Biography of William Boss Tweed, American Politician

Biography of William 'Boss' Tweed, American Politician William M. â€Å"Boss† Tweed (April 3, 1823–April 12, 1878) was an American politician who, as the leader of the political organization Tammany Hall, controlled New York City politics in the years following the Civil War. Tweed leveraged his power as a landowner and corporate board member to extend his influence throughout the city. Along with other members of the â€Å"Tweed Ring,† he was suspected of siphoning untold millions from the city’s coffers before public outrage turned against him and he was finally prosecuted. Fast Facts: William M. 'Boss' Tweed Known For: Tweed commanded Tammany Hall, the 19th-century New York City political machine.Born: April 3, 1823 in New York CityDied: April 12, 1878 in New York CitySpouse: Jane Skaden (m. 1844) Early Life William M. Tweed was born on Cherry Street in lower Manhattan on April 3, 1823. There is a dispute about his middle name, which was often mistakenly given as Marcy, but which was actually Magear- his mothers maiden name. In newspaper accounts and official documents during his lifetime, his name is usually printed simply as William M. Tweed. As a boy, Tweed went to a local school and received a typical education for the time, and then apprenticed as a chair maker. During his teens, he developed a reputation for street fighting. Like many youths in the area, Tweed became attached to a local volunteer fire company. In that era, neighborhood fire companies were closely aligned with local politics. Fire companies had illustrious names, and Tweed became associated with Engine Company 33, whose nickname was â€Å"Black Joke.† The company had a reputation for brawling with other companies that would try to outrace them to fires. When Engine Company 33 disbanded, Tweed, then in his mid-20s, was one of the organizers of the new Americus Engine Company, which became known as Big Six. Tweed was credited with making the company’s mascot a roaring tiger, which was painted on the side of its engine. When Big Six would respond to a fire in the late 1840s, its members pulling the engine through the streets, Tweed could usually be seen running ahead, shouting commands through a brass trumpet. A fire company of the type led by young Boss Tweed. Library of Congress Early Political Career With his local fame as the foreman of Big Six and his gregarious personality, Tweed seemed a natural candidate for a political career. In 1852 he was elected the alderman of the Seventh Ward, an area in lower Manhattan. Tweed then ran for Congress and won, beginning his term in March 1853. However, he did not enjoy life in Washington, D.C., or his work in the House of Representatives. Though great national events were being debated on Capitol Hill, including the  Kansas-Nebraska Act, Tweed’s interests were back in New York. After his one term in Congress, he returned to New York City, though he did visit Washington for one event. In March 1857 the Big Six fire company marched in the inaugural parade for  President James Buchanan, led by former congressman Tweed in his fireman’s gear. Tammany Hall Boss Tweed depicted by Thomas Nast as a bag of money. Getty Images Picking up again in New York City politics, Tweed was elected to the city’s Board of Supervisors in 1857. It was not a highly noticeable position, though Tweed was perfectly positioned to begin corrupting the government. He would remain on the Board of Supervisors throughout the 1860s. Tweed eventually rose to the pinnacle of Tammany Hall, the New York political machine, and was elected the â€Å"Grand Sachem† of the organization. He was known to work closely with two particularly unscrupulous businessmen, Jay Gould and Jim Fisk. Tweed was also elected as a state senator, and his name would occasionally appear in newspaper reports about mundane civic matters. When the funeral procession for Abraham Lincoln marched up Broadway in April 1865, Tweed was mentioned as one of many local dignitaries who followed the hearse. By the late 1860s, the finances of the city were essentially being overseen by Tweed, with a percentage of nearly every transaction being kicked back to him and his ring. Though he was never elected mayor, the public generally regarded him as the true leader of the city. Downfall By 1870, the newspapers were referring to Tweed as Boss Tweed, and his power over the city’s political apparatus was nearly absolute. Tweed, partly due to his personality and his penchant for charity, was very popular with the common people. Legal problems began to appear, however. Financial improprieties in city accounts came to the attention of newspapers, and on July 18, 1871, an accountant who worked for Tweeds ring delivered a ledger listing suspicious transactions to The New York Times. Within days, the details of Tweeds thievery appeared on the front page of the newspaper. A reform movement consisting of Tweeds political enemies, concerned businessmen, journalists, and the noted political cartoonist Thomas Nast began to  attack the Tweed ring. After complicated legal battles and a celebrated trial, Tweed was convicted and sentenced to jail in 1873. He managed to escape in 1876, fleeing first to Florida, then Cuba, and finally Spain. The Spanish authorities arrested him and turned him over to the Americans, who returned him to prison in New York City. Death Tweed died in prison, in lower Manhattan, on April 12, 1878. He was buried in an elegant family plot at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. Legacy Tweed pioneered a certain system of politics that came to be known as bossism. Though seeming to exist at the outer fringe of New York City politics, Tweed actually wielded more political clout than anyone in the city. For years he managed to keep a low public profile, working behind the scenes to orchestrate victories for his political and business allies- those who were part of the Tammany Hall machine. During this time, Tweed was mentioned only in passing in the press as a fairly obscure political appointee. However, the highest officials in New York City, all the way up to the mayor, generally did what Tweed and The Ring directed. Sources Golway, Terry. Machine Made: Tammany Hall and the Creation of Modern American Politics. Liveright, 2015.Sante, Luc. Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New York. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003.

