Huck Finn :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the book it is obvious that there are characteristics that Mark Twain either detests and despises, or respects and values them. Twain quite obviously is making fun of the undesirable characteristics such as the natural curiosity of people and also the greed for money. Although there are not many values that he respects, there is one that is shown in this book, friendship.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is natural to show curiosity towards something but Mark Twain despises this characteristic and pokes fun at it. The biggest example of this trait is shown when the King and Duke are pulling a con on people with the â€Å"Royal Nonesuch.† The sign used to get people to come to the show was the first innocent sign of natural curiosity, by saying that women and children would not be admitted. The whole performance was to have King streak across the stage colored with the bright colors of the rainbow. People only laughed at first but then suddenly realized that they had been scammed out of their money. Since they did not want to look like fools they told people that the show was great and to go and see it. They pulled it off three times total before people caught on and were going to start to rebel against the King and Duke’s show. The audience was so intrigued by their flier that they showed up anyways. That shows people’s natural curiosity. M ark Twain satirizes this incident and makes fun of how curious people really are. The people’s curiosity ultimately led them to losing their money and their embarrassment made them decide not tell other citizens about how their curiosity caused them to lose their 50 cent admission price. That is the reason behind why Twain despises curiosity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A second and much worse characteristic that Twain hates is peoples general greediness. Mark Twain starts mentioning greediness very early in the book when he talks about Huck’s father, Pap. When Huck found out that Pap was alive, the first thing he went to do was give Judge Thatcher his $6000, because he knew his father would want it all. The greediness of Pap has caused his own son to hide his money from him so he will not take it, showing the lack of respect in their relationship. Even when Pap runs into Huck immediately he asks him is how much money he had on him, and Huck had to hand it over.

Buddhism’s Impact on Classical China Essay

The popularity of Buddhism in China c. 220 CE was due to its positive reception in the large peasant class. However; emperors and aristocrats found themselves threatened by the relaxed Buddhist teachings that undermined the authority of the pro-Confucian government and weakened peasant work ethic. Although the anti-Buddhist opinions of high-ranking officials in the 3rd-6th centuries of China should be taken into consideration, a peasant-written document highlighting the benefits of Buddhism in contrast to the defensive viewpoints taken by emperors and aristocrats would be helpful in analyzing the true extent of Buddhism’s popularity in China. Around 350 CE, a time of instability in China, peasants found comfort in the teachings of Buddhism, which unlike Confucianism offered an afterlife the threatened peasants could look forward to. This led to many conversions from Confucianism to Buddhism, which worried rulers; a loss of popular belief in the state-backed religion could potentially undermine the government and result in a loss of power for many bureaucrats. Han Yu, a court official in 819 CE, refers to the spread of this wicked â€Å"cult† from India and repeatedly presses that Buddhism be eradicated in China (Doc 4). The Tang emperor Wu, writing during roughly the same period, (845 CE), mirrors the opinion of Han Yu. He speaks of Buddhism negatively, citing the lax work ethic of Buddhists, and like Han Yu, he calls for the uprooting of Buddhism from China (Doc 6). However; behind both these officials’ vehement words is a fear that the popularization of Buddhism would alter the government structure, which would cause loss of their status. They wrote their edicts to change the minds of peasants who were considering converting to this â€Å"cult† because perhaps if they convinced enough to remain Confucian, they would keep their high-ranking positions. Buddhism gained much of its popularity during the tumultuous era from 350-570 CE. This is when pro-Buddhist scholars began appearing in greater numbers. One such scholar, Zhi Dun, identified Buddhism as a means of getting through trying times. Around 350 CE, the beginning of the unstable  period, Zhi wrote a letter describing the wonder of the afterlife promised by Buddha. He wrote this to comfort the thousands of fearful and spiritually deprived Confucian Chinese, who lacked belief in an afterlife. Their death was a growing possibility, because they were being slaughtered by invading Mongols. Zhi wished to inform them of the alternative afterlife promised through Buddhism; â€Å"Nirvana† (Doc 2). The same teachings Zhi was addressing to the Chinese peasantry had already been spoke by the Buddha himself to the Indian people many centuries before c. 563 BCE. The first sermon Buddha gave spoke of Noble Truths, which could stop sorrow and craving (Doc 1). One can see why these ideas, embodied by Buddhism would be popular among a poor Chinese peasantry, just as they had been in India. Although the general impression from Chinese officials and scholars towards Buddhism is negative, there were a few discrepancies; Chinese scholars who favored Buddha’s teachings. A Chinese scholar wrote positively in 500 CE of the Buddha in comparison to Confucius, stating â€Å"To compare the sages to the Buddha would be like comparing a white deer to a unicorn†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Doc 3). Moreover, around 800 CE, after the period of instability, a scholar favored by the Tang imperial household wrote an essay on the nature of man, stating boldly that â€Å"Confucius, Laozi, and the Buddha were all perfect sages,† (Doc 5). This document highlights that once the era of instability had passed and Confucianism was again the dominant religion, rulers and their court scholars could evaluate Buddhism as a religion without fearful prejudice. In conclusion, historically, the spread of Buddhism into China was regarded negatively by the ruling, high-ranking, and aristocratic class. China was inundated with anti-Buddhist propaganda (shown by the documents) in response to the popularity among the majority of the peasantry, which made up the bulk of the Chinese population. This propaganda was typically anti-Buddhist because it was the upper/literate class who was writing it; consequently it was slanted towards their own negative views on Buddhism. A document written by a very poor or peasant scholar regarding their view of Buddhism would create a more complete picture of how it was really received in China.

