Using the Question Mark

Using the Question Mark Using the Question Mark Using the Question Mark By Guest Author This is a guest post by Steven Pittsley. If you want to write for Daily Writing Tips check the guidelines here. Although often taken for granted, the question mark can be used for more than ending a direct question. Really? Yes. The question mark was first seen in the eighth century when it was called the punctus interrogativus. There are many theories about the origin of the symbol, which has changed several times before settling on its current form in the eighteenth century. For example, the Latin word for question is quaestio, which was abbreviated to ‘Qo’ in the Middle Ages. It’s thought that the modern symbol represents the ‘Q’ placed over the ‘O’. Regardless of its origin, the question mark can be used in a variety of ways. One such use is to end a verb-less sentence. Although verb-less sentences may not be considered proper sentences in some circles, they are used quite frequently. Some examples include: What? When? Where? Really? Ending a tag question is another use for the question mark. A tag question is a statement that is followed by a question, such as: He left early, didn’t he? The recipe calls for one cup sugar, right? In a sentence containing a series of questions, you may include a question mark after each. Be careful with this type of writing. Although the use of a question mark is accepted, readers may find a long string of questions confusing. Who saw the victim last? Her husband? Her son? Her daughter? Which way are we supposed to turn at the corner? Right? Left? Two places where the question mark should not be used are at the end of indirect questions or courteous requests. Although these types of sentences may seem to be questions, they do not require the use of the question mark. I asked my son if there were any messages. Will you please reply as soon as possible. Although the choice to use the question mark us usually a fairly easy decision, some situations like these can make you think twice. You can follow Steven on Twitter @drumming4you. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:"Based in" and "based out of"Top 11 Writing Apps for iOS (iPhone and iPad)How to Style Titles of Print and Online Publications

Metaphor Definition and Examples

Metaphor Definition and Examples A metaphor is a  trope or figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between two unlike things that actually have something in common. A metaphor expresses the unfamiliar (the tenor) in terms of the familiar (the vehicle). When Neil Young sings, Love is a rose, the word rose is the vehicle for the term love, the tenor. The word  metaphor  itself is a metaphor, coming from a Greek term meaning to transfer or carry across. Metaphors carry meaning from one word,  image, idea, or situation to another. Conventional Metaphors Some people think of  metaphors  as little more than the sweet stuff of songs and poems- such as love is a jewel, a rose, or a butterfly. But people use metaphors in everyday writing and speaking. You cant avoid them: They are baked right into the English  language. Calling a person a night owl or an early bird is an example of a common  or  conventional metaphor- one that most  native speakers  readily understand. Some metaphors are so prevalent  that you may not even notice that they  are  metaphors. Take the familiar metaphor of life as a journey. You can find it in advertising slogans: Life is a journey, travel it well.- United AirlinesLife is a journey. Enjoy the Ride.- NissanThe journey never stops.- American Express Many other categories  of metaphors enhance the English language. Other Types Metaphor types range from conceptual and visual to dead metaphors, which lose their impact and meaning due to overuse. (You might say, metaphorically, they are done to  death.) A specific type of metaphor is even used in psychological counseling. Following are the main types of this figure of speech: Absolute:  a metaphor in which one of the terms (the  tenor) cant be readily distinguished from the other (the  vehicle). Your Dictionary  notes that these metaphors compare two things that have no obvious connection but are joined to make a point such as: â€Å"She is doing a tightrope walk with her grades this semester.† Of course, she is not a circus performer, but the absolute metaphor- tightrope walk- clearly makes the point about the precarious nature of her academic standing. Complex:  a metaphor in which the  literal meaning  is expressed through more than one figurative term (a combination of primary metaphors). The website  Changing Minds  says that a complex metaphor occurs where a simple metaphor is based on a secondary metaphoric element, such as using the term light to indicate understanding, as in the sentence He  threw light  on the subject. Changing Minds also gives these examples: That lends weight to the argument.They stood alone, frozen statues on the plain.The ball happily danced into the net. Conceptual: a  metaphor in which one idea (or  conceptual domain) is  understood in terms of another- for example: Youre  wasting  my time.This gadget will  save  you hours.I dont  have  the time to  give  you. In the last sentence, for example, you cant actually have or give time, but the concept is clear from the context. ​Creative: an original comparison that  calls attention to itself as a figure of  speech. It is also known as a  poetic, literary, novel, or  unconventional metaphor, such as: Her tall black-suited body seemed to carve its way through the crowded room.- Josephine Hart, DamageFear is a slinking cat I find / Beneath the lilacs of my mind.- Sophie Tunnell, FearThe apparition of these faces in the crowd; / Petals on a wet, black bough.- Ezra Pound, In a Station of the Metro A body cant carve anything, fear is not a slinking cat (and no mind contains lilacs), and faces are not petals, but the creative metaphors paint vivid pictures in the readers mind. Extended:  a comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph or lines in a poem. Many lyrical writers use extended metaphors, such as this drawn-out circus image by a best-selling author: Bobby Holloway says my imagination is a three-hundred-ring circus. Currently, I was in ring two hundred and ninety-nine, with elephants dancing and clowns cartwheeling and tigers leaping through rings of fire. The time had come to step back, leave the main tent, go buy some popcorn and a Coke, bliss out, cool down.- Dean Koontz, Seize the Night Dead:  a figure of speech that has lost its force and imaginative effectiveness through frequent use, such as: Kansas City is  oven hot, dead metaphor or no dead metaphor.- Zadie Smith, On the Road: American Writers and Their Hair Mixed:  a succession of incongruous or ludicrous comparisons- for example: Well have a lot of new blood holding gavels in Washington.- Former U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), in the  Savannah Morning News, Nov. 3, 2010Thats awfully thin gruel for the right wing to hang their hats on.-   MSNBC, Sept.  3, 2009 Primary:  A basic intuitively understood metaphor- such as knowing is seeing  or time is motion- that may be combined with other primary metaphors to produce complex metaphors. Root:  An  image,  narrative, or fact that shapes an individuals perception of the world and interpretation of reality, such as: Is the whole universe a perfect machine? Is the society an organism?- Kaoru Yamamoto,  Too Clever for Our Own Good: Hidden Facets of Human Evolution Submerged:  a type of metaphor in which one of the terms (either the  vehicle  or tenor) is implied rather than stated explicitly: Alfred Noyes, The Highwayman The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas. Therapeutic:  a metaphor used by therapists to assist clients in the process of personal transformation.  Getselfhelp.co.uk, a British website that offers psychotherapy resources and information, gives this example of passengers on a bus: You can be in the driving seat, whilst all the passengers (thoughts) are being critical, abusive, intrusive, distracting, and shouting directions, or sometimes just plain nonsense.  You can allow those passengers to shout and chatter noisily, whilst keeping your attention focused on the road ahead, heading towards your goal or value. The metaphor aims to help present someone seeking help with a way to stay focused on whats important by shutting out distracting, negative thoughts. Visual: the representation of a person, place, thing, or idea by way of a visual  image  that suggests a particular association or point of similarity.  Modern advertising relies heavily on visual  metaphors. For example, in a magazine ad a few years ago for the banking firm Morgan Stanley, a man is pictured bungee jumping off a cliff. Two words serve  to explain this visual metaphor: A dotted line from the jumpers head points  to the word You, while another line from the end of the bungee cord points to Us. The metaphorical message- of the safety and security provided by the firm in times of risk- is conveyed through a single dramatic image. The Value of  Metaphors We need  metaphors,  James Grant wrote in his article Why Metaphor Matters published on OUPblog, a website operated by Oxford University Press. Without metaphors, many many truths would be inexpressible and unknowable. Grant noted: Take Gerard Manley Hopkins’s exceptionally powerful metaphor of despair: selfwrung, selfstrung, sheathe- and sheterless, / thoughts against thoughts in groans grind. How else could precisely this kind of mood be expressed? Describing how things appear to our senses is also thought to require metaphor, as when we speak of the silken sound of a harp, the warm colours of a Titian, and the bold or jolly flavour of a wine. Science advances by the use of metaphors, Grant  added- of the mind as a computer, of electricity as a current, or of the atom as a solar system. When  using metaphors  to enrich writing, consider how these figures of speech are more than just ornaments or decorative accessories. Metaphors are also ways of thinking, offering readers (and listeners) fresh ways of examining ideas and viewing the world. Source Noyes, Alfred. The Highwayman. Kindle Edition, Amazon Digital Services LLC, November 28, 2012.

