Xena vs. The Odyssey :: Compare Comparing Contrast

Xena vs. The Odyssey In this episode of "Xena: The Warrior princess," the story of Odysseus return to Ithaca after the Trojan War is told. The episode starts when Xena and Gabriel are walking down a beach and they see a man fighting alone against a small army, so they decide to help him out. After the battle was over, they found out that the man fighting was Odysseus. He told Xena his story and how he had been traveling for ten years to get home because Poseidon was angry with him. Xena and Gabriel decide to help him get to Ithaca, so they sail off. First they got cut up in a terrible storm that Poseidon sent them. Most Odysseus' men(of the ones he had left after ten years) died here, but still the ship survived. After this they had to sail close to the island of the sirens. Xena knowing the effect of their singing in men tied up every man left in the boat including Odysseus. The closed they got to the island the stronger the singing. The effect of the voices of the sirens was so strong that Odysse us almost broke away to go to them, but then Xena started singing really loud to contra rest the effect. Finally Xena wan they sail safely through the island. Finally they got to Ithaca, where Odysseus found out that Penelope's hand would be given in marriage to the winner of the contest taking place the next day. Odysseus, helped by Xena, also found out that Penelope had been faithful to him all those years by rejecting every suitor she had. Yet after ten years, they had finally pressure her to decide, so she decided that whomever wan the contest would be her husband. The contest consisted of the trial of the bow, every suitor had to first string it and then shut an arrow through 12 arrows. None even got close, until Odysseus tried it, he was really close to making it. However, he could not quite do it alone, so Xena without anyone seen her, nor even Odysseus himself, help him out. Ones Odysseus had wan the contest he revealed his identity and helped by Xena, they killed all of the suitors. During the trip, Xena and Odysseus got quite close, in fact they felt in love, so when Odysseus attended to leave his kingdom to Penelope to go with Xena, she convinced him that it was not wise and that his place was with his wife, who had been waiting for him for ten years, ruling Ithaca.

A drowning experience

Drowning Experience Tommy had Just learnt how to swim and was eager to demonstrate his newly acquired skills to his best friends. Immediately after school, he invited his friends, Gary and John, â€Å"Shall we go swimming at the crystal clear lake behind my flat tomorrow morning? † His friends nodded readily. Tom's mother had warned him about the dangers but his bursting desire to show off got the better of him and he simply cast her words to the winds. The next morning, the sun shone brilliantly across the glistening water, casting olden shadows dancing on the lake.The boys gathered punctually at the lake bank. They quickly stripped down to their swimming trunks and Jumped into the water. They waded merrily and frolicked in the water and laughed boisterously as the water hit their faces. Tommy suddenly made a suggestion, â€Å"Shall we compete and see who reach the other end of the lake first? † Before Tommy could finish his words, the other two boys had already taken up the challenge and started swimming right away. Just when Tommy was about to get ready, he felt an acute pain on his left thigh ut ignored it.However, seconds later, the pain accentuated and his left leg began to feel numb and heavy. Seized by panic, Tommy started thrashing in the water to stay afloat but he felt like a fast sinking ship and swallowed many gulps of water. Presently, he waved his hands frantically and screamed hysterically, â€Å"Help me! † Gary and John turned around and their blood froze at the hair-raising sight. Fortunately, they quickly got a grip on themselves and swam towards their distressed friend with very ounce of their strength.With Gary and John's concerted efforts, Tommy was finally dragged onto shore. However, Tommy's face had already turned ghastly pale and he was rendered unconscious. Worst, his leg was bleeding profusely. Without a moment to spare, Gary raced to pick up his shorts, ransacked its pockets and found his mobile phone. He immedi ately dialed for an ambulance. Shortly, the wail of the sirens could be heard. The paramedics bandaged Tommy's wound, lifted him onto a stretcher and carried im into the ambulance and it sped off.Gary also informed Tommy's mother. At the hospital, a doctor swiftly attended to Tommy. When Tommy's mother arrived, the doctor explained to her that Tommy was bitten by a sea snake and he had purged its venom from Tommy's body. Tommy's mother thanked Gary and John for their alertness and quick-wittedness. When Tommy finally came around, he teared uncontrollably, seeking forgiveness from his mother for his defiance. It was a close shave for Tommy and he would not forget that fateful day.

