How Are Cash Advances Different from Regular Credit Card Transactions

How Are Cash Advances Different from Regular Credit Card Transactions How Are Cash Advances Different from Regular Credit Card Transactions? How Are Cash Advances Different from Regular Credit Card Transactions?Cash advances let you use your credit card to take out paper moneyâ€"which can be handyâ€"but the extra costs for doing so are going to add up fast.Credit cards can be a great tool to help people earn rewards, manage their monthly cash flow, and maintain their credit score. However, they can also be a really great way for people to spend far beyond their means, rack up excess debt, and send their credit score plummeting. It all depends on how you use them!Credit cards can also be used to take out paper money using a cash advance. And while the differences between a cash advance and a regular credit card transaction might seem pretty straightforward, it’s actually a bit more complicated than thatâ€"and a great deal more costly. Here’s how credit cards work.Credit cards work much like a traditional line of credit (LOC). Instead of taking out a set sum of money, as you would with a personal loan, a LOC gives you a set amount of money that you can borrow up to and then lets you withdraw funds at your own discretion. You are only charged interest on the funds that you actually withdraw.With credit cards, the terminology works like this: The total amount you can borrow is referred to as your credit limit and the amount you’ve withdrawn is referred to as your outstanding balance. Every time you use the card to make a purchase, funds are added to that outstanding balance up to the total credit limit.Credit cards have a “revolving” balance, which is an important distinction from some other LOC products. A revolving balance means that the amount you can borrow against your credit limit replenishes every time you make a payment.For example: If you borrow $1,000 on a credit card with a $3,000 limit, you then have $2,000 left that you could borrow in the future. But if you pay that $1,000 off, you would then have the full $3,000 left available to you for future use.Cash advances have a separate credit limit.When you make a purchase on your credit card, not physical money changes hands. The merchant receives the funds for your transaction electronically, and that same amount is then added onto your card’s outstanding balance.But if you absolutely need paper money, you can use your card to get cash. All you need to do is go to an ATM and use your card to make a withdrawal. While some credit cards might not have cash advance features, they are very common.However, if you’re looking to borrow a lot of cash using a cash advance, you might run into trouble. Cards that have cash advance features have a separate, lower credit limit for how much you can withdraw in cash.While these credit limits vary from card to card (and user to user), they’re often set as a percentage of your total credit limit. The higher your total limit, the more cash you can withdraw. As credit limits are oftentimes related to your credit score, bad credit borrowers might find themselves at a disadvant age.Cash advances are way more expensive.Then again, just because you can withdraw all that cash doesn’t mean you should. For one thing, you should refrain from spending beyond your limits on a credit card, regardless of whether you’re using cash or credit. Plus, the lower you keep your balances, the more it will help your score.But if you find yourself facing an unforeseen bill or emergency expense and absolutely need to put the charge on your card, you should opt for credit instead of cash. Why? Because credit card cash advances are much more expensive than regular transactions.To begin with, there are the interest rates: Cash advances almost always come with a separate, higher rate than regular transactions. Check your cardholder agreement to see what the cash advance APR is for your particular card.Second, most credit cards come with a one-month interest-free grace period for normal transactions. If you pay off the transaction within that period, you don’t have to pay any interest at all! With cash advances, on the other hand, there is no such grace period; interest will start accruing the second that transaction is added to your balance.Lastly, there are the fees. Not only do most cards charge you a cash advance fee purely for making the transactionâ€"oftentimes, it’s two to three percent of the amount withdrawnâ€"but you’ll very likely have to pay an ATM fee on top of that other charge.If you find yourself in the middle of a true cash-only emergency, a credit card cash advance can be useful. But otherwise, they’re much too expensive to be worth it.They’re still better than cash advance loans.While we don’t recommend credit card cash advances in any situation that doesn’t absolutely demand one, we also can’t deny that they are a far better option than short-term cash advance loans like payday loans or title loans.The high-interest rates for credit card cash advances aren’t great, but they are far preferable to the astronomical APRs f or payday cash advance loans, which average almost 400 percent. (Title loans, which put you at risk of losing your car or truck, have an average APR of 300 percent.)Due to their high rates,  their short terms, and their lump-sum repayment structure, no credit check loans such as these can be difficult for consumers to repay on time, which