Friday, August 21, 2020

Fire in the Pioneers by James Fenimore Cooper Essay

Fire in the Pioneers by James Fenimore Cooper - Essay Example He aesthetically finds and positions fire deliberately in the midst of the contention along these lines depicting his imaginative wonder. Backwoods fires in the novel embody the contention between people in the acculturated society and the nature. In the few scenes, Cooper utilizes backwoods fires explicitly to depict he job of people in the annihilation of huge forestlands along these lines sustaining natural contamination. The woods fires spread quick and expend several hectares demolishing the two creatures and vegetation all through the whole area. A large portion of the flames are consequences of human remissness since malignant people who sparkle the flames basically to torment the remainder of the general public prompt a portion of the flames. Other woodland fires then again start as a result of inconsiderateness, for example, smokers and famers consuming decline in their nurseries. Such shows of imprudence bring about the devastation of the biological system as many hectares of timberland spread consumes with extreme heat murdering all the creatures in such environments (Cooper 54). The depiction of the timberland fires is strategic as Cooper uses such to assemble the degree and impacts of ecological debasement. As the flames spread, the backwoods support the stream as gigantic shrub land go up in fire attributable to human laxity. The powerlessness of the individuals to coordinate opportune reaction to the woodland fires bring about the loss of both the environment and human life now and again. Cooper utilizes the woodland flames to continue his harsh analysis of the general public and the connection between people in the cultivated society and the regular wild subsequently delineating the needs of the people. Evidently, the people neglect to perceive the position and job of the earth notwithstanding their innovative headway a component that adds to the people’s failure to check woods fires before they demolish enormous tracts of

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Childhood Obesity A Epidemic Of Today s Youth - 1108 Words

