The Negative Effects Of Racism Segregation And Violence

Negative Effects of Racism: Segregation and Violence Racial discrimination affects many minority groups and this issue still occurs to this day. Racial discrimination is the act of treating others differently because of the color of their skin. Although there have been laws placed to prohibit racial discrimination, racism still occurs and continues to have many negative effects to minority groups today. The negative effects of racial discrimination are discussed in the fiction novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the nonfiction article â€Å"Sen. Franken Questions Uber, Lyft About Race, Gender Discrimination Against Customers† by Al Franken, and â€Å"The Trial of the Scottsboro Boys† by Douglas O. Linder. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird,†¦show more content†¦Scout Finch, the narrator of the story, sneaks out to view the trial along with the rest of the town. Upon arriving and sneaking up the the segregated balcony for blacks, â€Å"four negroes rose and gave [them] their front row seats† (Lee 16 4). The black people in the balcony still give up â€Å"their front row seats† for more privileged people like Scout, Jem, Dill, and Reverend Sykes, even though black people are already segregated in the courthouse due to their skin color. Their feeling of being oppressed and having to cater to white people shows how racial discrimination leads to black people thinking that their only place in the world is to be compliant to whites. Despite the fact that segregation laws have been abolished to diminish racial discrimination, the oppression of black people still exists and is still reflected in how they are treated today. Not only is oppression against black people is seen throughout in To Kill a Mockingbird, but it is also discussed in the article â€Å"Sen. Franken Questions Uber, Lyft About Race, Gender Discrimination Against Customers.† In the article, â€Å"Sen. Franken Questions Uber, Lyft About Race, Gender Discrimination Against Customers,† the author dem onstrates how black people are often oppressed when they come upon ride-hailing apps and cabs. African-Americans have had to deal with â€Å"long experienced discrimination when attempted to hail a taxi directly from the curb, with cabs either driving past African-American customers orShow MoreRelatedRacism : Nelson Mandela, Former President Of South Africa1523 Words   |  7 Pageslove comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite† (Nelson Mandela Museum). Racism has been at the forefront of debates since the Nineteenth century and has spread throughout the United States, creating outrage, violence, and political reform. Racism has been the main cause behind many major organizations in this country, some even political. Some organizations take a firm stance against racism, such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and someRead MoreThe Unequal Separation Of African Americans1453 Words   |  6 PagesAfrican Americans as a wh ole agree that racial segregation has affected their chances of employment, residency, education and access to proper health facilities. Many have stories and experiences of being qualified for a job but being turned down for being African American. Several experiments have been conducted where an African American would attempt to view homes in diverse neighborhoods and be turned down and white co-workers or friends would call immediately after and be invited to come in.Read MoreThe Red Summer Of 19191038 Words   |  5 Pagesour country. We were killing one another because of the hatred towards racism. â€Å"The Red Summer of 1919 refers to a series of race riots that took place between May and October of that year. Although riots occurred in more than thirty cities throughout the United States, the bloodiest events were in Chicago, Washington D.C. and Elaine, Ark.