Violent video games Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Violent video games - Research Paper Example They had not much opportunities other than playing games to spend their free time. However, teenagers of current era are getting more opportunities to spend their free time. The arrivals of computer, internet, television and mobile phones have brought immense opportunities to them. These channels or media offer many opportunities to play video games. It should be noted that playing some kind of games in the ground require some physical effort. On the other hand, not much physical effort is needed for playing videogames. That is why lazy modern generation is running after videogames. Two features of video games fuel renewed interest by researchers, public policy makers, and the general public. First, the active role required by video games is a double-edged sword. It helps educational video games be excellent teaching tools for motivational and learning process reasons. But, it also may make violent video games even more hazardous than violent television or cinema. Second, the arrival of a new generation of ultraviolent video games beginning in the early 1990s and continuing unabated to the present resulted in large numbers of children and youths actively participating in entertainment violence that went way beyond anything available to them on television or in movies. Recent video games reward players for killing innocent bystanders, police, and prostitutes, using a wide range of weapons including guns, knives, flame throwers, swords, baseball bats, cars, hands, and feet (Anderson) Some people argue that videogames help teenagers to increase their mental abilities and it should be encouraged as much as possible. On the other hand others are of the view that over influence of videogames may affect the physical, mental and emotional developments of teenagers. In do believe that playing excess videogames is not at all good for the teenage community. This paper argues against excessive playing of videogames with the help if arguments in favor and against videogame playing. â€Å"Gentile & Anderson (2003) state that playing video games may increase aggressive behavior because violent acts are continually repeated throughout the video game. This method of repetition has long been considered an effective teaching method in reinforcing learning patterns† (p.4). One of the major negative impacts of playing videogame is the development of aggressive behavior among the children. Anderson & Dill (2000) also pointed out the development of aggressive behavior among the teenagers as a result of excessive videogame playing. In their opinion, â€Å"long term video game players can become more aggressive in outlook, perceptual biases, attitudes, beliefs, and behavior than they were before the repeated exposure or would have become without such exposure† (Anderson & Dill, p.774). Aggressive behaviors are increasing day by day among teenage communities. It should be noted that in schools of western countries, plenty of shooting and violent inci dents are taking place periodically. On the other hand, such violent behaviors among teenage communities in the underdeveloped countries are less. This is because of the fact that teenagers in the developed countries are getting more opportunities to play videogames because of the

