Criminology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 8

Criminology - Essay Example ibute to the rise of such crimes in the cities, include the population density in the cities, level of education and unemployment rates (Baltic, 2011). Other related crimes that augment the prevalence of aggravated assaults include drug peddling and underage drinking. However, the prevalence of aggravated assault in the three cities decreased significantly, the rate of aggravated assault in Detroit fir example decreased by about 2% in the last two years. St. Luis for example had a higher prevalence of drugs and illegal guns in the city. Lack of effective border security coupled with weak immigration laws make the United States susceptible to illegal guns and drugs from such neighboring countries as Mexico. Illegal guns and the complex illegal drug business are among the factors that influence the prevalence of aggravated assaults. Within the last two years, the police departments in the cities revamped their efforts in controlling drug and substance abuse. The efficiency of the police helped reduce the levels of the aggravated assaults in the cities. Additionally, improving statistics on the levels of employment and education in the cities are among the factors accounting for the decrease in the rates of aggravated assaults in the three cities am ong many others throughout the United

Effective Approaches in Leadership and Management Essay Example for Free

Effective Approaches in Leadership and Management Essay The arrangement of health care system has reciprocated in regard to provide quality and modest care. The treatment of healthcare facilities have changeover at different levels in speciality care and acute illnesses to defensive health plan. The changes have seized effective direct approaches and delivery care. With the effort to balance the demands of patient needs in health care, many considerations are made including adjustments with budgets, decreasing excessive costs, and practicing effective means of delivery care. Nurses are challenged to keep up to a work environment that requires continual changes. The nursing industry today faces shortage, as many nurses have low job satisfaction, high compassion fatigue, and the patient ratios levels associate immense acuity. Furthermore, these factors have resulted in patient satisfaction and medical reimbursements. Notwithstanding all the identified issues and its effects, few nursing facilities are growing to next level to identify and promote nursing skills by setting framework to endeavour to gain Magnet status. This paper will focus in comparing and contrasting the expectations of the nursing managers and leaders approaches that may use in regard to magnet status. Magnet status is best defined by Miriam Hospital as ‘ a designation that is rewarded to hospitals for the concept of Magnet Culture; it is a working environment which enables nurses to practice and focus on skilful nursing, involving bedside decision making, nursing development and involvement, competent education, and promote nursing leadership skills (Miriam Hospital, n. d. ) The birth of magnet status undertook in beginning of 1980’s when some hospitals were practicing new retaining ideas for nursing staff with motivation for patient care. Therefore, this concept was developed after few researches and finally it was made official through an article named: â€Å"Magnet Hospitals: Attraction and Retention of Professional Nurses,† written and published in 1983 by Dr. McClure president of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN), professor at New York University, and a member of the original task force (Hawke, 2004). Statistics prove that Magnet hospitals have superlative patient satisfaction scores, protected patient environments, minority of repeat admissions, and improved patient outcome. It is vital that various pre-requisites and qualifications must be met and maintained to execute the concept of Magnet status. The nursing leadership  and management work in synchronization with their defined roles to achieve the goals of completing the tasks by establishing nursing staff participation needed to achieve skilful nursing. In order to receive accurate results, it is essential to define roles and target essential outcomes. According to Huber (2010), the aspect of management is to cater the resources that are required to achieve the target goal of organisation. A manager is expected to plan, organise and implement strategies from an organizing high level to enable the outline of requirements to meet the goal. The manager is responsible to practice the policies and procedures and carry them appro priately. In order to achieve Magnet status, the nurse manager needs to survey the patients and staff to identify and construct the areas of weakness that would improve the patient satisfaction. Some of the basic actions include financial stability by reducing the amount of waste, safeguarding medical reimbursement with patient satisfaction, and nursing practices that mirror decisions like bedside reporting, friendly patient care education, and timely rounding. The nursing leader is expected to provide assistant to the nurse manager in achieving goals by promoting smooth work flows through communication, and provide better understanding of their overall vision, and reasoning why these adjustments are necessary. The nursing leader can accomplish this by promoting trust and endeavouring mutual consent while managing issues (The difference between leadership and management, 2012). In comparison and contrast of the nursing managers and leader approaches there are few points to be considered. In ma nagement, the goals are carried out with the help of managers within the organisation. Whereas the leaders help to identify and develop new approaches to the issues emerging in the organisation. The managers work to fulfil the goals and continue to do, whereas the leaders undergo risks to challenge people and new ideas to break the chain (The difference between leadership and management, 2012). Frellick (2011) states that Magnet concept is created to facilitate and empower shared decision-making and accountability process. To achieve success in this concept, the healthcare facilities need to master in the regulations well known as the ‘Fourteen Forces of Magnetism’, it consists of the new levels in nursing management, encouraging strong participation, and place where nurses are recognised and are able to contribute to the top management. In addition, one more key to success if  the interdisciplinary relationships; it means the members of each department of healthcare are able to co-ordinate and work together; such as nurses, physicians, pharmacists and t herapists. Leadership aims on mutual consent of all team members and promotes respect and involvement of all departments, shared responsibilities and leadership style for actions. It is an necessary personal approach of the writer that personal involvement is the key for building working relationships between management and leadership professionals as they both promotes the organisational goals. If the nursing professionals have opinions and ideas that matters for the wellbeing of the patient satisfaction, then an extra effort to highlight the need is essential. Any new idea is difficult to execute without the commitment and facilitation of the managers and leaders and also among the other parties involved. Real efforts and success can be achieved by working together as a team, and aiming to contribute in a continuous methods in healthcare facilities for total patient satisfaction. References Frellick, M. (2011). A Path to Nursing Excellence. Hospitals Health Networks. Advance online publication. Retrieved from Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Magnet. (2013). Retrieved from Hawke, M. (2004, January). Magnet Status Attracts Mettle. Nursing Spectrum, 19-21. Retrieved from Huber, D. L. (2010). Leadership and Nursing Care Management (4th ed.). Retrieved from Miriam Hospital. (n.d.). Retrieved from The difference between leadership and management. (2012). Retrieved from

Declaration of Independence Essay -- U.S. History

Children’s voice shouting in parades, spinning noise-makers, giant flags of red, white, and blue waving in every corner of the street, fireworks light up the night sky, friends and family gathering around with big smile on their faces; it is not somebody’s birthday nor it is an ordinary day. It is a true festival, a country’s birthday. The Fourth of July marks the anniversary of the glorious day in 1776 when America, as a new nation declared to the world its independence from monarchs. Because of the importance of this day, thus, the Declaration of Independence can be considered as one of the most influential documents in American History. Not only that, other organizations and countries have also adopted its manner and tones for their own documents or declarations, such as â€Å"Declaration of the Rights of Man† from France or the â€Å"Declaration of Sentiments† from the Women’s Right movement. After the Congress ratified the text on July Fourth, the Declaration of Independence had been issued in several forms. It was originally published as a printed broadside that was generally distributed and read to the public. Nevertheless, although the wording was approved on the Fourth of July, most historians have concluded that â€Å"it was signed almost a month later after its adoption, not on July Fourth as is commonly believed† . The Declaration not only justified the independence of the United States of America by listing colonial complaints against King George III, but it also asserted certain and legal rights, including the right of evolution. Nonetheless, after the American Revolution, the original purpose of the text was ignored. Since then, the Declaration of Independence can only be viewed as a major statement on human rights. Yet, the ques... ...lic (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003), 123–24 John H. Hazelton, The Declaration of independence: its history (New York, Dodd, Mead and Company, 1906), 13 George William Frederick, His Majesty's most gracious speech to both Houses of Parliament, on Friday, October 27 [i.e. Thursday, October 26], 1775 (Philadelphia, Printed by Hall and Sellers, 1776) Jack N. Rakove, The Beginnings of National Politics: An Interpretative History of the Continental Congress (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1979), 89 Herbert Friedenwald, The Declaration of Independence: an interpretation and an analysis (New York, The Macmillan Company, 1904), 67 Pauline Maier, American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence (New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1998), 41 Brian Boyd, Origin of Stories: Evolution, Cognition and Fiction (Massachusetts, Belknap of Harvard UP, 2010), 21 Declaration of Independence Essay -- U.S. History Children’s voice shouting in parades, spinning noise-makers, giant flags of red, white, and blue waving in every corner of the street, fireworks light up the night sky, friends and family gathering around with big smile on their faces; it is not somebody’s birthday nor it is an ordinary day. It is a true festival, a country’s birthday. The Fourth of July marks the anniversary of the glorious day in 1776 when America, as a new nation declared to the world its independence from monarchs. Because of the importance of this day, thus, the Declaration of Independence can be considered as one of the most influential documents in American History. Not only that, other organizations and countries have also adopted its manner and tones for their own documents or declarations, such as â€Å"Declaration of the Rights of Man† from France or the â€Å"Declaration of Sentiments† from the Women’s Right movement. After the Congress ratified the text on July Fourth, the Declaration of Independence had been issued in several forms. It was originally published as a printed broadside that was generally distributed and read to the public. Nevertheless, although the wording was approved on the Fourth of July, most historians have concluded that â€Å"it was signed almost a month later after its adoption, not on July Fourth as is commonly believed† . The Declaration not only justified the independence of the United States of America by listing colonial complaints against King George III, but it also asserted certain and legal rights, including the right of evolution. Nonetheless, after the American Revolution, the original purpose of the text was ignored. Since then, the Declaration of Independence can only be viewed as a major statement on human rights. Yet, the ques... ...lic (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003), 123–24 John H. Hazelton, The Declaration of independence: its history (New York, Dodd, Mead and Company, 1906), 13 George William Frederick, His Majesty's most gracious speech to both Houses of Parliament, on Friday, October 27 [i.e. Thursday, October 26], 1775 (Philadelphia, Printed by Hall and Sellers, 1776) Jack N. Rakove, The Beginnings of National Politics: An Interpretative History of the Continental Congress (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1979), 89 Herbert Friedenwald, The Declaration of Independence: an interpretation and an analysis (New York, The Macmillan Company, 1904), 67 Pauline Maier, American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence (New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1998), 41 Brian Boyd, Origin of Stories: Evolution, Cognition and Fiction (Massachusetts, Belknap of Harvard UP, 2010), 21

