Melbourne, Australia Essays - Melbourne, Moomba, Carlton, Victoria

Melbourne, Australia Melbourne, Australia Melbourne, one of the most beautiful city's in the world. I have traveled through the USA, Canada the Bahamas, and still, I find Melbourne is the greatest. In 1981 I was born in a New South Wales mid-coast town of Port Macquarie. I lived there until I was the age of four, and that's when we made the move to Victoria. I grew up in Kew, a suburb of Melbourne, not far from the actual city. Most of my family lived there, and was the main cause for the move. I went to school and met lots of friends. Nearly every night my friends and I would get together and go to the local car park and roller-blade for a few hours before going to 7-11 for a Slurpee. I look back at those days, and see how Melbourne was in the 80's and early 90's. Old buildings and great friendly people. Still, Melbourne has all of this, as well as new developments, such as new multi-million dollar entertainment complex's. Over the past 5 years, Melbourne have brought us the all new Exhibition Building and of course, the Crown Casino. This was a great move for the Kennett government, as it proved to be successful with the un-employment problem. It didn't stop the problem, but it sure did help it. The casino complex is not only for gambling, it is also a great place for teenager's to go the movies or even the special area for arcade games, sort of a side show alley. Crown also contains 2 nightclubs and is host to many international bands. In 1997, the decision was made to start construction of the Docklands stadium, for football and cricket, much bigger then the MCG. Construction is underway and it should be complete in the year 2000. As well as all these new constructions, Melbourne is home to a lot of well known events. The Ford Australian Tennis Open, is one of the biggest with thousands of international visitors annually. Biggest of them all, has got to be the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix. It was only a few years ago that Melbourne got this wonderful event, as it used to be held in the streets of Adelaide. It is now located along the banks of Albert Park Lake. Moomba is an event which every Victorian, cant wait for. Its an annual event, held at the same time as the Grand Prix, and has been biggest festival since around the early 60's. Melbourne comes alive, with the sound and vision of Fireworks, and laser light shows, as well as the international Moomba Masters Water Skiing championships. Melbourne is a very diverse area in cultural aspects. Different areas are dominated by different cultures. If you feel like a trip to China, well China Town in Little Bourke St, in the city, or Richmond, is a place to go to get the feel of that culture. The Italian dominated area would be Lygon St in Carlton, with extremely good restaurants and great hospitality. An approval, recently was given to Grollo (a building company), to build the worlds tallest Building in the heart of Melbourne. This building, "The Grollo Towers" will be 560 meters high with 113 levels, which will take 70 seconds to reach the top in an elevator. The tower will provide views up to as far as 90kms on a clear day. It will also have a 110m light beacon on the top shooting skyward. This building would be 110 meters taller then the current tallest building, which is the "Petronas Towers" in Kuala Lumpur. I personally think this will be a great thing for Melbourne in the future, for tourism. From all of the above, Melbourne is the best city in the world in my eyes, and is developing more and more every single day, to become a better place.

The eNotes Blog Guerrilla Poetry Projects

Guerrilla Poetry Projects T.S. Eliot once observed that genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood.   This is a sentiment that   guerrilla poets embrace.   Guerrilla tactics, whether in war or in art, often rely on hit-and-run assaults, leaving the subjects of their surprise attacks a bit dazed and hopefully more aware. This week, the website  Flavorpill  (by way of booooooom.com)  published a variety of   guerrilla poetry projects that are sneaking poetry into the lives of the largely unsuspecting public.   Here are ten of the best: 1.   Scottish artist  Robert Montgomery  installs subversive poetry on billboards, stripping away the large-scale ads for his black-and-white text. Other poems are set on fire. The anonymous works about modern life offer a moment of reflection, away from the consumerist gaze. 2.   The Itaewon neighbored of Seoul, Korea is littered with colorful dolls. American poet  Andy Knowlton  creates the tiny figures from found materials he collects on the streets. Each doll is outfitted with a bottle that contains a poem. â€Å"I want to surprise people going about their daily routines,† he  told  website Chincha. â€Å"Also, I’ve been writing poetry for several years now and I’m always trying to figure out new ways to get people interested in poetry. These dolls are just another approach to getting the good word out on poetry.† 3.  New York City writer  Audrey Dimola  started the Compass Project in 2012. She stickers her poems around the city, releasing her work into the wild. They’re tiny signposts for eagle-eyed daydreamers. 4.  London-based artist  Anna Garforth  is inspired by guerrilla gardening groups, which is why she transformed excerpts from several Eleanor Stevens poems into mossy wall text. The green words are attached with organic materials. Garforth creates the work with the hopes that the letters will grow and spread across the wall in time.   (Photo credit: Amy Leang) 5.   University of Michigan professor  Emily P. Lawsin, specializing in Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies, has been a spoken word performance poet since 1990. Her passionate guerilla performance on a sidewalk in Detroit’s abandoned Chinatown remembered murdered Chinese-American Vincent Chin.   (Photo credit: Max Nesterak)   6.   HOOT  publishes flash fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and small press book reviews, never exceeding 150 words. The lit mag is printed on a postcard, with accompanying art, but it’s also available online. Miniature prose pops up unexpectedly from time to time. 7.   The  Guerilla Poetics Project  consists of  short poems that are letterpress printed via antique press on broadsides and then smuggled into books around the world. Unsuspecting readers can register their found poems on the GPP  website. 8.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"I love the way that language can be an object, and the way that a small, enigmatic fragment can somehow invoke something much larger in the mind,† Anthony Discenza  said  of his guerrilla street sign project. â€Å"Alternatively, I might describe them as a conflation of elevated modes of speech with more prosaic or banal forms - the Gothic novel mixed with the  People  magazine headline.† 9.   During New Zealand’s Nelson Arts Festival in 2012, artist and designer  Klaasz Breukel  - in an orange jumpsuit - drove around in a van, projecting animated poems on walls. 10.   Online video literary magazine  GuerrillaReads  boasts an assortment of  clips  featuring poets reading their works out in the world, away from the bookstores.

