Confession of a Pop-Culture Addict Essay

Now that I have your attention, I’d like to come to my topic about the ascendancy and deprivation that pop culture has made; first of all, I believe that pop culture is a reflection of social change, and not the cause of social change. I say this because many researchers have come across the question â€Å"how would teens react to a certain show? † â€Å"How much power does popular culture truly have? † Media seems to be perceived as the problem in every corner, when in fact humanity is just evolving. Why question diversity? And why must we humans put a reason and a cause towards a dilemma that doesn’t necessarily follow a certain culture? The fairly aged generation may argue and say that media is the devil. In my opinion, I believe they are just contradicting themselves; how can one side with media when it fits their cultural beliefs and previous experiences but side against it when media previews other point of society views? Pop-culture is all around us indeed. Music, television, and street posters are one of the most commonly used methods in viewing media. The pros and cons of pop culture weigh each other out. To me, media is a matter of optimism and pessimism; for example, â€Å"is the cup half empty, or half full? a more related example to our current life style are women in the virtual world. A little inside about how women are perceived in media is that they are tall, thin, organized, and always running a perfect, healthy life style. An optimistic person would find this as a motivational â€Å"push† to his/her life; whereas a pessimistic person would find these goals unreachable, and wouldn’t try pushing themselves to their limits. Thus, media is not the influencer neither the influence, but rather a source of entertainment and a way of propagating information to the world in order to stay united as one union.

Is Technology Making Us Stupider

Nicholas Carr starts his essay with the observation that his win book reading and long article writing habits have suffered immensely due to lack of concentration which can be attributed to the time being spent on the internet. He goes on to say that the human beings are developing a new reading habit which he doesn't think is best suited given that there is much less concentration and even lesser contemplation. While commenting on how the future researcher will not do a lot of reading, Carr paints a sad picture of the new generation of readers.While accepting that his work has o backing from neurology and other brain related science, Carr presents a theory that unlike the ability to speak, which he says comes naturally, the ability to read has to be taught. Here in he says the internet is doing no good to that particular ability. Carr makes a reference to the great German philosopher Nietzsche and his use of the typewriter. He quips about how the typewriter had made the philosopher' s work even more abrupt. Carr then reaches the central topic of his essay – the effect of internet on the cognitive ability of man.He says that man had a series of intellectual tasks in his daily routine all of which have now been taken over by the internet He further adds that the style of the internet has been adopted by other media as well, further denting man's cognitive ability. Another key aspect of the internet that Carr says has dumber down the human brain is the conversion of an abstract concept to a concrete knowledge. This he says was previously done by the human being as an intellectual exercise but has now been taken over by the computers.Carr ends his essay on the note that in the past some great hinders such as Socrates and Sacrificing have expressed similar concerns about new ideas such as the written language and printed working. On this note, he leaves the question open to the reader (Carr). Steven Johnson bases his book on denying the argument that pop cult ure has affected human intelligence negatively. He first refers to the sleeper curve to make a point that even the society that existed before us had not discovered how cream pies could be a nutritious diet.However here he denies that just the fact about sleeper curve, which itself he draws from the movie Sleeper, can exhaustively prove his argument. He then goes on to suggest that the video games of today, contrary to popular perceptions Of spreading addiction through violent and vulgar content, are instead addictive because of their structural superiority. He says the games give the mind a lot to think and organize – a task previously not natural to the human cognitive process. He further speaks about television and says that the TV has taken the understanding of the emotional quotient to a higher level.He gives the example of reality shows and says that these shows have got a realistic understanding of the complex human engagements and relationships. While speaking about t he evolution of films, Johnson says that stories are no more being spoon-fed to the audience. Symbolic references made to help the audience understand moments like flash-back have reduced and it is now assumed that the audience will understand what is going on. This he says has helped the people explore and express their cognitive self – much more than in the past (Johnson). Studies have found that the human brain's evolution ceased over a thousand years ago (Connors).The technological advances that have been made in recent history have only served to compensate in the declining intellect of the human mind. While people who live between 2000 to 6000 years ago had to depend greatly on their mental strength to solve problems, the current availability of technology and inventions eliminates this need greatly. However, â€Å"the decline in intellect itself is not associated with the advent of technology but to deterioration in human genes† (Connors). Neither of the two the orists – Carr and Johnson have made scientific claims in their arguments.These arguments however are presented in a logical format with each claim being justified by significant arguments. Critics have remained vastly dismissive of both the arguments, calling the latter – an absolution for couch potatoes and the former a little too mournful too early. It is therefore clear that a real understanding of the effect of internet on the human mind can only be justified through neurological correlations and studies. However, human intellect has witnesses a decline for several thousands of years and hence it cannot be solely attributed to technology.

