The Dark Half by Stephen King essays

The Dark Half by Stephen King essays During the seventies, Stephen King wrote several stories under a pseudonym, Richard Bachman. Ten years later King incorporated the idea of a writer using a fake name in a novel called The Dark Half published by Penguin Books USA Inc. in 1989. It's the story of Thad Beaumont, a writer who lives in Ludlow, Maine. His "other" is George Stark, who writes crime novels about a killer named Alexis Machine. When it's learned that Thad Beaumont is really George Stark, he and his wife Elizabeth come up with a photo opportunity, a daylight burial of George. His tombstone at the local cemetery says it all: NOT A VERY NICE GUY. When he was 11, Thad Beaumont had to have surgery on his brain to remove what was thought to be a tumor. It turned out that the 'tumor' was something else. Thad is soon visited by Sheriff Alan Pangborn, asking questions about the mysterious murders that are going on. Somehow, Thads fingerprints are all over the crime scene. Pangborn soon learns why Thad had to have surgery when he was a kid and that he was twins. The unborn brother was absorbed into Thad and later removed from his skull when he was a boy. He had suffered from severe headaches, and it was originally thought to be a tumor causing them. Somehow, Stark resurrects himself and starts to kill everyone he believes is responsible for his "death".After Stark murders the people responsible for his death he makes contact with Thad. All Stark seems to want is for Thad to write another novel as his pseudonym, and he is going to go to any length to get him to do it. Thad experiences blackouts every now and then. Soon, he finds out that him and George share a telepathic bond. This explains how he can see George's murderous rampages, and how the two can telegraph pain to one another. This is a very good book that starts out a little too slow. The pace set at the start of the book doesn't really pick up like you might expect. As you start ...

Ancient Greek and Roman Clothing

Ancient Greek and Roman Clothing Ancient Greeks and Romans wore similar clothing, usually made at home. One of the principal occupations of women in ancient society was weaving. Women wove garments generally of wool or linen for their families, although the very wealthy could also afford silk and cotton. Research suggests that fabrics were often brightly colored and decorated with elaborate designs. In general, the women wove a single square or rectangular piece of clothing that could have multiple uses. It could be a garment, a blanket, or even a shroud. Infants and young children often went naked. Greco-Roman clothing for both women and men consisted of two main garments- a tunic (either a peplos or chiton) and a cloak (himation or toga). Both women and men wore sandals, slippers, soft shoes, or boots, although at home they usually went barefoot. Tunics, Togas, and Mantles Roman togas were white woolen strips of cloth about six feet wide and 12 feet long. They were draped over the shoulders and body and worn over a linen tunic. Children and commoners wore natural or off-white togas, while Roman senators wore brighter, whiter togas. Colored stripes on the toga designated particular occupations or statuses; for example, magistrates togas had purple stripes and edging. Togas were relatively unwieldy to wear, so they were reserved for formal or leisure events. While togas had their place, most working people needed more practical clothing on a daily basis. As a result, most ancient people wore one or more tunics, large rectangles of cloth known as a peplos and/or a chiton. Peplos are heavier and usually not sewn but pinned; chitons were about twice the size of the peplos, made of a lighter fabric and generally seamed. The tunic was the basic garment: it could also be used as an undergarment. Instead of a toga, some Roman women wore an ankle-length, pleated dress known as the stola, which could have long sleeves and fastened at the shoulder with the clasp known as a fibula. Such garments were worn over the tunics and under the palla. Prostitutes wore togas instead of the stola. The Layered Effect A typical outfit for a woman might start with a strophion, a soft band wrapped around the mid-section of the body. Over the strophion could be draped the peplos, a large rectangle of heavy fabric, usually wool, folded over along the upper edge to create a double layer in front called an overfold (apoptygma). The top edge would be draped to reach to the waist. The peplos was fastened at the shoulders, armhole openings were left on each side, and the peplos might or might not be cinched with a belt.   Instead of a peplos, a woman might wear a chiton, made of a much lighter material, usually imported linen which sometimes was diaphanous or semi-transparent. Made with twice as much material as the peplos, the chiton was wide enough to allow sleeves to be fastened along the upper arms with pins or buttons. Both the peplos and chiton were floor-length, and usually long enough to be pulled over a belt, creating a soft pouch called a kolpos.  Ã‚   Over the  tunic would go a mantle of some sort. This was the rectangular himation for the Greeks, and pallium or palla for the Romans, draped over the left arm and under the right. Roman male citizens also wore a toga instead of the Greek himation, or a large rectangular or semicircular shawl that would be worn pinned on the right shoulder or joined at the front of the body. Cloaks and Outerwear In inclement weather or for reasons of fashion, Romans would wear certain outer garments, mostly cloaks or capes pinned at the shoulder, fastened down the front or possibly pulled over the head. Wool was the most common material, but some could be leather. Shoes and sandals were ordinarily made of leather, although shoes might be wool felt. Throughout the Bronze and Iron ages, womens and mens fashion choices varied greatly as they fell in and out of style. In Greece, the peplos was the earliest developed, and the chiton first appeared in the sixth century BCE, only to fall out of favor again in the fifth century. Sources and Further Information Ancient Greek Dress. In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2003.Casson, Lionel. Greek and Roman Clothing: Some Technical Terms. Glotta 61.3/4 (1983): 193–207.Cleland, Liza, Glenys Davies, and Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones. Greek and Roman Dress from A to Z. London: Routledge, 2007.Croom, Alexandra. Roman Clothing and Fashion. Gloucestershire: Amberley Publishing, 2010.Harlow, Mary E. Dressing to Please Themselves: Clothing Choices for Roman Women. Dress and Identity. Ed. Harlow, Mary E. Bar International Series 2536. Oxford: Archaeopress, 2012. 37–46.Olsen, Kelly. Dress and the Roman Woman: Self-Presentation and Society. London: Routledge, 2012.  Smith, Stephanie Ann, and Debby Sneed. Womens Dress in Archaic Greece: The Peplos, Chiton, and Himation. Classics Department, University of Colorado Boulder, June 18, 2018.

