Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston Essay -- essays resea

Farewell To Manzanar In the true story "Farewell to Manzanar" we learn of a young girl's life as she grows up during World War II in a Japanese internment camp. Along with her family and ten thousand other Japanese we see how, as a child, these conditions forced to shape and mold her life. This book does not directly place blame or hatred onto those persons or conditions which had forced her to endure hardship, but rather shows us through her eyes how these experiences have held value she has been able to grow from. Jeanne Wakatsuki was just a seven year growing up in Ocean Park, California when her whole life was about to change. Everything seemed to be going fine, her father owning two fishing boats, and they lived in a large house with a large dining table which was located in an entirely non-Japanese neighborhood. The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese was the moment Jeanne's life was critically altered. This started WWII and all Japanese were seen as possible threats to the nations safety. It is not difficult to see, but difficult to justify this view, and therefore Jeanne Wakatsuki, just a child, was now seen as a monster. Her father was immediately arrested and taken away, being accused with furnishing oil to Japanese subs off the coast. And now, Jeanne left without a father, her mother was trapped with the burden of Jeanne's rapidly aging grandmother and her nine brothers and sisters. Too young to understand, Jeanne did not know why or where her father had been taken. But she did know that one very important part of her was gone. Jeanne's father was a very strong, military-like, proud, arrogant, and dignified man. He was the one who was always in control, and made all the decisions for the family. He grew up in Japan, but left at the age of seventeen, headed for work in Hawaii, and never again went back. Leaving his own family behind and never contacting them ever again. But now it was time for Jeanne's family to do something. They found refuge at Terminal Island, a place where many Japanese families live either in some transition stage or for permanent residents. Jeanne was terrified. " It was the first time I had lived among other Japanese, or gone to school with them, and I was terrified all the time." Her father, as a way ... ...ruly come to know a place: Farewell." This says it all. She had finally been able to see that Manzanar was one giant stepping stone she had climbed, and that gave her worth, so she could feel at peace with herself. Her life had really begun at Manzanar, but she isn't about to let it end there. In conclusion, this story was well written and I could sympathize with every trial and tribulation she encountered. Some may say she didn't value her Japanese heritage enough or was pitying herself for being Japanese. But she, in my view is a hero because she took everything that was imposed on her and endured through it. She was able to accept herself through a kind of spiritual growth, which was both revelational, and inspirational. I only hope that one day I can make some sense of the things gone wrong in my life, or at least grow from them. Jeanne is a woman now, who as a child was thrown around in a racial roller coaster, and can accept herself as an important part of society and life, rather than needing others to accept it for her. Note: I really enjoyed this book and the next time I head out to Mammoth Lakes I will definitely try and find Manzanar.

