Colombia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Colombia - Essay Example Colombia, a country in northern South America, borders the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean and is situated between Panama and Venezuela. Encompassing more than one million square miles, Colombia is ranked currently as the 26th largest country in the world, slightly smaller than twice the size of Texas (Central Intelligence Agency, 2011). Its climate is tropical along its coasts and plains, but in the Andes Mountains it is slightly cooler, and it has a population of 44,725,543 people as of July 2011 (Central Intelligence Agency, 2011). Its government, overall, is a republic with elected officials, with a judicial system that has numerous national and district courts as well as a court of appeals, along with a House of Representatives and a Congress in its legislative branch and a duly-elected President in its executive branch. Colombia was originally colonized under Spanish rule. The Spanish sailed along the north coast of Colombia as early as 1500, but their first permanent settlement, at Santa Marta, was not made until 1525. In 1549, the area was established as a Spanish colony with the capital at Santa Fe de Bogota (Winslow). During the period before Spanish colonization, the area was inhabited by indigenous peoples who were primitive hunters or nomadic farmers, and out of the various Indian groups that were there, the area was dominated by The Chibchas, who lived in the region of present-day city of Bogotà ¡ (Winslow). Columbia actually had its first social movement in history in 1810, when on July 20th of that year the citizens of Bogota created the first representative council in defiance of Spanish authority and to attempt a try for their independence. Over the next three years, they fought for independence, which was proclaimed in 1813, and in 1819 the Republic of Greater Colombia was formed. Simo n Bolivar was elected its first president and Francisco de Paula Santander, vice president. However, just like any other movement, soon conflicts arose between the two leaders and their visions. From their views, two political parties grew and branched out, coming to dominate Colombian politics even today (Winslow). Bolivar managed only to keep authority until 1828, and then everything fell apart. In 1830, Venezuela and Ecuador became separate nations. Through the 19th century and into the 20th century, both political unrest and small, usually unremarkable social movements to combat the social unrest were popular. Strong parties developed along conservative and liberal lines; the conservatives favored centralism and participation by the church in government and education, and the liberals supported federalism, anticlericalism, and some measure of social legislation and fiscal reforms (Columbia Encyclopedia, 2007). The structure of Colombian society in the 1980s, which was always str ongly influenced by traditions inherited from sixteenth-century Spain, was highly stratified, having well-defined class membership, pronounced status differences, and limited vertical social mobility. The urban sector was characterized by a more flexible social system, a growing middle class, and greater participation of the population in national politics. Rural society in all but a few regions was organized in rigidly hierarchical structures in which change of status was very difficult. Only in the coffee-growing departments of Caldas and Antioquia were there sizable segments of the population exhibiting the traits of a rural middle class (Colombia: National Front). Various social movements existed in the 1960s and 1970s, and even well into the 1980s that eventually formed into armies. In 1964 the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group was born. It was followed by other groups, such as the National Liberation Army (ELN) on January 7, 1965, the Popular Libera tion Army (EPL) on July 1967, the Quintin Lame Movement (MAQL) in 1984 and the 19th of April Movement (M-19). (Colombia: National Front) Currently, there are still social movements in Colombia. Some groups make political statements their main

Company Analysis of the Financial Performance of White bread Plc Coursework

Company Analysis of the Financial Performance of White bread Plc - Coursework Example These businesses are conducted under the name of several well-known brands like the Premier Inn, the Beefeater Grill, the Brewers Fayre, Table Table, Taybarns and Costa Coffee. The company provides employment to around 40,000 people all over the world. The organization in based in the United Kingdom and constitutes one of the major hospitality brands of the region. It serves over 11 million customers on a monthly basis in UK. Whitbread Plc recorded commendable financial results in the year 20110-11. The company’s total revenues grew by 11.5 per cent from ? 1435 in 2009-10 to ? 1599.6 in 2010-11. The profit before tax recorded a handsome increase of 20.1 per cent from ? 239.1 in 200-10 to 287.1 in 2010-11. The firm also recorded a 17 per cent escalation in its full year dividend. The corresponding dividend increased from 38 in 2009-10 to 44.50 in 2010-11. Thus, overall the Whitbread Group consisting of the Bars, Hotels, restaurants and the Coffee Chains reported a good growth i n its business operations during the financial year 2010-11. Profitability Ratios Profitability Ratios of a company exhibit the firm’s capacity to generate earnings in comparison with its expenditure incurred during a period of time. Usually, an increase in the profitability ratios of a company over a time period indicates a good financial performance of the firm. (Thakuram, 2007, p.48). The Profit Margin: The Profit Margin is defined as the Net Income/Revenues or Net Profits/Sales. This is usually expressed as a percentage and indicates how much the firm retains as earnings out of every dollar of sales The Profit Margin of Whitbread Plc has been calculated for 2009-10 and 2010-11, as follows: Years Profit before Tax (million) Sales (mn) Profit Margin = Net Profit/Sales (%) 2010-11 ? 