Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Brief History Essay Example for Free

Brief History Essay Iran, or what is formally called as the Islamic Republic of Iran, has a rich culture starting out since 8000 B.C. (Ladjevardian par. 2). The historic trends that transpired since then up to the present has had a lot to do with the political turmoil which the country has experienced. The economy and the culture of Iran were greatly influenced by these changes; wars within and outside the country were also great factors to the country’s history. The beginning of the 20th century had positive changes for Iran after centuries of different dynasties. The Pahlavi Dynasty during the 1920s, which was also the last dynasty to rule Iran, constructed road infrastructures and initiated land reforms; education was also opened for women during this time. In 1946, Iran had a taste of freedom from the Soviet Union and in 1951, passed a law to take the Oil industry from the British control (Ladjevardian par. 73). The country experienced a sudden economic growth in 1963-1973 and during this time that public and educational institutions were further improved. By 1973, Iran was earning about $20 billion a year (Ladjevardian par. 76) from its Oil revenues. The Supreme Leader’s determination to modernize Iran instantly, backed up by the rapid economic growth, created pressure on the administration which eventually led to economic turmoil such as inflation, corruption, and increase authoritarianism by the Supreme Leader. Moreover, numerous social and political problems continued to emerge that needed to be dealt with. In 1978, the economic growth of Iran slowed down; the Supreme Leader was overthrown and since then, the government of Iran became a theocratic republic; from 1980-1988, Iran fought against Iraq. The economic loss due to the war caused a lot of problems to Iran. Furthermore, the population of the country increased tremendously and has resulted to increase in unemployment. Communication and transportation and education and public institutions were also needed to be recovered. Iran’s Economy and Resources Iran remained to be a country dependent on its oil industry; its earnings comprise the 70% of its government revenues (Economy of Iran par. 1). Its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased from 34M Iranian rial in 1990 to 1.7B in 2005, partly due to said industry’s earnings. The oil industry’s role to the economy of Iran proves to be of utmost importance since this is the main export of the country. It includes petroleum, chemical and petrochemical products; other exports of Iran are from their agricultural and service sectors products such as fruits and nuts, cars, carpet and technical services. Though Iran’s GDP increased tremendously over the years, the country’s economic problems such as inflation and unemployment remain to be the two most impediments to the country’s growth. Economic Issues Khalaji (par. 3) reports that inflation in Iran reached 19% in 2008. This figure was reportedly to have been due, in part, to the increasing corruption in the country. This puts the country in a difficult situation as inflation translates to increase in goods’ prices and corruption leads to more political and social chaos. The increase in the goods’ prices lead to more importation as goods from other countries appear relatively cheaper. Inasmuch as the said problem makes the country’s situation appalling, the unemployment problem further worsens it. This was due to the increasing population which has not been backed up with increase in job offerings. Iranians pursue to work outside the country instead leading to the reportedly brain drain. It has been said that the historic trends in Iran was greatly affected by the political turmoil in the country, and that economic and cultural changes were also affected by it. The economic issues in Iran have then put the country in a social dilemma. The oil industry is not enough to sustain the country’s needs. Iran’s lack of resources to provide for its citizens sustenance require importing from other countries. This is where the importance of trade comes in. Gross Domestic Product GDP of a country is an indicator of the economic growth. The national currency of Iran is Iranian Real (IRR). Since 1990 it has increased, with an average annual growth rate between 1990 and 2005 of 2.5% as seen in the figure 1. (Economy of Iran par. 1) It means that as time has passed, the economic growth of Iran improved. There were several factors that affected the growth of the Iranian economy. The paper will dwell more on the economic indicators on how the economy of Iran rose. The highest GDP growth rate was recorded into 2002, when there was a 7.1% growth rate. Its oil abundance is considered to be the main source of its growth. Being one of OPEC’s cartel members, it has the privilege to gain higher returns for its oil products. A big contributer to Iran’s GDP growth would be its strong domestic demand benefited the non-oil and manufacturing countries.

Monday, January 20, 2020

Definition of Leadership :: Leadership Traits

In its simplest terms, leadership is the process of influencing the behavior of another person while fully respecting the freedom of that person (Encarta). Two aspects of this definition are important. First, a significant part of effective leadership is the close connection between the leader and the follower, which often determines the success of the leader's mission. Unfortunately, this leader-follower relationship cannot be created according to some simple formula. Without inspiration, involvement, and encouragement from both participants, the relationship can not be effective. Leaders, in particular, must give an extra effort to reach out to followers in order to initiate and develop this alliance that is so critical to the achievement of goals. The leaders face special challenges as they try to communicate and interact with their followers and potential followers to understand and know what they think and what they do. Developing their leadership style in response to diversity , and ethics will give them an edge as they build relationships with their subordinators. Secondly, leaders who begin to use force, coercion, and manipulation must later use more force, coercion, and manipulation precisely because their ability to influence - truly lead - is diminished. In my company I have never seen our lead to use any force to associates for achieving goals, because he’d like to be a true leader for a long time. I believe that there are times in the life of a team or organization when the formula leader appropriately exercises the authority of his or her position or deal with organizational issues. Leaders should know that creativity and innovation are the life blood of their organization. New ideas can lead to programs that are already going on or planned in the organization .So, the mission of every leader should be to search continually for ideas and programs that are superior to the organization is currently committed to. In a word, it's called progress. Leaders respect the dignity and worth of each follower. There are two behaviors which are keys to this. First, the director of our company has done everything possible to reduce status differentials in team, which had been based on socioeconomic factors and job titles. Secondly, he has made clear by his behavior that he valued and respected all followers, especially those who were less powerful, less healthy, less educated, younger, older, poorer, less skillful in communication, and different in race, language, religion, gender or sexual orientation from the majority.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Descriptive Essay “Betrayal”

