What to do if your year starts off terribly

What to do if your year starts off terribly Most of us have high hopes every time we ring in a new year- we imagine that new opportunities, better luck, and greater fortune are just waiting for us as we end one year and start fresh in a new one. However, for many of us these high hopes are quickly met by a different reality when our year gets off to a bad start and we start to get the sinking feeling that maybe things haven’t changed all that much. Perhaps it’s a resolution that you set up for yourself that you’ve already dropped the ball on, or maybe it’s a goal that’s already starting to seem more and more unattainable as the days wear on, or maybe you’ve just hit a wall of plain bad luck.If any of this sounds familiar and you’re feeling as if your year is already off to a bad start, that doesn’t mean you have to give up or accept the grim fate that you’re inevitably going to have a bad year. There are effective strategies for turning things around if your new ye ar has gotten off to a bad start. The Muse published an article about what to do if your year gets off to a bad start, and the following tips can help you make your next move a smart one!Regroup and start over.One unfortunate side effect of having a bad start to a new year is that it can set you up with a negative mindset for the rest of the year, which can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy. You assume things are going to go bad, so you approach new opportunities and goals with the expectation that they won’t pan out. And guess what? You’re setting yourself up for failure to happen. Not a great way to face a new year!Instead of letting early failures or unfortunate occurrences derail you completely, take a moment to stop, regroup, and reset your head to a more positive, focused, and optimistic mindset. This way, you’re setting yourself up for a healthy pivot- away from bad luck and misfortune and towards ensuring that you approach each opportunity in a positive and productive manner, which will help set you up for future success.Learn from mistakes.More often than not, we’re the architects of our own misfortune. This means that when our year gets off to a bad start, there’s likely a reason behind it- and it’s one that stares us right in the face whenever we look in the mirror. Rather than accept defeat when our year gets off to a bad start, try and turn unfortunate events into learning experiences and figure out what we did wrong.Take time for some serious self-reflection when you hit a bad patch and determine what happened. Could you have done something differently to improve an outcome? Are there lessons that you can take with you as you encounter new experiences and opportunities throughout the year? If so, then turn these experiences into something valuable that can help set you up for a reversal of fortune as the year unfolds.Create a new path.The simple truth is that sometimes the grand plans we set for ourselve s don’t work out- whether it’s due to something we did wrong or something completely out of our control, life happens and sometimes our goals simply fall out of reach. Also, sometimes the things we want simply change. A goal you set for yourself at the end of last year may no longer reflect what you want in the new year as time goes on. That’s okay! The key takeaway here is to allow yourself to move away from a goal you set for yourself and embrace a new one, provided it makes sense to do so and it’s not just the result of you giving up.There you have it- some proven strategies for getting your year back on track if it starts off on the wrong foot. Use these tips to help ensure that you’re setting yourself up for a happy and successful year!