Childhood Obesity Have you ever been told to clean your plate because there are starving kids in Africa? This is a phrase you probably heard from your mother during childhood. With the difference ,in portion control, on the go meals, and lack of exercise in today,s youth, this question can cause a child to be a statistic of childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is one of the United States most leading medical epidemic of today’s youth. According to the Center for Disease Control, seventeen percent of children or about twelve and a half million adolescents between the ages of two and nineteen years, suffer from this disease. (www.huffington post.com//childhoodobesityrates.) There are many factors as to what contributes to these extremely high statistical numbers. One factor is peer pressure. Peer pressure comes in all shapes and forms and is used in all kinds of different situations. When most people think of peer pressure they think of drugs and alcohol, or something that promotes bad behavior. This isn’t always the case, peer pressure can also be about food. For example, celebrations of any kind seems to revolve around food. A birthday party involves cake and ice cream, a Christmas party is full of candy and sweet treats, and Thanksgiving, seems to be all about food. During these celebrations if one does not partake in these delicious treats they are considered rude, even antisocial. People say things like, â€Å"Its okay we are celebrating, it wont hurt you †or â€Å"just one biteShow MoreRelatedObesity A Social Problem Or A Epidemic1671 Words   |  7 Pages I will be responding to Task 3: OBESITY A SOCIAL PROBLEM OR A EPIDEMIC. In the research that I performed on this topic, I learned many things, including that the problem of obesity is not one or the other it is both. Meaning that it is not just a social problem, or just an epidemic it is both of them depending on the environment or situation that the particular person or people are in at the time. It is also not just a problem in the United States, but it is a problem on a global scale. I plan toRead MoreObesity A Social Problem Or A Epidemic1670 Words   |  7 PagesThis proposal will be responding to Task 3: OBESITY A SOCIAL PROBLEM OR A EPIDEMIC. In the research that I performed on this topic, I learned many things, including that the problem of obesity is not one or the other it is both. Meaning that it is not just a social problem, or just an epidemic, it is both of them depend on the environment or situation that the particular person or people are in at the time. It is also n ot just a problem in the United States, but it is a problem on a global scaleRead MoreChildhood Obesity : A Developing Problem1197 Words   |  5 PagesObesity in America is a developing problem, and not just in adults. Today, one in three American children and teens are either overweight or obese; almost triple the rate previously in 1963. Child obesity has expeditiously become one of the most genuine health challenges of the 21st century (â€Å"10 Surprising Facts About Childhood Obesity†). Physical inactivity, race, junk food in schools, the mass media, and the child’s parents flaws are all factors that have resulted in the prevalence of childhoodRead MoreChildhood Obesity : The United States1202 Words   |  5 PagesChildhood obesity is becoming one of the top public health concerns in the United States. â€Å"Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates have tripled in the U.S., and today, the country has some of the highest obesity rates in the world: one out of six children is obese, and one out of three children is overweight or obese† (World Health Organization, 2015). With the drastic increase in obese children over the last 30 years and the huge healthcare associated costs many programs and incentivesRead MoreDoes Counseling Help Children with Issues of Obesity? Obesity in children is an epidemic that700 Words   |  3 PagesDoes Counseling Help Children with Issues of Obesity? Obesity in children is an epidemic that continues to be a serious problem in our nation. Over the past thirty years, childhood obesity rates in the United States have tripled, and currently, approximately one in three children in the U.S. are overweight or obese. High body mass index (BMI) among children and adolescents is a public health concern in the United States (Ogden, Carroll, Curtin, Lamb Flegal, 2010). According to the CentersRead MoreChildhood Obesity : Factors, Perceptions And Proactive Methods1197 Words   |  5 Pages Childhood Obesity: Factors, Perceptions and Proactive Methods in the Classroom Tavia Freedman (11053726), Travis Lingenfelter (10180044), Echo Chase (11162785), and Nadine Mundy (11148842) University of Saskatchewan March 28, 2017 Childhood Obesity: Factors, Perceptions and Proactive Methods in the Classroom Childhood obesity is a growing concern among today s youth. As educators, we play a significant role in the progress of this epidemic along with parents, coaches, and otherRead MoreChildhood Obesity And Its Effects On The United States Today1479 Words   |  6 Pagespediatric obesity now represents one of the most pressing nutritional problems facing children in the United States today. International population studies report comparable rates of increase, so that if current trends remain unchecked, childhood obesity is likely to challenge worldwide public health. Substantial consequences to physical and mental health, both short and long term, must be anticipated. Unfortunately, there is no uniform definition of childhood obesity. Childhood obesity has beenRead MoreObesity : Becoming A Public Concern1654 Words   |  7 Pages Executive Summary Obesity has become an epidemic in American societies that has become a public concern. According to the American Obesity Association (AOA), overweight and obesity rates are higher than ever in America’s youth. Obesity is the fastest growing cause of disease in American society today. Some of the major health concerns for today’s youth with obesity include severe asthma, Diabetes, Hypertension, orthopedic complications and sleep apnea. Researchers have come up with manyRead MoreEssay on Executive Summary985 Words   |  4 PagesExecutive Summary It is a well-known fact that obesity continues to burden the healthcare industry. According to the reports made by Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2012), medical costs associated with obesity were estimated at $147 billion in 2008. Presently in the United States, two-thirds of adult population and approximately one in three children are fighting issue of being overweight or obese (Troy, Capretta, O’Grady, 2012). Obesity leads to chronic health diseases such as diabetesRead MoreObesity And Obesity Related Diseases Essay1706 Words   |  7 PagesChildhood obesity has become staggering in the United States. Children are considered obese if they have thirty percent amount of body fat or more and is measured by body mass index (BMI). Body mass index conveys the correlation of body weight to height. If a child’s BMI is at or exceeding over the 95th percentile, meaning if their body mass index is greater than 95% of other children that are the same sex and ag e, they are obese. Doctor Jeffrey Levi, an executive director of the Trust for America’s

