Snowboarding vs Skateboarding Essay Example

Snowboarding vs Skateboarding Essay Skateboarding vs. Snowboarding By Santiago Durr ENG 1111 Brenda Phegley 9/20/2012 Durr ii Outline Thesis: Skateboarding and snowboarding, they are two sports that could look similar, but they differ in several ways which are: terrain, tricks, cost and pain. I. Introduction II. Background A. Skateboarding B. Snowboarding III. Terrain and season A. Skateboarding B. Snowboarding IV. Tricks A. Skateboarding B. Snowboarding V. Cost A. Skateboarding B. Snowboarding VI. Pain A. Skateboarding B. Snowboarding VII. Conclusion Durr 1 Skateboarding vs. Snowboarding One of the things that has had the greatest impact on my life has been skateboarding, and now there is a new similar passion coming into my life which is snowboarding. I used to think that the two sports would be similar; but as the time went on, I found out that this was not the case at all. The two sports differ in several ways: terrain, tricks, pain, and cost. Skateboarding was the first board sport to come into my life and I must give it the most credit for molding me into the boy I am today. We will write a custom essay sample on Snowboarding vs Skateboarding specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Snowboarding vs Skateboarding specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Snowboarding vs Skateboarding specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It is not the board or the tricks, but the whole attitude that comes with it: The adrenaline pumping through your body as you outrun some overweight police officers and the excitement of learning something new every day. The best thing, I think skateboarding gave me was friendships; and although I am not good friends with some of the people I used to skate with, I have been able to build some wonderful friendships that I love and consider my family. Snowboarding has done good things for me as well, even though I have only been practicing it a year. I got into snowboarding when I came to the US. I was not able to practice it in my country because we do not have a winter season. Even though I hate to say this, I think snowboarding is more fun than skateboarding. The terrain for skateboarding is pretty much wherever there is concrete. However, skateboarding is illegal in most spots which make it difficult to stay in one place for a prolonged period of time. Snowboarding takes a mountain and lots of snow, and it is not illegal, so the last thing that crosses your mind is picking up your board and running from the police. The biggest and most frustrating difference is that skateboarding can be done during the whole year, while snowboarding is a seasonal sport. Durr 2 The tricks involved in the two sports are the second biggest difference. On a skateboard your feet are free to move around and off the board. Being detached from the board enables you to do such tricks as the â€Å"kickflip† or the â€Å"shuvit†. The â€Å"kickflip† requires the individual to jump above the board as the board spins underneath them. The â€Å"shuvit† is done by jumping above the board, while it turns 180 degrees and then landing on the board as if nothing happened. Snowboarding has an entirely different tactic for tricks. An individual is attached to the board, so jumping above the board is completely out of the question. Most of the tricks involve spins in which one turns 180, 360, or 540 degrees with the board. The tricks done in snowboarding also require a lot more height and speed than those in skateboarding which is why is have taken such affection for the sport in this short time. The cost for practicing skateboarding is not as high as the cost for practicing snowboarding. One just needs a board that costs around sixty dollars and it can be done just about anywhere with pavement and is usually for free. In snowboarding not only the gear necessary is way more expensive than needed in skateboarding, but there is also added cost of getting somewhere to do it. The pain that comes with the two sports is somewhat similar. After all, a bruise is a bruise and a cut is a cut. Skateboarding is the sport in which one would suffer from gashes and bloody wounds. Snowboarding is mostly sprained wrists and really bad bruises. Take it from me, falling on a solid sheet of ice hurts a lot more than any pavement. In the end, I have chosen to stick with snowboarding because of its faster pace and the height one can get off a well-made jump, but I will always have a special place in my heart for skateboarding.

