Friday, May 8, 2020

Civil Engineering Quality Control Research Paper Topics

Civil Engineering Quality Control Research Paper TopicsA civil engineering quality control research paper topic could pertain to methods and data analysis for a process or may take a larger scale approach to solutions. Either way, the article examines existing data collection, measurement, and analysis processes. It also gives examples of significant issues in the process that can affect quality, as well as some more in-depth techniques to reduce these issues through routine monitoring and updating of data.Key words and key word phrases are very important in civil engineering quality control research paper topics, as are relevant quotations from the design or construction industry. We know that many members of the design and construction industry have been trained to think and communicate within specific mechanical engineering disciplines. Civil engineers must learn how to reach such professionals.And so there is the case of structural engineers who've spent their careers practicing mechanical and engineering theories. Structural engineers might be concerned with health and safety of the building occupants and workers, maintenance and security, and improving energy efficiency and economic environment. However, many structural engineers have an even broader view of the design, management, and application of civil engineering principles.Structural engineers may be looking at space and structure of the building, building assembly and component positioning, fire safety, transportation, and more. Structural engineers are typically concerned with building design and site selection. They may choose to work on all of these aspects of the construction process, or they may focus only on one of them.It is common for structural engineers to find themselves serving as structural consultants for clients who require their expertise. The reason why is that structural engineers are trained to solve design problems. The problem that they face when they work with clients is, howe ver, that most people aren't trained in engineering principles.It is often the case that this basic knowledge doesn't come naturally to clients. For example, an important issue with a drainage system in a residential subdivision or commercial building might be considered an internal drainage problem. An engineer might be able to identify internal drainage problems as part of an overall design, but a client may not necessarily know what an internal drainage system is, or even that it exists.It's true that Civil Engineering quality control research paper topics must include some information on designing and constructing projects. However, some problems aren't going to be so easily solved by the structural engineers or architects. Whether the problem is due to non-engineering principles, non-structural principles, or something else entirely, a good structural engineer or architect should be familiar with the different types of problems.So, although structural engineers might be well-ed ucated in mechanical and engineering principles, their attention should be directed to differentiating problems that are outside of civil engineering principles. A prime example of this is similar to the Drainage System, described above. A design problem that would be easier to solve if a designer had a stronger understanding of structural engineering principles would be a drainage system that is ineffective at improving storm water drainage and function, as well as a building envelope that isn't effective at preventing moisture build up.

Compare and Contrast Essay Samples For Middle School Students

Compare and Contrast Essay Samples For Middle School StudentsFor parents who are struggling to figure out what writing assignments are best for their students, it is extremely helpful to use a combination of compare and contrast essay samples, which are also known as contrast samples. A form of essay question that needs to be asked is how can an individual benefit from reading an essay written by another person?The different topics that each essay sample addresses are varied as well. It does not matter if the topic of the essay is about sports, theater, or history; it would be equally important to write essays about the topics of your choice that would benefit your student's personality and skills. In other words, you are aiming for a more rounded, holistic look at different subjects, both reading and writing, so that you can better apply the ideas in class to real life situations.The math sample is especially helpful for parents who are looking for an essay sample that will allow th em to show their child that there are other ideas for learning math and that they will be able to do better than others once they leave the middle school years behind. Math homework assignments are typically asked by a parent who has to juggle their school and home lives, and this assignment can give them a good idea of what to expect when their child goes to high school and university. The math examples address both basic topics such as counting, and more advanced concepts, such as trigonometry.Individual essays are good for students to be able to express themselves clearly, if they have difficulty doing so at their own level. Students will be able to express their ideas with specific detail and reasoning, thus leading to a better understanding of the argument that they make in the essay. This can help any student increase their confidence in expressing their ideas in different settings and at different levels.Essays are written in different ways, depending on the circumstances, th e student, and the teacher. For instance, math examples often include calculus or differential equations, which may be unfamiliar for some students, and they will be unable to remember the steps required to understand how to solve these equations. By comparing and contrasting essays, you can help your child practice understanding how to complete mathematical problems.If your child is struggling in any subject, you may want to take advantage of a variety of essays that are available in different formats, either online or off-line. Although you may find that one of the example essays that you find online is the most appropriate for your child, you may still have a better idea of what to include in the example that you choose. Also, it can be easier to use an online tool for comparison and contrast essays since there are many different options for the size of the essay and the type of essay that you want to use.One last thing to remember when choosing between this comparison and contra st essay samples is that it can be helpful to select a template for each topic that you have decided upon. This way, you are not forced to write each essay as the parent sees fit, allowing you to focus on helping your child be a better reader and writer. This can be extremely helpful in the long run because of the opportunity to hone in on a particular subject of interest while the rest of the family can enjoy your creativity.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

