What is the greatest challenge or obstacle you've confronted What are Essay

What is the greatest challenge or obstacle you've confronted What are the ways in which you have handled it How did it change you - Essay Example The initial response to this challenge was the usual crying and falling back on at least the comfort of hearing the familiar voices of my family through frequent telephone calls. This went on for some time and then I started realizing that I was falling in arrears of all that I needed to do at college, because of this obsession with home and the sorry state I was in away from home. I needed to do something about it. I observed that the times when I felt the worst was when I did nothing other than sit and mope about home. So I decided to steep myself in activities indoors with my studies and outdoors in extracurricular activities. My increased effort in my studies saw the return of good grades, my confidence in my academic abilities and smiles from my tutors and professors. However, it was from my extra curricular activities that I learnt a lot that made me a changed person. I had to interact with a lot of individuals from differing backgrounds and countries in the course of my extra curricular activities. This resulted in me realizing that there was more to the world than the four walls of my home. There was a lot to be learnt from interacting with individuals other than my family and developing healthy relationships with them. New perceptions of the world and life emerged from such relationships bringing among other things happiness into my life. I realized that I had missed a lot by limiting myself to my family and the environments of my home. By the end of the first term at college, I was no longer homesick and starting to enjoy my experiences in this new world I had found. College life away from home has changed me. I no longer fear an environment away from home and family. I am no longer reluctant to meet others. I enjoy interacting with others and sharing thoughts and ideas. I have become more adventurous willing to give new activities a try to see if they suit me. In all I believe my two years at college, away from home, has made me a

Pit Bulls Essay Example for Free

Pit Bulls Essay American societies famous bully breeds is too often stereotyped as malicious animals, but that stereotype is false due to evidence that pit bulls can be just as loving as the iconic golden retriever. According to the American Temperament Test, which is a test that focuses on and measures different aspects of temperament such as stability, shyness, aggressiveness, friendliness and self-preservation in the face of a threat shows that Pit Bulls have a temperament of 86.8%, (American Temperament Test Society) a much higher percentage than other breeds which justifies that these animals can withstand a higher tolerance of aggressiveness. If this is the case, why are Pit Bulls one of the most discriminated dog breeds in today’s society? Due to irresponsible owners, Pit Bulls have been labeled cruel and violent animals, leading people to be frightened for themselves, their children, and their pets. By experience and owning a pit bull for oneself, people would begin to understand something entirely different. Pit Bulls are a misunderstood breed; they are one of the most loving and loyal breeds that deserves a fair chance just like any other dog would, but because of irresponsible owners, and their negligence toward teaching their pit bulls the right mannerisms this may never happen. The reputation of the Pit Bull has taken a dramatic downfall in the past few decades due to negative publicity. Originally, Pit Bulls were considered to be   Ã¢â‚¬Å"American darlings†; during WWI they were claimed to be the sweetest and most loving dogs a person could own, but in the 1980’s the view of the â€Å"American darlings† changed due to an illegal â€Å"sport†, dogfighting. Although dogfighting is illegal in all fifty states, inhumane persons who participate in the sport choose pit bulls because of their strong physique and loyal personality, which contribute to the stereotype of all pit bulls being violent due to the public only viewing them as fighters. A famous example of this is the widely known scandal around NFL player Michael Vick, who was convicted of running Pit bull fighting kennels in Smithfield, VA. The outcome of this case brought on more discrimination toward Pit bulls in general. Although Pit Bulls were viewed badly, people still used them as the preferred guard dog not only for the bad as in drug houses and gang members, but also as one would get any dog, to use them as protection for their property. In 1987 an incident regarding a Pit Bull and a two-year-old sent red flags up for this prestigious breed. A pit bull that was under the care of an irresponsible owner had the dog guarding an illegal marijuana crop, in California, when a two-year-old boy who was unsupervised was wandering around and fell victim to the pit bull. This attack was immediately publicized because of the pit bull being involved as the main concern, which made the reputation of Pit Bulls sink even lower. People began to think that Pit Bulls were heartless killers, due to the mis-training of their owners. The public was misinformed; they did not know that the child was wandering around unsupervised in an enclosed area. This situation would create a threat to any guard dog, not just a Pit Bull, and the outcome would have been the same. Because of that horrible mistake, the Pit Bull was killed. In a situation like this, it is in no way the Pit Bull’s fault; he was merely doing his job. Rather, it is the owner’s fault for not clearly training him and the parent’s fault for being careless with their child. This was brought to the courts attention and soon thoughts of a ban against Pit bulls were raised. The public was outraged by this attack and proposed a ban on Pit bulls. This ban was granted throughout 39 or more cities and states without the consent of any animal professionals or the owners of this breed. These bans lead to the death of many innocent Pit Bulls in many areas. Many Cities reportedly spent over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in rounding up and killing these animals. Devastated owners had their animals confiscated and killed without warning. In Tijeras, New Mexico, the ban was so strictly enforced that animal control officers were allowed to kill any Pit Bull seen on sight without compensation to the owner. Due to their misunderstood reputation, people made rash decisions that affected the lives of many loving Pit Bulls that never stood a chance. They have even become a â€Å"liability† due to their â€Å"overly violent† personalities and because of this have been banned from many areas in the United States. One thing that frightens people the most is a Pit Bulls jaw. While they do have one of the strongest jaws, it is not the strongest. Dr. I. Lerh Brisbin, of the University of Georgia, states, â€Å"The few studies, which have been conducted of the structure of the skulls, mandibles and teeth of Pit Bulls show, that, in proportion to their size, their jaw structure and thus its inferred functional morphology, is no different than that of any [other] breed of dog. There is absolutely not evidence for the existence of any kind of locking mechanism unique to the structure of the jaw and/or teeth of the American Pit Bull Terrier. † There is no evidence to prove that Pit Bulls have unique jaws or any lethal â€Å"lockjaw†. The â€Å"lockjaw† method is learned through training, it is not a special killing tool, and once again the owner creates this issue for the breed. Pit Bulls are not the only kind of dog to be able to do this; most breeds can. The difference is people are already scared of Pit Bulls, so they continue to publicize it much more than the other breeds. Christina Berry, writer for The Lazy Pit Bull states, â€Å"Pit Bulls are the most discriminated dog in the US. This is in part because there are so many myths surrounding them, which makes some people believe theyre not suitable for adoption. This is not true. A rescued Pit Bull can make a wonderful companion. † Once people realize this, then Pit Bull adoption rates will rise and they can be put into good homes. These animals need someone that will take care of them and love them. That is all that is required for a happy dog and no accidents will be encountered. If these animals were provided the rights training and proper care than there would not be any worry about owning one of these animals. There are many precautions that have to be taken when owning these animals. Such as; proper housing and fencing, this contributes to a safe environment where these animals can roam and live without the disturbance of others. Also a calm and secluded area where no one can be around or taunt the animal in its own territory. When these animals are out in the public they should be constantly under supervision, this will allow you to know what the animal is doing at all time and give the proper amount of time to react if the Pit Bull feels threatened. Throughout the awful times many people continue to stand by Pit Bulls, these people are the ones that have experienced owning this loving creature and understand that the bad reputation Pit Bulls have is merely a misconception. I believe that Pit Bulls are the greatest breed a family could have. I have had fourteen Pit Bulls and each one was very special to me. They are very playful, confident, strong, humorous, loving, but most of all loyal. They will do anything for their owners. They are just like any other dog, but unfortunately they are not seen the same. Not one of my Pit Bulls ever harmed or attacked any other animal or human. They continuously proved themselves to being the sweetest animals that many have had the great fortune to meet. What normal, other dogs can do, like jump on somebody or behave like a dog, a Pit Bull can do that and be deemed dangerous, (Kingsbury) Unless people start taking the time to get to know the extraordinary breed that Pit Bulls are, they will never be able to understand their true personality or help them. Pit Bulls need to stop being looked at as monsters and killing machines, they are just like any other dog. They are loving, trusting, loyal, and fun. Pit Bulls are a wonderful versatile breed and are used for many different purposes; Fighting is not the only thing they excel at. They are a breed always focused and determined to please its owner, thus if we start using them for the right purposes these dogs make wonderful therapy, guide, rescue, service, weight pulling, but most of all companion dogs. â€Å"Pit Bulls love people. Although this breed frequently gets a bad rap in the media, if you have ever met a Pit Bull that was raised by a loving, conscientious family then you will understand how much they like to be with people.   All they need is the right kind of guidance, and owner. Pit Bulls are just like any other pet that one takes into their home, these dogs are wrongly named and deceived for the acts they are trained by their owners to do. JRL Solutions states, â€Å"It is in actuality the humans who continue to make a series of hasty or ignorant mistakes that are helping to perpetuate the bad reputation this breed has gained over the last decade. † If a law should pass against these dogs, it should be the law to mandate the right methods of training. To punish these dogs and classify them as malicious or dangerous is a hypocritical judgment as any dog, small, medium, or large could be classified into these categories. After much research and experience as I have had my fair share in taking responsibility and care of this precious breed, it is safe to say that society should rethink their opinions and misconceptions of these dogs. It is proven that they were the â€Å"American darlings† of our time, they have the tolerance to withstand aggressiveness, and they are one of the most loyal companions any man could ask for.

