Meaning of life Essay Example for Free

Meaning of life Essay The meaning of life is a philosophical question concerning the significance of life or existence in general. It can also be expressed in different forms, such as Why are we here?, What is life all about?, and What is the purpose of existence? It has been the subject of much philosophical, scientific, and theological speculation throughout history. There have been a large number of proposed answers to these questions from many different cultural and ideological backgrounds. The meaning of life is in the philosophical and religious conceptions of existence, social ties, consciousness, and happiness, and borders on many other issues, such as symbolic meaning, ontology, value, purpose, ethics, good and evil, free will, the existence of one or multiple Gods, conceptions of God, the soul, and the afterlife. Scientific contributions focus primarily on describing related empirical facts about the universe, exploring the context and parameters concerning the how of life. Science also studies and can provide recommendations for the pursuit of well-being and a related conception of morality. An alternative, humanistic approach poses the question What is the meaning of my life? The value of the question pertaining to the purpose of life may coincide with the achievement of ultimate reality, or a feeling of oneness, or even a feeling of sacredness. governs the universe. Closeness with the God of Israel is through study of His Torah, and adherence to its mitzvot (divine laws). In traditional Judaism, God established a special covenant with a people, the people of Israel, at Mount Sinai, giving the Jewish commandments. Torah comprises the written Pentateuch and the transcribed oral tradition, further developed through the generations. The Jewish people are intended as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation[69] and a light to the Nations, influencing the other peoples to keep their own religio-ethical Seven Laws of Noah. The messianic era is seen as the perfection of this dual path to God. Jewish observances involve ethical and ritual, affirmative and prohibative injunctions. Modern Jewish denominations differ over the nature, relevance and emphases of mitzvot. Jewish philosophy emphasises that God is not affected or benefited, but the individual and society benefit by drawing close to God. The rationalist Maimonides sees the ethical and ritual divine commandments as a necessary, but insufficient preparation for philosophical  understanding of God, with its love and awe.[70] Among fundamental values in the Torah are pursuit of justice, compassion, peace, kindness, hard work, prosperity, humility, and education.[71][72] The world to come,[73] prepared in the present, elevates man to an everlasting connection with God.[74] Simeon the Righteous says, the world stands on three things: on Torah, on worship, and on acts of loving kindness. The prayer book relates, blessed is our God who created us for his honorand planted within us everlasting life. Of this context, the Talmud states, everything that God does is for the good, including suffering. The Jewish mystical Kabbalah gives complimentary esoteric meanings of life. As well as Judaism providing an immanent relationship with God (personal theism), in Kabbalah the spiritual and physical creation is a paradoxical manifest ation of the immanent aspects of Gods Being (panentheism), related to the Shekhinah (Divine feminine). Jewish observance unites the sephirot (Divine attributes) on high, restoring harmony to creation. In Lurianic Kabbalah, the meaning of life is the messianic rectification of the shattered sparks of Gods persona, exiled in physical existence (the Kelipot shells), through the actions of Jewish observance.[75] Through this, in Hasidic Judaism the ultimate essential desire of God is the revelation of the Omnipresent Divine essence through materiality, achieved by man from within his limited physical realm, when the body will give life to the soul. Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy named after its prophet Zoroaster, which is believed to have influenced the beliefs of Judaism and its descendant religions.[77] Zoroastrians believe in a universe created by a transcendental God, Ahura Mazda, to whom all worship is ultimately directed. Ahura Mazdas creation is asha, truth and order, and it is in conflict with its antithesis, druj, falsehood and disorder. (See also Zoroastrian eschatology). Since humanity possesses free will, people must be responsible for their moral choices. By using free will, people must take an active role in the universal conflict, with good thoughts, good words and good deeds to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay.

