Sociolinguistic analysis of language and culture Assignment

Sociolinguistic analysis of language and culture - Assignment Example On social status, S1, S2, and S3 most probably belong to the typical middle class --- taking hourly jobs to earn extra cash, etc. They also worry about taxes and prices of sandwiches, etc. On race/ethnicity, S1, S2, and S3 obviously are not native English speakers. S3 could be Chinese, because she mentioned at some point that â€Å"im supposed to be able to speak Chinese.† S1s ethnicity is still vague, but for sure she is not a native speaker because she uses the word â€Å"bathroom† when referring to the toilet. S2 could be more fluent compared to S1 and S3, but still a non-native English speaker because she uses phrases such as â€Å"its coming out of the same pot,† which is easy to understand but not a common idiomatic expression in English. S4s ethnicity is somewhat hard to determine because of the limited interaction of the other speakers with him. His gender is obviously male, because he was called by his name (Jeremy) the moment he arrived. S1 displays instrumental, regulatory, and personal (Bonvillain, 2008, p.182) communicative styles. Instrumental because she is sees to not have qualms in satisfying needs: â€Å"you guys i_ i have to go_ i have to go leave. i have to go to the bathroom.† Regulatory because she is assertive in speaking what she thinks she wants done: â€Å"yo- you wanna put our forms all together, (in this)† and â€Å"w- should we go up and like testing testing .† Personal because all throughout the interaction, she expresses her thoughts without hesitation, sometimes even to the point of interrupting the current speaker. S2 displays interactional and heuristic (Bonvillain, 2008, p.182) communicative styles. Interactional because she tries to maintain the balance in the interaction by allowing each speaker to say their thoughts without interruption for the most part. Her usual verbal nods are â€Å"uhuh† and â€Å"mhm.† This shows that even if she does not ask a

The qualities of a good leader Essay Example for Free

The qualities of a good leader Essay The qualities of a good leader have to do with his/her structure of experience, skills, responsibility, and social interaction. It must be someone who can be looked up to and respected. A good leader not only needs to have a lot of experience and good personality but he also needs to be trusted. That way he could win over man’s hearts. It is useless no matter what personal qualities or what intellectual powers a man may have if he lacks the initiative and the will to lead and to rally men around him. In search for truth he must also not only have good personal structure but a good â€Å"character† is knowing what you want to do and being ruthlessly determined to do it. Sense of humor and sense of optimism are two other essential qualities of a good leader. Men and women will not follow a gloomy person! Not only is he to be a good judge towards events but towards \people also that way he can select worthy subordinates. It cannot be determined by one person to the other but it can be determined by self-determination. Whether a religious faith is necessary quality of a leader is arguable. A lot of our famous leaders today are all of different religious faiths and some have no faith at all. Mohammed, Buddha, and Jesus Christ were all leader. If there number of followers are anything to judge by, very good leaders indeed, and all of these had their own convictions and beliefs. There is good leaders and bad leaders, of which Adolf Hitler is a striking example of bad leaders, because it’s possible to have all the qualities of a good leader and missing one. Some in which are lead to violence and lawlessness are invariables led and inspired by leaders of moral scene of wrong or right. Such qualities are at times natural and apparent when one is born. In order for you to do such things you would also have to practice maintaining you temper because there could very unkind or inconsiderate people you may have to work with. Although others opinion towards you should not matter in this case it does because nobody would want a leader with making incorrect decisions therefore it would be the right thing to prove them wrong and start making the right choices. Incase of challenges along the way they should face them with bravery and deal with them as part of their responsibility. This will improve strength and preparedness for worse problems in the future. There are so many ways a good leader could go by, but not all will make the right choices because not every single person in this world has the same perspective but it is up to them to try and make the people happy by having the same perspective as them and doing what’s right in any event they are working with. Doing what’s right is the main thing to do. The qualities of a leader have to do with structure of nearly everything.

How to Not Get Your Head Ripped Off By a Bear Essay Example for Free

How to Not Get Your Head Ripped Off By a Bear Essay Please be aware before you read that if you have already encountered a bear and had your head ripped off then this will be at no help to you and you should stop reading now. To those of you that are reading this for entertainment, I want to ensure you that bear attacks are a serious matter and many of you walk through the woods not knowing what dangers await you. The horrifying truths of the woods start with bear attacks. You may think they are rare now, but in reality bears are large hairy monsters just waiting for a chance to rip your head off and lurk through your trashcans. I hold right here the steps of survival and the tools you will need to not get your head ripped off. If you continue to read then please follow every step accordingly and do not wonder off or skip a step. The first thing you need to know is the tools to not get your head ripped off by a bear. The first thing you must never forget is a cool head. I am not saying to stick your head into a freezer for one hour and walk around in the woods. A cool head simply means to stay calm. When you see the ferocious bear you will want to run off screaming like a little girl, which will result in you tripping over your own two feet and getting your head ripped off. The second tool you will need is extremely good acting skills. If you can outsmart your dumbest friend, then you sure can outsmart a bear. If you need some help on your acting I am sure you can go to Books-A-Million and buy Breaking into Acting for Dummies for only about $16.00. The last tool you will need is a new pair of underwear. When even the biggest man faces this beast he will not be able to hold the pee in. Don’t be embarrassed of the new wet spot that surrounds that area, because it is completely normal and we all understand. Some optional tools you might want to consider is a killer right hook and a large, abnormal pet that can eat the bear. Now that you know the tools of not getting your head ripped off by a bear, you now need to learn the process. You are now walking through the woods and you look to your left and see a large bear. Luckily, he is too busy scratching its butt on the tree to notice you. You need to back away slowly and step very soft upon the leaves crushing underneath your feet. Make sure you also look behind you will walking backwards in case a tree limp inches itself in your way and trips you causing a loud noise. Once you are out of the bear’s sight, choose a comfy sitting spot and stay put for about thirty minutes. I recommend you singing Baby by Justin Bieber so that the bear knows you are there, and when it chooses to leave and it will most likely avoid you simply because you are singing that song. Also avoid eating at all costs. You may want those sweet and salty peanut butter crackers in your bag, but the bear will smell them and will charge after you wanting the food. This will result in you getting your head ripped off. If you think that the coast is clear and you are ready to resume your walk, stand up slowly looking around you. I recommend singing Friday by Rebecca Black just to make sure no bear while come within singing distance of you. Even the bears understand how repulsing that song is and will run away crying if the tune even rings in their ears. But even though you sang the song, you are the unlucky person on this day that runs into a bear still. In this particular situation, do not make eye contact. The bear will take the eye contact as a direct threat to his authority and he will rip your head straight off your body. This time he might even take the opportunity of ripping your arms off as well. Instead, back away from the bear very slowly and speak kind words. For example, try saying that he looks extremely handsome today or maybe try telling him that you are just an innocent person and do not mean any harm. I am sure he can hear everything you say perfectly. Remember to avoid eye contact. Tip: Now would be a great opportunity to make sure you are right with God. Oh no! The ferocious bear has started charging at you. Whatever you do, do not think you can outrun the bear. He may be 365 pounds of pure meat, but he will chase you down and automatically rip your head off. So the best thing you can do in this situation is to stand perfectly still like you have been frozen solid. When the bear hopefully stops charging, try backing away slowly and singing I Will Survive softly to the bear. If you have followed all these steps perfectly and for some reason this bear is out to get blood, then quickly curl up in a ball. Protect your head with your arms so that he cannot just swipe your head right off. Now this is when the optional tool of a killer right hook comes in. If you can, try using your special tool and knock that bear right in the nose. He will feel the authority you withhold and walk right on with his business, like catching fish or maybe even attacking another human or their trashcan.

The Nature And Characteristics Of Australian Smes Business Essay

The Nature And Characteristics Of Australian Smes Business Essay The term Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is used to collectively group micro, small and medium-sized business (Schaper Volery 2007). In order to be classed as an SME, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) requires that the business be independently owned and managed by an individual or small number of persons as wells as employ less than 199 staff (ABS 2001). In addition to this, typical SMEs share other similar characteristics such as start-up finance is generally provided by the owner, they hold a limited market share and have a limited life span, they earn low levels of net profit and they a most often a family business (Schaper Volery 2007). SMEs play a vital role in the Australian economy as they account for more than 95% of business and provide a significant proportion of national employment (OECD 2000). SMEs also play an important role as market makers. They increase the level of competition within the market, encourage innovation and development of goods and services as well as provide specialised products and services for niche markets (Schaper Volery 2007).Without SMEs there would be limited competition and high prices for consumers. As at June 2007 there were 2,011,770 actively trading businesses in Australia (ABS 2007), of which 98% were SMEs. A key trend in the Australian business environment has been the increasing number of non-employing-single operators, with now 58% of businesses not employing any staff (ABS 2004, 2007). Home based businesses make up a very large proportion of these businesses. The remained of the SMEs is made up of 26% micro businesses, those with less than 4 employees, 12% small businesses and medium businesses hold a share of 4%. 2 Factors influencing SMEs success and failure The nature of SME operations in Australia is that every year there are many start-ups and almost as many failures. During the 2006-07 financial year the rate of entry for new businesses into the market was 17% while the exit rate was at 14.6% (ABS 2007). Of the businesses that remain in the market, ABS (2007) data shows that only four in 10 businesses were remain in operation after 4 years. Recent studies on SMEs have identified five main factors influencing SME success and failure are financing, marketing, production, personnel and personal (Schaper Volery 2007). Yusaf (1995) places high importance on the personal factor, and states that the success and failure of an SME can often be attributed to the owner, depending on the level of their management skills. Owners with strong skills are able to develop and affect business plans, employ appropriate staff for the business, as well as accurately maintain records and control finances (Yusaf 1995). Personal qualities and traits such as self-confidence, perseverance and the ability to cope with stress and maintain a work-life balance are also considered very important (Schaper Volery 200). Finance is a significant issue for SMEs because insufficient capital combined with poor cash flows makes it difficult to establish, maintain and expand a business. Effective marketing is also an essential element of business success or failure because it strongly impacts on the firms ability to attract clientele (Cromie 1991; Yusaf 1995.Production refers the physical premises, quality of the products and services produced the ability to obtain supplies. It is essential when establishing a business that extensive market research is undertaken when selecting location and time and effort are given in order to develop business relationships. Quality personnel are essential for successful businesses however, as previously mentioned, this requires the owner to have sufficient management skills is order to recruit and retain qualified staff. A recent study conducted by the New Zealand Ministry of Economic Development (2005) also found that the use of business plans increased the rate of business success. This is because the development of a business plan provides clarity of direction, encourages goal setting, provides a holistic perspective on the firm and encourages entrepreneurs to fully research their ideas before making significant investments into the business (Schaper Volery 2007). However, despite this, research shows that the majority of Australian businesses do not undertake this type of planning (Schaper Volery 2007) 3 Leadership/Entrepreneurs 3.1 Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurship is the process brought about by individuals, of identifying new opportunities and converting them into marketable products or services (Schaper Volery 2007, p. 4). While there are many entrepreneurs in the market place, only a handful of them are successful in their pursuits. According to Schaper and Volery (2007) there is an endless list of characteristics and traits that are often attributed to successful entrepreneurs, however research has shown that of these, only three have shown a high level of validity. These three characteristics include the need for achievement; an internal locus of control; and a risk-taking propensity (Gartner 1985). The need for achievement is important because it means that the entrepreneur has an overarching desire to excel or succeed in their undertakings (Schaper Volery 2007). Entrepreneurs also need a strong internal locus of control in order to remain positive and continue working, even in adverse situations. A risk-taking propensity is essential characteristic because without it, they may not be willing to pursue and undertake opportunities when they arise. 3.2 Janine Allis Janine Allis is the founder and managing director of the Australian company, Boost Juice. From what started as single store in Adelaide, Boost Juice has grown to 180 outlets within Australia and a further 50 in Singapore, South Africa and Britain (Boost Juice 2010). This year, the company is expected to post revenue in excess of $130 million and a net profit of around $10 million (Thomson 2010). Janine Allis, through her desire to establish her own business has become one of Australias leading entrepreneurs. The process Janine took in developing the Boost Juice concept mirrors the aforementioned definition of entrepreneurship. Prior to developing her product she reviewed the retail market to identify an unfulfilled consumer need, which she found to be a lack of healthy fast foods (Boost Juice 2010). It wasnt until after investigating several other products and a trip to America, where she was exposed to the fresh juice and smoothie concept, she developed a product the Boost juice concept for the Australian market (Ovations 2008). From the outset Janine demonstrated a strong need for achievement. According to an interview in the Australian Business Review (2010), Janine Allis is quoted as saying, I never had intention of opening just 1 store, hence why we opened the first one in Adelaide. We always had bigger plans to have world domination. Her unyielding commitment and perseverance as well as her strong internal locus of control have contributed to the success of the business. Prior to establishing Boost Juice, Janine had not previously run her own company but was confident in herself and her concept that she was willing to invest her familys financial future in her business (Elder 2004). However Janine also understood the need to transfer the risk of operating a business to other parties, and in 2010 sold a 70% stake in the company for to a US private equity firm (Thomson 2010). Based on these demonstrated characteristics and traits, Janine Allis should be considered a successful Australian entrepreneur. 4. Analysing opportunities and developing a framework for business 4.1 Nature of the fitness industry Demand for health and fitness services has, for the past five years, increased annually with approximately 1.6 million Australians (8%) now using or holding a membership to a gym (ABS 2008). Research into health and fitness trends attributes the increased membership rates to improved awareness of the health risks associated with modern lifestyle choices as well as reductions in leisure time and the availability of private recreation areas (Diabetes NSW 2010; Sydney Morning Herald 2003). The Australian fitness industry is currently undergoing significant change is response to changing consumer needs. Kirby-Brown and Hall (2010) identified three major trends that are now redefining gym standards and practices. The first trend, referred to as nowism, is a reference to values and attitudes displayed by Generation Y. The main impact of this societal attitude has on health and fitness centres is on membership structure. Patrons do not want to be locked into but instead prefer pay-as-you-go or no minimum term contracts. The second key trend is personalisation, which proposes a major step away from traditional large gym models towards more boutique structures. This is the market that the Breeze Fitness Studio is attempting to capture. The boutique gym caters to time poor professionals who require flexibility and not predetermined schedules; patrons who would prefer alternative exercise forms; and those who do not feel comfortable in the traditional gym environment (The Age, 2003). The boutique gym model also provides a more flexible structure because when workouts become unfashionable they are no holding large quantities of expensive equipment, purpose-built rooms or an inflexible class schedule (Kirby-Brown Hall 2010; The Age 2003). These factors all positively indicate towards the viability of establishing a boutique fitness centre. 4.2 Viability of Breeze Legal Structure There are four main types of legal structures used in SMEs, Sole trader, Partnerships, Companies and Trusts. The most commonly used form is Sole trader. In this type of structure the business is not considered a separate legal entity, which means business profits are taxed at the marginal tax rate of the owner and that owner is personally responsible for all of the liabilities of the business (Schaper Volery 2007). However this structure is simple and inexpensive to establish. A partnership is an arrangement between two or more people to start a business and legally share the profits, risks and losses according to the terms set out in the partnership contracts (DEEDI 2009). The main disadvantages of this form are the loss of control and that, like sole traders, there is unlimited liability. The company structure is a legal entity separate from the owner, which provides for limited liability and separate taxation of business earnings (Schaper Volery 2009). Compared to the other two structures, it is more costly to establish a company. A trust is a structure where the business is transferre d to a third party who has legal control and has a duty to run that business to benefit someone else (DEEDI 2009). This structure, while providing tax minimisation, is complex and costly by nature (DEEDI 2009. Of these four structures, a Proprietary Limited Company is most suitable for Breeze Health and Fitness. While this structure requires higher costs to maintain due periodic reporting to ASIC, the benefits received outweigh this. With a high level of expected profit forecast for the business, it is not economically feasible to have this taxed at the marginal tax rate of 45%, when the company tax rate is considerably lower at 30%. The other key reason for the use of the company structure is the access to limited liability. The owner does not wish to have their personal financial assets placed unnecessarily at risk, as would be in the case in a sole trader and partnership arrangement. 4.2.2 Market Size It is proposed that Breeze Fitness Studio be established in Toowoomba, Queensland. Recent economic reports put together by the Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) show that there is strong market for health and fitness to support the establishment of the Breeze Fitness Studio. The 2010 Economic Report compiled by the TRC shows that demand for arts and recreation services has grown 14.8% in the past financial year, compared to the negative average growth of 3% for the state. In 2007 recreation services had a combined annual turnover $60.7 million, with the average annual business turnover being $243,800p.a (TRC 2010). The current female population in Toowoomba and surrounding local areas, aged between 20 and 55 is 33,267 (ABS 2006). With approximately 8% of the population holding or using gym memberships, the market size is expect to be around 2660. The characteristics of the market support the establishment of Breeze Fitness Studio. 4.2.3 Target Market According to Cooper (1993) the target market needs to be an attractive market where the competition is weak, there is potential growth, there are only few players and the customer base has an unsatisfied need for a particular product. After an evaluation of the current market in Toowoomba revealed two distinct and complimentary markets which will both be targeted by Breeze Fitness Studio. Currently there are no female-only fitness centres located in the Toowoomba Central Business District. This is a very profitable market because, if the product is tailored correctly, there is a large population of professional women who work in the vicinity. With the current health focus for professionals, there is an established need for Breeze Fitness Studio. The profile for this market is shown in the table below. Table 1: Characteristics of Target Market 1 Base Descriptor Justification Geographic Region or area   Toowoomba CBD Demographic Gender Female Psychographic Lifestyle Busy lifestyle, want to maintain health is a convenient manner The other potential market that was identified was that there are only a small number of gyms offering alternative fitness programs aimed at young females who are not content with standard gym offerings. Their profile is outlined below. Table 2: Characteristics of Target Market 2 Base Descriptor Justification Demographic Gender Female Income High Disposable Income Age 18-30 Psychographic Lifestyle Interested in maintaining a healthy lifestyle but are not contempt with standard exercises offered at gyms. 4.2.4 Nature of Product Kotlers three levels of product are used to understand how a customer views a product and service. The most basic level of a product is its core, which is what is the customer buying? Breeze Fitness Studio offers it members womens-only health and fitness. This can be seen as a transformational product because women who join are not just purchasing a gym membership they are purchasing a new lease on life, self-esteem and a release from the stresses of everyday life. The second level of product is referred to as the actual product, and these are the things that need to be provided in order to achieve the core benefit. For Breeze Fitness Studio the actual product is characterised by high levels of customer service, a wide and varying array of programs, qualified staff, appearance of the staff and quality equipment. The final level of product, the augmented product, is the additional benefits the customer receives from purchasing this product. Augmented product for Breeze includes flexible membership options and the packaging as well as personalised service. For a visual representation of the three levels of the Breeze Fitness Studio Product, please see Appendix 1. 4.2.5 Competitive Edge/Unique Selling Proposition Due to the use of multi-segmented targeting, Breeze Fitness Studio will use two different Unique Selling Propositions. For the first target market Breeze will focus on differentiating themselves from competitors by convenience of location and high levels of personal attention not offered at large fitness centres. As the gym is aimed at professional women, who are often under considerable time constraints, workouts will be structured on achieving maximum benefits in minimum time. To attract the younger market, Breeze will market the uniqueness of its alternative fitness programs. Breeze will be the only fitness centre offering Juakri and Silks, in addition to Bikram Yoga and Pole Fitness. 4.2.6 Finance Breeze Fitness Studio will be financed through personal savings of the owner, a loan from family as well as a loan from business angel, Lee Gend. It is estimated that the initial costs involved in establishing the business will amount to $102,500. These costs are funding are broken down in detail in Appendix 2. The expected start up costs take into account the cost of fit out of the premises, the costs associated with establishing and registering a company with ASIC, the cost of equipment for the studio, the initial marketing of the centre and a margin for incidental costs. Working capital of $15,000 is required to pay bills and wages that occur before the centre is opened. The loans from Lee Gend and the owners parents will be repaid over a period of 2 years at a fixed interest rate of 7%. The breakdown of loan repayments is shown below. Table 3: Loan Repayment Schedule Terms 2 years, 7% Total Cost Monthly Repayment Loan from Parents 22898 954 Loan from Lee Gend 37210 1550 Total Monthly Repayment 2505 Total Annual Repayment 30054 Membership levels for Breeze Fitness Studio has been based on an initial membership base of 100, which is to be achieved in the membership presale, with a growth rate of 7% per month for the first year, which is in line with industry standards. It is expected by the end of the first year the membership base will level out. Wages for the year have been calculated on the basis of one full-time staff member, 2 part-time staff and 2 casuals, using the industry award. It is estimated that wages in the first year will be $82,500. Breeze Fitness Studio will be located in the Toowoomba CBD and the lease costs for this property are $66,000 per year (Ray White 2010). This rate is consistent with other comparable CBD locations. Insurance costs for the studio have been estimated at $5500 p.a. An allowance of $10,000 has been set aside to cover phone and internet bells, equipment replacement costs, accountant and solicitor fees and other incidentals. Using this data, it is projected that Breeze Fitness Studio will earn a net profit of $16,403 in its first year of operation. A breakdown of this is shown in the profit and loss statement below. Breeze Fitness Studio Profit and Loss Statement For Year Ended 31 December 2011 Revenue Membership Fees 210457 Less Expenses Loan Repayments 30054 Property Lease 66000 Wages 82500 Insurance 5500 Other Expenses 10000 194054 Net Profit 16403 6. List of References ABC 2010, Female Fitness Centres, viewed on 20 August 2010, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2001, 1321.0 Small Business in Australia, viewed on 1 August 2010, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2004, 8127.0 Characteristics of Small Business, viewed on 22 August 2010, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2006, Census, viewed on 15 August 2010, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2007, 8165.0 Counts of Australian Businesses, Including Entries and Exits, viewed on 12 August 2010, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2008, 2007-08 National Health Survey, viewed on 21 August 2010, Australian Business Review 2010, Business Legend Janine Allis, Boost Juice, viewed on 22 August 2010, Boost Juice 2010, Janines Success Story, viewed on 12 August 2010, Cromie, S 1996, The problems experienced by young firms, International Small Business Journal, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 43-61 Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation  2009, Smart Skills Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovations, viewed on 20 August 2010, Diabetes NSW 2010, Australias Obesity Problem Continues to Growà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦, viewed on 21 July 2010, Elder, J 2004, Allis charms judges of national business award, viewed on 2 August 2010, Gartner, WB 1985, A conceptual framework for describing the phenomenon of new venture creation, Academy of Management Review, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 696-706 Kirby-Brown, C Hall, S 2010, The Top 10 Consumer Trends Impacting the Fitness industry in 2010, viewed 2 August 2010, Kotler, P, Adam, S, Brown, L Armstrong, G 2006, Principles of Marketing, Prentice Hall, Sydney Ministry of Economic Development 2005, SMEs in New Zealand: Structure and Dynamics, Ministry of Economic Development, Wellington OECD 2000. OECD Small and Medium Enterprise Outlook 2000 Edition. Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development. Ovations 2008, Janine Allis Speaker, viewed 4 August 2010, Ray White 2010, Commercial Real Estate, viewed on 23 August 2010, Schaper, M Volery, T 2007, Entrepreneurship an Small Business, John Wiley Sons, Milton Sydney Morning Herald 2003, A Pointless Exercise, viewed on 12 August 2010, The Age 2003, Tight Fit, viewed on 3 August 2010, Thomson, J 2010, Boost Juice founder Janine Allis sells 70% stake, viewed on 8 August 2010, Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) 2010, Toowoomba Regional Council Economic Profile 2010, viewed on 8 August 2010, Yusaf, A 1995, Critical success factors for small business, Journal of Small Business Management, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 68-73

Oh, Ill Do It Tomorrow Essay -- essays research papers

Oh, I'll Do It Tomorrow Washing the dishes after a meal, doing your homework, getting up in the mornings, calling a loved one; These are only a few activities you might put off doing until the last possible minute. You don't enjoy doing them and it takes time to do them. Time that you would rather spend doing something enjoyable, right? Well, procrastination may not seem like a bad habit, but you would be surprised of the effects it can have on your health, relationships, job, and even your future. Procrastination is when we wait so long to complete a task that we do not want to do, that we only have a short time to complete it. When you have waited until the night before the final exam to study, you worry that you will fail the exam. Worrying causes stress, and stress has been proven to be harmful to a person mentally and physically. When someone is under stress about something thier body releases adrenalin, the hormone that gives you a sudden burst of energy. The body does this to help you cope with sudden stress. For example, do you remember that exam you have tomorrow morning? You are under stress because you don't want to fail, so you stay up all night studying for it. You are capable of staying awake all night because of the release of adrenalin. About eight hours later, it's time for the exam. By now your body is exhausted from using so much energy- you are completely drained. You can hardly stay awake and you can't concentrate. Procrastinating has weakened you mental...

Millers Irony and the Truth about American Witch Hunts Essay -- Polit

Silence has pervaded every imaginable recess in the old dilapidated courthouse. A hundred silent onlookers hold their breath in baited anticipation. Suddenly, the dull sound that only wood can make as it slams into an desk echoes for what may as well be all eternity. A single man garners the attention of two hundred eyes as he unintentionally clears his throat. However his lips only are able to take form around one bloodcurdling word: guilty. Although of what crime depends on the time period of the aforementioned case, for trials such as these have occurred in American History not once but twice. The first began back in the 1600's in a little town known as Salem Massachusetts, where people were killed for crimes of witchcraft. The second instance, while not quite as known for bestowing rigor mortis still put ruin on the lives of many. Trials in the 1950's fueled by McCarthyism and the idea that communism was invading the United States led to the blacklisting of many people as supposed socialists. Arthur Miller saw the real story of the trials for supposed unamericans during his time and he set about making it known to the public. However, had miller outright stated his views he would have found himself in the same position as those who's stories he tried to tell. Therefore he devised a creative solution; he wrote a story based on events in the Salem witch trials that is nearly perfectly symbolic of the McCarthyism trials. Miller's extensive [use of] irony in the crucible reveals the actual motives behind events carried out during the Salem witch trials, and thereby he exposes the dark truth of what happened during 1950's McCarthyism trials on Unamerican activities. Even in the very beginning Miller wastes no time in d... ... in the court goes back to the confession of John proctor. He finally admits to his sin after months of concealing it and then Danforth and the court bluntly say to him â€Å"she spoke nothing of lechery, and this man has lied.† (113?) This shows that when an actual bit of truth is presented to the lawmen, they reject it and again side with the liars. The situational irony lies in the fact that when Proctor confesses his sin, the court rejects his confession altogether on only the evidence of his wife's claim. These three examples of irony are perhaps the most important of all in relation to McCarthyism. They reveal that the court itself may represent unfairness in its proceedings. (jr 23?) Miller urges his readers to believe that the judges not only believed liars and rejected the truth, but also that they pushed for the convictions rather than a fair trial.

lena horne :: essays research papers

Singer/actress Lena Horne's primary occupation was nightclub entertaining, a profession she pursued successfully around the world for more than 60 years, from the 1930s to the 1990s. In conjunction with her club work, she also maintained a recording career that stretched from 1936 to 2000 and brought her three Grammys, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1989; she appeared in 16 feature films and several shorts between 1938 and 1978; she performed occasionally on Broadway, including in her own Tony-winning one-woman show, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music in 1981-1982; and she sang and acted on radio and television. Adding to the challenge of maintaining such a career was her position as an African-American facing discrimination personally and in her profession during a period of enormous social change in the U.S. Her first job in the 1930s was at the Cotton Club, where blacks could perform, but not be admitted as customers; by 1969, when she acted in the film Death of a Gunf ighter, her character's marriage to a white man went unremarked in the script. Horne herself was a pivotal figure in the changing attitudes about race in the 20th century; her middle-class upbringing and musical training predisposed her to the popular music of her day, rather than the blues and jazz genres more commonly associated with African-Americans, and her photogenic looks were sufficiently close to Caucasian that frequently she was encouraged to try to "pass" for white, something she consistently refused to do. But her position in the middle of a social struggle enabled her to become a leader in that struggle, speaking out in favor of racial integration and raising money for civil rights causes. By the end of the century, she could look back at a life that was never short on conflict, but that could be seen ultimately as a triumph. Lena Mary Calhoun Horne was born June 30, 1917, in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Both sides of her family claimed a mixture of African-Americans, Native Americans, and Caucasians, and both were part of what black leader W.E.B. DuBois called "the talented tenth," the upper stratum of the American black population made up of middle-class, well-educated African-Americans. Her parents, however, might both be described as mavericks from that tradition. Her father, Edwin Fletcher Horne Jr., worked for the New York State Department of Labor, but one of her biographers describes him more accurately as "a 'numbers' banker": his real profession was gambling.