Shelby Steel interview with Bill Moyers

Strategies to incorporate when engaged in a strong discussion A discussion refers to a situation where two parties are involved in a conversation about a particular topic with the intention of getting more insight about the topic. Both parties normally prepare for the event so that once it starts the flow will not be interrupted. All the parties are expected to contribute to the topic and share the ideas they have (Ur 56).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Shelby Steel interview with Bill Moyers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Preparation is, therefore, important as it ensures that any question that may arise will be tackled without any hesitation. A discussion may get intense and deep such that it requires some techniques to be able to get through it successfully. Some of the strategies that one may employ under these circumstances are discussed below. The first strategy is to maintain ones composure. It is very important to be composed throughout the discussion. This will ensure that a person is able to respond promptly and accurately to any question that may be subjected to him/her. Composure also increases the confidence of a person. It ensures that the manner in which the discussion is carried out will be in order. Composure will also aid in ensuring that the discussion will be carried out to completion. If one is not composed, he/she may end up aborting the discussion prematurely (Ur 57). The second strategy is to ensure that one is prepared enough for the topic to be discussed. Adequate and wide research about the topic to be discussed needs to be conducted before one goes for the discussion. Preparation ensures that one is able to respond to any situation appropriately. It also ensures that even if the discussion becomes heated, the parties are still able to give sensible responses and they do not overreact. Adequate preparation also ensures that the parties expect all sorts of quest ions during the discussion thus preventing any feeling of discomfort during the discussion. This situation may arise if questions which the parties participating in the discussion had not prepared for come up. Shelby Steele’s perspective about affirmative action Firstly, Shelby believes that there are bargainers and challengers. The challengers are the groups of people who when they consider someone to be a racist will keep this belief until the person proves themselves otherwise. On the other hand, the bargainers are those who decide to cope with the racists so long as they keep their racist behavior to themselves. Shelby felt that the racist behavior of the whites was inherent and could be eliminated completely within a short time.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More He considered that not all the whites were racists as perceived by other people. He also said that the white s had an obligation to the blacks and this might be attributed to the struggles that were inflicted on the blacks by the whites. He said that change would not be instantaneous although measures were taken to ensure that happened. He also went on to say that the pretence between both the blacks and the whites would make the quest for affirmative action drag for a long time. The perspective of Shelby about affirmative action is not correct according to my view. The fact that he believes that affirmative action will not be achieved in the near future has no base and is incorrect. Enormous efforts are being made to ensure that affirmative action is implemented. This together with the cooperation of both the whites and the blacks will ensure that the racist behavior is eliminated within the minimum possible time. Works Cited Ur, Penny. Discussions that Work. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1981. Print. This essay on Shelby Steel interview with Bill Moyers was written and submitted by user Emmy P. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

7 Warning Signs Your Talent Is Being Wasted at Work

7 Warning Signs Your Talent Is Being Wasted at Work So you sought out a job, went through the interview process, and got hired. Whoo hoo, so exciting! What’s more, you even feel confident that you were the best out of the bunch of candidates. But all the same, maybe since you started you haven’t been quite sure that your talents and particular skills are being used to their full effect. Take a look at the following warning signs that you are not reaching your full potential. If a few of these signs apply to you, you might want to consider seeking out a bigger pond, one where you can stretch your wings, challenge yourself, and reach the career goals you know you’re capable of reaching.1. Your boss is threatened by your best ideas.If all your ideas end up in the â€Å"Maybe Someday† file, and your manager seems to prefer bumping along with the status quo rather than pushing the envelope, you’re not going to get much traction. Maybe you’re hearing a lot of â€Å"but this is how it’s alway s been done† and not enough â€Å"that’s a great idea; we should try it,† or getting shut down (or outright ignored) by your boss for ideas you know to be good. If any of this is the case, then maybe it’s time to start to worry.2. You work with automatons.Instead of everyone pitching in to realize some long-term goal or vision, you find that all of your coworkers are merely on autopilot, doing task after task that doesn’t seem to generate any new sparks or momentum.3. You never receive any sort of appreciation.If you’re working hard and no one at work sees you for the superstar you are, then you A) haven’t shown them, or B) they’ve seen your talents and are choosing to ignore them. Your once bright future starts to grey.4. You’re trapped.Are you confined by your title? This could be your own fault or the fault of your workplace: you’re so hemmed in by your specific role and tasks that you don’t feel the free dom to be able to fluidly reach out to your team members and help with other projects and initiatives when necessary. Even if this kind of effort might require you to push yourself outside of your comfort zone, it can be good for your growth.5. Your boss is putting your light under a bushel.Whether your boss is afraid of change or threatened by your rising star, perhaps he or she isn’t being the kind of mentor that lets you shine. Maybe they even call you in and tell you to hold back a little, or pipe down in meetings, instead of batting around your best ideas.6. Your company values policy over passion.You’re a rule-follower, and you’re feeling stifled. It’s possible that you’re very comfortable where you are, but still- biding your time and knowing real change and real challenge are too far around the corner to be feasible it a recipe for nothingness. Meanwhile, you keep on toeing the company line and following policies you don’t think are best practice. You’re going nowhere, and slowly.7. You’re burnt out and bored.After your first entry-level gigs, you should probably never be bored at work. If your job is boring you, it’s time to move on for sure. Watch for burn-out also; it’s not just for people in high powered careers that work too fast and too hard. It can strike anyone who’s been grappling with long-term demoralization and lack of inspiration. Remember, you’re a person, not a robot just completing tasks.

