Accounting Career

Accounting Career Essay Kawanza Carey Everest Online University Strategies for Success 221 Accounting Career Essay Most people think accounting is just crunching numbers all day; everyone uses some form of accounting. There is much more to accounting than just crunching numbers. There are many types of accountants, covering a wide range of the business world, becoming an accountant opens a wide range of career opportunities. I want to become an accountant because it’s something that I’m familiar with since I prepare tax returns. Math has always been my favorite subject I enjoy working with numbers. Accountants help to ensure that firms run efficiently, taxes are paid properly and on time and public records are kept accurately. They analyze financial information for all different types of companies, individual clients, and Federal, State, and local governments. Beyond doing the basic tasks; providing information to clients by preparing , analyzing, and verifying financial documents; some accountants offer budget analysis, financial and investment planning, information technology consulting, and limited legal services. There are four major fields of accounting and auditing: public accounting, management accounting, government accounting, and internal auditing. Public accountants perform a broad range of accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting activities for their clients. Some public accountants decide to prepare tax returns while others offer advice in areas such as compensation. Public accountants; many who are Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), generally have their own businesses or work for public accounting firms. Management accountants are responsible for budgeting, performance evaluation, cost management, and asset management. They analyze and interpret the financial information that corporate executives need to make sound decisions. Government accountants and auditors work in the public sector, maintaining and examining the records of the government agencies and auditing private businesses and individuals whose activities are subject to government regulations or taxation. Those employed y the Federal Government may work as Internal Revenue Service agents or in financial management, financial institution examination, or budget analysis and administration. Internal auditors verify the effectiveness of their organization’s internal controls and check for mismanagement, waste, or fraud. They examine and evaluate their firms’ financial and information systems, management procedures, and internal controls to ensure that records are accurate and controls are adequate. Most accountants work in an office setting while other may be able to do part of their work at home. They work a 40-hour week job, but some may work longer hours if self-employed and have quite a few clients. During the tax season tax specialist often work longer hours. Accounting, bookkeeping, and auditing clerk are required to have a high school degree at minimum. Having an associate degree in business or accounting is required for some positions. Accountants and auditors need at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. Some employers prefer applicants with a master’s degree in accounting or business administration. An accounting clerk should be very comfortable with working with numbers, enjoy routine because you’re going to be doing the same thing daily. Other personality characteristics to be a successful accounting clerk are computer literate, great communication skills, and ethical. You have to be professional at all time because there may be a lot of irate clients upset about getting audited. If math is your favorite subject and you get along with everybody then being an accountant is a great career for you. Each year, numerous jobs will become available, as clerks transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force. There would be many opportunities for temporary and part-time work. Clerks who can carry out a wider range of accounting activities will be in greater demand than specialized clerks. An example is the demand for full-charge bookkeeper is expected to increase, because they can perform a wider variety of financial transactions. Certified Bookkeepers (CBs) and those with several years of accounting or bookkeeping experience who have demonstrates that they can handle a range of tasks will have the best job prospects. Accountants will always be in demand so I hope to be successful when I complete my degree. (n. d. ) References General Accountant Certified General Accountant Board †¦ (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://certifiedgeneralaccountant. org/ Accountants and Auditors. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. bls. gov/oco/ocos001. htm Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. bls. gov/oco/ocos144. htm

Underlining Synoptic Gospels

Underlining Synoptic Gospels The Gospels of Luke, Mark, and Matthew offer three similar yet different ways of retelling past events. The passages chosen are the Sermon on the Mount, The Beatitudes, Commissioning of the Twelve, The Fate of the Disciples, and The Coming of the Son of Man. The authors gave their interpretation to different events. Each Gospel clearly gives a general overview of everything taking place during this time period. The only difference exists in detail. The Gospels of Luke, Mark, and Matthew demonstrate the differences in similar stories being told by multiple authors. The Gospels of Luke, Mark, and Matthew match up very well. They generally follow the same storyline for each reading. In the Sermon, they tell how great crowds came from all over flocking to where Jesus was. The Beatitudes match up from Gospel to Gospel. The Commissioning of the twelve tell how Jesus chose his twelve apostles and sent them out on missions to heal the sick and cure the diseased. Apostles will be guided with what to say if questioned in Fate of the Disciples. Lastly, the coming of the son of man is described in all three Gospels. Differences are inevitable when different sources retell stories. The Gospels are no different. Each Gospel gives a different perspective than the other. What is not seen in one gospel is picked up in another. Examples are how masses came to see Jesus for healing, the Beatitudes, and the Disciples. Matthew neglects to tell how the masses of people came from Tyre and Sidon upon heading of Jesus’ miraculous healing powers. These individuals came from all over just for the opportunity to touch him in hopes of being healed. [1] This should have been put in for sure. This is just a blatant example of the power Jesus had. It separated Jesus from the false gods and prophets at the time. Mark does not contain the Beatitudes while Luke’s show of the Beatitudes is slightly shorter than Matthews. Mark may have chosen to not incorporate them into his text. The validity of the Beatitudes, based on this assignment alone, may be challenged based on how one author does not have any and the other two vary. In the Commissioning of the Twelve, Mark is the only author to give the small detail that Jesus sent the Disciples out two by two after giving them authority over unclean spirits. [2] After giving his disciples authority, Matthew does not tell how Jesus went up onto the mountain before he summoned his apostles. Mark does however, by saying that â€Å"He went up on the mountain and called to him those who he wanted and they came to him. †[3] This may be because the source that told Matthew may have not seen Jesus on upon the mountain. Luke and Mark may have had a source that watched it first hand or Matthew may have chosen to leave it out. Continuing with the Commissioning of the Twelve, another difference exists. Luke and Mark, not Matthew, both tell how Jesus went up on a mountain and called his twelve disciples and they were from that point on known as apostles. 4] The main problem with this situation is there is a difference in apostle’s names. All three Gospels have twelve names listed. Mark and Matthew had the name Thaddaeus and Luke had a second Judas. [5] The differences and similarities found in the Gospels are why they must be read together for comparison, much like anything else recorded second hand by various authors. The differences can be explained by lack of info rmation or just the choice of the writer to not include something. Numerous other factors could also be accountable but they need not be. While having differences the Gospels contain beyond more than enough similarities to get the point across. Bibliography Michael D. Coogan, ed. The New Oxford Annotated Bible, Augmented Third Edition, New Revised Standard Version with the Apocrypha. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007. Bart D. Ehrman, A Brief Introduction to the New Testament. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. ———————– [1] Mark 3:8-11; Luke 6: 17-19 [2] Mark 6:7 [3] Mark 3:13 [4] Mark 3:13-14; Luke 9:12-13 [5] Matt. 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16

Case Analysis-Jet Blue and WestJet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Case Analysis-Jet Blue and WestJet - Essay Example The relocation called for West Jet agents to encounter complex steps in processing the data, yet the airline had not attained the transfer time needed to transfer the files and had not succeeded to reduce its customer loads on flights that were to operate immediately following the changeover. Numerous bookings for prospected flights that were done prior to the changeover could not be accessed during the file relocation and for some time there after, since Sabre had to regulate the flights by use of the new system, thus customer dissatisfaction and a rarity for the airline. In addition to the high number of customer complaint calls, West Jet customers also expressed their displeasure through the internet sources such as face book. Angry flyers flooded the airline’s website, causing it to crash again. To deal with such customers, West Jet quickly apologized to them via their site by explaining the causes of the technological problem, and ultimately weathered the storm with success and realized its profits as before. Following West Jet’s incident, JetBlue was able to avoid some of the risks before implementing its new reservation system. It experienced problems like increase in call wait times, and not all its ticket printers and kiosks came online immediately. Additionally, Jet Blue was to add some booking functions, though the airline was well prepared to deal with these problems. Jet Blue had also some issues with its customers, due to the failure of the management to realize that their IT infrastructure was not strong enough to handle complex crisis. For instance, in February 2007, the airline attempted to operate flights in a storm when the rest of the major airlines had cancelled the flights. It was a poor decision for Jet blue as the weather conditions could not allow the flights to take off, making the passengers to be stranded

Composer report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Composer report - Essay Example though he was excused to hold mass due to his various illness ranging from angina pectoris, asthmatic bronchitis and nervous disorder claiming that his â€Å"chest was too tight† to administer a mass (www.baroquemusic.org , nd). There are few records about Vivaldi’s personality but his contemporaries describe him as boastful. In modern language, Antonio Vivaldi’s personality can be described as cocky because he of his ability to compose music swiftly (musicandbiology.blogspot.com, nd). Vivaldi knew that he was gifted in music. He could compose music faster than anyone could copy it and this lead to become proud, boastful and vain. Due to his vanity, he was also sensitive to criticism and is engrossed with money. He was also volatile who whose personality could be compared to modern day manic depressive person. He was however admired by people around for his talent, zest and enthusiasm for music (Orlando, 2008). Vivaldi was also a religious man being ordained as a priest. This was attested by Venetian playwright Carlo Goldoni who vividly described his first meeting with Antonio Vivaldi in 1735. When he arrived to meet Vivaldi, he found him in a meditational reading and was clutching his missal during his interview. In addition, many of his composition were dedicated to the Virgin Mary attesting his

Role of primary care physicians in obesity prevention and management Essay

Role of primary care physicians in obesity prevention and management in the U.S - Essay Example The principal research objective is to examine the gaps that exist in primary care particularly in managing obesity. Further, the research seeks to identify barriers that impede physicians from helping obese patients manage their weight. The research is, therefore, projected to pave way for better comprehension of healthcare delivery system from a weight and related ailments management perspective. Given the fact that scientific knowledge in regard to this healthcare service delivery system is not extensive, the proposed study will draw together extant information and present research based recommendations on how primary care physicians can contribute more to obesity management. Given primary care physicians’ direct connection to obese patients and their health information, they are best placed to aid in weight management and avoidance of obesity comorbidities, as long as, they effectively overcome prevailing impediments. Grant et al.’s study focuses on the roles entrus ted to bariatric physicians or medical practitioners who specialize in weight management. This study is instrumental to the research, since it provides insight into aspects in which primary physicians can be trained to make them proficient in obesity management. Sebiany’s research article provides important insight into the responsibilities expected of primary physicians in effective management of obesity, as well as, perceived obstacles to this efficacy. The journal article will be invaluable in development of the principal argument of the paper.