Understanding Ecological Succession

Understanding Ecological Succession Ecological succession is the progressive change, in an ecosystem, of species composition over time. With the change in species composition comes a series of modifications in community structure and function. A classic example of succession involves the series of changes observed in an abandoned field in what is normally a forested area. Once the field is no longer grazed or mowed, the seeds of shrubs and trees will sprout and rapidly start growing. Before long, shrubs and tree saplings will be the dominant vegetation form. The tree species will then grow to the point of shading out the shrubs, eventually forming a complete canopy. The species composition in that young forest will continue to turn over until it is dominated by a stable, self-maintaining group of species called a climax community. Primary vs. Secondary Succession Ecological succession where there was no vegetation prior is called primary succession. We can observe primary succession on bulldozed sites, after an intense fire, or following a volcanic eruption, for example. The first plant species to show up have the ability to very quickly colonize and grow in these bare areas. Depending on the region, these pioneer species can be grasses, broadleaf plantain, Queen Anne’s lace, or trees like aspen, alder, or black locust. The pioneers set up the stage for the next phase of succession, improving soil chemistry and adding organic matter which provides nutrients, better soil structure, and greater water-holding capacity. Secondary succession occurs when a new set of organisms appears where there was an ecological set-back (for example a clear-cut logging operation) but where a cover of living plants was left behind. The abandoned agricultural field described above is a perfect example of secondary succession. Common plants during this stage are raspberries, asters, goldenrods, cherry trees, and paper birch. Climax Communities and Disturbance The last stage of succession is the climax community. In a forest, climax species are those that can grow in the shade of taller  trees – hence the name shade-tolerant species. The composition of climax communities varies geographically. In parts of the eastern United States, a climax forest will be made of sugar maples, eastern hemlock, and American beech. In Washington State’s Olympic National Park, the climax community may be dominated by western hemlock, Pacific silver fir, and western redcedar. A common misconception is that climax communities are permanent and frozen in time. In reality, the oldest trees eventually die and are replaced by other trees waiting under the canopy. This makes climax canopy part of a dynamic equilibrium, always changing but overall looking the same. Significant changes will occasionally be brought about by disturbances. Disturbances can be wind damage from a hurricane, a wildfire, an insect attack, or even logging. The type, size, and frequency of disturbances vary by region – some coastal, wet locations experience fires on average once every few thousand years, while eastern boreal forests may be subject to spruce budworm kills every few decades. These disturbances knock back the community into an earlier successional stage, restarting the process of ecological succession. The Value of Late Successional Habitat The dark shade and tall canopies of climax forests provide shelter for a number of specialized birds, mammals, and other organisms. The cerulean warbler, wood thrush, and red-cockaded woodpecker  are dwellers of old forests. The threatened spotted owl and Humboldt fisher both require large stands of late successional redwood and Douglas-fir forests. Many small flowering plants and ferns rely on the shady forest floor beneath old trees. The Value of Early Successional Habitat There is also considerable value in early successional habitat. These shrubland and young forests rely on recurring disturbances that set succession back. Unfortunately, in many places, these disturbances often turn forests into housing developments and other land uses that short-cut the ecological succession process. As a result, shrublands and young forests can become quite rare on the landscape. Many birds rely on early successional habitats, including the brown thrasher, golden-winged warbler, and prairie warbler. There are also mammals that need shrubby habitat, perhaps most notably the New England cottontail.

Mother Teresa, my hero Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mother Teresa, my hero - Essay Example She is my hero due to her sincere dedication to devote her life to help the poor in Calcutta. As a child, she never knew she would be a nun, but she was always fascinated with the works of missionaries. As Gutzman, Joan, a biographer who wrote about her life said, Mother Teresa is shy and quiet, a strong and independent lady. She is portrayed as someone â€Å"who is always on her own person, startlingly independent, obedient, yet challenging some preconceived notions and expectations. Her own life story includes many illustrations of her willingness to listen to and follow her own conscience, even when it seemed to contradict what was expected† (Gutzman, Joan). Mother Teresa could be regarded as a model and a moral leader because she lived a life of excellence; she motivated a lot of girls to enter into her congregation, followed her vocation, and a lot of people to support her mission. She became a model to the poor as she chose to serve the poorest of the poor. Mother Teresa came from a well to do family but thru her vocation she preferred to live in simplicity and poverty. She was a nurse and a teacher who never grew tired of serving the poor. She thought of teaching the poor children from scratches. She used a stick and wrote letters from the dirt to teach children how to read.

