Voodoo Secrets

Voodoo as a religion has its roots in traditional African religions. It original name is Vodu, but that paved way for the more widespread name; Voodoo. Other names referring to it include â€Å"Voudou, Vaudau, Voudoux, or Vaudaux† (Tallant 9). Captured slaves from West Africa carried its essential ideology into Haiti, then to America.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Voodoo Secrets specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The practice of Voodoo involves, â€Å"complicated rituals and symbols† (Riguad 7). It involves the worship of spiritual deities, with priests called papa loa, which means â€Å"father of the spirits† (Felix 21), and priestesses acting as intermediaries between the spiritual world, and humanity. Some of them also operate as oracles, revealing spiritual mysteries to those who seek their services. The term Voodoo also describes a charm that has supernatural powers known as juj u. Adherents believe that it acts as a protective force over them. They also use it to mete out revenge on their enemies. Voodoo therefore refers to an entire religious system and to certain specific aspects of its practice. Voodoo picked pace from the practices of a snake cult in Haiti during the slave trade period. The cult came from West Africa and spread with slave trade, in the Americas and to Haiti. As new slave communities grew in the Americas, different religious identities amalgamated into a unified faith as the slave communities tried to forge a common belief system to unify them in their new locales. Felix says, â€Å"Voodoo became the intermingling of essential attributes of all the religions of the different African tribes to which poorly assimilated elements of Catholicism were added† (20). Voodoo got its form in Haiti, which was an important station during slave trade. Missionary efforts among the slaves saw them incorporate elements of Catholicism in practice of the Voodoo religion. In the process, some Voodoo spirits replaced catholic saints because of close relationships between their roles. Currently, it is common to find prayers offered to Mary and other Catholic elements such as the Lord’s Prayer and the sign of the cross forming part of the Voodoo liturgy. In fact, many Voodoo adherents are staunch Catholics. In America, Voodoo practice first took place in New Orleans before spreading to other states. This was because of the role New Orleans played in slave trade.Advertising Looking for research paper on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Voodoo belief system builds on the idea of an all-powerful impersonal Supreme Being responsible for creation of the entire universe, but who does not get involved in day-to-day running characterized by the affairs of men. The adherents worship lesser deities known as Loa who are animistic spirits. The initial prac tice of Voodoo revolved around slave communities that sought to retain the vital link with their ancestral heritage. Present followers include descendants of these slaves spread throughout the Americas. In addition, tourists all over the world visit Voodoo priests and priestesses in America and Haiti to obtain special charms and amulets for all manner of purposes.  Its practice involves praying, dancing, and ritualistic expressions. It is important to distinguish between faithful adherents who actually believe in power of Voodoo, and those who participate in Voodoo recreational purposes. The use of dolls in Voodoo is the enduring image of the faith system though this is only a piece of the entire system. This view, propagated by Hollywood horror movies, depicts Voodoo priests as spiritual powerhouses using the dolls to control the outcome of an individual’s activities. There are a number of opponents to Voodoo who believe it is evil. Official catholic faith rejects Voodoo a s demonic and considers use of saints in the Voodoo liturgy as syncretism. The question of whether Voodoo is fact or fiction is hard to answer sufficiently using a scientific approach. It does not lend itself to purely scientific investigation to determine its efficacy. This is true for all faith-based systems. Evidence given by practicing Voodoo adherents does not meet criteria for objective study because they are likely to associate ordinary outcomes to their faith. It is difficult to dissociate outcomes of Voodoo mediated occurrences from random chance. The Placebo effect also applies to Voodoo. Someone may actually experience a favorable outcome because of participation in Voodoo rituals based on their belief in the efficacy of the service received. Taking a healing portion from a Voodoo priest may result in better physical health. We can therefore conclude that Voodoo is effective to the extent that such outcomes portray a positive relationship to Voodoo practice. Voodoo has ha d many tangible consequences in the world. The most notable was the drive towards independence by Haiti, which begun in earnest during a Voodoo festival, where all the participants took an oath to fight for independence. Consequently, Haiti became the first predominantly Negro nation to attain independence. Riguad also attest to some of the effects of voodoo practice when he says, â€Å"a curious moral consequence of the slave trade was the exaltation of the African religion by an increase of faith in the Voodoo divinities† (12). Berry identifies one of the mystifying occurrences of Voodoo when he says, â€Å"One of the most spectacular features of Voodoo is ritual possession trance, in which saints (loa) enter into and â€Å"possess† the practitioner, who can either be a believer (with no special psychological problem), a patient, or a priest/doctor who seeks to heal†. This shows that Voodoo is not without its share of paranormal occurrences that science cannot fully explain.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Voodoo Secrets specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Works Cited Berry, John, et al. Cross-cultural psychology: research and applications. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992. Print. Felix, Emmanuel. Understanding Haitian Voodoo. USA: Xulon Press, 2009. Print Riguad, Milo. Secrets of voodoo. New York: Lights Books, 1985. Print. Tallant, Robert. Voodoo in New Orleans. Louisiana: Pelican Publishing, 1983. Print. This research paper on Voodoo Secrets was written and submitted by user Grady Barlow to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Native Son Summary essays