Long-Term Investment Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Long-Term Investment Strategy - Essay Example Again, the savings have to be an equal amount of money that I get from my security fund every month. I really want that when I retire, I have enough money that can enable me to build a bigger and expensive residential home and also have business premises in the city. Therefore, in addition to saving for my children, I’d like to save close to $6 million for the premises project. To be able to achieve all these goals, my monthly retirement savings must be put into an investment that will enable this money to multiply. This will help me to both save and invest at the same time. By saving, I will be able to earn an interest every month and when I invest, there are proceeds that I will benefit from in form of profits. My retirement savings per month is $1,000. I’ll be able to take this fixed amount of money monthly and invest it in appropriate investment. The low-cost mutual funds and ETFs that attract popular market indexes will be preferable for this strategy but dollar co sting can be done for any investment. This has two benefits, first by putting aside the same amount every month; one builds the habit of saving and investing at the same time. Secondly, one would buy more shares when they are cheap and when prices shoot, one ends up with the same shares hence investing the same amount. Averagely, I will be able to buy more when an investment is cheap than when it is expensive. To buy cheaply is a way of generating long term profits and by using dollar-cost averaging, one is able to take advantage of changing prices and add it to your gains. In investing, I’ll be looking for two things majorly, my current income and long-term investment. To be able to achieve these, my future prospects will be to invest into dividend stock. This will give me the best choices paying reliable and growing dividends while I’ll still be able to share in the prospects of the company underlying the business. I’ll have to keep checking with my broker to know what services it offers. Give that there are hundreds of high quality blue chip dividend stock, together with many ETFs and mutual funds specializing in dividends, it will never be hard for me to find promising candidates for my investment portfolio. As good investors say, successful investment does not rely on the picking of great stocks and other investment, but it also depends on hanging onto as much of what you earn as possible. This investment strategy will be able to consider ways of keeping the IRS at bay as capital gains taxes can get into my investment returns. I realize that I’ll even be able to take advantage of tax benefits which are available for retirement savings by investing in employer sponsored-retirement plans. Much income is normally sheltered from taxes as long as the money stays in the account, depending on how much growth one can get from the retirement savings. However, for some retirement accounts, one has to pay taxes when they have to withdraw money in retirement, but IRAs and 401 (k)s make the income tax free. When one wants to invest, having a solid strategy makes his investment plans less intimidating than if the strategy is not strong to make the investment to be nerve wracking. My strategy will depend largely and be based largely on market efficiency. This is where I will have to keep on watch with my broker to monitor when the shares are sold cheaply in the market for me to buy them. This will enable me to purchase a lot of shares and dividends cheaply. Then when the prices shoot, I will be

Dinosaur ridge Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dinosaur ridge - Assignment Example September 2014 there was a trip to Dinosaur ridge in Denver, which was mainly for hands-on activities that included fossil sifting, gold panning, metal detecting, and dinosaur track painting. At the site there were visitor experts and FODR geologists who took their time in explaining about faulting, volcanic eruptions, volcanic ash, and earthquakes. There were also a lot of other participants like the Denver Fire-fighters Museum and West Metro who came to explain all about these geological phenomenon. As it was explained, every geohazard is different from each other and the difference is based on a number of factors such as the geological composition of the land where it happened. The geological composition may vary in terms of the types of rocks found there or the tectonic activity. For instance, a big earthquake on a barren land would be less problematic than a small earthquake in the middle of a city. Such a small earthquake will cause damages to structures while the one in the desert will hardly cause any damage. Some of the results of geohazard activities at the site were the volcanic ash bends. Such bends were deposited during a volcanic eruption that happened in the present day Colorado. In order to determine the occurrence, crystals of mineral zircon found in the volcanic ash were used to date the rocks. The results showed that the ash was 105.6 million years old, revealing that it must have happened a long time ago. Scientists use radiometric and other dating techniques to measure the age of these geohazards. Therefore, using different rocks obtained from different sites of geohazard locations, scientists are able to date the time that these hazards took place. Other types of geohazards that have been recorded in history include Karst Hazards. These include the different types of sinkholes that occur on the earth’s surface. The sinkholes are of various size and depths. They cause direct risks to infrastructure like buildings if they happen in urban