Scholarship award Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Award - Scholarship Essay Example My previous career choice was that of a personal trainer. This was an offshoot of my highly active lifestyle. I was taking such good care of my body and keeping so fit that it was no surprise for the people who knew me when I began training other people as well. That is why my mothers cancer battle came as such a big blow to me. Yet I used her battle to inspire me to do better as a physical trainer, hoping that I could prevent the onset of such debilitating illnesses upon my own clients when I could not prevent it from happening to my own mother. But as time progressed, I came to understand that a personal trainer could only help his clients to a certain extent. I need to study further and concentrate on more advanced subjects relating to the human body and as far as I was concerned, only Biology could help me do that. Studying Biology has been an enjoyable experience for me as I am able to connect my knowledge about exercise with the information that I became exposed to in my biology related courses. I am actually looking forward to finishing this degree very soon so that I move on to my Physical Therapy studies where I plan on combining my experience as a personal trainer with my knowledge of the human body which I learned in biology in the hopes of being able to help more people lead healthy and productive lives. I would not have been in a financial position to actively pursue these socially conscious ambitions of mine without the help of this scholarship grant as the education that I am pursuing comes at a very steep price that is not affordable to many college

Standardized Tests and Informal Reading Assessments Essay

Standardized Tests and Informal Reading Assessments - Essay Example A standardized test is one that employs a standard method assessment. Such tests include CAT (California Achievement Test), STAR (Standardized Testing And Reporting). These tests are employed to determine if a student is fulfilling certain requirements ordained for his grade, age and intellectual level, and if he does so, he is promoted to the next grade. Some institutions use these tests along with other tools of assessment, while others simply rely on the test scores for assessing a student’s academic performance. Standardized tests are relied upon heavily for assessment purposes; yet there are many benefits as well as upsides associated with them Standardized tests are considered accountability tools for teachers and students (Meador, 2012). The syllabi taught vary from school to school, and also from teacher to teacher. So it is standardized tests that reconcile this gap and ensure that at least a particular guideline is followed regarding teaching and learning (Panday, 20 11). By comparing a child’s score with score from other subjects the tests are influential in highlighting the weaknesses and strong sides of a child; at the same time allowing for comparison of a particular subjects score, over time; allowing to infer improvement or (Popham, 1999). Since, these tests are standardized; they allow the scores of students to be compared from school to school or even at a larger scale like states; also allowing for data from social subgroups to be compared (Meador, 2012). Standardized Tests are helpful in testing and Judging a students’ Cognitive abilities and skills (Brassard & Boehm, 2008). Another important feature of standardized tests is that they are completely objective in nature; since, they are marked by computers; they grade every student on same terms and without biases (Meador, 2012). Standardized tests are also criticized by many academic highlighting many upsides in the tests and the assessment they provide. Over and over sta ndardized tests have been criticized as an inaccurate and limited means of assessing a students’ achievement and learning (Fairtest, 2007). Learning cannot be just established through a single measure, it is not uni-dimensional, and requires measurement of dimensions like creativity and ability to learn step-by-step etc. (Panday, 2011). Although standardized tests are capable of assessing a child’s cognitive abilities, yet they need t be culturally and linguistically just in order to do so, but that is not the case with standardized tests in schools, they are too demanding and are not an accurate measure, hence, requiring the use of other assessing mechanisms along with the tests to ensure proper assessment (Brassard & Boehm, 2008). Scores from these tests are considered representing a student’s educational and intellectual capacities, and thus results in their being allocated to inferior educational practices, taking away the opportunity to learn what their fel lows will be learning (Weaver, 1995). Standardized tests have also been criticized for leading the curriculum to be exam oriented; only topics covered in the exams are taught and limit the broader coverage and implications of education (Fairtest, 2007). Standardized tests also depict a false impression of being ‘objective’, when the only objectivity they have about them is that they are scored by computers, while their preparing and all the other procedures are carried out by people who belong to some group or the other

Using Cohens Book Compare Churchill and Linclon Essay

Using Cohens Book Compare Churchill and Linclon - Essay Example Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg address was able to clearly enunciate his vision for the future as he pleaded that soldiers should not have died in vain so that â€Å"that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom.†2 His goal of democracy for the people through equality thus became the goal of the Civil War – the achievement of freedom for everyone including the slaves, which became the goal that was to be fought for. The abolishing of slavery was the ultimate goal of Abraham Lincoln and this formed the framework of his persistent focus upon the defeat of the South in order to establish a new dawn of freedom within the United States. In a similar manner, Winston Churchill set out the goals of the IInd world war when he stated that the mission was to â€Å"wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed†¦Ã¢â‚¬ with the aim being â€Å"victory at all costs.†3 He clearly spelt out the ultimate goal, which was to defeat Germany at any costs, visualizing a future where the evil perpetrated by Adolf Hitler would cease to exist. England was hard pressed for resources, yet Churchill sought to protect his country from the rule of the German dictator by going on the offensive. In this battle, defeat was untenable because it would have meant the suppression of freedom and the imposition of German rule. He clearly conveyed to his countrymen the dangers inherent in the cause, the loss of life that would result, but also spelt the goal – which was the fight against evil and by envisaging German defeat in this manner, it was able to be brought about. In achieving their respective visions, both of these leaders were able to exercise transformational modes of leadership and inspire their countrymen. In transforming his vision of freedom from slavery into concrete action, Lincoln executed this as a strategic war offensive against the generals of the Confederate Army to move swiftly and decisively and crush

