Sunday, August 23, 2020

Hunger Artist Essay Example For Students

Appetite Artist Essay I will attempt to show what the publics response was to the heavenly attendant in ? The elderly person with Enormous wings ? also, Kafkas ? Appetite Artist ? from what the creators wrote in the accounts and the characters perspective. I will likewise attempt delineate how general society has even more an importance in the two stories. In ? An elderly person with Enormous Wings ? the general population goes to see the elderly person since they needed to perceive what he was. The proprietors of the house where the elderly person was at, believed that he was a forlorn castaway from some outside boat destroyed by the tempest. They thought this since they addressed him and he replied in a unimaginable vernacular with a solid mariners voice. People in general hurled him things to eat as though he werent a powerful animal however a bazaar creature. At the point when Father Gonzaga went to see the elderly person there was less silly spectators than the individuals who had shown up before. The most straightforward among them imagined that he ought to be named city hall leader of the world. Others of sterner psyche felt that he ought to be elevated to the position of five-star general so as to win all wars. There were others that trusted he would be put to duplicate, so there would be a race of winged astute man who could assume responsibility for the universe. Father Gonzaga suspected that he was an impostor since he didn't comprehend the language of God and didn't have the foggiest idea how to welcome his pastor. He didn't feel that the elderly person was a heavenly attendant, he rather felt that it could of been a stunt of the fiend. Inquisitive individuals originated from far away on the grounds that they believed that h e could fix them and change their disasters. During this time, the elderly person was the one in particular who didn't partake in his own demonstration. During those days a jamboree fascination showed up with a lady who had been changed to an insect. The old keeps an eye on notoriety was at that point demolished at this point. After this individuals quit going to see the elderly person. Months had past when the elderly person got new wings and just took off. I believe that the holy messenger in ? The elderly person with Enormous wings ? might have really remained. He left on the grounds that nobody rewarded him right. They didn't have confidence in him since he didn't give them what they needed, so they didn't have confidence in him. People in general could of simply have faith in him and rewarded him well perhaps he would have recovered and afterward he would have gaven them what they needed. In the ?hunger Artist ?, the craftsman needed general society to value his fasting capacities by watching him and giving him distinction. We know this by the accompanying section; ? Why quit fasting ?, for what reason should he be cheated of the notoriety he would get for enduring longer. ?Proficient fasting had reduced strikingly the most recent decade. For seniors he was regularly a joke, while for kids he was an exceptional treat. There were various types of watchers that viewed the craftsman. There were gatherings of watchers who might cluster to together in a corner to play a game of cards. They planned to give the craftsman Some space, since they figured he would acknowledge to be separated from everyone else. He didn't, rather it made him hopeless and caused his quick to appear to be horrendous. At that point there are the watchers more to his taste. The watchers that would sit close up to the bars since they were not content with the diminish late evening lighting on the lobb y. The craftsman would not rest, he was glad at going through restless evenings with such watchers. Individuals started to get uninterested in viewing the ? Yearning Artist ? since nobody could create proof that the quick had truly been continuos; just the craftsman realized that, in this manner he was his solitary fulfilled onlooker of his own quick. A long time past and still nobody paid attention to his difficulty. Individuals felt that his downturn was do to the fasting. They likewise felt that fasting caused him to respond with an upheaval of fierceness; he would shake the bars of his confine like a wild creature. More years past, unexpectedly the craving craftsman ended up abandoned by the delight searchers and by this he kicked the bucket. .uf458c01de40f3d807754ce4546653ccd , .uf458c01de40f3d807754ce4546653ccd .postImageUrl , .uf458c01de40f3d807754ce4546653ccd .focused content zone { min-stature: 80px; position: relative; } .uf458c01de40f3d807754ce4546653ccd , .uf458c01de40f3d807754ce4546653ccd:hover , .uf458c01de40f3d807754ce4546653ccd:visited , .uf458c01de40f3d807754ce4546653ccd:active { border:0!important; } .uf458c01de40f3d807754ce4546653ccd .clearfix:after { content: ; show: table; clear: both; } .uf458c01de40f3d807754ce4546653ccd { show: square; change: foundation shading 250ms; webkit-progress: foundation shading 250ms; width: 100%; obscurity: 1; change: darkness 250ms; webkit-progress: mistiness 250ms; foundation shading: #95A5A6; } .uf458c01de40f3d807754ce4546653ccd:active , .uf458c01de40f3d807754ce4546653ccd:hover { murkiness: 1; progress: haziness 250ms; webkit-change: mistiness 250ms; foundation shading: #2C3E50; } .uf458c01de40f3d807754ce4546653ccd .focused content territory { width: 100%; position: relati ve; } .uf458c01de40f3d807754ce4546653ccd .ctaText { fringe base: 0 strong #fff; shading: #2980B9; text dimension: 16px; textual style weight: striking; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; content adornment: underline; } .uf458c01de40f3d807754ce4546653ccd .postTitle { shading: #FFFFFF; text dimension: 16px; text style weight: 600; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; width: 100%; } .uf458c01de40f3d807754ce4546653ccd .ctaButton { foundation shading: #7F8C8D!important; shading: #2980B9; outskirt: none; outskirt span: 3px; box-shadow: none; text dimension: 14px; text style weight: intense; line-tallness: 26px; moz-fringe range: 3px; content adjust: focus; content beautification: none; content shadow: none; width: 80px; min-tallness: 80px; foundation: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/modules/intelly-related-posts/resources/pictures/straightforward arrow.png)no-rehash; position: supreme; right: 0; top: 0; } .uf458c01de40f3d807754ce4546653ccd:hover .ctaButton { foundation shading: #34495E!important; } .uf45 8c01de40f3d807754ce4546653ccd .focused content { show: table; stature: 80px; cushioning left: 18px; top: 0; } .uf458c01de40f3d807754ce4546653ccd-content { show: table-cell; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; cushioning right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-adjust: center; width: 100%; } .uf458c01de40f3d807754ce4546653ccd:after { content: ; show: square; clear: both; } READ: What was the main source of the worldcom outrage EssayIn the ? Appetite Artist ? people in general couldn't have quite recently been content in realizing that he was fasting. They perceived how thin he was they despite everything felt that he could have had been eating as an afterthought. This shows the absence of trust individuals have in others. The two stories ought to be looked at in view of their similitudes in the way the open treats the primary characters. The general population was simply intrigued by the ? Craving Artist ? since he was an amusement for them. They watched him for two or three years, yet it at that point arrived at a moment that individuals began saying, ? that they would not watch him any longer since they were not with him throughout the day, so how might they be certain that he was not eating anything as an afterthought. ? General society in ? The elderly person with Enormous wings ? were keen on the elderly person since they thought he was a blessed messenger. They quit being keen on him when they saw that he was unable to do marvels for them. With this we can see that general society in the two stories were just allured by the two characters as long as they believed that they were getting something from them. The open attempted to utilize the characters for their own advantages. I believe that the two essayists are concentrating on how the general population responds to the characters in ? The extremely elderly person with Enormous wings ? what's more, the ? Appetite Artist ? since they are attempting to show how the world has changed with regards to having confidence in others or in a strict issue.

Friday, August 21, 2020

Interest Rate SWAPS Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Loan cost SWAPS - Literature survey Example As per Pelsser (2000) the market identified with subsidiary protections has been expressed to be seen like a protection advertise comparable to the thought about budgetary dangers. The fast pace of globalization as far as the capital markets has brought about a critical ascent in the degree of instability identified with loan cost over the globe. Various organizations showed an inclination for buying protection contrary to the rising implausibility and flimsiness with respect to the market connected to financing cost. Inferable from this specific justification, the market identified with loan cost subsidiaries saw a sharp ascent and improvement during the previous two decades (Crotty and North Carolina State University, 2006). It was expressed by Whaley (2006) that loan cost subsidiaries are alluded to those sort of subordinates which should make accessible the adjustments that are discovered by the method of modifications that happens in the financing costs. The comparative subsidia ry items that were utilized with the goal to deal with and manage the dangers identified with remote trade were found to groups the skill of dealing with the dangers identified with loan fees too (Kohn, 1990). The famous type of subsidiary item that was seen as utilized in this setting was the loan cost trades. ... The upside of fitting or changing the dangers related with loan costs as per the prerequisites of a specific hazard administrator was ascribed to be the significant reason behind its notoriety. Financing cost trades have been perceived to be the most widely applied type of loan fee subordinate (Grant and Marshall, 1997; Bodnar and et. al., 1995; Moffet and Karlsen, 1994). Financing cost trade has been expressed to be a serious efficacious instrument. It is equipped of being organized at a serious diminished level of cost and is additionally expected to be less expensive in contrast with a new advance with a fixed rate (Schaeffer and Ludwig, 1993). As indicated by Coyle (2001), the idea of loan fee trade is alluded to the trade over of installment of interests dependent on a hypothetical sum as to the head. In such cases, one specific gathering is accepted to dispense a preset loan fee with respect to the chief sum for the span according to the trade. Additionally, the other included gathering keeps dispensing a coasting loan cost which is adjusted or rather occasionally modified. The idea of financing cost has been clarified as the whole of cash or assets that is guaranteed to be paid by a specific borrower to the concerned moneylender. The utilization or the execution of a loan fee is found out to be subject to the level of relative acknowledge hazard as it is accepted that the more the normal level of credit chance, the pace of intrigue that is guaranteed by the particular borrower likewise takes off and gets expanded comparable to it. The loan fee trade is viewed as very famous and has been expressed to be among the boss

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

When Your Parents Divorce - Free Essay Example

My parents divorced when i was eleven years old, and ever since then i have always asked myself why. My parents had been married for eighteen years, i never wouldve thought theyd get divorced. Admittedly, i really didnt handle the situation all that great, looking back now i can see that affected me significantly. After growing up a little bit, i began to wonder why do couples with children get divorced? As a result of my research i found that when couples get divorced, it doesnt cause too much trouble for those parties involved. However, if the couple has a child, that makes a huge difference. These kids that have to go through their parents divorce, they begin to rebel and get into trouble because they feel abandoned or alone. According to Jann Gumbiner, in the article Introduction to Divorce and Children, she states that there are no firm rules for a good or a bad divorce. Divorce hurts children, even the grown ones (divorce, Gumbiner). Personally, i can say that Jann is correct, because when i went through my parents divorce, i wasnt a little kid, and i had to deal with it. Now, this article focuses primarily on how divorce affects the children. However, in some divorces, parents are not the only ones to seperate. In families with siblings, for example, one or more of the siblings may primarily live with their mother, while the other sibling or siblings may primarily live with their father. Such a divorce arrangement is known as split custody, which is seldom granted by judges(espejo). Courts in most states are opposed to separating siblings when their parents divorce. Children are experiencing the trauma of their parents separation, and judges often see parting them from each other as an added cruelty at an already vulnerable time (Beverly Bird). Indeed, numerous experts believe that split custody is far from ideal and hurts the relationships between siblings†as well as their emotional, social, and psychological development(espejo).

