Of Mice and Men and the American Dream Essay Example for Free

Of Mice and Men and the American Dream Essay John Stienbeck’s novel â€Å"Of Mice and Men† is about the death of the American dream. George, Lennie and Candy’s dream is to own their own piece of land to work and live independently on. This dream is destroyed by Lennie’s ignorance and Lennie’s strength, which he cannot control. Curley’s wife’s dream is to be a famous Hollywood actress. Her dream is destroyed by her marriage to Curley and the Hollywood director who promised to contact her about her acting career but never has. Crook’s dream is for equality. Racism and the attitudes of others destroy this dream. Lennie and George’s dream is to own a piece of land to work and live where they can have cows, pigs, chicken a vegetable patch with alfalfa and rabbits. â€Å"O. K Someday – we’re going to get the jack together and we’re going to have a little house and a couple of acres and a cow and some pigs and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  ‘An’ live off the fatal the land’ â€Å"We’ll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit-hunch and chickens. And when it rains in the winter we’ll just say the hell with going’ to work, and we’ll build up the fire in the stove and set around it an’ listen to the rain coming’ down on the roof. (Steinbeck 1937:18) This quote illustrates the dream have about owning their own land and living independently on it, growing and harvesting their own crops in the vegetable patch, farming cows and goats for milk, pigs for ham and bacon and chickens for eggs. When Candy hears about this dream, he wants to become part of it by offering his saved money to fund the purchase of the piece of land and be able to work and live on the land with George and Lennie. George, Lennie and candy’s dream is destroyed by Lennie’s ignorance and Lennie’s ignorance of his own strength. When Lennie is in a stressful situation, like when he wanted to pat the girl’s dress and she screamed, Lennie panics and doesn’t know what to do. Lennie’s strength and ignorance ruins their dream when Lennie and Curley’s wife are talking in the barn. Curley’s wife invites Lennie to feel how soft her hair is. Lennie patted her hair very hard. Curley’s wife, not wanting her hair to be messed up, jerks her head away. Because Lennie is confused he grabs her hair and tries to make her stop yelling. But because Lennie does not know how to control his own strength, he squeezes Curley’s wife’s neck too hard and crushes her spine. Lennie then flees the ranch because Curley wants to kill him for what he did to his wife. So Lennie is not brutally murdered by Curley, George finds Lennie and, because he cannot get him out of trouble, shoots Lennie. Lennie’s uncontrollable strength and ignorance destroyed his, George and Candy’s dream Curley’s wife’s dream is to become a famous Hollywood actress. She dreams of fame, fortune, fancy clothes and large, expensive hotels. Curley’s wife is waiting for a Hollywood director to mail her about becoming an actress. This dream is destroyed by her marriage to Curley because once she is married she is not allowed to pursue an acting career because she has to look after the house, because Curley will not allow her to leave the ranch to become an actress. Her dream is also destroyed by a Hollywood director who believed she had the potential to become a film actress. Curley’s wife meets this director at a dance and he promises he would send her a letter about acting in one of his films, but she never gets the letter so she does not become an actress which is her dream. Her marriage to Curley and the Hollywood director who has not mailed her about her acting career destroys her dream. Crooks dream is to be equal. Because he is black, he is treated differently than others because of their racist attitudes. Crooks must not go in the bunkhouse so he has to sleep in the harness room. He is also abused by the boss of the ranch whenever the boss gets angry. Crooks dreams that he can be treated the same as everyone else, so he does not have to sleep in the harness room instead of the bunkhouse or by abused by another man. â€Å"And he gave the stable buck hell, too† â€Å"Give the stable buck hell? ’ he asked ‘Sure. Yak see the stable buck’s a nigger. † (Steinbeck 1937:22)This quote shows how Crooks is mistreated by the farm boss because he is a black man. The ranch boss thinks he can ill-treat and discriminate against Crooks because he is black. Crooks dream of becoming equal is destroyed by the racist attitudes of others The novel â€Å"Of Mice and Men† by John Steinbeck is about the death of the American dream. The dream of George, Lennie and Candy is to own their own piece of land to work and live on. Lennie’s ignorance and Lennie’s uncontrollable strength destroy this dream. Curley’s wife’s dream is to be a famous Hollywood actress. Her dream is destroyed by her marriage to Curley and the Hollywood director who promised to write to her about her acting career but never has. Crook’s dream is for equality. This dream is destroyed by racism and the attitudes of others.