Impact of Colonization on Aboriginals | Alcoholism

Impact of Colonization on Aboriginals | Alcoholism Introduction The native tribes of Canada include the Inuit, The Metis and the First Nations. The term ‘First Nations is widely used to describe Canadian Aborigines who fall in neither of the above two groups. The Inuit comprises of indigenous people leaving in the colder regions of Canada, the Arctic, Russia, and Alaska in United States. The Metis people are the direct descendants of the mixed First Nations. The characteristics of their civilization included strict traditional networks and values, highly developed societal hierarchies, agricultural practice and permanent settlements. Aborigines and alcohol consumption Before their colonization by the Europeans, the Aboriginal people took alcoholic drinks made from various plants with relatively low alcoholic content. These included; alcoholic drinks made from the purple orchid tree and honey, pandas plant which would be soaked and pounded to make alcohol, mien cider gum, fermented honey, and the coconut. After the Europeans invasion, alcohol consumption patterns among the Aboriginals changed drastically. The Europeans brought trade. The Aborigines traded with fur for other essential commodities brought by the Europeans. As this trade developed, the Europeans started to use alcoholic drinks as a bargaining tool to soften the fur traders on their prices. â€Å"Alcohol was used as an inducement to participate, as a medium of exchange, and as a standard of competitive access.† (Smillie, Dec 16, 2009) The drinking patterns of the Aborigines commonly took the form of binging, spending whole days drinking. Women were also involved in excessive drinking and intoxication and this largely resulted in increased acts of violence and the eventual neglect of the children’s welfare. The women would engage in prostitution, which in turn affected childrearing and accelerated the birth rate of mixed race children who usually were abandoned by their European fathers. It is however instructive to note that alcohol consumption was later abolished, and the Aborigines largely abstained from it. This compliance to the abolition was, to a large extent a result of the lessons learned from the social problems it had created. Furthermore, even some of the trading partners requested that alcohol should not be made available to the band members. Impacts of alcohol consumption among the Aboriginals The following socio-economic impacts were normally associated with the Aboriginal people who consumed alcohol excessively; Let us take a look into Australia’s case, which bears great similarity to that in Canada, (this source was selected due of its readily available data and its similarities with Canada’s case) Violence: According to a new study that finds alcohol as the biggest risk factor (Sharp, April 9, 2010), indigenous people are up to 20 times more likely than the rest of the population to commit violent crime. According to a criminologist, most of the arrests made of indigenous people were due to minor physical assault, more than sexual abuse, and that these offenders were much more likely to repeat their actions on non-indigenous people. It was also found out that; a violent act against an indigenous person was most likely to be perpetrated by a fellow indigenous person, most likely f a family member. From the police data used, it was found that the apprehension figures for indigenous people were 20 times higher than those for the non-indigenous. These violent acts were found to have direct link to excessive consumption of alcohol. This reinforces an indigenous lawyer Noel Pearson’s view that alcohol consumption should have been tackled directly, through the formation of protective factors such as family links, coping skills and cultural resilience, rather than seen as a consequence of their past oppression by the colonialists (Sharp, April 9, 2010). Mortality: The indigenous people of Australia on average die earlier than their non-indigenous counterparts. This is partly attributable to excessive consumption of alcohol. It is estimated that 7% of these deaths, are as a direct result of alcoholism. The Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision also estimated that alcohol related deaths among these peoples were 5 – 20 times more than among their non-indigenous counterparts in WA, NT and SA. Self-inflicted injuries such as suicides are also high among these people, and alcohol has also been deemed to contribute a considerable percentage of these; with 40% and 30% of the male and female population respectively falling victim. Between 2000– 2004, the figures for the males and females who died from alcohol related suicides were 159 and 27 respectively, compared to the non-indigenous Australians whose figures were 123 and 27 respectively. This is a major source of concern given that the indigenous people comprise of only 3% of the entire Australian population (Wilson, 2010). Social breakdown: excessive consumption of alcohol has also been blamed for most social and emotional breakdowns. For example, Tyson and colleagues found that of the 4% of females and 9% of males with an alcohol use disorder in the general Australian population, 48% and 34% respectively, also met the criteria for anxiety, affective or drug use disorder. While there appears not to be any directly comparable studies for Indigenous Australians, it is likely that comorbid conditions occur more frequently among this population. To date, most of these indigenous people, both male and female, have been hospitalized for mental disorders associated with alcohol use, whose figures are 3-4 times higher than those of the non-indigenous population (Wilson, 2010). Other impacts of alcohol among the Aboriginals include; theft and crime, accidents and deaths, unemployment, community breakdown and fetal alcohol syndrome, all of which are high among these people compared to the rest of the non-indigenous population. Other problems that affected the Aboriginals The Indian Act of Canada â€Å"Indian Act of Canada, law designed to integrate Indians in Canada into the mainstream economy and culture (Indian Act of Canada, n.d).† This act was introduced in 1876, which allowed the Canadian government to have total control over the lifestyle of all Indians and their mode of interactions with the non-Indians. It was also given the power to look after the lands, education and health of these people. In 1951, the government agreed to abolish the existing Act and introduce a new one, after revelations of the suffering caused to the Indians came to the limelight occasioning a public uproar. However, despite the drastic measures taken, not all power was removed from the hands of the government, thus resulting in impacts different from what was anticipated. This further led to isolation of the Indians from the rest population. How the Act was passed; the establishment of Canada as a confederate state took place in 1867. It was done under a constitutional Act that gave it massive power over the lives of the Aboriginal people, including their property and lands. This was followed by the formation of many Aboriginal-related laws in the following years. By 1876, these laws were so many, that for ease of interpretation and implementation, the government decided to consolidate all of them to a single Act, known as the Indian Act. This Act gave definition on who was and was not Indian, basing lifestyle as its selection criteria. Thus it was the government’s prerogative to decide on who was and was not an Aboriginal Indian. The act stated the rights and protections the Indians were subject to, which included; fishing, hunting, education and healthcare which were state funded. The Indians were also protected from land grabbing by the white settlers and the non-Indians, but were denied the opportunity to govern themselves and to acquire Canadian citizenship. Thus, they could not participate in public functions such as voting in federal elections, business and commerce, land ownership, consumption of alcohol, and freedom of movement from their reserves without government permission. Despite its apparent segregation, the Act aimed at assimilating the Indians into the European lifestyle, giving guidelines which if any Indian could meet, he or she would be rewarded with Canadian citizenship. The reformation of the Act: The Act was later reformed in 1956 after World War II, which had proved that the Indian men were equally good soldiers in the battle field, an indication of their unwavering service to the Canadian Army. Further, the release of a federal report that exposed the extreme poverty levels of the Indian community caused a public uproar that led the government to revise the Act in 1951. The level of power and control of the federal agents was