Saturday, May 23, 2020

The Day Is Done Poem Analysis - 941 Words

In Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s short poem, â€Å"The Day is Done,† the reader is given a glimpse of the Romantic era of American poetry. Structurally, it does contain many elements of this era, namely the playful usage of verse or rhyme schemes. However, this is where Longfellow’s work seems to end in relation to typical Romantic poetry. Upon further examination of this poem, the execution of subject matter does not seem to fit a typical Romantic era poems. Since Romantic poems overly gush with inner thoughts and sublimation, Longfellow seems to take a different route by, executing a sense of dreadfulness and depression. Upon reading this poem, The Day is Done†, I explore why a person of this era may have felt such disheartenment for the day’s†¦show more content†¦As Longfellow continues, he requests someone to come read to him any poem that is more â€Å"simple and heartfelt† which could help him wind down from the events of the day . Longfellow expresses that this poem need not be from grand old masters of the sublime and wishes for a reading from â€Å"some humbler poet, Whose songs gush from his heart† (Longfellow575). I feel a connection to this passage in that Longfellow longs for something more inspiring. As I mentioned above, being in such a strict household, it also lends itself to an over-abundance of seeking inspiration through the lens of Christianity. Going through these same motions, hearing the same passages and scriptures, it became somewhat of a challenge to find any inspiration at all. However, I can recall when my parents had visitors, who were not religious zealots, being quite refreshing. Instead of the typical bible thumping, scripture spouting sessions, I used to welcome the change of hearing about an exciting deer hunt or about a sporting event that someone attended. It was the liveliness of the conversations that compelled me to try to stay in the guests’ company as long a s my parents would allow, which wasn’t very long. However, I would embrace the entertaining discussions topics that, were beyond my ability experience but would gain enlightenment of how â€Å"normal people† lived their lives. . In contrast to these ideas IShow MoreRelatedThe Day Is Done Poem Analysis1005 Words   |  5 PagesExplication of â€Å"The Day is Done† by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow The poem â€Å"The Day is Done,† by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, discusses an exhausted speaker’s wish to hear the work of a simple poet with the expectation that this will relieve his tired state. The steady, calming pace and slightly wistful tone provide the perfect background for the beautiful imagery of this poem, expressed through similes and figurative language. ‘The Day is Done† includes comments on reputation, life’s struggles, andRead MoreComparing Modern And Traditional Poems1359 Words   |  6 PagesModern and Traditional Poems Literature always reflects the reality in the contemporary world. There have been a number of poetic creations from remarkable writers who could skillfully fabricate works which echo the multidimensional aspects of the existing world. However, apart from considering a poem’s worth by linking to its social and cultural contexts, an independent analysis is quite possible. It is in this context that a deep textual analysis of the formal features of the poems becomes significantRead MoreAt Castlewood Emily Bronte Analysis1142 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Jackie Bako Mrs. Boyd AP English IV 15 September 2013 Poetry Analysis Paper Emily Brontà «, born in Yorkshire, the fifth child of six children. Growing up, she always had a keen interest in writing poetry. With her collection of different poems, At Castle Wood was one. In Brontà « s poem, At Castle Wood, she establishes a sorrowful theme through the use of imagery, Brontà « s tone of somber throughout her poem and also her use of end rhyme, for the purpose of creating a simple yet powerfulRead MoreA Poison Tree Analysis Essay977 Words   |  4 PagesRunning head: Analysis of William Blake’s A Poison Tree (1794) Analysis of William Blake’s A Poison Tree (1794) Jayne Courtney Kendall Brandman University Abstract This analysis is going to explore each segment to better understand the meaning the author was trying to express and the lessons that we in these words that transcends through all ages. The exploration and analysis will look further in to what we can take away from this writing and lesson we can learn in order for our soul’sRead MoreWilliam Blake Songs of Innocence Experience1256 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"The Chimney Sweeper† Songs of Innocence amp; Experience analysis with, William Blake In 1794 William Blake’s work was known and published as a collection of poems that were put together as one book called Songs of innocence amp; Songs of Experience. In the collection Blake titles a poem, â€Å"The Chimney Sweeper†, and this one is viewed in two ways: Innocence and experience. In the book of innocence Blake shows how poor innocent children are being abused and mistreated during this time era. In SongsRead MoreEssay about The Influence of the Common Scotish Life on Robert Burns1353 Words   |  6 Pageschildren† (The Calgary Burns Club) In order to make a living the Burns family had to become farmers in order to bring in a larger salary to keep afloat. Back in that day and time the whole family had to work together to bring in wages. Robert Burns was the oldest of the family and so he had to work by his father’s side. Most of his poems were about the natural world, and was influenced heavily by the outdoor work. Henry Mackenzie described Bur ns as a â€Å"Heaven-taught ploughman.† (BBC News) But we mustRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem I Was The Hardest Paper For Me 899 Words   |  4 Pagesif I was going to have another situation like in my literary analysis. I found that I often discouraged myself several times why writing. The paper I want to focus on in this reflection is my Analysis paper. The analysis paper was by far the hardest paper for me. Not because I did not know how to do it or even for the simple fact that I did not want to do it. I was hard because I could not figure out which way I wanted to portray the poem I decided to work with. During the writing I found myself startingRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Alfred s Ulysses 1043 Words   |  5 PagesCharacter Analysis of Alfred Tennyson s Ulysses I soon researched the character ‘Ulysses’ after reading the poem written by Alfred Lord Tennyson. In my research on the character of Ulysses, I discovered there are different aspects that can be looked at from different viewpoints of which can affect whether you see him as Ulysses the hero, or as Ulysses the man. Lending to the reality that even though somebody may be your hero, he is still human underneath. In my analysis of the character UlyssesRead More Analysis of Out, Out by Robert Frost Essay591 Words   |  3 PagesAnalysis of Out, Out by Robert Frost Robert Frost tells a disturbing story in Out, Out, --, in which a little boy loses his life. The title of the poem leaves the reader to substitute the last word of the title, which some would assume would be out because of the repetition. The title is referring to the boy exiting the living world. Frost drags the readers mind into the poem with the imagistic description of the tools and atmosphere the little boy is surrounded by. Frost describesRead MoreAnalysis of I wondered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth1309 Words   |  6 PagesIn vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my hearth with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils. Analysis: Wordsworth had nature as his religion, and that was the main theme of his work and also a characteristic of romanticism. And it’s also very clear on this poem. As literary devices, we have Alliteration on the second line of the first stanza, alliteration and assonance on the fifth line of the first stanza and personification

