All About the Major French Verb Faire

All About the Major French Verb Faire The irregular verb faire  (to do or to make)  is one of the 10 most frequently used verbs in the French language alongside à ªtre,  avoir, dire, aller, voir, savoir, pouvoir, falloir, and vouloir. Faire is also used to form  the causative construction and in numerous idiomatic expressions. 'To Do' or 'To Make' Faire means to do and to make in most senses that these verbs are used in English. Je fais la lessive:  Im doing the laundry.Je fais mes devoirs: Im doing my homework.Je fais du bricolage: I do odd jobs/DIY projects.Je fais un gà ¢teau: Im making a cake.Je fais des projets: Im making plans.Je fais des progrà ¨s: Im making progress. Exceptions When the intent is to communicate to make, the French tend to be more specific, and, instead of faire, they would use, for example, fabriquer, construire, obliger, forcer, donner,  or a whole list of alternate verbs. In the following instances, idiomatic usage calls for  the verbs rendre and prendre, not faire: When to make is followed by an adjective, it is translated by rendre: Ça me rend heureux: That makes me happy. To make a decision is expressed with  prendre une dà ©cision: Jai pris une dà ©cision: I made a decision. Causative Construction The  causative  construction  faire  plus an infinitive describes when someone or something has something done, makes someone do something, or causes something to happen. Je fais laver la voiture: Im having the car washed.Il ma fait laver la voiture: He made me wash the car.Le froid fait geler leau: Cold makes water freeze. Expressions With 'Faire' Faire is used in a number of idiomatic expressions, including many related to weather, sports, math, and everyday life. Il fait du soleil: Its sunnyIl fait froid:  Its cold out.il fait beau/il  fait beau temps:  Its nice weather./Its nice out./The weather is fine/nice.Je fais du ski: I ski.Je fais du golf: I golf.Deux et deux font quatre: Two plus two equals (makes) four.Je fais de lautostop:  Im hitchhiking.Il fait sa tà ªte:  He acts impulsively.Ça fait parti de notre projet:  Thats part of our plan.faire 5 kilomà ¨tres:  to go 5 kilometersfaire trois heures: to be on the road for three hoursfaire acte de prà ©sence:  to put in an appearancefaire attention :  to pay attention to, watch out forfaire bon accueil:  to welcomefaire de la peine quelquun:  to hurt someone (emotionally or morally)faire de la photographie:  to do photography as a hobbyfaire des chà ¢teaux en Espagne:  to build castles in the airfaire des cours:  to give classes, lecturesfaire des à ©conomies:  to save up/to save money/to economizefaire de son mieux:  to do ones bestfaire du lard  (familiar): to sit around doing nothingfaire du sport:  to play sports faire du thà ©Ãƒ ¢tre:  to be an actor/to do some actingfaire du violon, piano:  to study violin, pianofaire dune pierre deux coups:  to kill two birds with one stonefaire face :  to oppose/to face up tofaire fi:  to scornfaire jour, nuit:  to be daytime, nighttimefaire la bà ªte:  to act like a foolfaire la bise, le bisou:  to kiss hellofaire la connaissance de:  to meet (for the first time)faire le mà ©nage:  to do housework Conjugations You will find  all tenses  of  faire  conjugated elsewhere; for now, here is the present tense to illustrate just how irregular this essential French verb is. Present tense je faistu faisil faitnous faisonsvous faitesils font