Media Example

Music and Lyrics is a film featuring Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant (Music and Lyrics, 2007). Hugh Grant plays the role of Alex Fletcher, who was a famous pop star in the 1980s and Drew Barrymore plays Sophie Fisher, a frustrated literary writer. In the movie, Fletcher was constrained to use the medium of a song in order to communicate his apologies for saying awful things to Fisher (Music and Lyrics, 2007). In so doing, Fletcher demonstrated his knowledge of interpersonal skills in winning over Fisher. Communication skills refer to a person’s ability to effectively articulate a specific message through written, verbal, or graphic means (Floren, 1998). These skills include the ability to present an idea clearly, resolve conflicts skillfully, and utilize technologies as means to put a message through (Floren, 1998). In the scene in the movie Music and Lyrics where Flectcher sang a heartfelt song of apology to Fisher, the former was able to exhibit all the abovementioned communication skills. He had a specific message in mind; he meant to apologize to Fisher for saying awful things. He also intended to, and succeeded in, expressing his true feelings for Fisher (Music and Lyrics, 2007). Fletcher was successful in presenting his idea clearly (Floren, 1998). He used carefully chosen lyrics that could put his message through, even using rhyme and music for artistry. In such a short period consisting of less than five minutes, Fletcher was able to mention Fisher’s specific endearing habits. He was also able to sing about the way that Fisher was able to make him feel better. Finally, Fletcher’s song served a major purpose of communication, which is conflict resolution (Floren, 1998). The song was so honest that there could have been no other ending for the story but to have Fisher accept Fletcher’s apology. References Music and Lyrics. (2007). Warner Brothers. Retrieved February 22, 2007 Floren, G. L. (1998). Marketable Skills and Attitudes. Retrieved February 23, 2007 Â   Â  

Civil Rights Movement Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers

Civil Rights Movement Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers Civil Rights Movement African Americans have overcome many struggles as well as obstacles in the early years which have still not been terminated. African Americans have fought for freedom from enslavement, the right to earn a living, have land and a job, have equal justice, good quality education, to escape from oppression, the right to self pride and an end to stereotyping. Blacks everywhere got fed up with being treated as if they were inferior and slaves, so they banded together to form a movement. Not just any kind of movement, but a movement that would see victories as well as violence and death. That movement was the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement had a major goal, and that goal was to end discrimination based on race, creed, color, and gender, and to put an end to segregation. Its' supporters aimed for equality of all people and for the integration of society. The previously mentioned goals were achieved by many different means. The movement had its share of leaders, events, and strategies that helped to reach its' goals. There was a fair share of success and failures that accompanied the Civil Rights Movement. I believe that there were a few amendments that helped blacks to gain some of their rights in the future. Some of those amendments were the 13th and 14th amendment. The 13th amendment abolished servitude everywhere in the U.S. and declared that congress shall have power to enforce this outcome by appropriate legislation. The 14th amendment conferred citizenship on the freedman and prohibited states from abridging their constitutional privileges and immunities. It also barred any state from taking a persons life, liberty, and property without due process of law and from denying equal protection of laws. When these amendments were passed I think it gave many blacks the courage to express themselves and stand up for what they believe in. The rise of the modern civil rights movement was when a group of first- year students from North Carolina and Agricultural and Technical College decided to seat themselves at a segregated lunch counter and refused to leave until the were served. They took the advice of nonviolence from a great leader named Martin Luther King Jr.(who will be talked about in later paragraphs). With these four men doing this each and every day they gained support of many other black students as well as some white students. These boys actions started sit-ins in hundreds of cities. In the result of this act many blacks were arrested, beaten, jailed, deprived of their jobs, intimidated, and some even killed. With all this happening the government was forced to protect many black Americans and to guarantee them their rights. In order to enforce these rights federal legislati ons were passed, public facilities such as transportation and waiting rooms were now desegregated and blacks finally gained back their access to the polling booth. There have been some white people who have been involved in the civil rights movement such as a man named John Brown. He led a slave revolt and was considered a fanatic by other whites and a martyr by the people whose cause he campaigned. 1 A lot of whites that did help blacks in their struggle for freedom were intimidated and abused by others, but that never made them give up. In the Supreme court cases Plessy vs- Ferguson and in the Brown case many of the decisions that were made combined to produce the Montgomery movement, which will be talked about in the following paragraph. Supreme Court decisions, as in the case of Brown vs. Topeka board of education of 1954, also helped in bringing the blacks one step closer to achieving their goals. The separate-but-equal doctrine was first established in 1896, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Plessy vs. Ferguson that the separation of races is constitutional as long as equal accommodations are made for each race. The ruling in the Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education overturned the Plessy ruling. It stated that separate educational facilities were unequal and unconstitutional. Schools all over the country then began to integrate their student body. The Supreme Court had ruled that deliberately created segregation would place a psychological inferiority on the black

