School Funding - 1318 Words

Running head: FAIR FUNDING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS School Funding Royal Hines LeTourneau University School Finance, Section A November 6, 2010 Abstract School finance is a major issue throughout the United States. The distribution of school funds is completed using different methods throughout. The correct process must be selected to accommodate wealthy and poor districts. Local school districts are affected by the distribution of funds based on the value of the property in the district. Concerned citizens can be prepared for school district changes in revenue by staying informed of what is occurring in their community. State Distributions Distribution of educational funds to school districts in the state of†¦show more content†¦(Brimley 2008) However, to equalize funds and maximize cost quality relationships grants and incentives are good places to start. School districts have to find ways to hire knowledgeable and committed teachers. One way to draw the knowledgeable teacher is to offer stipends for teacher shortage areas and sign on bonuses. Districts must continue to offer some type of incentives to maintain good teachers. Teacher tenure is another great incentive but can sometimes cause good teachers to become too laidback. Tenure grants educators â€Å"a right, term, or mode of holding or occupying something of value for a period of time.† (Tenure) Basically, tenure in the education realm grants what some would call stability or even security. Local Area Changes School districts experience changes in educations on a regular basis. Some of these changes occur as a result of local, state, and/or federal issues. One way to prepare for local changes that are related to revenue and expenditures is to stay informed. Attending school board, PTA, and city council meetings is a good way to stay informed on what is occurring in your local area. The problem of financing education once, considered the responsibility of only a few specialist with vested interests in the schools—boards of education, school administrators, state departments of education, and state legislatures—developed into a priority item for virtually all citizens. (Brimley 2008) AllShow MoreRelatedSchool Funding Essay792 Words   |  4 PagesFund Allocation Paper School Finance Iowa is very unique when it comes to school finance. We use the single count date for the purpose of funding the state’s school districts. This is a count of the number of students in attendance on October 1st. This is when the federal government requires a count of the number of students eligible for the free and reduced price lunch program for purposes of Title I funding. An advantage to using the single countRead MoreEducational Funding For School Schools Essay1363 Words   |  6 Pagesrivalry, school tradition or even that favorite math class. It is simply about business and survival. Education has transitioned from the days of text books and chalkboards to e-learning and energy cuts. The change in the mind-set of administrators and school boards from expanding schools to schools surviving for the next school year is the result of the changes in Indiana educational funding. Micro- analyzing budgets, student counts, capital project funds, referendums, and worry about school vouchersRead MoreSchool Funding For Public Schools Essay971 Words   |  4 Pagesfortunate children born close to a well-funded school district. The schools that are academically acceptable are schools that have more money than the schools that are not. One might conclude that because of this, schools that are not academically acceptable are failing due to the fact that they do not have the right resources necessary to pass end of the year tests. There are numerous reasons put forth from researchers who want to look into why our public schools are failing. In my opinion, the singleRead MoreSchool Funding For High School901 Words   |  4 PagesLeaving middle school can be very exciting for most of the young adults as they turn over their life into high school. High school can be a very long path, with great memories, and great experiences. But not everyone goes through the same thing everyone expects too. A big issue that is according to now in new generations of young tee ns in high school is teens dropping out of school. Many teens take the decisions of not continuing in going on with high school because they are around bad influencesRead MoreSchool Funding Should Not Be Cut993 Words   |  4 PagesI believe that education is essential to America’s future generations and how well we can compete with the rest of the world in diverse fields, therefore school funding should not be cut. The budget for the Department of Education has been reduced and cut in many ways. Some solutions the government thought they had found, such as the No Child Left Behind Act, turned out to increase the budget, rather than reduce it. The cutting of teachers’ unions and reduction of class sizes have also been suggestedRead MorePulic School Funding2071 Words   |  9 PagesLow Funding Equals Low Success Should a childs wealth determine whether or not he or she can get a quality education? Funding for public schools is an enormous issue that affects many people. A major issue is unequal funding throughout the country. There are various reasons for these differences, from the governmental level to the lack of public support. There is a need to re-work the current formula used by states to determine how school funds are disbursed and also to increase public supportRead MoreEducation Funding For School Districts905 Words   |  4 PagesHow Does the Child’s School District Wealth Affect a Child’s Education? Educational funding for school districts is an ongoing war. A war that will be fought till equality is achieved. A school district’s wealth is affected by a number of reasons such as its property wealth, the race of the people who live there and their socio-economic status. Some districts are wealthier than others. Wealthy districts get more funding than poor districts because they have more property wealth and people with highRead MorePublic School Funding For Public Schools1217 Words   |  5 Pagesthat students do better in well-funded schools and that public education should provide a level playing field for children. Nearly half of the funding for public schools in the United States, however, is provided through local taxes, generating large differences in funding between wealthy and impoverished communities (National Center for Education Statistics, 2000a). Efforts to reduce these disparities have provoked controversy and resistance. Public school funding the United St ates comes from federalRead MoreIncrease Funding for California Schools740 Words   |  3 PagesIncrease Funding for California Schools Jode Williamson Comm/215 July 28, 2010 Samuel Trident â€Å"California has cut $18 billion, one-third of state school funding, from money for kindergarten through high school over the past three years.† USA Today (Welch, 2011). Budget cuts to the California Public School System, which is the underlying factor in the deterioration of the quality of education, has had a negative impact on every facet of society. From students to teachers to employers, allRead MoreSchool Funding Inequality And School Performance1853 Words   |  8 Pagesdiverse and contradictory views on school funding inequalities and school performance. Various research and reports have shown in great detail beyond this paper’s scope that inequalities in school funding does cause different outcomes for school children (Jackson, Johnson, Persico, (2015. Unequal funding leads to unequal education: from the start, schools have different resources and means to educate our children (Kozol, (1991). Other reports suggest that different funding will lead to dif ferent social

Charging Sales Tax on Internet Purchases Free Essays

Charging Sales Tax on Internet Purchases Internet purchases should not have sales tax because internet shopping is supposed to be convenient for the consumer. After doing some research online I came to an article called the Incidental Economist. After reading I too had to agree that your average home eBay seller and other individual small business whose profit is less than 10,000 dollars a year should not have to do the states job of pursuing a sales tax. We will write a custom essay sample on Charging Sales Tax on Internet Purchases or any similar topic only for you Order Now Was not the sales tax already paid when the Reseller first bought the product? I feel it should be his or her own profit if they are selling things that once belonged to them or in order for the seller to acquire the product in the first place it had to be bought. I feel that this is another way for the state to capitalize on a double taxing loophole. On the other hand, there is a down-side to this. With technology evolving, more consumers are turning to the internet for the ease of shopping, bill paying, and other amenities. Imposing a sales tax could improve the economy of a state by using the money from the tax to mend roads, fund schools, and implement programs in the community. The state should be responsible for making sure that sales tax is enforced not the small business seller. The state should have some program that monitors transactions on the web to enforce such a law that would make paying sales tax hard to avoid. I also feel that this sales tax should be imposed on large retailers only. Your average homeowner who wants to get rid of a few things by selling them online should not be responsible for charging sales tax. To me this is very similar to charging sales tax at a yard sale; it just is not going to happen. Works Cited Stim, Richard. Sales Tax on the Internet – Free Legal Information – Nolo. 2010. 2010 http://www. nolo. com/legal-encyclopedia/article-29919. html. The Incidental Economist. The â€Å"Amazon Law†: Sales Tax on Internet Purchases. October 2009. October 2010 http://theincidentaleconomist. com/wordpress/the-amazon-law-sales-tax-on-internet-purchases/. How to cite Charging Sales Tax on Internet Purchases, Papers

Romeo Montague Puns free essay sample

This pun is said by Romeo, while they are on the way to Capulet’s house, for the grand party. This pun shows how depressive Romeo is about the issue with Rosaline. Here Romeo asks for a torch to light his path, but he also uses the word light with its opposite heavy. I believe when he says heavy, he means his sorrow in his heart, ironic is when he says I will bear the light. I think it would be difficult for him to â€Å"bear the light† with such â€Å"sadness† in his heart. â€Å"ROMEO: ‘I dreamt a dream tonight. MERCUTIO: And so did I. ROMEO: Well, what was yours? MERCUTIO: That dreamers often lie. ROMEO: In bed asleep while they do dream things true. † (Act 1, Scene 4, 49-52) This is my favorite pun from Romeo amp; Juliet. This pun is said by both Romeo and Mercutio, while they are on the way to Capulet’s house for the party. We will write a custom essay sample on Romeo Montague Puns or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The back-story to this pun is where Mercutio says that dreamers lie (they are dishonest). Romeo retorts with the continuation of the pun, and says yes in bed asleep while they dream the truth. The pun shows us how light-hearted and carefree Mercutio is, and also how bold Romeo can be. This is a very comedic and smart play on words, usual expectation from Shakespeare. â€Å"Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man. † (Act 3, Scene 1, 65-66) This pun is said by Mercutio. This scene takes place after Tybalt stabs Mercutio, and Mercutio is about to die. This line is partial pun and partial foreshadowing. Mercutio was always the joking type, but the one time where he is serious and is on the brink of death. Everyone thinks he is just joking as usual.

