Chapter Practice

QuestionAnswerthe trend towards worldwide markets makes it easier to predict where competitors will spring up. true or false?falsebecause many countries are investing in countries other than their own, each country is becoming more autonomous and independent. true or false?falsean advantage of international expansion is that competition within foreign countries is generally very similar to that of the US. true or false?falseIn michael porter's â€Å"diamond of competitive advantage† there are 4 broad attributes that, as a system, constitute a nation's competitiveness in an industry. true or false?truethe factor endowments of a country are inherited and cannot be created. true or false?falsewith regard to factor conditions the pool of resources that a firm has is much more important than the speed and efficiency with which these resources are deployed. true or false?falsedemanding domestic consumers tend to push firms to move ahead of companies in other countries where consumer s are less demanding and more complacent. true or false?truehigh levels of environmental awareness in Denmark have led to a decline in Denmark's industrial competitiveness in the international marketplace. true or false?falsecountries with a strong supplier base benefit by adding efficiency to upstream activities. true or false?truetypically, intense rivalry in domestic markets does not force firms to look outside their national boundaries for new markets. true or false?falsemany international firms are increasing their efforts to market their products and services to countries such as India and China as the ranks of their middle class continue to increase. true or false?trueinternational expansion can extend the life cycle of a product that is in its maturity stage in a firm's home country. true or false?truean advantage of international expansion is that it can enable a firm to optimize the location of every activity in its value chain. true or false?truethe laws, and the enforcem ent of laws, associated with the protection of intellectual property rights, represent a significant currency and management risk to multinational firms. true or false?falsedifferences in foreign markets such as culture, language, and customs can represent significant management risks when firms enter foreign markets. true or false?trueoffshoring takes place when a firm decides to shift an activity that they were previously performing in a domestic location to a foreign location. true or false?true2 opposing pressures that managers face when they compete in foreign markets are cost reduction and adaption to local markets. true or false?truetheodore levitt has argued that people around the world are willing to sacrifice preferences in product features, functions, and design if they are offered lower prices and high quality. true or false?trueamong theordore levitt's assumptions that would favor a global strategy is that consumers around the world are becoming less price sensitive. tr ue or false?falsewithin a worldwide market, the most effective strategies are neither purely multidomestic nor purely global. true or false?trueindustries in which proportionally more value is added in upstream activities are more likely to benefit from a global strategy than those in which more value is added downstream. true or false?truein a global strategy a firm operates all its businesses under a single common strategy regardless of location. true or false?truea multidomestic strategy is the most appropriate strategy for international operations because it drives economies of scale as far as possible and provides a middle of the road product appealing to the largest number of consumers in every market. t or f?falsethe need to attain economies of scale encourages multinational firms to operate under a multidomestic strategy. true or false?falsecorporations with multiple foreign operations that act very independently of one another are following a multidomestic strategy. true or false?truea multidomestic strategy would likely include the use of high volume, centralized production facilities to maximize economies of scale. true or false?falsea limitation of a multidomestic strategy is that it may lead to overadaptation as conditions change. true or false?truemultinational firms following a transnational strategy strive to optimize the tradeoffs associated with efficiency, local adaptation, and learning. true or false?truea key tenet of transnational strategy is improved adaptation to all competitive situations as well as flexibility by capitalizing on communication and knowledge flows throughout the organization. true or falsetrueaccording to studies by Rugman and Verbeke, most of the world's 500 firms are global- not regional or biregional. true or false?falsea franchise generally expires after a few years whereas a license is designed to last into perpetuity. true or false?falsetypically joint ventures involve less control and risk than franchising. true or false?falsetypically the best method of entry into a foreign market is the establishment of a wholly owned foreign subsidiary so that the parent organization can maintain a high level of control. true or false?falsea major trend in international developments include:greater international trade and operations, growing recognition of an international managerial perspective, a large increase in international investmentthe reasons that explain why some governments make better use of the inflows from foreign investment and know how than others include:governmental practices that are business friendly, local entrepreneurs that can train workers and invest in modern technology, sound management of broader economic factors such as interest rates and inflationaccording to michael porter's framework all of these factors affect a nation's competitivenessfactor conditions, demand characteristics, related and supported industriesrivalry is intense in nations with conditions of ____ consumer d emand, _____ supplier bases, and _____ new entrant potential from related industriesstrong, strong, highaccording to michael porter, firms that have experienced intense domestic competition are:more likely to design strategies and structures that allow them to successfully compete abroad.all of these factors have made India's software services industry extremely competitive on a global scalelarge pool of skilled workers, large network of public and private educational institutions, large, growing market and sophisticated customersadvantages of global diversificationfirm not being solely dependent on domestic market, firm with large margins at home helping subsidize its operations in other nations, potential to lower costs of operation even if the primary market is at homeoptimizing the location of every activity in the value chain can yield all of these strategic advantagesperformance enhancements, cost reduction, extending the life cycle of the product or serviceMicrosoft decided t o establish a corporate research laboratory in Cambridge, Englandto access the outstanding technical and professional talent available there so that they can attain world class excellence in selected value creating activitiesthe sale of boeing's commercial aircraft and microsoft's operating systems in many countries enable these companies to benefit from:economies of scaleMany US multinational companies set up maquiladora operations south of the US-Mexico border primarilyto take advantage of the low cost of laborappreciation of the US dollar will have this impact on McDonaldslower profits, because foreign profits will be reduced when measured in dollarsThis occurs when a firm decides to utilize other firms to perform value-creating activities that were previously performed in houseoutsourcingwhat is one of Theodore Levitt's assumptions supporting a pure global strategy?MNCs can compete with aggressive pricing on low cost products that meet the common needs of global consumerspressur es to reduce costs require thata company must pursue what is economically beneficial to the company including maximizing economies of scale and learning curve effectsLow pressure for local adaptation combined with low pressure for lower costs would suggest what type of strategy?internationalHigh pressure for local adaptation combined with low pressure for lower costs would suggest what type of international strategy?multidomesticSoftware Tech Inc. a company in the computer software industry, invests heavily in R&D and product design. Thus, most of its value is addedupstreamIndustries in which proportionally more value is added in _____ activities are more likely to benefit from a ______ strategy.upstream, globalWhat types of international firms are most likely to benefit from a global strategy as opposed to a multidomestic strategy?firms in industries that have much value added in research and design or manufacturingRecent trends that might lead to managers of multinational corporat ions to adopt a more decentralized strategy for their operations would includeconsumers are the world are increasingly willing to trade off idiosyncratic preferences in product features for lower price, flexible mftg trends have allowed a decline in the min volume required to reach acceptable levels of production efficiencyFirms following a global strategy strive to offer ______ products and services as well as locate manufacturing, R&D, and marketing activities in ______ locations.standardized, fewGillete's worldwide success with its Sensor razor demonstratesthat a global marketing effort can sometimes be successfulas in the case of Siebel systems, elements of a global strategy may facilitate the competitive advantage of differentiation bythe creation of a world wide network to achieve consistent service regardless of location.risks associated with global strategyfirm with only one mfg location must export its product, geographic concentration of any activity may also tend to isola te that activity from the target market, concentrating an activity in a single location makes the firm dependent on that locationlimitations of global strategy:limited ability to adapt to local markets, concentration of activities may increase dependence on single facility, single locations may lead to higher tariffs and transportation costsElements of a multidomestic strategy may facilitate the competitive advantage of cost leadership bydecreased shipping and transportation costs inherent in local productionlimitations of a multidomestic strategyless ability to realize cost savings through scale economies, greater difficulty in transferring knowledge across countries, may lead to overadpatation as conditions changehigh pressure for local adaptation combined with high pressure for lower costs would suggest what type of international strategy?transnationalUnits coordinate their activities with headquarters and one another, units adapt to special circumstances only the face, and the e ntire org draws upon relevant corporate resources. These are attributes of:transnational strategyWhat is a disadvantage of a transnational strategy?unique managerial challenges in fostering knowledge transferin order to realize the strongest competitive advantage, firms engaged in worldwide competition mustpursue a strategy that combines the uniformity of a global strategy and the specificity of a multidomestic strategy in order to achieve optimal resultsAccording to studies by Rugman and Verbeke, approx how many of the world's largest 500 firms are global, that is, they have at least 20% of their total revenues each in North America, Asia, and Europe?10What describes the most typical order of entry into foreign markets?exporting, licensing, franchising, joint venture, and wholly owned subsidiarya domestic corporation considering expanding into international markets for the first time will typicallyconsider implementing a low risk/low control strategy such as exportingThe form of en try strategy into operations that offers the lowest level of control would be:exportingFees that a multinational receives from a foreign licensee in return for its use of intellectual property are usually calledroyaltiesthe difference between a franchise and licensing contract is thata franchise contract is more specific and longer in duration_________ entails the creation of a third party legal entity; whereas _______ do not.joint ventures, strategic alliancesa business in which a multinational company owns 100% of the stockwholly owned subsidiaryThis is most appropriate where a firm already has the appropriate knowledge and capabilities that it can leverage rather easily through multiple locations in many countrieswholly owned subsidiaries