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Capital Asset Pricing Model Essay Example Pdf - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 9 Words: 2841 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Argumentative essay Level High school Did you like this example? The capital asset pricing model provides an equation for determing the return on a stock. It states that the expected (average) excess return on a stock depends on the expected excess market return according to the following relationship. In the formulation, the estimated beta can be obtained from a time series regression of the stocks excess return on the excess market return. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Capital Asset Pricing Model Essay Example Pdf" essay for you Create order The risk of a stock and hence the average return on that stock should depend on the volatility of its return and not on this peculiar variable beta which the higher the stocks own volatility, the higher should be the average return on the stock. So the relative average returns on two stocks should depend on the ratios of their return volatilities and not the ratio of their betas. The key factors in determing portfolio variance are the covariances between all of the stock returns in the portfolios- the higher the average covariance of stock returns in the portfolio, the higher is portfolio variance. The CAPM assumes that all investors hold the market portfolio and then seeks to determine what the expected return should be on each of these individual stocks, in order that investors as a group are willing to hold these stocks. As we have seen, a key determinant of the return required by investors is the covariance between an individual stocks return and the market return- which is measured by the stocks beta. The stocks own return variance plays little or no part in determing the average return on the stock, as the risk can be diversified away as well as the CAPM can be in a well- diversified portfolio and does not add any additional world. So we can say the CAPM formulation contains no reference to the variance of returns on individual securities. CAPM uses a single factor, beta, to compare a portfolio with the market as a whole. But more generally, you can add factors to a regression model to give a better r-squared fit. The best known approach like this is the three factor model developed by Gene Fama and Ken French. Fama and French started with the observation that two classes of stocks have tended to do better than the market as a whole: (i) small caps and (ii) stocks with a high book-value-to-price ratio (customarily called value stocks; their opposites are called growth stocks). They then added two factors to CAPM to reflect a portfolios exposur e to these two classes: r       Rf    =    beta3 x (Km Rf )    +    bs x SMB    +    bv x HML    +    alpha Here r is the portfolios return rate, Rf is the risk-free return rate, and Km is the return of the whole stock market. The three factor beta is analogous to the classical beta but not equal to it, since there are now two additional factors to do some of the work. SMB and HML stand for small [cap] minus big and high [book/price] minus low; they measure the historic excess returns of small caps and value stocks over the market as a whole. By the way SMB is defined, the corresponding coefficients bs and bv take values on a scale of roughly 0 to 1: bs = 1 would be a small cap portfolio, bs = 0 would be large cap, bv = 1 would be a portfolio with a high book/price ratio. One thing thats interesting is that Fama and French still see high returns as a reward for taking on high risk; in particular that me ans that if returns increase with book/price, then stocks with a high book/price ratio must be more risky than average exactly the opposite of what a traditional business analyst would tell you. The difference comes from whether you believe in the efficient market theory. The business analyst doesnt believe it, so he would say high book/price indicates a buying opportunity: the stock looks cheap. 4. (a) Using financial market examples, explain the differences between speculation, hedging and arbitridge. Speculation Buying shares in the hope that the price will rise in the future or selling a share and hope to buy it back at a lower price in the future are forms of speculation. Any marketable financial assets can provide a vehicle for speculation including bonds, foreign currency, futures and options. Speculator activity is never like we shall see; they provide funds to enable hedging activities to take place. For examples, stock market bubbles such as the property markets collapse in Asian crisis and so on. Arbitrage An arbitrage opportunity takes advantage of price difference in different markets. It is basically buying in one market and at same time selling in another to get profit from the difference, like in UK, you can buy a toy doll for 10 pounds, and then sell it in German for 25 pounds, and the 15 pounds is the arbitrage profit. In the stock market, traders often try to exploit arbitrage opportunities. E.g. a trader may buy a stock on the foreign exchange where the price has not yet adjusted for the constantly fluctuating exchange rate. The price of stock on the foreign exchange is therefore undervalued compare to the price on the local exchange and the trader makes a profit from this difference. Hedge funds Hedge fund is one of techniques of active portfolio management which is usually using highly leveraged transactions to finance their investment. In other word, hedge funds by using derivatives to increase their exposure at a low cost. Just because of this leverage, hedge funds can always acquire the high return through invested their own capital; therefore it is more risky than other normal strategy. In instance, purchase a financial instrument in order to insure against possible reduction in wealth caused by the adverse price fluctuations. (b) Explain there types of financial market anomalies and discuss the implications of this evidence for the efficiency market hypothesis. There are three different type of anomalies: Weekend effect It is referring to the fact that there appears to be a systematic fall in stock prices between the Friday closing and Monday opening of the stock market. Because the governments release good news between Monday and Friday, but they wait until the weekend to release the bad news. The bad news is then reflected in low stock prices on Monday. Over- reaction to news If the good news appears to market, therefore the price of the stock will rise very high; in contrast of bad news, the price will drop down in to a certain level. Over time, market will correct this mispricing and prices return to fundamental values. If the news is true, past winner do badly in the future and past loser do well portfolios, it is also had lower risk. International diversification Theory suggests that portfolios should be diversified internationally to reduce the potential risk. In fact, investors tend to hold a disproportionally large proportion of stock market investment in their domestic market (home country bias). Because might they prefer something familiar and easy to acquire the correct information. Even in their domestic equity holdings, investors are biased towards holding local companies. 5. (a) Explian the payoff structures of call and put option options. Call and put option positions A put option (sometimes simply called a put) is a financial contract between two parties, the seller (writer) and the buyer of the option. The buyer acquires a short position with the right, but not the obligation, to sell the underlying instrument at an agreed-upon price (the strike price). If the buyer exercises his right to sell the option, the seller is obliged to buy it at the strike price. In exchange for having this option, the buyer pays the writer a fee (the option premium). The terms for exercising the options right to sell it differs depending on option style. A European put option allows the holder to exercise the put option for a short period of time right before expiration, while an American put option allows exercise at any time before expiration. The most widely-traded put options are equity, but they are traded on many other instruments such as interest rate. The put buyer either believes that the underlying assets price will fall by the exercise date or hopes to protect a long position in it. The advantage of buying a put over short selling the asset is that the option owners risk of loss is limited to the premium paid for it, whereas the asset short sellers risk of loss is unlimited (its price can rise greatly, theoretically, infinitely, all the short sellers loss. The put buyers prospect (risk) of gain is limited to the options strike price less the underlings spot price and the premium/fee paid for it. The put writer believes that the underlying securitys price will rise, not fall. The writer sells the put to collect the premium. The put writers total potential loss is limited to the puts strike price less the spot and premium already received. Puts can be used also to limit the writers portfolio risk and may be part of an option spread. A call option is a financial contract between two parties, the buyer and the seller of this type of option. It is the option to buy shares of stock at a specified time in the future. Often it is simply labeled a call. The buyer of the option has the right, but not the obligation to buy an agreed quantity of a particular commodity or financial instrument (the underlying instrument) from the seller of the option at a certain time (the expiration date) for a certain price (the strike price). The seller (or writer) is obligated to sell the commodity or financial instrument should the buyer so decide. The buyer pays a fee (called a premium) for this ri ght. The buyer of a call option wants the price of the underlying instrument to rise in the future; the seller either expects that it will not, or is willing to give up some of the upside (profit) from a price rise in return for the premium (paid immediately) and retaining the opportunity to make a gain up to the strike price (see below for examples). Call options are most profitable for the buyer when the underlying instrument is moving up, making the price of the underlying instrument closer to the strike price. The call buyer believes its likely the price of the underlying asset will rise by the exercise date. The risk is limited to the premium. The profit for the buyer can be very large, and is limited by how high underlings spot rises. When the price of the underlying instrument surpasses the strike price, the option is said to be in the money. The call writer does not believe the price of the underlying security is likely to rise. The writer sells the call to collect the premium. The total loss, for the call writer, can be very large, and is only limited by how high the underlings spot price rises. The initial transaction in this context (buying/selling a call option) is not the supplying of a physical or financial asset (the underlying instrument). Rather it is the granting of the right to buy the underlying asset, in exchange for a fee the option price or premium. Exact specifications may differ depending on option style. A European call option allows the holder to exercise the option (i.e., to buy) only on the option expiration date. An American call option allows exercise at any time during the life of the option. Call options can be purchased on many financial instruments other than stock in a corporation. Options can be purchased on futures on interest rates, for example (see interest rate cap), and on commodities like gold or crude oil. A tradable call option should not be confused with either Incentive stock options or with a w arrant. An incentive stock option, the option to buy stock in a particular company, is a right granted by a corporation to a particular person (typically executives) to purchase treasury stock. When an incentive stock option is exercised, new shares are issued. Incentive stock options are not traded on the open market. In contrast, when a call option is exercised, the underlying asset is transferred from one owner to another. (b) Analyses binominal option valuation by comparing the approaches using 1.implied probabilities and 2.no arbitrage conditions. Many investment decisions have to be made under uncertainty. In order to quantify this uncertainty, we can use probability distributions. This enables us to say whether a particular event or will not occur with a certain frequency. The idea of random events and probabilities is fairly well understood for simple problems. For example, binomial probability if its outcomes can be broken down into two probabilities p and q, where p and q are complementary (i.e. p + q = 1) For example, tossing a coin can be either heads or tails, each which have a (theoretical) probability of 0.5. Rolling a four on a six-sided die can be expressed as the probability (1/6) of getting a 4 or the probability (5/6) of rolling something else. No Arbitrage Approach There are three steps for this approach: Compute the option payoff in the two states of nature; construct a portfolio of stock and the risk-free asset which replicates these payoffs; price the option as equal to the cost of constructing the replicating portfolio. General approach to step (ii) Stock price (underlying asset) process: The current price is S, and in the next time period the price can increase to Su or decrease to Sd If the stock price increases to Su, the option payoff will be Ku. If the stock price decreases to Sd, the option payoff will be Kd. The replicating portfolio consists of ÃÆ'Ã… ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ » units of stock and ÃÆ'Ã… ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¼ is the amount invested at the The payoff on the replicating portfolio must equal the payoff on the option under both possible outcomes of the binomial process. This is expressed as follows: ÃÆ'Ã… ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ » Su + ÃÆ'Ã… ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¼ er = Ku (Equation 1) ÃÆ'Ã… ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ » Sd + ÃÆ'Ã… ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¼ er = Kd (Equation 2) We have two equations and two unknown values (ÃÆ'Ã… ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ » and ÃÆ'Ã… ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¼) Solving as simultaneous equations produces: ÃÆ'Ã… ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ » = (Ku Kd) / (Su Sd) ÃÆ'Ã… ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¼ = e-r [Ku {Su x (Ku Kd) / (Su Sd)}] In step 3 of the pricing approach: Option price = Cost of replicating portfolio = ÃÆ'Ã… ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ » S + ÃÆ'Ã… ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¼ 6. (a) Explain the covered interest rate parity conditions and demonstrate its relevance to the pricing of the currency forwards. The price of forward contract involved a relationship between the forward rate and three other variables, the sport rate and the money-market interest rates in the two countries, and is known as covered interest parity. We shall see in that in an efficient market, the quoted forward rate ensures that no risk-free arbitrage profits can be made by transacting betwe en the spot currency market, the two money markets and the forward market. The relationship between spot and forward rates can be derived as follows. Assume that a UK corporate treasure has a sum of money A pound, which he can invest in the UK or US for one year. We assume that the transaction must have zero market risk and we also assume zero credit risk. For the UK treasurer to be indifferent as to where the money is invested, it has to be the case that the risk-free return from investing in the UK equals return in sterling from the investing in the US. Assume that the quote interest rates in the domestic money market, the foreign money market and the exchange rates. In this case, the forward rate and the spot rate are measured as domestic per unit of foreign currency, therefore it shows that the investment equal in the one country which involve no market risk and then the corporate treasurer will be indifferent to placing his funds in either the US or the UK-this is called covered interest parity. (b) Explain the structures and characteristics of a fixed- for-floating interesting rate swap. There is one reason for entering in to a swap is to remove interest -rate risk over many future years, another one for undertaking a swap is that some firms find it cheaper to borrow at floating rated and then use a swap to create the fix-rate payments that they really want. It is sometimes cheaper to do this than to go and directly obtain a fixed-rate loan from your usual bank. For example, suppose that firm A finds it relatively cheap to borrow at a floating rate but would prefer to ultimately borrow at a fixed rate. Firm A does not go directly and borrow at a fixed rate from its corresponding bank, because its fixed-rate loans are relatively expensive. Instead, it borrows cheaply at a floating rate from another bank and enters in to swap where it pays floating rate and receives fixed rate. If the swap route is cheaper than directly going to the usual ba nk for a fixed-rate loan, the cost saving is known as the comparative advantage in the swap. This cost provides the financial incentive behind the expansion of the swap business.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Review Of Frankenstein By Thomas C. Foster - 2003 Words