Native Son Summary essays In Native Son, by Richard Wright, the main character is 20 year old Bigger Thomas. Growing up poor, uneducated, and angry at the whole world, it is almost obvious that Bigger is going to have a rough life. Anger, frustration, and violence are habits for him. He is an experienced criminal, and unable to handle with his wild mood swings, Bigger often explodes in fits of crazy, aggressive outrage. Bigger has grown up with the opinion that he simply has no control over his life. In his mind, he cant ever be anything more than an unskilled, low-wage laborer. He is forced to take a job as a chauffeur for the Daltons to avoid having to watch his own family starve. Strangely, Mr. Dalton is Bigger's landlord; he owns most of the company that manages the apartment building where Bigger's family lives. Mr. Dalton and other wealthy real estate men are robbing the poor, black tenants on the South Side. What they do is refuse to rent apartments in other neighborhoods to black tenants. By doing this, they create an fake housing shortage on the South Side, and that causes high rents. Mr. Dalton likes to think of himself as a generous man just because he gives money to black schools and offers jobs to "poor, timid black boys" like Bigger. However, his generosity is only a way for him to get rid of the guilty conscience he has for cheating the poor black Mary Dalton, the daughter of Bigger's Mr. Dalton, angers Bigger when she ignores the "rules" of society when it comes to relationships between white women and black men. On his first day on the job, Bigger drives Mary out to meet her boyfriend, Jan. One thing leads to another, and all three of them get drunk. Mary is too drunk to make it to her bedroom on her own, so Bigger helps her up the stairs. Just as he places Mary on her bed, Mary's bli ...

Business Process Management

Week eight article tends to present the business modeling aspects in a more realistic approach, where there is a complete assertion that a business process modeling is the representative means for business activities, information flow and decision logics in business. Hence, it is asserted that the power of visualization as pertained to the diagrams provided is sufficient as it tends to act as a communication channel for the process and interactions included in between the organization (Harmon, 2014). Therefore, the overall aim of the article is to effectively outline the notion and consent that suits a business process. To effectively discuss this article tends provide process scope diagrams that define the relationship between process and the external surroundings, there is also the process flow diagrams that describe the internal relations. To provide evidence consider the case of the As-is, Could be and To-be process diagrams. The frameworks of these diagrams are built to indicate the weakness or improve consistency in an organization. Therefore, the diagrams tend to present multiple granularity levels that tend to range from the simple depictions of workflow to the simulation and execution of the set process. As a result, it tends to achieve a common understanding regarding business knowledge. Hence, the overall aim of the article is to it drive the designs and implementation of the systems through modeling in business process.   The arguments developed by the article are essential as it defines and shows the benefits the business modeling process has in an organization. Since a business process is the collection of activities ranging from order, review, manufacturing and deliver process as pertained in the article. All this designs play the role of modeling so that there can be production of a certain output for a particular aim. The process modeling process as indicated by the article defines the inputs and outputs for a certain action, thus it implies strong emphasis on how work should be done in any organization. The article has a positive impact as it objectively satisfies our lesson on business process modeling. This tends to be visible based on the diagrams created in article that effectively analyze the business process modeling concerning the many aspects of management that tend to provide a detailed technical nature and process that tends to closely emphasis on the links between quality management and analytical approaches. Hence, it is relevant to state that the frameworks developed on the basis of the diagram satisfy the business process modeling outline, and gives us adequate knowledge of the process. Harmon, P 2014, Business process change: a business process management guide for managers and process professionals, 3rd edn, Morgan Kaufmann-Elsevier, Waltham, MA. Week six journal outlines that setting up business process management as it ensures low cost and maintains high levels of revenue. Therefore, the article is analyzed such that it outlines the process approach to management, identify the key reasons to process standardization, describe the maturity frameworks and model, and identification of the BPM process and identify approach to improve process performance. The article outlines that through conceptualizing of organization system inputs are taken and generate values that is product or services to customers. Hence, for conceptualization there is the need of having a management system whose purpose is to organize and support the effectiveness of the business process. Management occurs in two different instances depending on the role one has in an organization; that is operational and project management (Harmon, 2014). The article also provides us with several management frameworks ranging from PMI, SEI, SCC and ITGI. If we could look at one scenario that is PMI as outlined by the article it tends to distinguish operation management and project management in an organization. In general the article provides a framework that signifies that management should be organized for the purpose of effective business process. Critics from the journal are effective in the sense that the author outlines that business process management as a discipline that combines knowledge pertained to information technology and knowledge from management science and applies the two in the operational business process. Therefore, it creates value for an enterprise by growth, better productivity, staff effectiveness, improved performance and better service delivery. It could also make a business agile in different manners such as streaming of supply operation to reach the global market, accelerating innovation and assistance in the increase of productivity. Therefore, on the basis of the journals discussion business processes tend to be pervasive. As a result, we understand that such processes act as a representation of activities that organizations undertake. Since processes act of different levels of scales, they require certain margins of tailoring. Therefore, we attain the knowledge that when trying to improve the activities one goes and seeks leverage from the advanced methodologies and technologies pertained from this journal for the purpose of consistency and efficiency. Therefore, through BPM it becomes easy to define and manage your business process so as to attain your goals. Harmon, P 2014, Business process change: a business process management guide for managers and process professionals, 3rd edn, Morgan Kaufmann-Elsevier, Waltham, MA. (Chapter   6 and 7)   Week four journal presents the architectural business process as an organizational process containing and the relationships among them. Hence, the problem of interest being perceived is that of understanding how to design structures, were a particular approach in mind can start on the basis of general normative structure that gives a pattern which derives a design (Harmon, 2014). Further argument on value chain shows that it is a process that organizations use for the generation of product or services to a certain group of customers. Hence, each step of chain add is essential for the final value of the product or services. There is also framework development of framed on several proposals that enterprises must use in guiding their architectural designs; such as the Zachman framework. For instance, the Zachman framework tends to be a vital analytical tool which helps one in thinking about the analysis of the enterprise or portion thereof (Harmon, 2014). Relating this to most architect ural process we tend to depart from such architectural designs with the intent of making use of our specific business knowledge which gives us the chance of proposing a precise and detailed pattern for the purpose of support design. On the basis of the journal, we could criticize that the methodology presented here is sufficient as it provides adequate knowledge on how we can integrate designs from architecture to business logic. Hence, it offers diverse requirements and knowledge that is detailed in process models to where application support is explicit, and the mapping requirements of models for business. But, in accordance to the argument of the article ultimate integration has adequate detailed design models that try to avoid instances where limitations may arise. In regards to this article, it has been of benefit as it complements the objectives of the lesson learnt in regards to this topic. For instance, through the use of the same type of models at different abstraction levels in the representation of business architecture, one thing that becomes certain is that the process has offered us component processes that tend to show us how to design details appear in a more fashioned way, and also avoiding of complex representations. Once, we follow the procedures and framework developed by the article it becomes easy to assert that we will have a formalized that there is a logic in our business designs. Harmon, P 2014, Business process change: a business process management guide for managers and process professionals, 3rd edn, Morgan Kaufmann-Elsevier, Waltham, MA. (Chapter   4) Barros,O 2007 "Business processes architecture and design" BPTrends, https://www.bptrends.com/publicationfiles/05-07-ART Business%20Processes%20and%20Design-Barros.pdf  

THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING TO FACILITATE LEARNING FOR CPUT Article

THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING TO FACILITATE LEARNING FOR CPUT UNDERGRADUATE IT STUDENTS - Article Example IT lecturers in the university use social sites such as the facebook and MXit to provide students with learning materials ((Chigona and Dagada, 2011). Most students are comfortable with the social platform serving as a source of learning materials and hosting discussion forums (Dasgupta, 2010). Well managed social networking sites can support learning activities in learning institutions. In this vein, social networking sites can be applied in the learning program of CPUT. The use of social networking sites can enhance learning activities in the university. This paper aims at examining the efficacy of social networks as a learning platform for undergraduate IT students at CPUT. The IT department at CPUT places communication at the core of teaching and learning for IT students in order to develop critical soft skills (Sylvester and Greenidge, 2010). Computer-mediated teaching and learning at the institution enhances communication which facilitates the development of cognitive skills of students (Alcock, 2009). The university resolved to this form of learning due to student under preparedness, lack of student engagement in the classroom, link theory and practice, and to give students the necessary 21st century skills (Greenhow, 2009). Instructors work with students in the classroom and students can the access notes from the social sites. The young generation is more experienced in tactic knowledge sharing tools via the internet that they can apply in class work (Warschauer, 2009). Recent studies indicate that about 79.31 percent of the IT students engaged in virtual learning find the system very convenient. This is due to the fact that social sites are acces sible from different places both in the institution and at home (Knight and Rochon, 2012). Over the past years, virtual learning has gained popularity among the IT students due to its ease of use. The use of technology creates flexibility in the learning process and

Critical Perspective on Contemporary Music Essay

Critical Perspective on Contemporary Music - Essay Example The purpose of this assignment is to critically assess the narrative of contemporary music. The critical assessment will be undertaken by using Bohemian Rhapsody by the rock band Queen as a basis of critique the narrative of contemporary music. Furthermore, different generalities of the course will also be included in the paper to create a background to assessment. Overview of the Course: The overall objective of the course is to understand the sociological, aesthetical and musical context to different genre of music such as jazz, hip hop, alternative rock etc. The outcome that have been predicted and to be achieved by the course is to develop effective critical perspective regarding history of music being produced in the contemporary era. The course allows critical evaluation of the factors that have had a great impact on the contemporary music. These factors include gender, race, class, aesthetics, technology etc (DeVeaux, 1991). Course Design: The course MUS 209 is a systematic le arning protocol regarding contemporary music and its origin. The progress of theoretical framework that backs up the trends in contemporary music is rooted in the history in a profound manner. It is due to this fact that the course involves assignments which allow brainstorming and critical approach towards learning about factors affecting musical trends (DeVeaux, 1991). Context: Likewise any other genre of music such as jazz and hip hop, rock genre has a splendid journey in terms of sound composition, stylistics, aesthetics etc. Rock history dates back to 1950s when the refinement of rock and roll was underway. Rock music was merely taken as a way to show aggression and solitude with high notes and intense lyrics. This majorly affected the way people followed musical trends. Rock stars were fan-followed in terms of fashion. A number of rock bands and artists have evolved over the time and ruled the music charts. Among different rock bands and music, Queen Band has gained significan ce in history of rock music with their single Bohemian Rhapsody. The song became widely famous because of its unusual manner of no chorus whereas songs of that era had chorused compositions. The song included three segments which have been composed as the guitar solo, ballad and operative hard rock section. The single was considered as the most expensive single as special consideration was given to the production of song. The rock Band became a success in different musical chart ratings as they introduced variation in the trend of rock music (DeVeaux, 1991). The sociological context of the song is that it reflects experiences of people who have been through times of need that they had to commit crime. The song was one of the influential songs of its time that a great deal of literature regarding crime and mental health made use of the lyrical message of the song. It was because the lyrics of song projecting a young man who murdered man out of circumstances and not for rivalry. The m urderer or the narrator of the song has been illustrated as a person who is apologizing to all for his act and assures that he did not want kill humanity. He has affirmed that he has killed and now his soul will is ready to be surrendered. The song Bohemian Rhapsody was written by Freddie Mercury which ultimately conventional manner of songwriting. The performance of the song was never observed live because there were number vocal parts of the songs that were composed

Our freedom to make ethical choices is only an apparent freedom Essay Example for Free

