Saturday, August 31, 2019

An Interview with the Headmistress

The headmistress of the school is retiring at the end of the month. As a editor of the school magazine, you interviewed her for an article in the magazine. Emily: Good morning, Madam Lee. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to interview you. Me: It is my pleasure. Emily: Madam Lee, I heard that you have been a headmistress for long times ago. Can you tell me how long have you been here and what did you do before you came here? Me: Well, I am the headmistress here for almost 15 years. Before that, I was a teacher in Sabah.After I was transfer here, I start to worked as a teacher for almost 8 years. Besides, I love teaching students and this is the main reason why I am still teaching even though I am the headmistress now. Emily: Honestly madam Lee, we really appreciate for everything that you have done. Me: Thank you, Emily. Emily: Madam Lee, how has the school changed within the 15 years? Me: It has changed tremendously! When I first came, this school was still a small school. We only had 250 students, but now we have almost 1600 students.In those days, we had just two school blocks, now we have six school blocks, an air-conditioned library and a very modern canteen. I was very proud of this school! Emily: Why did you still love teaching although you are the headmistress now? Me: I love teaching since I was a kid, I had an ambition that I would like to be a great teacher that would have the ability to teach students to become successful people in the future. Emily: That was a great ambition that you have, Madam Lee.Can you tell us what are the interesting things that happen to you in the school before? Me: I remembered most is when my students plan a birthday surprise for me on my birthday few years ago. They even bought a really special gift for me. Emily: Madam Lee,what do you like most about this school? Me: The thing that I like most about this school is the view of scenery of the school from the principal’s office. Emily: Will you still contribu te to your school if the school still needs your help in the future? Me: Of course I will!This school means a lot to me. Emily: Do you have some words to say to your beloved students before your retirement? Me: Yes, I would like to say that you all must study hard to follow your dreams and never give up until you achieve your dreams. Besides, always treasure your precious time to do benefit things. The most important is study hard, play less. Emily: Thank you for the wonderful advice, Madam Lee. Do you have anything that you want to do before your retirement? Me: I would like to thank the teachers so much of the contribution for the school.They really work together with me to make this school a better environment for the students to study. I really appreciate their hard work. Emily: Are you feeling sad of your retirement? Me: At first, yes but now I am really happy that I can finally retire. Emily: Madam Lee, what are your plans after retirement? Me: Perhaps I shall travel to countr ies for holiday. After that, I probably become a housewife and spending my time to do things that I loved. Emily: That is all I wanted to ask. Madam Lee, Thank you very much for this interview. I wish you all the best. Me: Thank you.

Friday, August 30, 2019

The Free Radical Theory

The free radical theory was firstly introduced in 1954 by Robert Gerschman and later was developed by Dr. Denham Harman from the University of Nebraska. The term â€Å"free radical† is used by the scientists to describe any molecule which is different from conventional molecules.Actually, free radicals posses a free electron and, therefore, they are able to react with other molecules in destructive and volatile ways. In contrast to free radicals, in conventional molecules the electrical charge is always balanced meaning that electrons are able to come in pairs and their electrical energies simply cancel their charges.In other words, conventional molecules have negative electrical charge because atoms which miss electrons are combined with atoms with excessive number of electrons, and, in the result, a stable molecule with paired electrons and neutral charge is created. (Theories of Aging 2004)In contrast to conventional molecules, free radicals always possess extra negative ch arge. The result is apparent: unbalanced electrical energy makes free radicals attach themselves to other molecules and steal â€Å"a matching electron to attain electrical equilibrium†.However, it is necessary to note that free radials are often claimed to be promiscuous meaning that they break happy marriages of combined electrons trying to steal happy partner for themselves. In such a way free electrons create free radicals which definitely lead to extensive damage of cells and human body. So, activity of free radicals within human body is negative as they cause aging process.If there were no free radicals, human bodies would be able to produce energy and to maintain immunity. Moreover, our bodies would manage to transmit nerve impulses and to synthesize hormones necessary for our muscles.Nevertheless, electricity of the body makes people perform these functions, but electricity is the result of unbalanced electron activity of free radicals within out body. (Theories of Ag ing 2004)Further, free radicals are known to damage the structure of human cell membrane by creating so-called metabolic waste products. One of such waste products is substance called lipofuscins. His effect is damaging as, for example, excessive amount of lipofuscins leads to emergence of aging spot or darkness of the skin in certain areas.Moreover, this substance reduces significantly abilities of cells to restore and to reproduce. The synthesis of DNA and RNA is disturbed as well the synthesis of protein. Next, lipofuscins lowers energy levels preventing in such a way human bodies from building muscles. (Theories of Aging 2004)Consequently, cellular enzymes are destroyed, but they are necessary for vital chemical processes without which the aging process starts. Free-radical damage starts from the birth and continues throughout out life till natural death.During childhood and adolescents free-radical processes are minor as they body still is provided with repair and replacement m echanism. Health young people have healthy organs and working order. However, when people become older free-radical processes begin to take their toll.Scientists say that â€Å"free-radical disruption of cell metabolism is part of what ages our cells; it may also create mutant cells leading ultimately to cancer and death†. (Theories of Aging 2004)Finally, free radicals damage collagen and elastin which are responsible for keeping our skin moist, elastic and flexible. Under influence of free radicals, human vital tissues are breaking and fraying. This process is noticeable in the face – folds of skin and deep wrinkles are the results of free-radical damage.Gerontologists argue that â€Å"another way of looking at free-radical changes is to think of its as oxidation, the process of adding oxygen to a substance. Another word for oxidation is rust and in a sense our aging process is analogous to the rusting away of a once-intact piece of metal†.(Theories of Aging 20 04) Oxygen forms are free radicals and while breathing we produce free radical which intensify the process of aging. Antioxidants are substances used to prevent harmful effects of oxidation and free radicals. We should pay attention to vitamins C, B and beta carotene to fight aging process.ReferencesTheories of Aging. (2004). Retrieved November 29, 2007, from http://www.prolongyouth.com/theories.html

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Dangers of Undercover Police Cars Essay

By definition, the police are a constituted body of persons empowered by the state to enforce the law, protect property, and limit civil disorder. Many people in today’s society do not trust the police. Many feel that the police are out to get them. While some feel that police keep our society in tact, some feel that they are given way to much power. Policing predominantly concerns the preservation of order and peace in our country. With that being said, keeping peace is much different from what I feel that our police enforcement agencies in this country actually do. Often, they do the opposite. Trying to find anything and everything that a citizen is doing incorrectly is not keeping peace. In fact, this causes the distancing between our police and the citizens they are policing. My bill speaks on the removal of undercover police cars from law enforcement. The impacts that these types of police vehicles have on our society all seems to be negative. They are used as a way to catch our citizens off guard, since these vehicles do not appear to be cops. As citizens, we have the right of knowledge. When a police officer is present, I think that we should be able to know. Why are they hiding from us? If they’re here to protect us, why are the not acting like it? Hiding from us makes it seem like they do not want to protect us, but trick us. Police offices’ auction off police cars that are out of commission. At a fairly cheap price, these cars are stripped off all lighting and sirens. But that is not to say they are not deceiving. With a couple of hundred dollars and computer access, you can order almost identical lights and sirens to a police officer. Here is a very scary story involving an innocent women, a criminal and a unmarked police car: It was only 1:30 in the afternoon when the unmarked police car pulled alongside Laura Johnson’s car with their flashing light on their rooftop, and signaled for her to pull over. She sensed something was off, so she kept going and immediately contacted the dispatcher who checked it out and called her back to tell her there were no unmarked police cars in that area. She was told to keep driving. In a short time 4 police cars surrounded Laura and the suspect car. The police apprehended not only a criminal impersonating a police officer, but a convicted rapist wanted by the police for other crimes. That day, Laura got lucky. But if she wouldn’t have sensed that something was off, her fate could be much different. Finally, these undercover police units cost our taxpayers more money that you may imagine. Police cars are purchased in bulk, averaging around 30 thousand apiece fully loaded. But the technologies of an undercover car, with low-key lighting and high tech LED lights placed all around the car push that number up, to around 34 thousand dollars. Lets say in one year there are 10 new undercover cop cars purchased, that’s 40 thousand dollars wasted! Of our taxpayer’s dollars, that could be used for so many other things. With all of that being said, we must pass this bill to remove undercover police cars. For the conversation of our tax money, the honesty we deserve as citizens, and the safety of the men, women, and children of our community. Thank you for your time.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Cubas' Criminal Justice System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Cubas' Criminal Justice System - Essay Example be seen in the fact that Cuba gained economic strength and the quest for independence became a most pressing one as over the course of centuries (CIA-The World Factbook—Cuba, https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/cu.html). This led to the Spanish-American war of 1898 where Spain was defeated as a direct result of the intervention of the United States. After suffering a profound defeat, Cuba gained its independence from Spain only to realize that they were now under American rule (Library of Congress/Spanish American War, http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/trask.html). For the next four years Cuba remained under American rule and obtained its independence on May 20, 1902. Cuba has since been a republic operating under the basic tenets of the Communist Manifesto as delineated by Karl Marx. The Communist Manifesto delineates a system of government wherein the majority of the power within the society resides with the active economic contributors—the workers (T he Communist Manifesto, http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/classics/manifesto.html). The legal system of Cuba is one which represents an eclectic blend of elements from the Spanish and American legal system with the majority of its components arising from the Soviet Union’s application of the basic tenets of the Communist Manifesto. This legal system has not gained the acceptance of International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction (CIA-The World Factbook—Cuba, https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/cu.html). Located in Eastern Asia, China had been at the forefront of academia in the fields of arts and the sciences for centuries and under the various dynasties. This took a turn for the worst in the late 19th and early 20th century when civil unrest, feminine and military defeats served to change the dynamics with regards to the role of China in the grand scheme of world economics, politics and the arts and sciences. In 1912, China’s form of government changed from rule

