Friday, January 24, 2020

Bridge of Montenegro :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When I think about my unforgettable experiences in Montenegro, there is always one image that reoccurs in my mind. That picture is the bridge in the river that we used to go swimming in. This bridge does not have a name, however, that does not decrease its importance to the residents that live in that area. It holds various historical facts, information, and stories. Although it is too small to carry automobiles, it allows people to get from one city to the other without driving there. Many people in Montenegro do not have cars or any other means of transportation, so in order for them to get to their desired destination, they must take the bridge. This bridge carried farmer’s cows and sheep’s and led them to their pasture every morning and night. In spite of the fact that cars could not fit through, horses hauled produce over the bridge to nearby markets. The bridge helped people, animals, and food get to where they needed to go instead of taking the streets and risk g etting robbed or hit. Things have changed since the seventy – year old bridge was built. Nowadays it is considered a historic site and diving board to tourists and the citizens. I have noticed the bridge and scenery change before my eyes through the years that I have visited it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I never would have thought it could alter the way it has. Not too long ago, this bridge was the only means of transportation for the natives of Montenegro. When I was younger, I remember the condition of the bridge was as if it were just built. The screws were all in the right places, tightly fastened, and the metal had barely began to chip off. After revisiting this place numerous times, I noticed some distinct transitions. Years later, I observed the transformation of the metal beginning to rust and peel off. Along with that, the nuts and bolts have slowly begun to unscrew themselves due to erosion and time. I remember climbing the surrounding cliffs that led to the bridge and the jumping off of it along with the other children. At that time, doing so was easy. The rocks were a bit difficult to climb, however, with the help of wearing sneakers; it made it a bit easier to ascend. The bridge was built on the peak of the crag, making it accessible to all thrill see kers.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Bob Marley Biography Essay

In the story Marley And Me, John and Jenny Grogan are a new married couple. Jenny becomes depressed that she can’t even keep her plants alive. This made her decide that they should get a dog in order for her to prepare for their future baby. After listening to the soothing reggae music of Bob Marley, they both simultaneously came up with the name Marley for their new puppy. Bob Marley was the connection between the two couples. They heard his music on the car radio as they drove down Biscayne Boulevard; they heard it as they soaked their first conch fitters. They fell in love with South Florida and with each other, and in the background it always seemed Bob Marley. â€Å"We fell in love with his music for it was, but also for what it defined, which was that moment in our lives when we ceased being two and became one.† Bob Marley was the ‘soundtrack’ to their new and exotic life together. Bob Marley, known as the king of reggae, was born on February 6th, 194 5 in St. Ann Parish, Jamaica. His mom was a teenage Jamaican native, and dad was a 50-year-old white navel captain. His parents got married in 1944, which is a year before Bob was born. Norval Marley barely got to see his son Bob since his family did not accept marriage. A couple years after, Bob Marley was sent to a private school to get away from the gangs that were running wild. One of his first and greatest songs â€Å"Simmer Down† was based on how Bob was also known as a rude boy, and would fight back if ever pushed. Bob Marley is widely known for helping Jamaican music come out there worldwide. He has been a great influence in the lives of many present artists, poets, and actors. His songs were based and influenced by the social issues of his homeland because as a child he experienced poverty and violence. When he moved to the private school he was encouraged to play the guitar by one of his new best friends. What truly influenced him were the local performers down in Trench Town. Some of the people he grew up listening to in the trenches of Jamaica are, the legendary Fats Domino, Ray Charles, and Elvis Presley. At first, his career started by him trying to sing just the way his favorite singers sang. Marley’s career started when he was introduced to the Island records because of Leslie Kong who admired Marley’s’ vocals. Bob Marley put his first record on February of 1962; the song was called â€Å"Judge Not† which consisted of loud, scratchy, and fast paced sounds. Music back then consisted of those sounds and definitely was something to dance to. When his song first came out it was only a local hit, but his international fame grew by the years. His friends created the group The Wailers, which were signed