Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Meiji Japan, Colonialism and Beyond

The most compelling viewpoints that would come out of Japan’s war with China, (the First Sino-Japanese War 1894-1895) and the war with Russia (Russo-Japanese War 1904 †1905) didn't happen during the wars themselves, yet rather in the years following the contentions. These wars were, basically, the antecedents to the Imperial Japan of World War Two shame. The First Sino-Japanese War demonstrated Japan that the changes and modernizations of the Mieji Restoration were functioning rather than China’s Self Strengthening Movement that had been a residential disappointment. â€Å"War was†¦declared on first August 1894, and albeit outside eyewitnesses had anticipated a simple triumph for the more enormous Chinese powers, the Japanese had done an increasingly effective activity of modernizing, and they were better prepared and arranged. Japanese soldiers scored speedy and overpowering triumphs on both land and sea.†1  This war additionally settled a relationship with western countries that brought about enormous enhancements in Japan’s military. So significant were this upgrades Japan would later wage a fruitful war of for the â€Å"rights† to royal interests against Russia that had a far prevalent military. As it were, Japan’s association in these wars showed the country had created similitudes with Western countries past just modernizing locally in social and mechanical terms. The international strategy of Japan started to imitate the least attractive part of all of Western Europe’s international strategy. This region of international strategy was an accentuation on dominion and colonization. The old style custom of government and colonization included prevalent controlled military attacks into different nations so as to vanquish the country, oppress the individuals and strip the indigenous characteristic assets from the vanquished countries. Winning the wars with China and Russia help set up for the happening to an Imperial Japan that would wage an enormous war in the Pacific Seas during World War Two. By 1895 Japan was starting to consider the to be of their work as the annihilation of China in a few wars and the addition of Taiwan brought Japan political acknowledgment from numerous European countries.â Recognition from the European nations implied a break from a considerable lot of the bargains that had been constrained upon Japan in the 1870’s, and a coalition with England in 1902.â Japan had at last won the regard of the created world as a military force; notwithstanding, they were still seen as a substandard culture and were not managed indistinguishable civilities from transcendently Anglo-Saxon nations.2 With the war with China, Japan set up an a dependable balance as a colonizing domain as it would guarantee Korea as the prize for its extension. With Russia, the triumph was considerably increasingly perplexing. In the piece of the reality where Japan dwells, the majority of the provincial invasions and wars were purchased between eastern countries and western countries just as eastern countries versus other eastern countries. Japan’s triumph against Russia denoted the first run through an eastern force vanquished a western force in a war, the shockwaves of which resounded all through the world. Japan’s standing had extraordinarily expanded while Russia’s standing was incredibly decreased. For Russia, the misfortune was one more connection in the chain of occasions that would prompt the Bolshevik Revolution and for Japan, the second connection in the chain (a second successful war) that would prompt Japan’s merciless World War Two radical dreams was cemented. Majestic forces are irreverent, however they are not self-destructive. That is, it is uncommon that royal developments are embraced against solid or incredible countries. Japan’s wins in the First Sino-Japanese War and the Japanese-Russian War were significant as in, for absence of a superior clarification, saw Japan increase important involvement with the specialty of taking up arms. Besides, they built up to the world that they were a suitable, significant force. All the more critically, inside, the successes gave input to the rulers that Japan’s military systems worked and that their military and naval force was to be sure imposing. The seeds were planted with these triumphs that established the framework for significantly further developments that would bring about the World War Two’s War in the Pacific. Radical countries to not dispatch wars that they believe they will lose. Regarding colonizing, a misfortune would act naturally crushing and a channel of the country. A fruitful colonization attack in the long run pays for itself by method of the colonized country giving riches regarding losing the awards of its characteristic assets. The triumphs in the wars with China and Russia encouraged Japan to have confidence enough in itself to join the Axis powers. The development of the military from its triumphs against China and Russia lead to an unethical behavior that would yield natural war in China and constrained starvation in the Philippines. The negligible reality that Japan assaulted a superpower the size of the United States says a lot for the certainty Japan had in its military ability. By all accounts, these two wars Japan was engaged with were apparently fruitful and extended Japan’s provincial interests and desire, in any case, the wars demonstrated sad as they were step towards Japan’s destruction World War Two just brought Japan annihilation, embarrassment and pulverization by means of the Atomic Bomb. Works Cited Anon., â€Å"Imperial Japan†, accessible , Internet, got to 05 November 2006. Russo-Japanese War Research Society, â€Å"Forerunners, The Sino-Japanese War†, accessible from http://www.russojapanesewar.com/phila-2.html, Internet, got to 05 November 2006. National Clearinghouse for U.S.- Japan Studies, â€Å"Japan's Imperial Family†, accessible from http://www.indiana.edu/~japan/iguides/imperial.html, Internet, got to 05 November 2006. 1 Russo-Japanese War Research Society, â€Å"Forerunners, The Sino-Japanese War†, accessible fromâ http://www.russojapanesewar.com/phila-2.html, Internet, got to 05 November 2006. 2 Anon., â€Å"Imperial Japan†, accessible from http://filebox.vt.edu/clients/jearnol2/MeijiRestoration/imperial_japan.htm, Internet, got to 05 November 2006.