Argumentative Essay On Common Core - 1131 Words

Genary Gomez Mr. Scheiner English Period #4 11/21/13 Argumentative Essay on Common Core â€Å"Without Common Core we (America) are not where we want or need to be.† The New York Times reported this in August, 2013. Currently, every state sets its own curriculum for its schools. The result is that the United States ranks â€Å"25th in math, 17th in science, and 14th in reading compared to students in 27 industrialized countries.† Without national standards, students depend upon the luck of where they were born or schooled to get a comprehensive education that will prepare them for life. If the United States is†¦show more content†¦But what is Common Core? The National Review in May of this year in an article titled, Two Moms vs. Common Core explains: â€Å"Common Core is a set of math and English standards developed largely with Gates Foundation money and pushed by the Obama administration and the National Governors Association. The standards define what every schoolchild should learn each year, from first grade through twelfth, and the package includes teacher evaluations tied to federally funded tests designed to ensure that schools teach to Common Core. Over 40 states hurriedly adopted Common Core, some before the standards were even written, in response to the Obama administration’s making more than $4 billion in federal grants conditional on their doing so. Only Texas, Alaska, Virginia, and Nebraska declined. (Minnesota adopted the English but not the math standards.)† I want a quality education. I’m part of the next generation. People in charge now aren’t going to be in charge when I become an adult. My generation will be making decisions and if we make the wrong decisions, there will be big consequences. For this reason, it’s important to have high standards so that kids who are currently in school will have the benefit of the best education possible, regardless of where in the country they live and what their economic status is I come from the Dominican Republic where it’s expected that every student takes state tests in order toShow MoreRelatedReflecting Back On This Pass Semester1198 Words   |  5 Pagesgrammar and punctuation that would express my ideas so that they can flow on paper. Upon arriving to this class which is instructed by Dr. Shirokova, I am now recognizing that my writing skills could enhance to a new level. Even though my grades on my essays are not the best in the class, I can see an improvement of growth at a rapid pace. I truly feel the devolvement of writing skills within myself, even in the fifteen minute writing journals opens creative in my mind. Allowing me to focus on differentRead MoreShould Gays Be Allowed to Marry1476 Words   |  6 PagesThe Prusuit of Happiness! Should gays be allowed to marry? Stacey Dockery PHI103: Informal Logic (GSJ1231E) Instructor Name: Daniel Beteta September 3, 2012 Argumentative Essay on Gay Marriage Marriage: a legally recognized relationship, established by civil or religious ceremony, between two people who intend to live together as sexual and domestic partners. Typically this is between a man and a woman, in love, as they come before their families, to pledge to spend the rest of their lives togetherRead MorePersonal Statement : Public Schools1030 Words   |  5 Pages Boswell Statement Essay My contribution to NYC public schools children in education has been extensive. I first began working in NYC public schools as a speech pathologist in 1980. I would examine expressive and receptive language skills of children and through task analyses develop strategies of language acquisition. In short, I was able to gets students to improve their reading and writing skills in order to master grade level competencies. In my educational journey, I was recruited by PrincipalRead MoreAmerican Civil-Military Relations: Argumentative Essay1595 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿ US ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE Intermediate Level Education (ILE) Common Core C100: Foundations C171: Argumentative Essay Module C160- American Civil-Military Relations Submitted by MAJ David Nicoll The purpose of the argumentative essay is to assess written communication skills. The challenge is to persuade the reader of the validity of the thesis presented and convince the reader of the argument. It is also to argue why it will assist studentsRead MoreBenefitions Of Standard Writing In A Standard Form Of Writing1042 Words   |  5 PagesFabriha Mahboob  Ã‚  Ã‚   October 4th, 2017 English 110 Professor Coluccio Argumentative Essay Since we were little,   we have been   taught how to write in a â€Å"standard† form. In â€Å"standard† form we were told not to use any personal experience and or any kind of opinion. Standard written English refers to the preferred form of English which is written according to prescriptive authorities, in relation to writing rules means it needs to be professional and acceptance to the academic world, associatedRead MorePersuasive Essay On School Uniforms1671 Words   |  7 Pagesconjecture and anecdotal evidence. Hence, it now seems critical that empirical analysis should be conducted to inform the school uniform debate. In this study, we investigated the relationship between uniforms and several outcomes that represent the core elements of uniform proponent s claims. Specifically, we examined how a uniform affects attendance, behavior problems, substance abuse, and academic achievement. We believe that a thorough analysis of the arguments proposed by uniform a dvocates willRead MoreEssay On No Child Left Behind Act1247 Words   |  5 PagesIn 2004, coinciding with the conclusion of President George W. Bush’s first term in office, United States Secretary of Education, Rod Paige, released an essay depicting the successes of his administration. Paige’s department spearheaded the initiative sparked by the No Child Left Behind Act, a set of policies enacted to reform education and provide students with an improved degree of learning more suited to the evolving job market. Paige brings light to the findings of his administration, presentingRead MoreChild Labor As A Cultural Norm1251 Words   |  6 PagesThe article includes data from M-Audits and the Compliance Rating program. The article is considered credible, as the authors are experts in the field. This study is accompanied by an abstract and bibliography. Osment (2014) says that poverty is the core cause in the child labor industry. Osment analyzes child labor in India an d in Nigeria. She defines the different aspects of child labor, some being poverty, family size, family condition, and corruption. Osment mentions how India and Nigeria areRead MoreChild Labor As A Cultural Norm1251 Words   |  6 Pagesarticle includes data from M-Audits and the Compliance Rating program. The article is considered credible, as the authors are experts in their field. This study is accompanied by an abstract and bibliography. Osment (2014) says that poverty is the core cause in the growing child labor industry. Osment analyzes child labor in India and in Nigeria. She defines the different aspects of child labor, some being poverty, family size, family condition, and corruption. Osment mentions how India and NigeriaRead MoreIn What Ways, If Any, Does the Role of the Esp Teacher Differ from That of a Teacher of ‘General English’? and, to What Extent Is It Necessary for the Teacher of Esp to Have Knowledge of the Students Subject or Professional Discipli ne?2517 Words   |  11 Pagesthe role of the ESP teacher differ from that of a teacher of ‘general English’? And, to what extent is it necessary for the teacher of ESP to have knowledge of the student’s subject or professional discipline? For reasons of space and focus this essay will concentrate on what has historically been the most important branch of ESP, namely English for Academic purposes.[1] The role of the EAP teacher does have significant areas of overlap with that of a general English teacher, (or with any other

