The Hard Way free essay sample

Life can be simple, complex, or somewhere in between, but it always has a lesson to teach us. Some are passed down to us through our parents, such as the fact that the stove is hot. We are lucky enough to learn a few through close calls, â€Å"warning shots† that teach us through a mistake that could have been. But the worst kind is learned by which most commonly is referred to as â€Å"the hard way.† It is in these lessons that life has a funny little way of giving us a kick in the butt, when we aren’t paying attention. In my early childhood, life gave me a swift kick in the behind that I wouldn’t soon forget. Boredom consumed me. I was six, and still a child and with my imagination running on full speed all day. So naturally, when I saw an empty laundry basket next to the stairs, I got a fantastic idea. We will write a custom essay sample on The Hard Way or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Slide down the stairs, riding the laundry basket? Sounded like a great idea at the time. I ran downstairs in a hurry. Checking for my mom, she was half-asleep watching TV, not me perfect. Sprinting back upstairs I was filled with excitement and giddiness that only a child could feel. I figured that I had just created my very own at home roller coaster. So I grabbed the plain white basket with holes in the side and headed for the stairs that seemed to be calling to me. I was sprinting, because I was eager to get going before my mom came to stop me. At the top of the stairs, I loaded myself into my vehicle, tested out the sides, and made sure it slid well across the tan, newly carpeted stairs. It was very sturdy and just the right size for the job. Looking down the top of the steps was very intimidating. It seemed to be longer and steeper than it had before. And yet, with one full shove I was off. The wind began to hit my face, the stairs rumbled my makeshift cart, and somewhere in the distance I could hear the quiet hum of the TV show my mother was watching. Flying down the first few stairs was a just like I had imagined; it wasn’t until the middle of my adventure when the speed began to get out of control. Finally I fully thought through my endeavor. I thought of how the stairs suddenly stopped and how the wall was mere two feet from the bottom step. Filled with panic, I reached out to try and grab one of the wooden posts that held up the banister. I felt the tip of my finger hit the banister. For a second I was filled with false hope, thinking that I could catch myself. My finger slipped and a feeling of regret swept through me, but not for long. Crashing to the floor and flying into the wall quickly put the disappointment and regret out of my mind. A lot like a freight train hits a cow, I crashed similarly into the blank white wall that had been looming in front of me the whole time. The basket or cart went flying and the loud thumping sound alert ed my half-asleep mother. Still in a daze from the crash, I got up, only to see my mother rushing over to me to make sure that I was ok. She had a look of care only a mother could give and moved with the speed of a mother bear running to protect her cubs. After a few Blues Clues bandages and kisses to make me feel better, I promised that I would never ride the laundry basket down the stairs again. I had learned my lesson. That is, until I happened to find the bean bag chair in the basement†¦ That was one of my first lessons learned through â€Å"the hard way.† Recently, I came into a close call lesson that changed the way that I thought about college and my entire future. Freshman and sophomore years, I had the mindset that college was easy to get into and that colleges didn’t look at early high-school grades. But after my sophomore year when my brother got rejected from many colleges from his early grades, something clicked in my head- it all matters. With this in mind I completely changed my attitude. I started to buckle down, get good grades, and participate in school and volunteer activities. Life has a funny way of giving you lessons, and sometimes it sends a warning shot for you through someone you love.