US in the Middle East

US in the Middle East Introduction Being the world’s leading superpower, it is quite likely that the United States will use every tactic to establish its presence in many places across the world. It is thus no wonder that they are involved in various peace and humanitarian initiatives globally.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on US in the Middle East specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This notwithstanding, the interest of the United States in the Middle East is questionable. Although the world has been made to believe that the involvement of the US in Middle East was purely for security reasons, there is a very high possibility that it was for the United States’ economic interests. This paper presents various arguments pointing to the fact that the United States’ presence in the Middle East was for their own economic benefits. Why the US was in the Middle East for their Economic Interests As has already been menti oned, there is a price to being a superpower. One strategy used by most leading nations is to ensure that they can stay ahead of the rest. Owing to the fact that a close association between America’s competitors and those in the Middle East could be a threat to its operations, it is quite obvious that the United States would want to be in control of most activities in the Middle East as well as in other states that export gas and oil. This led to United States entering the Middle East region as a friend with good intentions. The United States is also known for its prowess in manufacturing weapons. To ensure a steady market and great profits for weapon manufacturers, it is clear that the United States had to be heavily involved in the militarizing the Middle East region (Day, 2000). Apparently, most weapons imported into the Middle East region come from the United States. As a result, the US weapon industry continues to grow and weapon manufacturers keep on enjoying hefty prof its from their involvement in the oil and gas business.Advertising Looking for research paper on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the process, the economy of the United States also grew and jobs were created for the American citizens (Sullivan, 2009). This explains why the United States has on several occasions been opposed to the determination by the Middle East states in coming up with their own weapons of mass destruction. Most of the world’s oil reserves are found in the Middle East (Habibi Woertz, 2009). Given that the oil reserves in other regions may soon be depleted, the intention of the United States has been to maintain a steady supply of gas and oil by establishing a strong presence in the Middle East (Snider, 2011). Consequently, the security of the Middle East region remains a matter of national importance to the US and other interested nations (Ewane, 2010). Major atte mpts have thus been made by the United States to create and keep close alliances with oil monarchies of the Middle East. Apparently, the US also benefits from providing transport services for gas and oil products within the region (Fund, 2006). A number of oil firms in the United States have also benefited through involvement in partnerships with major oil companies in the Middle East (Dobson Marsh, 2007). However, while the United States has worked so hard to create strong ties with allies in the Middle East, efforts have also been made to frustrate their opponents (Marc, 2011). In the recent past, the supremacy of the United States in the region has been threatened by countries such as China and India whose consumption of oil and gas products has been increasing over the years as a result of growth in their economies (Habibi Woertz, 2009). The growing interest by China and India is partly responsible for the loss of business to American firms that previously almost faced no comp etition or resistance from other nations. The presence of the United States in the Middle East is also meant to keep a tight control on the activities of Islamic groups involved in activities that threaten stability in various places across the world (Hassassian, 1997).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on US in the Middle East specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is alleged that over the years, insecurities experienced in various parts of the world including the United States are spearheaded by radical Islamic groups operating mainly from within the Middle East region (Legrenzi Momani, 2013). Considering that this can stifle economic growth in the United States, part of the reason for the involvement of the US in the region is to frustrate the activities of such groups and render them useless (Baxter Akbarzadeh, 2008). Conclusion The involvement of the United States in the Middle East has been criticized by ma ny, including those whose very existence may be threatened by the activities within the region. There are also concerns that the United States is assuming a role reserved for the United Nations Security Council. Although it is the sole responsibility of the UN Security Council to authorize any form of military interventions, the United States went ahead to make a unilateral decision to do so. Considering the views presented in this paper, it is clear that the United States was in the Middle East for its own economic reasons. This is contrary to the wide spread belief that the United States moved into the region to help restore peace and stability in order to create a healthy and secure environment. References Baxter, K. Akbarzadeh, S. (2008). US Foreign Policy in the Middle East: The Roots of Anti-Americanism. New York, NY: Routledge. Day, A. (2000). US Foreign Relations with the Middle East and North Africa: A Bibliography: Supplement 1998. Reference Reviews, 14(2), 12 – 13 .Advertising Looking for research paper on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Dobson, A. P. Marsh, S. (2007). US Foreign Policy since 1945. New York, NY: Taylor Francis. Ewane, F. E. (2010). United States’ Involvement in the Middle East Peace Process. Munich, Germany: GRIN Verlag. Fund, M. (2006). World Economic Outlook 2006. Washington, DC: Intemational Monetary Fund. Habibi, N. Woertz, E. (2009). US-Arab Economic Relations and the Obama Administration. Middle East Brief, 34. Hassassian, M. (1997). U.S. National Interests in the Middle East. Palestine-Israel Journal of Politics, Economics and Culture, 4(3), 1. Legrenzi, M., Momani, B. (2013). Shifting Geo-Economic Power of the Gulf: Oil Finance and Institutions. Burlington VT: Ashgate Publishing. Marc, L. (2011). The Big Think behind the Arab Spring. Foreign Policy, 190, 46 – 47. Snider, E. A. (2011). The Arab Spring: U.S. Democracy Promotion in Egypt. Middle East Policy, 18 (3), 49 – 62. Sullivan, P. (2009). President Barak Hussein Obama and the Middle East: The Peace Process, Iran, Iraq and Reasonable Expectations. Jordan Journal of International Affairs, 2(4), 9 – 36.