The Nature of the Distinct Contributions Made by Government, Media Owners, and Journalists to Canadas Media Environment

Introduction The government, media owners and journalists play a very vital role in ensuring smooth running and existence of a specific environment in the media industry. Each of them plays specific roles that go hand in hand for the proper coordination of the industry.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on The Nature of the Distinct Contributions Made by Government, Media Owners, and Journalists to Canada’s Media Environment specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This paper will look into each stakeholder roles played by each of the three in the creation of the media environment that is found in Canada today. First and foremost I will start with the introduction of cultural industries and explain the different techniques that the government Canada tends to employ in justifying their policy and instruments of regulation. The cultural media industries comprise music recording, book publishing, and cinema, publishi ng news paper and occasionally publishing magazines. The cultural industries also comprise of the new media. New media are inclusive of blog, websites, production of audio visual and exchange. The policies for the cultural industries in Canada started back in early 1950s together with the Massey Commission report. The development of policies started in 1970s. The cultural policies had four rationales identified as development of culture, service to the public, democratic participation, and market failure. The specific rationales of the industry were among the reasons that attracted government support. The government invested and offered significant incentives for televising local (Canadian) productions video and film. The regulation of the Canadian content has been an effective policy instrument in sound recording. Cultural, structural and industrial support measures have instituted a vibrant sector for publishing books. Control of ownership through Income Tax Act together with prov isions to split-run editions in publication of magazines has remained effective until today. The main concerns for the cultural industries are ownership and control of the system o distribution.Advertising Looking for term paper on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is well documented that movie theatres exclusively show U.S. movies in the film industry. U.S. materials dominate in magazine racks, record stores and book stores. Dominance by Canada is only evident with respect to newspapers. This has been possible due to the ownership provisions in Canada which are found in section 19 of the Income Tax Act. This section became ineffective in 1999, in the aftermath of Bill C-55. Cultural industries have also had a problem when it comes to financing. Therefore, subsidy programs sponsored by the government are needed in almost every field. Day after another, cultural industries in Canada is increasingly being accepted within and outside Canada. The big debate on whether government funds should assist cultural industries, and on what ground appears to have abated. This may be just for a short while since in the event that the Harper conservatives win a second term in office the debate may be revived again. The supporting of cultural industries has become more problematic due to participation by Canada in international trade agreements. There has been demand for greater access in Canada’s cultural markets by the U.S. beyond its already dominant position. The result of this is threatening of the future of cultural industries of Canada. The Cultural Industries Sectoral Advisory Group on International Trade advised Canada to negotiate an international instrument to address the diversity of culture in 1999. Media ownership in Canada is both publicly and privately owned. These altogether thrive in a mixed economy. Free market economics can not exclusively manage any media industry in Ca nada. Even the publication of the newspaper, which comes nearest to an exclusively private industry, is subject to the regulations of federal ownership. These regulations have the main purpose of protecting the newspapers from foreign competition and takeover. Demands of the market place face each media company in Canada. This is inclusive of even CBC which is owned by the public which pays attention to ratings and advertising revenues.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on The Nature of the Distinct Contributions Made by Government, Media Owners, and Journalists to Canada’s Media Environment specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In order to maintain a vibrant market place, we expect media market that is inclusive of both diversity of content and choice of outlets. All these have their roots from the ownership. Media owners choose the information that they want the audience to get. One of the major concerns reg arding the media is that a small number of owners may provide a limited choice in terms of where consumers can get information. This is because mass media production is majorly a business and measures of a successful business differ from those of a successful democracy. This simple means the interests of the media owners may not rhyme with the interest of the consumers. The best known example from Canada of how large media houses can serve interests of the business while at the same time violate interests of the public is the â€Å"Black Tuesday,† of 27th August, 1980. This happened when a competitive trade-off was made between two leading chain newspaper owners at that time i.e. Thomson and Southam. Southern closed â€Å"Winnipeg† which was its Tribune newspaper. This gave â€Å"Winnipeg Free Press† which was under the ownership of Thomson a monopoly in the city. On the other hand, Thomson closed its â€Å"Ottawa Journal† which left the â€Å"Ottawa Cit izen† which was under the ownership of Southam as the sole newspaper in the capital. These actions led to a major review of mass media by the Government of Canada in 1980. This was characterized by the formation of the Kent Commission (the Royal Commission on Newspapers). Media owners also determine the content found in the media. Many media owners do have strong political opinions that they present in their news outlets. This may reflect specific biases of the media owners which may in turn affect the type of content evident in coverage of several issues. Media play an important role in formation of opinions, attitudes, beliefs and values in the community.Advertising Looking for term paper on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There has been a debate on the level to which media influence behaviour and opinion. The general accepted view is that free and diverse media are an important part of good democracy. This is because of the ability of the media to convey the opinions of the people who then choose their political leaders. Although many people believe that much of the media coverage on political issues only reinforces the previous values, beliefs and political views, it is crystal clear that media coverage can affect the formation of opinions and assessment of political phenomenon. This brings in the importance of understanding the factors that influence media content. In the case where content of media influence opinions and assessment of issues, and these assessments and opinions then go on to influence the components of political behaviour such as salience of certain policy issues or the choice to vote for a given party. Therefore the responsibility of the media in a democratic process is to inform and not to direct. If the media offers direction, and then it should not be biased but rather provide a variety of voices to achieve balance since greater choice means more diverse content. Most media houses espouse right wing values in talk shows and commentary. These values carry across media networks not simply on isolated shows or stations. There are people who argue that journalists tend to be more liberal than the public and this leads to left-wing slant in coverage of issues by the media. Journalists play the role of producing the content of the media. Content producers are the heart of the media enterprise. The manufacture of the content that we hear on our radios; see in our books, newspapers, and magazines; and see on our computers, cinema screens and televisions is done by journalists, television producers, radio hosts, film editors and magazine photographers. These have broad job descriptions and work environments. The images we see and the stories whether factual or fic tional are constructed and never naturally presented. The construction process comprises a series of choices about which stories to present and how to present them. This happens both when journalists attempt to make the reality accurate and when they are trying to stress on a particular point of view or style of presentation. All in all, no story is a complete story and no picture is complete. This section will look at journalism as a process of producing content and look into a broader perspective of who the Canadian journalists are and the contexts of their work in influencing the media environment in Canada. Journalism as a form of story telling is based on the real people and events. But the reality as is always implied, the journalists instead frame reality, choosing specific occurrences, people and particular aspects of a story as worthy to make news while leaving others stories. Journalists share some of the characteristics of other types of storytellers but they are distingu ished by features such as their guiding principles of seeking for truth, objectivity and independence; the legal and ethical rights and responsibilities of practice in an environment of free-press; and the context of news production in an institution. Although one of the linchpins of news reporting is freedom of press, this does not imply that journalists are at liberty to report whatever they like or that news organizations can practice impunity through publishing and broadcasting. Such constraints as privacy and libel keep journalists in line with accepted standards of integrity. Given the nature of news production which is selective it is crucial to know the origin of the news report. Canadian journalists do not represent the population at large. They are mostly young, male, white, and well educated and they mostly work for commercial news organizations with large corporate owners. These factors influence both what and how the news is reported as well as what may not be reported. The above discussion has outlined broad roles with regard to media regulation, ownership and news production in Canada. The Canadian media environment has continued to experience the impact of the significant transformation that has occurred in the recent years. Key stakeholders have been reshaped due to a series of new acquisitions and mergers that have taken place in this century. This has initiated moves to democratize media to take two forms; media reform and alternative media. These seek to establish ways to diversify and make the media organizations that are in existence more accountable and the establishment of new independent media outlets specifically to serve defined communities respectively. This accountability will be depicted in the way the three organs of the media will operate and ultimately, they should serve the citizens of the Canadian government with an insight into the country’s state of affairs Reference Lorimer, Gasher, M. Skinner, D. (2008.) Mass comm unication in Canada.6th Ed. Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press This term paper on The Nature of the Distinct Contributions Made by Government, Media Owners, and Journalists to Canada’s Media Environment was written and submitted by user Cadence Vargas to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Concentrated Definition (Chemistry)

Concentrated Definition (Chemistry) In chemistry, concentrated refers to a relatively large quantity of substance present in a unit amount of a mixture. Usually, this means there is a lot of ​a  solute dissolved in a given solvent. A concentrated solution contains the maximum amount of solute that can be dissolved. Because solubility depends on temperature, a solution that is concentrated at one temperature may not be concentrated at a higher temperature. The term may also be used to compare two solutions, as in this one is more concentrated than that one. Examples of Concentrated Solutions 12 M HCl is more concentrated than 1 M HCl or 0.1 M HCl. 12 M hydrochloric acid is also called concentrated sulfuric acid because it contains a minimum amount of water. When you stir salt into water until no more dissolves, you make a concentrated saline solution. Similarly, adding sugar until no more dissolves produces a concentrated sugar solution. When Concentrated Becomes Confusing While the concept of concentration is straightforward when a solid solute is dissolved into a liquid solvent, it can be confusing when mixing gases or liquids because its less clear which substance is the solute and which is the solvent. Absolute alcohol is considered to be a concentrated alcohol solution because it contains a minimum amount of water. Oxygen gas is more concentrated in air than carbon dioxide gas. The concentration of both gases could be considered versus the total volume of air or with respect to the solvent gas, nitrogen.

