Puerto Rican Cultural And Religion :: essays research papers

Puerto Rican Cultural and Religion I am a member of the Puerto Rican American Families research team. I myself grew up in a Puerto Rican American, or "New Yorican", family. The assignment is a field study. The study is on an observation of the religious community. We visited a Roman Catholic church in Buffalo on the west side, which is a predominantly Hispanic area of the city. I myself am also a Roman Catholic. This is a slightly erred site, because I believe that most Puerto Ricans migrated to New York City. However, we were able to make some interesting observations. The group attended mass at Holy Cross; both an English and Spanish mass. It seemed that the group accepted our presence without any apprehension, however, as I stated before, this probably is a result of I myself being Puerto Rican American. There were some striking differences between the English mass and the Spanish mass. The first noticeable difference was in attendance. The Spanish mass had a considerable higher attendance than did the English mass. Also the appearance of the manner of dress. The attendees of the Spanish mass were more formally dressed than those of the English mass. Another major difference was in the music. The English mass had the "traditional" European "angelica" type singing. The Spanish mass, however, had more upbeat music, along with the use of "traditionally" Carribean instruments like maracas, for example. What does this suggest about the religious community of Puerto Rican Americans? I think that it is a balance between assimilation and preserving the culture. I think it is obvious that Roman Catholicism was not the native religion of Borinquen. Borinquen was the name of the island Puerto Rico before the conquest of the Spanish. So since they had already been forced to assimilate their culture into European culture by the Columbians, they found they could easily assimilate into American culture more readily than other cultures. However, we find in the Spanish mass, the use of Carribean instruments. This suggests an effort by the religious community to maintain the Puerto Rican culture. I personally have experienced the efforts to maintain Puerto Rican culture in the form of Santeria. Santeria is a religion practiced by, I guess, many Puerto Rican Americans. It is practiced in the homes of Puerto Rican Americans when they are not in church. Puerto Rican Cultural And Religion :: essays research papers Puerto Rican Cultural and Religion I am a member of the Puerto Rican American Families research team. I myself grew up in a Puerto Rican American, or "New Yorican", family. The assignment is a field study. The study is on an observation of the religious community. We visited a Roman Catholic church in Buffalo on the west side, which is a predominantly Hispanic area of the city. I myself am also a Roman Catholic. This is a slightly erred site, because I believe that most Puerto Ricans migrated to New York City. However, we were able to make some interesting observations. The group attended mass at Holy Cross; both an English and Spanish mass. It seemed that the group accepted our presence without any apprehension, however, as I stated before, this probably is a result of I myself being Puerto Rican American. There were some striking differences between the English mass and the Spanish mass. The first noticeable difference was in attendance. The Spanish mass had a considerable higher attendance than did the English mass. Also the appearance of the manner of dress. The attendees of the Spanish mass were more formally dressed than those of the English mass. Another major difference was in the music. The English mass had the "traditional" European "angelica" type singing. The Spanish mass, however, had more upbeat music, along with the use of "traditionally" Carribean instruments like maracas, for example. What does this suggest about the religious community of Puerto Rican Americans? I think that it is a balance between assimilation and preserving the culture. I think it is obvious that Roman Catholicism was not the native religion of Borinquen. Borinquen was the name of the island Puerto Rico before the conquest of the Spanish. So since they had already been forced to assimilate their culture into European culture by the Columbians, they found they could easily assimilate into American culture more readily than other cultures. However, we find in the Spanish mass, the use of Carribean instruments. This suggests an effort by the religious community to maintain the Puerto Rican culture. I personally have experienced the efforts to maintain Puerto Rican culture in the form of Santeria. Santeria is a religion practiced by, I guess, many Puerto Rican Americans. It is practiced in the homes of Puerto Rican Americans when they are not in church.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Computers Essay