backstreet boys :: essays research papers

Backstreet Boys   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In a world full of imitations, the Backstreet Boys are definitely not just another fabricated, bubblegum-pop boy-band, but are a multi-talented group of real musicians. With each Backstreet Boy having his own unique experiences in such areas as: acting, singing, modeling, and playing instruments, it is obvious that it would add flavor to their phenomenal voices, and lead them to fame and fortune. â€Å"Honestly, looking at them for the first time with their country, down to earth, all American boy image, I thought they were out of their heads. Eventually, their vocal abilities and their passion for music changed my mind,† stated their former manager, Johnny Wright on VH1 Music Television. Although it may seem as if success was easily handed over to them, these five regular guys from Orlando, Florida experienced many struggles on their bumpy road to the top.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"They are liked and have such a huge following because of the diverse group of boys represented,† Kayla Jones stated in a personal interview. Despite their success in being number one in thirty-eight different countries, each member had his fair share of struggles before reaching his status in the Backstreet Boys (Gold Collector’s Series Entertainment Magazine). Leaving their mark on the world was not as easy as it may seem. Each member comes from a different background with influences ranging from Latin to even Blackfoot Indian (Krulik, 11). What brings such a young and talented group of guys together is their love and passion for music and the stage. Ashufta 2 Nicholas Gene Carter, better known as Nick from the Backstreet Boys, was born in Jamestown, New York on January 28, 1980 (Golden 61). Being born in the same hospital as Lucille Ball, it was inevitable that he was destined for a career in show business. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to a dream house in Orlando, Florida. It was there that Nick truly developed his skills and desires for the entertainment world. He experienced the different aspects of show business including: singing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers halftime shows, acting in Phantom of the Opera, winning talent shows, and even working for Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel (Golden 64). Despite of his accomplishments, he was still unsatisfied and was determined to discover his ideal job in the spotlight. The rebel of the Backstreet Boys, Alexander James (A.J.) McLean was born on January 9, 1978 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Basketball Essay

Basketball is a very popular sport worldwide.Basketball is now the second most popular sport in the world. Women’s basketball is also a popular sport, even though it does not receive nearly as much attention as men’s basketball. Basketball has been played in the Summer Olympic Games since 1936. HISTORY In early December 1891, James Naismith, a Canadian physical education teacher at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts invented an indoor game called basketball. He invented the sport to keep his students from becoming bored during the winter.Naismith wrote the basic rules and then nailed a peach basket onto a 10-foot tall pole. Unlike modern basketball hoops, the bottom of the peach-basket was still there, so after a point was scored, somebody had to get the ball out of the basket with a long stick. Over time, people made a hole at the bottom of the basket so the ball could go through more easily. The score of the first game of basketball ever played was 1 – 0. There is a sculpture in Springfield, where the first game was played. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is also in Springfield. RULES AND THE GAME The aim of basketball is to score more points than your opponents. Baskets can be worth 1, 2, or 3 points. You get points by shooting the ball into the opponents’ basket. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins. Equipment The court, where the game is played, is a rectangle shape, and at both endlines there is a goal called a â€Å"hoop† in the shape of a circular basket with the bottom cut out. In each game of basketball these things are required: Basketball Basketball court Basketball hoop and backboard Players Referee Teams Basketball is played with two teams, with 5 players from each team on the court at one time. The players that are not on the court can sit on the bench; the maximum number of players on the bench differs by league. In international play, a maximum of 7 players are allowed on the bench, resulting in a roster of 12 players. The NBA has 13-player rosters; college and high school teams usually have 15-player rosters. When a player wants to substitute for another player on the court they let the score bench know. The referees will signal for the player waiting to come onto the court. The player that went into the game is now playing and the player that was playing is sitting on the bench. Each team is allowed to have a coach and can have an assistant coach if they want. On the bench with the substitutes, a team is allowed to have up to five team followers, such as a manager, a doctor and an interpreter. Playing Regulations A game of basketball is made up of four quarters, each ten (or in the National Basketball Association 12,) minutes long. At the start of every game the referee throws the basketball up in the air, and one player from each team tries to hit it to their teammates, that is called a â€Å"jump ball.