Saturday, November 30, 2019

The Road to My Business Success Essay Example For Students

The Road to My Business Success Essay Society labels convicted felons as unworthy. Based on this thinking, I often feel great empathy for men and women who are incarcerated. I often followed the thinking of society that convicted felons would be put at the bottom of the application pile if they answered yes to the question, â€Å"Have you ever been convicted of a felony? † The thinking of society is that there was no career other than repeat offender for a convicted felon ever seemed possible. In this paper I will prove to you that those who believe this are by all means incorrect. After becoming a convicted felon, I had to step outside of the norm and overcome the stereotype of convicted felons. Through my own personal experience I will show you how I proved society wrong. In the year 1998, my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. This was the person who had raised me, provided for me and taught me to be the woman that I am, there was no way I could allow her be placed into a long- term care facility so I had to take care of her. Prior to her illness setting in at a chronic stage I was the family member on whom she depended. I would visit her and make sure she had everything that she needed to live comfortably. We will write a custom essay on The Road to My Business Success specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now I conducted all of her personal banking for her and even though I was not on her account, the tellers at the bank knew me and would give me no problem making deposit or withdrawals. When her primary physician stated she could no longer live alone my entire family wanted to place her in a home. I could not, would not allow this. I took her home with me and took care of her to the best of my ability. She had monthly income coming in, and that helped out with food and personal items for her as well as respite care. My family members are all out for themselves, and who ever get hurt in the process is just that â€Å"hurt. During the process of placing her in the nursing home my aunt found out that I was receiving her checks and cashing them. She had the local police department to file criminal charges against me of theft, receiving stolen property and forgery. I never thought that my family would do something so cruel to me. This taught me that there is a life learning experience in everything that you do and you must be prepared for whatever comes your way whether good or bad. My grandmother and placed her in the city’s worst nursing home and my aunt became her legal guardian. My aunt gained complete control of all her financial estate Because my grandmother was no longer in her right state of mind, I had no proof that I had her permission for many years to sign and cash her checks for her, and from there I was convicted of a fifth degree felony, with charges of forgery and theft. My life was forever changed. My career goals at the time were to pursue my degree in nursing but I could no longer seek this, one with a felony conviction cannot practice as a nurse. I was scared, for me and my family. How would I take care of them? How would I explain to them that mommy cant keep a job because of my background? I was determined not to let this be a barrier for me. Merely just an obstacle I had to overcome. I had to come up with a life plan that would help me overcome the negative stereotype of â€Å"a nobody. I had to learn a trade and excel beyond anyone else so that my resume would at least get me in the door. I had taken a data entry training class fresh out of high school, maintained a 4. 0 GPA while obtaining my certificate and taken a home health aide training course. I had paraprofessional trades that I would use to get by until I could do better. I met with people that had a positive influence on my life and consulted with them about my future. .u58c7e6e88a4b257d59a4bbc4ee8abba5 , .u58c7e6e88a4b257d59a4bbc4ee8abba5 .postImageUrl , .u58c7e6e88a4b257d59a4bbc4ee8abba5 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u58c7e6e88a4b257d59a4bbc4ee8abba5 , .u58c7e6e88a4b257d59a4bbc4ee8abba5:hover , .u58c7e6e88a4b257d59a4bbc4ee8abba5:visited , .u58c7e6e88a4b257d59a4bbc4ee8abba5:active { border:0!important; } .u58c7e6e88a4b257d59a4bbc4ee8abba5 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u58c7e6e88a4b257d59a4bbc4ee8abba5 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u58c7e6e88a4b257d59a4bbc4ee8abba5:active , .u58c7e6e88a4b257d59a4bbc4ee8abba5:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u58c7e6e88a4b257d59a4bbc4ee8abba5 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u58c7e6e88a4b257d59a4bbc4ee8abba5 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u58c7e6e88a4b257d59a4bbc4ee8abba5 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u58c7e6e88a4b257d59a4bbc4ee8abba5 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u58c7e6e88a4b257d59a4bbc4ee8abba5:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u58c7e6e88a4b257d59a4bbc4ee8abba5 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u58c7e6e88a4b257d59a4bbc4ee8abba5 .u58c7e6e88a4b257d59a4bbc4ee8abba5-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u58c7e6e88a4b257d59a4bbc4ee8abba5:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Diary Of Anne Frank EssayThey offered me great insight and encourage me to keep pushing until I got to the top. I did some career research on the high paying degrees and came up with Business Administration. It was