A History of the Colony of Rhode Island

A History of the Colony of Rhode Island The colony of Rhode Island was founded between 1636 and 1642 by five separate and combative groups, most of whom had been expelled or left the Massachusetts Bay colony for disputative reasons. The colony was first named Roodt Eylandt by Dutch trader Adriaen  Block (1567–1627), who had explored that area for the Netherlands. The name means red island and it refers to the red clay that Block reported there. Fast Facts: Rhode Island Colony Also Known As: Roodt Eylandt, Providence PlantationsNamed After: Red Island in Dutch, or perhaps after RhodesFounding Year: 1636; permanent charter 1663Founding Country: EnglandFirst Known European Settlement: William Blackstone, 1634Residential Native Communities: Narragansetts, Wampanoags  Founders: Roger Williams, Anne Hutchinson, William Coddington, William Arnold, Samuel GortonImportant People: Adriaen BlockFirst Continental Congressmen: Stephen Hopkins, Samuel WardSigners of the Declaration: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery Early Settlements / Plantations Although the Puritan British theologian Roger Williams (1603–1683) is often given the sole role of founder of Rhode Island, the colony was in fact settled by five independent and combative sets of people between 1636 and 1642. They were all English, and most of them began their colonial experiences in Massachusetts Bay colony but were banished for various reasons. Roger Williamss group was the earliest: in 1636, he settled in what would become Providence on the north end of Narragansett Bay, after he was kicked out of the Massachusetts Bay colony.   Roger Williams had grown up in England, only leaving in 1630 with his wife Mary Barnard when the persecution of Puritans  and Separatists began increasing. He moved to the Massachusetts Bay Colony and worked from 1631 to 1635 as a pastor and a farmer. Although many in the colony saw his views as quite radical, Williams felt that the religion he practiced must be free from any influence of the Church of England and the English king. In addition, he questioned the right of the King to grant land to individuals in the New World.  While serving as a pastor in Salem, he had a fight with the colonial leaders, because he believed that each church congregation should be autonomous and should not follow directions sent down from the leaders.   Founding of Rhode Island In 1635, Williams was banished to England by the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his beliefs in the separation of church and state and freedom of religion. Instead, he fled and lived with the Narragansett Indians  in what would become Providence Plantation (meaning settlement). Providence, which he formed in 1636, attracted other separatists who wished to flee from colonial religious rules of which they did not agree.   One such separatist was the poet and feminist  Anne Hutchinson (1591–1643), another Puritan from Massachusetts Bay, who began Pocasset on Aquidneck Island in 1638, which eventually became Portsmouth. She had been banished for speaking out against the Church in Massachusetts Bay. William Coddington (1601–1678), a magistrate at Massachusetts Bay, settled first in Pocasset but split from Hutchinsons group and settled in Newport, also on Aquidneck Island, in 1639. In 1642, Massachusetts Bay ex-patriot William Arnold (1586–1676) settled on the mainland in Pawtuxet, now part of Cranston. Finally, Samuel Gorton (1593–1677) settled first in Plymouth, then Portsmouth, and then Providence, and finally set up his own group in Shawomet, later renamed to Warwick in 1642.   A Charter Political and religious squabbling was a common feature of these small plantations. Providence evicted people for speaking out in meetings; Portsmouth had to hire two police officials in late 1638 to keep the peace; a small group of people from Shawomet were arrested and brought forcibly to Boston where they were tried and convicted on various charges. William Arnold fell into dispute with Warwick plantation and for a time put his plantation under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts Bay. These disputes were primarily were struggles over religious practices and governing, in addition to boundary issues with Connecticut. Part of the problem was they had no charter: the only legitimate authority in Rhode Island from 1636–1644 was the voluntary compacts which everybody but Gortons group had agreed to. Massachusetts Bay kept intruding into their politics, and so Roger Williams was sent to England to negotiate an official charter in 1643.   Uniting the Colony The first charter was validated by British Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell in 1644 and that became the basis of government in Rhode Island colony in 1647. In 1651, Coddington obtained a separate charter, but protests led to the reinstatement of the original charter. In 1658, Cromwell died and the charter had to be renegotiated, and it was on July 8, 1663, that the Baptist minister John Clarke (1609–1676) went to London to get it: that charter united the settlements into the newly named Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.   Despite the conflict, or perhaps because of it, Rhode Island was quite progressive for its day. Known for fierce independence and the absolute separation of church and state, Rhode Island attracted persecuted groups such as Jews and Quakers. Its government guaranteed freedom of religion for all its citizens, abolished witchcraft trials, imprisonment for debt, most capital punishment, and chattel slavery of both blacks and whites, all by 1652.   The American Revolution Rhode Island was a prosperous colony by the time of the American Revolution with its fertile soil and ample harbors. However, its harbors also meant that after the French and Indian War, Rhode Island was severely impacted by British import and export regulations and taxes. The colony was a frontrunner in the movement towards independence. It severed ties before the Declaration of Independence. Although not a lot of actual fighting occurred on Rhode Island soil, except for the British seizure and occupation of Newport until October 1779.   In 1774, Rhode Island sent two men to the First Continental Congress: former governor and then-chief justice of the Supreme Court Stephen Hopkins and former governor Samuel Ward. Hopkins and William Ellery, an attorney who replaced the deceased Samuel Ward, signed the Declaration of Independence for Rhode Island.   After the war, Rhode Island continued to show its independence. In fact, it did not agree with the federalists and was the last to ratify the U.S. Constitution- after it had already gone into effect, and the government had been established. Sources and Further Reading Bozeman, Theodore Dwight. Religious Liberty and the Problem of Order in Early Rhode Island. The New England Quarterly 45.1 (1972): 44-64. Print.Frost, J. William. Quaker Versus Baptist: A Religious and Political Squabble in Rhode Island Three Hundred Years Ago. Quaker History 63.1 (1974): 39-52. Print.Gorton, Adelos. The Life and Times of Samuel Gorton. Philadelphia, Higgenson Book Company, 1907.  McLoughlin, William. Rhode Island: A History. States and the Nation. W. W. Norton Company, 1986

Write one page about the short story a rose for Emily by William Essay

Write one page about the short story a rose for Emily by William Faulkner - Essay Example Predictable stories are generally boring, and very common. Use of a non-chronological order makes the story more interesting and engaging for the readers. Another reason for the use of the non-chronological order in the story is to guide the readers’ emotions and feelings towards the central character of the play that is Emily. The story starts with the death of Emily that should principally be the end of story. Since the readers can only learn about the character of Emily through the eyes of Jefferson’s people, who discuss her in her absence, the readers tend to empathize with Emily. One example of this is people’s referral to her as â€Å"poor Emily†. In the first place, the title i.e. A Rose for Emily creates a perception in the minds of the readers upfront that Emily is to be empathized with. It creates a psychological effect on the readers so that they start feeling for

Cultural experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Cultural experience - Essay Example The report also indicated that a majority of immigrants in the country hailed from countries such as the United Kingdom, China, and New Zealand. Today, Australia appears like a new country in another land, thanks to the diversity of the country. The Australia multicultural policy has promoted the country’s shared values and cultural traditions (Hugo 2005, p. 9). In addition, it allows people from other countries who chose to call Australia their home the right to share and practice their cultural traditions and languages free from discrimination or interference from the government. Almost one quarter of Australian population, (4 million people) speak other languages other than English (Griffiths 2010). The country also allows the freedom of religion. For instance, when one drives along the streets of Sidney, he or she is amazed to see mosques at different locations in the city. Al-Zahra Mosque is one among the many mosques in the country that a friend of mine once attended to learn of the Islamic mode of prayers. The Mosque is located in Australia’s capital Sydney and acts as a place of worship for the Muslim faithful (Jamal and Chandab 2005, p.6). The friend of mine reveals that the Mosque’s environment was so amazing that one could easily tell by far that the place is indeed a Muslim territory. This is evident right from the structure of the mosque, as he could easily see a tall tower, commonly referred to as the Minaret. The Minaret is standing tall on the building with loudspeakers attached to it. The loud speakers, he was told are used to announce to the muslin faithful of the beginning of the service. It was also through interaction with the congregants that he realized that, in Islam refer to God as Allah. He also asserted that he was so amazed to learn that Muslims do not believe in the existence of Jesus Christ and the Christians do. Instead, they believe in the existence of Prophet Muhammad. The friend also revealed that the envir onment looked peculiar from that of a church. As a result, other members of the congregation could easily single him out from the rest. This is because, whereas he was dressed in full black suite, which was quite different from the way the Muslim faithful were dressed. For instance, most men were dressed in white robes, while their female counterparts were mostly dressed in black robes, according to the friend of mine. He was also amazed by the fact that most women wore robes, which covered their faces making it difficult to different the women. He even kept wondering how these women were breathing in those robes. It was also interesting for him to learn that before entering the Mosque, every member of the congregation is required to remove the shoes since the mosque is considered a holy place. This look peculiar to him since he did not anticipate being subjected to removal of shoes. In addition, just outside the entrance of the mosque is a special place designated for leg, mouth, n eck, face, nose, and hand washing before anyone can be allowed to proceed to the service. The friend reveals that the inside wall of the Mosque is beautifully decorated with Islamic artifacts made of different symbols and Arabic writings. He also noted that, unlike Christians who pray in a single room, Islam does not allow such mixing. Instead, the Muslim men and women have different rooms for prayers. However, prayers are conducted by a single Imam who direct prayers from the men’s room using a loud speaker fixed in other rooms as well to enable women to follow the service and imitate what the imam says. The friend was also flabbergasted to learn that the building had very few chairs, as the entire Mosque is just a hall with a carpet laid on the floor. As such, congregants sit on the floor on carpets

Theme of Tennessee Williams plays Essay Example for Free

Theme of Tennessee Williams plays Essay A Streetcar Named Desire conforms to the expectation that a major theme of Williams plays is that of human sexuality. Various aspects of human sexuality are explored through the diversity and complexity of the characters. Whilst Stanley Kowalski epitomises masculinity through his primal strength and power, and the increasingly fragile Blanche DuBois attempts to cling to the feminine role of the Southern Belle, these are only aspects of their characters. The fact that their relationship is one of conflict, is representative of their worldviews. However, to reduce A Streetcar Named Desire to the level of mere battle of the sexes would be too simplistic and does the play an injustice by choosing to ignore its complexities. Superficially, at least, Blanche DuBois conforms to prevailing concepts of gender wherein she adopts characteristics that are seen to epitomise femininity. Such traits are conceived as constituting feminine behaviour, and include characteristics such as passivity, acquiescence and emotionality. Whilst these traits are certainly evident in Blanche DuBois, she is, of course, a far more complex character than such simplification would first suggest and, therefore, cannot be so easily labeled. It would be perhaps more accurate to consider Blanche in light of Judith Butlers suggestion that gender is something that we do (Selden, 116). This concept more accurately encapsulates the sense that Blanche chooses to adopt a role of femininity, effectively playing a part by conforming to a stereotypical role, in this case, that of the Southern Belle. The adoption of this role provides Blanche with a relatively stable sense of identity, or at least an aspect of identity, necessary for her own self-preservation. As with Amanda Wingfield, in The Glass Menagerie, Blanche DuBois seems to struggle in a changing world and by adopting an aspect of identity that is associated with the past, she is able to find at least temporary comfort. From our earliest encounter with Blanche, we are made quickly aware of her preoccupation with appearance. Initially this focuses on the appearance of Stellas home, this horrible place (120), which compares so negatively when contrasted with the ancestral home of Belle Reve. However, Blanches real preoccupation soon becomes evident as she chides Stella for failing to  say a word about her appearance (122): You see I still have that awful vanity about my looks even now that my looks are slipping! (123). The fact that she laughs nervously whilst looking to Stella for reassurance indicates Blanches insecurity. All that has been familiar in Blanches world has changed, and now that age is changing her personal appearance, her insecurities are heightened. However, the dialogue between the sisters evokes a sense of ritual wherein Blanche seeks approval and Stella responds dutifully (123) suggesting that Blanches insecurities are deep rooted and precede the advent of age. As Stella instructs Stanley: admire her dress and tell her shes looking wonderful. Thats important with Blanche. Her little weakness! (132). This is a constant motif throughout the play and Blanches little weakness reflects the fact that her sense of self-identity needs constant bolstering, especially now that her youth has passed by. It also reinforces the notion of Blanche as adopting a role and the necessity, as with any act, for an audience, preferably a sympathetic one. For Blanche an audience is necessary to enable her to perpetuate her constructed self-image. Compliments and constant reassurance are required to maintain the role she has adopted; it is therefore necessary for her audience to constantly appreciate her performance. When considering Blanches behaviour with others, we find that she is most desperate to impress her male audience, and it is at such times that she feels the need to rely heavily on her female sexuality. Indeed, the persona that she has adopted is aimed at attracting male attention rather than female sympathy. This becomes apparent through a conversation with Stella wherein Blanche describes her discussion with Stanley regarding the fate of Belle Reve: I feel a bit shaky, but I think I handled it nicely. I laughed and treated it  all as a joke, called him a little boy and laughed and flirted! Yes I was flirting with your husband Stella! (141). Blanche seems unable, or at least unwilling, to disregard this persona when dealing with men. Such behaviour has become habitual, a fact that becomes increasingly obvious in her relationship with Mitch. After a date together, and despite the fact that Blanche did not enjoy the evening, she still behaves in a manner in which she believes she is obliged to do. As she explains: I was just obeying the law of nature The one that says the lady must entertain the gentleman or no dice! (175). Blanche certainly understands how to use her sexuality, but she is not driven by her sexuality in the sense of passion and desire. Blanche wants her relationship with Mitch to work, not because she wants him per se, but because of what such an outcome would represent. The prospect of such a relationship is viewed as an escape from her present circumstances where she considers herself to be a burden. A successful relationship will give Blanche the opportunity to rest and to breathe quietly again!(171). Such choice of language clearly indicates the strain involved in continuing her charade, and goes some way to explain her reliance on alcohol for a temporary sense of escape. Of course, in order to adopt the role of Southern Belle convincingly, illusion becomes a necessary factor. Blanche is content in the illusory world that she creates where she can attempt to regain her passing youth, becoming someone that she feels she should be. Illusion is also necessary in that it offers an escape from her sexually promiscuous past, whilst masking the truth of the past from her family and Mitch. However, Blanche seems to accept her past behaviour as inevitable considering the expectations of men: People dont see you men dont dont even admit your existence unless they are making love to you. And youve got to have your existence admitted by someone, if youre going to have someones protection (169). The fact that Blanche equates people with men highlights the fact that she feels very much a part of a patriarchal society, where men obviously hold the power and make the judgments. Ironically, but not unexpectedly, such a society is hypocritical in its view of Blanche as it privately condones, indeed enables, Blanches sexually promiscuous behaviour whilst publicly condemning it. Blanches decisions appear to have been primarily driven by her desire for protection, whilst her upbringing and her position as a woman in a patriarchal society, nurtures a reliance on men. In this case, the expectation is that a man will rescue her. Of course, she experiences only varying degrees of failure in attempting to escape from the situations she finds herself in. Yet, despite this, it is still male approval that Blanche seeks. Blanche retains the hope that by becoming part of the illusion, by emulating old-fashioned values, that she will attract Mitch and therefore the protected life of gentility and kindness that she so longs for. I have suggested that an illusory world is a space for Blanche to relive her passing youth, and we find that in order to do so she uses darkness to reinvent herself as young and innocent. Blanche lies to Mitch about her age, telling him that Stella is somewhat older (150) than herself, when Blanche is in fact at least five years older than Stella. Blanche adorns the naked lightbulbs in the apartment with Chinese lanterns (150) to deflect the harsh light of truth, as it were, from the possibility of being discovered as older than she has suggested. We learn from Mitch that Blanche refuses to meet him until after six and then its always some place thats not lighted much(203). Blanche finds the dark comforting (203), as she prefers to reject realism in search of magic (204). The persona she feels is necessary to attract Mitch is also necessary for her own sake as she allows herself to feel young and unscarred again. Her habit of taking baths is symbolic in this regard. The long baths are attempts to wash away the past, whilst they also represent an attempt at some kind of spiritual cleansing wherein Blanche always announces after a bath that she feels like a brand-new human being!(135). Yet, the fact that she keeps returning to the  bath leads to the conclusion that this illusion does not last very long. Whereas Blanche adopts a sexual persona, Stanley, and to some extent Stella, are driven by their sexuality. Their relationship is frequently portrayed as primal and animalistic, their baby is proof of Stanleys virility and Stellas fertility; an affirmation of an intensely passionate relationship. This is at odds with the genteel expectations of the Old South, the world that Blanche represents. Of course, Blanche has also strayed from the values expected, however, her sexual relationships are a means to an end, she is not sexually driven and does not experience the sense of passion and desire apparent in Stella who finds it unbearable to be apart from Stanley: I can hardly stand it when he is away for a night When hes away for a week I nearly go wild! (125). Stella has chosen a life built on a powerful sexual relationship which makes everything else seem unimportant(162). With this belief she deems unimportant the fact that Stanley beats her, she forgives him and to restate the physical bond between the two, they seem to have no need for words, instead they come together with low animal moans(154). Their relationship seems to epitomise life through the regenerative powers of desire and procreation, in contrast to Blanches sexual relationships with men as disempowering and ultimately destructive. Stanley plays the role of the Alpha male, evident in his need to dominate. This is apparent from the first poker game where Stanley seeks to dominate the group of both men and women. When he is disobeyed, he reacts violently, the violence escalating as events progress. During the poker game, Blanche defies Stanley by turning on the radio; his reaction evokes images of animalistic behaviour as he is described as stalking: fiercely through the portieres into the bedroom. He crosses to the small white radio and snatches it off the table. With a shouted oath, he tosses the instrument out of the window (151). When Stella admonishes him for his behaviour he physically attacks her, a forewarning of the treatment that Blanche will ultimately receive from Stanley. There is certainly a sense of inevitability in the final violence that Blanche experiences at the hands of Stanley, as he tells her, weve had this date with each other from the beginning!(215). Blanche has been a consistent threat to Stanleys authority, especially in regard to Stella. Stanley is the self-appointed King, (195) evidence of his sense of male dominance, a secure position that has been undermined by Blanche who is seen as adversely influencing Stellas opinion about her husband. Stella appears to have become influenced by Blanches perception of Stanley as uncouth and animalistic, and this becomes apparent in the language she uses to admonish Stanley. He responds: Dont ever talk that way to me! Pig Polack disgusting vulgar greasy! Them kind of words have been on your tongue and on your sisters tongue too much around here!(194). But Stella is ultimately complicit in Blanches destruction as she chooses Stanley over her sister, despite the fact that she is aware of the violence that Stanley is capable of. Stella chooses to believe Stanley, using illusion just as Blanche has done, because she couldnt believe her story and go on living with Stanley(217). Another aspect of sexuality that plays a significant role, is the sexuality of Blanches young, dead husband. It is clear that Blanche is haunted by the discovery of his homosexuality and the resulting guilt that she feels regarding his suicide. Beyond this however, it is clear that the discovery of her husbands sexuality caused irreparable to Blanches sense of identity. Stella describes Blanches attitude toward Allan: I think Blanche didnt just love him but worshipped the ground he walked on! Adored him and thought him almost too fine to be human! (190). It is clear that Blanche was left lost and isolated by Allans death, and she admits that she searched for comfort by sleeping with men: intimacies with strangers was all I seemed able to fill my empty heart withI think it was panic, just panic, that drove me from one to another, hunting for some protection(205). However, the purely sexual relationship does not offer the kindness, comfort and protection that Blanche is so anxious to find. Her pattern of behaviour becomes a vicious cycle; as Blanche becomes more and more desperate to exorcise memories of Allan, she adopts increasingly inappropriate ways of behaving thus adding to the memories that she is attempting to exorcise. Although Blanches intimacies with strangers do not provide emotional fulfillment, they do provide the male attention that she craves in order bolster her sense of identity as an attractive woman. It is ironic that Blanche views the old love letters and poems that Allan wrote for her as her most precious possessions: Everyone has something her wont let others touch because of their intimate nature (139). The poems and the emotional relationship that they represent are far more intimate than the physical relationships Blanche has had with other men. The fact that Blanche has a preference for young men, conforms to her use of illusion where she seeks to recreate, to re-experience, the idealised relationship which she has so desperately longed for. Her inappropriate relationship with a seventeen year old student, the relationships with young soldiers at Belle Reve, and even in New Orleans we gain a fleeting glance of this behaviour with the young man from the Evening Star (172), whom she kisses and reluctantly dismisses: Run along now! It would be nice to keep you, but Ive got to be good and keep my hands off children (174). Guilt haunts Blanche as does the rapid, feverish polka tune, the  Varsouviana (200), which only fades after the final gunshot has been heard. Just as Blanches expression of disgust destroyed Allan, it is Stanleys disgust at the charade that Blanche has been playing, that ultimately destroys her. The events of scene ten, where Stanley rapes Blanche, are accompanied by the sound of inhuman jungle noises which rise up (215) like cries in a jungle(213). This parallels the primal, animalistic image that has been built of Stanley, and the expectation that he will react violently to anyone that he feels is a threat. It has been said of Williams that his plays seek to capture the truth of human experience(Bigsby, 36). Indeed, A Streetcar Named Desire conforms to this view in as much as the characters are far more than stereotypes but rather complex characters that are influenced by, driven by and destroyed by aspects of human sexuality. BIBLIOGRAPHY Williams, Tennessee. A Streetcar Named Desire, in A Streetcar Named Desire and Other Plays, ed. E.Martin Browne, St. Ives, 1987. Bigsby, C W E. Modern American Drama 1945-1990, Cambridge, 1992. Selden, R. Contemporary Literary Theory, Prentice Hall, 1997.