Our freedom to make ethical choices is only an apparent freedom Essay Agent Smyth: Why, Mr. Anderson? Why do you do it? Why get up? Why keep fighting? Do you believe youre fighting for something? For more than your survival? Can you tell me what it is? Do you even know? Is it freedom? Or truth? Perhaps peace? Yes? No? Could it be for love? Illusions, Mr. Anderson. Vagaries of perception. The temporary constrects of a feeble human intellect trying to desperately to justify an existence that is without meaning or purpose. And all of them as artificial as the Matrix itself, although only a human mind could invent something as insipid as love. You must be able to see it, Mr. Anderson. You must know it by now. You cant win. Its pointless to keep fighting. Why, Mr. Anderson? Why? Why do you persist?! Neo: Because I choose to. In every person the most basic desire of all is to be free, being able to act at will, not under compulsion or restraint. As I democratic society, we like to think of ourselves of being 100% free, but we are not. In every choice we make there are compulsions and restraints inflicting on the choices we have ever made from the beginning. The older and more independent we appear to be the more of these constraints we are compelled with. These choices we make can be applied to morality. There are many ways in which our freedom, in reality, is limited. By law we are restricted to acts that systems of government deem acceptable. Social acceptance means the majority to act within a bracket of normality and within bounds of what is socially acceptable. If I wanted to go to school naked on every Friday I would socially and lawfully be unable to this. Therefore I am not free to express myself due to external laws forced upon me against my free will. However even though these laws are in place I still have the power to break them therefore making me free. Merovingian: Please Mon Cherie, I have told you, we are all victims of causality. I drank too much wine, I must take a piss. Cause, and effect. Au revoir. Causality also means that I a person can never truly become free. If I already know the consequences of an action then my choice has already confined. For example I would like to throw microwaves off motorway bridges but I know that this may cause innocent motorists to die therefore I dont. The mind with which we make our decisions has been influenced by a whole range of external factors. These must reduce our moral responsibility and hence be restricting of true freedom. Personal and psychological differences within people will provide them with different abilities and hence different freedoms and limitations. People can only act in the way that their personalities allow them, by causing them to react to situations in a specific way. But what if free will is non-existent and we are only convinced we have self-control because devices in fact control us beyond our own perception. In this case everything is pre determined and the choices we face are pre decided for us leaving us with the illusion that we have chosen ourselves and decided our own fate; exercised free will. Morpheus: Everything begins with choice. Merovingian: No, wrong. Choice is an illusion created between those with power, and those without Hard determinism, considers everything in the present to be directly caused by events that preceded them. Everything including the actions we take and the choices we make are caused directly by another event. Each human mind is the product of its experiences and in every situation will react according to what it has learnt, in a similar way to a computer that has been programmed. However this links back with responsibility, if a human was already pre destined to perform a certain task they should receive no praise for correctness in taking the action, as what they have done was done not out of free will, but because they were programmed, or already decided. The action says nothing about the moral worth of the person as it had an external cause, and was not done through free will and intention. The hard determinist view that everything is decided by a constant line of causes, and that humans are not free simply because every thing we supposedly decide is already caused and so determined, ultimately means that human free will is an illusion. Free will is something we feel we experience when making decisions and choosing but is really non-existent, the actions we partake in are already set and what we feel we decide is irrelevant to anything that actually happens. For example if I sat down in a room I would be free to step out of until I realised the door was locked. I am free to make this choice but when but my choice is irrelevant as I unable to do anything about it. Determinism removes this moral responsibility and so removes ethical decisions. However with freedom comes responsibility. Libertarianism presents the opposite idea that we are completely free therefore giving people total moral responsibility. The existence of human free will are largely based on the defined different between ones personality and ones moral self. While we have a sense of freedom, a sense deliberating over our options. Because of this, they would argue that universal causation is not necessarily relevant to human actions. They do not deny any influence to the human mind that could have an effect on the way in which one might act, but they claim that there is still a large aspect of freedom of choice involved. Oracle: Bingo! It is a pickle, no doubt about it. Bad news is theres no way if you can know whether Im really here to help you or not. So its really up to you. You just have to make up your own dam mind to either accept what Im going to tell you or reject it. Candy? Neo: Do you already know if Im going to take it? Oracle: Wouldnt be much of an Oracle if I didnt. Neo: But if you already know, how can I make a choice? Oracle: Because you didnt come here to make the choice, youve already made it. Youre here to understand why you made it. I thought youdve figured that out by now. Neo: Why are you here? Oracle: Same reason. I love candy. Libertarians views are idealistic they provides to us with the ultimate goal of being totally free. But if take this freedom then we should also be prepared to accept the responsibility that comes hand to hand with. For example if I allow my son to watch pornography involving a 15 year old and he turns out to be a paedophile than I would be totally to blame for these consequences. As with all workable theories finding the right balance is essential. Soft determinism is the third deterministic view and one where determinism and free will are completely compatible. It describes that we are morally responsible for our action although some are determined. Therefore the decisions we are free and able to make in our own minds count as the causes by which everything is made to occur. The midway position suggests that some of our actions are conditioned while others have a complex number of causes. For example there could be a number of reason why someone does not eat food, whether it be a diet, religious beliefs, famine or lack of money. Real freedom, in the question seems to suggest the freedom to take these fully conscious, and reasoned ethical decisions without relying a higher power. To conclude I believe that as human beings we are not free. Our behaviour and morals will always be determined social acceptance, laws, causality, and upbringing. However we have the power in ourselves to break down these constraints and become free, if a door is locked then break it down, if I want to throw microwaves of motorways then I will do so. When we become totally free this leads to anarchy and chaos. When it comes down to it is not a case of whether we are free or not it is whether we choose to be. Architect: Precisely. As you are undoubtedly gathering, the anomaly is systemic, creating fluctuations in even the most simplistic equations. TV Screens: You cant control me! Im gonna smash you to f***ing bits, Im gonna show you, you cant make me do anything. Neo: Choice, the problem is choice

Understanding Emma :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Emma, who is extremely wealthy and very beautiful and the youngest of two daughters lived twenty one years without a trouble to bother her. She was the mistress of her house in Highbury because her mother died when Emma was very young. The governess of the Woodhouse home Miss Taylor was very close to all three girls but, very close to Emma. Miss Taylor finally decided to marry Mr. Weston, the owner of Randalls.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the wedding her father said that he is extremely upset that Mrs. Taylor married Mr. Weston. Emma admited to her father that she is rather pleased that Miss. Taylor has married Mr. Weston. It was Emma’s idea to get the two acquainted. Emma’s papa asks her to not make any more matches and foretell things, and tells her that everything she says always comes to pass. Emma replied to her papa that she will not make any matches for herself but she must for other people. She told him that matching couples is a great amusement to her. She continues to boast about her success. Her father begs her again not to make any matches and Emma pleaded for his permission to make a match with Mr. Elton. Mr. Knightly who is the elder brother of Emma’s sister’s husband tried to make Emma think that she should not make any more matches and he told her that a man can take care of himself. Mr. Frank Churchill who is the son of Mr. Weston is the talk of t he town. He rarely comes to visit his father in Highbury but when Mr. Weston got married, Mr. Churchill attended.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Emma had made a friends with a girl named Harriet who is a student at the boarding school, and has made a very good name for herself in the town. The girls would take walks together daily and talk . Occasionally, Harriet talked about a man named Robert Martin, Emma often wondered who he was. Harriet told Emma that she was very fond of Mr. Martin and may marry him. Emma tried to convince Harriet that she should not marry below her social status because she has made a good name for herself here. Emma mentioned Mr. Elton to Harriet and asks her what she thought of him. Harriet admitted that she had always been fond Mr. Elton and found him agreeable. Emma was fixed on putting Mr.

