9 Ways to Make Your Goals Happen By The End of 2015

9 Ways to Make Your Goals Happen By The End of 2015 I know what you’re thinking. The holidays are here. Before we know it, the ball will drop and the arrival of 2016 will kill off all our hopes of accomplishing our biggest goals for 2015. But there’s still time! Don’t roll over your resolutions for this year just because it’s almost next year. Take these simple steps to clear your desk- and your conscience- and make 2015 a real success.1. Make a ListWrite down all of your unmet milestones and goals for this year, then choose your top two or three. Focus on reasonable goals that depend almost or entirely on you, rather than outside factors or people. Then make a list of every actionable item you can do to meet those goals and get to work.2. Tell the WorldEnlist your pals and family and social media crew to keep you honest. Tell your mentor what you’re trying to accomplish. Tell your supportive family member, or your best friend, or your Twitter feed. Go public with your goals and the world will help h old you accountable for meeting them.3. Make a PlanLike Macaulay Culkin prepping his turf for the great burglar invasion of 1990, you need a battle strategy. There’s about one month left in the year, which is more than enough time, but it’s going to fly. Divide your actionable tasks among the weeks and make sure you don’t let any weeks slip by.4. Cut out the Excess NoiseThis one is like a pair of noise-cancelling headphones for your schedule! Find 3-5 places in your routine where you are wasting time: on Facebook, or loitering by the coffee machine, or playing Candy Crush on the commute home. For the next eight weeks, put that dawdle time into superdrive and chip away at your goal list instead. You’ll be amazed at how much more you can get done.5. Find Time to ExerciseThe best way to increase your energy, stamina, and focus is to exercise. The endorphins will juice you up, and so will the confidence boost of having hit the gym. You’ll make better p rogress on your goals and get fit in the process.6. Worst Things FirstSave the easiest, simplest tasks for last when you’re in your final sprint. Start every morning by tackling the hardest task first, while you’re freshest and your motivation is at a daily peak. Things will only get easier as you work.7. Clock itSet yourself a timer and don’t get up from what you’re doing until it goes off. You’ll need the breaks, so make sure to make the best of those as well. Check out the free Pomodoro app to help with this.8. Create a â€Å"ta-da list†You’ve heard of a to-do list, but how about a daily ta-da list? Look over everything you’ve done that day and revel in your productivity. It will help you clear the last few hurdles and stay motivated to get those goals met before the new year.9. Designate the Holiday as a RewardI know it feels like one big overstuffed calendar of distractions, parties, tempting buffets, and open bars. But us e all this festivity to your advantage! Build holiday treats and fun into your schedule as a reward for crossing tasks of your list.One month isn’t much, but it’s enough. Now, shouldn’t you be making that goal list instead of reading articles online?Yes, It’s Still Possible to Achieve Your Biggest Goals Before the End of the Year

The Nature and Causes of Obesity Essay Example

The Nature and Causes of Obesity Essay Example The Nature and Causes of Obesity Essay The Nature and Causes of Obesity Essay It is prevalent in our society, especially nowadays, that there are more and more people who become overweight and unhealthy, factors that may contribute to such is due to a person’s cost of living, lifestyle, personality, and attitude towards his or her food intake and everyday activities. This paper will discuss not only the above mentioned factors as a cause for obesity but it will explain the biological and medical cause of it. First, one can only draw conclusions unto what is the cause of obesity if he/she knows the exact definition of this. According to Myers (1), obesity is a state wherein there is excess body fat that has been accumulated and poses serious threat to the person’s health. This arises from too much energy intake and less metabolic rate and exercise. This could only mean that one of the factors that could lead to obesity is the person’s lifestyle. If the person has more calorie intake and less physical activity, he/she may lead to obesity. Aside from lack of exercise or physical activity, the person’s diet is also another factor. The reason why the input of calories is more rather than your physical activity is because of the food that you are eating. As probably already established, â€Å"there is a relative contribution of excess energy intake versus reduced energy expenditure to the obesity epidemic in the United States and in other countries has been the subject of much study and debate† (Caballero 2). Data shows that the US population has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world and it’s leaning cause is improper dietary intake. A large portion of this may be contributed by the increase in consumption of fast food and sweetened beverages (which accounts for almost 25 percent of daily calories in young adults). While other factors that could be causes of such are the following: low cost of energy-dense foods, increased consumption of prepared meals, and ample opportunities to eat throughout the day. Obesity can be a result of an interplay between genetic and environmental factor like many other diseases known to man. Obesity is found to be a major feature in rare genetic conditions like: Prader-Willi syndrome, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, MOMO syndrome, leptin receptor mutationss, congenital leptin deficiency, and melanocortin receptor mutations. A study was found indicating that 80% of the offspring of two obese parents were obese, would result in the same condition in contrast to less than 10% of the offspring of two parents who were of normal weight (Farooqi and ORahilly 710). On the other hand, obesity can be attributed to genetics but this still depends on the population that is examined. (Chakravarthy and Booth 4) The thrifty gene hypothesis states that certain ethnic groups may be more prone to obesity in an equivalent environment. Their ability to take advantage of rare periods of abundance by storing energy as fat would be advantageous during times of varying food availability, and individuals with greater adipose reserves would be more likely survive famine. This tendency to store fat, however, would be maladaptive in societies with stable food supplies. This is the presumed reason that Pima Indians, who evolved in a desert ecosystem, developed some of the highest rates of obesity when exposed to a Western lifestyle. Related to this, Some physical and mental illnesses that are used to treat them and also some pharmaceutical substances can increase the risk of obesity.   Some of the medical illnesses that can increase obesity risk are rare genetic syndromes and congenital or acquired conditions. Some of these are: hypothyroidism, Cushings syndrome, growth hormone deficiency and the eating disorders- binge eating disorder and night eating syndrome. Though these illnesses occur under obesity, obesity is still not considered as a psychiatric disorder. There are also some instances wherein medications may cause weight gain or changes in body composition. These medications include: insulin, sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones, atypical antipsychotics, antidepressants, steroids, sulfonylureas, certain anticonvulsants (phenytoin and valproate), pizotifen, and some forms of hormonal contraception (Kolata 10). Lastly, while genetic influences are important in understanding obesity, they cannot explain the current dramatic increase seen within specific countries. Though it was already established that there are medical, psychological, and physical reasons for being obese, there are studies that show that there is a correlation between social class and Body Mass Index. There was a study found in 1989 that women under the high social class in the developed countries are less likely to be obese and in the developing countries, women, men and children from high social classes have higher rates of obesity. In the year 2007, an update of these study was made and found same relationships but weaker. It was said that the effects of globalization was the reason why there is a decrease in the strength of correlation. There are some explanations made regarding the association of BMI and social class. It was said that people in the developed countries can afford more nutritious food and are experiencin g a very high social pressure to remain slim. They also have more opportunities to do physical fitness. While in the developing countries, obesity patterns contribute to the high cost of living, high energy expenditure with physical labor and some cultural values. It was also said that a person’s thought about body mass may also play a role in obesity. A correlation in BMI that changes over time was also found between friends, siblings and spouses (Sobal and Stunkard 270).

