All About Russias Exclave of Kaliningrad

Russias smallest oblast (region) of Kaliningrad is an exclave located 200 miles away from the border of Russia proper. Kaliningrad was a spoil of World War II, allocated from Germany to the Soviet Union at the Potsdam Conference that divided Europe between the allied powers in 1945. The oblast is a wedge-shaped piece of land along the Baltic Sea between Poland and Lithuania, approximately one-half the size of Belgium, 5,830 mi2 (15,100 km2). The oblasts primary and port city is also known as Kaliningrad. Founding Known as Konigsberg prior to Soviet occupation, the city was founded in 1255 near the mouth of the Pregolya River. The philosopher Immanuel Kant was born in Konigsberg in 1724. The capital of German East Prussia, Konigsberg was the home to a grand Prussian Royal Castle, destroyed along with much of the city in World War II. Konigsberg was renamed Kaliningrad in 1946 after Mikhail Kalinin, formal leader of the Soviet Union from 1919 until 1946. At the time, Germans living in the oblast were forced out, to be replaced with Soviet citizens. While there were early proposals to change the name of Kaliningrad back to Konigsberg, none were successful. Key History The ice-free port of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea was home to the Soviet Baltic fleet; during the Cold War 200,000 to 500,000 soldiers were stationed in the region. Today only 25,000 soldiers occupy Kaliningrad, an indicator of the reduction of the perceived threat from NATO countries. The USSR attempted to build a 22-story House of Soviets, the ugliest building on Russian soil, in Kaliningrad but the structure had been built on the property of the castle. Unfortunately, the castle contained many underground tunnels and the building began to slowly collapse though it still stands, unoccupied. After the fall of the USSR, neighboring Lithuania and former Soviet republics gained their independence, cutting Kaliningrad off from Russia. Kaliningrad was supposed to develop in the post-Soviet era into a Hong Kong of the Baltic but corruption keeps most investment away. South Korean-based Kia Motors has a factory in Kaliningrad. Railroads connect Kaliningrad to Russia through Lithuania and Belarus but importing food from Russia is not cost-effective. However, Kaliningrad is surrounded by European Union member-states, so trade on the wider market is indeed possible. Approximately 400,000 people live in metropolitan Kaliningrad and a total of nearly one million are in the oblast, which is approximately one-fifth forested.

