Simple French Verb Conjugations of Tondre (to Mow)

Simple French Verb Conjugations of Tondre (to Mow) Though  tondre  is the French verb thats often used for to mow, it can also be used for to shear or to fleece. While that may be pretty easy to remember, you will also need to know the conjugations of  tondre. This lesson will help you out and teach you to say things such as he is mowing or we sheered. The Basic Conjugations of  Tondre Tondre is a regular -re verb. While it is not the French languages most common conjugation pattern, there are other useful verbs in this category. Consider studying tondre along with words like entendre (to understand) or vendre (to sell) to make each a little easier to remember. Once you study a few regular verbs that end in -re, you will notice the pattern. For instance, in the  je  present tense, an  s  is added to the verb stem (tond-) to produce  je tonds  (I am mowing). Likewise, in the  nous  imperfect past tense, -ions  is the ending and it produces  nous tondions  (we mowed). Use the chart to study these basic indicative mood forms by matching the subject pronoun with the proper tense for your sentence. Present Future Imperfect je tonds tondrai tondais tu tonds tondras tondais il tond tondra tondait nous tondons tondrons tondions vous tondez tondrez tondiez ils tondent tondront tondaient The Present Participle of  Tondre As with all regular -re and -er verbs, forming the present participle of tondre is as simple as adding -ant to the stem. This gives you the word tondant. Tondre  in the Compound Past Tense The French compound past tense is known as the  passà © composà ©Ã‚  and it has two elements. The first is the present tense conjugate of the auxiliary verb  avoir  and the second is the  past participle  tondu. Putting the two together gives us phrases like  jai tondu  (I mowed) and  nous avons tondu  (we mowed). More Simple Conjugations of  Tondre You might also want to have questions about the act of mowing and that means you can use  tondre  in  the subjunctive. If, however, it is in some way dependent on something else (no rain, perhaps), then you can use  the conditional. Its most likely that you will only encounter  the passà © simple  and  imperfect subjunctive  in written French. Theyre both literary tenses and often reserved for formal literature rather than conversations. Subjunctive Conditional Pass Simple Imperfect Subjunctive je tonde tondrais tondis tondisse tu tondes tondrais tondis tondisses il tonde tondrait tondit tondt nous tondions tondrions tondmes tondissions vous tondiez tondriez tondtes tondissiez ils tondent tondraient tondirent tondissent Should you need to be forceful in telling someone to mow, use tondre in the  imperative. When doing so, skip the subject pronoun and simply tell them to Tonds ! Imperative (tu) tonds (nous) tondons (vous) tondez

Forming a Balanced Sentence in English Grammar

Forming a Balanced Sentence in English Grammar A balanced sentence is a sentence made up of two parts that are roughly equal in length, importance, and grammatical structure, as in the  advertising  slogan  for KFC:  Buy a bucket of chicken and have a barrel of fun. In contrast with a  loose sentence, a balanced sentence is composed of a  paired construction  on the level of the clause.   Although not necessarily indicative of meaning  by themselves, Thomas Kane notes in The New Oxford Guide to Writing that balanced and parallel constructions do reinforce and enrich meaning. Because the words that comprise the sentence are the true conveyers of intent, then, Kane intends balanced sentences to be understood as modifiers to rhetoric. Balanced sentences can come in a variety of forms. For instance, a balanced sentence  that makes a  contrast  is called  antithesis. Additionally, balanced sentences are considered rhetorical devices because they often sound unnatural to the ear, elevating the perceived intellect of the speaker. How Balanced Sentences Reinforce Meaning Most linguists agree that the primary utility of a well-stated balanced sentence is to provide perspective for the intended audience, though the concept does not convey meaning by itself. Rather, the optimum grammar tools to convey meaning are, of course, words. In John Peck and Martin Coyles The Students Guide to Writing: Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar, the authors describe the elements of balanced sentences: [Their] symmetry and neatness of structure... lend an air of being carefully thought out and weighed. Using this type of balance and symmetry can be particularly helpful for speechwriters and politicians to emphasize their points. Typically, though, balanced sentenced are considered to be a more conversational and, therefore, are most often found in poetic prose, persuasive speeches, and verbal communication than in academic publications.   Balanced Sentences as Rhetorical Devices Malcolm Peet and David Robinson describe balanced sentences as a type of rhetorical device in their 1992 book Leading Questions, and Robert J Connors notes in Composition-Rhetoric: Backgrounds, Theory, and Pedagogy that they developed in rhetorical theory later in its practice. Peet and Robinson use Oscar Wildes  quote children begin by loving their parents; after a time they judge them; rarely, if ever, do they forgive them to express balanced sentences as unnatural to the ear, used to impress, to suggest wisdom or polish, because they contain two contrasting and balanced elements. In other words, it presents a duality of ideas in order to convince the listener - or in some cases reader - that the speaker or writer is being especially explicit in his or her meaning and intent. Although first used by the Greeks, Connors notes that balanced sentences arent presented clearly in classical rhetoric, and often confused with antithesis - which is a different type of balanced sentence. Academics, Edward Everett Hale, Jr. notes, do not often use the form, as this form is rather an artificial form, conveying a natural style to prose.

