Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Why You Didnt Get the Job

Why You Didnt Get the Job If you’re on the job hunt, you want  to ensure you  don’t make mistakes that keep you  from finding work, especially after spending a lot of time on job search sites. Although most people know it is a bad idea to cancel an interview at the last moment or wear a running suit to an interview, smaller mistakes can also keep a job seeker from being considered. 1. Not Proofreading a ResumeResumes tell a recruiter a lot about a job applicant after just one glance. A resume that is messy and contains poor  grammar or typos will not  be taken seriously by a recruiter. You can fix problems with your resume by using an online grammar checker and rereading it carefully to look for mistakes. If you have a friend who is good with grammar and punctuation, ask him or her  to look it over for you. Whatever it takes, make your resume as perfect as you can.2. Not Focusing Your ResumeAre you are one of those job seekers  who wrote a resume a year ago and are recycling it to apply for jobs? The days of using a general resume are over. Because hiring managers are busy people, they want to interview the best candidates for the job and not waste time on applicants whose qualifications aren’t a good fit. Rewriting your resume to include your qualifications that fit in with the job description can get you that interview.3. Not Writing a Cover LetterHiring managers go to the cover letter first before looking at an applicant’s resume. Even when applying for a position by sending your resume via email, you really need to include a cover letter. Many hiring managers won’t consider an application without one. Remember to include the reason you want the job in your cover letter, and don’t make it a mini copy of your resume.4. Going Into an Interview ColdLet’s say you’ve been invited for a job interview, so you’re feeling pretty confident at this point. Overconfidence and lack of preparation when being interviewed ha s cost more than one individual a job offer. Job interviews normally consist of knowing about the company where you are applying, asking questions that are relevant, telling the recruiter why you are qualified and how you can be an asset in the job, and following up afterward.5. Casting Too Wide a NetOne mistake some job seekers make is not focusing on the job type and instead zeroing in on a specific company.  Think about opportunities, not one particular job, and you can find yourself employed faster. Maybe you have your heart set on a job with the Widget Company, but you would have to start at the bottom and work your way up because there are no openings for someone with your qualifications. Focus clearly on the position you want to fill, and expend your efforts in that direction.6. Not Minding the TimeTime matters when it comes to hiring managers. Showing up late for an interview reflects badly, as does showing up too early because it can make you appear anxious and make the i nterviewer feel pressured. Do leave early to get to your interview about 10 minutes before it is scheduled, but find a spot to relax if you arrive before that.7. Getting Too PersonalMaking a personal connection with a hiring manager can be a good idea, such as sharing an interest in a sports  team or favorite restaurants in your  city. However, going overboard and supplying too many details about your personal life takes up the hiring manager’s time and may not reflect well on you. Rambling on, whether in a resume or during an interview, can leave a bad impression. If you do relate personal information, keep it in context with the job.After spending time searching classified job ads and sending in a resume, common mistakes can often cost you  a job. Just as knowing how to be a successful job applicant and sail through an interview is valuable information, so is knowing how to conduct a practical job search. Instead of looking at countless job ads in different locations, TheJobSearch does the work for you by sending you email alerts when jobs fitting your qualifications become available. Fill out your job interests and qualifications and  sign up with TheJobNetwork- that’s all it takes!

