My Sisters Shadow free essay sample

My most memorable instance of failure occurred during my junior year when I failed to be on the Distinguished Honor Roll. This might seem trivial to many people but they do not have the same drive as I do to be on that list published in the newspaper that no one actually reads. Although my self-motivation drove me to attempt to earn a place in the Academic Hall of Famea place reserved for those students that achieve Distinguished Honor Roll status every marking period of their high school career, my driving force has a secondary component to it: my sister, Lauren. I have always been in Lauren’s shadow when it comes to academics. Being the second child and in similar classes as my sister, we shared many of the same teachers. We both attended the same Catholic elementary/middle school so it is safe to say that everyone knew we were sisters especially since she is only two years my senior. We will write a custom essay sample on My Sisters Shadow or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Being the quintessential student, she was valedictorian of her graduating eighth grade class. What rank was I? My graduating class had two valedictorians and I was right behind them in third place. As usual, I was one step behind Lauren. The shadowing continued in high school. Lauren was a model student and all of her teachers loved her, which worked both to my advantage and disadvantage.Our last name did not raise up the red flag like I am sure some surnames did, but it also meant I was expected to be similar to my predecessor. I should also mention that she was the valedictorian of her high school graduating class. I truly was ecstatic for her and extremely proud, but I cannot say I was surprised. Throughout my freshman and sophomore years, there would be a teacher here and there that knew Lauren, but then I became a junior. During my junior year every single one of my teachers had taught Lauren, and many had her in their class within the past year. I always work extremely hard in school and try my best to do well, but it is hard to stand out against someone who did the best that one can possibly do. I am not a jealous younger sister who despises everything her older sister has accomplishedthat is not me at all. However, I do want my hard work to stand out academically for once in my life. Distinguished Honor Roll presented me with an opportunity to tie with Lauren in something academic, something I had been pushing myself to do for years. I always motivated myself to work hard for me, but I still managed to remain in her shadow. As a friend once told me, â€Å"Lauren’s blanket has no holes in it. She excels in all subjects.† This â€Å"blanket† that my sister wove gave me little opportunity to shine. This is the underlying reason I wanted so desperately to be on Distinguished Honor Roll. Failing to make it during that fateful first marking period of junior year denied me something I had been working for since sixth gradethe opportunity to be on my sister’s level academically. My teachers reassure me that they do not compare me to my sister, and my parents always go out of their way to make sure that I know they are proud of me. However, none of this can help when I constantly compare myself to her. The only comparison that matters is the one that I make and how I view myself. College will provide an opportunity for me to establish myself as an individual and to practice being happy with my best. There will be no one to compare my sister and me at college and, most importantly, I will finally be able to stop comparing myself to her. I will have a fresh start, something I have never had before.

