A Day at the Races

A Day at the Races DID YOU KNOW? The longest recorded kiss took place in New York City on December 5, 2001 between Louisa Almedovar and Rich Langley. It lasted 30 hours, 59 minutes and 27 seconds. Thanks to my beloved high school friend Shana for that bit of information. Finding myself suddenly and unexpectedly with no other plans for Friday night, I decided to use up the extra day that I had hanging out on my Eurail pass and take a day trip down to Montreux, Switzerland. I AM SO HAPPY. Ive been a huge, huge Queen fan ever since 9th grade when I saw that Mountain Dew commercial that used Bohemian Rhapsody and Sams Mom ran out to the mall that night to buy me A Night at the Opera (ah, the dark ages before iTunes). I have also been a huge fan of West Side Story ever since 8th grade when I saw that Mountain Dew commercial that used Tonight in it. Looking back, its remarkable how much Mountain Dew really influenced the development of my musical preferences. So, upon getting to Europe I knew that what I need to dew was to trek up into the mountains of Switzerland and see the famous statue of Freddie Mercury built in Montreux, the site of Queens major recording studio. The statue can be seen on the cover of their final album, Made in Heaven, which I own. I own pretty much all of their albums, even the really terrible ones like News of the World and The Miracle (although I Want It All is definitely one of my top 3 Queen songs), having picked them up in high school through a mixture of Christmas presents, local CD stores, and eBay. Now, Im not normally in the habit of planning 17-hour solo train journeys to see statues of deceased rock icons. Originally, I had planned to see the statue with Ling 07 on our train ride back from Barcelona, since we had a layover of a few hours in nearby Geneva. This would have actually been appropriate, of course, since Freddie recorded the solo album Barcelona with opera diva Montserrat Caballe in the late 1980s. But, alas, our travel plans coming back from Barcelona changed, and with trips for every other weekend this summer already planned, I had all but given up hope of seeing Freddie. So, with the aforementioned cancellation of my Friday night plans, I set out at 11 PM for a 10-hour train ride from Cologne down to Montreux, by way of Basel and Lausanne. I was hoping to somehow run into Jessie randomly in the train station, since I didnt have time to alert her to my travels, but I had no such luck there. At 9 AM, after a pleasant conversation with a cyclist from Arizona on the train, I made my way out of the station and into downtown Montreux. I had no idea where the statue actually was, and it wasnt listed on any of the maps, so I looked at some postcards in a gift shop and figured out that it was apparently on Lake Geneva. So, I headed down to the lake and decided that I would walk one hour in one direction, then turn around and walk two hours in the other direction, and then, if I hadnt found it, admit defeat and head back home, because I had only three and a half hours in Montreux before I had to get on the last train back home. Incidentally, I rememeber one of my friends telling me about a 6.004: Computation Structures problem where you had actually had to figure out what the fastest way to find a store was when you know what street it was on but not in which direction, and the answer involved a logarithmic progression of some sort. Anyway, it didnt matter because I found the statue after about five minutes of walking. but this was as close as I could get. Just my luck, I happened to pick the day of the Montreux Grand Prix for my visit, and that somebody decided that they should set up all the nice Italian cars for the Grand Prix within a fifty yard radius of the Freddie Mercury statue and then rope that area off so that nobody could get in except for the teams. So, I planned a 17-hour trip to Switzerland to see a statue and arrived on the one day that the thousand square feet around that statue were inaccessible. Upon realizing this, I remember saying six words to myself, five of which cant be printed in this blog. The sixth was of. Now, the rent-a-cops there didnt seem too imposing, and at that moment I wished that I had been involved in the hacking community in my undergraduate life at MIT. But Ive heard from some people therein that hacking off-campus, even in Boston, is generally considered pretty difficult, so hacking in Switzerland would probably have been well beyond my abilities anyway. So, lacking that talent, I picked another one out of the MIT skillset: complaining. I went up to one of the security officials and politely asked, first in German and then in English, if I could just come in for three minutes to see the statue. No. But I came all the way from Cologne just to see it. No. It took ten hours. Here, you can see my train ticket. No. But its like 30 meters away, you can watch me the entire time. No, only with a pass. Please, this is the only thing I want to do in Montreux! No. Well, do you know when I can get in to see the statue? No. I was just a poor boy, and I got no sympathy. Two hours and three officials later, I had only managed to discover that the cars would leave around 2 PM, but the area wouldnt be open until 5 PM. Well, that was no good; I didnt have time to stick around for a night at the opera, or even a day at the races. Worse yet, the town was filling up with stupid tourists who wanted to see the Grand Prix, so security around the area was picking up even more. I needed to find a way to get into this hot space with the cars and see Freddie as soon as possible. During my two hours of consultation with security, I did see that they let a Grand Prix team member come in with his wife, although his wife didnt have pass. So, with time running out, I decided to try yet another skill that all MIT students come to possess: begging for help. I needed to go on (and on and on and on) and see that statue! So, very sneakily, I went out of sight of security and started telling people, in German or English, or both, about my situation and asked if they could save me (figuratively naked and far from home) by letting me in on their pass. I was unsuccessful for 10 minutes, as these people were apparently really protective of their automotive tradition, until finally some Irish guy and his wife approached me and said that they could help out. I dont know who you are, and I never got your name, but if you ever happen to read this, know that youre my best friend. The Irish guy was sent down by some major newspaper to cover the event, and was almost unbelievably committed to my cause. After a few conspiratorial discussions, I went down with him and his wife to security posing as their son in my best, least-culturally-sensitive Irish accent. No luck! I was denied, along with his wife. But I wasnt going to crack under pressure. So, with his wifes blessing, I took his press pass and her Montreux Grand Prix hat, left my bag behind, and went to a different guard. I crossed my fingers and whispered Dont stop me now! to myself as I walked past the guard. A kind of magic occurred, and I got through without a hitch. Inside, I was so happy that I almost had a sheer heart attack. In my delirium, I even took three pictures of his press pass before I realized that a real member of the press probably wouldnt do that. So, to keep up my disguise, I took some amateurish pictures of the cars on my way to the statue. Yeah, whatever. Its pretty obvious that Im not in love with my car, or any cars for that matter. I finally gave up on the ruse and just ran down to the statue, where I took 24 pictures, and got some Spanish guy who also spoke a little German to take 5 more pictures of me with the larger-than-life Freddie, including the one above. With a flick of the wrist I took this last picture went back up to the patiently waiting Irish guy and probably sounded like a crazy person as I thanked him profusely and told him that he made my dream come true and all that jazz, which I guess was kind of accurate. Then he went off on his merry Irish way and I on my American way. I took this last picture of Lake Geneva, exchanged 3