Primary School and Typical Young Kid Essay

I can remember one event in my grade school days that I did not like. You could say it being one of my worst days of my life. I was in the fifth grade, in a school in Clovis, NM. This school believed in paddling if you got in trouble. The teacher I had, acted like he love to enforce this rule. He would tell us, every time we acted out, that he was going to paddle us as he waved his paddle in the air. We were told to do homework for the weekend and to bring it back on the next Monday. I didn’t want to do this long homework assignment, I wanted to go play with my friends and play video games. I was a typical young kid; I just wanted to have fun. That whole weekend I did not touch that assignment. I don’t even think I took my homework out from my backpack. The Moring of that Monday I completely forgot about my homework. When I got to school and sat down at my desk, the teacher asked â€Å"Who did their homework†? Most of the class raised their hands; I was not one of them. The teacher told for the ones that did not do their work have to stay in for recess and finish it. That just made me mad; I wasn’t allowed to go play with my friends. When recess time came and when my friends went out to play, I just stared out the window and refused to do my work. About the time recess was over and the class was coming in, the teacher walked in and told us to bring our work to his desk in front of the class. There was only two of use that gave him a blank assignment. He didn’t take that to well, as he grabbed both papers and directed us to follow him to the office. At the office he looked up for our parent’s numbers from the school records. When he called my step mom and told her what I did he asked if it was ok to discipline me, if he couldn’t do it than she was to come and do it herself. He hanged up the phone with only the word â€Å"Ok† and then he took both of us out in the hall and paddled us both with two swings each across our bottoms. I did not like that school day, I never saw that teacher the same way after that incident. It made me be aware of my actions. From that day I made sure I did all my work. I didn’t want to get paddle again. It was a very cruel way to punish but it was a very infected to make the kids listen.