Saturday, November 23, 2019

4 Ways To Say It in Spanish

4 Ways To Say It in Spanish It is one of the most common English words, but its direct equivalent in Spanish, ello, isnt used much. Thats mostly because Spanish has other ways of saying it - or not stating it at all. This lesson looks at translations for it in four situations, depending on how it is used in relation to the other words in a sentence: as the subject of a sentence, as the direct object of a verb, as an indirect object of a verb and as the object of a preposition. Saying It in Spanish as the Subject of a Sentence Because it has an extensive verb conjugation, Spanish is able to frequently omit the subjects of sentences entirely, depending on the context to make clear what the subject is. When the subject of a sentence is inanimate, something that would be referred to as it, it is very unusual in Spanish to use a subject at all:  ¿Dà ³nde est el telà ©fono? Est aquà ­. (Where is the telephone? It is here. Note how in this and the following sentences that there is no Spanish word given to translate it.)Est roto. (It is broken.)Hoy comprà © una computadora porttil. Es muy cara. (Today I bought a laptop computer. It is very expensive.)No me gusta esta cancià ³n: es muy rencorosa. (I dont like this song. Its full of resentment.) In English, it is common to use it as the subject of a sentence in a vague sense, such as when talking about the weather: It is raining. It can also be used when talking about a situation: It is dangerous. Such as use of it in English is sometimes referred to as a dummy subject. In translation to Spanish, dummy subjects are nearly always omitted. Llueve. (It is raining.)Nieva. (It is snowing.)Es peligroso. (It is dangerous.)Es muy comà ºn encontrar vendedores en la playa. (It is very common to find vendors on the beach.)Puede pasar. (It can happen.) Saying It in Spanish as the Direct Object of a Verb As the direct object of a verb, the translation of it varies with gender. Use lo when the pronoun it refers to a masculine noun or la when it refers to a feminine noun.  ¿Viste el coche? No lo vi. (Did you see the car? I didnt see it.) ¿Viste la camisa? No la vi. (Did you see the shirt? I didnt see it.)No me gusta esta hamburguesa, pero voy a comerla. (I dont like this hamburger, but Im going to eat it.)Antonio me comprà ³ un anillo.  ¡Mà ­ralo!  (Antonio bought me a ring. Look at it!) ¿Tienes la llave? No la tengo. (Do you have the key? I dont have it.) If you dont know what it refers to, or if it refers to something abstract, use the masculine form: Vi algo.  ¿Lo viste? (I saw something. Did you see it?)No lo sà ©. (I dont know it.) Saying It in Spanish as an Indirect Object It is unusual in Spanish for an indirect object to be an inanimate object, but when it is use le: Dà ©le un golpe con la mano. (Give it a hit with your hand.)Brà ­ndale la oportunidad. (Give it a chance.) Saying It in Spanish as the Object of Preposition Here again, gender makes a difference. If the prepositional object refers to a noun thats masculine, use à ©l; if you are referring to a noun thats feminine, use ella. As objects of pronouns, these words can also mean him and her, in addition to it, so you need to let the context determine what is meant. El coche est roto. Necesito un repuesto  para à ©l. (The car is broken. I need a part  for it.)Me gusta mucho mi bicicleta. No puedo vivir sin ella. (I like my bicycle a lot. I cant live without it.)El examen fue muy difà ­cil. A causa de à ©l, no aprobà ©. (The test was very difficult. Because of it, I didnt pass.)Habà ­a muchas muertes antes de la guerra civil y durante ella. (There were many deaths before the civil war and during it.) When the object of a preposition refers to a general condition or something without a name, you can use the neuter pronoun for it, ello. It is also very common to use the neuter pronoun eso, which literally means this. Mi novia me odia. No quiero hablar de ello. (My girlfriend hates me. I dont want to talk about it.)Mi novia me odia. No quiero hablar de eso. (My girlfriend hates me. I dont want to talk about it.)No te preocupes por ello. (Dont worry about it.)No te preocupes por eso. (Dont worry about it.)

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The impact of firm resources and host country specific factors on Dissertation - 1

