Tuesday, November 26, 2019

50 Idioms with Single, Double, and Triple

50 Idioms with Single, Double, and Triple 50 Idioms with Single, Double, and Triple 50 Idioms with Single, Double, and Triple By Mark Nichol The following is a list of idioms about multiplicative numbers (single, double, and triple) and their meanings. 1–2. at a single blow/stroke: with one movement 3–4. at/on the double: quickly 5. body double: someone who stands in for another, especially in a performance 6. double: two servings of an alcoholic beverage, a two-base hit in baseball, or an identical person or thing 7. double as: serve in two capacities 8. double back: return to a starting point 9–10. double bill/feature: a performance involving two works or two performers or groups of performers; a separate meaning of â€Å"double bill† refers to being charged the cost of something twice 11. double bind: a dilemma 12. double booked: committed for two events, or scheduled for two people or parties at the same time 13. double cross: an act of cheating or swindling 14. double date: socialize as two couples, or the act of doing so 15. double digits: the numbers 10 through 99 16. double down: originally, double one’s bet in blackjack; by extension, exert twice the effort 17. double dribble: use both hands to bounce a basketball, or bounce a basketball again after stopping, or the act of committing either penalty 18. double Dutch: a difficult language; also, a game of jump rope involving two ropes swung in different directions 19. double duty: said in reference to something that serves two functions at once 20. double entendre: a word or phrase with more than one meaning, one of which is obscene or sexual 21. double in brass: see â€Å"double duty† (from a reference to a musician who performs on more than one instrument during a performance) 22. double life: a life in which one assumes two identities 23. double nickels: the number 55, often in reference to a speed limit (from the value of a nickel) 24. double or nothing: a type of bet in which a person receives double the prize or nothing 25. double over: bend over, as if in laughter or in pain 26. double standard: principles or values hypocritically applied differently to different people or situations 27. double take: a reaction in which one looks twice at something or someone because one is confused or surprised 28. double talk: comments made to avoid telling the truth 29. double tap: a repeated touch, or repeated firing of a weapon 30. double time: move twice as fast, or cheat; as a noun, a rate of pay that is twice the normal rate, or a type of tempo in music 31. double trouble: a difficult person or thing, or two difficult people or things 32. double up: pair up or share; also, see â€Å"double over† 33. double whammy: an occurrence of two bad things at a time 34. double-bagger: a person considered so ugly that two nested grocery bags should be placed over the person’s face to conceal it 35. double-decker: a vehicle with two levels, or a two-layer sandwich 36. double-dipper: one who earns two salaries or collects both Social Security payments and a federal pension; also, one scoops half-eaten finger food in a dip or sauce at the risk of introducing germs 37. double-edged sword: something that might be advantageous but also dangerous 38. double-tongued: deceitful or hypocritical 39. doublespeak: deceitful or misleading language 40–41. H-E-double-hockey-sticks/toothpicks: a euphemism for the oath hell, from the resemblance of the uppercase letter l to hockey sticks or the lowercase letter l to toothpicks 42. of a single mind: in agreement 43. see double: see two of everything, as when affected by dizziness 44. single: an unmarried person, or a one-base hit in baseball 45. single file: a reference to a line of people or things, with each one standing behind another 46. single out: focus on or identify one thing 47. triple: a set of three, or a three-base hit in baseball 48. triple threat: someone talented in three areas 49. triple whammy: see â€Å"double whammy† 50. triple-bagger: see double-bagger Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Computer Terms You Should Know50 Idioms About Roads and Paths5 Examples of Insufficient Hyphenation