Analysis of the Silicon Valley Context for Entrepreneursip and Essay

Analysis of the Silicon Valley Context for Entrepreneursip and Innovation - Essay Example High-tech giants such as Microsoft, Google, Cisco, eBay, Pixar, and many other commonly known technology-based companies all call Silicon Valley home. In recent years, such groundbreaking advances as digital video recording and high speed wireless internet have been part of a non-stop stream of innovations that have facilitated a new way of life based on mobile and on-demand telecommunications capabilities. Other important advances have reshaped the way we utilize the internet, further integrating it into the normal course of our day-to-day existence. This extraordinary success not only devising hi-tech advances, but also bringing them to market in a wildly successful way, has rendered the Silicon Valley economy the envy of the world. Web innovations have been the latest hot developments to come out of Silicon Valley. Levy and Stone (2006) maintain that innovative new websites such as MySpace and Flickr â€Å"are milestones in a new high-tech wave reminiscent of the craziness of the early dot-com days. This rebooting owes everything to the enhanced power and pervasiveness of the Web, which has finally matured to the point where it can fulfill some of the outlandish promises that we heard in the ‘90s.† Some refer to this latest phase in the evolution of the internet as â€Å"Web 2.0.† This new web generation holds great promise for a stream of innovative new solutions that will redefine the extent to which the internet is integrated into daily life. â€Å"Aided by faster broadband connections, consumers are using the web more than ever and are publishing their own content to it in droves. At the same time, the web is morphing into a platform for applications that once existed only on computers – such as marketing and customer support tools for businesses – and providing a new distribution for products† (Bazeley 2005). The exuberance resulting from this success has certainly not come without cost. The 1990s produced a glut of dot-com

APT- Arbitrage Pricing Theory and CAPM-Capital Asset Pricing Model Research Paper

APT- Arbitrage Pricing Theory and CAPM-Capital Asset Pricing Model - Research Paper Example In the action of comparing investments’ returns and risks, if CAPM or APT is well utilized, they will reflect on whether one ought to invest in a given firm or another. The formulas to these two methods are given under; CAPM Re= Rf + ÃŽ ²*(Rm – Rf) Where; Re = Required return rate Rf =Risk-free return rate ÃŽ ² = Beta, which is the market risk factor premium Rm = Expected overall market return rate (valuebasedmanagement.net, 2011) APT Re = Rf + (Individual risk factor premium*Relationship between the factor and price) + (Individual risk factor premium*Relationship between the factor and price) Generally, these two methods are different in that one (CAPM) uses beta- which is the risk factor of a given stock in relation to that of the market. Therefore, if beta equals 1 this stock is equally risky with the market, if it is 2 the same stock is twice risky in comparison to the market. While on the other hand, APT utilizes individual factors in place of beta. Also APT does not apply the market return rate and thus considered to be more particular to a given stock in focus. CAPM’s data is objective while APT applies data from a single stock. Thus, CAPM is recommendable to an investor who is relatively dormant as compared to APT, which if correctly applied is better placed to assess projects. (Grover, 2010) Some authors have applied APT and compared the resultant estimates with those of CAPM. Patterson notes one of the cases where such has been done is the electric utility’s, written by Ross and Roll in their 1983 book. According to Patterson the end results of APT were credible in comparison to those of CAPM. But, this was without enough justification of the results. (Patterson, 1995 p151) Besides the first two, there are methods of assessment like the Dividend Growth Model and Modern Portfolio Theory. The Dividend Growth Model shows the value of ordinary shares in present value of the prospected future flows of cash which has been invested by an investor. The receivable cash inflows are taken as dividends as well as the expected price in future while the stock will be disposed. An ordinary share usually does not possess maturity and thus, it is held for numerous years. Therefore, a general ordinary shares’ valuation introduced by Gordon would be as below; P0 = ?t= 1â₠¬ ¦? Dt/ (1+r)t Where; Dt = dividend in duration t P0 = current stock price in the market r = constant yearly rate of growth of dividends t = number of given durations of periods (Siegel, et al 1997 p140) Just to mention, the other model investment assessment is known as MPT- Modern Portfolio Theory. This is a theory applied by investors who are risk averse and at the same time they want to achieve maximum or optimum level of expected return which is based on the market risk level. It emphasizes that risk is inherent in the process of getting the rewards associated with it. MPT is sometimes called the ‘Portfolio Management Theory’. As per the argument of this model, it is a possibility to come up with an efficient frontier that depicts optimal levels of a portfolio giving the maximum rate of expected return at the given risk levels. (investopedia.com, 2011) The study is set out to explain that the most recommendable model in the assessment of investment projects is CAPM . First things first, though, since lack of consideration of the assumptions would not lead to a comprehensive outcome of the study. The model of CAPM has the assumptions mentioned below forming its basis; Persons seek to achieve maximum utility of their investment portfolio over a given duration of planning horizon, Persons involved are risk averse, Persons have expectations

Homiletics Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Homiletics - Term Paper Example The use of ‘sea’ is highly symbolic in nature as is ‘storm’. In addition, he intends to show the movement of his mission to the Gentiles. Thus, the Gospel presents an incident that is very relevant even in the modern church. The incident provides the insight that for a believer, while crossing the sea of life, there is Jesus to still the issues that may arise on the way. The first point, according to Craddock (115), is that the Church too requires the constant protection from Jesus for its survival in the sea of modern life. Evidently, crossing the sea was a difficult task. As Rose observes, Galilean fishing boat of Jesus’ time was quite weak with oars and flimsy sails. So, one can imagine the range of fear that would arise in the mind of a sailor in front of a storm. In my opinion, the purpose of this section is to teach that the Church should be fearless in its functions as true faith knows no fears. In addition, as Craddock (115) states, the Church should seek continuous help from Jesus as it is evident that without Christ’s supports, even the Church will not be able to survive though it preaches his teachings. The first point Craddock brings in is that Jesus wanted to show his disciples the nature of his ministry. In fact, the stilling of storm was the first among the four episodes in which Jesus performs miracles. The miracles are calming a storm, healing a demoniac, healing a sick woman, and raising a dead girl. Craddock points out the fact it was immediately after this performance of wonders that Jesus appoints the twelve to preach his ministry. So, Craddock tries to draw a conclusion here that Jesus meant to show his disciples the nature of his ministry. Yet another point that Craddock brings in at this juncture is the fact that calming natural forces by rebuking is not at all different from other acts of exorcism performed by Jesus. Thus, in the words of Craddock, â€Å"rebuke† is intentionally used instea d of using touch or any other acts of exorcism to show that the purpose was not to present Jesus as one among the many exorcists who lived in that time period (Craddock, 66), but to show the power of the word of God. In fact, according to Craddock, the intention of Gospel was to show the power of the word the church was going to preach. The third point of consideration is the fact that Church too requires the constant help from Jesus to survive in the turbulence of life. Craddock (115) points out the fact that the usual posture of the church is serving others in the name of Jesus, but the Church too is receiving the benevolence of Jesus’ ministering presence; and in the long voyage across the sea of life, the Church would not be able to sustain itself without the active support from Jesus. In addition, Craddock points out the fact lack of belief and experience in Jesus, or of the Holy Spirit, would lead to the collapse of Church as it would easily go astray under the weight o f its own institutionalism or self-promoting programs. Another point of consideration is the question that Jesus asks his disciples on calming the storm. The question is â€Å"Where is your belief?† In the opinion of Craddock, the intention of Jesus was not to mention that the disciples were not believers or that they did not have belief. Nor did Jesus want to pint out that the disciples would be able to control the storm with belief. In the opinion of Cradock (115), Jesus was addressing their fear that did not mitigate even after spending so many

How do the arguments that motivate the Five Ways also help us to Essay

How do the arguments that motivate the Five Ways also help us to understand the nature of mind - Essay Example However, he succinctly lays bare the fact assumption that the universe and the world depends upon him for their imminent existence (McGrath 15). This same exposition aids us to understand the nature of the mind. Evidently, to our sense, everything in the world that moves is most probably caused to do so by another, unless it is in its potentiality to move. Motion is perceived as the alteration of something from potentiality to its reality. However, not a single thing can move from a state of potentiality to actuality unless it is excited to behave in that way by something else that is in its actuality. Therefore, it is exceedingly impossible for something to possess the ability, in the same respect, to move and be moved (Carruthers 73). Additionally, for something to move, it ought to be moved by another. The mind, though perceived to be abysmally voided induces the motion in every being. The mind has the ability to induce motion in beings and this initially ensues from the ultimate being gradually to inferior beings. This moving and being moved extends from one thing to another but cannot result into infinity, since there would not be a first mover. The succeeding movers move in as much as the first and ultimate mover, who is no one else but God move them. Aquinas derived the planetary motion ideology from Aristotle and succinctly described the force behind the motion. The seasons changed due to the planetary movement. Who moves and sustains the order of things in the world? The answer is only God, the ultimate mover, who sustains the order of occurrences in the world (McGrath 15). The second proof towards God’s existence confers from the efficient reason of being or actuality. In this world of sensible existence and the normal, there is usually a specific given order of the efficient causes. There is never an incidence where a thing is sufficiently capable of being the efficient cause of its own imminent existence (Gardiner 10). This is because it woul d undoubtedly be prior to itself and is therefore virtually impossible. It is extremely impossible to proceed to infinity, since all efficient causes follow each other progressively in a sequential order, the initial being the cause behind the efficiency of the intermediate cause. This is regardless of the number of the intermediate causes. Taking the cause is actually taking away the effect. If it were possible to move to infinity in efficient causes, there would be no primary efficient cause, any ultimate effect or any transitional efficient causes, which is false. Thus, God is the final efficient cause above all the other intermediate and subsequent causes. Therefore, this theory of efficient cause means that there cannot be an endless regression of effect and cause. Eventually, the final being that causes everything is God (McGrath 15). The mind, therefore, does not possess concrete existence. The emotions it holds of happiness and anger later subside, proving its emptiness. Thi s proof is conferred from necessity and possibility. Naturally, there are things our minds perceive to, possibly, be and others not to be. This is due to the possibly that they might be generated, corrupted and eventually, it is probable that they are imminently in a state of being and not being. However, this is virtually impossible since nothing can exist in the two different states. This depicts that everything can or cannot be. This results into the perception that if not