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Internet Censorship Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Internet Censorship - Research Paper Example The censorship also comes in the form of government-mandated blocking of access to materials which are not appropriate for adults. This approach is being carried out in Australia, China, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam (EFA). These countries require internet service providers to prevent material from reaching the internet users. Other countries only allow limited access to the net through government access areas (Bidgoli, p. 264). Internet censorship also comes in the form of government prohibition in public access to the internet. Different countries have been known to limit public access to the net, or they sometimes call for users to be licensed by the government before they can access the internet. The important consideration in the application of internet censorship is the fact that what is prohibited in one country may not be prohibited in other countries. Case in point is the rating of movies which may be different in different countries (EFA). In effect, what may be deemed R-18 in France, may only be classified as 12 in the US, or vice versa. In Australia, internet censorship consists of laws passed by the Commonwealth and the state governments. In 1999, the Broadcast Services Amendment (Online Services) Act of 1999 was passed (Moses). This law basically implements access prevention at server levels. The Commonwealth government of Australia is a complaints-based system which can be implemented to content hosts, but not to content creators (EFA). The hosts are mandated to remove Australian hosted material from the server which is labeled as objectionable upon receipt of orders from a government regulator. The Australian Broadcasting Authority informs the filtering software providers of the materials being sponsored beyond... This paper stresses that the world press has been very critical of internet censorship, most especially because it is their material which is often the subject of censors. They point out the fact that repressive regimes are fully benefitting from internet censors because they control and repress reform and debates. The above discussion exemplifies the extent of internet censorship around the world. These censors were originally set forth because of the pervasive use of the internet for child pornography. However, the censorship has now evolved into other materials and content; it now covers materials which are racist, anti-government, or anti-religion. This censorship has now been imposed in various territories in order to manage subversive content from inciting citizens to activities of civil unrest. For the most part, such censors seek to control people’s activities in the internet, stirring these away from the offensive and subversive activities. Some territories are howeve r not supporting internet censorship because it is part of the protected laws of their lands – mostly on the freedom of speech and expression. To this day, internet censorship remains to be a well-debated practice. On one side, it is supported for the benefits and protection it can give to the citizens and to peaceful governments and on the other, it is vilified for its suppressive and repressive implications. Regardless of its applications, the internet will continue to develop and evolve into an even more pervasive and widely used technology.

Use of Derivatives in Risk Management Term Paper

Use of Derivatives in Risk Management - Term Paper Example Following are the major sorts of instruments applied by organizations to manage the financial risks associated with business activity. Futures and Options In this type of instrument, one individual or business signs a contract with another one to purchase the commodity on some future date with an agreed-upon price. However, in futures both of the parties have to go through with the contract while in options both of the parties reserve the right to withdraw the contract upon paying in monetary terms. Agreements: This instrument is localized in nature, and governments do not interfere with its transactions. Nevertheless, the purpose of these agreements is the same as that of futures and options, which is to hedge against fluctuations in the market price of the commodity or an industrial product. It is also important to note that these kinds of agreements are more common in economically distressed nations. But, recently they are intensively deployed in order to ensure a supply of raw material in US, which is necessary because of the prevailing recession in the local market. So, it is safe to assume that businesses are preparing themselves for increasing adversities of the future by contracting with their suppliers on a long term basis, which also enables them to attain economies of scale as a result, driving their financial and operational costs down that allows them to lower their prices in order to increase their market share. Nevertheless, it is fascinating to acknowledge that various businesses are paying close attention towards managing financial risk through using statistical models in order to assess the current level of risk, which can disrupt the expected pattern of their cash flows (Benson & Oliver, 2004). However, they often lack the proper translation of this analysis into practical plans, so in this way they cannot benefit from the concept of derivatives effectively most of the times. On the other hand, manufacturing sector of Europe is using derivatives more extensively than American ones (SpricIc, 2007). The prime reason for this trend is prevailing and growing uncertainty of the European market as compared to that of America. Along with this, managers who deploy derivatives in order to evaluate the degree of risk in financial terms are viewed as trustworthy by stockholders because they consider it as the proper and desirable means of minimizing financial threats (Koonce, Lipe, & McAnally, 2008). However, managers are found to falter by not basing their business decisions on the results of derivative analysis, therefore portraying the image of rational business decision making when in reality it is not the case. At the same time, derivatives are not rated as an effective mean for minimizing the possibility of default (Yi, Lin, & Chen, 2008). Therefore, derivatives can only be utilized as the mean of predicting future financial position of a particular firm. However, it is important to note that firms that base their decisions on derivative analysis often outperform those that do not consider derivatives as an ideal method for predicting financial future (Lin, Pantzalis, & Park, 2009). Another advantage of successful risk management is contentment of stockholders (Berk, Peterlin, & Cok, 2009). Through effective management, risk managers can handle them and are

Monday, August 26, 2019

Career Development in HRD Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Career Development in HRD - Research Paper Example Below is my career development plan since my present position to three years to come. It will consist of my career coach or career counsellor as a guide. Finally, it will show how I would be successful in my first job. I am a second semester at Indiana state university and I major on business in human resource development. In this, I am aiming at achieving a nonprofits leadership certification and a minor in business administration. Naturally, I am interested at peoples’ elements in business functions, change interventions, thrives and their improvements through their daily works and thus I made a decision to pursue the human resource development. I feel like taking some training and development in my career path though I am not sure of the source for the training. I enjoy doing charity work and thus am becoming a CNP. In this case, I enjoy my work daily because it is helpful to some people and through it I tend to change ones life for the better. In addition, my work seems to help peoples journey. Due to my interests in that, I plan to continue to volunteer in nonprofits though I am not sure of pursuing a career in such organization after my graduation (Rothwell, Wang, & Payne, 2005). In my career development, I have been attending some HR internship. I have attended the ISU career centre. The human resource development at this ISU career centre requires me to complete the internship before my graduation. In that career centre I met many wonderfully staffed career counsellors who provided me with the help that will make me attain their ability. One of my counsellors in this department was mike Williamson. Through my counsellor and mentor, mike William; I have achieved some skills on how to work hard to completing a well developed resume. He has also helped me set up some practice interviews that aim at gaining better communication skills and have many ways of answering possible interview questions

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Describe the journey of a Red Blood Cell around the body Essay

Describe the journey of a Red Blood Cell around the body - Essay Example A spectrin network attached to the lipid bilayer contains several organic proteins, phospholipids, sphingolipids and cholesterol. This type of attachment increases the stiffness of the RBC. Moreover, this sort of spectrin protein allows the free diffusion of vital component from extracellular fluid to intracellular fluid. (Li & Lykotrafittis, 2012). The journey of red blood cells (erythrocytes) usually begins in the circulatory system. During their passage through the blood vessels the erythrocytes undergo several important changes in shape and structure particularly when needed to pass through the narrow passages in the circulatory system. An erythrocyte is a biconcave disc of a diameter ranging between 6-8 microns, with mean thickness of 2.5 micrometres at the periphery and approximately 1 micrometre towards the centre of the cell (Guyton & Hall, 2006). Transporting of oxygen from lung to various other organs is the function of the RBCs during their journey in the human circulatory system. Importantly, this oxygen available for the functioning of organs is stored into the haemoglobin of RBC and when it reaches its particular destination, oxygen is liberated from haemoglobin and it moves through the cellular passive diffusion. Furthermore, carbon dioxide (CO2) that is released after cellular activities is then again fused with haemoglobin of RBC. This deoxygenated blood due to presence of CO2 into the haemoglobin then enters into the heart, and is finally diffused to the lungs. It was reported that in some lower animals (some invertebrates), Hb is present as a free protein in plasma and it is not bound to the RBCs like in human beings. The total life span of each erythrocyte in the circulation is 120 days (Dean, 2005). But during this period if any of them gets damaged, then they could be eliminated from the circulatory system with the help of macrophages which is usually present in the bone marrow, spleen or in the liver (Premkumar, 2004). A normal man has an average of 5,200,000 red blood cells (RBC) per cubic millimetre and a normal woman has an average of 4,700,000 RBCs per cubic millimetre (Guyton & Hall, 2006). Around 3 million red blood cells (RBC) enter the circulation each second (Starr & McMillan, 2012). Haemoglobin is usually concentrated in the red blood cells (RBC); the metabolic limit of haemoglobin-forming mechanism of the body allows only a maximum concentration of 34grams of Haemoglobin in each 100 millilitres of cells (Guyton & Hall, 2006). In any normal and healthy individual, the haemoglobin (Hb) concentration remains at this maximum permitted level. 2. Bone marrow, Journey and Production of erythrocytes: Production of the erythrocytes from the bone marrow is called erythropoiesis (Schlossberg & Zuiderna, 1997). Apart from bone marrow, red blood cells are also produced by various other organs during the early development of human body. Yolk Sac is the primary site of the production of RBCs during the early embryonic p eriod (Guyton & Hall, 2006, p. 421). Liver serves as the main organ for RBC production during the middle trimester of gestation while lymph nodes and spleen also produce an amount of RBCs during this stage of development (Guyton & Hall, 2006, p. 421). Bone marrow is an important part of human body for the production of red blood cells (RBC) during the last month of gestation and soon after the birth (Guyton & Hall, 2