Children with special educational needs Essay

The home environment and lifestyle of a child can be influenced from as early as conception. In pregnancy if a mother chooses to drink alcohol they run the risk of alcohol crossing the placenta, which can lead to foetal alcohol syndrome. This condition affects foetal growth and causes delayed development, learning difficulties and congenital abnormalities. In addition there is a risk of miscarriage. Furthermore, increasing hours of work pressured upon parents from their place of work can lead to bad eating habits, for example, fast food takeaways giving children snacks, fizzy drinks, sweets and crisps, which in-turn could lead to obesity and all the health problems that are associated with obesity, such as diabetes and osteo-arthritis. Moreover they could be the subject of bullying at school. The child may become socially excluded because of their size; they may feel depressed and withdrawn hindering their learning potential. Gender influences: Children are aware of their gender identity. Read more: Explain how children and young people’s development is influenced by a range of external factors essay Research indicates: â€Å"By the age of 21/2 years, children think girls prefer to play with dolls and engage in domestic activities with mum, while boys prefer to play with cars or construction toys and helping dad. † (www. geocities/gender. edu. ) Gender stereotyping is damaging to children’s social development and their personality as it damages their self-image, in addition too the identity of girls because it can affect their confidence and lower their self-esteem. Boys too can be limited by gender stereotypes by being forced to behave tough or less caring, in order to conform and by accepted by others. This can be overcome by early year’s practitioners providing role-play opportunities including dressing-up clothes, which allow children to explore different roles. Furthermore, books and games should be avoided, which demonstrate gender stereotyping. Special Educational Needs: The range of special educational needs, (SEN) is vast and the starting point for looking if a child may have a learning difficulty can be seen through their level of academic attainment. Learning difficulties can be described as moderate, severe or profound and multiple. They can range from a mild hearing impairment, to a severe impairment, for example, Cerebral palsy. This condition affects the part of the brain that controls movement. This may cause disability of all four limbs. Children with this condition may have motor problems, visual and hearing impairments, in addition to speech and perceptual difficulties. Dyspraxia is referred to as, â€Å"Clumsy child Syndrome† in this condition the child has difficulty with physical movement, language development may be delayed. In addition learning difficulties can occur where fine or gross motor skills are needed. Dyslexia is a condition where the child has difficulty with words and learning to read, spell and write. This could cause the child to have low self- esteem and become frustrated, or even disruptive. These examples are just a few of the conditions that may have an impact on a child’s ability to learn and develop to their full potential. It is just as important recognising the child has SEN, as to meeting their needs to help them achieve. Communication is of paramount importance, in addition to remembering to put the needs of the child first and then the disability. In conclusion it can be shown that a child’s learning and development can be affected by many factors, throughout the human life-span. This is why it is imperative that these factors are highlighted to early year’s professionals, so they can recognise and act upon them in the child’s best interests, to promote their well being and education. REFERENCES: Alcott, M. (2002) Children with special educational needs, 2nd edition, Hodder & Stoughton, London. Haralambos, Rice, D. (2002) Psychology in Focus A level, Causeway, Lancs  www.geocities.com

Meals

Meals on Wheels Meals on Wheels was a very good community service that taught me some good things. Meals on Wheels is a voluntary work service that deals with elderly people who are sick, from diabetes to cancer. We as voluntary workers drop food off to these sick people who are registered through the hospital. There are many different types of patients you meet. They all happen to be around the same area as well. As we stop by the meals on wheels headquarters we first sign in and then pick up cooler full of cold food and a warm lunch bag to put the hot meals in.We then drive over to SST. Jude hospital where we pick up the hot food that has the patients names labeled on them. From here we drive to each patients house or apartment complex and drop off their assigned foods, which is one cold food meal pack, one milk, and a hot meal pack. Some places are so easy as getting off and dropping it off in the ice box they have set in front of their house or apartment complex while other patie nts e have to ring the door bell and hand it to them.Some days we will talk to some of these patients. For instance, at one of the first stops an older lady would come outside as we drop the food off and explain to me as she's very sick and doesn't feel well. Then go to explain how we walk with Jesus because we are doing this for her and how we are very blessed for doing it. It goes to show me how lucky I am for being young and healthy at the age I am and not take life for granted.Another Instance loud be an elderly guy who sits outside with his dog everyday before we pull up to drop his food off. He always seems to be In a very good mood and explains to me how I should be at the beach and not here doing this service. It shows the different kinds of people that are out there and there perspective towards things. Most of the people have their kids or husbands answer the door for them to get their food. At the end of the day we have delivered the food to twelve different people and he ad back to theMeals on Wheels headquarters where we drop off the lunch bag and the cooler. That Is the typical day of the Meals on Wheels service work. Hopefully some day In the future I can do this again on my free time.

Free Essays on Multiple Personality Disorder

â€Å"The presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states,† is something you’d expect to hear as the title to an X-files episode. In reality, this line is found in the DSM-IV as a physiological disorder. This rare disorder is called Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) or formally known as multiple personality disorder. Dissociation is a mental process, which produces a lack of connection in a person’s thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, or sense of identity. In DID at least two of the identities or personality states recurrently take control of the person’s behavior. In some cases the personalities are so separate that they don’t know they inhabit a body with other â€Å"people.† The origins of dissociative identity disorder are still not understood. Although it’s not understood, one theory suggests that it developed in response to childhood abuse. The abuse then can lead to many symptoms in adulthood. Questions have been raised as to why DID occurs and the symptoms that follow it. Because of this uncertainty, misdiagnosis occurs and makes it very difficult to find the correct kind of treatment. Research shows that DID may affect 1% of the general population. Physical and sexual abuse are just examples of two traumatic situations from which a child may resort to â€Å"going away† in his or her own head. This ability is typically used as an extremely effective defense against physical and emotional pain. By this dissociative process, thoughts, feelings, memories, and perceptions of the traumatic experiences can be separated off psychologically, allowing the child to function as if trauma had not occurred. DID is said to be a highly creative survival technique, because it allows people in â€Å"hopeless† situations to preserve some area of healthy functioning. Overtime, a child who has repeatedly been physically and sexually assaulted â€Å"going away† may start to be conditioned and re... Free Essays on Multiple Personality Disorder Free Essays on Multiple Personality Disorder â€Å"The presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states,† is something you’d expect to hear as the title to an X-files episode. In reality, this line is found in the DSM-IV as a physiological disorder. This rare disorder is called Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) or formally known as multiple personality disorder. Dissociation is a mental process, which produces a lack of connection in a person’s thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, or sense of identity. In DID at least two of the identities or personality states recurrently take control of the person’s behavior. In some cases the personalities are so separate that they don’t know they inhabit a body with other â€Å"people.† The origins of dissociative identity disorder are still not understood. Although it’s not understood, one theory suggests that it developed in response to childhood abuse. The abuse then can lead to many symptoms in adulthood. Questions have been raised as to why DID occurs and the symptoms that follow it. Because of this uncertainty, misdiagnosis occurs and makes it very difficult to find the correct kind of treatment. Research shows that DID may affect 1% of the general population. Physical and sexual abuse are just examples of two traumatic situations from which a child may resort to â€Å"going away† in his or her own head. This ability is typically used as an extremely effective defense against physical and emotional pain. By this dissociative process, thoughts, feelings, memories, and perceptions of the traumatic experiences can be separated off psychologically, allowing the child to function as if trauma had not occurred. DID is said to be a highly creative survival technique, because it allows people in â€Å"hopeless† situations to preserve some area of healthy functioning. Overtime, a child who has repeatedly been physically and sexually assaulted â€Å"going away† may start to be conditioned and re...