Harry Lavender Essay Essay Example for Free

Harry Lavender Essay Essay The Life and Crimes of Harry Lavender undermines many of the stereotypes within the genre of crime ? c? on. Marlene Days’ prominent themes are introduced in the extract. Power is characterised par? cularly through the antagonist, Sydney underworld ? gure Harry Lavender. Day also portrays the idea of decep? on and facade through her rendering of the duality of the city of Sydney and the characters within it. Days’ se%ng of the late 1980s conveys an era where new technology is seen and an ominent threat and a useful tool. These themes are represented in the extract and a novel as a whole. Claudia valen? ne is represented as a powerful individual within the ? rst few pages of the novel. Day establishes her independence and control as a woman with the quote â€Å"no one gets into my room, let alone my bed, without one. † It evokes a sense power and control and challenges the expecta? ons of women, as women are seen weaker in the world. Day also expresses the idea of power exceedingly through the antagonist Harry Lavender. Giving his status in the underworld of Sydney, Lavender is considered a man of power. â€Å"I am a famous legend in my ? me† The use of ? rst person narra? on gives the audience a sense of personal connec? on with the inner feelings of Lavender, as well as showing what Lavender sees towards himself. Decep? on is an integral element conveyed in The Life and crimes of Harry Lavender. The idea of decep? on and facades is par? cularly shown though both protagonist and antagonist, as well as Sydney’s duality of light and dark.

Membrane: Structure And Function

Membrane: Structure And Function Chapter title: Membrane Structure and Function. The ability of the cell to discriminate in its chemical exchanges with the environment is fundamental to life, and it is the plasma membrane that makes this selectivity possible. Membrane The membranes that are found within cells (plus the plasma membrane surrounding cells) consist of phospholipids (and other lipids plus membrane proteins) arrayed by hydrophobic exclusion into two-dimensional fluids known as known as lipid bilayers Phospholipids Phospholipids are amphipathic molecules meaning that they have both a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic end Lipid bilayer Phospholipids can exist as bilayers in aqueous solutions The hydrophobic portion of the phospholipid is shielded in middle of these bilayers The hydrophilic portion is exposed on both sides to water Lipid bilayers are held together mainly by hydrophobic interactions (including hydrophobic exclusion) Fluid mosaic model The plasma membrane contains proteins, sugars, and other lipids in addition to the phospholipids The model that describes the arrangement of these substances in and about lipid bilayers is called the fluid mosaic model Basically, membrane proteins are suspended within a two-dimensional fluid that in turn is made up mostly of phospholipids Cholesterol Cholesterol, a kind of steroid, is an amphipathic lipid that is found in lipid bilayers that serves as a temperature-stability buffer At higher temperatures cholesterol serves to impede phospholipid fluidity At lower temperatures cholesterol interferes with solidification of membranes (e.g., cholesterol functions similarly, in the latter case, to the effect of unsaturated fatty acids on lipid-bilayer fluidity) Cholesterol is found particularly in animal cell membranes Membrane proteins Proteins are typically associated with cell membranes Integral membrane proteins are typically hydrophobic where they interact with the hydrophobic portion of the membrane or hydrophilic where they interact with the hydrophilic portion of the membrane and overlying Functions of membrane proteins Functions of membrane proteins include: Transport of substances across membranes Enzymatic activity cell communication Cell-to-cell joining Attachment to the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix Selective permeability Lipid bilayers display selective permeability In general, intact lipid bilayers are permeable to: Hydrophobic molecules (including many gasses) Small, not-ionized molecules   Simultaneously, lipid bilyaers are NOT permeable to: Larger, polar molecules (e.g., sugars) Ions, regardless of size Thus, lipid bilayers are selectively permeable barriers that allow the entry of small or hydrophobic molecules while blocking the entry of larger polar or even small charged substances Transport across membranes Movement across membranes is important, for instance as a means of removing wastes from a cell or bringing food into a cell Categories of substance transport across membranes include: Passive transport Facilitated diffusion Active transport (including cotransport) Endocytosis, phagocytosis, and exocytosis, also considered below, technically are not mechanisms of movement of substances across lipid bilayers (though these do represent movements of substances into and out of cells; to be movement across the euakaryotic cell membrane, a substance must actually pass through an endomembrane lipid bilayer) Note that in considering transport across membranes we will once again confront the concept of movement away from or towards equilibrium, i.e., endergonic and exergonic processes There are three basic types of movement across membranes: simple diffusion, passive transport, and active transport: Simple diffusion Simple diffusion is the movement of substances across lipid bilayers without the aid of membrane proteins This image (below) shows how substances move through membranes, regardless of net direction and concentration gradients: This image (below) shows how substances net move through membranes in the direction of their concentrations gradients (i.e., with their concentration gradients)-note that regardless of how net movement is accomplished, all simple diffusion across membranes occurs in the manner illustrated above, i.e., it is a process that is driven by the random movement of molecules: This figure (below) indicates the kinds of molecules that are capable of moving across membranes via simple diffusion: Passive transport Passive transport is the term used to describe the diffusion (as well as what is termed facilitated diffusion, below) of substances across lipid bilayers Passive transport is a consequence of movement through the lipid bilayer (whether by diffusion through the membrane or with movement across facilitated by an integral membrane protein) a concentration gradient thereby contrasting with active transport Down the concentration gradient Diffusion is a random process that tends to result in the net movement of substances from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration This includes movement from one side of a permeable lipid bilayer to the other from the higher concentration side to the lower concentration side (i.e., passive transport) Movement from high to low concentration areas is described as going down its concentration gradient. The direction of movement of substances across lipid bilayers by passive transport is controlled by concentration gradients Osmosis Movement of water across selectively permeable membranes down the water concentration gradient is called osmosis Note that this is movement toward equilibrium (exergonic process) Tonicity (isotonic, hypertonic, hypotonic) Picture a membrane separating two solutions, one side with a higher solute concentration than the other The side with the higher solute concentration is said to be hypertonic The side with the lower solute concentration is said to be hypotonic (I keep track of the difference by recalling that a hypodermic syringe is so named because the tip of the needle is placed beneath the dermis, i.e., under the skin; a hypotonic solution has a solute concentration that is beneath, i.e., lower than that of the reference solution) If both sides have the same solute concentration, they are said to be isotonic Animal cells and tonicity Normally animal cells are bathed in an isotonic solution Placement of an animal cell in a hypertonic solution causes the cell to shrink (i.e., water is lost from the cell by osmosis) Placement of an animal cell in a hypotonic solution causes it to take on water then burst (lyse, i.e., die) (water is gained by the cell, lost from the environment bathing the cell, both by osmosis) Turgidity Normally a plant cell exists in a hypotonic environment The hypotonicity causes the plant cytoplasm to expand However the plant cell does not lyse and this is due to the presence of its cell wall This conditions is known as turgidity (i.e., the pressing of the plant plasma membrane up against its cell wall) Plant cells prefer to display turgidity Plasmolysis A plant or bacterial cell placed in a hypertonic environment will show a shrinkage of its cytoplasm This shrinkage is called plasmolysis At the very least plasmolysis will inhibit growth Often plasmolysis will lead to cell death This is the principle upon which foods are preserved in highly osmotic solutions (e.g., salt or sugar); such solutions impede most microbial growth Flaccidity Plant cells bathed in isotonic solutions will fail to display turgidity Instead they display flaccidity At a whole-organismal level, flaccidity is otherwise known as wilting Transport proteins Substances (e.g., sugars) that are not permeable through lipid bilayers may still cross via membrane-spanning transport proteins Facilitated diffusion Facilitated diffusion is the movement of a substance across a membrane via the employment of a transport protein, where net movement can only occur with the concentration gradient, is called facilitated diffusion The key thing to keep in mind is that facilitated diffusion, in contrast to other mechanisms of transport-protein-mediated membrane crossing, does not require any input of energy beyond that necessary to place the protein in the membrane in the first place (i.e., facilitated diffusion is an exergonic process) Passive versus active transport Two general categories of transport across membranes exist: Those that dont require an input of energy (passive transport, simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion) Those that do require an input of energy (active transport) Passive Transport Active Transport Concentration gradient With (Down) Against (Up) Without Integral Protein Yes (Simple Diffusion) No With Integral Protein Yes   Yes Examples Small or Hydrophobic Substances, Osmosis(by simple diffusion) or Not-Small or Charged Substances (by facilitated diffusion) Cotransport, Proton Pump, Sodium-Potassium Pump Active transport Active transport is the movement of substances across membranes against their concentration gradients Moving things against their concentration gradients requires an expenditure of energy (i.e., it is an endergonic process) This energy can be in the form of ATP (e.g., sodium-potassium pump) This energy can also be in the form of electrochemical gradients (i.e., cotransport) Note that the movement of substances by active transport is in a direction that is away from equilibrium Sodium-potassium pump One means by which cells actively transport substances across membranes is via the sodium-potassium pump The sodium-potassium pump is important especially in animal cells, and is the means by which the sodium-potassium electrochemical gradient is established by these cells Proton pump The sodium-potassium pump is the means by which animal cells generate membrane potentials In bacteria, plants, and fungi, proton pumps play the same role The proton pump is simply ATP-driven active transport in which the substance pumped across the membrane is a hydrogen ion Cotransport Much of the active transport accomplished by a cell isnt directly powered by ATP Instead, much active transport is powered by membrane potentials (i.e., electrochemical gradients) Such electrochemical-gradient-driven active transport is called cotransport In cotransport, one substance, such as a sugar, is driven up its concentration gradient while a second substance, e.g., sodium ions or protons, are allowed to fall down their electrochemical gradient; the energy gained from the latter is employed to power the former (i.e., energy coupling) Endocytosis Endocytosis is a general category of mechanisms that move substances from outside of the cell to inside of the cell, but neither across a membrane (technically) nor into the cytoplasm (again, technically speaking) Instead, substances are moved from outside of the cell and into the lumens of endomembrane system members To enter the cytoplasm an endocytosed substance must still be moved across the membrane of the endomembrane system, e.g., following their digestion (typically hydrolysis) to smaller molecules Examples include: phagocytosis, pinocytosis, and receptor-mediated endocytosis Phagocytosis Phagocytosis is the engulfing of extracellular particles is achieved by wrapping pseudopodia around the particles, thus internalizing the particles into vacuoles Amoebas employ phagocytosis to eat Most protozoa obtain their food by engulfing, i.e., via some form of endocytosis The advantage of endocytosis as a mechanism of food gathering has to do with minimizing the volume within which digestive enzymes must work in order to digest food, i.e., the engulfed food particle Cells in our own bodies, called phagocytes and macrophages employ phagocytosis to engulf (and then destroy) debris floating around our bodies as well as to engulf and destroy invading bacteria Pinocytosis Pinocytosis is the engulfing of liquid surrounding a cell This is how developing ova obtain nutrients from their surrounding nurse cells (ova are very large cells so have surface-to-volume problems-pinocytosis solves the problem of nutrient acquisition by allowing nutrients to be obtained across many internal membranes rather than being limited to crossing the plasma membrane) Receptor-mediated endocytosis Receptor-mediated endocytosis involves the binding of extracellular substances to membrane-associated receptors, which in turn induces the formation of a vesicles Exocytosis Exocytosis is more or less the mechanistic opposite of endocytosis