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Complete List of Transition Words

Once you have completed the first draft of your paper, you will need to rewrite some of the introductory sentences at the beginning and  the transition statements at the end of every paragraph. Transitions, which connect one idea to the next, may seem challenging at first, but they get easier once you consider the many possible methods for linking paragraphs together—even if they seem to be unrelated. Transition words and phrases  can help your paper move along, smoothly gliding from one topic to the next.  If you have trouble thinking of a way to connect your paragraphs, consider a few  of these 100 top transitions as inspiration. The type of transition words or phrases you use depends on the category of transition you need, as explained below. Additive Transitions Probably the most common type, additive transitions are those  you use when you want to show that the current point is an addition to the previous  one, notes  Edusson, a website that provides students with essay-writing tips and advice. Put another way, additive transitions signal to the reader that you are adding to an idea and/or your ideas are similar, says  Quizlet, an online teacher and student learning community. Some examples of additive transition words and phrases were compiled by Michigan State University  writing lab. Follow each transition word or phrase with a comma: IndeedIn the first placeAndOrTooNorFurtherMoreoverFurthermoreIn factLet aloneAlternativelyAs well (as this)What is moreIn addition (to this)ActuallyMuch lessOn the other handEither (neither)As a matter of factBesides (this)To say nothing ofAdditionallyNot to mention (this)Not only (this) but also (that) as wellIn all honestyTo tell the truth An example of  additive transitions used in a sentence would be: In the first place, no burning in the sense of combustion, as in the burning of wood, occurs in a volcano;  moreover, volcanoes are not necessarily mountains;  furthermore, the activity takes place not always at the summit but more commonly on the sides or flanks....– Fred Bullard,  Volcanoes in History, in Theory, in Eruption In this and the examples of transitions  in subsequent sections, the transition words or phrases are printed in italics to make them easier to find as you peruse the passages. Adversative Transitions Adversative transitions are used to signal conflict, contradiction, concession, and dismissal says Michigan State University. Examples include: ButHoweverOn the other handIn contrastWhileWhereasConverselyEven moreAbove allBut even soNeverthelessNonethelessAlthoughThoughHowever(And) still(And) yetEither wayIn either case(Or) at leastWhichever happensWhatever happensIn ether event An example of an adversative transition phrase used in a sentence would be: On the other hand, professor Smith completely disagreed with the authors argument. Causal Transitions Causal transitions—also called cause-and-effect transitions—show how certain circumstances or events were caused by other factors, says Academic Help. The website that offers assistance with academic writing adds: They (causal transitions) make it easier for the reader to follow the logic of the arguments and clauses represented in paper. Examples include: AccordinglyAnd soAs a resultConsequentlyFor this reasonHenceSoThenThereforeThusGranting (that)On the condition (that)In the event thatAs a result (of this)Because (of this)As a consequenceConsequentlyIn consequenceSo  much (so) thatFor the purpose ofWith this intentionWith this in mindUnder those circumstancesThat being the caseThen An example of a causal transition used in a sentence would be: The study of human chromosomes is in its infancy,  and so  it has only recently become possible to study the effect of environmental factors upon them.–Rachel Carson, Silent Spring Sequential Transitions Sequential transitions express a numerical sequence, continuation, conclusion, digression, resumption, or summation, says Michigan State, which gives these examples: In the (first, second, third, etc.) placeTo begin withTo start withInitiallySecondlyNextSubsequentlyBeforeAfterwardAfter thisTo conclude withAs a final pointLast but not leastTo change the topicIncidentallyBy the wayTo get back to the pointTo resumeAnyhowAs was previously statedSoIn shortThusIn sumFinally An example of a sequential transition would be: We should teach that words are not the things to which they refer. We should teach that words are best understood as convenient tools for handling reality....Finally, we should teach widely that new words can and should be invented if the need arises.–Karol Janicki, Language Misconceived In sum, use transition words and phrases judiciously to keep your paper moving, hold your readers attention, and retain your audience until the final word.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

