Lessons taught by Sonny and Cher Essay Example for Free

Lessons taught by Sonny and Cher Essay My parents to me have always been well, mom and dad. We lived in a world of routine where mornings would be filled with rushed breakfasts of bagels, cereal, coffee and juice. A hurried hi mom and dad, bye mom and dad! was all I could squeeze out while grabbing some toast before heading out the door. Dinner conversations were usually Hows school? and Fine. I had just entered high school then and I had many important things on the days agenda. I never quite realized how much my fixation on everything me, myself and I almost led me to miss out on knowing two of the most remarkable people Ive ever had the honor of knowing. I came home from school early one afternoon to find my mom leafing through some albums in the den. She mustnt have heard me come in for she fairly jumped out of her skin when I asked her what she was doing. Oh geez! You scared me! she said. These albums? Oh nothing, I was just looking at some photos of your dad and I from the old days. I picked up one album and was surprised to find myself staring at a photo of mom and dad dressed as Sonny and Cher at what looked like a Halloween party†¦the shocking thing was that Dad was the one dressed as Cher. Sure, I know how normal it is for some couples to dress up like that for costume parties and all but you see, my parents were not like that (at least I thought they werent. ) Here was a guy who was usually hidden behind the morning paper at breakfast and was usually quietly parked in front of the evening news after dinner dressed in a long blond wig and shiny dress. It was†¦well, shocking! Mom must have noticed some reaction in me for she cocked her head at me and with a quizzical eyebrow asked Whats the matter? You look like youve seen a ghost! Is that really you and dad? I asked Yep, and believe me, it took a lot of effort to find a dress that fit your dad, mom said blushing to the roots of her graying hair. Sensing my incredulity, she looked at me and grinned What? Oh come on, you didnt really think we started life on this earth as mom and dad did you? Well, yeah! I said. Oh all right, that may have sounded a bit stupid but hey, I think its a fairly normal thought for kids who come into this world and knowing people a just mom or dad. I spent the rest of the afternoon with mom leafing through the rest of the albums. I dont know if it was just beautiful weather outside or maybe the effect of afternoon sunlight filtering through the window shades but it seemed to me that mom looked younger and certainly more relaxed as we drank the Kool-aid she prepared and munched on some cookies while we looked at some more pictures. She showed me albums from her and dads college days. I never knew that dad actually played basketball in college or that mom was one of those hippies with long fringed vests and flowing hair. Looking at dad with his very proper business attire and glasses and mom whose hair has always been neatly pulled back since I could remember, I could hardly make the connection between them and the two grinning faces on the photographs. Another things is that while I knew my parents loved each other, to sit there and look at photos of a younger mom smiling up at my dads face just brought made that love real for me. I asked Dad seems to be a lot of fun in those days. How come he seems so serious now? What happened? Honey, nothing changed. You are hardly ever around to observe us let alone talk to us, mom pointed out. Perhaps Dad may seem quiet in those times that you are around but believe me, hes still got that devilish sense of humor I fell in love with and married him for. Maybe if you spent a little more time with us rather than talking on the phone or rushing out of the house, youd get to know us more, she added. Ouch. That evening I watched Dad as he prepared to take his usual place in front of the TV. He must have sensed something was up for he looked up at me and asked, What are you skulking around in the dark for? Out with it. Clutching the Sonny and Cher photo in my hand, I timidly made my way to him and held out the picture. Dad, I said. Is that really you? He stared at the picture gravely and let out a huge sigh. Yeah, that was me†¦and boy do I remember how much the high heels that went with that crazy dress cut into my feet! and he just burst out laughing. A giggling mom soon joined us and they regaled me with stories of how that particular party went and how moms sonny beard kept slipping and falling into her wine. Dad was laughing himself silly as he recounted the horror on his dads face as he came down the stairs of their home with the long wig, strappy heels, false lashes and all. I thought the old man was going to have a heart attack! Dad managed to get in between snickers. I dont think Ive ever seen my dad so animated or mom so carefree before that night. Since that day, I began to look at my parents in a different light. I realized that I have forgotten how my parents were actually two unique individuals who had their own lives and personalities outside of their roles as mom and dad. I dont know if this was just because I was too prejudiced against the parental institution (as most teens are) or just too preoccupied with my own things to notice them. But that soon changed. From that day on, I started noticing small cues they shared such as mom having a special way of tucking her hair behind her ear whenever dad gave her a compliment and how dad would sort of twitch his nose when hes about to beg off from accompanying mom to the sales. I also observed how mom could be much easier to talk to in the mornings while dad would be grumpy until he has had his usual two cups of coffee for breakfast. Afternoons would see mom winding down while dad would be more relaxed in the evenings. Since then I can honestly say that my relationship with my parents became much closer. While theyre still mom and dad, I learned to recognize and respect them for the individuals they are. I realize how people and personal identities can get so lost in the titles and roles that people play in life. Since what happened with my parents, Ive been able to look at other people I came in contact with as who and not what they are. I began to pay closer attention to people. For instance, I noticed how one cashier at the 7-11 near my house would pay extra attention to her elderly customers, always sending them off with their purchases with a smile†¦a smile that would be returned by the patrons whose day she has brightened up with that simple gesture. The doorman at one of the buildings I usually passed on my way to school would usually have a fresh flower at his lapel and would cheerily greet everyone And how are you doing today? I must admit that even I felt buoyed by such cheerfulness. Quite a few years have passed since that fateful day with the albums. My parents are looking more mature (mom would kill me if I said older) and some things in the old neighborhood have certainly changed. But I will never forget the valuable lesson that a simple photo has taught me in looking beyond the roles people play and recognizing people for the individuals that they are. I truly owe Sonny and Cher a lot.