† (Retreived from the About Education website : http://afroamhistory.about.com/od/segregation/p/The-Red-Summer- Of-1919.htm). The riots lasted for about 5 months inRead MoreEssay on The Harmful Effects Of Discrimination And Segregation534 Words   |  3 PagesDiscrimination and Segregation have both had many harmful effects on society in the past and exist when individuals are treated unfairly because of their particular race, gender, age, ethnic group, physical disability, or religion. Discrimination and segregation both poison the atmosphere of trust that we need in order to live peacefully. In the video Separate but Equal;, there are many incidences to prove that racism, segregation, and discrimination all have negative effects. The three most prominentRead MoreThe Black Civil Rights Movement Essay1088 Words   |  5 Pagesrights as theirs. The reason that the civil rights campaign began is because individual southern states introduced Jim Crow laws which encouraged segregation. These states claimed that it did not break the 14th and 15th amendments because they were separate but equal and in 1897 the Supreme Court found in favour of segregation in Plessey v Ferguson. Black pressure groups were formed such as the Niagara movement and the NAACP. To combat this, the NAACP had more middleclassRead MoreEffects Of Racism1095 Words   |  5 PagesRacism is an individual, institutional, and societal issue that negatively affects the lives of many African-Americans. Structural racism is a term used to describe the institutional and societal levels of racism. These levels have caused negative effects in the mental and physical public health of African-Americans, and yet are rarely discussed. Hiding or ignoring the impact of racism on public health disparities is not the same as fighting against them. It is allowing them to be repeated withoutRead MoreSocial Forces Of The Holocaust1534 Words   |  7 Pagesmassive as the Holocaust has no choice but to affect the country of Germany. Reiner and his mother’s views are extremely different. Reiner and his mother disagree about the fact that Germany should rid itself of racism. Reiner believes that since his generation wasn’t involved in the racism that existed during the time of â€Å"Nazi Germany†, that his generation should not have to work to fix a problem that they did not cause. His views are affected in different ways than his mothers. Reiner’s views areRead MoreFactors Influencing The Sexual Health Of Aboriginal Young Women932 Words   |  4 Pagessexual health of Aboriginal young women in remote communities include cultural beliefs, youth, gender, and social class, embedded within a broader socioeconomic and political context, which includes the historical and current impacts of colonisation, racism and discrimination, and government policy. Cultural beliefs relating specifically to sexual health include limited support for the use of contraception in some communities, acceptability of Aboriginal women having children young, and cultural understandingsRead MoreSummary Of Ghosts Of Ole Miss 1225 Words   |  5 Pagesinstitution may have a negative effect on those who look to apply or be a part of the institution. The history of a place sets the epitome of future enrollees. Some of the ghosts that haunt any college may have an extremely negative impact on how they are viewed today. This negative perception of the university can lead to strong economic deficits. Throughout trying to combat negative concepts that are thrust upon an institution, they have resolved issues of ethics, violence and, to most importantlyRead MoreThe Civil Rights Movement Essay1634 Words   |  7 Pagesfor equal rights weren’t over yet due to Jim Crow Laws established between 1877 and the 1950s. The Jim Crow Laws were any laws between 18 77 and the 1950s that enforced racial segregation in the U.S., which included segregation of public facilities, education, and voting. But, African-Americans stood up against racial segregation during the 1950s in a movement towards equality called the Civil Rights Movement. Their efforts for equality paid off when in 1964 the Civil Rights Act was signed by President