Majority Of People In America - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 904 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2019/03/13 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Autobiography Essay Did you like this example? Section 1 In the early 1730s, majority of people in America had very little or no means of reading books. Benjamin Franklin noticed the necessity to increase the reading of books and decided to open a public library. Benjamin reached out to some of his colleagues and they all agreed to bring forty shillings each for a start. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Majority Of People In America" essay for you Create order They also agreed to increase the initial amount by 10 shillings each year for the next fifty years. This they concluded will provide and cater for the purchase of new books and also for the upkeep and maintenance of the public library. I drew up proposals, got them put into form by our great scrivener Brocken, and by the help of my friends in the Junto, procured fifty subscribers of forty shilling each to begin with, and ten shillings a year for fifty years, the term our company was to continue. (FRANKLIN, P.126). They started by gathering all their available books and stocking them all in one room they rented with equal access to all the members. That way anyone of the members could borrow any book he whishes to read back to his home and return it to the library after reading it. The process was very successful and that made them draw up an Article of agreement they agreed to all contribute some form of initial payment to enable them purchase more books. They also agreed to maintain a payment annually for maintenance and more purchases of books. The public library idea was very successful and embraced by all the people in community and even spread out to neighboring towns. With very little alternative options for entertainment, most of the people decided to indulge in reading of books. This eventually brought them to a level of enlightenment and intelligence from reading all the different variety of books. As a result, most of the people in a America, including the traders and even farmers be came well knowledgeable and educated. This of course also included Benjamin Franklin himself. Section 2 Benjamin Franklin had always wanted to live a very virtuous life and to as much good as possible. I tried always to avoid the wrong things. (FRANKLIN, P.146). As a result of this godly nature he sought, Benjamin made a collection of thirteen principles, which he tried to abide by on a daily basis. HE felt that this would help him to achieve his aim of living a just life. He carried with him a small book where he wrote down all or any of the things he did in a day that was contrary to his thirteen principles. His plan entailed him carrying out one of the virtues per day and he even further broke it down to per hour in a day. Thus for every hour he had a detail of what to do at that point. It was not easy for Franklin to keep to his virtues but with much persistence, he eventually succeeded. This article therefore cost me so much painful attention, and my faults in it vexes me so much that I was almost ready to give up the attempt and content myself with faulty character in that respect. (FRANKLIN, P.146). Prior to Franklin writing up his virtues, he was already unconsciously practicing that life. There was an instance where he threw his friend Collins out of the boat they were inside. This was not because he was trying to be wicked; on the contrary it was because he was trying to avoid an argument that was building up between them. With this action, he was able to avoid and prevent him losing his temper and probably doing something he will regret eventually. He also knew that Collins was a very good swimmer and could easily swim to the shore. In his autobiography, Franklin used a speckled axe is best to explain on how to maintain and cultivate good virtues and also develop good habits. He was certain in his opinion that instead of being bad in this world and hurting others, it is much better and beneficial to be of good virtue and moral. Section 3 It is very clear that Franklin was not a religious man. Despite the fact that his father was a clergy he had a Christian educational background, which did not make him religious in his daily practice. It is not to say that he did not believe in God not disrespect the church in his days. He just did not reconcile with their principles, doctrines and practices. And though some of the dogmas of that persuasion, such as the eternal decrees of God, election, reprobation, etc., appeared to me unintelligible, others doubtful. (FRANKLIN, P.126). Benjamin Franklin always tried to educate himself and learn new things whenever he had the opportunity to do so. And I early absented myself from public assemblies of the Sect, Sunday being my studying day. (FRANKLIN, P.126). Benjamin Franklin strongly believed that the way of showing his obedience to God was by assisting the less privileged in the society and by living a good life himself. He believed that every action had a consequential result at the end. He did not give any preferential treatment to any religion. He noted them as all the same and treated the members with mutual recognition. However, he had different degrees of respect. He had very little respect for the religions that encouraged or promoted division among the people.

