Taoism Essays (616 words) - Taoism, Chinese Philosophy, Tao, Laozi

Taoism The original form of Taoism is sometimes called philosophical Taoism or classical Taoism. Taoism never even had a name until Buddhism came to China. It was nameless. Lao Tzu even states that ?Tao? is only used because it is the closest word in meaning. Nothing can be said about the Tao without taking away from the meaning. When Taoism finally was acknowledged, it changed from its strict philosophical path to a religious one, with its own priests and holy men. For many centuries Taoism was just a way of life followed by peasant, farmer and gentleman philosopher and artist. They reflected and mediated. They learned from the highest teacher, nature. They meditated using the energy moving through their bodies and mapped out the roads and paths it traveled upon. Each man and woman was his or her own priest. The connection with the divine or Tao was the sacred trust of each individual. Taoism was said to have been created by the father of Taoism, Lao Tzu, which means ?Old Sage.? Lao Tzu was born in 1321 B.C. He was the keeper of the archives at the imperial courts. The legend has it that he went to the west border at age 80, sad because men were unwilling to follow the path of natural goodness. At the western border, a guard named Yin Xi asked Lao Tzu to record his teachings to him. Lao Tzu then wrote the Tao Te Ching. In Lao Tzu's view things were said to create wei or unnatural action by shaping desires or yu. The process of learning the names called ming used in the doctrines helped people to decide which what good and evil, beautiful and ugly, high and low, and "being" (yu) and "non- being" (wu). He believed that those who seek for and follow the Tao are strong of body, clear of mind, and sharp of sight and hearing. Followers of the Tao do not load their mind with anxieties of the world, and are flexible to change. This meant that wanting and desire was unneed ed because it was part of the Way. To abandon knowledge was to abandon names, distinctions, tastes and desires. Thus spontaneous behavior (wu-wei) resulted. Wu-Wei, which is a major theme in Taoism, is to do things in such a way that it does not seem like there is any effort involved. To do this meant to exist without conscious thought just like nature exists. It is letting go of the worldly thought and action so that the Tao might enter. Later in 399 B.C followed Chuang Tzu, who was labeled as the next great voice after Lao Tzu. Chuang Tzu developed even further what Lao Tzu had written about. He adapted what Lao Tzu taught about mystical learning and perspectives. Chuang Tzu's writing was more developed and clearly stated then Lao Tzu. He also emphasized the place humans have in nature. He believed that people should be at peace while moving with the world. He thought that different emotions lead to certain actions like compassion leads to courage or humility leads to leadership. Taoist ideas and images inspired the Chinese to love nature and to occasional retreat to it from the cares of the world to rest and heal. It also inspired an intense affirmation of physical life from health, well-being, and vitality, to even immortality. Taoism took a turn toward the occult. Some Taoists searched for "isles of the immortals," or for herbs or chemical compounds that could ensure immortality and magic but Taoists were more interested in health and vitality the search for immortality. Bibliography: Feibleman, James K. Drugs: Interactions. New York, New American Library, 1976

