James Longstreet - Civil War General

James Longstreet - Civil War General James Longstreet - Early Life Career: James Longstreet was born on January 8, 1821 in southwest South Carolina. The son of James and Mary Ann Longstreet, he spent his early years on the familys plantation in northeast Georgia. During this time, his father nicknamed him Peter due to his solid, rock-like character. This stuck and for much of his life he was known as Old Pete. When Longstreet was nine, his father decided that his son should follow a military career and sent him to live with relatives in Augusta to obtain a better education. Attending Richmond County Academy, he first attempted to gain admission to West Point in 1837. James Longstreet - West Point: This failed and he was forced to wait until 1838 when a relative, Representative Reuben Chapman of Alabama, obtained an appointment for him. A poor student, Longstreet was also disciplinary problem while at the academy. Graduating in 1842, he ranked 54th in a class of 56. Despite this, he was well-liked by the other cadets and was friends with future adversaries and subordinates such as Ulysses S. Grant, George H. Thomas, John Bell Hood, and George Pickett. Departing West Point, Longstreet was commissioned as a brevet second lieutenant and assigned the 4th US Infantry at Jefferson Barracks, MO. James Longstreet - Mexican-American War: While there, Longstreet met Maria Louisa Garland whom he would marry in 1848. With the outbreak of the Mexican-American War, he was called to action and came ashore near Veracruz with the 8th US Infantry in March 1847. Part of Major General Winfield Scotts army, he served in the siege of Veracruz and the advance inland. In the course of the fighting, he received brevet promotions to captain and major for his actions at Contreras, Churubusco, and Molino del Rey. During the assault on Mexico City, he was wounded in the leg at the Battle of Chapultepec while carrying the regimental colors. Recovering from his wound, he spent the years after the war stationed in Texas with time at Forts Martin Scott and Bliss. While there he served as the paymaster for the 8th Infantry and conducted routine patrols on the frontier. Though tension between the states was building, Longstreet was not a avid secessionist, though he was a proponent of the doctrine of states rights. With the outbreak of the Civil War, Longstreet elected to cast his lot with the South. Though he was born in South Carolina and was raised in Georgia, he offered his services to Alabama as that state had sponsored his admission to West Point. James Longstreet - Early Days of the Civil War: Resigning from the US Army he was quickly commissioned as a lieutenant colonel in the Confederate Army. Traveling to Richmond, VA, he met with President Jefferson Davis who informed him that had been appointed a brigadier general. Assigned to General P.G.T. Beauregards army at Manassas, he was given command of a brigade of Virginia troops. After working hard to train his men, he repelled a Union force at Blackburns Ford on July 18. Though the brigade was on the field during the First Battle of Bull Run, it played little role. In the wake of the fighting, Longstreet was irate that the Union troops were not pursued. Promoted to major general on October 7, he was soon given command of a division in the new Army of Northern Virginia. As he prepared his men for the coming years campaigning, Longstreet suffered a severe personal tragedy in January 1862 when two of his children died from scarlet fever. Previously an outgoing individual, Longstreet became more withdrawn and somber. With the beginning of Major General George B. McClellans Peninsula Campaign in April, Longstreet turned in a series of inconsistent performances. Though effective at Yorktown and Williamsburg, his men caused confusion during the fighting at Seven Pines. James Longstreet - Fighting with Lee: With the ascent of General Robert E. Lee to army command, Longstreets role increased dramatically. When Lee opened the Seven Days Battles in late June, Longstreet effectively commanded half the army and did well at Gaines Mill and Glendale. The remainder of the campaign saw him firmly cement himself as one of Lees chief lieutenants along with Major General Thomas Stonewall Jackson. With the threat on the Peninsula contained, Lee dispatched Jackson north with the Left Wing of the army to deal with Major General John Popes Army of Virginia.Longstreet and Lee followed with the Right Wing and joined Jackson on August 29 as he was fighting the Second Battle of Manassas. The next day, Longstreets men delivered a massive flank attack which shattered the Union left and drove Popes army from the field. With Pope defeated, Lee moved to invade Maryland with McClellan in pursuit. On September 14, Longstreet fought a holding action at South Mountain, before delivering a strong defensive performan ce at Antietam three days later. An astute observer, Longstreet came to grasp that the weapons technology available gave a distinct advantage to the defender. In the wake of the campaign, Longstreet was promoted to lieutenant general and given command of the newly-designated First Corps. That December, he put his defensive theory into practice when his command repulsed numerous Union assaults against Maryes Heights during the Battle of Fredericksburg. In the spring of 1863, Longstreet and part of his corps were detached to Suffolk, VA to collect supplies and defend against Union threats to the coast. As a result, he missed the Battle of Chancellorsville. James Longstreet - Gettysburg the West: Meeting with Lee in mid-May, Longstreet advocated for sending to his corps west to Tennessee where Union troops were winning key victories. This was denied and instead his men moved north as part Lees invasion of Pennsylvania. This campaign culminated with the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1-3. In the course of the fighting, he was tasked with turning the Union left on July 2 which he failed to do. His actions that day and the next when was charged with overseeing the disastrous Picketts Charge led many Southern apologists to blame him for the defeat. In August, he renewed his efforts to have his men transferred west. With General Braxton Braggs army under heavy pressure, this request was approved by Davis and Lee. Arriving during the early stages of the Battle of Chickamauga in late September, Longstreets men proved decisive and gave the Army of Tennessee one its few victories of the war. Clashing with Bragg, Longstreet was ordered to conduct a campaign against Union troops at Knoxville later that fall. This proved a failure and his men rejoined Lees army in the spring. James Longstreet - Final Campaigns: Returning to a familiar role, he led the First Corps in a key counterattack at the Battle of the Wilderness on May 6, 1864. While the attack proved critical in turning back Union forces, he was badly wounded the right shoulder by friendly fire. Missing the remainder of the Overland Campaign, he rejoined the army in October and was placed in command of the Richmond defenses during the Siege of Petersburg. With the fall of Petersburg in early April 1865, he retreated west with Lee to Appomattox where he surrendered with the rest of the army. James Longstreet - Later Life: Following the war, Longstreet settled in New Orleans and worked in several business enterprises. He earned the ire of other Southern leaders when he endorsed his old friend Grant for president in 1868 and became a Republican. Though this conversion earned him several civil service jobs, including US Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, it made him a target of Lost Cause advocates, such as Jubal Early, who publically blamed him for the loss at Gettysburg. Though Longstreet responded to these charges in his own memoirs, the damage was done and the attacks continued until his death. Longstreet died on January 2, 1904 at Gainesville, GA and was buried at Alta Vista Cemetery. Selected Sources HistoryNet: James Longstreet Civil War: James Longstreet

Christian copts Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Christian copts - Research Paper Example The history of Coptic Christianity is tragic, sad and filled with stories of misery. The Coptic language is no longer spoken outside church and the percentage of Copts in Egypt have declined to fewer than 10 percent of the population yet this sect has survived through the centuries spreading beyond the Egyptian borders to many countries around the world. According to Coptic belief the Christian sect began when the Apostle Mark traveled to Egypt. Mark would become the first Pope of Alexandria. The word â€Å"Copt† is derived from the â€Å"Aigyptos,† a Greek word meaning Egyptian. The Coptic Church believes Jesus is less than God because He was made by God while all other Christian denominations believe Jesus to be a spiritual being whose nature was the same therefore equal to God. This was a major divisive issue in 451 AD at the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) when the Copts separated from the other Christian sects but the disagreement has cooled over the many years since . Neither mainline nor do Coptic Christians believe this one point of contention to be of great importance anymore. Otherwise, most Coptic beliefs are essentially the same as other Christians Churches, the Bible being the guiding text. As in other Christian sects, Copts believe the Bible is the inspired word of God. Men actually wrote it but were guided by the Holy Spirit. Copts, as other Christian’s sects believe that Christ not only taught through words but also by His actions and the Bible is not the only source of knowledge. According to Coptic Pope H. H. Pope Shenouda II â€Å"the Holy Bible does not mention everything.† (BBC 2009). Traditions are particularly important to Copts because these have directed civilization from since the time of the first people, Adam and Eve, a period which, according to them, occurred many centuries prior to the writings of the Bible. Somewhat surprisingly, due to the Copts, Christian monasteries originated in Egypt. Termed â€Å"m onasticism,† the creation of monasteries is the most significant contribution to the Christian religion by the Copts. The original monastic community was unintentionally founded by Saint Anthony (died in 356 AD). He departed for Egypt intending to live a spiritual life alone but came across others who wanted to live close to what they believed to be a holy person. They formed a religious community, a novel concept at that time. Of course the community needed rules and who better than a Roman for the task? Saint Pachomius (died 346 AD), an Egyptian and former soldier in the Roman Army, established the first collection of rules for a religious community with a central highly spiritual leader, later to be termed ‘monastery.’ The list of rules combined a work regiment and spiritual dedication. As is the case for all other religions and Christian sects, there are many traditions and rituals unique to Coptic Christians. All Coptic churches face east as do the faithful w hen praying. Traditions and symbolism, such as facing east, is held sacred by Copts. â€Å"We see Christ as our east, in that the sun rises from the east. The sun is the source of our life and so Christ is our salvation, the source of our life in the spirit. Looking towards the east, we are facing the Garden of Eden.† The act is also Biblical in nature. According to ‘Acts,’ St. John of Zebedee â€Å"took a cross of wood and placed it up towards the east and kneeled

Sandcastles argument Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Sandcastles argument - Assignment Example Jones- I believe sand castle is putting ones ideas and dreams in to form. Something which one can mold according to one’s taste and preference. Our imagination strengthen our believes and motivates us to built our life like this sand castle. Nihilo -)"Look at what youre doing: building little castles on the beach. Theyre not real. Theres nothing inside these. Its all just sand and dreams. The little flags only have significance in your imagination; none of this is real. ‘Reality’ is only somehow just the empty sand and our fantasies and our lies to one another. James - Do you thing you only believe in real things. How do you know you are real? Is it because you exist. Then as long as this sand castle exists it is real for me and you. Can you tell me Nihole what is inside you? It is soul and the dreams and desires of mind which is coming out in the form of your creations. In the same way this sand castle is the creation of someone’s mind and it as real as your purpose to live. Samuel - Why don’t you have faith in the reality ? Then what could be the credibility towards your claims. We can see that you statements are as empty as the sand castle which you are accusing. In real sense, everything in this world is empty and it is our faith which gives life to things and beings. Jones – I think reality is a myth, what is real and unreal is not our issue. We need to believe what we see and experience despite the fact whether it is real or unreal. Actually everything in this world is illusion and our faith and belief in life gives meaning to things we see around us. Nihilo - "Do you think anybody, or anything cares that we are here? How can you rationally argue for the claim that there is someone who watches and cares and loves us and holds us all in His great mind and heart? There is no one there - were all alone. Nothing...and nothing cares. Is there any justice in the world? Who then, decides what Just is. Jones - Okay so you think that

The Strategic Route of Lexus Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Strategic Route of Lexus - Term Paper Example There have been huge sales of Lexus brand in different categories like hybrid, midsize premium and others. There are several models of Lexus. The focus is on Lexus GS model that is available in two variants: GS 300 and GS 460. These two are the premium products and have the capability to attract the consumers (Lexus, 2010). There is huge potential in the global market of the brand Lexus and the opportunity can be captured properly with an appropriate marketing strategy. The company needs to identify the primary and selected market for attaining more sales of Lexus. The brand Lexus GS model will be discussed in this paper regarding its potential in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) market. This research paper looks to determine the potential market of Lexus GS in the UAE market for the upcoming years (2011-2013). There are certain factors that have already been discussed and now it centers on the marketing strategy for Lexus GS. Marketing strategy is the key factor for the business success. There are two approaches i.e. primary and selective marketing strategies for the Lexus brand in the UAE market. The basic discussion of the paper is related to the type of demand that will be stimulated for the next three years. Both primary demand and selective demand will be focused upon the UAE market and one will be selected as a marketing strategy for Lexus. The UAE’s real growth for 2011 is expected to be 6.7%, 7% in 2012 and 6.7% in 2013. The per capita expected in 2011 is $43,030, $47330 in 2012 and $52160 in 2013. There is huge potential for Toyota Lexus market with increase in real growth and per capita income (Government of Ras Al Khaimah, 2009). According to Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), there were more than 1021880 registrations of new vehicles in the UAE market. The potential of the UAE market is estimated to be approximately 1542000.  

Organisation and management coursework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Organisation and management coursework - Essay Example The section of organization in which individuals are responsible for decision making pertaining to the business company is commonly called management. Management section is headed by manager or managers depending upon the structure of the organization. They conduct decision making practices according to the organizational objectives and goals. Richard L. Daft and Patricia Lane, (2009), state that the attainment of organizational goals by planning, managing and utilizing the available organizational resources is called management. Realizing the significance of management, manager selection should be done with great care. This is because it is ultimately managers who integrate organizational staff in a friendly manner, motivate them and push them to serve the company in the best way. Mangers need some tools in order to conduct management. Bargaining theory is one of the important instruments that help managers make successful decisions. Bargaining theory facilitates managers to settle down the differences between various business parties with the help of bargaining tool. In order to utilize bargaining theory in a best possible way, mangers need to be innovative. With the power of innovation, managers are in sound position to bargain efficiently. Bargaining theory is an offshoot of game theory, which is a very central mathematical and economic theory in itself. In this part of the question we will discuss the theory of bargaining in detail along with its historical background. The theory of bargaining is derived from the concept of bargaining. Bargaining is a type of negotiation for price settlement between varying business parties. It is a situation in which business parties agree on the matter of cooperation but face a conflict on how to corporate. Bargaining is a desirable business tool because it provides a solution accepted by all business players i.e. employers and

House prices in uk

House prices in uk Introduction According to a new study from Halifax one of the largest mortgage lenders. House prices in UK have beaten inflation over the past 50 years. It says that have risen 273% between 1959 and 2009 an average of 2.7% annually. But if measured by current prices, its uneven. The fastest growth was from 1999 to 2009 by 5% and in previous decade i.e. from 1989 and 1999, price fall by 24%. The rising price was on these years i.e. 1971-73, 1977-80, 1985-89 and the highest price was in 1998 and 2007. The study also noted that coincided with a very strong increase in owner occupation of homes. In 1961, only 43% of households owned the homes in which they lived by 2008 that had risen to 68%. The strongest rise in owner occupation rates occurred in the 1980s. The proportion that is privately rented also fell sharply over the past 50 years from 33% in 1961 to 14% in 2008. www.ft.com cited on 21/02/10. Demand And Supply Of Housing The comparison of prices in local and regional housing markets is an example of microeconomics. Lets see the interaction between buyer and seller with prices being offered and agreed before a final transaction is made. The transaction for house in UK depends upon a) The price that the seller is willing to agree for their property with prospective buyer. b) The actual price that the buyer is willing and able to pay. Buyers place offers for a property that the seller can either accept or reject. A Sellers Market When there is demand in a market for housing and short of good quality property i.e. means the supply is scarce. A Buyers Market When demand for good quality and bad quality property is weak than there should some offer or can negotiate the price than its published price. When the demand for houses in a particular area increases (perhaps because of an inflow of population into the area, or a rise in incomes following a fall in unemployment), there is upward pressure on market prices. Often the supply of available housing in the market is relatively inelastic. This is because there are time lags between a change in price and an increase in the supply of new properties becoming available, or other homeowners deciding to put their properties onto the market. When demand shifts outwards and supply is inelastic the result is a large rise in market price and a relatively small expansion of the quantity of houses traded. As supply becomes more elastic over time, assuming the conditions of demand remain unchanged, we expect to see downward pressure on prices and a further increase in the equilibrium quantity of houses bought and sold. Factors affecting housing price 1. Growth of real incomes Privately owned housing is a normal good for most people. As standard of living rise, the demand for house expands. 2. Consumer confidence Consumer has a vital role in the housing sector. When the economy is sustaining growth and rising property than its but natural that the number of house buyers and shifts the balance of power in the market. 3. Jobs The other factor is job. if it involves making a long-term commitment through a mortgage lender, changes in unemployment. If theres unemployment and average incomes are likely to be lower than confidence among buyers would affect. 4. Housing taxes and subsidies. Government policies, taxes and subsidies also affect the housing prices. Demand factors affecting house price FUTURE EXPECTATIONS 1. 2012 London Olympics May Help UK Economy Britains recovery can be done because of the infrastructure projects for 2012 London Olympics. Total spending is estimated for 2012  £9.3 (US$13.8) billion. There will be two major beneficiaries of the 2012 games: Londons crumbling mass transport system; East London, where the Olympic Stadium, the Olympic Village and other major facilities will be located. To accommodate the number of people in a city, the improvement is going on for transport of London upgrading to the London over ground. The Olympic delivery authority has given  £3.1bn for the construction of the Olympic park. The budget for this is  £1 billion for the Olympic village, and  £400 million for the media centre. This will benefit to the housing sector in UK. The more people going to accommodate in this country the space to live .That would benefit the housing sector of UK. http://www.financemarkets.co.uk/ cited on 15/02/10 2. UK Mortgage Supply Crash A loan to finance the purchase of real estates, usually with specified payment and interest rates. The borrower (mortgagor) gives the lender (mortgagee) a lien on the property as collateral for the loan. www.investorwords.com The data collected by British Bankers of Association is that the no of mortgages approved for purchase of house was 17,773 against 64,014 in July, 2007 a fall of 72%. The mortgage market clearly remains as extreme preventive measures are taken due to the collapse of Britains mortgage banks. The supply has fallen so the average value of loan offered for house purchases which peaked at  £159,600 in June 2007, and now averages at just  £116,700. Home owners imagining that equity of 25% despite the fall in house prices to date may in fact on attempting to remortgage find that remortgage purposes and hence not offered any loan at favorable interest rates. The interest rate cut from 5% straight to 2% in 2 months and  £600billion bank bailout package. The net effect to this area was total amount of mortgage loans were outstanding the amount was  £35billion, against to a stable market. And in 2009 the house price rose by 2.9% says government. But the data of nationwide and Halifax says that UK house price rose by 6%nearly. The fastest growth was in 2009 went up by 4.9%. http://www.independent.co.uk/ cited on 16/02/10 Repossessions Extreme Government Pressure In an attempt to limit the number of repossessions during 2009, the government is putting extreme pressure on the mortgage banks to ensure repossessions are a last resort. Up until September 2008 this amounted mostly to hot air from the politicians, however after having taken major stakes in most of Britains biggest banks there are strong signs that the banks are starting to comply with their new majority shareholders wishes (the government), that look set to increasingly introduce initiatives to reduce the number of repossessions. The most recent action on this front was by RBS which stated that it would give a 6 month reprieve to its mortgage customers that are in arrears before initiating court repossession orders. Whilst the measures will undoubtedly mean that less homes will now be repossessed than would have otherwise been the case, however it does act as a two edged sword in that whilst supply of repossessed homes onto the market will be less, at the same time the mortgage banks are being forced to carry loss making loans that prove costly to administer and without bringing in much needed revenue i.e. tieing up resources that could have gone to more profitable mortgage customers. The Governments initiatives to reduce repossessions will have no discernable impact on the housing market price trends either positive or negative due to the points about tieing up capital in loss making costly to administer loan accounts. The number of homes expected to be repossessed during 2008 is now revised lower to 55,000 with the expectations of 65,000 homes for 2009 in advance of further government interventions in the housing market to prevent repossessions on an larger scale. The government is engaged on a programme of forcing down mortgage interest rates by a series of deep unprecedented cuts in UK interest rates towards the target of 1% , and possibly even lower to make up the shortfall in the lack of responsiveness by mortgage lenders in cutting their rates, who at the same time have tightened lending criteria due to the increased risk of defaults. The mortgage interest rates have fallen significantly from the credit crisis extremes and are heading to below 4% which implies a strong pointer for support for house prices as the cost of servicing mortgages falls and therefore should support a recovery in housing prices. However the housing market has always been that of being driven by sentiment, in that it is the trend in house prices that is most significant and NOT the cost of servicing the mortgages, it is this which pushed house prices to above X7 earnings, where people were prepared to take on large mortgages at high interest rates for the prime reason that house price gains in the order of 15% per annum or more were far above that of the mortgage interest payments of typically 6%. However now that the housing bubble has burst has resulted in the trend and sentiment reversing as house prices have already fallen by nearly 20%, which equates to a loss of  £40,000 on an average  £200,000 house that is now worth  £160,000, which averages to a fall in value of  £2500 per month. Against which a typical mortgage of say  £160k on a  £200k property at 6% would result in monthly interest charge of  £800 per month. Now with mortgage rates having typically fallen to 4% which is resulting in an reduced interest payment of  £533 per month or a significant fall of  £277 per month that many commentators are taking as a cue for imminent price stability. Unfortunately the  £277 saving is just above 10% of the amount that home owners are typically losing in value per month! Therefore the interest rate cuts are having little if no effect on the housing market, I first warned of this likely outcome back in February 2008 that interest rate cuts will not stop hous e prices from falling. This therefore implies that low interest rates are not an important factor at this point in determining house price trend during 2009, as housing market sentiment is decidedly bearish and will take time to first stabilise and then start to recover. UK Economic Recession Unemployment UK unemployment has probably already risen above 2 million by the time Decembers data is released in March, with the original UK unemployment forecast for a rise to 2.6 million by April 2010 now destined to be breached as the UK economy targets a severe recession on par with that of the early 1980s rather than the more milder one of the 1990s. Increasing expectations are that the UK economy will contract by 3% GDP during 2009 which implies that the UK is heading for an unemployment rate that could pass above 3,000,000 by early 2010. Therefore this confirms that the UK housing market is at least 15 months away from a period of stabilising in nominal terms i.e. where house prices stop falling. The actual trigger for a resumption of the housing bull market would be a sustained period of falling unemployment with the trigger level of 2,000,000 expected to act as a strong marker for year on year housing market recovery as occurred following the last housing bear market. This suggests that the housing market may not embark on an sustainable up trend for as longs as another 4 years and thus points to a period of house price stagnation that will following the current crash in UK house prices. http://www.marketoracle.co.uk Credit Crunch a credit crunch is a period in the economy, distinct from a recession or depression, but potentially heralding one or the other. Credit crunch including mortgage loans, personal loans, car finance, credit cards and other type o f lending become much harder to obtain in a credit crunch. Credit crunch has completely changed the face of the global economy with hundreds of business. From banks and capital markets at given interest rates. The reduced availability of credit can result from many factors, including an increased perception of risk on the part of lenders, ann imposition of credit controls, or a sharp restriction of the money supply. www.teachmefinance.com A sudden reduction in the availability of loans and other types of credit Eg: Lehman brothers. Supply Factor Affecting House Price Immigration There had been a large influx of over 800,000 migrants from the Accession states who contributed towards the buy to let market bubble Strong UK Economy The UK economy at the centre of the worlds credit bubble continued to outperform mainland Europe, which looked on with envy from the less flexible and more regulated European countries of France and Germany, though as we find out during 2009, not participating in the credit boom did not help them as many of the European banks become belatedly suckered into buying U.S. subprime mortgage backed toxic securitized debt as one the last to fling themselves onto the debt derivatives pyramid.

Technology Addicts :: Technological Communication Essays

Technology Addicts Five empty chairs form a circle in the center of the room. Slowly but surely, people begin to make their way into the room. A young man dressed in a black suit sits down with his Newsweek and briefcase. He adjusts his tie, clears his throat, and pushes his wire-rimmed glasses up onto the bridge of his nose. A teenage girl sits down beside him, tucking blonde strands of hair behind her ears to reveal tiny white headphones attached to her iPod. She crosses her right leg over the left, tapping her foot in mid-air to the beat. The worn wooden door creaks open again, slamming shut behind a twenty-something carrying a thin silver laptop computer. He slouches down into the chair with an exasperated sigh and begins to type furiously at the keyboard. The businessman glares over the top of his glasses at him when the familiar chimes of instant messaging become as frequent as the taps of the keys. The young man continues, oblivious to his surroundings. The clock on the wall ticks closer to seven o'clock as the last two people amble in. A middle-aged woman sits down with her knitting, occasionally stopping to jot notes in the sleek PDA beside her. Finally, a woman with a clipboard comes through the door and takes her seat, completing the circle. She clears her throat and begins. "Good evening, and welcome to group therapy. Let's go over the ground rules: First no technology allowed at meetings. Put away your iPod, laptops, PDAs, etc. RIGHT NOW. And don't bring them back to these meetings or they will be confiscated." The group members scowl as they slowly wind up wires. "My only other rule is that you participate. You won't get anything out of group therapy if you don't put anything into it. Let's begin." * * * What would our lives be like if technology were our life support? We would probably not be able to go an entire day without emails, instant messaging, or the World Wide Web. Cell phones might as well be permanently attached to our ears.