The impact of firm resources and host country specific factors on international entry mode strategy - Dissertation Example Data Gathering Instrument 62 List of Tables List of Figures Chapter 1: Introduction This study aims to determine the factors that influence the choice of entry modes that U.K firms may explore in their effort to establish a presence in a foreign market. Such factors shall pertain to either firm specific or country specific resources and attributes which exert an influence over the eventual choice of a mode of entry of a multinational firm into the host country. During the third quarter of the twentieth century, globalisation was considered a largely political issue, with implications concerning foreign dominance and power wielded by rich, developed nations over the developing and underdeveloped Third World countries. As a consequence, the globalisation commitment entered into by countries in multilateral agreements was met with slow progress and considerable suspicion by political and civic groups. Businessmen were quick to see the advantages, however, of gaining access to new market s opening up across borders. In deciding upon entering a foreign market, a firm takes on considerable risks, but foresees that there is an opportunity to earn considerable returns as well. It will therefore base its decision on whether or not there is a favourable trade-off between risks and returns – that is, whether the chances of earning returns significantly higher than it would in the local market would exceed the risks that it may be facing. This is the crux of the normative decision theory. On the other hand, behavioural theory suggests that a firm may also consider entry into foreign markets depending on the trade-off between the relative availability of resources in the targeted site compared with the home site, as against the degree of control that may be exercised, which is... The paper tells that in an era of expanding globalization, tastes and preferences of people in different countries and cultures have converged, due to many factors most prominent of which is the increased flow of electronic communications by which people across borders are able to exchange information and socially interact with one another. As a result, the fashion clothing industry has been rapidly expanding across the globe, with the development of brand loyalty and affinity playing a large part in the economic success of certain brands. Fashion clothing companies, in an effort to penetrate new markets and, in some cases, explore new, less costly sources of factors of production, contemplate cross-border expansion. The problem with such a strategy is that there is no one fixed approach to entering another market. Each situation is approached in its own context, because of the unique set of issues relating to each location’s political, economic, social, technical, legal, and environmental circumstances. The particular competencies and resources of the business also work to influence the feasibility of the company’s entry into a foreign market. It is thus possible for a company to select and control the conditions of its entry into other countries, such that it may develop channels of distribution with varying degrees of commitment and exposure. Three companies in particular – Marks & Spencer, Burberry, and Next – have pursued aggressive expansion strategies in foreign markets.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Sylvias Bar Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sylvias Bar - Essay Example It did good business, attracting high volume of customers and earning sizable profits from its beginning in the late 1980s till the mid-2000s. From the late of 2000s, its profits started to decline, as the flow of customers reduced to abysmal levels, even close the bar for few days of the week. The response from the customers dwindled because of Sylvia’s long-standing strategies of offering products and services at high cost, playing outdated music and also due to the advent of more modern bars in the neighbourhood. This report will focus on the Sylvia’s Bar and will discuss its current situation or problems, coming up with recommendations for it to manage those problems. Cost and menu High cost in the sense, Sylvia’s was established as a high class wine and cocktail bar, aimed at the customers, who constitute the top end of the market. Because of this focus on a particular target segment, the price of the drinks and the food was on the higher side. Although Sylv ia’s Bar wanted to focus more on these high segment, who are able to pay the high prices. In the fact, with this pricing restrict its customer base. Due to these high pricing, other segments of the wide prospective customer base look for other options that the bar has to throw ingredients by the reduction of the customers, and this was validated by Sylvia’s waitress, Kate. â€Å"We throw too much food away, I’m not sure that the customers in town are looking for this kind of fancy stuff†. ... (Piron 2000). (Vickers and Renand 2003). So, by setting price on the basis of industry standards, and equal or less than its competitors, Sylvia’s Bar can expand its customer segment. Even while bringing in more customers, care should be taken not to compromise on the quality. Staffing The insistence of using only classically trained cocktail bar staff, who have completed a course in bar work at South Birmingham College, negatively impacts the finances of the Sylvia’s Bar. As these particular staff demand payment, which are double the ones paid to the casual bar workers, Sylvia has to allocate a sizable financial resources for the salary of these staffs, which further eats into their income. As the customers do not particularly insist on qualified employees from a particular academic institution and may not even know that fact, it is not compulsory for Sylvia’s Bar to recruit only them. Instead, they can recruit skilled and enterprising casual employees and impor tantly train them according to the job needs. (Mattila 1999). Training programs may not cost sizably, and on the other hand, the trained casual labourers can be paid only half of the salary paid to the other set of employees, thus saving crucial finances for the firm. (Kerfoot, Davies & Ward 2003). Sylvia’s bar also faced certain employee centric problems. Firstly, the employees had to wear a particular set of uniforms, and that according to certain employees was also very outdated. Barman Paul, 32 had this to say about it, â€Å"These uniforms are so dated and formal. I feel like I’m working in a church not a bar!† Importantly, this outdated feel of the uniforms would also negatively reflect among the customers, who might want to see employees clad in

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Approaches to Climate Change and Energy Crisis Essay Example for Free

