Cemetery Research for Family History and Genealogy

Cemetery Research for Family History and Genealogy The practice of marking the final resting place of a loved one goes back thousands of years. The ancient pyramids are conceivably the greatest example, standing today as a reminder of the ancient Egyptian glorification of life after death. Roman catacombs, a subterranean burial place for early Christians, contained niches where the fully clothed bodies were placed and which were then sealed with a slab inscribed with the name of the deceased, date of death and a religious symbol. Many of the elaborate grave markers erected in the 19th and early 20th centuries were styled after the memorials of the ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian civilizations. Following the first World War, grave markers started to become smaller and less elaborate - plain crosses and simple, upright stone slabs decorated with carvings, symbols and epitaphs. Cemeteries are living lessons in history. People who buried their dead said much about themselves and the ones who had died. While not considered a primary information source, gravestones are an excellent source of dates, birthplaces, maiden names, spouses names and parents names. They can also provide evidence of military service, membership in a fraternal organization and religious affiliations. Why Visit Cemeteries? Why should you visit the cemetery if you already have a birth and death date for your ancestor? Because you never know what you may find. Nearby gravestones can lead you to other family members. Little grave markers can tell the story of children who died in infancy for whom no other records exist. Flowers left on a grave may lead you to living descendants. Other than a few records and documents and, perhaps, some family jewelry or heirlooms, your ancestors tombstone is the only physical evidence of the life they lived. There is nothing in your genealogical research that will connect you to your ancestor more than to stand in the one place on earth which contains their mortal remains and to see important pieces of their life carved into stone. It is an amazing, awe-inspiring experience. Next How to Locate a Cemetery The first step in cemetery research is the obvious one- to learn where your ancestor is buried. Death records will often contain this information, as will obituaries. Published cemetery surveys may list your ancestors. Check with family members and other relatives as well. They will often know of family burial locations or may be able to track down a mention on a mass or prayer card or in the family Bible. Funeral Home Religious Records Funeral homes and morticians can be great allies in helping you to locate cemetery records. Funeral home records may still exist which can contain a wealth of information, including the burial location. Funeral directors will have knowledge of most cemeteries in their area, and may also be able to point you to family members. If a funeral home is no longer in business, then check with other area funeral homes as they may know where the old records are located. If you know your ancestors religious affiliation you may want to try contacting the church in the area where your ancestor lived. Churches often maintain attached cemeteries and also keep records for their members who are buried elsewhere. Turn to the Locals The local genealogical or family history society is a good source for information on local cemeteries. These groups are continually working to preserve valuable cemetery information and may have compiled cemetery indexes or be able to provide clues to little known burial locations, especially family cemeteries. Old local histories can also prove useful in identifying former names and locations for cemeteries which have been moved. Cemeteries Online The Internet is fast becoming a valuable source for cemetery records as well. Many cemetery sites such as FindAGrave and BillionGraves, have online cemetery records, photos, or transcriptions, or use your favorite search engine to search for a specific cemetery. Special geographic place name search engines can also help to locate a cemetery, though the information available on the Internet varies widely by country. The U.S. Geographic Names Information Server, for example, allows you to narrow down your search by selecting cemetery as the feature type. Map Your Way to the Cemetery If you have narrowed down the area, but arent sure which cemetery may contain your ancestor, then maps, especially historical maps, can be of great assistance. Use land, tax or census records to help you pinpoint your ancestors land on a map. You will often find them buried in a nearby cemetery, or even in a family cemetery on their own property. Topographic maps or locality maps may show cemeteries, roads, houses and farms. Even little details such as elevation features can be useful as cemeteries were often erected on high ground. Next What to Take When You Visit the Cemetery When heading out to the cemetery for some tombstone research, a little advance planning can really help to make your visit a success. Best Time to Visit the Cemetery The best time to visit a cemetery is in the spring or fall - especially if it is one which