Everyday Essays - Quilting, Quilt, Everyday Use, Radka Donnell

Everyday Use By Alice Walker With her story, "Everyday Use," Alice Walker is saying that art should be a living, breathing part of the culture it arose from, rather than something from which to be observed from a distance. To make this point, she uses the quilts in her story to symbolize art; and what happens to these quilts represents her theory of art. The quilts themselves, as art, are inseparable from the culture they arose from.. The history of these quilts is a history of the family. The narrator says, "In both of them were scraps of dresses Grandma Dee had worn fifty and more years ago. Bits and pieces of Grandpa Jarrell's Paisley shirts. And one teeny faded blue piece . . . that was from Great Grandpa Ezra's uniform that he wore in the Civil War." So these quilts, which have become an heirloom, not only represent the family, but are an integral part of the family. Walker is saying that true art not only represents its culture, but is an inseparable part of that culture. The manner in which the quilts are treated shows Walker's view of how art should be treated. Dee covets the quilts for their financial and aesthetic value. "But they're priceless!" she exclaims, when she learns that her mother has already promised them to Maggie. Dee argues that Maggie is "backward enough to put them to everyday use." Indeed, this is how Maggie views the quilts. She values them for what they mean to her as an individual. This becomes clear when she says, "I can 'member Grandma Dee without the quilts," implying that her connection with the quilts is personal and emotional rather than financial and aesthetic. She also knows that the quilts are an active process, kept alive through continuous renewal. As the narrator points out, "Maggie knows how to quilt." The two sisters' values concerning the quilt represent the two main approaches to art appreciation in our society. Art can be valued for financial and aesthetic reasons, or it can be valued for personal and emotional reasons. When the narrator snatches the quilts from Dee and gives them to Maggie, Walker is saying that the second set of values is the correct one. Art, in order to be kept alive, must be put to "Everyday Use" -- literally in the case of the quilts, figuratively in the case of conventional art. Alice Walker is using the quilts, and the fate of those quilts, to make the point that art can only have meaning if it remains connected to the culture it sprang from. Her story itself is a good example: Walker didn't write it to be observed under a glass case, judged aesthetically, and sold to the highest bidder; she meant it to be questioned, to be explored, to be debated -- in short, to be put to "Everyday Use."

Free Essays on Sport Business

Without a doubt, consumer privacy is the No. 1 issue facing email marketers today. Given all that is written and discussed about privacy, it can be difficult to establish what the law dictates versus what is considered best practice. We are not lawyers, and you should not take this article as legal advice, but we are here reviewing some relevant laws and best practices related to email marketing. First, it is important to understand what the letter of the law mandates. As of early 2000, 14 states within the U.S. had enacted unsolicited commercial email (UCE) or "antispam" laws, but any federal-level laws directly addressing email marketing have yet to be enacted. The various state laws describe each state's requirements for commercial email messages that are delivered to individuals within that state. Violations may result in financial losses for the marketer because individual consumers or the state may sue the marketer for damages. (Click here for a table that outlines the basic details of the UCE statutes for 14 states.) As intelligent marketers know, sending unsolicited email to a group of individuals can have ramifications even worse than a lawsuit including damage to brand credibility, loss of trust, poor response rates, and waves of unsubscribe requests. In addition to UCE laws, you should familiarize yourself with each state's consumer protection laws. To minimize legal risk and avoid damaging customer relationships, every email marketer should, at the very least, follow the minimal requirements of all 50 states. Many marketers have translated the laws into practice and assert that it is acceptable, but not recommended, to send email to an individual with whom they have an existing business relationship. However, the preferred approach from legal and consumer standpoints is to deliver email messages only to those individuals who have explicitly consented to receive the email. Gathering an opt-in from consumers is ... Free Essays on Sport Business Free Essays on Sport Business Without a doubt, consumer privacy is the No. 1 issue facing email marketers today. Given all that is written and discussed about privacy, it can be difficult to establish what the law dictates versus what is considered best practice. We are not lawyers, and you should not take this article as legal advice, but we are here reviewing some relevant laws and best practices related to email marketing. First, it is important to understand what the letter of the law mandates. As of early 2000, 14 states within the U.S. had enacted unsolicited commercial email (UCE) or "antispam" laws, but any federal-level laws directly addressing email marketing have yet to be enacted. The various state laws describe each state's requirements for commercial email messages that are delivered to individuals within that state. Violations may result in financial losses for the marketer because individual consumers or the state may sue the marketer for damages. (Click here for a table that outlines the basic details of the UCE statutes for 14 states.) As intelligent marketers know, sending unsolicited email to a group of individuals can have ramifications even worse than a lawsuit including damage to brand credibility, loss of trust, poor response rates, and waves of unsubscribe requests. In addition to UCE laws, you should familiarize yourself with each state's consumer protection laws. To minimize legal risk and avoid damaging customer relationships, every email marketer should, at the very least, follow the minimal requirements of all 50 states. Many marketers have translated the laws into practice and assert that it is acceptable, but not recommended, to send email to an individual with whom they have an existing business relationship. However, the preferred approach from legal and consumer standpoints is to deliver email messages only to those individuals who have explicitly consented to receive the email. Gathering an opt-in from consumers is ...