can lead them down the slippery slope towards a debt trap.If you are unable to use a credit card cash advance to cover a surprise bill and you need to take out a bad credit loan, you should look into possibly taking out an  installment loan that will provide you with more manageable payments.But the best method to protect your money in situations like this is to maintain a well-stocked emergency fund. That way, you won’t need to take out any loans or cash advances at all! To learn more about you can improve your long-term financial situation, check out   these related posts and articles from OppLoans:How to Raise Your Credit Score by 100 PointsF rom Budget to Baller: 6 Tips to Grow Your MoneySave More Money with These 40 Expert Tips8 Good Habits to Get Your Financesâ€"and Your Lifeâ€"on TrackDo you have a personal finance question youd like us to answer? Let us know! You can find us  on  Facebook  and  Twitter.  |Instagram

Ancient Mythology through Generations - 1233 Words

Ancient Mythology has always been a very fascinating subject throughout many generations. Whether it was stories of star-crossed lovers, good versus evil, or the wrath of the gods these tales have always had a way of captivating their audiences. One of the most prominent stories was about Odysseus, a war hero who longed to return to his wife Queen Penelope after many years away fighting in the Trojan War. He loved his queen very much and the fact they could not be together tore him apart. When he returned from a long voyage at sea, he had to prove his love for his queen. Another major tale was that of King Agamemnon, who was also fighting in the Trojan War and wanted to see his wife Clytemnestra. However, when he returned Agamemnon might have found himself in a position that he shouldn’t have returned home to. Both of these stories tell tales about the epic war for the city of Troy, however the fate of these two great leaders was vastly different when they returned home. The T rojan War began when the Trojan Prince Paris stole the heart of Helen, the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta, and the two of them returned back to try to be married. Menelaus was not going to take this act of disrespect, and demanded that somebody pay the price for such a devious crime. Agamemnon was the brother of Menelaus and the two of them formed an alliance against the people and leaders of Troy. When the dust settled many familiar faces were dead including Achilles, Ajax, and Paris. King MenelausShow MoreRelatedChinese Mythology1720 Words   |  7 PagesMythology is a collection of myths or the study of ancient traditional stories of gods or heroes, giving an explanation to an unexplained event. For Plato, the fist known user of the term, muthologia meant know more than the telling of stories (Kirk 8). Mythology is an important aspect to the world, today. Through the study of myths help us develop an idea of what the cultures were like. It includes hints that exhibit how they lived their lives. Myth is its serious purpose and its importance toRead MoreEssay about Greek and Roman Mythology1513 Words   |  7 PagesRoman mythology is well know. The people of that time period were passionate about the gods and did everything in their power to please them. Like most religions the goal is be like one of the gods in order to achieve good fortune or to gain everlasting life. One of the most interesting characteristics about the Greek and Roman Gods is how the gods are not perfect in that they make the same mistakes that the average human would make. These characteristics were put into place to allow ancient GreeksRead MoreEssay on Foundation of Mythology Short Answers717 Words   |  3 PagesFoundation of Mythology Short Answers Philip Calio Hum 105 5/22/2013 Elisabeth Nicholes Foundation of Mythology Short Answers â€Å"It’s a Myth.† A term commonly used today but what does it mean? It is a term used to describe the questions humans cannot answer such as the explanation of the meaning of the universe or why we are here. Myths reflect human nature, with its needs and desires, hopes and fears (Rosenberg, 2006). Academically myths are studied to understand the anthropology ofRead MoreGreek And Roman Painting And Floor Mosaic Essay1228 Words   |  5 PagesAs a student in ARH 270: Introduction to Ancient Art in Greek and Roman Mural Painting and Floor Mosaic, I have developed a greater understanding of art in the ancient Mediterranean world, in regards to ancient Rome and Greece. For the Fall 2016 semester, some of the knowledge that I have gained includes being able to visually analyze a work of art in its historical context. For instance, I have learned to visualize the artwork, This includes, but is not limited to style, technique, relation to previousRead MoreThe Relationshi p Between Mythology And History : Ancient Mesopotamia And Egypt1125 Words   |  5 Pages An analysis of the Relationship between Mythology and History: Mythology in Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt William R Madden Western Civilization September 25, 2017â€Æ' How has history been affected by the myths of ancient cultures? Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines the word history as â€Å"a chronological record of significant events.