How to Use the Spanish Verb Ser

How to Use the Spanish Verb Ser Ser can be a challenging verb for Spanish students because it is usually translated as to be, same as the verb estar. Although they can usually  be translated the same way, ser and estar are distinct verbs with different  meanings to the native Spanish speaker. With few exceptions, you cant substitute one for the other. Just like to be, ser comes in many conjugated  forms that dont look like they could be related to the original verb. Examples include es (he/she/it is), eran (they were), and fuiste (you were). Here are the main uses of ser along with examples and translations: Using Ser To Indicate Existence At its simplest, ser is used merely to indicate that something exists. This usage of ser should not be confused with hay, which is used to mean there is. Ser is not used in this way to indicate existence in a particular location. Ser o no ser, esa es la pregunta.  (To be or not to be, that is the question.)Pienso, luego soy. (I think, therefore I am.) Using Ser to Indicate Equivalence Ser is used to join two concepts or identities that are seen as being the same thing. If the subject of ser is understood by the context, it does not need to be explicitly stated. Este es el nuevo modelo. (This is the new model.)La causa de la guerra era el temor de la libertad de las colonias. (The cause of the war was fear of the colonies freedom.)Lo importante no  es la idea, sino cà ³mo la ejecutas. (The important thing is not the idea but how you execute it.)Ser mi casa. (It will be my house.) Using Ser With Adjectives for Inherent, Innate, or Essential Characteristics Ser is used to describe the essential nature of something, not how something might be at a particular moment. La casa es grande.  (The house is big.)Soy feliz.  (I am happy by nature.)Las hormigas son negras. (Ants are black.)La nieve es frà ­a.  (Snow is cold.) This use sometimes contrasts with that of estar. For example, Estoy feliz might convey the meaning of I am happy at the moment. In this case, happiness isnt an inherent quality but something fleeting. Using  Ser To Indicate Origin, Nature, or Identity As with innate characteristics, ser is used in referring to categories that persons or things belong to, such as their occupations, what something is made from, the place where someone or something lives or is from, and a persons religious or ethnic identity. Note that while such qualities can change over time, they generally can be considered part of that persons nature at the time of the statement. Somos  de Argentina.  (We are  from Argentina.)No soy marinero, soy capitn.  (I am not a mariner, I am a captain.)Es Pablo.  (He is Paul.)Los billetes son de papel. (The bills are made of paper.)Espero que no seas de esas personas. (I hope youre not one of those people.)El papa es catà ³lico.  (The pope is Catholic.)Su madre es joven. (Her mother is young.)El rol del actor fue un viaje ida y vuelta al pasado. (The actors role was a round-trip trip to the past.)Mi amiga es muy inteligente. (My friend is very smart.) Using Ser To Indicate Possession or Ownership The  possession or ownership can be literal or figurative: El coche es mà ­o.  (The car is mine.)Es mi casa.  (It is my house.)El siglo XXI es de China. (The 21st century belongs to China.) Using Ser To Form the Passive Voice Use of a to be verb with a  past participle to form the passive voice is structured as in English but is much less common. La cancià ³n fue oà ­da. (The song was heard.)Son usados para comer. (They are used for eating.)El gobernador fue arrestado en su propia casa.  (The governor was arrested in his own home.) Using Ser  To Tell Time Telling time typically follows this pattern: Es la una. (It is 1:00.)Son las dos. (It is 2:00.)Era la tarde de un domingo tà ­pico. (It was a typical Sunday afternoon.)La hora local del encuentro ser las cuatro de la tarde. (The local time of the meeting will be 4 p.m.) Using Ser To Tell Where an Event Occurs Although estar is used for direct statements of location, ser is used for the location of events. El concierto es en la playa.  (The concert is on the beach.)La fiesta ser en mi casa. (The party will be at my house.) Using Ser in Impersonal Statements Impersonal statements in English typically begin with it referring to a concept rather than a concrete thing. In Spanish, the subject isnt explicitly stated, so the sentence can begin with a form of ser. Es importante. (It is important.)Ser mi eleccià ³n. (It will be my choice.)Fue difà ­cil pero necesario. (It was difficult but necessary.)Es sorprendente que no puedas hacerlo. (It is surprising that you cant do it.) Key Takeaways Although ser and estar are verbs meaning to be, they have distinct meanings and uses and can seldom be interchanged.The conjugation of ser is highly irregular.Ser is frequently used in describing innate (and thus often fixed) qualities of a person or thing.

Case anaylise Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Anaylise - Case Study Example In essence, there was lack of specialization in the structure and processes of the company. Poor adoption of technology by the management also exposed the company to increased competition and pressure from competitors (A New Caterpillar Emerges 63). The poor organizational structure resulted in disharmony, comparably low quality products, and poor marketing strategies. The change strategy adopted by Fites basically revolved around changing the organizational structure to reflect the Japanese decentralized model (A New Caterpillar Emerges 63). Fites integrated marketing staff, manufacturing engineers, and product designers into the different product development teams (A New Caterpillar Emerges 63). Fites also decentralized the marketing processes to the regional levels from the corporate headquarters. The third strategy was the incorporation of the aspect of modernization into the manufacturing processes for enhancing productivity and efficiency. This third approach enhanced the productivity of Caterpillar to 30 % (A New Caterpillar Emerges 63). The splitting of the company structure to 14 divisional teams enabled each unit to work in a semi-autonomous manner so that specific performance could be assessed. In the revised organizational structure, the different manufacturing teams were now responsible for the performance of the divisions. The overall impact of the decentralized model was an increase in performance in all areas of the

The Eukaryotic cell structure Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Eukaryotic cell structure - Assignment Example The size of mitochondrion is very small while it is much greater than that of ribosomes that appear like small granules either floating within the cytosol or associated with the endoplasmic reticulum. The number of mitochondria within a cell varies depending upon the cell type and the amount of energy required to perform their work, as there may be numerous mitochondria within muscular cells than that in nerve cells. Mitochondria are very small organelles. Moreover new mitochondria can be developed within the cell in case if the energy requirement of the cell remains unfulfilled with the already functioning mitochondria. Ribosomes are single membrane organelles while mitochondria in contrast to other organelles possess double layers. The external membrane serves as the protective covering of the organelle while the inner one is found in folded form. The folding of the internal membrane enhances the surface area within mitochondria as it serves as the site where various chemical react ions occur. This heightened surface area permits the mitochondria to perform as many tasks as possible. Such a similar strategy is adopted in the small intestines by microvilli. The folding of the mitochondria’s internal membrane is referred as cristae while the fluid within the mitochondria is known as matrix (Simon, Reece and Dickey, 2009). Ribosomes on the other hand are composed of proteins and RNA and basically perform the task of assembling cellular proteins. Similar to the mitochondria, their number also varies within as cell depending upon the cell’s production level of proteins. Ribosomes usually consist of two subunits amongst which one is larger while one is smaller in size. These subunits are prepared by the nucleolus and they connect together as a ribosome gets attached to mRNA (messenger Ribonucleic Acid) during the