Derivatives as a way of mitigating financial risk Literature review

Derivatives as a way of mitigating financial risk - Literature review Example Certain creditor protection rules are extended to these derivatives and this helps to increase their security and reduce financial risks. The other side is that with excessive credit protection norms, capital markets will under price the credit risks. This means that risks that should be valued at say 100 Pounds will be considered to be worth only 80 Pounds. This increases systemic risks and helps to propagate credit booms. The reason is that the lending firm considers a risk of 80 Pounds worthwhile while extending loans whereas if the assets had a risk of 100 Pounds, the lending firm would reduce the amount lent (Chance and Brooks, 2010). The paper will examine how derivatives based on standard assets and bonds can be used as a method of mitigating risk. 1.1. OTC and ETD and risk management Two main types of derivates are available and these are over the counter derivatives – OTC’ and ‘exchange traded derivative contracts’ - ETD. OTC instruments are privat ely traded between two parties and the exchange is not involved. Instruments traded included forward rate agreements, exotic options, swaps and other types. The main constituents and partners in the OTC markets are banks, financial institutions and hedge funds. The market is estimated to be worth 708 trillion USD and most of it occurs in private without any public listing and declaration. Out of this amount, 67% is for interest rate contracts, 9% are foreign exchange contacts while credit default risk make up 8% and ht rest is made up of equity contracts, commodity contracts and others. Since there is no external counterparty that acts as a central agency and mandates the exchange of contracts some, element of risks can exist. These risks can occur if either of the party cannot or will not honour its commitments to pay the contracted amount. This possibility is rare since banks and financial institutions are expected to be stable. Hence, derivatives are used to make the appropriate profits in ITC markets (BIS, 2011). In the case of exchange trade derivatives, these instruments traded through the derivatives exchange serve as an intermediary for the transactions. The exchange takes a certain percentage from both parties as the initial margin. The combined revenue of the world's derivatives exchanges was about 344 trillion USD. Examples of instruments that form ETD are futures contracts, interest rate and index products, convertible bonds, and warrants. These instruments can be traded only through special derivatives exchanges such as KOSPI Index Futures & Options, Eurex, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, New York Mercantile Exchange and others. These instruments have certain guaranteed prices on the maturity value and the guarantee is given by the derivatives exchange that has already taken a margin from both parties. This helps to manage risks. Due to low risks, returns obtained are also less and may range in the 3 to 6% range (Bartram, et all, 2011). The derivativ es market and risks are different from the equity market where individuals can take up stock trading on their risk. The firm whose stocks are traded in the stock market will not give any assurance about the price stability or that a certain amount of dividend is payable. The stock market exchange also does not regulate the transactions between the parties. Therefore, if the price falls, the risk is borne by the party. In effect, derivatives markets transfer the risk from parties that aver risk

An Example of Successful Change Essay Example for Free

An Example of Successful Change Essay Introduction Why is Wal-Mart so Successful? Is it Good Strategy or Good Strategy Implementation? In 1962, when Sam Walton opened the first Wal-Mart store in Rogers, Arkansas, no one could have ever predicted the enormous success this small-town merchant would have. Sam Waltons talent for discount retailing not only made Wal-Mart the worlds largest retailer, but also the worlds number one retailer in sales. Sam Walton has made certain changes that help Wal-Mart to achieve its success today. His change techniques involve changing people, technology, and product. Indeed, Wal-Mart was named Retailer of the Decade by Discount Store News in 1989, and on several occasions has been included in Fortunes list of the 10 most admired corporations. Changing People Wal-Mart is successful not only because it makes sound strategic management decisions, but also for its innovative implementation of those strategic decisions. In order to become a superstore, Wal-Mart decided to change the skill level of its workforce. Waltons greatest accomplishment was his ability to empower, enrich, and train his employees. He believed in listening to employees and challenging them to come up with ideas and suggestions to make the company better. At each of the Wal-Mart stores, signs are displayed which read, Our People Make the Difference. Associates regularly make suggestions for cutting costs through their Yes We Can Sam program. The sum of the savings generated by the associates actually paid for the construction of a new store in Texas. One of Wal-Marts goals was to provide its employees with the appropriate tools to do their jobs efficiently. The technology was not used as a means of replacing existing employees, but to provide them with a means to succeed in the retail market (Thompson and Strickland 93). Changing Product Wal-Mart stores operate according to their Everyday Low Price philosophy. They provide customers access to quality goods, to make these goods available when and where customers want them, to develop a cost structure that enables competitive pricing, and to build and maintain a reputation for absolute trustworthiness (Evan, Shulman, and Stalk, 55). Through Sam Waltons Buy America policy, Wal-Mart encourages its buyers and merchandise managers to stock stores with American-made products. In a 1993 annual report management stated the program demonstrates a long-standing Wal-Mart commitment to our customers that we will buy American-made products whenever we can if those products deliver the same quality and affordability as their foreign-made counterparts (Thompson Strickland 68). With a variety of product and low cost, Wal-Mart has attracted more consumers. Changing Technology Wal-Mart has invested heavily in its unique cross-docking inventory system. Cross docking has enabled Wal-Mart to achieve economies of scale which reduces its costs of sales. With this system, goods are continuously delivered to stores within 48 hours and often without having to inventory them. Lower prices also eliminate the expense of frequent sales promotions and sales are more predictable. Cross docking gives the individual managers more control at the store level. A company owned transportation system also assists Wal-Mart in shipping goods from warehouse to store in less than 48 hours. This allows Wal-Mart to replenish the shelves 4 times faster than its competition. Wal-Mart owns the largest and most sophisticated computer system in the private sector. It uses a massively parallel processor computer system to track stock and movement which keeps it abreast of fast changes in the market (Daugherty 24). Information related to sales and inventory is disseminated via its advanced satellite communications system. Conclusion Sam Walton, a leader with an innovative vision, started his own company and made it into the leader in discount retailing that it is today. Through his savvy, and sometimes unusual, business practices, he and his associates led the company forward for thirty years. Today the company is still growing steadily. Wal-Mart executives continue to rely on many of the traditional goals and philosophies that Sams legacy left behind, while simultaneously keeping one step ahead of the ever-changing technology and methods of todays fast-paced business environment. The future also looks bright for Wal-Mart, especially if it is able to continue its customer-driven culture, it should remain a retail industry leader well into the next century.