Duties of the noble society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Duties of the noble society - Essay Example What can be said of the document is that it does represent the global rights to which all human beings are entitled. The core values of Saint Leo’s (2011) have a number of similarities to the UDHR (1948). Saint Leo’s (2011) stresses the development of every person's mind, spirit and body for a balanced life and all members of the Saint Leo University community must demonstrate their commitment the character of our community. Upon examination of article 29 in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) it was declared that â€Å"Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible. It does not take a stretch to see that these two points closely align however, how this is interpreted from both perspectives seems to be largely up to the individual. It remains the case that both documents stress that we have a ‘duty’ to our community. However a further condition of article 29 (UDHR , 1948) are limitations which are determined solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others with concerns for morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society. In the sphere of international and domestic politics it was argued by the New York Times (2010) that this issue came to the forefront during the Lars Vilks Mohammed Drawings Cartoon Controversy. Many people began serious discussions as to where the right to artistic expression ends and the right to be free from religious persecution. The next major alignment between these two organizations comes through article 26 (UDHR, 1948) stipulates that â€Å"Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.† In many ways this aligns with Saint Leo’s (2011)commitment to community insofar as the value encourages students to strive to foster t heir commitment to excellence. Ultimately the core value (Saint Leo’s, 2011) strives to have a strong community and this depends on the unity and diversity of people with a free exchange of ideas and on learning, living, and working harmoniously. How this pertains to domestic politics in countries around the world is that this issue has dominated discussions of diversity and multiculturalism. On one end of the spectrum come statements from politicians who believe that multiculturalism failed (BBC, 2010) yet on the other hand I believe that one of the core strengths of my community is that we not only embrace multiculturalism but recognize that there are strengths to societies that draw from people of many different opinions. As a final example I believe that there are many parallels that can be drawn between Saint Leo’s (2011) and article 26(UDHR, 1948) insofar as our institution makes the statement that we value all individuals’ unique talents, respect their di gnity and strive to foster their commitment to excellence through the spirit of Jesus Christ. Although it may be that not everybody in our community is Christian we must respect our community members for who they are and recognize their unique strengths whilst respecting their beliefs and they are as free to receive all the benefits of working hard for our community as well. Without question there are a number

Professional Skills Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Professional Skills - Assignment Example ..13 Word Count: 2562 Introduction Each and every person present in this world has some special interests and he sets up his targets and objectives according to those interests. These interests and objectives then dictate the selection of educational career and thus the whole life of the individual is based upon those objectives and interests. Selecting the right education is the first step towards achieving those goals and objectives; the next step is to devise a strategy through which one can utilize his abilities and education for reaching the set targets. A good strategy is very much necessary for utilizing one’s abilities and education because for better performance an environment in which a person can work independently without any external pressures, is very important. I want to work on the same lines; I first identified my targets in life, then selected an HE course for achieving those targets and during my educational career, I believe in developing certain profession al skills and attitude essential for excelling in life. Selecting a computing course related to information security was my choice because studying an innovative subject which could help me in starting a career in computing technologies was a better option. I plan to gain some professional experience during the starting years of my career by working in any established business and then after gaining certain essential expertise, the next objective will be to establish a business of my own, a consultancy providing solutions in information security. For achieving these targets, technical and professional development is essential because technical knowledge will help me in carrying out different projects whereas a professional attitude is essential while working in a team, particularly for leading a team of individuals (Cottrell, 2010). Currently I am good at researching and learning through various resources, however I have also identified various areas in which I need to improve if I have to achieve the targets I have set for myself. Because of the fact that English is not my first language, I have to face a lot of difficulties in oral communication and effective communication is vital for excelling professionally because a person has to convey his ideas effectively in order to convince people around him. Another important area in which I need to improve is leadership and working in teams. Because of the problems faced in communication I cannot work very well in teams despite knowing my role in the team and having all the expertise and skills required to fulfill that role. Another major concern is my leadership abilities which currently I do not possess but I need to develop leadership qualities if I have to establish a business of my own. Education and Professional Development The HE program I have selected i.e. Information Security in Computing Pathways is the best suited program for achieving the targets I have set for myself. While selecting this program I c onsidered my interests first. Being fascinated by the technological advancements

