Unusual Things to Do for Christmas

Unusual Things to Do for Christmas When you come home for Christmas break this year, bring some creative ideas with you. If you’re tired of celebrating things the same way year in and year out, make some suggestions for how to shake things up at your house this holiday. Whether it’s celebrating in a new destination or drastically changing the menu, there are lots of ways to make this Christmas different from any other. If you don’t have any ideas that strike you, take some inspiration from this list: Volunteer Christmas isn’t a day of sharing gifts and feasting for many people. People without homes or families are in need of care during the holidays and volunteering for a soup kitchen or spending time with elderly people in a retirement home can make a huge difference in someone’s life. Youll be surprised how many benefits volunteering can bring you. Go Camping Get away from all the commercialized expectations of Christmas and grab your tent and head out into the woods. Warming up by the fire and sleeping under the stars can be a refreshing change from Christmas party mayhem. Get Out of Town Go a step further and check out altogether by celebrating Christmas somewhere else this year. Whether it’s in a foreign country, or someplace warm like a tropical beach or just someplace different, it can certainly be an alternative to the usual Christmas routine. Celebrate Christmas Traditions From Around the World Make a pià ±ata and fill it with coins and candy like in Mexico. In Ukraine, a twelve-course meal is served and the family’s youngest child sits by the window to watch for the first star to appear in the sky, signaling that it’s time to eat. Or dust off the snow and fire up the barbeque Australian style. Or do everything by candlelight for the entire day like in traditional Swedish lore. Do you want to know more about other Christmas traditions? Check out the blog on interesting facts about Christmas. Some of them will really surprise you! Fast for the Day Most Christmas celebrations involve eating a lot of food and drinking a lot of alcohol. Whether you want to avoid packing on the pounds or simply don’t wish to participate in the gluttony, fasting on Christmas would certainly be a departure from the norm. Put on a Christmas Play Get your family members together and put on a play. Maybe it will be based on an existing play or film like A Christmas Carol or It’s a Wonderful Life or A Charlie Brown Christmas or How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Or maybe you’ll make up your own play that’s totally unique. In any case, it can be a fun and creative way to get into the festivities. You can invite other family members, friends and neighbors to come and watch. Decorate Your Car If you think that decorating Christmas trees is too boring, put some tinsel and lights on your car so you can spread Christmas cheer even if you’re just driving to the gas station to buy coffee creamer. However, you can make an unusual Christmas tree instead. Bring a Guest If you have a friend from school who doesn’t have a place to celebrate Christmas this year, bring them home with you and share your family traditions with them. Rent a Horse-Drawn Sleigh Depending on where you live, you might be able to rent one of these for the day and get taken around a park. Don’t forget to bring some carrots for the horse. Plant a Tree This can be a great way to celebrate and spend time together as a family. Also, you’ll enjoy the fruits of it in the years to come. If it’s a fruit-bearing tree, save some of them during the year and use it to make a pie to eat on Christmas day to commemorate the day you planted it. Go Vegan Whether or not you’re actually a vegan, it can be a creative way to celebrate this year. Look up some vegan entree and dessert recipes and get your meat-eating father to participate in making it with you. If you get tired from the same scenario of celebrating Christmas but you still want to party, here youll find funny party themes for Christmas that you might actually like. Enjoy a unique Christmas this year with some of these fun and unorthodox ways to celebrate!