The person i met in Heaven

I stood there, motionless. Shock had taken over my body like a disease. I started shaking; my body going into panic mode. I collapsed, tears streaming down my face. I couldn't move. I just sat, looking, staring. I screamed, and then I was in total darkness. This was the last memory going through my head before†¦ I opened my eyes. As I sat up to see where I was, I felt a cool breeze against my cheeks. I saw that I was lying in the middle of a massive field with trees surrounding it. I knew where I was straight away. I had been thinking about this place for thirty years. I looked around, this place was the same, but, it just had a softer atmosphere then I remembered. The sky seemed to glow. Almost like a dream. Except, this wasn't a dream, this was real. I got up to look around, and then suddenly I heard a voice. â€Å"Well, well, well. You made it then?† the voice laughed. â€Å"Never could've imagined that!† I spun around. â€Å"Katy?† I stood there, staring at her. I had dreamed of this moment since I was a teenager. I had planned every word, every movement, but now, no words ran through my head. Just emotions and memories. â€Å"Are you alright? Looks like you've seen a ghost,† she chuckled. â€Å"God, I crack myself up!† â€Å"Am I dreaming?† â€Å"Nope, you're in Heaven! To be honest, I'm surprised you made it!† The atmosphere cooled, and it felt like old times again. â€Å"What do you mean? I was more angelic than you!† We both laughed, then, silence. It suddenly felt awkward. â€Å"I'm so sorry Katy. I never realised you were so upset with your life. I hated myself; I wanted to see you, to talk to you. I – I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  My words came out so quickly, rushing out of my mouth. The sky darkened from a sunny blue to a deadly black, and pictures of the past seemed to appear all around us. â€Å"Lauren, shut it! What are you? Forty-Five? And you're still going on about that? It wasn't your fault, okay? Stop blaming yourself. I've been watching over you for thirty years and there are so many things you could've done. You turned down so many opportunities to meet new people and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  she paused, â€Å"you just had no confidence in yourself. And that's because of me.† She looked as defenceless as she did when her parents died in that car crash when she was fourteen. Being in care had messed her up a bit, and I knew that she had been on anti – depressants for a while. But wouldn't anyone be like her in her situation? I had never expected her to kill herself. I sat down next to her, then, finally breaking the silence, I spoke. â€Å"Why?† The word shot through the air like a dart. I looked at Katy. â€Å"I know you were upset about your parents but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I stopped to think about what I was saying. Scared of what her reaction might be if I said the wrong thing. â€Å"You seemed to be managing fine† I said. â€Å"I don't know. I just†¦ I felt like I could manage. I stopped taking my tablets, and then everything seemed to go downhill. I thought about what happened quite a lot. I blamed myself for everything. I knew I shouldn't've, but I did. I got more and more depressed, taking everything so seriously. Like, that time when Louise Painsley called me a ‘useless whore', just because I messed up in our music performance?† I nodded, not quite sure of what to say, but before I had time to think, she continued. â€Å"Well, everything just used to hit me like a punch in the stomach. Every little thing. It sounds stupid, but it just built up. I couldn't manage anymore, I just wanted to go. To be with my family. And away from†¦ everything.† She looked at me. â€Å"I'm sorry that I didn't speak to you. I just didn't want to bother you with all my worries. I just knew what I wanted to do, so I did it. But deep down you knew that, so why did you mess up your life over it? I just don't get it Loz. You were my best mate. Why would it have been your fault?† I thought about my answer, but to be honest, I had no idea. Finally, I just said everything that I felt. â€Å"All these years I had just thought about you, and the fact that I was having fun when you were gone. It just didn't feel right. I suppose that's okay for the first few months right? But I know I shouldn't've dragged it out. I just didn't feel right. I felt like I was betraying you in some way.† We looked at each other in a knowing way. In a way that meant not to carry on with the conversation. That it was finished and didn't need to be mentioned again. I sighed with relief. It felt like a massive weight had been lifted from my chest. I grabbed Katy's hand and we walked around the place that I had been thinking about for thirty years. The place where me and Katy spent most our time. A massive field with trees surrounding it. I felt a cool breeze against my cheeks. I felt at peace with myself. This was my heaven, and nobody could ever take it away from me again.

PEDE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

PEDE - Essay Example Ethical decision making is the very cornerstone of the Professional Mission Statement and may very well be the guiding principles of the entire document. As you progress through the OLS program of study, you will increase your knowledge, crystallize your beliefs and expand your skills. Therefore, you will keep modifying and perfecting your mission statement during the next few months and years. A mission statement should enable you to attain unsurpassed excellence, inspire you to lifelong honesty and ethical behavior, and serve as your continuous guidepost during difficult personal and professional times. Many leaders put their mission statement on their business cards, display it in their offices and/or keep a copy in their homes. The first step in writing your mission statement is to do some reflecting, soul searching, and imagining. This is often called harnessing the potential of your creative imagination and mobilizing allied forces of concentration. The sequence is: The first step in the process of developing a Personal Mission Statement is to outline your various roles in life and describe how you desire to be in each of those roles. You have roles in maintaining total well-being, in your family, at work, with friends, in the faith community, in lifelong learning, and in your community. It is important to maintain â€Å"life balance† in these areas. How you define each of your roles is up to you. The life roles are in the left hand column and the question about how you would like to be described in each role is in the right hand column. Please complete this worksheet: After defining your roles in the seven areas, it is time to expand on your personal and professional role. The answers to the following questions may serve as the basis for the development of your mission statement: I want to become supportive and at the same time a participative kind of

Banking2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Banking2 - Essay Example with the article 7 of the Saudi Banking Control Law the items that are allowed to be held for liquidity reserves by the commercial banks are the following ones: ‘cash, gold or assets’ (article 7). The legal maximum loan size that commercial banks in Saudi Arabia can give is mentioned in the article 8 of the Saudi Banking Control Law. In accordance with this article a commercial bank in Saudi Arabia is not allowed to give a loan which exceeds the ‘25% of the bank’s reserves and paid-up or invested capital’ (article 8). In accordance with the article 10 there is a series of activities prohibited to banks across Saudi Arabia; we could indicatively refer to the following ones: a) to get involved in wholesale or retail trade activities, b) to purchase the shares of a bank operating in Saudi Arabia, c) to acquire or lease real estate – unless this is necessary for the development of the firm’s activities or because of debts to the bank (article 10). The above activities are permitted to banks operating in Saudi Arabia only after the written authorization of the Agency. 5. List 4 activities that SAMA (Central Bank of Saudi Arabia) would implement if it discovers that a commercial bank is not abiding with banking laws especially when those un-allowed activities adversely affect the bank’s ability to repay back its loans and/or affect his liquidity position? In case that a bank operating in Saudi Arabia fails to follow the rules set in the country’s Banking legal framework, then it can be controlled by SAMA; the above authority can take the measures required in order to ensure the protection of the public from the particular organization; in this context, the following activities can be developed – enforced by SAMA: a) appoint one or more appropriately skilled advisers, b) order the suspension of any officer – or even the director – who is considered as responsible for the organizational failures, c) set limits to the credit offered to the

Health Article Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Health - Article Example It is also important to know that sexual health is affected by socio-economic and political factors. The physical factors include chronic illnesses and even medical treatment that hinders the sexual functioning of the human being. These also include sexually related diseases such as STIs/ HIV and reproductive tract infections. Infertility also contributes to sexual health problem. And this does not only serve as a physical factor but also emotional and mental. Among the mental factors, mental incapacity hinders us in achieving optimum sexual health. Retardation as a hindrance, have an effect on the sexual urges and the perceptions of a person suffering from mental retardation on sexuality. Anxiety and fear on the other hand is a by-factor of sexual coercions like rape and molestations. When anxiety is developed, a person looks at sexual relationship as a non-gratifying behaviour. When this happens, a person's sexual health is at risk. Social factors on the other hand go beyond medical concerns. These include sexual awareness leading to unwanted pregnancies, which can also have disturbing effects on the health of the women. It may also be linked with sexual coercion. Limited knowledge on safe sex also hinders general sexual health.

Religion and Prison System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Religion and Prison System - Essay Example The current prison and jail population in recent times has shown a substantial rise of over two million. America undoubtedly leads the world in terms of number of imprisoned population and that is a disgrace. USA prison system has made millions lives to live constantly under the threat of torture. This is precisely true for the 6.9 million individuals in USA who are at present imprisoned or some way or the other subject to the USA penal body (Franklin). More insidiously, the prison system has essentially assisted in turning torture into a normal, lawful, and a common part of American culture. Imprisonment can be classified as a form of torture owing to the fact that it is considered as the legal form of both punishment and avoidance. Moreover, the American prison system is typically designed and run to maximize filth, brutality, and punishment. As mentioned by Franklin â€Å"Beatings, electric shock, prolonged exposure to heat and even immersion in scalding water, sodomy with riot b atons, nightsticks, flashlights, and broom handles, shackled prisoners forced to lie in their own excrement for hours or even days, months of solitary confinement, rape and murder by guards or prisoners instructed by guards† (Franklin) are very common within the closed walls of the American prison.... Christianity does not provide an easy answer to the viability of torture that is practiced by mankind. It does provide a sense of hope about something that Christians should respect and consider even more than their individual and national security. Due to the fact that the portrayal of the black sites are as elusive as attempts to define their legal status, a chronology from the past eight years of information pertinent to them can efficiently aid in understanding the phenomenon of the black sites. It is true that the black sites function beyond the jurisdiction of international and even, for all intents and purposes the American law. However, the way in which they do so is dependent and logically coherent with the divisions of power and accountability between various government agencies and departments-in particular, the pentagon, FBI, and CIA. The black sites are on the fringe of places that common man is able to see, but are cordoned off by essential makeshift legal fences. After the incident of 9/11, the CIA was ordered to operate and carry on their procedures without any legal restraints. By late 2001, empowered to act without restraints, the CIA fell short of places to hide their high valued detainees. Again the additional freedom that was granted to CIA instigated a desire to acquire greater control over their investigation without any sort of external indulgence. Due to this, the government of United States of America allotted millions of dollars to construct private prisons that were exclusively meant for the CIA. These private prisons are known as black sites. The first known and prominent black site was constructed in Kabul on an old factory site named as the ‘salt pit’. In the

World religion and major periods during the development in the united Term Paper

World religion and major periods during the development in the united states - Term Paper Example During this colonial period, events occurred for example 8 Englishmen being allowed to colonize other parts of America. For example Virginia was the first American colony which was founded at Jamestown in Virginia. The Native Americans who were in Virginia had mixed feelings towards the newcomers; they were hostile to them and even attacked their ships. On the other hand, Indians had hospitality to the newcomers thus providing food to them. In the North of America, Massachusetts Bay colony was formed in 1920 together with Plymouth colony. In the other colonies war started in north American showing European rivalries where the Native American had to look for alliances to other powers to make sure that the colonist will not control the whole region for long period since the Native Americans together with the settlers experienced challenges when dealing with the colonial masters. For example king George war the Native American had to ally with other colonist like the British and French depending on the interests of other colonies to a specific indentified colony which was assumed to be the best. This depended on the interest of colonies to others. Due to religious motives Toleration Act was given a consideration in 1649 making England to be given the power of religious freedom. As a missionary during the colonial period, I was fully engaged in ensuring that masters and their servants did not interfere with the religious organizations that were trying to bring people together. Additionally, my role was to preach peace and unity among members of the community. The American Revolutionary which started in 1775 to 1783 is also termed as American war of independence. The war was between the Great Britain by the American colonies which later was named as United States of America. The unlawful act which the British parliament imposed on the

Memorable School Experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Memorable School Experience - Essay Example It was not long before school became a strong social outlet and I began to experience great success in my courses. I excelled academically and was barely cognizant of a group of students in courses I had that were quickly failing. One day I showed up and they had transferred to another class. I went on for much of the year concentrating on school. While I experienced relative success, towards the end of the year I increasingly felt something was missing in my life. While at the time I thought it was simply the need of a more robust social life, in retrospect I recognize that even at this early age I was experiencing a slight crisis of personal meaning. At nights I would sit by myself and think about the purpose of even being successful in school or life. Like a miniature Camus or Sartre, I gradually came to believe that there was no real meaning to life and that the books and schoolwork I had so diligently devoted myself to was nothing but me fooling myself that things mattered. I so ught out ways to counter this depression. Increasingly I looked to others thinking they new the answers. It was this that led me to one-day talk with the kids who had dropped out of my courses a few months earlier. To me it seemed as if they similarly rejected school and found a different path. One day during lunch I ate with them and then walked with them as they went behind the school. There was a pasture next door where they would sneak away and smoke marijuana. As we were returning I turned my head and noticed the school resource officer standing right beside us; he had watched us the entire time. I ended up receiving a week-long suspension. At the time I was truly furious with what had happened, but today I realize it was a turning point in my life. I consider Hartman’s story when he writes, â€Å"I became a bulldog and I spoke --truly spoke, clearly-- for the first time† (Hartman). After this incident I too found my voice. While at times I continued to question l ife, I learned to find my own meaning and appreciate everyday for what it is. My favorite teacher in high school was my junior year English teacher Mr. Harvey. Before enrolling in his course English had always seemed to be to be a study of grammar, structure, vocabulary, and ancient texts that held little resemblance to my modern existence. Throughout my junior year of high school I came to gain a much deeper appreciation for literature and poetry, and the ways that writing empower our lives. The first day of class we walked in and after head administered an introductory talk had everyone in the class stand up. We then walked into procession to a desk he had at the front of the room; we were instructed to step onto the desk and then jump off. The intention was so that the class would become more comfortable with jumping into the intellectual unknown. Throughout the semester Mr. Harvey regularly came up with novel and unique teaching methods. One day the class would be outside at the lake writing poetry, the next day we’d be analyzing Sylvia Plath indoors. While the course was filled with excitement, in retrospect perhaps the things I appreciate most about Mr. Harvey were the things I disliked at the time. Regularly he would choose a student’s essay and place it on a projector and correct it in front the entire class. Everyone dreaded having his or her essay being chosen, albeit the individual

Carbon, Phosphorus and Nitrogen Cycles Essay Example for Free

Carbon, Phosphorus and Nitrogen Cycles Essay The carbon cycle starts with the reservoir of the carbon dioxide in the air, the carbon atoms move from carbon dioxide through photosynthesis into atoms of organic molecules that form the plants body. These carbon atoms are then further metabolized and are eaten and turned into tissue that all organisms in the ecosystem use. Half of the atoms are respired by the plants and animals and half are deposited back into the soil in the form of dead animal and plant matter, which are eaten by decomposers and transformed back into carbon dioxide. Humans impact this cycle because we are removing so much of the photosynthetic efforts of the plants in order to support our enterprises, we are â€Å"diverting 40% of the photosynthetic productivity of land plants to support human enterprises,† (pg 67). Two examples of our harmful tendencies are burning fossil fuels which has increased atmospheric carbon dioxide â€Å"35% over preindustrial levels,† (pg. 67) and logging. These both are being used naturally by the ecosystem and the lack of these resources causes stress and strain to keep the balance. At the rate it is going carbon to complete its cycle from the atmosphere through one or more living organism and back to the atmosphere happens about every 6 years. The phosphorus cycle includes the cycle of all the biologically important nutrients found in the natural minerals. These elements include iron, calcium, potassium found in the rock and soil minerals in the lithosphere. Over time a rock breaks down and releases phosphate (PO43-) and other ions which replenish phosphorus that is lost due to runoffs and leaching. The phosphate is absorbed by plants and turned into compounds that are moved through the food chain. Humans impact this cycle because we are using the phosphorus to make fertilizers, animal feeds, detergents or other products and mining these locations. Our water systems are being damaged because â€Å"human applications have tripled the amount of phosphorus making it to the oceans,† (pg 68). This is a problem because it causes over fertilization or eutrophication of the aquatic ecosystem. The waterborne phosphorus cannot be returned to the soils this causes too much bacteria or algae in the water and kills of the fish and other water mammals. The nitrogen cycle is similar to the carbon and phosphorus cycles; because it has a gas phase like carbon and can also be a limiting factor such as phosphorus. The main form of nitrogen is in the air â€Å"which is about 78% nitrogen gas (N2),† (pg 68). The plants change the nitrogen into organic compounds which are necessary like proteins and nucleic acids. Humans impact this cycle because many of our crops are legumes or nonleguminous. Legumes like peas, beans provide the bacteria a place to live and a source of food and receive nitrogen in exchange, where it enters the food web. Nonleguminous crops such as corn, wheat, potatoes and cotton have to be heavily fertilized with nitrogen’s from industrial fixations. The over fertilization of nitrogen into the soils are destroying lakes, ponds and forests. However our actions are more than doubling the rate which nitrogen is moved from the atmosphere to the land, â€Å"nitric acid has destroyed thousands of lakes and ponds and caused extensive damage to forests,† (pg 70). Humans have a great impact on all three cycles. If it continues the way that we are using fossil fuels, and destroying the land as we are currently are. We are depleting our resources at a faster rate than we can sustain naturally which is causing harmful living conditions which we may not necessarily feel the repercussions of immediately.

Online Food Catering Essay Example for Free

Online Food Catering Essay When I first began this project, I though that I would do the normal pasta and add the cheapest sauce I could find, but then I thought â€Å"why make something typical, when I could make something that reflects my culture and is cheap†. So I did just that. I went and researched online â€Å"Arab peasant food† and came up with mixed bean soup. Some of the main challenges I faced was keeping the meal under the budget. This was especially difficult because if I add more spice, it will become too expensive, but if I don’t I will have a lot of money left over. In the end I bought some popsicles for desert(which wouldn’t be a good idea in the 30’s because the lower class didn’t have freezers). The last and probably the hardest challenge I faced was getting my family to eat my dinner. During this project I realized how tough it must be to try to think of and execute something that supports your health but is also at such a low cost. When I interviewed my family members they had some vry interesting views that I didn’t expect. My father was happy with the meal and thought it suited the assignment very well though he had some critiques of the flavor of the dish. He also stated that he â€Å"would eat the dish for long periods of time if necessary, but after more than a couple days, I would choose another dish if possible. He also said that if we were to save a couple bucks we would eat less fresh foods and no fruits or veggies. † My brother was a bit less open minded and said that the soup was very bland and â€Å"boring† and that people in the great depression â€Å"couldn’t live with horrible food like this. The healthiness of this meal is fairly good, with the exception of the popsicles. The beans provided exceptional nutritional value with high concentrations of protein and lots of fats and starch in the pasta. If I would have to live like this for a long time, I would probably get sick of it, but if it the only thing available to eat, I could cope. If a present day depression were to occur, my family would probably sell all UNNESSEARY items and downgrade on items we must have. Within this period I would feel as if my government has betrayed me and I was â€Å" left for the wolves†.

Observing a mathematics lesson

Observing a mathematics lesson Introduction: The world in which we live is mathematical. In our everyday activities we need mathematics for instance; there is need in everyone for mathematical thinking as well as problem solving in the workplace, at home, when in a shopping spree, etc. In a world of such kind, you notice that those who comprehend and can operate mathematics will have immense opportunities that others lack. In fact, mathematical proficiency opens avenues to productive prospects. Conversely, lack of mathematical competency closes those doors. Usually, learners have varied abilities, interests and more fundamentally, needs. Yet each learner requires mathematics in his or her individual life, be it at home, in the workplace, and even in further study. All learners deserve a chance to appreciate the power and splendor of mathematics. Students should learn a new collection of mathematics nitty-gritty as well as higher level critical-thinking handiness which are critical to problem solving. These permits them to work out fluently, interpret and to unravel puzzles innovatively and resourcefully. The objectives of this lesson is to enable instructors establish suitable strategies employable in problem solving and appropriate forms of mathematical assessment and further the correlation between problem solving and learners achievement. In the lesson, the standards in mathematics with regard puzzle solving are also looked at, as well as problem solving and assessment in an inclusive setting. In the lesson, several standards put down by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) were addressed. The NCTM declares that students need to develop a range of strategies for solving problems, such as using diagrams, looking for patterns, or trying special values or cases (NCTM, 2000, p. 7). These teaching strategies allow learners to comprehend with ease abstract mathematical concepts and make these concepts realistic to learners perception. According to Hanson et al (2001), if all learners are going to gain knowledge of these strategies, then these strategies should be imbedded in and most importantly be taught across the curriculum. Beside strategies standards, NCTM also establishes the standards for mathematics assessment to help in enhancing learning of mathematics and modeling and shaping teacher instruction. As a result, learners need to use assessments as a part of the reflecting process and work together in partnership with the teachers to determine the direct ion of learning in mathematics (Hanson et al, 2001). The teacher did discriminate instruction within a diverse classroom into mainly high achievers and the low performing learners. In this case, the teacher exposed low achievers to basic skills with limited exposure to operate higher-level problem-solving skills which were left for the higher performers (Grouws Cebulla, 2000). These low performing learners according to Grouws Cebulla, (2000) need to be exposed to more challenging curricula which provide first hand experience. For instance, rather than handing learners a worksheet, a more interesting puzzle might relate to an investigation of classmates involving the kinds of pets they have. From that basis, the class could create graphs depicting data, find partial comparisons (introduction to ratios and probability) and percents. Technology was not used in the instruction of the math lesson. For more effectiveness and probably efficiency, technology can be incorporated into this lesson. For instance, the teacher can make use a graphing calculator. This will offer learners an opportunity to collaborate and discuss the puzzles to establish the solution, as they would in a real world situation. Teaching mathematics needs a lot of reference lists. Teachers habitually have reference lists posted in their classrooms during lessons to which students can make reference when faced with a problem-solving situation. Mathematical problem solving indeed is a multifaceted cognitive activity which involves numerous processes as well as strategies (Montague, n.d.). Stages involving Problem solving are twofold: representation of the problem and problem execution. In the lesson, the teacher used pictures or manipulative objects. Pictures and objects do help make the problems as well as concepts more real and concrete to students as nearly all mathematics concepts are abstract. Modern theories on teaching techniques discourage competition and instead promote collaborative learning. Competition as a teaching strategy demotivates and demoralizes the underperformers. As a teacher, I would reorganize the classroom to accommodate more learner-learner interaction. Placing learners into cooperative learning and problem solving situations will promptly increase the interaction between the high-performing and low-performing students with the target of bridging the learning gap. Moreover, I would employ use of alternative assessments like portfolios and hands-on projects in order to improve strengths and weaknesses of each individual mathematics students. I would also include modifications like slowing the pace of instruction, reducing the process of estimation from problem solving, using flip charts of the involved processes and strategies, and finally teaching from known to unknown, concrete to abstract and from simple to complex. Conclusion: Mathematical problem solving can best be taught by employing cooperative learning technique. Students should be provided with the processes, stages and strategies that make mathematics problem solving simple to learn. Teachers should also consider providing real life mathematics situations to challenge students, and students will begin to appreciate the necessity and essence to be excellent problem solvers. References: Grouws, D. Cebulla, K. (2000). Improving Student Achievement in Mathematics. Geneva, Switzerland: International Academy of Education International Bureau of Education, Educational Practices Series -4. Hanson, et al (2001). Should standard calculators be provided in testing situations? An investigation of performance and preference differences. Applied Measurement in Education, 14(1), 59-72. Montague, M. (n.d.). Math problem solving for middle school students with disabilities. The Access Center. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (2000). Principles and standards for school mathematics.

Hierarchy and the Disorder of Separation in the Bible :: Free Essay Writer

Hierarchy and the Disorder of Separation in the Bible Proper Hierarchy and the Disorder of Separation Throughout the text of the Bible, and especially evident in Chapter 3 of Genesis, there is a system which God has set up to denote the proper relationships each of his creations share with each other and with Him. An analysis of this reoccurring theme will help to establish that God’s intended system is a hierarchy in which there is an apportionment of â€Å"servants† and â€Å"masters,† with God having the final authority. This motif is first introduced in chapter 1 of Genesis where God sees that His creations are â€Å"good,† already establishing a higher standard, â€Å"good,† from a lower one, â€Å"bad.† In the system that follows, the hierarchy runs with God foremost as the creator; then humans come next as subservient to God, but are put in charge of ruling all the â€Å"lesser creatures;† and then all the other animals, who feed on the vegetation of the land. We see that the intention of the author(s) was not to promote a belie f in equality, but rather principles governing a highly organized structure separating those who serve and those who rule. Chapter three delineates the fall of both man and woman by God who asserts and maintains the relationships within the hierarchy. In response to their actions, God punishes Adam, Eve, and the serpent. It is also interesting to note that when God approaches, then questions Adam about whether or not he ate the fruit, His advance immediately implies that God will take man’s word first over woman, and over all other creatures. Once again we see distinct levels of importance among the three: God values the man’s word first, as he is created in the likeness of Him; the woman second, since she is Adams derivative; then the serpent, whom God will hear last, as in this case. When Adam responds to God’s inquiry, instead of accepting any form of responsibility, he tells God of how Eve had handed the fruit to him - â€Å"It was the woman you gave to be with me who gave the me the fruit from the tree, and I ate it.† (Genesis 3:12) Adam, instead of accepting the responsi bility for his actions, blames both Eve and God for his unfortunate actions. Likewise when Eve receives the blame, she attributes her poor judgment to the serpent, which she claims â€Å"deceived [her] into eating it.

The Importance of the Origin of the First Quarto of Hamlet Essays

The Importance of the Origin of the First Quarto of Hamlet Ofel: Alas, what a change is this? Ham: But if thou wilt needes marry, marry a foole, For wisemen know well enough, What monsters you make of them, to a Nunnery goe. Ofel: Pray God restore him. Ham: Nay, I have heard of your painting too, God hath giuen you one face, And you make your selues another, --HAMLET, Prince of Denmarke, The First Quarto The title page of the second quarto of Hamlet claims that the text beneath it is "Newly imprinted and enlarged to almost as much / againe as it was, according to the true and perfect / Coppie." Taking this at face value, three facts necessary follow: That there is at least one earlier edition (or else this one could not be "newly imprinted...again"); that the earlier edition was shorter (or else this one could not be "enlarged"); and that this quarto does not include some lines from the "perfect Coppie" (since it is "almost as much"). Indeed, a First Quarto exists dated a year earlier (1603); Q1 is shorter some 1600 lines; and the Folio does restore certain seemingly authorial passages. It appears as if "I.R.," the printer, or "N.L.," the publisher, is correct on all possible counts. We cannot even condemn I.R. or N.L. for self-interested advertising. They admit that their copy is "almost," but not quite, "perfect."* Thus we might wish to take seriously one further point that the tit le page tries to make, namely, that the earlier quarto was neither "true" nor "perfect," and therefore is corrupted not simply in its brevity, but also in the presentation of the text which it actually does contain. This would mean that Q1 did not use the "true and perfect Coppie" as its copy-text. It does not seem preposterous to rephras... ...ay. The strategic early placing of the "To be or not to be, I there's the point" monologue gives it less weight than it has in Q2, as if it were the beginning of Hamlet's train of thought as opposed to the turning point we often think it is when we read a modern edition. Indeed, "the point" is more absolute than "the question." Hamlet does not fight with himself to solve a problem, but merely expresses what that problem is. To argue that this is oversimplification is to oversimplify: it is a revision. It is an Elizabethan argument, positing that a truly revengeful Hamlet would definitely shy away from suicide for hope of salvation, while the confused avenger Hamlet would probably shy away from suicide for fear of punishment. That in itself sheds light on the pop psychology of the day, and thus how we ought to read Hamlet's psychology in the context of its time.

Life Skills for Personality Development

SKILLS ? What are skills? ? What is the difference between a skilled and unskilled person? ? Why is it necessary to have skills? ? How does one acquire skills? ? Why should the skills be enhanced? What are Skills? ? Skills are the learned capacity which helps us to do a task effectively. Skills are abilities to use know-how to complete tasks.Skills are acquired through practice and patience A skilled person uses less time, energy and resources to do a job and produces quality results Skills are gained through school/college, work experiences, hobbies, books, elders, peers etc Skills can be improved if we could identify, analyze and practice them. What are Life Skills? Life Skills are abilities for adaptive and positive behavior that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life (WHO) Adaptive means that a person should have the flexibility to adjust according to the situation.For positive behavior, a person needs to have positive thinking and look at opportunities even in difficult situations, in order to cope with the situation. . 10 Core Life Skills (WHO) ? Self Awareness ? Effective Communication ? Critical thinking ? Decision Making ? Coping with emotion ? Empathy ? Interpersonal Relationship ? Creative thinking ? Problem Solving ? Coping with stress Self-Awareness †¢The ability to introspect, analyze and accept one’s thoughts actions and feelings; recognizing and acknowledging one’s needs and desires. †¢Ability to know our self: Our Character, desires, likes, dislikes and our strengths and weaknesses. Developing self-awareness can help us to recognize when we are stressed or feel under pressure. It is also often a prerequisite for effective communication and interpersonal relations, as well as for developing empathy for others. Empathy ? Empathy is the ability to accept and understand others who are different from you. ? Empathy encourages a positive behaviour towards people in need of care and assistance. ? This skill works wonders when we apply it to our relationships with our loved ones, classmates, parents, friends, cousins and colleagues ?Finally it helps you to move closer to findings solutions, to resolve conflicts and enhance quality of life. Effective Communication ? Effective communication means that we are able to express ourselves, both verbally and nonverbally, in ways that are appropriate to our cultures and situations. ? Listening. ? Assertiveness. Interpersonal Relationship ? Initiate and maintain positive relationships and de -link unconstructive relationships. ? Interpersonal relationship skills help us to relate in positive ways with the people we interact with.. Critical thinkingAbility to analyze information, experiences, situations and circumstances etc in an objective manner and rationally. ? Recognizing and assessing factors influencing our attitude and behavior. ? It is not merely criticizing.? Making objective judgments about choices and risks . ? Critical thinking can contribute to health by helping us to recognize and assess the factors that influence attitudes and behaviour, such as values, peer pressure, and the media. Creative thinking Ability to; ? Think differently and out of the box ? Look beyond our direct experience? Respond adaptability ?Having flexibility to situations in daily life? Achieving the objectives in daily life situations Creative Thinking ? Creative thinking contributes to both decision making and problem solving. ? It helps us to look beyond our direct experience, and even if no problem is identified, or no decision is to be made. ? can help us to respond adaptively and with flexibility to the situations of our daily lives. Problem Solving ? problem solving enables us to deal constructively with problems in our lives.? Significant problems that are left unresolved can cause mental stress and give rise to accompanying physical strain.Decision-making Ability to; ? Choose the best amongst the various alternatives or options in many life situations ? Weigh the pros and cons of alternatives ? Accepting responsibility for consequences of the decision with confidence.? Decision making helps us to deal constructively with decisions about our lives. ? This can have consequences for health if young people actively make decisions about their actions in relation to health by assessing the different options, and what effects different decisions may have. Coping with Emotion ? Recognizing emotions in ourselves and others Being aware of how emotions influence behavior, ? Being able to respond to emotions appropriately. ? Intense emotions, like anger or sorrow can have negative effects on our health if we do not react appropriately. Coping with Stress ? Coping with stress is about recognizing the sources of stress in our lives, ? Recognizing how this affects us, & ? Acting in ways that help to control our levels of stress by changing our environment or life style and learning how to relax s o that tensions created by unavoidable stress do not give rise to health problems.