The Musical Culture of the Country of Burundi Essay Example for Free

The Musical Culture of the Country of Burundi Essay Every nation has its own culture and traditions which has been practiced by the people for many decades or centuries. Most of the cultural practices of a nation are usually passed down to the next generation. Although they are altered to fit the current generation, some parts of the culture remain intact and do not change; they are the same practices done in the past. The same is true with the cultural practices of Burundi. Amidst the various wars and conflict taking place in the country of Burundi, its culture is still upheld by those living in the rural areas. Their traditions are still largely celebrated and practiced by the people. Through the years, the world has seen Burundi as a place filled with violence and conflict. There are times when the news coming from Burundi only involves violence and improper actions of the rebels against the government and vice versa. In addition, mass killings are known to have affected many regions of the country, therefore lessening the chances for recreational activities, education, and other cultural practices to be upheld. Various refuge camps and displaced people have also been distressed by such conflicts. External Influences to the Burundian Culture Historical accounts of Burundi reveal that the country was colonized by various European nations. King Mwezi IV, the ruling leader during the 19th century, feared that his kingdom will be captured by one of the conflicting tribes in Burundi, the Tutsis. Due the King’s fear, he secured the support of Germany to protect his kingdom, instantly turning Burundi into a German colony. After a few years, the German colonizers passed the responsibility to a new European state: Belgium (Institute for Security Studies [ISS], 2005). Hence, these countries were able to influence and engrave their own norms, traditions, and beliefs on Burundians which were incorporated into the cultural practices of Burundi. Music as a Large Part of the Burundian Culture Burundians are people who enjoy arts and music. Music has been a huge part of their lives which could be observed in various types of traditional gatherings and the songs sung in these gatherings. One of these is family gatherings where â€Å"imvyino† songs are performed. Imviyino songs were known to have short refrain which has a strong beat. Such songs often incorporate spontaneous verses which are sung together with the strong beats of the music. On the other hand, â€Å"imdirimbo† song is a more downcast and serious type of music which is sung by a small group of individuals or a solo singer. â€Å"Kwishongora† is another type of song from the traditional music of Burundi that is sung only by men. It is a rhythmic song which is integrated with trills and shouts. For the females, there is also a certain type of song made for them, and it is called the â€Å"bilito† in which is a sentimental form of music (Stanford, 2007), One of the strongest characteristics of Burundi music is the â€Å"whispered singing. † This is expressed by the performer in a low or soft pitch, for it requires the musical accompaniment to be heard clearly (Stanford, 2007). Burundian Musical Instruments Most of the traditional songs of Burundi are played with specific instruments such as â€Å"inanga,† â€Å"idono,† â€Å"ikihusehama,† and â€Å"ikimbe. † The inanga is an instrument composed of six (6) to eight (8) strings which are stretched out in a wooden concave bowl. The idono is known to be the fiddle which is composed only of a single string. The ikihusehama is a musical instrument which is similar to a clarinet woodwind. Lastly, the ikimbe is the linguaphone version of the Burundians. However, the most important musical instrument used by the Burundians is the drums which is considered as a symbol of status and power (Stanford, 2007). Drums are known to be the most significant instruments in the country of Burundi. In the ancient times, drums were not only seen as a plain instrument but a sacred object which was only used for ceremonial events. The beat is one of the most essential elements of the Burundian drums. Certain drum beats are applied depending on the type of event being held, from funerals to enthronement. The beat of the drums is also the main signal that proclaims the start of the agricultural season as well as the propagation of the Soughum seeds which is an important agricultural amenity for the country (Heavenly Planet, 2008). The drums are not only significant to the events, but they are also deeply connected to nature. This strong relationship of drums and nature is evident in parts of the drum, as their names are related to fertility: â€Å"Icahi: the skin (the skin in which the mother rocks her baby); Amabere: the pegs (the breasts); Urugori: the thong stretching the skin (crown of motherhood); inda: the cylinder (the stomach); umukondo: the foot of the drum (the umbilical cord)† (Heavenly Planet, 2008, n. p. ) Royal Drummers of Burundi The Royal Drummers of Burundi is the most acknowledged performers in Burundi. The group is composed of twenty (20) individuals who perform in the most important Burundian ceremonies. Accordingly, due to the significance of the group, they also perform in various celebrations such as funerals, births, coronations, and christenings within the country. This prestigious drum group is known to also perform in various parts of the world. In addition, the Royal Drummers of Burundi is recognized as one of the most acclaimed percussion groups in the world (Smith, 2009). The group is known to be a multigenerational band; therefore, sons are taught by their fathers the art and the significance of performance and playing drums. Most of the time, different drummers switch places in order for them to have a short rest and create a constant flow of music that only stops during the end of the whole program. In addition to drumming, most of the band members are also dancers. The group performs the dances during the opening of the programs (Smith, 2009). Africatravelling. net (2000) commends the performances of the Royal Drummers of Burundi: â€Å"The Drummers of Burundi had the most captivating presence of all the acts at the festival Every moment, every wail from the players fit into the trance impact of the drummers† (n. p. ). The Royal Drummers of Burundi are known to have specific drums that they use to create a specific sound of the drums. One of the types of drums that they use is the â€Å"Ngoma† drums which are â€Å"hollowed out from the trunk of a particular tree called D’umuvugangoma (Corda Africana)† (Heavenly Planet, 2008, n. p. ). Reflection on the Music of Burundi As I have researched in various internet resources, I found out that the Burundi musical culture is not widely known to the world. There are only few resources available for those who are interested in their traditional music. Most books and articles are about the topics of human rights violations, genocides, and war in Burundi. Thus, this suggests the richness of the Burundian culture is often ignored. With the research that I have done, I realized that a single instrument could be a source of power and status. In addition, such instruments could also be a signifier of various events and elements of nature. Due to the conflicts and hostility in the state of Burundi, the international community does not pay significant attention to the rich cultural aspect of this country. However, with the ensemble of Royal Drummers of Burundi, one can say that the rich culture of this African nation lives despite all atrocities. References Africatravelling. net (2000). Bujumbura-Culture. Retrieved February 11, 2009 from http://www. africatravelling. net/burundi/bujumbura/bujumbura_culture. htm. Heavenly Planet. (2008). â€Å"Music That Inspires. † Retrieved February 11, 2009 from http://www. heavenlyplanet. com/featured/dob. html. Institute for Security Studies. (2005). Political System and History. Retrieved February 11 2009 from http://www. iss. co. za/af/profiles/burundi/politics. html. Smith, S. E. (2009). Who are the Royal Drummers of Burundi?. Wise Geek. Retrieved February 11, 2009 from http://www. wisegeek. com/who-are-the-royal-drummers-of-burundi. htm. Stanford, E. (2007). Culture of Burundi. Countries and Their Cultures. Retrieved February 11, 2009 from http://www. everyculture. com/Bo-Co/Burundi. html.

Mariquita: A Tragedy of Guam by Chris Perez Howard Essay -- Book Revie

Mariquita: A Tragedy of Guam by Chris Perez Howard The book entitled Mariquita A Tragedy of Guam was written by author Chris Perez Howard in honor of her mother Mariquita Aguon Perez. The book covers the pain and sufferings of Guamanians through World War II from the perspective of one family. The book covers a period of time a little under a decade, beginning in 1938 while Guam was under Naval Administration. The book starts off painting the image an Howard's mother Mariquita. She is depicted as somewhat a diamond in the rough, beautiful and one of a kind, even pointing out that she worked as a stenographer, an uncommon position to be held by women in this time period. The book goes on describing her daily life including spending much time with her friends, competing amongst each other in the latest fashions and watching the movies. The story goes on describing her acquaintance with a young soldier by the name of Edward Neal Howard that has an eye for her. Mariquita at first entertained the young sailor but hesitated to pursue any relationship with Eddie. Then one night coming out of the movies, a Marine yelled a racial remark towards Mariquita and Eddie, out of the crowd, defended Mariquita. That was the turning point, and they eventually begin dating, first in secrecy then soon after, they married. Mariquita and Eddie had two children, the first named Chris and the second named Helen. Japanese invaded and the war broke out in Guam right after the birth of Helen and Mariquita actually had to flee with her newborn into the jungle for safety. During Japanese rule Guamanians were forced to work. The Japanese also occupied any housing they needed. The Americans were forced to surrender and Eddie bec... ...dure their torture, then head home and play and laugh with her kids, it was like there were two people playing her role. The book gave very good accounts of the times surrounding war, but I think Howard's emotions skewed the story somewhat. This book goes against the canon in citing instances which were harmful to the Guamanians. Americanization for instance, indirectly told the people to lose their identity and their culture and opt for a more Westernized and modern set of values. Then goes the point of having separate schools and American only functions, U.S. treated the people of Guam as second class citizens. The book does a great job in capturing all this unfairness. All in all, the book seemed better as a romance novel to me, with a great many details, valuable details of World War II in Guam hidden in the background almost as a supplemental story.

