Friday, October 25, 2019

Reverse Discrimination: The Case of Allan Bakke Essay -- History Race

Reverse Discrimination In 1973 a thirty-three year-old Caucasian male named Allan Bakke applied to and was denied admission to the University of California Medical School at Davis. In 1974 he filed another application and was once again rejected, even though his test scores were considerably higher than various minorities that were admitted under a special program. This special program specified that 16 out of 100 possible spaces for the students in the medical program were set aside solely for minorities, while the other 84 slots were for anyone who qualified, including minorities. What happened to Bakke is known as reverse discrimination. Bakke felt his rejections to be violations of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment, so he took the University of California Regents to the Superior Court of California. It was ruled that "the admissions program violated his rights under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment"1 The clause reads as follows:"...No state shall make or enforce any l aw which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor without due process of the law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."2 The court ruled that race could not be a factor in admissions. However, they did not force the admittance of Bakke because the court could not know if he would have been admitted if the special admissions program for minorities did not exist. Bakke disagreed with the court on this issue and he brought it before the California Supreme Court.The California Supreme Court held that it was the University's burden to prove that Bakke would not have been admitted if the special program was not in effect. The school could not meet this requirement, and Bakke was admitted by court orde r. However, the University appealed to the Supreme Court for "certiorari", which was granted, and the order to admit Bakke was suspended pending thCourt's decision.3 The Issues and Arguments for Each Side"Bakke was the most significant civil rights case to reach the United States Supreme Court since Brown v. Board the Education of Topeka, Kansas."4 The special admissions program at Davis tried to further integrate the higher education system because merely removing the barriers, as the Brown case did, did not always work. In short, Bakke was questioning how far the Universi... ...erm, the Supreme Court will turn towards desegregation and Affirmative Action. The Freeman v. Pitts case is another recent case dealing with whether bussing is still needed to curb past discrimination.Another case that the court has accepted for this term will examine whether colleges should eliminate racial preference systems in admissions or whether quotas are still needed to further curtail the use of affirmative action. The name of this case and the specific facts, however, were unavailable at this time.9 Obviously affirmative action and reverse discrimination are still heavily debated issues. This is because they affect all people of all races and ethnicities. Conclusion Allan Bakke was denied his fourteenth amendment right to equal protection of the laws. In addition the University of California at Davis violated Title IV of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. By order of the Supreme Court Bakke was admitted and th e numerical quotas of the special admissions program were deemed unconstitutional. Justice was served to Bakke, but future generations who are not minorities may be plagued by the other half of the decision: That race may still be used as a "plus" on an application.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Umok

Evil Through Imagery It has been said for a long time that the only thing to fear is fear itself. It is easy to see that the boys become subject to their own illogical fears. In Lord of the Flies, by William Gilding, Imagery Is used to describe the Island and the characters themselves In dark and mysterious ways. Imagery Is also used as a way for the boys to create the beast and make it external as well as internal. There are several instances in the novel where people are described using ominous language. When Jack and his choir are seen for the first time they are scribed as a ;creature†¦ Room throat to ankle, hidden by black cloaks† (19). The choir's first Impression suggests that their purpose In the novel Is antagonistic In nature. Gilding's imagery automatically Identifies the characters In story that are associated with the more evil aspects of human nature such as fear and violence. Later in the novel, it seems that the older boys only become worse, with fear growi ng in them like an uncontrollable weed. It is noticeable when Jack starts disguising himself â€Å"[looking] in astonishment, no longer at himself but at an awesome stranger†¦ He face of red and white and black† (63-64).In his slow submission to fear, Jack Is becoming another person entirely from the boy who Initially crashed on the island and It Is shown literally here by him painting his face and changing his identity. The fear created on the island, in the form of the beast, is exposing Jack for what he really is, which is demonic and wicked in nature. Gilding uses imagery often to describe the malicious intent of characters throughout the novel, but he does not only describe characters in this way. The island on which the boys are stranded on Is meticulously described in the kook and most of the words used to Illustrate It are grim at best.When Gilding describes where Piggy and Ralph first find themselves, he describes the ground as â€Å"covered with coarse grass, torn everywhere by upheavals of fallen trees, scattered with decaying coconuts and palm saplings. Behind this was the darkness of the forest proper and the open space of the scar. † (9-10). Already, the