is neglected and overgrown. Brush and grass will not be as high in the spring, which will help you to discern holes, rocks, snakes and other obstacles before you trip over them. Sometimes the season can have an impact on whether you even find the cemetery at all. I have located several family cemeteries in the southeastern U.S. which are situated in the middle of cornfields. Needless to say, it is nearly impossible to find such cemeteries when the corn is taller than you are! What to Bring to the Cemetery The well-dressed cemetery researcher wears long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, sturdy shoes and gloves to help ward off critters such as snakes, gnats, ticks and mosquitoes. If the cemetery is in a wooded or rural location you may also want to bring along a hoe to help cut down brush and a friend or fellow researcher for safety. Even if it is broiling hot when you visit the cemetery, the long pants and sturdy, comfortable shoes are a good idea.   Clues Beyond the Tombstones Whether the cemetery is public or private, you should do a search for existing records. Most commonly known as sextons records (a sexton is a caretaker responsible for the cemetery), these records can include burial registers, plat maps and plot records. These records will vary greatly by country and time period and may not exist, but never assume! A sign outside of the cemetery may be able to point you to its caretaker. Turn to the local phone book to contact area funeral directors or churches. Check with the area library or historical/genealogical society for tips on possible record locations. You may be surprised by what you can find. One last thing - before you visit a private cemetery, be sure to get permission from the land owner!   Plan Ahead for a Successful Cemetery Visit Dress appropriatelyBring paper, several pencils, a camera and plenty of filmConsider bringing optional items such as a digital camera, video camera, tape recorder or handheld computer.Extra batteries for anything that may need them!If you plan to do any tombstone rubbings, then be sure to bring the appropriate suppliesWater, rags and a soft nylon bristle brush for cleaning stones, plus clippers for clearing away grass and brushIf you are looking for unmarked cemeteries, you may want to bring a map so that you can mark their locations as you locate them Next Stories in Stone The highlight of any trip to the cemetery is reading the stones. Once you have taken that irresistible quick peek for your ancestors headstone, however, you should stop and plan out your route around the cemetery. Methodical might be boring, but it greatly decreases your chances of missing something important when youre searching a cemetery for clues. If the cemetery is not too large, and you have enough time, it can be very helpful to make a complete transcription of the cemetery. Even if you only make note of the names and dates on each tombstone, along with their location in the cemetery, this can save you a trip back in the future as well as help other researchers. There is a lot of information and advice available on the proper methods for transcribing tombstones. While these can serve as great reference guides, there is really no need to worry about formality. The important thing is to make a note of everything that you see. Make Your Visit Count Write down names, dates and inscriptions exactly as they appear on the stone. It is very easy to make assumptions in the excitement of the moment, and it will be very beneficial to have an accurate record as you move forward (or backward as the case may be) with your research. Be sure to sketch any symbols that you are unfamiliar with so that you can look them up later. These symbols or emblems may be valuable clues to membership in an organization which may have records about your ancestor. Make a note of the physical relationship between tombstones as well. Family members will often be buried together in the same plot. Nearby graves may belong to parents. Small unmarked stones may indicate children that died in their infancy. Neighbors and relatives may also be buried in adjoining sections. As you make your way around, be sure not to miss the back of the stones as they can also contain important information. Another good way to record cemetery information is to use a cassette recorder or video camera as you move around the cemetery. You can read off names, dates and inscriptions easily and make note of important information, such as when you start a new row. It also provides you with a backup for any written transcriptions that you have made. Pictures are worth a thousand words and are much better for tombstones than chalk or shaving cream. Use hand-held clippers to clear brush away from the stone and then use a nylon (never wire) bristle brush and plain water to clean the stone from bottom to top, rinsing well as you go. A bright sunny day and a mirror to help reflect the sunlight on the stone can really help to bring out the carvings.More: Tips for Taking Great Tombstone Photos Most important for your cemetery visit is to enjoy yourself! Visiting cemeteries is one of the most rewarding parts of genealogy research, so stop and take the time to commune with your ancestors.

Common Household Chemicals That Are Dangerous Mixtures

Common Household Chemicals That Are Dangerous Mixtures Some of the common chemicals found in your home shouldnt be mixed together. Its one thing to say dont mix bleach with ammonia, but its not always easy to know what products contain these two chemicals. Here are some household  products you may have around the home that shouldnt be combined.   Bleach With Acid Toilet Bowl Cleaners This mixture can result in toxic, potentially deadly fumes. Bleach With Vinegar Vinegar is a type of acid. Toxic chlorine vapor is produced. Dont mix chlorine bleach with any acid. Bleach With Ammonia This is toxic. Potentially lethal vapors are produced. The main danger comes from chloramine vapors. Different Brands of One Type of Product Dont mix different cleaners together. They may react violently, produce toxins, or become ineffective. Highly Alkaline Products With Highly Acidic Products Acids and bases (alkalis) can react violently, presenting a splash hazard. Acids and bases are caustic and may cause chemical burns. Certain Disinfectants With Detergents Dont mix disinfectants with quaternary ammonia listed as an ingredient with a detergent. The effectiveness of the disinfectant may be neutralized. Bottom Line Chlorine bleach is sometimes called â€Å"sodium hypochlorite† or â€Å"hypochlorite.† You will encounter it in chlorine bleach, automatic dishwashing detergents, chlorinated disinfectants and cleaners, chlorinated scouring powder, mildew removers, and toilet bowl cleaners. Do not mix products together. Do not mix them with ammonia or vinegar. Read the labels of products in your home and following instructions for proper use. Many containers will state the most common dangers from interaction with other products.

Economic Implications of IPhone5 Research Paper

Economic Implications of IPhone5 - Research Paper Example It was desired that, with the launch of Iphone5, an estimated 3 billion dollars would be channelled into the United States economy by the end of 2012. In spite of this contribution by Iphone5, the expected economic growth of the United States is to be within a weak rate of 2-2.5% between the periods of October to December 2012 (Rushe, 2012). With the release of Iphone5, an estimated pre-order sale of over two million units was recorded, using these records, Apple hoped to sell more than forty million units by the fourth quarter of 2012. With such deliberations, it is evident that Iphone5 has played a great role in improving the economy in different ways. Positive impact of iphone to the economy With these kinds of figures, it is obviously noted that Apple is growing together with its products, which is a good sign of the economic growth of the United States. It is projected that the sales of Iphone5 could end up boosting the United States economy (Worstall, 2012). Iphone5 would produ ce an estimated 3.2 billion dollars in the fourth quarter, or 12.8 billion dollars annualized, which would end up adding 0.33% to the GDP growth in the last quarter of 2012, even when previous Iphone generations are kept at a solid pace. The last Iphone4 launch was virtually around the same time as that of Iphone5 in 2011 (Agarwal, 2012). The overall sales within the launching month outperformed the expected expectations. Iphone sales occur either in retail stores or on-line. Over half of the 0.8% core retail sales increase, manifested during the sale of Iphone4 occurred in two main categories: online and computer, and software sales (Rushe, 2012). These combined, resulted in the largest monthly increase to be recorded by Apple. This incremental growth over the fourth and third quarter sales at the stores, if credited to Iphone, would have resulted in a growth of 0.1% to 0.2%-point to fourth quarter growth (Curwen & Whalley, 2010). This portrays an upward trend as compared to the gr owth that was portrayed when the Iphone4 was launched. This trend helps illustrate the fact that Iphones are affecting the American economy positively (Worstall, 2012). Apple strives to develop innovative and groundbreaking technology, which supports the consumers even in the stagnating and a weak economy of the United States. Apple strives to consistently produce products that are better than their previous ones and those of their competitors too. Apple has a big future together with Iphone5 which also reflects a positive future for the United States economy (Rushe, 2012). This positivity may be seen from the fact that, with recent updates on the Iphone5, which include an upgrade in Chinese language recognition with a comprehensive Chinese dictionary. These upgrades will aid Apple to fully penetrate the Chinese markets. This will enable them access an additional potential users amounting to nearly 120 million who could end up adding an additional 30-40 billion dollars in sales (Wor stall, 2012). Although Iphones are manufactured overseas, most of the prices paid on purchase of these gadgets add value domestically in relation to advertising, profits, retailing and wholesaling, which end up being counted as part of the G.D.P (Agarwal, 2012). The retail price of the new Iphone is estimated to be around six hundred dollars. Out of this money, two hundred dollars is to cover for the importation cost while the

