Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Men and Women are Made Not Born Essay Example for Free

People are Made Not Born Essay In this paper I will expound on how ladies and men are made not conceived. I will beintroducing various societies and their perspectives on people, how ladies at onestage in time didn't reserve any privileges to become what they needed, I will give my thoughts onthe subject and I will likewise explore different creators work to get an alternate assortment about whywomen and men are made not conceived. Right off the bat I will begin by investigating various societies and their lifestyles. This reallyinterests me since it is acceptable to perceive how various individuals and their nations truly andfrom one another. In Australia people are equal,they both can work in any activity they want, the two of them reserve the option to cast a ballot and do battle. It was not generally like this however in Australia, it was quite a while until ladies got equalright to men. It was the nineteenth century when ladies were given the option to cast a ballot andto represent political decision into parliament. In spite of the fact that it was not until the 1960s to the 1970swhen ladies picked up equity with men with work, the law and general social standing. Ifwe investigate an entirely unexpected nation like Afghanistan, ladies are made bytheir fathers and spouses. Marriage for ladies is picked by their families, ladies mustbe totally secured by a long cover and joined by a male relative when theyleave the house and ladies must do what they are told by their dads and spouses. Soas we can see, it is hard for ladies in Afghanistan to become what they need and be whothey need to be. Another culture I need to take a gander at is the way ladies became men in the mountains ofNorthern Albania. A young lady or her folks could choose to make them a male, circumstanceswhich would emerge so as to do so would be that their spouses or fathers kicked the bucket at war orhad passed on from different reasons, so the wives or girls would take on the lead job for thehousehold. They would become men on the off chance that they needed to work and assemble their communitiesinto something better, for instance, working in the Communist Party Action Group, youcould just be a male to be a part. So as to escape an orchestrated marriage orprotection against the capturing and dealing of young ladies, it was simpler for girlsto become men. What I am attempting to state with exploring various societies is that in certain nations menand ladies can pick how they need their lives to turn out and make a future forthemselves not at all like different nations where people groups lives are compensated for them. Another way we could take a gander at the theme Men and Women are Made Not Born is thatmen and ladies need to gain what they need to accomplish, they are not simply brought into the world with theirtalents. For instance, in the event that an individual works superbly for somebody, at that point they are going torecommend them to others, in this way accomplishing a decent notoriety. As ( Mead, G 2007,p. 29) cites oneself is something which has a turn of events: it isn't at first there abirth, however emerges during the time spent social experience and action. This implies whenchildren are conceived they don't quickly have the social aptitudes they require in life to dowell for themselves. The youngster needs to experience an improvement which gradually teachesthem their fundamental abilities. It is dependent upon the person to choose what they need to accomplish in life,they have the decision to carry on their instruction in what ever field they decide to bettertheir risks in the work power. The equivalent in the work power, individuals need to betterthemselves to show improvement over others, to contend with the opposition so as to get thejob. With an individual developing themselves in all sort of angles, they are probably going to geta great notoriety and make a big deal about themselves. This demonstrates the heading Men andWomen are Made Not Born. In Australia it is a free nation, everyone has the privilege to do or become what they wantto become. I accept the term people are made not conceived, to imply that it is up toboth people to make their lives and accomplish what they need throughout everyday life. Everybodyis their own one of a kind individual. Regardless of whether they are Australian, Chinese, Asian, American andso on, with their very own convictions. I surmise the fundamental explanation I have concentrated on culturesis in light of the fact that I accept that a people culture massively affects the ways of life theylive which forms a person into their own remarkable, uncommon individual. References: Variables that realized the womens development, www.skwirk.com.auAlessandro Monsutti, Culture of AFGHANISTAN, www.everyculture.comBessant, J. Watts, R. (2007) Sociology Australia, Allen Unwin. NSW. Gardner, J. (1987) Atlas of the World, Australia: Readers Digest. McWhirter, N. (1999) Book of Millennium Records, Virgin Publishings: Great Britain. Youthful, A. 2007, Once Were Women, Good Weekend, 20st October, 47-48. Mead, G 2007, The Self in Classic Readings in Sociology, Mind, Self and Society, pp25-32

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Teenage Addiction to the Internet

Young Addiction to the Internet Research Topic Youngsters and Internet Theory Teenagers’ time on the web is expanding step by step and it’s turning into an awful fixation, so it’s the obligation of their folks to have legitimate minds them and discover approaches to lessen the time spent on web. Bolster Section 1 Strength of the youngster. Thought 1 - Time spent on the web. Sources Thought 2 - Adequate rest schedule. Thought 1-(Charles, 2010) Studies has demonstrated that few guardians are contributing a great deal of time and cash on the most proficient method to shield their adolescents from spending or burning through the greater part of their time on the PC and the web. Thought 2-(Norbert, 2010) On the off chance that a teenager likes to play online computer games, there are chances that he may not be distant from everyone else. It ought to be noticed, that a youngster doesn't broadly botches numerous social chances or going through close to 24 hours in seven days in the web based gaming field, there may be something incorrectly. It ought to be noticed that how much precisely your young person is investing energy in the web. Thought 3-(Ilyas, 2012) It is the obligation of the guardians to have a mind their teenagers’ wellbeing and appearance. To see potential effects on their wellbeing positive or negative, and afterward choose what should be done as their subsequent stage. Thought 4-(John, 2010) Youngsters ought to be increasingly urged to take part in open air exercises and not simply sit on the web and burn through their time since investing an excess of energy in the web gravely influences teenagers’ wellbeing and including in other outside exercises add to progression in wellbeing. Thought 3 - Possible effects Thought 4 - Alternatives Bolster Section 2 Are the teenagers’ giving sufficient opportunity to their folks? Potential effects on the relationship? Thought 1 - Teenagers’ space. Sources Thought 2 - the earth. Thought 1-(Charles, 2010) On the off chance that your young person is utilizing broad web and you think about it since you are concerned, approach him/her as you are companions, don’t push too hard that they begin concealing things from their folks. Thought 2-(Ilyas, 2012) Guardians should begin by setting a fixed time permitted to utilize the web or their young person. They ought to be dependable of normally checking what their young people are doing on the web. Spending an excess of hours on the web should disheartened by the guardians. Thought 3-(Norbert, 2010) Joint endeavors ought to be made by the two guardians and youngsters. It’s the obligation of teenagers’ to win the certainty of their folks with the goal that they share a connection of trust and things don't escape hands. Thought 4-(Russ, 2014) Opportunity is everyone’s right and it ought to be given to the adolescents however it ought to likewise be seen that an excessive amount of opportunity ruins the young person, as a lot of opportunity on utilizing the web ought not be allowed by guardians. There is consistently a cutoff to everything. Thought 3 - Teenagers’ obligation. Thought 4 - Freedom. Bolster Section 3 Social issue that emerges when teenagers’ are dependent on the web. Thought 1 - Opportunities Sources Thought 2 - The products and negatives Thought 1-(John, 2010) Specialists have inferred that over 90% of the adolescents concur with the way that web has made their life helpful and they truly need it. Furthermore, it was additionally expressed without web a teenagers’ life becomes non-social, no data about what is happening and they can't shop on the web. Teenagers’ need web in their lives to associate with individuals and they are uninformed of the way that burning through an excessive amount of time is depleting out their vitality which could be spend some place increasingly gainful. Thought 2-(Norbert, 2010) Considering the entirety of the exercises that youngsters are doing on the web, guardians ought to have the option to distinguish when an opportunity as far as possible on the utilization of the web is or when their teen’s propensity is transforming into a terrible fixation. Nonetheless, it could be contended that there are youngsters who might utilize web to help them in their examinations and as the time has passed an ever increasing number of adolescents are utilizing web to gain cash. Utilizing web can either construct a teenager’s life or devastate it. Thought 3-(Charles, 2010) Guardians nowadays have become more worry about their kids turning young people, and as the time is passing their fixation with the web are expanding time to time. Guardians are the main individuals who can deal with this issue including their teenagers’ life. Thought 4-(Norbert, 2010) It is acceptable that your young person is effectively taking parts in social exercises and making a ton of companions and yet there is something that should be viewed as that not every person on social stages utilizing web can be trusted and this may prompt wrecking your teenagers’ life in light of the fact that there are numerous instances of such nature. Thought 3 - Solution to the issue. Thought 4 - Social life. COUNTERARGUMENTS What are the potential impacts of web? Thought 1 - Internet and Positivity. Sources Answer - Teenagers’ profitability utilizing web. Thought 1-Russ, W. (2014) Web has gotten something beyond an asset and isn't fit for causing individuals to acquire utilizing the web in their home and this can be viewed as an exceptionally beneficial outcome on an adolescent who is gaining using the web. Thought 2 (John, 2010) Adolescents starting today approaches various of administrations effectively realistic on the PC with the assistance of the web. Adolescents of today have quit utilizing phone and they are increasingly happy with utilizing texting or talking. They lean toward posting their photographs in MySpace and offer them with a large number of companion, for the most part of them are companion they haven’t met. They have all the data and the news utilizing the web on their cell phones. Thought 3-(Ilyas, 2012) Utilizing broad web can wreck the life of a youngster. Web is an asset with various prospects and individuals around the globe are really utilizing this in the most unlawful manner. Along these lines, it is the obligation of the guardians to have certain checks as their young person doesn't engage in any kind of criminal behavior. Thought 2 Web and virtual data. Reply - Having information and data is something to be thankful for, really it is considered as an aptitude in a young person to be dynamic and think about what’s going on yet it ought to be constantly noticed that this thing doesn't escape hands for instance having data of unlawful stuff or movement or in any event, engaging in one utilizing the web. Thought 3 - Negative impacts Rejoinder You can't simply prevent your adolescent from utilizing web since this would be wrong. In any case, on the off chance that you sense some doubt in your teenagers’ exercises, at that point you can stand up to him/her and make them mindful of the potential results. Sources Charles, L. (2010). Young people, Computers Internet. Recovered from http://ezinearticles.com/?Teenagers,- Computers-and-Internetid=3619685 Ilyas, G. (2012). Young people can't make due without Internet (Essay). Recovered from http://fal0014gp10.blogspot.com/2012/10/youngsters can't endure without_2365.html John, W. (2010). Young people and Internet Use Teens Outsmart Parents. Recovered from http://ezinearticles.com/?Teenagers-and-Internet-UseTeens-Outsmart-Parentsid=4609326 Norbert, G. (2010). Your Teenager and the Internet The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Recovered from http://ezinearticles.com/?Your-Teenager-and-the-InternetThe-Good,- the-Bad-and-the-Uglyid=3758823 Russ, W. (2014). Without WiFi, Life Would End (otherwise known as Teen Internet Addiction). Recovered from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/russ-warner/without-wifi-life-would-e_b_5367578.html