Computers are a mainstay in most homes, allowing individuals and families to access the Internet from home and complete a myriad of other tasks through the use of computer software. There are advantages and disadvantages to using home computers depending on how you use them. As computer hardware becomes faster, easier and more cost effective to develop, home computers also become more affordable for consumers. It is constantly becoming easier to put computers in the average American home, since both desktop and laptop computers come in such a wide range of price points. One of the greatest advantages of home computers is that they are affordable by the average family. A great advantages of home computers is that they allow individuals and families to achieve a variety of tasks at home. Families can use word processing programs for homework, spreadsheets to manage bills, and the Internet for social networking and entertainment. While students can use computers at home, and adults at work, the convenience of being able use a computer at home is a great advantage in itself. Many businesses also allow their employees to work from home via computer, thus saving travel expenses to and from the office, as well as saving company resources. Disadvantages With use of the Internet for online shopping and Internet banking, home computers offer the potential for identity theft. If you share your information online, such as your name, address, phone number or banking information, then there always is a chance that your information is at risk. This is an important consideration to make if you plan on using your home computer to access the Internet. The technology industry is constantly changing and evolving, and technology can become outdated quickly. If you are only looking for a system that will get you online and let you do basic tasks, then this is not as much of a concern. If you are looking for a comprehensive gaming system or one that can handle a variety of tasks at once, then it can become expensive to keep up with the latest hardware advances, making some computer systems a money drain.

What is the difference between fat- and water-soluble vitamins?

There is a well of a difference between water-soluble vitamins and fat-soluble vitamins, the two classifications of the organic nutrient compounds called vitamins. The word vitamin comes from the Latin word â€Å"vita† meaning â€Å"life† and â€Å"amine†, which means â€Å"nitrogen† (â€Å"What’s the difference†, 1996,  ¶ 4). Vitamins are nutrients essential to the human (or any animal) body because their presence in minute amounts enables the completion of important physiologically related metabolic processes. Vitamins are grouped according to the liquid or substance medium that is required for the body to be able to absorb these nutrients. Their grouping into either being soluble in fat or in water is an important determinant of how vitamins act in the body (Doctor's Responses Archive, n. d. ,  ¶ 2). There are nine water-soluble vitamins, namely Vitamin C and the B vitamins B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin or Vitamin P/PP), B5 (Pantothenic), B6 (Pyridoxine/Pyridoxamine) and B7 (Biotin). On the other, there are four fat-soluble vitamins, which are Vitamins A, D, E and K. The fat-soluble group needs lipid or fats in order to be absorbed through the lymphatic system (small intestines) and into the body's general blood circulation before being stored in body tissues. Fat-soluble vitamins, particularly Vitamins A and E, tend to remain in the body such that excessive intake can lead to an adverse condition termed hypervitaminosis (Doctor's Responses, n. d. ,  ¶ 4). Herein, water-soluble vitamins contrasts with the other group because Vitamin C and the B group are easily dissolved in water and the excess of these micronutrients are excreted in the urine. . What are antioxidants and phytochemicals? Antioxidants are naturally occurring substances that prevent the destructive process of oxidation and its adverse effects. Cells in all living organisms feature complex antioxidant systems that inhibit chemical damage wrought by oxidation. Antioxidant chemicals and enzymes in living organisms also help in the regulation and sustenance of various cellular proces ses. Antioxidants have been promoted and advertised to prevent strokes and heart diseases and even cancer. There are antioxidants shown to have delayed