World War II - Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

World War II - Curtiss P-40 Warhawk First flying on October 14, 1938, the P-40 Warhawk traced its roots to the earlier P-36 Hawk. A sleek, all-metal monoplane, the Hawk entered service in 1938 after three years of test flights. Powered by a Pratt Whitney R-1830 radial engine, the Hawk was known for its turning and climbing performance. With the arrival and standardization of the Allison V-1710 V-12 liquid-cooled engine, the US Army Air Corps directed Curtiss to adapt the P-36 to take the new power plant in early 1937. The first effort involving the new engine, dubbed the XP-37, saw the cockpit moved far to the rear and first flew in April. Initial testing proved disappointing and with international tensions in Europe growing, Curtiss decided to pursue a more direct adaptation of the engine in the form of the XP-40. This new aircraft effectively saw the Allison engine mated with the airframe of the P-36A. Taking flight in October 1938, testing continued through the winter and the XP-40 triumphed at the US Army Pursuit Contest staged at Wright Field the following May. Impressing the USAAC, the XP-40 demonstrated a high degree of agility at low and medium altitudes though its single-stage, single-speed supercharger led to a  weaker performance at higher altitudes. Eager to have a new fighter with war looming, the USAAC placed its largest fighter contract to date on April 27, 1939, when it ordered 524 P-40s at a cost of $12.9 million. Over the next year, 197 were built for the USAAC with several hundred being ordered by the Royal Air Force and French Armà ©e de lAir which were already engaged in World War II. P-40 Warhawk - Early Days P-40s entering British service were designated Tomahawk Mk. I. Those destined for France were re-routed to the RAF as France was defeated before Curtiss could fill its order. The initial variant of the P-40 mounted two .50 caliber machine guns firing through the propeller as well as two .30 caliber machines guns mounted in the wings. Entering combat, the P-40s lack of a two-stage supercharger proved a great hindrance as it could not compete with German fighters such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109 at higher altitudes. In addition, some pilots complained that the aircrafts armament was insufficient. Despite these failings, the P-40 possessed a longer range than the Messerschmitt, Supermarine Spitfire, and Hawker Hurricane as well as proved capable of sustaining a tremendous amount of damage. Due to the P-40s performance limitations, the RAF directed the bulk of its Tomahawks to secondary theaters such as North Africa and the Middle East. P-40 Warhawk - In the Desert Becoming the primary fighter of the RAFs Desert Air Force in North Africa, the P-40 began to thrive as the bulk of aerial combat in the region took place below 15,000 feet. Flying against Italian and German aircraft, British and Commonwealth pilots exacted a heavy toll on enemy bombers and eventually forced the replacement of the Bf 109E with the more advanced Bf 109F. In early 1942, DAFs Tomahawks were slowly withdrawn in favor of the more heavily armed P-40D which was known as the Kittyhawk. These new fighters allowed the Allies to maintain air superiority until being replaced by Spitfires that were altered for desert use. Beginning in May 1942, the majority of DAFs Kittyhawks transitioned to a fighter-bomber role. This change led to a higher attrition rate to enemy fighters. The P-40 remained in use during the Second Battle of El Alamein that fall and until the end of the North Africa campaign in May 1943. P-40 Warhawk - Mediterranean While the P-40 saw extensive service with the DAF, it also served as the primary fighter for the US Army Air Forces in North Africa and the Mediterranean in late 1942 and early 1943. Coming ashore with American forces during Operation Torch, the aircraft achieved similar results in American hands as pilots inflicted heavy losses on Axis bombers and transports. In addition to supporting the campaign in North Africa, P-40s also provided air cover for the invasion of Sicily and Italy in 1943. Among the units to use the aircraft in the Mediterranean was the 99th Fighter Squadron also known as the Tuskegee Airmen. The first African American fighter squadron, the 99th flew the P-40 until February 1944 when it transitioned to the Bell P-39 Airacobra. P-40 Warhawk - Flying Tigers Among the most famous users of the P-40 was the 1st American Volunteer Group which saw action over China and Burma. Formed in 1941 by Claire Chennault, the AVGs roster included volunteer pilots from the US military who flew the P-40B. Possessing a heavier armament, self-sealing fuel tanks, and pilot armor, the AVGs P-40Bs entered combat in late December 1941 and had success against a variety of Japanese aircraft including the noted A6M Zero. Known as the Flying Tigers, the AVG painted a distinctive sharks teeth motif on the nose of their aircraft. Aware of the types limitations, Chennault pioneered a variety of tactics to take advantage of the P-40s strengths as it engaged more maneuverable enemy fighters. The Flying Tigers, and their follow-on organization, the 23rd Fighter Group, flew the P-40 until November 1943 when it transitioned to the P-51 Mustang. Used by other units in the China-India-Burma Theater, the P-40 came to dominate the skies of the region and allowed the Allies to maintain air superiority for much of the war. P-40 Warhawk - In the Pacific The USAACs principal fighter when the US entered World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the P-40 bore the brunt of the fighting early in the conflict. Also widely used by the Royal Australian and New Zealand Air Forces, the P-40 played key roles in the aerial contests associated with the battles for Milne Bay, New Guinea, and Guadalcanal. As the conflict progressed and distances between bases increased, many units began to transition to the longer-range P-38 Lightning in 1943 and 1944. This resulted in the shorter-range P-40 effectively being left behind. Despite being eclipsed by more advanced types, the P-40 continued to serve in secondary roles as a reconnaissance aircraft and forward air controller. By the final years of the war, the P-40 was effectively supplanted in American service by the P-51 Mustang. P-40 Warhawk - Production Other Users Through the course of its production run, 13,739 P-40 Warhawks of all types were built. A large number of these were sent to the Soviet Union via Lend-Lease where they provided effective service on the Eastern Front and in the defense of Leningrad. The Warhawk was also employed by the Royal Canadian Air Force who used it in support of operations in the Aleutians. Variants of the aircraft extended to the P-40N which proved to be the final production model. Other nations that employed the P-40 included Finland, Egypt, Turkey, and Brazil. The last nation utilized the fighter for longer than any other and retired their last P-40s in 1958. P-40 Warhawk - Specifications (P-40E) General Length:  31.67 ft.Wingspan:  37.33 ft.Height:  12.33 ft.Wing Area:  235.94 sq. ft.Empty Weight:  6.350 lbs.Loaded Weight:  8,280 lbs.Maximum Takeoff Weight:  8,810 lbs.Crew:  1 Performance Maximum Speed:  360 mphRange:  650 milesRate of Climb:  2,100 ft./min.Service Ceiling:  29,000 ft.Power Plant:  1 Ãâ€" Allison V-1710-39 liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,150 hp Armament 6 Ãâ€" .50 in. M2 Browning machine guns250 to 1,000 lb. bombs to a total of 2,000 lb. Selected Sources Aviation History: P-40 WarhawkP-40 WarhawkMilitary Factory: P-40 Warhawk

Four Ways New Graduates Can Get a Jump on the Job Market

Four Ways New Graduates Can Get a Jump on the Job Market While there are plenty of reasons for soon-to-be college grads to start the job application process early, perhaps none speak more clearly than this eye-opening statistic from management consulting firm Accenture: a mere 42 percent of new grads find jobs within the first six months of graduating. However, there are some simple steps you can take now to avoid winding up in that unemployed 58 percent. Use these tips and tricks before you graduate to get an inside edge on your job hunt. 1. Use Your ResourcesCollege career offices are full of services for graduating seniors. Whether you’re trying to identify a suitable field or looking for help with your application, career services offices offer valuable assistance.Schedule an appointment with a career counselor to learn more about what they can do for you. Many career services offers also sponsor job fairs, practice interview sessions, and other events to help grads connect with and impress potential employers.2. Refine Your Res umeWriting a resume that gets noticed is not a one-day process. Rather than waiting until the last minute and then rushing through the process, take time to consider your comprehensive academic, extracurricular and professional background.Begin by making a list of the activities you’ve participated in during your collegiate years, identifying specific skills and traits you acquired and used during this time. For example, while participating in a collegiate sport is one thing, captaining a team toward a division championship is something else. Be as detailed as possible, and focus on measurable results.Keep in mind that in today’s digital age, using the same resume for every job is unlikely to make the best impression. Every resume you submit should be customized to fit each unique job.3. Get ConnectedThe 21st century offers many new ways for employers and potential employees to meet. Creating a LinkedIn profile will help hiring agents find you, and also gives you the o pportunity to show yourself off as a tech-savvy job hunter.Online networking is also important. Fellow alumni, for example, can be identified and sorted on LinkedIn via everything from location to industry. Reaching out shows initiative while also helping to build your network of connections.But online networking hasn’t completely replaced face-to-face communications. Whether you volunteer in an area of interest or arrange for a coffee date with a family friend who works in your target industry, in-person inroads are also important.4. Police Your ProfileDoes your Facebook profile hold up to the professionalism test? If your Facebook feed is full of spring break pictures and snarky memes, it’s time for a reboot. Make sure your privacy settings are protected and/or remove any inappropriate photos and comments.Also, take a minute to Google yourself. If incriminating search results appear, you have some damage control to do to ensure that your online reputation is stellar. Just how frequently do employers look into candidates on the internet? A whopping 80 percent of employers use Google searches to vet candidates, according a Huffington Post article.There’s no reason to wait to have your diploma in hand before beginning your job search. In fact, the most successful job seekers adopt â€Å"take charge,† proactive attitudes. While graduation may seem like it’s eons away, it will be here before you know it. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a job offer firmly in hand when you toss your cap up into the air at graduation?

Fundamental Duties Influences Practice and Decision Making of a Nurse Coursework - 4

Fundamental Duties Influences Practice and Decision Making of a Nurse - Coursework Example In accordance with the Hippocratic Oath and Nightingale pledge, the fundamental duties of a nurse can be apparently observed as adopting along with executing various preventives measures for eliminating any sort of risk that arise during the treatment procedure or at the time of conducting clinical works and delivering positive outcomes in future. By evaluating the Hippocratic Oath and Nightingale pledge, it can be reckoned that the nurses will provide quality care to the patients by taking guidance of the oath.   This eventually influences the practice and also the decision-making procedure of the nurses in the form of various ways. These ways comprise maintaining integrity within the operational procedure, preserving privacy and most importantly ensuring that the confidentiality rights of the patients during treatment are well derived (McMullen, Howie, Howie & Philipsen, 2013).     The other fundamental duty of the nurses, as described by the Hippocratic Oath and Nightingale pledge, is identified to be taking effective decisions relating to the development of patients’ healthcare. The nurses are responsible for taking decisions that can prove to be beneficial in enhancing the well-being of the patients.   In this regard, nurses usually become responsible for taking ethical decisions relating to patients’ safety and health without hampering their respective rights. While providing care to the patients, the nurses need to follow certain code of ethics that are oriented within the Hippocratic Oath and Nightingale pledge. This factor ultimately influences a nurse’s practice as well as decision making towards deriving varied positive outcomes, which could be measured in the form of improving the wellbeing of the patients (McMullen et al., 2013).  

