Sunday, August 23, 2020

The Suicide Attacks on September 11, 2001 Essay

The Suicide Attacks on September 11, 2001 - Essay Example Before the day's over, near 3000 individuals had lost their lives and the legislature had proclaimed a war on the fear based oppressor gatherings, in what could be named as an outlook changing crossroads in US history (David, 2007). This paper is a basic assessment of the occasions which happened on this day and the repercussions. The self destruction assaults on September 11, 2001 September 11 assaults, otherwise called 911 assaults, will consistently wait in the psyches of Americans, who were the immediate survivors of 4 composed self destruction attacks, which occurred in two urban communities for example New York and Washington, toward the beginning of the day of September 11, 2001 (David, 2007). From the start, there were convictions that the assaults were arranged by the al-Qaeda fear based oppressor organize however these were later affirmed by the then chief of this system, Osama receptacle Laden, who had denied those claims from the start. This was a one of a kind event depe ndent on the way that they resisted the standard with respect to the way where the system did it. The most well-known self destruction assaults included people conveying explosives and exploding them once they were at the fenced in area of their objective. For this situation, they selected to use captured planes as their weapon of pulverization. 4 planes were seized by the fear mongers implying that they had just distinguished 4 potential targets and as it later turned out, they incorporated the Pentagon, the world exchange place which had twin towers for example the north and south towers, and another objective, which was claimed to be the white house (David, 2007). The seized planes involved; American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, which were making a trip from Boston to Los Angeles, American Airlines Flight 77, which was venturing out from Dulles to Los Angeles and United Airlines Flight 93 from Newark to San Francisco (Lee, 2002). As indicated by reports, the se planes consolidated had an aggregate of roughly 246 travelers, 19 ruffians and around 33 group individuals, figures which are supposed to be amazingly low dependent on the way that the planes had an absolute conveying limit of roughly 694 travelers. A few reports will in general propose that there was a likelihood that the booking procedure had been controlled supposedly to lessen the quantity of losses (Spiegel, 2002). At roughly 08.46 hrs neighborhood time, flight 11 was collided with the 96th floor of the north pinnacle, killing each one of those ready while flight 175 was collided with the south pinnacle at around 9:30 am, which was around 44 minutes after the primary accident. Flight 77 then again was collided with pentagon at around 9:37 am while flight 93 conflicted in Pennsylvania at around 10:30 am. Evidently, travelers on board flight 93 grappled with the thieves trying to hold onto the control of the trip as they had gotten mindful of the accidents that occurred before during the day however on understanding their main goal had been undermined, the fear based oppressors chose to crash the plane so to abstain from losing its control and most likely get captured by the US government (Lee, 2002). The north pinnacle of the world exchange place capitulated to the accident and fallen after around 1hour 20 min from the hour of effect, while the south pinnacle consumed for roughly 1 hour before yielding and crumbling. The aftereffect of these assaults was that 2996 individuals lost

Friday, August 21, 2020

Food production and urban living with key challenges Essay - 1

Food creation and urban living with key difficulties - Essay Example This article talks about that If astutely executed, network based feasible activities can open new entryways of chances for ladies (IAASTD, 2009, p2). Women’s contribution in horticultural creation ranges from 20 to 70% all around; their support is ascending in many creating nations, particularly due to the promotion of fare situated cultivating. Albeit such advancements have profited ladies, the still bigger extent of provincial ladies faces falling apart wellbeing and workplace on account of various variables like low instruction, and so on. An arrangement that considers enthusiasm of ladies while detailing reasonable farming can be very effective.In Canada, horticulture is a $50-billion-a-year industry, utilizing legitimately and in a roundabout way 14% of Canada’s workforce and contributing around 33% of the nation’s exchange overflow. As indicated by IAASTD, the dedication of the administration in actualizing any task is of crucial centrality. In North Ameri ca specifically, usage of reasonable improvement would require activating residents and states to engage all types of network capital. In the event that maintainable network based activities are applied imaginatively with the dynamic contribution of partners, abuse of common asset can be switched, prompting the sensible utilization of water bodies, land, and biological system all in all. Any drawn out system for economical advancement would require connecting the ‘three pillars’ of ‘sustainable development,’ in particular ‘economic, ecological, and social.’

Friday, July 10, 2020

Good College Application Essay Samples

Good College Application Essay SamplesWhen applying for a college, your application essay may be the most important part of your entire college search. To make sure that your essay stands out among thousands of other applications, here are some of the most effective college application essay samples.The first step in getting the best college application essay samples is to decide what kind of essay you want to write. An interesting essay will cover both your personal experiences and your achievements. You can incorporate personal stories, personal questions, or even include specific facts about yourself.For personal essays, you may wish to start by describing yourself in three or four words, and then go on to describe the job you have held. Focus on what you like and dislike about your current job. If you have worked at a local grocery store, you can talk about the fun things you did there.When writing about personal events or accomplishments, an example of a good college application essay sample would be a section about how your grades were impacted by an accident that left you with permanent disabilities. For this example, you could describe how you were confined to a wheelchair for a time and the various physical and mental challenges you faced as a result.For a personal essay about your college experience, you could describe how your unique experiences as a student, employee, or coach led to your leadership position, the specific events you remember, and your specific contributions to the success of your department. This also allows you to show how you can be counted among other accomplished individuals, and gives you an opportunity to ask a question or two that the admissions staff might not ask.In an unusual college application essay sample, you can tell a story of the most significant event in your life. Write a short story of how you came to possess the item that people value most. You can use statistics, an actual story, or even a quote from a famous b ook or magazine article.When writing about yourself, it helps to keep your essay short and to include some personal anecdotes about how you have found true friends or mentors. You can also use statistics and examples from college life to show how you overcame obstacles and learned a lot.

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Essay about Lessons of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911