tough at first, I got extremely depressed while working sixty hours a week, going to school and raising a family. But I had no choice, I had to overcome this negative thought in the back of my mind that, I, too would be a nobody. I soon gained a temporary position at a local clinic in the medical records department through a temporary service. I had to shine; I had to use this as the opportunity that I needed to get my start in business. I observed the staff who had 10, 15, 20 years invested, and I learned from them. I learned everything that I could about medical records, ICD 9 codes and patient diagnosis. I did this by watching and observing as well as my own hands-on-training. I would work late just to learn the different process of the department. I had to be exceptionally friendly to both patients and staff alike. This wasnt a problem because my whole life my grandmother taught me that if you are nice to people they will in return be nice to you. So therefore I was always a people person. They loved me, and I loved them more. I had became both determined and motivated at the same time. I had received so many recognitions from the nurses, doctors and patients that my boss wanted to meet with me. After five months of working in the clinic through the temporary service, the owner of the called me into his office and offered me a position within his company. I was ecstatic! I was on my way. While still attending school to obtain my associate’s degree, I worked fulltime in the office, managing accounts, scheduling nurses, nursing assistants and physical therapist, processing payroll and doing some marketing as well. I was gaining both, knowledge and experience. Learning happens in so many places and in so many ways, from training classes to someone else’s knowledge or your own hands on learning. I knew that I had to make the best and get the most out of every opportunity presented to me. I had to learn something from almost everything I was involved in if I want to excel. As my job title labeled me I was a staffing coordinator, but I needed and wanted more. One year had passed and I was now the office manager. The company had grown tremendously and had a gross profit of over one million dollars due to my efforts. I now had gained some concrete experience, a great deal of knowledge, and a solid reputation in home health care industry. I was now making a decent salary, but I still needed more. I had to prove to both society and myself that even though I was a convicted felon, I could still make it to the top. I continued to grow the company, with its profits rising at an unbelievable rate and our customer satisfaction was at a first time high. After my second year, I had made it! I was promoted to administrator of the company with full control of it. I had learned; I had taught; I had advanced to the top. I had overcome that myth that society and I for so long believed in. I can, as a convicted felon, hold a job and have a career just like anyone else. I had taught myself and pushed myself to succeed; to be the best that I could and do the best that I can in everything that I set forth to do. Four years later, the company is still growing at a tremendous pace and has three offices located both in state and out of state. I now am the regional administrator of the company, overseeing the three offices. I now know that learning is more than reading a book or listening to a lecture. .ua3f0834ab9afbf4d1eb46d46fae782ce , .ua3f0834ab9afbf4d1eb46d46fae782ce .postImageUrl , .ua3f0834ab9afbf4d1eb46d46fae782ce .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua3f0834ab9afbf4d1eb46d46fae782ce , .ua3f0834ab9afbf4d1eb46d46fae782ce:hover , .ua3f0834ab9afbf4d1eb46d46fae782ce:visited , .ua3f0834ab9afbf4d1eb46d46fae782ce:active { border:0!important; } .ua3f0834ab9afbf4d1eb46d46fae782ce .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua3f0834ab9afbf4d1eb46d46fae782ce { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua3f0834ab9afbf4d1eb46d46fae782ce:active , .ua3f0834ab9afbf4d1eb46d46fae782ce:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua3f0834ab9afbf4d1eb46d46fae782ce .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua3f0834ab9afbf4d1eb46d46fae782ce .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua3f0834ab9afbf4d1eb46d46fae782ce .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua3f0834ab9afbf4d1eb46d46fae782ce .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua3f0834ab9afbf4d1eb46d46fae782ce:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua3f0834ab9afbf4d1eb46d46fae782ce .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua3f0834ab9afbf4d1eb46d46fae782ce .ua3f0834ab9afbf4d1eb46d46fae782ce-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua3f0834ab9afbf4d1eb46d46fae782ce:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Population Growth EssayLearning is something that we do in every aspect of our lives. Everything that we do is an observation and reflection of what we have learned. We act in response to things that happen to us, and let them affect who we are and who we can be, but if we learn to act and react to our experiences and consequences from our actions and behaviors, we will observe that to be successful in life we must learn not only from the classroom but from our everyday life experiences and also others involved in our lives. Through this belief, I have altered my life from being poor and living in poverty to being successful and living comfortably.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