Yemen Nation Profile - Geography, Climate, and History

Yemen Nation Profile - Geography, Climate, and History The ancient nation of Yemen lies at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Yemen has one of the oldest civilizations on Earth, with ties to the Semitic lands to its north, and to the cultures of the Horn of Africa, just across the Red Sea. According to legend, the Biblical Queen of Sheba, consort of King Solomon, was Yemeni. Yemen has been colonized at various times by other Arabs, Ethiopians, Persians, Ottoman Turks, and most recently, the British. Through 1989, North and South Yemen were separate nations. Today, however, they are united into the Republic of Yemen - Arabias only democratic republic. Capital and Major Cities of Yemen Capital: Sanaa, population 2.4 million Major Cities: Taizz, population 600,000 Al Hudaydah, 550,000 Aden, 510,000 Ibb, 225,000 Yemeni Government Yemen is the only republic on the Arabian Peninsula; its neighbors are kingdoms or emirates. The Yemeni executive branch consists of a president, a prime minister and a cabinet. The president is directly elected; he appoints the prime minister, with legislative approval. Yemen has a two-part legislature, with a 301-seat lower house, the House of Representatives, and a 111-seat upper house  called the Shura Council. Prior to 1990, North and South Yemen had separate legal codes. The highest court is the Supreme Court in Sanaa. The current President (since 1990) is Ali Abdullah Saleh. Ali Muhammad Mujawar is Prime Minister. Population of Yemen Yemen is home to 23,833,000 people (2011 estimate). The overwhelming majority are ethnic Arabs, but 35% have some African blood as well. There are small minorities of Somalis, Ethiopians, Roma (Gypsies) and Europeans, as well as South Asians. Yemen has the highest birthrate in Arabia, at about 4.45 children per woman. This is probably attributable to early marriages (the marriageable age for girls under Yemeni law is 9), and lack of education for women. The literacy rate among women is only 30%, while 70% of men can read and write. Infant mortality is almost 60 per 1,000 live births. Languages of Yemen Yemens national language is standard Arabic, but there are several different regional dialects in common use. Southern variants of Arabic spoken in Yemen include Mehri, with about 70,000 speakers; Soqotri, spoken by 43,000 island residents; and Bathari, which has only about 200 surviving speakers in Yemen. In addition to the Arabic languages, some Yemeni tribes still speak other ancient Semitic languages closely related to the Ethiopian Amharic and Tigrinya languages. These languages are a remnant of the Sabean Empire (9th century BCE to 1st century BCE) and the Axumite Empire (4th century BCE to 1st century CE). Religion in Yemen The Constitution of Yemen states that Islam is the official state religion of the country, but it also guarantees freedom of religion. The majority by far of Yemenis are Muslim, with some 42-45% Zaydi Shias, and about 52-55% Shafi Sunnis. A tiny minority, some 3,000 people, are Ismaili Muslims. Yemen is also home to an indigenous population of Jews, now numbering only about 500. In the mid-20th century, thousands of Yemenite Jews moved to the new state of Israel. A handful each of Christians and Hindus also live in Yemen, although most are foreign ex-patriots or refugees. Geography of Yemen:Yemen has an area of 527,970 square kilometers, or 203,796 square miles, at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders Saudi Arabia to the north, Oman to the east, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Eastern, central and northern Yemen are desert areas, part of the Arabian Desert and Rub al Khali (Empty Quarter). Western Yemen is rugged and mountainous. The coast is fringed with sandy lowlands. Yemen also possesses a number of islands, many of which are actively volcanic. The highest point is the Jabal an Nabi Shuayb, at 3,760 m, or 12,336 feet. The lowest point is sea level. Climate of Yemen Despite its relatively small size, Yemen includes several different climate zones due to its coastal location and variety of elevations. Yearly average rainfall ranges from essentially none in the inland desert to 20-30 inches in the southern mountains. Temperatures also range widely. Winter lows in the mountains can approach freezing, while summer in the tropical western coastal areas can see temperatures as high as 129 ° F (54 °C). To make matters worse, the coast is also humid. Yemen has little arable land; only roughly 3% is suitable for crops. Less than 0.3% is under permanent crops. Yemen's Economy Yemen is the poorest nation in Arabia. As of 2003, 45% of the population was living below the poverty line. In part, this poverty stems from gender inequality; 30% of teenage girls between 15 and 19 are married with children, and most are undereducated. Another key is unemployment, which stands at 35%. The per capita GDP is only about $600 (2006 World Bank estimate). Yemen imports food, livestock, and machinery. It exports crude oil, qat, coffee, and seafood. The current spike in oil prices may help alleviate Yemens economic distress. The currency is the Yemeni rial. The exchange rate is $1 US 199.3 rials (July 2008). History of Yemen Ancient Yemen was a prosperous place; the Romans called it Arabia Felix, Happy Arabia. Yemens wealth was based on its trade in frankincense, myrrh, and spices. Many sought to control this rich land over the years. The earliest known rulers were the descendants of Qahtan (Joktan from the Bible and Koran). The Qahtanis (23rd c. to 8th c. BCE) established the crucial trade routes and built dams to control flash-flooding. The late Qahtani period also witnessed the emergence of written Arabic, and the reign of the legendary Queen Bilqis, sometimes identified as the Queen of Sheba, in the 9th c. BCE. The height of ancient Yemeni power and wealth came between the 8th c. BCE and 275 CE, when a number of small kingdoms coexisted within the countrys modern borders. These included the following: the western Kingdom of Saba, the southeastern Hadramaut Kingdom, the city-state of Awsan,  the central trading hub of Qataban, the southwestern Kingdom of Himyar, and the northwestern Kingdom of Main. All of these kingdoms grew prosperous selling spices and incense all around the Mediterranean, to Abyssinia, and as far away as India. They also regularly launched wars against one another. This squabbling left Yemen vulnerable to manipulation and occupation by a foreign power: Ethiopias Aksumite Empire. Christian Aksum ruled Yemen from 520 to 570 A.D. Aksum was then pushed out by the Sassanids from Persia. Sassanid rule of Yemen lasted from 570 to 630 CE. In 628, the Persian satrap of Yemen, Badhan, converted to Islam. The Prophet Muhammad was still living when Yemen converted and became an Islamic province. Yemen followed the Four Rightly-guided Caliphs, the Umayyads, and the Abbasids. In the 9th century, many Yemenis accepted the teachings of Zayd ibn Ali, who founded a splinter Shia group. Others became Sunni, particularly in south and west Yemen. Yemen became known in the 14th century for a new crop, coffee. Yemeni Coffee arabica was exported all over the Mediterranean world. The Ottoman Turks ruled Yemen from 1538 to 1635  and returned to North Yemen between 1872 and 1918. Meanwhile, Britain ruled South Yemen as a protectorate from 1832 on. In the modern era, North Yemen was ruled by local kings until 1962, when a coup established the Yemen Arab Republic. Britain finally pulled out of South Yemen after a bloody struggle in 1967, and the Marxist Peoples Republic of South Yemen was founded. In May of 1990, Yemen reunified after relatively little strife.