Legal Aspects of Safety and Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Legal Aspects of Safety and Health - Essay Example CFOI data reported that deaths resulting from crane related accidents averaged 22 annually while the new findings by CPWR found 42 on average per year within the same period. Electrocution by overhead power lines was seen to be the biggest cause of deaths. OSHA has been in the process to come up with a comprehensive Crane Safety Standard since that of 1971 and the 2000s acted as the decade for formulation of the new standard (CPWR, 2010). Key issues It seems that there have been differences in the figures brought forth by the various bodies that do research on construction accidents. The differences are attributable to the different methods of coming up with the required data. The latter analysis by CPWR sheds real light on situation on the ground which is rather serious. Fatalities clocking above 40 yearly from crane related accidents and hundreds of injuries are alarming numbers considering that most of the accidents are avoidable. It is also important to note that categorization e nables users of data to easily relate various aspects involved as the case is with the categorization of construction deaths by cause, cranes involved and employer size (CPWR, 2010). This way it is easy to narrow down on areas and circumstances that are more prone to accidents.

Computer Crimes in the USA Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Computer Crimes in the USA - Article Example   The current legal frameworks, particularly in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are also not apt to handle cyber crimes. Until date, the primary thrust of R&D in information technology has been to promote and facilitate e-commerce, rather than to come out with means to discourage cyber crimes (Prosise & Mandia, 2001). In the absence of such intimidating technological deterrents, computer crimes are thriving and proliferating like never before. Phishing, cyberstalking, identity thefts, hacking, computer viruses, and child pornography are some of the most rampant versions of cyber crimes. Computer crimes have turned out to be an obnoxious menace, both within the United States and around the world. As per the credible statistics available for the year 2008, a majority of the cybercriminals have their base within the United States (Consumer Fraud Reporting, 2009). The prime reason for this being that the US has the highest number of internet users in the world. The United Kingdom commanded the second spot, with 10.5 percent of the total computer crimes affiliated to it (Consumer Fraud Reporting, 2009). Other major countries, which are home to a large section of the international cybercriminals, are Nigeria, Romania, the Netherlands and China (Consumer Fraud Reporting, 2009). While identity theft and Phishing happen to be the forte of the US-based criminals, Nigeria mainly abounds in fake online lotteries and money transfers (Consumer Fraud Reporting, 2009).

Some Moral Minima Essay Example for Free

Some Moral Minima Essay In Some Moral Minima, Lenn Goodman argues that there are certain things that are simply wrong. Do you think Goodman is right? Using specific examples, explore the challenges Goodman presents to relativism. Determine whether you think there are such universal moral requirements, and defend your answer in a well-argued three-page paper. Your paper must be formatted according to APA (6th edition) style. You dont need any sources other than the Goodman paper and the text for our course. However, you must cite all your references properly. If you would like to refer to APA samples and tutorials, visit the Ashford Writing Center, within the Learning Resources tab in the left navigation bar, in your online course. Some Moral Minna By Lenn Goodman The Morally Right In â€Å"Some Moral Minima† I believe Lenn Goodman is right when he says certain things are simply wrong. I agree with Goodman on the issues he discusses such as slavery, genocide, terrorism, murder, rape, polygamy, and incest. I agree with Goodman on these issues because there is never a good time to kill for the sake of killing, rape for the sake of sex, or take ones rights away for the sake of gaining respect or wealth. Goodman basically discusses that every person whether it be man, woman, or child has the rights to live and be free from any and all inhumane treatment. Goodman’s main understanding is not to be quick on judging things we don’t understand, but to judge those things that are not morally right. I believe that all people are equal and have the right to live their own life as do the violators should have no rights to commit these unruly acts of wrong. Who are we to judge anyone or why should others have the right to murder, rape, or rip the rights of people away from them? The bible states, â€Å"Do unto others as you would have others do unto you† (Matthew, 7:12, Standard Version). I believe this is the best way to look at the situation on any of the issues that Goodman discusses. We should never judge anyone due to their sexual orientation, physical/mental handicapness, or any other feature in which they have no control over, such as the poor and the wealthy. Goodman discusses slavery as a act of wrong in the article and I really agree with his views on this issue. In the past some of our forefathers thought of slavery as a racially ethical right. Today in our society there are still some of the older generation that still look down upon the African American population simply because of the color of their skin.

