Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Expert Interview with Steve Frederick Should You Get a Career Coach

Expert Interview with Steve Frederick Should You Get a Career Coach Steve Frederick has a unique perspective on hiring; as an executive career coach for Lucrative Careers, he helps people find the jobs that better fit their lives, one client at a time. He discussed hiring and careers with us in this interview. What’s the role of a career coach?First, helping clients to find their way in a rapidly-changing job market. He or she helps the client to get in touch with what they want to do, to find where they can do it and to get the satisfaction and the money they need.Second, assisting the client in marketing him or herself. Many people have been busy working, and they haven’t had to articulate what it is that they do. But unless they do that well, both verbally and on paper, their chances of getting hired drop precipitously. I once spent a whole hour with an engineer to get just one one-minute story about an accomplishment into plain English.Third, provides training in how to network effectively: How do I get in to see the people I need t o talk to; what do I say while I’m there; and how do I get them to refer me to others?Fourth, helping clients to use their time effectively. The longer the search goes on, the more expensive it is in dollars, energy expended and negative impact on self-esteem. One woman, for example, had been out of work for a year, despite being very accomplished and personable. She also had been â€Å"networking† like crazy. She was keeping Starbucks profitable with all the coffees she had scheduled. We found, though, that she was just randomly talking to people she met at job search groups. In the year that she had been out of work, she hadn’t talked to anyone in her industry.Fifth, support to help clients keep going when things get tough. It’s a very difficult process that can be brutal on people’s self-esteem. Many times, people get discouraged; some want to give up.Sixth, accountability to keep the process moving. It’s easy to be â€Å"busy† wit hout getting the important things done.Seventh, salary negotiation help to ensure that clients get paid well.Eighth, guidance to get off to a good start in the new job.Ninth, advice in office politics.Who should get a career coach? Is it for those new to the workforce? Getting back into it?Many people do fine without a career coach. On the other hand, many people benefit mightily. This includes people who:Are new to the workforce; most colleges teach next to nothing about how to actually get hired.Want to do something different, but don’t know what it is.Know what they want to do, but aren’t sure how to get there.Are in transition and frustrated that they’re not getting traction.Haven’t had to look for a job in some time.Are afraid they’ll lose their jobs.How can career coaching help find and keep a job?Finding a job: by giving them the tools they need to communicate about themselves effectively and the techniques they need to get in to see the peo ple who can help/hire them. Many people spin their wheels in job search. Here’s just a few things they do: have boring marketing materials that don’t communicate their value, go around asking people if they know of any openings, talk about themselves in clichà ©s, and not use their network to get beyond the people they already know.Oftentimes, we’ve been able to delay or prevent firing. Just one way we do this is helping clients to:Have conversations that repair damaged relationships with the boss. After testing the waters to see if this is a safe conversation, simply putting the cards on the table, saying, â€Å"This isn’t working. Can I have some time to look for another job? I’ll make sure I get everything done well, but wonder if I might have a flexible schedule to allow me to explore for other opportunities.†What do you see as the future of careers? Will we still go to an office, or will we be a nation of freelancers?I think people wil l always be working together. I would surely hope that we won’t ALL be reduced to sitting in rooms at home, pounding on keyboards all day long. That works for some, but others will wither and die.

