My Neighbor Alice Essay Example For Students

My Neighbor Alice Essay I remember when I was young, about seven or eight years old, how I use to go outside in the summer and play with my stuffed animals and imaginary friends from early morning to the break of dusk. I was quite a rambuncious kid with a huge imagination. My next-door neighbor Alice, would watch and observe as I played in my backyard, then shed laugh and go back to tending her lovely vegetable garden. Alice and my mom both had vegetable gardens and would exchange different kinds of veggies through out the season. Sometimes they laid out together trying to get a decent tan. As the years slowly past, I recall sitting on Alices big front porch with her just chatting away for hours on end about anything we wanted to, really. Shed tell me how she used to think I was such a funny kid when I used to play in the backyard and talk to myself with my toys and animals. While I sat on the ledge of the porch and listened, intrigued by her stories, Alice would rock back and forth in her rocker happily smoking an occasional Marlboro menthol light cigarette. Wed cut up and make jokes about the papergirl she despised because the papergirl always threw her paper in the bushes, and wed gossip about some of the other neighbors on our block. Then shed tell me stories about her kids when they were my age and what kind of mischief theyd get into as they grew up. Everyday as soon as I saw her out on her porch, Id fling open our front door and run over to her house. However, I never cut through her lawn! No way! I always took the long way by using the sidewalk. Her and her husband Charles spent a lot of time doing yard work, keeping their lawn looking nice and having a flowerbed by the side of the house, so I never set foot on their grass simply out of respect. No one ever told me not to walk on their grass, it was just I knew better! Sometimes in the evening after I was done hunting fireflies, Id retreat back to Alices porch and wed count them out together and watch them glow. Then wed let them go and make wishes although the wishes I made never came true, it was still fun to pretend. Charles would sometimes join us on the porch and enjoy the fresh air the early summer evening had to offer us, as hed gather his white calico cat into his lap and gently stroke her soft furry coat until she began a sturdy relaxed purr. Now, I dont remember what exactly the cats real name was. Alice didnt care much for her; she called the cat Sourpuss while Charlie would call her in every night saying Come on in now ole girlfriend. Alice would sometimes swear up and down that Charles loved that cat more then her sometimes. Alice and Charles made such a nice couple, nice looking people for their age and all around nice people. I could see that Alice had been a very nice looking woman when she was younger as she still appeared to be for her age. Light brownish blonde hair, with twinkling hazel eyes with nice glasses that framed her face well. I felt so close to Alice, I felt she was another grandmother to me. As for my real grandmother, who visits my house regularly because she lives close by, would often visit Alice as well and theyd have a nice talk. Then, I started growing up. I would still visit Alice every now and then but the visits slowly came to a stop. When I had reached my freshman year in high school, Id walk home in the afternoon and sometimes catch her leaving to go to work. She was a LPN at Reid at the time, and had been for a long time. After my freshman year, I moved in with my Dad in Virginia for two years. Whenever I came into town to visit my mom though, Id stop by Alices and see how she was doing. She was always so excited to see me! Shed invite me in and wed sit in her medium sized living room and talk about old times and new things that had been going on in our lives. This summer, a few weeks into August I came back to Richmond for good. My mom wanted me to finish my last year of high school here so I reluctantly came back just to make her happy. The first few weeks I was here I didnt get a chance to stop by Alices and visit. She knew I was back though because her and my mom still talked regularly. Then, one day, a few days after school started again, I finally caught her on her porch just rocking away smoking her Marlboro menthols. When she spotted me she smiled from ear to ear and motioned me wit h her hand to come over. I went up to her porch and greeted her happily with a big bear hug. She was so excited to see me. I dont know how long I ended up staying over there, perhaps over three hours, but by the time I went home it was already dark!Thats the last time I visited Alice. It had been a pretty busy year for me so far. I worked a lot, concentrated on my schoolwork, and hung out with my friends. I figure Alice understands as well. I feel bad because I havent been over in quite awhile but every time I see her outside well talk for several minutes and Ill be on my way. Sometimes I still spot her on her porch even on a winter day, sitting in her rocking chair just rocking back and forth back and forth. I never understood though why Alice and I never wrote letters back and forth while I was away. I had her address, Im sure if I had wrote her shed written back. I guess I didnt really give it much thought. However, when the weather starts getting a little nicer Im going to start visiting her again before I go off to college in the fall and before we sell the house. Its just my mom and I in this huge house now, and she feels that its time to change houses after being here for nearly twelve years. Maybe this time Alice and I can keep in touch and someday shell visit me in my new home and spend the evening on my porch reminiscing like we use to. BibliographyN/ACreative Writing