Concept of hijab and niqab in arab countries Research Paper

Concept of hijab and niqab in arab countries - Research Paper Example The use of the niqab and the hijab in Arab countries may be explainable through delving into the history of their use and the justifications thereof. Of all the types of headscarf won by Muslim girls and women, the hijab is the most common. Its coverage of the body involves the head and neck but excludes the face (Ad-Darsh, and Siddiqi, 2003). The scarf may be of different colors to match the outfit the lady dons. Another headdress in common use among Muslim women is the niqab. The niqab not only covers the head but also covers the whole face, save for the eyes. It covers up to the mid-back and mid-chest. The veil is most common in Arab countries. Of the two, most scholars are in agreement that the hijab is obligatory whereas only a few think that the niqab is obligatory (Ad-Darsh, and Siddiqi, 2003). There are claims that the origin of the niqab may have been the Byzantine Empire where it was a form of dress among women in certain classes. Muslims then adopted it during the Arab conquest in the Middle East (Eltahawy, 2015). Many claim that the rationale of the niqab is within the Quran and Hadith. Hijab refers to the obligation to be modest in dressing. According to many Muslims, the Quran requires modesty by both men and women when in public. Many scholars quote the Quran to draw a justification for the use of both the niqab and hijab as an obligation (Asser, 2006). One such verse is Quran 24:31. In the verse, the faithful women have an obligation to cover their private parts and desist from exposing their beauty unless it is unavoidable. Their scarf should also cover their bosom. However, others claim that the Quran does not make the niqab obligatory. For them, only the hijab is obligatory. Proponents of the niqab as being an obligatory claim that in Quran 33:59, Prophet Muhammad instructs his wives, daughters and believing women that it is necessary for them to cover themselves with outer garments. Scholars, therefore, use the

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

American Business History - Essay Example Professionalism ensued and caused the struggle to narrow down the social divide in terms of equality that was now prevailing against women. The expansion of this trading by reaching new geographical terrains due to the demand of the end products that was coupled by improved transportation links in the world, saw it advancement to the present global form of business corporations. In this recent stage of business evolution in America, women have started coming out of the lime light and are starting to be appreciated again in the business community. During the early times, before the eighteenth century in America, where the household economy was in effect, women and men worked hand in hand. They shared the same energy and responsibility in maintaining their business. This exhibited a high level of equity and equality in the performance of their tasks as they were not biased in terms of gender. However, women were like a sole property to the women once they entered marriage, and therefore had little command of decisions. The advent of industrialization forced women to accustom themselves with domestic ideals. Their importance became insignificant and thus, resistance became inevitable and many women who could not embrace this idea had a rough time in trying to adjust. In an exemplary situation in Illinois, it is noted that not all white women agreed to the domestic status that was being imposed on them due to the encroachment and establishment of separate spheres. Researchers have since established that quite a number of women who had established themselves in Illinois ignored the idea of civilizing the wilderness via domestic work. Many of these settlers had migrated from the rural South, where they had not seen themselves entangled in the wider economic 'metamorphosis' that provided the grounds for division of labor and the formation of divided spheres. (Wilson, Douglas, 1998) Importance of the Early American Woman in Business Women were very important to the business of the early America. Albeit their major role which was domestic, the early American women were serious business people let alone investors. It is noted for example in Boston that, about five of the eight major seed retailers where women during the early 1770s. married women of the time were describe as "deputy husbands" because they were left with the responsibility of taking care of their husbands' enterprises while they were away which was often some long time. The example Elizabeth Meredith of Philadelphia and her hard work in the financial sector of America reveals the enormous importance that was accorded to women that led to the growth of the present America. She was the wife to Jonathan Meredith, a tanner too by profession. Meredith controlled the tannery company's account books, negotiated for money for the company's running, collected debts, and contracted with workers, suppliers, and customers. (Branson, 1996) The early American women even if not married or widowed were very industrious in the financial field and many of them could be found in the heal care field, authors, tailors, cobblers, brewers among a multitude of other professions. This was because no legalities were imposed on them to restrict them to domestic work. However, certain aspects of their existence with respect to the ideology of the divided sphere caused a reduction in domestic routines to a new form of leisure and hence sought to diminish the economic and

