Saturday, November 30, 2019

Toni Morissons Tar Baby Essays - Jadine, Tar Baby, Ondine

Toni Morisson's Tar Baby It is often said that it is better to follow your heart instead of your mind because it will never lie to you. However, when you follow your heart you are not always prepared for what the outcome may be. This is proven in Toni Morisson's novel Tar Baby . Tar Baby is Morrison's fourth novel and it took three and a half years to write . The story was based on an old African American folk tale about Brer Rabbit and Tar Baby. This book is said by some to be an excess of what made Morrison's other books good but despite the criticism the book still made it to the best seller's list. The story takes place on an isolated island of L'Arbe de la Croix. this was purposely done by Morrison so that the characters would have no way to escape. There were no immediate policemen to call and no neighbors to interfere in the story . The characters were placed in a cage and left to see what would happen. L' Arbe de la Croix is the vacation home of Valerian Street a retired candy maker and his wife Margaret Street. The house is also occupied by a black couple, Sydney and Odine, who have been the long time servants of the Street's. During the time of the story the house is also occupied by Jadine, who is Sydney's and Odine's niece. Jadine was took in by the Streets and they paid for her to go to school and become a model. Jadine came down from Paris to contemplate a marriage proposal from a Frenchman and to spend Christmas with her aunt and uncle. Jadine can be considered the tar baby in this story. She was taken in by the Street's and opened up to the world that they lived in. She got a wonderful education and traveled all over. She had a sense of security and knew that anything she needed would be given to her by the streets. The streets get another unexpected guest during Christmas. One night when Margaret is up in her room she opens her closet and sees a strange black man sitting there. She becomes hysterical and runs down the stairs in a panic. Sydney goes upstairs and brings down the intruder everyone in the house is startled by his appearance and ready to call the police. Everyone except Valerian. He invites the intruder to sit down for a drink and this makes Margaret crazy. She runs up to her room and locks herself in her bedroom. We later find out that the intruder is the same man that we encounter in the beginning of the novel on the boat. The intruder has many names but asks to be called Son. Son Green. Son is the cause of a lot of trouble and he brings out the true side of the characters of this story. After dinner Son is invited to stay for the night in one of the guest rooms. This makes Sydney angry. He could not understand how Valerian could be so calm in such a situation but despite his anger Sydney does what he is told. The next morning Son come into Jadine's room, this is their first personal encounter. Jadine is absolutely repulsed by his looks but she is kind to him and they start to talk, the conversation takes a turn for the worse. After making an insulting comment about Jadine he grabs her, presses his body against hers, and starts to smell her. This makes Jadine feel dirty. She finally breaks loose from his grasp and runs to tell Valerian. On her way to Valerian she stops and starts to think about whether she should go and tell or not. After much thought she decides not to, but also promises herself that she would try to avoid him to the best of her ability. That same day Valerian suggests that Son go to the main island with one of the workers to get some clothes and a hair cut. He comes back the next day and sees Jadine. At first she is amazed by his appearance she could not believe that he was the same guy who she encountered the privies day. Her amazement was not long lasting her memories of the day before quickly came back to her. Son apologized for his behavior but Jadine does not want to hear anything that he has to say. Son offers to

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

25 Words and Their Prepositional Pals

25 Words and Their Prepositional Pals 25 Words and Their Prepositional Pals 25 Words and Their Prepositional Pals By Mark Nichol You probably know a preposition a word that shows a relationship between two words or phrases by demonstrating place, time, or another quality when you see it, but that’s grammar. What about usage? Which prepositions go with a given verb or adjective, and when? Some choices are no-brainers, but others can present a challenge. Here’s a guide to various words that require writers to choose from more than one preposition depending on meaning and sentence construction: 1. Abide â€Å"with us for a while,† â€Å"by the rules† (or â€Å"I can’t abide him†). 2. Answer â€Å"to him for what you’ve done,† â€Å"for what you’ve done.† 3. Caution â€Å"about unsafe conditions,† â€Å"against the rash proposal.† 4. Compare â€Å"with other products that make the same claims,† â€Å"apples to oranges.† 5. Confide â€Å"in her about my problems,† â€Å"to him what I really think.† 6. Conversant â€Å"about climate change,† â€Å"in several languages,† â€Å"with aspects of technology.† 7. Differ â€Å"from other species in their diet,† â€Å"with them about the cause of the company’s failure,† or â€Å"about public policy,† â€Å"on public policy,† or â€Å"over public policy.† 8. Different â€Å"from what he was used to,† â€Å"than he was used to.† From is the preferred usage, but than substitutes for â€Å"from what.† (â€Å"Different to† is a Britishism.) 9. Dissent â€Å"against the status quo,† â€Å"from the majority opinion.† (To or with are not considered standard usage.) 10. Dissimilar â€Å"to her previous sculpture.† (From is considered incorrect.) 11. Enamored â€Å"of every woman he meets.† (With is considered incorrect.) 12. Equivalent â€Å"in amounts,† â€Å"to the earlier result.† (With is not considered standard usage.) 13. Excerpt â€Å"from their book was reprinted without their permission.† (Of is considered incorrect.) 14. Forbid â€Å"him from attending,† â€Å"him to attend.† (To is considered the more correct of the two choices.) 15. Identical â€Å"to the one she saw yesterday,† â€Å"with the one she saw yesterday.† (Language purists consider with more correct, but use of to is significantly more common.) 16. Independent â€Å"of the group, he protested the plan.† (From, as in â€Å"Independent from her family,† is considered incorrect.) 17. Instilled â€Å"instilled a few drops of the solution into the wound,† â€Å"in him a drive to succeed.† (With, as in â€Å"Instilled with a drive to succeed,† is considered incorrect.) 18. Oblivious â€Å"of the warning signs,† â€Å"to the noise†; the choices are often interchangeable. (About is often used in association with oblivious, but it’s not considered standard usage.) 19. Vexed â€Å"about her behavior,† â€Å"at her behavior.† The correct preposition to use with the following words depends on whether the object is a person or a thing: 20. Comment â€Å"about her† or â€Å"to you about what happened,† but â€Å"on the issue.† 21. Impatient â€Å"with him,† but â€Å"about the delay,† â€Å"at the delay,† or â€Å"with the delay.† 22. Inquired â€Å"of him where he was going† and â€Å"after her whereabouts,† but â€Å"into their progress† or â€Å"about the vacant apartment.† 23. Mastery â€Å"over all other competitors,† but â€Å"of the skill.† 24. Reconcile â€Å"with her boyfriend,† but â€Å"to the loss of her boyfriend.† 25. Succeed â€Å"as a businessperson,† but â€Å"to the position.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Fly, Flew, (has) FlownFlied?36 Poetry TermsThe 7 Types of Possessive Case

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

buy custom ASDA essay

buy custom ASDA essay ASDA is an online company providing goods to many countries across the world through internet. Many companies have advanced, and they provide their business online. This has assisted in saving things like space, time, labor and improvement of customer relationship among others. When few companies had stated e-business there was less competition but due to advancement in technology many companies have stated selling and buying online, and this has increased competition. Analysis ASDA has been selling products of different range to different customers across the world. It has laid down strategies to operate, and this has enabled it to move faster in the market. It has employed marketing tactics which enables it to get more users of their products. It has been using customers to promote the products to other people online. It has also improved the operation by advertising to social Medias like Facebook, tweeter and goggle among others. The company has expanded the market by letting customers promote the products at a commission. The company has a wide range of market and many customers across the world buy the products. It has been offering discount to returning customers, and this has made the company to have is own customers who gets discount upon buying. The company has laid down core strategies which governs operation. It sells the product at lower price than other providers of the same product. The products sold by the company include electronic, housing, ooks, clothing and entertainment among others. The company provides products of all prices and qualities, and this means that it serves different class of people. The company has a website which contains all the information about the company and the product which it sells. It has different modes of payment which include credit card and Electronic money transfer among others. The contact information is displayed at the web so those who want to make enquiries contact the customer representatives directly. The company has provided entertainment products and this make it to capture people of different social class. Other people use their cultural made items like dress and this limits the market. The company is registered according to regulations and it pays some taxes which makes it to work under pressure form the government. Political crises reduces the performance of the company in sales due to insecurity and also change in technology makes same of the product outdated and they sell them at a throw away price. The sales of product and availability of capital for the business is one of the strength. Some buyers are fraudsters and they defraud the company hence making it go under loss and this is a weakness. The company provides the products to large organization and this is an opportunity of promoting and creating market for the products. The company provides internet business and when the net is low or unavailable in some places then the business goes down. The website may also undergo some pproblems and this affects the whole business and this is a form of threat to business. The companies provide online services and all the customers shops at the website and provide their payment through plastic cards and wait for shipment of their products. The suppliers also provide their products online (Thomas 2004). This company applies best strategies and it operates professionally in provision of service. The strategies should focus on fraud because most of schemers work online and their target is any company without standing policies regarding fraud. This company suffers loss due to theft of products from the stores and also fraud. Security maters should be strengthened in the company. The company has many affiliates and should be focused on having affiliates who have experience in e-business. Some of the affiliates do not provide promotion of their product, but they sell their own products and expand their own business secretly. Given the opportunity I would strategize the company to have offices in each county it sells product. The representatives will monitor the sales and make shipping easy (Thomas 2004). Conclusion E business has made marketing easy and assists customers to acquire products without much struggle. Many companies have introduced e business department. Marketing is the key for improving sales of each company because competition always exists. ASDA should improve and provide strong marketing strategies like face to face approach and advertisement. Buy custom ASDA essay

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Free Essays on Juvenile Courts