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Surveilance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Surveilance - Essay Example ttempts to show how Michel Foucault’s thought of reconnaissance utilizing the panoptic standard is in certainty made show by the utilization of video and still cameras. Further, panopticism has been utilized as subjects of different photograph shows, most likely propelled by the disturbing sensation of being viewed. The act of putting people under ‘observation’ is a characteristic expansion of an equity saturated with disciplinary strategies and assessment methods. Is it astonishing that the cell jail, with its ordinary orders, constrained work, its specialists of observation and enlistment, its specialists in typicality, who proceed and increase the elements of the appointed authority, ought to have become the cutting edge instrument of reformative nature? Is it astounding that jails look like manufacturing plants, schools, sleeping shelter, emergency clinics, which all take after penitentiaries? (p. 228). In this specific section, Foucault diagrams the systems that the jail utilizes in controlling guiltiness. On closer assessment, what he in actuality plots are the components that work inside various social establishments. This is an imperative point, since the organizations that he referenced, for example production lines, schools, sleeping quarters, and medical clinics, all capacity in basically a similar path as the advanced jail. These all utilization explicit methods and procedures to teach subjects. What follows is a conversation of Foucault’s thought of control as right preparing, with its specific instruments and methods. Foucault’s book was initially titled in French, Surveiller et punir. The interpreter, Alan Sheridan, clarified at the beginning the trouble in deciphering the title itself for different reasons. Evidently, the French surveiller doesn't have a straightforwardly fitting English partner. The term â€Å"surveillance† demonstrated excessively restricted, and â€Å"supervise† would in general be seen uniquely in contrast to what Foucault initially implied. At long last, Foucault himself picked Discipline and Punish, explaining in the book that the term

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Peek Over Our Shoulders What Rioters Are Reading January 18, 2018

Peek Over Our Shoulders What Rioters Are Reading January 18, 2018 In this regular feature, we give you a glimpse of what we are reading this very moment. Here is what the Rioters are reading today (as in literally today). This is what’s on their bedside table (or the floor, work bag, desk, whatevskis). Your TBR list is about to get some new additions. We’ve shown you ours, now show us yours; let us know what you’re reading (right this very moment) in the comment section below! Patricia Elzie-Tuttle How to be a Bawse by Lilly Singh: I’m reading a bunch of self-help books this year for a project I am working on and this book was high on my list. I’m not actually familiar with the author; I learned through the book that she’s popular on YouTube. I’m only about three chapters in and she has a very distinct voice, a voice one may appreciate more if they were actually familiar with her work. I’ll keep reading, because it’s fresh and fun so far. (ebook) Liberty Hardy The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches from the Border by Francisco Cantú (Riverhead Books, February 6): An account of immigration, family, and law: Cantú, the grandson of Mexican immigrants, worked as a border patrol agent. This is his memoir detailing how his job upholding the law began to clash with his ideas of compassion and humanity. (hardcover)   Jamie Canaves A Dangerous Crossing  (Rachel Getty Esa Khattak #4) by Ausma Zehanat Khan: I love this detective mystery series so much and can’t wait to continue following Detective Rachel Getty and Esa Khattak. While set in Canada, where the detectives work for the Community Policing Section which deals with minority-sensitive cases, the series also travels around the world exploring political and social issues. Khan is a fantastic writer and already the opening of this novel has me fully invested. (egalley) Elizabeth Allen Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House by Michael Wolff: I have no shame, I had to read this book. And I had to read it immediately. I know there’s some question about the veracity of the revelations, but this book was a juicy, page-turny blast that was both highly concerning and thoroughly entertaining. Wolff might like the word “incredulity” a bit too much but his stories were pretty believable given what information this administration has voluntarily shared with us in their messy Twitter moments and their sloppy fights with the media. (audiobook) Abby Hargreaves The Cooking Gene: A Journey through African American Culinary History in the Old South  by Michael. W. Twitty: It was probably a mistake to start this just after diving back into a low carb lifestyle, but I was eager to jump into a world I really know very little about. As a born-and-raised New Englander who transplanted to the southwestern part of Virginia for college, I wanted to know more about the culture around food in the South. Published in 2017, this nonfiction narrative seemed like the perfect place to start. (ebook) Ashley Holstrom Get Your Sh*t Together: How to Stop Worrying About What You Should Do So You Can Finish What You Need to Do and Start Doing What You Want to Do (A No F*cks Given Guide) by Sarah Knight: I just really need to get my shit together. Sarah Knight’s helping. My favorite tip so far: Make your to-do list, then make a list of those items in order of importance, then make a must-do list for the day. Why didn’t I think of that? (ebook) Emily Polson Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama: My best friend and I just decided to form a two-person book club to recapture the fun of discussing books together during our days as English majors. This was her pick for our first read. I’m only a chapter in, but I love Obama’s narrative approach to the memoir: he’s telling family anecdotes while thoughtfully considering the role retrospect and nostalgia play in our recollection. (hardcover) Sarah Nicolas Busted  by Gina Ciocca: I just listened to a very, very long nonfiction book about DNA, which was good, but I really needed something a bit more fun, so I picked this up. It’s about a high school girl who’s made an accidental career out of catching girls’ boyfriends cheating. (audiobook, courtesy of publisher) Kate Krug The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt: I bought this book months ago and it’s just been sitting on my To-Read shelf judging me. I recently started a new job and have a lovely longer commute, so after investing in Audible, I used one of my credits for the audiobook. I’m not that far in, but I’m loving this book so far and I’m sensing that once I’m done listening, this will be a book I’ll want to actually go back and read a physical copy. (audiobook) Erin McCoy A Devil in Scotland by Suzanne Enoch: Enoch’s historical romances are always a delight. Third in the No Ordinary Hero series, this book is extremely hero-centric. Callum takes center stage every time hes on the page and, luckily, hes smart, funny, and so desperately in love with the heroine that I dont mind his scene-stealing ways. Enoch’s books always venture in directions I dont anticipate, so Im anxious to delve deeper into the mystery and scandal of this one. (galley) Elisa Shoenberger My Favorite Thing is Monsters by Emil Ferris: This giant graphic novel is about 10 year old Karen Reyes living in Chicago in the 1960s. She narrates her life through her obsession of monsters. The book is a family epic, a murder mystery, and a character study. It’s beautifully drawn with many nods to the monster movies of the 1960s. I had heard about it from a newspaper article in the Chicago Tribune because the author lives in Chicago. Her images of the city are astonishing.  