Jonathan Kozol - The Children of Mott Haven free essay sample

An in-depth look at the lives of the children in Mott Haven, in the South Bronx as seen by Jonathon Kozol. In this paper the author begins by making a direct comparison to the American Hymn, Amazing Grace, and Jonathan Kozols profoundly disturbing profile of the lives of the children of Mott Haven, in the South Bronx. The author moves on to examine Kozols book in depth and his findings regarding the children of the South Bronx. He concludes by comparing the Children of Plenty with what he regards as the throwaways, the children who he considers have nothing and no future. From the paper: Like children everywhere, they vacillate between child-like innocence and alarmingly grown-up insights; but this is not the suburban version of growing up too fast; they have seen junkies shooting up in the hallways of their buildings, gang members bagging dope and loading guns on the fire escape. We will write a custom essay sample on Jonathan Kozol The Children of Mott Haven or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Death is accepted as the passage to a better place.

Free Essays on Superbowl Commercials

Every year people anticipate America’s largest sports event to come. This year I actually joined the anticipated, hoping to laugh and enjoy the spectacle. I love the Super Bowl for one reason and that is the commercials. Finally, I get to write about the only thing I like about the Super Bowl. After watching Sundays game I have chosen two commercials, one I loved and one that turned my stomach. To begin with, I cannot stand any corporation that takes advantage of a tragedy. Throughout the commercial breaks I noticed many of the corporations were marketing there products through September 11, 2001 tragedy. One particular one was done by monster.com using Mayor RudyGuliani. It began with Rudy talking from the heart about how strong the people of New York have been, which I am glad to hear. The only problem I had with this is it ended with www.monster.com as the closing scene. What the hell does a awful tragedy that devastated this country have to do with finding a job. Try to think about what we should do about the situation do not try to market off of the death of thousands of innocent people. The one company that went with their own idea and not the use of September 11, 2001 was www.etrade.com. They began every commercial with a close up of an intimidating man preparing for what looked to be like a football game. As it panned out you noticed the black under his eyes was makeup and he along with four others were dressed in pink butterfly outfits. This commercial caught my attention by beginning seriously and ending in one of the funniest sites of all time. All they were doing was setting there pitch and leading you on to the E*Trade Halftime Show. They did not use the tragedy and focused on making people laugh. We all know what happened in New York and the Super Bowl is a time to forget about what happened at least for one night. Previous Super Bowl commercials were made to make you laugh not to make you upset.... Free Essays on Superbowl Commercials Free Essays on Superbowl Commercials Every year people anticipate America’s largest sports event to come. This year I actually joined the anticipated, hoping to laugh and enjoy the spectacle. I love the Super Bowl for one reason and that is the commercials. Finally, I get to write about the only thing I like about the Super Bowl. After watching Sundays game I have chosen two commercials, one I loved and one that turned my stomach. To begin with, I cannot stand any corporation that takes advantage of a tragedy. Throughout the commercial breaks I noticed many of the corporations were marketing there products through September 11, 2001 tragedy. One particular one was done by monster.com using Mayor RudyGuliani. It began with Rudy talking from the heart about how strong the people of New York have been, which I am glad to hear. The only problem I had with this is it ended with www.monster.com as the closing scene. What the hell does a awful tragedy that devastated this country have to do with finding a job. Try to think about what we should do about the situation do not try to market off of the death of thousands of innocent people. The one company that went with their own idea and not the use of September 11, 2001 was www.etrade.com. They began every commercial with a close up of an intimidating man preparing for what looked to be like a football game. As it panned out you noticed the black under his eyes was makeup and he along with four others were dressed in pink butterfly outfits. This commercial caught my attention by beginning seriously and ending in one of the funniest sites of all time. All they were doing was setting there pitch and leading you on to the E*Trade Halftime Show. They did not use the tragedy and focused on making people laugh. We all know what happened in New York and the Super Bowl is a time to forget about what happened at least for one night. Previous Super Bowl commercials were made to make you laugh not to make you upset....

