What I would do with the remaining time if found out to have only 24 Assignment

What I would do with the remaining time if found out to have only 24 hours to live - Assignment Example Despite the fact that my doctor’s pronunciation has taken me by surprise and I must die within the next 24 hours, I strongly believe that this is the time for me to focus on physical, spiritual, family and emotional issues. Knowing that I have lived my life imperfectly before my creator, I will dedicate a lot of my last moments in prayer and repentance. Although it will be difficult to praise and worship God, I will try to dedicate some moments to focus on my life and praise and worship God for the time He gave me on earth. I will also delve into scriptures for reassurance about a brighter future after death. I will as much as possible make my path straight before God so that my eternity may be spent in paradise. The reality of death is a harsh one even to the bravest of people. This being the case, I have no doubt that I feel very scared about the whole experience of dying. I imagine myself kicking and struggling to disentangle myself from the grip of death in vain. I imagine seeing my mother and close family members weeping at the news of my death. I wish I was never born in the first place so that I would not have to endure the pain of death. Stressed about having to leave my loved ones behind shortly, I will try and share my last moments in the company of my family and closest friends. I will take some time to share my goals, expectations, and concerns with them to ensure that I leave everything in order. Since most families tend to engage in a dispute over sharing of properties after their beloved ones have passed on, my first move will be to avoid such happenings by drafting a will. In the will I will direct how I would wish my property to be shared among my family members. I will also detail my debts and obligations to other people and instruct my family to repay the debts and if possible fulfill the obligations that I will not have fulfilled within the time left. In addition to the will, I will write a letter of instructions. The letter of instru ction will help my family make decisions at the end of my life, and once I am gone. In the letter of instruction, I will include a list of names and phone numbers of those I want to be contacted after my death. To ease the tension that I am feeling, I take a short walk around our garden and within town alone. As I walk about, I will focus on what life is all about and how I spent my life. I will take note of my achievements and failures and try to convince myself that I did my part in life the best I could albeit as an imperfect person. In overall, I will pray that my eternal destiny would be a good one. # 2. My Funeral Plan Funeral is one of the most important stages in a person’s â€Å"life†. Once a person is dead, the next stage is usually to organize a funeral service in accordance with the deceased’s wishes. However, in order for the funeral service to be conducted in accordance with the deceased’s desires, it is important for the deceased to live be hind a plan of funeral service, stating how he/she wants the service conducted. However, very few people normally get the chance to draft their funeral plan. I am among the lucky few who have had the opportunity to write a funeral plan. Below is a plan of how I want my funeral service conducted once I am dead and gone. I would like to be given a decent send off once I am dead. Immediately I am pronounced dead, my body should be taken to the private wing of a mortuary where my body will be well preserved. I would not wish to have my loved ones see my body in bad shape when I am gone. I wish to see my funeral attended by as many of my friends and acquaintances as possible. For this reason, I will

The effects that staging a major sporting event can have on an area Essay Example for Free

The effects that staging a major sporting event can have on an area Essay Abstract This report will analyse the effects that staging a major sporting event can have on an area. It will examine whether events of this size generate inward investment, what different types of investment that occur and evaluate their lasting value. The reasons for the growth of sport as a global industry will also be discussed in terms of their effect on investment levels. After studying a number of major sporting events, both within the UK and from other parts of the world this report concludes that the extent to which events act as a focus for inward investment depends on the nature of the competition and the size of its audience. Introduction The title of this report is: To what extent do major sporting events act as a focus for inward investment? Before I can begin to explore this question there are several terms to define: What constitutes a major sporting event? A major sporting event is a competition involving a large number of competitors from a range of countries, gaining widespread media coverage. What is inward investment? Inward investment implies that, Goods have been brought into existence which will allow a stream of other goods and services to be produced in the future. (Economics, A New Approach by A.G. Anderton) Key Questions/Issues My report will be structured around the key questions shown in the table below. I will make ongoing conclusions as I explore each question in turn, using case studies covering a range of scales and locations, and draw them together when making my final conclusion. Key Question Case Studies used 1) Where does inward investment come from and is it sustainable? Athens 2004, Sport England, Silverstone, previous Olympic games, World Cup 2002 (Yokohama), World Student Games 1991 (Sheffield) 2) Increased investment in sporting events has come about due to the growth in the importance of sport which has become a global industry. What has caused this growth? World Cup 2002 (Yokohama) 3) What different types of investment take place? Do they vary from one sporting event to another? World Student Games 1991 (Sheffield), Silverstone, Athens 2004, World Cup 2002 (Yokohama) 4) Are there examples of major sporting events that have not acted as a focus for inward investment? Do these events have anything in common that could explain why the inward investment was less? Embassy World Snooker Championships (Sheffield), BUPA Great North Run 1) Where does inward investment come from and is it sustainable? To find out where inward investment comes from I will be using the following case studies: Athens 2004, Sport England, Silverstone. Athens 2004 Athens 2004 balanced budget is 1.962 billion Euros. (see fig. 1 for breakdown). To date Athens 2004 sponsorship revenues have reached approximately 448.1 million Euro in total. This already breaks many previous records as Athens 2004 has covered its projected sponsorship revenues with only 7 out of forty potential Sponsors. Athens 2004 decided to have a limited number of sponsors, and to emphasise quality rather than quantity. (See fig. 2) (www.athens.olympic.org) Sport England Government funding of sport in the UK is done so through an organisation know as Sport England. They are a council who meet regularly to consider applications for funding the development of sports facilities. They make their grants from National Lottery Funds and applicants are usually expected to show evidence that their scheme will benefit the community as a whole. (www.culture.gov.uk/sport) Silverstone Silverstone is hoping that is will be able to gain financial support in this however as a report in December 2000 said; Silverstone would probably need to provide other uses for the local community there is no reason why the track should not have a velodrome or artificial ski slope there might even be the possibility of a watersport facility. BRDC (British Racing Drivers Club) President, Sir Jackie Stewart wants the government to underwrite at least half the sum, believing that it is in the best interests of politicians to support the local motor sport industry so jobs and important F1 teams arent driven out of the country to more attractive destinations. (www.octagonmotorsports.com) The redevelopment of Silverstone will be funded by three parties. Firstly by Octagon, the US marketing group that owns the rights to the British Grand Prix for the next 15 years, Bernie Ecclestones Formula One management, which handles Grand Prix racings commercial affairs, and the BRDC, which owns Silverstone itself. To investigate whether the inward investment is sustainable I will be using the following case studies: Athens 2004, previous Olympic games, World Cup 2002 (Yokohama), World Student Games 1991 (Sheffield). Athens 2003 * The Athens 2004 Olympic Games will leave a legacy to Athens, to Greece and to the world that will remain for generations to come. As Sydney, Atlanta and Barcelona have shown, there are many tangible, long-term benefits to hosting the Olympic Games. For the people of Greece, the legacy of the 2004 Olympic Games will begin with the economic benefits of investing in upgrades to the transportation infrastructure, telecommunications system, and the environment. These investments will benefit Greece for years to come. They include: 65,000 new permanent jobs 120 kilometres of new road 290,000 new trees, 11 million new shrubs A New International Airport An expanded metro system A new, ultra-modern Traffic Management Centre An increase in tourism A $1.3 billion boost in public sector revenues, and 35% improvement of the quality of the environment * In addition, the skills, expertise and training of the workforce in Greece across every sector will be enhanced. The workforce will be called upon to manage large scale complex projects that require integrated planning and detailed coordination. The new skills and expertise will be valuable assets surviving the completion of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Renewed civic pride, a massive surge in volunteerism, and the return of the Olympic Games to their ancient birthplace will all shape the Legacy of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games. When the last medal is awarded, and the Closing Ceremony of the Paralympic Games ends, the dynamism and spirit of the Games of 2004 will remain. The city of Athens and the surrounding region will have overhauled and upgraded every major sector of the economy, channeled investment, and re-invigorated public life throughout Greece. (www.athens.olympics.org) In the period leading up to 2004, Greece will receive $40.23 billion USD from the European Union to improve highways and other infrastructure projects. Previous Olympic Games Sydney It was estimated that the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games will add $6.5 billion to the Australian GDP and 100,000 full-time jobs over a 12 year period from 1994-2006. Australia saw an 11% increase in total visitors for 2000. Interestingly, the highest month total (565,000 arrivals) was achieved in December-3 months after the Olympic Games. 1.5 million additional international tourists are expected to visit Australia until 2006 because of the staging of the Olympic Games. This is estimated to generate an additional $2.7 billion in tourism exports. Atlanta The Atlanta Olympic Games added $5.1 billion to the Georgia economy. As a result of the 1996 Atlanta Games, spending from out-of-state visitors injected $2.5 billion into the economy. Barcelona Prior to the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, Barcelona was ranked as the 16th most popular tourist destination in Europe. By 1999, it had risen to third. The Barcelona Games added $16.6 billion to the Spanish economy between 1986 and 1993. From October 1986 (the month Barcelona won the bid) to July 1992, the general rate of unemployment in Barcelona fell from 18.4% to 9.6%-a drop of nearly 50%. New suburban highways and tunnels reduced downtown traffic by 15 percent. World Cup 2002 (Yokohama) * Since the Dynasty Cup, the opening game of the stadium on March 1st 1998, there has been 9 Japanese national team games, including the Kirin Cup and the Confederations Cup. The stadium, as well as being the home ground of the J Leagues team Yokohama F. Marinos, is also the stage of many events each year, such as Kanagawa Yume Kokutai and a 70,000 people Bz Live Concert. Under the stands we can find the Sports Medical Center, the Sports Community Plaza and the Sports Information Center, which are the core of communication for all sports concerned. The objective of the facilities is to achieve international exchange and to provide health and well being. (www.fifaworldcup.yahoo.com) World Student Games 1991 (Sheffield) * Since the hosting of the World