The story will follow the same premise as Max Brooks’ World War Z. Now keep in mind, this is a story that I’m writing for my own entertainment, I have no intent to publish this thing. Anyways, it’ll be based on World War z, except from a first person perspective, rather than the “interview” style Brooks used in the story. I’m hoping to use major events in the book such as the deployment of the Alpha Teams, the Battle of Yonkers, and so on. I’ve had this concept of a soldier (my character) who is 23, and has been in the Army for 3 years. He has combat experience, as was shown in his two tours in Afghanistan. (I am not going into detail in the story; it is just to show he can handle himself, that he’s not just some new grunt). And that’s about all I have for him at the moment.
I’ve had this concept of a soldier (my character) who is 23, and has been in the Army for 3 years. He has combat experience, as was shown in his two tours in Afghanistan. (I am not going into detail in the story; it is just to show he can handle himself, that he’s not just some new grunt).
Now, the virus originates in China, and spreads world-wide within a matter of 3-4 months. When the virus reaches the United States, the US government organizes a number of US Special Forces to stop small, isolated outbreaks in small American cities and towns by any means necessary. These are known as the Alpha Teams.
This is where I have my first problem: I want my character to periodically be checking the news about the virus and being suspicions of it, whether he’s on base or at home and notice it’s spreading through Asia and all that. While at the same time I need him to be doing things an active duty soldier would do (so that way, entire paragraphs aren’t just his findings on the news and what he thinks. It’s him and what he did that day on base, etc)
Like "today I did this, I saw an outbreak in Costa Rica, (Go on with what the news reporter said) “I’m worried, but I’m going to Dave’s house." and stuff like that. I’ve considered developing my character during these parts, but I’m not really sure how. Any help with any of these problems would be awesome. Thanks guys and Gals.

I’m not quite understanding the problem. Is it that you aren’t sure how to have him get news reports while he’s out being a combatant? It seems like a smartphone in his pocket would solve that.

Is the problem figuring out what exactly he’s doing? Character’s need a central conflict. On one level this guy is fighting a virus. He may also be fighting for factual information. Is what’s on the news really what’s happening? Or is there a CDC coverup for some reason? He may have other conflicts. Perhaps he does not get along with his C.O. Maybe he’s pretty sure one of his fellow troopers is betraying the group. Maybe one of his friends is killed as a result of the betrayal, and then he also has to figure out who is the mole. All of this turmoil helps to define his character. If he can figure out the coverup or find the spy, then he’s smart. If he takes care of his friends, then he’s loyal. If he’s insubordinate with his C.O., then we know he may be a loner rather than a team player, and perhaps he should be a leader instead of a follower.

Ray Bradbury advised that writers create wonderful people as characters and then do terrible, terrible things to them. Put them in really difficult situations and see what they do. I think that will help with your hero.

I totally know what you mean about writing for your own enjoyment. I hope this helps at least a little. Have fun.

I am eighteen years old… This idea started as a book about capitalism for youngsters. If you find jokes in the text, or things like "tell your parents this word!" it’s because it was originally intended for kids. But I was figuring that I’d go full out adult audience. This was supposed to be the beginning of Chapter 1: A Brief History of Capitalism. But I was thinking, perhaps, I’d just write a whole book on the history of capitalism. And then maybe put descriptions of other economic systems, with interesting anecdotes about them, perhaps, in the last chapter of the book, before the epilogue which naturally would be titled "The Future of Capitalism." Lol… What do you think? Should I go for this, or would I just be wasting my time?