Monday, March 2, 2020

Why Cultural Appropriation Is Wrong

Why Cultural Appropriation Is Wrong Cultural appropriation is the adoption of certain elements from another culture without the consent of people who belong to that culture. Its a controversial topic, one that activists and celebrities like Adrienne Keene and Jesse Williams have helped bring into the national spotlight. However, much of the public remains confused about what the term actually means.   People from hundreds of different ethnicities make up the U.S. population, so it’s not surprising that cultural groups rub off on each other at times. Americans who grow up in diverse communities may pick up the dialect, customs, and religious traditions of the cultural groups that surround them. Cultural appropriation is an entirely different matter. It has little to do with one’s exposure to and familiarity with different cultures. Instead, cultural appropriation typically involves members of a dominant group exploiting the culture of less privileged groups. Quite often, this is done along racial and ethnic lines with little understanding of the latter’s history, experience, and traditions. Defining Cultural Appropriation In order to understand cultural appropriation, we must first look at the two words that make up the term. Culture is defined as the beliefs, ideas, traditions, speech, and material objects associated with a particular group of people. Appropriation is the illegal, unfair, or unjust taking of something that doesnt belong to you. Susan Scafidi, a law professor at Fordham University, told Jezebel  that it’s difficult to give a concise explanation of cultural appropriation. The author of  Who Owns Culture? Appropriation and Authenticity in American Law, defined cultural appropriation as follows: â€Å"Taking intellectual property, traditional knowledge, cultural expressions, or artifacts from someone elses culture without permission. This can include unauthorized use of another cultures dance, dress, music, language, folklore, cuisine, traditional medicine, religious symbols, etc. Its most likely to be harmful when the source community is a ​In the United States, cultural appropriation almost always involves members of the dominant culture (or those who identify with it) â€Å"borrowing† from the cultures of minority groups.   African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and indigenous peoples generally tend to emerge as the groups targeted for cultural appropriation. Black music and dance, Native American fashions, decoration, and cultural symbols, and Asian martial arts and dress have all fallen prey to cultural appropriation. â€Å"Borrowing† is a key component of cultural appropriation and there are many examples in recent American history. In essence, however, it can be traced back to the racial beliefs of early America; an era when many whites saw people of color as less than human. Society has moved beyond those gross injustices, for the most part. And yet, insensitivity to the historical and current sufferings of others remains apparent today. Appropriation in Music In the 1950s, white musicians borrowed the musical stylings of their black counterparts. Because African Americans weren’t widely accepted in U.S. society at that time, record executives chose to have white artists replicate the sound of black musicians. The result is that music like rock-n-roll is largely associated with whites and its black pioneers are often forgotten. In the early 21st century, cultural appropriation remains a concern. Musicians such as  Madonna, Gwen Stefani, and Miley Cyrus  have all been accused of cultural appropriation. Madonnas famous voguing began in black and Latino sectors of the gay community. Gwen Stefani faced criticism for her fixation on Harajuku culture from Japan. In 2013, Miley Cyrus became the pop star most associated with cultural appropriation. During recorded and live performances, the former child star began to twerk, a dance style with roots in the African American community.   Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke perform during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. Theo Wargo/Getty Images Appropriation of Native Cultures Native American fashion, art, and rituals have also been appropriated into mainstream culture. Their fashion has been reproduced and sold for profit and their rituals are often adopted by eclectic religious and spiritual practitioners. A well-known case involves the sweat lodge retreats of James Arthur Ray. In 2009, three people died during one of his adopted sweat lodge ceremonies in Sedona, Arizona. This prompted the elders of Native American tribes to speak out against this practice because these plastic shamans have not been properly trained. Covering the lodge with plastic tarps was just one of Rays mistakes and he was later sued for impersonation. Similarly, in Australia, there was a period during which it was common for Aboriginal art to be copied by non-Aboriginal artists, often marketed and sold as authentic. This led to a renewed movement to authenticate Aboriginal products. Cultural Appropriation Takes Many Forms Buddhist tattoos, Muslim-inspired headdresses as fashion, and white gay men adopting the dialect of black women are other examples of cultural appropriation that are often called out. The examples are nearly endless and context is often key. For example, was the tattoo done in reverence or because its cool? Would a Muslim man wearing  the  keffiyeh  be considered a terrorist for that simple fact? At the same time, if a white man wears it, is it a fashion statement? Why Cultural Appropriation Is a Problem Cultural appropriation remains a concern for a variety of reasons. For one, this sort of â€Å"borrowing† is exploitative because it robs minority groups of the credit they deserve. Art and music forms that originated with minority groups come to be associated with members of the dominant group. As a result, the dominant group is deemed innovative and edgy. At the same time, the disadvantaged groups they â€Å"borrow† from continue to face negative stereotypes that imply they’re lacking in intelligence and creativity.   When singer Katy Perry performed as a geisha at the American Music Awards in 2013, she described it as an homage to Asian culture. Asian Americans disagreed with this assessment, declaring her performance â€Å"yellowface.† They also found issue with the song choice, Unconditionally, alongside a stereotype of passive Asian women. The question of whether it is a homage or an insult is at the core of cultural appropriation. What one person perceives as a tribute, people of that group may perceive as disrespectful. Its a fine line and one that must be carefully considered. How to Avoid Cultural Appropriation Every individual has choices to make when it comes to sensitivity toward others. As a member of the majority, someone may not be able to recognize a harmful appropriation unless its pointed out. This requires awareness of why youre buying or doing something that represents another culture. The intention is at the heart of the matter, so its important to ask yourself a series of questions. Why are you borrowing this? Is it out of a genuine interest? Is it something you feel called to do? Or, does it simply look appealing and youre following the trends?What is the source? For material items such as artwork, was it made by someone from that culture? What does this item mean to them?How respectful is this to the culture? What would someone from that group feel about it? Genuine interest in other cultures is not to be discounted. The sharing of ideas, traditions, and material items is what makes life interesting and helps diversify the world. It is the intention that remains most important and something everyone can remain conscious of as we learn from others.