Approaches to Climate Change and Energy Crisis Essay The acclaim and mass appeal that was garnered by the An Inconvenient Truth, no to mention Al Gore’s Noble Prize win, is a testament to the interest on the issue of climate change (Lawrence Bender Productions Guggenheim, 2006). One of the main areas of concern is the development of industries that do not damage or endanger the environment is an urgent concern as industries now face dwindling resources, greater demand and more regulation both locally and internationally (Schnietz Epstein, 2005). Whereas before when interest in environmental concerns were seen more as deterrents to a company’s operations. The increase of judicial decisions levying companies to pay for environmental damages due to their products or manufacturing processes has changed the view to one that treats environment concerns and conserving energy resources as part of ensuring profitability. An assessment done by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) (2002) indicates that the deterioration of the environment has global implications. They point that the depletion of the ozone layer has been linked to stress marine and terrestrial resources though the depletion is mainly concentrated on the poles. Furthermore, scientists estimate that at the current rate of consumption and pollution, the earth’s ecosystems will simply collapse from human demands. De Man (2005) also points out that there are higher social expectations concerning environmental awareness and responsibility among business organizations. National and international efforts have sought to develop universal relevance of the issue not only to promote it as a concern but also to established responsibility for the issue. Robbins (2003) considers these an indication of the urgency and importance of the issue which in turn is to establish it as global critical priority. At the same time, climbing of energy prices due to demand has highlighted the need to raise efficiency and promote conservation. However, there are varying opinions on the approaches to be taken. One of the issues that have been subject to extensive debate is in the development of air pollution control programs. Wigley (2006) points out that because air has no geographic border nor physically contained and all countries have to compete for energy sources such as oil, the issue is an inherent global concern. This global perspective is the basis for the Kyoto Protocol which aims to establish an international monitoring and management system for carbon emissions. The Kyoto Protocol sets a quota for industrial emissions per country where residual allowances can be traded off to other countries and economic sanctions can be applied to violators. Thus, countries are not only politically motivated to control their emissions but also can gain monetary compensation for their efforts. Accession and implementation of the protocol has proven challenging. Opposition to the policies point out that aside from the operational difficulties of the policy and can deter economic growth and development since most industries are energy-intense and impact the environment (Bohan, 2007). Critics of the Kyoto approach to the issue suggest a national interest approach. In contrast to the former, the latter suggests that, â€Å"whats good for the nation as a whole in international affairs†. Using this perspective, instead of developing an international policy, each country must formulate its own towards a common goal (Roskin, 1994, p. 1). As each country is able to achieve individual environmental goals, public interest, which includes the global community, will be met effectively. Thus, what seems to be an inward-looking or even selfish approach to environment and energy issues can be in fact a means to accomplish international goals. Critics of the approach contend in turn that there are no assurances that independent states will develop and implement environmental and energy efficiency protocols. Also, they believe that by leaving consequence at the discretion of national governments, implementation will not be effectively policed. To date, there has still has not been full accession to the Kyoto Protocol: the Untied States and Australia have both rejected it. At the same time, national interest approaches have been significant deterred through the need for compliance to international political, security or economic organizations. According to Setting a Value on the Future, Stephen Gardiner believes that the lack of a consensus on how to deal with the world’s environmental and energy crises is because it is â€Å"politically convenient not to deal with†. Both approaches have proven to be extremely problematic. One difficulty that Thomas Palley of the Economics for Democratic and Open Societies sees in national interest perspectives is a failure to recognize the distinction between corporate and national interests, (as cited in Jacobson, 2006). The suggestion is that confusing corporate interests, which primarily is centered on profit, the national interests that will be defined will be the interest of a few instead of the public’s and that it most likely will neither support environmental or conservation objectives (Wigley, 2006). On the other hand, without industrial development, there will be little headway in the development of efficiency and productivity technologies or the means to put them in practice (Jacobson, 2006). The most critical realization is that the issue is not just a political issue. Just as critical should be the realization that whatever, polices are to be implemented, they should be able to stand the test of time and changes in international relations. This because, achievement of environmental and energy goals will likely take a number of years before they are attained. President George W. Bush has raised a valid point regarding this issue: The fundamental question is whether or not we will be able to grow our economy and be good stewards of the environment at the same time, (as cited in Jacobson, 2006). Neither the Kyoto approach nor the national interest approaches, as they are utilized today, seem to fully address these concerns. However, this should deter the commitment to environmental protection and rehabilitation as well as energy conservation. In conclusion to recognize non-political elements influencing the issue, to institute long-term policies and resources and to develop and implement policies that recognizes both perspectives. Reference http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1537871920071015

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Overview over Religion :: essays research papers

Overview of Religion In this tutorial, you will learn about the religious experience in general and some of its variations around the world. The focus will be on the types of religious beliefs and religious leaders, especially in small-scale societies. An exploration of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, or any other major religion is beyond the scope of this tutorial. The approach taken is that of cultural relativity--religious practices or beliefs are not evaluated in terms of their "correctness" or "sophistication" but, rather, in terms of their function within the societies that maintain them. What is Religion? A religion is a system of beliefs usually involving the worship of supernatural forces or beings. Religious beliefs provide shape and meaning to one's perception of the universe. In other words, they provide a sense of order in what might otherwise be seen as a chaotic existence. Religions also provide understanding and meaning for inexplicable events such as a loved one being killed in an earthquake or some other unpredictable force of nature. For most religious people, their beliefs about the supernatural are at the very core of their world views. Importance of Rituals Symbolic objects used in Christian rituals The performance of rituals is an integral part of all religions. Rituals are stylized and usually repetitive acts that take place at a set time and location. They almost always involve the use of symbolic objects, words, and actions. For example, going to church on Sunday is a common religious ritual for Christians around the world. It usually requires the wearing of somewhat different clothing and interacting with others in a particular manner in a sacred location. At the heart of this experience is a sequence of traditional ritual acts that symbolically represent aspects of the life, teachings, and death of Jesus. Maya Temple in Guatemala built on a high pyramid base to make it a sacred location Most religious rituals are performed in special places and under special conditions, such as in a dedicated temple or at a sacred spot. This is an intentional separation between the secular and the sacred. By being removed from the ordinary world, the sacred acts are enhanced for the believers--the separation makes the rituals more effective. Only allowing initiated people to participate in religious rituals also can have the same effect. Religious ritual reinforces the basic tenets of religion. For instance, the "partaking of the host" in the Catholic mass is a symbolic participation in the "last supper" of Jesus and, by extension, an affirmation of the acceptance of his teachings.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Analysis of an extract from ‘The Singing Lesson’