Jane Seymour, Queen of England and King Fernando - 889 Words

Title: Jane Seymour, Queen of England on January 29 1536, Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII’s wife had a miscarriage at Hampton Court Palace and four months later was sentenced to death on the charge of unfaithfulness. the day before, the king became engaged to Jane Seymour. she had come to court in 1530 and served her two predecessors as lady-inwaiting. she died in October 1537 while giving birth to the heir of the throne. she was the only wife of the king that was buried together with Henry at Windsor castle. Hans Holbein had made a career for himself and had lived in London since 1532 and was appointed court painter to the English Monarch in 1536, the year of the royal wedding. the one tone background of the painting is a concession to the interests of the court portrait. holbein convinced the court that such portraits with a flatness to it gives them a formal character. in the piece, Jane Seymour’s jewelry, her garment, and her slightly pale features are focussed in a even light and presented in every detail — a very old-fashioned technique that had superseded by full tone chiaroscuro not only in Italian paintings. however this is very same technique that creates the necessary distance form the viewer is what Holbein intended. title: portrait of the King Fernando the seventh by Artist:Francisco de Goya y Lucientes Medium: oil on wood panel Period: 1814 The eldest surviving son of Charles VI King of Spain, Ferdinand was born in the vast palace of El

Adam Walsh Act free essay sample

The case of six-year old Adam Walsh is perhaps one that will never leave the minds of anyone initially horrified by its details. In 1981 young Adam was kidnapped from a local mall and regardless of tireless efforts by his parents John and Reve Walsh, volunteers, and law enforcement; Adam fell victim to murder. Two weeks after the boy went missing, his decapitated head was located, but his body was never found. This prompted his father John Walsh to start a campaign and legislature policy submission toward more stringent accountability for child crime offenders. â€Å"The murder transformed John Walshs life, turning him from a middle-class hotel marketing executive into one of countrys best known advocates for missing children† (Thomas, 2008). In this paper, the initial legislative policy signed into law by President George W. Bush and the current policy addition initiative sought by Mr. Walsh is examined. The Scope of the Initiative With the signing of the initial policy by President Bush in 2006, the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act became law. We will write a custom essay sample on Adam Walsh Act or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Aforementioned, the policy directive was to enact tougher laws on child predators however; the policy contains two additional provisions that would violate states’ rights and state policy’s currently in place for adoptive, foster, and relative caregivers. The two provisions contained in the Adam Walsh law are to follow. 1. Modified existing requirements for conducting criminal background checks 2. Created a new requirement to conduct child abuse registry checks of prospective foster and adoptive parents. (Miller, 2007) The policy provisions left the states the discretion of choosing placement however, if those in the household filing for adoption or fostering of the child did not pass the background checks, the federal funding would not be approved. Those in opposition of the provision above were such because the wording of the provision seemingly protected the federal government instead of the child. The popular point of the second provision remains unopposed. â€Å"In addition, they cannot draw down funds for a child placed in a foster or adoptive home where the child abuse and neglect registry check is not  conducted within that State, or requested of another State as required under the new law† (Miller, 2007) One would think the second of the two provisions to the 2006 law would be automatically assumed however, this particular law would come to face even more provisional changes its future. Issues Presented for Provisionary Inclusion Sex Offender Registration Act (SORNA) The Adam Wals h act has several other provisions including Title I, the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act or (â€Å"SORNA†). Under this portion SORNA â€Å"established a new federal sex offender registration framework and SORNA made two major changes to federal sex offender registration policy† (Morse, 2009). This portion of the act is currently in question for the following reasons: 1. Subsection (1) provides registration requires persons convicted of a sex crime under either federal or state law to register. 2. Section 16913provides that a sex offender must register and keep the registration current in each jurisdiction where he or she resides, is an employee, or is a student. (Morse, 2009). Two provisions of the act violate principles of federalism: 1. A provision providing for the civil commitment of sexually violent predators, and a provision creating a new federal â€Å"failure to register† crime for federal sex offenders. 2. Section 4248 authorizes the federal government to initiate civil commitment proceedings against three categories of individuals: (a) Persons in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons (â€Å"BOP†), the federal agency responsible for the custody and care of federal offenders (b) Persons committed to the custody of the United States Attorney General based on incompetence to stand trial Persons against whom all criminal charges have been dismissed solely due to their mental condition (Morse, 2009). Thus, Morse cites the following as challenges to the Adam Walsh act and questions the validity of the act for these reasons: Both provisions target people based on their former federal convictions and impose additional restrictions on them despite the fact that they have completed their federal sentences. Neither provision contains a jurisdictional hook. In sum, both the civil commitment provision and the failure to register provision implicate the question of whether legal federal custody over a person may, without more, serve as the basis of future federal jurisdiction over that person (Morse, 2009). Citing the implications above Congress is considering an impending change to the provisions in the Walsh act that would remove all question of misinterpretation of wording These impending changes would ensure that no violations of civil rights, state rights or federalism are contained therein. Also, â€Å"One scholar has argued the wording of  § 2250(a) (2) (B) is not sufficiently tailored to support SORNA’s constitutionality under the Commerce Clause† (Morse, 2009). According to the Legal Dictionary, the Commerce Clause is defined as â€Å"The provision of the U. S. Constitution that gives Congress exclusive power over trade activities among the states and with foreign countries and Indian tribe†. The aforementioned obviously pertains to the location of the registered offender, and that he or she must register regardless of where they are, if they are a student, on a tribal reservation, or in a foreign country. This as mentioned in the cited Morse document, coincides with what Morse goes on to say in regard to the regulation of criminal activity. Morse states â€Å"Because the regulating criminal activity is primarily the responsibility of the states, many scholars perceive the rapid expansion of the federal criminal law as clashing with federalism values† (Morse, 2009). To date the original funding of all aspects of the Adam Walsh Act is still in place and is to be revisited and potentially revised in 2014. Those who declare portions of the act unconstitutional, such as in Morse’s report cited, now have the opportunity to voice concerns and suggestions. Conclusion The Adam Walsh Act while regulatory and legislative, still requires changes before all parties affected stand united in approval. Whereas Congress could use its spending power to encourage state compliance, not all states would view this as constitutional. There is much to do concerning this act, but the outcome is unpredictable. Current filings to repeal or revise the entire Adam Walsh Act exist such as by Citizens for Change in America, represented by Michael R. Handler. The repeal document cites the AWA as being draconian and going against Due Process and the Bail Reform Act of 1984. Only time will prove the Adam Walsh Act is successful as currently written, but undoubtedly there are changes to come with such opposition and reasoning. Works Cited Miller, J. L. (2007, April). Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006: Issues for Child Welfare Agencies. ChildFocus. Morse, R. (2009, December 1). Federalism Challenges to the Adam Walsh Act. Boston University Law Review, Vol. 89, p. 1753. Thomas, P. (2008, December 17). No Closure for Walshes in Sons Murder Case. Retrieved from ABC Good Morning America: http://abcnews. go. com/GMA/story? id=6478540page=1