island, though it has done no wrong, is becoming a canvas on which Gilding can paint his picture of doom and despair. Small things, such as this, are described assiduously through the inure novel.This Is used to give perspective and show cause to why the boys do what they do, among a variety of other things, the boys are reacting to their environment which is portrayed with no less than a vulgar light. When the boys go on their first expedition, which results in them pushing a boulder over, â€Å"the forest further down shook as with the passage of an enraged monster† (28). Gilding describes the devastation of the forest like this with a purpose, he is alluding to the fear that later controls the boys, or the beast. The disturbance of the peace from the the scar.Simple i tems on the island are portrayed much more villainous than they actually are for the purpose of showing what the boys have done to the island by corrupting it's innocence and peace with their naturally wicked human nature. The author makes use of both the image of characters and the setting of the island to show that humanity can turn anything into something foul, even a beautiful and untouched island. The imagery does not stop with the island and the characters, it also creates the very beast which leads to some of the characters downfall. When the twins first see he horrible beast they describe it as â€Å"furry.There was something moving behind its head-?wings. The beast moved too-? That was awful. It kind of sat up†¦ There were eyes-? Teeth-? Claws-?† (100). At this point in the novel, rational thinking has become scarce and is only really found in Piggy and Simon. Sam and Eric truly believe in what they saw and their grisly description only acts as a catalyst for th e other boys descent into madness from the fear. Since Simon is not effected by the illusion of the beast, he understands that the beast is not real but the Lord of the Flies corrects him â€Å"Fancy hinging that the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!†¦You knew didn't you? † (143-144). Gilding's imagery brought to life a character that is really Just the embodiment of the horror and destructiveness in the boys, revealing what the authors true beliefs about human nature are. Though, he does not seem to think that man kind is entirely uncontrollable. Simon is used as a beacon of hope and good intention. Simony's death is also very unique, using light imagery to state how Simon was the only light in the darkness all along. Towards the end of the novel, the beast comes very real, more than Just a figment of the boys wildest and darkest fears.In conclusion, imagery describes human kind's nature through the characters, the island, and of course the beast or fear in t he boys. The scary images used in the novel make it very easy to see why the boys went against each other in the end, proving that humanity is it's own worst enemy. Overall, the author's opinion about human nature influenced every facet of the novel and how it was written, but of course the most obvious expression of Gilding's opinion is seen in the imagery.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Rick Brag: Essay

True Southern pride is a great way to describe a man like Richard Bragg. He has all the Southern charms and outlooks on life. Richard Bragg writes emotionally-moving literature that changes the lives of everyday people. Richard Bragg’s writing generally deals with the lower class Americans. This is a reflection of his life, for he grew up as a lower class American during the Civil Rights Era. Born in rural Alabama on July 26, 1959, he was the first of his family to graduate from high school. Richard Bragg is still alive today and is currently a professor at Alabama University (Kingsbury).Richard Bragg is known as one of the best southern story tellers of his time. Many wonder how he developed this ability, and when asked he said, â€Å"Well, I come from a long line of liars and story tellers. † (â€Å"Rick† 2) Richard Bragg credits his way of telling a story to his father, grandfather, and all the drunks that he liked to hang out with. (â€Å"Author†) Brag g would sat on his front porch for hours and listened to these men speak. Although he listened to all these drunks tell of drama, comedy, and tragedy, Bragg tends to have a more feminine way of writing.He got this from his mother and sisters who â€Å"tell gentler stories about babies born, funerals that were ‘beautiful,’ and the nicer, sadder, sweeter side of growing up in rural Alabama in the 1960s and 1970s. † (â€Å"Rick† 3) Richard Bragg generally writes about the lower class American. He grew up as a lower class citizen. He likes to reach out to these people and make people aware of poverty all over the world. In his story All Over but the Shoutin’, and in this book he shows the darker side of poverty and his life(Abbe). This book gives the inside look of what it was like growing up in poverty during the 60s and 70s.Richard Bragg’s home life was not one of a loving family. His father left frequently all through his life, and officially left when Bragg was just 10. He did have a caring mother who did everything for her family. She worked in the cotton fields with â€Å"poor blacks and white trash who had no other skills and no other possibilities. † (â€Å"Rick† 3) Brag latter paid tribute to her through his book All Over but the Shoutin’. Richard Bragg grew up during the Civil Rights period. Bragg’s father once moved his family to a white house in Anniston, Alabama, that was once the ain house on a plantation. Bragg had never seen a black person really until he moved there. All the black people lived about a mile up the road. At first they threw rocks at each other. It was an onward battle until one day they got curious and started asking each other question about how different both races were â€Å"but it seems now that our innocent questions about our differences were kind of nice, kind of sweet. † (â€Å"Rick† 7) Richard Bragg is still writing today. He writes from his little office at the University of Alabama. Who knows what he will write about next?One thing is for sure we all know that it will make an emotional impact and that it will change how people view certain topics. Works Citied Page Abbe, Elfrieda. â€Å"Rick Bragg on the art of storytelling. † 115. 