3 key employee retention strategies to keep turnover low

3 key employee retention strategies to keep turnover low As an HR professional, you are keenly aware of the importance of employee retention- both for achieving target department milestones, as well as for the long-term success of your company. Beyond the sunk costs and organizational chaos that take place when there’s a constantly revolving door of employees entering and exiting a business, companies often cite employee retention as a key metric for effective daily operation and overall success.In fact, it goes further than that: companies that build reputations for consistently impressive employee retention rates bolster their brand identities- and you better believe that word travels fast, so you can count on active and passive future candidates discovering that people enjoy working at your organization for the long haul.Your company’s bottom line- and opportunities for achieving industry growth, attracting talent-rich candidates, and realizing long-term success- is dependent on effective employee retention, so you better have a strategy. If your HR team needs to take its retention plan to the next level, consider utilizing the following strategies for keeping turnover low in your organization.Know your industryThe truth is, not all industries are created equal- and neither is how employees are typically treated. What employees expect in one field may be completely different than another, and you better believe that all of the employees in your organization- including everyone from new hires to seasoned veterans- will have some level of expectation regarding how they should be treated by their employer and will respond accordingly based on their perception (regardless of whether or not it’s completely aligned with reality).This mindset isn’t relegated to just your most talented star employees or any specific department- it’s at the core of human psychology. How you’re treated or, more accurately, how you perceive that you’re treated, impacts your resultant behavior. This holds true at home, in the world, and on the job.hbspt.cta.load(2785852, '9e52c197-5b5b-45e6-af34-d56403f973c5', {});So, make sure you’re keenly aware of what the standards are for your industry, and make sure your company is on target in all key areas- including salaries, benefits packages, and additional perks. Even things like your office layout and organization are going to impact employee perception. So, if you want to keep turnover low and employee satisfaction high, make sure you’re meeting their expectations regularly, which includes both current and future industry standards (so be sure to stay on top of industry shifts and trends).Lead the wayNow that you know how important it is to meet industry expectations for employees in your company, create a plan to exceed them. That’s right- in today’s ultra-competitive job market, where hungry and lean new startups are emerging every day and are eager to source new talent for their teams- todayâ⠂¬â„¢s talented job candidates have options, and the laws of attraction apply in the professional world as much as anywhere else. Progressive companies know that investing time, energy, and resources towards developing truly innovative, first-in-class employee incentives will not only attract new talent, it will help keep your existing teams from thinking about whether or not the grass is greener somewhere else. Doing so will also have the added benefit of helping to bolster your company’s brand identity- and trust us, word will spread. Pique candidate interest, and then keep hold of their attention and loyalty as employees, by offering them industry-leading incentives to keep them satisfied and doing their best work over the long haul. Don’t just keep up with other companies- innovate.Listen to your employeesThis one might seem obvious, but you may be surprised to learn that the communications pipeline between employees and leadership in many organizations tends to wo rk slowly- and oftentimes seems as if it barely works at all. Big mistake- and one that your company should actively seek to avoid. Make sure the employees on your team have the tools to voice their opinions regarding the direction of the company and their place in it- think everything from offsite gatherings to regular feedback meetings and annual employee satisfaction appraisals- and make sure that it’s not just smoke but is treated like the valuable data that it is.If employees are telling you that something is working, then keep doing it; if something is broken, then fix it. Don’t forget, active and attentive listening is a key component of any healthy relationship, including the one between employer and employee, and great companies treat their employees as more than cogs in their machines.If you’re looking to reduce employee turnover in your company, consider using the strategies presented here to keep your teams happy and eager to come to work- and do the ir absolute best- every single day of the week. If you put in the work up-front, you’ll create a warm, thriving atmosphere that’s sure to retain talented workers who will bring the results your company wants.

Managing Diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Managing Diversity - Essay Example Center of discussion in this paper is diversity management that has attracted not only a lot of interest but also debates all over the world. Many countries are now making improvements in their diversity management strategies in order to accommodate the increasingly diverse labour market. Diversity management entails various actions by organisations aimed at maximising the inclusion of workers from a diverse background. These employees are recruited into not only formal but also the informal structures of the various organisations by use of deliberate policies. The recruitment may also be done through deliberate programs, specifically designed for promoting diversity management. As a way of countering the increasingly diverse working population all over the world, many organisations have put in place particular measures aimed at appropriate recruitment of employees, their inclusion, as well as the retention of these employees. Focus has been put on those employees from underprivilege d or minority groups within various societies. Various organisations in Europe have instituted laws that promote equal right, as well as policies aimed at enhancing affirmative action, so as to assist the less privileged groups to get jobs in both familiar and unfamiliar labour territories. It has been discovered that the exclusion of such workers from influential positions has seriously contributed to their limited contribution to the well being of their respective organisations. This has in turn given them very little chances to gain from these organisations maximally. (Subeliani and Tsogas 2005, p. 838). The various policies and initiatives for diversity management have been proven to have created conducive working environment in these organisations, especially to the underprivileged groups. It has indeed worked positively in recruiting individuals who are getting jobs for the first time, and those that are occupying higher positions for the first time too (Mathis and Jackson 201 0, p.200). The emergence of a global economy and that of multinational organisations has taken diversity management considerations beyond just the dynamic nature of labour market in a specific nation, but that across nations. The management of diversity of labour force in a national context is known as â€Å"intra-national diversity management. On the other hand, managing labour in an organisation with citizens from different nations is referred to as cross-national diversity management. In this sense, a company may be operating in different countries and as such, needs policies and programs, for diversity management, to be applied not only in its headquarters but also in its branches in the various countries. Moreover, cross-national diversity management policies work better when organisations put into consideration laws and culture of the countries in which they operate (Arredondo and Arredondo 1996, p. 178). According to Thomas (2005), diversity management goes beyond the simple consideration of the less privileged groups. It also considers differences and similarities within a workforce. He argues that diversity management entails handling the employee dynamics within the whole workforce, and not just a particular section of the workforce (Klarsfeld 2010, p.325). The European Union has shown its almost unrivalled commitment to promote equality in its labour market through