Friday, May 15, 2020

The Foundation of Utility and John Stuart Mill Essay

The Foundation of Utility and John Stuart Mill The foundation of Utility is based on John Stuart Mills notion that one must strive to act in such a way to produce the greatest good of the greatest number. Utility itself relies on the responsibility of the individual to remain impartial in his endeavor to produce the greatest good, looking past such extrinsic influences that may render the individual to seek a biased sense of satisfaction. In order for Utility to function as Mill wanted it to, honest judgment and objectivity must be an essential part of ones drive for the acquisition of the greatest good. In order for the insistence that equity and impartiality to hold true to Mills Utility, we must find a foundation from†¦show more content†¦Mills Utilitarianism presupposes that human beings do have a concept for general well being, and that is genuinely by nature good and willfully ethical. It is this generalization that spawns for these sanctions that he has addressed, and it is the role of the good nature of man that determines the worth of his actions. This is also the pivot in Mills mechanics that is probably most argued upon. Kant, Neibhor, and Plato would have had much to say on Mills assumption of the natural goodness of mankind and his given instinct to do good. If impartiality and equity are what good will and duty bring forth, Mill has provided a basis within utilitarianism that reinforces this. Aside from distinct sanctions, many other aspects of Utility lead to the notion that impartiality and equity are set boldly within the framework of Mills interpretatio n. According to Mill, all people are, ethically speaking, equal in all situations. When considering the value of happiness from one individual to another, the issue is proposed to be a straight line representing the equality the value from individual to individual. One persons happiness is just as important as anothers. With this in mind, there is no such reason to even consider a biased view on the distribution of happiness, for in the beholders eyes, it is nothing but equal.Show MoreRelated`` On The Hunt : Killing, Eating, Respecting Wild Beast, By John Stuart Mill1581 Words   |  7 PagesIn the essay Utilitarianism, John Stuart Mill argues the purpose of morality is to create a better world as a whole, or to achieve utility. Mill defines utility as actions that promote happiness and pleasure, with the absence of pain and suffering and asserts that utilitarianism embodies this concept, as it is a moral theory that encourages and preaches actions that coincide with such ideal s. John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism relates to A New Environmental Ethics, authored by Holmes Rolston III,Read More John Stuart Mills Philosophy of Happiness Essay1099 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Stuart Mills Philosophy of Happiness Along with other noted philosophers, John Stuart Mill developed the nineteenth century philosophy known as Utilitarianism - the contention that man should judge everything in life based upon its ability to promote the greatest individual happiness. While Bentham, in particular, is acknowledged as the philosophy’s founder, it was Mill who justified the axiom through reason. He maintained that because human beings are endowed with the ability for consciousRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill : Views On Objectivism Essay1233 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Stuart Mill: Views on Objectivism John Stuart Mill defends objectivism about intrinsic value within utilitarianism. A theory of intrinsic value indicates what things are valuable for their own sake. Within the Theories of Intrinsic Value, we think of Objectivism and Hedonism. Objectivism is best described as: Certain ways of life are intrinsically valuable, even if they hold less pleasure than others. Some things are valuable regardless of, and independently of, the pleasure they may produceRead MoreUtilitarianism Vs. Mill Utilitarianism1004 Words   |  5 PagesVS. Mill Utilitarianism is a normative ethical theory that holds the morally right course of action in any given situation is the course of which yields the greatest balance of benefits over harms. More specifically, utilitarianism’s core idea is that the effects of an action determine whether actions are morally right or wrong. Created with the philosophies of Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) and John Stuart Mill (1806–1873), Utilitarianism began in England in the 19th Century. Bentham and Mill builtRead MoreUtilitarianism, By John Stuart Mill1365 Words   |  6 Pages In John Stuart Mill’s book Utilitarianism, he argues for the defense of utilitarianism, an age old theory originally developed by Jeremy Bentham that states the proper course of action is the one that maximizes happiness. The course of action that maximizes general happiness is also the only true standard for moral assessment. Mill also introduces the idea of ‘first principle’ which state s that it is not acceptable for individuals to characterize actions as either ‘good’ or ‘bad’, because it isRead MoreAn Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation by Jeremey Bentham.1026 Words   |  5 Pageshappiness and wrong if they don’t produce happiness. Happiness is what every human being look forward to. When making a decision, all possible outcomes must be ensured that it will lead to happiness. Utilitarianism is based on the principle of utility .Utility is the ability to be useful while satisfying needs. Utilitarianism is generally considered a moral theory that was found by Jeremey Bentham, a 19th century English philosopher and a social reformer. In 1923, he wrote a book called An IntroductionRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill s On Liberty And Utilitarianism Essay2257 Words   |  10 PagesThis essay examines and inspects liberty and order conflict based on the writings of philosopher John Stuart Mill, titled On Liberty and Utilit arianism. We will discuss how his philosophical views on equality as fundamental to what it means to be human. We will interpret John Stuart Mill’s theorist view on equality as fundamental to the good or bad functioning of the state? The question and debate we would also raise will be, is equality be integral the arrangements of power? Lastly, we wouldRead MoreJohn Locke And David Hume1135 Words   |  5 PagesBentham was an English philosopher in 18th century London, England. Influenced by the works of John Locke and David Hume, he brought up a philosophical theory that derives from an empirical viewpoint, which means theorizes that all knowledge are obtained through our sense experience. Bentham was considered as the founder of utilitarianism which he defines as, â€Å"the ethical doctrine that virtue is based upon utility and that behavior should have as its goal the procurement of the greatest happiness for theRead MoreUtilitarianism : The Morally Right Action1194 W ords   |  5 Pageshappiness to be the foundation of morality. The famous version, â€Å"act utilitarianism,† says the morally right action is the one that brings about the greatest consequence of the greatest number of people. Mill thought it was obvious that everyone ultimately wants to be happy, so he made this the foundation of his moral philosophy. Mill notice that people were literally defining utility as the opposite of pleasure and not understanding the complete purpose of utilitarianism. Whereas, utility is defined, â€Å"AsRead MoreCareer Prospects Vary For Me872 Words   |  4 Pageshis essay, Utilitarianism, John Stuart Mill defines utilitarianism as a theory based on the principle that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. Mill defines happiness as the presence of pleasure and the absence of pain. Mill notes how a lot of people’s understanding of utilitarianism is skew ed because they view utility as basically resisting comfort or pleasure. He argues that utility, in fact, is pleasure itself

