Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Liquidity - Dictionary Definition of Liquidity

Liquidity - Dictionary Definition of Liquidity Liquidity refers to how quickly and cheaply an asset can be converted into cash. Money (in the form of cash) is the most liquid asset. Assets that generally can only be sold after a long exhaustive search for a buyer are known as illiquid. Terms related to Liquidity: Liquidity TrapLiquidity ConstraintThe Keynes Effect Resources on Liquidity: What Happens if Interest Rates Go To Zero?What is Money? Writing a Term Paper or High School / College Essay? Here are a few starting points for research on Liquidity: Books on Liquidity Financial crises, liquidity, and the international monetary system - Jean Tirole, Princeton, and Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2002.Cash flow forecasting and liquidity - Brian Coyle, Chicago, Ill. : New York: Glenlake Pub. Co., 2000.Managing corporate liquidity - Chicago: New York: Glenlake Pub., 1999 (2nd edition). Journal Articles on Liquidity Order Imbalance, Liquidity, and Market Returns - Tarun Chordia, Journal of Financial Economics v65, n1 (July 2002): 111-30.Domestic and International Supply of Liquidity - Bengt Holstrom, American Economic Review v92, n2 (May 2002): 42-45.Bank Bailouts and Aggregate Liquidity - Douglas W. Diamond, American Economic Review v92, n2 (May 2002): 38-41.A Dual Liquidity Model for Emerging Markets - Ricardo J. Caballero, American Economic Review v92, n2 (May 2002): 33-37.Liquidity Risk and Specialness - Andrea Buraschi, Journal of Financial Economics v64, n2 (May 2002): 243-84.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

History of Golf and Golf Equipment

History of Golf and Golf Equipment Golf originated from a game played on the coast of Scotland during the 15th century. Golfers would hit a pebble instead of a ball around the sand dunes using a stick or club. After 1750, golf evolved into the sport as we recognize it today. In 1774, Edinburgh golfers wrote the first standardized rules for the game of golf. Invention of Golf Balls Golfers soon tired of hitting pebbles and tried other things. The earliest man-made golf balls included thin leather bags stuffed with feathers (they did not fly very far). The gutta-percha ball was invented in 1848 by Reverend Adam Paterson. Made from the sap of the Gutta tree, this ball could be hit a maximum distance of 225 yards and was very similar to its modern counterpart. In 1898, Coburn Haskell introduced the first one-piece rubber core; when professionally hit these balls reached distances approaching 430 yards. According to The Dimpled Golf Ball by Vincent Mallette, balls were smooth during the early days of golf. Players noticed that as balls became old and scarred, they traveled farther. After a while players would take new balls and intentionally pit them. In 1905, golf ball manufacturer William Taylor was the first to add the dimple pattern using the Coburn Haskell ball. Golf balls had now taken on their modern form. Evolution of Golf Clubs Golf clubs have evolved from wooden shaft clubs to todays sets of woods and irons with durability, weight distribution, and graduation utility. The evolution of clubs went hand-in-hand with the evolution of golf balls that were able to withstand harder whacks. History of Carrying and Caddies During the 1880s, golf bags first came into use. The beast of burden is an old nickname for the caddie who carried golfers equipment for them. The first powered golf car appeared around 1962 and was invented by Merlin L. Halvorson. Invention of Golf Tees The word tee as it relates to the game of golf originated as the name for the area where a golfer played. In 1889, the first documented portable golf tee was patented by Scottish golfers William Bloxsom and Arthur Douglas. This golf tee was made from rubber and had three vertical rubber prongs that held the ball in place. However, it lay on the ground and did not pierce the ground like modern golf tees. In 1892, a British patent was granted to Percy Ellis for his Perfectum tee that did pierce the ground. It was a rubber tee with a metal spike. The 1897 Victor tee was similar and included a cup-shaped top to better hold the golf ball. The Vicktor was patented by Scotsmen PM Matthews. American patents for golf tees include the first American patent issued to Scotsmen David Dalziel in 1895, the 1895 patent issued to American Prosper Senat, and the 1899 patent for an improved golf tee issued to George Grant. Rules of the Game In 1774, the first standardized rules of golf were written and used for the first golf championship, which was won by Doctor John Rattray on 2nd April 1744 in Edinburgh, Scotland. You must tee your ball within one clubs length of the hole.Your  tee  must be on the ground.You are not to change the ball which you strike off the tee.You are not to remove stones, bones or any break club for the sake of playing your ball, except on the fair green, and that only within a clubs length of your ball.If your ball comes among water, or any watery filth, you are at liberty to take out your ball and bringing it behind the hazard and teeing it, you may play it with any club and allow your adversary a stroke for so getting out your ball.If your balls  be  found anywhere touching one another you are to lift the first ball till you play the last.At  holeing  you are to play your ball honestly for the hole, and not to play upon your adversarys ball, not lying in your way to the hole.If you should lose your ball, by its being taken up, or any other way, you are to go back to the spot where you struck last and drop another ball and allow your adversary a stroke for th e misfortune.No man at  holeing  his ball is to be allowed to mark his way to the hold with his club or anything else. If a ball  be  stoppd by any person, horse or dog, or anything else, the ball so stoppd  must  be played where it lyes.If you draw your club in order to strike and proceed so far in the stroke as to be bringing down your club; if then your club shall break in any way, it is to be accounted a stroke.He whose ball  lyes  farthest from the hole is obliged to play first.Neither trench, ditch or  dyke  made for the preservation of the links, nor the Scholars Holes or the soldiers lines shall be accounted a hazard but the ball is to be taken out,  teed  and  playd  with any iron club.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Douglas Crockford Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Douglas Crockford - Essay Example The system which is found in our brain makes us vulnerable to advertising and makes propaganda which also influences our programming styles. This talk basically looks scientifically the development of programming style which improves the reliability of programs. Examples given in JavaScript, a programming language with exceptionally large numbers of bad parts, but the principles are applicable in all the other programming language. I do agree with Douglas Crock ford when he says we should design programs which can be used to create other complicated programs, this will make it easier for upcoming programmers being conversant with programming techniques more easily when creating programs, on other designed platforms (Crockford p 68). For example, I prefer designing websites using net beans rather than, using note pads which might be very tiresome. In conclusion, it is evident that, designing programmers on any platform each much easier and straightforward, it is proven by almost all programmers are using other programs to create their