Sufficiency Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Sufficiency Economy - Essay Example 3. Prudent trading dispositions despite competition; 4. Fervent desire for knowledge to transcend dearth and develop the passion for labor to earn an honest living; and 5. A people of wisdom in all their humanly ways. During the training sessions, the four (4) basic virtues advocated by His Majesty the King were taught with the corresponding goals for the corporate sector of society: 1. Enhancement of the knowledge of cost-effective measures which would ensure adherence to sensible expenditures, thus resulting to quality living for the employees at work and at home; 2. Encouragement and inspiration to gain appropriate and up-to-the-minute technological skills to enhance personal as well as national productivity; and 3. Boost the business administration expertise within the precept of limited resources to achieve a stance that is at par with the well developed markets. Objective It is the aspiration of this sufficiency economic program that all the participants to every training session will understand and be acquainted with the application of the philosophy to their organizations. Logic Model Sufficiency Economic Theory naturally pursues the cyclic pattern of development: Pattern of Development Awareness: His Majesty the King usually visits sections in Thailand to explain to his people the nature of sufficiency economy. Interest: His Majesty the King labeled his projects: Kaem-Ling which means 'monkey cheek', a flood management system; Namdee Lai Nam Sien, 'good water expel polluted water' or the water dilution project, which He comprehensively explains that the public may understand (The Chaipattana Foundation,...Many may have acknowledged that sufficiency economy lift up the standard of living, brighten one's perspective and add passion to labor. Moreover, sufficiency economy is a growing trend that guarantees a safer future. Sufficiency Economy program or financial system is a strategy implemented to drive an unwavering trend towards Thailand's economic sustainability. This groundwork prepares the country for any eventuality along sociological, environmental, technological or political spheres. It is the aspiration of this sufficiency economic program that all the participants to every training session will understand and be acquainted with the application of the philosophy to their organizations. means 'monkey cheek', a flood management system; Namdee Lai Nam Sien, 'good water expel polluted water' or the water dilution project, which He comprehensively explains that the public may understand (The Chaipattana Foundation, 1996). Trial: Prior to His Majesty the King's introduction of projects to the public, He usually had a study and research conducted to accurately determine the possibility and suitability of situations in locations across Thailand. Adoption: His Majesty the King made His two royal projects available for viewing and study at the Royal Development Study Center and other centers of the country for his people to appreciate and emulate. This sufficiency economy training program will be con