Free Essays: The Charater of Odysseus of Homers Odyssey :: Odyssey essays

The Charater of Odysseus of Homer's Odyssey      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The most admired classical hero is most certainly Odysseus, the mythological Grecian subject of Homer's epic tale, The Odyssey.   This legendary figure displays excessive amounts of brains and muscle, seeming almost superhuman at times.   He embodies the ideals Homeric Greeks aspired to: manly valor, loyalty, piety, and intelligence.   The popularity of Odysseus transcends time.   To this day he remains greatly admired as both a hero and an ordinary man who must deal with great adventures and retrieving the life he once had.   For twenty years Odysseus overcame each obstacle the gods handed to him.   He was always respectful to the gods, acknowledging their control of fate and realizing that he needed help if he was to ever get back to Ithaca and his beloved family.   He showed keen observation, instinct, and caution.   He is great at disguises, capable of concealing his feelings, and a fast, inventive liar: heroic qualities that got him through his adversities.   Odysseus is also very human, and the reader can see these many qualities as well.   He is often moved to tears.   He makes mistakes, gets himself into tricky situations, and loses his temper.   We see him play not only a hero but also a husband, father, and son.   He takes on the very human roles of athlete, warrior, sailor, storyteller, carpenter, beggar, and lover.   He vividly displays human qualities like brutality and boldness, while being sensitive and shy at the same time.   It is these human qualities that people can relate to.   While he is no doubt a hero, Odysseus is also viewed as a modern man, the pragmatic survivor.   He must struggle, suffer, and deal with the inescapable fate handed down to him from the great beings atop Mt. Olympus. The average human can relate to Odysseus' human qualities, while admiring him for the heroic traits they can only hope to attain, making him so popular.   Odysseus has the skills, strength, and intelligence to qualify him as a hero, yet he still possess the emotional constraints of a human, which together enable him to survive the chaotic disorder of his adventure.   His journey was rich with people and places and totally unpredictable, just as life is for everybody.   From ancient Greeks to today's reader, it is easy to commiserate with Odysseus while at the same time idolize him for dealing with life as it came at him.