A College Education: Overrated or Invaluable? Essay -- Higher Educatio

Since the beginning of the 20th Century, college education has been available for everyone and anyone who is willing to develop their knowledge regarding a specific professional field. Currently in the United States, the percentage of high school graduates going to college has increased considerably: 68 percent in 2011 compared to 49 percent in 1940 (Menand, 2) and the record high set in 2009 with 70 percent of total high school graduates enrolled in college ("Bureau of Labor Statistics"). Notwithstanding, it has come to the attention of many that the college tuition and fees have been increasing at an accelerated rate. According to The New York Times, college tuition and fees increased 439 percent from 1982 to 2007 (Lewin, 1). This sumptuous rise inhibits many citizens from obtaining a higher education; furthermore, creating the debate whether college education is overrated or if it is a valuable professional and educational experience. Despite the rising prices, I believe that the college experience provides the necessary tools to develop an individual’s set of skills that will furthermore lead them to a successful career. Going back to the beginning of the century, one is able to witness that most people wished to attend Ivy League universities like Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Standford, etc. Over the years with the development of the S.A.T.’s and other standardized examinations, there was a way to separate the most intelligent high school graduates from the less prepared. Moreover, this allowed public and state colleges to be more accommodating towards other sectors of the population. The main problem is that most students are more attracted to the social aspects of college rather than the academic ones. Higher education is ab... ...ww.bls.gov/news.release/hsgec.nr0.htm>. ("Bureau of Labor Statistics") Lewin, Tamar, . "College May Become Unaffordable for Most in U.S.." New York Times. N.p., 2008. Web. 3 Apr 2012. . (Lewin, Tamar) Menand, Louis, . "A CRITIC AT LARGE Live and Learn Why we have college.." The New Yorker. The New Yorker, 2011. Web. 3 Apr 2012. . (Menand, Louis) Pappano, L.. "The Master’s as the New Bachelor’s." New york times. N.p., 2011. Web. 6 Apr 2012. . "Why College Students Stop Short of a Degree." Reuters. N.p., 2012. Web. 6 Apr 2012. .

Accomplishment Report Format Essay

Introduction The school year 2005-2006 is still blissful for Sagada National High School. It is still an uphill battle and struggle to have a school building, a Filipino teacher, and basic facilities like library, chairs, and laboratory. As of now SNHS still squats on a dilapidated bayanihan building and a makeshift building in the compound of the Sagada Central Elementary School. In spite of these limitations, the school continues to reap honors for its name and to make a difference. For this school year it asserted its strong presence in mathematical competitions. Twice in a row, it represented the Division in the Regional MTAP Oral in the fourth year level. It participated in the National Press Conference held in Kalibo, Aklan. It also shines in sports as well as in beauty contests. Aside from MPGCHS, Sagada National High School is one of only two SMART schools in the Division of Mt. Province. Its application has already been approved. A tie up with SMART means the implementation of the ICT curriculum one of the signature programs of the school. SMART has already started providing for technical training for the faculty members. The inauguration of the school as a SMART school was moved from March to June. Through a raffle fund raising project, the school was able to acquire six computer units. All in all it has 13 computers, including five, courtesy of Hon. Congressman Dominguez. This last April the computer laboratory was set up. This is for the graduates to have summer computer training before they enroll for college this coming school year. This humbling experience was made possible due to the dedication and commitment of the faculty members and the strong support of the PTCA and other stake holders of the school. Basic Performance Indicators: 1. Promotion Rate- 259/281 = 92.17% 2. Completion Rate- 67/89 = 75.28% 3. Graduation Rate- 67/69 = 97.10% 4. Retention Rate- 136/150 = 90.67% 5. Dropout Rate- 7/281 = 2.49% 6. Cohort Survival Rate- 69/89 = 77.53% 7. Repetition Rate- 3/295 = 1.02% 8. Gross Teacher Ratio= 281/9 = 1:31 9. Participation Rate- Data not available 10. Gross Enrollment Ratio- Data not complete 11. Transition Rate-Data not complete Enrollment We expected that the enrollment of SNHS dropped considerably because of the attractive facilities offered by St. Mary’s School. There was a massive recruitment by the alumni of Saint Mary’s. However, tentative enrollment posted by the school shows that SNHS posted a total of 71 first year students while SMS has only 32 first year students. The table below shows the actual enrollment: Highlights of Accomplishment 1. Acquisition of six computers through a raffle fund raising- Through the initiative of the PTCA, the faculty members and the student body the they were able to raise a considerable amount used to purchase six computer units. 2. Setting up of the Computer Laboratory- SNHS can’t afford to lose its students just because it does not have a computer laboratory which is readily available at the Saint Mary’s School. Aside from the six computers which came from the fund raising, we were able to solicit other units and together with the computers given by Congressman Dominguez, we have 13 units. With this we set up the computer laboratory with the help of our Peace Corp volunteer Mr. Daniel Ziegler. Right now our graduates are having hands-on summer training in computer usage. 3. Tying-up with SMART- SNHS is a SMART school. SMART company approved our application; hence it will assist us by giving two computers, computer accessories like printers, web cameras, and scanner.Besides, they will assist us in the installation of the internet connection for the students and right now two of our teachers were on technical training for this in Subic. Ultimately they will be with us in the planned implementation of the ICT curriculum. 4. Setting-up of our Website- It has been a year since SNHS came online. This is courtesy of Mr. Kent Sinkey, a retired computer analyst from the University of Cincinnati who assisted us in the setting up of our website. A member of the PTCA based in London is shouldering the cost of the website for the school. Mr. Sinkey also trained two of our students in website development. 5. Free Summer Training in Computer Usage- As requested by the PTCA, the graduates are  having summer training on computer usage in the computer laboratory of the school. Daniel Ziegler our Peace Corp volunteer is assisting us in computer instruction. 6. At the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year the faculty donated money so the school could have an internet connection in order to do faculty research, have e-mail and maintain this electronic yearbook. Josephine Buyagan was kind enough to donate the money necessary for our domain name and website hosting.

Investigating travel and tourism

Domestic tourism- domestic tourism is when tourists live in the UK and take holiday in the UK this is usually one night or more, it can also be day trips. An example of domestic tour operators is: Haven and Butlins. Travel companies in the UK are companies such as National express coach services, Great western railway. Inbound tourism- inbound tourism is when tourists live outside of the UK and travel to the UK. Inbound tour operators include All European travel, Marriot hotel. Travel services include Span air, Evan's tours. Outbound tourism- outbound tourism is when tourists live in the UK and travel areas outside of the UK. Examples of outbound companies are Thomson, Thomas Cook, and First Choice. Travel companies include Easyjet, Flybe, Monarch and P&O cruises. Components of Travel and Tourism The components of Travel and Tourism come together to provide business and leisure holidays for customers in the travel and tourism industry. Accommodation For many people to make full use of their leisure and business travel they use accommodation. There are different types of accommodation, which can either be serviced or non-services. Serviced accommodation includes hotels which then depending on the hotel they can provide different services, fully inclusive, full board or half board. Fully inclusive includes everything such as meals, drinks etc. Half board includes two meals usually breakfast and an evening meal. Non-serviced accommodation is accommodation such as a caravan, camping, villa or apartments. Non-services accommodation doesn't include any meals and is usually referred to as self-catering; in apartments there is usually a basic kitchen provided. Transport Transport is an important component of travel and tourism, as all tourists need to travel to get to their selected destination. There are four types of travel these are: air, sea, rail and road. Air is usually most popular when travelling out of the country although it is used within the country to get to different cities; therefore it is used as inbound, outbound and domestic tourism. There are 3 different types of air transport: charter flights, scheduled flights and independent flights. Companies such as Thomas Cook and JMC use charter flights for package holiday customer. Scheduled flights are timetables to fun throughout the year and are generally used by independent travellers. Independent flights are mainly used by business travellers and are relatively small aircrafts. Types of sea travel include ferries, catamarans and cruises. They are used in inbound and outbound tourism. Brittany ferries and P&O ferries are examples of companies within sea travel. Ferries can be used by passenger on foot or they can take their vehicle on board. Cruises travel throughout areas of the world such as the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, the ships dock and allow passengers to go on excursions on the chosen stopping point. Passengers then rejoin the boat and travel to a new destination. Rail is used by inbound, outbound and domestic tourists mainly popular with domestic tourists. Great western railway is an example of a domestic railway company as it only provides services throughout the West of the UK whereas a company such as the Eurostar train travels throughout Europe. Road is used by Domestic tourists to travel from one part of the country to another. National Express is a main coach company that provide travel throughout the UK. Privately owned cars are a main source of domestic travel in the UK to go on day trips or camping holidays. Attraction and Events Attractions and events attract people to particular locations and they will need service provided by different components especially transport and accommodation. Different attractions can include, natural, heritage, purpose-built and events. Natural attractions can be caves, beaches, forests and lakes etc. These attract many different tourists for many reasons. Tourists may be visiting on a domestic holiday as part of a day trip, or inbound tourists. Natural attractions in the UK are places such as Cheddar caves, beaches such as Bournemouth, Cornwall. Rivers are usually visited for waterfalls or to take part in activities that include water. Heritage places include historic places such as castles like Edinburgh, Chepstow. Stately homes also bring a lot of tourism to places such as Longleat safari park, London tower. Tourists usually visit these sites for educational visits and to learn something about the history of the building or place. Purpose built attractions attract many inbound outbound and domestic tourists. Purpose built attractions is places such as Alton tower, Lego land, Zoos, Butlins, Centre parks. Tourists visit these sites throughout the year; they attract a lot of tourists from the UK that are on domestic holidays. People visit these places for a good time and for a little break from their usual lifestyles. Events cause a lot of tourists to travel to different places and even stay overnight. A lot of event will be domestic tourists but many people do travel to different countries for big events. Events include music festivals which occur all over the world, music festivals mean that people have to use some sort of transport to get to the situated place and some even stay over night in local accommodation. Other events include sporting events such as Wimbledon, the Grand prix and international football matches. Tour operators Tour operators provide the holiday. Once your holiday has been booked then it is in the hands of the tour operators. They provide tourists with flights, transfers from the airport, hotels and the entertainment within the hotel. Tour operators are companies such as First Choice, Thomson, Thomas Cook, Exodus, and Cycling for softies.