Mayor Of Casterbridge By Hardy Analysis Essays - British Films

Mayor Of Casterbridge By Hardy Analysis Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge does an excellent job of displaying Casterbridge's realistic Western England setting through the architectural buildings, the behavior of the townspeople, and the speech used throughout the novel. All of these aspects combined provide a particular environment Hardy called "Wessex" which infuses the work with reality and a life. The love which Hardy had, for architecture, is displayed throughout this novel with the descriptions of the surrounding countryside, the buildings, the commerce, the roads, and the amusements that make up the environment of Casterbridge. The town of Casterbridge in Wessex, an ancient name for the West Saxon kingdom of the Middle Ages, is no longer used geographically. It comprises of Doreshire and parts of other western England countries. The country and the town meet at a mathematical line. The town is shut in by a square wall of trees, like a plot of garden grounded by a box-edging. When overlooking Casterbridge, there are towers, gables, chimneys, and casements standing tall and strong to show the development of the buildings. The chief hotel in Casterbridge-namely, the Kings Arms, is a spacious bow-window projected into the street over the main portico. The homes of Casterbridge consist of timber homes with overhanging stories, whose small-paned lattices were screened by dimity curtains on a drawing-string. There were other houses of brick-nogging, which derived their chief support from those adjoining. The roofs consisted of slate patched with tiles, and occasionally there was a roof of thatch. Detail to buildings of Casterbridge gives readers a visual insight to the composition to the social classes of the town. Leading onto the townspeople who keep Casterbridge alive and productive. Social classes of the townspeople determine each individuals behavior and how others treat each individual based on social class or status. The characters may seem odd to some audiences, yet these characters are at all times real. They are based on people Hardy had grown up with, people whose tragic histories had unearthed during his early architectural apprenticeship, people he had heard about in legends and ballads. The agricultural and pastoral character of the people upon whom the town depended for its existence was shown by the class of objects displayed in the shop windows. The lower-class was classified as mischievous knaves by Hardy for he personally, along with others of status, was not very fond of them. There is one obvious example in the story which displays the greed and importance of show, of the upper class. In Casterbridge's best hotel when the Mayor was having a big dinner party, the blinds were left unclosed so the whole interior of this room could be surveyed from the top of a flight of stone steps to the road-wagon office opposite, for which reason a knot of idlers had gathered there to watch what they couldn't have. The higher classes took what lavishing capabilities they had and frolicked in them for all below to envy and want. Although the behavior and mannerism of the townspeople is blunt, it is realistic and influenced by real life situations through the mind of the author. A less obvious yet realistic part of the setting which can normally be over-looked but is emphasized throughout this novel is the speech, or dialect of the characters and townspeople. Social class is very obviously shown through the speech of every individual. Higher class residents of Casterbridge often spoke much more vulgar terms. They have their own folk dialect which modernly is referred to as slang throughout regions influential on the environment of the speaker. Speech is also an issue with age and maturity which is excellently presented throughout the entire course of the novel in Elizabeth-Jane. Hardy shows the gradual change that takes place in her speech through the years. In the first portion of the novel when Elizabeth-Jane is young, she has a sense of playfulness and good times. But as she grows older and her sorrow increases. Elizabeth-Jane turns more to study and reflection. Towards the end of the novel, Elizabeth-Jane is a full grown woman who has her life established and knows where she stands in social status. She is melancholy and kind. A matronly woman whose speech seems highly studied and affected. Hardy does an excellent job of taking the little things society tends to overlook and accenting them to show how realistic each individual is in the town of Casterbridge. The townspeople, the buildings, and the speech of every individual throughout the novel.