The Party is Over Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Party is Over - Essay Example Oil industry boomed especially during 1860 and 1900 when scientific and technological discoveries took place. Another oil pioneer that is credited for his contribution to the oil expansion is French engineer J.J. Etienne Lenoirn who with his discovery of first world internal combustion engine which depended much to the gasoline. Though it took almost 40 years to have clear automobile and interdependency of oil and industries, Lenoirn certainly paved the way for oil production with his innovation of internal engine combustion. In 1990, kerosene sky-rocketed the oil production due to the domestic usage of lighting and cooking, which later on the supply was affected by the invention of electric bulbs. After World War I, city construction in Europe paved the way for automobiles which later on increased oil production. Though most of war automobiles used fuel which was largely supplied by US, which led to the systemization of oil production, refining and shipping. Oil importance was vividly seen during this time which contributed much to the US economic growth. The US became the world superpower nation due to the wealth accumulated during the year of 1950 to 1965 which doubled again from year 1965 to 1980. Though an oil price has been fluctuating, oil and its products have been valuable resource which contributed much to the automakers together with oil companies in America. Though a link between auto industries and oil companies grew fast which saw more cars releases, other economic aspects also had positive impact to the country which made America to depend heavily on oil production to date. Due to it's heavily dependence on oil, America oil production started to decline which has made US looking for oil out of America. Oil revolution has not only changed Americans life, but the world as whole. US strike a deal of 50/50 split with Saudi Arabia which made US which assured US of more oil while Britain strike deal with Iran which later on was nationalised during the nationalism in Iran. Taking a good look at the trend of economic development around the world, especially in the oil producing countries, it is evidenced that these countries experienced a certain amount of conflicts. Apart from the conflicts, US have now become largest oil user, which cannot even meet the domestic demand. "Importation of oil to US has been increasing since 1970 which US has to make up for its shortfall from domestic production." (Richard Heinberg, The Party is Over, 2nd Edition 2005). US being the well-explored country have not managed to meet it domestic demand for oil. Being an industrial country, the oil production has to be high as well, the notion that has forced US to look for alternative in filling the gap of the energy required. In his book, Richard Heinberg described some of alternative energy sources like solar energy and atomic energy that could at least help in meeting the demand. . However, efforts to improve efficiency are subject to diminishing returns, and so eventually a point will be reached where reduced energy availability will translate to reduced economic activity. According to Richard Heinberg, US is the world's largest energy consumer, the centre of global industrial empire and, and the holder of the most powerful store of weaponry in world history. This might play vital role in shaping the geopolitics of the new century.