Political and economic effects of Mongol rule on China and Middle East Essay

Yuan economic policies also accommodated traditional Chinese practices. Yuan rulers did not try to convert China into the Mongol-style nomadic economy; instead, they fostered agriculture. They restored the she, rural organizations composed of about 50 families, to assist in farming. These organizations also improved flood control, established charity granaries for orphans and widows, and introduced such new crops as sorghum. In addition, early Yuan emperors sought to protect the peasants by devising a regular, fixed system of taxation. Unlike previous Chinese dynasties, the Yuan rulers fostered trade and accorded merchants a high social status. Moreover, they promoted commerce by increasing the use of paper money, by offering cheap loans to merchant associations (ortogh), by building roads, and by allowing traveling merchants to lodge and to obtain supplies at government postal stations, which were located about 32 km (20 mi) apart throughout the empire. Concern about supplying the new capital led the Yuan court to initiate the ambitious project of rerouting and expanding the Grand Canal, aiding the shipping of surplus grain from southern China to the less fertile lands of the north. Such government support for merchants, together with the peace imposed on much of Asia by the Mongols, resulted in the greatest expansion of commerce in Eurasian history. Indian, Southeast Asian, Persian, Arab, and even European merchants arrived in China. Muslim merchants, the principal intermediaries in the overland trade between China and Central Asia, West Asia, and Europe, brought horses, carpets, medicines, and spices to China, and exported Chinese textiles, ceramics, and lacquerware. From the southern port cities of Quanzhou (Ch’à ¼an-chou), Guangzhou (Kuang-chou), and Yangzhou (Yang-chou), they conveyed Chinese ceramics and silks by ship and returned with spices, precious stones, incense, pepper, and medicines. The growing agricultural and commercial economy initially provided sufficient revenue for the court, but not for long. The original tax structure did not exploit the Chinese and was not burdensome on landlords, peasants, merchants, or artisans. In fact, Kublai Khan repeatedly reduced or postponed taxes on those of his Chinese subjects whose lands had suffered during  natural disasters. Yet the various construction projects he had undertaken, the building of the capital, postal stations and roads, and the enlargement of the Grand Canal, as well as military campaigns against Japan, Java, and mainland Southeast Asia, were costly. As the government’s expenditures soared, its need for additional revenue became more pressing. The court responded by appointing two new non-Chinese ministers whose principal duties were to raise more funds. However, their authoritarian methods only worsened the problem. By imposing higher taxes on merchants, deliberately inflating the currency, and increasing prices on salt, iron, and other goods monopolized by the government, they succeeded only in alienating Chinese officials. Finally, their highhanded treatment of the bureaucracy and their profiteering led to the assassination of one and the execution of the other. The economic situation merely declined further.