America Is A Nation That Created By Settlers And Immigrants

Being an American is different from being a citizen of any other country for numerous reasons. America is a nation that was created by settlers and immigrants; it boasts an inherently diverse assemblage of citizens, unlike many other countries in the world. It’s a country that was built by people with a distinct set of values that honor an individual’s â€Å"God-given† rights; a set of values that further shaped how the world came to understand and view humanity. Admittedly, what I’ve come to learn about America feels fairly distant, as America has grown and changed throughout the centuries, and the nation itself is constantly changing and reshaping. There are, however, some distinctions that American citizens have that set us apart from other countries in the world. In many ways there is a lot of self-definition that comes with being an American. Unlike being Korean or Russian or any other nationality, the label American transcends specific cultural gu idelines and boarders. American’s do not share one, singular, common ancestry, as most Anglo-Americans in Europe do, or natural born Koreans, or Arabs do. In these countries there is a distinct difference between culture and society. Within these countries, foreign born immigrants are never fully able to integrate into the culture. In these countries, immigrants will always remain foreigners. In many ways, the concept of an â€Å"immigrant† in America is ludicrous since there are not any specific inbred qualities thatShow MoreRelatedImmigration During The Late 1800 s And Early 1900 S1269 Words   |  6 Pagessame reason. All these immigrants come from their different backgrounds and places. These immigrants also have struggled when they first get here, but something they can all agree on is that they came here for one main reason and that’s for advanced improvement especially economic. Immigration in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s is much different than today, especially of what country they are coming from. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s most immigrants came from Europe, andRead MoreManifest Destiny And Westward Expansion Essay1447 Words   |  6 Pages1) OUTLINE: I. Topic sentence. Manifest destiny and westward expansion was a tremendous key component to the growth of the nation economically because of the impact it had on native americans, women empowerment, and expanding the population of the country. II. Significance of topic. Americans looked towards the western lands as an opportunity for large amounts of free land, for growth of industry, and pursue the manifest destiny. III. List of evidence related to topic. The railwaysRead MoreThe Colonization And Settlement Of The Plains Region Of Canada Essay1270 Words   |  6 Pagesa short background. The technology brought across the ocean made life in North America vastly different than it had been before. Population began growing after people stopped fearing the frontier. The present is vastly different than the past, so a change must have occurred. Canada, the country as we know it today, began on July 1st, 1867. Before then, Canada was made up of two distinct cultures. The First Nations peoples, who had been there for at least 17,000 years BP (â€Å"before present†) (DickasonRead MoreManifest Destiny Essay1254 Words   |  6 PagesStates would never have the ideology that created American history. The United States expanded to many different areas, but one of the biggest expansions was to the five southeastern Indian nations. The idea of Manifest Destiny and Indian removal set the course to guide the nation to where it is today. Manifest Destiny has its origins immediately after the American Revolution. After the war ended, there was a growing desire for more territory in America. The United States had control of land upRead MoreThe Progressive Era Essay1133 Words   |  5 Pageshistory of America and it has its influence in the attractiveness of the nation. The progressive era was from 1870 to 1916 which entered the period of urbanization in the United States. In the 19th century, a lot of European immigrants came into the States and this aided the speedy industrialization, people moved away from rural era without hesitation. In 1910, progressive era was the political movement of group of people who were ready to turn the social and political life of America around. ItRead MoreImportance Of American Identity1547 Words   |  7 Pagescontent, research, and interviews the American Identity can best be described using the words freedom, pride, and importance. When America formed, people immigrated to this c ountry in search of freedom. America is built on the basic principle of freedom. One of the main reasons people immigrate to America from their home country is because of all the freedoms we have. America is thought of as the land of free. There is freedom of education, religion, expression, speech, and belief. Though we are builtRead MoreAnalysis Of Colin Calloway s The First Colonies 1539 Words   |  7 Pagesknow more about how the European people and Native Americans cooperated or interacted with one another in America s first years. Thesis of Calloway’s Text Despite the fact that many American people believe that the establishment of the