Juvenile Courts I. Brief History of U.S. Juvenile Courts The 1st juvenile court was established in 1899. However, it wasn’t until 1945 that all states has juvenile courts. In the mostly rural society of the 19th century, parents ,churches, and communities punished children who committed crimes. Children were typically disciplined by force, sometimes brutally. The urbanization that followed the industrial revolution in the last half of the 19th century posed particular problems for children. Many were subject to harsh conditions, including extensive poverty and child labor. At that time, children who got into trouble (whether by committing a crime or by being the victims of abuse or neglect) were often put to work or sent away to relatives. So-called â€Å"reform schools,† the precursors of modern juvenile halls, were also set up. The ostensible purpose of these schools was to change or reform children, in part by giving them skills and training. In fact, these facilities were often little more than warehouse type jails, some with deplorable conditions, where most of the learning that occurred was how to become a better criminal. Around the turn of the 20th century, many social leaders came to believe that reform schools were not working. They also began to understand children not simply as mini-adults, but as people with special needs who should be treated differently than adults. Consequently, the movement for a separate juvenile justice system began. As with adults, juvenile court goals are a mix of rehabilitation, punishment and community safety. Juvenile courts have traditionally considered child less dangerous and more amenable to rehabilitation the adults. As a result, minors who commit crimes often receive counseling and stay at home in lieu of going to jail. However, citing statistics suggesting that minors increasingly commit more and worse crimes at younger ages, advocates of punishment and community safety w... Free Essays on Juvenile Courts Free Essays on Juvenile Courts Juvenile Courts I. Brief History of U.S. Juvenile Courts The 1st juvenile court was established in 1899. However, it wasn’t until 1945 that all states has juvenile courts. In the mostly rural society of the 19th century, parents ,churches, and communities punished children who committed crimes. Children were typically disciplined by force, sometimes brutally. The urbanization that followed the industrial revolution in the last half of the 19th century posed particular problems for children. Many were subject to harsh conditions, including extensive poverty and child labor. At that time, children who got into trouble (whether by committing a crime or by being the victims of abuse or neglect) were often put to work or sent away to relatives. So-called â€Å"reform schools,† the precursors of modern juvenile halls, were also set up. The ostensible purpose of these schools was to change or reform children, in part by giving them skills and training. In fact, these facilities were often little more than warehouse type jails, some with deplorable conditions, where most of the learning that occurred was how to become a better criminal. Around the turn of the 20th century, many social leaders came to believe that reform schools were not working. They also began to understand children not simply as mini-adults, but as people with special needs who should be treated differently than adults. Consequently, the movement for a separate juvenile justice system began. As with adults, juvenile court goals are a mix of rehabilitation, punishment and community safety. Juvenile courts have traditionally considered child less dangerous and more amenable to rehabilitation the adults. As a result, minors who commit crimes often receive counseling and stay at home in lieu of going to jail. However, citing statistics suggesting that minors increasingly commit more and worse crimes at younger ages, advocates of punishment and community safety w...

Friday, November 22, 2019

How to Use Block Quotations in Writing

How to Use Block Quotations in Writing A block quotation is a  direct quotation that is not placed inside quotation marks but instead is set off from the rest of the text by starting it on a new line and indenting it from the left margin. Block quotations may be called extracts, set-off quotations, long quotations, or display quotations. Block quotations are used in academic writing but are also common in journalistic and nonfiction writing. While block quotations are perfectly acceptable, its important for writers to be selective about their use. In some cases, block quotations are unnecessarily long and include more content than is needed to make or support a point. There is no single rule of thumb for formatting block quotations. Instead, each major style guide recommends slightly different ways of selecting, introducing, and setting off the quotations. Before formatting, its important to check on the style used for a particular publication, website, or class. Key Takeaways: Block Quotations A block quotation is a  direct quotation that is indented from the left margin and begins on a new line.Block quotations are used when a quotation exceeds a specific length. Requirements for length vary, depending on the style guide being used.Block quotes can be effective tools for persuading readers or proving a point, but they should be used sparingly and edited appropriately. Recommended Length of Block Quotations Customarily, quotations that run  longer than four or five lines are blocked, but style guides  often disagree on the minimum length for a block quotation. Some styles are more concerned with word counts, while others focus on the number of lines. While each official style guide has its own approach to block quotes, individual publishers may have unique in-house rules. Some of the more common style guides require block quotations as follows: APA: Quotes longer than 40 words or four linesChicago: Quotes longer than 100 words or eight linesMLA: Quotes of prose longer than four lines; quotes of poetry/verse longer than three linesAMA: Quotes longer than four lines MLA Block Quotes Researchers in English literature usually follow the style guidelines of the Modern Language Association (MLA). The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers recommends the following for a quotation that will run more than four lines when it is included in the text: When appropriate in the context of the text, introduce the block quotation with a colon.Begin a new line indented one inch from the left margin; do not indent the first line more than the other lines in the block quotation.Type the quote double-spaced.Do not place quotation marks around the block of quoted text. APA Block Quotes APA stands for American Psychological Association, and APA style is used to format anything in the social sciences. When a quotation is longer than four lines line, APA requires that it be styled as follows: Set it off from your text by beginning a new line, indenting one inch from the left margin.Type it double-spaced, without adding quotation marks.If you quote only a single paragraph or part of one, do not indent the first line more than the rest.One inch is equivalent to 10 spaces. Chicago Style Block Quotes Often used for writing in the humanities, the Chicago (or Turabian) Style Guide was created by the University of Chicago Press and is now in its 17th edition. It is sometimes referred to as the Editors Bible. Rules for block quotes in Chicago Style are as follows: Use block format for quotations longer than five lines or two paragraphs.Do not use quotation marks.Indent the entire quotation by half an inch.Precede and follow the block quote by a blank line. American Medical Association Block Quotes The AMA style guide was developed by the American Medical Association and is used almost exclusively for medical research papers. Rules for block quotes in the AMA style are as follows: Use block formats for quotations that are longer than four lines of text.Do not use quotation marks.Use reduced type.Use paragraph indents only if the material cited is known to begin a paragraph.If the block quote contains a secondary quote, use double quotation marks around the contained quotation.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Toyota Kluger Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Toyota Kluger - Assignment Example This car caters for families needs primarily the children. Long drives have no fun particularly when the children get bored. This vehicle comprises of an inbuilt DVD player (Toyota) that provides the children with adequate entertainment. It is worth denoting that this vehicle boasts of style both inside and outside. It immensely appeals to those individuals searching for a superior quality finish on the family vehicle. It is imperative to state that the outer design of this vehicle appeals to all the members of the family. The rangy profile and chrome accents give this car a superb finish, making it ideal for traveling with style for either business or corporate use. Moreover, it constitutes of alloy wheels with stylish luscious looks (Toyota). This vehicle boasts of foldable seats that give further room for shopping items. However, this vehicle comprises of advanced inbuilt car technology (Toyota) that twists every family drive into a bona fide experience. The Bluetooth capability p ermits the individual to make calls safely through the audio system while still driving. It is imperative to say that this technology aids in delivering an improved and secure driving experience. Entry 2 Gifted hands, is a book by Ben Carson, a famous neurosurgeon (Phillips). It is imperative to say that he gained global recognition for his role in the initial successful severance of Siamese twins. The immensely multifaceted and fragile operation constituted of a surgical plan that Carson aided to initiate. It is worth denoting that Carson pioneered again in an odd procedure known as hemispherectomy (Phillips). This involves offering children with no hope a second chance to live through a courageous operation in which he plainly extracted some part of the brain. It is worth denoting that these breakthroughs are usual. It is imperative to say that he has been beating odds since childhood. He lacked motivation because a mother, who had a third grade education, raised him. He scored po orly in school, but his mother convinced him that he could achieve a lot so long as he was positive with life, and did not allow the current circumstances to prevent him from achieving his goal. However, a persistent belief in his capabilities, trust in God, and absolute determination catapulted him from failing grades to being the top in class. He holds twenty doctorates, possesses a variety of awards, and honors (Phillips). It is imperative to state that gifted hands, is an inspirational story of a person’s secret to success, challenged against disheartening odds, and prompted by an implausible mindset that dares to take risks. This book enables one to learn of surgeries that made history globally, and into the clandestine mind of a kindhearted physician who lives in order to help others (Phillips). Throughout the book, it all reveals a humility and quick wit style that makes this book unforgettable. It is worth denoting that he never fails in each chapter to mention someon e particularly God, to whom he owes gratitude. Entry 3 Hold my hand is a collaborative song done by Michael Jackson and Akon (Aiyanna). It is imperative to say that this song is largely autobiographical in nature as Michael describes his own personal life to the world around us, hoping that we would discover and comprehend the significance of holding an individual's hand and walking the world jointly instead of walking alone as he did. It ultimately resulted to his fate

Consultancy Projects Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Consultancy Projects - Essay Example The inventory now stands at sixty days requirements as against 20 days stock they used to hold a year ago. The disposal of this stock is causing problems. If it is not sold it will have to be thrown away due to its perishable nature. Her suggestion has caused a furor in the company management and at a recent meeting of the Marketing and Operation Council (MOC) of the company everyone seemed to have a different opinion to solve this problem. The outcome however has been in favour of two different views. One opinion is that the company should reduce its price by 45% thereby increasing its sales volume and bring down excess inventory to far lower levels. The inherent disadvantage here is that this will encourage the competition to do the same and the result will remain the same. Unless market share is increased this move is more likely to create chaos. It will also result in loosing customer confidence as the premium status of the product will be lost. The fear is that there will be immigration of customers to other suppliers. It was further pointed out that this loss could be mitigated by selling the excess inventory by calling it a different brand. It was argued by those who advocated this first policy that this would spare the premium brand and would attract new customers looking for low end products. The second suggestion is to offer deep discount to its captive customers only. Neptune has around 300 restaurants who are its regular customers and it is proposed that they be offered up to 45% discount on additional off take. It was argued that this would not be considered as price cutting and would avoid a price war with competition. This would also target a closed market which had the potential to absorb more quantities if the price was right. This would help the restaurants increase their own customer bas by offering different fares and would not hurt the image of Neptune in the market. The

