Facing Harsh Realities Essay Example for Free

Facing Harsh Realities Essay The recognition and acceptance of truth and reality is a recurring theme in Literature because it is such an enigmatic issue in human life. A highly discussed subject of human experience, our perception and acceptance of reality defines and determines how we see our life, and how we choose to live our life. This very subject is revealed and discussed in the novel written by Ralph Ellison entitled, â€Å"Invisible Man. †Ellison introduces the protagonist as an unnamed character who insists calling himself an â€Å"invisible man,† (page ) struggling to discover truths and realities about his life as an African-American. In the beginning of the story, he is portrayed as a naive young man who believes that being meek and submissive are the key characteristics needed by an African-American to better his life. His first struggle with this dilemma is illustrated in the cruel scene when the protagonist is forced to take part in a game called â€Å"battle royal† wherein he is pitted against other young African-Americans in a boxing match. The game is imposed upon the boys, who are degraded into being fighting beasts eager to please their master, the dominant white man. Despite the circumstances, the protagonist moves on to please the white men. At the end of the cruel event, the reward of a scholarship makes the protagonist feel content and happy on the surface; and yet, his mind struggles with the moral and racial injustice done to him by the white men, as revealed in his dream of his grandfather’s mockery and warning. This is the first instance that the protagonist is struggling with the reality that the seeming kindness of white men is actually a masked transgression against the African-American race, and against his very own person. His encounter with this harsh piece of reality is just the beginning of his awakening, because as the novel unfolds from this â€Å"battle royal† scene, the struggle for recognizing and accepting the truth may be surely won, but from this very point, it is a long way off.

