Sunday, December 22, 2019

Interview Responses Bible Studies - 949 Words

Interview Responses For this exercise, I interviewed three of my friends including Alex, Grace, and James. Below, I offer their responses to the questions I asked. Question: How long are the days in Genesis 1? Why? Alexs Response The days were ordinary-length days, i.e. they were basically 24-hour days. The Bible clearly states that God made both heaven and earth in six days. If the days were in any way longer than 24 hours, the Bible would have stated so explicitly. Graces Response The six days stated in Genesis 1 are most likely symbolic. Taking the term day literary in this context would be erroneous. This I say because creation (from the Genesis account) was done from a divine (not earthly) perspective. James Response The days were just like the normal days we are used to, i.e. 24 hours. My response in this case is largely based on what is written. Stating otherwise would be contrary to what is written in the Bible. My Response The days in Genesis 1 were not equivalent to 24 hours. It is important to note that depending on the context, the word day could have different meanings. For instance, a day could be used to refer to that period before darkness, a 24-hour period, etc. We cannot therefore assign the term day in Genesis 1 a definitive meaning. In the final analysis therefore, the only thing we can do is speculate as to how long the days in Genesis 1 really were. As Till (1986) observes, neither geology nor astronomy can answer questions aboutShow MoreRelatedPlaying God s Footsteps : Synthetic Biology And The Meaning Of Life1067 Words   |  5 Pagesof synthetic biology is broken?’. The following is a selection of some of the article’s conclusions. The accusation of ‘playing God’ brings God into the picture, but the offended is not God of the Bible, but rather a defied nature. (Peters, 2006) Most concerns are not about challenging God of the Bible, but anthropocentric. As long as the new creations of life are only microbial and does not affect human life, it will probably be considered acceptable. There seems to be boundaries that cannot beRead MoreInterview Essay1454 Words   |  6 PagesPost Interview Findings: Dealing with Difficult People I was able to seek out and an experienced Pastor by the name of Bernadine Smith, the Pastor of Kingdom Ministries here in Dayton, Ohio. I must insert she is my Aunt and although I do not attend her ministry currently, has a child and now an adult, she plays a critical role as a spiritual mentor and confidant and extends to me wise and Godly counsel with respect to my school work and life affairs. She has been and continues to be aRead MoreQuantitative Research. Essay1168 Words   |  5 Pagessince and assigns numerical values to responses and measure statics. With this said Proverbs, the bible verse, supports that research methods can be Godly. I interpret that verse as meaning that it is important to know and confirm in your mind that you know something, but it is better to research the topic in a biblical since rather thas a secular or worldly since. the glory of kings is researching and becomeing stronger on a topic. Pshycologists often study peoples behavior in how an d why they doRead MoreBiblical Principles For Righteous Living872 Words   |  4 Pagespersonal asset. One must be attentive to explanation, conscious to personal experiences, and applied to the educational material to increase strength in the development of achievement. Theology Explained Personally, theology comprehended to be the study of biblical principles for righteous living. Looking further to getting the correct meaning of theology, Merriam-Webster states it is, â€Å"Learning about faith, and the practice principles and the experiences associated with values.† Another explanationRead MorePersonal Dialogue and Reality: I and Thou by Martin Buber Essay1253 Words   |  6 PagesGod as the eternal Thou to my case study of Kay Arthur, I was reminded of a popular Bible study series of hers called â€Å"Having a Real Relationship with God†. In this Bible study series, Kay tackles vital problems briefly through easy-to-grasp lessons that will be beneficial either individually or as part of a group. Every book within the series includes six 40-minute studies intended to lure you into Scripture through a straightforward yet inductive Bible study. Kay sums it up by saying, Rather thanRead MoreThe Conflict Of The Civil War1053 Words   |  5 PagesThere h as been a constant lack of priests, especially in the countrysides, lay people have taken on larger roles in the church (Peterson 1997, 73). When ordinary people are leading ritual and bible study, the church is adapted to the needs of the people. Additionally, close knit groups formed firstly for bible study and religious purposes, but they transformed into groups that ideas of change and reform were shared. It is often easy for one to look at the Salvadorian case and say that the rebels wereRead MoreThe Case For Christ By Lee Strobel1305 Words   |  6 Pagesonce declared atheist, and now Christian, shares how he began to look upon the Bible and God. As an atheist, Strobel lived the life of selfishness and only worried to please himself. When his wife began to go to church he wasn’t very pleased until after he saw the positive and attractive change in her. This is the start of his curiosity and investigation about Christianity. To relate with his wife he decided to study about this and attend church services with her. Strobel interviewed thirteen leadingRead MoreBook Review Spiritual Formation as it the Church MatteredV2 Essay1408 Words   |  6 Pagesstill grasps the reader’s attention and keeps them wanting more. Wilhoit, while teaching and having dialogue with his students pertaining to their spirituality formative influences which lead to conducting interviews with a number of church leaders, he realized, through these stories and interviews there has been a â€Å"sea of change in our formational structures and their effects will take a generation to fully manifest themselves.(13)† This establishes the basis for writing this book, to make a â€Å"callRead MoreEffect Of Stress On The Human Body1577 Words   |  7 Pagesthreatened or an individual feels that such equilibrium is threatened. The aspects that threaten this equilibrium within ones brain are called stressors and individuals struggle to restore the normal state by coming up with physiological and behavioral responses to that effect (Thoma, La Marca, Brà ¶nnimann, Finkel, Ehlert, Nater, 2013). Within the human body, there are hormones that play a significant role in restoring this balance mainly the neuroendocrinic hormones. For stress to be experienced, the thresholdRead MoreThe Case For Christ By Lee Strobel1411 Words   |  6 PagesChristian, shares how he began to look upon the Bible and God. As an atheist, Strobel lived the life of selfishness and only worried to please himself. When his wife began to go to church he wasn’t very pleased until after he saw the positive and attractive change in her. This is the start of his curiosity and investigation about Christianity. He wanted to understand what changed her like this. He wanted to relate with his wife so he decided to study about this and attend church services with her

Saturday, December 14, 2019

The Power of Social Media and Its Impact on the Current Business Environment Free Essays

The number of internet users has increased over the last decade due to the development of new technologies, internet availability and improved connectivity. Various online communications platforms have been invented and are widely used for both personal and business purposes world wide and social networking is the latest communication platform helping people connect to each other across different places. Its introduction has changed the way groups of people are connecting and communicating in business via online communities and professional networks. We will write a custom essay sample on The Power of Social Media and Its Impact on the Current Business Environment or any similar topic only for you Order Now In business, many multi-national companies are currently moving beyond traditional media channels and using social network sites as a medium to reach their targets consumers instead. There is no argument that social networking is the key player driving new media communications in the digital era and its benefits and functions are impacting business considerably. There are hundreds of social networking platforms that have been introduced to the market but currently there are only two major sites recognised as the world’s most powerful platforms attracting millions of users to participate. Firstly there is Facebook, a social network service that allows users to create their own profile, status, interest and preferences and also share information with friends and contacts. According to Trimpe (2011), reported that Facebook’s active user base is 519 million which equates approximately to 1 in 13 of every person on earth. In the Facebook world millions of pieces of content, links and event invitations are shared every 20 minutes indicating the enormous power of Facebook as a social media tool. Secondly there is Twitter, a social network platform that allows users to generate and share messages, or â€Å"Tweets†, up to a maximum of 140 characters. According to Chiang (2011), claimed that there are nearly 200 million Twitter’s users worldwide. The most common use is to promote business information about products and services or sometimes to educate industry on a business products or services. Due to the fact that these two social networking services possess millions of people’s profiles, demographics and personal interests, thousands of multinational companies have turned their focus on new social media strategy to reach their target online. The term ‘social media’ has become the most recent area focused on by marketers, advertisers and public relations professionals in various business sectors and many experts have studied and tried to understand the benefits and functions of the term social media. According to Turner (2011), the Chief Content Officer of the 60 Second marketer reported that social media is about creating and having conversations among networks in online forums, blogs, and social networking sites. The key fundamental function is to use them as a medium for contacting, sharing and promoting data and contents. But when it comes to business, the main objective of operating social media is far beyond that. In business, social media is currently claimed to be the best tool in helping a company gain larger numbers of their target consumers just by providing a digital experience related to their products and services. Social media is also playing an important role in driving consumers brand engagement. According to Schmitt (2009), studied about digital brand experience and the result indicated that consumers who have a chance to engage with a brand in social networking sites can evolve from passive reactors to support the brand almost instantaneously. Creating a brand presence in social media can create not only opportunities for a company to gain more customers but also help marketers to understand more deeply what their potential target customers think towards their products and services thanks, for example, to Facebook that first invented the â€Å"Like† application that allows users to express their interest towards other websites, links or even competitors brands and share across networks. Thanks considerably to the advantages of social media, and its large numbers of potential target consumers, it is no surprise that many global companies have selected social networking as a key medium to start launching their campaign. According to Parsons (2011), reported that recently, Kellogg’s, the cereal manufacturer, launched a new range of Krave cereal and used Facebook as a medium to communicate and offer free sample packs to around 80,000 consumers on their Facebook fan page. The brand also developed video content to engage their 16-24 year old target age group to create interaction in Facebook. Additional examples show that Dell also gained a major success generating $3 million in sales after it launched its online outlet through Twitter and Starbucks has achieved the top ranking of Facebook brand pages, with nearly 4 million friends, by just offering fans coupons for free pastries and ice cream. Additionally, Whole Foods has topped Twitter with 1. million followers by broadcasting weekly specials and shopping tips (Schmitt 2009, p. 26). Companies in the FMCG industry are not the only sector that is involved in social media. Currently Honda, the Japanese automotive manufacture, is implementing their new marketing initiative from budget-led to customer-led by moving beyond traditional advertising and using social media as a tool to understand, manage and encourage open communication and conversation among their customers (Fisher 2011). In this point, the decision to buy a durable good like a car is a lengthy process, so to ensure that their brand will be in front of mind of consumers, Honda then focuses through a combination of data analytics using, and social influence methodologies, to engage and change consumer perception and increase brand awareness at the same time. In other words the role of social media, in this case, is to help maximise the goodwill and favourable mentions of company and brands. Moreover, not only can a platform of social networking provide a benefit to communicate with customers but it also enhances the capability of internal communications amongst staff as it has benefits of real-time discussion, response and speed to spread out information or opinions internally and reduce the time spent in meetings and it is enormously useful for companies with teams/staff members who working in different locations or time zones. For instance, according to Willson (2011) reported that ATT, a US telecommunications company, launched a new tool aimed at providing their staff the opportunity to have discussions, brainstorm and refine ideas through its own internal social media platform. Employees have opportunities to be involved by voting their opinion on the company’s ideas and strategies. As a result of this implementation, and in just 6 months, there are more than 200 topics that have been discussed with great outcomes and many fresh ideas generated without wasting time in meetings. Undoubtedly, social media platforms help a company communicate to both customers and staff faster and easier, however, the easy access of shared data can be a risk to a company’s confidential products and information. Many companies to date have suffered from the secret leaking of their products before its launch to market and it is not only bloggers or online journalists who cannot keep the information secret but also staff who are caught, sometimes by mistake, sharing confidential information. As recent examples, Coggan (2011), reported that Renault has suspended three senior executives allegedly for passing on blueprints for electric cars, Facebook’s corporate privacy settings went wrong when some of the social network’s finances were published and a strategy document from AOL came to light revealing that the internet and media firm’s journalists were expected to write five to ten articles a day. As a result of this type of leak information many companies, especially in the USA, do not allow employees to use their own computers or use memory sticks for certain online services. Accordingly Robert Half Technology also found in 2009 that more than half of chief information officers in America blocked the use of networking sites such as Facebook at work to prevent leaking of information. In the digital era, today’s business is borderless with mobile devices, smartphone and computers helping the world connect with the internet. Social networking is a new communications platform that enhances this borderless world providing users with an ability to contact one another and spread information. Many companies use these social networks as a key strategic media to reach their target consumers or adapt its platforms for internal communications purposes to enhance the productivity of its members. However, with its easy access and ability to disperse information rapidly, social networking is becoming a big challenge for todays businesses on how to control data leaking and to protect information assets whilst, at the same time, sharing data without affecting the company’s competitiveness. Ultimately, the challenge of gaining benefit from social media is to operate it in a balanced way and in the same way a company has always managed its confidential information. A company must know what it wants to achieve from spreading information about its products and services and also what information it needs to protect . A businesses staff who are involved in the management, operation and control of these platforms should be trained to know how to add accurate data in an online social context and be able to understand what information is acceptable to share. How to cite The Power of Social Media and Its Impact on the Current Business Environment, Papers