Poverty The Silent Killer Essay - 1008 Words

Poverty, also know as the â€Å"silent killer† (Causes of Poverty), exists in every corner of the world. The death rate of poor children is a staggering number; about 9 million die each year. Some view poverty as people not being able to afford an occupational meal or having to skip a meal to save money. This isn’t true poverty; poverty is where people live on $1.25 or less a day. According to Causes of Poverty, 1.4 billion people live like this. Even more shocking than the last statistic is that half of the world’s population lives on $2.50 per day. Living the life of poverty is like living on a rapid downward spinning spiral towards failure. If you were born into poverty there is a slim chance of you making a brighter future for†¦show more content†¦In America health care isn’t free. In order for you be ensured health care you must invest in health insurance. No person in poverty can ever approach health insurance for it’s way too expensive. Impoverished people are the one’s who need the heath care and other so call â€Å"free benefits† the most. They can’t afford nutritious meals. Subsequently they are prone to more illnesses. In Africa too, they have some free health care for the fortuitous ones but sill It’s not free for all. UNICEF even advocates against free health care saying it would â€Å"disrupt the system† (IRIN Africa). UNICEF openly verbalizes that â€Å"coming in an just saying we’re going to remove all user fees would disrupt regularity.â₠¬  Simply Africa isn’t going to change their philosophy unless it’s a quick fix. Increasing world hunger percentages around the world is leading to rises in poverty. Hunger quickly puts people into poverty. With many people entering poverty stages everyday world hunger is becoming more prevalent. Many think that would hunger can be solved y simple growing more food. But growing more food won’t solve anything; they still won’t have the money to buy products. In the end the only legitimate fix is to eliminate poverty all together. Poverty throughout Africa is one of the countries primary problems Through Their Eyes reports that 20% of Africa’s children die before theShow MoreRelatedEssay Poverty: A Silent Killer1050 Words   |  5 PagesPoverty is a major issue in our world today where people cannot afford the basic necessities required to survive. Approximately 1.02 billion people go to bed hungry each night. 1 With the world’s population being approximately 6.8 billion this is approximately 17.64% of the worlds population. 2 While trying to earn money to survive, people in poverty are exposed to crowded living conditions which result in an increased exposure to contagious and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malariaRead MoreHigh Blood Pressure Among African Americans1040 Words   |  5 PagesHigh Blood Pressure Among African Americans Many illness or diseases are known as silent killers because there are no signs or only vague signs of symptoms. These silent killers are deadly; in fact, they gradually consume a person in the early stages. One of those silent killers is High Blood Pressure also known as hypertension. 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Because the war on drugs does not explicitly target these groups, it is easy to write off those incarceratedRead MoreHomelessness And Its Effects On The West And West754 Words   |  4 PagesRouge area. Homelessness is apparent. There is an abundance of foot or bicycle traffic from both kid s and adults. Businesses are of typical corner stores with no major grocery or retail business. The unemployment rate is 15% in this area and the poverty rate is about 58% from single family homes. (The Greater Baton Rouge Commnity Health Needs Assessment, 2011). The crime rate stays among the higher end when compared to other Baton Rouge neighborhoods. There are many churches and a community centerRead MoreCorruption Of The Saudi Arabia874 Words   |  4 Pagesloss. Moreover, the absent of anti-corruption law to protect the investigators make the investors afraid to investigate in Saudi Arabia. Along with, that will leads to a general weakness in job creation and expands the phenomenon of unemployment and poverty. As what Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar says â€Å"Transparency International We all know that corruption is bad for countries, both morally and in economic terms†. In political terms, corruption leaves a negative impact on the entire political systemRead MoreThe Cat By Tiger Analysis813 Words   |  4 Pagesin the early twentieth century. He is known for writing on American culture and values during the period from 1920-1940. During this time period, the United States was segregated. In rural areas, segregation and racism was the greatest because of poverty. During the time Wolfe’s short story takes place, the United States was likely experiencing the Great Depression. Farming communities were particularly hurt by the depression as the Midwestern farm belt was also experiencing a drought forcing manyRead MoreCorruption Of The Saudi Arabia906 Words   |  4 Pagesmaterial loss. Moreover, the absence of anti-corruption law to protect the investment make the investors afraid to invest in Saudi Arabia. In addition, that will lead to a general weakness in job creation and expand the phenomenon of unemployment and poverty. As Swaminatha n S Anklesaria Aiyar says â€Å"Transparency International We all know that corruption is bad for countries, both morally and in economic terms†. In political terms, corruption leaves a negative impact on the entire political systemRead MoreEssay About War On Drugs In The Philippines924 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"just go ahead and kill† drug addicts, for it would be agonizing if the parents, themselves, of the users would do the killing instead. 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Narrative Voice In The Bell Jar Free Essays

L. P. Hartley and Sylvia Plath both use the first person narrative to evoke a sense of tragedy for their protagonists, however, with Leo, Hartley uses the first person narrative to allow the reader to understand the unfortunate event in the life of twelve year old Leo. We will write a custom essay sample on Narrative Voice In The Bell Jar or any similar topic only for you Order Now Some may say that the first person narration of Leo is both more personal and detailed than that of Esther. The reader sees the sophisticated world of Brandham Hall, contrasted with the closeness of Leo’s relationship with his mother, from Leo’s perspective. On the other hand, in The Bell-Jar the reader’s understanding of Esther’s life is limited by the cold and detached first person narrative, due to her descent into depression. It could be said that Esther is presented as repressing her emotions, yet her opinionated ways lead to her alienation. This makes her unreliable as the reader experiences the narrator’s life from her dysfunctional perspective. This makes it hard for the reader to connect to Esther, therefore limiting our empathy with her tragedy. In contrast, the reader sympathises with Leo as we see his youth and enthusiasm for life being destroyed, which enhances the tragedy. It could be said that Plath’s use of a simile to portray incongruity foreshadows Esther’s growing fear of â€Å"the bell-jar†. At the start of the novel, â€Å"The cadaver’s head, floated up behind my eggs and bacon at breakfast†. The reader is shocked due to the tragic inappropriateness of the cadaver’s head being connected to the mundane image of eggs and bacon. This dark humour, which arises from the absurdity of the two objects, could be perceived as foreshadowing the tragedy to come, due to Esther’s dysfunctional view of life. The humorous tone of the simile is increased as the narrator does not seem traumatized by such a shocking image being associated with an everyday object. It could therefore be argued that this reduces the tragic effect from the situation. However, the cadaver’s head is always following her â€Å"on a string, like some black, nose less balloon stinking of vinegar† which could be argued is dragging her down. This macabre humour of the â€Å"nose less balloon† contrasts with the tragic tone of the novel and perhaps reduces our sense of Esther’s misfortune. The balloon could represent a â€Å"bell-jar† hanging over Esther’s life, always close enough to come down on Esther and never going to disappear. However, it could be argued that if Esther really wanted to, she could let go of the balloon and therefore release her connections with the bell jar, which may take the tragedy with it. The balloon could portray that the tragedy, strangeness and â€Å"the bell-Jar† is Esther’s own doing, as for a balloon to come down, all one has to do is pull, so this could be a metaphor for Esther’s life as a whole, which is tragic as we feel compassion for the young girl starring down the barrel of depression. Furthermore, the â€Å"cadaverous face† is mentioned on the last page of the novel. This structural feature, which Plath would have no doubt intended, indicates that the cadaver has followed her all her life, tragically limiting her chances of being â€Å"normal† which shows that Esther may never get out of the â€Å"bell-jar†, even when there is a little hope at the end of the novel. How to cite Narrative Voice In The Bell Jar, Essays