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Amtrak Travel Scholarship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Amtrak Travel - Scholarship Essay Example Already, I wish to look beyond seeing rugged coastlines, beautiful canyons, and unspoiled forests and majestic mountains. For me, train travel offers priceless social amenities as well, particularly as I travel with fellow Americans who patronize Amtrak for its safe, comfortable and affordable vacation, business or adventure packages. Together, we can experience while on route the freshness, breadth and buoyancy that characterize American lifestyle. Already, I have prepared a travel plan which starts with Amtrak’s historic multi-tour along the east coast strip where America as a country was born, then cut across for a coast-to-coast journey to the west along the footsteps of our early pioneers. Finally, I wish to try Amtrak’s awesome northeast route which will take me at 150 miles per hour bullet speed to the end of my roundabout journey of a lifetime, namely Washington, D.C. the nation’s hub (IndependentTraveler.Com). As a whole, I wish to see myself as having gone through the greatest railway journey I can experience.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Critically review the evidence that the corporate governance Essay

Critically review the evidence that the corporate governance structures and reporting requirements required in the UK by the Cadbury Committee and its successor - Essay Example In response to this public pressure, in 1991 the then Conservative government under Prime Minister John Major established the Cadbury Committee and its successors. The remit of these bodies was to establish guidelines under which companies and public bodies should operate. These guidelines were not to be enshrined in law (especially for companies), but rather to be promulgated as "best practice" under which industries would regulate themselves. Perhaps the most telling case was that of the Mirror Group Newspapers pension fund. Over a period of time the company's pension fund had been plundered of some 400,000,000. The money was used for a variety of purposes, including the enhancement of the MGN's share value, and the personal use of the Chairman, Robert Maxwell. Of great concern also were the performances of directors of newly privatized utilities. In many cases those same individuals who had been at the helm of state owned bodies now came to have their salaries massively increased, (in some cases three or four-fold) simply because, in the eyes of the public, their enterprise was now privately rather than publicly owned. As a result of these and other in... The committee and its successors produced guidance and codes of practice, aimed at reducing or eliminating such malpractice. The Cadbury Code is the unofficial name for the first Code of Best Practice on corporate governance, published in 1992. The other codes were produced by the Greenbury and Hampel Committees, and together they form what is known as the Combined Code on Good Governance. The codes lay down rules which the London Stock Exchange requires companies to follow, relating to the conduct of directors, directors' remuneration, relations with shareholders, and accountability and audit. They also recommend that boards of U.K. corporations include at least three outside directors and that the positions of chairman and CEO be held by different individuals. The underlying presumption was that these recommendations would lead to improved board oversight. Essentially, they are designed to make sure that companies are run in an honest and competent way, and to ensure that shareholders are given reliable and adequate information. In the years since the publication of their reports and recommendations there have been a number of studies published to establish the efficacy of the work of these committees. Most notably in the Journal of management and Governance in 2000, Charlie Weir and David Lang published "The performance-governance relationship: the effects of Cadbury compliance on UK quoted companies" and also in 2000 Jay Dalaya, John J McConnell and Nickolaos G Travlos published "The Cadbury Committee, corporate performance and top management turnover" While there is no longer the degree of public outrage at the performance at the activities of UK

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Sex Education Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sex Education - Assignment Example As the essay declares  the information that is supposed to be presented within the scopes of sex educational process must contain the following items: sexual development and reproduction, means of contraception and other information about birth control, relationship dynamics and norms, and different kinds of sexuality.  It is difficult to say which aspect of sex education is the most needed for nowadays society, as all of them concern the most problematic personal issues that appear among people of all countries.This paper stresses that  it is important to say that sex education plays crucial role for the society in general, because it has the goal to reduce the rates of early pregnancies which may lead to increase in the quantity of abandoned children, and also it prevents expansion of such dangerous sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS and HIV.  Being aware of the possible outcomes of unprotected sex makes young people more attentive concerning their sexual relations; mo reover, apart from becoming conscious of the means of contraception, they may even refuse having early sex and be more careful in relationships in general.  The point is that, according to some psychological researches, the roots of understanding of the concept of sexuality and formation of sexual identity happens in childhood, when a person observes one’s environment and comes up to certain understanding of sex.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Pursuing Undergraduate Studies Essay Example for Free

Pursuing Undergraduate Studies Essay I lived in South Korea for 14 years with a family and friends who are always there to comfort me through thick and thin. After finishing my eighth grade my parents decided to send me in the United States of America to study.   They believed that by doing so, it will make me a stronger person both academically and socially.   At the start, it was very tough for me because of the language barrier.   My difficulties in using the English language cause a tremendous social gap with the American society.    In the long run I was able to overcome those obstacles in my life.   I have found myself enjoying my stay in the USA with new friends and a better life ahead with more open doors and opportunities.   One of these doors was when I attended a JP Art–Studio during the first year which aroused my interest in art and I accepted those changes with open arms. The only barrier of this desire is my parents, whom I don’t want to disappoint aside that they are the one supporting my study here in USA. They want me to become a doctor, but my heart and soul cried out for me to become an artist. Until one day, my life changed dramatically.   Two years ago when I visited Maryland in one of the bookstore, I saw an illustration book by Obata-Dakesi. My eyes widened, my ears numbed, my body froze and my mind got sucked as I read the illustration book of Obata-Dakisi. I heard a lot of stories of people who became an animators and illustrators after reading an illustration book. It was the turning point in my life. I cannot imagine that this kind of art has the great power to make people pick up their pen to graphically explore their world and express their emotions, as what happened to me. A strong marvelous feeling inspired me to pursue my dream of becoming an artist.   It was truly amazing how I was able to share my thoughts and feelings by just looking at other’s drawings.   It brings out the very true person as I am.   Day after day drawing has become more significant in my life.   I am fascinated with the structures of an illustration so much that it motivates and inspired me to determine strongly the purpose of my life.   I started looking at objects more closely and experimenting to it so as to build up further my drawing skills.   I become more attentive and sensitive to my surroundings. Now, I have my own definition of â€Å"art† and this makes me more comfortable following my dreams.   My goal is not becoming what everyone else wishes me to be, but to follow the desire of my heart, this burning feeling that makes me move every now and then.   I cannot imagine life without art.   It becomes my best friend, my best life-teacher.   It will make me a better unique person with purpose and direction in life.   Arts what matters to me know.   Throughout my life, I have found myself another fulfilling experience that makes me the happiest person. My ultimate goal now is to be admitted in one of the best school, the School of Visual Arts for computer art program in Maryland Institute College of Art.   Through enrolling in this prestigious institution it will be able to help me fulfill my dream in becoming an ultimate artist. I know that I will learn many techniques, styles and many more from your institution and this will all help me to prepare in my future careers in arts.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Alice In Wonderland Movie Review Film Studies Essay

Alice In Wonderland Movie Review Film Studies Essay The film I choose to write a critical review of is Alice in Wonderland (2010). The genres of the film have aspects that are adventure, action, adventure, comedy, fantasy, animation, kids, science fiction and family. The original novel written in 1865 by the English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson with the pseudonym Lewis Carroll consisted of a progression of haphazard dealings and character connections. It was enjoyable to see the characters in the movie were able to work together to achieve an exceptional outcome. Alice in the original novel wanders around a dreamland that deals with her own apprehensions and her vague expectation that events will not be all pleasant and trouble-free. All of these captivating characters, landscapes and experiences spread out in a dream language. Given this is the essence of the original this, it should be an easy undertaking to produce a movie that really leaves a lasting impression .The overall result of the film is not impressive beyond what would be expected from this style of work but and it is a fun atmosphere. Where the film succeeds, it does succeed very well, all to the consistency of Tim Burtons imaginative and creative visuals. Each genre has a thematic and stylistic territory, and sometimes the style of one genre spills into the thematic territory of another. This sort of innovation is not the kind that is normally recognized as the work of a genius, but is considered merely clever. Yet it is the kind of innovation and playing with boundaries that keeps audiences coming to genre movies. (University, Unit 1: The Usefulness of Genre) Alice in Wonderland (2010) is not a retelling, reworking or a remaking of the original childrens classic novels by Lewis Carroll but is a version that is a sequel to the original. It is not even the 1951 Disney adaptation. If the viewer is expecting a pure and complete adaptation, then there may be some disappoint. Instead, Tim Burton re-imagines the esteemed and treasured story in the genuine good judgment of recreation. This is by giving Alice an added and established background, in addition to a romantic subplot involving Alice and the Mad Hatter. There is also much more focus on the conflict concerning good and evil. It is the classic tale of good against evil and the stunning and dramatic final battle of good versus evil that ensues. Alice is to slay a monster that has been predicted by the scroll. Tim Burtons, Alice in Wonderland more than does the classic tale justice. Danny Elfman composes the wonderful music is very nice but ultimately completely unforgettable and always be top notch. Then there are the marvellous visual effects, excellent acting and amazing animation and design. This is a movie that will indulge your senses. The Mad Hatter has an intensity and capacity of character that was downplayed by the movie trailers. In the trailers, only the upbeat Mad Hatter was seen. He has a darker side to his character as well as madness of the darkest sort is by no means far off from the surface. The Mad Hatter is by far one of the greatest characters in the film. Alices expedition that allowed growth from a timid, to some extent unconventional, girl into an audacious and heroic young woman is magnificent and convincing. Alice brought back together with her friends from childhood: the Cheshire Cat, the Caterpillar, the Dormouse, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, the Mad Hatter, and of course the White Rabbit. Alice enters into an extraordinary journey to d iscover her true destiny and conclude the Red Queens supremacy over the land. Tim Burton did not strive for bright and beautiful magic, but for dreary and wasteful once a wonderland The movie is not the dark world that Tim Burton usually gives his audience but a softer more child friendly world. The story picks up when Alice is 19-years old and subsequent to the passing of her father. She is proposed to be married away and feeling pressured, she runs off, following the white rabbit, which leads her to into Wonderland. She only vaguely remembers this magical place from childhood. The story is admittedly a very simple one but one that can be easily followed. It is to the storys credit that Alice is now an adult, as it is able to facilitate many more happenings in Wonderland. A place where things can be sometimes be quite grotesque, unfriendly and bizarre. It is an out of the ordinary adventure and tale about a young womans voyage to an alternate reality. That is testing the strength of her will power, resourcefulness and courage in the visage of danger and weirdness. Wonderland is an extension of Alices frustrations with the real world where she felt that she had many expectations from outside forces. Alice in Wonderland succeeds on numerous levels that I am uncertain who would fail to not be charmed by it. The film even has glance and hints at Alices early life. It is also to my surprise touching specifically the relationship between Alice and her father. The film measures up to other films in its genre in that it is a family movie that has a charming and interesting story. It is full of interesting characters and a journey through Wonderland to observe all sorts of attention-grabbing landscapes. There is a positive impact on this film on other films since to bring a classic back in a new way leads the pack. It is intended for adults and children to watch together. The film is a wondrous piece of escapism. The social context of the film like many of Tim Burtons movies amuses at specifically the kind of individual who does not get this movie. Tim Burtons Alice in Wonderland is a magnificent metaphor for the correlation between Tim Burton and his audience. These are individuals who have lost touch with the wonderment of their own childhoods. These same individuals who are mostly connected to the idea of what is proper and fashionable. The uninteresting people with little imagination and even less open-mindedness for it in others. The premise of the movie is to facilitate the idea that only small amounts of people in the world and only the best people still have that kind of limitless imagination. They are the ones that can find enjoyment in the truly original, even as the rest of civil society considers them as being eccentric, outlandish, or simply awkward. These people are represented in the film both in the real world at the party and another time in the Red Queens court. Movies have no scruples. They are always borrowing from literature or adapting novels wholesale into feature films. And, as everyone who has ever read a novel that has been turned into a movie know, the book is always better-simply because books pay attention to detail; they describe rather than depict characters (so readers can form their own impressions); and they paint a broader canvas of life-changing events. Movies always leave things out. They change the original story, of which the readers are extremely protective. (University, Unit 2: Genre History and Literary Precedents) For all the individuals that were not able to enjoy the movie as a form of entertain then they have lost the child in them. Individuals will complain about it not being accurate to the original book but in time, they will accept it. A generation from now this original film will be analyzed as one of the greatest creative fantasies of our present times. The idea that this is how people may feel in the modern day, which is pressured into something, they really do not want to do. This certainly proceeds impeccably with the extra background story. Many people may be able to relate to this idea. It is an important film in its genre because it will be a classic of our time of ingenuity. A classic tale reinvented to fit our modern ways of thinking and life. The film strengths concerning its generic element are that this is easily Burtons finest work, and while he takes some liberties with Lewis Carrolls classic, there are still ample amounts of the traditional Alice character traits to satisfy everyone. The film has rejuvenated the antique theme about Alice reclaiming her muchness and defying societal expectations. Wonderland is bestowed with amusement that is constant. A film adaptation should, of course, treat its source material as inspiration rather than dogma and this is clearly, what Tim Burton intended and has achieved. The films weaknesses concerning its generic elements are that it is such a well know tale that has been told repeatedly. It is hard to truly find a story that is not based upon another story these days. It does not help that fate is the key component to in the story. This added to the predictability of events given they are foretold to us early on. This causing the computer generated imagery or CGI technology to h eavy climactic battle to underwhelm when it does inevitably arrive. Wonderland is just how woefully conventional it all is. I found it very easy to care for the characters in this film. The conclusion came across as deeply extraordinary, as good was able to triumph. Society loves when good wins over evil because it gives everyone a good feeling. The audience has been given so much to empathize with. The character development is interesting to be to get to know these characters a little bit better. When Alice comes back around her extended family, she is then one by one imparting her newly learned knowledge onto them. This is a true sense that she had grown and become wiser. The journey to Wonderland has made absolutely very much difference to the Alices state of mind. At the commencement, she does not want to be married to the aristocratic and has a choice to make. By the end, she still does not want to be married to the aristocratic but she has been able to prevail in self-discovery in the span of time that she left. She has grown and learned about her strengths. She now knows what she truly wants to be able to make the necessary decisions that will affect her in a positive way. An easily enjoyable movie with much character depth.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Middle Ages Essay -- History Historical Middle Ages Essays

The Middle Ages Throughout time, history has taken some strange turns. A single ruler establishing some new form of government can transform entire civilizations, or a single event can lead to the creation of a great new people. Whatever the case, history can repeat itself in time. One possible exemption of this could be Britain’s time period of the Middle Ages. Bearing a distinct and unique culture relative to the time period, some of the values and the customs held during this time have yet to be repeated in history. It is perhaps the most unique period of all time for the British Isles. Brief History   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Before the period of the middle ages, the British Isles mostly lay dormant in local disputes and settlements of small tribes. Up until the late 900’s, the Anglos and the Saxons laid their claim to the land of Britain. However, this all soon changed. An ambitions individual with hero-like characteristics set foot and conquered the Anglo-Saxons and started Britain on its journey to modernism. Thus, the tide was set in motion for a new government and a civilized race. A monarchy was established, and the Middle ages began in roughly 975 AD (Vinogradoff, p 18). Feudal Life   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the Medieval Period, life was either very great or very bad, according to your class. Only 2 classes existed during this time: the nobles, such as kings and knights who lived inside the castle, or the peasants, such as working-class people who lived in often unspeakable conditions. The peasants treated the nobles with the utmost respect, for if they didn’t, then the nobles could have them beheaded. (Sanders, p 34). The nobles were almost always the ones who owned land, and the peasants worked on this land in exchange for a small portion of it, in a sense, rented out in exchange for the labor. Peasants often worked 16-hour days as long as they could see into the nighttime and got very bad nourishment. The noble was not interested in the health of the peasants working on his land, as there was a significant supply of others who were very willing to take his or her place.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Women had a very difficult position in society during the Middle Ages. The feudal age was known for its superstitions, and women were often convicted of witchcraft and burned at the stake. Some of the more lucky women held professions of there own, such as blacksmiths, carpenters, and apothecaries.... ...een defined. Juggling became a popular form of entertainment, as it was unpredictable and seemingly deadly objects could produce awe and inspiration to the audience. Drama also played a big role during this time period, and plays were acted out only by males and only for the noble class. (McCarthy, para. 3).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Perhaps the greatest and most unique time period of all time for the British Isles was the Middle Ages. The feudal system and the role of the monarchy led this seemingly boring piece of time on the path towards greatness in meaning and value. Social skills developed during this time to force humans to cooperate and work together to produce a lifestyle that was beneficial to everyone and not just a leader. Lessons have been learned from this time period, such that it is not perfect. Disputes inside a community cannot be solved easily because they often affect the whole community and there will only be one side. Perhaps there are more lessons to be learned from this time. One can only hope that the future of modern warfare could be secretly embedded in the time of the middle ages. History has a tendency to repeat itself; maybe the time has come for the middle ages.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

The Oregon Trails :: Education, Culture

Race, gender, sex, death; these are some topics that are frequent occurrences in literature, history, and present day life. Regardless of the frequency of these subjects instructors are often hesitant to embark upon discussing them during instruction. Despite apprehensions to discuss these controversial topics they shape events and society, and should be incorporated in a student’s education. In fact by not examining these topics students are being done a grave disservice. Exploring these troublesome topics and even questioning why they may not be spoken about or how they influence society cause students to gain vital knowledge and become less ignorant. The Oregon Trails may be considered by some to be a tool to aide students in becoming more knowledgeable on diverse topics. It has been called a â€Å"multiethnic† interactive computer game that allows students to travel along the trail and gain insight on the life of a person traveling to the Oregon Territory (Bigelow, 2009, p. 317). This game has been put on a pedestal by critics and has been awarded five stars by the Pride’s Guide to Educational Software for being â€Å"a wholesome, absorbing historical simulation† (Bigelow, 2009, p. 317). The outstanding critiques of this software creates an appealing route for many teachers to take in order to incorporate an engaging activity that abides by state and school curriculum standards. However what the critics do not inform teachers is this educational game is in reality spoon feeding students a dishonest account of history. The game takes on the white males view and neglects to account for gender and cultural bias es that occur during this time period (Bigelow, 2009, p.319). By not pointing out the societal issues that occurred during this time period, students are really being done a disservice. There is no reason why instructors have to keep the fact that racism against minority groups and gender groups occurred, and still do. As Bigelow (2009) stated, â€Å"Just as we would not invite a stranger into our classrooms and then leave the room, teachers need to become aware of the political perspectives of CD-ROMs and need to equip students to â€Å"read† them critically†(p. 318). Instructors should point out the data deceptions within The Oregon Trails to aide students in gaining a stronger sociological eye to examine historical accounts and society as a whole. Teachers should have students approach the game and question why social groups are missing from the game, why they are perceived the way they, are and how these social groups may influence society or change the game. The Oregon Trails :: Education, Culture Race, gender, sex, death; these are some topics that are frequent occurrences in literature, history, and present day life. Regardless of the frequency of these subjects instructors are often hesitant to embark upon discussing them during instruction. Despite apprehensions to discuss these controversial topics they shape events and society, and should be incorporated in a student’s education. In fact by not examining these topics students are being done a grave disservice. Exploring these troublesome topics and even questioning why they may not be spoken about or how they influence society cause students to gain vital knowledge and become less ignorant. The Oregon Trails may be considered by some to be a tool to aide students in becoming more knowledgeable on diverse topics. It has been called a â€Å"multiethnic† interactive computer game that allows students to travel along the trail and gain insight on the life of a person traveling to the Oregon Territory (Bigelow, 2009, p. 317). This game has been put on a pedestal by critics and has been awarded five stars by the Pride’s Guide to Educational Software for being â€Å"a wholesome, absorbing historical simulation† (Bigelow, 2009, p. 317). The outstanding critiques of this software creates an appealing route for many teachers to take in order to incorporate an engaging activity that abides by state and school curriculum standards. However what the critics do not inform teachers is this educational game is in reality spoon feeding students a dishonest account of history. The game takes on the white males view and neglects to account for gender and cultural bias es that occur during this time period (Bigelow, 2009, p.319). By not pointing out the societal issues that occurred during this time period, students are really being done a disservice. There is no reason why instructors have to keep the fact that racism against minority groups and gender groups occurred, and still do. As Bigelow (2009) stated, â€Å"Just as we would not invite a stranger into our classrooms and then leave the room, teachers need to become aware of the political perspectives of CD-ROMs and need to equip students to â€Å"read† them critically†(p. 318). Instructors should point out the data deceptions within The Oregon Trails to aide students in gaining a stronger sociological eye to examine historical accounts and society as a whole. Teachers should have students approach the game and question why social groups are missing from the game, why they are perceived the way they, are and how these social groups may influence society or change the game.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Canada: The Defining Moments of a Nation

A defining moment is the point at which, a situation is clearly seen to undergo a change. Canada, as a growing nation, has encountered many defining moments throughout it's history. During the twentieth century women of Canada have undergone numerous moments that brought about significant changes for themselves. The most prominent moments, which brought about the most change and significance are: the persons case of 1928, the women's liberation movement throughout the 1960's and 70s and the ratification of the Treaty for Rights of Women (CEDAW) in 1981. These three events in Canada's history brought about many crucial changes for the woman of Canada. After woman won the persons case in 1929, Canada finally considered women to be legal persons. Awareness of women's equality came to the fore front during the woman's liberation movement in the 1960s and 1970s. Finally in 1981 Canada enforced stricter laws for crimes against woman, when it ratified the Treaty for Rights of Women. It became socially and politically unacceptable for women to be the scapegoats of society. These moments changed they way women where treated in society, politics, and in the workforce. The infamous persons case of 1928 gained national recognition when five Alberta women, known today as the famous five took on the Supreme Court of Canada, asking if the word â€Å"persons† in section 24 of the British North American Act included women. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the word â€Å"persons† did not include women. This meant women were not considered legal persons, eligible to run or hold office, or be a part of any political stance. After their great loss to the Supreme Court, they continued the fight, and brought their case to the British Privy Council, where they where victorious. The British Privy council announced that women were indeed persons, and as Lord Chancellor of the Privy Council put it â€Å"The exclusion of woman from all public offices is a relic of days more barbarous than ours. † The persistence of these five Alberta women led all Canadian women to victory in 1929. It was no surprise these women are known today as the â€Å"famous five. † Prior to this defining moment, women were not considered legal persons in the matters of rights and privileges. However, when they won their case women were considered legal persons and now had the same rights and privileges of any man. Before this time in history, women were not eligible to run or hold public office. It was simply not allowed under the British North American Act. The word â€Å"persons† excluded woman and â€Å"all nouns, pronouns and adjectives in the British North American act where masculine, and that was who was meant to govern Canada. † The triumph of the persons case allowed women to become appointed senators of Canada and members of federal bodies. In 1930 the first female senator, Carnie Wilson, was appointed by Prime Minister Mackenzie King. Today 229 members of parliament are women. The persons case also gave women hope. The persons case brought about numerous significant changes for women, and can be considered a defining moment for the women of Canada. By 1960 women's rights groups were showing up all over Canada. The women's movement had begun. In 1966 thirty-two different women's groups from across Canada came together to for the Committee for the Equality of Women in Canada. Within a year the committee forced the government to launch a Royal Commission on the Status of Women. The journalist Florence Bird who covered the story, submitted a report a few years later, known today as the Bird Report. It consisted over 160 recommendations addressing the decreasing equality of women. While Ottawa tried to avoid these issues the women's organizations where growing. By 1972, three-hundred women's rights groups came together to form The National Action Committee for the Equality of Women (NAC). This committee saw it their duty to see that the Bird Report's recommendations were put into practice. At the end of the movement, women had greater equality within the workforce. In a recent public-opinion poll, three out of four Canadian citizens agreed that the women's movement had a positive effect on Canadian society. This time in history was a huge breakthrough for all woman, it brought about immense significant changes for the working women of Canada. The United Nations convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women (CEDAW) is a treaty to eliminate violence and discrimination towards women. Canada ratified this treaty in 1981. It was a defining moment for all women of Canada because it was not only socially unacceptable for women to play the role of scapegoats, but new enforced laws wouldn't allow it. Ratifying countries, such as Canada where to condemn discrimination in all forms and ensure that legal framework, including all laws, policies and practices would provide protection against discrimination and embody the principle of equality. The treaty also commits ratifying nations to overcome barriers to discrimination against women in the areas of egal rights, education, employment, healthcare, politics and finance. In order to overcome these barriers Canada set up numerous new programs and institutions to help distressed women, or women seeking advice or help. In 1980, the year before Canada ratified the treaty, 90% of women reported receiving unwanted sexual attention on the job. After 1981, this statistic dropped dramatically. In addition, ratifying countries must submit a progress report to the United Nations for review. This progress report Canada must write ensures that discrimination and violence against women is minimal. Canada does not want to end up in the United Nations international court of justice. This moment in Canadian history truly helped all women overcome existing barriers towards the end of the 20th century. Over the 20th century women in Canada have struggled for equality. The persons case of 1928 began an atmospheric change for women. In the early 1960s the women's liberation movement carried the fight for equal rights for women, and the ratification of the treaty for rights of women in 1981 was a milestone in the fight for equality. These defining moments gave women the same political rights with the persons case, equality with the women's liberation movement, and reassurance these rights would be enforced when Canada ratified the treaty for rights of women. All throughout Canada's history women's rights have been a touchy issue. The battle for equality is still driven today by the new generation. It appears as if the battle will never be quite over, but Canadian women have been blessed that these event occurred in our history, or the women of Canada would not be anywhere close the equality we have today

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Does education always provide a means to better life? Essay

Education is believed to be a good bet for success. It is for this reason that governments invest huge amounts of resources with the aim of ensuring that its people acquire education. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) were a set of goals accepted by nations for the purpose of ensuring better lives for the people of the world. The second goal of the MDGs deals with the achievement of the universal primary education. It is no doubt that the importance of education cannot be underestimated. However, education that is learnt in class is based on books, facts and theories. This knowledge is does not exist in the hands of the bearer; thus, to succeed and have a better life depends on how one utilizes the knowledge as it will be discussed in this paper. A classroom is composed of people from different backgrounds. It is expected that the brains of the students are not homogenous. Some people have high IQ levels while as others have lower levels. It thus implies that there are people whose academic performances are better than others. Once it comes to the job market, the criteria of hiring and recruiting employees is based on the skills that individuals possess. There are high possibilities that those people who passed the exams with good degrees still struggle to have better lives while others who failed succeed very well as it is evident in everyday life. The truth is that success in life is based on the skills other than what people learn in schools. Life has proven to take a different dimension in how people succeed. There are people who drop out of school but they end up being millionaires while others study consistently and still continue to struggle for better lives. Not everything that is learnt in school is relevant in life. What is learnt in schools is the methods that one can apply in life based on skills and talents to lead a successful life. These skills are usually learnt out of class while others are inherited through heredity. It is one’s responsibility to realize these skills and talents so that he or she may apply them in daily life to succeed. This calls for someone to think out of the box. One who is able to think out the box has the chances to strategize things that need planning for the purpose of better life. It is for this reason that some people with professional degrees struggle to earn a better life since they over rely on what they learnt other than thinking out the box. A big gap exists between the educated people those who did not get an opportunity to go to school. Those people who did not get an opportunity to study find themselves struggling to survive. The uneducated people in the society know that they do not have a choice other than to work hard if they rely have to succeed. On the contrary, the educated people fail to work hard since they believe that they stand a better chance in life as there are many job opportunities available to them. The educated forget that there are few job opportunities available since many people are today educated thus making the job market competitive. In conclusion, education can be termed as tool that can lead one’s path to success but it is not a ticket for a better future. Education on the other hand will ensure that someone is well respected in the society. This respect can only be rewarded by the few job opportunities available in one’s locality. Securing such jobs does not mean that one will have a better life. As such, one is required to think out of the box and realize how he or she can apply the knowledge acquired in order to have a better future.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Urbanisation Is Sea