Friday, November 22, 2019

Public Vs. Private Colleges Where Should You Go

Public Vs. Private Colleges Where Should You Go SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips While you may end up deciding to apply to a mixture of public and private colleges, you should be aware that each type has its own general set of characteristics that may be more or less aligned with your preferences.Which type of school is cheaper? Which colleges are bigger, and what opportunities exist in private vs public universities? In this article, I’ll discuss the differences between public and private colleges that you should consider in your search. What Are Public and Private Colleges? Before we get to the main differences, let’s take a second to define public and private colleges.Public colleges are higher educational institutions that areset up and funded by state governments.Well-known public colleges include the University of California, Ohio State University, the University of Alabama, and the University of Texas. Private colleges are higher educational institutions that areset up and funded by individuals outside of the government.Private colleges may be either â€Å"non-profit† or â€Å"for-profit†. Non-profit private colleges are solely focused on providing a quality education for students and helping them to achieve academic and career goals.They answer to a financially disinterested board of trustees, not an owner and shareholders. For-profit private colleges exist as businesses at the mercy of shareholders. Their goal is to turn a profit first and foremost.Though they strive to provide a quality education, if a program isn’t making them money, they will cut it even if that's not in the best interests of their students. Most reputable colleges are non-profit. This includes big names like Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. For-profit schools like University of Phoenix, Devry, and ITT Tech generally have poor reputations for helping their students and delivering a quality education. For the purposes of this guide, when we refer to private colleges we'll be talking about non-profit colleges only. What Are the Main Differences Between Public and Private Colleges? Funding and Tuition Costs Public colleges are mostly funded by state governments.The government pays for the operating costs of public colleges and universities and oversees the operation of public colleges through boards and trustees.This influx of government money means that students do not pay the real cost of attendance - they pay the cost after significant subsidies from the government.For this reason, public universities can afford to offer lower tuition prices on average.Average tuition at public colleges for the 2014-15 school year was $9,139 for in-state students and $22,958 for out of state students. Private colleges, on the other hand, are not funded by the government in any way.They rely on alumni contributors and tuition to pay for their programs.This usually forces students to carry the full cost of their education, leading to higher tuition prices.Average tuition at private colleges for the 2014-15 school year was $31,231. Class Size and Demographics Public colleges tend to have larger class sizes, especially at the introductory level.This may result in less direct access to professors and fewer class discussions.Many students come from in-state because of the lower tuition prices and higher admissions rate, so there may be less geographical diversity in the student body. Private colleges have smaller class sizes on average.This means closer relationships between students and professors and more class discussion opportunities.There will also be more geographical diversity in the student body since in-state and out of state students are not given different tuition prices. Class discussion at a small college Degree and Program Offerings Public colleges tend to have a larger student body and offer a wider variety of degrees and programs.The largest universities in the US are public, and some host undergraduate populations of over 40,000 students.At a public college, you'll be able to find pretty much any type of major program you want. However, you'll usually have to be more of a self-starter because there is less direct guidance from advisors. Private colleges don't have the same large range of major choices as public colleges, and they tend to have smaller student bodies overall.There are some private colleges that have less than 500 students total.Private colleges make up for their lack of scope with more specific curriculum requirements or a specialized focus in liberal arts or engineering.They are also more likely to have excellent advisory systems and allow students to design their own courses of study. Research Opportunities Public universities, due to their abundance of government funding, often have cutting edge research facilities and virtually endless resources.Even with all of these possibilities, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd and get the support of professors for your research efforts. But if you’re willing to put yourself out there, public universities have some of the best opportunities in the country for intense academic research, especially in the hard sciences. Private colleges may have less resources and facilities overall, but they make up for it with easy access to professors and individual encouragement of student research efforts.Many private colleges institute specialized research programs and opportunities for students.With small class sizes, you’ll have more of a chance to get close to your professors and potentially work with them on projects. The Science Learning Center at the University of Texas, Dallas. Campus Life Public colleges usually have vibrant communities with a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities and a thriving party scene.There’s something for everyone within the social scene, and you’ll find many people who share your interests no matter how obscure they are.At public colleges, there's always something going on. Private colleges may still have very diverse communities and lots of extracurricular opportunities, but everything typically exists on a smaller scale. Those are just some basic differences between private and public colleges. Remember, they're generalizations.Some private colleges are very large and may have more of a public college atmosphere.It’s up to you to research specific schools and learn more about their characteristics. Which Type of College Is a Better Fit for You? You may be more suited for private or public colleges depending on your academic goals and social preferences.Many students apply to both types of schools, so don’t assume that you have to choose one or the other yet. Here are a couple of questions you can ask yourself to decide whether private or public colleges will be a better fit: Do You Enjoy Meeting Lots of New People? If you’re an outgoing person, you may be happier in the social environment of a large public college.At these types of colleges, you'll constanly meet new people and be presented with opportunities to try different activities.You can expect a wide variety of social experiences with lots of on-campus events and parties. At most private colleges, the student body is smaller, so the social scene may offer fewer options and feel more claustrophobic.However, this can also result in familial feeling amongst students and a more comfortable, friendly atmosphere.If you’re less outgoing and enjoy seeing people you know around all the time, the private college scene may be more your speed.Keep in mind that some private colleges are on the larger side and some public colleges are on the smaller side, so it’s important to consider each school’s characteristics on an individual basis. Are You Interested in a Specific Program? If you have a particular course of study in mind, make sure the colleges where you apply have the appropriate programs and resources. As outlined in the previous section, public colleges may have more advanced research facilities that will be useful if you plan on going into the hard sciences. If you think you're more interested in the humanities, it may not make a difference whether you go to a public or private college. Even if public colleges have more extensive libraries, private colleges usually have the wherewithal to request materials for students from other off-site libraries. Since private colleges offer more flexibility in their programs, you might think about attending a private college if your interests are diverse and might not fit neatly into one premade major track. Are You an Independent Learner? In general, if you're more of a self-starter, you will thrive at a public college. Even though public colleges have many resources, it's hard to know where to begin if you want to take full advantage of these opportunities. If you're naturally a resourceful person who's willing to go after what you want rather than waiting for it to come to you, a public college could be great for you. On the other hand, if you think you'll need more guidance to navigate your college experience, a private college could be a better fit for your personality. In a less overwhelming atmosphere with more direct supervision from professors and academic advisors, you'll have a better chance of realizing your full potential. Do you celebrate every day of your life with an extravagant fireworks display? You might be independent! Get it? Independence Day? Sorry I know I'm reaching here. Public vs. Private Colleges: Doing Your Research Now it’s time to actually research some schools based on your preferences.You canstart with College Navigator, which is a search tool that allows you to look for schools based on location, program type, and, of course, public or private status.If you’re looking for private schools, I would recommend checking the box for non-profit schools. You’ll get results that show all the public or private schools in the area of the country that you’ve specified.You can look at the statistics for these schools and add them to your favorites if any of them strike your fancy.You can also compare them side by side to see what the best options are. After searching on College Navigator, you might consider creating a profile on Cappex, where you can find more colleges and get statistics about campus life alongside student reviews.This is also a great place to create a list of colleges that interest you and compare them.If you complete your profile on Cappex, you’ll also get more recommendations for colleges that match up with your preferences.Remember, many students apply to both public and private colleges, so if your list includes a few of each type that’s totally fine! Conclusion Public and private colleges differ in the ways they are funded: public colleges are funded by state governments, while private colleges are funded by private individuals and organizations.Public and private colleges also have many characteristics that set them apart including tuition, enrollment size, social scene, and program offerings. You may decide to go to either a public or private school based on how well your personality and academic goals align with the general characteristics of each type of college.Make sure that you do your research and get the specific facts on each school before judging just based on whether it's public or private.You may end up applying to both private and public schools because there are so many great options in each category! What's Next? You'll have to make a lot of other decisions in the college admissions process besides whether you want to go to a public or private school. Check out my articles about whether you should go to college close to home and whether you should go to a large or small college. If you think you might be interested in going to a small college, take a look at my list of the best small colleges in the US.If you're interested, you should also check out these articles on the biggest and smallest colleges in the country. For a complete overview of the college search process, read my comprehensive guide on how to choose a college. Want to improve your SAT score by 240 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Globalisation and crime report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Globalisation and crime report - Essay Example That notwithstanding, with improvements in the transport sector an individual can decide to conduct business in foreign countries by moving freely from one location to the next i.e. a person living in Nigeria can transact business in Abu Dhabi and return home the very day. In essence, the issue of international integration has been made easier thus keeping the entire world in touch with each other (Barak, 2009). Globalisation has enabled people to follow world events conveniently from wherever they are in the world since they affect them. Through social media people know what is happening around the world in real-time without having to travel all those distances, updates in social media and international news outlets makes information dissemination quick and convenient as persons around the globe can keep up in touch with the affairs of the world in real time (Loader & Sparks, 2002). Increased integration on a global front has led to a significant number of issues being managed from a global front, for instance, there are universal laws that govern the action of each individual, the world economy is also being monitored at a global level, etc. (Barak, 2009). Comparative criminology is primarily concerned with crime and trends in criminal justice systems across various cultural, historical and geopolitical contexts. It seeks to unravel how different societies view crime and how they respond to crime. The primary aim of comparative criminology is to elaborate the similarities and differences of the various communities’ response to crime and explain the legal processes that are taken in response to such acts (Siegel, 2012). Comparative criminology is basically theoretical in nature since it is based on examining statistical records of various societies to assist it to come up with theoretical evaluation and testing of the data to come up with informed assumptions. Furthermore, comparative

