When Your Reading Life Falls Apart

When Your Reading Life Falls Apart Has your reading life all your bookish hopes and dreams and plans ever completely and utterly fallen apart? One day you’re chugging along with your Goodreads challenge, making your way through your TBR, buying books in the expectation that you will read them soon, posting your bookish pictures on Instagram and Litsy, and then the next day and for many days after that, you’re not reading anything. All this change might make you feel like a different person. You may wonder who you are. When reading is a part of your identity and then your reading changes, you might not recognize yourself. This happened to me after the election last November. My first impulse was to think that my reading would stay mostly the same, just with a little more attention to books about politics, society, and activism. But then I found myself reading less and less and spending time online catching up on the news more and more. I began to get more politically involved, attending a few meetings and rallies. I volunteered to be a researcher for a local activist group and spent more time researching the workings of my state government. All I wanted to listen to was political podcasts, in spite of having just started an Audible membership in the hopes of getting more reading in through audiobooks. This change in focus isn’t necessarily a bad thing nobody has to be the same kind of reader their entire life but it is disorienting. The things I cared about one day reading as many books as possible, keeping up my book blog, writing reviews, participating in bookish social media I could no longer summon up energy to worry about the next. For the last decade and a half of my adult life, I spent almost every evening reading books and I devoted a lot of time during the day to thinking about what I had just read and what I would read next. But now I’m contemplating the prospect of many evenings in a row doing something entirely different. I may read half as many books this year as I did last year, or even fewer. My blog may go completely neglected and my bookish twitter feed may become entirely political. And now I’m wondering, can I get by reading only an essay or a short story every now and then? Will I be okay taking two or three weeks to read a novel instead of a few days ? Will I be just fine, or will I feel like a vital part of me is gone? The answer is that I don’t know. My life may be heading off in a new direction. Or I may simply be going through a tumultuous but short-lived time and I’ll return to my usual ways before long. I can’t tell. And in the meantime, I’m feeling adrift. I’m guessing most if not all of you have experienced something similar, whether in response to political upheaval or because of personal life events. It’s a strange feeling, isn’t it, when the events of one day make your feelings toward books completely change? Books have helped me figure out who I am, they have given me a sense of purpose and focus. But my sense of purpose may come from somewhere else in the future. That makes me feel very strange, but I guess it’s going to be okay.

Dating and the Single Parent - 1966 Words

Christine R. Rykhus L25966345 Book Critique Dating and the Single Parent Dr. Ken Nichols PACO 603 D02 Summary In the book Dating and the Single Parent Ron Deal walks the single parent through the process of dating again. This book is broken into three sections. Section one has five chapters and is titled â€Å"Getting Past the Butterflies and Warm Fuzzes.† In the beginning Deal starts with â€Å"Dating in a Crowd: Dating with Purpose.† (29) With this in mind the reader begins to understand you will be dating the entire family. Deal describes different types of daters, and warns the reader against the â€Å"Consumer daters who want guarantees† (44) about the dates. These consumer daters want the dates to be their all in all and meet their†¦show more content†¦The â€Å"green light† (159) means everything is good and you can proceed with the dating or marriage plans. In the â€Å"green light† stage you can define your relationship. At this point Deal suggests you can share your relationship with your children. This also is the stage during which it is suggested you take the â€Å"Couple Checkup† (169). There are two advantages to doing it in this stage: first â€Å"it provides you and your partner an objective X ray of your relationship health.† (169) Second â€Å"learning about your weaknesses helps you as a couple target specific ways to improve.† (169) This counselor will encourage couples in the red light zone to take a break and consider not dating any longer. If they are in the yellow light zone this counselor will encourage them to consider looking deeply at what the problems are and working through them before proceeding with the relationship. In the green light zone this counselor will encourage them to be willing to talk about issues when they arise, to be willing to talk about them, and to work on a compromise. Deal states: â€Å"Confidence calms the heart and reduces anxiety†. (194) This counselor could not agree more, and knowing where you stand in a relationship is the most important element. Solidifying the relationship so both persons know how each other feels and what toShow MoreRelatedDating Single Parent1537 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Summary Dating and the Single Parent is a book five star book, because Deal has done a marvelous job presenting useful steps for single parents who are divorced and is thinking of re-entering back into a dating relationship, or even remarrying. The book is divided into sections of dating to present a sequential sequence of steps to determine whether the single parent is ready, and what right decisions they need