Multiculturalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Multiculturalism - Essay Example We have to get rid of the stereotypes and learn to embrace the strengths that everyone brings to the table. Instead of ridiculing someone because they are different we are to seek the commonalities so that everyone is included in whatever we are doing. When you are in a classroom it is very important to take into consideration the diversity of cultures that are represented. In many school districts Americans struggle with the idea that they have to teach English as a second language to those children who come from Mexico. It is important to make sure that all children are included in the classroom by encouraging them to explore their differences. Some teachers bring in readings about different cultures and create activities around them. Children today do not only have racial differences because of the extended families that raise them. Today a teacher my have children who are disabled, who come from single parent homes and those who come from gay or lesbian homes. These are all a part of the multicultural arena in the class room and all should be made to feel comfortable in their learning. Gender bias in the classroom is not new. There have been several studies done to show that boys and girls receive different educations in most classrooms. In elementary schools many girls are looked over when they raise their hand to answer a question in favor of a boy to answer. In other classrooms it is the boys who are getting the lower grades and who are being referred to special education classrooms. Sometimes this bias comes because of the way the teacher perceives the individual learners in each category. Some teachers seem to socialize young girls towards what they expect a feminine individual to do. They also pressure the boys to accept the role that someone masculine would assume. Chapman (2008) suggests that education teaches girls that they are not equal to boys and there are behaviors that

History of American Education Essay Example for Free

History of American Education Essay The Colonial Period (1607–1775) †¢ 1642 †¢ Massachusetts Bay Colony law requires proper teaching of children. In 1642, the Mass Bay Colony ruled children not taught properly would be apprenticed (practical work experience under the supervision of skilled workers in the trade and arts) to the town. The Early National Period (1775–1820) †¢ 1805 †¢ First elementary school established in New York, Formed by a wealthy businessmen to provide education for poor children. Run on the Lancastrian model that the older students learn and pass it down to the younger children. The Common School Movement (1820–1865). †¢1825 †¢ Noah Webster standardizes word meanings. First edition of Noah Websters An American Dictionary is published. The Evolution of the American High School (1890- 1920) †¢ 1895 †¢ First achievement test devised. Joseph Rice develops a spelling test, which he gives to over 16,000 students in eighth grade. The spelling test is made of 50 words. The Modern Era (1946 present) †¢ 1954 †¢ Brown vs. Board of education, Topeka case makes segregated schooling illegal on the grounds that segregated schools generate feelings of racial inferiority and are inherently unequal. The Colonial Period (1607–1775) †¢ 1642 †¢ Massachusetts Bay Colony law requires proper teaching of children. In 1642, the Mass Bay Colony ruled children not taught properly would be apprenticed (practical work experience under the supervision of skilled workers in the trade and arts) to the town. This even in education history has shaped today’s classroom and proposes great reflection of what children are to become tomorrow. In this even, societies are molding a future for children, boosting their education in hopes that someday they  will have made a wise career choice and make something of them. Not intended for the children to work under someone’s care, but to work for themselves. This is still practiced in today’s classroom. The curriculum gets more complicated and the lessons get harder to accomplish. This paves the way for children to challenge themselves and others around them in order to succeed. Teachers are to encourage students to be what they want to be in life and not to settle for less. Children are encouraged by parents, teachers and society to become successful no matter what they plan to achieve with their education. This method is started before birth for many children and parents. Parents practice things such as singing, playing music, reading and talking to unborn children to stimulate them in the womb. This stimulation helps children progress faster and learn easier when they are born. Society has stressed to children that they should learn, learn, and learn some more to be as successful as they can possibly be.

Characters of Jackson’s The Lottery and Frosts Once By The Pacific :: Shirley Jackson Lottery Essays

The Characters of Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery and Robert Frost's Once By The Pacific There are many devices within the craft of writing that writers use to help them convey their messages. Among these include what characters they use and how they act, what setting they put their characters in, what types of symbols are use, and many others. They can go even farther into each section with how much information they give us, or how much they make us fill in with our own interpretation or imagination. The writer's choice of characters is a main part of the story, for it is these people that "tell" the story and which we relate it to. The characters' descriptions and their actions are what we picture in our minds. Although they need the other devices to complete the story, the authors use of characters can be what makes or breaks the story. There are many different types of characters that writers can use to help them distribute their message. Robert Frost uses nature as a character in his poem "Once By The Pacific," while Shirley Jackson uses the members of a small town to tell her story in The Lottery. While each is different, they both serve their intended purpose - to tell us a story. In Robert Frost's poem, "Once By The Pacific," he uses nature as his character. He uses the sea, the beach, skies, the cliffs, and the continent and then gives them human characteristics. I feel that he uses these items because the story he is trying to tell is bigger than life, bigger than what could be described with any mere human or animal. By using the seas, the skies, the shore, the cliffs, and the continent as his characters, Robert Frost gives us an image of God's last words having immense power to control the largest forces in the world. He also gives me the image of the clouds being the angry face of God with the two lines, "The clouds were low and hairy in the skies, / Like locks blown forward in the gleam of eyes" (Frost 903 lines 5-6). Along with his choice and use of characters, Robert Frost also uses rhyme and rhythm to add to the intensity of his poem. Shirley Jackson takes a different approach with her use of characters in her short story, "The Lottery." While Frost uses nature as his characters to portray immense power, Shirley Jackson uses normal people that you could find in any small town to show us how anyone can be taken in by the power of peer pressure.

Importance of Communication.in the Workplace Essay -- essays research

Importance of Communication.in the Workplace â€Å"Did you hear the latest rumor?† Jeff said to Sally. â€Å"No, what’s going around now?† said Sally. â€Å"Remember all the big wigs that were here last week from out of town? Well, I heard from Jack on third shift that they were here to seal the deal on buying the company. He heard that they’re from some big company down south and their real big on bringing in their own people. You know what the means.† â€Å"Yeah,† said Sally, â€Å"but I heard from Helen in Human Relations that one of the reasons they’re even thinking about merging with this other company is because we’re not doing so well. If this doesn’t go through, our benefits may get cut and lay-offs are pretty much guaranteed. She also said that she heard the benefits this other company has aren’t as good as what we have now. So, either way it looks like we’ll lose.† â€Å"Sounds like you may be right,† sighed Jeff, â€Å"I guess it’s time to start looking for another job. Hey, maybe I’ll find one where the company actually lets you know what’s going on.† The â€Å"grapevine† or â€Å"rumor mill† is a part of any company’s communication structure. As demonstrated here, it enables employees to share information about things relative to the company where they work. However, also demonstrated here is how it contributes to the morale of the work environment. Communication is a very important element of the work environment. Though it is important for employees to be able to communicate with each other, it is more important that the employer effectively communicates with its employees. Without effective communication, an employer risks letting the rumor mill run rampant which could jeopardize its employees moral and overall performance. The effects of good and bad communication are discussed to providing us with further information regarding the importance of commu nication. We also discuss how a work environment can create good and bad morale. First we will be discussing good communication and what good communication skills are. Also, we need to know how they can be used effectively. Good communication is defined as a process of creating, sending, receiving, and interrupting signals between people. Communication is a process that consists of two or more people and through this process you have a sender and a receiver. For communication to be effective everyone in this process must try to be open m... ...any picnic †¢ Morale building †¢ Open house †¢ Retirement program †¢ Birthday program †¢ Credit union †¢ Company store (employees can purchase shirts, jackets, caps and many other logo products. †¢ Quality circles †¢ Holiday gifts (Thanksgiving turkeys, a set of cutlery a serving tray and a clock all about equal in price †¢ Celebrate success (when people work hard on a project make sure they are Acknowledged). †¢ Be fair and honest with everyone Website page http://www.printalbepromotions.com/Articles/Morale.htm. Hopefully after reading this paper everyone appreciates how important communication is to a successful business. Good communication can be considered one of the most important elements of successful business dealings. Whether you are talking about good communication between the company and its customers or between the employer and employees success cannot be had unless the communication lines are open and understood by all involved. Without proper communication in the workplace there become road blocks so to speak which leads to poor employee morale, rumors, and basically the breakdown of the company. So as you can see good communication is the foundation of a successful company.