Powerlessness in the face of evil Essay

Most People have experienced, at one time or another, the frustration of simply not being able to escape a thought. If it is merely a song that keeps going through our mind, or a positive or neutral image, the problem is just that: frustration. But when it is an evil idea, our inability to throw it off, no matter what a person do, may drive into great inner need. For some people, it is a question of envy or jealousy; others are tormented by mistrust and spiteful thoughts; still others seem to struggle unendingly with lustful images and ideas.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Two things are very important in our life. First, we should remember that we are not alone in our struggle. It is easy to forget this, especially when our inner struggle is long or intense. The struggle is a universal one, and may be overcome at least in part by sharing it with someone the afflicted person trusts, whether a pastor or priest, a spouse, a mentor, or a close friend. Second, people must remain reassured that there is a way out. Once people give in to the demons of self doubt and fear, the battle has already been lost. It is a general belief that the feeling of paralysis or powerlessness in the face of evil lies, close to being possessed. It may even be possession. One needs to exercise caution in using the word—there is a state in which people might feel besieged by evil spirits, yet do not let them take full possession of us. What the New Testament calls possession comes about when a person is completely dominated by the power of evil. But one must recognize that there are people today in such a condition.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In a world where everything is explained away by psychology and psychiatry, it seems tempting to dismiss the idea of possession. People have a medical label for every ill and, it seems, a cure. Yet there are so many people for whom psychiatry is ultimately of no help! One has often wondered that would happen if Jesus were to visit our overflowing mental hospitals. Suppression   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Though some evil thoughts can be easily dismissed (or overcome by a short prayer), others are much harder to expel. In the case of such â€Å"besetting† evil thoughts, our natural reaction is often suppression: to push the offending idea back down, deep into our subconscious, in order to rid ourselves of it quickly. But that never works. As Freud and countless others have shown, a suppressed thought will always resurface, just like a corked bottle that is pushed below the water but bobs up again as soon as it is released. The only alternative—to continue with the picture of bottle—is to grasp it and throw it out of the water altogether. In other words, the most effective way to truly rid our mind of a suppressed thought is to face it squarely and reject it. God the Creator and Creation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As a weak, despised, persecuted community who followed a crucified Messiah, the first Christians knew all too well in their own experience that after Easter Sunday the powers of darkness were still at work in and around them. But because they remembered the power of God that raised Jesus form the dead and made him to be not only their Lord but the Lord of the whole world, they were sure that however powerful the forces of evil may be, however much damage they may still do, they are doomed to failure in their attempt to take a throne that does not belong to them. These Christians, therefore, looked forward to the future with the absolute certainty that the justice and love of God that had been victorious would finally be victorious both in their own lives and in the world around them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The early Christians’ memory of Jesus’ resurrection also led them to remember the cross of Christ in a new way. It became for them a sign not only of Jesus’ (and God’s) powerlessness in the in the face of evil but also a sign of love of Jesus (and God), which was so great that he (and the God who sent him) was willing to suffer and even die for needy, suffering, sinful people. If the memory of Jesus’ resurrection meant confidence in God’s liberating power over the powers of evil, the memory of Jesus’ cross meant confidence in the self-giving, suffering love of a Christ (and God) that was present with them even in the depths of their suffering and dying. It meant that nothing could separate us from the â€Å"love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   James Charlesworth, with many others, sees apocalypticism as resulting from a collapse in the world of meaning. The apocalyptic texts are a lament over the failure of ordinary historical process to resolve human problems. They are a eulogy over an exhausted, worn-out earth and the present age of suffering, and they culminate in a vision of a new age in which â€Å"the wolf shall live with the lamb† and peace will prevail throughout the world. One side of Hebraic apocalypticism is irenic and conciliatory—the nations will finally be at peace with one another—while the other side is warlike and vengeful—the enemies of god’s people (either all Gentiles or some of them) will suffer ultimate defeat and receive punishment for their sins. Reactions to apocalypticism have varied, but a common modern repose is to see it as escapist. It tells that though the present world is filled with incredible evil, there is a realm beyond where God triumphs, the righteous flourish, and the wicked suffer. Once again, the lines are somewhat blurry in as much as the classical Hebrew prophets all announced that ultimate salvation was God’s work and not a human accomplishment. Apocalypticism is in effect an intensification of the sense of human powerlessness in the face of evil. Discerning the Divine   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first Christians remembered Jesus, the tragic and innocent victim of evil who cried, â€Å"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?† only to remember also that Jesus later had been raised by God’s power, victorious over the worst that evil could do. Christ is risen! From the beginning there were signs among believers that the Spirit of Jesus was inaugurating the kingdom of life in the face of the still present kingdom of death. The reality if resurrection provided a new way of viewing the cross of Jesus. More than a sign of God’s powerlessness in the face of evil, the cross became a sign of God’s amazing love that transforms the worst of evil into the fullness of life. Faith in a just and loving God is not based on good or bad experience in the immediate present.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One helpful answer to the troubling question Why is there evil if God is good and all-powerful? It is called the â€Å"logic of love† theodicy. This logic presumes that God originally created for the sake of enabling loving relationships, a purpose requiring the granting of real freedom to the created. God will love, but in the process open the door to the potentially wrong use of freedom, which is evil (â€Å"live† spelled backward). Thus, â€Å"though God does not protect us from ourselves, God is there redeeming every situation, though exactly how, we may not yet always know. Works cited Arnold, Heini. Arnold, Heinrich, J. Freedom from Sinful Thoughts. Plough Publishing House1997. pg. 33-35 Callen, L, Barry. Discerning the Divine: God in Christian Theology.   Geneva: Westminster John Knox Press 2004. pg. 134 Guthrie, C, Shirley. Christian Doctrine. Geneva: Westminster John Knox Press pg. 186 McClymond, James, Michael. Familiar Stranger: An Introduction to Jesus of Nazareth. WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing 2004. pg. 70

3 Cases of Repetitive Punctuation

3 Cases of Repetitive Punctuation 3 Cases of Repetitive Punctuation 3 Cases of Repetitive Punctuation By Mark Nichol In each of the sentences below, the number of commas is excessive, which can obscure comprehension because the reader is distracted from effortlessly recognizing the syntactical structure of the statement. Discussion and a revision follows each example. 1. The next step is to escalate the issue to the executive management, including the CEO, and, through appropriate channels, the board of directors. When repetition of commas or other punctuation marks within a sentence is overbearing, recast the sentence or, as shown here, change punctuation marks to reduce the number of identical occurrences: â€Å"The next step is to escalate the issue to the executive management (including the CEO) and, through appropriate channels, the board of directors.† 2. They will need to exercise their own judgment when considering whether a lower threshold is appropriate for a portion, or all, of their customers, which, again, may lead to inconsistent practices across the industry. If a word or phrase signals an abrupt or unexpected shift in a sentence, a dash is likely a more appropriate substitute when too many commas burden a sentence: â€Å"They will need to exercise their own judgment when considering whether a lower threshold is appropriate for a portion, or all, of their customers- which, again, may lead to inconsistent practices across the industry.† 3. The entrance of nontraditional competitors, such as fintech, or financial technology, companies into the financial services industry, is driving this recent evolution. The primary parenthesis in this sentence is misidentified: The phrase â€Å"or financial technology† is inserted into the parenthetical phrase â€Å"such as fintech companies,† which expands on the main clause â€Å"The entrance of nontraditional competitors into the financial services industry is driving this recent evolution.† The parenthesis should therefore end at companies, not industry: â€Å"The entrance of nontraditional competitors, such as fintech, or financial technology, companies, into the financial services industry is driving this recent evolution.† However, the proximity of punctuation here is oppressive, and punctuation isn’t always required when additional information is inserted into a sentence; the statement is equally intelligible as punctuated here: â€Å"The entrance of nontraditional competitors such as fintech, or financial technology, companies into the financial services industry is driving this recent evolution.† 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:Avoid Beginning a Sentence with â€Å"With†50 Nautical Terms in General UsePreposition Mistakes #3: Two Idioms