On the Accuracy of the Almagest Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

On the Accuracy of the Almagest - Research Paper Example According to the model of the solar system that he came up with, the sun moved in a spherical trajectory that was centered near the earth. Ptolemy also went ahead to claim that, in his model of the solar system, the Almagest, the sun maintained, what he termed to be, a set inclination of the earth’s center this being the equator. Through his research, Ptolemy concluded that the five visible plants from the earth moved in obits known as epicycles held together by small rings. These epicycles, he explained moved around the earth on larger unconventional sphere known as deferents. Like the sun, both the epicycles and the defrents also mentioned set inclinations close to the earth’s center. However, as much as his model, the Almagest, was considered remarkable, it has raised too many questions within the scientific realm. The Almagest has not seemed to fare well among many scientific scholars. Many scholars believe that due to his devotion to philosophical theories and doctrine Ptolemy came up with an overcomplicated, ridiculers and awkward model of the solar system that was in accurate in nature. Some of his doctrines that are heavily questioned and disagreed upon include the theory that the earth is stationary ad does not move in uniformity which other planets move around the earth center. In 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus came up with his own theory that stated that the earth and other planets moved around the suns orbit. This suppressed his theory and was largely backed by other scholars during this period. Although the study was deemed inaccurate in the sixteenth century, by Johannes Kepler’s model, it was enough to show how inaccurate and wrong Ptolemy’s model was. The main aim behind this study is to examine how inaccurate and wrong Ptolemy model of the solar system was. In addition, the study will be re-evaluating Ptolemy’s merits as an astronomer by examining some of the facts that he provided in his model of the solar system. The main objective behind the Almagest was to create a model that showed the solar system from earth. In his model, Ptolemy tries to explain the motion of the planets visible from earth the sun and the moon. However, in his model of the solar system Ptolemy lives out critical details of how these motions in his model occur or what courses this motion. This is why scholars and astronomers view the model as incorrect and fluid since it lucks basic evidence to support his facts. However, in his model, Ptolemy was able to provide some calculations such as how far the other planets are from earth by using the radius to measure. This helped, in that Copernicus was able to use this calculation in his own ad vanced and correct model of the solar system. Through Kepler’s model, which is considered, correct and more accurate than the two that came before it, one of the main things that one will learn is that plants obit the sun and is actually confocal to it. Such trajectories that the planets use called ellipses have two main factors that make them unique. These two facts can be used to see how inaccurate Ptolemy model from the sun is. Primarily, the obits are considered eccentric. This means that the sun, which is in the center, is rather in this model displaced due to geometric displacement of the sun. Second, each planet in the solar system has a particular axis from which it is elongated. This means that they are elliptical. Unluckier Kepler who came up with a theory that proved that the earth and other planets revolved the sun in their own obits, Ptolemy tries to study the

Bessie Smith Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Bessie Smith - Essay Example Bessie Smith’s inherent passion for music was discovered fortunately at a very young age as she and her brother took to the streets of their local neighbourhoods in Chattanoonga, as they sang and danced in order to earn money for their meals. However, her brother soon left her to join a professional troupe and she was left behind due to being very young. Soon enough, her brother arranged for a meeting and interview for Bessie for the Stokes Troupe and she was hired as a dancer but not as a singer, thus her true potential had yet not been realised. In 1915, the singer left and became a part of the Theater Owners Bookers Association, an African American performance group and this became the milestone in her career. The group helped her to gain popularity all over and become a recognised singer. Following this, offers began coming in for Bessie to be part of musicals and one of her firsts, titled ‘How Come?’ made its way to Broadway as well. Here, Bessie co starred w ith Sidney Bechet. Looking at her success and getting motivated by the same, Smith moved on to working in theatre, mostly Black theatres as they accepted her better, and in 1923 she landed with her first recording contract. Soon enough, Bessie became one of the highest paid black women in her field however, the money did not make much difference to her life then and she realised she wanted to sing all her life. Smith’s voice, mellifluous and harmonious, was something she was able to practice and develop on her own. She did not receive any formal training from anywhere, and with the practice she had had since her early years, she dedicated and devoted more time to get even better than what she was and all that she had achieved. Bessie’s mentor, during her years with the Stokes Troupe was Ma Rainey, and she learned a lot during her time there even though it was not a platform for her to better her vocal power and skills. Nonetheless, under Ma Rainey, she was able to lear n and understand what stage presence meant and how she could make herself better in front of the general public. During the time that Bessie was trying to establish herself, the environment for black people was not very conducive. Apartheid reigned badly all around and the opportunities for blacks were very limited, especially in off the hook fields like music. She first got a chance to sing with Okeh Records as they signed her alongside Mamie Smith. Being a woman, Bessie knew she had to really give in her best and fight for her rights in order to get her music heard across to people and have them accept her first as a musician and then as an identity and part of her race. Columbia Records thus, was impressed by her because of her work with Okeh Records, and soon signed her as a part of ‘race records’ series with her record named ‘Cemetery Blues’ which was the first to be released in 1923. Paramount Label had helped Bessie’s first hit titled ‘G ulf Coast Blues’ coupled with ‘Downhearted Blues’ to become an even bigger hit than what it was at the time of release. Bessie began to tour following this success as well as prepared and trained for theatre productions and musicals. She was given titles such as ‘

Organizational Cultures-The Jewelry Industry Case Study

Organizational Cultures-The Jewelry Industry - Case Study Example The company follows a long supply chain hence making it extremely important for the communication to be effective and efficient. The communication goes in sequence of hierarchy and follows supply chain management making it easier for the business and operations to run smoothly. The organization handles raw materials that are expensive hence the communication process and practices should be precise and to the point. To the organization the most important thing is the consumer confidence as the company deals with people's dreams, desires and their self-image that are enhanced or improved by the products that they produce. It is strictly advised that code of conduct should be followed by all the personals employed in a correct and effective way in order to maintain the ethical standards of the brand. The ethical issues related to this company mostly concern human rights and mining as both of these give rise to ethical and environmental issues. Organizational diversity is present in this company as it is present in almost all the organizations working with diamonds. The special emphasize is on the craftsmen ship and hand art to shape up the elements into beautiful diamonds hence people from all around the world become the part of the process of production (Joanne Martin 2001). Though new technology takes over diamond production and now manufacturing of diamonds is done through machines still a lot of organizational diversity is being experienced. The diversity is handled in the same way as it is handled in any other organization that is by creating cross-functional teams and taking into consideration the benefits of having a diverse work force. Dress and language (jargon) The dress and language at any organization that manufactures or produces diamonds is simple and easy to understand, as there is not much technicality apart from the machines that are being used to process the elements. The dress code used is normally the one used all over the world that is formal but non-formal dressing is acceptable. Organizational customs Organizations have different customs and rituals. At DeBears special get together are arranged that have people from different departments meet each other and discuss their side of work. This not only helps in making a community inside the organization but also helps in making employees of different departments learn how things are going in the same organizations but in different segments of the company. Stories of employees that have made history or were high performance workers are shared among employees to raise motivation levels. Conflict management As mentioned above the company consists of a long supply chain hence handling conflicts becomes difficult but special rules and regulations and reporting techniques are being followed to reduce this difficulty. Managers and mentors are there to prevent conflict and in situations of conflict special step-by-step procedures are followed to handle the situation. Observable organizational policies The observable policies include following of ethics, it should be made sure that each and every individual in the organization follows rules and regulations. Time punctuality is strictly followed. Daily operations are conducted in a proper hierarchical way. Reporting of misconduct to customers

Macro Environment assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Macro Environment - Assignment Example o detect impact it will basically involve the use of transistors or other semiconductor components that involves the use of Silicon as the basic material for building the device. The technology also involves the use of mobile and other communication technology such as GPS. The mobile technology will be used to automatically dial 911 in case of accidents and GPS would be used to give the location of the accident site to the 911 operator so that help can arrive swiftly. The GPS technology is very much an essential component in this case as no human being might be present or the driver himself might not be in a position to physically communicate the occurrence of the accident or the place to the operator. All of the required resources are easily available in the US and non availability of resources won’t be a problem with regards to the manufacture of the device. The US is a country which has been a mixed breed of different cultures races and ethnicity. The country is a hot bed for migration and most of its population is made up of migratory people from different countries across the globe. This has led to a diverse and multifaceted cultural diversity in the country. The country has a population that is comprised of people of different age group but most of its population is of the older generation. The buyer for the new technology has been identified as Ford motor company. However the ultimate buyer of the new technology is likely to belong from every culture or races that are present in the country. Since safety is an issue that is seen as a major area of concern irrespective of the culture or religion or race or creed or sex to which one belongs. However, with aging population the concern for road safety and the likely adoption of this potential life saving technology is likely to increase. The America represents a country which is led by innovations. The American economy has been fuelled by innovations. There are large of new start-ups that are formed in

Web Design Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Web Design Report - Essay Example The group’s choice to select Squarespace as the preferred content management system for this project is because it offers a lot of reliable features and template designs that have a friendly user interface. The valuable qualities of using Squarespace as the CMS for designing and developing the final website product outweigh the advantages of using another CMS system like Word Press or Joomla. Detailed descriptions of the benefits are explained below: Most Content Management Systems (CMSs) are created to help individuals who are not interested in not handling the technical part of building a website. The platform of the CMS should offer a simple design user interface for the end user. A system that has technical and hard to understand user interface configuration tend to demoralize an end user from the system. Therefore investing in a rich color background and text or attractive font is worthwhile to keep the admin and other users intrigued. The Squarespace CMS platform made it easier for the admin  customize the website content. The CMS platform also allows other authorized users to update content without having to get training regarding computer coding or technical language knowledge required for system maintenance. The Squarespace CMS platform template used to design the Connecting Syracuse system has a well-developed interface structure that enables easy placement of information on the webpage from the administration’s central interface. The customizable CMS tool utilizes the drag and drop functionality AJX function which enables the end web product system to have a consistent theme on all the web interface pages. This is advantageous since the system developer does not having to write the source code from scratch. These platform tools are good for web design beginners who want build customized front-end interfaces for a website without going into the technical sections. Clearly, using the Squarespace website builder is simpler as