Saturday, August 24, 2019

International Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

International Relations - Essay Example Such research can bring the certain contribution also to the discussion about political "realism". The realistic theory usually is considered as the most consecutive interpretation of the essence and the reasons of political events such as confrontations, military alliances, diplomatic negotiations and international relations as a whole. Realists have managed to create the elegant theory of the international relations, having specified that the conflict of interests between various political communities is internally inherent in the international system, and having shown that uniqueness of the international relations is caused by the nature of the political communities, which are representing themselves as the parties in these relations. From our point of view, problematic part of the realistic theory consists in the way of conceptualisation of these communities, namely the national states. There are different forms of realism, but behind all of them there is one uniting idea: on the stage of the international relations act uniform "characters" named states. Further these states are considered as discrete units, which functioning almost in the same way as individuals in a society. This idea generates the whole complex of representations about the state and its activity on the international scene. ... This discourse considering the state as a uniform and independent rational character creates the general frameworks for reflections on something that is usually described as "the international system". Thereof the realistic theory reduces the international relations to the stage, on which the states pursue their egoistical interests. The end of the Cold War has called into existence a number of trial attempts to define new world order. Meanwhile the only obvious fact is that the world community has entered a grandiose global transformation process, which at least till now has generated more social problems, rather than solutions. The end of rivalry between super-states and an increasing break in wealth and access to resources between states have contemporized with disturbing growth of violence, poverty and unemployment, number of homeless persons, and erosion of ecological stability. The world also became the witness of one of the deepest, since times of Great depression of thirties, global economic recessions. At the same time isolated before nations get more and more close both voluntary and against their will due to growing integration of markets, formation of the new regional political unions, remarkable successes in the field of telecommunications, biotechnology and transport, which have stimulated unprecedented demographic shifts.As a result of such a merger of people and cultures nowadays we may observe the world, characterized by increasing integrity, cultural variety, and supersaturated with intensity, confusion, and conflicts during the adaptation to pluralism. Now let us consider the differences, which exist in the viewpoints of realists and those of liberalists. Liberals after the World War I have formulated the

Friday, August 23, 2019

Creating Public Value through the Weatherization Assistance Program Research Paper

Creating Public Value through the Weatherization Assistance Program - Research Paper Example With the total of $10 million stimulus funding, the Boston ABCD Weatherization program has the capacity to subject 1,800 homes to weatherization (Massachusetts Commonwealth, 2012). As soon as the Ramirez family qualified for the program, weatherization professionals immediately assessed the house’s energy consumption. The assessment, which took around two to four hours, found that the house had no proper wall insulation; its doors invite cold air in, and water leaks are found in the basement. From these observations, weatherization professionals reported their assessment to the homeowners and presented what needs to be repaired in the house to save energy cost Through the stimulus package, the Boston ABCD provided for the house’s insulation and new doors in the house. They also installed a new bathroom to prevent the place from molding. After these repairs, the family was able to reduce their electric bills up to 45%, especially during the winter. According to Mrs Ramirez, she was thankful for the program because her family finally experienced warmth in winter for the first time (Massachusetts Commonwealth, 2012). The article above represents the actual account in the implementation of the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), a long-running public program for low-income families that enables them to reduce their energy consumption and ensure energy efficiency at home through weatherization. The federal government, together with the Department of Energy (DOE) and local weatherization agencies work together to take responsibility in maintaining the national energy policy of the United States.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Dropout of school Essay Example for Free

Dropout of school Essay The Huffington Post recently ran an article entitled, Americas School Dropout Epidemic By The Numbers about Americas dropout problem. I would like to add my opinions about why children drop out of school. I am a professional educator who served as a classroom teacher, school counselor and school administrator in the New York City school system for over 33 years. I believe that there are five major reasons why children leave school: 1. The students themselves They make wrong decisions. They get involved with gangs, drugs/alcohol, get pregnant and commit crimes. Many have a poor school attitude and are frequently bored by school. They are disconnected to their families, school and life. They do not see the reasons they need to go to school. They are not involved in school activities and lack self-esteem. Some have been promoted lacking skills needed for promotion. Some have undergone major illnesses and have missed too many days of school and have been informed that they will be held back. Because of many of the conditions listed above, they have been suspended and have fallen behind in their work and see little purpose of returning to school. 2. The family they come from There is often a clash between the family values and those of the school. Frequently, their parents have dropped out of school themselves. The students come from families from low socio-economic backgrounds, where there are many other children. Older children often have to go to work in order to supply the family with much-needed funds for basic family needs or need to stay home to take care of younger siblings so that their parents can work. Many children come from non-English speaking homes with high mobility. Single parent homes have become the norm in the United States. Many children are products of divorce, separation or, sometimes, family violence. hey are not being raised by parents, but rather by aunts, uncles and grandparents. Families are not meeting some childrens basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. 3. The community they come from Many children live on the wrong side of the tracks in places where education is not valued, where drugs, gangs and violence abound. And where schools are low-performing, they often lack community and health support. 4. The schools they attend The schools are toxic to student learning, students, parents and staff. Students are suspended for minor infractions (such as talking back to the teacher), or placed in remedial classes. The schools have a culture of low expectations. They lack adequate guidance counseling. The curriculum is not relevant to the needs of the students being taught. Passive instructional strategies are being used without regard to individual student learning styles. Teachers are not trained in the latest teaching/learning/technology techniques. Funding is based on property values so that low-income neighborhoods receive less funding than wealthy neighborhoods. Because some states pass budgets in a less than timely matter, teachers are not hired in time producing over-sized classrooms. 5. The teachers they have The least-experienced, least classroom-trained teachers are often assigned to the most difficult schools. They enter the field with the expectation that they have been adequately prepared by the schools of education with the skills they need and they havent received. (See Arthur Levine, Educating School Teachers) They are leaving the field faster than colleges can prepare them. The teacher dropout rate is higher than the student dropout rate. Forty-six percent of teachers leave the field within five years. When asked why they leave, a majority state that they havent been properly prepared, have had increased demands placed on them because of high stakes testing and are not getting adequate support from their supervisors in dealing with classroom discipline. Like all generalities, there are exceptions to the information provided above. But, by and large, the statistics bear them out.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Crime Prevention Issues: Murder, Organized Crime and Fraud