Writing and Science Fiction Writer

These two articles are similar in that they are both writing pieces by authors writing in first person about their books or writings. Amy Tan and Isaac Asimov are both writing about something specific about their writings. Amy Tan talks about how her experiences with her mother contributes to her writing and Isaac Asimov analyzes why he is a good science fiction writer and what it takes to be one. In the article Mother Tongue by Amy Tan, Amy writes about what it was like growing up with her mother's limited English. â€Å"because when I was growing up, my mother's ‘limited' English limited my perception of her. I was ashamed of her English. † (1) As the author implies in this passage and throughout the article, other people's perception of her mother affected her own perception of her. Amy had to pretend to be her mother a lot to professionals because they did not take her seriously or understand her. â€Å"When I was fifteen she used to have me call people n the phone and pretend it was her. In this guise, I was forced to ask for information or even to complain and yell at people who had been rude to her. † (2) Eventually, the author realizes that her mother and the experiences helped form her in to the writer she is today. Those Crazy Ideas by Isaac Asimov is about his fans asking him where he gets his crazy writing ideas. Isaac is a science fiction writer. He explains that to be a science fiction writer, you must possess as many â€Å"bits† (facts or information) as possible, you must be able to combine the â€Å"bits† well, and you must have intuition. (3) These two are articles are both written in first person. Although Isaac and Amy are writing about two totally different subjects, they are both relevant to being a writer. Those Crazy Ideas is more or less Isaac teaching people what it takes to be a good science fiction writer. He attempts to help people understand his thought process while writing and his take on creativity. He analyzes creativity itself. This article is has a more informational purpose than Mother Tongue; which is the first difference other than their subjects. Mother Tongue and Those Crazy Ideas are different in that they have different purposes. Mother Tongue, Amy Tan is sharing a personal story and relating it back to the way it affected her writing style and technique. His main purpose is sharing for understanding. We used a similar routine just five days ago, for a situation that was far less humorous. My mother had gone to the hospital for and appointment, to find out about a benign brain tumor a CAT scan had revealed a month ago. † (4) Isaac, in his article, is essentially answering the question â€Å"Where do you get your crazy ideas? † and is elaborating on that. He uses a lot of factual information and examples to prove his arguments about being a science fiction wr iter. â€Å"To begin with, in 1831, when Charles Darwin was twenty-two, he joined the crew of a ship called the Beagle. (5) The difference in Mother Tongue is that Amy does not use any hard facts but, instead, used her personal accounts to get her point across. These are two different styles of writing that partway has to do with the subjects their writings are about. In the end of their articles, Mother Tongue by Amy Tan and Those Crazy Ideas by Isaac Asimov, they both relate their articles back to something specific about the way that they write. In Amy Tans experience she learned to write in a way people would understand instead of trying to prove her good English by uses big intelligent words that the average person could not understand. Fortunately for reasons I won't get into today, I later decided to I should envision a reader for the stories I would write. And the reader I decided upon was my mother, because these were stories about mothers. So with this reader in mind-and in fact she did read my early drafts- I began using all the Englishes I grew up with: the English I spoke to my mother, which for lack of a better term might be described as ‘broken'; my translation of her Chinese, which could certainly be described as ‘watered down'; and what I imagined to be her translation of Chinese if she could speak in perfect English. (6) Isaac Asimov concludes his article, answering the question â€Å"Where do you get those crazy ideas? † with a blunt â€Å"I don't know. † He reiterates that we need to encourage scientific creativity and experiment more with creativity itself. â€Å"How, then, does one go about encouraging scientific creativity? For now than ever before in man’s history, we must; and the need will grow constantly in the future. † (7) â€Å"I don't know. Here, it seems to me, is where we need experimentation and perhaps a kind of creative breakthrough about creativity. Once we learn enough about the whole matter, who knows- I may even find out where I get those Crazy Ideas. † (8) In conclusion, the two articles, Mother Tongue by Amy Tan and Those Crazy Ideas by Isaac Asimov, are the same in that they are both in first person and both relate back to each author's writings somehow. They are different in that they are on different subjects; they have different purposes and different ways of getting their point across. Amy uses her personal experiences and Isaac uses hard facts. Bibliography Asimov, Isaac. Those Crazy Ideas Tan, Amy. Mother Tongue ? Works Cited (1)Tan, Amy. Mother Tongue pg. 87 paragraph 9 (2)Tan, Amy. Mother Tongue pg. 87 paragraph 10 (3)Asimov, Isaac. Those Crazy Ideas pg. 145 paragraph 28 (4)Tan, Amy. Mother Tongue pg. 86 paragraph 4 (5)Asimov, Isaac. Those Crazy Ideas pg. 143 paragraph 9 (6)Tan, Amy. Mother Tongue pg. 90 paragraph 21 (7)Asimov, Isaac. Those Crazy Ideas pg. 150 paragraph 81 (8)Asimov, Isaac. Those Crazy Ideas pg. 151 paragraph 91

Relationship of drugs to music essays

Relationship of drugs to music essays Relationship of Drugs And music Musicians use their music to express thoughts and feelings they have. These thoughts and feelings they have are reached by their fans and most fans usually listen to what they have to say. A common thing that many artist do is to promote the use of drugs. A lot of times artist will share with the fans about a weird trip they went through or about how they love a certain type of drug. A lot of times artists will use a type of wording that can be interperted into many meanings. One Song that comes to mind that does this is The song Tambourine Man by Bob Dylan. Dylan uses this certain lingo that people have found to be translated into a totally different meaning about getting Drugs from a dealer. Another popular song that people think has a different meaning is the song Hey Jude by the Beatles. People believe that it is about putting a needle into your arm and injecting some type of hallucinogenic drug. The song Tripping Billies by The Dave Matthews band Is about An amusing Acid trip that Dave went through. In it he says We were above, You were standing underneath us, We were not yet lovers, Dragons were smoked, Bumblebees were stinging us, I was soon to be crazy.- Dave Matthews Band. Another artist that clearly used the promotion of drugs was Eric Clapton in his song Cocaine. In it he states about all the good things that cocaine has to offer. If you wanna hang out, you've gotta take her out: Cocaine. If you wanna get down, down on the ground: Cocaine. She dont lie, she dont lie, she dont lie, Cocaine. If you got bad news, you wanna kick them blues: Cocaine. When your day is done, and you wanna run; Cocaine. She dont lie, She dont lie, She dont lie: Cocaine. If your day is gone, and you wanna ride on: Cocaine. Don't forget this fact, you can't get it back: Cocaine. She don...

What Makes Me a Good Candidate for Medex

What Makes Me a Good Candidate for Medex . No doubt, it is the best way to get more experience in the sphere of medicine. To be fair, I do not think I shall necessarily face any difficulties by returning again to school because as I have already mentioned, the profession of a doctor, first of all, presupposes a constant growth and development. Therefore, we cannot afford to be at the same level for a long time. If somebody wants to be a good doctor, he/she should progress all the time. My prior experience shows that I want to be such a professional; consequently, I am ready to face all the difficulties and problems. As to my Medex classmates, I shall cooperate with them as much as possible in order we become one team. I shall also try to share my clinical and personal experience with them. Tolerance and mutual respect will be essential for successful teamwork. Besides, it has a positive impact on the development of qualities that are important for collegial collaboration. Furthermore, teamwork encourages tolerance, order, acknowledgment of others ideas, proper discussion, and overcoming selfish attitudes. I also realize that none of the team members can interfere with the cooperation of the other members because of their sympathies and antipathies. In addition, many of my friends and people I am familiar with have already participated in this program. Now, all of them are highly qualified doctors. There are many examples of personal transitions, but I prefer my own. Although I am a medical school graduate from another country, I acquired enough professional skills and qualities to become a good physician. I have already worked in my profession for seven years. And as I moved here, I decided first to try myself in physician assistance in order to learn all necessary peculiarities of work here. After finishing this practice, I am planning to get a full-time job as a physician in one of the clinics. Thus, my experience in different clinics and hospitals, in my opinion, makes me a good candidate for Medex. Besides, I am not afraid to face any great challenges by returning again to school. Furthermore, I feel quite confident in my skills and professionalism to overcome all occurring difficulties. I shall also try to work hand in hand with my future classmates to make our cooperation as successful as possible. My future ambitions are also quite obvious I want to become a certificated, highly qualified physician in here.

US Immigration Act of 1917

US Immigration Act of 1917 The Immigration Act of 1917 drastically reduced US immigration by expanding the prohibitions of the Chinese exclusion laws of the late 1800s. The law created an â€Å"Asiatic barred zone† provision prohibiting immigration from British India, most of Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Middle East. In addition, the law required a basic literacy test for all immigrants and barred homosexuals, â€Å"idiots,† the â€Å"insane,† alcoholics, â€Å"anarchists,† and several other categories from immigrating. Details and Effects of the Immigration Act of 1917 From the late 1800s to the early 1900s, no nation welcomed more immigrants into its borders than the United States. In 1907 alone, a record 1.3 million immigrants entered the U.S. through New York’s Ellis Island. However, the Immigration Act of 1917, a product of the pre-World War I isolationism movement, would drastically change that. Also known as the Asiatic Barred Zone Act, the Immigration Act of 1917, barred immigrants from a large part of the world loosely defined as â€Å"Any country not owned by the U.S. adjacent to the continent of Asia.† In practice, the barred zone provision excluded immigrants from Afghanistan, the Arabian Peninsula, Asiatic Russia, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the Polynesian Islands. However, both Japan and the Philippines were excluded from the barred zone. The law also allowed exceptions for students, certain professionals, such as teachers and doctors, and their wives and children. Other provisions of the law increase the â€Å"head tax† immigrants were required to pay on entry to $8.00 per person and eliminated a provision in an earlier law that had excused Mexican farm and railroad workers from paying the head tax. The law also barred all immigrants over the age of 16 who were illiterate or deemed to be â€Å"mentally defective† or physically handicapped. The term â€Å"mentally defective† was interpreted to effectively exclude homosexual immigrants who admitted their sexual orientation. U.S. immigration laws continued to ban homosexuals until the passage of the Immigration Act of 1990, sponsored by Democratic Senator Edward M. Kennedy.   The law defined literacy as being able to read a simple 30 to 40-word passage written in the immigrant’s native language. Persons who claimed they were entering the U.S. to avoid religious persecution in their country of origin were not required to take the literacy test. Perhaps considered most politically incorrect by today’s standards, the law include specific language barring the immigration of â€Å"idiots, imbeciles, epileptics, alcoholics, poor, criminals, beggars, any person suffering attacks of insanity, those with tuberculosis, and those who have any form of dangerous contagious disease, aliens who have a physical disability that will restrict them from earning a living in the United States..., polygamists and anarchists,† as well as â€Å"those who were against the organized government or those who advocated the unlawful destruction of property and those who advocated the unlawful assault of killing of any officer.† Effect of the Immigration Act of 1917 To say the least, the Immigration Act of 1917 had the impact desired by its supporters. According to the Migration Policy Institute, only about 110,000 new immigrants were allowed to enter the United States in 1918, compared to more than 1.2 million in 1913. Further limiting immigration, Congress passed the National Origins Act of 1924, which for the first time established an immigration-limiting quota system and required all immigrants to be screened while still in their countries of origin. The law resulted in the virtual closure of Ellis Island as an immigrant processing center. After 1924, the only immigrants still being screened at Ellis Island were those who had problems with their paperwork, war refugees, and displaced persons. Isolationism Drove the Immigration Act of 1917 As an outgrowth of the American isolationism movement that dominated the 19th century, the Immigration Restriction League was founded in Boston in 1894. Seeking mainly to slow the entry of â€Å"lower-class† immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe, the group lobbied Congress to pass legislation requiring immigrants to prove their literacy. In 1897, Congress passed an immigrant literacy bill sponsored by Massachusetts Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, but President Grover Cleveland vetoed the law.    Be early 1917, with America’s participation in World War I appearing inevitable, demands for isolationism hit an all-time high. In that growing atmosphere of xenophobia, Congress easily passed the Immigration Act of 1917 and then overrode President Woodrow Wilson’s veto of the law by a supermajority vote. Amendments Restore US Immigration The negative effects of drastically reduced immigration and the general inequity of laws like the Immigration Act of 1917 soon become apparent and Congress reacted. With World War I reducing the American workforce, Congress amended the Immigration Act of 1917 to reinstate a provision exempting Mexican farm and ranch workers from the entry tax requirement. The exemption was soon extended to Mexican mining and railroad industry workers. Shortly after the end of World War II, the Luce-Celler Act of 1946, sponsored by Republican Representative Clare Boothe Luce and Democrat Emanuel Celler eased immigration and naturalization restrictions against Asian Indian and Filipino immigrants. The law allowed the immigration of up to 100 Filipinos and 100 Indians per year and again allowed Filipino and Indian immigrants to become United States citizens. The law also allowed naturalized Indian Americans and FilipinoAmericans to own homes and farms and to petition for their family members to be allowed to immigrate to the United States. In the final year of the presidency of Harry S. Truman, Congress further amended the Immigration Act of 1917 with its passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, known as the McCarran-Walter Act. The law allowed Japanese, Korean and other Asian immigrants to seek naturalization and established an immigration system that placed emphasis on skill sets and reuniting families. Concerned by the fact that the law maintained a quota system drastically limiting immigration from Asian nations, President Wilson vetoed the McCarran-Walter Act, but Congress garnered the votes needed to override the veto. Between 1860 and 1920, the immigrant share of the total U.S. population varied between 13% and nearly 15%, peaking at 14.8% in 1890, mainly due to high levels of immigrants from Europe. As of the end of 1994, the U.S. immigrant population stood at more than 42.4 million, or 13.3%, of the total U.S. population, according to Census Bureau data. Between 2013 and 2014, the foreign-born population of the U.S. increased by 1 million, or 2.5 percent. Immigrants to the United States and their children born in the U.S. now number approximately 81 million people or 26% of the overall U.S. population. Fast Facts The Immigration Act of 1917 reduced the flood of immigrants entering the U.S. in 1913 to a trickle by banning all immigration from British India, most of Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Middle East.The law also required all immigrants to pass a basic literacy test in their native language and barred certain â€Å"undesirable† individuals, such as â€Å"idiots,† the â€Å"insane,† alcoholics, â€Å"anarchists† from entering the United States.The impetus behind the Immigration Act of 1917 was the isolationist movement seeking to prevent the United States from becoming involved in World War I.Though President Woodrow Wilson initially vetoed the Immigration Act of 1917, Congress overwhelmingly overrode his veto, making the act a federal law on February 5, 1917.