The Snuff Bottle

The Snuff Bottle In The Snuff Bottle, acts of theft result into levels of unavoidable revenge with several themes being illustrated by the author. The Setting of the story is in a village where poverty and crime seem to thrive. The struggles of survival are depicted as different family members strain to make ends meet. This analysis gives a detailed coverage of the themes portrayed by the writer which include poverty, crime, violence and revenge.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Snuff Bottle specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More After the boy has recovered, he looks around and realizes that he is in hermit’s house. He does a through search of the house, from bookcases to bundles of medicinal herbs. After a moment, the boy discovers bottles which draw his attention, spotting a unique two-inch-high bottle, covered with mud. His curiosity to know the content of the bottle overrules him and decides to hide as he makes his way after of the house. This marks the start of crime and violence in the story. He stills the bottle from hermit’s house. The author also introduces Liu Yun whom he says that though he looked innocent, he was behind all forms of mischief in the village (Ying 49). This shows how young people get introduced to criminal behavior like stealing of books. Although Yun is only three years than the boy, he extremely likes girls in the village. His mischievous behavior had ruined his dream and failed to finish school. As a result, he spends most of his time drinking, smoking, singing dirty songs and hanging in the streets (Ying 49). As the story progresses, we learn about the disappearance of cigarettes from the factory and the police are out man-hunting those behind the crime. According to workers at the factory, they had witnessed a group of young boys break into the factory. The boy’s mother warns that they are likely to be captured and jailed if they didn’t own up their evil deeds. At the mention of this, the boy affirms that he was not part of the gang but Li whom he says that he was behind the whole idea of stealing cigarettes from the factory (Ying 52). After investigations, the culprits are captured and it turns out clearly that they did not steal cigarettes alone but everything else they laid their hands on. Similarly, Liu’s visit at the boy’s home ends up violently when they reach the pond site. Although he never read books, he claims to have come to borrow books. As they are walking towards the pond, Liu pushes the boy bullishly from behind, causing him to land on the muddy ground and have his clothes socked in water and books covered with mud (Ying 53). The boy responds by hitting him back although it is not enough to make him lose his stability. Towards the end of the story, Liu and Big Brother and caught by Public Security officers for being in possession of criminal evidence (Ying 61). They are taken in custody as the boy is lef t with the responsibility of taking care of their mother. They are tried and Big Brother is found guilty of serious crimes including suicide attempt. As result, the judge passes a death sentence for Big Brother while Liu is sentenced to labor reform camp.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the other hand, poverty is seen throughout the narration. The story begins with a boy who has fainted and finds himself in hermit’s house who serves a healer. When he becomes conscious he easily identifies where he was from the stack of yellowing books and medicinal pungent smell. The author mentions that the place is only visited by the sick who never consider going back after getting better, a fact that never stops the hermit from serving them. The description of the house depicts poverty which has affected most people in the village. The old man who rescues the boy li ves in a dark house with tattered wallpapers (Ying 50). Additionally, the house is full of furniture which has old varnish that only existed in cracks. Many people trust the old man as their healer regardless of his living standards and stinking house. He is intercepted time and again on the road to examine and diagnose sick people in the village. He however hates hospitals and has a negative attitude towards them. Additionally, Big Brother’s description of the family’s financial status demonstrates how poverty has found its way in the family and rooted in the society. Big Brother spends most of his time taking care of other people’s children and laundry. He confesses that it was not his wish but it was away of making ends meet. He notes that they were only left with their father’s wages and pension which was not enough to meet their daily needs (Ying 49). As a single man who wishes to marry in future, Big Brother understands that money was paramount for him to think of marriage. Poverty is further manifested through the kind of meals served. The boy’s mother serves him with soya beans without oil which she considers to be expensive. This illustrates the low quality of meals which the family survives on. Additionally, family members have to carry mats and bamboo beds outside after every dinner in order to allow houses to cool to reasonable temperatures to allow sleep (Ying 54). The description of this scenario depicts a case of poverty facing the society. The author notes that the boy’s mother had a close eye on him, monitoring his single move. She always went along supervising his homework, his time to be in and out of bed, meals and visiting the toilet. The boy further remembers their dad who used to take them fishing and make them laugh especially when he was in his highest spirit (Ying 53). The boy’s mother gets touched so much when the boy comes back with a bleeding noise caused by Liu. She nurses him gentl y although the boy is not willing to mention his attacker. However, it turns out clearly that there is a game of vengeance that ties the boy, Liu and Big Brother.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Snuff Bottle specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More After Liu has injured the boy, his mother notes that Big Brother was not going to spare him (Ying 53). Although Big Brother has not mentioned anything about the evening when he had gone out to discipline Liu for hurting his brother, the boy knew that the encounter must have been quite ugly. The theme of revenge is also seen from the relationship between the boy and the old hermit. While the boy is having fun at the beach, he comes stealthy and grabs him painfully, causing him to scream. He does this out of a clear conscience that it was the boy who had stolen his bottle. In general, the story carries a wide range of themes which revolve around the lifestyle of villagers in Ch ina. Work Cited Ying, Hong. Another Kind of Paradise: Short Stories from the New Asia-Pacific. Shanghai, China: Cheng Tsui, 2009. Print.

Quebecs Struggles for a Distinct Society & Fr-Can Natnalsm essays

Quebec's Struggles for a Distinct Society & Fr-Can Natnalsm essays Quebec has always been trying to maintain it's cultural identity. I this essay, I will try to outline the reasons why has this always been the case, and its direct link to French-Canadian nationalism. The path that leads to separatism is a long and winding one. The French saw Confederation as the only solution in 1867. They needed Confederation so they can remain in control of their own language, religion and a way of life. The paradox of the situation was that they also fully understood they would always be the minority in Canada and that as more regions joined Confederation, the situation would only get worse. This was however, preferable to a slow assimilation by the English, since now they could have laws passed that could protect their society. As a minority in a country, Quebec's point of view was often disregarded in favour of the English-speaking majority. The first example of this could be seen from the way the Riel rebellions were handled. In 1885, what became known as the Saskatchewan Rebellion took place. This was led by Louis Riel who went to Batoche to once more set-up a provisional government and prepare the Metis for battle to protect their homes. The revolution was crushed, Louis Riel arrested and taken to Regina for a trial. Disregarding the jury's express recommendation of mercy, on November 16th 1885, Riel was hung for treason. The execution was in direct response to political pressures from English speaking Canadians. To the French, it seemed Riel was hung because he was French and he was fighting to protect the interests of French people. Also in the 1880's, the Manitoba School Question became another issue of contention for the French speaking Canadians. In the 1880's, the population of Manitoba became a majority of English speaking people, and so, the Manitoba government abolished the separate (catholic) school system. Though only a minority, the French people still had considerable numbers in Manitoba and ...