Periodic Self-Assessment Essay -- Psychology

As an aspiring clinical health psychologist, I realize increasingly the value of self-analysis. Conducting periodic self-assessment is a healthy activity as I evaluate my current state and where I want to be. Clinical health psychologists expend emotional and physical energy as they help others. Sometimes the daily strain of the job and stress that accompany the job can exhaust the clinical health psychologist both mentally and physically. Professionals cannot provide for clients if their own needs are not being met. Counselors of all theoretical orientations identify their own engagement in personal therapy with another professional as one of the most critical components to maintain their own professional balance and effectiveness (Orlinsky, Schofield, Schroder, & Kazantzis, 2011). The personal dispositions and behaviors that affect my mental and physical health are obvious. First, I have a tendency to be task oriented. This is a great quality when I am working on a doctorate, but is not always good for relaxing and enjoying time with my family. Second, my mind never seems to turn off. Sometimes, I become very engaged with difficult clients as I attempt to help them work through their difficulties and solve their problems. While my level of engagement is not inappropriate and I do not feel as though I have to fix the client, the level of expended emotional energy may not be appropriate outside of a session. Both of these personal attributes can create stress in my professional and private life. Additionally, my husband and I have six children. The oldest has mental health issues and although she lives alone, there are daily phone calls and regular emergency room visits when the medication levels are unbalanced. My youngest i... ... discuss my policy with them. To me, the questions I ask when considering any kinds of self-disclosure are (1) does this help my client, (2) can this harm my client, and (3) what are the negative repercussions that could come from disclosure? Because self-disclosure is rarely beneficial to a client, the answer to these three questions is usually â€Å"no.† References Orlinsky, D. E., Schofield, M. J., Schroder, T., & Kazantzis, N. (2011). Utilization of personal therapy by psychotherapists: a practice-friendly review and a new study. Journal Of Clinical Psychology, 67(8), 828-842. doi:10.1002/jclp.20821 Taylor, L., McMinn, M. R., Bufford, R. K., & Chang, K. T. (2010). Psychologists’ attitudes and ethical concerns regarding the use of social networking web sites. Professional Psychology: Research And Practice, 41(2), 153-159. doi:10.1037/a0017996

J.C. Penney Gift Certificate Concerns :: GCSE Business Marketing Coursework

J.C. Penney Gift Certificate Concerns J.C. Penney Company, Inc. has recently introduced a new point of sale (POS) system developed by NCR Corporation into their stores. In the first six months of operation, it has become apparent that there are unanticipated problems with the accounting and control functions pertaining to gift certificates. The new POS system does not provide for adequate tracking or control of the certificates on the sales floor, store level sales audit has inadequate procedures or data capture capabilities in place to track sales accurately and assign responsibility for missing certificates, and corporate accounting has no control over the gift certificate accounting on the store level and are constantly struggling to reconcile gift certificate information. Problems on the Sales Floor At the POS terminals on the sales floor, gift certificates are being stored underneath the cash register in a drawer with no security or control. The security and control of gift certificates has been overlooked during the drafting of the procedures for the new POS system. As a result, the security and control on gift certificates on the sales floor that had been in place with the old system has simply stopped. Employees are purely on the â€Å"honor† system. When sales associates ring up a gift certificate sale they have to key 1) the appropriate twelve-digit SKU from a list of 3 choices, and 2) a dollar value for the gift certificate shown on the face. For example, SKU #1 represented the $25 gift certificate, SKU#2 represented the $50 gift certificate, and SKU #3 represented the $100 gift certificate. After the sales transaction is complete, the sales associate must manually record the dollar value of the gift certificate on their cash audit report. During times of high volume, sometimes this final step is overlooked. Typically, the cashiers are just keying SKU #1 for any gift certificate sale and keying in the appropriate dollar value from the face of the gift certificate. The SKU’s are not electronically tied to a dollar value. This is a limitation of the previous POS system that was not addressed during the testing stage of the new system. Therefore, the error rate is very high and discrepancies in gift certificate sales are common. At the close of the shift, an electronic cashier report is generated on the register that just shows a total dollar amount tied to a SKU.