Mesopotamia Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mesopotamia - Research Paper Example Sumerians used the rivers to irrigate their lands, ensuring that there was a constant supply of food for their citizens. The economies of these societies were despotic, with one central figure having a control on all manner of productions. Sumerians is one of the societies found in Mesopotamia. These people used barley, wheat, and silver as the various means of currency (Muntone, 2012). The economic system in Mesopotamia was very easy to control by the leaders of the Sumerians. For example, if a leader was able to control the production of wheat, then the economic control of Mesopotamia will follow. The Sumerians did not have an economic and social stratification system. On this basis, egalitarianism was the major social organization that was seen throughout Mesopotamia. The Sumerians symbolized deities into the various elements that they had authority over. On this basis, there was the god of the moon, of the sun, of fertility etc. Sumerians were aware of the different properties of the earth, and they modeled these properties in a manner that would make the world to be more personable (Muntone, 2012). Some of the religious beliefs of the Sumerians are similar to that of the Christians and Jewish religion. For instance, the Sumerians believed that mankind was removed from paradise as a punishment of eating a forbidden fruit. Sumerians also had some knowledge in writings, and much of the knowledge concerning ancient Mesopotamia is found in their clay tablet writings that have survived until now.

Examples of winners and losers from international trade Research Paper

Examples of winners and losers from international trade - Research Paper Example Also known as the sellers. The main aim of trade is to get profits and this is greatly received by the producers of the Chinese products that are exported to other countries such as USA. International trade also exists between countries such as Brazil and Japan. Japan is a renowned producer of motor vehicles, non-electrical machinery, tools and mechanical apparatus, iron and steel products just to name a few. Brazil on the other hand is a renowned exporter of soybean, orange juice, iron ore, oil, coffee and raw sugar. Trade between these two countries has winners and losers just like the previously mentioned between USA and China. The winners in the trade are the consumers in the country buying the products. For example in this case, when Brazil exports its products to Japan, the winners are the consumers or the people buying the products in Japan. Other winners are the producers of the products in Brazil who sell the produce or export the produce to Japan. The losers involved in thi s example of trade are the producers of the similar type of imported products in Japan. The producers of the similar type of products imported are losers because they will not have market for their products in Japan. The consumers of the exported products in Brazil are also losers in the trade. This is because most products produced are exported hence there will not be available products for the consumers to use. International trade involves several laws. One of them being the law of comparative advantage. The law of comparative advantage is a fundamental economic principle that explains the disparities experienced in trade between rich and poor nations. It states that every country production...International trade involves several laws. One of them being the law of comparative advantage. The law of comparative advantage is a fundamental economic principle that explains the disparities experienced in trade between rich and poor nations. It states that every country production activi ty that provides a lower opportunity cost than that of another country. It explains how and why there is an inclination by technologically superior countries to purchase goods from technologically inferior countries. This in essence means that both the trading nations can benefit mutually by each country producing goods with lower levels of opportunity costs. This is aimed at balancing the economies of scale as far as international trade is concerned. This can be further divided into two related concepts: †¢ Absolute Advantage: This refers to the ability of a country to produce more goods using fewer resources. This in most cases is facilitated by superior technology as employed in the processes of production, manufacturing and transportation therefore developed nations have an absolute advantage over the developing nations which are yet to utilize technology in its entirety. Hence the developing nations are mainly net importers while most developed nations are net exporters. †¢ Comparative Advantage This is the ability of a country to produce one type of food at a much lower opportunity cost than other goods, as compared to production in other countries.

Marketing Plan for your new SERVICE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Marketing Plan for your new SERVICE - Essay Example tomers’ sophistication is surging upward, and the need for outsourced call care centers in Philippines and India is raising the necessity for development of language skills and computer training to satisfy the needs of the diverse and tremendously competitive American market. Due to this rapid growth, Americans are finding themselves sub par service due to the language barrier from country to country. It is our opportunity to educate the population of both countries in efforts to lower miscommunications. Our targets are individuals that are not functionally literate, and those that speak a language different than the export (Diola, 2014). We can hope our services are also able to slow the decline of call centers in India, while eager to see both countries grow. CompuLanguage is entering its first year of operation. Our services have been rendered; however marketing will be crucial in the development of our brand and services as well as to make our target market more aware of our brand and services for growth of our customer base. Tutors411 offers an array of services and subject lines to meet individual and organizational needs (Diola, 2014). The call center industry is a profitable business and the Philippines are taking advantage of it. According to Monticello (2012), there are over one hundred countries seeking current dominance in the industry (p.3). Malaysia, Singapore, and China are the Philippines’ primary competitors in the call center market. India has been struggling to keep business. It will lose seventy percent or thirty billion dollars’ worth of all Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) businesses; particularly call centers (Diola, 2014).   India has regained business due to sales and up-selling strategies. Also, Indian companies have moved to the Philippines. This is one of the key reasons for the steady growth of the call center industry in the Phillipines (Winn, 2014). There are a number of specific competitors that can be described as

Research Project, Focus, Type Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Research Project, Focus, Type - Essay Example An entrepreneur could not commence a new venture or expand an existing business without accurate and updated information. Nonetheless, the pertinent information about the chosen country, economy, political conditions, laws and regulations, environment, technology, demographics, psychographics, behavioral, cultural and social factors, competitors and market potential is obtained through secondary and primary research. For instance, this marketing research and data collection should be considered as a useful project, because it becomes essential for survival, growth and sustainability of a business entity. The marketers than analyse this information and use for innovation, branding and differentiation. The information garnered will be analyzed and evaluated to develop certain alternatives and policies that could benefit the restaurant as a whole. For instance, the research project will help identifying new business opportunities followed by gaps in market. This would later benefit in expansion and betterment. In addition, the research will study societal changes, purchasing power and consumption trends after which we could improve our existing marketing and advertising campaigns, internal display and food products. The research will include primary (through surveys, focus groups and interviews) and secondary (available online published articles, journals, reviews, reports etc.) information. In addition, it would be comprehensive and descriptive in nature because the researcher will cover all major marketing related issues and points. The economic recession has resulted in massive unemployment and decline in consumer purchasing power (real incomes); therefore, customers demand high quality food products at reasonably lower prices. In other words, price factor will now play the most important role in success and prosperity of the restaurant in tough economic conditions. The literature would be gathered initially through secondary research because it is easily available and cheaper than primary (first hand) information. Websites, online databases, digital communities (Face Book, twitter, my space etc) and web logs may provide sufficient literature that could be used as a starting point. Any weaknesses and irrelevance will then be removed through collection of primary data.