SE1101E Group Essay Rural-Urban migration, or â€Å"urbanization†, has led to a better life for a majority of Southeast Asians. To what extent is this true? Discuss your answer using examples from at least three different Southeast Asian societies to illustrate your points. ____ Introduction For the longest time, Singaporeans lived in a relative urban oasis – coined, praised and awarded as the ‘Garden City’. Even so, in the last 2 years, Singaporeans have experienced the stress of continued urbanization, created primarily through migration.This stress has been manifested physically as inadequate infrastructure, socially as rising xenophobia and politically as rising discontentment, leading to the long-ruling People’s Action Party to face its worst electoral performance since independence in 1965. It is this backdrop that propelled our group to comparatively examine the urbanization experiences of three of Southeast Asia’s largest countries, an d evaluate the outcomes. Firstly and most importantly, it is important to delineate the two key terms – â€Å"rural-urban migration† and â€Å"urbanization†.While â€Å"rural-urban migration† is a subset of â€Å"urbanization†, urbanization as a process is far more encompassing, as Terry McGee has noted to include the expansion and encroachment of urban regions into formerly rural areas through land-use conversion practices. For the scope of this essay, we will limit our arguments to the process of â€Å"rural-urban migration†. The process of migration is simply defined by Zelinsky as â€Å"a permanent or semipermanent change of residence†.Petersen offers a sociological perspective, defining migration as â€Å"a spatial transfer from one social unit or neighbourhood to another†. Extending these, rural-urban migration can be broadly defined as the movement of people from rural home locations to urban locations, which results in socio-economic impacts for â€Å"both the origin and destination societies†. This includes circulatory migration, where rural migrants return to their home location after a period in the urban location, and permanent relocation from the rural location to the urban location.Further to this, to achieve a manageable scope of discussion, we have elected to focus on (domestic) rural-urban migration, where the rural and urban locations are located within the same country, as opposed to the processes of transnational (and regional) rural-urban migration. In this essay, we will argue that while the process of rural-urban migration has created a better life for some, it has not necessarily created a better life for the majority of Southeast Asians especially when evaluated on a holistic level. Specifically, we will use the case studies of Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines to support our argument.These three countries were selected as their combined populations of over 400 millio n, consist a majority 65 per cent of Southeast Asia’s 620 million people, in addition to their relative comparative congruence within the extremely diverse Southeast Asian region. Secondly, this essay strives not to be an ideological critique of the processes of â€Å"rural-urban migration† and â€Å"urbanization† but rather, serve as a comparative exposition on the impacts of rural-urban migration in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines and provide an objective evaluation of whether this process has created a â€Å"better life† for the â€Å"majority of Southeast Asians†.Aptly congruent, Tjitoherijanto and Hasmi describe urbanization as an expression of â€Å"people’s desire for a better life† and â€Å"must be recognized as a natural modern process by which humans attempt to improve their welfare†. The central themes of what is â€Å"a better life†, has rural-urban migration created it and for whom, form the framewo rk of our discussion. Case Study: The Philippines In our first case study, we analyze the Philippines. The state of urbanization in the Philippines is comparatively the most advanced of the three case studies, with 33 highly urbanized cities and 4 surpassing the 1 illion-population mark. While the 2010 census depicts the state of urbanization in the Philippines, it does not describe the flow of domestic rural-urban migration. From 1970 to 1990, the percentage of the Philippine population identified as â€Å"urban† surged from 36% to 52%, which further increased to 59% by 2000. Not all of this growth can be attributed to rural-urban migration. In fact, 47. 2% is actually due to reclassification of formerly rural areas as urban and natural urbanite population growth.While explicit data is sparse, Hugo provides a basis to assume that the remaining and majority 52% of this urban growth, is likely due to rural-urban migration. In tandem with rising urbanization, cursory economic i ndicators also rose. GDP increased from USD 6. 6 billion in 1960 to USD 199. 5 billion by 2010. Even with considerable population growth, GDP per capita also grew during the same period, from USD 692 to USD 1,383. Nakanishi forwards that the rural sector conditions in the Philippines, where peasants do not own their land, are â€Å"insupportable† and conditions in the city, though not the best, are an improvement.Knight and Song, who compute the Philippine’s urban-to-rural income ratio to be 2. 26, give further credence to the possibility, that perhaps, rural-urban migration might create a better economical life for rural migrants, and for all Filipinos too. These quantitative indicators are, however, quickly problematized as overly simplistic. To begin, consider the Gini coefficient, which measures the inequality of income distribution. For the Philippines, this stood at 0. 46 in 2010; the income share held by the top 10% was 36% while the income share held by the bot tom 10% was only 2%.This significantly unequal distribution of income evidences that the benefits associated with economic growth has not reached and has not benefitted a vast majority of Filipinos. Also, counterintuitively, higher income levels in urban areas do not actually lead to economic improvement on all accounts, as the Harris-Todaro model establishes. Simply put, the wage differential between the urban and rural areas (2. 26 in the case of the Philippines) compels rural populations to igrate to urban areas despite urban unemployment which further, and continually, increases unemployment, as long as urban wage levels continue to exceed that of rural areas. This thesis holds true in the Philippines context, where even as unemployment rates rose from 5% in 1980 to 11% by 2000, rural-urban migration continued to rise. This self-perpetuating cycle is particularly significant as it confirms that rural-urban migration, far from leading to a better life, actually results in the opp osite. Rising unemployment creates further problems.One is the creation of urban slums, where the poorest rural migrants generally live. In fact, from 2000 to 2006, urban slums grew at a rate of 3. 5%, faster than the urban population growth rate of 2. 3%. This evidences that rural-urban migration (which generates the majority of urban population growth) creates negative socioeconomic ripple effects, which compound with time, noting that rural-urban migration began in the 1960s in the Philippines. In Manila alone today, 35% of the 12 million population live in slums.Urban slums, which are â€Å"characterized by poor sanitation, overcrowded and crude habitation, inadequate water supply, hazardous location and insecurity of tenure†, have been recognized to lead to widespread environmental degradation. Most prominently, the lack of proper sanitation and sewerage services in slums contaminate citywide and nationwide water supplies, creating over 38 million cases of life-threateni ng diarrhea in the Philippines every year. This is despite the percentage of urban population with access to sanitation in the Philippines increasing from 69% in 1990 to 79% in 2010.This contradiction recalls Ulrich Beck’s pithy quote â€Å"smog is democratic†; that environmental impacts (linked to rural-urban migration and its ensuing employment) created by a small segment of the population can degrade the quality of life for a significant majority, in a ripple-like effect. However, ripple effects can work both ways, and in a positive sense too. One common example is that of the increased literacy rate as a result of rural-urban migration. From 1980 to 2000, the literacy rate increased from 84% to 93%. The literature is clear; generally speaking, a higher literacy ate and education level are two of the most significant positive externalities of rural-urban migration. The causation link between rural-urban migration and literacy is primarily due to the higher accessibi lity of schools in urban regions, which allow rural migrants in urban centers to more readily access schooling. This causation is however, problematic in the Philippines, where there is no wide disparity in literacy rates between rural and urban areas that would support such a causation thesis. The primary school net attendance rate in rural areas was only marginally lower at 86%, compared to 89% in urban areas.Some theorists have hypothesized that a strong historical cultural emphasis on education in the Philippines is one reason for this comparative equality in literacy rates in both urban and rural areas. Regardless, the lack of causation between rural-urban migration and literacy rates in the Philippines, further evidences that rural-urban migration, has not led to a â€Å"better life† for a significant majority of Filipinos. The discussion thus far surfaces a most important facet of the discussion – that of policy responses to rural-urban migration.It is apparent that the impacts created by the process of rural-urban migration might not be as deterministic as Harris and Todaro implied (their simplifying assumptions have been widely critiqued). It is crucial to note that the impact of the rural-urban migration process, whether positive or negative, is molded through the lens of government policy responses. In the case of the Phillipines, the indicator of increasing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, was contradicted by a highly unequal distribution of income and rising unemployment.Policy intervention is thus required to equalize this. Also, the formations of slums are not a direct result of rural-urban migration but due to inept city planning and a lack of sufficient public housing, again demonstrating the collision between policy and process as fundamental to our discussion on the impacts of rural-urban migration. In sum, one last indicator, mentioned in passing at the beginning of this case study, of increased life expectancy, exempl ifies one of the themes stated at the outset – what constitutes a better life?Does increased life expectancy constitute a â€Å"better life†, or just a longer one? Based on the evidence presented, we are inclined to think it is the latter. While Philippines represent a country in a highly urbanized state, Thailand represents one on the other spectrum. As such, our next case study will examine the rural-urban migration pattern in Thailand. When we analyze the rural-urban migration of Thailand, we can roughly translate it to the rural-urban migration to Bangkok. This is due to Bangkok’s dominance and influence in the country’s political and economical landscape.The size distribution of cities in a country roughly abides to the â€Å"rank-size rule†: The second largest city is half the size of the first largest city and the third largest city is half the size of the second. In Thailand’s case however, the second largest city is a mere 6% the si ze of Bangkok. As such, it is not an overstatement to describe Thailand as a one-city state. Thus in this case study, we will examine the urban landscape with reference to Bangkok as a comparison. Thailand’s urbanization rate is at a low 38% , significantly lower than their peers such as Indonesia (53%) and Malaysia (71%) (percentage not accurate as of 2012.Need comparison and citation). This figure has stalled since 2007, only changing by 0. 