â€Å" With despair – cold, sharp despair – buried deep in her heart like a wicked knife, Miss Meadows, in cap and gown and carrying a little baton, trod the cold corridors that led to the music hall. Girls of all ages, rosy from the air, and bubbling over with that gleeful excitement that comes from running to school on a fine autumn morning, hurried, skipped, fluttered by; from the hollow class-rooms came a quick drumming of voices; a bell rang; a voice like a bird cried, â€Å"Muriel. † And then there came from the staircase a tremendous knock-knock-knocking.Someone had dropped her dumbbells. â€Å" ‘The Singing Lesson’ by Katherine Mansfield is a short story written with elements hinting at the modernist movement of the late 19th century. We are instantly informed of the solemn feel of the story with the opening words â€Å"With despair- cold, sharp despair-† which eject a sombre tone to the piece. Mansfield’s use of parenthesis b eginning and ending with the repetition of â€Å"despair† successfully captures a reader’s attention by isolating the description, highlighting its significance.The three adjectives â€Å"despair†, â€Å"cold† and â€Å"sharp† are all harsh sounding and evoke emotions of pain and suffering, telling us that the story is about something bad. The use of the verb â€Å"buried† is poignant because of its connotations of death, reiterated by the simile â€Å"†¦ deep in her heart like a wicked knife†. The imagery of the knife, cold and sharp suggests death or immense pain. We are first introduced to the main character, Miss Meadows â€Å"in cap and gown and carrying a little baton† as a strong stern woman, most likely a teacher because of the formality of the â€Å"Miss†.The image of her carrying a baton is police like and emits a strong female presence. She is described as walking with a â€Å"trod† which is animal istic and contrasts how the school girls are â€Å"bubbling over with gleeful excitement† and the way in which they move like autumn leaves. The huge contrast between the cold harsh language used to describe Mrs Meadows and the light-hearted past participles like â€Å"bubbling†, to describe the pupils highlights the different character’s personalities and shows two extremes.Mansfield has used long sentences which suggest ongoing thoughts and emotions of the character Miss Meadows surrounded by a busy hectic environment. The subordinate clauses inject lots of extra information for the reader, and the power of three â€Å"hurried, skipped, fluttered† effectively portray imagery of an autumn morning. However, the past tense of the three verbs breaks the previous present tense imagery, suggesting that the narrator is clasping onto something from her past. â€Å"Hollow† and â€Å"drumming† imply drums and have connotations of emptiness, an eleme nt of Miss Meadows personality which has possibly been affected by her past.The description of the bird links back to the imagery of the autumnal morning, and are an example of the modernistic movement about the thoughts in our subconscious. Another example of this is the last sentence â€Å"Someone had dropped her dumbbells† which is totally unrelated to anything in the first passage, but shows another thought forming in the character’s mind. It reminds us as the reader that it is a modernist piece of writing, with an abstract writing style which is more like ‘real life’.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Ethnic Literature Essay

