Of Pirate Ships and Silver Steeds
We poured the foundation yesterday, and now we were pulling the forms off the cement and hauling them out--back onto Ralph, our two-ton truck. The sun beat down. As I bent over to pick up another eight incher I glanced towards the pit. First, came a black bandanna. Next, came protruding straggles of curly blond hair. Then, a grimace and a roll of the eyes--Danny's trademark--appeared as the young man hauled himself out of the hole. Following the head, came a tattered shirt and matching shorts. The holes in the shorts were normal, but when Danny turned imploringly toward me I discovered the cause of the shredded shirt.
Aaron had just hopped off the top of the foundation, and he said as he walked towards the truck, "I'll be back. Tell the other guys. Just do the fillers on the outside, and then you can start on the inside. I should be back by then." Then came the usual, "Take your time. Be careful. Take lunch in a while."
Dan raised his arm and asked, "Do I have one back here too? It feels like there is something there, but I can't see it." I swallowed and nodded.
"Hop on in Dan," Aaron called as he started the truck. Gingerly Danny responded. They were heading for the hospital where he would receive fifty-three stitches to close up the two holes in his side.
"Well, another exciting day working cement," I thought as the F-250 pulled away.
Dan had slipped on his first attempt to get out of the hole, and he fell against two flat-ties protruding from the newly created foundation. Flat-ties are those thin pieces of silver metal that stick out from the walls in your basement before it gets finished. As the forms for the walls are being set in place on top of the footings, flat-ties are sent through the wall so that the inside form can be connected to the outside form. Although this whole idea about flat-ties may seem intriguing, the important thing to learn is that if one flat-tie is left out, however insignificant this may seem, the pressure of the cement is sufficient to cause a 'blowout' in the wall. Many times I think that people forget to enjoy the details in their lives, and so events turn into 'blowouts' instead of grand adventures.
Mylan, my boss, has a wife and seven girls to worry about.
“I shall never forget the awful climb on hands and feet out of that hole that was about five feet deep with greasy clay and blood (although I did not know then that it was blood).
Together they worked until the two holes were one and the same. When the depression was the size of a small dishpan, Nel’s twig broke. With a gesture of disgust she threw the pieces into the hole they had made. Sula threw hers in too. Nel saw a bottle cap and tossed it in as well. Each then looked around for more debris to throw into the hole: paper, bits of glass, butts of cigarettes, until all the small defiling things they could find were collected there. Carefully they replaced the soil and covered the entire grave with uprooted grass. Neither one had spoken a word. (Morrison 58-59)
The Early Modern Era saw great change in the field of naval technology. Exploration and the desire to expand trade fueled the development of new, more effective naval vessels. These vessels, in turn, contributed to the growth of worldwide trade and interconnection that marked the period.
Sea robbers: These pirates were not faithful to any government and roamed in the open seas.
...udy done by the American Academy of Dermatology, 59 percent of tanners were unaware of all the threats that accompany using a tanning bed (Cassidy 2). Cassidy also states that this lack of awareness is partially due to the tanning salons not advertising all information about skin cancer (2). Many salons offer tanning lotions, which are much different than sunscreen lotions. While they may not advertise it as sunscreen, not all customers know the difference. Tanning lotion amplifies UV rays, causing one to absorb more rays more quickly. The lotion contains no sunscreen and does not protect the user from the radiation. Of course, such information is not presented when the salon may try to sell you the product. The unfortunate side effect of such misinformation is that people may contract serious diseases without knowing that those illnesses could have been prevented.
Throughout history paddling has been characterized by the various situational opportunities presented in that day, in time. Recreation, Transportation, Traveling, Competition, Exercise, and Fishing are just some of the ways paddling has been seen throughout history. Along with the activities that go on with paddling, different types of canoes and kayaks had to be made to keep up-to-date with these activities evolvement. Beginning more traditional with a dugout canoe and ending more advanced with the numerous racing canoes, our world has in fact grown to new developments. Kayaks on the other hand are similar in the way that they have progressed through history, however, the boats are all based on the idea of measurements,
The Golden Age of Piracy began around 1650, and ended around 1730. Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea, but can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the criminal. The term has been used throughout history to refer to raids across land borders by non-state agents. A pirate is one who commits robberies at sea, usually without being allotted to do so by any particular nation. The usual crime for piracy can include being hung, or publically executed. Some of the most famous pirates who were killed either because of piracy, or because of natural causes, are Barbarossa, Stede Bonnet, Anne Bonney, Sir Francis Drake, Captain Greaves, William Kidd, Jean Laffite, Sir Henry Morgan, Mary Read, and Giovanni da Verrazano.
The social desirability of a tan is a modern phenomenon, beginning in the 1920’s when the French designer Coco Chanel decreed it as a fashion look. The concept of obtaining a tan without going outdoors became increasingly attractive (Aldige). Today’s media influences everyone, but especially young people, to feel like they need to have that beautiful dark skin color to look good. Teenagers, caring more about their social status and appearance, are looking past the obvious risks of skin cancer. Teenagers ages 12 to 17 are visiting tanning salons in record numbers. This trend presents a huge level of concern, as studies have shown that the risk for skin cancer increases when tanning begins at a younger age. With this fad being so popular, teens are always finding themselves at the tanning salons, becoming nice and crispy.
Natalie was 24 and had an itchy oddly shaped mole. She then went to get it checked out, and came to find she had melanoma. Natalie had to undergo 3 hours of surgery. “Tanning beds give you a 59% chance of skin cancer” Indoor tanning has bad effects on people because it increases your chance of skin cancer and the effects it has on skin appearance.
Sunbeds were first created in Europe (“History of” n.pag.). They are a primary cause of many types of skin cancer such as melanoma and other dangerous and undesired health conditions (“Sunbeds, tanning” n.pag.). It is mistakenly assumed that tanning beds have less of a negative affect from UV rays than UV rays from the sun (“Sunbeds” n.pag.). Only 36 states have a law prohibiting minors’ use of tanning beds (“11 Facts” n.pag.). The negative effects of the use of sunbeds seem to greatly outweigh the positive effects. The damage from tanning beds is long-term and irreversible (“Sunbeds” n.pag.). Rules and regulations regarding tanning beds have not, in the past, been enough to prevent numerous cases against tanning bed companies from arising. Sunbeds are a growing problem in America that is greatly ignored (“Sunbeds, tanning” n.pag.).
Bishop, Larry. “Doctor: Tanning Beds are Literally Gives users a killer tan.” Florida Today. 25 Ap. 2013: n.p SIRS Issues Researchers. Web. 16 May. 2014
With both hands resting lightly on the table to each side of his white foam cup, Otis stared into its deep abyss of emptiness with his head bowed as if willing it to fill again, giving him a reason to enjoy the shelter that the indoors provided. I could almost touch the conflict going on inside of him, a battle of wills as if he was negotiating with an imaginary devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. I sensed a cramp of discomfort seizing his insides, compelling him to flee, then a silent resolve, as if a moment of clarity had graced his consciousness.
The 21st century has brought about many trends and technologies conforming America as an egotistical society. With growing popularity in everything from fad diets to Botox, it seems as though people would do almost anything to maintain a certain look. With a healthy body due to extreme diets and a wrinkle free face induced by anti-aging injections, there is another beauty extreme that people seek: a tan to die for. Since early two thousand up until the present, there has been an excessive increase in the popularity of indoor tanning and the use and misuse of tanning beds. With the many known harmful effects that artificial tanning has on its consumer, states have put laws in place to limit those exposed to these ultra violet rays. However, that being said, there is no universal law for the age restriction of tanning salons. We all know the risks of tanning beds and that they are extremely harmful when abused, yet many are unaware that today these beds are strictly regulated and when used in moderation, they can have health benefits. Taking into account the risks and benefits of artificial tanning, the age for tanning be 18 universally.
I told him to get an ember nut and bring it to the elder. I continued to dig into the ground until the ground started to fall on top of me. I quickly climbed out of the hole confused by the feeling of dirt falling on me. I then dug up the entire crossroads about one hand deep.there was a large mound of dirt next to the hole. I went into the forest and collected as many burning trees as I could and a large amount of flame-tongue. I bought the supplies to the cross roads and started to bind the burning trees together with the flame-tongue and made a platform. I then placed the platform slightly under the edge of the hole in the cross roads. I stabbed a post into a hole in the platform and into the ground. it will help with the tunnel and make the platform stronger. I built a ladder and placed it in the hole in the center of the platform. I had some spare flame-tongue and decided to make a basket to help carry the dirt. I dug until I reached one of the posts and poured the dirt collected over the platform. I then remembered the large mound of dirt I left earlier and smoothed out the crossroads and tested if it could hold me. it felt sturdy as a rock. I continued to dig and made it to two more posts when I noticed a large gathering of people watching me
After just two hours, our very large friend said he’d had enough for the day and was heading for the surface. We told him we’d be out in a few more minutes and to hang around so we could discuss what we’d found. As we began our ascent toward the entrance, we became acutely aware of the complete absence of light the entrance usually emanated. When our flashlights finally found the source of the unusual darkness we were horrified; the big guy was stuck in the cave’s opening again. This time Scott’s head and shoulders were outside, so instead of being able to pull him through, we would have to try to push him out of the opening. We pushed in every combination of ways possible, and needless to say it did not work this time. The paramount problem was that the cave floods from the interior out, so we would all drown if we couldn’t get Scott unstuck, and unstuck quickly.