What Does Avoir Un Poil Dans La Main Mean in French

Avoir un poil dans la main  is a rather common French expression. It means to be extremely lazy, though the literal translation requires a bit of explanation. The Meaning of  Avoir un poil dans la main Avoir un poil dans la main  is pronounced  ah vwah roo(n) pwahl da(n) lah meh(n). It literally means to have a hair in the hand, which doesnt make a lot of sense at first. However, the expression is used to convey that someone is extremely lazy, bone-idle, or, quite simply, a lazybones. When using the expression, do remember that you need to conjugate  avoir  (to have) to match the subject pronoun and tense of the sentence. The phrase falls into Frenchs informal register, meaning it is often reserved for casual conversations with people youre most familiar with. Making Sense of an Odd Expression Though its unclear as to where the expression originated, its often attributed to the late 1800s, if not earlier. The reason this expression refers to laziness likely has something to do with manual labor, which was standard at the time. It also requires an exercise in visualization to get the full picture.   Avoir un poil dans la main  and its accompanying gesture offer a very precise image of a hand that is so idle theres actually a  hair growing out of it.  This is assumed to be because a hand that does not work is not subject to the friction that inhibits hair growth on the palm. The biological facts of how rare hair growth is in the palm calls this into question. And yet, we must also remember that this is something French peasants centuries ago may not have understood. Its also possible that the phrase could be saying that the person is so lazy that he cant be bothered to pluck—or even notice—a hair growing in such a ridiculous place. Other people speculate that a hair is a very personal object which is not to be lost. Therefore, if someone holds something so dear, they cannot possibly open that hand to do any manual labor. Using the Expression in Context How would you use such an odd expression in conversation? Its actually quite easy and can simply be added to express the extent of the laziness youre trying to explain. Depuis le dà ©mà ©nagement, il ne fait rien. Il a un poil dans la main. -  Since the move, he hasnt done anything. Hes a real lazybones. To express even greater laziness, you can take it a step further by increasing the size of the hair. Both of these are common variations on the expression.   Il une queue de vache dans la main.  - He has a cows tail in his hand.Ce nest plus un poil (quil a dans la main), cest une canne  ! or un bambou  ! -  Its no longer a hair (that he has in his hand), its a cane! or a bamboo stick!

How Reading Influences Your Essay Writing Skills

If you’re a college student, you have definitely read tons of tips and recommendations on how to improve your essay writing skills, but the thing is that most of them used your writing as the starting point. But we have good news for you! Changing your reading habits is the first step to improving your writing skills! Even if you are not really inspired by reading, you must know that on some subconscious level its content can influence your writing. You Write what You Have Read When you’re into the reading process of some book, your creative mind is focused on that particular writing style, characterization methods, as well as word usage. For instance, if you have been a huge fan of Victorian epoch novel, your writing will definitely have the so-called ornate flourish. At the same time, the fan of Hemingway will produce a minimalistic and understated prose. Thus, if you’re not impressed by your current state of writing, check the list of the books you have been reading recently. They will be the key to your current writing troubles. The Books that Cut to the Heart Your reading skills can be influenced greatly beyond mere stylistic influences. For instance, if you’re reading a touching story, it may leave a huge impact on your entire mindset in the process of writing. A touching love story could make you glummer and the consequences may be traced in all of your writing drafts. Just think about the following. When you are at the cinema watching some horror flick, its atmosphere will be there with you even when you’re at home getting ready for the bed time. Now imagine what a book that you have been reading for weeks can do to your psyche! And this can be applied to not only sad stories, but to all genres. The text will definitely bleed into the overall mood of your essay writing. Background Knowledge Everything you read stays in your mind as the bits of information, and you have not the slightest idea of when it can become really useful! The point is that the more proficient your knowledge is, the better equipped you happen to be whatever challenge you have. Take Benefits from Reading It is highly recommended to experiment with new genres. In other words, if you are willing to try writing in an exceptionally new genre (or you know that you will have to deal with it the next academic year), there is no better way to start that by choosing some classic novel written by one of the Brontà «s family members of Isaac Asimov. Reading is the tool that truly works magic! The sooner you understand that and make the most out of it, the better off your essay writing abilities will turn to be!