Student Games in 1991, the Don Valley Stadium has continued to be of benefit to the community as a whole. All facilities, including the indoor and outdoor tracks are open for public use 7 days a week at the excellent price of à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½2.70 for adults and à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½2.10 for children. * The stadium annually hosts the North of England Athletics Association Open Championships in January and is also used for various other national athletics competitions and meetings. * The stadium is also home to several athletics clubs; the Hallamshire Harriers, Sheffield AC, Sheffield City Striders, Sheffield University AC and Sheffield Hallam University AC. The stadium regularly hosts Rugby League, American Football and Football games and is home to the Sheffield Eagles Rugby League Club. Conclusions about Key Question 1 * It appears that there are three main sources of investment available to major sporting events. The first and possibly most important of these is sponsorship. Sponsors can be broken down into two distinct categories. There are those sponsors who give money to the event organizers in return for the rights to use the Olympic name and image on their products and in their advertising. For example Coca-Cola is the official non-alcoholic beverage for Athens 2004. The other kind of sponsor is the sponsor who provides a service or function at the sporting event. They will also benefit from increased media coverage. SWATCH are providing all of the timing and scoring equipment for the games. * Major sporting events appear to have major, long-lasting benefits to the host city and the surrounding area long after the event has taken place. These include the provision of world class sporting facilities and venues that can be used by the general public and local sportsmen, the creation of new general public services, such as transport links, and the creation of jobs, both directly as a result of the sporting event and jobs created by the encouragement of new businesses into the area. Having examined the sources of inward investment I will now investigate why this investment is increasing. 2) Increased investment in sporting events has come about due to the growth in importance of sport which has become a global industry. What has caused this growth? * Increased media coverage it is estimated that the final of the World Cup in Yokohama was transmitted live to a worldwide audience of around 2 billion. Sport is now broadcast throughout the world and is one of the main ways in which many fans get access to sporting events, whether through radio, television or the internet. * Sport is an important part of the nations shared experience and values the nations culture. It brings people together either as participants or spectators, building teamwork and community pride. * Participation in sport at an amateur level has increased in recent years. Amateur sport is important to improving quality of life. Sport provides role models for the pursuit of personal excellence. Competitive amateur sport also stimulates broadly based participation in physical activity, leading to better health, higher productivity and a stronger social fabric. This has led to increased interest in professional sport, resulting in higher attendance and increased revenue. * Increasing government intervention in sport at a professional level has also increased its importance. Our elite athletes are supported using lottery funding under the World Class Performance Programme by UK Sport and Sport England. Awards have been made to the governing bodies of over 37 sports, ranging from wheelchair basketball to athletics. This enables our top athletes to improve their performance and win medals in the Olympics and major international competitions. Those athletes at the elite level are also starting to feel the benefits of the United Kingdom Sports Institute. Funded by the lottery, these are centres of excellence where first class facilities and services are available to athletes. This includes sports science, medicine, nutrition and coaching expertise. There are ten centres of excellence in England. Many of the centres have sports-specific roles, for instance most of the elite swimmers use the new facilities at Bath University. Money raised by the National Lottery is also being directed at bringing top events to the UK, such as the World Athletics Championship in 2005. Not only does this give us all the opportunity to watch the best competitors in the world, it is a boost for the country and sports as a whole. (www.culture.gov.uk/sport) Having investigated the reasons for increased inward investment we must now examine how this investment is being used. 3) What different types of inward investment take place? Do they vary from one sporting event to another? To answer this key question I will be using the following case studies: World Student Games 1991 (Sheffield), Silverstone, Athens 2004, World Cup 2002 (Yokohama). * If a sporting event is given the responsibility of hosting a major sporting event and their sporting facilities are not already of the required standard to host that event, then investment is needed to redevelop or create them. World Student Games 1991 (Sheffield) Following a successful bid for the World Student Games in 1991, the City of Sheffield undertook a programme to provide world class sports facilities for the City, including an Athletics Stadium with a fully equipped grandstand. The grandstand is in effect a four storey building containing all the support facilities such as changing rooms, as well as an 85 metre indoor track and practice area. (www.sivltd.com/donvalley) Silverstone Over the next 3 years Silverstone, the home of the British Grand Prix will undergo a $70 million redevelopment, including the improvement of key trackside facilities such as pit garages and competitor accommodation facilities, as well as 1.5 kilometres of new track to improve overtaking opportunities on the circuit. These improvements follow speculation that the British Grand Prix could be moved to Brands Hatch and strong criticism from the Head of Formula One Management, Bernie Ecclestone. (www.grandprix.com) * It is also important that facilities available to spectators at major sporting events are of a high standard, as it is the public, in combination with sponsors that generate most money for the organisers. World Student Games 1991 (Sheffield) The Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield has state of the art spectator facilities, including: * 1500 lux floodlights to accommodate a full colour spectrum TV (see fig. 4) * A fully electronic timing and results system with photo finish facilities * A huge electronic scoreboard (see fig. 3) * A fully integrated state of the art public address system * Full catering hospitality facilities as well as food and drink concession points. The Stadiums major focal point is its grandstand which holds 10,000 spectators. 