Macro Environment assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Macro Environment - Assignment Example o detect impact it will basically involve the use of transistors or other semiconductor components that involves the use of Silicon as the basic material for building the device. The technology also involves the use of mobile and other communication technology such as GPS. The mobile technology will be used to automatically dial 911 in case of accidents and GPS would be used to give the location of the accident site to the 911 operator so that help can arrive swiftly. The GPS technology is very much an essential component in this case as no human being might be present or the driver himself might not be in a position to physically communicate the occurrence of the accident or the place to the operator. All of the required resources are easily available in the US and non availability of resources won’t be a problem with regards to the manufacture of the device. The US is a country which has been a mixed breed of different cultures races and ethnicity. The country is a hot bed for migration and most of its population is made up of migratory people from different countries across the globe. This has led to a diverse and multifaceted cultural diversity in the country. The country has a population that is comprised of people of different age group but most of its population is of the older generation. The buyer for the new technology has been identified as Ford motor company. However the ultimate buyer of the new technology is likely to belong from every culture or races that are present in the country. Since safety is an issue that is seen as a major area of concern irrespective of the culture or religion or race or creed or sex to which one belongs. However, with aging population the concern for road safety and the likely adoption of this potential life saving technology is likely to increase. The America represents a country which is led by innovations. The American economy has been fuelled by innovations. There are large of new start-ups that are formed in

Viruses & Cells Comparison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Viruses & Cells Comparison - Essay Example They are classified differently because of the inherent structural and functional differences. Unlike living cells which can reproduce on their own, viruses have to rely on other cells for them to reproduce. Viruses lack other cells parts like the plasma membrane, ribosomes, and the cytoplasm. They, therefore, infest a living host and use its cells to reproduce. Secondly, living cells are self-sustaining while the viruses are not. Living cells are able to survive on their own because they have all the required structures and proteins which allow them to carry out life-sustaining processes and functions. Viruses, on the other hand, have to rely on a host cell or organism. The third difference is that living cells can synthesize proteins while viruses cannot. Cells have ribosomes and can easily synthesize proteins on their own. Viruses lack these ribosomes and have to rely on the host cells to be able to translate its messenger RNA into the viral proteins. According to Grifo and Tahara , viruses do not have the ability to generate and store energy in form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as in the case with living cells. They derive their energy and all other metabolic functions from the host living cells. They do this by using basic building materials like Amino acids, lipids, and nucleotides from the host organism. Finally, viruses cannot respond to stimuli as it is the case of the living cells. Viruses are inert chemicals which cannot perform critical life functions or even responding to stimuli.

