The Passion Of Mexicans By Mexico - 2518 Words

Executive Summary Mexico has gone through a very interesting history since the ancient years. It’s a culture that quickly involves you and makes you fall in love with it. The passion of Mexicans is reflected in every movement of a daily life. The current situation of the country is quite complicated due to bribery, corruption, unemployment, low wages, and lack of people’s interest on education; we can also find problems due poverty, and the difference between the social statuses. Mexicans are tired of the killings, kidnaps, insecurity and things that they have to face during daylight and night. In this research I cover most of the situations that may influence the country to take any decision. Private venture, especially in†¦show more content†¦Mexico is popular for its conventions speaking to the religion, culture and governmental issues in the course of the last five hundred years. A portion of the major occasions celebrate the gala of the Lady of Guadalupe, which is a Cathol ic festival of the presence of the Virgin Mary to an Indian man at the outset of the times where the Spanish were the leader of the nation. There is also the Day of the Dead, a celebration that combines indigenous and catholic rituals for the honor of the deceased. The Mexican Independence Day when Mexico’s rural poor fight to pull down the Spanish while they were having the control of the country. The music is a very important piece of the Mexican culture, and it is always part of a celebration whether big or small. Mexican music sings for love, passion, for the country, of its history, legends and oppression, among other topics. The recession of 2008 was the worst in the country for the last 70 years. The 2008–09 financial crisis has had an enduring looks at work market motion in Mexico in light of the emergency. The work market has been portrayed as of late by low relative unemployment, yet large amounts of casual employments, low-development,

Michelangelo Free Essays

Michelangelo was a man of many trades who, throughout his life, created, painted, and designed artistic masterpieces. He was a marvel of his time.. We will write a custom essay sample on Michelangelo or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"He was celebrated as the greatest artist ever because of his great work in the areas of sculpting, painting, drafter, architecture, and poetry†. A genius with his ingenuity and thought process in the way he came up with the ideas that have now become modern masterpieces and wonders to us. Hard work and education to his true passion led to his success and fame in cities all around. He is a man who truly lived life to the fullest. He worked every day of his life and finally rested on his deathbed. Michelangelo was born on March 6, 1475 (Summers 483). His full name is Michelangelo did Ladylove Bonaparte Simmons (â€Å"Michelangelo’). He was born in a small village of Cappers in Valerie (Arizona 4). His father was Leonardo did Burrito Simons (â€Å"Michelangelo’). His mother’s name was Francesca did Amanita De Sera (Arizona 4). He had four other brothers (â€Å"Michelangelo’). Due to his mother’s illness he was placed with a family of stone cutters. She died giving birth to the fifth child in 1481 (Arizona 4). It might have been his grammar school friend, Francesco, six years his senior, who introduced Michelangelo to the painter Director Giordano (â€Å"Michelangelo’). His father agreed to apprentice him at age thirteen. There he was exposed to the technique of fresco. Before his apprenticeship had completed, he stopped painting and took on sculptures (Summers 483). At the recommendation of Giordano, he moved into the palace of a great paint named, Florentine ruler Lorenz â€Å"the Magnificent† De Medici was influenced by Napoleonic thought. This was a fertile time for Michelangelo. His time with the Medici family was 1489 to 1492 (â€Å"Michelangelo’). After the Medici family lost power he began to travel. During his younger years he began to study anatomy (Summers 483). He studied under sculptor Bordello did Giovanni. He obtained permission from the church to study cadavers. These combined influences led to his distinctive style: muscular precision and reality combined with an almost lyrical beauty (â€Å"Michelangelo’). His earliest surviving sculpture is a small unfinished relief of a battle, done when he was sixteen. It shows the obvious influence of ancient Roman marble sculpture belonging to Lorenz Summers 483). He lived in Rome from 1496 to 1501. As a student in Rome he was called â€Å"Universal Genius† (â€Å"Michelangelo’). His drawing career lasted over seventy years, and he was able to change his style to fit the period of time (Michelangelo’). Michelangelo was able to do as many as three projects at a time. He was a great sculpture early in life, and then he learned how to draw and paint. Like most artists of his time he painted religious scenes. He was a Catholic and most of his drawings and painting resemble his beliefs in his artwork (â€Å"Michelangelo’). His first marked success was a life size statue of the Roman wine god Bacchus held in Rome. At age twenty-three, he carved a version of the traditional Pieta (â€Å"Michelangelo’). From 1508 through 1 512, Michelangelo time was occupied by The Sistine Chapel Ceiling. Michelangelo largest and most famous paint was that on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (Castle, pig. L). The Pope died in 1513, and then Michelangelo signed a contract with Julius to build a tomb, but it had to be finished within seven years. However, Michelangelo attention was not on the tomb exclusively. After Leo Ax’s election Michelangelo was hired to refurbish the facade on the Papal Chapel in Castle Gentleman’s, Rome. Between 1514 and 1521 he signed several contracts to sculpture and paint art. Another contract was signed with Julius to build a smaller Julian Monument, and it was drawn up in 1516. Many people think that Sultan’s Tomb was not Michelangelo best work, but this only the media’s idea about his work. Michelangelo was also a great painter. He produced a few easel paintings. His ambition was truly seen in his paintings (â€Å"Michelangelo’). Michelangelo was painting sutures early in the 16th century. During that time he was making some cartoons, but very few were published. â€Å"One of his cartoons, Battle of Casino, was highly influential, but the cartoon somehow disappeared†. The Sistine Ceiling is one of Michelangelo greatest paintings. It is probably his most well known piece of art. The Pope asked Michelangelo to redo the ceiling because the Pope thought that the gold background with blue stars were not powerful enough to be in the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo had many drawings to pick from, but he decided to go with the helve Apostles design. Some of Michelangelo late work was also really good, such as The Last Judgment. Gigolo Dad Fabian didn’t like Michelangelo, so he tried to destroy his reputation by saying that Michelangelo painting was no good, but according to most, it was one of Michelangelo greatest paintings. He also painted the â€Å"Last Judgment† over the altar in the chapel. The â€Å"Last Judgment† took 6 years for him to finish, from 1535 and 1541 Michelangelo was also able to draw with the best of them. Most people use their drawing ability to get an education, but Michelangelo used raring as a way to express his feelings. Many of Michelangelo drawings became collector items during the sass’s; many people didn’t accept the drawings. Michelangelo gave his drawings as gifts during special holidays. During the 20th century many people started to accept his drawings. Michelangelo was also an architect. One great piece he did was for the Medici Family. It was a miniature model for Leo Ax’s Chapel at Castle Sandstone’s, Rome. It looked like Julius tomb, but it didn’t have that much sculpturing work. The miniature model for Leo Ax’s Chapel at Castle Sandstone’s, Rome took him a long time to complete, because there were so many details which need to be perfectly placed†. Michelangelo was able to do so many things at once which influenced many people, and those people didn’t realize how great Michelangelo art was until his death. Many people think Michelangelo was sent by God to paint, draw, and sculpture. Michelangelo became a very powerful person during his lifetime. He was great friends with most of the kings and queens in most of the countries (â€Å"Michelangelo’). Michelangelo didn’t leave any teaching notes or any of his followers. Michelangelo is one of the most talented artists ever, and he was one of the creators of the Roman High Renaissance with Leonardo dad Vinci. Michelangelo drawings, paintings, sculpturing, and architecture work is still very popular in today’s society. Michelangelo will still be the most influential artist leading into the 21st century. Michelangelo was also a magnificent architect. In 1560, he designed a dome to cover a massive opening, on the Sistine Chapel. They began to construct the dome that he had designed in 1560 (The Panorama, IPPP). How to cite Michelangelo, Papers

Liberal Arts Analysis Essay Example For Students

Liberal Arts Analysis Essay Liberal Arts Colleges Despite popular belief, Harvard College was first founded, as an institution of higher learning in America is 1636; over one hundred years before the New England colonies officially became states (Masc..). This is an example of how important education has been, and still is to this country today. Harvard, a liberal arts college, avgas also founded over one hundred years before the first state university, making liberal arts colleges far more experienced in the education Of its students. Within The Liberal Arts in Higher Education, you will find a sentence that reads, the liberal arts are literally arts Of freedom. Traditionally this meant the arts of free men as opposed to slaves. Slaves are subjected to the will of others, mere tools or instruments of alien purpose, unable to choose for themselves, (Flannels, Nested, 9). Liberal arts colleges were founded upon freedom; freedom for its students to choice the path in which they wanted to take. Although they were originally intended to educate in the fields of logic, grammar, rhetoric, mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy, the liberal arts has progressed, allowing students to pick from a much larger variety of fields. Some colleges even allow their students to design their own major. In recent ears, however, has decrease in these types of colleges have become noticeable. So why are students beginning to choose state universities without giving these older, more established colleges a chance? Through researching the benefits of a liberal arts education, I found that liberal arts colleges are superior to state universities due to the more controlled class size, the benefits available in the after college workplace, and the more in-depth involvement in majors. A common known difference between state universities and liberal arts colleges are the average class sizes. One of the main reasons students often choose Liberal Arts Colleges are the small sizes alone (Gauchenesss). Liberal arts college campuses are smaller, not just in size, but also in total student population. As said by the Huffing Post, According to data provided by schools in a 2010 survey of undergraduate programs, liberal arts colleges have an average ratio of 12. 2 students per faculty member, compared to an average 20. 2 for State universities. At public universities, most introductory level classes tend to crowd hundreds of students into lecture halls. Often those classes have teaching assistants to directly deal with groups of students in smaller settings (Keener). Liberal Arts schools, however, have up to 30 or 40 students per introductory class at most. Students cant hide in the back of the class; teachers deal directly with students and generally know each of them by name. This smaller number of students allows them to be more open in the classroom, and more comfortable with the teacher. According to Edward Cocklebur to Cornell University, We find that class size negatively affects grades for several specifications average grade point declines as class sizes go up (Cocklebur, Dillon). This goes to show that smaller class sites benefit a students future more than people realize. Class sizes are not the only aspect to affect a students future. According to Efficiency in liberal education; a study of comparative instructional costs for different ways of organizing teaching-learning in a liberal arts college, another key element supporting the mission of liberal arts colleges is that students vivo attend a liberal arts college are more likely to be hired for jobs, and accepted into graduate school (Bowen). Liberal arts schools, such as Transylvania university, strive to teach kids critical thinking and writing skills, as well as how to formally present their ideas. Teachers have fewer students, and more time to analytically grade students homework and essays. Liberal arts professors may have to grade 20 essays whereas at a state university, teachers may have up to 500 essays to grade (Masc..). Its doubtful that a teacher who has 500 essays to review will be able to provide the same help and provide the same critical skills than a teacher who only has 30. .u874bdb96955c9e7bd2dbefc6e2df4cfc , .u874bdb96955c9e7bd2dbefc6e2df4cfc .postImageUrl , .u874bdb96955c9e7bd2dbefc6e2df4cfc .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u874bdb96955c9e7bd2dbefc6e2df4cfc , .u874bdb96955c9e7bd2dbefc6e2df4cfc:hover , .u874bdb96955c9e7bd2dbefc6e2df4cfc:visited , .u874bdb96955c9e7bd2dbefc6e2df4cfc:active { border:0!important; } .u874bdb96955c9e7bd2dbefc6e2df4cfc .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u874bdb96955c9e7bd2dbefc6e2df4cfc { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u874bdb96955c9e7bd2dbefc6e2df4cfc:active , .u874bdb96955c9e7bd2dbefc6e2df4cfc:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u874bdb96955c9e7bd2dbefc6e2df4cfc .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u874bdb96955c9e7bd2dbefc6e2df4cfc .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u874bdb96955c9e7bd2dbefc6e2df4cfc .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u874bdb96955c9e7bd2dbefc6e2df4cfc .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u874bdb96955c9e7bd2dbefc6e2df4cfc:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u874bdb96955c9e7bd2dbefc6e2df4cfc .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u874bdb96955c9e7bd2dbefc6e2df4cfc .u874bdb96955c9e7bd2dbefc6e2df4cfc-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u874bdb96955c9e7bd2dbefc6e2df4cfc:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: My High School Days EssayLiberal arts colleges also provide great, arguably better grad school preparation than state universities, Lynn Gauchenesss of CBS states, Per capita, liberal arts colleges produce twice as many student who earn a PhD n science than other institutions,(Gauchenesss). Not only do grad schools look for students with degrees from these types to institutions, but employers do as well. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the top three skills forthwith workplaces value are communication skills, teamwork Skills and analytical skills; all skills liberal arts such as Transylvania strive to teach their students. This goes to show all the hard work liberal arts put toward their students and these students futures. This hard work can also be seen in the major and/or minor a student chooses. As Victor Feral discusses in his Liberal Arts at the Brink, another of the foremost differences is the amount of majors and types of majors provided by the institutions. Liberal arts colleges offer select majors, with programs designed to give students in depth experiences along vivid them. A few examples of these are foreign languages, psychology, social sciences, liberal studies, mathematics, philosophy and education (Gluer, Weeks). Even as early as the early IBOs, liberal arts schools, had increasingly focused their attention on specialized courses Of study designed to prepare dents for The liberal arts almost always specialize in a certain study. Although they offer a plethora of majors to all their students, specific schools may concentrate on the arts or sciences. Liberal arts schools also often allow students to design their own major, allowing them to put their own creative twist, based on their personal interests, within the major (Masc..). Public universities however, provide an abundance of more majors, along with schools within the school for certain majors such as dentistry and nursing. Although for some students this may seem appealing, the deeper focus and attention put on soars in a liberal arts college allows for a better learning experience in the long run. Throughout my time researching the benefits of a liberal arts education, found that liberal arts colleges are in fact superior to state universities, Better controlled class size, benefits available in the after college workplace, and the more in-depth involvement with students majors are just a few of the many reasons found to be a selling point tort the liberal arts.

Japanese Obon Festival free essay sample

A Buddhist monk, able to see the dead, saw his mother struggling in the afterworld of Hungry Ghosts, the Hell of Starvation. Horrified by his clairvoyant vision, the Buddhist monk, Mokuren, ran to Buddha and was instructed to give each Buddhist monk offerings on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. Doing so and seeing his mothers release, Mokuren realized how much she had sacrificed for him and danced in great joy and gratitude. Much like the story of Mokuren, the Japanese Obon (pronounced o-bone) festival is a family oriented celebration which appreciates the sacrifices of ones ancestors. Japans fashion of celebrating their ancestors sacrifices has its origins steeped in Buddhist culture. Obon has been celebrated annually since its introduction by the Chinese in the seventh century (more accurately 657 A. D. ). Abbreviated from Urabon (the Japanese transliteration of the Sanskrit word Ullambana), Obon means to hang upside down, which communicates the retched suffering of either body or spirit, literally or metaphorically, of being hung upside down. We will write a custom essay sample on Japanese Obon Festival or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Obon is a ritual, which operates according to Sakyamuni Buddhas Urabon Sutra, the story of Mokuren. This ritual was practiced the same way Sakyamuni Buddha instructed Mokuren to do, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. This tradition changed over the centuries and is now more commonly practiced August 13-16th, though most places in Okinawa (southern Japan) still celebrate Obon on the Lunar Calendars seventh month. Like the story implies, Obon is not a mournful celebration and is known as the Festival of Light or the Festival of Joy. For the three days of Obon, people may dance, eat good food, play games, and pray to show the joy they have for what their ancestors had to give up when they were alive. These celebratory features however, must be prepared for to adequately honor the ancestors spirits. Before the Obon festival begins, families gather and prepare their homes and the familys shrine in order to show thanks to their ancestors. Once the family has gathered, the home first must be cleaned, which functions to purify the area for the arrival of the ancestors sprits. To feed the spirits, food offerings, mostly vegetables, fruits, and rice are placed at the butsudan throughout the three days of Obon. The butsudan (a Buddhist altar) is an essential part to a traditional Japanese home, especially during Obon, being that it is the center of spiritual faith of the house. Positioned at the butsudan altar to help direct the spirits home are Lanterns, called chochin, and flower arrangements, called ikebana. Incense sticks are placed at the altar, which is thought to sooth and please the familys ancestors and chase away malignant spirits. Praying at the butsudan alter is also done at this time, sometimes asking a Buddhist or Shinto priest to invite the spirits home. It isnt uncommon to also position a lantern with the familys crest at the doorway (referred to as mukae-bi), to guide the souls to the right home. The family then will set out to their familys shrine and do much of the same thing; using chochin lanterns to bring the spirits home (the term for this being mukae-bon). This work is implemented to show how grateful the family is for what their ancestors have given up and sacrificed during the time they were alive. Once the set up is accomplished, fun gatherings take place so the people may show their appreciation to their familys ancestors. Due to the sweltering summer heat in Japan, yukata or cotton Kimonos are worn to the carnival-like celebration. Takoyaki (rounded fried dough often containing octopus), fried squid and chicken, sushi, dango (tofu and rice dessert), manju (Japanese confectionary), chocolate-dipped bananas, and snow cones with red beans are just some of the common food items of the Obon festival. A variety of games are also a large feature of the celebration. These games vary anywhere from catching fish from a kiddy pool using a small net, to throwing rings at bottles for prizes. Although the food and games have a significant role to play, the bon odori (Obon folk dance) is the pinnacle of the Obon gala. The bon odori dancing is done to welcome the spirits of the dead back to the living world. Different areas in Japan have different dances as well as unique songs to match them. Some songs have a pertinent spiritual significance to them and thusly, the bon odori will too. Hokkaido, far north of Japan, entertains with the folk song Soran Bushi, where in Kagoshima, the far south, uses the song Ohara Bushi. Anyone may participate in this special dance, allowing those who do the ability to show thanks and joy to their ancestors. The Buddhist teachings, which has soaked Japan in its colours, preaches not the joy of getting what you want, but rather the bliss of awareness. Completing the celebratory festival, the souls must be sent back to the afterworld to rest peacefully. Toro nagashi, meaning floating lanterns, is the final tradition of the Japanese Obon. Once th e sun begins to set, the people will take their family in-crested chochin lanterns to the waters edge. Lighting the lanterns, they send them off floating to the other side. The fire lit in these lanterns are said to guide the spirits wherever they go and here, they guide them back to the afterworld. Families that live by the coast, use the ocean as the sending place for toro nagashi, but for those not near the ocean will often use rivers or lakes to send off their ancestors. Regardless of which is used, this process of Obon is beautiful, but melancholy. Sending off the spirits of grandmothers, grandfathers, parents, wives, husbands, and children is often a very emotional process for the Japanese. Each family, on land or on boat, will watch as their lanterns float farther and farther away. The glow of each lantern causing the water to look much like the starry sky, spotted with many warm lights. Those who participated in toro nagashi have a heightened awareness of the challenges and sacrifices their ancestors had to take. For centuries Obon has been a sacred gathering for the dead and the living to teach and celebrate the awareness appreciating anothers sacrifice brings. Japanese Obon Festival free essay sample A Buddhist monk, able to see the dead, saw his mother struggling in the afterworld of Hungry Ghosts, the Hell of Starvation. Horrified by his clairvoyant vision, the Buddhist monk, Mokuren, ran to Buddha and was instructed to give each Buddhist monk offerings on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. Doing so and seeing his mothers release, Mokuren realized how much she had sacrificed for him and danced in great joy and gratitude. Much like the story of Mokuren, the Japanese Obon (pronounced o-bone) festival is a family oriented celebration which appreciates the sacrifices of ones ancestors. Japans fashion of celebrating their ancestors sacrifices has its origins steeped in Buddhist culture. Obon has been celebrated annually since its introduction by the Chinese in the seventh century (more accurately 657 A. D. ). Abbreviated from Urabon (the Japanese transliteration of the Sanskrit word Ullambana), Obon means to hang upside down, which communicates the retched suffering of either body or spirit, literally or metaphorically, of being hung upside down. We will write a custom essay sample on Japanese Obon Festival or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Obon is a ritual, which operates according to Sakyamuni Buddhas Urabon Sutra, the story of Mokuren. This ritual was practiced the same way Sakyamuni Buddha instructed Mokuren to do, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. This tradition changed over the centuries and is now more commonly practiced August 13-16th, though most places in Okinawa (southern Japan) still celebrate Obon on the Lunar Calendars seventh month. Like the story implies, Obon is not a mournful celebration and is known as the Festival of Light or the Festival of Joy. For the three days of Obon, people may dance, eat good food, play games, and pray to show the joy they have for what their ancestors had to give up when they were alive. These celebratory features however, must be prepared for to adequately honor the ancestors spirits. Before the Obon festival begins, families gather and prepare their homes and the familys shrine in order to show thanks to their ancestors. Once the family has gathered, the home first must be cleaned, which functions to purify the area for the arrival of the ancestors sprits. To feed the spirits, food offerings, mostly vegetables, fruits, and rice are placed at the butsudan throughout the three days of Obon. The butsudan (a Buddhist altar) is an essential part to a traditional Japanese home, especially during Obon, being that it is the center of spiritual faith of the house. Positioned at the butsudan altar to help direct the spirits home are Lanterns, called chochin, and flower arrangements, called ikebana. Incense sticks are placed at the altar, which is thought to sooth and please the familys ancestors and chase away malignant spirits. Praying at the butsudan alter is also done at this time, sometimes asking a Buddhist or Shinto priest to invite the spirits home. It isnt uncommon to also position a lantern with the familys crest at the doorway (referred to as mukae-bi), to guide the souls to the right home. The family then will set out to their familys shrine and do much of the same thing; using chochin lanterns to bring the spirits home (the term for this being mukae-bon). This work is implemented to show how grateful the family is for what their ancestors have given up and sacrificed during the time they were alive. Once the set up is accomplished, fun gatherings take place so the people may show their appreciation to their familys ancestors. Due to the sweltering summer heat in Japan, yukata or cotton Kimonos are worn to the carnival-like celebration. Takoyaki (rounded fried dough often containing octopus), fried squid and chicken, sushi, dango (tofu and rice dessert), manju (Japanese confectionary), chocolate-dipped bananas, and snow cones with red beans are just some of the common food items of the Obon festival. A variety of games are also a large feature of the celebration. These games vary anywhere from catching fish from a kiddy pool using a small net, to throwing rings at bottles for prizes. Although the food and games have a significant role to play, the bon odori (Obon folk dance) is the pinnacle of the Obon gala. The bon odori dancing is done to welcome the spirits of the dead back to the living world. Different areas in Japan have different dances as well as unique songs to match them. Some songs have a pertinent spiritual significance to them and thusly, the bon odori will too. Hokkaido, far north of Japan, entertains with the folk song Soran Bushi, where in Kagoshima, the far south, uses the song Ohara Bushi. Anyone may participate in this special dance, allowing those who do the ability to show thanks and joy to their ancestors. The Buddhist teachings, which has soaked Japan in its colours, preaches not the joy of getting what you want, but rather the bliss of awareness. Completing the celebratory festival, the souls must be sent back to the afterworld to rest peacefully. Toro nagashi, meaning floating lanterns, is the final tradition of the Japanese Obon. Once th e sun begins to set, the people will take their family in-crested chochin lanterns to the waters edge. Lighting the lanterns, they send them off floating to the other side. The fire lit in these lanterns are said to guide the spirits wherever they go and here, they guide them back to the afterworld. Families that live by the coast, use the ocean as the sending place for toro nagashi, but for those not near the ocean will often use rivers or lakes to send off their ancestors. Regardless of which is used, this process of Obon is beautiful, but melancholy. Sending off the spirits of grandmothers, grandfathers, parents, wives, husbands, and children is often a very emotional process for the Japanese. Each family, on land or on boat, will watch as their lanterns float farther and farther away. The glow of each lantern causing the water to look much like the starry sky, spotted with many warm lights. Those who participated in toro nagashi have a heightened awareness of the challenges and sacrifices their ancestors had to take. For centuries Obon has been a sacred gathering for the dead and the living to teach and celebrate the awareness appreciating anothers sacrifice brings.

Michel Foucault Biography and Intellectual History

Michel Foucault Biography and Intellectual History Michel Foucault (1926-1984) was a French social theorist, philosopher, historian, and public intellectual who was politically and intellectually active until his death. He is remembered for his method of using historical research to illuminate changes in discourse over time, and the evolving relationships between discourse, knowledge, institutions, and power. Foucault’s work inspired sociologists in subfields including sociology of knowledge; gender, sexuality and queer theory; critical theory;  Ã‚  deviance and crime; and the sociology of education. His most well-known works include Discipline and Punish, The History of Sexuality, and The Archaeology of Knowledge. Early Life Paul-Michel Foucault was born to an upper-middle-class family in Poitiers, France in 1926. His father was a surgeon, and his mother, the daughter of a surgeon. Foucault attended Lycà ©e Henri-IV, one of the most competitive and demanding high schools in Paris. He recounted later in life a troubled relationship with his father, who bullied him for being â€Å"delinquent.† In 1948 he attempted suicide for the first time and was placed in a psychiatric hospital for a period. Both of these experiences seem tied to his homosexuality, as his psychiatrist believed his suicide attempt was motivated by his marginalized status in society. Both also seem to have shaped his intellectual development and focus on the discursive framing of deviance, sexuality, and madness. Intellectual and Political Development Following high school Foucault was admitted in 1946 to the École Normale Supà ©rieure (ENS), an elite secondary school in Paris founded to train and create French intellectual, political, and scientific leaders. Foucault studied with Jean Hyppolite, an existentialist expert on Hegel and Marx who firmly believed that philosophy should be developed through a study of history; and, with Louis Althusser, whose structuralist theory left a strong mark on sociology and was greatly influential to Foucault. At ENS Foucault read widely in philosophy, studying the works of Hegel, Marx, Kant, Husserl, Heidegger, and Gaston Bachelard. Althusser, steeped in the Marxist intellectual and political traditions, convinced his student to join the French Communist Party, but Foucaults experience of homophobia and incidences of anti-semitism within it turned him off. Foucault also rejected the class-centric focus of Marx’s theory, and never identified as a Marxist. He completed his studies at the ENS in 1951 and then began a doctorate in the philosophy of psychology. For the next several years he taught university courses in psychology while studying the works of Pavlov, Piaget, Jaspers, and Freud; and, he studied relationships between doctors and patients at Hà ´pital Sainte-Anne, where he had been a patient after his 1948 suicide attempt. During this time Foucault also read widely outside of psychology into shared interests with his long-term partner, Daniel Defert, which included works by Nietzsche, Marquis de Sade, Dostoyevsky, Kafka, and Genet. Following his first university post, he worked as a cultural diplomat at universities in Sweden and Poland while completing his doctoral thesis. Foucault completed his thesis, titled â€Å"Madness and Insanity: History of Madness in the Classical Age,† in 1961. Drawing on the work of Durkheim and Margaret Mead, in addition to all of those listed above, he argued that madness was a social construct that originated in medical institutions, that it was distinct from true mental illness, and a tool of social control and power. Published in abridged form as his first book of note in 1964, Madness and Civilization is considered a work of structuralism, strongly influenced by his teacher at ENS, Louis Althusser. This, along with his next two books, The Birth of the Clinic and The Order of Things showcase his historiographical method known as â€Å"archaeology,† which he also used in his later books, The Archaeology of Knowledge, Discipline and Punish and The History of Sexuality. From the 1960s on Foucault held a variety of lectureships and professorships at universities around the world, including the University of California-Berkeley, New York University, and the University of Vermont. During these decades Foucault became known as an engaged public intellectual and activist on behalf of social justice issues, including racism, human rights, and prison reform. He was very popular with his students, and his lectures given after his induction into the Collà ¨ge de France were considered highlights of intellectual life in Paris, and always packed. Intellectual Legacy Foucaults key intellectual contribution was  his deft ability to illustrate that institutionslike science, medicine, and the penal systemthrough the use of discourse, create subject categories for people to inhabit, and turn people into objects of scrutiny and of knowledge. Thus, he argued, those who control institutions and their discourses wield power in society, because they shape the trajectories and outcomes of peoples lives. Foucault also demonstrated in his work that the creation of subject and object categories is premised on hierarchies of power among people, and in turn, hierarchies of knowledge, whereby the knowledge of the powerful is considered legitimate and right, and that of the less powerful is considered invalid and wrong. Importantly, though, he emphasized that power is not held by individuals, but that it courses  through society, lives in institutions, and is accessible to those who control institutions and the creation of knowledge. He thus considered knowledge and power inseparable, and denoted them as one concept, knowledge/power. Foucault is one of the most widely read and frequently cited scholars in the world.

Suspension Definition in Chemistry

Suspension Definition in Chemistry Mixtures may be classified according to their properties. A suspension is one type of mixture. Key Takeaways: Suspension Chemistry Definition A suspension is a type of heterogeneous mixture.Over time, particles in a suspension will settle out.A suspension contains larger particles than are found in a colloid. In a colloid, the particles remain mixed over time. Suspension Definition In chemistry, a  suspension is a heterogeneous mixture of a fluid and solid particles. In order to be a suspension, the particles must not dissolve in the fluid. A suspension of liquid or solid particles in a gas is called an aerosol. Examples of Suspensions Suspensions may be formed by shaking oil and water together, oil and mercury together, by mixing dust in air. Suspension Versus Colloid The difference between a suspension and a  colloid  is the solid particles in a suspension will settle out over time. In other words, the particles in a suspension are large enough to permit sedimentation.

Stressors and Stress Management Mechanisms among First-Year School Dissertation

Stressors and Stress Management Mechanisms among First-Year School Principals - Dissertation Example Stressors and Stress Management Mechanisms among First-Year School Principals Thus, this period needs to be handled with a lot of care and precaution. Indeed, Lindley agrees, â€Å"professional training materials are needed to help educators who are preparing for administrative positions and first-year principals who are struggling to survive the tribulations of the â€Å"rookie† principal† (Lindley xi). The best way to do this is to investigate the various causes of stress among first year principals so that best way forward can be proposed to assist school administrators going through the same challenges. Since the issues of stress among first year school administrators is wide and multivariate, literature review is given a fivefold approach. First, literature regarding burnout theory is investigated. Secondly, literature review is done on stressors among first year principals. Thirdly, works regarding impact of stress experienced by school administrators is reviewed. Finally, literature work on authors who have focused on coping mechanisms is evaluated. Burnout can occur among professionals dealing with service to people. According to Dworkin burnout occurs when overstressed individuals feel emotionally drained by their work environment, feel that their activities result in no benefit to those they had intended to help or to themselves, and come to blame their clients, patients, or students for failing to improve, get better, or learn, and in turn, for the professional’s loss of feelings of accomplishment.... Although there are different burnout models, Maslach burnout theory as proposed by Maslach and Jackson is used. The Maslach burnout inventory (MBI) argues that burnout syndrome comprises of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a feeling of reduced personal accomplishment. The burnout theory has mostly been used to assess the stress levels among professionals who do â€Å"people work.† Most of the earlier works utilizing burnout theory investigated causes of stress and stress levels among professionals in nursing and religious institutions. However, recent works investigating stress among school administrators have also used this theory with great levels of success. Indeed, â€Å"a number of studies have now reported on the reliability and validity of the Maslach Burnout Inventory in a variety of cultures and among a variety of different professional groups† (Greer and Moberg 180). Whereas, burnout theory has been used for quite some time in investigating stresso rs among school principals, â€Å"research on burnout has produced unanswered questions for school administrators† (Ward 46). It therefore becomes important to dig exhaustively in this subject in order to come up with viable solutions to the stress factors. Many authors have applied the MBI in their work on stress among school administrators. Among them was Ward from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Ward investigated the impact of personal and organizational factors on school administrators. Though his study was wide, one of the issues he investigated was the correlation between the levels of burnout and years of experience of school administrators. He used the MBI and found out that the first years of school administration are the most stressful. Vandenberghe and Huberman explored the

Global Issues- THE USE OF MEDIA FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES Essay

Global Issues- THE USE OF MEDIA FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES - Essay Example Most of the Medias on the other hand claim that they are neutral; but all these claims lie on paper alone. In practice their neutrality seems to be only at the surface level. At the grass root level all the Medias has their own biases towards a particular political party or ideology. This paper briefly explains the use of media for political purposes. Most of the media are money making businesses. In business, the support of the politicians is immensely required in order to develop or sustain a business. Administration of a country is handled by politicians or political parties. Business on the other hand requires lot of administrative supports which is controlled by the politicians. So, politicians can create lots of headaches to the business. Thus the media industry or media business forced to bias towards a political party in order to receive favours from them. Politicians or political parties on the other hand, depend on the service of Medias to convey their ideologies, policies, vision or mission to the public. Medias can make or break a political party because of their immense influence upon the public. They can spread stories, real or fabricated ones to support or oppose the parties whom they support or oppose. Thus both politics and media are running hand in hand and both required the mutual support for attaining their objectives or goals. â€Å"After September 11, CNN ran graphics pronouncing "America under attack" and "War on America". When US forces invaded Iraq, the graphics were "Strike on Iraq" and "War in Iraq". These were simply dishonest terms. It was a "War on Iraq"† (Vanaik, 2005). It was well known to the world within hours from the 9/11 that it was a terrorist attack rather than a war. But CNN has given the headlines that â€Å"War on America† just to sensationalise the issue. CNN tried to over emphasise the issue in order to accumulate support for the future responses of America. On the other hand, while America has started war in Iraq, CNN

Society of American Naturalist Essay Example for Free

Society of American Naturalist Essay Different organisms live in a specific place in the biosphere called their habitat. Through the course of evolution, species have adapted to their environment by growing certain physical structures or developing certain characteristics. Factors such as availability of resources (such as light intensity, water availability and others) contribute to the success of survival among species in the biosphere (Regents prep, 2003). Also, biotic relationships (such as competition, mutualism and others) interact to the dynamics of species survival. Certain species of plants grow abundantly in certain areas only of the biosphere. Some grasses grow abundantly in area where there is ample source of sunlight, but does not grow within forest beds where sunlight is scarce. In the same way, succulent herbs and vines are not commonly seen in dry area like the grassland. This exercise aims to characterize the effect of light intensity to the survival of grassland monocots. Hypothesis Limit in the availability of resources would cause decrease in species productivity and may reduce their chance of survival. For plants that are adapted to direct sunlight exposure may not be able to survive when placed in an environment where there is less amount of light. Methods For this experiment, effects of changes in lighting condition to grassland plant will be tested. To do this, find a grassland area (or any area that are exposed to direct sunlight most time of the day) and select species of low growing monocots. The area should be occupied dominantly by a single species in order to make easy observation. Measure six feet by six feet (6 x 6 ft) working area. Using small peg and nylon string mark the boundary and divide the working area into four equal quadrants. Tag the quadrants as area I, II, II and IV as shown in figure 1. I II III IV Figure 1. Working quadrant in grassland area. Using long sticks and cheesecloth (or any material that would cast greater shadow), make a tent over quadrant III and IV making sure that quadrant I and II are not shaded. The tent will simulate shaded condition and limit sunlight exposure for species in quadrant III and IV, while ensuring that other condition such as, humidity, mineral and water contents of soil and interacting species (insects and other plants) are held constant. In making the canopy, leave at least half foot (0. 5 ft) gap above the tip of the grass so that air can circulate in the area and will not cast shadow in area I and II when direction of sunlight changes. Quadrant I serve as the control while quadrant II serves as a duplicate for the control. Quadrant III is the experimental and quadrant IV is the duplicate. Make a table and list the initial condition of the selected grass species found in all quadrants. Take note of the time observation was made and the condition of the environment such as temperature of the surrounding air and the soil, humidity. Measure the difference in the amount of light in each quadrant. For two weeks, observe any changes in the condition of the grasses, such as leaf color and turgidity in all quadrants. Collect data every two days, preferably the same time when the set up was made. Predictions There will be noticeable changes in the condition of plans found in the given set up. Because these plants are not adapted in colder or shaded area, most leaves of grasses III and IV would have turned yellow and noticed decrease in their turgidity. Some leaves may have already dried out because photosynthesis is not carried out in its maximum potential. Grasses found on quadrants I and II should have remained the same condition as the start of the setup, because all factors necessary for its survival is available. Conclusions A change in the environmental condition and limit of resources affects the chance of species survival. Plants that are found in grassland area that are adapted to prolonged sunlight exposure may not be able to survive when placed in an area where there is a limited supply of sunlight. Part II Evolution of Resistant Bacteria Mutation of infectious bacteria to a resistant strain seems impossible to stop. Biological species are not fixed entities and are subject to ongoing modification through chance and adaptation (Society of American Naturalist, 1998). Organisms (such as bacteria) interact with its environment (their host and medicines) in a very dynamic way that it is biological phenomenon to adapt to these changes. Therefore, evolution of mutant genomes is inevitable. In natural environment, formation of resistant form of bacteria had been found. Antibiotics produced naturally by the soil, waste products and treatment waste are also contributes to evolution of these organisms. Since there is no way of stopping evolution, the only possible solution to this problem is to slower down its process. Though there is no possible way to quantize the evolution process or exactly measure its progress, it is the idea of determining the key point in the evolution process and tackles the issue at that point. Resistant forms of bacteria comes form strains that are not fully killed by antibiotics. There are cases when a patient was instructed to take medicine for a certain period but discontinue taking the medication when they feel that they are already well. However, they do not know that bacteria causing their sickness were just dormant or too few to cause illness. Or some resort to self medication by taking readily available over the counter antibiotics. Medical professionals on the other hand contribute to the matter. Administering prescription drug has been a normal way in treating diseases. However, because of prolonged use to these antibiotics, resistant forms of bacteria evolve. There is theoretical evidence proving application of selective pressure (such as antibiotics in food animals) will result in drug resistance by pathogens attacking human. It may not be easy to get direct evidence but this could help in development of policies (Leidberg, 1997, p. 419). Educating the public about the risk of self medication and drug resistance is a good step. Including this topic to academic lessons is also a good way in reaching peoples attention. Also, it is not just the public who should be serious about his matter. Medical professionals should also be aware of the risk involve in prescribing common antibiotics to most illness. After all, they are the ones that have direct knowledge about medicines and illnesses. Doctors are the ones who can control the prescription of antibiotics and how it should be taken by their patients. References Society of American Naturalist. (1998, December 23). Evolution, Science and Society: Evolutionary Biology and the National Research Agenda. Retrieved March 9, 2008, from http://www. rci. rutgers. edu/~ecolevol/execsumm. html Lederberg, J. (1997). Infectious Disease as an Evolutionary Paradigm. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 3(4), 417-423. Regents Prep (2003) Living Environment: Ecology: Biotic vs. Abiotic. Retrieved March 9, 2008, from http://regentsprep. org/Regents/biology/units/ecology/biotic. cfm

The Adventures of Pinocchio :: Books, Film

When a book is made into a movie, certain scenes and overall big pictures sometimes get â€Å"lost in translation.† This certainly is the case for Carlo Collodi’s story The Adventures of Pinocchio. Many things occur in the book that do not take place in the Disney movie Pinocchio, originally produced in 1940, and rereleased in 1992. A possible reason for some of the changes could regard audiences. The Adventures of Pinocchio was written in Italian in 1883. Perhaps that is why the book focuses more on morality and is a teach-you-a-lesson about the consequences of being bad kind of book, while the movie more gently tries to get the same message across by adding and deleting scenes from the original work. A change from book to movie occurs right at the beginning of the film. In the book, Geppetto buys the wood that is to become Pinocchio from Mastro Antonio—a character left out of the movie entirely (1). The movie version begins with Jiminy Cricket, as he is called in the movie, singing about wishing upon stars. In the book, he is known as the Talking Cricket. Pinocchio is already crafted, fitted with marionette strings, and is sitting on a shelf. In the book, as soon as Pinocchio has feet—he is already alive—he runs out the door (6); however, in the movie, Geppetto, who controls him with the marionette strings, dances him around. I find it strange that Geppetto makes the puppet (while he controls him) kick the cat, Figaro—who is not in the original book—causing him to fall off the steps. How does Geppetto expect Pinocchio to be a good boy if at the beginning of his functioning he (Pinocchio) is made to kick innocent cats? After Geppetto dances the puppet around for a bit he goes to bed, but before he falls asleep, he wishes upon a star. He wishes that the puppet was a real boy. The star comes into the window and is a fairy with blue hair. The fairy grants the wish, giving the puppet life. The stipulation the fairy gives Pinocchio is that he can become a real boy when he proves himself and learns to choose between right and wrong. This requirement is the same in the book (55). A difference in this film scene and the book is the appearance of the fairy. In the book, Pinocchio initially sees the fairy much later (32). The Adventures of Pinocchio :: Books, Film When a book is made into a movie, certain scenes and overall big pictures sometimes get â€Å"lost in translation.† This certainly is the case for Carlo Collodi’s story The Adventures of Pinocchio. Many things occur in the book that do not take place in the Disney movie Pinocchio, originally produced in 1940, and rereleased in 1992. A possible reason for some of the changes could regard audiences. The Adventures of Pinocchio was written in Italian in 1883. Perhaps that is why the book focuses more on morality and is a teach-you-a-lesson about the consequences of being bad kind of book, while the movie more gently tries to get the same message across by adding and deleting scenes from the original work. A change from book to movie occurs right at the beginning of the film. In the book, Geppetto buys the wood that is to become Pinocchio from Mastro Antonio—a character left out of the movie entirely (1). The movie version begins with Jiminy Cricket, as he is called in the movie, singing about wishing upon stars. In the book, he is known as the Talking Cricket. Pinocchio is already crafted, fitted with marionette strings, and is sitting on a shelf. In the book, as soon as Pinocchio has feet—he is already alive—he runs out the door (6); however, in the movie, Geppetto, who controls him with the marionette strings, dances him around. I find it strange that Geppetto makes the puppet (while he controls him) kick the cat, Figaro—who is not in the original book—causing him to fall off the steps. How does Geppetto expect Pinocchio to be a good boy if at the beginning of his functioning he (Pinocchio) is made to kick innocent cats? After Geppetto dances the puppet around for a bit he goes to bed, but before he falls asleep, he wishes upon a star. He wishes that the puppet was a real boy. The star comes into the window and is a fairy with blue hair. The fairy grants the wish, giving the puppet life. The stipulation the fairy gives Pinocchio is that he can become a real boy when he proves himself and learns to choose between right and wrong. This requirement is the same in the book (55). A difference in this film scene and the book is the appearance of the fairy. In the book, Pinocchio initially sees the fairy much later (32).

Psychology Article Summary Essay

              A recent article showed that a group of researchers have discovered new findings in the symptoms and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. According to the article, Depression Is A Risk Factor Rather Than Early Sign of Alzheimer’s Disease, Study Suggests, which was published in the Science Daily website last April 10, the results of a recent study by researchers at the Rush University Medical Center suggests that depression is not an early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease but a condition that increases the risk of the disease.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to the study, people who exhibit higher levels of depression at an old age will most likely have an increased chance to develop Alzheimer’s disease as well as mild cognitive impairment (MCI) than those who do not. The research group examined 917 older Catholic clergy and checked if their manifestations of depression before and after the emergence of symptoms that led to Alzheimer’s disease.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Based on the article, for 13 years, the participants of the study underwent several medical evaluations such as assessment of depressive symptoms, cognitive testing, and classification of MCI and Alzheimer’s disease. During the study period, 190 participants who exhibited increased symptoms of depression developed Alzheimer’s disease.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, according to the article, the researchers emphasized that the results of study has to be rechecked and reevaluated before they can make a conclusion. They also said that their findings cannot change the method of diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease since the study was very limited. In addition, they also said that there are many aspects about the brain that have yet to be studied which is why it is difficult for researchers to diagnose brain-related diseases. Nevertheless, based on the article, the findings are a breakthrough in the field of psychology and the medical field in general. The researchers suggest further studies should be conducted on how depression contributes to the development of Alzheimer’s disease in order to devise new means to prevent the disease. Works Cited Rush University Medical Center. â€Å"Depression Is A Risk Factor Rather Than Early Sign Of Alzheimer’s Disease, Study Suggests.† ScienceDaily. 10 April 2008. 12 April 2008 .

Save the Earth Ailing from the Vehicular Pollution

Vehicles on the roads contribute to air pollution in major way. Most of the vehicle plying on road are fuelled by petrol and diesel emitting pollutants like Ozone gas, Nitrogen Oxides (NO), particulate matter, soot smog, carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2) etc These emissions not only pollute the environment, but also pose variety of health risks for people. Pollution is the main reason behind skin cancers, asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory disorders. Even newborn children can get affected.Following steps can be taken by the state and even individuals to save the environment. Adopt energy efficient engines All vehicles must have 3 way catalysts and fuel controls so that they emit out less smog. They should be made mandatory by law as has been done by the state of California. Build an efficient public transport system More cars on roads mean more smog, increased pollution. Hence the need of the hour is to come up with a public transport system, which can reduce number of vehicles thereby reducing congestion, and also caters to the increasing population.Use of alternate fuels Vehicles must be installed with engines that are fuelled by hydrogen, ethanol, methanol and natural gas. They are known as cleaner fuels because they release less CO 2 into the air. They are economical as they can be obtained from natural resources. Introduction of battery operated or electric vehicles They run on the chemical energy stored in the battery, which is rechargeable. Lithium batteries can be used for such vehicles. The emission is zero and is powered by motor controllers.Individuals can make following meaningful contributions in reducing vehicular pollution. †¢ People can resort to riding bicycles for shorter distances. Cycles are absolutely safe for the environment and good for our bodies too. Cycling is good form of exercise also. †¢ Even walking should be encouraged for viable distances. †¢ Office goers can engage in car pools. †¢ Engines ca n be switched off at signals and at possible places where you need to wait for more than few minutes. It also conserves petrol/diesel.

Book Designers or Book Design Templates

Book Designers or Book Design Templates Book Designers or Book Design Templates? Last updated: 2017/07/07Freelance journalist Simon Owens wrote a brilliant investigative piece on how the rise of self-publishing has led to a boom of freelance editing services. This is also true in all the other areas of a book’s production, like cover design, layout, and formatting – and is even a growing trend in marketing and publicity.Most independent authors publish with a â€Å"digital first† approach; they tend to invest less in book interior design, layout and typography because most e-readers have standard formatting whereby the reader chooses the font, size and colour. That leaves the cover design. But even with book covers, the thumbnail size of books on Amazon has prompted many authors to think twice before heavily investing in a professional cover design (where quotes can range from $200 to $2000).This tendency to cut corners on design has given birth to another possibility in the past few years: pre-made book layout and cover design templates. It has also given birth to some fantastic websites like Lousy Book Covers and Kindle Cover Disasters, but that’s another story†¦Book design  templates: Opportunities and risksHere’s how Joanna Penn put it in a blog post on DIY book cover design: â€Å"Although I personally believe in paying professionals, I’m also aware that some people want to have a go themselves, or need to because of budget restraints.†That’s the great thing about today’s publishing landscape: there are enough options out there to suit all kinds of authors, including the budget-conscious or DIY-lovers. Joel Friedlander from The Book Designer offers pre-made book design  templates. Graphic design startup Canva has a free online book cover maker. And a number of other websites offer templates and DIY tools for authors to make their own covers based on existing templates.Of course, the risk when using a template is a copyright one. If the site you purchase the templat e (or pre-made cover) from doesn't grant you the rights - or an exclusive perpetual license - as a result of the purchase, then they might be re-selling that pre-made cover to other authors. That's how so many authors end up with covers that look almost identical to another one out there.So, to the question: is it worth investing in a book designer with all the free tools, templates, imagery and DIY advice out there? To answer, I decided to start a little Facebook survey on two indie author groups.A Facebook surveyMost of the members of these groups are professional indie authors who take their writing careers just as seriously as a traditionally published author would. They are educated enough to know about all â€Å"options† out there.In a sample of 116 respondents:70% indicated they worked with a professional designer or design company27% indicated they did their own covers3% indicated they purchased pre-made cover design templatesNote 1: Over 50% of the DIY-enthusiasts in this survey are actually either professional designers (as well as indie authors) or well-versed enough in editorial design to produce covers of a same quality standard as traditional publishing.Note 2: Several authors (around 20) indicated in the comments that they worked with a professional designer for some of their â€Å"main† books and did the covers themselves for short stories.ConclusionsIf over 80% of authors in this sample place a high enough value on book design to consult and hire a professional, it seems reasonable to say that debuting authors should do the same. In an extremely competitive market, first-time authors who want to realistically compete with seasoned professionals would do well to note the value a professional designer can add.DIY tools offer great value to those who already possess design skills, but cannot replace or teach those skills to the uninitiated. Book design templates can be a starting point for a cover, but are rarely â€Å"just right † for the book, which means they will need to be tweaked†¦ and then we’re back to requiring design skills.The results of this mini-survey should come to readers as a relief. For a while, the rise of templates and cheap designs seemed to be leading the book industry towards more visual standardization. Indie authors continuously contribute to publishing’s diversity by blending genres, inventing new ones, and revealing new niche markets. It’s important that this pioneering diversity is equally represented in a new range of book designs.More awesome posts on book design:6 Tips for Briefing your Book DesignerBook Design in Self-Publishing: Breaking New GroundThe Perfect Book CoverWe are big believers in the value of talented professional designers.  So whether you're looking for cover design, typesetting or illustration, visit our designer's  marketplace!

History of Golf and Golf Equipment

History of Golf and Golf Equipment Golf originated from a game played on the coast of Scotland during the 15th century. Golfers would hit a pebble instead of a ball around the sand dunes using a stick or club. After 1750, golf evolved into the sport as we recognize it today. In 1774, Edinburgh golfers wrote the first standardized rules for the game of golf. Invention of Golf Balls Golfers soon tired of hitting pebbles and tried other things. The earliest man-made golf balls included thin leather bags stuffed with feathers (they did not fly very far). The gutta-percha ball was invented in 1848 by Reverend Adam Paterson. Made from the sap of the Gutta tree, this ball could be hit a maximum distance of 225 yards and was very similar to its modern counterpart. In 1898, Coburn Haskell introduced the first one-piece rubber core; when professionally hit these balls reached distances approaching 430 yards. According to The Dimpled Golf Ball by Vincent Mallette, balls were smooth during the early days of golf. Players noticed that as balls became old and scarred, they traveled farther. After a while players would take new balls and intentionally pit them. In 1905, golf ball manufacturer William Taylor was the first to add the dimple pattern using the Coburn Haskell ball. Golf balls had now taken on their modern form. Evolution of Golf Clubs Golf clubs have evolved from wooden shaft clubs to todays sets of woods and irons with durability, weight distribution, and graduation utility. The evolution of clubs went hand-in-hand with the evolution of golf balls that were able to withstand harder whacks. History of Carrying and Caddies During the 1880s, golf bags first came into use. The beast of burden is an old nickname for the caddie who carried golfers equipment for them. The first powered golf car appeared around 1962 and was invented by Merlin L. Halvorson. Invention of Golf Tees The word tee as it relates to the game of golf originated as the name for the area where a golfer played. In 1889, the first documented portable golf tee was patented by Scottish golfers William Bloxsom and Arthur Douglas. This golf tee was made from rubber and had three vertical rubber prongs that held the ball in place. However, it lay on the ground and did not pierce the ground like modern golf tees. In 1892, a British patent was granted to Percy Ellis for his Perfectum tee that did pierce the ground. It was a rubber tee with a metal spike. The 1897 Victor tee was similar and included a cup-shaped top to better hold the golf ball. The Vicktor was patented by Scotsmen PM Matthews. American patents for golf tees include the first American patent issued to Scotsmen David Dalziel in 1895, the 1895 patent issued to American Prosper Senat, and the 1899 patent for an improved golf tee issued to George Grant. Rules of the Game In 1774, the first standardized rules of golf were written and used for the first golf championship, which was won by Doctor John Rattray on 2nd April 1744 in Edinburgh, Scotland. You must tee your ball within one clubs length of the hole.Your  tee  must be on the ground.You are not to change the ball which you strike off the tee.You are not to remove stones, bones or any break club for the sake of playing your ball, except on the fair green, and that only within a clubs length of your ball.If your ball comes among water, or any watery filth, you are at liberty to take out your ball and bringing it behind the hazard and teeing it, you may play it with any club and allow your adversary a stroke for so getting out your ball.If your balls  be  found anywhere touching one another you are to lift the first ball till you play the last.At  holeing  you are to play your ball honestly for the hole, and not to play upon your adversarys ball, not lying in your way to the hole.If you should lose your ball, by its being taken up, or any other way, you are to go back to the spot where you struck last and drop another ball and allow your adversary a stroke for th e misfortune.No man at  holeing  his ball is to be allowed to mark his way to the hold with his club or anything else. If a ball  be  stoppd by any person, horse or dog, or anything else, the ball so stoppd  must  be played where it lyes.If you draw your club in order to strike and proceed so far in the stroke as to be bringing down your club; if then your club shall break in any way, it is to be accounted a stroke.He whose ball  lyes  farthest from the hole is obliged to play first.Neither trench, ditch or  dyke  made for the preservation of the links, nor the Scholars Holes or the soldiers lines shall be accounted a hazard but the ball is to be taken out,  teed  and  playd  with any iron club.

Economics Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 8000 words - 1

Economics Project - Essay Example It is significant to understand that even though countries might be located in the same region, they may respond variously to financial crises and may have different capabilities to withstand their impacts. The section following the literature review will be dedicated to econometric results that will analyze the impacts of the financial crisis on key labour market performance indicators such as unemployment and employment rates. In investigating the severity of financial crises for economies at different levels of development, a re-estimation will be done on a model for sub-samples obtained from different income groups plus additional 15 transition countries (Griffith 2000). Financial crisis is an economic situation that relates to a panic in the banking sector, and includes a significant financial and production sector losses, leads to chaos on the international market, creates downfall of the stocks in the market, financial bubbles, currency crises as well as foreign loans and also leads to sharp declines in economic activity nd has a huge potential of creating an economic recession (Marelli, Patuelli & Signorelli 2012). The 2007-08 financial crises affected the whole world. The Global financial crisis started in 2007 with ‘subprime crisis and then quickly propagated into the financial system and the banking sector of other countries as a result of global diffusion that was involved with the sophisticated financial instruments. In 2008, the extending disruptions in the working of credit systems and banks, the deterioration of expectations, and the confidence crisis led to the initial real effects that were felt in the economy. It also led to a d ecrease in levels of activity and productivity levels as well as a reduction in investments and consumptions and a fall in international trade. The financial crisis experienced in 2007-08 financial year also persisted in 2009, and this was coupled with widespread consequences on labour