The Vietnam War Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The Vietnam War - Research Paper Example The war resulted in over 2 million civilian casualties and came to an end with the defeat of South Vietnam and (but) eventually the country was unified (Pillai). The roots of the war date back to the colonial rule of Vietnam by the French. During World War II, the Japanese defeated the French and took control of Vietnam after which despite several attempts the French failed to reimpose their colonial rule. After a 9 year struggle (from 1946 to 1954) of the Vietnamese Army for independence against the French colonial rule, the Geneva Accords of 1954 divided the country into North and South Vietnam. After the partition, North Vietnam was supported by China and The Soviet Union and South Vietnam was obviously supported by the United States. United States President Dwight Eisenhower and Vice-President Richard Nixon justified their support for the South Vietnam by putting forward the Domino Theory, which said that if one country falls to communism the others in the region would follow suit and then communism would spread rapidly across the world (Domino Theory). The war took off when a Pro-American Ngo Dinh Diem came to power in South Vietnam. He was anti-communist and was a perfect candidate to be supported by the United States for their plan to establish an anti-communist government in the South. Diem was popular amongst the Catholics in Vietnam but he faced serious resistance by the non-Christians Vietnamese. To keep Diem in power, the U.S started sending exorbitant amounts of military aid to protect Diem’s regime.... It was fought between the North Vietnam (Communist) and South Vietnam (United States). The war resulted in over 2 million civilian casualties and came to an end with the defeat of South Vietnam and (but) eventually the country was unified (Pillai). The roots of the war date back to the colonial rule of Vietnam by the French. During World War II, the Japanese defeated the French and took control of Vietnam after which despite several attempts the French failed to re-impose their colonial rule. After a 9 year struggle (from 1946 to 1954) of the Vietnamese Army for independence against the French colonial rule, the Geneva Accords of 1954 divided the country into North and South Vietnam. After the partition, North Vietnam was supported by China and Soviet Union and South Vietnam was obviously supported by the United States. United States President Dwight Eisenhower and Vice-President Richard Nixon justified their support for the South Vietnam by putting forward the Domino Theory, which s aid that if one country falls to communism the others in the region would follow suit and then communism would spread rapidly across the world (Domino Thory). The war took off when a Pro-American Ngo Dinh Diem came to power in South Vietnam. He was anti-communist and was a perfect candidate to be supported by United States for their plan to establish an anti-communist government in the South. Diem was popular amongst the Catholics in Vietnam but he faced serious resistance by the non-Christians Vietnamese. To keep Diem in power, the U.S started sending exorbitant amounts of military aid to protect Diem’s regime. This marked the American military presence in the region which increased dramatically over time. It is popular belief that Diem

Social Networking on Relationships Essay Example for Free

Social Networking on Relationships Essay Social networking sites have a negative influence on children, teenagers and adults. â€Å"A social networking site can be defined as an online service that is based around the building and reflecting of social relations among individuals with common interests or social ties,† . Social networking sites such as Facebook, Skype, and Twitter all vary slightly. They can enable users to create a profile and them to interact through email, IM and other integrated communication channels within the site. The popularity and growth of social networking sites over the past five years has been enormous. Today, there are more than 1 billion active users on face book and users spend over 700 billion minutes per month on this social networking site. As the technology improves and advances, social networking sites have biggest impact on society and human relationships, both positive and negative. I’m going discuss the three main reasons why social networking sites bring many negative impacts pose on today’s media. One main reason social networking has an negative effect is because it ends relationships. One thing is for sure these sites are the breaking point of relationships in conversations amongst our friends and peers. Recent studies have shown that the use of social networks is a contributing factor to break ups of relationships and marriages. Studies show that the significant amount of time spent on these social networks engaged in contact with members of the opposite sex tends to create jealousy and a lack of trust which can lead to the relationship ending. â€Å"The internet makes it much easier to start a relationship, get caught and make a relationship come to an end. From what could be deemed inappropriate comments or postings, to friends of the opposite sex that stirs up feelings of jealousy and mistrust. Also, inboxes being â€Å"overly flirtatious†, lying and cheating. The second reason that social networking is bad for society is that it makes people lazy and overweight. About two decades ago, when people were bored, they would go outside and do something. Nowadays, many people just go on their phones and â€Å"tweet† about how bored they are or scroll through a friends new pictures and click the â€Å"like† button a few times. Sure, social networking might give you something â€Å"to do,† but really, you aren’t doing anything! People sit at computers and eat their self away. Children today don’t know how to communicate face to face with people. They would rather text or IM their friends than even think about having a verbal conversation with them. Children are going to school accessing the network over their phones instead of doing their work. For example, in my home town, a student saw that another student posted a status threatening to bomb the school. Everyone had to evacuate immediately. Another reason to be aware of is the illegal actions that can be performed, such as piracy, fraud, virtual shoplifting, cyber bullying, cyber stalking, sexual harassment, fake identities, or worse death. Can you imagine all of the kids approving a bunch of random people, they do not know being able to come in contact with them? Social Networks create an open access towards exposing individuals’ personal information. â€Å"This includes full name, date of birth, addresses, phone numbers, precise locations, emails, and more. † Exposed private information of adolescents causes them to be at risk with dangerous situations previous listed. Individuals attacked are highly exposed to having psychological problems, becoming afraid of outcomes, becoming depressed and using suicide as a method to stop attacks. Social networks have changed people by allowing them to befriend and contact more people more frequently and more efficiently. Unfortunately, they have also limited some face-to-face conversations with family and friends. Although social networking sites are efficient in providing ways to communicate, we need to limit our use of social networking sites in order to become stronger as individuals and to strengthen our relationships.

