Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Free Essays on Cat In The Rain

In the short story â€Å"Cat in the Rain†, Hemingway portrays/ describes a relationship at risk and infers that the relationship will not survive. Hemingway contrasts the male and female characters against the background of a rainy day in Italy, because of the weather, the differences between them are brought out, her being restless and him being passive. The characters are an American couple apparently on vacation. The story opens with George the husband lying in bed neglecting the needs and wants of his wife The American girl. The American girl lonely and neglected spots something outside her window. By George neglecting his wife from the beginning we can reflect that the rainy day in Italy has set George’s tone and show’s his neglecting of responsibilities as a husband. The American wife’s feelings of dissatisfaction are focused on a cat she sees outside sheltering from the rain. At that very moment she realizes that the cat was the only thing that can make her feel warmth inside or maybe was she thinking about the padrone. Thinking about herself, she continuously annoys her husband with the idea of her having a cat. Leaving her room walking slowly down the hall she stumbled upon the padrone. â€Å"The wife liked him. She liked the deadly serious way he received any complaints. She liked his dignity. She liked the way he waned to serve her. She liked the way he felt about being a hotel-keeper. She liked his old, heavy face and big hands.†(line 30-33). Was all this talking in her head the way of telling herself that there are other people that really care about her? Still walking she reaches the door, was this the door that was about to change her life. As she walks outside she noticed the table under the window but no cat. Devastated and almost heart-broken she walks back into the hotel and feels a sense of real importance from the padrone, for that one special moment she truly felt the way she’s been wanting to feel but ha... Free Essays on Cat In The Rain Free Essays on Cat In The Rain Ernest Hemingway’s â€Å"Cat in the Rain† Hemingway’s â€Å"Cat in the Rain† is a short story depicting a couples stay in Italy. The woman in the story sees a cat stranded outside in the rain and wants to bring him to her hotel room. When she goes to retrieve the cat, it is gone. However a short while later the cat is delivered to her room by the hotelkeeper. Hemingway helps the reader to appreciate â€Å"Cat in the Rain† through his use of setting, writing style, and character. Ernest Hemingway uses the setting in the short story â€Å"Cat in the Rain† to set a unique feeling. In the story â€Å"it was raining. The rain dripped from the palm leaves.† (Hemingway 408). The hotel is where the whole story takes place. The hotel was not very active on the rainy day. â€Å"There were only two Americans stopping at the hotel. They did not know any of the people they passed on the stairs on their way to and from their room.† (Hemingway 408). The Italian atmosphere with the American guests in it gives definite volume to the setting. Ernest Hemingway also uses his writing style in â€Å"Cat in the Rain† to aid the reader in understanding and interpreting the short story. The point of view Hemingway tells â€Å"Cat in the Rain† from is very sexist. Hemingway displays his sexist attitude in the short story when the man, George, compliments the woman saying, â€Å"You look pretty darn nice,† (Hemingway 409), then in his next breath degrades her by telling her to â€Å"shut up and get something to read.† (Hemingway 409). Hemingway’s opposition to women is one of his notorious traits. Hemingway is also known to use little description in his works but rely confidently in the dialogue. In â€Å"Cat in the Rain† Hemingway balances both description and dialogue quite well. When describing the woman finding the cat, Hemingway writes: The American wife stood at the window looking out. Outside right under their window a cat was crouc... Free Essays on Cat In The Rain In the short story â€Å"Cat in the Rain†, Hemingway portrays/ describes a relationship at risk and infers that the relationship will not survive. Hemingway contrasts the male and female characters against the background of a rainy day in Italy, because of the weather, the differences between them are brought out, her being restless and him being passive. The characters are an American couple apparently on vacation. The story opens with George the husband lying in bed neglecting the needs and wants of his wife The American girl. The American girl lonely and neglected spots something outside her window. By George neglecting his wife from the beginning we can reflect that the rainy day in Italy has set George’s tone and show’s his neglecting of responsibilities as a husband. The American wife’s feelings of dissatisfaction are focused on a cat she sees outside sheltering from the rain. At that very moment she realizes that the cat was the only thing that can make her feel warmth inside or maybe was she thinking about the padrone. Thinking about herself, she continuously annoys her husband with the idea of her having a cat. Leaving her room walking slowly down the hall she stumbled upon the padrone. â€Å"The wife liked him. She liked the deadly serious way he received any complaints. She liked his dignity. She liked the way he waned to serve her. She liked the way he felt about being a hotel-keeper. She liked his old, heavy face and big hands.†(line 30-33). Was all this talking in her head the way of telling herself that there are other people that really care about her? Still walking she reaches the door, was this the door that was about to change her life. As she walks outside she noticed the table under the window but no cat. Devastated and almost heart-broken she walks back into the hotel and feels a sense of real importance from the padrone, for that one special moment she truly felt the way she’s been wanting to feel but ha...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

History of Naturalization Requirements in the U.S.