Educational autobiography free essay sample

Most people go back to school because they need a degree to obtain a higher paying job or for the thrill of lifelong learning. Its hard to gain proper employment without it these days. Employers prefer someone with a Liberal Arts degree lacking experience over someone with years of experience and no degree. My neices struggles and constant encouragement from my supervisor were some factors that lead to my decison to return to school. I realized that continuing an education will be good for my personal and professional growth. Ive been working with the Intellectually Disabled population since 2004, I received a promotion from Direct Support worker to Group Leader supervising a group of 3 staff teaching the disabled individuals in a classroom setting. I remembered being asked by my supervisor if I had plans on furthering my education. She recommended enrolling at Audrey Cohen (she is an allumuni) for a Bachelors degree. We will write a custom essay sample on Educational autobiography or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Taking her advice I attempted to enroll, passed the entrance exam then faced roadblocks. Denied financial aid because of outstanding loans, I was forced to put attending school on hold. The loans since then have been resolved. Passing that hurdle did not motivate me to reapply. I had become complacent for 7 years comfortable with my status, Crystal ( my niece) had since enrolled in college and will graduate from BMCC later this year. I admire the dedication she has. Her journey has been a rough one tempting her to quit numerous times. At 24, single mother dealing with the loss of her fiance, she attends school, completes her assignments and remains focused. She shared her plans on becoming a PA (Physican Assistant) which will require her continuing school after graduation. Her relentless struggle has inspired me to want it to. Not qualifying for more promotions, and the fear of being stuck as a Group Leader for 7 more years frightened me. Seeing job openings for MSC ( Medicaid Service Coordinator), Manager, Assistant Manager, knowing the only thing that kept me from them was a college degree filled me with resentment. I needed a change, I decided to go back to school. I enrolled and received financial aids approval. I started my first semester on January 27, 2014 at the College of New Rochelle. I will be working towards a Bachelors degree in Liberal Arts (Psychology). My plans upon completion are to assist others with identifying the obstacles in their lives that are preventing their emotional growth, and overcoming them. During my first class the instructor ( Mr. Gaddy) mentioned a quote by George Elliott. Its never too late,to be what you might have been. I felt he was speaking directly to me. It felt lie he was speaking directly to me. It seemed that everything in my life up to this point was preparing me for where I am today. I needed to experience the roadblocks, encounter the motivators, even the resentment I felt was pushing me in the direction I needed to go, towards success!.