† At the start of each quarter the team who has the possession arrow pointing towards their hoop gets the ball. Then the arrow is switched, and the next team gets the ball next quarter. After four quarters, the team who scores the most points wins. If the two teams score the same number of points, there is a five-minute â€Å"overtime† to see who can score more points. â€Å"Overtime† can be played over and over until one team finally scores more points. While playing the game, players on one team try to stop players on the other team from scoring. Each normal score is worth two points; however, if a player throws the ball into the hoop from behind the large arced line on the court, called the â€Å"3-point line,† the score is worth three points. If you do something illegal in the game, it is called a â€Å"foul.† If you foul someone on the other team while he is shooting the basketball, the player who was fouled gets to shoot â€Å"free throws† from the â€Å"foul line†. A free throw is a shot that no one is allowed to try to block. Each successful free throw is worth one point. If you foul a player who is not shooting, the other team gets the ball, and can throw it â€Å"in bounds† from the â€Å"sideline.† Players can do three things with the ball: â€Å"dribble† (bounce) the ball,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"pass† the ball to a teammate, or â€Å"shoot† the ball at the hoop. The player with the ball tries to keep the ball and not let the other team get it. Once a player commits five fouls, he is no longer allowed to play in the game, and player on the bench must go in the game immediately. OFFICIALS In a game of basketball there are a number of people who are not from either team, that are there to help. They are called officials. Officials are very important because without them the game would not run as efficiently. Here is a list of some of these people: Umpire There are either one or two umpires in a game of basketball. It is the umpires’ job to make the game more fair by enforcing the rules of the game. The umpires take into consideration the spirit and intent of the player before making any call. In the NBA and WNBA, the term â€Å"umpire† is not used; the person who has this role is called the referee. Referee The use of this term varies between rule sets. Under the rules of FIBA (the worldwide governing body for the sport), the NCAA (U.S. college basketball), and NFHS (U.S. high schools), there is one referee in a game of basketball. He is the â€Å"head† umpire. The referee has all the jobs of the umpires along with a couple more responsibilities. He is also the one that makes the final decision for most problems and is the one who throws the ball up for the tip off the start of the match. Time Keeper There is one timekeeper whose job is to keep track of the time and to tell the umpires when time for each quarter has run out. He is also in control of adding the scores onto the scoreboard. Scorekeeper There is one scorekeeper whose job is to keep track of and record all points scored, shots attempted, fouls made and timeouts called. Assistant Scorekeeper There is one assistant scorekeeper in a game of basketball. his job is to assist the scorekeeper, by telling him the players who score points, and to hold up a number for each foul called, showing everyone the number of fouls the specified player has for the game. Shot Clock Operator There is one shot clock operator and his job in to keep resetting and holding the device when needed or told to by an umpire. This person needs to have good reflexes and quickness, as he has to quickly reset the timer when the game resumes. It should also be noted that fans and media in North America will often use â€Å"referee† to  describe all on-court officials, whether their formal titles are â€Å"referee†, â€Å"umpire†, or â€Å"crew chief†. BASKETBALL TERMS There are some basketball terms which players have to understand when playing the game. Here are some terms: Free throw is a basketball throw from the free-throw line from either personal, technical, unsportsmanlike or disqualifying fouls. Each free-throw made is worth one point. The amount of free-throws attempted are determined by the following: missed field goal and a drawn foul will result in 2 free throws made field goal and a drawn foul will result in 1 free throw missed 3-point attempt and a drawn foul will result in 3 free throws made 3-point attempt and a drawn foul will result in 1 free throw unsportsmanlike foul will result in 2 free throws and the same team’s possession. (In the NBA and WNBA, this foul is called a â€Å"flagrant foul†, with the same penalty.) technical foul will result in 2 free throws and the same team’s possession. (In the NBA and WNBA, technical fouls result in 1 free throw instead of 2.) Field goal is any made shot