10 Tips to Improve Your Writing Skills

10 Tips to Improve Your Writing Skills 10 Tips to Improve Your Writing Skills 10 Tips to Improve Your Writing Skills By Mark Nichol 1. Prepare Absorb information about writing, but don’t overwhelm yourself. I’ve been known to read a writing handbook or editing manual cover to cover, but I recommend reading one chapter or section at a time and absorbing information from online resources in similarly small doses as well. Our website is a good starting point, as it features thousands of posts about specific grammar, syntax, and style topics as well as vocabulary-building posts and more comprehensive posts about writing, editing, and language. 2. Practice Work on your writing every day. Commit to a daily writing exercise, even if you have only five minutes to spare. If you write for a living, or writing constitutes a significant proportion of your daily tasks at work, still set aside time to practice other forms of composition. Style or subject matter can vary day to day, or you can decide to, for example, respond in writing to something you experienced with any of your five senses (including anything you watched or read by way of a form of media). Alternatively, find a list of writing prompts online, and use the next one on the list each day, or choose one randomly. (Encourage family members or friends- or even coworkers- to join you in producing their own responses.) 3. Engage with Others Participating in a group learning activity is a great motivator. When you have paid for a class and/or scheduled time for attend classes or workshop sessions, you’re more likely to persevere, and completing assignments and projects will help you establish and/or maintain your writing discipline. If you’re intimidated by a group setting, consider finding a writing partner with whom you can exchange drafts and/or discuss concepts and practice skills, then graduate, on your own or with your partner, to a course or workshop. Alternatively, seek out online courses or groups. 4. Read Read for education, enjoyment, and enlightenment. For the most part, with recreational reading, just sit back and enjoy yourself. But consider devoting occasional sessions to analytical reading, in which you highlight particularly effective words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs and think about why they stand out, and apply the techniques to your own writing. 5. Organize Use organizational techniques such as outlines and diagrams. Brainstorm keywords and essential ideas or plot points. If other forms of creative expression stimulate you, use them: Listen to (or play) music to inspire a certain mood, collect photographs or illustrations of people, places, and things that suggest elements you want to incorporate into an essay or a short story, or draw sketches of characters or settings to help you visualize them. 6. Research and Fact-Check Whether you’re writing nonfiction or fiction, take care to write authoritatively. If you’re writing a short story or a novel, read about the historical background of the setting to make sure that you are not introducing counterfactual or anachronistic elements. When crafting a newspaper, magazine, or website article, or a blog post, educate yourself on your topic, and double-check quantitative information: proper names; affiliations and relationships; and dates, distances, dollar amounts, and so on. 7. Be Flexible Write with an open mind. Be flexible about changing the focus of an article or essay or the protagonist or plot of a short story or a novel. Question your assumptions, and accept that your initial goal or message may not be the most effective or useful one, or the one that you are prepared to express just now. 8. Draft Expect to be dissatisfied by your first draft, and don’t assume that your second draft is your last. Whether you’re writing a blog post or a book manuscript, the initial iteration may only slightly resemble the final draft- which, if you also submit it for editing, will differ from the edited version. Some writers have managed to produce an admirable piece of writing on the first try, but you will very likely spend as much time revising your first draft (and subsequent efforts) as you did producing it, if not more time. Embrace the opportunity to improve your baseline output by reorganizing, inserting, and omitting text; reshaping phrases and sentences; and replacing bland verbs and tired clichà ©s and vague descriptions. 9. Hire an Editor You’re free to post to your own blog or self-publish your novel without any further mediation, but you will be more successful as a writer if you accept that objective assistance enhances virtually everyone’s prose. Hiring an editor is a significant investment of time and money- editorial attention to a long novel, for example, can cost a couple thousand dollars and take several weeks- but if you find a good editor, the investment will be worth it. (And note that with any other service, you often get what you pay for, so when choosing an editor, focus on quality of results you will obtain rather than quantity of expense you will incur.) If you can’t afford such an expense, at least ask a friend or acquaintance to go over your writing for you, and perhaps offer to edit something of theirs in exchange or to provide a service of similar monetary value (dog walking or pet sitting, clerical or organizational assistance, repair or construction, and so on) in return. Just understand that assistance from someone on the basis of acquaintance is less likely to be either objective or of professional caliber. Choose an editor who knows what they are doing and will not hesitate to provide revisions and critiques at the risk of damaging your ego. 10. Practice Humility Perhaps you were praised at home and/or at school for your writing, or you have won one or more writing awards, or you have had articles or stories (or even books) published. Any or all of those achievements constitute a good start. But you are still developing as a writer, and you always will be. Continue to practice these habits and welcome other opportunities to grow functionally and creatively as a writer. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Regarding Re:Anyone vs. EveryoneEpidemic vs. Pandemic vs. Endemic

Friday, November 22, 2019

Sewanee, University of the South - Admission Data

Sewanee, University of the South - Admission Data Sewanee Admissions Overview: Students applying to Sewanee do not need to submit scores from the SAT or ACTstudents can submit these scores if theyd like, but its not a requirement. Students are required to submit an application to Sewanee through the Common Applicationwhich can save time and money for applicants applying to multiple schools that use that application. With an acceptance rate of 44%, the school is fairly selectivesuccessful applicants generally have good grades, a well-rounded academic background, and a strong application. Will You Get In? Calculate Your Chances of Getting In  with this free tool from Cappex Admissions Data (2016): Sewanee Acceptance Rate: 44%GPA, SAT and ACT Graph for Sewanee AdmissionsTest Scores 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: - / -SAT Math: - / -SAT Writing: - / -What these SAT numbers meanTennessee colleges SAT comparisonACT Composite: - / -ACT English: - / -ACT Math: - / -ACT Writing: - / -What these ACT numbers meanTennessee colleges ACT comparison Sewanee Description: Sewanee: The University of the South, stands on a 13,000 acre campus on the Cumberland Plateau between Chattanooga and Nashville in Tennessee. A small college, Sewanees liberal arts curriculum places students first. Every class at Sewanee is taught be a professor, not grad students, and the university boasts an 11 to 1  student faculty / ratio.  Average class size is 18 in the first year, 13 in later years. Sewanee has produced 25 Rhodes Scholars, a remarkable number for a school of about 1,500 students. English is particularly strong, and the university is home to  The Sewanee Review  and Sewanee Writers Conference. In athletics, popular sports include football, lacrosse, soccer, softball, track and field, and tennis. Enrollment (2016): Total Enrollment: 1,815  (1,731  undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 47% Male / 53% Female99% Full-time Costs (2016  - 17): Tuition and Fees: $42,400Books: $1,200 (why so much?)Room and Board: $12,100Other Expenses: $1,750Total Cost: $57,450 Sewanee Financial Aid (2015  - 16): Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 85%Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 84%Loans: 35%Average Amount of AidGrants: $21,168Loans: $5,405 Academic Programs: Most Popular Majors:  Biology, Economics, English, Global Studies, History, Political Science, Psychology What major is right for you?  Sign up to take the free My Careers and Majors Quiz at Cappex. Graduation and Retention Rates: First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 88%Transfer-out Rate: 15%4-Year Graduation Rate: 79%6-Year Graduation Rate: 82% Intercollegiate Athletic Programs: Mens Sports:  Football, Lacrosse, Soccer, Golf, Tennis, Basketball, Baseball, Track and Field, Cross CountryWomens Sports:  Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Softball, Soccer, Volleyball, Tennis, Basketball, Cheerleading Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics If You Like Sewanee, You May Also Like These Schools: Vanderbilt University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphBelmont University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphWake Forest University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphEmory University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphDuke University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphBerry College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphElon University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUniversity of Virginia: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUNC - Chapel Hill: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphKenyon College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphAuburn University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphFurman University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Schmid compliance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Schmid compliance - Essay Example This is a dicey issue. On one hand, the school, since it must make budget cuts, is being forced to eliminate the women’s varsity softball team. Also, one of the mens’ teams is being cut as well, so it would appear that the university is not being unfair in any manner. However, since the school is approximately 50% men and 50% women, and since 39% of women compete in sports, it seems as though the school may have a difficult time making their case for why this program should be cut. On one hand, the womens’ softball team does have less athletes, than say, the womens’ swim team. It would therefore seem like a logical choice that, in the face of budget cuts, the womens’ softball team would be the first to go. However, considering the fact that the school is comprised of about almost the same amount of men, it seems that the university would want to comply with Title IX. The female student athletes could probably make a reasonable argument that they wer e not being given reasonable accommodation under Title IX. These are the facts. 3. On which of OCR’s three â€Å"benchmarks† for measuring effective accommodation of student athletes’ interests and abilities might the college base its defense? What arguments could the college raise under each? The first benchmark is one that the college might base its defense on. The college could raise the factors under each benchmark that: a) the college had to make budget cuts; b) the cuts that were made were made both to the mens’ and womens’ teams;

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Compare and contrast the writings of Lakoff and Turner Essay

Compare and contrast the writings of Lakoff and Turner - Essay Example This happened as a result of conceptual blending, which mainly take places in the subconscious and appears quiet simple at surface or conscious level. It is an intricate network of conceptual ideas producing cognitive ones. The process starts with a mental space where thought and consequent action take place. Different types of mental spaces, containing different type of thoughts, form a network. Different types of networks, then goes on to form a conceptual integration network. This integrated or blended mental space receives thoughts or inputs from other networks, inputs that aren't present within the network itself. However, this isn't a random process but take place under certain principles that control and supervise the entire process of connecting and receiving inputs from other networks. This theory applies to almost all fields of science and art. ( Turner and Faucoinner) George Lakoff is also a linguistic expert presently teaching at University of California at Berkeley. Though most of his work is linguistically in nature, he is famous for his work that focuses on metaphor and its importance to human thinking, political rhetoric and society at large. He has also introduced the idea of "embodied mind". According to him, m

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Step By Step Guide On Making A CD Case For D+T Resistant Materials Essay Example for Free

Step By Step Guide On Making A CD Case For D+T Resistant Materials Essay 1. Find right equipment; ruler, chisel, sand paper, glue, pine and ply 2. Measure the right lengths of wood and then cut into 4 separate parts 250mm for the lengths and 170mm for the widths Equipment needed; Ruler, saw, pencil 3. Create a rectangle for the main frame-using lap joints (250mm high and 170mm in width, sand if needed), 4. Equipment needed; chisel, hammer, glue and pencil 5. Create long thin pine about 95mm long and 7mm high (so they look a bit like sticks) make about 12 pieces (6 ether side) to make the support for the CDs Equipment needed; pencil, saw, ruler 6. Glue the pine sticks to the inside of the frame making sure that nothing sticks out using sand paper, and also making sure that it only goes about 3/4 of the way down to leave space for the storage area. Equipment needed; glue, sand paper 7. Before sticking on the plywood make sure the CDs fit in between the frame nicely Equipment needed; CD 8. Making sure that nothing is sticking out and that the measurements are all correct glue the plywood on to the back of the pine frame. Equipment needed; ruler, glue 9. Sand down any sticking out bits to make it look presentable. Equipment needed; sand paper 10. Sand the corners to make it aesthetically pleasing as possible. Equipment needed; sand paper 11. Then for a finishing touch add water based vanish. Equipment needed; vanish

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Art History :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sexton 1 I. Phenomenological Description and Interpretation All five of the archetypal shapes are in my self-portrait. First of all, the outside appearance is that of a square of rectangle. I feel that people who do not know me do not perceive any of the characteristics that the other shapes represent. Stability is the only characteristic represented by the shapes that people perceive of me. Inside my stable world is a circle in the middle of the bottom of the box. Within the circle is a triangle. This represents how spirituality is the center of my inner self and I find balance within my spirituality. Coming up from the center of the box is a spiral. As the spiral reaches its apex, there is an equidistant cross. This represents how I am constantly growing in order to reach a critical decision-making time of my life (what I want to do for the rest of my life). All of the Yoruba chromatics have been used in portraying my personality. But the most abundant type by far is dudu. The majority of the inside of my box are colors of brown, black, and gray. These colors show how I am very practical and down to earth. People who do not know me see me as down to earth and this does not change even when one gets to know me. The person at the bottom of the box has all three types on him. This represents how at some point in time my close friends see all the personality traits (aloof, passionate, and practical). The inside of the circle at the bottom of the box is colored orange. This shows how I am more passionate when it comes to my spirituality. The inside of the triangle is colored shades of red and blue. This shows how I am passionate, yet cool since I have found a balance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sexton 2 The color contrast of my self-portrait is very weak. There are no strong contrasts between light and dark. I am not dramatic or intense by any means. The weak contrast in colors illustrates how I have a subtle personality. The lack of pastel colors shows that I do not have a delicate personality. The line directions in my self-portrait are all horizontal and vertical. The majority of the direction is horizontal, which shows how my personality is very passive. The vertical lines show that I have a stable personality as well as the potential to be dynamic.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Red Handed

Title: I was a disappointment to my Dad 2004 was the year my father developed a taste for schedules and routines. It was, and still is, his way of making sure that things are in order, and I suppose it was his way, when we were younger, of ensuring there was some consistency in our daily lives. When Mum left, I think that was all he could think to do – giving us something fixed, something to fall back on, something to let us know that our world still stood firm even as his was falling apart. It was never really the same, our world; he was never really the same. Mum has always been the spontaneous one.She had always done things whenever she felt like it. I suppose that was why she could leave us just like that. She had never been one for commitment. After she left, my father came up with The Schedule. We had to follow it, and by then we were so desperate to keep one parent that we paid attention. He took great pride in us following it for a while. The Schedule gratified him. I remember Fridays were pizza days; they only had the regular pizza then, not the triple cheese extravaganza they do now, something for which I am utterly thankful; on Thursdays we took trips to the parks.It did not matter which park it was or how many times we had been there before. We just went on Thursdays. Matt, three years my junior, and I, would see how many flowers we could find that had at least an insect hovering over them while Father stared blankly into the distance, occasionally, he would smile. Then there were Tuesdays. On Tuesdays, I was to finish whatever assessment Dad asked me to do. I would put in my best effort to have them done to perfection and always long before he came to pick us up at Aunt’s.I would, upon entering his new black BMW, brandish out the assessment to show off to him and I had always been a honest boy so he never tore the answer key out before. Each time, his eyes would light up and tell me I was a good boy and off we would go home where he w ould mark my work and explain my mistakes (which I rarely have) to me. Followed by that, we would be off for dinner at the place I chose but since Matt was still six, Dad did not give him any assignment which meant he had no say in what we were going to have for dinner and he always beg with me to choose Macdonald’s.The World was going to be all right for one more day. Dad’s smile told me so. That particular Tuesday, the day of The Incident, I came face to face with something I wish I never again have to face, but yet I see it time and again, lodged in my guilty mind. The day started off the same way. It started off right. I think that was the worst part, the fact that things could have just taken sudden about-turns. Breakfast, school, Aunt’s. I was nine and I remember feeling, no, knowing that I had forgotten something. That vaguely familiar sense of unease that plagues everyone starts with the innocence of childhood mistakes, I suppose.What was it, the thing t hat I had forgotten? I could not remember. Put away my toys? Done. Helping my brother tie his shoelaces? Done. So what was it? Something was out of order. Something did not belong. Five more minutes left before we had to leave. Ignoring that nagging feeling, I dragged my brother out of another series of ‘Transformers’. He as usual quietly obeyed me as he begged, â€Å"can we have Macdonald’s please? † That was then the realization that dawned on me was like a slow burn. I could feel my skin prickling. My blood seemed to become warmer as it made its way to my head. I had not done my assessments!Dad is going to ‘kill’ me but I only have five minutes left how much can I finish? Oh no! Instinctively, I reached for a pen and told my brother he could watch for another five min. The time slowly ticked by. Five minutes, four minutes†¦ I was out off time! That was when I came up with my idea an idea I wished I had never done. I flipped to the book and found the page I needed to copy. Done! Just on time! I then dragged Matt out of Aunt’s who was as always decisively happy we were leaving. Sitting on the stoop, I could feel Dad finding out I had copied but there was no way because my work was usually perfect. Where is Dad? Where is he? Huh? Where? Where? Why is he not here yet? Huh Bro? † Now Matt was whining about Dad being late. In my unease, I could not even tell him to shut up and he must be surprised by my stillness because he casted a curious glance at me. Before Matt could ask what happened, Dad pulled up along the kerb, his car coughing up exhaust fumes. I pretended to sound as if everything was normal. I waved my assessment at him, my banner of proof. When we reached home, Dad turned over to the answer key and started marking. Little known to me, I had left three evidence there.Firstly, I had left a blue pen mark on the answer key, Secondly; I was doing Primary 5 work so I could not have possibly have got ten full marks, lastly, I had sneezed while copying down the answers so there was still mark of my sneeze. Then I saw that flicker. I saw that flicker in his eyes. Realisation, disappointment, rejection. It was only for a split second but, yes, it was there, the disappointment. I could almost hear him: â€Å"How like her mother she is; how like her mother she is. †He must have known that I had seen the flicker too because then, just like that, I could see him almost willing himself to cast that critical thought aside.I Know he was not able to do so because two years from The Incident, when I do talk to him, something which had grown progressively rare in those days, I still see that flicker in his eye. I never showed him my work after that day and I now mark my own work, he too never asked. Now, every Tuesday, I am often so overwrought I can only find comfort having left a mark on the answer key. I would always recall that Tuesday when I was nine, It was that Tuesday when I s aw that disappointment come to stay in my father’s eyes and no, oh God no, that for the first time, it had been me who had put it there.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Classical to the Post-Modern Eras Essay