Black Nationalism Essay

Critically discuss the contributions of both Booker T. Washington and W. E. B DuBois to the idea of Black nationalism in the United States. What were the major obstacles they faced in their articulation of the black Nationalist ideology? Booker T. Washington â€Å"was an American political leader, educator and author† who proved to be one of the most dominate figures in African American history in the United States (Booker, par. 1). William Edward Burghardt Du Bois â€Å"was a noted scholar, editor, and African American activist†¦[who] sought to eliminate discrimination and racism† (.. During the late 19th and early 20th century Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. DuBois were two great men who significantly influenced the idea of Black Nationalism in the United States. Though they both wanted to see an America where the Negro was treated with proper respect and equality, their views on how to obtain these noble goals contrasted one another. The ideology of DuBois and Washington were so completely different that people became subjected to following the doctrine of one or the other. With the knowledge that only one could be the â€Å"spokesman† for the race the two began a bitter battle to control the Black Nationalism ideology. Amid the competition against one another, both men still had to face other obstacles such as racism in order to further the goals of blacks of the period. Even though the two men had differing opinions on the ideology of Black Nationalism, both would greatly contribute to the idea of Black Nationalism. However, their differing positions on Black Nationalism portrayed a divide amongst African Americans of the time. To understand why Washington and DuBois had such differing opinions it is necessary to look back into the environments that both men came from. Born into slavery in 1856, Washington was the son of a white man and his slave mother Jane. While growing up in Virginia, Washington worked in both a coal mine and as a salt packer. In 1872 Washington left his work to go the Hampton Institute. The major educational doctrine of the school was that former slaves should receive a practical education that centered on skills instead of a liberal arts education. At the institute Washington worked to pay his way through school. After leaving the school, Washington worked for several years before he received an appointment to establish the Tuskegee Institute in 1881. At Tuskegee, Washington used many aspects of the education he received from the Hampton Institute. One of the central ideas that he brought from the institute was the belief that blacks should learn a trade or skill. (Hine 369) William Edward Burghardt DuBois’ background shaped his paralleling views to those of Washington. In contrast to Washington, who was born on a plantation, DuBois was born in a small North Eastern town where he was subject to little overt racism and acquired a much higher education. He was once quoted as saying, â€Å"I was born free. Washington was born a slave. He felt the lash of an overseer across his back. I was born in Massachusetts, he on a slave plantation in the South. My great-grandfather fought with the Colonial Army in New England in the American Revolution. I had a happy childhood and acceptance in the community. Washington’s childhood was hard. I had many more advantages: Fisk University, Harvard, and graduate years in Europe. Washington had little formal schooling (Hine 400). † This quote exemplifies his opposing foundation compared to that of Washington. DuBois’ background made him more comfortable with confrontation with whites, while Washington’s created a deep subconscious feeling of fear and submission. While DuBois enjoyed the benefits that the upper class life had to offer, Washington was faced with scorn, dehumanization, neglect, and prejudice, all of which he had to overcome. It is apparent for the quote that DuBois sympathizes and understands the demeaning nature in which Washington was treated which is the ultimate result of Washington’s pessimistic attitude toward society. Everyone has a different life experience. What one experiences early in their life shapes the way they think and how they view society later in their life. Typically an early life of tranquility, less hardships, and opportunity to succeed lends itself to one having a more optimistic view of society where as an early life of great hardships and little to no opportunity results in an individual having a more judgmental and disparaging view of society. This was the case with Booker T. Washington. Growing up as a slave, Washington was presented with many emotional and physical hardships which were the causes of his critical view of society. However, Washington manipulated the lessons that his early life experience had taught him to shape his view on society. He utilized these teachings to provide insight on how he wanted to bring about change within society in order to initiate progress and advancement. Booker T. Washington was particularly interested in the advancement of Blacks in a predominantly white society. Growing up as a slave he had little opportunity to achieve anything, however, because he was a slave he learned to value old-fashioned hard work which transposed over to him greatly valuing agricultural education as a major aspect of Tuskegee. With hard work being one of his fundamental values, he was convinced â€Å"that the surest way for black people to advance [in society] was by learning skill and demonstrating a willingness to do manual labor (Hine 369). † In a speech at the Cotton States Exposition in Atlanta in 1895, Washington stated that â€Å"no race can prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in as in writing a poem. It is at the bottom of life we must begin, and not at the top (Hine 370). † This statement asserted that Washington believed people, mainly black people, could gain the respect and acceptance of white Americans through acquiring skills and becoming prosperous small farmers, artisans, and shopkeepers. If Blacks were to continuously demonstrate this humility then it will eventually result in the eradication of the race problem of the time. Booker T. Washington’s belief in living a simplistic life in order to progress not only stemmed from the idea of hard work but also carried on to other beliefs such as the importance of liberal arts education and especially the foundation of industrial growth. He was very committed to promoting industrial education. He stresses that many positive things will branch from such a foundation including the growth in black people’s social life, the growth in black people’s educational life, and the growth in black people’s religious life (Hine 371). This statement shows that Washington felt that men and women who acquired these skills would be recognized as productive contributors to the southern economy thereby, once again, deteriorating the color boundary that was separating society at the time. The purpose of Booker T. Washington’s ideas for trying to assimilate Blacks in this manner was simply to avoid protesting and upheaval that could result in people getting harmed. His goal was to assimilate the black people into white America in a civilized manner, however, in order to achieve it he believed that black people should merely understand there place in society. One positive aspect of Washington’s beliefs was that it promoted steady labor. Washington believed in educating blacks in particular skills in order to maintain steady jobs and make a living. It was important that blacks were able to hold a job in order to function healthily as families, provide for themselves, and help develop their economic independence. At the time, there was increased competition between poor whites and blacks. In order for a black worker to get a job, they must not only deal with learning a particular trade but also overcoming racism. Being educated in common manual labor provided the basis for blacks to work up from. Although blacks were commonly restricted to the lower paying jobs, having a formal training in a skill made their value as a laborer rise. This labor also provided another positive aspect in that it transferred money from the white economy to the black economy. By being able to work for whites, blacks were able to use their income as they pleased. No longer did they have the restrictions placed upon them in slavery. Washington advocated a diverse labor field for blacks. Rather than only advocating farmers, he believed that blacks could be educated in other manual labor such as masonry, mining, and smith work. Another positive aspect of Washington’s beliefs is that it was the beginning in raising blacks out of their lower class position. For the first time blacks were not simply working on farms or plantations, they were acquiring skills. These skills provided the foundation for blacks to work up to gaining an education, earning money, and providing for the future of the next generations. This not only benefits oneself, but also the black community. The ideas of Washington did not inspire conflict or fear in whites because whites viewed that Washington was promoting keeping blacks in menial jobs rather than the higher paying work or typically white jobs such as doctors, lawyers, or politicians. The ideas of Washington enabled educational institutions such as the Tuskegee Institute and other black colleges and universities to exist that encouraged agricultural, mechanical, or technical skills. Since these institutions encouraged blacks to only strive for technical careers rather than offering a liberal arts education it did not inspire fear in whites. Whites were willing to allow black schools to exist that encouraged these skills because in turn these skills would offer a cheap labor but effective labor source. Also these institutions were non-threatening to whites because they offered skills and trades versus an education that would allow for black minds to grow and develop. Even though the education that blacks received from these institutions did not compare to those of liberal art universities, it still did offer blacks a chance at some sort of education. Although not encouraging the deeper growth of the black mind, schools like Tuskegee offered its students an education that would allow them to become proficient at a skill and earn an income. Washington believed that by working and hard, increasing their economic holding and becoming masters of many trades that they could eventually end racism and be accepted by whites. He believed that blacks should not let racism deter one from working. Washington once said, â€Å"Nor should we permit our grievances to overshadow our opportunities (Hines 397). † This shows that he believed that blacks must use their opportunities to better themselves rather than focusing on the negative aspects of life. Washington also said, â€Å"In our humble way, we shall stand by you with a devotion that no foreigner can approach, ready to lay down our lives, if need be, in defense of yours, interlacing our industrial, commercial, civil, and religious life with yours in a way that shall make the interests of both races one (Hines 397). † Washington believed that by blacks staying in their positions and working diligently, blacks would eventually be accepted by whites. He believed in blacks about remaining devoted to the white race rather than rising against it. By advocating working within the confines of white society rather than rising in opposition against it, Washington promoted the safety of blacks during this time period. Washington pushed for gradual and deliberate social acceptance of blacks as they began assimilating to white culture. By gradually working towards being accepted, this kept the opposition of whites to a minimum. As long as whites viewed blacks as harmless, blacks were able to continue growing and improving themselves. â€Å"The wisest among my race understand that the agitation of questions of social equality is the extremist folly, and that progress in the enjoyment of all the privileges that will come to us must be the result of severe and constant struggle rather than of artificial forcing,† said Washington (Hines 398). Washington believed that it is impossible to force someone to accept one another; rather one must make people want to accept them. Washington’s goal was not to force blacks into the upper class society, but to gradually encourage their acceptance and possibly an eventual rise in social stature. Despite the many positive and beneficial aspects of Washington’s view of Black Nationalism, there were many drawbacks that hindered the widespread acceptance of his ideology. He believed in maintaining the lower class position of blacks. By saying that all blacks should work in menial labor, he limited the opportunities for black people to strive for anything more. Rather than encouraging and uplifting blacks in believing that they could do anything they wanted to, Washington believed that blacks should remain content in their lower class state. Considering that Washington, a part white and black man, was the spokesperson for the race, he was stating to whites that he was the exception rather than the rule. Whites were able to justify his leadership and politics by attributing his success to his white ancestry. Whites were pleased with Washington’s stance that blacks should stay with basic tasks for a number of reasons. Typically, these jobs were usually lower paying and had terrible working conditions. These jobs were considered lower class labor, and the majority of whites, with the exception of poor whites, were not interested in pursuing these jobs. The lack of competition made it acceptable to the majority of whites. If these jobs were considered â€Å"black jobs† then it was fine for blacks to work in these fields. During this time period, the category of â€Å"black jobs† became redefined to these positions. Whites were moving out of these fields at the same point that blacks were striving to move up in their job status, therefore it was okay for blacks to replace these whites since it did not adversely affect them. Also Washington constantly advocated the point that blacks should work long and hard to â€Å"prove† their worth to whites. He offers a reconsideration of what it means to be black (Owens, par. 2). However, whites were never accepting of blacks. It was almost impossible for blacks to gain acceptance by simply showing their hard work during a time period where they were consistently looked down upon. Washington also believed that blacks must remain