to make if they have children. The book is honest, and practical when it comes to addressingRead MoreDeal Book Essay1524 Words   |  7 PagesThis book gives single parents an ideal of what to expect when dating. When a person has children sometimes it difficult to find a date, even to find time to date someone. Ron L. Deal has come up with different guidelines to help a single person find love in all the right places. Getting Past Butterflies and Warm Fuzzies God made people to be loved. Some people have the longing desire to be loved and married one day while others do not have the desire to have a marriage. When a parent wants again toRead MoreThe Roles Of Two Parents987 Words   |  4 PagesThe Single Role Imagine you are a parent of one or more children and the other parent has left. Leaving behind nothing but his or her name and some kids. Imagine waking up to face each day and your children, knowing you face it all alone. A number of people don’t have to imagine, this is their reality. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word role as a part that someone or something has in a particular activity or situation and the part someone has in a family, society, or other groupRead MoreThe Reality Of The Disabled1718 Words   |  7 Pagesproduced pictures and perceptions that are not conclusive with the actual state of sexuality within the disabled world of dating. It is easily noticed in the media and movies, as romantic roles are rarely given to the disabled, further making the perceptions of dating a disabled person out of minds reach for society as a whole. Many people are not open minded enough about dating a disabled person to actually attempt to do so. In America, the average person is unaware of how disabled people live, loveRead More Traditional and Internet Dating Essay685 Words   |  3 PagesTraditional and Internet Dating At some point in our lives where we are searching for that special someone. The methods of going about dating have changed quite dramatically over the years. Going out has grown from traditional dating, to internet dating, to group dating.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Traditional Dating has changed over the years. In my generation the girls can ask the guys, there is no telling where they might go on a date, or they might just hang out at home, which did not happen as much 25 yearsRead MoreMarriage And Arranged Marriage1314 Words   |  6 Pagesarranged marriage can be defined as â€Å"the arrangement of a marriage exclusively by a third party or by a joint venture of the third party and the child/person getting married† (Bowman and Dollahite, 2013). Most marriages in the world are arranged by parents or matchmakers and in many cultures in the non-Western world, love is believed not to be a requirement for marriage (Epstein, Pandit, Thakar, 2013). In some of these cultures, arranged marriages are not only accepted, but are considered a normalRead MoreWise Tips Dating Single Moms Need to Know Before Introducing the Kids to the New Guy786 Words   |  4 PagesWise Tips Dating Single Moms Need to Know Before Introducing the Kids to the New Guy Dating when you have children can be very exasperating. You dont only think about how to go on with the date, you also think about what is going to be good for the children. After all, it is no longer just about you and him alone. Its also whether or not the kids will be cool enough to like your guy and vice versa. It is often worth any single parents trouble to note what it is their children might be thinkingRead MoreTeens Who Suffer Dating Abuse952 Words   |  4 Pagesexplosive over trivial issues or the social butterfly has less friends. Many grandparents today find themselves with a single parent child moving back home, placing the burden of being both parent and grandparent on the Baby-Boomer. The grandparent notices changes in the teen due to daily contact. These changes should never be dismissed or ignored. The statistics on dating violence are staggering: †¢ Roughly 1.5 million high school boys and girls in the U.S. admit to being intentionally hitRead MoreKeeping The Ground Rules For Dating Essay1509 Words   |  7 PagesNow that my daughters have reached teenage hood, I know dating will be right around the corner. Not that silly elementary school boyfriend girlfriend stuff, but real honest to goodness dating. My husbands idea of dealing with this is to make sure any boy who comes calling sees him sharpening knives or playing with some life threatening power tool. I think we ll go my way first, setting the ground rules for dating. Setting ground rules with your daughter shouldn t be too hard; after all she wantsRead MoreSocial Dating is a Modern Phenomenon in our Society937 Words   |  4 Pagesespecially teenagers, are influenced by their peers, parents and social media. Whether it is what is in style or what the kids are doing these days, it seems like everyone is following each other either through a social network such a s Facebook or through face to face interactions. One of the areas in which they are influenced most is dating. Dating is a modern phenomenon which has only recently been brought up in the last century. Not only is dating the norm in the United States, but also in many other

Respect of the Gods in the Odyssey - 1219 Words