15,000 spectators can also be accommodated on the open terracing making the seating capacity 25,000. (See fig. 4) (www.sivltd.com/donvalley) Silverstone As part of extensive redevelopment of Silverstone, the old club at the entrance to the pit lane was replaced with a new building that offers improved facilities for club members and their guests. The impressive three-storey building houses a restaurant, bar and club accommodation, as well as pit lane and roof terracing viewing areas. Plans have also been recently announced to greatly improve facilities in the general public viewing areas, including directional signage inside the circuit, catering, retail and modern toilet facilities. This follows on from the successful road development and improved traffic management at this years Grand Prix. (www.octagonmotorsports.com) * The potential for tourism generated alongside major sporting competitions means that a lot of money is invested on improving the appearance of an area before hosting the event. Athens 2004 Athens is being transformed into the host city for the 2004 Olympic Games. An extensive programme of interventions for the aesthetic upgrading of the city, along with the creation of Olympic Celebration sites, will enhance the Games experience for visitors and residents alike. An extensive Urban Regeneration Programme is already underway which will include the development and construction of new pedestrian roads, the redesigning of open public areas, the creation of new green areas (see fig. 5), improved street illumination and the removal of illegal advertising boards. (www.athens.olympic.org) World Cup 2002 (Yokohama) The broadcasting of Yokohamas name throughout the world during the 2002 FIFA World Cup will in itself have been excellent publicity for the city. Moreover, hopefully it will have had important effects in the area such as the attraction of movement into Yokohama by foreign businesses. Leading up to the games the city worked to improve the urban infrastructure (parks, roads etc.) and to develop its human resources and networking through programs keyed by citizen volunteer activities. To bolster arrangements a City Sales campaign built around the World Cup, with hospitality arrangements to benefit both visitors and residents was established. (www.fifaworldcup.yahoo.com) Conclusions to Key Question 3 * I would suggest that the type of investment and therefore possibly the level of investment required for a sporting event varies depending on the nature of that event. An event such as the Olympics which encompasses a broad range of sports will obviously require a greater level of investment than a single sport event such as the Football World Cup. * I have been able to identify three key areas of investment. Firstly and probably most important is investment in the provision of sports facilities. Without adequate facilities an event will never be successful. Secondary to this is investment in spectator facilities. The paying public are the main source of revenue for any sporting event, so they need to be fully catered for. If they are unhappy with the service they receive, they wont return. Low attendances would probably render the event a financial failure. Normally the projected revenue from ticket sales is incorporated into the event budget (see fig. 1). Lastly but also significant is investment in the surrounding area as a whole. For an event to be successful it is important that the infrastructure is capable of dealing with a large number of people. The image sent out to the rest of the world also has to be considered, as hosting a sporting event puts the area under close media scrutiny. A positive image can encourage new business to the area. Having examined sporting events that have acted as a focus for inward investment and the type of investment that has occurred we now need to see if there are event that have not resulted in investment and the reasons for this. 4) Are there examples of major sport events that have not acted as a focus for inward investment? Do these events have anything in common that could explain why there was less investment? To answer this key question I will use the following case studies: Embassy World Snooker Championships (Sheffield), BUPA Great North Run. Embassy World Snooker Championships (Sheffield) The Embassy World Snooker Championships are held at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, every year in April. For 17 days each year, the largest theatre complex outside of London is transformed into what is recognised as snookers No. 1 venue. Organisers move into the theatre 6 days before the beginning of the championship to prepare the arena. The theatre floor is hollow so a series of jacks have to be put under the two tables, which weigh one and a half tonnes each. The stage is carpeted and the Embassy snooker arena is installed complete with press seating, boxes for the BBC commentators and photographers and the TV cameras (see fig. 6). Back stage, the rehearsal room is transformed into an Interview Room. (www.embassysnooker.com) The Studio which is also part of the Sheffield Theatres Complex is transformed into a two table practice area and the TV set for the BBC team and front man. The Crucible holds less than 1,000 spectators and tickets are eagerly snapped up by the sports fanatical followers. Why has there been little inward investment? * The size of the auditorium means that the revenue generated by the event is limited. This means there is less money to re-invest in the event and Sheffield as a whole. * The Crucible theatre is only a temporary sports venue for 17 days out of every year. For the majority of the year it is a normal theatre, staging touring and in-house productions. BUPA Great