Supply Chain and Logistics in Thailand Essay Example for Free

Supply Chain and Logistics in Thailand Essay Abstract Supply chain and Logistics management has become an emergent strategy for a developing country, like Thailand, in this new economy. Low labour cost – as a competitive advantage factor is no longer sufficient for surviving under this high pressure and competitive economy. However, at the time that the concept plays a key role in Thailand industry and a number of researches have been conducted, all the knowledge in the field are still not effectively managed. The actual needs, trends and directions are still missing. The paper examines research and knowledge management directions as well as needs in supply chain and logistics management in Thailand industry based on recommendation from the TRF (Thailand Research Fund) sponsored workshop, and subsequent by the authors’ effort to synthesize and extract the visions formed in the workshop. A main goal of this paper is to stress on the needs of Thailand industry in supply chain and logistics development and to lie down the directions of research that should be subsequently conducted for serving the country needs. We proposed a framework that, firstly, high potential and key competitive industrial cluster should be selected for in-depth study. Then, exploratory research should be done in order to guide and indicate all the needs for implementing supply chain in each cluster. The critical activities in each industrial group for developing supply chain should be identified. After that, all those needs at particular areas should be subsequently tackled by conducting further applied research. Human Resources issues are also highlighted. It is hoped that the direction model presented in the paper can be a prototype for supply chain nationwide implementation for developing countries in South East Asia. Introduction Today high competitive global market climate sparks Thai industrial demand for supply chain and logistics management. Running the old style management and competing with competitors only sales and marketing side like the old day will not work again for Thailand. Since, edges of having lower labor cost and cheaper raw materials than other exporting countries are fading out. Markets for Thai products in most sectors are gradually losing to other countries. To stay competitiveness, companies in Thailand start cultivating supply chain and logistics management. The corporate crusade to gain competitive advantage using new supply chain and logistics management methods is constantly extending to all Thai industry. Regarding to this emerging need for Thai Industry, a group of Thai researchers, Thai Value Chain Management and Logistics Researcher’s Consortium (ThaiVCML), leaders in private sectors, and government officers from Thai Research Fund joined an effort by organizing a workshop on November 2nd -3rd , 2002. The objective of the workshop was to elaborate a research direction in Supply Chain and Logistics Management for Thailand. Methodology and Outcome In order to have insight and synthetic outcomes, a group of participants was divided into three distinct areas: 1) Inbound Logistics and Supply Chain; 2) Physical Distribution and Transportation; and 3) Strategic Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Each group was assigned to examine all fundamental issues and factors in their area, and then try to lay down all needed and sufficient research that should be subsequently conducted for serving Thailand needs. The following are the research directions in each area, which the authors synthesized and extracted from the outcomes of the workshop. Research Direction of Inbound Logistics and Supply Chain The research of inbound logistics and supply chain should be emphasized on three directions: 1) To study state of the art and characteristics of inbound logistics and supply chain management, categorized by the types of industry such as textile industry and local community textile industry, automobile, electronics, and food industries; 2) To improve the effectiveness and efficiency of inbound logistics activities regarding introducing products to market, which include operations, manufacturing, organization and human-resource development and information technology; 3) To study the result of introducing inbound logistics and supply chain management such as the impact of improvement in logistics and supply chain systems on the industrial competitiveness of textile entrepreneur. The above result suggests that the research direction of inbound logistics and supply chain management can be categorized into three research groups including ground research, basic research, and research regarding the impacts of improvement in logistics and supply chain. Ground Research for Studying the State of the Art of Logistics and Supply Chain The research should be focused on significant components of the logistics and supply chain management and major problems occurring in each industry. The study of critical stages in supply chain pipelines that are bottlenecks and rush problems of Thai industry should be conducted. The research should also study what and where problems are as well as how to encourage an awareness of supply chain and logistics improvement in Thai industry. Examples of those researches are: 1) Food industry requires research on material management in order to solve the major problems involving long lead time, quality and environment; 2) Automotive industry needs research on the structure of inbound logistics and supply chain model including supported industries. Examples include automotive part manufacturers and trading partners; 3) Local community textile industry requires research on process improvement to reduce problems incurred by inconsistency of knitting and dyeing, and lack of skills and knowledge arising from high turnover problems, long lead-time asynchronous production planning and control, quality of raw materials, marketing, product design and development, inventory problems, intellectual property, pricing, competitiveness, and delivery; 4) Local community textile industry requires research on process Logistics Research Network 2003, London 257 improvement to reduce problems incurred by inconsistency of knitting and dyeing, and lack of skills and knowledge arising from high turnover problems, long lead-time asynchronous production planning and control, quality of raw materials, marketing, product design and development, inventory problems, intellectual property, pricing, competitiveness, and delivery; 5) Small- and medium- sized enterprises require research on information technology to increase the value of supply chain pipelines. Applied Research on Effectiveness and Efficiency Improvement for the Inbound Logistics and Supply Chain Applied research should be conducted for each industry by implementing supply chain models for both short-term and long term, accounting for product design, product and process innovation, culture, organizational competency, information management and technology. Research on the Impact of Introducing the Logistics and Supply Chain Concept For Thailand, the research is focused on impact of introducing the supply chain models on improvement of competitiveness components including lead-time, quality, design, bullwhip effects, and labor. Research Direction of Physical Distribution and Transportation The research in this area can be classified into 3 areas: 1) physical distribution and transportation improvement in private businesses; 2) the efficiency improvement of national distribution and transportation, and defining strategy; and 3) directions in order to be a center of transportation in South-east Asia. Physical Distribution and Transportation Improvement in Private Businesses The objectives of this group are to improve the efficiency of shippers and carriers in order to achieve less cost in distribution and transportation, reduce delivery time and increase reliability in delivery performance. Achieving the objectives, the research must be conducted into 4 groups that are information technology development, strategic alliance development, human resources development, and transportation technology development. Examples of research in those 4 groups are: ground survey in information technology should be done to obtain currently situation of distribution and transportation activities and its consequences that affect to each industry sectors; applied research could then be done to define a strategic alliance roadmap for medium and small size businesses; ground research should be conducted to discover currently status of the labors such as wages, education, training, working hours and performance expected; and development of transportation and material handling technology could then be studied to discover appropriate technologies for the product groups. Improving of Domestic Physical Distribution and Transportation The research in this area is to improve performance of physical distribution and transportation’s activities. Firstly, survey based research should be conducted to survey and analyze the activities such as flow of distribution and transportation relating to product groups, flow of transportation according to consumption points, etc. The outcome of the research can be very useful for applied research in order to support in developing the government’s policies and investment related to the activities such as improving road routes or train routes, having distribution centers. Improving of International Physical Distribution and Transportation To improve physical distribution and transportation internationally, defining strategic policies supporting the activities should be done. Survey based research of domestic physical distribution and transportation can usefully support to applied research in the international activities. To improve performance in physical distribution and transportation, 2 types of research should therefore be conducted. Survey based research is to investigate weak and strong points of the 3 main aspects. The roadmap and applied research topic needed can then be addressed. Applied research 258 Logistics Research Network 2003, London could thus bring methods or techniques to bridge betwee n current situation and competitive situation for each business sector. Research Direction of Strategic Supply Chain and Logistics Management In order to leverage this area of supply chain management research, the research are divided into three folds: 1) Focusing on assessing current business practice and strategy in each business sectors or industries, which impact the logistics and supply chain operations (Macro Level); 2) Focusing on assessing current business practice and strategy in each companies (Micro Levels).; and 3) Focusing on developing the best practice in creating and implementing logistics and supply chain strategies. The above result suggests that the research direction of strategic supply chain and logistics management can be categorized into three research areas including collaboration, human resource development, and uses of information technology. Collaboration The objective of this research area is to find out the obstacles, ways, and ultimately possibility of establishing collaboration efforts across the supply chain spectrums, vertical and horizontal, both within enterprise and between organizations. This also includes the collaboration between industries, private and government agencies, and academic parties within the same value chain. Examples of research are: 1) Ground research focuses on assessing the possibility of forming cluster in each industry and evaluating all necessary factors like human resource, product development, economy, and manufacturing capability; 2) Applied research emphasizes on developing collaborative model, implementation plan, and all related deployment issues. Human Resource Development The outcome of the workshop indicated that workforces and decision makers in Thailand have limit understanding about supply chain and logistics management. To properly lay down the strategic supply chain, these people have to be trained and upgraded their understanding of logistics operations. Examples of research in this area are: 1) Ground research focuses on assessing current understanding, needed knowledge and skill of logistics and supply chain operations in each industry; 2) Applies research focuses on developing sufficient tools and educational media like software, internet, or other devices to better train or educate logistics personal. This also include developing case study in particular industry. Information Technology The objective of this research area is to find the obstacle, limitation, suitability, and pros cons of using logistics information system and enterprise information system. The research should focus on finding the need of using these emerging technologies in Thai company, especially in each industry. The research should point out all aspects both tangible and intangible issues of acquiring these systems. The applies research should focus on developing these systems in order to avoid importing from oversea. Discussions The outcomes from the workshop show that supply chain and logistics management is now recognized as a key competitive area for Thailand. Essentially the workshop participants all agree that the study and research conducted should stress on such area for enhancing the country development. Five research domains were recommended as parts of the country focus for creating competitive advantage. Also, in each domain, the current status of supply chain and logistic management in Thailand was demonstrated. Logistics Research Network 2003, London 259 The first research domain stresses on the development of government and industrial sector policy. These policies set from each sector should facilitate the implementation of supply chain and logistics management in the country. Based on the current situation, the evidence shows that although the existed country policies, laws and regulations support the implementation of supply chain and logistics, there is no explicit analysis which indicates the effect of such policies on supply chain and logistics management in the country. Proper research should be conducted in identifying the interrelationship of the existed policies and the implementation of supply chain and logistics, suitable for the current situation and for the future. The second research domain includes the development of information technology (IT) for supply chain and logistics management, and its application with reasonable cost and suitable implementation. Even though it is all known that IT is an important factor for supply chain and logistics management, there is yet no study of the current status of IT application in Thai industry. The readiness for IT implementation has not yet been identified. Hence, the requirement and appropriate level of the use of IT in leading to supply chain and logistics management should be pointed out. The research for this area should state on, firstly, investigating appropriate and required level of IT for supply chain and logistics in Thailand and, secondly, developing a suitable IT applications for supply chain and logistics management for Thai industry. The third research domain identifies the need of strategic alliance research. This includes ways and methods of creating strategic alliance and how to select appropriate partners for building their supply chain. In Thailand, there is a high potential for creating strategic alliance horizontally and vertically. However an appropriate matchmaking has not yet been identified. Research should be conducted for indicating appropriate groups of industry in forming supply chain. The outcomes from research should be able to guide each industrial sector about their potential partners for developing supply chain. The fourth research domain highlights the importance of supply chain best practices. The evidence shows that the success of supply chain implementation can be seen mostly in Multi National Company (MNC) or large scale firm. Hence it is suggested that supply chain best practices from these large firms can be used as a prototype model for local and SMEs in Thailand. Research in this domain should notify factors for implementing these practices. Also all supply chain best practices appropriated for each industrial sector should be collected and documented. Lastly, the fifth research domain states the need of human resource development. The current situation in Thailand shows that we still lacks of supply chain and logistics resource persons in most organization. Supply chain education and training system together with knowledge and resource sharing should be developed for Thai industries. Also a database for collecting research and list of resource persons in supply chain and logistics management areas should be established. Conclusion Generally it can be said that supply chain and logistics development in Thailand is still at an early stage. Most firms tend to focus on technology in leading to supply chain. Nevertheless, based on Thailand current situation, they still lack of understanding in supply chain and logistics management concept. To apply appropriate concept of supply chain and logistics for Thailand, basic or grounded research is preferable. Thailand should initially begin with investigating backgrounds and status of economic and industry before stepping to an advanced supply chain and logistics development. Readiness and requirement should be stated at the first place. Therefore the research direction for Thailand should stress on studying, surveying and investigating the requirement, need and readiness of the country. Some research topics can be summarized as following. Â · A survey of Thailand’s readiness and status for implementing supply chain and logistics. Â · Cluster analysis for each industrial sector or across industry. Â · A collection of supply chain best practices for each industrial sector. Â · Appropriate government policy for facilitating supply chain and logistics. Â · Human Resource Development for supply chain and logistics. Â · Future trend and direction of supply chain and logistics in Thailand. 260 Logistics Research Network 2003, London Despite of the need of these grounded research, some basic applied research are also appropriate. However it is to focus on developing basic tool for implementing supply chain and managing logistics for basic use such as developing a simple scheduling and routing software for delivery system, developing a database or information system for managing and linking information within a department or between departments, developing a basic MRP or CRP, etc, rather than an advanced or in-depth research for supply chain and logistics improvement.