The Origin of the Work of Art Essay Example for Free

The Origin of the Work of Art Essay In ‘The Origin of the Work of Art’ by German philosopher Martin Heidegger, the essence of the work of art and then the question of the meaning of a thing, are described according to the philosopher’s perspective. This was Heidegger’s first collection of writings on art. The critique had many opponents as well as allies who felt that this was a valuable contribution in making the meaning of art clearer to people. Heidegger states, the work of art â€Å"gives the earth (materials, color, sound, words) the chance to be present as what it really is. As long as the earth is used for something, it is not present as what it truly is. The truth, which the work of art reveals in this way, is a finite truth. It does not consist in a meaning, which lies in the open in an articulated form, but in a meaning, which is fathomless and deep. In its essence it is the strife between world and earth, between rising and sheltering.† (Kockelmans, 1985) However, to understand the statement by Martin Heidegger, â€Å"While truth and art are proper to the essence of reality with equal originality, they must diverge from one another and go counter to one another† (Kockelmans, 1985) one must move deep into the context of art and truth, particularly truth. Truth, according to Friedrich Nietzsche, who influenced Heidegger by a great degree, is presented in a metaphor where he points that â€Å"on the mountains of truth you can never climb in vain: either you will reach a point higher up today, or you will be training your powers so that you will be able to climb higher tomorrow.† (Lamb, 2004) However, the same truth goes though a mode of transference, when he mentions, â€Å"all things are subject to interpretation whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth.† (Lamb, 2004) This brings us to a stage where it becomes hard to interpret the application of truth from the perspective of Nietzsche. According to this parameters truth is an element that can be turned and twisted in accordance to occasion or need. Here he mentions that â€Å"all credibility, all good conscience, all evidence of truth come only from the senses†. (Lamb, 2004) However, the vital question is who would verify the justification of sense? Who would ascertain whether the interpretation of truth or the application of sense is modulated towards a betterment or general good? Hitler used Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophy of truth for his own goal and turned it against the entire world using this philosophy as a tool of justifying his evil means. Therefore, truth is subjective and in words of Nietzsche himself, â€Å"all truth is simple is that not doubly a lie?† (Lamb, 2004) Thus, truth is an embellishment of justification with almost poetic or artistic application that can be turned and twisted to meet the end purpose. It is true that the rhetorical approach of Friedrich Nietzsche hardly leaves any stone unturned in favor of his argument and it is only after a mass killing of the 20th century did we aver realized the flaw of his theory. The anthropomorphism incorporated in his philosophy diverted a mass section of the human population towards a belief of truth that is difficult to practice and fatal when implemented in practical world. However, it can be ascertained to remark that there is no problem for the society to implement the nature of truth in art forms as it depicts a personal view of the truth. In this context it would be relevant to mention that Marx believed that there is little truth in art as it is only a medium that presents an mirror image of the reality whereas there are enough evident that explains art in a different mode. (Lamb, 2004) Marcuse believes that â€Å"the truth of art lies in the power to break the monopoly of established reality†. (Marcuse, 1995) However according to Wilde â€Å"art never expresses anything but itself.† (Lamb, 2004) Under such parameters, the application of truth in art hardly holds any ground. It is a curious notion to mention that Plato wanted all poets and artists to be sent out of the country because they presented as fractured form of truth. The same is true for the practical and present world. It should be remembered that on a practical ground while somewhere on a greater moral plane we are taught that lying is â€Å"wrong,† the fact is that Western Civilization as James Beniger asserts could be reduced to chaos without lies. The present generation believes that there are certain importance of truth but that truth is juxtaposed with the parameters of lies for the term ‘success’ in this world of market driven economy. From the perspective of a present generation, individual truth is as important as lying, no matter how metaphorical or paradoxical it might sound, thus its needs an explanation. Humans develop their ability to lie at a very early age. The average two-year-old is a liar, perhaps not a proficient and accomplished liar yet, but a liar nonetheless.   By the time, a child is a toddler, the innocence of youth is a myth, and the child has learned that lying is a necessary skill for survival in the world. The children who perfect the art of lying just might grow up to become successful politicians. Caught in a forbidden act, a two-year-old will quickly try to don a look of absolute innocence all while denying the alleged wrongdoing. Lying in children this young makes one wonder if lying is part of the human genetic code. The fact is, children probably are taught to lie by their first teachers- their parents. Brian Martin claims that parents carefully teach children how to lie and just as often lie to them (Martin, 2004). In teaching their children to lie, parents are preparing them to deal with the world. Once children set off for school, they must know how to lie effectively to teachers and classmates. Children who do not become good liars will not develop good interpersonal skills, and they will probably not become highly effective people. Every child needs to know how to explain the missing homework assignment and how to get along with playmates. Well-told lies are the most expedient means to these ends. In the adult world, the most successful people are those who are proficient liars. Businesses would cease to function if proprietors always told the truth. Without lies, there would be no politicians and no governments; the world would descend into anarchy. A good politician knows that people do not really want to hear the truth, especially if the truth is unpleasant; therefore, the best politicians always have ready lies that are always delivered with a caring and earnest expression. These are good lies because they reassure the people that all is well, and that is after all, what people want to hear. Lies are the foundation of democracy, and lies set people free. Be it a genetic trait or one acquired through social interactions, lying is a part of the fabric of civilization and socialization. In addition, this stands for each and every society down the ages of human history not just Western Civilization. Great societies are founded on lies, and the most successful people are the most adept liars. Relationships, businesses, and governments depend on lies. In wider sense, it could well be formulated that lying is a positive sign and approach of intelligence at the same time. (Lamb, 2004) It should be mentioned that as an individual on behalf of the present generation and that on a moral ground the importance of truth remains important. It could be ascertained that this truth should be composed and restored as an element of individual justification. This means that one should be justified in terms of truth to oneself. The human dignity is to be taken into consideration in relation to truth. One must always be true, clarified and justified to the personal self. This is the importance of truth and the value of truth and the rest depends on the survival strategies in the modern world. Thus, truth remains in its position while to survive one need the help of the other side of truth and that is lie. However, from the parameters of art it can be stated â€Å"art is an inherent element in the effort on the part of man to come to genuine self-understanding art works reveal to us what and how beings are. Each artwork opens its own world A world opens itself, the earth shelters and closes; both are present in the artwork. Furthermore, the work does not refer to something else as a sign or a symbol does, but it presents itself in its own Being and invites the beholder to dwell and while with it.† (Kockelmans, 1985) As Heidegger explains further: We note, â€Å"In order for truth to come-to-pass in a work of art, conservation is as essential as invention. Since the fact that truth is at work implies the conserver who is â€Å"startled and whiles in the openness that pervades the art work.† (Kockelmans, 1985) Thus, in defense of art as solitary medium it can be stated that nature is created by itself, while art is the creation of nature. Art knows no death and it is imperishable. As said by Longfellow that art is long and time is fleeting. The spices of nature are born only to die after a certain space of existence. Art continues indefinitely. Austin Dobson assessment of art is expressed in his saying that all passes. Art alone enduring stays to us. The bust outlasts the throne, the coin, Tiberius. Art is never demonstrative; it never catches attention with an exhibitionistic appeal. Obviously, a casual observer scarcely finds anything impressive, a thing of beauty, in it. On the other hand, the eye of a connoisseur never misses it. With his penetrating look and absorbing concern, he explores the innate charm of an object of art. According to the celebrated Latin poet Ovid, art lies in concealing art. If art is the magic of holding back time then artists are the magicians who captivate time in colors and canvases. As time passes by several take birth and perish, but some people with their achievements and contributions leave their footprints on the sands of time. These people remain immortal forever in the pages of history. It has been found that â€Å"the imagination is a necessary part of the creative process, and that somewhere between the imagination and the reality principle; the mind can play on an infinite measure of continuum between these binary opposites. Both imagination and rationality are necessary in order that separation from the here and now may occur without a complete severing with the past.† (Windt, 2004) However, in the juxtaposition of truth and art it can be stated that Art could even be considered something as simple as an action someone has done for a cause or for somebody. If someone holds the door for somebody else, it could be his or her art to be generous and courteous. Even acts of crime can be considered forms of art. In many thieving circles, the method of breaking and entering or robbing places is merely called the Art of Theft. Therefore, one can never really limit art to one thing. Rather, it is a wide arrangement of things. In addition, one can never truly crack down and say that something is only artistic if it is of some particular kind of medium, because somebody else will disagree. Art is anything that anyone does which has a profound effect on somebody or something else. From a simple act of kindness to a masterpiece painting which took years out of somebody’s life? Some art can be considered more complex, and some art can be considered simpler in contrast. However, the fact of the matter is, in the eye of the beholder, art could be anything. So is it possible for us to define what art is or can we really set any realistic guidelines as to what is art and what is not? It is always possible to create guidelines, but it is often considered an art form in itself to break said guidelines. What we can do, however, is center ourselves on the aesthetics of art. However, defining what is aesthetic and what is not can be quite an undertaking. Simply put, something that is aesthetically pleasing is something that appeals to the senses. For instance, flowers give a nice aesthetic sense of smell by offering their pleasant odors. A nicely painted picture can give off a nice aesthetic sight for somebody to enjoy. Often it is difficult to create something aesthetically pleasing, as there are many ways to offend peoples senses. For instance, if you wanted to create a painting to give off an aesthetic feeling of hope, you probably would not use an over abundance of dark colors. Dark colors are often used to show calmness or even more commonly, something sad and depressing. In addition, when painting, if you use wider and more circular strokes with a lighter press on your brush, you will give off more depressing tones and colors. Therefore, it would be more advisable to use lighter colors and more agile handling of the brush. Lighter colors often give off a feeling of warmth and happiness, which is something that you would like to be doing if you would like to create something hopeful. However, to create something that gives off a strong aesthetic presence, you usually must feel some sort of emotional attachment to whatever it is you are working on three. One must have a feeling for whatever it is you are working on. Only then will you truly pour out everything from your heart and mind. When you can accomplish this, you can create something with true aesthetic value. If you can describe your emotions in your artwork, it becomes easier for others to understand what you were trying to do, and more often, give them a stronger emotional sense. In a way, this creates a bond between the artist and the observer, allowing true aesthetic value to be created within a work of art. However, this still does not fully aid us in our quest to find out whether we can define what art is. There are some things, which do not stimulate our emotions as much but may still hold a different aesthetic value. Some of the most common examples of these are mathematical charts and scientific writings. Although they do not hold any intrinsic aesthetic values, they still provide a sense of artwork within the mind. Mathematics helps us to develop our logical minds and to expand our ability to memorize details and think things through. However, as odd as it may sound, even mathematics can help to produce powerful works of art. One of the most profound methods of art within mathematics must be the Golden Ratio. The Golden Ratio is a number, which is defined simply as width being 1.618 times the height of something 4 or approximately one and a half times the height of something. Although unexplained, you can prove it to yourself by viewing pictures of the Greek structure known as the Parthenon that the Golden Ratio is one of the most beautiful artistic forms in existence. The difference in width by length gives a soothing aura and relaxes the entire body when viewed. One of the other valuable aesthetic forms, which have come from math, is the circle. Although we may never truly define what Pi is, it is known that it is the calculation for a perfect circle. Pi is simple defined as an outer diameter 3.14 times the length of the radius of a circle. Circular shapes have always been known to be very pleasing to the eye, and this could help to explain why Roman structures may not be as pleasing as other circular structures. The Romans, for a time, were on top of the world and had to prove it by being correct in everything. This even meant their own calculation of Pi, which, in Roman times, was known to be 3.45. Interestingly enough, when you view Roman buildings with a bird’s eye view, you can notice that they are slightly ovular. This gives an awkward feel to them and helps to explain why Greek architecture has always been slightly more respected than Roman architecture. Even science has a place in the world of common art. For, without science, we would not have many of the methods of designing art as we do now. Paint, for instance, if not developed without science would not be in existence now. Chemistry and metallurgy have been two of the most significant expansions to the world of contemporary art however. Chemistry has helped to develop various substances, which react to different surfaces, and modern chemistry has helped to evolve this even further. Now we have fluorescent paints, synthetic canvases and neon gases to help create bright signs in the sky. Metallurgy has helped in sculpture design and in the design of many modern tools used in art. Many artists are now using welding as a medium for their artistic expression. The fields of science and art seem to go hand in hand when you think of them in this way. Computers in particular have had a profound effect on the development of aesthetic value in art today. Many artists conglomerate around the Internet to share their works of art and receive critiques from various sources to develop their talent further. In fact, there have been many programs developed which help people to develop art on the computer itself. Flash animation is a popular method of electronic art design, which is a conglomeration of various artistic images placed together in a mobile video sequence. Photo editing has been enhanced by several modern software programs, and you can even create unique three-dimensional images with some modern programs. Graphic design has been greatly enhanced by the advent of the modern computer. So many programs and computer platforms have been specifically tailored for Graphic Design that in recent years the industry has had an explosion in growth. Companies everywhere are constantly seeking artists to design their logos, papers, pamphlets and promotional media. However, with so many developments in the field of art, have we become closer to being able to define art in one true sense? Alternatively, rather, have we learned to adapt and respect all forms of art and their inherent values? What might be considered a masterpiece in the past by everyone may only be considered a masterpiece to a small number of people in this modern day. Rather than classifying art in one major group, we should respect all art for its value and its effect on society as a whole. It is debatable that we will ever be able to identify art in the analytical sense, but we will learn new ways to improve our talents and we will constantly gain more resources to spread our art across all reaches of the universe. It does not really matter whether or not we can define art, because art is just an expression. It is a method for human beings to get out their emotions and share them with the rest of the world. It helps to describe what cannot be spoken. A picture is worth a thousand words, but even those thousand words can yet again produce a thousand additional pictures. In addition, in this method of thought, art has an infinite number of possibilities and an infinite number of ways to influence the lives of others.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are no strict guidelines for defining art nor will there ever be. Everything is in the eye of the beholder, but it does not matter. As long as society keeps using art forms and aesthetic values to gain a newfound sense of identity, I think the world will live without being able to define what art is. So do not pursue the field and believe you must define others work, but rather, attempt to find its emotional value and apply it to your own life. Thus, in conclusion, it can be stated that the statement of Martin Heidegger enumerating art is comparatively true and partly wrong. This is because truth cannot be imposed on art in the context of realism but the undefined part of art makes it wrong. This is because if art is not completely defined and if truth is uncertain at many parts, as seen earlier, the relation between the two becomes tentative and vague. Thus, whether art and truth are inseparable or they are in contradiction to each other remains a debatable issue for further arguments in the future. Bibliography: Kockelmans, Joseph J; 1985; Heidegger on Art and Art Works; Springer Lamb, Davis; (2004); Cult to Culture: The Development of Civilization on the Strategic Strata; National Book Trust. 2004 Marcuse, Herbert; 1994; The Aesthetic Dimension; Art and its Significance; Suny Press; Martin, Brian. (2003-2004). â€Å"Telling Lies for a Better World?† Social Anarchism 35: 27-39.   Retrieved on 7 April, 2008 from http://www.uow.edu.au/arts/sts/bmartin/pubs/03sa.html Windt, Gerda van de; (2004); Artistic Imagination: Transforming Sorrow into Beauty Truth and Art; Arts Education – Faculty of Education. Simon Fraser University

The Southern Dialect as Seen in the Works of William Faulkner Essays

The Southern Dialect as Seen in the Works of William Faulkner In the writings of William Faulkner, the reader may sense that the author has created an entire world, which directly reflects his own personal experience. Faulkner writes about the area in and around Mississippi, where he is from, during the post-Civil War period. It is most frequently Northern Mississippi that Faulkner uses for his literary territory, changing Oxford to â€Å"Jefferson† and Lafayette County to â€Å"Yoknapatawpha County,† because it is here that he lived most of his life and wrote of the people he knew. Faulkner’s stories focus on the Southeastern United States at a time period when old traditions began to clash with new ideals. This is an era in American history with which most people can quickly identify, whether they are Southern or not. The South in Faulkner’s works are complete with all the expected features: an agricultural society, Southern belles and gentlemen, racial tensions, and especially the common characteristics of Southern speech. Faulkner strays from the normal customs of Northern literature to present a realistic portrait of the South that he grew up in. In doing so, he comes up with an excellent sample of the Southern language, including linguistic qualities of both black and white speech. Faulkner establishes a unique literary voice which is recognizable due to variances from standard English in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammatical form, while juxtaposing speech elements foreign to anyone not familiar with Southern heritage. The works of William Faulkner succeed in creating a literary dialect which is relatively consistent throughout all of his stories. A literary dialect is best defined as an â€Å"author’s attempt to represent in w... ...n, 1971. 145-177. 7) Lockyer, Judith. Ordered By Words: Language and Narration in the Novels of William Faulkner. Southern Illinois University Press, 1991. 8) McDavid, Raven I., Jr. â€Å"Dialectology: Where Linguistics Meets the People.† The Emory University Quarterly XXIII (Winter, 1967), 219. 9) McDavid, Raven I., Jr. â€Å"Go Slow in Ethnic Attribution: Geographic Mobility and Dialect Prejudices.† Varieties of Present-Day English. Ed. Richard W. Bailey and Jay L. Robinson. New York: Macmillan Company, 1973. 258-270. 10)McDavid, Raven I., Jr., and Virginia McDavid. â€Å"Kentucky Verb Forms.† Montgomery and Bailey, 1986. 264-293. Smith, Alphonso. Cambridge History of American Literature. New York: Macmillan Company, 1951. 11)Stewart, William A. â€Å"Observations on the Problem of Defining Negro Dialect.† The Florida FL Reporter IX, Nos. 1 and 2 (Spring/Fall, 1971), 47-57.