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

The Sources of Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Sources of Law - Essay Example The federal and the state administrative regulations are set by the executive branch and are passed by the legislature. The constitution is the written rules that are agreed upon by the state union of people. This constitution remains in control until it shall be changed by the authority which created it. Though constitutions are long lasting and are not easily amended. It sets the parameters of the state and hence is formulated in a very general language. It’s composed of decisions that are made by courts in individual cases. It originates from specific facts and therefore the court resolves the disputes between the parties involved based on the individual facts. The judges make laws by applying and interpreting laws based on a case to another. A court uses an earlier and similar case to give a legal action in order to decide on an individual case. These sources may be given a lesser or a greater weight. These include writing of legal scholars which may either is in civil law jurisdictions or in academic writings and interpreting the legislation; it could be an edict from a ruler or from the king or even from Islamic religion like the Sharia

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Apple Company Essay Example for Free

Apple Company Essay As we did the research for Apple Company, we could found out that Apple Company is well developed in a way of their products and services towards the users. Apple had innovated their products and taking the lead of the other company like Nokia, Sony Ericsson, LG and so on by its own touch screen hand phone technology selling on market to be one of the most influential in the share market of the nationwide. As to be seen, Apple focuses its strength on building up their branding power and penetrates this power into the community of wide public. Sales of its notebooks products are very strong, and represent a huge contribution to income for Apple. Other than that, to be mentioning Apple’s weaknesses it would be the faulty screen from the Ipod Nano and its faulty batteries, ever since Apple is about to switch their chip supplier from IBM to Intel, the industry specialist would say that it might confuse the consumer. While about the opportunity contains within the Apple, they would develop ITunes and music player technology into a phone format, is to be say as the new technologies and strategic alliances offer opportunities for Apple. This work done by comparing the Apple and Microsoft of their features and specification, the complete user experience that they providing to the users from whole wide world and stacking up to against other operating system such as Linux. The Apple has fulfill the criteria of what Sun Zi had said the advantages of arriving the battlefield first will have sufficient time to prepare for the enemies.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Essay --

Srijana Chhetri Mr. Wesney Honors World History Dec.18, 2013 Industrial Revolution in England The Industrial Revolution began in England towards the late 17th century. It started in the United Kingdom and was driven by a technology system based on water power and steam engines, cotton, textiles, ironworking, river transport, and canals. These inventions made it possible to send heavy commodities such as coal, iron, wool, grain and so forth from one end of the world to another (Henderson 1, The Industrial... 1815-1914). Inventors of new machines were honored and inventions of new technology were encouraged during this time period. Ordinary working people found increased opportunities for work within the new mills and factories, but these were always accompanied by strict working conditions with long hours of labor, and often involved young children and women. The Industrial Revolution replaced an economy based on agriculture with one based on industry and manufacturing. One of the most important changes was the continuous expansion of the population and the economy. Most obse rvers in the 18th century did not believe that expansion of the population and the economy could be sustained indefinitely. Thomas Malthus argued that population naturally grows faster than the food supply, and, therefore, malnutrition, famine, and disease would correct the imbalance (Trebilcock 397-398). However, this did not take place because of the continued expansion of the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution also gave an advantage to the government because the states in Europe issued tariffs to gain money, and as big companies emerged, they were required to register with the government and publish an annual budget. The societies during this ... ...e to the lack of better medicines. We could still be using subsistence agriculture to feed our family rather than commercial agriculture. Every human being on this earth should appreciate the fact that this event occurred because it has made their life so much easier and better compared to the life before the pre- industrial time. Even if some other huge revolution had occurred, instead of the Industrial Revolution, it would never be able to bring the same impact that this revolution was able to bring. The Industrial Revolution allowed people to save time with the new inventions, and also created more interactions in the global world with trade. There is no doubt that it was one of the most influential time periods of human history and most responsible for propelling society into the modern economies that we still have in place today.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Hsm/230 Building an Ethical Organization Part 1

Building an Ethical Organization Part 1 Jennifer O HSM/230 9-18-11 Sharon Johnson-Fox Today, we have an overabundance of citizens who cannot afford good, quality medical care. Hampton Roads Complete Care Center (HRCC) is hoping to change that. We are going to be a non-profit dedicated to the citizens of our community and the surrounding cities. We will provide quality care for those who need it and will provide resources for those who request it. We will treat all clients as well as staff with compassion and respect. The organization is going to be a complete wellness and care facility. The first priority will be to provide residents with the proper care they need. We will be a non-profit and will rely on government grants, donations, and volunteer workers who can hopefully be able to eventually move into paid positions. We are also hoping to employ the elderly and disabled to give them a feeling of accomplishment and being needed. We will service the elderly, disabled, homeless, low income, pregnant women, veterans, anyone who needs our services and we will provide services for those who have been denied help elsewhere. We are going to be a full service center and will also be able to help those with mental disabilities. Eventually as we grow, and with more funding, we would like to have many doctors and counselors on board as there are many people in the community that could benefit from mental and health services. We will provide pregnancy testing as well as birth control pills. We will have counselors and mentors to help anyone who feels they need to talk in private. Sometimes, there are teens and young mothers who feel that they have no one to listen and we can provide that here. We will also have referrals for those who need extra help, for instance if they are pregnant and contemplating abortion; we can direct them to the proper person. This also holds true if there is a veteran who needs help with a drinking or drug problem, we can provide them with the needed information. Even though we are not a facility that will deal with those specific issues, we will certainly try and provide any help that we can. In the Human Service industry ethics are of great importance and I believe everyone deserves the chance to receive help and if HRCC doesn’t provide it then we will do whatever it takes to get them to a place that can. As Manning (2003) states â€Å"How we operate affects the entire organization. This quote should be taken to heat by any organization that hopes to succeed. Our mission statement is to protect the health and well-being of all clients in the Hampton Roads and surrounding cities community. To increase access to healthcare and wellness to the uninsured, and to provide clients with a safe place in which their medical and emotional needs can be met. I feel the mission statement does support the ethi cal system. In my opinion it is unethical to turn away anyone who needs help. Communication is another important factor in dealing with clients and their physicians. As Ashley and O’Rourke (2002) stated, ‘Today a patient often receives healthcare from a team of providers, especially in the setting of the modern acute-care hospital. But the resulting multiplication of the relationships does not alter the personal character of the interaction between health care providers and the patient. The relationship of the person seeking healthcare and the professionals providing the care is an important part of the foundation on which diagnosis and care is provided. † (p. 226) This is especially true when you do have elderly or homeless, who are sometimes either more trusting or reserved. The doctors and counselors that we employ are going to try as much as possible to have that communication and one on one time although it may be difficult at times. It is a vital part of our mission that clients need to feel safe and secure. Our mission statement will let the community know that we will be there to help in any way we can and will provide for their needs as much as we possibly can. I recall a time when my grandmother was still alive and I was taking her to a doctor’s appointment. When we arrived she was notified that her doctor had retired and that she would be seeing the new doctor, she was understandably very nervous and scared and asked if I would please find out why she had not be informed. The receptionist let us know that the doctor had retired without notice and they simply overlooked some of his regular patients. The new doctor was so concerned for my grandmother that he spent an extra 20 minutes making her feel at ease. This is the behavior that I envision for HRCC. It is extremely important to make clients feel at ease in an uncomfortable situation. Values can be defined as those things that are important or valued by someone. Honesty, loyalty and integrity are important parts of HRCC and the values shared by the team can be very powerful. The vision is clear, The Hampton Roads complete Care Center will partner with the community to improve the quality of life through better health. Our values statement is Teamwork, Integrity, and Quality. We will work as a team to achieve our purpose and make sure we connect our clients to the proper information. We will treat each other with respect and behave in an ethical manner. We will continuously improve the quality of all our services over time. We will have compassion for others and sometimes we can even offer humor, laughter is, after all, the best medicine. I think in working together we can create a remarkable care center that can potentially thrive. In conclusion, Hampton Roads Complete Care Center will meet the needs of many of our citizens. We will make them feel safe and secure in the knowledge that their needs will be met and they will get the healthcare and medications that they need. It is my greatest hope that HRCC becomes a vital part of the community and that in the years to come it can flourish and have many contributors. It is my dream that we can greatly reduce the number of people in our community that don’t have proper healthcare. Through hard work and dedication, with the desire to help others, this is a very achievable dream. References Ashley and O’Rourke (2002) Ethics of Healthcare; an introductory textbook. Manning (2003) Ethical leadership in Human Services; A multi-dimensional Approach. Strategic Leadership and Decision Making, retrieved from www. au. af. mil

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Ethical Dilemma Essay

1. Keeping in mind the facts and timeline of this situation, discuss Lavonda’s situation in terms of legal and ethical issues. This case has many aspects of sexual harassment, and is very complicated. Karline is partially correct in that it was common knowledge that Lavonda and Allen were intimate. It was because Lavonda crossed that line, and did not report the relationship, that Lavonda’s sexual harassment suit becomes unstable. Her legal suit would carry more weight if she had gone through the proper channels to report the misconduct when it occurred. There is also an ethical problem if she tries to convince the new hire to work for Allen. 2. Discuss Lavonda’s alternatives and possible professional and private outcomes for her. The probable cost to Lavonda if she reports the sexual harassment case is a long legal struggle and possible loss of her job. We are aware that Lavonda’s mother has cancer, is undergoing chemo, and Lavonda needs the income to care for her mother. If Lavonda loses the case, she faces a risk of not being able to help her mother, especially if Allen spreads nasty rumors about her throughout the industry. She should probably be aware that if she pursues legal case that this will follow her throughout her career. This could negatively influence future employers or could show them that she has a moral character. 3. Is Allen in violation of sexual harassment and/or sexual discrimination laws in United States? Yes. He has displayed intimidating behavior, sexual harassment, and is very manipulative of women in the workforce. Whenever Lavonda asked him to stop, and he continues his behavior, this becomes harassment. 4. Certainly Allen has damaged Lavonda’s performance level: however, discuss whether he has created a legally hostile work environment. By definition of a hostile work environment, he has created it. There are three criteria that must be met: (1) the conduct must be unwelcome; (2) the conduct becomes severe, pervasive, and regarded as so offensive to alter the conditions of employment; (3) conduct was so bad that a reasonable person would find it hostile or offensive. All the employee needs to prove is that the conduct interfered with her work performance.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Kwanzan Cherry Tree Profile and Care Instructions