Some Lead, Some Follow, Others Change the World Essay -- Civil Rights

When being asked which Civil Rights activist of the movement was most effective, the answer is quite obvious. This movement originated due to what is called â€Å"Jim Crow† laws. These laws suggested that everyone is separate but equal. Otherwise became blindingly apparent when African Americans were subdued by whites in various ways. For example, the justice system always considered the case of white man over a black one. Also, an African American facility was certainly not comparable to the superior quality of White’s. Soon, organizations began to form in attempts to stop this unjust treatment. One man in particular stands out the most throughout this movement of change: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s form of protesting was the more effective than activist Malcolm X and was the reason for the majority of success during the Civil Rights movement. This is because Malcolm X’s cause would only slow progress during the movement, Martin Lu ther King Jr. had more authority, and he understood that peaceful protesting is the very genesis of redefining a nation. Malcolm X’s cause did not support any advancement in the Civil Rights movement. If anything, his efforts deterred any progress by encouraging separation. Malcolm X looked up to the Black Muslim leader Elijah Muhammad. Muhammad’s campaign was based around whites being â€Å"descended from the devil† and â€Å"being born to harm blacks†. Malcolm soon adopted and idolized this ideology that not only reached toward separate nations, but frightened whites. Considering this, the group the Black Panthers in which Malcolm X formed later on created their own schools, businesses and newspapers in order to further segregate themselves from whites. This group was encouraged by the ide... ...t. He built bridges between races, not walls like Malcolm X. Malcolm X’s cause would only dismiss the goals of the Civil Rights movement. Also, Martin Luther King Jr. had more of an impact amongst his public. Lastly, he contributed to the ongoing idea that acting in a peaceful manor will make goals much more attainable. Martin Luther King Jr. had a very positive impact on not only his public, but this nation. He will never be forgotten within history. Works Cited Levy, Peter B. Let Freedom Ring: a Documentary History of the Modern Civil Rights Movement. New York: Praeger, 1992. Glencoe. "Online Student Edition." Glencoe/McGraw-Hill. 2008. Web. . Cruz, Kimberly. "Comparing Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X." Http://www.polk-fl.net. Web. .

Teacher of Year

First I want to tell you with whom I honor, with whom I have, learned to respect, and who deserve the outmost admirations. The teachers I am talking about work hard to do a great job, because, above all, it is a kind of responsibility so to speak towards their students and relevantly toward themselves. I have had several teachers in my years as a student both in the primary and secondary schools among which there were only few whom I felt to fit the description above, maybe most of them were good in their own way, but one cannot be sufficient in all ways or I may also have misunderstood them. However, the teacher that I chose as deserving of the â€Å"My Favorite Teacher† earned this title due to the care she showed to each of her students through her teaching, personality, and the all the fun had in her class is Ms. Fleming my writing teacher. Ms. Fleming is an open minded, caring person who seemed to love what she is doing. Ms. Fleming is more than a teacher to me; she is a person you could go to with a problem and she would try and help you find the answer. She would help you, but expected you to put the work into finding out for yourself how to do something. She always came across as someone who cared about every student as if they were her â€Å"children†. Ms. Fleming is like a book that gives you the right information that would help you on getting a six on the FCAT writing. About 95% of her student’s agree that Ms. Fleming spent each day preparing us for the FCAT writing in thirteen days. The first time I walked into the classroom I notice a flaming red headed teacher sitting down. I thought that she would be a boring, and mean teacher giving her student’s a lot of homework and essays to write. Every word that comes out of her mouth sounds like music to my brain. When it comes to teaching she doesn’t let out a lot of stress, most of the stress comes from whether or not her student’s would receive a four or higher on the FCAT writing. When I’m in class Ms. Fleming have a way of teaching her student’s on how to write a splendiferous essay. Ms. Fleming is always making her student’s laugh on how she comes up with ridiculous ideas to explain the assignment. Take your left stars and right stars and switch them in order to create a perfect planning sheet,† said Ms. Fleming. Once we complete this task for our essay’s we can start drafting and then finish a final copy with an added taste! Ms. Fleming is no ordinary teacher like other teachers from North Miami Beach Senior High School. This is much I appreciate and amorous, benevolent person that would help me with my writing and achieving my goals to pass the FCAT writing test this ye ar.