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

21 Firsts

21 Firsts It’s been 3.5 years since I came to the United States from Nigeria, to study at MIT. In 2017, this ongoing chapter of my life promises to close. I graduate in June, if all goes well. A short while afterward, I celebrate my 21st birthday. Just a week ago, I imagined one version of what the future may look like. I suppose this is a sequel of sorts, one that threads through the pages of an established past. The years since my coming to USA, to MIT, have been some of the most monumental years of my life. I came to experience several things for the first time. These are some of them. ** 1. First time using a washing machine. My first time in the States was prefixed by living with my aunt and her family in Virginia, prior to starting orientation at MIT. Even then, I was still experiencing the first signs of culture shock: jetlag manifesting as odd sleep cycles and slight unease, buildings and roads whose structures were recognizable yet somewhat alien, intensely fast internet. And washing machines. In Nigeria, washing machines exist, but they aren’t common, and they certainly weren’t present at home. As such, like alien spaceships and McDonalds, they were relegated to Hollywood cinema for me. We washed our clothes by filling two buckets with water, one in which we soaked the clothes in detergent, and the other in which we rinsed them. Each fabric was picked up, scrubbed diligently, transferred to the rinse bucket, then pegged to a clothesline in the backyard to dry in the sun over the course of days. Rainy days were especially annoying, as they would prolong the drying time, or in cases of strong wind, would unpeg clothes, sending two hours of work flying into the sand. This was a fun, if monotonous, weekly ritual. I always used this opportunity to plug my tangled earphones into my MP3 player and rock out to P-Square and Styl-Plus, two of my favorite Nigerian musical groups. That first week performing laundry in the US was a little like magic, staring at this alien device, this thing of the movies. With the strange buttons and knobs and labels. My aunt helped me figure out how to use a washer and a dryer, and some tiny part of me was doubtful of the entire process. Then, two hours later, I was pulling clean, sweet-smelling clothes out of the dryer. It was mindblowing. Fast forward to the present, and my lazy head now considers doing the laundry mildly stressful. But once upon a time, it was magic, and if I think about it long enough, it still is. 2. First time pulling an all-nighter. I’d never stayed up for more than twenty four hours, not to my recollection anyway, until my very first night on the MIT campus. But I’d been up all day soaking in the endless activities freshmen could partake in. I ate free food from every dorm and living group I could traverse, a nontrivial chunk of which was liquid nitrogen ice-cream. I jumped on a large bouncy house and listened in on upperclassmen, who at the time had the aura of mystical gods, talk about why they chose their majors. Then, around six p.m., I retired to the basement of Walker Memorial, where a bunch of freshmen and other MIT students were hanging. I would end up spending the next fifteen hours there, in effect pulling my first all-nighter. We devoured several bars of chocolate and talked about where we came from, how we were finding MIT so far. Then we played multiple games, from Never Have I Ever, in which I discovered I was missing out on a lot of life experiences, to an improvised version of Hide and Seek. Around 9 A.M., we decided to grab breakfast, and I zoned out while munching on waffles at the Simmons dormalso a first-time treatseeing white nothingness for a moment. I realized I needed to sleep, so I ate a little more, and made it back to my room, where I collapsed on the bed, overwhelmed and very, very happy. I passed out pretty quickly and woke up early evening. Ever since then, I’ve pulled several all-nighters. Many of them have been less fun, usually trying to complete a challenging problem set, or studying for an upcoming midterm. But many of them have been in the same spirit of that first all-nighter. On some good nights, my floormates and I at Random would just stay up, watching silly YouTube videos and arguing about silly nonsense, and I would glance at the window; lo and behold, the sun was rising. 3. First time building a robot. During Orientation Week at MIT, I took part in a program called DEECSDiscover Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, meant to introduce freshmen to the world of EECS. We were split into groups of three, and for an entire week, we were in charge of writing software and assembling hardware for a lego robot capable of navigating a color-coded maze, using photo-sensors. I would later get to play more with robots in full-fledged EECS classes during my time at MIT, at a higher level of sophistication, but you know what they say. You never forget your first robot. 4. First time eating a burrito. A mexican restaurant called Beantown Taqueria sits diagonally across Random Hall, my dorm, and I ventured in there during Orientation Week. I didn’t have to; every location at MIT was blessed with steak and ice-cream and nachos and pancakes (one moment while I heavily sob in memory of all that free food), but it was near enough and I was curious. I ordered a small, spicy chicken burrito and cut down the whole thing in seconds. I discovered I loved burritos. And tacos. And chimichangas. Since coming to the States, I’ve tried a variety of cuisinesThai, Indian, Chinese, Mediterranean, Ethiopianand as a self-proclaimed foodist, it’s been one of my greater pleasures and I’m constantly in discovery mode. Please e-mail me pictures of tasty-looking non-traditional meals. I’ll either seek them out in Boston, or have no choice but to eat my screen. 5. First time seeing a movie in 3D. A few months after my first semester at MIT, I ventured into AMC, the movie theater in Downtown Boston, and saw Captain America: Winter Soldier in IMAX 3D. Perched somewhere in the back of the theater, wolfing down sadly under-buttered popcorn and drinking overpriced Sprite from an oversized plastic cup, I watched Captain America defend his country’s honor in backdrops of explosions. It was awesome. 6. First time performing below average on an exam. Back in my Nigerian high school, I had nicknames like “Doctor Math” and “2390”. I worked my ass off on every assignment and prepared for every examination, and it paid off: I attained high grades and usually ranked at the top of the class. This crystallized an informal rule in my mind: I could always expect to see my hard work pay off in similar fashion, even at MIT. This myth was busted my very first semester, after my first Biology midterm. I spent a fair amount of time studying for this midtermfrom rewatching lecture videos online, to poring through my handwritten notes, to taking practice midtermsbut ended up scoring well below average, a somewhat crushing experience in a gloomy week. I remember sort of staring blankly at the grade, just before starting a problem set, and feeling my stomach fall. It was the first time I was situated in the bottom half of a class, and I guess my brain had trouble parsing that. This situation would occur a few more times throughout my semesters at MIT, and I would learn to take it much better, especially if I knew I’d prepared the best I could. 7. First time in prison. My first semester in MIT, I found myself in prison. In particular, the Massachusetts Correctional Institute (MCI), Framingham, an all-female prison. I was there as part of a philosophy class in the Concourse program, taught by Professor Lee Perlman, who also taught a class at MCI. We met with six inmates in a small classroom, where we talked about everything from Ancient Greek Philosophy to life beyond the walls of that room. 8. First time skydiving. Well, indoor skydiving, but stop being nitpicky. IT FELT LIKE I WAS FLYING. This actually happened less than a month into my freshman year at MIT. It was Rush Week, in which fraternities and sororities put out a ton of eventsand free food, long live free food in those glorious eternal ecstasy-filled early weeks of the academic yearfor freshmen to participate in. I spent virtually all of that week at Alpha Delta Phi, a place where I would make some amazing first-time memories (from playing Rock Band to eating lobsteror at least attempting to, and having its innards spray all over me in a grotesque assertion of dominance). One of the highlights of that week was getting to go indoor skydiving with the frat brothers. A dozen freshmen and a dozen brothers piled into a bus. Two hours later, we were at SkyVenture, a facility in New Hampshire where the best kind of dreams are realized. Turn by turn, we spent a few minutes each in a vertical wind tunnel, suspended, floating. Each turn was divided into two rounds. My first round, I had all the grace and stamina of an amputee giraffe on rollerblades, and was knocked around the glass walls of the tunnel. The second time around, I was able to maintain my balance, arms spread out, legs tucked above me. It felt like I was flying, flying, flying. I would spend the rest of the night replaying those moments. Funnily enough, the best part of the week probably came from singing It’s the Best Day Ever by Spongebob Squarepants alongside ADPhi brother Ryan Shepard. I can’t sing for squat (and I dont mean this in the cutesy can-sorta-sing-but-is-just-saying-this way, no, I actually cannot sing one tiny bit), but I let that voice rip, and he didn’t stop me. He sang along.   9. First time experiencing overt, in-your-face racism. When I look back on my time in the States, it’s often with a sense of belonging and gratitude. Places like MIT and Boston have become a comfortable home away from home. I’ve created meaningful friendships and built a fulfilling life here. But the fairytale, Wonderland-esque lens with which I’d often regarded the States got busted one very bad evening in Central Square, when I was falsely accused of theft in an extremely racist encounter. Upon realizing I wasn’t the thief, the man let go of me and walked away without an apology for his slur or his accusations, leaving me screaming at his back like an idiot. It was one of the worst experiences of my time in the States, and complicated my sense of belonging and identity. 10. First time identifying as black. USA has a race problem, one I began to perceive in greater detail when I left a home country of predominantly dark-skinned peopleso that the term “black” was never part of one’s identityand moved to a place where this skin color was situated within a minority. For the most part, it made no difference, but when it did, it really did. I fought for a while with this label, largely because I wasn’t quite sure how to reconcile my “African-ness” with the “African-American-ness” blackness often embodied. Black culture is a prevalent term that encompasses a wide swath of general experiences constructed around African American upbringingfrom music to hair to unique sentence structures to navigation around authorityand growing up in Nigeria positioned me away from much of this commonality. But then I realized that whatever perceptions non-black people had of blackness, whether malicious or indifferent, depended not on their ability to pore through my mind and see what kind of culture influenced my upbringing, but on the color of my skin. It really was that simple most of the time, and it bore ripple effects, in many ways structuring the nature of my interaction with people here, and with their expectations, and with my experiences. I came to accept and own blackness, as constructed in the States, as part of my m ultifaceted identity, and one to be proud of rather than ashamed of. 11. First time spending greater than forty hours on a single (biweekly) homework. That’s pretty self-explanatory.I hit the Submit button, tired and feeling vaguely drunk, probably a combination of a mushy brain and exhaustion and annoyance and relief. Shortly afterward, I discovered the time-saving wonders of office hours. 