in normal play. Field goals are worth 2 points, unless the shooter was outside the three-point line, in which case it is worth 3 points. Personal foul is any contact, committed by a player of the other team, thought, by the umpires, to have caused a disadvantage. Technical foul is a violation of certain basketball rules. They include: fighting or threatening to fight with another person  entering the basketball court when it is not a substitution time a player being out of bounds (away from the court) to gain an advantage having too many players play on the court  refusing to sit on the bench  returning to play when a player is disqualified (loses his privileges to play) yelling and/or swearing at another player or an official Rebound is the act of catching the basketball after a shot has been attempted, but missed. Assist is to pass a teammate the ball, which then the teammate immediately shoots into the basketball ring successfully. 2-3 dribbles are allowed after catching the ball for assist to be counted. Steal is to take the ball away from a person who is dribbling, shooting or passing without physically touching the person (committing a foul). Turnover is when  the team that controls the ball loses control and the other team gains control. Walkover is the automatic victory of a team if the opposing team withdraws, is disqualified or there is not any competition at all. Substitution is the act of replacing a player from the court to an another player sitting on the bench. Double dribble is when a player dribbles the ball and picks it up and then dribbles it again without having shot or passed it. Dribbling the ball with two hands is also a double dribble. If a player double dribbles, the ball is automatically given to the other team. Carry is when a player physically turns the ball over with their hands whilst dribbling it. Travel is when a player in possession of the ball moves both feet without dribbling the ball. If a player travels, the ball is automatically given to the opposing team. Shot clock is a clock designed to limit the time a team has to shoot a basketball. The shot clock is different in different leagues, but it is usually between 24 seconds and 35 seconds. After time runs out, the ball is automatically given to the opposing team unless they shot, before the clock runs out, and hit the rim or the ball enters the basket. Substitute (subs) is when a player on the bench swaps for a player on the court. The player on the bench is allowed to play and the player sits on the bench. Jump ball happens at the start of every game. This is where the ball gets thrown up from the centre circle and one person from each team jumps for it, aiming to hit it to one of his team mates. Alternating possession At the start of the game there is a jump ball. Whichever team â€Å"wins† the jump ball gets the arrow pointed towards their goal. Each time the rules mention it the ball gets given to the team who is trying to score in the direction of the arrow and the arrow gets turned. Clutch is a shot made at a difficult moment in the game, usually when the shot clock is about to run out or the team, losing by 1 or 2 points, suddenly wins the game, because of the clutch shot. Backcourt violation is when a player crosses the half-court line and walks backwards over the line while in possession of the ball, or passes to another player who is behind the half-court line. Note that this rule does not apply if a defensive player taps the ball, and it goes beyond the half-court line, and the offensive player retrieves it in the â€Å"backcourt†. 3 second violation is when a player stands in the lane (an area marked by the big square in front of the basket) for more than 3 seconds. The offensive team that commits a 3  second violation will lose the possession of the ball. The defensive team that commits a 3 second violation will receive a technical foul. 8 or 10 second violation is when the team with the ball fails to advance the ball past the center line within the allowed time. The offensive team will lose possession. The allowed time is 8 seconds in international play, the NBA, and WNBA, and 10 seconds in men’s college basketball and high school play for both boys and girls. This violation does not exist in women’s college basketball. Positions in basketball In professional basketball teams, each player has a position. A position is a job or role that a player has to take part in to play the game. If everyone is doing their job correctly, the team is usually successful. Point guard (PG) (1) – point guards are responsible for leading the team on offense. They have to take the ball out (to dribble the ball halfway across their team’s court side into the opposing team’s court side) and plan an â€Å"attack† or â€Å"play† – to pass the ball to a player and he passes on to another player and so on till a player shoots the basketball. Point guards can be small, but they have to be very fast and possess good ball-handling. But the most important thing for the PG is a wide view. PG should control the game when on offense. That’s why PG is called ‘the coach on the court’. Shooting guard (SG) (2) – shooting guards generally are a little bit taller and slower than point