Sample Essay For Tufts Soccer Scholarship Applicant

Sample Essay For Tufts Soccer Scholarship ApplicantWhen you have decided to apply for a Harvard or Tufts University Soccer Scholarship, there are a number of different things that you will need to have in place before you send your application to the various universities. In order to understand why this is so important, you must understand how these scholarships work. Of course, you can research these things on your own, but after you've done so, it will be time to take action and to start researching the various soccer scholarships.As I said, the idea behind all of this is to get a better footing in terms of a future as a pro soccer player. You cannot go back to college and hope to become a professional soccer player. You have to start off in college by working at a college for four years, then you can turn your attention to becoming a pro.What you'll want to do is to write a sample essay for Tufts University Soccer Scholarship for those interested in this course. This is one of the more competitive academic courses that the Tufts College has to offer. The best way to beat out all of the other applicants is to write an essay that you believe will make a good sample.You will also want to keep your admissions letter and financial requirements together with the essay for Tufts University Soccer Scholarship for submission to the various schools. This is for your benefit as well as to make sure that you will be accepted. The truth is that each school will make its own determination when it comes to these things.Make sure that you are prepared from the first day that you are taken into consideration by your college and that you understand what you're getting yourself into. One of the first things that you will need to do is to gather the necessary information that you will need to write a successful essay. As mentioned earlier, this essay will be sent to all of the colleges and universities that you apply to, so you want to make sure that you are prepared.Don't fall victim to the things that have happened to people that did not follow directions and submitted their essays in bad faith. This can be a big mistake that you will want to avoid. You'll be very well prepared to deal with any of the rejection letters that you receive if you do your homework properly.By the time you finish the essay, you'll have a better grasp of what you're dealing with. There are a lot of things that you have to consider, but it will be better for you to look at what the requirements are before you send your application in. When you follow this advice, you'll be well on your way to getting a Tufts University Soccer Scholarship.

Injury In World War I Example

Injury In World War I Example Injury In World War I – Coursework Example Disability in World War I due: Introduction The results of the First World War broughtthe world new technology where new weapons were used such as machine guns, and there was an improvement in the technology used in medical practices. It was the first kind of war that was ever experienced in Europe. By 1918, about 400,000 war veterans’ soldiers were reported to have been injured during the war. Soldiers with disabilities were given heroic state support with a push for fatherhood and also marriage. By offering veterans jobs, it would give them independence and allow them to earn a living. The endeavor of Briton veterans to regain self-worth, physical abilities, and masculinity was becoming a problem. Some of them had disgusting physical appearances, and others had disfigured faces for the society to accept them fully. About 60,500 soldiers had eye and head injuries, and 41,000 soldiers had amputated limbs (Gerke, 2014).In this presentation, I learned that the new technology and improved medical know-how enabled many veterans to regain self-worth, and physical appearance become well. Those who lost jaws, noses and eyes were replaced with other and looked as better like the original self. The use of prosthetic limbs was used to hide the injuries and disabilities of soldiers injured in the war helped them regain physical abilities to work again. Even though the soldiers had life-like masks of facial disfigurement, it was a reminder to the society the consequences of the World War I. Such work of improved medical technology was displayed in the Ladd’s portrait in Paris of the benefactor patients. Patriotism was displayed by the Britons using the disability of a veteran soldier and refused to use disability when it reminded them of the consequences of that war (Gerke, 2014).ReferenceGerke, B. (2014). Injury in World War I. Retrieved February 21, 2015, fromhttps://prezi.com/esfejbcmxe/injury-in-world-war-i/