Deception Point Page 73 Free Essays

Corky leaned forward to look at her. â€Å"Please don’t tell me your new theory is that NASA took a fossilized rock up in the space shuttle and sent it hurtling toward earth hoping nobody would notice the fireball, the massive crater, or the explosion?† Rachel had not thought of that, although it was an interesting premise. Not feasible, but interesting all the same. We will write a custom essay sample on Deception Point Page 73 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Her thoughts were actually closer to home. All natural atmospheric elements. Clean burn. Striations from racing through the air. A faint light had gone off in a distant corner of her mind. â€Å"The ratios of the atmospheric elements you saw,† she said. â€Å"Were they exactly the same ratios you see on every other meteorite with a fusion crust?† Corky seemed to hedge slightly at the question. â€Å"Why do you ask?† Rachel saw him hesitate and felt her pulse quicken. â€Å"The ratios were off, weren’t they?† â€Å"There is a scientific explanation.† Rachel’s heart was suddenly pounding. â€Å"Did you by any chance see an unusually high content of one element in particular?† Tolland and Corky exchanged startled looks. â€Å"Yes,† Corky said, â€Å"but-â€Å" â€Å"Was it ionized hydrogen?† The astrophysicist’s eyes turned to saucers. â€Å"How could you possibly know that!† Tolland also looked utterly amazed. Rachel stared at them both. â€Å"Why didn’t anyone mention this to me?† â€Å"Because there’s a perfectly sound scientific explanation!† Corky declared. â€Å"I’m all ears,† Rachel said. â€Å"There was surplus ionized hydrogen,† Corky said, â€Å"because the meteorite passed through the atmosphere near the North Pole, where the earth’s magnetic field causes an abnormally high concentration of hydrogen ions.† Rachel frowned. â€Å"Unfortunately, I have another explanation.† 87 The fourth floor of NASA headquarters was less impressive than the lobby-long sterile corridors with office doors equally spaced along the walls. The corridor was deserted. Laminated signs pointed in all directions. LANDSAT 7 TERRA ACRIMSAT JASON 1 AQUA PODS Gabrielle followed the signs for PODS. Winding her way down a series of long corridors and intersections, she came to a set of heavy steel doors. The stencil read: Polar Orbiting Density Scanner (PODS) Section Manager, Chris Harper The doors were locked, secured both by key card and a PIN pad access. Gabrielle put her ear to the cold metal door. For a moment, she thought she heard talking. Arguing. Maybe not. She wondered if she should just bang on the door until someone inside let her in. Unfortunately, her plan for dealing with Chris Harper required a bit more subtlety than banging on doors. She looked around for another entrance but saw none. A custodial alcove stood adjacent to the door, and Gabrielle stepped in, searching the dimly lit niche for a janitor’s key ring or key card. Nothing. Just brooms and mops. Returning to the door, she put her ear to the metal again. This time she definitely heard voices. Getting louder. And footsteps. The latch engaged from inside. Gabrielle had no time to hide as the metal door burst open. She jumped to the side, plastering herself against the wall behind the door as a group of people hurried through, talking loudly. They sounded angry. â€Å"What the hell is Harper’s problem? I thought he’d be on cloud nine!† â€Å"On a night like tonight,† another said as the group passed by, â€Å"he wants to be alone? He should be celebrating!† As the group moved away from Gabrielle, the heavy door started swinging closed on pneumatic hinges, revealing her location. She remained rigid as the men continued down the hall. Waiting as long as she possibly could, until the door was only inches from closing, Gabrielle lunged forward and caught the door handle with just inches to spare. She stood motionless as the men turned the corner down the hall, too engaged in their conversation to look back. Heart pounding, Gabrielle pulled open the door and stepped into the dimly lit area beyond. She quietly closed the door. The space was a wide open work area that reminded her of a college physics laboratory: computers, work islands, electronic gear. As her eyes became accustomed to the darkness, Gabrielle could see blueprints and sheets of calculations scattered around. The entire area was dark except for an office on the far side of the lab, where a light shone under the door. Gabrielle walked over quietly. The door was closed, but through the window she could see a man sitting at a computer. She recognized the man from the NASA press conference. The nameplate on the door read: Chris Harper Section Manager, PODS Having come this far, Gabrielle suddenly felt apprehensive, wondering if she could actually pull this off. She reminded herself how certain Sexton was that Chris Harper had lied. I would bet my campaign on it, Sexton had said. Apparently there were others who felt the same, others who were waiting for Gabrielle to uncover the truth so they could close in on NASA, attempting to gain even a tiny foothold after tonight’s devastating developments. After the way Tench and the Herney administration had played Gabrielle this afternoon, she was eager to help. Gabrielle raised her hand to knock on the door but paused, Yolanda’s voice running through her mind. If Chris Harper lied to the world about PODS, what makes you think he’ll tell YOU the truth? Fear, Gabrielle told herself, having almost fallen victim to it herself today. She had a plan. It involved a tactic she’d seen the senator use on occasion to scare information out of political opponents. Gabrielle had absorbed a lot under Sexton’s tutelage, and not all of it attractive or ethical. But tonight she needed every advantage. If she could persuade Chris Harper to admit he had lied-for whatever reason-Gabrielle would open a small door of opportunity for the senator’s campaign. Beyond that, Sexton was a man who, if given an inch to maneuver, could wriggle his way out of almost any jam. Gabrielle’s plan for dealing with Harper was something Sexton called â€Å"overshooting†-an interrogation technique invented by the early Roman authorities to coax confessions from criminals they suspected were lying. The method was deceptively simple: Assert the information you want confessed. Then allege something far worse. The object was to give the opponent a chance to choose the lesser of two evils-in this case, the truth. The trick was exuding confidence, something Gabrielle was not feeling at the moment. Taking a deep breath, Gabrielle ran through the script in her mind, and then knocked firmly on the office door. â€Å"I told you I’m busy!† Harper called out, his English accent familiar. She knocked again. Louder. â€Å"I told you I’m not interested in coming down!† This time she banged on the door with her fist. Chris Harper came over and yanked open the door. â€Å"Bloody hell, do you-† He stopped short, clearly surprised to see Gabrielle. â€Å"Dr. Harper,† she said, infusing her voice with intensity. â€Å"How did you get up here?† Gabrielle’s face was stern. â€Å"Do you know who I am?† â€Å"Of course. Your boss has been slamming my project for months. How did you get in?† â€Å"Senator Sexton sent me.† Harper’s eyes scanned the lab behind Gabrielle. â€Å"Where is your staff escort?† â€Å"That’s not your concern. The senator has influential connections.† â€Å"In this building?† Harper looked dubious. â€Å"You’ve been dishonest, Dr. Harper. And I’m afraid the senator has called a special senatorial justice board to look into your lies.† A pall crossed Harper’s face. â€Å"What are you talking about?† How to cite Deception Point Page 73, Essay examples