A Comparison of Antigones and Ismenes Reactions to Grief in Antigone by Sophocles

A Comparison of Antigone's and Ismene's Reactions to Grief in Antigone by Sophocles Response Paper to Antigone The tale of Antigone is one of the oldest pieces of literature that is still being studied today. The play is able to explore the psychology of many different characters as they are all forced to deal with the death Polyneices. While the differences between how Antigone, Haimon, and Creon respond to the situation may be widely discussed, another interesting relationship to analyze in the text is that between Antigone and Ismene. Both sisters experience a tragedy as their brothers kill each other, yet their responses are quite different. Antigone’s response to the grief is to focus on the injustice of the situation and risk herself to set things right, while Ismene is filled with sadness, yet fears the ramifications of breaking the law. Both responses are results of love, yet the specifics of each case allow a deeper look into the psychology of these characters. When reading and discussing the play of Antigone, Antigone herself is most often seen as the heroin. However, it could be argued that Antigone is the reason for the tragedy. If Antigone had expressed her grief with Haimon, it is possible that he could have convinced his father to lift the law against burying Polyneices body. Also, her rash decision to kill herself leads to the death of both Haimon and the queen as they are filled with grief. After thinking through the different endings that could have occurred if Antigone had responded calmer, it is reasonable to conclude that Antigone’s plan of rebellion was not the most practical response. Ismene, on the other hand, responds with grief but no action. It could be argued that this is a more practical response as it prevents any further harm, yet with Ismene’s response nothing is really fixed, it is all merely pushed aside as if it did not happen. After analyzing the practicality of the girls’ responses, the question of morality is raised. Was Antigone doing the right thing, standing up for her family and offering herself as a sacrifice? Or was Ismene correct in avoiding further conflict and simply grieving for the loss of her brother and his honor? This is a very difficult thing to analyze as the grief in this situation is almost unfathomable. It may be most reasonable to argue that neither girl was in the right mindset to make a moral, practical decision. They have just learned that their brothers have killed each other and one will die with honor, while the other may not. Thinking about this situation, it becomes clear that neither girl responded ethically nor practically, but they both responded emotionally according to their own personalities. The play Antigone by Sophocles includes multiple complex situations and relationships, and that of Antigone and her sister Ismene is one of the most intriguing. Watching these girls deal with the pain of losing their brothers and then deal with the pain of losing each other in disagreement over the situation makes the tragedy more powerful. Sophocles is able to include human nature in this situation as both sisters behave impractically and unethically. This is seen often in life as well as emotions overcome logic and may lead to even more tragic situations as those that occur in Antigone.

Your Own Franchise Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Your Own Franchise - Research Paper Example The success of the franchisor will depend on the success of the individual who purchased the franchise. This paper takes about a franchise in the insurance sector. It analyzes the franchise, the amount required to start it, the pros and cons of owning the franchise, and the strategic, administrative, and operation strategies the franchise holder should initiate for purposes of making it a success. It also outlines the various training techniques that the franchise holder should initiate for purposes of succeeding in the business. This paper has a conclusion, which is a summary of the main points identified. Brand Description: The franchise under consideration is Allstate Insurance Company. To purchase the franchise, an individual requires about $50,000. Allstate is ranked amongst the fortune 100 companies, and it is one of the most highly recognized insurance and financial companies in United States of America. The company was formed in 1931, and its success and achievements are pegg ed on its innovation (Bond, 2012). The company operates an exclusive agency force, and its expansion is always dependent on the financial position of its agents. The company is always looking for motivated and highly ambitious people who want to own and operate its Allstate agencies (McCarthy, 2010). The major business products of Allstate insurance company is insurance services targeted at home owners, and auto mobile owners. These insurance services are offered mainly through the various franchise holders of the company. The marketing of these insurance products is done under the brand names of Esurance*, Allstate*, and Esurance* (Bond, 2012). The company provides investment and retirement insurance products, as well as life insurance cover. It also provides variable and traditional life insurance cover. These insurance products are always interest sensitive, and their premiums are affordable. It also provides fixed annuities, such as health insurance covers, and voluntary acciden t cover. Other services and products that the insurance company issues are the business insurance products detailed to serve owners of small business organization. Household insurance cover to consumers targets products such as boats, motorcycles, as well as condominium insurance policies (Bond, 2012). Under the dealer services, Allstate provides non-insurance and insurance products that are sold mainly to auto mobile dealers. The company also has an Allstate roadside service. These services include wholesale and retail products meant to assist road side users. Resources used: One source of information that has provided guidance in selecting this franchise is the organizations website. The organization runs a website with the URL name, www.allstate.com. This website is useful because it provides all the necessary information pertaining to the formation, and operations of Allstate insurance company. The website provides the historic formation of Allstate insurance agency, and it iden tifies its mission, objectives and aims. It is from the organizations website that we are able to know that the company provides most of its services through agencies and franchises (Allstates, 2013). The website also contains the financial records of the company. These records are not for only the current year, but they are distributed to reflect the financial position of the company for over ten years ago. It is also easy to assess information contained in this website. This is because it does not require an individual to open an online account with the company, so as he or she can access the website. All that an individual needs is an access to the computer, and the internet. Another source of information is a book by Bond (2012), referred to as Bonds top 100 franchises. This book by Bond (2012