Kwanzan Cherry Tree Profile and Care Instructions Kwanzan Cherry has double-pink, beautiful flowers and is usually purchased and planted for this reason. The upright-spreading form, reaching 15 to 25 feet tall, is quite attractive in many locations including near a patio or as a specimen away from lawn grass competition. The tree is glorious in flower and has been planted along with Yoshino Cherry in Washington, D.C. and Macon, Georgia for their annual Cherry Blossom Festivals. This cherry provides a strong contrast to lighter-colored cherry blossoms, like Yoshino cherry, by showing a pink flower later in April and May. It becomes a larger part of the cherry show as spring introduces flowering later in the Northeastern U.S. Specifics Scientific Name: Prunus serrulata ‘Kwanzan’Pronunciation: PROO-nus sair-yoo-LAY-tuhCommon Name: Kwanzan CherryFamily: RosaceaeUSDA Hardiness Zones: 5B through 9AOrigin: Not native to North AmericaUses: Bonsai; container or above-ground planter; near a deck or patio; trainable as a standard; specimen; residential street tree; Cultivars Some cultivars might be locally available including: ‘Amanogawa’(‘Erecta’): Semi-double, light pink, fragrant flowers, narrow columnar habit, about 20 feet tall;‘Shirotae’(‘Mt. Fuji’, ‘Kojima’): Flowers double to semi-double, white, ruffled, about 2.5 inches across; ‘Shogetsu’ - tree 15 feet tall, broad and flat-topped, flowers double, pale pink, the center may be white, can be two inches across;‘Ukon’: Young foliage bronze, flowers pale yellow, semi-double. Description Height: 15 to 25 feetSpread: 15 to 25 feetCrown Uniformity: Symmetrical canopy with a regular (or smooth) outline and individuals have more or less identical crown formsCrown Shape: Upright; vase shapeCrown Density: ModerateGrowth Rate: MediumTexture: Medium Trunk and Branches The bark is thin and easily damaged from mechanical impact; the tree grows mostly upright and will not droop; showy trunk; should be grown with a single leader. Pruning Requirement: Needs little pruning to develop a strong structureBreakage: ResistantCurrent Year Twig Color: BrownCurrent Year Twig Thickness: Medium Foliage Leaf Arrangement: AlternateLeaf Type: SimpleLeaf Margin: SerrateLeaf Shape: Lanceolate; ovateLeaf Venation: Banchidodrome; pinnateLeaf Type and Persistence: DeciduousLeaf Blade Length: 4 to 8 inches; 2 to 4 inchesLeaf Color: GreenFall Color: Copper; orange; yellowFall Characteristic: Showy Culture Light Requirement: Tree grows in full sunSoil Tolerances: Clay; loam; sand; acidic; occasionally wet; alkaline; well-drainedDrought Tolerance: ModerateAerosol Salt Tolerance: ModerateSoil Salt Tolerance: Poor In Depth Neither stress-tolerant or highly drought-tolerant, Kwanzan Cherry should be located on a site with loose soil and plenty of moisture. Not for an urban parking lot or exposed street tree planting where borers and other problems normally attack. It has some tolerance to salt  and tolerates clay if well drained. Kwanzan cherry has good yellow fall color, does not bear fruit, but is somewhat troubled with pests. These pests include aphids which distort new growth, deposits of honeydew, and sooty mold. Bark borers can attack flowering cherries, and scale insects of several types infest cherries. Spider mites can cause yellowing or stippling of leaves and tent caterpillars make large webbed nests in trees then eat the foliage. Kwanzan Cherry prefers full sun, is intolerant of poor drainage, and is easily transplanted. However, the useful life of the species is limited to about 15 to 25 years for Kwanzan when on a good site. Still, the tree is a joy during this short period and should be planted.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Curious Murder of Rasputin