North Run The BUPA Great North Run is the worlds biggest half marathon, with 47,000 people running from Newcastle city centre to South Shields a festival of fun runners, colours and an estimated 8 million pounds is raised for good causes each year. Since it started in 1981, around half a million people have completed the 13 miles and 192 and a half yards run. The first marathon attracted only 12,000 participants but its popularity has rocketed and now many thousands of applicants are unable to get an entry. There were people from 25 different countries competing in this years event. The Great North Run has attracted many celebrities and well known personalities. Kevin Keegan once ran the Great North Run wearing the red and white stripes of Sunderland and the black and white stripes of Newcastle United. Soccer star Paul Gascoigne once pushed a wheelchair athlete all the way round the Great North Run circuit. Why has there been little investment? * The Great North Run is a charity sporting event. All money generated through the event are donated to charity and not re-invested in the area. * The event is run around the streets of Newcastle so does not require any purpose built facilities which would require investment. Conclusions to Key Question 4 The most common reason for little investment in a sporting event appears to be the lack of need for permanent sporting facilities. Facilities provision is the most costly aspect of a sporting event so where they are not required, investment is significantly less. Another reason for lack of investment, as demonstrated by the Great North Run, is if it is a charity sporting event. These events set out to make as much money for good causes as possible so dont spend money unnecessarily. Small maximum attendances also reduce investment. Money from ticket and merchandise sales is one of the main sources of income, so a small venue will only generate a little money for re-investment. Final Conclusion The initial question that was asked at the beginning of this report was: To what extent do major sporting events act as a focus for inward investment? I examined this issue using four key questions, making ongoing conclusions as I went along. The following conclusion is an accumulation of my findings throughout the report: * I have reached the conclusion that the majority of sporting events do act as a focus for inward investment. Through my research and analysis of a range of different types and scales of sporting events I believe that the extent to which this is true depends on the nature of the event. Large scale events such as an Olympic games will require a much larger investment than a world championship in a specific sport. They will require a wider range of sporting facilities and are likely to attract a broader range of spectators, requiring greater provision of spectator facilities. * I have also concluded that many of these events have lasting benefits not just for the people who benefit directly from the facilities but the general population of the area who receive the financial and social benefits. * Events which do not act as a focus for inward investment are those which do not require permanent facilities, or in the case of the BUPA Great North Run any facilities. The potential audience size can also be a limiting factor as shown by the example of the Embassy World Snooker Championship. As you can see from my conclusion, the question asked in this report is of a complex nature and has no simple answer. I used case studies covering a range of scales and locations in order to make as accurate a judgement as possible. However I could only use a limited number due to the length of time I had to carry out my research and compile this report. To fully investigate the issue I would need to carry out my research on a much larger scale, covering a greater time period and range of events. Bibliography Websites * Athens 2004 www.athens.olympic.org Official site for the Summer Olympics, Athens 2004. Contains information on the preparations being made ahead of the games, the events that will take place during the games, and regularly updated press releases. * Embassy World Snooker Championship www.embassysnooker.com Official site of the major sponsor of world snooker, Embassy tobacco company. Contains information on all the major world snooker events and venues, the latest news from the world of snooker, and its history as a major sport. * Great North Run www.greatnorthrunjustgiving.homestead.com Website containing information on the history of the Great North Run, and how sponsorship can be raised and collected. People wishing to take part have to sign up here. www.onrunning.com Website run by BUPA (The British United Provident Association), a leading UK private medical insurance organisation. Contains the latest information on the Great North Run and other charity races which they sponsor. * Silverstone www.grandprix.com A website dedicated to Formula One. Contains up-to-date news articles as well as circuit, driver and team profiles. www.octagonmotorsports.com Website belonging to Octagon Motor sports, a US marketing group which owns the rights to the British Grand Prix. Contains information on their role within the motor sports industry, press releases, and profile of the circuits which they have connections with (including Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Oulton Park). * World Cup 2002 www.fifaworldcup.yahoo.com Official site of the FIFA World Cup 2002, containing news articles, competition results, and venue information. * World Student Games, 1991 www.sivltd.com/donvalley Official site for the Don Valley Stadium, owned by Sheffield International Venues Ltd. Contains information on the history of the stadium, its facilities and an up-to-date calendar of events. * Other websites www.culture.gov.uk/sport The DCMS (Department for Culture, Media and Sports) website. www.sportengland.org Website of Sport England, the largest distributor of lottery and exchequer funding for sport in England. www.uksport.gov.uk Website of UK Sport who co-ordinate overall sports policy, the support of elite sport at the UK level as well as UK-wide programmes such as anti-doping and major events. Books * Economics, A New Approach by A.G. Anderton A contemporary A Level text; fully updated and revised to take account of recent economic developments.

