Winter Moon Essay Example For Students

Winter Moon Essay Winter Moon Critique of Winter MoonIn Winter Moon by Dean Koontz a cloudy Los Angeles, California day is shattered when a hot Hollywood director turns a city street into a fiery abyss.A heroic police officer, Jack McGarvey, is badly wounded in the inferno and will not be able to walk for months.Little does Jack know that a series of events will lead him and his family to a ranch in Montana.On that isolated ranch they discover their destiny in a horrific encounter with a ruthless and puzzling enemy from which neither the living nor dead are safe. Koontzs novels seem to have one thing in common.Their themes are about how the human mind and spirit relate to things in life.He doesnt stray from that commonality in Winter Moon.Koontzs purpose in writing the book was to show that the power of the mind is yet an unmatched force.Both my mother and I agree that he accomplished this very well. His use of characters also fits a pattern that has developed in his writing.Koontz uses the same two characters in many of his novels: the heroic, faithful male and the strong female.Koontzs employment of indirect characterization is impeccable, and makes the reader feel as though they really know the characters.At the beginning, the book can seem confusing, whereas Koontz jumps back and forth from character to character.I feel that after the reader has become accustomed to it, the switching between characters creates good stopping points.However, my mom found it annoying and didnt like the switching. We will write a custom essay on Winter Moon specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Koontz explodes into action during the first chapter, which grips the reader and holds their attention throughout the rest of the book.The novel starts out as two separate stories: a police officers family living in L.A. and an old retired man living in Montana.As the book progresses the two stories become more connected, and finally intertwined.The book can seem confusing at the start.However, the confusion of the reader is used by Koontz to make the ending more intense.Koontz certainly unleashes his vivid imagination in this novel, whereas some of the details and occurrences can leave a weak stomached reader feeling nauseous.My mom said that she couldnt sleep after reading one of the more disturbing sequences of events. The setting of Winter Moon occurs in two different places.Two places that are complete opposites: Los Angeles, California and a ranch in Montana.While L.A. is a large city riddled with crime and evil, Montana is a quiet serene place of unending beauty.Something bad can be expected to happen in L.A.However, it is strange and mysterious when something evil happens in rural Montana.Nonetheless, something evil does happen in rural Montana.The irony of this situation surprises the reader and grabs their interest.Meanwhile, the isolation of the Montana ranch ads an element of suspense.My mom and I agree that the irony and suspense make an irresistible combination. Dean Koontz has done a superb job in writing a bone chilling suspense thriller.The book gets you involved very fast and continues to build momentum throughout the story.Koontzs handling of the main elements in the novel was flawlessly executed, which added to the exciting atmosphere of the work.My mom said that the book was a little too scary for her and made her uneasy at times, so be cautioned: this book is not intended for those weak of heart, or stomach.