Fashion of America in the 1906's Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fashion of America in the 1906's - Essay Example The essay "Fashion of America in the 1906's" talks about the fashion and trends in America during 1906. This inspired me to study the fashion events for understanding trends and comparing the old trends with the new ones. American first fashion design program was founded in the 1906. Persons established the Seventh Avenue of New York City as the home of American fashion. Seventh Avenue is respected being the first fashion-designing centre in New York. Parsons offers a bachelor degree in fine arts, fashion designing, and fashion marketing. Seventh Avenue is playing its role as an international fashion centre to educate the American youth on fashion aspects. Many artists appeared on the art horizon in the early 20th century with some exceptional work in the field. That period of the century is also known as the period of making and breaking. Eakins, Winslow home and Charles Russell displayed talent in painting and landscaping. Alfred showed mastery and soon became the famous photograph er of America. Newspaper changed from two columns to four-column tabloid style paper in the first decade of the 20th century. Newspaper â€Å"the Christian science monitor’ was found in 1908 in America. Fiction stories gained fame in women as women go the material of their interest in fiction books. Mary Jonson’s â€Å"to have and to hold† and â€Å"the Virginian† are the masterpieces that still entertain the people in America and outer world. These books and newspapers have gone through continuous updating with the passage of time. and are still liked by many Americans (Druesedow & Mitchell 34). The decade brought progressive education in all the fields of fashion life of American people. After the persons, other educational schools were opened for girls in 1900s (Thomas 2011). Men fashion also started getting touch of romance at the start of new century. Men in America used to wear long trousers with half sleeve shirts. Youths were crazy of motoring in smart dress. Use of goggles and hats increased amongst the youngsters especially for motoring and biking (Wilcox 48). Broad shoulder dressing was commonly used in 1906s. Cotton knit lightweight shirts got fame as beach and sportswear. Smart and slim women wore straight corset with long hips in order to give a small look to their waist. Automobile advancement also had long lasting effects on dressing of the people in 1906s. Women started wearing smaller skirts as for ease of travelling in the new model automobiles (Scheips 129). Hobble skirts were particularly used for walking and jogging. High button shoe that we still see some Hollywood stars wearing them, were first introduced in the first decade of the century (Thomas 2011). Americans adopted bobbed hairstyle after its first appearance in 1908. Hats got a lot of fame in 1906s and both the genders used hats extensively in the normal life. Different designs of hats were introduced catering for modern dressing. Large and small hats of different cloth and colour were very famous in 1900s (Wilcox 52). Advancement of technology brought about many changes in human life in that decade. Teddy Bear became a famous cartoon and his fashion spread fast in 1905. Job opportunities for railway, ships and different business opportunities changed the human lifestyle in that part of the world (Hall 58). Wright brothers made first human journey in 1903. This was a remarkable achievement of human mind in field of aviation. Cadillac and Ford introduced cheap cars for common Americans in the same decade (Scheips 125). Sunday