College Admissions Essay - The Search for Truth :: College Admissions Essays

College Admissions Essay - The Search for Truth    Whoever said that we were supposed to take everything on faith? Not God, that's for certain. He's always told us to try it for ourselves, and see if it makes our lives better. I'll never forget the day my high school chemistry teacher had a nervous breakdown because he tried to understand a universe where there was no God, whatsoever. (That is true, to my knowledge, by the way.)    I've always been surprised how much faith people put in science, though. Many of the greatest scientists believed in God, and my speculation as to why, is that those scientists knew just how amazing it was that they could discover an equation to measure gravity, or one that made energy and matter that same. People, of course, had no idea what they had on their hands and worship it today as if it were God. Those scientists knew very well, after all their work, that any theory they produced was only awaiting its demise. The values that when put to the test, would prove it wrong. And then they'd find their mistake and fix it.    People have made something of a religion out of science these days. People treat it as a burden, rather than the enlightenment it is, but they also treat those far advanced in it, as infallible and beyond mortal ken. Not so bad as the inquisition days, believe you me! But the Inquisition really only went underground, to explode again as science, this time trying to kill faith instead of logic. Luckily, the new inquisition only condemns people to a life of fear and hate, instead of religious bigotry, or even real religion, like being nice.

The Trinity: The Oneness of God

Before I try to explain an infinite God with my finite brain, I will bring this verse to mind: Proverbs 3:5-7 states, †Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. † So, with this in mind, I will attempt to explain the Trinity. The best way to explain the Trinity is not with a statement, but with a question. If l were to take an egg, and crack the shell in half, and then use a strainer to separate the white and the yoke, then, if I set all three parts down separately on the counter, there would be three different things, with three completely unique characteristics. The shell is the protective coat, the white is the nutrition for the growing chicken, and the yoke is the thick protein substance that becomes the chicken. The question, then, is: Which one is the egg? Most people would probably want to say. Well, the yoke is the most important, and therefore it is the egg. † However, it is not the most important, because all three are essential to bringing life. Without the yoke there could be no chicken. Without the white, it could never survive, and without the shell, it is breakfast. So then, the egg is all three put into one. There is only one egg, but it consists of three parts. I believe that examples such as the egg, and other examples such as electrons, protons, and neutrons, r eveal the characteristics of God Almighty. The properties found throughout the Universe in Quantum Physics, etc. , show that things are consistently made of sets of three–the very substance of our matter, things smaller than electrons, protons, and neutrons are built on sets of three. I and many others believe that these attributes are all the fingerprint of God, revealing His divine characteristics. Paul even before we saw such evidences in nature said: For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities– his eternal power and divine nature– have been clearly seen, being understood from what as been made, so that men are without excuse (Rom 1:20, NIV). Of what our finite brains can understand, God is much like the egg, only on an infinite scale. God is three unique persons, known as The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Very clearly, throughout the Bible, God declares that there is only one God, see Isaiah 44:6, and yet all three are referred to as God. In Revelation 1:17-18, Jesus takes th e same title of First and Last that God the Father declared for Himself in the passage in Isaiah. How many firsts and lasts can there be?. Then, in 2 Corinthians 3:17, the Spirit is identified as the Lord, and we know then, that he must be one with Christ, for in 1 Corinthians 8:6, Paul states that there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ. It also speaks of reaping eternal life from the Spirit, Galatians 6:8, which puts Him in equality with God, for only God can give eternal life. Like the egg, each part, member, form, or â€Å"person† (for lack of any sufficient words) of the Trinity has His own unique features, but if you took one away, a vital piece would be missing. The Father loves the Son (John 3:35), the Son loves the Father, The Spirit loves Them both and vice versa. This is why God is not an egoist. During His life on earth, Christ always pointed the finger toward God the Father, to glorify Him. Then, after the resurrection, The Father gave His glory to Christ, and whenever you see the Holy Spirit at work, He will always focus the attention to what Christ did on the cross. They work together in perfect unity, for they are One, but they are distinct in the actions and characteristics that we see. One of the most unique examples, however, that God has given us of His own divine nature, of His own Oneness, is that of marriage: Then God said, â€Å"Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. † So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them (Gen 1:26-27, NIV). God is not alone even though He was before anything; He was never alone. When He created man, He said that it was â€Å"not good for man to be alone,† and created a â€Å"help-meet† (Strong's #5828, 5048), an ally or helper suitable for man (Gen. :18). And scripture declares, â€Å"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh† (Gen 2:24, NIV). In this simple aspect, God's infinite and divine Oneness is foreshadowed by the example of marriage that God has given us. However, marriage is but a glimpse–a picture–a shadow, of th e Oneness that is found in the Trinity. We were created in His image, but we are but a vague reflection. Amazingly, through marriage, we learn to be unselfish, to serve another person, to become one with another person. God longed to teach us of His own Oneness, and through marriage, we can get a glimpse into the Awesomeness of God. In marriage, the husband learns to lay down his life for his wife as Christ laid down His life for the church, and the wife learns to submit to her husband like Christ submitted to the Father, and said, â€Å"†¦ yet not my will, but Yours be done† (Luke 22:42, NIV) when He suffered on the cross. So, each spouse learns to die to their own desires for the sake of their spouse, and through this we are taught of the Oneness of God. A marriage done the right way, teaches each spouse of the Oneness and the unselfish nature of God Himself. We truly are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14) in the image of our God (Gen. 1:27). Therefore, if you want to understand the Oneness of God, get married and lay down your life for your spouse. Lay down your selfish desires, learn to serve someone else's desires above your own, and then you will catch a small glimpse at our infinite God. Do not take what I have said to turn marriage into a â€Å"form of† the Trinity, for it is not the same thing, for it is finite and temporary. Rather, marriage is but shadow, a reflection, a glimpse into the Eternal, a glimpse at â€Å"I AM THAT I AM, The Almighty God. † We were created in His image, but we weren't replicas. God is infinite, uncreated, and we will forever be finite and created beings, can something created become an uncreated eternal being–I think not. Only God â€Å"was, is, and is to come. † However, through the things that God has given us, we can see His divine characteristics in the world around us and in the examples that God has made to reveal to His creation the loving, unselfish God that He is. FootNotes I have put only a few verses above, and have not made the best argument for the Trinity since my goal is not proving the â€Å"existence of,† but in helping with the â€Å"understanding of. † If you struggle with whether or not the Trinity is taught in scripture, I can only say to read the Bible a lot, and pray that the Spirit will give you understanding. Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. Some verses that may be helpful are Isaiah 43-46, where God constantly says that there is only one God–Period. Then, John 1:1-14, which is one of the most self explanatory passages–â€Å"†¦ and the Word was with God and the Word was God†¦ and the Word became flesh. Isaiah 44:24 says that the Father alone stretched out the Heavens, but Christ is also acredited with the same work, so how was he alone unless they are one. Other points of interest would be Isaiah 43:10, John 10:30, Mal. 2:10, Col. 2:9, Col. 2:10 (God the Father is given credit for raising Christ, but elsewhere, Christ credits Himself with the power to raise himself from the dead–Matt. 26:61, John 2:19) {Acts 5:31, Isaiah 43:11-12, Isaiah 45:21-22}. Now, these are just some of the verses that I compiled in about 10 minutes doing key word searches. Reading the Bible, I have found innumerable verses that reveal the Trinity.