The Curious Murder of Rasputin The mysterious  Grigory Efimovich Rasputin, a peasant who claimed powers of healing and prediction, had the ear of Russian Czarina Alexandra. The aristocracy held negative views about a peasant in such a high position, and peasants disliked the rumors that the czarina was sleeping with such a scoundrel. Rasputin was seen as the dark force who was ruining Mother Russia. To save the monarchy, several members of the aristocracy conspired to murder Rasputin. On the night of Dec. 16, 1916, they tried. The plan was simple. Yet on that fateful night, the conspirators found that killing Rasputin would be very difficult indeed. The Mad Monk Czar Nicholas II and Czarina Alexandra, the emperor and empress of Russia, had tried for years to give birth to a male heir. After four girls were born, the royal couple was desperate. They called in many mystics and holy men. Finally, in 1904, Alexandra gave birth to a baby boy, Aleksei Nikolayevich. Unfortunately, the boy who had been the answer to their prayers was afflicted with the royal disease, hemophilia. Every time Aleksei began to bleed, it would not stop. The royal couple became frantic to find a cure for their son. Again, mystics, holy men, and healers were consulted. Nothing helped until 1908, when Rasputin was called upon to aid the young czarevich during one of his bleeding episodes. Rasputin was a peasant born in the Siberian town of Pokrovskoye on Jan. 10, probably in the year 1869. Rasputin underwent a religious transformation around the age of 18 and spent three months in the Verkhoturye Monastery. When he returned to Pokrovskoye he was a changed man. Though he married Proskovia Fyodorovna and had three children with her (two girls and a boy), he began to wander as a strannik (pilgrim or wanderer). During his wanderings, Rasputin traveled to Greece and Jerusalem. Though he often traveled back to Pokrovskoye, he found himself in St. Petersburg in 1903. By then he was proclaiming himself a starets, or holy man who had healing powers and could predict the future. When Rasputin was summoned to the royal palace in 1908, he proved he had a healing power. Unlike his predecessors, Rasputin was able to help the boy. How he did it is still greatly disputed. Some people say that Rasputin used hypnotism; others say Rasputin didnt know how to hypnotize. Part of Rasputins continued mystique is the remaining question as to whether he really had the powers he claimed. Having proven his holy powers to Alexandra, however, Rasputin did not remain just the healer for Aleksei; Rasputin soon became Alexandras confidant and personal adviser. To the aristocrats, having a peasant advising the czarina, who in turn held a great deal of influence over the czar, was unacceptable. In addition, Rasputin loved alcohol and sex, both of which he consumed in excess. Though Rasputin appeared to be a pious and saintly holy man in front of the royal couple, others saw him as a sex-craved peasant who was ruining Russia and the monarchy. It didnt help that Rasputin was having sex with women in high society in exchange for granting political favors, nor that many in Russia believed Rasputin and the czarina were lovers and wanted to make a separate peace with the Germans; Russia and Germany were enemies during World War I. Many people wanted to get rid of Rasputin. Attempting to enlighten the royal couple about the danger they were in, influential people approached both Nicholas and Alexandra with the truth about Rasputin and the rumors that were circulating. To everyones great dismay, they both refused to listen. So who was going to kill Rasputin before the monarchy was completely destroyed? The Murderers Prince Felix Yusupov seemed an unlikely murderer. Not only was he the heir to a vast family fortune, but he also was married to the czars niece Irina, a beautiful young woman. Yusupov  was also considered very good looking, and with his looks and money, he was able to indulge in his fancies. His fancies usually were in the form of sex, much of which was considered perverse at the time, especially transvestism and homosexuality. Historians think that these attributes helped Yusupov  ensnare Rasputin. Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich was Czar Nicholas IIs cousin. Pavlovich was once engaged to the czars eldest daughter, Olga Nikolaevna, but his continued friendship with the homosexually inclined Yusupov made the royal couple break off the engagement. Vladimir Purishkevich was an outspoken member of the Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament. On Nov. 19, 1916, Purishkevich made a rousing speech in the Duma, in which he said, The czars ministers who have been turned into marionettes, marionettes whose threads have been taken firmly in hand by Rasputin and the Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna- the evil genius of Russia and the czar...who has remained a German on the Russian throne and alien to the country and its people. Yusupov  attended the speech and afterward  contacted Purishkevich, who quickly agreed to participate in the murder of Rasputin. Others involved were  Lt. Sergei Mikhailovich Sukhotin, a convalescing young officer of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. Dr. Stanislaus de Lazovert was a friend and Purishkevichs physician. Lazovert was added as the fifth member because they needed someone to drive the car. The Plan The plan was relatively simple. Yusupov was to befriend Rasputin and then lure Rasputin to the Yusupov palace to be killed. Since Pavlovich was busy every night until December 16 and Purishkevich was leaving on a hospital train for the front on December 17, it was decided that the murder would be committed on the night of the 16th and in the early morning hours of the 17th. As for what time, the conspirators wanted the cover of night to hide the murder and the disposal of the body. Plus, Yusupov noticed that Rasputins apartment wasnt guarded after midnight. It was decided that Yusupov would pick up Rasputin at his apartment at half past midnight. Knowing  Rasputins  love of sex, the conspirators would use Yusupovs beautiful wife, Irina, as bait. Yusupov would tell Rasputin that he could meet her at the palace with the innuendo of a possible sexual liaison. Yusupov wrote his wife, who was staying at their home in the Crimea, to ask her to join him in this important event. After several letters, she wrote back in the beginning of December in hysteria saying that she couldnt follow through with it. The conspirators then had to find a way to lure Rasputin without actually having Irina there. They decided to keep Irina as a lure  but fake her presence. Yusupov and Rasputin would enter a side entrance of the palace with stairs leading down to the basement so that no one could see them enter or leave the palace. Yusupov was having the basement refurbished as a cozy dining room. Since the Yusupov palace was along the Moika Canal and across from a police station, using guns was not possible for fear of them being heard. Thus, they decided to use poison. The dining room in the basement would be set up as if several guests had just left it in a hurry. Noise would be coming from upstairs as if Yusupovs wife was entertaining unexpected company. Yusupov would tell Rasputin that his wife would come down once her guests had left. While waiting for Irina, Yusupov would offer Rasputin potassium cyanide-laced pastries and wine. They needed to make sure that no one knew that Rasputin was going with Yusupov to his palace. Besides urging Rasputin not to tell anyone of his rendezvous with Irina, the plan was for Yusupov to pick up Rasputin via the back stairs of his apartment. Finally, the conspirators decided that they would call the restaurant/inn Villa Rhode on the night of the murder to ask if Rasputin was there yet, hoping to make it seem that he was expected there but never showed up. After Rasputin was killed, the conspirators were going to wrap up the body in a rug, weigh it down, and throw it into a river. Since winter had already come, most of the rivers near St. Petersburg were frozen. The conspirators spent a morning looking for a suitable hole in the ice to dump the body. They found one on the Malaya Nevka River. The Setup In November, about a month before the murder, Yusupov contacted Maria Golovina, a longtime friend of his who also happened to be close to Rasputin. He complained that  he had been having chest pains that doctors had been unable to cure. She immediately suggested that he should see Rasputin for his healing powers, as Yusupov knew she would. Golovina arranged for them both to meet at her apartment. The contrived friendship began, and Rasputin began calling Yusupov by a nickname, Little One. Rasputin and Yusupov met a number of times during November and December. Since Yusupov had told Rasputin that he didnt want his family to know about their friendship, it was agreed that Yusupov would enter and leave Rasputins apartment via a staircase in the back. Many have speculated that more than just healing went on at these sessions and that the two were sexually involved. At some point, Yusupov mentioned that his wife would be arriving from the Crimea in the middle of December. Rasputin showed interest in meeting her, so they arranged for Rasputin to meet Irina just after midnight on December 17. It was also agreed that Yusupov would pick Rasputin up and drop him off. For several months, Rasputin had been living in fear. He had been drinking even more heavily than usual and constantly dancing to Gypsy music to try to forget his terror. Numerous times, Rasputin mentioned to people that he was going to be killed. Whether this was a true premonition or whether he heard the rumors circulating around St. Petersburg is uncertain. Even on  Rasputins last day  alive, several people visited him to warn him to stay home and not go out. Around midnight on December 16, Rasputin changed