I’m loving it so far. (softcover) Amy Diegelman Mrs. Sherlock Holmes by Brad Ricca: A friend recently included this in her roundup of favorite true crime books she read in 2017. Mrs. Sherlock Holmes was the nickname newspapers gave to the real life lawyer and investigator who was America’s first female District Attorney. This book follows Grace Humiston as she attempts to find a missing girl everyone else has given up on. When a friend and I decided to revive our two-person, long distance book club to take on the 2018 Read Harder Challenge, I knew this would be a great fit for the true crime challenge. (hardcover ebook) Dana Lee Every Other Weekend by Zulema Renee Summerfield: Being from a family of divorce, the blurb for this book spoke to me. It’s set in 1988 southern California about a nervous 8-year old girl dealing with her parents’ divorce and her new living arrangements. The intro page alone was already so poetic so I’m excited. (egalley) Claire Handscombe The Perfect Nanny by Leïla Slimani: People won’t stop talking about this book either here or in the UK (where it has the much better title of Lullaby). So I decided to get my “read more in French” resolution underway when I found the original on Amazon U.S. (ebook) Adiba Jaigirdar From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon: After the adorable romcom that was When Dimple Met Rishi, I knew that I had to read her second novel. From Twinkle, With Love is proving to be just as sweet and funny, with a charmingly dorky protagonist who is so into film that the book is written in letter formats to female directors! (egalley) Heather Bottoms The Social Justice Advocates Handbook: A Guide to Gender by Sam Killermann: This a very accessible, entertaining book, with great resources, discussion prompts, and practical graphics to help people better understand the complexities of gender. I lead an LGBT-themed book club for my local PFLAG group and this is our January selection. (paperback) E.H. Kern The Genius of Judaism by Bernard-Henri Lévy: How can you not pick up a book with a title like this one? This is Lévy addressing anti-Semitism in the 21st century and, using anti-Semitism in its modern guise as a backdrop, how he sees the future of Judaism. So far, this book is a great read. (paperback) Dana Staves Summer Hours at the Robbers Library by Sue Halpern: Summer Hours is a book about the cast of characters working at the local library in a town that doesn’t have much else going for it. Included in this cast is Sunny, a local “no-schooler” who has been sentenced to volunteering at the library after attempting to steal a dictionary. I’m only a couple chapters in, but the writing is snappy and funny, tempered with just the right amount of bittersweetness. (egalley) Cecilia Lyra The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin: Predicting the future. Superstition. The occult. Magic. This book has all of this wrapped up in a sweeping family saga that spans fifty years and follows four siblings who, as children, were told the exact date each of them would die. I cant put it down! Priya Sridhar Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days by Chris Guillebeau: The webcomic Zen Pencils has endorsed this book, as well as the author. Guillebeau believes that a side hustleâ€"an independent project that earns a modicum of incomeâ€"can provide means for people to gain more freedom in their life, and extra money for necessities. He illustrates simple steps for readers to learn how to find their side hustle, and implement it. (Kindle ebook) Alison Doherty Warcross by Marie Lu: I didn’t read very much Science Fiction or Fantasy last year, so I decided to start the year off with Marie Lu’s new YA novel about a near future obsessed with a virtual reality game: Warcross. Teenage hacker Emika Chen is broke, desperate, and alone when she illegally hacks herself into Warcross. Expecting arrest, instead the game’s creator asks Emika to join Warcross as a spy. I feel like this type of book often goes way over my head, but I’m about halfway through the book and so far the complex character dynamics have me transfixed! (ebook) Tracy Shapley American War by Omar El Akkad: Talk about mind blowing! This is the story of the second American Civil War and it is mesmerizing and terrifying and heartbreaking. If you’re a part of the oil lobby, I wouldnt recommend reading it. Otherwise, I’d suggest you sit down with this book to discover why it was nominated for so many g.d. awards last year. (egalley) Jessica Yang Shadow Girl by Liana Liu: Im always down to read YA books by Asian American authors! But the gorgeous cover and haunting premise were pretty darn appealing too. Just getting started on it! (hardback) Tiffani Willis Abaddon’s Gate by James S. A. Corey: After watching the first two seasons of The Expanse on the SyFy channel I decided to check out the source material. The television series is based on a series of books by a writing duo that goes by the name James S.A. Corey. The first book, Leviathan Wakes, is a mash up science fiction and mystery set against the back drop of space. I loved it! I tore through the 500+ page book in less than week. Since then I’ve been steadily working my way through the series. Now I’m up to book 3, Abaddon’s Gate. Although set in space, it isn’t all space aliens (though there is something alien brewing). There’s political intrigue and mysteries to unravel. And now a character thought to be dead has reappeared. I can’t wait to see where the story leads to next! Brandi Bailey Self-Inflicted Wounds: Heartwarming Tales of Epic Humiliation by Aisha Tyler: This is my pick for the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge category “celebrity memoir.” Because Aisha Tyler is my favorite in everything she does. LOVE HER! (library hardcover) Daisy Johnson Battling for News: The Rise of the Woman Reporter by Anne Sebba: I’d found Les Parisiennes