12 n. page. Web. 28 Sep. 2012. â€Å"Author Information: Rick Bragg. † This Goodly Land . (Apr 30, 2009): n. page. Web. 28 Sep. 2012. Etlinger, Marion. â€Å"Rick Bragg Biography. † Book Browse. 01 08 2010: n. page. Web. 28 Sep. 2012. Kingsbury, Pam. â€Å"Rick Bragg Biography. † Encyclopedia of Alabama. Alabama: 2008. Web. 28 Sep 2012. â€Å"Rick Bragg Biography. † UFDC Images n. pag. Alabama Virtual Library. Web. 28 Sep 2012.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

The History of the English Language

The History of the English Language The story of English- from its start in a jumble of West Germanic dialects to its role today as a global language- is both fascinating and complex. This timeline offers a glimpse at some of the key events that helped to shape the English language over the past 1,500 years. To learn more about the ways that English evolved in Britain and then spread around the world, check out The History of English in 10 Minutes, an amusing video produced by the Open University. The Prehistory of English The ultimate origins of English lie in Indo-European, a family of languages consisting of most of the languages of Europe as well as those of Iran, the Indian subcontinent, and other parts of Asia. Because little is known about ancient Indo-European (which may have been spoken as long ago as 3,000 B.C.), well begin our survey in Britain in the first century A.D. 43- The Romans invade Britain, beginning 400 years of control over much of the island.410- The Goths (speakers of a now extinct East Germanic language) sack Rome. The first Germanic tribes arrive in Britain.Early 5th century- With the collapse of the empire, Romans withdraw from Britain. Britons are attacked by the Picts and by Scots from Ireland. Angles, Saxons, and other German settlers arrive in Britain to assist the Britons and claim territory.5th-6th centuries- Germanic peoples (Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Frisians) speaking West Germanic dialects settle most of Britain. Celts retreat to distant areas of Britain: Ireland, Scotland, Wales. 500-1100: The Old English (or Anglo-Saxon) Period The conquest of the Celtic population in Britain by speakers of West Germanic dialects (primarily Angles, Saxons, and Jutes) eventually determined many of the essential characteristics of the English language. (The Celtic influence on English survives for the most part only in place names- London, Dover, Avon, York.) Over time the dialects of the various invaders merged, giving rise to what we now call Old English. Late 6th century- Ethelbert, the King of Kent, is baptized. He is the first English king to convert to Christianity.7th century- Rise of the Saxon kingdom of Wessex; the Saxon kingdoms of Essex and Middlesex; the Angle kingdoms of Mercia, East Anglia, and Northumbria. St. Augustine and Irish missionaries convert Anglo-Saxons to Christianity, introducing new religious words borrowed from Latin and Greek. Latin speakers begin referring to the country as Anglia and later as Englaland.673- Birth of the Venerable Bede, the monk who composed (in Latin) The Ecclesiastical History of the English People (c. 731), a key source of information about Anglo Saxon settlement.700- Approximate date of the earliest manuscript records of Old English.Late 8th century- Scandinavians begin to settle in Britain and Ireland; Danes settle in parts of Ireland.Early 9th century- Egbert of Wessex incorporates Cornwall into his kingdom and is recognized as overlord of the seven kingdoms of the Angles and Saxons (the Heptarchy): England begins to emerge. Mid 9th century- Danes raid England, occupy Northumbria, and establish a kingdom at York. Danish begins to influence English.Late 9th century- King Alfred of Wessex (Alfred the Great) leads the Anglo-Saxons to victory over the Vikings, translates Latin works into English and establishes the writing of prose in English. He uses the English language to foster a sense of national identity. England is divided into a kingdom ruled by the Anglo-Saxons (under Alfred) and another ruled by the Scandinavians.10th century- English and Danes mix fairly peacefully, and many Scandinavian (or Old Norse) loanwords enter the language, including such common words as sister, wish, skin, and die.1000- Approximate date of the only surviving manuscript of the Old English epic poem Beowulf, composed by an anonymous poet between the 8th century and the early 11th century.Early 11th century- Danes attack England, and the English king (Ethelred the Unready) escapes to Normandy. The Battle of Maldon becomes th e subject of one of the few surviving poems in Old English. The Danish king (Canute) rules over England and encourages the growth of Anglo-Saxon culture and literature. Mid 11th century- Edward the Confessor, King of England who was raised in Normandy, names William, Duke of Normandy, as his heir.1066- The Norman Invasion: King Harold is killed at the Battle of Hastings, and William of Normandy is crowned King of England. Over succeeding decades, Norman French becomes the language of the courts and of the upper classes; English remains the language of the majority. Latin is used in churches and schools. For the next century, English, for all practical purposes, is no longer a written language. 1100-1500: The Middle English Period The Middle English period saw the breakdown of the inflectional system of Old English and the expansion of vocabulary with many borrowings from French and Latin. 