Walt Disney Company Analysis | Five Forces and SWOT

Walt Disney Company Analysis | Five Forces and SWOT Multinational Corporation (MNC) is a large company with plants or other direct investment in one or more oversea countries. In the same way, it is also called a transnational corporation or an international corporation. The multinationals usually provide technology, finance capital, and marketing skills in return on a profitable market and where they operated in developing countries. However, even the high class industrial nations may be the scenes of investment by multinational companies. The multinationals have power that can influence over the foreign governments. It has been the criticism target, but many host countries have imposed regulations and given them a larger share of profits, jobs, and markets. (Investments Income, 2007-2010) Multinational corporations can be categorized into three types integrated according to the structure of their production instruments, such as horizontally integrated multinational corporations, vertically integrated multinational and diversified multinational corporations. Horizontally integrated multinational corporations manage production establishments located in different countries to produce the same or similar products, like McDonalds. Vertically integrated multinational corporations manage production establishment in certain country/countries to produce products that serve as input to its production establishments in other country/countries, like Adidas. Diversified multinational corporations manage production establishments located in different countries that are neither horizontally nor vertically integrated, like Microsoft. (Investments Income, 2007-2010) Company Information 2.1 Company History The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) is the second largest media and entertainment corporation in the world, after Time Warner. It founded on October 16, 1923 by brothers Walt and Roy Disney as a small animation studio. But now it has become one of the biggest Hollywood studios, and owner of eleven theme parks and several television networks, including the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). The Walt Disney Companys corporate headquarters and primary production facilities are located in California at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank). The headquarters is located in USs large-scale multinational corporation. The primary service manufactures including the entertainment program, subject park, toy, books, computer game and media network. The philosophers stone movie company, the Miramax movie, Hollywood Movie Company (company), the abundant great audio and video product, the ESPN sports, the ABC television network all is its uneven under company brand. (Usahm.net, n.d) Since its founding in 1923, The Walt Disney Company and its affiliated companies have remained faithful to their commitments that produce unparalleled entertainment experiences. It based on the rich legacy of quality creative content and exceptional storytelling. The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise with four business segments, such as media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment and consumer products. (disney.com, n.d) 2.2 Company Structure Walt Disneys Creative Organization Chart (Source: Kuang, C., 2009) Roy Disney was fighting for a strangely organized company that the Walt Disney Company created in many aspects. It depended to refining remarkable ideas rather than hovering profits. In other words, check out his organization chart of Disney under Walt Disneys Creative Organization Chart (above). (Fast Company, 2010) As At Issue points out, this wasnt your standard pyramidal corporate hierarchyit was one used to giving autonomy to the people. And it actually making the films, and letting each of their own processes works out themselves. Naturally, as Disney grew into a corporate behemoth, that organization was swept away in favor of layers of VPs and SVPs. Hence, Disney never makes movies again like they used toJust as Roy always argued. (Fast Company, 2010) 3 Globalization 3.1 Definition Globalization is the system of interaction among the countries of the world in order to develop the global economy. Globalization depends on the integration of economics and societies throughout the world. Globalization involves technological, economic, political, and cultural exchanges made possible largely by advances in communication, transportation, and infrastructure. (Hubpages Inc., 2010) There are two different types of integration, such as negative integration and positive integration. Negative integration is breaking down of the trade barriers or protective barriers such as tariffs and quotas. The migration of barriers can be profitable to a country if it allows for products that are important or essential to the economy. For example, by removing barriers, the costs of raw materials imported will decrease and the supply will increase. Therefore, it can make cheaper to produce the final products for export (like electronics, car parts, and clothes). (Hubpages Inc., 2010) Besides, positive integration is used to standardize the international economic laws and policies. For instance, a country which has its own policies on taxation trades with a country with its own set of policies on tariffs. In the same way, these particular countries must have their own policies on tariffs. By following the positive integration and the continuing growth on the influence of globalization, these countries will process on having similar or identical policies on tariffs. (Hubpages Inc., 2010) 3.2 Impacts of Globalization Global tourism is maybe the most obvious performance of a shrinking world to the western citizen. It allows short term travel to almost any part of the world, an avenue for greater social and cultural awareness and understanding. Vacations may now only a couple of days, instead of the month long tours on past centuries, no longer the domain of the ultra wealthy with increasingly cheaper flights. Disposable income and leisure time increased have empowered the western citizen to travel beyond national borders cheaply and easily. The Walt Disney Company manages the worlds largest vacation resort: Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, as well as managing the top eight most visited theme parks in worldwide (TEA, 2010), occupying the leisure tourism market. It is significant to recognize that all the worlds offerings, so many people choose to vacation at Disney resorts. Even in the richer countries, tourism is very often a luxury unaffordable of the majority, especially regular internatio nal traveling. (Disney, 2010) Disneys power is dramatic. It will able to pressure governments of many major countries. Firstly, when Disney decided to create a central Asian resort, the company decided sites in China, South Korea, Singapore and India in order to set in Hong Kong (TNF, 2010). Disney was able to play offset the majority of countries against one-another as to secure the greatest financial benefit for the Walt Disney Company. A strategy is previously exercised in Europe (primarily between France and Spain) for Euro Disney (Lainsbury, 2000), and before that in California between the city councils of Anaheim and Long Beach for their second California park (Blue Sky Disney, 2007). In Hong Kong, Disney was able to secure a 43% stake in the resort, even if the contribution is less than 20% of the construction costs (Balfour, 2009) due to the enormous tourist boost