Marketing communication plan of MyBody Assignment

Marketing communication plan of MyBody - Assignment Example †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..13 Bibliography †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦15 Executive Summary Introduction MyBody is a growing force in high street premium beauty retail. With a network of 40 stores and growth plans over the next 18 months for a future of 20 more stores, this young and dynamic company is beginning to make its presence known. The purpose of this report is to provide a marketing communication plan for MyBody to show how it will continue to be sustainable in the future. Summary of Strategy and Aims of My Body We would like to create a strong market presence that will include our retail outlets and a stronger marketing presence on the Internet. We currently have 10% of our market and we would like to increase it to 20% which we believe can be done if we add the ability for people to order online. We believe that we can do this withi n the next 18 months if we add services to our website and if we increase our marketing efforts. MyBody Competitive and Brand Positioning Our biggest competitors are Penhaligens, PureBody and Boots. MyBody would be somewhere in the middle of these products because our Unique Selling Proposition would be that we are exclusively selling products for the body to make the skin healthier and the body more supple. We would expect that people who were concerned about their bodies would make a special effort to go to an expert in this field. We would be an expert because we offer these products exclusively and we do not offer other types of products like cosmetics, fragrances, or candles. Marketing and Strategic Objectives for 2011 The following marketing and strategic objectives are recommendations for 2011: 1. Create a stronger online presence using social networking to help existing and future customers know about our products. 2. To educate customers about the products they use and thei r affects on the body. 3. To promote the website online and in the local stores and encourage customers to order online. 4. To promote MyBody using FaceBook, Twitter and LinkedIN as sources for social networking support. 5. To create a series of articles about skincare for various trade magazines online and offline. Target Markets and Characteristics Our target markets are women who are baby boomers and who use the Internet and Generation Xers. Both of these have different characteristics that we must be aware of as we are marketing. As an example, Boomers are more interested in staying young and beautiful. Gen Xers want to feel that they are in control. Marketing Communication Plan for My Body Introduction MyBody is a growing force in high street premium beauty retail. With a

International Business Management Essay Example for Free

International Business Management Essay Briefly explain the concept of competitive advantage. The concept of competitive advantage is all about a characteristic of having an edge over another product or service that drives the customer to choose one product or service over another. This edge can be in the form of a functionality such as multi-simcard mobile phones, or mobile phones with a television feature. It could be in the form of product design that makes the product more attractive and aesthetically desirable among a certain age group, gender or social class such as those belonging to Class A market, such as cars of the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) class. On the other hand, competitive advantage could be in the form of a noted durability and quality of a product with such as Sony television set, or an IBM computer, both of which are noted for this quality feature. It can also pertain to the multi-feature of a product or service which increases its value but not much its price. It can be in the form of a cost advantage or differentiation advantage. In a market that is filled with competing products, the concept of competitive advantage drives the ultimate choice of the consumer on what product and service to patronize over the short, medium or long-term depending on the sustainability of the competitive edge. Hence, the concept of competitive advantage pertains to the uniqueness of a product of service. Explain the concept of economies of scale and show how it relates to competitive advantage Economies of scale represents the cost advantages that an organization or business obtains due to reengineering and expansion. Likewise, this pertains to the factors that cause a manufacturer’s or producer’s average cost per unit to decrease or fall as production scale is increased. It is also a long run concept and may refer to the decrease or reductions in unit cost as the size of a production facility, or scale, increases. Economies of scale may also pertain to the utilization of a production facility so that the manufacturing of a specific product becomes competitive in terms of cost. The reduction of the cost is due to the spreading of the fixed cost over a bigger volume of production to respond to an expanded market such as exports, special orders that likewise increases the number of units to cover a bigger demand or a bigger market. Why has Ford been unable to achieve full economies of scale in manufacturing and how is the new CEO planning to address this problem? Ford has traditionally been a producer of big cars that had not been able to bring competition to its doors. With the assumption of a new CEO from Boeing, the concept of small cars found its way into the manufacturing processes using the same platform in producing the compact cars for the North American as well as the European market. With the introduction of small compact cars in the North American market, identical platforms as that used in other markets can support identical cars being produced and marketed in other markets. Using the term global to describe the Ford Focus as a global brand, Ford Motors does not anticipate the model to manufactured differently which will entail higher production cost due to non-availment of that economies of scale. Thus, the rationalization of the production processes will likely result into a cost-savings advantage. . What does the Ford case show about the tension between Local and Global strategies? Local and global strategies, insofar as Ford Motors Company is concerned, vary greatly in terms of approaches. Local strategies are what defines the marketing approaches that are confined to the local market and its workings. Global strategies indicate a more sophisticated marketing approach to a wider area and which requires a more comprehensive management of resources to stay competitive and relevant. The Ford case is an eye-opener for Ford itself. Its traditional view of car manufacturing has been confined to its own culture of bigness. Thus, with smaller cars responding to a new global demand in and a response to the increasing world oil prices, the consumer market suddenly found an ally among oil producing and exporting countries. A new type of car, the global car is a sure winner for many. The tension between local and global standard at Ford Motors \company is an issue of sustainable competitive advantage in smaller cars that require common platforms, a lower production cost profile and a pocket friendly car with social relevance in terms of savings.

The Awakening :: essays research papers

The Awakening In the book The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, Edna Pontellier is an unhappy, married, mother who finds an outlet from her life through a welcoming ocean. "A certain ungovernable dread hung about her when in water, unless there was a hand nearby that might reach out and reassure her."(p.27) Edna is frightened by the ocean and very overwhelmed by its massive strength. Then she learns to swim and becomes fascinated by what was once an intimidator. "How easy it is!" It is nothing."(p.27) Edna is very pleased with this new found joy; Edna is estatic over conquering her fear. "She could have shouted for joy, she did shout for joy."(p.27) Edna feels happy with herself for the first time in many years. "She felt like some new-born creature, opening its eyes in a familiar world it had never known."(p.115) Edna begins swimming regularly and thoroughly enjoys it. "Edna plunged and swam about with an abandon thrilled and invigorated her."(p.49) "She remained a long time in the water."(p.49) Swimming, for Edna, provides a much needed recess from her home life and the typical role of a woman and a wife in the 19th century. "I have a notion to go down to the beach and take a good wash and even a little swim," "before dinner? The water is too cold. Don't think of it." "Well I might go down and try-dip my toes in."(p.114) Edna is growing very fond of the ocean and so adorns her swims. No one will keep her from this new pleasure that brings such satisfaction to her life. Edna feels free for the first time since her childhood. She loves so much this mysterious new being that is so wonderful to her. The ocean proves to be a place where she can transcend her life into the life of who she wants to be. "The touch of the sea is sensuous unfolding the body in its soft, close embrace."(p.115) Edna feels closer to the sea than anyone she has ever known. "She thought of Leonce and the children. They were a part of her life, but they need not have thought they could posses her."(p.116) Edna is slowly beginning to awaken from the marriage and life that has held her comatose for so long. She realizes why she is unhappy and looks to the sea for commiseration and answers, but finds none. Edna can only continue her love affair with the ocean and appreciate her newly-discovered soulmate.

I Have a Dream Speech Essay

1- The analogy in Paragraphs 4 through 6 of the speech â€Å" I have a Dream†, use the similarity or comparability analogy. Which is means analogy is a comparison between two different things in order to highlight some point of similarity. As Freud suggested, an analogy won’t settle an argument, but a good one may help to clarify the issues. Like the Martin Luther King’s speech: It is obvious today the America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this scared obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, which has come back marked â€Å"insufficient funds.† 2 – In my opinion, racism is a certain kind of prejudice, based on faulty reasoning and inflexible generalizations toward a specific group. Much of today’s racism can be traced to the area of colonialism that began in the 1400s. When Europeans began colonizing Africa and the Americas, the white settlers adopted the idea that they were superior to the other races they encountered and it was their job to â€Å"civilize the savages.† According to Martin Luther King in â€Å"I have a dream†: â€Å" It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned.† (Pg.45) Racism in the United States was worse during 18th and 19th century than at any period before or since. Segregation, racial discrimination, and expressions of white supremacy all increased. So did anti-black violence, including lynching and race riots. 3-United States has a black president from 2008 to present. Like Luther King said: â€Å" It is dream deeply rooted in meaning of its creed- we hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal,† So his king came true in these days. Work Cited : Luther King, Martin. â€Å"I Have a Dream .† (1968): 44-48. Print.

Indian television in the era of globalization Essay

Since its birth in 1959, it seems that Indian television has developed in a way that is similar to most of the world’s broadcasting sectors. Conquered by technological progress, particularly by the major advance that the introduction of satellite transmissions represents, the Indian television sector broke with its old practices to enter the era of globalization to which the opening to foreign players, the competition regime and the respect of commercial requirements are essential components. The successive evolutions that Indian television underwent seem to confirm Marshall McLuhan’s theory of a â€Å"global village†, which describes how the world has been contracted into a homogenized space by the media revolution. However, this simplistic vision denies the specificities of India as a culture and as a country, which became the specificities of Indian television. With 22 official languages, an enormous and heterogeneous population, one of the world’s largest territories and a tendency to continuously swing between tradition and modernity, India admittedly adapted its television sector to the globalized context but also imposed its restrictions and particularities. How did Indian television become integrated to the globalized media system while protecting its identity and imposing its requirements? With the successive evolutions – the technological progresses, the shift from an educational project to a competitive, consumer-oriented and profit-making market and the exportation of foreign programs and production methods – it underwent in the early 20th century, Indian television indeed got integrated into the globalized and transnational media system. As such it became a privileged target of know-how transfers coming from the West and a market of economic interest for foreign players. Heterogeneity constitutes India’s major specificity and its television sector could not have got established regardless to it. Even if it decided to enter the process of globalization, Indian television endeavored to defend and promote the country’s linguistic, territorial, social and cultural diversity. The Indian broadcasting space definitely does not get homogenized. On the contrary, it constantly reports the main oppositions that ceaselessly stimulate and drive the Indian population – tradition and modernity, local and global, urban and rural, well-off and impoverished. The example of the Indian television sector demonstrates that India is not passively affected by globalization but constitutes one of its major actors: it manages to make the country’s voice heard and to impose its requirements and its power of cultural appropriation at international level. BIBLIOGRAPHY DEPREZ C., La tà ©là ©vision indienne : un modà ¨le d’appropriation culturelle, De Boeck, 2006. DESAI M. K.,  « Indian television in the era of globalisation : unity, diversity or disparity ?  », in Quaderns del CAC, 202, no. 14 3-12. DURAND-DASTES F.,  « L’Inde dans la mondialisation  » in LEFORT I. and MORINIAUX V. (dir.), La mondialisation, Editions du temps, 2006, 235-256. JULURI V.,  « Music television and the invention of youth culture in India  », in Sage Journals, 2002, vol. 3 no. 4 367-386. KUMAR S., Gandhi meets primetime : globalization and nationalism in Indian television, University of Illinois Press, 2005. RANGANATHAN M., RODRIGUES U. M., Indian media in a globalised world, Sage publications, 2010. SINCLAIR J., HARRISON M.,  « Globalization, nation and television in Asia : the cases of India and China  », in Sage Journals, 2004, vol. 5 no. 1 41-54.

Definition and Examples of Text in Language Studies

Definition and Examples of Text in Language Studies In linguistics, the term text refers to: The original words of something written, printed, or spoken, in contrast to a summary or paraphrase.A coherent stretch of language that may be regarded as an object of critical analysis. Text linguistics refers to a form of discourse analysis- a method of studying written or spoken language- that is concerned with the description and analysis of extended texts (those beyond the level of the single sentence). A text can be any example of written or spoken language, from something as complex as a book or legal document to something as simple as the body of an email or the words on the back of a cereal box. In the humanities, different fields of study concern themselves with different forms of texts. Literary theorists, for example, focus primarily on literary texts- novels, essays, stories, and poems. Legal scholars focus on legal texts such as laws, contracts, decrees, and regulations. Cultural theorists work with a wide variety of texts, including those that may not typically be the subject of studies, such as advertisements, signage, instruction manuals, and other ephemera. Text Definition Traditionally, a text is understood to be a piece of written or spoken material in its primary form (as opposed to a paraphrase or summary). A text is any stretch of language that can be understood in context. It may be as simple as 1-2 words (such as a stop sign) or as complex as a novel. Any sequence of sentences that belong together can be considered a text. Text refers to content rather than form; for example, if you were talking about the text of Don Quixote, you would be referring to the words in the book, not the physical book itself. Information related to a text, and often printed alongside it- such as an authors name, the publisher, the date of publication, etc.- is known as paratext. The idea of what constitutes a text has evolved over time. In recent years, the dynamics of technology- especially social media- have expanded the notion of the text to include symbols such as emoticons and emojis. A sociologist studying teenage communication, for example, might refer to texts that combine traditional language and graphic symbols. Texts and New Technologies The concept of the text is not a stable one. It is always changing as the technologies for publishing and disseminating texts evolve. In the past, texts were usually presented as printed matter in bound volumes such as pamphlets or books. Today, however, people are more likely to encounter texts in digital space, where the materials are becoming more fluid, according to linguists David Barton and Carmen Lee: Texts can no longer be thought of as relatively fixed and stable. They are more fluid with the changing affordances of new media. In addition, they are becoming increasingly multimodal and interactive. Links between texts are complex online, and intertextuality is common in online texts as people draw upon and play with other texts available on the web. An example of such intertextuality can be found in any popular news story. An article in The New York Times, for example, may contain embedded tweets from Twitter, links to outside articles, or links to primary sources such as press releases or other documents. With a text such as this, it is sometimes difficult to describe what exactly is part of the text and what is not. An embedded tweet, for instance, may be essential to understanding the text around it- and therefore part of the text itself- but it is also its own independent text. On social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as blogs and Wikipedia, it is common to find such relationships between texts. Text Linguistics Text linguistics is a field of study where texts are treated as communication systems. The analysis deals with stretches of language beyond the single sentence and focuses particularly on context, i.e. information that goes along with what is said and written. Context includes such things as the social relationship between two speakers or correspondents, the place where communication occurs, and non-verbal information such as body language. Linguists use this contextual information to describe the socio-cultural environment in which a text exists. Sources Barton, David, and Carmen Lee. Language Online: Investigating Digital Texts and Practices. Routledge, 2013.Carter, Ronald, and Michael McCarthy. Cambridge Grammar of English. Cambridge University Press, 2006.Ching, Marvin K. L., et al. Linguistic Perspectives on Literature. Routledge, 2015.

6 Horrible Risks of Study Drugs

6 Horrible Risks of Study Drugs In this article we’re going to quickly go through the risks of taking study drugs, or smart drugs, to try and get ahead in college or pull through those all-nighter study sessions. We’re going to cover all 6 bases that you should be informed on as a student who is at least considering it. I mean, why else would you read this? By the time you’re done you’ll know the risks. Let’s begin. 1. Ummm†¦You’ll Get Addicted! This is a risk from a few different angles. Let’s say someone decided to â€Å"help themselves study† by using some type of drug†¦that typically includes methamphetamines. Okay, what if that first time or two it does help them study and their grades go up? That’s the worst thing that could happen because then they’ll be under the mistaken impression it can be sustained. â€Å"I can control it† they begin to tell themselves. Yet what they don’t know is these drugs are as addictive as cocaine. Pretty soon they start believing they can’t study without it. Then of course have to take into account the physical addiction. Some are much more addictive than others. Regardless, do you really want to get addicted to this drug? Is that a wise productive decision? No. 2. You’ll Completely Crash Burn It might work a couple times or for a little while without causing much trouble if you’re lucky. But sooner rather than later you’ll crash and burn. The wakeup call will be that first big bombed test. The first time the professor brings you into their office to talk about your sudden disappearance from class or the fact you’re falling asleep during lectures. No one, literally no one, can take these drugs over the long haul and expect to maintain a good GPA. Make no mistake, the vast majority of students abuse these drugs. If you have even a slight addictive personality you’re in for trouble. 3. You’ll Get a Bad Rep What happens when people in class start believing you’re on drugs all the time? What if you get the rep of a drug user? What if you get caught with them (we’ll touch on this more in a moment)? At first it might sound â€Å"cool† to take them to study, but pay close attention to those that are now tricking themselves into believing they need it to study. How are they perceived by the people around them? What sort of crowd do they run with? Ask yourself if this is really what you’re all about and think again. 4. You’ll Get Arrested It’s a federal crime dude. And, make no mistake, your university and the law enforcement where you are will take it seriously. Having pills without prescription is a big no no these days due to the mind-boggling amount of overdoses and deaths that are happening. Don’t get this on your record. It’s not worth it. Don’t get caught up in the jail system or have to call home to explain to your parents why you’ve been kicked out altogether or temporarily from classes (and you’ll lose any and all scholarship money probably). 5. The Potential Side Effects Suck Here’s a quote about student life and the types of smart drug side effects students can look forward to if they get involved in this sort of thing: â€Å"Anxiety, depression, dependency, extreme anxiety levels, nervous breakdowns, sleep disorders, suicidal thoughts, psychosis nervousness, jitters, stomach problems, headaches, sleeplessness and a decrease in appetite.† (Elizabeth Hoyt) Are you willing to risk all that nonsense just to try and inch your GPA up without doing it the old school way? Is it really that hard to just crack open the books and study? How about join a study group? Honestly, no educational goal is worth ruining your life over. That’s a bit too oxymoron. 6. You’ll Go Completely Insane No joke. Maybe not clinically insane where you need to wear a straightjacket all day, but you won’t be your normal self. You’ll be sleep deprived, anxious paranoid or possibly incarnated in jail around some real odd characters. What’s the point? No, it’s not normal to abuse drugs in college. It’s not. Maybe it is among the packs of students with low GPAs who are really just there to avoid the real world, but not the serious students. It’s completely abnormal and leads to completely abnormal behavior. This is a serious subject so we would love to get your input. What’s the atmosphere around smart drugs like at your school and what do you think of them and the risks of usage?

Business Plan Final Report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Business Plan Final Report - Assignment Example The report is prepared for developing and presenting a business plan for the launch of a new business. The business under consideration in this business plan is a bakery business which will be opened up in the form of physical stores in the food retail market of Canada. The report starts with a small discussion regarding what the business will be about and where it will be opened up. This is followed by an introduction that would help the reader of the business plan to understand the main goals of the business plan and act as a guiding section for the reader to keep a track of the whole business plan and its different sections. The report is written in clear and simple language with proper headings and subheadings provided in each section so that the reader of the business plan is able to understand every part of the report easily. Simple words and small well-constructed sentences have been used to make the business plan easily readable as well as easily comprehendible. The business plan includes a section for the analysis of the internal and external factors that may directly or indirectly impact the business. Apart from this, a thorough financial analysis has also been conducted to understand the financial scopes and performances of the Sweet Berry Baker Company in the next 3 years. Thus, the marketing, operational and financial requirements and constraints have been studied in detail while preparing this business plan. The business plan is prepared with the aim of attracting investments from different types of institutional and individual investors like venture capitalists, private equity firms, angel investors, banks and other financial institutions, corporate institutions, private investors etc. Also, the business plan would serve as a document for setting the initial operational standards, product and service requirements and features and the functioning requirements of the Sweet Berry