Theories of Food Choice Influences

Theories of Food Choice Influences Food is essential for growth and bodily functions (Wahlqvist and Briggs, 2010). Therefore, in this paper, theories that influences food choices will be discussed and applied to my food choices. Lastly, this paper will conclude on my understanding on others food practices and what changes can improve their food choices. Based on the food choice model, the first medium that influences ones food choice is developmental. Food choices are often developed and influenced through exposure over the individuals developmental lifespan. From the child is born, his family would be the primary medium for his exposure and socialization to the food that he consumes. Usually, the food consumed would belong to the culture which the child family stemmed from. Rarely would the child be allowed autonomy over the choice of food. (Fieldhouse, 1998). Applying this to an Asian context which I was born in; since young, I was exposed to Chinese cultural foods where lard, soy sauce, sugar and salt was often used to enhance the flavour and fragrance of meals. I was used to eating these daily and never would have thought I would be exposed to other food choices. This exposure came when I progressed into adolescence where a secondary type of socialisation took place school, media, friends or an older sibling. When a child enters school, and gets exposed to friends and the media, they will observe what their peers consume and get exposed to food advertisements on the media, all which grabs their attention and leads them to change in their food habits (Fieldhouse, 1998; Ogden, 2010). Remembering vividly back to high school, if my peers or elder sister ordered a meal, I would order the same meal as them due to my perception that they know what food tasted better. In addition, when shown food advertisements, it often makes me crave a bite. The second medium is our cognition. Based on the Theory of Reasoned Action (Ogden, 2010, p44), it posits that an individuals attitude and his subjective norms drives his intention to perform the behaviour which then leads to the individual performing the behaviour. Again, applying it to Chinese cuisine, it is the subjective norm that one should use all parts of the animal (e.g. chicken)-including the organs- during cooking as they have nutritional values. Therefore, I feel it is normal to cook every part of the chicken (attitude towards behaviour). Given that a whole chicken can be conveniently bought at any supermarket, I would turn the various parts into different dishes for my family (performing of specific behaviour). Despite, knowing that animal organs for example are high in saturated fat and can cause heart diseases (Jesus, 2015). The third medium is psychophysiological. Food choices can be based on the 5 senses: sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch. (Ogden, 2010) Hearing food sizzling, coupled with the smell and sight increases our likelihood of consuming the food. When food touches the tongue, pleasure is obtained from the texture, perceived sweetness or saltiness of food. Food choices can also be influenced by ones mood and stress. (Ogden, 2010) Personally, intense stressors from school would cause me to engage in mindless eating as a mood booster. Convenience is defined as the accessibility to food products. After living in different countries, it got me appreciating how different countries have different accesses to food products. For countries with supermarkets conveniently located near train stations, it is easy for the residents to get a wide array of food choices. This is unlike countries where supermarkets are scarce with limited food choices. Cost can also influence food choices. It is of relevance to the individual socio-economic status; with more access to money, one can made more food choices. But, being a student with no source of income, I must be thrifty and limit my choices. Food choices can also affect how one manages their relationship with others. Given that most of my peers and family love fried food, I would cook them frequently to satisfy their taste buds. By doing so, I am bonding with them even though I know that it is unhealthy. After understanding the influences in my food choices, the basics of the theory of planned behaviour (Ogden, 2010, p45) could be used to explain how my choices changed. During a lecture, I learnt that consuming healthy food would improve ones health (i.e. healthier weight, positive mind set, decrease in blood pressure and cholesterol level) and reduces the likelihood of developing chronic diseases. With so many health benefits, this has motivated and drive me to make the change. Based on the theory, I am showing a change in my attitude towards the behaviour (i.e. a healthy lifestyle). This change towards a healthier food choice was further made easy through the context that I am in. Having peers that were studying the same course who hold similar goals to have a healthy diet -, it thus seems like a subjective norm to have healthier food choices. I am also blessed to have housemates that are supportive to my changes. Making the move here to Adelaide alone had also given me full control over food choices. To start the change of food choices, one needs to have adequate knowledge. Through my research on the healthy eating guidelines, I have learned to consume a wide range of reduced fat dairy products, vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, lean meats, have ample of plain water and reduce consumption of foods high in saturated fat, salt and sugar. (Commonwealth of Australia, 2015) A second change that I made was through how I did my grocery shopping. Prior to purchasing any food, I would read the ratings and food labels. As healthier products are costlier, I would purchase fresh vegetables and healthy products that are on offer to reduce my expenditure whilst eating healthier. A third change that I made was in modifying my food practices arising from the Chinese culture. It dawned on me that Chinese cuisines are usually high in salt due to the salt and soya sauce combination added into the dish. To ensure that I eat healthier while still satisfying my sensory needs, I created variations like omitting salt if soya sauce is used, using olive oil and different spices. I have also substituted white rice for brown rice for its health benefits and replaced junk food (e.g. chips) with baked nuts (e.g. walnuts). By making such changes in my food choices decisions, it has changed how I view food. I have learnt to appreciate food for their natural taste, am more conscious on what I eat. It has also made it harder for my peers or the media to influence my current palate. Having been to the outskirts in Thailand; Chiang Rai, I will be analysing their food practices. In Chiang Rai, there are limited food options for the locals. As supermarkets are usually located in town and there are no public transports available; one would have to drive about an hour to get fresh groceries. Due to these inconveniences, the food options for locals are preserved foods as it is affordable and can be stored longer. In addition to limited food options, the locals are also presented with a reduction in their food choices. As most locals hold manual labour jobs, their food choices were mainly limited to an increased consumption of carbohydrates (e.g. white rice); as it is presumed that higher consumption of carbohydrates will keep one full for prolong hours. It was also hard to incorporate fresh food into their diet as they do not have the appropriate storage place (e.g. fridge) to prevent the food from turning bad. Lastly, the locals at Chiang Rai differs in their cooking practices. The meals prepared are often seasoned either with sugar or salt as they believe that this is the only way to ensure that the meal tasted delicious. After analysing their food practices, it can be deduced that their diet resulted from poor accessibility to food choices, awareness on healthy diet, money and the proper amenities to store their products. The individuals accessibility to the supermarket is of first importance. The government should target such population and make public transport available. This will allow greater accessibility to other food choices. If creating a public transport route is not feasible, another alternative would be for the supermarkets to offer free delivery services. Not only would this be beneficial to busy working adults, but this will also be of great help to elderlies who has decreased strength and mobility and are unable to lug heavy groceries home. Of second importance is educating them. When I started making the change, I enriched myself with healthy eating guidelines. Therefore, I believe that with adequate education on how to prepare healthy meals with affordable ingredients and introducing them other natural alternatives that enhances their meals (e.g. herbs and spices); making healthy food choices (e.g. reading food labels) and changing their perceptions (e.g. educate them to choosing high fibre food which can help them to be full easily too) towards food. Making groceries more affordable would be of third importance, supermarkets can consider selling seasonal vegetables and products that are expiring within two months at a cheaper price. Lastly, there could be community funding projects conducted to raise funds for such population to afford a fridge to keep their fresh groceries.