guards. They have to make good shots from far distances (like three-point lines). Small forward (SF) (3) – small forwards are generally taller than both point guards and shooting guards. They are the team’s most versatile player, doing everything from rebounding and assisting to scoring. Power forward (PF) (4) – power forwards are usually one of the strongest players who play inside the 3 point line. Their job is to receive rebounds from under the basket and score in the opposing team’s basket, although it is unusual for a power forward to score most points for the team. Center (C) (5) – Centers will usually be the tallest player on the team. They score close to the basket, rebound and block shots on the defensive end. They also start the game in the tip off. Other positions, more usual in professional basketball teams, are used in basketball. Swingman – a basketball player who can play both small forward and shooting guard positions. Cornerman – a basketball player who can play both power forward and small forward  positions. Point forward – a basketball player who can play both point guard and forward (either small forward or power forward) positions. Forward-center – a basketball player who can play both forward (usually power forward) and center positions. THE BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME IN SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS If a basketball player becomes extremely good at the sport and well known for playing, coaching, or helping the game of basketball somehow, he or she is â€Å"elected† to be in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. This is the goal for the greatest basketball players in the world, like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Hakeem Olajuwon, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Brian Scalabrine (The White Mamba), and Magic Johnson, and coaches like Phil Jackson, Mike Krzyzewski, Bob Knight, and Pat Summitt. If you are â€Å"enshrined† in Springfield, it is the greatest honor a basketball player, coach, official (referee), or contributor can have. It means you are the best of the best at basketball. VARIATIONS There are many types of basketball. Some are for people with disabilities, others are played more by a specific group. The most common type is able body basketball and that is the one that has been described in this article. Wheelchair basketball In this variation the players are all seated in a wheelchair. This is often played by people who cannot walk or are unable to play able body basketball properly. The rules are altered slightly but the game follows the same general concepts.

The Life of Louis Armstrong Essays - 2727 Words

The Life of Louis Armstrong He was known as the greatest of all jazz musicians. He defined what it really was to play genuine jazz music and taught the world to swing. He included joy, spontaneity, and amazing technical abilities. Louis Armstrong was a genius when it came to his inventive musical ability. In this paper, I will tell you about who Armstrong was, his early childhood, accomplishments, and his living legacy. Louis Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901 in New Orleans, Louisiana which is famously known as the birth place of jazz. Armstrong was born into a very poor family in a rough area in New Orleans. His father was a factory worker who abandoned the family soon after Armstrong was born. Consequently, he was raised by his†¦show more content†¦Louis Blues, Clarence Williams, and the Red Onions Jazz Babies. By this time, Armstrong had gained enough individual attention to make his recording debut as a leader in 1925 when he returned to Chicago. He joined his wifes band at the Dreamland Cafà © , and also played in Erskine Tates Vendome Orchestra and then with Carrol Dickensons Orchestra at the Sunset Cafà ©. That same year Armstrong recorded his first Hot Five records, which was the first time he made records under his own name. Any of the records that were made by Louis Armstrongs Hot Five and Hot Seven were considered to be Jazz classics. Their band continued recording until 1928, but never played live. This music set a standard and the agenda for jazz in the many years to follow. Armstrongs trumpet introduction to West End Blues is very famous. It has yet to be surpassed and remains as one of the greatest recorded moments of jazz. While Louis was working at the Sunset Cafà ©, he met Joe Glaser, who became his manager. Glaser was his manager until he died. Armstrong led his own band; they were called Louis Armstrong and his Stompers. Louis had become a big star by 1929. He occasionally appeared with the Luis Russell Orchestra, with Dave Peyton, and Fletcher Henderson, and also toured with the show Hot Chocolates. In Chicago in 1931 Armstrong assembled his own band for touring purposes. When heShow MoreRelatedLouis Armstrong s Life, His Music And Influence On Others1565 Words   |  7 Pagesdo my project on is Louis Armstrong. I chose Louis Armstrong because I wanted to do my project on a singer as well as a musician. I chose him because he was one of the few people that I knew about, also because I did some research on him and listened to his music and I thought that he