† In contrast, Merriam-Webster defines the word mythology as â€Å"an allegorical narrative† or â€Å"a body of myths: such as: the myths dealing with the godsRead MoreThe Importance of World Mythology1045 Words   |  5 PagesHumanities 2143: Mythology 24 October 2010 The Importance of World Mythology Everyone has seen on television or read in newspapers about how schools are changing their curriculum to tailor more towards helping students pass standardized tests. With this emphasis shift, teachers are less likely to educate students about mythology, let alone mythologies from other cultures. Students are missing out on a great opportunity to learn about diversity in cultures. Not only can English teachers useRead MoreDid the Ancient Greek Gods Exist?1234 Words   |  5 PagesDid the Ancient Greek Gods exist? The Ancient Greeks regarded their religion and mythology with much respect and loyalty. Although the Ancient Greek Gods are now seen as an explanation created by man, for natural forces and the world around us, there has been much evidence both for and against the debate that these Gods were real. The Greeks believed that the Earth was created with the birth of Gaia, or Mother Earth, from the dark void known as Chaos. It was believed that Gods were all-powerfulRead MoreGreek Mythology : A Belief Of Ancient Civilizations Essay902 Words   |  4 PagesGreek Mythology Have you ever wondered why the seasons change? Why there’s thunder? Where the stars come from? The Greeks created their own beliefs to answer their questions. Greek mythology is a belief of ancient civilizations. Greek mythology gives information on the Olympians, Heracles, origin of Greek mythology, and more. They made up stories called myths to explain why things were the way they are. They called these collections of Greek stories, Greek mythology. Greek mythology was the religionRead MoreGreek Mythology : Ancient Greece1322 Words   |  6 Pages Greek Mythology is a mystical and unique universe filled with divine beings, semi-gods, oracles, monsters, creatures, heroes, women and powerful gods with the ability to control nature, all intertwined in epic battles controlled by various times on a gigantic stage composed of temples, shines, prophecies, rituals and even a word for the dead which was called the underworld. Greek mythology itself is legend. In fact, it shows a window into the ancient past, a view of a world that existed not onlyRead MoreGreek Mythology: Then and Now Essays1575 Words   |  7 PagesVol. 24)Mythology is a collection of myths meant to explain the universe. Mythological stories were told in many different cultures and civilizations. The existence of myths is known in every society. Many different myths were conceived to explain occurrences that happened in nature. One of these natural occurrences is the solar eclipse. The word eclipse originates from a Greek word meaning abandonment. Ana Ruiz states in â€Å"The Spirit of Ancient Egypt†, that the ancient Egyptians

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - 1337 Words

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson For the last and final essay of the semester, I decided to pick a couple themes that are included in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. Themes are a very important part of any story, play, poem, or any writing for that matter. It is important to understand what themes are involved in a story because it helps the reader better understand what is going on throughout it all. This novel has two main characters named Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist. In essence, this story is about both of these characters coming together to solve the disappearance of Harriet Vanger that is over forty years in the making. Throughout their journey to solve the mystery, I came across a couple key themes. Regarding The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, there are a few themes I chose to write about including: violence against women, the topic of revenge, and isolation. The first theme that I would like to address regarding The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the violence against women included in it. I think that this is one of the biggest themes because it is very important and also plays a huge part in this story. For example, the author states that â€Å"finally the boy punched her in the face; it split open her lip and made her see stars† (Larsson, p.229). This quote I think is important because not only does it show another example of violence towards women, but it also shows that Lisbeth Salander has been subjected toShow MoreRelatedGirl with the Dragon Tattoo907 Words   |  4 PagesThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo By: Steig Larsson The book that I chose to read was, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. In the book we learn about social issues that are not only found in Sweden but from all over the world. Through the book the two main characters solve a murder mystery from 40 years ago. While solving the murder mystery, social issues are brought up time and time again. One of major issues that are brought to the reader’s attention is sexual violence that is used towards womenRead MoreA Review of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo1165 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ There have been few works of popular literature written in the new century which have so accurately captured the conflicted state of feminist identity in todays modern corporate culture that Stieg Larssons 2005 novel The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Written in a searing tone which is representative of the repressed rage exuded