Visit to Art Museum

I've never had a chance to visit any museum in real life, and it's even harder for me now since I've just arrived to the USA for 3 months. But I'm an art addicted, so I usually visit famous museums around the world on the internet. One Of my favourite museums is The Walters Art Museum. The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland is internationally renowned for its collection of art, which was amassed substantially by two men, William and Henry Walters, and eventually bequeathed to the City of Baltimore.The collection presents an overview of world art from pre-dynastic Egypt to 20th-century Europe, and counts among its many treasures Greek sculpture and Roman sarcophagi; medieval ivories and Old Master paintings; Art Deco jewelry and 19th-century European and American masterpieces. The Walters Art Museum preserves and develops in the public trust a distinguished collection of world art from antiquity to the 20th century. In 1931, the museum's founding benefactor, Henry Walters, bequ eathed the core collection to the City of Baltimore â€Å"for the benefit of the public. Since its opening, the Walters has been a national leader in scholarship, conservation, and education. The Walters Art Museum brings art and people together for enjoyment, discovery, and learning. They strive to create a place where people of every background can be touched by art. They are committed to exhibitions and programs that will strengthen and sustain our community. The Walters Art Museum preserves and develops in the public trust a distinguished collection of world art from antiquity to the 20th century.In 1931, the museum's founding benefactor, Henry Walters, bequeathed the core collection to the City of Baltimore â€Å"for the benefit of the public. † Since its opening, the Walters has been a national leader in scholarship, conservation, and education. Mission Statement The Walters Art Museum brings art and people together for enjoyment, discovery, and learning. We strive to create a place where people of every background can be touched by art. We are committed to exhibitions and programs that will strengthen and sustain our community.

Corruption in Puerto Rico essays

Corruption in Puerto Rico essays Lack of integrity or honesty, susceptibility to bribery; use of a position of trust for dishonest gain is how the WordNet dictionary defines corruption. Although corruption in Puerto Rico may have a slightly different meaning, I will opt not to get into that today. During the past few years, numerous cases of corruption within our government have emerged to the public eye, causing great controversy and putting in question the integrity of our democracy. Although the money totals supposedly stolen by members of mainly the N.P.P., explicitly exceed the million dollar mark, for some reason, Puerto Rico was clearly a more productive and economically stable country during the eight-year N.P.P. term. Political parties require huge amounts of money in order to finance their campaigns. Generous contributors to the political parties often expect and demand special favors once their candidates are elected. The higher levels of government are normally filled with people loyal to the political party in power. At those levels, political interests may at times prevail over public interest. Strong supervision by opposing political parties and other concerned groups will generally provide the necessary checks and balances needed for our democratic system to operate smoothly. In recent times, however, some cases of corruption have resulted in convictions and severe jail sentences to quite a few important politicians and prominent people on the island. On a recent article on The San Juan Star newspaper, titled Records show stateside candidates, parties got money from contractors, we see one more of those accusations against the N.P.P.s. It involves bribing, and hefty contributions of national candidates, and political parties. The rest, I believe, is worthless to point out, because regardless of the names or details, it is just another article revealing a corrupt deal ...