The sheer physical nature of fire is to consume all fuel that lay in its path. That is exactly what happened in the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911. The building itself was reported to be fire proof, but what about its contents? The amount of unused cotton and other fabric scraps that were piled up were ample amounts of fuel just waiting to be consumed by a spark. The business owners kept what little exits and escape routes the building had locked for fear of a thieving employee. The employees mostly took the elevators up and down the building, limiting their knowledge of possible escape routes. Given those three factors combined, it was only a matter of time before disaster would strike. The fire started and quickly cut off†¦show more content†¦(Von Drehle, 2003) The greatest lesson learned from this tragedy was the need for planned fire drills and accessible fire escapes. If the employers would have made it mandatory that all employees become familiar with the buildings layout, practice fire drills and know their closest fire escape, it would have aided the employees in the hour of despair. The biggest cause for death in this fire was a result of poor pre-fire planning. The building may be fire proof, but the people and contents inside are not. The Triangle tragedy opened many people’s eyes. The realities of a disaster happening anywhere, at anytime, were real and people needed to prepare. Many investigations were launched surrounding the Triangle fire. Commissions formed that later gave out rulings and findings. Even the Ladies Garment Workers Union became involved, trying to get standards and codes passed that would ensure the safety of workers in the workplace. It took many years for the commissions and unions to get the cha nges implemented. Today, regardless of OSHA enforcement, there are still workplaces with locked or blocked emergency exits. Due to the lesson that was learned in the Triangle fire, we now have organizations like OSHA, NFPA, state and local municipals that make code and enforce standards. Their goal is to ensure the safety of lives and property by enforcing the codes and standards of all workplacesShow MoreRelatedThe Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire Essay example1460 Words   |  6 Pagesfollowing is a short excerpt of those who fought and died due to the Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire. â€Å"The â€Å"Triangle† Company†¦ With blood this name will be written in the history of the American workers’ movement, and with feel will this history recall the names of the strikers of this shop—of the crusaders.†Ã¢â‚¬â€ Jewish Daily Forward (Drehle) On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire broke out. Proper workers’ rights and fire prevention installations were not in place or were not followedRead MoreEssay about Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire1676 Words   |  7 Pagesinevitable, and disaster did strike in March, 1911. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York set on fire, killing 146 workers. This is an important event in US history because it helped accomplish the tasks unions and strikes had tried to accomplish years earlier, It improved working conditions in factories nationwide and set new safety laws and regulations so that nothing as catastrophic would happen again. The workplace struggles became public after this fire, and the work industry would never remainRead MoreBook Review of Triangle: The Fire That Changed America1473 Words   |  6 PagesTriangle: The Fire That Changed America New York: First Grove Press David Von Drehle 2003 Book Review 1. Did the author make a complete and honest analysis of the topic? This book is about the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City in March, 1911. The factory claimed the lives of 146 women and men, mostly young women, during the 30 minutes that the fire blazed. It is still the largest industrial disaster that has ever happened in New York City. The author of the book writesRead MoreChildhood Memories Essay1363 Words   |  6 PagesLesson 8 By 1900s the meaning of American identity at home____________ excluded more people than previously Progressive reformers were primarily concerned with____________ making democratic capitalism work better American women of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries found that the settlement house movement_________________ was a good place to use their talents to help society Progressives launched the social purity movement to___________________ attack prostitutionRead MoreFast Fashion - More Than Just Money2158 Words   |  9 PagesNinety-five percent of fashion sold in America is made in factories overseas, where there are no labor laws in place. The garment workers in the factories are only paid an average of $2 a day. The owners of the factories cut corners on safety, leading to fires and other disasters, resulting in the loss of life. There are also no environmental laws, so the rivers and lakes that people depend on for clean water have become polluted by the chemicals used in leather factories, shoe making, and dyeing fabricRead MoreContexts of Metropolis and 19841295 Words   |  6 Pagesand a new constitution Social Unrest in Weimar Republic from Revolution Economic misery followed World War One Rise of labour movements and unions in the 1920s due to oppressive working conditions Exploitation of workers (e.g. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in 1911) November Revolution (1918-1919) Inspired by Revolutions in Russia A need for the for the workers to take control after decades of an oppressed lower class with the higher classes being the ones educated and in control In March 1920Read MoreWalmart Stores And Its Impact On Society Essay1894 Words   |  8 Pagesbecause if they do they are threatened of getting fired for not following orders. This could get very serious if it keeps happening around the world but back then â€Å"In 1911, 146 employees of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company, mostly young women, were burned alive behind doors locked by the owners†¦ and in 1991, 25 workers were killed when a fire broke out in a chicken processing plant in North Carolina where employees were locked in† (Cram). Walmart should stop doing this to their employees, even if theyRead MoreInternational Management67196 Words   |  269 Pagesapplying these principles and taking their own actions, such as a one-off tax in Britain. Winners/Losers: Harder to justify big bonuses in the future. Systemic Risk The G20 wants mechanisms in place to spot and tackle systemwide risks better, a core lesson from the crisis. The U.S. Senate bill sets up a council of regulators that includes the Federal Reserve but the U.S. House wants a bigger role for the Fed. The EU is approving a reform that will make the European Central Bank the hub of a pan-EU systemic

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Analysis Of Denis Friske s Narrative Approach Essay

Question 1 Denis-Friske’s narrative approach states sanctions people as experts in their own life which effectively empowers them in their self-perspective and counseling relationship (2014). Through storytelling, clients impacted by traumatic are allowed the opportunity to narrate their own experiences as a process of emotional and psychological catharsis. In enabling people as experts over their own life, child and youth care counselors do not dictate what they ought to do in their process of overcoming traumatic or crisis experiences but act as guidance figures in client’s lives towards their healing (Denis-Friske, 2014). As victims of abuse, giving people the time and space to create their own meanings in narrative making and focus on their inner character’s strength and resiliency, people are made experts of their own lives by authoring their own stories and taking into control how they want to perceive their situation – in spite of adversity, strength can be re covered from deep within. It is important that counselors empower clients as experts of their own lives because it gives them autonomy and this will be beneficial when the counseling relationship eventually comes to a close. When clients recount their own stories from their individual perspectives, agendas, and beliefs, this is powerful and significant because no one else can testify about their own life better than they can. Storytelling reweaves people’s perspective to see their potential for strength, renewal

Accountant as a Consultant for Technological - myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theAccountant as a Consultant for Legal and Technological. Answer: 20th July was the first day of my spring semester and it was the time when I have already been doing three units in this specific semester counting TAC. After going through the learning guide for particularly TAC, I could understand that study procedure of this unit is entirely different from different other units as this study will go through different business units that have been done by me so far. Therefore, the first week lecture primarily focuses on the entrepreneurship and the important element of success for agreed conditions that need to be in the entrepreneurship to take place. In addition to this, lectures that I have attended include examples that are counted within the business experience of both Richard Branson since they stated their own experiences that included daily transport. Furthermore, the teacher also indicated that the criteria of analysis and explained the steps of evaluation over the complete semester. Thereafter, the teacher also recommended us the amount o f capital investment. It was recommended that 375000 can be considered as the initial capital investment that can again be regarded as the starting point of the entire business plan. However, when essentially everyone thinks about products as well as services and intends it to be different from that of their rivals. As such, there is high level of inspiration as well as commitment to carry out a business plan. However, during the closing of the lecture, many tutors also pointed out that there are certain particular part that needs to cover the assignment namely legal, technological as well as social. However, by the time when I reached my class John added more regarding entrepreneurship and illustrated the reason behind why this unit is needed for our future career path. Furthermore, I have also created a group, as a particular member and we have selected a specific leader of the specific group who can direct us during the entire process of the business. However, the week 2 of the l ecture focuses on key components of entrepreneurship that are again divided by five different segments. Essentially, I believe that market opportunity as well as adequate resources can be considered as the most significant area of discussion for the business of an entrepreneur. Nevertheless, all the chances are not pertinent chances and all the chances are not pertinent with the business of the entrepreneur. Again, suitable research can be considered to be significant area that are directly associated to the material as well as labour. Again, since I have been selected as managerial person in my particular group, I have the need to work with different segments very fittingly to operate with and make suitable decisions to purchase diverse products that are available in the business and lessen the overall as far as possible. Therefore, I believe that my entire group need to undertake this recourse for the overall business plan. Furthermore, we also indicated that the features as well as characteristics of the entrepreneur and illustrated that the two-innovation procedure, and majority of the time the entire incremental innovation have selected to enhance the existing business products. Thereafter, I have started taking up the tutorial class and I have gathered around 5 people. The entire group started thinking about business product and I started lending of money and business of pawnship. On the contrary, James have also illustrated regarding the entrepreneur and went through the entire case study and augmented the work process in the marker. The week 3 concentrated majo0rly in marketing and the plan of business. I have gathered a clear idea regarding the primary as well as secondary research that need to be incorporated in the plan of the business for running the entire business. Again, another very crucial factor is the analysis of the competitive advantage using the porters five forces that helps in indicating of a new business. Essentially, based on the model I have gathered understanding that there is less danger as regards substitutes and comparatively higher threats as regards new entrants. Since we have selected that our new products will essentially be the money lending business that necessarily is not the exclusive, however can be considered to be very significant as well as effective in the market. Again, the week lectures also assisted me to acquire understanding regarding the legal areas as well as industrial environment that involves pest analysis as well as analysis of competition in the market. These discu ssions also make me aware of the way to make an appropriate business idea in a bid to subsist in the market. After particularly lecture podcast, I have received my tutorial and my teacher James has also begun his lectures on case studies concerning development of business plan and ways of improving the business plan. My teacher James also associated to real successor and mentioned about remembering the major role of a successor. Furthermore, James also added that things also took place all of a sudden without any kind of plan. Additionally, business cases are also vital to certain people who are engaged in their own family owned businesses and the planning of successor in business can be considered to be important for the clientele who are engaged with particular ideas. Our tutor John also listened to our product idea so that we could proceed with our designed business plan. During the week four, we started doing our primary research on similar type of industry segment such as hot w ater operating in the Australian market and framed questions about the sales figure and product. However, the primary research was successfully carried out by us with positive results. Moreover, the secondary research also assisted us to gain deep understanding regarding the conditions of the market that need to be encountered during the course of undertaking business activities. Essentially, the lecture podcast of this week emphasized on forecasting sales and being a person in the administrative segment this can be regarded as the most significant part. Our tutor illustrated in detail the sales forecast and the way of estimating the sales figure of a business for the initial first year. Furthermore, our tutor James also recommended us to carry out research on minimum three identical business or else to carry out research on any big business for understanding the process of reviewing and assessing sales and the way of using the same for our own application and drawing references. Be sides this, he also suggested and taught us the way to utilize the promotional budget and way a customer actually gets to know about the product in actual fact. In addition to this, he also taught us about using the specific social media that need to be used for different targeted segments of customers. In essence, in this lecture podcast, I also got to learn about product and the way a specific product goes through a particular market as well as customer by means of effective marketing. Thereafter, I attended my tutorial and discussed with my group about our activity. Our group members started taking up their own component in their single individual segment. We also discussed in detail out views, things that need to be known for doing the individual part. Since I have selected the administration part I was assigned to carry out the analysis of the industry. During the lecture podcast of week five, we acquired a new idea and started discussing in detail about the start up venture, the source of capital for the new venture. We also discussed the category of business and the reason for acquirement of supplementary finances for the business as each dollar cost has the need to be mentioned in the financial plan of the business in order to make client understand about the cost of the business better. Our lecturer also started to explain about the sources of finances for business and the sources that are better for business. He also recommended that debt finances are better for business for the lower rate of interests and added that it depends mainly on present market and equity of the owner. It can be hereby mentioned that I discovered crowd financing model is also a significant part of demanding funds . However, we also learnt about the business capital, short term as well as long term funds along with debt. A finance person in our group hel ped me to understand the way to assist client based on present situation of the market. Moreover, the tutorial also provided us novel ideas and suggested the new ideas wherever it was required. I also learnt about the trend analysis, rate of growth and ways of analysing industry as that was my component in the group activity. This helped me to make sure that the research undertaken by me on the pawnshop industry was correct and he recommended that the graph that was drawn by me reflected the current segment. Furthermore, we too attended group meetings for checking out the progress in the research activity. During the lecture podcast of week 6, I have acquired deep understanding regarding both financial as well as non-financial plan for operations along with methods of strategic management for attainment for growth. Nonetheless, I attended the week seven tutorial and our tutor James began the tutorial as regards the ways of avoiding diverse fatal laws. I have mentioned before that as I have been in the administrative division, therefore the understanding as regards the elementary facets of accounting have a vital part of my activity. Although my tutor indicated towards few vital things namely sales, reason behind making journals for our clientele, way to do the costing as per needs of client, presenting the balance sheet, income statement as well as equity statements. Again, in tutorial, James began checking the progress and talked about government bodies along with regulatory issues for small business entity. We had a discussion regarding our companys goods and service tax and as we had an idea that the profit of the company would exceed $75000 in a specific year. Therefore, James recommended us to get our business registered with ATO. The lecture podcast of week eleven can be considered as the most crucial part of the business plan since James taught about the way of presenting a proper business plan. Particularly for my administration segments, I learnt about the important decision making regarding business locations, business requirements, products, management of staff and many others. Founded on a similar kind of business that has been operating in the Australian market I had to find out the cost which cannot be over approximated. The information presented in the business plan had the need to be presented in a clear and concise way with link to fitting references. Again, after attending my tutorial I went to James for discussing about the risks associated to small businesses and engaged in a brainstorming session to figure out the risks. However, on the other hand, the product of payday lending has been anticipated to have a higher rate of growth in the upcoming 5 years. As per the IBIS report, we are not going to encounter much risk, particularly during the hours of trading. During the lecture podcast of week eleven, majority of the topics were regarding the presentation that helped me ti understand about the professional business presentation and secure a good marks. Thereafter, I again went to the tutorial where James asked about the overall progression of the group and any kind of issues that might have arisen. Ultimately, our hot water business plan was submitted during week thirteen and we presented the plan in the following week. In the end, I believe the way of teaching and guidance helped us to grasp the concept and made the entire unit very much easier for us to understand. The information provided to us assisted the students to increase their level of interest. I also learnt to work in a team, depend in the qualities as well as capabilities of my team mates and work on this activity. Furthermore, my skills of resolution of conflicts also increased manifolds and I learnt effectual ways of receiving constructive opinions.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Social Networking

Introduction In their quest to integrate with others, people develop various behaviors besides doing different things through which they create and maintain relationships and social networking being one of these. Social networking is the collection of people into various groups who have common interests and sometimes similar likes and dislikes.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Social Networking specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It can also be defined as the creation of groups of people who want to share information and help each other in building relationships as it occurs in local villages and communities. It should be noted that, though social networking is possible and can easily be done in schools, villages and workplaces, it is rampant on the internet. This is the case because unlike in the villages and schools where people might not want to share their information or personal views with one another, the internet has millions and probably billions of people who are ready to share information (Niciejewska 17). This is also boosted by the fact that internet covers a relatively wide area and people want to get firsthand information from all parts of the world and therefore, find it more interesting to network online. However, though social networking has various advantages like enabling easy and first flow of information, it also has far reaching consequences including consuming time which could have been used for other productive activities. Advantages of Social Networking Social networking is a common feature in the world nowadays and it is practically impossible for any person to say that the world can do without networking at any level. It is practiced from professional aspects to personal lives and by the old, the middle aged and the young generation a like. It has become more a way of life than it is a technological aspect of how people spend their leisure time which was the initial intention. To begin with, social networking has decreased the costs of get in touch with people because the social networking sites that people use are mostly free. People seated in the comfort of their private rooms can easily communicate with different people in different continents within a minute at a cost that could have been used to communicate with one person. On top of that, business people can easily learn the likes and dislikes as well as other behaviors of their target markets thus carrying a research at no cost and this enables them in designing their products according to the consumers’ need. In addition to that, people can easily advertise their goods and services on the social networking media for a negligible cost when they are networking (Rosenbloom 431).Advertising Looking for research paper on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Additionally, social networking helps in build ing confidence of people to one another. This is highly advantageous to business people who will want to create a good rapport with their customers so that they can maintain them for future purposes. Customers feel more confident if they interact with the business people both on professional and personal grounds and this makes them feel at easy. It should also be noted that it is easy to get correct and objective information from the customers whom one interacts with both on professional and personal grounds than those with whom one interacts with on business reasons only (Smith and ze 338). On top of that, social networking has really improved the way people can offer after sale service since even if people are very far apart communication is easy and one can easily find his or her customers. Moreover; social networking sites like facebook, twitter and others have increased the connections among people nowadays which have been advantageous in the long run. Many of the connections t hat started in the social networking sites have ended in face to face meetings and made longtime friends who help each other in many aspects of live. In addition to that, social networking has increased the flow of knowledge from one person to another. Scientists, sociologists and people from other professions have been able to get information through the social networking sites therefore, increasing their knowledge base besides communicating their theories (Raje 76). This would have been impossible in other circumstances and some theories developed would have ended up being isolated and irrelevant. In conjunction with that, social networking has also changed the way education is conducted and improved the interactions between teachers and students. Students have joined several social networking sites and teachers have embraced this technology therefore, making learning process more accommodating. Extended classroom discussions, assignments, test and quizzes are found online nowaday s and they can be accessed all day round making learning an interesting activity. On top of that, relationships between parents and teachers have been boosted by social networking sites whereby teachers and parents can communicate without having to meet face to face (Niciejewska 18). This not only saves time but also increases the chances of interaction between teachers and parents who most of the times are far apart. On top of that, social networking has been used by various organizations to seek for support from the masses. It can be noted that nowadays, various political parts have successfully used social networking in their campaigns because it is cheap and reaches a huge number of people at the same time.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Social Networking specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Furthermore, social networking has been used by various groups to connect people seeking for employment with the available employment opportunities, thus increasing the employment rates in the community (Mason and Frank 7). This is common among college students who have even come up with their social networking site where the alumni give information to final year students about the employment opportunities that are available at the given time. Disadvantages Despite the immense importance of social networking in the lives of people nowadays, it has brought about some very dire consequences which have not only cost people money but have also led to loss of lives. Social networking sites like facebook and twitter require that people provide their information concerning their age, gender, location and other important information. This information most of the times reach people who are not known to the provider of information. Others use the information on social networking sites without the consent of the concerned people for their benefits (Harwood 64). In addition to that, it has been reported that criminals use social networking site to get information about their targets which has increased crime rates. Additionally, social networking sites have become addictive and people spend a lot of their time either chatting in the social networking sites or trying to get new friends. This leads to various behavioral changes in a person and end up making people antisocial on personal grounds because they are consumed by the networking sites all the time and do not have time to socialize with their immediate neighbors. On top of that, the time spent on social networking sites by people has been increasing exponentially since the discovery of the sites (DasGupta 159). This means that people have reduced the time spent on other issues to concentrate on social networking. Among the most affected time is the time people spend on work and this has led to loss of a lot of productive time thus, reducing efficiency in working places. This has made some organizations to prohibit their emplo yees from visiting social networking sites during working hours. When people are networking online, it is difficult to authenticate the information that they provide. Consequently, people have used this weakness of the internet to their advantage by giving false information about themselves to unsuspecting people in the social networking sites. On top of that, children are also at risk of being misused especially by sex predators because they can easily access the children’s information from online sites and lure them into meeting face to face. In conjunction with that, the social networking sites make people to feel connected with the world while in actual sense they are not (Bradburne 193).Advertising Looking for research paper on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This has been proofed to increase the feeling of loneliness among people and thus leading to psychological and emotional trauma. In addition to that, there is no limit as to what people can post on the social networking sites and this has been a cause of concern as people have taken advantage of this to post provocative information and pictures which not only cause emotional trauma but also death. Conclusion Social networking is an inevitable aspect of human live because of the way that it has been incorporated in the day to day activities of people. People meet, connect, learn and do their business through social networking sites. With the advancement in technology, the importance of social networking is increasing and it is important that people learn how to deal with it given the adverse effects that it can have. Works Cited Bradburne, Alan. Practical Rails Social Networking Sites. New York: Apress, 2007. Print. DasGupta, Subhasish. Social Computing: Concepts, Methodologies, Tool s, and Applications. Hershey: Idea Group, 2009. Print Harwood, Mike. Security Strategies in Web Applications and Social Networking. Burlington: Jones and Bartlett, 2010. Print. Mason, Robin, and Frank Rennie. E-Learning and Social Networking Handbook: Resources for Higher Education. London: Routledge, 2008. Print. Niciejewska, Katharina. The Influence of Social Networks in Japanese Business-Kairetsu as a Japanese Network. Munchen: GRIN Verlag, 2007. Print. Raje, Fiona. Negotiating the Transport System: User Contexts, Experiences and Needs. Farnham: Ashgate Publishers, 2007. Print. Rosenbloom, Bert. Marketing Channels. Hoboken: Cengage Learning, 2011. Print. Smith, Peter, and Ze Zook. Marketing Communications: Integrating Offline and Online with Social Media. London: Kogan Page Publishers, 2011. Print. This research paper on Social Networking was written and submitted by user Allison Hart to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

McDonaldization, Religion, and Politics Essay Example

McDonaldization, Religion, and Politics Essay Example McDonaldization, Religion, and Politics Essay McDonaldization, Religion, and Politics Essay Today, they have more workers doing one single Job over and over again. Their actions have become rationalized, governed by scientific planning and focuses on the ends rather than the means, to the point where workers appear euthanized, a loss of human qualities or behaviors. Nationalization focuses on a few main ideas. The first idea of Nationalization is efficiency, the quickest and best way to a preferred end. A company will try to design methods and machinery for their product to be produced and in the hands of the consumer in as least amount of time as possible. The second dead is calculability, focusing on the amount of product produced with as little material used to make them. By having pre-frozen hamburger patties, a restaurant doesnt have to worry about using too much or too little ground In each of their burgers, thus saving them both time and money. The third idea is predictability; guarantee that a product will be the same each time, and in different locations. Predictability allows the consumer to know exactly what to expect where ever they choose to purchase a product. This makes consumers feel more comfortable with the product and are willing to purchase it again. The next idea Is a system of control, customers, workers, and outcomes are manipulated subtly for a desired outcome. Trash cans with the words thank you are places In some restaurants that want the consumers to throw away their own trash. This saves the restaurant money by not hiring a worker to clean up after each customer. The last idea is irrationality of rationalities; the rational system denies human reasoning. The rational system tries to hide social problems such as demutualization and health and environmental hazards. What this system does succeed In Is disenchantment, science replaces gaga In social life, leaving a since of ensnarement. One area of life that Is being most affected in the past few years is religion, beliefs and practices that identifies a sacred world past the present physical world. In many ways, modern religion is becoming Nationalized. Rationalization has occurred in that religious actions are more planned out. They are more predictable and people are becoming more complacent: get dressed, go to church, sit, stand and sing, sit, listen to the pastor, sing, give offerings, pray, and leave church ready to return next week for the same enamellings rituals. In todays collects, many censures nave Decode more worrier about the numbers and calculations of people that walk through the doors each Sunday rather than the actual religious experience for each individual. Many people view religion as an efficient way to feel better about themselves and an easy way to reach their desired ends, in some cases a life after death. According to the conflict model, religion serves the interests of more powerful individuals, rather than functional services to society. Theorists say that is keeps lower class people satisfied with their current situations, and they dont try to better homeless. They use religion as a reason to Justify their social standard of living. In this way it also keeps the social class system the same and in check. One negative thing about religion is how enemies can be created, and evidence of this can be seen through history to present day. The Crusades was an attempt to reclaim the Holy land from the Muslim people, and the basis of todays modern terrorism is rooted in religious aspects. The interpretive model talks about societal and individual religious beliefs. It tells us how faith is interpreted by many people and in many different ways. There are any different interpretations of the Holy Bible for example. The Bible says the same thing, but many styles of churches have branched off from this one book. People pick and choose what they want to believe in and what suits their individual lives and actions. They use their preferred religion to legitimate themselves. I have actually learned many things pertaining to my own religious beliefs. Vive seen how social solidarity, religion holding communities together, has impacted my up bringing in my established religious community. That the identity function, helps maintain and preserve peoples identity ,has show true in that my religion has reduced the man that I am today. The social control function, religion controls how individuals act morally, has shown me that though my morals are religiously based, some are also enforced by my social community as well. The democratic function, religion can check political leaders, tells me that religion helps me choose who to vote into power. The meaning function, gives people answers has given a purpose to life for me, and I choose to be a better person because I know that everything I do here on earth will hopefully be meaningful for my life after death. Even though religion has become more Nationalized, it is not too late to challenge his system and give religion back its true power and meaning. What it comes down too is personal choice. Dont go to churches that worry about the number of members, but a personal relationship with God. A good way to do that is not to limit or set a time for a religious gathering. If there are many candidates running for political office, dont vote for them Just because they have the same faith as you, but who they are as a leader and individual. Questioning people who are currently in power is the best way to see if they deserve their position. Most of all dont use religion as an excuse not to better your own social standards.

Saturday, February 29, 2020

Bald Soprano Research Paper

Now these people with no concrete definition to their being are to live in this gigantic world to the best of their ability. Their lives aren’t normal ones. Ionesco brings out the absurdity in his characters by excluding any solid foundation or motivation for living on earth. One very important form of guidance on life’s journey is Time. If there was no concept of time then all chaos would ensue and no one would know when anything is to be done. It is also a key factor to know how to live and work alongside time: to work with it, not against it. Will they be able to live in some sense of normality or will they be off on their own supernova to be absurd for evermore. Through the use of symbolism, irony and dialogue, Eugene Ionesco’s, The Bald Soprano conveys the idea that life is a never-ending cycle to express the absurdity of the human condition. The cycle of life is symbolized through the clock to reveal that the characters are stuck in an endless loop of time. The clock seems to take on a life all its own. It seems to decide when it wants to ring and how many times. The clock rings in a way that is quite shocking to the audience. This is because in the real world a clock does not normally ring 17 times. Nor is it normal for it to shoot out random times that don’t even go in order. In only one moment â€Å" The clock strikes seven times. Silence. The clock strikes three times. Silence† (The Bald Soprano 2). There seems to be no set regimen for time to follow. Time in the play is unorganized and almost absent in its common purpose. In no possible way could these characters even have the smallest possible chance of some normal routine when they have no constant to guide them through. Yes, Time is present but it is not the way in which we calculate it. There is no repeating pattern in this aspect and yet it still proceeds on which causes an endless loop of lunacy from which they cannot escape. The peculiar thing about it is the characters are not even finding it odd, as this is their notion of normalcy. In the play â€Å"the abnormal is treated as if it were thoroughly normal† (knowlson). And its funny because they don’t even realize that it never rings the same way or goes in a repeating pattern. The clock is random. It intrudes illogically. There is no logic in the Smith’s lives. The concept of reality is being distorted and no ounce of sense remains. The characters are flat, broad and general, which clearly emphasizes the absurdity of the human condition: trying to find a meaning and purpose to life. Even the primary characters last name, which is Smith, is so plain and typical. The plays cyclical structure accentuates repetition of the illogical happenings in the incompatible world in which the Smiths, Martins, the Maid and the Fire Chief live in. The play includes a â€Å"circular trajectory that ends where it began† (Kraus), thus causing the whole disordered cycle to start over and where the characters are involuntarily perplexed for all eternity. The characters live in a world of irony. They are lost in a continuum of memory loss without even realizing that they are losing their minds. Considering they don’t realize, they have no recollection of what has been going on around them and therefore not knowing what their purpose is in being where they are. This constant back and forth concept is for one, ironic because they have no memory of no longer having memory, but it is also mind-boggling. Mrs. Smith says, â€Å"We were expecting them. And we were hungry. Since they didn’t put in an appearance, we were going to start dinner without them. We’ve had nothing to eat all day† (The Bald Soprano 4). Mrs. Smith said she and Mr. Smith were going to eat but they didn’t. The characters can’t even remember what decisions they made and can’t remember to follow them. There is no stable element to guide them along a steady path. In the real world our memories our like our personal book of stories that hold the events that have happened in our lives. It defines us as a person of who we are in the past as well as who we are now. We as humans also interpret things we experience differently and remember things in different ways. Though we rely on our memory and mind quite heavily, who says it is a reliable resource to begin with? Ionesco is pointing towards the idea that our minds can’t possibly do everything for us as well as remember anything and everything we want it to. Unreliability of the memory is a concept that Ionesco wants us to take a look at, and that is a natural human failure that is part of our absurdity. As seen in The Bald Soprano the mind isn’t always a dependable tool that is conducive to everyday living. Our experiences make up our life’s journey and define our being. Ionesco’s characters do not know who they are and their purpose for living. At the end of the play the two couples switch places. The Smiths become the Martins and the Martins the Smiths. This results â€Å"in a da capo conclusion [with] the words that had been spoken by the Smiths at the beginning of the play [are now being spoken by the Martins]† (Knowlson). It’s ironic how they repeat the story but as different people but with the same name, because what is the purpose of having a name and being somebody if anyone can be anyone? Ionesco brings out inconsistency, which is a major factor in the play and possibly a factor in our lives. Without consistency the lives in which we lead would lack substance and meaning. Ionesco suggests the idea of a normal daily schedule in which a human being can follow and keep order is a necessity. The human condition may seem absurd at times because what really is the point in doing the same thing everyday for as long as we live? The answer is, the consistency in the constant never ending cycle is life, which is why we are living. There may be nonsense in the play but somehow it leads to sense. The ironic statements due to memory loss show the absurdity in which humans possess. Mr. Smith is one who can be categorized as so. Without his memory he puts out ironic phrases without even putting thought to it and this leads to a lack of sentence structure. The play is made up of dialogue that sometimes seems to lack a sense of logic. The language in the play decreases in substance as the play progresses. The â€Å"language flows independently from meaning† (Feal). The words are not communicating what they seem to say but rather the underlying meaning, which is found in the way the language is used or how really how it is informally used. Language and meaning march to the beat of a different drum. The words are separate entities that work independently yet together to convey Ionesco’s view on language, which is that it is made out to be more than what it is really worth. Language is used as a communicator and the order, or lack of it, in which words are placed, conveys a message of pure insanity. The characters â€Å"actions contradict words, and [their] words contradict [their] actions. Even the title is misleading, since there is no bald soprano in the play† (Esteban). Ionesco writes where there is meaning in no meaning, so he probably intended on writing with meaning all along. The characters talk just to talk and they really have nothing of importance to say. As the play drags on while the structure becomes less and less until dialogue has lost all value and â€Å"made into mere exchange† (Knowlson). The words on the page are out of content and have become particles of matter that are floating in the air. The more they talk, the less they are actually communicating and this is causing the precious tool of language to no longer articulate. Like when Mr. Smith states â€Å"The pope elopes! The pope’s got no horoscope. The horoscope’s bespoke† (The Bald Soprano 17). The play starts out with sentences that make no sense at all then it breaks down to just words without meaning until finally all that is left is a bunch of frenzied sounds. The characters have gotten quite angry that they lost all ability to communicate that their chatter swells up into mushy sound. They live in a never-ending cycle of insignificant discourse. This is Ionesco pointing out the absurdity of how humans converse. The Bald Soprano is a piece under the genre of the Absurd. It is very easy to see why. In this genre a common aspect is that the characters are rapt in an endlessly repeating cycle. This cycle usually leads nowhere as it is a cycle with no beginning and no end. Ionesco uses this cycle to emulate life. Life is filled with a bunch of meaningless things that fill our everyday lives. Banana. When something is of meaning we know because we have experienced the everyday typical life of a human. Broadway. Dreams. Goals. That’s what we are. Well that’s what we should be. Life is pretty much repeating. Repeating. Repeating. Repeating. We have a set way of doing things and we follow it. We repeat these actions to fill up our lives with substance so that there is at least something there to start with and so that we have the ability to move forward and continue. Think of it as muscles. Muscles give our body substance to stand up and it is what allows us to move as well as other necessary functions. In our world we use a clock to stay in touch with time. Time. Timing. Bad timing. Time is a fundamental concept that guides humans through life, gives structure, as well as ages and heals. We also say funny things sometimes and we do use a language to communicate. It is how we use all these things that matters. Bald Soprano Research Paper Now these people with no concrete definition to their being are to live in this gigantic world to the best of their ability. Their lives aren’t normal ones. Ionesco brings out the absurdity in his characters by excluding any solid foundation or motivation for living on earth. One very important form of guidance on life’s journey is Time. If there was no concept of time then all chaos would ensue and no one would know when anything is to be done. It is also a key factor to know how to live and work alongside time: to work with it, not against it. Will they be able to live in some sense of normality or will they be off on their own supernova to be absurd for evermore. Through the use of symbolism, irony and dialogue, Eugene Ionesco’s, The Bald Soprano conveys the idea that life is a never-ending cycle to express the absurdity of the human condition. The cycle of life is symbolized through the clock to reveal that the characters are stuck in an endless loop of time. The clock seems to take on a life all its own. It seems to decide when it wants to ring and how many times. The clock rings in a way that is quite shocking to the audience. This is because in the real world a clock does not normally ring 17 times. Nor is it normal for it to shoot out random times that don’t even go in order. In only one moment â€Å" The clock strikes seven times. Silence. The clock strikes three times. Silence† (The Bald Soprano 2). There seems to be no set regimen for time to follow. Time in the play is unorganized and almost absent in its common purpose. In no possible way could these characters even have the smallest possible chance of some normal routine when they have no constant to guide them through. Yes, Time is present but it is not the way in which we calculate it. There is no repeating pattern in this aspect and yet it still proceeds on which causes an endless loop of lunacy from which they cannot escape. The peculiar thing about it is the characters are not even finding it odd, as this is their notion of normalcy. In the play â€Å"the abnormal is treated as if it were thoroughly normal† (knowlson). And its funny because they don’t even realize that it never rings the same way or goes in a repeating pattern. The clock is random. It intrudes illogically. There is no logic in the Smith’s lives. The concept of reality is being distorted and no ounce of sense remains. The characters are flat, broad and general, which clearly emphasizes the absurdity of the human condition: trying to find a meaning and purpose to life. Even the primary characters last name, which is Smith, is so plain and typical. The plays cyclical structure accentuates repetition of the illogical happenings in the incompatible world in which the Smiths, Martins, the Maid and the Fire Chief live in. The play includes a â€Å"circular trajectory that ends where it began† (Kraus), thus causing the whole disordered cycle to start over and where the characters are involuntarily perplexed for all eternity. The characters live in a world of irony. They are lost in a continuum of memory loss without even realizing that they are losing their minds. Considering they don’t realize, they have no recollection of what has been going on around them and therefore not knowing what their purpose is in being where they are. This constant back and forth concept is for one, ironic because they have no memory of no longer having memory, but it is also mind-boggling. Mrs. Smith says, â€Å"We were expecting them. And we were hungry. Since they didn’t put in an appearance, we were going to start dinner without them. We’ve had nothing to eat all day† (The Bald Soprano 4). Mrs. Smith said she and Mr. Smith were going to eat but they didn’t. The characters can’t even remember what decisions they made and can’t remember to follow them. There is no stable element to guide them along a steady path. In the real world our memories our like our personal book of stories that hold the events that have happened in our lives. It defines us as a person of who we are in the past as well as who we are now. We as humans also interpret things we experience differently and remember things in different ways. Though we rely on our memory and mind quite heavily, who says it is a reliable resource to begin with? Ionesco is pointing towards the idea that our minds can’t possibly do everything for us as well as remember anything and everything we want it to. Unreliability of the memory is a concept that Ionesco wants us to take a look at, and that is a natural human failure that is part of our absurdity. As seen in The Bald Soprano the mind isn’t always a dependable tool that is conducive to everyday living. Our experiences make up our life’s journey and define our being. Ionesco’s characters do not know who they are and their purpose for living. At the end of the play the two couples switch places. The Smiths become the Martins and the Martins the Smiths. This results â€Å"in a da capo conclusion [with] the words that had been spoken by the Smiths at the beginning of the play [are now being spoken by the Martins]† (Knowlson). It’s ironic how they repeat the story but as different people but with the same name, because what is the purpose of having a name and being somebody if anyone can be anyone? Ionesco brings out inconsistency, which is a major factor in the play and possibly a factor in our lives. Without consistency the lives in which we lead would lack substance and meaning. Ionesco suggests the idea of a normal daily schedule in which a human being can follow and keep order is a necessity. The human condition may seem absurd at times because what really is the point in doing the same thing everyday for as long as we live? The answer is, the consistency in the constant never ending cycle is life, which is why we are living. There may be nonsense in the play but somehow it leads to sense. The ironic statements due to memory loss show the absurdity in which humans possess. Mr. Smith is one who can be categorized as so. Without his memory he puts out ironic phrases without even putting thought to it and this leads to a lack of sentence structure. The play is made up of dialogue that sometimes seems to lack a sense of logic. The language in the play decreases in substance as the play progresses. The â€Å"language flows independently from meaning† (Feal). The words are not communicating what they seem to say but rather the underlying meaning, which is found in the way the language is used or how really how it is informally used. Language and meaning march to the beat of a different drum. The words are separate entities that work independently yet together to convey Ionesco’s view on language, which is that it is made out to be more than what it is really worth. Language is used as a communicator and the order, or lack of it, in which words are placed, conveys a message of pure insanity. The characters â€Å"actions contradict words, and [their] words contradict [their] actions. Even the title is misleading, since there is no bald soprano in the play† (Esteban). Ionesco writes where there is meaning in no meaning, so he probably intended on writing with meaning all along. The characters talk just to talk and they really have nothing of importance to say. As the play drags on while the structure becomes less and less until dialogue has lost all value and â€Å"made into mere exchange† (Knowlson). The words on the page are out of content and have become particles of matter that are floating in the air. The more they talk, the less they are actually communicating and this is causing the precious tool of language to no longer articulate. Like when Mr. Smith states â€Å"The pope elopes! The pope’s got no horoscope. The horoscope’s bespoke† (The Bald Soprano 17). The play starts out with sentences that make no sense at all then it breaks down to just words without meaning until finally all that is left is a bunch of frenzied sounds. The characters have gotten quite angry that they lost all ability to communicate that their chatter swells up into mushy sound. They live in a never-ending cycle of insignificant discourse. This is Ionesco pointing out the absurdity of how humans converse. The Bald Soprano is a piece under the genre of the Absurd. It is very easy to see why. In this genre a common aspect is that the characters are rapt in an endlessly repeating cycle. This cycle usually leads nowhere as it is a cycle with no beginning and no end. Ionesco uses this cycle to emulate life. Life is filled with a bunch of meaningless things that fill our everyday lives. Banana. When something is of meaning we know because we have experienced the everyday typical life of a human. Broadway. Dreams. Goals. That’s what we are. Well that’s what we should be. Life is pretty much repeating. Repeating. Repeating. Repeating. We have a set way of doing things and we follow it. We repeat these actions to fill up our lives with substance so that there is at least something there to start with and so that we have the ability to move forward and continue. Think of it as muscles. Muscles give our body substance to stand up and it is what allows us to move as well as other necessary functions. In our world we use a clock to stay in touch with time. Time. Timing. Bad timing. Time is a fundamental concept that guides humans through life, gives structure, as well as ages and heals. We also say funny things sometimes and we do use a language to communicate. It is how we use all these things that matters.

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Reflections on the Toyota Debacle + When Theres No Such Thing as Too Article

Reflections on the Toyota Debacle + When Theres No Such Thing as Too Much Information - Article Example lity products developed, acceleration pedals that stuck on the loose floor mats and the sticky pedal materials after exposure to moisture and friction (Cusumano 34). Answer: In my opinion, Toyota was not comfortable with its success. This was because; the company kept on trying to rise far above its competitors. Another thing was the company was keen to give customers the best quality especially after the many complains. A comfortable company could have just sat and continue production without minding the many companies made. Answer: Several things have surprised me about the article. One, the author seems to be so keen on every aspect of Toyota Company as far as automobiles are concerned. Two, another surprise is on how Toyota has managed to remain in the top of the auto industry even after being the company with the most defects detected. Answer: Blockbuster Video rental chain has been a thriving company until the introduction of technology. Majority of the people now are able to access online videos, which has reduced the customers flow to the rental shops. Answer: Pillsbury is a food production company. Due to its growing global market share the business has a growing information need for both its customers and its employees. It now uses StatServer to convey customized data, analysis and educate employees on their desktops (Tibco 1).The tool has enhanced the company’s productivity by allowing employees to upgrade individual desktop data analysis tools. Apex industries deal with plastic fabrications. It employees comprise of a team of engineers, artisans, and project managers. To continue providing high quality products and services to their customers, the company uses a refined ERP system (Localdirectory 1). This has enabled them earn a high customer satisfaction and employee efficiency in

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Accounting and finance for Managers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Accounting and finance for Managers - Essay Example Capital structure decisions are significant as they determine the company’s profitability and financial flexibility. Therefore, while forming capital structure plans, the financial decision maker must consider the nature of business, external & internal conditions, economic conditions and the future plan of a company. This paper will attempt to analyse the capital structure policies of a public company (listed on stock exchange) along with the merits and demerits of capital structure. The primary focus of this paper will be to evaluate the capital structure policies of the company in context of relevant capital structure theories. The initial sections will have a brief discussion on various capital structure theories. This will be followed by a brief overview of the selected public company so as to understand its nature of business and the prevailing capital structure policy of the company. The overall findings of the project will be discussed in the concluding section. Designing the capital structure of a public company is very much crucial as it helps to reduce financial risk. Besides, the financial managers have to keep redesigning the company’s capital structure for maintaining proper leverage. Gerestonbeg has defined capital structure of a company as â€Å"the composition or make-up of its capitalization† that includes â€Å"all long-term capital resources i.e. loans, reserves, shares and bonds† (Patra, 2006, p.237). Many scholars have developed various capital structure theories for trading off between the owned capital and loaned capital. Some of popular theories of capital structure are trade off theory, pecking order theory, agency cost theory and Modigliani & Miller theory. Out of these theories, Modigliani & Miller theory is the most important and widely accepted capital structure theory. In order to trade off between costs and benefit of debts, the financial managers must choose the optimum level of capital structur e. The cost of capital