Organization communication today Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Organization communication today - Essay Example Therefore, they have ideas but cannot get the ideas to other levels of the organization. In addition, they are unable to listen to others. For this reason, they are behaving like the taxi driver who only holds soliloquies, but does not communicate with other people. It is the responsibility of executives in organizations to adopt critical approaches to communication. In order to achieve this, executives face the compulsion of establishing an effective communication feedback loop. Unless such a loop exists, communication breakdown in the organization leads to inefficiency. When organizations lack effective communication channels, it is as if they are talking to the mirrors just as the taxi driver. When they are talking to the mirror, it is impossible for them to communicate organizational goals to other levels of the organization. It is the role of executive teams to define visions and establish goals for the organization. They should rely on the established communication channels in an effort to inspire all the employees so that they can focus on organizational goals. When the executive teams fail to establish effective communication channels, such inspiration is impossible because they cannot get the intended message. Many organizations rely on short-circuited communication systems and expect positive outcomes. With a short-circuited communication system, it is impossible to communicate ideas and receive feedback from employees. Therefore, a short-circuited system blinds the executive team making it extremely difficult to identify existing problems in the organization. If the communications systems were effective, it would be possible for the executive team to develop viable solutions in good time. However, when the type of communication resembles that of the taxi driver, the executive team lacks the capacity to initiate any strategies that would address organizational problems. Other

The effect of electricity supply on Nigeria economy in Oyo state Dissertation

The effect of electricity supply on Nigeria economy in Oyo state - Dissertation Example This study has been made to find the answer to the following questions: How has monopolization in the power sector by the government affected the availability of electricity in the country? Has liberalization led to greater access to electricity at the commercial levels in the state? The Nigerian economy is a developing economy and a major portion of its gross domestic product is a contribution from the small enterprises operating indigenously. For big commercial purposes as well as for small-scale businesses in the modern day scenario electricity is indispensable. There is a unidirectional relationship between electricity consumption of a country and gross domestic product of that country. Nigeria has been plagued with perennial problems of energy crises for almost two decades now; problems are an erratic supply of electrical power is prominent among them. According to the reports published by the government of Nigeria, only 45 percent of the population in the country can consume el ectricity in their daily needs. Among them, a meager 25 percent are rural dwellers. There are vast potential for development in the country for growth in terms of setting up provisions of electricity. The rural states in the country, such as Oyo are yet to have enough access to electricity. This necessitates a study on electricity supply in the states in Nigeria. This study takes Oyo as a representative of the rural areas in the economy to conduct a research on this statement regarding the level of consumption of electricity by the country’s small businesses.... This study has been made to find answer to the following questions: How has monopolization in the power sector by the government affected availability of electricity in the country? Has liberalization led to greater access to electricity at the commercial levels in the state? Therefore the main research question can be stated as â€Å"How has the supply of electricity in Oyo State in Nigeria affected the small businesses in the state?† The study would be conducted following a guideline of certain specific objectives. These objectives would help the researcher concentrate on the aim of conducting the research thereby helping her to complete the research successfully. The research objectives are as mentioned below: To study the level of electricity supply in the rural areas in Nigeria To understand the extent to which commercial and industrial activities in these areas are dependent on electric power To study how modern policy changes have affected power supply in the rural area s in the country Project approach This section of this project is dedicated to present a summarized project plan. The aim of this project is to study a serious issue that has far reaching effects in the social, political and economic spheres in the country. However, this research work is constrained by several factors, such as time and resources, and therefore devising an appropriate project plan is very much necessary (Blackwell, n.d.). This plan sets the context of the research, the design of research and the methodology to be followed (Bangor University, 2013). The project plan is made taking into consideration the theme of the project and the competence of the researcher who is going to execute the relevant activities that the study would