Ben Hamper

For Ben Hamper it was inevitable that he would end up working in the General Motors factory in Flint, Michigan. He was a third generation â€Å"shop-rat† following in the footsteps of his family and extended family. Working on the Rivet Line for General Motors was far from what Hamper wanted to do with his life. Unfortunately for Hamper this was the only job where he was receiving good pay and was able to drink throughout his day. Hamper faced many ups and downs being an American autoworker; the working conditions, labor-management relations and psychological problems to name a few.It would eventually be the psychological issues that would lead Hamper away from General Motors and the auto industry. Hamper did not start out with a plan to work the Rivet Line as his career. He wanted to be an ambulance driver, but that later went away as he grew older. Hamper was a smart kid who would sometimes make the honor roll; though he complains that he had nothing better to do but homewor k. His father, Ben Hamper II was nothing but ordinary. Hamper II was married but rarely worked, and when he was not working he was at the closest bar he could find.Hamper’s father was also a Rivet Line worker, just like his father before him and so on. It was a family affair to work in the auto industry. Hamper describes â€Å"Flint, Michigan. The Vehicle City. Greaseball Mecca. The birthplace of thud-rockers Grand Funk Railroad, game show geek Bob Eubanks and a hobby shop called General motors† (15), most likely having to do with the fact that within the surrounding areas of Flint were ten other auto industry shops. It was as if Hamper was born into the Rivet line. Prior to Hamper working at General Motors, he painted houses.Right after graduating high school Hamper found out his girlfriend, Joanie, was pregnant and he married her. He soon got a job painting houses, but that was not making enough profit for his family. Joanie then got a job while Hamper stayed home an d drank and used drugs with his neighbors, which is when his family began falling apart. Soon Hamper would find that getting a job was going to be difficult, because in the mid-1970s Flint, Michigan went into a recession. Hamper came to the conclusion that he would have no choice but to get a job at General Motors. This was much more difficult than Hamper ould have thought. Due to the recession, Hampers attempt at applying at GM was a long shot. They were not hiring and not handing out any applications. Fortunately for Hamper his friend got hired and was able to get him a job. Out of all the stations that Hamper would have wanted to end up working, his least favorite was the Cab Shop, where General Motors management stationed him. The job came easy for Hamper, perhaps because of its repetition it required. Hamper states that â€Å"Every minute, every hour, every truck and every movement was a plodding replica of one that had gone before† (41).It was a job of repetition and mo notony, which was eventually going to drive him crazy. The psychological costs that Hamper received due to working in the auto factories were foreseeable. The countless repetition, and the boring days were going to drive him crazy. Drinking was one way to cope with the tedious work day. Hamper relies on his coworkers for practical jokes and banter. Though some workers were unable to take the constant repetition, was Roy. Roy was a Rivet line worker just like Hamper, but he was using drugs. Perhaps it was the drugs that caused him to capture a mouse and send it through the rivet line.Hamper knew that it was the working conditions that sent many men over the edge. They would make up games like â€Å"Rivet hockey† or played cards to pass the time. But Hamper found other ways to pass his free time at the factory, he