Quantitative Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Quantitative Analysis - Research Paper Example It consists of three parts (Anderson, Sweeney, Williams, Camm, Cochran, Fry, and Ohlmann, 2010): Arrival or input to the system Waiting line The service facility An operations manager must make a trade of between the cost of providing good service and the cost of customer wait time or machine time. The most preferable arrangement for a manager would be that the queues are short enough that they do not annoy a customer. However, an operations manager would tolerate some waiting time if it leads to a significant savings in service costs. An operations manager can evaluate a service facility by looking at the total expected cost. The total cost is the sum of expected service cost plus expected waiting cost. A service cost will increase as the firm tries to increase the level of its services. Managers can have standby personnel who can be assigned to a service station to short the length of the queue. Waiting cost is a reflection of the workers lost productivity and the cost of losing a customer as a result of poor service or long queue. In some service systems this cost of waiting line can be intolerably high. The fundamental advantage of using a waiting line model is that it helps a manager to find out discrepancies in service systems and take measures to eradicate them. Thereby, making the service system efficient and customers satisfied. Example: MacDonald’s can make use of the knowledge from this theory. The service system of MacDonald’s consists of customer queues and billing counters. The floor manager needs to decide the number of billing counters it would keep open at a given time. He needs to forecast the customer arrival rate at a given time and match it with the number of open billing counters. In this way he would ensure that optimal counters are functioning to service customers. The aim behind this initiative is to minimize service time and customer waiting time. Mathematical Example: Current waiting cost/service= (1/4 min waiting) ($60/ min) =$15/service New System: ?= 8 customers/min arriving ?= 12 customers/min served Av waiting time in queue=Wq= ?/2? (?-?) =8/2(12) (12-8) =1/12min Waiting cost/trip= (1/12 min wait) ($60/min cost) =$5/trip Savings with more counters=$15(current system)-$5(new system) =$10/trip Cost of more counters=$3/trip Net Saving=$7/trip Constant Service-Time Model: Service systems having constant rather than exponential service time distribution are called Constant Service-Time Model. When customers or equipment are processed according to a fixed cycle, constant service times are suitable. Since the constant rates are fixed, therefore the values of Lq, Wq, Ls and Ws would be always less than single channel model (Anderson et al., 2010). Simulation: Simulation is the attempt to duplicate the features, appearance and characteristics of a real system. This method helps a manager to define the operating characteristics of a system; thereby putting him in a better position to draw conclusions and make decisions based on the simulated models (Anderson et al., 2010). Benefits of Simulation: There are multiple reasons why this tool has become the most widely accepted tool by managers. Amongst these reasons are following: The tool is flexible and easy to use. It can be used to analyze complex real world situations. Time compression, meaning that the effects of operations policies during a particular time period can be obtained in a short time.

Discuss the ways in which Jonathon Swift Essay Example for Free

Discuss the ways in which Jonathon Swift Essay He says that men wouldnt offer to beat or kick [their wives] during their time of pregnancy for fear of a miscarriage. Orwells writing is about death, a topic that would not usually have been discussed in the conversational manner he uses. The use of hyperbole in Swifts writing adds to the sense of repulsion felt by the reader. In A Modest Proposal, he doesnt simply state that we should eat babies, but goes on and on with more gruesome ideas. He suggests recipes and even recommends flaying the carcass to make admirable gloves and summer boots, all of which is simply revolting to the reader. In Gullivers Travels he goes into explicit detail about the most disgusting of bodily functions as in Lilliput where he cannot resist putting in that his faeces was carried off in wheelbarrows. Orwell doesnt exaggerate in How The Poor Die but simply emphasises and reiterates his point on the disgraceful lack of respect shown for the lives of the poor. There are several sentences and phrases that Swift uses in a casual, flippant way that provoke repulsion the reader. For example he speaks of the twenty thousand carcasses as if they were cattle and he talks of infant-flesh in the same way that someone might talk of lamb. The idea that babies should be eaten at merry-meetings, particularly weddings and christenings is especially horrifying. In Gullivers Travels the language is never coarse and the subject matter isnt as far-fetched as in A Modest Proposal, yet it is still revolting to the reader. For example, to read of how the Yahoos would outcast their leaders favourite and then discharge their excrements upon him from head to foot. Orwell is far more subtle than Swift, choosing to stay away from the scatological and simply state what he sees. He describes a box into which scraps of food and dirty dressings from the ward were flung. This naturally repels the reader, especially as it is in a hospital. He also chooses to concentrate on the upsetting the readers feelings rather than their stomach. The horrible idea of a death not even noticed till the morning disturbs me in a different way to Swifts writing. Both Swift and Orwell disgust the reader by making them confront some of peoples worst fears. Swift deals with the gruesome concept of cannibalism, and Orwell discusses two very common fears: poverty and undignified death. One of the worst, in my opinion is the violation and lack of respect for the dead. The detail with which Swift describes his idea is chilling, the accurate calculation of figures is also disturbing. As he justifies it, it seems the idea could almost be reasonable, after all, he has taken something that is completely acceptable for us to do to animals, and replaced it with babies. If it werent for the bitter, cynical tone of his writing and the sardonic humour that comes through, the reader could believe that he actually wanted to eat children. Near the end of How The Poor Die, Orwell refers to the poor having their teeth extracted with no anaesthetic. This would strike a chord with many readers as a huge number of people will have had a tooth extracted at some point in their lives and would be able to sympathise directly with the victims. In Gullivers Travels the revolting sections seem more light-hearted in a way, than the other two pieces. I find Gulliver earnestly describing unpleasant processes a little sickening, slightly funny, but not very disturbing. I think that the disgusting sections in Gullivers Travels are less important than those in A Modest Proposal and How The Poor Die. I find it difficult to choose whose approach is more effective as the two writers are quite different. They both had social consciences: Swift was a dean and Orwell an early socialist, however I get the impression that Swift is angrier about poverty and it shows in the unbelievable nature of his writing. Orwell doesnt seem as passionate as Swift, as he doesnt use such emotive language and writes in a blunt, flat way. In conclusion, I find Swift more effective. This is probably due to the outrageous, offensive nature of what he has written in A Modest Proposal. I think that by writing in this entertaining way and amusing the reader he is more effective than Orwell.