Build Your Own Style Guide

Build Your Own Style Guide Build Your Own Style Guide Build Your Own Style Guide By Mark Nichol If you have your own blog, or you produce print or online content for a company or organization, you need a style guide. â€Å"But I use The Chicago Manual of Style, just like you recommend,† you might tell me. Or perhaps you’re an AP Stylebook type, or you prefer some other set of guidelines to help your publication maintain editorial rigor. Good for you. But you still need a style guide a house style guide, that is. Perhaps you work for a health care organization that, like many of its type, prefers to style the name of the field as one word. Enter it in your house style guide. Or maybe you’re the publications director at the G. Paul Getty Museum, and you want to make it clear to others that the institution is always referred to simply as â€Å"the Getty.† Into your house style guide it goes. Do you run a Web site about posttraumatic stress disorder? Remind yourself, by creating an entry in your house style guide, that because site visitors are likely already familiar with the subject, you almost always use the initial form PTSD rather than spelling it out in each entry. But when you do, posttraumatic is not hyphenated. A house style guide is the place to record whether your publication uses the serial comma (it’s much simpler to do so), whether to use periods in initials like M.D. (it’s simpler not to), or whether to omit abbreviations of academic degrees altogether in favor of a medical professional’s job title (recommended). It’s where you document how to style numbers. (Spell out only to nine or ten, or to one hundred?) It’s where you indicate whether your Web site uses double hyphens, or codes em dashes. It’s where you explain whether headings are styled like headlines (most parts of speech are capitalized), or sentence style (only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized). In essence, a house style guide clarifies style that diverges from recommendations of authorities like Chicago or AP, or is not covered in those resources, or provides direction when an entry in one of them is ambiguous or ambivalent. But, you may protest, your colleagues won’t pay attention to a house style guide (staff writers are often notoriously averse to absorbing any guidelines editors may offer), and freelance writers can’t be expected to adhere to a single client’s idiosyncratic style while trying to keep others straight as well. Both points are valid but that’s not the purpose of a house style guide. It’s a resource primarily for editors, though any writer (or a staff member who, regardless of job title, contributes content) who demonstrates interest in the house style guide should be lavished with compliments and gifts and extolled to the empyrean. The house style guide is the authority for the organization’s gatekeepers of editorial excellence, who can count on it when their memory fails or when a colleague questions a style choice. 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 Freelance Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Slang Terms for MoneyItalicizing Foreign WordsOne "L" or Two?