Analysis on Materialism and Pink Flamingo Essay

â€Å"Materialism coarsens and petrifies everything, making everything vulgar, and every truth false.† These profound words spoken by Swiss philosopher Henri Amiel illustrate the wretched vulgarity and superficiality of the virus-like spread of materialism. In the essay entitled â€Å"The Pink Flamingo: A Natural History† by Jennifer Price, Price examines the popularity of the well-known pink flamingo and how it relates to the ideals and whims of American culture. Using American fascination of the plastic, pink flamingo as her medium, Jennifer Price shows her evident disdain for the superficial materialism present in American society. Jennifer Price introduces her analysis of the flamingo fad by presenting the rise of the pink flamingo in American culture and how society reacted upon the popularization of this cultural icon. Price effectively illustrates the American public’s reaction to the introduction of the plastic, pink flamingo by implementing specific diction that reinforces her own opinions of the â€Å"flamingo boom†. Similar to a mindless flock of birds following each other without much thought as to why, Price writes that â€Å"Since the 1930s, vacationing Americans had been flocking to Florida and returning home with flamingo souvenirs.† Price’s choice to describe Americans as â€Å"flocking† is meant to establish a comparison to a flock of mindless birds; in effect, the author characterizes Americans as bandwagon followers who lack any consideration for the examination of their culture and the conceptual purpose behind their symbolic icons. The author also presents how Americans have rendered the plastic, pink flamingo as symbolic of wealth and luxury. Price states that â€Å"In the 1910s and 1920s, Miami Beach’s first grand hotel, the Flamingo, had made the bird synonymous with wealth and pizzazz.† In the context of the essay, terms like â€Å"wealth† and â€Å"pizzazz† possess a shallow, superficial connotation that consequently translates into the flamingo as not only being a symbol of wealth and pizzazz but also a symbol of superficiality and vulgar ostentation. Price’s introductory paragraph is significant to the purpose of the essay because it illustrates the magnitude of the flamingo fascination and how Americans irrationally react to the flamingo’s popularity. In reiteration of Price’s stance, heavy criticism in the essay of the plastic  flamingo’s intrinsic boldness simply because it represents an exotic creature depicts Price’s severe disdain for the whims of American society. Price utilizes an ironic situation in conjunction with historical evidence when she attempts to establish a connection between real flamingos and plastic flamingos. Americans, Price points out, â€Å"had hunted flamingos to extinction in Florida in the late 1800s, for plumes and meat. But no matter. In the 1950s, the new interstates would draw working-class tourists down, too.† Price bluntly uses facts and historical research about American culture to express her disgust of the irony that the American nation has created for itself with regards to the plastic, pink flamingo. When Price writes â€Å"But no matter,† she reinforces the implication that it is as if American society regards the destruction of the flamingo as trivial b ecause capitalist society would benefit more from the production of plastic flamingos that could yield revenue. Thus, a nation that embraces the flamingo in all its beauty after having been so destructive of the natural population reveals the ironic carelessness and hypocrisy of American society. Furthermore, Price uses the image of the pink flamingo with its natural boldness to emphasize her point about the ignorance of Americans and their culture. The author states, â€Å"The bird acquired an extra fillip of boldness, too, from the direction of Las Vegas with†¦Flamingo Hotel. Anyone who has seen Las Vegas knows that a flamingo stands out in a desert even more strikingly than on a lawn.† The simple fact that a flamingo is a subtropical animal unfit to live in the desert gives Price the justification to illustrate how Americans took the flamingo fad to such extreme heights without giving one regard to the appropriateness of the flamingo in context. In doing so, Price once again conveys the total ignorance and lack of consideration that characterizes American society. The paragraph in which Price asserts her belief regarding the ironic situation American society has put itself in supports a belief that Americans have taken their obsession so far as to having destroyed a population of animals for the sake of wealth and luxury; thus, the pink flamingo, in the context of Price’s essay, is merely a symbol of the vulgar materialism Americans possess because of their ignorance and inconsideration for the appropriateness of destroying flamingos and â€Å"plasticizing† them. Jennifer Price provides further details regarding the plastic flamingo’s image which forces the reader to question if the plastic flamingo is even close to being a valid representation of its real-life counterpart. Price’s use of imagery in her essay and the interpretation that follows shows that she believes the plastic flamingo is obviously not even fit to represent the true flamingo. Price lists the colors, â€Å"tangerine, broiling magenta, livid pink, incarnadine, fuchsia demure, Congo ruby, methyl green,† in order to establish images that overwhelm the reader’s mind with bold colors. The extremely bold colors of the plastic flamingo such as â€Å"livid pink† and â€Å"broiling magenta† formulate the conclusion that the plastic flamingo could never be synonymous with the quiet, demure brilliancy of a real flamingo. Thus, once the reader has interpreted the color imagery and concluded that all of the colors are just â€Å"too much†, the reader can make the connection that society is also â€Å"too much† obsessed with putting on pretenses of wealth as opposed to focusing on issues that really matter such as the preservation of the real flamingo. Price also makes use of repetition in order to express the magnitude of the plastic flamingo’s color in society. Jennifer Price states, â€Å"Washing machines, cars, and kitchen counters proliferated in passion pink, sunset pink, and Bermuda pink.† By stating that the pink fad present in the plastic flamingo was also transferred into household appliances such as washing machines and kitchen counters, Price implies that the materialism and vulgarity of appearing wealthy spread into the home; the infiltration of materialism into the home meant that the desire for wealth and extravagance had also infiltrated the aspects of America n life. Price’s criticism of the flamingo’s color fascination supports the essay’s idea that Americans are only satisfied by boldness and extravagance as evident in the pink coloration of household appliances because pink was the color of the symbolic pink flamingo of wealth; Americans, thus, have difficulty equating modesty and demureness with any sort of wealth. The simple belief is that extravagance and flamboyance are the way to go if one wants to appear wealthy. Americans who desire wealth are therefore subject to the whims of materialism and superficiality. The author concludes by delivering an argument that criticizes American views and ideals, or the lack of, as being disrespectful and insulting towards the  significance of the flamingo itself. Jennifer Price uses cultural evidence from other nations to present the importance of the flamingo. She states, â€Å"People†¦have always singled out the flamingo as special. Early Christians associated it with the red phoenix. In ancient Egypt, it symbolized the sun god Ra. In Mexico and the Caribbean, it remains a major motif in art, dance, and literature.† The author uses these facts to justify that the reduction of the brilliant flamingo in American culture to a mere plastic souvenir attached to grass is a shameful comparison to other cultures that respect nature and revered the bird as a glorious symbol. Price then makes use of parallelism in order to strengthen her criticism of American culture. In the essay, Price states, â€Å"No wonder that the subtropical species stood out so loudly when Americans in temperate New England reproduced it, brightened it, and sent it wading across an inland sea of grass.† By using repeating sentence structures through parallelism, Price emphasizes that Americans have done so many things to the flamingo that the plastic version is so far removed from its original counterpart. Thus, Americans have lost sight of the intended genuine meaning behind embracing the flamingo in the first place. The significance of this section within the essay is important because it not only allows the author to go beyond criticism of the flamingo, but it also shows that, in the grand scheme of things, Price was more intent on exposing and criticizing the true validity of all American cultural values. Jennifer Price allegorized the fascination of the plastic flamingo in order to establish a sort of comparison between obsession with purchasing plastic flamingos that symbolize wealth and the materialism evident in American culture. Although the essay mostly depicts American society as insensitive and inconsiderate according to the author’s tone, the satirical nature of the essay provides a subtle, underlying, hopeful connotation that perhaps one day American society will learn to go beyond their materialistic greed and ascend to a different type of wealth. Bibliography: Jennifer Price’s essay â€Å"The Plastic Pink Flamingo: A Natural History†

Aesthetic Reading: Reading for Appreciation and Enjoyment Essay

Aesthetic reading is for entertainment. * Reading to explore one. * In Aesthetic reading, the reader’s attention is centered directly on what he likes through during his relationship with that particular text.† * Non-academicals purposes of reading. Aesthetic Stance is for experience * Recreational reading. * Fulfills an important function in lives. * Reading for pleasure or aesthetic reading, been described as â€Å"the most hidden literary practice†. * Aesthetic reading been viewed as â€Å"symbolic withdrawal†. Reading for appreciation * One that is designed to head the learner to understand and enjoy something. Let’s get the most out of Literature * Reading literary selections like poems, short stories, novels, plays, or essays, not only provide pleasure. * It also develop your analytical skills as you must consider each part of the text separately before you can interpret the meaning of the entire work and eventually appreciate it. Poems express ideas in a tighter, more compact way than prose as they do not include details and explanations common to the short story or novel. They are more concentrated, suggestive, and rhythmical than prose as they resort to the use of symbols, figurative language, and imagery, which tend to leave more to a reader’s imagination rather than giving everything he needs to know. Poems may be: * Lyric poem expresses the observations and the feeling of a single speaker. * Narrative poems are stories told in prose. Often narrative poems, even ballads have all the elements of the short stories, such as plot, characters and setting. Poems may take the form of: * Haiku – an unrhymed verse form, consisting of three lines. The first and third lines contain five syllables while the second line consists of seven syllables. * Tanka – another verse form. It has thirty-one syllables arrange in five lines (five, seven, five, seven, seven). * Cinquain – a poetic unrhymed form consisting of five lines. * Diamante – a seven line, diamond shaped poem.

How to Know When Its Time to Quit Your Job

How to Know When Its Time to Quit Your Job We’re all a little bit afraid of change. But we should be equally afraid of stagnating and losing sight of why we chose our career in the first place. Here are three signs it might be time for you to consider making a move out of your current position: You’ve Outgrown ItAdmitting this doesn’t make you too big for your britches; sometimes it’s the honest truth. You’ve learned a lot, but you find yourself wishing for more of a challenge. And you’ve run up against the highest rung of the ladder at your current organization. This might be a sign it’s time to put some feelers out- to see whether you might be able to find a position elsewhere that will let you keep growing and achieving more.You’ve Lost Your SparkleYou thought you were â€Å"doing what you love,† but you don’t love what you’re doing anymore. Maybe you even dread going to work. Live between vacations. Watch the clock. These are all good indications it’s time to get your passion and purpose back, and that might mean a new job.Work is†¦ WorkYou don’t get excited anymore about new projects. You’re anxious or tired or just plain grumpy when you’re at work. Maybe you have a lousy boss or a hostile coworker and it’s eating at you. Before work starts affecting your health- physical, mental, or both- figure out a way to make a change.It’s a hard step to take, but one that can be extremely rewarding- and much better than falling into an endless rut. Remember, work can be extremely satisfying when we’re doing something we believe in and that keeps us on our toes.

Midland University - ACT Scores, Admit Rate More

Midland University - ACT Scores, Admit Rate More Midland University Admissions Overview: With an acceptance rate of 61%, Midland University is not a highly selective school. Students with good grades and test scores within or above the ranges listed below have a good chance of being accepted. To apply, those interested will need to submit an application, SAT or ACT scores, and high school transcripts. Check out Midlands website for more details. Admissions Data (2016): Midland University Acceptance Rate: 61%Test Scores 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: 420  / 520SAT Math: 420  / 535SAT Writing: - / -What these SAT numbers meanACT Composite: 19  / 24ACT English: 17 / 24ACT Math: 17  / 23What these ACT numbers mean Midland UniversityDescription: Located in Fremont, Nebraska, Midland University is a 4-year university on a 33-acre campus, and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Fremont is in the eastern part of the state, about a 45-minutes drive from Omaha, and has a population of about 25,000. Students can choose from over 30 majors at the undergraduate level, and a handful of masters degrees. Popular choices include Business Administration, Nursing, Accounting, Psychology, and Elementary Education. Academics are supported by an impressive 10 to 1 student / faculty ratio and an average class size of 18. Outside of the classroom, students can participate in a number of student-run clubs and organizations, such as: fraternities and sororities, academic-based clubs, honor societies, and performing arts groups. Since the school is affiliated with the ELCA, students have the opportunity to participate in a number of faith-based activities, including chapel services, bible studies, and service pro jects. In athletics, the Midland University Warriors compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), within the Great Plains Athletics Conference (GPAC). Midland sponsors 12 mens and 13 womens teams, with popular choices including Football, Wrestling, Soccer, Track and Field, and Bowling. Enrollment (2016): Total Enrollment: 1,709  (1,555 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 49% Male / 51% Female75% Full-time Costs (2016- 17): Tuition and Fees: $30,430Books: $1,020 (why so much?)Room and Board: $8,038Other Expenses: $2,412Total Cost: $41,900 Midland UniversityFinancial Aid (2015- 16): Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 100%Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 100%Loans: 87%Average Amount of AidGrants: $17,058Loans: $6,368 Academic Programs: Most Popular Majors:  Business Administration, Marketing, Nursing, Elementary Education, Criminal Justice, Sports and Fitness Administration, Biology, Psychology, Accounting Transfer, Graduation and Retention Rates: First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 64%Transfer-out Rate: 40%4-Year Graduation Rate: 37%6-Year Graduation Rate: 46% Intercollegiate Athletic Programs: Mens Sports:  Football, Baseball, Basketball, Wrestling, Bowling, Golf, Soccer, Track and Field, Tennis, Cross CountryWomens Sports:  Basketball, Golf, Bowling, Cross Country, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field, Wrestling, Lacrosse, Volleyball Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics If You Like Midland University, You May Also Like These Colleges: Regis College:  ProfileBellevue University:  ProfileDrake University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUniversity of Kansas:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphWayne State College:  ProfileHastings College: ProfileUniversity of Wyoming:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphColorado State University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphConcordia University Nebraska:  ProfileBriar Cliff University:  ProfileChadron State College:  ProfileCreighton University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUniversity of Iowa:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT Graph