Life Is a Dance Essay Example for Free

Life Is a Dance Essay â€Å"Lifes a dance you learn as you go Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow Dont worry about what you dont know Lifes a dance you learn as you go.† These few lines were picked from one of the greatest hits of John Michael Montgomery. These best explains why some of us consider life a dance. Every dance has a unique identity. Each of them has its own history, series of steps and music. Therefore, life is like a dance. Really. We let ourselves learn and experience slowly but surely. Every step is complex to the extent that the whole routine might be ruined when you did it thoughtless or unprepared. Discipline and patience are two major factors needed to dance with grace and style. Also, dancing imparts to us the need to take into consideration the history of the dance you’re interested to for us to be able to grow from time to time from our mistakes or committed errors. Dancing also need the performer to be self-confident and independent – being brave enough to gain his dream, his passion and his aim to fame. Life is also an art, like a dance. You have to be creative to produce magnificent performances and flexible enough to adapt from the ups and downs of rehearsals and few blunders around. A true performer dance not to compare himself to anyone but to dance better than one self. As you learn more as time passes by, one must enjoy each step along the way for him to be exultant on what he loves to do. Dancing also teach us to interact more with people especially those who you might be with and also those who can aid us to dance better, grow more and be the best as we can be in the performing stage. Life is like a dance – always changing. Sometimes you find yourself alone or with a partner or within a group. Sometimes you’re the lead, sometimes you’re not. Sometimes steps are fast and tough or gentle and stress-free. But the result will depends not on the routines, but on how you dance the piece. Interpretive dance will be my piece if I have to choose. This particular dance defines my life as well. Movements are based on human expressions and feelings. I’m used to show what I feel towards the people who surround me. Also, I have high regard about freedom and personal expressions. Movements in this kind of dance are also communicating to the viewers. â€Å"Actions speak louder than words. â€Å" – This old little saying, I believe, is true. One can show the sincerity and truthfulness more when it is communicated with actions. Often the style includes grand, eloquent movements which, in my opinion, are the reason why it is associated with higher form of arts. Imagination is greater than knowledge. Creativity is of much more value here than the other types of dance. We can dance for laughter, for tears, for love, for pain, for fears or even for madness. Dancers create their own character by a dance full of passion and by dancing not just with a foot but most of all, with a heart even with music or without.