by Lisbeth Salander, the enigmatic heroine who suffers atrocious crimes at the hand of powerful men and wields a sadistic sense of vigilante-style vengeance against thoseRead MoreThe Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Analysis1744 Words   |  7 Pages Surname 1 Author: Professor’s name: Course name: Date of Submission: The Portrayal of Women On the surface of the novel, â€Å"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo† is a simple uncomplicated thriller, but at a deeper level, the novel is a complex and in-depth examination and analysis of the violent abuse against women in Sweden, particularly concentrating on the distorted and rather warped philosophies as well as the failure of the government that permit and accentuate such acts. More importantly, theRead MoreGender And Sexuality : The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo854 Words   |  4 Pagespart of the Swedish crime novels since most of their writing has to do about a conflict between two opposite genders. The girl with the dragon tattoo, one of the most famous Swedish crime novel, written by Stieg Larsson addresses these issues. In this particular book, men and women tend to have the equal amount of power. Sallander, in other words, â€Å"the girl with the dragon tattoo† has almost the same amount of power as the Mikel Blomkvist, which is the main character of the no vel and also a male genderRead MoreThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson773 Words   |  4 PagesWhile I was reading the novel Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, I realized that this story not only portrays the theme of violence and sexual abuse, but it was also about the importance of and friendship and relationships. The novel illustrates the real life effects of sexual violence on victims and survivors, emphasizing the importance of getting help and the triumph of mentally surviving the event. Having friends and most importantly relationships, did a big part in the story to helpRead MoreMovie Review : Chinatown And The Girl With The Dragon 875 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"Chinatown† and â€Å"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo† Noir (noir means black in French) is a style which was frequently seen in 1940-1950s film mostly consisting of crime, sex and fiction. Modern motion pictures use the same genre, but updated visual, theme and content. Neo-noir, Greek term neo means new, making term new black. Noir movies are very popular among the audiences. Chinatown (1974) directed by Roman Polanski, starring Jack Nicholson (Protagonist) as Jake Gittes, FayeRead MoreFemale Protagonists of Detective Narratives938 Words   |  4 PagesThis essay will focus on female protagonists who are the center and driving force behind a detective narrative. I will compare and contrast Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs and Lisbeth Salander from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo to explore two women that are progressive in breaking through traditional gender roles and are successful at portraying a female that goes against the grain. These women portray unique and progressive ideas about sexuality. Clarice and Lisbeth are two empoweredRead MoreGone Girl By David Fincher1268 Words   |  6 Pagesthat their creation is definitive enough to be traced back to its creator. In order to identify these definitive components, an auteur must establish common thematic and formal elements that their texts typically contain. In David Fincher’s film Gone Girl (2014), Amy Dunne suddenly vanishes, seemingly from violent kidnapping, leaving her husband, Nick Dunne, in a media frenzy over his suspected involvement in her disappearance. The film utilizes some of his most common thematic elements: paternal orRead MoreThe Marine Corps Should Have No Restrictions On Tattoos Essay867 Words   |  4 Pagesthat is tattoos. I am here to argue that tattoos can view as freedom of expression, strong Naval tradition, and more importantly no hindrance on job performance. The Marine Corps should have no restrictions on tattoos. Over the past 50 years’ tattoos have continued to grow in popularity, yet the Marine Cor ps wants to place restrictions on their service members; claiming their policy is design to help their service members to maintain a discipline appearance. It would be proven that tattoo is viewedRead MoreThe Evolution of Film-Making Technology1417 Words   |  6 Pagesthe digital transformed directors. Red One is considered to be one of the purest digital alternative to 35mm film. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by David Fincher was crafted in 5 weeks and mostly shot with RED Epic MX and Epic machines. For a total of 483 hours of shot material, 443 were actually used in the workflow. The â€Å"workflow† in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo plays a key role in terms of aesthetics: each single take and frame has been revised so that the visual rhythm could be more

Daughter Essay Free Essays