English Doc Free Essays

Heda Margolius Kovaly who wrote â€Å"Under a Cruel Star† writes about her horrible, suffering and tragedy life she endured first in the Nazi communist rule in her citizen Czechoslovakia. She was born in Prague to a Jewish family. She was young at the time when the Germany attacked Czechoslovakia during the World War II. We will write a custom essay sample on English Doc or any similar topic only for you Order Now Heda was in concentration camps during the World War II she escaped from the Nazi, she hardly survived, but her family died. At the end of the war; she returned to Prague and took part in uprising against the Germany in May 1945, she got married to an old friend, named Rudolf Margolius who is Jewish too. I will be writing about how Heda Kovaly suffered under the Nazism and had high hope for communism, how she view freedom and how it changed after her life changed too. Moreover, how Rudolf trial changed her life. Heda suffered a lot to escape from the camps, but her insists and demand to be free were more powerful than her fear of dead. â€Å"People often ask me: How did you manage? To survive the camps! To escape! Everyone assumes it is easy to die but that the struggle to live requires a superhuman effort. Mostly it is the other way around. There is, perhaps, nothing harder than waiting passively for death. Staying alive is simple and natural and does not require any particular resolve. †(16). Towards the end of the war, Heda managed to escape from a death march to Bergen-Belsen and get to Prague. She fought for her personal freedom, but freedom perspective changed when she escaped from Nazi concentration then by joining the communist party thinking Friends were too scared of the punishments they would face if they helped her and she was wandered around the city for days trying to avoid arrest. After the end of World War II was ended the soviets had taken over Czechoslovakia Kovaly meaning of freedom change as her life changes. She united with her beloved Rudolph who got married and had son. They were struggling to find a house after they were sent to camps. At the end they were given a small apartment. Kovaly explains â€Å"although we continually hoped for freedom, our concept of freedom changed. † (60). Her concept of freedom before imprisonment was that it was â€Å"natural and self – evident. â€Å"By the end of their time in the camps, many prisoners came to accept the view that freedom is something that has to be earned and fought for, a privilege that is awarded, like a medal. (60-61). She clarified how it was impossible for the Czech people not to become â€Å"somewhat twisted†. Kovaly had fought for her personal freedom when she had escaped. From her experience and the problems she faced while she was escaping the camp, made her well aware of the politics around her. She was very intelligent and had her own opinion and she acknowledged the fact that â€Å"Our democracy had allowed the growth of the fascist and Nazi parties which in the end destroyed it† (57). She clarified that people were willing to work extremely hard to achieve their goal, that they want to rebuild the world. She always mentions how hard her husband worked to the party and many innocent people were thrown in jail. Heda’s life was different from all the other people in Czechoslovakia, because she was married to a man who was enrolled in the government administration. She had a unique point of view into the communist working government because her husband was a deputy minister in Czechoslovakian government. That helped Heda a lot to see the hypocrisies How to cite English Doc, Essay examples