Friday, December 6, 2019

Religious Symbolism In Grapes Of Wrath Essay Example For Students

Religious Symbolism In Grapes Of Wrath Essay Grapes of Wrath During the Dust Bowl, hundreds of thousands of southerners faced many hardships, which is the basis of the novel called The Grapes of Wrath. John Steinback wrote this fiction novel to portray the harsh conditions during the Dust Bowl. However, is the portrayal of the Dust Bowl in The Grapes of Wrath valid? When one considers the merit of this novel, one thinks, how can Americans treat other Americans so horribly. After reviewing American History, the mistreatment of the Okies in The Grapes of Wrath can be concluded as being valid. After slavery, blacks were terribly treated. During the Civil War, Americans were divided. During the Red Scare, Americans mistrusted other Americans. These three different periods of U.S. history display how Americans can treat fellow Americans so cruelly. African Americans were terribly treated after slavery. Although they were Americans just like the whites, many of the whites hated them because they were different. One example of mistreatment of the African Americans was segregation, which was the division of local places by race. The blacks were thought to be so dirty, and the whites were scared of them. The whites did not want the blacks to mix with the whites. Public areas such as schools were segregated so the blacks and whites went to different schools. It was like the whites wanted to rid the U.S. of the blacks. In The Grapes of Wrath, the Californians wanted to rid the dirty Okies from California because they were afraid of them. They were afraid that the Okies would take their land. Blacks were also beaten for no just reason. Racial group such as the KKK, beat up blacks because they hated the blacks. They wanted the blacks to go away or die. In The Grapes of Wrath, Okies were unjustly beaten. The California police beat them for no just reason because they wanted the Okies to leave the state. The police killed Casey for no just reason. They killed him just because they thought the was a Okie fighting for more rights. The Californians did not like the Okies even though they were Americans, just like how the Blacks were not liked by the whites, even though they were Americans. White mistreatment of African Americans was not the only Americans mistreatment of Americans; there was also the infamous Red Scare. The Red Scares is another situation in which Americans mistreated Americans. In this period of U.S. history, there was a scare that communism would spread in the U.S.. Therefore, many suspected communists were deported from the U.S.. The non-communists hated communism, and thought it was an inferior and barbaric form of government. In The Grapes of Wrath, the Californians wanted the inferior and barbaric Okies out of the state. The Red Scare, like the Civil war, was a time when Americans mistreated Americans. The Civil war is another period in U.S. history where Americans mistreated each other. During the Civil War, the North wanted to outlaw slavery in the U.S.. However, the South wanted to keep slavery because it increased their economy. The North then went to war against the South. They killed each other in battles. Although the mistreatment of Okies was not this extreme in The Grapes of Wrath, the Civil War shows how cruel Americans can be towards each other. One would think that the portrayal of the Dust Bowl in The Grapes of Wrath is false, because Americans could not mistreat and be so cruel to fellow Americans. Other periods in U.S. history shows that Americans could mistreat fellow Americans. Periods in history where the Americans mistreated each other were the Red Scare, Civil War, and racism against African Americans. The Californians felt violated by their fellow Americans, just like in all the other situations where Americans mistreated their own.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Management 331 Essay Example