Song of hummingbrd Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Song of hummingbrd - Essay Example societies are usually divided into classes based on either economic and political affiliations or interests, with factors varying from one culture to the other. However, in the case of Aztec society, the hierarchal structures were strictly based on the social, political, and religious perspectives. With divisions into eight different social classes, the Aztec society was made of rulers, worriers, noble priests, poor, slaves, servants, and the middle class members of the society. Each of these individuals had a specific role that they played in the society. The worriers were a group of brave men trained and equipped with skills to combat war and battles. For the priests and the priestesses were bestowed with many responsibilities such as watching the planets and prophesizing, and divining incarnations for the gods among others. The servants and the slaves were owned by the nobility, with the only distinctive aspect between the two being that slaves were considered property while the servants were not considered property, with options of marrying. For middle, class whom also the largest of the society, comprised of lawmakers, accountants, and potters among other

Global Geographical Features Essay Example for Free

Global Geographical Features Essay Throughout global history civilizations have been developed and destroyed. This is due to geographical features surrounding the nation or region. The geographical features can benefit a region, but it may also be the source of a catastrophic event. These geographical features include mountains, oceans, and volcanoes and so on. A geographical feature that has had both positive and negative effects on a nation or region would be ocean. An ocean like the Pacific Ocean can be able to provide a region with seafood to help a civilization developed with a surplus of food. An ocean could also allow a region to create a trade route between other regions, this can be proven true because the Atlantic Ocean was used throughout history as a major trade route from Europe to North America. A negative effect of an ocean would be that a nation can be more susceptible to tsunamis. For example eastern Asia could be more easily open to this because there are a lot of archipelagoes that are surrounded by a lot of water. This would destroy all of the land close to the ocean, which would leave you without shelter and crops. This would eventually lead to starvation which may cause people to migrate over to a safer place. Geographical features have been part of history, and have made the world what it is today. These features could even provide protection for a civilization that is trying to develop. This is way before a civilization actually settles they make sure of how they will use their new surroundings.

Psycho-Analysis in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Essay examples -- Mary

Psycho-Analysis in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Sigmund Freud's studies in psychoanalysis are uncannily fore-grounded in the late romantic period. The works of William Wordsworth, Percy B. Shelley, Lord Byron, and Mary Shelley, all function as poetic preludes to Freud's 18th century field. Particularly, it is Mary Shelley's Frankenstein that creates a fictional rendering for psychoanalyst. In Frankenstein, Victor's rejection of the Monster metaphorically represents the ego's rejection of the unconscious. Following from this metaphorical paradigm, Freud's theories on narcissism, the libido theory, the doppelganger, neurosis, and the Oedipus-complex all resonate in the pages of Frankenstein. After a brief introduction to narcissism and the libido theory, a psychoanalytic character study of Victor and the monster will be preformed. Finally, the romantic works of Lord Byron, Percy Shelley, and Wordsworth will further demonstrate the Freudian phenomenon. Freud declares that mankind has suffered three major blows, the "destruction of the narcissistic illusion" (Freud, "One of the Difficulties of Psycho-Analysis," 5), that permanently destabilized how individuals envisioned themselves in relation to the exterior world. These three blows were: The Cosmological, where the Copernican Revolution dislodged mankind from the center of the universe. Secondly, The Biological, where Darwin reunited man and beast as equals, and the third, Freud's own contribution, The Psychological, where mankind cannot trust his own thoughts: "What is in your mind is not identical with what you are conscious of; whether something is going on in your mind and whether you hear of it, are two different things" (Freud, "One of the Difficulties to Psycho-Analys... ...rate mankind's departure from narcissism and its multiple complexities. However, as Freud would agree, the fact that the workings of psychoanalysis existed long before its publishing is metaphorically exalted in the Romantic era. Works Cited Bennett, Betty T. & Charles E. Robinson, ed. Frankenstein. By Mary Shelley. Boston: Oxford University Press, 1990. Freud, Sigmund. Introductory Lectures to Psycho-Analysis. Ed. James Strachey. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1965. —"One of the Difficulties of Psycho-Analysis." 1917. —" Some Character Types of Psycho-Analytic Work." 1915. —"The Uncanny." 1919. Shelley, Percy B. "On Love." Romanticism: An Anthology. Wu, Duncan, ed. Malden: Blackwell, 1998. 849-850. Wordsworth, William. [from The Prelude] "Crossing the Alps." Romanticism: An Anthology. Wu, Duncan, ed. Malden: Blackwell, 1998. 389-392. Psycho-Analysis in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Essay examples -- Mary Psycho-Analysis in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Sigmund Freud's studies in psychoanalysis are uncannily fore-grounded in the late romantic period. The works of William Wordsworth, Percy B. Shelley, Lord Byron, and Mary Shelley, all function as poetic preludes to Freud's 18th century field. Particularly, it is Mary Shelley's Frankenstein that creates a fictional rendering for psychoanalyst. In Frankenstein, Victor's rejection of the Monster metaphorically represents the ego's rejection of the unconscious. Following from this metaphorical paradigm, Freud's theories on narcissism, the libido theory, the doppelganger, neurosis, and the Oedipus-complex all resonate in the pages of Frankenstein. After a brief introduction to narcissism and the libido theory, a psychoanalytic character study of Victor and the monster will be preformed. Finally, the romantic works of Lord Byron, Percy Shelley, and Wordsworth will further demonstrate the Freudian phenomenon. Freud declares that mankind has suffered three major blows, the "destruction of the narcissistic illusion" (Freud, "One of the Difficulties of Psycho-Analysis," 5), that permanently destabilized how individuals envisioned themselves in relation to the exterior world. These three blows were: The Cosmological, where the Copernican Revolution dislodged mankind from the center of the universe. Secondly, The Biological, where Darwin reunited man and beast as equals, and the third, Freud's own contribution, The Psychological, where mankind cannot trust his own thoughts: "What is in your mind is not identical with what you are conscious of; whether something is going on in your mind and whether you hear of it, are two different things" (Freud, "One of the Difficulties to Psycho-Analys... ...rate mankind's departure from narcissism and its multiple complexities. However, as Freud would agree, the fact that the workings of psychoanalysis existed long before its publishing is metaphorically exalted in the Romantic era. Works Cited Bennett, Betty T. & Charles E. Robinson, ed. Frankenstein. By Mary Shelley. Boston: Oxford University Press, 1990. Freud, Sigmund. Introductory Lectures to Psycho-Analysis. Ed. James Strachey. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1965. —"One of the Difficulties of Psycho-Analysis." 1917. —" Some Character Types of Psycho-Analytic Work." 1915. —"The Uncanny." 1919. Shelley, Percy B. "On Love." Romanticism: An Anthology. Wu, Duncan, ed. Malden: Blackwell, 1998. 849-850. Wordsworth, William. [from The Prelude] "Crossing the Alps." Romanticism: An Anthology. Wu, Duncan, ed. Malden: Blackwell, 1998. 389-392.

The Nuclear Age Begins

The first nuclear explosion, named â€Å"Trinity†, was detonated July 16, 1945. Main article: History of nuclear weapons During the 1930s, innovations in physics made it apparent that it could be possible to develop nuclear weapons of incredible power using nuclear reactions. When World War II broke out, scientists and advisors among the Allies feared that Nazi Germany may have been trying to develop its own atomic weapons, and the United States and the United Kingdom pooled their efforts in what became known as the Manhattan Project to beat them to it.At the secret Los Alamos laboratory in New Mexico, scientist Robert Oppenheimer led a team of the world's top scientists to develop the first nuclear weapons, the first of which was tested at the Trinity site in July 1945. However, Germany had surrendered in May 1945, and it had been discovered that the German atomic bomb program had not been very close to success. The Allied team produced two nuclear weapons for use in the war, one powered by uranium-235 and the other by plutonium as fissionable material, named â€Å"Little Boy† and â€Å"Fat Man†.These were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. This, in combination with the Soviet entrance in the war, convinced the Japanese to surrender unconditionally. These two weapons remain the only two nuclear weapons ever used against other countries in war. Nuclear weapons brought an entirely new and terrifying possibility to warfare: a nuclear holocaust. While at first the United States held a monopoly on the production of nuclear weapons, the Soviet Union, with some assistance from espionage, managed to detonate its first weapon (dubbed â€Å"Joe-1† by the West) in August 1949.The post-war relations between the two, which had already been deteriorating, began to rapidly disintegrate. Soon the two were locked in a massive stockpiling of nuclear weapons. The United States began a crash-program to develop the first hydrogen bomb in 1950, and detonated its first thermonuclear weapon in 1952. This new weapon was alone over 400 times as powerful as the weapons used against Japan. The Soviet Union detonated a primitive thermonuclear weapon in 1953 and a full-fledged one in 1955.Nuclear missiles and computerized launch systems increased the range and scope of possible nuclear war. The conflict continued to escalate, with the major superpowers developing long-range missiles (such as the ICBM) and a nuclear strategy which guaranteed that any use of the nuclear weapons would be suicide for the attacking nation (Mutually Assured Destruction). The creation of early warning systems put the control of these weapons into the hands of newly created computers, and they served as a tense backdrop throughout the Cold War.Since the 1940s there were concerns about the rising proliferation of nuclear weapons to new countries, which was seen as being destabilizing to international relations, spurring regiona l arms races, and generally increasing the likelihood of some form of nuclear war. Eventually, seven nations would overtly develop nuclear weapons, and still maintain stockpiles today: the United States, the Soviet Union (and later Russia would inherit these), the United Kingdom, France, China, India, and Pakistan.South Africa developed six crude weapons in the 1980s (which it later dismantled), and Israel almost certainly developed nuclear weapons though it never confirmed nor denied it. The creation of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty in 1968 was an attempt to curtail such proliferation, but a number of countries developed nuclear weapons since it was signed (and many did not sign it), and a number of other countries, including Libya, Iran, and North Korea, were suspected of having clandestine nuclear weapons programs

Muhannad †Arabia, in 600CE Essay

In Arabia, in 600CE, two large tribes called the Quaraish and the Hanifs inhabited a sacred city known as Makkah. The most important tribe in Makkah at this time were the Quaraish. The Quaraish consisted of merchants who had control over the Ka’bah (an ancient temple) and Makkah’s water supply. This tribe organised protection for the merchants who travelled through Makkah. The Quaraish made profit out of the traders who passed through Makkah and the provisions given to pilgrims who came there to see and worship the idols. The Hanifs were the other major tribe who inhabited Makkah. They consisted of moral tribesmen who despised the Quaraish’s selfishness and greed for money. This group of people were very holy and believed that there must only be one God. They believed that this one Supreme Power created everyone and everything and the worship of idols was an insult to him. They detested people’s devotion to icons of different Gods such as Al-Lat (the life-force). The Hanif’s were sacred people who prayed regularly and often sought solitude to worship God. They believed that this one God had sent prophets such as Moses to Earth to try and purify people’s hearts and bring them closer to God. MUHAMMAD’S EARLY LIFE Muhammad was grandson of Abd-al-Muttalib. Abd-al-Muttalib was a member of the Hanif’, and a man famous for his devotion to God and for his visions. His son, Abdullah, married a woman called Aminah, who was soon pregnant with his child when Abdullah suddenly died. The child that was born was named Muhammad. When Muhammad was born he was given to a Bedouin woman called Halimah as all Quaraish children at that time were. This was done so that children would be brought up away from the disease and impurities in the air in the city. At the age of six Muhammad was returned to Aminah who proceeded to die later that year. Luckily Muhammad’s devoted grandfather, Abd-al-Muttalib, took him in and cared for him until he died two years after that. Now Muhammad was passed onto his uncle, Abu Talib, who was a wealthy merchant. Living under the care of his uncle, Muhammad became a loyal and hard-working shepherd. LEGENDS Many legends have been created about Muhammad and his life. These legends were created to make Muhammad look greater and more powerful than he was. During his lifetime, Muhammad disapproved of all these myths about him and denied all of them. One of the legends about Muhammad was that he had his heart removed from his body by two angels. They then weighed his heart against other men but even with the whole community’s hearts weighed against his, his still weighed the most. Muhammad insisted that he did not and could not perform miracles; he was just a devoted follower of God. MUHAMMAD’S PERSONALITY Muhammad grew up to be a thoughtful young man who was kind and decisive. He continuously impressed the merchants that he worked with including Khadijah, a wealthy widow who employed Muhammad to supervise her caravan trade. When Muhammad was just 25 years old, Khadijah asked him to marry her; he accepted. Despite Khadijah being 15 years older than Muhammad, she became the love of his life until her death 25 years later. During her lifetime, Khadijah stood by Muhammad all the way and supported him in every possible means. When she died she left Muhammad with four daughters, Zainab, Ruqaiyyah, Umm Kulthum and Fatimah. Muhammad’s two sons, Qasim and Abdullah, unfortunately both died in infancy. Zaid ibn Haritha, the slave boy of the household, was devoted to Muhammad. When Zaid’s father found him after years of searching, he offered to buy him back. Muhammad left the choice of what to do up to Zaid himself, and he decided to stay with Muhammad. Muhammad was so touched by Zaid ibn Haritha’s decision to stay with him that Muhammad immediately released him and adopted him as his own son. Ali, son of Muhammad’s uncle, Abu Talib, was another child in the household. Muhammad chose to look after Ali when Abu Talib fell under hard times. THE NIGHT OF POWER In the year 610CE, Muhammad was once again meditating during Ramadan when an event happened which changed his life forever. Muhammad was 40 years old at the time and was praying alone in a cave on Mount Hira when he suddenly heard a voice calling his name and commanding him to proclaim or recite. Unfortunately Muhammad was illiterate and could not read the scroll of silk which he saw ahead of him. Suddenly the angel Jibril appeared to him. This was the same angel who had appeared to prophet Ibrahim and to Mary and Jesus in times past. Now Jibril was near to Muhammad and he ordered him to read the writing on the scroll. Muhammad told the angel that he could not read the writing for he was unlettered, but the angel ordered him again and again to read the scroll and Muhammad began to feel the tension building up within him. Suddenly he felt something seize him, it gripped him so tightly that he could not breathe and he thought he would die. But suddenly Muhammad knew in his heart what the words said, and he whispered them hoarsely: ‘Proclaim! In the name of your Lord and Sustainer who created Man from a clot of congealed blood, speak these words aloud! Your lord is the Most Generous One – He who has taught the Pen, Who reveals directly Things beyond human knowledge.’ Muhammad had been chosen as a messenger of God because he was a devout man who worshipped the Lord. After Muhammad received this message he had to wait 2 years until he received another. This was God’s way of testing Muhammad and seeing whether he would be tempted to tell everyone about what he had seen. When Muhammad reached home after his shocking revelation, he told his wife, Khadijah, about what had happened. She went to her wise 100-year-old cousin, Waraqa ibn Nufal, for advice and after he was quite sure that Muhammad’s story was truthful, Khadijah became the first person to believe the message Muhammad revealed. The second person to believe Muhammad’s story was Ali, the next was Zaid and the next person to believe him was his close friend Abu Bakr. Two years later, Muhammad was still fearful and anxious about what the message might mean, when the angel Jibril appeared to him again. The angel said to him: ‘O you wrapped – arise and warn! Glorify God! Make your garments pure! Give up all uncleanness. Give, without expecting any return. For the sake of your Lord, endure with patience!’ Now that Muhammad’s time of waiting was over, he could go out and tell everyone about the messages he was receiving. THE REVELATIONS Most of the messages that Muhammad received from God after the Night of Power came to him in visions. They all shared the following similarities: – Muhammad knew when they were about to happen. – Each revelation was attended by dramatic phenomena, such as shaking or trances. – Each one made the prophet feel close to death and that he was leaving his body and he might not re-enter it. – At the end of each revelation Muhammad would appear as usual again and he would repeat what he had been taught. Sometimes Muhammad would lose consciousness during his visions. Sometimes he would receive the message instantly and sometimes Jibril appeared to Muhammad in the form of a man to transmit messages (not in visions). ABU TALIB AND KHADIJAH When Muhammad was 50 years old his uncle Abu Talib died. Abu Talib had looked after Muhammad all his life and had stuck by him even when many hated him. Muhammad had always been very close to his uncle who had protected him when he was vulnerable and his death made him depressed and very unhappy. At the end of this saddening year his beloved wife Khadijah also died at the age of 64. Although Muhammad was deeply upset by their deaths, he accepted that everyone dies eventually and he tried to carry on preaching in God’s name. THE NIGHT JOURNEY It was probably during this traumatic experience that Muhammad had an experience which changed his life forever. The Night Journey (or Laylat-ul-Mi’raj) was not recorded very accurately in the Qur’an and it is therefore hard to know exactly what happened in this event. When the prophet was asleep in his home in Makkah he was awoken by the angel Jibril. Muhammad then went with Jibril to Jerusalem riding on some kind of a Pegasus called Lightning. From Jerusalem, Jibril took Muhammad through the seven heavens and was shown paradise and hell. On his way through the heavens, Muhammad met and spoke to other prophets such as Isa and Musa. With Musa, Muhammad decided and set the number of times a day a Muslim should pray to God. It was finally fixed at 5 times a day although Muhammad originally thought 50 times was a sufficient amount. Eventually the prophet Muhammad travelled on with Jibril to the highest heaven of all: the throne of God. When he arrived here, neither Muhammad nor the angel could approach any closer and he experienced a sensation which he never again felt or could describe properly. All he could see was pure light and he was aware only of great peace as time stilled and thoughts and feelings disappeared. The experience soon ended though and Muhammad had to once again travel to Earth. To Muhammad’s astonishment, when he got home, he found that everything had remained exactly as he had left it. The place he had previously lain was still warm and the cup he had knocked over was still emptying. This experience brought great confidence and strength to Muhammad and it encouraged him to carry on with the knowledge that God was always with him. Muslims believe that this night was one of great importance, as it showed them what the ascension to Heaven would be like. It showed them that the soul abandons the weak and dishonest nature of the human body and you travel to a place where only pure bliss is possible. MUHAMMAD’S DEATH In 632CE, Muhammad fell ill with a fever and violent headaches. He was only 63 but he became weak and tired. He asked his wives if he could be moved into his youngest wife, Aishah’s room. Even though he was feeble he still attempted to reach the praying place outside every day until his death. When he could not lead the prayers anymore, his good friend Abu Bakr took his place. On his last day on Earth, Muhammad, after leading the dawn prayer, lay in Aishah’s arm and said, â€Å"Lord grant me pardon. I have chosen the most exalted company, in paradise†; then he died. Muhammad was buried where he died, in Aishah’s room, and his tomb is still there even today. ISLAM The religion known as Islam was begun by Muhammad and it is still continued today. Since that day when Muhammad went on The Night Journey, Muslims have kept the number of times to pray each day at 5 times. All Muslims believe that God is responsible for every part of human life and he knows and sees all. Every Muslim tries to lead a peaceful life and pass the test set for all souls on Earth.

Those Crazy Acronyms

Those Crazy Acronyms Acronyms are those convenient abbreviations we all know about that replace long words or complex titles for quicker communication of complex ideas or names. They usually come from the initial components in a much longer phrase or name thats in common use in a business, specialty, or culture. The components that form acronyms are often the first letters of the most important words in that longer title or name or concept, as in CEO for Chief Operating Officer or IBM (International Business Machines) or http (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) in website addresses.Where do we use acronyms today? Nearly everywhere. We see them online, in research papers, on cable television, e-mails, social networking sites, phone texting, technical documentation, computer data systems, and many other places. Acronyms are especially recognizable when we dont understand what they mean and whats being said to us or written in what were reading. When we understand the meaning of an acronym, however, we rush right by it and keep reading.There is definitely a major upsurge in acronym use in writing today and frankly in all areas of communication. Acronyms have become a favorite tool for fast and brief communication and likely a direct outgrowth of our modern approach to thinking - say it fast and move on to the next idea or task. Speed is the main instigator of all the acronym use we are seeing now. Another cause is the expansion of complicated bureaucracies that force us to try and avoid writing long titles and department names and regulatory references over and over in favor of more brevity. Then we can move on to our next task more quickly.Most of us are familiar with well-known acronyms like the FBI or NASA or UPS or VISA or even USA, but what happens when we try to figure out the following communication with no explanation there?Its important to review APCAT fully for USQRW and follow the instructions found in the ZEPX of the database, or you will likely apply the TYOP in error.There is quite a difference, dont you think?We all have also had the exasperating experience of being in a non-understandable discussion with a colleague from another department or a customer service representative or hearing a lecture in school thats confusing or reading a journal article were sourcing for a research paper and running into a bunch of acronyms that arent explained anywhere and used too indiscriminately. Its frustrating and confusing. The experience keeps us from fully understanding a key idea at a meeting, the details of a project proposal, a key element of a paper, or even an important safety concept. We are annoyed when we cant get done what we need to get done because we cant figure out the exact meaning of a few acronyms and have to go ask someone or look them up.If you want to be a good communicator and deliver the clear, specific writing that others will thank you for, you have to learn how to handle acronyms in daily writing. You need to know when to use them, when t o identify them, and when to fold them, i.e., avoid using them at all. Whats the best way to deal with these choices? How can you use specialized coded language effectively? The following suggestions are helpful, both to you as a writer and those who read your writing and want to understand it better. These acronym hints will help you communicate more clearly and let your readers keep their sanity when you do include acronyms in your writing.Make a concerted effort not to overuse these sometimes useful abbreviations. Dont turn everything you write into an unneeded acronym - it makes for annoying as well as confusing text. Use acronyms discriminately and only when it makes sense to use them and they truly fit into your discussion.Dont use internal acronyms that are known only to your department or team outside of that special environment without explaining what they mean to those other colleagues;In written material, at first mention of an acronym, write it out in parentheses as wel l to explain its full meaning the first time you use it. Dont keep your reader in the dark. Of course the exception to this hint are acronyms we all know and use every day.In that same vein, make sure your reader has the cultural background and professional experience to know even the most common acronyms - always remember and respect your reader.If the acronym you introduced disappears for a bunch of pages, repeat the explanation to refresh your reader. Assist your reader in understanding what youre trying to say. Its only polite, and it helps you get your idea across too.If you need to use a lot of technical or specialized acronyms in a piece of writing, i.e., a scientific paper, then add a Glossary or Appendix at the end and post all the acronyms and their meanings there as well for all to review. Those of your readers who know the meanings wont use the Glossary, but those who dont know what you mean or how an specific acronym fits into your text will have a ready-made source to find out and will thank you.Applying these simple writing tips will relieve a lot of reader tension in your delivery of ideas and produce clearer, more precise, even safer, communication. The truth is if your reader misses the meaning of an important acronym (or two or three) in your writing, he or she will likely also miss a major part of the meaning of your piece and the effort youve given it or at the very least a key part of the background that is vital for your reader to know to understand your idea.So, do use those crazy acronyms, but use them judiciously and with care. Remember that too much of the best spice can hurt any gourmet dish. Moderation is the key to good eats and good writing.

Cause-and-effects Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cause-and-effects - Essay Example When heated air from these surfaces begin to rise, it becomes absorbed by the clouds, which then condenses and turns into thunderclouds (Abbott 263). As the hot air rises, cooler air fills in the spaces that are left. The Earth, spinning on its axis, causes the air to spiral upwards, which causes the winds to rotate even faster. A hurricane has then been created, bringing with it strong winds that can reach up to two hundred miles per hour. A tornado is caused by a condition known as wind shear, which is when the speed or direction of wind changes with altitude. This can separate the updraft and downdraft of a thunderstorm, and if the wind shear is strong enough, it can cause horizontal vorticity (Abbott 239). Horizontal vorticity can be turned vertical by the updraft of the storm, which causes rotation. This rotation causes a tornado funnel to form, and thus a tornado. Tornadoes can produce winds up to three hundred and eighteen miles per hours, and they can cover group exceeding a mile at a time. These two weather conditions are capable of producing winds that can rip trees from the ground, toss vehicles, and tear homes from their foundations. They are both categorized based on size, wind speed, and level of destruction; while many people and buildings are able to survive Category One hurricanes or F2 tornadoes, the chances drastically decrease during a Category Five hurricane or an F5 tornado.

Decision Usefulness approach vs. Measurement Approach Research Paper

Decision Usefulness approach vs. Measurement Approach - Research Paper Example This research will begin with the Decision Useful Approach. This approach motivates the application of decision models. The approach is based on the concept that if financial statements cannot be prepared correctly, then financial statements must be presented in such a manner so as to reflect useful information focusing on users and the decision problems that they face. The approach assumes that if the financial and accounting is useful to investors, then trading volume of stocks should experience a surge and securities prices are also expected to increase or respond in predictable manner relative to publicly available accounting information. The Single-Pearson decision theory aims to understand how an investor makes rational decisions under circumstances of certainty. The theory appreciates the concept of information and enables decision makers to keep informed and modernize their beliefs. The concept uses the publicly available financial statements as source of information. The rat ionale or principle of portfolio diversification is as follows: Maintain a balance between risk and return Assurance that the different securities held for investment are negatively correlated which will give an assurance of protection in case of any market shortfall and an expectation of positive returns. Diversification of investment reduces the risk underlying the investment. Investment in a single stock of a particular company increases the substantial risk attached with the particular investment. The Optimal Portfolio Investment The concept of optimal investment falls under modern portfolio theory and assumes that investors prefer to minimize risk while striving for maximizing their expected returns. (Source: Spreadsheetml.com, http://www.spreadsheetml.com/finance/freeportfoliooptimization.shtml, 2013) The theory states investors will act rationally and thus they will always make decisions that will aim at maximizing their expected return for given tolerable level of risk. Portfolio Risk It is one of the concepts used in risk-return analysis that gives an estimate of actual returns relative to expected returns of an investment. Important factors which are considered in measuring portfolio risks are standard