clothes into a light blue shirt, embroidered with cornflowers and blue velvet pants. Though he had agreed not to tell anyone where he was going that night, he had actually told several people, including his daughter Maria and Golovina, who had introduced him to Yusupov. The Murder Near midnight, the conspirators all met at the Yusupov palace in the newly created basement dining room. Pastries and wine adorned the table. Lazovert put on rubber gloves and then crushed the potassium cyanide crystals into powder and placed some in the pastries and a small amount in two wine glasses. They left some pastries unpoisoned so that Yusupov could partake. After everything was ready, Yusupov and Lazovert went to pick up the victim. Around 12:30 a.m. a visitor arrived at Rasputins apartment via the back stairs. Rasputin greeted the man at the door. The maid was still awake and was looking through the kitchen curtains; she later said she saw that it was the Little One (Yusupov). The two men left in a car driven by a chauffeur, who was actually Lazovert. When they arrived at the palace, Yusupov took Rasputin to the side entrance and down the stairs to the basement dining room. As Rasputin entered the room he could hear noise and music upstairs, and Yusupov explained that Irina had been detained by unexpected guests but would be down shortly. The other conspirators waited until after Yusupov and Rasputin entered the dining room, then they stood by the stairs leading down to it, waiting for something to happen. Everything up to this point had been going to plan, but that didnt last much longer. While supposedly waiting for Irina, Yusupov offered Rasputin one of the poisoned pastries. Rasputin refused, saying they were too sweet. Rasputin wouldnt eat or drink anything. Yusupov started to panic and went upstairs to talk to the other conspirators. When Yusupov went back downstairs, Rasputin for some reason had changed his mind and agreed to eat the pastries. Then they started drinking the wine. Though potassium cyanide was supposed to have an immediate effect, nothing happened. Yusupov continued to chat with Rasputin, waiting for something to happen. Noticing a guitar in the corner, Rasputin asked Yusupov to play for him. The time wore on, and Rasputin wasnt showing any effects from the poison. It was now about 2:30 a.m. and Yusupov was worried. Again he made an excuse and went upstairs to talk with the other conspirators. The poison obviously wasnt working. Yusupov took a gun from Pavlovich and went back downstairs. Rasputin didnt notice that Yusupov had returned with a gun behind his back. While Rasputin was looking at a beautiful ebony cabinet, Yusupov said, Grigory Efimovich, you would do better to look at the crucifix and pray to It. Then Yusupov raised the pistol and fired. The other conspirators rushed down the stairs to see Rasputin lying on the ground and Yusupov standing over him with the gun. After a few minutes, Rasputin jerked convulsively and then fell still. Since Rasputin was dead, the conspirators went upstairs to celebrate and to wait for later in the night so that they could dump the body with no witnesses. Still Alive About an hour later, Yusupov felt an inexplicable need to go look at the body. He went back downstairs and felt the body. It still seemed warm. He shook the body. There was no reaction. When Yusupov started turning away, he noticed Rasputins left eye start to flutter open. He was still alive. Rasputin sprang to his feet and rushed at Yusupov, grabbing his shoulders and neck. Yusupov struggled to get free and finally did so. He rushed upstairs shouting, Hes still alive! Purishkevich was upstairs and had just put his Sauvage revolver in his pocket when he saw Yusupov come back up shouting. Yusupov was crazed with fear, [his]  face was literally gone, his handsome...eyes had come out of their sockets...[and] in a semi-conscious state...almost without seeing me, he rushed past with a crazed look. Purishkevich rushed down the stairs, only to find that Rasputin was running across the courtyard. As Rasputin was running, Purishkevich  yelled, Felix, Felix, Ill tell everything to the czarina. Purishkevich was chasing after him. While running, he fired his gun but missed. He fired again and missed again. And then he bit his hand to regain control of himself. Again he fired. This time the bullet found its mark, hitting Rasputin in the back. Rasputin stopped, and Purishkevich fired again. This time the bullet hit Rasputin in the head. Rasputin fell. His head was jerking, but he tried to crawl. Purishkevich had caught up now and kicked Rasputin in the head. Enter the Police Police officer  Vlassiyev  was standing on duty on Moika Street and heard what sounded like three or four shots in quick succession. He headed over to investigate. Standing outside the Yusupov palace he saw two men crossing the courtyard, recognizing them as Yusupov and his servant Buzhinsky. He asked them if they had heard any gunshots, and Buzhinsky answered that he had not. Thinking it had probably just been a car backfiring, Vlassiyev went back to his post. Rasputins body was brought in and placed by the stairs that led to the basement dining room. Yusupov grabbed a 2-pound dumbbell and began indiscriminately hitting Rasputin with it. When others finally pulled Yusupov off Rasputin, the would-be assassin was splattered with blood. Yusupovs servant Buzhinsky then told Purishkevich about the conversation with the policeman. They were worried that the officer might tell his superiors what he had seen and heard. They sent for the policeman to come back to the house. Vlassiyev recalled that when he entered the palace, a man asked him, Have you ever heard of Purishkevich? To which the policeman replied, I have. I am Purishkevich. Have you ever heard of Rasputin? Well, Rasputin is dead. And if you love our Mother Russia, youll keep quiet about it. Yes, sir. And then they let the policeman go. Vlassiyev waited about 20 minutes and then told his superiors everything he had heard and seen. It was amazing and shocking, but after being poisoned, shot three times, and beaten with a dumbbell, Rasputin was still alive. They bound his arms and legs with rope and wrapped his body in a heavy cloth. Since it was almost dawn, the conspirators were now hurrying to dispose of the body. Yusupov stayed at home to clean himself up. The rest of them placed the body in the car, sped off to their chosen location, and heaved Rasputin over the side of the bridge, but they forgot to weigh him down with weights. The conspirators split up and went their separate ways, hoping that they had gotten away with murder. The Next Morning In the morning of Dec. 17, Rasputins daughters woke to find that their father had not returned from his late-night rendezvous with the Little One. Rasputins niece, who had also been living him, called Golovina to say that her uncle had not yet returned. Golovina called Yusupov  but was told he was still sleeping. Yusupov later returned the phone call to say that he hadnt seen Rasputin at all the previous night. Everyone in the Rasputin household knew this was a lie. The police officer who had talked to Yusupov and Purishkevich had told his superior, who in turn told his superior, about the events seen and heard at the palace. Yusupov realized that there was a lot of blood outside, so he shot one of his dogs and placed its corpse on top of the blood. He claimed that a member of his party had thought it was a funny joke to shoot the dog. That didnt fool the policemen. There was too much blood for a dog, and more than one shot was heard. Plus, Purishkevich had told Vlassiyev that they had killed Rasputin. The Czarina was informed, and an investigation was opened immediately. It was obvious to the police early on who the murderers were. There just wasnt a body yet. Finding theBody On Dec. 19, police began looking for a body near the Great Petrovsky Bridge on the Malaya Nevka River, near where a bloody boot had been found the day before. There was a hole in the ice, but they couldnt find the body. Looking a little farther downstream, they came upon the corpse floating in another hole in the ice. When they pulled him out, they found Rasputins hands were frozen in a raised position, leading to the belief that he had still been alive under the water and had tried to untie the rope around his hands. Rasputins body was taken by car to the Academy of Military Medicine, where an autopsy was conducted. The autopsy results showed: Alcohol, but no poison was found.Three bullet wounds. (The  first bullet entered the chest on the left, hitting Rasputins stomach and liver; the second bullet entered the back on the right, hitting the kidneys; the third bullet entered the head, hitting the brain.)A small amount of water was found in the lungs. The body was buried at the Feodorov Cathedral in Tsarskoe Selo on Dec. 22, and a small funeral was held. What Happened Next? While the accused murderers were under house arrest, many people visited and wrote them letters congratulating them. The accused murderers were hoping for a trial because that would ensure that they would become heroes. Trying to prevent just that, the czar stopped the inquiry and ordered that there be no trial. Though their good friend and confidant had been murdered, their family members were among the accused.   Yusupov was exiled. Pavlovich was sent to Persia to fight in the war. Both survived the Russian Revolution of 1917 and World War I.   Though Rasputins relationship with the czar and czarina had weakened the monarchy, Rasputins death came too late to reverse the damage. If anything, the murder of a peasant by aristocrats sealed the fate of the Russian monarchy. Within three months, Czar Nicholas abdicated, and about a year later the entire Romanov family was also murdered. Sources Rasputin: The Saint Who Sinned, by Brian Moynahan; 1998  The Rasputin File, translated by Judson Rosengrant; 2000