The term â€Å"ethnic† when in conjunction with the word â€Å"literature† in the academic discourse community of students, often brings out mixed feelings of excitement and dread. On the one hand, students understand that they will be getting away from the canonical American literature – which can equal boring in their eyes; on the other hand, students interpret the term â€Å"ethnic literature† to mean distinctive – which can equal confusing or ambiguous – and perhaps at times not relatable because it is outside their scope of experiences. Perhaps before jumping into why it matters, the term â€Å"ethnic literature† should be defined first and because I am still learning how to interpret this term myself, I searched for a suitable one I could agree with. I found one in an article entitled â€Å"Assessing Teachers’ Knowledge of Multi-Ethnic Literature†, and the article actually used another source themselves to come up with a workable, layman’s definition. Ethnic literature as defined by D.E. Norton (as the article’s source) is, â€Å"Literature about racial or ethnic minority groups that are culturally and socially different from the white Anglo-Saxon majority in the United States, whose largely middle-class values and customs are most represented in American literature† (qtd. in Hager & Thompson 22). I think this definition works well to define what ethnic literature is on a surface level, but the more I dig in, I feel that this idea goes much deeper. I asked myself, who can write about ethnic literature? Can anyone just pick up a pen so to speak and tell a story about a young Japanese boy, or a Hispanic family? Can an African-American writer write about Hispanic or Chinese people and claim it is ethnic literature? And the answer to myself is no. Why? Because unless that African-American has been submersed in the Hispanic or Japanese culture from the time of childhood, how are they going to capture the very essence of being, thinking, and living day-to-day in that culture? And even if that African-American had, they would still most likely have a different perspective from the average Hispanic or Chinese person because of being different themselves (i.e black) and perhaps are treated different by the community at large which corrupts the â€Å"normal† cultural thinking. At this deeper level I am trying to get at, I find John M. Reilly’s article â€Å"Criticism of Ethnic Literature: Seeing the Whole Story† helpful in acquiring this. He states that, â€Å"the assertion of ethnicity in literature can be made only through a procedure by which the writer resolves formal problems†¦ what moves from recognition of identity to creation of a strategy for handling reality still is not literature until the individual author sustains her or his ethnic identity through a sequence of formal choices† (4). I am interpreting this to mean that as a reader of this literature, I should see and feel throughout the story (perhaps subtlety) that in some way, the characters mindset (and perhaps actions) in the story differ from my own specifically because of the culture they have grown up in in, which has shaped that character’s thinking. There are thoughts and feelings – ideas, I don’t understand without further explanation from the author, which is sometimes provided, and sometimes not. An example of this is in Brando Skyhorse’s novel The Madonnas of Echo Park, I find myself wondering what the significance of the jacaranda trees mentioned in different parts of the book. Looking up what they are, it becomes apparent to me as jacaranda trees are native to Central America – roots back to their homeland. The blossoms from the trees fall and are scattered everywhere. Felicia in chapter 2 states that â€Å"there’s no way getting away from them† (25). Basically meaning, you cannot escape who you are and where you come from. I would not have understood this had I not explored the history of that tree to uncover the significance in the book. Another example is in Seventeen Syllables in the story â€Å"Seventeen Syllables†. The story about a Japanese family is easy to read, but is hard to connect with as I don’t share the same philosophies about a woman’s place in the Japanese culture. A specific instance in the story was when Mrs. Hayashi, Rosie’s mother received her the first place prize for her stellar Haiku. When the man from the newspaper presented her with a package, Mrs. Hayashi, stating she knew it was unorthodox, asked if she might open it because she was very curious. (Yamamoto 17). At this point, I am thinking to myself, â€Å"I don’t get it – why wouldn’t she open it?† but upon reflection, I considered the patriarchal society that is dominant in this culture, and perhaps it is the wife’s obligation to consult or have the husband open the gift, even if it is not specifically for him. Yet another example is in Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. To come specifically to the point, I do not understand this idea of why it is understood that Dominican men are supposed to be these â€Å"manly men† that women flock to and fall on their knees for. That the sexual appetite along with innate sense of charisma from Dominican men is expected, and when it’s lacking, it doesn’t go unnoticed. â€Å"Anywhere else his triple-zero batting average with the ladies might have passed without comment, but this is a Dominican kid we’re talking about, in a Dominican family: dude was supposed to have Atomic Level G, was supposed to be pulling in the bitches with both hands† (24). Why is this idea so indoctrinated in this culture according to the book? This is perhaps something I will never understand, except that it is a part of their culture. All of these examples are all good and well, but the important question is why is ethnic literature important? What can be gained from reading it? From a most basic viewpoint, it is a highly effective vehicle for helping people understand themselves and the world around them. Thompson and Hager in their article state that, â€Å"multi-ethnic literature mirrors and validates the experiences for minority groups and juxtaposes the familiar with the less familiar for mainstream children† (22). In other words, through reading ethnic literature, readers can find ways to connect with others around them that are different. The article also states that when readers are exposed to divergent thoughts, language patterns, value systems, and different ways of living, that it can open up awareness about others and create compassion and understanding towards them that might not have happened without the literary exposure (23). To sum it all up, I will never argue against the instruction of ethnic literature in the school setting. In fact, I think teaching it should begin right from the beginning in kindergarten, and perhaps one day we won’t need the designated term â€Å"ethnic literature† – perhaps one day it can just be â€Å"American Literature† and part of the regular American canon of literature. Works Cited Diaz, Junot. The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. New York: Penguin, 2007. Print. Reilly, John. M. â€Å"Criticism of Ethnic Literature: Seeing the Whole Story†. Critical Approaches to Ethnic Literature. 5.1 (1978): 2-13. Web. 21 Apr. 2012. Skyhorse, Brando. The Madonnas of Echo Park. New York: Free Press, 2010. Print. Thompson, Deborah L. and Jane Meeks Hager. â€Å"Assessing Teachers’ Knowledge of Multi-Ethnic Literature†. Yearbook of the American Reading Forum. 1990. 21-29. Web. 21 Apr. 2012. Yamamoto, Hisaye. Seventeen Syllables. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2001. Print.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

