Julian free essay sample

As I stood awkwardly at the podium, nervously twirling the silver band on my thumb, I could feel the telltale signs of panic: shortness of breath, fluttering of the heart, flushed cheeks. I let out an involuntary gasp for air, and as it hung in the tense silence of the room, two potential avenues of escape crossed my mind: one which would involve jumping out a window, the other a test of my hand at feigning an illness. Realistically, I knew that I had to follow through with the audition, and I had my brother to blame for it. Julian is a fifteen year old, Haight Ashbury, hippie incarnate, unique in everything from his dinner table rants to his neon colored style. Where he is bold and loud, I am shy and reserved. I am not one to seek the limelight and, while I won’t deny my predilection for clothing, I’m not one to make a standout fashion statement, or to argue a point in class, or to sing aloud. We will write a custom essay sample on Julian or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Julian on the other hand will stand up in history to defend the policies of Andrew Jackson. He’ll cite Kerouac and Ginsberg, quote Holden Caulfield, spew out some Nietzschean philosophy from time to time. Externally, it would appear as though Julian and I are oil and water, opposite ends of a spectrum, but internally I have found that we are actually quite similar. Julian embodies many of the values that I identify with: only he is outspoken in pursuing them, while I am more hesitant. For Julian, there are no limits because he chooses not to acknowledge them, and it is his absence of limitations, his bravery, that made me believe I could be courageous as well. Standing there at the podium, it was more likely that I would either break down in tears, hurl, or choke, instead of being able to sing for my acapella tryout. I cursed Julian for talking me into it and imagined myself back at home, sprawled out on the couch watching Seinfeld, with a Cup O noodles in one hand and a blac k coffee in the other. I was singing ‘Santa Baby’ for my audition, a provocative song choice which I was quickly starting to regret. My only consolation came in the form of the very words that had prompted me to tryout: â€Å"Prove to yourself, not others, what you can be.† Over and over again it played in my head, the voice of my brother, calming me, telling me that I had nothing to fear, that nothing could stop me except my own perceptions of myself. Mrs. Carol, the chorus instructor, gave me ‘the nod’, the cue prompting me to sing. I stood there dumbly for a few seconds, looking right back at the amused judges. I had conveniently forgotten the first line. The momentary numbness turned to shock, and Mrs. Carol, correctly interpreting the bug-eyed expression on my face, fed me the words â€Å"Santa baby, slip a sable under the tree,† in a sympathetic ‘sing song’ voice. Despite my shaky start, as I began to sing, I found that no l onger was I feeling timid and fearful, but that being in the limelight, if only for a minute, was actually fun. I felt a measure of pride in myself, not for performing perfectly, but for mustering the courage to perform in the first place. Now in the whole scheme of things, my acapella tryout may not appear to be a huge deal. For me though, it was a step, a small but distinct step, towards having the courage to live my life in the absence of my perceived limits, a step towards becoming that person who dares to take a stand in class, who does wear bright colors, wanting, demanding to be noticed. Julian has shown me that you can never live in fear of judgment, rejection, or failure. So, â€Å"if you care about something, you have to protect it . If you’re lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it,† (A Prayer for Owen Meany). Julian has helped me find my courage. He has made me a better person, and for that my admiration for him is as limitless as he is.

