My Utpoia

My Utpoia EveryoneÂÆ'‚‚s utopia is different in there own way but they sometimes have similarities between them. My utopia is located by the ocean with a temperate climate. The temperature gets to a high of about ninety-five and a low of thirty-four degrees Fahrenheit. It remains fairly warm during the winters because of the warm ocean breeze. There would be rain, sun, and snow.The government would be a monarchy with a group of advisors that would give suggestions to the monarch. The monarch would be elected by the people and everyone has the same rights, whether they have more power than others. The laws are voted on by the people but the monarch approves them. The monarch has a strict police system that keeps the laws in order. Lawbreakers would be punished depending on their crime. Murders would be killed; stealing would land you in community service for a period of time.There would be national transportation available to everyone for a small fee to pay for the maintenance and gas. Other than the national transportation, the people would either walk or have a bicycle to get to and from where they needed to go. Buildings would be erected with funding from the government and there would be two or three different companies working together to complete the project. Everyone would live in an apartment but they would be different sizes depending in the size of the family.There is a national bank which is divided up into smaller banks but under the national banks rules and regulations. The currency is in dollars and cents, like the United States. The economy is mostly self-sustaining but there is a little trade over seas and over land. The government talks a laissez-faire approach to economy but watches over and acts when it is...

Complete Expert Guide How to Make an Art Portfolio for College

Complete Expert Guide How to Make an Art Portfolio for College SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you thinking about applying to an art program? Do you know what you should include in your portfolio? Your art portfolio is usually the most important part of your application, and having a great one can significantly improve your chances of getting into your top schools. What Is an Art Portfolio? An art portfolio is a collection of your work, whether that’s paintings, poetry, sculpture, or another art form. It gives you the opportunity to show off your artistic skills, experiences and interests, and it helps admissions officers decide if you'd be a good fit for their school. Your portfolio is usually the most important part of your application because it lets schools see firsthand the work you have created. Who Needs a College Art Portfolio? Art portfolios are often needed to apply to art school or to an art program at a traditional college. There are a number of programs that may require applicants to submit a portfolio, some of which include: Apparel Design Architecture Art Education Art History Ceramics Film Fine Arts Graphic Design Interior Design Painting Photography Printmaking Sculpture Writing (usually for programs focused on poetry, fiction writing, screenwriting) Not all students applying to these programs will need to submit a portfolio. If you apply to an art school, you will most likely be required to submit a portfolio, but traditional colleges sometimes do not require applicants to submit portfolios, depending on the program they apply to. Check the requirements of schools you may be interested in attending, and if one or more of them requires submitting a portfolio of your work, read on to learn how to create a strong portfolio. What Do Art Programs Look for in a Portfolio? Art programs want to admit students who create art in a skilled and memorable way. More specifically, art schools are looking for students with the following qualities: Technical Mastery: Perhaps the most obvious component colleges look for in your portfolio is how skilled an artist you are. Technical mastery includes being able to apply basic and advanced art principals to your work, create work that shows a high level of attention and detail, and complete projects that are free of sloppiness and mistakes. Schools are also often particularly interested in your drawing skills because many art forms require the ability to draw well. Most art programs recommend applicants submit at least drawing in their portfolio, even if that is not their preferred art form, and some schools, such as the Rhode Island School of Design, require a drawing sample. Variety and Versatility: While it is expected for students to have an art form they create most frequently and are most comfortable with, art schools want applicants who are strong artists across a variety of media and art forms. One reason versatility is important is because the ability to create multiple art forms, from drawing, to painting, to graphic design, and more, is a sign of a talented artist and one who can apply their skills in multiple ways. It is also rare for an artist to stick exclusively to one art form. For example, artists who work with ceramics or in fashion design often need to be able to draw accurate designs before they begin their work. Having a portfolio that shows variety also shows an ability to think creatively and a willingness to try new things. Montserrat College of Art states on its admissions page that "Media exploration and experimentation are integral parts of your experience... Include work in your college art portfolio that shows your area of interest as well as both realistic and abstract work using a variety of materials." Unique Style and Personality: The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) states on its admissions page that the most important thing they look for in an art portfolio is "[W]ork that will give us a sense of you, your interests, and your willingness to explore, experiment, and think beyond technical art and design skills." Your art portfolio should show your personality and your own way of looking at the world. You want to show art schools that there is a reason they should admit you specifically, and one of the best ways to do this is by creating art that you are passionate about and that is different from what other people are creating. Technical skill is not enough if you can only copy what others have already created. Let's start creating! How to Create Your Art Portfolio Getting Started First of all, you want to make sure that you give yourself enough time to put your art portfolio together. Many art students take at least a year to create the pieces they use in their portfolio, so start thinking about your portfolio and preparing pieces well in advance of the deadlines. If you know what schools you want to apply to, research their portfolio requirements carefully and early. If you don’t properly follow each school’s instructions, you risk getting automatically rejected, and at the very least it won’t help your application. This is the most important piece of advice in this article! While researching the portfolio requirements of each school, pay particular attention to the following information: Application and portfolio deadlines How you need to submit your portfolio (online, snail mail, or in-person) If there are open days or portfolio days when you can present your portfolio in person Number of pieces you should submit Any size requirements for the pieces If there are any special required pieces you must submit (for example, the Rhode Island School of Design requires all applicants to submit a drawing of a bicycle) You should also look at examples of previously submitted art portfolios. Especially when you are just starting to create a portfolio, looking at the portfolios other students have created can be very helpful in developing your own portfolio. If you are currently in an art class, either at school or outside of it, your class probably has photos of portfolios previous students have submitted, and you can also ask your classmates about their portfolios. You can also search online. Search â€Å"art portfolio example† or â€Å"[school you are interested in] art portfolio example†. This will bring up a lot of examples, often including portfolios of students who were accepted into particular schools, such as Yale University's art program or the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Remember to use these examples only as a guide; it’s important your portfolio reflects your own talents and interests. Choosing the Pieces You will need about a dozen pieces of work for your portfolio. The number varies by school, but most request 10-20 examples of your work. These can be pieces you created for a class or outside of school. You should aim to create more pieces than you need, so that when it comes time to create your portfolio, you can choose your strongest pieces to include. The pieces you include in your portfolio should also have been created fairly recently. Most schools request that your submissions be work you recently completed, and some require the pieces to have been completed within the past year or past few years. Hopefully your most recent work will be your best anyway, since you have been learning more and improving. The strongest art portfolios will have the following qualities: Show the Breadth of Your Skills Different schools have different rules in terms of the number of art forms you should submit. Some want you to focus on the art form you plan to study in college, while others want to see your work in a variety of art forms (such as including some drawings and paintings, even if you are applying for a graphic design program). If you are submitting multiple art forms, unless otherwise specified, the most common art form(s) in your portfolio should be the one(s) you plan on studying in college. However, even if you are only submitting work from one art form, you can show a great deal of variety within it, both in technique and subject matter. An example of variety in subject matter is if you are submitting 15 photographs for your portfolio, those pieces can include photos of people, landscapes, still life, interiors, etc... You can make sure your portfolio shows variety in technique by using multiple mediums within one art form. For example, if you are only submitting drawings, you can include color as well as black and white work, as well as drawings made with different tools, such as graphite, pastel and charcoal. As mentioned earlier, having a portfolio that contains a lot of variety shows that you possess multiple skill sets and will be more likely to succeed in the different classes you will be taking in art school. Include Pieces From Direct Observation Many art programs require or highly recommend including pieces created from direct observation. These are pieces created by observing real things around you. Direct observation work can include portraits, self-portraits, landscapes, still life, rooms in your house, really anything you can see. Direct observation does not include work you created by looking a photograph or a copy of another artist's work. Direct observation is more challenging and requires more skill, so art schools are more interested in it. They also want to see how you depict the world around you. Many students don’t include direct observation pieces in their portfolio, so doing this can really help you stand out. Clara Lieu, a professor at RISD says that including pieces from direct observation "[W]ill distinguish your work from the crowd, and put you light years ahead of other students." Unless the submission requirements state otherwise, you should try to include at least several examples of direct observation in your portfolio. Most of these pieces are done as drawings, but other art forms can be used as well. Try to make these pieces as true to life as possible. Show Your Originality The art you produce should not just be copies of another artist’s work. It should reflect your interests and talents. You want your portfolio to show what makes you special and to convince schools that they should accept you over other applicants. Producing original work is a great way to stand out from the many portfolios art schools receive. There are multiple ways to show your personality and uniqueness in your portfolio. One way is to have your work showcase a theme or technique that you are passionate about. Hopefully by now you have completed enough pieces that you know whether you prefer creating abstract sculptures, collages that depict landscapes, portrait photography, or something entirely different. Not every piece you submit has to follow that theme, but having a particular style will help your portfolio be memorable. You should also try to think outside the box while you create your portfolio. As a creative type, this is probably something you are used to, but remember to continually push your boundaries when you are creating your portfolio. Taking a common subject and portraying it in a unique way is a great way to show your originality. Below are some examples of creative interpretations of the drawing of a bike all students applying to the Rhode Island School of Design must submit. Source: Anna Maria Source: abussard Source: james303 Final Steps Before you submit your portfolio, you want to be sure that all your pieces are finished. Each piece should appear neat with no smudges, rips, or wrinkles. The piece should also go all the way to the border of the canvas or paper it is on. You generally do not want to include a lot of white background unless you are submitting a rough sketch. Also be sure to include your name, school, date of completion, and title of the piece on the back, as well as any other information the school requests, such as a short description of each piece. Once all the pieces are ready, prepare them for presentation. Most art schools require you to submit images or videos of your work online, but some schools require applicants to mail slides with images of the pieces or present their work in-person. If submitting your portfolio online: If you are submitting online, this will likely involve taking photos or videos of your work, unless you are submitting work created on the computer, such as graphic design pieces, or are submitting pdfs of written work like poetry. Spending time to take quality pictures and videos of your work is almost as important as creating quality art itself. These pictures or videos will often be the only images admissions committees have of your work, and if they are poor quality, they may assume the work itself is poor quality as well. If the piece is a stationary work of art, a photo, as opposed to a video, is usually sufficient. Follow these guidelines to take high-quality pictures of your work: Use a high-quality camera and natural lighting to ensure your photos resemble the original pieces as much as possible. It’s not necessary to hire a professional photographer to do this, but you shouldn’t be taking the photos from your phone either. If you don’t own a high-quality camera, ask your art teacher if they have one you can borrow. Make sure the lighting is even ( there should be no shadows in the background). The picture should be cropped appropriately, so that it shows the entire piece, but without a lot of extra background space. Some schools require you to show the edges of each piece in photographs, so again, read requirements carefully. The background should be a neutral color, such as black, white, or gray. The picture should be in focus, and the detail of the work should be visible. (Some schools allow a few additional detail shots to be included if there is a detail you particularly want to highlight.) No glare should be visible (remove works from frames if necessary). The colors in the picture should look like the colors of the original piece. If presenting your portfolio in-person: Make sure the work can be transported without being damaged. Make sure paintings are completely dry before transporting them. Remove any frames so the artwork can be viewed more easily. Use clear covers to protect artwork, if needed. If mailing artwork or slides Mailing original work is a less common option, and is generally only used if the school requires you to create a piece specifically for them (such as RISD's bicycle drawing requirement). If the school requests this, follow the above guidelines for ensuring pieces can be transported without damage, and make sure you understand if and how the pieces will be returned to you. If mailing slides, always leave yourself a master set that you can duplicate later if you need to, and follow the above guidelines for submitting work online for tips on how to take the best pictures of your work. Asking others for feedback is a great way to improve your portfolio Asking for Feedback Your portfolio can benefit greatly when you ask others for their opinions on your work and the pieces you have selected for your portfolio. You should ask for feedback throughout your portfolio-making process. Two of the best sources for getting feedback are listed below. Your Art Teacher One of the first people you should ask for their opinion on the pieces you should include in your portfolio is your art teacher. They often have a lot of experience developing portfolios, and they can help you choose the pieces that will best impress admissions committees. The questions you ask can range from having them look over the pieces you’ve chosen for your portfolio to having them make suggestions on the type of work you should create in order to finish your portfolio. National Portfolio Days National Portfolio Days are events held around the country where art students can learn about different art programs as well as bring their work to receive feedback on it from representatives of top art schools and colleges. No admissions decisions are offered on National Portfolio Days; instead, they are a way for schools to look at your portfolio-in-progress and give advice. They are an excellent opportunity to get feedback from schools you are considering applying to and to ask them specific questions about their portfolio requirements. It is a good idea to attend first as a junior and get some early feedback on your work, then attend again as a senior when you have made more progress on your portfolio. You should definitely stop by the tables of schools you want to apply to, but consider stopping by the tables of other schools as well, as a review from any school gives you valuable feedback. Points to Remember Read application requirements carefully for each school you plan on applying to. Ideally, give yourself at least a year to develop pieces for your portfolio. Make sure your artwork is original and represents your skills and personality well. Try to attend a National Portfolio Day to get valuable feedback on your work. Take time to produce high-quality photos or videos of your work if submitting your portfolio online. What's Next? How's your contour line drawing skill? Learn the basics of how to draw without shading with this guide. Now that you know how to create a portfolio, are you wondering what art programs you should apply to? Check out our guide on the best art schools in the United States! For a complete overview of the college search process, read our comprehensive guide on how to choose a college. Worried about paying for college? Read our step-by-step guide to getting a student loan. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Philosophy of the Person and Self Concept Essay - 1

Philosophy of the Person and Self Concept - Essay Example Locke in his  An Essay Concerning Human Understanding  and Jacques Rohault in his  Ultimate Questions: Thinking About Philosophy  use primarily ‘reason’ as their major tool for scientific research and methodological strength. He initially expresses doubt for ‘being’ and goes further to prove the reality of ‘being’. For him, when we doubt a thing or being, we then  ipso facto, by virtue of the existence of ‘doubt’, must know that what we doubt exist as a reality. Doubt we must for Descartes. Otherwise, all apparent reality is a dream or an illusion. This is not an instance of contradiction in Descartes. Here, it is the order and tool of argument is important than any other thing.  Descartes’ critics such as Johannes Caterus, Friar Marin Mersenne, Thomas Hobbes, Antoine Arnauld, Pierre Gassendi and Jesuit Pierre Bourdin point out quite a few criticisms.     

Password and hacking under the privcy issues Research Paper

Password and hacking under the privcy issues - Research Paper Example Hackers view the people’s privacy as an unknown intriguing matter, which has to be conquered. The hacking methods have kept up with the development of the various technologies meant to protect the privacy of the users and they have managed to violate them and gain access to one’s personal information. A proof of their rapid development is that, according to the FBI’s National Computer Crimes Squad, 85 to 97 percent of computer intrusions are not detected. Moreover, only 19 % of the attacks are reported.1 Installing password for online accounts is one of these methods; in fact, it is the most popular one. No matter the nature of the accounts, whether it is an account in a social network, or an email account, installing passwords to it is the best that one can do in order to protect his/her account from uninvited curious â€Å"guests†. The objective of this paper is to analyze how violating one’s account by cracking its password is regarded from the privacy ethical point of view. The paper shall present the legislative acts that tend to legally protect personal information from hackers and their practical application in the real life. The paper is divided into two chapters. The first chapter is dedicated to the history of hacking and its development. It will also describe the most common methods of password violation and the hackers’ point of view on this matter, under the privacy issues. The next chapter will describe the acts that are meant to protect personal information and guarantee one’s privacy and their efficiency in application. Some popular law cases connected to password hacking will be described and analyzed. Most of us associate the activity of â€Å"hacking† with illegal conduct, infringements and law violations. Of course, a hacker for us represents a law disobedient person, some kind of a rebel that instead of living his life normally chooses to spend days and nights in front of a computer and break into

Living Through the Pain of Ankylosing Spondylitis Essay Example for Free

Living Through the Pain of Ankylosing Spondylitis Essay As I sit next to my sister, Natalie, she seems saddened as she tells the story that started her difficult journey of dealing with a lifelong disease. As she describes it, â€Å"At the young age of 13, when my girlfriends were thinking about an upcoming 1950s-genre sock hop, I found myself in a Milwaukee back brace to treat a curvature of my spine called scoliosis. The brace keeps the spine virtually immobile. It held my head in alignment with metal bars, clear down to a plastic mold over my hips. I wore the brace for two years and the kids in my school would ask if I had been in a car wreck. I later started high school in new Nike tennis shoes and the awkward metal brace. When I was a sophomore, I developed a severe bowel inflammation episode which the doctor thought was bacterial dysentery. It was awful, and little did I know that this was the start of a series of problems that are all part of a chronic disease. About two weeks later, I developed painful swelling in my right knee. It was severe enough to require removal of an unusually large amount of synovial fluid. A few days after the right knee seemed to heal, the left knee swelled up. The same pattern continued for the next several years and the doctors said it was just arthritis. I then developed an eye infection called iritis in my right eye. It was so severe that it needed daily cortisone injections for 10 days, eye drops and resting in complete darkness. For the next four years, I experienced severe hip (sacroiliac (SI)) pain that made walking difficult. A pelvic X-ray was taken, which showed fusion in one of the SI joints. I was tested and found positive for the HLAB27 gene. The rheumatologist changed the diagnosis from arthritis to a definitive Ankylosing Spondylitis which is a debilitating, painful disease, without a cure, that would continue to worsen throughout my life and would most likely end with me crippled and in a wheelchair† (Rasmussen, 2010) Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a ruthless, genetic disease that makes life very painful and difficult for those affected by it. AS affects as many as 2. 4 million people in the US today, which is more than multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis and Lou Gehrig’s disease combined. Scientists are currently attempting to find out what this disease is, how it is contracted, and what can be done to help those who have AS manage their pain, avoid further bodily damage and hopefully find a cure. Pathophysiology: Ankylosing Spondylitis Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis and an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is when the body’s natural immune system, that is supposed to fight against germs or foreign cells that enter your body, mistake its own healthy cells as being invaders and attack them. This can affect any part of the body or many parts of the body at the same time. In the case of Ankylosing Spondylitis, the immune system attacks its own cells causing arthritis of the spine, sacroiliac (hip) joints and can cause inflammation of the eyes, lungs, and heart valves. It varies from intermittent episodes of back pain that occur throughout life to a severe chronic disease that attacks the spine, peripheral joints and other body organs, resulting in severe joint and back stiffness, loss of motion and deformity as life progresses. Signs and symptoms The beginning physical signs of AS usually start to appear in late adolescence or early adulthood (ages 17-35), but the symptoms can occur in younger children or much later in life as well. The first symptoms of AS can include frequent pain and stiffness in the lower back and buttocks, and symptoms come on gradually over the course of a few weeks or months. At first, discomfort may only be felt on one side, or alternate sides. The pain is usually dull and diffuse, rather than localized. This pain and stiffness is usually worse in the mornings and during the night, but may be improved by a warm shower or light exercise. Also, in the early stages of AS, there may be mild fever, loss of appetite and general discomfort. Many people with AS also experience bowel inflammation and iritis or uveitis (inflammation of the eyes). About one third of people with AS will experience inflammation of the eye at least once. Signs of iritis or uevitis are: Eye(s) becoming painful, watery, red and individuals may experience blurred vision and sensitivity to bright light (Van der Linden S, 2009). Varying levels of fatigue may also result from the inflammation caused by AS. The body must use extra energy to deal with the inflammation, thus causing fatigue. Mild to moderate anemia, may result from the inflammation, which can contribute to an overall feeling of tiredness. In a minority of individuals, the pain does not start in the lower back, but in a peripheral joint such as the hip, ankle, elbow, knee, heel or shoulder. This pain is commonly caused by enthesitis, which is the inflammation of the site where a ligament or tendon attaches to bone. Inflammation and pain in peripheral joints is more common in juveniles with AS. This can be confusing since, without the immediate presence of back pain, AS may look like some other form of arthritis. AS is more common in young men than in women. Typically, 1 in 200 men have AS, whereas 1 in 500 women have the disease. The symptoms or pattern of the disease are different in women. Quoting Dr. Elaine Adams, Women often present in a little more atypical fashion so its even harder to make the diagnoses in women. For example, some women with AS have stated that their symptoms started in the neck rather than in the lower back† (Adams, 2010). The pain normally becomes persistent (chronic), is felt on both sides, and lasts for at least three months. Over the course of months or years, the stiffness and pain can spread up the spine and into the neck. Pain and tenderness spreading to the ribs, shoulder blades, hips, thighs and heels is possible as well. Advanced AS sufferers eventually experience lack of spinal mobility due to spinal fusion. Spinal fusion occurs when damage to the joint and surrounding bone causes calcium to build up which acts like a cement to keep the bones from grinding together. Fusion eliminates the pain caused by the bones grinding together, but creates the complication of limited flexibility or immobility. Diagnosis There is no direct test to diagnose AS. A clinical examination and X-ray[-0] studies of the spine, are the major diagnostic tools. A drawback of X-ray diagnosis is that signs and symptoms of AS have usually been established as long as 8–10 years prior for changes to be seen on a plain film X-ray, which means a delay of as long as 10 years before adequate therapies and treatments can be introduced. Options for earlier diagnosis are tomography[-1] and magnetic resonance imaging[-2] (MRI) of the sacroiliac joints, but the reliability of these tests is still unclear. Also, MRI can be cost prohibitive (Thomas E, 1998, pp. 343-7). A physical examination by a doctor or rheumatologist is necessary in properly diagnosing AS. The examination would entail looking for sites of inflammation, and checking for pain and tenderness along the back, pelvic bones, sacroiliac joints, chest and heels. Other symptoms and indicators are also taken into account, including a history of iritis or uveitis (inflammation of the eye), a history of gastrointestinal infections (for example, the presence of Crohns Disease or ulcerative colitis), a family history of AS, as well as fatigue due to the presence of inflammation. The Schobers test[-3] is a useful clinical measure of flexion of the lumbar spine performed during examination. Ankylosing Spondylitis is considered a genetic disease and studies have linked AS with a genetic marker called HLA-B27. However, testing positive for this marker is not a guarantee that a person will contract the disease. Approximately 90% of AS patients carry the HLA-B27 marker but 10% who exhibit AS disease characteristics do not. The association between AS and HLA-B27 varies in different ethnic and racial groups. 95% of people in the Caucasian population who have AS test HLA-B27 positive. However, only 50% of African American patients with AS possess HLA-B27 marker. Therefore, 5% of Caucasians and 50% of African Americans who have AS do not carry the HLA-B27 marker. In 2007, a collaborative effort by an international team of researchers in the U. K. , Australia and the United States led to the discovery of two genes, ARTS1 and IL23R[-4], that also contribute to the cause of AS. The findings were published in the November 2007 edition of Nature Genetics, a journal that emphasizes research on the genetic basis for common and complex diseases (Brionez TF, 2008, pp. 348-91). Together with HLA-B27, these two genes account for roughly 70% of the overall incidence of the disease. Treatment with Medications There are many medications available to treat AS and its symptoms. Depending on the stage of the disease and its rate of progression, different medications are recommended. People respond to medications with varying levels of effectiveness, thus it may take time to find the most effective medication for treating someone with Ankylosing Spondylitis. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) NSAIDs are the most commonly used class of medication used in treating the inflammation and swelling associated with AS and thus reduce pain and stiffness. For example, Ibuprofen is a generic NSAID and is found in over-the-counter pain relievers such as Advil and Motrin. They commonly come in tablet form and are taken orally. Sometimes high doses of NSAIDs are needed to maintain relief from the symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis. This can pose a problem in that NSAIDs can cause significant side effects, especially in the gastrointestinal tract (stomach, intestines, etc. ). NSAIDs can cause reduction in the protective mucus in the stomach, which can cause stomach irritation. In time, this can lead to heartburn, gastritis as well as ulcers and even bleeding. People can take other medications, such as antacids, to neutralize or prevent the production of excess stomach acid or take drugs to help coat and protect the stomach and help restore the lost mucus. According to Spondylitis Association of America, there is a different class of NSAIDs known as COX-2 inhibitors (or COXIBs) have helped some patients reduce the risk of gastrointestinal complications associated with traditional NSAID therapy. An example of a COXIB is Celebrex (Celecoxib), which is still being used to treat spondyloarthritis. Others, such as Vioxx, were pulled from the market because of potential cardiac side effects (SAA Medication Treatments, 2009). Although NSAIDs are commonly the first line of medications used to treat Ankylosing Spondylitis, sometimes they arent enough to control the symptoms. NSAIDs may only be partially effective or the side effects too severe to continue their use. In this case, a doctor may prescribe one of the following medications: Sulfasalazine Sulfasalazine is one type of medication that can be helpful to some people with this severe disease. It is known to effectively control not only pain and joint swelling from arthritis of the small joints, but also the intestinal lesions in inflammatory bowel disease. It comes in tablet form and is taken orally. Side effects are relatively infrequent, but can include headaches, abdominal bloating, nausea and oral ulcers. Rarely, someone being prescribed this medication can develop bone marrow suppression, which is why it is important to regularly monitor blood counts. Methotrexate Originally developed to treat cancer, this chemotherapy drug is widely used and often very effective for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. When prescribed for treating Ankylosing Spondylitis, it is given in much smaller doses. Methotrexate can either be taken via a self-injectable shot, or orally in tablet form. When taking methotrexate, it is also necessary to take the vitamin folic acid in order to help suppress possible side effects. Oral ulcers and nausea are the most common side effects, but can be minimized by taking folic acid. Because of other potential serious side effects, the frequent monitoring of blood counts and liver tests are required. Methotrexate lowers the ability for patients to fight infection. Therefore, patients taking it should avoid contact with those who are ill. Corticosteroids Corticosteroids such as prednisone can be effective in relieving the inflammation of AS, but the side effects of long-term use can be very severe. Corticosteroid injections into the inflamed joints can provide temporary relief of the pain caused by arthritis or bursitis. In instances of Achilles tendonitis, such injections are rarely, if ever used because of the risk of rupturing the Achilles tendon. Also, the usefulness of corticosteroid injections to relieve the symptoms of plantar fasciitis (heel pain) is not clear. Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha inhibitors AS patients produce too much of an inflammatory substance called Tumor-Necrosis-Factor alpha (TNF-a). TNF-a blockers are biologic medications that have shown great promise in treating AS by binding the excess TNF-a, thus reducing inflammation. TNF-a blockers slow the progress of AS in the majority of clinical cases, helping many patients receive a significant reduction, though not elimination, of their inflammation and pain. They have been shown to be highly effective in treating the arthritis of the joints and the spinal arthritis associated with Ankylosing Spondylitis. Examples of TNF? [-5] blockers are: Enbrel (etanercept[-6]), Remicade (infliximab[-7]), Humira (adalimumab[-8]) and Simponi (Golimumab). Besides the often high cost of over $600 per injection, the most serious known side effect of the TNF blockers is the fact that these drugs increase the risk of infections, especially tuberculosis. Thus, a TB test is usually required before starting any of the TNF therapies. Patients taking the TNF medications are advised to limit their exposure to others who are or may be carrying a virus (such as a cold or flu) or who may have a bacterial or fungal infection. A very rare possible complication is increased frequency of cancer, especially of the blood, such as leukemia or of the lymphatic system as in lymphoma. (SAA Medication Treatments, 2009).

