Life as We Knew It Essay

Have you ever imagined the world is coming to the end tomorrow? What if the largest asteroid ever hits the moon, knocking it out of orbit, creating worldwide disasters? Tidal waves destroy numerous coastal cities, killing millions of people, and the dead list gets longer and longer every day. Gas climbs up to $5 per gallon, then $7, and pretty soon, it costs $35 for three gallons, and you can only buy three gallons at a time. That’s what happened to Miranda’s life, the main character in the fictional book, â€Å"Life as we knew it†. The story is expressed through journal entries, revealing her thought about her fight for survival and how her family gets over the misfortune together. To Miranda, the unexpected asteroid can only mean an excuse for teachers giving out more homework. More homework on top of her best friends fighting, her dad’s newly pregnant wife, and the fight with her mother whether or not she can return to ice skating after a serious injury. With all those problems going through her mind, Miranda goes outside with her family to watch the asteroid hit the moon. Thunderstorms knock out the electricity in Miranda’s school. None of it seems real for Miranda, even when her mother sends her and her brother to a grocery store to buy all the canned soup, vegetable, aspirin, vitamins, as much as they possibly can. The store almost runs out of food by the time they get there. Everything goes crazy, they can purchase a fulfill cart, no matter how much they get, for only $50. Throughout the incredibly freezing winter caused by continuous volcanic eruptions all over America, Miranda tries to live life as normally as possible. She goes to the pond for ice skating as long as she can breathe. She visits her friends, even though they are not the same people as they were before the disaster. Some her neighbors and her friends, including her dad’s new family, are heading South with a glimpse of hope for better living conditions, while her family resists staying at their homeland, hoping everything will get better tomorrow. The question is, how long can Miranda and her family survive with minimal water, a nearly used-up food supply, no heat or electricity, and below-zero temperatures? When so many people are giving up hope, starving to death, dying of diseases with no cure, Miranda is still clinging to the hope of normality. She still wants to date with Dan, her swimming teammate, and she fights with her mother about the unequal diet between her and the two brothers. During the most difficult time of the disaster, Miranda’s best qualities come to light. Her determination helps her family survive through the deadly flu, which has killed hundreds of people. Being the only in the family who resists the attack of the deadly flu, Miranda is taking good care of her mother and two brothers without help from anyone else. Even though she always fights with her mother, she never gives up on loving her. Miranda might not know how long this will last, or whether they will survive through this miserable time, but she does know that by working together they stand a chance. This is an interesting and meaningful story about the severe fight for survival and hope. It really makes you think about what would happen to you in this situation. Because it’s written in Miranda’s diary, it’s easy to follow along and the words are quite easy to understand.