Analysis of Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi

Analysis of Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi The real Azar Nafisi Reading Lolita in Tehran is a book written by Azar Nafisi and talks about the struggles of a woman was born in Iran moved to the United States to study abroad. She got most of her education from the US and the UK. She moved back to Iran in the late 1970’s and she found here country was in a revolution and war was everywhere. The book it divided into four parts Lolita, Gatsby, James, and Austen each tells a part of the story and her life. She goes on to explain what has happened to her country and the teachings that she has done. Nafisi used to teach at different schools in Iran but the school board found her teachings wrong and expelled her. She was fed up so she got some of her best students and brought them over her house each week to discuss about all sorts of different books. Everyone there used the classes as an escape from reality of Iran’s rules and control because they were able to discus about all they wanted and to let out what they felt about their dreams wishes without anyone judging them, Since they were all woman and woman’s had no rights in Islam. One moment I the book that stood out to me in part one was when Nafisi’s mother, a person who is nothing like a Muslim woman marries a proper Muslim man they somehow work it out. Her mother loves to wear a chador because she feels is something very special to her. What gave me a shock was when the mother taught her daughter English instead of Arabic and that the father allows her. Back then woman weren’t forced to wear a chador so u can tell how much she loved her husband. During the time Nafisi was teaching the seven students at her house why she was so shocked to see her students come out of her shell or in her words â€Å"I could not get over the shock of seeing them shed their mandatory veils and robes and burst into color† (Azar Nafisi 5) She wanted to teach what the schools deemed wrong so she got her seven best students and used the teachings to release all of their ideas, emotions, and frustrations with each other as they discussed books and other literary works. In the article titled â€Å"The book club† by Sam Munson she explains how when Nafisis was teaching in the schools the government started to decide what was allowed and didn’t like what Nafisis was teachings so she got expelled and that is what got her to make this small club with some of her students. Soon each one of here students started to open up to each other â€Å"Gradually, each one gained an outline and a shape, becoming her own inimitable self† (Az ar Nafisi 5) In part two of the book you start to see all the different type of personality’s that her students have and how special they are. It also shows that Nafisis knew them very well before she picked them. She let her students be the judge and jury of the books even though she knew the answer. Even if the students didn’t talk for the books she got them to start thinking for themselves and not just follow someone. In Iran they only allowed works from Tehran to be read. Nafisis got the books and asked her students to evaluate them based on their writing and literature they also focuses a lot of their time on Gatsby to review and learn from it. Why was Nafisis having trouble with her marriage? Her father went to jail so she was left alone and during that time she said â€Å"I was insecure enough to marry on the spur of a moment, before my eighteenth birthday† (Azar Nafisi 83) She married a man who â€Å"wasn’t like us† (Azar Nafisi 83) she thought of him as he was full of himself and that he was crazy jealous this prompted Nafisis to want a divorce with him. The only way she could get a divorce was to get the approval of her father and he agreed when she said she would not sue for alimony. In the article â€Å"Lolita in Tehran Author Goes Silent† by Madeline Brand said that Nafisis had suffered all her life. Her mother died when she was so young and her father was put in jail. That might be the reason to why she wanted to marry at such a young age. Because the author is from Iran you can see a lot of the connections made in the story. The struggles she faces and how she overcomes them and also when she moved to the United States she sees the world different since it’s a new place. She then goes back to Iran and it’s under war and she can’t teach anymore since she got expelled. It is related to the novel in a big way since she has a lot of experience with her home country and her background of a hard life, how her mom died when she was young and her father put in jail. She was left alone. In the biographic article titled â€Å"Azar Nafisi† by Ed. Jeffrey W. Hunter he wrote a wonderful article on her struggles and her biographical of her young age and what she went through. The tone in the novel is morel like rebellious because the woman are under oppression and they want to be free so they try to go â€Å"against the man† most of the time and it relates a lot with the characters since most of them are female. Nafisi especially, she teaches at a school then the school no longer allows her to teach there because of her content so in order to rebel she gets some of her best students who are also female and brings them over to her hose for the weekend to discuss the books and topics that she was discussing when she was still teaching. The article â€Å"Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books. (Arts Letters)† by Christopher Byrd he states â€Å"Nafisi convincingly argues, pose an even greater threat to a despotic orthodoxy than any open display of political rebellion.† Showing her rebellious nature, she doesn’t want to feel inferior and the tone of the novel is set around not being oppressed she shows it a lot in the story. The relationship about this novel and the topic of literature is that in the novel Nafisi Loves to teach and on her first day of school asked if fiction is even important in literature. The way it’s related is by how the novel is being presented it’s not just a story it tells the story of a person and the hardships they went thru. The story itself is an expression of individual thought and the feeling of accomplishing from the creative process. Authors wish to share their experiences with their novels and books, their understanding and observations. It’s like making music you share what you are feeling using words in a song. In conclusion the book Reading Lolita in Tehran was a good read, it talked about the struggles Nafisi had in her life how she became a teacher moved to the united states then came back to her home town of Iran to find out it’s at war and she can’t teach anymore so she starts her own â€Å"club† where she picked some of her best students and discussed with them about books. It also talks about some parts of The Great Gatsby in part II and the reactions it had with the people from her weekend club. This book was interesting and I would read it again if I had to. Work Cited Nafisi, Azar. Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books, 2003. Kindle file. Books, Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in, and Sam Munson. The book club. Commentary  116.2 (2003): 72+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 26 Apr. 2014. Lolita in Tehran Author Goes Silent. Day To Day 29 Dec. 2008. Literature Resource Center.  Web. 26 Apr. 2014. Azar Nafisi. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Jeffrey W. Hunter. Vol. 313. Detroit: Gale,  2012. Literature Resource Center. Web. 26 Apr. 2014. Byrd, Christopher. Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books. (Arts Letters). The Wilson  Quarterly 27.3 (2003): 126+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 26 Apr. 2014.