Winter Oak :: essays research papers

1.a) Our gut reaction to Winter Oak is that it had a lot of meaning, but was dull and tedious. Some words and phrases we used to relate our thoughts on the story are as follows: - Boring. - Monotonous. - No real conflict. - No feeling. - No real plot. - Didn’t invoke a strong reaction. - There was a definite lesson to be learned. 1.b) Yuri Nagibin used different devices to evoke various reactions in us, some of these were: The dialogue; it was concise yet boring but realistic for example, when Anna Vasilyevna was trying to teach the children their nouns. "A noun is a part of speech that denotes an object. In grammar an†¦" (Nagibin 59). Much of this dialogue is unnecessary; we the reader understands what goes on in the classroom, and two pages are not needed to establish nouns. Also, through dialogue Anna proved to be a snob. "’Good morning Anna Vasilyevna!’ Frolov raised his fur hat above his solid, close-cropped head. ‘what are you doing! Put it back on it’s freezing!’ Frolov probably wanted to pull his fur over his eyes himself†¦" (Nagibin 58). Anna feels as though she is high and mighty, and will not even acknowledge Frolov’s attempt of respect towards her. There were very powerful images present in the forest, such as the gigantic winter oak. The image of Savushkin standing in front of the Winter Oak, in utter awe of its splendo r and Anna Vasilyevna realizing the beauty of the winter oak appeals to the sight, because it is easy to picture in our minds. stood an oak as enormous and magnificent as a cathedral. The trees seemed to part respectfully to allow their older companion to spread out in full force. Its lower branches stretched out in a tent over the clearing. The snow had filled the deep crevices of the bark, and the trunk, which was so wide that it would have taken three men to get their arms around it, looked as if it were shot through with silver thread. It had hardly shed any of its foliage which had dried up during the fall; the oak was covered with snow-capped leaves to the very top. (Nagibin 65) We experienced an unexpected plot twist when the stern Anna Vasilyevna went into the forest, and understood Savushkin’s point of view about the winter oak, and why he was late everyday. "’My God!’ Anna Vasilyevna thought painfully.