Parallel Structure Exercises

Parallel Structure Exercises Parallel Structure Exercises Parallel Structure Exercises By Mark Nichol Previous posts on this website have discussed syntactical errors that result in a lack of grammatical balance between equivalent words and phrases; this post lists the various types of mistakes that lead to flawed parallel structure. You are invited to fix each sentence before reading the explanation. Absence of One Word Most sentences with faulty parallel structure merely lack one word that, once added, repairs the damaged equivalence. The multiple examples in this section illustrate an array of problematic sentence constructions. 1. More diverse corporate leadership will lead to better decision-making and products and services that are more relevant to customers. The adjective better refers only to decision-making, not to products and services, which share a distinct phrase that, like better, qualifies a benefit; inserting to before those terms to match the preposition preceding â€Å"better decision-making† clarifies that the sentence has a compound predicate: â€Å"More diverse corporate leadership will lead to better decision-making and to products and services that are more relevant to customers.† This problem also occurs in sentences that feature an in-line list (a succession of equivalent words or phrases, set off by identical punctuation marks, that appear within the horizontal structure of a sentence rather than being formatted vertically, like items on a shopping list). Often, a compound predicate is mistaken for an in-line list, which requires insertion of a supporting conjunction and deletion of an intrusive punctuation mark. 2. Crowds fled in panic, taking shelter in shops, hotels, or leaping off the elevated pavement onto the beach below. This sentence is formatted as a list, implying that people employed one of three methods to escape danger- resorting to shops, hotels, or the beach. However, only two survival strategies were employed: taking shelter in one of two types of business establishments, or leaping onto the beach. The sentence, therefore, must be slightly revised to refer collectively to shops and hotels as two examples of the implied category â€Å"structures in which to seek refuge†: â€Å"Crowds fled in panic, taking shelter in shops or hotels or leaping off the elevated pavement onto the beach below.† 3. The contraception app has become a popular alternative because it doesnt involve taking any medicines, inserting devices, or hormone patches. Here, the three alternative contraception methods must be treated with the same structural support- because verbs accompany medicines and devices, â€Å"hormone patches† requires equivalent treatment: â€Å"The contraception app has become a popular alternative because it doesnt involve taking any medicines, inserting devices, or using hormone patches.† 4. Those complaints ranged from water dripping from ceilings and walls, gas leaks, electrical shorts, and stopped-up toilet bowls- or no toilet bowls at all. Often, a â€Å"from . . . to† construction is flawed because in the assembly, to has been omitted, but it is required to complete the equivalence: â€Å"Those complaints ranged from water dripping from ceilings and walls to gas leaks, electrical shorts, and stopped-up toilet bowls- or no toilet bowls at all.† (Note that no punctuation interrupts the from . . . to continuum; this is true even if to is employed more than once.) Better yet, however, when the order of words or phrases in the list does not obviously express an ascending significance, employ a simple list structure that omits from and to: â€Å"Those complaints included water dripping from ceilings and walls, gas leaks, electrical shorts, and stopped-up toilet bowls- or no toilet bowls at all.† Incorrect Word Order The sequence of words, rather than an absence of words, can impede logical syntax. 5. Employers frequently have resource needs, both as part of digital-transformation initiatives and other projects. â€Å"As part of† applies only to â€Å"digital-transformation initiatives,† not to the corresponding phrase â€Å"other projects,† so â€Å"as part of† must be repeated before the latter phrase: â€Å"Employers frequently have resource needs, both as part of digital-transformation initiatives and as part of other projects.† Better yet, simply transpose both and â€Å"as part of† so that the phrase applies to both corresponding phrases: â€Å"Employers frequently have resource needs, as part of both digital-transformation initiatives and other projects.† Absence of One Word and Incorrect Word Order Sometimes, a sentence is flawed in both respects. 6. The cynic in me believes it’s rarely done for aesthetic reasons but for strictly commercial ones. This sentence requires a counterpoint to rarely, and because that adverb and its opposite must share the verb done, the verb must precede both adverbs: â€Å"The cynic in me believes it’s done rarely for aesthetic reasons but often for strictly commercial ones.† Insertion of Extraneous Word Here, a superfluous repetition of a preposition disrupts a sentence’s parallel structure. 7. These processes can be used to evaluate internal controls to prevent and detect drug diversion in inpatient and outpatient pharmacies, research facilities, and in clinical and procedural areas. Repeating the preposition in before each example of a place where drug diversion can occur is a valid (but unnecessary) alternative to allowing a single iteration to support the entire list, but this sentence is flawed in that it does not succeed in applying either choice- either â€Å"research facilities† must be preceded by in, or, as shown here, the instance of the preposition before the final list item can be omitted: â€Å"These processes can be used to evaluate internal controls to prevent and detect drug diversion in inpatient and outpatient pharmacies, research facilities, and clinical and procedural areas.† Incorrect Inflectional Form Occasionally, the error is the wrong inflectional form of a word, rather than omission of a necessary word or insertion of an extraneous one. 8. It has chosen to reach settlements rather than levying civil monetary penalties in all but the rarest of cases. Here, to match the bare inflectional form reach, levying must be pared down to levy: â€Å"It has chosen to reach settlements rather than levy civil monetary penalties in all but the rarest of cases.† Misuse of â€Å"As Well As† The phrase â€Å"as well as† is often misunderstood to be a conjunction. 9. This type of assessment helps further inform management’s overall risk tolerance, target fit, valuation assessments, as well as the overall strength of the target. â€Å"As well as† is not equivalent to and or or, so when the last item of an in-line list is preceded by that phrase, rephrase the sentence so that â€Å"as well as† and what follows constitute a clause separate from the list (and insert a conjunction before what is now the final list item): â€Å"This type of assessment helps further inform management’s overall risk tolerance, target fit, and valuation assessments, as well as aiding in measuring the overall strength of the target.† Alternatively, do so but replace â€Å"as well as† with an additional conjunction (â€Å"This type of assessment helps further inform management’s overall risk tolerance, target fit, and valuation assessments and aids in measuring the overall strength of the target†) or incorporate the clause into the list (â€Å"This type of assessment helps further inform management’s overall risk tolerance, target fit, valuation assessments, and measure of the t arget’s overall strength†). 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 Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Definitely use "the" or "a"â€Å"As Well As† Does Not Mean â€Å"And†Dealing With A Character's Internal Thoughts