Religion and Politics

Religion and Politics Religion is closely related to politics in a number of ways. In the traditional society, religious leaders were both temporal and civil leaders. In 1648, a treaty of Westphalia was signed, which separated politics from the Church. However, religion has always influenced policy making process and decision-making in government. In many parts of the world, religious leaders influence political leaders to come up with policies that are in line with the provisions of religious beliefs.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Religion and Politics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, the main question is how religion influences politics. In the United States, there is a clause in the Bill of Rights referred to as the disestablishment clause, which provides that politics must be kept separate from politics. In established democracies, somebody with questionable religious record stands no chance of being elected. The populace b elieves that a religious leader would always be willing to listen to the wishes of the majority (Settimba 9). A non-religious leader is believed to be indifferent to the sufferings of the majority in society. In other words, a non-religious leader would fulfill his or her own interests instead of serving those who elected him or her. During campaigns at state level in the United States, local leaders quote the Bible whenever they want to bring out a certain fact. In human life, each group has a belief system that is established with the help of religious values. These beliefs influence the political standpoint of an individual in a political system. The media will always evaluate the life of a politician using certain religious principles. These principles are derived from religious morals and beliefs. In this case, a candidate in an election is identified as a Christian or a Muslim. The religion of a political leader determines the number of votes he or she would gunner in an elect ion. In the United States, politicians associate themselves with Christianity because a majority of voters are Christians. In the Arab world, a political leader must associate himself with Islam because it is a dominant religion in the region. Furthermore, the religious sects must be stated clearly before a political leader is elected. In other countries, religion is the major variable in every electioneering year. It is believed that certain religious affiliations are related to cultural beliefs that affect the performance of leaders in any political system. Recently, the issue of religion emerged in the United States when Obama was said to be a Muslim. Many people were much worried that Obama was a Muslim. Islam has always been associated with extremism meaning that Muslims are accused of using warped means to attain justice. It was feared that Obama could support Muslims once he became president. However, the president dispelled fears by declaring that he was indeed a Christian. This nearly cost him the presidency (Johnstone 64).Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There is a popular belief among Christians that good leaders are usually sent by God. This is based on the Bible whereby many kings and prophets were sent by God to lead Israelites in the times of war and calamities. Political leaders have always presented themselves as leaders sent by God to accomplish certain missions. Through this, they have been able to ascend to leadership positions. Whenever political leaders make speeches, they quote the Bible to show the electorate that they understand the Christian principles. The idea that political leaders must come up with policies favoring the poor is based on the teachings of the Bible. The Bible and the Koran teaches that people must always be assisted to achieve their potentials in society. It is not the interest of the ruling class t o help the poor. The main aim of the ruling class is to amass wealth and use the proletariat to ascend to power. Political parties that tend to favor the poor in their manifestos have always clinched political power. Social justice ideology is based on the teachings of the Bible because the poor must have equal access to resources including healthcare, education, and employment. Religious Fundamentalism Religious fundamentalism was first used in the United States to refer to those individuals who opposed the principles of the mainstream church. Those who subscribed to the ideas of the Protestant Churches were perceived as religious fundamentalists. In other words, fundamentalism was interpreted to mean diverting from the mainstream faith. However, what should be clear is that fundamentalists had pertinent issues with the mainstream church since the mainstream church never allowed competition. Religious fundamentalists observed that it was critical to follow the teachings of the Bibl e instead of subscribing to the interpretations provided by the religious leaders. Religious leaders interpreted the teachings in the Bible to suit their interests. Many people were not happy with this behavior. The mainstream church interpreted the Bible in accordance to the new dynamics of the modern world. However, fundamentalists were never happy about this. They believed that it would be better to stick to the teachings of the Bible. In the modern society, fundamentalism is used loosely to mean diverting from the normal beliefs and principles of major religions (McGuire 76). Fundamentalism is a relatively new term in the sociology of religion because it was first used in the 19th century. The modern society is complex to understand because of the changes brought about globalization and technology. Therefore, fundamentalism in the modern society has a different meaning. Religion in the modern society serves a different purpose as compared to its role in the traditional society. Religion is an instrument that brings people together.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Religion and Politics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In this regard, it must be used to bring about understanding and unity. This implies that religious teachings are usually interpreted to simplify the complexities in life. Religious fundamentalists do not believe that anything has changed as far as religion is concerned. In this case, modern interpretations must not be accepted because they go against the traditional teachings of religion (Weber 22). When other people embrace change in society, religious fundamentalists encourage conservatism. To them, religion is absolute meaning that it dictates everything in society. There is a controversy among scholars regarding the use of the term because fundamentalists are perceived as people who are not intelligent. Others view them as uneducated individuals who believe religion is ev erything in society. Religious fundamentalists believe that some things should not be allowed to go on in society. For instance, they oppose science, abortion, feminism, the use of family planning drugs, and homosexuality. Recently, the term has been associated with Islamic extremists who believe that justice should be sought through terrorism and violence. For Islamic fundamentalists, the main problem in the world is exploitation. The west has always exploited people in other parts of the world, including the Middle East. To them, the main issue is that the west has always neglected the presence of Arabs. Johnstone, Ronald. Religion in Society: Sociology of Religion. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2007. Print. McGuire, Meredith. Religion: the Social Context. New York: Sage, 2002. Print. Settimba, Henry (2009). Testing times: globalization and investing theology in East Africa. Milton Keynes: Author House, 2009. Print.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Weber, Max. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Los Angeles: Roxbury Company, 2002. Print.

