Saturday, March 21, 2020

Frank Abignale - Catch me if you can essays

Frank Abignale - Catch me if you can essays In the beginning of the story we are introduced to the character Frank Abignale. His parents decide to get a divorce, resulting in Frank becoming emotionally distraught. He becomes a very lost and confused seventeen year old boy looking to escape the feelings of sorrow. Frank decides to run away, for he cannot choose which parent to live with, and figures it would be the best thing for him. Being so young and innocent to the real world, he figures the easiest way to make money is to scandal people and banks for his survival. This talent comes easy to frank, looking so mature in age and being abnormally brilliant, he becomes a professional con artist over night. One of the many qualities Frank had, which definitely had a big impact on his new career, was an extremely high level of perseverance. Frank would never give up on anything until he successfully achieved his goals. This habit was inherited from his father, he was a very successful business man. Throughout the story, Frank learns a lot of lessons that he encounters himself. He learns best from experience. It is obvious that during his outrageous adventure of conning and stealing he is going through immense changes. They start to convert him to a more honest and trustworthy human being. An example of this change is when he meets his fianc Rosalie. He is so in love with her that he feels guilty about pretending to be someone he is not. Frank starts second guessing his choice of employment. Feeling so close to Rosalie, he figures that he can tell her the truth about his real lifestyle and true identity. Tired of being an impostor, he faces the music and tells her all about his dark side. Unfortunately, telling her the truth did not quite as expected and blew up in his face. She called the authorities, and so this lead to Frank abandoning his life as an engaged doctor, to hopping back on a plane to another location as an airline pilot. After the incident, he really starts...

Thursday, March 5, 2020

The History of License Plates in the U.S.

The History of License Plates in the U.S. License plates, also known as vehicle registration plates, are required for every car in the United States these days, but when automobiles first started to appear on the road, there was no such thing! So who created license plates? What did the first one look like? Why and when were they first introduced? For these answers, look no further than the turn of the 20th century in the Northeastern United States.   The Very First License Plate Although New York was the first state to require automobiles have license plates in 1901, these plates were made by individual owners (with the owners initials) rather than being issued by state agencies as they are in modern times. The very first license plates were typically handcrafted on leather or metal (iron) and were meant to denote ownership via the initials.   It wasnt until two years later, in 1903, that the first state-issued license plates were distributed in Massachusetts. The very first plate, featuring the number 1, was issued to Frederick Tudor. (One of his relatives still holds an active registration on the plate.)   What Did the First License Plates Look Like? These early Massachusetts license plates were made of iron and covered in porcelain enamel. The background was colored a cobalt blue and the number was in white. Along the top of the plate, also in white, were the words: MASS. AUTOMOBILE REGISTER. The size of the plate was not constant; it grew wider as the plate number reached into the tens, hundreds, and thousands. Massachusetts was the first to issue license plates, but other states soon followed. As automobiles began to crowd the roads, it was necessary for all states to find ways to start regulating cars, drivers, and traffic. By 1918, all states in the United States had begun issuing their own vehicle registration plates.   Who Issues License Plates Now? In the U.S., vehicle registration plates are issued solely by the states Departments of Motor Vehicles. The only time a federal government agency issues these plates are for their federal vehicle fleet or for cars owned by foreign diplomats. Notably, some Native American tribes also issue their own registrations to members, but many states now offer a special registration for Native Americans.   When Did It Become a Requirement to Annually Update License Plate Registrations? Although the first license plates were meant to be semi-permanent, by the 1920s, states had begun mandating renewal for personal vehicle registration. At this time, individual states began experimenting with different methods for creating the plates. The front would typically contain registration numbers in large, centered digits while smaller lettering on one side dictated the abbreviated state name and a two- or four-digit year the registration was valid during. By 1920, citizens were required to obtain new plates from the state each year. Oftentimes these would vary in color year to year to make it easier for police to identify expired registrations.