To what extent, and in what ways, has the constant process of Essay

To what extent, and in what ways, has the constant process of enlargement, impacted on the EU politics and policy process - Essay Example The above issue is discussed in this paper; emphasis is given on the value of enlargement as a tool for strengthening the political and economic position of EU; the impact of enlargement on various EU politics and processes is also examined taking into consideration the fact that enlargement is a demanding process requiring a long period of preparation and being related to certain risks – especially because of the different political, social and economic patterns of European countries. It is proved that the enlargement processes developed in the European Union up today have all affected, more or less, the EU politics and processes; however, among them, it is the fifth enlargement process which most influenced EU politics and policies. For the above reason, the fifth enlargement, which developed in two phases, in 2004 and 2007, is extensively discussed in this paper using the literature published in the particular field. When the European Union was first established – in itially, as a European Community – in 1957 (Treaty of Rome), no term was set regarding the development of a Community regional policy (Bache 31). The reference to economic activities, which would be initiated by the entire member states –jointly – could be possibly, regarded as such policy, even not clearly. Through the decades, it was made clear that the achievement of the targets of the Union would be a challenging task. For this reason, the need for its expansion was through to be unavoidable – a practice which was proved particularly helpful towards the development and the strengthening of European Union so that to become a major force in the global market. In its initial form, the European Union had 6 states – today, its members are estimated to 27, as a result of 5 enlargements. The specific processes have been used in order to increase the power of EU within the international community but also in order to promote integration across the Euro pean Union. Among these enlargements the one which is most important is the fifth one developed into two phases: the first phase took place in 2004 and the second in 2007. Through the fifth enlargement – a process that has been characterized as the most important strategic decision of the EU in the 21st century (Europa, Enlargement 2011) – the European Union was significantly expanded acquiring 12 new members (Europa, Enlargement 2011). The criteria and the terms of enlargement – as one of the European Union’s key processes – are included in the ‘article 49 of the Treaty of the European Union’ (Europa, Enlargement 2011). In accordance with the above article, the key priority of the enlargement process is to ensure that the applicant countries are adequately prepared so that to meet their obligations – as stated by the relevant EU rules; of course, the legislative, political and social characteristics of each candidate country ar e taken into consideration when these processes are developed. However, in any case, it needs to be ensured that the candidate countries will be able to respond to their obligations – as members of the Union – and to align their policies/ rules with those of the Union (Europa, Enlargement 2011). At this point, it would be necessary to refer briefly to the history of enlargements

History of the Cherokee Indians Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

History of the Cherokee Indians - Essay Example Unlike other Native American tribes, Cherokees built cabins out of woods rather than living in teepees. Their language derives from the language of another Native American ethnic group, namely, the Iroquois. This language was so strikingly different from the languages of other Native American tribes that it made some linguists assume the very name of Cherokee means "people who speak another language". Cherokees have always been a highly spiritual tribe with unique traditions and values. An owl and cougar could be called a cultural archetype of the Cherokee Indians. Cherokees treat these animals with particular respect as they believe an owl and cougar were the only creatures that had been staying awake for seven days during which the world was created and, hence, saw how humans were made. Today Cherokee Indians are divided into many subtribes but under the official federal classification they fall into the following acknowledged categories: the Cherokee Nation, the Keetoowah Band (reside in Oklahoma), the Cherokee tribes and the Eastern Band of Cherokees residing in North Carolina (Hodge).Before the USA appeared on map, the Cherokee Indians used to live on the territory of the present-day Georgia, parts of Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina (Stewart 9). Originally, Cherokee tribes lived in the Midwest of the lands that later formed the USA near the Great Lakes, but with the passage of time they drifted closer to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, which, in turn, they were forced to leave either.

Human Computer Interaction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Human Computer Interaction - Essay Example HCI has evolved as a concept that facilitates taking into consideration the different needs of the users. The users can effectively interact with the computer systems through a platform that is known to be HCI. However the importance of HCI is widespread and encompasses wide array of elements. The first improvement of the concept is that it helps to gain market share. In general context individuals always prefer to use only those items that have higher usability. For instance it can be supported by an example of Google, this search engine is world famous and has largest market share across the globe (Deustsch, 2013).The reason behind this is the search engine has higher efficiency and can be easily used by individuals. HCI is even important as it helps to improve productivity. For instance such an interaction helps employees working in a firm to perform better and faster. The Intranet facilities help in increasing the overall efficiency of employees (Pulz, 2013).The importance of HCI can also be witnessed in the form of lowering support costs. If a product cannot be used properly then enormous calls are made by customers to customer service department. However the higher usability rate due to HCI helps in reducing these forms of cost that is associated with support services. HCI even helps in reducing the development costs as it avoid such features that are complex and cannot be used easily by the users. Speech recognition is considered to be an effective tool for HCI or Human Computer Interaction. Speech recognition is one of the fields of computer science that is associated with designing such a structure which helps in recognizing words that are spoken. It is such an application that enables a computer to clearly identify those words that are spoken by a person either through a telephone or microphone (Brodkin, 2012).Speech recognition can also be classified as a process that converts acoustic signal coming from a telephone or microphone to a group of

The Importance Of Maintaining Individuality Over Communality Politics Essay

The Importance Of Maintaining Individuality Over Communality Politics Essay Maintaining your individuality is more important than being part of a group because group identities and the groups differences tend to be the basis for decisions a person might make as a citizen. Groups who focus on a specific ideology have distinctive arguments and address a particular audience. Most of the members of liberation ideologies, such as black liberation, womens liberation, gay liberation, native peoples liberation, animal liberation and liberation theology focus on ones self interest taking on too narrow a view rather than promoting the viewpoint that is for the greater good. People in these groups would make their decisions regarding who might best lead the country or what laws should be enacted or voted down based on a candidates gender, religious beliefs, race or sexual preference, and not as a citizen thinking of the best scenario for the majority. These groups make their decisions because on their groups self-interests and exclude the individual viewpoint. If these specific groups want equality, then they should think as individual citizens because in the United States, citizens are equal before the law. As stated in our text book pg. 252, our courts of justice and other institutions should be blind to race, ethnicity, and other forms of group identification. No one should be given special treatment because of his or her race or ancestry or ethnic affiliation. The self interest characteristic of special groups is also seen in the fascist and Nazism ideologies. Both of these groups are against individualism and class divisions. They were only in favor of one nation or one supreme race, in other words, one group. Hitler believed that his Nazi philosophy about the German people (the supreme group) was more important then the 6 million Jews who did nothing to him, yet he had them killed. The fascists belief of everything for the good of the nation state, a single leader and single party can be seen in the modern day Moammar Gadhafi regime in Libya. The Gadhafi regime was not beneficial to the whole nation because there were inequalities among the citizens of Libya who have now revolted and are striving for democracy and individual freedoms. I feel that democracy is built on the assumption that things are beneficial to the community as a whole, and coming to a consensus is possible, but it fails if the special group is only looking out for #1 a nd doesnt care about anything else. So if each individual would take on the liberal ideology viewpoint which is to believe that the individual is the best judge of what is in his or her interest, so each person ought to be free to live as he or she wants so long as they do not choose to interfere with others freedom to live as they want to live. The ideology of liberalism promotes individual liberty by attempting to guarantee equal opportunity to all people within a tolerant society. With the opportunity of equality, an equal footing, the discrimination based on race, religion, or gender would be removed and people would have the ability to achieve their own success, if they adopt a liberal viewpoint. So why then would it be necessary to join a group to achieve the same opportunities as you could have maintaining your individuality? 3. Fascism is a political ideology which exalts a nation above the individual and is headed by a single leader of a centralized government which thru regimented force suppresses any opposition and controls the state economy and social conditions. Fascism is a good form of government because the nation is more powerful and sustainable through generations who are bound together by their common traditions and their commitment to build a better life. Fascism which is founded on the citizens duty and an individuals self sacrifice possibly even death is able to achieve the true value of a man as a member of his family, social group and nation, because the individual has no significance outside of their nation. Fascism enforces discipline and uses authority to mold mens characters and faith. Fascism affirms traditional values such as family values, religious faith, patriotism, social structure, honor, and traditional hard work. Fascism is an ideology of order and obedience where people fall in line with the single leadership, and do not question or criticize the State which makes sure the country runs smoothly, through the use of state spending and regulation of corporations. A fascist government institutes public works programs to build bridges, canals and roads, hospitals and schools all for the good of the nation state. A fascist government is organized on the theory that government should be run by representatives of the various centers of power in the state, such as Mussolinis policy of corporativism. What fascism is all about in an economic sense is the protection and regulation of capitalism through private ownership as the means of production for the nation. Fascism uses the power of the nation to protect and to stabilize the economy by bringing the major capitalists into a system of cooperation with each other so that economic conflict is reduced and through their cooperation stability is achieved. An example would be for a ruling council to be developed and include industrial leaders, union representatives, religious leaders, and military personnel. Having these leaders of power incorporated into the government, achieves a rapid consensus on matters more rapidly when a country needs to organize for a war or disaster relief. The nation can also become self-sufficient if the government has control over production and their profits. Fascism controls companies from manufacturing their products in foreign countries for a lower cost and then selling that product in their own country for a higher price and making a profit. Also keeping manufacturing jobs at home will provide employment to the nations people, reducing welfare and creating a strong economy. Under fascism, ownership of businesses is left in private hands, but the government regulates all businesses confiscating much of their profits and using them as the government decides, such as new roads, hospitals and schools, all for the good of the nation-state. The fascist system will also subsidize and regulate agriculture in order to achieve national self sufficiency. Another advantage of a fascist government is in the fight against terrorism. The nation controls the military under one leader and when needed, it is easy to have the leader decide that the military will control and operate everything and everyone that enters the country. Also crime in the nation can be greatly reduced, because the military can be used to patrol the streets and enforce obedience. True freedom for fascists is in serving the state and doing ones part to promote the states power and glory. One way of doing this is to create self sufficiency of the nation thru a strong military. To create a strong military, the nation promotes science, mathematics, and engineering in schools in order to develop better scientists who will be employed to build better weapons for the military. These corporations are given funding from the State. Consequently, the State will produce the most advanced technologies in the world, having the most advanced weapons and acting as a boom to the economy by providing a large number of jobs, making people happy and bolstering the support for their leader. Because the State plays an important role in the economy, the State protects and promotes industries which are vital to State interests. Also because a fascist government controls the economy, unemployment is reduced and social welfare programs can be instituted such as social health insurance . So to create a great Fascist state, it is simple; believe, obey and fight, against the enemies of the nation and this will bring glory to ones people as a leading power in the world. 5. As a conservative, I feel our rights come from God and not the government. So consequently, government should be limited as to what it does to solve a nations problems and the real emphasis should be placed on the individual to solve the problems through traditional American values, personal responsibility, individual liberty and free markets. So with that premise in place, I would like to explore some of the following issues from a conservative ideological perspective vs. a liberal ideological perspective. Liberals believe a woman has the right to decide what happens to her own body, including aborting a pregnancy. Liberals also believe that the government has the duty to protect human rights. I, as a conservative, believe human life begins at conception and that abortion is murder of a human being. An unborn baby is a living human being and has separate rights from those of their mother, thus the government should not use taxpayer dollars to fund abortions, as desired by liberals because that would not be protecting the human rights of the unborn, very hypocritical of liberals. Along those same lines, liberals want to legalize euthanasia. Neither abortion nor euthanasia should be legalized as it is immoral and unethical to deliberately end the life of a terminally ill person or an unborn human being. Taking an innocent life or that of a dying individual is murder, a capital offense in the United States, is punishable by death. Dont the liberals get it? Where is the moral code that is necessary to sustain a free society? If, liberals can justify using lethal force ending an innocent unborn life or a helpless elderly citizen. This does not seem to coincide with true Liberalism. Liberals support blanket amnesty for those who enter the United States illegally and want the undocumented immigrants to have the right to educational and health benefits that citizens receive. As a conservative, I dont want to stop people who immigrate to our country for a better life and benefits, because life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are God-given rights for every individual however, they should do so legally, otherwise they are placing an huge economic hardship on the United States by receiving benefits that legal citizens receive such as financial aid, welfare, and Medicaid because they are not of legal status. It is unfair to provide these services to illegal undocumented immigrants and make the true citizens support them through unfair taxation for these governmental programs. The United States borders should be secured and the immigration laws should be enforced for our countrys protection, security and economic survival. Liberals, in the best interest to citizens, want the government to regulate the economy as a protection against big business. However, having competition and a free market system creates the largest opportunity for a higher standard of living for everyone. When governments encourage individual efforts for entrepreneurial success and not oppose personal wealth, there is more economic growth, more jobs and a higher standard of living for all citizens then when government tries to regulate the economic system. Putting numerous controls in place to artificially direct the economy can create serious problems. Along these same lines, liberals think because people are getting wealthier, they should be taxed more to enable the government to help and care for the poor and needy using tax dollars from the rich to create jobs and welfare programs. However, the traditional American value of hard work allows the economy to grow and prosper, leaving the money in the hands of the people and by lowe ring taxes and a smaller government allows Americans to save more, invest and spend their money to help those that they want to aid and not at the direction of the government. Government programs to the needy should be opportunities to make them become self-reliant encouraging work and independence rather then encourage laziness and continued dependence on government funding. Liberals dont see terrorism as a great threat to the United States and feel the best way to deal with terrorism is good diplomacy and that using military force against terrorists only causes hatred and more terrorism. However, as can be seen by the radical Islamism ideology being anti-liberal and anti-individual and rejecting individual rights and rights against the larger society as in the U.S. Bill of Rights, as stated in our text book, pg. 291, seems to be a very strong division between the militant Islamists goal of establishing Islamic states that govern according to Islamic law and the destruction of Israel and an existing peaceful Western world. It seems that to ensure individual liberties, a strong military force to provide security for society and intelligence-gathering methods are the best way to defeat terrorism in the United States and around the world. I dont believe you can bargain with tyrants or terrorists. The conservative ideological perspective is best because it stands up for what is right, and exhibits the principles that have made America great such as the love of God, love of family, the work ethic, patriotism, and individual freedom. 6. According to Thomas Hobbes in his major work the Leviathan, the state of nature is a condition of perfect freedom in which no one had any authority over them and all individuals are equal-no one is born to hold a higher rank or status than anyone else -and have a natural right to do as they wish as per our text book on pg. 52. If this was how mankind existed before government, I believe life in this state of nature would be every man for himself and against each other, the survival of the fittest. Man would live but not the life as we know it; it would be very animalistic and primeval. Man would resolve disputes through violence and war would run rampart around the world. Disease would be prevalent, and technology would be non existent. Man is competitive and contentious, so he would be an enemy to every other man, there would be no industry, no culture, no knowledge, and no society and man would live in continual fear and danger of constant death. Because of the violence and uncertainty of life in the state of nature it would motivate people to form tribal leaders or governments. People would realize the need for peace and stability consequently they would seek a ruler or leader to govern them and in return the governing body would provide the peace and stability the people wanted as long as the laws of the government were abided, the people would then be free to pursue happiness without fear. Government is needed to provide stability and order, and protect the rights and liberties of the people. The purpose of government is to provide enough protection of life, liberty and property that individuals could enjoy these rights. Government creates order out of chaos, and punishes bad behavior but encourages moral behavior and tradition. Also governments provide needs for the community when these needs cannot be met by individuals. A government can play a major role in economic security by managing and regulating a countrys economy and stabilizing it for the benefit of its citizens. A government defines laws which establish equality and justice in a society. The government of a nation can provide basic health and education services for its citizens. Thus, government is like an umbrella that shields the citizens of a nation, while binding them together and helping them live in harmony. Governments are established with intent to increase the peoples potential for survival.

Racism in the Film Remember the Titans Essay -- Movie Film Football Ra

In the movie "Remember the Titans" there are many lessons that every person should learn in their life. One of the most important lessons is that of racism. In this day and age some people believe that racism is over because there are no longer any slaves, some people believe that there is still racism but that it is ok. I believe that those people would benefit a great deal from seeing this movie. I know that there is still racism, I also know that it is not ok. There is a scene in this movie where the coach takes the team on a long run in the middle of the night. They end up at the break of dawn at a cemetery. The coach tells the young men of the battle that was fought on that ground. He told of the blood shed on those grounds that turned the whole area red. This can help many people that want to make a difference in this world. They had to stand up for their new knowledge to people that they love and trust. The people in this story go through a great transformation from hating each other to being as close as brothers but I do not feel that the end result is the most important part. These boys had very difficult decisions to make. I think that all these young men were raised to be racists to varying degrees. This graveyard moment was a very clear message that could not be misunderstood. They learned tolerance for those of their loved ones that couldn?t or wouldn?t learn as quickly as they did. If we are to ever overcome the misguided beliefs we gain from our parents we need a very good explanation of why we should believe another way. Without this I do not think that the team would have ever come together because they had been raised to hate each other their whole life. The learned the importance of friendship and what i... ...n effort to get along. Their friendship was so secure and they were so pleased that they had learnt to overcome the racial issues and spent the time to get to know each other. They both still acted as if they were better than each other and they weren?t going to attempt to change this, even when they were playing football together. If something went wrong they would blame each other, or disagree, and always end up fighting and usually about different things, like who was better and right. By observing the friendship emerging between Gerry and Julius other people began to realize that having friends of a different race was not wrong. This also made Gerry and Julius?s friendship grow even stronger as they made a huge impact on the community. They started to understand each other and created a bond that was so strong that their appearance didn?t seem to matter anymore. Racism in the Film Remember the Titans Essay -- Movie Film Football Ra In the movie "Remember the Titans" there are many lessons that every person should learn in their life. One of the most important lessons is that of racism. In this day and age some people believe that racism is over because there are no longer any slaves, some people believe that there is still racism but that it is ok. I believe that those people would benefit a great deal from seeing this movie. I know that there is still racism, I also know that it is not ok. There is a scene in this movie where the coach takes the team on a long run in the middle of the night. They end up at the break of dawn at a cemetery. The coach tells the young men of the battle that was fought on that ground. He told of the blood shed on those grounds that turned the whole area red. This can help many people that want to make a difference in this world. They had to stand up for their new knowledge to people that they love and trust. The people in this story go through a great transformation from hating each other to being as close as brothers but I do not feel that the end result is the most important part. These boys had very difficult decisions to make. I think that all these young men were raised to be racists to varying degrees. This graveyard moment was a very clear message that could not be misunderstood. They learned tolerance for those of their loved ones that couldn?t or wouldn?t learn as quickly as they did. If we are to ever overcome the misguided beliefs we gain from our parents we need a very good explanation of why we should believe another way. Without this I do not think that the team would have ever come together because they had been raised to hate each other their whole life. The learned the importance of friendship and what i... ...n effort to get along. Their friendship was so secure and they were so pleased that they had learnt to overcome the racial issues and spent the time to get to know each other. They both still acted as if they were better than each other and they weren?t going to attempt to change this, even when they were playing football together. If something went wrong they would blame each other, or disagree, and always end up fighting and usually about different things, like who was better and right. By observing the friendship emerging between Gerry and Julius other people began to realize that having friends of a different race was not wrong. This also made Gerry and Julius?s friendship grow even stronger as they made a huge impact on the community. They started to understand each other and created a bond that was so strong that their appearance didn?t seem to matter anymore.