Odyssey Essay When his two nearest companions pulled away his clothes and looked at his neck, they had said him a solemn farewell in expectation of his death. We ll meet again in a better world, they said. He was classed among the dying and put aside on a cot to do so. But he failed at it. After two days, space being short, they sent him on to a regular hospital in his own state. All through the mess of the field hospital and the long grim train ride south in a boxcar filled with wounded, he had agreed with his friends and the doctors. He thought he would die. About all he could remember of the trip was the heat and the odors of blood and of shit, for many of the wounded had the flux. (Frazier, 4) Charles Frazier s novel Cold†¦show more content†¦Zeus crashes Odysseus vessel, spins it in a circle, and fills the boat with brimstone. Odysseus men are thrown into the water and bobbing like sea crows (12.418). The gods then bring Odysseus to the Island of Ogygia, home of Kalypso. For Odyss eus crew, the price of disrespecting and provoking Helios was death. Instead of being killed, Odysseus was placed under the hardship of duress on Kalypso s island. Just as Odysseus men rashly and stupidly provoke and dishonor Helios, Odysseus rashly and stupidly provokes Poseidon through a careless display of hubris. According to the Earth Shaker, Poseidon, mortals such as Odysseus do [him] no honor (13.129). Odysseus dishonors the Earth Shaker when he blinds his Cyclops son, Polyphemos, by twirling fire-point-hardened timber in the Cyclops eye as he slept, causing blood to boil around the hot point of the timber, so that the blast and scorch of the burning singes Polyphemos eyelids and eyeballs, and the fire makes the roots of his eye crackle (9.390).Odysseus and his men rush back to their ship. As they escape the oafish Cyclops, Odysseus engages in a uselessly macho and reckless act of bravado; he taunts Polyphemos, telling him, Cyclops, if any mortal man ever asks you who it was that inflicted upon your eye this shameful blinding, tell him that you were blinded by Odysseus, sacker of cities (9.502-504).Show MoreRelated The Gods in Homers The Iliad and The Odyssey Essay1393 Words   |  6 PagesThe Gods in Homers The Iliad and The Odyssey The stories told in the Iliad and Odyssey are based on stories handed down over several generations, for they preserve (as we have seen) memories of an already quiet far distant past. The two pomes show clear connection in their language and style, in the manner in which their incidents presented, and in the combination of agreement with level, which distinguish their creation. The work was written by one author but gave two diverse views on theRead More Odysseus’ Search for Purpose in Homers Odyssey Essay1419 Words   |  6 PagesOdysseus’ Search for Purpose in The Odyssey   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As a wayfarer in life, The Odyssey focuses on life’s greater purpose through the fulfillment of destiny, perseverance, and loyalty. These three themes recur continuously throughout Odysseus’ journey, molding life’s greater vision. Odysseus comes to understand his purpose in life by remaining true to these major themes as he faces and conquers each obstacle in his journey. The overarching theme of The Odyssey is the belief that man cannot escapeRead MoreComparison Between The Odyssey And The Iliad1068 Words   |  5 Pages In the novel The Odyssey, the author Homer describes an outcry against death; whereas in the Iliad death is portrayed as an accomplishment., Both were in the times that is also known as Before Common Era, or BCE. It is known that Iliad begins 10 years before the great Seige of Troy and eventually the odyssey had begun a couple years after that(Classical Lit). When Homer had written these novels it is clear that they have numerous lines, and Homer had written both. In the novel The IliadRead MoreTheme Of Violence In The Odyssey1025 Words   |  5 Pages The Odyssey by Homer is a literary classic that presents many themes about the natures of both man and god. Although the characters of the book display characteristics relatable to those of the people today, one of the most prevalent differences between the two eras and their people is the intense violence that takes place throughout the entirety of the epic. This violence serves several functions in the work as a whole. The violence that is enacted upon the characters of The Odyssey serve as aRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Odysseus And The Odyssey951 Words   |  4 Pagesindividuals, blame their misfortune on their gods. Unlike modern theology, though, Greeks also have Fate to blame. The gods and Fates both work together and against each other to control human lives in Greek literature. The Fat es’ prophecies set outlines for human lives, like when they survive, who they kill, and how they die. The gods have the power to effect all other aspects of human lives. Humans can, in some ways, reject the attention of the gods. In The Odyssey, Odysseus deals with all three in orderRead MoreEffects Of Odysseus And The Odyssey 1321 Words   |  6 Pagesalso need to show great strength, intelligence and respect for others. Odysseus is alike most great leaders, in that he shows many of these traits and more. He is a very effective leader because of the epic hero traits, and many important Greek values he shows throughout the Odyssey. Odysseus is an effective leader because he shows strength, intelligence and respect for the gods, which helps him and his crew get out of tough situations. In the Odyssey, Odysseus is an effective leader is because he showsRead MoreAnalysis Of Homer s Odyssey, The Epic Of The Classical Era Essay1585 Words   |  7 PagesAssignment 1 Prompt 1 Homer’s Odyssey is one of the many epic of the classical era to give an detailed overlook on the relationship between humans and gods. Odyssey is not just an adventure story about a king struggling to get back home after having gone to war; nor is it one about a son searching for his father after rumors say that he has been dead for many years. The events that take place in Homer’s Odyssey are heavily influenced by the Greek Gods. One can see how the gods interaction with humans affectsRead MoreGift Giving