A Mexican Tejano in American Texas Essay

Thesis As young Tejano boy who lives in Texas with family, friends, and a community with respectful ordinance and order for law. One has experienced a life drastic change when two frontiers are met in Texas for the demand for independence, land, and property in my land. A Tejano life becomes a change for one when the United States fight in battle for Independence with Mexico, and ultimately change the characteristic and the effects of a Tejano life-for a boy. I am Tejano What is a Tejano? We are known to be the first descendants to grow families in Texas. From 1600’s through the late 1800’s, Tejano’s are extractions of the Mexican and Spanish groups that first colonized the Texas frontier. I have lived many years in Texas prior to the revolution and I helped create the areas first plaza’s, politics, missionaries, plantations, ranches, and developed roadways. â€Å"I am a Tejano!† San Antonio de Bexar where I was born, part of the Spain’s colonial holdings in the New World. My father Bernardo H. Reyes had immigrated to Texas from the State of Veracruz, Mexico. My father’s European heritage and devoted craftsman skills. My father: Bernardo H. Reyes surged as a forerunner in the society of San Antonio. He devoted his work as a mayor (Alcalde), of San Antonio, Texas to which was heroic to a Tejano son. He hoisted us in the European section of the plaza, and sent my older blood brothers and me to Mexico for better schooling. In change, school was subject to change for me. My advantages in school came to an end. At the age of 13, my father passed unexpectedly forcing us to return home to supply support to family back home in 1811 and 1813. The Anti-colonial revolutionaries took over many towns as I watched violently defeating our Mexican military. My older brother Danny Reyes, fought with the Mexican Army, also, helping the rebels in the fights, he was discharged when they discovered the event leading to a Battle of Alaz’n in Coahuila-y-Tejas, on June 20, 1813. Tejano Origins Tejano’s contributed to a stable cultural effect throughout the economic region in Texas. My people ranched and furnished a true historical value to Texas with families cultivated a new transition of a foreign Spanish flag to the Mexican flag. From people who wrote the laws that define Tejano life and also invited Angelo Immigrants-Whites. Tejano life was important in unifying the community for a military purpose of the reconciliation to settle in Texas. Tejano cultures were very distinguished with a very strong sense of community. In 1821, one was told there was a population of 4,000 Tejano’s in Texas. The early Spaniards had originally brought with them a good associating for neighboring brothers-which was identified as the barrio. The barrio was reinforced on the Texas Frontera when the early expeditions came to settle in Texas. People came together as families creating communities around the missions which made Texas a home to Tejano’s to settle. The term â⠂¬Å"Tejano† has been used to identify ones people and as a Tejano boy historically. I knew that Texas was the heritage of Spaniards to Mexican culture, and is now forced to see a new transition take place-with the United States for Independence. Texas Between 1821 and 1836, Texas was the land that introduced two frontiers in the Battles of American Military and Mexican Military for Independence, land, and power. Culture and social commerce were competitive during these condemning years. A political dominance for Mexican lands was well-catching when new settlers migrated into Mexico. In September 1810, before the United States migrated, New Spain was afraid that the first movement for freedom would lead to independence by a Mexican Priest named Miguel Hidalgo (My Uncle). His main ambition was to create a movement that would be independent country from Spain. Ending Texas the New Constitution gave a self-governed province by making a new state of Coahuila y Texas. In 1810 Mexico declared its independence from Spain after a protracted struggle. In September 1821, after three hundred years under Spanish rule, Mexico obtained its sovereignty and became a New Mexican empire. Years after in 1836, the Alamo took battle in the front and in 1846 the Battle of the Mexican American War lasted two years ceding nearly half of its territory from Mexico to the United States. These were The Battle of the Alamo followed by the Mexican-American War in 1846. Changing the political forces during for Tejano’s in Texas. Anglo Men (White) Anglo is a prefix indicating a relation to English white people in 1821 (â€Å"American History†, 2012). When the Anglo Men first appeared in Texas, Tejano settlement composed three areas to separate the regions in Texas. The Nacogdoches region, the Bexar Goliad Region along with the San Antonio river. Each of the population fluctuated independently in its region from others between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande, but shared certain trademarks in many similarities, which was military. Spain closed the Mouth of the Mississippi to foreigners from 1784 through 1795 due to 50,000 Americans settlers crossing. It was difficult to return across the Appalachian Mountains. The Americans were trying to set plantations for their crops in Louisiana and Texas during this time. Thomas Jefferson Threatened Mexico for a war over this new transition. Philip Nolan became the first Anglo American to cross the borders to sell horse trading in Texas but was arrested by Spanish borders. In Mex ico City foiled our plans. Mexico was afraid about the reports that American immigrants were flouting Mexican laws and entering illegally, causing the Tejano population to be outnumbered to a rate of ten to one. The Mexican government excluded the importation of indentured servants to Texas and I was then surrounded by angle white settlers. Conclusion It is evident that Tejano laws laid much of the foundation for a prosperous Texan society and community. Eventually, American settlers fight for Independence with Mexico in the Mexican-American War, changing the effects, cultures, and territories-for Tejano’s. Indeed, the history of Texas can never be complete without the story of his origins and founders of an eminent Tejano. Reference American History. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/essays/1801-1900/anglo-american-colonization-in-texas/texas-1821-1836.php Garcia, D (2004, Jan). People & Events: Jose’ Antonio Navarro (1795-1871). Remember the Alamo, From http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/alamo/filmmore/webcredits.html From http://www.geocities.com/flambdog/texanscivilwar.htm MARTINEZ-CATSAM, A. (2013). War along the Border: The Mexican Revolution and Tejano Communities. Journal of Southern History, 79(3), 752-753 Schultz, K. M. (2012). HIST 2 (2nd Ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Norm Referenced Tesing

| | | | | | | | | |10/20/2012 3:39:49 PM | | | | | |Norm-Reference tests are â€Å"most appropriate when one wishes to make comparisons across large numbers of students or important | |decisions regarding student placement and advancement† (Assessment purposes, 2011). One example of a Norm-Reference test would | |be the COMPASS Test which is given to students entering college. This test assesses the reading, writing, and mathematical | |level of students in order to determine which English and math class individuals are placed in order to give the best | |opportunity for success as they begin their college education. The COMPASS assesses individuals by using the lower taxonomy | |levels.After completion of the test, students are placed in a remediation level English or math class if they fail to | |demonstrate the ability to demonstrate knowledge of the concepts at these lower cognitive levels. | |Criterion-Reference test are â€Å"most appropriate for quickly assessin g what concepts and skills students have learned from a | |segment of instruction† (Assessment purposes, 2011). In Georgia, the Criterion-Reference Competency Test (CRCT) test the skills| |and knowledge gained over the curriculum taught throughout the school year. Higher taxonomy levels are being assessed as | |students must demonstrate their comprehension, application, analysis, and synthesis of the grade level curriculum.When | |students receive their results, they have an idea of where they stand academically compared to the standards covered. Unlike | |Norm-Referenced test, this test does not result in student placement when moving toward the next grade level. | |Although both test serve a purpose, in my experience, Norm-Reference test are great for individual assessment and the ability to| |use lower level taxonomy skills such as knowledge and comprehension. The CRCT serves its purpose of rating individuals in | |comparison to the content and curriculum they should know b y having students demonstrate through critical thinking skills as | |they analyze each question. I believe the CRCT is better served for evaluating educators rather than students.With | |mainstreaming students into the regular education setting, it is difficult to gain a true reading of how well the higher levels | |of Bloom’s Taxonomy are addressed and used in the general education setting. | |   | |References | |   | |   | |Assessment purposes. (2011, Nov 23). Retrieved from http://www. edtech. vt. edu/edtech/id/assess/purposes. html | | | | |

Article †Loricia Skin Care’s Home Spa Line

Enjoy the benefits of a private and luxurious spa treatment in which all resources exist solely for you and all attention is focused directly on your needs. This is the treatment you receive with Loricia Skin Care’s Home Spa Line, specially designed to cater to the African American woman’s skin. In fact, this product is designed to fit the varied skin types that exist, and choosing Loricia’s home spa products means choosing the service that is tailored to suit the needs of your particular skin type. We have a combination for every skin type. Choose from Mature Skin Care, Oily Combination Skin Care, Normal Combination Skin Care and Dry Skin Care products that are designed to improve all skin conditions and bring out the best in your skin. The Mature Skin Care formula will pamper your skin, cleansing it from all impurities and restoring it to its natural beauty. Your inner glow will shine through with the use of Ginseng Toner and Marine Moisturizer to bring out the health and beauty of your skin. The Combination Skin Care treatment uses gentle exfoliating cleansers, Ginseng Toners, and Sage & Citrus moisturizers to remove oil, blemishes and fortify your skin against harmful grease and grime. Normal Combination Skin Care uses a unique blend of Borage Leaf and other minerals to give your skin that extra healthy glow. It also uses Restorative Marine Moisturizer to restore your skin to the glorious splendor of youth. For Dry Skin Care, trust our revitalizing Chamomile Cleansing Lotion together with Ginseng Toner and Marine Moisturizer to remove dry, flaky skin and protect your face from wind and cold elements that dry it out. Be pampered, indulged and spoiled by our unique Home Spa products that treat you as special, as though you were the only woman in the world. Made especially for the African American skin, you will be enveloped in a warm, fresh and aromatic cocoon of lavish gratification that shows in the elegance and beauty of the skin you present to the world every day. Â   Â  

Career Of Pedro Almodovar Film Studies Essay

Career Of Pedro Almodovar Film Studies Essay Pedro Almodovar is undeniably one of the great film auteur’s of our age, having defined decade’s worth of Spanish national cinema. As stated by Isabel Cadalso â€Å"By the time Franco’s death released Spain’s seething subculture, Almodovar was at the centre of it.† (Cadalso)His combination of witty, flamboyant and daring scripts, brilliant performative actors and the vibrant setting of Spanish culture in Madrid always manage provide an in depth insight into the turbulent lives of his characters. â€Å"Madrid has figured prominently in Pedro Almodovar’s cinema, gradually coming into focus as the implicit protagonist of nearly every work. In these films, the city is regularly images as a cultural force, producing forms of expression and action that challenge traditional values by tearing down and rebuilding the moral institutions of Spanish life: the family, the church and the law.† (D’Lugo)There are always many layers to Almodov ar’s films, particularly in the setting and social context, usually being Madrid. Throughout his career we can see how they have developed with the changing political climate of Spain as well as his maturing age, with his films being particularly different from the 80’s to the 90’s and onwards. Madrid is a metaphorical subtext in his films in many different ways, be it relating to characters, situations they are in or the political climate. As stated in A Punk called Pedro â€Å"Madrid functions as a ‘character’, breaking down boundaries between the public and the private arenas. Madrid provides a framework for the new interactions between social behaviours and ‘becomes the site of a radical series of social desires.† (Toribio) Madrid is a place for Almodovar’s character’s where â€Å"They are able to seek kindred spirits in an atmosphere that†¦ is socially liberating and the impetus for new artistic creativity.† (Toribio) As the city it changes, adapts and explains much of the action that is not in Almodovar’s films. Early in Almodovar’s career, he directed two fantastic, yet very different films; Labyrinth of Passion and Matador. These films were both critically acclaimed and duly noted for their vibrant display of Madrid as setting and as a representation of the new Spanish culture. As written in Pedro Almodovar: A Spanish Perspective during the 1980’s†Spain was experiencing a fascinating period of giddy and radical changes. It was a country thousands of miles away from the distorted portrait Franco had shown to the rest of the world, a portrait that fit only within the hypocritical moral values of a dictatorship.† (Cadalso)It was during this period that Almodovar thrived and these two films were made. â€Å"Madrid is the realistic, almost unaltered decor in which Pepi, Luci, Bom and Labyrinth of Passion were filmed and in which the characters could mo ve more freely, reflecting the experience of a generation of Spaniards, like Almodovar himself, who could only quench their thirst for creativity in the large urban areas: cityscapes in these early films tend to emphasize the concept of physical movement and social mobility underscored the very word, Movida, ‘movement.'† (Toribio) We can see in Labyrinth of Passion the colourful new wave of Spanish culture, so vibrant and different to anything previously known to Spain. A prime example of this is in El Rastro a Sunday street market of Madrid, which â€Å"was an important showcase for all subcultures, but significantly for the movida, because of its unsanctioned and vaguely transgressive status. It was used as a meeting place and some stalls displayed their fanzines, records of emergent punk groups etc. For this reason it is an apt setting for Labyrinth of Passion (1982), especially the opening scene where it becomes Sexilia’s ‘shopping area’ for sex partners.† (Toribio)We see the completely different society to that of what we would have seen under the Francoist regime, there is liberty and freedom, life and passion, which had not been experienced before, culminating in a paradise of difference. As kinder states â€Å"The tortuously complex plot follows the tangled passions of an ensemble of young Madrilà ¨nes trying to escape the crippling influences of repressive fathers in order to pursue their own pleasure.† (Kinder) The subtext of Madrid is telling us how â€Å"†¦The Castilian director unfolded his passions amid a society that had just started to enjoy its own freedom. His uncontrolled and colourful films found a receptive audience in a population that was eager for spontaneity and light, for new stimuli that could again bring joy to the living. The Mediterranean spirit of freedom had been squeezed for four decades, and suddenly there was Almodovar, who dared to show on screen all the passion that previ ously had been politically impossible for Spanish society or its arts to express.† (Cadalso)We see as Sexilia moves through the city how there are many kindred spirits reciprocating the feeling and the buzz, yet there are also occasionally â€Å"non-movida city people, dressed in drab colours and expressionless, provide a background against which Sexilia, in her colourful attire, is distanced from the Spain they conjure up.† (Toribio)This heightens her difference from traditional Spain and the old regime. â€Å"In hiding the city’s shortcomings Almodovar was able to reveal the mood of the country once more as it progressed through the initial euphoria of democracy into disenchantment.† (Toribio) This shows how Maria fits into the Madrid setting and population easily with the new mentality and expressionism present in the place and her peers.

Children's literature - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Essay

Children's literature - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll Short story - Essay Example to be following a white rabbit to a hole, which is a doorway to the wonderland where Alice meets with different creatures and experiences a completely new realm in her life. From getting big to small, making friends to nemesis and from saving to being subjected to execution, Alice finds that all that had happened was just a dream and not reality. Henceforth, we will examine three aspects of the novel which are, the notions about and standpoint towards children of that era, how are literary techniques employed to present the children of the Victorian period and how does this literature provide a look on the characteristics of world and the quintessence established. Published in 1865, Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland was set in the late eighteen hundred, Victorian period in Britain. The author, though, illustrates a child who is curious, observant and stubborn, but possesses a good heart, has not specifically pointed out anything that may represent the children of those times and what were the concepts about children during the Victorian period. Hence, with the help of the historical and geographical background of the novella, we will expound and propound the theories that concern a child of that era and what kind of attitude they were subjected to. There are numerous sources available that give us an insight on the topic under scrutiny and we have availed some of those resources. Starting with the book by (Pollock), the author claims that the attitude towards children during the eighteenth century in Britain was not very different from the rest of the world. The children were not allowed to indulge in their curiosity like in the book of Carroll. Instead the upbringings of the children were excessively harsh and if not harsh, then they were not likable or appreciable. From physical to emotional, abuse was common enough in the Victorian era and parents expected unshakable obedience and respect from their children all the time, either by the nature itself or with the

Angola - High mortality rate Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Angola - High mortality rate - Term Paper Example ain consists of agricultural highlands, with a large savanna in the east and south; and rain forest strips in the north and the enclave of Cabinda (U.S. Department of State, 2011). Angola has a tropical climate. According to the WHO (2011), the total population of Angola is 18,498,000. Its main ethnic groups are: â€Å" Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mixed racial 2%, European 1%† (U.S. Department of State, 2011). Around 17% of its population are children 5 years old and below. Approximately 42% live in the rural areas. The official language in Angola is Portuguese and the Portuguese compose the largest non-Angolan population. Angola has a republic government system. A new constitution was enacted on February 5, 2010 and three days after, President dos Santos established a new government. The new constitution made a party list system where citizens can vote for a party, instead of a single candidate, and the president will be the head of the winning party’s list (U.S. Department of State, 2011). It created a new office of the vice president, and removed the position of the prime minister. The next presidential and parliamentary elections are projected to occur in 2012. Angola is rich in oil, gas, and diamonds, but remains in the lower rings of 10% of numerous socioeconomic indicators (U.S. Department of State, 2011). GDP growth in 2009 did not improve, though higher GDP projections are expected for the coming years (U.S. Department of State, 2011). An estimation of Angola’s oil reserves showed it to range from 9.5 billion to 13.5 billion barrels (U.S. Department of State, 2011). Crude oil composed around 50% of Angolas GDP, as well as 95% of its exports, and 72% of government revenues in 2010 (U.S. Department of State, 2011). Angola also generates 40,000 bpd of locally refined oil. Angola ranks 160th in the UNDP Human Development Index (WHO, 2005, p.1). The main determinants of health are the financial resources of the country, the availability of

3D MODELING USING PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS Essay

3D MODELING USING PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS - Essay Example First, I am grateful to the University for granting me the opportunity to pursue the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in this institution. Second, I wish to thank to my Supervisor for the guidance and committed support offered to see me through my doctorate studies. Third, I remain indebted to all the persons, corporate and individual for volunteering their time to provide the requisite information, which has been processed to form the substance of this Thesis. Finally, I acknowledge the support of my academic colleagues for their positive critique of my work, for advising me and keeping me company throughout the academic journey. To all those who supported me in one way or another but have not been mentioned individually, accept my gratitude. ABSTRACT The mathematical modeling of the real world images is mostly dominated by partial differential equations. The major challenge that has disturbed most players in this industry of geometric modeling and use of computer graphics is the manufac ture of representative human facial geometrical images. Such geometries are crucial for an extensive range of uses, such as in 3D face recognition. The same can be used in virtual realism presentations, facial appearance simulations and computer-based plastic surgery applications. The main objective of this paper was to address methods used for the construction of 3D geometry/modeling of human faces founded on the use of Partial Differential Equations (PDE) and to enable the compression of those 3D data for faster transmission over the internet. In this study, the corresponding geometry to a face is applied as a set of surface patches, with each patch represented using boundary curves in the 3-space thus, formulating the suitable boundary settings for the selected PDE. The boundary curves are removed automatically by the use of 3D information of human faces acquired by means of a 3D scanner. In this study, through the use of certain experimental confirmations it is shown that the ef fectiveness of the partial differential equations (PDE) based method for 3D facial surface reconstruction using scanned data effectively addresses the topic of this study. Additionally, I have also shown that the methodology makes available a well-organized way of representing facial images by the use of small sets of restrictions that could be exploited for effectual storage of the facial data and quick verification of the same. For further research, the study recommends the need for its replication in other universities or scaling up to the national or international levels. Chapter 3 Efficient 3D Data Compression through Parameterization of Free-Form Surface Patches This study seeks to present a new technique for 3D data compression centered on the parameterization of surface patches. The successful usage of the procedure requires that it be applied to data which can be easily defined as single-valued functions. Such a scenario is the case for 3D patches that are obtained by the u se of standard 3D scanners. Another significant feature with this technique is that, it defines the number of mesh cutting planes, while the connection or intersection of the planes on the mesh defines a set of sampling points. An explicit structure that allows for the parametrical definition of both x and

Social Movements in Cuba and Brazil Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Social Movements in Cuba and Brazil - Essay Example There are definite trends that social movements in the Americas face, issues that have united them. U.S. imperial aggression have increased, with the expansion of U.S. military bases, the revival of the U.S. Navy’s 4th Fleet, and an increase in covert operations by the U.S. against South American nations like Venezuela and Bolivia. Social movements have had to fight bilateral trade agreements by the U.S. and the EU in individual nations throughout the region. Cities and towns throughout the Americas have been under attack for the exploitation and control (through trade, energy, and security agreements) of natural resources such as land, water, and energy; this has resulted in global warming, as well as other worsening environmental and health impacts. The most serious impact of the gap left by multinational organizations is the criminalization of social movements. Internal security laws, modeled after the U.S. Patriot Act and Homeland Security department, have been adopted by Latin American governments. In other words, political resistance to neoliberal strategies has been violently repressed, in the form of interrogations, the monitoring of social organizations by national governments, and political assassinations. As Hector de la Cuerva of the Mexican Network Against Free Trade (RMALC) has stated, â€Å"The face of neoliberalism is now militarism. In 1996, well before 9/11, Brazil used these kinds of tactics to suppress social movements. On April 17, 1,500 families of landless peasants making up one of these movements, the Movement of the Landless (MST), gathered near the town of Eldorado do Carajas, demanding land reform because in Brazil, only 1% of the population owns 50% of farmable land.3 The police opened fire on the prot estors, killing almost two dozen and wounding dozens more. Ever since, the MST has worked for justice for victims of the massacre. One way was declaring April 17 as International Day of Peasant Struggle and by fighting for agrarian reform, equality, justice, and peace for both the landless peasants in Brazil and throughout the world. In Cuba, the situation for social movements is a bit different. The fact that the Cuban government is socialist and shares many of the same values and beliefs as many of the country’s social movements helps the situation for these organizations. Fortunately for Brazil, Cuban-Brazilian relations have been â€Å"excellent† in May 2008 and Brazilian President Lula da Silva expressed desire for Brazil to be Cuba’s â€Å"number one partner.†4 One of the worst things that could have happen to social movements in Cuba was the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, which as political scientist George Zarur has stated, â€Å"represent ed a national catastrophe for Cuba.†5 Up to that point, Cuba’s economy was entirely dependent upon the Soviet Union, which subsidized the Cuban economy between four and six billion dollars per year, making up 20-40 percent of its GNP. It also enjoyed a monopoly for sugar production for

Impact of Unions on Human Resources Management Research Paper

Impact of Unions on Human Resources Management - Research Paper Example The approach taken by this paper focuses on the context of both the employees and the employer, in order to understand how basing on these two, unions influence the human resources management of an organization. Overall, this paper will show that unions have both negative and positive impact on human resources management of an organization. Literature Review Labor Laws, Unions, and Human Resources Management Labor laws are essential in guiding the relationship between the employers, the employees, and the unions. Therefore, through them, there arise various expectations, which influence the management of a unionized organization in various ways. Neuser and Barker (2010) wrote an article, which explores the state of labor laws in the United States. In their article titled â€Å"What Every Employer Should Know about the Law of Union Organizing,† Neuser and Barker explore the various labor laws in the United States, and interpret them to show how these influence employers, and wh at is wrong or right for employers to do when faced with unionization. Nonetheless, a major aspect of employers’ actions, which the labor laws guide, is the counter-campaign. Neuser and Barker (6) argue that, â€Å"An employer is permitted, and is almost always well advised, to conduct an employee informational campaign when confronted with a union organizing campaign.† However, the manner through which this is done determines whether the labor laws are violated or adhered to by the employer. The counter-campaign by the employer results in changes in the human resources and management practices in a company. However, an employer conducts a counter-campaign, in accordance with the Section 8(a) of the Act, as well as various opinions by the judicial and the board. Therefore, in a bid to prevent employees from unionizing, employers might adopt additional human resources practices, or improve on the existing human resources practices, in order to promote employee job satis faction. For instance, they might increase employee salaries, promote some employees to higher position, and generally improve on the working conditions of employees. Nonetheless, all these changes and new adoptions in HR practices will have been brought about by unionization. However, Neuser and Barker emphasize that this counter-campaign should not infringe on any labor law (26). Unionizing, Job Satisfaction, and Human Resources Management Various researches have been conducted to explore the effect of unionizing on employee job satisfaction. In their study, Bryson, Cappellari, and Lucifora (2010) explored the effect of unionizing on employee job satisfaction in Britain. Results show that there are no significant differences in the level of job satisfaction between union and nonunion employees. However, for those union employees that lacked collective bargaining, the level of job satisfaction was found to be lower. Nonetheless, collective bargaining is an important determinant of job satisfaction for union workers. In another study, Artz (2010) investigated how union experience influences employee job satisfaction. Results showed that job satisfaction was only higher among the employers, who were in unions for the first time, thus low experience in unions. However, the more an employee gained increased experience in uni

Horse Industry and Equine Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Horse Industry and Equine Law - Essay Example The animal rights advocates and educators will benefit from this paper because they will be given ample information about equine industry. This paper will highlight the proper training and management of horses - may it be for farming or for racing use. This will also include laws and regulations pertaining to accidents and injuries of and by the horses plus the specific laws of betting in race horses. With such information, they will be armed with enough knowledge on what to promote for or against the common practices of equine management. Managers and owners of equine farms will also greatly benefit from this study as they, too, will know if their management practices and/or approaches are appropriate and legal or not. They will be able to assess if they need to modify their strategies or of they need to seek some consultants and experts regarding in the equine industry. Lastly, this paper will be of great help to other and future researchers who would be interested in tackling equine related concepts. The results of this study will serve as their basis for further research or can be used as references to prove their own hypothesis. Keeping the horses physically fit is the most important thing... Lastly, this paper will be of great help to other and future researchers who would be interested in tackling equine related concepts. The results of this study will serve as their basis for further research or can be used as references to prove their own hypothesis. Review of Related Literature Management and Training of Horses For the Horse Keeping the horses physically fit is the most important thing that the equine farm manager must do. This is because horses that become lame cannot be productive nor useful for the farm anymore, hence most often than not, lame horses are already considered dead. To keep the horses healthy and on top of its shape, the farm caretaker must ensure that it has a well balanced rest and 'work' time. Hoses are like humans, they need to rest and to work at the same time. However, unlike humans, horses will need t have longer hours of working than resting. This is because horses that get longer resting periods become more prone to diseases and thy will eventually "loose conditioning" or "get out of shape" when it is having long periods of rest. Hence to ensure that horses will perform very well, a series of trainings and activities should be that which will involve "cardiovascular fitness, respiratory fitness, thermoregulation, muscle fatigue and skeletal fatigue" (Day, 2002). Ensuring that the cardiovascular organs or body parts of the horses are in good condition will help in instigating a fast and sturdy horse. It should be noted that the normal heart rate horses when resting is 35 beats per minute (bpm) on the average. Meanwhile the normal heart rate of horses during "extremely high intensity"

Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7750 words

Research Proposal Example These may produce negative impact on the outcomes. In order to minimize the impacts of these risks and uncertainties, business organizations, very often go for insuring their assets, physical as well as human capital. However, the decision for purchasing this financial product is not a random decision. Insuring decision of any business organization depends on various factors. Most of the large business houses purchase insurance as soon as they enter into the market or start their operation. However, for small and medium business enterprises (SMEs), non-insurance or under-insurance is a common phenomenon. The proposed study will try to find out the factors that play significant roles behind the making of an insurance decision for SMEs. This study is mainly concerned with Australian SMEs and hence it will focus on insurance decision making of Australian small and medium business enterprise small scale business owners of Gold Coast and Brisbane district. This study will take into accoun t small scale business owners of Gold Coast and Brisbane district. In order to conduct a successful research, it is necessary to conduct a rigorous review of existing relevant literatures. This review of literatures will be helpful in constructing the theoretical framework for the proposed study as well as it will show the gap in existing literatures and will b helpful in providing justification for the proposed study. Since the proposed study is concerned with insurance decision making of SMEs, two types of literatures will be reviewed. First of all, focus will be placed on those literatures which provide some theoretical explanations of insurance decision making under risk and uncertainty. Then focus will be shifted to the empirical findings of the existing literatures relating to the operation of SMEs and their insurance decisions, primarily in the context of Australian market. Risks and uncertainties have attracted attention of a large number of researchers as risks and

Performance Enhancing Drugs Should Be Legalized Essay Example for Free

Performance Enhancing Drugs Should Be Legalized Essay The illegal use of anabolic steroids by professional athletes is often a hot button topic in the news. Steroids were banned due to the negative side effects associated with its use. Despite the ban, many athletes are suspected of illicit steroid use to enhance their performance. There is great cost associated with random testing to determine if such athletes use steroids. Anne Whitaker and Rosalyn Carson-Dewitt, in the article, â€Å"Point: Performance Enhancing Drugs Should Be Legalized†, make a somewhat effective argument as to why it should be legalized. This article provides an argument for the legalization of anabolic steroid use by athletes. The authors parallel the use of cosmetic surgery and unhealthy diet regimens by models and actresses and the use of steroids by professional athletes to stay at the top of their games. The authors provide factual information regarding steroids and the effects its use has on the body, followed by their opinion as to how legalization would benefit not only the sports world, but also society as a whole. Whitaker and Carson-Dewitt provide a number of facts regarding the characteristics of steroids, the effects of their use, and the history of its illegalization. They describe different methods for use: cycling (on and off use of a particular dose), stacking (taking multiple steroids simultaneously), and pyramiding (increasing and decreasing the dosage over time) (Whitaker and Carson-Dewitt, 2011). The authors go on to describe the physical effects of steroid use such as organ damage, stroke, cancer and high blood pressure (Whitaker and Carson-Dewitt, 2011). The authors then provide a timeline as to the banning of steroid use in various professional sports organizations followed by a national ban. It is the opinion of Carson-Dewitt and Whitaker that steroids should be legalized. They opined that legalization would have manifold benefits: increased safety and regulation of steroid use, decreased access and use of steroids by teenaged children; and reduction in the costs associated with testing. While, on the surface, these opinions seem to be logical, the arguments are not all supported by facts. The claim that legalization of steroids would reduce its use by teenagers, simply because they would be prescribed by doctors, is baseless. Teenagers would likely continue to access steroids through the same methods currently used. The cost of testing may or may not be reduced as regulation would still limit the amount of steroids to be safely used. Testing would still occur to verify that legal safe limits were observed. The factual information contained in the article is sufficient to provide a perspective from which to understand the authors’ argument. The authors fail, however to provide factual information to support their claims. This results in an argument that sounds plausible on the surface, but falls flat with any amount of critical thinking. For this reason, I believe the authors failed to make a compelling argument. References Carson-Dewitt, Rosalyn, and Whitaker, Ann. â€Å"Point: Performance Enhancing Drugs Should Be Legalized.† By: Points of View: Steroids, 2011.

Abraham Lincoln The Man That Changed America History Essay

Abraham Lincoln The Man That Changed America History Essay This one man was able to fight for, work for, and love his country so much that he single-handedly brought about changes that had previously only been dreamt of. This astonishing individual accomplished more in 30 years than most men do in their entire lifetime. Perhaps one of the most remarkable men in the history of the United States, Abraham Lincoln changed the course of our history forever. On February 12, 1809, Nancy Lincoln gave birth to a son, whom she named Abraham. This child, named after his grandfather, was born in Hardin County, Kentucky. Abraham had two siblings, Sarah, who was two years older, and Thomas, who was three years younger. However, Thomas, Abrahams only brother, unexpectedly died shortly after birth. The Lincolns were not a significantly wealthy family; they lived in a log cabin, and Thomas Lincoln worked very hard for every cent he earned. In fact, Thomas had to take on two jobs, farming and carpentry, in order to support his family. Partly on the account of slavery, but chiefly on the account of the difficulty of land titles in Kentucky, Thomas Lincoln moved his family to Pigeon Creek, Indiana. (Lincoln Bicentennial). In 1716, after buying property, Abraham helped his father with much of the work involved in settling into this 160-acre piece of land. Just two years after the move, in 1818, the Lincoln family suffered yet another tragedy when Abrahams mother died from contaminated milk. Just a year after Nancys death, Abrahams father remarried a widow, with three children of her own, by the name of Sarah Bush Johnston. Abraham and his stepmother grew very close, and she treated him as if he were her own child. She encouraged him to grow in his knowledge and understanding of things, and was said to have started his childhood education. (Burns). Although Abraham had previously gone to school for a couple of months, he never had any inspiration to learn until he received this encouragement from his stepmother. If one put all of Abrahams schooling together, one would find that he received less than one year of actual school in his entire life. This means that Abraham Lincoln had so little education, that he could be considered a completely self educated man. He showed a special interest in books and reading and knew his Bible very well even though he never attended church. At the age of 19, Abraham Lincoln had grown into a man of 64 and was stronger than anyone in town, leading to his first job offer. The offer came from a man by the name of James Gentry, and it was to bring a shipload of cargo to New Orleans. After delivering the cargo, with James Gentrys son, on a boat Abraham had built by hand, James was amazed by Abrahams incredible skill and reliability. He asked Abraham to work in his local store, and Abraham jumped at the opportunity to make some more money. While working there, he would often hear men speak of politics; this sparked an interest, which slowly grew to a flame, in young Abraham. During this time, however, Abrahams sister, Sarah, died giving birth to a child, causing much grief in his life. Soon after her death, Abrahams relatives wrote his father, saying how greatly efficient and productive the soil in Illinois was. This inspired Thomas Lincoln to once again move his family to a different part of the country. (Lincoln Bicentennial ). This time however, Abraham did not stay with his family for very long. Instead, he went up to New Salem, Illinois, and life on his own had finally begun. Between 1831 and 1832, Abraham tried various occupations, and learned very much, including the basics of mathematics. However, when the Black Hawk War began, Lincoln was one of the first to enlist in the American militia. Abraham never saw any action personally, but he was still elected captain of his company. He served his men as best as he possibly could until the war ended, just a couple months later. Once safely back in New Salem, Abraham took on the job of postmaster, and was placed in charge of the local post office. As word of this honest, hardworking, and diligent man spread throughout Salem and the surrounding towns, Abraham acquired the nickname Honest Abe. During this time, Abraham learned more grammar and began to develop a formal and proper way of speaking. He decided to run for state legislature, ultimately beginning his political career, but lost to one of his rivals. This defeat did discourage Abraham Lincoln, but rather, drove him to persevere, strive for excellence, and be the best he could be. In 1834, Abraham made a second attempt at politics, and once again ran for state legislature, only this time, he won. He was representative of the state of Illinois and gained the approval and trust of many of his fellow countrymen. After he won the election, he took up the study of law. With his love of debating, storytelling, and reading, he found his calling in law and politics. (National Museum of American History). While he was a lawyer, Abraham Lincoln grounded his principles and opinions, especially those on slavery, making this an extremely pivotal point in his life. Lincolns years as a lawyer influenced his character, and that character eventually influenced our nation. (Kalantari). His ability to ease the witnesses, as well as the entire atmosphere of the courtroom, made him a great lawyer. For the next 25 years, Abraham served as a lawyer aside from his political career. The men and women of Illinois held such affection for Abraham Lincoln that they re-elected him three times over the next six years. In 1840, just after his third re-election, Abraham proposed to a woman by the name of Mary Ann Todd, whom he had met the year before. After breaking up and getting back together, they finally got married in November of 1842. Less than a year after their marriage, Abraham and Mary welcomed their first baby boy into the world, and named him Robert Todd Lincoln. For the next two years, Abraham not only continued to serve as state representative, but he also showed devotion to his family, proving himself to be a great father. In 1846, Abraham and Mary conceived yet another child who they named Edward Baker Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln enjoyed his time as the representative of Illinois, but it was not long before he realized that he was capable of much more. Impelled by this realization, Abraham ran for U.S. representative in 1847, at the age of 38. He won the election, but served in this position for only one term. Once this term ended, Abraham fell back on his career as a lawyer, and continued to study law books. For the next five years, Lincoln devoted much of his time to studying the issue of slavery as well. (Lincoln Bicentennial). During this time, however, Abrahams son, Edward, died at the young age of four. The Lincoln family took his death very hard and later learned it had most likely been due to a bad case of tuberculosis. In that same year, Mary gave birth to a third son, named William Wallace Lincoln. His birth guided the family through the struggle, and helped them to move on. Just three years later, in 1853, the Lincolns had yet another son, who they named Thomas Tad Lincoln. Their sons brought Abraham and Mary great joy, and Abraham was said to be a very loyal and committed father. In 1854, Abraham was again elected as state representative; however, he resigned in order to run for the U.S. senate. During his campaign, he gave a speech declaring the United States would either become all free or all slave because a house divided against itself cannot stand. It was after this debate that Lincoln received his first considerable national fame. (Abe Lincoln). Despite his national fame, Abraham lost this election. Undeterred, he made yet another attempt at the U.S. senate, in 1858, however, he was once again out-voted. Two short years later, Abraham Lincoln took the biggest step of his political career. That year, 1860, Abraham jumped at the opportunity to run for president of the United States. Not sure if he would make it or not, Abraham was campaigning against some of the top competitors in the country. After a long, hard, and stressful run, Abraham was finally elected the sixteenth president of the United States of America. Almost immediately after his election, southern states began to drop out of the union, angered by the new anti-slavery president. Eleven states ended up dropping out, and their anger eventually turned to violence in 1861, marking the beginning of the Civil War. The North fought for the abolition of slavery, and the South fought for keeping slavery. As the war raged on, Abraham Lincoln continued to fight for the right of all men as equals. Not only was Abraham fighting to free the slaves, but he was also fighting to reunite the North and the South. He believed that in order to stand, the United States had to join together as one country, instead of being a split nation. As the war neared it ´s third year, Abraham Lincoln issued one of the most important documents in history: the Emancipation Proclamation. The Proclamation declared that  ´all persons held as slaves within the rebellious states are, and henceforth shall be free ´ (National Archives and Records Administration). This document aided the northern states in the war by: allowing blacks to fight for the union army, redefining the civil war as a war of freedom, and strengthening the union soldiers mentally. The Emancipation Proclamation is quite possibly the greatest document of human freedom. (National Archives and Records Administration). As the war continued to be fought, Abraham ´s fourth year as president came near, and the time for elections came around. In 1864, Abraham Lincoln was re-elected as president of the United States. He continued doing his presidential duties just as well, if not better than before. A year after his re-election, Abraham and his wife went to see a show in Ford ´s Theatre, Washington, D.C. Around 10:00 p.m., an actor by the name of John Wilkes Booth entered the presidential booth, and shot Abraham Lincoln in the back of the head with a pistol. Abraham survived through the night, but died around 7:30 the next morning. Booth, motivated to kill President Lincoln due to disagreements on slavery, escaped, but was found and shot a few weeks later. Abraham ´s death only motivated more people to fight for the freedom and equality of all men and women alike. The very same year he died, the Civil War came to an end with the South surrendering. Due to Abraham Lincoln ´s perseverance and willpower, slavery was abolished, and America was made a free country. America ´s future had been set on a new path. The old life was thrown away, and a new chapter had begun for all Americans, black and white. Abraham accomplished more in his last few years than one could even dream to accomplish in an entire lifetime. Abraham Lincoln, one of the most extraordinary men to ever live, changed the future, lives, and hearts of Americans forever.