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Individual Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Individual Development - Essay Example Competence - Industry versus Inferiority - School-age / 6-11 years. Fidelity - Identity versus Role Confusion are adolescents / 12 years till they are 20. Questioning of identity. Who they are, how they do fit in? Where they are going in a life? Erikson believed, that if the parents were to allow their children to explore, they could conclude their own self. Conversely, if the parents incessantly push him/her to be conventional to their views, these teen will face personality confusion. This is the stage that relates to this paper’s topic of discussion. Others include; Intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus stagnation and the eight and last stage being Ego integrity versus despair (Erikson, 1982). As the authors have noted (Connell 1995; Frosh, Phoenix, and Pattman 2002; Svahn 1999), ideal masculinity and stereotypical is often connected with hardness and strength. It is true that events stem from the past, but still, nearly all girls and boys would likely not be pleased to speak about their weak spots so explicitly, but would rather try to turn them into assets, into unpleasant experiences that in the end prepared them to be more independent and stronger, that is, something putting them more in conformity with masculine standards or ideals. Their nests are normally permeated with political awareness in various ways, and according to them, there is nothing not to be viewed as political. This case is a clear example of how adolescents may reflect upon matters of gender roles and identity, and make personal decisions about what they desire be like, not necessarily as boys or girls, but as individuals. Conversely, there is always a cost to pay for those deviating from ideals and norms. Though no generalized claims may be made on the foundation of this matter, it is still a fact that adolescents, who contravene gender stereotypes, besides tells tales of bullying and/or social exclusion (C. Frosh, et al, 2002). The issue here concerns

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Certain unspoken rules known as mores Essay Example for Free

Certain unspoken rules known as mores Essay In today’s world, there are certain unspoken rules known as â€Å"mores† that keep people from engaging in activities that are immoral and criminal. These mores vary slightly from country to country, but some seem to be followed by nearly every society. Murder is never socially acceptable, and in most situations, neither is incest. In an effort to understand why such different societies find the same actions repugnant, a branch of psychology known as Evolutionary Psychology has been formed. Evolutionary psychology is based on the ideas of Charles Darwin. He developed the theory of natural selection, which can be defined as â€Å"the differential contribution of offspring to the next generation by genetically different members of a population† (Crawford, p. 2). Evolutionary psychology takes Darwin’s theory of natural selection and applies the theory to explain how we as humans overcame certain problems that our ancestors encountered, primarily the issues of mating and incest. Following the idea of â€Å"the evolutionary psychology of brother – sister incest avoidance,† Darwinists have found that raising different sex children together has a profound impact on how they are attracted to each other (Crawford, p. 4). As a general rule, they do not wish to mate, and that wish â€Å"reflects a mechanism humans evolved† to avoid inbreeding and genetic problems often suffered by the next generation produced from incest (Crawford, p. 4. ). There are more researchers that take the idea of ancestral cues and evolutionary psychology and apply them to what most people think of as a serious health problem. Some researchers take the idea of evolutionary psychology and apply it to the problems that mostly young women have with anorexia. These researchers tend to focus on the idea that when young women feel they are in a situation that is unfavorable for reproduction, they attempt to render their bodies unfit for bearing children. The researchers believe that anorexia â€Å"may reflect an ancestral reproductive suppression mechanism activated by contemporary cues† (Juda, Campbell, and Crawford, p. 200). In more simplistic terms, the researchers believe that when a woman of childbearing age finds that she has a lack of support, a lack of resources, and an unsuitable mate, she will purposefully lose weight to the point that her body would not be able to become pregnant. In the unlikely event she did become pregnant the odds of the pregnancy completing successfully would be very low. The researchers believe the action taken by these women is triggered by a trait passed down from our ancestors that would keep the population low in times of trouble, such as famine, for example. However, society seems to lean toward the idea that women lose weight in an effort to look â€Å"beautiful. † Although being beautiful may be some women’s motivation to lose weight, researchers believe that beauty is not the only motivation. There are different standards for beauty all over the world. In the United States, there is a prevailing attitude that thinner is prettier. One can contrast that attitude with other counties that find bigger women to be more desirable. Most people think that â€Å"social pressures† make women in some countries want to be thin, but evolutionary psychologists have a different viewpoint. Some researchers believe that not only does an ancestral cue cause women to have eating disorders, but a similar cue could influence women to gain and lose weight in normal ranges due to the socio-ecological state in which they live (Salmon, et al, p. 2). More so, these same researchers believe that this cue is being felt to an extreme degree and for longer periods in the Western Hemisphere (Salmon, et al, p. 2). Thus, weight control is considered to be the result of an internal mechanism, not individual standards for beauty. Evolutionary psychology is an interesting branch of study that may prove useful in gaining a better understanding of what we do and why. Cues from the past influencing the world that we live in today is an interesting approach to determining the hidden reasons behind people’s actions.