8% between 2002 and 2009. This is because Bangkok has stopped growing. In fact, it has shrank by 1% between 2007 and 2009. As of late, Thailand’s urbanization trends began shifting away from Bangkok to the peripheral provinces such as Songkhla; Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani. As such, while the top 10 cities in the vicinity of Bangkok grew collectively by 17%, a 1% decrease in Bangkok has dropped that urbanization growth to a mere 0. 8%. These reflect how this single city is able to impact the country’s economy.As such we shall analyze the impact of urbanization by using Bangkok as our case study. The growth of Bangkok brings about social and economical progress, with economical taking priority. National income statistics from the NESDB have shown that though contributing a mere 15. 8 per cent of total population in 1988, Bangkok and its vicinity generated more than 50 per cent of the gross domestic product. Socially, the Bangkok and its neighboring region has enjoyed better health care (2. 12 hospital beds per residents, compared with 0. 38 per 1,000 residents in Sri Saket, the poorest province of Thailand. and higher access to water (About 12 percent compared with 1. 2 percent in North, 1. 4 percent in the South, and 0. 9 percent in the North-east. ) While the figures reflect an improvement in the quality of life, this may not translate into an improvement for the people. There exist an overlying assumption that there would be a trickle down effect to benefit the less well off. Dr. Puey, a famo us Thai economist observed otherwise. Thailand’s pursuit of economic growth has widened the rich-poor disparity where urbanized regions in Thailand have experienced economic benefits at the expense of villages.Furthermore, it is alleged that there has been a social tension within the rural community between the few who have benefitted and the majority who have not. Critics of these distributions of wealth have blamed the monopoly of capitalism from emerging corporations in finance and banking centered in Bangkok. On October 14, 1973, a student led uprising threw the exploitation of rural villagers in the spot light, highlighting the dissent over the rich-poor divide. Furthermore, Thailand has traded a social benefit for a social problem.As Bangkok swelled as the only go-to urban destination in the 1970s, Bangkok’s infrastructure failed to expand at the same pace as its growing population. Overpopulation and congestion were frequent social issues that the government had to address. The high influx also led to pollution, and by consequence, disease. As such, it may be argued that while the urban population enjoyed better health care services, there was also a higher propensity to get sick due to more frequent interactions and mass pollutions. As such, while the face value of urbanization reveals measurable benefits, the real value actually shows a decrease.This aforementioned issue indicates a situation where rural-urban migration works too well. Bangkok grew haphazardly without an official city plan until 1992, a growth necessitated by Economic interest. Accompanied by poor city planning is its poor infrastructure of roads, leading to massive traffic jams. BBC has ranked Bangkok as having one of the top ten worst traffic jams in the world. For residents in this urban landscape, such issues have become so commonplace that they have come to accept these problems as part of their everyday lives.The process of rural-urban migration, at least until 200 7, has played the role of an instigator that negatively impacted the lives of those living in the urban landscape. Hence, rural-urban migration has its pros and cons. However, while it is important to weigh the different opportunities offered due to rural urban migration, we should also consider how these citizens perceive these opportunities offered and whether they consider themselves better off. Here lies the paradox. Both rural and urban parties perceive themselves as beneficiaries to the rural urban migration.A collection of data from six rural villages in the Nong Muun Than and Phon Muang communes revealed that villagers overwhelmingly felt that they had came up on top compared to their urban counterparts. Villages were perceived to be better in terms of standard of living, the friendliness, the working conditions and the environment to raise children although they conceded that urban areas posed a better environment to specialize. On the contrary, urban areas felt that they b enefitted from better facilities, higher pay and wider job opportunities.As such, while visible problems exist in both rural and urban states, they remain predominantly contented. This approach, however, comes with its own associated problems. It fails to recognize social identity which compels participants to be more biased towards their own home society, and it also assumes all Thais are well-informed of the opportunities and problems offered in both societies. For example, villagers in a rural area may be contented with life, but they may still be unable to comprehend the benefits urban areas provide.Their contentment hence lies in their simplicity of thought rather than the effect of rural-urban migration. As such, we turn our attention to more obvious indicators while still taking account, albeit more cautiously, people’s perception of such benefits. Recognizing the growing rural-urban divide, the 9th developmental plan of Thailand explicitly tackles such rural-urban lin kages in the country. Longitudinal studies on migration patterns conducted by the Nang Rong Project and Kanchanburi Demographic Surveillance System (KDSS) were used to evaluate emerging problems faced by Thailand.It concluded that economical pull factors were the main cause of migration towards urban areas, although their search for financial stability came with a string attached. According to the DFG Bangkok Migrant Survey, (2010), 67 percent of migrants reported an improvement in living conditions since leaving rural areas while 60 percent of migrants reported stable income. However, 70 percent of migrants do not possess a written work contract and 80 percent of respondents have no insurance at all.Most of these migrants consist of family members forced to find work in urban areas due to rural poverty and hence migration was influenced not out of choice but rather that of necessity. As such, although they travel to urban regions in search of better prospects, their nature of trave l is necessitated for survival and their trip comes with little or no social safety net. Another issue they face is not simply acquiring employment, but rather quality employment. 70 percent of migrants earn less than 300 bahts (or $8) a day.While these still represents an increase in pay as compared to their rural counterparts, they also face a higher cost of living in an urban environment and therefor tend to spend more. Hence, most migrants aimed for quality employment, but only a mere 2 percent earn around 2. 3% fall in this category. To summarize, economical growth only represents the net value earned ——————————————– [ 1 ]. Terry Mc Gee – The Spatiality of Urbanization, The Policy Challenges of Mega-Urban and Desakota Regions of Southeast Asia- Published by Penerbit Lestari, Univeriti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor Darul Ehsan, 2009. 2 ]. The Hypothesis of the Mobility Transition Author(s): Wilbur Zelinsky Reviewed work(s): Source: Geographical Review, Vol. 61, No. 2 (Apr. , 1971), pp. 219-249 Published by: American Geographical Society Stable URL: http://www. jstor. org/stable/213996 [ 3 ]. Migration and split households: a comparison of sole, couple, and family migrants in Beijing, China C Cindy Fan, Mingjie Sun, Environment and Planning A 2011, volume 43, pages 2164 ^ 2185 [ 4 ]. William Petersen: A General Typology of Migration, Amer. Sociol. Rev. , Vol. 23, 1958, pp. 246-266. [ 5 ]. Devasahayam makes a compelling study of these processes hrough the lens of remittances. Making Remittances Work in Southeast Asia By Theresa W. Devasahayam in http://www. iseas. edu. sg/documents/publication/ISEAS%20Perspective_09nov12. pdf [ 6 ]. https://www. cia. gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/wfbExt/region_eas. html [ 8 ]. http://www. census. gov. ph/content/2010-census-population-and-housing-reveals-philippine-population-9234-million [ 9 ]. Flieg er, W. 1995. The Philippine population: 1980-90. Paper prepared for Conference on Population, Development and Environment, Program on Population, East- West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. A. [ 10 ]. http://www. nscb. gov. ph/pressreleases/2004/30Jan04_urban. asp [ 11 ]. The Book [ 12 ]. Hugo, G. (1999), Demographic Perspectives on Urban Development in Asia at the Turn of the Century, in: Brotchie, J. , Newton, P. , Hall, P. and Dickey, J. (eds. ), East West Perspective on 21st Century Urban Development, Alder- shot, UK: Ashgate. [ 13 ]. World Bank Statistics [ 14 ]. Nakanishi (1996), Comparative Study of Informal Labour Markets in the Urbanisation Process: The Philippines and Thailand, The Developing Economies, 34(4): 470-96. [ 15 ]. Knight, J. and Song, L. 2002, 2nd ed. ), The Rural-Urban Divide – Eco- nomic Disparities and Interactions in China, Oxford: Oxford University Press. [ 16 ]. World Bank [ 17 ]. World Bank [ 18 ]. Source Needed [ 19 ]. http://www. irinnews. org/Rep ort/89348/PHILIPPINES-Slum-populations-brace-for-storm-season [ 20 ]. according to Marife M. Ballesteros. [ 21 ]. World Bank [ 22 ]. http://www. epdc. org/sites/default/files/documents/Philippines_coreusaid. pdf [ 23 ]. SCB Insight 2010, Looking beyond Bangkok: The urban consumer and urbanization in thailand) by SBS Economic intelligence sector [ 24 ]. ttp://urbantimes. co/2012/08/the-outcomes-of-rapid-urbanization-in-thailand/ [ 25 ]. SCB Insight 2010, Looking beyond Bangkok: The urban consumer and urbanization in thailand) by SBS Economic intelligence sector [ 26 ]. http://www. scb. co. th/eic/doc/en/insight/SCB%20Insight%20Dec%202010%20Eng. pdf [ 27 ]. http://archive. unu. edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu11ee/uu11ee0z. htm [ 28 ]. http://archive. unu. edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu11ee/uu11ee0z. htm [ 29 ]. Economic Development and rural-urban Disparities in Thailand by Prasert Yamklinfung*, Southeast Asian Studies vol 25, no. , page 342 [ 30 ]. http://archive. unu. edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu 11ee/uu11ee0z. htm [ 31 ]. http://www. bbc. co. uk/news/magazine-19716687 [ 32 ]. Rural – Urban mobility in Thailand: A decision-making approach by Theodore D. Fuller, Paul Lightfoot and Peerasit Kamnuansilpa [ 33 ]. Rural – Urban mobility in Thailand: A decision-making approach by Theodore D. Fuller, Paul Lightfoot and Peerasit Kamnuansilpa [ 34 ]. http://econstor. eu/bitstream/10419/48316/1/4_amare. pdf (page 7) [ 35 ]. http://econstor. eu/bitstream/10419/48316/1/4_amare. pdf (Page 17)