reduced, and the Indian people were given some level of self-governance. They were also allowed to consume alcohol, move out of their reserves without government permission and participate in any business activity. Further amendment saw the Indians allowed to vote by 1962. By 1985, they were not forced to reveal their identity in any circumstance, and by 1990 the Indians had gained more ground on self-governance. Residential schools In the early 1980s, the Canadian Federal government tried hard to convince the Aboriginals that they needed schools in order to become important and productive individuals in the society. This was as a result of the government’s deep rooted belief that it was its responsibility to take care of the Aboriginals and educate them. The government believed that the only chance at success lay in the natives’ learning English and therefore adopting the European way of life. They had to learn the Canadian customs as well as convert to Christianity. This adopted lifestyle would be passed down to their children and grandchildren, and the primitive native traditions would disappear in a few generations. Thus the Canadian Federal government developed an attitude of aggression towards its assimilation policy by ensuring it was preached in churches and taught in the government schools, which were later transformed into residential schools. The boarding school programs were initiated b ecause it was felt that it would be easy to convert and shape children than adults under similar circumstances, in preparation for them to join the mainstream societal lifestyle. These schools ; residential schools, were government funded and placed under the care of the Department of Indian affairs which oversaw the running of its daily activities including the learning exercises for its Aboriginal students. Attendance to these schools was made mandatory and thus the government employed agents to enforce these orders. â€Å"Initially, about 1,100 students attended 69 schools across the country. In 1931, at the peak of the residential school system, there were about 80 schools operating in Canada (Residential Schools: A History of Residential Schools in Canada, May 16, 2008).† At the time of closing of these schools in 1996, there were about a total of 130 schools in each province and a total of about 150,000 children of Aboriginal descent who had been forcefully removed from their communities to attend these schools. The major problem in these schools was that, right from their conception, the Aboriginal culture was considered inferior, and that with it, they would totally be unable to modernize and therefore adapt to the developed society. Therefore, there was a strong believe that children would bridge this gap should they shun that ‘primitive’ lifestyle and get exposure to developed society. That they would learn and accustom themselves to these new changes, by conversion to Christianity and speaking of English or French. These students were thus discouraged from using their first language as a medium of communication, or practicing any traditions. The living conditions in these schools were substandard and students were subjected to constant bullying and sexual harassment. Children would stay away from their parents for more than 10 months, and correspondence from the children was done in English which their parents didn’t understand. When children finally would go home, they found it difficult to fit in and therefore became ashamed of their native heritage. Further, the education and training received was minimal meaning that they could not survive in an urban setting. Thus, the objectives of these programs meant devastation to these children. This resulted in opposition, demonstrations and formation of commission of inquiries that investigated the matter. This later culminated to government agreeing to abolish the system and compensate its victims in 2007, where $1.9 billion was initially set aside as compensation package. Community based intervention A case scenario is presented here below, that shows how a combination of the above stated problems resulted to an increase in alcohol consumption, which thus led to moral degradation of a community, and how the problem was eventually solved. Let’s consider a case study of the Alkali lake community story. According to the elders, there was no alcohol drinking before 1940 on the reserve. But â€Å"just before World War II, a general store and trading post was set up at Alkali Lake by a European immigrant to the area. The people brought their furs to the store and received cash or merchandise, such as food staples, in exchange† (The Alkali Lake Community Story, n.d). The traders then introduced alcohol to soften them during negotiations. Once it entered the community, there was gradually shift in the health of the people, as many fell sick. Other pressures started mounting also as a result of the residential school system that saw many children sent away from their homes. These children would grow far away from their parents and family lifestyle, forced to abandon their first language for English or French. They were also taught that they cultures were ‘primitive’ compared to those of the Europeans, and therefore they had no choice but to leave them. Their conversion to Christianity was also made mandatory against their spiritual believes. These led to the Alkali people believing that unless they are converted into white race, they were of no good to the society. These beliefs were demonstrated in every facet of life, even to their subconscious level. Another major blow of these residential schools was the introduction of massive bullying that often accompanied both physical and emotional torture, and the wide spread sexual abuse of the students. When these students later returned home after months of schooling to start their own lives, they could not fit in because they had not been taught their traditional family values and virtues, and because they themselves had not been parented, they found it hard to grasp the concept of parenting and family life in general. Hence these people were more vulnerable to over consumption of alcohol which they did without control, making them violent and committed to more crimes. In 1965-1985, life in this society was unbearable. It was the height of all negative impacts of life pressures coupled with overconsumption of alcohol. â€Å"As one prominent community member put, We had become what others called us: the Indians of Alcohol Lake. Most of the people were so immersed in this reality that they were unable to see any other possibility for themselves. As another young man put it, I thought that was how Indians lived (The Alkali Lake Community Story, n.d). Economically, all the money received from the government as social assistance, was wasted on alcohol, and hence stores selling alcohol made tremendous profits from this region. Illegal selling of alcohol was also wide spread. It was accessible to underage children so long as they had money. Despite their social degradation, these people were willing to stop alcohol consumption and begin a new life of prosperity. This, however did not happen until in 1972 when a new chief by the name of Andy Chelsea was elected. A story is told of Andy’s daughter, Ivy Chelsea who refused to live with her mother until she quit drinking. Her mother, on hearing that, promised to quit. She went back home and poured all liquor on the floor. Four days later, the father also quit, thus becoming the first two non-alcoholic drinkers in the Alkali community. The following seven years, other people also quit and joined Andy and his wife Phyllis, in an effort to bring some sanity within the community. The community desire to quit its consumption saw Andy elected as the chief of the Alkali community in 1972. Solution to alcohol problem: As a chief, Andy took various steps including; banning the sale of alcohol in the community. He then thus refused entry of the Dog Creek Stage who was the main distributor of alcohol in the community, bringing it three times a week. He ensured that the sale of alcohol to minors was stopped. He called the RCMP who used marked bills to track these sellers, and ensured that they were arrested and their businesses put out. He also oversaw their severe punishment, which acted as a warning to others who thought of venturing into similar business. A voucher system was introduced that saw people with drinking disorder not allowed carrying cash but, their money converted to vouchers that were exchanged for food and other basic needs in the stores. Those who were caught committing crimes, both violent and non-violent under the influence of alcohol were given choice to book treatment or face a jail term. Since many people feared imprisonment, they chose treatment. Andy also sort help from the church to help eradicate alcohol consumption by approaching a priest of the Catholic Church. As it turned out, the priest was also an alcohol addict, and was actively fanning opposition against the chief. In light of those revelations, he was expelled from the community. At first, these measures were met with extreme opposition coupled with great anger and hostility from many community members. But by 1975, 40% of the community’s population had been set free from alcohol consumption and by 1979, 98% of the Alkali people were clean and sober. Conclusion The combinations of excessive consumption alcohol and the unfair Acts, instituted by the government, contributed greatly to the social ills that afflicted the Aboriginal communities. But through strict discipline, as indicated in the case study, it was possible to overcome the alcohol consumption problem, and through revision of the Acts by the parliament, the Aboriginal livelihoods have since improved. 