Tinnitus - Have You Experienced It Yet? Essay -- Biology Essays Resear

Tinnitus - Have You Experienced It Yet? Can you ever recall hearing a strange annoying noise in your ears that remained constant for days or seemed recurrent? If you answered yes to this question then you may be one of the 50,000,000 individuals in the U.S. who suffer from tinnitus. Almost everyone at one time or another has experienced brief periods of mild ringing or other sounds in the ear and it is estimated that one out of every five people experience some degree of tinnitus (1). The presence of tinnitus is a very common and annoying occurrence that affects about 17% of the general population and 33% of the elderly (2). With such statistics, could it be that we are all most likely destined to become a victim of tinnitus? Tinnitus is the internal perception of sound when there actually is no external sound present. It is a symptom that can occur in either or both ears or can seem as if it is coming from somewhere in the head. Tinnitus can sound like a bell, whistle, roar, screech, hum, crickets, tone, something else, or any combination of the above. It can be continuous, pulsatile, or can fluctuate in character or loudness (3). Tinnitus is classified into two forms: objective and subjective. Objective tinnitus, the rarer form, consists of a sound that may be audible to people other than the sufferer. The noises are usually caused by vascular diseases or abnomalies, repetitive muscle contractions, or inner ear structural defects. The sounds are heard by the sufferer and are generally external to the auditory system. Benign causes, such as noise from the jaw joint, openings of the Eustachian tubes, or repetitive muscle contractions may be the cause of objective tinnitus. It can be an early sign of increased intracrania... ...on sufferers are so seriously debilitated that they cannot function on a day-to-day basis. The upsetting notion of tinnitus is that it can strike people of all ages and, for most, it does not go away. Tinnitus is just a nuisance for some, but for others it is a stressful, life-altering condition (7). WWW Sources 1) Tinnitus FAQ- Discovering and Understanding http://www.cccd.edu/faq/tinnitus/discover.html 2) Tinnitus Information Network http://members.aol.com/MyTinnitus/English/definition.html 3) Tinnitus & Loudness Sensitivity Center http://www.earaces.com/tinnitus.htm 4)Tinnitus Relief Center: FAQ http://www.tinnitusrelief.com/faq3.html 5) Tinnitus Relief Center: About Tinnitus http://www.tinnitusrelief.com/abouttinnitus.html 6) ASHA Brochure - Tinnitus 7) American Tinnitus Association http://home.teleport.com/~ata/FAQS~RC.HTM