The Importance of Cultural Approaches to Negotiation

The Importance of Cultural Approaches to Negotiation Negotiation occurs when individuals with conflict of the interests get together to determine how they would allocate resources or work together in the future. The ideas of both parties need to be well presented in the negotiation. Both parties should end up with equally benefiting outcomes.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Importance of Cultural Approaches to Negotiation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Negotiation results in problem solving to a common problem between the parties involved. Contradicting issues arise due to different schools of thought and cultural backgrounds. This is the reason why negotiation needs expertise when handling it. Negotiations in business involve open communication, understanding the conflict and search for the solution by the involved parties. Different cultures approach negotiations differently and thus, utmost understanding is required (Hendon, Hendon Herbig, 1996).The main purp ose of this paper is to discuss the cultural approaches used in negotiations. It will explain five cultural approaches used by the Chinese and their effectiveness if applied in the United States of America. Different cultures approach negotiation differently. This is because of the differences in their traditions and beliefs. Negotiators’ cultural background is reflected during negotiation process through the way they think and are sensitivity to the issues. The approaches used in different cultures have their advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the different cultural approaches to negotiations especially when dealing with foreigners. If this is not done it may lead to frustrations of the two parties and this is likely to bring enmity, which is not good for business investors (Hendon, Hendon Herbig, 1996). The Chinese culture is renowned for persistence and coherence. It is rooted in religio-philosophical traditions of Taoism, Buddhism, Con fucianism, Pantheistic and Animist beliefs. Confucianism, for example, is associated with the subtle and tacit but forceful social moral and behavioral code in China. Social harmony is another element of Chinese culture that gives a non-interventionist, outer directed and situation-accepting orientation. This allows the Chinese maintain harmony with their counterparts. Besides this, they place the negotiation on a wider context in understanding of the underlying principles. The Chinese also take responsibility for the decisions made and are less likely to result in overt conflicts during the negotiation.Advertising Looking for essay on communication strategies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Their culture is also relationship oriented as it values relationships above everything else. Thus, the Chinese negotiators will take negotiation as a relationship building process. In this regard, they ensure that a good relati onship is maintained during and after the negotiation (Li Weldon, 2000). Their cultures require them to be implicit and indirect and this is reflected in their negotiation style. They are more sensitive and practice proper etiquette in their dealings. They are also governed by reciprocity and therefore, they expect concessions in return. In addition, they show patience in their negotiations and more likely to place a negotiation in a historical context. They deal with issues as a package rather than one issue at a time and they are comfortable with long-term negotiations. Another cultural factor is contingency propositions. This means that they display more caution and they are more assertive as well as open to the pursuit of self (Li Weldon, 2000). On the other hand, the objective of American negotiators is to arrive at legalistic contracts. They thrive in getting the details right and using all relationships to facilitate the achievement of unambiguous understandings. They focus on the short-term solution and they are result oriented. They prefer a competitive environment with the intent of solving problems and they expect reciprocity. The law binds them and they honor their contracts no matter the results of the outcome. The Americans negotiate expecting immediate results. They see delays as a sign of ineptitude and they deal with perceived insensitivity. Their tendency to getting straight to the point mostly leads to failures in negotiations (Hendon, Hendon Herbig, 1996). Therefore, there are distinct differences between the American cultural approach to negotiation and the Chinese cultural approach to negotiation. The Chinese approach is humanitarian and if applied in the United States, it is bound to bring about positive changes. However, its effectiveness will solely depend on how this culture is embraced. Most American investors have built their negotiation skills on western culture and it may be a challenge to adopt new changes. However, some of th e Chinese cultural approaches to negotiation are possible to be incorporated into the United States culture (Li Weldon, 2000).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Importance of Cultural Approaches to Negotiation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For example, the Chinese’s collective way of thinking will do well if it replaces the American’s individualistic way of thinking. This way, it is possible for an American negotiator to put himself in the shoes of another person and view the negotiation in a broader perspective. The Americans may see the sensitivity with which the Chinese handle negotiations as a weak point but if incorporated in the US culture, it is likely to help build long-term relationships following a negotiation (Lam, 2000). The Americans are always in haste in their business dealings. Adapting the formal long-term relationship building of the Chinese culture at the negotiation table may help them pay close attention to details of the issue and understand their counterparts. It is also possible to replace the impatient and aggressive tendency of the Americans with the more subdued patient spirit of the Chinese. The Americans are result oriented and they are likely to close businesses deal in their favor even if their counterparts get furious over it. This can also be overcome by the Chinese’s long-term perspective, which helps them have better deals and hence become better business investors (Lam, 2000). In conclusion, negotiation skills are shaped by negotiator’s culture. In order to avoid enmity when solving conflicts, the negotiators need to understand each other’s culture. Each culture has its pros and cons when approaching the negotiation table. Therefore, it is the role of the negotiators to learn and appreciate the other parties’ cultures. It is also necessary to incorporate the pros of different cultural approaches to be able to m aximize opportunities in international and national business (Hendon, Hendon Herbig, 1996). References Hendon, D., Hendon, R. Herbig, P. (1996). Cross-Cultural Business Negotiations. Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group.Advertising Looking for essay on communication strategies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Lam, M. (2000). Working With Chinese Expatriates in Business Negotiations: Portraits, Issues, and Applications. Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group. Li, J., Tsui, A., Weldon, E. (2000). Management and Organizations in the Chinese Context. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan Publishers.

Pompeii - Archaeology of the Famous Roman Tragedy

Pompeii - Archaeology of the Famous Roman Tragedy Pompeii is arguably the most famous archaeological site in the world. There has never been a site as well preserved, as evocative, or as memorable as that of Pompeii, the luxurious resort for the Roman Empire, which was buried along with its sister cities of Stabiae and Herculaneum under the ash and lava erupted from Mount Vesuvius during the fall of 79 AD. Pompeii is located in the area of Italy known, then as now, as Campania. The vicinity of Pompeii was first occupied during the Middle Neolithic, and by the 6th century BC, it came under the rule of the Etruscans. The citys origins and the original name are unknown, nor are we clear on the sequence of settlers there, but it seems clear that Etruscans, Greeks, Oscans, and Samnites competed to occupy the land prior to the Roman conquest. The Roman occupation began in the 4th century BC, and the town reached its heyday when the Romans turned it into a seaside resort, beginning 81 BC. Pompeii as a Thriving Community At the time of its destruction, Pompeii was a thriving commercial port at the mouth of the Sarno River in southwestern Italy, on the southern flank of Mount Vesuvius. Pompeiis known buildingsand there are many that were preserved under the mud and ashfallinclude a Roman basilica, built ca 130-120 BC, and an amphitheater built circa 80 BC. The forum contained several temples; the streets included hotels, food vendors and other eating places, a purpose-built lupanar, and other brothels, and gardens within the city walls. But probably of most fascination  to us today are the look into private homes, and the eerie negative images of human bodies caught in the eruption: the utter humanness of the tragedy seen at Pompeii. Dating the Eruption and an Eyewitness Romans watched the spectacular eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, many from a safe distance, but one early naturalist named Pliny (the Elder) watched while he helped evacuate refugees on the Roman warships under his charge. Pliny was killed during the eruption, but his nephew (called  Pliny the Younger), watching the eruption from Misenum about 30 kilometers (18 miles) away, survived and wrote about the events in letters that form the basis of our eye-witness knowledge about it. The traditional date of the eruption is August 24th, supposed to have been the date reported in Pliny the Youngers letters, but as early as 1797, the archaeologist Carlo Maria Rosini questioned the date on the basis of the remains of fall fruits he found preserved at the site, such as chestnuts, pomegranates, figs, raisins, and pine cones. A recent study of the distribution of the wind-blown ash at Pompeii (Rolandi and colleagues) also supports a fall date: the patterns shows that prevailing winds blew from a direction most prevalent in the fall. Further, a silver coin found with a victim in Pompeii was struck after September 8th, AD 79. If only Plinys manuscript had survived! Unfortunately, we only have copies. Its possible that a scribal error crept in regarding the date: compiling all the data together, Rolandi and colleagues (2008) propose a date of October 24th for the eruption of the volcano. Archaeology The excavations at Pompeii are an important watershed in the history of archaeology, as it was among the earliest of archaeological excavations, tunneled into by the  Bourbon rulers of Naples and Palermo beginning in the fall of 1738. The Bourbons undertook full-scale excavations in 1748much to the belated distress of modern archaeologists who would have preferred they wait until better techniques were available. Of the many archaeologists associated with Pompeii and Herculaneum are pioneers of the field Karl Weber, Johann-Joachim Winckelmann, and Guiseppe Fiorelli; a team was sent to Pompeii by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, who had a  fascination with archaeology and was responsible for the  Rosetta stone  ending up in the British Museum.   Modern research at the site and others affected by the 79 Vesuvian eruption was conducted by the Anglo-American Project in Pompeii, led by Rick Jones at the University of Bradford, with colleagues at Stanford and the University of Oxford. Several field schools were conducted at Pompeii between 1995 and 2006, mostly targeting the section known as Regio VI. Many more sections of the city remain unexcavated, left for future scholars with improved techniques. Pottery at Pompeii Pottery was always an important element of Roman society and it has figured in many of the modern studies of Pompeii. According to recent research (Peà ±a and McCallum 2009), thin-walled pottery tableware and lamps were manufactured elsewhere and brought into the city to sell. Amphorae were used to pack goods such as garum and wine and they too were brought in to Pompeii. That makes Pompeii somewhat anomalous among Roman cities, in that the largest portion of their pottery was produced outside its city walls. A ceramics works called the Via Lepanto was located just outside the walls on the Nuceria-Pompeii road. Grifa and colleagues (2013) report that the workshop was rebuilt after the AD 79 eruption, and continued to produce red-painted and burnished tablewares up until the Vesuvius eruption of 472. The red-slipped tableware called terra sigillata was found in numerous locations in and around Pompeii and using petrographic and elemental trace analysis of 1,089 sherds, McKenzie-Clark (2011) concluded that all but 23 were manufactured in Italy, accounting for 97% of the total investigated. Scarpelli et al. (2014) found that black slips on Vesuvian pottery were made of ferrous materials, consisting of one or more of magnetite, hercynite and/or hematite. Since the closure of the excavations at Pompeii in 2006, researchers have been busy publishing their results. Here are a few of the most recent ones, but there are many others: In Benefiels (2010) study of graffiti on the walls of the House of Maius Castricius is documented several pieces of incised romantic graffiti in different areas of the house. A conversation of 11 graffiti inscribed in a stairwell appears to be a literary and romantic conversation between two individuals. Most of the lines are original romantic poetry or plays on known texts, arranged vertically in two columns. Benefiel says the Latin lines hint at a kind of one-up-man-ship between two or more people.Piovesan and colleagues studied paints and pigments at Pompeiis Temple of Venus, identifying a range of mural colors made from the natural earth, minerals, and a few rare artificial pigmentsblack, yellow, red and brown ochre, cinnabar, Egyptian blue, green earth (mostly celadonite or glauconite) and white calcite.Cova (2015) reports on the alaearchitectural wingsin many houses in the section of Pompeii known as Regio VI, and how the size and shape of the alae may reflect socioeconomic cha nges in the Late Republic/Early Empire period. Miiello et al (2010) investigated construction phases in Regio VI by the variations of mortar. Astrid Lundgren at the University of Oslo published her dissertation on Pompeii in 2014, focusing on male sexuality and prostitution; Severy-Hoven is another scholar investigating the incredible wealth of erotica discovered at Pompeii.Murphy et al. (2013) looked at middens (garbage dumps) and was able to identify evidence that the waste is primarily kitchen food preparation of olives, grapes, figs, cereals, and pulses. However, they found little evidence for crop-processing, suggesting that the food was processed outside of the city before being brought to market. Sources This article is part of the About.com Dictionary of Archaeology: Ball LF, and Dobbins JJ. 2013. Pompeii Forum Project: Current Thinking on the Pompeii Forum. American Journal of Archaeology 117(3):461-492.Benefiel RR. 2010. Dialogues of Ancient Graffiti in the House of Maius Castricius in Pompeii. American Journal of Archaeology 114(1):59-101.Cova E. 2015. Stasis and Change in Roman Domestic Space: The Alae of Pompeiis Regio VI. American Journal of Archaeology 119(1):69-102.Grifa C, De Bonis A, Langella A, Mercurio M, Soricelli G, and Morra V. 2013. A Late Roman ceramic production from Pompeii. Journal of Archaeological Science 40(2):810-826.Lundgren AK. 2014. The Pastime of Venus: An archaeological investigation of male sexuality and protitution in Pompeii. Oslo, Norway: University of Oslo.McKenzie-Clark J. 2012. The supply of Campanian-made sigillata to the city of Pompeii. Archaeometry 54(5):796-820.Miriello D, Barca D, Bloise A, Ciarallo A, Crisci GM, De Rose T, Gattuso C, Gazineo F, and La Russa MF. 2010. Characterisation of archaeological mo rtars from Pompeii (Campania, Italy) and identification of construction phases by compositional data analysis. Journal of Archaeological Science 37(9):2207-2223. Murphy C, Thompson G, and Fuller D. 2013. Roman food refuse: urban archaeobotany in Pompeii, Regio VI, Insula 1. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 22(5):409-419.Peà ±a JT, and McCallum M. 2009. The Production and Distribution of Pottery at Pompeii: A Review of the Evidence; Part 2, The Material Basis for Production and Distribution. American Journal of Archaeology 113(2):165-201.Piovesan R, Siddall R, Mazzoli C, and Nodari L. 2011. The Temple of Venus (Pompeii): a study of the pigments and painting techniques. Journal of Archaeological Science 38(10):2633-2643.Rolandi G, Paone A, Di Lascio M, and Stefani G. 2008. The 79 AD eruption of Somma: The relationship between the date of the eruption and the southeast tephra dispersion. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 169(1–2):87-98.Scarpelli R, Clark RJH, and De Francesco AM. 2014. Archaeometric study of black-coated pottery from Pompeii by different analytical techniques. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Bi omolecular Spectroscopy 120(0):60-66. Senatore MR, Ciarallo A, and Stanley J-D. 2014. Pompeii Damaged by Volcaniclastic Debris Flows Triggered Centuries Prior to the 79 A.D. Vesuvius Eruption. Geoarchaeology 29(1):1-15.Severy-Hoven B. 2012. Master Narratives and the Wall Painting of the House of the Vettii, Pompeii. Gender History 24(3):540-580.Sheldon N. 2014. Dating the 79AD Eruption of Vesuvius: Is 24th August Really the Date? Decoded Past: Accessed 30 July 2016.