The central tenets of capitalism, though some of them had been in existence and floating around for centuries, were established by the Scottish economist Adam Smith with the 1776 publication of the Wealth of Nations. This voluminous text, from its advent to the present day, has been extraordinarily influential. It was always in the minds of America’s Founding Fathers, and the precepts it laid out would allow for America to become the most powerful nation on the planet within two short centuries.
Adam Smith’s landmark work was received with much fanfare in Europe, and it caused many of the colonial powers (such as Great Britain, Spain, and France) to alter their economic systems. Before this historic transition many European nations had had mercantilist economies. Mercantilism is an economic system which requires colonies and says that government control of commerce is absolutely vital to a nation’s prosperity. Mercantilism, along with other economic systems besides capitalism, will be discussed in further detail in a later chapter.
A term that any student of capitalism should know is "laissez-faire (lay-zay-fair)." This is a term that comes from the French language, and it means something like "let-do" or "let-be" in English. Laissez-faire is one of the central themes in the Wealth of Nations, and it simply means that the government should not interfere in the economy of its nation; this was in many ways diametrically opposed to mercantilism, the absolute favourite system of many European monarchs up until the late eighteenth century. There should be a "free-market," ("free market economy" is really a term that is interchangeable with "capitalism"). The idea is that the government need not regulate the national economy because the economy will regulate itself. We will look more at the functionings of capitalism, and see how an economy can regulate itself, in a later chapter.
The first truly capitalist nation, most historians believe, was the Dutch Republic, which was established in the late sixteenth century (1589). This small European country, because of the great enterprise and industry of her people, entered a golden age of economic prosperity in the seventeenth century in which it became the dominant force in global trade. Little Holland, in union with the six other provinces of the Netherlands, became a mighty power to be reckoned with because of her economic system. The success of the Republic foreshadowed the success of the United States of America, which would declare independence from Britain in 1776, the same year the Wealth of Nations was published.
Another great example of the power of capitalism to make a nation mighty is that of West Germany. After World War II Germany, who had been defeated by the forces of Britain, the Soviet Union, America, and the other Allied powers, was cut in half! Berlin, the capital of Germany, was itself divided. The two opposing forces were the nations of NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) like America, Britain, France, and Italy, and the communist Soviet Union. Immediately after the conclusion of World War II in 1945, the notorious Cold War had begun. Ironically, the two principal adversaries in the Cold War, America and the Soviet Union, had formerly been Allies (it makes you wonder: Why can’t everyone just get along?)!
The new nation of West Germany was backed by the NATO powers, whereas East Germany had a puppet comunistic government and was backed by the Soviet Union. Within ten years West Germany, war-ravaged as she was, was the most powerful economy in Europe! In the German language West Germany, war-ravaged as she was, was the most powerful economy in Europe! In the German language, West Germany’s, miraculous economic recovery is referred to as the "Wirtschaftswunder (veer-shahfts-voon-der)." Impress your parents at the dinner table with this word.
As opposed to the great success of West Germany, East Germany was in turmoil. The inhabitants of that country were always trying to escape to the western counterpart. This became such an issue for the Soviets that, in 1961, they built the

Our founding fathers were protectionists

"Free commerce and navigation are not to be given in exchange for restrictions and vexations, nor are they likely to produce a relaxation of them"
–Thomas Jefferson: Report on Foreign Commerce, (1793)

"manufactures are now as necessary to our independence as to our comfort; and if those who quote me as of a different opinion, will keep pace with me in purchasing nothing foreign where an equivalent of domestic fabric can be obtained, without regard to difference of price, it will not be our fault if we do not soon have a supply at home equal to our demand"
– Thomas Jefferson; from letter to Benjamin Austin (Jan 9, 1816)

and they bailed out Wall Street

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_of_1792

Since the Dawn of the British Empire America has been a British colony of the "British Empire".

Since the World war 2 America only got involved when the "Japanese Empire at that time attacked Perl harbor on orders from germany Not because of Great Britain.

The UK was fighting Communism and germany at that time and was slowly winning the war effort but it took a strain but Britain prevailed and germany fell.
———————————-

"I find it quite pathetic if I may be frank that we go on talking about this special relationship; this is the most naive delusion fostered on this side of the Atlantic hardly ever referred to on the other side of the Atlantic.

If America has a special relationship it is with Israel but on the outside of that they have relationships of all sorts of nations like Japan for obvious reasons and you can go on.

But the idea that Britain Ranks above all else is wrong; why don’t you cast your minds back to the IRA terrorist’s when we told them to stop the flow of money to them. Minster after Minster but the money kept flowing"

Britain should Slash all relationship with the United States of America and only speak on UN and EU matters

Till the British People get a “Proper apology”

What makes this worse for British people is that we showed off to the world “Britannia’s Iron Fist” in the Falkland’s war and crushed the Argentinean Army!. And once again in the Iranian Embassy siege in London was a clear shock wave to the world "Britain is not weak"

Britain still has very much its military power within Roots of the “common wealth” also known as the “British Empire”.

Do you think The British People should to Split apart From USA

I think that the UK should slash all relations and only focus on “proper matters”

What do you Think?

We love the Brits. Sorry if we hurt your feelings.

I’m trying to come up with a great fund raiser for my Model United Nations Group and have it be something everyone can enjoy. I wanted something that could relate to the group or maybe not, as long as it is fun, we don’t have to spend a ton of cash, since all of us are practically broke. Something that would not seem ridiculous to people see senior students and the students themselves do. Most importantly, that would get as many people as possible to get the most, and still have them enjoy and remember it all. I have, honestly, tried my best but nothing works. And I have been reprimanded that I jut don’t know how to let out a good idea. Heck, a fellow member suggested a pen sale and everyone got excited but I got stared down because I thought we could do better.