Analysis of Social Software Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Analysis of Social Software - Literature review Example Normally, social software entails unrestricted and deliberate members, who also receive reputations and confidence among themselves. Additionally, it is worthwhile noting that, commonly, members with common interests, goals, mindsets, tendencies, factions or associations create continual and lasting relationships. However, it is significant noting that, businesses did not merely adapt their online strategies to take account of the web’s ‘social’ aspects. Significantly, the stiff competition in businesses necessitated the adoption of online strategies in order to promote their brand online. Consequently, any business, whether little or huge, desires to initiate developing a strategy for Internet marketing just to withstand the stiff competition.   Considerably, it is hard, sufficient to advertise solely in the print media like newspapers, as well as yellow pages since quite forthrightly; the above two are turning into an â€Å"old-school† because myriad pe ople utilize the Internet to examine businesses prior to purchasing their respective products or commodities. Concisely, if a small business fails to embrace any form of an online strategy, it really misses out.   Significantly, small business proprietors may depend rigorously on the neighborhood or regional populace as its objective market and therefore question how a worldwide Internet marketplace can be of assistance to the business. Considerably, the reply is easy, overall the neighborhood internet searches conducted, eight over 10 projections will enquire or tour a store and six over 10 will make purchases.   This is significant because of the geo-targeting potentials of Internet hunt engines like Google.   It is worthwhile noting that social software entails online payments. Research by scholars such as Breslin has indicated that accepting online payments is never a simple matter for numerous businesses (Breslin 76). Considerably, before a business  person decides whet her to adopt online payments, he must examine several considerations. For instance, he must consider his location. If the business’s locations are in the USA, the proprietor has several options. However, if the business locations are in Canada, the proprietor has limited options. Nonetheless, in the other parts in of the world, it is sadly noting that a business proprietor has very limited options. Additionally, if the business is outside the USA or Canada, it is not recommendable for businesses to use online payments such as PayPal. Secondly, before adopting an online payment a business must consider whether it has a merchant account.  Ã‚  