Nutrients as Major Water Pollutants

Nutrients as Major Water Pollutants According to the Environmental Protection Agency, over half of the nation’s streams and rivers are polluted, and of those, 19% are impaired by the presence of excess nutrients. What Is Nutrient Pollution? The term nutrient refers to sources of nourishment supporting organism growth. In the context of water pollution, nutrients generally consist of phosphorus and nitrogen which algae and aquatic plants use to grow and proliferate. Nitrogen is present in abundance in the atmosphere, but not in a form that is available to most living things. When nitrogen is in the form of ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate, however, it can be used by many bacteria, algae, and plants (heres a nitrogen cycle refresher). Generally, it is the overabundance of nitrates that causes environmental problems. What Causes Nutrient Pollution? Some common agricultural practices lead to excess nutrients in water bodies. Phosphorus and nitrates are important components of the fertilizers used in agricultural fields – they are present in both synthetic fertilizers and natural ones like manures. If the crops do not pick up all of the fertilizer applied, or if rain has a chance to wash it away before they are absorbed by plants, the excess fertilizer is flushed into streams. Another major source of nutrients also comes from the way agricultural fields are only used seasonally. Most crops are present in the fields over a relatively short growing season, and the rest of the year the soil is left exposed to the elements. Meanwhile soil bacteria is feasting on decaying roots and plant debris, releasing nitrates. Not only do bare fields cause sediment pollution, but this practice allows the massive release and washing away of nitrates.Sewage can carries nutrients to streams and water. Septic systems, especially if older or im properly maintained, can leak into streams or lakes. Households connected to municipal sewer systems also contribute to nutrient pollution. Wastewater treatment plants sometimes function improperly, and are periodically overwhelmed during heavy rain events and release sewage into rivers. Stormwater. Rain falling in urban or suburban areas picks up nutrients from lawn fertilizer, pet waste, and various detergents (for example, the soap used to wash one’s car in the driveway). The stormwater is then canalized into municipal drainage systems and released into streams and rivers, loaded with phosphorus and nitrogen.Burning fossil fuels release nitrogen oxides and ammonia into the air, and when those are deposited in water, they can contribute significantly to the excess nutrient problem. Most problematic are coal-fired power plants and gas- or diesel-powered vehicles. What Environmental Effects Do Excess Nutrients Have? Excess nitrates and phosphorus encourage the growth of aquatic plants and algae. Nutrient-boosted algae growth leads to massive algae blooms, visible as a bright green, foul smelling sheen on the water’s surface. Some of the algae making up the blooms produce toxins that are dangerous to fish, wildlife, and humans. The blooms eventually die off, and their decomposition consumes a lot of dissolved oxygen, leaving waters with low oxygen concentrations. Invertebrates and fish are killed when oxygen levels dip too low. Some areas, called dead zones, are so low in oxygen that they become empty of most life. A notorious dead zone forms in the Gulf of Mexico every year due to agricultural runoff in the Mississippi River watershed. Human health can be affected directly, as nitrates in drinking water are toxic, especially to infants. People and pets can also become quite ill from exposure to toxic algae. Water treatment does not necessarily solve the problem, and can in fact create dangerous conditions when chlorine interacts with the algae and produces carcinogenic compounds. Â   Some Helpful Practices Cover crops and no-till farming protect agricultural fields and mobilize nutrients. The cover plants die out in winter, and the following growing season they give back those nutrients to the new crop.Maintaining well vegetated buffers around farm fields and next to streams allows plants to filter out nutrients before they enter the water.Keep septic systems in good working order, and conduct regular inspections.Consider your nutrient inputs from soaps and detergents, and reduce their use whenever possible.In your yard, slow the water runoff and allow it to be filtered by plants and soil. To accomplish this, establish rain gardens, keep drainage ditches well vegetated, and use rain barrels to harvest roof runoff.Consider using pervious pavement in your driveway. These surfaces are designed to let water percolate into the soil below, preventing runoff. For More Information Environmental Protection Agency. Nutrient Pollution.