12. First time building a snowman. Before 2013, snow and snowmen were abstractions sometimes shown on TV or mentioned in novels. They might as well have been made-up elements of a science-fiction universe. Then I saw snow for the first time while running late for Ancient Greek Philosophy towards the end of 2013. Ran outside prepared to sprint my way to class, when I stopped in my tracks. Powders of snow were falling from the sky, dripping off frosty leaves and covering the roads in white sheets. It was beautiful. Two days later, the sheets became puddles and snow became annoying. But then Frozen happened, and made snow great again. In January 2015, one early morning, Kevin and I ventured into Killian Court where we lobbed snowballs at each other, made snow angels and worked together to build Olaf, my first and only snowman. He most likely melted to death later that afternoon. Oh well. 13. First time getting a technical A+. Grades are an important part of MIT, and I always work hard to achieve good grades, but after my first semester here, I learned that they were hardly the whole picture. Nevertheless, a memorable highlight of 2014 was taking 6.042, Mathematics for Computer Science, a class of weekly mental workouts, one that reminded me why I’d come into MIT intending to major in Mathematics, and why Computer Science was a natural extension of that desire. At the end of the semester, I got the following e-mail: It was my first technical A+ at MIT, and did much to quell some lingering doubts about whether I belonged here, and whether Computer Science was the right track for me. 14. First time creating a Youtube video. It was this video, created for one of my early blogs: I was a freshman then, and you can totally tell that the pset-deadened eyes and stoic cynicism induced by several months of weird sleep, cold weather and grueling midterms had not set in yet. Oh sweet summer child of 2013, you have a lot on the way. 15. First time experiencing a technical internship. This probably deserves its own blogpost, and I’ll talk about it in more detail in the future, but I landed my first technical internship the summer after my sophomore year. My biggest fear jumping into MIT intending to major in Computer Science was that I was entirely unprepared. I had zero programming experience, but I was talking to freshmen in orientation week who had been writing code since they were babies, who had their own apps, who were steeped in a world of formalized logic and technical jargon that sounded alien to my ears. They seemed like the ideal candidates for a CS major, not me. This fear persisted when I began searching for internships. Outside of classes, I had no tangible programming experience. Turns out I didn’t really need any. I attended a Google event in which engineers talked about their experience at the company, including an engineer who, were I even slightly more superstitious, I would have sworn the gods created and inserted into the event just for me. He talked about his shaky background prior to applying, his uncertainty with even initiating the process, and his subsequent success with the application process. He was having a blast at the company, “doing cool things that matter”. After the event, I prepared a resume, used MIT’s career office to get feedback on it, and applied to Google. Several e-mails and three technical interviews later, I got an offer letter. I spent that summer interning in Google’s Los Angeles office. My mind had conjured a very specific picture of what I wanted and expected from that experience. The picture paled in comparison to the real thing, and that remains one of the most memorable three months ever. In particular, I remember one night, laying down on my air mattress, and thinking, in a giddy sort of disbelief, that everything I wanted from life was slowly coming true. I did exciting work that summer, and again the next, this time in their Cambridge, Massachusetts office. 16. First time attending a music concert. Right after my internship in Los Angeles, I took a Greyhound bus to San Francisco where I attended my first, and so far, only concert. I would spend that night screaming, crying, dancing, singing and losing my voice, a dot in a wave of fifty thousand gyrating fans, waving glowsticks and lighting up Levi’s Stadium. 17. First time experiencing 1 year of uninterrupted electrical power. In Nigeria, electricity is a matter of arbitrariness: at any point in time, there’s a 50% chance of electrical power, so much so that my siblings and I would scream, “UP NEPA!” each time a dead bulb suddenly flickered to life (NEPA standing for National Electrical Power Authority, although this is now a dated abbreviation). In the consistent absence of electricity, my siblings and I had to devise alternative ways to entertain ourselves. For some of us, reading novels were the way to go. We also invented weird, fun games we’d play with each other, and spent inordinate amounts of time napping. As such, my time at MIT produced the first year where I experienced zero incidents of power outages. Constant electricity is something I hardly even notice anymore, except when I call home to speak to family, and they tell me about how NEPA has gotten worse lately. It’s a fairly mundane-sounding first-time experience, but there was a time when if you told me I’d experience a year like this, I’d tell you to stop drinking and get help. 18. First time having a panic attack. Spring 2016 was one of my roughest semesters at MIT. I felt overworked,I was often locked in my room, I was dealing with personal issues, and my sleep cycle was irregular. At some point, it became easier to ignore the signs of the decay than to face them head-on, and I spent every waking moment either buried in a problem set or on Netflix. One Friday afternoon, I got back to my room feeling strangely good, happy even. I microwaved some chicken, drank some Red Bull and took a nap. I woke up two hours later feeling a little weird. I realized I couldn’t feel my heart beat, and for a moment, was sure it had ceased to pump blood. But when I put a finger to my neck, I felt a steady pulse. You’re fine, I told myself. Except I didn’t feel fine. In fact, I felt worse. It felt like I was losing air, like breathing had switched from being a background process to a task of concerted effort. You’re not fine. What if you’re dying? Like right now? As soon as I thought it, it felt true. I could suddenly feel my heartbeat, and it was out of control, racing so fast, Something was very wrong. I left my room quickly and made it to the kitchen on my floor. It was empty. I ran up the stairs, completely freaking out at this point. People were on the floor above me; I blubbered what was going on to one of them. She told me I was probably having a panic attack, and had me sit in front of a TV and watch episodes of Family Guy until I calmed down. The panic attacks recurred a few times over the next several weeks, but between the first and the second, I stopped by MIT Medical, where I was referred to a psychologist Rebekah Kilman. We worked through several sessions, in which she assured me that the panic attack hadn’t been induced by the Red Bull (my initial and frankly dumb suspicion). It had everything to do with processing the different aspects of my life that I had subjugated to under the radar. I learned how to cope with my demons, even if it meant pushing back on schoolwork for a little bit, and an extended period of intense anxiety became milder by the summer and is (mostly) nonexistent now. I’ve heard mixed stories about people’s experiences with MIT Mental, but my experience with them was one of complete empathy, understanding and comfort. They helped me work through my issues the best way they could, and it made a positive difference. 19. First time having dinner at a professor’s home. I took my first creative writing class ever at MIT: Reading and Writing Short Stories with Professor Helen Lee (I also ended up taking Fiction Workshop and Advanced Fiction Workshop with her). Those classes significantly shaped the nature of the stories I wrote and how I structured them, and she is undoubtedly one of my favorite teachers ever. Even during low points of the year, she remained a beacon of light, often checking on how I was doing even in semesters I wasn’t taking any of her classes. I had dinner a few times with her and her family, most recently November of last year during thanksgiving, and in those times, it was like stepping into a bubble, where worries ceased to exist, leaving only room for good food and meaningful conversation, often about race and about writing and about life. 20. First time getting a novel published. I took a gap year between high school and college, in which time I worked on a novel. It got published my freshman year at MIT, and I returned to Nigeria the following summer to help promote it. Reading it again now, I see how differently I would structure the book were I to rewrite it, but it sold well, made several thousand dollars and people liked it. That was more than enough for me, and I’m proud of it. I’m currently working on another novel, Nkem, a word in my language that translates to Mine. It’s been gathering dust in the cobwebs of my mind for a while now, but I’m excited to spend a good chunk of this month working on it, before the next semester rolls around and starts kicking. 21. First time trying to chart the rest of my life. and realizing that I don’t have to. When I think about my life thus far, I realize there’s been a great degree of structure to it, six years of grade school, followed by six years of secondary school, followed by a gap year filled with writing and eating, followed by four years of MIT. And then whatfifty years of work, followed by retirement? I’ve never really deeply thought about life after MIT beyond the high-level desires of wanting to write stories and write code and travel. There have been some aspects that (until now) I took for granted, as certain to happen, and thus never fully inspeced. Like having a family. But as graduation draws closer, and as I start to think of the “real world” awaiting, I’ve been wondering about stuff like this. Isn’t it weirdhaving a little version of Vincent in my arms? Some dorky-looking baby reaching for my cheeks with tiny little fingers. Isn’t that surreal? And sure, I don’t have to think about having kids yet, but at some point, I will, and I don’t think I can get over that strange notion of what it would mean to bring a child into planet Earth. Or to share a bed with a soulmate for decades. Someone to love and wake up next to each morning and fight over optimal blanket appropriation. Should we divide the blankets equally? Would going by approximate body weight be more reasonable? A duel perhaps? Can we just get several gigantic comfy blankets and lay snuggled under ALL OF THEM? Can adults just do that, just buy a ton of comfy blankets? And what happens if ten years into the relationship, things start to fail and I start to hate them, or they start to hate me? What if it’s two-sided? What if it’s not? One-sided is way worse, resentment buried under a forced air of love, truth held back by the paradoxical need to preserve their happiness. And how much truth should ever be sacrificedhow much of your truth, for the sake of their happiness? I’m having all these weird ruminations about everything, from the kind of career I will have to the kind of place I will live. Ten years from now. Twenty years from now. It’s all very theoretical, and all very unnecessary, because at this point in the space-time continuum, I’m a 20-year-old kid in college trying to get a degree. 20. People have lived my life five times over that are still alive. I don’t know squat. I don’t need to figure out squat. But yet, the thoughts, the questions, are in my head fairly often, and I’m increasingly resigned to just winging it. Just seeing where things go. All I know is, I’ve experienced a lot of good things for the first time over the last few years. Coming to MIT has inarguably, definitively, made my life better and more fulfilled, often in ways I could have never anticipated. To a point, anticipation is overrated. Hope is more important. Knowing you have things to look forward to, even if you’re not quite certain of the shape they’ll take. And I know this. I can’t wait to discover what new experiences will populate my life. Whatever they are, I do know that they’re on the horizon, and as far as questions about the future go, maybe that’s all I need to know. For right now at least. Here’s to a life of many more firsts. Post Tagged #mental health