How to read Literature like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster guides the reader to a better understanding of the Novel as whole and characters as individuals. Frankenstein by Marry Shelly can be easily broken down into pieces with certain chapters of â€Å"how to read literature like a professor† and able to see the real theme of the novel. Frankenstein is a frame story where the author Mary Shelley sets up a main character that sets the scene by telling story and we find another character or characters telling stories within that story. Result of that three characters are on quest including Walton, Frankenstein and The Monster. â€Å"The real reason for a quest is always self knowledge. Walton is on his Quest to be the first person to travel the†¦show more content†¦He tells Walton â€Å"Seek happiness in tranquility and avoid ambition† meaning fins your happiness in calmness instead of having a strong desire over a success. Although in a line right after he hopes that somebody finds the solution and succeeds at this goal. Third quester in the novel is Frankenstein’s creation, The Monster that is out on a quest to ruin Victor’s life just like he did his. His quest is emotional like a romantic hero and after being chased by the human he still desires a human companionship. Through out the novel we can see that nothing can make him happier when he fits into the society and community around him. The Monster faces many more challenges then any of the other in the novel, at first because of physical deformity he can’t bond with another human being and then Victor refuses to create him another companion, which makes the monster furious and he goes out to kill him. At Victor’s death the monster exclaims â€Å"I was nourished with high thoughts of honor and devotion. But now crime has degraded me beneath the meanest animal† meaning he realizes that it was the society that mad him monster, not his creator. Foster explains, â€Å"The real reason for a quest never involves the stated reason.† Similar to the novel Frankenstein where the real reason was stated in the beginning but as the novel goes on it states to fade away and something else becomes the real quest. Mary Shelley has used many

Cinema Project free essay sample

These two great films are very different when examining the editing. For example Memento has a very difficult story to understand due to the editing of the narrative and the story that Leonard Shelby is trying to tell. For the film, The Hurt Locker, the editing in the film is used to create dramatic emotion and create high suspenseful scenes in which the audience is grabbing onto their seats. Editing is a very powerful tool in the making of films. For example, editing has the power to change a serious and suspenseful movie into a comedy, with the techniques of changing the sounds, order of scenes and shots, and even the color of the shot in the movie. Editing is used in every film out there to create better films and shots. One very important editing technique in Memento was changing the color of the shot. For example when it would flashback to Leonard on the phone, it represented Leonard in a past memory. We will write a custom essay sample on Cinema Project or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This editing technique impacted the film greatly. Whenever I saw the black and white scene, I opened up my eyes and paid a lot more attention. The gray scenes were important things to watch and thin about. It was also a great editing technique to use because the major idea of the story is about a man named Leonard who suffers from short term memory loss. The gray scenes were not only giving a higher meaning to the scene but also a flashback to what Leonard had done in the past. This editing was a mix of changing the color and changing the story line in the film. Memento was filled with flashbacks while The Hurt locker was mostly in order until the end of the film where it flashed back to James and how his life was before he joined the army and left to disarm bombs in Iraq. In The Hurt locker, editing was a film in which the narrative uses editing. For example the main character is James and throughout the movie the camera is following him and his struggle of disarming bombs in a country filled with them. A major type of editing in the film is the rhythm of the movie. For example in the movie the tempo and duration of scenes were very quick and abrupt. The shots in the scene are very fast and it keeps the audience focused and tied to their seat wondering what will happen next; Will the bomb go off? Will James or his partners get shot? Will he get kidnapped? The rhythm creates suspense in which we are fearful to for the characters of the film. One common technique that these films had was that they both had music that created drama and suspense. For example in Memento, Leonard was faced daily with complicated puzzling questions, and when this occurred in the film, there was music with a rhythm that was heard throughout the movie. Another way to describe it was that Memento had a theme song that was played in important suspenseful themes throughout the movie. In The Hurt Locker, there was also a similar song that was played throughout the movie, for example when James was struggling to defuse bombs and when shooting scenes happened. These two films shared this similar editing technique that added emotion and created audience attention. The editing techniques in the narrative of Memento and The Hurt Locker are very similar to each and each has a different purpose. The editing in Memento creates a mysterious and puzzling film, while the editing in The Hurt Locker creates an action packed suspenseful thriller. Editing is a powerful tool used in films. It has the power to change the entirety idea of the movie and add a lot more emotion and drama.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Two Types of Sexual Harassment (EEOC)