in The Odyssey1007 Words   |  5 PagesGift Giving in The Odyssey Everyone loves to receive gifts. For some it makes them feel special or important. In the Odyssey gift giving can be seen as sign of respect. Xenia, an important aspect to Homeric society, can be described as the guest-host relationship. It was of importance in Homeric society because it was something that could make or break the relationship you have with someone. Throughout the Odyssey xenia influences those who Odysseus comes into contact with impacting the plotRead More Iliad Essay1253 Words   |  6 PagesThe Iliad and The Odyssey are two epic poems with both similar and different styles to the structure of the poems, as well as each poem having the same gods incorporated into the stories intervening with the day to day lives of the mortals. Greek poetry before Homer was all composed orally; therefore it is assumed that Homer’s works are the first written works of art (Joachim Latacz, page 15). Scholars who have spent extensive time researching the origin of Homer’s work cannot verify a specificRead MoreWhy Is Xenia Such an Important Theme in the Odyssey?1211 Words   |  5 PagesWhy is Xenia such an important theme in the Odyssey? Explain your views and support them with details from the poem. (45 marks) The concept of guest hospitality was extremely important in ancient Greece. Evidence that Xenia was integral to Greek society can be found in the fact that Zeus, the king of the Gods, was also portrayed as the God of Xenia. Xenia created an obligation for the host to be hospitable to their guests, and conversely, the guests had their own responsibilities too. If either

Swimming Sport How Import Free Essays

Student Name: Fatma Mohamed Hany Swimming Sport Swimming sport is one of the best sports which have a lot of advantages and few disadvantages. It is useful to any one and healthy, but it needs some conditions in order to be able to reduce or avoid its disadvantages. Swimming as a sport is considered healthy which can be continued for a lifetime. We will write a custom essay sample on Swimming Sport How Import or any similar topic only for you Order Now It is good for heart, muscle tone, and maintain healthy joints. Any person can start learning swimming at young age and continue use this sport to the last day in his or her life. Also, it cools you off, especially in summer when the weather is hot and humid. In addition to that swimming is a great exercise without the weight pounding you. It is nice for any one and it calms you. It is good as a recreational activity. It helps in building character such as time management and discipline. It builds endurance, fitness and muscles strength. It makes your body flexible and comfortable. It puts very little stress on joints and does need strong muscle to play it. Therefore, it is good for you mental health because it calms you. It does help you lose weight when person swims faster a little bit. One more advantage, it reduces the risk of drowning. In the matter of facts I found that there are no major disadvantages for the swimming sports. If you do mined not having darker skin, it cause tanned body. It does a little to lose weight, because swimming is water based exercise. If you swim in a chlorinated pool be aware that you are absorbing a lot of the chemical through your skin. Public pools are not always clean. The contaminated water makes your skin dirt. That means you stop burning calories once you leave water owning to its cooling effect. Therefore, it is important to alternate other sports such as running or bicycling to sustain weight loss. One more disadvantage for many people that is caused damaged hair. Finally, I prefer swimming sport because it is safe, easy to me. It is not risky as karate, boxing or horseback riding. I consider swimming the best summer sport of all. How to cite Swimming Sport How Import, Papers

Jonathan Kozols Fire in the Ashes

The social inequality experienced by children in the American society is one of the most controversial and problematic themes for the discussion.Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on Jonathan Kozol’s Fire in the Ashes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In his book Fire in the Ashes: Twenty-Five Years Among the Poorest Children in America, Jonathan Kozol discusses the theme of challenges experienced by children grown in the impoverished community of the South Bronx and the impact of poverty, racism, segregation, and inequality on their further lives. It is possible to rely on Kozol’s vision of the problem because the author is the famous journalist and chronicler who focuses on the stories of children observed personally during twenty-five years. The book’s title refers to the community of poor children in the American society, thus, the connection between the title and the class is based on th e necessity to discuss the problems of segregation in education, special issues related to unequal educational opportunities, social injustice, racism, and a kind of discrimination in education because of the social status. Kozol’s book is important to start the discussion from the new perspective and focus on education as the significant factor because the book develops the idea that the society affects the people’s successes in overcoming such obstacles as poverty more than the persons’ motives and efforts. The opinion on Kozol’s book depends on the particular features of the author’s presenting the stories. The book is divided into two parts. The personal stories of those children who could not cope with the difficulties of their lives are presented in the first part. The individual efforts of these young persons were insignificant while escaping from the drastic conditions of their childhood. Kozol tells