to the Maroon records. During the 1969’s, the Wailers first tape was recorded, they were sent to England and released on Trojan records, it was Bob Marley and the Wailers first album. The album was only released in Jamaica and England, and the album sold very well. In the early seventies, Bob Marley and the Wailers were already pretty popular throughout the Caribbean region too. This album would be the new standard of what reggae music would be like, and was thought to be the new music sound that would sweep the world. Bob is also known for his most world famous song, No Woman No Cry. 1976 Rasta man Vibrations was released and the album cracked the American charts. At this point it seemed like Marley was unstoppable. It seemed like nothing could tear him down, but eventually something did and everything went crumbling for Marley. In December of 1976, a murder try took place at Marley’s house. It was a gang of â€Å"sorts† who tried to take Bob Marley down for reasons. Why they wanted to do such thing? That is still unclear till this day. Marley was shot, but did not die since it was not a deadly wound. After that incident, Bob Marley released an even bigger album than Rastaman Vibration came out called, Exodus. Exodus was so popular is stayed on the European charts for 56 weeks! This of course made everything all right for Marley. In 1978 the chart topper Kaya came out. The band saw success once again, and the next year Survival was released, this album was a pro-Africa album, and had songs relating to Africa’s issues at the time. Time however was running out for Bob Marley. In 1980, an other album of Bob Marleys’ was released, Uprising, which was an instant hit. In 1980 a tour with Stevie Wonder was being planned for him and it was going to be the biggest event of his career. Unfortunately, he had a little soccer injury earlier. It was such a simple injury, but it turned into some form of Cancer. The injury refused to heal and instead quickly worsened, the entire nail came off and doctors recommended amputation. It spread throughout his entire body and Bob knew he looked unwell. His last concert was in Pittsburgh on Sept. 23, 1980, at the Stanley Theater. He experienced many different treatments to keep him alive longer. In September of 1980, Marley almost fainted onstage while performing in New York. Marley was diagnosed with a brain tumor (which was the result of the untreated cancer in his toe). Marley was given less than a month to live; the doctors confirmed that he had cancer in the brain, lung, and stomach. Eight months later, Marley passed away at the age of 36, May 11th, 1981. His music lives on through the music of different artists. Bob Marley is not only one of the greatest musicians; he is also one of the greatest men in the history of the world. Through his music, he not only touched the life of his fellow people, he has also influenced their lifestyles, and feelings of people worldwide. He has so many powerful messages through his music. He is dead, but his music is not.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

The Hunger Games Book One Review

In The Hunger Games, author Suzanne Collins has created a fascinating dystopian world. The Hunger Games is a compelling novel focusing on life in an authoritarian society in which young people must compete to the death in the annual Hunger Games. The main character, 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, volunteers for the Hunger Games to keep her younger sister from being required to participate and her experiences and fight to survive are the heart of the book. Reading The Hunger Games can lead to interesting discussions about our own world and how reality shows, threats of war, authoritarian governments and obsession with fashion trends influence us daily. Due to the darkness of the story, it is best suited for teens and adults rather than tweens, although many younger kids have read the book or seen the movie or both. Panem: the World of the Hunger Games Trilogy While the creation of Panem is not fully fleshed out until the second book, we know that this authoritarian society was the result of a horrible disaster during the Dark Days, resulting in the establishment of twelve districts under the rule of the government in the Capitol. Peacekeepers and a local government are instituted in each district, but the rulers in the Capitol have strict control over everything and everyone in each district. Each district has its own specialty that benefits the Capitol, such as coal mining, agriculture, seafood, etc. Some districts provide the Capitol with energy or material goods and some provide the manpower to keep those in the Capitol in power. The people who live in the Capitol contribute little to their own sustenance and are concerned mainly with the latest fashions and amusements. The Hunger Games are an annual tradition directed by the Capitol rulers, not only to amuse the citizens  but also to preserve control over the districts by demonstrating the Capitols dominance. Each year, the twelve districts must send two representatives, a girl and a boy, to participate in the Hunger Games. These representatives