Marriage relationships are increasingly more equal

It is true that marriage relationships are becoming increasingly equal, but to an extent. Since the early 1900's the stereotypical ‘housewife' role has changed, dramatically. This allowed men to try out, on what would have been seen as ‘Women jobs' such as childcare, cooking and cleaning, and also women to do some ‘Men jobs' which were mainly ‘behind the computer' jobs and more leisure time, women also had a say in purchases and money matters, something which would have not been possible without this experience in change of gender roles. Young and Wilmott were functionalist sociologists who came up with a theory that; ‘Marriage roles are becoming more equal.' They called this the Symmetrical family, this is when the husband and wife have similar roles and share tasks and work equally. They claimed to have proven this theory by interviewing 1700 or more women and only asking them one question which was â€Å"Did you're husband contribute to housework at all this week?† Ann Oakley criticised Young & Wilmot's methodology as her personal views were extremely diverse to theirs. She concluded it could vary from a miniscule to a large amount, making it unfair. The people who get interviewed are only allowed to answer ‘Yes Or No' this makes it really hard to know as no additional details are included such as; when did they do this, how often do they do this and how they contribute to the change in stereotypical gender roles. After Ann Oakley Criticised Young & Wilmot's theory, she made her own theory. She divided her questionnaires into four groups, which consisted of; Housework, Childcare, Decision making and leisure. Ann Oakley states that women are increasingly becoming more equal to their husband, but they are unfortunately still doing 70% of all housework. This portrays that, women are more equal in decision making, work and the outside life but still in their stereotypical gender role at home, with housework and child care. She also states that men only contribute to nice, easy, clean and enjoyable things within the household and childcare; such as playing with the children, purchasing them toys or gifts, sending them to parks, washing one plate once in a whilst and may also cook occasionally. However, they never seem to be cleaning up the house, changing dirty nappies or even cleaning up the children's sick or mess. These are all unfortunately left for the ‘housewife' to do. Overall, Ann Oakley has successfully proved that Young and Wilmott are incorrect in their conclusions on ‘marriages becoming more equal within the household,' because of their imprecise interviewing techniques on collecting data. However, research shows that marriages are increasingly becoming more equal in the household, even though it is increasing slowly.