Physical Security Essay Example for Free

Physical Security Essay Securing networks or systems within institutions and corporations is not enough. At present, security is not only concerned with the ethereal aspect of it but also with the tangible dynamics of physical security. Although physical security seems too basic, establishing even the most sophisticated network security is useless if its physical environment does not keep it sheltered and protected. Security threats that have something to do with the physical aspect of institutions include burglary and theft. In this case, even the most established digital security system that functions within the computer networks will not be able to prevent these crimes. A breach in physical security makes the network or digital system of the institution susceptible to power interruptions that disrupts the security system, addition of hardware devices that may used to hack or spy into the system, removal of hardware devices that paralyzes the system, copying confidential data from the system through USBs, CDs, and such, logging in the system directly without authorization, etc. Stewart, 2004) The importance of high standard physical security systems and policies ensure that aforementioned situations that seek to jeopardize the position of institutions that might affect all its aspects, especially its finances, are avoided. Having a secure digital system is impressive, but having a secure digital system and physical environment is highly recommended. To uphold high quality standards of security, both the digital and physical aspects of security should be merged. Sturgeon (2004) defines this as marrying digital and physical security. Physical security involves the use of high-tech gadgets such as cameras that will be used for close monitoring, 24-hour video coverage and storage, video recording triggered by movements, wireless and mobile installments within the physical environment, etc. (Physical Security, 2008) The physical security approach is based on four principles or strategies. First, physical security follows the necessity of protecting the network or institution, detecting security threats and possible risks, responding to these threats and risks, and allowing recovery for the network or institution from damages or indemnities brought about by security breaches. This process requires setting up of security systems that will accomplish these four phases of protecting (with the use of controlled access systems that restricts involvement of the public to authorized personnel only), detecting (using surveillance systems and frequent check-up of the physical areas of institutions), responding (well-trained security officials and network protocols that carry out these responses to security threats and risks), and recovering. (Operational Security Standard on Physical Security, 2004) Second, physical security builds up on hierarchical zones that protect or safeguard access to the security system. These hierarchical zones include the public zone (areas accessible to the public), reception zone (area wherein the boundary between the public and restricted zones is determined), operations zone (areas private to personnel), security zone (areas private to only authorized personnel or visitors), and the high security zone (areas private to authorized and escorted personnel or visitors). Within these zones, technological facilities and security officials are installed and designated respectively to carry out four phases in the previous approach discussed. (Operational Security Standard on Physical Security, 2004) The third approach in physical security is controlling access to determined hierarchical zones. This approach has something to do with controlling access most especially to restricted areas. It does not only control individual access, but is also concerned with the entry of materials considered to be potentially threatening or risky to security, such as mobile phones and other technological gadgets, harmful objects such as knives, guns, and such, etc. Although institutions should consider this approach in physical security, controlling access should not limit or restrict authorized individuals too much, allowing them ease in visiting each zone within the institution. Aside from security officials designated at every zone, there should also be systems that carry out state-of-the-art security protocols, such as technologies installed within the institution that asks for PIN or access numbers, access cards, biometrics, etc. Fourth, physical security systems should be designed to increase security levels in times of emergency or security threats. (Operational Security Standard on Physical Security, 2004) These four approaches, as recommended by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat follow the requirements of a strong and efficient physical security system. The concepts supported by these four approaches suggest how physical security systems and policies should be established in order to ensure that it will serve its purpose. However, accomplishing all the requirements in establishing a physical security system and a set of policies is not enough. Institutions should make sure that these elements of security are assessed and evaluated to ensure that it is properly sustained and it is up-to-date with trends in security technologies and processes. Part of the evaluation process includes frequent training and drills for security officials, checking-in with technological innovations that improve quality of security measures and systems, and observing existing systems to determine much-needed replacements or tweaks. With all these information in mind, physical security is a vital part in institutions that should not be neglected nor taken lightly. It complements digital network security systems, such that it prevents it from being jeopardized or subjected to external control, manipulation, and possible damages that affects the operations within the institution. Establishing a solid physical security system require that all aspects of the physical environment within an institution is identified. Mapping out requires that the institution determines where security is most needed and where access is most likely to be controlled. Aside from going over the basics and technical details of physical security systems, institutions should provide time and effort to evaluate the system in order to ensure that it functions efficiently according to its purpose, and that it meets the highest requirements of quality standard physical security.

Free College Admissions Essays: Jewish Self-discovery :: College Admissions Essays

Jewish Self-discovery "Sarah, we need your help in the Ukraine this summer. Can I count on you?" This question changed my life profoundly. I was asked to be a counselor on JOLT, Jewish Oversees Leadership Program, an opportunity to interact with young campers in an impoverished country and positively influence their lives. Little did I realize that this experience would impact mine so greatly. JOLT, an outreach program, runs an annual overnight summer camp in the Ukraine with counselors from the United States and Israel. These counselors are carefully selected because of the rigorous programming and the many physical hardships of living in the Ukraine. Over one hundred local children come to Charkov to learn about their Jewish background. As one of the counselors, I had the privilege and extraordinary task of exposing them to the beauty of our religion and heritage. I remember the anxiety and excitement that I felt as I exited the plane with twenty other high school students, embarking on my summer teaching experience, wondering if I was fully prepared. The moment the busloads of children arrived, I attached myself to a group of kids and started singing and dancing with them. Despite my initial fears, we began to form a bond. My role changed from that of a teenager to that of a responsible counselor. Not only was I here to teach them about Judaism through classes and activities, but more importantly I was acting as a role model. For the majority of Ukrainian children, we were the first Americans they had ever met and, therefore, were watched vigilantly and constantly emulated. This humbling realization made me feel rather self-conscious at first. However, their desire to imitate also heightened the impact of that which we taught them. They wanted to learn. Although an immense language barrier lay between the campers and me, we managed to communi cate through translators, hand signals, songs, and broken English and Russian. With the help of a book that contained both the Hebrew and Russian, I taught Hebrew to a group of ten children who had never before been exposed to Judaism. Glieb, a ten-year old boy rapidly rose to the top of the class. In addition to the mandatory hours of daily learning, he was motivated to extend these sessions. So often at night after the fun and entertainment, he and I would practice reading Hebrew and we discussed, in simple terms, aspects of Jewish ritual that fascinated him.