Essay on Capital Punishment Example For Students

Essay on Capital Punishment Outline1 Introduction2 Execution and its methods3 Advantages and disadvantages of the executions3.1 Advantages3.2 Disadvantages4 Conclusion Introduction Most of the heated discussions and debates revolve around the topic of capital punishment. Especially it is extremely popular among college students, who have chosen law as their major, to make this topic one of the central ideas of their argumentative essay or even thesis. One can hardly come up with a crueler way to inflict a penalty for wrongdoing than the capital punishment. In law, it is usually defined as the act where the person is to be killed if they have committed such crimes as murder, less majesty, a crime against a human or genocide. Capital punishment is the only possible way to protect people and deter wrongdoing. Till 19th century capital punishment, or in other words the death penalty, was used as the only alternative to provide safety and protection from criminals. We will write a custom essay on on Capital Punishment specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now In the modern world, the death penalty is treated in different ways. For example, almost all Europe, as well as Oceanic countries and Canada, have repealed the death penalty and executions. To the contrary, the United States, accept a decision to retain this punishment, even though some may consider it as a violation of the constitution. The society believes that our civilization has better and less cruel ways to punish serious criminals. What is more, the death penalty is an action against arguments in the constitution. Common opinion claims it to be a flouting of amendments ( 8th and 14th) in the Constitution. Execution and its methods Executions were as one of the means to deter criminals from committing murder and other forms of crimes. Despite the fact that the society considers unacceptable to use the death penalty in order to decrease murder frequency, the authority of some countries think differently and, thus, apply the following kinds of the death penalty: Lethal injection The United States first used a turn to such kind of death penalty more than 30 years ago.   Since then it is considered is the most widespread kind of capital punishment with its rate of 90%.   The procedure involves the use of a mix of drugs, where each one is lethal in appropriate amounts. Electrocution Another frequently used technique of execution used in the United States is electrocution.   The procedure looks as following: the criminal enters an execution chamber and is placed on a wooden chair with electric connections. The process begins, when all the necessary equipment is attached. The procedure may be repeated if the criminal is not pronounced to be dead. Hanging Death penalty where hanging is involved is one among the oldest. Only three states of the United States still turn to this method. Before the very process, the physician carefully examines the criminal and ensures immediate death without any obstacles. Gas inhalation Currently, this method is used only in four states and only as an alternative to other common forms of the death penalty. The only problem a wrongdoer faces is that the procedure may be long and death is not always instant. Shooting A wrongdoer may be shot once, for example by a neck shot. In other cases, a wrongdoer can be killed by a firing squad. The shooters usually aim at   wrongdoer’s chest so that to hit the lungs and heart. Advantages and disadvantages of the executions The death row has counted more than one thousand of prisoners that were condemned to the death penalty. The death penalty is a heated discussion nowadays. Some people agree and believe that the criminal who has committed murder should suffer the same death, while others disagree explaining it as an unacceptable action from the point of view of religion or ethics. Such opinions resulted in the distinction between the advantages and disadvantages of capital punishment. .ueb0a7ef4984f579e688ca7297306e515 , .ueb0a7ef4984f579e688ca7297306e515 .postImageUrl , .ueb0a7ef4984f579e688ca7297306e515 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ueb0a7ef4984f579e688ca7297306e515 , .ueb0a7ef4984f579e688ca7297306e515:hover , .ueb0a7ef4984f579e688ca7297306e515:visited , .ueb0a7ef4984f579e688ca7297306e515:active { border:0!important; } .ueb0a7ef4984f579e688ca7297306e515 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ueb0a7ef4984f579e688ca7297306e515 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ueb0a7ef4984f579e688ca7297306e515:active , .ueb0a7ef4984f579e688ca7297306e515:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ueb0a7ef4984f579e688ca7297306e515 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ueb0a7ef4984f579e688ca7297306e515 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ueb0a7ef4984f579e688ca7297306e515 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ueb0a7ef4984f579e688ca7297306e515 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ueb0a7ef4984f579e688ca7297306e515:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ueb0a7ef4984f579e688ca7297306e515 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ueb0a7ef4984f579e688ca7297306e515 .ueb0a7ef4984f579e688ca7297306e515-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ueb0a7ef4984f579e688ca7297306e515:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: "On Dumpster Diving" EssayAdvantages Effective crime deterrent The death penalty is used not only to punish those, who   have committed murder, a crime against human or any other serious crime, but also in order to frighten people and wrongdoers, and put them off doing unacceptable things. The fear of sufferings should be the factor to stop a person from wrongdoing. Money saving It is well-known that the state spends huge amounts of money to implement wrongdoers on death row. They will save more money if a prisoner is sentenced to capital punishment than if they are locked for the whole life in prison. Even some specialists consider the health care and food supply of a prisoner to be worthless and just a waste of money. Short-time suffering The instance and the fact that a prisoner almost does not suffer   are among benefits of this action. Such widespread method as lethal injection is just a split second, as far as drugs are very toxic and its amounts cause instant death. Disadvantages Execution of a non-criminal It goes without saying that every system has its drawbacks and imperfections, so it sometimes happens that innocent people get imprisoned and are sentenced for crimes they are irrelevant too. An inhumane action The death penalty is an absolute controversy to what claim some religions, human morality, ethics. It is always necessary to remember one thing that we should never cause harm to one another and never do a thing to others that we would not do to ourselves. A reason for psychological trauma Psychotrauma is one more disadvantage of capital punishment. The death penalty involves not only a prisoner but also another person, who will take away their lives. That is why such action may leave a bad taste in mouth and pang of guilt. Conclusion Capital punishment is a concept that is treated differently in society. Even though there are people who express their disagreement and resentment concerning capital punishment, they are back-strapped and have no powers to interfere. Until they belong to authority, of course. While the government will stick to the thought that the capital punishment will frighten away criminals, they will see no results in the fluctuation of the number of murders and crimes. Every other person has its own rules to stick to and its own desires to be motivated by. Does a   person have a feeling of what is acceptable and what is not, then capital punishment has no influence on them?   The sky is the only limit in their actions.