Friday, May 1, 2020

Business Initiate Risk Management

Question: Discuss about the report for Business of Initiate Risk Management. Answer: Purpose and Support of the Risk Management standard AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 The risk management standard ISO 31000:2009 stands for providing principles and guidelines on risk management (Iso.org 2016). The standard can be applied in an organization throughout their operations, strategies, processes, functions, projects, assets, services and activities. The main purpose of the standard is to help an organization achieve resilience (Bostonconsulting.com.au. 2016). The guide shall help the organization recover quickly from the tough times. The guide shall help an organization attain proactive management that prepares them for risks or circumstances that would cause loss. The guide shall help the manager in thinking ahead and plan for the worse (Bsigroup.com. 2016). The guide assists decision-makers in understanding and implementing risk management strategies. The principles mentioned in the guide shall help in gaining the stakeholders trust and confidence. The managers can make rational decisions and plan accordingly. The standard also has greater certainty in the prevailing market conditions (Iso.org 2016). Key Elements Application of framework for risk management- One of the critical elements of risk management is to develop strategy. The top-level managers can develop a coherent strategy by utilizing the available resources through financial derivatives (uwa.edu.au. 2016). Principles for managing risk- The guide shall help in creating value by taking into consideration the overall decision making process. The strategy shall be structured and systematic (org.au. 2016). Enhanced risk management attributes- The organization shall fully be accountable for developing controls. The organization shall also lay emphasis on continuous improvement in the risk management process (gov.au. 2016). Guide to establishing and implementing effective risk management process- The guide shall be helpful in establishing efficient risk management process as it identifies risk and stakeholders. The other steps for risk management and reporting shall be based on the establishment of context and risk identification (Iso.org 2015). Risk management context- Risk management shall involve continuous identification of risks that emerge. Allowances shall be made for the risks that do not exist as soon as they shall be taken care of (org.au. 2016). Scope of Risk Management: Blue Horizons flagship caf in Hay Street has the opportunity to expand itself and manage new store in Red Hill. The scope of risk management for Blue Horizon business is to identify risks and reporting the same to the CEO providing recommendations. The risk management strategy shall be applied at all levels of the organization such as operations, strategies, processes, functions, projects, assets, services and activities. The different functions of the business such as human resources, occupational health and hazards (OHS), local governance and compliance issues shall be assessed. The strategy shall harmonize the processes in existing and future (Wiewiora et al. 2013). The risk management report shall identify the critical success factors so that the success or efficiency can be assessed based on the identified variables. The scope of the report also extends to the identification of relevant internal and external stakeholders with their role in the process. Risk identification is the first and foremost step in the risk management process. Based on the risk identification, the risks shall be analyzed, evaluated, treated, monitored and communicated (Agarwal et al. 2013). Critical Success Factors Communication- Good communication is extremely important. The board of directors must communicate the expectations to the senior management. The senior management must communicate with the caf employees. The caf employees must put their issues forward to the management (Chong 2014). Support and commitment from top level management- The top management plays a critical role in making decisions and managing risks. The top management influences the success level of the organization. The business process change shall be authorized by the top management (Young Conboy 2013). Organizational culture- The culture plays a critical role. The culture of existing Stirlings Caf might be different from Blue Horizon and it is necessary to adapt to the new organizational culture (Verbano Venturini 2013). Organizational structure- The current structure of Blue Horizon consists of Board of Directors, senior management team and the caf employees. The new structure may be different in pattern, authority and communication (Subramaniam et al. 2015). Information technology infrastructure- The organization shall consider IT as a basis of information and connector Stakeholders: Stakeholder Internal/external Role in process Issues or concerns Penny Binskin Internal Chief Executive Officer There could be loss of reputation of the organization. It could also affect the promotion aspects adversely. Ron Langley External Landlord and Counselor There is a potential loss of tenant. James Manson Internal Store supervisor He may lose his promotion if the processes are not managed efficiently. The Board of Directors Internal The directors determine of the risks are acceptable or not. They set standards or expectations from the lower levels of management. They effectively control the elements, procedures and processes. The board may undergo reputational damage if the strategic processes do not go on track. Senior Management Team Internal The senior management implements policies and control. They also evaluate the areas with significant risks. They are responsible for reviewing the risk management strategy. The board may undergo reputational damage if the strategic processes do not go on track. Caf Employees Internal The caf employees are responsible for communicating with the senior member regarding the risk management policies. They manage or control the risk as advised by the senior management. The employees in the caf may lose their employment at Blue Horizon Pty Ltd. if the management undertakes the management of new store at Red Hill at the existing Stirlings Caf. Federal Government External They are responsible for imposing laws on efficient water usage and penalizing the companies for excessive water breaches. The company may be liable for heavy taxes and penalties up to $50,000 if it uses excessive water. Risk Identification: Risk Explanation 1. Banking Risk The current financial risk at Horizon Pty Ltd does not protect the company against fraud and financial misappropriations. The organization does not have adequate control over making bank deposits, cash payments, cash withdrawals or keeping a sales record. The organization does not have proper rules that govern bank deposits that make it risky for robbery as $4000 was kept overnight. Additionally, there is no safe in the premises. This could be dangerous to the employees in the caf as there was 50% chance of break-ins and the consequence of the same could be moderate. 2. Travel Risk The store location was two-hours away from the central bakery plant that made it difficult to reach within time from Red Hill to Perth. As the pastries were freshly prepared, the delivery could be made after the morning rush making the business impractical. There is also a concern about getting the company-branded supplies through as quickly as a CBD Perth store could. Also, the meetings arranged for managers on a weekly basis did not finish until the evenings that made it risky to travel back. The manager runs a risk of accident as the roads were steep narrow up the range and a longer distance. 3. By-Law Compliance Risk Since the Stirlings Caf was a family-run store, some family members were employed as staff members. James, the store supervisor was responsible to run the operations of the store. Mr. Stirling would authorize wages but any staff member could authorize delivery. There is a fault in the compliance as there could be wrong deliveries if a specific person does not take care of it. Also, it was reported by Hames that the policy and procedures are handled verbally and are not written down. The staffs would be shown the manner in which work was supposed to be done. It is observed that the store currently uses 41,500 litres water a week. The water is wasted as the staffs run dishwashers only when it is half-full, the toilets are used in a single flush system, the fruits and vegetables are washed under fast-running tap. Also, the staffs were instructed to keep the non-native flowering plants in the courtyard fully watered. The organization wastes water thereby ending up paying huge amounts of taxes and costs due to the local law legislation. 4. Human Resources Risk There is no established process for taking care of the occupational hazards or injuries that may occur at work. The computer system that stores personal and confidential data of the employees is not protected with a password. Therefore, it can be accessed by anyone. The calculations and records of the wage and superannuation was incomplete as it was multiplied with in the hand amount. The fit-out of the caf looked old and broken. The chairs were unstable and the carpet was worn and taped over with gaffer tape. References Agarwal, R., Randhawa, K. Josserand, E.L., 2013. Strategically aligning a culture ofopen innovation'in organizations.ANZAM. Anand, G. Sameera, G. 2012. Importance of Risk Analysis and Management The Case of Australian Real Estate Market.Risk Management - Current Issues and Challenges. Bostonconsulting.com.au. 2016.BCG in Australia New Zealand Risk Management. [online] Available at: https://www.bostonconsulting.com.au/expertise_impact/capabilities/risk_management/default.aspx [Accessed 9 Jul. 2016]. Bsigroup.com. 2016.ISO 31000 Risk Management. [online] Available at: https://www.bsigroup.com/en-AU/ISO-31000-Risk-Management/ [Accessed 9 Jul. 2016]. Choi, Y., Ye, X., Zhao, L. Luo, A.C., 2016. Optimizing enterprise risk management: a literature review and critical analysis of the work of Wu and Olson.Annals of Operations Research,237(1-2), pp.281-300. Chong, S., 2014. Business process management for SMEs: an exploratory study of implementation factors for the Australian wine industry.Journal of Information Systems and Small Business,1(1-2), pp.41-58. Governance.uwa.edu.au. 2016.Policies and procedures : Governance : The University of Western Australia. [online] Available at: https://www.governance.uwa.edu.au/procedures/policies/policies-and-procedures?method=documentid=UP12%2F1 [Accessed 9 Jul. 2016]. Hayne, C. Free, C., 2014. Hybridized professional groups and institutional work: COSO and the rise of enterprise risk management.Accounting, Organizations and Society,39(5), pp.309-330. Standards.org.au. 2016.Standards Australia. [online] Available at: https://www.standards.org.au/Pages/default.aspx [Accessed 9 Jul. 2016]. Strong, B., Cater-Steel, A. Lane, M., 2014. Prudential risk management of IT sourcing strategies: a case study of an Australian bank. Subramaniam, N., Wahyuni, D., Cooper, B.J., Leung, P. Wines, G., 2015. Integration of carbon risks and opportunities in enterprise risk management systems: evidence from Australian firms.Journal of Cleaner Production,96, pp.407-417. Subramaniam, N., Wahyuni, D., Cooper, B.J., Leung, P. Wines, G., 2015. Integration of carbon risks and opportunities in enterprise risk management systems: evidence from Australian firms.Journal of Cleaner Production,96, pp.407-417. Verbano, C. Venturini, K., 2013. Managing risks in SMEs: A literature review and research agenda.Journal of technology management innovation,8(3), pp.186-197. Wiewiora, A., Trigunarsyah, B., Murphy, G. Coffey, V., 2013. Organizational culture and willingness to share knowledge: A competing values perspective in Australian context.International Journal of Project Management,31(8), pp.1163-1174. www.finance.gov.au. 2016.www.finance.gov.au. [online] Available at: https://www.finance.gov.au/sites/default/files/COV_216905_Risk_Management_Fact_Sheet_FA3_23082010_0.pdf [Accessed 9 Jul. 2016]. Young, M. Conboy, K., 2013. Contemporary project portfolio management: Reflections on the development of an Australian Competency Standard for Project Portfolio Management.International Journal of Project Management,31(8), pp.1089-1100.

Saturday, March 21, 2020

How To Look After Your Mental And Physical Wellbeing At Uni

How To Look After Your Mental And Physical Wellbeing At Uni The mind and body are intrinsically connected; so if you feel off-balance in one, it will have an effect on the other. For example, if you are feeling stressed about a looming essay deadline you may also find that you experience a change in your appetite or feelings of fatigue. Looking after your mental wellbeing is just as important as looking after your physical wellbeing, and vice versa. Whether you are a fresher getting used to living away from home for the first time, or a third year student just about to take on the epic task of writing your dissertation, taking care of your personal wellbeing at university is vital. You may feel like self-care is a waste of precious time when there's reading to be done and lectures to attend; but if you neglect your wellbeing you will likely find that your attendance and the quality of your work will begin to suffer. What can affect your wellbeing? Everyone is different, and the things that affect your wellbeing might be different to the things that affect other people's wellbeing. However, some common causes of unbalanced mental and physical wellbeing include the following: Loneliness and social isolation Stress, anxiety, and depression Relationship problems Loss or bereavement Financial worries Issues at work or university Poor housing conditions When your mind is preoccupied with thoughts of your ever-increasing uni workload and how to spread your budget as far as possible, and you're unable to get any proper rest because your housemates are too noisy or you're feeling homesick, you'll start to feel pretty run down. Your mental wellbeing will begin to suffer, and you may find that you feel less happy than you used to. This can then cause you to feel less motivated to eat healthily or take regular exercise, and a lack of physical exercise coupled with a poor diet can leave you feeling tired and run down, but perhaps unable to sleep and rest properly, thus compounding the problem over time. What steps can you take to improve wellbeing? Start with self care Self care is the practice of an individual taking the necessary steps to look after their physical and mental wellbeing in a number of different ways, along a continuum of needs. The Self Care Forum use the below diagram to illustrate the idea of a continuum of self-care: At one end of the continuum we have pure self-care which is the responsibility of the individual; this includes things such as eating healthily, taking regular exercise, maintaining a good level of personal hygiene, and generally making the effort to look after themselves. At the other end of the spectrum are the major physical and mental health conditions that require purely professional medical care. Along the spectrum, between the two extremes, are minor ailments and acute or long-term conditions that may require a mixture of self-care and professional care in order to treat them effectively. Below we'll go into much more depth about the measures you can take to introduce more self care into your life in order to keep your mental and physical wellbeing on balance. What works for one person may not necessarily work for another, but here are plenty of ideas for you if you're unsure where to begin. Recommended methods of self care... Connect with people Spending time with friends and family, or making the effort to meet new people, can help to give you a greater sense of belonging and alleviate any feelings of loneliness. There are a number of ways in which you can connect with others, for example: Make time for people: It's important to prioritise spending time connecting with the people you love. Whether you hang out with friends in between lectures, spend the occasional weekend at home with your parents and siblings, or maintain regular contact via phone calls, text messages, or Skype, regularly seeing and speaking to loved ones strengthens those relationships. Strong relationships with friends and family means a better support network when you need it the most. Join a society: There are plenty of societies and clubs you can join at university which will allow you to spend time interacting with students who have similar interests to yourself. This is a great way to make friends at the same time as learning new skills, enriching your university experience, and boosting your CV. Volunteer in the community: Giving your time to help others can be very fulfilling and can offer you a different perspective on life. Many universities have schemes where students can sign up to volunteer at hospices, schools, care homes, or conservational projects, for example. Volunteering your time for free to help others can improve your wellbeing and enrich your sense of self-worth. Eat a balanced diet We all know that old adage â€Å"you are what you eat†, but it's true, to some extent. The food and drinks that you fuel your body with are important for your overall wellbeing. Your body needs a wide variety of vitamins and minerals in order to function efficiently; some of these can be made by your body, but most of them need to be consumed regularly. You should aim to eat as broad a range of foods as possible; it can be difficult to achieve this on a student budget but here are some tips that might help you: Eat in season: Buy fresh produce that is in season as it will usually be much cheaper. Try local farmers' markets or cooperatives for fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices. Ditch the takeaways: Fast food, takeaways, and convenience foods are handy on rare occasions, but relying on them daily can be expensive. Instead, perfect a few key recipes and cook your favourite meals from scratch to save money. Buy in bulk: Team up with your housemates and buy things like pasta, rice, and potatoes in bulk as these form the basis for many meals and are cheaper in larger quantities. Cook in bulk: Cooking can be pretty time consuming, so you can either take it in turns to cook for your housemates, or cook a big batch of something like chilli or curry and freeze portions for quick and easy meals throughout the week. Swap out some ingredients: To save money try swapping out some ingredients for cheaper ones. For example, lentils or soya mince can be used in place of minced beef in bolognaise sauce, chilli, or shepherd's pie; and chickpeas, cauliflower, or potato can take the place of chicken in a curry. Opt for tinned or frozen fruit and veg: Fresh produce can be expensive, but tinned or frozen fruit and vegetables are just as good for you but are much cheaper. In fact, frozen veg is actually said to contain more nutrients because of how quickly it is frozen after picking! Eat more eggs: Provided you don't have an egg allergy or intolerance, eggs make the perfect student food choice. One medium sized egg contains around 70 calories, and a great deal of the nutrients your body needs. Try omelettes, scrambled or poached eggs on toast, or a Spanish tortilla filled with potato and veg. For more tips on cooking and eating healthily on a student budget see our article ‘The Healthy Student's Guide to University Recipes' Be active Physical activity is pretty much a miracle cure for a wide variety of physical and mental afflictions. Whether you are suffering with a bad back, a lack of energy, depression, or low self-esteem, there's some form of exercise you can do that will help you to feel better. Being more physically active, whether you run, play badminton, dance, or do yoga, will have a positive impact on your overall wellbeing in the following ways: Weight loss and maintenance: Being more physically active helps you to burn unwanted calories and fat, and can lead to a slimmer, more toned physique. Healthier bones: Weight-bearing exercise such as walking, running, and aerobics, helps to strengthen your bones and build muscle. Improved sleep: Those who are more active during the day typically find that they are better able to fall asleep, and wake feeling more rested. More energy: Exercise may make you feel fatigued at first, but over time your energy levels will increase and you'll feel much less lethargic. Better resistance to stress: The fitter you become, the better your body will become at regulating cortisol levels. Cortisol is the stress hormone released by your body in response to anxiety. High levels of cortisol over a prolonged period have been linked to health problems such as heart disease, lowered immunity, depression, and anxiety. Happier moods: Exercise changes your brain chemistry and releases endorphins, the ‘happy hormone' which can help to improve your mood and calm anxiety. Increased self-esteem: Exercising regularly means you'll feel fitter and healthier, you'll have more energy, and you'll feel less stressed, or better-able to cope with stress. All of this helps to improve your self-esteem and boost your