The Patriot Movie Historical Accuracy

The Patriot Movie Historical Accuracy The first thing I would say about the movie is that almost everyone watches the movie. People watch all types of movie including action movies, adventure movies, comedy movies, and many other categories, but when it comes to the history movies, people do not think if the story of the history movie is a truly based on our real history or it is just filled with bunch of fiction. People usually guestimate that every history movie is a part of a real history but the reality is that almost every single history movie contains at least little bit of fiction in it to make it great story and to keep the audiences attention. Moving on to the main point, to prove it wrong that not every history movie is truly a part of the real history, I watched the movie called the Patriot and in this paper I will compare the story of the Patriot with real history to figure out if the movie contains a true story of history or is just a filled with fiction. Let me start my giving brief summary of the movie Patriot. This movie is about Benjamin Martin who was father of seven children and he declines an offer to fight for the Continental army. However, as soon the battle ground reaches his front yard and consequently enough his fifteen years old son named Thomas is killed by Colonel Tavington who was the main opponent. In result of this, Benjamin joins the army and creates his private army of rag tag farmers and farmworkers. His armys main goal was to keep General Cornwallis in the state of South Carolina by strategically cutting down his supply and army. Their progress were effective however, later in the story Martins another son named Gabriel became victim to the same colonel that killed his oldest son Thomas. This causes a last battle in the movie between Martin and Tavington. And at the end of this battle, Martin kills Tavington which also helps led the Continental army to victory. (prezi.com) In the movie, during the scene of the last battle it shows that soldiers were holding up the several American flags but in reality, the vast majority of the flags used by the Continental army represented where their militia is from. Another scene in which Benjamin is giving a store clerk a money in which you can see that he is giving five dollar note with Abraham Lincoln on it and this cannot be true because this movie took place more than eighty years before he was elected as a president. Also that during the time of American Revolution men usually saluted by taking their hat off and lowering their hat to the side, then they would put it back on. While in the movie, Gabriel simply salutes by putting his hand on his hat. In the movie all the continental soldiers seem to have same outfits and the British are burning down a church which is full of people. While in the reality everyone in the continental army had very different clothing and there has never been found a historical record which showed that British burned the church. (prezi.com) In the movie there are many factual errors. For example, in the beginning of the story, during the town hall meeting Burwell was saying that we killed 700 of enemy at the Bunker Hill and they were just kept coming, but in reality they killed 226 of them. Also according to the book Down and Out in Early America, it was extremely impossible in the 1776 that a southern plantation owner could easily operate a successful plantation which run by free men who worked by wages. It would be nearly impossible to compare this plantation owner which someone who used slaved as the work force. Also that Benjamin Martin seems to be a principles man in the movie but in reality he killed Indians just for fun and was known for rapping his slaves. Therefore, I would say that all of these things did not appear or they changed it just to make Benjamin Martin good character in the movie regard less of reality. In one scene Benjamin Martin shoots a British troop who was on the moving horse using a flintlock gun at the range of about hundred yards. It clearly seems fake because bullet from powder gun would not travel this much of distance also that traveling of this much distance and hitting moving target would be very difficult with modern guns. (sbroome) In the movie, Lord Cornwallis is portrayed as very old man, which is incorrect because during the time frame of this movie in 1780, General Charles Lord Cornwallis was in his forties. To be more descriptive, based on my research I found that Cornwallis was born in London on December 31, 1738 and according to that year he would be six years younger than George Washington. Moving to the next point, in the scene where aunty charlotte takes in the children after their family home was burned and destroyed, her hair was down. My point is that during the time frame of the movie, women only wore hair down only during sickness or bedtime. Women always pinned up their hair during the day and evening, while they were out in the world therefore, I would say that they this is clear fiction. (About.com) In the battle scene where Benjamin is watching through the farmhouse window and we can see that Redcoats bayonet charge the Rebels. The soldiers ran across several hundred yards of open ground while Redcoat army was well trained army. During that time troops were very important therefore it was not good idea that parts of the troops would simply running around across the battlefield. In reality, they would have charged Bayonets and move towards the enemy. When they are about fifty yards away they would have marched quickly and slow enough to remain a line. This would process would made possible to have control over direction in the case where needed to changed or to cancel the order. And when the troops reach very close then troops could engage the enemy. (sbroome) In another scene in which Gabriel returns to the Martin plantation with sword wound from Battle of the Waxhaws, he said that Gates ordered them to march straight at the redcoats. In reality, Gates was not present nor the commander at the battle of Waxhaws. Furthermore, they were marching away when the British attacked. (sbroome) In this movie, I would say that they tried to trick us, when the British break-in to the Charlottes plantation, Tavington was searching for the child that was hiding under the table and when Tavington looks beneath the table to check if anyone is hiding under or not and at the same time, Nathan moved out from the underneath the table on the right side and Tavington did not see him. The tablecloth on the table hangs several inches from the floor so when Tavington tried to look child under the table he should have seen the Nathan from the gap that was between the table cloth and floor but he did not saw the child. Based on this point, it is clear that in this movie they tried to trick audience. (sbroome) The final battle in the movie is the battle of Cowpens and it seems very big battle while in reality, only twelve American died and was mostly cavalry affair and it was all over in less than an hour. During this battle there was scene in which cannonball comes from enemy side and it rolls on the ground and cuts the leg off of a number of soldiers in its path, in which we can clearly see that one of the soldiers leg falls apart well before the ball even touch his leg. Also in this battle Tavington and Martin seems fighting where Martin first attack Tavington with a pointing tool on the end of the musket. And he also attacks into Tavingtons throat right after first attack and we can see that Tavington was falling on the ground but in the next attack we can see him still standing. The last scene was very confusing so it was hard to made sense. (sbroome) During the American Revolution British were the masters of the sea. But in the movie they