passive in their attempts to improve life. While whites used methods such as brute force and intimidation to keep blacks down, Washington believed in turning the other cheek rather than encouraging conflict. At this time period, it would have been almost impossible for blacks to gain any amount of social standing by continuing this passive ideal. As the spokesperson for the black race, Booker T. Washington presented various and influential ideas about Black Nationalism in America. Many of his ideas were beneficial to the black race at the time, such as the advocating of skills and trades, however, other ideas, such as his advocacy for maintaining the social position of blacks and non-confrontation, were not effective in improving Black Nationalism. Washington principles revolved around blacks working as shopkeepers, farmers, and other low-skilled professions. He believed, â€Å"On such a foundation as this will grow habits of thrift, a love of work, economy, ownership of property, bank accounts. Out of it in the future will grow practical education, professional education, and positions of public responsibility. Out of it will grow moral and religious strength. Out of it will grow wealth from which alone can come leisure and the opportunity for the enjoyment of literature and the fine arts (Hine 371). † In stark contrast to this, DuBois believed, â€Å"If my own city of Atlanta had offered it to-day the choice between 500 Negro college graduates – forceful, busy, ambitious men of property and self respect – and 500 black cringing vagrants and criminals, the popular vote in the favor of the criminals would be simply overwhelming. Why? Because they want Negro crime? No, not that they fear Negro crime less, but that they fear Negro ambition and success more. They can deal crime by chain gang and lynch law, or at least they think they can, but the South can conceive neither machinery nor place for the educated, self-reliant, self-assertive black man (Hine 371). † W. E. B. DuBois believed in the opposite of what Washington believed. Instead of believing that the way for blacks to succeed was within industry, DuBois believed it lied not within training but within educating. DuBois believed that the learning that blacks received should go beyond training for work or learning a skill. He believed that it was necessary for blacks to gain an education that would allow them to develop and grow mentally. He mentioned that â€Å"the function of the Negro college, then, is clear, it must maintain standards of popular education, it must seek the social regeneration of the Negro, and it must help in the solution of problems of race contact and cooperation. And finally, beyond all this, it must develop men (Hine 370-71). † By receiving an education, blacks would then become better men and could be able to lead the black race. By having large numbers of educated blacks leading the race, DuBois felt that this was the best way to end racism. In his ideology DuBois felt that there would be a group of blacks that would lead blacks to prosperity, social acceptance and bring about the end of slavery. He characterized this group of people as the â€Å"talented tenth† (Hine 401). In other words, the most educated and best suited 10 percent of the black population would be used to lead the black race as a whole. He affirms to that â€Å"work alone will not do it unless inspired by the right ideals and guided by intelligence. Education must not simply teach work – it must teach Life. The talented Tenth of the Negro race must be made leaders of thought and missionaries of culture among people. No others can do this work, and Negro colleges must train men for it. The Negro race, like all other races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men† (Hine 401). This statement exemplifies DuBois’ strong belief in an elite group of back men how will arise to lead a deprived race into a society that will accept and acknowledge their talents, skills, and wisdom. While advocating for the best of the black race to lead the rest of the black race, DuBois also had different opinions on how to confront racism. Instead of trying to circumvent racism DuBois wanted to attack it, becoming somewhat of a militant leader (Maddox, par.3). He did not promote settling for meager jobs, he wanted to attack discrimination in all forms including disenfranchisement and Jim Crow laws. DuBois was not willing to wait for whites to give blacks their rights. Also DuBois was not tolerant toward blacks who were not willing to fight for their rights. With the ideology that DuBois adopted, there were many positive aspects that he brought to the idea of Black Nationalism. Education is one of the most important aspects that DuBois stressed in his ideology. DuBois believed that blacks could not hope to eclipse their position in life without an education. With this belief he encouraged blacks to go to numerous colleges and universities in order to receive an education. Another positive aspect that DuBois came to push with Black Nationalism was the view that white racism should be confronted. Throughout this time period, white racism was overt and abundantly clear for what it was, however, blacks were not in a position to confront this. Du Bois believed in encouraging blacks to stand up for their rights and for the elite â€Å"talented tenth† to show whites that they were not to be viewed as unrefined barbarians. DuBois believed that whites were more than happy to have blacks working for them. With whites perfectly content to allow blacks to work under them in a neo-form of slavery the same social position that blacks were in would continue to exist without change. With the knowledge that racism would not change unless it was directly confronted, DuBois began to believe in this ideology of confrontation. One of the greatest contributions that DuBois presented was his idea of higher education. He believed that it was essential for blacks to gain a deeper theological education, rather than the basic skilled education. DuBois believed it was important to gain this education in order to gain status of the â€Å"talented tenth. † In his ideals, DuBois believed that it was important that blacks did not need to be lead by one spokesperson such as Washington, but instead could be led by intelligent, resourceful, educated black Americans. Although he had an idea of a more talented group of people, these lines were flexible and able to be changed with new faces of black America. He understood the need to have different and multiple representations, rather than one blanketed statement about black Americans that would encourage misrepresentation and stereotypes. While there were many positive aspects of the ideology that DuBois put forth, there were also some problems. Dubois’ idea of a select group of black intellectuals whose purpose would be to â€Å"set out to organize an aggressive effort to secure the rights of black citizens† is a very potent idea, however, it becomes problematic when one places this enormous responsibility in the hands of such a small group of individuals (Hine 401). The fact that he felt that merely ten percent of the black population would be qualified to lead the struggle for black equality, explained earlier, has its importance. Nevertheless, this idea has some absurdness to it. To put the burden of trying to correct the discriminative situation that was accruing at the time on purely ten percent of the black population could be strenuous on that particular group. Therefore, instead of progression within the movement it would possibly cause a regression within the movement and deter any success that could accrue. This ten percent of black intellectual leaders should not focus on wrestling the task of establishing equal civil liberties for blacks on there own. Instead, they should focus on teaching the remaining ninety percent of the black population to lead as well. By accomplishing this task the black race would not have to rely merely on a few group of individual to fight the struggle for their liberation into a society of equality. Alternatively, many black people will have the ability to lead their own struggle in their particular area of the nation. In contrast to Booker T. Washington’s passive attitude to accomplish black equality, W. E. B. DuBois, on the other hand, had a more aggressive attitude. DuBois felt that to achieve the black community’s goal of eliminating racism the black community should attack it head on. Unlike Washington’s idea of simply sitting back and let the White community slowly accept the black people and recognize them for their hard work, DuBois wanted to actively assert the black community into society swiftly and without prejudice. This tactic could pose to be over aggressive which would ultimately retract from what he wants to get accomplished. Some states, mostly northern states, would be able to tolerate this aggressive tactic and possibly even acknowledge the efforts of DuBois. However other states, particularly the southern states would find his aggressive method as offensive thereby diminishing the popularity of DuBois’ goal viewed by the white community. Another problem with Dubois’ idea on how to confront racism was that it did not take into consideration everybody’s economic standpoint. He believed that with the acquisition of a higher theological education rather than simple basic skills education, the black community will be able analyze the society in which they live and make informed decisions on how they would like to live instead of simply accepting their position in which society had prepared for them. However, for many black to acquire that theological education in that time was quite challenging because not every black person or family could afford to pay for that higher education. To remedy these situation free educational institutions could be established, but somewhere down the line the expense to run the school would become overwhelming without financial support from the state. The black institutions would have extreme difficulty obtaining financial support from a predominantly white state who felt that they had already made a place for the black race. Although both Booker T. Washington and W. E. B Dubois made great contributions to the idea of Black Nationalism, their strategies would be questioned and would also be met with much objection. The major obstacle they faced in their articulation of a Black Nationalist ideology was opposition from each other. Their contrasting up-bringing allowed them to have different views and opinions of society. It also helped in forming their attitude of how to go about expressing their Black Nationalistic ideology. Washington experience as a child made him more passive. â€Å"His childhood was one of privation, poverty, slavery and back-breaking work† (Yankowitz par. 1). Growing up as a slave he learned to be more submissive and accepting of things presented to him and therefore he felt that the opportunity for black people to succeed will come slowly with obedience and serenity. DuBois, however, up-bringing made him have a more forward outlook on society and life in general. Unlike most blacks living in the United States, â€Å"Du Bois had grown up with more privileges and advantages†¦He had suffered neither severe economic hardship nor repeated encounters with blatant racism† (â€Å"W.E. B Dubois†, par 4). Because he grew up in a well-to-do setting he learned to have a more assertive personality resulting in his aggressive approach to confront racism. In a statement made at the Atlanta Cotton States and International Exposition in 1895, Booker T. Washington alludes to his opposition of the tactics utilized by W. E. B DuBois by mentioning that â€Å"the wisest among [his] race understand that the agitation of questions of social equality is the extremist folly†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hine 396). This statement affirms that if one is to be aggressive in their manner to acquire equality in the society in which they live, then it would surly lead to the demise of their efforts. The statement can greatly be associated with DuBois’ methods of articulating Black Nationalism ideology. More opposition to Washington’s conciliatory stance on racial matters stemmed from William Monroe Trotter, an educated Harvard editor of the Boston Guardian, who became the most â€Å"vociferous† critic of Washington (Hine 399). Trotter referred to Washington as â€Å"the Great Traitor, the Benedict Arnold of the Negro Race, and Pope Washington† which hardly bothered Washington. However the nicknames did, along with many argumentative articles that he wrote, cause unsettling skeptics about Washington’s techniques Similarly, Booker T. Washington’s method of articulating Black Nationalism ideology contradicted W. E. B Dubois. In his book entitled The Souls of Black Folk, Dubois remarks that â€Å"Mr. Washington distinctly asks that black people give up, at least for the present three things, – First, political power, Second, insistence on civil rights, Third, higher education of Negro youth, – and concentrate all their energies on industrial education, the accumulation of wealth, and the conciliation of the South† (Hine 396). It revealed that Washington did not want black people to expect too much but should greet menial labor as a step in the struggle for progress. DuBois greatly detested this notion and preferred the assertive strategy which he felt to be the most effective way to ensure progress. Though Booker T. Washington and W. E. B DuBois had conflicting ideas of Black Nationalism ideology, the two presented ideas that lasted and effect the ideas of future black nationalist. Works Cited America’s Story from America’s Libraries. 2006. The Library of Congress. 3 Oct. 2006 . â€Å"Booker T. Washington. † Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 21 Nov 2006, 07:24 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 21 Nov 2006 . Hine, Darlene Clark, William C. Hine, & Stanley Harrold. The American Odyssey: Volume Two. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey; Prentice-Hall, 3rd edition 2005. Maddox, Alton H. , â€Å"The untold story of the Civil Rights Movement – Part I. † New York Amsterdam News 96. 44 (2005): 12-14. â€Å"W. E. B Dubois. † MSN Encarta, The Online Encyclopedia. 2006. 6 Oct. 2006 . Owen, Williams R. â€Å"Old Negro, New Negro. † Rev. of The Education of Booker T. Washington: American Democracy & the Idea of Race Relations, by Michael Rudolph West. Black Issues Book Review May 2006: 45 Yankowitz, Donna. â€Å"Booker T. Washington. † 2006. 6 Oct. 2006 .