Throughout the novel of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin

‘Human nature was fundamentally irrational to the point of insanity.' How is this exemplified in Captain Corelli's mandolin, and what is the role of madness generally in the novel. Throughout the novel of Captain Corelli's mandolin, there have been numerous occasions where the presence of ones insanity has taken over the characters central emotions and influences peculiar behaviour in the form of madness. To the disapproval of the audience and the other characters, the role of madness has become de Bernieres technique of foreshadowing the outcome of the characters who are deemed as ‘possessed' which leads to the inevitable gloom of death. Within the novel there are three main characters which suffer from the plague of madness; Francesco, Mandras and Carlo, although it can be argued that there are many other characters within the novel who can be seen as just as mad. Madness within the novel is expressed through many different factors, these factors are what trigger characters to encounter the condition which in return sets that characters fate. The first encounter of madness within the novel comes in the form of a battered and bruised Francesco. Through the early phases of introducing Francesco, de Bernieres presents the character as a courageous young Italian soldier, Carlo's dearest friend and loyal in serving for his country during the Second World War. The audience is quick to accept Francesco as a good person through the diary entries of Carlo; however it becomes apparent that the destructive and brutal nature of war combined with the harsh climate leads Francesco into losing a grip on reality. This is apparent in his letters to his mother which reads â€Å"I came into this war in a state of innocence, and I leave it so utterly wearied that I am contented to die. this quote reveals Francesco's discontent with serving in the Italian army and marks his first step into insanity. As the novel progresses, so does the deterioration of Francesco's mind as it leads him into his death. â€Å"I reached Francesco and saw that the side of his head had been blown away. The pieces of skull were grey and were coated in membrane and thick blood. † Francesco's death comes about due to his insanity as he progresses into enemy territory unarmed. Through the use of his death, de Bernieres is able to depict a picture on his views on war, which suggests that ultimately war is wrong and leads to the death of innocent people. A Marxist interpretation can also be added to this as it shows how the power of the ruling-class is able to dominate those inferior to them. â€Å"For the bureaucrat, the world is a mere object to be manipulated by him. † We can relate this quote to Francesco as his actions and behavior is premeditated and controlled by those superior to himself. Insanity it seems, is a focal point in de Bernieres' writing as the novel contains many characters who fit underneath the profile. However, there are some characters which can certainly be seen as withholding the trait, but in a less obvious manner. A possible character with such nature would be Carlo. Despite his common appearance with the audience, we can note of such incidents which would certainly be considered insane. A point which would reveal this would be his relationship with Francesco and Antonio. Carlo's judgment of protecting a loved one may at first seem like a valiant and loyal thing to do, but if we observe the people which Carlo is ‘protecting' then we may perhaps change our minds. Carlo's relationship with Francesco starts off as seeming innocent and harmless, until we discover that Francesco is unaware of Carlo's true intentions behind caring for Francesco. I stood up and faced the Greeks. Offering myself to their guns. † This act can be seen as heroic for saving a loved one, but it is repeated later in the novel but this time it is to save Captain Corelli. â€Å"Carlo stood unbroken as one bullet after another burrowed like white-hot parasitic knives into the muscle of his chest. † Carlo's a cts of saving another ones life can certainly be seen as an act of insanity and personally I believe that Carlo's unwise decisions are what ultimately lead to his death. With the inclusion of Carlo within his novel, it can be said that de Bernieres is making a statement which would have been highly controversial during the time at which the novel was based on. Carlo's homosexuality would have certainly caused him to be removed from the army as during the 1940's homosexuality was considered an act of insanity. This also fits in with the link between Carlo and insanity. As well as war, it is noticeable in de Bernieres' novel that it is also the loss of a loved one which leads the beholder into torment and madness. A character which fits this situation is Mandras. Whilst being away from his fianci Pelagia serving in military duty, Mandras suffers heavy losses as he is the only remaining survivor of his entire unit. Left for dead Mandras had to face the tormenting climate in a bid to return home to his beloved Pelagia, to only return unrecognized and unloved. This leaves Mandras in a state which he feels betrayed and becomes shell shocked and mentally disturbed. Mandras' behavior is presented to the audience as insane and like Francesco his fate becomes inevitable. â€Å"Kosmas! Nionios! Krystal! He cried, and waded out into sea. † This is the point where de Bernieres demonstrates a change in character in Mandras, despite being an unlikeable person for committing atrocities this is the part in the novel where Mandras seems like the only sane person in the island of Cephalonia. In my opinion, Mandras' decision to commit suicide reveals a side to him which the audience has not know of him before. It is a point in the novel at which Mandras is at long last at peace, together with his dolphins and the ocean, the few things which Mandras loved. In conclusion I believe that Insanity is explored through different means within the novel. De Bernieres clearly reveals how there can be several reasons behind the development of the mental condition, while Mandras and Carlo had both died due to the fear of losing a loved one. Francesco had ended his life due to the grief and unjust actions of the war. These deaths of young characters reveal how the destructive nature of war can end all hope and ambition within a nation.