SE Asia Basin History project (South China Sea Platform and South Essay

SE Asia Basin History project (South China Sea Platform and South China Ocean Basin) - Essay Example Geologically, the nearly 3.5 million square kilometers area is primarily surrounded by a series of sedimentary successions which are highly rich in petroleum resources (IHO, 1998). According to many experts, South China Sea platform and ocean basin has a complex geologic structure comprised of folded fundament dating back to the pre-Cambrian period, Indo-china period and Herynina periods. The rhomboid shaped marine basin is largely confined by crustal structure fractures, lithospheres as well as massive tectonic belts. This paper presents the history of the South China Sea basin including its stratigraphic columns and dissects as well as the history of its deposition. South China Sea basin is locacated at a junction of three major tectonics namely; the Eurasian,Pacific-philippine and the India-Australian plates. The basin lies on top of a continental self that was drowned during the ice age. According to many experts, the oceanic as well as the stretched continental crusts that are presently underlying the South China Sea basin have always experienced a series of tectonic movements since the Cenzoic times. The basin is located within the juncture area of the Indo-Australian, Eurasian and Pacific plates and the Regional Plate Tectonic events have played crucial roles to control the formation plus evolution of continental marginal basins. It is widely speculated that the basin may have been formed by underlain by continental crust before it was affected by rifting and subsequently overprinted by forearc structural setting after the initiation of subduction. For example, the evolution of the region may have been as a result of a collusion of the Eurasian and Indian plates, the northward drifting of the Australian plate as well as the westward subdution of the Pacific continental plate during the Cenozoic period as shown in figure 1 below. With regard to its crustal structure, the basement of the basin

Human biology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Human biology - Essay Example Changes in hormone levels can create poor oocyte quality. Controlling blood levels are also determining factors used to time oocyte retrieval and increase the number of oocytes that are retrieved (2005). The three hormones that can be tested so the best time for oocyte retrieval are LH (Luteinizing Hormone), oestradiol and progesterone. An increase of LH is an important variable as it is an indicator that ovulation has begun and that the release of an oocyte has already begun. Many times if the LH levels are high, the possibility of retrieving mature eggs may be difficult, which is why most LH surges will delay the process of IVF. Oestradiol stimulates the lining of the uterus, making it ready for the arrival of the embryo (2005). The longer the oestradiol level rises the more mature the eggs will be. The problem with measuring the oestradiol levels is that they vary from person to person. This variance can make it difficult to measure whether it is appropriate to have a high or increased oestradiol levels for four days as opposed to eleven days. Also, one level may be considered high for one person, but low for another. Progesterone developed when the presence of LH increases and when oestradiol has readied the lining of the uterus for the embryo. This means that the presence of progesterone is acceptable during the process. However, levels that are considered too high for a particular patient are an indication that the quality of the eggs are poor. 'The woman's reproductive system is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary ovarian axis'(1998). "Neurons that secrete GnRH in the preoptic and arcuate nucleus areas and stimulate the production of follicle-stimulating and LH, which can in turn create oestradiol and progesterone'(1998). The presence of follicle is an indication that eggs are being produced and possibly mature. The more follicles that are present, the higher the oestradiol levels. The advantage of stimulating follicular development increases the likelihood of pregnancy as the uterus is ready and eggs are more likely to be mature and of good quality. Multiple oocytes are likely to be also. Based on the figures present, it is clear that during normal cycles, the levels of LH, oestradiol and progesterone are affected. These hormonal levels are particularly affected by the presence of hormones. Hormonal levels are decreased with the use of certain steroids. Hormonal levels are much higher with treatments. Any hormone that stimulates ovulation is likely to increase the risk of multiple births. This is the case because ovulation inducement can create a "polyfollicular response," which increases the risk for multiple births as more than one egg is released (2004). IVF is known among the medical community to decrease the risk of unwanted multiple births. IVF is works effectively because the doctor and patient have a great amount of control over the process. IVF allows the physician to actually control the number of embryos that he/she implants. The fact that the process is so controlled increases the success rate of pregnancy even though only one embryo is implanted. REFERENCES Gemzell, Carl, 2004, Gonadotrophins and Steroid Hormones, viewed 06/13/2004, www.tylermedicalclinic.com Gleider, Norbert, August 1 2004, Limiting Embryo

Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath

Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath From 911 to Hurricane Katrina the United States government has used many of its different resources to help with the aftermath. After every event that causes panic and destruction in the United States there is always someone there to help clean it up, from large companies to the people just wanting to help. When natural disasters and hurricanes strike its takes us to long to get everything taken care of and there are too many losses of life. When it comes down to it, Its not clear if the United States is truly ready for another emergency. On August 25, 2005 hell struck the southern states of the United States. Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Florida and parts of Alabama were taken over by the massive category 5 hurricane. Hurricane Katrina formed over the Bahamas on August 23, 2005 and then crossed southern Florida as a moderate Category 1 hurricane, killing some and causing flooding there before growing and strengthening rapidly in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm weakened before making its second landfall as a Category3 storm on the morning of Monday, August 29 in southeast Louisiana. It caused severe destruction along the Gulf coast from central Florida to Texas, much of it due to the storm surge and then made its way towards New Orleans where the most damage was caused. As the approaching storm starting growing stronger the citizens of New Orleans we told to evacuate. Many of the citizens did but some stayed. Many of the wealthy and middle class citizens, who had a place to go and money to support them left. The lower class citizens who had no money and nowhere to go, stayed and suffered. As hurricane Katrina mad land fall the destruction started, the winds and the rain were devastating peoples homes became flooded and families were trapped inside of their home and were killed. There were almost 2,000 deaths from the Katrina, hunderds of thousands of people with out homes, water, or food were left on the streets to fight for their lives. The Super Dome played a huge role in the shelter for the people who needed it most. People fled from their unsafe homes to find a spot in the huge covered football field. Many people where inside of the dome when the storm struck, and many came to it after. When staying in the dome you had what you brought with you, a blanket and a pillow and your family. The bathrooms were overflowing and the air smelt of death. People were pushing and shoving to find a spot to sleep in the crowed unsanitary place. If you were to walk outside of the dome and around the corner you would see the bodies of the men and women who didnt make it and who could not be brought in, many of them had a piece of paper with them stating the names of their family members so that after it was all over they could be buried. People went without food and water for many days, some were stranded on top of their own homes. Cars were under water along with some homes and buildings, many people couldnt swim so that was the death of them. The flooding came from the breaking of the levees. Why did the levees break? That was the question on everyones mind. The government should have had the levees in tip top condition, but they did not last very long into the storm. It is believed that because the poor maintaining of the levees most of the things that went under water and were destroyed and killed is the governments fault. That is a questionable statement to make, but the breaking of the levees played a big role in the destruction of New Orleans. As the hurricane came to an end many people came to the rescue, the first on site were the local police and fire departments, but they were not large enough to deal with the terrible conditions. The Coast Guard arrived soon after and many other small agencies, the rescue and clean up began. As there different groups of people started it was chaos no one knew where to even start. There were people living out of the super dome who needed help but also the people stuck in their homes. As the search and rescue began so did the death toll, house by house they number just went up. During the time of Hurricane Katrina President George W. Bush was in office. When news of what had happened in southeast states he did not get on Air Force One and fly down to show his country that he was there to help, he took off to another country to do business. It took the President 12 days to make his way down to New Orleans; he never set foot on the ground though. The president overlooked the city from the comfort of his plane. On April 27th 2011 a ramped F5 tornado took over the town of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. President Obama was down there and supporting the efforts within three days. The support that the people of Alabama felt from their President was much greater then the appearance that Bush made in the air. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003. FEMA was established to â€Å"support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.† When FEMA was asked about Hurricane Katrina and what it was like down there they layed it all out on the table, they nor was anyone else fully ready to take on what had be done down there. They labeled it a disaster and a disaster is what it all was. â€Å"A disaster, it strikes anytime, anywhere. It takes many forms a hurricane, an earthquake, a tornado, a flood, a fire or a hazardous spill, an act of nature or an act of terrorism. It builds over days or weeks, or hits suddenly, without warning. Every year, millions of Americans face disaster, and its terrifying consequences.(FEMA)† If another emergency was to happen in the United States again the government would have a lot of work to do. When FEMA was added to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security they were thought to be the group that would be able to take care of everything. They are apart of the government she they should have enough money to prepare. At the point we are in with the national debt they money flow to FEMA and all of the other companies in very limited. If and when another emergency happens there is not going to be enough to help feed the people and shelter them. People living in danger zones should also have a plan for another emergency. Such as where they would go if they needed to leave and extra money would help too. Local police and fire departments need more training and funding. The locals are the first to be there and they have to start with the aftermath and if they are not prepared for it then everything starts to slow down and people are stuck in places they will not survive in. New Orleans is still not a clean place, many people had to move from there because they were homeless and the United States government has done nothing to help rebuild home for them. Brad Pitt is donating his time and money to build families homes And even the rapper Lil Wayne has donated his money to help rebuild his home town. Still no money from the government to help out the people that need it the most. When looking at the aftermath of it all and seeing everything that was done and the things that were not done you can see some positive in it. The people of New Orleans have grown stronger and have become more aware of the levees and the problems that come with them. Local police and firefighters have works on new training methods. When President Obama was asked if we were ready to take on another emergency like Katrina he said â€Å"Yes, everyone makes mistakes, but you always get to learn from them.† When the tornado swept through Alabama you could see an improvement in the actions taken by the government. Everything happened so fast, there was a plan and that plan is still in action, there are somethings that still need work but the improvements have been made with the timing and the recovery efforts. Before doing this paper, I got the chance to watch When the Levees Broke. It was an eye opening movie. Just being able to see what the people of New Orleans was going through was un real. People lost the ones they loved and their homes. As a United States citizen I do believe that because part of New Orleans was a very poor mostly black neighborhood that many people had no interest in what the people were going through. But the main point about it is that out government is pending to much of its money overseas taking care of disasters in other countries when our country has still not recovered from our own. Is the government ready to poor their money and help into the next place that needs it. The locals can only do so much they need guidance from the big men, we just need the big men to be there.

Barbie :: miscellaneous

Barbie Good afternoon everyone. I’m Dr. Nikolovski and I’m here to talk to you about the controversial Barbie. Barbie, recently turned 40, is perhaps the most debated about child’s toy in the world. She is sold in over 150 Countries and is known to almost every child and adult worldwide. According to creator Mattel, over 93% of all Australian girls aged between 3 and 10 own at least one Barbie each, and the typical American girl of the same age has on average 9. So what does this model of ‘supposed perfection’ have to do with real life you may ask? This successful toy whom is considered to promote an unhealthy lifestyle and image, is a role model of millions of girls around the world, including you daughters. Today I am here to put you any doubts you may have to rest and to promote Barbie as a good and inspiring toy for your children to be playing with. Barbie is one of the most enduring stars in the world. She’s loved, hated, tortured, adored and disemboweled by millions. But the argument still remains, that Barbie is a bad role model for young girls. While some agree yes, I definitely believe no! Barbie has been blamed for quite a few things. Eating disorders being one them, as a result of her â€Å"anorexia-inspired† body. However it must be noted that eating disorders are proven to be a mental disease, just as something like schizophrenia. How a doll, a toy, something for girls to play with is able to be responsible for such a disease is a question I’d be curious to hear answered. Especially as the girls whom play with Barbie are those aged between 3 and 10. Barbie has been around since March 1959, and I’m yet to hear about an eating disorder directly linked with her. I believe that Barbie is an inspiration to young girls in her multiple careers. Which over the years have included things from tennis player, presidential candidate, and paleontologist to an astronaut, which was back in 1964, before there were any women astronauts. This year’s new generation millennium Barbie of 2002 is set to head off to international High School in New York. Barbie’s instant success was not from her body or looks, but clearly from what came with her. It's clear now that her ultimate success is her transformation like qualities.