Middle east Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Middle east - Research Paper Example First of all, the crude form of IS (say, the Islamic State) was established in the year 1999, known as Jama’at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad. This group was formed in Jordan, under the leadership of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Axel Hunsicker stated that, â€Å"Zarqavi and his group helped finance, recruit, transport, and train Sunni Islamic extremists for the Iraqi resistance† (420). Besides, this organization played an important role in creating internal problems in the Middle Eastern context during the time of insurgency in Iraq. One can see that the presence of foreign fighters in this group proves its effectiveness, beyond its decentralized leadership. In the year 2004, this group decided to extend its influence by affiliating itself to international terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda. For instance, the group’s name underwent transformation as Taná ºâ€œim QaÊ »idat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn. One can see that the insurgency in Iraq was not over during 2000s. So, the primary aim of this group was to take an active role in the internal politics of Iraq by taking arms against the coalition forces. Again in the year 2006, this group changed its name into Islamic State of Iraq (ISI). To be specific, this transformation is important because the Mujahedeen leadership decided to co-ordinate different insurgent groups under a single leadership. Besides, the core leadership was in decentralized form to overcome unexpected deaths of important leaders.

Brilliance in the Basics of Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Brilliance in the Basics of Leadership - Essay Example For instance, leadership demands that the leaders, before practicing their decisions, discuss them with parties which are going to be affected by their decisions, so as to make them feel respected. The substantive aspect of leadership includes knowledge, tough standards and guts to pursue directions regardless of opposition. Brown, Travino and Harrison (2005) assert that â€Å"leadership predicts outcomes such as perceived effectiveness of leaders, followers’ job satisfaction and dedication, and their willingness to report problems to management†. Hence, if the leadership is thriving, capable and bright, then the outcome is more prolific than anticipated. What does it mean to me? This explanation of the concept of leadership itself explains why the brilliance in the basics of leadership is important to me or any other person who wants to see his/her organization flourishing. I believe that the accomplishment of an organization depends mainly on value-based actions and d ecisions. A good leader takes care of his employees so as to preserve a vigorous environment within the organization. Some basics in this aspect are that the leader verifies that the salaries are being paid in time, pursues a system of rewards and bonuses, listens to the employees’ troubles and tries to remove them. ... He knows that he has to abide by the rules and regulations he has agreed upon while signing a contract and will never back off. Brilliance in these basics adds to the progress of the organization. I also believe in the fact that brilliance in the basics of leadership makes the newcomers follow the way the leaders work and behave in the organization. A good leader will always show such an attitude at the workplace that inspires others to follow his directions. Also, the ultimate goal of the leadership is to create such teams that work effectively to produce greater results. The most important thing is consideration about internal and external communication. When a leader wants that employees participate in a vigorous collaborative environment where they interrelate with each other in a better way to share their ideas and information, he takes steps to improve his communication with the workers, listen to their problems, talk to them and work out their issues. Workers will automaticall y start following him and the overall organizational culture will improve. This is the transformational leadership in which the leaders produce such an effect on their subordinates that they inflict a â€Å"transforming effect† on them, thus, producing far-reaching changes in organizations. Now, let me discuss what other basics of leadership are important to me and why. Among substantive virtues of leadership, the following basics are very important. Values By understanding and polishing my basic values, I can develop a sense of moral duty of working for the betterment of myself and of the society. Voice This includes the practice of getting people acquainted with our inner beliefs, ideas and standards so that they get