Reflection Paper Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reflection Paper - Case Study Example A good instance is a person who is avoiding members of a certain religious group that is affiliated with certain beliefs and acts. A Christian may avoid or depict an Islam based on the acts of terrorism that are linked to Muslims. The notion of reference group is significant in appreciating conformity, socialization, and how individuals take in and assess themselves (Koch 56). A reference group offers a setting of reference that has a positive or negative effect on the attitude and conduct of a person. These groups also carry out a comparable role by playing the role of a standard figure against which persons can do self-evaluation and other people (Sheehy 127). The reference group is likely to be different due to a different culture or a different society. For instance, a person who was raised in the Middle East countries in the Islam religion and teachings is likely to have a different reference group from an individual who has been brought up as a Catholic Christian. A reference group plays the primary source of self-evaluation and attainment of certain goal in life. An individual who decides to become a lawyer starts to be categorized with that reference group due to their goals and

Research Project, Focus, Type Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Research Project, Focus, Type - Essay Example An entrepreneur could not commence a new venture or expand an existing business without accurate and updated information. Nonetheless, the pertinent information about the chosen country, economy, political conditions, laws and regulations, environment, technology, demographics, psychographics, behavioral, cultural and social factors, competitors and market potential is obtained through secondary and primary research. For instance, this marketing research and data collection should be considered as a useful project, because it becomes essential for survival, growth and sustainability of a business entity. The marketers than analyse this information and use for innovation, branding and differentiation. The information garnered will be analyzed and evaluated to develop certain alternatives and policies that could benefit the restaurant as a whole. For instance, the research project will help identifying new business opportunities followed by gaps in market. This would later benefit in expansion and betterment. In addition, the research will study societal changes, purchasing power and consumption trends after which we could improve our existing marketing and advertising campaigns, internal display and food products. The research will include primary (through surveys, focus groups and interviews) and secondary (available online published articles, journals, reviews, reports etc.) information. In addition, it would be comprehensive and descriptive in nature because the researcher will cover all major marketing related issues and points. The economic recession has resulted in massive unemployment and decline in consumer purchasing power (real incomes); therefore, customers demand high quality food products at reasonably lower prices. In other words, price factor will now play the most important role in success and prosperity of the restaurant in tough economic conditions. The literature would be gathered initially through secondary research because it is easily available and cheaper than primary (first hand) information. Websites, online databases, digital communities (Face Book, twitter, my space etc) and web logs may provide sufficient literature that could be used as a starting point. Any weaknesses and irrelevance will then be removed through collection of primary data.

CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENT (MARKETING) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 12000 words

CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENT (MARKETING) - Essay Example Following by that, different theories regarding communication and how celebrities play an important role in framing communication strategies has been clarified. Then four types of celebrity endorsement modes have been explicated in order to understand how different celebrities are associated with different products or services. After that this chapter moves out to understand the major part of literature review i.e. four-variable models which are 1] Source credibility model, 2] Source attractiveness model, 3] Product match up model and 4] Meaning transfer model. Finally, this chapter ends with benefits of using celebrities and the risks attached with celebrity endorsement. Furthermore, research objectives have been drafted at the end of the section. Celebrity endorsement is one of the most popular strategies for marketing communication and advertisers. Customers see advertisements containing celebrities everyday whether they are at home or outside with their friends and family. Varieties of celebrities’ options are available to advertisers today through which companies can decide on celebrities on the basis of their product, target audience, popularity of celebrity and others. For instance, sports product companies like Nike and Adidas approach present celebrities of the popular sports of their target market audience. The choices are not just limited to sports stars of particular sport like baseball, basketball or cricket, but national or international player choices are also available to them. These celebrities are usually paid high sign up amounts and their contract with the endorsing brand has a specific validity period. Celebrities usually earn from their profession, but they can also earn the sign up amount for any endorsement which is usually higher than their average earning for the same time period. According to Forbes.com (2007), in the list of Celebrity 100 the first five celebrities Oprah Winfrey, Tiger Woods, Madonna, Rolling Stones and Brad Pitt

Confucius “The Analects” Essay Example for Free

Confucius â€Å"The Analects† Essay From ancient time, the question of good and decent society has been the major concern in philosophical thought. Philosophers and political figure, clergy and common people have tried to answer the question â€Å"What makes of a good society?† Confucius creates its own values and moral rules changing understanding about a self and the decent society. His philosophy can be describes as a critical thoughtfulness which has a great influence on his world interpretation and views on decent society.   Confucius states that individuals should be free from committing immoral acts. â€Å"The man of virtue makes the difficulty to be overcome his first business, and success only a subsequent consideration;-this may be called perfect virtue (Confucius, n.d.). Decent society can be constructed by doing what is right, and only when a person can reach the state of true utility he lives in a good society. All actions of people are aimed toward the positive, and purpose is in nature. Confucius is against formal laws which limit freedom and welfare stating that only moral principles play a crucial role in social order. On the other hand, Confucius believes this to be a sort of self-deception, demeaning freedom and turning lives into something which is determined. â€Å"Extravagance leads to insubordination, and parsimony to meanness. It is better to be mean than to be insubordinate (Confucius, n.d.). Every personal can be a leader if he keeps strong moral principles and values. Confucius underlines that if a person follows moral rules there is no need to guide this person. Living opposed to such wisdom has caused stress and unnecessary war which led to social and moral decay. To do so one must make choices in the full recognition in order to become consciously free and take responsibility for actions. An inauthentic life on the other hand is that which pretends and tries to reject the idea that humans are free. This approach is a very attractive one to take because freedom can be agonizing and people often make excuses to detach themselves from the choices they make. If the state guides and controls its citizens it deprives them freedom and free will which lead to stress. If people cannot control their needs and desires they can be compared with animal driven by instinct of self-preservation and fear. This leads to unnecessary wars and conflicts such as the thirty years war (1618-1648), Nazism, Napoleonic wars, etc. If rulers do not follow moral principles, it leads to wars. Confucius states that a society should live nobly and in peace for at least a hundred years before people can count on the continuity of a society that remains noble and peaceful. This argument can be explained by the fact that a hundred years is a period of time when three generations of people will change each other living no space for old virtues and traditions. If a truly royal ruler were to arise, it would stir require a generation, and then virtue would prevail (Confucius, n.d.). Their values, religious and ethical, reflect on their relationship to a higher order of existence, whether one perceives it as an eternal force, the universe, a defined spiritual entity, or a concept that answers to a basic human need for a sense of order behind the turbulent appearance of everyday life.   Notions of the noble society are based in the instinctual/intuitional self that has been covered over and ignored by modern thought (Jensen, 1997). Any part of the world will resemble an utopian society because the society cannot be classless. Every society is based on the opposition between poor and rich classes, labor and capital, rulers and subordinates. Economic equality is impossible, because the core of the society is the division of labor and resources which determine social class and economic conditions of its citizens. Increased freedom causes frustration among members of the society because it limits their behavior and their attempts to satisfy their personal goals. Also, a society cannot exist without rulers and military, because it has to protect its citizens from foreign intervention. References Confucius The Analects. n.d. Available at: http://www.wam.umd.edu/~stwright/rel/conf/Analects.html Jensen, L.M. Manufacturing Confucianism: Chinese Traditions Universal Civilization. Duke University Press, 1997.