Harness the Power of Your Critique Group

Harness the Power of Your Critique Group Ten years ago I went looking for writing advice in my community and joined a loose affiliation of novice writers. Over the years, weve grown into a dedicated group of eight authors with cumulative publishing credits that include ten books, 24 short stories and numerous awards. Along the way, weve helped each other learn the craft of writing, work toward publication and market our work. Thinking of starting your own critique group? Want to make your group run more effectively or work harder for everyone involved? Here are some tips: Numbers I recommend a closed group - one in which new members are only invited because someone leaves. Six to eight people is an ideal size. Leadership It helps to have one person in charge of organizing and chairing the meetings, at least until the group is well established. Timing There are various ways of running meetings. My group meets once a month, with three stories sent in advance Focus You know those book clubs that are more about the food and the wine than the books? Dont make your critique group a dinner club. Try 15 minutes of chat at the beginning of the session and then get down to business, or all business for two hours followed Commitment Our group really took off when we began setting a rotation for submissions a few months in advance. Everyone is expected to submit something when it is his/her turn, with a fixed upper word count (ours is 4000 words). If someone cant make a meeting, they email their critiques to the other writers. Other groups dont have these expectations, but we needed the added pressure to keep writing. If meeting in person doesnt work for you, check  www.inkedvoices.com  , a source for online critique groups.   Do your critique group members attend seminars and workshops or read articles online and in print? Probably. Everyone in the group can take advantage of that learning - both through explicit sharing of the knowledge acquired and Widen your contacts and leads through your group. Share: = Useful lists, websites and newsletters (I made sure to tell my whole group to sign up for FundsforWriters.) = Contests = Publishers (If I read a book similar to the writing of one of my group members, Ill mention it to them.) = Upcoming workshops Once you are published you can help each other increase sales: = Commit to promoting your work via email and social media. = Review each others work on Goodreads and Amazon. = Traveling? Visit local bookstores and talk up your book as well as those of your critique group members. = Consider holding group launches to reduce costs and increase attendance. If you write in different genres this is a great opportunity to widen your nets. = Contact local media about your group, or better yet, query them. Get paid to write an article about the success of writers in your area. = Apply to speak at a writers conference as a group. Critiquing other writers work takes time and commitment, but a well-run group can result in a return on investment that brings your writing career to the next level.

Main topic is Markets Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Main topic is Markets - Term Paper Example This abrupt actualization of counterparty accident has artlessly arctic the markets beyond the western countries. With no bank adventuresome abundant to accommodate to other banks, deleveraging has larboard its blister on the market: affairs of assets in wish of capital leads to abatement in prices to even lower levels, which agency added and added charge for beginning capital. This has acutely added anchored lending to absolute economy-producers and consumers-which agency abatement in investments by businesses and bead in demand. This has added slowed down the advance of the economy. As advance drops, businesses are abiding to aim at cost-cutting exercises, which agency layoffs. The confused consumers will further abate their spending. That is how the financial crisis is feared to advance itself to the Wall Street-the absolute economy (Brown P, p. 105, 2005, Journal of Financial Economics). In the light of these, this paper deals with one topic entitled ‘new expectations in th e U.S. Market’ in detail and three other related topics as subtopics. The morphing of the financial hailstorm, which started about 18 months aback as the US subprime crisis, into bread-and-butter arrest is all but over: consumers are arise beneath the burden of non-availability of acclaim on the one hand, and abrupt abatement in application on the other (R.T. Baillie et al, p. 23, 1996, Journal of Applied Econometrics). To arrest the further spread of economic crisis and its intensity, the central banks and governments on either ancillary of the Atlantic accept redoubled their efforts, with bolstering from banks, by pumping in added capital, accouterment greater budgetary bang to jump-start the economy, and cut absorption ante added down. Of course, action moves are accepted to crop after-effects alone afterwards a time lag. In the US, capital injection conceivably adored the banking system, but its non-banking area