History of Naturalization Requirements in the U.S. Naturalization is the process of gaining United States citizenship. Becoming an American citizen is the ultimate goal for many immigrants, but very few people are aware that the requirements for naturalization have been over 200 years in the making. Legislative History of Naturalization Before applying for naturalization, most immigrants must have spent 5 years as a permanent resident in the United States. How did we come up with the 5-year rule? The answer is found in the legislative history of immigration to the U.S. Naturalization requirements are set out in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the basic body of immigration law. Before the INA was created in 1952, a variety of statutes governed immigration law. Lets take a look at the major changes to naturalization requirements. Before the Act of March 26, 1790, naturalization was under the control of the individual states. This first federal activity established a uniform rule for naturalization by setting the residence requirement at 2 years.The Act of January 29, 1795, repealed the 1790 act and raised the residency requirement to 5 years. It also required, for the first time, a declaration of intention to seek citizenship at least 3 years before naturalization.Along came the Naturalization Act of June 18, 1798 - a time when political tensions were running high and there was an increased desire to guard the nation. The residence requirement for naturalization was raised from 5 years to 14 years.Four years later, Congress passed the Naturalization Act of April 14, 1802, which reduced the residence period for naturalization from 14 years back to 5 years.The Act of May 26, 1824, made it easier for the naturalization of certain aliens who had entered the U.S. as minors, by setting a 2-year instead of a 3-year interval between the declaration of intention and admission to citizenship. The Act of May 11, 1922, was an extension of a 1921 Act and included an amendment that changed the residency requirement in a Western Hemisphere country from 1 year to the current requirement of 5 years.Noncitizens who had served honorably in the U.S. armed forces during the Vietnam conflict or in other periods of military hostilities were recognized in the Act of October 24, 1968. This act amended the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, providing an expedited naturalization process for these military members.The 2-year continuous U.S. residence requirement was done away with in the Act of October 5, 1978.A major overhaul of immigration law occurred with the Immigration Act of November 29, 1990. In it, state residency requirements were reduced to the current requirement of 3 months. Naturalization Requirements Today Todays general naturalization requirements state that you must have 5 years as a lawful permanent resident in the U.S. prior to filing, with no single absence from the U.S. of more than 1 year. In addition, you must have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months out of the previous 5 years and resided within a state or district for at least 3 months. It is important to note that there are exceptions to the 5-year rule for certain people. These include: spouses of U.S. citizens; employees of the U.S. Government (including the U.S. Armed Forces); American research institutes recognized by the Attorney General; recognized U.S. religious organizations; U.S. research institutions; an American firm engaged in the development of foreign trade and commerce of the U.S.; and certain public international organizations involving the U.S. USCIS has special help available for naturalization candidates with disabilities and the government makes some exceptions on requirements for elderly people. Source: USCIS Edited by Dan Moffett

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Enterprise Architecture Final Exam Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Enterprise Architecture Final Exam - Assignment Example For the said paradigm of homogeneity to take place in the running of the Enterprise Architecture, it is important to have key deliverables in place. These deliverables are tangible tasks that must be performed to ensure the successful implementation of the company’s operating model (Schekkerman, 2004). There could indeed be as many of these deliverables as possible but classifying them is also possible. Classifications could bring about key deliverables such as road maps, made up of technology, process and people road maps; application portfolio management; IT risk management; standards and polices; and scenario planning may all be mentioned. Enterprise architecture framework is generally a tangible manifestation of the mindset of the enterprise architect towards the implementation of the enterprise architecture. To this end, an enterprise architecture framework may be said to be system for the provision of principles and practices that come together to constitute the architec ture description for the organization (Paras, 2005). Because of the differences in organizational structures, organizational demand for enterprise architecture and of course differences with preferences of enterprise architects, there are major types of enterprise architecture frameworks that may be used. ... There is also solution architecting mechanism (SAM), which is commonly used by architects who want to achieve set of integral modules. But for whichever form or example of enterprise architecture framework that is used, an outstanding identity is that these frameworks are made up of matrices and diagrams that manifest the domains, layers and models that the architect uses in initiating the enterprise architecture. Principles in general are rules and guidelines that inform the parameters based on which the achievement of organizational missions and goals is approached. In this regard, enterprise principles can be said to be the standardization of decision-making options within the organization for the common good of achieving governance stratification. On the other hand, architecture principles could be said to be rules and regulations that gives a level of uniformity in the across the enterprise and decisions on how enterprise architecture should be developed and maintained (Ross, We ill and Robertson, 2006). It is based on these premises that Weill, Subramani and Broadbent (2002) have identified enterprise architecture principle as a coordinated paradigm used for determining the focus of any given enterprise will utilize and deploy its scope of IT resources and properties (McGovern, Stevens and Sharan, 2004). There exist different examples of enterprise architecture, depending on what an organization wants to achieve. In the simplest forms however most organizations make use of examples of enterprise architecture principles including business principles, data principles, and application principles. Business principles cater for such areas of the enterprise architecture such as primacy of principles, information management as