1150- Approximate date of the earliest surviving texts in Middle English.1171- Henry II declares himself overlord of Ireland, introducing Norman French and English to the country. About this time the University of Oxford is founded.1204- King John loses control of the Duchy of Normandy and other French lands; England is now the only home of the Norman French/English.1209- The University of Cambridge is formed by scholars from Oxford.1215- King John signs the Magna Carta (Great Charter), a critical document in the long historical process leading to the rule of constitutional law in the English-speaking world.1258- King Henry III is forced to accept the Provisions of Oxford, which establish a Privy Council to oversee the administration of the government. These documents, though annulled a few years later, are generally regarded as Englands first written constitution.Late 13th century- Under Edward I, royal authority is consolidated in England and Wales. English becomes the dominant lan guage of all classes. Mid to late 14th century- The Hundred Years War between England and France leads to the loss of almost all of Englands French possessions. The Black Death kills roughly one-third of Englands population. Geoffrey Chaucer composes The Canterbury Tales in Middle English. English becomes the official language of the law courts and replaces Latin as the medium of instruction at most schools. John Wycliffes English translation of the Latin Bible is published. The Great Vowel Shift begins, marking the loss of the so-called pure vowel sounds (which are still found in many continental languages) and the loss of the phonetic pairings of most long and short vowel sounds.1362- The Statute of Pleading makes English the official language in England. Parliament is opened with its first speech delivered in English.1399 At his coronation, King Henry IV becomes the first English monarch to deliver a speech in English.Late 15th century- William Caxton brings to Westminster (from the Rhineland) the firs t printing press and publishes Chaucers The Canterbury Tales. Literacy rates increase significantly, and printers begin to standardize English spelling. The monk Galfridus Grammaticus (also known as Geoffrey the Grammarian) publishes Thesaurus Linguae Romanae et Britannicae, the first English-to-Latin wordbook. 1500 to the Present: The  Modern English  Period Distinctions are commonly drawn between the Early Modern Period (1500-1800) and Late Modern English (1800 to the present). During the period of Modern English, British exploration, colonization, and overseas trade hastened the acquisition of  loanwords  from countless other languages and fostered the development of new varieties of English (World English), each with its own nuances of  vocabulary,  grammar, and  pronunciation. Since the middle of the 20th century, the expansion of North American business and media around the world has led to the emergence of  Global English  as a  lingua franca. Early 16th century- The first English settlements are made in North America. William Tyndales English translation of the Bible is published. Many Greek and Latin  borrowings  enter English.1542- In his  Fyrst Boke of the Introduction of Knowledge, Andrew Boorde illustrates regional  dialects.1549- The first version of the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England is published.1553- Thomas Wilson publishes  The Art of Rhetorique, one of the first works on  logic  and  rhetoric  in English.1577- Henry Peacham publishes  The Garden of Eloquence, a treatise on rhetoric.1586- The first  grammar  of English- William Bullokars  Pamphlet for Grammar- is published.1588- Elizabeth I begins her 45-year reign as queen of England. The British defeat the Spanish Armada, boosting national pride and enhancing the legend of Queen Elizabeth.1589- The Art of English Poesie  (attributed to George Puttenham) is published.1590-1611- William Shakespeare writes his  Sonnet s  and the majority of his plays.1600- The East India Company is chartered to promote trade with Asia, eventually leading to the establishment of the British Raj in India. 1603- Queen Elizabeth dies and James I (James VI of Scotland) accedes to the throne.1604- Robert Cawdreys  Table Alphabeticall, the first English  dictionary, is published.  1607- The first permanent English settlement in America is established at Jamestown, Virginia.1611- The Authorized Version of the English Bible (the King James Bible) is published, greatly influencing the development of the written language.1619- The first African slaves in North America arrive in Virginia.1622- Weekly News, the first English newspaper, is published in London.1623- The First Folio edition of Shakespeares plays is published.1642- Civil War breaks out in England after King Charles I attempts to arrest his parliamentary critics. The war leads to the execution of Charles I, the dissolution of parliament, and the replacement of the English monarchy with a Protectorate (1653–59) under Oliver Cromwells rule.1660- The monarchy is restored; Charles II is proclaimed king.1662- The Royal Societ y of London appoints a committee to consider ways of improving English as a language of science. 