Louis Pojman’s We Don’t Deserve What We Earn Essay Example for Free

Louis Pojman’s We Don’t Deserve What We Earn Essay Merit and desert are two terms that are always in opposition to one another. While merit measures value in terms of success or failures, desert presupposes that value is not only measured in terms of success or failure but also the intentions must be assessed. Desert asseses â€Å"whether or not one had good or bad intentions, whether or not one was responsible for the success or failure†. While it is tempting to decide on issues with regards to their value in terms of the intentions of doing them as well as the success or failure of the object to meet our specific demands, I do believe that we merit is the best way of making a decision; we deserve what we earn. Athlete who has been training for long hours everyday deserves to win a race because of his attempt to train, and not marely because he is tall or has some long strides. Merit presumes that a person deserves something provided that he has some qualities. This is in contrast to desert which assumes a person to deserve something given that he attempts or does something. The criterion for deciding whether we deserve what we earn may be either through merit or desert, but one fact is that we generally deserve what we earn. The society itself is full of pointers to the fact that we get what we â€Å"saw†. To begin with, the laws governing our actions in the society show a justice. The concept of justice is found in most cultures and religious institutions. An ancient Greek poet, Simonides, defined justice as â€Å"giving each person his due† an idea which is unequivocal in the ancient Greek laws which also defined justice as giving the people what they merited. This idea of justice is also evident in most religions. The concept of the final judgment done on the basis of ones goodness or badness cuts across all religions; in the Hindu scriptures the notion of reward got after reincarnation is portrayed as being proportional to the person’s deeds. This same idea is also exemplified in the Quran and explicit in the Hebrew and Christian bibles. The bible for example states that what a person sows such shall he reap. In the current world affairs, we can look at the US election as one indicator of the criteria by which the society measures its values. We can decide to look at Obama as deserving the win from two perspective, from a meritorious point of view or from a desert based point of view. If we look at it from a merit-based point of view, then we can say that Obama deserved the win because he planned well, mounted a successful campaign machinery and was successful in convincing the young people, many of whom voted for him. On the other hand, we can decide to say that Obama deserved to win because he represented a minority community which has been oppressed and so deserved to win the election on this ground. Reference Pojman, L. Merit: Why do we value it. Journal of Social Philosophy. New York. Vol 30:83-102.

Investigate the factors affecting the rate of Osmosis :: GCSE Biology Osmosis Coursework

Investigate the factors affecting the rate of Osmosis Planning Osmosis is the diffusion of water from a lower concentration of solute to a higher concentration of solute, through a partially permeable membrane. In a high concentration of water the amount of solute (e.g. sucrose) is low. This could be called a weak or dilute solution. In a low concentration of water the amount of solute is high. This could be called a strong or concentrated solution. When a partially permeable membrane divides two such solutions, the water will move from the area of high concentration to the area of low concentration until both sides are equal. In plant cells water flows through the cell wall and cell surface membrane into the vacuole from the outside. As a result, the cell swells up. It doesn't burst as the cell wall stops the cell expanding too much; at this point we say a cell is fully turgid. Aim The purpose of my investigation is to investigate the factors affecting the rate of Osmosis. The key factors I have found affect this are: Length - of membrane Temperature - of water Concentration - of solution The factor I am going to investigate is the concentration of the solution in which the potatoes are placed. By doing this I will have to control all other factors to ensure a fair test, these are; doing all the tests at room temperature to control the temperature as a higher temperature would mean diffusion would occur quicker. The mass and surface area of the potatoes at the beginning of the experiment are other controls I will need to monitor to ensure a fair test. The mass of the potato is a dependent variable; this means that it will be measured throughout the experiment. I will measure the mass in grams correct to 2d.p. The potato chip will be measured before it is put in the solution, and after. This will allow us to see whether osmosis has taken place, and to what extent. The volume of the solution that the potato chips are kept in must be fair. The must be totally covered in the solution, and the amount of solution will be kept the same because all the potato chips are the same size. The amount of solution I cover each chip in will be 20cm. Prediction I predict in my experiment that the higher the concentration of sugar in the solution, the smaller the potato chip will become. I predict this as the greater the concentration of water in the external solution, the greater the amount of water that enters the cell by

A Woman In Berlin

It seems obvious that a civilian population would experience and have a perspective on warfare than members of the military, but for those who perpetrate warfare – mainly the multi-national moneyed corporate interests, the bankers and stockbrokers, and the politicians who ultimately give the orders while rarely – if –ever – suffering the direct consequences, it seems to matter little. It has been this way throughout human history, but up until the advent of mechanized warfare, it was primarily soldiers, whose job it is to carry out orders, who experienced the consequences first-hand. Civilian populations have suffered these consequences periodically throughout history as well, but it was after the development of mechanized slaughter that civilians became regular first-hand victims of the horrors of war. The American Civil War and the First World War had brought this to civilian populations on a wide-scale basis to some extent, but it was really the Second World War in which mechanized warfare had been perfected to the point that virtually any civilian population could be affected – including that of Germany. The Germans had been subject to humiliation and hunger following the First World War as well as major economic upheavals – conditions that allowed Hitler to come to power in the first place. Nonetheless, German villages, cities and infrastructure had survived the 1914-1918 conflict nearly intact. This was not the case during the Second World War. Germany, for a brief time had been the world’s great superpower, which seemed only fitting to its people – particularly after the country’s spectacular rise prior to hostilities, and the apparent ease with which German forces had secured lebensraum for the deutsches leute. The anonymous author of A Woman In Berlin, a day-by-day account of Berlin’s fall and subsequent occupation by Soviet military, gives us a vivid account of the subsequent disbelief, the initial clinging to hope in the face, the changed perspective on everyday life, and the various survival tactics employed. Mainly however, it is a story of the transition from feelings of power over one’s fate to powerlessness, and what issues, formerly trivial, take on monumental importance in the face of a struggle simply to survive: â€Å"Heart, hurt, love, desire – how foreign, how distant those words sound now. Evidently a sophisticated, discriminating love life requires three square meals a day. † 1 It is also an experience of life stripped to its bare essentials: â€Å"Once again, we see what a dubious blessing technology is. Machines with no intrinsic value, worthless if you can’t plug them in somewhere. Bread however is absolute. †2 In light of this, it is fascinating to see how people – at least in the beginning – grasp on to any semblance of order as civilization collapses about them. On page 13 is a stark example of the unique cultural traits of the German people of that time; cultural traits that had allowed Hitler and the Nazi party to seize the power that eventually led to the downfall: despite the lack of enforcement, despite the fact that the tram is nearly empty, the narrator walks alongside it in a pouring simply because she does not have the Class III ticket that would entitle her to ride. â€Å"Order. It’s rooted deep inside us; we do what we are told. 3 As the Russians enter the city, suddenly, they are no longer a distant, faceless enemy; they are humans like the German civilians, but unlike the Germans, they are predominantly young, male, relatively well-fed – and enraged. It is not always acknowledged that the Russians suffered far greater casualties than the U. S. , Great Britain and the free garrisons from countries such as France and Poland combined. According to the official Nazi party line, Slavs, i. . Russians, were little better than Jews, Gypsies and homosexuals. Despite ukaz Stalina (Stalin’s decree), repeated acts of rape and assault occur. As one Russian insists: â€Å"What did the Germans do to our women? †4 revealing that these are not acts of lust or sexual hunger; these are acts of vengeance. Ultimately, and perhaps inevitably, hunger and safety needs – the lowest needs on Maslow’s hierarchy – take priority as the vanquished adapt in order to survive. The narrator is willing to submit to â€Å"Only one† in order to avoid being gang-raped. Even during the act itself, she’s â€Å"only half present, and that half is no longer resisting. †5 Eventually, she must find â€Å"a single wolf to keep away the pack. †6 Ultimately, even the men â€Å"adapt,† surrendering and serving the conquerors; despite orders not to surrender, the desire to live wins out. One difference between Soviet combat troops and that of every other combatant is the presence of women: â€Å"We’re amazed to see so many woman soldiers, with field tunics, skirts, berets and insignia†7 It is unclear from the narrative if the presence of Russian women prevented the brutish behavior from being worse than it was, but it is noteworthy that eventually, victor and vanquished are on first-name basis, actually interacting on a human level. One stark difference between the civilian and the military perspective stands out in bold relief: in the military, there is usually a bond of brotherhood among the soldiers of a given unit. In the heat of battle, a soldier isn’t fighting for his flag, for geo-political advantage or territory; they’re fighting for their comrades. On the other hand, among the civilians, it seems to come down for every man or woman for his/herself: â€Å"I couldn’t care about the lot of them†¦all my feelings seem dead, except for the drive to live. †8 This story is a history of a little-known chapter of World War II, but it is more importantly a testament to the overwhelming power of the survival instinct.