confidence. Connecting with people: Going to an exercise class or playing a sport is a good way to meet new people to connect and interact with. Also, exercising with your existing friends is a good way to strengthen the relationship and keep each other motivated. Get outside Being outside during daylight hours can have a positive impact on physical and mental wellbeing. Exposure to sunlight enables your body to produce vitamin D, which is important for healthy bones and teeth, and for the regulation of the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from foods. Being outside when it's light also helps with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This is a form of depression that typically appears in the autumn and winter, and often disappears in the spring and summer. Symptoms of SAD include feelings of worthlessness and despair, lethargy and fatigue, persistent low mood, irritability, sleeping more and having trouble waking, and craving carbohydrates and gaining weight. If you suffer with SAD you should aim to get outside in the sun for at least 10 to 15 minutes per day. You could achieve this by walking home from lectures instead of taking the bus, sitting outside to eat your lunch, going for a run in the park with a friend, or sitting in your back garden with a book. Even if you don't suffer from SAD, being outdoors is good for the soul, especially if you can spend time around greenery like a park or garden. Listening to the sounds of nature can help you to relax and feel grounded when life gets hectic and overwhelming. Rest and sleep Sleep is when your body repairs and restores itself, so if you're not sleeping properly, your body can't rest and heal adequately. Getting too little sleep can leave you with no energy, unable to concentrate, and experiencing mood swings. This can then have an impact on your social relationships as well as affecting your ability to attend lectures and carry out other daily tasks effectively. Common sleep problems that people experience include: Insomnia: Difficulty falling asleep, waking in the night and being unable to fall asleep again, waking very early in the morning, or finding that sleep doesn't refresh you and you constantly feel tired. For more information see our article on ‘Dealing With Insomnia at University' Oversleeping: Sleeping more than your body needs doesn't have the same impact on your life as insomnia, but it can cause you to miss lectures or leave yourself with less time for studying and socialising. Nightmares and night terrors: A nightmare is more than a dream, it is intense and frightening, causing you to wake up and often leaving you feeling very scared. Night terrors occur during deep sleep and can cause people to sweat and scream and have difficulty waking from them. Sleep walking: Getting up in the night and carrying out activities whilst sleeping. It's not usually dangerous in itself, but there is a risk of tripping over, banging into things, or causing an accident depending on the activities attempted during the sleep walking. Sleep paralysis: Waking in the night but being unable to speak or move because the hormones have not yet reached the muscles. It can't harm you but it can be very scary and lead to anxiety about going back to sleep. There are a number of ways that you can try to improve your ability to fall asleep, and the quality of your sleep: Go to bed and wake at the same time: Try to go to bed at the same time and wake at the same time each day, even on weekends. At first you might struggle to fall asleep and may have difficulty waking with your alarm, but persevere and eventually your body's natural rhythm will reset and adjust. Establish a bedtime routine: Try to do the same things each evening before bed to relax your mind and body. It could be that you have a warm bath before bed, or maybe you would prefer to drink a warm cup of milk and read a book to relax. Gentle yoga stretches can also help you to wind down and get into sleep mode. Limit screen time before bed: The light from smartphone, tablet, and laptop screens can stimulate your brain, keeping it active and awake when you want the opposite to happen. Try to avoid using any of these devices for an hour before you go to bed; the same goes for the TV too. Cut down on alcohol, smoking, and drugs During times of stress, anxiety, or depression many people turn to alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to cope. However, any substance that has the ability to alter your brain's chemistry and affect your feelings and behaviours can have a big impact on your physical and mental wellbeing either immediately, or over time. Alcohol is a depressant, and it alters your brain chemicals. You may be in a good mood when you have that first drink, and you'll immediately feel a surge of confidence and self-esteem; but the more you drink the more the alcohol affects your brain, and it can actually bring negative emotions to the surface. Abusing alcohol on a regular basis can exacerbate feelings of depression and anxiety, and impede your overall wellbeing. Smoking and taking recreational drugs also affects your brain chemistry in a way that you can't control. Whether you become physically addicted to the substances you are ingesting, or it is more of a habitual addiction, relying on cigarettes or drugs can have a big impact on your wellbeing. How to cut down: Keep a diary: Make a note of when you get cravings for cigarettes, when you use drugs, or when you drink alcohol, and record how you're feeling and what you're doing at the time. This way you can notice any patterns and address them accordingly. Alternate drinks: On a night out, aim to alternate between alcoholic drinks and soft drinks. This will help to prevent you getting too drunk too quickly, and will also help to hydrate you and lessen the risk of a hangover. Hang out with different people: If your usual group of friends are all heavy drinkers, smokers, or recreational drug users, try to limit the amount of time you spend with them and hang out with a different group of friends instead to avoid temptation. Find alternative ways to relax: Rather than reaching for alcohol and drugs during times of stress or anxiety, try going for a walk or run, doing some yoga, reading a book, taking a bath, chatting with a friend on the phone, or meditating. Give something back Whether you volunteer and help out in the community, or do some random acts of kindness, giving something back to others can give you a greater sense of self-worth. Here are some great ways that you can give to others: Volunteer your time at a charity shop, community event, or soup kitchen. Visit an elderly neighbour and keep them company or do their shopping for them. Give a meaningful gift or send a thoughtful handwritten letter to a friend. Pay for the coffee of the person in front of you in the coffee shop queue. Stop and chat to a homeless person and offer to buy them breakfast. Whatever you choose to do, by giving back to others you are enriching their lives as well as your own. Knowing that you've done something nice for someone else without asking for anything in return will help you to feel fulfilled and calm. Depending on how you choose to give to others, you could also enrich your social networks too. Be mindful Mindfulness is about being present in the moment and paying attention to the little details of your day. Practising mindfulness can help with mental wellbeing and is particularly useful for those who suffer with anxiety and depression as it can help you to feel more grounded during low periods or panic attacks. If you're new to mindfulness and wondering where to start here are a few tips: Breathe: Oxygen is our life force, so sometimes it's beneficial for your mind and body if you just sit for five minutes and focus on doing some deep, controlled breathing. Breathe in slowly through the nose for a count of four, hold for two counts, and breathe out for a count of four through your nose. Repeat this a few times and you'll notice you can take deeper and deeper breaths and you'll feel much calmer and relaxed. Slow down: Stress occurs when you whizz through life and don't stop to savour it. Aim to have at least one meal per day where you eat slowly, enjoying each mouthful and focusing on nourishing your body, rather than quickly swallowing a sandwich on your way from one lecture to the next each day. Practise yoga: The ancient art of yoga has been practised for thousands of years, and is a great way to achieve mindfulness. It encourages you to align your breathing with your movement, focussing on moving from one posture to the next. For more tips on how to incorporate mindfulness into your everyday life, see our article ‘Tips For Bringing Mindfulness Into Everyday Life' in which a number of leading yogis share their top tips for improving your wellbeing.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Racial Stereotypes and Food Product Marketing