first colonies exemplifies the origins of the United States as a nation, Early America was affluent long before the Europeans came in and created the America that we know today . Throughout this well-established country, the Native American people had formulated long-lastingRead MoreHistory of Early North American Colonies Essay825 Words   |  4 Pagesto flee negative societal aspects, and the search for religious freedoms. Originally discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492 in search for a trade route to Cathay (China), North America remained uninhabited, excluding the Native American establishments. Following this discovery, Spain –along with other European nations such as France, England, Sweden and the Netherlands– soon began the expedition to the new land with vast expectations. Driven by economic, societal, and religious purposes, the NewRead MoreThe Official Definition Of Illega l Is â€Å"Contrary To Or Forbidden1517 Words   |  7 Pagesis â€Å"contrary to or forbidden by law†. The definition of an Immigrant is â€Å"an individual who comes to live permanently in a foreign country†. Therefore Illegal Immigrants are foreigners who enter another country, the United States of America, without a Visa. They cross the border by avoiding inspection and overstay the allotted period of time allowed as a visitor, tourist, or businessperson. There are 12 million illegal immigrants in America today. How is the possible if it is illegal? And more importantlyRead MoreThe United States is a Nation of Immigrants Essays1658 Words   |  7 Pages Today the United States of America is regarded as a global economic leader. The standard of living in the U.S. is higher than that of most other nations. Our nation is considered an economic super-power. Economic needs have often caused Americans to seek immigrants as workers, and economic opportunities have attracted foreigners. The United States is a nation of immigrants. Our nation has been shaped by successive waves of immigrants who have played major roles in our changing economy. The

Storm Born Chapter One Free Essays

string(21) " as I pulled it out\." I’d seen weirder things than a haunted shoe, but not many. The Nike Pegasus sat on the office’s desk, inoffensive, colored in shades of gray, white, and orange. Some of the laces were loosened, and a bit of dirt clung around the soles. We will write a custom essay sample on Storm Born Chapter One or any similar topic only for you Order Now It was the left shoe. As for me, well†¦underneath my knee-length coat, I had a Glock .22 loaded with bullets carrying a higher-than-legal steel content. A cartridge of silver ones rested in the coat’s pocket. Two athames lay sheathed on my other hip, one silver-bladed and one iron. Stuck into my belt near them was a wand, hand-carved oak and loaded with enough charmed gems to probably blow up the desk in the corner if I wanted to. To say I felt overdressed was something of an understatement. â€Å"So,† I said, keeping my voice as neutral as possible, â€Å"what makes you think your shoe is†¦uh, possessed?† Brian Montgomery, late thirties with a receding hairline in serious denial, eyed the shoe nervously and moistened his lips. â€Å"It always trips me up when I’m out running. Every time. And it’s always moving around. I mean, I never actually see it, but†¦like, I’ll take them off near the door, then I come back and find this one under the bed or something. And sometimes†¦sometimes I touch it, and it feels cold†¦really cold†¦like†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He groped for similes and finally picked the tritest one. â€Å"Like ice.† I nodded and glanced back at the shoe, not saying anything. â€Å"Look, Miss†¦Odile†¦or whatever. I’m not crazy. That shoe is haunted. It’s evil. You’ve gotta do something, okay? I’ve got a marathon coming up, and until this started happening, these were my lucky shoes. And they’re not cheap, you know. They’re an investment.† It sounded crazy to me – which was saying something – but there was no harm in checking, seeing as I was already out here. I reached into my coat pocket, the one without ammunition, and pulled out my pendulum. It was a simple one, a thin silver chain with a small quartz crystal hanging from it. I laced the chain’s end through my fingers and held my flattened hand over the shoe, clearing my mind and letting the crystal hang freely. A moment later, it began to slowly rotate of its own accord. â€Å"Well, I’ll be damned,† I muttered, stuffing the pendulum back in my pocket. There was something there. I turned to Montgomery, attempting some sort of badass face, because that was what customers always expected. â€Å"It might be best if you stepped out of the room, sir. For your own safety.† That was only half-true. Mostly I just found lingering clients annoying. They asked stupid questions and could do stupider things, which actually put me at more risk than them. He had no qualms about getting out of there. As soon as the door closed, I found a jar of salt in my satchel and poured a large ring on the office’s floor. I tossed the shoe into the middle of it and invoked the four cardinal directions with the silver athame. Ostensibly the circle didn’t change, but I felt a slight flaring of power, indicating it had sealed us in. Trying not to yawn, I pulled out my wand and kept holding the silver athame. It had taken four hours to drive to Las Cruces, and doing that on so little sleep had made the distance seem twice as long. Sending some of my will into the wand, I tapped it against the shoe and spoke in a sing-song voice. â€Å"Come out, come out, whoever you are.† There was a moment’s silence, then a high-pitched male voice snapped, â€Å"Go away, bitch.† Great. A shoe with attitude. â€Å"Why? You got something better to do?† â€Å"Better things to do than waste my time with a mortal.† I smiled. â€Å"Better things to do in a shoe? Come on. I mean, I’ve heard of slumming it, but don’t you think you’re kind of pushing the envelope here? This shoe isn’t even new. You could have done so much better.† The voice kept its annoyed tone, not threatening but simply irritated at the interruption. â€Å"I’m slumming it? Do you think I don’t know who you are, Eugenie Markham? Dark-Swan-Called-Odile. A blood traitor. A mongrel. An assassin. A murderer.