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Exploring the Universe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Exploring the Universe - Essay Example This essay demonstrates that I found the data that assisted in the exploration of the universe overwhelming with the help of imagery. I could not even describe the images used for this unit coupled with the imagination I formed after exploring the data. For instance, galaxies can measure from hundreds of thousands to even tens of millions of light-years across. This means the light from those galaxies left their stars millions of years ago to collect on the cameras and lenses of telescopes like The Hubble. I found this information and images that accompanied it fascinating to the degree of revising them when I am stressed. Astronomy 1001 enabled me to come up with a therapy routine for when I am stressed from schoolwork. This therapy entails reading the class text or simply recalling the images and related data to calm down and feel relaxed. Astronomy 1001 made me realize the immense resources and potential human beings can harness from the cosmos. While focusing on the moon, human beings can benefit tremendously from the vast resources that nearby celestial bodies contain. After traveling to the moon during the Apollo mission, the enthusiasm that came along with the mission died gradually over the years. The United States, and even the EU and Russia, no longer expressed interest to return to the moon. This disinterest contributes greatly to the deteriorating investment in space programs that agencies like NASA and ESA have experienced for the few decades. Colonizing our natural satellite and nearly planets has become a phenomenon for Hollywood and other fiction writers to exploit. Astronomy 1001 made me realize that investments in space and technology research on the moon are near mandatory for a species that often considers itself the most intelligent on earth.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Observation Paper Essay Example for Free

Observation Paper Essay Conformity is behavior change designed to match the actions of others. During my research, I found many examples of conformitive behavior. I often related conformity to adolescents due to the fact that they usually do their best to try and fit in when it comes to group settings. This type of behavior can be seen in college students attending educational facilities away from home. Those that are in dorms tend to indulge in drinking even if they aren’t â€Å"big drinkers†. They do this to conform to that of others and to be included in the fun and try and fit in. One last example that I will discuss prior to getting into my own observation, was the study that was done my Crandall in 1988 which examined normative social influences involving bulimia in college sororities. Sororities are the true definition of conformity and those that don’t conform are usually not allowed to continue to pledge. In the particular sororities that were examined, Crandall found that it had its own norm when it came to the â€Å"right† amount of food to eat and the popularity within the sorority was associated with adhering to this norm. Those that wanted to be a part of the sororities needed to conform to the â€Å"norm† and fell into a bulimic state. These girls had to of known this was not healthy for them yet they wanted to continue to become of part of this group and follow the â€Å"norm† that was set out. To me, this is just ridiculous. Some of us have issues with conforming and I believe I’m one of those people. The observation that I decided to conduct was that of a military setting. I decided to do this based on the fact that when I was in the military, there were times when I struggled with those appointed over me because I knew the tasks that they were giving me were wrong. I wasn’t willing to conform when I knew it wasn’t right. This is where my â€Å"issue† with authority came into play. The military is one of, if not the largest, organization that requires conformity to the fullest. Those that don’t conform will be punished. During my reading I found a Japanese saying that really hit close to home. â€Å"The nail that sticks up gets hammered down†. What that means to me is that it’s better to not stand out in the group but rather conform and fall amongst them. Prior to the start of my observation, I had a background of the military setting so I guess we could call that an unfair advantage because maybe I didn’t go into this assignment with open-mindedness. I had the assumed idea that those being observed would  conform to the standards set forth by the military official in charge of them regardless if they thought that it was right/wrong. I envisioned that normative pressure would come into play since those that are in authoritative position are respected and looked up to. So, in order to support my assumption, I decided to have my wife, who is currently active duty and a Division Officer, assist me. She didn’t do this by choice, but I had her conform ï Å  I asked her to give personnel in her division orders that they would know were wrong. For instance, she gave three separate Sailors (2-E3, 1-E4) direction to go to McDonald’s to get her something to eat while in a duty status. Then, she briefed all of them at duty section muster that no one was authorized to leave the confines of the ship on their duty for any reason to include going to get something to eat. They all were aware this wasn’t allowed but being that she told them, they thought that it must be right. There was no questioning attitude, just a â€Å"yes Ma’am† by every single one. I wanted her to take it one step further so I asked her to do something that would affect the safety of Sailors and see how they responded. Would they conform? So, all her Sailors are required to wear protective head gear and glasses due to the dry dock environment and the hazards associated. She went to quarters and directed them all to come back tomorrow with only their hard hats. She stated glasses were no longer required. Not one person said anything when she gave this information out. No one questioned her but simply just went on about their days. The next day, over 75% of her personnel showed up without glasses. This was clearly a safety violation and could potentially have an impact on their individual safety but because she was an authoritative figure, they accepted that risk and conformed to what she stated. It wasn’t right but they did it anyway. After it was completed, she let them know that it was ok to question things that you thought weren’t right. She informed them about the study and stated that she was surprised so many had not followed their instincts and did the right thing. I wasn’t quite so shocked by the results. I saw a lot of Sailors do things that aren’t necessarily right because someone higher ranking told them and instead of questioning them, and possibly getting in trouble, they just did it. So, the results she got didn’t surprise me. In the military, it’s like the unspoken rule†¦just conform. Overall, this study was exactly what I thought it was going to be. In many  situations, we are uncertain how to think or act/react to those around us especially when it’s not the socially accepted â€Å"norm†. We tend to use the behavior and actions of others to dictate what were going to do. Informational social influence occurs because we conform using others as a source of information. That’s exactly what happened in my observation. No one stood up and said it was wrong so being that my wife told them it was right (she was the source of information), they did it! Was it right, no! This is where I think change needs to happen. Stand up for what you believe. Don’t just be rebellious because you can but have a reason and stand by it. Find people who believe in the same thing that you believe in and take a stance. Her Sailors should have confided in one another and they all should have worn their glasses to muster knowing that it was their safety that they were protecting. All of them should have stood up to protect themselves!

