Books to Listen to While You Knit (Plus Pattern Ideas)

Books to Listen to While You Knit (Plus Pattern Ideas) Through Book Riots relationship with Audible, the leading provider of audiobooks, Book Riot readers who are new to Audible can click here to download a free audiobook and get a 30-day free trial of the service. Audible offers more than 150,000 titles that can be played on iPhone, Kindle, Android, and 500 other devices. Knitting and listening to books go together like peas and carrots. When you knit, you sometimes sit still for hours at a time, keeping your hands and eyes busy but leaving your ears completely free. Its the perfect recipe for listening.  And wouldnt it be fun to listen to a book that lasted exactly the length of the project youre working on? In search of new recommendations, I reached out to a few dozen of my craftiest, most bookish friends. Like the wonderful, generous people they are, they shared their favorite listens like gangbusters, and you can rest-assured that these audiobooks are knitter-tested and approved. Here are our picks arranged by length and genre, along with a few pattern ideas to spark your imagination. (And, of course, knitting times are approximate and will vary widely based on the knitter, pattern, yarn weight, needle size, gauge, and all that fun stuff.)  Any of these listens would work perfectly for other crafty projects, too. Happy crafting! Mug Cozy: 1 hour Pick a Pocket Cozies by Simply Notable Fiction: Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell, read by various (short stories 1 hr) Memoir: This is the Story of a Happy Marriage  by Ann Patchett, read by the author (essays 1 hr) Non Fiction: Lost at Sea  by Jon Ronson, read by the author (essays 1 hr) Western: Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx, read by Campbell Scott (1 hr) Young Readers: Fortunately, the Milk  by Neil Gaiman, read by the author (1 hr) Baby Hat: 1-2 hours Pointy Hats for Newborns by Purl Bee Fiction: Love, Dishonor, Marry, Die, Cherish, Perish by David Rakoff, read by the author (2.5 hrs) Memoir: My Brief History by Stephen Hawking, read by Matthew Brenher (2 hrs) Non Fiction: The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff, read by Simon Vance (2.5 hrs) Mystery: Mulholland Drive by Michael Connelly, read by David W. Collins (2 hrs) Young Readers: Fantastic Mr. Fox and Other Animal Stories by Roald Dahl, read by various (2.5 hrs) Fingerless Mitts: 3-4 hours Fightin Words by Annie Watts Fiction: Home by Toni Morrison, read by the author (4.5 hrs) Memoir: Zombie Spaceship Wasteland by Patton Oswalt, read by the author (3.5 hrs) Non Fiction: The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama, read by Howard Cutler (3 hrs) Science Fiction: The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, read by Alan Munro (4 hrs) Young Readers: The BFG by Roald Dahl, read by David Walliams (4.5 hrs) Scarf: 5-6 hours Mr. Fox Stole My Heart by Tiny Owl Knits Fiction: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, read by Ethan Hawke (6 hrs) Memoir: Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris, read by the author (6.5 hrs) Non Fiction: The Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell, read by the author (5 hrs) Fantasy: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman, read by the author (5.5. hrs) Young Readers: Doll Bones by Holly Black, read by Nick Podehl (5 hrs) Socks: 7-8 hours Love Socks by Devon Clement Fiction: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, read by Dan O’Grady (7.5 hrs) Memoir: The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Mans Quest to be a Better Husband  by David Finch (7 hrs) Non Fiction: Stiff by Mary Roach, read by Shelly Frasier (8 hrs) Science Fiction: Redshirts by John Scalzi, read by Wil Wheaton (7.5 hrs) Young Readers: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, read by Kate Rudd (7 hrs) Baby Leggings: 9-10 hours Little Leggings by Susie Johns Fiction: City of Thieves by David Benioff, read by Ron Perlman (8.5 hrs) Memoir: Let’s Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson, read by the author (8.5 hrs) Non Fiction: Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard, read by Paul Michael (10 hrs) Historical Fiction: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, read by Morven Christie Lucy Gaskell (10 hrs) Young Readers: Eleanor Park by Rainbow Rowell, read by Rebecca Lowman Sunil Malhotra (9 hrs) Cowl: 11-14 hours Moko-Moko by Olga Jazzy Fiction: The Good Lord Bird by James McBride, read by Michael Boatman (14.5 hrs) Memoir: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, read by the author (13 hrs) Non Fiction: The Mushroom Hunters by Langdon Cook, read by Kevin Free (11 hrs) Historical Fiction: Master and Commander by Patrick OBrian, read by Simon Vance (13 hrs) Young Readers: The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni, read by Lloyd James (10.5 hrs) Shawl: 15+ hours Stripe Study Shawl by Veera Välimäki Fiction: Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, read by Fenella Woolgar (15 hrs) Memoir: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, read by Edward Herrmann (14 hrs) Non Fiction:  Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver (14.5 hrs) Mystery: The Barbarian Nurseries by Héctor Tobar, read by Frankie J. Alvarez (16 hrs) Young Readers: The Henry Huggins Collection by Beverly Cleary, read by Neil Patrick Harris (15.5 hrs) Baby Blanket: 20+ hours Four Corners Baby Blanket by Purl Bee Fiction: The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell, read by Jonathan Aris Paula  Wilcox (19 hrs) Memoir: Life by Keith Richards, read by Johnny Depp Joe Hurley (23 hrs) Non Fiction: Genius by James Gleick, read by Dick Estell (20 hrs) Historical Fiction: The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory, read by Susan Lyons (23 hrs) Young Readers: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, read by Barbara Caruso (20 hrs) Sweater: 25+ hours Chelsea Morning by Elizabeth Davis Fiction: The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe, read by Joe Barrett (28 hrs) Memoir: Joseph Anton: A Memoir by Salman Rushdie, read by Sam Dastor Salman Rushdie (27 hrs) Non Fiction: Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi, read