was interesting to write about. My main three things that I’m going to discuss about Louis Armstrong will be his life, his music and influence on others. I’m going to describe how and where Louis Armstrong’s grew upRead MoreLouis Armstrong And Jazz Age1128 Words   |  5 PagesGreat Gatsby. One singer that was popular in the 1920s was Louis Armstrong he was known as the King of Jazz. Louis Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Armstrong was born and raised in New Orleans he was the son of a prostitute and an absent father. Louis Armstrong grew up with his grandparents because his parents had separated and left him. His mother finally came back, but then left once more. Louis Armstrong grew up around music. He influenced jazz with his great voiceRead MoreLouis Armstrong Essay850 Words   |  4 PagesLouis Armstrong Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 4, 1901 to Mayanne and William Armstrong. His father abandoned his family during Louis infancy. Louis spent the first years of his life with his grandmother, Josephine Armstrong. After age five, Louis moved back with his mother and his sister, Mama Lucy. The family was forced to live in stark poverty. Louis got into some trouble when he was just 12 years old and was placed in the Waifs Home for Boys. It wasRead MoreLouis Armstrong and His Music Essay1366 Words   |  6 PagesLouis Armstrong and His Music â€Å"The essence of jazz- making something new out of something old, making something personal out of something shared- has no finer exemplar than Armstrong.† (Hasse par. 3) During the 1920’s a young African American man, otherwise known as Louis Armstrong, helped create and represent a new twist on popular music. This music that became so famous and well loved today is also referred to as jazz. Louis Armstrong had a very successful jazz career performing and composingRead MoreLouis Armstrong Essay1547 Words   |  7 PagesLouis Armstrong He was born in the south at a time when a black boy could expect nothing but to grow up, work hard at the lowest jobs all his life, and hope somehow, somewhere manage to stay healthy and get a little out of life.(P.1 Collier) Get a little out of life Louis did, a pure genius he revolutionized Americas first true form of art, jazz. Doing a paper on Louis Armstrong has been enjoyable to do and the information that is available on Armstrong is endless. So much that this paperRead More Louis Armstrong Essay1336 Words   |  6 Pages Louis Armstrongs Influential Career Louis Armstrong’s Influential Career Louis Armstrong was the most successful and talented jazz musician in history. His influence and expansive career continues to make waves in the jazz world. That is what made him become what he is to many today – a legend. Born on August 4, 1901, in the poorest section of New Orleans, Armstrong grew up with his grandparents due to his parents’ separation. On January 1, 1913 he made a mistake which turned out to be theRead MoreImportance of Louis Armstrong1568 Words   |  7 PagesLouis Armstrong Louis Armstrong was the greatest of all Jazz musicians. Armstrong defined what it was to play Jazz. His amazing technical abilities, the joy and spontaneity, and amazingly quick, inventive musical mind still dominate Jazz to this day. Only Charlie Parker comes close to having as much influence on the history of Jazz as Louis Armstrong did. Like almost all early Jazz musicians, Louis was from New Orleans. He was from a very poor family and was sent to reform school when he was twelveRead More Biography of Louis Armstrong Essay1236 Words   |  5 PagesLouis Armstrong was born in one of the poorest sections in New Orleans, August 4, 1901. Louis a hard-working kid who helped his mother and sister by working every type of job there was, including going out on street corners at night to singing for coins. Slowly making money, Louis bought his first horn, a cornet. At age eleven Armstrong was sent to juvenile Jones Home for the colored waifs for firing a pistol on New Year’s Eve. W hile in jail Armstrong received his first formal music lesson from oneRead MoreLouis Armstrong And The Harlem Renaissance950 Words   |  4 Pagesartists arose. Louis Armstrong was one of the most well known jazz artist of his time. Louis Armstrong was a trumpeter, bandleader, singer, soloist, film star, and comedian. He was considered one of the most influential artists in jazz history. Louis Armstrong was a famous musician during the Harlem renaissance because of his skills with a trumpet. Louis Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was raised by Mary Albert his mother and not so much by William Armstrong his fatherRead MoreEssay on Biography of Louis Armstrong1423 Words   |  6 Pagesthem. Louis Armstrong’s life was similar to this. Armstrong strived and strived until he reached to a point in his life where he was comfortable with his fourth wife, Lucille Wilson. Armstrong is ultimately known as the creator of jazz and blues. He was awarded this title by using his talents when he was a young boy growing up in a rough neighborhood. Armstrong’s talent was a result of his childhood and young adult life. Growing up, Armstrong was exposed to music in his surroundings. Armstrong obtained