7 Negative Prefixes

7 Negative Prefixes 7 Negative Prefixes 7 Negative Prefixes By Mark Nichol What determines which prefix is attached to a word to form that word’s antonym? Why unlawful, but illegal? Why infirm, but impaired? You may be surprised that there’s a method to this madness: Negative prefixes come in forms that vary not only according to language derivation but also depending on meaning, and variations occur according to the letter that follows. Here are the ins and outs of in- and un- and their like, and details about their distinctions: 1-2. A-/An- These Greek-derived prefixes mark words expressing an absence of something (atypical, anodyne). A- is attached to words starting with consonants, and an- is the form for words beginning with vowels. An exception is words beginning with h; depending on the root word, either prefix may be present (ahistorical, anhydrous). 3. Anti- Anti-, from Greek by way of Latin, means â€Å"opposite† (antithetical) or â€Å"in opposition to† (antivirus), and can also denote defense (antisubmarine) or prevention (antidepressant). 4. Dis- This Latin prefix, when attached to a word, implies one of several meanings: absence (disaffected) or lack (disabled), opposition (disapprove), or removal (disenfranchise). 5. In- In- and its several variations, all signaling Latin derivation, also denote lack of a given quality. The variations il- and -ir are attached to words starting with l or r (illogical, irreversible). Im-, meanwhile, precedes m (immaterial) and p (impatient) and the lone example for b: imbalance. The rare prefix ig- sometimes comes before n (ignoble). In- appears before root words beginning with all other letters. 6. Non- This Latin negative prefix is the least particular of the class, and can often be found attached to root words so that the resulting term differs in meaning from one formed by the attachment of another negative prefix to the same root word. For example, nonrational means â€Å"not according to rational means or rules,† but unrational refers to behavior that does not conform to these norms. The nonparticular non- is the go-to negative prefix for neologisms. 7. Un- By contrast with the other negative prefixes, the attachment of this Latin-based form to a root word can, in addition to expressing lack or absence (unconcern), denote a reversal (uncoiled). It can also refer to an action not yet taken (unopened). Other Usage Notes The presence of negative prefixes can lead to awkward constructions such as â€Å"nonhearing-impaired people.† The easy solution in such cases is to relax the phrase: â€Å"people who are not hearing impaired.† Note, too, that with most prefixes, the insertion of a hyphen is the exception, not the rule. Prefixed words should be closed except when the root word is a proper noun (non-Euclidean) or in the rare case when confusion with a similarly constructed but distinct word is possible (un-ionized and unionized, for example). Wags have great fun with humorous poems and other compositions featuring invented examples of antonyms for unpaired words (words with negative prefixes that do not have antonyms), such as ept to contrast with inept which actually has an etymological counterpart in apt or ruth in opposition to ruthless. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Apply to, Apply for, and Apply with25 Russian Words Used in English (and 25 More That Should Be)Forming the Comparative of One-syllable Adjectives

American Popular Culture and Comedy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

American Popular Culture and Comedy - Essay Example This was the overall rating of the TV show. However, individual episodes received ratings that were slightly higher than that of the program. The boyfriend, the Packing Garage, Cheers and Seinfeld are among the greatest sitcoms of all time. The paper wills therefore analyze how these episodes represent the pattern of change in 20 the century TV comedies and TV shows. The paper will also relate the episodes with the work of Joseph Boskin. Seinfeld has been rated among the best TV series in American comedy series. The main aspect that made Seinfeld to have a high rating is its association with American culture. Unlike other comedies and TV series, different episodes of Seinfeld depict or illustrate a pattern of American culture. In addition, the TV show does not mix fiction with reality or emotions and humor. This aspect has enabled Seinfeld to stand out among other American television series or comedy shows aired in the twentieth century. Thus, the differences that stand between Seinf eld and other sitcoms illustrate or depict a pattern through which American comedies and TV series have evolved. Firstly, none of the principal characters in the series is related or has a family connection. This demonstrates a change that came into effect in the first decades of the twentieth century. ... Seinfeld is also among the first TV shows to introduce storylines that are developed during a performance. Although the characters had a pre-written storyline, most of their performance is based on their immediate experience and interaction. This uniqueness also contributed to the popularity of the sitcom. The phenomenon is widely demonstrated in stage performances particular comedy shows. Comedies performed in the last decades of the twentieth century have had a great dependence of the audience (Wiles 67). In addition, comedians in such shows do not act according to a pre written script but most of their performances are based on the present situations. Thus, a comedian will create his jokes according to the expectations of his audience. Criticizing the audience or an issue of current affairs such as news items also formed major subject in TV shows and comedies. The dependence of criticism and current affairs to create a storyline is dependent on the audience expectations. For insta nce, the Packing Garage and The Boyfriend have a significant variation in their usage of current affairs and the audience expectations. In addition, nearly all Seinfeld have unique storyline. This is the second factor that differentiates Seinfeld from other conventional sitcoms and television series. The existence of unique storyline for each episode means that each episode also has independent storyline and screenplay (Wiles 67). This also makes the episodes to have unique themes and have flexibility in relation to the audience. This significant factor differentiates Seinfeld from other TV shows and comedies of the twentieth century. The rise of political humor is another significant aspect depicted in Seinfeld. Although political satire had been a major aspect of TV

Analysis of Bay Coasts Housing and Rental Research Paper

Analysis of Bay Coasts Housing and Rental - Research Paper Example Another house no. 20 of 11 years old claimed rental return of 5% though the house price is not very high but the rent charged is comparatively higher in comparison with house number 99. The house has AC fitted .In comparison with house number 99 the location of this house is excellent within half a kilometer of the railway station. House number 8 that is ownership house claims a higher rental ratio because it is also located very close to railway station. The house is made of timber but the condition is good and tough. It is 42 years old. There is no other special feature in this house. House no18 is located far from the rail or bus stand. It is 16 year old. The rental return ratio of the house is 6.6.This house should have claimed higher rent for but for the poor maintenance could not get. House no.21 is old with 220 square meter area priced at $437000 only but the rent charged is comparatively higher to yield 5.8% return on rent. This house is also located very close to bus stand and therefore claimed higher rent. The overall best feature of these high RRR fetching house is the location near the railway station or bus stand or the shopping center or all. Maintenance is also a factor to determine higher rent and RRR. House no.94 and 89 both have 170 sq m area of space claiming very high price of $1213000 and $1274000 but get the lowest RRR. House number 94 is new but no 89 is 38 years old. The house no. 94 provides AC but in poor condition. It has a bay view and is very close to the bus stand and the shopping center. It is built of bricks and new. The rent claimed is very low because it is poorly maintained. Good maintenance can be helpful in getting high rent. The house no.89 is non-AC, poorly maintained but with very good street image of 10 and situated near the shopping center. The rent received is very low. They badly require maintenance to boost up the image and confidence of people to pay more. The highest rent $740 claimed by house no.115 yielded RRR of 2.3% only which is quite lower compared to that of house no.1 of

C. Inflation Factor Essay Example for Free

C. Inflation Factor Essay Global growth remains noticeably above the historical trend, while inflation and long-run interest rates are unusually low. Global headline inflation has picked up in response to higher oil prices, but core inflation has been little affected and inflationary expectations remain well grounded. This has raised questions as to whether low inflation reflects deflationary. pressures from other sources, notably globalization, or whether there is a danger that the inflationary impact has simply been postponed. The global inflation rate has declined from an annual average of close to 15 per cent in 1980-84 to 3. 8 per cent in 2005. The average inflation rate in the industrial economies fell from almost 9. 5 per cent between 1975 and 1979, and nearly 9 per cent in the early 1980s, to 2. 3 per cent in 2005 and is projected to decline further. In developing countries, the decline has been even steeper and more rapid. In the early 1990s, the average inflation rate in developing countries was around 80 per cent; that had declined to 5. 4 per cent by 2005. The IMF forecasts currently project a further drop, to below 5 percent by 2007 (Kruegar). Over the past two years, inflation in advanced and many emerging market economies has remained remarkably subdued despite a significant rise in commodity prices, strong growth, and a broadly accommodating monetary policy stance in the major currency areas. Some analysts have argued that low and stable inflation reflects more intense global competition, which prevents firms from raising prices and puts downward pressures on wages in many sectors. If so, and given that lower-cost producers in emerging markets and developing countries will continue to integrate into the global trading system, these forces are likely to ensure low inflation in the foreseeable future (World Economic Outlook, â€Å"inflation† 97). This dramatic fall in inflation rates in the recent years owes a great deal to significantly improved macroeconomic management. Monetary policy has become much more effective, helped by the spread of central bank independence and, in many cases, by inflation targeting. And as inflation has declined, and more countries have adopted fiscally prudent policies, growth has become more rapid and, equally important, more durable. In addition, the rapidly expanding role of Asia and, to a lesser extent, the countries of the former Soviet bloc as low-cost manufacturing centers have served to dampen price inflation in high-income countries, where many of these products are consumed (World Bank).

Arthur Millers The Crucible Essay -- Essay on The Crucible

Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible' The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, is a tragic story of injustice suffered by an innocent community who are subjected to the hypocritical, prideful judges of their trial. These Judges use their power to eliminate evidence of their mistakes and return their community to puritanical ways. The leaders of Salem are not concerned with seeking the truth and justice, but with maintaining their authority and reputations; this objective leads them to consistently rejecting truth, against all logic and evidence of their senses. The symbols of truth portrayed throughout the play are exhibited through a handful of innocent hearted characters in the book such as Elizabeth Proctor. Her virtues of dignity and honesty are evident in the ways she calmly argues against Danforth and Hale’s accusations hat she is somehow involved in witchcraft. Although she nearly contradicts herself as a symbol of truthfulness when she lies about John’s adultery; it is very admirable to try to protect her husband, and she understands later when he recants. This is an example of her ability to grasp the wider issues of morality. Rebecca Nurse is the epitome of morality a woman known to have great wisdom and compassion. Her moral character is evident in her adamant refusal to not sign a confession. When Rebecca is brought into the room where John Proctor is about to sign a confession her aura of morality and sensibility moves him to take a stand for integrity and follow...

Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground Essay

Fyodor Dostoevsky is one of the most influential authors in world literature. This Russian author had written several remarkable novels including Crime and Punishment, The Idiot and Brothers Karamazov. However, before the aforementioned novels were published, Dostoevsky had already gained critical acclaim and recognition for his work entitled Notes from Underground. This novel explores how the freedom of man is undermined by the atmosphere of rationality that dominated the 17th and 18th centuries. Through the novel’s protagonist, the Underground Man, Dostoevsky illustrates how real freedom is manifested in the defiance of reason. The period called the Enlightenment occurred throughout the 17th and 18th centuries (Marder, Meyer, & Wyshak, n. d. ). During this time, reason governed over every endeavor, and was valued above everything else. The period left no room for superstition or foolishness; rationality reigned supreme (Marder, Meyer, & Wyshak, n. d. ). Reason was the means in which man and society can develop for the better. European thought was dominated by materialism, liberalism and more importantly, utopianism (Marder, Meyer, & Wyshak, n. d. ). All of these movements were established on the belief that reasonable and natural-law theories could establish a perfect society (Emerson, 1992). Perfection was only attainable through the application of reason and the manifestation of â€Å"enlightened self-interest† (Marder, Meyer, & Wyshak, n. d. ). The prevalence of reason strongly influenced and inspired Dostoevsky to write Notes from Underground (Marder, Meyer, & Wyshak, n. d. ). However, the novel did not convey a message agreeable to the intellectual milieu; instead, it served to criticize its very existence. Notes from Underground is actually a response to another text, entitled What Is to be Done? (Marder, Meyer, & Wyshak, n. d. ; Madden, n. d. ). It was written by N. G. Chernyshevsky and was published in 1863. Chernyshevsky was an advocate of â€Å"rational egoism,† a movement which fervently believed that perfection of life could be achieved through rationality and enlightenment (Madden, n. d. ). The â€Å"rational egoists† also upheld principles of natural law (Madden, n. d. ). Dostoevsky disagreed with the belief that rationality and enlightenment were the keys to perfection. He strongly believed that the nature of man was beyond those two elements. He acknowledged man’s capacity for both the rational and the foolish; he even upheld that the irrationality of man was more definite, while the rationality was merely added (Marder, Meyer, & Wyshak, n. d. ). Moreover, Dostoevsky was convinced that laws of nature or the principles of reason were not capable of recognizing human individuality, personality, and more importantly, free will (Madden, n. d. ). These beliefs are embedded in the novel, a text which Rozanov considers a critique of reason as a means to perfection (as cited in Marder, Meyer, & Wyshak, n. d. ). The novel, in the words of Wasiolek, showed how man can be both rational and irrational, as his actions are the result of the exercise of his own freedom (as cited in Marder, Meyer, & Wyshak, n. d. ). Hence, the theme of freedom in the novel is the utmost disregard for reason and natural laws. The protagonist of the novel is the Underground Man, a forty year old man who used to work in civil service (Dostoevsky, 1992). For a protagonist, he is considered an â€Å"anti-hero† (Madden, n. d. ). He is also the antithesis of the time in which he lived; he disagreed with utilitarianism, which prevailed during the 19th century. Utilitarianism was characterized by utilizing â€Å"mathematical formulas and logical proofs† to equate one’s wants with his best interests (Madden, n. d. ). The Underground Man disagrees with this; he attests that man wants to exercise his freedom and could do so regardless if it agrees with his best interests or not. If it is man’s desire to act irrational, he could. Of course, acting irrational is not in anyone’s best interest. However, by being irrational, he was truly able to exercise his freedom. Actions based on desires, instead of reason, enable man to be free. Freedom is thus associated with acting without reason. So in an era where reason dominated, the Underground Man was rather unreasonable. By being unreasonable, he was able to be truly free. In the novel, the Underground Man asserts that science deprives one of freedom. Dostoevsky (1992) writes, â€Å"Science has managed by now to anatomize man to such a degree that we already know that all your wishing, your so-called free will is nothing†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p. 29). The Underground Man then begins his attack on utilitarianism: If someday they should really discover the formula for all our whims and wishes—I mean, what causes them, what laws they’re governed by, how they develop and where they lead in one case or another†¦in other words, an actual mathematical formula—why, then man will perhaps immediately stop wishing†¦Who wants to wish according to graphs (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 29)? â€Å"Whims and wishes† in this quotation refers to the desires of man. The principles of utilitarianism are marked by analysis of people’s desires. These desires undergo scrutiny, as to determine if these desires agree with what is best for the people. However, the act of wishing does not involve analysis or scrutiny. One can desire something for no apparent reason. One may wish for something that may prove harmful in the long run. The exercise of freedom is spontaneous and non-regulated. If one has to base his or her desires from the graphs or formulas of science and math, they would no longer fall under the exercise of freedom. If one is to desire based on the graphs or formulas, it would not be an act of freedom any more. This is because there is imposition involved; the desires are imposed upon by the requirements of science or math. In this situation, the desires of man are dictated by the principles of reason. Thus, freedom disappears upon the use of reason. In the words of the Underground Man, â€Å"For if desires are one day brought into complete accord with reason, then we shall reason instead of wishing† (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 30). The Underground Man continues his argument against utilitarianism by differentiating reason and desires. He states: You see, gentlemen, reason is unquestionably a fine thing, but reason is no more than reason, and it gives fulfillment only to a man’s reasoning capacity, while desires are a manifestation of the whole of life—I mean the whole of human life, both with its reason and with all its itches and scratches (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 31). In this quotation, the Underground Man affirms that while reason is important, it is not the most important thing. The desires of man, through which freedom can be exercised, have a much wider scope than reason. Therefore, the desires of man cannot be reduced to graphs and tables because it transcends them. The Underground Man uses the piano key as a symbol of how reason curbs man’s freedom: He will insist on clinging precisely to his own fantastic dreams, his most vulgar folly, solely in order to confirm himself†¦ that men are still men, and not piano keys, which may be played by the hands of natural laws themselves, but which are threatened by this very playing to be brought to a state where it will no longer be possible to wish a thing outside of graphs and schedules (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 34). Piano keys are pressed to make a sound in the process of playing the piano. These keys cannot produce sound on their own; they need to be touched and pressed. The analogy between the man and the piano key is what Dostoevsky used to illustrate his point. By measuring man’s desires with the graphs and formulas to determine whether or not it is in their best interests, man becomes a piano key. This is because man comes under the mercy of reason which plays him. To be manipulated by reason is to be bound by its laws; therefore, it is not freedom. The Underground Man believes that humankind values freedom over reason and best interests (Madden, n. d. ). Freedom means acting out of one’s desires or wishes whether or not the act spoken of