287.1 ? 1599.6 17.9% 2009-10 ? 239.1 ? 1434.6 16.7% (Annual Report of Whitbread Plc, 2009-10, 2010-11) Therefore, the Profit Margin of Whitbread Plc has increased from 16.7% in 2009-10 to 17.9% i n 2010-11. This shows that the financial performance of the company has improved from the previous year. Return on Assets (ROA): The Return on Assets is calculated by Net Income/Total Assets. This is also expressed as a percentage and gives an idea about the profitability of the company in relation to its total assets. The ROA of Whitbread Plc has been calculated for 2009-10 and 2010-11, as follows: (Annual Report of Whitbread Plc, 2009-10, 2010-11) The figures indicate that Whitbread Plc’s ROA has increased from 0.0009% in 2009-10 to 0.0010% in 2010-11. This shows that the pro0fitablity of the firm has increased from the last year. Efficiency Ratios Efficiency Ratios are utilized to evaluate how efficiently a company is able to make use of its internal assets and liabilities. An improvement of efficiency ratios usually lead to increased profitability for the company. (Leach, 2011, p.75-78) Sales to Inventory Ratio: This is calculated by Annual Net Sales/ Inventory. It provid es an idea about the inventory-to-sales ratio of the company, which can be compared over a period of time. The Sales to Inventory Ratio of Whitbread Plc has been calculated for 2009-10 and 2010-11, as follows: (Annual Report of Whitbread Plc, 2009-10, 2010-11) Therefore, the Sales to Inventory Ratio of Whitbread Plc, has decreased from 0.55 % in 2009-10 to 0.54% in 2010-11. Assets to Sales Ratio: This ratio is given by Total Assets/Net Sales. It provides an indication of how the firm is utilizing its assets to generate sales. The Assets to Sales Ratio of Whitbread Plc has been calculated for 2009-10 and 2010-11, as follows: (Annual Report of Whitbread Plc, 2009-10, 2010-11) Thus, the Assets to Sales Ratio of Whitbread Plc had reduced from 0.018% in 2009-10 to 0.017% in 2010-11. The decline in both the Efficiency

Art Projects: Drawing a Partridge and Crayon Art

Art Projects: Drawing a Partridge and Crayon Art How to draw a partridge in a pear tree How to seal a pendant colored with melted crayon shavings How can I make a bracelet out of DMC floss? HOW TO DRAW A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE The topic that this article is going to focus on is about a bird which is not so famous but means a lot when people come across occasions like Christmas. Many must not have heard about this bird and those who have heard it might recollect it from the phrase, Partridge in a Pear tree. Lets now get to know more about this bird and the meaning behind the phrase. In short, lets draw a partridge to our attention which is generally referred in context with a pear tree. A partridge is basically a bird belonging to the pheasant family also called as Phasianidae. They are non-migratory, medium-sized birds which are native to Europe, Africa and Asia. They are ground-nesting birds which are involved mainly in the seed-eating livelihood. These details must have given the readers enough information about a brief outlook of a partridge. But these details matter more to a biologist rather than general readers. The specialty of this bird is that, it has a unique relationship with the pear tree. Christians must be probably aware of the phrase, i.e. to draw a partridge to a pear tree, because the event takes place in Christmas. Partridge in a pear tree is actually a stocking kit from Bucilla which features a beautiful partridge nestled in a tree. To draw a partridge in a pear tree implies decorating the Christmas tree with a stocking which contains a partridge in a pear tree surrounded by glittering golden pears. To draw such a thing on a Christmas tree pleases Santa Claus and the tree glitters even more. The things need to create a partridge in a pear tree are sequins, beads, needles, cotton floss, metallic threads, stamped felts and glitter for shining. The stocking should be approximately 18 long diagonally and must display a partridge bird on a tree with pears around it. This is the way in which the stocking is created. There are several interpretations about the partridge in a pear tree phrase. One implication is that, it is a Christmas song which depicts the love between two persons by offering the partridge in a pear tree gift to each other. Another story behind this topic is known world wide. Partridge has been named from the Greek word, Perdix which was once the name of a Greek king. This king was once cast from a tower into the ocean by his enemy and he emerged as a bird from there and was carried to heaven by Goddess Athena. Thus, Athena represents the pear tree which was responsible for carrying the bird Perdix which is called partridge, to heaven. Thus sometimes, the bird, partridge was also referred as a symbol of Jesus Christ and thus the Christmas carol containing the phrase was formed. These two instances clearly tell us how Christians believe in the partridge in the pear tree and wait to draw a partridge each Christmas. Thus, the readers must have gained a spectacular piece of mythological history which is followed throughout the world each Christmas, when people around the world get ready to draw a partridge in the pear tree. It also takes us to a bright moral that, occasions like these get focused only when they are followed regularly. BEST BRAND/TYPE OF TRANSFER PAPER FOR EMBROIDERY OR CREWEL WORKS