Friday, February 14, 2020

Brief a case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Brief a case - Essay Example The appellant offered to take her to where she was going. She did not accept the offer and continued walking. She then saw the victim standing next to his van. The appellant took the victim by the neck at gun point in an attempt to get her into his van against her will. However, the victim was able to free herself and ran home, where she telephoned the police. Legal Reasoning: Pursuant to Florida Statute Section 90.803(2) (2001), an excited utterance is an exception to the rule against hearsay when the statement/excited utterance relates to a â€Å"startling event or condition† and is made while the maker of the statement/excited utterance â€Å"is under duress† (Bell v State, 2003). An excited utterance is made when the event causing excitement is â€Å"startling enough to cause excitement† (Bell v State, 2003). The statement is required to have been made â€Å"before there was time to contrive or misrepresent† (Bell v State, 2003). The statement must also be made when the speaker is â€Å"under the stress of excitement caused by the event† (Bell v State, 2003). In order to be an excited utterance, it is not necessary for the statement be made in a manner contemporaneous to the event causing excitement. All that is necessary for establishing an excited utterance is that the speaker is excited when the s tatement is made. Pursuant to Section 90.803(2) an excited state of mind may persist for a while following the event. It is for the court to determine whether or not the statement was made in an excited state. In determining whether or not the speaker made the statement in an excited state of mind the court may consider the speaker’s age, mental and physical conditions, the event itself and the contents of the statement. According to the responding officer’s evidence, the victim was clearly hysterical and scared when he arrived at her home. She was too

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Economics Coursework - Macroeconomics, Unemployment and Inflation Essay - 1

Economics Coursework - Macroeconomics, Unemployment and Inflation - Essay Example Thousands of desperate persons from Zimbabwe are migrating to South Africa on a weekly basis. South African cannot support the load of many more people since their economy is not doing that well itself. The immigration authorities are deporting 3900 Zimbabwean every week (Wines, 2007). To put in perspective the effect the incredible inflation has on time value of money of the Zimbabwe currency a person that used to make $9 month in salary is now making $2 (Wines, 2007). A hyperinflation event causes great human suffering since people become desperate and frighten that from one day to another there money is losing 12% of value on a daily basis meaning that the next they might not be able to buy the primary necessity goods such as food and medicine. Hyperinflation is one of worst economic systems any economic system could face. In the 1980’s the Latin American country of Argentina in the 1980’suffered through a prolonged hyperinflation era which destroyed the economic system of this nation. The Zimbabwe crisis is even worst that what in Argentina since that nation was not living a sub-human levels of poverty such as the people of Zimbabwe were experiencing even prior that the economic chaos there are currently encountering. The current hyperinflation state of Zimbawe compares with some of the world cases of hyperinflation in the world history. Some of the most famous hyperinflation cases are illustrated in the table below: The graph below shows a comparative analysis of country with normal inflation, high inflation under normal parameters and hyperinflation. The average inflation in the European Union in 2006 was 3.1% and in Puerto Rico in 2007 was 11.6% (Completelandlord, 2007). The Zimbawe economic state is causing panic and as of right now has no immdiate solution. The root of the problem which is causing the chaotic state in terms of economic status and sociahumanistic effects in Zimbabwe include factors

Friday, January 24, 2020

Healthy People Cannot Give Blood Essay -- Health

Everyone has seen the horror movie narrative time and time again. One person watches someone they love be put into a horrifying circumstance while being nothing but a helpless bystander, watching through a window or a television screen. Watching the bystander is almost as tragic as watching the victim, as the innate compulsion of a human to help others is relatable and recognizable to everyone. Unfortunately, there is a community in today’s world that is prevented from helping fellow humans in a simple act of charity some may take for granted: giving blood. Current United States policy bans homosexual men from being blood donors, regardless of testing and other standard procedures, such as testing blood for transmittable diseases and administering extensive questionnaires regarding risk factors of blood-borne illnesses (American Red Cross, 2012). This policy preventing men who have sex with other men (MSM) from donating blood should be modified, as advancements in technology h ave eliminated the high safety concern that once made the policy the best logical solution for safe blood transfusion (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2009). Policies restricting blood donors cover a wide range of potential issues with the blood supply. For the most part, these policies are very logical and give a greater piece of mind to those receiving blood; however, the policy regarding homosexual men is both outdated and illogical. As outlined on the United States Food and Drug Administration’s website (2009), no man who has had sex with another man since 1977, regardless of protective barriers or number of partners, may donate blood at any point after intercourse. Many people are unaware of this policy; it has not received attention in the... ...eller, A. J. (2010, December). No evidence of a significantly increased risk of transfusion-transmitted human immunodeficiency virus infection in Australia subsequent to implementing a 12-month deferral for men who have had sex with other men. Transfusion, 50(12), 2722-2730. doi:10.1111/j.1537-2995.2010.02793.x Thrasher, S. W. (2009). Blood, sex, and the FDA. Advocate, (1032), 50-53. The Constitution of the United States. Amendment 1. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, (2009). Blood donations from men who have sex with other men questions and answers. Retrieved from U.S. Food and Drug Administration website: http://www.fda.gov/biologicsbloodvaccines/bloodbloodproducts/questionsaboutblood/ucm108186.htm Waters, A. (2011). FROM THE HEART. Nursing Standard, 25(29), 24-25. (2012). In American Red Cross. Retrieved March 29, 2012, from http://www.redcross.org/

Thursday, January 16, 2020

A Social Activity That Brings the Best or, and the Worst of an Individual

There are many social activities these days that tend to show us that part of a person's character that has remained hidden from public view for so long.Activities such as company picnics, sports festivals seem to do the trick. But none of those activities can beat one of the most popular social activities that always bring out the competitive streak in an individual. I am talking about a class reunion.A class reunion is a social activity wherein classmates and friends from past eras get together years later and try to catch up on each other's lives and activities. During a class reunion, it seems that people have permission to revert to their old ways while in high school or college.It is a social situation where old wounds are reopened but not necessarily healed by time or apologies. It is an event where people gossip about who is was voted the most successful and yet seems to be the biggest failure in life. It is a time for life comparisons and reflection. None of which helps a pe rson's self esteem or sense of importance about life and other things.Class reunions are supposed to be a time of reminiscing and healing. Instead, it serves as a reminder to others regarding how they have not achieved the peak of success in their lives, or failed to achieve that which they bragged about in high school or college.It brings out the worst in an individual because of the way the person is treated for not being able to achieve his classmates ideal of him. It can also be a social activity that brings out the best in an individual when he can brag about his successes in life and hold his classmates in his own personal court where he feels he can help those whom he deems as less fortunate than he is.Think about. Ask your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, I am sure they will more than willing to tell you about the horror story that their class reunion turned out to be.That is because after the pleasantries are exchanged, all that is left is to try to find the failure s of each other. Just like when they were in regular school. Let's face it, class reunions are their passport to acting like their immature counterparts in high school even if only for one night. Â  

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

HMS Queen Mary at the Battle of Jutland

HMS Queen Mary was a British battlecruiser that entered service in 1913. The last battlecruiser completed for the Royal Navy prior to World War I, it saw action during the early engagements of the conflict. Sailing with the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron, Queen Mary was lost at the Battle of Jutland in May 1916. HMS Queen Mary Nation:  Great BritainType:  BattlecruiserShipyard:  Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron CompanyLaid Down:  March 6, 1911Launched:  March 20, 1912Commissioned:  September 4, 1913Fate:  Sunk at the Battle of Jutland, May 31, 1916 Specifications Displacement:  27,200 tonsLength:  703 ft., 6 in.Beam:  89 ft., 0.5 in.Draft:  32 ft., 4 in.Propulsion:  Parsons direct-drive steam turbines, 42 Yarrow boilers, 4 x propellersSpeed:  28 knotsRange:  6,460 miles at 10 knotsComplement:  1,275 men Armament 4 Ãâ€" 2: BL 13.5-inch Mk V guns16 Ãâ€" 1: BL 4-inch Mk VII guns2 Ãâ€" 1: 21-inch Mk II submerged torpedo tubes Background On October 21, 1904, Admiral John Jackie Fisher became First Sea Lord at the behest of King Edward VII. Tasked with reducing expenditures and modernizing the Royal Navy, he also began advocating for all big gun battleships. Moving forward with this initiative, Fisher had the revolutionary HMS Dreadnought built two years later. Featuring ten 12-in. guns, Dreadnought instantly made all existing battleships obsolete. Fisher next desired to support this class of battleship with a new type of cruiser that sacrificed armor for speed. Dubbed battlecruisers, the first of this new class, HMS Invincible, was laid down in April 1906. It was Fishers vision that battlecruisers would conduct reconnaissance, support the battle fleet, protect commerce, and pursue a defeated enemy. Over the next eight years, several battlecruisers were constructed by both the Royal Navy and the German Kaiserliche Marine. Design Ordered as part of the 1910–11 Naval Program along with four King George V-class battleships, HMS Queen Mary was to be the sole ship of its class. A follow-on to the earlier Lion-class, the new ship featured an altered interior arrangement, a redistribution of its secondary armament, and a longer hull than its predecessors. Armed with eight 13.5 in. guns in four twin turrets, the battlecruiser also carried sixteen 4 in. guns mounted in casemates. The ships armament received direction from an experimental fire-control system designed by Arthur Pollen. Queen Marys armor scheme varied little from the Lions and was thickest amidships. At the waterline, between B and X turrets, the ship was protected by 9 Krupp cemented armor.  This thinned moving towards the bow and stern. An upper belt of reached a thickness of 6 over the same length. Armor for the turrets consisted of 9 on the front and sides and varied from 2.5 to 3.25 on the roofs. The battlecruisers conning tower was protected by 10 on the sides and 3 on the roof. Additionally, Queen Marys armored citadel was closed off by 4 transverse bulkheads. Power for the new design came from two paired sets of Parsons direct-drive turbines which turned four propellers. While the outboard propellers were turned by high-pressure turbines, the inner propellers were turned by low-pressure turbines. In a change from other British ships since Dreadnought, which had positioned the officers quarters near their action stations amidships, Queen Mary saw them returned to their traditional location in the stern. As a result, it was it the first British battlecruiser to possess a stern walk. Construction Laid down on March 6, 1911, at Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company in Jarrow, the new battlecruiser was named for King George Vs wife, Mary of Teck. Work progressed over the next year and Queen Mary slid down the ways on March 20, 1912, with Lady Alexandrina Vane-Tempest serving as the Queens representative. Initial work on the battlecruiser ended in May 1913 and sea trials were conducted through June. Though Queen Mary utilized more powerful turbines than earlier battlecruisers, it only barely exceeded its design speed of 28 knots. Returning to the yard for final alterations, Queen Mary came under the command of Captain Reginald Hall. With the completion of the ship, it entered commission on September 4, 1913. World War I Assigned to Vice Admiral David Beattys 1st Battlecruiser Squadron, Queen Mary commenced operations in the North Sea. The following spring saw the battlecruiser make a port call at Brest before a voyage to Russia in June. In August, with Britains entry into World War I, Queen Mary and its consorts prepared for combat. On August 28, 1914, the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron sortied in support of a raid on the German coast by British light cruisers and destroyers. In the early fighting during the Battle of Heligoland Bight, British forces had difficulty disengaging and the light cruiser HMS Arethusa was crippled. Under fire from the light cruisers SMS Strassburg and SMS Cà ¶ln, it called for aid from Beatty. Steaming to the rescue, his battlecruisers, including Queen Mary, sank Cà ¶ln and the light cruiser SMS Ariadne before covering the British withdrawal. Refit That December, Queen Mary took part in Beattys attempt to ambush German naval forces as they conducted a raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool, and Whitby. In a confusing series of events, Beatty failed to bring the Germans to battle and they successfully escaped back the Jade Estuary. Withdrawn in December 1915, Queen Mary received a new fire control system before entering the yard for a refit the following month. As a result, it was not with Beatty for the Battle of Dogger Bank on January 24. Returning to duty in February, Queen Mary continued to operate with the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron through 1915 and into 1916. In May, British naval intelligence learned that the German High Seas Fleet had left port. Loss at Jutland Steaming in advance of Admiral Sir John Jellicoes Grand Fleet, Beattys battlecruisers, supported by the battleships of the 5th Battle Squadron, collided with Vice Admiral Franz Hippers battlecruisers in the opening phases of the Battle of Jutland. Engaging at 3:48 PM on May 31, the German fire proved accurate from the outset. At 3:50 PM, Queen Mary opened fire on SMS Seydlitz with its forward turrets. As Beatty closed the range, Queen Mary scored two hits on its opponent and disabled one of Seydlitzs aft turrets. Around 4:15, HMS Lion came under intense fire from Hippers ships. The smoke from this obscured HMS Princess Royal forcing SMS Derfflinger to shift its fire to Queen Mary. As this new enemy engaged, the British ship continued to trade hits with Seydlitz. At 4:26 PM, a shell from Derfflinger struck Queen Mary detonating one or both of its forward magazines. The resulting explosion broke the battlecruiser in half near its foremast. A second shell from Derfflinger may have hit further aft. As the after part of the ship began to roll, it was rocked by a ​large explosion before sinking. Of Queen Marys crew, 1,266 were lost while only twenty were rescued. Though Jutland resulted in a strategic victory for the British, it saw two battlecruisers, HMS Indefatigable and Queen Mary, lost with nearly all hands. An investigation into the losses led to changes in ammunition handling aboard British ships as the report showed that cordite handling practices may have contributed to the loss of the two battlecruisers.