Cats Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

Cats Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Free Online Research Papers An event I chose from Cats Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut was from chapter six. The event I chose in the book was the day that the atomic bomb was going to hit Japan and Newt, the son of a scientist,writes a letter to John. There was a scence when Newt was sitting outside of his fathers work office on the carpet playing with his toy trucks. His father was one of the people who were involved in making the atomic bomb. While Newt was playing outside, his father came out with a string he got from a manuscript and tried to play with John. John’s father rarely even spoke to him or played any games so Newtwas surprised. â€Å"He had hardly ever even spoken to me(Vonnegut12). He made the string into a shape of the cats cradle and waved it in front of johns face. See?see?see? Cats cradle. See the cats cradle? See where the nice pussycat sleeps? Meow meow(Vonnegut12). Newt was not very interested in it and it seemed he was more interested in how his father looked like up close. His pores looks as big as the craters on the moon. His ears and nostrils were stuffed with hair. Cigar smoke made him smell like mouth of hell. So close up, my father was the ugliest thing I have ever seen.(Vonnegut12). Whe n his father started to sing, John started to cry and ran away from his father. I found this funny and it kind of persuades me to go on and read more. This scene I chose from the book develops humor and rejection as a theme. I chose humor as a theme because Newts reaction toward his father after he tried to play with Newt made me laugh. â€Å"I burst into tears. I jumped up and ran out of the house as fast as I could go(Vonnegut12). It seemed that he got frighten by his father’s looks. I did feel bad for the father because he was really hurt by John’s reaction. â€Å"My sister Angela has told me many times that I really hurt my father that day when I wouldn’t admire the cats cradle, when I wouldn’t stay there on the carpet with my father and listen to him sing(Vonnegut13).and that’s when rejection comes in. When Newt ran away crying from his father scared, the father was basically rejected by his son. It seemed like Newt didn’t want to play with him because he was frighten by how ugly his father looked . I also find this pretty weird because Newt realizes how his father looked when he saw him up close. I think this scenes purpose was to catch the readers’ attention and it worked. It interested me and I read on longer. How he thought of his father and especially his reaction towards it. I think it gives the readers a laugh. Rejection is also important in this scene because no one wants to be rejected by their children and Newts father felt rejected when Newt ran away crying from him. Overall, humor and rejection are what sets a theme in this scene. Newts reaction toward his father was funny, and Newt running away from his father gave off this rejected feeling. I picked this scene because I was getting bored and it caught my attention to read on. Research Papers on Cat’s Cradle by Kurt VonnegutBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyWhere Wild and West MeetComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenHip-Hop is Art19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraThe Spring and AutumnTrailblazing by Eric Anderson

Raul Castro Biography and Profile

Raul Castro Biography and Profile Raà ºl Castro (1931-) is the current President of Cuba and brother of Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro. Unlike his brother, Raà ºl is quiet and reserved and spent most of his life in his older brother’s shadow. Nevertheless, Raà ºl played a very important role in the Cuban Revolution as well as in the government of Cuba after the revolution was over. Early Years Raà ºl Modesto Castro Ruz was one of the  several illegitimate children born to sugar farmer Angel Castro and his maid, Lina Ruz Gonzlez. Young Raà ºl attended the same schools as his older brother but was neither as studious nor gregarious as Fidel. He was just as rebellious, however, and had a history of discipline problems. When Fidel became active in student groups as a leader, Raà ºl quietly joined a student communist group. He would always be as ardent a communist as his brother, if not more so. Raà ºl eventually became a leader himself of these student groups, organizing protests and demonstrations. Personal Life Raà ºl married his girlfriend and fellow revolutionary Vilma Espà ­n not long after the triumph of the revolution. They have four children. She passed away in 2007. Raà ºl leads an austere personal life, although there have been rumors that he may be an alcoholic. He is thought to despise homosexuals and reputedly influenced Fidel to jail them in the early years of their administration. Raà ºl has been consistently dogged by rumors that Angel Castro was not his real father. The most likely candidate, former rural guardsman Felipe Miraval, never denied nor confirmed the possibility. Moncada Like many socialists, Raà ºl was disgusted by the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. When Fidel began planning a revolution, Raà ºl was included from the start. The first armed action of the rebels was the July 26, 1953, attack on the federal barracks at Moncada outside of Santiago. Raà ºl, barely 22 years old, was assigned to the team sent to occupy the Palace of Justice. His car got lost on the way there, so they arrived late, but did secure the building. When the operation fell apart, Raà ºl and his companions dropped their weapons, put on civilian clothes, and walked out onto the street. He was eventually arrested. Prison and Exile Raà ºl was convicted of his role in the uprising and sentenced to 13 years in prison. Like his brother and some of the other leaders of the Moncada assault, he was sent to the Isle of Pines prison. There, they formed the 26th of July Movement (named for the date of the Moncada assault) and began plotting how to continue the revolution. In 1955 President Batista, responding to international pressure to release political prisoners, freed the men who had planned and carried out the Moncada assault. Fidel and Raà ºl, fearing for their lives, quickly went into exile in Mexico. Return to Cuba During their time in exile, Raà ºl befriended Ernesto â€Å"Chà ©Ã¢â‚¬  Guevara, an Argentine doctor who was also a committed communist. Raà ºl introduced his new friend to his brother, and the two hit it right off. Raà ºl, by now a veteran of armed actions as well as prison, took an active role in the 26th of July Movement. Raà ºl, Fidel, Chà ©, and new recruit Camilo Cienfuegos were among the 82 people who crowded on board the 12-person yacht Granma in November 1956 along with food and weapons to return to Cuba and start the revolution. In the Sierra Miraculously, the battered Granma carried all 82 passengers the 1,500 miles to Cuba. The rebels were quickly discovered and attacked by the army, however, and less than 20 made it into the Sierra Maestra Mountains. The Castro brothers soon began waging a guerrilla war against Batista, collecting recruits and weapons when they could. In 1958 Raà ºl was promoted to Comandante and given a force of 65 men and sent to the north coast of Oriente Province. While there, he imprisoned about 50 Americans, hoping to use them to keep the United States from intervening on behalf of Batista. The hostages were quickly released. Triumph of the Revolution In the waning days of 1958, Fidel made his move, sending Cienfuegos and Guevara in command of most of the rebel army, against army installations and important cities. When Guevara decisively won the Battle of Santa Clara, Batista realized he could not win and fled the country on January 1, 1959. The rebels, including Raà ºl, rode triumphantly into Havana. Mopping Up After Batista In the immediate aftermath of the revolution, Raà ºl and Chà © were given the task of rooting out supporters of former dictator Batista. Raà ºl, who had already begun setting up an intelligence service, was the perfect man for the job: he was ruthless and totally loyal to his brother. Raà ºl and Chà © oversaw hundreds of trials, many of which resulted in executions. Most of those executed had served as policemen or army officers under Batista. Role in Government and Legacy As Fidel Castro transformed the revolution into government, he came to rely on Raà ºl more and more. In the 50 years after the revolution, Raà ºl served as head of the Communist Party, minister of defense, vice president of the Council of State, and many more important positions. He has generally been most identified with the military: he has been Cuba’s top-ranking military officer since soon after the Revolution. He advised his brother during times of crisis such as the Bay of Pigs Invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis. As Fidel’s health faded, Raà ºl came to be considered as the logical (and perhaps the only possible) successor. An ailing Castro turned over the reins of power to Raà ºl in July 2006, and in January 2008 Raà ºl was elected president in his own right, Fidel having withdrawn his name from consideration. Many see Raà ºl as being more pragmatic than Fidel, and there was some hope that Raà ºl would loosen the restrictions placed on Cuban citizens. He has done so, although not to the extent that some expected. Cubans can now own cell phones and consumer electronics. Economic reforms were implemented in 2011 to encourage more private initiative, foreign investment, and agrarian reforms. He limited terms for president, and he will step down after his second term as president ends in 2018. Normalization of relations with the United States began in earnest under  Raà ºl, and full diplomatic relations were resumed in 2015. President Obama visited Cuba and met with  Raà ºl in 2016. It will be interesting to see who succeeds Raà ºl as President of Cuba, as the torch gets handed to the next generation. Sources Castaà ±eda, Jorge C. Compaà ±ero: The Life and Death of Che Guevara. New York: Vintage Books, 1997. Coltman, Leycester. The Real Fidel Castro. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2003.

Crafting a Compensation & Benefits Plan Research Paper

Crafting a Compensation & Benefits Plan - Research Paper Example important aspects of comparison salary, medical, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance and vacation benefits of three companies are taken into consideration. Moreover, the paper based on the aforementioned factors will formulate a compensation plan for the organization I am associated. The welding company was founded in the year 2000. During the period of 2009, it was recognized as a limited organization. The prime aim of establishing the company is to supply products that include metal, submerged arc, wires and other products across a city. The company had faced difficulties with respect to obligations towards its employees. The company is required to select the appropriate alternative compensation and benefits plan in order to meet the labor difficulties. Additionally, the company needs to make significant analysis of other companies offering benefits and compensations for the retention of employees and working conditions to mitigate the challenges of the company. The tabulated compensation and benefit plan of Joe’s Welding and Machine, Paragon Pipe Fitting and Acme Tool and Engineering indicates that the compensation benefits that were offered by Acme Tool and Engineering company is significantly better than the offering of other companies. The salary offered by the Acme is higher compared to other companies. Moreover, the analysis also reveals that Acme has witnessed high stability in its human resource management compared to that of Joe’s and Paragon. The evaluation reflected that the Acme depicts a strong choice and section for the people who were looking for the new job in the welding and manufacturing industry. Moreover, implementation of more or less similar policy into our organization would help to meet the significant challenges and the changing requirements of the business. In the changing business dynamics, organizations need to change their working structure constantly with the technological advancement. In this regard, in order to manage

Education system in Saudi Arabia and the United States Research Paper

Education system in Saudi Arabia and the United States - Research Paper Example Similarities between the US and Saudi Arabian education systems In both countries, the government has a great influence on education. For instance, governments of both countries fund the free public education. It is mandatory for children to attend school in both countries. Education is offered by the public and private institutions in both countries. Public institutions are obliged to follow a common curriculum set by the various education boards. The private institutions are free to develop their curriculum, but the designed curriculum should be within the limits of low. The private institutions have freedom determine the fee to be paid by students for offering the education services. In both countries, the higher education has gone through massive improvement and transformation (Cordesman, 2003). The number of universities and tertiary institution in both countries has been on an increase in the past few decades. The government and the private sectors have been involved in developing the higher education in both the US and Saudi Arabia. In addition, the systems in both countries facilitate awarding of scholarships to students wishing to pursue higher education. Awarding of scholarships is open not only to the residents of the respective countries but also students from foreign countries. Essentially, the education systems of both countries accommodate foreign education exchange programs.

Outline What Radio Station Or Stations You Listen Essay Example for Free

Outline What Radio Station Or Stations You Listen Essay My interests in listening to radio and TV programs are focused mainly on news programs, current affairs features and interviews. I am excited by interviews of world leaders, the current news and programs relating to current affairs. For this reason, my favorite channel on radio is CBC Radio One and my preferred channel on TV is CNN. The radio station that I listen to for news and current affairs is Radio One, it is a CBC channel and the World Report makes me abreast of major news program. It is broadcast at one hour interval so that I can listen to it even if I miss one bulletin. The World Report in the morning allows me to keep abreast of the international new that have taken place during the night. In addition, the program has domestic stories and the events that are expected to happen during the day. Listening to Radio One in the morning makes me ready to face the day. Also I love listening to the voice of Judy Maddren every morning. It is refreshing. Another program that I like listening to is Sounds Like Canada on Radio One. It is Shelagh Rogers’ perspective on the different communities and citizens of Canada. The program explores the diversity and allows us to meet her guests every weekday. Another program that I enjoy listening to regularly on Radio One is As It Happens in the evening. This program is a current affairs program that brings interesting interviews with world leaders and deposed leaders. The program loves eccentricities and I love the program for the depth to which it goes in probing every story. The program addresses complaints, digs into demonstrations, carries cries for justice and investigates bizarre scenarios. This is really an exciting program. On the television the program that I like the best is Larry-King Live on CNN. I like this show because of the manner in which interviews and discussions are carried out. Larry-King shows great sensitivity towards the people he interviews and the results are great. The persons whom he interviews open up. He takes phone calls from all over the world. The persons he has interviewed recently are Anna Nicole Smith, Rudi Giuliani and Judge Judy! Again on CNN, I watch the Anderson Cooper 360 degrees. This show gives me a good look at world events, including the most important news from all over the world. Why I find this show fascinating is that it presents the most mundane news in an interesting manner and it also gives news that would normally have been ignored by other news channels. I also like the medical news given by Dr. Sanjay Gupta in this program. I have got several useful health tips from this program. Some of the important features of Anderson Cooper 360 degrees that I like are the blog, newsmaker interviews and ‘keeping them honest’. I really like the honesty tilt to the shows. It really catches crooks. On CNN I like the ’Late Edition’ (Cable News Network 2007). This show dishes out excellent interviews with leaders. The interviewees have included the president of the USA, the US Vice-President and the past president. In addition there are international stories and the latest news. I like this program because the interviews are high profile, the news objective and features interesting. To sum, I love listening to Radio One, a CBC channel, the programs that I like are the World Report, As It Happens, and Sounds Like Canada. On the TV the programs that I watch are on the CNN. These programs are Larry-King Live, Anderson Cooper 360 degrees and the ‘Late Edition’.

The Elderly and Malnutrition Essay -- Health Nutrition Pyramid Diet

The Elderly and Malnutrition      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   At any age, nutrition is vital to maintaining health and enhancing quality of life.   However, achieving good nutrition can be especially difficult for the elderly, the fastest growing portion of America's population.   Many factors, including physiological changes, changes in nutritional needs, illness and physical limitations, food-medication interactions, depression and loneliness, and food insecurity are common causes of malnutrition in the elderly.   This paper will explore factors affecting elderly nutrition, provide suggestions for obtaining and maintaining good nutrition after age 65, and describe the services available to help the elderly meet their nutritional needs.  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A number of factors influence the nutritional status of the elderly.   First, several physiological changes impact elderly nutritional requirements.   Changes in taste and smell may decrease an individual's appetite or desire for food.   Gastro-intestinal motility decreases with age and may lead to constipation, decreased nutrient absorption, and a decrease in fat and protein absorption.   Metabolism also slows with age; this results in a decrease of lean body mass and an increase in body fat (8).   Lastly, bone mass decreases, leaving the elderly vulnerable to bone fractures from falls and osteoporosis.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ultimately, these physiological changes result in different nutritional needs for the elderly.   The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences issues the Recommended Daily Allowances for healthy people over the age of 51.   However, these RDAs are limited in that they have been derived from studies of younger, healthy populations and do not account ... ...;. 5) Good Nutrition is Ageless. Egg Nutrition Center. 22 Jan. 2002 <http://www.enc-online.org/elderly.htm>. 6) Good Nutrition for Seniors Caregiver Fact Sheet. 9 Aug. 2001. National Network for Health. 22 Jan. 2002 <http://www.nnh.org/products/gnfs.htm>. 7) Home page. Meals on Wheels Association of America. 22 Jan. 2000.   <http://www.projectmeal.org/mowaa.html>. 8) "Nutrition Index."   Gerontology and Geriatric Dentistry n.d.: n. pag. Columbia University Dental Education Software. N.d. 9) A Profile on Older Americans: 2001. 10 Jan. 2002. Administration on Aging. 22 Jan. 2002 <http://www.aoa.gov/default.htm>. 10) The Warning Signs. New York State Office for the Aging. 22 Jan. 2002 <http://agingwell.state.ny.us/eatwell/warning.htm>. 11) Wieand, Jane. Telephone Interview. 22 Jan. 2002.      

Diverse Family Structures

There are many situations that are included in the description of what a diverse family structure represents, and homelessness is one revelation. After watching the video of Mr. Keiley, the teacher from the Monarch School, I reflected on his comments regarding teaching and homelessness and found that I did not share his beliefs about if the child’s parents are struggling then the children will struggle as well. As the classroom teacher I would not assume that the child’s success or failure is a direct result of the parent.There are many times when the parent is doing everything they can to help the child’s success in the classroom but they simply are not able to accomplish the goal they have set. Despite the circumstances children are often times very resilient and able to accomplish quite a bit. Just as in the video, Mr. Keiley was shocked to learn that the child was homeless, but was able to come to school and do remarkably well despite her personal situation. While at school, she focused on doing her absolute best and did not let the fact that she was homeless affect her thirst for knowledge.She was able to put things in perspective and focus on what needed to be done in the setting she was in, just as she is probably able to do what she needs to do when not in school to adapt to the situation of homelessness. As the classroom teacher, if I were aware of a student with these same or similar issues of homelessness I would continue to do all that I could for this student academically. I would allow the student to come to class early or stay late if they wanted in order to have access to materials, technology, and resources to do their work.I would also make sure that they had ample opportunity to complete assignments as well as provide any material that they would need. By providing information to resources and informing the family of programs designed to help diverse families would be a definite goal. I would also contact organizations to provide donations to families in need so that they could get clothing, food, and even school supplies. I would definitely want to make a connection with the families at this school, but I would not want to embarrass them either.I would first make them comfortable with me by not being judgmental and showing empathy. I would make sure that they were aware of particular services that could benefit them, and encourage them to take part in community events that were open to everyone so that they would not feel singled out. Of course if they were open to me about their situation and comfortable about expressing what their needs were, I would help them in any and all ways I could to better their situation.I would provide them with not only information but services that are offered to families in their situation such as shelters and pantries. There are quite a few strategies that I would utilize in order to support a consistent, effective, and reliable learning environment. According to ou r text they list materials, interactions, and questions as ways to support diverse families and children in the program and classroom. By incorporating students experiences, interests and real-life situations into the instruction is a key strategy that helps support the learning environment.This way you can provide meaningful learning opportunities for students to help them feel a connection to what they are learning and make sense of it if it relates to them in some way. Another strategy I would use is to promote cross cultural understandings and the importance of diversity. This will make families feel important and as though they matter. I would also provide essential support for students who appeared to be struggling with the content by selecting and utilizing a variety of technology that supports the student learning.Lastly, by making lesson connections to the community, society, and current events will help tremendously in supporting a consistent, effective, and reliable learn ing environment. An excellent source to implement this strategy is the TEL (Tennessee Electronic Library) which is found on the Tennessee Department of Education website link http://tntel. tnsos. org/index. htm. With these strategies in place, I have no doubt that the learning environment I provide will surely be consistent, effective, and reliable for the children in my class.