Art and Craft form the major part of the creation industry. This industry is mainly based on the skills of the artists to imagine, design and create. While in school days everyone is taught a bit of art and craft, some like it, some dont. The days are greatly remembered when the tracing paper was used as the means of creating an exact copy of the image mechanically before printers came into existence. Transfer papers are also of the same kind as tracing papers and also have the same purpose. Many creative things can be done using this transfer paper such as, printing on t-shirts, designs on pots and many more. But the purpose that surprises many is the use of transfer paper for embroidery. The task seems new as the traditional method of doing embroidery on cloth articles was with a needle and many colorful threads. Earlier the design to be made was sketched with a pencil roughly onto the cloth and then the thread was used to give it an outline. Now-a-days, the free-hand sketching has been made more perfect by the use of transfer paper. The best quality transfer paper gives astonishing results and gives the impression of a perfect design. The process of using transfer paper for embroidery can be explained briefly as follows. Inkjet or any other printer is first used to print the image on the transfer paper. This image can then be transferred onto the clothing by a heat press. This process is also called as an iron-on. The image once transferred can be embedded in the cloth by the use of embroidery. There are several types and brands of transfer papers available in the market. These can be named as, heat transfer paper, inkjet transfer paper, sublimation transfer paper, color laser transfer paper etc. Each of them has their own advantages and disadvantages. The most expensive one is the color laser transfer paper. It seems the names of the transfer papers belong to the names of the printers they are used with. Inkjet transfer paper comes in two varieties, for light colored fabric and for dark colored fabric. The fabrics which are going to be used for printing need to be of good quality to increase the life of the print on it. Use of transfer paper for embroidery is an exciting option for creating and printing various designs on the fabric using the various transfer papers. This is a new fashion of clothing which is growing at a rapid pace in the fashion industry. This act of using transfer paper for embroidery on the clothes prompts the designers to try the process at home or open centers for such printing works. The embroidery which seemed boring for so many years will finally be retrieved in a new form and the clothes wore will have the designs made by the person wearing it. The important suggestion is to select the proper and the best type of printing and embroidery technique and last but not the least the best brand and quality of transfer paper for attractive printing. HOW TO SEAL A PENDANT COLORED WITH MELTED CRAYON SHAVINGS Jewellery is that part of beautification which includes various forms of designs and gems embedded with it. This has various forms ranging from the most expensive one to the most simple but beautiful ones. A ring looks incomplete without a gem; similarly a necklace seems incomplete without a pendant. Pendant is that part of the necklace which gives it a meaning and an extra bit of enhancement to the necklace. Pendant can exist in various forms, but the most discussed one lately is the one with melted crayon shavings. The reason for this can be known shortly. A pendant is that part of a necklace that is always hanging from it and gives it an identity. It can exist in various shapes, the most preferred of which is the heart shape. A pendant can be made of gold, silver, titanium etc., but the most simple and home made pendant is the one with melted crayon shavings. The process of giving a final polish or impact to the pendant is called as sealing. Sealing means the same as a piece of stamped wax which ensures strength for the material on which it is applied. Crayons are most popularly used for coloring, but they have a disadvantage of their disposal, because once the sharp point is gone, it is of no further use unless someone sharpens it. These crayons can then be converted into shavings and melted together to give it a different shape and color and used for various purposes. The following are the steps for sealing a pendant colored with melted crayon shavings Take the crayons available and cut them in the form of shavings in the way a tree is cut slice by slice. Make the slices as finer as possible to melt them quickly. After the shavings are ready, melt them by placing them on a tough paper and either placing them in an oven or doing it by an iron. The melted shavings are now ready for applying on the pendant to be sealed. Apply the crayon shavings onto the pendant. Make the colored pendant cool by keeping it at normal temperature. Use a metal rod or a log of wood and seal the pendant with a wax coating so that it gets a shiny look onto it. The pendant is now sealed and can be put into a necklace for use. The precaution to be taken here is while melting and sealing. It is suggested that these tasks are done by an adult and done carefully to avoid injuries. The above method of pendant making gives the pendant a simple look but a durable one. Also, it is a best from waste effort as the crayons suggested for use are the broken or spoilt ones. This task has given a great idea of recycling and recreation for generations to learn. The act of making such melted crayon shavings and using them for sealing a pendant will soon become a profession in the near future. HOW CAN I MAKE A BRACELET OUT OF DMC FLOSS Decoration is an activity which everyone loves to do, then it does not matter