Latasha Echols Professor Jacobs English 1101 20 February 2013 A Mothers Story Have you ever considered how becoming a parent could affect your life? I never knew how much a child could change my life until I became a mother. Growing up I never really knew what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go in life. I liked to party and be rebellious. We will write a custom essay sample on Daughter Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now I felt like nobody cared about me, so I didn’t really care about myself or where my life went. When I turned 19, everything that I ever felt, thought, or did, became a major reconsideration when I gave birth to my beautiful daughter, Dalayshia Briana Harris. During my childhood, I felt like my mother wasn’t there for me, which led me to make a lot of negative decisions in my life. Becoming a mom has made me as my dad would say, â€Å"Wake up and smell the coffee†. The one thing that I’m sure about now that I’ve became a mother, is that, I do have a purpose, and I want to be the best role model I can be to my daughter. September 28, 2007 is a date that changed my life forever. Growing up I never really felt like I had a place in this world. My parents got married and had me at a young age. My mom wasn’t quite ready to be a mother, and my dad did the best he could. My parents divorced when I was twelve, and that day is when my world ended and I felt like no one cared about how the outcome of their decisions would affect me. I thought the anger, loneliness, and my battered emotions, was the way my life would be, so I accepted it. As a child, I tried to numb myself from the pain and move forward in my life. My teenage years were quite memorable, but unfortunately not as positive as I wish they could have been. When I turned sixteen, I felt like school was not important. I could never focus and my behavior left me getting into a lot of trouble. I chose to drop out of high school and see what else life had in store for me. I started hanging out with the wrong people, which led me to getting a false identification card that said I was twenty-one. Then I began going to adult clubs with these friends. As I entered the club life, it was like a new world to me. I started drinking and partying on a consistent basis. The club scene became so much a part of me that for the next couple of years of my teenage life, that’s all my life consisted of. I had no goals and no positive outlook on my life. The only thing I became to know and like to do was party and hang out with my friends. When I turned eighteen, little did I know I was in store for some life changing news. When I turned eighteen I officially became an adult. Little did I know that in becoming an actual adult I was about to be hit with the most shocking news ever. One morning I woke up, I just didn’t feel well at all. So the next day I went to the doctor to find out why I was feeling so under the weather. The doctor ran some test as I sat there and patiently waited for the results. Finally the doctor comes in and says, â€Å"Congratulations, you’re pregnant†! I didn’t quite understand, so I asked him to repeat his self once more, so I could make sure I heard right before I went into a complete state of shock. The doctor repeated himself with saying, â€Å"Congratulations, you’re pregnant†! My whole world started spinning. I didn’t know how to take the news. I was scared and confused. I didn’t really know how to take care of myself, better yet bring a child in this world. Before going to the doctor the only thing I had become immune to doing is partying and drinking. Now I had to reconsider my whole life. Being a mom I never really considered that lifestyle before. Now I was faced with a decision that was going to change the rest of my life. I didn’t really know what to do, however, all I knew is that I was pregnant. During my pregnancy I stop drinking, but continued to party. Partying was a path I continued down, because that was all I knew, and the friends I thought I had were the only people who I felt cared about me. I continued to go to the club until I was eight months pregnant. By this time, I was far enough to know that I was having a girl. I had put on enough weight, where being in the clubs became miserable. I just wanted to rest, something I had not done in a long time. As I became further along in my pregnancy, I started to think about what I was going to do and where I was going to be once I had my daughter. When I first became pregnant my mom told me she didn’t want anything to do with me, but as I got closer to my due date she became more accepting. I packed my stuff up and decided to go back home to my mom’s house, where I could be to myself and focus on my future until I delivered. I spent the remainder of my pregnancy at my mom’s house. I had nothing but time to rest and think about the future I was soon to be faced with me and my unborn child. As I thought about my future my mind was still everywhere, and uncertain about what I was going to do. I didn’t know how to be a mom or how I was going to take care of a child. My due date was set for September 22, and was getting closer and closer. It was September, 28 2007, and the weather was beautiful and warm. I was set to deliver my daughter on September 22, but my baby was running late, guess she was just not ready to come in the world yet. September 28, I was supposed to go to the hospital and be induced since my baby hadn’t been quite ready to come on the original due date. When I got to the hospital I ended up not getting induced, because I went straight into labor. After twelve hours of labor, the time had come for me to push. After my first three pushes I felt a major release of pressure. When I looked up, there she was, my beautiful baby girl! After spending two days in the hospital, I got to bring my daughter home. From that point I knew my life would change forever. When I