is irrational or foolish. In the book, the Underground Man manifests his freedom through several examples. He had committed acts contrary to reason, making him a truly free individual. Hence, the Underground Man was successful in escaping the realm of reason he despises. The book starts with the Underground Man’s admission of a pain. He says, â€Å"I think that my liver hurts† (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 1). Anyone who experiences pain will surely resort to measures to eliminate that pain. This is because pain is suffering, and nobody wants to suffer. In the instance that pain is felt, it is only reasonable that one seeks medical assistance by visiting a doctor. On the contrary, the Underground Man says, â€Å"No, sir, I refuse to see a doctor out of spite† (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 1). This decision is obviously irrational, because he does not want to see a doctor to deal with the pain. In addition, he does not have a valid reason not to go to the doctor. One would presume that he simply takes pleasure in his own pain. A rational man would find this decision as preposterous, as no one ever enjoyed suffering from pain (Madden, n. d. ). However, what appears to be a manifestation of masochistic tendencies is actually the Underground Man’s exercise of freedom. Reason dictates that when one feels pain, that person should visit the doctor. As was earlier discussed, the Underground Man believes that reason limits freedom, because it only acknowledges the desires that would be in one’s best interests. The tolerance of pain and the derivation of pleasure from it is the Underground Man’s way of breaking free from reason. Surely, it is a foolish thing to do, but he does not want to conform to the dictates of reason. He values his freedom, so he refuses to act according to reason. He is a free man; he could do as he pleased. Even if it is contrary to his best interests in prolonging such agony, he still does it because he wished to do so. By tolerating pain and deriving pleasure from it, he successful avoids the system of reason. According to the Underground Man, â€Å"I know better than anyone else that I will only harm myself by this, and no one else. And yet, if I don’t seek a cure, it is out of spite. My liver hurts? Good, let it hurt still more† (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 2)! The Underground Man proceeds with his painful endeavor, this time with a toothache. The fourth chapter of the book opens with his laughter: â€Å"Ha-ha-ha! You will find pleasure in a toothache next! And why not? There is pleasure in a toothache ache too† (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 14). Just like with the liver ache, the Underground Man allows himself to feel the pain of his tooth instead of seeing a dentist. He welcomes the pain, and refuses to seek treatment. A critic of the novel, Mikhaylovsky declares that the Underground Man â€Å"tortures because he wants to, he likes torture. There is neither reason nor purpose here, and, in the opinion of Dostoevksy, they are not at all necessary, for absolute cruelty is interesting† (as cited in Marder, Meyer, & Wyshak, n. d. ). Indeed, this is true. The Underground Man does not subject himself to pain for a reason. In fact, he does so to do away with reason. He refrains from seeking medical treatment because he wants to. By indulging in his desire, he exercises complete freedom. Aside from the aforementioned tolerance of pains, the Underground Man had exercised his freedom through irrationality in other ways. He states: I would feel a certain hidden, morbid, nasty little pleasure in the acute awareness that I had once again committed something vile that day, that what had been done could no longer be undone; and I would gnaw and gnaw at myself in silence†¦until the bitterness would finally begin to turn into a kind of shameful, damnable sweetness (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 7). In this excerpt, the Underground Man expresses how he had realized his evil ways by contemplating what he had done. However, instead of wallowing in guilt, the realization ends up being a source of pleasure. How did the Underground Man manifest his freedom through this? The purveyors of rationality would insist that those who know what is in their best interests would not resort to baseness or frivolity. The Underground Man was aware of vileness of his actions; in a way, he was aware it was not in his best interests. However, he did not feel a sense of guilt. The realization of his action that started with bitterness eventually became that of sweetness. He knew what he had done was bad, but this does not change the fact that he derived pleasure from it. His reaction to such vile deeds set him apart from what reason dictates as proper. Because he did not follow the dictates of reason, he had exercised his own freedom through defiance. Reason makes one feel burdened when one commits a nasty or vile action. It supposes that rational ways should be observed, and a nasty or vile action is never rational. He sights an example when one is forced to apologize for a nasty deed. The Underground Man says: Generally, I could never endure saying, â€Å"Forgive me, Papa, I won’t do it again†Ã¢â‚¬â€and not because I was incapable of saying it, but, on the contrary, perhaps precisely because I was all too capable of it. And how I did it (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 16)! In this passage, the Underground Man expressed disagreement with repentance. He believes that one should not apologize for doing something. He finds apologies as deceiving; the claim to never do an act considered vile again seems insincere. In our freedom, we are all capable of doing these acts. Regardless if they are rational or irrational, we all have the capacity to act according to our own free will. The claim â€Å"I won’t do it again† is quite fraudulent, as it is quite understood that anyone can do anything, according to their free will. Thus, it is possible for one to exercise freedom and desire something which is not in one’s best interest. According to the Underground Man: And what if his advantage on a given occasion not only may, but must, lie exactly in choosing for himself the harmful rather than the advantageous? And if this is so, if there can be such an occasion, then the entire rule is shattered to smithereens (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 22). The rule spoken of here is the belief that man would choose what is in his best interests. Again, the exercise of freedom lies in choosing or desiring something regardless of their nature. In the above quotation, the Underground Man affirms that there will be instances wherein man will choose what is harmful, instead of what is useful, to him. The moment such situation arises, the principle of reason will be disproved. The Underground Man does not believe in the principle that man will act according to what is in his best interests. Neither does he believe that man’s desires can be reduced to graphs of science nor formulas of mathematics. The concept of freedom for the Underground Man is that which is contrary to the dictates of reason. He does not acknowledge that man will commit acts that are in tune with his best interests. This would be a violation of his freedom, as the freedom presupposes one’s capacity for both the rational and the irrational. If one chooses to commit an irrational act, he is merely exercising his freedom. Did the Underground Man succeed in escaping the realm of reason he so despised? The answer is yes. His tolerance of pain and derivation of pleasure from suffering were direct defiance to reason. He had rendered himself completely liberated from the atmosphere of rationality. He did and thought as he pleased, whether or not it was in his best interests. Indeed, he had escaped, and is completely free. REFERENCES Dostoevsky, F. (1992). Notes from Underground (M. Ginsburg, Trans. ). New York: Bantam. (Original work published in 1864). Madden, C. (n. d. ). SparkNote on Notes from Underground. Retrieved March 29, 2008, from http://www. sparknotes. com/lit/underground/ Marder, J. , Meyer, M. , & Wyshak, F. (n. d. ). Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground Study Guide. Retrieved March 29, 2008, from http://community. middlebury. edu/~beyer/courses/previous/ru351/novels/UGMan/ugman. html