a fascinating read, and when I finished that, I headed straight for Sebba’s back catalogue. Battling For News traces the history of women reporters, and delivers some spectacular stories of struggle, growth and bravery in a system determined to deny all of that. It’s taken me a while to get into it, but now that I am, I can’t put it down. Matt Grant Red Clocks by Leni Zumas: I came across this title from an NPR interview about new releases to look out for in 2018. With a publication date in January, this was one of the earliest. The premise (an America in which every embryo is granted personhood and property rights) seemed particularly intriguing in our current political context. I’m only a few pages in, but it’s beautifully written and I’m very much look forward to settling in and going along for the ride. Danielle Bourgon China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan: When I finished the first in this series I immediately pushed it into the hands of my husband and as many friends as possible. Now I’m desperately trying to catch up since they’ve all already finished the series. The good news is that the second one is just as good as the first. Maybe even better. Because, let’s face it, more Kitty Pong makes everything so much better. (hardcover) Christina Vortia When They Call You A Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and asha bandele: An emotional and insightful memoir about Khan-Cullors early life in Van Nuys, CA, experiencing everyday racial and systemic injustices that led her to become one of three creators of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. The writing is poetic in its simplicityâ€"accessible and profound. I received the ARC on Netgalley and will definitely purchase for my personal collection. (egalley) Sam Burt The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing: Lessing is an author I’ve admired from afar; always problematic, as it makes it hard to read objectively. But serendipitously picked this up again at the same time as my book club! A multi-layered old-fashioned novel of Big Ideas whose protagonistâ€"just like Lessing, or indeed any authorâ€"is searching for unity in the fragments of life. (paperback) Rebecca Hussey Himself by Jess Kidd: This is the latest choice for my mystery book group. I’m 30 pages in and loving it, partly because it’s set in Ireland where I’ve recently done some traveling and also because it’s an intriguing story so far. (paperback) Ilana Masad This Will Be My Undoing by Morgan Jerkins: I met Morgan a few months ago after a long time following her work online and watching her opine on Twitter. She was as wonderful in person as I’d imagined her to be. She read the first essay from this collection aloud and I felt my heart constrict. Now reading her book for a review, and I’m continuing to find both what she shares from her personal life and her thoughts and opinions about the wider culture and time we live in to be absolutely incredible. Incredible not because it’s easy or magical but because she’s so incredibly smart and has put so much thought into both herself and the world at large. She’s a truly incredible writer and commentator. (ARC) Rabeea Saleem The Job of the Wasp by Colin Winnette: I was sent an advance copy of this by Soft Skull Press and the cover and premise sounded intriguing so I decided to give it a go. It’s like if Shirley Jackson wrote Lord of the Flies. It’s a gothic thriller which will by turn intrigue and revolt you. A  bizarre ghost story and whodunit set in a boarding school for orphan boys. (ARC) Kathleen Keenan The Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore by Kim Fu: Over the Christmas season I worked a few shifts at my local indie bookstore, and I picked up an advance copy of this novel by Canadian author Kim Fu. The story of a group of girls at a sleep-away camp who experience a shocking and traumatic event on a kayaking trip, this novel is not to be missed. It’s an evocative, haunting, sharp look at how tragedy shapes lives. Available February 13. (ARC) Jess Carbert Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight: After a spate of “meh” mysteries and tepid thrillers, I’m now hellbent on reading a good one. This was recommended to me years ago, and I finally stopped procrastinating and picked it up. Kate Baron is a high-powered single mother working at a prestigious law firm in Brooklyn. She’s proud of her work, but more so of her relationship with her daughter, 15-year-old Amelia. Kate’s life is shattered when Amelia commits suicide by jumping off the roof of her school, but it’s absolutely rocked when she receives a host of anonymous messages telling her it was murder, not suicide, that ended her beloved daughter’s life. Kate throws herself into an investigation of what really happened, desperate for one last chance to vindicate the daughter she feels she failed. (hardcover). Rachel Brittain So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo: I mean, the title pretty much says it all. In a series of essays, Oluo breaks down howâ€"and whyâ€"we should discuss issues of race, from privilege to intersectionality and everything else you could possibly think of. I’m only a few chapters in and already I can tell this book is going to stay with me for the rest of my life. Everyone needs to read this. Everyone. (egalley) Kate Scott God: A Human History by Reza Aslan: I’ve been meaning to read Zealot for a couple years and then I recently spotted this newer addition to Aslan’s bibliography so decided to start with it instead. So often, books on the history and origins of religious thought are a muddied by the author’s own bias (either for or against religion), but not so with this one. Aslan’s goal is not to validate or invalidate belief in God, but to probe history and the human psyche to reveal how and when such spiritual impulses may have developed. So far, the narrative is tightly woven and Aslan is an engaging narrator. (audiobook) Mary Kay McBrayer Carrie by Stephen King: I’m fascinated with how terrified men are by menses, and how the women-are-witches-and-chaos trope keeps going. Carrie gets control over her telekinesis when she gets her period, but she still can’t control her emotions. (Okay, so that analysis is only part of the truth…I’ve always been a little jealous of how Carrie gets to exact her revenge on people who done her wrong. How awesome would it be to make your seventh-grade crush who asked you out because he lost a bet LOSE HIS GRAVITATIONAL PULL? Pretty awesome. So, no, it’s not canon, but it’s REAL entertaining.) Katisha Smith Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi: I received this book as a gift, and it’s been sitting on my bookshelf since then. This year, I am on a mission to read the books on my bookshelf, and