Your Executive Administrative Assistant Interview Cheat Sheet

Your Executive Administrative Assistant Interview Cheat Sheet Sherrie Scott, blogger for Demand Media, provides an inside look at the types of questions you can expect while interviewing for an executive administrative assistant position. Knowing what to expect on the day of the big interview will put you at the front of the job-hunting pack and set you up for landing your next great job!Although interviews- and interviewers- will vary, the nature of high-level executive administrative assistant positions requires that candidates possess a fairly specific and specialized set of skills. Therefore, job candidates can usually expect interview questions that are designed to assess their abilities and competencies in the following key areas.Expect questions that want to determine if you really understand the roles and responsibilities of the position- including why there’s executive in the job title. Because you’ll be providing high-level support, interviewees will want to know if you really understand the tasks you’ll be taking on if given the job, and if your previous employment has equipped you to do so. You should also expect questions that are meant to see how you’d handle a variety of work situations. Do you think well on your feet? Are you a natural problem solver? Can you take a project with minimal guidance and run with it? Don’t be surprised if you encounter questions designed to answer these during an interview.Last but not least, expect questions involving hours and flexibility. A great executive administrative assistant must be an unwavering and reliable vessel in the stormy seas of tight deadlines and huge workloads, and potential bosses will want to know if you’re the sort of employee who will do whatever it takes to get the job done- from working extra hours and weekends to putting the rest of your life on hold if needed.Of course, you should always be ready to handle unexpected curveball questions that come your way- really good executive administrative assistants must be great at handling unexpected and last-minute demands from bosses- but being prepared for and mastering questions that fall under these categories will really set you up for interview success!

Texting while driving Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Texting while driving - Research Paper Example Despite the best efforts from the part of governments and law enforcement agencies, there was a 28 percent increase in the number of accidents over the period from 2005 to 2008. Many people accept the fact that they resort to use cell phone while driving; a practice that takes away many lives and that makes many people incapacitated for their entire lives. It is surprising to note that in sharp contradiction with the popular belief, it is adults who are more likely to resort to texting while driving. According to the a Pew Research Centre study, 47 percent of adults do this while only 34 percent teenagers admit doing the same (Distraction.gov). When police officers find it easy to catch those who talk on phone while driving, it is difficult for them to find those who are texting. It is generally pointed out that enforcement of a texting ban is not an easy task as it requires officers to identify an act that usually takes place in a driver’s lap. Despite all these issues associ ated with the use of mobile while driving, it is rather ironic to note that the car manufacturers are not paying any attention to this issue at all. Instead, they are preparing their next generation vehicles with more entertainment. To illustrate, Ford rolls out Twitter and Pandora as a part of their dashboard console entertainment; an invitation card to disasters. It seems that despite the large numbers of accidents, people do not fully understand the graveness of the problem, or are unwilling to mend their ways as they are addicted to mobile. A study conducted by the Virginia tech Transportation Institute (cnet. News) found that those who send text message while driving are twenty-three times more likely to have a crash than the non-distracted drivers (LeBeau). However, the study found a much lesser possibility of accident when the driver is talking on a phone. In this case, the possibility of accident is 1.3 times higher than that of a non-distracted driver. At this juncture, it seems useful to look into the NHTSA study that reveals that 80 percent of crashes and 60 percent of near-crashes are the result of some sort of driver distraction. According to the study, the principal forms of distraction while driving are cell phone use, trying to handle moving objects inside the vehicle, giving attention to another event outside the vehicle, reading while driving, and trying to apply makeup. According to experts, texting is more dangerous than talking on phone. According to studies, drivers who resort to text messaging take 400 percent more time off the road. In addition, they are 70 percent less likely to keep proper lane. While the driver who talks on phone is able to watch the road, the one who is texting has to look at his or her hands, thus, unable to watch the road ahead. Despite all these frightening facts, people do not seem to change their habits. As reported by Bruno (in USA Today), the reason is simple in the opinion of James Katz, director of the Cent er for Mobile Communications at the Rutgers University. According to him, it is basic human nature to believe that they can handle a situation better than others even when they are aware of the dangers involved. As Pittman (66) points out, it is not possible for the US citizens to easily forget the 2008 train disaster that killed 25 people and injured 138 people. In the accident, a Metrolink Commuter Train collided with a Union Pacific freight train. According