Management 331 Essay Name: Course: Institution: Date: We will write a custom essay sample on Management 331 specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Management 331 specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Management 331 specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Management 331 Brazil is a country that is acknowledged for having a rich atmosphere for conducting business. The country hosts a large population of one hundred and ninety million people who possess different ethnicities including German, African and Spanish among many others (US Commercial Guide 2). Brazil also has an expanded economic industry that includes several market opportunities for small and big businesses for countries including the United States. However, the main businesses that make up Brazil’s industrious economy involve products like vehicles, petrol chemicals and computers among others. Focusing on personal computers, there are several ways in which an international business could be conducted. For example, the firm could export computers to the country, form a business partnership with a Brazil-based company or initiate a completely owned subsidiary. However, for the business to succeed, an evaluation of each of these methods is required in order to determine the best option. In this process, advantages and disadvantages of each method are identified in order to determine the best option that will be more effective to the business (US Commercial Guide 4). In the business strategy of exporting personal computers from the United States to Brazil, cost advantages are realized. For example, the cost of manufacturing computers in America appears to be more costly than when in Brazil. In addition, the costs involved are opportunity costs since the expenses for producing PCs replace the costs of the cars that could have been manufactured. For example, while in America, a business would require to give up the production of one hundred and fifty vehicles to manufacture a thousand PCs, a business venturing in Brazil would only require giving up one hundred cars. However, since Brazil’s major market is made of imports from the United States[1], it leads to a problem of congestion within the market space. For example, in such a scenario, there are probably American PC businesses that crowd the Brazilian market and hence it will be difficult for a business to establish itself due to increased competition. An emerging market is characterized by rapid economic progress and an increase in foreign business ventures. Brazil is one of the emerging markets in the world because of its rich possession of natural resources. Brazil has also become an established market for American IT technology[2]. U.S investors dealing with producing computer equipment are significantly required to incorporate the needs of the Brazilian population that speak languages including Portuguese (Jennifer 2011). For example, the American manufacturers could include a language translating function in the computer systems in order to meet the needs of the Brazilian population and hence become more profitable. The alternative of establishing a partnership with a Brazilian-based company has its advantages. For example, one of the progressing sectors in Brazil is the PC hardware based on referring to the overall revenues earned that have increased to billions of dollars. This could create a great opportunity for an American business partnership with Brazil because if the computer industry in Brazil is progressing profitably, the investment is likely to follow the same trend (Jennifer 2011). However, the success achieved from conducting business in Brazil is usually based on one’s persistence, experience and being highly acquainted with the country’s cultural and legal standards. This is because Brazil maintains a distinctive legal structure, which causes the problem of unfamiliarity among many foreign investors. Investing in the Brazilian partnership could lead to the emergence of more opportunities. For example, the partnership could take advantage of the situation, in which certain areas have population that is less acquainted with information technology by providing education services. On the final alternative of starting a sole PC business in an emerging economy such as Brazil, several advantages are realized. One advantage is that the company is likely to experience early attainment due to the progressive economic state and hence gain acknowledgement as a strong influential brand within the industry. As a result, this could develop a great opportunity for American businesses that are competing within the elite category of the market. This is because the business will be able to maintain stable connections with other local businesses, which would create a competitive advantage over the other competitive businesses. In emerging economies, capital is usually readily available and forming a connection to its accessibility helps businesses to contribute their resources for enabling domestic advancement. In addition, businesses that have lacked capital potential could be given an opportunity to reestablish themselves. Minimal firms are also given the opportunity to develop in the emerging markets, a chance that was not available to them while they were in the domestic market. However, the disadvantage of establishing a business in an emerging economy is the issue of dealing with cultural jeopardy. Different cultural views on product utility may have requirements that differ from those identified by a business. For example, an American business may have certain cultural challenges while operating in Brazil due to being less acquainted with the business culture of that environment. After analyzing the three alternatives of how to operate the computer business, it is best to consider establishing a business within the country. This is because it will create the opportunities of transforming the business into a successful venture that gains acknowledgement and a strong influence over its competitors. Works Cited Blanke, Jennifer. â€Å"Global Competitiveness World Economic Forum 6 July 2004. December 16, 2011 . Doing Business in Brazil: Country Commercial Guide for U.s. Companies. Springfield, VA: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Technical Information Service, 2005. Print. [1] Other imports include Canada and some other European countries.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Resume and job search trends that will dominate in 2018