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Germanys Sex and Gender Roles Essay -- Sociology Sociological Papers

Germany's Sex and Gender Roles What is it that makes up our identities? I mean us, not only Americans but other cultures as well, the entire world. When tracing back my family tree I learned that I am of half-German descent with a quarter French and another quarter Irish in me. I also think it is safe to say that a majority of the population reading this is of European lineage. I don’t say this to discriminate, only to be specific in the telling of my story. The story I am about to recite is about humans and about one of our basic needs for survival. Some will argue, saying that sex is not at all a basic need but let’s face it, without sex you wouldn’t be reading this intriguing article right now, and the world would be less fulfilled without the human reproduction process. Now that I have probably scared off the more ethical readers with my dirty talk I shall proceed. My story deals with the sex and gender roles that occur in the country of Germany. Why did I choose to study these roles in Germany? Well, it seemed like a good place to start, and being that I am 50% German maybe I can relate to some of these roles. We’ll see. When one chooses to study the sex and gender roles of a country it is quite easy for me to relate to the male population of the region. I believe that all heterosexual males desire the same common denominator from a relationship with another women. Yes, companionship is part of the desire but I have to be honest here, sex plays a major role in finding the right woman. So that was easy, I think most men in Germany agree with those two easy-to-read sentences stated above. Now here comes the difficult part, trying to figure out what women desire in a relationship. Being... ...n feel like she is in good hands. Can men who do housework protect their wives just as good? Maybe, but the West German women subconsciously saw these men as less â€Å"macho† than their eastern countrymen. So, did a cement wall allow one side of men to be more housewife like and the other side to be more manly? I believe it was not only the wall but also the government placed over the people. The easterners were frozen in a time where the men dominated and when that wall came down so did the western woman’s view of what a male should be. Their primal instincts drove them towards those dominating â€Å"macho† men of the East, and suddenly the fad is to acquire a man who will provide the maximum amount of protection, even if these men expected to be waited on by their newly conquered women.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Fresh Water Essay