In this essay, I’m going to trace the development of Classical Music from the late 1750s to the Post-Modern era in the 2000s and provide a brief history of music, and how they link together to form what we have today. There are many preconceptions of what the history of music is. Some people think it is mainly a biography of composer’s lives, but they are wrong. The history of music is primarily the history of musical style. In order to appreciate this, it is essential to become acquainted with the different sounds and to hear them in their contexts. Fashions in history change with the generations, like fashions in musical tastes. Lets first start with the classical music, Classical is an era; it is from about 1730 to just after 1800. A few people who contributed to the music in the Classical era are: Ludwig van Beethoven, Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The Classical period focused on the opposite types of sounds- music during that period was orderly, uncluttered, well planned and precise. Music was expected to be technically pleasing and grounded in certain traditions and styles that had been approved by the public, often quite formal. Composers were seen as workers who were hired to write music that would please their employer (Sagebiel). The classical period of music combined harmony, melody, rhythm, and orchestration more effectively than earlier periods of music. The classical period is best known for the symphony, a form of a large orchestral ensemble. The symphonic pieces generally had three movements, the sonata, the minuet and the finale. Building of the achievements of earlier composers, Haydn, and Mozart brought the symphony to its peak in the last twenty years of the 18th century. Haydn excelled in rhythmic drive and development of theme-based music (Bishop 325). Mozart also added to the symphony by contrasting memorable lyric themes in full sounding orchestral settings. There are many styles of music within classical music, including symphony, opera, choral works, chamber music, Gregorian chant, the madrigal, and the Mass. A Classical composition will fluctuate in mood. Not only there are contrasting themes within a movement, but there also may be striking contrasts even within (Vardy). In Classical music, there is a flexibility of rhythm. A classical composition has a wealth of rhythmic patterns. Classical music is basically homophonic. However, texture is treated as flexibly as rhythm. Classical melodies are among the most tuneful and easy to remember. The Classical composers’ interest in expressing shades of emotion led to the widespread use of gradual dynamic change – crescendo (gradually getting louder) and diminuendo ( gradually getting softer). By varying the finger pressure on the keys, a pianist can play more loudly or softly. Classical works show a great deal of musical sophistication and use development, key changes, variation, musical phrases of varying lengths, counterpoint, polyphony and advanced harmony development. It uses very specific instruments, most markedly those invented before mid-10th century and adopted in the 18th and 19th centuries, such as instruments like violin, cello, viola, woodwind instruments, brass instruments and other instruments in the orchestra and solo instruments such as piano, harpsichord, organ and guitar. The classical period had a musical style that was consistent, which means that if you were a composer in this time period; you knew what was expected of you. Haydn had a huge influence on the development if Classical music and so did Beethoven but he chose to focus on a more romantic style which had a simple chord structure. This brings us to the Romantic era; The Romantic music period began in 1825 and ran until 1900. Several historical themes were at work during this period, including the increasing role of science as a worldview, the rise of nationalism in Europe, and a growing appreciation for the arts. The style of the Romantic music period is generally characterized by a wider range of dynamics, a greater variety of instruments, more dramatic melodies, more extreme tempos, fuller harmonies, and expanded formal structures within the compositions. Some of the most famous composers of all time lived and worked during the Romantic music era. Schubert, Chopin, Wagner, Brahms, and Mahler are among the most recognizable names. The transition from nineteenth-century Romanticism to twentieth-century Modernism is perhaps one of the big points in music history. Because the speed of twentieth-century innovation in all areas has been so accelerated, music has also moved from one new idea to another with such speed that no previous era can be compared to. Technology and scientific discovery are probably the basic influences on musical creativity and production. Dissonance became very important and in fact most of the pieces are made up of dissonant chords (Palisca). During the Modern era, many new musical techniques emerged. They were seen in melody , harmony , rhythm, meter, texture, tonality, and sonority . It is important to note that during the twentieth century not all changes in music were a revolution or a return to old ideals. Contrapuntal textures in music dominate the Modern era. While, homophonic textures are present, it is to a lesser degree and with less importance. During the 20th century, tone color has become a more important element of music then it was ever before. It has a major role which is creating variety, continuity and mood. Consonance is no longer in use in the 20th century. 20th century music sound fantasy like, distant and mystifying. Chords are never as fundamental as it is in previous centuries. Poly chords are created by placing one traditional chord over another. The rhythmic vocabulary of the 20th century was expanded with increased emphasis on irregularity and unpredictability. The Melody was very elusive.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Cashless Society essays

Cashless Society essays One article that caught my attention recently was one presented in the November 21, 1998 issue of The Economist. The article was about a cashless society and how well alternative forms of tender were catching on. According to the article, some forms of the "smart card" haven't caught on as well as expected. Smart cards have information embedded in them, essentially allowing a consumer to purchase things quickly and conveniently. It was the hope that these cards would supplant paper and coin money forever. However, that has not been the case. Smart cards do exits, however. In the article, it is mentioned that smart cards with chips embedded in them allowed a customer to quickly swipe the card through the reader. Thirty-two cents is then deducted. Simple and easy, right? Well, it hasn't caught on. One of the main reasons that smart cards have struggled a bit is that it has competition in the form of current debit cards. People can purchase anything they desire with these cards already. Therefore, there wouldn't be any added value of having a debit card. A survey of 2,400 North Americans by Smart Card Forum gives some interesting results. According to the survey, more than three-quarters would have liked to have a card that stored vital medical and car-related information. Less than half wanted a card that they could use to purchase things with. Another problem facing smart cards is compatibility. Current smart cards utilize only on a small range of readers. For example, a smart card for parking meters in Boston would not work for ones in New York. And since local governments control those areas of jurisdiction, it has to take a national effort to make it work. This means that the U.S. government must implement and lead the way. When this happens, then we will truly see the fall of paper and coin money. ...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The History Iran Sanctions - 1979 Through 2017