The Effects of Cigarettes Smoking on Low Birth Weights of Infants Term Paper

The Effects of Cigarettes Smoking on Low Birth Weights of Infants - Term Paper Example These pregnancy outcomes are known to be associated with infant mortality (Kochanek & Martin, 2005). Hypothesis In this observational study it has been hypothesized that women who are smokers, on average, will give birth to infants with birth weight less than 2500 grams than those who are non-smokers Cigarette Smoking in the United States The prevalence of smoking in the adult U.S. population in 1965 was 42.4% (51.9% of men in the U.S. and 33.9% of women) (Giovino, 2002). More men than women continue to smoke (25.1% of men and 21.2% of women), however the decline in women smoking is at a far slower rate than that observed in men. The gap in the rate of smoking between men and women has diminished from almost 20% in 1965 to less than 5% in 1997 (MMWR, 1999). In spite of numerous reports since the mid 1960s about smoking and health risks (U.S. Surgeon General, 2001), a Department of Health and Human Services report released stated that 23% of the U.S. adult population smoked cigarettes between 1999 and 2001 (DHHS, 2004). Ebrahim, Floyd, Merritt, Decoufle, and Holtzman (2000), using data from the National Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) of 187,302 non-institutionalized women aged 18-44, found that the prevalence of current smoking decreased significantly among both non-pregnant women (26.7% to 23.6% and pregnant women (16.3% to 11.8%) between 1987 and 1996. A 1999 report stated that 21 % of all U.S. women and 12.3 % of pregnant women in the U.S. reported smoking during pregnancy (Mathews, 2001). The Effects of Cigarette Smoking on Reproductive Outcomes Cigarette smoking has been known for decades to be related to poor reproductive outcomes (Annette, 2008). Cigarette smoking during pregnancy is associated with first trimester spontaneous abortion, ectopic pregnancy, preterm birth, placenta previa and abruption, low birth weight, restricted intrauterine lung growth, and sudden unexplained infant death (Hofhuis, de Jongste, & Merkus, 2003). Further , cigarette smoking has been associated with fetal loss, respiratory distress syndrome and other respiratory conditions of the newborn, and sudden infant death syndrome (Schoendorf & Kiely, 1992). In addition, it is estimated that 17 to 26% of low birth weight infants, 7 to 10% of preterm deliveries, and 5-6% of prenatal deaths could be prevented if pregnant women did not smoke (Husten, Chrismon, & Reddy, 1996). In terms of birth defects, one study, using the 345 cases of infants with clubfoot and the 3,029 controls of the Atlanta Birth Defects Case Control Study database, Honein, Paulozzi, and Moore (2000) identified an approximate 20- fold increased risk for clubfoot to occur in infants born to women who had a family history of clubfoot and who also smoked cigarettes (OR=20.30, 95%CI: 7.90, 52.17). This risk for clubfoot was much higher when both factors were considered together than the risk associated with either of these risk factors alone (OR=1.34, 95%CI: 1.04, 1.72 for cigare tte smoking alone; OR=6.52, 95%CI: 2.95, 14.41 for family history alone). There have been numerous studies published about the association of cigarette smoking in pregnancy and low birth weight. For example, a population-based Swedish study (n = 538,829) showed that smoking

Term paper for economics Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Term for economics - Research Paper Example Nonetheless, despite the established consideration in the distribution of the economic pie that guide public discourse, there are new and emerging scientific and economic approaches that are proving to be popular in shaping and guiding the approaches to distribution of the national cake. Greek philosophers were instrumental in laying the groundwork for the distribution of nation’s wealth, which was long before the birth of the discipline of economics as currently known. In line with this, it is common knowledge that philosophers such as Plato and Plutarch defined the level of differences that should result from the rich and the poor and the consequences of these differences. Conversely, the revolution age was responsible for the establishment of government’s policies that redistributed wealth (Acemoglu and Robinson 190). Closer to contemporary economic society, the economic scientists who developed economics perspectives that advocated for various approaches of sharing and distributing the national wealth in a way that ensured equitable and equity in distribution of wealth. This expose elucidates on different ways that a nation’s distribution of wealth affects the economic growth. Stiglitz identified two approaches towards the distribution of a nation’s wealth with each approach differing in perspective and consequences, which are in terms of the growth of a nation’s economy (387). In the first approach, Stiglitz identifies that nations can adopt an approach that focuses on a high ratio of capital and labor. In this approach, Stiglitz noted the ability of a nation to enhance stability in its economic growth while focusing on equitable distribution of resources in the country in the long-term. Conversely, the other approach proposed by Stiglitz identified a small capital-labor ratio, which he defined as developing an economy that was unstable in the end. Besides, this approach was responsible for the

Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 7

Religion - Essay Example Past societal experiences are believed to have a great impact on various religions. The readings also share a common idea that their pioneers and the societal culture have influenced different religions’. The readings explain that there are some things that are shared amongst different religions such as negative things that should be avoided by the followers. The readings also show that every religion has their devotees who strongly believe in the doctrine and overall teachings of that religion. However, there are common ideas shared amongst religions including the concern about life and death and the reverencing of God. The readings further admit that issues to do with religions are very tough to handle and may be a bit confusing. Religion plays a significant role when it comes to peaceful coexistence because most of the conflicts and world struggle originate from 9/11. Christianity tends to remain as the dominant religion in both readings. The readings tend to look at the aspect of religion in different styles by giving it a unique approach. They offer an understanding of the religion in various perspectives by relying on different sources and prior knowledge. The readings also reveal various things that guide different religious beliefs. The second Vatican Council defines religion as a group of people gathered for a common goal of getting answers to the unresolved human riddles and shares a common destiny, God. The council believes that acquiring answers to the unresolved life puzzles such as what happens when one is dead can only be answered by religion. Religions are the path through which the world attempts to overcome the restlessness of peoples’ hearts by outlining a program of life covering doctrine and sacred rites with high regard for the manner of life and conduct. Prothero highlights eight rival religions that rule the world and believes that religion

NGOs and Corporations Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

NGOs and Corporations - Literature review Example He negotiated a partnership between the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) – one of the world’s largest and most influential NGOs, and the IMD, but he is also heavily involved in the corporation side of his research interests. He acts as a consultant for several Fortune 100 companies, including Microsoft and Shell, and has spoken at various think-tanks. Yaziji and Doh adopt a sensible division of their work into four clear sections: understanding NGOs, NGO advocacy campaigns, corporate-NGO engagements, and the future of the latter. This division offers a logical structure for the book’s chapters, and a straightforward framework for analysis. The authors begin by asserting the importance of NGOs in the contemporary world, and on this issue, their arguments can scarcely be contested. By naming just a few of the more prominent organisations, including Amnesty International and Greenpeace – the nature of NGOs as major actors in politics, economics and society is clear. Yaziji and Doh (2009, p.xiii) also provide some staggering statistics for the growth of NGOs in recent years, suggesting a 400% increase in the number of international NGOs. No reader can seriously doubt whether a comprehensive work on this subject was necessary. I would credit the authors’ statement that ‘A fuller understanding of the role of business in society requires a comprehensive understanding of these engagements’ (2009, p.xv). oweHowe And Doh and Yaziji certainly provide a comprehensive account. They apply a logical division of material, and create a work which is easy for any reader to negotiate. However, having set themselves the important task of filling the current gap in the literature, something more than a survey of the field would have been appropriate. In theoretical terms, they have moved on the debate, but to a great extent the book feels like a synthesis rather than a useful new analytical framework. The introductory chapter provides a valu able overview of the current status of NGOs and their influence in society, and sets out a valid framework for the analysis that will be pursued throughout the text. However, beyond the introductory chapter and the logical headings used to divide the work into four main areas, there are some crucial structural weaknesses. In the introductory chapter, the authors describe the ‘hazard-strewn’ nature of relationships between NGOs and corporations, nicely summarise some of the key factors that make them so (2009, p.xxiv). For example, NGOs might recoil from the data discovered on being given access to a corporation’s internal audit, while the media coverage generated by such a collaboration has the potential to harm the legitimacy and reputation of an NGO, sometimes damaging it irreparably. Perhaps most fundamentally, there is a basic value difference between most corporations, and most NGOs. The former are working with markets and their values; the latter with socia l and ethical values. There can be some overlap in their operations, but this fundamental conflict compromises all collaborations. Perhaps this theme could have been developed further, given that it crops up throughout

Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 7

Religion - Essay Example Past societal experiences are believed to have a great impact on various religions. The readings also share a common idea that their pioneers and the societal culture have influenced different religions’. The readings explain that there are some things that are shared amongst different religions such as negative things that should be avoided by the followers. The readings also show that every religion has their devotees who strongly believe in the doctrine and overall teachings of that religion. However, there are common ideas shared amongst religions including the concern about life and death and the reverencing of God. The readings further admit that issues to do with religions are very tough to handle and may be a bit confusing. Religion plays a significant role when it comes to peaceful coexistence because most of the conflicts and world struggle originate from 9/11. Christianity tends to remain as the dominant religion in both readings. The readings tend to look at the aspect of religion in different styles by giving it a unique approach. They offer an understanding of the religion in various perspectives by relying on different sources and prior knowledge. The readings also reveal various things that guide different religious beliefs. The second Vatican Council defines religion as a group of people gathered for a common goal of getting answers to the unresolved human riddles and shares a common destiny, God. The council believes that acquiring answers to the unresolved life puzzles such as what happens when one is dead can only be answered by religion. Religions are the path through which the world attempts to overcome the restlessness of peoples’ hearts by outlining a program of life covering doctrine and sacred rites with high regard for the manner of life and conduct. Prothero highlights eight rival religions that rule the world and believes that religion

The life and crimes of an individual currently on death row or Research Paper

The life and crimes of an individual currently on death row or priviously executed in North Carolina - Research Paper Example Prior to the murders that she committed, Blanche had no record of previous crimes. She was an ideal human being, â€Å"a wife and mother, deeply religious by most accounts, [and] a pillar of the community (Hiles, 2005).† She had no past convictions and was the last person anyone would suspect of committing such horrific crimes, which is perhaps why she was able to get away with it for so many years. When she hurried and married the first man to ask her, Jim Taylor, no second thought was given. People assumed, and Blanche confirmed, that the marriage might have been rushed, but it was her quickest escape from her dysfunctional, bordering on abusive, family. Blanche and Jim were happily married for quite some time, and two children were the result of their love. After ten years, though, Jim turned more and more to alcohol and less to his wife, revealing shades of a past that Blanche had thought she had left behind her when she moved out of her father’s home. To make up for her husband’s gradual abandonment, Blanche turned to the company of many other men, involving herself in numerous affairs. Unfortunately, the affairs only satiated Blanche’s lust for a couple of years. It came down to the fact that her husband was still an alcoholic, and this brought back too many wanted memories for her to escape from by using other men. Instead of continuing to rely on affairs, Blanche decided to take a different route and rid her life of the people that were making her miserable. Blanche’s first murder was her father, the person who brought nothing but pain to his daughter’s life. When she visited him, she put arsenic into his beer, killing him. Despite doing this, though, Blanche did not feel any better about her life or her situation. She went back to the person she was currently having an affair with, Raymond Reid, a stockman at

Language as a Powerful Mind Control Weapon Essay Example for Free

Language as a Powerful Mind Control Weapon Essay Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) is a classic dystopian novel by English author George Orwell. Akin to the latter’s earlier work, Animal Farm (1945), Nineteen Eighty-Four is a cautionary tale about the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel’s main character, Winston Smith, is a civil servant tasked with disseminating government propaganda through the forging of records and political literature. Disillusioned with such a mechanistic existence, Smith begins an uprising against the regime – a move which later resulted in his incarceration and torture. The esteem of Nineteen Eighty-Four can be attributed mainly to its frank and vivid portrayal of the perpetuation of the status quo at the expense of individual rights (Gearon 65). Many of the novel’s terminologies and ideas, such as â€Å"doublethink,† â€Å"Orwellian,† â€Å"Newspeak† and â€Å"Big Brother,† eventually acquired secure places in the English language (Trahair 289). At present, some thinkers even use these expressions and concepts to criticize repressive government policies. The term â€Å"Orwellian,† for instance, is currently an idiom that refers to any form of normalcy that closely resembles the Party (Cameron 151). One of Orwell’s major arguments in the novel is that language is the totalitarian government’s most powerful weapon of mind control. Through the usage of deceptive language and propaganda, as well as the modification of language, the Party was able to manipulate the thoughts and beliefs of the citizens of Oceania. Newspeak was the Party’s primary means of misleading the citizens of Oceania (Thomas, Singh, Peccei, Jones and Wareing 39). It was a corrupted form of Standard English (known in the novel as Oldspeak) that reflected the principles of Ingsoc. â€Å"Undesirable† words were eliminated from the lingua franca, while those that were retained were stripped of â€Å"unorthodox† denotations (Ji 1). Consequently, it became impossible to develop other modes of thought in Newspeak (Orwell 144). Newspeak was more than just a language – it was the â€Å"(embodiment) of the totalitarian (mindset) of the Party members† (Gerovitch 12). To accommodate alternate views would increase the possibility of encountering â€Å"heretical† thoughts (Gerovitch 13). It is no longer surprising, therefore, if the Party required all inhabitants of Oceania to use Newspeak – doing so was a very convenient way of indoctrinating them with Ingsoc beliefs. The immense power of language to control the mind is not a fictional phenomenon. The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis (n. d. ) argued that language determined how human beings perceived their environment (Thomas, Singh, Peccei, Jones and Wareing 39). This assumption is composed of two parts – linguistic relativity and linguistic determinism. Linguistic relativity theorized that the languages of different cultures do not necessarily have equivalent systems of representation. Linguistic determinism, meanwhile, asserted that a language not only reflected certain aspects of reality but also influenced the speaker’s thought process (Thomas, Singh, Peccei, Jones and Wareing 25). It would be fair to say that the premise behind the development and usage of Newspeak was based on the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis. In the novel’s appendix, it is revealed that Ingsoc was originally known as English Socialism (Orwell 143). But during the time of English Socialism, people spoke Standard English. Consequently, they were exposed to radical ideas that inspired them to turn against the Party (Ji 1). In retaliation, the Party silenced them through punishment and terror (Ji 1). The Party eventually viewed the period of English Socialism as one that was characterized with violence and lawlessness. Standard English, meanwhile, was regarded as a relic of an anarchic past that must be discarded at all costs. The Party even set a year in which they expected Standard English to be already nonexistent – 2050 (Orwell 143). In the appendix of the novel, Orwell wrote the Party’s ultimate dream – a society wherein everyone accepted the official ideology even without the threat of punishment and terror (Ji 1). This was only possible, however, if they had no access to subversive ideas. It must be noted that in the context of the novel, Standard English was regarded as the source of dissident concepts. The Party therefore realized that Standard English must be replaced with a singular and specially contrived language – Newspeak. When people spoke, heard, read and wrote only in Newspeak, they could be kept under control even without outright state persecution (Ji 1). Newspeak was the official language of Oceania and had been devised to meet the ideological needs of Ingsoc, or English Socialism. In the year 1984 there was not as yet anyone who used Newspeak as his sole means of communication, either in speech or writing. The leading articles in The Times were written in it, but this was a tour de force which could only be carried out by a specialist. It was expected that Newspeak would have finally superseded Oldspeak (or Standard English, as we should call it) by about the year 2050. (143) The purpose of Newspeak was not only to provide a medium of expression for the (worldview) and mental habits proper to the devotees of Ingsoc, but to make all other modes of thought impossible. It was intended that when Newspeak had been adopted once and for all and Oldspeak forgotten, a heretical thought – that is, a thought diverging from the principles of Ingsoc – should be literally unthinkable, at least so far as thought is dependent on words. Its vocabulary was so constructed as to give exact and often very subtle expression to every meaning that a Party member could properly wish to express, while excluding all other meanings and also the possibility of arriving at them by indirect methods. This was done partly by the invention of new words, but chiefly by eliminating undesirable words and by stripping such words as remained of unorthodox meanings, and so far as possible of all secondary meanings whatever. To give a single example. The word free still existed in Newspeak, but it could only be used in such statements as â€Å"This dog is free from lice† or â€Å"This field is free from weeds. † It could not be used in its old sense of â€Å"politically free† or â€Å"intellectually free† since political and intellectual freedom no longer existed even as concepts, and were therefore of necessity nameless. (144) A person growing up with Newspeak as his sole language would no more know that equal had once had the secondary meaning of â€Å"politically equal,† or that free had once meant â€Å"intellectually free,† than for instance, a person who had never heard of chess would be aware of the secondary meanings attaching to queen and rook. There would be many crimes and errors which it would be beyond his power to commit, simply because they were nameless and therefore unimaginable. (148-149) This ambition, however, was not without serious consequences. The individual rights of the people of Oceania were severely violated. They constantly lived in fear of government reprisal – landscapes across London were bombarded with posters of â€Å"Big Brother† with the caption â€Å"Big Brother is Watching You† (Orwell 1). Two-way television sets – telescreens – were installed in all homes and public establishments in order to monitor the populace for any sign of subversive activity (thoughtcrime). Worse, the Party encouraged everyone to spy on one another. Even children were ordered to report their parents to the authorities (Thought Police) if they caught them committing a thoughtcrime. Winston Smith was among those who paid the ultimate price. Upon his arrest, he was taken to the Ministry of Love, where he was subjected to electroshock torture. Winston was afterwards taken to the infamous Room 101, where a prisoner was tortured by being exposed to his or her greatest fear. Winston’s primal fear was rats – he was therefore tortured by having a wire cage full of starving rats brought near to his face. Petrified, Winston finally accepts Party ideology and was later released as a brainwashed individual. Sadly, it is obvious that Orwell’s warning in Nineteen Eighty-Four went unheeded. At present, there are still so many societies wherein people are stripped of their basic rights and liberties. What is more saddening is that some of the parties who are guilty of this wrongdoing are actually claiming that they are staunch advocates of freedom, justice and equality. They use elaborate propaganda to proclaim their â€Å"advocacy† while acting in a completely opposite manner. The Party used language in order to keep the people of Oceania silent, ignorant and oppressed. In doing so, the former proved that evil prospers where good is silent. Orwell, on the other hand, used words in order to expose and fight this atrocity. In doing so, he proved that the pen is mightier than the sword. Works Cited Cameron, Deborah. Verbal Hygiene. New York: Routledge, 1995. Gearon, Liam. Freedom of Expression and Human Rights: Historical, Literary and Political Contexts. Eastbourne: Sussex Academic Press, 2006. Gerovitch, Slava. From Newspeak to Cyberspeak: A History of Soviet Cybernetics. Cambridge: MIT Press, 2004. Ji, Fengyuan. Linguistic Engineering: Language and Politics in Mao’s China. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2004. Orwell, George. Nineteen Eighty-Four. n. p. : n. d. Thomas, Linda, Ishtla Singh, Jean Stilwell Peccei, Jason Jones, and Shan Wareing. Language, Society and Power: An Introduction. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge, 2004. Trahair, R. C. S. Utopia and Utopians: A Historical Dictionary. Santa Barbara: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1999.

Powers Of and Limitations On the UK Prime Minister

Powers Of and Limitations On the UK Prime Minister Parliament is the legislative body of the UK; it is composed of bicameral parliaments; The House of Commons (HOC) is responsible for considering and proposing new laws as well as scrutinizing governmental policies and legislation, oversees governments finances and administration. The House of Lords (HOL) participates within the law-making process, investigates matters of public interest independently and examines the administration of government. The party with the largest number of members in the HOC forms the government under the office of the Prime Minister (PM). This arrangement exists by a whereby the Monarch must appoint a PM to oversee government and lead the HOC; this position has evolved overtime as a consequence of historical and political acts with origins in the early 1680s. This appointment results in a transfer of power from the sovereign to parliament under the Royal Prerogative Powers (Bradley 2011). The role of the PM is to serve as the head of the Her Majestys government having been elected as the premiership winning party in the UK elections. He / she are not elected as head of their respective party by the public but from within their respective party (Braizer, 1999). Serving as the Chief of the Executive, the PM has a number of functions which include; overseeing Parliament, overseeing the operation of the Civil Service and government agencies, serving as the link among the executive and legislative branches of the assembly, responsibility for policy and governmental decisions ensuring that they are scrutinized and implemented once Royal Ascent has been granted and serving as the figure head in the HOC (Heffernan, 2005). They are responsible for managing a number of relations which include those between; the Government and the Monarch, Government and the Opposition and between the UK and the devolved assemblies. Through the power of patronage, the PM has the power to select the Cabinet The Executive and can appoint ministers to the Cabinet and appoint ministers to lead on specific policy areas such as education, health, foreign and commonwealth; extending the ministerial responsibility for the respective areas of work to them. The PM will also appoint special advisors and other political advisors within the Cabinet, on the basis of political viewpoint, skills and expertise. The PM is required to ensure that the order of precedency is upheld in Cabinet as well as ensuring that ministers adhere to and uphold the ministerial code. Holding power over ministerial conduct (1997 revised 2007) and if required they can appoint, reshuffle or dismiss ministers. The PM can use their power of collective responsibility to silence any critics avoiding dissention and ensuring cohesion exists with the cabinet. Decisions made with Cabinet meetings chaired by the PM must have support of the ministers irrespective of agreement on such matters, they are required to publicly support the PMs decision / mandate, failure to do so can result in dismissal / resignation as was the case of the late Robin Cook, Leader of the Commons and former Foreign Secretary, 2003. In order to encourage support from the cabinet the PM can use their power of patronage as a tool for reward and recognition bringing about change in behaviour and ensuring loyalty. It could be argued that this is both a power and a limitation, to some it is perceived as an elitist method of promotion on the basis of political support and rather than on the merit of work. Whilst the PM has many powers, one of the greatest limitations is the threat and in fighting from within their own respective party; without majority support, their position is weakened significantly as was the case with Margaret Thatcher in 1990, her former cabinet colleague Geoffrey Howe initiated a revolt against her leadership style leading to her resignation as PM. Interestingly, her successor John Major was subjected to a revolt following the lack of support from his party on the issue of Britain developing greater links with Europe, when the 1997 general election was undertaken he and the Conservatives suffered the largest electoral defeat in history. Without consulting the electorate, the governing party can at any time seek to replace the PM, as was the case in 2007 when Tony Blair was replaced by Gordon Brown as PM. The style of leadership style (Norton) of a PM can work for or against them during their time in office (Norton 2013). Thatcher gained significant popularity in the early 80s but went on to lose support as she was perceived as being too over-bearing and out of touch. Her famous statement This Ladys not for turning demonstrated how aggressive her leadership style was. Blairs leadership was strong and presidential like, he, like Thatcher did not always use his Cabinet for scrutiny or consultation giving rise to accusations of utilizing a kitchen-cabinet and increased use of special advisors, ultimately this caused much mistrust and dissention within the party and executive (Buckley, 2006). Although the PM serves as head of Cabinet; Ministerial members of the cabinet have equal powers primus inter pares, yet the PM is accountable to the nation and the electorate and is not above reproach. They are responsible not just for their decisions but those of their ministers. How the PM deals with contentious political or social issues and how they seek resolution can impact greatly on their popularity and confidence in them as a leader (Quinn, 2012) as was the case with Heath (Miners Strike 1974), Thatcher (Poll Tax 1989) and Blair (Iraq 2003). Browns popularity waned over the issue of calling a general election (2007) and tax rate reductions (2008) resulting in a call for leadership contest, this was usurped on the basis of his handling of the financial crisis (2008). Media can grossly influence public perception on the PM depending on their readerships left or right wing views (McCombs, 2013). To conclude, the PM is granted numerous powers, many of which bestowed from the Monarch and others from their position of PM and leader of their respective party. All powers come with limitations; the powers will work for or against a PM. Fundamentally their position is dependent on their interpretation and execution of said powers, a majority support of ministers on their mandate or how well he or she can secure their support. The office of Prime Minister is what its holder chooses and makes of it H H Asquith (Hennessy, 2001). Their leadership style can affect how ministers react; their position on changing legislation, how accountable they are politically and socially or when subjected to scrutiny can sway the balance of power to eventually become a limitation. (Word count 1094) Bibliography BRADLEY, A., 2011. The sovereignty of Parliament-form or substance? The changing constitution, 23, pp. 54-56. BRAIZER, R., 1999. Constitutional Practice: The Foundations of British Government. Oxford University Press on Demand. BUCKLEY, S., 2006. Prime Minister and Cabinet. Edinburgh University Press. HENNESSY, P., 2001. The Prime Minister: the office and its holders since 1945. Palgrave Macmillan. MCCOMBS, M., 2013. Setting the agenda: The mass media and public opinion. John Wiley Sons. NORTON, P. and JONES, B. 2014. Politics UK. 8th Edition. Harlow, Pearson QUINN, T., 2012. Electing and Ejecting Party Leaders in Britain. Springer.

Operation Barbarossa - Hitlers Russian Offensive :: World War II History

Operation Barbarossa - Hitler's Russian Offensive The Russians Would never have joined the war if it weren't for the German invasion of 1941 - Operation Barbarossa. This parallels the USA intervention - they only joined because the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour. Operation Barbarossa commenced on the 22nd June, 1941. Just over 3,000,000 German troops invaded the USSR. Stalin doubted the country ability to perform well on the battlefield since the Finnish War, refused to counteract the Germans preparations, for fear of provoking them into war. The Russians concluded that the German form of attack - The Blitzkrieg - would not be possible on Russia. The German infantry outnumbered the Russian, but the Russians had more artillery and aviation forces. The Russian infantry was told that it was not to retreat, do was destined to become destroyed or captured. The Germans set up 3 army groups, and assigned them to 3 different areas:- North - Leningrad Central - Moscow South - Kyyiv The generals agreed that they had to lock the Russian forces into battle, in order to prevent them escaping into the rest of the vast country. However, they disagreed on how to do this. The majority of them thought that they would sacrifice everything to protect Moscow; the capital; the centre of industry; the centre of all the networks and transport. Hitler disagreed. He believed that the Ukrainian area - for its resources - and the oil of the Caucasus were much more crucial. A compromise was made. Army Group Centre would march towards Moscow. The victory was predicted for ten weeks ahead. This timing was crucial because it would be impossible to fight once the short Russian summer had ended. Things seemed to happen a lot faster. In the first month Germans had already encircled Bialystok and Minsk, and on August 5th, the Germans crossed the Dnepr River, the last natural obstruction to Moscow. The group defeated a small force in Smolensk, capturing another 300,000. When it had reached Smolensk, it was two-thirds of the way there. Hitler decided to change plan. He sent the group north to help the other two groups, ignoring the generals' protests, thereby stopping the advance to Moscow. On September 8th Army Group North had, together with the Finnish army, brought Leningrad to siege. On September 16th Army Group South had captured Kyyiv, with 665,000 prisoners.

Forklift Safety

Forklift Safety 1 Forklift Safety Many industries and operations (manufacturing, agricultural and warehousing) use powered industrial trucks (including forklift trucks or lift trucks) routinely in the workplace. Forklift trucks are used to move, raise or lower objects that are stored in containers or on pallets to other areas of the workplace. Their use helps to improve workplace productivity and reduces the need for excessive manual handling of goods and objects by employees.However, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health there are around 100 fatalities and 20,000 serious injuries each year. Here, in the USA, as a result of forklift truck incidents. Pre Operational Check Pre operational check is the single most important part of operating a forklift. Without properly doing so, you are asking for a disaster. Possible injuries or death to yourself or others could vary likely happen under the wrong circumstances. The equipment you are operating is subjec t to failure, and it is just a matter of time until it does.It is the operators responsible to check for these failures. OSHA requires that all forklifts be examined at least daily before being placed in service. Forklifts used on a round-the-clock basis must be examined after each shift. [29 CFR 1910. 178(q)(7)]. The operator should conduct a pre-start visual check with the key off and then perform an operational check with the engine running. The forklift should not be placed in service if the examinations show that the vehicle may not be safe to operate.A vehicle in need of repair, defective or in any way unsafe, should not be driven and should be Forklift Safety 2 taken out of service immediately. Any problems should be recorded on the appropriate documents and reported to a supervisor. Forklift Capacities and Load Handling There are many different types of forklift trucks with different load capacities and they differ for specified maximum weight and forward center of gravity f or a load. Worker injuries mainly occur as a result of falls from forklift, forklift overturn, pedestrian collision and crushing ncidents. Operator falls can result as the worker ascends or descends into the driver cab or is ejected from the vehicle in the event of a collision or other incident. Forklift trucks may overturn as a result of overload, unequal center of gravity of the load or travel over an uneven surface causing the vehicle to topple over. Forty-two percent of forklift fatalities are caused by the operator trying to jump from a tipping vehicle. Wearing your seat belt is the best safety measure.Pedestrian co-workers, without adequate preventative measures, are at risk from forklift collision or accidents associated with an unsafe load. Forklift Training Standards There are strict standards in relation to forklift training, operation and maintenance. For example, people under the age of 18 years, in non-agricultural industries, are not permitted to operate a forklift tru ck. All forklift operators must have undergone practical training before operation of a forklift and are required to undertake refresher courses throughout their operating careers.Powered industrial trucks must also comply with standards as defined in the Forklift Safety 3 â€Å"American National Standard for Powered Industrial Trucks, ANSI B56. 1-1969†. The OSHA standards that employers and employees must adhere to are those as stated in the General Industry Standards. â€Å"Powered industrial trucks†, and standards for Marine Terminals (29 CFR 1917 Subpart C, â€Å"Cargo handling gear and equipment†) and Longshoring (29 CFR 1918 Subpart G, â€Å"Cargo handling gear and equipment other than ship's gear†).There are other directives and regulations that employers should be aware of. OSHA and NIOSH both comprehensively outline regulations or signpost employers and employees to all the regulations that apply. Conclusion Not just the workers working in the vi cinity, but even the forklift operator themselves are vulnerable to accidents which can result in minor or severe injury or even death. Forklift safety rules stress on lawful riding, speed limits, unauthorized operations, proper signals and load carrying capacity.Most often, accidents occur when these rules are not followed properly. Accidents are unfortunate mishaps which could take place anywhere, same is the case with forklift accidents. Though they can't be totally prevented, it is possible to minimize them by providing proper training to the operators, taking some safety measures and making use of our presence of mind. When you are operating equipment in an unsafe manner, not only are you endangering your life, but also those around you. Always remember, safety comes first. Forklift Safety Forklift Safety 1 Forklift Safety Many industries and operations (manufacturing, agricultural and warehousing) use powered industrial trucks (including forklift trucks or lift trucks) routinely in the workplace. Forklift trucks are used to move, raise or lower objects that are stored in containers or on pallets to other areas of the workplace. Their use helps to improve workplace productivity and reduces the need for excessive manual handling of goods and objects by employees.However, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health there are around 100 fatalities and 20,000 serious injuries each year. Here, in the USA, as a result of forklift truck incidents. Pre Operational Check Pre operational check is the single most important part of operating a forklift. Without properly doing so, you are asking for a disaster. Possible injuries or death to yourself or others could vary likely happen under the wrong circumstances. The equipment you are operating is subjec t to failure, and it is just a matter of time until it does.It is the operators responsible to check for these failures. OSHA requires that all forklifts be examined at least daily before being placed in service. Forklifts used on a round-the-clock basis must be examined after each shift. [29 CFR 1910. 178(q)(7)]. The operator should conduct a pre-start visual check with the key off and then perform an operational check with the engine running. The forklift should not be placed in service if the examinations show that the vehicle may not be safe to operate.A vehicle in need of repair, defective or in any way unsafe, should not be driven and should be Forklift Safety 2 taken out of service immediately. Any problems should be recorded on the appropriate documents and reported to a supervisor. Forklift Capacities and Load Handling There are many different types of forklift trucks with different load capacities and they differ for specified maximum weight and forward center of gravity f or a load. Worker injuries mainly occur as a result of falls from forklift, forklift overturn, pedestrian collision and crushing ncidents. Operator falls can result as the worker ascends or descends into the driver cab or is ejected from the vehicle in the event of a collision or other incident. Forklift trucks may overturn as a result of overload, unequal center of gravity of the load or travel over an uneven surface causing the vehicle to topple over. Forty-two percent of forklift fatalities are caused by the operator trying to jump from a tipping vehicle. Wearing your seat belt is the best safety measure.Pedestrian co-workers, without adequate preventative measures, are at risk from forklift collision or accidents associated with an unsafe load. Forklift Training Standards There are strict standards in relation to forklift training, operation and maintenance. For example, people under the age of 18 years, in non-agricultural industries, are not permitted to operate a forklift tru ck. All forklift operators must have undergone practical training before operation of a forklift and are required to undertake refresher courses throughout their operating careers.Powered industrial trucks must also comply with standards as defined in the Forklift Safety 3 â€Å"American National Standard for Powered Industrial Trucks, ANSI B56. 1-1969†. The OSHA standards that employers and employees must adhere to are those as stated in the General Industry Standards. â€Å"Powered industrial trucks†, and standards for Marine Terminals (29 CFR 1917 Subpart C, â€Å"Cargo handling gear and equipment†) and Longshoring (29 CFR 1918 Subpart G, â€Å"Cargo handling gear and equipment other than ship's gear†).There are other directives and regulations that employers should be aware of. OSHA and NIOSH both comprehensively outline regulations or signpost employers and employees to all the regulations that apply. Conclusion Not just the workers working in the vi cinity, but even the forklift operator themselves are vulnerable to accidents which can result in minor or severe injury or even death. Forklift safety rules stress on lawful riding, speed limits, unauthorized operations, proper signals and load carrying capacity.Most often, accidents occur when these rules are not followed properly. Accidents are unfortunate mishaps which could take place anywhere, same is the case with forklift accidents. Though they can't be totally prevented, it is possible to minimize them by providing proper training to the operators, taking some safety measures and making use of our presence of mind. When you are operating equipment in an unsafe manner, not only are you endangering your life, but also those around you. Always remember, safety comes first.

Jose Rizal Essay

It is common knowledge that Dr. Jose Rizal is the Philippine National Hero who chose to fight the battle with his quills, paved the way for our independence and died doing so. However, it has always been fascinating to learn things that weren’t discussed on classrooms and lectures, to divulge facts that make a famous character seem like just the rest of us. So here are 10 fun facts that most Filipinos might not know about Rizal. 1.Jose â€Å"Pepe† Rizal was bullied as a kid. As a kid. Rizal was too small for his age and made him a target of Pedro’s bullying, insulting Pepe in front of the other students at the school of Maestro Justiniano Cruz. Equipped with his Uncle Miguel’s teachings about the art of wrestling, Rizal challenged Pedro to a fistfight. Rizal won and became popular as he proved himself a worthy opponent. 2.Jose Rizal wrote his first poem at the age of 8. Entitled â€Å"Sa Aking Mga Kababata† [To My Fellow Youth]. And it depicts one’s fervent love for his native language and asking his own generation to embrace it like we all should. 3.Rizal was a Hyperpolyglot. He mastered 22 languages: Filipino, Ilokano, Bisayan, Subanon, Latin, Spanish, Greek, English, French, German, Arabic, Malay, Sanskrit, Hebrew, Dutch, Catalan, Japanese, Italian, Chinese, Portugese, Swedish and Russian. 4.Rizal was addressed by his European lover as the â€Å"little bad boy†. It is not a secret that Jose Rizal had his way with women. And on the series of letters that were discovered to be love messages for Rizal, a Belgian woman named Suzanne wrote : â€Å"There will never be any home in which you are so loved as that in Brussels. So, you little bad boy, hurry back.† Now, who can resist giggling on this information? 5.He was accepted as one of the few Renaissance man in the world. A man who had broad intellectual interest. He was an anthropologist, ethnologist, ophthalmologist, novelist, sociologist, educator, economist, architect, engineer, sculptor, painter, playwright, historian, journalist, farmer, dramatist, martial artist, and a cartographer, among other things. 6.Rizal liked playing the lottery. And he won one-third of the grand prize of Php 18,000.00 with ticket number 9736. He gave a portion to his father, a friend in Hong Kong and he spent the rest buying agricultural lands in Talisay. 7.Rizal jovially pinched his students who can’t answer his queries. During his exile in Dapitan, he was able to establish a school, he had 21 pupils who were never asked to pay for tuition but was required by Rizal to work for the community. 8.Rizal is believed to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. There is a religious sect in Calamba Laguna, â€Å"Rizalista†, used to be known as â€Å"Iglesia ng Watawat ng Lahi† [Banner of the Race Church]. They combine religion and patriotism and believe that the execution in Bagumbayan was just a phase that he had to endure to be in the presence of God. They also believe that Rizal is still alive and lives deep in the forest of Mount Makiling. 9.Rizal was rumored to be the father of Adolf Hitler. Because of his famed reputation as a Casanova, it was believed that he was involved with a beautiful woman living somewhere in the border of Germany and Austria. Funny how Filipino imagination wanders. 10.Moments before his death, Rizal was reported to remain in a tranquil state. Before his execution, Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo took his vital signs and was surprised to confirm that his pulse rate was normal. Rizal was indeed ready and unafraid of his fate.

Critique of Research Article Essay Essay

The purpose of this essay is to recognize specific aspects of the clinical nursing research paper done by Carlee Lehna and Jack McNeil. I will define and discuss these aspects. In clinical research articles there are literature reviews that give background information as to the problem and research that was performed in the study, and why this problem needed to be studied (Burnes & Grove, 2011). The literature review in this particular study explains to the reader about the contrast in health literacy of English speaking only parents and Spanish speaking only parents and what tools the researchers used to measure the parents’ health literacy of their child’s health care. The review was very thorough and understandable. The authors named a couple of different tools and how those tools measured literacy. They also explain why they chose the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults tool (TOFHLA), it was the only test that was available in English and Spanish. After reading another article there is another test called Newest Vital Sign. This test is also in English and Spanish takes less time and has only six questions. (Cornett, 2009). Using one test to measure their healt literacy is a limitation. The problem statement helps the reader identify the dilemma for the target population in the research and why it needs further exploration. Burns & McNeil discuss that the lower health literacy of the parents the poorer outcomes of their children (Lehna & McNeil, 2008). The purpose of this study is to measure the difference in health literacy in two groups of different language speaking parents, i. e. English and Spanish (Lehna & McNeil, 2008). The relationship between the problem statement and purpose statement is that the purpose statement is the how the authors are going to find the fix for the problem. The problem statement in this article very clear that the low health literacy is directly related to poor outcomes. The purpose statement is concise and easy to comprehend. In the Lehna & McNeil article, the word purpose is mentioned several times and it may make it harder for the reader to decipher the purpose statement, this is a limitation. Target population is a larger total sample group that meets a criteria (Burnes & Grove, 2011). Sample is the particular group that participated in the study (Burnes & Grove, 2011). The target group in this particular study meet the criteria of parents/caregivers that either only speak English or Spanish and that their children were treated at Shriners Hospital for Children in Galveston, Texas. The sample group is much smaller, they meet the criteria and participated in the tests, interviews and focus groups. These different ways that the researchers used to gather information is a strength. Two of the limitations with the sample is that they only studied parents from one hospital and the authors just specified the language as Spanish, there are many different dialects in those Spanish speaking countries that some information could be lost in translation. The five parts of the study were very easy to recognize. By dissecting this study it helped me identify and learn those 5 parts. I feel a bit more comfortable in reading research papers. This research study was very interesting because I can relate to the difficulty with trying to explain health issues with Spanish speaking families. References Burnes, N. , & Grove, S. K. (2011). Understanding Nursing Research: Building an Evidence-Based Practice (5th Ed. ). Maryland Heights, MO: Elsevier. Cornett, S. (2009, Sept 30). Assessing and Addressing Health Literacy. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 14. http://dx. doi. org/10. 3912/OJIN. Vol14No03Man02 Lehna, C. , & McNeil, J. (2008, April 2). Mixed-Method Exploration of Parents’ Health Understanding. Clinical Nursing Research, http://cnr. sagepub. com/