Managing a Project's Human Resources Assignment

Managing a Project's Human Resources - Assignment Example With this new organizational emphasis on innovation, however, came a corresponding emphasis on stringent work elements (Lashinksky 2012). As such Apple is regarded as a highly stratified organization, with great degrees of privacy. In addition, there is tremendous emphasis within the organization on production and commitment to excellence with employees expected to adhere to these organizational elements or risk termination (Lashinksky 2012). Although Job’s has since left the organization, in terms of structure Tim Cook has assumed the chief executive officer position. Cook reports to a board of directors the head of which is Arthur Levinson. Cook then oversees a diverse array of departments that then oversee subordinate departments (Organizational Chart Apple, 2012). As this is a large scale organizational project the project manager will be CEO Tim Cook who will oversee Industrial Design head Jonathan Ive, Software Engineering design head Craig Federighi, and Hardware Engine ering design head Bob Mansfield (Organizational Chart Apple, 2012). These individuals will in turn oversee sub-teams of designers under them. The stakeholders are both inter-organizational interested parties, as well as stockholders. 2. There are a variety of methods of project control and coordination. Lock (2007) articulates a number of overarching notions in regards to coordination and control mechanisms, including compiling a work breakdown schedule, planning a timescale, and managing changes and managing costs. To an extent these coordination mechanisms function as large-scale signposts in the project design. In these regards, the project underwent a two-year timescale. During this period the work breakdown schedule was segmented such that overall organizational goals were on a need to know basis, with Tim Cook and Project Management heads being the only individuals informed of the true scope of the project. Project management teams within these spectrums of division undertook specific tasks. Project costs were established from a top-down structure and reassessed accordingly. In terms of managing change, an agile management approach was implemented. Agile management, also referred to as extreme project management, has been noted to be useful new method for technology companies implementing software or hardware development (Maex 2011). Agile management is an approach to design that implements dynamic iteration and change. Figure 1 below demonstrates the iteration process implemented in the project design. Fig. 1 Project Feedback Loops In these regards, upon task completion as distinguished by the previously established timescale, coordinating project elements would be combined and these elements would then undergo project iteration. Apple, Inc. is unique in its limited emphasis on customer feedback, as such iteration was conducted internally, the results of which were then reincorporated into further project design and management. In this context of unders tanding, the project was coordinated and managed in the most efficient way possible. Still, ultimate success will be determined based on return to stockholder equity, as such the market will determine if differing project management should have been undertaken. 3. There are a variety of leadership qualities that a Project Manager must possess. Kouzes (1997) indicates that one of the overarching elements is that the individual inspire a shared vision. In the context of Apple, Inc. product design has

Financial and Management Accounting Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Financial and Management Accounting - Case Study Example The rise in inventory levels is of particular significance and it is suggested that if a proper stock management plan was put in place, the Company would be able to improve its liquidity and cash flow position. It is also suggested that alternate sources of funding for the Company's expansion, such as debt finance and/or leasing of assets as opposed to relying predominantly on equity finance may have a favourable impact on Foster Ltd., in terms of liquidity and otherwise. Foster Ltd. has gone through rapid expansion over the two years that make up the subject matter of this report. This is evident from the financial statements of the Company as seen from the fact that revenue has grown by 43.75% and the investment in machinery has increased by 60% in 2006. The Company has also increased its long term funding by drawing a '1 Million loan as well as making a share issue. This expansion has reaped benefits in terms of profitability; however the liquidity and cash flow position of the Company has deteriorated. The directors themselves have felt the strain and the Cash Flow Statement prepared for 2006 clearly reflects the problem. The financial statements show further signs of the cash shortage and these will be discussed below. Overtrading is a likely cause for the Company's current unfavourable situation. This refers to the fact that the Company has expanded its sales revenue quite rapidly without securing the additional funds necessary to support the expansion. This report looks to find the underlying causes of the liquidity problem by analysing the available financial statements. Any potential causes found will be discussed and possible remedies suggested. In addition, other ways in which the liquidity position of the Company can be improved will also be considered. Foster Ltd.'s Current Profitability &Liquidity/Cash flow Position As mentioned above, the profitability of Foster Ltd. has seen a commendable increase. The Gross Profit Ratio (GP Ratio) of the Company has increased from 21.88% in 2005 to 26.09% in 2006 (see Appendix). This is a significant rise. It must be noted that just because revenue increases, profitability does not increase as the cost of sales would have increased along with the revenue. However, in Foster Ltd.'s case, the cost of sales has increase in a proportion quite considerably less than that of revenue (36% as compared to 47.35%). It is because of this difference in proportions that Foster Ltd. is exhibiting higher profitability levels. A likely reason for cost of sales increasing by a lower percentage is the achievement of economies of scale. As Foster Ltd. expands and increases production, its cost per unit decreases as it begins to enjoy the benefits of bulk discounts in raw material purchases, as well as being able to spread overhead and other fixed costs over a larger number of u nits thereby reducing the fixed cost per unit. Along with its GP Ratio, the Total Profit ratio has also increased from 8.75% to 8.99% (see Appendix). This may not be a sizable increase but is definitely notable. The reason for the increase in the GP Ratio not being followed through to the Total Profit ratio is that the operating expenses, and the finance and tax costs to a lesser