Transformational Leadership Atta ur Rehman Essay

Transformational Leadership Atta ur Rehman - Essay Example Even though knowledge is inadequate on what types of leaders are needed, there are a number of assumptions about leadership. Foe example, in an organization there is an assumption that leaders of organizational change should be both leaders and managers. Another assumption about leaders who change their organizations is that only administrators will be leaders. However this assumption that change comes only from individuals in top positions ignores the invisible leadership of lower-level staff members (Murphy, 1988). Vast studies of organizational leadership have been focused on leaders in administrative positions. These leaders begin with having a vision, develop a shared vision with their co-workers and value the organization's personnel. Leaders who change their organizations are proactive and take risks. They recognize shifts in the interests or desires of their clientele, anticipate the need to change and challenge the status quo. Transformational leadership has been found to be a significant factor in facilitating, improving and promoting the organizational progress of employees. Nevertheless, the data on leaders of organizational change and the emerging information on transformational leadership indicate that the characteristics of these individuals mirror those of leaders who have changed other organizations. Leaders of organizational change have vision; foster a shared vision, and value human resources. They are proactive and take risks. Vision to Change Organization Every type of leadership requires a vision. A vision is actually a force that provides meaning and purpose to the work of an organization. Leaders of change are visionary leaders, and vision is the basis of their work. To actively change an organization, leaders must make decisions about the nature of the desired state (Manasse, 1986). They begin with a personal vision to forge a shared vision with their co-workers. Their communication of the vision is such that it empowers the authority to people to act. According to Westley and Mintzberg (1989) visionary transformational leaders are dynamic and apply the following three stage process to create useful changes in their organizations. (a). They create an image of the desired future of the organization. (b). Communicate the vision to serve all. (c). Transformational leaders empower the followers so that they can enact the vision. For organizational leaders who implement changes in their organizations, vision is a hunger to see development (Pejza, 1985) as well as the force which forms meaning (Manasse, 1986). Leaders of organizational change have approach to display a clear picture of what they want to accomplish. Further they have the ability to visualize one's goals (Mazzarella & Grundy, 1989). In their vision, they present purpose, implication, and significance to the work of the organization and empower the staff to contribute to the realization of the vision. The American Association of School Administrators' (1986) description of leadership includes the leader's ability to translate a vision into reality as well as the skill to coherent the vision to others. According to Manasse (1986),

Marketing Channels and Logistics. Pepsi Cola in Ukraine Essay

Marketing Channels and Logistics. Pepsi Cola in Ukraine - Essay Example Also at the time when the case was written Coca Cola had setup their own plant in the area and since Pepsi only had bottling plants in the area they felt threatened by their entry as earlier they had the full control of the soft drink market. The case discusses the internal and the external factors that are affecting the supply and the distribution of the Pepsi in the country of Ukraine. TASK 1 There were many problems that existed there, the problems will be discussed one by one and later the four major ones will be given. Ukraine is a very poor country, with loads of issues of their own; the people are living in utter discomfort and have hardly any money for spending on luxurious goods and even many a times they do not even possess enough to be able to afford any other goods that are counted as a necessity. There have been a lot of skirmishes amongst the people themselves who are all fighting for limited resources. In countries like Ukraine it is a norm that people fight with each other for the limited resources that exist and hence there are a lot of issues. The economic situation of Ukraine is really very bad, there is increased terrorism in the whole country and nothing is safe. The economic conditions are real worse here. There is a lot of privatization that is going on and people feel that it would turn out to be a harbinger of a positive change in the whole society; people will start having enough disposable income to spend on luxurious goods and other luxurious items. The people generally are very poor and struggling to even meet their basic needs. A cold drink beverage is a luxury, in areas where purchasing pure water is out of reach for many. The economic condition of the place is really poor. The inflation is quite high in the area. This has reduced the purchasing power of the people living there. Inflation has caused the prices of daily consumer goods to increase as well. As mentioned in the case, it is clearly mentioned that the absence of any pro per supply chain has caused the Pepsi to cost far more than it would actually had there been a proper channel. The marketing channel is responsible for making sure that the produced goods reach the consumer without increasing the cost. The greatest disadvantage that Pepsi had in this regard was that they did not have a proper marketing channel, there were no campaigns and the transportation of the Pepsi was never done officially. This lack of proper transportation failed to create an everlasting image in the minds of the locals. They will stop associating it with some kind of an international brand and end up thinking of it as a local brand. Even they had to change the packaging of the whole thing as people had actually started considering it a local brand. There was a serious mishap in the understanding of the perception of the people. The promotion, placing, pricing were all at a loss here, as people got it through, at a minimum, three to four middlemen, this made the prices go up as each man wanted to earn profit. This is one very discouraging factor that was there in Ukraine. Placement of the product was also very faulty and there was no other way for Pepsi to do it until unless they started their own freight services. The logistics issue was so great that there was no proper transportation, the use of trucks was also not a good option as people weren’t learned enough to differentiate between the kind of truck that is