stories about the children met in the Ma rtinique Hotel and in the communities of the Bronx churches.Advertising Looking for book review on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Many children cannot escape from poverty because they cannot receive the adequate education. The staff’s turnover in schools is significant, the high poverty levels prevent students from using additional educational opportunities, and many children are homeless. As a result, children cannot bear the sufferings, and Kozol describes several early deaths of the boys who could not rely on the equal education or receive the necessary social support. The second part of the book provides the stories of those young people who succeeded, received education, and built their life according to new social rules. These persons are ‘survivors’ (Kozol, 2012, p. 112). For instance, Kozol refers to the story of Pineapple who received the education and became a social worker to help the other disadvantaged persons only with the help of benefactors to demonstrate the social injustice related to social development and education. Relating to the personal impact, it is possible to state that the described stories are perceived as true because of observing many real examples to prove Kozol’s vision. It is important to analyze and evaluate Kozol’s book in relation to such themes as the impossibility to overcome poverty and segregation in education, the role of the individual efforts, and the chance for the future regarding the failed or used educational opportunities. Kozol provides many arguments to state that children from impoverished communities have no chances to rely on equal education and opportunities because of the social system’s imperfectness.Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on Jonathan Kozol’s Fire in the Ashes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The discussio n is based on the real-life cases observed by the author, but they are related only to the 1980s-1990s (Kozol, 2012, p. 89-92; Purdue Owl, 2013). The personal agreement with Kozol’s argument is based on demonstrated evidence of inequality, racism, and segregation developed in the society because the discussed children suffered not only from poverty but also from discrimination and violation expressed by teachers and peers. Moreover, the role of individual efforts is minimal to affect the situation significantly with references to the stories of those children who committed suicides of died from drug addiction because of the social impact. From this point, the stories of survivors are discussed as exceptions. The author refers to the idea that the changes in the social system are necessary to influence the positive development. According to the personal impact, it is necessary to note that children as individuals are helpless in many cases to oppose oppression in schools and r acism. While discussing the chance for the future, Kozol does not refer to the positive changes in the system typical for the 2000s, but he concentrates on the personal qualities of those children and then young people who could or could not overcome the obstacles of racism and injustice and on persons who helped them. Thus, Kozol focuses on the absence of hope and chances for the impoverished children instead of describing the positive changes in the sphere. The agreement with Kozol’s idea is based on the opinion that segregation should be overcome only with reference to systemic actions. Kozol’s book is rather persuasive, and it is possible to agree with the idea that the reforms in the social system can be more effective to overcome racism and inequality along with the children’s poverty in communities.Advertising Looking for book review on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The strengths of Kozol’s book are in providing the arguments based on the detailed real-life cases of the children in the context of their further life and in correlating the personal and social effects. However, the book could be more effective with the focus on realized changes in the sphere of preventing segregation and improving education for impoverished children and concentration on the current examples. References Kozol, J. (2012). Fire in the ashes: Twenty-five years among the poorest children in America. USA: Crown Publishing. Purdue Owl. (2013). Web. This book review on Jonathan Kozol’s Fire in the Ashes was written and submitted by user Keaton Irwin to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Hector V. Achilles Essays

Hector V. Achilles Essays Hector V. Achilles Paper Hector V. Achilles Paper Hector v. Achilles In Homers Iliad many of the male characters display characteristics that define the heroic warrior code of ancient Greece. They try to obtain glory and power through victories in war; yet still have a distinct human side. Throughout many conflicts described in the Iliad their weaknesses and strengths appear evident. Two examples of this are Achilles and Hector. Both of these men try to uphold the warrior code but with distinctly different approaches in war, relationships and devotion to their country. Despite the differences and the opposing sides; they also have numerous similar traits which logically lead to a comparison between the two men. They both display behavior that could be described as heroic. The first way in which Achilles and Hector act differently is how they approach war. Achilles knows that he is destined to die in battle. Yet he still fights for his honor and glory. Achilles is known for his fierce and brutal antics in war. Many would come to think that he is not very heroic. He demonstrates the cold and brutal nature of war. When Agamemnon takes Brises, Achilles war prize, he refrains from fighting in battle. Achilles approach