Our goal is to raise over $2500 since we are taking a trip to the Harvard Simulation this upcoming December. The revenue would include transportation, accommodations, food (though hopefully we can work something about this ourselves), and some left over for future events. We are all trying our best but nothing really comes up. I am especially trying my best because I’m the underdog of the group, and no matter how I hard I try I get looked over. I want to show that even if it wasn’t my idea, i could be an effective leader and ask for help if i need it. I know I , and WE need help, and even if our captain says otherwise, I am asking to please help me out. I think that being a good leader means knowing when to need help, and i am asking any of you to help out.

I hope it could be something that you tried before and worked in a sense, and maybe how you got to the event, like getting connections, or how you got to have a certain place to be the locale. I would greatly appreciate all your help and thank you who provide ides for at least taking your time to help out.

If it helps:

Our team consists of 17 kids.
We are broke.
We love to party, and entertain.
We almost have no lives, too much activity, and so looking for something strange or somehow strange.
We like to compromise
We live in a very multi cultured city. Think MA version of NYC.
We are outspoken, and most of us are girls
Our city or citizens don’t have a lot of moola, at least the majority
We like to get out when we can
We love to see happy people and hear hat they have to say
We volunteer like it’s the end of the world
We are flashy
We’re cheap
We love food, ALL OF US!!
Our coordinator, wants something not done commonly
Did I mention we are ambitious?
And we like culture, whether it’s a culture that rain dances, lambada, or any freaky tradition….

JUST PLEASE HELP US OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S: I don’t mind if your explanations take a gazillion paragraphs, pages, or if you have books, videos, websites, blogs, or whatever or if you have to email me, or contact me, you have the freedom to do so as long as you’re no perv. And hopefully, in a town where parents are used to getting asked to buy stuff all the time, something exciting, new, and something THEY WANT AND NEED AND INTERESTS THEM TO BUY MORE!! Oh and this is my first time doing and trying to think of a fund raiser. Just in case that helps. Just being frank and safe, well unless you are a perv with good ideas for this…oh hell, JUST HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sincerely,

A. M.

Well when I was an undergrad and belonged to the International Student’s Society, we had an International Food Festival that raised quite a lot of money. We used the cafeteria at the school to hold it and charged one fee for entry. Each person made a dish from a different country and with the price of an entry ticket the attendees could sample 5 dishes (they could pay again and get another ticket for 5 more if they wanted to). We asked local grocery stores to donate the food items we needed to make the dishes and used the cafeteria grill, stoves and ovens to prepare it. We got a catering company to donate the use of chaffing dishes to keep the food warm and the church donated the tables. We decorated the cafeteria with garments and items from each country that people had on hand and made signs for above each table so the attendees knew which country the food was from. We got the local radio station to donate air time to announce our event and on the day of it, we called the news stations so we got on the evening news which poured in even more donations. Seems to me that because you are a Model United Nations group, this idea might work for you, too.

ReviewWhile the United States flexes its economic and military muscles around the world as the dominant global player, it may soon have company. According to the Washington Post‘s T.R. Reid, the nations of Europe are setting aside differences to form an entity that’s gaining strength, all seemingly unbeknownst to the U.S. and its citizens. The new Europe, Reid says, “has more people, more wealth, and more trade than the United States of America,” plus more leverage gained through membership in international organizations and generous foreign aid policies that reap political clout. Reid tells how European countries were willing to discontinue their individual centuries-old currencies and adopt the Euro, the monetary unit that is now a dominant force in world markets. This is noteworthy not just for exploring the considerable economic impact of the Euro, but also for what that spirit of cooperation means for every facet of Europe in the 21st century, where governments and citizens alike believe that the rewards of banding together are worth a loss in sovereignty. Reid’s most compelling portrait of this trend is in the young Europeans known as “Generation E” who see themselves not as Spaniards or Czechs but simply as Europeans. To illustrate America’s obliviousness to this trend, Reid tells of former GE CEO Jack Welch, who never bothered to factor European objections into a proposed multi-billion dollar merger with Honeywell, leading to the deal being torpedoed and Welch disgraced. But what is most striking in The United States of Europe is the contrast between the new Europe and the United States. The Europeans cannot match the raw military size of the U.S., but by mixing wealth with diplomacy and continental unity (helped along by antipathy toward George W. Bush’s brand of Americanism), they are forming an innovative and powerful superpower. –John Moe

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