The greatest similarity between fresh and salt water is that both are basically the same chemical – water, although the contents of other materials dissolved in it differ. Both contain some amount dissolved chemical in it though the quantities vary. Both form different links in the water cycle of the nature. Both are homes to aquatic life. Difference: Salt water contains much higher quantities of dissolved chemicals as compared to fresh water. This higher concentration of chemical also raises the density of salt water above that of fresh water. Plant and animals living in two types of water bodies are different. Salt water is found only as large standing bodies of water. Most of these are in form of seas and oceans, although though some lakes including very large ones considered to be sea also contain salt water. Fresh water is found in standing bodies of water called lakes, as well as running water as in rivers and streams. Fresh water is available in many other forms such as in rain, and ice caps in the poles and in very cold places. However no fresh water is found in seas and oceans. Fresh water is used for drinking as well as many industrial processes. However salt water is generally not suitable for most of the industrial use except for cooling. On the other hand salt water is used as a source of some chemicals, particularly common salt. Freshwater does not yield any such chemicals. Comparing Fresh water and ocean water, each has their differences. Most notable is animals living in each. The animals that live in the Salt â€Å"ocean† water would not survive in fresh water for an extended length of time. Same holds true for fresh water animals. However there are a few species that have adapted and can live in both. Some Salt water animals have also evolved to live in Fresh water. Humans cannot drink ocean water without dying. The salt in it dehydrates you to the point you die of thirst. In order to drink ocean water you have to desalinate it in one of many ways. Boiling it being one way. Ocean water also contains every natural element on the planet. If we could find a way to mine the water that is cost effective, we would have a lot more resources. Ocean water freezes at 26 degrees F and fresh at 32. While only 6 degrees difference in water terms that is huge. It prevents a vast amount of the oceans from freezing over in the winter, of course global warming has helped with that. As for your comment of only 3% of the worlds oceans is fresh water, it is very true. While there is a lot of surface area of fresh water the oceans are miles deep. The deepest point on Earth is approx 35,000ft below sea level or about 6. 75 miles down. Many of the deepest lakes only hit about 2000 to 3000 ft deep. Also when you compare the surface area of the fresh water bodies comparies to the oceans there isn’t much. The great lakes between Canada and the USA contain 20% of all fresh water on the planet. That is enough water to cover the entire USA with 9. 5 feet of water. When compared to the oceans that isn’t much. So don’t be surprised. Fresh water is lighter than salt water. Therefore, fresh water â€Å"floats† on top of salt water. This principle becomes extremely important when considering the drilling of a well in order to tap into the ground water of any island. The weight of the rain water that percolates into the ground depresses the salt water beneath it forming a profile that has the appearance of a lens. This is called the Ghyben-Herzberg lens. The principle of this relationship was discovered independently by a Dutch scientist named Baden-Ghyben and a German scientist named Herzberg. The underground boundary that separates the fresh water layer from the salt water is not a sharp boundary line. In reality, this boundary is a transition zone of brackish water (fresh/salt mixture). This is caused by seasonal fluctuations in rainfall, tidal action, and the amount of water being withdrawn either by humans or by natural discharge. Fresh water has a density of 1. 0 while salt water has a density of 1. 025. From this, you can see that salt water is slightly heavier than fresh water. The ratio between the two is 41:40. The formation of the Ghyben-Herzberg lens has a profound effect upon the availability of fresh water on an island. This principle essentially states that for every foot of ground water above sea level there are forty feet of fresh water below sea level! The mathematical formula for the fresh to salt water relationship is: hs = hf / es – ef where hs is the depth of fresh water below sea level, hf is the depth of fresh water above sea level, es is the density of salt water, and ef is the density of fresh water. Using the common density figures for fresh and salt water the formula can thus be simplified into hs = hf / . 025 Understand that this applies only to fresh ground water that is sitting directly on an intruded body of salt water. It has no meaning on a large island where an inland body of ground water may be confined by layers and dikes of lava rock. On islands that are largely composed of dense lava rock, little if any salt water intrudes very far into the underlying rock structure. It is generally only in shoreline regions that salt water intrudes into the cracks, crevices, and loose rock spaces. On low, small islands that are largely composed of coral or other porous materials, salt water intrusion into the underlying interior is quite common. The drilling or digging of wells on these islands and especially on along the shoreline must be done with care. Going too deeply will penetrate the transition zone and result in salt water infiltration and the contamination of the fresh water in the well. I have seen such a well dug in solid lava rock along the shoreline in the Ka’ u District on the island of Hawai‘i. This well was located a few feet above the high tide line approximately a hundred feet from the ocean. The opening was rectangular, about 3 1/2 feet wide, and 6+ feet long. On one end a set of stairs had been cut into the rock allowing one to walk down five or six feet to the level of the well water. This well was unused as there are no dwellings or settlements in the immediate area. In fact, the area was considered to be â€Å"range† land where a few head of cattle managed to find enough to eat in this dry, desert-like environment. The size and construction of the well indicated that at one time it may have served a considerable number of people and possibly even an old Hawaiian village. Unfortunately the well had been abandoned and neglected. It contained a fair amount of decaying leaves and grass. There was also a considerable amount of broken glass from beer bottles that had been thrown against the interior sides of the well. This was probably done by shore fishermen who frequented the area from time to time and used the well as a convenient trash dump during evening camping parties. Nonetheless, the well serves as an excellent example of the Ghyben-Herzberg lens’s importance to the availability of fresh water in a place where one might think that none can be found. I already had listed some differences of salt water versus fresh water so here are some similarities;