1666- The Great Fire of London destroys most of the City of London inside the old Roman City Wall.1667- John Milton publishes his epic poem  Paradise Lost.1670- The Hudsons Bay Company is chartered for promoting trade and settlement in Canada.1688- Aphra Behn, the first woman novelist in England, publishes  Oroonoko, or the History of the Royal Slave.1697- In his  Essay Upon Projects,  Daniel Defoe  calls for the creation of an Academy of 36 gentlemen to dictate English  usage.1702- The Daily Courant, the first regular daily newspaper in English, is published in London.1707- The Act of Union unites the Parliaments of England and  Scotland, creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain.1709- The first Copyright Act is enacted in England.1712- Anglo-Irish satirist and cleric  Jonathan Swift  proposes the creation of an English Academy to regulate English  usage  and ascertain the language.1719- Daniel Defoe publishes  Robinson Crusoe, considered by some to be the first modern English novel.1721- Nathaniel Bailey publishes his  Universal Etymological Dictionary of the English Language, a pioneer study in English  lexicography: the first to feature current  usage,  etymology,  syllabification, clarifying  quotations, illustrations, and indications of  pronunciation. 1715- Elisabeth Elstob publishes the first grammar of Old English.1755- Samuel Johnson  publishes his two-volume  Dictionary of the English Language.1760-1795- This period marks the rise of the English grammarians (Joseph Priestly, Robert Lowth, James Buchanan, John Ash, Thomas Sheridan, George Campbell, William Ward, and Lindley Murray), whose rule books, primarily based on  prescriptive  notions of grammar, become increasingly popular.  1762- Robert Lowth publishes his  Short Introduction to English Grammar.1776- The  Declaration of Independence  is signed, and the American War of Independence begins, leading to the creation of the United States of America, the first country outside the British Isles with English as its principal language.1776- George Campbell publishes  The Philosophy of Rhetoric.1783- Noah Webster  publishes his  American Spelling Book.1785- The Daily Universal Register  (renamed  The Times  in 1788) begins publication in London.1788- The English first settle in  Australia, near present-day Sydney. 1789- Noah Webster publishes  Dissertations on the English Language, which advocates an  American standard of usage.1791- The Observer, the oldest national Sunday newspaper in Britain, begins publication.Early 19th century- Grimms Law  (discovered by Friedrich von Schlegel and Rasmus Rask, later elaborated by Jacob Grimm) identifies relationships between certain  consonants  in Germanic languages (including English) and their originals in Indo-European. The formulation of Grimms Law marks a major advance in the development of  linguistics  as a scholarly field of study.1803- The Act of Union incorporates Ireland into Britain, creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.1806- The British occupy Cape Colony in South Africa.1810- William Hazlitt  publishes  A New and Improved Grammar of the English Language.​1816- John Pickering compiles the first dictionary of  Americanisms.1828- Noah Webster publishes his  American Dictionary of the English La nguage. Richard Whateley publishes  Elements of Rhetoric. 1840- The native Maori in  New Zealand  cede sovereignty to the British.1842- The London Philological Society is founded.1844- The telegraph is invented by Samuel Morse, inaugurating the development of rapid communication, a major influence on the growth and spread of English.Mid 19th century- A  standard variety of American English  develops. English is established in  Australia,  South Africa,  India, and other British colonial outposts.1852- The first edition of  Rogets Thesaurus  is published.1866- James Russell Lowell champions the use of American  regionalisms, helping to end deference to the  Received British Standard. Alexander Bain publishes  English Composition and Rhetoric. The transatlantic telegraph cable is completed.1876- Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone, thus modernizing private communication.1879- James A.H. Murray begins editing the Philological Societys  New English Dictionary on Historical Principles  (later renamed the  Ox ford English Dictionary).1884/1885- Mark Twains  novel  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn  introduces a  colloquial  prose  style  that significantly influences the writing of fiction in the U.S. 1901- The Commonwealth of Australia is established as a dominion of the British Empire.1906- Henry and Francis Fowler publish the first edition of  The Kings English.1907- New Zealand is established as a dominion of the British Empire.1919- H.L. Mencken  publishes the first edition of  The American Language, a pioneer study in the history of a major national version of English.1920- The first American commercial radio station begins operating in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.1921- Ireland  achieves Home Rule, and Gaelic is made an official language in addition to English.1922- The British Broadcasting Company (later renamed the British Broadcasting Corporation, or  BBC) is established.1925- The New Yorker  magazine is founded by  Harold Ross  and Jane Grant.1925- George P. Krapp publishes his two-volume  The English Language in America, the first comprehensive and scholarly treatment of the subject.1926- Henry Fowler publishes the first edition of his  Dictionary of Mo dern English Usage.1927- The first speaking motion picture,  The Jazz Singer, is released. 1928- The Oxford English Dictionary  is published.1930- British linguist C.K. Ogden introduces  Basic English.1936- The first television service is established by the BBC.1939- World War II begins.1945- World War II ends. The Allied victory contributes to the growth of English as a  lingua franca.1946- The Philippines  gains its independence from the U.S.1947- India is freed from British control and divided into Pakistan and India. The  constitution  provides that English remain the official language for 15 years. New Zealand gains its independence from the U.K. and joins the Commonwealth.1949- Hans Kurath publishes  A Word Geography of the Eastern United States, a landmark in the scientific study of American  regionalisms.1950- Kenneth Burke  publishes  A Rhetoric of Motives.1950s- The number of speakers using  English as a second language  exceeds the number of  native speakers.1957- Noam Chomsky  publishes  Syntactic Structures, a key document in the study of  generative  and  transformational grammar.1961- Websters Third New International Dictionary  is published. 