Resume and job search trends that will dominate in 2018 In 2012, The Ladders published the results of a study that shocked job hunters: on an average, recruiters spend only 6 seconds reviewing a candidate’s resume. From there on, job applicants started trying to make their resumes clearer, cleaner, and shorter. They started paying more attention to the format, aiming to make the most important details easily visible. Those trends persist but are constantly being upgraded. What can we expect in 2018? What resume and job search trends should we follow?We’ll give you a list of trends that will dominate the job search market in 2018, supported by experts’ opinions.Professionally Prepared Resumes  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In 2013, CareerBuilder surveyed thousands of hiring managers, human resource professionals, and workers across industries. 58% of the employers pointed out typos as the most common problem they saw in resumes. 36% of them said they were seeing resumes that were too generi c, and 32% of them identified â€Å"copying a large amount of wording from the job posting† as a problem.If you want to stand out, the resume has to be perfect.We contacted John Laurens, a   human resources manager from Resumes Planet. â€Å"Job applicants see typos the smallest problem. You can easily get rid of most of them if you use Grammarly or similar software. However, software won’t bring your resume to perfection. There are grammar and spelling mistakes that you can’t notice yourself,† – he says.Laurens is sure that professionally prepared resumes will be one of the biggest trends among job seekers in 2018: â€Å"When you’re not proficient in resume writing, you can rest assured that you’ll make a mistake. You’ll either write a generic resume or you’ll get into too many details. A professional writer is aware of the standards of different industries. Job applicants are finally realizing they can improve their chances of getting the interview call if they hire a writer to complete or improve their resume.†Personality Will Play an Even Greater RoleIn August 2017, the unemployment rate in the U.S. was similar to the trend we’ve been experiencing for years – 4.4%. This means that 7.1 million people are unemployed. What does this mean for a job hunter? Huge competition. What does it mean for a recruiter? Plenty of resumes to review.The hiring manager will look for the candidates with the core skills needed for the specific job. The personality traits, however, are just as important. Employers want people who would fit into their office culture. Your resume can convey your personality up to a certain point, but you’ll have to do something more: follow up.Laura Handrick, human resources staff writer at Fit Small Business, agrees. â€Å"Job search continues to be personal. People don’t hire form paper, they hire people they trust will do a great job in the rol e.† – she says.â€Å"So after you apply, follow up in any (and maybe every) way you can – contact the recruiter on Facebook, or look for someone you know who works there in your LinkedIn account. My last resume sent via Indeed was never found by the staffing agency. It was only when I sent an InMail to the recruitment firm owner that I was contacted, asked to resend it via email, contacted by the recruiter, scheduled for interviews, and hired. If you fail to follow up with a phone, email, postcard or other form of human contact, you may as well have placed your resume directly into the shredder.†Social Media Will Get More ImportantA recent survey showed that 70% of employers are screening candidates via social media before hiring them. 54% have decided not to hire a candidate after screening their social media profiles, and 57% are less likely to consider someone for an interview if they can’t find them online.That’s how serious social media reputation is in the hiring process. The trend is going to get even bigger during 2018. Scott Wesper, hiring manager for Arch Resources Group, agrees:â€Å"As 2018 draws closer, social media will play an even bigger role in job search trends. When you compare the number of users overall, Facebook wins in a landslide victory over LinkedIn. Facebook has 1.86 billion users, while competitor LinkedIn has only 433 million members. Most Facebook profiles are filled with important demographic information like age, past job titles, employer information, educational background, and even interests. This will be key for employers as they target their job ads in order to reach the candidates with the proper credentials.Digital Resumes and PortfoliosIn 2015, the Pew Research center conducted a survey called Searching for Work in the Digital Era. The results showed that 54% of U.S. adults were looking for job information online, and 45% had applied for a job online.The Internet is the most impor tant resource during the job hunting process. You don’t use it just to search for a job. It’s also a medium that presents you as an ideal candidate. That’s why you’ll have to work on your digital resume and portfolio, since more employers will be interested in that factor in 2018.Alec Sears, human resources manager from Frontier Communications, says: â€Å"In 2018 you will see a shift towards digital resumes and portfolios. The format of the resume itself won’t change much; it is simple and succinct and there’s a reason that it’s stood the test of time. But sites like Indeed and Glassdoor make it easier than ever to take that resume and send it out to dozens of potential employers at once. Wise job-seekers will utilize personal websites, online portfolios and even LinkedIn connections to stand out.†Did you hear that? Wise job seekers will have personal websites. They will also have an impressive online reputation that’s visible through social media. They will be getting professionally-written resumes and they will make an effort to show their personality after submitting them. As a wise job hunter, those are the trends you should be aware of.About the authorMicheal Gilmore is an entrepreneur and HR expert from Dallas, TX.   His mission is helping people achieve perfection in anything they do.   His life is fully dedicated to the people. Micheal is also a passionate career advisor

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Art of Graffiti Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Art of Graffiti - Essay Example . . . To them to get busted is like a Purple Heart. Nobody really slams the doors on those thugs. These graffiti vandals are causing people pain and grief. They think they're artists and have some right like free speech to express their individualism or artistry. If they want to be an artist they should go to work for a record company and do hip-hop CD covers. Graffiti might look good to them and their buddies, but the majority of the people don't want to look at that crap every day"2. As a matter of fact "any type of cultural or artistic production forces change on an environment. Most of the time, people abide by well-established rules for culture-producing activities. They do it through consuming certain products in certain ways or by creating symbols of their identity within the scope of what is legal for the entire society. In general, people who write graffiti produce culture in a different manner. No matter what it says, the manner in which graffiti is produced defines the writer's position as an outsider and alienates that person from the rest of society"3. Although there are hundreds of individual styles of graffiti, there are only seven basic forms in which it appears. These forms, the names of which are known to all graffiti writers, can be distinguished generally by their size, location, complexity of design, or the materials used to create them4. Bubble is a style, in which all similar to each other letters are rounded, joined with each other, and looks as though exaggerated, similar to bubbles bursting at the seams. More often it is used just few colors, basically two or three. This is one of the most popular styles of beginners. Wild Style differs from all the other styles, first of all, by the complexity of letters, which most often are non readable. They are so mazy that sometimes even people who know what's what in graffiti and write it, are not capable to puzzle out an inscription, let alone everymen. And only those, who draw in such style, without can easily read the text of the image. The point is that a writer adds additional elements to the letters, which distract attention from letters.FX (or 3D style) differs in absolute volume of letters. To think up such figure is very difficult. It is necessary to possess not ordinary imagination and uncommon thinking to draw a word in volume. Thus, it is necessary that all letters were combined with each other, and it was clear enough what is written. Far not every writer is capable to do it. Moreover a writer needs many years of trainings to write graffiti in this style.Messiah Style. Originality of this style is that letters look like written on separate she ets and imposed on each other. This style has been invented by the inhabitant of New York Vulcan, which works are characterized by original color scale. Charater is a style, in which the characters from the style of comics are used. Sometimes there is a framework of speech, in which can be present the signature of the writer (autograph), or speech of the character. On background often there is an inscription executed in other style. At

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Thin film deposition techniques and substrate cleaning in cleanroom Essay

Thin film deposition techniques and substrate cleaning in cleanroom - Essay Example Any unwanted particles in the environment, such as organic and inorganic substances, dust, micro organisms, human skin, or vapours are regarded as contaminants. Humidity and temperature control is also maintained in a clean room. Contamination in a clean room can also occur from unclean surfaces. Walls, ceilings, or even materials used during experiments or fabrication in a clean room can be a source. It is therefore important that all material and substrates to be used are cleaned prior to their use. There are several ways to clean substrates depending on the material and the type of contamination to be removed. Larger particles, such as glass fragments, can be cleaned through washing. Gentle application of chemicals such as Decon 90 can also used to release any larger particles like dust and grease stuck on the surface. Then, to remove relatively smaller particles, the slides can be placed in an ultrasonic bath with a 20% solution of Decon90 in ultra pure water. Subsequently, 20% solution of Ethanolamine in ultra pure water is used to reactively clean the substrate by removing dirt which is chemically bonded to it. Once this is completed, the substrates are submerged in pure ethanol to get rid of water itself from the surface which is replaced by ethanol. The substrate is then dried on a hot plate or through hot air and to be used within minutes before it absorbs any moisture f rom air. The process described above is just one way of cleaning the substrate. As mentioned earlier, there are several methods available which can be used to suit the material and contaminant. For example, Martinez-Duarte et al (2010: p. 195) mention a host of possibilities. Among wet immersion techniques, diluted hydrofluoric acid, RCA, a process that uses ammonium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide, water, hydrofluoric and hydrochloric acid, or supercritical cleaning can be used followed by rinsing in a solvent depending on application (Martinez-Duarte et al, 2010: p. 195).

Monday, November 18, 2019

Education Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Education - Research Paper Example However, there exist some issues or problems related to this field which need to be resolved in order to end all concerns about education. Benefits of Education Education brings both personal and professional benefits for a person. Some of the most considerable benefits that education brings for a person include development of increase in self-confidence, development of a good personality, development of peer relationships, increased awareness of various social and political issues, and increased awareness of different professional fields of life. Along with these benefits, some professional benefits of education include increased number of job opportunities, career evolution, attractive salary package, increased opportunities to excel in professional life, and improved ability to raise knowledge-based. Current Issues in Education Education is a vast field related to family and consumer science. It gives light to a number of issues that need a proper resolution. Authorities related t o the field of education need to examine both sides of those issues in order to find proper solutions. Some of the current issues related to education include discipline and security, single language or bilingual education, use of technology to enhance students’ learning, use of social networking websites, race and equality, religion based studies, use of zero tolerance policy for students, private versus public education, teasing and bullying, and use of standardized testing system in education. Moreover, use of effective teaching strategies is also one of the key educational issues. Concept learning can be used in combination with deep learning to promote effective learning (Buntting, 2006). Education of undocumented immigrants is also becoming a major issue for most of the developed countries (Connor, 2011). Although all of the above-mentioned issues are of critical importance from the educational perspective, but some of them are a little more significant and need a quick resolution. Those issues include use of technology to enhance students’ learning, need for bilingual educations systems because of increasing cultural diversity, and private vs. public educational systems. Future Research Areas in Education Apart from current issues, there are some educational issues that need advanced research. Some of those issues include evolution of online educational system, use of proper grading mechanisms to assess special students’ performances, and allowing or restricting sex education for young students. Online Educational System As the world has become a global village, education has also become accessible to people at their doorsteps. An online learning environment is one in which there is a distance between teachers and students and they interact with each other mainly through the internet. In a dissertation, Ivankova (2002) found that distance education has become a possible alternative to the traditional form of higher education in many parts of the world. However, online education also gives rise to some complex issues, such as, less interaction between teachers and students and difficulty in understanding the concepts. In a dissertation, Gallogly (2005) found that online students usually do not feel satisfied with the timeliness of instructional feedback as compared to traditional classroom students. Grading Mechanisms for Assessing Special Students’

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Symbolic Mediation Internalization Learning Process And Zpd Education Essay

Symbolic Mediation Internalization Learning Process And Zpd Education Essay Second language acquisition (SLA) is a relatively new field, which was seen as an adjunct of language teaching pedagogy before 1960s (Myles, 2010). Ellis (1994) defined three aspects that are responsible for L2 acquisition: external factors (social factors, input and interactions); internal factors (learners existing knowledge and internal mechanisms) and individual learner factors (P. 193). The social factors was investigated under heavy influence from Vygotskys Zone of Proximal Developments (ZPD). In this paper, major focus would be around the notion and application of ZPD, including: defining ZPD and key concepts of Vygotskys theory relating to ZPD: symbolic mediation, internalization,learning process, the role of interlocutor and learner; comparing Vygotskys social cultural theory (SCT) with Piagets cognitive theory; comparing Vygotskys Zone of Proximal Developments with Krashens notion of i+1 hypothesis Symbolic mediation, internalization , learning process and ZPD The social-cultural theory, stemmed from Vygotskys thoughts claims that the language learning process is socially mediated (Lantolf, 2000). Lantolf (1994) stressed that from Vygotskian perspective, the higher forms of human mental activity are always, and everywhere, mediated by symbolic means (P. 418) The symbolic mediation refers to the external process via symbolic signs or tools in social context through which learner can control mental process after internalization (Lightbown Spada, 2006). Lantolf (2000) regards language, among all the symbolic tools, as the most powerful psychological tool (P. 81). Through the mediation of language, the child or learner learns how to perform a task or solve a problem with the help from a more skilled individual (Mitchell Myles, 2004). In other words, the learning process starts as an inter-mental activity, by the more skilled individual sharing through talk, and ends as an intra-mental activity, with the shared knowledge taken in by the unski lled individual. Thus, according to Vygotsky, learning includes two stages: shared understanding in social context through symbolic mediation (mainly in the form of dialogue) and internalization of the shared knowledge by individual. The learning process from a Vygotskyan perspective is described as new concepts continue to be acquired through social/interactional means (Mitchell Myles, 2004, P. 147). Vygotsky defines the concept of zone of proximal development (ZPD), as the distance between the actual developmental level as determined by independent problem solving and the level of potential development as determined through problem solving under adult guidance or in collaboration with more capable peers (Vygotsky, 1978, p. 86). In other words, the role of more advanced interlocutor is stressed by assisting individual crossing the gap between actual level (what the learner can do alone) and potential level (what the learner can achieve with help). The learner is cognitively prepared for solving more complex problems if supported by an interlocutor. More importance has been attached to social interaction between learner and interlocutor, which is regarded as a causative force in acquisition (Saville-Troike, 2006, P. 111). Vygotsky versus Piaget Zuengler and Miller (2006) reviewed the ongoing debates on whether a separation should be made between second language acquisition and second language use and the debates on the commensurability of theories from different schools. It may be interesting to notice that the differences between sociocultural theory and cognitive theory bear relationship with their origins -Vygotsky, the father of socioculture theory and Piaget, the father of cognitive theory. Piaget and Vygotsky are among the earliest proponents to link childrens language development with their cognitive development (Lightbown Spada, 2006). For Piaget, the cognitive development for children is realized through interaction with things around them and is presented by language which is not different from Vygotskys view. They share the view of learner as a social human being who are learning through interaction with environment and of learning and development as a contextually embedded process of interactions (Vianna Stetsenko, 2006, P. 85). However, the dissimilar emphasis that they place on social interaction leads to three major differences. For Piaget, children learn and develop in the environment. For Vygotsky, children not only learn and develop in the environment but also change it through interaction. Therefore, for Vygotsky, language is seen as a more powerful symbolic mediation (Lightbown Spada, 2006). The second difference is adaption versus transformation (Vianna Stetsenko, 2006, P. 87). For Piaget, human develop by assimilation and accommodation to adapt to the environment, whereas for Vygotsky, human develop by actively changing the environment. The third difference lies in their view of the priority between learning and cognitive development. For Piaget, children need to be cognitively prepared to a certain stage before learning, while for Vygotsky, precedence is given to learning instead of development. Therefore, Vygotsky argue for teaching or learning within ZPD, where learners could do more with scaf folding from interlocutors than their independent performance (Zuengler Miller, 2006). ZPD versus i+1 Second language scholars have suggested the feasibility of integrating Krashens i+1 with Vygotskys zone of proximal development (ZPD) based on their similarities. Dunn and Lantolf (1998) have stated the incommensurability of these two concepts not only because they are unrelated but also because they are based on incommensurable theoretical discourses (P. 411) In Krashens view, humans acquire language in only one way-by understanding messages, or by receiving comprehensible input . . . that contains structures at our next stage- structures that are a bit beyond our current level of competence (Krashen, 1985, p. 2). More specifically, three factors contribute to language learning learners internalized grammar,namely the i, input containing linguistic structure a bit beyond learners current level, namely the i+1 and learners internal language processing mechanism (LAD) For Vygotsky, as mentioned above, ZPD is defined as those functions that have not yet matured but are in the process of maturation (1978, p. 86). A more holistic picture has been drawn with respect to language learning learner, interlocutor, their social cultural backgrounds, their goals and motives and all the resources available (Dunn Lantolf, 1998). Learning and development occur in both situations, where learner will surpass their current level either with assistance from a more advanced interlocutor within learners ZPD or with acquisition of linguistic structure i+1, which may contribute largely to their seemingly similarities. However, it would be cautious to notice as well that the development occur with a comparison of learners current level, that is learner himself. Therefore, it would be less justifiable to view the development in Krashens term as an equivalent to that in Vygotskys theory. Also it would be more reasonable to notice that the construct of ZPD and i+1 cannot stand without considering the theocratical frame that they root in respectively. Therefore, a comparison would be made between theories that have incubated these two constructs with respect to the relationship between learning and development, the consequence of learning, the role of language, learner and interlocutor and the role of social interaction. The fundamental difference between Krashens theory with Vygotskys theory is their diverse view on the relationship between instruction learning and cognitive development. Krashen hold the view as a separatist, who perceive learning under instruction and cognitive development as two independent process (Dunn Lantolf, 1998, P. 491). Therefore, Krashen intentionally draw a line between learning and acquisition, arguing that only though subconscious acquisition can comprehensible input be acquired, and learners cognition be developed. Conversely, Vygotsky presented a dualistic quality to development, that is whether learning consciously or not, a mutual influence exists between learning and development ( Dunn Lantolf, 1998, P. 491). Thus, learners are learning and developing at the same time, and the site where learning and development meet is called ZPD. Secondly, Krashen and Vygotsky differ in their view of the consequence of learning, based on their divergent view on learning and development. For Krashen, the outcome of learning is the linguistic structure that is a bit beyond learners current level, and with the acquisition of this feature, learner has developed cognitively, ready to obtain the next i +1. Whereas for Vygotsky, learners are developing along the whole learning process, which means that not only the immediate future, but also the maturing process account for development (Dunn Lantolf, 1998, P. 422). Therefore, it is the variability between acquisition and Internalization (Kinginger, 2002, P. 418). Thirdly, the roles of language, learner and interlocutor are interpreted differently. From Krashens point, language is conceived as a container of linguistic features with comprehensible input and learner as a container with Language Acquisition Device (LAD), the individual process mechanism built inside minds, and the assistance from interlocutor is not necessary (Dunn Lantolf, 1998, P. 418). In contrast, from Vygotskys perspective, language is one of the the most powerful psychological tool of semiotic mediation system (Lightbown Spada, 2006, P. 81), and thus representing the mediated forms of cognition (Dunn Lantolf, 1998, P. 426). Both learner and interlocutor are portrayed as a social human being, with motivation and social cultural identity, instead of a loner with an innate ability to process (Kinginger, 2001, P. 419). Moreover, unbalanced attention is given to social interaction in the frame developed by Krashen and Vygotsky. Krashen assigned relatively little importance to social interaction due to the existence of LAD, despite his support for a weak form of interaction: meaning negotiating proposed by Long (1996). In other words, Krashen argues that the strong form of interaction such as scaffolding or peer collaboration as well as learner output bear no direct relevance to SLA (Dunn Lantolf, 1998). In contrast, social interaction is viewed as the medium and the result of development by Vygotskian scholars (Kinginger, 2001, P. 422). Thus in order to maximize learners acquisition, interlocutor should scaffold the learner along ZPD and learners comprehensible output is as important as comprehensible input. Conclusion Over the past decade, there has been an increasing number of SLA researches conducted under the influence of socioculture theory (SCT) based on the work of Vygotsky (Ableeva Lantolf, 2011; Brooks Swain et al., 2010; Kinginger, 2002; Knouzi Swain et al., 2010; Lantolf, 2007; Foster Ohta, 2005; Swain Deters, 2007; Swain Lapkin et al, 2009). This theory differs from other theory describing the SLA in the stance that social environment is not only a learning context but rather a significant contributor to language acquisition (Swain Deters, 2007). Thus the concept built in SCT framework such as ZPD, cannot be viewed separately away from its origin, which implies that it would be best for any future comparison or commensuration of concepts from unlike theories be made with their roots considered. Also the incommensurability precisely add the value to the theory building in SLA field, not only for the sake of the this particular school itself but also for a helpful reflection for ot her schools.It is with this sharp comparison between different perspectives, a more holistic picture can be draw for L2 acquisition, despite the criticisms been made and the debates ongoing (Zuengler Miller, 2006). Lantolf (1996) have shown his welcome for a future of letting all the flowers bloom in SLA theory building and I simply cannot agree more with him (P.713-49).

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

The spread and localization of Buddhism and Islam into Southeast Asia E

The spread of religion first began through contact with neighbouring countries which gradually expand throughout the years. Buddhism and Islam are one of the most widespread religions across Southeast Asian countries like Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Trade merchants and imperial support of the religion played as major factors which facilitated and localised the spread of Buddhism and Islam within various countries. However, there were limitations present which hindered the development of each religion in Southeast Asia as introduction of newer religions and changes within imperial power which would have affected their progression to become fully localised pre-1800s. After the death of Buddha around the 5th century, divisions within the religion began to grow due to differences in the interpretation of Buddha’s teaching thus resulted in Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism (Bowker 2007, 140-141). Till this day, Theravada Buddhism persists predominant in Southeast Asia. Theravada Buddhism focuses their beliefs on the personal liberation whilst Mahayana Buddhism regards itself on the teaching of compassion for every living being (Berzin 2010). The spread of Buddhism, mainly Theravada, first began around early 3rd century BCE when Buddhist emissaries were sent to Indonesia and Burma by Indian emperor Asoka (Gosling 2002, 84-85). During and after his reign, his constant advocacy had sustained the faith’s position throughout Southeast Asia, influencing his children to introduce Buddhism into Sri Lanka during the first and second century CE (Gosling 2002, 82) which spread across to Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam (Swearer 1997, 90). This was further developed due to the mass influx of Indian merc... ...ry CE when Muslim merchants, accompanied by missionary Sufis, from India and Arabia arrived through the Indian Ocean trade route for business (Johnston 2002, 291). However, it wasn’t until the 13th century when Islam began to spread across Southeast Asia from Sumatra through to Java until reaching Borneo and Philippines in the 16th century (Houben 2003, 153). Trade was not the only purpose indicated from Muslim merchants as Sufis brought about the localization of Islamic organisations for Islamic teachings which would appeal to locals and their rulers for valuable networks (Johnston 2002, 291). This presence of Islam was recorded by Moroccan traveller Marco Polo in the late 13th century which indicated the advancement of Islam localisation where citizens of Perlak, Sumatra and the Pasai king, Sultan Al-Malikus Saleh were already converted as Muslims (Mutalib 2008).