About Jazz Music Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

About Jazz Music - Research Paper Example In fact, Jazz is all set to win the hearts and minds of the music lovers located anywhere and everywhere in the world and is no more the exclusive legacy of American masses. It is really tough to trace a chronologically systematic history of Jazz music. However, it will be quiet realistic to say that Jazz evolved from a budding musical diversion to a blooming tradition at some time around the beginning of the 20th century. The dilemma of the historians and archives of Jazz music is that today there exist very few recordings of Jazz from its formative years. Even the recordings that exist fail to extend a true sound of the Jazz music of those days because of the limitations of the recording technology of that time (Ratliff 56). Considering the fact that extempore performances, which are not merely encouraged in Jazz, but in fact constitute a vital and indispensable part of this genre, were not accurately captured by the then existing recording facilities. Jazz in its early days authentically had a black heart that eventually won the interest and dedication of connoisseurs hailing from all cultures and colors. Actually, Jazz was the first native American musical form that had an impact that was not merely panned American but Global in its scope (Roots of American Music 82). The port city of New Orleans is considered to be the home of Jazz music. It is easier for the Jazz fans to understand that the development of such musical tradition undeniably needed a cosmopolitan breeding ground. Jazz was the result of the mingling of the Western classical music with the African spirituals and blues to which was added a generous smattering of the Caribbean and Latin culture. Thus it amply reveals a sophistication of the classical influences thickly loaded with the spice, verve, and energy that is conclusively African and Latin in its origins. It has the finesse of an orchestra combined to the earthiness of a brass band, which gives it its typical flavor. Such an enticing art form surely could not be kept confined to New Orleans for long. Shortly Jazz began its journey towards the north and reached Chicago, where it soon captured the loyalty of the masses and became a regular feature at the local nightclubs (Roots of American Music 82). Yet, it is the New York City that rendered Jazz with an immense mass appeal and commercial possibilities, courtesy of its booming music publishing business (Roots of American Music 82). Presently Jazz started becoming more organized and the splinter Jazz groups started sticking together to give way to big Jazz bands led by celebrated performers like Count Basic and Jellyroll Morton. This was the time when Jazz finally achieved the fame and success that was long its due. Surely the American dream is not merely confined to people and groups but has cultural and artistic ramifications. Jazz has finally arrived by the late 40s. One fact that deserves prompt attention is that Jazz was not merely urban in it s scope.  Ã‚  

International Business Plan Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

International Business Plan - Research Paper Example in the European country of Hungary. For this purpose, an assessment of the economic, social, political and legal environment of the country has been made. The paper also dwells on the requirements for success in the country from an individual’s perspective. Company Overview: About Levis Strauss & Co Levis Strauss & Co. made its humble beginning in 1853 when the Bavarian immigrant and founder of the company created the very first pair of jeans. At present, the company designs, markets and sells jeans, casual pants, tops, shorts, skirts, jackets, footwear et al. The company also has all related accessories for men, women and children in its product repertoire. The company boasts of popular brands like Levi’s, Dockers, Denizen, and Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. Over the years, the San Francisco headquartered company has grown steadily to become one of the global behemoths in the apparel industry. As on date, Levis Strauss & Co has operations in as many as 110 countries a nd generates close to 50 percent of its net revenues from markets outside the United States. Levi Strauss & Co conducts its operations outside the United States through foreign subsidiaries owned either directly or indirectly by it. The company’s global business is grouped into three geographic regions: Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. The year wise (2009 through 2011) breakup of the net revenue earned by the company in these regions is shown in Table 1 below. Table 1: Region-wise Revenue for Levis Strauss & Co.* *Source: Annual Report of Levis Strauss & Co. The company’s brands are sold in 55,000 retail locations globally. Of these 2,300 retail locations house the brands of the company exclusively. As of November 27, 2011, the company had 498 company-operated stores located in 32 countries across the three regions. Of these there were 211 stores in the Americas, 178 stores in Europe and 109 stores in Asia Pacific. Additionally, there were another 1800 franchised, li censed, or other forms of brand-dedicated stores operated by independent third parties that sold Levis Strauss & Co. brands exclusively. Levis Strauss & Co has managed to build brands that people love and trust, in large measure, due to its responsible business practices. The company leaves no stone unturned to contribute to and respect the local communities in which it operates. As a business strategy, Levis Strauss & Co intends to grow its business profitably, spread out across consumer segments and price tiers and respond to marketplace dynamics while building on its competitive strengths. The company’s global footprint is a key factor in its long term growth and it must capitalize on it. Levis Strauss & Co has to focus on markets that provide lucrative growth opportunities. The company has to make full use of its massive global presence and local-market talent gain local market insights, adapt to local consumer trends and thus grow profitably. It is for this reason that t he company is looking to expand in Hungary. Country Overview: About Hungary The history of Hungary dates back to as far as A.D. 1000 when the country became a Christian kingdom. It emerged as an independent country after World War I. It was in 1968; under the headship of Janos Kadar, that Hungary introduced the ‘Goulash Communism’ whereby it began to liberalize its economy and placed