Medieval versus Renaissance Eras :: Compare Contrast History Art Essays

Medieval and Renaissance Eras   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is amazing how significantly various aspects of society can and will change over a prolonged period of time. Between the time periods of the Medieval era and the Renaissance, one can note numerous significant changes, mainly those pertaining to art and religion. In general, ideals and subjects during the Renaissance became more secular. In Medieval times, people seemed to focus mainly on the church, God, and the afterlife; during the Renaissance, the focus was more secular: humans and life on earth. Although these two eras differ in many ways, the most concentrated differences deal with the realms of architecture, painting, and philosophy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Architecture noticeably shifted from religious awe to classical reason between the Medieval era and the Renaissance. During the Middle Ages, architecture was aimed mainly at making advancements in the church. Medieval cathedrals had very distinct features, such as pointed spires, which were exactly that -- spires, or steeples, that were pointed and extended upward from the tower area; the rose window, which was a large stained glass window that was located on the front of the tower; and squared-off exterior walls, which were a contrast to the usual rounded exterior designs that people were accustomed to. Overall, cathedrals during this time could have very elegant features due to the excellent techniques of support and stabilization. Buttresses, simple extensions of the cathedral wall to enhance support, and flying buttresses, stone structures set away from the cathedral wall and attached at the top, contributed to the excellent support that Medieval cathedrals experienced. While architectural advancements during the Middle Ages were concerned mainly with making elegant reformations in the structure of the cathedral, architecture during the Renaissance was much less religion- centered, and revolved more around classical reason and secularity. Architecture in this time was concentrated mostly with the design of castles, such as the home of the prevailing Italian Medici family, perhaps the richest family in Europe. Architectural focus had changed from the cathedral in the Medieval era to other, more classical and secular subjects, such as castles and homes of significant rulers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The style, subjects, and overall attitude of painting was something that underwent very significant changes during the progression from Medieval times to the Renaissance. Generally, paintings became more secular, and less focused on aspects of the church, as the Renaissance approached. Medieval paintings seem to be focused almost entirely on religion and are given heavenly attributes, while paintings of the Renaissance consist mainly of secular subjects and contain much more realism, especially noted in human subjects. In Giotto's Madonna With Child, a Medieval painting, any observer will obviously notice that the child and woman are very awkwardly proportioned, indicating the

Natural Disaster and the Decisions That Follow Essay

In the hurricanes’ wake, Nationwide received more than 119,000 claims collectively worth $850 million. Although dealing with those claims was difficult, even more difficult was Rommel’s later decision to cancel approximately 40,000 homeowners’ policies. Nationwide received a huge amount of mediaattention as a result, almost all negative. In reflecting on the decision, Rommel said, ―Pulling out was a soundbusiness decision. Was it good for the individual customer? No, I can’t say it was. But the rationale wassound.â€â€"Hurricanes aren’t the only weapons in nature’s arsenal, and the insurance industry is hardly the onlyindustry affected by nature. Consider the airline industry. American Airlines has 80,000 employees, 4 of whommake decisions to cancel flights. One of them is Danny Burgin. When weather systems approach, Burgin needs toconsider a host of factors in deciding which flights to cancel and how to reroute affected passengers. He arguesthat of two major weather factors, winter snowstorms andsummer thunderstorms, snowstorms are easier to handle because they are more predictable. Don’t tell tha t toJetBlue, however. On February 14, 2007, JetBlue wasunprepared for a snowstorm that hit the East Coast. Dueto the lack of planning, JetBlue held hundreds ofpassengers on its planes, at JFK, in some cases for aslong as 10 hours (with bathrooms closed!). To the stranded travelers, JetBlue’s tepid offer of a refund was just as outrageous.