Disney would guarantee (Hong Kong, 1999). (Disney, 2010) Globalization seems to have produced a commoditized, corporate-controlled experience of the world. For instance, being the relatively new Disney tour company Adventures by Disney. The Walt Disney Company applies the unlimited practices of its theme parks to real locations in pre-arranged itineraries such as Peru Vacation and Cities of Knights and Lights in London and Paris (Disney, 2010). Convenience and luxury replace uncertainty, providing the experience of backpacking adventure in a controlled manner effectively, and its all lead by knowledgeable Disney guides. For Adventures by Disney, perhaps the world isnt shrinking and the uninteresting parts are simply being cut out. For better or worse, what was once exotic and unusual is now becoming a tourist hotspot, where real culture is replaced in favor of tourist expectations and demands. The tourist gaze empowers the tourists contribution to the symbols of a culture unwisely. (Disney, 2010) Whether globalization is truly global, or simply an expression of Americanization, is uncertain. In terms of the Walt Disney Company, it is proudly American. The company devotes Disneyland to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America, in the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world (Marling, 2004). Disney is not only benefitting from this Americanization, but spreading it or even forcing it in some cases. Disney are adopting and selecting which elements they wish to claim as their own in line with Western ideologies. Probably in the future, this may balance, but as present there is certainly an American, or at least, Western governance. As so many of the folk stories and fairytales that had inspired, the designers of Disneyland Paris planned their project honestly to be a gift of the best of Americana to Europe, and sharing American culture with the continent that had provided Walt Disney. The result is a combination of genuine i nternational communication, and business practices. (Disney, 2010) Porters Five Forces Model 4.1 Threat of New Entrants Since the Walt Disney Company has been able to find a very unusual niche within the industry, the entrance barriers are high relatively. The company is able to grow over a long term period, and has to develop from the departments of Research and Development (RD), marketing, and finance. By depending on past experience, the company officials know to a large extent what the target customer wants. (scribd.com, n.d.) Threat of Substitute The products or services are moderate to low. Other cartoon figures, theme parks, and movies can search the market in which the Walt Disney Company is operating in, but this is obviously representing a significant threat. The Walt Disney Company has placed price controls on many of its product lines already, and should be able to cope with other new competitors. However, by upgrading products and services, the threat alone of new entrants into the market requires the Walt Disney Company to hedge against such risk by simultaneously. (scribd.com, n.d.) Bargaining Power of Suppliers The suppliers are governed by a few companies as the Walt Disney Company is operating in a highly differentiated and unique industry with high switching costs associated with operations. Besides, they are most probably very concentrated. However, the Walt Disney Company is a unique company and important customer of many suppliers. Furthermore, the size of the company may be a great advantage certainly. The company will create a dependency relationship in the industry by being able to order large volumes of unique products from unique suppliers. (scribd.com, n.d.) Bargaining Power of Buyers The bargaining power of buyers is high in the service and in the entertainment industry. The customers have powers certainly since a large number of customers are needed to make the Walt Disney Companys operations run smoothly. For example, if the price on a particular home video is too high, customers may be averse to spending the money needed to purchase the products. Another example is the entrance fee charged at the Walt Disney Companys theme parks. Furthermore, the entertainment industry does not take the buyer money, even if it is planned in a way that it will make the buyer spend more. A majority of the Walt Disney Companys product mix focuses on intangible returns of the buyers money. However, some customers may not realize that they are getting such a return may increase the bargaining power of the customers. (scribd.com, n.d.) 4.5 Rivalry among Existing Firms It does not play a very important role in the Walt Disney Companys external operational environment. Nevertheless, it is true that the companys exit barriers are extremely high. Furthermore, capacity is expanded in extremely large investments. However, there are no closer direct competitors to the Walt Disney Companys operations. Competitors such as Lonely Tunes retail stores do not appear to appoint themselves to expensive advertising campaigns in order to obtain market shares. Moreover, the Walt Disney Companys products are highly differentiated. The switching costs are therefore quite significant. A multinational corporation such as the Walt Disney Company faces internal weaknesses and strengths, which can to a certain extent be controlled. The external forces such as opportunity and threats are more difficult to control, and the Walt Disney Company has to adopt and take advantage to those forces. (scribd.com, n.d.) SWOT analysis 5.1 Strength The Walt Disney Companys main strength is in its resources, its experience in the business, and its low-cost strategy. Besides, the company has developed clearly a very strong and well known brand-name through many years. The company has also been able to diversify its operations and products to hedge against decreasing sales in product lines. In recent years, it has categorized into Home Video, Film, merchandise, Radio broadcasting, Net-work television and in theme parks. It has also effectively diversified globally its operations from USA to Japan and Europe. The main strengths in internal resources relate to human resources and financial stability. Employees in the Walt Disney Company studies appear to be extremely creative and they have produced several box-office productions in these recent years. A company without new ideas is bounded in todays competitive business environment. However, the low-cost-corporate-strategy is a benefit for the company. The company can control costs, and still produce quality goods and services. Financial risks have been minimized by sharing initial investment costs with a maximum number of outside participants. (scribd.com, n.d.) Weaknesses Corporations always have internal weaknesses. The Walt Disney Companys main weaknesses are the following: A very large work load, often changes in top-management, and high overhead expenditures. The company has 58,000 employees in 1991. This fact represents possible communications problems, and a high bureaucracy level through the corporation. The companys work load will increase even larger, and the organizational structure has to be able to support an extension of the work load by varying into more businesses and niches. The company has a very frequently changes and its corporate officers makes the corporate structure even more difficult. There are many positive things that often changes, but the changes are also associated with resistance, and high expenses. (scribd.com, n.d.) Opportunities External opportunities should be recognized, analyzed, and responded to in a very early stage. The Walt Disney Company is facing several external opportunities. However, the external threats facing the company are out-numbering the opportunities. Opportunities include the following; positive government attitudes towards its operations, barriers of entry are significant, and include the entertainment industry itself. Legal and legislative forces are usually identified as negative external factors to the company. Furthermore, the French government contributed greatly in the Euro Disneyworld project in the Walt Disney Companys case. The French government invested in the project to built communication facilities, and gave the Walt Disney Company tax reliefs on cost of goods sold accounts. In addition, since the barriers of entry into the highly specialized industry in which the Walt Disney Company is still operating, competition will find it difficult to penetrate the companys highly div ersified product or service mix. Therefore, large initial capital investments are required to enter the industry accordingly. (scribd.com, n.d.) Threats Major threats to the Walt Disney Company include the following; Over saturated markets, politics and economic aspects from a global perspective, and foreign competition. As the supply of products and services in the entertainment industry is starting to saturate the markets, competition will be more exciting, and only the most powerful companies will be able to survive finally. The Walt Disney Company has leveraged this risk to a certain level as it has diversified and globalized its operations, but still, the company is in the service/entertainment business. The Cable-giants such as Turner Broadcasting Systems (TBS) may not be able to manage the stress on its operation such as the Network-television division. (scribd.com, n.d.) Strategies The Walt Disney Companys corporate level strategy is based on a horizontal and scattered informal management approach. Ideas are born within the departments and are processed throughout the low hierarchy relatively from the final decisions. The management is placed on group creativity and in teamwork. For example, the most creative employees usually met the target in the purpose of generate with new ideas and new business strategies. As seen in this example, a large emphasis is focused on employee participation, especially on the most talented employees. Furthermore, the company is always refreshing its top management with new executives. Top-flight managers from the entertainment corporation and the financial business think new ideas and concepts which can be applied in the Walt Disney Company. There is however a significant increase in expense attached to attracting the very best to join the company. This increase in expense is related to special perk-packages directly, higher bonu ses and escalated salaries that are offered to the top-executives. (scribd.com, n.d.) Another interesting strategy is the focal point that is focused on enhancement of the business. The corporate policy is to grow slowly instead of impress others. It is important for the company to meet demand with a sufficient supply of goods and/or services. It can be accomplished by effective distribution channels and marketing department. This leads us to another corporate policy, efficiency and suppression. Recently, movie industry trend towards increase in costs rapidly, it have a direct effect on the profitability of the company. By reducing the costs involved in making and marketing Disney films, it is cheaper and more profitable movies can be produced. Efficiency enforced by tight budgets and expected high returns, Disney must be able to produce more efficiency and cheaper than its competition. (scribd.com, n.d.) In addition, the corporate strategy is clearly focusing on diversifying its products and services. The expansion overseas rapidly and an increase in the product and service mix have created an umbrella effect. Thus, risks have been reduced and minimized. If one product line fails, other product lines have to cover for its losses. (scribd.com, n.d) The Walt Disney Company is able to produce more and more products to the others countries which do not have Disneyland. Instead of going toward the countries that have Disneyland, the customers also can buy the Disney products in their own countries. Conclusion As a conclusion, Walt Disney is a master in globalization. It is one of the largest companies on the planet. Disney markets worldwide itself, creating big amount of revenues and further establishing itself as a global brand. It brand has been further developed as a result of merchandising. Merchandising has played a huge role in establishing the brand. (Suite101.com, n.d.) An important factor in the success of Disney has been the integrated nature of its products, with synergies between film and television, between media and theme parks, and between theme parks, hotels and resort operations, according to the 1998 book Embracing and Managing Change in Tourism: A Globalised Theme Park Market? The Case of Disney in Europe. (Suite101.com, n.d.) 8 References WEBSITES Multinational corporation (MNC) [Online] Available at: http://www.investmentsandincome.com/investments/multinational-corporation.html [Assessed 11st November, 2010] The Walt Disney Company Introduction [Online] Available at: http://www.usahm.net/news.asp?id=86 [Assessed 13rd November, 2010] The Walt Disney Company Overview [Online] Available at: http://corporate.disney.go.com/corporate/overview.html [Assessed 13rd November, 2010] The Walt Disney Company Structure [Online] Available at: http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/cliff-kuang/design-innovation/roy-disney-rip [Assessed 15th November, 2010] Definition of Globalization [Online] Available at: http://hubpages.com/hub/Definition-of-Globalization [Assessed 20th November, 2010] Impacts of Globalization [Online] Available at: http://www.theneverlandfiles.com/misc/ColeYoungerDisneyGlobalization.pdf [Assessed 20th November, 2010] Porters Five Forces Model [Online] Available at: (function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script"); scribd.type = "text/javascript"; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = "https://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })() [Assessed 28th November, 2010] SWOT analysis [Online] Available at: (function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script"); scribd.type = "text/javascript"; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = "https://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })() [Assessed 3rd December, 2010] The Walt Disney Company Strategies [Online] Available at: (function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script"); scribd.type = "text/javascript"; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = "https://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })() [Assessed 6th December, 2010] Conclusion http://www.suite101.com/content/disney-and-globalisation-a196391#ixzz17mk5w65J [Assessed 7th December, 2010] PICTURES, IMAGES AND PHOTOGRAPHS Walt Disneys Creative Organization Chart, 2009. Chart. [Electronic print] Available at: http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/cliff-kuang/design-innovation/roy-disney-rip [Assessed 15th November, 2010] Disney and Globalisation, 2010. Marketing the Brand. [Electronic print] Available at: http://www.suite101.com/content/disney-and-globalisation-a196391#ixzz17mk5w65J [Assessed 15th November, 2010] Walt Disney, 2008. Header Logo. [Electronic print] Available at: http://www.toxel.com/design/2008/08/20/20-famous-logo-designs/ [Assessed 6th December, 2010] Disney Motion Picture Art, 1998-2010. Collections. [Picture] Available at: http://www.motionpictureart.com/Disneyana-p-1-c-35.html [Assessed 6th December, 2010] 9 Appendices Appendix 1 Source: Walt Disney, 2008

Elements of the Novel, To Kill a Mocking Bird :: To Kill a Mockingbird Essays

Elements of the Novel (To Kill a Mocking Bird) Element Questions Evidence Character 1. Name the various persons we encounter in TKAM. Scout, Jem, Atticus, Arthur Boo Radley, Calpurnia, Miss Maudie Atkinson, Mrs Dubose, Cunninghams, Ewells, Tom Robinson 2. How do we evaluate these characters? a. by their speech b. by their actions? We evaluate the characters by both their speech and their actions. What they say suggests how each one of them are thinking and the tone in which they say, illustrates their attitudes. Minor actions on their part also review their character s and attitudes. E.g. (speech) Atticus,† You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view†¦until you climb into his skin and walk around it.† (chapter 3) This piece of evidence shows that Atticus is understanding towards everyone as he would always try to see things from the other point of view. (actions) When Mr Ewell approached him, cursed him, and threatened to kill him, he just took out his handkerchief and wiped his face. He understood how Mr Ewell felt as he destroyed his last shred of credibility at that trial and felt that Mr Ewell, spitting on his face and threatening him could save Mayella one extra beating. He understood how they feel and did nothing to aggravate them. E.g. 3. Do we have privileged access to all the characters’ most private thoughts? No. We only have access to Scout’s most private thoughts as she is the narrator of the story. Her voice and viewpoint offer a glimpse of local events and personalities through the lens of childhood. Everything that happens is seen through her eyes. Everything that happens must be known to her. But,, we can never see â€Å"inside the heads† of other characters in the story. Only if the story is told in the third person, it would be different. We would probably know why exactly Jem cried, why Atticus took Tom’s case and what fears and doubts he may have had. E.g. Scout witnessed how Aunt Alexandra’s reaction to the bad news of Tom Robinson’s death. She was truly upset but she still put on a brave front and looked as happy as she could to join the other ladies. She thought that Aunt Alexandra was strong and wanted to be like her. So with her best company manners, she served them, thinking that after all, if Aunt Alexandra could be a lady at time like this, so could I. (access to Scout’s thoughts) E.g. Jem was moody and silent for a week after the incident which he left his pants on the wire and he went back to take it. We are unable

Driving that Train, High on :: Short Stories Drugs Addiction Papers

Driving that Train, High on. . . "If I could do one line today and not be an addict, I would,'" Melissa said when she was sober and knew she could not handle cocaine. But when she was face to face with the candy for the first time in almost a year, she didn't care whether or not she would become an addict again. Knowing the devastation the drug would cause, knowing one line would bring back all the pain again, she still wanted it more than her education, more than her family, she would have given everything for it, all over again. Sitting at the table, hair pulled back in a pony tail, dressed in a sweater and chinos, (she had really cleaned herself up from a year ago) Melissa drank her beer as if it were going out of style. Watching her friend exchange money for a bag, she had to ask "Can I have a line?" "Melissa, I know you want one, but can you do one and not get hooked on it again?" "Yeah, sure." "I don't want to be the one who gets you all fucked up." "If I couldn't handle it I would tell you, I swear." Melissa walked back to the party, now anxious, and took a seat in her chair. This time she wasn't worried about drinking her beer. The only thing she now thought about was getting that line. She kept him in her sight, the way parents keep an eye on their young children to make sure they don't take off somewhere. If he left, she wouldn't get a line. She wanted that line. "Just one, it won't do anything." "I will in a second, wait until we get back to your house." "It's safe here, no one cares, let's go in the bathroom, no one will know." "Just wait, Melissa." She walked away again. She didn't realize it but she went up to him every five minutes for the rest of the night. "Can I have a line?" "Can I have that line?" "Can I have that line now?" Before she knew it everyone was in the back room, snorting coke. No one would give her a line. She got pissed off and snuck out the sliding glass door.

Michael Moores Bowling for Columbine Essay -- Films Movies Michael Mo

Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine In Bowling for Columbine, Michael Moore, an award winning writer and director takes a look at some of the many social problems that plague America to this day. Moore starts his documentary by briefly talking about the Columbine High School shooting and then moves on to discuss things that may have truly been a factor in some the aggression that the two students so aggressively took out on their peers. Many issues are talked about in this movie including but not limited to: The Oklahoma City bombing, the presence of a leading tactical weapons provider located near the small town of Littleton, and many others. Not all of the things brought up in the film directly relate to the incidents at Columbine High School but rather provide a broader idea on the state of America today. Issues of the white man's ever growing fear of the African-American are traced back to the roots and then brought into ideas applicable to present day. Along with such ideas, the main point of this film is th e influence of government and the media to instill fear in our people as a whole. Moore is somewhat of an extremist but brings his points to the surface in a way that people can relate with and understand. After seeing this film I walked out of the movie theatre feeling more enlightened on some of the political topics at hand in this country and I agree wholly with what Mr. Moore has to say on these issues. Michael Moore, as mentioned before, is a controversial writer/director that aims at bringing topics to light that are either overlooked or ignored by the American people. He has previously released films that bring to light, the corporate leaders of America and their ability to get away with just ab... ...e tone of sarcasm that he presents his views, it almost brings about a sense of seriousness, as you know that what he said is in a sense somewhat amusing but not laughable. When something like that is presented the only thing left for you to do is to think about what is being said. Moore is an influential person that knows how to deliver a point and when he has said what he has to say you will sit back and ponder his ideas for sometimes days, if not weeks. Moore takes a film that would seem to focus on one particular incident and broaden it to the problems that plague America as a whole today. This film was one of the most thought provoking insightful pieces of work that I have seen in a long time. Source Bowling For Columbine. Michael Moore, Charles Bishop & Charles Donovan. Theatre Film. United Artists, Alliance Atlantis, and Dog Eat Dog Films, 2002.

Khaled Hosseini Essay

The story is about Amir and Hassan, a Hazara. They spend their days in a peaceful Kabul, kite fighting, roaming the streets and being boys. Amir’s father loves both the boys, but seems critical of Amir for not being manly enough. Amir also fears his father blames him for his mother’s death during childbirth. However, he has a kind father figure in the form of Rahim Khan, Baba’s friend, who understands Amir better, and is supportive of his interest in writing stories. Assef, a mean and violent older boy, blames Amir for socializing with a Hazara. According to Assef, the Hazaras were an inferior race that should only live in Hazarajat. He prepares to attack Amir with his steel knuckles, but Hassan bravely stands up to him, and threatens to shoot Assef in the eye with his slingshot. Assef and his friends back off, but Assef says he will take revenge. Hassan is a successful â€Å"kite runner† for Amir. He knows where the kite will land without even watching it. One triumphant day, Amir wins the local tournament, and finally Baba’s praise. Hassan goes to run the last cut, it was a great trophy. Hassan then said â€Å"For you, a thousand times over. † Unfortunately, Hassan runs into Assef and his two henchmen. Hassan refuses to give up Amir’s kite, so Assef exacts his revenge, assaulting and raping him. Wondering why Hassan is taking so long, Amir searches for Hassan and hides when he hears Assef’s voice. He witnesses the rape but is too scared to help him. Afterwards, for some time Hassan and Amir keep a distance from each other. Amir reacts differently because he feels ashamed, and is frustrated by Hassan’s saint-like behavior. Already jealous of Baba’s love for Hassan, Amir worries if Baba knew how bravely Hassan defended Amir’s kite, and how cowardly Amir acted, that Baba’s love for Hassan would grow even more. To force Hassan to leave, Amir frames him as a thief, and Hassan falsely confesses. Baba forgives him, despite the fact that, as he explained earlier, he believes that â€Å"there is no act more wretched than stealing. † Hassan and his father Ali, leave anyway. Hassan’s departure frees Amir of the daily reminder of his betrayal, but he still lives with his guilt. Five years later, the Russians invade Afghanistan; Amir and Baba escape to Peshawar, Pakistan and then to Fremont, California, where Amir and Baba, settle in an apartment and Baba works at a gas station. Amir eventually takes classes at a local community college to develop his writing skills. Every Sunday, Baba and Amir make extra money selling used goods at a flea market in San Jose. There, Amir meets fellow refugee Soraya and Soraya’s father, who was a high-ranked officer in Afghanistan. Baba is diagnosed with cancer but is still capable of granting Amir one last favor: he asks Soraya’s father’s permission for Amir to marry her. He agrees and they marry. Shortly thereafter Baba dies. Amir and Soraya get to know that they cannot have children. Fifteen years after his wedding, Amir receives a call from Rahim Khan, who is dying from an illness. Rahim Khan asks Amir to come to Pakistan. He tells Amir â€Å"there is a way to be good again. † Amir goes. Ali was killed by a land mine. Hassan had a wife and a son, named Sohrab, and had returned to Baba’s house as a caretaker at Rahim Khan’s request. One day the Taliban murdered Hassan, along with his wife. Rahim Khan reveals that Ali was not really Hassan’s father. Hassan was actually the son of Baba, therefore Amir’s half-brother. Rahim Khan tells Amir that the true reason he has called Amir to Pakistan is to go to Kabul to rescue Hassan’s son, Sohrab, from an orphanage. Amir returns to a Taliban-controlled Kabul with a guide, Farid, and searches for Sohrab at the orphanage. He does not find Sohrab where he was supposed to be. The director of the orphanage tells them that a Taliban official comes often, brings cash and usually takes a girl back with him. Once in a while however, he takes a boy, recently Sohrab. The director tells Amir to go to a soccer match and the man â€Å"who does the speeches† is the man who took Sohrab. Farid manages to secure an appointment with the speaker at his home, by saying that he and Amir have â€Å"personal business† with him. At the house, Amir has his meeting with the man in sunglasses. The man is revealed to be his childhood enemy, Assef. Assef is aware of Amir’s identity from the very beginning, but Amir doesn’t realize who he’s sitting across until Assef starts asking about Ali, Baba and Hassan. Sohrab is being kept at the home where he is made to dance dressed in women’s clothes, and it seems like Assef might have been sexually assaulting him. Assef agrees to release him, but only for a price – a fight with Amir. Amir is the protagonist of the story. He lives with his father, while his mother died when he was born. He has trouble getting attention and love from his father. He is best friends with Hassan, and the story follows him from the time he is a child to adult. He is good at school, but he is a boy who is struggling to get his father to be happy, he feels that he is the disappointment of his father. He characterizes himself as a coward, with little purpose. He changes his personal beliefs twice throughout the history. First time when Hassan is raped, after the event he is not talking with Hassan because of his guilt and gets Hassan kicked out of the house. The second is when he goes back to Afghanistan to retrieve the son of Hassan. As an adult, he proved what he can do, and is presented as a man with so much courage that no one else ever had. Hassan is the son of Ali, who is the servant of Baba. Hassan is a Hazara and he is often discriminated against and oppressed by others. Hassan is brave, loyal and always protects Amir. Since Hassan has not gone to school, he learns to read and write from Ali. He’s doing what he’s told. He is incredibly loyal to Amir. When Amir accuses him of stealing his watch, he said to Baba that he was the one who took it, without Amir asking him about it. Hassan is the character that changes at least throughout the history. Assef is the evil character in this book. He hates Hazaras, which is shown clearly in the book. Therefore, he is looking for Amir. He believes that it is his fault that Hassan lives with him. He is the one that causes problems between the childhood friends Amir and Hassan. We have two turning points in this book. The first comes when Hassan is sexually abused by Assef and his gang. It changes the friendship of Amir and Hassan. Amir stops talking with Hassan because he feels ashamed and feels that he has betrayed Hassan. The second turning point comes when Rahim Khan calls Amir. Amir changes and realizes that he can make things better. He decides to find Sohrab and get him to safety. This is the structure of the story. The story starts with a short introduction where the narrator tells us a little about himself and Kabul. Then we get more excitement and we get the climax. The climax is when Hassan got raped by Assef. Anything could happen at that point because Amir was looking at everything that happened. The excitement fell down after that incident because Hassan and Ali left the house, but it became more and more interesting after that because the Russians invaded Afghanistan and Amir had to leave Afghanistan. That was a big change in the story. Once again we got a climax when Amir stood face to face against Assef. He had a chance to take revenge now. This was our presentation of ‘’The Kite Runner’’. We have told you a little about the plot, the characters, the turning-points, climax, the setting, the themes and the message in the book. I will end the presentation by talking about my opinion about the book. I loved this book. It has a good structure, the content is really good and you don’t want to stop reading. I don’t like to read books, but this book was special. Sources:The Kite Runnerhttps://thekyterunner. wikispaces. com/Dragel%C3%B8peren| http://www. smartguy. no/klaer/t-shirt/t-shirt-logo/marinebla_polo-ralph-lauren-t-shirt_179718_21 http://www. smartguy. no/klaer/t-shirt/poloshirt/hvit_lacoste-poloskjorte_175476_3 http://www. smartguy. no/klaer/t-shirt/poloshirt/mellembla_tommy-hilfiger-poloshirt_187632_74 http://www. smartguy. no/klaer/t-shirt/poloshirt/svart_hugo-boss-orange-poloskjorte_182674_4 http://www. smartguy. no/klaer/jeans-bukser/bukser/sand_vito-chino_192150_27 http://karrierestart. no/jobb? jobtype=2&municipality=89&page=5 http://www. free-tv-video-online. me/internet/the_ellen_degeneres_show/season_10. html http://www. handelsportal. no/butikk/iphone-4-4s/iphone-4-deksel-og-etui http://max100. no/index. php? route=product/product&path=20_64_67&product_id=292.

Development of an Equation Essay

Purpose: Investigate a chemical reaction using lab procedures and observations. Then, find a pattern of reactivity and explain the findings using a chemical equation and particle diagram. Procedure: Refer to: Department of Chemistry, The Ohio State University. â€Å"Development of an Equation.† General Chemistry 1210 Laboratory Manual. Vol. 2013-2014. Plymouth: Hayden-McNeil. 32-35. Data/Results: Part A: In the potassium iodide solution, I think there were potassium atoms as well as iodine atoms. In the lead nitrate solution, I think there were lead and nitrate ions. The potassium atoms and the lead atoms can be classified as cations, since they are metals. The iodine atoms and the nitrate ion can be classified as anions since they are nonmetals. Upon mixing, the solution turned into a cloudy yellow color. Evidence that a chemical reaction occurred was that the two solutions created a new color because the two solutions were originally colorless. There was no gas formed. Part B: (Testing the Anions) Iodide reaction with hydrogen peroxide observations- The precipitate at the bottom turned into a red solid and the liquid solution was a dirty yellow color. Nitrate reaction with hydrogen peroxide observations- A colorless precipitate formed at the bottom and looked like a bubble. It was a relatively large bubble. The liquid solution was colorless and cloudy/fizzy. Since the reaction resulted in some fizzing and bubbles, this is indication that a gas was formed. (Testing the Cations) Potassium reaction with thioacetamide observations – No reaction occurred. Lead reaction with thioacetamide observations – A violet-black precipitate formed at the bottom of the test tube and the liquid solution was a cloudy grey color. It was about the same size precipitate as the nitrate reaction with hydrogen peroxide. Strong smell from the thioacetamide. Part C: Identification of ions in the precipitate that forms when lead nitrate solution is added to potassium iodide solution. (Testing for Anions) Reaction with hydrogen peroxide observations- A dark red precipitate formed at the bottom of the test tube and the liquid solution was colorless. There was not a large amount of precipitate formed and it sort of smeared along the inside of the test tube. Inferences: What anions are in the precipitate? -iodine (I-) When compared with results from part B to test anions, similar results were found. A dark red precipitate was formed in both. (Testing for cations) Reaction with hydrogen sulfide observations- A small, violet-black precipitate formed at the bottom of the test tube and the liquid solution was grey and cloudy. Inferences: What cations are in the precipitate? – lead (Pb2+) When compared with results from part B to test cations, similar results were found, A violet-black precipitate was formed in both tests. Exchange reaction- Positive potassium started off with negative iodine, and positive lead started off with negative nitrate. Potassium switched to combine with nitrate and lead switched to combine with iodine. Part D: Testing of Precipitate| Observations on Initial Precipitate Formed (relative amount, etc.)