Abstract This research paper explicitly examines the two types of sexual harassment commonly found in the work place. As it would be observed, sexual harassment of any nature can be a devastating issue that comes with serious implications to its victims. Nowadays, the habit has turned out to be a major issue in the contemporary society and indeed one of the dominant concerns of all times.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Two Types of Sexual Harassment (EEOC) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This paper provides a deeper insight on the two types of sexual harassment, as it is revealed on various studies on the field. Key aspects such as causes of sexual harassments and types of harassers as well as typical victims of this devastating practice are also examined here. Sexual harassment is becoming a major social issue in the contemporary society and apart from the unbearable shame and humiliation that it brin gs to victims, it is also likely to bear adverse consequences to the society. In this regard, there is need for the issue to be addressed with serious concerns and emphasized approaches, before it completely robs the society of its integrity. If entertained, this can result to serious cases of sexual assault or rape. Some of the most vital steps that should be taken by victims of this vice is to collect enough proof, where possible and seek immediate help from sexual harassment specialists. Introduction Sexual harassment is really becoming a major obstacle to economical development of most countries in the world. The issue has a direct impact to the productivity and profitability of businesses and corporations. Sexual harassment simply refers to the kind of discrimination, threats or pressures that people are likely to receive, especially in their workplaces, for failure to put up with sexual remarks by another person or to give into their sexual approaches (Einarsen, 1990). However , according to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) the term is simply taken to refer to any unwelcomed conduct that would be of a sexual nature. Generally, sexual harassments in workplaces can be triggered by a number of things which include, requests for sexual favors, unwelcome sexual advances, and other physical or verbal intimidation associated with sexuality. A person of any gender can be victim or assailant of gender harassment. However, even though the practice would be expected to take place mostly between persons of different genders, there have been reported cases whereby men have been harassed by other men and women by other women. As it would be observed in the EEOC guidelines, the two major categories of sexual harassments commonly found in work places are Quid pro quo and Hostile work environment. Previously, the habit may have passed on lightly as a common practice anticipated in workplaces.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This however, would change completely in the year 1980 when EEOC issued guidelines declaring the move as a breach of Title VII (Section 703). Currently, sexual harassment is increasingly becoming common in many workplaces and this comes with adverse consequences which can deal a real blow on economies and human integrity in the society. The two types of sexual harassment Quid Pro Quo As it would be observed, this type of sexual harassment is the most easier to understand. The term ‘quid pro quo’ is a Latin expression which means ‘something for something’ and this can refer to situations where employers or other people in authority would ask for sexual favors from their subordinates, in return to various other benefits. Some of the things such as promotions, privileges at work, or even money compensations. Even though the more uncommon of the two types of sexual harassment, quid pro quo is actually the easiest to prove (Richman and Rospenda, 1999). In this case, victims are faced with the dilemma of giving into unwanted sexual demands or facing the wrath of losing the benefits and ending up being punished severely through ways related to their work. A perfect example of quid pro quo sexual harassment is whereby a manager or a supervisor demands to have sex with one of his female subordinates in return of a promotion. Hostile work environment Unlike the ‘quid pro quo’ which is limited to sexual acts, this type of sexual harassment extends to other levels such as unwelcome physical or extreme verbal sexual behavior (Paul, 1990). In most cases, this type of harassment is executed by an individual to another individual belonging to a different gender. Examples of hostile environment associated with this type of harassment include scenarios such as seeing pornographic images, hearing sexual utterances or jokes, and receiving occasional advances or invitations to go on romantic dates (Carr-Ruffino, 1996). There may be no threat to one’s employment in this type of sexual harassment, but the outcome is enough to push the victim to serious psychological pressures or strain. An example of this type of sexual harassment is whereby a male staff member constantly picks on his male colleagues at work but not his female coworkers. Causes and nature of sexual harassment Causes of sexual harassment would tend to vary from people to people and from region to region. However, most of these causes are interrelated and would be linked to values and culture working places and in society, and also to the responsibilities, relative position and authority of the people concerned.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Two Types of Sexual Harassment (EEOC) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More One major cause of this incessant practice is socialization. In most cases, people’s behaviors in the workplaces are strongly influenced by the way they were raised to perceive themselves and others in the society. For example, someone who was raised up in a culture which discriminates against other people, simply because of their race, cultural and/or sexual dimensions, would not find it unusual to extend the same attitude to their colleagues at work. Aggressiveness is another major cause of sexual harassment not only in the workplace, but also in other various segments of the society (Gruber, 1998). People of the same gender, who are in groups, would often tend to behave in totally different manner from how they would independently when they come across a person of the opposite sex. Another major cause of harassment is lack of company policy whereby some organizations lack complaint and disciplinary policies to address issues of harassment in their units. In cases whereby perpetrators are left to go unpunished of sexual harassment behaviors, they would carry on this pattern and continue causing harassment to their colleagues at work. Other effective causes of sexual harassment in organizations would include power moral values, cultural differences and power games. Conclusion According to Truckenbrodt (2000), any form of sexual harassment normally results to offensive or hostile work environment. As a matter of fact, sexual harassment is reputed as the most devastating barriers to career prosperity in women, who are the most affected category here. This, as observed in the findings of various studies, is likely to impose adverse effects on the health, performance and morale of the victims. Harassment aligned to sexuality is one of the most intimidating approaches that can be undertaken on a person’s status and integrity. Victims would often tend to take time off work owing to stress and anxiety associated with the harassments. On a more significant note, employees may also be forced by the circumstances to withdrawal f rom their jobs. All these scenarios would mean lowered productivity levels in the market and this poses a direct challenge on economical developments. In that case, â€Å"sexual harassment remains a major obstacle to the effective integration of effective business policies, that are likely to contribute to economical growth and prevalence† (Schneider, 1997). As observed in this study, the progressive issue of sexual harassment in work places is likely to bear serious long-term implications, not only to the immediate victims, but to the entire society as well. For instance, changes in things such aspects such as the economy would not affect just a segment of the society, but the entire society.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Recommendations Sexual harassment has been condemned as one of the most serious crimes that can be executed against human rights. The cruel practice is ‘unwelcome’ in all grounds and should never be encouraged at whatever cost. Recently, there are numerous laws and regulations which are intended to curb unlawful sexual harassment, as they are imposed by EEOC, among other statutory organizations (Ilies, 2003). Considering the heightening implications of this vice in the society, there is a need for more concern to be accorded to the issue. For instance, to be able to minimize the cases of sexual harassment in the society people should first of all forget their cultural differences in work places. More importantly, companies and organizations should try to come up with strong policies to address harassment. People who suspect sexual harassment should always speak it out to their bosses and colleagues at work. Upon this initial step, they should also collect enough proof w here possible and try to seek immediate help from sexual harassment specialists. References Carr-Ruffino, N. (1996). Managing diversity: People skills for a multicultural workplace. New York: Thomson Executive Press. Einarsen, S. (1999). The nature and causes of bullying at work. International Journal of  Manpower, 20 (1/2), 16-27. Gruber, J. (1998). The impact of male work environments and organizational policies on women’s experiences of sexual harassment. Gender Society, 12 (3), 301- 320. Ilies, R. (2003). Reported Incidence Rates of Work-Related Sexual Harassment in The United States: Using Meta-Analysis to Explain Reported Rate Disparities.  Personnel Psychology, 56 (3), 607-631. Paul, E. (1990). Sexual Harassment as Sex Discrimination: A Defective Paradigm. Yale  Law Policy Review, 8 (2), 333-365. Schneider, K. (1997). Job-related and psychological effects of sexual harassment in the workplace: Empirical evidence from two organizations. Journal of Applied  Psy chology, 82 (3), 401. Richman, J. and Rospenda, K. (1999). Sexual harassment and generalized workplace abuse among university employees: prevalence and mental health correlates.  American Journal of Public Health, 89 (3), 358. Truckenbrodt, Y. (2000). The relationship between leader-member exchange and commitment and organizational citizenship behavior. Web. This research paper on Two Types of Sexual Harassment (EEOC) was written and submitted by user Jazmine Carlson to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, March 16, 2020

Area 51 essays

Area 51 essays Groom Lake, Dreamland, and Area 51 are all names describing different portions of a top-secret military base securely hidden in central Nevada. When the name Area 51 is spoken, extraterrestrial life, atomic bombs, and stealthy aircraft are all things that come to mind. The real question is what goes on at Area 51? There are many rumors and speculations about what goes on there, but nobody really knows for sure. Area 51 was built to the south of a dry lakebed named Groom. The landmass of Area 51 takes up an area of sixty square miles. Nellis is an Air Force Base near Las Vegas, Nevada. The restricted part of the Range totals three million acres. To give you an idea of how big it is, it's slightly smaller than the state of Connecticut, but larger than Lebanon. Nellis Air Force Base comprises more than a third of the whole Military Operating Area, and as a total, the Nellis Range is eight million acres and is larger than both the country of Belgium and the state of Maryland (UFO Mind.) Driving along Highway 375 in central Nevada, the desert landscape stretches out as far as the eye can see. This is the typical American West, consisting of wide-open harsh conditions, where only the most rugged can survive. There are no cities here. Towns, if you can call them that, are few and far between. The only sounds that disturb this serene wilderness are coyotes, rattle snakes, and jet aircraft flying overhead. This region is one of the least densely populated in the United States. It has the largest military range in the US, and is close enough to a major city to commute workers to and from its location by air. For these reasons, Area 51s location was chosen. There was one location that one could get a good view of the military base. This is called Freedom Ridge, approximately 12 miles from the core of Area 51 (Area 51 Research Center.) Many people used to drive to Freedom Ridge...