Comparing Three Poems ‘Half-Caste’ Essay

Each of these three poems talk about certain problems faced by specific groups of people in today’s society. The poems have been written specifically to illustrate to people who have been brought up with derogative ideas about different types of people, that there are people who are different, but are neither superior nor inferior to themselves.  The main themes that run common in all 3 poems are the ideas of individualism, respect, culture and equality. The poem ‘Half-Caste’ by John Agard talks about the stereo typed judgement about half-caste people in society today. John Agard’s main argument in the poem is that being a half-caste person does not make you half a human being. He talks about how people make ‘assumptions’ about half-caste people.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"†¦and when I’m introduced to yu I’m sure you’ll understand why I offer yu half-a-hand†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This quote suggests that non half-caste peoples attitudes towards half-caste people is that they are not human, and do not do everyday things the way they would do themselves. Agard exaggerates his ideas in order to make his argument a lot clearer.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"..an when moon begin to glow I half-caste human being cast half-a-shadow†¦Ã¢â‚¬  It is obvious that half-caste people do not caste shadows different to anyone else, but the emphasis on the ridiculousness of the mere idea of a different type of shadow makes the idea of half-caste people being ‘different’ just as ridiculous.  He explains quite cleverly how degrading the term half-caste can be by comparing half-caste people like himself to very worldly ideas that you would not title ‘half-caste’. â€Å"Yu mean when light an shadow mix in de sky is a half-caste weather†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His examples are all of things that people would associate with beauty, such as nature, art and music. His point being that if people call humans of two colours half-caste, then everything else with mixed colours must be aswel. People wouldn’t think twice about labeling a human half-caste, but when talking about nature or music and it would again be completely ridiculous to call Tchaikovsky’s composition a ‘half-caste symphony’. The poem itself also relays the message of individualism. It is written in phonetics to demonstrate his own personality with the language being English, but with his own Guyanan dialect. The readers are then forced to read the poem in a certain way, which enforces the message behind the poem.  Tom Leonard also uses this effective technique in his poem from ‘Unrelated Incidents’. This poem talks about status and social acceptance. Leonard talks about how people are reluctant to sit secure in the knowledge of a person with an accent, compared to someone who speaks with what is thought of ‘proper’, standard English in an English accent. He puts across the idea of how naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve and narrow-minded people can be. â€Å"†¦if a tokaboot thi trooth lik wanna yoo scruff yi widny thingk it wuz troo†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã‚  He suggests that people would believe anything from the mouth of a ‘proper’ speaking person, no matter how insane it may be and totally dismiss what a person with an accent like his, is saying. Even if it was the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so to speak. The way in which he has put this idea across is by using what is very commonly known to be quite English a typical example of where this sort of discrimination occurs. The news, where you will mainly hear the news read from a person who speaks with the ‘right’ accent. â€Å"This is thi six a clock news thi man said n thi reason a tok wia BBC accent iz coz yi widny wahnt mi ti talk aboot thi trooth wia voice lik wanna yoo scruff†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The poem is a parody of a typical British news broadcast, it is ironic the way in which Leonard has used his own dialect and spoken in the style of the commonly known news. It is obvious that Leonard is frustrated and angry at the fact that him and others alike would be looked down upon because of the way they talk. Similarly with John Agard we can see the resentment towards those people who treat half-caste people differently and Tom Leonard with the way society looks upon people with accents that differ from their own. However, Sujata Bhatt’s â€Å"Search For My Tongue† discusses society and culture from a different perspective. The problem she finds herself faced with is trying to make a correct balance with her own culture and heritage and the culture in which she lives in. She explains her fear of losing her ‘mother tongue’ and never being able to be totally accepted by the ‘foreign tongue’. Her concern with the mother tongue being lost is very explicit in the poem: â€Å"And if you lived in a place where toy had to speak a foreign tongue, you mother tongue would rot, rot and die in your mouth until you had to spit it out†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She explains how hard it is to keep your mother tongue healthy in a place where there is no use for it, and eventually it would become useless and you would eventually forget it about it. She talks not just about language but her whole culture and how she was brought up, what she was brought up to believe and live by and how society and different cultures sometimes make you forget. However she gets across to the reader that somehow, sub-consciously while she dreams, she dreams in her own language and reminds herself of her language and that she is still who she has always been and always will be.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"modhama pakay chay†¦ it blossoms out of my mouth.† The tongue is described to blossom out her mouth jus as she thinks she has forgotten it. This imagery of blossoming is beautiful and emphasises how important it is to be who you are because it is beautiful from whatever background and culture you belong to.