looked at my daughter, everything I ever felt missing in my life as far as the love, neglect, and loneliness started to go away. All I knew was that I wanted to love and be the best mom I could be for my daughter. From that moment I brought my daughter home is when I realized that I was somebody in life. I wanted to change, so I could reflect, and be the most positive person that I could be for myself and child. Today in my life, if someone were to ask me if I ever considered being a parent and how it could affect my life, I could honestly say â€Å"Yes†, because now I am a parent and have truly adapted to the word sacrifice. Once I became a mom I wanted to be the best possible role model I could be for my daughter. I knew for me to be a good role model, I had to work on myself to set a good example for my child. Everything that wasn’t important to me when I was a teenager had become goals for me to accomplish as a mother. I went back to school and got my GED, and now I am a college student. I no longer go to the clubs or drink. I’ve realized that there is way more to life than what you settle for. Now I can say I am a great role model not only for myself, or my daughter, but for anyone. How to cite Daughter Essay, Essay examples

US Democracy Essays - Forms Of Government, Democracy, Elections

US Democracy Is the Unites States Political System a Legitimate Democracy In any system which claims to be democratic, a question of its legitimacy remains. A truly democratic political system has certain characteristics which prove its legitimacy with their existence. One essential characteristic of a legitimate democracy is that it allows people to freely make choices without government intervention. Another necessary characteristic which legitimates government is that every vote must count equally: one vote for every person. For this equality to occur, all people must be subject to the same laws, have equal civil rights, and be allowed to freely express their ideas. Minority rights are also crucial in a legitimate democracy. No matter how unpopular their views, all people should enjoy the freedoms of speech, press and assembly. Public policy should be made publicly, not secretly, and regularly scheduled elections should be held. Since "legitimacy" may be defined as "the feeling or opinion the people have that government is based upon morally defensible principles and that they should therefore obey it," then there must necessarily be a connection between what the people want and what the government is doing if legitimacy is to occur. The U.S. government may be considered legitimate in some aspects, and illegitimate in others. Because voting is class-biased, it may not be classified as a completely legitimate process. Although in theory the American system calls for one vote per person, the low rate of turnout results in the upper and middle classes ultimately choosing candidates for the entire nation. Class is determined by income and education, and differing levels of these two factors can help explain why class bias occurs. For example, because educated people tend to understand politics more, they are more likely to vote. People with high income and education also have more resources, and poor people tend to have low political efficacy (feelings of low self-worth). Turnout, therefore, is low and, since the early 1960s, has been declining overall. The "winner-take-all" system in elections may be criticized for being undemocratic because the proportion of people agreeing with a particular candidate on a certain issue may not be adequately represented under this system. For example, "a candidate who gets 40 percent of the vote, as long as he gets more votes than any other candidate, can be elected?even though sixty percent of the voters voted against him"(Lind, 314). Political parties in America are weak due to the anti-party, anti-organization, and anti-politics cultural prejudices of the Classical Liberals. Because in the U.S. there is no national discipline to force citizens into identifying with a political party, partisan identification tends to be an informal psychological commitment to a party. This informality allows people to be apathetic if they wish, willingly giving up their input into the political process. Though this apathy is the result of greater freedom in America than in other countries, it ultimately decreases citizens' incentive to express their opinions about issues, therefore making democracy less legitimate. Private interests distort public policy making because, when making decisions, politicians must take account of campaign contributors. An "interest" may be defined as "any involvement in anything that affects the economic, social, or emotional well-being of a person." When interests become organized into groups, then politicians may become biased due to their influences. "Special interests buy favors from congressmen and presidents through political action committees (PACs), devices by which groups like corporations, professional associations, trade unions, investment banking groups?can pool their money and give up to $10,000 per election to each House and Senate candidate"(Lind, 157). Consequently, those people who do not become organized into interest groups are likely to be underrepresented financially. This leads to further inequality and, therefore, greater illegitimacy in the democratic system. The method in which we elect the President is fairly legitimate. The electoral