Friday, January 24, 2020

It’s Time to Tell the True History of Texas :: Personal Narrative

It’s Time to Tell the True History of Texas When the Bob Bullock Texas State History museum opened in March 2001, it advertised itself as â€Å"The Story of Texas.† It still calls itself the story of Texas in letters chiseled into the top of the building, on its Web site, on signs directing visitors to the museum, and even on the refrigerator magnets you can buy in the gift shop. When I first saw the slogan, I wondered how there could be â€Å"the† story of Texas, since Texas has been culturally diverse throughout its history as a part of Mexico that became a separate nation and later a state. Shortly Texas will have no one group as a majority. I grew up in the Rio Grande Valley, where the great majority of the population, like me, is Mexican American. How was this new museum going to present my story? I had to go and find out.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When I first walked into the lobby, I noticed the large mosaic on the floor but I couldn’t figure out what it depicted. I just saw a campfire and a bunch of wiggly figures. Someone next to me told their kids that they’d be able to see the entire mosaic from the third floor. I decided to wait and do the same.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first exhibit I saw was the â€Å"It Ain’t Braggin’ if it’s True† (one of my friends told me I had to see the shrine to Lance Armstrong and the rhinestone car). The name of the exhibit didn’t make much sense to me though; aren’t all museum exhibits, especially ones about history, supposed to be true? The big banner in the middle of the room didn’t help much either. It simply said â€Å"Vision† and had a quote about how only those with great vision can see opportunity where others see empty space. Maybe those who have this type of vision get the braggin’ rights?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Texas was never a big empty space. The Spaniards and later the French who came here discovered cultures that were centuries old. But history, and the museum itself, begins with European colonization. The history of Texas, one of the signs says, was shaped by the way the different groups of people who came to Texas responded to the land and to each other. So land, and interaction between different groups of people, would be used a lot in the telling of this story of Texas, I assumed.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Walking Alone – Original Writing

Dew clings to the harsh pale grass. The cool droplets of water stick to my bare legs as I brush past, silently, stealthily. Where am I going? It'll come back to me in a moment. I'll just follow my instinct. Right, if I'm automatically taking this direction to Wherever, then this is the right way. Wearing my jacket was a good idea. I had to rummage to find it. I can't remember the last time I wore it. I can't even remember when I was last out of town for a weekend. That would be nice; a weekend out with a few friends- not that I'd ask. They'd probably be busy anyway. Ok, I cannot get distracted. I shall walk on. Left, right, left, right. I'm starting to enjoy this monotony. Yes, this is rather pleasant, rather agreeable. I look around for some sort of landmark, or something to help me recognise where I am. I won't admit to being lost because that would call into the question of my destination, which, to be honest, is still unbeknownst to me. I'll just meander along this way. God, I'm knackered, I could use a chocolate bar. Yes, a chocolate bar is what I need, along with a nice drink. But not until I get there, I must keep on going. Oh, a house. It's a tall looming house, with ivy crawling over it, its brambles resembling long green tendrils, or fingers, curling crispy and brown at the tips. What's that scuttling across the front porch? A grubby, greasy blur darts past. I lean forward as if to grab it, but it's gone before I'm even close. I force myself upwards, and see a door in front of me. The faded red paint is flaking. I reach my hand towards it and absentmindedly begin to peel it back. I wonder why I've never seen this house before. I wonder why I haven't seen any of this area before whatsoever. A chill overcomes me, engulfing me in a stuttering shudder. It's cold, and late. It must be gone five in the morning by now. Oh well. A bleak throng of clouds tumble over the night's sky, devouring any lingering traces of warmth. I pull my jacket tighter around me and shiver again, glancing around, praying, pleading, for some form of refuge. The house is not an option, it's someone's home. I can't break in. Not now, anyway. I trudge towards a large wooden gate. I thwack it open, shocking myself as I do so. An ear-piercing screech of pain comes from the gate, like a toddler protesting against eating the remnants of her cereal. I guess my thwacking skills aren't quite up to par, the gate's stuck. What now? Onwards again? Alright, I'll stomp my feel around a bit to restore some warmth to my pathetic shell of a body. That's better, slightly. Argh, my eyes! Some plonker has his headlights on full and he's facing me head-on. Perhaps I should step out the way. Oh, he's slowing down. My rescuer, maybe? That would be nice†¦ What the hell do you think you were doing, standing in the middle of the road at this ungodly hour? † â€Å"I see spots†¦. † I whimper. The man's face is weathered and tired. It reminds me of Father Christmas, now he's a lovely bloke. A dreamy smile is wafting onto my face. The man looks at me as if I'm deranged and creepy, and then accelerates off into the night. I'm shivering. I am literally shivering. I desperately need shelter before I get pneumonia. That house. That old, ruinous house. I turn around, stumbling over a rock. There it is, standing tall and imposing, yet strangely familiar. Whoever owns it has made a hapless attempt at remodelling it, adding a modern extension and painting the wall. Well, some of it at least. The path has deep, cavernous cracks and so I have to be careful not to cut my bare feet on the fragments. A desolate flowerbox hangs by a window, the flowers long dead. I examine it closer, noting the what-used-to-be-dark-green-but-is-now-discoloured-pale-turquoise crusty paint on the criss-crossed wood. Again, I feel a faint wave of familiarity- like an echo from the past. With a shudder I glance around fleetingly for a side entrance. A swing. An old, plastic-y swing, with faded yellow rope, neglected and left to rot in the grass for the next millennia. A child's laughter, my laughter. A hot summer morning: we were having a barbeque. I swung on this swing. I lived in this house. The memories come flooding, hitting me with a wave of nausea. I look up at the house, my house, my poor, poor house. Mutilated, derelict, left piteously to ruin. It's ugly, horrific. My once beautiful house is looking like a dump. This grass was once green, and this porch was once magnificently up kept. Memories. I now know why I didn't recognise it at first. All those memories, those awful memories, blocked out for all these years. I clutch my head and keel over, onto the callous ground. There is an immense pressure on my head. Bottled up for all these years, it's finally unleashed on me again. I convulse and vomit, thus further disfiguring the house. Another sharp burst of pain in my side. I'm in agony, reliving the past. I'm dying. I'm dying at the place of my birth; whoever came up with the Circle of Life must be smug. I convulse one more time and pass out, my head in a fug of trapped memories, waiting to be recollected.