How Romanticism Changed Societys Way of Thinking Essay -- Romanticism

To understand how Romanticism changed the way society thought, you must first understand the meanings and reason behind the movement. The Romantic Movement in the late 18th and early 19th centuries was described as a movement in the history of culture, an aesthetic style, and an attitude of mind. (Fiero) Romanticism provided expression of their thoughts and ideas toward their own societies, which was in effect predominantly in Europe and in the United States. The movement was a reaction to the Enlightenment which provided strict ideology and rationalism. The Church had much to do with the Enlightenment seeing as if religion and the importance of God were incorporated into most aspects of their culture. Thus, Romanticism was a response to the Enlightenment Movement and their religious ideology. Romantics began to believe that it was important to be in touch with your emotions. Romanticism was viewed as an assertion of intuitive individualism and the primacy of feeling. (Fiero) These ideas lead to more detail and expression in art. Portraits are perfect examples for the subject of the individual because in portraits you can see what the person was feeling. Artists typically painted as a reaction of what was going on around them and portraits gave them the opportunity to express what their society was like. Traditionally, records of individual likeness, portraits became vehicles for expressing a range of psychological and emotional states in the hands of Romantic painters. (Galitz) In the book Toward a Theory of Romanticism the author Morse Peckham gives his own idea on the theory of Romanticism. He gave his opinion on the theory of romanticism because he proclaims that while there is a definition for the romanticism movement, ... ...lt good about themselves as human beings. Because they acquired this mindset, they used their instinct to form opinions on issues that they dealt with at that time. People’s morals changed because of Romanticism and that changed the mentality of individuals for the better. Without individuality, society would yield all excitement and become very dull. Works Cited Galitz, Kathryn Calley. "Romanticism". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. Fiero, Gloria K. The Humanistic Tradition 6th ed. Vol. II New York: McGraw Hill, 2011 Print. Gleckner, Robert F., and Gerald E. Enscoe. "Toward a Theory of Romanticism." Romanticism; Points of View. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1970. Print. Curran, Stuart. The Cambridge Companion to British Romanticism. Cambridge [England: Cambridge UP, 1993. Print.

Othello Commentary Essay

Shakespeare’s Othello is a play about love, jealousy and racism. Othello is a Moor, who is kidnapped as a child and brought to Venice, where he grows up, becomes a mercenary and through his bravery rises to the rank of General of the Venetian army. Othello is in love with the beautiful Desdemona, daughter of a senator and is secretly married to her. Iago, his junior, jealous of his success attempts to destroy Othello and Desdemona and through his machinations obliterates love, honour and beauty. This passage marks the beginning of Act 1 Scene 2, and we see Iago come from badmouthing Othello to Roderigo and in this scene, he badmouths Roderigo to Othello. As in the first scene, the reader is sort of a voyeur, listening in to people’s conversations and making judgements or opinions of the characters based on the conversations we hear. Iago is a clever speaker and has a way with words. He has spoken of Othello to Roderigo in the first scene and called him all kinds of insulting names and adjudged him to be a criminal and bestial man. This scene begins with Iago, Othello and some attendants making their entrance. Iago recounts his supposed conversation with Roderigo to Othello and tells him that Roderigo has insulted Othello and Iago had been very upset with him and had tried everything to save Othello’s honour. He had also told Roderigo that despite his experience in battle, he had been overlooked for the job of Othello’s deputy. In his conversation with Othello, he uses â€Å"trade of war† to demonstrate his experience as it his trade and he is an able soldier having killed many men in battle, but though Roderigo insulted Othello, it was only because of his conscience that he had been able to stop himself from stabbing Roderigo. In this manner he is able to show the goodness of his heart and also question Othello, if he remembers that he is an experienced soldier. His use of conscience and â€Å"contrived murder† attempt to show Othello that it would have been like murder, which is planned, and not the right thing to do, though he was very angry with Roderigo and would have liked to stab him, â€Å" Nine or ten times. † By using the number of times he would have liked to stab Roderigo and also â€Å"yerked him here, under the ribs† he portrays his anger but also his indecisiveness. We also see that Iago’s use of â€Å"conscience†, at this time in the play leads to the audience’s knowledge of the reality of his lack of a conscience. Othello is happy that Iago has not taken any undue action and tells him its better that things are as they remain. Iago on the other hand, continues his tirade against Roderigo and tells Othello that Roderigo kept repeating himself, he â€Å"prated† or went on and on insulting Othello and spoke â€Å"such scurvy and provoking terms†. Shakespeare’s use of alliteration â€Å"such scurvy† only emphasise the point that Iago is trying to make that Roderigo used very contemptible terms, which were an insult to Othello’s honour. Iago then tries to show that he is a compassionate man, saying, â€Å"with the little godliness I have†, in an attempt to place himself in Othello’s good books. The use of the words,† full hard forbear him† once again are an attempt to portray Iago in a good light, as he says that it took all of his control not to attack Roderigo. full† and â€Å"hard† both have similar meanings, and are used to show the amount of control it took Iago not to do anything. The next line is an abrupt departure from the subject of Roderigo and Iago suddenly asks Othello, â€Å"Are you fast married? † perhaps this is an attempt by Iago to surprise Othello in to disclosing whether he is really married to Desdemona and the word, †fast† is us ed to suggest whether this marriage has been consummated, as if it has not been then perhaps it could still be annulled. He also suggests that Desdemona’s father is a very powerful man, â€Å"Magnifico†, a word that was used for the most powerful men in Venice. He also implies that the senator is so powerful that he commands more power than the Duke of Venice and will be able to get Desdemona divorced and Othello punished very severely. Shakespeare’s use of â€Å"a voice potential† signifies a power that is extremely strong and that no one will be able to against the voice of the Magnifico. Moreover he will be able to use all the might of the law to destroy Othello, as he is also an outsider and Venetian law favoured the Venetians. Othello, on the other hand, is not cowed by Iago’s words and tells him that he is not afraid and the Magnifico can do as he pleases. He believes that his service to the state and the rest of the wealthy citizens of Venice will be enough to protect him. He believes that his services will â€Å"out tongue† his complaints meaning that his services are worth more than another’s words, even a Magnifico’s. Othello tells Iago that he shall only boast of his descent when it is necessary and will tell the world that he too is a prince and his deficiencies or â€Å"demerits† can speak for themselves when he is in front of men of a lineage as regal as his. He also tells him that it is his good fortune that he has been able to win the hand of someone as gentle as Desdemona. He compares her to the treasures of the ocean, as pearls and other sunken treasure litter the sea floor. This comparison to treasure shows the measure of his love for Desdemona and he is willing to sacrifice everything for her. Othello and Iago are surprised to see some men entering and Iago counsels Othello to hide. He tells him that Desdemona’s father and his friends have come to seek him and suggest he hide. Not surprisingly, Othello refuses as he is a honourable man and has nothing to hide, declaring, â€Å" Not I, I must be found†. The use of repetition, â€Å"I† portrays the strength and self-respect that Othello possesses. In the next line he once again repeats, â€Å"My parts, my title and my perfect soul† the repetition of the word â€Å"my† is once again used to portray the nobleness of his soul and is indicative of his honour. To his question if it is really the senator, Iago replies swearing,† By Janus, I think no. † Shakespeare uses classical allusion her by referring to Janus, the two headed Roman god, signifying Iago’s duplicity. They are met by Cassio, Othello’s lieutenant and some guards, who bid him accompany them, as the Duke wants an audience with him. Cassio uses the words, â€Å"haste-post-haste† signifying the urgency with which Othello is required to accompany them to the Duke. Othello departs while questioning Cassio to the urgency of this command. This passage lays the groundwork and shows the duplicity of Iago and the lengths he is willing to go to integrate himself with Othello, while plotting his downfall. It also becomes evident that Iago and Othello are diametrically opposite characters. Iago, who is willing to do or say anything to achieve his ambitions, while Othello is a honourable man, who is willing to do anything for his love Desdemona and is proud of his achievements and his lineage.