Reckless Endangerment or Street Racing

Alex Larson February 9, 2009 Writing 122 Reckless Endangerment or Street Racing? One well known fact is that teens, males in particular, like to drive at higher speeds, sometimes resulting in street racing. It is a big problem and causes deaths all over the United States and tragedy to many families. Some people say cracking down on teens by way of police force is how to solve the epidemic. Others, such as Denver Post columnist Leonard Sax, and San Diego State University professor Stephen Bender, believe it would be wise to institute a supervised street racing program for teens. What both sides are trying to achieve is a lowered death rate of young teenagers looking for a little thrill. One side wants to have a bigger crackdown on street racers. The Denver Post article supports programs against such racers. The Los Angeles Police Department has implemented the tactic of confiscating supped-up racing cars to prevent their use in street racing; and Denver wants to copy the idea. The author suggests the other side’s solution: supervised, legal, track racing (Authorities. ) Presenting another idea, Leonard Sax and Stephen Bender have supported and started, respectively, RaceLegal. RaceLegal is a supervised racing event at San Diego Stadium. On Friday nights teenage boys and young men get together and do drag racing on the four-laned, one-eighth mile track (Leonard. ) According to Sax’s article, similar programs have begun in Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Muncie, Indiana. In Noble, Oklahoma they are mimicking Bender’s idea. A fifteen dollar admission gets you into Thunder Valley Raceway Park to see or participate in â€Å"Beat the Heat. † This program takes a different twist, with participants racing in their own cars against local cops in their cop cruisers (Leonard. Sax claims that education to stop teens isn’t helping stop the â€Å"epidemic,† as Bender refers to it, but may actually catalyze it. Teenage boys like to do what they’ve been told is too dangerous to do, so naturally speeding when told not to, is the result. He believes allowing legal racing will calm teens down on public roads (Leonard. ) Both sides do have go od programs to prevent untimely deaths. Taking racing teens off the road or taking their cars away would solve the problem. However, being one of those eighteen year-olds with a red sports ar and a bit of a lead foot, I would respond much better to moving my activity off the public road to a track than being pulled over for being a teen with a fast car. The ability to race elsewhere would definitely stop me from driving as fast on public streets. A legal racing league seems to be a well accepted idea; the Denver Post article, which talks about implementing police action, even alludes to the implication of such a program; just their idea tweaks it so that teens are not allowed to race, which kind of defeats the purpose and doesn’t complete the objective at hand, which is solving the teen street racing epidemic. Works Cited Denver Post. â€Å"Authorities Should Stop Teens from Engaging in Street Racing. † Opposing Viewpoints: Cars in America. Ed. Andrea C. Nakaya. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2006. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Rogue Community College Library. 10 Feb. 2009 http://ezproxy. roguecc. edu:2080/ovrc/. Leonard Sax. â€Å"Teens Should Be Encouraged to Participate in Supervised Street Racing. † Opposing Viewpoints: Cars in America. Ed. Andrea C. Nakaya. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2006. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Rogue Community College Library. 10 Feb. 2009 http://ezproxy. roguecc. edu:2080/ovrc/