† He practically spit out the last word. â€Å"You are alone among your kind and mine. A bloodthirsty shadow. You do anything for anyone who can pay you enough for it. That makes you more than a mercenary. That makes you a whore.† I affected a bored stance. I’d been called most of those names before. Well, except for my own name. That was new – and a little disconcerting. Not that I’d let him know that. â€Å"Are you done whining? Because I don’t have time to listen while you stall.† â€Å"Aren’t you being paid by the hour?† he asked nastily. â€Å"I charge a flat fee.† â€Å"Oh.† I rolled my eyes and touched the wand to the shoe again. This time, I thrust the full force of my will into it, drawing upon my own body’s physical stamina as well as some of the power of the world around me. â€Å"No more games. If you leave on your own, I won’t have to hurt you. Come out.† He couldn’t stand against that command and the power within it. The shoe trembled, and smoke poured out of it. Oh, Jesus. I hoped the shoe didn’t get incinerated during this. Montgomery wouldn’t be able to handle that. The smoke bellowed out, coalescing into a large, dark form about two feet taller than me. With all his wisecracks, I’d sort of expected a saucy version of one of Santa’s elves. Instead, the being before me had the upper body of a well-muscled man, while his lower portion resembled a small cyclone. The smoke solidified into leathery gray-black skin, and I had only a moment to act as I assessed this new development. I swapped the wand for the gun, ejecting the clip as I pulled it out. You read "Storm Born Chapter One" in category "Essay examples" By then, he was lunging for me, and I had to roll out of his way, confined by the circle’s boundaries. A keres. A male keres – most unusual. I’d anticipated something fey, which required silver bullets; or a spectre, which required no bullets. Keres were ancient death spirits originally confined to canopic jars. When the jars wore down over time, keres tended to seek out new homes. There weren’t too many of them left in this world, and soon there’d be one less. He bore down on me, and I took a nice chunk out of him with the silver blade. I used my right hand, the one I wore an onyx and obsidian bracelet on. Those stones alone would take a toll on a death spirit like him without the blade’s help. Sure enough, he hissed in pain and hesitated a moment. I used that delay, scrambling to load the silver cartridge. I didn’t quite make it, because soon he was on me again. He hit me with one of those massive arms, slamming me against the walls of the circle. They might be transparent, but they felt as solid as bricks. One of the downsides of trapping a spirit in a circle was that I got trapped too. My head and left shoulder took the brunt of that impact, and pain shot through me in small starbursts. He seemed pretty pleased with himself over this, as overconfident villains so often are. â€Å"You’re as strong as they say, but you were a fool to try to cast me out. You should have left me in peace.† His voice was deeper now, almost gravelly. I shook my head, both to disagree and to get rid of the dizziness. â€Å"It isn’t your shoe.† I still couldn’t swap that goddamned cartridge. Not with him ready to attack again, not with both hands full. Yet I couldn’t risk dropping either weapon. He reached for me, and I cut him again. The wounds were small, but the athame was like poison. It would wear him down over time – if I could stay alive that long. I moved to strike at him once more, but he anticipated me and seized hold of my wrist. He squeezed it, bending it in an unnatural position and forcing me to drop the athame and cry out. I hoped he hadn’t broken any bones. Smug, he grabbed me by the shoulders with both hands and lifted me up so that I hung face to face with him. His eyes were yellow with slits for pupils, much like some sort of snake’s. His breath was hot and reeked of decay as he spoke. â€Å"You are small, Eugenie Markham, but you are lovely and your flesh is warm. Perhaps I should beat the rush and take you myself. I’d enjoy hearing you scream beneath me.† Ew. Had that thing just propositioned me? And there was my name again. How in the world did he know that? None of them knew that. I was only Odile to them, named after the dark swan in Swan Lake, a name coined by my stepfather because of the form my spirit preferred to travel in while visiting the Otherworld. The name – though not particularly terrifying – had stuck, though I doubted any of the creatures I fought knew the reference. They didn’t really get out to the ballet much. The keres had my upper arms pinned – I would have bruises tomorrow – but my hands and forearms were free. He was so sure of himself, so overly arrogant and confident, that he paid no attention to my struggling hands. He probably just perceived the motion as a futile effort to free myself. In seconds, I had the clip out and in the gun. I managed one clumsy shot and he dropped me – not gently. I stumbled to regain my balance again. Bullets probably couldn’t kill him, but a silver one in the center of his chest would certainly hurt. He stumbled back, half-surprised, and I wondered if he’d ever even encountered a gun before. It fired again, then again and again and again. The reports were loud; hopefully Montgomery wouldn’t do something foolish and come running in. The keres roared in outrage and pain, each shot making him stagger backward until he was all the way against the circle’s boundary. I advanced on him, retrieved athame flashing in my hand. In a few quick motions, I carved the death symbol on the part of his chest that wasn’t bloodied from bullets. An electric charge immediately ran through the air of the circle. Hairs stood up on the back of my neck, and I could smell ozone, like just before a storm. He screamed and leapt forward, renewed by rage or adrenaline or whatever else these creatures ran on. But it was too late for him. He was marked and wounded. I was ready. In another mood, I might have simply banished him to the Otherworld; I tried not to kill if I didn’t have to. But that sexual suggestion had