1 Merce Cunningham: Symbolism in Dance Merce Cunningham: Symbolism in Dance Merce Cunningham is one of the pioneers in the field of dance and choreography. He had been a mentor to most of the choreographers who have now become major names in modern times. In addition, there are certain body movements and symbolism in his dancing techniques that make him a distinctive pioneer in choreography; also, there are numerous choreographic pieces by Merce Cunningham that are still being imitated by many choreographers of our present time. Most importantly, I have analyzed the dancing techniques, music, costumes, and movements in certain dancing pieces by Merce Cunningham. The choreographic pieces that I have analyzed for this purpose are Changing Steps, Deli Commedia, and Beach Birds for Camera. The choreography piece Changing Steps profoundly reflects the true geometrical dancing manner of Merce Cunningham. As per my analysis, Merce Cunningham had made use of steps and body gestures in the form of dance to reflect movement. I observed that Merce Cunningham has been successful in highlighting that subtle and weightless footwork has been used to form the dancers movement. Moreover, when the dancers change their body gestures quickly, that left an impression of light weighted foot stepping. Additionally, I have also observed that in order to create extensions to the movements of the body, special focus has been made on certain movements, such as the physical contact among the dancers during the sequence (Merce Cunnigham Dance Company). In my view, the highlight of the dance sequence is that it is another successful collaboration of music and choreography by John Cage and Merce Cunningham respectively. The work done by the cooperation of both invites the spectators to experience something that has never been focused on before; which is the way the collaboration had presented joy and freedom through the context of the dancing steps of the dancers. I believe that the collaboration of John Cage and Cunningham is the success factor as the dancing language of Cunningham is independent, but somehow John Cages music is irreplaceable. I also think that John Cages music in the dancing piece works as a catalyst. In addition, I would also like to mention that the wider acclaim to the dance sequence Changing Steps is increased because of the three-dimensional gesture stepping. Three-dimensional gesture stepping means that three dancers collaborate and make body movements that together make up a three-dimensional posture (Copela nd). Furthermore, the costumes used in the choreography sequence have been designed by Mark Lancaster. The colors of the costumes are single toned and darker colors. The costumes in the three-dimensional stepping had been used in a way that two of the dancers wear the same colored costume while the third dancer wears another color (Merce Cunnigham Dance Company). My experience with the dance sequence Changing Steps has been full of delight. The dance sequence greatly reflects an entirely new idea and form of dance. The usage of the title perfectly suits the dancing sequence, and as viewed in the sequence, changing in steps has been quite swift, thus, the title also elaborates the same idea. Also, the flow of stepping in the dance sequence of Changing Steps is so powerful that the spectator would feel that he or she is actually dancing with the dancers. I observed that in the beginning of the dance sequence the choreography has been done in a way that makes a rectangular box and further forms a curved structure of stepping and to me, the setting appeared to be something that I did not expect in a dance. In addition, I think that the union of dancers after every three-dimensional stepping of feet appeared to be amazingly active and fresh. Moving on to another great piece by Merce Cunningham entitled Deli Commedia. Deli Commedia is another accurately choreographed piece that represents the legacy of his contributions to the dance. He contributed in the field of dance by introducing the concept of geometry in his dance sequences. For instance, I have observed the concepts of geometry when one dancer stood perpendicularly while other dancers made curves through molding their bodies into an arch-like structure. Moreover, the costumes which have been used in the dance sequence were rather colorful, which exactly matched the theme of the stage. The usage of colors such as blue, yellow, green, magenta etc. is catchy which creates a distinction every time a new fragmentation is made while dancing. Deli Commedia reflects the collaboration of the musician, John Cage as the music played during the sequence holds beats in a synthesized manner (Ib50ib50 Channel). Deli Commedia managed to impress me as the dance sequence was filled with fragmentation and quick body movements, and I also liked the colorful costumes of the dancers which made use of the stage distinctively. Last but not least, the choreography sequence of Beach Birds for Camera illustrates the movement of coastal areas. The inspiration that I got from such a dance piece is freedom because the stepping of the feet and hand gestures are more bird-like movements. Birds usually symbolize freedom and the basic intrigue that one would get by applying the dancing gestures as in Beach Birds for Camera explains the Eastern dance themes. I also noticed that the theme of Eastern dance is evident from Cunninghams dance sequence because Eastern dancers perform in a way that is apparently similar to that of dancers of Beach Birds. Most of the Eastern dances are especially choreographed in outdoor locations reflecting nature (Copeland). The idea of stepping that illustrates the scenario of beach birds gives a joyful awakening in the field of the dance. Beach Birds for Camera is another victorious teamwork between Merce Cunningham and John Cage. According to my perspective, the music and choreography h ad complimented the theme of the ocean as the dancers use fragments imitating the effect of water, also the music of the dance sequence sounds like rain drops, or drops of water (Ib50ib50 Channel). If I compare Beach Birds for Camera and other dance sequences by Merce Cunningham, I have observed here that the fragmentation is used lesser in this sequence, and the layering of the body gestures is most prominent, which is something that I have liked, and what I mean about the layering of the body gestures is in terms of the postures the dancers take where they come in contact with other dancers through leg touch, or back touch. Also, the change in directions is more obvious than in any other dance sequence making the spectators navigate towards the dancing steps more (Merce Cunningham Dance). Moreover, the costumes designed by Marsha Skinner are according to the theme of the dance sequence. The costumes are especially made black and white in order to reflect the color of coastal birds; also, the use of black and white enhances the body gestures used in the fragmentation manner (Daly). I believe that costumes greatly suited the main theme of the dance sequence. Through my analysis of the three dance sequences by the collaboration of Merce Cunningham, the choreographer, and John Cage, the musician, it comes to my understanding that the field of dance had been made wide because of the legendary collaboration. In addition, being a spectator of such dance sequences helped me observe the development that has taken place in terms of the dance. I would also say that the development which had taken place in dancing by the advent of geometrical dance sequences by Merce Cunningham in 1956; also, making Merce Cunningham a legendary figure in making use of fragmentation, body gestures in a layering manner, and foot stepping. Overall, my experience of watching dance sequence by Merce Cunningham was joyful and thoroughly entertaining.