Making Your Statement of Purpose Stand Out

Making Your Statement of Purpose Stand Out Whereas a good college entrance essay is typically filled with personal stories and lessons gleaned from your high school years, the statement of purpose lends itself to a heavier academic focus for those applying to advanced programs for masters and doctoral degrees, faculty positions and research posts. A standard, feel-good essay about your lifes greatest challenges wont do here. To make your statement of purpose stand out, it needs to be rife with interesting research, admirable extracurricular activities and volunteerism, and compelling reasons why you (like everyone else) would be good at teaching.Taking entrance essays to a new levelThe statement of purpose may sound intimidating to some, but it shouldnt be. If youve come this far that youre ready to apply to advanced education programs, youve undoubtedly earned your keep to get here. The trick is to transform all the work youve done and reasons why you want to pursue this path further into an engaging, yet succinct, essay tha t leaves an admissions committee member saying, This person will be a real asset to our department!Writing a great statement of purpose (SOP) is quite similar to selling yourself to an employer in a terrific cover letter that will accompany your resume (which, often times, youll submit with your SOP, too). You already know your skills and assets that make you sellable; the key is to find out what the university youre applying to is interested in buying.This is where a little research can come in handy. Chances are you may already know some about the courses, disciplines or research the university youre applying to is conducting, or you may even know someone on staff or already enrolled in the program. Whatever your sources, do your research and find out what kinds of projects you might be able to work on, or what new or unique talents you can bring to the department if accepted. This could mean reading up online or in journals on the colleges recent research, talking to professors o r students you may know about whats going on there, scheduling a meeting with the dean of the department or a professor you idolize (youd be surprised how willing they are to meet with potential students if you are gracious and admiring when asking), or even chatting with the department secretary by phone for a few minutes some quiet afternoon. Think of it like answering a job ad in the Sunday paper – youre feeling out your sources for the qualifications this college needs in a candidate, and once you find them, you can talk up your skills in an impressive SOP thats sure to get you noticed.Let the selling beginSelling yourself to a university is all in the phrasing. Once youve researched their needs, you begin by looking over your body of research, schooling, outside activities, and future aspirations and match them up to what they need. And while some of this may require a fair amount of straight-out telling in your writing (i.e., listing your dissertation(s), studies involv ed in, publications youve written, labs youve worked with and other special projects), there is still room for some brief background history (such as being born in China or growing up from a line of five engineers) or personal stories that can help you emotionally connect with the reader.For instance, among the text-heavy description of the research youve worked on for the last three years, a nice, humanizing touch might be to add something like:In late May of this year, the three-year study I had at first grudgingly joined came to a close. My emotions were mixed, as I had come to truly enjoy and look forward to my work in the lab, while at the same time I had been waiting for the day we would examine our results and hope for the outcome wed hypothesized. When that day came, I couldnt have been happier to realize that my repetitive and, at times, isolating work on the project had in some way helped to further the field of research into Alzheimers disease and put us that much closer to a cure.Just as with any essay, this method of showing the reader an experience you have had throughout your work goes a tremendous way in helping them relate to you. With just three to five sentences of honest emotion about your experiences, the reader gets so much more than from only a monotonous list of your projects and qualifications.Everyone wants to teachJust as in Hollywood, where every actor wants to direct, in academia, it seems every scholar wants to teach. While its only natural that the professional student should eventually want to become a teacher, suffice it to say that the reason because I want to help people has been used a bazillion times before.Therefore, finding some more compelling, unique reasons to bring education to the masses is in order. Perhaps you feel the worlds love of biochemistry is dually lacking and you could change that with your hands-on, science-is-fun approach. Or maybe you had a particularly life-altering professor that you now aspire to imi tate for a new generation of students – then tell the university why and how you would do so in your SOP. Whatever the reason you wish to teach, be genuine but steer clear of answers that are too general or overused.When I grow up†¦And finally, dont forget to dream big when detailing your future aspirations in your SOP. Perhaps your goal is to be a professor, or maybe youd just like to conduct advanced research in highway engineering projects for the rest of your days, but dont be afraid to think outside the box to the research that hasnt even been touched on yet. Perhaps youd like to be the first to pioneer research on freeways controlled completely by computer – then dont be afraid to say so. Maybe you dream of one day heading the department youre now applying to – then tell them that (in a subtle but admirable way, not Ill have your job one day, buddy!).Whatever your field, letting a university know that youd be a positive addition to their department wh ile still stroking the schools collective ego in a respectful (not kiss-up) way, is key in making your statement of purpose stand out from the rest. Let your achievements and work speak for themselves, but be sure to match them up with exactly what the school is looking for and cant do without, and in no time youll be sitting pretty in a research lab.

10 50th Birthday Quotes

10 50th Birthday Quotes The half-century birthday calls for a big celebration. The  50th birthday  heralds the rebirth of a relaxed person who has fulfilled many of his obligations.  Do not count lifes success by benchmarks or years; count the blessings bestowed upon you. Life looks different when it does not saddle you with the responsibilities and ambition you faced earlier. The most important time in your life is now.  When you are ready to walk into the sunset, make sure that you dont look back and wonder why you missed out on all those beautiful moments that came by. Here are the thoughts of various people on the 50th birthday and midlife in general: Joan Rivers: Famously Acerbic American Comedian, Actress, and Producer, 1933-2014 Looking 50  is great if you’re 60. George Orwell:  English Author of  1984 and Animal Farm, 1903-1950 At age 50, everyone has the face he deserves. James A. Garfield: U.S. President, 1831-1881 (Assassinated)   If wrinkles must be written upon our brows, let them not be written upon the heart. The spirit should never grow old. Richard John Needham: Canadian Newspaper Humor Columnist, 1912-1996 The seven ages of man: spills, drills, thrills, bills, ills, pills, and wills. Pablo Picasso: Spanish Painter, Sculptor, Cubism Pioneer, and Author, 1881-1973 The years between 50 and 70 are the hardest. You are always being asked to do things, and yet you are not decrepit enough to turn them down! Jack Benny: American Comedian and Actor, Perennially Age 39, 1894-1974 The old believe everything; the middle-aged suspect everything; the young know everything! Lucille Ball: American Comedian, Actress, and Early Sitcom Star, 1911-1989 Middle age is when your age starts to show around your middle! Muhammad Ali: American Boxer and Amateur Philosopher, 1942-2016 The man who views the world at  50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life. George Bernard Shaw: Irish Playwright of  Pygmalion, 1856-1950 Age is strictly a case of mind over matter. If you dont mind, it doesnt matter! Don Marquis: American Humorist, Novelist, and Playwright, 1878-1937 Middle age is the time when a man is always thinking that in a week or two he will feel as good as ever.