An Acting Critique of Legally Blonde the Musical Essay

An Acting Critique of Legally Blonde the Musical On Friday night, May 3rd at & p.m., my mother and I attended the opening night of Legally Blonde in the Buena P.A.C. I must begin by saying that I am slightly biased towards one of the actors who just so happens to be my sister, so the roles of Chutney, the girl who accidentally murdered her father, and a Delta Nu sister have never been played more perfectly in my eyes. While I found the play both amusing and enjoyable, there were some big issues as far as opening night goes. Things like lack of projection (on top of some serious microphone issues, which I cannot blame the actors for), actors forgetting lines, and sloppy blocking, especially in many of the dances during the musical numbers, all took away from the overall experience of the show. However, there were definitely some things I absolutely loved, which were mostly specific characters. Also, the quality of the singing in all the musical numbers was very high, which is something you don’t see often in a high school mus ical production. That being said, I thought it was worth my five dollars, and a great way for Buena to end its 2012-13 season. Like I said before, technical aspects such as microphone malfunctions cannot be blamed on the actors. It is the job of the technicians to ensure all of the equipment functions properly. However, I believe that actors should not rely on such technical aspects alone to ensure that they are effectively heard by every member of the audience. Call me old fashioned, but I am a firm believer in projection; making your voice bounce off the walls of the theater. After all, theaters are geometrically designed to do just that. But I guess not everyone feels that way, and it was apparent Friday night when every time an actor’s microphone went out, it was as if they were whispering. This is often detrimental to the plot because if actors cannot be heard, vital pieces of information are lost upon the audience. This issue could have been non-existent if the actors had practiced their projection. Luckily, I saw the movie first, so I knew the plot before I even watched the play. Along with not always being able to hear the actors, line memorization seemed to cause a few problems on stage Friday night as well. I will admit, it was not as apparent of a problem as was the lack of audibility at times, but I did notice it quite a few times. The example that stood out to me most was the character of Paulette, the owner of Elle’s favorite salon and close friend to Elle. She was in the middle of a solo on stage and completely dropped almost an entire verse of her song. I will not judge her too harshly because I fully understand the pressures of opening night, and I am sure the pressure of a solo is equally as heavy. I am simply using it as an example. Any other line slips I noticed were fairly minor, and when they happened, the actors did a pretty good job of covering it up and going with the flow. The last big problem I had with Legally Blonde the Musical was the blocking. Call me crazy, but it seemed to me towards the end of the play that either the actors got extremely lazy with their blocking during the dances, or they simply did not rehearse the scenes enough. Either way, it was very obvious. Actors were off tempo, bumping into one another, and were also completely out of sync when they should not have been. The actors most guilty of that were the Delta Nu sorority sisters (except my sister, of course). I also noticed that it was not only the dance scenes that lacked blocking, but so did many of the conversational scenes. I love watching actors’ faces more than anything because I believe that’s where most acting is done. I wanted so badly to do that Friday night, but I spent the whole time craning my neck to try and get glimpses. Quite irritating, considering the fact that my mother and I showed up almost a half hour early to get seats in the center of the ho use. Acting is all about action, and action cannot be understood if it cannot be seen. Now that I have ranted and raved about what I really did not enjoy about the Friday night showing of Legally Blonde the Musical, I should probably talk about the things that I really enjoyed, which definitely outweighed the bad. My absolute favorite character (besides the ones played by my sister) was Enid Hoopes, played by senior Aubrie Bouchard. She was a women’s rights activist, as well as a full-blooded lesbian, your average tough girl with a lot to prove to the world. She was absolutely hilarious; her timing was great, her character development was awesome, and her projection was wonderful. She had me rolling with all of her perfectly timed quips, especially when her inner lesbian showed. My other favorite group of  characters was Elle’s three best friends from Malibu: Pilar, Margot, and Serena, who also came to be known as the Greek chorus. This was an extremely appropriate nickname because they served the same purpose as the original Greek choruses in the first plays. They always showed up in Elle’s times of need to provide her with support, and to provide the audience with information. They also happened to be hilarious and bubbly, as Delta Nu sisters should be. They also had wonderful projection, especially Serena, played by Jansen Morgen. I also enjoyed Professor Callahan’s character, played by Braxton Olgetree. He was not a very likable character as far as the plot of the play went, but I could tell the actor put a lot of work into his character, especially on the voice. He was drab and monotone, just like a law professor at Harvard should be, and his character work really shone through. I also must mention the most adorable and well-behav ed character of the entire show, the part of Rufus, Paulette’s dog, played by an American bulldog named Sarge. He was both cute and flawless. The other thing I loved about this play was the overall quality of the singing. I was very pleased with all the musical numbers; all the songs were cute and catchy, no one made my ears bleed, and I could hear everyone fairly well even with all of the microphone issues. Usually, from my personal experience, most high school musicals consist of two groups of people: choir kids and theater kids. Not all choir kids can act, and not all theater kids can sing, but I am pleased to say that this musical was not that way. Everyone was able to sing and act quite effectively. My favorite musical number was the song â€Å"Gay or European†, which was performed in the courtroom scene when they were trying to figure out whether or not the pool boy, who claimed to be Brooke Windam’s lover, was gay. It was very light-humored and entertaining. I also enjoyed the opening number, â€Å"Ohmigod†, which was performed by Elle and her Delta Nu sisters in the very beginning. Like I said from the start, I was a little biased towards this play from the beginning simply because my little sister was in it. However, even when I put my bias aside, I can honestly say I was thoroughly pleased with my experience as an audience member as a whole. While I must admit there were various issues with things like actor projection, lack of proper blocking,  and lack of line memorization, the overall quality of acting was quite enjoyable. The character work done by most of the actors was very apparent and applaudable. I loved all of the main characters, as well as the minor ones. The singing was also fantastic; I did not find myself cringing at any of the musical numbers. Instead, I actually found myself tapping my feet and sometimes even singing along with the catchy songs. I know the showings of Legally Blonde the Musical are all over now, but I would recommend it to anyone to go and see that show. It was definitely an â€Å"A† performance.