Analysis of Oath of the Horatii

Analysis of Oath of the Horatii Essay French artist, Jacques-Louis David’s painting, Oath of the Horatii, is one of the most recognizable works of the nineteenth century. This painting is important in the history of French painting. Oath of Horatii was painted in Rome in the style of Neo-Classicism (Kumskova). The French artist oil on canvas painting demonstrates a dramatic portrayal of the Horatii brothers swearing their allegiance to the state as their father stands with swords held high for them to grasp. This painting also depicts a scene about a dispute from a Roman legend about a dispute between two warning cities, Rome and Alba Longa, which stresses the importance of masculine self-sacrifice for one’s country and patriotism when the three Horatii brothers are about to go to war for their country (Wikipedia). The dà ©cor of this Neo classic painting is reduced to a more abstract order, which is architectural space: massive columns and equally massive arches opening out onto a majestic shadow (Wikipedia). The three archways are proportioned in size and space, which also corresponds into three groups. Instead of, Jacques-Louis David opening his painting out onto a landscape or an expansion of the sky, he closes it off to the outside (Kumskova). David’s choices of the architecture and lack of landscape helps make the piece of art more personal and historic. The dà ©cor not only enhances the painting’s true value, but provides the viewer with a well blended array of colors. The choice of colors are limited, but well balanced. David’s color selection seems to consist of red, blue, brown, white, black, and flesh tones. The vibrant red of the cloak of Horatii draws the viewers to the center (Kumskova). The Horatii brothers clothing are of red, white, and blue as they prepare to patriotically fight for the glory of Rome (Wikipedia). Yet, the women in the corner with a sullen mood have earth tone colors. In addition, the scene is closed off from the rest of the world by shadowy recesses among the columns. Throughout Oath of Horatii, the use of shadow helps add depth in the basic colors and give variations of hue. The Oath of Horatiis use of dull colors show the importance of the story behind the painting and also demonstrates the neoclassical art style, which employs the principles of designs. The storyline of Oath of the Horatii is a landmark composition, symbolically and pictorially. The painting is set against a dark, muted classical background that emphasizes the true background and emotion of this masterpiece. The theme of the painting has a patriotic and neoclassical perspective. The atmosphere is softened by shades of green, brown, pink, and red, which are all very discreet. The light in the setting takes on a brick toned reflection, which encircles David’s figures with a mysterious halo as a result (Kumskova). Besides the storyline of the three Horatii brothers, viewers can see the side of the painting that show the women and children of the family mourning the sons’ departure, which intertwines with the dark toned colors of the painting. David’s placement of figures and forms in the canvas act as a way to tell the story of this history’s painting , but most importantly offers more subtle hints to what happens next (Kumskova). David’s ‘The Oath of Horatii’ is one of the hallmark paintings of the neoclassical movement in which artists looked to antiques of Greece and Rome to inspire their generations like David (Wikipedia). Bibliography: Kumskova, Marina. David, Oath of the Horatii, 1784: Analysis. N.p., 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 19 Mar. 2015. Oath of the Horatii. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2015.

SWOT analysis of Nike Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

SWOT analysis of Nike Company - Essay Example The Nike Corporation traces its origin back to early 1964 through the noble efforts of the then Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight (Richard 4). The Nike Corporation began as â€Å"Blue Ribbon Sports† and later developed for fourteen years before becoming the modern day â€Å"Nike Inc.† The name â€Å"Nike† was derived from the Greek word â€Å"Nikn† meaning the Greek’s goddess of victory. Through its own brand, The Nike Corporation markets its products in association with Nike Golf as well as Nike Pro (Deanne 11). As one of the five hundred companies that are headquartered in the Oregon State, the Nike corporation ranks as the leading brand with the highest value among the sports businesses (Richard 5). Being one of the sources of the market to the labor industry, the Nike Corporation registered one of the highest numbers of employees by recruiting more than 44000 personnel as servants (Deanne 24). The step in the field of employment moved The Nike Corporation miles in the satisfaction of their dreams for the provision of inspiration to the athletes and the public in general. The Nike Corporation has a mission statement which is, â€Å"To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world.† Alongside the full realization of the mission statement, The Nike Corporation has also recorded some of the greatest profits as a business firm (Richard 7). For instance, within the fiscal year 2012, The Nike Corporation registered excess revenue of US$24.1 billion as at the end of May (Deanne 14). Furthermore, the brand itself is valued at US$10.7 billion hence ranks the best brand among all other sporting business. In the environmental stewardship, The Nike Corporation holds one of the best records as regards its performance in the environmental conservation policies of the state (Deanne 16). This fact is provided from the rese4arch activities conducted by an environmental conservation body  in England based on their Nike Grind program that greatly promotes environmental stewardship. In addition to the Nike Grind, The Nike Corporation has also launched more of such programs that aim at environmental conservation such as Nike’s Reuse-A-shoe program (Richard 9).