The World Though the Prism of Ideas Impressionism as It Is

The World Though the Prism of Ideas Impressionism as It Is One of the world’s most mysterious and at the same time elegant branch of arts, impressionism, is both a riddle and an answer to it. Suggesting people to take a closer look into their own minds, impressionism offered that the spectator could incorporate his vision of the world together with that one of the author.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The World Though the Prism of Ideas: Impressionism as It Is specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Despite its seeming simplicity and inspiring shapes, impressionism conveys the most complicated ideas and bases on philosophical and cultural foundation that has a history of its own. Discovering the ideas underlying the impressionists’ paintings, on can open the whole wide world in front of his/her eyes. Speaking of the techniques that the artists used in creating their impressionism masterpieces, one must note that the style which impressionists used ensued from the pe culiar vision of the world which impressionism presupposed. Oriented exclusively on the ideas and perceptions of the artists, this style of painting could not be considered as a separate trend in visual arts – this is rather a string of ideas embodied in paintings. Depicted on the paper, the world picture of impressionists turned into the door to the other world – the world where the reality mixed with the surreal to create one of the most incredible cocktails. As van Gunsteren explained, We may, first of all, certainly discount the more loose or merely lyrical usage in which impressionism means anything ‘fanciful’, ‘disorderly’ or ‘illogical’. Having done so, however, it is possible to penetrate to a fairly solid core of the new ideas and methods, which gave the group cohesion even without the formalized rules of a ‘school’ of French painters. (29) Thus, it is obvious that there is more to impressionism that merely d istorting the usual forms and shapes, turning them into a chaotic something. With the powerful idea in the background, an impressionism painting obtains the meaning of its own. With help of the impressionism vision, one can see the reverse side of the world, the subconscious and the sub-real. Getting into the depth of people’s minds, these images depict ideas, not objects, which is why this style differs from what the mankind is used to so much. It is quite peculiar that impressionists were a kind of rebels in the sphere of art, breaking all possible laws of painting to create the ones of their own. According to Salvi, â€Å"The Impressionists broke many rues of academic painting. One was their insistence on working direct from experience† (16). This was where the idea of the plein-air technique appeared from – trying to find the right environment to create the masterpieces of their own, impressionists tried to break the boundaries of space, which led them to cr eating outdoors.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For them, painting did not mean staying behind closed doors in the cold light of a studio, but taking easel, canvas and paints and working en plein air (outdoors). This gave their canvases a feeling of spontaneity, but also required some new painting techniques. (Salvi 16) Monet offered a perfect example of what the plein-air method of painting is. With his masterpiece called The Japanese Bridge, the author managed to represent not only the new idea of art, but also the new means to create it with. Painted with the plein-air technique, this was the essence of impressionism, the very spirit of the new art. Breathing with the fresh ideas, this painting stirred the most unusual thoughts. Intriguing and capturing, this was the kind of masterpieces that gripped one and would not let go for another couple of hours. The creation required deep considerations and thorough meditations to understand the ideas underlying it. Monet, Claude. The Japanese Bridge, c. 1919-24. http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4487684298_ae67066942.jpg Another perfect specimen of the new style of painting was the Water-Lily Pond that can be considered the perfect beginning of the impressionists’ triumph. With help of the peculiar open-air technique and the unusual, non-traditional approach to the art, the impressionism embodied in the Water-Lily Pond created quite a stir in the artistic circles. This was a new and original way of expressing the ideas without fearing of being misunderstood – for impressionism could be understood in a million of ways; everything depended on the spectator.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The World Though the Prism of Ideas: Impressionism as It Is specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Monet, Claude. The Water-Lily Pond, 189 9. http://claude-monet.org/artbase/Monet/1897-1899/w1509/apc.jpg Indeed, the new art helped people to understand art in its new shape. Hiding beyond the disguise of the chaotic and the subconscious, the paintings created by impressionists made people open their eyes and see the reality the way it is. At this point, the definition of impressionism intertwines with the idea of ripping the world of its veil. Lying bare and naked in front of the artist, the world took the most incredible shapes, which were depicted in the numerous impressionism paintings. Shockingly surreal and at the same time grotesquely true, these pieces broke new ground not only in the sphere of arts, but also in people’s lives. Considering the three theories of art which Frank suggests, one can see clearly the way impressionism develop as the time passed by. Starting from what further on was called the theory of representation, the new style developed into the â€Å"pure seeing†, which later on evolv ed into the â€Å"experimental aesthetics† (Frank 2006). Due to the organic and swift way in which the ideas of impressionism evolved, the latter shaped quickly and in rather natural way. Relying on their own vision of the world and their ideas concerning people and nature, artists embodied their impressions into peculiar and intriguing artworks. To understand the train of impressionists’ ideas, one has to consider the paintings by Monet as the founder of the new artistic tendency. For instance, his painting Irises is the very idea of impressionism itself: Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Monet, Claude. Irises. c. 1914-17. google.us/imglanding?q=Irises+c.+1914-17+monetum=1hl=rutbm=ischtbnid=mem7dkb2ZYMA6M:imgrefurl=flickr.com/photos/28433765%2540N07/4472748537/imgurl=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2754/4472748537_c7de218f2f.jpgw=373h=500ei=kQGoTfnOMsmXOqXEsYIJzoom=1iact=hcoei=kQGoTfnOMsmXOqXEsYIJpage=1tbnh=133tbnw=104start=0ndsp=25ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0biw=1280bih=595 To understand the essence of this peculiar vision, one has to consider the expressive theory. Painting their feelings on the canvas, artists could get rid of the haunting ideas for a while. But then the need to tell the world important truths took its toll on the artists again†¦ Trying to regard â€Å"the flux of sensation in its totality†, as Holt brilliantly noted, they created the world of their own, the world that mirrored the reality. In his creation Bathers at La Grenouillà ¨re, the artist also followed the famous representation style, with help of which he created most of his pieces. Lik e the rest of his pictures, this creation also featured the famous plein-air technique and followed the principles of the representation style. However, it must be admitted that this creation of the great artist also incorporated some elements of the traditional vision of the world as well. Monet, Claude. Bathers at La Grenouillà ¨re 1869. oceansbridge.com/paintings/artists/m/claude_monet/big/Bathers_at_La_Grenouillere__1869.jpg Taking a closer look at the picture, one case that the artist deviated from the way in which he began creating the impressionist works. It has gained certain sociological meaning, for it considers the society in general rather that the sufferings of an individual. Thus, there are no doubts that the impressionist ideas were broadening as the experience of the artists grew, and the spectrum of the ideas that could be communicated with help of the paintings grew increasingly huge. This is the right time to start talking about the formal theories of impression ism. It cannot be denied that the pictures that followed Monet’s innovation in the world of art were mainly inspired by the great author of the Water-Lily Pond. However, there are no doubts that the main source of the painter’s inspiration came from their observations of the world, their meditations and their philosophical approach to understand the nature of a human being and the place the latter takes in the great circle of life. However, it would be erroneous to speak of formal theories as of something that fit impressionists’ ideas impeccably once applied. It would be better to suggest that the formal approach was to be tailored to the ideas of impressionism. Since the latter presupposed the denial of any norms at all, the formal approach could not be applied to the paintings strictly. As Lanier noted, Although there are similarities in their [impressionists’] art, these artists had no â€Å"formal theory† and â€Å"abandoned any fixed program .† They diminished the importance of subject matte, denied the importance of genre and subjected everything to the stamp of their own personalities and sensibilities. (79) Morrisot, Berthe. Summer’s Day. c. 1879 allartclassic.com/img/Berthe_Morisot_MOB003.jpg However, it cannot be claimed that the sociocultural element of the impressionists’ paintings appeared only as time passed; one had better say that it became obvious only as certain time passed. Therefore, it can be suggested that the impressionism paintings helped the society get ready for certain changes in the vision of the world and the world philosophy. Since such transition could turn rather painful and ever impossible without any links to the previous experience, impressionism served as a bridge between the old and the new. Considering the paintings from the sociocultural point of view, one has to admit that the authors of the pictures were trying to communicate their opinion concerning the most impo rtant vents in the social life of the then epoch. With help of their attempts, the paintings opened a door to the world where people could face their most secret ideas and feelings and realise that these are integral parts of themselves. Every single picture created in the period when impressionism reigned spoke of the floating world, the time of changes, the instability and the attempts to relate a man to the nature. As Frank himself explains, the expressive theory of impressionism is one of the means to approach the mysterious pictures of impressionists, filled with the meaning that only the authors could see distinctly: â€Å"All art works are made by people. The skill level, persona; intent, mental state, gender, or mindset of the creator must play a role in the creative process† (Frank 96). Glancing at the creations of impressionists, one can understand that the ideas of the world as chaos were only beginning to appear in their creations, whereas most of the pictures con veyed the idea of beauty in the natural and the irrational, the blurred vision of the world. With help of the new artistic tendency, people have managed to experience an escape to an artistic Wonderland, which they must thank impressionists for. Unless Monet, Morisot, Renoir and all the rest had not contributed their viewpoint to the world of art, the latter would have been incomplete. Frank, Patric. Prebles Artforms: An Introduction to the Visual Arts, 8th Ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2006. Print. Holt, Ysanne. British Artists and the Modernist Landscape. Surrey, UK: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2003. Print. Lanier, Doris. Absinthe the Cocaine of the Nineteenth Century: A History of the  Hallucinogenic Drug and Its Effect on Artists and Writers in Europe and the  United States. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2004. Print. Salvi, Francesco. The Impressionists. Minneapolis, MN: The Oliver Press, 2008. Print. Van Gunsteren, Julia. Katherine Mansfield and Literary Impressioni sm. Amsterdam: Rodopi1990. Print.