A Microfinance MIS

Mifos is an internet based management information system designed for microfinance. The system is user friendly and flexible for the company and it’s client information. Mifos is a unique system that provides tools which allows the user to research client’s information. This information used for this system would research information such as payments, client personal information for their accounts, reports and much more. The system helps the user navigate to different accounts and provides details of an individual client. There are several tabs the user can navigate to with the system. The first tab is the home tab which allows the user to search for the client’s information by name or groups. The second tab is clients and accounts tab to give full detail of the client’s information. In this tab the user can assist the client with opening accounts, closing and reviewing the client’s information and questions the client may have. The third tab is the report tab; this tab is used to process operational and financial reports. The last tab is the Administrative tab which is only used by a designated office administrator to create new system users and find office products. These tabs are provided to make sure information can be accessed and the side tabs are in place help the user navigate through the system without problems. The Mifos system is for IT skilled users and designed for financing purposes only.

A Weak Fiscal Lever

Economic management is The basic aim of any government in the world and its main policy objectives includes management of low and stable inflation, reduction in unemployment, maintain economic growth and to secure a favorable balance of payments.Fiscal lever is one of the main policy tools available to government to tackle economic downturn. According to Dornbusch, Fischer, and Startz, fiscal policy is the policy of the government with regard to the level of government purchases, the level of transfers, and the tax structures (Dornbusch, Fischer, and Startz 199).With all its significance, Fiscal lever should be very strong for stabilization of economy.High sensitivity of investment to interest rates and misunderstanding of policy makers to anticipate the need of particular crisis makes a fiscal policy weak and ineffective.A weak fiscal lever is the recipe to create inflation and retard private investment by higher interest rates that leads to arrest growth and development because low er investment means, the capital stock is also lower that leads to lower future incomes. Â  That is the condition of total breakdown of the structure of any economic system.A weak fiscal lever also creates social unrest by manipulation of resource allocation in the hands of government to fulfill their political priorities. It is well evident fact that if civil society will be dissatisfied by the policies the process of growth can not be carried out rather the crisis management can not be achieved. In other words weak fiscal lever can not help economy to get out of recession with all its traditional tools.Work CitedDornbush, Fisher, and Startz. Macroeconomics: McGraw-Hill, Singapore. 1999. Print

Critical analysis of Shameless Research Paper Example

Critical analysis of Shameless Research Paper Example Critical analysis of Shameless Paper Critical analysis of Shameless Paper The effective review of the channel 4 drama series Shameless, ‘The low down dirty lack of shame’ written by Tom Jennings. (Variant, No 19, pp. 11-12) articulates interesting arguments surrounding the class and representation of the characters and their progressing storylines. This is shown with comparisons between reality, and exaggerated storylines. I feel that the author’s purpose for this text is to enlighten and persuade the reader, about how different classes live. He does this with logical reasoning and orderly presented material. In my opinion, the framework of the review is largely fixated upon the way; the drama is presented to the audience. The main question that is being answered is whether or not the drama shows a true portrayal of working class. The writer answers this for the reader by segmenting the information under clear and understandable headings. These do not only relate to true life situations but also to shameless. An example is ‘family affairs’. This enables the reader to make the connection with the words and meanings. Jennings then goes on to inform about the morals of programmes that represent working class, and the refusal to take into consideration the troubles that occur in reality, for example political issues. Jennings also informs the reader of the hype that is created and surrounds programmes that are being forced into narrow social classes by the media. As a reader I can see this text clearly through living in the British culture, that is becoming increasingly obsessed with separating individuals into classes that my not represent their personality in the correct way. From reading the review, I gained the opinion that shameless entertains audiences in separate ways. Working class viewers will evoke a connection through the limited similarities it shares with reality, and also feel romanticised with the sense of fun that is perceived from the comical drama. It also appeals to middle class audiences through fascination of how different classes live, with the element of symbolic repertoire. To conclude, the text has both strengths and weaknesses. The material separates the text into clear categories, for easier reader consumption. However, there are weaknesses. One of these being the lack of factual evidence to back up the arguments put forward. His style is largely focused upon his personal opinion. To improve upon this, he could support his points with more fact, or others opinions. This would heighten the trust between the writer and the reader. The author targets the audience of the text to be the older viewers of shameless; I can see this through the use of language and media terminology, which the younger reader would find challenging to understand. The text would be appropriate as a learning resource which could be used for the study of representation and class. Since the text is largely about social classes and how media represents these through the characters and not directly about the series shameless. It would not be useful for writing about the actual programme, but more about what it represents.

Confusion of Subjective and Objective Pronouns

Confusion of Subjective and Objective Pronouns Confusion of Subjective and Objective Pronouns Confusion of Subjective and Objective Pronouns By Mark Nichol How do you decide which form of a pronoun to use, as in the choices of the wording in â€Å"John is as fast as him† and â€Å"John is as fast as he†? Knowing the varieties of pronouns will help you choose the correct form. A subject pronoun is one used as the subject of a sentence, as in â€Å"He is right† or â€Å"I am amazed.† (Subject pronouns include I, you, he, she, it, we, and they.) Subject pronouns may also rename the subject, following a copular verb (one that is a form of â€Å"to be†): â€Å"It is I who left the chair there.† A subject pronoun should also be used for such sentences as â€Å"It might have been she,† though an object pronoun is used in its place almost invariably in casual speech and often in writing. Object pronouns (me, you, him, her, it, us, and them), by contrast, are used to identify the object of a sentence, as in â€Å"Mary gave it to her† and â€Å"The tourists went to see them.† (Notice that you and it can serve as both subject and object pronouns.) Object nouns are used with all the three types of objects: â€Å"The Smiths invited us† (direct object), â€Å"The Smiths gave us our dish back† (indirect object), and â€Å"The Smiths gave a party for us† (object of a preposition). Should a sentence read, â€Å"I am older than her† or â€Å"I am older than she†? In a statement of comparison that uses as or than and does not end with a copular verb, temporarily add one to test the correct type of pronoun: â€Å"I am older than her is† does not sound right, but â€Å"I am older than she is† does, so the correct word in this sentence is she. (Therefore, the correct sentence in the pair of examples in the first paragraph of this post in formal writing, at least is â€Å"John is as fast as he.†) Note, however, that what appears to be a sentence with an incorrect form of a pronoun can be correct when it means something else. For example, â€Å"She fell asleep before him† could mean that the woman fell asleep in front of someone, not earlier than someone, in which case the statement is correct. What if the sentence refers to more than one person? Several factors come into play. The pronoun in â€Å"Joe and I were invited to the party† is correct because I is part of the subject (â€Å"Joe and I†). But â€Å"John went to the party with Joe and I† is not, because â€Å"Joe and I† is now the object, and the correct personal pronoun for an object is me: â€Å"John went to the party with Joe and me.† (Test for the correct form of the pronoun by removing the other person from the object: â€Å"John went to the party with me,† not â€Å"John went to the party with I,† is correct, so â€Å"John went to the party with Joe and me† is correct.) But an exception is made when the reference to Joe and the writer is preceded by a copular, or linking, verb (a form of â€Å"to be†), as in â€Å"The last people at the party were Joe and I.† In this sentence, â€Å"Joe and I† are predicate nominatives, meaning that they rename or describe the subject: â€Å"Joe and I† equals â€Å"the last people at the party.† A pronoun in a predicate nominative takes the subjective, not objective, case: â€Å"The last people at the party were Joe and I† is correct. It may seem wrong, but that’s because the rule is ignored in most spoken English and in much written English as well, so we’re accustomed to hearing and reading the error. It should be observed, however at least in formal English. (Some comments on this post refer to a previous version of this discussion.) Possessive pronouns (mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, and theirs) signal possession or relationship and, unlike nouns in possessive form, never include apostrophes. They take the same form whether in the subjective position or the objective position: â€Å"That is hers. Yours is here.† Reflexive pronouns (myself, himself, herself, itself, themselves, ourselves, yourself, and yourselves) refer to something already mentioned (â€Å"The machine appeared to start by itself†) or implied (Suit yourselves†). â€Å"The directions applied only to myself† is wrong because the person indicated by myself is not explicitly or implicitly referred to. (The correct wording is â€Å"The directions applied only to me.†) However, â€Å"I followed the directions myself† is correct because myself refers to the subject I. 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 Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Writing a Reference Letter (With Examples)"Wracking" or "Racking" Your Brain?Treatment of Words That Include â€Å"Self†