How to Get Over Post College Depression

How to Get Over Post College Depression After graduation from college or high school, many students feel energized and positive. However, there are also students who face severe depressions, emotional breakdowns, and addictions. If you feel that something is wrong with you, and you are confused and lonely, then this article is for you. Our tips will help you recognize the dangerous symptoms of post-graduation depression and pull yourself through this tough period of your life. A disclaimer: the best option would be to turn to a doctor for professional treatment. What Are Post Grad Depression and Its Symptoms? You have been waiting for this moment for a long time. Graduation, diploma, bachelor degree, freedom of choice and self-expression. But after caps thrown in the air, you suddenly realized that you dont know what to do in your life and all of your plans for the future that were so bright and clear yesterday just make no sense today. This is what depression is. A stunning feeling of loneliness and emptiness mixed with confusion and lack of energy to even leave your bed in the morning. A lot of people face crises and depressions during their lives. Psychologists claim that there are common ages when an individual is more subject to various mental disorders, for example, the â€Å"half-life crisis† or â€Å"quarter-life crisis.† The main thing about these conditions is that many people of a certain age have similar problems with sleep, self-esteem, emotional control and finances. By the way, if you are having any problems with finances, you should find out how to manage your finances better after college. The â€Å"quarter-life crisis† commonly occurs around the age of graduating from college. This condition might get even worse due to a stressing situation of being unemployed and confused after the graduation which can compile into a severe depression. The main symptoms of post-college depression are: Being disorganized and unfocused Lacking motivation and energy Being sad or annoyed without a reason Feeling like you are running out of time Feeling miserable and worthless Feeling confused and frustrated Falling into addictions – cigarettes, alcohol, drugs Feeling lonely and abandoned Feeling like a failure If you started to feel like you have too many options to choose from and even after getting your degree you are not sure what you want in your life and considering the option of moving back home, its okay – you are just getting mature. But if you cant find the smallest thing that you enjoy and are constantly unfocused or numb, then you need to start pulling yourself out from this state. How to Fight the Crisis? The first step and the most essential one is to confess the fact that something is wrong with you. If you are reading this article, then you have already done it. Congratulations, your recovery journey starts right now! It’s time to focus. Set Up Your Goals Beating depression is not a quick process. You have to start working through slowly. Think about your dreams and your goals, make a list of them: Your life goals – huge ambitions and dreams – to become a successful specialist in a particular field, to find a dream job, to build a family. Year goals – accomplishments you want to achieve in one year – to get a job after college, to rent the apartment, etc. Monthly goals – realistic goals for one month – to get rid of all unnecessary things in the apartment, to send out your resumes to at least 30 companies, to read a book. Daily goals – small steps to take every day – to make dinner, to clean a wardrobe, to buy groceries. As you can see, the smallest steps you take can lead to larger achievements. It might seem like a waste of time, but the pleasure of crossing out the things that you have accomplished is more satisfying than you might think. Moreover, you will have your plan as a reminder that every day you become closer to making your dreams come true. Make a Meal Plan People in depression have a tendency to skip meals. As a result, they feel even more broken down and tired. You have to force yourself to eat to stay healthy and energized. Make a plan of meals for a week and follow it closely. You can always turn to the resources that might help you in understanding what type of food and how much of it you should consume daily. For example, Eating Well, Abbeys Kitchen, etc. When you dont feel the hunger, its hard to recognize that your body is starving. So, don’t forget to check out tips on how you can eat healthy on a budget. Establish a daily schedule Work on the schedule of your perfect day. Dont lay in bed the whole time, find the strength to get up and start living in the real world. Find the time to go for a walk daily, have your social life, and exercise. Dedicate some time to job hunting and your hobbies. Dont forget about daily meals and your favorite TV shows. And the most important one – go to bed and get up at the same time every day. When you have your day organized, you will realize that your entire life can be organized and structured too, so there are no chaotic activities in it. Try to avoid scrolling social media feed all day long – it doesn’t help you to focus on your accomplishment but distract you from your goals instead. Visit a Doctor The most important piece of advice would be to visit a doctor for a prescribed medication. You might be against pills, but some sedative wont hurt – at least you will sleep well. Moreover, a specialist might advise you to practice certain psychological exercises – yoga, meditation, hypnosis, group therapy, support system, etc. Start changing your life today. You can make your living better if you take a chance. And remember that the state you are in now is not permanent, your future is bright!

Keeping it (un)real - Emphasis

Keeping it (un)real Keeping it (un)real Hes a shrewd one, that Sir Alan Sugar. As he announced in the opening episode of The Apprentice, he realises that knowing every word to Candle in the wind does not mean he is Elton John. Using our Suralan to Plain English dictionary, we see that his sensible if somewhat obvious point is that being able to say the right things will not automatically make you a success in business. But without even looking at how his hapless protgs walk the walk, its worth noting just how poorly they talk the talk. From business writing to business speaking, the distinction that must be made is between effective self-expression (which is vital from job interviews onwards) and meaningless buzzwords. That these two be kept separate is as fundamental as Sir Alan and Sir Elton not mixing up their night-on-the-town outfits. The question raised just before this series began airing was: is it appropriate, in this economic climate, to encourage the aggressive, money-grabbing ways that helped get us into this mess? Alternatively, will people tune into the programme for tips on how to get, or hold onto, a job? Whatever their motivation, tune in they have: over eight million viewers watched episode one. Sir Alan was quoted on www.telegraph.co.uk describing this years contestants as very bright and high calibre compared to what weve seen in the past. As a newcomer at series five then, I can only assume previous series have been populated entirely by briefcase-carrying chickens (with or without heads). There is a growing consensus that what is needed now is more of a back-to-basics approach. As Tim Worstall points out in Februarys Real Business magazine: [t]oo much of the economy lies in banking and financial services, and that what this situation calls for is the textbook entrepreneur, eg one who takes available economic resourcesand turns them to more productive uses. Similarly, Cassandra Jardine of the Telegraph wrote of the need for more literal apprentices, with just the small a. Aha. So, were looking at a difference between reality and reality television. (No, really.) In the real world, trust and teamwork are encouraged. And what has TA 2009 given us? On the team-building side: criticisms of a project manager who wasnt autocratic enough; and reference to colleagues as puppets. For cultivating business relationships, we have: business manager Mona belligerently telling a prospective client youve got it all wrong; sales consultant Debra snapping wed already bought it! at Sir Alan himself, when he dared question her teams buying of overpriced cleaning supplies; and Majid who didnt want to lose to girlsnot that Im sexist. And from trainee stockbroker Bens inappropriate and hyperbolic making money is better than sex, to moist-eyed Senior Commercial Manager James he of the success-flavoured spit, who trusted with my heart when I should have been looking with my eyes the whole batch is clearly aiming for the record of most words used to say nothing at all. For all that, long may we continue to watch The Apprentice (albeit often in mortification and through our fingers). Just not as a means of polishing ones communication skills: these people cant even polish cars. Perhaps we could add a disclaimer for anyone in any doubt: this is Big Brother in suits, not a seminar on business.

How to Get an A 15 Must-Ask Questions Before Finals

How to Get an A 15 Must-Ask Questions Before Finals Finals have always been your nightmare? Now they are almost here, and you can’t afford to show up unprepared. Even if you’ve been studying like crazy, the stress and busyness of finals week can make it a tricky time. And you want to be prepared for anything that can happen, right? You have to be informed about everything from the location and time of exam to the type of questions, so that you dont take it too serious or not serious enough. That’s why it’s important to ask these vital 15 questions. They’re guaranteed to keep you from feeling confused and caught on the hop on the big day. 1. Will it be an open-book test? You don’t want to waste your time memorizing facts that you can simply look up in your textbook. Still, using a book in the wrong course can get you an F for cheating. Ask this up front to save your skin. 2. Can we bring notes? Like with the book, it’s wise to know if you can use study aids on your final. Also, it’s good to know how many notes you can have (like one page or 35 card). That way, you can spend time writing enough to get all your info onto a paper that won’t get you in trouble. 3. Is it a paper or online final test? Especially in a hybrid or online course, it’s vital to know whether your final will be online or in print. Often, courses will have both, and you don’t want to miss an entire section just because you didn’t know about it. How much of the overall grade does it count for? At the beginning of the course, your professor probably went over how much the final is worth in regards to your overall grade. Ask the question again. Sometimes, the weight of a final will change depending on how the class is progressing. 5. How much of the test is based on the lecture material? If you are in a course where there is a huge lecture component, it’s good to know how much will be lecture-based and how much will be directly from the book. That way you can focus your study where it will be most effective. 6. What is the structure of the test? In addition to how much will be based on lecture, you need to know the structure of the final exam. Is it true/false? Multiple choice? Multiple-multiple choice? Will there be an essay component? Then, look up test strategies for that particular test structure. 7. Will there be some extra-credit questions? It’s always good to know how many extra points you can earn if you happen to screw up. Every little bit helps. 8. Are there alternative testing methods? If you are a student who has test anxiety, problems with comprehension, or any other documented testing issue, you need to advocate for yourself and ask for an alternative assignment. A good professor will have an option that will allow you to be successful no matter what your circumstances. 9. Will the final exam include a practical element? Some courses – like nursing, foreign language, or laboratory science – might have a practical element or lab component. Make sure you know that ahead of time so that you are prepared interact on test day. 10. How much time will we have for the test? It’s always good to know how much time and how many questions are on the test. That way, you can gauge your progress and track how long you spend on each section. It’s the best way to ensure you complete the whole thing. 11. Will there be a retest? Although some professors have a high-stakes mentality (â€Å"One strike, you’re out†), many professors have an option to retake the test if you do poorly. Know this ahead of time so that you can plan accordingly. If you feel that the first attempt wont be successful, dont panic and find out more ways on how to live through finals to improve your chance to get high scores. 12. How will the test be graded? Will your professor be grading on a curve? Will certain questions be given more weight than others? Try to get the grading rubric ahead of time so that you can make sure your answers (especially essay answers) meet all the criteria of an A+ final. 13. Is there a practice test available? Preparation is the name of the game. If there are practice questions or a full-on practice final you can take, get that information now. You’ll be able to see your weaknesses right away and really focus your studying on what you need to learn. 14. What supplies do I need to bring? Some professors will have all the supplies you need on the day of the test. Others may ask you to bring pencils, â€Å"little blue books,† or calculators. Take it from the pros – you don’t want to be the one student who shows up to the calculus final without a graphic calculator. 15. What are the rules for the test day? For every teacher and course, there will be slightly different variations. Some teachers have rules about the spacing of the desks. Others say it’s okay to work in teams to finish the final. Whatever the individual rules in your classroom, make sure you know them so that you don’t break them. Any questions? Go ahead, comment below!

Power Quality in Electrical Power System Assignment

Power Quality in Electrical Power System - Assignment Example Hence the load that develops is one of the most prominent reasons as well as the most important victim of power quality related issues. Since they are non-linear in nature this causes great load which results in turbulence in the waveform of the voltage.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Component  can be established. It is possible in the same way to correlate certain disturbances with consumption patterns of electricity, such as the early evening television peak in the harmonic distortion and signal Processing of  Power Quality etc.† (Bollen, 2006) Thus in order to overcome this disturbance there are numerous components used. These components prove to be quite efficient as they manage the load. Basically these devices are capacitors which are responsible to store electrical charges within them. This is designed according to the task that they need to cater. These capacitors aid in effective functioning of the machine ensuring standard power quality. The ranges may vary depending on the purpose they are meant to serve, today it has been observed that they also posses self healing capabilities which increase the life of the capacitor and moreover the product. This not only helps to increase voltage quality but also is economical. †¢ Why is it important to maintain high power quality? It is extremely important to maintain high power quality. It is noted that the best power quality is when the frequency of the electric supply results in a steady magnitude which coincides with the frequency of the sinusoidal waveform of the voltage. Since there is always some error and non-zero impedance occur in the supply system which is because of the great amount of load that might be faced by the system. This gives birth to another phenomenon of transients and outrages which fluctuates the reality. Hence when one considers the power quality they consider to what extent the power supply system is in correspondence with the ideal power supply system. â€Å"The targeted  power qualit y disturbances on the utility side include input voltage harmonics, voltage unbalance, and input inductor unbalance.† (Lee, 2008) these are the major causes of power disturbance which make it essential to maintain high power quality. Hence if the power quality of a system is good, reliable and efficient then any load which is associated with it will work effectively and efficiently. Also it will help to cut down the installation cost and minimize the carbon footprints. On the contrary if the power quality of a system is not satisfactory then the life of the product will fade furthermore the effectiveness of the installation will be badly affected. Economy would hamper as well as the cost of installation would eventually maximize and the carbon footprint will also be affected. This can result in no operation what so ever. The following reasons justify so as to why maintaining power quality is essential They will help to avoid unexpected power failures. Failure or malfunction of product is less. Causes no or little damage to sensitive devices. Avoids interference in communication. Saves loses and protects the systems. There is no requirement of increasing the installation in order to deal with failures resulting in economical solutions.