Entrepreneurship Initiation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Entrepreneurship Initiation - Essay Example To begin with, it is vital to make some reasonable refinements and settle on decisions going to which particular piece of the new administration advancement hypothesis this study wishes to make a commitment. The typology contrived by Goldstein et al. (2002) closed to have an extensive level of functional significance and is accordingly the most evident one to utilize. This administration typology recognizes four administration sorts by utilizing two qualities. These traits, (1) Contact power, and (2) Variety were uncovered to be the basic typology traits by variable examination (Goldstein et al., 2002). While contact power is seen as the measure of interrelationships between workers furthermore clients, mixture is seen as the aggregate sum of decided appearances of the services. Rosen, (2002), claim that the contrast between these service sorts is that service sorts with a generally low mixed bag have a tendency to utilize conventional new product improvement apparatuses to create services. Because of constrained introduction to client changes, the attributes of these services look like, all things considered, the qualities of physical merchandise. By force is altogether different (Mathis, 2002). Considering the distinction in service advancement and instruments effectively accessible to service firms with low contact power, a more noteworthy commitment can be made to service advancement for firms with a high contact force and mixture, particularly when considering the little collection of writing covering this subject in this specific portion (Minkoff and Cline, 2003).

Leadership Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Leadership - Coursework Example He possessed appropriate personality traits and assumed his role as a leader effective. Jude is an honest man and would often correct me whenever I was wrong. His criticisms were always objective a feature that enhanced the success of his corrections. Additionally, he had the skill to delegate (Selznick, 1984). He often delegated some of his works to me thereby making me acquire both the skills and experience in performing various tasks including driving. Jude is humorous and a god communicator. Both traits make him a perfect leader who endeared to various people besides me. Among the trends in leadership that make Jude an effective leader are confidences, positive attitude and creativity (Maxwell, 2007). Jude has the creativity to work his way out of any problem and to solve any conflict. In doing these, he strives to maintain objectivity and minimize the harm that his actions may cause the parties involved. After criticizing an individual, he does not let the case affect his future relations with the