Aat Icas

Nature and structure of Inkwell Limited Inkjet supplies a complete range of re-manufactured Inkjet and toner cartridges that are compatible with all major printers. The company has a head office in Birmingham, where its management and accounts team are both located. It sells its products through a nationwide chain of high street shops or from their 24/7 online shop. The company was formed seven years ago by two of the three controlling shareholders The current shareholding percentages of IWL are: †¢Paul Farnon (managing director) – owns 40% of shares Victoria Dawson (sales director) – owns 30% of shares †¢Anil Gupta (finance director) – owns 30% of shares Two of the founding directors have previous experience in the printer cartridge sector. As a result of their knowledge they knew a strong demand existed for less expensive and more environmentally friendly products. The main objective of the entity is to offer a facility where customers are able to exc hange their used cartridges for a 10% discount against the price of a replacement cartridge.The next step is for Inkwell to send the cartridges to a small number of manufacturers to refill them. Inkwell strives for quality products and make clear to the manufacturers that the yield must be as good as the originals. The company operates a Just In Time policy for their retail shops and holds enough stock in their online to shop to be able to deliver goods the day after purchase. These strategies are aimed to minimize inventory-holding costs. In the period the company has been operating it has seen a stable growth.They currently have a turnover of more than ? 16 million. The number of employees is estimated to be around 180 and all of who are full-time. Inkwell Ltd adopts a hierarchal or ‘tall’ structure (see appendix). A hierarchy is a series of level of people, which each level control by the level above it. These types of organisational structures are typical for a larg e company, where accounting systems are the responsibilities of the finance director, centralised, and strictly controlled. The accounting Function is of a reasonable size made up of eight employees

An Analysis of the Influence of Music and it’s Contrasting Message on the Youth of Today

Music is a way of life, it is all around us. It can influence who you are and how you go about your daily lives. Music can manipulate the emotions in a powerful way, which can sometimes determine your mood and your conscience. Sometimes different cultures adapt different music into their lifestyle. Example, Reggae is usually listened to by the Black Caribbean Community. Their music is relaxed and optimistic, as is their lifestyle. The style of music quite often reflects the culture. Music in the 21st century can have positive and negative influences. Different types of music give off different impressions on how the youth of today should live their lives. An example of how diverse cultures can influence a music style can be found in artists such as Ms. Dynamite and 50 Cent. In this essay I will be contrasting the different messages both artists give out through what they say and how they present themselves in their videos. The image they convey is partly determined by their background. Both Ms. Dynamite and 50 Cents music were prompted by their own/previous lifestyles. They were both brought up in dominant cultures, but although it had strong influences on them the cultures themselves were very different. Ms. Dynamite aka Naomi Mclean-Dayley, was born in London in 1982, and lived on a council estate. The eldest of 11 brothers and sisters, she was raised by her primary school teacher mother whose passion for roots, reggae and soul had a profound effect on Naomi. This early part of Ms. Dynamite's journey differs from 50 Cent. 50 Cent was born Curtis Jackson and raised in Queens, New York. He grew up with his grandmother after his mother died under mysterious circumstances when he was 8, and his father left shortly after. The influence placed upon 50 Cent from theses early-life tragedies left him with a sense of insecurity and lack of self-esteem, eventually luring him into the Gangster lifestyle. When he was 12 he was used as a runner and at just 15 he owned his own gun. This all left him with an immense amount of responsibility. This was a diverse contrast compared to Ms. Dynamite. She always had that support wherever she went and whatever she did, as she states, â€Å"My life generally, I've bin lucky to have a lot of Intelligent, loving people around me who will take out five minutes to teach me things about myself without preaching at me just showing me naturally. â€Å"Niomi passed up an opportunity to study social anthropology at Sussex University in order to concentrate on music. Her first single ‘booo! ‘ hurled Ms. Dynamite into the spotlight swiftly establishing her as one of the hottest young talents to emerge from the UK Garage scene. On the contrary 50 Cent was entrenched within the gangster industry, so it wouldn't surprise anybody why he'd been shot 9 times. It was only after his first born baby he became a rap artist. Curtis' first album wasn't a success at all. It wasn't until Eminem noticed him and took interest that 50 Cents career took off. After signing a deal with ‘Shady records' he immediately went to work on his new album entitled ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin. ‘ 50 cent soared to popularity with the first single from his new album ‘In Da Club. Ms Dynamite and 50 Cent both introduce past experiences and elements of their cultures into their songs. The songs that most strongly illustrate these elements are Ms Dynamites ‘It takes more' and 50 cents ‘P. I. M. P'. The titles set the foundation of the songs, and have to be well thought out to interest and catch the attention of the audience. The song ‘It takes more' generally promotes an opposing view of the gangster lifes tyle, unlike 50 Cent, who promotes it in ‘P. I. M. P'. Even though both songs have similar themes the artists themselves express the message in very much different ways. The first twenty to thirty seconds of a video can determine what the remainder is about, and how it impacts the audience. In ‘It takes more'Ms Dynamite starts her video with a strong contrast. As she steps out of the trailer there is a background of a divine scenic beach, but as she carries on walking reality begins to kick in and the beach is replaced with strippers and run down sets. Ms Dynamite is wearing casual clothing portray the message of not flaunting yourself. This makes a statement that you don't need to be made up to feel good or be happy with yourself. That is a good approach in to setting the scene and following the message through. 50 Cent however, starts ‘P. I. M. P'by arriving straight into the master bedroom surrounded by girls in underwear. The room is large and white symbolising wealth and a type of heaven on the outside, relating to the phrase ‘don't judge a book by its cover. ‘ Compared to Ms Dynamite's video, 50 Cent gives the audience a false impression because Ms Dynamite expresses the true reality of the gangster lifestyle through her opening scenes The core of both videos is where the biggest influences are established. In ‘it takes more' the image moves from inside the car to a newspaper picture which transforms to a colour image of a man with two women in a club. The camera zooms in on a tattoo on one of the women. It changes from saying ‘Sadie' to ‘aids. ‘ The message put across in that scene is meant to enlighten you to have self-respect and not get caught up in the gangster lifestyle. A complete opposite message is put across in ‘P. I. M. P. ‘ A later scene in the video shows a man holding several dog leads with women on the ends as though he owns them. This implies his control, and lack of respect shown for women. A quote the lyrics that backs up this point is, ‘ I could care less how she performs in bed,' meaning as long as she's good in bed and making money for me, that's all I care about. The message conveyed in that incident is that women are treated no better than dogs in the organised crime business. Comparing the videos the colours illustrated are very different. In Ms. Dynamite's video there are very dull and dry colours, (such as black and grey) giving the effect of gangster life in reality. The contribution of the colour red symbolises death in that joining the lifestyle can mean you are gambling with your life. 50 Cent in P. I. M. P however, uses totally opposite colours like bright whites. This gives an impression of a heaven like environment. White can also signify his involvement in drugs, because the majority of drug colour is white. The camera angles used in both videos accentuate the ways each person wants to be perceived. Ms. Dynamite focuses the camera level with her face to portray the message of equality. In opposition to this 50 Cent uses camera angles from his feet looking upwards. This gives the message that he's bigger than everyone else, God like and worthy of adoration. The way both artists present themselves in their videos gives us an insight into the kind of message they are trying to communicate. The messages and implications of the artist's videos and lyrics are influenced by their similar early life experiences. Whereas Ms. Dynamite presents the reality of the lifestyle, 50 Cent exaggerates and embellishes it into something quite out of the ordinary. The impact both artists have on the audience differs. Ms. Dynamite promotes a social conscience and 50 Cent promotes his underground street culture, by romanticising the gangster image. He relies on people's fascination with violence and the criminal element. In conclusion my essay shows how easily influenced the youth of today can be, through the medium of music. The messages are quite often designed to be relevant to them whether their content is good or bad. I understand that music is important and we all need it as part of our lives, but we need to realise there are many other ways to be motivated and challenged concerning life issues.