Racial Stereotypes and Food Product Marketing The images of racial minorities have been used to hawk food for more than a century. Bananas, rice, and pancakes are just some of the food items that have historically been marketed with visages of people of color. Because such items have long been criticized for promoting racial stereotypes, however, the link between race and food marketing remains a touchy subject. When President Obama rose to prominence and Obama Waffles and Obama Fried Chicken made their debut soon after, controversy followed. Once again, an African American was being used to push food, critics said. Take a look around your kitchen. Do any of the items in your cupboards promote racial stereotypes? The list of items below may change your mind about what constitutes a racist food product. Frito Bandito In the age of Dora the Explorer, its difficult to imagine a time when a Latino cartoon character wasnt portrayed as caring, adventurous, and inquisitive, but as sinister. When Frito-Lay rolled out Frito Bandito in 1967, though, thats exactly what happened. The Bandito, the cartoonish mascot for Frito-Lay corn chips, had a gold tooth, a pistol and a penchant for stealing chips. To boot, the Bandito, clad in a huge sombrero and boots with spurs, spoke broken English with a thick Mexican accent. A group called The Mexican-American Anti-Defamation Committee objected to this stereotypical image, causing Frito-Lay to change the Banditos appearance so he did not appear as devious. He became kind of friendly and rascally, but still wanted to heist your corn chips, explained David Segal, who wrote about the character for Slate.com in 2007. The committee found these changes didnt go far enough and continued campaigning against Frito-Lay until the company removed him from promotional materials in 1971. Uncle Bens Rice The image of an elderly black man has appeared in ads for Uncle Bens Rice since 1946. So, just who exactly is Ben? According to the book Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben and Rastus: Blacks in Advertising Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Ben was a Houston rice farmer known for his superior crops. When Texas food broker Gordon L. Harwell launched a brand of commercial rice cooked to preserve nutrients, he decided to name it Uncle Bens Converted Rice, after the respected farmer, and use the image of an African-American maitre d he knew to be the face of the brand. On the packaging, Uncle Ben appeared to be a menial type, as suggested by his Pullman Porter-like attire. Moreover, the title Uncle likely derives from the practice of whites addressing elderly African Americans as uncle and aunt during segregation because the titles Mr. and Mrs. were deemed unsuitable for blacks, who were regarded as inferior. In 2007, however, Uncle Ben received a makeover of sorts. Mars, the owner of the rice brand, debuted a website in which Uncle Ben is portrayed as the chairman of the board in a posh office. This virtual facelift was a way for Mars to bring Ben, an outdated racial stereotype of the black man as sharecropper-servant, into the 21st century. Chiquita Bananas Generations of Americans have grown up eating Chiquita bananas. But its not just the bananas they remember fondly, its Miss Chiquita, the comely figure the banana company has used to brand the fruit since 1944. With a sensual swagger and flamboyant Latin American attire, the bilingual Miss Chiquita makes the men swoon, as vintage advertisements of the bombshell demonstrate. Miss Chiquita is widely thought to have been inspired by Brazilian beauty Carmen Miranda who appeared in ads for Chiquita bananas. The actress has been accused of promoting the exotic Latina stereotype because she achieved fame wearing pieces of fruit on her head and revealing tropical clothing. Some critics argue that it’s all the more insulting for a banana company to play into this stereotype because the women, men, and children who worked in banana farms toiled in grueling conditions, often falling gravely ill as a result of pesticide exposure. Land O Lakes Butter Make a trip to the dairy section of your grocery store, and youll find the Native American woman known as the Indian maiden on Land O Lakes butter. How did this woman come to be featured on Land OLakes products? In 1928, officials from the company received a photo of a Native woman with a butter carton in hand as cows grazed and lakes flowed in the background. Because Land O Lakes is based in Minnesota, the home of Hiawatha and Minnehaha, the company reps welcomed the idea of using the maidens image to sell its butter. In recent years, writers such as H. Mathew Barkhausen III, who is of Cherokee and Tuscarora descent, have called the image of the Land O Lakes maiden stereotypical. She wears two braids in her hair, a headdress, and an animal skin frock with beaded embroidery. Also, for some, the maidens serene countenance erases the suffering indigenous peoples have experienced in the United States. Eskimo Pie Eskimo Pie ice cream bars have been around since 1921 when a candy shop owner named Christian Kent Nelson noticed that a little boy couldn’t decide whether to buy a chocolate bar or ice cream. Why not have both available in one confection, Nelson figured. This line of thinking led him to create the frozen treat known then as the â€Å"I-Scream Bar.† When Nelson partnered up with chocolate maker Russell C. Stover, though, the name was changed to Eskimo Pie and the image of an Inuit boy in a parka was featured on the packaging. Today, some indigenous peoples from the arctic regions of North America and Europe object to the name â€Å"Eskimo† in the use of the frozen pies and other sweets, not to mention in society generally. In 2009, for example, Seeka Lee Veevee Parsons, a Canadian Inuit, made newspaper headlines after publicly objecting to references to the Eskimo in the names of popular desserts. She called them â€Å"an insult to her people.