Sanskrit Numerations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sanskrit Numerations - Essay Example It is widely agreed upon that that Vedic form of Sanskrit underwent a seamless evolution into the Classic Sanskrit by the middle of the first millennium BC where it changed from the first language to the second language of religion and learning. The whole Hindu-Arabic numeral system is a place value numeral system, which to the most part is built on the base 10, unlike the Babylonian base 60 system (J.J O'Connor and E F Robertson, par.3). The place value system of enumeration is built into the Sanskrit language which used nine numerals and the zero to give representation to numbers ranging from the smallest of decimals to the largest powers of ten. Sanskrit gives each power of ten a distinguishable name and as a result giving no special significance to a separate number. The Yajurveda Samhitaa listed names of units of ten up to 10 to the twelfth power (India and the Scientific Revolution, sec.3) and in times to come, Buddhist and Jain authors carried forward the list to the fifty-third power. The Sanskrit numeration system provides actual distinct names to the powers of ten, in stark contrast to the English style of using auxiliary bases like thousand, billion etc. Numbers from the start were expressed by taking the names o f the first nine units separately and the powers of ten. For Sanskrit, literature number words were used for the first nine numbers and the powers of ten. The most widely used place value symbols belong to the Devanagari script numerals, which are themselves very similar to the Brahmi numerals and form the basis of the modern Hindu-Arabic numerals (Origins, par.1). The numbers till the first power of 10 in the Sanskrit language are: The introduction of a 10th symbol, for the numeral Zero paved the way for the positional system of decimal numeration. The modern decimal system was born when the symbol for the numeral Zero came in the shape of a small circle with a dot in the middle (the dot was later dropped in the modern '0'). The widely known advancement in Arab mathematics was based on the Sanskrit numeral system and its place value and decimal system of enumeration methods. Around the seventh and eighth century, the simple and ingenious Sanskrit methods came to the attention of the Arabs and it wasn't till the 12th century that it reached Europe when Adelard of Bath translated the work of Al-Khwarizmi (an Arab mathematician) into Latin (India and the scientific revolution, sec.3). Europe, more familiar with the Roman numeral system was resistant to the Sanskrit numeral system but when the eventual adoption finally occurred, a scientific revolution swept Europe beginning in the thirteenth century. Sanskrit language and its numeral system have greatly contributed to the modern day languages and mathematics. The Devanagri script which is adopted by Hindi, Marathi and Sanskrit still employ the same numeral symbols, although the names of the numbers vary by language. The Sanskrit language is used mainly in Hindu religious rituals but the Sanskrit numerals system is the true pioneer of the modern-day mathematics. The place-value system embedded in the Sanskrit numeral system makes some parts of it very logical and wonderfully easy and simple for scientific and mathematical reasoning (India and the scientific revolution, sec.3). It outshone the Greek and Roman numeral methods and forced the Europeans

Assessment of Cadmium levels in Chocolate

Assessment of Cadmium levels in Chocolate Research Proposal Assessment of Cadmium levels in chocolate commercialized in Lebanon Josiane Haddad 1- Background and significance Cadmium (Cd) as an element is a soft silver-white transition metal. It is not usually present in the environment as a pure metal, but is most often present in the form of oxides, sulfides, and carbonates. It does not have a taste or odor. Cadmium sulfate and cadmium chloride are quite soluble in water, whereas metal Cd, cadmium oxide and cadmium sulfide are almost insoluble (International Program on Chemical safety [IPCS], 2007). Cd is released from several sources in nature: mobilization of Cd from the Earths crust and mantle due to volcanic activity, mobilization of Cd impurities in extracted raw materials such as phosphate minerals and fossil fuels, release of Cd from products and processes resulting from the use, disposal, recycling, open burning or incineration, releases from municipal installations and release of Cd previously deposited in soils, sediments, landfills and waste or tailings piles (United Nations Environment Program [UNEP], 2010). It is a toxic metal to humans and classified as a carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry [ATSDR], 2004]. In the human body, Cd is mainly stored in the liver and kidneys. Hence, an early effect indicator of Cd toxicity is increased excretion of proteins in urine, kidney proteinuria, which is the result of proximal tubular cell damage. Several other side effects occur depending on the duration and magnitude of exposure. Skeletal damage is another critical effect of chronic Cd exposure at high levels. Cd concentrations in most tissues increase with age since excretion is normally slow, and the biological half-life is very long (10 to 15 years) (Jin T., Lu J. Nordberg M., 1998) in the muscles, kidneys, liver and whole body. In exposed people with renal damage, urinary excretion of Cd increases and so the whole body half-life is shortened. The kidney burden resulting from cumulative exposure to Cd can be assessed by measuring Cd in urine (UNEP, 2010). Epidemiological and experimental studies have associated occupational Cd exposure with several types of cancers including lung, prostate, renal, liver, hematopoietic system, urinary bladder, pancreatic, testis and stomach cancers (Journal of Inorganic biochemistry, 2000; Joseph P. et al., 2001). Exposure to this toxic metal also severely affects the function of the nervous system (L’opez E. et al., 2003; Cao Y. et al., 2009), with symptoms including headache and vertigo, olfactory dysfunction, Parkinson-like symptoms, slowing of vasomotor functioning, peripheral neuropathy, decreased equilibrium, decreased ability to concentrate and learning disabilities (Cao Y. et al., 2009; Phil R.O. Parkes M., 1977). Presence of Cd was also detected in hair and higher concentrations of hair Cd were reported in children with mental retardation (Marlowe M., Errera J. Jacobs J., 1983) and learning difficulties or dyslexia (Phil R.O. Parkes M., 1977; Capel I. et al., 1981). There are several sources of human exposure to Cd including employment in metal industries, production of certain batteries, some electroplating processes and consumption of tobacco products (International Agency for Research on Cancer [IARC], 1993). However, food accounts for approximately 90% of the Cd intake in the general, non-smoking population since this metal is found in the soil. The quantity absorbed by crops in different locations is influenced by factors such as soil pH, salinity, crop species and varieties and the presence of other elements (e.g., zinc). Less than 10% of the total exposure occurs due to inhalation of Cd in ambient air or ingestion with drinking water (UNEP, 2010). Since Cd is dangerous to humans, a provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) or provisional tolerable monthly intake (PTMI) had to be established. PTWI is an estimate of the amount of the chemical that can be ingested weekly over a lifetime without appreciable health risk (Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO] World Health Organization [WHO], 1988). The European Union recommends a PTWI of 2.5 ÃŽ ¼g/kg of body weight (European Union [EU], 2014). The PTMI for Cd recommended by the FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (ECFA) is 25 ÃŽ ¼g/kg of body weight (FAO WHO, 2014). In 2010, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommended that the acceptable daily intake level of 0.1 à °Ã‚ Ã…“†¡g kg−1 body weight per day for chronic exposure (Mead N., 2010). Studies in several European countries have demonstrated high levels of Cd in agricultural topsoil due to the use of Cd in fertilizers and atmospheric deposition. Over the last 100 years, the increase in soil Cd concentration in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland and the United Kingdom was estimated to be 7 to 43 percent (UNEP, 2010). Hence, the risk is in continuous increase and further investigation on the quality of the crops and food consumed has to be pursued. Out of the possible crops carrying Cd, cocoa, the seed of the Theobroma cacao tree (Watson R., Preedy V. Zibadi S., 2013; Lee F., 1983), is one of the most consumed by all age groups worldwide, especially by children. The large consumption of cocoa and chocolate products derived from cocoa is due to its pleasant flavor and the feeling of well-being that it gives (Watson R., Preedy V. Zibadi S., 2013). Several studies revealed the benefits of chocolate consumption due to the high levels of flavonoids and antioxidants present in cocoa based foods (Grivetti L. Shapiro H., 2009; Crozier S. al., 2011; Buitrago-Lopez A. et al., 2011). They are an important source of minerals such as Ca, P, Fe, Mg, Cu, Zn, K, and Mn (Grivetti L. Shapiro H., 2009; Peixoto R., Oliveira E. Cadore S., 2012; Pedro N., Oliveira E. Cadore S., 2006). In addition, they may prevent harmful effects caused by free radicals in the human body, contributing to the reduction of cardiovascular disease and cancer risk (Fernandez-Murga L. et al., 2011; Yao H., 2011). However, the presence of potentially toxic elements has also been reported (Rehman S. Husnain M., 2013; Yanus R. et al., 2014), particularly lead and Cd (Dahiya S. et al., 2005; Jalbani N. et al., 2009). Previous studies have been performed to test the presence of Cd in chocolate samples in several countries and the results revealed the presence of this heavy metal with a large margin of variation. In turkey 20-30 ppb were observed, in India 1 to 2730 ppb were reported, in Malaysia 280 to 420 ppb and in Pakistan 4.3 to 190 ppb were observed (Dahiya S. et al., 2005; da Silva A. et al., 2006; Dos Santos A. et al., 2005; Guldas M. et al., 2008; Lee P. and Low T., 1985; Leggli C.et al., 2011). In Oakland, California, the non-profit organization As You Sow (AYS) tested Cd levels in 42 products, 26 of which contained lead and/or Cd level above what the state of California considers safe. The organization sent legal notices in the context of holding more heavy metals than allowed under the Golden State’s Proposition 65 toxic chemical warning law to 16 manufacturers including Hershey’s, See’s, Mars, Godiva, Ghirardelli, Lindt, Green and Black’s, Kroger, Whole Food s, Trader Joe’s, Earth Circle Organics, Moonstruck, Theo, and Vosges (AYS, 2015; The Washington Post, 2015). In this study, given that some of the brands commercialized worldwide are found in Lebanon, cocoa and chocolate derivatives will be tested for their Cd content. Specific Aim Various brands of chocolate, whether local or imported brands, are largely consumed in Lebanon. The main ingredients in chocolate consist of cocoa, milk and fats, each of which is a potential source of Cd. No study has been conducted till now to assess the quantity of toxic metals present in the products on the market. Hence, a study to determine Cd levels is important for chocolate consumers and manufacturers. The aim of this study is to assess Cd levels in chocolate samples mostly consumed by the Lebanese population and compare those levels to the values issued by global health organizations. Research design and methods Sample collection Different brands of dark chocolate, milk chocolate and cocoa powder are collected from different stores according to the most sold brand. The shelf life of most milk chocolate samples is one year, and 2 years for dark chocolate. Samples will be labeled and stored at a temperature between 15 and 17à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C. Samples will be kept wrapped in foil and placed inside a Ziploc plastic bag so that they do not absorb the odors and moisture from the refrigerator (Subarmanian P., 1998). Microwave digestion In order to detect heavy metals in cocoa, the samples have to be digested since the matrices are organic. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), microwave digestion can be followed on chocolate samples where up to 0.5g are digested in 5mL of concentrated nitric acid and up to 2mL hydrogen peroxide (Onianwa P.C. et al. 1999; Mounicou S. et al., 2002), which can also be substituted by nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid (Gà ¼ldaÃ…Å ¸ M., Adnan F.D., Biricik F.B., 2008). The digestion is run in PTFE vessels at approximately 180 ±5à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C for 15 minutes (Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], 2004). The time and temperature are subject to variation in order to find the most convenient parameters for the samples tested. Wet digestion method can also be applied in the digestion of chocolate samples. The two methods are comparable in results (Jalbani N. et al., 2009). However, wet digestion requires a greater use of chemicals and causes a greater risk of contamination (Jalbani N. et al., 2009). As the samples will be used to assess both lead (Pb) and Cd, each sample is spiked with an internal standard of Pb and Cd prior to digestion (FDA, 2014). Obtained samples after digestion are reconstituted to 25mL with ultrapure distilled water in volumetric flasks then placed in vials and stored in the refrigerator (EPA, 2004; Jalbani N. et al., 2009). Atomic absorption analysis For quantitation, stock Cd and lead standard solutions of 1000mg/L each are diluted to different concentrations and a standard addition method is followed to prepare a calibration curve. Diluted Cd and lead stock standards with 1% nitric acid will be placed in nitric acid rinsed volumetric flask and stored in plastic bottles (Teflon ® FEP or HDPE bottles recommended). Both elements can be combined in the same solution (Food and Drug Administration [FDA], 2010). The heavy metal is detected by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (GFAAS). Electrodeless discharge lamps for Cd and Pb are operated, alternatively. Cd will be detected at a wavelength of 228.8 nm (FDA, 2010). Pure argon (99.999%) is used as the purge and protective gas. Different chemical modifiers will be tried to find the most convenient one such as ammonium phosphate, magnesium nitrate, phosphoric acid or others. Statistical analysis Statistical analysis will be done in two different stages. First, the mean Cd concentration of each brand of chocolate will be calculated and proportion differences for independent samples will be tested by comparing the calculated mean values to the permitted ones by Global Health Organizations. If significant differences are observed, a second step of analysis will be performed in which the studied brands are subcategorized forming a contingency table. The differences can be identified by a χ ² test thus allowing the formation of an ANOVA study to check in depth for the differences within the categories and between them. Using these methods, the most diverging categories from the norm will be identified. Expected results This study will most likely reveal the presence of Cd in chocolate samples as it has been the case in other similar studies. Some samples might have values higher than the tolerable intake specified by global health organizations. Potential problems Cd is toxic at low doses (FAO WHO, 1988; Mead N., 2010; EU, 2014; FAO WHO, 2014) and may be found in low doses in some samples as shown in previous studies (Dahiya S. et al., 2005; da Silva A. et al., 2006; Dos Santos A. et al., 2005; Guldas M. et al., 2008; Lee P. and Low T., 1985; Leggli C. et al., 2011). Accordingly, the selection of an appropriate chemical modifier for AAS analysis is very important. Several trials will be attempted in order to select the optimal type. In addition, the order and receipt of chemicals will be time consuming. Time frame Completion of the proposed aim requires duration of 3 to 4 months in order to allow for the collection of samples, sample digestion, graphite furnace analysis, evaluation and statistical analysis of the results obtained.

probability of brest cancer :: essays research papers

Probability of Breast Cancer A National Cancer Institute (NCI) report estimates that about 1 in 8 women in the United States (approximately 13.3 percent) will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. This estimate is based on cancer rates from 1997 through 1999, as reported in NCI's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program publication SEER Cancer Statistics Review 1973–1999. This publication presents estimates of the risk of developing breast cancer in 10-, 20-, and 30-year intervals. Each age interval is assigned a weight in the calculations based on the proportion of the population living to that age. The 1 in 8 figure means that, if current rates stay constant, a female born today has a 1 in 8 chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer sometime during her life. On the other hand, she has a 7 in 8 chance of never developing breast cancer. Because the SEER calculations are weighted they take into account that not all women live to older ages, when breast cancer risk becomes the greatest. A woman's chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer is:* from age 30 to age 40 . . . . . . . 1 out of 252 from age 40 to age 50 . . . . . . . 1 out of 68 from age 50 to age 60 . . . . . . . 1 out of 35 from age 60 to age 70 . . . . . . . 1 out of 27 Ever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 out of 8 In evaluating cancer risk for a cancer-free individual at a specific point in time, age-specific (conditional) probabilities are more appropriate than lifetime probabilities. For example, at age 50 a cancer-free black woman has about a 2.5-percent chance of developing breast cancer by age 60, and a cancer-free white woman has about a 2.9-percent chance. Among the racial/ethnic groups studied by SEER**, non-Hispanic white, Hawaiian, and black women have the highest levels of breast cancer risk. Other Asian/Pacific Islander groups and Hispanic women have lower levels of risk. Some of the lowest levels of risk occur among Korean and Vietnamese women.