Dirty Pretty Things Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Dirty Pretty Things - Movie Review Example The movie develops to a scene where Okwe is given a task to repair a broken toilet by Juliette, who is a prostitute, and this leads to making of a horrendous finding. Okwe decides to report to the manager Sneaky, and he is blackmailed in order to remain quiet (Bradshaw, 1). Nonetheless, it gets to a point where he discovers other illegal business, which influences him into seedy London underworld. In contrast, Senay is also influenced by his endeavor to finance her escape to America. It is evident that these two immigrants are influenced into illegal businesses due to their problems such as poverty, fear of being deported (Roger, 1). Therefore, this movie is able to present the interrelationship of the nature of the capitalist system, immigration, and crime (Rovi, 1). For instance, the capitalist system is evident by the fact the Okwe is has medial training, but he is forced to work as a taxi driver instead of seeking formal employment. The aspect of immigration in the movie is prese nted by the fear that these two characters portray due to the risk of being deported. Furthermore, they are influenced into crime due to poverty they are subjected to since they are illegal immigrant without ability to seek good employment. ... The aspect of poverty in this movie is presented by the couch space that is rented by Okwe in the small flat of the chambermaid, who is called Senay; in fact, she hails from Turkey, where she fled due to an arranged marriage. There are other characters such as Guo Yi, who is involved into poker games at the mortuary where he works. Moreover, there are others such as Ivan and Juliette, who is a prostitute (Rovi, 1). In this case, the movie focuses on presenting main characters who are subjected to poverty and they are forced to be involved in unpleasant jobs to earn their stay in London. However, there are other characters, who are Londoners existing in the movie either as customers or immigration officials. The aspect of capitalism is also presented by the effort by Okwe to work in two jobs, whereby be drives a minicab during the day and in a hotel during the night, and he buys illegal herbs at a local cafe (Roger, 1). These illegal herbs are meant to keep him more or less awake in o rder for him to work without sleep. There is another attribute of faithfulness portrayed by Okwe, whereby he remain faithful to his wife in Nigeria by the fact that he desist to engage in any form of sexual relationship with Senay despite living in the same house; in fact, she like him but Okwe never gets carried away (Bradshaw, 1). These characters are presented with ability to make little money from activities such as supplying room service sandwiches after the hotel kitchen are closed. Nevertheless, it is evident that they make a significant contribution to the Western economy as shadow workers. They also operate through a network of contact and support in London underworld; in fact, members of this network