The Hungarian Uprising of 1956 and the Lack of U.S. Intervention essays

The Hungarian Uprising of 1956 and the Lack of U.S. Intervention essays The era of the 1950s presented a wave of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. Yet, the 1956 revolution of Hungary is relatively unknown to the pages of modern history. Unlike the better known nations which fought against their Soviet-friendly governments, Hungary was left to push out their tyrannical regime without global intervention from the United States. Yet, how could the United States let the Hungarians fail in their revolution when they had helped other nations like South Korea from the grip of Communism? The United States should have intervened in the Hungarian uprising, the very fact that they did not is a testament to the concept that the government has never fully executed what it preaches. The Hungarian uprising of 1956 rose very little international uprising considering the deep rooted Soviet-American ties. Yet, other revolutions and causes of tension have brought, such as that seen in South Korea, has brought American assistance without a blink of an eye. Yet, despite UN Commissions asking the Soviets to stay out of the nation, very little was done by the United States to help the Hungarians in their fight against the Soviet Union and its influence. Therefore, the United States failed to uphold its promise to help fight Communism wherever the fight ensued. Despite the bravado which the U.S. Government plastered across media networks all across the globe, the failed to uphold their promise. The students who started the revolution in Hungary had Western inspired ideas of democracy, yet the Western structure of democracy failed them. Instead, the United States failed to help countries which were not economically beneficial to the U.S. ...

A Brief History of Cote DIvoire

A Brief History of Cote D'Ivoire Our knowledge of the early history of the region now known as Cà ´te dIvoire is limited- there is some evidence of Neolithic activity, but mush still needs to be done in investigating this. Oral histories give rough indications of when various peoples first arrived, such as the Mandinka (Dyuola) people migrating from the Niger basin to the coast during the 1300s. In the early 1600s, Portuguese explorers were the first Europeans to reach the coast. They initiated trade in gold, ivory, and pepper. The first French contact came in 1637- along with the first missionaries. In the 1750s the region was invaded by Akan peoples fleeing the Asante Empire (now Ghana). The established the Baoulà © kingdom around the town of Sakasso. A French Colony French trading posts were established from 1830 onwards, along with a protectorate negotiated by the French Admiral Bouà «t-Willaumez. By the end of the 1800s, the borders for the French colony of Cà ´te dIvoire had been agreed with Liberia and the Gold Coast (Ghana). In 1904 Cà ´te dIvoire became part of the Federation of French West Africa (Afrique Occidentale Franà §aise) and run as an overseas territory by the Third Republic. The region transferred from Vichy to Free French control in 1943, under the command of Charles de Gaulle. Around the same time, the first indigenous political group was formed: Fà ©lix Houphouà «t-Boignys Syndicat Agricole Africain (SAA, African Agricultural Syndicate), which represented African farmers and landowners. Independence With independence in sight, Houphouà «t-Boigny formed the Parti Dà ©mocratique de la Cà ´te dIvoire (PDCI, Democratic Party of Cà ´te dIvoire)- Cà ´te dIvoires first political party. On 7 August 1960, Cà ´te dIvoire gained independence and Houphouà «t-Boigny became its first president. Houphouà «t-Boigny ruled Cà ´te dIvoire for 33 years, was a respected African statesman, and on his death was Africas longest-serving president. During his presidency, there were at least three attempted coups, and resentment grew against his one-party rule. In 1990 a new constitution was introduced enabling opposition parties to contest a general election- Houphouà «t-Boigny still won the elections with a significant lead. In the last couple of years, with his health failing, backroom negotiations attempted to find someone who would be able to take over Houphouà «t-Boignys legacy and Henri Konan Bà ©dià © was selected. Houphouà «t-Boigny died on 7 December 1993. Cà ´te dIvoire after Houphouà «t-Boigny was in dire straits. Hit hard by a failing economy based on cash crops (especially coffee and cocoa) and raw minerals, and with increasing allegations of governmental corruption, the country was in decline. Despite close ties to the west, President Bà ©dià © was having difficulties and was only able to maintain his position by banning opposition parties from a general election. In 1999 Bà ©dià © was overthrown by a military coup. A government of national unity was formed by General Robert Guà ©i, and in October 2000 Laurent Gbagbo, for the Front Populaire Ivoirien (FPI or Ivorian Popular Front), was elected president. Gbagbo was the only opposition to Guà ©i since Alassane Ouattara was barred from the election. In 2002 a military mutiny in Abidjan split the country politically- the Muslim north from the Christian and animist south. Peacekeeping talks brought the fighting to an end, but the country remains divided. President Gbagbo has managed to avoid holding new presidential elections, for various reasons, since 2005.

