The Present Moment Is Always Where You Are free essay sample

To a large degree, the measure of our peace of mind is determined by how much we are able to live in the present moment. Irrespective of what happened yesterday or last year, and what may or may not happen tomorrow, the present moment is where you are always. Without question, many of us have mastered the neurotic art of spending much of our lives worrying about a variety of things all at once. We allow past problems and future concerns to dominate our present moments, so much so that we end up anxious, frustrated, depressed, and hopeless. On the flip side, we also postpone ourgratification, our stated priorities, and our happiness, often convincing ourselves that someday will be better than today. Unfortunately, the same mental dynamics that tell us to look toward the future will only repeat themselves so that someday never actually arrives. John Lennon once said, Life is whats happening while were busy making other plans. We will write a custom essay sample on The Present Moment Is Always Where You Are or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When were busy making other plans, our children are busy growing up, the people we love are moving away and dying, our bodies are getting out of shape, and our dreams are slipping away. In short, we miss out on life. Many people live as if life were a dress rehearsal for some later date. It isnt. In fact, no one has a guarantee that he or she will be here tomorrow. Now is the only time we have, and the only time that we have any control over. When our attention is in the present moment, we push fear from our minds. Fear is the concern over events that might happen in the future we wont have enough money, our children will get into trouble, we will get old and die, whatever. To combat fear, the best strategy is to learn to bring your attention back to the present. Mark Twain said, I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened. I dont think I can say it any better. Practice keeping your attention on the here and now. Your efforts will pay great dividends.

A human-made disaster Essays

A human-made disaster Essays A human-made disaster Essay A human-made disaster Essay The Aral Sea, a mammoth body of water which is located on the border of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, former parts of the Soviet Union and now the Commonwealth of Independent States, was once the fourth largest sea in the entire planet. The two major rivers that feed it are Amudarya and Syrdarya (darya meaning river). But the Aral Sea has been shrinking for over four decades. Now, it is only the eleventh largest sea on our planet. This disaster, like many others, is caused by man, but on a much larger scale.It began when the U.S.S.R, determined to conquer the mountainous, desert terrain around the Aral Sea, came up an ingenious scheme. Moscow ordered water to be diverted from Amudarya and Syrdarya in large amounts to irrigate the cotton fields in the Central Asian desert. The plan worked. Where nothing had ever grown, now grew millions of tons of white gold. The economy was boosted and nature had been tamed yet again. However, this excessive use of water meant that by the time the water reached the Aral Sea, it was reduced to barely a trickle of water, polluted by harmful chemicals. Over the next years, this resulted in the shrinking of the Aral Sea. Recently, the sea began vanishing faster than ever expected.Now, one-time sea-side towns are stranded in the middle of a salty desert. The climate is getting warmer and warmer because of the reduced cooling affect of the sea. There is little rain, but there is a lot of stagnant water. The atmosphere has been poisoned by salts and deadly chemicals. Sandstorms sweep the land carrying with them poisonous salts and other dangerous chemicals. There arent any fish in the Sea: they were slaughtered by the chemicals released. There was also an island which was once a Soviet bio-weapon facility. The harmful waste dumped on this island is currently being cleaned as part of an international project.These are tough times for people living in the regions around the Aral Sea. There are far too limited fishing opportunities, much to the fishermens despair who are now escaping this region. There is little water, clean enough for hygiene and to drink. There are premature births and more miscarriages as a result of a polluted atmosphere. Diseases, such as typhoid, are on the increase. More and more people are becoming unemployed as, not only the fishing, but canning industry suffers as well.Even now, Uzbekistan is one of the largest exporters of cotton in the world. Although, this advantage is only limited as it is only a matter of time as the income from cotton decreases, striking a blow at both nations economies, while income from fishing has already become sparse and unemployment is on the rise.The question at this time is how to undo another of our blunders. The answers proposed are that the quality of irrigation canals be improved and desalination plants be built on the Aral Sea. Another set of ideas are charging farmers to use water and planting cotton that requires less water. But these ideas will require money, which these nations do not possess.In conclusion, Aral Sea is another one of the numerous human-made disasters, but on a much larger magnitude. We should learn from this mistake and keep them in mind as we move on to attain new feats. We also need to take action on the issues of the future NOW, such as the global warming crisis which will affect the whole world and on a lot larger scale than the Aral Sea. Or else, like in this case, it might be too late.

Inorgnic Synthesis Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Inorgnic Synthesis - Lab Report Example Test for SO42- required use of BaCl2 whereby the resulting component was a precipitate of BaSO42- whereas that of Al3+ yielded to a cloudy precipitate by adding KOH and disappearing in excess. During the experiment, the first step was to cut aluminum foil into small pieces, hence increase their surface area for effective and quick reaction. Afterwards, the prepared pieces of aluminum foils were put in a beaker having a capacity if 150 ml and its weight taken before they were put in a 250 ml whose weight together with its contents was 1104.7g. Then the rest of the experiment was transferred to the fume hood to void inhaling of obnoxious gases while reactions were in progress. 13 ml of 3M KOH were added in the 250 ml beaker coupled with stirring continuously to ensure all the aluminum pieces were completely dissolved. Observations made during this process encompassed bubbling reaction, black color and elevation of the contents’ temperature above the room’s ordinary. Upon completion of the entire reaction process, the contents were cooled to room temperature whereby the involved chemical equation was as follows, The cooled contents were then filtered using glass wool. This is by putting glass wool in a funnel and in 100 ml beaker whereby based on the resulting filtrate’s clearance one could do another filtration to ensure clearer resultant. There was rinsing of the glass wool (using 2 ml of hot water) before allowing resulting filtrate to cool and addition of 22 ml of 4M H2SO4. On adding of 23 ml of 4M H2SO4, the filtrate stated to change its appearance from black color to colorless before becoming dense near the bottom of the beaker. This was a precipitate while the reaction equation that took place encompassed, After the above reaction, the resultant was heat on a hot plate (5-10 minutes) to vaporize excess liquid to approximately 25 ml then testing

Writing Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Writing Assignment - Essay Example But this is inappropriate because young judges and senate members do not get a chance. The system should be fair for all. Certain factors should be considered to determine the retirement age for a job. These factors may vary from one job to another. For example, if the job is of a pilot, factors that need to be considered to establish the age of retirement include visibility, memory, and judgment. These skills should be selected because these play the most important role in helping the pilots make informed decisions during a flight. Surveys should be conducted to find out when pilots on average start losing these skills. There are mandatory retirement ages for jobs in my country. My country is Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). In KSA, the statutory retirement age for civil servants is 60 years irrespective of the length of service. Captain Haynes might have made an appeal to the US Supreme Court to let him continue his service drawing upon his experience and especially his immaculate performance during the United Airlines Flight 232 crash. There are chances that he might get some

Adapting to terrestrial living Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Adapting to terrestrial living - Essay Example Adaptations to tackle this problem include animal like skeletons and specialized plant cells and tissues which support the plant. A transition from aquatic to terrestrial life also meant a competitive struggle for sunlight; as a result plants had to be tall, which also necessitated strong stems and an extensive root system to anchor the plants firmly in the ground while they grew upwards towards the sunlight (www.countrysideinfo.co.uk) and this is turn led to the development of trees. Another requirement for air based living as opposed to aquatic life is the need to conserve water, because a plant may face constraints in obtaining an adequate supply of water from the soil. As a result, they have developed a cuticle or protective layer on the surface of leaves to prevent excessive loss of water by transpiration (www.countrysideinfo.co.uk). At the same time however, plants must also be able to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to carry on the process of photosynthesis and give out carbon dioxide. This objective had to be achieved without sacrificing the modes for preservation of water through the use of the cuticle. The adaptations made in plants to specifically cater to this requirement are stomata on the underside of the leaf, which allow the exchange of gases to take place without excessive loss of water from the surface of the leaf. For example, in drought prone areas, plant leaves are reduced to spines, so that the leaf surface from which loss of water can take place is considerably reduced. Plant species growing in drought ridden areas may demonstrate high levels of stomatal conductance, photosynthesis and photosynthesis during periods when water is available, but enter into periods of dormancy and lose their leaves during a period of intense heat (Lambers et al, 2008) Plants have evolved from simple unicellular organisms into complex multi cellular ones. A unicellular organism

The Symbols In The Awakening English Literature Essay

The Symbols In The Awakening English Literature Essay In Kate Chopins The Awakening, the underlying meaning is imparted to the reader through the use of explicit symbolism. The major role of the use of symbolism in the novel is to attempt to draw a link between the world that Edna knows and her several awakenings and make that link more powerful and compelling. Analyzed in this essay are three prominent symbols of interest which are birds, the ocean and the houses Edna resides in. The avian allusions and symbols that are present throughout the story serve to represent the ability to fly and the freedom it enables. The references to oceans and seas within the novel are symbolic of freedom and empowerment as it relates to Edna. Further houses allow the reader to observe the different transformations that Edna undergoes. The Awakening, written by Kate Chopin, is filled with numerous symbols and motifs that allow the reader to develop a deeper understanding of its message. The first symbol to be analyzed is the recurring sign of birds present throughout the novel. When birds appear in the novel they serve as a reflection of Ednas self, and her thoughts. The novel opens not with a main character speaking but with parrot, Allez vous-en! Allez vous-en! Sapristi! (pp. 3). This declaration from the bird translates to Go away! Go away! For heavens sake! It can be inferred that these lines are representative of the thoughts that are passing through Ednas mind for much of the novel. Much like the parrot which could speak a little Spanish, and also a language which nobody understood, (pp. 3) Edna is unable to communicate her true desires and her true feelings to anyone else because they could not understand. Edna wishes to abandon her role as a compliant wife, and acquiescent mother that the Creole society demands she be. Further the bird discussed above is caged symbolizing the entrapment of Edna by society and its expectations for females of that era. Perhaps the only other character in the novel that understands Edna is Mademoiselle Reisz, who stirs Ednas soul with music, and gives advice to her. Edna informs Arobin that Mademoiselle Reisz: Put her arms around me and felt my shoulder blades, to see if my wings were strong, she said, The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth. (pp. 103) It appears that Reisz knows beforehand that Edna will attempt to fly and expresses an uncertainty as to whether or not Edna is strong enough to succeed. Mademoiselle Reisz is warning Edna in this passage that her flight may ultimately end in failure but Edna does not receive this message for she is not thinking of any extraordinary flights. I only half comprehend her. Reisz is attempting to help her with this flight by inferring that she is perhaps not strong enough, and may fail but it falls on deaf ears as Edna does not comprehend what Reisz is trying to do. The reader encounters birds towards the conclusion of the novel during a pivotal moment in Ednas life, All along the white beach, up and down, there was no living thing in sight. A bird with a broken wing was beating the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water. (pp. 113) Edna observes this as she is about to walk into the ocean and go through her final awakening. This bird with a broken wing em bodies Edna representing that she, much like the bird, is unable to fly away and escape from the things that confine her. Further it also illustrates that Edna is already dead before she enters the water like the bird that is doomed to death. The second symbol to be analyzed is the frequent appearance of the ocean/sea. Of all the symbols in the novel, the ocean appears most regularly. Edna consistently connects the ocean with a certain personal free will even when she is a child, [a meadow] seemed as big as the oceanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦she threw out her arms as if swimming when she walked. (pp. 21) Clearly Edna feels freedom and excitement in the above passage illustrated through the reference to the wide open ocean. Further, it is in the ocean located off from the Grand Isle where we observe on of Ednas awakenings. Before this awakening she has already learned how to swim, and when she attempts to swim out into the ocean for the first time a certain metamorphosis occurs, A feeling of exultation overtook herShe grew daring and reckless, overestimating her strength. She wanted to swim far out, where no woman has swum before. (pp. 37) This scene is critically important in the progression of the novel because with her discovery o f her ability to swim she also realizes that her life is an empty shell. Perhaps this realization serves to assist her in the changes that she will encounter later in the novel. But there is an aspect of foreshadowment in the line she grew daring and reckless, overestimating her strength. Though swimming in the ocean gives her many positive feelings of freedom she has not the strength to swim for longer periods of time and as a result will drown. Her desire to swim far out, where no woman has swum before is a noble desire to escape from her entrapment due to Creole society, and she somewhat accomplishes this wish but ultimately fails with her demise. The ocean in the novel allows Edna some of the feelings of freedom, but it also serves as an instrument of her demise; Exhaustion was pressing upon and over possessing her. Good-bye, because I love you à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ He did not know; he did not understand. He would never understand à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ it was too late; the shore was far beh ind her, and her strength was gone. (pp. 116) Edna believes that the ocean allows her to express herself and escape from the power that is exenterated over her by society. But she realizes that no matter what she attempts to do she will always be trapped by society, for she lacks the ability to change the way her life is. After coming to this realization she decides that she will retire where she feels the most free and away from being influenced; into the ocean. The third and final symbol to be analyzed in this paper is the dynamic symbolism of the houses that Edna resides in. These houses are a direct reflection of the numerous mental and emotional states that Edna experiences throughout her journey. The cottages that are located on the Grand Isle have several symbolic meanings. They serve as separate cages for Edna and also are a reflection of the families that reside within them. Further, all of the cottages at places like this are nearly identical suggesting that all families that dwell in them are identical according to the traditions of the Creole society. Perhaps the most iconic and important house that is encountered during the novel is Ednas pigeon-house. The imagery relating to this house instantly gives the reader insight into why this house is so important to Edna, In a little four-room house around the corner. It looks so cozy, so inviting and restful. (pp. 79) This pigeon house serves to provide Edna with the comfort and indepe ndence that her old house with her husband never provided. Her freedom she experiences allows her to realize how much control she can have over her life, she had resolved never again to belong to another than herself. (pp. 80) This can be considered one of her many awakenings for she realizes that she does not need a man in order to fulfill and complete her life. It is also important to note the contrast from her previous feelings to the new feelings and abilities that arise after Edna moves into the pigeon house; before when she kisses Arobin in the house of her husband she has feelings of reproach looking at her from the external things around her which he had provided for her external existence. (pp. 84) Yet when she engages with Arobin at her new pigeon-house she experiences no feelings of reproach or regret. This illustrates how she is now more free in this house than she has been in any other setting. There are many symbols in the novel The Awakening, and in this essay three of the most prominent have been examined leading us to a huge conclusion. Clearly it is necessary in this novel, and most others to analyze and apply the occurrences and meanings behind symbols scattered throughout the work. Birds serve as an allusion to Edna herself and as an instrument of foreshadowment in regards to her own demise. The ocean is used numerous times throughout the novel as a source of freedom and self expression that allow Edna a release from everything going on in her life. The last symbol was the many houses that Edna was in during the novel that were representative of her current feelings and were a reflection of her. Without the analysis and acknowledgment of these symbols the story becomes just a simple piece of writing and lacks significant deeper meanings.

Learning importance and a example of essay in learning Essay

Learning is a major part of life. People tend to learn in every steps of their life. Learning does not necessarily involve complex terms, it can also be primitive things that keeps happening in day to day life of an individual. Everybody has different interest, likewise they have a different pattern of learning things. Some people learn faster through visual medium, some through audio, and some just writing down the things depending upon what the subject matter is. I believe that learning process does not start when one settles in a formal environment but it start right from the birth of an individual. Walking, talking, decision making etc. are some examples including every other primary things are the result of learning. Every time anyone has to acquire a new skills, they need to be focused and scrutinize the subject matter thoroughly, that is how learning happens. Learning affects the confidence of a person as well. If someone learn things quickly than they have higher confidence in doing things and learning new things as well. After going through the video couple of times I realized that one who puts hard work and devotion in learning new things can automatically adapt into the ways the things are done and will become successful. I myself am very much interested in music and vaguely inspired by the beauty of it. I think music can be the most influential thing in an individual life. Music can make a person relax after a hard day at work, cure the illness, provides maximum level of comfort to an individual. Being so much influenced on music I have managed to learn a very few instruments and it always gives me pleasure and comfort when I am playing them. But I do not want to stop here. I want to learn more about music. I want to be able to read the music and understand every keys and notation in it. I want to be a musician like David Gilmour from the greatest band ever, â€Å"Pink Floyd,† who is able to play any string musical instrument that exists in planet today. I am currently doing my major in Business with Information Technology however in order to fulfill my ambition in music I have also planned to take music as my minor subject and later on carry it as my profession along with my  Business major degree. It is very much important to me because of my vague interest in it, but mostly it makes me very happy. Finally, I am profoundly inspired from the video that I just watched and it helped me to boost up my morale. I do have much respect for the people attempting to make things happen and these people are just one of those few who dare to take the challenges and do something that makes difference to others.

Belonging Essay

Response A sense of belonging can be found in many different places. But for one to belong to self, group or place one must fully understand one’s past. Peter Skrzynecki’s â€Å"10 Mary Street† and â€Å"Migrant Hostel† are two poems that explore his past, showing his attitudes and his quest to belong. Another text that explores this author’s past is John J. Encarnacao’s short story â€Å"Coming of Age in Australia†. These texts all explore relationships and feelings of cultural isolation. Relationships can be found in all 3 texts. Whether they are in the past or the present, they still form a basis to belong. Skrzynecki’s poem â€Å"Migrant Hostel† depicts the ? rst place that Skrzynecki arrives in Australia. From the beginning, it can been seen that Skrzynecki belongs to a forever changing group, a group of migrants held in a hostel where â€Å"No one kept count – Off all the comings and goings. † These opening lines give a sense of insecurity and instability. However, the â€Å"Arrival of newcomers†, shows the positive side of the migrant group, all embracing each other, and belonging to each other. With out this experience, however negative it may seem, Skrzynecki would not have been able to retell this story, his story, and ? d the places, or groups that he belongs to today. Another poem of Skrzynecki’s that explores relationships is â€Å"10 Mary Street†. Throughout this poem, the reader watches young Skrzynecki grow up and develop. In the beginning of the poem, Skrzynecki is naive to the world around him, â€Å"For nineteen years we departed each morning – Shut the house – Like a well-oiled lock†. He is placed into a routine. He does not know his own way, only to do as he is told. This poem explores the lack of a relationship, this lack that could shape one and possibly damage one’s self. My Parents watered plants – grew potatoes and rows of sweet corn: Tended roses and camellias – Like adopted children†. Skrzynecki feels unloved, like his parents care more for their plants than for their child. Without this relationship of work between parents and child, it would not have developed Skrzynecki personality into the one it is today. A similar type of relationship is shown in Encarnacao’s â€Å"Coming of Age in Australia†. Encarnacao is lost in Australia, his new country, â⠂¬Å"It has taken me 36 years, six kids, a divorce and a dozen jobs to come of age in Australia†. He feels secluded as a child. THe only way that he felt he could belong was to ? ght, â€Å"Fighting was a part of life†, â€Å"you had to ? ght – and win. It was the only way of gaining respect. † Encarnacao was lost, unloved, and didn’t belong. For him to belong in today’s society, â€Å"An Australian will still call me dago – but most of the time, it is over a friendly beer†. He had to ? ght his way through the harm, and become immune to the torment to become a man in Australia. Like every person in the world, Skrzynecki and Encarnacao made judgements, some good and some bad, and some that isolated them from other parts of their new culture. This judgements can be what what shapes a person, the can make a child into a man. Encarnacao’s wrong judgement to ? ght may have helped him develop a sense of belonging to a darker side of the world, but without it he would not have become the man he is today. This can be found in Encarnacao’s â€Å"Coming of Age in Australia†. Encarnacao now understands that what he did, help build the society of today, â€Å"I was not to know that Australia was growing up along with me†. Skrzynecki was faced with similar problems in his childhood. In â€Å"Migrant Hostel† Skrzynecki is in captivity, belonging to a group of so called outsiders. He had only found hope on the darkest of places, â€Å"Needing its sanctions to pass in and out of lives – That had only begun – or were dying†. He thought his only way out was death. Similarly, in â€Å"10 Mary Street† Skrzynecki thinks he ? nds his place of belonging, to belong to Australia, â€Å"We became citizens of the soil – That was feeding us Inheritors of a key – That’ll open no house – When this on is pulled down. † but he has lost his pre-war identity and does not feel like he belongs to Australia. With the bene? t of their current lives, both Skrzynecki and Encarnacao now know that their possible bad judgements, that caused them pain, have helped them to ? nd a sense of belonging today. Skrzynecki and Encarnacao tell their past, a past of exclusion and pain. But without them understanding their past, they would not have been able to ? nd their place or group of belonging that they are a part of today. This is re? ected in Skrzynecki’s â€Å"Immigrant Chronicle† and Encarnacao’s short story â€Å"Coming of Age in Australia†.

buy custom Ancient Chinese Contributions essay

buy custom Ancient Chinese Contributions essay Many individuals perceive civilization as a modern phenomenon that began recently. However, civilization has its origins in the ancient world. According to archaeologists, simple communities advanced and became complex due to several factors. For instance, people faced myriad challenges, which they tried to solve through various approaches. Hence, they made discoveries as they tried to solve their challenges. Therefore, the ancient civilization occurred in various territories across the world. For example, in Africa, the ancient Egyptians made various discoveries, which have remained important in the modern world. Apart from Egypt, civilization flourished in other empires such as Greek, China, and Mesopotamia. This paper discusses the ancient Chinese inventions(Charles, 1963). Ancient Chinese Inventions China has a long history that stretches back to approximately six thousand years. China has been able to advance its civilization over the years. According to the Chinese traditions, the concept of integrating humans and nature acted as a logical perception of the universe. This kind of perception enabled them to discover items and systems, which are distinct from those of the Western societies. They made their discoveries through systematic and comprehensive thinking. The Ancient Chinese engaged in a wide range of economic activities that included cultivation, fishing, and metallurgy. These activities enabled them to make various discoveries, which include the following. Some of their contributions include kites, silk cloth, porcelain, fireworks, rudder, planetarium, compass, abacus, printing, kites, herbal medicine, acupuncture, gunpowder, and paper making(Ebrey, 1993). The Chinese also secured their territory by constructing a significant wall called the great wall. The great wall also depicts the Chinese system of architecture, which was another important aspect of their cultural practices. Four of the above mentioned inventions were significant due to the following reasons. Important Invntions Compass A compass is an object that facilitates navigation, since it indicates bearing in a frame of location. The Han Dynasty was characterized by many inventions, and the compass was one of them. In China, the compass served various purposes. For example, it was used in conducting religious activities. During construction of buildings, the Chinese used it to determine the location of a building in relation to the universe. This was done to ensure that a given structure was in harmony with nature. The ancient Chinese believed that structures that faced the north linked humans with nature, and this facilitated peace and prosperity in their society. Apart from the application of compass in construction, it was later applied in navigation especially after the eleventh century. The Europeans later adopted its use during the medieval period. The primordial compass that was constructed in China looked like a wooden circle. It was marked at strategic points, and a magnetic spoon was mounted on it. Gunpowder Chinese alchemists discovered gunpowder during the ninth century. The gunpowder facilitated the making of fireworks, and other early weapons were also made using gunpowder. From China, other territories in the Middle East embraced the use gunpowder as prime material for making weapons. Indeed, the gunpowder served as the only chemical explosive until the 18050s. Gunpowder remained relevant in making military equipment for along time. It was only abandoned after the discovery of better alternatives(Jack, 2004). Paper In ancient China, paper production also took place from around 105 CE, during the Han Dynasty. It was made using many materials including mulberry, bast fibers, and hemp waste(Ebrey, 1993). From the second century, paper was used for padding, and various items were also wrapped using paper. During the third century, paper became a medium of writing. In addition to paper production, the Chinese also produced ink, which they used for writing on papers. Printing Printing is among the four most basic discoveries of ancient China. Printing is believed to have been practiced from a round the seventh century, in the Han Dynasty. After the invention of writing, there was need for people to produce more written materials, and this encouraged the invention of the printing process. Printing began as a rudimentary process, but it later developed tremendously as more people got engaged in writing. For example, the block printing was the initial printing process, and it was cumbersome(Yinke, 2005). The above discussed inventions from ancient China have been greatly honored, since they have made modern civilization possible. This is because without them modern civilization could not have been possible. For example, gunpowder significantly contributed toward the manufacture of modern military explosives. Secondly, Paper production made writing easier, and this led to massive production of literature. Thirdly, with the invention of printing, ideas spread quickly in various places. Hence, it has enhanced the rate of civilization. Lastly, in the modern world, the compass is used for navigation and exploration activities(Gernet, 1996). At present, I find printing very important because without it people cannot learn and make new discoveries. This is because modern civilization relies much on research, which is conducted through intensive reading of printed materials. Moreover, people need to share information, and this has been facilitated by printing. For example, newspapers have a big readership due to printing services. Conclusion The above discussion has revealed many discoveries that the ancient Chinese made. Many scholars who have examined the ancient civilization have noted that the Chinese inventions paved the way for modern inventions. Indeed, the modern civilization that prevailed in Europe greatly depended on the early discoveries. It is also believed that the Chinese civilization reached Europe through the Silk Road, which acted as a major trade route that linked Europe and China. Buy custom Ancient Chinese Contributions essay

Biography of Chiang Kai-shek

Biography of Chiang Kai-shek Chiang Kai-shek (1887 to 1975), also known as Generalissimo, was a Chinese political and military leader who served as head of the Republic of China from 1928 to 1949. After being forced from power and exiled by Chinese Communists after World War II, he continued to serve as president of the Republic of China on Taiwan. Fast Facts: Chiang Kai-shek Also Known As: GeneralissimoKnown For: Chinese military and political leader from 1928 to 1975Born: October 31, 1887 in Xikou, Zhejiang Province, ChinaDied: April 5, 1975 in Taipei, TaiwanParents: Jiang Zhaocong (father) and Wang Caiyu (mother)Education: Baoding Military Academy, Imperial Japanese Army Academy Preparatory SchoolKey Accomplishments: Along with Sun Yat-sen, founded the Kuomintang (KMT) political party. In exile, Director General of the Kuomintang government on TaiwanMajor Awards and Honors: Recognized as one of the Big Four allied victors of WWIISpouses: Mao Fumei, Yao Yecheng, Chen Jieru, Soong Mei-lingChildren: Chiang Ching-kuo (son), Chiang Wei-kuo (adopted son)Notable Quote: â€Å"There are three essential factors in all human activity: spirit, materials, and action.† In 1925, Chiang succeeded Sun Yat-sen as leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party, known as the Kuomintang, or KMT. As head of the KMT, Chiang expelled the communist arm of the party and succeeded in unifying China. Under Chiang, the KMT focused on preventing the spread of Communism in China and fighting increasing Japanese aggression. When the United States declared war on Japan in 1941, Chiang and China swore their allegiance and assistance to the Allies. In 1946, Communist forces led by Mao Zedong, a.k.a. Chairman Mao, overthrew Chiang and created the People’s Republic of China. From 1949 until his death in 1975, the exiled Chiang continued to lead the KMT government in Taiwan, recognized by the United Nations as the legitimate government of China. Early Life: Chinese Revolutionary Chiang Kai-shek was born on October 31, 1887, in Xikou, a town now in the Zhejiang province of the People’s Republic of China, to a well-off family of merchants and farmers. In 1906, at age 19, he began his preparations for a military career at the Paoting Military Academy in North China, later serving in the Japanese army from 1909 to 1911, where he adopted the Spartan ideals of the Japanese Samurai warriors. In Tokyo, Chiang fell in with a group of young revolutionaries plotting to overthrow China’s Qing dynasty ruled over by the Manchu clan. Chinese political and military leader Chiang Kai-shek (1887 - 1975), circa 1910. FPG / Getty Images When the Qing Revolution of 1911 broke out, Chiang returned to China where he took part in fighting that succeeded in overthrowing the Manchus in 1912. With the fall of China’s last dynastic order, Chiang joined with other republican revolutionaries to oppose former Qing dynasty general Yuan Shikai, China’s new president, and eventual emperor. Association With Sun Yat-sen After an attempt to overthrow Yuan Shikai failed in 1913, Chiang helped found the Kuomintang (KMT) party. Largely withdrawing from public life from 1916 to 1917, he lived in Shanghai where he reportedly belonged to an organized financial crime syndicate known as Qing Bang, or Green Gang.  Returning to public life in 1918, Chiang began a close political association with influential KMT leader Sun Yat-sen. Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek speaking at meeting of Chinese National Assembly. A picture of the father of Chinese Democracy, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, behind him. The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images / Getty Images Attempting to reorganize the KMT along communist lines, Sun Yat-sen sent Chiang to the Soviet Union in 1923 to study the policies and tactics of its Red Army. After returning to China, he was appointed as commandant of Whampoa Military Academy near Canton. As Soviet military advisers streamed into Canton to teach at Whampoa, Chinese communists were admitted into the KMT for the first time. Anti-Communist Leader of the KMT When Sun Yat-sen died in 1925, Chiang inherited leadership of the KMT and began trying to stem the rapidly growing influence of the Chinese communists within the party without losing the support of the Soviet government and military. He succeeded until 1927, when in a violent coup, he expelled the communists from the KMT and quashed the Chinese labor unions they had created. Hoping his communist purge would please U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, Chiang succeeded in establishing closer relations between China and the U.S. government.   Chiang now continued to reunify China. As supreme commander of the Nationalist revolutionary army, he directed massive attacks against northern tribal warlords in 1926. In 1928, his armies occupied the capital in Beijing and established a new Nationalist central government in Nanking headed by Chiang. The Xian Incident and World War II In 1935, even as the Empire of Japan threatened to occupy Northeast China, Chiang and his KMT continued to focus on fighting Communists within China rather than the external threat of the Japanese. In December 1936, Chiang was seized by two of his own generals and held hostage in China’s Xian Province in an attempt to force the KMT to change its policies regarding Japan. Held captive for two weeks, Chiang was released after agreeing to actively prepare his armies for war with Japan and to form an at least temporary alliance with the Chinese communists to help fight the Japanese invaders. With the horrific Japanese Rape of Nanking massacre in 1937, all-out war between the two countries erupted. Chiang and his armies defended China alone until 1941, when the U.S. and other Allies declared war on Japan. Post-World War II and Taiwan While China held an honored place among the Big Four allied victors of WWII, Chiang’s government began to decay as it resumed its pre-war struggle against internal communists. In 1946, the civil war resumed and by 1949, the communists had taken control of continental China and established the People’s Republic of China. 1943-Cairo, Egypt: President Roosevelt seated outside during the Cairo Conference with Mr. and Mrs. Chiang Kai Shek, and Winston Churchill. Bettmann Archive / Getty Images Exiled to the province of Taiwan, Chiang, along with his remaining Nationalist forces established a weak dictatorship on the island. Over the next two decades, Chiang reformed his Nationalist Party, and with ample American aid began Taiwan’s transition to a modern and successful economy. In 1955, the U.S. agreed to defend Chiang’s Nationalist government on Taiwan against future communist threats. However, the pact was weakened in the early 1970s by improving relationships between the U.S and the People’s Republic of China. In 1979, four years after Chiang’s death, the U.S. finally broke off diplomatic relations with Taiwan in order to establish full relations with the People’s Republic of China. Personal Life Chiang had four wives during his lifetime: Mao Fumei, Yao Yecheng, Chen Jieru, and Soong Mei-ling. Chiang had two sons: Chiang Ching-Kuo with Mao Fumei, and Chiang Wei-Kuo, whom he adopted along with Yao Yecheng. Both sons went on to hold important political and military positions in the Kuomintang government in Taiwan. Born and raised a Buddhist, Chiang converted to Christianity when he married his fourth wife, Soong Mei-ling, popularly called â€Å"Madam Chiang† in 1927. He spent the rest of his life as a devout Methodist. Death Months after suffering a heart attack and pneumonia, Chiang died of cardiac malfunction and renal failure on April 5, 1975, in Taipei at the age of 87. While he was mourned for over a month on Taiwan, Communist state-run newspapers in mainland China briefly noted his death with the simple headline â€Å"Chiang Kai-shek Has Died.† Today, Chiang Kai-shek is buried along with his son Chiang Ching-Kuo at Wuzhi Mountain Military Cemetery in Xizhi, Taipei City. Sources Fenby, Jonathan (2005). Chiang Kai Shek: Chinas Generalissimo and the Nation He Lost. Carroll Graf Publisher. P. 205. ISBN 0-7867-1484-0.Watkins, Thayer. The Guomindang (Kuomintang), the Nationalist Party of China. San Jose State University.Coppa, Frank J. (2006). â€Å"Encyclopedia of modern dictators: from Napoleon to the present.† Peter Lang. ISBN 0-8204-5010-3.Van de Ven, Hans (2003). War and Nationalism in China: 1925-1945. Studies in the Modern History of Asia, London: RoutledgeCurzon, ISBN 978-0415145718.Teon, Aris. The Green Gang, Chiang Kai-shek, and the Republic of China. Greater China Journal (2018).

Describe how Management By Objective (MBO) can provide better Essay

Describe how Management By Objective (MBO) can provide better efficiency in setting, planning and accomplishing organizational goals - Essay Example The management by objective is a technique that is applied which is based on set objectives that are achievable by the company, the divisions and the employees. These objectives then are considered as a measurable contribution of the individuals in the company to the success in the achievement and completion of the goals of the whole organization (Drucker 121-30). Due to the fact that MBO is based on the aim to be a measurable management technique, the activities and job assignments are then gauged in measurable and numerable quantities. The number of activities done constitutes an important role in the assessment of performance of the employees. For that matter, the quantity of work done can be incorporated to the type and quality of activity that is undertaken (Drucker 121-30). The application of MBO can be on the different levels of the organizational system, thus, covering different forms of activities. Included in such activities are human resources, maintenance services, research and development, sales, finance and most importantly production. The said management technique became widely known as the setting up of quotas in different types of jobs and organizational roles. When the said term is heard, the vision of numerable work values is perceived (Deming 24, 54; Drucker 121-30). The MBO is focused on the establishment of specified objectives that can be achieved through the course of operation. In addition, the quality of the work undertaken in the process of achievement of such goals is also given high regard. The acknowledgement of the division or individual employee with the most commendable performance is practiced for motivation in the said system (Garrison and Raynes 121). There are different of advantages that can be associated with the MBO, thus, it is considered as one of the management techniques commonly applied.

The impact of London congestion charge,an economic view Literature review

The impact of London congestion charge,an economic view - Literature review Example However, despite this, the actual implementation and running costs of the congestion charge have been suggestibly much higher than the benefit (Evans, 2007). Figures from TfL suggest that the revenue:cost ratio is extremely high (Leape, 2006). For example, upkeep of the monitoring systems requires technical experts which cost a lot to employ. The video cameras used as part of the system are also extremely costly and require maintenance and protection from vandalism (Leape, 206). Secondly, there is a lot of bureaucracy involved in chasing up congestion charge dodgers and others who falsely abuse the exemption system. Finally, there are other effects that can be judged by approaching the congestion charge economically, such as the effect on jobs and economic activity within the 22km2 zone (Leape, 2006). It is interesting to look at the effects that the congestion charge has had on retail within the zone. One paper (Quddus, Camel & Bell, 2007) looked at a John Lewis department store wit hin the zone, on Oxford Street. The data looked at four years between 2001 and 2004, which included three years of pre-congestion data and one year post-congestion data. It was decided to stop collecting sales data after this point as the opening hours changed, which is a good way of avoiding bias in this type of economic study. However, there may still be bias present from only evaluating one year of congestion charge sales data, as three years of pre-congestion charge data was examined giving a broader picture of the economic scope of the store. Despite this, the study produced some interesting results. After controlling for Gross Value Added (GVA) specific to London and...This paper offers a thorough analysis of the all-round impacts of the imposition of congestion charge in London. Not only economic, but also social and environmental impact is considered. The paper attempt to provide how the congestion charge assist in improving environment. It also evaluates the impact on unemp loyment changes facilitated by charging. One of the main aspects of transportation in London that was intended to be improved by the congestion charge was the economics. There is evidence that there has been a positive economic effect seen by introducing the charge, with an estimated 90% of pre-charge congestion costs being eliminated by profits. However, despite this, the actual implementation and running costs of the congestion charge have been suggestibly much higher than the benefit. In terms of the environment, there were significant reductions in traffic flows within the congestion zone area between 2003 and 2006. There are many different approaches to the congestion charge and how it has had an effect on London from an economic standpoint. These have all given various different results within the literature, although these are partly dependent on the methodologies used and the time periods examined. One of the main issues that can come from assessing a project like the congestion charge is that it will be evaluated in the short-term, and there may be additional costs or benefits to be seen within the medium- or long-term which cannot be assessed by current results.