Saturday, February 29, 2020

Analysis of “Dark Shadows” as a Gothic Masterpiece

Analysis of â€Å"Dark Shadows† as a Gothic Masterpiece To most, when asked to define what Gothic is, they will state that it is similar to any other story, just with more â€Å"darkness. † This is because Gothic stories all have a classic story line. First, there is the main character’s back story, if any is then told. Next, there are events that lead up to a horrible incident that is the climax of the story. Lastly, the character finds some way to fix the situation or free him- or herself from it. They might go insane, commit suicide, run away, or watch other characters perish. However, readers would be greatly mistaken if they thought that this was all that there is to a Gothic story; there is much more to the Gothic than meets the eyes. There are Gothic tropes that define this type of Literature from the rest, such as murder, groans, blood, or even an apparition. Even today, there are video games that have these Gothic tropes. According to Kirkland, games such as Silent Hill have â€Å"gloomy settings with a sense of forthcoming violence, spaces such as a haunted house, tombs and prisons, the contaminating influence of family curses, and revenge-driven ghosts† (107). These tropes have endured across time due to their effect on the human mind. And this can be seen no more than in Burton’s film, the 2012 version, Dark Shadows. Humans have a natural fear of the dark that has existed since the beginning of time. Centuries ago, people feared the dark because that was the time when they were most likely to get attacked by robbers. Some people even went so far as to capture starving, wild dogs and have them fenced in to help protect the house. Even today, people are wary of going outside at night due to the fear of getting robbed and/or killed. In Burton’s film Dark Shadows, it was filmed almost entirely at dusk or at night. Although he didn’t update the use of darkness in this Gothic story, he did use it very wisely. For example, in the film he made sure to have candles low to the ground to illuminate people’s faces from the bottom, causing them to appear ghoulish. He also made particular scenes more dark and dreary than others; while it would be sunny at the fishing docks, it was cloudy at the castle. This affected the audience by making them feel that the castle had something sinister hidden within it. Death is a huge fear for countless, as it has been for centuries. Long before embalming, people had no knowledge of what happened during or after death. At one point in history it was so common for people to be accidently buried alive, that next to every grave they put a bell with a string attached that reached down inside the coffin. If the person was alive and woke up, they would pull the string and someone would come to rescue them. Throughout the ages, death and its meaning has slowly changed. In Aikinari’s story, â€Å"The Chrysanthemum Vow,† death is portrayed as a way to free oneself from the confinements of life. When Akana was captured and imprisoned, he committed suicide in order to be able to travel to Samon as a ghost and fulfill his vow with him. In Dark Shadows, death was modernized by the use of the vampire named Barnabas Collins. Vampires have been a part of our society for generations. When someone dies, it is common for the body to bloat and for blood to leak out of the mouth, due to its decomposition. According to Gee, â€Å"a body decomposes in such a way that human teeth protrude like fangs† (8). Not being able to comprehend this, people would tell horror stories of vampires to try and explain what was going on. In Dark Shadows, Barnabas not only updated vampires, but also death. Unlike the original vampires, Barnabas became this monster not by the bite of another vampire but from the curse of a jealous witch, who also killed his fiance. This changed the view of death because death was something that Barnabas could not attain. Unlike his predecessors, he was immortal and couldn’t die. This caused him great pain since he could never be with his beloved again. Death became that which could free him and end his suffering. This also changed the anatomy of vampires. Classic vampires could be harmed with garlic or the light. While the light hurt him, he was able to merely wear a hat and cloak and not be harmed. However, there is still much more to Gothic Literature. According to Baldick, â€Å"For the Gothic effect to be attained, a tale should combine a fearful sense of inheritance in time with a claustrophobic sense of enclosure in space† (xix). A story can have Gothic tropes but not be Gothic. There are loads of books that have murders and ghosts that aren’t considered Gothic at all, like Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling. His parents were killed and there was a ghost trapped in the girl’s bathroom, but it isn’t Gothic at all. What makes a story Gothic is how it is told or portrayed. Sometimes, the scenes that are used are to make the viewers question what is righteous and what is wicked. Burton shows this with how he introduces his characters and their personalities. For the vampire Barnabas, he is portrayed not as monster but as an unfortunate soul who has a curse that he is trying to rid himself of. Instead of wanting to stay a vampire, he joins up with a local physician to try and find a cure to make him human again. However, he still kills humans and drinks their blood. This makes the audience question whether Barnabas is an evil vampire or a poor man with a curse due to this hidden identity. This is also shown with the witch Angelique. For her character, they portrayed her as being jealous that Barnabas chooses to marry someone else, instead of her. She curses him to become a vampire but later on states that she didn’t kill him because he only wanted his love and attention. Before she dies, she rips out her own heart and offers it to Barnabas. Showing this makes the audience debate on whether she is innocent deep down in her actions, or merely empty and insane. Insanity is another classic trope of the Gothic. Traditionally, insanity was shown as a way to become stronger or to become free. In â€Å"If You Touched My Heart† by Allende, Hortensia is caged by her lover. At first, they are in love and can’t be separated. However, Peralta soon forces her into a cage and keeps her there for several decades. In order to deal with the psychological trauma, Hortensia becomes insane to free herself. This is shown when she was â€Å"surrounded by hallucinatory spirits who lead her to other universes†¦ [traveling] through starry space† (523). By creating these illusions in her mind, she was able to free herself from the pain of growing old and hideous in that cage. In Poe’s story â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart,† the unnamed main character goes insane due to his own thoughts. In the beginning of the story, he states how he is obsessed with this old man, but not insane. He states that, â€Å"it was not the old man that vexed me, but his Evil Eye† (498). This quote shows that the character originally had no aggression towards the old man, only his one pale blue eye. After he kills him and hides the body under the floor, he starts to hear a heartbeat. He concludes that it must be the old man’s heart. This is frightening because the reader is unsure what he is actually hearing. He could simply be hearing his own heartbeat, or imagining it all due to his guilt. In Dark Shadows, insanity is shown in a similar, yet different way. The film actually had two characters that were insane, the witch Angelique and Victoria. Angelique is depicted as going insane after her pure heart was broken by Barnabas. She only turned him into a vampire because she couldn’t stand to see him with another woman. Her insanity allowed her to become strong and have the strength to, in a sense, imprison the man who caused her pain. Victoria, on the other hand, was only considered insane by society. Due to her psychic ability in being able to see spirits, her family feared how others would view them and sent her away to be â€Å"fixed. † This demonstrates how insanity is not simply mental, but also what society deems as insane. However, not everything is clearly stated. Within Gothic Literature, there are hidden messages or symbolisms throughout the entire story. Knowing this allows the reader to think and look more deeply into each action and event that is occurring. For example, in Edgar Allen Poe’s â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher,† when Roderick dies at the end of the story, the house crumbles to ruins. The house doesn’t crumble because it’s ancient; it symbolizes the end of the Usher’s bloodline. In â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† by Stetson, the main female character is moved to a house in the country for â€Å"bed rest. There, she is forbidden to write, think, and sometimes even speak. She starts to see a woman trapped in the wallpaper, shaking it at night and creeping around outside during the day. This symbolizes how the narrator feels trapped and wants to escape. At the end, she â€Å"releases† the woman from the wallpaper and becomes her. The narr ator could only be free by creating an alternate personality. In this story, her insanity helped set her free. Dark Shadows also has some symbolism of its own. When Angelique is dying, they show her breaking as if she is a porcelain doll. This demonstrates how even though she was evil she was also extremely delicate in her true nature. As her face broke, pieces fell and exposed a small hole into oblivion. This signifies how she was truly empty on the inside, nothing more than a doll. Although she was once a human with supernatural powers, her jealousy and obsessive love for Barnabas slowly took over and, over time, left her an empty shell of what she once was. She was unable to truly love Barnabas, because she was literally filled with both darkness and nothingness. At the end of the film, Barnabas finds Victoria standing on the ledge of cliff. She tells him that they are both different, and that she can only be with him if they are the same. He tells her that he can’t turn her into a vampire, so she jumps off the cliff. This symbolizes the difficulty and societal rejection of dating someone who is of a different class or race. For her, she couldn’t see how their relationship could work unless they were both vampires. She also felt that if she couldn’t be with him, then she had no reason to live and must die to free herself from the suffering. Gothic literature is not something that can be defined in a few simple sentences. As Rintoul points out, â€Å"Gothic coincides with an important interrogation of the cannon as a site of power, and with equally important work that links social and political conditions† (701). Gothic literature has tropes that have endured across time and can still be found in modern stories and games. However, these tropes don’t always stay the same; some have been modernized over the centuries. This can easily be seen in Burton’s 2012 film, Dark Shadows. Death was transformed from something terrifying to that which could set one free. The vampire changed from a wicked corpse to a miserable man who was cursed. Insanity also went through some changes. At first, it could set one free from pain. In Dark Shadows, insanity morphed into something that was not only mental, but what society deemed as insane. The symbolism throughout the movie also added depth to seemingly simple scenes. Dark Shadows is a perfect example of how the Gothic has changed through the ages and thrived. Works Cited Allende, Isabel. â€Å"If You Touched My Heart. † The Oxford Book of Gothic Tales. Ed. Chris Baldick. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. 519-526. Print. Baldick, Chris. â€Å"Introduction. The Oxford Book of Gothic Tales. Ed. Chris Baldick. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. xi-xxii. Print. Gee, Joshua. Encyclopedia Horrifica. Hong Kong: Scholastic, 2007. Print. Kirkland, Ewan. â€Å"Gothic Videogames, Survival Horror, and Silent Hill Series. † Gothic Studies14. 2 (2012): 106-122. Print. Rintoul, Suzanna. â€Å"Gothic Anxieties: Struggling With a Definition. † The Journal of Eighte enth-Century Fiction. 17. 4 (2005): 701-709. Print. Sova, Dawn. â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart. † The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allen Poe. Ed. Dawn Sova. New York: Barns Noble, 2006. 498-501. Print.

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Drones Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Drones - Research Paper Example Moreover, they are inexpensive relative to conventional aircraft, and they are remote controlled, thereby eliminating peril to the flight crew. However, despite these benefits, drones continue to generate much debate among the public. Much of this debate revolves around concerns of privacy and safety. This paper contends that there ought to be no fear over the good use of drones. Drones have the potential to collect weather data from the farthest reaches of the atmosphere (Cutlip 7). These parts are difficult to reach using conventional weather instruments. The data thus collected could be integrated into models for predicting weather, thereby increasing the reliability and accuracy of weather forecasts. More accurate weather prediction would be useful in helping farmers that rely on rain-fed agriculture better plan their farming activities. This would come in handy at time when global warming has altered global and local weather patterns and rendered planning for farming activities difficult. Over the years, universities and research centers across the country have been exploring ways in which drones can be used to gather meteorological data. However, it was not until recently that drones started to be in collecting and interpreting weather data. Besides agriculture, improved weather prediction have other benefits. For instance, had it been available to them, the authorities and the University of Alaska would have used meteorological drones to predict that the winter storm of 2011 was going to be more severe than those usually experienced. Then the 3,500 residents of Nome would have been advised to replenish their supplies of fuel to last them the entire season. Then, they would not have had to endure the cold for several weeks as they waited for the relief fuel to arrive from Russia. Even so, the usefulness of this information would have largely depended on how well the authorities and researchers disseminated it. Improved

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Eulogy For My Grandfather Speech or Presentation

Eulogy For My Grandfather - Speech or Presentation Example My grandfather was born in the United States and was rightly named John for in him I have seen a gracious (behindthename.com) man not only to his children and grandchildren but to every person he encountered. When he was two years old, his parents brought him back to Poland where I came from and stayed there for the rest of his life touching lives in the small things he could do. As I was growing up, I witnessed him give away his personal possessions like clothes, shoes and even food to the needy saying they need them more than he does. Grandfather John was not wealthy but had a decent job delivering goods and foods from stores to hotels and restaurants which provided for the family's needs and food on the table. With this kind of job, he sometimes comes home with food provided by generous people who somehow knew his need or were just simply glad for his goodness and services. He always shared his blessings with the whole family and did not hide them away from any of us. Instead, he prioritized others before attending to his own need and this is what drew me even closer to him.When he was growing old, his affections to his family and most especially to me, have grown fonder and sweeter so that he reminds me of James Garfield who said, â€Å"If wrinkles must be written on our brows, let them not be written upon the heart. The spirit should never grow old.†. Truly, he has shown this through his life and proven that growing old is not as dim and dismal as Matthew Arnold pictured in his poem "Growing Old".... If to the poet growing old is golden days declined (Arnold), to my grandfather they are turning to diamonds (antithesis). If to the former it is to weep and feel the fullness of the past (Arnold), to the latter it is to brighten up and face what miracles the coming years would bring (antithesis, parallelism). If to one it is to spend long days in weary pain (Arnold), to the other it is to enjoy every moment for life is short (antithesis, parallelism). Grandfather always has been in good spirits, always happy and wanting to share his jokes to anyone who would listen to him, brightening their days and giving a piece of advice when needed. For me, he has always been a great help as a counselor in times when I needed to make decisions that seemed confusing or simply too great for me to consider. And as I look back to those special days I spent with him, what I remember most is the cup of tea he usually prepares for me which is very sweet yet I drank it all up to my grandfather’s c ontentment who said the tea will sweeten my heart (personification) and bring out good things from me. I guess it did and I will never forget how the tea tasted but more so, I will never forget the man whose simple ways are even sweeter, encouraging me to emulate him and be good to everyone I meet, serving them the cup of tea that I have been drinking to the fill of my heart (metaphor). When my grandfather turned fifty, his leg was amputated because of gangrene and two years later, his other leg was also removed. I expected him to change in his attitude but his condition seemed to have never mattered to him because he has always been the cheerful and joyful grandfather I have always known. He never became

Friday, January 24, 2020

Witchcraft Ideas And Their Parallels Across The World :: essays research papers fc

Witchcraft is said to be the most widespread cultural phenomenon in existence today and throughout history. Even those who shun the ideas of witchcraft cannot discount the similarities in stories from all corners of the globe. Witchcraft and its ideas have spread across racial, religious, and language barriers from Asia to Africa to America. Primitive people from different areas in the world have shockingly similar accounts of witchcraft occurrences. In most cases the strange parallels cannot be explained and one is only left to assume that the tales hold some truth. Anthropologists say that many common elements about witchcraft are shared by different cultures in the world. Among these common elements are the physical characteristics and the activities of supposed witches. I will go on to highlight some of the witch characteristic parallels found in printed accounts from different parts of the world and their comparisons to some famous fairytales. First of all, throughout many cultures, physical characteristics associated with witches ring strangely the same. Anthropologist Philip Mayer says that witches typically bear a physical stigma, like a red eye for example (Mayer 56). In the Brother's Grimm fairytale "Hansel and Gretel," the witch shares this same beastly characteristic. Also, people usually cast off as witches are typically always old women. In Slovakia, Milan Mramuch accused his elderly neighbor of witchcraft and allegedly beat the old woman to death (Whitmore). In "Hansel and Gretel" the witch who lives in the tempting, candy house is an old crippled woman and in the Brother's Grimm fairytale "Snow White," the witch who was an elegant queen, performs her craft disguised as an old peasant woman. A second characteristic of witches - and what witches are most commonly known for - is that they cause horrible misfortune to their neighbors and others close to them. Death, sickness, and weather disasters are examples of natural occurrences that witches cause are often blamed for, especially when the occurrences seem strange or out of the ordinary. They can cause this harm simply by willing it to happen. "The witch only has to wish you harm, and the harm is as good as done" (Mayer 56). In Slovakia, Mramuch, who killed his neighbor Anna Tomkova, did so because he suspected the woman of casting a spell on his granddaughter. It was the only answer Mramuch had to counter his granddaughter's sudden suffering of epileptic seizures (Whitmore). In South Africa, Mmatiou Thantsa was accused of witchcraft and summoning lightning (Keller).

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Thorn Queen Chapter Nineteen

I returned to my castle in shock-and in a downpour. My control of water let me shift the rain away from me, but after a while, I didn't feel like wasting the mental effort on it. It felt kind of good after such a hot day, and besides, I had a few other things on my mind. Like if it was going to rain every time I got aroused. That was not cool. I guessed I could handle it so long as it rained other times as well. I didn't want the connection to be so obvious. Hey, it's raining! The queen must have gotten laid. Ooh†¦is that hail? Must have been into some kinky shit today†¦. I was also debating whether or not having a guy stick his hand up your skirt and get you off was technically cheating or not. Okay, I supposed there wasn't much â€Å"technically† about it. I was getting caught up in gender stereotypes. If I'd gotten him off-say, like, by going down on him-there would have been no question of infidelity. So, this was no different. Fuck. How had it happened? One minute we'd been arguing†¦the next? Grope central. There'd been emotion and magic, and it had all happened so fast. I shivered, thinking of all the warnings about using strong magic. Was that to blame? Or just my own weakness? And at the same time, I couldn't also help but think that strong magic could solve a few of my problems. Excepting, of course, the problem of whether or not I should tell Kiyo what had happened between Dorian and me†¦ â€Å"Your majesty!† Nia went crazy when she saw my drenched state. She had a hundred remedies for me, but all I wanted was a simple towel and the jeans and shirt I'd arrived in earlier. Waiting for the servants to draw hot baths around here took too much time and effort; I could get back to Tucson and into my own shower or sauna much more easily. And after still being unnerved by Dorian, I was particularly anxious to return to what I saw as safety. Though lately, I was starting to think no place was safe anymore. Before leaving, I exchanged brief updates with Rurik and Shaya. I told Rurik that we had a date for demon hunting, and that Jasmine would indeed be going with us. His feelings on that were mixed. He knew her power was useful, but secretly-or, well, not so secretly-he was part of the camp that felt I should kill her. He seemed a little reassured about her, at least, because Girard had brought the custom cuffs as promised. They provided greater mobility for her but were even more limiting for magic. Judging from Jasmine's dismayed reaction, Rurik felt they'd been successful. Well, that was something, I supposed. And from the look on Shaya's face, Dorian's help with the ore was a good thing too-even if it had come with strings attached. â€Å"That was very kind of my lord,† she said. Both Shaya and Rurik often used the honorific â€Å"my lord† when discussing Dorian, as though he were still their master. I considered their old loyalty endearing but wondered if they'd ever feel like they truly worked for me. â€Å"It's expedited things immensely. You can't imagine how quickly things will move once the ore is processed.† She grinned, eyes gleaming as all sorts of plans and organizational thoughts swirled in her mind. â€Å"You must have been very pleased at what my lord did for you.† Well, â€Å"pleased† was one way of looking at it, I supposed. Oh, and I was happy about the expedited ore too. A strange feeling settled over me, that same one I got each time Dorian did something nice for me-sexual gratification aside. I had no idea what his role in my life was anymore, save that he was helping me a lot. Judging from Shaya's face, this was a big favor he'd done for me. An idea for repayment came to me. â€Å"Shaya†¦is Girard still here?† She nodded. â€Å"I gave him a room for the night, so that he wouldn't have to travel in the rain. Is that all right?† â€Å"Yeah, yeah. I just want to talk to him for a sec.† She led me to his room, and like before, he was overjoyed and overeager to see me. Seeing him reminded me of Leith, which gave me a small pang of regret. I still felt badly about what had happened with the Rowan prince, but there was nothing to be done about it. I couldn't return his feelings. Girard, fortunately, was a different matter. He wanted prestige and position for his talents, and I was more than willing to give that after explaining to him the project I wanted to commission. â€Å"Yes, your majesty. I can most certainly do that. Why, I can start sketching right now.† No doubt he was happy to work on something that wasn't part of Katrice's woodland animal collection. I left him to it, gushing with praise and how much it would mean to me. Girard was a nice guy, despite his ambition, and I decided I'd rather surround myself with those wanting job promotion over getting me into bed. I returned to Tucson at last, grateful to find the house quiet. Tim was out, but he'd left me macaroni and cheese-the good homemade kind with bread crumbs on top-and a note: Bitch receptionist called and wants to make sure you don't forget your job tomorrow. I hadn't forgotten the job tomorrow, but the reminder was a good one with as much as had been going on lately. One of the cats rubbed against my leg as I microwaved my dinner, and I absentmindedly scratched her on the head, wishing it was actually Kiyo's fox form circling my ankles. I didn't like the way he and I had left things, even if they'd ostensibly been friendly. There was still tension between us, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he just wasn't understanding me lately†¦and that Dorian was. Argh. Dorian. As I tossed my clothes on the bathroom floor-including that damned thong-I couldn't help but think of him again. Stop it, Eugenie. You're obsessing. Surely†¦surely I would have said no if we hadn't been interrupted earlier, right? Right? And Kiyo, Kiyo†¦what was I going to tell Kiyo? Just because we were having friction in our relationship, it didn't mean I had license to do what I'd done today. I had no respect for lies or any other subtle dishonesty. I didn't like that behavior in others. I didn't like it in myself. But after standing in scalding water for twenty minutes, no real answers about anything came to my mind. I finally emerged, my skin sufficiently plump and pink, and toweled off. After that, it was into comfy pajamas: blue and gray flannel shorts and a white cotton tank top. It might have been raining in the Thorn Land, but here it was dry and hot. Night had cooled the air somewhat, and I'd opened all the windows to air out the house. As a light breeze blew in, it took everything in me not to start tinkering around with the air. I could sense every particle, and the thought of controlling them sent a shiver through me. No, I scolded myself. I'd done enough today. I needed to have a no-magic-in-Tucson rule, I decided. Establishing that magic and men were issues that were not going to be solved tonight, I set out to work on another. It wasn't quite ten yet, which meant Roland would be up. Sprawling on the couch in front of the breezy patio screen door, I dialed him on my phone. â€Å"Eugenie,† he said with delight. â€Å"We've been wondering what happened to you. You haven't been returning calls. Your mother was worried, but I told her you were probably just busy.† I smiled. It was nice to have Roland in my life, someone who understood the ups and downs of this job. â€Å"I have been. Really busy.† I almost started to offer him the overflow of jobs I'd had Lara turn down for me and stopped myself at the last minute. If he knew I wasn't keeping up with my work, it would only trigger an alarm for him and subject me to questions I wasn't ready to answer. â€Å"Did you ever talk to Art and Abigail?† he asked. â€Å"Yeah,† I said, â€Å"and that's actually why I was calling you. I think†¦well, I think they're trafficking in gentry girls or something.† There were several moments of silence. â€Å"Trafficking? What does that mean, exactly?† â€Å"It means I think they're abducting girls and†¦I don't know. Either pimping them out or selling them or something equally disgusting. It's like a fairy sex trade.† One of the cats, a calico, came and made herself comfortable on my stomach. â€Å"Eugenie†¦I've known Art for almost ten years. I've known Abigail longer. What you're saying is absurd. You have to be getting bad information.† â€Å"They've both been sighted in the Otherworld, right around where their gate opens! I even talked to one girl who all but identified Art! She was totally traumatized, Roland. And both Art and Abigail live better than they should be†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"That's not evidence,† he said. â€Å"They're probably doing good business.† â€Å"In a town that size? Even with a gate like that, they can't have enough work to afford the stuff they have. You and I have a ton more jobs than they do, and we don't live that well.† â€Å"It's a moot point. This whole thing is far-fetched, and your evidence is sketchy. I mean, have you seen gentry girls tied up in his house?† â€Å"No,† I admitted. â€Å"Largely because he won't ever let me inside. Which is also suspicious.† â€Å"No, Eugenie, it's really not.† Roland sounded tired. â€Å"Look, it sounds like all you've got is circumstantial gentry evidence. And you know how they are.† â€Å"I know that their people are being taken against their will and possibly having horrible things done to them.† â€Å"Key words: their people.† â€Å"Are you saying it's okay for girls to be sold into a sex trade? After what happened to Mom?† â€Å"How can you ask me that?† he exclaimed. â€Å"But this isn't the same thing. We're not police who work both worlds. We protect humans. There must be someone over there whose job it is to protect them.† There is, I thought. Me. â€Å"Can you at least talk to Art?† I asked. â€Å"And what? Ask him if he's kidnapping gentry girls?† â€Å"Well†¦maybe you could pose it a bit more delicately.† I squelched a yowl of pain as the cat leapt up off me and onto the back of the couch. Her hair puffed up, and she twitched her tail in agitation. Not surprising. Both dogs had just entered the room. â€Å"I can't ask him that,† said Roland. â€Å"And what if he says yes? Then what are you going to do?† Dorian's words came back to me. Kill them. â€Å"Look, I don't know yet, but I just need to find out if-â€Å" I heard a low growl from one of the dogs and was about to yell at them to knock it off. The cats and dogs didn't usually fight, but every once in a while, there would be a brawl. I couldn't see the dogs, though, and the bristling calico's attention seemed to be on the screen door, not the floor. I sat up and saw the dogs sitting right in front of the door, staring out into the night as well. â€Å"Eugenie? Are you still there?† â€Å"Yeah, hang on a sec.† Balancing the phone on my shoulder, I stood up and instinctively reached for my weapons, which were on the coffee table. I shoved the wand and my silver athame under the elastic waistband of my shorts and took the gun and iron athame with my hands. One of the dogs growled again, and I slowly approached them at the door. â€Å"Eugenie? What's going on?† Roland's voice was worried now. â€Å"I'm going to have to call you back.† I managed to disconnect the phone and drop it on the floor without losing the athame. Outside, the night was still, the only noises coming from the wind in the trees and the faint sounds of traffic on the far side of my quiet neighborhood. I closed my eyes a moment, reaching out to search for anything that didn't feel right in this world. Some shamans had this ability, but not many. The more time I spent in the Otherworld and among gentry, the more developed my senses became. Finally, I caught it. The sense of something Otherworldly. The animals, God love them, had noticed before me. Whatever this interloper was, it was keeping to the farthest edges of the house's property. It had apparently been lurking for a while, which seemed odd. â€Å"Ah,† I realized with a soft chuckle. â€Å"Stopped by the wards, huh, you son of a bitch?† I'd had a witch lay protective lines and spells all around the house when the attacks on me first started. It was kind of a magical home-security system. It wouldn't keep out everything, but it definitely thinned out a lot of my nuisances. I could have simply ignored whatever was out there, but the idea of Otherworldly creatures loose in my neighborhood didn't sit well with me. Sliding open the door, I slipped outside, every nerve in my body on high alert. I walked the perimeter of my backyard, keeping inside the ward's lines. My house was on a cul-de-sac, backing up to a small stretch of open, scrubby land before giving way to the next neighborhood over. I doubted whatever this was would be out in the front of the house, where it would be in sight of neighbors. Ah, no-not an it. They. I could sense more than one. Standing on tiptoe to peer over the wooden fence, I nearly missed his eyes on my first sweep. A rock elemental-that is, one of the gentry who lacked the strength to travel to my world in his full form. He was blocky and unwieldy looking, his stone body mottled black and white. I had only a second to make my assessment before he charged. His weight and strength cracked the wooden fence, and then-he hit the ward. It was like an invisible wall that bounced him back. His disorientation gave me what I needed. I dropped the gun and reached for my wand. Silver bullets weren't as effective against gentry as steel ones anyway, and I certainly wasn't going to fire off shots and possibly get the police called if I could help it. I channeled my will into the wand, ripping open a path to the Otherworld. My snake tattoo burned on my arm as I summoned the power of Hecate. I recited the incantation to finish the ritual. The elemental felt the magic of the banishing seize him but couldn't fight it. He was too weak. In a moment, he dissolved from this world, sent back to his own, leaving only a pile of rubble behind. Another shape appeared beside where he'd been, and I saw the dim lighting shine off water. Another gentry who hadn't been able to cross in his true body. He'd appeared as a water elemental, a man-shaped body of liquid that dripped and sloshed with each step. Stupid, stupid, I thought. Whoever he was should have known better. I didn't need a wand for this. My own magic would rip him apart- A hand suddenly jerked me backward, and I felt a knife at my throat. The hand gripping it was solid and flesh but tingling with magic. A powerful gentry, then. One with enough power to cross my wards and come over in body. Without hesitation, I kicked backward, dodging out of his grasp skillfully enough that the blade only nicked me. I turned to face him, glad I'd held on to the iron athame. He was no one I knew, young and good-looking, even with a scar on his cheek. He was well-muscled from physical activity, and the leather armor he wore over his red tunic suggested a possible military or guarding profession back in the Otherworld. In a weird flash, Jasmine's words came back to me. I know the difference between a bunch of gross beggars and trained soldiers. A coincidence, I decided. Any gentry brave enough to come seek me in my own world would likely have to be a good fighter. We circled, and there was a small smile on his face as he waited for an opening. I wasn't afraid. One-on-one combat I could handle, and I had long since developed the ability to banish while fighting. It was tricky but hardly impossible. Of course, as he lunged and I ducked, I realized I didn't need anything so complicated. Almost like an inhalation of breath, I sucked the air from around us, creating a miniwhirlwind that pulled the dust and sand from within my yard. I blasted it forward at him. He cried out as the sand blinded his eyes and immediately started rubbing them-which wouldn't do him any favors. I was about to start the banishing when I faintly heard the sound of chanting and a tingle of shamanic magic. Startled, I turned to find the source and instead saw the water elemental come charging through the opening in the fence his friend had made. Someone had broken the wards. I held out my iron athame to block him, though I knew it would only give me a few seconds. That was all I needed as I began to work the water magic that would tear him apart. A blow to my back suddenly shoved me forward, straight into him. Despite being made of water, he was solid, and his hands instantly grabbed hold of me. I twisted my head back and saw that the other gentry had recovered himself enough to come striding forward, though I could see tears streaking his face from where the sand had stung his eyes. I tried breaking free of the elemental's grip but couldn't match that physical force. Again, I summoned water magic and heard him groan in pain as his substance began to rip apart. Then, the other gentry was on me, punching me again and breaking my concentration. He started to reach around me once more with the copper blade, and then I heard a startled cry of pain from him as he was pulled away from me. I didn't look back to see what had happened but instead completed the magic on the water elemental. He exploded in a downpour that soaked me-great, twice in one day-and I immediately turned to see what else had happened. The other gentry was distracted, squaring off with someone else: Roland. Roland's own athame was out in his left hand, and he was simply relying on the strength of his other fist-which was considerable-to sock the gentry in the face. The gentry was strong, though, and got a few good blows in on Roland. Seeing my stepfather take those punches kindled an anger in me. Rather than begin a banishing, I called to the air again, sucking it from around the gentry just as I had Ysabel. Eyes widening, he dropped the blade, his hands going to his throat in an instinctive gesture to draw breath. There was none to be had, though. I leapt on him, knocking him to the ground and delivering a solid punch to the face in exchange for what he'd done to Roland. Around us, I felt the tingling of a banishing. Roland was opening up a hole to the Otherworld. He chanted the words and then snapped, â€Å"Eugenie, get away!† I did, jerking backward lest I get sucked in with the choking gentry. Power crackled around him, and a moment later, he disappeared, shoved back to his own world. Silence fell. I was sitting on the now-muddy ground, soaking wet with my heart pounding. Roland walked over and extended his hand to help me up. â€Å"What are you doing here?† I asked. He snorted. â€Å"You can't end a call like that and not expect me to show up.† â€Å"True,† I said. I was weak and woozy from the combat and the magic, and my bare legs were skinned up from the fight. I'd need some soap and antiseptic. â€Å"Thanks.† Roland shrugged, not needing my thanks. Even in the dimness, I could see the angry look in his eyes. â€Å"What the hell did you think you were doing?† Seeing as I'd just done several things, I wasn't entirely sure which he was referring to. â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"That.† He pointed to the spot where we'd banished the gentry. â€Å"You were†¦you were using magic to choke him!† â€Å"I was keeping him subdued while you banished him,† I growled, unwilling to admit I was kind of freaked out myself. It had all happened so fast. My only impulse had been to incapacitate the gentry. The means had just sort of happened. Realizing what I'd done-again-gave me a sick feeling. I'd sworn I'd never do it. â€Å"Pinning him with the athame would have worked! Where the hell did you learn to do that?† â€Å"I've picked up a few things here and there.† Roland's face was a mask of fury. â€Å"You have no business using that kind of magic, Eugenie. None.† My own anger was growing. â€Å"In case you've forgotten, that magic is in my blood.† â€Å"No,† he said softly. â€Å"I haven't forgotten. Which is why it's so important you don't use it. What else can you do? How long have been using this kind of power?† â€Å"It's not important. I can do a few things-things that have kept me alive when assholes like this come try to rape me-and it's not a problem. I can control it.† â€Å"You need to stop this. You need to stay away from the gentry. You're getting too involved with their world, with their magic†¦.† â€Å"It's part of who I am. You can't change that. And if you didn't want me taking drastic steps, then why'd you break the wards?† Roland frowned. â€Å"I didn't. I thought that gentry had.† â€Å"No, he crossed them, but his buddies were locked out-for a while, at least. Then I heard someone undoing them. It was our kind of magic. I thought it was you.† â€Å"Why on earth would I do that?† â€Å"Then some other shaman did.† The accusing tone in my voice provided no need for elaboration. â€Å"Stop this. Art and Abigail aren't out doing what you think. They certainly wouldn't break the wards so gentry could attack you. You think they're out in your neighborhood right now? One of the gentry must have done it. You were probably distracted.† â€Å"Have you lost all faith in me? All you keep saying tonight is that I'm wrong, that I'm mistaken. Roland, I know what shamanic magic feels like. Just like I know what gentry magic feels like, especially considering-as you keep pointing out-I use it all the time.† I'm not sure which part of my tirade did it, but I could tell he was done with the conversation. There was something weary in his face that made him look older than he was. â€Å"I'm not going to stand out here in the dark and argue with you, Eugenie. All I can ask is that if you can't control yourself for my sake, then think of your mother. Otherwise, do what you want.† â€Å"Roland†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But he was already walking away into the night, and as I watched the man I'd always regarded as my father leave, I uneasily wondered whose daughter I truly was.