Pc Vs Macs Essays - Personal Computers, Macintosh,

Pc Vs Macs Purpose: To persuade the class into believing that the PC is better than a Macintosh computer. Thesis: After comparing the characteristics of each type of computer, I believe that it is in the best interest of nearly everyone to purchase and use a PC. Introduction: Imagine this: Your sitting at a computer typing an important report when this message pops onto the screen. It has a picture of a little bomb and says ?You must restart your computer.? Or you may be trying to open your precious report from a floppy disk and you get the message ?IO error.? Your report is lost and you have to do it again. Well, these are two typical problems a user of a Macintosh computer may encounter. This is just an illustration showing a couple of the nuisances associated with using a Macintosh. Besides being an unstable system, the Macintosh line of computers also has other drawbacks. In this speech I will explain the drawbacks associated with Mac's, and show how a PC is a better option. I've compared the characteristics of each type of computer and believe that it is in most people's interest to purchase and use a PC. Body: I. The problem with Macintosh. A. Mac's have a greater tendency to produce errors and restarts. B. The file layout isn't as clear as in a PC. 1. It is harder to organize the hard drive to optimize performance. 2. The location of a downloaded file is not clear. C. There is less software available for a Mac, according to Jon Hammer. 1. Few games are available. 2. Professional software is also scarce and not as powerful, according to Robert Blewett. Robert also says that Mac's only advantage over a PC is their use in graphic design. D. The stability of Apple Computer has been questionable at times. The value of its stock has fluctuated over the past few years. E. The ergonomics of the machines themselves, such as the mice found with the new G3's could be considered uncomfortable. Their web site says differently, however. Also, the IMac computers don't even come with a disk drive. F. The use of Macintosh is primarily in education. Students may be lost once they enter the working world and need to operate a PC. II. The solution is simply for most everyone to become familiar with and use a Windows based PC. A. PC's are used almost entirely in the business and working world. 50 Advantages says that over 95% of computers in the market are PC's. B. The majority of software written for computers today is written for PC's, and generally the PC version of most software is more powerful and user friendly, according to Robert. C. The most powerful processors today are available for PC's, according to John Gartner from Tech Web's technology news. D. Upgrading is more realistic and service can be found at most computer stores, according to the 50 advantages PC's running Windows have over the Macintosh. Service and upgrades for Mac's is generally more expensive and harder to find. Conclusion: After showing the numerous drawbacks to the Macintosh line of computers and showing the many perk's associated with PC's, I hope I have persuaded you into the belief that choosing a PC is a wise choice. Aside from having a slight advantage in graphics design, the Macintosh is behind the PC and in my mind is inferior. Bibliography Works Cited: ?Apple and the environment?, article, 10-13-99, http://www.apple.com/about/environment/use/use.html Blewett, Robert: Interview. 10-14-99. Gartner, John: Tech Web Technology news: ?Mac vs. PC: Which is Faster 8-21-99, http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB19980821S0021 Hammer, Jon: Interview. 10-15-99. ?50 Advantages PC's have running Windows over the Macintosh?, article, 10-13-99, http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Sector/9295/pc-advantage/50-pc-advanta ges-list.html Speech and Communications

Environmental Essay Samples - How to Choose the Perfect Essay Sample

Environmental Essay Samples - How to Choose the Perfect Essay SampleWhen choosing essay samples that are perfect for your environmental studies program, it is important to make sure that the samples you choose are perfect. You need to take your time and do your research to make sure that you get exactly what you need. If you are reading this article now then you probably know where you want to go.The first thing you should look for in perfect environmental essay samples is a good quality grammar. The best essays contain consistent grammar throughout. It should be easy to read, and it should be grammatically correct.It should be easy to read because you want your readers to see the clarity of your writing, and they will get an idea about how to interpret the text. You want to keep it simple and concise to keep the attention of your readers. Using complete sentences is key here.You also want to check out the sentence structure and how the sentence structure links to each other. You don 't want your essay to have just one long sentence that goes on. You want it to be structured and easy to read.After that you want to find out how well the essay communicates the ideas you want to express. In other words, what does the essay teach you? You should use the examples from the essay to understand your topic and make sure the essay answers all of your questions.When you start with your research for environmental essay samples, make sure you consider your professor. In other words, if your professor uses these samples then they probably have some experience with using the essay for an environmental studies course. Your professor can provide you with guidelines on how to best use the essay to communicate your thoughts about your subject.Once you find the perfect environmental essay samples then you can choose the exact one that you want. Keep in mind that when you go out and buy them they will be more expensive, but it is worth it because you will not have to change your ess ay any time soon.

Free Essays on The Library Card

Responding to Reading In the story, â€Å"The library Card,† Richard Wright took one step closer to achieving the American dream. However, in order to fully understand how he did so, one must first understand exactly what the American Dream is. I asked a few of my closest friends what their best definition of the American Dream was. They all came up with fairly similar answers to this question. The American Dream is having a good job, good family, and just pretty much well off. It is being wealthy and the best at what you do. It is being knowledgeable. The books that Richard Wright tried so desperately to attain helped him to get a better handle on the American dream. If Richard Wright had never read those books, chances are, he would never have made the effort to pick up his life and move it along. Upon reading Mencken and other great authors, he found out more about why white people acted the way that they had. He had a better grasp on why they treated him the way that they had. Wright then became more knowledgeable. In order to attain the American dream, you must have knowledge because knowledge is power. The books that Wright read introduced new obstacles in his life. The major one that he had to overcome was the fact that he knew what people thought of him, yet he was still unable to say anything about it. He had to live his life the exact same way and it killed him inside. He longed to say something to the white men, but knew better. Sometimes, silence kills. In this case, it was a huge obstacle that Richard Wright may never have overcome.... Free Essays on The Library Card Free Essays on The Library Card Responding to Reading In the story, â€Å"The library Card,† Richard Wright took one step closer to achieving the American dream. However, in order to fully understand how he did so, one must first understand exactly what the American Dream is. I asked a few of my closest friends what their best definition of the American Dream was. They all came up with fairly similar answers to this question. The American Dream is having a good job, good family, and just pretty much well off. It is being wealthy and the best at what you do. It is being knowledgeable. The books that Richard Wright tried so desperately to attain helped him to get a better handle on the American dream. If Richard Wright had never read those books, chances are, he would never have made the effort to pick up his life and move it along. Upon reading Mencken and other great authors, he found out more about why white people acted the way that they had. He had a better grasp on why they treated him the way that they had. Wright then became more knowledgeable. In order to attain the American dream, you must have knowledge because knowledge is power. The books that Wright read introduced new obstacles in his life. The major one that he had to overcome was the fact that he knew what people thought of him, yet he was still unable to say anything about it. He had to live his life the exact same way and it killed him inside. He longed to say something to the white men, but knew better. Sometimes, silence kills. In this case, it was a huge obstacle that Richard Wright may never have overcome....