General Suggested improvements Essay Example for Free

General Suggested improvements Essay The improvements I suggest would include having utilities like File Wipe and data encryption, Firewalls and other Malware protection. You should employ tactics such as Health and Safety messages, such as only water may be near the computers, and then it should be in a secure bottle and such things as data awareness, e. g. , people knowing what they should and should not delete and where data is held and why they should have passwords and why there should be strong passwords. There should be efficient junk-mail filters on your email to avoid any viruses coming into your system by email. Task 2: Types of threats to your physical security with suggested improvements(P2) Biometrics These are mechanical security measures that detect fingerprints, gait recognition and iris detection, etc. Be aware that these methods are not foolproof! There are people out there who spend every day trying to beat these systems. Physical security These are security measures like locks and bolts on doors and windows. Security guards and dogs could be employed, and burglar alarms such as motion sensors, noise detection and other sorts of alarms; CCTV cameras and Smart cameras to be deployed inside and outside the building. The doors to the server should be locked and a security guard should be positioned outside the door. With the servers hardrives being locked in place and for higher security measures, having a vault door in front of the server, and having the access keys 12 metres apart, and operated simultaneously by two separate employees, would ensure greater (but not foolproof) security. You could invest in a disaster resistant room with fire resistant tiles, and some way of filtering flood or excess water, and some way of cooling things down if the air conditioning breaks down to avoid the server being flooded and/or cooked, for your server to resist things like terrorist attacks, e. g. , bombs and/or the unlikely but still possible event of a tornado. All these physical security systems could help to make your business secure. Describe how software and network security measures can help keep systems and data secure. (P3, M1) Software and Network Security The first suggestion I would make would be buy or download your software from reputable retailers. Unlicensed and cracked software could also have incorporated Malware in the cracking code and also, you could be in trouble with the law if you use unlicensed software. You should have the relevant security software up to date and make sure your anti-Malware protection is not actually Malware pretending to be anti-Malware to fool you. Firewalls Firewalls are metaphorically a wall between you and the Internet which denies access to anything you havent specified (i. e. , hackers and malicious websites or material). Every computer has a unique identification address, made up of a series of numbers, and also given a domain name corresponding to those numbers, for easier access, e. g. , howstuffworks. com is also known as 216. 27. 61. 137 . A firewall can block all access to a specific IP address. Firewalls can also filter messages and monitor attempted break-ins. Firewalls can also be implemented in certain machines to allow only one protocol, e. g. , http or tcp and block all others. Encryption Encryption is a process turning regular text, pictures and other data into illegible text and pictures and data through a series of simple or complicated algorithms depending on your security needs. The text will turn out like this:- 5ugre54jyt656f5t8uf which , for anybody who can speak double Dutch, means absolutely nothing. Encryption is important for sensitive personal information or any business related information which would make it harder for the hackers to uphold your information in any legible way. In encryption techniques, there are two types of keys, Public and Private. The Public Key is a key that can be passed around and made public. This is to encrypt any information. Once a person has encrypted the information, it cannot be decrypted without the Private Key which is a password, not necessarily a word in the English sense, it can be any combination of letters and numbers, which is more advisable. For greater security, the password should be separate from any digital medium but some software allows you to store it on your computer for automatic decryption. Anti-Virus Software. Anti-virus software protects against viruses. They have a database of the general layout of viruses so they can recognise any future viruses and also any existing ones. This is a critical piece of software, particularly if your computer has a virus, as this can cause it to slow down or not work altogether, so it is highly advisable to have some sort of anti-virus software installed. Staff Training. It is important to provide regulations or Code of Conduct in your Company, e. g. , you could specify that employees may only use their email for work purposes. Staff should be aware that it is insecure to leave a computer logged on when they are not around and also not to leave their laptops in cars or on public transport. Laptops should not be left in cars overnight in cold conditions as this could disable them. Computers should not be left in any condition where they could overheat and destroy the contents inside. Staff should also be aware that viruses and other Malware can be sent via email attachments so they must not open any email attachments unless you specifically know what that attachment contains. Staff should also be trained in data management. This is keeping your files in a structured and organised fashion, having sensible file names and folder names, knowing what should and should not be deleted, knowing how to achieve deleted items, and knowing what to do when other office programmes crash and knowing where you can get the autosave files from. The final training staff need to know is about copyright, registered trademarks and patent Laws and also plagiarism. Biometrics. Biometrics is fusing biology with IT in the fact that fingerprints can be used to access computers or other physical areas. Known biometrics are:- gait recognition, fingerprint scanning, iris detection, speech recognition. The costs of these security measures can be quite expensive, especially the newer ones like gait recognition and iris detection. More conventional biometrics are relatively cheap like fingerprinting and speech which are probably the most common ones around. Passwords. Passwords are crucial to deter any opportunistic data thieves. If everybody has a strong password, these types of thieves will be stopped. When signing up for a Google mail account, they have an indicator next to the password, they have a scale next to the password selected, to indicate whether this is a weak to strong password. Generally, weak passwords are 1 6, your dogs name, your wifes names, or any similar name, important dates like your birthday. These are considered weak passwords as they can easily be guessed. Strong passwords are usually an alphanumeric combination of upper and lower case letters, for instance, GIRfufr57fjy, keep systems and data secure. Call Back Call back is the CPU putting a process on hold, to go back to it later. Handshaking Handshaking is the computer and a another computer deciding on the protocol. Use of Backups The use of Backups are essential to your business, so that if your hard drive fails you will need to get a new hard drive and if you neglected to back up your computer, all your data is lost. So backups are essential to keep data secure. Audit logs Audit logs are programmes to log any changes to your computer, eg when you log in, the audit logs check the logs for your username against your password and do you have authorisation to access to continue if so more checking, keeping systems secure. Firewall Firewalls are metaphorically a wall between you and the Internet which denies access to anything you havent specified (i. e. , hackers and malicious websites or material). Every computer has a unique identification address, made up of a series of numbers, and also given a domain name corresponding to those numbers, for easier access, e. g. , howstuffworks. com is also known as 216. 27. 61. 137 . A firewall can block all access to a specific IP address. Firewalls can also filter messages and monitor attempted break-ins. Firewalls can also be implemented in certain machines to allow only one protocol, e. g. , http or tcp and block all others, keeping systems and data secure. Configuration You need to configure your computer and/or network security to your security policies. If you configure your security properly it will prevent unauthorised access onto your network or accidental deletion of data. The configuration is important to keep your system running smoothly and your work safe.