Friday, November 15, 2019

The Mutilation of Society :: essays research papers fc

The Mutilation of Society No matter how we perceive ourselves, human beings are still animals. However the difference between us and the animals that walk on all four, is that we have laws that don’t allow us to go back to the days when we struggled everyday for survival. The Island of Dr. Moreau can be compared with Lord of the Flies to answer the question, are humans generally good or bad? After the death of Dr. Moreau, the creatures’ retrogression represents man’s savagery as they take part in the survival of the fittest. Finally Dr. Moreau represents what happens to humans when they have too much power; his obvious god complex makes him feel justified in the fact that he is mutilating animals that have existed for longer than humans have.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Island of Dr. Moreau, in my opinion uses the beasts to show that human nature truly is evil. As in Lord of the Flies, when civil rule is taken away from humans we go back to our animal instincts. Humans since their existence have been unable to rule themselves. As far back as the pharaohs of Egypt it was necessary to have written law that you will have to pay consequences if you kill another human being. Today the world struggles with the existence of terrorism threatening to kill off millions of its people. In some cultures this is accepted as good and even rewarded to perform these horrendous acts. In Lord of the Rings William Golding writes, â€Å"†¦Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart, and the fall through the air of a true, wise friend called Piggy† (242). This is the same feeling that Prendick had when he ends his writing with, â€Å"There it must be, I think, in the vast and eternal laws of matter, and not in the daily cares and sins and troubles of men, that whatever is more than animal within us must find its solace and its hope† (Wells, 104). Both Ralph and Prendick realize that life for them will not be the same. They have been exposed to the evil that is inside of man. In response to these realizations, Ralph weeps and Prendick removes himself from society. The way both the beast and the young men turn on each other when rule and society is taken away is true to what happens in our world now.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Type of Decision Making Enviroment