The Case for Christ

BOOK SUMMARY The Case for Christ Lee Strobel. Pub. Zondervan Publishing House About the Author Lee Strobel, Master of Studies in Law from Yale Law School. Award-winning journalist & investigative reporter for 13 yrs. at the Chicago Tribune. Pg. 303. His life changes when his wife becomes a Christian. He fears he will lose the fun-loving companion and friend he has known for years, but instead he is surprised by subtle changes in her character. This not only intrigues him but prompts him to learn more about Jesus by using the same logical and factual approach he follows while working as an investigative crime reporter. He starts his learning quest as an unconvinced skeptic. His underlying question is, â€Å"Can a case for Christ be made beyond a reasonable doubt†? To answer this, he sets out on a fact-finding mission. For nearly two years, he interviews numerous subject matter experts and biblical scholars to answer his questions with facts and evidence. His skills in investigative reporting help uncover the truth regarding the reliability of the gospels. Introduction: Who is Jesus? This comes down to two answers: This man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. Part 1: Examining the Record Timeframe Skeptics: â€Å"Some scholars say the gospels were written so far after the events that legend developed and distorted what was finally written down, turning Jesus from merely a wise teacher into the mythological Son of God. † Pg. 32 Answers: â€Å"The standard scholarly dating is that Acts was written by Luke in A. D. 61-63, because Paul was still living and under house arrest in Rome. Since Acts is the 2nd of a two-part work, we know the 1st part – the gospel of Luke – must have been written earlier than that. And since Luke incorporates parts of the gospel of Mark, that means Mark is even earlier. So if you allow one year for each writing, you end up with Mark written no later than about A. D. 60, a maximum gap of 30 yrs. after Jesus’ death. Pg. 34 That’s still within the lifetimes of various eyewitnesses of the life of Jesus, including hostile eyewitnesses who would have served as a corrective if false teachings about Jesus were going around. † Pg. 33. Eyewitness testimony is the key here. The two earliest biographies of Alexander the Great were written by Arrian and Plutarch more than 400 years after Alexander’s death in 323 B. C. , yet historians consider them to be trustworthy. So whether the gospels were written 60 yrs. or 30 yrs. after the life of Jesus, the mount of time is negligible by comparison. Pg. 33. Character Test â€Å"The gospel writers had nothing to gain except criticism, ostracism, and martyrdom. The certainly had nothing to win financially. If anything this would have provided pressure to keep quiet, to deny Jesus, to downplay him, even to forget they ever met him—yet, because of their integrity, they proclaimed what they saw. Pg. 48. Eleven apostles were put to grisly deaths, which show deep conviction for what they believed and were preaching regarding Jesus. Pg. 45 Consistency â€Å"The gospels are extremely consistent with each other by ancient standards, which are the only standards by which it’s fair to judge them†. Pg. 45 â€Å"If the gospels were identical or too consistent, this would have raised awareness that the authors had conspired among themselves to coordinate their stories in advance, and that would h ave cast doubt on them†. Pg. 45 The Adverse Witness Test â€Å"Many people had reasons for wanting to discredit this movement and would have done so if they could have simply told history better. Pg. 51. Yet, look what his opponents did say. In later Jewish writings Jesus is called a sorcerer who led Israel astray—which acknowledges that he really did work marvelous wonders, although the writers dispute the source of his power. They never say he did not work the written miracles. If critics could have attacked the movement on the basis that it was full of falsehoods or distortions, they would have. But, that’s exactly what we don’t see†. Pg. 51 Corroborating evidence outside the Bible Josephus, Jewish historian, A. D. 37-100 †¢ Wrote about Jewish wars that have corroborated by other historians and archaeological excavations. Pg. 81 †¢ Writes about James, brother of Jesus, who was called the Christ. Stoned to death in A. D. 62. Pg. 78 †¢ Wrote about Jesus the tribe of his Christian followers that had still to this day not disappeared. Pg. 79 Tacitus, a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire, A. D. 56 –117 †¢ Writes about Christ suffering extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of Pontius Pilatus. Refers to an immense multitude of Christ followers willing to die for their beliefs. Pg. 82 Pliny the Younger, Roman citizen, and provincial governor, A. D. 23-79 †¢ Refers to rapid spread of Christianity among all classes of people, as well as Roman citizens that are sent to Rome for trial. â€Å"They have high ethical standards and if they repeatedly admit they honor Christ as God they are executed†. Thallus, a Greek historian, wrote in A. D. 52 a history of the Mediterranean world since the Trojan War. †¢ Referenced the total darkness at the time of the crucifixion. Pg. 84 Phlegon, a Greek author in A. D. 137 †¢ Reported about the greatest eclipse of the sun when it became night at noon in A. D. 33. Pg. 85 The Mishnah, the 1st part of the Talmud, an important Jewish work compiled in A. D. 200 regarding Judaism's Oral Law †¢ Refers to Jesus as a false messiah who practiced magic and was justly condemned to death. Pg. 86 Key Findings So if we didn’t have any New Testament or other Christian writings, we could conclude from non-Christian historical writings that: 1. Jesus was a Jewish teacher 2. Many believed he performed healings and exorcisms 3. Some believed he was the Messiah 4. He was rejected by Jewish leaders 5. He was crucified under Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius 6. His followers spread beyond Palestine to there were multitudes of them in Rome by A. D. 64 7. All types of people worshiped him as God. Pg. 87. The Scientific Evidence Archaeology found an inscription from the time of Tiberius, from A. D. 14-37 which names Lysanias as tetrarch in Abila near Damascus—just as Luke had written. Pg. 97 John mentions the Pool of Bethesda and details the pool had five porticoes. When archaeologists excavated in this location 40 feet below the ground, they found the pool site and 5 porticoes (walk ways) exactly as John had described. A fragment copy of John 18 was found in Egypt that papyrologists have dated to about A. D. 125. Pg. 99 Part 2: Analyzing Jesus The Identity Evidence of Gospel Writings The cross: Pontius Pilate inscribed INRI, an acronym for â€Å"Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews. Pg. 135 The Psychological Evidence Gary Collins, Dr. in clinical psychology. â€Å"People suffering form psychosis display inappropriate emotions such as anxiety, depression or even anger. Jesus did not display any such emotions nor did he exhibit the misperceptions that plague people suffering from psychosis. Jesus did not show any symptoms of mental illness. Jesus supported what he said by his actions—healing, raising people from the dead and the casting out of demons. Pg. 153 Prophesy Fulfillment Louis Lapides, Jewish convert to Christianity. Grew up thinking Jesus was more derogatory than anything else. After returning from Vietnam War, he experimented with various religions and drugs. Was challenged about his disbelief in Jesus which led him to read the Old Testament prophesies. Was amazed of all the prophesies that Jesus fulfilled: â€Å"Isaiah revealed the manner of the Messiah's birth (of a virgin); Micah pinpointed the place of his birth (Bethlehem); Genesis and Jeremiah specified his ancestry (a descendent of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, from the tribe of Judah, the house of David); The Psalms foretold his betrayal, his accusation by false witnesses, his manner of death (pierced in the hands and feet, although crucifixion hadn't been invented yet), and his resurrection (he would not decay but would ascent on high); and on and on† (p. 179). Lapides goes on to earn a bachelor's degree in theology and a master of divinity of theology. Pg. 173 Part 3: Researching the Resurrection To establish that Jesus rose from the dead, one must first establish that he died on the cross. The Medical Evidence The gospels tell us that Jesus sweat blood. â€Å"And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. † Luke 22:44 Dr. Metherell, M. D. & PH. D. in Engineering. Pg. 193 â€Å"In severe cases of anxiety, the body releases chemicals that break down the capillaries in the sweat glands. As a result, there’s a small amount of bleeding into these glands, and the sweat comes out tinged with a very small amount of blood†. Pg. 195 According to the Dr. , when Jesus was nailed to the cross, his arms would have immediately been stretched about 6 inches in length, and both shoulders would have become dislocated. This fulfilled the Old Testament prophesy in Psalm 22, which foretold the Crucifixion hundreds of years before it took place and says, â€Å"My bones are out of joint. † When Jesus suffocated on the cross, a Roman soldier confirmed it by thrusting a spear into his side, which likely went through his lung and into the heart. When the spear was pulled out, clear fluid and a large volume of blood would have come out. Clear fluid from the lung and large amounts of blood from the heart. This was confirmed in John 19:34 when John reported he saw blood and water come out Jesus’ side when the spear was removed. Pg. 199. The Dr. testified there would be no question that Jesus was dead at this point. Pg. 200. To speed up death, Romans would use a steel shaft to shatter the victim’s lower leg bones. This would prevent the victim from pushing up with his legs to breathe. Jesus’ legs were not broken, because the soldiers already determined that he was dead, and they just used the spear to confirm it. John 19:32-36 This fulfilled another Old Testament prophesy about the Messiah, which is that his bones would remain unbroken. Ps 34:20. Pg. 200 Roman soldiers had every incentive to ensure crucified prisoners were dead when removed from the cross, because they would be put to death if a prisoner escaped. Pg. 201. â€Å"Last of all, if Jesus did not die, and he somehow walked away from the tomb, he would have been in such poor condition and looked so pitiful that his followers would have felt sorry for him and try to nurse him back to health. They would never have been prompted to start a worldwide movement based on the hope that someday they too would have a resurrected body like his†. Pg. 202 The Evidence of the Missing Body Joseph of Arimathea takes to body of Jesus, puts it in a tomb, the tomb is visited by a small group of women followers of Jesus early on the Sunday morning following his crucifixion, and they find that the tomb is empty. They see a vision of angels saying that â€Å"Jesus has risen† (p. 215). Recorded in Acts 13:29-31 and prophesied in Ps. 16:10. Pg. 219. In the earliest Jewish writings, there was nobody claiming the tomb still contained Jesus’ body. The question always was, â€Å"What happened to the body? † The Jews proposed the guards of the tomb fell asleep, while the Christians proclaimed the guards were paid off to keep quiet. Pg. 221 â€Å"The site of Jesus’ tomb was known to Christian and Jew alike. If it were not empty, it would have been impossible for a movement founded on belief in the Resurrection to have come into existence in the same city where this man had been publicly executed and buried†. Pg. 20. The Evidence of Appearances Paul 5 B. C. – 67 A. D. †¢ Wrote in both 1 Cor. 9:1 and in1 Cor. 15:8 where he personally encountered the resurrected Christ. Pg. 228. †¢ Persecuted Christians until his conversion sometime in A. D. 33. †¢ Refers to the fact that Jesus was a descendant of David, that he was the Messiah, that he was betrayed, that he was tried, crucified for our s ins, and buried, and that he rose again on the third day and was seen by many people—including James, the brother of Jesus who hadn’t believed in him prior to his crucifixion. Pg. 8 †¢ â€Å"1 Corinthians 15:8 is part of an early church creed. In this portion of Scripture, the post-resurrection Jesus is said to have appeared to Peter, the twelve, plus more than five hundred people some of whom were still alive at the writing of this epistle†. †¢ People reading this at the time could still check with eye witnesses and question them if they wanted to confirm what it said†. Pg. 229. †¢ â€Å"This creed can be traced back to about A. D. 32 to 38 which means it lends it credence as primitive, unembellished testimony about Jesus appearing to skeptics like Paul and James† Pg. 30. Then they go on to cover the numerous sightings by other eye-witnesses mentioned in the gospels and the book of Acts†. Pg. 234. Were the appearances hallucina tions? Dr. Gary Habermas, PH. D. , considered expert on the resurrection. He refutes the theory that the appearances were hallucinations because a hallucination is an individual experience that happens to one person at a time. Pg. 238 The Circumstantial Evidence J. P. Moreland, PH. D. Professor and author. â€Å"When Jesus was crucified, his followers were discouraged and depressed. They no longer had confidence that Jesus had been sent by God, because they believed anyone crucified was accursed by God. They also had been taught that God would not let his Messiah suffer death. So they dispersed. The Jesus movement was all but stopped in its tracks. † Pg. 246 â€Å"Then, after a short period of time, we see them abandoning their occupations, regathering, and committing themselves to spreading a very specific message—that Jesus Christ was the Messiah of God who died on a cross, returned to life, and was seen alive by them. Pg. 247 â€Å"And when you've got eleven credible people with no ulterior motives, with nothing to gain and a lot to lose, who all agree they observed something with their own eyes–now you've got some difficulty explaining that away† Pg. 247. The Conversion of Skeptics â€Å"The gospels tell us Jesus’ family, including James, was embarrassed by what he was claiming to be. † â€Å"Later the historian Jos ephus tells us that James was stoned to death because of his belief in his brother. Why did James’s life change? Paul tells us: the resurrected Jesus appeared to him. There’s no other explanation. † Pg. 248 Saul executed Christians when he had the chance. â€Å"Suddenly, he doesn’t just ease off Christians but joins their movement. He writes that he saw the risen Christ and heard Christ appoint him to be one of his followers. † Pg. 249 Revolutionizing Jewish Life for followers of Jesus Immediately after Jesus’ death, 10,000 Jews were willing to give up five key practices that had served them sociologically and theologically for many centuries: 1. Jewish people no longer offered sacrifices they had been doing since the time of Abraham and Moses 2. You don’t become an upcoming Jewish member simply by keeping Moses’ laws. 3. Worshipped on Sunday (when Jesus rose) instead of Saturday, a 1500 year tradition. 4. Began to worship Jesus as God (trinity) 5. The Messiah was someone who suffered and died for the sins of the world, whereas Jews had been trained to believe that the Messiah was going to be a political leader who would destroy the Roman armies. † Pg. 251 Conclusion: So let’s revisit the underlying question of this book, â€Å"Who is Jesus†? Lee Strobel concluded the evidence of history and his own experiences was too strong to ignore. He made a personal decision to receive Christ. Later, his five-year-old daughter went up to his wife and said, â€Å"Mommy, I want God to do for me what he’s done for Daddy. † This book has helped strengthen my faith in Christ, by highlighting many intriguing historical facts and evidence that corroborates what is written in the Old and New Testament concerning Jesus. I will end with the book’s last paragraph which cites a quote from C. S. Lewis, an atheist and skeptical Cambridge University professor who was eventually won over by evidence for Jesus. C. S. Lewis is most notably known for his best-selling book series The Chronicles of Narnia. â€Å"I am trying to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: â€Å"I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God. † That is the one thing we must not say. A man ho was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic†¦or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patr onizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to. Pg. 271.