Analysis of “Uphill” by Christina Rossetti Essay

â€Å"Uphill† by Christina Rossetti is an allegory about life and death. Rossetti is considered one of the finest religious poets of her time and her many spiritual beliefs are conveyed in her poem â€Å"Uphill†. H.B. de Groot said, â€Å"Undeniably, her strong lyric gifts are often held in check by her moral and theological scruples† (Groot). The dialogue style Rossetti uses mimics the parables told by Jesus in The Bible. In â€Å"Overview of Christina (Georgina) Rossetti† one author stated that during her adult life, Rossetti turned down two marriage proposals, due to her strong religious convictions. Instead of marrying, she used her convictions to script eloquent poetry that reaffirms faith for the faithful and provides faith for the hopeless. Rossetti’s use of metaphors, symbols, and biblical allusions in â€Å"Uphill† conveys the idea of life and death and represents the difficult journey to salvation and the promise of eternal life in heaven. In â€Å"Uphill,† Rossetti uses metaphors to invite the reader to draw comparisons between one’s journey through life, death, and eternal rest. The first question and answer the speaker mentions is a metaphor to depict the road being traveled, conveying that it is difficult and long, much like life: â€Å"Does the road wind up-hill all the way?/Yes, to the very end† (Rossetti 1-2). In lines five and seven the speaker develops the metaphor of night and darkness to mean death: â€Å"But is there for the night a resting-place?/May not the darkness hide it from my face† (5/7)? The speaker seems doubtful and unsure about the process of death and provokes the speaker to ask questions about the after-life. Assurance of such a place is found in line eight when the inn is used as a metaphor to describe heave, a place that: â€Å"You cannot miss†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (8). The author uses symbols to assist the reader by evoking a deeper subconscious meaning of one’s uphill trek towards heaven. The title of the poem â€Å"Uphill† serves as a symbol for the difficulties encountered along the speaker’s journey. In lines six and eight the words _roof_ and _inn_ are symbols for the security felt, â€Å"†¦when the slow dark hours begin./You cannot miss that inn† (6/8). Rossetti uses the word _bed_ in lines fifteen and sixteen to  represent the final resting place for those seeking eternal life in heaven: â€Å"Will there be beds for me and all who seek?/Yea, beds for all who come (15-16). Beds invoke feelings of comfort and warmth and peace. The speaker hopes to find the same comfort and peace in heaven with an eternal place to sleep. The Biblical allusions Rossetti uses in the poem help the reader understand what happens after death. Matthew 7:14 explains that the path to salvation will be difficult and long and is referenced in line three when the speaker asks how long the day’s journey will take: â€Å"But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it† (_New International Version_, Matthew. 7.14). In the Bible, Christ teaches that there are two ways; right and wrong, good and evil. The road to the narrow gate is not only constricted, but also uphill. It is a struggle and often not the easy way, which is why only few endure it. But it is the only path that will lead you to eternal life. All other ways may be easier, but lead to destruction. In lines eleven and twelve, the speaker receives assurance that by knocking, the doors will be open at the end of the journey, a Biblical allusion to Matthew 7:7. This verse states that if one asks, seeks, and knocks that the door will be open: â€Å"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened† (Matthew 7.7). In John 14:2 Jesus comforts his twelve disciples by saying: â€Å"There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come get you, so that you will always be with me where I am† (John 14.2). This verse serves as a point of reference to lines fifteen and sixteen in the poem: â€Å"Will there be beds for me and all who seek?/Yea, beds for all who come† (15-16). Christians believe that there is a dwelling-place in which devout believing souls would abide forever. Believers gain comfort in knowing that He has already prepared such a special p lace that is vast and sufficient in room for all his people. Rossetti’s poem is a beautiful illustration of ones journey through life as illustrated by the questions the speaker asks throughout the poem. In the  beginning the speaker is anxious about the journey that lies ahead and asks: â€Å"Does the road wind up-hill all the way† (1), but by the end of the poem the speaker is peaceful and assured about the final resting place: â€Å"Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak† (13)? Rossetti links one’s journey to life, death, and eternity by using metaphors throughout the text. Symbols are layered throughout the text to assist the reader with identifying heaven. Rossetti’s use of Biblical allusions allow the reader to grasps what eternity will be like for those that believe and stay the course of the _uphill_ journey. The difficult life and death decisions made along the journey towards salvation and eternity in heaven are made evident throughout the poem with the use of metaphors, symbols, and Biblical allusions. Works Cited â€Å"Christina Rossetti.† _Contemporary Authors Online_. Detroit: Gale, 2006. _Literature Resource_ _Center_. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. _English Standard Version_. Bible Gateway. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. Rossetti, Christina. â€Å"Uphill.† _Literature; An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing_. Seventh Edition. Ed. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 7th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2013.