Bankers Perception on Islamic Banking

Shari’a supervision plays an essential role in the governance of IFIs. It has different forms at macro and micro levels. (Chris Pierce, 1988) Deposits are strictly not considered as loans in the Islamic sense. If it is in the form of money, then he has an obligation to pay Zakat out of it. If these deposits are indeed loans, then it is the banks which should pay zakat on them. In reality,the banks make the depositors pay the zakat , which is injustice. (Alexandra R, Hardie & M. Rabooy, 1991) M. Norain, Ariffin, & M Adnan explained the perceptions and awareness among bankers in Islamic banks is essential to enhance corporate social responsibility. M. Norain, Ariffin, & M Adnan explained that to fulfill the Islamic needs of the society, proper policies have been developed so that there will be no recurring problems in the future relating to the banking system and investment. M. Norain, Ariffin, & M Adnan suggested that Islamic organizations, Islamic banks are accountable to Alla h and to the communities in which they operate and have a duty to be transparent in all their activities. Ethical investment now recently become an issue in the West, and it is very important in the Islamic world and Islamic Banks must work on these principles which fulfill the needs and commitment to the bankers. (Alexandra R. Hardie and M. Rabooy 1991) a serious question arises that whether Islamic Banks are keeping to the rules about partnerships. In this context some scholars believe that the working partner in mudaraba should not mix the capital of the various suppliers of funds; if this is done then the problem is very serious for the Banks, (Alexandra R. Hardie and M. Rabooy, 1991) Malaysian banks experience economies and annual productivity change on a big scale. The latter productivity estimates indicate that full-fledged Islamic banks have overcome some of these cost disadvantages with passage of time. Mariani Abdul-Majida, David S. Saalb,* and Giuliana Battistic (2010) The separation of Islamic from conventional banking services may allow managers to better focus on improving the cost efficiency of Islamic banking where as in the short run, the new Islamic banks will suffer manyr transitional problems. Mariani Abdul-Majida, David S. Saalb,* and Giuliana Battistic (2010) M. Khan & A. Mirakhor (1991) describes economic system which is based on Islamic principles is permanently have the prohibition on the payment and receipt of interest. This restriction makes Islamic banks different from financial institutions in many ways. Islamic banking system in Pakistan was adopted in such a manner to leave the intermediation role of the banking system undisturbed. Where as the banking system in Iran is used as an instrument for achieving the goals and objectives of the Islamic revolution. M. Khan and A. Mirakhor, 1991) Islamic Law prohibits charging interest. financial instruments used by Islamic banks are not based on profit-and-loss sharing (equity) but, debt like instruments are a rational response by Islamic banks to their contracting environments and debt becomes the dominant instrument. (K. Aggarwal & Yousaf, 2000) Egypt's Islamic banks, while observing certain Islamic precepts in their operations, in order to improve their status, these banks fulfils their social mission by enabling their customers according to Islamic needs. Elizabeth Mayer, 1985) Use of existing Islamic financial instruments such as zero coupons bonds, paper for trade finance and unitised securities. There is a need to encourage secondary market development so that instruments can be traded effectively. (Rodney Wilson, 1991) The scope for development of Islamic financial products is vast enough, such products can play a major role not only facilitating the muslim countries but widely promoting the economic advancement. (Ro dney Wilson, 1991)

Marysville General Hospital

As the CFO of Marysville General Hospital, I realize we have a serious accounts receivable problem here. It has gotten out of control, and we are going to get it back in control. All it takes is a little effort from everyone to get us back on here. With the process improvement plan I am proposing, I will need the assistance and cooperation of the medical staff, the clinical departments, the business office, health information management, and all other departments.To propose my plan of improving the current situation of the hospital, I will need to get a current report on all past, current and future collection data from the finance department to determine how much we are actually losing at this point. I need to collect the admissions and registration information from the business office. I also need electronic medical records information from health information management. I need a current report on charge captures from the nursing staff.I need a current report on the status of claim s processing, payment posting, and secondary billing/patient follow-up. For this plan to be a success we will need complete cooperation from everyone. We need to get some experienced personnel or train our current personnel to do the admissions more accurately. The nursing staff should not have to check vitals and register patients also. Patient registration should be done before the patient even sees the nurse unless it’s a life or death situation.Clear instructions will be given to these staff members to ensure that we have all the current contact and billing information and legible copies of all documents and claims are processed appropriately. With verification of all information, we should see a more smooth billing process and the correct plan codes being applied to the various accounts. The implementation of the electronic medical records has been very helpful to all departments because all patient information is in the system and accessible if needed.However, we have t o ensure that our physicians are charting their patient’s information in a timely manner and giving detailed information about diagnosis and plan of care. If the physicians are not completing their charts on time, we will have to put them on some type of suspension until they are up to date on their charts. We cannot let them continuously see patients and not complete their charts because they would have too many to try to catch with. Therefore, we should have time period deadline for all patients’ charts. If the physicians are not being  compliant, they will go into suspension.We understand they have a busy schedule, but if we have to constantly remind them that there are charts that need to be completed, we will do that. We will designate a couple of staff members to stay on top of the physicians if we deem it necessary. To help with charge captures, we will invest in the â€Å"Clean Claims Module† from MedXL to ensure that all the claims requirements for th e various insurance companies are current and up-to-date. It will also ensure that we are notified of any changes that may occur.I would much prefer if we invest in this program to ensure clean claims processing to ensure we receive payments for services provided in a timely manner. Every little bit helps. As far as self—pay patients, we should look into some type of discount plan that may assist these patients with the cost of their services. If we can offer some kind of discount or financial assistance to our patients, it may prevent us from having to send so many of their accounts to the collection agencies where we are losing monies because of the fee the collection agencies charge to collect on our behalf.We can also remind patients about their bills when they come in. There should be a notification that pops up when we go into a patients account that lets us know they have an outstanding balance. With the cooperation of all departments and staff members, we can bring Ma rysville General Hospital back to previous accounts receivables standings. Teamwork is required and not optional. Let’s keep our community happy.