wrote. He wrote poems, articles and manuscripts, even the book called â€Å"Rivethead† while at General Motors. The effects the economy had on these workers wa s rough at first, but then Hamper speaks about the factory coming back onto its feet, â€Å"summer and fall of 1977, the truck plant was hummin’ six days a week, nine hours per shift† (44).People were spending money again and buying automobiles. Hamper and his work partner developed a scheme they called â€Å"doubling up†. This was a way for Hamper and his partner to take longer breaks and do less work throughout the day. Things were looking up for the factory and its workers, until management claimed there was going to be a change in the way things were done. Hamper would have to put in more work, which then lead to another recession hitting, and to people getting laid off. This set the General Motor factory back into a downward spiral. There was an nnouncement, given by Roger Smith, stating that many of the General Motors factories would be closing down. Hamper describes it as â€Å"My beleaguered hometown was like some banged-up middleweight resting its rump on the ropes, covering up its soft belly, hoping to only last out the round† (68). The town of Flint was facing yet another recession, and in the process of becoming the poorest town in Michigan. For Hamper, it was either stay in Flint where there were no jobs, or relocate to Pontiac, Michigan and commute for work. Prior to transferring to Pontiac, he would be laid off for about nine months.Hamper collected unemployment and quickly found that he was getting more money by collecting rather than working. Finally the time came for him to commute to Pontiac. Hamper finishes working in Pontiac and moves back to working for General Motors in Flint. Where more layoff were occurring and at times he was unemployed for a year. While living in Flint, Hamper writes to Michael Moore, who is a man responsible for the liberal rag called the Flint Voice. Moore was pleased with Hampers writings and called him, set up a meeting and offered Hamper an unpaid job of writing feature articles.He ac cepted and this was the start of Hamper and Moore’s friendship. Soon their relationship would turn into much bigger things for Hamper. His column was being read and becoming popular, even by the wall Street Journal. This seemed to be a turning point for Hamper, but his panic attacks started happening once he transferred to Pontiac. During the spring of 1988, Hampers panic attacks would get the best of him and it was the last time he would leave the auto factory. Ben Hamper was a third generation General Motors factory worker.It was far from what he wanted to do with his life growing up. Working in the auto factories for Hamper was like it was in his blood. He picked up the job quickly and soon found ways around it. For the working class man like Hamper and his many coworkers at the General Motors plant, was hard. Many workers had jobs, and then would get laid off and so on. They faced low pay for the amount of work they needed to put in, while at times other had to commute tw o hours for work. The psychological problems that occurred to the workers were mostly mental and alcoholism.Hamper being falling victim to both, knew that it was time for him to get out of the industry and move onto something he loved. He was a writer, and became notably famous for it. Perhaps it was Michael Moore who first gave Hamper his debut into the writing world, but it worked for Hamper. Hamper is a very well accomplished man for being raised by a mother who worked two jobs and a father who was almost always absent. Hamper knew that he would be more than a â€Å"shop-rat† like his father and grandfather. He has made a name for himself, and that is what he should be proud of.