The Effects of The Bombing of Pearl Harbor essays

The Effects of The Bombing of Pearl Harbor essays Many events have happened in the past century to change society and the way the world lives. Some of these things have been for the better and some have been more tragic. December 7, 1941 marked a day in history never to be forgotten, this was the day that the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The attack on Pearl Harbor affected many people in a way that would change their lives forever. The attack on Pearl Harbor caused many people to lose their lives, it caused American to enter World War II and it also caused the economy to change. The attack on Pearl Harbor began as part of Japans larger plan to conquer Southeast Asia (Arroyo 12). The Japanese wanted to do this to secure oil, rubber, tin and other natural resources that they lacked (Arroyo 12). Since America supplied more than half of Japans supply of these materials Japan was reluctant to push the United States too far, but they also had intentions of getting control of its own sources of raw materials (Attack 1). The attack happened in the early morning of December 7, 1941. President Roosevelt proclaimed this day a date which will live in infamy (Attack 1). The attack took place on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Because of this morning 2,403 people lost their lives (Attack 1). Among these people were husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and friends to many people. Of these 2,403, there were 2,335 which were servicemen and 68 were civilians. In addition a bomb that hit the U.S.S. Arizona killed 1,177 servicemen. Others that suffered injuries were numbered at 1,178 (Remembering 5). In memory of all those that lost their lives there is a memorial above the sunken remains of the Arizona. Many more lives were killed as America entered World War II. By the end of World War II, 104,985 American sailors and marines were wounded and 56,683 were killed (Kennedy 1). ...

What you can learn from the 2017 Washington State teacher of the yearÂÂ

What you can learn from the 2017 Washington State teacher of the year   We all want our lives to be filled with purpose and to have a positive and lasting impact on the world around us. After all, having a life filled with meaning is a key component of a personally satisfying existence. This is not just a â€Å"nice to have† or something pleasant to daydream about when you’re going about your daily routine- according to a recent Psychology Today article, â€Å"the need for purpose is one the defining characteristics of human beings. Human beings crave purpose, and suffer serious psychological difficulties when we don’t have it.† The article goes on to declare that â€Å"†¦when we don’t have a sense of purpose in our lives†¦ it makes us more vulnerable to boredom,  anxiety, and depression.† Not a good recipe for happiness and success!Not only does having a sense of purpose, focus, and direction in life provide us with a baseline for happiness, it makes our lives less complicated and stressful and allow s us to get up each morning with an enhanced self-esteem and healthy focus and direction, empowering us to channel our mental and physical energies toward productive pursuits.Are you looking for guidance to find a sense of purpose in your life? All of us at one point or another have found ourselves at a point where we had to make decisions about the focus and direction we want our lives to take. When you’re at such a crossroads, it’s often a wise idea to look towards those who have blazed their own trail and found success, fulfillment, and a sense of purpose in their lives.One such intrepid trailblazer is Camille Jones, the 2017 Teacher of the Year in the state of Washington. Camille is a dedicated and focused professional who has dedicated her life to teaching students the core components of STEAM- science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. As of this writing, she works with children of varying ages and abilities at Pioneer Elementary in Quincy, a school with a pproximately 400 students in a small rural town in Central Washington.Camille found her path for success in life, and there’s a lot we can learn from her approach. Let’s take a closer look at the lessons this extraordinary teacher has provided us.Trust your instincts.Camille Jones defied conventional wisdom that a STEAM education is meant for older students and saw tremendous value and opportunity in introducing younger children to embrace science and technology at a young age. She trusted her instincts rather than following the crowd, and the students she has worked with have benefitted tremendously as a result. When you’re making decisions in your life, be sure to listen to your instincts.Preparing for the future.Camille recognized early on that students who are well-equipped at an early age with a multi-faceted education in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math are best positioned for future opportunities and success. If you’re searching for new opportunities in life, you’d be well-served to have a similarly nuanced and all-inclusive education.Discover your purpose.Camille saw a real problem in the world- students who were being ill-prepared for future competitiveness and success in the global job market. She recognized that dedicated and focused individuals were needed to address it and took on the challenge. This infused Camille with a sense of purpose and meaning that she has used to make a difference.Follow her lead- find a challenge to dedicate your life to and focus your time, energy, and efforts towards making a positive and lasting difference.Push yourself.Camille recognizes the importance of getting outside of your comfort zone and challenging yourself and others to reach their full potential. She does this every day with her students and says, â€Å"I’m looking for kids who would benefit from being pushed a little harder†¦ I see kids who are struggling to buy into the idea that they should try things that are hard. And kids who are succeeding become better advocates for challenging work. When you do something difficult and new, your brain grows. It changes your attitude and your perspective on the rest of your education.† Bottom line- don’t be afraid to push yourself to achieve new levels of success.Pay it forward.Camille knows that we are all working together towards a shared and common future, and empowering those around us benefits all of us. Jones has found great success in challenging and guiding young minds towards tackling the needs of the future, which will help create a brighter future. When trying to decide your life’s purpose and direction, don’t forget that making a positive and lasting impact on others is not only valuable and important, it’s also essential for our shared future.There you have it- strategies for finding your successful path in life from a real trailblazer. Use these strategies to find your purpose in lif e and achieve new levels of success and happiness. Good luck!