Maintaining Marine Reef Aquarium Essay -- essays papers

Maintaining Marine Reef Aquarium Important Aspects in Maintaining a Marine Reef Aquarium There is something fascinating and relaxing in having an aquarium in a home. Like a fireplace’s warm glow and bright colors, the colors that are emitted from an aquarium can be just as warm and even more colorful. From the slow and graceful movement of the fish to the frantic feeding frenzy, an aquarium is different each time it is viewed. Although a freshwater tank can be full or color, it does not come close to the fiery colors that are present in a marine aquarium. Unfortunately, all the color and life that a marine aquarium holds is much more fragile and not as easy to keep as a freshwater tank. Therefore, the marine aquarium requires a plethora of devices working together and at optimum levels to maintain a successful tank. Items like protein skimmers, ultraviolet filters, sump filters, reverse osmosis units, and even wave-makers are just a few of the devices that are required to properly maintain a marine aquarium. With the exception to a properly constructed tank, nothing is as important to the marine aquarium as the water within the tank and the lighting given its inhabitants. Since water is the medium that the aquarium inhabitants must live in, it is the most vital component in any tank. The quality of the water used will directly effect how successful the aquarium is. The chemical balance of the water must be watched closely. If the salt content varies too much, or harmful chemicals build up, the water will kill the inhabitants of the tank. Since fresh pure sea water is not readily accessible, the easiest water source for the majority of hobbyists is the faucet. However, the tap water that comes from the local water treatment plants may be safe for human consumption but is most likely toxic to marine life. Water treatment plants remove most of the harmful chemicals, but the water delivered is anything but pure. Often this tap water contains high levels of phosphates and nitrates that can be harmful to aquarium inhabitants. Also, copper may leach from pipes, and it is deadly to marine invertebrates (Goldstein 8). This leaves very few options for water to the hobbyist. One of the last, and probably the best option for obtaining a pure water source is by using reverse osmosis water. Reverse osmosis is a process of filtering ... ...k monitoring water conditions and lighting quickly becomes only a minor chore as the aquarium begins to regulate itself. Considering the amount of work and money a fireplace requires, the aquarium is a much easier and cheaper centerpiece that can be added to any room. It becomes a landscaping of art that even the best painters have difficulty capturing, and can be enjoyed by everyone. Works Cited Dakin, Nick, The Marine Aquarium Problem Solver. Blaksburg, VA: Tetra Press, 1998. Friese, U. Erich. Keeping a Reef Aquarium. Neptune, NJ:YearBOOKS Inc, 1996. Gamble, Sam. Light Energy 5 October 1999. Goldstein, Robert J. Marine Reef Aquarium Handbook. New York: Barron’s Educational Series, Inc, 1997. Larson, Scott. Personal Interview. 10 September 1999. Madison, Pieter. â€Å"You Can Succeed with Marines.† Tropical Fish Hobbyist. August 1999: 38-46. Paletta, Mike. â€Å"Water Changes.† SeaScope, Fall 1997, 3. Reefkeeper’s FAQ. 18 September 1999. Shimek, Ronald L. â€Å"So, You Want to Join the Marines.† Aquarium USA, 1999: 61-75. Tullock, John H. Natural Reef Aquariums. Shelborne, VT: Microcosm Ltd, 1997. Walker, Matt. Personal Interview. 20 October 1999

Important of English Language Essay

Language plays an important role in human life. One tries to acquire, learn and use language as a means of communication, and simultaneously as social symbol of humanity. By using language someone could make statements, convey facts and knowledge, explain or report something, and keep social relations among the language users. These indicate that by means of language, people can express their ideas, feeling, information etc through communication. , As one of language in the world, English is considered and applied as international language. Since then, it is very popular and have been spoken and learnt by almost people in the world. There are some reasons why English is important and many people attempt to learn it. Some of them are: for finding job, traveling, interacting one each other, doing business, taking examination, doing research, writing in the foreign language, etc. In such developing country like Indonesia, English has a vital role in all aspects of life, particularly in science and technology. Furthermore, it can be used for developing relationships in the international forum, for reading English book (especially for students from primary school up to colleges/university), to tighten the relationship among nations in the world, etc. As students, we learn English are intended to obtain various knowledge, to comprehend and understand the textbooks learned in English, to gain knowledge and skills, and to be ready enter to the university, as one of the test requirements for students of senior High School (SMA), etc This expression reminds us how importance of English for human life is. As global or universal language, English is not only enables us to communicate and interact with every people throughout the world, but also it could alter our life to be better. Furthermore, we also must be aware that the western countries play extra ordinary role in developing and keeping science and technology. Thus, if we want to be a skilful scientists, linguists, and be able to compete with the other countries in the world, we must understand, master and learn the language they use, namely English. Before ending this speech, let me conclude the essential points of my speech: 1. English is highly necessary to be learned and mastered by everyone, in order to be able to compete in the globalization era; 2. English is a key to open and master science and technology, because most of scientists write their experts and inventions in English. 3. As students of high school (SMA), we have to prepare ourselves by learning hard, particularly English as well as the other subjects at school; 4. By mastering English enables us to become survive and go anywhere throughout the world;