How to Earn Money as a Freelance Writer

How to Earn Money as a Freelance Writer Cormac McCarthy, American novelist, Pulitzer Prize winner and playwright, once said, I never had any doubts about my abilities. I knew I could write. I just had to figure out how to eat while doing this.This monumental task- figuring out how to do what you love (write) and pay the bills while doing it- is one that every writer faces, regardless of ability. However, before making the decision to quit your day job and launch out into the uncharted, and often stormy, waters of freelance writing, there are a few things you should know. Most importantly, you should know that the success you find in the field of freelance writing will be due to a mix of luck, fortitude and networking, and it will take a healthy dose of all three to thrive financially.Freelance websitesIn the Information Age, when everything has turned global, websites that offer freelancers the opportunity to create profiles and bid on jobs can be one of your best resources to earn steady money as a freelance writer. Websi tes like Freelancer.com and Guru.com are some of the most commonly used online portals for bidding on freelance writing jobs of all types- from ghostwriting to copywriting to everything in between. Both of these sites offer limited bid submission for proposals without having to pay a monthly fee; however, if you want to bid on a lot of proposals to increase your chances of getting the work, you will need to pay a small monthly fee to do so. The more proposals you bid on, the more money you will be able to make; so for some writers, this additional fee is worth it.The best thing about websites like these is that the site administrators will ensure that you indeed get paid. They do this through setting up an escrow account in which the client requesting the work has to fund an account with the amount that is owed to you. Once you complete the job to the satisfaction of the client, the website will then release the funds to you. However, both Guru.com and Freelancer.com take a small pe rcentage of the payment as their fee for facilitating the transaction.The current going rate for most projects on freelance websites is approximately .01 - .02 per word. You will be hard-pressed to find clients who are willing to pay more, especially since the sites are international, meaning that there are thousands of international freelancers available through them who are willing to write for that amount if you arent. While there are certainly jobs posted that do offer more money, signing up with the expectation of this amount of payment is your best bet in entering the field with a realistic understanding of what you can make as a freelance writer through these types of websites.While freelance websites can offer you unlimited amounts of freelance writing work, the work itself is often unfulfilling for many writers. Copywriting includes writing online content about different topics- ranging from law for attorney blogs to sales copy for marketing companies. While the work is oft en steady, the writing can become extremely boring and repetitive the longer you do it. In addition, most of the clients you will find on these freelance websites want you to ghostwrite the copy, meaning that your name will not be attached to the content. If you want to just be able to work from home as a writer and make money doing it, these websites are a great option; however, if you want to make a name for yourself as a writer, you might try other avenues, such as writing for a magazine.MagazinesFor most freelance writers, writing for a magazine provides a better opportunity than freelance websites to find success as a freelance writer and build a solid reputation. When you publish an article for a magazine, your name is generally placed in the by-line and you are able to share your accomplishment with your friends and family, as well as use it as part of your published work portfolio to gain even more clients.The best way to break into the world of freelance writing for magazin es is to build a relationship with the editor of that magazine. This can be done in several ways but usually starts by sending a rà ©sumà © and portfolio to him or her, and let the editor know that you are available as a writer for any freelance work that the magazine might have available in the future. If an editor is in need of freelance writers due to not having enough staff writers (which is often the case), he or she is likely to give you an assignment based on this interaction. However, if the editor doesnt immediately give you an assignment, it is up to you to be proactive and begin to look for stories that would catch the attention of the editor and the readership of the magazine.Once you have an idea for a story, go ahead and query the editor with your idea by sending a letter or email with details about the article youd like to write. For an even better chance of getting published in the magazine, write the article before querying. This will not only give the editor a gl impse of your ability but will also help sell your article, if it is written well.Most magazines pay anywhere from $70-$100 for a feature story, so this is a great way to start making decent money as a freelance writer. However, it also requires you to be constantly creative and always observant in order to find the best content to pitch.