Fascinating Facts About Caterpillars

Fascinating Facts About Caterpillars Surely youve seen a caterpillar in your lifetime, and youve probably even handled one, but how much do you know about Lepidopteran larvae? These cool facts about caterpillars will give you new respect for what remarkable creatures they are. A Caterpillar Has Just One Job to Eat During the larval stage, the caterpillar must consume enough to sustain itself through its pupal stage and into adulthood. Without proper nutrition, it may not have the energy to complete its metamorphosis. Malnourished caterpillars may reach adulthood, but be unable to produce eggs. Caterpillars can eat an enormous amount during a life cycle stage that typically lasts several weeks. Some consume 27,000 times their body weight during this life phase. Caterpillars Increase Their Body Mass by as Much as 1,000 Times or More The larval stage of the life cycle is all about growth. Within the span of a few weeks, the caterpillar will grow exponentially. Because its cuticle, or skin, is only so pliable, the caterpillar will molt multiple times as it gains size and mass. The stage between molts is called an instar, and most caterpillars go through 5 to 6 instars before pupating. No wonder caterpillars consume so much food! A Caterpillars First Meal Is Usually Its Eggshell In most cases, when a caterpillar ecloses (hatches) from its egg, it will consume the remainder of the shell. The outer layer of the egg, called the chorion, is rich in protein and provides the new larva  with a nutritious start. A Caterpillar Has as Many as 4,000 Muscles in Its Body Thats one seriously muscle-bound insect! By comparison, humans have just 629 muscles in a considerably larger body. The caterpillars head capsule alone consists of 248 individual muscles, and about 70 muscles control each body segment. Remarkably, each of the 4,000 muscles is innervated by one or two neurons.   Caterpillars Have 12 Eyes On each side of its head, a caterpillar has 6 tiny eyelets, called stemmata, arranged in a semi-circle. One of the 6 eyelets is usually offset a bit and located closer to the antennae. You would think an insect with 12 eyes would have excellent eyesight, but thats not the case. The stemmata serve merely to help the caterpillar differentiate between light and dark. If you watch a caterpillar, youll notice it sometimes moves its head from side to side. This most likely helps it judge depth  and distance as it navigates somewhat blindly. Caterpillars Produce Silk Using modified salivary glands along the sides of their mouth, caterpillars can produce silk as needed. Some caterpillars, like gypsy moths, disperse by ballooning from the treetops on a silken thread. Others, such as eastern tent caterpillars or webworms, construct silk tents in which they live communally. Bagworms use silk to join dead foliage together into a shelter. Caterpillars also use silk when they pupate, either to suspend a chrysalis or to construct a cocoon. Caterpillars Have 6 Legs, Just as Adult Butterflies or Moths Do There are way more than 6 legs on most caterpillars youve seen, but most of those legs are false legs, called prolegs, which help the caterpillar hold onto plant surfaces and allow it to climb. The 3 pairs of legs on the caterpillars thoracic segments are the true legs, which it will retain in adulthood. A caterpillar may have up to 5 pairs of prolegs on its abdominal segments, usually including a terminal pair on the hind end.   Caterpillars Move in a Wavelike Motion, From Back to Front Caterpillars with a full complement of prolegs move in a fairly predictable motion. Usually, the caterpillar will first anchor itself using the terminal pair of prolegs and then reach forward with one pair of legs at a time, starting from the hind end. Theres more going on than just leg action, though. The caterpillars blood pressure changes as it moves forward, and its gut, which is basically a cylinder suspended inside its body, advances in sync with the head and rear end. Inchworms and loopers, which have fewer prolegs, move by pulling their hind ends forward in contact with the thorax and then extending their front half. Caterpillars Get Creative When It Comes to Self Defense Life at the bottom of the food chain can be tough, so caterpillars employ all kinds of strategies to avoid becoming a bird snack. Some caterpillars, such as the early instars of black swallowtails, look like bird droppings. Certain inchworms in the family Geometridae mimic twigs, and bear markings that resemble leaf scars or bark. Other caterpillars use the opposite strategy, making themselves visible with bright colors to advertise their toxicity. A few caterpillars, like the spicebush swallowtail, display large eyespots to deter birds from eating them. If youve ever tried to take a caterpillar from its host plant, only to have it fall to the ground, youve observed it using thanatosis to thwart your efforts to collect it. A swallowtail caterpillar can be identified by its smelly osmeterium, a special defensive stink gland just behind the head. Many Caterpillars Use the Toxins From Their Host Plants to Their Own Advantage Caterpillars and plants co-evolve. Some host plants produce toxic or foul-tasting compounds meant to dissuade herbivores from munching their foliage. But many caterpillars can sequester the toxins in their bodies, effectively using these compounds to protect themselves from predators. The classic example of this is the monarch caterpillar and its host plant, milkweed. The monarch caterpillar ingests glycosides produced by the milkweed plant. These toxins remain within the monarch through adulthood, making the butterfly unpalatable to birds and other predators. Sources Caterpillar locomotion: A new model for soft-bodied climbing and burrowing robots, Barry A. Trimmer, Ann E. Takesian, and Brian M. Sweet, Tufts University, 2006.Unique Means of Animal Locomotion Reported for First Time, Tufts University media release, July 22, 2010.Caterpillars of Eastern North America, David L. Wagner.Encyclopedia of Insects, 2nd Edition, edited by Vincent H. Resh and Ring T. Cardà ©, 2009.Borror and Delongs Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th Edition, by Charles A. Triplehorn and Norman F. Johnson, 2005.