University International Students

University International Students Introduction Studying at the university requires adjustment so that the student can effectively function and pursue his chosen field of study. Ones academic life, gaining access to educational materials, and interaction with classmates and professors are all important factors in the adjustment process. Yet, they are not the only factors that should be taken into account. This adjustment process becomes even more important for international students. They have to adjust to the culture of the location of their university, they have to take into account the language, the social norms, the idioms and metaphors being used by the society that the university belongs to. If they fail to adjust in the social context, their education might not be maximized, and, worse, they might not be able to understand a lot of things in their schooling. This essay takes a look in the adjustment process that international students have to face, particularly their context and their learning styles. It discusses how context and learning style affects their adjustment process. In doing so, this essay presents several theories and principles regarding the learning process. Furthermore, it presents several recommendations on how international students could better adjust in the university. More than just a theoretical presentation, this essay also takes into account the personal experiences of the author and will deal with some of the challenges being faced by international students in the university. This understanding is very important so that the international students, and other university students and professors would come to better strategies in helping international students cope with the university life and all its rigors and demands. University Culture and the International Student The university promotes scholarly studies and the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. In addition to this, the application of this body of knowledge in the society is also taken into account. Because of the process of globalization, university culture is also being internationalized in the sense that the university is being integrated into the global processes defining the world at this time (Bartell, 2003). Given this internationalization of universities, international students necessarily come to the fore. In a study conducted by Neville, students at the university who have previously enrolled expressed fear that they may not do well in the university because of the pressures of family, society, and of the economic side of their schooling. As an international student, I have also experienced some of these challenges. Since I am far away from my family, I feel homesick at times, unable to focus on my studies. It takes courage and resolve in order for me to truly pursue my university education. Yet, because of the importance of my university education and the interactions with others, I painstakingly work towards improving myself in pursuing my education. International Students and Speaking English Another challenge that international students face is the issue of language. Since English is recognized internationally as the language of the university, international students have to learn this language so that they can converse fluently and intelligently with classmates and professors. For international students who are already fluent in this language, they have surmounted an important barrier. Yet, those who have not done yet, they need to work more in learning English, otherwise, they will fail to interact and converse with others, which is an important part of university life. Universities therefore need to help international students who speak English as a second language in improving their English skills. This is the only way for them to truly make the connections that will help them complete their university education. Speech and language laboratories could be established and part of the learning processes of international students. This way, they will be able to interact better and have more opportunities in improving their English language skills. As an international student who entered the university, I experienced a kind of culture shock because the university promotes a culture of literacy (Nevile, 1996). Although I was already a bit fluent with the English, I was not a prolific writer. So I had to attend some writing workshops and tutorial sessions so I could improve the way that I write in the English language. With this process, I was able to improve some of the things that I faced. In addition to this, I also talked with other international students regarding the struggles that they face and the difficulties that they are having. In the process, I managed to have a support group that could easily help me deal with homesickness and other difficulties of being an international student. The interactions with other international students helped me become more prepared in dealing with the rigors of university life. Maximizing Adjustment to the University For international students who want to make the most out of the university, there are several tips that could be followed. For one, improving English skills is a must. It might take more time and effort to do so, yet, it is of utmost important that English skills become excellent. International students should also form support groups that could help them deal with homesickness and other challenges of being in a foreign society. The emotional support given by others makes a lot of difference in the adjustment process. Lastly, international students should be able to maximize all available resources at their disposal through consistent and persistent studying and pursuit of knowledge. This is the best way to deal with the adjustment process. Conclusion This essay has looked at the experiences of international students in adjusting at a university. Universities do have a culture of literacy, which the international student may not be prepared for. As such, they need to double their efforts in learning, in interacting and talking with others—friends, professors, classmates, and other international students—and gaining access to all forms of educational resources. By establishing support groups and mentoring relationships, international students could do well in their university education and prepare them for excellent work even beyond the university. Through this, they could contribute better to their society and their world. Reference Bartell, M. (2003). Internationalization of universities: A university culture-based framework. Higher Education, 45 (1), 43-70. Nevile, M. (1996). Literacy Culture Shock: Developing Academic Literacy at the University. The Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, 19 (1), 38-51.