atherosclerosis in experiments with animals. Observational studies in humans have established a relationship between lower incidences of heart attacks and the inclusion of Vitamin E in the diet but the more conclusive clinical trial studies have demonstrated otherwise (â€Å"Vitamins & Exercise†, n. d. ,  ¶ 11 & 12). Some foods with high amounts of antioxidants are mushrooms, most berry fruits, peppers and spinach, barley, pecan and pistachio nuts, coffee, teas and chocolate. Phytochemicals or phytonutrients, on the other, chiefly refers to plant-based compounds that are not essential to the normal bodily metabolism but nonetheless promotes good health such as by helping prevent the onset of diseases (Phytochemicals, 2006,  ¶ 1). Phytochemicals are not presently classified under nutrients because they are not indispensable to sustaining life but they are nonetheless associated with the treatment and/or prevention of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and hypertension (Dresbach & Rossi, n. d. â€Å"How are they beneficial†). Phytochemicals and antioxidants intersect somewhat. The former necessarily come from plants but antioxidants can be found in animal-based foods. Also, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals can have antioxidant properties whereas phytochemicals can serve other functions other than their antioxidant features. (Collins, 2005,  ¶ 2). 3. What factors do you consider before taking dietary supplements? The factors I would con sider before taking dietary supplements are safety, substantiation of efficacy, costs, and product quality. Safety should be a primary factor so as not to run counter to the very purpose of dietary supplements, that is, the improvement of one's health. I would first ask around to make sure that the touted product is generally safe and in what dosage. I'd probably also consult with a doctor or medical expert as to whether the particular supplement poses no adverse effects to any existing health condition of mine. Another important factor would be whether the product has at least some measure of substantiated claims of efficacy. Outright recommendations from the medical community would be best but positive results from clinical trials conducted by reputable institutions would do for me. I would also consider whether the supplement has considerable use or history in traditional, particularly Eastern, medicine. After all, a number of important drugs used in modern medicine have been inspired by ancient traditions, including the malaria drug quinine. Costs of course is important–whether I can afford to regularly take it or I'd be better off choosing an alternative supplement. Product quality is another important factor that I could look into by checking on the reputation and manufacturing standards of the company. 4. What should be the role of government, if any, in influencing your dietary decisions? Given the assumption that the safety issue has been covered, in general, the government should at most serve to guide the public when it comes to dietary decisions. Whether the government be democratic or totalitarian, I don't believe people should be directly forced into or against eating or taking in foods and supplements that are not of their choices. I believe in freedom of consumer choice and in the individual right to decide for herself or himself what foods and supplements she or he prefers and what would work best—without need for doctor's prescriptions. However, I also firmly believe in judicious government regulation of food and dietary supplement manufacturers and the regulation of the corresponding markets. The government should monitor companies who make or process foods and supplements, as it does manufacturers in other segments. Government supervision should ensure that the ingredients and processes listed on product labels are accurate and that manufacturing conforms to certain quality standards. The market itself should be meticulously regulated in terms of the health claims advertised or printed on the labels. Permitted health claims should conform to standards based largely on scientific evidence that support said claims. To illustrate, the regulation by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration of dietary supplements not as drugs but as foods (Dietary Supplement, 2006,  ¶ 2) provides the consumers the appropriate guidance to make wise decisions in their use.

Detox your writing - Emphasis

Detox your writing Detox your writing Is your writing feeling a bit flabby and out of shape? Treat it to a one-month detox treatment by following these three rules. Get active The active voice is more direct, dynamic and accountable. The Government took no action is better than No action was taken or No action was taken by the Government. Its far better to have people or organisations taking action than to describe things as mysteriously happening or being done. When you use the active voice, you sometimes find an even simpler way of expressing yourself. A payment was made by the chief executive last week. becomes The chief executive made a payment last week. which you can then change to The chief executive paid last week. Stay structured Few of the people you write for are psychic or have infallible memories. If you put the main part of the sentence at the end, they will have to read to the end before they can start to understand the beginning. This mental back-flip could be all it takes to confuse them, distract them, or put them off. Structuring sentences logically will: keep your readers reading make sure they need to read each sentence only once get your message across. Always put the primary clause first. Or, in other words, put the what before the why. So, rather than In order to achieve these targets within the specified timeframe, we need to begin the training now. write We need to begin the training now, in order to achieve these targets within the specified timeframe. or, even better (see Lose the padding, below) We need to begin the training now, so we can hit our targets on time. Also, try to stick to the rule of one sentence = one idea. Aim for an average sentence length of 15-20 words; an absolute maximum of 35. Remember, there is no limit to the number of full stops you can use. Lose the padding Never mistake the ability to use elaborate phrases for a sign of intellect. Whats the point of using your brain to translate a short word into a long one, so that your readers have to use their brains to translate it back again before they even start to take in your message? Its also a fallacy that short words are somehow lightweight or less useful. In fact, they are often the most powerful. No one is saying that you have to use them all the time that would be boring. But if you want your sentences to have more impact, streamline them by doing these three simple things: cut out redundant words replace long words with short ones replace long phrases with short ones. After the detox Just as with healthy eating and exercise regimes, the secrets of writing well in the long term are to enjoy it and to let yourself experiment. Use this month as an opportunity to clamp down on any bad writing habits youve slipped into by really focusing on these three points. But that doesnt mean that you can never again use the passive voice or your favourite long word. This month, we fast. In the long term, its all about the moderation. Challenge Meanwhile, heres a quick four-point exercise to ponder as you crunch your carrots: 1. Reduce this sentence from nine words to five: It is possible that the Chancellor will cut taxes. 2. Rewrite this sentence without the nominalisation (-tion words): It was his conviction that the provision of bicycles to law officers would lead to a reduction in crime. 3. Cut two words out of this sentence: Sarah Thompson, who is our marketing director, will lead the discussion. 4. Rewrite this sentence without the prepositions (of, on, in, by, to): The recession is of great concern to small-business owners.

Community Service Project Essays

Community Service Project Essays Community Service Project Essay Community Service Project Essay (a) What does community service/volunteerism mean to you? * I define volunteerism as a service performed for the benefit of others with little or no benefit to the person carrying out the service. One may volunteer for many reasons but these should not include expecting to receive an income or publicity for work being done. One benefit that a volunteer may have however is growing their knowledge base about the activity in which they are participating. One should think about the ways which they can make their community a better place to live for themselves and everyone else. It’s really not that hard, carrying out simple actions like helping an elderly person to cross the road or donating your unworn clothes to persons who have a greater need for it can be classified as volunteerism. (b) Which two of the four goals of Vision 2030 do you think is most closely linked to community service/volunteerism? Why? * Of the four goals of Vision 2030, I think that the first goal- â€Å"Jamaicans are empowered to achieve their fullest potential† and the fourth goal- â€Å"Jamaica has a natural healthy environment† would be the two most closely linked to volunteerism. Through personal empowerment, volunteers may seek to realize their full potential by conveying to themselves tasks which will benefit them as well as the society in which they live. Volunteers may seek to assist persons with additional training they may need as well as school projects. This is done in effort to bring forth well rounded individuals. The final goal of Vision 2030 states that Jamaica has a natural and healthy environment. Volunteers can help Jamaica to achieve this by cleaning up their environment and various communities. By doing so, they will have helped to create healthy and comfortable surroundings for all citizens. c) Select one of the two goals discussed in (b) and suggest ways you can contribute to achieving this goal through your community service. * I believe that I can help to carry out goal four of Vision 2030. The Bible (NIV) says in 1st Peter 4:10 â€Å"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God†™s grace in its various forms† and so I believe that each and every one of us were made stewards of this Earth and that it is our responsibility to take care of the environment and all things in it. Stewardship aids in the development of society and so I will take it upon myself to volunteer at Hope Zoo Preservation so I can develop better work ethics, make good use of my free time as well as help the organization to return to its former glory. This includes participating in cleanup activities, carrying out administrative tasks and doing everything else in my power to facilitate smooth operation so that visitors will always remember Hope Zoo not just as a commodity but as an experience. Lecturer’s Signature________________________ Submission Date___________________________ Reflection Piece #2 a. Identify your agency and briefly discuss the history, goals and objectives of the agency. * The organization that I have been contributing to for a greater cause is Hope Zoo which is located on Old Hope Road, Kgn 6 in St. Andrew, Jamaica. The institution, a section of the Hope Botanical Gardens and Zoo was originally a part of Hope Estate which was owned and operated by Richard Hope- a former commander in the British army- who had been gifted the estate in return for helping Britain take control of Jamaica. What we now know as Hope Botanical Gardens and Zoo is the largest in the Caribbean and is just 200 acres of the estate which was bought by the Government to establish an experimental garden for foreign species in the late nineteenth century. One very important moment in the history of Hope Gardens is Queen Elizabeth II’s visit in 1953. Hope Zoo has been undergoing some major restoration changes over the years and in 2005, the Nature Preservation Foundation (NPF) took charge. The NPF intends to â€Å"develop and manage Hope Zoo and the Royal Botanic Gardens as a sustainable facility for environmental education, applied research, recreation, wildlife and flora conservation for Jamaica and the region; and to position the facility as part of the Tourism Product. † b. Bearing the Vision 2030 goal you selected in reflection 1 in mind, identify a set of objectives you aim to fulfill in your assignment at the agency. * I chose the fourth goal of Vision 2030- â€Å"Jamaica has a natural healthy environment†. The objectives I aim to fulfill in my assignment at Hope Zoo include: participating in cleanup activities so that the staff, guests as well as animals can benefit from existing in a clean environment; carrying out administrative tasks in an attempt to lessen the work load of the administrative department as well as being readily available to any visitor who may have questions or need help with something in an attempt to facilitate smooth operation. c. Discuss the specific steps you will take to accomplish these objectives. In order to accomplish these objectives, I will ensure my early arrival to the institution each time I am on duty and immediately report to my supervisor for a list of my duties for the day. I will then proceed to complete my tasks which will revolve around the objectives mentioned above as well as observing my surroundings to see what else needs to be done and how I can make a contribution. These steps will be completed in an effort to make Hope Zoo a better place and in agreement with Vision 2030: Jamaica. Lecturer’s Signature________________________ Submission Date___________________________ Reflection Piece #3 a. Identify some of the problems/issues you experienced during your placement. * This has been a very good experience, however I did not particularly appreciate being harassed by a particular zoo keeper on more than one occasions during my forty hours of service. b. To what extent did problems you encountered/witnessed in your placement reflect problems prevalent in the wider Jamaican society? Being troubled or provoked by persons in the workplace causes discomfort and disagreement. This is mostly done out of envy or jealousy. One worker may do it to get another worker angry enough to react violently, no doubt getting into problems with the manager and possibly losing his/her job. Either way, victims of this are often not very happy with their jobs and so productivity levels tend to decrease. There may also be a lack of interest in completing tasks efficiently as workers would have lost focus. c. What impact do you think these problems will have on our ability to achieve the goals laid out in Vision 2030? * I believe that provocation between workers will have an impact on the country’s ability to achieve goal one -â€Å"Jamaicans are empowered to reach their fullest potential† and goal 3 -â€Å"Jamaica’s economy is prosperous†. Jamaicans will not have reached their fullest potential by 2030 if there is constant workplace harassment or violence as this would have caused their interest and determination levels to decrease. If a worker’s determination and desire to carry out his/her duties effectively decreases, productivity levels will also decrease and so Jamaica’s economy will not be as prosperous we want it to be by 2030. d. What solution did you employ to address the problem? * I addressed the problem by having a private chat with the person about my issue as well as possible implications of workplace harassment on the business itself. I made sure he understood my position and we came to a truce. I can honestly say this worked wonders as up until this point we have not had another conflict. Lecturer’s Signature: Submission Date: ____________________

Automotive Airbag History and Invention

Automotive Airbag History and Invention Like seatbelts, airbags are a type of  automobile safety restraint system designed to mitigate injury in the event of an accident. These gas-inflated cushions, built into the steering wheel, dashboard, door, roof, and/or seat of your car, use a crash sensor to trigger a rapid expansion of nitrogen gas contained inside a cushion that pops out on impact to put a protective barrier between passengers and hard surfaces. Types of Airbags The two main types of airbags are designed for front impact and side impact. Advanced frontal airbag systems automatically determine if and with what level of power the driver-side frontal airbag and the passenger-side frontal airbag will inflate. The appropriate level of power is based on the readings of sensor inputs that can typically detect occupant size, seat position, seat belt use of the occupant, and severity of the crash. Side-impact airbags (SABs) are inflatable devices designed to help protect the head and/or chest in the event of a serious crash involving impact with the side of a vehicle. There are three main types of SABs: chest (or torso) SABs, head SABs, and head/chest combination (or combo) SABs. The History of the Airbag At the dawn of the airbag industry, Allen Breed held the  patent (U.S. #5,071,161) to the only crash-sensing technology available at the time. Breed had invented a sensor and safety system in 1968. It was the worlds first electromechanical automotive airbag system. However, rudimentary patents for airbag predecessors date back to the 1950s. Patent applications were submitted by German Walter Linderer and American John Hetrick as early as 1951. Linderers airbag (German patent #896312) was based on a compressed air system, either released by bumper contact or by the driver. Hetrick received a patent in 1953 (U.S. #2,649,311) for what he called a safety cushion assembly for automotive vehicles, also based on compressed air. Later research during the 1960s proved that compressed air was not capable of inflating the airbags quickly enough to be effective. In 1964, Japanese automobile engineer Yasuzaburou Kobori  was developing an airbag safety net system that employed an explosive device to trigger airbag inflation, for which he was awarded patents in 14 countries. Sadly, Kobori  died in 1975 before seeing his ideas put into practical or widespread use. Airbags Are Introduced Commercially In 1971, the Ford Motor Company built an experimental airbag fleet. General Motors installed airbags in a fleet of 1973 Chevrolet Impalas- for government use only. The 1973 Oldsmobile Toronado was the first car with a passenger airbag sold to the public. General Motors later offered an option of driver-side airbags in full-sized Oldsmobiles and Buicks in 1975 and 1976, respectively. Cadillacs became available with driver and passenger airbags options during those years as well. General Motors, which had marketed its airbags as the Air Cushion Restraint System, discontinued the ACRS option for the 1977  model year, citing a lack of consumer interest. Ford and GM subsequently spent years  lobbying  against airbag requirements, arguing that the devices were simply not viable. Eventually, however, the automobile giants realized that the airbag was here to stay. Ford began offering them again as an option on their 1984 Tempo. While Chrysler made a driver-side airbag standard for its 1988–1989 models, it wasn’t until the early 1990s that airbags found their way into the majority of American cars. In 1994, TRW began production of the first gas-inflated airbag. Airbags have been mandatory in all new cars since 1998.

Midea Electronics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Midea Electronics - Essay Example Midea attained RMB8 billion revenue for fiscal year 1999 and has set a sales objective of RMB38.6 billion by year 2005. Although Midea has a leading position in air conditioner exports from China and shown a continuous growth in domestic and international market yet with globalization and rapidly changing business scenario, Midea is facing a number of challenges both in domestic and international market. As for major appliances manufacturers are concerned, Asia, and in particular China seems to be with the most potential growth market and hence they are aggressively investing in Chinese domestic market. Almost all major appliances manufacturers are present in the Chinese market either by setting their manufacturing facilities or by establishing the off shore base centers. Compared to these major players, Midea lacks its presence in international market with its brand name and it has to solely rely on its importers brand name. It does not have a well defined global marketing strategy and a more geographical diversified presence with better marketing skills and dedicated international sales and distribution networks. Also major international players like LG (with 74% revenue from international market), Samsung Electronic (66%), Mitsubishi (51% by 2001), Fedders (50%), Carrier (48%) and Sharp and Whirlpool (each with 46%) have immense financial resources with latest technology and state-of-the-art innovation research centers while Midea only generates 10% of its revenue from international market and has limited financial resources, with traditional technology. ... Also major international players like LG (with 74% revenue from international market), Samsung Electronic (66%), Mitsubishi (51% by 2001), Fedders (50%), Carrier (48%) and Sharp and Whirlpool (each with 46%) have immense financial resources with latest technology and state-of-the-art innovation research centers while Midea only generates 10% of its revenue from international market and has limited financial resources, with traditional technology. Moreover the scenario will become more intensive and competitive with the China's imminent entry into World Trade organization (WTO). These are really major concerns to Midea's management team. As in changing global business scenario, any competition can not be viewed as solely domestic and every organization have to defend its position and have to play a double edge knife role to compete both at domestic and global level. For long term business viewpoint Midea too has to play the same role. Being a major domestic player it has to defend its position in Chinese market and also has to show its presence in the international arena. To achieve this Midea has to review its international business strategy and to go for both branding and private label options. In coming sections we will analyze the Midea's strengths and weaknesses relative to domestic and international competitors. Also an assessment of relative attractiveness of domestic and international markets for air conditioners is presented. Finally an international business strategy is recommended to enter and capture market share. Media Group: An Overview Midea was established in April 1968, in Shunde, Guangdong, the southern Chinese province bordering Hong