How a Car Wash Led to a Grammar Lesson †and a Valentine’s Day Life Lesson

How a Car Wash Led to a Grammar Lesson – and a Valentine’s Day Life Lesson A Car Washing Adventure From time to time it is necessary, living in a snowy city, to give my car a respite from the salt that eats away at it for much of the winter.   During my last visit to Octopus Car Wash, as I waited for my car to get spit out the other end of the car wash, I discovered a wall full of greeting cards, many of them by a local Wisconsin greeting card company, Byrne Schmidt Greetings. What a great idea!   I love browsing humorous and clever greeting cards and went to work picking out cards to give to my friends and family for upcoming holidays. Leave it to me to find a grammar issue in one of the birthday cards. Squirrely Grammar Lesson Squirrely Grammar On the front of one card, I found a picture of a squirrel holding an oversized acorn under each arm. The title:   A Squirrel Birthday Poem.   The first three lines of the poem: Happy Birthday to you, You can bet your sweet butt To insure you a great birthday I opened the card to find the last two lines of the poem: I’d give my left nut. I laughed.   And I also got inspired to write about the difference between â€Å"ensure† and â€Å"insure.†Ã‚   My first reaction was that â€Å"insure† had been used incorrectly here and that the correct verb was â€Å"ensure.†Ã‚   As I did my research, I learned that I was only partially right about that assessment. The Essay Expert Gets a Grammar Lesson:   Assure, Insure, Ensure Associated Press style does indeed dictate that â€Å"ensure† means to make sure something happens and that â€Å"insure† means to issue a life insurance policy.   Other authorities, however, state that it is acceptable to use the two interchangeably, though â€Å"insure† does more often relate to monetary insurance and â€Å"ensure† more often relates to a non-monetary guarantee. About.com has a great article about these distinctions, and covers the word â€Å"assure† as well.   See Assure, Ensure, and Insure:   Commonly Confused Words by Richard Nordquist. I’m not going to go into detail about the difference between all these words.   I do want to point out that regardless of his or her proper word choice, the greeting card writer took artistic license in omitting the verb in the sentence.   A correct sentence would have read, â€Å"To insure that you have a great birthday†¦.†Ã‚   The way it read, â€Å"To insure you a great birthday† doesn’t make sense.   We can insure a car or a house, or insure *that* something happens, but we can’t ensure a person something. And Now for the Valentines Day Life Lesson Nevertheless, I am more interested in the fact that I was so sure the word choice in the card was incorrect that I almost wrote a blog article about the difference between insure and ensure without doing my research.   What a great lesson in being willing to be wrong! I often think I’m right about a lot of things, not just grammatical issues.   Things like how clean a kitchen should be, or what habits are healthy and not, or what is the best way to do just about anything.   Sometimes being right is not the best way to sustain healthy relationships.   And sometimes I’m just plain wrong.   I can assure you of that. It’s Valentine’s Day.   Is there anything you’re sure you’re right about with your loved ones?   Are you willing to consider the possibility that there’s another right answer out there in the world besides yours? Please share your thoughts on grammar and on being right.   I’d love to hear your comments! Category:Grammar Writing TipsBy Brenda BernsteinFebruary 14, 2011 9 Comments judyb says: February 15, 2011 at 12:06 pm But its just a card!!! Found your website from the Linkedin Blogger Group. Log in to Reply The Essay Expert says: February 15, 2011 at 1:08 pm Thanks for your comment Judy. In the world of The Essay Expert, everything is fodder for a grammar lesson and sometimes a life lesson too! Log in to Reply Kerri Randall says: February 16, 2011 at 7:36 pm Found you through LinkedIn, too. =) And yes, its just a card but (and I totally dont mean this in a mean or harsh tone) but it baffles me that on the whole, spelling and grammar just arent important to a vast majority of people, it seems, and even more annoying is the fact that its rude to correct people. Yargh, lol. Thats just me, though. I was a writing major in college and still write often, so I have those stereotypical grammar and spelling pet peeves. =) Log in to Reply Jackie Grande says: February 15, 2011 at 8:14 pm I love the card, but even more so love the lesson learned! Nice article Brenda. Log in to Reply Sherry Zander says: February 16, 2011 at 7:39 pm Hi, Brenda. This bugged me, so I do what I do every time I have a question about a word(s) I looked all three of them up in Websters. Interestingly enough, all three words are synonymous of each other. This boggles my mind, since I was always taught that insure was related to insurance products only. I would never have guessed this changed had you not posted this on your blog. Log in to Reply Mari-Lyn says: February 16, 2011 at 10:23 pm Wheres the flash cards? Its cute that you used a greeting card for your post. Thanks for the lesson of grammar. Bet you could re-write my comment. Log in to Reply Hajra says: February 17, 2011 at 3:52 pm Hey Brenda, I am visiting after such a long time and boy I had so much fun with this post! This Valentiness I assured myself that I wouldnt feel miserable on being single but that didnt happen. Log in to Reply The Essay Expert says: February 17, 2011 at 4:22 pm Welcome back Hajra! Glad you enjoyed. And may Valentines Day be a joy for you in the future no matter your relationship status! Log in to Reply Penelope J. says: February 17, 2011 at 8:20 pm Hi Brenda, Id have had exactly the same reaction as you did to that card. Its sad how we can overlook something funny or enjoyable because of incorrect grammar or punctuation. I also find that many cant distinguish between insure and ensure and misuse of the two words is common in what should be well-written documents and even articles. Id like to subscribe to your blog but the button doesnt work. What should I do? Log in to Reply