just been out of line. I was pissed off now. He’d go to the world of death, straight to Persephone’s gate. I fired again to slow him, my aim a bit off with the left hand but still good enough to hit him. I had already traded the athame for the wand. This time, I didn’t draw on the power from this plane. With well-practiced ease, I let part of my consciousness slip this world. In moments, I reached the crossroads to the Otherworld. That was an easy transition; I did it all the time. The next crossover was a little harder, especially with me being weakened from the fight, but still nothing I couldn’t do automatically. I kept my own spirit well outside of the land of death, but I touched it and sent that connection through the wand. It sucked him in, and his face twisted with fear. â€Å"This is not your world,† I said in a low voice, feeling the power burn through me and around me. â€Å"This is not your world, and I cast you out. I send you to the black gate, to the lands of death where you can either be reborn or fade to oblivion or burn in the flames of hell. I really don’t give a shit. Go.† He screamed, but the magic caught him. There was a trembling in the air, a buildup of pressure, and then it ended abruptly, like a deflated balloon. The keres was gone too, leaving only a shower of gray sparkles that soon faded to nothing. Silence. I sank to my knees, exhaling deeply. My eyes closed a moment, as my body relaxed and my consciousness returned to this world. I was exhausted but exultant too. Killing him had felt good. Heady, even. He’d gotten what he deserved, and I had been the one to deal it out. Minutes later, some of my strength returned. I stood and opened the circle, suddenly feeling stifled by it. I put my tools and weapons away and went to find Montgomery. â€Å"Your shoe’s been exorcised,† I told him flatly. â€Å"I killed the ghost.† No point in explaining the difference between a keres and a true ghost; he wouldn’t understand. He entered the room with slow steps, picking up the shoe gingerly. â€Å"I heard gunshots. How do you use bullets on a ghost?† I shrugged. It hurt from where the keres had slammed my shoulder to the wall. â€Å"It was a strong ghost.† He cradled the shoe like one might a child and then glanced down with disapproval. â€Å"There’s blood on the carpet.† â€Å"Read the paperwork you signed. I assume no responsibility for damage incurred to personal property.† With a few grumbles, he paid up – in cash – and I left. Really, though, he was so stoked about the shoe, I probably could have decimated the office. In my car, I dug out a Milky Way from the stash in my glove box. Battles like that required immediate sugar and calories. As I practically shoved the candy bar into my mouth, I turned on my cell phone. I had a missed call from Lara. Once I’d consumed a second bar and was on I-10 back to Tucson, I dialed her. â€Å"Yo,† I said. â€Å"Hey. Did you finish the Montgomery job?† â€Å"Yup.† â€Å"Was the shoe really possessed?† â€Å"Yup.† â€Å"Huh. Who knew? That’s kind of funny too. Like, you know, lost souls and soles in shoes†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Bad, very bad,† I chastised. Lara might be a good secretary, but there was only so much I could be expected to put up with. â€Å"So what’s up? Or were you just checking in?† â€Å"No. I just got a weird job offer. Some guy – well, honestly, I thought he sounded kind of schizo. But he claims his sister was abducted by fairies, er, gentry. He wants you to go get her.† I fell silent at that, staring at the highway and clear blue sky ahead without consciously seeing either one. Some objective part of me attempted to process what she had just said. I didn’t get that kind of request very often. Okay, never. A retrieval like that required me to cross over physically into the Otherworld. â€Å"I don’t really do that.† â€Å"That’s what I told him.† But there was uncertainty in Lara’s voice. â€Å"Okay. What aren’t you telling me?† â€Å"Nothing, I guess. I don’t know. It’s just†¦he said she’s been gone almost a year and a half now. She was fourteen when she disappeared.† My stomach sank a little at that. God. What an awful fate for someone so young. It made the keres’ lewd comments to me downright trivial. â€Å"He sounded pretty frantic.† â€Å"Does he have proof she was actually taken?† â€Å"I don’t know. He wouldn’t get into it. He was kind of paranoid. Seemed to think his phone was being tapped.† I laughed at that. â€Å"By who? The gentry?† â€Å"Gentry† was what I called the beings that most of Western culture referred to as fairies or sidhe. They looked just like humans but embraced magic instead of technology. They found â€Å"fairy† a derogatory term, so I respected that – sort of – by using the term old English peasants used to use. Gentry. Good folk. Good neighbors. A questionable designation, at best. The gentry actually preferred the term â€Å"shining ones,† but that was just silly. I wouldn’t give them that much credit. â€Å"I don’t know,† Lara told me. â€Å"Like I said, he seemed a little schizo.† Silence fell as I held on to the phone and passed a car driving 45 in the left lane. â€Å"Eugenie! You aren’t really thinking of doing this.† â€Å"Fourteen, huh?† â€Å"You always said that was dangerous.† â€Å"Adolescence?† â€Å"Stop it. You know what I mean. Crossing over.† â€Å"Yeah. I know what you mean.† It was dangerous – super dangerous. Traveling in spirit form could still get you killed, but your odds of fleeing back to your earthbound body were better. Take your own body over, and all the rules changed. â€Å"This is crazy.† â€Å"Set it up,† I told her. â€Å"It can’t hurt to talk to him.† I could practically see her biting her lip to hold back protests. But at the end of the day, I was the one who signed her paychecks, and she respected that. After a few moments, she filled the silence with info about a few other jobs and then drifted on to more casual topics: some sale at the mall, a mysterious scratch on her car†¦ Something about Lara’s cheery gossip always made me smile, but it also disturbed me that most of my social contact came via someone I never actually saw. Lately the majority of my face-to-face interactions came from spirits and gentry. It was after dinnertime when I arrived home, and my housemate, Tim, appeared to be out for the night, probably at a poetry reading. Despite a Polish background, genes had inexplicably given him a strong Native American appearance. In fact, he looked more Indian than some of the locals. Deciding this was his claim to fame, Tim had grown his hair out and taken on the name Timothy Red Horse. He made his living by reading faux-Native poetry at local dives and wooing naive tourist women by using expressions like â€Å"my people† and â€Å"the Great Spirit† a lot. It was despicable, to say the least, but it got him laid pretty often. What it did not do was bring in a lot of money, so I’d let him live with me in exchange for housework and cleaning. It was a pretty good deal as far as I was concerned. After battling the undead all day, scrubbing the bathtub just seemed like asking too much. Scrubbing my athames, unfortunately, was a task I had to do myself. Keres blood could stain. I ate dinner afterward, then stripped and sat in my sauna for a long time. I liked a lot of things about my little house out in the foothills, but the sauna was one of my favorites. It might seem kind of pointless in the desert, but Arizona had mostly dry heat, and I liked the feel of humidity and moisture on my skin. I leaned back against the wooden wall, enjoying the sensation of sweating out the stress. My body ached – some parts more fiercely than others – and the heat let some of the muscles loosen up. The solitude also soothed me. Pathetic as it was, I probably had no one to blame for my lack of sociability except myself. I spent a lot of time alone and didn’t mind. When my stepfather, Roland, had first trained me as a shaman, he’d told me that in a lot of cultures, shamans essentially lived outside of normal society. The idea had seemed crazy to me at the time, being in junior high, but it made more sense now that I was older. I wasn’t a complete socialphobe, but I found I often had a hard time interacting with other people. Talking in front of groups was murder. Even talking one-on-one had its issues. I had no pets or children to ramble on about, and I couldn’t exactly talk about things like the incident in Las Cruces. Yeah, I had kind of a long day. Drove four hours, fought an ancient minion of evil. After a few bullets and knife wounds, I obliterated him and sent him on to the world of death. God, I swear I’m not getting paid enough for this crap, you know? Cue polite laughter. When I left the sauna, I had another message from Lara telling me the appointment with the distraught brother had been arranged for tomorrow. I made a note in my day planner, took a shower, and retired to my room, where I threw on black silk pajamas. For whatever reason, nice pajamas were the one indulgence I allowed myself in an otherwise dirty and bloody lifestyle. Tonight’s selection had a cami top that showed serious cleavage, had anyone been there to see it. I always wore a ratty robe around Tim. Sitting at my desk, I emptied out a new jigsaw puzzle I’d just bought. It depicted a kitten on its back clutching a ball of yarn. My love of puzzles ranked up there with the pajama thing for weirdness, but they eased my mind. Maybe it was the fact that they were so tangible. You could hold the pieces in your hand and make them fit together, as opposed to the insubstantial stuff I usually worked with. While my hands moved the pieces around, I kept trying to shake the knowledge that the keres had known my name. What did that mean? I’d made a lot of enemies in the Otherworld. I didn’t like the thought of them being able to track me personally. I preferred to stay Odile. Anonymous. Safe. Probably not much point worrying about it, I supposed. The keres was dead. He wouldn’t be telling any tales. Two hours later, I finished the puzzle and admired it. The kitten had brown tabby fur, its eyes an almost azure blue. The yarn was red. I took out my digital camera, snapped a picture, and then broke up the puzzle, dumping it back into its box. Easy come, easy go. Yawning, I slipped into bed. Tim had done laundry today; the sheets felt crisp and clean. Nothing like that fresh-sheets smell. Despite my exhaustion, however, I couldn’t fall asleep. It was one of life’s ironies. While awake, I could slide into a trance with the snap of a finger. My spirit could leave my body and travel to other worlds. Yet, for whatever reason, sleep was more elusive. Doctors had recommended a number of sedatives, but I hated to use them. Drugs and alcohol bound the spirit to this world, and while I did indulge occasionally, I generally liked being ready to slip over at a moment’s notice. Tonight I suspected my insomnia had something to do with a teenage girl†¦. But no. I couldn’t think about that, not yet. Not until I spoke with the brother. Sighing, needing something else to ponder, I rolled over and stared at my ceiling, at the plastic glow-in-the-dark stars. I started counting them, as I had so many other restless nights. There were exactly thirty-three of them, just like last time. Still, it never hurt to check. How to cite Storm Born Chapter One, Essay examples

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Managing the Transition

Introduction Change in normally brought about by globalization and advancing technology, as the organizations try to fit in the competing market by attaining a market share and a competitive advantage. However, change may not be appreciated by employees, as some view it as a threat to their jobs due to the expectations that accompany change.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Managing the Transition specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Employees find it hard to adapt to change especially when change is forced on them other than discussed with them. In addition, employees may resist change if it has unrealistic expectations and is threatening to their jobs. However, for change to be acceptable, it has to be healthy and has employees interest at heart, otherwise change may contribute to decrease in employee’s morale and performance (Houdmont and Leka, 2010 pp 125). Job demand should be realistic; otherwise, it may be a source of stress to the employees, which may also contribute to absenteeism. If your organization were planning a major change, such as a merger, what steps would be necessary to manage the transition? Change in an organization should be aimed at improving the organization’s performance and it should not be aimed at meeting a manager’s personal interests. According to Piederit (2000, pp 795), sometimes, opposition to change may be aimed at protecting the organization’s interests. When implementing change, for instance a merger, the managers should be able to communicate with the employees about this change before it is implemented. This way, employees will not acquire negative ideas about the change; instead, they will get to understand the importance of a merger to the organization. The management should engage the staff in the implementation; hence, they would be in a position to manage change. In addition, effective communication is important between the management and the staff regarding the change in mergers. A well-elaborated plan should be created, which should involve the employees, as they will be affected by this change. Even if the management may not consider the employees’ opinions in the final decision-making, it is important that the employees feel that their views are considered, hence avoiding resistance.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The management should also support employees with full support in regard to their opinions by ensuring that effective communication exists in both teams. In most cases, employees fear change due to its uncertainties, however, the managers may give room for employees’ views and establish forums in which employees can learn more on the proposed change. In this case, the management should be able to provide the employees with relevant information on the importance of mergers and how they will impact on the organization and the staff. According to Kerfoot (2005 pp 271), â€Å"effective change must be built on the foundation that is already in the organization; diffusion of changes are only effective when the seeds of change are planted in people throughout the organization.† Employees have to own the change first, hence adapting to it and being able to operate under a new change. In case an organization decides to merge with another organization for a profit making purpose, it should inform employees about the plan and the benefits to it. It is obvious that employees may fear the uncertainties of being part of another company or even leadership; however, if this idea is communicated well to the employees and they are allowed to air their views, it will be an easy task. Piederit (2000, pp 786) proposes multi-dimensional attitudes as responses to organizational changes in employees, which portray both emotions and feelings that could either be negative or positive regarding the proposed change. Conclusion Change in an organization proves to be necessary due to the technology advances and it may be of use to the organization; however, change is not always welcomed with open arms especially by employees, as they fear the uncertainties associated with it. It is however the duty of management to implement change effectively by also engaging employees in the implementation process, ensuring effective communication of the proposed change, and informing employees on the impacts of the change, for instance, rewards may be inclusive in the new change. Therefore, employees may learn to appreciate and embrace change, as it is also beneficial to them.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Managing the Transition specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More References Houdmont, J. and Leka, S. (2010). Contemporary Occupational Health Psychology: Global Perspectives on Research a nd Practice. NJ: John Wiley and Sons Publisher. Kerfoot, K. (2005). Leadership; the jonny apple seeds of organizational change. Web. Piderit, S. (2007). Rethinking resistance and recognizing ambivalence: a multidimensional view of attitudes toward an organizational change. NY: Academy of management publisher. This essay on Managing the Transition was written and submitted by user Samson Barton to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Turbulent Sixtes essays

Turbulent Sixtes essays Throughout American history, each generation has sought to individualize itself from all others preceding it. Decades of American history can be separated to represent a distinctive set of values, culture, and political ideals. The 1960's was a decade caught between euphoric, idealistic beginnings and a discordant, violent climax. The music of this time period produced a strong counterculture which sought to influence America in a way never before experienced. The songs were the backbone of this new age; they were the tunes which the generation danced to, marched to, and got high off of. This paper will discuss the ways popular music of the 1960's produced national awareness of the anti-war movements, led to the partialcollapse of the structure of American society, and forever changed the way current generations listen to and buy music. The songwriters of the 1960's were rarely without inspiration. Perhaps the most powerful incentive came from the movement to end the Vietnam War. Many of the most prominent musicians of that generation aided the struggle to protest against and attempt to end the war. The most popular song to be considered an anthem against the war efforts was called "Blowin' in the Wind," written by Bob Dylan in 1962 while he was living in New York. The song is centered around racism and militarism, two main focal points which were principal in many early sixties protest songs. Dylan used conventional symbols to blatantly state his point; a white dove representing peace, flying cannon balls describing war and violence, and roads and seas symbolizing the hardships and struggles there would have to be with eliminating the war. Demonstrations against the Vietnam War took place in many major cities and college campuses. While many of these demonstrations had only peaceful motives, violent methods were often used to break them up. Take for example the famous student takeover of Columbia University. Black students ar...

Monday, March 2, 2020

The League of Nations

The League of Nations The League of Nations was an international organization that existed between 1920 and 1946. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the League of Nations vowed to promote international cooperation and preserve global peace. The League achieved some success, but it ultimately was unable to prevent the even deadlier World War II. The League of Nations was the predecessor to todays more effective United Nations. Goals of the Organization World War I (1914-1918) had caused the deaths of at least 10 million soldiers and millions of civilians. The Allied victors of the war wanted to form an international organization that would prevent another horrific war. American President Woodrow Wilson was especially instrumental in formulating and advocating the idea of a League of Nations. The League arbitrated disputes between member countries in order to peacefully preserve sovereignty and territorial rights. The League encouraged countries to reduce their amount of military weapons. Any country that resorted to war would be subject to economic sanctions such as a halt to trade. Member Countries   The League of Nations was founded in 1920 by forty-two countries. At its height in 1934 and 1935, the League had 58 member countries. The member countries of the League of Nations spanned the globe and included most of Southeast Asia, Europe, and South America. At the time of the League of Nations, nearly all of Africa consisted of colonies of Western powers. The United States never joined the League of Nations because the largely isolationist Senate refused to ratify the Leagues charter. The official languages of the League were English, French, and Spanish. Administrational Structure The League of Nations was administrated by three main bodies. The Assembly, composed of representatives from all member countries, met annually and discussed the priorities and budget of the organization. The Council was composed of four permanent members (Great Britain, France, Italy, and Japan) and several non-permanent members who were elected by the permanent members every three years. The Secretariat, led by a Secretary-General, monitored many of the humanitarian agencies described below. Political Success The League of Nations was successful in preventing several small wars. The League negotiated settlements to territorial disputes between Sweden and Finland, Poland and Lithuania, and Greece and Bulgaria. The League of Nations also successfully administered the former colonies of Germany and the Ottoman Empire, including Syria, Nauru, and Togoland, until they were ready for independence. Humanitarian Success   The League of Nations was one of the worlds first humanitarian organizations. The League created and directed several agencies that were meant to improve the living conditions of the worlds people. The League: aided refugeestried to end slavery and the drug tradeset standards on working conditionsconstructed better transportation and communications networksgave financial assistance and advice to some member countriesadministered the Permanent Court of International Justice (precursor to todays International Court of Justice)tried to prevent malnutrition and diseases such as leprosy and malaria (precursor to todays World Health Organization)promoted culture preservation and scientific advancement (precursor to todays UNESCO). Political Failures The League of Nations was unable to enforce many of its own regulations because it did not have a military. The League did not stop several of the most significant events that led to World War II. Examples of League of Nations failures include: the 1935 invasion of Ethiopia by Italythe annexation of the Sudetenland and Austria by Germanythe invasion of Manchuria (the northeastern Chinese province) by Japan in 1932 The Axis countries (Germany, Italy, and Japan) withdrew from the League because they refused to comply with the Leagues order to not militarize. The End of the Organization The members of the League of Nations knew that many changes within the organization had to occur after World War II. The League of Nations was disbanded in 1946. An improved international organization, the United Nations, was carefully discussed and formed, based on many of the political and social goals of the League of Nations. Lessons Learned The League of Nations had the diplomatic, compassionate goal of generating permanent international stability, but the organization was unable to avert conflicts which would ultimately change human history. Thankfully the worlds leaders realized the Leagues shortcomings and reinforced its objectives in the modern-day successful United Nations.