Peyote use Essay Example For Students

Peyote use Essay Drug use for religious purposesJamie GipsonSome of my ancestors are Native American so choose the book:The Peyote CultLa Barre, Weston. (1969).New York: Schocken Books. This book is a study of the background of the Mexican and American Indian rituals based on the plant that produces profound, but temporary sensory and psychic derangements. Peyote is a spineless cactus (Lophophora williamsii), ingested by people in Mexico and the United States to produce visions. The plant is a light blue-green and bears small pink flower. The crown, called a peyote, or mescal, is cut off, chewed, brewed into a drink, or rolled into pellets to be swallowed. The active substance in peyote is mescaline, one of several naturally occurring hallucinogenic drugs. Mescaline tastes bitter, causes an initial feeling of nausea, and then produces visions and changes in perception, time sense, and mood. There are no uncomfortable aftereffects. Peyote use is central to traditional Native American religious practic es practices that predate this countrys founding. Anthropologists date the religious use of peyote back 10,000 years, and its use by Native North Americans has been documented since the 1600s. The present day Native American Church, with 250,000 members and chapters in 20 states, advocates the religious use of peyote. According to practitioners, peyote use is a spiritually profound exercise, and ranks among the oldest, largest and most continuously practiced religions in the Western Hemisphere. Peyote is a sacrament to believers, something which when eaten provides awareness of God. The medical evidence shows that religious peyote use is not harmful to the practitioner, and it is taken in private and secluded religious settings. In fact, to ingest peyote other than in a religious setting is regarded as a sacrilege. Aside from this religious use, peyote is a controlled substance, illegal in all 50 states.Professor La Barre strongly supports the legitimate use of natural peyote in th e ritual of the Native American Church: Western man already complacently accepts (since it is ours) the mass use of substances such as tobacco and alcohol which, to physical health can be more dangerous, than a weekly Indian use of a feebly psychotropic desert plant. The book reports that the peyote Indians sometimes hears the voice of the Great Spirit, they feel they are in the presence of God. Some experiences have been described as a feeling of great peace and contentment, floating, peace, contentment, and being a part of goodness. Many say words cant describe the experience.Since the book was written a lot has happened. On April 14, 1994, Representative Bill Richardson introduced an amendment, H.R. 4230, to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA). This amendment protects the First Amendment rights of Native Americans to practice their religion through the use of peyote as a religious sacrament. The Drug Enforcement Administration has a longstanding regulatory exemption, which allows for the non-drug use of peyote in bona fide religious ceremonies for the Native American Church. Twenty-eight states have similar exemptions, but twenty-two states do not. I think the constitutional rights of Native Americans to exercise their religion m ust be ensured.Although 28 states have laws that protect the use of peyote as a sacrament, the laws are inconsistent with each other. Tribes located in different states are treated differently regarding peyote use. Native American Church members who have lawfully acquired peyote in Texas can be arrested and subject to felony prosecution in the 22 states that do not protect religious use of peyote, even for just driving through those states. Anthropologists give the Native American Church a good report, noting among other things that members resist alcohol and alcoholism better than do non-members. The conclusion to which evidence currently points would seem to be that chemicals can aid the religious life, but only where set within a context of faith and discipline. Drugs appear able to induce religious experiences; it is less evident that they can produce religious lives. Religion is more than religious experiences. Bibliography:

Battle of Puebla and Cinco de Mayo

Battle of Puebla and Cinco de Mayo The Battle of Puebla was fought May 5, 1862 and occurred during the French intervention in Mexico. Landing a small army in Mexico in early 1862 under the pretense of forcing the repayment of Mexican debts, France soon moved to conquer the country. As the United States was occupied with its own Civil War and could not intervene, the government of Napoleon III saw an opportunity to install a friendly regime while gaining access to Mexicos natural resources. Advancing from Veracruz, French forces drove inland before engaging the Mexicans outside of Puebla. Though outnumbered and outclassed, the Mexicans successfully repulsed the French assaults on the city and forced them to retreat. Despite the fact that French forces succeeded in taking control of the country a year later, the date of the victory at Puebla inspired the holiday that has evolved into Cinco de Mayo. Background In the summer of 1861, President Benito Jurez announced that Mexico would suspend repayment of loans to Britain, France, and Spain for two years as he worked to stabilize his nations finances. These loans had primarily been taken to finance operations during the Mexican-American War and the Reform War. Unwilling to accept this suspension, the three European nations concluded the Convention of London in late 1861 and formed an alliance to deal with the Mexicans. In December 1861, British, French, and Spanish fleets arrived off Mexico. While a blatant violation of the U.S. Monroe Doctrine, the United States was powerless to intervene as it was embroiled in its own Civil War. On December 17, Spanish forces captured the fortress of San Juan de Ulà ºa and the city of Veracruz. The following month, 6,000 Spanish, 3,000 French, and 700 British soldiers came ashore. French Intentions On February 19, 1862, Mexican Foreign Minister Manuel Doblado met with British and Spanish representatives near La Soledad. Here the two European nations agreed not to advance further while debt negotiations were in progress. As talks progressed, the French captured the port of Campeche on February 27. A few days later, on March 5, a a French army under the command of Major General Charles Ferdinand Latrille, Comte de Lorencez was landed and began operations. As it quickly became evident that French intentions extended far beyond debt repayment, both Britain and Spain elected to depart Mexico, leaving their former ally to proceed on its own. With the United States unable to intervene, French Emperor Napoleon III sought to topple Jurezs government, install a favorable regime, and gain unfettered access to Mexicos resources. Concentrating his army, Lorencez moved forward with an attempt to conquer Mexico. Lorencez Advances Pressing inland to avoid the diseases of the coast, Lorencez occupied Orizaba which prevented the Mexicans from taking possession of key mountain passes near the port of Veracruz. Falling back, the General Ignacio Zaragozas Army of the East took up positions near Acultzingo Pass. On April 28, his men were defeated by Lorencez during a large skirmish and he retreated toward Puebla. On the road to Mexico City, Jurez had ordered fortifications constructed around the city in anticipation of a French offensive. Reporting his victory at Acultzingo, Lorencez stated, We are so superior to the Mexicans in organization, race...and refinement of manners, that I am pleased to announce to His Imperial Majesty, Napoleon III, that from this moment on, as the leader of my 6,000 brave soldiers, I can consider myself the owner of Mexico. Battle of Puebla Conflict: French Intervention in Mexico (1861-1867)Dates: May 5, 1862Armies Commanders:MexicansGeneral Ignacio Zaragozaapprox. 4,500 menFrenchMajor General Charles de Lorencez6,040 menCasualties:Mexico: 87 killed, 131 wounded, 12 missingFrance: 172 killed, 304 wounded, 35 captured Major General Charles de Lorencez. Public Domain The Armies Meet Pushing on, Lorencez, whose troops were among the best in the world, believed he could easily dislodge Zaragoza from the town. This was reinforced by intelligence suggesting that the population was pro-French and would aid in expelling Zaragozas men. Reaching Puebla late on May 3, Zaragoza set his men to improving the citys defenses before placing his forces in an entrenched line between two hills. This line was anchored by two hilltop forts, Loreto and Guadalupe. Arriving on May 5, Lorencez decided, against the advice of his subordinates, to storm the Mexican lines. Opening fire with his artillery, he ordered the first attack forward. The French Beaten Meeting heavy fire from Zaragozas lines and the two forts, this attack was beaten back. Somewhat surprised, Lorencez drew upon his reserves for a second attack and ordered a diversionary strike towards the east side of the city. Supported by artillery fire, the second assault advanced further than the first but was still defeated. One French soldier managed to plant the Tricolor on the wall of Fort Guadalupe but was immediately killed. The diversionary attack fared better and was only repulsed after brutal hand-to-hand fighting. Attack of the Mexican cavarly at the Battle of Puebla, May 5, 1862. Public Domain Having expended the ammunition for his artillery, Lorencez ordered an unsupported third attempt on the heights. Surging forward, the French closed to the Mexican lines but were unable to breakthrough. As they fell back down the hills, Zaragoza ordered his cavalry to attack on both flanks. These strikes were supported by infantry moving into flanking positions. Stunned, Lorencez and his men fell back and assumed a defensive position to await the anticipated Mexican attack. Around 3:00 PM it began to rain and the Mexican attack never materialized. Defeated, Lorencez retreated back to Orizaba. Aftermath A stunning victory for the Mexicans, against one of the best armies in the world, the Battle of Puebla cost Zaragoza 83 killed, 131 wounded, and 12 missing. For Lorencez, the failed assaults cost 462 dead, over 300 wounded, and 8 captured. Reporting his victory to Jurez , the 33-year old Zaragoza stated, The national arms have been covered with glory.† In France, the defeat was seen as a blown to the nations prestige and more troops were immediately sent to Mexico. Reinforced, the French were able to conquer most of the country and install Maximilian of Habsburg as emperor. Despite their eventual defeat, the Mexican victory at Puebla inspired a national day of celebration best known as Cinco de Mayo. In 1867, after French troops left the country, the Mexicans were able to defeat the forces of Emperor Maximilian and fully restore power to the Jurez administration.