Kill the Media

The formation of personal identity in present-day society can be seen as awkward and challenging. Many teenagers gravitate towards the media for direction on how to stay up-to-date and fresh on trends while going through a tumultuous puberty stage. The dominant influence of accepted media affects every individual’s sense of self. Lauren Moak, author of â€Å"Is This What You Really Want? † attempts to explain the effect media portrayal has on a younger audience’s stance on beauty and self-esteem. She states, â€Å"The media sends the same message on every commercial, billboard, and television show out there. If you do not have the perfect shape, clear complexion†¦well, you’re not â€Å"beautiful†. † (Moak). Moak verifies that the mainstream media crafts images that youthful individuals struggle to become. Every day many girls strive to fit the mold the media has created. Girls fixate over thin frames, tan skin, and unattainable facial features. What many fail to realize is that most, if not all, images are airbrushed or photo-shopped to transform the average face of a model to an unrealistic being. Moak further elucidates her point by saying, â€Å"The media says that if we all fail at achieving this â€Å"ideal† body image, we must try harder no matter what the costs. †(Moak). Attempting to assemble an identity in a media-saturated world is nearly impossible. Everything one does is inspiration from the media and what society deems as â€Å"right†. Self-individuality cannot coexist with popular media. Personal identity, as well as gender identity suffers from the media. Many images from popular media exhibit cliched, constricting, and naive perceptions on various issues, most commonly being gender. David Sedaris, author of â€Å"I Like Guys†, explains his self-awareness of his own sexuality and the portrayal of homosexuals by the media and close people around him. Early into his essay, he describes, â€Å"It was my hope to win a contest, cash in the prizes, and use the money to visit a psychiatrist who might cure me of having homosexual thoughts. † (Sedaris). By Sedaris wanting to instantly be cured from homosexual thoughts, it shows that homosexuality is not acceptable in his society. He also explains viewing homosexual men on television and looking down upon them. This is parallel to the gender identity issues in present-day society because the media is yet again forcing their viewpoints onto others and limiting individual’s perception of people. This, in turn, leads to new stereotypes and discrimination against sexes. One should not feel ashamed, but instead entitled to one’s own views and standpoints on issues. Sedaris expresses the immediate shame he felt after an encounter with another boy. He states, â€Å"My jealousy stemmed from the belief that he had been cured. One fistful of my flesh and he had lost all symptoms of the disease†¦why couldn’t I do the same? † (Sedaris). The media’s continuous backlash to painful topics causes gender identity issues to prevail. Judith Ortiz Cofer, author of â€Å"The Myth Of The Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria† attempts to explain the effect media portrayal has on a younger audience’s stance on beauty and self-esteem. She states, â€Å"The media sends the same message on every commercial, billboard, and television show out there. If you do not have the perfect shape, clear complexion†¦well, you’re not â€Å"beautiful†. (Cofer). Moak verifies that the mainstream media crafts images that youthful individuals struggle to become. Every day many girls strive to fit the mold the media has created. Girls fixate over thin frames, tan skin, and unattainable facial features. What many fail to realize is that most, if not all, images are airbrushed or photo- shopped to transform the average face of a model to an unrealistic being. Moak further elucidates her point by saying, â€Å"The media says that if we all fail at achieving this â€Å"ideal† body image, we must try harder no matter what the costs. (Cofer). Attempting to assemble an identity in a media-saturated world is nearly impossible. Everything one does is inspiration from the media and what society deems as â€Å"right†. Self-individuality cannot coexist with popular media. The formation of personal identity in present-day society can be seen as awkward and challenging. Many teenagers gravitate towards the media for direction on how to stay up-to-date and fresh on trends while going through a tumultuous puberty stage. The dominant influence of accepted media affects every individual’s sense of self.

Pachycephalosaurs - The Bone-Headed Dinosaurs

Pachycephalosaurs - The Bone-Headed Dinosaurs Pachycephalosaurs (Greek for thick-headed lizards) were an unusually small family of dinosaurs with an unusually high entertainment value. As you can guess from their name, these two-legged herbivores were distinguished by their skulls, which ranged from the mildly thick (in early genera like Wannanosaurus) to the truly dense (in later genera like Stegoceras). Some later pachycephalosaurs sported almost a foot of solid, albeit slightly porous, bone on top of their heads! (See a gallery of bone-headed dinosaur pictures and profiles.) However, its important to understand that big heads, in this case, didnt translate into equally big brains. Pachycephalosaurs were about as bright as the other plant-eating dinosaurs of the late Cretaceous period (which is a polite way of saying not very); their closest relatives, the ceratopsians, or horned, frilled dinosaurs, werent exactly natures A students, either. So of all the possible reasons pachycephalosaurs evolved such thick skulls, protecting their extra-big brains certainly wasnt one of them. Pachycephalosaur Evolution Based on the available fossil evidence, paleontologists believe that the very first pachycephalosaurssuch as Wannanosaurus and Goyocephalearose in Asia about 85 million years ago, only 20 million years before the dinosaurs went extinct. As is the case with most progenitor species, these early bone-headed dinosaurs were fairly small, with only slightly thickened skulls, and they may have roamed in herds as protection against hungry raptors and tyrannosaurs. Pachycephalosaur evolution really seems to have taken off when these early genera crossed the land bridge that (back during the late Cretaceous period) connected Eurasia and North America. The largest boneheads with the thickest skullsStegoceras, Stygimoloch and Sphaerotholusall roamed the woodlands of western North America, as did Dracorex hogwartsia, the only dinosaur ever to be named after the Harry Potter books. By the way, its especially difficult for experts to untangle the details of pachycephalosaur evolution, for the simple reason that so few complete fossil specimens have ever been discovered. As you might expect, these thick-skulled dinosaurs tend to be represented in the geological record mainly by their heads, their less-robust vertebrae, femurs and other bones having long since been scattered to the winds. Pachycephalosaur Behavior and Lifestyles Now we get to the million-dollar question: why did pachycephalosaurs have such thick skulls? Most paleontologists believe male boneheads head-butted each other for dominance in the herd and the right to mate with females, a behavior that can be seen in (for example) modern-day bighorn sheep. Some enterprising researchers have even conducted computer simulations, showing that two moderately sized pachycephalosaurs could ram each others noggins at high speed and live to tell the tale. Not everyone is convinced, though. Some people insist that high-speed head-butting would have produced too many casualties, and speculate that pachycephalosaurs instead used their heads to butt the flanks of competitors within the herd (or even smaller predators). However, it does seem odd that nature would evolve extra-thick skulls for this purpose, since non-pachycephalosaur dinosaurs could easily (and safely) butt each others flanks with their normal, non-thickened skulls. (The recent discovery of Texacephale, a small North American pachycephalosaur with shock-absorbing grooves on either side of its skull, lends some support to the head-butting-for-dominance theory.) By the way, the evolutionary relationships among different genera of pachycephalosaurs are still being sorted out, as are the growth stages of these strange dinosaurs. According to new research, its likely that two supposedly separate pachycephalosaur generaStygimoloch and Dracorexin fact represent earlier growth stages of the much bigger Pachycephalosaurus. If the skulls of these dinosaurs changed shape as they aged, that may mean that additional genera have been classified improperly, and were in fact species (or individuals) of existing dinosaurs.

General Rules About Abbreviations

General Rules About Abbreviations General Rules About Abbreviations General Rules About Abbreviations By Mark Nichol This post outlines basic rules about abbreviations. There is a bewildering variety of standards, which will be explained in more detail in subsequent posts about specific categories of abbreviation, but the following guidelines cover an array of general types. Use of abbreviation varies widely depending on the formality of writing employed for a given publication or a piece of content. Generally, the more formal the content, the less likely it is that abbreviation will be used, except in multiple references to terms commonly abbreviated or in tabular matter and other graphic elements. In formal writing, journalistic contexts, and some informal content as well, terms are spelled out on first reference, followed by abbreviation in parentheses, as in â€Å"The Global Positioning System (GPS) uses satellite signals to fix the location of a radio receiver on or above the earth’s surface.† Thereafter, the abbreviation is used exclusively. However, this tradition applies to single pieces of content, so that- unless, for example, an entire publication is devoted to articles about GPS technology- two articles in a publication that mention it will independently introduce the full spelled-out version of an abbreviation on first reference. Note, too, that specialized publications will likely abbreviate all references to widely used terms in that specialty. Abbreviations consisting entirely of uppercase letters (including NY, US, FBI, and NASA) or that end with an uppercase letter (as in PhD) are not followed by a period; some publications retain periods in these types of abbreviations (at least two-letter ones), but that style is in decline. Abbreviations that end with a lowercase letter (a.m., Dr., i.e., etc.) are generally followed by a period. Acronyms (abbreviations of phrases using initial letters of each word to form new word, such as AIDS) are almost invariably styled in all capital letters, though some, such as laser and scuba, have lost their uppercase form, and Nasdaq is treated as a proper noun. Initialisms (abbreviations of phrases using initial letters of each word, each of which is pronounced, such as FBI) are also generally capitalized. When using an article before an abbreviation, choose a or an depending on the first sound, not the first letter, of the abbreviation: â€Å"an NBA [en-bee-ay] team† but â€Å"a NASA [nasa] program.† Avoid ampersands except in proper names (â€Å"Johnson Johnson†) and in widely known abbreviations (â€Å"RD,† for â€Å"research and development†). Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Passed vs Past40 Synonyms for â€Å"Lie†50 Tips on How to Write Good