Memo's Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Memo's - Essay Example Fundamental Company included; Ineffective interaction between the internal audit committee and the management, which limited the independency of the company’s internal audit committee; lack of formal manuals and auditing guidelines in accordance with the GAAP with respect to operational, budgeting and financial standard which resulted into over reporting of the financial records of the company; and inadequate financial reporting and accounting systems and processes which would enhance accuracy of the reports and increase the pace of auditing. NetLogic Microsystems, Inc. is a fabless semi-conductor corporation which develops, designs, and sells integrated processors and circuits mainly used in wireless and mobile infrastructure networks. In their financial and auditing report for the accounting period dated Feb. 15, 2012, the company reported a series of limitations in the auditing exercise. As highlighted by the audit committee, auditing process indicated flaws covering from management to financial projections. The internal audit control policy of NetLogic Microsystems is highly influenced by the senior management boards, thus limiting the independence and autonomy of the internal audit body. On the other hand, the audit committee identified the following material weaknesses in the internal control of NetLogic Microsystems, Inc: first, consolidated financial statement analysis and preparation weaknesses. In the fiscal period 2011, NetLogic Microsystems, Inc did revise its net cost allocation methodology to comply with th e GAAP. However, internal auditing report revealed that the proposed methodology of allocation failed to report major program costs. This prompted the officials to reconsider and revise net cost statement to present cost valuations. Besides, it was noted that Managements Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) contained irrelevant information and therefore were incorrectly accounted for

Building the 787 Essay Example for Free

Building the 787 Essay Boeing is an Aerospace science company and is the worlds most leading aerospace science company and is the largest manufacturer and producer of commercial and military aircrafts. Boeing creates and produces rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems. A little known fact about Boeing is that they are a major services supply to NASA and Boeing helps to operate the International Space station. Boeings main corporate office is located in Chicago, Illinois and employs over 158,000 individuals throughout countries all over the world. Boeing also outsources some its manufacturing business to national and foreign countries. The main assembly hub is located in Washington at a place called Everett plant. Unlike other traditionally built jetliners, the 787 is about 20 percent lighter which saves fuel and lowers overall cost of travel because the jet is made of nearly 80 percent composite material. Along with the new lighter sleeker look, the 787 was redesign with better headroom, larger windows and electronics in the passenger cabinets as well as the flight deck. While this new undertaking seems to be business as usual, Boeing was actually changing the way it now built aircraft. Bousch (2010, December) said it best when he stated, with the 787, Boeing set out to do something revolutionary by tapping suppliers not only for materials, parts, and components, but also innovation. And in doing so, it set out not only to bring a new platform to market as quickly as possible, but also, ironically, to reduce business risk by reducing its dependence on its own operations. The newly developed 787 was to be first aircraft from Boeing manufactured almost exclusively through outsourcing. Almost 70 percent of the plane’s parts were built in other countries. According to Hill (2011), this was Boeing’s gamble that outsourcing would contribute to the huge costs of production while utilizing the expertise of worlds most efficient producers thereby driving down the costs of making the plane (p. 564). Additionally, Boeing thought that outsourcing the planes components would help reduce planes normal develop time of six years to four while building brand awareness and sales in the countries where manufacturing was performed. Boeings’ Risks associated with Outsourcing While Boeing had plenty of cost-cutting reasons for outsourcing nearly 70 percent of the 787 aircrafts manufacturing to 17 contractors in some 10 countries, I’m not sure the risk associated with such a huge amount of outsourcing was truly evaluated by Boeings management. This change in philosophy was evident by the fact that in the company’s past production of Boeing models 777, 767 and 707 some of its components were outsourced to companies around the globe, but not in any of those models was more than 50 percent sent to outside manufacturers. Nevertheless, the initial response to the 787 was tremendous. Mike Blair, Vice- President and General Manager of the 787 program declared, as July 31, 2007, 47 customers worldwide have ordered more than 683 airplanes worth more than $110 billion dollars at current list prices, making the 787 Dreamliner the most successful commercial airplane launch in history. And there’s more to come! (Aeromagazine (2007), p. 4). Those po sitive sentiments from Boeing didn’t last very long. Boeings’ efforts to be leaner and â€Å"cut out the fat† cause them to rely to heavily on key components to be delivered by outsourced contractors and suppliers. By December 2007, Boeing was starting to question its move to global outsourcing. Boeing’s most fierce competitor Airbus had already suffered from problems with delays due to outsourcing when it produced the Airbus A380 Super-Jumbo. With the company now experiencing breakdowns within the supply chain, final preparation and assembly was ultimately impossible. Boeing realized that it was more difficult than expected to navigate so many different suppliers and get required components to its assembly plant within a specified time to complete assembly. Scott Carson, Boeings executive vice president of commercial airplanes, put it succinctly: â€Å"It has simply proved to be more difficult than we anticipated to complete the structural work on the airplane out of sequence in our Everett, Washington factoryâ⠂¬  (Teresko, 2007, p. 1). As delays mounted, Boeing had to finally admit that the weak link in the production of the Dreamliner 787 was its global outsourcing. There were issues from the start that the public never knew about. Boeing overestimated there ability to have proper oversight over contractors. Some suppliers, outsource there work to other suppliers and some had difficulty getting approval and licensing to manufacture there products. The risk that Boeing took was one that could have backfired based on the fact that delays are continuing and in the end, this outsourcing relationship of manufacturers and supply chain management could whine up costing the company more than money. Is Boeing giving up its competitive advantage by outsourcing its core components to suppliers across the world? One would question whether this choice to outsource so much of its design and components and technology to the Japanese will eventually even the playing field. Newhouse (2007) claims that â€Å"Boeing developed much of the materials, manufacturing processes, tooling, tolerances and allowances, and other design features, which are then transferred to suppliers in Japan, Italy and elsewhere. Over time, institutional learning and forgetting will put the suppliers in control of the critical body of knowledge, and Boeing will steadily lose touch with key technical expertise† (p. 4). Newhouse goes on to say that Japanese suppliers are acquiring so-called core competences, hence giving up its competitive edge by outsourcing major parts of the Boeing 787 (p.4). Whatever the opinion, only time will tell if this systematic change of having suppliers and there governments absorb the financial risk will undoubtedly by the rise or fall of Boeing as the world foremost leader in commercial aircraft. Managing the Globally Dispersed Supply Chain By mid 2008 the Boeing 787 had out sold the Airbus A380 by almost 400 orders. The Boeing flagship aircraft was order by more than 50 airlines with orders totaling 857 worth more than 144 billion dollars. These orders, originally schedule to be delivered for May 2008 were now being pushed back to the end of the year due to what Boeing called delays in dealing with its global supply chain which have affectively crippled there assembly lines. It appears that Boeings undertaking was more than just attempting to change the assembly and supply chain processes but it attempt at changing the materials in which aircraft are made seemed daunting enough. The delays appear to be due in part because the supply chain had so many suppliers and contractors trying to protect their own financial investment that all parties eventually suffered from continued delays and wound up risking profits. The continued changing and late delivery dates inevitably cost Boeing and its suppliers billions of dollars. After almost three years the Boeing 787 is still missing its self imposed deadlines for deliveries. According to Cohan (2010), Boeing has missed deadline after deadline with the 787 program – six times over the last two-and-a-half years-and it now looks poised to do so for a seventh time (p.1). Scott Hancher, the Boeing 787 programs third director, seems incline to blame the delays on instrument changes and suppliers inability to properly install parts for the tail-wing. Regardless of his accusations, the 787 still needs to be tested by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before there is any certification. Not all of blame is on the contractors and suppliers. Boeing knew that they were embarking on unprecedented ways to produce commercial aircraft and there engineers should have developed software that could predict how the aircrafts composite materials would hold up under the normal stresses of air travel. This inability to predict the safety of the plane caused problems with cracks in the plane and delays imposed by the FAA until they issues were resolved and the aircraft deemed safe for passenger travel. Boeing now appears to making the anticipated changes by taking on more work and responsibility to the supply chain in order to effectively manufacture and produce the 787 aircraft to the specifications of the FAA. In 2009 Boeing brought its Dreamliner operations from two of its suppliers that were said to have had the most problems along the supply chain. This change has stepped up production of parts because other suppliers have realized the financial drawbacks and possible lost of contracts. This has prompted quicker responses and resolutions that have fixed the flaws in the manufactured products. Boeing in there attempt to be innovative and to create a new market forgot that there largest competitor Airbus was continuing to grow its market and create opportunities from Boeings mishaps. We can only hope that Boeing follows Airbus as the second major aircraft developer to increase restrictions on contractors and require that they only outsource a small portion of work to Asian countries in an attempt to develop partnerships for production and possibly development. McInnes (2008) was correct when he asserted that with a consortium of EADS (owners of Airbus) and Northrop Grumman winning a 40 billion dollar order from the United States government to build 179 refueling aircraft for the US Air Force, Boeing could do good with just getting the 787 certified and get on with deliveries as soon as possible (p.4). Is Boeing’s Outsourcing essentially sending American Jobs Overseas? The question about outsourcing has many Americans worried that jobs are being shipped overseas where labor is cheaper. Boeing the world’s largest commercial aircraft producer has made outsourcing its primary means for development of its groundbreaking commercial aircraft, the Boeing 787 Dream-liner. In an unprecedented move, Boeing decided to outsource nearly 70 percent of the development and component manufacturing to suppliers and contractors around the world. With its primary assembly plant in Seattle, Washington area, Boeing and its employees are worried that this trend will continue and cost many of them their jobs. In a recent Seattle-Post Intelligencer poll, 80 percent of the pollsters thought that outsourcing overseas will hurt the economy in the long-term. Americans have reason to worry, it’s not none how many jobs have been lost overseas thus far but its believed that over 2 million service jobs will be lost in the next decade or so. According to Cook and Nyhan (2004), Perhaps no player in the local economy has sent more jobs overseas than Boeing.Skip navigation The company makes no excuses for sending work to South Africa, Italy, China, Russia and other far-flung parts on the globe and the company argues it has no choice. It must build planes with fewer and more productive workers to remain competitive (p.2). In an effort to cut cost and look for the best manufacturers and engineers at there craft Boeing feels there move to outsourcing was inevitable because it is the future of airplane development. This effort to compete has forced the hand on over 40,000 employees that have lost there jobs at Boeing since 2001 and have benefited countries like China and Russia where we seen as many as 5,000 new jobs created for engineers and those with aerospace technologies and manufacturing skills. Though opinion will continue to be varying when it comes to outsourcing, Boeings’ says the company is committed to a stab le workforce. He believes the red-hot success of the Dream-liner 235 firm orders so far goes a long way to validating the new outsourcing strategy. Without the ability to reduce the planes overall development costs and be able to sell at prices comparable to older jetliners, success would be far less assured (Holmes, 2006, p. 4). The approach by Boeing has caused much concern but for now has been profitable with the huge orders for the 787 Dream-liner. The true test will be when be when supply chain again fails to be dispersed efficiently and the cost increase with the manufacturing of an aircraft. Will this cause the destabilization of the American workforce? Will it decrease Boeings new dependency on using outsourced foreign technologies and manufacturing? These questions will not be answered until there is another downturn in which large companies again turn to outsourcing in an effort to reduce production cost to stay competitive. Reference Blair, M. (2007, August). Building the dream: Boeing 787.retrieved from: http//boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine.com Cohan, P. (2010, July). Boeing 787 delays: will the seventh missed deadline be the last? Daily Finance. Retrieved from: http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/company- news/boeing-787-delays Cook, J. and Nyhan, P. (2004, March). Outsourcings long-term effects on U.S. jobs at issue. Seattle PI Business. Hill, C. (2010). International Business, 8th Edition. Irwin/McGraw-Hill/MBS. Holmes, S. (2012). Boeings Global Strategy. Bloomberg Business. Retrieved from:http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_05/ Newhouse, J. (2007, March).Boeing Versus Airbus: Flight Risk, Outsourcing Challenges. Retrieved from:http://www.cio.com/article/29096/Boeing_Versus_ Airbus_Flight_Risk_Outsourcing_Challenges_?page=3 Teresko, J. (2007, December). Boeing787: a matter of materials – special report: anatomy of a supply chain. Retrieved from: http://www.industryweek.com/articleid-15339showall=1 Boeing. (2010). History. Retrieved on August 24, 2012 from http://www.boeing.com/history/narrative/n001intro.html

Hidden Meaning in Laura Esquivel’s Like Water for Chocolate Essay

Hidden Meaning in Laura Esquivel’s Like Water for Chocolate   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Laura Esquivel’s novel, Like Water for Chocolate, is a contemporary novel based on romance, recipes and home remedies. Very little criticism has been done on the novel. Of the few essays that are written on this work, the majority of them consist of feminist critique. This novel would be most easily approached from a feminist view because of the intricate relationships between women. However, relationships between women are only one of the many elements touched upon in the novel. Like Water for Chocolate is a novel that uses recipes as a crypt for many important themes in the novel. Jaques Derrida defines crypt as something that, "disguise[s] the act of hiding and to hide the disguise: the crypt hides as it holds" (Derrida 14). The recipes are more than just formulas, they hold, concealed within them, memories. These crypts are revealed through food and the process of food production. Esquivel has personal ties with food and feels that the prod uction of food creates a center of the household. Tita, being the person most closely associated with food preparation in the novel, becomes the primary focus in the structure of her family. The crypts that Esquivel uses are opened throughout the novel in a variety of ways. Tita is constantly struggling against her mother, tradition and inevitably her own destiny. Along the way many aspects of her trials are revealed in her cooking. Eventually, Tita is able to free herself from the emotional chains that her mother has bound her. In the end her destiny is revealed, which in return sets her free from her struggles. Esquivel begins each chapter of the novel with a different recipe. The various recipe... ...rodic Consumption of Popular Romance Myths in Como Agua Para Chocolate." Latin American Literary Review. 24.48 (1996): 56-66. Esquivel, Laura. Like Water for Chocolate. Trans. Carol Christensen and Thomas Christensen. New York: Doubleday, 1992. Ibsen, Kristine. "On Recipes, Reading and Revolution: Postboon Parody in Como Agua Para Chocolate." Hispanic Review. 25 (1996): 133-146. Januzzi, Marisa. Laura Esquivel. "Like Water for Chocolate: A Novel in Monthly Installments, with Recipes, Romances and Home Remedies." Review of Contemporary Fiction. 13 (1993): 246-246. Loewenstein, Claudia. "Revolucion interior al exterior: An Interview with Laura Esquivel." Southwest Review. 79.4 (1994): 592-607. Valdez, Maria Elena. "Verbal and Visual Representation of Women: Como Agua Para Chocolate/Like Water for Chocolate." World Literature Today. 69.1 (1995):78-82.

Why I avoid social interaction

Over the last few days I have been trying to find out why I avoid social interaction. Usually, I don’t feel comfortable to meet new people. After meditating for sometime I found out that this problem was not an issue that came up in one single day but has developed over a number of years. I therefore went further to think about my past life and the experience that may have led to this kind of behavior. This essay analyzes these experience and their theoretical explanation using psychological eye. My mother is a teacher while my father is a doctor. They are both hardworking and have achieved a lot in their professionals. They always show me some of the medals they were awarded for their good performance in their respective institutions. Apart from that, I have attended and witnessed them receiving the awards. The most significant instances included a ceremony where may father was named the doctor of the year after carrying out a surgical operation which was thought to be too complicated and difficulty to perform. Just a month later, I witnessed my mother receiving a present as the teacher whose subject was best performed in that year. I was so moved by these two occasions that I promised to work hard and become a doctor like my father. One thing I didn’t like in these ceremonies was that particular moment when my parents introduced me to their friends. I was normally filled with fear and shyness. My parents also realized that I was having a very difficulty time whenever we attended such occasions. We all discussed about my problem. They told me that even when I was young I was not only afraid of strangers but also shy. They concluded by telling me that this reaction would not stop all of a sudden but would even continue in the future. They both agreed that this may be the reason why I was uncomfortable whenever I met new people. Back in my school, meetings were often held to evaluate the performance of the students. This was done to ensure that every student did well in examinations as well as to find out, if any, the problems why some students didn’t perform well. Those students who performed poorly in exams were punished and ridiculed. They were even nicknamed. On one particular day I was almost about to fall under this category of students. My parents were annoyed and cautioned me about the kind of friends I had in school. I was promised a present if I improved in school. I had to dedicate more of my time in studies. I used to spend most of my leisure time in watching movies and soaps. Though I didn’t like this at first, I had no alternative since my family and I had moved to this country in which I was quite unfamiliar with. I eventually came to love watching the T. V and currently I prefer this to going out and meeting new people. I usually spend most of the afternoon watching the TV and I have come to associate evenings with watching the TV. The presents my parents received motivated me so much that I had to set my personal goal of being like them or even doing better. A child personality is usually shaped by their personal interaction with their parents and forces which are unconscious. According to Maslow â€Å"the inner need to fulfill one’s potential† which he referred to as ‘self actualization’ is a process that continues all though one’s life. In other words, it is not only applicable to childhood but also across on individual’s lifespan (Slater A, Bremner G, 2003, pp. 57-58). I always felt I that I would only achieve ‘self actualization’ at that time when I will become a doctor and I had to give more time to my studies then going out to meet new people. Psychoanalytic theory (Maslow theory of self actualization) is the reason why I always worked hard to become a doctor. However the theory may not explain my behavior since I have already changed my mind about my future career and I no longer long to be a doctor. My parents’ explanation about my behavior can be traced to trait theories where our actions in childhood are supposed to be manifested even when we grow old. On the other hand this may not explain my behavior since not all what I did in my childhood is manifested in my current life situations (Ewen R, 1998, pp109). Watching some students being punished and humiliated in front of their schoolmates forced me to work even harder to avoid the same. My parents’ reaction to my poor performance and their promise to reward me mounted pressure on me to spend more time in studying. Social learning theory is the reason why I spend more time in books and discouraged me to meet new people. I learned how grievous it was to fail in school by â€Å"observing behaviors of others and outcomes of these behaviors† (Bandura A, 1977, pp. 21-23) However some of my classmates still go out to meet new friends and their performance in class is excellent. Others spend more time studying and perform poorly so this may not be the reason why I avoided social interactions. Watching the T. V came to be part of my life even though I didn’t like it at first. classical conditioning is the reason why I long for the evenings because I love to watch movies and songs. According to Pavlov P. , conditioning implies to that â€Å"process where neurological patterns become sufficiently established to make a response† and there must also be reinforcement (Cropps R, 1986, pp. 98). I no longer watch TV in the evening. From the theory of classical conditioning the evening can can be taken to represent the conditioned stimuli while the Tv soaps and movies represent the unconditioned stimuli. I enjoyed watching the Tv in the evening so much and an evening always reminded me of the soaps and movies. This theory may also not sufficiently explain my behavior because though I no longer watch the Tv in the evening, i still don't like going out to meet new people. All the theories discussed above do not sufficiently explain my behavior even though they may be part of the explanation. I still don't have a concrete explanation of my behavior up to date.

Critical Thinking Assignment Essay

Secular Humanism regarding the question of origin, seems to lean toward the determination â€Å"that matter has always existed and given enough time and chance, the end result is what you see around you today.† (Weider, Gutierrez 64). There is a lack of evidence that God exists and man is viewed rather as a machine, having no control over their existence and once man’s life has come to an end, this machine ends (65). Humanists answer questions of identity by believing that, â€Å"mankind is a product of evolutionary forces† (66). Mankind is viewed as a more refined animal, however mankind is not of higher quality over the animal kingdom. The answers to the question of meaning or purpose is, at best, answered on the basis of his or her importance (68). It is up to him or her to give any true benefit to their life, by making an impact in their life (69). Through this, they are able to make a clear and confident impact in another human beings life. However, since â€Å"man is a machine and ultimately not in control of what happens, life cannot have any real value or significance.† (69). Morality and ethics asks what is morally and ethically right versus wrong and how a human being should live, then God must exist to deliver what is right and wrong (71). That being so, secular humanism does not believe in a God, and nor does He exist. Secular Humanists believe that there is no â€Å"absolute truth†, and relies heavily on the fact that â€Å"truth is dependent upon the individual or society and is subject to change† (71). Secular Humanism is not worried about the question of destiny. Once a human being has passed on, all that matters is what they did do on this earth and making a difference in another person’s life (73). The Biblical/Christian worldview, in comparison to secular humanism on the question of origin, is through theism. (65). Through God, and under one God, everything exists. While the secular humanist has no belief in God and man has no control much like a machine, theism believes â€Å"God is the first cause, the answer to why there is something rather than nothing† (65). The question of identity through secular humanism believes  mankind and the animal kingdom are of equal value, the Biblical/Christian worldview believes that mankind is above the animals, and we are responsible to take care of them (69). While secular humanists place man and his purpose through impacting others in their lives, the Biblical/Christian worldview believes our purpose is having a personal relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ (70). While secular humanists have no mutual agreement on the question of morality, and reject â€Å"the absolute truth†, and depends on our society, the Biblical/Christian worldview bases morality or ethics through â€Å"Special Revelation† (72). The need for redemption must take place as we were all born in sin, and we can only be saved through Jesus Christ (72). Mankind is not concerned with destiny, through a secular humanist belief. Whereas, the Biblical/Christian worldviews on destiny is â€Å"dependent upon a person’s choices and their personal relationship with God† (75). Works Cited Dr.Weider, Lew and Dr. Ben Gutierrez. Consider. 2013. Print.

Concept and Impact of the Hegemony

Concept and Impact of the Hegemony Introduction The major objective of this study is to explore the concept of hegemony by demonstrating some examples that can enable the reader to fully conceptualize the term. In addition, the study will also examine the effects associated with transnational corporations either positive or negatives.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Concept and Impact of the Hegemony specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Finally the study will embark on discussion of the function of education with demonstration of examples from personal real life or reading. Discussion What is hegemony? Hegemony is a term with several meaning but it largely depend on the situation where the term is used. People define hegemony as the situation whereby a particular entity has power over another. However, the ability to influence and take control over political affairs is what many people consider as hegemony. In addition, many people consider hegemony as le adership or dominance of one nation up on another. Politically, hegemony is considered as a cycle in which when global power begins to lose its control or influence on a particular nation it starts to cause its down fall. For instance, Britain colony was considered as hegemony during 19th century before it began to experience troubles from its colonies such as the Indian among others. There are several theories of hegemony whose purpose is to expound on how a nation or group of people could maintain their powers. Example of hegemony is the British rule in the North America States that include the Virginia, New York and Massachusetts during the period of colonial unrest (Naiman 127). Impacts of transnational corporations Transnational corporations have both positive and negative effects on peoples’ lives for instance they bring about increase in labor productivity by training skilled manpower and supply of foreign technology. In addition to this, they pay substantial wages to the causal labor force thus improving the standard of living for the workers.Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Another positive impact of transnational corporation is that it stimulates local entrepreneurship through offering contracts to local industries with an aim of enhancing competition. It is also noted that transnational corporations lead to introduction of goods and services that are unavailable. In contrast, transnational corporation can led to unemployment by the introduction of labor saving technology. In addition, the coming of transnational corporation has led to the introduction of inappropriate technology, consumption pattern and products. These are some of the positive and negative effects of transnational corporations (Naiman 143). Functions of Education Education is helpful to the people being educated because it initiates the process of socializati on meaning that through education people can learn the best means through which they could relate and interact with others. However, it is through education whereby culture is transmitted for instance, education teaches people new styles of living by civilizing them. It has been noted that through education, people lives can attain certain degree of change emanating from behavioral modification. In addition, people being educated consider education as important to their lives because it promotes physical, mental and moral growth meaning that uneducated people experience low level of growth compared to educated ones. For example, a teacher can think big than a herd’s man among others. Based on this, many people have considered education vital to their lives because it empowers them to develop own ideas, opinions, responsibilities, decision making abilities and independent behavior. An example of this is how lecturers develop lesson plans for their teaching activities. Another function of education is that it brings about desirable changes in economy, social and technological areas that are crucial in determining peoples’ standards of living in every nation. For instance, education opens avenues through which people could become rich therefore b able to live luxurious lives such as driving an expensive car and living in self contained houses among others (Naiman 159). Work Cited Naiman, Joane. How societies work, class, power and change in a Canadian context. 4 Edn. London, InfoBase Publishing, 2007.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Concept and Impact of the Hegemony specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More

Are You Ready for the Next Edition of How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile Your Input Requested!

Are You Ready for the Next Edition of How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile Your Input Requested! IMPORTANT: SURVEY LINK ENCLOSED! Win *your choice* of $50 off any service from The Essay Expert – or a $25 Amazon gift card! CLICK HERE TO ACCESS MY SURVEY Last week, LinkedIn officially announced to the world its upcoming changes, which have started to roll out across its platform. With membership in the U.S. at approximately 133 million, and worldwide membership up to 467 million, it’s more important than ever to stand out on LinkedIn. Thankfully, as far as I can tell, effective LinkedIn strategies have not changed with the new platform. You still need to follow my 3 Ls: Locatability (have 500+ connections and use keywords effectively) Likeability (have a personable, professional photo and a unique Summary section) ALiveness (stay active on LinkedIn and network off the site as well) My hope is that the free platform will be more user-friendly- that it will be easier to post articles, easier to keep track of important notifications, and easier to figure out how you’re connected to people and companies. What’s clear is that many things will look different and be organized differently; that the Advanced Search function will function differently; and that you will no longer be able to use Notes and Tags unless you have Sales Navigator. Here are LinkedIn’s videos on the new changes. LinkedIn Desktop Redesign Puts Conversations and Content at the Center How to Make the Most of the New LinkedIn Search As the author of How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile, I face my own dilemmas about how to handle these new changes. Not to worry: I will be revising my e-book, and if you are subscribed, you will get the new version! I have other questions as well, however, as to when to publish my next e-book version and whether to create a new print book at all. I thought I’d ask you to help me out. Would you be so kind as to complete this quick 6-question survey? I would be very grateful! And youll be entered to win *your choice* of $50 off any service from The Essay Expert or a $25 Amazon gift card! CLICK HERE TO ACCESS MY SURVEY Your input will help me greatly in making decisions about future publishing decisions. Thank you! If you’d like the current e-book of How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile, complete with lifetime updates, click here. For the print version, click here. Save

Unemployment within the Labour Market is Primarily Voluntary Essay

Unemployment within the Labour Market is Primarily Voluntary - Essay Example Unemployment within the labour market is primarily voluntary But this hope was to prove a mirage as the trend reversed in subsequent months. Though the UK took a little while to catch up with the crisis in the United States, at the beginning of the second quarter of 2008, the region’s economy was in acute recession. It has been close to four years since the onset of recession and subsequent economic slowdown in the UK and the prospects for a turnaround in the region remains distant. The question of unemployment in the labour market, and whether or not it is ‘voluntary’ needs to be studied under these prevailing economic conditions. Also, a historical view of the role and operation of labour markets will lend clarity to the topic in question. This essay endeavours to do the same by way of analysing and synthesizing related scholarly resources on this subject. A look at the current unemployment problems in the UK reveals how acute a social, political and economic problem it has now become. For example, â€Å"Concerns have be en raised for a "lost generation" in the North East after the region was highlighted as a blackspot for youth unemployment. New research reveals that almost a third of people claiming unemployment benefit in the region are aged between 18 and 24, making the North East the worst region for youth joblessness in England. The figures released by the GMB union, showed there were 18,765 claimants within the age bracket in the North East last month, 30.9% of the total. That figure rose to 35% in County Durham, the fifth worst local authority area in the UK for young claimants.† (Lawson, 2011, p.6)... ng claimants.† (Lawson, 2011, p.6) Many politicians and social activists believe that increasing unemployment will lead to a ‘lost generation’ of such young people. This situation could lead to social fissures, with attendant increase in crime. Already, statistics from the North East is troubling: â€Å"six out of the nine areas in the region had more than the national average for young claimants. County Durham, Sunderland, Northumberland, Hartlepool, South Tyneside and Darlington were all above the national average of 28%† (Lawson, 2011, p.6) Further, for many youth in the region, there are no clearly defined career paths ahead. Such was not the case during the 1960’s and 1970s. Whether or not this unemployment situation is voluntarily sought or involuntarily imposed can be learnt from several surveys undertaken recently. What these surveys clearly indicate is the definite sense of ‘fear’ in the hearts and minds of the unemployed. To the extent that fear is seldom a voluntarily embraced choice, unemployment in present day Britain is imposed on eligible and willing workers. Participants of the survey were asked what they think will be the prospects for employment over the next year: â€Å"The balance between positive and negative answers has averaged 25 since its inception in 1982-the higher the number, the more people expect unemployment to rise. The findings shows, fear of unemployment rose very strongly in mid-2008, just as the unemployment rate started to rise, but then fell back through early 2010 to a low of 30 in February. The balance was 35 in May, 40 in June and 54 in July. The last increase of 14 points is the second-largest in the series ever, behind an increase of 15 in January 1991, when unemployment was also 7.8 per cent and rising.†

Do you agree or disagree that city life is preferable over life in the Essay

Do you agree or disagree that city life is preferable over life in the country Defend your position, or choose ONE of the other following topics below - Essay Example If an individual gets pulled over by a cop, or is disciplined at work or school, the whole town knows before the person gets home. In the city, people do not know each other. This anonymity makes it easier to avoid gossip and rumors. Teachers, employees, and landlords do not know all of a person’s relatives in the city. This makes living up to a big sibling, parent, or other relative irrelevant. Anonymity can be peaceful after living in the country. Entertainment is another positive aspect of city life. In small communities or the country the only entertainment is television, drinking with friends, or other limited options. In the city, plays are scheduled at all hours. Movie theaters can be accessed twenty-four hours a day. Putt putt golf, skating rinks, and numerous other entertainment venues are available to city dwellers. In the city, entertainment is readily available at all hours. Instead of limited options, a whole world of possibilities is open to city dwellers. This is an advantage over country life. Convenience is another benefit to city dwellers. If a person does not want to cook a meal, they do not have to. Restaurants, delis, and other eateries are open. Some are open twenty-four hours a day. People that live in the country normally have to shop for groceries once or twice a month. In the city, people can shop daily. This allows the person to have fresher and healthier foods. If an individual gets hurt hospitals are easily accessed in the city. Country people might have to drive hours to reach the nearest hospital. Shops carrying clothes, hardware, and other necessities are also more convenient in the city. There are benefits to living in the country. Smaller crowds, cleaner air, and lower crime rates are some of these benefits. However, some individuals do not like the loneliness of the country. Air pollution is normally not noticed by those that live