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Essay Example for Free

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Essay A good sales-person is one who possesses personality traits that is in their innate nature to interact with others. These are often difficult to teach but can be developed with time, depending upon the individual’s motivation to excel in their field of work. This forms the intrinsic motivation. However, the motivational tendencies of an individual sales-person alone are insufficient as it is also dependent upon extrinsic motivational factors. (Luke Ali 2011). It is a force that can spur or discourage an individual from achieving the fullest potential in any field. It can take the form of monetary or non-monetary benefits, which encompasses the extrinsic motivation of the sales-person (Luke Ali 2011). Knowing the fact that monetary incentives have been deeply entrenched as the basic method of reward for employees; it must not be assumed that relying on this method solely will be effective. Companies have to consider immaterial benefits to motivate its staffs. What is motivation? Motivation is to initiate action on a certain task. It is to expand a certain amount of effort on that particular task and to persist in expanding effort over a period of time. Therefore motivation is a driving force that pushes people to work, put in effort in their work and working harder than the rest. How to motivate your sales force to have great performance? It’s not just about the paycheck. Effective incentive compensation management is based on an understanding of basic human motivation—on the importance of trust, self-esteem, social recognition and improved chances to fulfill one’s potential (Bakosh 2007, 3). Leadership Many people assume salespeople are motivated by money, and while this is largely true, its absurd to think they are motivated only by money. Salespeople are still human and while commission bonuses and sales spiffs will probably remain an important part of most sales compensation plans, studies consistently show that financial incentives never have the same lasting impact as an employee who is passionate about his work and it is a simply not possible to be passionate about something that you think is inferior. Besides instilling natural passion into your sales team, a salesperson who truly believes in his product or service is far more likely to sell with integrity. Good teamwork is crucial to job satisfaction because it gives employees a sense of accomplishment when the objective is attained. Inspirational sales leaders are well aware that different individuals have different motivations and needs, and they vary their own style accordingly. An especially effective leader with consciously assesses each sales representative’s â€Å"ideal level of energy†, and creates productive â€Å"stretch† for each person according to the level of tension at which each performs at his or her personal best. He inspires some representatives mostly through positive reinforcement—â€Å"you can do it, you’re the best†Ã¢â‚¬â€and others mostly through constructive criticism, each according to their individual profit le and preference. Compensation Plans A well-designed compensation plan is crucial for the success of a company, and must not be overlooked. It has the ability to motivate or de-motivate an employee. In truth, it is valid to imply that, in this context, an effective plan can inspire the sales-person to generate more revenue for the success of a sales company .Hence, when designing the plan it involves the consideration of multi-factorial elements (Growth Process Group 2011). Every step has a purpose and needs to be taken into account. The sales behaviour goals are often misinterpreted by organisations, hence resulting in the failure to motivate their employees. Lastly, the design guidelines encompass the classification of the job and its entitled incentives (Growth Process Group 2011). Compensation Plans †¢Salaries are fixed amounts per month or year for performing a role. †¢Commission is a payment based on the value of sales achieved. This constantly motivates the sales-person especially since his income is strictly dependent on his sales. †¢Salary-plus-commission plans offer an incentive above a basic salary that provides a high-degree of flexibility securing salary and profits but also surpass one’s performance (Tokarev Sergey 2010). †¢Bonuses is based on one’s achievement and not working hard alone. It is the results that matters and bonuses should not be restricted to keep employees from producing results. (Lee Ann Obringer 2011) †¢Long-term incentive plans like profit-sharing plan reward employee for their performance over a continued period of time. This helps retain, motivates employees and even improve their commitment. Maslow’s hierarchy needs Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a motivational theory that illustrates that lower-needs need to first be satisfied before higher-needs can be pursued in a hierarchal sequence. Therefore, after a need is satisfied, it will cease to motivate an individual who will inevitably seek for the next higher-need. Each level requires different actions to meet these needs in order to effectively motivate. In relation to the compensation plans above, monetary benefits may only fulfil the lower needs for an individual. Ultimately, when these needs are achieved, it’s effectiveness in motivating individuals will gradually dwindle. Non-monetary benefits will then be necessary to satisfy the individual’s higher needs, in accordance to Maslow’s hierarchical system. Only through this, can companies sustain long-term motivational effects for its employees. In relation to the compensation plans above, monetary benefits may only fulfil in the lower needs for an individual temporarily. Ultimately, when these needs are achieved, non-monetary benefits will take precedence to satisfy the individual’s higher needs, in accordance to Maslow’s hierarchical system. Only through this, can it sustain long-term motivation effects. Yet, it is necessary to be weary that while Maslow’s theory has helped in the understanding of the application of compensation plans, applying this concept workplace can be tacky as different employees can be driven by different needs. Furthermore, there are insufficient evidences to substantiate the support of the hierarchy theory because its relevance to one job might not apply likewise to another (NetMBA 2010). A sales force specific hierarchy of motivational factors- Maslow hierarchy of motivation. By understanding how an integrated and holistic approach to motivation works the importance of trust, of self-esteem, of social recognition, of improved chances to fulfill one’s potential—traditional incentive compensation management strategies can be rethought and implemented in ways that improve the performance of the sales force and help the entire company achieve high performance (Bakosh 2007, 3).

The Kathmandu Valley and the Constant Terror of Earthquakes Essay

The Kathmandu Valley and the Constant Terror of Earthquakes One important climatic feature that plagues the South Asian region of the Kathmandu Valley is earthquakes. A few severe earthquakes have taken place in the country's history and caused many deaths and nearly irreparable damage to impoverished Nepal. The residents of the Kathmandu Valley experience small tremors nearly every day, whether they can feel them or not. The world and the nation is waiting for the 'next big one' to terrorize the small country. The Kingdom of Nepal is a landlocked nation that geographically lies between India and China. The narrow country also located at the boundary between the Indian and Tibetan tectonic plates and is thus extremely susceptible to earthquakes.[1] The entire kingdom falls into highly seismic zones, including the mountains. The Himalayan mountain range was even formed by the collision of the Asian and Indian plates that started about 50 million years ago, and ended with the subduction of the Indian plate underneath Tibet.[2] The Universities of Alaska and Colorado, in order to help these poor nations, have made precise measurements in both the Nepal Himalayan range and Tibetan Plateau since March of 1991.[3] The researchers have discovered that the Indian plate moves 53-63 millimeters closer to Asia at the same time as Tibet moves the same direction by 34-39 millimeters each year.[4] Therefore, Nepal is rowed about 19-24 millimeters per year.[5] As these steady movements have continued throughout the years, and slip events have also occurred causing great earthquakes on a north-sloping surface underneath the Himalayan mountains.[6] And as lakes long ago occupied the Kathmandu Valley,... ...ismological Centre. [9] GeoHazards International: A Nonprofit Working Towards Global Earthquake Safety. ÒA Nonprofit Organization Kathmandu Project.Ó http://www.geohaz.org/contents/projects/kathmandu.html. [10] GeoHazards International. [11] GeoHazards International. [12] National Seismological Centre. [13] National Seismological Centre. [14] Shakya, Naresh Man. [15] GeoHazards International. [16] GeoHazards International. [17] Shakya, Naresh Man. [18] Asian Disaster Reduction Center. ÒChapter 3: Nepal.Ó National Society for Earthquake Technology- Nepal (NSET). 2003. [19] Asian Disaster Reduction Center. [20] Asian Disaster Reduction Center. [21] Asian Disaster Reduction Center. [22] Asian Disaster Reduction Center. [23] Asian Disaster Reduction Center. [24] Asian Disaster Reduction Center.

3-Day Exercise Activity Analysis Essay

In this paper I will discuss my current exercise habits as well as discussing my Physical Activity Tracker results. I will also talk about how I can ultimately improve my exercise habits and how I can incorporate a workout routine into my everyday living and be able to use it throughout the entire year. My current exercise habits as of the present moment are none sadly to say. I am one of those people who do not work out. I come from a long line of people in my family who is very over weight. My mother and aunt as well as my sister suffer from high blood pressure and diabetes. I know that the fact that those things run in my family puts me at an even greater risk for acquiring both of those ailments. I have dieting on numerous occasions as well as work out. I am a single mother of 4 children and I also work full time as well as attend classes here online. It is really hard to stick to any kind of plan that includes diet and exercise, however I know that if I do not take action soon then it will ultimately be too late. I also worry about my middle daughters weight as well because she takes after my side of the family and she also has type 2 diabetes because of her weight so I think that creating a workout routine followed with a diet will have a positive effect on myself as well as my children. Looking at my Physical Activity Tracker my activity level over a 3 day period was very minimal and just included house work. It was described as light intensity activity and that does not count toward MIE minutes. The total number of calories that I had burned within that 3 day period was only 6,789 which when broken down comes out to a total of 2,263 calories burned per day. My weekly goal for physical activity was 150 minutes of aerobic activity per week and 2 days of muscle strength training every week. However I did not meet any of those goals at all. I know that I need to take more indicative when it comes to working out daily if I plan to get in shape and lose any weight at all. I believe that the changes that I need to make in my everyday life to be able to actually follow through with a workout routine and have more energy to be able to do so is to eat more healthier foods first of all, like green leafy vegetables and fruits along with taking my vitamins so that will help with my energy level. I know that I also need to start drinking water as I do not drink any at all right now and I know that that is very unhealthy. I think that just getting up and taking a walk around my neighborhood on a day to day basis will help. I think that I will start just by walking around a couple of blocks at first and then slowly increase that to 4 blocks and so on and so forth. I think that walking would be a great way to start but I also believe that doing some sit ups and leg lifts after I get my energy level built up after I start my walking regimen would really benefit me as well. When I was a teenager I had a daily routine of doing 50 sit ups a day along with 50 leg lifts. I did that for a whole year straight and I lost so much weight not to mention inches off of my waistline. I think that I will also look into joining a gym so that when it is cold outside I can go there and walk on the treadmill as well as use the other equipment, I have a friend that goes everyday faithfully and I think that working out with a partner would help get me more motivated as well. I intend to get in shape this year because I am not getting any younger and I know that my health is essential if I want to be here to be able to see my children grow up.

Everyday Hero Essay

When I think of the word hero, I think of the countless Spiderman figures lying at the bottom of my brother’s toy chest, or even Prince Charming rescuing Sleeping Beauty from her seemingly endless slumber. However, what usually does not come to mind, are the true real life heroes that I believe posses higher superpowers than the Incredibles ever could. Though they do not have the ability to fly or read minds, one way or another, these people have helped someone in a tough situation. A true hero can be anyone from the firefighters at the station to your older sister living in the room next door. They may have helped to save your life, or merely helped you get through your math homework last night. Whatever the case, one quality that all true heroes must possess is the ability to be an example of goodwill in the world. A hero will help someone because they want to, not because they have to. Though they are not perfect, no one is, a hero will continue to put others first when the y know that it is most important to do so. Three years ago, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. The news came as an utter shock to everyone, considering the fact that she was one of the healthiest and most active members of my family. She played tennis and practiced yoga at least four times a week; always ate healthy and organic foods, and on top of all this, there was barely any history of breast cancer on our family tree! Though her case was not as bad as others, it still required her to undergo weeks of arduous chemotherapy and radiation. Through her darker days, she herself would be the one to calm me down and reassure me that everything would be okay. The night before my mother’s surgery, I started to cry, scared and frustrated with what was happening around me. Though she was also frightened and anxious, my mother was the one to comfort me and explain that a plastic surgeon did not actually turn people into plastic, as I had imagined. Even during her most bleak and miserable moments, she put everything aside and reached out to help me deal with her pain. For this, she is my hero. No, she is not Superwoman, or a firefighter,  or even your everyday do-gooder; but she’s my mom, and that is good enough for me. This just goes to show that a seemingly ordinary woman can be a hero to someone in her own way. Heroes are everyday characters, and if you look hard enough you will find the hero in your own life. This I believe.

The Congressional Committee System

The Congressional Committee System The congressional committees are subdivisions of the U.S. Congress that concentrate on specific areas of U.S. domestic and foreign policy and general government oversight. Often called the â€Å"little legislatures,† congressional committees review pending legislation and recommend action on that legislation by the whole House or Senate. The congressional committees provide Congress with critical information related to specialized, rather than general subjects. President Woodrow Wilson once wrote of the committees, â€Å"It is not far from the truth to say that Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee rooms is Congress at work.† Brief History of the Committee System Today’s congressional committee system had its beginnings in the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, the first and still the most ambitious restructuring of the original system of standing committees as used in the First Continental Congress in 1774. Under the 1946 Act, the number of permanent House committees was reduced from 48 to 19 and the number of Senate committees from 33 to 15. In addition, the Act formalized the jurisdictions of each committee, thus helping to consolidate or eliminate several committees and minimize conflicts between similar House and Senate committees. In 1993, a temporary Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress determined that the 1946 Act had failed to limit the number of subcommittees any single committee could create. Today, the rules of the House limit each full committee to five subcommittees, except for the Appropriations Committee (12 subcommittees), Armed Services (7 subcommittees), Foreign Affairs (7 subcommittees), and Transportation and Infrastructure (6 subcommittees). However, committees in the Senate are still allowed to create an unlimited number of subcommittees.   Where the Action Happens The congressional committee system is where the action really takes place in the U.S. law-making process. Each chamber of Congress has committees set up to perform specific functions, enabling the legislative bodies to accomplish their often complex work more quickly with smaller groups. There are approximately 250 congressional committees and subcommittees, each charged with different functions and all made up of members of Congress. Each chamber has its own committees, although there are joint committees comprising members of both chambers. Each committee, going by chamber guidelines, adopts its own set of rules, giving each panel its own special character. The Standing Committees   In the Senate, there are standing committees for: agriculture, nutrition, and forestry;appropriations, which holds the federal purse strings and is, therefore, one of the most powerful Senate committees;armed services;banking, housing, and urban affairs;budget;commerce, science, and transportation;energy and natural resources;environment and public works;finance; foreign relations;health, education, labor, and pensions;homeland security and governmental affairs;judiciary;rules and administration;small business and entrepreneurship; andveterans affairs. These standing committees are permanent legislative panels, and their various subcommittees handle the nuts-and-bolts work of the full committee. The Senate also has four select committees charged with more specific tasks: Indian affairs, ethics, intelligence, and aging. These handle housekeeping-type functions, such as keeping Congress honest or ensuring the fair treatment of American Indians.Committees are chaired by a member of the majority party, often a senior member of Congress. Parties assign their members to specific committees. In the Senate, there is a limit to the number of committees on which one member may serve. While each committee may hire its own staff and appropriate resources as it sees fit, the majority party often controls those decisions. The House of Representatives has several of the same committees as the Senate: agriculture,appropriations,armed services,budget,education and labor,foreign affairs,homeland security,energy and commerce,Judiciary,natural resources,science and technology,small business,and veterans affairs. Committees unique to the House include House administration, oversight and government reform, rules, standards of official conduct, transportation and infrastructure, and ways and means. This last committee is considered the most influential and sought-after House committee, so powerful that members of this panel cannot serve on any other committees without a special waiver. The panel has jurisdiction over taxation, among other things. There are four joint House/Senate committees. Their areas of interest are printing, taxation, the Library of Congress, and the U.S. economy. Committees in the Legislative Process Most congressional committees deal with passing laws. During each two-year session of Congress, literally thousands of bills are proposed, but only a small percentage is considered for passage. A bill that is favored often goes through four steps in committee. First, executive agencies give written comments on the measure; second, the committee holds hearings in which witnesses testify and answer questions; third, the committee tweaks the measure, sometimes with input from non-committee members of Congress; finally, when the language is agreed upon the measure is sent to the full chamber for debate. Conference committees, usually composed of standing committee members from the House and Senate who originally considered the legislation, also help reconcile one chambers version of a bill with the others. Not all committees are legislative. Others confirm government appointees such as federal judges; investigate government officials or pressing national issues; or ensure that specific government functions are carried out, like printing government documents or administering the Library of Congress. Phaedra Trethan is a freelance writer who also works as a copy editor for the Camden Courier-Post. She formerly worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer, where she wrote about books, religion, sports, music, films and restaurants. Updated by Robert Longley

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

Favorite Brand - Research Paper Example The brands quality is evidenced by celebrity endorsing it, particularly by the athletes. For instance, Lance Armstrong chose to wear Oakley products in the Winter Olympics in 2006. Also, in 2010, the miners who got trapped in a mine for seventeen days in Chile were offered Oakley sunglasses to protect their retinas after reaching the ground during the saving pursuit. The military, Hollywood stars, and royalties are also among the users of Oakley products. Eldridge (2011) asserts that, Oakley products are not only worn for fashion purposes, but owing to the quality thereof. Indeed the fusion of science with art has enabled athletes redefine what is thought to be impossible physically. The exclusive research and technology as evidenced by the ideal balance 3-point frames, which are calculated at providing the user with optimum optical alignment, comfort and stability makes the Oakley brand stand out. The pressure points inherent in ordinary frames are obviated from Oakley frames while facilitating an accurate and sharp vision. Much emphasis is paid on the clarity and sharpness of the image that the prospective user should acquire, as such; the Oakley products have High Definition Optics (HDO) lenses. Oakley lenses also ensure that no harmful ultraviolet or blue light penetrates to the eyes of the user (Eldridge, 2011). The lenses are designed is such a way that the harmful rays get filtered into the lens as opposed to a mere coating that can run out with the passage of time. Oakley offers a variety of options for the prospective user in terms of color and style. For instance, there are iridium and polarized lenses, whereby iridium refers to a coating with the ability of cutting some light and enhancing others, whereas polarized lenses prevents bouncing light from other surfaces from reaching the eye. The SwitchLock feature enables users to vary the lenses promptly in order to grant optimum visibility in various situations.

Investment Risks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Investment Risks - Essay Example It is also important to note that the relative degree of risk against the return does not need to be in linear relation i.e. it is not necessary that the risk and return increase in same proportion however, if risk increases, it is necessary that the return must increase too in order to compensate the investors for taking increased risk. (Ante, 2009). The above graph therefore indicates that the investment four has the highest risk and highest return whereas investment 1 has the lowest risk and lowest return. This graph also indicate that the investors may be preferring different combinations of the investments i.e. the investment that is providing lowest returns may be made in the government treasury securities whereas investment providing highest returns may made in the stocks of a corporate as the stocks provide highest returns and also carry greatest risk among all instruments of investment. It is important to understand that the expected return is always calculated by multiplying the return with the probability and the resulting figure is called the expected return on any investment. Therefore the investment that provides highest expected return shall be chosen over other investment. The investor should choose an investment that pays a guaranteed return of 7% because given the overall probability of different returns, the investors will get the expected return of 5% with a probability of 0.5 whereas the investment providing 7% result has the probability of 1 that means the expected return will be 7% which is highest as compared to other investment. The higher the probability greater are the chances that the return will be guaranteed therefore an investment with a lower probability will yield lower expected returns whereas an investment with higher probability of getting the same return will yield higher expected returns. Therefore in this case, since the probability of getting 7% return is