3 Types of Superfluous Use of Semicolons

3 Types of Superfluous Use of Semicolons 3 Types of Superfluous Use of Semicolons 3 Types of Superfluous Use of Semicolons By Mark Nichol Proper use of semicolons is sometimes seen as such a challenge that some teachers of composition recommend not using them until one develops a more sophisticated grasp of language, which is akin to saying one should hold off on learning the more complicated letters of the alphabet until one is ready for them. The following examples, however, point out that some writers need to study the functions of the punctuation mark. 1. Banks must keep pace with rapidly developing technologies; and this requires organizations to transform how they develop new apps and software. One of the functions of the semicolon is to separate independent clauses that are closely associated in cases in which the strength of the period is not necessary. In this case, a simple comma, teaming up with a conjunction, suffices to distinguish the two clauses: â€Å"Banks must keep pace with rapidly developing technologies, and this requires organizations to transform how they develop new apps and software.† (A semicolon should not precede a conjunction unless the punctuation mark and the word are part of a complex list structured something like â€Å"a, b, and c; d, e, and f; and g, h, and i.) 2. It is one thing to determine that a hundred million dollars in synergies can be achieved; it is another matter to actually achieve those savings; and still another matter for the savings to be reflected in the financial statements. The first semicolon in this sentence is used correctly, but the second one is not; the phrase beginning with and should be part of the second independent clause (the one beginning â€Å"it is another matter†): â€Å"It is one thing to determine that a hundred million dollars in synergies can be achieved; it is another matter to actually achieve those savings and still another matter for the savings to be reflected in the financial statements.† Alternatively, the final point can be bolstered with its own pronoun and verb and set off as one of three sentence segments separated by commas: â€Å"It is one thing to determine that a hundred million dollars in synergies can be achieved, it is another matter to actually achieve those savings, and it is still another matter for the savings to be reflected in the financial statements.† 3. They must continuously direct scarce resources to sustain vital government activities and services; they must manage their operations in the face of constantly changing circumstances; and they must provide assurance to various stakeholders that they can protect and enhance their organizations. Here, three phrases are separated as if they are independent clauses. It is true that the three phrases can stand on their own as such, but they are also serviceable as simple list items, as shown here: â€Å"They must continuously direct scarce resources to sustain vital government activities and services, they must manage their operations in the face of constantly changing circumstances, and they must provide assurance to various stakeholders that they can protect and enhance their organizations.† (Semicolons are necessary in place of the commas only if one or more of the phrases itself uses punctuation to separate items in a list.) 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 Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:25 Subordinating ConjunctionsWhenever vs. When Ever3 Types of Essays Are Models for Professional Writing Forms

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

8 Best Jobs in Retail (And How to Get Them)

8 Best Jobs in Retail (And How to Get Them) Working in retail may not be the glamorous job of your dreams, especially when you have to muster a smile for the 15th customer asking a ridiculous question on your 10-hour shift. But it’s a solid career option, short- or long-term, with a skill set that makes you hireable in many different fields, and lots of opportunities. Along with food service, retail is the biggest pool of jobs in the United States right now. We live in a society that needs stuff, on demand, and that means we also need an army of helpful, knowledgeable people to steer us toward that stuff. If you’re in the market for a retail job (or your next one), there are lots of great opportunities for you. Where Are the Jobs?Everywhere- literally everywhere. From the mom-and-pop store down the street to the big box store that magically has what you want when you want it, stores need staff. Sure, metro centers like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles will have more job openings, but you don’t need to wo rry about relocating for your career. You can find retail jobs near you.What Are the Best Jobs?Retail can be a hard industry: long hours, demanding shifts, the *ahem* joys of dealing with the public. Where you work can make all the difference between feeling good about your job and wishing you’d gone into animal dentistry instead. Let’s look at some of the best companies out there right now in retail, which offer strong benefits packages and focus on employee well-being as well as paying the bills.CostcoYou probably know you can get an industrial-sized vat of ketchup at Costco, but did you also know it’s consistently rated one of the best places to work? With a median salary of$13.14 according to Investopedia, it’s one of the highest-paying retail employers out there right now. The company also offers a lot of employee-friendly benefits like health insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, a 401(k) program, and dependent care coverage. Plus an employ ee discount on that ketchup.NordstromWith more than 300 stores in the U.S. and Canada, Nordstrom is one of the biggest upscale retail chains in the country. As a cornerstone in malls around the country, Nordstrom is known for offering a median salary of $14.96 per hour, the highest hourly retail associate pay as of 2016. It also gets high marks among employees for offering benefits to part-time employees as well as full-timers.TargetAs the nation’s second-biggest retailer (after WalMart), department store Target (look for the big red bullseye) is one of the most employee-friendly retail workplaces. The median salary is $9.25 for sales associates, with significant bumps for managers and warehouse workers (who have a median salary of $19.40). The company also offers a number of supplemental benefits which include health insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, healthy living initiatives, and less common benefits like tuition reimbursements, savings and investment plans, f lexible spending accounts, parental leave, and childcare assistance.CarMaxGone are the days when the phrase â€Å"used car salesman† called to mind a shady guy in a bad suit and a â€Å"trust me† smile. These days, consumers value data and clear information about the investment they’re making in a car. CarMax has parlayed its customer service on that front into becoming the largest used car dealership in the U.S., and one of Fortune’s top 100 companies to work for. CarMax is big on employee appreciation, with $1,000 bonuses and a pizza party for employees who go â€Å"above and beyond.† Top sellers are sorted into â€Å"clubs,† and are rewarded with trips, dinners, and other compensation for their hard work.Lowe’sIf DIY is your passion, then Lowe’s can be a great destination for you. Its salary and benefits are tops in the big box home improvement store game, with a median salary of $12.95 and a strong offering of employee bene fits like health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, disability insurance, and retirement benefits.Trader Joe’sWorking in retail doesn’t always mean being a retail associate- creative skills are in demand as well. At grocery chain Trader Joe’s, artists who create the store’s trademark in-store artwork, cartoons, and brightly colored displays make a median salary of $13.64. The company also offers employees health insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, and a retirement plan. Must-haves: strong art background and a sense of whimsy about organic yogurt.Gap/Old Navy/Banana RepublicGood luck finding a mall or shopping center without one of these stores holding down a corner. With more than 3,300 stores worldwide, The Gap (along with its sister stores/brands Old Navy and Banana Republic) is a retail powerhouse, offering a median salary of $11.86. The stores also offer employees health insurance, dental insurance, daycare assistance, and commu ter benefits.ZapposIf you’re a shoe enthusiast, Zappos probably needs no introduction. If you’re not, Zappos is one of the largest online shoe retailers, owned by Amazon. Ranked #38 on Fortune’s best retail companies list, Zappos emphasizes the â€Å"life† part of â€Å"work-life balance† for its team members. The services they offer to employees include laundry service, car washes, educational and leadership seminars, parental leave and adoption reimbursement, and- one of the most unusual perks of all- expense reimbursement for pet adoption, as well as pet sitters/walkers. (And now my dog wonders why I don’t have a job somewhere that prioritizes her needs better.)How Do I Get These Jobs?The good news is that these companies are all broadly located, with locations all around the country. Assuming the geographic hurdles are low, what do you need to snag one of these opportunities?Build your resume.The starting square for any job hunt, retail or not, is getting your application package together. You’ll need to dust off your old resume, for starters, or (even better) rebuild a bigger, better one from scratch.Be creative.The mall is going to be full of job applicants, but what about that shopping center down the street? Consider applying to stores and jobs in less high-traffic areas.Consider seasonal employment.If you find that there are more applicants than openings at your target store, keep trying. If they hire seasonal help, apply for it. You’ll have a foot in the door, and can show off your stellar retail skills over the holiday rush season.Do your research.What is the company’s status right now? How are its stocks doing? If a company is in its death throes (and just announced a round of store closings), now is likely not the time to apply. But if things look healthy from your research (online searches, nothing too extensive or wonky), then you’re more likely to get a better reception.Put i n face time.Applying online is a great and convenient tool. For retail, though, it’s not necessarily a replacement for showing up, putting in an application, and showing the hiring manager that you have the right stuff. While it’s not a full-on interview, take the opportunity to go down to the store, wearing an interview-ish spiffy outfit, and present your resume in person to the manager. It’s a nice first impression, and can make you more memorable as they sort through your application with others’.Check often for new job postings.Set daily reminders (or even a few times a day) to search for new job listings on the store’s site. Retail is a high-turnover field, and you can never predict exactly when there will likely be more job openings. Keeping an eye on the listings will let you jump on opportunities as they come up, instead of getting there a few days later, after the job has already been filled by Not You.Don’t be afraid of job hopping .â€Å"Job hopping,† or moving from one job to another after a short period of time, used to be frowned upon. These days, it’s become more of an accepted cost of moving up and building skills. If you’re in one job and another opens up that could broaden your experience or give you a bump in pay/compensation, don’t be afraid to go for it.Whether you’re a vet of the retail job scene looking to trade up, or looking for your first retail job, we’ve hopefully laid out a ton of options for you to consider and a path for you to follow. Good luck!