Case Study On Motivation Example

Case Study On Motivation Example Case Study On Motivation – Coursework Example Motivation First, Middle Initial (s), Last Affiliation Motivation Motivation plays a role of fundamental significance within an organization. It is a tool that determines the prosperity of a firm. Motivation is one of the most powerful factors that influence employees to explore their maximum potential and meet the objective of a firm (Marios, 2009). In the case study, there are two key challenges that will be reviewed and outlined by this paper. This paper is obligated to elaborate the challenges and propose ultimate solution to the issues. ChallengesInability to meet the required deadline and decrease in the quality of work output are the two main challenges that are associated with lack of motivation. The challenges above transparently shows that employees lack the driving force that tends to persuade them to take action and produce maximum work output. Lack of the motivation factor can make an individual fail to meet the targeted goal. Recommendation Motivating workers through re wards is the most suitable of curbing the challenges. There are strategies that should be adapted or implemented to enhance the achievement of a desirable workplace behavior. Rewarding individuals who have depicted or exhibited an outstanding performance is among the strategies (Marios, 2009). This comprises of rewarding the staffs for the extra time at work. This will always encourage the workers to be motivated and be content with their work. Among the rewards which are always proposed includes job promotions, tokens and gifts, and vacation holidays. Before the implementation of the excellent award, the manager should know the weakness of the forms and areas that require improvement or boost. The awards should be set against such areas. This will motivate them because they will have a feeling that their hard work has been noticed. The awards that should be implemented are supposed to be implemented to ensure it is standard and constant (Marios, 2009). An example is the reward for the most hardworking, the most improved, team or the year, and the most inspiring among many others. Some of the awards should be given to the clients. This will encourage clients to keep on coming back for their services so as to win the award.ReferencesMarios, K (2009). Strategic Management. Carlisle: Routledge