Environmental Problems in Bangkok :: Papers

Environmental Problems in Bangkok Air pollution Traffic is one of the most important causes of air pollution in Bangkok. Bangkok traffic was said to create high level of dust particles, and Carbon Monoxide. BMTA buses, trucks and smaller transport vans were frequently stopped for on-the-road checking. The rapid growth of Bangkok has severely stained its facilities and led to a number of serious problems. The city now has over a million registered motor vehicles and because of the limited road surface, traffic congestion is heavy in central areas. Many spots have been declared that air quality were seriously sub-standard. There has been continuing monitoring of air quality at several places with recorded high level traffic jam. Water Pollution According to several studies, there are three main sources of pollutants in the Chao Phraya River and its tributaries, and the city canals. These are factories, households and restaurants. Although large factories are required to install water treatment facilities in order to obtain their annual operating permits from the Department of Industrial Works (DIW), this does not apply to many medium and small plants. The existing household water treatment capacity serves about only two percent of Bangkok's population. The wastewater of most households is discharged into canals and then drained into the river. The six most polluted canals share over 54 percent of total domestic pollution loads discharged into the Chao Phraya River. Domestic sources account for about 75 percent of the pollution in Chao Phraya River, while factories account for remaining 25 percent. Noise Pollution It was noted that noise levels measured by the National Environmental Board were well above the internationally accepted level of However, Solutions ========= Ø The Bangkok government could reduce the amount of air pollution by reducing the number of cars on the roads Ø Installing new sewage systems Ø Directing the industrial waste away from the rivers Ø Enforcing water waste regulations on all business no matter what size