Response To Memo From K. Abbott-Gill, The Cfo Of Antipodes Mineral Case Study

Response To Memo From K. Abbott-Gill, The Cfo Of Antipodes Mineral Resources Company - Case Study Example The core business in a mineral company is; mining and therefore most investments in such entities revolve around this central activity. The following are the areas I would expect AMR to make their investments: †¢ Prospecting and exploration of minerals: The process of pinpointing deposits is costly and time consuming. A mineral company must therefore, invest in the process of geological mapping to stay in business by securing the supply end of its operations. The amount of drilling and excavation involved in mining is determined at the exploration stage and therefore, this preliminary phase of the mining process determines the financial allocation required to purchase the right tools for the jobs that include among others, drilling and transportation equipment. †¢ Equipment: After locating the mineral deposits in the exploration stage, a mining company like AMR in this case, must invest in the acquisition of the correct equipment. The success of a mining process is entirely dependent on the available excavation, drilling and transportation machinery. AMR must therefore commit to continuously acquiring proper tools, something that is always a work in progress project for companies in this industry since new, more efficient equipment are manufactured everyday. †¢ Acquisition of mines: After the completion of exploration process, mining companies must make ownership of such mining locations their projects. This can be done through partnerships with both governments and local communities in the mineral rich locations. It is my expectation that a mining company should make significant investments in acquiring mines to ensure sustainability of their respective material supply chains. Value addition on minerals: Most minerals fetch better prices if value is added onto them through diverse industrial processes. I would therefore expect a mining company to make investments in value additions for their minerals that involves construction of value addition plants. Transportation network infrastructure: The process of transportation from mining field to value addition plants for a mineral company is crucial to its success. How fast and efficiently they can excavate, transport and process ores determines the consistency of mineral supplies to th eir customers both in their localities and the world over. A mining company must therefore invest in transportation system that include ; construction of shorter routes to their plans to reduce fuel costs, acquire large capacity transport equipment, construct railway lines as well as properly maintain their roads (Bomsel, 1990). This investment ensures that such a company is not only efficient in its operations but is also profitable through transportation cost reduction. Acquisition of mining licenses: the process of securing a mining license, in as much as it may not be tangible is a crucial project in the workings of a mining company. Securing these licenses require serious negotiations and involve the hiring of attorney services. A mining company must therefore invest in the best lawyers and trade negotiators to handle this aspect of their operations. Trainings of staff: Employees are expected to hold particular skill sets at the time of employment. To ensure efficiency in actua l company operations, AMR must invest in additional training of staff so that they acquire skills specific to the company’s activities. Employees are the most valuable assets outside the balance sheet and their training therefore, is directly proportional to an organization’s operational efficiencies and profitability. Training is one project I expect to see the company invest its resources. Green energy: Energy consumption in the mining process is a major cost element and coming up with cheaper more environmentally sustainable energy sources is one area I would expect to see

Organizational Training Design Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Organizational Training Design - Assignment Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that the training program is conceptualized to introduce key personnel to the rudiments of the customer contact software package (SAM) chosen by the team.   The trial run, scheduled for a single day, would provide preliminary insights into crafting a better program for larger scale integration. In this manner, the trial training will help the firm realize better results while avoiding costly errors that may have been encountered without the trial program. The firm is in the midst of its regular operations. In the financial services industry, the stock market, currencies market, and securities trading are constantly moving. Prices of the traded assets are always being bidded up or sold down in any one trading session, for which reason the brokers, traders, and analysts are always focused on the market. Obviously, training is going to come into direct interference with this. Clients may be called during the course of trading to speak with the ir own traders or analysts (who may be managers), for feedback, advice, or transaction in the markets. If such person were pulled out of the firm’s operations for one day, then customers will find this disconcerting because they have established trust with their usual contact and may not want to transact with others. Prior arrangements and coordination should, therefore, be made with substitute personnel if any, or better yet, arrangements should be made to hold the training during a non-trading day, or possibly broken down to be accommodated into non-trading hours during work days. Depending upon the individual manager’s perspective, he may consider the training as either opportunity, reward or punishment. Employees who are engaged and motivated, and who feel an empathy with the market and the needs of the firm, will only look at the training program as an added opportunity. Training programs, after all, provide the individual worker with added tools by which he could more effectively address his work. In a sense, the trainee-manager may feel that the training program may be a reward. Oftentimes, being in the pilot batch of a program may be construed as an honor, because it is an acknowledgment of the above-average capabilities and skills of the trainee. After all, the best subjects are usually chosen for the trial of a new innovation, to assess the best possible chances for success of the prospective change. Seldom, if ever, will the training program be considered as punishment, but in such case, it may be due to the perceived withdrawal of the trainee from the workplace, affording him less change for output performance for the day in case there is some competitive (as against others) or evaluative (as in chances for promotion or raise) implication of such foregone output. All persons or groups who may have a strong faith in computerization and are convinced that the firm’s sales will be improved by added technology will definitely have an interest in seeing it succeed. Also, those employees who are in touch with market developments and are aware of competitive advantages of their company’s competition will praise and root for the success of the installation, training, and implementation activities with regard to SAM.  

Buffalo Creek Flood Disaster Essay -- Analysis, Emilie Durkheim

Buffalo Creek Flood Disaster Emilie Durkheim described the concepts of social regulation and social integration, and how both are connected to suicide rates. Both of these concepts can also be used to analyze the effect that the Buffalo Creek flood had on individuals and the community. Using the ideas of social regulation and social integration as well as the book â€Å"Everything in Its Path† by Kai T. Erikson, we can see the consequences of the Buffalo Creek flood disaster. Durkheim used the concepts of social regulation and social integration to analyze how social forces affect suicide. Social integration refers to how integrated a person is inside their social group, or the level of attachment a person feels toward their group (Conley 187). Social integration varies greatly from community to community and differs in degrees of member attachment. A tightly knit community, where citizens interact with each other in a variety of ways, reflects higher social integration. This can be compared to a community in which members rarely or never interact with many other community members, which reflects low social integration. According to Durkheim, two types of suicide arise from the different levels social integration. One cause of suicide is extremely low social integration, which is referred to as egoistic suicide. Durkheim argues that this is the case because others give the individual’s life meaning, so without this support from the group the person may feel hopeless (Conley 188). The other type of suicide, altruistic suicide, reflects the opposite situation: when an individual is too socially integrated (Conley 189). This type of suicide occurs when members of a group or community become so totally engrossed by the group tha... ... no rules to govern everyday life, there was no moral compass. The loss of community was acutely felt by the former Buffalo Creek residents, who had previously been a very tight knit people. This was demonstrated by the fact that post-disaster euphoria was completely absent after the flood. Usually this euphoria arises when the survivors realize that the community is still existent and alive. However in Buffalo Creek there was not a shred of community left to cause celebration. This was due in part to HUD’s housing regulations that not only worsened the feeling of isolation, but also because of the massive destruction caused by the flood itself. After the sudden and violent incident the pain of the survivors would continue far into their future. The chronic pain and suffering resulting from the loss of community and the effects of it on would linger for years. â€Æ'

Online retailing or E-tailing (Electronic retailing)

Online retailing or E-tailing (Electronic retailing) or direct marketing are now gaining in tremendous awareness by the businesses and the customers at large. This concept is normally termed as a B2C (business to consumer) transaction. There have been many categories or channels, which corporate adopt in order to distribute and reach its target customers.But involving and interfering with channels of a company having a multi-channel distribution system poses a great challenge. Online marketing could be done in several categories. The prominent of which are ? pure click – where in the firms sell their total products on the web based domain space or the virtual space. ? Click and Brick – They are the business which use both online and offline channel structure.Brick and Mortar – firms, which sell their entire product, line by using a physical space system. Each of these channels have their respective advantages and disadvantages, but the firm should be wise and con scious about the different channel system they are adopting as there are chances of conflicts which could arise with reference to tapping the same customer base or the same territory or having goal incompatibility.In the case mentioned, if was given a chance to be in-charge of a direct marketing system, there would be certain strategies, which I would implement, in-order to stabilize and maintain a good relation with all the other channel partners. Since there are greater chances of having conflicts between the online and offline retailers, to gain acceptance from intermediaries I would pacify or satisfy my channel partners by test marketing the following strategies and tactics.First – offer a different mix of product line or different brands on the web based system than their offline channel partners or retail partners. Second – provide better and higher discounts and commissions for its retail partner to improve the negative impact on sales and to increase the profit s. Third – Allow the customers to register their orders on the online system, but appoint retailers to deliver and collect payment where in the retailers are also cushioning on a ready-made customer base.Fourth – Give a choice to the customers if they require a work on their purchase with a financial advisor, if yes their information will be routed to an advisor. Fifth – each of the retail partners could have their own website to avoid competition of the company’s web based system. Sixth – the customers who purchase online could be allowed to accept the online coupons and redeem their amount in its stores. These are some of the ways by which I will convince my retail partners for the launch of the direct marketing campaign.