are called â€Å"tributes† to make people believe that representing their district is an honor, even though each person lives in fear that someone they love will be chosen. And the entire nation must watch as these 24 tributes battle each other to the death until only one is left as the victor. Having a victor is important to a district — extra food and a few luxuries will be granted to the winners district. The government has created the ultimate reality show, complete with technological challenges and constant monitoring of the movements of the participants. Each citizen is required to watch the Games until their conclusion, which may take hours or days. Summary of the  Story Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen has been providing for her family since her father’s death in a mining accident. She has done this by illegally hunting beyond the boundaries of District 12 and using the game she kills for food or for barter. Through her skill with a bow and her ability to track and snare rabbits and squirrels, her family has been able to survive. They have also survived because Katniss signs up for the tessera, a ration of grain that is given in exchange for placing your name in the lottery for the reaping, the ceremony that determines who will be the district’s representative in the Games. Everyone’s name goes in the lottery from the time they reach the age of 12 until they turn 18. Each time Katniss exchanges her name for the tessera, her chances of being the one whose name is called increase. Only it isn’t her name that is called -- it is her sister’s. Prim Everdeen is the one person that Katniss loves above all others. She is only 12, quiet, loving and on her way to being a healer. She would not be able to survive the reaping and Katniss knows this. When Prim’s name is called, Katniss immediately volunteers to take her place as a tribute from District 12 to the Hunger Games. Katniss knows that it is not only her own life on the line in the games, but that others will benefit as well if she is the victor and her skills as a hunter will give her an edge in the Games. But her life as a tribute becomes more complicated by the other tribute from District 12. Peeta Mellark, the baker’s son, is a boy that Katniss owes a favor because of a kindness that he showed her when she was most desperate and her family’s survival was at stake. And Katniss knows that now her survival will mean his death. Katniss is whisked away from her family and Gale, her best friend and hunting partner, to the Capitol, where she is prepped and primped to participate in the Games. She and Peeta are to be mentored by Haymitch, the only tribute that District 12 has had who was a winner of the Games. But Haymitch is a reluctant and seemingly inadequate mentor, so Katniss realizes she must rely on her own strengths in order to survive. As the first book of the trilogy, The Hunger Games is compelling reading and makes the reader want to read the next book immediately to find out what happens to Katniss and Peeta. Katniss is a strong character who solves her own problems and takes charge of her own life. Her struggles with her divided affections between two boys are realistically portrayed but not overwrought. And her tendency to inadvertently create problems can spark many conversations about whether she was right or wrong and whether she stayed true to who she is. Katniss is a character that readers will not soon forget. About the Author, Suzanne Collins With the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins, award-winning author of the Underland Chronicles, brings her talents to a new trilogy aimed at a more mature audience than her books about Gregor, the Overlander. Collins was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2010, an honor that was based on the popularity of the first two books in the Hunger Games trilogy. In its popularity and impact, the trilogy has been compared to other popular fantasy novels for young people, such as the Twilight series and the Harry Potter series. Collins’ experience as a television writer enables her to create stories that appeal to tweens and teens. Suzanne Collins also wrote the screenplay for the movie adaptations of The Hunger Games. Review and Recommendation The Hunger Games will appeal to teens, ages 13 and up. The 384-page book contains violence and strong emotions so younger tweens may find it disturbing. The writing is excellent and the plot propels the reader through the book at a rapid rate. This book has been chosen by Kansas State University to be given to all of the incoming freshmen to read so that they will all be able to discuss it throughout the campus and in their classes. It has also become assigned reading in many high schools. The book is rich in discussion points not only about governments, personal freedom, and sacrifice but also about what it means to be yourself and not submit to society’s expectations. For information on challenges to the book, see The Hunger Games Trilogy. (Scholastic Press, 2008. ISBN: 9780439023481) Edited March 5, 2016 by Elizabeth Kennedy Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our  Ethics Policy.