1967- The Welsh Language Act gives the Welsh language equal validity with  English in Wales, and Wales is no longer considered a part of England. Henry Kucera and Nelson Francis publish  Computational Analysis of Present-Day American English, a landmark in modern  corpus linguistics.1969- Canada  officially becomes bilingual (French and English). The first major English dictionary to use corpus linguistics- The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language- is published.1972- A Grammar of Contemporary English  (by Randolph Quirk, Sidney Greenbaum, Geoffrey Leech, and Jan Svartvik) is published. The first call on a personal cell phone is made. The first  email  is sent.1978- The Linguistic Atlas of England  is published.1981- The first issue of the journal  World Englishes  is published.1985- A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language  is published by Longman. The first edition of M.A.K. Hallidays  An Introduction to Functional Grammar  is publish ed.1988- The Internet (under development for more than 20 years) is opened to commercial interests. 1989- The second edition of  The Oxford English Dictionary  is published.1993- Mosaic, the web browser credited with popularizing the World Wide Web, is released. (Netscape Navigator becomes available in 1994, Yahoo! in 1995, and Google in 1998.)1994- Text messaging  is introduced, and the first modern blogs go online.1995- David Crystal publishes  The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language.1997- The first social networking site (SixDegrees.com) is launched. (Friendster is introduced in 2002, and both MySpace and Facebook begin operating in 2004.)2000- The Oxford English Dictionary Online (OED Online) is made available to subscribers.2002- Rodney Huddleston and Geoffrey K. Pullum publish  The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Tom McArthur publishes  The Oxford Guide to World English.2006- Twitter, a social networking and microblogging service, is created by Jack Dorsey.2009- The two-volume  Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary  is pub lished by Oxford University Press.2012- The fifth volume (SI-Z) of the  Dictionary of American Regional English  (DARE  ) is published by Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. Resources and Further Reading Algeo, John.  The Origins and Development of the English Language, 6th edition. Wadsworth, 2009.Baugh, Albert C., and Thomas Cable.  A History of the English Language, 5th edition. Prentice Hall, 2001.Bragg, Melvyn.  The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language. Hodder Stoughton, 2003.Crystal, David.  The English Language. Penguin, 2002.Gooden, Philip.  The Story of English: How the English Language Conquered the World. Quercus, 2009.Hogg, Richard M., and David Dennison, editors.  A History of the English Language. Cambridge University Press, 2006.Horobin, Simon.  How English Became English: A Short History of a Global Language. Oxford University Press, 2016.Lerer, Seth.  Inventing English: A Portable History of the Language. Columbia University Press, 2007.McArthur, Tom.  The Oxford Companion to the English Language. Oxford University Press, 1992.McWhorter, John.  Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue: The Untold Story of English. Gotham, 2008.Millward, C.M., and Mary Hayes.  A Biography of the English Language, 3rd  ed. Wadsworth, 2011. Mugglestone, Linda.  The Oxford History of English. Oxford University Press, 2006.Nist, John.  A Structural History of English. St. Martins Press, 1966.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Ambitiously Authentic What Ive Learned about Funding My Dream

Ambitiously Authentic What Ive Learned about Funding My Dream Ive lost count of the scholarship and residency applications Ive had rejected. But in 2014, I won a scholarship to the Wesleyan Writers Conference, and this year I was honored to be an Artist in Residence at Trail Wood, the memorial sanctuary and former home of nature writer Edwin Way Teale. Ive thought about the difference between my prior attempts and my wins, and here are a few lessons I learned: Go local: FundsforWriters (FFW) often lists state- or region-specific grants - watch for them! Far-away locales dont necessarily equal prestige or a higher level of success. My motivations for going local were at least in part due to limited time and money for travel, but familiarity with the physical locations (both in Connecticut, my home state) and the local culture made a difference in terms of how I penned my applications, and, probably, how judges accepted them. Go niche: Even if your work crosses genres, take ownership of a specific writing category. When I finally figured out that nature writing was my thing, the tide began to shift. When I applied for the writers conference scholarship, my voice took on a more confident tone as I talked about my specialty. In the case of the residency, the Connecticut Audubon Society sought writers with a strong interest in nature. Again, FFW lists many of these niche awards for categories such as mystery writers, journalists, or specific demographic groups. Be yourself: In all forms of writing, genuine shines through. My applications included enthusiasm and revelations about my personality, while being careful not to overdo it Dont skimp on research: If you are able to visit the physical location of your opportunity, do it to get a feel for the place. But whether or not a visit is possible, research the history of the award and its former recipients and read descriptions of the place/event. This will engender a tone that reflects in-depth understanding of the award. Besides