Faulkner, Absalom Absalom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Faulkner, Absalom Absalom - Essay Example Though this method allows the reader to see differing points of view, as well as examine the contribution of memory to the myth-making process as the story is told and retold, it raises the issue about how personal experience has a bending effect on memory and narrative. Speculation, guesswork, and alleged fact all play roles in the narrative process – with the accompanying contradictions in logic – leading us to wonder about a larger question – what is the actual truth, and whether truth can only be relative and selective, and never absolute. It also emphasizes how narrative is understood – often not by what is literally said, but by what is hinted at or implied, and often left unsaid. Faulkner does highlight the racial issues that plagued the South before and after the Civil War in this novel, and indeed race is a central theme in most of his work. However, it is disappointing to note that none of his works present an opportunity for black characters to speak in their own voices. The story is wholly from the white point of view, which is a one-sided approach to say the least. The downfall of the novel’s protagonist, Thomas Sutpen, can be traced back to his obsession with the founding of a dynasty. The single-minded pursuit of this goal precludes Sutpen from engaging emotionally with the people around him, be the family or townspeople, and this is the cause of his descent into alcoholism, ruin, and ultimately his murder by Wash Jones, a squatter on the Sutpen plantation. While Faulkner does not try to base his novel on research and factual data, such as dates and historical incidents, it is obvious his aim is to present an equally powerful history, â€Å"a few old mouth-to-mouth tales†, based on sentiment. (Faulkner 100). Thus what we see is an emotional history of the Civil War period contrasted with the factual history of the era. Faulkner’s epic novel mirrors the unsure feelings of love and hate, most Southerners, including

The study of the hip-hop culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The study of the hip-hop culture - Essay Example The study of the hip-hop culture Some of the professional fields concerned with the study of the hip-hop culture include musicology, literature, African-American studies, linguistics, and so forth (Leach, 9; Alridge and Stewart, 190). In academic and professional conferences, hip-hop culture topics are receiving a wider attention as people strive to understand this culture. Equally, hip-hop materials are currently being sought after by research institutions (including Harvard and Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture) to provide researchers with adequate materials in the analysis of the hip-hop culture (Leach, 9). This essay compares Eminem’s video for â€Å"The Real Slim Shady† with N.W.A.’s video for â€Å"Straight Outta Compton†. In the analysis of these different rap videos, the essay constructs an argument about how hip-hop has changed since its formation in the 1970s. Defining and Understanding Hip-hop and Rap Numerous people (including knowledgeable hip-hop writers and lis teners) do not understand the meanings of rap and hip-hop; particularly, many of these individuals think that the two are interchangeable. Nonetheless, hip-hop is a cultural movement originating from South Bronx, New York. It has four main/primary elements that include rap, graffiti, DJing (also known as turntablism), and break dancing. Other elements that are also part of the hip-hop culture include language, beat boxing, and fashion. Among these elements, rap is the most popular and the most celebrated element of the hip-hop culture. ... Rapping is also known as emceeing. In this hip-hop element, the rapper or the performer speaks rhythmically to a musical beat; his/her words rhyme from one sentence to the other. In the modern hip-hop perspective, an MC is different from a rapper. An MC is an individual with superior lyrical ability; on the other hand, a rapper focuses less on lyrical prowess. Particularly, this characteristic is evident in many of the mainstream rappers today (Aces and Eighths). Although it originated in New York, hip-hop has its roots in African-American and West African music. Griots are a group of West African singers and poets whose musical style is similar to that of the hip-hop culture. They have an oral tradition similar to the one in rap music; however, theirs dates back to hundreds of years. In the City of New York, griot-like musical performances from artists such as Mansur Nuriddin and The Last Poets influenced the post-civil rights era culture in the 1960s. In the 1970s, block parties be came common creating the humble beginnings of the hip-hop culture (Aces and Eighths). â€Å"The Real Slim Shady† by Eminem â€Å"The Real Slim Shady† is a hip-hop song done by Marshall Bruce Mathers III who is popular by the name Eminem. In the process of writing this song, Eminem sought assistance from Andre Romelle Young (popular by the name Dr. Dre) and Thomas Joseph Coster Junior (popular by the name Tommy Coster Jr). Eminem was writing this song for his third studio album â€Å"The Marshall Mathers LP† released on 23 May 2000. This song was the lead single in this album. The song was highly successful as it reached number one in UK (United Kingdom) and number four on the â€Å"Billboard Hot