college consists of representatives who we elect, who then elect the President. Because this fills the requirement of regularly scheduled elections, it is a legitimate process. The President is extremely powerful in foreign policy making; so powerful that scholars now speak of the "Imperial Presidency," implying that the President runs foreign policy as an emperor. The President is the chief diplomat, negotiator of treaties, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. There has been a steady growth of the President's power since World War II. This abundance of foreign Presidential power may cause one to believe that our democratic system is not legitimate. However, Presidential power in domestic affairs is limited. Therefore, though the President is very powerful in certain areas, the term "Imperial Presidency" is not applicable in all areas. The election process of Congress is

Warren Pryor by Alden Nowlan

Warren Pryor by Alden Nowlan ContextWarren Pryor was one of Alden Nowlan's early poems, he wrote it when he was first starting out. Warren Pryor could be a reflection of how Aldne Nowlan wished to have lived his life or maybe how he planned to liev his life out. He wanted to become sucessful and well known, like his counter-part in the story, but he knew that no matter what he did in life, his family would always be a big part of it, and control the vast majority of it.DicitonAlden Nowlan choose to write this poem in a very descriptive yet pompous way. In describing a simple farm family, he used words and expressions in a way that signified his aversion to their situation, but further along in the poem is word choice flows as if though he feels he has enlightened the reader with his brillantness, and wants to dazzle them with is use of figurative language.La mia stanza (3)

The Battle of the Alamo

The Battle of the Alamo The Battle of the Alamo was fought on March 6, 1836, between rebellious Texans and the Mexican army. The Alamo was a fortified old mission in the center of the town of San Antonio de Bà ©xar: it was defended by about 200 rebellious Texans, chief among them Lt. Colonel William Travis, famed frontiersman Jim Bowie and former Congressman Davy Crockett. They were opposed by a massive Mexican army led by President/General Antonio Là ³pez de Santa Anna. After a two-week siege, Mexican forces attacked at dawn on March 6: the Alamo was overrun in less than two hours. The Struggle for Texas Independence Texas was originally part of the Spanish Empire in northern Mexico, but the region had been inching towards Independence for some time. English-speaking settlers from the USA had been arriving in Texas since 1821, when Mexico gained its independence from Spain. Some of these immigrants were part of approved settlement plans, like the one managed by Stephen F. Austin. Others were essentially squatters who had come to claim unoccupied lands. Cultural, political and economic differences separated these settlers from the rest of Mexico and by the early 1830s there was much support for independence (or statehood in the USA) in Texas. Texans Take the Alamo The first shots of the revolution were fired on October 2, 1835, in the town of Gonzales. In December, rebellious Texans attacked and captured San Antonio. Many of the Texan leaders, including General Sam Houston, felt that San Antonio was not worth defending: it was too far from the rebels power base in eastern Texas. Houston ordered Jim Bowie, a former resident of San Antonio, to destroy the Alamo and retreat with the remaining men. Bowie decided to remain and fortify the Alamo instead: he felt that with their accurate rifles and a handful of cannons, a small number of Texans could hold the city indefinitely against great odds. Arrival of William Travis and Conflict with Bowie Lt. Colonel William Travis arrived in February with about 40 men. He was outranked by James Neill and, at first, his arrival caused no great stir. But Neill left on family business and the 26-year-old Travis was suddenly in charge of the Texans at the Alamo. Travis problem was this: about half of the 200 or so men there were volunteers and took orders from no one: they could come and go as they wished. These men basically only answered to Bowie, their unofficial leader. Bowie didnt care for Travis and often contradicted his orders: the situation became quite tense. Arrival of Crockett On February 8, legendary frontiersman Davy Crockett arrived at the Alamo with a handful of Tennessee volunteers armed with deadly long rifles. The presence of Crockett, a former Congressman who had become very famous as a hunter, scout, and teller of tall tales, was a great boost to morale. Crockett, a skilled politician, was even able to defuse the tension between Travis and Bowie. He refused a commission, saying that he would be honored to serve as a private. He had even brought his fiddle and played for the defenders. Arrival of Santa Anna and the Siege of the Alamo On February 23, Mexican General Santa Anna arrived at the head of a massive army. He laid siege to San Antonio: the defenders retreated to the relative safety of the Alamo. Santa Anna did not secure all the exits from the city: the defenders could have crept away in the night had they wished: instead, they remained. Santa Anna ordered a red flag flown: it meant that no quarter would be given. Calls for Help and Reinforcements Travis busied himself sending out requests for help. Most of his missives were directed