Mesosaurus Facts and Figures

Mesosaurus Facts and Figures Name: Mesosaurus (Greek for middle lizard); pronounced MAY-so-SORE-usHabitat: Swamps of Africa and South AmericaHistorical Period: Early Permian (300 million years ago)Size and Weight: About three feet long and 10-20 poundsDiet: Plankton and small marine organismsDistinguishing Characteristics: Slender, crocodile-like body; long tail About Mesosaurus Mesosaurus was the odd duck (if youll excuse the mixed species metaphor) among its fellow prehistoric reptiles of the early Permian period. For one thing, this slender creature was an anapsid reptile, meaning it did not have any characteristic openings on the sides of its skull, rather than a more common synapsid (a category that embraced the pelycosaurs, archosaurs and therapsids that preceded the dinosaurs; today, the only living anapsids are turtles and tortoises). And for another, Mesosaurus was one of the first reptiles to return to a partially aquatic lifestyle from its fully terrestrial forebears, like the prehistoric amphibians that preceded it by tens of millions of years. Anatomically, though, Mesosaurus was pretty much plain vanilla, looking a bit like a small, prehistoric crocodile... that is, if youre willing the overlook the thin teeth in its jaws that seem to have been used to filter plankton. Now that all thats been said, however, the most important thing about Mesosaurus is where it lived. The fossils of this prehistoric reptile have been discovered in eastern South America and southern Africa, and since Mesosaurus lived in freshwater lakes and rivers, it clearly couldnt have swum across the expanse of the southern Atlantic Ocean. For this reason, the existence of Mesosaurus helps support the theory of continental drift; that is, the now-well-attested fact that South America and Africa were joined together into the giant continent Gondwana 300 million years ago before the continental plates supporting them broke apart and drifted into their current positions. Mesosaurus is important for yet another reason: this is the earliest identified animal to have left amniote embryos in the fossil record. Its widely believed that amniote animals existed a few million years before Mesosaurus, only recently evolved from the first tetrapods to climb up onto dry land, but we have yet to discern any conclusive fossil evidence for these very early amniote embryos.

Grassroots

Grassroots Grassroots Grassroots By Maeve Maddox A reader asks, Could you please explain the roots of the word grassroots? I sometimes wonder what the connection between people and grass is!   Grass has a great deal to do with people. Grass is a powerful archetypal symbol that works at the unconscious level to stir a variety of emotions. In his short, emotionally powerful poem called â€Å"Grass,† Carl Sandburg uses the symbol of grass to convey the waste and ultimate meaninglessness of war: Pile the bodies high at Austerlitz and Waterloo. Shovel them under and let me work- I am the grass; I cover all Two years, ten years, and passengers ask the conductor: What place is this? Where are we now? The author of Psalm 103 uses grass to illustrate the brevity of human existence: As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone; and the place where it was shall know it no more. The importance of grass to human beings is rooted deep in the unconscious. Grasslands once covered up to 25 to 40 percent of the earths land surface. Grass feeds animals that feed people. The roots of grass are so interconnected that damage to one small patch threatens the whole. New grass signals the coming of spring. In fact, grass was once used as a name for spring or early summer: â€Å"She was five years old this grass.† One meaning of the term grassroots is â€Å"the fundamental level; the source or origin,† as illustrated by this citation in the OED: Not till I came to Shamlegh could I meditate upon the Course of Things, or trace the running grass-roots of Evil. - Kipling, 1901. Because grass is rooted in the earth, grassroots has become a term for â€Å"the common people.† In the context of politics, grassroots is used as both noun and adjective in reference to society at the local level. These observations at a political site called Renew America illustrate some of the meanings politicians attach to the term grassroots: Any political strategy that depends on broad grassroots support for its success needs to be based on a sound understanding of how the grassroots works.   By definition, the grassroots is the  bottom of the political pyramid,  opposite the establishment, which controls the top.   The grassroots is the very essence of politics.  It is dumping tea in a harbor, or standing up and testifying at a local city council meeting. It is that whole realm of politics  beyond official station. Grassroots is only one of several idioms that refer to grass. I’ll save the others for another post. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:4 Types of Gerunds and Gerund PhrasesConnotations of 35 Words for Funny PeopleEbook, eBook, ebook or e-book?