had played with natural laws. During the scene of party where we can see that British ship was blown up in the harbor. But the laws of physics describe that behind each action there is an equal and the opposite reaction. When the ship was targeted and destroyed we see the big explosion with fire spreading all over the ship. However, although there was explosion on the ship, ship remains in its original position in the water thus, it did not moved side to side or sank in the water it is impossible because based on physics law ship should have been moved or sunk in the water. As we can determine that some of the scenes were not accurate therefore, there is no drought that story of this movie would include fiction. (Marts.com) I also figured geographical error in the movie, in the scene in which Benjamin and his two of the younger sons were running and passing through the woods to interrupt the British who captured their older brother. They seem jumping and hiding around the rocks to get in position. While in South Carolina it was never glaciated in the part of the area where this story took place. In another scene where Tavington is looking for Martins children at the Charlottes plantation, Susan seem to look out the window covered with venetian blind. The Venetian blinds was not invented until the 1800s or roughly 100 year after the timeframe of the movie. To be more descriptive, the recorded invention of blinds is holds by man from Chile named Hernando de Venuto and it was invented on May 20, 1857. (sbroome) Almost every knows that slaves did not like white people during the time of revolution or any time during the slavery therefore, in the one scene after their home was destroyed, Benjamin Martin send his family and his friends family to a slave colony and they were welcomed there and had little celebration there in the result of arriving of Benjamin Martins family. My point is that they should not have been welcomed to their colony because during that time there were very few slaves colonies existed and salves did not liked the white people. (chccs.k12.nc.us) In conclusion, I would say that even though the movie Patriot includes many fictional story in it but the director of this movie did many of the twist in the real history to make it look more interesting to audiences and make story remember. This movie also gives audiences at least little bit of feeling about American Revolution war. Although I found many errors in the movie it contains very important part of our history and by watching this movie, people can learn more about our history and try to remember it as our past.

Fairies in Folklore and Literature Essay -- Exploratory Essays Researc

Fairies in Folklore and Literature Fairies have been part of literature, art, and culture for more than fifteen hundred years. With them have come many stories about their interaction with adults and children. These stories have been compiled by men such as Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm, who provided the world with a large compilation of fairy tales, which are still told today. Perrault and the Grimms together compiled over six hundred legends that originated from all around Europe. These myths and legends often included imaginary being called fairies, sprites, and nymphs. Fairies are frequently described as tiny human beings. Their clothing, which is usually green, gold, or blue, is thought to have been created from natural elements such as leaves and vines which have been sown together to make their dresses and loin cloths. Many of these magical beings had wings and could change forms and disappear when they had to. There were both male and female fairies, some good and others evil. Evil female fairies were usually associated with female sexuality and abused their magical powers by doing harm (Rose 107-9). They also had two, distinct living groups. One was called the "trooping group," a group of fairies that lived together in a community with governmental authority and laws, usually a monarchy. Most of these "trooping groups" were found in Irish and occasionally in English folklore. The other fairies are simply known as "solitary fairies," the ones that do not live within the community and are associated with outside families, places, or activities. This group would include fairy godmothers (Rose 107). All fairies were said to live in the ground, within a forest. If humans wanted to find the fairie... ... Jane Eyre can been seen in the compilation of Charles Perrault’s work, especially in "Tom Thumb" and "Bluebeard" and "The Fairies." It could also be argued that Charlotte might not have read or heard these stories but was introduced to many of the same themes through gothic novels of the time. Â   Â   Â   Works Cited Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. Ed. Beth Newman. New York: St. Martin’s, 1996. Fraser, Rebecca. The Brontes: Charlotte Bronte and Her Family. New York: Crown, 1988. Perrault, Charles. Perrault’s Classic French Fairy Tales. Austria: Meredith, 1967. Rose, Carol. Spirits, Fairies, Gnomes and Goblins: An Encyclopedia of the Little People. Denver: ABC-CLIO, 1996. Silver, Carole. Strange and Secret Peoples: Fairies and Victorian Consciousness. New York: Oxford UP, 1999. Â   Â   Â   Â   Â   Â   Â   Â   Â   Â   Â   Â   Â   Â   Â   Â   Â   Â   Â  

Warren Pryor

Poem Essay Warren Pryor From Farm to City Feeling like the grass is greener on the other side of the fence is a common feeling. In the poem, Warren Pryor, the protagonist’s parents sacrifice everything â€Å"to free him from the stony fields, the meagre acreage that bore them down. † Warren’s parents only want what they think is best for him — and that isn’t life on a farm. â€Å"They blushed with pride when, at his graduation, they watched him picking up the slender scroll, his passport from the years of brutal toil and lonely patience in a barren hole. † But Warren’s parents are pushing him to pursue a career he doesn’t want.They see a new life in the city as more desirable than working the stony fields — the grass really is greener on the other side. In the poem, Alden Nowlan suggests that the parents’ wish to ensure Warren escapes the farm is stronger than their son’s desire to choose his own path in lif e. Warren doesn’t fight his parent’s decision to send him away to school and off the acreage. â€Å"He was saved from their thistle-strewn farm and its red dirt,† they believe. â€Å"And he said nothing. † There are two views of the farm in this poem. His parents think of the acreage as a desolate wasteland and Warren sees it as home.While Warren is lucky to have parents who are willing to sacrifice to provide him a better life, it’s a sacrifice he doesn’t want. He should have told his parents how he felt. In his job at the bank, Warren feels powerless and angry, â€Å"like a young bear inside his teller’s cage. † He feels conflicted because he doesn’t want to betray his parents’ choices, but he’s unhappy with his life. His â€Å"axe-hewn hands† are wasted, just as a bear’s strength would be if it was caged. Warren feels caged by his city life and he has developed his own desire to escape. War ren Pryor shows how influential parents can be — in both positive and egative respects. If the poem were to be told from the parents’ point of view it would tell a completely different story. There is also a hint of irony in this poem because Warren’s parents are suffering to push him into a life that creates even more suffering. The poem tells us we must try to live our lives in our own way, and not allow others to choose our path. Warren struggles to cope with city life and his parents deal with the hardships of farm life. They both want to escape to a better place. But everyone has their own dreams of where that better place is. For some, that may mean working on a farm.