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

College Party Themes and Ideas

Your club, organization, Greek house, or group of friends is going to throw a campus party. The best way to make sure your party isnt a total dud is to have a theme that ties everything—from the advertising to the decorations—together. Check out these college party themes for some ideas that will stand out and attract a crowd. Classic Toga Party The toga theme is a perennial campus favorite, and unless theres another toga party traditionally held on your campus, its a no-brainer. The costumes and decorations are easy to make, its inclusive, and the environment is easy to put together on the fly.   A Current or Classic Movie Is there a must-see movie out right now? Is everyone quoting lines or characters from it? If so, dont be afraid to jump on the hype and use it for your own party. If people are excited about a hot new movie, theyll be interested in attending your bash. Likewise, classic films can make for great party themes. Quentin Tarantino or James Bond movies, Breakfast at Tiffanys, and Austin Powers are just a few ideas for movie-themed parties that call for awesome costumes.   A Current or Classic TV Show Is there a new sitcom, drama, or reality show thats getting a lot of buzz? If so, think like a network executive and figure out how to use the shows popularity for your own benefit. Encourage people to dress up as characters and include decorations that match the sets or themes from the show. Keep in mind that current and trendy can mean a show that everyone loves to hate too. Hello, Kardashians!   Choose a Decade Seriously, who doesnt love seeing their friends in flapper dresses from the 20s or in the bold, mod outfits of the 60s? Going with a decade-themed party ensures that everyone coming will know what to wear. (Besides, who doesnt also love running to the local thrift store to see what treasures are in stock?) Fundraising Party Make fundraising the goal.  You can turn your party into a fundraiser for a nonprofit or other organization you hold near and dear. Often, you can even use that organizations mission (e.g., preserving the environment) into a theme that works for your party (e.g., nature decorations). Added bonus: Everyone feels good about donating, so the $1 or more you ask everyone for at the door turns into both a fundraiser and a way to boost the spirits of your guests—and theres no better way to guarantee a killer party than a room full of people in a good mood!   Host a Masquerade This is a classic theme for good reason; nearly everyone likes a good masquerade party. Guests can get dressed up without having to go too crazy with outfits, and you can easily buy a ton of masquerade masks at a 99-cent store or a party supplies store. Add some shiny decorations, a few balloons, and feathers, and youve got yourself a party. Go Formal After seeing your friends and classmates in shorts, jeans, and even pajamas all year, mix it up by throwing a formal party. You never know  how the cutie from your Shakespeare class might look in a suit or tuxedo. A formal party allows everyone on campus to get dressed up without feeling ridiculous for doing so. Head Underwater Turning your house (or another party venue) into a deep-sea world can do wonders for sparking a sense of excitement throughout the night. Low lights, some cool decorations (especially hanging from the ceiling), and low music can all contribute to a funky theme. Add a yellow submarine somewhere, and youre good to go! Head to Outer Space Just like heading underwater, heading to outer space can be a simple and straightforward theme for your college party. You can get as wild as you want without seeming too ridiculous. Include lots of glow-in-the-dark decorations, too! Look Into the Future Grab some friends who have strong imaginations (or who are into science fiction) and see all the things you can dream up for a fun, futuristic party. Added tip: Have a fortune-teller on hand reading the futures of those in attendance too. Look to the Prehistoric Past You dont have to be  a paleontologist  to know that dinosaurs were incredibly cool. Fortunately, they can also help make your party one to remember. Keep an eye out for decorations and other items that can be used for a kid party. Mix them up enough so that they suit your adult guests too.   Think Western Sure, the Old West was a rough-and-tumble place and time. But that doesnt have to mean that your party cant take the best of what it had to offer. Fun hats, decorations, music, boots, outfits, and food can all work together to ensure your Western party is one everyone will be talking about Monday morning. Choose a Color as a Theme Go crazy with one specific color: invites, promos, decorations, foods, and costumes. Using various shades of one color can make your hue-themed party a little more visually exciting while also offering a way to transform your house into a place nearly no one will recognize. Encourage attendees to come dressed in the color, too. Go Grayscale It doesnt have to be formal or New Years Eve for you to go with a black-and-white themed college party. This theme is particularly flexible, too, because it will look classy no matter how fancy (or not fancy!) you make it. Let people know, too, that they should come wearing only black and white for an added effect. Historical Figures Have everyone come as famous people from history. How fun would it be to schmooze with George Washington one moment and share a drink with  Joan of Arc  the next, stopping to talk to Socrates along the way? Pick a Classic Board Game or Video Game You may have thought that games like Monopoly, Scrabble, or Sorry were tucked away in your past, but with a little creative planning, they can be turned into party themes. Most of these classic games hold a sense of nostalgia, which is always a huge draw.  The same could be said for World of Warcraft or even classic games like Zelda or Super Mario Brothers; each can bring out the best of everyone in attendance. Angel or Devil Angel or devil parties are super easy to throw because your attendees pretty much bring the main decorations through their costumes. Tell guests to come dressed as either an angel or a devil; all you have to do is use black, white, and red decorations around your party location to tie everything together. Go With an Animal Theme You might be surprised at how creative people can be if theyre coming for an animal-themed party. People can choose the simple whiskers-drawn-on-the-face or go all-out in a mascot costume. As the party host, you just need to coordinate a bit by providing things to help everything seem cohesive: zoo advertising? animal prints? Please Dont Feed the Animals signs? Choose Your Own Music Figure This theme provides endless ideas because there are so many musicians to choose from (Beethoven? Bowie? Britney Spears?  Michael Jackson?). Additionally, creating a playlist to play during the party is easy-cheesy. With a little searching online, you should be able to find enough images of famous musicians to create some promos and decorations, too.