The History Iran Sanctions - 1979 Through 2017 Although the United States imposed sanctions against Iran for decades, none levered the country into compliance with international rules regarding terrorism or nuclear energy. By early 2012, however, evidence appeared to be mounting that sanctions by both the U.S. and its global allies were hurting Iran. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action went into effect in 2015, easing tensions and sanctions considerably. Most of the sanctions cut into Irans oil exports, which account for 85 percent of the countrys export revenue. Irans repeated threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil conduit, to international use indicated at one point that Iran was kicking at global oil usage to relieve pressure on its own oil industry. The Carter Years Islamic radicals captured 52 Americans at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held them hostage for 444 days beginning in November 1979. U.S. President Jimmy Carter tried unsuccessfully to free them, including authorizing a military rescue attempt. Iranians did not free the hostages until just after Ronald Reagan replaced Carter as president on January 20, 1981. The United States broke diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980 in the midst of that crisis. The U.S. also levied its first round of sanctions against Iran during this time. Carter banned imports of Iranian oil, froze some $12 billion in Iranian assets in the U.S. and later banned all U.S. trade with and travel to Iran in 1980. The U.S. lifted the embargoes after Iran released the hostages. Sanctions Under Reagan The Reagan Administration declared Iran a state sponsor of terrorism in 1983. As such, the U.S. opposed international loans to Iran. When Iran began threatening traffic through the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz in 1987, Reagan authorized naval escorts for civilian ships and signed a new embargo against Iranian imports. The United States also banned the sale of dual-use items to Iran – civilian goods with the possibility of military adaptation. The Clinton Years President Bill Clinton expanded U.S. sanctions against Iran in 1995. Iran was still labeled a state sponsor of terrorism and President Clinton took this action amid widespread fear it was pursuing weapons of mass destruction. He prohibited all American involvement with the Iranian petroleum industry. He banned all American investment in Iran in 1997, as well as what little U.S. trade remained with the country. Clinton also encouraged other countries to do the same. Sanctions Under George W. Bush The United States repeatedly froze the assets of people, groups or businesses identified as helping Iran sponsor terrorism under President George W. Bush, as well as those perceived as supporting Irans efforts to destabilize Iraq. The U.S. also froze the assets of foreign entities believed to be helping Iran in those areas. The United States  also banned so-called U-turn financial transfers involving Iran. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, a U-turn transfer involves Iran but originates and ends with non-Iranian foreign banks. Obamas Sanctions of Iran President Barack Obama has been strident with Iranian sanctions. He banned some imports of Iranian foodstuffs and carpets in 2010, and Congress also allowed him to tighten Iranian sanctions with the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act (CISADA). Obama could encourage non-U.S. petroleum firms to halt the sale of gasoline to Iran, which has poor refineries. It imports nearly one-third of its gasoline. The CISADA also prohibited foreign entities from using American banks if they do business with Iran. The Obama Administration sanctioned Venezuelas nationalized oil company for trading with Iran in May 2011. Venezuela and Iran are close allies. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad traveled to Venezuela in early January 2012 to meet with President Hugo Chavez, in part  about the sanctions. In June 2011, the Treasury Department announced new sanctions against Irans Revolutionary Guard (already named in other sanctions), the Basij Resistance Force, and Iranian law enforcement entities. Obama ended 2011 by signing a defense funding bill that would allow the U.S. to cease dealing with financial institutions that do business with Irans central bank. The bills sanctions took effect between February and June 2012. Obama was given the power to waive aspects of the bill if implementation would hurt the U.S. economy. It was feared that limiting access to Iranian oil would drive up gasoline prices. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Six world powers joined together in 2013 to negotiate with Iran, offering relief from some sanctions if Iran would cease its nuclear efforts. Russia, Britain, Germany, France, and China joined the U.S. in this effort, which finally resulted in an agreement in 2015. Then came the prisoner swap in 2016, with the U.S. exchanging seven imprisoned Iranians in exchange for Iran releasing five Americans it was holding. The U.S. lifted its sanctions against Iran under President Obama in 2016.   President Donald J. Trump President Trump announced in April 2017 that his administration intends to review the countrys history of sanctions against Iran. Although many feared this would potentially eradicate the terms of the 2015 deal due to Irans continued support of terrorism, the review was, in fact, provided for and mandatory under the terms of the 2015 pact.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Female genital mutilation and human rights Term Paper - 1

Female genital mutilation and human rights - Term Paper Example The UN is clear in its condemnation of the practice, stating unequivocally that it violates the basic human rights of girls and women and denies them of their physical and mental integrity, their right to freedom from violence and discrimination, and sometimes even their lives. At the same time, however, the UN recognizes that FGM is deeply entrenched in many cultures in the world, and as a result, difficult to end without respecting these cultures’ values and systems of belief. How, then, does the condemnation of FGM by many international organizations such as the UN and WHO fit into cultural relativism? This paper will seek to reconcile these two seemingly contradictory ideas. How can these organizations condemn such a practice without alienating large groups of people? First, I will provide evidence that FGM does indeed violate the human rights of the girls and women who are forced to withstand it. Then I will illustrate how the concepts of cultural relativism fit into it, and how those interested in promoting the health and welfare of women and girls all over the world can use these concepts to eradicate it. As WHO states, FGM â€Å"reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women† (â€Å"Female† n.p.). The UN states that FGM violates the rights of both children and women, and cites two major UN proclamations, the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the 1989 Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC). The UN clearly states that FGM violates the CRC because it compromises the â€Å"right to life, the right to physical integrity, the right to the highest attainable standard of health (including, with maturity, reproductive and sexual health), as well as the right to freedom from physical or mental violence, injury or abuse† (Lewnes 15). It is also a violation of the child’s right to development, protection, and full