Learning About Starfish

Learning About Starfish Starfish are fascinating creatures. With their   bumpy, five-armed bodies, its easy to see how they got their  name, but did you know that starfish arent really fish at all? Scientists dont call these ocean-dwelling  creatures starfish. They call them sea stars because they arent fish. They dont have gills, scales, or backbones like fish do. Instead, starfish are invertebrate  marine organisms tbhat  are part of the family known as  echinoderms. One feature that all echinoderms have in common is that their body parts are arranged symmetrically around a center point. For starfish, those body  parts are their arms. Each arm has suckers that help starfish, who dont swim, move along and capture prey. Most of the 2,000 species of starfish have the five arms that inspired their name, but some have as many as 40 arms! Starfish can regrow an arm if they lose one. Thats because their vital organs are located in their arms. In fact, as long as an arm has part of the starfishs central disc, it can regenerate an entire starfish. At the end of each of a starfishs five to forty arms is  an eye that helps them locate food. Starfish eat things like clams, snails, and small fish. Their stomachs are located on the underside of their central body part. Did you know that a starfishs stomach can come out of its body to envelop its prey? Another striking fact about starfish is that they dont have brains or blood! Instead of blood, they have a water vascular system that helps them breathe, move, and expel waste. Instead of a brain, they have a complex system of light - and temperature-sensitive nerves. Starfish  live only in saltwater habitats but are found in all Earths oceans. They vary in sized based on the species but are usually between 4 and 11 inches in diameter and can weigh up to 11 pounds. The lifespan of a starfish also varies by species, but many live up to 35 years. They can be found in a variety of colors such as brown, red, purple, yellow, or pink. If you are fortunate enough to find a starfish in a  tide pool or the ocean, you can safely pick it  up. Just be very careful not to harm the starfish and make sure to return it to its home. Learning About Starfish To learn more about sea stars, try some of these excellent books: Starfish by Edith Thacher Hurd is a Lets-Read-and-Find-Out About story about starfish  and how they live in the deep blue sea. One Shining Starfish by Lori Flying Fish is a colorful counting book featuring starfish and other ocean-dwelling creatures.   Star of the Sea: A Day in the Life of a Starfish by  Janet Halfmann is a beautifully-illustrated book that weaves facts about starfish into a delightfully captivating tale. Seashells, Crabs and Sea Stars: Take-Along Guide by Christiane Kump Tibbitts introduces a variety of marine life, including starfish. It includes tips for identifying several marine-dwelling creatures and features fun activities to try. Spiny Sea Star: A Tale of Seeing Stars by Suzanne Tate provides easily-accessible facts about starfish with adorable illustrations. Sea Star Wishes: Poems from the Coast by Eric Ode is a collection of  ocean-themed poems, including those about starfish. Memorize a starfish poem or two as you study sea stars. Resources and Activities for Learning About Starfish Spend some time researching and learning about starfish using your library, the Internet, or local resources. Try some of these ideas: Learn more about how starfish see with the eyes at the end of each of their arms.Research starfish anatomy. Learn how they eat, breathe, and move.Visit an aquarium or a fish store to see live starfish up close.If you live near a beach, look for starfish in the tide pools.Make a diorama featuring starfish, their habitat, and their prey.Create an ABC book about starfish.Do some research to find out what creatures other than starfish are members of the  echinoderm family.Learn about the dangers,  such as predators and pollution, that starfish face. Starfish, or sea stars, are enchanting creatures who play an important role in their environment. Have fun learning more about them! Updated by Kris Bales