Biogenesis theory of disease Essays

Biogenesis theory of disease Essays Biogenesis theory of disease Essay Biogenesis theory of disease Essay Why is biogenesis important for the germ theory of disease? Are they mutually exclusive or highly dependent on each other? The germ theory of disease is the theory that microorganisms are the cause of specific diseases, and the theory of biogenesis claims that living cells must come from other living cells. Biogenesis is important for the germ theory of disease, and the two are dependent on one another. Microorganisms, which are microscopic living cells that are bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, microscopic algae, or viruses, can  reproduce, and are the cause of disease. These living microorganisms will invade anything that they can live on, (such as food, animals, plants). With this being said, these microorganisms are invading live cells, and reproducing, which can then cause disease. Who first suggested that the use of aseptic techniques would have a profound effect on the contraction of human diseases? In your answer, be sure to describe this effect. Aseptic technique, which is still used today, is a procedure that is  preformed under sterile conditions to prevent any contamination from microorganisms. Joseph Lister, an English surgeon, first applied this technique and encouraged this in surgery, and for medical procedures to keep from transmitting infection to patients. Lister applied the germ theory to medical procedures, as he was aware that physicians were not properly disinfecting their hands, and were transmitting infections from one patient to another, (Tortora, Funke Case ). Aseptic technique is practiced today in the medical field to keep  patients from infection. By using sterile equipment and applying this technique, we are protecting patients from microbial contamination that could potentially harm them. Reference: Tortora, Gerard J. , Berdell R. Funke, and Christine L. Case. The Microbial World and You. Microbiology: An Introduction. Boston: Pearson, 2013. Print.