The Souls of Black Folk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Souls of Black Folk - Essay Example Du Bois specifically relates that â€Å"the problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color-line† and this concept is further expanded on in the work with the concept of life behind the veil of race. He refers to this paradoxical condition as double consciousness stating that "double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others". Over time the concepts introduced by Du Bois have become instrumental in approaching the race issue in America. The author’s work also reflects on the progress of race, the obstacles present to such progress and future possibilities for the nation as it entered the twentieth century. Overall Du Bois examines life for African Americans in the years following the American Civil War with particular focus being placed on the works of the Freedman’s Bureau’s function in the reconstruction efforts. The author indicates that the Bureau’s failures stemmed from a combination of so uthern opposition and â€Å"national neglect† as well as mismanagement by courts which were biased â€Å"in favor of black litigants†. However the Bureau was successful on some fronts such as its contributions to the foundation and progress of African American schools. ... Instead the author argues that â€Å"the right to vote†, â€Å"civic equality† and â€Å"the education of youth according to ability† are critically important for sustainable progress of the African American racial group as a whole. The author also relates his personal experiences as a school teacher in rural Tennessee following which the author reflects on the state of material progress in Atlanta where accruing wealth seems to be the only target for people. The basic contention is to show that accruing wealth should not be the only focus of African Americans. Instead the author argues that there ought to be â€Å"standards of lower training† as well as â€Å"standards of human culture and lofty ideals of life†. Du Bois contends that African American colleges ought to train the â€Å"Talented Tenth† who would then provide contributions to lower education as well as playing the roles of liaisons for better race relations. Following this Du Bo is has examined the state of rural life for African Americans through a discourse on Dougherty County, Georgia in order to represent living conditions in the southern Black Belt region. The contemporary conditions as well as the historical conditions have been presented in order to make a strong case. It is shown that cotton is still the lifeline of the local economy while only a very few African Americans are allowed to enjoy the newly found economic success. The contemporary legal system and the tenant farming systems have been compared to the days of slavery and it has been proved that there are little differences if any and that the differences are merely superficial. The derivation of African

On Commercial Photography's Impact on Modern Visual Culture Essay

On Commercial Photography's Impact on Modern Visual Culture - Essay Example The cultural influence which has altered the way in which photography is viewed the most is the commercial photographs. There are also public photographs which have intertwined with various ideologies for different level of influence. However, the movements within photography intertwine together to take a specific approach to creating and capturing the perfect image for a given subject matter. Impact of Different Types of Photography The impact of commercial photography is one which has grown since the early 1900s, specifically with the focus from corporations. The first concept of the photography which was used was based on the corporate image and the approaches which were required for those working in this specific field. The corporations were known for having difficult work pressures, specifically with the growth of the industrial age. Work stations, factory style lines in the various places and the need to reproduce mass amounts continued to be a main component with the corporati ons. To alter this, photography and advertisements were added into the mix, specifically which was able to present a different image to the consumer and change the focus of the internal environment. The image presented was then one which was based on value of the product as well as the overall environment of the corporation (Brown, 2008). The initial impact of commercial photography then led to the idealization of cultural production. The images which were taken became significant in creating a sense of identity of the product, image of the corporation and the response which was associated with society. The concept of cultural production was based on the outlets which were presented with the photography as well as how this was associated with the idealization of individuals. Fashion, food, sports items, cars and other high – end products used commercial photography to create a sense of identity in culture. From this, many began to respond with imitating the photography and be ing a part of the cultural production. The photography then not only painted an image about a specific corporation, but also related to and communicated with groups in society which may have been interested in the brand product (Frosh, 2001). The second concept associated with photography is the public photograph. This particular image is one which is similar to the commercial image, specifically because it captures groups, individuals and different components which make up society. Usually, the images are associated with making a statement about what is occurring within the public and is based on creating a level of accountability or recognition through the picture. The impact of this is based on the needed communication for a given situation while bringing awareness to the public arena. When the photographs are displayed, an individual is able to see the reality of the situation and becomes engaged with the public issues. Within this particular photograph, there is the ability to create an icon with a specific aspect of society. The importance of this comes from creating public judgment while responding to situations based on the level of communication that is a part of society (Hariman, Lucaites, 2003). The concept of public photography is important in terms of creating a set of private images that would be seen in a given segment of society and making them into a public spectatorship. The impact which this has is based on the sociological response which is created from the image and