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Analysis Of Richard Neustadt s The American System

Introduction Richard Neustadt had famously asserted that the American system is one of â€Å"separated institutions sharing powers†, this implies a hopeful sense of cooperation between the three branches of government (cited in Andres et Thurber, 2000:554). However, political realities led scholars to dispute Neustadt’s claim, proclaiming the system as â€Å"separate institutions competing for power† (Murphy, 2007:9). Political paralysis, particularly between the US president and Congress, has become increasingly common in the modern era. â€Å"President proposes, Congress disposes† famously sloganised the relationship between the two institutions (Johannes, 1974). Many scholars attributed this strained relationship to the constitutional design (Edward†¦show more content†¦In modern presidencies, increasing partisanship and political ideologies have become a critical component in a divided government, thus accentuating the hardship of modern presidents in coop erating Congress. In addition, the reforms to congressional powers and the adoption of new laws have bolstered Congress’ influence in the legislative arena, this in turn make it more difficult for the President to govern Congress in an already strained relationship. Constitutional Ambiguities and Internal Fragmentation The Framers of the Constitution intended Congress to be the most important institution (McKay, 2013:161) thereby â€Å"All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives† (Article 1, Section 1). The Framers bestowed both houses with significant powers, namely the power of the purse, executive oversight and investigation, and the exclusive power to declare war (Baritono, 2014:4). On the other hand, the President is vested with executive power, responsible for faithfully executing laws (Article II, Section 3). As the chief executive, commander-in-chief, and chief diplomat, the President has the power to make treaties and to nominate and appoint federal positions (Article II, Section 2). With regards to legislative power, presidents are chief legislators. According to the Constitution, presidents have the

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Marginal Analysis free essay sample

Marginal cost and total cost are related in terms of the cost of production for manufacturing companies or service providers. Fixed costs and marginal variation in cost are both considered when determining the total cost, so total costs encompass marginal costs. C. Profit is the surplus remaining after total costs are deducted from total revenue. 1. Profit maximization is the short run or long run process by which a firm determines the price and output level that returns the greatest profit. D. The monopolist’s profit maximizing level of output is found by equating its marginal revenue with its marginal cost, which is the same profit maximizing condition that a perfectly competitive firm uses to determine its equilibrium level of output. E. To produce more products until the last items produced are at the breakeven point. This means you have maximized your production and profits. F. If the marginal cost is greater than revenues. We will write a custom essay sample on Marginal Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page You must slow down until the last unit produced is at a breakeven point where as the unit cost equals the revenue for that unit. REFERENCES Wikipedia. org. March 12, 2013. Marginal cost. Retrieved from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Marginal_cost Wikipedia. org. April 3, 2013. Marginal cost. Retrieved from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/profit_maximization Cliffsnotes. com. April 25, 2013. Profit maximization. Retrieved from http://www. cliffsnotes. com/study_guide/Profit-Maximization. topicArticleId-9789,articleId-9769. html Answers. yahoo. com. May 14, 2010. Explain what action a profit-maximizing firm takes if marginal revenue is greater than marginal cost. Retrieved from http://answers. yahoo. com/question/index? qid=20100513183336AAuTV5x