.:VirtualSalt Introduction to Decision Making, Part 1 Robert Harris Version Date: June 9, 2012 Previous versions: December 2, 2009, October 17, 2008; July 2, 1998 We all make decisions of varying importance every day, so the idea that decision making can be a rather sophisticated art may at first seem strange. However, studies have shown that most people are much poorer at decision making than they think. An understanding of what decision making involves, together with a few effective techniques, will help you make better decisions. What is Decision Making? Some DefinitionsA good place to start is with some standard definitions of decision making. 1. Decision making is the study of identifying and choosing alternatives based on the values and preferences of the decision maker. Making a decision implies that there are alternative choices to be considered, and in such a case we want not only to identify as many of these alternatives as possible but to choose the one that (1) has the hi ghest probability of success or effectiveness and (2) best fits with our goals, desires, lifestyle, values, and so on. The two important ideas here are that first, there must be some genuine alternatives to choose from among.Note that â€Å"Do it† or â€Å"Don't do it† does not qualify as a set of alternatives. Only â€Å"Do this† or â€Å"Do something else† really qualfies. Second, every decision must be made in the light of some standard of judgment. This standard usually gets expressed in the form of criteria, which reflect the values and preferences of the decision maker. These values and preferences are often influenced by corporate rules or culture, law, best practices, and so forth. 2. Decision making is the process of sufficiently reducing uncertainty and doubt about alternatives to allow a reasonable choice to be made from among them.This definition stresses the information-gathering function of decision making. It should be noted here that uncer tainty is reduced rather than eliminated. Very few decisions are made with absolute certainty because complete knowledge about all the alternatives is seldom possible. Thus, every decision involves a certain amount of risk. If there is no uncertainty, you do not have a decision; you have an algorithm–a set of steps or a recipe that is followed to bring about a fixed result. Kinds of Decisions There are several basic kinds of decisions. 1. Decisions whether.This is the yes/no, either/or decision that must be made before we proceed with the selection of an alternative. Should I buy a new TV? Should I travel this summer? Decisions whether are made by weighing reasons pro and con. A simple worksheet with two columns (one for Pro–reasons for, and one with Con–reasons against) can be useful for this kind of decision. It is important to be aware of having made a decision whether, since too often we assume that decision making begins with the identification of alternati ves, assuming that the decision to choose one has already been made. . Decisions which. These decisions involve a choice of one or more alternatives from among a set of possibilities, the choice being based on how well each alternative measures up to a set of predefined criteria. 3. Contingent decisions. These are decisions that have been made but put on hold until some condition is met. For example, I have decided to buy that car if I can get it for the right price; I have decided to write that article if I can work the necessary time for it into my schedule.OR even, We'll take the route through the valley if we can control the ridge and if we detect no enemy activity to the north. Most people carry around a set of already made, contingent decisions, just waiting for the right conditions or opportunity to arise. Time, energy, price, availability, opportunity, encouragement–all these factors can figure into the necessary conditions that need to be met before we can act on our decision. Some contingent decisions are unstated or even exist below the awareness of the decision maker. These are the type that occur when we seize opportunity.We don't walk around thinking, â€Å"If I see a new laser printer for $38, I'll buy it,† but if we happen upon a deal like that and we have been contemplating getting a new printer, the decision is made quickly. Decisions made in sports and warfare are like this. The best contingent and opportunistic decisions are made by the prepared mind–one that has thought about criteria and alternatives in the past. 4 . Contingent alternatives. Similar to contingent decisions, contingent alternatives involve two or more choices of action, one of which will be taken when the appropriate trigger occurs.Often this trigger is an event or more information. For example, If tomorrow is cloudy or rainy, we will mount a ground attack through the pass, but if the day is clear, we will launch an air strike to the north. OR, if, aft er this patch attempt, the leak is under 50 gallons per minute, we will sail to the home port for a repair. But if the leak is over 50 gpm, we will stay here and order a replacement pump. Decision Making is a Recursive Process A critical factor that decision theorists sometimes neglect to emphasize is that in spite of the way the process is presented on paper, decision making is a nonlinear, recursive process.That is, most decisions are made by moving back and forth between the choice of criteria (the characteristics we want our choice to meet) and the identification of alternatives (the possibilities we can choose from among). The alternatives available influence the criteria we apply to them, and similarly the criteria we establish influence the alternatives we will consider. Let's look at an example to clarify this. Suppose someone wants to decide, Should I get married? Notice that this is a decision whether.A linear approach to decision making would be to decide this question by weighing the reasons pro and con (what are the benefits and drawbacks of getting married) and then to move to the next part of the process, the identification of criteria (supportive, easy going, competent, affectionate, etc. ). Next, we would identify alternatives likely to have these criteria (Kathy, Jennifer, Michelle, Julie, etc. ). Finally we would evaluate each alternative according to the criteria and choose the one that best meets the criteria. We would thus have a scheme like this: decision whether †¦ select criteria †¦ identify alternatives †¦ atch criteria to alternatives †¦ make choice However, the fact is that our decision whether to get married may really be a contingent decision. â€Å"I'll get married if I can find the right person. † It will thus be influenced by the identification of alternatives, which we usually think of as a later step in the process. Similarly, suppose we have arrived at the â€Å"identify alternatives† stage of the process when we discover that Jennifer (one of the girls identified as an alternative) has a wonderful personality characteristic that we had not even thought of before, but that we now really want to have in a wife.We immediately add that characteristic to our criteria. Thus, the decision making process continues to move back and forth, around and around as it progresses in what will eventually be a linear direction but which in its actual workings is highly recursive. Key point, then, is that the characteristics of the alternatives we discover will often revise the criteria we have previously identified. The Components of Decision Making The Decision Environment Every decision is made within a decision environment, which is defined as the collection of information, alternatives, values, and preferences available at the time of the decision.An ideal decision environment would include all possible information, all of it accurate, and every possible alternative. However, both information and alternatives are constrained because the time and effort to gain information or identify alternatives are limited. The time constraint simply means that a decision must be made by a certain time. The effort constraint reflects the limits of manpower, money, and priorities. (You wouldn't want to spend three hours and half a tank of gas trying to find the very best parking place at the mall. Since decisions must be made within this constrained environment, we can say that the major challenge of decision making is uncertainty, and a major goal of decision analysis is to