Macbeth Where Events Are Shaped by Ambition and Madness Essay

Of the many William Shakespeare’s famous playwright, Macbeth is one that challenges characters sanity with their ambition for power. Ambition is a theme that is early established in the play where the desire for power and status consumes Macbeth upon hearing the witches’ prophecy. Lady Macbeth, too, desires for power alongside her husband. However, her wrongdoing overcomes her with fear and guilt, which strips her away from her sanity. This also destroys the close relationship that both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth had as their lives are dictated by fear. Therefore, the events in this play are shaped by the characters whose ambition leads them to lose their morality, and later to be imprisoned in their own madness. Macbeth is an ambitious man by nature, and was known to be â€Å"valiant† and â€Å"brave†, however, he is later referred to as a â€Å"tyrant† as his crave for power overcomes his sense of morality. Macbeth’s ambition is apparent when he hears the witches’ prophecy, â€Å"all hail Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter†, to which he later commands â€Å"stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more†. This change in Macbeth’s personality sparks the first signs of ambition he has to become king, and Banquo notices this, quoting â€Å"Look, how our partner’s rapt.† This in effect can be said to be the catalyst to Macbeth murdering Duncan for his title of King of Scotland. Because of this, Macbeth lives in constant fear of being overthrown, and his madness to hold power over everyone else is illustrated through the spying of every lord. â€Å"There’s not one but in his house, I keep a servant fee’d.† C onsequently, Lady Macbeth also suffers her wrongdoings, and in her madness, she leads herself to her own tragedy. Lady Macbeth can be said to be even more ambitious than her husband in the beginning, but as the guilt of her actions overcomes her, she takes her own life in defeat. In the first few scenes of introduction to Lady Macbeth, she can be seen to long for status and wills for her emotions to be unnerved for what crime she is to commit. â€Å"Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty!† This desperation in Lady Macbeth goes to show the immense greed she has for power and can also be seen when she advices Macbeth, â€Å"To beguile the time, look like the time. Bear welcome in your eye, your hand, your tongue. Look like th’ innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t.† Although Lady Macbeth acts so spitefully, her conscience still prevails in that she is unable to sleep at night but relives the nightmare the murder. â€Å"Here’s the smell of blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.† The fear that has consumed Lady Macbeth influenced the event in which she takes her own life. Ambition and madness enclosed on both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is the cause for their drifting relationship, to the point where they are incapable of showing emotion towards each other. On the night of the murder, madness seeps into Lady Macbeth as she imagines sounds of the night. â€Å"I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.† Macbeth, on the other hand imagines voices, â€Å"One cried â€Å"God bless us!† and â€Å"Amen† the other, as they had seen me with these hangman’s hands†, marking one of the many occasions in which the killing has affected his and his wife’s mental state. In the progression of the play, Macbeth quotes ‘Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts cannot once start me† implying that he has feared too much to fear anything at all. This lack of emotion is also seen when he discovers about Lady Macbeth’s death, responding with no sense of care or love towards his wife. â€Å"She should have died hereafter; there would have been a time for such a word.† All this contrasts with the relationship Macbeth and Lady Macbeth had at the start where they regarded each other as â€Å"My dearest love†. Their relationship had been bound to suffer as their ambition was too great for their ability to cope with guilt and fear, shaping many unfortunate events in the play. Shakespeare’s highly regarded playwright, Macbeth, has not only explored the destructions of over ambition but also leads into the consequences of the characters emotional and mental state. Ambition in characters, in particular Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, has shaped the events which ended both their lives as they were corrupted with terror and madness. Not only have their actions driven them to insanity but have also destroyed their relationship, which was left meaningless to both in the end. Therefore, ambition and madness in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth has shaped the events which resulted in the tragedy of their death.

Body Piercings

Body piercing has increased over long terms of period of time and it becomes one of the trendiest and culture in today’s our life. This has attracted the most people who are interested about body piercing, and then they get attention especially from media when famous celebrities come up in advertisement with their body piercings and tattoos. However, there are various places that people do the body piercing such as tongues, noses, navels and even their genital, but this occurs lots of arguments that piercing makes in dangers or just showing as one of individuality. Many piercers are re-representing the piercing as an option of styling or strong expressions about themselves, and having one of body piercing or tattoos are a means of personal empowerment for some Ger Xers who are typically searching for individualism and control of their lives. These arguments give strong opinions to person by person and it could spread out popular in very short time in publicity. However, following the articles by Lori Wilkerson he said that â€Å"it has existed in many cultures for hundreds of years in many historical countries and many historical reasons are generally about advertise wealthy and the power of men. Another argument in favor of piercing is there is man Griffhorn, 26, owner of Black Hole Professional Body Piercing shop in Reno, mentioned â€Å"Trend is the biggest reason and it ways to reclaim people after physical or sexual abuse†. On the other hand, opponents including many doctors point out that it refers to regarding the possible dangers such as oral piercings cause swollen tongues, excessive bleeding, and typical infections also swallowing of small parts of jewellery. Moreover, according to articles by Quint Miller(2000), there are common piercing problems appeared from people when they ripped their skin from the jewellery either catching on clothing or even being pulled off. It leads to get infections easily especially to get Hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is an infection which is extremely dangerous than other problems because it can causes cirrhosis and cancer of the liver. For this reasons, some medical practitioners said that â€Å"many piercers are providing their services in unsafe environments such as no gloves or masks to remove their jewellery, no sterilization equipment and unsanitary surroundings†. Thus, with all arguments from advatanges and disadantages the first thing we must remember about to care and treats out skins when it gets infections even it is a way of expressions of individuality or favourite things to do. It is also good to know from behind old history why people did body piercings and tattoos, and how it continued to be exist until now. The reason because there are so many different characters of people gathering around and their passionative ideology makes small communities to one big society.

Mexican Art

The land called Mexico has many moods and faces. Without a doubt Mexico is steeped in ancient Indian lore, seasoned with Spanish colonial customs. The array of folk art and crafts in Mexico is simply mind-boggling. Each region of Mexico has its own specialty, with villagers maintaining the traditions handed down from countless generations. Mexican culture is a fascinating blend of Native American traditions and Spanish colonial influences. Long before the Spaniards arrived in the 16th century, the indigenous civilizations of Mexico had developed arts such as ceramics, music, poetry, sculpture, and weaving. After the conquest, the intricate designs and bright colors of many Native American arts were often mixed with European techniques and religious themes to create a hybrid and uniquely Mexican artistic style. Numerous churches constructed during the colonial era reflect the blending of Spanish architectural designs with the handiwork of Native American workers who built and decorated the buildings. Many of Mexico’s most popular modern crafts—such as textiles, pottery, and furniture making—borrow designs and techniques from Native American culture. Mexican painting and music have also been shaped by this heritage. Indigenous influences were given a tremendous boost by the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). During and immediately after the revolution, many Mexican artists celebrated the nation’s unique mixture of races and cultures in their work. Political and social themes from the revolution—such as efforts at land reform and the right of common Mexicans to participate in the nation’s government—were also reflected in the arts. Immediate post revolutionary governments supported the arts and contributed to efforts to make them more accessible to average Mexicans, especially in the 1920s and 1930s. The  individual most responsible for this support was Josà © Vasconcelos, a leading intellectual who served as secretary of education in the first post revolutionary government. The government was especially influential in promoting mural painting, commissioning artists to paint murals depicting Mexican history on public buildings (Hutchison, 2003). During the 1930s, painters came to Mexico from the United States to study the mural movement. Many people from Europe, the United States, and Latin America also visited Mexico as tourists in the 1930s and 1940s, increasing the popularity of native arts such as the making of silver jewelry. Paintings Mexican arts, with the exception of folk arts, generally followed European patterns during the colonial period and the 19th century. The Mexican Revolution was instrumental in fostering a new sense of nationalism and experimentation at the School of Fine Arts in Mexico City. Artists such as David Alfaro Siqueiros belonged to a group of painters who decided that content and form was as important as aesthetics. A number of these artists, including Siqueiros, were political activists as well as artists who aimed to inspire the lower classes in Mexico by creating paintings that dealt with revolutionary themes. They encouraged the development of public murals, so that ordinary Mexicans could view the work of leading artists (Martin & Jacobus, 2004). Painting with a permanent medium on large walls, these muralists—including Diego Rivera, Josà © Clemente Orozco, and Juan O’Gorman—dominated the Mexican art world in the 1920s and 1930s. Other artists pursued a different tack. Frida Kahlo painted numerous small self-portraits, which captured her own vision in strange, often surrealistic presentations. Kahlo fractured her  spine and pelvis in a traffic accident as a teenager and began to paint while recovering from her accident. The constant pain Kahlo suffered due to her injuries, as well as her sadness over being unable to bear a child, are reflected in much of her work. In the 1930s Rufino Tamayo combined native folk themes with European art forms such as cubism. His work reached a much larger foreign audience than that of other Mexican artists, particularly in Europe and New York City. Tamayo was an outspoken opponent of the painting style of the revolutionary muralists, arguing that their focus on political and social themes came at the expense of artistic quality. The intense colors of many of Tamayo’s paintings and his use of flattened two-dimensional figures—a style that is common in Mexican folk or pre-Columbian art—gave his work a distinctly Mexican flavor. Manuel Alvarez Bravo, who associated with some of the leading creative photographers in the United States, such as Edward Weston and Tina Modetti, became the first Mexican photographer to reach a large international audience. He was influential in promoting photography as an art form in Mexico. See also Latin American Painting; Latin American Sculpture. Architecture From the 16th through the 18th centuries, architecture overshadowed other forms of art in Mexico. The early buildings of the Spaniards tended to be simple and practical. In the 17th and 18th centuries, however, architecture in Mexico became highly decorative and elaborate. It was during this period that many of the country’s famous churches were built, including the    Cathedral of Mexico in Mexico City. Examples of Spanish colonial architecture are found throughout Mexico. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the French splendors of the Second Empire style were introduced in Mexico City. This trend began under Emperor Maximilian, who ruled Mexico briefly during the 1860s, and later under President Porfirio Dà ­az. Dà ­az commissioned the ornate Palace of Fine Arts, which was completed in the 1930s. Since the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920), many outstanding examples of modern architecture have been built in Mexico. The National Autonomous University of Mexico contains many spectacular modern buildings that feature murals in fresco and mosaic. It includes a multistory library almost completely covered by mosaics designed by Juan O’Gorman. Another Mexican architect, Fà ©lix Candela, created highly original concrete shell designs for several churches and for the sports palace at the 1968 Olympic Games (Billington, 2003). One of Mexico’s most internationally admired architects, Pedro Ramà ­rez Và ¡zquez, designed the renowned Museum of Anthropology and History in downtown Mexico City. Ceramics (Clay Art) Since the appearance of the Olmec culture, considered to be the â€Å"mother of the Mesoamerican cultures†, ceramics took a prevailing place in the lives of the Mexican people. The earthenware vessels, anthropomorphic figures, and various types of utensils found in the archaeological ruins of the ancient Olmec cities of Tajin, San Lorenzo, La Venta and Tres Zapotes, suggest the techniques used in their ceramics: the use of clay, the knowledge of some primitive firing techniques, their means of coloring and painting designs. The Olmecs transcended their era (1500 B.C. –800 A.D) and bequeathed their knowledge to the cultures that flourished after them. The Teotihuacans (100 B.C. – 800 A.D.) prepared the majority of their vessels with clay and decorated them with a variety of techniques: mainly stucco, painting, and smoothing. The pottery of the Aztecs (1325 A.D. – 1521 A.D.) was extremely varied.   They made all types of earthenware, plates, jugs, cups, and pots, mostly with red and orange clay. The Mixtecs stood out for their polychrome lacquer ceramics, in which after polishing a piece, they would cover it with white stucco and then paint it. To the north, the Casas Grandes culture (100 A.D. – 1360 A.D.) produced beautiful polychrome ceramic, basically with geometric motives and influences from the Mimbres culture. Each region had its own unique characteristics in pottery.   However, in all these cultures, the potter himself was given a great deal of importance.   The Aztecs summed it up in the following way: â€Å"A good potter: he puts great care into his work, he teaches the clay to lie, he speaks with his own heart, he brings life to things, he creates them, he knows everything as if he were a Toltec he makes his hands skillful.† The ancient techniques employed to make ceramics are still used today – mostly in the rural parts of Mexico. It’s curious how these groups were able to preserve their artistic techniques – coil building, open firing, natural pigments – and yet they lost their original language and their religion. When the Spaniards arrived, the blending of societies allowed the indigenous people to learn new techniques, and the combination of styles gave life to some of the more famous ceramic styles of Mexican earthenware, such as the â€Å"majolica† or Talavera. Puebla’s Talavera is a direct descendant of the Arabic-Andalusian tradition, which began in Spain in the ninth century, when the influence of the Arabic culture passed on its techniques to peninsular potters.   In Talavera de la Reina, Spain, it became very popular and took a characteristic stylistic form toward the 16th century.   It was then that it was brought to the Americas, especially to the Nueva Espaà ±a, the New Spain, as Mexico was called in colonial times. Although Talavera is only produced in Puebla, other majolica type earthenware is also produced in places like Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende. To the west, in Tonala, Jalisco, is another Mexican state with a long tradition of ceramic production.   Here, there is more of a Persian influence, including pieces such as stew urns, using gold and silver. In Metepec, State of Mexico, the ceramic tradition has been influenced by Christian beliefs. Here they create the well-known arboles de la vida, trees of life, which are made to look much like tree. Wire is used to attach the clay leafs and figurines to the â€Å"tree†. It is called de la vida because it explains the origins of life. Usually there are figures of God, angles and Adam and Eve, as well as the serpent and some fruit are represented by special figures. Day of the Dead trees is also made using skeletons, and images related to the festivity. Some are made in terracotta, without glaze; others are painted in every imaginable color. Red ware, which is used to make everything from large cooking pots to rice dishes to table dishes, is typical of Michoacan.   The characteristic decoration of these dishes are small flowers made with the thick part of the paintbrush, with white or green paint around a small black circle, as if it were a margarita (the flower). In Oaxaca, the town of San Bartolo is famous for its barro negro, black clay.   The artwork made with this clay acquires its color through the pigments in the polishing process, which brings out the red color from inside the clay.   There are some more recent techniques that bring out a mixture of the natural dark and light tones of the clay, which artists protectively keep to them (Wasserspring, 2000). The small town of Mata Ortiz, Chihuahua stands out for its beautiful pottery as well.   It was here that they reinvented pre-Hispanic ceramics techniques after shards of ancient pottery were found in the ruins of Paquimà ©.   This renaissance was mostly due to Juan Quezada, outstanding Master Potter of Mata Ortiz. Some Mexican creators have implemented new forms and new designs for typical Mexican artwork, such as ceramic eggs from which little frogs are born, lizards and other little animals; glass and ceramic twisters; key chains with eclipses; masks with a pre-Hispanic or oriental motif; dish sets with images of Tamayo or Rivera; tiles with geometrical figures, etc. In the 1950s, High Temperature ceramics or stoneware appeared in Mexico.   The origin of this type of ceramics is from China, Korea and Japan. This technique was introduced to Mexico by a small group of Mexican ceramic artists who studied abroad, mainly in Japan and the United States.   Little by little, it caught on, and these days there are several regional centers in which artists work with Stoneware, such as Michoacan, Veracruz and Jalisco. As we can see, Mexican ceramics bring together the influences of pre-Hispanic, European, Arabic and Oriental cultures.   Whatever technique is used, Mexican ceramics have individuality and â€Å"flavor† that is appreciated for its art and quality worldwide. References Hutchison, P., (2003). Footprint Central America and Mexico 2004 (p. 93). USA : Footprint Handbooks Martin, F. D., Jacobus, L. A. (2004). Humanities through The Arts (p. 399). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Billington, D. P., (2003). The Art of Structural Design: A Swiss Legacy (p. 136, 162). USA : Other Distribution Wasserspring, L., Ragan V., (2000). Oaxacan Ceramics: Traditional Folk Art by Oaxacan Women (pp. 1, 22). San Francisco, California: Chronicle Books

Lifes of Rizal in Hongkong and Macao Essay

Haunted by enemies and threatened by friars, Rizal was forced to leave Philippines for the second time. It was February 1888 then. Rizal at 27 was an embittered victim of human iniquities, a disillusioned dreamer, and a frustrated reformer. This was the start of Rizal’s second travel. On February 3, 1888, after six months of stay in Calamba, Rizal left Manila for Hong Kong on board the Zafiro. He was sad and sick during the crossing of the choppy China Sea. He did not get off the ship when it made a stopover at Amoy, because he was sick, it was raining and the city was dirty. He arrived in Hong Kong on February 8. In Hong Kong, Rizal stayed at Victoria Hotel. He was welcomed by the Filipino community in Hong Kong. During this time, a Spaniard, Jose Varanda, was shadowing Rizal’s movements in Hong Kong. It is believed that he was ordered to spy on Rizal. On February 18, Rizal accompanied by Basa, boarded the ferry steamer Kiu-Kiang for Macao. He was surprised to see a familiar figure among the passengers—Sainz de Varanda. Rizal described Macao as a small, low and gloomy. There are many junks, sampans, but few steamers, it looks sad and is almost dead-like. The two stayed in at the home of Don Juan Francisco Lecaros who was married to a Portuguese lady. During his two day stay in Macao, he visited the theater, casino, cathedral and churches, pagodas and botanical gardens and the bazaars. He also saw the famous Grotto of Camoens. In the evening of February 19, he witnessed a Catholic procession wherein the devotees were dressed in blue and purple dresses and were carrying unlighted candles. On February 20, Rizal and Basa returned to Hong Kong on board the ferry steamer Kiu-Kiang. A Landmark in Honor of Rizal’s Visit in Hong Kong Rizal stayed in Hong Kong for two weeks. There he studied the Chinese way of life, language, drama and customs. Rizal noticed some experiences and wrote them in his diary. Some of them include the noisy celebration of the Chinese New Year which lasted from February 11th to 13th. There were continuous explosion of firecrackers and he himself fired many at the window of his hotel. He also observed the boisterous Chinese theater, the marathon Lauriat party, which was the longest meal in the world; the Dominican Order was the richest religious order in Hong Kong, and the cemeteries. On February 22, 1888, Rizal left Hong Kong on board the Oceanic, an American steamer and his destination was Japan. Rizal did not like the meals on board but liked the ship because it was clean and efficiently managed. Chapter 11 In Hong Kong and Macao 1888 Hounded by powerful enemies, Rizal was forced to leave his country for a second time in February 1888. He was then a full- grown man of 27 years of age, a practicing physician, and a recognized man-of-letters. The first time he went aboard in June 1882, he was a mere lad of 21, a youthful student in search of wisdom in the Old World, a romantic idealist with beautiful dreams of emancipating his people from bondage by the magic power of his pen. Times had changed. Rizal at 27 was an embittered victim of human iniquities, a disillusioned dreamer, a flustrated reformer. The Trip to Hong Kong. On February 3, 1888, after a short stay of six months in his beloved Calamba, Rizal left Manila for Hong Kong on board the Zafiro. He was sick and sad during the crossing of the choppy China Sea. He did not get off his ship when it made brief stopover at Amoy on February 7. for three reasons: (1) he was not feeling well, (2) it was raining hard, and (3) he heard that the city was dirty. He arrived in Hong Kong on February 8. During his stay in Hong Kong, a British colony, Rizal wrote a letter to Blumentritt, dated February 16, 1888, expressing his bitterness. In Hong Kong, Rizal stayed at Victoria Hotel. He was welcomed by the Filipino residents, including Jose Maria Basa, Balbino Mauricio, and Manuel Yriarte, (son of Francisco Yriarte, alcalde mayor of Laguna). A Spaniard, Jose Sainz de Varanda, who was a former secretary of Governor General Terrero, shadowed Rizal’s movement in Hong Kong. It is believed that he was commissioned by the Spanish authorities to spy on Rizal. Hong Kong, wrote Rizal to Blumentritt on February 16, 1888, is a small, but very clean city. Many Portuguese, Hindus, English, Chinese, and Jews live in it. There are some Filipinos, the majority of whom being those who had been exiled to the Marianas Islands in 1872. They are poor, gentle, and timid. Formerly they were rich mechanics