this book was my first choice. I am only two chapters in, but Esi’s experiences in the dungeon made me sad and angry about the trauma my ancestors endured during the Atlantic slave trade. There will be many more similar emotions while reading the novel, but I know the book will be an amazing and powerful read. (hardback) Tasha Brandstatter How Not to Die by Michael Greger, MD: My doctor would not shut up about this book during my last appointment. And if it’s good enough for him… (library hardcover) Steph Auteri Puddin’ by Julie Murphy: Dumplin’ was one of my favorite reads last year. How could I not read this sorta-sequel/companion novel? (egalley) Margaret Kingsbury An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir: I recently decided to turn a writing-in-progress from an adult to a young adult novel, so one of my resolutions this year is to read more YAâ€"specifically SFF YAâ€"so I have a better idea of writing in that field. I’m starting with An Ember in the Ashes after hearing so many good things about it. And I see why! I’m only 10% in but I’m already hooked! It’s immediately suspenseful and engaging. (library ebook) Jaime Herndon Don’t Call Me Princess: Essays on Girls, Women, Sex, and Life by Peggy Orenstein: I’ve loved Orenstein since her seminal work Schoolgirls, and have read almost everything she’s written since. Her essays are smart, insightful, witty, and just so darn readable, and I’m really loving this book. She writes about various activists, motherhood, miscarriage, cancer, relationships, and more. Cultural commentary and critique, personal essay, politicsâ€"no one blends these so seamlessly as Orenstein. I’d say this is a must-read. (ARC) Natalya Muncuff The Bittersweet Bride by Vanessa Riley: A reading goal of mine this year is to read historical romance. The Bittersweet Bride is my second historical romance of 2018 and my first novel by Vanessa Riley. So far this second chance romance is quite engaging as I try to determine if the hero, Ewan, will win me over by the end of the book. (eARC) Yaika Sabat The Little Book of Life Hacks: How to Make Your Life Happier, Healthier, and More Beautiful by Yumi Sakugawa: The colorful, completely adorable design and illustrations (and cover) are what first caught my attention when I saw this book in the “New Nonfiction” section of my local library. The content is what made me check it out. It covers everything from beauty and fashion, decor and cooking, to positive affirmations and self love. I have not finished my first read through yet, but I’ve picked up a few handy tricks already, and have seriously loved looking through this book. Laura Sackton A State of Freedom by Neel Mukherjee: Anytime I see anything along the lines of “several interconnected storylines” or “told through four varying points of view” in a book blurb, I have to pick the book up. This book is a series of interconnected novella-like sections, each one following the story of a different character in contemporary India. The writing is beautiful, and the unusual form has me dying to know how it all ends. (library hardcover) S.W. Sondheimer Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson: I’m not a huge biography readerâ€"not because I don’t enjoy learning about individual histories but because years in academia conditioned me to think of non-fiction as exam prep and that, in turn, stresses me out even though I know intellectually I’m no longer being tested. Isaacson’s book is far, far too delightful for me to be concerned about anything other than reading more. Personal and honest, Isaacson obviously admires this template of the Renaissance man but doesn’t shy away from painting the complete picture (as it were). I’ll actually be a little sad when I’m done with this one and already have Isaacson’s biography of Einstein on hold the library. Beth O’Brien Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones: I’m currently on a fae-like binge it seems! I read The Cruel Prince by Holly Black and An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson and I was craving more! A fellow Rioter recommended Wintersong and I decided to pick it up. This one is about goblins, not faeries, but I’m enjoying it all the same! I knew when there was a Christina Rossetti quote at the beginning that I was in for a treat. Jae-Jones’s writing and world-building is beautiful and so far I’m completely taken by the main character Liesl! Sarah Ullery Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi: I read Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo and The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives by Lola Shoneyin last year, and they were two of my favorite books of 2017. Both books take place in Nigeria, and deal with topics of feminism and gender roles in Nigerian families. This book also takes place in Nigeria, but instead of dealing exclusively with family and a woman’s place within her family, Freshwater deals with identity, and where a woman exists within herself. It also deals with mental health, and I’m just coming down from reading The Vegetarian, so I think I’m in the right state of mind to take on this book. I’ve been told it’s sublime. (eARC) Rachel Wagner Weird in a World That’s Not by Jennifer Romolini: I never thought I’d enjoy a career book as much as I’m enjoying Romolini’s. Her writing is clear and concise. She makes real suggestions throughout the book (I’m almost done with it), not just motivational tips. I don’t remember how I came across this book last week, but it came right when I needed it. (library book) Derek Attig Witchmark by C.L. Polk: Witchmark isn’t out until June, but I couldn’t help picking it up as soon as I got a copy. So far my intemperance is paying off: Witchmark is an utter delight. It’s gripping from the first page, with a compelling story that unfolds in an intriguing, well-imagined magical world. (egalley) Annika Barranti Klein Fast-Draft Your Memoir by Rachael Herron: This is a great, fun book full of exercises that Rachael admonishes the reader to actually do, and of course I am not. But! I am not writing a memoir! I am, however, working on a story that’s based on something from my life, and I’m getting ideas from this guide. (egalley)

Sunday, May 24, 2020

To, Too, and Two How to Choose the Right Word