† â€Å"When I was a little girl white kids in the community used to tease me about it in a bad way. It’s just not the correct term,† she said of Eskimo. Instead, Inuit should be used, she explained. Cream of Wheat When Emery Mapes of the North Dakota Diamond Milling Company set out in 1893 to find an image to market his breakfast porridge, now called Cream of Wheat, he decided to use the face of a black chef. Still on promotional packaging for Cream of Wheat today, the chef- who was given the name Rastus, has become a cultural icon, according to sociologist David Pilgrim of Ferris State University. â€Å"Rastus is marketed as a symbol of wholeness and stability,† Pilgrim asserts. â€Å"The toothy, well-dressed black chef happily serves breakfast to a nation.† Not only was Rastus portrayed as subservient but also as uneducated, Pilgrim points out. In a 1921 advertisement, a grinning Rastus holds up a chalkboard with these words: â€Å"Maybe Cream of Wheat aint got no vitamins. I dont know what them things is. If they’s bugs they aint none in Cream of Wheat.† Rastus represented the black man as a child-like, unthreatening slave. Such images of blacks perpetuated the notion that African Americans were content with a separate but (un)equal existence while making Southerners of the time feel nostalgic about the Antebellum Era. Aunt Jemima Aunt Jemima is arguably the most well-known minority â€Å"mascot† of a food product, not to mention the longest lasting. Jemima came to be in 1889 when Charles Rutt and Charles G. Underwood created a self-rising flour that the former called Aunt Jemima’s recipe. Why Aunt Jemima? Rutt reportedly got the inspiration for the name after seeing a minstrel show that featured a skit with a Southern mammy named Jemima. In Southern lore, mammies were matronly black female domestics who doted on the white families they served and cherished their role as subordinates. Because the mammy caricature was popular with whites in the late 1800s, Rutt used the name and likeness of the mammy he’d seen in the minstrel show to market his pancake mix. She was smiling, obese, and wore a headscarf fit for a servant. When Rutt and Underwood sold the pancake recipe to the R.T. Davis Mill Co., the organization continued to use Aunt Jemima to help brand the product. Not only did the image of Jemima appear on product packaging, but the R.T. Davis Mill Co. also enlisted real African-American women to appear as Aunt Jemima at events such as the 1893 World’s Exposition in Chicago. At these events, black actresses told stories about the Old South which painted life there as idyllic for both blacks and whites, according to Pilgrim. America ate up the mythical existence of Aunt Jemima and the Old South. Jemima became so popular that the R.T. Davis Mill Co. changed its name to the Aunt Jemima Mill Co. Moreover, by 1910, more than 120 million Aunt Jemima breakfasts were being served annually, Pilgrim notes. Following the civil rights movement, however, black Americans began voicing their objection to the image of a black woman as a domestic who spoke grammatically incorrect English and never challenged her role as servant. Accordingly, in 1989, Quaker Oats, who’d purchased the Aunt Jemima Mill Co. 63 years earlier, updated Jemima’s image. Her head wrap had vanished, and she wore pearl earrings and a lace collar instead of a servant’s clothing. She also appeared younger and significantly thinner. The matronly domestic Aunt Jemima originally appeared as had been replaced by the image of a modern African-American woman. Wrapping Up Despite the progress that’s occurred in race relations, Aunt Jemima, Miss Chiquita, and similar spokes-characters remain fixtures in American food culture. All came to fruition during a time when it was unthinkable that a black man would become president or a Latina would sit on the U.S. Supreme Court. Accordingly, they serve to remind us about the great strides people of color have made over the years. In fact, many consumers likely buy a pancake mix from Aunt Jemima with little idea that the woman on the box was originally a slave prototype. These same consumers likely find it difficult to understand why minority groups object to President Obama’s image on a box of waffles or a recent Duncan Hines cupcake ad that seemed to use blackface imagery. There’s a long tradition in the U.S. of using racial stereotypes in food marketing, but in the 21st century America patience for that kind of advertising has run out.

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Understanding Concepts of Strategy in Business and War Essay

Understanding Concepts of Strategy in Business and War - Essay Example In war, the strategy calls for a careful study of the weakest areas within the enemy camp, and in business one of the first steps in the struggle to succeed is to target the weak spots in the structure of a rival company. It is equally important to establish a final goal. Is winning enough? The strategy is not successful if a country or a company cannot maintain its position, especially in a global society. There must be a plan for follow-up when the initial goal is met. One example of the failure to establish a final goal is the â€Å"war† in the Middle East. The concept in both war and business is to be a winner and not a loser, but U.S. presence in Iraq shows no signs of reaching its unrealistic goal. Setting a target and meeting goals could be regarded as two of the external environmental factors necessary for success in both war and business. However, in addition to understanding the opposition, it is important in both areas to train a contingent of individuals, whether troops or employees, to learn the rules and work together to resolve any weaknesses within the organization or blog. Thornton (2006) notes that by establishing organized troops and having a vision of what he wished to achieve, Alexander the Great from the small country of Mesopotamia was able to defeat armies ten times his size due to his strong leadership skills. These are the skills needed by CEOs in successful companies and can be considered another of the inner environmental factors needed in both war and business planning.