Compares three broad themes found in the film The Atomic Cafe and the Essay

Compares three broad themes found in the film The Atomic Cafe and the book Lost Girls by (kolker) - Essay Example The prominent themes found in both the pieces of work are violence, social callousness, and the deceptiveness of the government authorities. The callosity of few social institutions and the deceptive nature of the governmental authorities affect the public welfare leading to calamities that have some long-lasting impact on the society. These acts of violence tend to show the vulnerability of the society and are clearly evidenced in the incidents discussed in both the novel and the film. Kolker’s book recounts the traumatic life of five young sex workers, Shannan Gilbert, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Overstreet Costello, who were gone missing and later found to be murdered by unidentified serial killer. It takes place from 1996 to 2012. This represents a sad cycle of poor families raised in declining towns. Their poor choices and economic problems lead to child neglect, child abuse, behavior disorders, and drug habits. Those are the partial cause of prostitution today. In the book, the author focuses on this sensitive case, compiling all the known facts along with the biographies of the victims. On the other hand, the documentary film titled The Atomic Cafà © talks about misleading political propagandas and its consequences on the society. The film discusses the emergence of nuclear threats and the misinformation doled out to the public by the governmental authorities, with a view to manipulate the reality of the situ ation. This is an era rife with paranoia, anxiety and misapprehension, while the film also exhibits a genuine nostalgia for an earlier and more innocent nation. The footages used in the film clearly capture the effects of the political pressures of war as well as the impact resulting from these destructive weapons, since the World War II to the Cold War years. The callousness of the American authorities who were responsible for the atom bomb calamity is well portrayed in the film. The

Personal statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 5

Personal Statement Example Nursing Positions Held In the Past Five Years I have worked in several capacities in the past five years. I served as an ICU/CPU nurse. This position entailed provision of complete nursing care to patients in critical condition by closely observing them. Secondly, this position involved administering approved medicine to patients and collaborating with other medical practitioners in service delivery. It also entailed provision of support and education to families. Finally, it involved respiratory, speech and physical therapies, patient assessment and delivery of treatment in various leadership roles. The second position was a case manager or admission nurse in a hospice setting. This involved performing and reviewing admissions, evaluations and assessment. The third position I served in was in a case manager hospital setting. It involved constant support through comprehensive assessment and ensuring patient quality management by ensuring cost effectiveness. Finally, I served in as a staff nurse in a long-term care facility (LTAC). I helped physicians with bedside procedures, infection control, wound care and overall examinations. Personal and Professional Goals Over the Next Five Years My personal goals are to improve my education level thereby sharpening my knowledge and skills in the field. I plan to advance my education in the NSN Family Nurse Program. Once I complete the BSN program that I wish to pursue to increase my practice in the nursing career, I will have the relevant knowledge and skills to fit in the expanded role of FNP. My professional goals are focused towards developing my skills and knowledge. I plan to be attending seminars and educational forums to work on my skills. I purpose to be reading nursing and healthcare journals and periodicals to stay in touch with any changes in the practices. I plan to be playing an active role in the political affairs relating to professionalism practice organizations and insightfully seek DNP. Finally, I seek to acquire an entry level to practice in a FNP position and practice in an institution where I can serve families. Reasons Why I Chose the FNP Role To begin with, FNPs (Family Nursing Practitioners) have been known t have a long history of helping patients understand their illnesses and assist them in making improvements. This role is becoming increasingly dominant, most of the nurses are going for this option.The FNP role has grown immensely since its inception, and career opportunities are not limited to the hospital setting. This role is subject to professional longevity since FNPs will play an important role in expansion of health care service provision. This role enables me to provide primary and preventive health care services. Additionally, I will prescribe medications, diagnose and treat minor illnesses within the scope of practice. Additionally, this role encourages collaboration with physicians. This helps me to serve family and patients better. There are financial benefit s accruing from this role owing to increasing marketability in the profession. Although I appreciate the pay, it is not the sole reason why I chose to advance the practice role of an FNP. How I Will Utilize FNP Training Over the Next Five Years The FNP training will be of a positive impact in my career over the next five years. This training will help me identify past and current issues in the health care sector