to war is primarily for the glory of his own name. His motives are purely aimed at the remembrance of his name, not the success of his country. All that he does in war is purely for personal gain. While his strength and courage in war is very heroic, his motives behind it are not so. One of Achilles only reason for fighting that could be honorable is when he fights for the death of Patrucles. His approach to war otherwise is purely for personal gain. Hector on the other hand has many reasons to fight in the battle. Hector is an honorable man who is loved by his country and family. He is an honorable warrior and his human morals are those considered of a hero. His approach to war is honor and glory for his country. He fights to keep his family and country safe. While some of Hectors actions seem un-heroic, he always seems to fight for the good of Troy. But although Hector may prove overly impulsive and insufficiently prudent, he does not come across as arrogant or overbearing. Moreover, the fact that Hector fights in his homeland, unlike any of the Achaean commanders, develop him as a tender, family-oriented man. Hector shows deep, sincere love for his wife and children. Hector loves his family; he never loses sight of his responsibility to Troy. Admittedly, he runs from Achilles at first and briefly entertains the hope of negotiating his way out of a duel. However, in the end he stands up to the mighty warrior, even when he realizes that the gods have abandoned him. His refusal to flee even in the face of vastly superior forces makes him the most heroic figures in the story. This is what makes a true hero stand out. His motives towards war are that of the hero. One of the characteristics of a hero is the relationships that they keep. Hector is the ideal hero in this since. He is a loving family man and a devoted leader. Hector shows deep love for his wife and children. He even treats his brother Paris with forgiveness and indulgence, despite the man’s lack of spirit and preference for lovemaking over military duty. Hector never turns violent with him, merely aiming frustrated words at his cowardly brother. Although Hector loves his family, he never loses sight of his responsibility to Troy. Achilles however does not develop over the course of the story. Although the death of Patroclus prompts him to seek reconciliation with Agamemnon, it does not alleviate his rage. Instead redirects it toward Hector. The event does not make Achilles a more heroic character. Bloodlust, wrath, and pride continue to consume him. He mercilessly kills his opponents, takes on the river Xanthus, desecrates the body of Hector, and sacrifices twelve Trojan men at the funeral of Patroclus. He does not show any compaction until the final book of the story, when King Priam came begging for the return of Hector’s desecrated corpse. This action seems to appeal to Achilles’ memory of his father, Peleus. Yet it remains unclear whether a father’s heartbroken pleas really have transformed Achilles, or whether this scene merely testifies to Achilles’ capacity for grief, which was already proven in his mourning of Patroclus. Another way that these two heroes differ is in their reasons for fighting. Hectors reasons for fighting are very clear and noble. He is the future leader and protector of Troy. All that he does in war and battle is to further the existence of Troy. The noble prince fights to uphold his country and family. Never are his actions aimed towards personal gain. In this aspect it makes Hector the ideal warrior. He upholds the heroic warrior code. Achilles on the other hand is a great warrior with many dishonorable reasons. While in battle Achilles worries only about his own honor and glory. Any time it comes for Achilles to fight it is either out of selfish reasons or anger. One of the few times that he fights honorably is when he fights for the honor of Patroclus. Even when he shows this moment of honor he then turns and desecrates the body of Hector. He had already won the fight yet instead of leaving with his victory he insists on proving his brutality. This is one of the actions that display Achilles true warrior nature. One of the most common standards of a hero is their devotion to their country. The perfect example of this is Hector. He knows his place in Troy and the role he must play. While still a prince of Troy he shows the most discipline and devotion when it comes to his role as protector of Troy. No matter what the outcome may look like, Hector knows he must face it for the good of his country. There is never any confusion as to where his true devotion lies. Most of Hectors actions are to further the existence of his country. While Hectors motives and devotion are clear it is not so with Achilles. As seen in many of Achilles fights, he is no patriot. Never does he ever show any true commitment of devotion to his country. Achilles thinks of himself as a God or a gift from the gods. He acts as though they should be worshiping and following him. He shows constant lack of respect for authority. When he refuses to fight of the slave girl, it almost resembles a child throwing a tantrum. In some cases he does show devotion to his warriors and his close friends and family. His brotherly love for Patriclus is an example of this. Thus both Hector and Achilles behave as heroes throughout the Iliad. While they both try to win glory in war for their families, their country, and themselves, they both have certain strengths and weaknesses in their character which dictate their very different courses of actions. They are both presented with conflicts and dilemmas throughout the story, the results of which must be made using both their human side and their heroic side. Both of these men try to uphold the warrior code but with distinctly different approaches in war, relationships and devotion to their country. All things that are considered of a true warrior

Free sample - The Untold Story of Welfare Fraud. translation missing

The Untold Story of Welfare Fraud. The Untold Story of Welfare FraudThe Untold Story of Welfare Fraud reviews the consequences of the implementation of the law concerning provision of financial aid to poor families. It reveals the imperfect character of the law which actually left no way out for people as they had to choose whether to keep to the law or to leave their families without food. According to Abramovitz (1988), women were not enough protected by the government and its laws as they could not make their own living without men. The following article presents two types of variables which are essential for understanding of the welfare fraud and the implementation of the Welfare Fraud Diversion Program. The dependent variable is the amount of people who broke the law subject to difficult life circumstances as well as those who were convicted of welfare frauds and received criminal records without breaking the law. The independent variables are the complexity of the application and compliance procedures, the sex and education level of the parents accused of welfare frauds, illegal actions of the controlling authorities. The article shows that the amount of frauds was influenced by the implementation of strict limits and measures which were in fact aimed at decreasing of the number of people enjoying state financial aid. The unit of analysis of this study is the process of law enforcement that was caused by the present law which was aimed at making an exact division according to the degree of the conducted crimes. According to Gatta (2005), the other reviewed issue is the impact of the welfare reform to the number of related crimes. According to the article, low-income women were greatly influenced by the law. Their lives and future of their families was under the risk of extinction because of low quality level of life and financial problems which occurred at those times. The article describes â€Å"the realities of the women caught in the web of welfare fraud prosecution after the 1996 changes to the welfare law†. O’Connor (2001) presents a kind of knowledge â€Å"grounded in practice, in activism, and in the experience not only of the material deprivation but on the everyday workings of the economy†. The influence of the imperfect law on the number of violations was researched through the quantitative and qualitative study of the welfare frauds' cases. The authors conducted a content analysis of the Public Defender’s welfare fraud case files for the year 2001. They also researched qualitative data of the year 2005. It was done in order to find out any differences which could have taken place since the conduction of the first research in 2001. The results of both studies were used to create the complete image of reasons leading to fraud conviction. According to the case study the people accused of welfare frauds may be divided into several groups. The first group involves people who intentionally broke the law in order to receive money. Usually, they pretended to be mistreated or mislead social workers about their actual income and, thus, cheated the government. The second group comprises of people who did everything possible to keep to the law but could not provide information about the income of their spouses or partners as they did not keep in touch with them. Applicants also often violated the rules as they could not clearly understand the procedure of income reporting. Such cases were very common taking into account that all women accused of welfare fraud did not attend colleges. In some cases the profit of the family in the subsequent month was higher than the financial aid threshold and woman was consequently accused of welfare fraud though her annual income was still far below the poverty line. Those people did not have any intension to abuse the law or to commit a crime. Nevertheless, they were assumed to be guilty and received the same status of criminals as those people who had conducted welfare frauds intentionally. The third group includes individuals who were not allowed to provide any information about incomes of their spouses or partners. Such cases were also very common and usually husbands threatened their wives for reporting additional incomes. Women did not have any choice as the only income was brought by their husbands. The study of the cases of the second and third groups shows that those people did not commit any crimes but their criminalization was caused by the wrong government's policy. The government tried to stop the wave of law violations, and enforced so strict reporting and supervision policy that non-guilty people were charged of fraud as well. The amount of criminal records was so high at that period that supervising authorities had no time to check whether crime was intentional or non-intentional. Accused people had no funds for legal assistance and could not protect themselves properly. Consequently, people saw only the increasing number of criminals without the context producing this figure. It was widely used for justification of the law reform. In addition to the proceeding costs burden that was taken by non guilty individuals their criminal record precluded them from finding sufficient jobs and made them apply for the governmental aid and again commit fraud. Besides, authorities has developed special measures that allowed convicting of welfare fraud but at the same time violated the privacy of aid receivers. The â€Å"man in the house† method is an example of such methods that were widely used for looking for law-breakers. In case a man was found in the house of a woman receiving financial aid she was incriminated under report of income for the purpose of welfare fraud. It looked like a circle of poverty. The dependent variable of crimes' quantity was clearly influenced by the independent variables mentioned above. In diachronic perspective, such enforcement of rules and laws may be compared with the actions that lead to the discrimination. The methods applied by the authors allowed revealing the possible sexism and division for gender roles. It turned out that fathers convicted of welfare frauds were subject to civil responsibility while mothers were accused of crimes. This clearly proves gender discrimination. Nevertheless, these results were not discussed in the paper though they worth further consideration. The selection of the sample in the first study of 2001 cases may evidence that the authors managed to analyze comparatively small amount of information. On the other hand, such statistic data cannot be considered to be the only possible source of information as it does not give the whole picture of the problem. As it can be seen from the actual study, the roots of the problem may be found deep in the history. Consequently, the whole period starting from the implementation of the law until the present time should be analyzed for the clear understanding of the problem. The method of comparison of two different studies makes it easier to forecast future development of the law and allows scientists finding out the ways of the program's improvement. Despite the authors were good in the choice of variables, the system of their conclusions may become unstable if other factors will be chosen as key factors. There are other potential variables which might slightly change the prospective the research got. This research is based on the data collected in San Diego, California and the results may be different in other states of the US. The level of welfare fraud would be different in different states and correlates with the criminal rate of the state. The amount of welfare frauds may also vary taking into consideration the amount of working places and the average quality of life in the state. In such case, the research described in The Untold Story of Welfare Fraud would not reflect the situation in the US. In addition, the correlation between the amount of welfare frauds and a number of poor families should be researched. Perhaps the increasing number of frauds was caused not only by strict measures but also by the increased number of poor families. Finally, the share of second and third groups was not indicated in the study that excludes the possibility of the comparative assessment of the negative effects of the governmental policy. The problem of the interconnection between the legal status of people under financial aid and suspicions regarding their income level and the rate of the actual help from the government should be taken into consideration as the problem of discrimination according to the social status. The law enforcement system does not give any possibility for poor people to get out of the trouble they got in. It becomes difficult for them to find a well-paid job and to earn enough money for living. In addition, the law providing financial aid to ordinary people should be understandable for them. As it was already mentioned the reason of numerous violations was the lack of understanding of the law. To summarize everything mentioned, it would be useful to appeal to the law system and to make the process of helping people less difficult for understanding. As a result, the law would not be broken by people on a regular basis just because of the large amount of details but instead it will bring a clear vision of the line which separates law obeying citizens from criminals. The research might be continued in the future on the basis of the data collected from all over the country but not from the only city as the welfare reform spreads across the US. According to the research, it may be said that the general picture of issues related to the past welfare reform is presented, however additional surveys showing the state of things at the present moment should be conducted. The fast development of the legislation makes even slightly out of date information irrelevant for the research. It may be made in cooperation with politics and attorneys from the whole country. Each state may create a group which would focus on collecting of the data about this issue in order to form a precise picture of the legal environment in the country. They may also make proposals to legislative bodies concerning improvement of the law in accordance with the principle of stability of the functioning and the suitability for citizens. The general attitude towards poor people also nee ds to be reestablished as the present one indirectly makes them live in poverty and does not involve any cooperation with government and the police. In conclusion, it is worth mentioning that the research perfectly shows what is going on in the city but not nationwide. The implementation of the welfare reform is a next step on the way to the era of law and justice. Nevertheless, the violation of the law is caused not only by unintentional actions but also by the intentional ones. Consequently, the reduction of the welfare frauds' number may be achieved in several ways including elimination of stereotypes concerning poor women obtaining governmental aid. Labeling people is a wrong way of behavior as it leads to wrong statements about others caused by the unsupported generalization. Stigmatizing of a person belonging to certain class is in fact a discrimination which may be eliminated only by the implementation of new social behavior patterns and broadening of the outlook of the members of the society.