Black People and Family Support Essay

The text â€Å"Dougy† by James Moloney captures interest of the young reader because of some of the main themes such as Family Support, Racial Conflict, Racial Discrimination and Determination, which is happening all around us today. One of the important themes in the book is Family support. Dougy and Gracey are from a very close family and are always there for each other. An example of this is when Gracey goes to Brisbane and her families supporting her run. Mum stretched out her arm around Graceys shoulder and hugged her close for a second. â€Å"You wont come last, Gracey, â€Å" she said. Another example is when Dougy is supporting Gacey on the hall roof waiting to be picked up by the helicopter. The quote for that example is â€Å"The Moodaguddas got Gracey. He’s taken her back into the water. The have to help her. † Looking after happens a lot throughout this novel and this is called family support. Another important theme in â€Å"Dougy† is Racial Conflict. Racial conflict arises in the book when the white people think they’re superior to the aborigines. An example of this is when Craig is upset with Raymond’s dad because he doesn’t pull his weight at work and Craig never gets to see his dad. â€Å"Your fathers never here and when he is he’s always drunk, he never does anything. † One more example of Racial conflict is when is when Cooper is in the hall having an argument with Dougy, Brett, Gracey and Tiny. The quote for this is â€Å"Johnny Warren hasn’t done a thing. None of the blokes have. Hell they haven’t† shouted Cooper. There’s already one man been shot one on our side. † Racial Conflict happens everyday in Dougys town and gets so serious it ends up a war. Another theme in †Dougy† is Racial Discrimination. Racial Discrimination is the way of life in Dougys town with the whites and the blacks. An example of this is when Dougys mum wanted to get into a taxi but the taxi driver didn’t trust her because of her skin colour. â€Å"I want to be sure you have cash on you. Sometimes I’ve driven YOU people around and gotten no money at the end. Another example of in the book â€Å"Dougy† is in Dougys town where the white people own everything and own the higher positions. â€Å"No blacks in our town were the boss of anything always the whites. † Racial Discrimination happens a lot in Dougys town and Dougy has to put up with it and cope. Determination is a theme not only found in the book but in everyday life. An example of this is when Gracey wants to run at state despite what the white kids say. â€Å"Gracey, you cant afford to run â€Å" Gracey just ignored those white kids say. Another example is when Dougy is trying to find Gracey when she’s in the water. â€Å"The Moodagudda has sucked her in. We have to find her† Determination is a big part of Dougys personality. The novel Dougy deals with many issues that relate to aboriginal people living in contemporary society through the experiences of Dougy and his family. We become more aware of the Aboriginal perspective as the novel explores the theme of Racial discrimination, Racial Conflict, Family Support and Determination. By Steve Jedrzejczak

Maharashtra Vidarbha Separate Statehood - Political Turm essays

Maharashtra Vidarbha Separate Statehood - Political Turm essays Maharashtra Vidarbha Separate Statehood - Political Turmoil Maharashtra is a state in west-central India with a population over 97,000,000, making it the second most populous state in India. Vidarbha with a population of over 20,000,000 is located in eastern Maharashtra and has been demanding separate statehood within India since the early 1950s. Separate statehood has not been accomplished to date. Several reasons, which have been the recent focus of political turmoil, have emerged as major barriers in acquiring Vidarbhas statehood. Vidarbha is rich in natural resources, national parks, diverse culture and people with a passion for life. It is this wealth of resources that prevents Vidarbha from gaining separate statehood because leaders of Maharashtra are well aware of this gem. Vidarbha can be a strong state if given the opportunity to lead and manage its own human and natural resources. Vidarbha is a real goldmine for development. The natural resources that are found in this region are many. Some of its products are oranges, which has earned the region the nickname the California of India, cotton, spices and rice. It has dense forest cover with lush flowers and greenery, which appeal to tourists. The mineral wealth of Vidarbha contains coal and manganese as the major minerals and iron ore and limestone as potential wealth. Famous national parks are Gugamal National Park, Pench National Park, Navegaon National Park and Tadoba National Park. The infrastructure of Vidarbha is solid and has several power plants. Education is considered a major moneymaking business due to several private educational institutions, especially those of higher education, which have multiplied in the region. Given the vast amount of resources listed above, why has this region been referred to as backward? A key reason is the neglect shown by the Maharashtra government. Vidarbha is discriminate...

How to Read a Meniscus in Lab Measurements

How to Read a Meniscus in Lab Measurements The meniscus is the curve seen at the top of a liquid in response to its container. The meniscus can be either concave or convex, depending on the surface tension of the liquid and adhesion to the wall of the container. A concave meniscus occurs when the molecules of the liquid are more strongly attracted to the container than to each other. The liquid appears to stick to the edge of the container. Most liquids, including water, present a concave meniscus. A convex meniscus (sometimes called a backwards meniscus) is produced when the molecules of the liquid are more strongly attracted to each other than to the container. A good example of this shape of meniscus may be seen with mercury in a glass container. In some cases, the meniscus appears flat (e.g., water in some plastics). This makes taking measurements easy! How to Take Measurements With a Meniscus When you read a scale on the side of a container with a meniscus, such as a graduated cylinder or volumetric flask, its important that the measurement accounts for the meniscus. Measure so that the line you are reading is even with the center of the meniscus. For water and most liquids, this is the bottom of the meniscus. For mercury, take the measurement from the top of the meniscus. In either case, you are measuring based on the center of the meniscus. For a flat meniscus, make sure the liquid is level. Usually placing the container on a lab bench does the trick. You wont be able to take an accurate reading looking up at the liquid level or down into it. Get eye-level with the meniscus. You can either pick up the glassware to bring it up to your level or else bend down to take measurements in situations where youre concerned with dropping the container or spilling its contents. Use the same method to take measurements each time so that any errors you make will be consistent. Fun Fact: The word meniscus comes from the Greek word for crescent. This makes good sense, considering the shape of a meniscus. In case youre wondering, the plural of meniscus is menisci!

