Analysis of the Psalm of Life Poem

Analysis of the Psalm of Life Poem This poem dramatizes the conflict between the truth of life lived in the moment and the neglect of the soul when a person focuses on things beyond his control: namely the past and the future. There are many themes expressed by the poet within this work: freedom, happiness, perseverance, truth, futility, spirituality and success. From the title one might say that the theme is simply to seize the day: Carpe Diem (Harmon, 2009, 87). The poems form is that of the lyric (324)and the poet encourages the reader to use their imagination. The word choices and placement within its stanza evoke both a melody and emotion. There are nine stanzas that make up the composition and each contain the qualities of the quatrain [consist of four lines in which lines two and four must rhyme while having the same number of syllables (452)]. Psalm of Life also carries the traits of the dramatic monologue in that the narrator of the work is the poet himself (177). In stanza one, line one the poet assigns the description of mournful to the idea of numbers. This word was chosen to identify the audience: those who apparently go through life as though it is a chore. The word mournful frames the feeling as though something was lost and captures the grief generated by that loss. Life is but an empty dream! states why there are so many sorrowful within the audience: if there is no aim higher than what one can gather on the earth then life itself has no purpose. The poet reveals his motivation in lines three through four of the first stanza: For the soul is dead that slumbers/And things are not what they seem. Living life in a rut or for material reasons is the killer of the soul. The soul found unawares, which is what is implied by the word use of slumbers, is most vulnerable to eternal death. Line four tells the audience that they must look beyond the surface of the world as well as beyond themselves. Life is real! Life is earnest! conveys an earnes tness and a bit of desperation. An emphatic proclamation made in a way of a Southern Baptist preacher pleading with those on the path to destruction to turn to the life of the soul. And the grave is not its goal underlines the idea that life is something to be actively engaged in and not merely a journey to death. Dust thou are, to dust thou returnest, is referencing Genesis 3:19 and seems to throw this plea for life into a light that may speak to the religious up-bringing of his audience. The poet makes a very important distinction in the following line, Was not spoken of the soul. The creation of man is entirely unique from the rest of life on the earth because the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul(Genesis 3:19). These two lines bring into the poets supplication the backing of scripture. Stanza four brings forward the thought of futility: Art is long, and Time is fleeting,/And our hearts, though stout and brave,/ Still, like muffled drums, are beating funeral marches to the grave. It is as though the poet wants to remind his audience that every moment, every heartbeat is bringing them closer to the inevitable end ones life-time. This further underlines the idea of seizing the day. In using the word fleeting the poet attempts to get across that time will just continue on without regard for the individual- no matter how brave and firm ones heart might be. The poet is again underlining that life today is all one really has when faced with the flow of time. Stanza five, line 18 introduces a word that is unfamiliar in todays way of life: bivouac. This word defined in Merriam-Webster as a temporary or casual shelter or lodging and by itself holds the idea of the entire poem which is that this life is temporary. This stanza evokes urgency through the use of the exclamation point. The poet is telling his audience to be the hero of their own battles rather than a pawn in the battle of another with the words Be not like the dumb, driven cattle!/ Be a hero in the strife!. Stanza six addresses the two possible positions of the audience and bring to them some very specific supplications: for those who are living for tomorrow the poet says, Trust no Future, howeer pleasant! and for those who would lament the past, Let the dead Past bury its dead!. The poet does not leave the audience wondering what their response should be but plainly states, Act, act in the living present! Heart within, and God oerhead! People can make what they will of their own lives and can follow the example of the great men that came before them, Lives of great men all remind us/We can make our lives sublime,. There is no secret that separates those who are great from those that pass through life without leaving an impression. It seems as though the poet is saying that those who are considered great took advantage of the opportunities of their present. It is those people who departing, leave behind us/Footprints on the sand of time who provide encouragement not only to their generation, but for those in the generations to come Footprints, that perhaps another,/Sailing oer lifes solemn main,/A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,/Seeing shall take heart again. The final stanza brings a soft point to the compelling argument of the previous eight. It is as though the poet it taking the hand of the audience: to pull them gently from the bed of their complacency. The hand held out shows that walking along the road of today does not mean a journey travelled alone, Let us then be up and doing,/With a heart for any fate;/Still achieving, still pursuing,/ Learn to labor and wait. The poet takes the hand of the reader now as he did during his own time and seems to say to each individual: Let us move forward together.