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Microbiology and Unknown Bacteria Lab

Unknown Bacteria Lab Report Introduction The purpose to this lab was to identify an unknown bacteria from a mixed culture provided to us by our instructor. This study was done by applying all of the methods that have been instructed on thus far in microbiology laboratory class. Each test performed, provided us with some key information about the unknown organism in question and how the bacteria function. Over a two week period, eight prepared types of test media were provided to identify the assigned unknown mixed cultures. Not all of these tests were performed on every culture, as some were used only for gram positive or gram negative bacteria. The tests performed and what constituted a positive or negative test are as follows: Lab day 1; today in lab we obtained the unknown mixed culture â€Å"041†and one brain-heart infusion agar (BHIA). The first step was the preparation of the medium, the bottom of the BHIA dish was labeled with the bacterium number, initials, and section; then divided into four quadrants. The second step, we used the septic technique to transfer a small amount of culture with a flame-sterilized inoculating loop to the first quadrant, flamed and cooled the loop again then transferred a small amount of the culture from the first quadrant to the second using the quadrant streaking method as illustrated on page 18 of the lab manual, repeating this process until all four quadrants were properly streaked. Lab day 2; we collected our BHIA medium and began by identifying the morphology and cell-to cell arrangements of the colonies. Two different colonies were observed, the first colony was yellow in color and larger in size and the white colored colony was slightly smaller in size. As instructed, each colony was prepared for gram staining, one slide for the large yellow colony and one for the smaller white colony. After properly gram staining the slides as directed in chapter six of the lab manual, the smears were examined under†¦

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Ozraptor - Facts and Figures

Ozraptor - Facts and Figures Name: Ozraptor (Greek for lizard from Oz): pronounced OZ-rap-tore Habitat: Woodlands of Australia Historical Period: Middle Jurassic (175 million years ago) Size and Weight: About nine feet long and 100 pounds Diet: Meat Distinguishing Characteristics: Moderate size; bipedal posture About Ozraptor Sometimes, a single leg bone can be enough to shed light on a creature that lived 175 million years ago. Thats the case with the Australian Ozraptor, the partial tibia of which was first identified as belonging to a Jurassic turtle, and then reassigned to a new (and relatively early) genus of theropod (meat-eating dinosaur) closely related to the South American Abelisaurus. Until more fossil specimens are identified, though, thats all we may ever know about this distinctively named dinosaurand you should know that many experts are extremely skeptical about the existence of various dinosaur families, such as tyrannosaurs and ornithomimids (bird mimics), in the lands Down Under. One thing you we can definitely say about Ozraptor is that it was not technically a raptor, the family of dinosaurs typified by the North American Deinonychus and the central Asian Velociraptor (somewhat confusingly, paleontologists love to attach the raptor root to non-raptor dinosaurs, such as Gigantoraptor and Megaraptor). Raptors were a distinctive family of theropods that lived during the middle to late Cretaceous period, and were characterized, among other things, by their presumed coats of feathers and single, oversized, curving claws on each of their hind feetthus ruling out the middle Jurassic Ozraptor, whatever type of dinosaur it turns out to be!