Crime Prevention Issues: Murder, Organized Crime and Fraud 1. Describe the various types of murder. Discuss the issues involved in trying to solve each type of murder. Which are most likely and least likely to be resolved? First Degree/Capital Murder – One of the serious charges it is often the one that requires premeditation, planning, and deliberate action to commit murder. Some states add additional attributes to first degree murder charge such as motive, the context of the murder, and in what manner the murder took place. An example would be someone plotting to kill someone, learning their daily routine and habits. Acquiring a weapon and stalking out the victim are all examples of premeditation and would result in a first degree murder charge. Issues in solving or defending first degree murder charges require understanding if the criminal admits to the killing and asserts self-defense or if the criminal indicates that they did not do the killing. Resolution could lie in justified homicide such as self-defense; mistaken identity, was the person accused at the scene of the crime; accidental death such as parental discipline or even insanity. The prosecution has to convince the jury without doubt that the defendant is the correct person placing them with evidence or they have to disprove insanity defense and/or self-defense defenses. This charge would be the hardest to resolve, the recent Hernandez trial proves that even though the defense may have put reasonable doubt as to the First Degree Murder charge (no murder weapon, no independent witnesses, circumstantial evidence by the prosecution), he still was convicted of First Degree murder. Second Degree Murder – This charge is seen as killing without malice; that there was no premeditation or deliberate planning. For example, if someone is in a heated argument and attacks the victim in anger resulting in that person’s death; the likely charge would be second degree murder as there was no pre-planning and it was done without premeditation. Issues in solving or defending second degree murder charges lay in the fact that most charged with this degree claim they did not commit the crime. There are also those that admit to the killing but indicate that the crime was justified. Resolution could lie in actual innocence; self-defense or insanity. Again, the prosecution has burden of proof that the defendant committed the crime. Felony Murder – The charge of felony murder is used when someone is killed during another felony. It usually isn’t planned out or intended but happens as a consequence of the other felony. If a robber shoots and kills a guard during the course of a bank robbery, felony murder charges would be brought against the criminal Involuntary Manslaughter – If negligence results in death, a person can be charged with involuntary manslaughter. An example could be when you drink and drive and get into an accident that results in a death. This is criminal negligence or involuntary manslaughter. Voluntary Manslaughter – Usually is applied when one person kills another without malice, in that they did not intend for that person to die. There are many times when higher murder charges (such as second degree murder) have been reduced to voluntary manslaughter, each state has its own definitions for manslaughter charges. Provocation is generally used here, meaning that voluntary manslaughter charges tend to occur when a victim is provoked into killing such as finding a spouse in bed with another person. Each degree charged brings with it, its own level of punishments each degree having gradual increase in severity. Murder versus manslaughter can be subtle in their differences, partly because an accidental killing (usually manslaughter) can be constituted as second degree murder. 2. Find three examples of how the internet has facilitated and expanded the variety and types of property crimes that are being perpetrated today. The internet is expanding its reach and making it easier for criminals to steal your identity.[1] One way is through phishing scams right into your email inbox. Phishing is when cybercriminals may send emails that look like they come from legitimate businesses such as a bank or credit card company. People that receive these emails are told there are problems with their account and in order to fix them, they need to enter their personal data into the linked website. Once entered, the hackers now have your personal data and can do a few different things, such as creating separate bank accounts in your name without your knowledge. They can gain access to your current accounts or create viruses that forwards their phishing emails to your contacts. Another way the internet has expanded property crimes is through the way we can easily download and obtain copyrighted material.[2] It is illegal for people to download music, movies, or books through the internet, they are all considered theft of property (piracy) and yet the internet has allowed the practice to flourish through websites and file hosting sites. Piracy costs the industry billions of dollars and the ease with which the internet allows the transfer of data is why it is so rampant. With internet usage increase comes the expansion of fraud online through the acquisition and resale of illegally obtained goods and merchandise. This is classified as etailing fraud and the internet has allowed the growth of merchandise sold online illegally. 3. Pick one of the white collar crimes and present a case for why it is or is not more harmful than a violent crime. I read about Adoption Scams[3] for this question and the emotional toll that is thrust upon the victims is hard to read about. In many adoption scam cases, couples seeking to adopt are contacted by the criminal indicating that they know of a baby from Russia up for adoption, or birth mothers promise their unborn child to multiple couples or even cases of bringing in and involving kidnapped children. The criminals provide just enough details to string the couples along, such as photographs and email trails. The criminal is simply doing this for the monetary gain, not taking into account and pain the couple may feel. Many couples get invested once they believe that a child is its way to them. These are couples who, perhaps, have spent years struggling with conception and may have invested time, money, and emotions into alternate ways to conceive. This journey has probably already been an emotional rollercoaster for the victims and the hope of having a child through adoption will set them up for another emotional ride. These victims are preparing for the arrival of a child into their lives, filled with hope. They may have started decorating a nursery, expanding on their homes or scheduled maternity leave at their jobs. Monetary investment aside, many of these victims will suffer when they realize they have been scammed and there is no child â€Å"For some victims, it’s like losing a child.†[4] Crime of any kind is harmful and its impact will resonant over a wide range. Someone commits a violent crime, those that are impacted are not solely the person attacked or killed. Family, friends, and loved ones are impacted by the attack and/or death of the victim so violent crimes don’t only affect one but many. White collar crime such as the adoption scam not only harms the victims but also the victim’s families. In the case of kidnapping, multiple families are involved. If we are comparing violent crimes to white collar crimes and weighing life or death, than yes, the adoption scam is less damaging but there are no victimless crimes (in my opinion) and we should consider the emotional and financial impact of this scam. 4. Discuss the different types of transnational organized crime. Present possible ways for combating these types of crimes. Transnational organized crime is when a crime has been committed in more than one state or nation and usually involves the coordination and planning of numerous people and groups. Much like organized crime before the internet, transnational organized crime is compromised in a hierarchical manner with a leader supported by close advisors. The main purpose is to engage in criminal activity at a global level such as money laundering and computer crime. They use electronic communications to communicate and push forward their illegal agenda. Social networks are used by members to communicate with each other and sometimes to spread their message. Some types of transnational organized crime include groups that are involved in money laundering, drug and arms trafficking, and human smuggling. They endorse and are involved with trading in narcotics, pornography, illegal weapons and prostitution. Combating these groups multinational organizations are difficult. There is always someone else to step in when a group or gang is eliminated. Drug money is a huge source of foreign revenue many of these groups and the corruption of police and military makes suppression hard to enforce on any scale. Federal agencies are charged with combating transnational crime, they do so through international working groups that share intelligence and plot out strategies and directives to take against these cartels. [1] http://www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/websites/idtheft.html> [2] http://law.jrank.org/pages/11992/Cyber-Crime-Intellectual-property-theft.html> [3] http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2006/august/adoptscams_082806> [4] Ibid.

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Theory and Practice Essay -- Macbeth essay

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Theory and Practice    Shakespeare's Macbeth has been the subject of scholarly research in terms of ambition, politics, and sexuality. The most predominant analysis is that of the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. This relationship in theory is full of sexual innuendo, maternal power, gender transgression, and violence. In reading multiple essays on the psychological nature of the relationship one question came to mind: to what extent are the characters aware of the psychological effect they have on each other in performance? In contrast to the various essays by literary scholars, Sinead Cusack wrote with Carol Rutter in Shakespeare's Late Tragedies about her process in preparing for the role of Lady Macbeth for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Although her choices are not the only choices that can be made by an actor in that role, her experience contrasted the theoretical models written by so many scholars. Her relationship with Macbeth was real, not a theoretical analysis of the psychological effect the characters have on one another. Through her written process and the analysis of the scholars mentioned above I will outline the dichotomy between theory and performance and the relationship between Macbeth and his Lady.    Lady Macbeth and the Witches Jane Adelman summarizes the psychoanalytic interpretation of the relationship between Lady Macbeth and the Witches (ibid 140). Lady Macbeth and the Witches signify for Macbeth the role of both temptress and mother, an issue that will be explored more fully below. Adelman claims that the Witches tempt Macbeth on the cosmic plain, whereas Lady Macbeth tempts him on the psychological plain (ibid 139). All of the female figures r... ...ber, Marjorie. "Macbeth: The Male Medusa." Shakespeare's Late Tragedies, ed. Susan L. Wofford. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1996, 74-103. Keirnan, Victor. Eight Tragedies of Shakespeare: A Marxist Study. London, NY: Verso, 1996. Nelson, T.A. ENGL 533 lecture February 18, 1999. Rutter, Carol and Sinead Cusack. "Lady Macbeth's Barren Sceptre." Shakespeare's Late Tragedies, ed. Susan L. Wofford. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pretnice-Hall, Inc. 1996, 119-133. Stallybrass, Peter. "Macbeth and Witchcraft." Shakespeare's Late Tragedies, ed. Susan L. Wofford. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall Inc. 1996, 104-118. Staunton, Howard, ed. The Globe Illustrated Shakespeare. New York:   Gramercy Books, 1979. Watson, Robert N. Shakespeare and the Hazards of Ambition. Cambidge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1984

Monday, August 19, 2019

The 1886 Mount Tarawera Eruption :: volcano, Mount Tarawera

In this essay I will tell you about the 1886 Tarawera Eruption. More specifically I will tell you about the effects the 1886 eruption had on the natural environment and ton the local communities of the region. 10th of June 1886, soon after midnight. Mt Tarawera light up like fireworks. BOOM! Molten rock came flying out of the crater, with a cloud of ash rising 9.5km into the sky. People as far as Blenheim could hear the thunder like noises but had no idea what it could be. Although the people of Rotorua knew exactly what was happening Mount Tarawera was erupting! The Mt. Tarawera eruption was the largest eruption in New Zealand for 800 years. Before the eruption, many people claimed to see a ghostly canoe on Lake Rotomahana. Maori say it was warning them that death is coming. The lake temperatures were also changing as well as more waves. Sadly nobody linked those back to Mt. Tarawera. The eruption caused the land to dramatically change. In my mind I think the biggest loss would have to be the pink and white terraces. The loss of pink and white terraces was a huge blow to New Zealand's tourist industry. People around the world came to bathe in these marvels which covered a 3 ha (hectares) area and descending 30 metres, they were massive. The pink and white terraces were about to be named one of the seven wonders of the world. No tourists would want to come and see the ash over the terraces. Millions of dollars lost. After the eruption, the region of Tarawera was covered by infertile ash. The eruption layered the volcanic ash which is very poor in nutrients. This meant that the people could no longer grow their food or graze animals. Maori used to call the central North Island â€Å"Kaingaora† Meaning Lean and hungry land. The native bushes and scrub land close to Tarawera's eruption was burnt and a lot of vegetation have never recovered. This resulted in another source of food and building materials was destroyed, making it an even harder area to live in. For one village, Te Wairoa, was covered in ash. This meant that the people had to move and start a new village and life. Around Tarawera the lakes and rivers became heavily polluted with ash.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Electrolux Acquiring Zanussi Essay -- GCSE Business Marketing Coursewo

Electrolux Acquiring Zanussi Electrolux: The Acquisition and Integration of Zanussi 1) How would you describe the key characteristics of Electrolux and Zanussi in 1983, in terms of strategy, organization, capabilities, and performance? International acquisitions have become an extremely important vehicle for growth for multinational companies. In this case, and because of the particular industry in which Electrolux operated in, the trend of the whole appliance industry was facing a long period of crisis. Although Electrolux was and still is one of the largest manufacturers of white appliances, many other manufacturers were now taking market share away from the Swedish company. For example, Philips and Siemens were now introducing a complete and economic line of brand new appliances. Electrolux's core business was vacuum cleaners and absorption-type refrigerators. Electrolux was and still is the typical Swedish firm, which emphasizes on down to earth management: everyone works and keeps his word and all the information is correct. The firm emphasis on technology and advancement and the middle management is open to advises from the workers. But at the core of Electrolux business strategy was the aggressive plan to expand through acquisitions. First, Electrolux concentrated on acquiring firms in the Scandinavian Area. Then the company continued focusing in purchasing companies that had assets but were not profitable so that they could turn their business around. After making more than 200 acquisitions in 40 countries, Electrolux was certainly one of the most experienced companies on the global scene as far as acquisition. But another important aspect of Electrolux, which helped them, maintaining leadership was the company's great flexibility concerning new products and especially their attitude towards that company which excelled in some business where Electrolux was weaker. The greatest example of this was when the company purchased Husqvarna, a chain saw manufacturer, and how in little time, through this wise take over, Electrolux found itself as the world leader in chain saw manufacturers. Electrolux never went looking for acquisition or bankrupt companies; their policy was to keep their eyes open that things will come by themselves. When Electrolux was ready to acquire a company, the financial statements of that company were very important. ... ...on products, ranging from refrigerators to vacuum cleaners to chain saws, in more than 150 countries. After 1988, Electrolux acquired more companies, not only for product expansion but also for expansion in emerging markets. Electrolux grew steadily and its sales amount to SEK117 billion in 1999 comparing to 67 billion in 1987. Electrolux signed an agreement with sharp to sell its products in the Japanese market. In 1990 they expanded its presence in the US outdoor product market by acquiring Allegretti & Co. In 1991 they also acquire Lehel, a Hungarian white goods company, and they introduce the low energy line of refrigerators. By this date Leif Johansson is appointed president. 1994 was the 75th birthday for Electrolux. In 1996 they expanded in Brasil by acquiring Refripar and the next year the company announced a major restructuring plan with the purpose of improving its profitability. By 1998, Electrolux got out of the business of sewing machines, agricultural implements, interior decorating equipment, kitchen and bathroom cabinets and heavy-duty laundry equipment. Now, Electrol ux core business consists of household appliances, professional appliances and outdoor products. Electrolux Acquiring Zanussi Essay -- GCSE Business Marketing Coursewo Electrolux Acquiring Zanussi Electrolux: The Acquisition and Integration of Zanussi 1) How would you describe the key characteristics of Electrolux and Zanussi in 1983, in terms of strategy, organization, capabilities, and performance? International acquisitions have become an extremely important vehicle for growth for multinational companies. In this case, and because of the particular industry in which Electrolux operated in, the trend of the whole appliance industry was facing a long period of crisis. Although Electrolux was and still is one of the largest manufacturers of white appliances, many other manufacturers were now taking market share away from the Swedish company. For example, Philips and Siemens were now introducing a complete and economic line of brand new appliances. Electrolux's core business was vacuum cleaners and absorption-type refrigerators. Electrolux was and still is the typical Swedish firm, which emphasizes on down to earth management: everyone works and keeps his word and all the information is correct. The firm emphasis on technology and advancement and the middle management is open to advises from the workers. But at the core of Electrolux business strategy was the aggressive plan to expand through acquisitions. First, Electrolux concentrated on acquiring firms in the Scandinavian Area. Then the company continued focusing in purchasing companies that had assets but were not profitable so that they could turn their business around. After making more than 200 acquisitions in 40 countries, Electrolux was certainly one of the most experienced companies on the global scene as far as acquisition. But another important aspect of Electrolux, which helped them, maintaining leadership was the company's great flexibility concerning new products and especially their attitude towards that company which excelled in some business where Electrolux was weaker. The greatest example of this was when the company purchased Husqvarna, a chain saw manufacturer, and how in little time, through this wise take over, Electrolux found itself as the world leader in chain saw manufacturers. Electrolux never went looking for acquisition or bankrupt companies; their policy was to keep their eyes open that things will come by themselves. When Electrolux was ready to acquire a company, the financial statements of that company were very important. ... ...on products, ranging from refrigerators to vacuum cleaners to chain saws, in more than 150 countries. After 1988, Electrolux acquired more companies, not only for product expansion but also for expansion in emerging markets. Electrolux grew steadily and its sales amount to SEK117 billion in 1999 comparing to 67 billion in 1987. Electrolux signed an agreement with sharp to sell its products in the Japanese market. In 1990 they expanded its presence in the US outdoor product market by acquiring Allegretti & Co. In 1991 they also acquire Lehel, a Hungarian white goods company, and they introduce the low energy line of refrigerators. By this date Leif Johansson is appointed president. 1994 was the 75th birthday for Electrolux. In 1996 they expanded in Brasil by acquiring Refripar and the next year the company announced a major restructuring plan with the purpose of improving its profitability. By 1998, Electrolux got out of the business of sewing machines, agricultural implements, interior decorating equipment, kitchen and bathroom cabinets and heavy-duty laundry equipment. Now, Electrol ux core business consists of household appliances, professional appliances and outdoor products.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Books and e-books Essay

Some people believe that printed books are no longer necessary in this digital era, as all writings can be stored electronically. Others think print books till play important role. Discuss both views and give your opinion.  In the past few years, e-books have been sold or downloaded for free in large numbers on the internet. These books and e-readers are challenging convention reading habits making the sales of traditional books decreased. But it still needs much consideration before eliminating altogether the need for printed books. There is no doubt that e-books are able to offer huge amount of information with feather like weight. Readers do not have to face the difficult choice of which book should be taken with on vacation, as one single e-reader like kindle or Nook would hold all the books you might want to read on the trip with no extra space in suitcase being wasted. E-books are also strong contenders when it comes to pricing. Because they are delivered in digital format, a part of the overhead including printing, storing and distribution can be avoided. And many classic books are free online, which is a boon to readers who only need a partly review or reference from those books. However, we cannot ignore a fact that the popularity of digital books can be a bit daunting for many readers who are used to going to the local book store, browsing the aisles and perhaps reading any chapter before purchasing. Or, there still are some senior readers who are reluctant to buy and learn to use an e-reader instead of holding a real book and making note wherever they want. Then when we talk about personal book collections, electronic ones can hardly be involved. Privately owned printed books can typically be displayed neatly as part of the household collection. These books may build up a reader’s spirit world and be good company as having friends being around. The bottom line is that both printed books and e-books have something to offer. We cannot simply eliminate the use of any single format because they are needed in different situation by various kinds of readers. They are all  making life better.

Friday, August 16, 2019

English will eventually become the dominant world language

English has without doubt achieved some kind of global status as many countries adopt the language they consider to be synonymous with economic success and a cosmopolitan culture. However, factors such as the increasing numbers of speakers of other languages, including in English-speaking countries, an increase in bi-lingualism and growing anti-American sentiment in some parts of the world, all indicate that English may not occupy an entirely stable position in the world.This essay explores some of the reasons why English has become so widespread and then argues that global domination of English, despite its current position as a medium of international communication, is unlikely to take place. According to Crystal, (1987, cited in Pennycook, 1994, p. 8) â€Å"English is used as an official or semi-official language in over 60 countries†¦it is the main language of books, newspapers, airports and air traffic control, international business and academic conferences, science, tech nology, medicine, sports, international competitions, pop music and advertising†¦Ã¢â‚¬ .It is the working language of ASEAN, the Asian trade group, and the official language of the European Central Bank, even though none of the member countries has English as its first language (Wallraff 2000, p. 3). The extensive economic power of the United States has also influenced many countries to view English as the â€Å"key to economic empowerment† (Guardian weekly 2000, p2). English has also become dominant because it is regarded as cosmopolitan and the way of the future.According to Cohen (2000, p. ), the dominance of American popular culture has influenced many young Europeans who aspire to the â€Å"unfettered, dynamic, creative culture of California† rather than the â€Å"rigidity† of many European societies. Volkwagon in Germany called their car the â€Å"new beetle† rather than the German equivalent neuer Kafer because advertisers believed it sounded more â€Å"hip†. Similarly in Asia, English is associated with the glamour of block-buster movies and the pop industry. However, despite these factors English is unlikely to dominate the world.English speakers are still the minority of the world's population with 372 million speakers, well behind Chinese languages which have 1,113 million speakers (Wallraff, 2000 p. 5). Within fifty years English is likely to lose even second place to the South Asian linguistic group which includes the Hindi and Urdu languages. Spanish and Arabic will also become as common as English. There are also increasing numbers of bilingual and multilingual speakers, even within English-speaking countries.Currently about one in seven American citizens prefers to speak a language other than English at home, including 2. 4 million Chinese speakers. (Wallraff 2000, p. 3). This suggests that the future of other languages is guaranteed despite the popularity of English. Another reason why English will neve r dominate is because of a growing anti-American sentiment. Wallraff (2000, p. 5) suggests that there may be â€Å"†¦a backlash against American values and culture† and that this could lead to a resistance to learn the language of the United Sates.In post-September 11 times this seems a very real possibility. In Europe France and Germany have also held a conference focused on defending Franco-German culture against the cultural pull of America (Cohen 1998, p. 2). Afrikaaners in South Africa are also leading a passionate fight to gain equality with English as are many other indigenous languages (Alexander 2000, p. 2). Still further reasons that may prevent a world take-over by English include political, economic and technological factors.Political factors include the potential formation of new alliances between non-English speaking countries and the probable rise of regional trading blocks in Asia and the Middle-East. It is also possible â€Å"that world-changing technol ogy could arise out of a nation where English is little spoken† (Wallraff 2000, p. 4). This could tip the scales away from English to the use of another language. Finally, in a world of rapid technological change and increasing political instability it is difficult to predict what the future may hold.Although English has enjoyed a period of great expansion as a language of international communication, it is unlikely it will eventually dominate the world. The sheer numbers of non-English speakers, the potential of new political trading partnerships or new technological developments as well as the possibility of a rejection of the â€Å"cultural imperialism† of the West may in fact contribute to a decline in the spread of English. Perhaps English speakers should be a little less complacent about learning other languages themselves.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Chinese Discrimination in the United States