Does Proper Education On Pros And Cons Of Neonatal Circumcision Help Research Paper

Does Proper Education On Pros And Cons Of Neonatal Circumcision Help Parents Make A Better Decision On The Procedure - Research Paper Example In the United States, more than half of newborn male babies are circumcised although the numbers have been dwindling in current times (Androus, 2011). Notably, there are no religious or medical reasons compelling the parents who circumcise their male babies to do so, implying these circumcisions are nonmedical and non-religious. Whether there should be educational programs guide parents on neonatal circumcision and its benefits and cons has been the subject of heated debates in the health sector and the public sphere for quite some time pitting the opponents and the proponents of education on neonatal circumcision against each other. While some support neonatal circumcision as good for newborns’ health, others oppose it, making parents even more confused about the procedure. They hence make decisions on neonatal circumcision based on what their friends and relatives feel, think, and say. That is, their decision is not influenced by well-informed expert opinion; rather, it is t he emotionality with which their friends and relatives advise them that determines their decision (Aston, 2002). For parents to have a good understanding and perception of neonatal circumcision and its pros and cons and to make the right decisions, education and other awareness programs are highly recommended (Aston, 2002). That neonatal circumcision has become a rather controversial and fiercely debated health and social issue is evident in the many literary works that research and publish on neonatal circumcision. Literature Review A quick review of literatures available on neonatal circumcision and circumcision in general reveals that both the pros and cons of neonatal circumcision have been covered in equal measures. Specifically, a lot of literatures covering the pros and cons of neonatal circumcision touch on its health care implications. There are several advantages newborn male babies and their parents could derive from neonatal circumcision. First, neonatal circumcision is an easier procedure compared to later life circumcision since the circumcised penis is allegedly easier to care for in early stages of growth and development. Second, circumcised babies report less incidences of urinary tract infections compared to uncircumcised children. The other general benefits of circumcised penis are greater extent of protection against sexually-transmitted diseases, penile cancer, and future complications such as failure to retract the foreskin and tight foreskin (Cheng et al., 2006). Literatures also cover the cons of neonatal circumcision for which mothers should not circumcise newborn babies. These disadvantages include infections, excessive bleeding during the procedure, and accidental snipping of the glans or disproportional cutting of the foreskin so that it becomes either quite long or short. There could also be complications such as penile adhesions, scars, and tags that may necessitate surgery in future. Newborn male babies may also react adversely t o anesthetic medications used in neonatal circumcision procedures. Removing the foreskin could also make these babies’ private parts prone to stresses and friction as the glans would not be shielded from friction from clothing and kept moist and sensitive (Cheng et al., 2006). As mentioned earlier, opinions vary on the pros and cons of neonatal circumcision and it is imperative that parents seek divergent opinions on the matter before authorizing its performance on their newborns (Cheng et al., 20

Business tourism in Abu Dhabi Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business tourism in Abu Dhabi - Assignment Example The decision to focus on the promotion of business tourism in Abu Dhabi is strongly connected to the Emirate's geostrategic location which makes it accessible to business professionals and corporate entities from Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific (Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, 2010). This research is conducted with the view of identifying the most important elements of the development of Abu Dhabi as a business tourism center and how best they can be developed for the optimum results. Research Design Research design is generally related to the creation of a system of studying and making enquiries into a given subject (Marshall & Rossman, 2011 p3). This research is designed to answer the research question: optimization of the structures of business tourism in Abu Dhabi through the incorporation of external studies and views of business professionals. The design seeks to use the various elements of scientific research to identify important factors that can help make recommend ations about the best ways that business tourism can be boosted. It will focus on examining the needs and expectations of targeted consumers and how best to attain the elements of the strategies identified by the relevant authorities (MICE and ADNEC) to ensure that the best results are attained. The process therefore draws on various information that are relevant to the numerous stakeholders in this drive to ensure that the best recommendations are done. The research is going to be an exploratory research in nature. Although it will examine information and data from numerous sources, attempts will be made to acquire primary data and study new trends. The inferences that will be made from the findings and conclusions will... Research design is generally related to the creation of a system of studying and making enquiries into a given subject. This research is designed to answer the research question: optimization of the structures of business tourism in Abu Dhabi through the incorporation of external studies and views of business professionals. The design seeks to use the various elements of scientific research to identify important factors that can help make recommendations about the best ways that business tourism can be boosted. It will focus on examining the needs and expectations of targeted consumers and how best to attain the elements of the strategies identified by the relevant authorities to ensure that the best results are attained. The process therefore draws on various information that are relevant to the numerous stakeholders in this drive to ensure that the best recommendations are done. The research is going to be an exploratory research in nature. Although it will examine information and data from numerous sources, attempts will be made to acquire primary data and study new trends. The inferences that will be made from the findings and conclusions will become the basis for the recommendations that will be targeted for key players of the business tourism drive of the UAE. In this research, the main independent variable that is being tested is business tourism in Abu Dhabi. Business tourism in Abu Dhabi is the basis for the entire research and it is examined with the view of getting the best results in the future.