Saturday, November 2, 2019

World history. A Critical Analysis of The Communist Manifesto Essay

World history. A Critical Analysis of The Communist Manifesto - Essay Example In the ‘Manifesto’, Marx and Engels have made an effort to evaluate the history of human society according to the ‘mode of production and labor’. They argue that modern society is based on the latest mode of production. Meanwhile, they further envisage that, according to the ‘mode of production’, socialism (or communism) is next to Capitalism which is supposed to exploit labor by alienating from the production. In fact, the political dimension of communism is essentially the result of its response to the capitalists’ exploitation. Marx and Engels argue that the proletariats (or working class people) should unite themselves to accelerate the transition of human society from capitalism to socialism. But though Marx and Engel’s concept of ‘class struggle’ is persuasive enough to explain the changes human society’s activities, these authors have failed to understand that a theory which is, indeed, meant for explaini ng the economic changes in human society, is not sufficient to bring a radical political change in a country or a society. At best, a theory, like Marxism, can predict the oncoming changes in a society; but there must be exception. In the preface of â€Å"Communist Manifesto†, Engels claims that the text is â€Å"essentially Marx's work† and that â€Å"the basic thought... belongs solely and exclusively to Marx† (Marx and Engels 23). In fact, Marx’s theory of class-conflict constitutes the premise of the â€Å"Manifesto†. Depending on the Class-struggle theory, Marx explores the heart of Capitalism. In the very beginning of â€Å"Communist Manifesto†, Marx and Engels claim that human history is basically â€Å"the history of class struggles† (Marx and Engels 34). They argue that there are generally two conflicting parties in this struggle. This conflict is determined of the mode of labor, which is, indeed, a relationship between the l aborer and the production. In this regard, these authors assert that â€Å"Freeman and slave, patrician and plebeian, lord and serf, guild-master and journeyman, in a word, oppressor and oppressed, stood in constant opposition to one another† (Marx and Engels 43). They further argue that this class war always ends â€Å"either in a revolutionary reconstitution of society at large, or in the common ruin of the contending classes† (Marx and Engels 43). According their claim, capitalism is the penultimate stage, of human society, which itself has resulted from the dissolution of the former feudalist social order through the conflict between the feudal lords and their subjects. Even the struggle between the bourgeois class and the proletariats will dissolve the capitalist society into a classless society where class-conflict will not exist. In the first chapter of the â€Å"Manifesto†, Marx and Engels say that in a capitalist society, the bourgeoisies are amorally p rofit-oriented; they maneuver both social and political institutions in order to exploit the proletariats’ labor and to accumulate wealth, as Marx and Engels note in this regard, â€Å"The bourgeoisie, wherever it has got the upper hand, has put an end to all feudal, patriarchal, idyllic relations...for exploitation, veiled by religious and political illusions, it has substituted naked, shameless, direct, brutal exploitation† (Marx and Engels 67). It is evident that Marx and Engels have successfully explored the heart of a society’s economic system and its role in as a determinant sociopolitical power structure in a society. Yet some of Marx and Engels’s claims are quite problematic. They take it for granted that the proletariats are exploited and the bourgeoisies are the exploiting owners of a capitalist soci