Ethnic Groups and Discrimination Scott Johnson ETH 125 January 15, 2012 Stephanie Perry Ethnic Groups and Discrimination The Chinese immigrated to the United States in during the 1800s; Official records show that before 1857, 46 Chinese immigrants were in the United States. Over the next 30 years more that 200,000 Chinese had immigrated to the United States. This immigration wave was largely because of the push of the awful conditions in China and the pull of the discovery of gold, and, job opportunities in the west (Immigration and the United States, Schafer, 2006). During the 1860s railroad work was abundant. The two lines, Central Union and Pacific Union, were the largest employer of the Chinese and the Irish. Working the Central Union was dangerous work through rough terrain. The work was dominated by the Chinese. Despite being 90% of the laborers the Chinese were paid less that the Irish who were 10% of the laborers. This dual labor market continues until the completion of the railroads. Regardless of being the majority of the laborers, the Chinese were excluded from the Golden Spike ceremony in Promontory, Utah. After the completion of the completion of the railroad, the Chinese immigrants continued to accept work that others would not do. This caused an industrial dependence on cheap labor to fuel the American economy. The Chinese were welcome as the economy needed them. When the labor was finished, they were no longer welcome. The Chinese welcome was short lived because of stereotypes that were prevalent before immigration. American traders and Protestant missionaries spoke to the American people of the Chinese exotic and sinister manners. These stereotypes caused sinophobia. This sinophobia directly resulted in the â€Å"Yellow Peril†, a threatened expansion of Asian populations as magnified in western immigration (answers. om). Takai, in 1989, noted that the fear of the Yellow Peril shattered any appetite to learn more about the customs of the Chinese, or, themselves as a people. Sinophobia was compounded when the government passed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This government action not only outlawed Chinese immigration and naturalization for 10 years, but it led the American people to further discrimi nation; any thought that the discrimination was unjust and unfounded was alleviated through the governmental act. At the end of the act’s 10 year run, it was continued another 10 years, and, the practice continued into the 20th century. On December 17, 1943, the Magnuson Act repealed the Exclusion Act. Repealing the act allowed growth and assimilation of the Chinese people. â€Å"The Chinese exhibit high affluence combined with a relatively high degree of segregation from Whites in a few metropolitan areas (Lee, C. N. , 2004). Redlining leads to the belief that the manisfestation of suburban ethnic districts may alleviate the need to bodily intergrate with Whites to obtain greater socioeconomic success. Despite the menial jobs the Chinese continued to grow financially, and, the affluent Chinese continued to live next door to their poorer neighborhood, an act of self-segregation; with the self-segregation encouraged forming their own chamber of commerce, public library, and hospitals. â€Å"The true destructive nature of residential segregation reared the discrimination perpetuated by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Homeowners Loan Act, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the real estate industry, banks, and other financial institutions (Massey & Denon, 1993). Chinatown, San Francisco, is not just the largest Chinese Town outside of Asia, but is the largest example of redlining. The 1870 anti-Chinese ordinances passed in San Francisco to curtail housing and employment options. The ordinances passed successfully pushed the Chinese into an unwanted area. Having them in one area made it easier for San Francisco law enforcement of curfews. In the San Francisco bay area the garment industry is made up of 53% Asian workers, mostly women. â€Å"These ‘sweat shops’ are overcrowded, not well ventilated and poorly lit† (urbanhabitat. org). The garment workers are exposed to particles and toxic chemicals. Many women bring their children to work with them, and the particles and chemicals are known to be especially are harmful to children. Many Asian-American associates support reverse discrimination against Asian-Americans as demonstrated by being denied college entrance (asianam. com). Many Chinese are making donations to the very organizations that are anti-Chinese, in exchange for denial of Asian-American’s denial to colleges and universities. Thomas Espenthade and Alexandria Walton Radford examined data on students applying to college in 1997 and discovered what ooks to be different standards for different racial groups. They found that Asian-Americans needed to have nearly perfect SAT scores of 1550 to have the same chances as other races which were requiring scores of 1100 to 1410. They also noted that other races were three to 15 times more likely to be accepted to university. Stephen Hsu noted that it appe ared that the university’s magically end up with 20% Asian students. One Princeton lecturer asked if that number represents the â€Å"Asian Ceiling†. Is affirmation action working? â€Å"Advocates of affirmation action argue that it is needed because of historical discrimination. Maybe that was true in 1970, but it is no longer true affirmative action is now a part of the minority machine, an indispensable component which is perpetual victimhood† (jonstosselfoxnews. com). Yet another straddle that the Chinese have endured is the Glass Ceiling. Although experienced by both men and women, a double jeopardy has been attached to Chinese women. A Chinese man has a better opportunity to move up the ladder than a Chinese woman. In general, at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in 2000 one in 10 is on the professional staff while one in 25 was a manager (Varma, 2004). As a whole, the Chinese are underrepresented as CEOs. Board members, and high level managers. While researching this essay I have discovered that the Chinese-Americans have endured. Upon arrival in the 1800s. I have become more culturally aware of their movement to quash stereotypes and discrimination, and there attempt to mainstream there culture in the United States. 1) asianam. com 2) jonstosselfoxnews. com 3) Lee, C. N. , 2004 4) Massey & Denon, 1993 5) Immigration and the United States, Schaefer, R. D. , 2006 6) urbanhabitat. org 7) Varma, 2004

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Landscape Architecture

BUILD ENVIRONMENT The term built environment refers to the human-made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity, ranging in scale from buildings and parks or green space to neighborhoods and cities that can often include their supporting infrastructure, such as water supply, or energy networks. The built environment is a material, spatial and cultural product of human labor that combines physical elements and energy in forms for living, working and playing. It has been defined as â€Å"the human-made space in which people live, work, and recreate on a day-to-day basis†.The â€Å"built environment encompasses places and spaces created or modified by people including buildings, parks, and transportation systems†. In recent years, public health research has expanded the definition of â€Å"built environment† to include healthy food access, community gardens, â€Å"walkabilty†, and â€Å"bikability†. Early concepts of built environments w ere introduced thousands of years ago. Hippodamus of Miletos, known as the â€Å"father of urban planning†, developed Greek cities from 498 BC to 408 BC that created order by using grid plans that mapped the city.These early city plans eventually gave way to the City Beautiful movement in the late 1800s and early 1900s, inspired by Daniel Hudson Burnham, a reformist for the Progressivism movement who actively promoted â€Å"a reform of the landscape in tandem with political change†. The effort was in partnership with others who believed that beautifying American cities would improve the moral compass of the cities and encourage the upper class to spend their money in cities. This beautification process included parks and architectural design. Modern built environmentCurrently built environments are typically used to describe the interdisciplinary field that addresses the design, construction, management, and use of these man-made surroundings as an interrelated whole a s well as their relationship to human activities over time (rather than a particular element in isolation or at a single moment in time). The field is generally not regarded as a traditional profession or academic discipline in its own right, instead drawing upon areas such as economics, law, public policy, public health, management, geography, design, technology, and environmental sustainability.Within the field of public health, built environments are referred to as building or renovating areas in an effort to improve the community’s well-being through construction of â€Å"aesthetically, health improved, and environmentally improved landscapes and living structures†. Urban planning The term â€Å"urban planning† indicates that much of the environment we inhabit is man-made and that these artificial surroundings are so extensive and cohesive that with regards to the consumption of resources, waste disposal, and productive enterprise, they are similar to organi sms.Public health In public health, built environments refer to physical environments that are designed with health and wellness as integral parts of the communities. Research has indicated that how neighborhoods are created can affect both the physical activity and mental health of the communities’ residents. Studies have shown that built environments that were expressly designed to improve physical activity are linked to higher rates of physical activity, which in turn, positively affects health.Neighborhoods with more walkability had lower rates of obesity as well as increased physical activity among its residents. They also had lower rates of depression, higher social capital, and less alcohol abuse. Walkability features in these neighborhoods include safety, sidewalk construction, as well as destinations in which to walk. In addition, the perception of a walkable neighborhood, one that is perceived to have good sidewalks and connectivity, is correlated with higher rates of physical activity. Assessments of walkability have been completed through the use of GIS programs.One such program, Street Smart Walk Score, is a walkability assessment tool which determines distances to grocery stores and other amenities, as well as connectivity and intersection frequency using specific addresses. Assessments such as Street Smart Walk Score can be utilized by city and county planning departments to improve existing walkability of communities. Public health also addresses additional components of built environments including â€Å"bikeability† and healthy food access such as proximity to grocery stores and community gardens.Bikeability refers to the access that an area has granted to safe biking through multiple bike paths and bike lanes. Both walkability and bikeability have been cited as determinants of physical activity. Access to healthy food is also an important component to the built environment. A higher density of convenience stores has been associ ated with obesity in children. In contrast, improved access to community supermarkets and farmer’s markets is correlated with lower overweight status. Specifically in low income neighborhoods, the presence of a local grocery store is correlated with lower BMI/overweight risk.Community gardens are also considered a part of the built environment, and have been shown to increase fruit and vegetable intake among gardeners. Scholars say that community gardens have also been shown to have positive social and psychological impacts that lead to lower levels of stress, hypertension, and an improved sense of wellness, affecting the overall health of the individual and the community. The intersection of public health with other disciplines is evident in the design process of built environments which includes environmental planning, policy development and land-use planning.Research suggests that people are more active in mixed-use communities or those that incorporate retail and resident ial and densely populated areas as well as those with good street connectivity. Those who preferred to walk and live in walkable environments often have lower obesity rates and drive less over those who preferred living in auto-dependent environments. The strength of the evidence for reducing obesity through environment has been highlighted by the Center for Disease Control in its Common Community Measures for Obesity Prevention Project, which includes measures of healthy food access and physical activity environments.Landscape architecture In landscape architecture, the built environment is understood to mean a human-made landscape, as distinguished from the natural environment; for example, a city park is a built environment. NATURAL ENVIRONMENT The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally[->0] on Earth[->1] or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species. The concept of the natural env ironment can be distinguished by components: Complete ecological[->2] units that function as natural[->3] systems without massive human[->4] intervention, including all vegetation[->5], microorganisms[->6], soil[->7], rocks[->8], atmosphere[->9], and natural phenomena[->10] that occur within their boundaries.  §Universal natural resources[->11] and physical phenomena[->12] that lack clear-cut boundaries, such as air[->13], water[->14], and climate[->15], as well as energy[->16], radiation[->17], electric charge[->18], and magnetism[->19], not originating from human activity.The natural environment is contrasted with the built environment[->20], which comprises the areas and components that are strongly influenced by humans. A geographical area is regarded as a natural environment. It is difficult to find absolutely natural environments, and it is common that the naturalness varies in a continuum, from ideally 100% natural in one extreme to 0% natural in the other. More precisely, we can consider the different aspects or components of an environment, and see that their degree of naturalness is not uniform.If, for instance, we take an agricultural field, and consider the mineralogic composition[->21] and the structure[->22] of its soil, we will find that whereas the first is quite similar to that of an undisturbed forest soil, the structure is quite different. Natural environment is often used as a synonym for habitat[->23]. For instance, when we say that the natural environment of giraffes is the savanna[->24]. PLANT STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS The â€Å"Typical† Plant Body The Root System (Usually underground)  §Anchor the plant in the soil  §Absorb water and nutrients  §Conduct water and nutrients Food Storage The Shoot System (Usually above grounds)  §Elevates the plant above the soil  §Many functions including:  §photosynthesis  §reproduction & dispersal  §food and water conduction TYPE OF PLANTS Cacti (Cactus) Cactus plants are well ad apted to hot and dry weather by storing water in their succulent stems. They are also known for their spines, for which they are famous. Flowers Flowers are the reproductive part of angiosperms, also known as flowering plants. Herbs Herbs are used for culinary, medicinal and spiritual uses. In cuisine, the leaves of the herb are normally the only part used.All parts of herbs are used in various medical or spiritual practices. Shrubs and Bushes Usually under 6 m tall, shrubs and bushes are categorized as woody plants. Shrubs have multiple stems and many are covered with flowers of all shapes and sizes. Trees Trees are everywhere in the world. Trees are tall, large and some are very old. Trees are important in fighting soil erosion and responsible for the clean oxygen we breathe. Vegetables The term ‘vegetable' is not actually a scientific classification of a plant, but rather strictly a culinary term.Vegetables are parts of plants (flower buds, seeds, stems, fruits, etc) that a re edible and used in culinary dishes. PLANT Plants, also called green plants (Viridiplantae in Latin), are living organisms of the kingdom Plantae including such multicellular groups as flowering plants, conifers, ferns and mosses, as well as, depending on definition, the green algae, but not red or brown seaweeds like kelp, nor fungi or bacteria. Green plants have cell walls with cellulose and characteristically obtain most of their energy from sunlight via photosynthesis using chlorophyll contained in chloroplasts, which gives them their green color.Some plants are parasitic and may not produce normal amounts of chlorophyll or photosynthesize. Plants are also characterized by sexual reproduction, modular and indeterminate growth, and an alteration of generations, although asexual reproduction is common, and some plants bloom only once while others bear only one bloom. Precise numbers are difficult to determine, but as of 2010, there are thought to be 300–315 thousand speci es of plants, of which the great majority, some 260–290 thousand, are seed plants.Green plants provide most of the world's free oxygen and are the basis of most of the earth's ecologies, especially on land. Plants described as grains, fruits and vegetables form mankind's basic foodstuffs, and have been domesticated for millennia. Plants enrich our lives as flowers and ornaments. Until recently and in great variety they have served as the source of most of our medicines and drugs. Their scientific study is known as botany. [-;0] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Nature [-;1] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Earth [-;2] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Ecological -;3] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Nature [-;4] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Human [-;5] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Vegetation [-;6] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Microorganisms [-;7] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Soil [-;8] – http://en. w ikipedia. org/wiki/Rock_(geology) [-;9] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Atmosphere [-;10] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Natural_phenomenon [-;11] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Natural_resource [-;12] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Physical_phenomena [-;13] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Air -;14] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Water [-;15] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Climate [-;16] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Energy [-;17] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Radiation [-;18] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Electric_charge [-;19] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Magnetism [-;20] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Built_environment [-;21] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Mineralogy [-;22] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Soil_structure [-;23] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Habitat [-;24] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Savanna

Best Man Wedding Speech Essay -- Wedding Toasts Roasts Speeches

Good Evening everybody...I hope you are all enjoying everything so far...My name is Frank Levy, and I am Rick's Best Man for the evening. I happened to find out that there was a pool going on as to how long my Best Man's speech was going to be, and I was the only one who bought in at 60 minutes, so you might as well all just relax, sit back and enjoy the ride. When Rick first asked me to be a "Best Man", I wasn't really sure what my responsibilities were suppossed to be. I asked around, and was told that my main duties for today were: To ensure that the groom arrives on time, To make sure he is sober, And to make sure he is looking good. Well 2 out of 3 isn?t bad... After all I?m best man, not a plastic surgeon! I was also worried about how long... Best Man Wedding Speech Essay -- Wedding Toasts Roasts Speeches Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen – I'd like to start by saying that what a genuine honor it is to be part of Rick's wedding. Rick certainly is handsome tonight, with his fine rented tux and shoes. On a gala evening such as this, you may find it hard to believe that Rick has not always been so handsome. The truth is, Rick was so ugly at birth, the doctor slapped his mother! The nurses were no more sympathetic, they diapered poor little Rick’s face. The fact is, his parents were so embarrassed of Rick that they borrowed another baby for the baptism ceremony. When little Rick went to school, the situation didn’t improve at all. Yes, it is true that Rick was the teacher’s pet – but that was just because the teacher couldn’t afford a dog! Rick's appearance b... Best Man Wedding Speech Essay -- Wedding Toasts Roasts Speeches Well to be honest Steven I thought you would have spoken for longer today†¦.. as that was probably your last opportunity to speak for any length of time without interruption. Not that I’m saying Ellen talks a lot! Afternoon everybody†¦..or is it evening†¦.. seems so long ago that we started these proceedings†¦. For those of you that do not know me my name is Mark Although I’m sure you’ll have a few other names for me after I’ve finished this†¦. Although BIG NOSE is a little obvious! Also just a little soundcheck†¦.Can hear me at the back Good then put a bottle aside for me!!!! Well†¦I hope you’ve all been having a good time and enjoyed yourselves so far†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Good †¦..but as they say †¦.. every silver lining has a cloud†¦.. and I’m afraid it’s just got overcast! I must thank Ellen’s parents for their hospitality today and that really did look like a splendid meal†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. although I’m afraid mine should be just be hitting the city sewer system around †¦. About†¦.. now†¦ Response to Steven’s Toast To Bridesmaid First of all may I re-iterate and thank Steven for his complementary comments to the Bridesmaids, who have done a splendid job today at looking wonderful. Although†¦.. No-doubt my sister has already told you this†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Read CARDS / TELEGRAMS here! â€Å"Don’t forget dear †¦.. the slightest ill treatment and you come home to Mother! Closer Look†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Oh!! Its for m service lady will of course be puzzled by this request and ask him whether Mrs Scott might want something more substantial To which Steven will probably reply ‘No that’s ok I'm conducting an experiment to see if she eats like a rabbit as well!" Ladies and Gentlemen please†¦.. settle down†¦ Could you please stand now and join me in a toast to the bride’s parents for this special day. Thank you. And while you are all standing I’ve just got a few last things to say†¦.. Steven you are an excellent friend and it’s been an honour to be your best man. I wish you and Ellen all the very best for the future. If everyone could now join me in a toast to Mr and Mrs Steven and Ellen Scott. Congratulations!!!

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Phuket thailand Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Phuket thailand - Essay Example Phuket, Thailand’s largest island experienced the 9.3 earthquake shock which sent the Andaman Wave to the island’s coastline. Considered the third worst in history, the tsunami waves rose up to 10 meters high and created severe destruction on the six provinces along the Andaman coastal strip, namely: Phang Nga, Krabi, Phuket, Ranong, Satun and Trang. At least 250 people were recorded injured and maimed with scores of others dead including tourists. There was massive destruction of property ranging from hotels, houses to vehicles and other properties worth millions. Almost all west coast beaches like Karon, Kamala and Patong were completely destroyed to the ground with few deserted buildings standing. In addition, the effects of the tsunami were devastating because it greatly affected the tourism industry in the island. On the other hand, the cause of the tsunami arised as a result of the corrison of the Indo-Australian plates. The Indo plate is lower while the Australia n plate is bigger. The impact led to a massive earthquake that triggered the tsunami disaster in the region and entire southeast Asia. Apart from the devastating tsunami, Phuket has also been experiencing earthquakes regularly. On April 2012 the island was affected by a 4.3 magnitude earthquake that led to eviction of people from the coastal and lower regions to higher grounds to protect them from the earthquake. The quake which originated from the Klong Marui fault line spanned to other provinces like Phang Nga, Krabi and Surat Thani. No deaths or injuries were reported, however at least 30 houses sustained cracks in Tambon Si Sunthon region (Wipatayotin, 2012). Moreover, another earthquake of a 6.5 magnitude occurred in Phuket island but no tsunami alerts were issued after the 2004 tsunami. The 6.5 magnitude earthquake was confirmed by officials to the north of Aceh. Earthquakes in Phuket

Monday, August 12, 2019

Diversity Identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Diversity Identity - Essay Example They are very friendly, helpful. They do not bother about religion and are highly cultured persons. I remember my first contact with different religion person when I lived in turkey and joined a French school. We soon became friends; the encounter was very pleasant as we shared our thoughts on our cultures. I was brought up in a very diverse culture, religion. So when I grew up, I learnt that there is no religion created by god, only man started religions and god is one. It is really foolish to distinguish ourselves by our religions. Religions should be teaching unity, but that is not what happening. However, there are situations in my life that make me conscious of my religion even today. The terrorist attack on America on September 11 2001 is one of the worst nightmares in my life. I can still remember my neighbors were afraid to speak to us. It was a week before when I and my friends were talking about different religions; there were two Hindu friends of mine and a Christian one. The discussion just aroused out of curiosity in knowing other religions by my friend. We talked about Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and Sikhism. These talks were very interesting as we could know the practices of different religions. As a part of our friendship, we all go to church and temple. Religion has never been a barrier for me to make friendship; I won't consider religion while making friends. So I love to make friends of any religion. I never felt like I was an outsider, as I was brought up in diverse culture, I never this sense of insecurity. Religion may affect me at my workplace, however, as I am experienced in such kind of culture, I am confident that I can tackle the situation and move forward. Interview 1: I was born in a Muslim family, my neighbors were Muslims. My family and friends all belong to the same religion. When I joined elementary school, I encountered a completely diverse group of children. However I didn't care about it at that tender age. This is a nice teaching for me as I still feel that this diverse culture had made me adaptable to any culture. My schooling was also of the same scenario. My co-workers were of different backgrounds as I work for a multinational company. It is my way of life to work with people of other religion as almost everyday I work with persons of different religions. I feel excited to work with them as they are from different cultures and there is a sort of cultural exchange among us. I don't really remember my first contact with a person of other religion. That person could be my elementary school mate. The contact should definitely be pleasant. I learned many things from people of different culture. The main thing I learned from Hindus is their readiness to accept any religion. The Christians have keen interest in studying other religions. Situations or topics like marriage make me conscious about my religion. My family wants me to marry only a Muslim boy. This makes me feel insecure and obviously is a negative experience for me. The topic of religion aroused when I and my friends were discussing on different cultures of the world. The talk was all about Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism and Islam. I was shocked when my Sikh friend said "it is ultimately your religious friend who will rescue you when the time arrives". There is no regular talk about it; it may arise once in a while. My friend group consists of 3 Muslims, 2 Hindus, 1 Sikh. I would love to add my friends list with different

Sunday, August 11, 2019

AOL Inc. Company Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

AOL Inc. Company - Assignment Example The covenants dictate how the company incurs debt, creates lien pay dividend or even enters into mergers and acquisitions. Any breach of any of the covenants would lead to a default which may cause the lenders to terminate their commitments under the credit facility (AOL Inc., 2015). That would be financially detrimental to the firm. The firm may also not be in a position to settle any conversion of Notes in cash or even repay them at maturity. The use of convertible note hedge transactions and warrant transactions may influence the prices of stock. That would adversely affect the value of stock the shareholders hold in the company. According to company records, there were about 14,668 holders of common stock as of February 24, 2015 (AOL Inc., 2015). However, brokers and other institutions held the shares on behalf of the stockholders. The company does not declare dividends every year as that would influence to a great extent the amount of common stock it may issue. The last time it declared special dividend was on August 26, 2012, which was $5.15 per share (AOL Inc., 2015). The company has no anticipation of the declaration of dividend in the near future. The company’s stock prices have fluctuated over the last two years indicating that the trend may persist into the future. However, a graph comparing the performance of AOL Inc.’s common stock with the Morgan Stanley High-Technology index and the S & P Midcap 400 Index show a gradual improvement in AOL Inc.’s returns. Over the five year period, AOL Inc.’s returns record a rise.

Saturday, August 10, 2019

An Overview of the USA Patriot Act, its impact on local law Research Paper

An Overview of the USA Patriot Act, its impact on local law enforcement, and the potential for net widening - Research Paper Example The patriot act aimed to address this by effecting drastic changes in its intelligence agencies. This enables them to work more efficiently by removing the barrier that impeded their work. The act also aimed to seal the loopholes that terrorist were using to their advantage making Americans vulnerable to terrorist attacks. The act reduced the restrictions that the agencies enforcing the law were facing during their endeavor of intelligence gathering in the country. The act also went further and increased the mandate of the treasury by giving the secretary in the department authority to control financial exchanges, and transactions in order to choke out the supply of funding for terrorist activities in the country (Scheppler, 2006). They especially emphasized on the transactions that foreigners made that were suspicious or had terrorist links. In addition, the immigration department was given the go ahead to deport or detain individuals who are suspected of being terrorist or are aidi ng terrorist acts through their actions. The act also delved into domestic terrorism by expanding the definition of the act in order to seal the loopholes that terrorist might exploit. Through this act, the intelligence agencies and law enforcers were unshackled from restrictions that would have impeded their fight against terrorism. The current administration has extended the mandate of the act in order to guarantee that the security of the US is safeguarded. The act has had a significant impact on law enforcement in that the agencies have been empowered to be able to carry out their duties efficiently, without coming into conflict with the law, or encroaching into the rights of individuals. The act has also widened the net of the intelligence communities to be able to thwart acts of terror on the US population. The act came about when the American government was pushed to act after a devastating terrorist attack

Friday, August 9, 2019

Discrimination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Discrimination - Essay Example It can be called much close to ethnic discriminatory behavior. This Essay is based on one of the many victims of language-based discrimination. The subject is one Mr. Gafur Leka who will elaborate on the hard ships he had to face in his personal and professional life due to the bare fact that he was not well versed with the English language. Though it cannot be said as a serious handicap but people made him believe so. Mr. Gafur Leka believes that Discrimination in any form is bad for the unity and diversity of our society and men couldn’t grow and contribute positively to the society if either they are victims or perpetrators of Discrimination. He is equally critical of the Discrimination based on Language as often it goes un-noticed and seldom comes under the scanner. According to him the maximum cases of language based discrimination happen at the work place and often go un-noticed. According to Mr. Gafur Leka language based discriminatory behavior is equally bad and obnoxious for the social fabric. Mr. Gafur Leka works at Harvard maintenance at a fairly senior position of Maintenance supervisor for projects. But his position and standing in the society doesn’t reflect the prejudices and discrimination he had to face before finally attaining this position and gaining the respect of his peers. In the words of Mr. Gafur leka â€Å" I came here in the year 1970, armed with a mechanical engineering diploma from a reputed institute based in India.† It were tough times then for foreign emigrants who came, Mr. leka came here with stars in his eyes, but the moment he landed here it was a rude awakening for him. He was asked uncomfortable questions at the emigration counter about his ethnicity, his purpose of visit and more than anything he was poked at his inability to converse in English. â€Å" It was such a embarrassing experience for me, though I was able to understand a bit about what they were saying but couldn’t

Creative memoir Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Creative memoir - Essay Example My nanny saw me and took me in her arms and tried explaining that my beloved grandmother had passed away and the people were mourning for her. My grandmother laid on a makeshift wooden bed in the living room. Soon people started moving from the house to go prepare the burial ground where she would be buried and I could not understand the burial process. I had a lot of questions about it and I approached my father who was accompanied by other men. He explained that they were burying her in the ground in a hole and close up the hole with dirt. Even though I did not understand the ritual, I knew that underground was full of insects and they would surely eat my grandmother and harm her. There was also a lot of mud on the ground and I was adamant right then that I would not go underground amidst all the mud and insects but this statement only raised laughter all around my uncles. I realize now after reflecting on that moment that all of us have to die someday and according to my culture be buried underground in a grave. Further reflection makes me understand that they were laughing at my innocence and lack of knowledge of our culture and the world in general like I do now. Meanwhile inside the house, my mother who was stricken with grief sat done on my grandmother’s bed crying her eyes out. Since no one was providing me with answers about death, I assumed my grandmother would hear me and explain it herself. All my efforts to talk to her were futile as she could obviously not hear or understand. Throughout my childhood, I did not understand the issue but years later I came to understand the issue of death. My mother fainted soon afterwards and was taken to my grandmother’s bedroom to be attended. I accompanied her out of curiosity as to what had happened to her as well as out of concern mixed with fear. The room was filled with nine other people all talking animatedly about the life of my grandmother and her good selfless deeds all around the neighborhood and