Should Prostitution Be Legal - 1157 Words

Legalizing Prostitution in Brothels Throughout America When someone says prostitution, the first couple things that probably come to mind are grimy girls that have ruined their lives with drugs sitting on a couch cracked out with a man they just met. Prostitutes are looked at as whores who cannot sustain a real career so they are forced to sell their bodies for sex. The prostitution industry is essentially just like any other service industry. The worker charges his or her customer for a service in exchange for money. Prostitution is currently illegal in all the US states except for some counties in Nevada, but still provides for millions of men and women across the country(Chen).Prostitutes, like any other employee deserve to have protection while at work and support from the government. If prostitution was legal strictly within a Brothel setting, the government could have much more control on the situation and sex work could be transformed. Having one setting where all prostitutio n was legal with protection by law enforcement and provided healthcare, all of the negative schemas that follow prostitution could potentially be eliminated. Legalizing these houses would reduce the percentage of HIV/AIDS among sex workers and reduce violence and sex crimes. Largely people are against the legalization of prostitution because they believe it will only contribute to the percentage of sex workers with sexually transmitted diseases. Legal brothels in Nevada have already proved thisShow MoreRelatedShould Prostitution Be Legal? Essay1145 Words   |  5 PagesShould prostitution be legal? Prostitution has been around for decades. Since 1780 BC the legalization of prostitution has been a controversial topic. Prostitution is the act or practice of engaging in promiscuous sexual relations especially for money.† Prostitution. Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2016. Many claim that is one of the oldest professions. If this is one of the oldest professions why is it still illegal? So many people have different opinions on the issueRead MoreShould Prostitution Be Legal1695 Words   |  7 Pagesthat prostitution will exist no matter what because men will always degrade women, and women, in turn, can do the same to men, even though these moral aspects are not connected with the legalization process, mostly depending on moral qualities of the society members, and not on a position on prostitution. Thus, the essay will try to prove why prostitution should not be legal with the help of analysis of the articles of the well-known scientists. While feminist theory represents prostitution as aRead MoreShould Prostitution Be Legal?1236 Words   |  5 Pagesmajority of people believe prostitution should stay illegal, claiming that the legalization of prostitution will only make the chances of getting an STD even higher, an increase in rape rates, and will also add to the growth of human trafficking. Although this could be the case, there have been many studies that tell a different story. Currently, Nevada has allowed prostitution in 11 of its counties with much success. There can be many benefits from the legalization of prostitution in the states. LegalizingRead MoreShould Prostitution Be Legal? Essay1261 Words   |  6 PagesProstitution has existed in history since before most people can remember. In our time, prostitution is hotly debated as to whether it should be a professional working job, or whether it is immoral and oppressive to women. This debate has existed since the dawn of time, and there is still no clear answer. Society demands that police should stop certain illicit activities from happening in their neighborhoods, but should law enforcement be made to waste their time and effort to arrest those thatRead MoreProstitution: It Should Be Legal 1431 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to the Merriam- Webster dictionary, prostitution is defined as â€Å"the work of a prostitute: the act of having sex in exchange for money† (cite). Underneath this definition is one that follows as, â€Å"the use of a skill or ability in a way that is not appropriate or respectable† (cite). Prostitution is a pressing matter in the United States and, as one can assume after reading the second definition given, implicated negatively throughout society. Many view this topic in an undesirable mannerRead MoreShould Prostitution Be Legal?1440 Words   |  6 PagesCanadian legal system stands prostitution. Prostitution by definition is the practice or occupation of engaging in sexual activity with s omeone for payment. Prostitution in our legal system can be dated back to the 18th century, this was the first Canadian statute to acknowledge prostitution. Prostitution in this time was handled by three legal approaches, regulation, prohibition and lastly rehabilitation. It is believed that because of these three legal approaches that is why prostitution is stillRead MoreShould Prostitution Be Legal?1057 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"A human body is a temple; we should love it and respect it.† How often have we come across those people who sell their bodies, so-called temples and have been termed as â€Å"prostitutes?† Prostitution can be defined as the profession of getting involved in sexual activity with someone and to get paid back in return. Sex and sex-related issues have always been the matter to be hidden, and the civilized people are considered to be not speaking about it at all. Despite the fact, none can escape it ourRead MoreShould Prostitution Be Legal?1150 Words   |  5 Pagesgroup of friends. The question is: Should prostitution be legal? My question is: Why shouldn’t it? By all means I respect the opinion that having sex for money is completely illegal in most states but what about stripping? Stripping is completely legal and paid for lap dances aren’t the only advancement allowed. Strippers are allowed to receive payment to have sexual encounters within the establishment and it is completely legal. Protection for working women should exist across the board, not justRead MoreShould Prostitution Be Legal?1371 Words   |  6 PagesKayla Beaty College Success Professor Jernigan 02/04/2015 Prositution in the U.S For my paper I chose the topic â€Å"Prostitution In the U.S† I picked this topic because I feel as if there’s a lot to discuss about the subject itself. Prostitution in my eyes, should be illegal in all parts of America. I feel as if the crime itself is degrading not only to women, but the families of those involved that choose to commit these acts. My personal opinion, going more into detail is that I grew up viewingRead MoreProstitution Should Not Be Legal1753 Words   |  8 Pagesthe topic of prostitution, most of us will readily agree that it is wrong as it portrays a negative image on women. Where this agreement usually ends, however, it is whether or not it’s a negative outcome. Whereas some are convinced that prostitution should be legal, others maintain that it should stay illegal because of moral intuitions. I disagree that prostitution should be legalized because it’s a form of slavery. Here are many feminists would probably object that prostitution is an utterly

The Significance Of Choice Essay Research Paper free essay sample

The Significance Of Choice Essay, Research Paper The Significance of Choice Victoria Bissell Brown put it best with her Hagiographas in, # 8220 ; Abortion Fight Is Over Choice. # 8221 ; The rubric entirely has a important significance. The # 8220 ; fight # 8221 ; is over the ability of an person or a group, to back up, deny or even see the action of holding an abortion. The # 8220 ; fight # 8221 ; is over the existent pick of our actions and our beliefs sing this or any other topic. Should adult females ( or work forces ) have the right to take whether or non they can hold an abortion? If they do non, so who makes the pick for them? Even with all the different attacks and regardless of the existent topic, the significance is still placed on the right to take. It is difficult for me to conceive of what it must be like for those who do non populate in a state where such picks are left to be independently announced, allow entirely holding such controversial topics as abortion rights be discussed and decided among the populace. We will write a custom essay sample on The Significance Of Choice Essay Research Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page We live in a state where we have the freedom to do up our ain heads. Where we even have the right to reason about such topics as abortion and drugs with those who disagree with us. Freedom of pick is a right frequently taken for granted even though we use it mundane. We have entree to it every minute of our lives and Thursday is enables us to do a pick regardless of the ground. As an added advantage this right besides allows new thoughts to be introduced into society and our positions to be widened through exposure to assortment. Freedom to believe, freedom to show, freedom to differ. It is besides really ennobling to province your ain sentiment, particularly on such a controversial topic. When a individual states their beliefs, they are saying more than merely # 8220 ; I am pro-choice # 8221 ; or # 8220 ; I am an anti-abortionist. # 8221 ; When they take a base and province their sentiment and beliefs they are stating, # 8220 ; I am capable of doing and saying an independent belief based on my ain ideas and or feelings. # 8221 ; This demonstrates strength, bravery and the ability to set themselves straight in the line of fire if their picks are non agreed with. In response to the action of doing a strong look, exerting their freedom of pick, and opening themselves to those around them, there is a certain feeling of accomplishment when a individual receives regard for their standing. As Victoria Brown described the regard and pride she had for her girl as they finished their treatment on their opposite positions of abortion rights ; # 8220 ; She wants the liberty to do her ain pick about abortion. And in that, she is true to the proud tradition of the abortion rights movement. # 8221 ;

Research Business Operations Craft Beer Bar

Question: Define the topic as a business function. What is its purpose? How will this topic affect the business we are trying to open? Directly apply a plan based on the topic for our business . Answer Purpose The purpose is to open Craft beer bar in Hagerstown city as the third most popular drink in US consumed after tea and coffee is beer. The concept will have European music, wooden seating, and standard glasses for serving beer with different uniform for male and female attendants. A simple decoration as in beer bars and for serving food silverware has to be used (Bethany Conroy). The food served will be according to the localities residing in Hagerstown city. Affecting Business Decision The beer bar business is huge crowd puller in Hagerstown city as each glass served has its own creation and innovation for consumers. The business will bring positive gains as the drink is consumed daily to enrich the taste and celebrate each day. Plan for Business The US beer market is huge for consumers and the market segment is Microbrewery refers to a brewery where 75% of beer is sold outside the shop and produces lees then 15,000 barrels of beer per year. Market Analysis As per the US market it can be seen 22% growth is sales with an overall market rising to 0.5%. The production volume of Craft in 2014 rose to 18% from the last financial year. This shows that beer imported is at 6.9% and the export rate shows 3.6% of brand. The production volume consists of 14.3% as microbrewery segment of beer brand in US. The market size has increased by 2 million barrels and the cans alone have contributed to less than 20% in the total US beer market (Brewers Association). Total Market Share In 2014 the total market share of Crafts was 11%. Total Market The overall beer market rose to $101.5 billion and alone Craft Beer market comprises of $19.6 billion in it alone. The Brewers Association said that the company is performing better from 2013 as 7.89% as compared to 2014. By breaking all records the small and medium sized organization broke all records (Nordrum) Target Market The target market is Hagerstown city while focusing on both men and women. Those customers who prefer malted beer be serving traditional values. The drink can be enjoyed with friends or family. The age group of people is between 21-40 years as they feel it represents a class of section different from non-beer drinkers. As per Mintel report 2013 on millennial state that people between the age group 25-34 years consume brands beer (Chen). Fig: 1 Craft Brew Industry [Source: www. college.usatoday.com] Total Feasible Market The feasibility to open Crafts in Hagerstown city is known to be feasible as the brands is enjoying its market share in against their competitors. Positioning Strategy The competitors of Crafts are Bennys Pub, Always Rons, The Corner Pub etc. and as the brand is opening in Hagerstown city it can use its product features. The strategy is using the ingredients such as malt hop varieties, maple syrup, aloha etc. The customers can opt for traditional beers as they feel beer makes them a different section of consumer altogether (Marsh). Marketing Plan Macro Environment Political Factor Taxation Policy Intervention by Government Social Factor High Purchasing Power Drinking Beer represents social class Capturing the US market Technological Factor Change in price of products Technology Improvement Using local festivals for encouraging people US is the 13th country in world leading to beer consumption Economic Environmental Factor Rising sales in holidays Recycling its product Legal Factor Smoking Ban Change in Drinking and Driving Law Micro Environment Competitors Bennys Pub aim is to come as a stranger and leave the place as a friend by having fostering such a environment Always Rons deals with restaurant, beer cafe and prepared food The Corner Pub owned by Vernon Darryl Sword hosts private parties, celebrations etc. with its spacious interiors (Thecornerpub.net). They have weekly draw at 9 pm everyday for attracting customers. Consumers The Beer drinkers celebrate emotion by gaining on experience by creating social networks and enjoying their drink. They want to enjoy each moment and foster friendship and at times it is compared to wines. Advertising Methods The adverting used while opening Craft Beer the modes of advertisement are online, public speaking and event sponsorship. This helps in connecting with the audience through social media sites such as Facebook, using ads, Google Ad words etc. The word of mouth spreading of information to people in Hagerstown city and sponsoring local events of city will make them popular (Heimonen and Uusitalo). Sales Tools Promotional Activities January Feb Lobster Promotion Live Entertainment Various Events taking place March Happy hour 4-7pm Happy Hour time to be Happy 5-8 pm Live music weekends Tuesdays celebrations Rock Baby Rock April DJ Friday Night Live Music Weekends After Work Timings May Sunday Brunch Free Kids Painting Kids Eating Free on Sundays June Happy Hours July Live Entertainment Flashback Sunday Brunch August Martini Mondays Happy Hour 4-7 September Live Entertainment Double points on purchasing beer as 2x October Live Music on Weekdays Face Painting for Kids November Live Entertainment December DJ sessions Christmas Party For promotions car show can take place by inviting various cars to display in Hagerstown city to entertain the audience. Selling beer at some dollars less than being actual fare displayed in menu for effective means of consuming more to attract more customers. Loyalty Plan The loyalty plan for repeated customers will be 30% off on the next drink for the day. The points earned by them will act as a loyalty purchased credited in their account. The account can be managed by providing a loyalty card used on the next purchase either on food or drink. The points earned will have a validity period of 2 months from using it (Gee, Coates and Nicholson). The points can be earned on combination say one pitcher/mug free with any draught beer. This will make the customer make to make repeat purchase by having an added advantage. References Bethany Conroy, Akron Roots Advertising 2015. "Craft Beer Bar. Downtown Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.". Craft-beer-bar.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 1 Feb. 2016. Brewers Association,. "National Beer Sales Production Data - Brewers Association". N.p., 2014. Web. 1 Feb. 2016. Chen, Xun Yao. "Why Craft Beer Attracts Millennials And Consumers With Momentum - Market Realist". Marketrealist.com. N.p., 2013. Web. 1 Feb. 2016. Gee, Robert, Graham Coates, and Mike Nicholson. "Understanding And Profitably Managing Customer Loyalty".Marketing Intelligence Planning26.4 (2008): 359-374. Web. Heimonen, Kari, and Outi Uusitalo. "The Beer Market And Advertising Expenditure". Marketing Intelligence Planning 27.7 (2009): 945-975. Web. Marsh, Rebecca. "A New Company Descriptor Takes Us Into A New Era". Marketing Intelligence Planning 29.1 (2011): n. pag. Web. NORDRUM, AMY. "Craft Beer Breaks Double-Digit Market Share For The First Time In US". IBT 2015. Web. 1 Feb. 2016. Thecornerpub.net,. "The Corner Pub - Friendly Irish Pub In Hagerstown, Maryland". N.p., 2015. Web. 1 Feb. 2016.