being able to visit my intended award locales, I scoured the application websites and other sources for details that resonated with me and informed my submission. Plan ahead and pace yourself: Savvy research and authenticity wont help if you arent practical about writing well in advance of deadline, allowing time for many rewrites. Setting milestone dates and reminders in my electronic calendar helped me stay on track. Its also important to avoid trigger finger. Like many writers, I tend to send work out prematurely, driven Choose your readers carefully: Read up on the contest judges; consider that in some cases the judges are not writers. Ask trusted friends/colleagues to read your work, paying close attention to their overall reactions and specific comments. In my case, the input of some carefully chosen nonwriters was as valuable as that of my peers. It should go without saying that you also need to pay attention to technicalities - word count limits, writing sample format, etc. Check your work against the guidelines a final time. When you hit the send button or the post office, you can be confident that youve done your best and improved your odds. In my case, the work I put in was rewarded many times over in a sense of fulfillment at finally finding funding for a longstanding dream. I wish the same for every hardworking writer.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

6 outdated career tipsâ€and why they’ve changed

6 outdated career tips- and why they’ve changed You don’t use the phone, watch TV, or dress the same way your parents did when they were your age- so why would you use career advice that has been around just as long (or even longer)? Some pieces of advice in the career world will truly never change: hard work pays off, and you should never get drunk at a company holiday party. Otherwise, things are negotiable. Let’s look at some infamous career advice that might not be so valid anymore. Keep a low profile on your personal life.Advice: Keep your work life and your personal life totally separate, even on social media.What’s changed: Social media like Facebook has evolved over time to include more than your â€Å"friends† per se. Relatives, acquaintances, former dates†¦all show up in your news feed, so why not add coworkers into the mix? Why not even add your boss, if you get along and find her opera singing/supermarathon running/jewelry crafting hobbies interesting? Social media has blurred social li nes a bit and has helped make relationships a bit more informal. When used well, it’s a way to break the ice and build relationships with people you might otherwise only see at work.However, this one does come with a caveat: if you do friend colleagues and managers on social media, set filters or try to keep things clean. Anything you post that can be seen by coworkers becomes fair game. And definitely don’t complain about work if people from work can see it. If you wouldn’t want to see a screenshot of something you wrote land in your work email inbox, don’t write it.And it’s not just social media- socializing with coworkers and sharing (appropriate) details about your personal lives can help you bond and feel more connected to your workplace. Small talk about your weekend or cute pictures of your boss’s kid are not likely to derail your professional relationship or keep either of you from doing the work that needs to be done. And we all nee d allies at work- someone to talk with when things get stressful or with whom you can grab a non-work-related lunch. Chitchat about work-only things will only go so far. You’re much more likely to have good relationships with your coworkers if you can bond over other things you have in common.Keep a strict work-life division.Advice: Don’t even think about work after you leave. Don’t check email after hours. And when you’re at work, don’t do anything personal or non-work related.What’s changed: It’s true, email has helped create â€Å"work creep† that can lead to stress outside of work hours or leave you feeling cheated on your personal time. But like all balances, it’s important to keep negotiating your work-life balance to make sure it still works for you. If it makes your workday better to spend half an hour at night checking a few emails or lining up your to-do list for the next day, do it. If you need a quick break d uring the afternoon to talk to your partner, take it. Keeping a single mindset for eight straight hours is not only difficult, but it can increase your stress. The most important thing is that you’re not letting personal time at work upset your productive time, and that you’re not letting work squeeze out your personal decompression time and priorities.Never show weakness.Advice: If you’re struggling or you don’t fully understand what’s going on, don’t let anyone know. Fake it, or stall until you can straighten it out on your own. Asking for help is a sign of weakness and incompetence.What’s changed: You know what takes a lot of unnecessary time and energy? Faking it. If you don’t understand what needs to be done, ask your manager or someone involved with the task. You shouldn’t lead with, â€Å"Oh man, I have no clue what to do here†- but it’s perfectly all right to say, â€Å"Just so I’m clear her e, this is what I think the next steps are. Can you confirm?† Or â€Å"Can we walk through this again so I understand?