How God turned My Life Around :: Religion Christianity Essays

How God turned My Life Around â€Å"Jesus loves me; this I know.† These lyrics sound through the halls of churches almost every Sunday morning. â€Å"Jesus Loves Me,† the familiar tune which reassures children that Jesus does love them no matter what color they are. Why? â€Å"The Bible tells me so.† I have sung this song myself. I grew up on it’s lyrics. Despite the reassurance that my Savior loved me, I compartmentalized such love into the â€Å"Christian life† alone. â€Å"The Christian life,† for so long, was something that took place only when I was thinking about Christ and reading the bible and praying. I did not follow Christ all the time, so did Jesus still love me? I’m going to show you now how God used a man named Randy Turner to turn my life around—taking an inferior boy and showing him the grace of God. I remember the day well. There was a disturbance of some sort in the house of which I had taken part. I am not sure whether I was the malefactor or was the beneficiary, probably a quarrel with my brothers, but I do remember what happened thereafter. After my rebuke, I walked through the back door and proceeded to the garage. In those days, and even now, the garage was not meant for cars but for storage, so there were boxes upon boxes of stored junk. Upon entering, I moved a few boxes away, found a familiar hole where my brothers and I used to go and hide, bellied myself on the dusty flour, and crawled about three and one half feet under stored chairs and one desk to my destination—a hidden spot in the far corner of garage. None would find me there! Immediately I began to cry. â€Å"No one loves me!† and â€Å"Everybody hates me!† were the phrases that I would say. Tears flowing, I would condemn the world for its hatred and console myself with the words I knew to o well, â€Å"It’s okay. You can survive though no one understands you.† How hopeless words can console is a mystery—but truth switches places with lies when you’re deceived. The truth was that I grew up in a Christian home and was extremely loved. My family showed no favoritism. My brothers and I were treated equally and we loved each other. We had our brushes with each other’s bad side often, but brothers do that.

Important Qualities in the Life of Jesus :: Religion

Important Qualities in the Life of Jesus Ever since Jesus was born, he has always been perfect. There have never been any flaws that had to do with him. He had many different characteristics and qualities that were unique about him including holiness, purity, faithfulness, mercifulness, grace, righteousness, love, integrity, divinity, and courageousness. There is nothing that is more powerful than that of the triunity, which consists of God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, and God the Son. This report deals mostly with God the Son, which is Jesus. Jesus has all these qualities and we are supposed to be following in His footsteps. Most Christians try as hard to have these great characteristics, but there is no possible way that we could achieve such a goal. It is impossible for humans to reach that goal. It says in the Bible "For everyone falls short of the glory of God.". That right there is enough proof to show that we are not worthy of his presence. God is of the Spirit. He is not made of matter and mind, and he does not possess a physical nature. Some think that God is that of a human. There is no possible way that this could be, because in John 4:24 Jesus speaks "God is spirit, and those who worship him just worship in spirit and truth.". Even though Jesus had flesh was of the Spirit he still did have matter. He had flesh which is matter. In this flesh was very important qualities. God still possesses all of these qualities even though He does not have flesh. These characteristics would fit for either God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit. They all work in the triunity and have these qualities even though one might display it in a different manner than the other. In the thirty-three years of Jesus' life, He had three very important characteristics that are something we all should try and follow: Loveliness, Faithfulness, and Forgiveness. Very often when people think of Love, they think of Jesus. In John 4:8,16 it says that God is love. This is a paraphrase but it is still stating something that is very important. That verse shows that Jesus had (and still does) mercy and compassion for us. Another verse that shows that God's love as apparent is John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he