Ptolemy of Alexandria, the Influential Astronomer Essays -- Biography

Ptolemy of Alexandria, the Influential Astronomer Ptolemy of Alexandria was the most influential astronomer of the ancient world. The books and theories Ptolemy developed served as a major basis for future astronomers. It was during the Renaissance period that his work became thoroughly studied and revised. Ptolemy collected all ancient knowledge of astronomy and geography including it in his book Almagest around 140 A.D. It follows, he then wrote a four volume astrological study known as the Tretrabiblos. Ptolemy claimed that the scribes of Babylon had been instructed since 750 B.C to keep detailed astronomical diaries. These diaries were written for seven hundred years on clay tablets. The tablets depicted night-sky events along with river level changes and weather phenomena. Modern archaeologists have confirmed the claim by unearthing Babylonian tablets recording observations of Mars and Venus from that time period. Ptolemy used a method of consulting lists of lunar phases, and planetary movements complied over many centuries to look for...

Analysis of The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin :: The Story of an Hour Kate Chopin

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In "The Story of an Hour" Kate Chopin tells the story of a woman, Mrs. Mallard whose husband is thought to be dead. Throughout the story Chopin describes the emotions Mrs. Mallard felt about the news of her husband's death. However, the strong emotions she felt were not despair or sadness, they were something else. In a way she was relieved more than she was upset, and almost rejoiced in the thought of her husband no longer living. In using different literary elements throughout the story, Chopin conveys this to us on more than one occasion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the third paragraph of the story, Chopin describes Mrs. Mallard as she goes into her room and sits on an armchair. Chopin describes how Mallard ?sank pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted the body and seemed to reach into her soul?. In this point of the story Chopin uses symbolism connecting Mrs. Mallard and the chair, the chair representing the death of her husband and her feelings about it. How it was ?a comfortable roomy chair?, she is showing us how Mrs. Mallard was ?comfortable? with her husband?s death and now felt she had room to exist freely. This is supported by the lines ?she would live for herself now. There would be no powerful will bending her in the blind?? This demonstrating to the reader that she felt controlled by her husband, and that she would no longer bet tied down to the ways of the time, which were men control women. This also supported by Jennifer Hicks in her overview of the story which states " Later, when we see Mrs. Mall ard "warm and relaxed", we realize that problem with her heart is that her marriage has not allowed her to "live for herself"."   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another example of how Mrs. Mallard was more uplifted than brought down by the news of her husband?s death is the description of the window. As Mrs. Mallard looks out Chopin explains ?she could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all a quiver with new life?. This is telling the reader about the new life that Mrs. Mallard can see in the distance that symbolizes the new life she saw that lay ahead of her now that she was free of her husband. This thought being supported by Hicks in saying "The revalation of freedom occurs in the bedroom"

Reaction Paper Essay

On August 3, the 1st year BSHM-CA students held an educational tour in different places of Manila and especially the main event of the tour is in the Fontana Resort, Clark Pampanga. The Educational tour started out as an escape from school for most of us students, bonding with friends, chance to unwind and of course, to learn new things and to gain knowledge at the same time that we may apply someday. First, we went to the entertainment room of the Resort where we discussed about the events, places of Pampanga and also some psychologic facts. After we enter the entertainment room of the Resort, there’s a short briefings about history of Pampanga, the course we took. We also did some different kinds of entertainment like singing, dancing, having fun, and eating. I learned a lot and also it is really useful because it’s important that you know how having an educational tour begins, the history and evolution of Pampanga because other people didn’t know that and I can share what I learned and discovered. After the short visit to entertainment room of the Resort, we went straight to our second destination the area of the Resort, I found myself amazed and amused because the place is really relaxing and unwinding. After we arrived in our hotel rooms, we wait for about 30 minutes because there was a huge rain that day and it looked like a storm. So it’s our time to eat lunch, relax, taking pictures, nap and retouch. After that we go back to our assigned rooms and relax and had fun there. I found our tour very interesting because I felt the happiness in me but it’s also a challenge for us. That’s all. Thank you.

Why Go to College

Why did you choose to come to college? Education is the most important part of one’s life. Not everyone goes to college right after high school. College is not intended for everyone. For example, some people decide to work right after high school. College is expensive and some may even say it is hard. However, college is not a bad thing it has some good qualities. For instance, it can be a time where students can venture out and meet new people. Like others, I, too have some reason why I choose to go to college. Such as, to better myself, higher paying jobs and get away from home. First, after high school may people do not consider going to college for whatever reasons one might have. Not going to college was not an option for me. However, my parents never went to college, and watching my mom struggle to make ends meet I just knew that I did not want that to be me. Therefore, I do not want to live my life, paycheck to paycheck, and worrying about weather or not I am going to have enough money to pay to keep a roof over my head. The reason for going to college is that I wanted to have a better life. Not everyone can go to college to better themselves, but I am lucky, and truly blessed that I am getting a opportunity to better myself. In fact, college is extremely important to me. I am the first one in my immediate family to go to college so it is a big deal to everyone that I not just go but to also graduate. Next, going to college not only helps me better my life but gives me more job opportunity. More and more jobs require more than a high school education. A person with a bachelor’s degree will earn, on average, almost twice as much as workers with a high school diploma. Master’s degree earn $31,900 more per year than a high school graduate. Furthermore, people who go to a two year college earns $250,000 more than someone who does not. More importantly, a college education can help you discover new areas of knowledge, consider life long goals and make wiser decisions. Getting a college education is an investment that is going to be with me for life.

Management information system Introduction

IntroductionThe nature of implementation failure in information systems can typically range from project scenario development to final implementation.  The implementation failures range from concept generation stage where the idea is conceived, to defining budgets, software modifications and use of external consultants carefully.  The following sections describe the factors which directly or indirectly influences the system implementation failure.The implementation failure of an information system largely depends on the system project itself and the various external and internal factors which influences its existence and self being (Heeks, 2002). The various aspects which can be attributed for implementation failures are the following:1.  Ã‚   Top management leadership issues: The participation and interest of the higher management in getting the system implemented well through the initiation phases. The degree of ownership is largely lacking when it comes to active participati on and commitment.a.   Business case development failure: The commitment of higher management towards answering the business workflow model questions and simplifying the flow of their business is largely lacking. The amount of passion and determination impact the failure of the implementation.Solution: Defining the events of requirements gathering in terms of business words such as time, effort and money would make them aware of the implementation issues and their contribution in successful development of the system.b.   Lack of focus and involvement: After the system development project is provided to a vendor, it is usually taken for granted that the responsibilities of the top management is finished at that point and the vendor is completely responsible for getting across the ideas and come up with a deliverable.  Solution: Understanding the systems development process which solely involves the business flow model and their active participation.c.    Lack of proper metric s to determine performance:   Often the value added resources in the organization has an undefined cost associated with it. The cost of quality, inventory levels, throughput and flow, overall equipment effectiveness, on-time deliveries and customer satisfaction measures must be translated into time and cost.  Solution: Appropriate attachment of value to intangible resources in an organization must be done at all levels.2.  Ã‚   People issues:   The change management issues of people in an organization are quite responsible for implementation failures.a.  Ã‚   Averse towards change: The primary factor is the minds of people for whom the technology is implemented. If they are not able to take the change in a positive manner in affecting their working habits, the system would be rendered useless (Casey, 2005).Solution: Accepting the real world or digital challenges by the people to understand the positive challenges concerned with system output and employee output. The amount of long term success which a system would guarantee is unknowingly outstanding to organization.b.  Ã‚   Low Trust in system: The output level of the organization’s processes after the implementation of the system is taken as a probable issue and accounts for its failure.Solution: System must be operated in right spirit for its well being and use.3.  Ã‚   Deployment methods:a.  Ã‚   Weak deployment strategies: The strategies which are enforced in deploying the system in the organization is challenging to the general working of the present system. The correct ascertainment and the management perspective to the process for implementation and deployment of the system in the organization would be an important element in its success. The phased implementation seems to be always the best; however an information system and the associated organization must be well synchronized to implement the change.Solution: Determination by the software vendor in collaboration with the highe r management for deployment is a big issue which requires experience and commitmentb.  Ã‚   Lack of documentation and training:   The lack of documentation would result in mismanagement of information and project related activities. The lack of training would make the employees feel uncomfortable to the systems operations and functions (Laudon, 2002).  Solution : Proper attention to documentation and training must be taken care.ConclusionThe implementation failures rest on the shoulders of both the organization and the software vendor. Enough collaboration and positive differential thinking on both ends would result in making the right moves for implementation and reduce system failures.References / BibliographyCasey, Dermot (2005). Understanding the Situation ofInformation Systems Development Failure: A role for Pragmatism.Heeks, Richard (2002). Failure, Success and ImprovisationOf Information Systems Projects in Developing Countries.Laudon C. Kenneth and Jane P. Laudon (2002 ),Management Information System, 6th ed New York: Tata McGraw Hill.

Display designers Essay

Display designers design and decorate displays in stores and other public places. They sketch designs or use a computer to produce plans. They also source or make, the furniture and props for the display. Some work as visual merchandisers, arranging products according to company display policy. The display designer is responsible for interpreting the ‘look’ of the store. Sometimes, this look is determined by head office, so that every store in the country (and often those overseas) presents an identical image. In this case, the designer will probably work as part of a display team, which includes fashion designers and graphic artists, designing the overall corporate image. A related role within retail display is that of the visual merchandiser. Visual merchandisers do not have the same amount of creative flexibility as display designers. Rather, they arrange products in store according to a prescribed display policy. Visual merchandisers working in a hotel or business environment will put up displays that have been created for them by graphics or exhibition designers. Store displays are changed regularly and tend to be centred around the seasons of the year. For example, a fashion store might split the year into two halves, the first running from January to June, the second from July to Christmas. Each season might have three themes, so that the first half of the year is divided into ‘early spring’, ‘mid-spring/early summer’ and ‘high summer’ themes. Designs may also be influenced by particular events in the calendar such as Valentine’s Day or Christmas, or whether the store is running a particular promotion. Display designers may get ideas from films and shows or use big celebrations, such as the Millennium, as inspiration. Ideas can be based on popular stories, the use of colour and light, humour or the latest fashion trends. Planning starts months in advance. By April, most stores have already decided how they are going to dress their autumn displays. Display designers first study a profile of the store’s customers and decide what kind of displays would most reflect a customer’s lifestyle. Then, in liaison with store management and the buyers, they come up with ideas within a set budget. They sketch designs, or use computer-aided design and perhaps make models with colour swatches to show how the merchandise will be presented, making best use of the available space. Once the designs have been accepted, the display designer sets about sourcing materials. A display can be complex or minimalist, depending on current fashions or a display designer’s particular style. A summer display could involve building a garden scene, using deckchairs, parasols and decking. Other designs may involve a simple series of panels, or a blown up photograph used as a backdrop. A display designer will have to consider colours and fabrics, lighting, the shape and grouping of props, the type of flooring and dressing of mannequins. Props can usually be hired or bought from specialist companies, but most display designers have to make some props and for this they will need a range of skills, from painting to carpentry. Stores are increasingly moving into what is called ‘retail theatre’, where they create a complete visual experience for the customer within a themed area. Displays must also be maintained and display staff are responsible for making repairs and dismantling and cleaning the relevant areas between each design. They may also be responsible for organising advertising material and set design for events such as in-store fashion shows. The principles of retail design apply to other areas, including exhibition design, point-of-sale design, product promotion, museum display and set decoration for film and television. Work Environment Display staff spend most of their time indoors, working from an office or studio within the store. If they are based at a company’s headquarters they will travel to stores with a photo or sketch to help them complete the required displays. A great deal of time is spent on the shop floor or in shop windows, creating displays. This work involves a lot of walking around, climbing ladders, lifting and carrying, so wearing the right footwear is vital. Shop windows can also get very hot in summer. They may visit suppliers and contractors, and will make trips to other stores to see their displays. Job opportunities also exist within exhibitions, trade fairs, hotels, television and film studios (set dressing), airports, seaports and on board ship. This kind of work is more likely to involve staying away from home for one or more nights. Skills and Interests Someone considering a career in display must have an artistic streak, with plenty of creative flair. The ability to think three-dimensionally is important, as is having a natural eye for colour and composition. Display designers need imagination as well as the ability to translate other people’s ideas into eye-catching designs. It is important that they are up to date with all the latest design trends. They need the practical skills to work with a range of materials, from MDF board to fabric, and an appreciation of the principles of lighting design. IT and computer aided design skills (CAD) are important, as well as technical drawing skills. Budgeting skills can be useful for the more senior positions. Display designers and visual merchandisers usually work alone but, as the retail industry is characterised by team work, it is important to have strong interpersonal skills. The ability to communicate design ideas to others is essential, as is working to tight deadlines. Stamina is important for what can be a physically tiring job. A display associate who has completed a college course is likely to start in a junior position within a store display team. They carry out a range of tasks such as cleaning and preparing windows and in-store display areas, ready for dressing. They will also arrange displays and make and repair props, all under the supervision of a display manager. A new entrant is likely to be given a practical test where they may have to suggest approaches to a window display or dress mannequins. Some stores promote talented retail staff into display positions and offer them the opportunity to attend courses on a day release basis, although this route is now less common. Relevant full-time courses include the HND in Display Design offered by the Central College of Commerce, Glasgow. Subjects covered include 3-D design, lighting, CAD and designing A display designer generally works a 40-hour week, including Saturdays. Although the work is not restricted to nine-to-five, unsociable hours are rare. It may be necessary, however, to work late in order to finish a display, particularly before Christmas when weekend work may also be required.