The words to, too, and two  are  homophones: they sound alike but have different meanings. The preposition  to refers to a place, direction, or position. The particle to is used before the verb in a to-infinitive. The adverb too means also, very, extremely, or additionally. Two refers to the number 2. Its probably the easiest one to remember, maybe because it doesnt look like it should rhyme with to and too. It can be confusing for English language learners, and even native English speakers, to distinguish and use these terms. How to Use To To is a preposition or part of a verb infinitive. For example, The boy went to the store to buy groceries. The first usage is a preposition. It starts a prepositional phrase explaining where the boy went. The second usage is as a particle — that is, to in this use is part of the verb to buy. How to Use Too Too means also or in addition. For example, Did you want to come with us too?That new shirt you bought is too cute for words! In the top sentence, the first to is a particle (as described above); it is part of the verb to come. The word too in the first example means also, additionally, or as well. In the second example, the word too is used as an adverb. It describes, or modifies, the verb cute and means very or extremely. How to Use Two The word two always refers to numerical 2. For example: He had only two cents to his name.There were only two hours to go until the train would arrive. In the first example, the word two describes the number of pennies this person had left. In the second, the word two refers to the number of hours until the train arrived. How to Remember the Differences The confusion between to and too is one of the most common homophone errors in written English, as many people get stuck deciding between them (even native English speakers struggle with it). One easy trick to remember: If you mean to say too as in additionally, very, or also, remember that that word too (also) has more Os than the word to. Think of the extra O as meaning a little extra or additional. To differentiate too from to, look at the sentence without it, and even read it aloud to better engage your ear. Does it still make sense as a sentence? Examine this example: Shes such a copycat, Sondra lamented, because when I went to the store to stand in line for the new phone, she did, too. You can omit the too, and the sentence still makes sense. That is not the case if you remove either of the uses of the word to. You wouldnt say, Because I went ____ the store... or Because I went to the store ____ stand... When you read either phrase aloud, your ear detects a dropped word—as indicated by the blank lines—even if your eye skips over it. The sentence needs the prepositional to, in the first use, in order to show where she went (to the store), and the particle to in order to create an infinitive verb, to stand. Additionally, you can tell whether you need to or too by substituting the word also also. In the above example, you could say: Because when I went to the store to stand in line for the new phone, she did, also. This sentence still makes sense when you can swap out also for too. It would not make sense, however, to replace either the prepositional use of to (to the store) or the particle use (to stand), with the word also, as in: Because when I went also the store also stand in line for the new phone, she did, too. Clearly, you need to word to in these uses, not too. Examples Differentiating between to, too, and two allows us to use the right terms in the right way and at the appropriate times, even in the same sentence. Consider the following examples to deepen your understanding of the distinction between the three terms:   You can squeeze all three terms into a sentence that make sense, as in, We determined that we two had celebrated a little too much, and so we decided to call a cab to come and take us to her parents house to recover. This example uses the word two indicating a number (we two), the word too as an adverb (too much), the word to as a particle — a part of an infinitive verb — several times (to call, to come, and to recover), and as a preposition (to her parents house).A sentence you would be more likely to encounter might state, The game was almost too exciting in the last two minutes of play. The word too in the sentence as used here is an adverb modifying the word exciting (too exciting), and two is used in its traditional role to indicate the number 2.Another sentence you might hear in everyday conversation might say, Please let us know if you two plan to go to the race because we want to tag along, too. The first of the three terms here, two refers to the number of peop le, the second and fourth are particles (to go and to tag), the third is a prepositional use (to the race), and the fifth is used as an adjective meaning also (tag along too). Idiom Alerts As these are such widely-used words, the three terms also appear in a number of idiomatic expressions in English. Here are a few: Too little, too late is an expression meaning that even though help (for example) arrived, it wasnt enough and it wasnt timely enough to make a difference in the effort to recover. After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and Mississippi, President George W. Bush was criticized about the delay of the response. It was seen as too little, too late.Two of a kind and two peas in a pod are expressions noting how two people (for example) are alike.Having two left feet refers to someone who isnt a good dancer or who is clumsy.If you say you have too many irons in the fire, are spread too thin,  or  have too much on your plate, it means that you have too many concurrent projects or demands on your time currently or at once. Likewise, if youre wearing too many hats, youre trying to take on too many roles at the same time or do too many jobs at once.If you are in too deep, you are overwhelmed, have more than you can handle, or you know more than you should about a situation and cant get out of it easily.If you want to have your cake and eat it, too, you want to do two things that are opposite. You want to both possess the cake and consume it.  To and fro means to move from one place to another or back and forth.If something is too rich for your blood, its too expensive for you or too much for you to handle.If there are too many cooks (or chefs) in the kitchen, there are too many people trying to control one project or have input into something. Similarly, too many cooks spoil the broth (or stew).Having too much of a good thing signals that youre overindulging in something or theres just too much of something, even though its not bad on its own. For example, a few holiday lights on the outside of a home can look lovely in their calm simplicity. Some people, however, cant seem to stop decorating and put up 100,000 strobing lights, which neighbors might joke can make the house visible from space. On a small house and lot, theyre likely exhibiting too much of a g ood thing. Sources Ticak, Marko. â€Å"To vs. Too.† Grammarly Inc., 2019.â€Å"To (prep.). Online Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper, 2019.â€Å"To vs. Too vs. Two. K12 Reader, 2018.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Similarities And Differences Between Lord Of The Flies...