My Goal Statement Essay -- My Mission and Goals

My mission here at State University is to strive to be the best person that I can possibly become. I respect my elders and try to learn good values from them. Also, I try to be a good role model for my friends and youngsters. I appreciate and understand other people's differences and am happy that we’re not all the same. As a team leader, I try to put these differences and diversity to good effect. I take full responsibility for my actions. I am always accountable to my decisions. If I make a mistake, I am always ready to admit it and learn from it. I always remember that before I can influence someone else, I must first be in charge of myself. If I am not fully convinced of my own decisions, it would be very difficult for me to influence others. I am a responsible student who works hard in school. I believe that hard work is the key to success. My goal is to graduate and fulfill the dreams of my father. I want to pursue Urban Planning just like him. I also plan to have a Mas ter's degree for the same. I will take every effort necessary to ensure that I meet and, if possible, exceed my goal through sheer dedication and perseverance. I pledge to offer the highest quality of leadership, the greatest level of expertise, and tireless dedication to the cause. I studied English last year at County Community College and moved to State University for this major later. I like California. I strongly feel that the mission statement of State University complements and resonates with goals and aspirations of mine. As State University guarantees the best pedagogical techniques, I will try to show my excellence as a student. I will demonstrate my intellectual capability and ask right questions at the right time to feed my curiosity. I will... ...trated. I would give higher priority to tasks which have to be performed immediately. Flexibility is also very important and I would modify my path whenever need arises. Efficient management of time is also necessary when it comes to tackling obstacles. The first stages are even more important because when we see first progress, we become even more determined to put in more effort towards our goal. Procrastination is also a very big obstacle and may keep us distracted. We should always make small goals which in turn would coordinate to meet the larger goal. We should never get caught in unnecessary thoughts. Without getting distracted by the external environment, I would keep the primary goal in mind while doing any task. As I want to get a Master’s degree in Urban Planning, these values which I have already listed would surely help me in taking good decisions. My Goal Statement Essay -- My Mission and Goals My mission here at State University is to strive to be the best person that I can possibly become. I respect my elders and try to learn good values from them. Also, I try to be a good role model for my friends and youngsters. I appreciate and understand other people's differences and am happy that we’re not all the same. As a team leader, I try to put these differences and diversity to good effect. I take full responsibility for my actions. I am always accountable to my decisions. If I make a mistake, I am always ready to admit it and learn from it. I always remember that before I can influence someone else, I must first be in charge of myself. If I am not fully convinced of my own decisions, it would be very difficult for me to influence others. I am a responsible student who works hard in school. I believe that hard work is the key to success. My goal is to graduate and fulfill the dreams of my father. I want to pursue Urban Planning just like him. I also plan to have a Mas ter's degree for the same. I will take every effort necessary to ensure that I meet and, if possible, exceed my goal through sheer dedication and perseverance. I pledge to offer the highest quality of leadership, the greatest level of expertise, and tireless dedication to the cause. I studied English last year at County Community College and moved to State University for this major later. I like California. I strongly feel that the mission statement of State University complements and resonates with goals and aspirations of mine. As State University guarantees the best pedagogical techniques, I will try to show my excellence as a student. I will demonstrate my intellectual capability and ask right questions at the right time to feed my curiosity. I will... ...trated. I would give higher priority to tasks which have to be performed immediately. Flexibility is also very important and I would modify my path whenever need arises. Efficient management of time is also necessary when it comes to tackling obstacles. The first stages are even more important because when we see first progress, we become even more determined to put in more effort towards our goal. Procrastination is also a very big obstacle and may keep us distracted. We should always make small goals which in turn would coordinate to meet the larger goal. We should never get caught in unnecessary thoughts. Without getting distracted by the external environment, I would keep the primary goal in mind while doing any task. As I want to get a Master’s degree in Urban Planning, these values which I have already listed would surely help me in taking good decisions.

Effects of Cyberbullying Essay

Examples of Cyberbullying Cyberbullying examples  is referred to as a form of bullying  that is known to take place through the use of electronics such as mobile phones and over the internet. Furthermore, social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter among many others, chat, text messages as well as websites are avenues through which cyber bullying can take place. It is to be noted that cyber bullying often is between kids, teens or even pre-teens and it will involve emails, text messages as well as rumors that are spread or posted on a social site over the internet or through the phone. Picture messages that are embarrassing, websites and even videos in addition to fake profiles are some of the means through which cyber bullying can take place. It has become quite a common social menace among young people and often those that have been victims of cyber bullying have been at one time bullied in person. Cyber bullying has great negative impacts on the life of the victims and therefore, should be dealt wi th accordingly by the relevant stakeholders who include parents, teachers as well as the government. Causes of Cyberbullying Characteristics Cyber bullying can take place at any time of the day, that is, 24/7. The kids that are targeted can be reached at any time when they are with the parents or guardians as well as when they are alone (Hoff, & Mitchell, 2009). This means that cyber bullying can take place either during the day or during the night. This trait of cyber bullying makes it quite difficult for parents or even guardians to monitor their children and even become aware of them being bullied. The second characteristic that is associated with cyber bullying is that the messages and the pictures being sent to the targeted kid can be done anonymously and can easily be distributed within a short time to a large number of people using the same sites(Hoff, & Mitchell, 2009). This is a big problem when it comes to dealing with the issue of cyber bullying because it becomes difficult to trace where the message or even picture have originated from so that the culprit can be brought to book. Finally, it is important to note that cyber bullying has quite a long lasting impact on the targeted victims. This is based on the reason that after the harassing messages, pictures or even the texts have been posted on the sites; it becomes quite difficult to erase or even delete those messages(Mishna, Khoury-Kassabri, Gadalla, & Daciuk2012). This means that every time the kid being bullied will view them and this will keep tormenting them and therefore, there is need to address such kind of issue by the relevant stakeholders. Negative effects of cyber bullying Any form of vice in the society often has its negative effects on those people that it is directed towards. In this case, cyber bullying has some of the greatest harmful effects on the lives of the kids who are victims(Mishna, Khoury-Kassabri, Gadalla, & Daciuk2012). Some of the negative impacts of cyber bullying on kids include the indulgence in drugs or even alcohol. When a kid is a victim of cyber bullying, they become frustrated. This results in the use of drugs as well as alcohol. The other negative effects of cyber bullying include the kids skipping school hence their education life becomes ruined since they tend to avoid their bullies (Campbell, 2005). The performance of the bullied kid will tend to drop as they will lack interest in their studies. Furthermore, the bullied kid will be affected in terms of their personality. The bullied kid will experience lower self-esteem since they will become afraid of facing their tormentor or even interact with other kids as they used to since they will be ridiculed (Mishna, Khoury-Kassabri, Gadalla, & Daciuk2012). Finally, it is to be noted that children or kids that experience cyber bullying will tend to experiences health complications and problems such as stress which may lead to other serious health problems. Causes of Cyber bullying There are several causes which have been identified that result in cyber bullying among kids. One of the causes is the motivation for revenge. Some of the cases of cyber bullying are as a result of kids who have been bullied in the past and therefore want to do the same to others. The second cause of cyber bullying is the belief by other kids that the victims often deserve to be bullied(Mishna, Khoury-Kassabri, Gadalla, & Daciuk2012). For example, if a certain kid is thought to be mean to others, they may decide to bully the kid to make them change or in retaliation to their meanness. Thirdly, some kids bully others because of boredom. They are looking for fun and therefore, they think that bullying others will help cheer them up. The other causes which have been identified include peer pressure from others that have been involved in cyber bullying, the perception that everyone else is involved in cyber bullying, and the beliefs that they will not be caught due to the anonymity invol ved(Mishna, Khoury-Kassabri, Gadalla, & Daciuk2012). Finally, hunger for power especially for kids from well-off families towards poor kids is also a cause in addition to lack of empathy for other kids. According to National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statisticsin the year 2010-2011 about 9% among the students that are in the 6–12 grades have at one time had an experience of cyberbullying. In the year 2013, according to Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Surveyabout 15% of the 9-12 grade students in high school to have experienced cyber bullying over the past year 2012. In conclusion, cyber bullying has become one of the most committed criminal acts among the young people and kids. However, due to the continued technological developments, it has become quite a challenge to handle the issue of cyber bullying. It is also quite difficult to determine the exact number of cases of cyber bullying considering that some of them are not reported to parents or even authorities in the schools. References Campbell, M. A. (2005). Cyber Bullying: An Old Problem in a New Guise?.Australian journal of Guidance and Counselling, 15(01), 68-76. Hoff, D. L., & Mitchell, S. N. (2009). Cyberbullying: Causes, effects, and remedies. Journal of Educational Administration, 47(5), 652-665. Mishna, F., Khoury-Kassabri, M., Gadalla, T., &Daciuk, J. (2012). Risk factors for involvement in cyber bullying: Victims, bullies and bully–victims. Children and Youth Services Review, 34(1), 63-70. Source document

Strategic Financial Ratio Analysis

Strategic Financial Ratio Analysis| Meghna Cement Mills Bangladesh Limited & Heidelberg Cement Bangladesh Limited For the year of 2009,2010 & 2011| Course Title : Fin 254 Section : 11 Submitted to : SFR Submission date: 09/04/2013| Group: 5Mohammad Riyasad Jamil (Id# XXXXXXXXXX) Saika Alam (Id# XXXXXXXXXX) Rifat Kaniz (Id# XXXXXXXXXX) Mohammad Shaikh Ashfaq (Id#1020668030) Anika Tabassum (Id# XXXXXXXXXX) Ishraq Aahmed (Id# XXXXXXXXXX) Introduction: Ratio analysis is the broad method by which financial data is converted into simple mathematic ratios for comparison. Since the data is widely available, calculating ratio analysis numbers can be accomplished by anyone with access to public financial statements.External usage of the ratio analysis data is widespread. While these ratios don’t tell the whole story, sharp deviations from an industry standard, can forecast growth or decline. In this project we have selected two companies from The Cement Industries of Bangladesh, one as our main company for which we intend to analyze through Ratio Calculation and the other one as the direct competitor to that company. The main company we have selected is the Heidelberg Cement and the competitor company is to be Meghna Cement Mills Bangladesh Limited. Both of these companies are enlisted in Dhaka Stock Exchange since 2007 till present.The whole purpose of this project is to comparatively evaluate the main company (The Heidelberg Cement) to its direct competitor (The Meghna Cement Mils Bangladesh Limited), to determine the over-all strategic financial health of The Heidelberg Cement. Heidelberg Cement Bangladesh Ltd, one of the group companies of Heidelberg Cement Group, founded in Germany in 1873, with its core products being cement, ready-mixed concrete, aggregates and related activities, is one of the leading producers of building materials worldwide. The group employs around 43,000 people in more than 50 countries.In 1999, Heidelberg Cement acquired its operation s in Bangladesh. The subsidiary Heidelberg Cement Bangladesh Ltd. , which is the market leader in Bangladesh, operates two cement grinding plants in Dhaka, the capital city, and in Chittagong. At present it has 9. 31 % market shares among total market share of 78. 29 % of 13 major cement manufacturers in Bangladesh. The company’s last estimated production from 2011 was 1,320,129 MT and observed sales were 1,318,110 MT. The last observed market value from 2001 of this company was 248. 8 Taka/share and the book value was 142 Taka/share.So the company was overvalued by the Market. These worked as the reasons for us to choose this company as a test company for The Strategic Ration Analysis. We have selected Meghna Cement Mills Bangladesh Limited to be the direct competitor of our test company for this project. Meghna Cement Mills Ltd is the first manufacturing unit of Bashundhara Group and it is one of the largest cement industries in the country producing nearly 1 million metric tons a year. The company is listed with both Dhaka and Chittagong Stock Exchanges. The last observed Share price of the company from 2011 was 136. 0 Taka/share. Although it’s a domestic company compared to The Heidelberg Cement, it gives quite a completion to the Heidelberg Group in Bangladesh as we are going to observe in the following part of this project. Ratio Analysis: When we calculate the ratios of a firm we have to go through five major categories of ratios as follows: * Liquidity Ratio : Which determines if the firm can make required payments for its maturing financial responsibilities through Liquid Cash drawn from its Assets * Productivity Ratio: Which measures the ability of a firm to generate Sales from its employed Assets Leverage Ratio: These ratios put a light on the Financial Leverages of a firm and the ability of that firm to meet those Financial Leverages effectively. * Profitability Ratio: These ratios measure how efficiently a unit of sales is turned int o profit for the company * Valuation Ratio: These ratios are used to assess how the market is valuing the firm (share price) in relationship to assets and current earnings, profits and dividends. Liquidity Ratio: There are three different ratios under liquidity ratios as follows; * Current Ratio * Working Capital Ratio Quick Ratio 1) Current Ratio: Measures the number of units of current assets to pay out for each unit of current liabilities. The formula for Current Ratio: Current Ratio = Current AssetsCurrent Liabilities Current Ratio = Current AssetsCurrent Liabilities Company name| 2011| 2010| 2009| Heidelberg cement| 0. 56 (x)| 0. 17 (x)| 0. 56 (x)| Meghna cement| 0. 70 (x)| 0. 64 (x)| 0. 66 (x)| Interpretation: In 2009 Heidelberg’s working capital ratio was 0. 56 (x) and in 2010 and in 2011 its working capital was 0. 17 (x) and 0. 56 (x) which implies its current asset went down and total asset went up in 2010.In 2009 Meghna’s working capital ratio was 0. 66 and in 2010 and in 2011 its working capital was 0. 64 and 0. 70 which I plies its current assent went down and total assent went up in 2010. Heidelberg holds a constant working capital ratio which decreased in 2010 and they managed to pull it up in 2011 where as Meghna’s working capital increased gradually from 2009 to 2011. 2) Working Capital Ratio: This Ratio measures the percentage of total assets that is invested in current assets. The formula of Working Capital Ratio: Working Capital Ratio = Current AssetsTotal AssetsWorking Capital Ratio = Current AssetsTotal Assets Company name| 2011| 2010| 2009| Heidelberg cement| 0. 56 (x)| 0. 17 (x)| 0. 56 (x)| Meghna cement| 0. 70 (x)| 0. 64 (x)| 0. 66 (x)| Interpretation: In 2009 Heidelberg’s working capital ratio was 0. 56(x) and in 2010 and in 2011 its working capital was 0. 17 (x) and 0. 56 (x) which implies its current asset went down and total asset went up in 2010. In 2009 Meghna’s working capital ratio was 0. 66 ( x) and in 2010 and in 2011 its working capital was 0. 64 (x) and 0. 70 (x) which implies its current asset went down and total asset went up in 2010.Heidelberg holds a constant working capital ratio which decreased in 2010 and they managed to pull it up in 2011 where as Meghna’s working capital increased gradually from 2009 to 2011. 3) Quick Ratio: The quick ratio gives a clearer indication of the firm’s ability to meet its maturing financial obligations out of current, liquid assets. The formula for the Quick Ratio: Quick Ratio = Current Assets-InventoriesCurrent Liabilities Quick Ratio = Current Assets-InventoriesCurrent Liabilities Company name| 2011| 2010| 2009| Heidelberg Cement| 1. 61(x)| 1. 74 (x)| 1. 51 (x)| Meghna Cement| 0. 86 (x)| 0. 80 (x)| 0. 79 (x)|Interpretation: In 2011 Heidelberg’s current asset without its inventory was 1. 61 (x) and in 2010 and 2009 it was 1. 74 (x) and 1. 51 (x) its current liabilities. In 2011 Meghna’s current asset w ithout its inventory was 0. 86 (x) and in 2010 and in 2009 it was 0. 80 (x) and 0. 79 (x) its current liabilities. Heidelberg’s performance declined over the year of 2009 to 2011. This decrease can be attributed to the fact that the relevant change in its current liabilities was more than the relevant change in its current asset and inventory. Whereas its competitor Meghna cement’s performance increased over the year. Productivity Ratios:There are five different ratios under the criterion of Productivity Ratio: * Receivable Turnover Ratio * Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) * Inventory Turnover * Total asset turnover ratio * Fixed Asset turnover Ratio 4) Total Asset Turnover Ratio (TA TO): This ratio estimates the number of units in Sales, produced by each units investment in the company’s Assets ; TA TO = Net SalesTotal Assets TA TO = Net SalesTotal Assets The formula for TA TO: Company name| 2011| 2010| 2009| Heidelberg Cement| 1. 0631 (x)| 1. 1586 (x)| 1. 1951 (x )| Meghna Cement| 1. 844 (x)| 1. 5855 (x)| 1. 4189 (x)| Interpretation: In 2009 Heidelberg’s TA TO was 1. 1951 (x), in 2010 and 2011 it’s TA TO was 1. 1586 (x) and 1. 0631 (x) of its Total Assets In 2009 Meghna’s TA TO was 1. 4189 (x), in 2010 and 2011 it’s TA TO was 1. 5855 (x) and 1. 4844 (x) of its Total Assets Both the two company’s TA TO s are relatively close to each other. However Meghna’s Ratios are a little bit higher than Heidelberg’s. So we could say that over the past three years Meghna has shown a little bit more efficiency than Heidelberg in utilizing its total assets for generating sales.In this scenario Meghana’s performance as a competitor is better than Heidelberg Cement 5) Fixed Asset Turnover Ratio (FA TO): This ratio estimates the number of units in Sales, produced by each unit investment in the company’s Net Fixed Assets; FA TO = Net SalesNet Fixed Assets FA TO = Net SalesNet Fixed Assets The formul a for FA TO: Company name| 2011| 2010| 2009| Heidelberg Cement| 2. 4539 (x)| 3. 0817(x)| 2. 7202 (x)| Meghna Cement| 4. 9925 (x)| 4. 3774 (x)| 4. 1159 (x)| Interpretation: In 2009 Heidelberg’s FA To was 2. 7202 (x) and in 2010 it went up to 3. 817 (x) of its Fixed Assets. But in 2011 the FA TO went down to 2. 4539 (x), the company’s Fixed Assets. This indicates that in 2011 Heidelberg invested more in its Current Assets in comparison to the previous years. As a result the company was generating fewer sales from its Fixed Assets compared to 2009 & 2010. In 2009 Meghna’s FA TO was 4. 1159 (x) its Fixed Assets. In 2010 and 2011 the FA TO was 4. 3774 (x) and 4. 9925 (x) of its Fixed Assets. Meghna had a significant rise in its FA TO over the years. This means they are utilizing their Fixed Assets more efficiently for generating sales.Over the years Meghna has shown efficiency in utilizing its Fixed Assets and has generated significantly higher sales, on the other ha nd Heidelberg’s Sales generating capacity from its Fixed Assets has declined. So Meghna holds an upper hand when it comes to utilize its Fixed Assets effectively. Leverage Ratios: There are four different ratios under the criterion of Productivity Ratio: * Debt to Asset ratio: * Debt to Equity: * Times Interest Earned: * Cash Flow to Debt ratio: 1) Debt to Asset Ratio: This ratio indicates the proportion of total assets financed by debt at a particular point in time; The formula for Debt to Asset Ratio:Debt to Asset = Total LiabilitiesTotal Assets X 100 Debt to Asset = Total LiabilitiesTotal Assets X 100 Company name| 2011| 2010| 2009| Heidelberg Cement| 34. 2989 (%)| 33. 7784 (%)| 34. 1261 (%)| Meghna Cement| 83. 5524 (%)| 81. 5425 (%)| 79. 7020 (%)| Interpretation: Heidelberg did not have any significant change in its Debt to Asset Ratio over the year though it went down by a little in 2010. We can see that in 2009, 34 % of its Assets were financed by Debt and in 2010 and 2 011 33% and 34% of its Assets were financed by its Liabilities.Heidelberg holds a large proportion of Assets to its Equity and a less proportion to debt. Meghna has a large Debt to Asset Ratio which has a significant rise over the years, from 2009 to 2011 its debt to asset went up from 79% to 83%. Meghna holds a large proportion of Assets financed by its Liabilities. In comparison, Heidelberg has the upper hand In this segment, because it has a lot less Assets exposed to Debt rather than Meghna, which has a large Debt against its Assets. Dupont Analysis: At the end of the project we’d like to draw a concluding summary by using the concept of Dupont Analysis in comparative traits for both of the firms.The Dupont system provides a good starting point for any financial analysis. It shows that financial strength in a company comes from three major sources, rather it focuses on three major segments; * Profitability : Profit generated from a company’s Sales * Asset Utilizati on : Sales generated from investment in Assets * Debt Utilization: Portion of Assets that is held against Owner’s Equity. Return on Equity (ROE) = Net IncomeSales X SalesTotal Asset X Total AssetTotal Equity Or, ROE = Profit Margin (PM) X TA TO X Equity Multiplier (EM)Return on Equity (ROE) = Net IncomeSales X SalesTotal Asset X Total AssetTotal Equity Or, ROE = Profit Margin (PM) X TA TO X Equity Multiplier (EM) So, the formula for Dupont looks like this: Dupont analysis for Heidelberg Cement: From the Ratios we calculated earlier (PM, TA TO & EM); we get the following values for ROE by using the Dupont formula: Year| PM| TA TO| EM| ROE| 2011 | 8. 8028%| 1. 0631 (x)| 1. 5220 (x)| 14. 3243%| 2010| 12. 0014%| 1. 1586 (x)| 1. 5101 (x)| 20. 977%| 2009| 11. 5059%| 1. 1951 (x)| 1. 5181 (x)| 20. 8749%| Interpretation: From 2009 to 2010 we can see a slight rise up from 20. 8749% to 20. 9977% in the ROE Ratio for Heidelberg Cement. However from 2010 to 2011 there was major decline in ROE of 20. 9977% to 14. 3243%. Where TA TO and EM remains approximately similar, the ROE falls due to a declining Profit Margin in the year of 2011. So undermining the decline in the Profit Margin, it is safe to say that Heidelberg showed a considerable poor performance in generating Profit from its Sales, in the last observed year of 2011.

The Art of Public Speaking

The Art of Public Speaking Public speaking is an oral presentation in which a speaker addresses an audience, and until the 20th century, public speakers were usually referred to as orators and their discourses as orations.   A century ago, in his Handbook of Public Speaking, John Dolman observed that public speaking is significantly different from a theatrical performance in that it is  not a conventionalized imitation of life, but life itself, a natural function of life, a real human being in real communication with his fellows; and it is best when it is most real. Unlike its predecessor oration, public speaking involves an interplay of not only body language and recitation, but on conversation, delivery and feedback. Public speaking today is more about the audiences reaction and participation than an orations technical correctness. Six Steps to Successful Public Speaking According to John. N Gardner and A. Jerome Jewlers Your College Experience, there a six steps to creating a successful public speech: Clarify your objective.Analyze your audience.Collect and organize your information.Choose your visual aids.Prepare your notes.Practice your delivery. As language has evolved over time, these principals have become even more apparent and essential in speaking well in a public capacity. Stephen Lucas says in Public Speaking that languages have become more colloquial and speech delivery more conversational as more and more citizens of ordinary means took to the rostrum, audiences no longer regarded the orator as a larger-than-life figure to be regarded with awe and deference. As a result, most modern audiences favor straightforwardness and honesty, authenticity to the oratory tricks of old. Public speakers, then, must strive to convey their objective directly to the audience they will be speaking in front of, collecting information, visual aids, and notes that will best serve the speakers honesty and integrity of delivery. Public Speaking in the Modern Context From business leaders to politicians, many professionals in modern times use public speaking to inform, motivate, or persuade audiences near and far, though in the last few centuries the art of public speaking has moved beyond the stiff orations of old to a more casual conversation that contemporary audiences prefer. Courtland L. Bovà ©e notes in Contemporary Public Speaking that while basic speaking skills have changed little, styles in public speaking have. Whereas the early 19th century carried with it the popularity of the recitation of classic speeches, the 20th century brought a change in focus to elocution. Today, Bovà ©e notes, the emphasis is on extemporaneous speaking, giving a speech that has been planned in advance but is delivered spontaneously. The internet, too, has helped change the face of modern public speaking with advents of going live on Facebook and Twitter and recording speeches for later broadcast to a global audience on Youtube. However, as Peggy Noonan puts it in What I Saw at the Revolution, Speeches are important because they are one of the great constants of our political history; for two hundred years they have been changing - making, forcing - history.

Spooky Dry Ice Fog Halloween Jack-o-Lantern

Spooky Dry Ice Fog Halloween Jack-o-Lantern You can make spooky fog come out of your Halloween jack-o-lantern using a little dry ice. Heres how you do it plus a trick for getting the best effect. Spooky Jack-o-Lantern Materials Basically, all you need is a carved jack-o-lantern, dry ice, a container, and water. Warm water is more effective than cool or room temperature water. PumpkinTall cup or glassDry iceWater Lets Get Started! Okay, first you need to cut around the top of the pumpkin so you can scoop out the seeds and other pumpkin guts. If you are rushed for time, you can skip this step, but its easier to carve a clean pumpkin.Carve a face or design into the pumpkin. Keep in mind, carbon dioxide fog sinks, so more fog will flow out of the mouth of your jack-o-lantern than through its eyes. If you make the mouth relatively small, you usually can get fog to flow through the nose and eyes pretty well.When you are ready for the display, set a tall container full of water inside the jack-o-lantern. Try to find a can or glass that is taller than the eyes of your jack-o-lantern, since that is the trick for getting fog to flow through the whole carving.Drop a piece of dry ice into the water. Replace the top of the pumpkin. You want the lid to fit tightly so there wont be air currents dissipating the fog.You can add more dry ice over time.

Central American Migration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Central American Migration - Essay Example Due to social and economic pressures, the United States government and some of her people opposed the entry of Central Americans to the United States through various policies. This led to new immigrants fleeing war experiencing economic and other social problems although they contributed immensely to the economy. Central American Migration War, persecution, and violence in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua due to political upheavals spurred the mass migration of their citizens into the United States (Gutierrez 188). The migration occurred in phases with the elites fleeing first followed by professionals and the middle class and lastly, the poor working class. Nicaraguan migrants went to the US in three waves with the first consisting of the overthrown Somoza family and their associates, wealthy business peoples and members of the National guard in 1970s followed by the middle class professionals and business people in the 1980s and lastly, the poor workers and young men escaping recruitment in the contra war (Gutierrez 195). Their flight, unlike the Cubans, was not welcome by the American government who classified them as illegal aliens and used varied ways to try to stop their entry into United States. Even after conditions improved in their home countries, many Central Americans did not return home due to a variety of reasons. The end of hostilities did not improve their security at home. In Nicaragua, former contras and fragments of Sandinista army continued to fight especially in rural areas. In El Salvador and Guatemala death squads and vigilante groups also operated (Gutierrez 196). This coupled with increased crime rates reduced the number of immigrants willing to return home and led to many more Central Americans migrating to United States. Depending on their social economic status, Central Americans used several strategies to survive in the harsh United States. Wealthy immigrants used their economic resources and business connections to buy assets in the United States on which they lived comfortably. Many exiles including the Somoza family transferred their assets to Miami banks in the late 1970s, and they moved into fashionable residences in key Biscayne and Brickell Avenue where they invested heavily on condominiums in the suburban western edge of the city (Portes and Stepick 227). These were later to be sold to Nicaraguan professionals and business people during the second wave of migration. This group experienced tough economic hardships on United States soil, and the majority worked in unskilled trades to earn a daily living due to the uncertain future. The professionals gradually moved into their fields of work and some steadily advanced in a professional capacity because of prior work experience in their country of origin. Professionals used existing friendships with Cuban Americans, developed in school, to get financing to start their own businesses (Portes and Stepick 153). The peasants and Nicaragua workers migrated chiefly due to war and economic hardships brought about by war. Nicaraguan peasants and workers migrated because of the United States sponsored contra war. They became unskilled laborers in the host country. The United States could now access cheap labor easily, a thing that impacted positively on her economic growth. The resolution by the US to pigeonhole Nicaraguan immigrant’s illegal aliens exposed them to very many challenges because they did not receive any benefits