An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Cultural anthropology, also known as sociocultural anthropology, is the study of cultures around the world. It is one of four subfields of the academic discipline of anthropology. While anthropology is the study of human diversity, cultural anthropology focuses on cultural systems, beliefs, practices, and expressions. Did You Know? Cultural anthropology is one of the four subfields of anthropology. The other subfields are archaeology, physical (or biological) anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. Areas of Study and Research Questions Cultural anthropologists use anthropological theories and methods to study culture. They study a wide variety of topics, including identity, religion, kinship, art, race, gender, class, immigration, diaspora, sexuality, globalization, social movements, and many more. Regardless of their specific topic of study, however, cultural anthropologists focus on patterns and systems of belief, social organization, and cultural practice. Some of the research questions considered by cultural anthropologists include: How do different cultures understand universal aspects of the human experience, and how are these understandings expressed?How do understandings of gender, race, sexuality, and disability vary across cultural groups?What cultural phenomena emerge when different groups come into contact, such as through migration and globalization?How do systems of kinship and family vary among different cultures?How do various groups distinguish between taboo practices and mainstream norms?How do different cultures use ritual to mark transitions and life stages? History and Key Figures Cultural anthropology’s roots date back to the 1800s, when early scholars like Lewis Henry Morgan and Edward Tylor became interested in the comparative study of cultural systems. This generation drew on the theories of Charles Darwin, attempting to apply his concept of evolution to human culture. They were later dismissed as so-called â€Å"armchair anthropologists,† since they based their ideas on data collected by others and did not personally engage first-hand with the groups they claimed to study. These ideas were later refuted by Franz Boas, who is widely hailed as the father of anthropology in the U.S. Boas strongly denounced the armchair anthropologists’ belief in cultural evolution, arguing instead that all cultures had to be considered on their own terms and not as part of a progress model. An expert in the indigenous cultures of the Pacific Northwest, where he participated in expeditions, he taught what would become the first generation of American anthropologists as a professor at Columbia University. His students included Margaret Mead, Alfred Kroeber, Zora Neale Hurston, and Ruth Benedict. Boas’ influence continues in cultural anthropology’s focus on race and, more broadly, identity as forces that are social constructed and not biologically based. Boas fought staunchly against the ideas of scientific racism that were popular in his day, such as phrenology and eugenics. Instead, he attributed differences between racial and ethnic groups to social factors. After Boas, anthropology departments became the norm in U.S. colleges and universities, and cultural anthropology was a central aspect of study. Students of Boas went on to establish anthropology departments across the country, including Melville Herskovits, who launched the program at Northwestern University, and Alfred Kroeber, the first professor of anthropology at the University of California at Berkeley. Margaret Mead went on to become internationally famous, both as an anthropologist and scholar. The field grew in popularity in the U.S. and elsewhere, giving way to new generations of highly influential anthropologists like Claude Là ©vi-Strauss and Clifford Geertz. Together, these early leaders in cultural anthropology helped solidify a discipline focused explicitly on the comparative study of world cultures. Their work was animated by a commitment to true understanding of different systems of beliefs, practice, and social organization. As a field of scholarship, anthropology was committed to the concept of cultural relativism, which held that all cultures were fundamentally equal and simply needed to be analyzed according to their own norms and values. The main professional organization for cultural anthropologists in North America is the Society for Cultural Anthropology, which publishes the journal Cultural Anthropology. Methods Ethnographic research, also known as ethnography, is the primary method used by cultural anthropologists.  The hallmark component of ethnography is participant observation, an approach often attributed to Bronislaw Malinowski. Malinowski was one of the most influential early anthropologists, and he pre-dated Boas and the early American anthropologists of the 20th century. For Malinowski, the anthropologist’s task is to focus on the details of everyday life. This necessitated living within the community being studied- known as the fieldsite- and fully immersing oneself in the local context, culture, and practices. According to Malinowski, the anthropologist gains data by both participating and observing, hence the term participant observation. Malinowski formulated this methodology during his early research in the Trobriand Islands and continued to develop and implement it throughout his career. The methods were subsequently adopted by Boas and, later, Boas’ students. This methodology became one of the defining characteristics of contemporary cultural anthropology. Contemporary Issues in Cultural Anthropology While the traditional image of cultural anthropologists involves researchers studying remote communities in faraway lands, the reality is far more varied. Cultural anthropologists in the twenty-first century conduct research in all types of settings, and can potentially work anywhere that humans live. Some even specialize in digital (or online) worlds, adapting ethnographic methods for today’s virtual domains. Anthropologists conduct fieldwork all around the world, some even in their home countries. Many cultural anthropologists remain committed to the discipline’s history of examining power, inequality, and social organization. Contemporary research topics include the influence of historical patterns of migration and colonialism on cultural expression (e.g. art or music) and the role of art in challenging the status quo and effecting social change. Where Do Cultural Anthropologists Work? Cultural anthropologists are trained to examine patterns in daily life, which is a useful skill in a wide range of professions. Accordingly, cultural anthropologists work in a variety of fields. Some are researchers and professors in universities, whether in anthropology departments or other disciplines like ethnic studies, women’s studies, disability studies, or social work. Others work in technology companies, where there is an increasing demand for experts in the field of user experience research. Additional common possibilities for anthropologists include nonprofits, market research, consulting, or government jobs. With broad training in qualitative methods and data analysis, cultural anthropologists bring a unique and diverse skill set to a variety of fields. Sources McGranahan, Carol. On Training Anthropologists Rather Than Professors Dialogs, Cultural Anthropology website, 2018.Social and Cultural Anthropology Discover Anthropology UK, The Royal Anthropological Institute, 2018.What is Anthropology? American Anthropological Association, 2018.