Response to Monets Water Lillies Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Response to Monets Water Lillies - Thesis Example This commentary note is a series of reflections and important aspects of Clark’s experiences as he viewed two works by Poussin and wrote on his insight through these viewings, and on my own art-making, First, I discuss what insight the current body of literature concerning Monet’s Water lilies series can offer to a discussion of the work. Second, I examine the work through the perspectives presented in The Sight of Death and Art and its Objects. Third, I explore future research and lesson developments. Finally, I considered my reflections as they impact my future scholarship and art-making. While there are a host of famed artworks that grace the walls and spaces of the world’s great cultural centers and museums, few have gotten the attention of the public like those of the impressionists, particularly the works of Claude Monet (1840-1926). In fact, one of the highest prices paid for a single work of art was invested in one of his Water Lilies (1920-1926) series, which sold in 2008 for over $70 million. The interest in this series of paintings continues today, as seen by the public and critical response to the Monet’s Water Lilies exhibition held in New York City at the Museum of Modern Art from September 13, 2009 until April 12, 2010. The in-person access to artworks of this stature gives an opportunity for critique and interpretation from many viewpoints. It was in this spirit that Dr. Baldacchino granted permission for me to use my personal notes from several visits during this showing period in order to offer my interpretation of Water Lilies through a novel lens. Water Lilies In-class Presentation November 2010, Monet’s Water Lilies series is astounding in person. Its size is monumental, its colors are overwhelming, and its brushwork is beautiful. Upon my initial viewings, several key aspects of the work became apparent to me. First the monumental perspective of the three paintings seemed interesting to me because it stand s in contrast to many of the landscape paintings of the same time period. Second the brush strokes used by Monet in these works seemed expressive and natural, specifically in the water reflections and surroundings areas. Lastly, Monet’s unique style of brush stroke intrigued me. The Water lily triptych has a strong drawing quality about it that is also noticeable in many of Monet’s other artworks. He draws nature’s movement with his brush strokes rather than painting them. As a viewer felt, this technique gave me the effect of feeling closer to nature, as if having been face to face with elements of nature facing back at me. This water lily triptych created a romantic and natural atmosphere that caused me to become aware of the natural environment that I live in and appreciate this further. Considering Monet as naturalistic opens up a larger idea. As Temkin and Lawrence explain, â€Å"Artist’s ambition to create a panorama that enveloped the viewer, an e nvironment that in today’s parlance would be called an â€Å"installation†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Temkin&Lawrence, p.9). As the High Museum states, these installations were sometimes large in size. â€Å"Monet created 250 different water lily paintings and 19 were large panels† (High Museum, 2009). The unique way he wanted to view these triptych paintings in the gallery space was interesting to me. As always, there is no indication of the horizon or pond’s edge, but here the viewer is treated to an exceptionally harmonious expanse of painted reverie. Softly flowing passages of cloud reflections, overhanging foliage, lily pads, and water share the space without dramatic incident (Temkin& Lawrence, p.34). The Water lilies panel caused two things to

Lessons From Lafarge Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Lessons From Lafarge - Essay Example Objectives of ISO 14001:2004 The internal objectives of the ISO 14001:2004 are provide assurance to management for controlling organizational processes and activities having an impact on the environment, and to assure the employees that they are working in an environmentally responsible organization. The external objectives are assuring external stakeholders like customers, community and regulatory agencies about the environmental issues, conforming to the environmental regulations. Other objectives include supporting the organization’s claims and interactions about its environmental rules, strategies and proceedings. A structure for representing compliance by means of suppliers’ statement of conformity has also been an object (ISO 2012). Environmental Performance Measurement The first generation of environment performance evaluation (EPE) comprised companies with reactive environmental policies. The focus was on the risk management and dealing with environment related costs. The available environmental performance data was used for internal purpose (Bennett et al. 1999, p.84). The second generation environment performance evaluation is marked by the inclusion of stakeholder management in the framework. Companies moving to this phase focus on site reporting. This phase is also influenced by the total quality management. This requires more detailed data. The second generation focused on resource productivity with waste minimization (Bennett et al. 1999, pp.84-86). The proposed ISO 14031 can be modeled in the shape of diamond. There are three important facets of environment performance evaluation. The first facet reflects bulk of measurable activities dealing with energy, materials, emissions and wastes. The second facet is a west-east axis which is mainly the product chain that includes the environmental impacts of the supplier. The diamond’s north south activities have two objectives. The first one is to assess the direct environmental impa cts associated with the sustainability of the organization’s activities. The other is to assess the business side of the environmental actions (Bennett et al. 1999, pp.87-90). In 2011, Lafarge remained in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI). The group scored high in the environmental reporting, climate strategy, biodiversity and stakeholder commitment. This is evaluated by Sustainability Asset Management for the DJSI (Lafarge, 2012). Ernst & Young examined the Group's social and environmental indicators and certified its practices (Lafarge, 2012). Corporate Environmental Strategies Managers should consider company’s position with respect to both market and nonmarket factors while deciding on an environmental strategy. Market strategy uses environmental issues for creating a competitive advantage for the company. This is achieved through cost savings and increased profits. Nonmarket strategy focuses on the interactions with stakeholders like, regulators, local com munities, and environmental interest groups. These strategies consider creating value by improving overall performance and image. Nonmarket strategies may present competitive advantages by recognizing new opportunities created by regulation or public sentiment (Maxwell, J. et al. , 1997, pp.118-119). The proactive companies’ managers recognized a number of competitive advantages arising from their environmental response. The reactive companies were not able to relate their corporate environmental awareness strategies

No topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 28

No topic - Essay Example It is more difficult for men to adjust to female gender roles because most of them are raised in the masculine mindset of supremacy over women. Female gender roles are to them demeaning because that was never the gender role that they were trained for. However, even if men fail in their attempt to fill in the female gender role in a society, they will not be looked down upon by others because they will simply chalk it up to gender assigned training. Just look at the way that men and women are treated in the office. As a successful career woman, she is held back by the idea that women are family oriented first, career oriented second. A woman is expected to continue to care for her family and juggle her career at the same time. Those in higher positions at the office feel that a man is best for most jobs because women tend to â€Å"take leave when the kid gets the flu.†, leaving her work office duties hanging. They fail to take into account that women are the best time managers available and that the job will always get done provided they are given a chance to prove

Choose two foreign policy failures and two foreign policy successes Essay

Choose two foreign policy failures and two foreign policy successes that the US has experienced since 1898 - Essay Example President Carter initiated talks with the Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and the Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp Davis in 1978. The peace treaty entailed Israel withdrawing from the Sinai Peninsula and US troops would monitor to ensure there would be no more attacks. In addition, Israel would initiate peace negotiations with Palestine. The treaty led to Israel withdrawing completely from the Sinai gulf. Also, The US government helped Israel to rebuild the Negev Desert Israel military base. Menachem and Anwar won the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize (Smith, 2014). Secondly, the Marshall Plan (1948-1951) entailed the USA extending aid worth 13$ billion to Western Europe. This treaty was a success because it propelled Western Europe’s growth of capital stock. Exchange rates stabilised, and prices were restored since the aid reduced massive shortages of resources. The Marshal Plan played a role in ensuring the stability and prosperity of Western Europe and also the formation of the current Eastern Europe (Block, 1977). Firstly, The American Foreign policies largely support and protect Israel. As a result, USA has tolerated Israel’s destruction and killing of Palestinians in a bid to maintain amicable relationships with Israel. . The tolerance is an indication of foreign policy failure since it does not uphold the main aim of foreign policies which is to uphold peace in all nations. Also, moral and ethical decay is evident leading to lack of trust between USA and Arab nations. The American Veto power in the UN has prevented the UN from charging Israel with the war crimes despite the 2,142 deaths of Palestinian nationals (Smith, 2014). USA has also gone against the general foreign policies by breaking international laws on Guantanamo MO bay and treatment of prisoners. The violation of human rights has tainted the image of USA as well as its credibility. America being at the forefront of the war

Marketing Plan for Polo Ralph Lauren Research Paper

Marketing Plan for Polo Ralph Lauren - Research Paper Example Luxury goods companies like Polo Ralph Lauren (RL) know the value of advertising in lifestyle magazines even if many who read it are not buying from exclusive advertisers. These so-called non-users of the luxury products advertised represent a key audience who may not be able to buy the product now, but would at least know what it is and feels aspirational towards it, so that those who buy know that others think very positively about it. The role of promotions is along similar lines: it helps increase awareness of the product image among key customers and non-customers alike. If sufficiently attractive in the form of sales discounts through alternative distribution and selling channels, promotions can drive increased traffic through the stores, so that those who could not afford the product may be able to do try it out, which accelerates an increase in the brand's aspirational value that may lead to higher sales in the future.2 Developing an integrated marketing communications (IMC) plan for RL's fragrances is a strategic and dynamic process3 that requires knowing the corporate and brand mission, values, and needs to "create resonance and consonance in terms of brand identity".4 Knowledge of the corporate and brand strategies is crucial to establish the solid foundations on which the IMC plan must stand to "deliver clarity, consistency, and maximum impact".5 Polo Ralph Lauren's over-all brand strategies, missions, values, and needs are... These ten keywords and phrases summarize the brand boundaries for the IMC plan being drafted for fragrances, which is the object of this report. In addition, the following strategies7 and the competitive analysis (see Tables 1 to 3) summarized in the next section provide key information for developing the IMC plan: 1. Grow share of fragrances from 8.32% (2006) to 10% of revenues in 2007 by generating sales of $604 million, up from $441 million. 2. Drive traffic to new stores by targeting the youth and under-40 markets in Europe, Asia, and the U.S. to maintain at least 15% contribution to total revenues from this growing market. 3. Grow European (14% of total) and Asian (13% of total) markets by 14% in 2007. 4. Increase traffic to award-winning8 e-commerce site Polo.com by 14% from 1.6 million visitors monthly and 800,000 buying customers annually in 2006. Fragrance is an emotion. It is more than toothpaste, more than breakfast cereal. It must be advertised to bring out passion and emotion. The advertising and promotion plans should be consistent with these corporate and brand strategies and reflect Message and Planning Integration.9 Communication messages must use the same tone, product benefits, brand character, logo, theme line, etc. across all channels of communications. Communication efficiency must be maximized by integrating the messages and the multiple marketing communications channels used to deliver them. An integrated advertising and promotional campaign makes the purchase decision process easier if based on a deep understanding of aspirational needs and wants as consumers put these messages together and form

Conversation between countries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Conversation between countries - Essay Example People adhering to cosmopolitanism and its different ideas are known as cosmopolites. Kwame Anthony Appiah uses the term â€Å"cosmopolitanism† to describe people with different abilities, who come from different backgrounds to get along with each other in a globalized and deeply connected world, an ability he likens to having conversations. Appiah also discusses cosmopolitanism as a rubric for social change, where the practice of people getting along together, conversing, is a more effective agent for change than reason or arguments. He writes, â€Å"Conversations across boundaries of identity; whether national, religious, or anything else, begin with the sort of imaginative engagement you get when you read a novel or watch a movie or attend to a work of art that speaks from some place other than your own† From the context in question about the subject matter being the dispute of the Diaoyu islands.US senator John McCain accused china for encroaching on Japanese territ ory claiming that â€Å"Diaoyu is Japanese territory† this statements have elicited mixed reactions from different quarters on the issue, with, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson stating that these islands are Chinese territory and those claiming it are unwarranted to do so. The Chinese has called upon United Nations officials to halt their irresponsible remarks to prevent the situation from escalating any further. According to Kwame’s cosmopolitanism concept, is a critic of boundaries and claims we should abandon these boundaries and live like the citizens of the world. The islands dispute is a pointer that indeed Kwames argument is valid as this can stop the crisis on boundaries like the one on Diaoyu islands. It stated that these islands are part of the Chinese territory from historical maps and scientific data and it is evident that it was Chinese territory. Kwameh states that â€Å"There’s a sense in which the concept is not of the answer but of the problem† (15). Thus cosmopolitanism by itself is not a solution but it’s that aspect of people understanding each other. Conversation doesn’t have to lead to an agreement or consensus about anything or everything, especially not values; it’s enough that it helps people get used to one another (30). In line with the United Nations convention on the law of the sea Chinas possession of the island is indisputable. This casts a lot of doubt on the Japanese siege of the island and on grounds of its strategic location. But even more inviting is the involvement of the United States in the whole dispute it’s thus seen as the US is having a hand on the claims by Japan bearing in mind their close ties. The dispute finds the U.S in a closed fit due to its foreign policy to strategies though; it has overtime maintained an unbiased position. So as not to provoke China’s claim of the island; this again brings to the foe kwamehs’s principle of global ization. It shows how boundaries can lead to more conflicts bearing in mind the two nations are super powers. Appiah admits that conversation about boundaries may be delightful or vexing (19). Vexing is the core thing in this context where this dispute can potentially lead to a big diplomatic row among the states involved. Though on a greater probe its evident Mc Cain’s statements are to serve his own interest by settling political scores back home in America. This brings attention to kwamehs claim when he quotes that; what