Monday, April 13, 2020

Mobile Banking free essay sample

Bank of America is the largest US bank founded in 1904, it has expanded through several acquisitions. By the end of 2009, Bank of America was the market leader serving 82% of the US population and over 53 million customers. They are positioned as number one in online and mobile banking. Their mobile banking services were launched in 2007 and have gained 4 million customers in less than three years. Acquisitions made by Bank of America prior to the financial crisis caused a very strong drop in their stock price. Customers: In 2009, 10 million customers used mobile banking and this is expected to grow to 37 million by 2014. Customers that use mobile banking are not the same as online customers. Customers that use mobile banking represent a different segment of the market that other banking customers. Security issues, a perceived low value and expense, were the primary reasons that customers did not switch to mobile banking. Potential customers were reluctant to try a new banking service that are represented an extra cost and they were also afraid of losing control of their finances. We will write a custom essay sample on Mobile Banking or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Debit cardholders were the most active users. It was convenient for them because they could check their account at any time. Customers that used this service changed their usual banking channels and as a result -the bank had a higher retention for these users of online services. Competition/Competitors: Bank of Americas main competitors were: Bank of New York Mellon, JP Morgan Chase Co. , Wells Fargo Co. , Citigroup, and PNC Financial Services. These competitors also used mobile banking to ensure good service for their customers. They used SMS, customized web browsers and apps, depending on the bank and the customers they served. Citibank and Wells Fargo had different applications customized for their target groups. General Context Considering that the banking industry is fragmented, with thousands of banks offering retail and wholesale banking services; ten of the largest banks hold 46. 4% of total deposits, Bank of America being the largest one. The mortgage crisis of 2009 led to a deep recession and spilled over into a financial crisis that affected the retail banking business. Banks started waving fees and offering additional benefits in order to capture and retain customers. Mobile banking was introduced in the US in 2007 which added costs to each transaction. However, these costs were lower than call centers and interactive voice response costs. Bank of America had three options: mobile messaging (mobile stream modification without any software installation), mobile Internet (wireless application protocol), and mobile applications. Mobile applications in particular were more sophisticated and costly. Smartphone use was estimated to grow to 46% by 2014. Development Dilemma: Bank of America has two options to handle the future of mobile banking: 1) Build new and various applications to target different customers a) Pros: i) Customers want customization in the products; this will increase retention and satisfaction. ii) Marketing strategies can be segmented into different types of clients. This increases efficiency and reduces costs. iii) Superior brand and innovation perception. a) Cons i) Cost of application creation will increase due to the different areas and type of customers at Bank of America ii) Any changes in the bank services will have to be applied to all apps. Some customers will have to download and use various apps at the same time 2) Refuse to add complexity to the current application a) Pros: i) No extra costs on building a new application ii) Customers that don? t like technology or doubt about security issues wont be affected b) Cons: i) Other banks offer better mobile apps and this will increase their competitive advantage ii) Customer satisfaction will suffer if the app is not updated and does not fulfill their needs. iii) Transactions will still be done through ATMs, Call centers and IVR, which are 4 to 11 times more costly. Opportunities: Since Bank of America is one of the largest financial institutions in United States that has millions of customers; online banking is an important feature that offers to ease transactions and provides access to billing statements. However, because of the multitude of services banks offer it is overly-complicated to provide all items in one bundle. Because of this complexity (to add all the banking features in one app for mobile banking) Bank of America should target tablet-users to provide all the banking features with different applications. For example Bank of America can provide tools like market reports for savvy investors or savings programs for households (where it is easier to keep track of expenses. ) Tablets are relatively easier to use than mobile phones. Targeting such a market at an early stage can broaden the spectrum in which Bank of America operates its mobile banking. This opportunity which targets future markets as computers are being replaced by tablets should not be forgone. 1) Pros: a) Ease of access and use for customers with multiple Bank of America services, easier tracking of frauds or errors. ) Bank of America customers will be able to access a large array of services online. c) For some high-end apps a nominal fee may be charged to cover some of the technology budget. 2) Cons a) Customer information may be at risk as it is insecure to access sensitive information online for which Bank of America will have to maintain high privacy, increasing cost. b) Some of the features may still be complex and require customer support hotline. c) Customers may act on unintended transactions involving significant funds. Recommendations: Bank of America needs to improve the complexity to the current application. After analyzing the options and the opportunity, we think that Bank of America has to differentiate themselves from their competitors while offering a great service to their clients, we would recommend to increase the functionality of the mobile app. This change will bring extra benefits to the different type of clients in a single download. The company will also cut costs in the type of transactions made by the clients. The continuous growth of the mobile market especially the Smartphone use is another aspect of the recommendation. Having a mobile has become a commodity for the population. The new generation will get so accustomed to this technology that they will be able to deal with any app complexity without any problem. Bank of America has to think of its future customers, not only the current mobile technology adaptors. Having a better application will differentiate the bank compared to their competitors b) Customers will have overall services in a single application. ) Mobile payment services would be added to the app and will attract and benefit many customers. d) Transaction costs will become lower as the % of Smartphone users grows (46% for year 2014). 2) Cons: a) Added complexity will discourage some customers to use the application b) Speed of the application may suffer if the customer has a bad connection or has too many applications downloaded in their mobile. c) The cost of developing a more complex application is larger and may require more expertise and training for employees and customers as well.