Barack Obama - First Presidential Prime Time Press Conference free essay sample

Getting Ready for the Geography Bee

Getting Ready for the Geography Bee The Geography Bee, more properly known as the National Geographic Bee, begins at the local level and winners work their way to the final competition in Washington D.C. The Geography Bee begins in schools with students from fourth through eighth grade across the United States in December and January. Each school Geography Bee champion takes a written test upon winning the Bee in their school. One hundred school winners from each state proceed to the State Level Finals in April, based on their scores on a written test scored by the National Geographic Society. The Geography Bee winner in each state and territory proceeds to the National Geographic Bee in Washington D.C. for a two-day competition in May. On the first day, the 55 state and territory (District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Pacific Territories, and the overseas U.S. Department of Defense schools) winners are narrowed to a field of ten finalists. The ten finalists compete on day two and the winner is announced and wins a college scholarship. Prepping Yourself for the Bee What follows are my tips and techniques to help you prepare for the National Geographic Bee (formerly called the National Geography Bee but since the National Geographic Society is the organizer, they decided to change the name). Start with a world map, globe, and atlas and become very familiar with the continents, countries, states and provinces, islands, and major physical features of our planet.Use Outline Maps of the world and continents to test yourself on this information. Knowing the relative location of countries, islands, major water bodies, and major physical features is very important for the Bee. Be sure to also have a good understanding of where the major lines of latitude and longitude lie.Take as many practice quizzes as possible. My site offers an archive of hundreds of multiple-choice Geography Quizzes that will definitely help. National Geographic offers a daily GeoBee Quiz online. There are additional online quizzes in my Test Your Knowledge collection of resources. Be sure to use an atlas to look up or understand the questions that youve missed.Prepare flash cards or use some other technique to memorize the capitals of the countries of the world and the capitals of the fifty United States. Memorize these Basic Earth Facts, the Highest, Lowest, and Deepest points around the world, and study other geographic superlatives. Read the newspaper, news magazines, and subscribe to my free Geography Newsletter and Geography 101 Email Course to learn about geography and to stay up-to-date with major news events happening around the world. Some Bee questions come from the geography of current events and these events are usually those that occur in the latter portion of the year before the Bee. Look up any unfamiliar place names you encounter in an atlas.Knowing principal languages, currencies, religions, and former country names is definitely a bonus. Its most important at state and national levels. This information is best obtained from the CIA World Factbook.Become familiar with the terms and concepts of Physical Geography. If you can review the glossary and key concepts of physical geography from a college-level physical geography textbook, do so!​ In the 1999 state finals, there was a difficult round devoted to exotic species but each questions answer was the choice between two places so having a good geographical knowledge would have been the easiest way to win the round. My book, The Geography Bee Complete Preparation Handbook: 1,001 Questions Answers to Help You Win Again and Again!, is a helpful resource for those preparing for the Bee at the school, state, or national levels. Good luck!