Proposal (for Dissertation) Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

(for Dissertation) - Research Proposal Example Immigrants in the UK from the OECD countries are the worst affected by the downturn. The internationalization of higher education in the past 30 years has been the driver for the growth of the sector globally (Bodycott, 2009). The number of international students since 1995 has almost doubled to 2.7 million globally. The motivations for internationalization differ across countries and institutions. The drive to internationalize has also led to the development of ‘transnational education’ programs. Internationalization has led to strategic alliances and use of technology to deliver education to students located in various countries. Today universities around the world seek quality international students to enhance their reputation, to enrich their campuses and programs through contributions from different sources. While education is a priority sector, student inflows have been found to be sensitive to economic conditions in their home countries and to the exchange rates ( Papademetriou, Sumption & Somerville, 2009). Economic conditions and currency fluctuations influence the student flow between the host country and the source countries. Downturn has reduced the individual savings in sending countries. This would likely reduce the number of self-financed international students as they would prefer an educational institution closer to home. This is also because the students work during their studies in order to support themselves (Somerville & Sumption, 2009). Rationale for research Following the recession, the GDP of the UK contracted by 1.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008 and the decline was unusually rapid over the entire year (Somerville & Sumption, 2009). This downturn has been unusual as all sectors have been hit. The effect of recession is very prominent in the international students’ inflow in the UK. Students account for a quarter of total of migrants into the UK and the UK is the second most important destination country for int ernational students worldwide. The precise number of international students in the UK is not known but as per the figures of 2008-09 approximately 214,000 non EU students studied at the public-funded schools in the UK (UKCISA, 2010). The non EU students are bound to pay the entire costs of the education which typically ranges between ?8,000 and ?15,000. The fees from the international students account for 10-30% of the income of the universities. This translates into ?2.5bn earnings of the UK universities with another ?2.5bn spend by international students on goods and services. This contribution is only from the public –funded colleges and when the earnings of the private colleges are added, the international students contribute about ?8.5bn to the UK economy. About 26 UK institutions derive at least 10% of their income from foreign students’ fees (Somerville & Sumption, 2009). The UK receives the highest number of students from China. During the Asian crisis on 1997 also the flow of Malaysian students to the UK was affected (Somerville & Sumption, 2009). In addition the UK universities face stiff competition from the US and Canada international schools. The global market for international students is increasingly competitive (Bodycott, 2009). This results in the UK universities incurring loss of revenue. Under the circumstances, the UK universiti

Arkansas History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Arkansas History - Essay Example Perhaps all forms of cruelty upon slavery were being done by the white Arkansans towards the slaves of the land back then. Lynching, whipping, burning to death were just some of the major acts to punish the accused slaves with insurrection. Discernibly one motivation that provoked the white Arkansans to do such further cruelty with the black ones was the fear of the notion that blacks someday will take revenge or rebel against them. This was due to the previous account of the African-American's movement in Arkansas to emigrate in Africa during the 1890's, and the notion that such force able to do by the African-American Arkansans that may lead to revolution. Jim Crow law was then issued around 1890's as a solution for this threat through unifying racism (Dillard 2008). Critical period of the African-Americans is at peak between the times of the state's civil war during the 1890's and the crisis of Little Rock Central High School. The crisis in Little Rock somehow resolved some of the issues, as the 9 black students involved in the crisis made a breakthrough by fighting and winning for their civil rights. These diplomatic act from the 9 black students paved way the promotion of segregation that was an ideal resolution of the crisis that period (Dillard 2008). White County in Ar Arkansas History: Great Depression Great depression was the period that Arkansas is known to have its greatest drought throughout the land. The 1929 crash of stock market started the phase of the great depression in the country. White County in Arkansas was the particular place that greatly affected during the depression. Before the depression, the state was doing so well with their businesses especially White County, specifically farm productions (Johnson 2000). Many factors were considered that contributed to the hardship of the state, but one of the main reasons was the drought that happened in 1930. This apparently withered the livelihood of those in farm productions. Naturally, farmers cannot produce any crop as well as merchants were hindered to proceed on their trade due to the lack of capital and development. Data stated that there were about 4,600 unemployed male citizens of county in 1933. Many of the promising states or county were expanding and advancing before the depression, however, when the period hit, it affected many people's lives due to the economic and social suffering. Believing Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal will resolve the economic and social problem, they saw hope from his election as they were longing for the direction and assistance towards recovery (Johnson 2000). Arkansan then were forced to be more self-sufficient especially the women in order to survive the devastating period. They learned sewing, food canning and preservation, home management provided by the home demonstration program under the New Deal. Arkansas: Reconstruction of Education Isaac Murphy (October 16, 1802 - September 8, 1882) was the first Reconstruction Governor of Arkansas, whose administration was intriguingly known for its fiscal constriction. His tenure was the start of the healing of the "war wounds" even the southern part was still dealing with it. When all fled away from the confederacy, Murphy remained alone and continued with his reconstruction philosophy. His reconstruction approach through low key governance