† Your manager would rather have a good outcome on a project than a result where you clearly winged it and got things wrong.If you need help, ask for it. Otherwise you risk not being able to bluff your way through as well as you think you can, and wasting both your time and others’. Invest a little time and honesty up front and make it easier on everyone- not least of all yourself. Think of it as a learning opportunity, not a failure.Don’t challenge the boss.Advice: Never challenge your boss on anything. If you don’t agree, just let it go and wait your turn to be the one in charge. After all, she’s the boss for a reason. Do what you’re told, and publicly agree with the official point of view.What’s changed: The manager/employee dynamic hasn’t necessarily changed, but it’s more culturally acceptable now to disagree- albeit diplomatically and productively. This is not to say that you should openly scoff at a particularly ridiculous idea or laugh in your boss’s face when he asks you if you agree about something. Rather, frame it as a respectful difference in point of view. For example: â€Å"I see what you’re saying, but what if we look at it from this other perspective?† Set it as a dialogue instead of just publicly rejecting something your boss has said. Like you, your boss has an interest in making sure things get done in the best way possible, so if you have a difference of opinion that could improve an outcome, don’t be afraid to speak up in a respectful and constructive way.Standard politeness rules apply here as well. Loudly contradicting your boss in a meeting with other people is not likely to go over very well. Nobody likes to be shouted down. But presenting an alternative choice, and acknowledging the validity of what was already said, is a much more productive way to disagree without being rude or unprofessional.Never say â€Å"no.†Advice: Especially when you’re just starting out, always say â€Å"yes† when you’re asked to take on new things or responsibilities. If you say â€Å"no,† you’re not a team player.What’s changed: Saying â€Å"yes† to everything is a shortcut to burnout, and employers have become more conscious of cultivating employee morale. There’s only so much you can handle in the work hours you have available. The better way to handle this is through negotiating and prioritizing. Instead of saying â€Å"I just can’t do this right now,† figure out why you can’t, and ask for help prioritizing tasks if this potential new one is important for you to take on.The key to this one is making sure that your rationale for saying no is a legitimate one. If you just don’t feel like doing it, that’s not going to go over well. But if you genuinely don’t have time, or object for specific reasons, you can be honest about those. Lay out the reasons why, and open a dialogue about how this new ask can or should fit in with your existing workload. It’s always better to have a â€Å"here’s why† list of talking points ready to go, so that your boss doesn’t think you’re lazy, or can’t do the work.Don’t be a job hopper.Advice: Don’t jump from job to job. Settle in and build experience at one job for several years. Job hopping makes you look like an unreliable employee.What’s changed: The world, basically. The job scenario where you start right out of school and stay there for 40 years has become, essentially, a unicorn. The average person now will have eight jobs before they turn 30. And according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employees who are 25 to 34 years old typically stay with a job for three years.Job hopping can be a way t o build your skills and maximize your opportunities instead of staying in a role that may not fit your long-term goals. Job hopping can also mean moving to different jobs within the same company if you find other roles that fit better. While switching jobs every year for the next 15 years is not an ideal strategy (that might truly start to send up red flags for potential employers), you shouldn’t let â€Å"well, I just started this other job† discourage you from seriously considering a job opportunity that pays better, or is better aligned with your career goals.Not all advice is true forever. When it comes to your own career, it’s important to think about whether that advice will truly help you, or if it just doesn’t fit with the way the world works anymore.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

The Drug Cartel Issues in Mexico Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

The Drug Cartel Issues in Mexico - Essay Example The demise of the Cali and Medellà ­n drug cartels in Colombia led to the rise of the Mexican drug organizations to fill up the vacuum (Jeffrey, 267). The U.S Closure of the Florida cocaine trafficking route pushed for the need of a new trafficking route hence increasing the role played by Mexican cartels in the trafficking. Weintraub (150) believes that Colombian drug organizations still maintain a significant control in South America mainly in cocaine and heroin smuggling to the eastern U.S. The Mexican government claims that there are seven major drug cartels that operate inside Mexico. They include; Gulf, Sinaloa, and Juà ¡rez which have their presence in much of Mexico (Leonard, 25). The Juà ¡rez drug cartel is found in at least 21 Mexican states while the Sinaloa cartel has its presence in at least 17 states. The Gulf cartel has its presence in at least 13 Mexican states. Also, the Tijuana drug cartel has its presence in 15 states (Colleen, 3). According to David Luhnow and Josà © de Cordoba (1) Mexicos cartels already have tentacles that stretch across the Mexican border. The U.S. Justice department estimates that Mexican gangs are operating in at least 230 cities and towns in both countries. David Luhnow and Josà © de Cordoba (1) reveal that the major drug cartels have formed alliances with one another in recent years. As a result of prison negotiations between their leaders, the Gulf and the Tijuana cartels have formed an alliance. â€Å"The Federation† is an alliance composed of representatives from the Valencia, Sinaloa, and Juà ¡rez drug cartels. They do work together, but remain independent and autonomous drug organizations (Colleen, 194). According to Perrya.hubpages.com (1), 90% of the automatic weapons used by the cartels are made and purchased in the U.S legally. The 2,000 mile border between San Diego,