How to Format the Subject Matter Jurisdiction Sample Essay Template

How to Format the Subject Matter Jurisdiction Sample Essay TemplateThe Subject Matter Jurisdiction Sample Essay is an easy to use template to help you begin your 'paper work'. You can fill in the blanks as you go along and make sure it is correct before submission. It works great as a way to get a start on writing your own essay. In this tutorial we will look at how to format the document and write the first sentence.Before you begin writing the Subject Matter Jurisdiction Sample Essay, you need to determine what you are going to write about. An essay must contain three main parts and those are the opening, the first paragraph and the conclusion. Let's look at how to format each section.To get started with this process you will need to download a template of the type used in classroom settings for writing tests. A template is an easy to use tool to assist you when you are learning the format and structure of academic essays. You can look through several different templates online or you can purchase a template at your local bookstore. I would recommend that you purchase a high quality paper template because they are inexpensive and they will help you save time and money in the long run.The Subject Matter Jurisdiction Sample Essay requires the first paragraph and the first two sentences to be completed and the third sentence to follow after the first paragraph. All of the other paragraphs require the same amount of thought and should be well written. Remember, it is best to write in chronological order. Write the beginning, middle and end of each paragraph on the same page and then continue writing from the last paragraph in to the first paragraph.When the first paragraph is complete, it needs to have a clear summary sentence to answer the reader's question. It should also be factual and provide information so the reader knows what the essay is about. To write the summary sentence, use your hand and take the time to think about what you want to say and then summ arize the information into one sentence.After you have written the summary sentence, you should write the conclusion sentence. Just remember, the conclusion needs to be specific and tie in to what you just wrote in the first paragraph. If you didn't find the information you wanted, use the outline or other reference materials to help you in this part of the essay. Finally, the first sentence of the second paragraph needs to be a concise summary of what the first paragraph was about.Just like any other type of essay, you will need to edit your work at least five times. This can help you get the best results possible. You will notice once you read and edit the essay, it will flow much better. Keep this in mind when you are editing your essay.The Subject Matter Jurisdiction Sample Essay is an easy to use template to help you begin your 'paperwork' with essay writing. You can fill in the blanks as you go along and make sure it is correct before submission. It works great as a way to get a start on writing your own essay.

International Cooperation can only be materialized through International Institutions

Hate Relationship with Writers and theInternet

Talkin About a Revolution The Love/Hate Relationship with Writers and theInternet When the masses first realized the power and reach of the Internet, it was a bit like the fences being torn down at Woodstock. They werent very effective anyway, but once they were down, everyone, the dirty, the silly, the outrageous, and the dull stormed into the mudpit. In the days before the Internet, it was mighty hard to get published in any sense of the word.   Writers without the backing of a traditional media house had to resort to zines, vanity presses, or just weeping quietly over their Chai teas in sporadically attended coffee-house gatherings. All that would soon change. While there still may not be a lot of money out there for the majority of writers, there is coveted exposure.   Consider this. In 2003, there were 500,000 blogs on the Web. By 2004, there were 4 million. The latest statistics available reveal that by December of 2010, there were 152 million blogs. Some real writers were, and are, skeptical.   And with the dawning of social media such as Facebook, the chance for anyone who fancies himself a writer to post whatever and whenever the muse strikes them, only makes many of those authors roll their eyes even farther back into their heads. Consider the poem    The New Yorker   published this week by mega-star author Sherman Alexie: The Facebook Sonnet Welcome to the endless high school Reunion. Welcome to past friends And lovers, however kind or cruel. Lets undervalue and unmend The present. Why cant we pretend Every stage of life is the same? Lets exhume, resume, and extend Childhood. Lets all play the games That occupy the young. Let fame And shame intertwine. Let ones search For God become public domain. Let church.com become our church. Lets sign up, sign in, and confess Here at the altar of loneliness. While Alexies sonnet does not speak directly about the irritations many published authors feel about lesser known or obscure writers, the themes comes across as a bit cranky, and perhaps somewhat patronizing towards those who put their thoughts out there in written form for all to see. I have spoken to many authors who do not feel blogging is real writing (and granted, a lot of it is not, but some of it is).   And Facebook?. PLUUUEEEZE. The way I see it, the good writers will eventually win out and there is no harm in letting the poorer ones at least try to improve their skills.   Many of my friends are writers, and they regularly post their poems, essays, or just general witticisms on Facebook.   The feedback I personally get is invaluable, and I enjoy being able to be exposed to the thoughts of my friend and colleagues, as well as helping them in return by way of comment, support, or constructive criticism. While writers like Alexie may poo-poo the common man and his attempt at communicating, other writers are more accepting. I was surprised when I asked some very famous authors like Marge Piercy to friend me (not just become a fan of her page) and she accepted, as did Albert Brooks and Lewis Black. Now, I cant know if they personally ever view their Facebook pages, but they might and who knows? Im one of the 152 million vying for a spot at the table in Olympus.