whether it is a house or an office or any other thing. The simplest way of decoration that humans use to look different and enhance their outer beauty is jewellery. Though women have more jewellery to look rich and beautiful, men dont have that much stuff in number. But both share some common jewellery types which include chains, rings and bracelets. Bracelets can be made from various materials. It is unbelievable that a bracelet does not compulsorily need metals for its creation. It can be made even with rubber or fiber or floss. Thus, to make a bracelet from DMC floss is what interests many for its discussion. Floss in generic form refers to an embroidery thread which is a rough silk obtained from a silkworms cocoon. DMC is a manufacturing unit which manufactures and supplies various kinds of floss to different locations. Thus, to make a bracelet from such a DMC floss is not very tough if proper precautions are taken. The process can be explained as a sequence of steps which are as follows. Bracelets generally are of the wrist size and the thickness can be defined by the amount of floss to be used. So cut 18 25 inches of DMC floss and make the ends line up evenly. Hold the ends together and tie a knot which has a 1 inch tail. Separate the 3 strands and form the number 4 over the adjacent strand. Then just follow the motion used while stitching clothes and make circular rounds about it. Continue this motion till the bracelet attains the desired size. Also the length can be increased as needed. The steps mentioned above give a brief idea about the creation of the bracelet. Many users will have other ideas of the material used for more decoration like beads or pearls and hence, they can go ahead with their own creations. The only care that is to be taken while designing this bracelet is the precision and the sensitivity factor. This is because, you cannot make a bracelet in a hurry, as it can lead to loosening of the floss and will reduce its life. The bracelet also needs to be tight enough to stay tight on the wrist and not fall off. The act of making the bracelet can be done quickly only by a professional. Beginners will take approximately 1 hour to complete this task, and they need to have patience for this. DMC floss is a tough thread and will not easily break off. A blade or a scissor is needed to cut it off and hence it is strong enough to last for a longer duration as compared to other threads. A bracelet is a symbol of friendship as bands are used on friendships day. The best idea is to make a bracelet out of such floss and present it to your friend or your loved one as a symbol of love and gratefulness.

Faulkner’s Contradictory Roles as Father and Artist in the Film, William Faulkner: a Life on Paper :: Movie Film Essays

Faulkner’s Contradictory Roles as Father and Artist in the Film, William Faulkner: a Life on Paper After viewing the film William Faulkner: a Life on Paper it would be easy to attempt a pseudo-psychoanalytic interpretation of Faulkner’s relationship with his daughter and the other women in his life, but I think that would do a disservice to him. The film focused on the contradiction between Faulkner’s personal life, especially his relationships with women, and his professional life as a writer. The artistic sensibility that caused him to drink to excess and behave erratically does not fit common expectations of a good father. I think, however, that the interviews with his daughter, Jill Summers, and the other women who grew up with him as a father figure (at least one grand-daughter and one niece) indicate how that apparent contradiction was an essential part of the man whom they loved. I would like to consider two comments made by men who had known Faulkner in Oxford, Mississippi. One, a blacksmith, said that one day Faulkner suddenly left in the middle of a conversation with him. Faulkner’s only explanation later was that â€Å"when I think of something, I’ve got to go.† The other, a former friend of Faulkner’s speculated that he didn’t â€Å"think anyone knew who Bill really was, he was so moody†¦he was different from anybody else, seemed like.† The first comment indicates Faulkner’s unpredictability, possibly a humorous idiosyncrasy, but certainly not what is expected of a father. The second comment is intricately tied to the first. Because Faulkner’s behavior was unpredictable, often indicating that he was entirely self-absorbed in his own ideas and work, others found him to be distant. Those closest to Faulkner—his daughter, Jill, Phil Stone, and even Joan Williams—do not offer a portrayal of him that objects to his being erratic and distant. Probably the most poignant moment with Jill Summers is when she tells the story of asking her father not to drink before her birthday. His response was to remind her that Shakespeare’s daughter was never remembered by anyone. Although Summers relates the other facts of her father’s short-comings with little display of emotion, her face appeared pained after this story. Yet she said earlier in the film that she was absolutely sure that her father loved her very much. Maybe the problem is partly in what we expect a father to be. The film raises the problem of whether someone can function as both a great

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Essay

This is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts in the fight against hunger. It serves both developing and the already developed countries. FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy. It is also a source of advice and knowledge to member countries as it helps in the provision of information, and helps developing nations to modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices, by ensuring good nutrition and food security for all (Amin,2002). In urban agriculture, FAO plays a general role of educating the urban farmers on the best methods of farming such as proper animal husbandry. It also offers them variety of species of crops to cultivate on in the urban areas. It protects the farmers from interventions by the specific governments, and they ensure food security for the already produced crops. Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) This is a North American coalition of people from different nationalities and organizations working from the local to international levels to build community food security. Membership in CFSC is diverse with almost three hundred organizations from social and economic justice, anti-hunger, environmental, community development, sustainable agriculture, community gardening and other fields. The main objective of CFSC is to build a strong, sustainable, local and regional food system that ensure access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food to all people at all times. CFSC has facilitated the development of urban agriculture through developing self reliance among all cities in obtaining their food and to creating a system of growing, manufacturing, processing, making available, and selling food that is regionally based and grounded in the principles of justice, democracy and sustainability. Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture (APA) This organization involves the growing of plants and the rearing of animals within urban and peri-urban areas. It influences urban agriculture in a number of ways. UPA increases the availability of locally grown vegetables and fruits. This is done through making land available to increase production. UPA also recognizes the added value of combining vacant spaces with growing food in or near cities. It helps to restore consumer confidence in locally produced food. It helps promote food production to help reduce poverty and inequalities in urban centers. UPA has helped growers in urban agriculture to get closer links to their consumers and made it possible for retailers to improve access to affordable fresh vegetables and fruits sourced from the urban farming. UPA has improved logistics which has in turn increased access for instance transport services and home deliveries for those unable to get to the shops to buy food products. Resource centers on urban Agriculture and Food Security (RUAF Foundation) This is an international network of seven regional resource centers and one global resource centre on Urban Agriculture and food security. It was formed as a result to the expressed need of organization and local governments for effective mechanisms for the documentation and exchange of research of research data and practical experiences in urban agriculture. The major objective of RUAF is to help in eradication of poverty, generation of employments, food security and to help in stimulate participatory city governance and improved urban environment al management. This is achieved through creation of conditions for empowerment of male and female urban and peri-urban farmers. 3. Importance of urban agriculture Agriculture has been the primary occupation even in societies that are advanced. any form of improvement and innovation in agricultural methods has significant importance to the ever increasing populations (White, Jr. , 1974). Urban agriculture has come with improvements which have seen the societies benefiting economically, socially and environmentally. Economic importance Urban and peri-urban agriculture expands the economic base of the city through production, processing, packaging and marketing of consumable products. This results in an increase in entrepreneurial activities and the creation of job opportunities. This has led to increase in supply of food products in the cities, leading to decrease in prices of commodities. The quality of food products also improves, and the country can export more food products abroad and earning the country foreign exchange. Urban agriculture gives women an important opportunity to be part of the informal economy of a city (Paul, 1984). Farming and selling activities can be combined more easily with household tasks and child care. As women take care of the home, men are out there trying to make ends meet in urban agriculture. Through this, women participate in the economic development of the country as they help their spouses in other chores (Feder, 1970). In another perspective, women provide labor to farming activities, thus contributing to economic development. Urban agriculture provides employment, income and access to food for urban populations, which together contributes to relieve from chronic and emergence food security. With employment, every individual earns income and the cases of poverty in the city will considerably reduce with the practice of urban agriculture. Social Importance Better health and nutrition is one social importance of urban agriculture. With production of food products, there is enough supply of food in the city. Children cannot suffer from malnutrition because they have enough food and thus have a balanced diet. Having a balanced diet helps reduce diseases thus better health and nutrition. Increased income and employment are other social benefits of urban agriculture. Urban agriculture has been seen as means of improving the livelihood of people living in and around cities (Pereira, 1999). Taking part in such practices is seen mostly as informal activity, but in many cities where inadequate, unreliable, and irregular access to food is an occurring problem, urban agriculture has been a positive response to tackling food concerns. Households and small communities take advantage of vacant land and contribute not only to their resident city (Pereira, 1999).