Shake the salt habit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Shake the salt habit - Essay Example The sodium in the American diet does not significantly come from the saltshakers but in the abundance of processed food consumption. It should be noted sodium is usually used to enhance the flavor, stabilize, and preserve processed food. Accordingly, sodium intake can be reduced by opting fresh, whole food closest to their natural state. Another option is to look for canned food which are sodium-free or with reduced-sodium content. The DASH (Dietary Approach to Solving Hypertension) eating plan, which prescribes a diet comprised of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy food, and food with limited saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium, is clinically proven to dramatically reduce blood pressure by infusing enough levels of potassium in the body to counter the effects of sodium. It has been verified by the Tulane University Health Science Center that adequate potassium intake may lower systolic blood pressure by 3 points and diastolic by 2 points. The level of sodium in the body as well as its effect is tied to an individual's physiological sensitivity to salt.

Tableau de bord Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Tableau de bord - Essay Example The study has selected Balance Score Card over other performance measurement due to its popularity. Detailed analysis of all the four perspectives of balance scorecard will be important part of the study. In the second part, the study will try to identify key performance driver for both the models and recommend â€Å"best practice† to organizations. The study will try to analyze usefulness of balance scorecard from the view point of supply chain management. Analyzing shortfalls of Tableau de Bord will be an important part of the study. The study will try to address strategic issues regarding the Tableau de Bord. In the last section, the study will try to recommend a neo classical model of balance scorecard for both profit and non profit organizations; the model will describe performance measurement in terms of corporate culture, managerial system, operational system, marketing activities and resource capabilities. Table of Contents Table of Contents 3 Introduction 4 Main Findi ngs 4 Balanced Scorecard 4 Customers 5 Financial Perspective 5 Internal Business Process 7 Learning and Growth 8 Tableau de bord 8 Key Performance Criteria 10 Conclusion 12 Recommendation 12 Reference 13 Introduction It has been observed that companies planning to measure performance of the internal and external stakeholders opt for Balance Scorecard model proposed by Kaplan and Norton although there are plenty of performance measurement tools available such as Performance Prism, Key performance indicator and little known â€Å"Tableau de bord†. Othman (2008) has pointed out that Balance Scorecard is extended version of â€Å"Tableau de bord† while other research have nullified this assumption. â€Å"Tableau de bord† is widely used in countries like France as an effective performance measurement tool while the model has very little applicability in other countries. Flamholtz (2003) has pointed out that balance scorecard is the best performance measurement tool a vailable for managers. Various research scholars such as Epstein and Manzoni (2010) have tried to create a connecting bridge between Balance Scorecard and â€Å"Tableau de bord† while others have criticized the French model for its limitations. Main Findings Balanced Scorecard Research scholars have described balanced scorecard as a strategic option for organizations which helps them to assess performance of different non financial and financial elements. It provides the strategic framework to companies to measure performance variables. Survey conducted by fortune magazine states that more than half of top 500 companies in the globe are using balanced scorecard as a performance measurement technique. Moreover, Harvard business Review has identified balanced scorecard as the most important performance management tool developed in the last forty years. Balance scorecard is complemented with four elements such as Business Process Perspective, Learning & Growth Perspective, Finan cial Perspective and Customer Perspective. The model measures performance on the basis of above mentioned four perspectives and these performance criterions can be explained in the following manner. Customers The model measures performance gap in terms of customer profitability, customer retention rate, churn rate, customer satisfaction level. Organizations select market segment to offer products in order to achieve profitability and business growth hence mangers need to translate marketing strategy according to demand of particular segment. It has been observed that in many cases companies fail to maintain relationship with internal and external stakeholders. In such situation balance scorecard can be a useful tool for companies to adopt a customer relationship strategy. Balance scorecards use generic