The Body Is a Temple

The body is a temple, a saying in the bible that most know even if they have never read the bible. It is a statement that most have taken into account though and lived by religiously; no pun intended. During interviews, an average, or generalized ideal body could be found within what each candidate had to say about themselves and others. This ideal body was identified to be a â€Å"fit† body, but the definitions of fit were somewhat construed. Most people interviewed saw their body as fit, but wanted more change to their body.Others were content with their bodies; they knew they could change for better, but the change was something that was not important because they were set with the bodies they had. What is most important is the fact that the definition of fit can be interchangeable and for different reasons. One definition was recognized as the disciplined lifestyle of becoming toned and exercised within a gym or some other environment; this body type was more ‘enhanc ed’ looking and more appealing to the majority of society.The other definition described a body that could get through a day without being uncomfortable and could handle most physical activity, but this body type was of those that did not go to the gym every day and did not exercise often. What could be concluded was the fact that both parties that represented each definition wanted change to their body regardless of how they looked. Over the last few weeks, observations were made of how people carried their bodies around on a daily basis.Women wear their makeup, flashy clothes, and seem to put how their bodies look on a pedestal. What this means is that the ideal body type for them is almost unobtainable. Men on the other hand though did not care as much about their outer appearance, but more on what their body shape looked like. One interviewee for example, whose name is William, had a toned body, but still did not see himself as looking good enough. Majority of people woul d agree in saying that his body type was ideal and that he was good looking enough, but to him, he saw that he needed more change. I like my body, but I do not like it enough, I need more muscle in order to be satisfied in how I look†, these were the words of William; they reflect a self-conscious side to his personality. Since he does not see what others see, he wishes to keep growing through his workouts until he has reached a peak where he can be happy. His wardrobe did not reflect this self-conscious side though; he tries to dress nicely, but does not mind what he wears everyday. In other words, he does not always dress to mpress, but rather wishes to impress with his body shape and physique. Other men interviewed, also agreed that the physique was the most important part to their overall image. Benjamin said, â€Å"I have always been a small guy and this has bugged me, I have always wondered if I was good enough for girls because I was not as ripped or as big as other gu ys out there. † Benjamin seems to be a confident guy, but this underlying worry did bother him enough to start working out every single day at the Recreational Center.His fashion consisted of jeans everyday and a sweatshirt; he has gauges in his ears and does not go clean-shaven most times. This observation seems to solidify that men do not care about their outer appearance, but more what is underneath. The Recreational Center seems to be a hot spot for men to be found because they want to tone their bodies over anything else in order to feel desirable. Fashion, makeup, and the outer facade that women put on seems to be the priority of a woman’s conscience, if these components are not pristine, then it seemed as if most women were not satisfied.The women interviewed unanimously agreed without hearing others’ opinions that fashion was important to their success in feeling comfortable with themselves, but because their bodies would ‘never’ fit the bill . Even if they had a good body type, there was still something that was not good enough about them, but the opposite gender would disagree. This is why fashion for women is key; the makeup they wear and their perfect outfits cover up the blemishes they feel they have underneath the outer-layers. When it comes to girls and how they dress on campus you can see a stereotypical set of fashion appear per season.When it comes to fall time, Yoga pants are a must. During interviews, most women asked said they wore Yoga pants because they were comfy, but it can be inferred that it also is because it outlines the woman’s body more and women want to show off when they can. Fall fashion also consists of different articles of clothing, but this seems to be the most worn article. Women want to attract men in whatever ways they can, and since the body is the first thing that is judged, the most bodacious of clothing is worn. Such was also seen on Halloween night, scandalous costumes were wo rn to make seen what types of bodies girls had.Even if girls were not in shape they still tried to look as ‘naughty’ as possible. This was confusing because it really scuffed the respect that women should receive for their hard work to achieve such fit bodies because they were lowering themselves to such a desperate level to impress the guys around campus. Seeing this behavior strikes up the point that women do feel that their bodies are important, but it seems random amongst women. Some like their bodies, but majority feel they have not achieved the perfect body when in fact they have.Discipline is seen in the women because of all the effort that is put into their outer appearance, their bodies are important, but compared to men it is not what matters most to them. â€Å"I spend almost an hour to two hours sometimes to prepare my makeup and hair before I go to class or go out on the weekends. † Words from Lex which were surprising to hear because it does not tak e much time at all for a man to get ready for the day. She also said, â€Å"My body is never good enough, I need to lose a lot of weight before I can feel good-looking enough for guys out there. This was also surprising to hear because Lex is a good-looking woman and does not look unfit at all. After hearing what each woman had to say it was obvious that being perfect was something they all strived for, but felt like they could never achieve it. There are too many ‘perfect’ people in the world that they look up to and it demeans their success when they really are perfect in many ways. Idolization is more than likely a major cause for people getting their bodies to look the way they do. Celebrities, models, gym junkies, and more all create an image that for some is impossible to reach.But one group that does not need these sorts of images is the people of the Nacirema. A bizarre bunch of men and females, but what they lack is what makes them succeed their own sort of pe rfect or ideal body. The Nacirema go through tortuous processes in order to achieve what they think is the ideal body. This society believes that the body is ugly and its natural tendency is to debility and decay (Horace Miner). Achieving an ideal body all starts with the shrines and charms they use for different parts of their body.Shrine walls are built within the houses and many charms and potions are kept in these shrines (Horace Miner). There are an abundance of charms and what can be inferred is that keeping these charms helps to reassure that they are still serving their purpose even after they are used up. The practice of using these charms is only a minor step in ridding the body of impurities; a temple where medicine men take members of society is the final step to purification. Bodies are put to the test as grueling activities such as drilling out teeth take place and are filled with random assortments of herbs that supposedly prevent decay.People that enter the temple ma y not come out because death is certainly possible. Each person’s body is pushed to the extreme, but it is only to prove that they hold the power to be perfect. Something this extreme is not needed in societies around the world, but for the Nacirema people it is necessity. They supersede other cultures because they do not idolize a certain body type and after the rituals have been performed, they know inside that they are worthy of the body they have and to be a part of the people in their society.If cultures such as the one seen at Washington State University could appreciate this sort of lifestyle and not hold celebrities and models at such a high status, then the world would see many more confident people with bodies that they would be proud of. It is part of life to try and obtain a body that majority sees as fit, but seeing how everyone interviewed needed something different to happen with their body in order to feel confident, it is almost as if this sort of peace of mi nd will never occur.Life today is filled with people battling self-confidence issues. The image of an ideal body is not obtainable because people do not want to see the beauty they behold already. Women wear a mask to cover what they think is ugly, and men hit the gym more than they need to just to achieve a rock hard body that is unnecessary. If more were to hold the values of the Nacirema on a lessened level and boost their self esteem through different acts, then society today could see a much different and possibly brighter mentality that would be shared amongst many.Fashion is an amazing thing and can be appreciated for its many artsy and beautiful additions to how the body looks, but when it becomes only a tool to cover up the inner beauty of the body because of false self-accusations, it cannot be looked at as something spectacular. The body is a temple, how one adorns it, treats it, and appreciates it, is completely up to the person that lives within the body; but when other s influence how one’s temple is treated and decorated, that temple can be considered desecrated. Every persons’ body should be respected and loved for what it is because only the thoughts that one creates are important.