Database Comparison of SQL Server 2000, Access, MySQL, DB2, and Oracle

Introduction This paper will compare and contrast five different database management systems on six criteria. The database management systems (DBMS) that will be discussed are SQL Server 2000, Access, MySQL, DB2, and Oracle. The criteria that will be compared are the systems’ functionality, the requirements that must be met to run the DBMS, the expansion capabilities – if it is able to expand to handle more data over time, the types of companies that typically use each one, the normal usage of the DBMS, and the costs associated with implementing the DBMS. System functionality Microsoft Access is a database engine and development environment in one package. It is typically workstation-based, and designed to be easy to use, even for users with no experience. However, it also provides advanced functionality for experienced users. MySQL is the largest open-source RDMBS, and it is server-based, as well as the rest of the DBMS that will be discussed. According to the mysql.com website, it offers high reliability and performance, easy use and deployment, freedom from platform lock-in by providing ready access to source code, and cross-platform support. SQL Server is an enterprise class RDBMS from Microsoft. It is part of the Back Office Suite of products. Although it is always server-based in production, it can be client-based in development. DB2 is also an enterprise-class DBMS, produced by IBM. It offers some object-oriented functionality, as well as cross-platform compatibility, and is server-based. Finally, Oracle offers much of the same functionality as DB2 , with cross-platform capability, and some object-oriented features. It, as well, is server-based. System Requirements There is a correlation between the complexity of the DBMS and the system requirements. For instance, Access can be installed on any Windows-based operating system from Windows 95 and above. SQL Server, in the widely used Standard and Enterprise editions, is also strictly Windows-based, but must be run on Windows NT or 2000 Servers. The personal and development editions of SQL Server may be run on Windows NT Workstation, and Windows 2000 and XP Professional, in addition to the server platforms. MySQL has a wide variety of platforms, including the Windows platforms, Sun Solaris, FreeBSD, Mac OS X, and HP-UX, to list a few. DB2 will run on Windows NT 4 and higher, Sun Solaris, HP-UX and Linux.... ...n   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This paper was written to show the similarities and differences in five different databases. It compared Access, MySQL, SQL Server, DB2, and Oracle in six different areas. It found many similarities in functionality, but large diversity in pricing. References Chigrik, Alexander, Oracle 9i Database vs DB2 v8.1 (n.d.), retrieved April 6, 2005, from http://www.mssqlcity.com/Articles/Compare/oracle_vs_db2.htm Chigrik, Alexander, SQL Server 2000 vs Access 2000 (n.d.), retrieved April 6, 2005, from http://www.mssqlcity.com/Articles/Compare/sql_server_vs_access.htm Chigrik, Alexander, SQL Server 2000 vs DB2 v8.1 (n.d.), retrieved April 6, 2005, from http://www.mssqlcity.com/Articles/Compare/sql_server_vs_db2.htm Chigrik, Alexander, SQL Server 2000 vs MySQL version 4.1 (n.d.), retrieved April 6, 2005, from http://www.mssqlcity.com/Articles/Compare/sql_server_vs_mysql.htm Chigrik, Alexander, SQL Server 2000 vs Oracle 9i (n.d.), retrieved April 6, 2005, from http://www.mssqlcity.com/Articles/Compare/sql_server_vs_oracle.htm MySQL Licensing Policy (n.d.), retrieved April 6, 2005, from the MySQL company website: http://www.mysql.com/company/legal/licensing/

To His Coy Mistress :: Literary Analysis

In the poem â€Å"To His Coy Mistress†, the speaker is trying to seduce his wife. In the assumption the mistress is his wife; she is being bashful towards losing her virginity. The speaker, which is the mistress’s husband, develops a carefully constructed argument where the speaker seeks to persuade his lady to surrender her virginity to him. In the poem â€Å"To His Coy Mistress†, the speaker says, â€Å"Had we but world enough, and time†¦I would love you ten years before the Flood, and you should if you please refuse till the conversion of the Jews† (lines 1 and 7-10). The speaker is stating if they had all the time in the world, they would have no need to rush their love making. With all the time they would want he would love her from the very beginning until the very end. The speaker refers to the â€Å"Flood† (line 8) as the flood of Noah’s Arc in the Bible, which indicates he would love her from the beginning of time. Next, the speaker says, â€Å"Till the conversion of the Jews† (line 10), which would indicate the end of time. In the Bible, it is believed that when Christ comes back for his people the Jews will convert to Christianity. Therefore when Christ returns, that will be the end times. In conclusion, the speaker is saying if they had time from the beginning to the very end, his mistress is welcome to continue being shy. In contrary, the speaker and his coy mistress do not have that kind of time to spare, which is the reason he is trying to convince his wife to surrender her virginity. The speaker continues to argue that time is not in favor of his mistress’s nervousness or his age. For instance, he says, â€Å"But at my back I always hear time’s winged chariot hurrying near† (lines 21 and 22). In other words, he is saying his time is running out quickly. There can be many reasons why his time is running short, but according to the poem there is one reason he could be in a rush to make love with his mistress. The speaker says, â€Å"And yonder all before us lie deserts of vast eternity† (lines 23 and 24). â€Å"Deserts of vast eternity† (line 24) expresses his concern of not being able to have children, which would make him sterile. As men age, their sperm count becomes less and less, which makes conceiving a child nearly impossible.

Reading Autobiography Essay

Although I do not have many vivid memories of my childhood the few things I do recall from my early years mostly seem to focus around school and my academics and interactions with children my own age. It is nearly impossible to pinpoint when exactly it was that I began to read but it must have been somewhere around the end of kindergarten and the beginning of first grade. I didn’t attend preschool so up until kindergarten my primary interaction with others was in my first language, Spanish. I can recall learning the alphabet and the sounds of all letters and I started to make out certain words like ‘see’ and ‘my’. The most influential person in the process of acquiring the skills I needed to read must have been an instructional assistant, Mr. Torres who would help me and other bilingual students regularly in the classroom. Of course the instruction by my teacher set the basis for my learning but the one on one help that he provided helped me make connections to my learning in Spanish and that made me feel very comfortable. The first books I began to read must have been simple stories that I came to memorize. Stories like The Gingerbread Man or Brown Bear that had repetitive lines were probably how I started to make connections with words, sounds and pronunciation of those words and sounds. Learning to read made me feel empowered and I remember wanting to read â€Å"big kids† books once I felt I was capable. Among my favorite types of books were scary chapter books like the series of Goosebumps as well as biographies of famous athletes. Among my least favorite must have been nonfiction and folktale because they never really managed to pull me in and I was always very skeptical about such fantasy. Unfortunately, this thrive to read did not last very long because I started to drift away from the constant practice of reading around the fifth grade and started seeing it more as an obligation rather than a choice. As a whole the literacy environment in my household was actually a very positive one and ever since I can recall my mom has always been a big reader and has many books and magazines throughout the house. All of her reading though was done in Spanish when I was growing up because as I was learning how to read my mom was learning the English language. My dad on the other hand has never been a big reader. Actually I can’t recall a time when I have seen him sit down and read something simply for leisure. I also had an older sister who was just a grade ahead of me in school and she has always been a bit of a bookworm and was constantly going through different books as we grew up. Even with all these things I think the language barrier influenced my detachment from reading. In my household we rarely spoke English, maybe if my mom and dad knew the language or were more comfortable with it they might have pushed me to read more or took the time to sit down and read to me. Come to think of it my mom would read to me but she would do it in Spanish and it was a bit boring for me. She would read common stories that I had already heard like the three little pigs or something of that sort and all I would gain out of this was amusement because the way things translated to me was funny. My mom did take us to the city Library and I remember going to story time or to some sort of show based on books. I remember seeing a magician and also petting a snake. As for having materials to read and write, there was always plenty throughout my house. My mom kept a full stock of pencil and paper as well as of books it was just a matter of me doing the actual work. She constantly asked me to explain to her what I was reading or writing for school but I always seemed to find a way to not spend too much time with it because all I wanted to do was play with the neighborhood kids or run off to soccer practice. In school the literacy environment was very positive as well and I remember how much time and dedication the faculty would place on reading and the development of reading skills. I can’t remember who formally taught me how to read but it must have been either Mrs. Diamond or Miss Falgot my first and second grade teachers, because by third grade I remember being able to read fluently. They used several different types of methods but I remember being read to very often by Miss Falgot. I do recall being placed in groups and having partners whom you read to and vice versa. I believe both Mrs. Diamond and Miss Falgot were key role players in my acquisition of reading skills and although I don’t recall specifics they did their job because by third grade I was at the top of my class. I do remember a particular case that had a bit of a negative effect on me in terms of reading. I remember being in either fourth or fifth grade reading as a class and the teacher called on me to read a paragraph. I don’t remember what I was thinking but I was not listening and wasn’t even on the right page, once I located it I got nervous and couldn’t even read. Luckily the teacher called on someone else but I felt horrible. As a class throughout elementary I remember visiting the library and running to the sport books section. The Library was so calm and always cool and I remembering going in there on hot summer days to get away and read a good book. The librarian I remember was always very sweet and she was very patient with all the students. As for literacy events the only thing that is clear in my mind is the book fairs that occurred maybe twice or three times a year. They were very fun and I remember they made even the boring books seem interesting. They set up all kinds of posters and it was something that I always looked forward to. As an adult I began to pick up old habits especially after I came into college. I can’t say I read a lot but I do find time to fit in a book every once in a while. I am still a big fan of autobiographies and I have recently developed a liking for books in Spanish. I usually read on the weekends when I am well rested and have slept in. I also like to go to parks and sit in the shade and enjoy a good book or story or even an interesting article. I think reading is very important and not only to help us expand our vocabulary or help us academically but when you read a good book you get a chance to escape your everyday and it gives you an insight into a story or a character in the way a TV or radio cannot. It captivates you and manages to get all of your attention but at the same time relaxes you. I think reading is something that should be taught to students but not just in order to help them academically but educators should also focus on showing the importance of literature in our lives and the positive way it influences our lives down the road something the media of today cannot manage to do. Writing equally should be not only taught for the purpose of education but in a way those students value it and continue to practice it even without a teacher pushing them to do so.

Meal-Delivery Startups Look for a Winning Recipe

The authors clearly show how high-tech is applied to different areas of marketing mix and supply chain logistics to help meal-kit delivery companies create competitive advantage and have high customer satisfaction and retention rates. Unfortunately the authors are not able to provide us with the numbers for those rates, as they only state opinions of meal-kit entrepreneurs. The importance of computer applications is emphasized in a creation of the product to model recipes, measure prospective demand and stay connected electronically with producers and supplies of meals ingredients.According to the authors, it allows companies more planning and agility while working with seasonal or variable ingredient supply and at the same time pursuing a goal of losing less than 1 % of perishable inventory, which would seem surprisingly low to the reader, comparing to produce waste and spoilage In other food businesses. Internet, Mobil and social media technologies are the main methods used for pro motion of the product to the target market of Americans who want to order fresh food online.This Is an Important aspect for growth, as young generations will probably appreciate mime saving and convenience of Internet ordered fresh meals, despite the fact that at $10-12 they are more expensive then store bought frozen dinners, for example. At the low-tech end companies outsource the delivery to the 3-d party, which reduces capital Investment, but at the same time, the authors note, Involves risk of putting customer experience out of companies' control.Computer technology also plays Important part In a supply chain Integration. While technology can't always help In all aspects of business, the authors argue, by presenting the example of a meal-kit pending on its ingredients, they indicate, that another company plans to create their own warehouse management software to help track orders and productivity of each of its workers. I found this article relevant to the subject of our class, as it discusses many different aspects of marketing.It also combines feature which are important and interesting to me as a part of my Bal studies with its emphasis on importance of computer technology in elements of marketing mix, supply chain management, logistics and building business competitive advantage. As the future of the Internet grows so do the opportunities for business success for companies that utilize high-tech in their customer relationship management.Technology and sophisticated process of data mining allows innovative businesses to focus on details and customer experience and satisfaction by providing the products and services that their target audiences demand. I consider The Wall Street Journal a credible source as the newspaper is well established, has the largest circulation in US and a reputation of credibility. It has special emphasis on business and economic news.