Self Discipline Diary

Most people went and had their showers in the morning before the activity but couldn't get up early enough and so instead I ad my shower during one of the activities which I got in trouble for and so to improve on this the next morning managed to get myself up earlier and have my shower before any activities started so it didn't interfere. After we had the introduction to this unit about discipline, I realized that sometimes I do not show very good self-control when in stressful situations.I remembered about this when was at work on Saturday when a customer got angry with me because she wanted to return a product. I remembered what my tutor had said about self-control being part of good discipline, and so anteed the situation differently. I felt really good afterwards. Am normally not good at arriving at places on time, and this week I have been getting up later and this has caused me to be late for college. Am annoyed with myself for allowing this to happen, and so I plan to go to b ed a bit earlier next week, so that can show good time keeping and punctuality. 3/09/2014 This week our course went on boot camp in the new forest during this We had to have good self-discipline, for example when we got there we had to set up camp and in pairs set up our tents independently after being shown how o do so by Phil. We also got put into groups and given a timetable of different activities that we had to take part in and so we had to be organized at time keeping and manage to get to each activity at the correct time. And finally we had to get up and out of our tents by 6:30 which was hard to do for some (Particularly Kerosene).During this week I forgot my ID badge on a couple occasions and have been told by the receptionists that I need to bring it in everyday. I also got told Off for swearing after getting frustrated with my tent, an area which will try my hardest to improve on. At boot camp was the first time I took part in drill, it was quite tricky and at first I cou ldn't get the hang of it and looked like I was going the goose step most of the time. However after working on it and practicing as a group managed to learn the basics and improve my marching and posture.It was particularly hard to wake up early at boot camp and so I was late to the first session. Also, buses during the week are 90% of the time late, which is fairly annoying as it impacts on my attendance. 30/09/2014 This week I have managed to remain focused in my lessons and have not allowed myself to become distracted by others. During the week a classmate tried to get my attention by throwing rolled up bits of paper at me. However, I managed to ignore it. I am happy that I have remained focused as wrote some good notes which I Can refer back to when I'm working on my assignment at a later date. M happy with the course and am finding it very interesting, which helps me ignore others who aren't showing the same interest in the sessions. I occasionally don't listen to what my tutor has said due to having earphones in at the time, an area at which I will improve on. Last year at sixth form was easily distracted by others and so wouldn't take down notes on the work we were doing this meant didn't have anything to help me on course work and revision material for exams and so I fell behind. Again the buses have been late this week, a very frustrating issue.I will attempt to wake up earlier in order to get an earlier bus into college, so am no longer late to the first session. 07/10/2014 This was our second lesson of drill and feel that I am getting more use to it and am learning more commands, the correct posture that I can apply during the session. I could improve my attention to Dale however I am getting distracted by others around me, rather than listening to the next instruction. I could also improve my timing and become more in time with the rest of the group. Have come a long way from the first session, and I now know a lot of moves and my timing is slowly improving.Our drill instructor is quite a quiet character and so it is quite hard to hear him at times during drill. 14/1 0/2014 Today we had a drill session and then had our first assignment with Phil, I paid my full attention to what was being said as it set the bar for future assignments and it was important that know what I was/will be doing. I could improve this week by managing my time and hobbies better alongside my college work. Perhaps cut certain aspects of my social life off in order to make sure I am applying the required amount of work.I made a progression this week by making sure I paid my full attention to Phil for our first assignment. Hadn't quite got use to Office 365 and therefore hadn't saved any of my work online; this meant that couldn't do any independent work at home. 21 / 10/ 2014 Enjoyed Marks session this week and found it very interesting. A couple classmates were fooling round near the back of my class and I managed to ignore it and carry on with the set work, which I am pleased with myself for. Could improve by being on time as I was late to a couple sessions in the morning due to the bus being late once again. Eve progressed this week by becoming more independent in my assignments and getting office 365 to work for me, and therefore I was able to do some work at home for a couple hours, which I'm happy about. One set back would be that during drill we were learning a new command (I think it was salutes) which just couldn't get he hang of, which was particularly frustrating for me. 28/1 0/2014 This week I enjoyed Phial's session as we were making paper airplanes and we had a budget on how many and which type we could make. My team lost miserably.However I became the leader of the team and despite my brilliant plane design (which was the most statically pleasing) other teams with their stupid dart planes managed to (in my opinion) cheat their way to victory. Work experience is quickly approaching and I have yet to do any preparatio ns for it. I should begin to start thinking about what I'll do and organize myself some more. This week have progressed by being a bit more organized with equipment and my timings for sessions have been much better. Office 365 was playing up again and I was not able to do any work at home for a couple days this week. 4/1 1/2014 This week we learned some new commands in drill which I managed to get the hang of. I paid a great deal of attention to what was being said and didn't get distracted nearly as much as usually would. Another week has gone by and I have still not done anything about work experience. Although I now have a few ideas on where to go. I have begun to come accustomed to the ark load and what is expected of us in college as it is very different to sixth form. I am finding the workload the right amount for me to take on and am not falling behind on work at all compared to last year.I struggled to find out what room I was in (due to construction work) and therefore I wa s around 5 minutes late to one of my sessions with Phil. 1 1/11/2014 This week we took a trip to RAFF Bribe Norton which was very interesting and paid my full attention to what was being said by the various military men and women who spoke to us. I didn't let anyone distract me and I thoroughly enjoyed the day. This week was late to a session due to bad time keeping and ignorance. I felt bad and I shall not do it again. I learnt a lot at RAFF Bribe Norton and now have a few more areas I would like to kick into within the military as a possible career path. Didn't quite understand part of an assignment this week and didn't say anything at the time so I now have to wait until next week in order to ask about my queries 1 8/1 1 /2014 This week we had Miles the PASO come in and talk to us about the chain of command and stop and search rules/techniques. I paid my full attention and made sure that I asked plenty of questions. I also volunteered for a demonstration I had to act out in front of the entire class. During the talk by miles I didn't take any notes, which Phil had a word to me about as it meant I then didn't have any notes to look back on for help during assignment work.I have progressed this week by becoming a more outspoken person and asking many questions, which has benefited the class and l. Was ill on Friday this week and so I missed an entire day of work, on which I will now have to catch up on. 25/11/2014 This week I decided to knuckle down at home and get some assignment work out of the way. I was very pleased with my independent work and it made me feel in front of my work load, rather than behind it. I decided not to go to enrichment this Wednesday and decided to do some assignment work which against college rules and is very irresponsible of me.It shouldn't happen again. Have made some great progress on assignments and am now in front of my work load which feels great and allows for some time to do some social things this week which I am looking forward to. I was late into college one day this week due to bus issues and so was a little late to one of my first sessions. 02/12/2014 Our second to last drill session was today and we have all begun to take the session a lot more seriously. I am no longer letting people distract me as much and am trying my hardest (despite the buses) to turn up to drill on time.

5 Reasons To View The Nicholas C. Rossis Author Blog

5 Reasons To View The Nicholas C. Rossis Author Blog Its not every day that a writer offers free content and book marketing advice. When I encounter one- especially one that can help writers get past major hurdles in selling their work- its hard to keep quiet about it. Thats why I want to share five reasons to view the Nicholas C. Rossis author blog.Reason #1: Nicholas C. Rossis is a fascinating authorFrom the opening lines of his introduction- I live to write and do so from my cottage on the edge of a magical forest in Athens, Greece- Nicholas C. Rossis shows his unique brand of epic description. Upon additional perusing through his author blog, his work in both the fiction and nonfiction realms is alive with humor, humility, and imagination.To get to know him better as an author, listen to one of the many interviews available on his website. These are the best introduction to learn who he is and why he loves writing. For example, there is this interview with Ron Yates for RRBC Rave Waves BlogTalkRadio, along with this one focusing on book marketing tips with Bernard Kelvin Clive.Reason #2: All of his writing is free to readRossis work includes fiction (of the dark, epic fantasy kind), nonfiction, childrens stories and short stories- all of which are available free on Kindle Unlimited or for a small fee on Amazons free reading apps.His most recent book, A Heaven For Toasters, is described as a science fiction crime adventure with plenty of humor and romance, set in the near future. The back cover reads:A souvlaki and some sun. That is all Detective Mika Pensive wanted from her fun weekend away on the Greek island of Hydra. Instead, she finds herself caught up in a sinister plot, hatched by a reclusive billionaire with a penchant for illegal genetic engineering. As if that wasnt bad enough, she has to put up with her new partner, Leo. Leo is an android- or toaster, as people scornfully call his kind. The only thing that could make things even worse would be for the headstrong Mika to fall for Leo. But people dont fall for toasters- do they?Nicholas C. Rossis, A Heaven For ToastersThe cover of Rossis book, A Heaven for ToastersIf you dont have Kindle Unlimited, you can still purchase his books at low prices. Here are the links to some of the other books he has published:Emotional Beats: How to Easily Convert your Writing into Palpable Feelings (Author Tools Book 1)Summary: This emotional thesaurus includes hundreds of examples that