| Lead Nitrate: Potassium Iodide Ratio| Tube 1| Powdery, yellow precipitate formed at the bottom. Not very much precipitate. Little to no streaking. Clear liquid solution above precipitate. | 3:1| Tube 2| Powdery, yellow precipitate formed at the bottom. Equal to tube 1. Little to no streaking. Clear liquid solution above precipitate.| 2:1| Tube 3| Powdery, yellow precipitate formed at the bottom. A little more precipitate than tube 1 and 2. Little to no streaking. Clear liquid solution above precipitate.| 1:1| Tube 4| Powdery, yellow precipitate formed at the bottom. Much more than tube 3. Noticeable streaking of precipitate along sides of test tube. Clear liquid solution above precipitate.| 1:2| Tube 5| Powdery, yellow precipitate formed at the bottom. Most precipitate formed out of all test tubes. A lot of streaking of the precipitate along sides of the test tube. Clear liquid solution above precipitate. | 1:3| Testing of Supernatant| Observations| Inferences: Which ions were in the supernatant? List cations and anions.| Tube 1| The solution was clear with lead nitrate, but turned a yellow cloudy color with the potassium iodide. | Pb2+ (lead)-cationsNO3- (nitrate)-anions| Tube 2| The solution was clear with lead nitrate, but turned a yellow cloudy color with the potassium iodide.| Pb2+ (lead)-cationsNO3- (nitrate)-anions| Tube 3| The solution was clear with lead nitrate, but turned a yellow cloudy color with the potassium iodide.| Pb2+ (lead)-cationsNO3- (nitrate)-anions| Tube 4| The solution was clear with both the lead nitrate and the potassium iodide.| Pb2+ (lead)-cationsNO3- (nitrate)-anions| Tube 5| The solution was a little yellow with the lead nitrate, and a little less yellow with the potassium iodide.| K+ (potassium)I- (iodine)| Discussion/Conclusion: In part A, the first step was to obtain 5 drops of potassium iodine and 5 drops of lead nitrate and put them into a test tube and record observations. Then, to test the anions in part B, 5 drops of potassium iodine, 5 drops of nitric, 10 drops of dichloroethane, and 5 drops hydrogen peroxide to a new test tube. Then to a separate test tube, 5 drops of potassium nitrate, 5 drops of nitric acid, 10 drops of dichloroethane, and 5 hydrogen peroxide to a new test tube. Both should be stoppered and shook to produce two distinct layers. To test the cations, 2 test tubes would each get 20 drops of thioacetamide and 2 drops of nitric acid. One would get 5 drops of lead nitrate and the other 5 drops of potassium nitrite. Both test tubes were heated for 5 minutes and observations were recorded. In part C, the sample was used from part A and the test tube was centrifuged, then the clear aqueous layer was removed and discarded and the precipitate was washed with distilled w ater. This process was repeated once more. To test the anions, 5 drops of nitric acid, 10 drops of dichloroethane, and 5 drops of hydrogen peroxide were added to the solid precipitate and the test tube was stoppered and shook. These results were compared to the results from part B. To test for cations, the less colored aqueous layer was transferred to a clean test tube and the leftover layer was discarded. The solution was heated in a water bath until clear. 20 drops of thioacetamide were added, stirred then heated in a water bath and compared to the results from part B. In part D, to determine the ratio of  ions in the precipitate, 5 test tubes were labelled 1-5 and were filled according to table 3.1 on page 34 of the lab manual. The same medicine dropper was used for all drops and the test tubes were stoppered and shook, then centrifuged. The relative amounts and appearance of each precipitate were recorded. To test for potassium of iodide ions in the supernatant, 5 drops of lead nitrate were added to 5 separate test tubes with along with 5 drops from the appropriate test tube solution. The same was done to test for lead or nitrate ions, but potassium iodide was added instead. The perfect ratio for thi s lab was 2 potassium iodides for every lead nitrate. This ratio was found from balancing the equation and from comparing the results from part C to part B to match the observations of the precipitates. The ratio is the molar mass ratio of the balanced equation. The balanced equation was: 2KI(aq)+Pb(NO3)2(aq) 2KNO3(aq)+PbI2(s) and the formula of the precipitate was PbI2(s) based on the observations. In part B, the test for anions resulted in a dark red precipitate which was the iodide solution with hydrogen peroxide. In part C, the same results were found when lead nitrate and potassium iodide were added to hydrogen peroxide, therefore; the anions found were iodide ions because it has a negative 1 charge. In part B to test cations, the precipitate was a violet-black color for the lead solution reaction with thioacetamide. In part C, the same results were found when lead nitrate and potassium iodide were added to hydrogen sulfide. The cations found were lead ions since they have a positive 2 charge. Some inherent errors could have been while extracting the clear aqueous solution, some of the precipitate could have been extracted with the solution and transferred into another test tube. Upon heating, not all of the precipitate dissolved. Some of the drops with the micropipet varied also. The medicine dropper was more precise with the drops. Through this lab, a chemical reaction was used to find the pattern of reactivity which was an exchange reaction. This is known by finding the chemical equation and properly balancing it which is seen above. This lead to the ability to create a particle diagram and the findings of a perfect ratio of lead nitrate to potassium iodide.