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

How to establish a performance improvement plan

How to establish a performance improvement plan One of the biggest challenges of working in Human Resources can be the role that you play in employee struggles and difficulties: poor performance reviews, disciplinary action, conflicts between employee and manager, etc. It can feel like you’re caught in the middle- you’re not necessarily the employee or the manager, but you’re there to represent both their interests and those of the company, so your role is a delicate one. Part of that role is facilitating performance improvement plans (PIPs) to help struggling employees get back on track in their jobs.Why use a performance improvement plan?A PIP is a tool at HR’s disposal to help restore a worsening situation. Maybe the employee has chronic difficulties with his or her role, or maybe there was an incident that has shaken his or her manager’s confidence in their job performance. A PIP is a chance to say, â€Å"Okay, this situation is not great, but there’s potential to turn things around.à ¢â‚¬  It’s a formal document and process, acknowledged by the employee and his or her manager, that there are certain steps that the employee needs to complete before his or her performance is stabilized.It’s important to note that a PIP is not necessarily a last stop on the way to firing an employee. Instead, look at it as a way to acknowledge that performance has been poor, but that there are ways to move on with clearer expectations from all involved. It can help ensure that the employee is receiving the resources he or she needs to do the job, if that support was lacking before and contributed to mistakes or poor performance.What is HR’s role in creating a PIP?The Human Resources role can vary according to the size and type of company, but there are some baseline issues you can expect to address as an HR manager:Documenting circumstances- why the employee is being placed on a PIP, what the manager’s concerns are, what the employee’s response i s, and any other factors that need to be made clearEnsuring that the employee knows his or her rights in the situationProviding information or resources that the employee needs to succeed under the PIP, such as training or company policySupporting the manager in implementing the PIP for the employeeDeveloping an action plan for both the manager and the employeeThe HR role is one of support and guidance, and making sure that all parties are engaged in the process of making the work situation better for all involved.  hbspt.cta.load(2785852, '9e52c197-5b5b-45e6-af34-d56403f973c5', {});What’s included in a PIP?The PIP is not meant to be an accusatory tool, piling on to scare or intimidate the employee into improving, or else. Rather, it’s a way to get everything in writing and make sure that everyone is clear on expectations moving forward- particularly if there are consequences if the employee does not meet particular benchmarks.A PIP should include:Written documentati on of the problematic behavior or performance issueA specific description of the expectations for the employee’s performanceA list of the resources that will be provided to the employee to improve performanceAn explicit follow-up plan, including timeframes, a schedule of meetings with the employee, or other milestones set between the manager and employeeConsequences for failure to meet the benchmarks in the plan, if applicableThere may not be a one-size-fits-all PIP for your HR department. As the HR rep, you’re part of a collaborative process so it’s important to make sure that the PIP you’re developing is applicable to the particular situation and allows for input by both the manager and employee as well.Best practices for implementing a PIPAs you know, part of your role in HR is helping to defuse tense workplace situations with proactive steps and productive solutions. The employee probably isn’t happy (hence the issues), the manager isn’t happy to have to deal with this, and no one wants to be told they’re not doing well. Navigating an unhappy situation while trying to put a mechanism in place to get things back on track is challenging, no question. Here are some best practices you should consider as you create a PIP.Be clear, in writing, about the behavior or performance that merits the PIP.Provide specific examples of each type of behavior or poor performance.Create a dialogue about potential reasons for the behavior or poor performance. Give the employee an opportunity to express his or her understanding of the issue and of the performance expectations.Create a written improvement plan with specific, measurable goals for the employee to meet on a clear timeline. Make sure to include any consequences that may happen if the employee fails to meet particular benchmarks, if applicable.Set up a time to meet with the employee or manager to review the employee’s progress along the way.If at all possible, u se an automation system to track performance and ease your way into a PIP implementation planRemember, the goal here is growth- not punishment. You want everyone involved to feel comfortable with the plan moving forward. And ideally, the plan will help address the underlying issues that caused the poor performance in the first place.How to approach a PIP with an employeeImplementing a PIP can be a touchy situation- the employee is likely feeling embarrassed that things have gotten to this point and could be emotional or defensive. Here are some things you can do to help make the plan implementation easier on everyone.Let them know you’re in their corner. The employee may feel overwhelmed, so the idea that someone has their best interests at heart during a tough time can help.Get the employee’s perspective on the issue. Let them explain where they think things went wrong and see if they have a different perspective on what the expectations were, whether they were lackin g in resources, etc. It’s possible the employee has a different interpretation of how or why things went wrong, and it’s important to get both sides.Balance the negative with some positive. Let the employee know what he or she is doing well, instead of hitting the negative over and over.Don’t be vague or ambiguous. Provide clear examples of the problematic behavior, as well as the next steps needed to correct the issue. Also be clear about the impact of his or her behavior or poor performance.Give constructive feedback. Saying â€Å"this is unacceptable,† or â€Å"just be better,† without offering potential solutions or next steps is unlikely to help the employee correct the issue. Give recommendations about how they can improve. He or she already knows that she has to improve, but may not be clear on how to approach it.Make time to meet with the employee. Make sure he or she feels supported throughout the process. It’s not enough to say, â €Å"Okay, here’s the plan, do this.† Checking in can help ensure that a) progress is happening, and b) the employee understands what’s expected at every step.One thing to remember is that PIPs are not a magic fix for work disasters or poor performance. They’re a tool you can offer to your employees as a way to right the ship before it sinks and before someone loses a job or the company suffers further consequences from the poor performance. As long as everything is clearly defined (the source of the problem, the consequences of the problem, and the specific plan for remedying the problem) and you work closely with employees and managers to implement it, it can be one of the most effective and successful tools you have for turning around poor performance. A bit of optimism and a lot of careful documentation can go a long way in ensuring employee success, even after a failure.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Development of Teaching Strategies Research Paper

Development of Teaching Strategies - Research Paper Example While developing a teaching strategy, some of the points that must be considered include but are not limited to the objectives of teaching and its learning outcomes, the needs of students, the desires of students, the previous experience of the students as learners and the strategies of teaching that they are used to, the expertise of the teacher, the resources available to the teacher, and the possible impact of the adjustments made in the teaching method on the teacher. This paper discusses the development of teaching strategies. Fundamentals of Effective Teaching Significance of subject in the teaching strategy Developing an effective teaching strategy is integrally linked with the subject that needs to be taught. Learning needs differ from one subject to another. On one hand, there are subjects that are entirely theoretical e.g. history, politics, and philosophy whereas on the other hand, there are subjects that are mathematical e.g. math and physics etcetera. There is also a thi rd category of subjects that are both theoretical and mathematical simultaneously depending upon the course selected for that subject e.g. risk management. To be able to impart maximum knowledge to the students, it is imperative that a teacher assesses the individualistic needs of the subject being taught. For instance, developing a teaching strategy for the subject of â€Å"History† might not require a teacher to take the students on a field visit because most of the knowledge is essentially gained merely by reading the books whereas for the subject of â€Å"Geology†, a teacher might never consider the job done unless the students have been taken to a field visit and have been provided with an opportunity to see, touch, and feel the rocks, minerals, and metals that constitute a particular strata of Earth. Equal attention While teaching, it is the moral and ethical responsibility of a teacher to provide all students with equal attention. Disparity in the division of at tention of a teacher among the students is one of the causes of poor academic performance of certain students; the ones that are neglected or not sufficiently attended to. â€Å"In this task, teachers are crucial because of the central role they play in promoting participation and reducing underachievement, particularly with children who might be perceived as having difficulties in learning† (Rouse 1). (McGhie-Richmond, Underwood, and Jordan) carried out a study to investigate the skills required for effective teaching in the elementary teachers in the inclusive classrooms. The researchers’ objective was to find out if the appearance of the constructivist skills follows from or is independent of the mastery of more transmissive behaviors of teaching. The researchers found that the patterns of behaviors of teaching were consistent across the students, though the academically ‘at risk’ students were found to be receiving differentiated instruction and less a ttention of the teacher as compared to other students. Differentiated teaching The term â€Å"differentiated teaching† means planning of ways by the teachers to address differences in such factors as age, culture, profile of multiple intelligences, ethnicity, temperament, personality style, development and possible delays in development, and styles of learning of

Friday, November 1, 2019

MCS 146F Midterm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

MCS 146F Midterm - Essay Example The other part of the press is the handle, which is mounted on the upper section of the machine and is used to apply pressure onto the printing media. It has a series of levers to multiple the force being applied by the one operating the machine. Counterweights are a very vital part of the press and perform key functions. The purpose of the counterweights, which are located adjacent to the handle, is to ensure that the force of the impression is increased. Moreover, the weights are used in raising the platen after every single impression (Eisenstein 129). This allows for the next impression without much force being required. The press is raised from the ground level by four metallic legs that terminate in molded feet. A closer look at the end of the supports suggests that they resemble the claws of a lion. The four supports are well spread to increase stability of the machine when it is not in use and when it is functioning. In addition to this, the platen is located a few meters from the ground so that the center of gravity can be lowered and ensure that the machine remains in a stable state when other parts are being moved. The Colombian press has talons with eagle clutches. These are incorporated into the design as a symbol of war. It also has olive branches on some talons to show prosperity. At one end of the counterweights, there are arrows that rest on a crescent moon. The other ends of the arrow in the counter masses are coiled to form a dolphin with open jaws. The coiling allows it to hold the hook of the press bridle thus facilitating a connection with the upper end of the levers. Another dolphin like part is extended from the counterbalance to connect it with the main lever. This mechanism works in synchrony to pass the forces that is exerted by the operator to the media on that the printing is to be done. The press also has two pillars that are embellished with cadeus intervened with what appears to