Demographic Analysis for Associations with Poverty

Demographic Analysis for Associations with Poverty 3. Socio-economic Characteristics In this paper, demographic characteristics such as age, sex and education as well as socio-economic characteristics such as household assets and livelihood activities are assessed. These characteristics provide an overview on the background of the respondents, which in turn provides an overview about the suitability of the study population. Without necessarily being the source of poverty, it has been pointed out that having a particular characteristic may be associated with poverty. For example, most households that depend on agriculture, livestock and fishing keeping are more likely to be poor. We have also collected data about their profession that how they manage fishing. Also, data has been collected about their economic activities like have they received microcredit or do they pay any usury. Here in the following table we show their professional activities. Non-Users of mobile phone number is 53 out of 205, which is 25.85% and number respondent using mobile more than 1 year is 92 out of 205, which is 60.53%. These characteristics are described in table 1, 2 and 3. Table 3: Information (Qualitative) about Mobile Phone of the User Subject Number of User Percentage Length of using mobile phone 18 11.8% 7 to 12 months 42 27.6% >1 year 92 60.5% Reason of using mobile phone Family 20 13.2% Business 93 51.2% Other 39 25.7% The level of literacy rate is 30.7 % which is less than rural Bangladesh illiteracy rate 50.6% (BBS, 2013). Mobile phones are easy to afford and do not require the user to have much technological knowledge or even to be able to read or write, so this group with primary or no education can operate this. Table 4: Income Status For Mobile Users (N = 152) Variable Income Before use mobile Income after mobile use Income [Mean ( ±S.D.)] (Bangladeshi taka) 13068.39 ( ± 11840.35) 20854.72 ( ±22868.66) Household monthly income N (%) N (%) Lower Income (0-10000) 87 (42.4 %) 75 (36.6 %) Average Income (10000-15000) 34 (16.6 %) 13 (6.3 %) Higher Income (>15000) 84 (41.0 %) 115 (56.1 %) For Non-Mobile Users (N = 53) Variable Last Year Present Year Income [Mean ( ±S.D.)] (Bangladeshi taka) 4666.97 ( ±11390.37) 4134.08 ( ±9743.71) In order to understand the socio-economic status of the households, a number of household assets and livelihood activities were assessed through multiple-response questions. As all respondents are fishermen, so their main earnings are from this occupation. At the same time, they are also involved in some agricultural productions. Also, some respondents are partly involved in business. As we collected the whole information of their family, so the other source of income with fishing by the other members of the family are also involved. The other member either may be migrated or jobholder or may be involved in business like storekeeper. So, in our data, all of the income earnings through these income sectors are also included. The Income group are separated in three groups with their monthly income. The lower income group with the income from 0 to 10000 taka, average income group with the income from 10000 to 15000 taka and higher income group with the income higher than 15000 taka. For mobile phone user, the average income before mobile phone use was 13068.39 taka where after the use of mobile phone this average income raised to 20854.72 taka. For the non-user of mobile phone we collected the data about income for the previous year. The estimated average income of the last year was 4666.97 taka where in present period this income has decreased to 4134.08 taka. The estimated income of the mobile phone user and non-user are given by the following Table-4. 4. Impacts of Mobile Phone Use on Fishing Community’s Business The study has sought to identify the impacts of the mobile phone in fishing community life. Impact refers to the difference that access to the mobile phone has meant to the individuals in the study areas. Assessments of impacts are based on the self-reported advantages of mobile phone access that the interviewees have indicated. Access to the mobile phone has above all meant the creation of more opportunities and choices, but it has also provided help in managing uncertainty. Moreover, existing business relations have been strengthened. We have asked several questions related mobile phone use in their business and they answered (Table- 5). The advantages that the users feel the mobile phone has given them in business transactions is above all relate to the reduced access time to information. Reduced communication expenses are also important to many. Table 5: Business related advantages of mobile phone users (N=152) Mobile phone has helped in: Agreed Easy to use 125 (82.2%) Easy to access market information 128 (84.2%) Reducing search cost and improve market knowledge 110 (72.4%) Reducing risk 119 (78.3%) Most of the respondents say that they call mostly for their business purpose. Before introducing mobile phone they had to accept the middleman’s price offer for fishes because they had no other way to know the market price for fishes in the bigger markets. Mobile phone gave them the opportunity to verify the market price of fishes. Now, before sell fishes to middlemen, they do verify the market price in the nearby markets and only agree to sell when they get a good price. Now they feel much more confident as they have gained bargaining power with the middle men who mostly deprive them from their profit. Table 6: Business information of mobile phone users (N=152) Business Related Questions Agreed N (%) Strongly Agreed N (%) Neither Agreed nor Disagreed N (%) Disagreed N (%) Strongly Disagreed N (%) After using mobile phone income has increased 102 (67.1%) 5 (3.28%) 31 (20.39%) 14 (9.21%) 0 (0%) After using mobile phone savings have increased 78 (51.32%) 6 (3.95%) 33 (21.71%) 35 (23.03%) 0 (0%) After using mobile phone expenditure has increased 82 (53.95%) 17 (11.18%) 37 (24.34%) 14 (9.21%) 2 (1.32%) After using mobile phone, 67.1 percent fishermen have agreed that their income has increased, 3.28 percent have strongly agreed. Again, about the increase in savings, after mobile phone use 51.32 percent have agreed, 3.95 percent have strongly agreed. Finally, about the increase in expenditure. 53.95 percent agreed that their expenditure has increased, 11.18 percent have strongly agreed. 24.34 percent are indifferent whether 9.21 percent have disagreed and 1.32 percent strongly disagreed about the increase in price (table- 6). They are agreed mostly that the impact of mobile phone on rural market is that the rural suppliers could more easily get market information, they could more easily get price information and they find out that the market is expanding. Also they find out that the introduce of mobile phone strengthening their relationships with business partners, motivating himself in taking new initiatives and creating new economic or income generating opportunities. Findings of table- 7 suggest that contribution of mobile phones were enabling rural households in Sylhet region to overcome vulnerabilities related to social exclusion .The phones were also reducing travel times and monetary costs; decreases physical risks; and increases the outcomes of those necessary journeys. Furthermore, increased temporal accessibility enables people to manage several activities regardless of their physical location. Table 7: Qualitative information about mobile phone user’s (N=152) business Livelihood and development aspects Agreed N (%) Does mobile phone can reduce risk? 119 (78.29%) Do you get the assistance of health service initializing mobile technologies? 35 (23.03%) Do mobile application and practices can increase the benefit to women? 68 (44.74%) Do you face any harassment by others? 37 (24.34%) Do your productivity rise? 103 (67.76%) 5. Empowerment Empowerment is the reduction of dependency, owners as well as users have experienced a variety of changes after access to the mobile phone. In rural Bangladesh, people have very little scope for choice in work or social relation but remain confined to the village and its limited income earning opportunities. Economic empowerment refers not only to increases in income but also to having control over resource and resource management, decision making power, involvement in and control over economic transactions. Mobile phone, besides financial gain, could also facilitate the economic empowerment of women. Mobile phone has created an income generation opportunity for rural women. It has also provided scope for interacting with a wider cross-section of people. Obviously, mobile phone as a business venture provides an opportunity for financial gain for the users. Almost most of the fishermen 70.38% (Summation of â€Å"agreed† and â€Å"strongly agreed†, table- 6) have said their income have increased through mobile phone. In the majority of cases the income of the fishermen has increased with the length of the mobile phone owning period. The greater the length of ownership, the higher has been the increase in income. So, apparently, as an income opportunity, the mobile phone has b een a success for the fishermen. 6. Results and Discussion 6.1 Probit Regression Probit regression analysis attained in table-8 suggested mobile phone has a significant impact on social and economic condition. Table 8: Probit Regression: Dependent Variable- Probability of using mobile phone Variables Coefficient Constant -0.24 (0.47) Age -0.01335 (0.0085) Education 0.89** (0.29) Maritaul Status 0.29 (0.23) Otherych 0.0018** (0.0008) Fishych 0.0024*** (0.0007) Credit 0.06 (0.23) Sellall 0.97*** (0.29) Number of observation 205 LR chi2 (7) 59.28 Prob > chi2 0.0000 Log likelihood -88.560767 Note: (1)*, ** *** denote 10%,5% and 1%level of significance respectively, (2) Standard Error is repeated in parenthesis. (3) Otherych=Income from other source; Fishych = Income from fishing; Credit= Micro-credit; Sellall = Sell all fish Probit regression suggested that an increase in Age decreases the predicted probability of mobile phone use by 0.013. However, it can be easily seen that age has no significant influence on probability of mobile phone use. The coefficient ofâ€Å"Education†shows that an increase in education increases the probability of using mobile phone by 0.89. This result was significant at 5% level. Another coefficient ofâ€Å"marital status†was 0.29,which means that there is a positive impact of marriage in the predicted probability of income. One of the most important coefficient â€Å"income from other sources† (Otherych) was 0.00175, the result was significant at 5% level. This means that increase in income from other source than fishing cause increase in total income. The coefficient of â€Å"income from fishing† (Fishych) was 0.0024. This means the increase income from fishing increases the total income. This result was significant at 1% level. The coefficient of â€Å"microcredit† (Credit) was 0.06. This means that an increase in receiving microcredit causes an increase in total income. Coefficient of â€Å"selling all fish† (Sell all) was 0.97. This means that the increase in selling all fish causes an increase in total income. This result was significant at 1% level. The constant term is -0.24 which describes that predicted probability of income of the fishermen through mobile phone is extremely low if all of the predictors (Age, education, marital status, otherych, fishych, credit and sell all) are evaluated at zero. The Likelihood Ratio (LR) Chi-Square (χ2 ) was 59.28 assuming that the model converged with all the parameters. Here, the value of log-likelihood is -88.56, which is negative, indicating better fit of this model. Prob > χ2 If Prob > χ2 tends to zero then there is no heteroscedasticity problem. Our probability of χ2 value is 0.0000 that rules out existence of heteroscedasticity problem. 6.2 Marginal Effects after Probit Marginal effects after probit is taken to find out the variation in the probability of increasing mobile phone use of the respondents. The marginal effects are calculated in Table- 9. Table 9: Marginal Effects after Probit Regression Variables dy/dx Age -0.004 (0.002) Education+ 0.21*** (0.06) Maritaul Status+ 0.08 (0.07) Otherych 0.0005** (0.0002) Fishych 0.0007*** (0.0002) Credit+ 0.017 (0.07) Sell all+ 0.33** (0.11) Note: (1) (+) dy/dx is for discrete change of dummy variable from 0 to 1 (2) *, ** *** denote 10%,5% and 1%level of significance respectively. (3) Otherych=Income from other source; Fishych = Income from fishing; Credit= Micro-credit; Sellall = Sell all fish All else held constant, education increases the probability of income by 21.28% and this was significant at 1% level. As the literate fishermen who are more educated can operate mobile phone effectively than the illiterate fishermen and are more informed about new inventions. They know that the use of mobile phone can minimize their cost by proving various market information including ups and downs in prices, pick demand etc. Relying on the middlemen, instead do not provide the mark; they information about price and market demand. So, the use of mobile phone among the fishermen who are educated is higher than the fishermen who are not educated. Also, the income from other source rather than fishing, when all else held constant, increases the total mobile usage by 0.05 %, with a significance of 5% level .That is, the change in income from other sources like agriculture, remittances, businesses, wage or salaries and interest earnings were influenced by the change in attitude towards mobile use. Again, earnings from fishing increases the total income by 0.07 % and this result is significant at 1% level. That is the income earnings from fishing change the mobile usage positively. The fishermen who were using mobile phone can sell their fishes with better prices. So, the total income of the fishermen who were mobile phone user greater than the fishermen who were not mobile phone user. We have to admit however, that the real impacts on the probability to use mobile phone by both income variables are quite low. Finally, selling all fish remaining increases mobile phone use by 33.14% and this result was significant at 1% level. So, the fishermen who are mobile phone user can sell all the fishes whereas the fishermen who were not the user of mobile phone cannot sell all the fishes very fast compared to fishermen who were the user of mobile phone. As fish is very perishable good, it becomes a vital incentive for the fishermen to use mobile phone. On the other hand, the impact of marital status and credit has no any significant impact on the change in total income. The status â€Å"Married† for person increases the probability of increasing income by 8.14% which was not significant. Receiving credit has a positive probability and increases the probability of increasing total income by 1.67% which was not significant. That the receiving microcredit may enhance their wealth but the wealth status is not much more different of both the fishermen who are mobile phone user or not. Finally, the probability of increase in total income is negatively related to the age. As age increases, the probability of increasing income decreases at 0.37% rate. This change is also not significant.

Emerson, Melville and Whitman :: Free Essay Writer

The way I view the world has been greatly affected by my reading this semester. Thought I had read Emerson and Melville before, I never before was able to sound the depths of their work and fully appreciate it. This semester was my first real exposure to Whitman, as well. The best analogy for my new outlook is an image of the universe as a yin-yang; it is a complete, unbroken whole within which two polar opposites are constantly in conflict. But more significantly I have taken to heart the doctrine of "Self-Reliance," which is one shared by all three authors. Emerson presents a different system of learning than I had ever encountered. Throughout my previous education, I was taught to learn whatever was in the book. The only place original thought was accepted was in occasional creative writing assignments, and even then a stylistic formula was required. The sentence from "Self-Reliance," "A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than the lustre of the firmament of bards and sages." was a completely new idea to me. My mind originally dismissed the concept from his journals that "The dead sleep in their moonless night; my business is with the living. . . ." But on further reflection, it made sense. Self-reliance is an intimidating concept. Students are taught to externally justify any position we take. If we make a thesis statement we must find support for it in the crumbling stacks of the library. Yet in the end I have found that self-reliance is the most satisfying way t o grapple with life. Melville frequently supports these ideas in his writing. When Ishmael encounters the whale skeleton that a tribe of islanders have elevated to the status of a god, he demonstrates the gravity one should grant to others' ideas of religion: "Cutting me a green measuring-rod, I once more dived within the skeleton. From their arrow-slit in the skull, the priests perceived me taking the altitude of the final rib. 'How now!' they shouted; 'Dar'st thou measure this our god! That's for us.' 'Aye, priests—well, how long do ye make him, then?' But hereupon a fierce contest rose among them, concerning feet and inches; they cracked each other's sconces with their yard-sticks—the great skull echoed—and seizing that lucky chance, I quickly concluded my own admeasurements.

Eulogy for Father :: Eulogies Eulogy

Eulogy for Father This is the last of three formal memorials for my father. The first was in the surroundings of his last years, at his country church in Virginia, among his family and neighbors. The second was in the surroundings of his first years, among the boxwoods in Murfreesboro, in the presence of a large number of his buried ancestors and a smaller number of his living descendants. Today we gather to remember the middle years of his life, the years at Harvard which he considered his greatest, and which many now consider Harvard's greatest. You, his students and friends from those years, know he was a man of many talents. He was a scholar; a statesman who could see things clearly to which others were blind; a man of deep religious sensitivity; a man of the soil. He was a fighter, a boxer in his college days, a battery commander in World War I, a man who fought and bred gamecocks all his life, and, above all, a man in the thick of controversy at home and war abroad for more than fifty years of public life. Yet he was also a man who cherished honorable peace and loved to commend to his students the stern but pacific words of Lincoln's Second Inaugural: â€Å"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on...to achieve a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.† He was a devoted family man, not just for us, his blood family, but also for the larger family of his students, co-workers, and friends. He expected great things of us, as we did of him. He was a genius with words, a writer, a poet, a powerful orator, a master storyteller, a man who in a single encounter could move people to their foundations. This moving power was deeper than words. He retained it to the end, after he had lost his command of words, and the vivid recollections of a long-ago speech or conversation so common among those who have met him are more apt to be of his power and presence than of the words he used. My own most recurrent memory of him is completely nonverbal. It is the look in his eyes years ago in Virginia when he had put me on a bus to the city.

Trends in American Pop Culture

Today in America, much of our lives is defined by popular culture. Traditions and patterns handed down from generations have been influenced by popular culture in society more today than of yesteryear. Trends are changing in regard to convenience, communication, and personal gain. In this essay, I will speak on the trends of social, political, personal, and religious. When I think of social trends, I am reminded of the new technology that exists today. Technology has change the way we communicate forcing us to stay abreast on the latest version and gadgets to remain functioning actively. Computers and cellular telephones, once accessories, but are necessities today. The Internet is a tool that has changed the way we live when shopping, paying bills, even doing research. Gone are the days of land lines and pay phones. Those gadgets are replaced by cellular phones with text messaging capabilities that allow instant messages to be received faster than voice messaging. Electronic mail, also known as e-mail, whether used personally or in the workplace, has replaced postal bulk mail in some instances. Social networking websites of Twitter, Facebook, My Space, YouTube, and eHarmony are very popular today. Users of these sites can share a personal profile, make new friends, date online, post a video and daily messages. Also, Fortune 500 companies use the internet to advertise to increase sales and business. A popular trend in politics during the 2008 Presidential Election was voter registration. Many community websites drew subscribers to register to vote. Volunteers across the country supported their candidate of choice to get the message out to vote, by going door to door, holding community rallies, and voter drives. Also, celebrity endorsement in the election became a popular trend. Many celebrities did television commercials, and group songs in support of their candidate of choice based on their belief of important values. I believe both trends will continue in future elections as they proved to be key factor in winning votes. From the aspect of personal trends in American popular culture, tattoo and body piercing are the happenings. Both genders of young adults including celebrities, athletes, and singers are following this trend of displaying visual art and design on their body. Also, young adults are influenced today with rap and pop music, urban clothing lines, team sportswear, video games, and iPods. By way of education, online universities are offering classes to earn degrees. This trend is convenient for many working adults with families. While living in the digital age, the digital/video camera is a common personal item that is used to capture memories of special events that is recorded on digital video disc (DVD) to view with family members and friends. Also, movies are now recorded on DVD, while music is recorded on compact disc (CD). Lastly, I will speak on the religious aspect of popular culture in America. The Scientology and Kabbalah religion are popular among celebrities in Hollywood. In the catholic religion, not much has changed by way of traditions. However, there are reports of priest sexually abusing alter boys, that has resulted in convictions and various lawsuits against the Vatican. This action may be called a trend, but the abuse happened years ago that is now visible on the forefront in today's society. In other religions, there are trends of many church leaders under scrutiny for using church funds for personal financial gain as they live lavish lifestyles. Some are also involved in sex scandals, committing adultery and accused of domestic violence. Some trends have spoiled us in becoming impatient for instant gratification, while forgetting the traditions handed down to us. American popular culture is exposed through the mass media every day in areas of social, political, personal, and religious. We are affixed to tuning in to hearing the latest to keep up with the happenings in American society to get us through the day, which is a trend in itself. References Wilson, J. R. , & Wilson, S. R. (2001). Mass Media, Mass Culture, (5e).

How the Human Brain Stores and Retrieves Memory Essay

Memory is the ability to encode, store and recall information. The three main processes involved in human memory are therefore encoding, storage and recall (retrieval). Additionally, the process of memory consolidation (which can be considered to be either part of the encoding process or the storage process) is treated here as a separate process in its own right. Encoding is a biological event beginning with perception through the senses. The process of laying down a memory begins with attention (regulated by the thalamus and the frontal lobe), in which a memorable event causes neurons to fire more frequently, making the experience more intense and increasing the likelihood that the event is encoded as a memory. Emotion tends to increase attention, and the emotional element of an event is processed on an unconscious pathway in the brain leading to the amygdala. Only then are the actual sensations derived from an event processed. Consolidation is the processes of stabilizing a memory trace after the initial acquisition. It may perhaps be thought of part of the process of encoding or of storage, or it may be considered as a memory process in its own right. It is usually considered to consist of two specific processes, synaptic consolidation (which occurs within the first few hours after learning or encoding) and system consolidation (where hippocampus-dependent memories become independent of the hippocampus over a period of weeks to years. Storage is the more or less passive process of retaining information in the brain, whether in the sensory memory, the short-term memory or the more permanent long-term memory. Each of these different stages of human memory function as a sort of filter that helps to protect us from the flood of information that confront us on a daily basis, avoiding an overload of information and helping to keep us sane. The more the information is repeated or used, the more likely it is to be retained in long-term memory (which is why, for example, studying helps people to perform better on tests). This process of consolidation, the stabilizing of a memory trace after its initial acquisition, is treated in more detail in a separate section. Recall or retrieval of memory refers to the subsequent re-accessing of events or information from the past, which have been previously encoded and stored in the brain. In common parlance, it is known as remembering. During recall, the brain â€Å"replays† a pattern of neural activity that was originally generated in response to a particular event, echoing the brain’s perception of the real event. In fact, there is no real solid distinction between the act of remembering and the act of thinking.

Factors that influence recruitment and selection practices in HRIS Research Paper

Factors that influence recruitment and selection practices in HRIS - Research Paper Example light with this, several factors influences recruitment and selection practices in the HRIS depending with organization’s goals especially on what it intends to attain by recruiting new employees. Currently, many organizations heavily invest in HRIS in the effort to manage human resource. However, what they fail to realize is that HRIS should not only be concerned with, administrative human resource, but also human resource planning in order to attain their goals (Kandula 69). Therefore, it is apparent that any person to manage HRIS should contain the ultimate capability to enable the organization attain its goals. For example, somebody working in HRIS must have adequate knowledge on HRISs. This is paramount because certain knowledge about computerized applications is required to manage employee’s data and information. The candidate must as well be innovative in order to bring about knew knowledge, ideas and development in the organization (Kandula 69). This is arguably true because organizations success highly depends on the workforce abilities to deliver. In essence, HRIS involves helping the organization in analyzing job competencies and skills, salary and wages data, analysis of recruitment patterns and trends, and other strategic management in an organization (Pattanayak 46). With such information, organizations are able to effectively manage human resource. In this regard, any person heading HRIS must contain knowledge of how to articulate on these issues in order to help the organization succeed. In addition, HRIS should contain performance management system and training and development systems, which are used to evaluate and improve performance of employees. Individuals heading HRIS should have the ability to develop a system that can measure how every employee performs in the organization, and develop a system that enhances their competencies (Pattanayak 46). Different companies have different goals and objectives. However, this depends with area of

Personal Improvement Project 2 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Personal Improvement Project 2 - Coursework Example The mere smell of brewed coffee makes me want to drink coffee. Whenever I am reading or doing my assignments, my cup of hot black coffee sits with me on my study table. I have read many articles regarding the harmful effects of too much coffee drinking. Although studies have shown conflicting results on the health effects of coffee drinking, I believe that it is my too much consumption of coffee that is causing me my frequent stomach ache and my stained teeth. Having these unhealthy conditions are not only annoying and irritating but also embarrassing. So, I decided to reduce my coffee consumption from 4 cups to 1 cup daily within an 8-week time frame. 1. The first thing I did was to change my coffee environment. I removed all the factors that induced me to wanting coffee – I removed my coffee maker in my apartment; I gave away my unused coffee beans and did no longer purchase any of these; I avoided going to the coffee corner of our school; and I changed channels whenever coffee is advertised. Instead, I put in place coffee alternatives to drink when my wanting for coffee is great – I stocked green tea and bottled alkaline waters in my fridge. Hence, whenever I wanted something to drink there is no coffee to drink. These changes on my coffee environment helped me a lot from reducing my coffee intake, because I am conditioned every day to drink other liquids than coffee. 2. I know my taste bud for wanting coffee cannot be easily changed. What I did was to reduce my coffee intake gradually to avoid withdrawal syndrome that may instead lead me to crave for more. I first lessen the amount of coffee I put on my cup – This is to help me lessen my addiction to the caffeine and to frustrate my taste bud from wanting more. Then instead of coffee, I drank other drinks to satisfy my thirst. So in between meals I drink water to quench my thirst instead of coffee and before breakfast I don’t have anything but to

Porfirian Diaz and his role in the Mexican Revolution Research Paper

Porfirian Diaz and his role in the Mexican Revolution - Research Paper Example Foreign turmoil could not be seized by Diaz and in 1877 there was a military conflict with U. At the ends of his first –term ruling, Porfirio did not appeal for the second term . During Diaz reign there were no civil wars in Mexico. Nevertheless, this benefit cost much to the country. The introduction of agrarian reform, which enabled the privileged class to own all lands, was a negative feature of Diaz regime. Farmers had to pay their debts in order to survive. A high increase of price led to starving in the country. There were no homes for more than 16% of population . Foreign investors were attracted to the country by the options of land owning and poor people were forced off from their lands even those, who owned vast landholding. The high inflation rates of US led to depression of 1907 and prices were life were huge for Mexicans. Porfiriato introduced the laissez-faire policies, but these policies could not facilitate the process of inflation. When the economy was on the edge of crisis, middle and upper class did not support Porfiriato policies anymore. Foreign banks introduced stricter regulations for credit and the government raised taxes. The wages for workers remained low and Porfiriato could not manage to bridge the gap of inflation growth and required money for daily living of people. In spite of political and social turmoil in the country, there was a need to reelect the President and Francisco Madero claimed that there was a need for Mexico to return to the Constitution of 1857 . 4. Dictatorship of Diaz was undermined and was strictly criticized by the people. Madero underlined the necessity to introduce political and not social reforms. He criticized Diaz dependence on the foreign capital and the growing number of American businessmen. Diaz was reelected and the anger intensified in the society. Villages

Just World Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Just World Theory - Essay Example One of the outcomes of this tendency has been a propensity to hold responsible for the blameless fatalities. An immense pact of study recommends that human being are perceptions of rape, aggression and other outlines of assault are tinted by a person's own ways. Though, various issues such as individuality of the sufferer and sexual category participates an essential part in who gets detained for the responsibility in the center of the unlucky situation. The researchers forecasted those members who think in a just world would allocate fatalities more responsible than members who do not think that the world is just. All members were specified for a worldwide conviction in a just world scale and a situation to interpret about a sufferer who was detained whilst running away from a clash at a neighborhood bar. The sufferer, portrayed as either having been detained formerly or having not at all been detained was positioned in prison. One more prisoner afterward raped the sufferer. The mem bers were then given the chance to rate how guilty the sufferer was for the happening. The consequences demonstrated that members whose scores pointed out a superior conviction in a just world dispense more responsibility to the sufferer in spite of of the sufferer's previous arrest documentation. The researchers fulfilled that conviction in a just world is analytic of superior sufferer guilt. However, based on the just world theory entails that one get what they ought to have in life; the researchers conjectured that members considering in a just world would grasp the sufferer guiltier than members who did not. Members were also given a conviction in a just world balance plus a balance of their evaluation of their approach toward the victims of AIDS. The consequences showed that member's scores on the just world extent were absolutely connected with unenthusiastic approaches toward AIDS victims. Therefore, members who sensed that the world was just and reasonable were more probable to charge the individuals for constricting AIDS despite of how they constricted the syndrome. Many researches do in reality sustain the verdict that males are more probable to charge the sufferer of unlucky conditions. Such as the investigation was made in the high school and college students thoughts toward rape. Members were given a rape allegory receipt scale and eleven short rape situations. The researchers found that males held responsible the sufferers more than females did in spite of the situation. In an additional study, members were told two descriptions of a tale about a communication among a woman and a man. Variations were precisely the similar apart from the incredibly end the man raped the woman in one and in the other he anticipated marriage. Together, in both of the circumstances, members analyzed the woman's indistinguishable proceedings as unavoidably leading to the very dissimilar consequences. Studies have revealed that those who judge in a just world might be more probable to think that rape sufferers must have acted seductively that tattered wives must have justified their thrashings, that ill inhabitants must have caused their possessed sickness or that the unfortunate ought to have their assortment. However, the just world th

Process of getting a driver license (car) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Process of getting a driver license (car) - Essay Example It states the legal age for and documents required in the process. Secondly, the person should get tested by a physician for medical examination in order to complete the medical Qualification Certificate. For applicants above 18 years, the applicants signature should be on the application. A photo of the applicant is taken The applicant can then visit the Driver License Centre with the credible documents. If the application documents are valid, the payments are made for the production of a driving licence. This is done in money order and other systems but not cash. A knowledge and eye screening test is then given in order to determine whether the applicant has passed. If the applicant passes, a learner’s permit will be issued. This permit remains valid for one year for applicants above 18 years. Finally, a road test is scheduled by a call or online where the applicant has to take the test. On this day, the applicant should have a valid learner’s permit, a proof of vehicle insurance, proof of the vehicle registration and accompanying driver’s valid driver’s

The Destruction of the Indies and the Middle Passage Essay Example for Free

The Destruction of the Indies and the Middle Passage Essay Bartolomà © de las Casas was one of the first proponents of Indian rights in the New World. A priest and historian of his day, responsible for preserving Christopher Columbuss journals, de las Casas also wrote works such as The Devastation of the Indies and Apologetic History of the Indies. Labeled a heretic and traitor, de las Casas documented the war on the Indians by the Spaniards and argued the Indians cause, at great personal risk, before the Spanish court. The following account gives a sympathetic description of the natives, outlines the Spanish lust for gold, and details a nearly unbelievable torture of several Indians. SOURCE: From The Devastation of the Indies by Bartolomà © de las Casas. English Translation Copyright  © 1974 by The Crossroad Publishing Company. Reprinted by permission of The Crossroad Publishing Company. And of all the infinite universe of humanity, these people are the most guileless, the most devoid of wickedness and duplicity, the most obedient and faithful to their native masters and to the Spanish Christians whom they serve. They are by nature the most humble, patient, and peaceable, holding no grudges, free from embroilments, neither excitable nor quarrelsome. These people are the most devoid of rancors, hatreds, or desire for vengeance of any people in the world. And because they are so weak and complaisant, they are less able to endure heavy labor and soon die of no matter what malady. The sons of nobles among us, brought up in the enjoyments of lifes refinements, are no more delicate than are these Indians, even those among them who are of the lowest rank of laborers. They are also poor people, for they not only possess little but have no desire to possess worldly goods. For this reason they are not arrogant, embittered, or greedy. Their repasts are such that the food of the holy fathers in the desert can scarcely be more parsimonious, scanty, and poor. As to their dress, they are generally naked, with only their pudenda covered somewhat. And when they cover their shoulders it is with a square cloth no more than two varas in size. They have no beds, but sleep on a kind of matting or else in a kind of suspended net called hamacas. They are very clean in their persons, with alert, intelligent minds, docile and open to doctrine, very apt to receive our holy  Catholic faith, to be endowed with virtuous customs, and to behave in a godly fashion. And once they begin to hear the tidings of the Faith, they are so insistent on knowing more and on taking the sacraments of the Church and on observing the divine cult that, truly, the missionaries who are here need to be endowed by God with great patience in order to cope with such eagerness. Some of the secular Spaniards who have been here for many years say that the goodness of the Indians is undeniable and that if this gifted people could be brought to know the one true God they would be the most fortunate people in the world. The common ways mainly employed by the Spaniards who call themselves Christian and who have gone there to extirpate those pitiful nations and wipe them off the earth is by unjustly waging cruel and bloody wars. Then, when they have slain all those who fought for their lives or to escape the tortures they would have to endure, that is to say, when they have slain all the native rulers and young men (since the Spaniards usually spare only the women and children, who are subjected to the hardest and bitterest servitude ever suffered by man or beast), they enslave any survivors. With these infernal methods of tyranny they debase and weaken countless numbers of those pitiful Indian nations. Their reason for killing and destroying such an infinite number of souls is that the Christians have an ultimate aim, which is to acquire gold, and to swell themselves with riches in a very brief time and thus rise to a high estate disproportionate to their merits. It should be kept in mind that their insatiable greed and ambition, the greatest ever seen in the world, is the cause of their villainies. And also, those lands are so rich and felicitous, the native peoples so meek and patient, so easy to subject, that our Spaniards have no more consideration for them than beasts. And I say this from my own knowledge of the acts I witnessed. But I should not say than beasts for, thanks be to God, they have treated beasts with some respect; I should say instead like excrement on the public squares. I once saw this, when there were four or five Indian nobles lashed on grids and burning; I seem even to recall that there were two or three pairs of gri ds where others were burning, and because they uttered such loud screams that they disturbed the Spanish captains sleep, he ordered them to be strangled. And the constable,  who was worse than an executioner, did not want to obey that order (and I know the name of that constable and know his relatives in Seville), but instead put a stick over the victims tongues, so they could not make a sound, and he stirred up the fire, but not too much, so that they roasted slowly, as he liked. I saw all these things I have described, and countless others. And because all the people who could do so fled to the mountains to escape these inhuman, ruthless, and ferocious acts, the Spanish captains, enemies of the human race, pursued them with the fierce dogs they kept which attacked the Indians, tearing them to pieces and devouring them. And because on few and far between occasions, the Indians justifiably killed some Christians, the Spaniards made a rule among themselves that for every Christian slain by the Indians, they would slay a hundred Indians. Among the noteworthy outrages they committed was the one they perpetrated against a cacique, a very important noble, by name Hatuey, who had come to Cuba from Hispaniola with many of his people, to flee the calamities and inhuman acts of the Christians. When he was told by certain Indians that the Christians were now coming to Cuba, he assembled as many of his followers as he could and said this to them: Now you must know that they are saying the Christians are coming here, and you know by experience how they put So and So and So and So, and other nobles to an end. And now they are coming from Haiti (which is Hispaniola) to do the same here. Do you know why they do this? The Indians replied: We do not know. But it may be that they are by nature wicked and cruel. And he told them: No, they do not act only because of that, but because they have a God they greatly worship and they want us to worship that God, and that is why they struggle with us and subject us and kill us. He had a basket full of gold and jewels and he said: You see their God here, the God of the Christians. If you agree to it, let us dance for this God, who knows, it may please the God of the Christians and then they will do us no harm. And his followers said, all together, Yes, that is good, that is good! And they danced round the basket of gold until they fell down exhausted. Then their chief, the cacique Hatuey, said to them: See here, if we keep this basket of gold they will take it from us and will end up by killing us. So let us cast away the basket into the river. They all agreed to do this, and they flung the basket of gold into the river that was nearby. This cacique, Hatuey, was constantly fleeing before the Christians from the time they arrived on the island of Cuba, since he knew them and of what they were capable. Now and then they encountered him and he defended himself, but they finally killed him. And they did this for the sole reason that he had fled from those cruel and wicked Christians and had defended himself against them. And when they had captured him and as many of his followers as they could, they burned them all at the stake. When tied to the stake, the cacique Hatuey was told by a Franciscan friar who was present, an artless rascal, something about the God of the Christians and of the articles of the Faith. And he was told what he could do in the brief time that remained to him, in order to be saved and go to Heaven. The cacique, who had never heard any of this before, and was told he would go to Inferno where if he did not adopt the Christian Faith, he would suffer eternal torment, asked the Franciscan friar if Christians all went to Heaven. When told that they did he said he would prefer to go to Hell. Such is the fame and honor that God and our Faith have earned through the Christians who have gone out to the Indies. The Middle Passage, from Olaudah Equianos Interesting Narrative This account of the middle passage comes from one of the first writings by an ex-slave and the originator of the slave narrative. Equiano was born in Nigeria and was kidnapped into slavery at the age of eleven. After a time in the West Indies, he was sold to a Virginia planter before becoming the slave of a merchant. Years later he was able to buy his freedom and at the age of 44, he wrote The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, The African. Written by Himself. Equiano became an abolitionist and made the expedition to settle the colony of ex-slaves at Sierra Leone. . . . The first object which saluted my eyes when I arrived on the coast was the sea, and a slave ship, which was then riding at anchor, and waiting for its cargo. These filled me with astonishment, which was soon converted into terror when I was carried on board. I was immediately handled and tossed up  to see if I were sound by some of the crew; and I was now persuaded that I had gotten into a world of bad spirits, and that they were going to kill me. Their complexions too differing so much from ours, their long hair, and the language they spoke, (which was very different from any I had ever heard) united to confirm me in this belief. Indeed such were the horrors of my views and fears at the moment, that, if ten thousand worlds had been my own, I would have freely parted with them all to have exchanged my condition with that of the meanest slave in my own country. When I looked round the ship too and saw a large furnace of copper boiling, and a multitude of black people of every description chained together, every one of their countenances expressing dejection and sorrow, I no longer doubted of my fate; and, quite overpowered with horror and anguish, I fell motionless on the deck and fainted. When I recovered a little I found some black people about me, who I believe were some of those who brought me on board, and had been receiving their pay; they talked to me in order to cheer me, but all in vain. I asked them if we were not to be eaten by those white men with horrible looks,  red faces, and loose hair. They told me I was not; and one of the crew brought me a small portion of spirituous liquor in a wine glass; but, being afraid of him, I would not take it out of his hand. One of the blacks therefore took it from him and gave it to me, and I took a little down my palate, which, instead of reviving me, as they thought it would, threw me into the greatest consternation at the strange feeling it produced, having never tasted any such liquor before. Soon after this the blacks who brought me on board went off, and left me abandoned to despair. I now saw myself deprived of all chance of returning to my native country or even the least glimpse of hope of gaining the shore, which I now considered as friendly; and I even wished for my former slavery in preference to my present situation, which was filled with horrors of every kind, still heightened by my ignorance of what I was to undergo. I was not long suffered to indulge my grief; I was soon put down under the decks, and there I received such a salutation in my nostrils as I had never experienced in my life: so that, with the loathsomeness of the stench, and crying together, I became so sick and low that I was not able to eat, nor had I the least desire to taste  anything. I now wished for the last friend, death, to relieve me; but soon, to my grief, two of the white men offered me eatables; and, on my refusing to eat, one of them held me fast by the hands, and laid me across I think the windlass, and tied my feet, while the other flogged me severely. I had never experienced anything of this kind before; and although, not being used to the water, I naturally feared that element the first time I saw it, yet nevertheless, could I have got over the nettings, I would have jumped over the side, but I could not; and, besides, the crew used to watch us very closely who were not chained down to the decks, lest we should l eap into the water: and I have seen some of these poor African prisoners most severely cut for attempting to do so, and hourly whipped for not eating. This indeed was often the case with myself. In a little time after, amongst the poor chained men, I found some of my own nation, which in a small degree gave ease to my mind. I inquired of these what was to be done with us; they gave me to understand we were to be carried to these white peoples country to work for them. I then was a little revived, and thought, if it were no worse than working, my situation was not so desperate: but still I feared I should be put to death, the white people looked and acted, as I thought, in so savage a manner; for I had never seen among any people such instances of brutal cruellty; and this not only shewn towards us blacks, but also to some of the whites themselves. One white man in particular I saw when we were permitted to be on deck, flogged so unmercifully with a large rope near the foremast, that he died in consequence of it; and they tossed him over the side as they would have done a brute. This made me fear these people the more; and I expected nothing less than to be treated in the same manner. I could not help expressing my fears and apprehensions to some of my countrymen: I asked them if these people had no country, but lived in this hollow place (the ship): they told me they did not, but came from a distant one. Then, said I, how comes it in all our country we never heard of them? They told me because they lived so very far off. I then asked where were their women? had they any like themselves? and why, said I, do we not see them? they answered, because they were left behind. . . . The stench of the hold while we were on the coast was so intolerably loathsome, that it was dangerous to remain there for any time, and some of us had been permitted to stay on the deck for the fresh air; but now that the whole  ships cargo were confined together, it became absolutely pestilential. The closeness of the place, and the heat of the climate, added to the number in the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost  suffocated us. This produced copious perspirations, so that the air soon became unfit for respiration, from a variety of loathsome smells, and brought on a sickness among the slaves, of which many died, thus falling victims to the improvident avarice, as I may call it, of their purchasers. This wretched situation was again aggravated by the galling of the chains, now become insupportable; and the filth of the necessary tubs, into which the children often fell, and were almost suffocated. The shrieks of the women, and the groans of the dying, rendered the whole a scene of horror almost inconceivable. Happily perhaps for myself I was soon reduced so low here that it was thought necessary to keep me almost always on deck; and from my extreme youth I was not put in fetters. In this situation I expected every hour to share the fate of my companions, some of whom were almost daily brought upon deck at the point of death, which I began to hope would soon put an end to my miseries. Often did I think many of the inhabitants of the deep much more happy than myself. I envied them the freedom they enjoyed, and as often wished I could change my condition for theirs. Every circumstance I met with served only to render my state more painful, and heighten my apprehensions, and my opin ion of the cruelty of the whites. One day they had taken a number of fishes; and when they had killed and satisfied themselves with as many as they thought fit, to our astonishment who were on the deck, rather than give any of them to us to eat as we expected, they tossed the remaining fish into the sea again, although we begged and prayed for some as well as we could, but in vain; and some of my countrymen, being pressed by hunger, took an opportunity, when they thought no one saw them, of trying to get a little privately; but they were discovered, and the attempt procured them some very severe floggings. . . . . . . I and some few more slaves, that were not saleable amongst the rest, from very much fretting, were shipped off in a sloop for North America. . . . While I was in this plantation [in Virginia] the gentleman, to whom I suppose the estate belonged, being unwell, I was one day sent for to his  dwelling house to fan him; when I came into the room where he was I was very much affrighted at some things I saw, and the more so as I had seen a black woman slave as I came through the house, who was cooking the dinner, and the poor creature was cruelly loaded with various kinds of iron machines; she had one particularly on her head, which locked her mouth so fast that she could scarcely speak; and could not eat nor drink. I was much astonished and shocked at this contrivance, which I afterwards learned was called the iron muzzle . . .