reduce uncertainty. We can almost never have all information needed to make a decision with certainty, so most decisions involve an undeniable amount of risk. The fact that decisions must be made within a limiting decision environment suggests two things. First, it explains why hindsight is so much more accurate and better at making decisions that foresight.As time passes, the decision environment contin ues to grow and expand. New information and new alternatives appear–even after the decision must be made. Armed with new information after the fact, the hindsighters can many times look back and make a much better decision than the original maker, because the decision environment has continued to expand. The second thing suggested by the decision-within-an-environment idea follows from the above point. Since the decision environment continues to expand as time passes, it is often advisable to put off making a decision until close to the deadline.Information and alternatives continue to grow as time passes, so to have access to the most information and to the best alternatives, do not make the decision too soon. Now, since we are dealing with real life, it is obvious that some alternatives might no longer be available if too much time passes; that is a tension we have to work with, a tension that helps to shape the cutoff date for the decision. Delaying a decision as long as r easonably possible, then, provides three benefits: 1. The decision environment will be larger, providing more information.There is also time for more thoughtful and extended analysis. 2. New alternatives might be recognized or created. Version 2. 0 might be released. 3. The decision maker's preferences might change. With further thought, wisdom, and maturity, you may decide not to buy car X and instead to buy car Y. And delaying a decision involves several risks: 1. As the decision environment continues to grow, the decision maker might become overwhelmed with too much information and either make a poorer decision or else face decision paralysis. 2.Some alternatives might become unavailable because of events occurring during the delay. In a few cases, where the decision was between two alternatives (attack the pass or circle around behind the large rock), both alternatives might become unavailable, leaving the decision maker with nothing. And we have all had the experience of seeing some amazing bargain only to hesitate and find that when we go back to buy the item, it is sold out. 3. In a competitive environment, a faster rival might make the decision and gain advantage.Another manufacturer might bring a similar product to market before you (because that company didn't delay the decision) or the opposing army might have seized the pass while the other army was â€Å"letting the decision environment grow. † The Effects of Quantity on Decision Making Many decision makers have a tendency to seek more information than required to make a good decision. When too much information is sought and obtained, one or more of several problems can arise. (1) A delay in the decision occurs because of the time required to obtain and process the extra information.This delay could impair the effectiveness of the decision or solution. (2) Information overload will occur. In this state, so much information is available that decision-making ability actually declines because the information in its entirety can no longer be managed or assessed appropriately. A major problem caused by information overload is forgetfulness. When too much information is taken into memory, especially in a short period of time, some of the information (often that received early on) will be pushed out.The example is sometimes given of the man who spent the day at an information-heavy seminar. At the end of the day, he was not only unable to remember the first half of the seminar but he had also forgotten where he parked his car that morning. (3) Selective use of the information will occur. That is, the decision maker will choose from among all the information available only those facts which support a preconceived solution or position. (4) Mental fatigue occurs, which results in slower work or poor quality work. (5) Decision fatigue occurs where the decision maker tires of making decisions.Often the result is fast, careless decisions or even decision paralysis–no decisi ons are made at all. The quantity of information that can be processed by the human mind is limited. Unless information is consciously selected, processing will be biased toward the first part of the information received. After that, the mind tires and begins to ignore subsequent information or forget earlier information. (Have you ever gone shopping for something where you looked at many alternatives–cars, knives, phones, TVs–only to decide that you liked the first one best? Decision Streams A common misconception about decision making is that decisions are made in isolation from each other: you gather information, explore alternatives, and make a choice, without regard to anything that has gone before. The fact is, decisions are made in a context of other decisions. The typical metaphor used to explain this is that of a stream. There is a stream of decisions surrounding a given decision, many decisions made earlier have led up to this decision and made it both possib le and limited. Many other decisions will follow from it.Another way to describe this situation is to say that most decisions involve a choice from a group of preselected alternatives, made available to us from the universe of alternatives by the previous decisions we have made. Previous decisions have â€Å"activated† or â€Å"made operable† certain alternatives and â€Å"deactivated† or â€Å"made inoperable† others. For example, when you decide to go to the park, your decision has been enabled by many previous decisions. You had to decide to live near the park; you had to decide to buy a car or learn about bus routes, and so on.And your previous decisions have constrained your subsequent ones: you can't decide to go to a park this afternoon if it is three states away. By deciding to live where you do, you have both enabled and disabled a whole series of other decisions. As another example, when you enter a store to buy a DVD player or TV, you are faced with the preselected alternatives stocked by the store. There may be 200 models available in the universe of models, but you will be choosing from, say, only a dozen. In this case, your decision has been constrained by the decisions made by others about which models to carry.We might say, then, that every decision (1) follows from previous decisions, (2) enables many future decisions, and (3) prevents other future decisions. People who have trouble making decisions are sometimes trapped by the constraining nature of decision making. Every decision you make precludes other decisions, and therefore might be said to cause a loss of freedom. If you decide to marry Terry, you no longer can decide to marry Shawn. However, just as making a decision causes a loss of freedom, it also creates new freedom, new choices and new possibilities. So making a decision is liberating as well as constraining.And a decision left unmade will often result in a decision by default or a decision being made for you. It is important to realize that every decision you make affects the decision stream and the collections of alternatives available to you both immediately and in the future. In other words, decisions have far reaching consequences. Go to Introduction to Decision Making, Part 2 Introduction to Decision Making, Part 3 Other Tools for Creative Thinking and Problem Solving Critical Thinking Course Homepage Introduction to Creative Thinking Creative Thinking Techniques Criteria for Evaluating a Creative SolutionIntroduction to Problem Solving Human-Factor Phenomena in Problem Solving Problem Solving Techniques Biases Affecting Information Processing Decision Making Techniques Decision Simplification Techniques Difficulties Created by the Videographic Presentation of Information Why Are We So Busy? Truths of the Information Age VirtualSalt Home Copyright 1998, 2009, 2012 by Robert Harris | How to cite this page w w w . v i r t u a l s a l t . c o m About the author: Robert Harris is a writer and educator with more than 25 years of teaching experience at the college and university level. RHarris at virtualsalt. com