Harry Hook did an amazing job producing the movie â€Å"Lord of the Flies†, though not a lot of people enjoyed it as much as William Golding’s book. The novel was published in 1954 and the movie was first released in 1990. The movie had many amazing details you didn’t want to miss and it was fascinating to watch as well. On the other hand, the book had much more action and meaning. For me, both the movie and the book were captivating. However, some parts were completely different. In this essay, I will be comparing and contrasting the movie and the novel â€Å"Lord of the Flies†. Firstly in the novel, it was clear that the children were all English schoolboys, but in the film, the boys appeared to be American because the director was an†¦show more content†¦It was Jack who noticed Piggys glasses and told him he could use them to start a fire. On the other hand, in the film, it was Ralph who had the idea to use his glasses, because Jack’s relationship was very weak with â€Å"the boy who had asthma.† And they surely didn’t get along. Secondly, there were a lot of differences about the pig (Lord of the Flies) and the snake-like thing. In the movie when the boys were all sitting around the fire and Jack started telling them a scary story about a â€Å"thing.† Although if you watch the movie you’d know that the â€Å"beastie† came from the imagination and noises the littluns had been hearing each night. In the book, the beast (dead man) also got spotted by the boys tangled in a tree with his parachute, and when Ralph noticed him he said â€Å"It had teeth†¦. And big black eyes.† If you compare that to the film it turns out to be the opposite since a littlun from Jack’s tribe heard someone in a cave while hunting and described it is a monster. Now, let’s talk about the Pig or in other words the â€Å"Lord of the flies† and how Simon approached him in a different way. In the movie, Simon didn’t actually talk to the â€Å"Pig on a Stick†. He was halluc inating and imagining that the pigs head was talking to him. But, in reality, it was actually his line†¦ Fancy thinking the beast was something you could huntShow MoreRelatedLord Of The Flies Film Analysis1084 Words   |  5 Pagesadapted into a film. Lord of the Flies most definitely has these qualities like a strong conflict, interesting plot, and many literature techniques. Peter Brook created a film adaptation of Lord of the Flies in 1963. Peter Brook, director of the Lord of the flies film, did a commendable job of making the movie as similar as possible to the novel by William Golding. There are still a few key differences that make the novel much more compelling to read than watching the film. 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He was the second born ofRead MoreMean Girls vs Lord of the Flies3842 Words   |  16 Pageseveryday between both men and women. The film Mean Girls, directed by Mark Walters, follows a young girl, Cady’s, transition from being home schooled to public high school. Cady enters the school’s group of mean girls, otherwise known as â€Å"the plastics†, which consists of Regina George, Gretchen Wieners, and Karen Smith. Throughout the film each character struggles with their true identity. There are also many power struggles, and violent actions toward each other. The novel Lord of the Flies, writtenRead MoreMedia Representation Of Art Crime3638 Words   |  15 Pagesinto view. The film debuted in 2014 to mixed reviews, but did a decent job of highlighting the importance of savi ng art and cultural heritage. Disturbingly, however, and not accurate in the historical sense, there did not exist the sexual tension between the only female character and the officer. This is not an instance of the ‘Hollywood Art Thief’, but the boy-meets-girl scenario somehow eked its way back into the script, cheapening the truth somehow. What is true, and alarming is that are the artRead More Rude Boy Music In Comparison With Gangster Rap Essay4815 Words   |  20 Pagesthey erupted in cheers. At first Selassie did not want to leave the plane. (Potash, 16) â€Å" If I dream, mon, every Rasta man’s dream, to fly home to Ethiopia and leave a-Babylon, where de politicians doan let I an’ I brethren be free and we own righteous way.†  ­ Bob Marley (Bradley, 16) This quote from Bob Marley shows the goal of most Rastafarian to fly back to Africa and live in Ethiopia. Rastafarians see Ethiopia as their homeland, and to fulfill a Rasta’s dream would to be leaving BabylonRead More C.S. Lewis on Misunderstanding Fantasy Essay4960 Words   |  20 Pagesgeneric labels, applied wholesale to fantastic literature, had pushed it off the radar until readers of Fantasy had become literary lepers, lurking in the corners of accepted literary societies. Recent big screen blockbusters such as The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and its sequel, The Two Towers, as well as the two Harry Potter films have restored much attention to the oft-ignored genre. Despite the commercial success of the two fantastical franchises, however, Fantasy

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Democracy Best Form of Government Free Essays

Democracy is best defined as the government of the people, by the people. The classical example of democracy is that of ancient Athens, where the whole populace would meet in the marketplace to vote on decisions. It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government, except all the others have been tried. We will write a custom essay sample on Democracy Best Form of Government? or any similar topic only for you Order Now In my opinion, democracy is not a perfect system, but it is the best form of government when compared to others and is the most effective among all different types of government. In a democratic government, power is given to the people. This allows the people to have a direct say in who governs them, via the votes cast by every adult member of the population. As such it ensures that a government is made up of those who are truly representative of the people, satisfying the population of electing a government that will think about them, care about them and provide for them. Furthermore, when power is given to the people, the people will be more careful when using their power as they will have to bear the consequences if the leader elected is corrupted or not a wise leader. By giving power to the people allows decisions to be made according to the will of the people and also prevents the abuse of power. Citizens are kept informed by the media and are thus fully capable of making an