Aristotles Poetics essays

Aristotle's Poetics essays Aristotle could be considered the first popular literary critic. Unlike Plato, who all but condemned written verse, Aristotle breaks it down and analyses it so as to separate the good from the bad. He studies in great detail what components make a decent epic or tragedy. The main sections he comes up with are form, means and manner. For most drama and verse, Aristotles rules are a fairly good measure of the quality of a piece of written work. In modern day however (modern meaning within the last century), certain changes in the nature of dramatic writing have started opening a gap between Aristotelian criticism and what is actually being produced on the stage. Changes in values and techniques brought about by Stanislavsky and some leaders of the popular feminist movement have shifted the direction of theatre. In light of these changes some of Aristotles rules are not applicable anymore. That is not to say that they are not sound. They simply do not apply. Sharon Pollock, one of Canadas great female playwrights and a strong leader of the popular feminist movement, is one example of a writer that breaks Aristotles mold. Her play Blood Relations sits on the edge of what Aristotle would call tragedy. Aristotle states that the form of tragedy is an imitation of a noble and complete action, having the proper magnitude(Aristotle 6). Here we have Lizzie Borden murdering her own parents in a fit of rage. The murders happen after years of abuse and negative attitudes from almost everyone she knows. The act of murdering ones parents is far from noble. It could however, be seen as noble seeing as the reason Lizzie kills them is to stand up for her freedom of thought and direction in life. According to the rules laid down in Poetics, pity and fear arise through misfortune and the recognition of the possibility of falling upon similar misfortune (13). In Blood Relation...

Word Families to Support Decoding Skills in Children with Disabilities

Word Families to Support Decoding Skills in Children with Disabilities Spelling with word families and rhyming words helps young children connections in both reading and writing. Seeing the relationships between these words helps students with disabilities predict new words by using known word patterns.   It supports their future success in literacy. Word families help support word recognition and generalizing decoding skills.   The following word families include word cards that you can reproduce and use in:    Word Sorts Print the pdfs for a couple of the word families:   start with the same rather than different vowel sounds, so the children will recognize them.   You can either create a two column page with the family at the top and then have the children do the sort individually, or you can print them and have students sort them in small groups on a piece of chart paper.   Learning centers: Print the word family cards on card stock, and put them in resealable sandwich or quart bags with a sorting template.   Have students at the learning center sort them.    Additive activities:   Continue to add word families: Have students take turns pulling cards in the sort and placing them on the chart paper.   Or add magnetic strips on the back of the cards and have groups of students sort the words on to a magnetic white board. Sort Games:    Sort War:   Print two word families on card stock.   Assign each child a word family.   When they snap the cards the one who puts on on the top gets to keep the pair.    Sort hearts.   Run several word families and shuffle them together.   Deal the cards to groups of three or four, 5 or 6 to each.   Leave the remainder in a stack.   Students can create sets to lay down when they have three words in a word family.   Play till all the cards are laid down.   All word families. ack back, black, crack, pack, quack, rack, sack, snack, stack, tack, track, whack. ad ad, dad, fad, glad, grad, had, lad, mad, pad, rad, sad, tad. ail fail, hail, jail, mail, nail, pail, rail, sail, snail, tail. ain brain, chain, drain, gain, grain, main, pain, plain rain, stain, strain, train. ake bake, cake, flake, make, rake, take. ale bale, male, pale, scale, tale, whale. all ball, call, fall, hall, mall, small, tall, wall. am am, ham, jam, slam, spam, yam. ame blame, came, flame, frame, game, lame, name, same, tame. an an, ban, can, fan, man, pan, plan, ran, tan, van. ank bank, blank, crank, drank, plan, sank, spank, tank, thank, yank. ap cap, clap, flap, gap, lap, map, nap, rap, sap, slap, scrap, tap. ar are, bar, char, car, far, jar, par, scar, cigar, guitar. ash ash, bash, cash, crash, dash, flash, gash, hash, mash, rash, sash, slash, smash, splash, trash. at at, bat, brat, cat, fat, hat, mat, pat, rat, sat, spat, tat, that, vat. aw claw, draw, flaw, jaw, law, paw, straw, thaw. ay away, bay, clay, day, gay, gray, hay, lay, may, okay, pay, play, way, spray, stay, tray, way. o generalize decoding skills.

Teaching Learning Approaches - Multimedia Essay

Teaching Learning Approaches - Multimedia - Essay Example type II diabetes, the humanist theory will be suitable since it considers that real learning is something that the patient discovers for him/herself, basing on the fundamental principle that learning must always be grounded on learner-centered objective identified by the learner him/herself (Aujoulat, 2007). Moreover, the paper will incorporate two multimedia materials that will be used in training the patients. The multimedia to be used will use interactive health websites and virtual communities since the patients to be educated are adults who are well exposed with the digital world of IT. The humanistic theory will incorporate both Maslow hierarchy of needs by Abraham Maslow and humanistic approach o psychology by Carl Rogers. Developed by Abraham Maslow, humanistic theory is based on the concept that experience is the key phenomenon in the study of human learning and behavior as well. Maslow based his emphasis on creativity, choice, values, all distinctively human qualities, self-actualization, and believed that subjectivity and meaningfulness were always important than objectivity. Maslow believed that full development of human potential, worth and dignity are the ultimate concerns. According to Maslow (1968), human motivation is based on a hierarchy of needs: physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem and self-actualization. Tentatively, Maslow tried to prove that the drive to learn is intrinsic thus; the main purpose of learning is to bring about the highest level of the hierarchy of needs, which is self-actualization. In this regard, the objective and process of the educator should include this process (Frick, 1987). Maslow argued that learning contributes to the psychological health of the learne r and came up with learning goals: discovery of one’s vocation or destiny, realization of life as precious, sense of accomplishment, developing choice, satisfaction of physiological needs, grappling with the critical existential problems of life and impulse