Characteristic Of The American Nation History Essay

Characteristic Of The American Nation History Essay The United States are different from the rest of the world in many aspects, and Americans themselves like to emphasize their uniqueness. Many books, introductions to cultural studies, manuals, textbooks, dictionaries, guides, articles, and essays have been written with one common aim. They all have tried to distinguish and call the American distinctness by real names, as well as they have attempted to explain why Americans are such an exceptional nation. This thesis is also one of the efforts to objectify a rather complicated jigsaw of the American character. In total amount of four chapters a complex portrait of an American will be offered. To start a research which quests a current form of any culture it is important to look firstly into its past. America may not have long history like English or Italian but still approximately 200 years of self-selective immigration were enough to set very clear distinctiveness typical for the United States. The first chapter of this thesis will attempt to point out various occurrences since the foundation of the first permanent settlement in the North America till 1776. Two greatest foreign traveler publications by Alexis de Tocqueville and J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur that contributed to the development of the national pride will be mentioned. These two historical sources will be compared with current literature and it will be observed whether they differ or not. Finally, it will be dealt with the proportions of European immigrants and how they helped to change the portrait of the American nation. The following chapter will continue on approximation of the American differentness by portraying the system of values. First of all, it will be clarified what is regarded as a value because traditionally more than one definition of this term occurs. It will be proven that values function like dominant pillars on which the structure of the American character has been built. Quite much attention will be paid to values like wor k, achievement, or equality because these values have their historical background and are still reflected not even in American behavior but also in stereotypes common about American citizens. The third part will be devoted to religion in the United States. This topic is purposely not attached to the chapter about values because as it will be explained, religion is traditionally not being mentioned as a value. What is more, religion will be portrayed as an independent factor touching different beliefs of common people but also like a factor contrasting to the secularity of the state. The very last and rather shorter chapter will comment on stereotypes and prejudices which often do not provide a very objective picture of the United States. Attention will be also paid to the notably higher number of American stereotypes in comparison to other countries. Finally some examples of individual stereotypes will be provided and by these means the picture of the American nation will be conclud ed. americans in terms of the historical development Ever since America has been discovered, especially the North America, it has represented an object of fascination to observers from other countries who have been trying to solve the question of American nationality. The quest of the American   [ 1 ]   national identity, and who or what is considered to be American is perennial. It is regarded as a common knowledge that the US is primarily and undoubtedly a country of immigrants. According to American historian John Harmon McElroy, more than 55 million immigrants have arrived into America in the last four centuries. Such a high number represents the largest movement of people flowing into a certain place or a country in the history of mankind (60).

Obedience to Authority and How It is Evil Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Obedience to Authority and How It is Evil - Essay Example This essay analyzes how following authority produces evil. Obedience to authority results in evil in the stories â€Å"The Lottery† and â€Å"The Ones Who Walked Away from Omelas,† because of appearance of convention, cowardice, and ordinariness of violence. Convention and law are common sources of authority, which many people can follow mindlessly, however evil their outcomes may be. In â€Å"The Lottery,† Old Man Warner stresses that the lottery cannot be removed, simply because it has always been done: â€Å"There's always been a lottery† (Jackson). Furthermore, he emphasizes the saying: â€Å"Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon† (Jackson). It does not matter if this ritual results to the suffering of one person, since the society focuses on its â€Å"positive† outcomes. In "The Ones Who Walked Away from Omelas,† people believe that in order to maintain the joy and wealth of Omelas, they have to preserve a â€Å"child's abominable m isery† (LeGuin). Omelas has made it a law to never let the child out, because it will result to the loss of â€Å"prosperity and beauty and delight† of Omelas (LeGuin). Some residents feel the injustice of this law, but the majority follows its law nonetheless. Simply obeying authority is a form of cowardice, which results to evil too.