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Give an account of the carbon cycle within the global ecosystem Essay

Give an account of the carbon cycle within the global ecosystem - Essay Example Enhancing the understanding of biological aspects of the world carbon cycle is significant in foretelling possible effects of climate change, estimating the viability of adaptation to change in climate, and strategies of mitigation as well as informing crucial policy choices. Extensive understanding is required into the function of bacterial organisms in various crucial activities of the carbon circulation. In various cases, such microbial facilitated processes are lowly reflected in the models of the carbon cycle that may hinder predictive ability and resolution scale, (Cowie, 2007, p.43). Reduction of black boxes will need creative approaches directed at connecting in operational and practical microbial community attributes with qualitative measurement of the process of the carbon cycle. Carbon is an extremely critical element, as it constitutes organic matter that is a crucial aspect on all forms of life. Carbon assumes a critical path on ecosystem - the carbon flow or cycle, (KondratÊ ¹ev, Krapivin and Varotsos, 2003, p.32). Therefore, through tracing the carbon cycle route, scientist can study flows of energy on the earth because some of the chemical life requirement is found in organic matter as bonds between atoms of carbon and other atoms. The carbon circulation mainly entails land carbon cycles and marine flow. The aquatic cycle entails the flow of carbon elements via marine environments while the terrestrial cycle involves the flow of carbon via terrestrial environments. Atmospheric CO2 originates from various sources such as natural and human activities. CO2 and other natural gases (greenhouse gases) in the air absorb earth’s radiation, taking up atmospheric heat and leading to earth atmospheric warming, (Archer, 2010, p.21). Even though, a greenhouse also functions by taking up sun energy, the physical processes involved are different. The cycle of carbon is anchored on CO2