American Civil War and Black Political Power

Although the victory of the North resulted in the end of slavery, that was not the stated aim of either President Abraham Lincoln or the industrial argosies that was the dominant social class in the North when the war commenced. The war began only as a result of the decision by most of the slave states to secede from the Union in 1861. Lincoln refused to end slavery, assuring all slave owners who cooperated with the federal government that they would maintain their property. His eventual decision to issue the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation, which decreed the end of legal slavery, was fundamentally a military decision.Without the enlistment of thousands of escaping slaves into the Northern army, the defeat of the Confederate army seemed remote. These newly enlisted Black soldiers, with their incredible resolve, determination and self- sacrifice, turned the tide. It was a case of law following reality: Slaves were deserting or refusing to work on the plantations in growing numbers, and they were demanding the right to join the battle. The military exigencies of the day overcame the white supremacist policy of the Northern army and the federal government, which had refused to abolish slavery until that time.The Emancipation Proclamation had the effect of drawing into the struggle the Black masses-?and it proved decisive. African Americans comprised a social class rooted in the slave system itself, and ultimately determined the outcome of the Civil War. After the proclamation, some 180,000 freed slaves enlisted in the Union Army and became fearless fighters against the army of their former masters. When Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered in 1865, the question of how to reintegrate the Southern states into the Union was sharply posed. This was the basis for the period of Reconstruction.It represented a contain caution of the conflicts of the Civil War, but under new circumstances determining the direction of the life-and-death struggle between the overthrown and the overthrowing classes. Suppressing counterrevolution Like every revolution, the military conflict of the Civil War was followed by a period in which the remnants of the previous order were suppressed, both by political means and by force. The French Revolution, the 191 7 Russian Revolution, the 1959 Cuban Revolution and others all relied upon extraordinary measures to survive and fight off the attempts of the former ruling classes to regain political power. How to suppress these forces had been the subject of debate in the Northern political circles throughout the war. On the one hand were moderates like Lincoln who wanted to incorporate as many elements of the old slave-owning class into a new pro-logion government. On the other hand, Radical Republicans like Thatched Stevens and Charles Sumner favored harsh repression and exclusion of Confederate society from political power. The Radical Republicans were the political driving force of Reconstruction. They were in an objective sense the revolutionary, unwavering and determined wing of the divided capitalist class.Their political base was in Congress, where they held a majority that grew in the years immediately allowing the end of the war. They understood that the freed slaves were the most solid base of support for the Union. African Americans rejoiced at the military defeat of the Confederacy. Across the South, ex-slaves organized meetings and political organizations to take advantage of their new freedom. Social gains of Reconstruction In March 1865, just weeks before Lee?s surrender, the federal government created the Freedmans Bureau.Ledger the military protection of Union troops, Black and white, the Bureau organized a vast education project for former slaves-?a project which laid the foundation for public education sanctioned. It was even authorized to carry out a land redistribution program, although such radical measures were never widely implemented. The decrees following emancipation challenged racist notions and recognized former slaves as human beings. The formerly enslaved and property-less Black masses looked forward to a new beginning free from racist violence and with compensation for everything they had endured. But differences emerged almost immediately over how to reconcile the interests of the freed slaves with the needs of the victorious Northern capitalist class. The tenuous political alliance of the anti-slavery forces during the Civil War soon broke apart. The Radical Republicans understood the strategically important role of African Americans in smashing the former slave-owning class. The moderates, however, sought to rely on a partnership with the old ruling class as opposed to the revolutionary momentum of the Black masses.Johnnys Black Codes President Andrew Johnson, who had assumed the presidency after Lincoln assassination, had postured as a Radical during the war. But he quickly emerged as the leading force of political reaction within the national Republican Party. After the defeat of the Confederacy, Johnson installed new governments in the Southern states made up wholly or primarily of pardoned ex- Confederates. In late 1 865, several of these Johnson-installed state legislatures passed laws known as Black Codes. These laws set up the terms for the newly freed Black population to participate in Reconstruction.They were in many ways precursors to the Jim Crow laws, creating a separate and unequal system for African Americans. The Black Codes varied from state to state, but they had common features. They provided for labor contracts for Black laborers-?often with terms not much different than slavery. They prohibited Blacks from migrating from one state to another unless they possessed papers specifying that he or she was bonded by contract to labor for an employer. They limited African Americans participation in politics with educational or property restrictions. Former slaves were generally described by the laws as servants, while the description used for employers was master. Economically, the main thrust of the Black Codes was to reinstitution the plantation system. For example, Blacks were restricted from choosing where they worked and the type of work they did. In many parts of the South they were forbidden to work in towns and cities. In some areas, skilled Black workers were required to receive a license or certificate in order to get employment in occupations other than in agriculture or domestic work.In the eyes of many, both former slaves and Northerners, the power of the former Slavonic was being restored. Johnnys Presidential Reconstruction was seen as selling out the gains of the Civil War. Further inflaming Radical imminent, in 1866 Johnson vetoed an extension of the Freedmans Bureau and a Civil Rights bill that would extend citizenship to African Americans. Radical Reconstruction and Black political power New elections to the House of Representatives took place in 1866.With the southern states not yet readmitted to the union, Radical Republicans made big gains, winning enough seats to override Johnnys vetoes. The ID-year period beginning in 1867 is what is known as Radical Reconstruction and was a period of the most far-reaching social change seen in Lignite States history. A Civil Rights Act was passed over Johnnys veto in March 1866. The Congress passed the Reconstruction Act, which put the whole former Confederacy under military control and forced the creation of new state governments in accord with voting rights for African Americans.African Americans organized into Union Leagues to exert their new political