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Why I Play Basketball - 675 Words

Why I Play Basketball Basketball. A great game that was originated in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1891. Basketball was created by a canadian gym coach who used peach baskets when it was raining and snowing outside. Now the sport is played all over the world. One of the most popular sports in the world, and I hated it. I hated this God given sport, until 4 years ago. When something great happened to me on April 17 2010 I turned my perspective on basketball. I really hated basketball from the beginning but then I changed throughout the way. When I was really young around 4-10 I really loved soccer because it required endurance, speed, and it was really fun to play. And from that time I really didnt like basketball. I thought that this sport was the epitome to the league of sports. I thought that tennis was way better at the time. And I wasn’t a big fan of tennis. But I really didn’t like the sport at all. I was athletically gifted at the sport, like most other sports. I had the fundamentals from my father, and he tried to convince me to play, but I still refused to associate myself with basketball. I even disliked to watch basketball I would refuse to play with my siblings. And all that I encouraged other people to play was soccer. The reason that I loved soccer was because my first gift was a soccer ball. Since that time I was infatuated with soccer. I played it in my backyard and in the park. I never stopped playing for anything even when it was dark like 9 oclockShow MoreRelatedBasketball Is A Sport For The Campus Of Eastern Michigan University ( Emu )1145 Words   |  5 PagesBasketball is a sport that requires a lot of time and effort to be good at. It’s a sport that keeps some people in shape, some people involved with a community, and gives others an opportunity to meet new people. The recreation basketball community I am looking into is the one on the campus of Eastern Michigan University (EMU). Every day there is a multitude of people playing basketball in either the Recreation Center (REC) or on the courts outside of the student center. The people that makeRead MorePersonal Identity Essay1077 Words   |  5 Pagesworld. I believe where I establish my identity is from sports but mainly basketball. I’ve been playing basketball for about 12 years now. I used to play in leagues but now since Im older I have not been able to play in them because I have no time for it no more. Ive used to love playing in them because you get to meet new people who are as passionate about the game of basketball just as you are. I loved most of my teams I’ve been on when I was playing in leagues but the most memorable team I lovedRead MoreI Love Basketball Essay851 Words   |  4 Pagessport of basketball is known as a fun past time for any person young or old. Basketball is a great way of exercise and a great way to have fun with friends and possibly make some new ones. I love to watch and play the game, basketball is a very entertaining sport and can be played by anyone. Basketball has many negative and positive things about it based on my opinion. Basketball is known as a good pastime in many people’s eyes but can also be seen as a passion for many others. Basketball in my op inionRead MoreBasketball Is The Better Sport1133 Words   |  5 PagesBasketball is the better sport! For many years they have been many debates on which sport is the better one. For me basketball is better because of the skill required to play it. While playing basketball you don’t always have to be the biggest guy or girl on the court. Notice I said girl, girls can’t play football but they can play basketball. Football is a very rough sport it’s a contact sport meaning you have to make contact with the ball carrier, when playing basketball you don’t have to worryRead MoreThe Gym Is Located On E Law Lane Essay1591 Words   |  7 PagesThe group I chose to study was people that played basketball in the SRSC. The gym is located on E Law Lane. For the most part, I only saw males playing basketball in the rooms with the basketball courts in them so, that group was who I chose to focus on. I ended up asking close to 10 people if they would be willing to be interviewed about the sport but, most of them had schedule conflicts or didn’t want to take part in it. Once I found a willing participant who was eager to talk about his experienceRead MoreThe Events Of Penn State Altoona s Intramural Basketball Games1368 Words   |  6 PagesThe event I went to was one of Penn State Altoona s intramural basketball games. I chose this event because I wanted to observe the similarities and differences between intramural sporting events and extramural sporting events. At extramural sporting events, the players in the competition are usually extremely invested in the sport that they are playing and the competition itself because of the fact that the players have to be good to make the team. Players are also more invested in extramural sportsRead MoreOutdoor Sports Is An Integral Part Of Our Culture1657 Words   |  7 Pagesenjoy, basketball has always been an integral part of our culture. I picked up the game when I was in the first grade and still find myself playing it whenever I get the chance. Nowadays, there seems to be a lack of parks and such for people to go to and have some fun with others. Streetball has made its own culture and kids grow up idolizing older players that are out on the courts making the game look so enjoyable. With that being said, it is in my firm belief that outdoor basketball courtsRead MoreEssay on Basketball723 Words   |  3 PagesSince I was a child, I loved watching basketball games. I remember when I was around six years old, there was a game on the t.v taking place at OAKA in Greece, and my favorite team AEK was playing against PANATHINAIKOS. The game was going to start at ten oclock and my dad didnt want me to stay awake to watch it. I started crying as always- when I wanted something I was doing that -and my dad couldnt see me crying so he agreed and said that we were going to watch the game together. I was soRead MoreMy Love Of Basketball1060 Words   |  5 PagesBasketball is my favorite sport because of how it is played and the style that the sport includes. I love baske tball and it all started with my friend Brendon, at the time I was playing soccer before I found Brendon outside shooting a ball into a net I asked him what he was doing and he said playing basketball. I asked him if I could play with him and he said yes, at that moment I knew I would love basketball. Thats when I converted over from soccer to basketball, I would practice basketballRead MoreEssay about The Hardship of My Life- Personal Narrative514 Words   |  3 PagesNarrative As I was on the PJC bus to an out of town game, I had some free time to think. Lately, I have had in the back of my mind several troubling areas, so I know that this moment was the time to take care of these situations. If I could overcome certain problems, I would be more successful in the future. First, I have to get over the sudden death of my father. The day I found out my father was killed in an accident while he was on his job, I felt as if my life was over. I was devastated for

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

The Field Of Journalism And The Civil War Essay - 1852 Words

The field of journalism is a necessity because there is always a story to narrate, and ultimately history that needs to be documented. Many fail to recognize the importance of journalist, their roles to communities nationwide and the life threatening risks the job may acquire. We often perceive the pros of journalism which is a good thing, but we tend to neglect what journalists may have to undergo to acquire the right facts and different parts of an important story. Journalists around the world have encountered dangerous moments in their careers where they had to report on stories that demanded integrating themselves into a threatening situation such as war. This statement definitely holds true to Journalism in Liberia during the civil war. Liberia is a democratic nation and their laws are modeled after the United States. One significant law that protects journalist in Liberia is the first Amendment which states that one has the right to freedom of speech. However, during Liberia’s civil war many journalists struggled to report what was occurring in the country because of strong dictating leaders and governmental powers. Under their power, journalist was threatened, harmed, harassed, murdered or even put in jail if they attempted to expose the harsh realities of the civil war. Before Liberia became known as Liberia, it was considered a colony and owned by a group of people in the United States. Liberia became the nation we know today because of freed slaves released fromShow MoreRelatedHistory And The United States1463 Words   |  6 PagesThe history of journalism in the United States has spanned from the first colonist crossing the Atlantic Ocean to today’s mass media. Even before we were a country we had printers and journalists writing and printing stories for the people. Looking back, we can divide journalism history into different time periods and see how news reporting developed over time. Some of these time periods include the Colonial Period which spanned from when the first Pilgrims came to America in the mid 1600’s tillRead MoreWalt Whitman and the Civil War Essay955 Words   |  4 PagesWhitman is a famous poet in American history and the founder of free style of writing poem. He was well-known with his work of Leaves of Grass a nd Drum-Taps. Walt Whitman was inspired to write poems about Civil War and changed his style of writing after experiencing the horrible result of the war. Walt Whitman was born in West Hills, Long Island, on May 31, 1819. He is the second son of eight siblings in the family. In his early life, Whitman received a formal education until age of 11 because heRead MoreEffects of Technological Advances806 Words   |  4 Pagesmedium the field of journalism has experienced colossal growth, development, and evolvement. The changes caused by the gradual introduction of new and more efficient mediums consistently affected journalism and the way journalists delivered content to the public. Prior to the concept of broadcasting, newspapers were the primary means of communication in society. Initially newspapers were a means of spreading news, usually on a local or regional level. In the times of the Civil War newspapersRead MoreThe Vietnam Era Essay1135 Words   |  5 Pageswas facing were the war in Vietnam and civil rights. This era changed the way the public was able view the events, there was television and photography which allowed the world to see for the first time what war was about and journalism was not always unbiased. This era was an era of advancement, where many protested the war, there were the civil rights movement activists striving to gain equality for all regardless of color, sex, age, or race. As stated in Moss (2010), â€Å"World War II marked a rapidRead MoreIndustrialization And Urbanization During The Civil War858 Words   |  4 PagesIndustrialization and urbanization that happened in America after the civil war, is a good manifestation that the country was moving along the right path. After the war, progress in terms of investments, industrialization and urbanization was inevitable. After the civil war in America, people from the south who had been displaced and the people who were free could now move to the west to work in the cattle drives, fight the Indians and also begin a new life as farmers. Social Darwinism philosophyRead MoreThe War On The Battlefield1726 Words   |  7 PagesWars aren’t fought in a vacuum, and those who study the Civil War should know this. While the Confederacy lost the war on the battlefield, a failure to exam the social and political climate before the first shot fired on Fort Sumter and the furling of the CSS Shenandoah’ s Confederate Navy Ensign— the war’s final surrender— does not capture the war’s impact on the nation. Certainly, one can’t discuss a war and never mention a battle. The field’s foundation is in traditional military history, but IRead More Jackie Robinson and The Integration Of The United States Essay1697 Words   |  7 PagesUnites States was still segregated and the Jim Crow Laws still reigned heavily in the south. Integration didn’t start until 1948 when Truman signed Executive Order 9981 which integrated the military. This didn’t occur until after Robinson took the field as the first African-American to play in the major leagues. Once Robinson started playing, whites saw that he could do anything as well as they could, which started a social revolution within the United States. If it hadn’t been for Branch Rickey tryingRead MoreThe Marijuana Of The United States954 Words   |  4 PagesStatements like this one fro m Montana on the floor of the statehouse during a marijuana vote in 1929 were typical. One man said, â€Å"When some beet field peon takes a few rares (puffs) of this stuff he thinks he has just been elected president of Mexico so he starts out to execute all his political enemies.† Another added, â€Å"Give one of these Mexican beet field workers a couple of puffs on a marijuana cigarette and he thinks he is in the bullring at Barcelona.† Marijuana’s existence dates as farRead MoreUnmanned Aerial Vehicles ( Uav )2099 Words   |  9 Pages(ROA). Drones are commonly used by the military, but are also being implemented in search and rescue operations and being utilized in other civil applications, such as policing and firefighting. The technology is also allowing for hobbyists and other enthusiasts to become avid drone operators, albeit on a relatively smaller scale. During the American Civil War, an inventor patented an unmanned balloon that carried explosives that could be dropped after a time-delay fuse mechanism triggered the basketRead MoreUnification of Italy Dbq Essay example773 Words   |  4 Pagesstrength of the various princes without damaging their independence; it would remove the causes of disruptive wars and revolutions at home, and make foreign invasions impossible. (DOC 3) Some civilians of these states also agreed that the unification of Italy would be just fine. Jessie White Mario, an English journalist who is obviously an opinionated individual being in the field of journalism said, â€Å"†¦Italy would have been free from foreigners, would have been free, independent, and united, had not

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Tqm (Total Quality Management) Free Essays

TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT Total Quality Management formally known as total quality control emphasizes the crucial role of management in the quality process and utilizes a combination of methods, theories, techniques, and quality guru strategies for achieving world-class quality. TQM is not a complete solution formula as viewed by many but a lasting commitment to the process of continuous improvement. Total quality management is not a fad of the times, but rather a correction of the previous failures in management combined to produce a better management style when used appropriately (http://www. We will write a custom essay sample on Tqm (Total Quality Management) or any similar topic only for you Order Now ejs. com, retrieved August 1, 2009). The word â€Å"total† in Total Quality Management means that everyone in the organization participates in the overall effort in process improvement. Quality means meeting or exceeding customer (internal or external) expectation and management means improving and maintaining business processes or activities. Communications, cultural transformation, participative management, customer focus and continuous improvement are the five basic elements of TQM. Communication is the exchange of information and understanding between two or more people. There is communication if the information is received and understood. A company will not be successful if it will not listen to employees and to its customers. If there is on fundamental principle of TQM, it is that quality is what the customer defines it as, not what the organization defines it to be. TQM calls for a cultural transformation which requires a high level of workforce engagement wherein people do their utmost for the benefit of their customers and for the success of the organization. Cultural information implies that all employees must change their traditional way of thinking about business. It is a cultural change for everyone to be responsible for quality. For the past years, quality was viewed as a manufacturing problem only, but it has now become a service issue as well. TQM is a philosophy that prevents poor quality in products and services. A company vision that defines and supports quality must be shared by anyone in an organization. TQM also involves Participative Management Style where managers develop genuine partnership with the workforce and they both contribute to achieving quality. This management philosophy is often misused by management as a way of avoiding responsibility. Managers using this philosophy must be leaders, take the initiative, and accept responsibility for giving orders or making decisions. Participative management can be best achieved through empowerment and involvement. Every member of the organization gives their views and suggestions regarding improvements and the combined thoughts and ideas will be evaluated by the empowered associates who have the authority to make decisions and to take actions in their work areas without prior approval while willingly supported by the executives and managers. The pursuit of TQM must emphasize customer focus which is an important factor in an organizational survival or demise. Organizations depend on their customers and therefore should understand current and future customer needs, should meet customer requirements and strive to exceed customer expectations. The last element of TQM is the continuous improvement which should be a permanent objective of the organization in its overall performance. Applying the principle of continual improvement typically leads to employing a consistent organization-wide approach to continual improvement of the organization’s performance, providing people with training in the methods and tools of continual improvement, making continual improvement of products, processes and systems an objective for every individual in the organization, establishing goals to guide, and measures to track, continual improvement, and recognizing and acknowledging improvements. Bibliography: A. Books Aquino, G. V. (2005) Fundamentals of research. Mandaluyong City: Cacho Hermanos, Incorporated. Cruz, Myrna. (2007). Statistics and probability theory, Makati City: Cruz Publishing. Evans, J. R. Dean, J. W. (2000) Total quality management organization and strategy. Australia: Southwestern College Publication. How to cite Tqm (Total Quality Management), Essay examples

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Why I Want to Become a Teacher free essay sample

The reason I want to become a teacher is very simple. Teacher of the year (2011) noted that its not what you make but what you make possible. I believe that I can make a difference with the children. They inspire me to show them the possibilities in life and how to make it possible. Showing them the way in life, showing them that I do care what life brings them and how I can help them in their Journey. The thing that inspired me to teach is children. I have always loved children and also have two of my own. Teacher of the year (2008) stated l teach because I love kids and they know it. Is also how I feel because when I work with children they know that I love them and care for them and their future, I have been inspired to teach by many different teachers from my past growing up because they showed me what I could become and how I could make it possible Just by setting a goal and sticking to it, and that is what I want to show the children that I teach. We will write a custom essay sample on Why I Want to Become a Teacher or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I want to teach the children that are in kindergarten through third grade because I believe that is one of the most radical times for a child to learn and I always wanted to be a part of that.Teacher of the year (2008) l teach because I want children to know they have limitless opportunities that are available to them. This goes along with what I am saying I want to do. I want to show the children that there are so many opportunities In life as long as they chose what is best for them and what they want. I want them to learn that nothing should stand in their way of their dreams, because If you set your mind on doing what you want in life nothing Is Impossible.The characteristics I possess that would make me a good teacher Is I am loving, caring, and very honest. I want the children to know that I am there and care for them and no matter what I will be truthful to them and I will help them In any way I can. Children make me happy, I cherish and love them and want to help them choose the path they want to take In life.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Ritual Human Sacrifice free essay sample