informed decision. Furthermore, the will of the people is far more representative of different groups in society than the condescending rule by elites, who have no understanding of different ways of life. Only the citizens of a country understand what kind of leader they truly needs and in a democratic country they will have the ability to vote for them. Democracy empowers the people and allows them to participate in decision-making, which is why it is the best form of government. Besides power, democracy also allows the freedom of speech and that allows a nation to improve and progress. Democratic nations allow citizens to criticize leaders, their policies and laws. Being open to criticism allows leaders to listen to opinions of the citizens and understand what the citizens truly needs. This allows policies to be improved and the nation to progress better. By silencing the people and censoring any constructive criticisms, citizens will gradually stop thinking critically and start to follow laws blindly. This will be detrimental to the innovation and creation of ideas in a nation. Allowing criticisms can ensure that citizens think critically of how policies and laws will affect them, constantly sharpening their thoughts. Having a population that thinks critically is vital to the progress of a nation, and a democratic government that allows the freedom of speech can allow the nation to improve and progress, thus being the best form of government. As mentioned earlier, democracy is a not perfect form of government. Citizens of a country have never received any training and do not possess any skills needed to face and solve the problems that a state faces. Also, the masses are easily manipulated and tend to act according to their feelings. For example, after the 911 terror attacks in New York, many citizens of America pushed for the use of nuclear technology against Middle East. If America were a full democratic country, it would have already been engulfed into another nuclear war, and the consequences are heavy. As such, expecting the people to elect the â€Å"best tools for the job† is unrealistic. Government from above can see, by virtue of its position and advantages, what is a better solution for problems. Therefore, democracy may not be as effective in certain situations as other forms of government. Furthermore, real, effective leadership must come from above and not from below. The government should give orders, make laws and not take orders from the people. Democracy functions on the unrealistic assumption that all citizens are as capable as the leaders and is able to make the best decision. This is what makes democracy imperfect and ineffective. In conclusion, democracy is, to a large extent, the best form of government. The best form of government is that which teaches us to govern ourselves. However, if man were angels, no government would be necessary. Hence, a balance should be striked between governing the people and allowing them to make decisions themselves, and democracy is the only form of government where such a balance can be found. How to cite Democracy Best Form of Government?, Papers

Monday, May 4, 2020

One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest2 Essay Example For Students

One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest2 Essay For this quarters book report I choose to read a book that was not on the lists given to me. I picked One Flew Over the Cuckoos nest because I thought that it would be an interesting book with lots of relative themes to what I have gone through, and what I will go through. Not literally as much figuratively. As I first started to read the book I thought it would be just another story about lunatics in a Mental Institution with no help for cure. As I read the book I found that it actually kept my attention and was intriguing. I found out the full meaning of the phrase dont judge a book by its cover. As I read the story I was interested in Keseys motives behind writing such a book so I did a little research. I found out that the inspiration for One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest actually came from work that he did in a Sanitarium talking to the patients and the staff. Also through out the book he used symbols of the 1960s thoroughly through out. Symbols of rebellion and of individuality. These are most evident in the on going arguments of Nurse Ratched and Randal McMurphy. The entire book is narrated by a half indian patient of ten years, that pretends to be deaf and mute so as not to draw attention to himself. He, along with many others, is considered to be a chronic, a patient who has no hope for healing, while some others are considered to be acutes, patients who have hope for recovery. The heavy relation to the sixties in this book is evident to me in that every character represents a certain aspect of the sixties population. The hippies, oppressors, and the people who stood out from the crowd to make a difference. The hippies are best show through the characters of the patients that are considered chronic. I think this because, correct me if Im wrong, but people may have seen the hippies as people who were too high to do anything and there was no hope at all for any of them in the future. Characters such as the lifeguard, Martini, Colonel Matterson (who keeps talking about past war experiences day and night), Ruckly, Sandy Gilfilliam, and Candy Star (both prostitutes). The Oppressors are best represented by Warren, Washington, Williams, and Geever; who were all hired because of their cruelty. Nurse Ratched is probably the most powerful example of this category. She is a former Army Nurse who believes that supreme power is the only power and therefore she rules her ward with an iron fist. Lastly the people who try to make a difference are best shown through the character of Randal McMurphy. He was transferred to the Mental Institution because he pretended to be crazy at a work farm cause he thought it would be easier at the sanitarium. He is the ideal con man who can get anyone to follow him. He first starts out by encouraging the gambling for more than matches, which is against Ratcheds rules, and finally ends up encouraging rebellion, at its highest level, against the Ward staff. Over all this book was a really good book. The book as a whole is a very bizarre book and it took me some time to get through it due to re-reading to make sure I caught it all the first time around. Even though it isnt for everybody I would recommend people to read it. Bibliography: