Miles Davis Essays (302 words) - Miles Davis, Savoy Records Artists

Miles Davis There are very few musicians who, with their music, can impact our lives for the better. There are even less that can do it over their entire career. Such is the case of Mile Davis. A jazz-trumpeter who's sound transcended American culture for over 40 years. In this report I will be reviewing his great life which touched so many people. Miles Dewey Davis was born May 25, 1926, in Alton Illinois. (J S. Bowmen). He was born to a prosperous African-American family near St. Louis Missouri. At the age of ten he took up the trumpet in school. (J S. Bowmen). He of course learned very quickly, and soon he was playing with local jazz band. At the age of 17 he dropped out of school and headed out for New York to be part of the great New York jazz scene. (J S. Bowmen). It was in New York that he would meet his idol, saxophonist, Charlie Parker. Miles became part of Charlie's bebop quartet for several years. This was just a stepping stone however, for in 1948 he started his own 9-piece band. (J S. Bowmen). This band created a new sound ?cool jazz?. They released ?The Birth of Cool? an album that to this day is considered one of the most influential jazz albums ever. He later left the band to pursue other projects. For the next five or six years he face a very serious heroin problem. (J S. Bowmen). He released a series of what he called ?uneven albums?. But in 1955 he would kick the habit for good and began a legendary come back. He formed a new band with other great jazz musicians such as saxophonist John Coltrane and pianist Bill Evans. It was with this band Miles record Music

Free Essays on Tuesdays With Morrie

â€Å"Tuesday’s With Morrie: An Old Man, A Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson† by Mitch Albom has a title which outlines the direction of the book. An older man, Morrie, a young man, Mitch, and about life’s greatest lesson. Morrie was a professor at Brandeis University in Massachusetts when Mitch attended college. Morrie was his favorite professor. A few years after Morrie was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ASL) he was unable to teach anymore. This was about 20 years after Mitch graduated from the University. After graduation, Mitch didn’t stay in contact with his college friends or his favorite teacher Morrie. When Mitch heard â€Å"Who is Morrie Schwartz† on ABC’s â€Å"Nightline† he couldn’t believe what he had heard. Mitch was both horrified and ashamed. It was then he heard about Morrie’s illness. Finally Mitch went to see him. From then on Mitch visited Morrie every Tuesday. Whenever they met, they would talk about the meaning of life. Mitch wrote a list of topics he wanted to talk about. The list consisted of death, fear, aging, greed, marriage, family, society, forgiveness, and a meaningful life. Morrie went through all of these topics, plus more. Morrie helped Mitch understand that there is more to life than money and materialistic things. From the first Tuesday until the last Tuesday, Mitch listened to Morrie, his coach, talk about the real meaning of life. How much life means to you when you are about to die. How much people take for granted. Mitch sometimes looks back at the person he was. He wishes he could change the way he was back then but he can’t. The one thing he really learned was that there is no such thing as â€Å"too late† in life. This book was Mitch’s final project from Morrie. While in college, Mitch wrote a thesis for Morrie, now he wrote another one, but this time it has become a very popular book. As of the summer of 19... Free Essays on Tuesdays With Morrie Free Essays on Tuesdays With Morrie â€Å"Tuesday’s With Morrie: An Old Man, A Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson† by Mitch Albom has a title which outlines the direction of the book. An older man, Morrie, a young man, Mitch, and about life’s greatest lesson. Morrie was a professor at Brandeis University in Massachusetts when Mitch attended college. Morrie was his favorite professor. A few years after Morrie was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ASL) he was unable to teach anymore. This was about 20 years after Mitch graduated from the University. After graduation, Mitch didn’t stay in contact with his college friends or his favorite teacher Morrie. When Mitch heard â€Å"Who is Morrie Schwartz† on ABC’s â€Å"Nightline† he couldn’t believe what he had heard. Mitch was both horrified and ashamed. It was then he heard about Morrie’s illness. Finally Mitch went to see him. From then on Mitch visited Morrie every Tuesday. Whenever they met, they would talk about the meaning of life. Mitch wrote a list of topics he wanted to talk about. The list consisted of death, fear, aging, greed, marriage, family, society, forgiveness, and a meaningful life. Morrie went through all of these topics, plus more. Morrie helped Mitch understand that there is more to life than money and materialistic things. From the first Tuesday until the last Tuesday, Mitch listened to Morrie, his coach, talk about the real meaning of life. How much life means to you when you are about to die. How much people take for granted. Mitch sometimes looks back at the person he was. He wishes he could change the way he was back then but he can’t. The one thing he really learned was that there is no such thing as â€Å"too late† in life. This book was Mitch’s final project from Morrie. While in college, Mitch wrote a thesis for Morrie, now he wrote another one, but this time it has become a very popular book. As of the summer of 19...

Representing (Repressed) Homosexuality in the Pre-Stonewall Hollywood Essay

Representing (Repressed) Homosexuality in the Pre-Stonewall Hollywood Homo-Military Film - Essay Example It was thus easy to detect homosexually behavior among the officers. Theories have been put forward trying to explain this phenomenon. Some believed that people who had homosexual tendencies joined the army so that they could repress these feelings however, with the many intimate contacts with the young men they find themselves succumbing to temptations. Others engage in this act out of curiosity and need to experiment new things. There are several films that have been produced that show the existence of homosexuality in the 1950s and 1960s without violating the censorship act. Among them is the gay deceiver, Damn the Defiant, Billy Buddy and the Strange Ones. All these moves contain scenes that imply homosexual actions without actually talking about homosexuality (Sconce, 73). This article analyzes the production history, reception and the social context of these films. The social context Looking back in the social context of the 1960s would help us understand the reception of the g ay related movies. In this age, people perceived homosexuality in a very different light than they do today. There were no gay hubs as the ones that exist in Ney York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Most homosexuals practiced this lifestyle in secret with the fear of being marked by the society. Homosexuality as a sex identity was seen to be a mental illness and any acts of homosexuality were labeled as crime. Before the passing of the 1967 Sex offense Bill, homosexuality was illegal. Lesbianism was however not considered illegal but people who practiced it were looked down upon by the society. Although the cities would be seen as the refuge of minorities, it was not supportive of the gay community. The often found refuge in gay bar but these ones would also be raided by police patron. The police would also alert the media in case there was such a raid such that people who were caught ended up featuring in the news (Butt, 238). The Stone Wall bar owned by the mafia exploited gay peo ple making money from them. The rural areas were not a better hub for the gay people either. People living here were expected to get married and have children. Many homosexuals were thus pressured into getting married with these marriages having unhappy endings and in some cases leading these men to commit suicide. The issue of homosexuality became a contentious one when Bill Clinton tried to amalgamate the forces. It became evident that the issue of homosexuality had existed for centuries. People were also concerned on the reasons that would make gay men join the military. . It was viewed that the military was a refuge that tried to still the chaos they were going through inside due to repressing their homosexual desires. They would also escape from the pressure of the society that expected them to have heterosexual relationships. The manner in which the military was organized with strict discipline would create a new identity for them as soldiers replacing their old confused ident ity. Psychologist actually said that the gay men joined the force hoping that this experience would cure them considering that homosexuality was then believed to be a mental illness. Intercourse of queer men in the military was a common thing during the World War 2 and even after. Some psychologists were of the view that the prevalence of gays in the military was as a result of the antigay policies. This is because human

Jackson Township, NJ Landfill Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Jackson Township, NJ Landfill - Research Paper Example When people participate in the proper disposal of such garbage, the community is better able to maintain the sanitation and safety of various waterways and the surrounding land of New Jersey. In October 20, 2011, the same collection routine was announced by Jackson, NJ (2011). The latest garbage classified as health hazard was very recently brought to the attention of the people by Phil Stilton (2012). Those materials involved the â€Å"rigid plastics† that can be recycled after they are sold for $90 per ton. Practically any item made of plastics, whether they are furniture or containers, broken or old flower pots, except for specified plastics like grocery bags, vinyl, plastic pipes, stretch film, milk cartons, water hose, medical garbage, and other similar containers – have to be properly disposed and can be recycled. The landfill operated by Jackson Township was the object of a complaint filed and which reached the Supreme Court way back in 1987. In the case of Ayers versus Township of Jackson, the complainant sued for damages because his water well got contaminated with toxic pollutants. The Supreme Court ruled Jackson Township guilty and was ordered to pay the complainants an aggregate amount of â€Å"$15,854,392.78, to be divided among the plaintiffs in varied amounts† according to Stein, J. (1987, p.1). ... $8,204,500 was the expert’s estimate of the medical surveillance cost following exposure to the possibility of cancer and whatever other diseases can be realized as a result of toxic chemicals found in the drinking water. What chemicals did investigative reports find in the water wells and traced to the Jackson Township Landfills? The Supreme Court was informed by experts that the landfill polluted the water wells with â€Å"acetone; benzene; chlorobenzene; chloroform; dichlorofluoromethane; ethylbenzene; methylene chloride; methyl isobutyl ketone; 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane; tetrahydrofuran; 1,1,1-trichloroethane; and trichloroethylene....† (Stein, J. 1987, p.1). Over 150 residents testified in court to complain against the chemical contamination of their drinking water. They all showed their emotional stress resulting from not having potable water for years. More specifically, because complainants needed potable water in the absence of their natural source, they were r ationed their water supply in â€Å"40 gallon barrel containing a plastic liner filled with water† (p.2) which weighed 100 pounds. Residents actually experienced arthritis trying to fetch water for their needs out of the heavy container, everyday and multiple times a day just to be able to wash, cook, take a bath, and have drinking water. It was pronounced to be a primitive quality of life. People suffered anxieties, depression, fear, and stress as a result of living such a pattern daily. 88 of them showed signs of psychological disorders or problems. Furthermore, homeowners were so frustrated about the negative effect of having a landfill nearby because it devalued their properties. Potential buyers pointed to the landfill

The Core Competency of the Company Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Core Competency of the Company - Case Study Example Brand strategies define buyer experience-through the products offered, the advertising messages conveyed, indeed through every interaction between an organization and a buyer-and through that experience buyers develop an understanding of brand differences (perceptions), form judgments about the value of brand differences (preferences), and create a logic for choosing among brands (brand choice strategies).We refer to strategies that teach buyers as market-driving strategies (Bearden et al 77). Because of the Japanese consumer's traditional focus on corporate reputations, Japan has been considered a tough market for individual brands. This rising importance of branding, segmentation, and positioning has created new opportunities. In addition to Asahi and Honda, other nimble companies are taking advantage of the changes in the market to identify and capture specific segments of the market. Given the need to balance corporate and product-level branding, Sharp is applying a variety of approaches. These range from the more traditional corporate branding to two-story branding to narrow individual brand positioning. Companies are also using more Sharp -style branding (Boone and Kurtz 72). High technology continues to have an intense attraction for consumers, who recently favored such products as wristwatch PCs flat-screen TVs, and satellite cellular phones. New product development in Japan used to be technology and shelf-driven. In this environment, Japanese firms developed an unparalleled capacity for rapid product innovations, churning out new products and variations at a breathtaking rate (Collis and Noda 5). Japanese companies continue to have tremendous capabilities in rapid product innovation. of new product launches is greater in Japan than in the United States. In other categories, such as household products, the number of new product launches relative to the size of the market is larger in Japan than in the United States. In a few categories, such as foods, Japan lags behind the United States in producing new products (Kotler and Armstrong 92). Core competencies of Sharp are unique approach to products and entrepreneur spirit, innovative and state-of-the-art solution. The choice criteria of Japanese consumers is complex and changing rapidly. The approach to such cross-sectional variability would be niche marketing. United States marketers would find segments of the market in which the company has advantages over rivals and concentrate on those markets. But because Japanese consumers have traditionally been hard to segment and consumer choices have changed quickly-and, in many cases, randomly- Japanese firms instead developed a "rapid fire" approach to marketing to deal with the tremendous variability of their markets (Kotler and Keller 62). 2.In what ways does being a Japanese company contribute to Sharp's success Traditionally, Japanese companies have focused on building large, ambiguous corporate brands, so the "what" of brand positioning has been very difficult to pin down. In a market perceived to be homogeneous, the "whom" of brand positioning has also been very difficult to determine. In effect, the "what" and "whom" of Japanese

Learning Management Systems (LMS) in Universities

Learning Management Systems (LMS) in Universities Abstract Learning Management Systems (LMSs) are the typically adopted technology and they provide a significant tool in supporting blended learning in universities. Therefore, these systems are being explored from various aspects. Educational technologists conclude that every university or even departments within the same university differ in its experience in adopting these systems. Department of Industrial Management, University of Kelania is adopting the LMS portal for supporting blended learning. This university administration raises considerable attention in assessing the actual extent of staff and student adoption of the LMS. In this regard this paper presents data collected from the surveyed 100 students at the Department of Industrial Management, university of Kelaniya regarding their LMS adoption. Keywords: Introduction The significance to the advancements of web-based technologies is the development of powerful software systems, known as learning management systems (LMS), have become a widely-used technology and a key instrument in supporting e-learning in higher educational institutions. As LMS offers numerous benefits to individuals and institutions, many universities have deployed some form of LMS. Students can access course materials independent of time and location. Significantly, it opens up fresh potentials for initiating academic innovations where students function as dynamic, control their own learning, develop critical thinking and become collaborative participants. In addition, LMS provides an automated mechanism for teachers in the management of online courses, allowing them to create, add, modify, customize, and reuse digital content and learning objects and tracking learner progress. Blended learning is defined as a combination (blend) of e-learning and face to face classroom learning environments (Graham,2006; Wu and Hwang, 2010; Murshitha S.M and Wickramarachchi A.P.R, 2015) Recently, blending learning has been increasing in higher education, as students are involved in collaborative learning and interaction with instructors and classmates (Wu et al., 2010). Almost all universities in Sri Lanka have developed their own LMS portal for the use of their own lecturers and students. The administrators of Sri Lankan universities are keen on assessing the actual status of faculty and students usage of the LMS as the acquisition or construction of such a system and its annual cost of operation are significant. Investigating and assessing the usage of LMS within a department and especially between different departments and universities is essential for its continuous use. The objective of this study is to investigate the status (extent of use) of LMS adoption in blended learning at university level. This research will be interested to both researcher and university community, as it will significantly contribute and improve the body of knowledge in the context of LMS adoption. Literature Review All learning management systems are not the same; they can be adopted in different ways. Different tools such as activity tools (Lesson, HTML page, Glossary, Assignments, Quiz, Choice, Database, Workshop, Wiki, Chat and Forum etc.), blocks (People, Calendar, Online Users, Latest News, Upcoming Events, Search, etc.) and filters (associated components to the activity tools and the blocks) are integrated in a single system which offers all necessary tools to run and manage an e-learning course. All learning activities and materials in a course are organized and managed by and within the system. Significant dedication in universities using an LMS is how to evaluate the actual extent of LMS usage by the staff and student. While the trends are towards more student centric learning tools, the research done has shown that yet the teaching staff is the key driver of an LMS usage. The need for a reliable guide of the extent of LMS usage becomes apparent when one considers the complexity of assessing to what extent an LMS is actually used within an university. In this direction, range of aspects of LMS adoption, implementation, support, and usage have been the subject of numerous studies (McQuiggan, C. A. 2007). Lane determined that the manner of LMS usage was largely shaped by the nature of the product as introduced to faculty [14]. Kincannon earlier studied the reaction of faculty to use of a C/LMS and determined that faculty expressed dissatisfaction at the time demands imposed by using it [13]. Amrein-Beardsley, et. al [4], Allen and Seamans for the Sloan Consortium [2], the Georgia Vista Implementation Enterprise Wide study [25], Harrington [12] and Morgan [19] all attempted to gain insight into C/LMS usage via student or instructor-supplied data, and to assess the level of faculty adoption of C/LMS via the use of surveys, determining that 96% of the largest institutions of higher learning were, as of 2006, using C/LMS to support online learning in addition to in-class courses. Vonderwell, et. al [26], Cramer, et. al [9], Mandinach [15], Tobin [23], Shiratuddin [22], and Bork [8] attempted to evolve methods for the assessment of student performance, or propose reasoned suggestions for the improvement of performance, when C/LMS software was involved in the process of education. Yet a glaring omission exists in the empirical measurement of the actual extent of usage of C/LMS by faculty derived from the databases supporting a given C/LMS, that is, regularly measuring the extent of faculty usage of the C/LMS as evidenced by the contents of the database supporting it, making it possible to detect and respond to trends. The lack of adequate means of assessing C/LMS usage has prompted some researchers to propose the application of data warehousing technology to the problem of providing a base of readily accessible faculty and student C/LMS usage data. Van Dyk and Conradie [24] proposed such an approach in 2007 in support of action research, defined by ZuberSkerrit as a critical enquiry by academics themselves into their own teaching practice, into problems of student learning and into curriculum problems[30]. The prototype data warehouse they proposed was intended to be used directly by instructors who were interested in studying the relationship between learning styles as defined and measured using the Felder index of learning styles [11] and student interaction with the C/LMS, and potentially conducting other similar ad hoc studies. Their prototype data warehouse was formed according to established dimensional techniques and In order to assess the usage and extent of use of LMS this research adopted Janossys, J (2008) assessment method that make it possible to assess usage between units of a university and between universities, drove the development and proposal outlined in detail in Figure 2.2 , which depicts a model for the derivation of a simple metric expressed as a number from 0 through 13. Figure 2. 2 Janossys LMS Usage Level and Metric Values       The formation of this model proceeds from the definition of five overall levels of possible C/LMS use. These five levels span the continuum from no use of the C/LMS by an instructor through a level which exceeds the capabilities of most C/LMS systems using the technology currently available to many institutions (Janossy,J., 2008). The Figure 2.3 provides greater detail concerning the functional usage represented by each metric value, proceeding from the lowest value through the highest: Figure 2. 3 A Level-Model for Assessing The LMS Usage among Staff and students Level 0 refers to no LMS usage. Thus, the lecturer does not create a course in LMS or does not activate student access to the LMS for the students in the course if a course is automatically created in the LMS. Level 1, refers to the very basic usage of the system only for uploading lesson content by the teaching staff and downloading lesson content or submitting assignments by the students. Level 2, refers to the usage of communication tool in an LMS. It includes the usage of modules such as email, discussion forum or chat. Level 3, refers to the usage of the testing tool (quizzes, pool or survey). For instance, students can take some quizzes and tests online, with some scores provided immediately possibly with feedback answers for incorrect items and similar. Level 4, is defined with a view to the current technological developments which require to share knowledge and to treat users as co-developers. Currently this was achieved by adding a blog module on the system but in the future there might be other modules to enrich this level of LMS usage. It is interesting to note that one could draw a parallel between the levels of this model and the theories of learning. In fact, the lowest levels of the LMS usage actually correspond to the more teacher centered approach which is typical for a basic level of learning and behaviorism. As we go upper in the level spectrum of LMS usage actually we move towards constructivism and social constructivism and end up in Level 4 which promotes building knowledge through sharing experiences and co-developing which on the other hand are some of the main principles of connectivism. Assessment of the LMS adoption in learning process. A total of 100 questionnaires are distributed and all of them are returned and usable. Table 1 summarizes the demographic profile and descriptive statistics of the respondents. Item Frequency Percentage Gender Male Female 38 62 38 62 Age or Level 20-22 (Level 2) 23-25 (Level 3) 48 52 48 52 PC ownership Yes No 84 16 84 16 Laptop ownership Yes No 94 06 94 06 Often of LMS use Regular Just-to download 30 70 30 70 Table 1: Demographic profile and descriptive statistics of surveyed students This section describes the answer for the research question, thus how is the status of LMS adoption in learning process? In doing so, descriptive profiles for each of the adoption variables are explored. Table 4.59 exhibits the descriptive profile of the five LMS adoption tools i.e. downloading lesson, chat, discussion forum, e-mail and assessment. Table 4. 59 Descriptive Profile of LMS Adoption Tools The conceptualization of students LMS adoption consists of five LMS tools namely, downloading lesson content, chat, discussion forum, e-mail and assessment. However based on the analyzed data only two LMS tools i.e. downloading lesson content and assessment were prominently adopted by students at Department of Industrial Management, University of Kelaniya. Downloading lesson content relates to the utilization of LMS for downloading notes that are uploaded by their lecturers. In this instance, lecturers impose the students to use this tool by uploading their lesson contents. In fact, findings of this study revealed that students downloading lesson contents was the highest in terms of mean compared to other LMS tools. Since being a student, one is always subject to lecturers decision. Hence, by uploading lesson content lecturers insist or impose students to use this tool and students without any questions must abide and adhere. Moreover, findings from lecturers questionnaire also indicted that all most all lecturers use this tool to upload their lesson content. Chat denotes to the utilization of LMS for the purpose of pedagogical chatting via LMS and students are being monitored by the administrator. Hence, they use this tool only for the above purpose. Findings of this study showed that chat tool recorded the lowest mean. There would be two reasons behind this lowest mean. The first reason is, normally students are being more interested and constantly engaged in chatting other than pedagogical one and use chatting tools such as facebook, twitter, skype, whatsup, viber, tango etc. The second reason is, a very few lecturers use this chatting tool as evident by lecturers questionnaire and they do not insist or impose the students to use this tool as they insist the students to download the lesson content. Discussion forum, relates to the utilization of LMS for the purpose of discussing on a certain topic with their peers and lecturers to enhance the critical thinking, analytical skills and exchange of their knowledge. Findings of this study showed that the tool of discussion forum also recorded lower mean. There would be two reasons behind this. The first reason is, as the respondents are the internal students, they have enough time for discussing face to face. The second reason is, according to the data derived from lecturers questionnaire only 25% of lectures use this discussion forum. Hence, students also do not give preference to this tool as their lecturers. E-mail denotes the adoption of LMS for communication purposes. This is also same as the previous two tools. Thus students use other mail accounts in yahoo, gmail for their e-mailing purpose. Assessment tool relates to the utilization of LMS for the purpose of assessing students through various sub assessment tools such as quizzes, short answers, multiple choice, essay questions etc. Results revealed second scoring for assessment tool in adopting LMS. This is because; students are being imposed by their lecturers to adopt this tool, as they are imposed by lecturers to download lesson contents. Findings from lecturers questionnaire indicted that 80% of lecturers use the assessment tool to assess their students. From the above discussion it is obvious that, subjective norm has a strong predictive power in determining individuals behavior. Thus, subjective norm in the form of lecturers acceptance and use of technology were found to influence students acceptance and use of the same. Thus if lecturers use or adopt LMS, students also believe it as important to them and they also imitate their lecturers and vice versa. Research Methods This study is descriptive in nature and self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data. The questionnaire was divided into three sections. References Graham, C.R. (2006) Chapter 1: Blended Learning System: Definition, Current Trends, Future Directions in Bonk, C. J. and C.R. Graham (eds.) Handbook of Blended Learning, San Francisco, CA: Pfeiffer. McQuiggan, C. A. (2007). The role of faculty development in online teachings potential to question teaching beliefs and assumptions. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 10(3). Lane, L. M. (2007). Course Management Systems and Pedagogy. Retrieved October 10, 2007, from http://lisahistory.net/pages/CMSandPedagogy.htm Wu, W. C, Hwang, L. Y.(2010) The Effectiveness of e-Learning for Blended Courses in Colleges International Journal of Electronic Business Management, Vol. 8, No. 4, pp.312-322 (2010)

Rhetoric in the American Immigration Debate Essay -- Analysis, Logic,

According to Aristotle, a speaker could frame any debate using three approaches: an appeal to logic, an appeal from credibility, or an appeal to emotions. All speakers and writers use the tripartite approach to rhetoric in varying degrees and ultimately the audience judges their effectiveness in the context presented. In America, few topics are as hotly debated as that of undocumented migration, and it can be difficult to pick through the partisan and often vitriolic rhetoric in order to come to a rational conclusion. Politicians frame the debate using elements of the American mythos. While the evidence they present to back their conclusions may be factual, it necessarily omits the full truth in order to present a partisan political front. As such, politicians predominantly rely on the reader or listener’s emotional satisfaction. And even the most scrupulous journalists—meant to impart objective fact to the public—are not free from personal bias, making the disco urse even more convoluted. In analyzing three prominent voices in the immigration debate, US president Obama, journalist Sonia Nazario, and Arizona congressman J.D. Hayworth, we can evaluate the effectiveness of the different rhetorical approaches by whether or not they reach their intended audiences. Nazario fulfills her journalistic raison d’à ªtre by succeeding at objectivity, while Obama and Hayworth as politicians succeed by lying by omission in speeches and in writing in order to pursue policy goals and appease supporters. Sonia Nazario, herself an immigrant, was aware of the acrimonious debate on undocumented migration through her work as a prominent Los Angeles journalist. The issue was brought to a head when her housekeeper’s son arrived unannounced from Guatemal... ...ted skein of immigration policy in America by words alone. Despite that after careful analysis we the readers can more fully understand an issue and potentially come to expanded schemas, we are left with the conclusion that social issues are rarely easy to answer. In our history, rhetoric has been transformative. The power of a well-worded speech or essay to suddenly shift the direction of discourse is very real. Though we were not there, we remember Lincoln’s address at Gettysburg, Martin Luther King Jr.’s â€Å"I Have a Dream†, and John F. Kennedy’s â€Å"Ich bin ein Berliner† because they were coups of emotion, logic, and ethos. But sometimes such moments never come in a debate. Rhetoric is not always revolutionary; it can also be petty, insubstantial, or merely ignored. Although logic demands answers and emotion is sated by tidy conclusions, they are rarely forthcoming.

Human brain Essay

Blood is the elixir of life. Without blood, the human body would not be able to perform several of its normal functions. In fact, blood can be said to perform functions that are relevant to the cells, the heart, the brain and the organs. It acts not only as a medium for transporting nutrients but also as a medium for taking out the trash so to speak. Containing necessary minerals, glucose, iron and oxygen, the blood is essential for the survival of the body cells, as well as the organs. If the blood was not able to carry these nutrients, the body would go into shock and not be able to function. Therefore, it can be said that the first function of blood is as a carrier of essential nutrients and oxygen to the different parts of the body. Another function of the blood is as a cleaning agent. Since the cells cannot dispose of the useless substances, wastes and toxins on their own, the blood is necessary. It carries these wastes and toxins to the kidney and the liver in order to filter the blood and dispose of these harmful toxins. If the blood is not present, there would be an unhealthy build up of these substances that would cause the body to cease carrying out its functions and result in death. Finally, the blood is important in that it carries white blood cells and encourages the healing process. It also encourages the healing process by distributing the white blood cells all over the body to raise its resistance. Also, white blood cells have anti bodies that prevent other viruses and diseases from taking over the body. As a whole, blood is extremely important if not crucial to the continued operation of the human body and its functions. The blood acts as a transmitter of the essential nutrients, as a waster disposal unit for all the unwanted wastes and toxins and finally, as a healing solution to ensure that the body is protected and functions well at all times. This is on top of the fact that it carries oxygen to all the other parts of the body, most especially the human brain.

Understanding Integration A Conceptual Framework essay

Understanding Integration A Conceptual Framework essay Understanding Integration: A Conceptual Framework essay Understanding Integration: A Conceptual Framework essayThe process of integration of refugees is a complex process as it requires much time and effort to achieve refugees’ full potential as members of new society. Due to effective integration of refugees, it is possible to establish healthy conditions for the contribution of refugees to their community. According to Barbara E. Harrell-Bond (2013), â€Å"refugees are people who have been forced to leave their country because their lives are in danger†(p. 129). Refugees should be given an opportunity to exercise the appropriate rights and responsibilities that could be shared with other members of society (Strang Ager, 2010; Moret et al., 2006). Refugees should feel that they belong to their community. In other words, integration of refugees can be identified as a dynamic process that requires constant improvement; therefore, the role of effective practices and frameworks developed in different countries of the world is important for promotion of local integration processes (O’Byrne, 2013). Today there are many countries which have already hosted a larger number of refugees (Ager Strang, 2008).   European and other industrialized countries deal with this problem more effectively than developing countries, although these countries are less willing to accept new refugees. According to researchers, there is much evidence on considerable shift in the development and implementation of more restrictive admission policies regarding refugees. Not all countries are â€Å"inclined to accept new refugees or enable them to integrate† (Moret et al., 2006, p. 12). Based on recent analysis, many countries enjoy high refugee recognition rates, but there are obvious gaps between the established policies and practice, which influence the life of refugees, depriving them of their rights, including social support, employment and education opportunities. According to Heidi Savabi (2014), â€Å"in spit e of the positive progression of Brazil’s refugee program, challenges remain, especially in terms of the refugee labor market, education, and societal integration†(p. 1). The major goal of this research paper is to explore best practice and frameworks of local integration of refugees of other countries, mainly Latin American Countries. The research helps not only to identify the best practices of local integration of refuges in other countries, but also to apply these practices and frameworks to Brazil.The role of effective frameworks in promoting local integration of refugees  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To assess the role of effective practice and frameworks in promoting local integration of refugees in Brazil, it is necessary to identify the key areas in social development of refugee population that are influence the life of refugees. Actually, integration of refugees is a continuous process that results in establishing positive conditions that allow r efugees and local community members to live in harmony (O’Byrne, 2013; Clarke et al., 2006).   In other words, refugees should be allowed to form a part of the host population. According to researchers, â€Å"integration places demands both on receiving societies and on the individuals and communities concerned†(Clarke et al., 2006, p. 19). It has been found that the adoption of the proper concepts of social capital helps to frame the key components of social connection in the process of integration of refuges. Special attention should be paid to the â€Å"bonds, bridges and links† which produce forms of interchange, mutual understanding and trust in social relations (Strang Ager, 2010, p. 589).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Due to practices and frameworks developed by different countries in order to enhance the process of local integration of refugees, it is possible to achieve success and improve the existing strategies, meeting the needs and requirements of refugees without elimination of the possibilities of local residents (O’Byrne, 2013).   In general, the process of integration includes three major dimensions that affect the lives of both refugees and local residents, namely legal, economic, social and cultural dimensions, based on the 2005 Report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. These dimensions are very important for successful integration of refugees as fully included society members (Report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 2005). Ager and Strang (2008) suggest that the major domains of integration relate to four areas: â€Å"achievement and access across the sectors of employment, housing, education and health; assumptions and practice regarding citizenship and rights; processes of social connection within and between groups within the community; and structural barriers to s uch connection related to language, culture and the local environment† (p.166). In fact, these domains are included in the framework that promotes normative conceptions of refugees’ integration in certain resettlement settings.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Generally speaking, effective frameworks in promoting local integration of refugees can   be implemented in various settings. The ways in which stakeholders (e.g. refugees, local residents, UNHCR, and governments), can collaborate help enhanced the promotion of   Ã¢â‚¬Å"shared and simultaneous development in refugee and national communities† (Dryden-Peterson Hovil, 2004). It is very important to conceptualize the proper solution of local integration of refugees within the context of an international framework for further development and implementation (Dryden-Peterson Hovil, 2004).It is not a secret that many Latin American countries have been open to refuges starting from the early 20-th ce ntury to present day. For example, Latin American countries were important destinations for many survivors of the Holocaust during the WWII. According to researchers, about 20,000 Jewish displaced people immigrated to the countries of Latin America in the 1940s- 50s. They settled in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Panama, Costa Rica and other countries. Today the number of refugees has increased because of political conflicts, economic crisis and other factors. For example, Mexico has always been a destination for refugees from other countries of Latin America. Two significant historical examples include Civil War Refugees who came from Spain in the early 1930s -40s, refuges from Chile who came in 1973 and the refugees from Guatemala who came in the 1980s because of the Civil War (Dryden-Peterson Hovil, 2004; Ager Strang, 2008).Some successful practices and frameworks of local integration of refugees  in Mexico, Argentina and UgandaHousing policy  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is crucial to address the issue of the housing needs of refugees. In fact, housing is one of the major goals of local authorities working with different housing associations to meet these needs. According to researchers, â€Å"this will generate a major incentive for local authorities to meet the refuges housing targets in order to achieve their funding compliance and earn sufficient points for greater autonomy of action in the future†(Clarke et al., 2006, p. 25). Argentina has implemented framework to include refugees through a housing system initiated by the Ministry of housing (White, 2012).Social supportIn 2014, the main concern of the Office in Mexico is to provide social support and increased protection of refugees through consolidation of the Government’s capacities. The implementation of the new practice – the Quality Assurance Initiative, this framework can become successful. This practice enhances the protection of vulnerable migra nts, particularly the children of refugees (UNHCR. The UN Refuge Agency. Official Website. 2014).   In addition, social support to refugees is provided by the Mexico Declaration and Plan of Action (MPA). This is an effective strategic framework that is aimed at addressing the â€Å"complex humanitarian situation resulting from forced displacement in Latin America† (Ippolito   Abass, 2014, p. 52).Protection of human rights  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Mexico, special attention is paid to the protection of human rights of refugees. According to researchers, â€Å"most of the reforms implemented in Mexico – from recognizing the concept of refugee in the 1990s and the original decriminalization of undocumented entry in 2008, to the Migration Law and Constitutional Reforms of 2011- have been motivated by human rights† (Gonzlez-Murphy, 2013, p. 153). The new Law of Refugees adopted in Mexico provides effective protection to individuals who do no t have the official refugee status, but they are at high risk of torture, discrimination, abuse, maltreatment, or whose refugees whose lives are in danger.   Many refugees, who come to Mexico are from other Latin American countries, settle primarily in urban areas, where they are offered the proper legal protection of human rights. According to this law, refugee status is offered in accordance to the existing international treaties for individuals who claim being abused for their race, religion, political views or nationality. The law says that refugees will not be send anywhere that may put the lives and liberty of applicants at risk (Alba Castillo, 2011). The new law states that refugees and asylum seekers are protected from prosecution for illegal entry into Mexico, as well as provides treatment of refugees with dignity and the requires opportunities and services, including education and health (Gonzlez-Murphy, 2013).Integration of HIV/AIDS programsIn Uganda, the Government of Uganda influenced the decisions of the Directorate of Refugees and UNHCR regarding the implementation of the Self-Reliance Strategy (SRS). This strategy can be viewed as an effective framework in solving health issues of refugees. The major goal of this practice is to â€Å"improve the standard of living of the people in Moyo, Arua, and Adjumani districts, including the refugees† (Strategies to support the HIV-related needs of refugees and host populations, 2005, p. 20). This practice is focused on improving food self-sufficiency, enhancing the access of refugees to social services, health and education opportunities. HIV/AIDS problems are faced by many refugees in Latin America. According to researchers, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS is constantly increasing. The statistical data show that in 2004, â€Å"the total number of people worldwide living with HIV reached its highest level ever, approximately 39.4 million people† (Strategies to support the HIV/AI DS-related needs of refugees and host populations, 2005, p. 5). The Government in Uganda has found the solution to HIV/AIDS-related issues facing refugees. As a result, in Uganda refugees have non-discriminatory access to various HIV/AIDS-related services, e.g. the delivery of antiretroviral therapy practices, etc. (Strategies to support the HIV/AIDS-related needs of refugees and host populations, 2005).Education policyIn Mexico, the Government pays special attention to providing effective education policy for refugee children. This framework is crucial for the development of the nation. For example, in Mexico, refugee children attend their own primary schools in the settlements in order to improve their language skills and become more confident in communication. The process of integration is not fostered through joint schooling system although older refugee children are allowed to attend local high schools (Low, 2010, p.67). It is very important to develop local integration policie s in the field of education to guarantee refugees a â€Å"progressively wider range of rights† in education and employment (Low, 2010, p.67).The application of the best practices and frameworksof local integration of refugees to Brazil  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Brazil has always been an attractive destination for refugees from other Latin American countries. Today immigration laws in Brazil include Law No. 6815 (1980) and Decree No. 86715 (1981), established by the National Immigration Council. According to Heidi Savabi (2014), â€Å"Brazil was the first country in the region to adopt the UNHCR Convention of 1951and the second country in South America to join the Protocol of 1967†(p. 1). In addition, Brazil is considered to be the first country in South America that was focused on regulation of refugee rights protection, based on the ratification of the United Nations’ major international mechanisms of protection. Although Brazil failed to sign the Cartagena Declaration of 1984, the Declaration’s expanded definition of   the term â€Å"refugee† was applied by the Government since 1989 (Savabi, 2014). Additionally, Brazil was the first country in Latin America to develop specific refugee laws. According to researchers, â€Å"Brazil has also been recognized as an emerging resettlement country since the start of the twenty-first century†(p. 1).Although Brazil has been dealing with the problems of refugees for a long time, there are still many gaps in the use of effective policies and frameworks. For example, in 2007, there were 1,750 Angolan refugees in Brazil. According to researchers, â€Å"Angolan refugees received modest assistance (a monthly stipend of less than $100), and congregated in poor neighborhoods in the city center or in favelas† (Davila, 2010, p. 245).   Although Brazil’s immigration policy is aimed at accepting refugees actively, the overall number of refugee population in the country is rather low, â€Å"more or less 4,000† as compared with the general population in Brazil, more than 191 million people (Moreno Colino, 2010, p. 81). This fact means that refugee policy is ineffective in Brazil and requires improvement (Moreno Colino, 2010).   In comparison with other countries accepting refugees, Brazil demonstrates smooth process of integration of refugees in the national territories and local communities.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As a result, the best practices and frameworks of local integration of refugees in other Latin American countries should be taken into consideration by the Government of Brazil (See Table 1). According to researchers, in Brazil, â€Å"human rights and democracy had a profound impact on political structures†(McConnachie, 2014, p. 134). The application of the best practices and frameworks could help to promote the significance of human rights principles in social development of the coun try. In addition, it is known that since the 1950s, Brazil has been committed to International Refugee Law. Although Brazil was under a dictatorship for a greater part of this period, some improvements had been made regarding refugee rights. For example, refugees could use the assistance of UNHCR, although the implementation of refugee rights protection was precarious (Jubilut, 2006).   Undoubtedly, re-democratization process in Brazil has led to passing a specific law on refugees, but certain improvements are still necessary to address the needs of refugees. According to Maria Beatriz Nogueira and Carla Cristina Marques (2011), â€Å"Brazil has been strengthening its position as an emerging country of resettlement†(p. 57). Successfully integration of refugees requires addressing a wide range of issues, including employment issues, education and language skills issues and the issues which involve the ability to access public services, enjoy citizenship rights, participate i n political activity and develop social relations with the local community (Nogueira Marques, 2011; Scalettaris, 2007). The National Committee for Refugees (or CONARE) is responsible for analysis of various situations, which require the application of the National Refugee Act and the established frameworks (Jubilut, Oliveira Selmi Apolinrio, 2010).Conclusion  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thus, it is necessary to conclude that the best practices and frameworks of local integration of refugees in many Latin American countries can be applied to Brazil in order to improve the process of integration, addressing the needs of refugee population. The ongoing plight of refugees in Brazil is an issue of concern for the Government. The number of refugees is growing. As a result, the Government should take into consideration the best practices and frameworks of local integration of refugees in other Latin American countries. As local integration of refugees is a complex economic , political, social and cultural process, special attention should be paid to legal, economic, social and cultural dimensions. In general, Brazil should use the existing tripartite structure, which involves the UNHCR, the Government of Brazil, and civil society practices combined with best practices and frameworks, developed by other countries, to succeed in providing integral protection to all refugees.

marine bio Essay

marine bio Essay marine bio Essay Ms. Welsh Marine Biology Portfolio 2 May 2013 Bald Eagle Figure 1 (Bald Eagle) The Bald Eagle is brown speckled when young. It also has a snowy, feathered head and a white tail. The shape of this bird is like any other bird but way bigger. This monstrous bird can weigh up to 14 pounds. The wingspan can also be anywhere from 6 to 8 feet wide. The body of a Bald Eagle can be 34 to 43 inches long. These beautiful birds live along coastlines and woodlands and are abundant in Alaska and Canada. Physical Description: The Bald Eagle is no average bird you see in your neighborhood. At a young age the bird has brown speckled coat. The Bald Eagle has a snowy, feathered head, which is why they call it a Bald Eagle. The bird also has a white tail. This massive eagle can weigh up to 14 pounds, which is heavier than a gallon of milk. The body of a Bald Eagle is 34 inches to 43 inches long with a 6 to 8 foot wingspan, larger than any NBA player in the league. Habitat Description: The Bald Eagle can be found anywhere in America but they are abundant in Alaska and Canada. These large birds like to live near water (coasts) and the woodlands because of the prime hunting of fish and small rodents. The bald Eagle likes to rest in the trees of woodlands and wait to strike their prey in the grass or in the dirt. While living on the coastline they will hunt their prey in the vicious waters with their talons. These Habitats allow easy hunting, which is the main goal of a Bald Eagle. Bald Eagles have also been found in Florida and Mexico. The highlighted yellow areas are the ares where Bald Eagles have been found. The browner areas are areas where the Bald Eagle has not been found. Figure 2 (Bald Eagle Range) The Bald Eagle is a magnificent creature that is independent while hunting. This animal is the Animal most known in the USA. Domain: Eukaryote Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Oder: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitride Genus: Haliaeetus Species: H. leucocephalus Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Secular America - Pharisees of the New Millennium Assignment

Secular America - Pharisees of the New Millennium - Assignment Example Secularization has been at the core of America’s founding as a nation. Religion has been given a minor role and influenced by the Founding Fathers based on the fundamental fact that it is against rational thinking and that it provides a less valid way of understanding reality, at least, in comparison with the humanist perspective, science, among other social institutions. According to Ostwalt (2003), this phenomenon gained traction sometime in the 1960s when the prevalent thought was religion as something that controls and manipulates and that freedom from it is an ideal way of life, a form of enlightenment for humanity (2). Morrison (1948) observed that the core liberalism in America emerged proposing a radical criticism of the Christian faith in light of modern culture instead of proposing a radical criticism of modern culture in the light of Christian faith (87). This came with his discourse that posited how Protestantism, the dominant religion in America, has embraced mode rn culture so that most of its components appeared to be sanctioned and ended up secularizing the American public life (Smith, 2003, 303).  Today, even with the aggressive initiatives on the part of religious authorities, to reverse or counter the influence of secularization, there is very little impact achieved. This can be attributed to several fundamental reasons. One of these is that argument that states how many forces of secularization are identified with the values of Romanticism, the Renaissance in addition to the Enlightenment and scientific revolutions, which have been encouraged by the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Church itself (Norman, 2007, 32). The idea is that these phenomena and institutions created social constructs that established the platform and environment in which secularization took root, thrived and flourished.

On the Morning of Christs Nativity focuses on the Incarnation, Lycidas Essay

On the Morning of Christs Nativity focuses on the Incarnation, Lycidas on the Resurrection, but both treat of redemptive divine power. How does Miltons u - Essay Example Though the first poem, â€Å"On the morning of Christ’s Nativity,† deals primarily with the temporal aspect of Christ in the manger and the spectacle of such an event, Milton breaks through the constraints of time and accesses scenes of new life from diverse eras in order to feed the situation with its due amount of reverence. With the second poem, â€Å"Lycidas,† Milton does something similar, in that he treats the death of the mortal with such an eternal quality that it highlights the new and eternal life that is granted each human by the Christian doctrine to which he subscribed. In the poem that focuses on the birth of Christ, Milton effects a slight deviation of emphasis when he writes of the morning, rather than the night of Christ’s birth. The action has its desired effect, as morning is necessarily brings accompanied by the images of newness and life. The idea of Christ’s bringing redemption â€Å"from above† (1.4) dovetails with the image of the morning, as this new day or new life might be considered a gift from the rising sun, which issues its light from above. However, the comparison of the sun to Christ exists only in incipience here; later it becomes more obvious in the depiction of the sun recoiling in deference to the greater light of One who gives a greater life (VII.79-84). The idea of the Incarnation is present not just in the mention of Christ’s birth but in the treatment of the things surrounding it. Christ is named â€Å"that Light unsufferable† and is depicted as shedding the cover of his glorious environs; but being light, He penetrates and animates â€Å"a darksome house of mortal Clay† (II.14). This is a direct reference to the Incarnation, but it also calls forth the idea of the beginning of time and of all life, where God came down and animated not just the earth’s verdant cover, but the earth itself by blowing his breath into the clay and giving life to man. The image of death vanquished is also utilised as a method of