Internet Censorship Laws Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Internet Censorship Laws - Research Paper Example However, as this essay will prove, such reservations on the intention of internet censorship laws should not derail people from the political, social and security importance of such laws. Therefore, internet censorship laws should be applied in the necessary areas to ensure people feel safer when online. Introduction of internet censorship laws is important in the preservation of the country’s social norms. The internet has come with other social vices whose propagation should not continue unchecked. One good example of such vices is pornographic contents available on different websites. The explicit sexual content in these websites introduces children to immoral behavior, which they copy, and practice. Such content makes children feel that sex at a young age or outside marriage is okay. In such cases, censorship of such content is important as an effort to protect children from early exposure to sexually explicit content. Some of the internet sites use children as characters in their picture whether moving or static. Such internet websites have been used by pedophiles to advance their social vices. The websites provide an avenue for child molesters to get their victims and clients for their illegal business (Weinstein and MacEwan 347). It is not clear whether the presence of the internet has increased child pornography or has only acted as an avenue for its transmission. However, Weinstein and MacEwan (347) assert that the internet has clearly increased the accessibility, volume, and range of sexually abusive images, which also includes child pornography. Censorship becomes the best options in curbing the spread of such vices therefore; there should not be opposition from anyone who stands for moral responsibility. The importance of internet censorship laws does not end with stopping the propagation of pornographic content. The censorship will also help in covering areas where hate speech propagation targeting some groups of people in society through th e internet has been reported. The internet has provided many people with an avenue for making anonymous statements and valuable space for virtual communities. However, not every internet user engages in constructive dialogues, given that there are those who promote racist diatribes and other discriminatory views (Bidgol 351). Therefore, internet censorship laws help society get rid of those whose aim is to create social disharmony. There have been cases of violence against some groups in society that have originated from the internet. A good example of such internet websites is Stormfront formed by white supremacists and provides an avenue for white nationalists and other racial extremists to make their views public. Such websites play a key role in the condoning and incitements of acts of discrimination and violence against a section of the population (Weinstein and MacEwan 355).  Ã‚  

Goodwill and routine emails Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Goodwill and routine emails - Essay Example For this reason, the audit accounts for the last financial year show good a performance of the branch. This is because there was an increase in profits as a result of a decrease in the expenses. With this being said, the head office has given recommendations us to go to other branches to train our fellow workmates on how to achieve the same goal. To show my appreciation as the team leader, I will be rewarding each one of you during a special dinner that will be held on February 15, 2013 from 8.00pm. I encourage you to invite your friends and families to attend. Regards, (Name) Chief Accountant Summary Analyzing the routine e-mail, it manages to give information on when and where the meeting will take place. The application of this principle is to help the employees prepare well for the meeting. The email has a positive tone and language which help encourage the readers to attend the meeting (Goleman, 2007). This also helps to avoid offending or alienating any individual. The email is clear and direct with short sentences, and the agenda addresses the specific items that will be discussed. This helps the reader understand and interpret the email easily (Campanizzi, 2005). Looking at the goodwill email, it maintains the good will by appreciating the employees for their hard work. This principle is important because it will encourage the account assistants to maintain the excellent performance as they feel that management recognize their effort. This will also help maintain the professional relationship between me, their head and the account assistants. Looking at both e-mails, the writing format is professional and the layout is standard. The language in use avoids slang, idiomatic expressions, and a lot of technical words. This helps the recipients to understand the emails easily. The two emails have appropriate subject lines that describe the content of the mail. This helps the readers have an idea of what is in the e-mail and also helps them know that the emai l is worthwhile. This outcome is significant because in most cases, professionals get many emails in a day and rely on the subject of the e-mail to know important e-mails. The emails have paragraphs that reduce the information that the reader has to look at and makes the e-mail presentable. This principle is important because the use of paragraphs relieves the reader’s eyes and makes the reader kinder to the email. The reader then becomes interested in looking at the e-mail (Jerz, 2000). Bibliography Campanizzi, J. (2005). The Write Stuff for Quality. Retrieved 02 06, 2013, from http://qpc.co.la.ca.us/cms1_035856.pdf. Goleman, D. (2007). Job Market. E-Mail Is Easy to Write (And to Misread) . Jerz, D. (2000). E-Mail: Ten Tips for Writing It Effectively. Retrieved 02 07, 2013, from Jerz's Literacy Weblog: