Timbuktu, Mali and Today

Timbuktu, Mali and Today The word Timbuktu (or Timbuctoo or Tombouctou) is used in several languages to represent a far-away place, but Timbuktu is an actual city in the African country of Mali. Where Is Timbuktu? Located near the edge of the Niger River, Timbuktu is situated near the middle of Mali in Africa.  Timbuktu had a 2014 population of approximately 15,000 (the recent drop more in half due to its 2012–2013 occupation by Al Qaeda). The 2014 estimate is the latest data available. The Legend of Timbuktu Timbuktu was founded by nomads in the 12th century, and it rapidly became a major trading depot for the caravans of the Sahara Desert. During the 14th century, the legend of Timbuktu as a rich cultural center spread through the world. The beginning of the legend can be traced to 1324, when the Emperor of Mali made his pilgrimage to Mecca via Cairo. In Cairo, the merchants and traders were impressed by the amount of gold carried by the emperor, who claimed that the gold was from Timbuktu. Furthermore, in 1354 the great Muslim explorer Ibn Battuta wrote of his visit to Timbuktu and told of the wealth and gold of the region. Thus, Timbuktu became renown as an African El Dorado, a city made of gold. During the 15th century, Timbuktu grew in importance, but its homes were never made of gold. Timbuktu produced few of its own goods but served as the major trading center for salt across the desert region. The city also became a center of Islamic study and the home of a university and extensive library. The citys maximum population during the 1400s probably numbered somewhere between 50,000 to 100,000, with approximately one-quarter of the population composed of scholars and students. The Legend Grows A 1526 visit to Timbuktu by a Muslim from Grenada, Spain, Leo Africanus, told of Timbuktu as a typical trading outpost. Still, the mythical legend of its wealth persisted. In 1618, a London company was formed to establish trade with Timbuktu. Unfortunately, the first trading expedition ended up with the massacre of all its members, and a second expedition sailed up the Gambia River and thus never reached Timbuktu. In the 1700s and early 1800s, many explorers attempted to reach Timbuktu, but none returned. Many unsuccessful and successful explorers were forced to drink camel urine, their own urine, or even blood to attempt to survive the Sahara Desert. Known wells would be dry or would not provide enough water upon an expeditions arrival. Mungo Park, a Scottish doctor, attempted a trip to Timbuktu in 1805. Unfortunately, his expedition team of dozens of Europeans and natives all died or abandoned the expedition, and Park was left to sail along the Niger River, never visiting Timbuktu but merely shooting at people and other objects on the shore with his guns as his insanity increased. His body was never found. In 1824, the Geographical Society of Paris offered a reward of 7,000 francs and a gold medal valued at 2,000 francs to the first European who could visit Timbuktu and return to tell the story of the mythical city. European Arrival in Timbuktu The first European acknowledged to have reached Timbuktu was Scottish explorer Gordon Laing. He left Tripoli in 1825 and traveled for 13 months to reach Timbuktu. On the way, he was attacked by the ruling Tuareg nomads, was shot and cut by swords, and broke his arm. He recovered from the vicious attack and made his way to Timbuktu, arriving in August 1826. Laing was unimpressed with Timbuktu, which had, as Leo Africanus reported, become simply a salt trading outpost filled with mud-walled homes in the middle of a barren desert. Laing remained in Timbuktu for just over one month. Two days after leaving Timbuktu, he was murdered. French explorer Rene-Auguste Caillie had better luck than Laing. He planned to make his trip to Timbuktu disguised as an Arab as part of a caravan, much to the chagrin of proper European explorers of the era. Caillie studied Arabic and the Islamic religion for several years. In April 1827, he left the coast of West Africa and reached Timbuktu a year later, even though he was ill for five months during the trip. Caillie was unimpressed with Timbuktu and remained there for two weeks. He then returned to Morocco and then went home to France. Caillie published three volumes about his travels and was awarded the prize from the Geographical Society of Paris. German geographer Heinrich Barth left Tripoli with two other explorers in 1850 for a trek to Timbuktu, but his companions both died. Barth reached Timbuktu in 1853 and did not return home until 1855. During the interim, he was feared dead by many. Barth gained fame through the publication of five volumes of his experiences. As with previous explorers to Timbuktu, Barth found the city quite the anticlimax. French Colonial Control In the late 1800s, France took over the Mali region and decided to take Timbuktu away from the control of the violent Tuareg. The French military was sent to occupy Timbuktu in 1894. Under the command of Major  Joseph Joffre (later a famous World War I general), Timbuktu was occupied and became the site of a French fort. Communication between Timbuktu and France was difficult, making the city an unhappy place for a soldier to be stationed. Nonetheless, the area around Timbuktu was well protected, so other nomad groups were able to live without fear of the hostile Tuareg. Modern Timbuktu Even after the invention of air travel, the Sahara was unyielding. The plane making an inaugural air flight from Algiers to Timbuktu in 1920 was lost. Eventually, a successful airstrip was established; however, today, Timbuktu is still most commonly reached by camel, motor vehicle, or boat. In 1960, Timbuktu became part of the independent country of Mali. The population of Timbuktu in a 1940 census was estimated at approximately 5,000 people; in 1976, the population was 19,000; in 1987, 32,000 people resided in the city. In 2009, Mali statistical office census estimates put the population at more than 54,000. In 1988, Timbuktu was designated a United Nations World Heritage Site, and efforts were underway to preserve and protect the city and especially its centuries-old mosques. In 2012, due to regional fighting, the city was placed on the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger, where it still remains in 2018.

10 Jobs Where You Can Work Overnight

10 Jobs Where You Can Work Overnight Some people just aren’t morning people, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have meaningful and successful careers. If you’re a night owl and just can’t seem to get to a desk at 8 or 9 a.m., don’t fear. Here are a few graveyard shift jobs that might be just right for you. 1. Freelance WriterThis is really a self-owned business, and one that requires a lot of hustle to get clients and prove your talent. But once you get started you can set your own writing hours- provided you meet your deadlines, it’s totally fine to burn the midnight oil.2. Air Traffic ControllerPlanes come in and fly out at all hours. If you want a really highly paid night shift, this might be the gig for you. You might not even need a college degree. One drawback: you might have to alternate your night shifts with a few days, which can take a lot out of you and leave you groggy.3. DealerOf cards. Work in a casino dealing blackjack or other card games. There are always s hifts available after midnight- it’s a bit slower, but also more relaxed. And most places pool tips and add to paychecks as an hourly rate, so the slow shifts aren’t always bad for the bank account.4. BartenderAll you need is speed and skill and you can make a ton of money if you find yourself in the right place. And evening shifts are the most lucrative- especially weekends. Get used to a Monday being your new night out. You could also try being a chef (much more stress) or a waiter.5. FirefighterOkay, so it’s super dangerous. But many firefighters report for duty at 11 p.m. Granted, they usually have to work 24 hour shifts with 48 hours off in-between, so the schedule can be a bit demanding.6. Security GuardGuard the gates of the company or store- 19% of security professionals report for work beginning at 3a.m. Try office buildings or casinos for opportunities.7. Taxi Driver or Uber DriverJust you and the city streets in the middle of the night. People always need rides and the traffic is much slower!8. BabysittingNow not just for teenagers! Turn this into your own independent contracting business. Work while parents are out on the town, or even off working their own night shifts!9. Mail SorterTry a temporary position at the post office to get you through the door. Start at 11 p.m. and finish between 5 and 7 a.m. It’s a great way to earn extra cash- though you’ll not get benefits.10. Pizza Delivery PersonIt’s 2 a.m and the only place still delivering is the pizza place. Take advantage of the late-night cravings of college students and other night owls and rake in the tips. You won’t make a huge amount, but you can scratch out some extra cash.

Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Security - Essay Example Authority, source and control are the major resources of the information. In fact, the key to success is the right access towards the information. As a result, the social and political relationships are also involved in the development and growth of information systems (Hilton, Se-Hyung "David" Oh et al. 2006). It is more important and ethical that how this information is been utilized by the people. For instance, government levels, headquarters and homes include the electronic systems (Hilton, Se-Hyung "David" Oh et al. 2006). This involvement is increased so much that the people without access to these systems are exaggerated in a particular way. For this reason, new and modern techniques, innovative ethical and lawful decisions are needed in order to balance the requirements and privileges of every person (Stahl 2011). The legal decision lags lies as in modern technological field behind technical development and growth. These gaps are filled through confronting on the issue and by discussing the facts on how to use the electronic information should be proceed. Furthermore, the above observation delineates the ethical issues in a broad way. On the contrary, the deciding laws include some characteristics related to the issues. These legal issues should be resolved in Electronic Information Systems. In relation to the entire community, the ethics consists of moral options choose by the individuals or users. These include standards of acceptable behavior and rules governing members of an occupation. Moreover, these extend to the Electronic Networks, Electronic Databases and significantly to a Geographic Information Systems. The problems that are present particularly in the three areas require a little different type of ethical decisions. In general, the Electronic Systems, Geographic Information Systems and Networks are being described individually in the later section of this study. Starting from a fundamental definition of computer networks, a

Arbitration Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Arbitration - Coursework Example and Malaysia and hence the contract between them is an international contract attracting the law of international commercial arbitration. The contract envisages supply of toilet flushes by the Malaysian company to the London plumbing firm. It is clear that their contract has a clause for arbitration to be resorted to in the event of disagreement or dispute between them. On the one hand, George Ltd of London wishes to terminate the contract and Cheap Stock Corp of Malaysia maintains that George Ltd’s demand for termination is a violation of the contractual terms, on the other. This constitutes a dispute between them warranting arbitration as provided by the arbitration clause of the underlying contract. The arbitration agreement if valid will enable the arbitrators to decide whether the London firm is entitled to prematurely terminate the contract entered into with the Malaysian company by examining the terms of the underlying contract. ... The seat or legal place of the arbitration shall be [city and/or country]. The language to be used in the arbitral proceedings shall be [language]. The governing law of the contract shall be the substantive law of [jurisdiction].†3 If the parties have not chosen any institutional arbitration, UNCITRAL Arbitration rules provides for Ad hoc arbitration according to which the arbitration clause shall be as follows. Ad hoc arbitration under UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules â€Å"All and any disputes or differences arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, or the breach, termination, or invalidity thereof, shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules [as at present in force/as in force at the time when arbitration proceedings are commenced] (‘the UNCITRAL Rules’).†Ã‚  4 The adhoc arbitration clause is more inclusive in that it includes even differences apart from disputes relating to â€Å"agreem ent or breach, termination or invalidity thereof.† 5 Since the parties do not appear to have chosen any institutional arbitration, Adhoc arbitration as per the UNCITRAL rules may be applied. The relevant rules in this connection stipulate â€Å"The Notice of Arbitration shall be served in accordance with Article 3 of the UNCITRAL Rules†. 6 Further, the appointment of arbitrators and their numbers (one or three) and the authority (institution) by whom to be appointed are also to be governed by the UNCITRAL Rules. The place and the seat of the arbitration such as city and/or country and language of arbitration will also be named by the authority. Validity of the arbitration agreement in the contract The contract in question contains the term ‘any disagreement or dispute between the parties

Odyssey and the Aeneid Essay Example for Free

Odyssey and the Aeneid Essay From the cultural views, there are some differences between the Greek and Roman concept of heroes: the Achaeans attach importance to individuality whereas the Romans to community. Unlike the Roman Empire which we know is a kingdom, in the ancient Greece-also called Hellas-there are no countries but only city states scattered around the Balkan Peninsula. In this sense, the Achaeans do not have the notion about collective consciousness or what country is, so they tend to possess individual will, and so do the heroes at that time. We can see the evidence in the two works. On the one hand, in the Odyssey, Odysseus constitutes the standard Greek values of heroism: individualism. He mainly concerns if he can go back to Ithaca safely and how to regain his throne; that is, what he cares about is not really related to anyone else but is himself, his life, and his personal purposes. For instance, as a leader of his sailors, the hero Odysseus is proved to be the only survivor coming back to his Ithaca. So we can see that his cleverness and resourcefulness are only applied for his own individual survival. On the other hand, the Roman heroism is quite different. Aeneas is burdened with a great responsibility for his sacred mission ordained by Jupiter to found a new land. He concerns about not personal gain or welfare but other people and therefore he is the presentation of pietas, possibly the key quality of honorable Romans consisting of a series of dedication toward the family, followers, homeland, and the gods. Culturally, the Roman, or Virgilian ideology of heroes is distinctly different from that of the Greeks. The chief difference of their model heroism is that the Greek heroes symbolize individual will, glory, and feelings whereas the Roman heroes an ideal nationalistic ruler (Augustus, whom Virgil writes the Aeneid for) who with sacrifice, devotion, and duty for his people is regarded as a servant rather than the served.

How Much Television is Too much? Essay -- Media Entertainment Essays

How Much Television is too much? How much television is too much? Well on an average, children spend 25 hours a week watching television. And who’s to say it’s even quality stuff that they’re watching? This is a big question among many, if not all, American families. People today spend more time watching television than on any other single leisure activity. In fact, studies have shown that the average child spends more time in front of the television than in school. (Patterson, 2001) Television was once an educator, but overtime is gradually ruining our youth. Television is not necessarily all good or all bad, but maybe it’s just influencing people more than needed. Although it seems more corruptive than anything, television can be used as a great learning tool. The news is a major component of being informed about what’s going on in our society and country. An example is the attack of the World Trade Centers. People were informed of what was happening, what’s going to happen next, and how we could help. Another aspect is The Learning Channel (TLC), in which we are informed of many things regularly taught in school, such as births, different kinds of creatures, and about space and the Earth. The History Channel, as well, can be watched to learn about past wars and historical people. For children, cartoons have become a way for them to learn basic knowledge. Such cartoons are Sesame Street, Reading Rainbow, and Blues Clues, which are very educational and do not have to be monitored by parents, because the material should be suitable for younger children. If television is such a big learning tool, then where’s the problem? Although watching television doesn’t seem like such a big issue, it is. Many hous... ...ne day without watching television?† The people I asked were a random group of students. The results were almost unanimous with a whopping 89% saying no they couldn’t go a day without television, 8% said yes as long as they had the internet, and the other 3% said yes they could go without either (television or the internet) for one day. This goes to show just how much TV influences our daily schedules. In conclusion, television is a big impact on everyday lives. Without television where would we be? There are lessons-small lessons, enormous lessons, lessons that may be crucial to the planet’s persistence as a green and diverse place and also to the happiness of its inhabitants-that nature teaches and TV can’t. (McKibben, 1992) I believe he summed it up pretty well. Although TV was, is, and always will be a great invention, time doesn’t involve around it.

A Language of Learning

Step 1: Have students login in to achieve 3000 Step 2: Have students find the article A Language of Learning. It should be one of the options on their main screen. If it is not there, have the student search the title and it should pop up. Step 3: Give the students 3 – 5 minutes to read and answer the before reading poll on their Chromebook. -4762544450Before reading pollIn parts of Africa, kids speak one language at home, but they are taught using another language at school.  What do you think?Kids should be taught in school using the same language they speak at home. Agree? Disagree? Explain why you voted the way you did. 0Before reading pollIn parts of Africa, kids speak one language at home, but they are taught using another language at school.  What do you think?Kids should be taught in school using the same language they speak at home.Agree? Disagree? Explain why you voted the way you did. Step 4: Have a quick 3 – 5 minute class discussion about the poll question. Also explain the main idea chart to the students and inform them to fill out the chart as they are reading the article. 476250054800500 Step 5: Have students read the article. Once students have read the article make sure that they have answered the multiple choice questions located in the â€Å"activity† tab. The students' first responses are what Achieve 3000 will use to determine if their reading level is improving. ** As students are answering the multiple choice questions, have them click the button. This will allow them to look at the article at the same time as answering the questions. It will place both side by side. Step 6: Have a quick 3-5 minute class discussion and see if the students' opinion to the before reading poll changed. If so, why did it change? Step 7: With the remaining time have the students choose articles of their choice to complete. Step 8: With their selected article have the students complete the same process as before all on their own. Students should briefly answer the pre-reading question, read the article while filling out their main idea chart, and then answer their multiple choice questions.

In What Ways Does Euripides Explore Issues Of Race, Gender And Class?

* What do you think Euripides' views are on this issue * Would an Athenian audience agree with him? Euripides explores these fields mainly by putting forward the character of Medea. In other words, the treatment of her character in the play mainly by the other members of the society which she finds herself defines the listed issues above – race, gender and class. Euripides presents the theme of race mainly through the character of Medea. On our first acquaintance, Medea particularly points out the fact that she is a â€Å"foreign woman coming among new laws†. This makes evident where she stands in the society, as foreigners are regarded as inferior to the real Greeks. By this, Euripides presents a form of racism eminent in the life of the ancient Greeks. Also, Medea's race was believed to be barbaric or sub-human which also contributes to the reason why her character is diminished. Jason refers to her roots as a â€Å"barbaric homeland' which suggests a feeling of superiority. Another aspect in which Euripides explores the theme of race is through the supremacy of the Greeks, which makes evident the predominance of their race in the ancient times. This is exemplified by the reference to Jason's journey to the Colchis in Medea's speech, where he steals the Golden Fleece. This presents the greed and political oppression of the Greeks, which are obvious elements of racism and colonialism. This is similar to the tradition of the powerful nations of the world in the recent centuries. Through this, a satirical tone runs throughout the play, as Euripides is able to recreate the superior and dominating nature of a very powerful foreigner living in the Greek community. In my opinion, I think the Greeks would have disliked Medea due to the fact that she has a history of insubordinate behaviour, thereby standing against their very Greek norms and beliefs. Also, the relationship between Aegeus and Medea also echo the treatment of foreigners in Ancient Greece. He tells Medea that he â€Å"does not intend to take her away with him to Corinth†. This makes evident the political view regarding the banishment of foreigners. As she is exiled from one domain of Greece, she has to be snuck into another region, which portrays the unfairness of the society, brought about by the mere issue of race. Euripides presents the theme of gender as one of the most dominating and important themes which run through out the play. This is because Medea acts contrary to the perceived way by which women are to expected to behave. By this I mean to be loyal to their husbands, even if it means suppressing their views on both moral and political issues that affect them. Medea is described as a ‘wide bull' by the nurse. This simile makes us aware of her viciousness. It is important that I not that the use of the word, ‘bull† symbolizes her likeness to men rather than what is expected of a woman in the Greek context Medea is also characterized with great cleverness and wit, though she is a woman. She is able to manipulate all the powerful male characters, which are satirically presented as gullible. Creon, a very powerful character, the King of Corinth says â€Å"I fear you†¦yet nonetheless, Medea you shall have what you ask for† even though he is aware of her evil capabilities. Also, Jason, her husband, a very powerful character with a legendary history is also easily exploited and convinced, due to Medea's shrewdness. â€Å"I am pleased Medea that you have changed your mind†. Thus, Medea is characterised as a rebel in the society. In my opinion I feel that the Greeks would have found this rather annoying, as they were used to seeing women less oppressive, like Medea. Euripides might have therefore been mocking the Greek mentality of women in his society, as he presents his female characters to be more knowledgeable than the men. A contrasting opinion is however made evident in the latter part of the play, as Euripides' view on women is of a different light. In one of Medea's speeches, she says, â€Å"we women are the most wretched†. This might be interpreted as Euripides' own opinion of women in his society or one of Medea's cynical comments on the situation she finds herself in. The nature of Euripides' view on the female gender is therefore ambiguous. Another way in which Euripides explores the theme of gender is through the characters of the Chorus. These are the average Athenian women, thus they represent the view of the majority. The chorus also represent rebellion to their society as they tend to have sympathy for Medea, even in her selfish actions. This is sort of a slap in the face for the leaders of the society- Jason and Creon, as they stand views contrast with one another. They refer to Medea as â€Å"the unhappy woman from Colchis†. Perhaps, Euripides, by this means is putting forward, cry for equality in the society. The theme of class is explored by various characters in the play. Unlike, the previous themes, it involves more characters such as the nurse and the tutor, who are symbols of sympathy for Medea. â€Å"Poor woman! Has she not stopped crying yet?† The first group of people presented to us in the play are of a lower class, compared to Medea- the Tutor and the Nurse. Unlike the other characters who oppose her status in the society, these two characters condone her feelings of anger and regret. They are therefore like her only companions as Jason has abandoned her. â€Å"It was too much, I couldn't bear it†, says the nurse as if it were her that is suffering from such betrayal. Perhaps, this is what becomes of the lower class, as they get attached to their masters who employ them and have no form of power to influence the disasters that take place. Finally, Medea makes evident, a running theme of class in the play. She is obviously of a very high class, as she is the wife of a King. This thereby contributes the power she is entitled to in the society. It is however difficult to pin point exactly where Medea stands, as she is obviously respected in the society, but not shown to be of great importance to some characters, such as Creon due to the fact that she is banished by him. â€Å"I have made my mind up, you are my enemy†. Her barbaric background also contributes to her high class as she is a Princess. In my opinion, I do not believe that the Greeks would have recognized her class but not necessarily respected her character due to those grounds. I personally don't think this was particularly reflected in the play by Euripides, rather, he concentrated on building her character on more intellectual grounds such as her cleverness. In conclusion, I think Euripides is able to explore these themes in great detail giving us different opinions which maybe sometimes ambiguous, as we are not able to know what he is thinking. This, in my opinion is what makes the play a very well written work of art and I think it also would have appealed to the Greeks.

Free Essays on Baptist Church

Baptist Church I attended Coral Baptist Church on February 23, 2003 in Coral Springs, FL. Coral Baptist is a Southern Baptist Church. Coral Baptist Church teaches and practices â€Å"discipleship†. CBC believes that the most important thing that Jesus Christ does is â€Å"radically and wonderfully change lives† (coralbaptistchurch.org/AboutCBC.htm). The modern Baptist denomination began in England and Holland in the seventeenth century. There were two major groups that were classified as General Baptist and Particular Baptist. There are four major views from which the Baptist movement is thought to have originated from. One view is the outgrowth of English Separatism. Another is the influence of Anabaptists. The third and fourth views are the continuation of biblical teachings and the succession of Baptist churches. There are over 23,000,000 Baptists in the US today which belong to different types of Baptist churches such as: Southern Baptist, American Baptist, Primitive Baptist, Separate Baptist, Reform Baptist, and Regular Baptist. About 520,000 Baptists live in the Ft. Lauderdale/Miami area according to adherents.com. This is about 16.2% of the areas population. I felt extremely comfortable walking into Coral Baptist Church. I was greeted at the door and handed a pamphlet, which I failed to look at until the end of the service. I did remember some parts, which I later wrote filled in the blanks of the â€Å"message notes† that I have attached. The church was large and filled with a good mixture of people of all colors and ages. I ended up sitting in the balcony and mostly kept my eyes on the TV monitors, which had the Pastor’s sermon notes on, somewhat like a power point presentation. The church’s interior was very plain, with no major icons on the pulpit. There were banners hanging around the room that said things such as â€Å"God is great†, and messages of peace. The sermon ... Free Essays on Baptist Church Free Essays on Baptist Church Baptist Church I attended Coral Baptist Church on February 23, 2003 in Coral Springs, FL. Coral Baptist is a Southern Baptist Church. Coral Baptist Church teaches and practices â€Å"discipleship†. CBC believes that the most important thing that Jesus Christ does is â€Å"radically and wonderfully change lives† (coralbaptistchurch.org/AboutCBC.htm). The modern Baptist denomination began in England and Holland in the seventeenth century. There were two major groups that were classified as General Baptist and Particular Baptist. There are four major views from which the Baptist movement is thought to have originated from. One view is the outgrowth of English Separatism. Another is the influence of Anabaptists. The third and fourth views are the continuation of biblical teachings and the succession of Baptist churches. There are over 23,000,000 Baptists in the US today which belong to different types of Baptist churches such as: Southern Baptist, American Baptist, Primitive Baptist, Separate Baptist, Reform Baptist, and Regular Baptist. About 520,000 Baptists live in the Ft. Lauderdale/Miami area according to adherents.com. This is about 16.2% of the areas population. I felt extremely comfortable walking into Coral Baptist Church. I was greeted at the door and handed a pamphlet, which I failed to look at until the end of the service. I did remember some parts, which I later wrote filled in the blanks of the â€Å"message notes† that I have attached. The church was large and filled with a good mixture of people of all colors and ages. I ended up sitting in the balcony and mostly kept my eyes on the TV monitors, which had the Pastor’s sermon notes on, somewhat like a power point presentation. The church’s interior was very plain, with no major icons on the pulpit. There were banners hanging around the room that said things such as â€Å"God is great†, and messages of peace. The sermon ...

7 Advisories About Abbreviations

7 Advisories About Abbreviations 7 Advisories About Abbreviations 7 Advisories About Abbreviations By Mark Nichol Abbreviations are useful, but they can be wickedly tricky little widgets. Keep these points in mind when you truncate words and phrases: 1. a/an This entry refers not to a or an as abbreviations but to which of the two indefinite articles should precede a given abbreviation. The choice depends not on the first letter of the abbreviation itself but on the sound of the first letter. Therefore, for example, you’d write â€Å"an MD after her name,† rather than â€Å"a MD after her name,† because the first letter in that abbreviation is pronounced â€Å"em† and should therefore be preceded by an. 2. Initials as Adjectives â€Å"I went up to the ATM machine and put in my PIN number to check my IRA account.† And in relating this event, I made three errors. In each case, the last letter of the abbreviation stands for the noun following the abbreviation. This is a job for the Department of Redundancy Department! 3. Metric Abbreviations Abbreviations for metric measurements either immediately follow the associated numeral (100m for â€Å"100-meter dash†) or follow a letter space (â€Å"2.2 kg = 1 lb.†); the latter style prevails especially when, as in the example given here, references to both metric-system and English-system measurements occur. But note the absence of periods following the metric abbreviations. Metric abbreviations are always lowercase with one optional exception: Because of the resemblance of the letter l to the number 1, the abbreviation for liter is often uppercase or italicized, or, when handwritten, styled in cursive writing. 4. Periods In abbreviations, periods are passe. Period. (Except not: e.g., i.e., etc. But mostly, yes.) 5. Plurals Omit apostrophes with plural forms of abbreviations: â€Å"He has two PhDs,† â€Å"It lists various NGOs,† â€Å"They’re all NIMBYs.† Of course, if the style for the publication in question retains periods (but see the previous point), retain the apostrophe as well: â€Å"Several R.N.’s failed the test.† 6. Postal Symbols Postal symbols are a prescribed set of two-letter abbreviations for states that are sometimes used as shorthand in nonpostal applications. In 1963, to make room for an innovation known as the ZIP code (which phrase has its own entry below), the US Postal Service advocated a two-letter form (CA, for example), but many people persist in incorrectly styling such abbreviations uppercase/lowercase (e.g., Ca.) or appending an extraneous period (CA.). 7. ZIP Code Those clever folks at the USPS selected this name to imply that mail would arrive at its destination more speedily if the five-digit code was supplied, but ZIP actually stands for something Zone Improvement Plan so treat it with all caps. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:70 Idioms with HeartSelect vs. Selected50 Tips on How to Write Good

Beijing Marathon and Pollution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Beijing Marathon and Pollution - Essay Example According to Chang, during the last decade, China has undergone massive industrialization that has really transformed its economy and further catalyzed economic growth and prosperity (30). However, the industrialization has endangered the lives of Chinese people mostly in urban areas due to high levels of pollution. China is the world’s biggest consumer and it is estimated that the country consumes almost four billion tonnes of coal. The country has over-relied on coal for electricity production and thus the high and increasing levels of pollution. However, recently the Chinese government implemented a plan to close fifty thousand coal furnaces in order to curb the increasingly high levels of smog in its skyline. On the other hand, they have decided to clean all their furnaces so as to use clean pure coal rather than the use of dusty coal leading to high levels of air pollution. The growth of industries is another contributing factor to increase in air pollution. Bejin is a metropolitan city that is surrounded by industries. In the nearby province of Hebei is home to more than eight hundred polluting factories. Beijing is also home to steal manufacturing industries that emit pollutants into the atmosphere. Furthermore, pollution from Hebei is swept by the wind into Beijin thus making the city to be ranked among the World’s most polluted cities. On the contrary, Beijin faces high traffic on its roads. As such, the increased number of vehicles emit smog into the atmosphere causing the air around Bejin to be impure with small chemical pollutants of PM2.5. In addition, China’s industries and the government have failed in regulating the amount of chemicals industries emit. The government should have implemented fines for industries emitting more into the atmosphere. On the other hand, the industries have failed in installing carbon absorbing materia ls into chimneys so as to limit the level of atmospheric pollution. The case of China’s Bejin Marathon is a depicts failure by rich nations to observe the Kyoto protocol to reduce emissions into the atmosphere on a meaningful scale.

Classroom Game Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Classroom Game Plan - Essay Example Good classroom procedures can also be good housekeeping routines. Hand signals can be visual or audio. For example, raising the left hand or placing the index finger of the right hand in front of closed lips to signal the students to keep quiet. Classroom organization refers to the arrangement of furniture and materials. For instance, in a class of fifty learners, arranging the furniture in three straight columns is ideal so that the teacher can easily spot all the students. Marzano, Marzano and Pickering (2003) further say that consequences are measures used to show a student that a certain behavior is unacceptable. Behavior like noise making can be reinforced in several ways. Writing the learner’s name on board the first time the crime is committed shows the learner that the teacher has noticed the behavior. If the behaviour persists, the learner can be asked to go out of class for a few minutes. A teacher’s physical appearance is also crucial. There is a need to dress decently and appropriately, have neat hair, standing straight when addressing the students and maintaining eye contact with them. Marzano, R. J., Marzano, J. S., & Pickering, D. (2003). Classroom management that works: Research-based strategies for every teacher. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum