Thursday, December 18, 2008

ME

James Nunn
Mrs. Jarrett
E. English
18 December 2008
American Business where are the Ethics

Business and ethics, two words that don’t always seem to go together. Today, many Americans lives are controlled by how our businesses do. If they succeed then our economy gets better. But what is the price we pay for our businesses. With more and more control going to our businesses instead of to our government, many Americans are worried about when business will have too much (Norris, “Business ethics and other oxymorons’s”). Many business aren’t taking care of its employees any more.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

blog

So I've been reading Jules Verne a lot now, and so I've started another of his books, 20,000 leagues under the sea.  This book is by far my favorite book and I like my copy of i, because it is really, really old and you get a better translation of it.  My copy of Journey to the Centre of the Earth is far more modern, and not nearly as authentic.  I like Verne's writing a lot and I think he is one of the greatest authors of all time.  In 20,000 leagues, I love how you relate to the antagonist, Captain Nemo, because he's not really a villain even though he is suppose to be. 

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Blog

So now Axel and his fair uncle have made their way to the great green land of Iceland.  Axel is having a really really great time here with his half sane Uncle.  When our duo arrive in Iceland, they immediately head to the local library to study the land scape of the area and attempt to deduce the location of the correct crater in which to enter.  The head librarian advises them to hire a guide for their journey, so they do.  They head out in search of a certain man, named Hans, who would be an excellent guide for them.  They find Hans, prepare for a little bit and head out.  This next section is essentially Axel complaining to himself about the journey.  Yeah he sure is having a heck of a time.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Ethics project

McDonough, William J. Issues in Corporate Governance. Current Issues In Economics and Finance (Federal Reserve Bank of New York) Sept./Oct. 2002, pp. 1-6 SIRS Researcher. SIRS Knowledge Source. Edina High School. 8 December 2008 http:/www.sirs.com

The president of the Federal Reserve Bank New York, William McDonough, delivered the William Taylor memorial lecture in Washington D.C. on 9 September 2002. In his lecture, Mr. McDonough discussed and described the actions that have already been taken by both public and private sectors to strengthen Corporate Governance and what will be needed to take place to improve these sectors in the future.


Moore, April. A Balancing Act. American School board Journal. May 2007, vol. 194, No. 5, pp. 28-30. SIRS Knowledge Source. Edina High School. 8 December 2008 http:/www.sirs.com

Ms. April Moore, a freelance writer based in Albuquerque N.M., describes in her article how 88% of U.S. public schools, Elementary through High, are using advertising with in there schools to raise money for themselves. She asks if this use of advertising is in the best interests of our students.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Q2 blog 4

Axel has now had to leave his beloved Grauben to go off to iceland.  He meets her in the road and calls to her.  he tells her he has to leave with his uncle, to make this great and perilous journey.  Surprisingly he invites her to make the journey with him, but she declines.  "No, dear Axel.  I would gladly accompany you and your uncle, but a poor girl like me would only be an encumbrance(32.)"  This remark shows the rights of women during this time period, Grauben herself believes that she is unworthy of making a "Mans" journey and would only be a hindrance. I find that very interesting.    

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Q2 blog 3

In the book Journey to the Centre of the Earth, I have come to a few very fascinating chapters.  Jules Verne began showing actual runic characters, with translations to them. In his book I now see how people spoke in the nineteenth century but now also the seventeenth century. I find this very interesting to see how he wrote his novel with historical accuracy, because he is considered the father of science fiction.  In the book I see a mix of historical and scientific accuracy.  Its very interesting to see how he combined both of these instruments to make his novels.  In the book, I have now come to where the professor and his nephew have left Germany and headed out to Iceland where the professors beloved runes are leading him. Axel is both excited and devastated about this journey, because he must leave his girl and home and all he knows, but he is going off to study rocks, his other love in life. 

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Q2 Blog 2

In my book, The Journey to the Centre of the Earth, it has now began to talk about the role of Alchemists in the sixteenth century.  I found this interesting, because in classes we have been talking about alchemy and the creation of chemistry.  one of the characters, Professor Lidenbrock, listed of some of the major alchemists and explained them. I also thought this was interesting because he was explaining the importance of alchemy in and 1860s point of view and the way he described it is similar to how it was described today.  Theses chapters show how Verne was so "dead on" with his predictions of the future, a major theme in many of his novels.  In the book currently, The professor has discovered a 700 year old book (900 years now) that was written in ancient runic characters in an ancient dialect.  When Axel is conversing with his uncle about the book, shown here  "Does it? Said I, a little roused from my indifference. And is the type good?
Type? Who is talking of type, you poor, ignorant Axel. So ,you suppose this was printed! You ignoramus! (8.)" In this passage, you see the relationship that Axel has with his uncle.  Surprisingly this attack on him did not phase him as much as we in our society would think. 

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Q2 Blog 1

For second quarter, I am reading "Journey to the Centre of the Earth"  by Jules Verne.  This book has acquired much fame since it was written in 1864, and I have been greatly excited to read this book.  The opening of this book starts out where we meet Martha, Axel, and professor Lindenbrock.  Axel is the professor's nephew and assistant. Martha is their maid.  The opening setting is in Hamburg Germany.  The Story begins with Martha and Axel complaining about the insanity of the good professor.  He bursts in and runs straight up to his office, yelling for Axel and leaving his companions in a total blur. The professor is exclaiming about the rare book he has found.  The book is 700 years old and written in an ancient language.  The Professor can translate this and has problems.  axel figures that it was written backwards.  so far it is a very good book, somewhat confusing but good.  Its a very interesting read as-well, because this is sort of like a view into the past.  You see the type of culture europeans lived during the nineteenth century.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Blog 8

So now the end has come.  In my previous blog, I talked about how the battle of the Wilderness was fought at night and resulted in the south's greatest casualty.  General Jackson was injured during the battle of the Wilderness, and would later die of his wounds.   When he was injured (by his own men) his arm was amputated and he was pulled of the line. His wife and baby daughter came to his sick house to comfort him.  At first the general seemed to be healing very well, general lee even wrote a very jovial letter him expressing a speedy return back to the line. Jackson is very happy at this time, but it doesn't last long.  Jackson believed in many strange ways to cure his aliments, including sucking lemons aqua therapy and holding his "longer arm higher" than his "shorter" to level out blood flow.  He covered his amputation with wet sheets and pneumonia set in.  His Doctor thought it was fatal and told the Jacksons this on Sunday 10 May 1862.   Jackson took this very well, he even laughed, because he always wished to die on a Sunday.   While on his death bed, he sets up and shouts order to confederated generals, then he utters his famous final words "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees(176.)" Then he died, and the south lost the war. When Lee had heard this, he turned to his slave and said " I have lost my right arm, and my heart is bleeding."   The south mourned the loss of their great leader hugely. He is still celebrated today.   

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

blog 7

It was may  1862. The battle of Chancellorville had begun. This battle was also know as the battle of the wilderness, because it was fought in the forests and at night.  it was a Confederate victory, but it cost them many men, including Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.  When the battle had begun, the Rebs quickly pushed the union forces under general Hooker back across the river, leaving both armies entangled and separated in the middle of the bloody forest.  The Rebs were pushing the yankee forces back so easily, that Jackson and Lee were very suspicious.  Suddenly they were attacked by artillery fire and were trapped.  However, Jackson had a plan where he would have to move his men around the Union forces and attack from behind. This was a very dangerous thing to do, and only General Jackson could be entrusted to carry it out. They marched all day, but by the time they had arrived, dusk had come.  Still Jackson pushed on, and advanced as his army attacked in the pitch darkness.  Jackson, and some men pushed ahead of the main body of troops to find the main road, instead they found the yankee trenches and retreated back quickly.  When they had arrived, Some of his centuries had mistaken them as the union cavalry and fired on Jackson. He was shot in the arm, fell off of his horse and hit head on a tree.  His men that were riding with him tried to save him, but were gunned down instead.  His left arm was amputated that very night and he was moved off the front.   he seemed to be healing in the days that followed, but that would not be the case.  I'm going to save that for later, but this chapter was called the fallen sword for good reason.  in my opinion, this was the battle that lost the south the war, just because of Jackson.   They might have won  the battle, but because of that one casualty the war was lost.  Its very sad and somber.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Blog 6

Antietam.  A complete failure for the confederates, but they are not phased.  Their morale is high and they are loving their great general Stonewall Jackson.  I liked how this chapter started, because it started with a song that one of the men wrote about Jackson, called "Stonewall Jackson's way."  This chapter is mainly about how much Jackson was loved by his men and superiors.  Cavalry General J.E.B. Stuart even gave Jackson a gold braided uniform.  Now Jackson fought with his men, ate as his men did and dressed as his men did, in rags.  So this new change in uniform was a rather large sight for the confederate army.  Now it is november and the army has moved back into the valley, where they are greeted with much praise. Even Englanders came to meet the now international phenomenon.  During the winter, there was not much fighting and the army was resting and enjoying Christmas.  Jackson's wife and baby daughter came  out to visit him.  This was very special for him.  I liked this chapter a lot, because it showed how beloved Jackson had become.  The soldiers crack jokes about him and his superiors are praising him.  I think the great humble Jackson deserved this praise. This chapter made me really happy seeing Jackson so happy. 

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Blog 4

Back to the War.  I forgot to mention that Jackson arrived at the battle late, but luckily for him McClellan, being cautious as usual, did not attack the rebel army.  That gave the south one more day to prepare for the battle at hand.  The battle went back and forth, once a side would gain ground then they would lose it. Finally, Jackson charges his men into battle, a fatal mistake.  The confederate  army had many casualties, and the invasion of maryland was over.  While the men rested, Jackson, took the bottle of whisky that the men had been drinking and drank plenty of it.  This was a miraculous sight, because the General rarely drank at all.   He wished to avoid it's temptation.  I liked this part of the book a lot, because I saw a different side of Stonewall that I had not seen in him.  It was also one of his biggest failures, he won a majority of his battle's or caused great discomfort to the enemy. 

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Blog 3

So now onto blog 3.  I have forgotten to mention that the book I'm Reading is called Stonewall Jackson, by Jonathan Daniels, and Philip Katcher's The Complete Civil War.  Now the battle of first bull run has been won by the south and especially  Jackson's Stonewall brigade.  Jackson is promoted to Brigadier General immediately following the battle.  General R. E. Lee, commander of the army of northern Virginia, has made Jackson his right hand man.  The army is moving all around and up through maryland by september of 1862.  The North and South meet in the little town of Sharpsburg on Antietam Creek. There the next major battle of the Civil War is fought, the battle of Antietam. I only got through half of the battle, but I got through  the first day.  Lee knows that there is going to be a battle, and wants it here in the North. Jackson and his men are on the right flank taking on General Burnside over what will be known as the Burnside bridge.  This is as far as I've gotten in the book.  I am really much enjoying this book.  I gives me a different perspective of the war, seeing it through a southerners eyes. I enjoy that very much. 

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Book Blog 2

Well now I've read quite a bit into the book and it has come to the eruption of the Civil War.  Jackson enlisted into the Confederacy and has been posted to harpers ferry.  His job is to train new recruits to be soldiers.  Now most of these men have had no military experience what so ever.  This is one of Jackson's most brilliant feats.  He trains his men hard, and they are then sent to Manassas to fight in the first real battle of the Civil War.  The men on both sides of the battle field think the war will soon be over, with their side the winner.  Not true,  it is a blood bath. Many men die here, but the most important part of the battle is when Jackson's brigade pushes the yankee forces back.  One of the Northern Generals sees Jackson and his men and exclaims "there's Jackson standing like a stonewall." A few seconds later he is shot and dies, but the name sticks and Thomas Jackson becomes Stonewall Jackson.  He is then promoted to Brigadier General, a great feat.  The Battle that was fought was called the first Bull Run, and it is as far as I have gotten.   I'm really enjoying the book and so far recommend it to all. I shows a lot of history.

Friday, September 19, 2008

book blog 1

I wasn't sure exactly what to write, but here goes.  I have been reading a book called Stonewall Jackson.  Its a biography about his life.  He was an Confederate General during the Civil war, and is one of the most beloved generals of the confederacy.  He was born in Virginia about 1833.  He was raised by his Uncle Cummins Jackson after both his mother father and several siblings were wiped out by disease. He was a very awkward, religious man who lead a very strict life.  He amazingly got into West point with no real education and graduated 7th in his class!  He was a hero during the mexican war and after became a professor.  Thats as far as i've gotten so far in the book but right now I'm loving It.

See Ya JN  

Monday, September 15, 2008