Saving Starbucks' Soul Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Saving Starbucks' Soul - Essay Example Starbucks was one of the Fortune Top 100 Companies to Work For in 2005(Marketing teacher, 2010). Its global reputation and brand name has immense effects on global custoemrs.The immense resources are the major strength of Starbucks. The ability to forecast the market climate is another major strength of Starbucks. Most of the decisions taken by Starbucks during the last decade brought dividends to the company. Not even a single decision went wrong for Starbucks during this period. They were able to analyse the market opportunities and challenges provided by globalization and moreover they were able to redefine their strategies to make them suitable to meet the challenges and opportunities. They have adopted custom made strategies for each market as they realised that even for the same product, different marketing strategies required at different places. (BusineeWeek, 2009, p.3).This program was aimed at teaching the staff about the regional preferences. Commitment towards the environment made Starbucks one of the highly reputed companies in the world. They are keen protecting the environment by recycling all the industrial waste produced by their activities.Good customer relationships, good suppliers, leadership in the market, talented employees are some other major strengths of Starbucks. Starbucks tried to do too many things at a time. They have changed the romantic La Marzocca machines and introduced automatic espresso machines, in order to solve the major problem in terms of speed of service and efficiency (BusineeWeek, 2009, p.1). They failed to recognize the emotions the customers have on the earlier machine. Moreover the current machines are too big in size and small persons find difficulties in using it. The new machine also prevents the customers from enjoying the preparation of the drink. Flavor locked packaging helped the company in providing the fresh roasted bagged coffee, but, the loss of aroma,

Organizational Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Organizational Culture - Essay Example And that it is the informal "backstage" or company policies, and culture embodied by these policies that determine the values and assumptions of all employees, and their subsequent performance. In the following paper I am taking a reflective approach to concepts discussed in class, and using them as a filter to interpret organizational practices of the organization that I work for, that is NESMA. Organizational leadership. culture and human resource management at NESMA shall be presented and interpreted through he theories presented in contemporary management literature. Throughout this reflective process, I remind myself and the reader of Lewin's (1951) comment that to understand any organization we do by virtue change it, and so any diagnosis that I make will also be an intervention on my part. What a responsibility! [background of me : ) you!! How old, gender, how long been with company, duties within the organization, why taking this management course, what hope to get from it, how is the course relevant to being a manager]. I am inspired in the knowledge that leaders can be developed. Policies implemented within my organization (generic skills training, progression of responsibilities) provide me with opportunities to develop more as a person, and as a contributing member of NESMA. It would be great if my company adopted a more formal mentoring program, as advocated by Buchanan and Huczynski (2004) in their text Organizational Behaviour (5th ed.). I have an informal mentor, however, I would like to see more support from management towards a mentoring program for all levels of our organization. Bennis and Thomas (2002), in their book, Geeks and Geezers: How Era, Values and Defining Moments Shape Leaders, identify factors that are shared across leaders of all cultures. It made a lot of sense to me to view leadership through a filter such as era. Post World War II "geezer" organizations were very military styled, leaders having a commanding or controlling style. Modern organizations are a lot more team-fo cused, with leaders acting as facilitators and encouragers. I can relate to the "geeks" of today, who want a life, not just a career. We accept that diversity is necessary for an organization to grow, and for ourselves to grow as a people. Diversity of thought should be encouraged so as to cultivate personal characteristics that contribute to the organization, and to the employees that make up that organization (Wickenberg & Kylen, 2004). Collaborative problem solving is a much more feasible style of leadership, that enables leaders at all levels of an organization. Service and production can only be enhanced when all employees realize that the sum of their organization can be so much more than the sum of its parts. Bennis and Thomas (2002) also note that geeks want to believe they can contribute, and that they can make a difference in the world. However, this is interesting I think, as the authors point out that contemporary employees have less company loyalty and are becoming entrepreneurs in their wok life. I am one of those employees who are curious, adventurous and experimental in my approach to my working goals, and the goals of my organization. I am willing to try different methods and techniques to lead myself, and to learn to lead others. I understand that change is a necessary part of life, including