Yellow Woman Analysis free essay sample

The Narrator in the story knowingly follows Silva’s every word even knowing deep down she knows that she probably shouldn’t. She uses her time with him as an escape from her own living situation because it is exciting and new. The narrator of the story struggles with her identity and begins to worry if she is becoming the fabled Yellow Woman. The story â€Å"Yellow Woman† is extremely sexually charged with many things in the story being metaphors for sex. The story even begins with the narrator waking up after a night of sex with the mysterious Silva saying â€Å"My thigh clung to his with dampness†. The narrator is on the other side of the river, symbolizing that she has crossed over a boundary line physically as well as with her actions. The narrator acts completely instinctual at the beginning and does not really think about before her actions. The narrator tells us later that she â€Å"did not decide to go. We will write a custom essay sample on Yellow Woman Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page She just went†. She is caught up in the rush she is experiencing by doing what she is not supposed to. Since she began her domestic life she has not been able to experience acting out of spontaneity. The woman is experiencing a feeling that many people feel when they get married and start a family. Days become very repetitive and life becomes more about your family than yourself. People begin to miss the days where they could just go out and do whatever they want on a whim. When Silva asks her if she is coming with him to his home, she goes. She continues to move further and further away from her home and her life. The narrator speaks of how she was â€Å"standing in the sky with nothing around her but the wind that came down from the blue mountain peak behind her†. She is xperiencing complete freedom from her life and responsibilities and she loves it. It is at this time where the narrator starts to really see the connection between herself and the fabled Yellow Woman. She is too far away to see her own pueblo and can only see its boundaries. She begins to compare herself as she was â€Å"yesterday†, the day she and Silva first made love, and the day before, when s he was still at her pueblo with her family. She finally concludes that she has become the Yellow Woman and believes that only her grandfather would be able to understand what she is going through. Things get dangerous for her when Silva is confronted for stealing the meat and guns are drawn. She recalls that from his telling that some Yellow Women die, and when Silva tells her to leave she takes off up the mountain. She arrives at a place where the trail forks and opts to go the route that leads to a safer place. She releases Silva’s horse and starts her journey back home. It is said in the story that the Yellow Woman never saw took a paved road, but assuming a paved road means a safe road in which we know the destination, the narrator does take the paved road home. She arrives to see her husband Al along with her grandmother and child living the life she remembered. Her journey has ended and a part of her is upset by this because she enjoyed the experience. Her desires are still there and she still longs to see Silva down by the river bed again. But those desires are not strong enough to make her leave the domesticated life that she has chosen for herself. She becomes a storyteller herself as she recounts her own Yellow Woman story and believes that the other Yellow Women had names like she does, but they do not reveal them. The Yellow Woman stories allow the narrator to justify her actions as she considers herself another chapter in the Yellow Woman saga. To sum up, the narrator in the story is able to fulfill her instinctual desires by becoming a Yellow Woman. She transforms through her dream-like journey into the person she longed to be. It was not until Silva became violent and she sees â€Å"something ancient and dark† in his eyes that she begins to snap back into reality. The story reaches out to all of its readers and allows them to relate to the narrator because we all have unfulfilled desires throughout our lives.