to James Fannin, 90 miles away in Goliad with about 300 men. Fannin did set out, but turned back after logistical problems (and perhaps the conviction that the men in the Alamo were doomed). Travis also begged for help from Sam Houston and the political delegates at Washington-on-the-Brazos, but no help was coming. On March first, 32 brave men from the town of Gonzales showed up and made their way through the enemy lines to reinforce the Alamo. On the third, James Butler Bonham, one of the volunteers, valiantly returned to the Alamo through enemy lines after bearing a message to Fannin: he would die with his comrades three days later. A Line in the Sand? According to legend, on the night of the fifth of March, Travis took his sword and drew a line in the sand. He then challenged anyone who would stay and fight to the death to cross the line. Everyone crossed except for a man named Moses Rose, who instead fled the Alamo that night. Jim Bowie, who by then was in bed with a debilitating illness, asked to be carried over the line. Did â€Å"the line in the sand† really happen? No one knows. The first account of this courageous story was printed much later, and it’s impossible to prove one way or another. Whether there was a line in the sand or not, the defenders knew that they would likely die if they remained. The Battle of the Alamo At dawn on March 6, 1836 the Mexicans attacked: Santa Anna may have attacked that day because he was afraid the defenders would surrender and he wanted to make an example of them. The Texans’ rifles and cannons were devastating as the Mexican soldiers made their way to the walls of the heavily fortified Alamo. In the end, however, there were just too many Mexican soldiers and the Alamo fell in about 90 minutes. Only a handful of prisoners were taken: Crockett may have been among them. They were executed as well, although women and children who were in the compound were spared. Legacy of the Battle of the Alamo The Battle of the Alamo was a costly win for Santa Anna: he lost about 600 soldiers that day, to some 200 rebellious Texans. Many of his own officers were appalled that he did not wait on some cannons that were being brought to the battlefield: a few days bombardment would have greatly softened up the Texan defenses. Worse than the loss of men, however, was the martyrdom of those inside. When word got out of the heroic, hopeless defense mounted by 200 outnumbered and poorly armed men, new recruits flocked to the cause, swelling the ranks of the Texan army. In less than two months, General Sam Houston would crush the Mexicans at the Battle of San Jacinto, destroying a large part of the Mexican army and capturing Santa Anna himself. As they ran into battle, those Texans shouted, Remember the Alamo as a war cry. Both sides made a statement at the Battle of the Alamo. The rebellious Texans proved that they were committed to the cause of independence and willing to die for it. The Mexicans proved that they were ready to accept the challenge and would not offer quarter or take prisoners when it came to those who took up arms against Mexico. Mexicans Supporting Independence One interesting historical note is worth mentioning. Although the Texas Revolution is generally assumed to have been stirred up by Anglo immigrants who moved to Texas in the 1820s and 1830s, this is not entirely the case. There were many native Mexican Texans, known as Tejanos, who supported independence. There were about a dozen or so Tejanos (no one is certain exactly how many) at the Alamo: they fought bravely and died with their comrades. Today, the Battle of the Alamo has achieved legendary status, particularly in Texas. The defenders are remembered as great heroes. Crockett, Bowie, Travis and Bonham all have many things named after them, including cities, counties, parks, schools and more. Even men like Bowie, who in life was a con man, brawler and slave trader, were redeemed by their heroic death at the Alamo. Several movies have been made about the Battle of the Alamo: the two most ambitious were John Waynes 1960 The Alamo and the 2004 film of the same name starring Billy Bob Thornton as Davy Crockett. Neither film is great: the first was plagued by historical inaccuracies and the second just isnt very good. Still, either one will give a rough idea of what the defense of the Alamo was like. The Alamo itself is still standing in downtown San Antonio: its a famous historical site and tourist attraction. Sources: Brands, H.W. Lone Star Nation: the Epic Story of the Battle for Texas Independence. New York: Anchor Books, 2004.Flores, Richard R. The Alamo: Myth, Public History, and the Politics of Inclusion. Radical History Review 77 (2000): 91–103. Print.-. Memory-Place, Meaning, and the Alamo. American Literary History 10.3 (1998): 428–45. Print.Fox, Anne A., Feris A. Bass, and Thomas R. Hester. The Archaeology and History of Alamo Plaza. Index of Texas Archaeology:  Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State (1976). Print.Grider, Sylvia Ann. How Texans Remember the Alamo. Usable Pasts. Ed. Tuleja, Tad. Traditions and Group Expressions in North America: University Press of Colorado, 1997. 274–90. Print.Henderson, Timothy J. A Glorious Defeat: Mexico and its War with the United States. New York: Hill and Wang, 2007.Matovina, Timothy. San Fernando Cathedral and the Alamo: Sacred Place, Public Ritual, and Construction of Meaning. Journal of Ritual Studies 12.2 (19 98): 1–13. Print.