that controlled the waterfront.  Lansky was asked to speak with his friend Lucky Luciano who by this point was in prison but still controlled the Italian mafia. As a result of Lanskys involvement, the mafia provided security along the docks in New York Harbor where ships were being built. This period in Lansky’s life is portrayed in the novel â€Å"The Devil Himself† by author Eric Dezenhall. Lansky’s Later Years As Lansky’s influence in the mafia grew so did his wealth. By the 1960s, his empire included shady dealings with gambling, narcotics smuggling and pornography in addition to legitimate holdings in hotels, golf courses, and other business ventures. Lansky’s worth was widely believed to be in the millions by this time, a rumor that no doubt led to his being brought up on charges of income tax evasion in 1970. He fled to Israel in the hopes that the Law of Return would prevent the US from trying him. However, though the Law of Return allows any Jew to settle in Israel it does not apply to those with a criminal past. As a result, Lansky was deported to the US and brought to trial. He was acquitted in 1974 and resumed a quiet life in Miami Beach, Florida. Though Lansky is often thought of as a mafia man of considerable wealth, biographer Robert Lacey dismisses such ideas as â€Å"sheer fantasy.† To the contrary, Lacey believes that Lansky’s investments didn’t see him into his retirement years, which is why his family didn’t inherit millions when he died of lung cancer on January 15, 1983. Meyer Lansky’s Character in Boardwalk Empire In addition to Arnold Rothstein and Lucky Luciano, the HBO series â€Å"Boardwalk Empire† features Meyer Lansky as a recurring character. Lansky is played by actor Anatol Yusef and first appears Season 1 Episode 7. References: Lacey, Robert. Little Man: Meyer Lansky the Gangster Life. Random House: New York, 1993.History.com (Meyer Lanksy article on History.com is no longer available.)Time.comBio.com

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Research report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Research report - Essay Example The main principles included the social settings, social relationships, cultural practices, and present trends that can be used to provide an ethnographic description of the term. Findings were also compared and contrasted to some of the theories that relate to the topic of the study. Consequently, the study provided an all rounded understanding of the barbeque through time and various trends that have changed. The project was carried out in Melbourne, one of the major towns in Australia where the barbeque culture has been adopted by time. The location was strategically chosen due to factors such as financial, accessibility and socio-cultural backgrounds among others. The research took place over a period of one month, a calculated period that would provide substantial data to the projects. Additionally, there were also variations that were put in place due to changes in time caused by weather and other unwanted causes. However, the study took place at the specified time and date was strategically collected from the locals. It also focused on some of the local celebration that involved lamb and pork barbeques. The location was chosen based on factors such as tourism and entertainment that the town has been well for been known. Moreover, the locality has an added advantage due to its proximity to the ocean; that is used in transportation for social and cultural integration. The participants included some of the town folks and those from neighboring residential areas. The variation in the participants was due to the changes in cultural and social backgrounds due to the rural-urban migration. However, a detailed literature review of the study provided a foundation for the right locations to gather information. The population sample included individuals ranging from the age of forty to seventy years. The age bracket had an added advantage because the subjects had longer experiences of most of the social and cultural activities in the

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

What were the critical success factors allowing the corporate venture Essay

What were the critical success factors allowing the corporate venture between SAS and IranAir to succeed - Essay Example The professional article Customer Focused Service Development in Practice – Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) by Guustafsson, Ekdahl and Edvarsson shows that Scandinavian Airlines System is currently improving its face value by implementing many dramatic changes. This changes were to keep up with the competition’s services. For, the current and prospective customers of Scandinavian Airline System had seriously impressed their demands and complaints that has forced the administration of SAS to dance to the music of the customers. Historically, many airline companies have closed their ears to the suggestions and recommendations of the flying public. Many airline companies feel that they are too engrossed in their stagnant self–centered theory that the Airline companies should build a fence to cut off the customer’s complaints and suggestions. Surprisingly, SAS had a questionnaire survey to ferret out the complaints and suggestions from current and prospecti ve customers. Based on results of their survey questions, the new company policy is to prioritize implement programs that the current and prospective clients want in order to increase airline sales.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Rule of Merger & Demerger Essay Example for Free

Rule of Merger Demerger Essay 1.These rules are called Rules of Merger Demerger amongst the Firms registered with The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. 2.Concept of Merger Demerger: i) The Partnership Act has not prescribed merger demerger of partnerships. In the corporate world, merger and demerger have become universal practices for securing survival, growth, expansion and globalization of enterprise and achieving multitude of objectives. Merger is the fusion of two or more existing companies. On the other hand, demerger signifies a movement in the company just opposite to merger. `Demerger’ is also used to describe spinning off of an â€Å"undertaking† of a Corporate entity. The concept of `Merger’, `Demerger’ `Acquisition’ are arising out of the `Arrangement’ under Sections 391-394 of the Companies Act, 1956. Merger and Demerger are natural corollary of globalization. ii) To incorporate the spirit of Corporate World and to imbibe the consolidation creed, the Council used the term ‘merger’ and ‘amalgamation’ of CA firms. The Council in its 198th Meeting held from 25th to 27th February, 1999 and in 223rd Meeting held from 2nd to 5th February, 2002 considered the Seniority and Mergers of the firm and implications of the decisions. iii) In order to have an orderly and sustainable growth of the CA firms, it is desirable that the coming together of the firms begins with networking and then matures to mergers. Networking will enable the firms to develop working relationships with each other. However, it is not to suggest that there cannot be mergers without networking. iv) The mergers should be effected to develop core competencies and to render professional services of a larger range spread over bigger geographical area. A merged big entity will always be superior to a network arrangement. 3.Merger i) To effectuate merger, a merger agreement in Form ‘E’ (enclosed) is to be filed with the Institute within 30 days from the date of the agreement. The re-constitution agreement/partnership deed shall be filed with the Registrar of Firms. ii) Upon the merger of the firms, the Institute will freeze the names of the merging firms and shall not allot the same names to any other firm. 4.Demerger i) The merger has to precede the demerger. The merger agreement itself shall contain the terms and conditions for demerger. Therefore no concurrence/acceptance is required from the continuing partners. The merger agreement shall stipulate that in case 75% or more of the continuing partners of one of the erstwhile firm(s) are willing to demerge then they can do so after giving due notice in Form ‘F’ (enclosed) to the other partners and to the Institute. ii) In case 75% or more of the continuing partners of one of the erstwhile merging firm have demerged after giving due notice to the other partners, then in such case, the merger shall come to an end and if the remaining erstwhile merging firms/partners of the erstwhile merged firm decided to continue, then they should enter into a fresh Merger/Partnership Agreement. iii) The Demerged Firm is entitled to practice in its old trade name, which existed at the time of merger. iv) The Constitution Certificate issued by the Institute to the demerged firm shall state the original date of establishment, the date of its merger and the date of the demerger. For the purpose of computing the seniority of the firm, the total period will be reckoned from the original date of establishment.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Missile Defense System is Useless Against Terrorists Essay -- Septembe

A Missile Defense System is Useless Against Terrorists Donald Rumsfeld, was confirmed as Secretary of Defense with barely a whimper from the media. Rumsfeld's career in public service has been a lengthy one including serving as a former ambassador to NATO, a Congressman, and Secretary of Defense under the Ford administration from 1975 to 1977. But Rumsfeld's claim to fame is that he headed a 1998 Congressional panel that identified a growing threat of ballistic missile attack from rogue nations such as North Korea, Iraq, and Iran. Identifying the possibility of a real threat in the next five years, the report endorsed the development of a ballistic missile defense system to protect the U.S. from such attacks. America should want to protect itself from rogue nations bent on wreaking havoc. Who doesn't want to raise a shield against the mistakes and intentions of a dangerous world? But aside from the fact that most of the intelligence community believes that such a threat does not exist and will not for at least fifteen years, there is also one serious problem with a national missile defense system: It doesn't work. In the last two decades alone, the United States government has invested over $130 billion on Ronald Reagan's "Star Wars" dream. With Bush at the helm, the U.S. appears poised to invest billions more. What has $130 billion and the valuable time of the military-industry complex given us? A system that is unable to reliably shoot a single, low-speed missile out of the sky. Nothing suggests that this system will work. The optimism exhibited by its advocates distorts the truth. The military has had to admit that the Patriot missile defense system, which was initially her... ...ses the treaty as "ancient history." At a time when Russia is becoming increasingly angry with the U.S.'s imperialist actions ‚ so much that they have threatened to withdraw from future arms control talks ‚ the last thing the U.S. should do is make an enemy out of a nation with one of the world's largest nuclear stockpiles. There are many serious threats to national security that demand our attention. In the post-Cold War era, the answers are complicated and require careful consideration. Unfortunately, Rumsfeld and the Bush administration have chosen a winning political sound byte which fails miserably in real life. We should focus on worldwide arms reduction. If Rumsfeld has his way, we may live in a far more dangerous world of anxious nuclear powers that engage in offensive-defensive arms races and keep their fingers on the nuclear button.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

1920 Baseball

How the 1920s Forever Changed Baseball It should come as no surprise to a majority of Americans that baseball is considered America’s national past time. In fact, for many people baseball has always been an enormous part of every day life. People are exposed to baseball through multiple mediums such as television, newspapers, and even the radio. When did this obsession start for the citizens of America? The 1920s is known as the Golden Age of Sports. While many sports started to emerge during this decade, baseball was already established in 1875 and rapidly gaining popularity.Multiple factors affected the way that baseball changed during the 1920s. Due to its increased popularity of baseball and certain aspects of the game, the 1920s created what is known as modern day baseball. Previous to 1910 a rubber-centered ball was used, which had â€Å"less resiliency than the modern cork-centered baseball. † When baseball switched to the cork-centered ball in 1910, â€Å"batti ng averages shot upward phenomenally, but the managers continued long afterwards to employ the ‘scientific’ strategy† (Mandell 131).Before the cork-centered ball, the game was dominated by extraordinary pitchers and batters who had difficulties hitting (Mandell 130). Walter Johnson was considered the decade’s best pitcher and totaled 3,497 strikeouts and 113 shut outs in his career (Mandell 130). Once the ball was changed the game became more interesting by having the game now balanced between the offense and defense. This made it possible for listeners to be entertained listening to a ball game instead of constantly having to go to watch the game. During this decade and the decade before, mass production made the radio a staple in most households in the United States.The wide scale production made radios much more affordable for common families. â€Å"By 1925, 40 percent of workers in the United States earned at least $2000 annually †¦ and many enjoy ed shortened workweeks, which gave them increased leisure time† (â€Å"The 1920s: Sports: Overview† 1). With the excess money that the workers now possessed, they would go out and buy, â€Å"among other items, automobiles, radios, and tickets to movies and athletic events† ((â€Å"The 1920s: Sports: Overview† 1). Swarms of people were going to stadiums to watch their favorite team compete. More people went to baseball games, more people followed baseball, and more people played baseball for fun than any other sport† (â€Å"The Golden Age of Sports† 1). No other sport was as prominent as baseball was during the 1920s. A major draw to baseball was that it was a new form of theater. â€Å"The sheer drama of baseball was yet another attraction. Baseball had a cast of well-defined heroes and villains, familiar plots, comedy, and the unexpected† (Rader 129). Baseball proved to be able to produce larger-than-life characters, or the â€Å"hero es,† time after time.To name a few there was, most notably, Babe, Wahoo Sam, and Bugs. In every game, the umpire served the purpose of the villain (Rader 129). While people in the 1920s might not have had the financial excess to spend money on seeing a Broadway play or other large-scale theater productions, baseball games had the same attraction for a lesser price. While many well-to-do people did attend baseball games, â€Å"†¦ every mother’s son from banker to bum is eligible for membership in the Benevolent Brotherhood of Baseball Bugs† (â€Å"The National Pastime in the 1920s: The Rise of the Baseball Fan† 1).Everyone was welcome to play participate in baseball, whether it be as a spectator or player. At this time baseball was not just for one race either. People of all races and backgrounds played baseball. For example, in 1920 Andrew â€Å"Rube† Foster founded the Negro National League, NNL, so that when baseball was finally integrated th e black and Hispanic players of the time would be ready for the challenge (Heaphy 39). Even men that did not come from well-respected upbringings were immediately accepted into the world of baseball.George Herman Ruth Jr. , more commonly known as Babe Ruth, was the prime example of how accepting baseball was. Babe grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and said, â€Å"†¦ he became a ‘bad kid,’ who smoked, chewed tobacco, and engaged in petty thievery. † When Babe turned seven â€Å"his parents sent him to the St. Mary’s Industrial Home for Boys, and institution †¦ for †¦ delinquents. † (Rader 178). After twelve years in the home and building his baseball reputation, Babe was drafted to the Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox (Rader 178).Babe wrote in an autobiography, â€Å"The greatest thing about this country is the wonderful fact that it doesn’t matter which side of the tracks you were born on, or whether you’re homeles s or homely or friendless. The chance is still there† (Rader 178). All people of different races and upbringings were brought together through baseball, as spectators and players, although the sport would not be integrated until 1947. The popularity of baseball greatly affected the way that the sport would change. Without the demand of the spectators, certain changes would not have been made to the game. The most marked feature of the new sporting landscape was the ascendancy of ‘big-time’ spectator sports, that is, sports that were attracted and were designed for mass audiences† (Rader 173). Baseball changed from a player-centered sport to a spectator-centered sport. In American Sports it says that: After 1920 the fans virtually dictated the character of American sport history. Even the ethos and structure of ‘amateur’ sports like Little League Baseball and high school football resembled their professional counterparts more than the player-cent ered sports of an earlier era.In principle, if not in practice, amateur sports had been for the pleasure and benefit of the players; in short, the athletes ‘played. ’ But with the ascendancy of the spectators, the athletes ‘played’ for the fans; sports then became a form of ‘work. ’ (Rader 173) Baseball eventually became a consumer run industry. Magnificent stadiums were beginning to be built during the 1920s, beginning with Yankee Stadium in 1923 (Rader 128). â€Å"The massive baseball parks, built of concrete and steel, bore mute testimony to the values Americans place upon baseball. The fans saw the parks as more than a place for commercial amusement, the stadiums were also a â€Å"king of civic, religious sanctuary representing and entire community† (Rader 128). Judging solely on the change of the stadiums from rustic to urban, it’s clear that America was changing baseball into a larger-than-life, commercialized industry. Bef ore Babe, fans were loyal to certain teams, but Babe changed the face of baseball, making the fans more player-loyal.Apart from the enormous increase in the popularity of baseball during the 1920s, Babe Ruth was extremely influential in how the game is now. Paul Gallico, a sports-writer, said, â€Å"In times past we had been interested in and excited by prize fighters and baseball players, but we have never been so individually involved or joined in such a mass outpouring of affection as we did for Ruth† (Rader 179). Not only did Babe change the focus of the spectators to the individual players from the team, he set a new standard in the amount that players should expect to be paid.Christy Walsh became Babe’s literary agent and â€Å"†¦ as Ruth’s ‘literary agent’ he increased Ruth’s writing income from $500 to $15000 in the first year† (Rader 181). Most players made less than $10000 a year playing professional baseball. By the tim e Babe was at his highest point, he was making close to $3 million from playing and outside endeavors relating to baseball (Rader 181). Other than the amount that he was paid and how America idolized him, Babe Ruth undoubtedly changed the history of baseball forever by making the homerun a common feature of the game.Before Babe, homeruns were not common, especially out-of-the-park homeruns. Outfielders played very shallow, which caused inside-the-park homeruns more frequently than seen today (Rader131). Babe Ruth shattered that normality by hitting out-of-the-park homeruns like no one had ever seen before. Baseball was forever influenced by the skill, idolization, and salary of Babe Ruth. There is no denying that baseball has long been considered America’s pastime, but it was not always like that. The game grew immensely in the 1920s and morphed into the baseball that is around today. One distinguishing and very important quality of baseball was the (however much the game did , indeed, resemble games played in many places for millennia) it was believed to be historically and exclusively American† (Mandell 180). Growing up with parents that were actively involved in athletics throughout their adolescent life, sports were an enormous part of my and my brothers’ lives. Starting at age six I began playing tee-ball and from there moved onto softball, while my brothers did the same, except moved onto Little League.The popularity of professional baseball was evident even in tee-ball and Little League by having the teams named after the professional teams. It is obvious that the popularity in the 1920s continue into modern day baseball, not only by the growing number of fans, but almost how professional baseball has affected the amateur level of baseball. Work Cited Heaphy, Leslie A. The Negro Leagues 1869-1960. 1st . Jefferson: McFarland&Company Inc. , Publishers, 2003. Print. Mandell, Richard D. Sports A Cultural History. 1st . New York: Columbia University Press, 1984. Print. Rader, Benjamin G.American Sports. 1st . Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1983. Print. Sumner, Jim. â€Å"The Golden Age of Sports. † North Carolina Museum of History. American Social History Products, Inc. , n. d. Web. . â€Å"The 1920s: Sports: Overview. † American Decades. 2001. Encyclopedia. com. 4 Dec. 2012 . . â€Å"The National Pastime in the 1920s: The Rise of the Baseball Fan. † History Matters. American Social History Products, Inc.. Web. . 