Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Teaching Cinco de Mayo to Kids

Teaching Cinco de Mayo to Kids Cinco de Mayo! Its everyones favorite Mexican holiday, a chance to listen to cool music, grab some chips and salsa and maybe even speak some Spanish with friends. But whats it all about? Most folks know enough Spanish to understand that Cinco de Mayo is May fifth, so it must be a special date in history, but why do Mexicans celebrate that particular day? What is Cinco de Mayo? On Cinco de Mayo, Mexicans remember the Battle of Puebla, fought on May 5, 1862. On that day, Mexicans won an important battle against the French army, which was invading Mexico. Why Was France Invading Mexico? France had a long history of interfering in Mexicos business, dating back to the famous Pastry War of 1838. In 1862, Mexico was having big problems and owed money to other countries, mainly France. France invaded Mexico to try and get their money. Why is the Battle of Puebla So Famous? Basically, the battle is famous because the Mexicans werent supposed to win. The French army had about 6,000 soldiers and the Mexicans had only about 4,500. The French had better guns and were better trained. The French had already beaten the Mexicans a few times as they made their way to the city of Puebla, from which they planned to go to Mexico City. No one thought the Mexicans were going to win the battle†¦except maybe the Mexicans! What Happened at the Battle of Puebla? The Mexicans had made defenses around the city of Puebla. The French attacked three times, and each time they had to retreat. When the French cannons ran out of ammunition, the Mexican commander, Ignacio Zaragoza, ordered an attack. The Mexican attack forced the French to run away! The Mexicans cheered and President Benito Juarez said that May fifth would forever be a national holiday. Was That the End of the War? Unfortunately, no. The French army was driven off but not beaten. France sent a huge army of 27,000 soldiers to Mexico and this time they captured Mexico City. They put Maximilian of Austria in charge of Mexico and it was a few years before the Mexicans could kick the French out. So Cinco de Mayo isn't Mexico's Independence Day? Lots of people think so, but no. Mexico celebrates its Independence Day on September 16. Thats the day when in 1810 Father Miguel Hidalgo stood up in his church and said that the time had come for Mexico to be free from Spain. Thats how Mexicos battle for independence began. How Do Mexicans Celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Mexicans love Cinco de Mayo! Its a day that makes them feel very proud. There are parties, parades and lots of food. There are festivals with concerts and dancing. Mariachi bands are everywhere. Where Are the Best Places to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Of all the places in the world, the city of Puebla in Mexico is probably the best. After all, thats where the big battle was! Theres a huge parade and a re-enactment of the battle. There is also a mole festival. Mole, pronounced mo-lay, is a special food in Mexico. After Puebla, the best place to go for Cinco de Mayo is Los Angeles, California, where they have a big party every year. Is Cinco de Mayo a Big Deal in Mexico? It is, but September 16, Mexicos Independence Day, is a bigger holiday in most of Mexico than Cinco de Mayo. Cinco de Mayo is a bigger deal in other countries like the USA. Thats because Mexicans who live in other countries like to celebrate Cinco de Mayo and because most foreigners think its the most important Mexican holiday. Cinco de Mayo is surprisingly NOT a national holiday in Mexico, although its a local holiday in Puebla. How Can I Celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Thats easy! If you live in a city where there are a lot of Mexicans, there will be parties and festivals. If you dont, your local Mexican restaurant will probably have special food, decorations and maybe even a mariachi band! You can host a Cinco de Mayo party by getting some decorations, serving some Mexican food like chips, salsa and guacamole and playing Mexican music.

Friday, November 22, 2019

How to Analyze a Free Falling Body Problem

How to Analyze a Free Falling Body Problem One of the most common sorts of problems that a beginning physics student will encounter is to analyze the motion of a free-falling body. Its helpful to look at the various ways these sorts of problems can be approached. The following problem was presented on our long-gone Physics Forum by a person with the somewhat unsettling pseudonym c4iscool: A 10kg block being held at rest above the ground is released. The block begins to fall under only the effect of gravity. At the instant that the block is 2.0 meters above the ground, the speed of the block is 2.5 meters per second. At what height was the block released? Begin by defining your variables: y0 - initial height, unknown (what were trying to solve for) v0 0 (initial velocity is 0, since we know it begins at rest) y 2.0 m/s v 2.5 m/s (velocity at 2.0 meters above ground) m 10 kg g 9.8 m/s2 (acceleration due to gravity) Looking at the variables, we see a couple of things that we could do. We can use conservation of energy or we could apply one-dimensional kinematics. Method One: Conservation of Energy This motion exhibits conservation of energy, so you can approach the problem that way. To do this, well have to be familiar with three other variables: U mgy (gravitational potential energy) K 0.5mv2 (kinetic energy) E K U (total classical energy) We can then apply this information to get the total energy when the block is released and the total energy at the 2.0 meter above-the-ground point. Since the initial velocity is 0, there is no kinetic energy there, as the equation shows E 0 K 0 U 0 0 mgy 0 mgy 0E K U 0.5mv2 mgyby setting them equal to each other, we get:mgy0 0.5mv2 mgyand by isolating y0 (i.e. dividing everything by mg) we get:y0 0.5v2 / g y Notice that the equation we get for y0 doesnt include mass at all. It doesnt matter if the block of wood weighs 10 kg or 1,000,000 kg, we will get the same answer to this problem. Now we take the last equation and just plug our values in for the variables to get the solution: y0 0.5 * (2.5 m/s)2 / (9.8 m/s2) 2.0 m 2.3 m This is an approximate solution, since we are only using two significant figures in this problem. Method Two: One-Dimensional Kinematics Looking over the variables we know and the kinematics equation for a one-dimensional situation, one thing to notice is that we have no knowledge of the time involved in the drop. So we have to have an equation without time. Fortunately, we have one (although Ill replace the x with y since were dealing with vertical motion and a with g since our acceleration is gravity): v 2 v 0 2 2 g( x - x 0) First, we know that v0 0. Second, we have to keep in mind our coordinate system (unlike the energy example). In this case, up is positive, so g is in the negative direction. v2 2g(y - y0)v2 / 2g y - y0y0 -0.5 v2 / g y Notice that this is exactly the same equation that we ended up with in the conservation of energy method. It looks different because one term is negative, but since g is now negative, those negatives will cancel and yield the exact same answer: 2.3 m. Bonus Method: Deductive Reasoning This wont give you the solution, but it will allow you to get a rough estimate of what to expect. More importantly, it allows you to answer the fundamental question that you should ask yourself when you get done with a physics problem: Does my solution make sense? The acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s2. This means that after falling for 1 second, an object will be moving at 9.8 m/s. In the above problem, the object is moving at only 2.5 m/s after having been dropped from rest. Therefore, when it reaches 2.0 m in height, we know that it hasnt fallen very fall at all. Our solution for the drop height, 2.3 m, shows exactly this - it had fallen only 0.3 m. The calculated solution does make sense in this case. Edited by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Contemporary Developments in Business and Management Dissertation

Contemporary Developments in Business and Management - Dissertation Example The dedicated food service worker, chef or manager, almost always finds it to be a rewarding, lifelong career. Thus, so many cookbooks written by these chefs have been published and almost all of them shout out and proclaim their love for this art as if they have finally discovered their nirvana. To the nutritionist, however, food is considered a means of therapy and in hospitals, food is one means of attaining recovery to health. Other than financial rewards, running a restaurant gives to its owner another high i.e. the opportunity to meet all kinds of people and to satisfy their palates via the use of their culinary talents. The restaurant business can be financially rewarding if the restaurateur comes to it prepared with all the knowledge and training and the management skills culled from years of academic training in management or hands-on-training on the same business. So many restaurant entrepreneurs have found their pot of gold in this business with the effect that myriads of other people are encouraged to follow suit. " According to the National Restaurant Association data, the industry is comprised mostly of small businesses. There were almost 731,000 locations offering food service in the USA as of 1993. It is estimated that almost half of all adults are food service patrons on a typical day, and over 43% of the consumers' food dollar goes to meals and snacks away from home. The industry is a major employer- more than 9 million are employed in food service, and employment is expected to reach over 12 million by the year 2005. In 1993, sales of restaurants of all types topped $236 billion" (Alonzo 1996, p. v).

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Best practices in performance appraisal in government organizations Research Paper

Best practices in performance appraisal in government organizations - Research Paper Example Performance appraisal has been viewed as a crucial tool in the HRM and it helps in appraising the employee’s performances irrespective of the organizations they are working in. Government organizations have been pioneering in the field of performance appraisal of their employees. Since, government organizations have been serving the common people performance appraisal of these civil servants becomes mandatory. However, the requirement to mandate performance appraisal in the federal organization in order to measure performances is quiet evident. The civil servants of the system have faced certain backlogs in maintaining this standard of appraisal. The government of United States has been placing greater emphasis on the performance of their civil servants, for meeting up the expectations of their stakeholders and customers. However, one of the major problems faced by the government is regarding validating the standards of performance appraisal for maintaining transparency in the appraisal techniques (Maher, 2011). Moreover, it has also been observed that the current government workforce planning are lacking behind the set standards. This fragmented practice of the government, hinders their ability towards achieving their perceived targets. The unplanned structure of the government for the workforce management makes them deviate from their operations and results in lack of confidence within the people along with shattered market conditions (IBM, 2002). Government organization practices have largely been observed, to be the weakest while considering the performance appraisal approach. It has also been observed that many organizations, operating under the federal government, lacks proper tools for evaluating the performance appraisal of their employees (Rubin, 2011). The commercial institutions are more efficient in managing the employee performances and achieve their strategic goals. Moreover, the major backlog

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Outline and Evaluate Two Models of Abnormality Essay Example for Free

Outline and Evaluate Two Models of Abnormality Essay The essence of a psychodynamic approach is to explain behaviour in terms of its dynamics – i. e. the forces that drive it. The best known example of this approach is Freud. Freud believed that the origins of mental disorder lie in the unresolved conflicts or childhoods which are unconscious. Medical illnesses are not the outcome of physical disorders but of these psychological conflicts. Conflicts between the id, ego, and superego create anxiety. The ego protects itself with various defence mechanisms (ego defences). These defences can be the cause of disturbed behaviour if they are overused. In childhood the ego is not developed enough to deal with traumas and therefore they are repressed. For example, a child may experience the death of a parent early in life and repress associated feelings. Later in life, other losses may cause the individual to re-experience the earlier loss and can lead to depression. Previously the unexpressed anger about the loss is directed inwards towards the self, causing depression. Ego defences, such as repression and regression, exert pressure through unconsciously motivated behaviour. Freud proposed that the unconscious consists of memories and other information that are either very hard or almost impossible to bring into conscious awareness. Despite this, the unconscious mind exerts a powerful effect on behaviour. This frequently leads to distress, as the person does not understand why they are acting in that particular way. The underlying problem cannot be controlled until brought into conscious awareness. However Abstract concepts such as the id, ego and superego are difficult to define and research. Because actions motivated by them operate on an unconscious level, there is no way to know for certain that they are occurring. Also a common criticism of Freud’s work is that it was sexist. The Biological approach is ‘the view that behaviour can all be explained in terms of biological mechanisms, such as hormones, neurotransmitters, brain activity and influences inherited via genes. ’ A biological psychologist explains abnormal behaviour in terms of an abnormal biology, and therefore explains mental disorder as the consequence of malfunctioning of these biological systems. It follows the belief that ‘treatment’ should repair these faulty systems, using somatic therapies such as drugs, ECT and psychosurgery. The biological (medical) model assumes that all mental disorders are related to some change in the body. Mental disorders are like physical disorders i. e. they are illnesses. Such changes or illnesses may be caused by one of four possible factors; * Genetic Inheritance * Biochemistry * Neuroanatomy * Viral infection Abnormalities in brain anatomy or chemistry are sometimes the result of genetic inheritance, and so are passed from parent to child. One way of investigation this possibility is by studying twins. Pairs of identical twins can be compared to see whether, when one twin has a disorder, the other has it as well. This provides us with a concordance rate. A concordance Rate: the extent to which two individuals are similar to each other in terms of a particular trait. There are low concordance rates for some mental disorders, such as phobias, but relatively high concordance rates for others e. g. schizophrenia. Genes tell the body how to function. They determine, for example, the levels of hormones and neurotransmitters in the brain (biochemistry). Genes also determine the structure of the brain (Neuroanatomy). Research has shown that schizophrenics have enlarged ventricles in their brains, indicating of brain tissue around these spaces. Research suggests that some disorders may be related to exposure to certain viruses in utero (i. e. in the womb). For example, Torrey (2001) found that the mothers of many people with schizophrenia had contracted a particular strain of influenza during pregnancy. The virus may enter the unborn child’s brain, where it remains dormant until puberty, when other hormones may activate it, producing the symptoms of schizophrenia. The emergence of the medical model in the 18th century led to more humane treatment for mental patients. Until then mental illness was blamed on demons or on evil in the individual. The medical model offered a different source of blame – the illness, which was potentially treatable. However, more recent critics have claimed that the medical model is inhumane. Thomas Szasz (1972) argued that mental illnesses did not have a physical basis, therefore should not be thought of in the same way. He suggested that the concept of mental illness was ‘invented’ as a form of social control. The available evidence does not support a simple cause and effect link between mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and altered brain chemistry. For example, schizophrenia is commonly associated with an excess of the brain neurotransmitter dopamine. However, some studies of schizophrenic patients have shown reduced levels of dopamine in some brain tissues, meaning that there may be simultaneous excesses and deficiencies in different parts of the brain. There is no evidence that mental disorders are purely caused by genetic inheritance – concordance rates are never 100%. Gottersman and Shields (1976) reviewed the results of five studies of twins looking for concordance rates for schizophrenia. They found that in monozygotic twins (identical) there was a concordance rate of around 50%. If schizophrenia was entirely the product of genetic inheritance then this figure should be 100%. It is likely that, in the case of certain disorders, what individuals inherit is susceptibility for the disorder, but the disorder itself only develops if the individual is exposed to stressful life conditions (i. e. stress). This is called the diathesis-stress model. Diathesis-Stress Model: a belief that, in case of certain disorders, individuals inherit a susceptibility for the disorder (diathesis) which develops only if he individual is exposed to difficult environmental conditions (stress). The greater the under-lying vulnerability, the less stress is needed to trigger the disorder.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Strong Character and Unavoidable Destiny of Oedipus Rex Essay

The Strong Character and Unavoidable Destiny of Oedipus Rex    Oedipus the King, by Sophocles is about Oedipus, a man doomed by his fate. Like most tragedies, Oedipus the King contains a tragic hero, a heroic figure unable to escape his own doom. This tragic hero usually has a hamartia, a tragic flaw, which causes his downfall. The tragic flaw that Sophocles gives Oedipus is hubris (exaggerated pride or self-confidence), which is what caused Oedipus to walk right into the fate he sought to escape. Oedipus' pride pushes him toward his tragic end in the initial journey, when he kills his father, in the episode of the sphinx, and in his adamant search for truth.      Pride like that of Oedipus has been the downfall of many great leaders.   Oedipus is blinded by his arrogance and won't accept the fact that he can't avoid his fate. His pride first affects him when he is told about what his fate has in-store for him. Oedipus explains to Jocasta that he was told that he "was fated to lie with [his] mother and show to daylight an accursed breed, which men would not endure, and [he] was doomed to be murderer of the father that begot [him]. When [he] heard this [he] fled" (Sophocles 45, 1.792-4). Ironically the pride that caused him to attempt to avoid his fate, put him on a path to it.    On his trip away from Corinth, he unknowingly met with his father, King Laius. When Oedipus tells Jocasta of his encounter he says that he met with a carriage at an intersection and they fought over the right of way. He also mentions one man (King Laius) struck him and said that: "He [King Laius] was paid in full and ... my stick had struck him backwards from the car and he rolled out of it. And then I killed them all"   (45, 1.801-13).... ...ppen. Oedipus' fate might have been avoided if Oedipus was not the type of person he was Oedipus was a tragic hero. Sophocles, instead of killing Oedipus in the end of the novel, chose to give Oedipus a fate worse then death. Oedipus found out who he was and that he killed his father and slept with his mother. His tragic end was a result of his hamartia, hubris. His pride was what caused him to attack the carriage and kill his father, which led to him marrying his mother. He could have ignored the mere right of way argument, but the person he was inside couldn't. His self-confidence and pride, turned into arrogance, and caused him to curse himself. Ironically the traits Oedipus had which led to him becoming a rich and powerful king ultimately led to his tragic end. Perhaps if Oedipus had been a different person inside, he might have been able to escape his fate.   

Monday, November 11, 2019

The Botany of Desire

America. He also explains how human manipulation of the plant has weakened it, so that â€Å"modern apples require more pesticide than any other food crop. † I think the most standing out argument in this chapter is John Chapman insisted planting the apples from seeds although the fruit will taste bitter rather than sweet. He wanted to preserve the apple's wildness. This phenomenon led to the apple wine is permeated in the most American families.However, some apple trees were planted by grafting buds onto young tree stalk to satisfy people's desire for sweetness. The intended audience of the book is people who study in biology and environmental, or anyone wish to learn about how to view the world by using a plant's eye and what is the role of plants in our lives. The author's purpose Is to inform the domestication of the apple and entertain people by using a plant's eye to view the world.In addition, the author persuade grower don't plant the apple only to satisfy the people's desire of sweetness because stripped of the genetic diversity plants rely on to survive disease, the relatively few popular apple varieties grown in monoculture have become increasingly vulnerable to Insects, bacteria and viruses. Furthermore, according to this chapter, â€Å"The next best world, though, Is the one that preserves the quality of wildness itself, It only because It Is upon wildness-of all This opinion Indicates the author don't support the artificial modify.However, he changes his tone. He thinks If there Is no civilization without wildness. He considers the complex relationships between human and natural. The author combines literary, historical, and scientific references to attract audience to ponder, Is the human domesticate nature or contrary. In Pollen's writing, he supports that man and nature will use of each other. The Botany of Desire By Laughing of plants in our lives. The author's purpose is to inform the domestication of the increasingly vulnerable to in sects, bacteria and viruses.Furthermore, according to this chapter, â€Å"The next best world, though, is the one that preserves the quality of wildness itself, it only because it is upon wildness-of all things†(Pollen). This opinion indicates the author don't support the artificial modify. However, he changes his tone. He thinks if there is no civilization without wildness. He considers the complex and scientific references to attract audience to ponder, is the human domesticate

Saturday, November 9, 2019

10 Tenets of MOT and the IT Organization Essay

A tenet is a principle based on observation, intuition, experience, and in some cases, empirical analysis. Based on a study presented in the Handbook of Technology Management by Gerard Gaynor, Ten tenets are proposed as guiding principles for an organization to operate within a technology cycle framework. These are: 1. Value diversification is a poor substitute for MOT. 2. Manufacturability must keep pace with inventiveness and marketability. 3. Quality and total productivity are inseparable concepts in managing technology. 4.  It is management’s responsibility to bring about technological change and job security for long term competitiveness. 5. Technology must be the ‘servant’ not the ‘master’; the master is still the human being. 6. The consequences of technology selection can be more serious than expected because of systematic effects. 7. Continuous education and training in a constantly changing workplace is a necessity, not a luxury. 8. Technology gradient is a dynamic component of the technology management process, to be monitored for strategic advantage. 9.  The RTC factor must be carefully analyzed and meticulously monitored for gaining the most out of any technology, particularly a new one. 10. Information linkage must keep pace with technology grow th. See more: The Issues Concerning Identity Theft Essay In the case of an IT Organization, the essence of the management several factors of technology are realized based on the above specified MOT principles. The following may be derived: †¢ Importance of Core Technologies and Core Competencies. Analysis of the competencies and technological capability of an IT Organization will provide information on the inherent competitive ability of the organization, or the absence of such. This is a step towards active management of technology. †¢ Inventiveness versus Market Drive. For an IT Organization, this translates to building an output-driven innovative culture versus customizing products and processes based on Market-demand. †¢ Total Quality Management. Quality Assurance and Quality Control procedures are essential to monitor processes and the process improvement practice within an organization. †¢ Initiation and Management of Technological Change. Conscious effort to improve current technology should e a consistent activity in an IT Organization. This may be a result of observed updates in the industry or an internal effort to innovate and update according to changing business needs. †¢ Security for Competitiveness. As an industry with established processes, functions and professional track, job security through skills-based retention and promotion should be encouraged. This will invite constructive competitiveness and improve the industryà ¢â‚¬â„¢s workforce. †¢ Technology is the medium and the tool, it is not the solution.  The main product for an organization that offers Information Technology as a service is the solution. The technology is the enabler, while the process is the company-specific activity that adds value to the solution. †¢ Organizational Systems and the Effect of Technology. The effect of information technology to the organization encompasses structures and organization systems. As processes and needs are updated, technologies or the manner that it is implemented should be revised complementarily. The reverse does not always follow. The Essence of Training and Education in an IT Organization. With the Human Resource as the main and sole source value and new service introduction, investment in further education is essential to an IT Organization. Technology managemet assessment: TA is the study and evaluation of new technologies. It is based on the conviction that new developments within, and discoveries by, t he scientific community are relevant for the world at large rather than just for the scientific experts themselves, and that technological progress can never be free of ethical implications. Also, technology assessment recognizes the fact that scientists normally are not trained ethicists themselves and accordingly ought to be very careful when passing ethical judgement on their own, or their colleagues, new findings, projects, or work in progress. Technology assessment assumes a global perspective and is future-oriented, not anti-technological. TA considers its task as interdisciplinary approach to solving already existing problems and preventing potential damage caused by the uncritical application and the commercialization of new technologies. Therefore any results of technology assessment studies must be published, and particular consideration must be given to communication with political decision-makers. An important problem, TA has to deal with it, is the so-called Collingridge dilemma: on the one hand, impacts of new technologies cannot be easily predicted until the technology is extensively developed and widely used; on the other hand, control or change of a technology is difficult as soon as it is widely used. Some of the major fields of TA are: information technology, hydrogen technologies, nuclear technology, molecular nanotechnology, pharmacology, organ transplants, gene technology, artificial intelligence, the Internet and many more. Health technology assessment is related, but profoundly different, despite the similarity in the name. Forms and concepts of technology assessment The following types of concepts of TA are those that are most visible and practiced. There are, however, a number of further TA forms that are only proposed as concepts in the literature or are the label used by a particular TA institution. 2] †¢ Parliamentary TA (PTA): TA activities of various kinds whose addressee is a parliament. PTA may be performed directly by members of those parliaments (e. g. in France and Finland) or on their behalf by related TA institutions (such as in the UK, in Germany and Denmark) or by organisations not directly linked to a Parliament (such as in the Netherlands and Switzerland). [3] †¢ Expert TA (often also referred to as the classical TA or traditional TA concept): TA activities carried out by (a team of) TA and technical experts. Input from stakeholders and other actors is included only via written statements, documents and interviews, but not as in participatory TA. †¢ Participatory TA (pTA): TA activities which actively, systematically and methodologically involve various kinds of social actors as assessors and discussants, such as different kinds of civil society organisations, representatives of the state systems, but characteristically also individual stakeholders and citizens (lay persons), technical scientists and technical experts. Standard pTA methods include consensus conferences, focus groups, scenario workshops etc. [4] Sometimes pTA is further divided into expert-stakeholder pTA and public pTA (including lay persons). [5] †¢ Constructive TA (CTA): This concept of TA, developed in the Netherlands, but also applied and discussed elsewhere[6] attempts to broaden the design of new technology through feedback of TA activities into the actual construction of technology. Contrary to other forms of TA, CTA is not directed toward influencing regulatory practices by assessing the impacts of technology. Instead, CTA wants to address social issues around technology by influencing design practices. †¢ Discursive TA or Argumentative TA: This type of TA wants to deepen the political and normative debate about science, technology and society. It is inspired by ethics, policy discourse analysis and the sociology of expectations in science and technology. This mode of TA aims to clarify and bring under public and political scrutiny the normative assumptions and visions that drive the actors who are socially shaping science and technology. Accordingly, argumentative TA not only addresses the side effects of technological change, but deals with both broader impacts of science and technology and the fundamental normative question of why developing a certain technology is legitimate and desirable. [7] †¢ Health TA (HTA): A specialised type of expert TA informing policy makers about efficacy, safety and cost effectiveness issues of pharmaceuticals and medical treatments, see health technology assessment.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Worst Cover Letter Advice Use a Quotation in Your Cover Letter

Worst Cover Letter Advice Use a Quotation in Your Cover Letter I came across an article in my travels, Season Your Cover Letter with a Great Quote, that recommended to job seekers that they use an inspiring quotation in their cover letter. In case any of you encounter the same cover letter advice, I want to warn you now NOT to follow it. I strongly discourage anyone from including a quotation in their cover letter, unless that quotation comes from you, a client or supervisor. Examples of Vapid Quotations in Cover Letters Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others; it is the only means. (Albert Einstein) The sample cover letter in the article above included the above quote and stated, You can count on me to live these inspiring words. I know the importance of influencing people for good and that is what I want to be known for. Id welcome the opportunity to meet with you in person so you can judge for yourself. My reaction: Barf. Some other suggested (and I believe empty) quotations from this article: Plan your work for today and every day, then work your plan. Norman Vincent Peale Real success is finding your lifework in the work that you love. David McCullough Success depends on your backbone, not your wishbone. Unknown Author The problem with using these borrowed words is that just because you like a quotation does not mean you will live up to it! In your cover letter, give inspiring examples of what you have done and then say you will live up to your own examples. Hard facts always speak louder than flowery language. When it’s Okay to Use a Quotation in Your Cover Letter When I was a hiring manager I never received a cover letter containing a quotation, but if I had I would have mistrusted it immediately. Anyone can do a Google search for inspiring quotations. Not very many people truly meet the high standards set by those words, so I would caution you to avoid this type of quotation in your cover letter. The exception to this rule is if you have a quote that you wrote yourself, and that you can back up with examples. Also, it’s a great strategy to put some testimonials from other people in your cover letter – either at the top or in the margin. You can get creative with carefully chosen quotations like these. Another option is to use a tagline on both your resume and cover letter. For example, one of my clients says under her name, â€Å"Leading Teams to Performance When the Game is On the Line.† Isn’t that better than some quote by Benjamin Franklin? If you need help developing a cover letter that will help you get interviews, contact us for more information, or view our Resume and Cover Letter Writing Services.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Taklamakan Desert in China

The Taklamakan Desert in China In the Uigur language, Taklamakan may mean you can get into it but can never get out, according to Travel Guide China. We cant verify whether or not the translation is accurate, but the label fits such a large, dry, dangerous place for humans and most animals. Large lakes, including Lop Nor and Kara Koschun, have dried up, so over the millennia, the area of the desert has increased. The Taklamakan Desert is an inhospitable approximately 1000x500 km (193,051 sq. mi.) oval. It is far from any ocean, and so hot, dry, and cold, by turns, with shifting sand dunes covering 85% of the surface, propelled by northerly winds, and sandstorms. Alternate Spellings:  Taklimakan and Teklimakan Lack of Rainfall Wang Yue and Dong Guangrun of the Desert Research Institute in Lanzhou, China, say that in the Taklamakan Desert the average annual rainfall is less than 40 mm (1.57 inches). It is about 10 mm- thats just over a third of an inch- in the center and 100 mm at the bases of the mountains, according to Terrestrial Ecoregions- Taklimakan desert. Bordering Countries While it is in China, and bordered by various mountain ranges (Kunlun, Pamir, and Tian Shan), there are other countries around it: Tibet, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, and India. Ancient Inhabitants People would have lived there comfortably 4000 years ago. Mummies were found in the region, perfectly preserved by the arid conditions, are presumed to be Indo-European-speaking Caucasians. Science, in a 2009 article, reports: In the northeastern edge of the desert, archaeologists from 2002 until 2005 excavated an extraordinary cemetery called Xiaohe, which has been radiocarbon-dated to as early as 2000 B.C.E.... A vast oval sand hill covering 25 hectares, the site is a forest of 140 standing poles marking the graves of long-lost society and environment. The poles, wood coffins, and carved wooden statues with pronounced noses come from the poplar forests of a far cooler and wetter climate. Silk Road Trade Routes One of the worlds largest deserts, the Taklamakan, is located in the northwest region of modern China, in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. There are oases located on two routes around the desert that served as important trading spots on the Silk Road. Along the north, the route went by the Tien Shan Mountains and along the south, the Kunlun Mountains of the Tibetan Plateau. Economist Andrà © Gunder Frank, who traveled along the northern route with UNESCO, says the southern route was most used in ancient times. It joined up with the northern route at Kashgar to head into India/Pakistan, Samarkand and Bactria. Sources Archaeology in China: Bridging East and West, by Andrew Lawler; Science 21 August 2009: Vol. 325 no. 5943 pp. 940-943.News and Short Contributions, by Derrold W. Holcomb; Journal of Field Archaeology.On the Silk Road: An Academic Travelogue Andre Gunder Frank Economic and Political Weekly Vol. 25, No. 46 (Nov. 17, 1990), pp. 2536-2539.Sand Sea History of the Taklimakan for the Past 30,000 Years. by Wang Yue and Dong Guangrun Geografiska Annaler. Series A, Physical Geography Vol. 76, No. 3 (1994), pp. 131-141.Ancient Inner Asian Nomads: Their Economic Basis and Its Significance in Chinese History, by Nicola Di Cosmo; The Journal of Asian Studies Vol. 53, No. 4 (Nov. 1994), pp. 1092-1126.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Consider theoretical interpretations of the 'uncanny' in relation to Movie Review

Consider theoretical interpretations of the 'uncanny' in relation to the British film THE WICKER MAN andor DON'T LOOK NOW - Movie Review Example For Freud, then, this is the origin of the terror that has come to be associated with things that are 'uncanny'. It should be clear from the above that, if we are to apply the notions of the uncanny to the horror film genre, then we must be quite precise about which theoretical formulation of the uncanny we are to apply. If we are to follow Jentsch's lead, and suppose that the uncanny arises purely from a cognitive lacuna, an absence knowledge, then we could say that the uncanny is utilized by almost every example of horror film. Horror relies on the unknown to create its atmosphere of terror; for example, it relies on the audience not knowing precisely when the ax-wielding murderer is about to leap out from behind the sofa. But surely this kind of scare is not precisely the same as a feeling we can call 'uncanny'. Halloween and Nightmare on Elm Street may be very effective in making us scream (as too, I suppose is Scream), but we do not exit the cinema with a residual feeling of uneasiness that one might call 'uncanny.' As such we must come to the same conclusion that Schneider does in his st udy of the uncanny in film horror: "since not every monster that successfully instills in us a sense of horror or uncanniness is 'categorically interstitial,...incomplete, or formless,' cognitive threat could not be a necessary condition of uncanny feelings." In other words, we should turn to Freud's work and accept that the concept of the uncanny includes an element of repression, that this particular type of fear arises only when something we have repressed begins to make its influence felt once more in the forefront of our consciousness. If we do so, then the examples available to us from film history become much less common, and we must narrow our field down to the few that display a more subtle talent for terror. Nicolas Roeg's Don't Look Now and Robert Hardy's The Wicker Man, are two such works and, something that is hardly coincidental, are both considered cinematic greats of the horror genre. Their critical acclaim stems, in part, from their ability to create unease, as well as outright terror. They work on the level not just of film aesthetics, but of psychical processes. Before I begin our discussion of the two films in question, it may be helpful to orientate them in relation to Freud's seminal 1919 work, "The Uncanny". As we have already discussed, the point where Freud parts company with Jentsch is on the origin of the feeling of the uncanny. After an exhaustive study of the definition of the word un-heimlich in German, Freud comes to the conclusion that its meaning has evolved in such a way that, as well as meaning something that is un-homely (i.e. something untamed, frightening), it is also something that "ought to has remained hidden but has come to light" (156). It is also (and here Freud analyzes