by Scott Brick (26.5 hrs) Science Fiction: 11-22-63 by Stephen King, read by Craig Wasson (30.5 hrs) Young Readers: The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis, read by various (30 hrs) Pants: 30+ hours Knitted Pants by Kristina McGowan Fiction: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, read by David Pittu (32.5 hrs) Memoir: Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela, read by Michael Boatman (27.5 hrs) Non Fiction: The Great Shark Hunt by Hunter S. Thompson, read by Scott Sowers (29 hrs) Historical Fiction: Outlander by Dianna Gabaldon, read by Davina Porter (33 hrs) Young Readers: The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, read by Carolyn McCormick (35 hrs) Blanket: 40+ hours The Beekeepers Quilt by Tiny Owl Knits Fiction: 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami, read by Allison Hiroto, Marc Vietor Mark Boyett (47 hrs) Memoir: Far From the Tree by Andre Solomon, read by the author (40.5 hrs) Non Fiction: Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, read by Suzanne Toren (41.5) hrs Fantasy: Game of Thrones series  by George R. R. Martin, read by Roy Dotrice  (202 hrs) Young Readers: The Inheritance Cycle series by Christopher Paolini, read by Gerard Doyle (101 hrs) A few parting words of wisdom: several knitters mentioned that they have to be careful when the book gets exciting because their gauge can tighten up (One knitter even said her worst knitting ever occurred when she listened to  The Shining she had to frog the whole project at the end!). And sometimes they have to  rewind a little at tricky parts, especially for lace, Fair Isle, and other techniques that require strict attention. Favorite listens were ones that are engaging but forgiving enough that the knitter can tune out for a few minutes when the going gets tricky. Thanks to Abby, Alex, Alexia, Amanda, Amber, Courtney, Emily, Kim, Laura, Liza, Lovina, Michelle, Nancy, Rebecca, Tricia, and Valerie for sharing your suggestions. You guys are inspiring crafters readers! _________________________ Sign up for our newsletter to have the best of Book Riot delivered straight to your inbox every week. No spam. We promise. To keep up with Book Riot on a daily basis, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, , and subscribe to the Book Riot podcast in iTunes or via RSS. So much bookish goodnessall day, every day. Sign up for Audiobooks to receive the latest from the audiobooks world.

The University Center For British Art - 1683 Words

In the Yale Center for British Art, one can find a beautiful map titled: â€Å"The Description of Jarsey a(nn)o 1600.† One trait that stands out with this map compared to others drafted the 16th and early 17th centuries is the exquisite detail depicted in the topographical features. According to a display featured in an exhibition of the map, this is â€Å"from the collection of George Legge, first Baron Dartmouth; previously in the English Royal map collection† (Yale Center, From the Collection). One might wonder why a map with such extensive detail would be in the hands of the Royal Collection, and thus why it was commissioned by Queen Elizabeth I. According to R. A. Skelton: â€Å"it is not difficult to see how, in the course of business, some maps†¦show more content†¦This could be a major factor in why the island was so heavily contested for hundreds of years; the island is arguably a great launching point for the French Navy to attack the British. With c ommunication during this time period being relatively slow given the lack of modern technology, it would have been easy for the island to be captured by the French without mainland Britain immediately knowing. Thus, there was a great incentive on the part of the British to keep this island well defended so as to protect it from any potential French attacks. Such an assertion can be bolstered not only by the fact that Queen Elizabeth I decided to build a castle off the southern coast of the island in 1594, which could have been done to provide ample protection of the south coastline, but also the production of the map itself in 1600 which is now held by the Yale Center for British Art. There are many features of this map that should be acknowledged. First, there are twelve parishes noted. Within these parishes, there are 2057 households noted, all distributed within the map by town. Some churches, windmills and other landmarks are denoted on the island with pictures and names of said places. Looking past this basic information, the more detailed material begins in the southern part of the map. While topographical information is scattered throughout the map, the majority of this information is marked solely on the southern side of Jersey. What appears to be hills andShow MoreRelatedPhiladelphi The United States1183 Words   |  5 Pagessixth-largest metropolitan area in the country. Located in the Northeastern United States at the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, Philadelphia is the economic and cultural center of the Delaware Valley. Popular nicknames for Philadelphia are Philly and The City of Brotherly Love. The city is the center of economic ac tivity in Pennsylvania, and is home to the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and several Fortune 500 companies. Philadelphia is a cityRead More Origins of the British East India Company and Its Influence on the British Imperial Government and North American Colonies1117 Words   |  5 PagesThe British East India Company played a key role in one of the most successful periods of British history. The East India Company was responsible for the invasion of the Indian subcontinent, which became one of the empire’s leading supplier of profits. The East India Company was responsible for the overthrow of Hong Kong and other Asian countries; it was responsible for creating Britain’s Asian empire. The British East India Company began as a joint-stock corporation of traders and investors whichRead MoreThe University Of Surrey1202 Words   |  5 PagesThe University of Surrey is an open exploration college situated inside of the region town of Guildford, Surrey, in the South East of England, United Kingdom. The college represents considerable authority in science, designing, prescription and business. It got its sanction on 9 September 1966, and was beforehand arranged close Battersea Park in south-west London. The foundation was known as Battersea College of Technology before picking up college status. Its roots, notwithstanding, retreat to theRead MoreThe World s Tallest Skyscraper And Man Made Islands1547 Words   |  7 Pagesmore opening every year to meet demand. Teachers and administrators make much more than in their home countries, and benefits often include free education for children. Some prominent private schools include GEMS schools (both British and American c urriculum), Dubai British School, and the American School of Dubai. Living Costs Living costs in Dubai are similar to other large cities worldwide, though with the accommodation generally provided, expats in the city find themselves with quite a bit ofRead MoreArt Museum Of Fort Worth Texas877 Words   |  4 Pagesinfluence and style continued at the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth Texas. Louis Kahn is a modern architect that designed the Kimbell Art Museum. Kahn emerged from the Beaux-Arts movement but became one of the foremost American Modernist architects of the 1950’s and 60’s (Kimball, 1990). Kahn created a building for the Kimbell Art Museum that also complimented the art and did not distract the viewer (Kimball, 1990). He was commissioned to design the Kimbell Art Museum from 1966-1972). â€Å"Kahn’s museumsRead MoreThe Importance Of Research Program1471 Words   |  6 Pagesresearch course and earning credit with collaborative projects with undergraduates and PhD students through investigation of international law, lobbying, military activity, and banknotes (â€Å"IR 392: Undergraduate Research Program†). Within the college of arts and sciences at USC, undergraduates travel all over the world to perform service, study culture, or engage in a research program for a summer, semester, or even a year (â€Å"Overseas Studies†). Johana Reyes, graduate of USC’s IR program, was able to studyRead MoreImportant Events in the 70s829 Words   |  4 Pages1970 The Beatles break up, and 448 U.S. colleges and universities are closed or go on strike and killing of students by the National Guard at Kent State and Jackson State universities. First Earth Day celebrated, reinvigorating the environmental movement worldwide. Soviet dissident and author Alexander Solzhenitsyn wins the Nobel Prize for literature. U.S. forces in Vietnam reduced to below 400,000 troops. The Apollo 13 space mission was launched from Cape Kennedy and the Russian unmannedRead MoreMahatma Gandhi : Gandhi ( Gandhi )1176 Words   |  5 Pagesthere were many influent individuals in the world, but no one stands out more to me than Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, also known as Gandhi Ji, Mahatma Gandhi and Bapu. He was a nationalist leader in India, known for establishing freedom in India from British through nonviolent movement. He professed the term’s passive resistance and civil disobedience insufficient for his work, however he devised a term called, Satyagraha (truth and firmness). He worked his whole life for peace and freedom in India, whichRead MoreImperialism in Burma1739 Words   |  7 Pagesis†¦ The British benefit and hurt the country in many ways, completely changing the country forever. Western imperialism in Burma was more costly than beneficial; even though the British improved and modernized education, transportation, and daily life, they also dest royed the economy, culture, and religion, ultimately causing more harm than good by dividing the country, killing many natives, and scarring the country forever. The British greatly weakened politics in Burma. When the British invadedRead MoreBirmingham City University And University Of Central England1541 Words   |  7 PagesBirmingham City University (abbrev. as BCU; and beforehand Birmingham Polytechnic and the University of Central England in Birmingham) is a recently settled British college in the city of Birmingham, England. It is the second biggest of five colleges in the city, the other four being Aston University, University of Birmingham, University College Birmingham, and Newman University. It is the third most very positioned of the five colleges in Birmingham as per the Complete University Guide, beneath both

Langston HughesHarlem And The Figurative Lynching Of Dreams

â€Å"Harlem† and the Figurative Lynching of Dreams During the years preceding the publication of â€Å"Harlem†, Langston Hughes was subject to an increasing censorship of his work and serious accusations of treason by the U.S government (J. Miller 79). Throughout his entire career as an author and activist, he wrote extensively on racial injustices experienced by his fellow African Americans in the early twentieth century. Though support for racial equality was growing at the time, his criticisms of American society were often used to incriminate him. To avoid the consequences of speaking out directly against the status quo, he began to use more elusive language that could bypass censors (B. Miller 165). In â€Å"Harlem† Hughes incorporates figurative†¦show more content†¦Until then, the dream will continue to deteriorate like the images he uses to portray it. But how is a dream like a raisin or a sore? Can the complex emotional impact of racial oppress ion really be expressed as unpleasant depictions of food and the body? The visual imagery of a sun-dried raisin could be interpreted as a dream once ripe and full, now left to stagnate like a grape in the sun. The sore, perhaps inconsequential, can be envisioned as an infected wound that could spread and thus the dream is one so necessary that it may be impossible to continue without its actualization. Onwuchekwa insists, â€Å"the Afro-American is not unlike the raisin, for he is in a sense a desiccated trunk of his original African self, used and abandoned in the American Wilderness with the stipulation that he rot and disappear† (78). The olfactory and gustatory imagery of the meat and sweet also stir up unpleasant memories of putrid smells and rancid tastes and together express the emotional degradation that arises when one is denied their basic rights. However, the deeper meaning behind these various types of imagery lies in the cultural context of Hughes’s

Office Administration Thesis - 11471 Words

FACTORS RELATED TO DROP OUTS AND PERFORMANCE OF CWTS STUDENTS AT LAGUNA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY SAN PABLO CITY CAMPUS ACADEMIC YEAR 2010 - 2011 ------------------------------------------------- A Research Paper Presented to the Faculty of the College of Teacher Education Laguna State Polytechnic University San Pablo City Campus San Pablo City ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- In Partial Of Fulfillment Of the Requirements in Methods of Research for the Degree Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Social Studies ELAINE ROSE P. CARANDANG October 2010 Republic of the Philippines LAGUNA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY San Pablo City Campus San Pablo City†¦show more content†¦2. What is the level of performance of students enrolled in CWTS during 2010 – 2011? 3. How do the respondents perceive the factors related to the number of drop outs: 4.6 teacher’s methodologies; 4.7 attitude of students; and 4.8 schedule? 4. Is there a significant relationship between the profile of the respondents and their performance? 5. Is there a significant relationship between the performance of the respondents and factors related to CWTS? 6.9 teacher’s methodologies; 6.10 attitude of students; and 6.11 schedule? Majority of the respondents are in age of 17 with 28 or 47%; 43 or 72 are female; 10 or 15% are taking BS Biology; and 52 or 87% are in 1st year level. 19 or 32% of the grade of the respondents ranges 2.6 – 3.0. Students’ attitude (mean = 3.57) and Programs’ schedule (mean = 3.56) are interpreted as ‘Agree’. While teachers’ methodologies (mean = 3.33) is interpreted as ‘uncertain’. The person – related factors resulted as ‘significant’ to the level of performance of respondents. The performance of the respondents is ‘not significant’ to the CWTS – related variables. Conclusion 1. The hypothesis that ‘There is no significant relationship between the profile of the respondents and their performance’ is ‘Rejected’. 2. The hypothesis that ‘There is no significant relationship between the performance of students and factors related to CWTS program’ is ‘Accepted’Show MoreRelatedThe Defence Of Defence Diplomacy828 Words   |  4 PagesBy 2015, Indonesia was increasingly involved in defence diplomacy. The Indonesian Defence White Paper issued by the current administration in 2015 expresses clearly how defence diplomacy will be used to further Indonesia’s national interests in the defence sector. In its implementation, international cooperation will be employed as its key instrument. Defence diplomacy itself was first included in the Indonesian Defence White Paper in 2008. However, the document only included one mention of defenceRead MoreProgram Structure And Resources For Business Administration1515 W ords   |  7 Pagesare good to know when it comes achieving â€Å"the highest academic degree one can earn in the business administration field within the United States and several other countries.† (Schweitzer, 2016) As we dive into the discussions of program structure and resources, allow me to share several insights personally obtained throughout this week’s Case Assignment. What Is A Ph.D. Degree in Business Administration? First, it might be helpful to know that the formal title, Doctor of Philosophy, is often presentedRead MoreStudent And Graduate Level Writing898 Words   |  4 Pagesorg/plagiarism-101/what-is-plagiarism Sources Used Indirectly (DBA vs. PhD in Business Administrations Programs, n.d.) DBA vs. PhD in Business Administrations Programs. (n.d.). All Star Directories, Inc. (2002-2017). DBA vs. PhD in Business Administration Programs. Retrieved 2017 April 12, from: http://www.allbusinessschools.com/business-administration/common-questions/dba-vs-phd-in-business-administration/ (Doctor of Philosophy, n.d.) Doctor of Philosophy. (n.d.). Retrieved 2017 April 11, fromRead MoreRelationship Between Strategic Budgetary System And Power Infrastructure Development Essay784 Words   |  4 Pagesthis study was to investigate the relationship between strategic budgetary system and power infrastructure development in Nigeria. Secondary data were gathered from Central Bank of Nigeria, Ministry of finance, Accountant General Office of the Federation, Budget Office of the Federation, Power Holding Company of Nigeria Plc, and Nigerian Electric Regulatory Commission. Surveys were also conducted at six public sector organizations at federal level in Nigeria. This chapter provides a brief summaryRead MoreThe Problems Encountered of Accounting Students1312 Words   |  6 PagesAssessment of the Respondent Regards to the Leadership of the Administration. . . . . . . . . . 53 13. Assessment of the Respondent with Regards to Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 14. Assessment of the Respondent with Regards to Employee- Employee Relationship . . . . . . . . . . 57 15. Assessment of the Respondent with Regards to the relationship p between administration and employee. . . 59 16. Assessment of the respondents withRead MoreWomen s Impact On The World War II1361 Words   |  6 Pageslens, which the following sources indicate in their arguments. The monograph Eating for Victory: Food Rationing and the politics of Domesticity by Amy Bentley centers on the American mindset concerning food that changed during World War II; her thesis maintaining that the Roosevelt administration’s decision to institute legal rationing, proven in its ethical rightness in that this choice ultimately bettered the average American’s diet. Bentley justifies it through the apparent constraints of theRead MoreThe Advancement For Equality Of Women974 Words   |  4 Pagesnot that women are above men, it is instead the advancement for equality of women. Thesis Statement: The actual meaning of feminism is not that women are above men, it is instead the advancement for equality of women. Organizational Pattern: Categorical I. Intro A. Attention Getter: With a show of hands how many of you all think feminists believe that men are evil and that females are the superior gender? B. Thesis Statement: The actual meaning of feminism is not that women are above men, it is insteadRead MoreNew Deal Dbq Outline975 Words   |  4 PagesAnalyze the responses of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration to the problems of the Great Depression. How effective were these responses? How did they change the role of the federal government? Thesis Statement: During Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency, his administration helped and tried to solve the problems of the Great Depression. He caused the government to play a very important role in society and from their help many people responded with their opinion of what they felt about it. Read MoreGas Prices in the United States1257 Words   |  5 Pagesgasoline prices rise to levels above $3 and $4 dollars and even up to $5 a gallon it hurts the economy because it hurts consumers. This paper focuses on gasoline prices and how gasoline prices affect the way Americans drive their cars and trucks. Thesis: Notwithstanding the cynical view that gasoline distributors are manipulating prices to gouge consumers, the literature reflects that prices rise and fall in most cases primarily based on market-driven forces, and on problems with refineries. MoreoverRead MoreResearch Communication Competition1038 Words   |  5 PagesNew thesis competition Nine graduate-level students competed in Illinois State’s inaugural Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition held in February in front of a large audience in the Normal Theater. The research communication competition, devised by the University of Queensland in Australia, challenges master’s and Ph.D. students to describe their scholarly topic and its significance to a general audience in three minutes or less. The top finishers at the event received cash prizes, and the winner

Causes Of World War I (2614 words) Essay Example For Students

Causes Of World War I (2614 words) Essay Causes Of World War IOn June 28, a Serbian student, Gavrilo Princip, spurred Europe into the most catastrophic event of modern history, assassinating Austrian Archduke, Francis Ferdinand. Yet, somewhere behind this simple act lies a much deeper and complex origin to a war unlike any had ever seen or even imagined. Profound improvements in war technology, growing tensions between neighboring European ethnic groups, and a comprehensive system of alliances and treaties, which all defined The First World War, resulted in the essential annihilation of an entire generation of European men and led to an equally devastating War twenty-five years later. The causes of such, and the appointment of blame, have been tenaciously argued and re-argued by historians from all perspectives and biases. This paper will also examine the question of who is to blame for World War I. The initial conclusion to the question of responsibility was handed down at the treaty of Versailles following Germanys signin g of the armistice on November 11, of 1918, ending the War. The treaty placed the blame of the war solely on Germanys shoulders, dealing her tremendously harsh punishments that ensured severe detriment to Germanys economy, military and general prestige. This would also lead a shamed Germany into a decade of despair and finger pointing that would see a radical Adolf Hitler lead his downtrodden masses into the Second World War. The Versailles treaty, plainly drafted by avaricious victors seeking exorbitant reparations on the basis of renewed sentiments of hate, prejudice and blind fury, in no way reflects the true picture of responsibility for World War I. Though Germany deserves an allotment of the blame, and possibly a greater portion than any other participant in the war does, certainly there were factors outside of Germanys control that led to the war. These factors, which find their roots dispersed throughout a half centurys time leading up to the war, include: the establishment of alliances among the leading powers of Europe, following a history of wars seeking to maintain a balance of power among these nations; nationalist ideals of unity and ethnic supremacy; and an inability by the leading statesmen of the time to work out an efficient and compromising solution to the problem at hand. Ultimately, every major power involved in the War, and the representatives of those countries, without exception, can be justly apportioned, to a greater or lesser degree, based on the aforementioned criteria, a part of the blame. The calculated system of alliances that determined the sides for World War I were carefully established in the mid-19th Century to sustain an even balance of power throughout Europe. Germanys Otto Von Bismarck established these alliances in the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. France, soundly defeated, lost territories in Alsace and Lorraine, as well as being handed heavy war debts, and Bismarck predicted an eventual attempt by the French to regain their land and integrity. The politically savvy Bismarck, to prevent any French aggression, organized a triumvirate of leading European powers, Germany, Austria and Italy, and formed the Triple Alliance in 1891, effectively isolating France within Europe. This, the most significant of a number of alliances established by Bismarck with other eastern powers including Russia, also allowed Germany to mediate and ease tensions as Russia and Austria continually jockeyed for dominance in the Balkans. Therefore, of the countries that made up the Triple Alliance, clearly Germany had the greatest influence on the outcome of the events leading up to World War I. Opposing Bismarcks Triple Alliance was France, Russia and Great Britains Triple Entente. France, who had obvious agitation with Germany, sought to counter the Central Powers with an alliance of its own. France immediately looked to Russia whom they knew had a fierce conflict of interest with Austria, Germanys most powerful ally. Russia, who was experiencing intense domesticate volatility, did not hesitate to join forces with a reliable French nation. Lacking from the dyad was a third power that could counter Germanys well-established military forces. England initially remained neutral, as it sought no defense or expanse of European territories. However, as the late 19th Century dragged on and Germany continued a frenetic expanse of their navy and began to challenge Britains military and economic prowess, England had no choice but to join France and Russia for Englands best interest at home and abroad. Thus, the Triple Entente was formally established in 1914 and the opposing sides of World War I had taken shape. So, what blame if any can be handed down with respect to the establishment of alliances? For Germany this question is complicated. When one examines the initial intentions of Bismarck in creating Germanys allies it is clear that Bismarck was solely devoted to the interest of peace and balance of power. He had the means and support to increase an already large German Empire but opted for a more tranquil Europe at the expense of land and economic gains. However, Bismarcks greedy successors, namely Kaiser Wilhelm, according to most contemporary sources saw the Triple Alliance as a tool to expand the German Empire. Just prior to the War Germany and the Kaiser maintained its status as a non-aggressor, saying that Germany, Is ostensibly making every effort to preserve peace and that Germany is, Ready to mediate for peace with Austria(480). The other side of the argument of German motive is presented by German historian Immanuel Geiss, who shows that the Tripl e Alliance was a German attempt to become a world power, not a world peacekeeper. Geisss essential argument is that the Triple Alliance, Was a result of the German desire to raise the Reich from the status of a continental power to that of a world power(501). Geiss is quick to note that Germanys ambitious naval program, as well as its ever-increasing influence in European affairs, as indicators of aggression. Donald Kagan, another historian, reinforces the points made by Geiss: From the late 1890s imperial Germany was fundamentally dissatisfied power, eager to disrupt the status quo and to achieve its expansive goals, by bullying if possible, by war if necessary (520). The ultimate proof of Germanys ambitious plans are spelled out in the September Program which was released immediately following the outbreak of war. German historian Fritz Fischer claims that the September Program had been established well in advance of the war and that, Germany unleashed the war precisely to achieve its purposes (518). The provisions of the plan, set in motion by the forming of the Triple Alliance, would establish Germany as the unequivocal dominant force in European economy and politics. Germany would seize lands and forge its influence over, France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Austria, Poland, and perhaps Italy, Sweden and Norway (519), as stated directly by the September Program. However, Germany was not the only country who saw the alliances as a means to advance an empire. France too was possibly guilty of having intentions other than peace in mind when forming its alliances. Max Monteglas, defending Germanys innocence, notes that France, Aimed at recovering Alsace Lorraine and also hoped to annex the Saar Basin (449). He also shows that France, in an aggressive move, Compelled England to abandon her neutrality before Belgiums neutrality was violated (452). Though Monteglass arguments are intriguing, one could easily look at Frances ambition to re-take Alsace Lorraine as j ustifiable and her eagerness to join with England as a simple matter of defense against a much stronger Germany. Like France, the nations of Austria, Russia, England and Italy all could justify their attachment to a particular alliance as a matter of self-defense against a greater force. Only for Germany did the Triple Alliance offer the potential to increase an empire and disrupt the stability of European affairs. Vie-Nam EssayThe third, and most vital mistake, belongs to Germany. Germany, seemingly determined to go to war, refused numerous offers and suggestions by primarily England to negotiate with Austria and Russia to prevent a continental war. After loudly dismissing an English proposal from Sir Edward Grey, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to convene as one of four major powers to promote a peaceful end to the increasing tensions in Europe, Germany also ignored Britains request to mediate the Balkan conflict. Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg, Chancellor of the German Empire, recognized the implications of Germanys refusal to adhere to Great Britains requests: Since we have already refused one English proposal for a conference, it is impossible for us to waive a limine this English suggestion also. By refusing every proposition for mediation, we shall be held responsible by the conflagration by the whole world, and be set forth as the original instigators of the war(478). U pon German defeat four years later, the Treaty of Versailles would be based heavily on these same principles. Adjacent to Germanys lack of interest in mediation was its vehement support of any Austrian action. This position by Germany was clearly expressed by Heinrich Leonhard von Tschirschky, German Ambassador to Austria-Hungary, when he relayed to Austria, That Germany would support the Monarchy through thick and thin in whatever it might decide regarding Serbia(460). This statement is hardly a mediative plea for Austrian compromise. Austrian confidence in this statement was strengthened when Kaiser Wilhelm offered Austria Carte Blanche, or total support, in its military actions. With Germany standing strong at its back, Austria was now poised to exercise harsh military punishment on Serbia that would undoubtedly trigger Russias and the rest of Europes involvement. Had Germany instead used its influence to pacify Austrian aggression and therefore subdue Russias fears, then the conflict could have remained localized and a world war could have been prevented. It is pure speculation that Germany would have been able to pacify Austria. Austria seemed intent from the beginning to prove its power over Serbia by harsh militaristic means. It is even further speculation that in light of a German detachment from the Balkan conflict that Russia would have followed suit. Russia, seeking the same nationalistic growth as all of Europes competing powers, had a history of influence throughout the Balkan region that offered Russia potentials in economic and political expansion. Likewise, Frances involvement in the affair was not a simple matter of altruism. France sought to regain lands it had lost to Germany almost fifty years prior as well as a renewed respect as a world empire. Great Britain, though to all appearances innocent, selfishly bathed in its content while European tensions heated to a boiling point. Had Great Britain been clear on its stance from early on, then Germany may have stepped down as Europes playground bully. In light of these arguments one cannot justly apportion blame to a single nation or person. Rather, it was a collection of nations all seeking economic, military, and territorial expansion at the expense of anyone who got in their way. Driven by false ideals of ethnocentrism, all convinced of divine supremacy, the leaders and peoples of those European nations found themselves spiraling into a half a decade of absolute death and destruction. Two gunshots by a Serbian nationalist triggered billions more and one man who killed for his country caused millions to die for theirs. Yet, behind it all lay a vast and complex political structure that for reasons to be argued about but never proven, crumbled to the ground and left Europe and the world to question, why? Bibliographyworld book encyclopedia 1982max monteglasluigi albertiniHistory Essays

4 Ways to Handle Missing Images on a Website ... #Beginner-Friendly

If you have a website where you add content frequently, there is a possibility that over time, some of your websites images will go missing. This post will help you handle missing images to avoid negatively impacting your sites user experience.Why might images go missing on your website? There can be several reasons for this:It is possible that images are deleted from their original locationOver time, images may have been renamed or moved to a different locationImages may also become corrupt, which prevents them from displaying correctly on the browserThey may undergo changes in permissions: for instance, viewing may be restricted to a certain number of users What missing images look like in web browsersAn example of a missing image in Chrome (on the right)Although each browser handles things slightly differently, browsers generally show some type of broken image icon.Beyond just generally looking bad, this broken image can also mess up the layout of your page because the broken imag e icon is usually smaller than your original image.If the missing image was the background of an element, the structure of the page should not be altered. However, a missing background image could lead to reduced contrast or visibility of foreground text and other elements, thereby leading to inconvenience for the visitor and hurting your websites accessibility.Four ways to better handle missing images on your websiteWhile you probably never intended to include missing images in your websites content, it will almost certainly happen at some point or another due to the reasons listed above.To help mitigate the negative consequences of that happening, there are a few different strategies that you can employ, which Ill cover below.1. Use alt  and  title attributes in the img tagOne big problem with missing images is that the reader has no idea what the missing image was supposed to communicate, which can lead to problems with comprehension on your site. A simple fix for this is to make use of the image attributes for alt text and title.Image alt text has two main functions:It displays if the image is missing (like the example shown above) or if a users browser is set to not display images.If someone is visually impaired and using a screen reader, the screen reader will read the alt text aloud.So even if the visitor cant see your picture, they can still know exactly what it was meant to communicate if you use descriptive alt text.In addition to adding image alt text, you should put relevant text in the title  attribute, too. If one hovers over an image, their browser will show the text within the title  attribute in a tooltip. In most cases, both these attributes will have the same textual content.To add or edit the title attribute and image alt text on WordPress, you can use the  Attachment Details sidebar in the WordPress Media Library:2. Use the  onerror attribute in the img tagBeyond adding text, another thing that you might want to do is show a pl aceholder image in case an image goes missing. To do that, you can use a one-line solution which you can implement in the HTML for your image with the  onerror  attribute.img src="original-image.jpg" onerror="this.onerror=null;this.src='default-image.jpg';" In case the original image is inaccessible and throws an error, the code within theonerror attribute changes the src  tag of the image with the location of the default image.This method only works for regular images in your content and will  not work for background images.If youre using WordPress, youll need to manually add the  onerror  attribute using the code editing functionality of the WordPress editor:Classic editor use the  Text  tab.Block editor (AKA Gutenberg) use the drop-down in the top right to access the  Code Editor.To use this code, replace  default-image.jpg  with the link to the actual image that you want to use (e.g. a default placeholder image).3. Use a third-party serviceSome image optimization services have an option to serve a default image in case an image is missing.For instance, ImageKit  has a simple solution for serving default images in case the original image does not exist. This works a lot like the onerror  attribute method from above.With ImageKit, the  di-  parameter lets you specify a placeholder image that will be delivered in case the original image is not available.However, unlike the  onerror  attribute, youll add the  di-  parameter directly to the image  src="". Heres what it looks like:!-- Specifying the default image to be displayed in the URL -- img src="https://ik.imagekit.io/demo/img/tr:di-default-image.jpg/original-image.jpg" / Like the  onerror  attribute, this will  not work for background images, though.A third-party service can also help you prevent missing images in the first place by helping you deliver images more reliably. For example, the Optimole WordPress image optimization plugin serves images through its own content delivery network (CDN), which might be more reliable than your hosting server.4. Serve default image through your server for missing imagesLet us now look at a solution that could potentially replace any image with a default image using your sites .htaccess file.This method will only work if you host and serve images from your own server (that is, you arent using a third-party image optimization service that serves images for you).This method is a bit more advanced, so we dont recommend doing this unless you have some technical knowledge.Essentially, you need to:Create a   .htaccess file on the root directory of your web server, if it does not exist already.Check for image r equests, which typically end with the image file extension (you may add more extensions if required).Serve a default image if the requested file does not exist.âš  Ã¯ ¸  Whenever you edit your sites htaccess file, you should always make a backup first.Heres an example of the code snippet that youll need to add to your .htaccess file. Replace  /default-image.jpg  with the actual URL to the placeholder image that you want to use:RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} .(gif|jpe?g|png)$ [NC] RewriteRule .* /default-image.jpg [L] If youre not sure how to edit your  .htaccess  file, you can follow the steps in our guide on how to prevent hotlinking of images.Final thoughtsThough you never set out to have missing images on your site, they can still happen for a variety of reasons. The four approaches above can help make sure your sites visitors still have a good experience even if they do encounter missing images.No matter what, you should always add image alt text and a title. Beyond making sure theres fallback text, this also makes your site more accessible to visually impaired visitors, which is a good thing by itself.Then, you can also consider using the  onerror attribute to specify a fallback image. Some third-party image optimization services like ImageKit also let you specify a fallback image in a similar way.Or, if you feel comfortable editing your sites  .htaccess file, you can specify a global placeholder image for missing images at the server level. Again, we dont recommend this method to complete beginners, though.Beyond these specific methods, you should also follow some best practices to minimize the chances that visitors encounter missing images in the first place. Best practices likeChecking your posts regularly and cleaning up images that do not exist.Checking if you moved any images or group of images to a different location on your server.Using relative paths to images on your server.Checking if the web server has the right permissions to view the image.Do you have any other questions about how to fix missing images on your website? Let us know in the comments and well try to help! Missing images on your #WordPress #website? Here's how to handle them better

Creating Chinese Calligraphy

Creating Chinese Calligraphy Chinese calligraphy is the art of creating aesthetically pleasing writing or tangible representations of the Chinese languages. It can take years to learn the art because students have to master  writing Chinese characters, which is a daunting task in itself, and they have to write them beautifully and with an unforgiving tool: the brush. History The art of calligraphy in China can be traced to ancient Chinese signs and symbols that appeared as early as 6,000 years ago according to Wei Lu and Max Aiken in their essay, Origins and Evolution of Chinese Writing Systems and Preliminary Counting Relationships. However, its modern form didnt emerge until a few thousand years later, between the 14th and 11th centuries B.C. There are seven main categories of traditional Chinese calligraphy- which include Hhsin (pronounced xing), Sao (cao), Zuan (zhuan), Li, and Kai- each with its own slight variations in style and symbolism. As a result, the skill of writing beautiful calligraphy may be difficult for some learners to grasp, but fortunately, there are a variety of online resources for creating and editing Chinese calligraphy.   Although the earliest-known calligraphy-like symbols date to around 4000 B.C., the traditional style of calligraphy thats still practiced today first appeared in Xiaoshuangqiao between 1400 and 1100 B.C. in modern-day Zhengzhou, China. Standardization Around 220 B.C., during the reign of Qin Shi Huang in Imperial China, a standard Chinese calligraphy system was adopted. As the first conqueror of a majority of land in China, Huang created a series of reforms including a character unification that yielded 3,300 standardized characters known as  XiÇŽozhun (zhuan). From that point forward, writing in China went through a series of reforms that yielded a new set of standardized characters and lettering. Over the next two centuries, other styles developed: the  Là ¬shÃ… « (li) style was followed by the KÇŽishÃ… « (kai), which was in turn followed by the Xà ­ngshÃ… « (xing), and CÇŽoshÃ… « (cao) cursive styles. Today, each of these forms is still used in traditional Chinese calligraphy practices, depending on the teacher and his preferences for style and aesthetics. Online Resources If you live in China, its easy to find calligraphers who sell their work or who can create custom calligraphy just for you. There is an easier way, though: tools that convert pasted text into calligraphy using various fonts. Some of the best include: The  Chinese Calligraphy Editor, which allows you to enter or paste your Chinese characters (simplified or traditional) and choose between 19 different styles in four different groups. You can also adjust the size of the generated picture, the orientation (horizontal or vertical), and direction (left to right or right to left). When you click calligraphy, a picture is generated that you can save.The  Chinese Calligraphy,  Model of Chinese Calligraphy, and  Chinese Text to Images Converter, which offer different fonts, though these only accept simplified characters and offer fewer features and customization than the Chinese Calligraphy Editor.The  Free Chinese Calligraphy Fonts, which allows you to download fonts, many of which resemble handwriting, to use on your computer.