1920 Baseball How the 1920s Forever Changed Baseball It should come as no surprise to a majority of Americans that baseball is considered America’s national past time. In fact, for many people baseball has always been an enormous part of every day life. People are exposed to baseball through multiple mediums such as television, newspapers, and even the radio. When did this obsession start for the citizens of America? The 1920s is known as the Golden Age of Sports. While many sports started to emerge during this decade, baseball was already established in 1875 and rapidly gaining popularity.Multiple factors affected the way that baseball changed during the 1920s. Due to its increased popularity of baseball and certain aspects of the game, the 1920s created what is known as modern day baseball. Previous to 1910 a rubber-centered ball was used, which had â€Å"less resiliency than the modern cork-centered baseball. † When baseball switched to the cork-centered ball in 1910, â€Å"batti ng averages shot upward phenomenally, but the managers continued long afterwards to employ the ‘scientific’ strategy† (Mandell 131).Before the cork-centered ball, the game was dominated by extraordinary pitchers and batters who had difficulties hitting (Mandell 130). Walter Johnson was considered the decade’s best pitcher and totaled 3,497 strikeouts and 113 shut outs in his career (Mandell 130). Once the ball was changed the game became more interesting by having the game now balanced between the offense and defense. This made it possible for listeners to be entertained listening to a ball game instead of constantly having to go to watch the game. During this decade and the decade before, mass production made the radio a staple in most households in the United States.The wide scale production made radios much more affordable for common families. â€Å"By 1925, 40 percent of workers in the United States earned at least $2000 annually †¦ and many enjoy ed shortened workweeks, which gave them increased leisure time† (â€Å"The 1920s: Sports: Overview† 1). With the excess money that the workers now possessed, they would go out and buy, â€Å"among other items, automobiles, radios, and tickets to movies and athletic events† ((â€Å"The 1920s: Sports: Overview† 1). Swarms of people were going to stadiums to watch their favorite team compete. More people went to baseball games, more people followed baseball, and more people played baseball for fun than any other sport† (â€Å"The Golden Age of Sports† 1). No other sport was as prominent as baseball was during the 1920s. A major draw to baseball was that it was a new form of theater. â€Å"The sheer drama of baseball was yet another attraction. Baseball had a cast of well-defined heroes and villains, familiar plots, comedy, and the unexpected† (Rader 129). Baseball proved to be able to produce larger-than-life characters, or the â€Å"hero es,† time after time.To name a few there was, most notably, Babe, Wahoo Sam, and Bugs. In every game, the umpire served the purpose of the villain (Rader 129). While people in the 1920s might not have had the financial excess to spend money on seeing a Broadway play or other large-scale theater productions, baseball games had the same attraction for a lesser price. While many well-to-do people did attend baseball games, â€Å"†¦ every mother’s son from banker to bum is eligible for membership in the Benevolent Brotherhood of Baseball Bugs† (â€Å"The National Pastime in the 1920s: The Rise of the Baseball Fan† 1).Everyone was welcome to play participate in baseball, whether it be as a spectator or player. At this time baseball was not just for one race either. People of all races and backgrounds played baseball. For example, in 1920 Andrew â€Å"Rube† Foster founded the Negro National League, NNL, so that when baseball was finally integrated th e black and Hispanic players of the time would be ready for the challenge (Heaphy 39). Even men that did not come from well-respected upbringings were immediately accepted into the world of baseball.George Herman Ruth Jr. , more commonly known as Babe Ruth, was the prime example of how accepting baseball was. Babe grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and said, â€Å"†¦ he became a ‘bad kid,’ who smoked, chewed tobacco, and engaged in petty thievery. † When Babe turned seven â€Å"his parents sent him to the St. Mary’s Industrial Home for Boys, and institution †¦ for †¦ delinquents. † (Rader 178). After twelve years in the home and building his baseball reputation, Babe was drafted to the Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox (Rader 178).Babe wrote in an autobiography, â€Å"The greatest thing about this country is the wonderful fact that it doesn’t matter which side of the tracks you were born on, or whether you’re homeles s or homely or friendless. The chance is still there† (Rader 178). All people of different races and upbringings were brought together through baseball, as spectators and players, although the sport would not be integrated until 1947. The popularity of baseball greatly affected the way that the sport would change. Without the demand of the spectators, certain changes would not have been made to the game. The most marked feature of the new sporting landscape was the ascendancy of ‘big-time’ spectator sports, that is, sports that were attracted and were designed for mass audiences† (Rader 173). Baseball changed from a player-centered sport to a spectator-centered sport. In American Sports it says that: After 1920 the fans virtually dictated the character of American sport history. Even the ethos and structure of ‘amateur’ sports like Little League Baseball and high school football resembled their professional counterparts more than the player-cent ered sports of an earlier era.In principle, if not in practice, amateur sports had been for the pleasure and benefit of the players; in short, the athletes ‘played. ’ But with the ascendancy of the spectators, the athletes ‘played’ for the fans; sports then became a form of ‘work. ’ (Rader 173) Baseball eventually became a consumer run industry. Magnificent stadiums were beginning to be built during the 1920s, beginning with Yankee Stadium in 1923 (Rader 128). â€Å"The massive baseball parks, built of concrete and steel, bore mute testimony to the values Americans place upon baseball. The fans saw the parks as more than a place for commercial amusement, the stadiums were also a â€Å"king of civic, religious sanctuary representing and entire community† (Rader 128). Judging solely on the change of the stadiums from rustic to urban, it’s clear that America was changing baseball into a larger-than-life, commercialized industry. Bef ore Babe, fans were loyal to certain teams, but Babe changed the face of baseball, making the fans more player-loyal.Apart from the enormous increase in the popularity of baseball during the 1920s, Babe Ruth was extremely influential in how the game is now. Paul Gallico, a sports-writer, said, â€Å"In times past we had been interested in and excited by prize fighters and baseball players, but we have never been so individually involved or joined in such a mass outpouring of affection as we did for Ruth† (Rader 179). Not only did Babe change the focus of the spectators to the individual players from the team, he set a new standard in the amount that players should expect to be paid.Christy Walsh became Babe’s literary agent and â€Å"†¦ as Ruth’s ‘literary agent’ he increased Ruth’s writing income from $500 to $15000 in the first year† (Rader 181). Most players made less than $10000 a year playing professional baseball. By the tim e Babe was at his highest point, he was making close to $3 million from playing and outside endeavors relating to baseball (Rader 181). Other than the amount that he was paid and how America idolized him, Babe Ruth undoubtedly changed the history of baseball forever by making the homerun a common feature of the game.Before Babe, homeruns were not common, especially out-of-the-park homeruns. Outfielders played very shallow, which caused inside-the-park homeruns more frequently than seen today (Rader131). Babe Ruth shattered that normality by hitting out-of-the-park homeruns like no one had ever seen before. Baseball was forever influenced by the skill, idolization, and salary of Babe Ruth. There is no denying that baseball has long been considered America’s pastime, but it was not always like that. The game grew immensely in the 1920s and morphed into the baseball that is around today. One distinguishing and very important quality of baseball was the (however much the game did , indeed, resemble games played in many places for millennia) it was believed to be historically and exclusively American† (Mandell 180). Growing up with parents that were actively involved in athletics throughout their adolescent life, sports were an enormous part of my and my brothers’ lives. Starting at age six I began playing tee-ball and from there moved onto softball, while my brothers did the same, except moved onto Little League.The popularity of professional baseball was evident even in tee-ball and Little League by having the teams named after the professional teams. It is obvious that the popularity in the 1920s continue into modern day baseball, not only by the growing number of fans, but almost how professional baseball has affected the amateur level of baseball. Work Cited Heaphy, Leslie A. The Negro Leagues 1869-1960. 1st . Jefferson: McFarland&Company Inc. , Publishers, 2003. Print. Mandell, Richard D. Sports A Cultural History. 1st . New York: Columbia University Press, 1984. Print. Rader, Benjamin G.American Sports. 1st . Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1983. Print. Sumner, Jim. â€Å"The Golden Age of Sports. † North Carolina Museum of History. American Social History Products, Inc. , n. d. Web. . â€Å"The 1920s: Sports: Overview. † American Decades. 2001. Encyclopedia. com. 4 Dec. 2012 . . â€Å"The National Pastime in the 1920s: The Rise of the Baseball Fan. † History Matters. American Social History Products, Inc.. Web. .

Saturday, November 9, 2019

2012 Olympics Article Analyses Essay

Picture, title and sub-title: The headline is reversed-out of a colour picture of villagers apparently transporting straw bales in preparation for the eccentric â€Å"Olimpick† games celebrated in the Cotswold village of Chipping Campden. The use of the term â€Å"Olimpicks† would appear to be a deliberate archaisms – as it seems highly unlikely the Cotswold games were actually ever thus known. The strap byline attributes the story to a Mail staff reporter: â€Å"John Carter visits the village with its own eccentric games†. Fact & Opinion: It is a fact that the second paragraph points to the origins of the Cotswold games in the early 17th Century – thus anticipating â€Å"Baron de Coubertin’s Olympic revival by 284 years†. Allegedly, the Cotswold games were started as a Whitsun celebration in 1612 by Robert Dover. The games consisted of quirky rustic pursuits like cock-fighting, coursing and shin-kicking! See more:  Capital budgeting essay These two-day games ran annually for â€Å"250 years† before they were abandoned â€Å"owing to the disorderly mobs which used to attend. The Cotswold games were revived in â€Å"1951 for the Festival of Britain† and continue to this day. The Cotswold Olimpicks are staged at Dover’s Hill in the parish of Weston Sub Edge – close to Chipping Campden. Dover’s Hill is described as a natural amphitheatre. Analysing words and phrases: The writer makes deliberate use of the phrase â€Å"on tenterhooks† to evoke the anxiety of the London bid team, headed by Lord Sebastian Coe – suggesting the term actually originated in the same Cotswold area. The idiom â€Å"on tenterhooks† is thus taken to mean anxious, uneasy – like the fabric stretched taut. Presumably, the reader is supposed to contrast the rustic, charming simplicity and eccentricity of the Cotswold games with the immensely slick corporate Olympic bidding venture. The description of the shin-kicking competition is described as taking place on the first Friday after Whitsuntide – where a participant wearing hobnailed boots kicks the straw-padded shins of his opposition – in a demonstration sport. The writer makes a final contrast in the final paragraph – suggesting hat â€Å"unlike the modern international Games† the Cotswold Olimpicks have never been subject to bribery and corruption. This possibly hints at the Daily Mail’s editorial stance; which was then sniffily agnostic towards the London bid on the grounds that the choice of host city was believed to be a corrupt, nepotistic and hugely expensive process. Nevertheless, the writer then concludes with a humorous aside that a farmer once had to be bribed with a bottle of whisky to remove his sheep from the Cotswold arena! Overall, this feature article shows an affectionate longing for the quirky, amateuristic eccentricity of English rural life and gently contrasts it with the glossy, expensive corporate bidding that comprises the modern Olympic bidding process. The language is largely complex, anachronistic and sprinkled with archaic terms and historical reference. The writer assumes a fair degree of prior knowledge – of Pierre de Coubertin, King James’ puritanical instincts etc. The sentences are flowery, long and elaborate – perhaps suggesting a Mail-like hankering for times past!

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Themes of Modern Terrorism Bakunins God and the State Essays

Themes of Modern Terrorism Bakunins God and the State Essays Themes of Modern Terrorism Bakunins God and the State Essay Themes of Modern Terrorism Bakunins God and the State Essay New York. 1970 Bakunin, Mikhail, â€Å"On Violence-letter to S Nechayev. † New York: Unity Press, [19]

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Free Homeschool Programs for Texas Students

Free Homeschool Programs for Texas Students The state of Texas offers resident students the opportunity to take online public school courses for free.  Virtual schools that offer no-cost instruction include online charter schools, statewide public programs, and private programs that receive public funding. Online Texas Charter Schools and Public Schools Texas has multiple options for students wishing to take free virtual courses. Some are provided through state-funded school districts, and others are provided through private academies: Texas Connections Academy: A fully accredited online school, Texas Connections Academy offers courses for students in grades three through 12, including Honors and Advancement Placement courses that can be applied for college credit. The school uses LiveLesson technology to provide live teaching over the web. In addition to standard curriculum, Texas Connections Academy also offers college preparation and counseling, including SAT prep classes and assistance with the college application process.Texas Online Preparatory School: Texas Online Preparatory School (TOPS) is a state-funded program run by Huntsville Independent School District. It provides personalized, tuition-free education for students in grades 3 through 12. Flexible pacing allows students with other commitments to meet their educational needs on their own schedule. Although most of the instruction is done remotely, the school organizes field trips, picnics, and other outings throughout the year to give students to chanc e to meet and socialize. Texas Virtual Academy: Like TOPS, Texas Virtual Academy is a state-funded program. It is run by Hallsville Independent School District in northeast Texas. The school offers a traditional curriculum as well as courses in Career and Technical Education (CTE) such as computer science, web design, audio engineering, sports medicine, and accounting. Students can also take special courses through the University of Texas of the Permian Basin for both high school and college credit.iUniversity Prep: Designed for students in grades five through 12, iUniversity Prep is a virtual school run by Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District. It is focused on college preparedness. Students work together with teachers and learning coaches to develop and reevaluate customized learning plans. The school encourages and helps plan extracurricular activities so that students who cannot participate in traditional education have an opportunity to meet their peers. More information on virtual learning opportunities for Texas students is available through the Texas Virtual School Network. About Online Schools Most virtual schools are charter schools  that receive government funding and are run by  private organizations. Online charter schools are subject to fewer restrictions than traditional schools. However, they are reviewed regularly and must continue to meet state standards. Some states also offer their own  online public schools. These virtual programs generally operate from a state office or a school district. Statewide public school programs vary. Some online public schools offer a limited number of remedial or advanced courses not available in brick-and-mortar public school campuses. Others offer full online diploma programs, like those available through Texas Virtual Academy and Texas Online Preparatory School. Choosing a School When choosing an online public school, look for an established program that is regionally accredited and has a track record of success. Be wary of new schools that are disorganized, are unaccredited, or have been the subject of public scrutiny.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - Essay Example It has gained popularity and support from different quotas who believe that the movement has positioned itself ideologically and consistently hence the need for its political recognition. The current membership of FARC is approximately 18,000 members, 30% of the recruits being under the age of eighteen years and surprisingly, the leadership structure is composed of 49% women. This paper will therefore discuss the political and social effects that have so far resulted from the actions of FARC. The social effects are the drug trafficking, displacements, rape, terrorism, hostages, kidnappings, lack of freedom of the press and other issues. It will also look into the political implications the movement has caused Colombia since its inception. It will finally, provide a different point of view of analysts who believe that the movement is necessary to stem out errant political leaders such the Uribe regime and the former and current presidents in Colombia who are so self centered that they have e economically downgraded the country's economy. Between the years of 1930s and 1950s, hundreds of rural based Colombians driven by their communist ideology began organizing themselves into formidable structures of security and cooperation with the aim of responding to the capitalistic expansion of the ruling interests1. They believed that the state had isolated them and therefore they needed to group all the poor members of the society (small land holders, semi-proletarians, rural workers and peasants) and champion for their rights. The group wanted to establish a corrupt free society, stable and based on local control mechanisms. These localized groups continued to expand their bases and by early 1960s, they had over sixteen groups of communities from all areas of southern and central Colombian republic. These communities were very peaceful to the central government, but to some extent, they were considered a threat to national security especially to the ruling class, land owners, the U.S geopolitical interest and the rising urban capitalists. During the Kennedy administration, the central government through its military targeted regions with strong offensive communities After its founding in the mid 1960s, the insurgency expanded in almost all parts of the country especially during the neo-liberal period when economic policies accompanied by increased repression by the state were practiced. FARC has increased its social, paramilitary and economic presence in Colombia sine that time. In fact, by 1999, the insurgent had almost conquered all the regions of the country. A few years later, reports indicated that they had occupied more than 93% of all the Colombian regions. Within the four decades since the inception of the political movement, FARC ha transformed itself from being a mere peasant-landless struggle to a complex national social force that had threatened even the United States. Currently, the movement has increased its membership base to include; intellectuals, the displaced, Afro-Colombians, unionists, urban workforce and almost all the indigenous population. With an extensive