you can use for your inspiration, so that you, too, can harness this technique to easily convert your writing into palpable feelings. Genre fiction authors can use Emotional Beat as a feeling thesaurus and watch their writing take off!Runaway Smile: An unshared smile is a wasted smile (Mystery Smiles Book 1)Summary: A little boy wakes up in the morning and realizes he has lost his smile. After spending the entire day trying to find it, he learns the truth behind smiles: the only real smiles are the shared ones.Pearseus Bundle: The Complete Pearseus Sci-fi/Fantasy SeriesSummary: Combining fantasy with science fiction, Pearseus is filled with passion, warfare, and betrayal. Described as ancient Greece in space, it gives readers who want a different kind of fantasy an exciting new series to devour.Musiville: Lets face the music and conduct (Mystery Smiles Series) (Volume 2)Summary: The only thing that can save Musiville is a musical symphony. Sounds easy enough. But in a world where everyone believes only their own music to be worth playing, it is the hardest task the villages musical animals have ever faced.Reason #3: He offers valuable advice about writing and marketing your bookThere is an entire section on the Nicholas Rossis blog dedicated to marketing your book. If you are an indie author and in the throes of gaining an audience for your writing, these tips will be absolutely indispensable during the marketing process. Among them, he provides information on marketing your book across various platforms, including Facebook, Twitter and Amaz on.Here is a sampling of the many tips he offers:A-Z guide: How both my books reached #1 on AmazonHow to Score Great Amazon Reviews: Resources and MoreHow to Tame Amazons Algorithm to Increase your Sales RankHow to Use Facebook Ads to Gain Subscribers and to Promote a GiveawayUnderstanding Amazon ACoS (Advertising Cost of Sale): What is it?Advertise with Amazon: a Step-by-step TutorialHow to Increase Your Amazon Click-Through Rate (CTR)Book Marketing Essentials: Positioning your WorkI Just Published my Book. Now What?7 fool-proof marketing tips to promote your blogAdditionally, on the Author Resources tab, Rossis advertises his work with an online media company, Istomedia. He mentions that for the past 25 years, his day job has been working to develop websites. As an author who has built his own website, he works specifically with other authors who want to have their own author website to market their work. He also offers a 30% discount for readers of his blog. Since the blog is so informative, this is certainly a win-win! He will also help you create your book cover for a reasonable price.Reason #4: Optimism (and entertainment) aboundsIn a world where bad news and political scandal fills the media, its nice to run across a blog that offers optimistic, fun, and useful entertainment. The Nicholas C. Rossis blog is one such blog. While much of the content is focused on writing and the literary world, there are some posts that are written simply for a fun, optimistic read.For example, the recent post, How the world got better in 2018, he notes multiple ways in which things got better last year, including increasing use of green energy around the world, increasing environmental protection for the worlds oceans, 50 animals species that were on the endangered list are now removed, falling global poverty levels, and greater access to electricity around the world, among others. Although these topics have little to do with writing or marketing books, the piece is well- written and informative- two aspects of a blog that make it worth your time to read.Author Nicholas C. RossisReason #5: His writing is superbRossis has won numerous awards for his writing. His first childrens book, Runaway Smile, was awarded the Gelett Burgess Childrens Book Award, and was a finalist in the 2015 International Book Awards, in the Childrens Fiction category and a Childrens Fiction Finalist in the 2015 Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards.His collection of short stories and flash fiction, entitled Infinite Waters: A Collection of Science Fiction/Speculative Fiction Short Stories (Exciting Destinies Book 2), was voted as one of the best 50 Indie books of 2015. Both of these titles, along with the rest of his work, is available for free on Kindle and Amazon.Here is an excerpt from Simulation Over, one of the stories in The Power of Six, a collection of seven short stories.Without waiting for my reply, the elevator started its calm descent again. This time i t headed straight for the basement where the heart of the building was located. Or, should I say, its brain. I gazed with longing as the ground floor button lit up, then desperate hope turned into trepidation as it went dark again. The indication changed to a simple red hyphen and the elevator finally stopped with a gentle jolt. The doors slid apart and cool air caressed our faces. After the stifling heat above, the result of the many small fires around the building, this felt like balm on our skin.Nicholas C. Rossis, Simulation OverMy overall impressionThere are many author blogs available online that are created and written solely to market the authors work. However, the Nicholas C. Rossis blog seems to go a step beyond that to help other authors market their work, and provide valuable guidance from a fellow author who has learned the ropes. Specifically, I found Rossis advice on understanding the various marketing platforms- such as Amazon and Facebook- to be extremely valuable, since these two platforms can be confusing for new authors who are first-timers in the realm of book marketing and sales.Additionally, Rossis writing is fun, imaginative, and easy to read- particularly for those interested in the sci-fi and fantasy genres. Whether you are an author looking for advice, or just an avid reader, be sure to check this one out. You wont be disappointed.