Lead and the laws governing it in the UK Case Study

Lead and the laws governing it in the UK - Case Study Example It has numerous industrial and domestic purposes because it has a low melting point and can easily be moulded into any shape or form. Nevertheless, despite the advantages of lead, it has many disadvantages. The effects of lead include lead poisoning resulting in "chronic effects on the nervous system - paralysis of motor nerves, poor aptitude (especially in children) and other effects on cognitive functions." ( Agius R 2006). Moreover, a study (Ferguson D & Horwood J L) has proven that hildren with high levels of lead in their blood score less on tests than those with lower levels of lead. Therefore, it is crucial to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the use of lead. Alternative methods to lead exist hence it is not worth risking the prejudice to human health and safety. The problem of the effects of lead has caused alarm in the United Kingdom. Numerous employees are affected or have the potential to be affected by lead. These include plumbers, glass manufacturers, construction workers, painters and petrol attendants. This has resulted in the enactment of legislation in order to control this problem. The Control of Lead at Work Regulations Act of 2002 stipulates that "an employer shall not carry out work which is liable to expose any employees to lead unless he has made a suitable and sufficient of the risk..." (Section 5(1)). The Act further regulates the conditions under which lead may be used. These conditions are very stringent and absolute. The Government has enforced a number of measures in order to curb the drastic effects of the use of lead. One of these measures was to ban the sale of lead fishing weights in 1986 as this had a negative impact on fish as well as humans who would eventually consume the fish. Moreover, the Department of Environment introduced a consultation paper in March 1997 in order to ban the use of lead shot in wetlands. The Code of Good Shooting Practice has been introduced to ensure that non-lead shots are used when hunting. Therefore, in terms of the environmental impact of lead, the Government and the Department of Environment have had a general success rate of curbing the effects of lead. There are of course problems with violators of the law; however, close monitoring and penalties have eased this problem. The environment is one element of the problem. On the other hand, the health impacts of the use of lead are devastating. According to the 2009 Berkeley Report, "Decreased brain function in adults has been associated with blood lead concentrations of 20 to 50 ug/100ml." The report further states that Government removes workers from exposure when their lead level exceeds this amount. It appears at first glance that this is an ideal remedy. However, studies have shown that exposure to lead has a cumulative effect. The affected person will still suffer from lead poisoning when re-exposed to the lead environment. This solution thus has a yo-yo effect. The Health and Safety Executive of the United Kingdom adheres to various legislation on the use of lead and also implements various campaigns to control the problems associated with the use of lead. However, the Health and Safety Executive is diverse and deals with health and safety issues in general. Thus the problem associated with lead is not addressed in isolation. It is merely treated as one of the health and safety problems in the country. Indeed, the Health and S

Time Management and Nursing Burnout Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Time Management and Nursing Burnout - Essay Example The time management techniques have been fairly well covered in the book chapter. We are exploring an article here which goes beyond just time management to relieve a person of stress and make his life more valuable. This article can be said to be of the type of self-care or self well being. This is absolutely an essential component in order to avoid a burnout. We will study some dimensions associated with the job of a person which should be satisfied for him to continue working. The absence of these dimensions can lead to burnout of the individual. We will initially review the article written by Matuska Christianen which has been attached in appendix A. This paper presents a proposed model of lifestyle balance that meets biological and psychological needs within the unique environment of individuals. The writer of the article claims that once the biological and psychological needs of the individuals are in alignment with the environment of the individual; the level of stress faced i n the work is reduced and the person is able to enjoy his job fully. This article claims well-being as the lack of stress during the work. ... are in alignment with the environment of the individual; the level of stress faced in the work is reduced and the person is able to enjoy his job fully. This article claims well being as the lack of stress during the work. The person should be satisfied with his work and look forward to do it every day to avoid stress and improve his well being. The article presents five factors, dimensions or conditions which need to be satisfied in order to achieve physical and mental well being. These 5 dimensions are essential for the well being of an individual and are thus key factors in preventing work related stress. The first dimension is biological health and physical safety. These can be said to be the most basic needs of the individual. If these are not satisfied it leads to a lot of stress and the person finds it extremely difficult to continue in the job as he faces a large amount of stress. The first dimension is the foundation upon which all other dimensions and the endeavors of the h uman being rest. The second dimension discussed in the article is rewarding and self-affirming relationship with others. This can be said to be the need for affiliation. A person wants his co-workers and those with which he works to appreciate the good work done by him. It can be easily seen in nursing that relatives of a patient might blame the nurses for any failure in health of the person. These accusations may not have any basis but increases the stress level of the nurse which leads to disillusionment with the job. Rewarding behavior discussed in this dimension need not be reward given by a third party. This may even by the reward which an individual decides to give himself for sticking to an action plan or achieving a target which was decided earlier by him. The third dimension