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Stanley in a Streetcar Named Desire

Laura Robertson Ms. Albertson English IV Honors 17 January 2012 A Streetcar Named Desire: Stanley Kowalski In the play A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, an insensitive and cruel character named Stanley Kowalski is depicted. His juxtaposition to Stella Kowalski, his mild mannered and sensitive wife, accentuates his character flaws making them even more prominent and dramatic throughout the play. Through Stanley’s conflicts with Blanche DuBois and his rapist-like sexual advances, Stanley becomes the perfect villainous character, enabling the reader to sympathize with Stella and Blanche. With the violent scenes and the highly sexual content, Stanley is the center of all climactic events in A Streetcar Named Desire. Stanley’s aggressive nature even goes so far as domestic violence, where he savagely beats Stella and verbally abuses her on a regular basis. This is evident in many scenes. Just the presence of Stanley is enough to create fear and uneasiness for the people that surround him. Throughout the play A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams depicts Stanley Kowalski as a villain-like character with a mean streak and vicious personality which creates an uneasy environment due to his pugnacious lifestyle and insensitive demeanor. â€Å"The stage directions say that sex is the center of Stanley’s life. Being sexually attractive assures Stanley’s delusional rapist mind that his sexual advances are being welcomed† (Nagel 10). Stanley’s delusional mind makes him believe that his sexual brutality is respected and is a naturally accepted thing. Throughout the play, Stanley’s character is followed by sexual connotations and innuendos. A very vivid illustration of this starts at the very beginning of the play where â€Å"The vigorous physicality and the echo of his primitive nature, combined with the coarse sexual innuendo of his package of meat suggest passion close to the surface and introduce the audience to Stanley’s inner character† (Nagel 10). The bringing of the package of meat to Stella and how Stanley carelessly throws the heavy package to her even though she insists on not being able to catch it shows the brutal nature of his sexuality. The way the package is described as dripping with blood is used to over accentuate the graphic nature of the ordeal, foreshadowing sexual happenings that will occur later in the play. Another example of the graphic nature of Stanley’s sexual brutality is portrayed in the poker game in scene three. After Stella had fled to Eunice’s house and Stanley sorrowfully called to her the play states that Stella came down to him and they made animal noises together. This shows the animalistic behavior of Stanley and the unhealthy relationship between Stella and Stanley. Stanley is described as highly sexed in the play and when Stanley and Stella are together, they create a bond that Blanche can’t ever break† (Nagel 10). Though try as she might, Blanche’s attempts to keep Stella from Stanley are ultimately thwarted due to Stanley and Stella’s unhealthy bond with one another. In addition to Stanley’s savage and animalistic sexual advances his verbal abuse towards both Stella and Blanche even further assert him as a villainous character from the start to the finish of the play. Stanley is especially cruel to Blanche who he had an antagonistic feeling towards from the moment he met her. One of the first illustrations of Stanley’s harsh words is represented with his first argument with Blanche. â€Å"This first confrontation is over the loss of Belle Reve. Stanley’s composure vanishes and his vision becomes so distorted that he mistakes her cheap jewelry as ropes of pearls† (Nagel 10). When this confrontation occurs and Stanley’s composure becomes compromised when he realizes that Blanche had been telling the truth about losing the estate to the mortgage instead of selling it for profit and lashes out to compromise his mistake. Stanley could not stand the thought of being proved wrong by a woman like Blanche so he explodes into a fit of rage to cover up the pride he had lost in being wrong about Blanche. A particularly tense birthday dinner of Blanche leads to yet another episode of Stanley’s dangerous and violent fits of rage. After Stella scolded Stanley for eating like an animal, with his fingers, he erupts into a disastrous rage. â€Å"That’s how I’ll clear the table! (Seizes her arm) Don’t ever talk that way to me that way! ‘Pig-Polack-Disgusting-Vulgar-Greasy! ’—Them kind of words have been on your tongue and your sister’s too much around here! What do you think you are? A pair of queens? Remember what Huey Long said—‘Every man is a king! ’ and I am the king around here, so don’t you forget it† (Williams 107)! This outburst alone highlights the cruel and misogynistic ways of Stanley and further paints him in a negative and harsh light. Throughout the play A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams depicts Stanley Kowalski as a villain-like character with a mean streak and vicious personality which creates an uneasy environment due to his pugnacious lifestyle and insensitive demeanor. His juxtaposition to Stella Kowalski, his mild mannered and sensitive wife, accentuates his character flaws making them even more prominent and dramatic throughout the play. Through Stanley’s conflicts with Blanche DuBois and his rapist-like sexual advances, Stanley becomes the perfect villainous character, enabling the reader to sympathize with Stella and Blanche. Works Cited Nagel, James. â€Å"Critical Essays on Tennessee Williams. † Ed. Robert A. Martin. First Edition. New York, New York: G. K. Halland Co. , 1997 Williams, Tennessee. â€Å"A Streetcar Named Desire. † New York, New York: New American Library, 1951. Pages 13-142.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Top 5 part-time jobs for seniors who are retired and need some extra cash

Top 5 part-time jobs for seniors who are retired and need some extra cash If you’re part of the Baby Boomer generation, you’ve probably been around the block, career-wise. You may be retiring from your long-term career, or find yourself looking for a change of pace for the next phase of your work life. As you hit a certain age, people may expect you to slow down and retire, but if you’re not ready for that (either financially or personally), there are lots of great part-time jobs for seniors. These opportunities can help you redefine what â€Å"retirement age† really means. Part-time jobs can be ideal for working seniors. The schedule is flexible, and you can build skills and experience without committing to a full-time gig. It’s especially ideal for retirees looking to add extra income without going back to the full-time grind, allowing you to balance work with outside interests, social time, and personal needs.Let’s take a closer look at some of the best part-time opportunities out there for Boomers.Seasonal Reta il AssociateThis is the classic part-time job. Stores frequently hire part-time associates to pitch in during particularly busy seasons, like the holidays. And it’s not just Christmas shopping; you may also see opportunities in spring and summer at home improvement stores or garden centers. If you have a green thumb and a pleasant customer-service mindset, then that can be a good option for you. Seasonal retail associates typically help with the day-to-day operations of the store: stocking shelves, assisting customers, acting as cashier, taking inventory, and other in-store tasks as needed.What you’ll need: Retail experience helps, but isn’t always necessary; most stores will provide on-site training. Strong customer service skills are a must, and good organization and math skills are very helpful as well.What it pays: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, retail sales associates make a median salary of $11.01 per hour. This can vary depending on exp erience level.Rideshare DriverIt may be time to get in on the â€Å"gig economy† trend if you’re looking for a part-time job with flexibility and control over your own hours. If you’ve got a valid driver’s license and a car in good shape, you may be able to drive for companies like Uber and Lyft. Drivers have total control over when they’re on the clock, so it’s a flexible option for your preferred schedule. And if you’re interested in night owl work, you can make solid money with late-night fares- especially if you live near a city or other area with a strong nightlife scene.What you’ll need: A valid driver’s license, a car that can pass a rigorous vehicle inspection, and a clean driving record. Most companies require their drivers pass a comprehensive background screening as well.What it pays: The median national hourly rate for rideshare drivers is $19.04, but drivers can make $30-40 an hour, plus tips, depending on h ow many fares they’re picking up. It can also vary according to your location.Teacher Assistant/ParaprofessionalThese educational professionals work in the classroom alongside teachers, helping students and teachers with day-to-day activities. Unlike standard teaching, teacher assistants (also known as paraprofessionals) may work on a part-time basis, coming into the classroom for a few hours per day or a few days per week. These professionals can be found in schools at every level: daycare, elementary, middle, and high schools. Their tasks can include managing classroom behavior or activities; helping teachers grade student work or plan lessons; preparing classroom equipment or technology; tutoring students who need extra help; taking attendance; assisting students who have special needs; or monitoring students during activities or lunch.What you’ll need: Teacher assistants typically don’t need a four-year degree, but an associate’s degree or background in education certainly helps. Strong organizational skills, good communication skills (both written and verbal), teaching skills, and kid-friendliness are all assets in this field. Most states also require some form of certification for paraprofessionals, including passing a standardized exam, so be sure to confirm what your state or school district requires.What it pays: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, paraprofessionals earn a median salary of $25,410 per year. This can vary according to location, and paraprofessionals who are multilingual, or who specialize in areas like special needs or special education, tend to be in high demand.Substitute TeacherIf you’ve got a background in education or subject matter expertise, then becoming a substitute teacher can be a good part-time option. Substitute teachers step in when the regular teacher is out and maintain order and progress in a particular classroom. Substitute teachers may be short-term (covering a teacher ’s sick day) or long-term (covering, say, a teacher’s maternity leave or other longer absence), and assignments are typically accepted at the discretion of the sub. So if you’re looking for a job with flexible daytime hours (and summers off), it may be a great choice.Substitute teacher duties typically include teaching lessons or managing activities as outlined by the full-time teacher; developing lesson plans for longer-term assignments; managing student behavior in the classroom and ensuring schedules stay on track; or participating in other school activities as needed, like cafeteria monitoring, bus monitoring, before- or after-school care, etc.What you’ll need: Requirements can really vary by state, town, school district, and even school, so it’s essential to be familiar with the needs and rules of your target school/location. Some states require substitute teachers to hold specific teacher certification and a four-year degree, while others sim ply require a high school diploma. Skill-wise, you’ll need strong teaching skills, good organizational/management skills, and a good amount of flexibility.What it pays: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for substitute teachers is $30,900, or $14.86 per hour. This can vary depending on the substitute teacher’s experience, as well as the state and type of school.InternUsually when we think of interns, we think of eager young students or recent grads, trying to get a foothold in the industry where they want to build their careers. But there’s actually a growing trend where older employees are turning to internships to either change careers, or get back into the workplace. These â€Å"relaunch† internships are a way for companies to engage with a huge potential pool of employees, and a chance for people of any age to build skills and experience, or transition to a new job.According to U.S. News and World Report, these internships can be especially well-suited for post-retirees or other employees who may not need full benefits or are willing to accept a junior-level salary compared to what they may have been making before.What you’ll need: It helps to have some knowledge of the company or field you’re entering, but an internship is all about building experience from the ground up, so it’s important to have a strong base of skills like organization and communication. A willingness to learn and adapt is essential, and you should also be willing to accept junior employee status.What it pays: Internships can vary widely by industry, ranging from unpaid internships to stipends or entry-level salaries.Baby Boomers and Seniors have always been the trendsetters, so it makes sense that would continue in the employment world even after they’ve passed into the traditional retirement zone. Your career path is yours to seize at any age, so if you’re looking for non-full-time opportunities, there’s likely something to meet your financial needs, scheduling needs, and interests.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

How to become a special education teacher

How to become a special education teacher Anyone who takes on the role of teacher is already pretty special- educating students of all ages is not for everyone, and it can be one of the most challenging and rewarding careers out there. And if you’re thinking of becoming a special education teacher, working with students with an even greater range of learning styles, academic needs, and levels of ability, the ups and downs of teaching can be even more intense. If you think this might be the teaching career for you, we have the info you need to get started on that path. What do special education teachers do?Special education teachers are educators who work specifically with students who have physical, academic, or emotional differences. Many special ed teachers focus on a particular age group (like elementary school or high school), but the range of student ages can vary, depending on how the school’s special education programs are set up. Special education teachers may work with students who have a variety of sp ecial needs conditions, including:Learning disabilitiesBehavior disordersAutism spectrum disordersPhysical disabilities (blindness, deafness, etc.)Students may range from having mild learning disabilities to severe mental and physical challenges. Special education teachers may choose to specialize in one of these areas and focus their master’s degree studies accordingly. As school employees, special education teachers typically have the same full-time work day and school year as other kinds of teachers, with summers off (unless a particular school or district offers summer courses as part of its special education curriculum). Although the school week typically involves a standard number of working hours, there may be additional time spent in the mornings, evenings, and off-hours to prepare for school and help students in extracurricular programs or other activities.These teachers have many of the same job responsibilities as other types of teachers, including:Lesson and curri culum planningManaging classroom lessons and activitiesTracking student progressMeeting with parentsAssisting students with everyday living tasksTeaching a variety of subjects (like reading, math, or science)Teaching communication skillsSpecial education teachers can be found in most types of schools: public, private, elementary, secondary, or magnet.What skills do special education teachers have?Special education teachers often need to have an extra dose of people skills, given that they’re dealing with students who may have a variety of physical, emotional, and educational needs.Teaching Skills:  This is the most important skill for any teacher, really, but special education teachers have to be especially good at teaching basic concepts to students who have different abilities to learn and understand the material.Flexibility:  Classrooms are unpredictable, and this can be even more true when a class has students with a variety of needs and abilities. The teacher should bring a certain amount of flexibility to lessons and classroom activities to help account for different students who learn in different ways. The special education classroom is rarely a one-size-fits-all educational experience, so a little flexibility in teaching can be very helpful.Patience:  This is a very important skill for a special education teacher to have. Many special needs students may require extra time or resources to learn the skills and concepts that other students may â€Å"get† faster. For the teacher, it’s crucial to understand that extra help or patience may be the best way to reach those students and help them learn.Creativity:  Again, because of the learning differences that special education students may have, standard lessons may not be the way to go. Finding ways to teach material in ways that students can relate to and understand, even if it’s a little unorthodox, can really help special education teachers in their day-to-day classroo ms.Organizational Skills:  Like in any classroom, organization can mean all the difference between chaos and success. Organization is extra important for a special needs classroom, where students have additional challenges and may need even more structure throughout the school day. There may be students with wildly different needs as well, so keeping the classroom and the students organized is essential to making sure everyone’s staying on track.What do you need to become a special education teacher?Becoming a special education teacher requires a four-year degree in education, ideally with a focus on special education. Many teachers also go on to complete a master’s degree in special education as well. Certification is typically required for special education teachers, particularly ones in public schools. Each state has its own certification requirements, so be sure to check with your state to see what’s expected.How much do special education teachers get paid ?According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for kindergarten teachers is $57,910. This can vary depending on the teacher’s experience and the type of school, as well as the types of students the teacher is working with.  What is the outlook for special education teachers?The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that this field will grow about 8% by 2026, which is about as fast as average for all careers. Education is a rather perennial field (especially as the population continues to grow), and the demand for teachers who have the skills to work with special needs students will likely be one of the education specialties that sees the most growth within the industry.If you have the patience and skills to work with special students who have needs that go beyond many other students’, this can be an incredibly rewarding and satisfying career path. You’ll be helping students overcome their issues and learn and grow their potential . Good luck!

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 7

Research Paper Example Health care reform is considered to be an important responsibility of any government. In simple terms, health care reform refers to the reform in the health care system and/or in some parts of this system. This paper is developed to serve the purpose of providing a clear review of the literatures that are available with respect to the Health Care Reform in U.S. In the process of doing so, the paper includes a brief history of health care system and reforms in the context of US. Furthermore, it also contains the present situation of health care reform in the country. It is important to review the literature regarding US health care system before reviewing the literature regarding US health care reform. Significant volume of literature can be found related to US health care system. Steven Jonas, Karen Goldsteen and Raymond Goldsteen in their â€Å"An introduction to US Health Care System† have opined that the health care system in US is very similar to the systems of the other nations where ‘allopathic medical model’ is mainly followed (Jonas, Goldsteen & Goldsteen, 2007). However, it has several features that are unique in nature when compared to the health care systems of other countries. While providing a brief overview of the Unites States health care system, Jonas and Goldsteens have said that an important aspect of the US health care system is that it is significantly fragmented and decentralized (Jonas, Goldsteen & Goldsteen, 2007). Its main function and role are significantly focused on the production of outcomes. It r emarkably emphasizes on the profits and power of the service providers. In US, health care is provided but it does not come at a low cost. High end education and researches that are related to health care are provided and funded. Surely there are loci of control and power. In the US as such there is no central Ministry of Health. The system allows

Friday, November 1, 2019

Environmental Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Environmental Studies - Essay Example Bio-centrism extends inherent value to all animals. This system dictates that human beings are equal to other living things. This ethical viewpoint gives all living things an equal platform, and at the same time reduces chances of exploitation. If this ethical viewpoint was followed by all human beings, then the world would be a better place for all. More over, human beings would not be dealing with the negative effects of pollution, and environmental degradation. While this idea is very noble, there is a perception that it is not practical after all. In other words, bio-spherical egalitarianism is hypothetical in nature and lacks any practical application. The other major weakness of this ethical viewpoint is that it disregards the environment in favor of the living things. If a human being is faced with a conflict between preserving the environment and living things, then they would rather favor the living things. In addition, biocentrism emphasizes on individualism, hence neglecti ng collective entities such as the ecosystem (Reichmann 45). Lastly, biocentrism suggests that there are limits to what humans can do with the environment (Agar 56). This goes against what is universally acceptable, and is very unrealistic. Taking such an unrealistic stance encourages human beings to become even more destructive. Based on this information, our conservation efforts need to be balanced, and human beings need to be accorded a higher status compared to other living things. Unlike other living creatures, human beings have the capacity to take care of the ecosystem and address the challenges facing the environment. If the conservation efforts are modeled according to this system, then human beings will be unable to exploit the environment. On the other hand, utilitarian conservation asserts that resources should be used for the greater good and for the greatest number. This approach