The use of human sacrifice in different rituals has featured largely in many cultures for thousands of years. To better understand this one must first consider and define what is actually meant by the term ‘ritual’. According to The Oxford English Dictionary, ritual is described as ‘the series of actions used in a religious or other rite’. Renfrew and Bahn (1991, 408-9) indicate that ritual activity can be identified by the observation of four contributing components, such as the focusing of attention on the location, a sacred place; the presence of a possible liminal boundary between ‘this world and the next’; evidence for the worship of a deity and the participation and offerings made by individuals. The term ‘sacrifice’ as defined by The Oxford Concise Dictionary of Archaeology (Darvill, 2003, p371) as the slaughter of an animal or person or the surrendering of possessions to a deity. It goes on to say, Although seen as ceremonial in context, sacrifice may have a functional ends institutionalized in the practice itself, for example the regulation of a population and the creation of an instrument of political terror. We will write a custom essay sample on Ritual Human Sacrifice or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Ancient Egypt Kings of the first 2 dynasties (3100-2686BC) were not buried alone. Since death was regarded as a mirror image of life in Ancient Egypt their graves needed to contain all that they had needed when alive. This included members of their household, their servants and their slaves. When the tomb of King Wadji (c. 2980BC) (Wilkinson, 1999) was excavated 455 bodies were discovered. Members of the king’s personal household numbered 338 (Shaw, 2000, p68). Also, the bodies of 77 female and 41 important male employees shared the grave of Wadji’s queen, Mernieth. Many of the servants buried with their employers were deliberately killed for the purpose often by poison. Others, not so lucky, were buried alive as attested to by their contorted bodies when they where excavated (Lewis, 2006, p267). Mesopotamia The Sumerians were one of the first cultures to arise in Mesopotamia, in the area between the Tigris and Euphrates on the Persian Gulf now known as the Middle East. In 1920 Leonard Woolley led an archaeological excavation to dig in the Royal Cemetery at Ur. Woolley (1954) recorded that he found tombs of local kings that were not recorded in the Sumerian king-lists, these King-lists are written lists of kings who reigned for long periods of time (. Woolley discovered nearly 2500 graves in this cemetery along with 16 royal tombs (Van De Mieroop, 2004, p41) that consisted of underground chambers often with vaulted roofs with a ramp or pit for entry. Identified by cuneiform inscriptions, these were the tombs of Meskalamdug, Akalamdug, the queen Pu-abi and others, members of the ruling house of Ur around 2500BC (Bahn, 1996, p144). These tombs contained the skeletons of many attendants and soldiers alongside the remains of Oxen and wooden carts. These royal servants and soldiers numbering in their hundreds were willing victims of a religious rite that would take them into the ‘next’ world where they would be able to serve their chosen king or queen. They had willingly so it appears taken poison and laid down their lives for their rulers. Mesoamerican Aztecs The culture that most people automatically associate with ritual human sacrifice is of course that of the Aztecs of Mesoamerica. These Mesoamerican people believed in a creation story where the gods in order to make humankind used their own blood that in turn created a debt of blood owed by mankind to the gods that had to be repaid. The Aztecs, according to Meyers Sherman (1995, p65) were constantly at war with their surrounding tribes purely to capture live prisoners so they could then be sacrificed to appease the God Huitzilopochtli and The Flowery Wars began with a mutual agreement between the Aztecs and the Tlaxcalans to capture live men for future sacrifice. The god Huitzilopochtli was believed to take on the likeness of the sun and it was thought that in order to insure the suns arrival each day, a steady supply of human hearts had to be offered in holy sacrifice (Hogg, 1966, p43). They believed that the sun and earth had already been destroyed four times, and in their time of the 5th sun, final destruction would soon be upon them. In order to delay this happening and appease Huitzilopochtli the practice of human sacrifice became quite a major element in Aztec society (Meyer Sherman, 1995, p67). The actual ritual would take place outside, on the top of a great pyramid. The victim was spread-eagled on a round stone, with his back arched. His limbs would be held firmly by four priests whilst the officiating priest (known as the Nacom) used an obsidian knife to cut under the rib cage and remove the victims still beating heart. The heart was then dedicated to the sun before being cremated with incense in a brazier and the victim’s body was subsequently thrown down the steps of the pyramid to be beheaded, flayed and then the head defleshed and placed on a specially built rack. The man who captured the victim would then take parts of the body to be eaten during a ceremonial feast (Smith, 1996, p222-5). In the 1487 re-consecration of the Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan some estimate 80,400 prisoners were sacrificed (Harner, 1977, p46-51), Another rather gruesome but very symbolic sacrificial ritual was performed by the Aztecs to a deity called Xipe Totec (translated, Lord of the flayed skin). According to Moctezuma Olguin (2002, p54-5) and Fernandez (1996, p60-63) Xipe Totec was an important symbol of fertility; war and the coming of age of young warriors a life-death-rebirth deity, god of agriculture, vegetation, the east, disease, spring, goldsmiths, silversmiths and of the seasons. There were two documented types of ritual sacrifice to Xipe Totec, both ending in the same way but the manner of the victims ritual slaying being different. These were the gladiator sacrifice and the arrow sacrifice. The arrow sacrifice consisted of tying a victim to a wooden frame with his arms and legs spread (the frame represented a corn plant) a priest would then fire arrows at the victim to kill them thus making the victims blood then flow onto the ground represented the cool rains of spring (Meyer Sherman, 1995, p69). In the gladiator ritual, the captive was tied to a large stone, given a sword with a mock blade made of feathers, and forced to fight a fully equipped opponent. After these ceremonies, the victim’s skin was removed so that it could be worn by the Xipe Totec priests (Smith, 1996, p225) who would then wear it for 20 days before removing it to symbolising rebirth and a new season of fertility for the crops and people like a new skin covering the earth. Aztec human sacrifices were performed firstly because the Aztecs felt they owed a debt of blood to the gods. Common Aztec creation myths state hat the gods sacrificed themselves to ensure the continuity of the solar cycle, and they had to be repaid with regular offerings of blood. Secondly Sacrifice also carried out a political function. Rulers and priests used sacrificial rituals as a way of publicly demonstrating and strengthening their connection to the gods. Additionally, sacrifice was a form of â€Å"propaganda by terror† using conscious displays of intimidation aimed at external rulers and common subjects – discouraging any ideas of violence, resistance, or other non-cooperation (Smith, 1996, p226-7). European examples The various groups of tribes that occupied mainland North-Western and Southern Europe from around 600BC to 1000AD were collectively known as Celts. There is very little documentary evidence to go on. In particular, we have no actual sacred texts of the ancient Celts, as their texts were transmitted orally only to initiates and disappeared forever when the last Druid died (MacCullough, 1911), MacCullough describes Celtic belief in reincarnation and a spectral otherworld, he documents the the large number of now-obscure gods and goddesses, including many local deities, describing totemistic and animistic beliefs. In addition, MacCulloch also describes the darker side of Celtic practices, including the famous Burning Man human sacrifices and cannibalism. Macullough writes about the human sacrifices performed at Lugnasad, Lugnasad was a harvest festival, where the victims were ritually sacrificed to guarantee a fertile crop in the forthcoming season and the festival would also commemorate those who had died for this good cause, while it would also appease their ghosts should they be angry at their violent deaths. Triplism’ is one of the commonest Celtic religious symbols (Magilton, p184-5; Green, 1986) describing the three Celtic gods, Esus, Taranis and Teutates. These three gods relate to the ‘triple death’ usually associated with bog bodies. The triple death consisted of, Esus for hanging, Taranis to burning and Teutates to drowning (Green, 1986, p27). The Tollund man was discovered in Denmark in 1950 (Bahn, 1996, p114). The body of this man was found well preserved having been interred in an acidic peat bog some 2000 years previous to its discovery. The man had been hanged and the hemp cable tow was still in place around his neck. The very fact that he was laid in the foetal position suggests that he was specifically placed this way rather than just cast into a pit alluding to a ritual killing rather than an out and out case of murder or judicial execution. Many similar examples of bog bodies have been found all across Europe including Emmer-Erfscheidenveen Man, a bog body recovered in Drenthe, Netherlands in 1938 (Deem, J,. 1998) the remains were dating to around 1200BC. The Gundestrup Cauldron was found in Raeve Bog, Denmark in 1891 Deem (1998) states that the silver cauldron had been deliberately broken then the pieces laid on the surface of the bog where they slowly descended to a depth of almost 2ft with sphagnum moss overgrowing them. When pieced together the solid silver bowl is 2ft in diameter. The scene depicted on the bowl show a scene of human sacrifice with an apparent victim being held upside down over the bowl with their throat cut and bleeding into the bowl. Above this a line of horsemen ride away from the cauldron after their sacrifice to there afterlife. Deem wonders if this is scenes depicting a sacrifice to thank the gods for a victory or they are attempting to divinate the future. Conclusion Ritual human sacrifice appears to have been used in past societies for a number of reasons, with not all the victims being unwilling pawns at the mercy of unscrupulous priests. We have seen demonstrated here that loyal retainers gave their lives willingly to travel to an ‘after’ life and serve there master or mistresses there as they had done in life. This believe in an after life must have been exceptionally strong in the servants and followers of these kings and queens. Fertility rites were recognised and performed in the form of sacrifices from what would appear to be since there has been written records, some of these rites committed on such a large scale that like in the case of the Aztecs they would have had a noticeable effect upon the population numbers and were done in full view of the people with the blessing of the ruling authorities. Some of the human sacrifices were to thank the gods for strength in battle and a victory over an enemy (usually ending with the loser being sacrificed to the winner’s god or gods). Finally, and even though not always intentionally ritual human sacrifice committed by an all powerful priesthood or state would have instilled fear into the general population of a society making it people much more malleable and easier to control.

Friday, March 6, 2020

How Insulin Was Discovered

How Insulin Was Discovered The experiment that led to the initial discovery of insulin- the hormone manufactured in the pancreas that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood- almost didn’t happen. How Insulin Almost Wasnt Discovered For years scientists have suspected that the secret to controlling elevated levels of glucose lay in the inner reaches of the pancreas. And when, in 1920, a Canadian surgeon named Frederick Banting approached the head of the University of Toronto’s physiology department with an idea about finding that secret, he was initially rebuffed. Banting suspected a mysterious hormone was being produced in a section of the pancreas called the islets of Langerhans. He theorized that the hormone was getting destroyed by the pancreas’ digestive juices. If he could shut down the pancreas but keep the islets of Langerhans working, he might find the missing substance. Fortunately, Banting’s persuasive powers prevailed and department head John McLeod gave him lab space, 10 Langerhans hormone before it could be isolated. If he could stop the pancreas from working, but keep the islets of Langerhans going, he should be able to find the stuff!  experimental dogs, and a medical student assistant named Charles Best. By August of 1921, Banting and Best succeeded in extracting hormones from the islets of Langerhans- which they called insulin after the Latin word for island. When they injected the insulin into dogs with high blood sugar levels, those levels dropped quickly. With McLeod now taking an interest, the men worked quickly to duplicate the results and then set about running a test on a human subject, 14-year-old Leonard Thompson, who saw his blood sugar levels lower and his urine cleared of sugars. The team published there findings in 1923 and Banting and McLeod were awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine (Banting shared his award money with Best).  On June 3, 1934,  Banting was knighted for his medical discovery. He was killed in an air crash in 1941.

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Health care information and resources Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Health care information and resources - Essay Example Besides, her mother who is in her mid-forties is so slim that her figure could be that of those in their twenties. While Cynthia and her family eat the three regular meals a day, she goes further by snacking on sweets and pastries when watching the television or especially when she is upset and stressed out. The need to loose weight became even more fervent for Cynthia in the past days because her best friend has invited her to attend her birthday bash next month that was going to be a formal event. It would require everybody who is present to wear a gown or a formal dress. And there is no way that Cynthia will attend the occasion wearing a loose dress or gown. In her anxious move to become thinner in just a few short weeks, she sought the following sources on how she could take off the unwanted pounds: 1) websites – official and unofficial; 2) informal contacts: local therapist (Acupuncturist) and friends; 3) books. answers. One advised that she should not starve herself because force starvation slows down the body’s metabolism, which will result to not losing any weight at all (yahoo.answers, 2008). Another responded that she must eat five to six small meals spread over the day instead of three main big ones; and the choices of food must consist of fruits, vegetables and whole grains (yahoo.answers, 2008); while another counselled that she should not go on a diet due to the fact that she is still growing (yahoo.answers, 2008). She also read an article from a well-known weight lost website, and was able to gather more informative facts such as getting a doctor’s approval before plunging into weight loss programs and not setting her â€Å"sights too high† since small aims and objectives are more easier to attain (Scot, 2008). This is likewise supported by Pillinger 2007), who states in a website article that the best way to lose weight is to have measured alterations in term s of food and exercise.

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Financial Aspect of Health Care Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Financial Aspect of Health Care - Assignment Example This is because knowing the healthcare costs ensures financial efficiency of the patient. Cost knowledge enables the consumer to plan (budget) for products and services; this will enable him or her to choose the most appropriate and affordable health product or service provider. The exact total fraud value in the healthcare sector in the USA is not known. The Government Accountability Office, in 2010, illustrated that $48 billion dollars were used in improper payments in the health sector. That is approximately 10% of the outlays for that year totaling to $500 billion. However, Erick Holder, the US Attorney General illustrates that approximately $60-90 billion fraud in 2010 in the Medicaid and Medicare fraud (Pear, 2008). Waste occurs in the health sector programs through misallocation of financial resources; for example allocating a lot of finances to non essential projects. Cost containment entails controlling the expenses or costs needed in operating a healthcare organization, or implementing a health project within planned budgetary limits. Cost containment exercise is a significant management function, because it ensures cost efficiency. This is through using appropriate expenses to achieve intended healthcare targets. The most appropriate metaphor for cost containment is financial budget. This is because it sets limits in the financial use in healthcare, so as to realize efficiency and effective management of funds allocated for healthcare (Pear, 2008). Healthcare is considered a business because it applies the theory and principles of management. One of the principles of management illustrates a scalar chain of command. This describes the flow of authority and power from a single top level, to the lower levels of the health organizations. In healthcare, instructions flow from the top management of the health institution, through the middle management, to the lower and non-managerial staffs. Healthcare is a delivery system because; it aims at

Sunday, January 26, 2020

A Review Of Personal Loans Commerce Essay

A Review Of Personal Loans Commerce Essay If you already have a personal loan, the chances are that it is costing you more than it should. Even though there are a number of great opportunities to make your money work harder, most people dont bother changing their loan and stick with a loan rate that doesnt reflect the best deal. By using our search tool to compare loans, you can compare offers available from loan providers in the UK including both personal loans and homeowner loans. A loan is an amount of money you borrow from your bank or any financial institution, usually over a fixed period of time, which is repaid at regular intervals. Interest is charged and added to the original loan amount, and other charges, such as an Administration Fee, may apply to the loan as well. Generally, there are 2 types of loans secured and unsecured loan. Secured loans are secured against the mortgaged property. Secured loans usually ranges from  £3,000 to  £50,000, although some lenders will consider lending up to  £100,000. The amount borrowed is repaid monthly over a term agreed at the outset, ranging between three and 25 years. Unsecured loans can be taken out without offering the lender any security. Unsecured personal loans are available for a range of different amounts and repayment terms. Larger loans such as those for over  £10,000 can usually be taken over longer terms, for example between seven and 10 years, and the maximum you can borrow is about  £25,000. Payday loans are short-term borrowing solutions aimed at those facing an immediate financial difficulty. If you find yourself short of cash towards the end of the month, you can apply for a same-day payday loan, usually lasting for 31 days and are generally available for amounts between  £100 and  £1,000. The interest rates on payday loans are much higher than those on most other types of borrowing. The most common personal loans are fixed, which means repayments are set at a certain amount over a set period of time. Variable loans are also available, although this means that your interest rate is dependent on the bank base rate and could fluctuate. When choosing a loan you should pay careful attention to the APR, the Annual Percentage Rate, this is important because it tells you how much you are paying back. Secured loans Secured loans are secured against the mortgaged property. Secured loans usually ranges from  £3,000 to  £50,000, although some lenders will consider lending up to  £100,000. The amount borrowed is repaid monthly over a term agreed at the outset, ranging between three and 25 years. Unsecured loans can be taken out without offering the lender any security. Payday Loans Payday loans are short-term borrowing solutions aimed at those facing an immediate financial difficulty. If you find yourself short of cash towards the end of the month, you can apply for a same-day payday loan, usually lasting for 31 days and are generally available for amounts between  £100 and  £1,000. The interest rates on payday loans are much higher than those on most other types of borrowing. Payday loans are intended only as a short term arrangement. As with an overdraft, payday loans should not be seen as a long term solution. Mortgages A mortgage is a large loan secured against your home, usually for a standard term of 25 years. Remember that a mortgage is a secured loan, which means that the lender could take your home away if you do not keep up with payments. There are two main ways you can repay your home loan, either through a Repayment scheme or an Interest Only scheme. Repayment: This means that you pay back the capital and the interest of your mortgage on a monthly basis. Interest Only: This means you pay off the interest on your mortgage, but not the actual lump sum or capital you owe. What is Remortgaging? This is the process by which a m ortgage on a property is moved from one lender to another. The new mortgage is used to repay the existing lender and at the same time additional funds may be raised for other purposes. Re-mortgaging has become an increasingly popular way to take advantage of the competitive deals offered by lenders to attract new business. If a re-mortgage is being considered then careful attention should be paid to the costs associated with arranging the re-mortgage as well as the savings to be made on the monthly repayment (the costs can sometimes erode any savings to be made). A check should also be made with the existing lender to ensure that there are no early redemption charges. Credit Cards: If you already have a credit card with an outstanding balance, the chances are that it is costing you more than it should. Even though there are a number of great opportunities to make your money work harder, most people dont bother changing their credit card and stick with a credit card that doesnt reflect the best deal. By using our search tools to compare credit cards, you can compare the best offers available from all credit card providers in the UK including the leading 0% balance transfer credit cards and 0% purchase credit cards. Credit Cards offer an easy and flexible way of borrowing for our everyday needs and pay it back in monthly payments. Credit cards offer a safe and convenient way to pay for goods and services both in the UK and abroad, particularly if you are purchasing over the internet, phone or by mail order. Credit Cards can be very handy when you are visiting another country, but it could cost you. The exchange rate used by Credit Card companies for transactions overseas will probably range from 0% to 2.75% above the standard exchange rate. Cash back credit cards pay you a percentage rebate on the money you spend on the card. Cash back credit cards are most profitable if you pay your card balance in full every month. If you intend to keep a balance on your card, you might prefer instead to find one that offers a low interest rate. Most cash backs are calculated in the region of 0.50% to 1.00% of card spend. A prepaid card looks like a credit or debit card, and gives users the ability to purchase products and services with a card but with a crucial difference you can only spend the balance that has been preloaded onto the card. This means there is no risk of running into debt as it has no credit or overdraft facility. Money can be loaded on to a prepaid card by cash at a bank, Post Office, at Payzone or PayPoint terminals, bank transfer, through your employer or even by another credit card. Car Insurance Insurance is now available for nearly anything, covering the most important and probably the most expensive possessions in your and your familys lives: your home and its contents, your vehicle and your holiday. Depending on what youre insuring, policies and premiums will differ greatly some will be short-term and cover only emergencies, while others like motor or house and contents insurance will be more long-term in nature and will likely adapt to your changing circumstances during the term of your policy. Car insurance is a legal requirement because cars have the capacity to seriously damage property or injure people and you need to be insured to pay for any accidents you cause. There are three common types of car insurance and each offers a varying level of cover. They are: third party, third party: fire and theft, and comprehensive. Third party insurance covers the minimum required by law. It pays compensation to anyone else who was injured or had their car and property damaged. Third party: fire and theft insurance offers all of the protection that a standard third party policy does but also pays out compensation for damage done to your car by fire or theft. Comprehensive insurance offers the same level of protection as fire and theft but also protects you against accidental damage. Comprehensive cover usually covers personal belonging in the car as well. Home Insurance Insurance is now available for nearly anything, covering the most important and probably the most expensive possessions in your and your familys lives: your home and its contents, your vehicle and your holiday. Depending on what youre insuring, policies and premiums will differ greatly some will be short-term and cover only emergencies, while others like motor or house and contents insurance will be more long-term in nature and will likely adapt to your changing circumstances during the term of your policy. Home insurance are of 2 main types: buildings insurance contents insurance. Buildings insurance are those policies that cover the actual building you live in Contents Insurance are those policies that cover the contents of your property. You can buy a single policy that covers you for both, but treat them as two separate policies. It is very important for you to let your insurers know the complete details of your property, even if the policy ends up costing you more. It is important for you to have a policy that meets all your requirements while taking on your home insurance including fire, burglary, frozen pipes, extensions, storms, floods, etc., Bike Insurance : Insurance is now available for nearly anything, covering the most important and probably the most expensive possessions in your and your familys lives: your home and its contents, your vehicle and your holiday. Depending on what youre insuring, policies and premiums will differ greatly some will be short-term and cover only emergencies, while others like motor or house and contents insurance will be more long-term in nature and will likely adapt to your changing circumstances during the term of your policy. Bike theft is one of the most common type of vehicle theft and as such it is a wise investment to insure your bike. However bike insurance does not just cover you against theft, it also covers any damages that an accident (or delinquency) may cause to your bike or to yourself. Insurance companies tend to offer three main types of cover for your bike. 1) Third Party Only Bike Insurance This is the most basic level of motorcycle insurance cover available and covers you for third party death, third party injury and third party property damage. 2) Third Party Fire and Theft Bike Insurance This cover covers all of the above plus fire and theft cover and miscellaneous damage to your bike/motorcycle (subject to policy conditions). 3) Comprehensive Bike Insurance This insurance covers both of the above plus accidental damage to your bike/motorcycle. Travel Insurance Insurance is now available for nearly anything, covering the most important and probably the most expensive possessions in your and your familys lives: your home and its contents, your vehicle and your holiday. Depending on what youre insuring, policies and premiums will differ greatly some will be short-term and cover only emergencies, while others like motor or house and contents insurance will be more long-term in nature and will likely adapt to your changing circumstances during the term of your policy. Home insurance are of 2 main types: buildings insurance contents insurance. Buildings insurance are those policies that cover the actual building you live in Contents Insurance are those policies that cover the contents of your property. You can buy a single policy that covers you for both, but treat them as two separate policies. It is very important for you to let your insurers know the complete details of your property, even if the policy ends up costing you more. It is important for you to have a policy that meets all your requirements while taking on your home insurance including fire, burglary, frozen pipes, extensions, storms, floods, etc., Life Insurance Insurance is now available for nearly anything, covering the most important and probably the most expensive possessions in your and your familys lives: your home and its contents, your vehicle and your holiday. Depending on what youre insuring, policies and premiums will differ greatly some will be short-term and cover only emergencies, while others like motor or house and contents insurance will be more long-term in nature and will likely adapt to your changing circumstances during the term of your policy. A life insurance policy is a long-term commitment. Life assurance is a policy provided by an insurance company that pays your family either a lump sum or a series of smaller sums in the event of your death. There are several types of life insurance: Level term insurance designed to pay out a sum of money if the policyholder should die during the policys term. The sum assured is guaranteed and remains unchanged throughout the term. Decreasing term life insurance i.e. mortgage protection cover where the sum decreases during the policy. It is regularly used to protect capital and interest repayments on a mortgage. Renewable term insurance On the expiry date there is an option to continue without a health review. Convertible term insurance Level term insurance with the option to revert to whole life or endowment insurance. Increasing term insurance Due to inflation the value of money declines each year. Consequently, this form of insurance combats that with an escalating sum assured. Index linked term insurance Some insurers provide the option for the premium to be increased each year in relation to the Retail Price Index. Income Protection Income protection insurance is taken out against the payment of a debt ie it promises to cover your repayments (whether it is a loan or credit card debt) in the event that you lose your income due to unemployment, illness or an accident. Accident, Sickness and Unemployment You can be covered for accidents, sickness or involuntary unemployment. This cover does generally have exclusions for sickness and unemployment. Exclusions for accident and sickness can include: Any existing physical or medical condition of which you were aware on the date of signing the application form. Any disablement for which you had received treatment or advice during the 12 months immediately preceding the start date of insurance. Any disablement for which medical evidence has not been provided by a registered medical practitioner. Exclusions for unemployment can include: Unemployment resulting from industrial action, misconduct, voluntary unemployment or redundancy, and resignation. Unemployment which you were already aware of when signing the application form. If you are not registered as unemployed or not seeking alternative employment. Any unemployment which is a normal incident or seasonal occurrence in your occupation. Accident Sickness You can choose to be covered incase you have an accident or become ill and you are unable to work. You should remember that policies will exclude cover for the following: Any existing physical or medical condition of which you were aware on the date of signing the application form. Any disablement for which you had received treatment or advice during the 12 months immediately preceding the start date of insurance. Any disablement for which medical evidence has not been provided by a registered medical practitioner. Unemployment Only You can choose to be covered in case you become unemployed. This cover is generally only available if you have been employed/self employed continuously for a set time period. Exclusions can include, unemployment: Resulting from industrial action, misconduct, voluntary unemployment or redundancy, resignation. Which you were already aware of when signing the application form. If you are not registered as unemployed or not seeking alternative employment. Which is a normal incident or seasonal occurrence in your occupation.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Realism in “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens Essay

Realism was developed by the middle of the 19th century as a response to the idealistic world of romanticism which had dominated for the past half century. It was an aesthetic movement which attempted to hold up a mirror to its society to show a true reflection of reality. Although claiming to offer a slice of life by emphasizing chiefly in the importance of the ordinary amongst the middle and lower classes, realism is a relative concept, a representation of reality which adheres to a loose collection of conventions. Many of these are offered in Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, which follows the life and struggles of the protagonist and narrator, Pip. Dickens uses techniques such as a chronological linear narrative, an omniscient narrator, the celebration of the ordinary, and the resolution of the enigma to drive the moral undercurrents of Pip’s everyday existence. This constructed realism is essentially a representation of reality based on Dickens ideology, offerin g social commentary and reflecting the values and attitudes of nineteenth century England. see more:old age home article The basic structure of Great Expectations follows a chronological development of Pip’s life; from his childhood innocence, to his disillusioned expectations, finally his rejection of the high life and a circular succession ending back at the beginning. This chronological structure of which Dickens narrates exemplifies Pip’s learning process through his moral and emotional turmoil and complies with the opportunity to generate a realistic setting. For example, Pip’s description of London, â€Å"a most dismal place; the skylight eccentrically patched like a broken head, and the distorted adjoining houses looking as if they had twisted themselves to peep down at me through it,† creates an archaeologically realistic description of London, and hints a sense of foreboding, foreshadowing the futility of Pip’s expectations. This ideology developed through Pips learning process is created through a carefully crafted linear plot in order to present fiction as reality. Reflected by the matured Pip in the perspective of the omniscient narrator, Great Expectations’ first person narration employs the wisdom of hindsight to define the events and characters of the story. Dickens imbues the voice of the matured Pip to make judgments on his past actions, at the Christmas  dinner for instance, Pip experiences a deep desire to tweak Mr. Wopsle’s large nose–to â€Å"pull it until he howled.† The older Pip narrates this encounter comically and sympathetically, conveying his youthful innocence through the perspective of a child. This convention of retrospect produces a sense of psychological depth and compassion, given access to Pip’s feelings, thoughts and motivations. As the newly democratic age finds importance in the individual, essentially Great Expectations is both an external novel in Pip’s commentary of the society around him and an internal novel in the development of his perspective. By evoking consciousnes s of Pip’s character, Dickens coaxes the audience to enter the illusion of reality. Furthermore, in parallel to the importance of the individual, realism tends to concern its interests in the commonplace and ordinary everyday lives among the lower classes. Through the characters of Great Expectations, Dickens celebrates the commonplace, employing Pip, the most ordinary of subjects, as a central vehicle instilled to investigate his social reality and to express ideological views on society. Biddy, for instance â€Å"was not beautiful – she was common, and could not be like Estella – but she was pleasant and wholesome and sweet-tempered.† Despite her humble position in society Biddy emerges with admirable values, which contrasts to the cold beauty, cruelty and deception of Estella. In accordance to realist conventions concerned with rejecting the ideal, Dickens portrays the upper class with great malice, greed and corruption as Miss Havisham encourages Estella to torment Pip, whispering â€Å"Break their hearts!† Ideologically driven, realism is deliberate in rejoicing in the ordinary, and condemning the supreme. Moreover, realism is largely concentrated on ideologically driven values as the central issues of life tend to be ethical. Dickens paints the lower class to embody a high moral ground and rejects the false values of the upper class. Drummle, for instance, is an upper-class lout, while Magwitch, a persecuted convict, has a deep inner worth. This concept is developed with greater depth in the character of Joe, of which despite his position in society, his unrefined and uneducated qualities, is identified as the epitome of goodness. As a true ‘gentleman’, â€Å"It was not because I was  faithful, but because Joe was faithful,† Joe contrasts to the aspirations Pip seeks to become, of which Dickens shows as corrupt and materialistic. It was Joe’s â€Å"quiet goodness† stemming from honestly, empathy and kindness, which compelled Pip, as he reflects in retrospect, to reject the values of this society in favor of an inner morality. Additionally, a sense of ending is invested in Great Expectations which resolves the plot. The learning process Pip embarks on educates him on the futility of his expectations, and his hopes to return as a gentleman is a complete failure: Estella reminds him coldly that she has â€Å"no heart.† In Pip’s case, closure is restored through his moral development and growth, epitomized in his reconciliation with Joe and Biddy. His maturation toward adulthood is symbolized by his desire to rectify his behaviour toward his lower class loved ones. Pip has at last learned that love, loyalty and morality hold more value than social class and wealth. On a different vein, at times Great Expectations does not remain faithful to the conventions of realism. Dickens tends to slip in and out of reality, deviating from realism to social satire, using hyperbole to satirize the pretentiousness of Pumblechook’s social improvement â€Å"a large hard-breathing middle-aged slow man, with a mouth like a fish, dull staring eyes†¦looked as if he had just be all but choked.† The gothic genre is also apparent in Pip’s first description of Miss Havisham, â€Å"†¦ought to be white, had lost its luster, and was faded and yellow. I saw that the bride within the bridal dress had withered like the dress†¦Now, waxwork and skeleton seemed to have dark eyes that moved and looked at me.† The audience’s first impression of Miss Havisham is thus one of darkness, mystery and terror. With these constructed implications, realism is considered a loose convention as Dickens deviates between reality and the conventi ons of other genres. It can be seen that Great Expectations exhibits aspects of realism as it assumes that reality inheres in the here and now, in the everyday. Dickens employs themes including accurate descriptions of specific setting, the chronological structure of the story, the omniscient narrator, the importance of the ordinary, the pedestrian, and the middle class with  tendency to reject the ideal and the resolution of the enigma. Dickens also tends to deviate between different genres in contrast to the realistic portrayal of certain aspects in society. When these constructs are applied in literature, a set of conventions emerges, however in order to mimic reality they only offer an abstraction of reality reflecting the values and ideology of the composer’s context. With that said, literary realism is essentially a representation of the world based on the attitudes of the composer, carefully constructed to a set of conventions.