Friday, November 8, 2019

Accelerating Growth Between Marketing and Sales With Steli Efti

Accelerating Growth Between Marketing and Sales With Steli Efti Do you enjoy your morning commute? Do you use that time to figure out what you want to accomplish? Goals you want to crush? It can be a peaceful time to think about various projects and who to work with to make things happen. Today, we’re talking to Steli Efti, co-founder and CEO of Close.io, about the intersection of inbound marketing and outbound sales. We discuss where to start, how to work collaboratively, how to grow and scale practices, and HUCA. Some of the highlights of the show include: Starts with customers if you’ve had success with inbound marketing and data to identify ideal/non-ideal customers, that’s the foundation of outbound sales Outbound Strategy: Ask customers for advice on how to sell to them Be vulnerable when doing sales, ask for help, and create an MVP for insights Decision-maker milestones to reach through outbound efforts that can be improved, replicated, and scaled Not all sales reps are created equal; requires consistency and persistence Would I want to buy from this person? Would I want to buy something from this person that I don’t really want to buy? Salesperson Characteristics: Knowledgeable, influencing, trustful, confident, authentic, honest, competitive, and adaptive Depending on your buyers, send emails or make calls to reach them Hang Up and Call Again (HUCA): Philosophy that applies to trying again to get everything you want in life Get outbound sales and inside marketing to work together to understand what they’re trying to accomplish and what insights they’re gathering Links: Close.io Steli Efti’s Blog Steli Efti Keynote Steli Efti’s Email (subject: bundle, and refer to AMP) Send suggested AMP topics If you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes by Steli Efti: â€Å"My entrepreneurial superpower has always been sales and marketing. I’ve always been communicating to drive things forward and to make my businesses succeed.† â€Å"Most of the advice that I give is super obvious stuff, but it’s stuff that people don’t want to do.† â€Å"Just ask a bunch of your customers to give you advice on how to sell to them from an outbound perspective.† â€Å"What separates a great from the good is real consistency and persistency.† If you sound confident and comfortable, it’s going to make me feel like I should stay on the phone and keep listening.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

2 Tricks for Remembering Greater Than and Less Than Signs

2 Tricks for Remembering Greater Than and Less Than Signs SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips What do those little sideways carat symbols mean? They're inequalities! Inequalities can be difficult to get a handle on, especially because the greater than and less than signs look so similar. But these symbols are very useful, because they help us show the relationship between numbers or equations in a way that doesn't just say that they're equal. In this article, we’ll be talking about what inequalities are, how they’re represented, and how to remember which sign means what. Not knowing what the signs mean may make your math homework feel something like this. What Are Greater Than and Less Than Signs For? Inequalities are math problems that don’t resolve with a clear â€Å"equals† answer- instead, they compare two things, demonstrating the relationship between them rather than showing that one is equal to another. Hence the name; â€Å"inequality† means that two things are not equal. We’re all familiar with the equal sign, â€Å"=† at this point in math. But â€Å"† and â€Å"† are not as common, let alone â€Å"≠¥Ã¢â‚¬  and â€Å"≠¤Ã¢â‚¬ . Here’s a chart to cover all the inequality symbols: Symbol Meaning Less than- the number on the left is less than the number on the right; 2 3 Greater than- the number on the left is greater than the number on the right; 3 2 ≠¤ Less than or equal to- the number on the left is less than or equal to the number on the right; 2 or 3 ≠¤ 3 ≠¥ Greater than or equal to- the number on the left is greater than or equal to the number on the right; 2 or 3 ≠¥ 2 ≠  Does not equal- the number on the left does not equal the number on the right; 2 ≠  3 Now we'll finally get to talk about why all these photos are of crocodiles. How to Remember Greater Than and Less Than Signs Though the greater than and less than signs have clear meanings, they can be kind of hard to remember. All of them look similar, with the exception of the â€Å"does not equal† sign. So how can you remember them? Alligator Method One of the best ways to memorize the greater than and less than signs is to imagine them as little alligators (or crocodiles), with the numbers on either side representing a number of fish. The alligator always wants to eat the larger number of fish, so whatever number the mouth is open toward is the larger number. The alligator’s mouth is open toward the 4, so even if we weren’t sure that 4 is a bigger number than 3, the sign would tell us. All inequality signs give us the relationship between the first number and the second, beginning with the first number, so 4 3 translates to â€Å"4 is greater than 3.† This also works the other way around. If you see 5 8, imagine the sign as a little alligator mouth about to chomp down on some fish. The mouth is pointed at the 8, which means that 8 is more than 5. The sign always tells us the relationship between the first number and the second, so 5 8 can be translated to â€Å"5 is less than 8.† When you’re working with inequalities, you can even draw little eyes on the symbols to help you remember which means which. These can be tricky to remember, so don’t be afraid to get a little creative until you really have them memorized! Rotateyour less than sign a little bit and you get an L for "less than!" L Method This method is pretty simple- †less than† starts with a letter L, so the symbol that looks most like an L is the one that means â€Å"less than.† looks more like an L than , so means â€Å"less than.† Because doesn’t look like an L, it can’t be â€Å"less than.† Equal Sign Method Once you’ve mastered the Alligator or L method, the other symbols are easy! â€Å"Greater than or equal to† and â€Å"less than or equal to† are just the applicable symbol with half an equal sign under it. For example, 4 or 3 ≠¥ 1 shows us a greater sign over half an equal sign, meaning that 4 or 3 are greater than or equal to 1. It works the other way, too. 1 ≠¤ 2 or 3 shows us a less than sign over half of an equal sign, so we know it means that 1 is less than or equal to 2 or 3. The â€Å"does not equal† sign is even easier! It’s just an equal sign crossed out. If you see an equal sign crossed out, it means that the equal sign doesn’t apply- thus, 2 ≠  3 means that 2 does not equal 3. Keep these things in mind and you'll look this happy about working with inequalities. Key Tips For Working With Inequalities Inequalities are tricky- we’re used to having a clear and concrete answer for math problems, butinequalities don't always give us that. When you're working with inequalities, keep these things in mind to help ease you through the process. Inequalities are All About Relationships Keep in mind as you’re working on inequalities that they’re typically asking you to solve for a relationship or to identify which symbol is appropriate rather than asking you to solve for a single number. You don’t need to end up with two numbers on either side of an equal sign to be right- the answer just needs to be true. Isolate Your Variables When you’re working with inequalities with variables, it’s important to remember that, in general, you’ll be trying to isolate the variable to one side or the other. Focus on condensing numbers and canceling things out when you can, always with the goal of getting the variable alone on either side of the equation. Negative Numbers Change the Greater Than or Less Than Sign Don’t forget that performing certain actions will flip the sign. When you multiply or divide by a negative number, you need to flip the â€Å"greater than† or â€Å"less than† sign along with it. Don't Multiply or Divide by a Variable- Most of the Time Unless you know for certain that a variable will always be positive or always be negative, don’t multiply or divide an inequality by a variable. What’s Next? Inequalities aren't the only tricky part of math- rational numbers can also be confusing! This guide will help walk you through what a rational number is and what they look like. Ever wondered how many zeroes are in big numbers? How many zeroes are there in a billion? How about a trillion? Need to get some practice in? These 5th-grade math games can help you hone your skills! Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article! Tweet Melissa Brinks About the Author Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Get FREE EXCLUSIVE insider tips on how to ACE THE SAT/ACT. 100% Privacy. No spam ever. hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: '360031', formId: '2167ba30-e68e-4777-b88d-8bf3c84579af', formInstanceId: '2', submitButtonClass: 'btn-red-light btn', target: '#hubspot-container2', redirectUrl: 'http://ww2.prepscholar.com/blog-subscribe-thank-you', css: '.post-bottom .hs-form.stacked label {display:none;} .post-bottom .hs-form.stacked .field div.input {padding-top: 55px; padding-left: 300px;} .post-bottom .hs-input {width: 220px} .post-bottom .btn-primary, .hs-button.primary {margin-top:0px; padding-left:350px} .post-bottom .hs-form-field {margin-bottom:5px}' }); $(function(){ $(".exclusive-tip-form #hubspot-container2 label").hide(); }); function replace_tag(a, b){ $(a).each(function(index) { var thisTD = this; var newElement = $(""); $.each(this.attributes, function(index) { $(newElement).attr(thisTD.attributes[index].name, thisTD.attributes[index].value); }); $(this).after(newElement).remove(); }); } $(function(){ replace_tag($(".posts-by-topic h3"), "h2"); }) Ask a Question BelowHave any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply! Search the Blog Search jQuery(function(){ var $ = jQuery; var url = 'http://google.com/search?q=site:' + location.protocol + '//' + location.hostname + ' '; var $searchModule = $('.hs-search-module.d6b656a5-537b-49e7-8353-18f6cb1e6073'); var $input = $searchModule.find('input'); var $button = $searchModule.find('.hs-button.primary'); if (false) { $input.val(decodeURIComponent(location.pathname.split('/').join(' ').split('.').join(' ').split('-').join(' ').split('_').join(''))); } $button.click(function(){ var newUrl = url + $input.val(); var win = window.open(newUrl, '_blank'); if (win) { //Browser has allowed it to be opened win.focus(); } else { //Browser has blocked it location.href = newUrl; } }); $input.keypress(function(e){ if (e.keyCode !== 13) return; e.preventDefault(); $button.click(); }); }); Improve With Our Famous Guides SATPrep ACTPrep For All Students The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section: Score 800 on SAT Math Score 800 on SAT Reading Score 800 on SAT Writing Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section: Score 600 on SAT Math Score 600 on SAT Reading Score 600 on SAT Writing Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? 15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section: 36 on ACT English 36 on ACT Math 36 on ACT Reading 36 on ACT Science Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section: 24 on ACT English 24 on ACT Math 24 on ACT Reading 24 on ACT Science What ACT target score should you be aiming for? ACT Vocabulary You Must Know ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA How to Write an Amazing College Essay What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For? Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide Should you retake your SAT or ACT? When should you take the SAT or ACT? Michael improved by 370 POINTS! Find Out How Stay Informed Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Looking for Graduate School Test Prep? Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: GRE Online Prep Blog GMAT Online Prep Blog TOEFL Online Prep Blog