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Apophasis in Rhetoric

Apophasis in Rhetoric Apophasis is a rhetorical term for the mention of something in disclaiming intention of mentioning itor pretending to deny what is really affirmed. Adjective: apophatic or apophantic. Also called denial or omission.  Similar to paralepsis and praeteritio. The Oxford English Dictionary defines apophasis by quoting John Smiths The Mysterie of Rhetorique Unvaild (1657): a kind of Irony, whereby we deny that we say or doe that which we especially say or doe. Bryan Garner notes that  [s]everal set phrases in our language signal  apophasis, such as not to mention, to say nothing of, and it goes without saying (Garners Modern English Usage, 2016).   Etymology:  From the Greek, denial Pronunciation:  ah-POF-ah-sis Examples Jeff FisherWe dont make excuses, but three of our four starting defensive linemen were watching the game today.Michele BachmannI find it interesting that it was back in the 1970s that the swine flu broke out then under another Democrat president, Jimmy Carter. And I’m not blaming this on President Obama. I just think it’s an interesting coincidence.Jacob V. LamarAt a White House press conference, a reporter working for a journal published by Extremist Lyndon LaRouche asked the President about rumors that Michael Dukakis once sought psychological help. Look, [President] Reagan replied with a smile, Im not going to pick on an invalid.Richard M. NixonLet me say, incidentally, that my opponent, my opposite number for the Vice Presidency on the Democratic ticket, does have his wife on the payroll and has had ither on his payroll for the ten yearsfor the past ten years. Now just let me say this: Thats his business, and Im not critical of him for doing that. You will have to p ass judgment on that particular point. San Fernando RedIm not going to throw mud at my opponent because hes a fine man. And his wife is a mighty fine woman. Mighty fine. What he sees in that dame hes running around with...The GuardianMary Matlin, the Bush campaigns political director, made the point with ruthless venom at a press briefing in Washington, saying, The larger issue is that Clinton is evasive and slick. We have never said to the press that he is a philandering, pot-smoking, draft-dodger. Theres nothing nefarious or subliminal going on.Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man 2Im not saying Im responsible for this countrys longest run of uninterrupted peace in 35 years! Im not saying that from the ashes of captivity, never has a phoenix metaphor been more personified! Im not saying Uncle Sam can kick back on a lawn chair, sipping on an iced tea, because I havent come across anyone man enough to go toe to toe with me on my best day! Its not about me.John MiltonI shall ignore the fact that Learning is youths finest ornament, the strong support of the prime of life, and the consolation of old age. I shall make no point of the fact that, after careers full of achievement and glory, many of the men who have been most honored by their contemporaries and many of the most eminent of the Romans withdrew from the conflict and hurly-burly of ambition to literary studies, as to a harbor and a delightful treat. Mayor Massimo CacciariIts not my habit to comment on books that dont interest me or, for various reasons, I dont like.Geoff DyerSo even though you’ve seen fit to wash your dirty linen in public like this, shorty, I will refrain from mentioning that it wasn’t me who turned up at the Islington Tennis Centre wearing a Rastafarian headband. 15–0! I also won’t sink low enough to point out that while I may have been the crappiest player of this quartet, my game would presumably have gotten off to a better start if, like you and Byng, I’d lived in a stately home with a tennis court in the back garden. 30–0! Byng: I’ll forget that you still owe me for your share of the indoor-court fee for that game on January  20, 2013. 40–0! As for Ardu, the world is better off not knowing about those famously dodgy line calls. Game, set, and match! Thomas Gibbons and Cicero on Apophasis Thomas GibbonsApophasis, or denial, is a Figure by which an Orator pretends to conceal or omit what he really and in fact declares.Cicero gives us a definition of this Figure, and furnishes us at the same time with instances of it in the following passage: Omission, says he, is when we say we pass over, or do not know, or will not mention, that which we declare with the utmost force. As in this manner: I might speak concerning your youth, which you have spent in the most abandoned profligacy, if I apprehended this was a proper season, but I now purposely wave it. I pass by the report of the Tribunes, who declared that you was [sic] defective in your military duty. The affair about the satisfaction concerning the injuries you had done to Labeo does not belong to the matter at hand: I say nothing of these things; I return to the subject of our present debate. . . .