power. Over 600-?a majority former slaves-?were elected to state office during this period. A wide variety of social programs were introduced: widening public education, funding for health care for the poor in South Carolina, free legal aid for the poor in Alabama. Racist violence But each step forward for the newly emancipated African Americans was met by violent resistance by the former rulers. White Southern politicians colluded to undermine Reconstruction. As early as May 1 866, Gene.Nathan Bedford Forrest rallied a group of ex-Confederate soldiers in Pulaski, Teen. , to form the infamous UK Klux Klan. The Klan spread quickly throughout the Southern states. The Auks primary objective was to crush the new manipulation of African Americans. Knowing that the African American people had the will and numerical advantage to create the South in their own interests, the ASK targeted the families of outspoken Black leaders in twilight-hour raids of their homes. The terrorist organization also attacked progressive Northern whites who were serving the purposes of Reconstruction.Throughout Reconstruction, political debates in Congress or in state legislatures were accompanied by violent massacres committed by organized white racist groups. Such massacres took place in New Orleans in 1866, Memphis, Teen. In 1866, Pulaski, Teen. In 1868, Epilogues, La. In 1868, Camilla, ca. In 1868, Meridian, Miss. N 1870, Tutee, Ala. In 1870, Laurels, S. C. In 1870, New York City in 1870 and again in 1871 and in Collar and Southeast, La. In 1873. The list of these atrocities continues for the duration of Reconstruction, setting the precedent for the lynchings and apartheid terror for African Americans into the 20th century.African Americans defended themselves and the gains of emancipation through mass campaigns and with arms in hand. Regiments of Black soldiers patrolled streets throughout the South. But the weight of the racist whites organizations proved to be too powerful for the African American community o overcome-?especially as support for Reconstruction waned in the North. Racists sought to disarm the Black masses. Throughout the Southern states and neighboring regions, gun control laws were introduced-?but selectively applied only to African Americans, who relied on their guns to defend themselves. At the same time, economic depression in the 1 sass along with corporate corruption scandals led to the emergence of a growing anti-Reconstruction coalition in the federal government. Federal troops were removed in one state after another, each time resulting in the reversal of political and economic gains for African Americans. In 1 877, Republican president-elect Rutherford B. Hayes-?having lost the popular vote in the 1876 elections and with the election outcome uncertain in the electoral college-? agreed to what became known as the Compromise of 1876, or in the Black community as the Great Betrayal of 1876. Hayes and the Republicans agreed to remove all remaining federal troops from the South in exchange for the Republicans retaining the White House. A reign of ASK terror and lynching enveloped the South as the Northern troops were removed. The dictatorship of the Reconstruction period-?with the Old slave owners repressed and the ex-slaves living in a semi- democracy-?was replace d by the reintroduction of the old dictatorship of the Slavonic. The former slave owners could no longer possess human beings as their property, but they reemerged as junior partners of the Northern industrial bourgeoisie. In the southern part of the United States, this dictatorship of the Southern and Northern capitalists continued the legacy of unmatched cruelty and oppression of an entire people. The period known as Reconstruction was officially over. The first real experience of Black political power-?coming after centuries of attempted slave insurrections and resistance-?was ultimately defeated. Capitalist consolidation vs..Black liberation The Civil War that was led by the Northern industrial bourgeoisie, uprooting the slave-owning class in the South, opened the door for the exploited Black masses to organize and make real social gains. During the period of Radical Reconstruction, the interests of this oppressed class dovetailed with the Northern capitalists short-term interests in crushing their former rivals. This was despite the fact that the African American masses class interests were hostile to both Northern capital and Southern chattel slavery. The most important task for the U. S. Fatalist class was increased centralization and consolidation. It was in the midst of the genocidal campaign against the Native peoples in the west. Life-and-death battles with the newly emerging industrial working class were taking place in railroads, mines and factories across the country. The capitalists were within 20 years of joining the worldwide race for colonial plunder. The industrial capitalists made peace with the defeated Slavonic at the cost of many concessions-?the easiest for them being the aspirations of the exploited African American working classes.Although subjected to renewed and constant terrorism from the forces of white supremacy, who had all the institutional threads to political power in the form of control over local and state police forces, the freedom movement of the African American community could not be extinguished. Generation after generation found new methods of struggle. Between the mid-sass and the 1 9705, this freedom struggle culminated in he emergence of the broadest and most militant social movement in the history of the United States.It was this movement that would eventually force the U. S. Government to formally outlaw the apartheid system that replaced the Reconstruction era following its overthrow in 1877. The passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1 965 Voting Rights Act restored the legal rights that had been violently suppressed 90 years earlier. The democratic aspirations of African Americans were betrayed by the capitalist class precisely because the interests of the bourgeoisie as an exploiting class could not be reconciled with the social interests of the exploited.

Romance Movies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Romance Movies - Essay Example Characteristically romance movies usually have a theme of progression of a sensual and mostly sexual relationship that enhances a character growth mostly between the main actor and actress. Sleepless in Seattle is a perfect example. The movie revolves around Sam Baldwin who has just lost his wife to cancer, Sam's son Jonah thinks that his father needs another wife in order to get back on track, Jonah goes ahead and calls a radio station and he convinces his father to go on air too. The call is heard by6 many women on air including a journalist from Baltimore (Annie reed), well the rest is history. Other top rated romance movies include titanic (1997), pretty woman (1990), love story (1970), city of angels (1998) among others. Movies not only romantic movies are a nice mode of passing time as they also reduce incidences of idleness that is a major reason for drug abuse. In Addition, movies are a popular way of relaxing with friends and catching up on good times. They also assist their viewers to be updated on the current dating catchwords. Romance movies are good to watch any time. They provide viewers with an enticing time as they incorporate the themes of love and romance. These movies usually have a great impact on viewers since at the end of the day many adults as well as kids learn a lot from them. Relationship building: romance movies have both a positive and negative impact on viewer's re