The term â€Å"stabbed me in the back† is a recognized vernacular for someone who was betrayed. Well in my case I was â€Å"stabbed in the chest. † I knew how my cousin Ann could be and somehow I was still shocked that she would hurt me how she did. She was my best friend from the time I was eight to that dreadful night she nearly had herself killed. It is during this time that she changed from the person I knew; the outspoken, rebellious, fearless woman that lived life to the fullest and took no prisoners into an ignorant, selfish, two-faced she devil that would talk her best friend down to not look as bad as she really was.She had an air around her. Not quite arrogance, more of one who thought to be superior to others. Things were her way or none at all and even to me she held nothing back in her plans to get even. The night she got shot, her plans to get even, and the inevitable break from the family led to her ultimate betrayal of our friendship. Ann is not the kind of person to just let things go. She’s never content with letting bygones be bygones and move on. Needless to say she didn't keep many friends. But it isn't her begrudging nature that steered friends away from her.It is her deliberate acts of treachery and double crossing which became more and more apparent over time. Her comprehension of morality is lacking. And she also has no true understanding of restraint. She is the child punished for taking candy from a baby and in return she hits the baby. Because it's the baby's fault she was scolded so the baby must also be punished. She is cold and unsympathetic. Not a single care for the hardships she places on others. The delusions she creates of herself; a caring, altruistic, benevolent soul is actually a facade.It is her way to get your guard down and when the moment arises, she strikes with no reservation. For instance, she robbed, restrained, and beat her ex boyfriend for drugs and money simply because she wanted to punish h im for not leaving his girlfriend. She justifies her actions as results on another person's error. She is callus and conniving. Like a rabid she wolf, shifty and always on the attack. Her distasteful nature became so out of control even family began to distance from her and her deceptive ways. Somehow, she escaped with her life and did not end up dead in her apartment yet she still persists on the travesty of his actions.At first, I indulged her â€Å"poor me† attitude since I still loved Ann and wanted to comfort her. Eventually, her rants would end with more overdrawn rants but she flipped the script when she told me she had a plan to go back up to her ex’s for revenge. She is never one to let things go. She takes herself these destructive paths and leaves a mess all around her. Before she could even bring me into her plans I left and told her she’s on her own. Afterwards, she becomes irrational with anger. She starts calling me at work and texting me non-stop . She even became so desperate to call my parents asking them to send me over whenever they could.With the shooting incident and the unstable character of my cousin, my family forbid me from having any contact with her. It broke my heart because I wanted to be there for her. Nevertheless, she is not is a good place and wanted to bring everyone down around her. Though she knew her plans of revenge against her ex were foiled she, unbeknownst to me, decides to somehow bring me down. Four weeks later, I hear from Ann. I was eager and excited to hear how she was and how life back felt but I was sadly dissappointed when a drugged up Ann was slurring on the other line.Her haggard voice slurs out † You enjoying your happy perfect life? As long as you stay locked up at home like you do listening to your parents and not doing what you want. † Suddenly, Ann sounds clearer and she proceeded to chuckle into the phone. † You know I'll always look out for you. Not your parents an d not mine. Just me. So I took care of your problem with us not being able to see eachother. I called your parents told them what they needed to hear. You're a drug user. You like to sleep with lots of men and you steal from everyone. They need to kick you out so you can live with me.I made sure to make you sound real good. † I know it's all lies and I know my parents would never believe the drugged up rants of my cousin. However, it shattered me knowing my parents had to listen to those words. She knew how much I love my parents and how I strive to live up their expectations of me. Furthermore, by her telling me, she wanted me to know stabbed me in my chest. Then, she twisted the knife. â€Å"You deserve to feel judged. You are not special and I want to make sure everyone else knows you're just as bad as me. † The aftermath of that event was not a catastrophic as I had imagined.My parents both knew she was lying to make me look bad out of hate and jealously but I could tell the call still weighed on their minds. The mood was heavy. My parents were tired from the stress and I was broken by Ann's vindictive nature. It took a long time to recover from that. She had been my journal of life. I shared all my views, dreams, and secrets which she willingly through all away because she wanted to be spiteful. I never spoke to her much after that. She moved out of her mother’s house and into her boyfriend's apartment. Once her parents stopped giving her money and told her to start paying rent she left.It really made me see her for what she really is. A parasite. She hooks onto a host and takes in what nutrients she can. Finally, when she knows she can't get nothing more she moves on. Unfortunately, it is slightly different in my case. She grew with me. She festered in my heart and fed off my stories and my help and my love. It was all arsenals for her bags of tricks. So that day when she ripped herself out of my heart it hurt me deeply but now I know she is withering away with no one to latch onto and the once strong bridge she had with me is forever burned up and sealed for no entry ever again.A descriptive essay creating a dominant impression|exec|good|fair|imprv|0| INTRODUCTION ? 15 points| | build reader interest| | | | | | state a sound and clear THESIS STATEMENTpresent a dominant impression| | | | | | offer a single sentence summary of the main supports which maintain the dominant impression| | | | | | DEVELOPMENTAL PARAGRAPHS ? 60 points| | contain topic sentences (main supports) connected to thesis to develop/enhance the dominant impression| | | | | | are unified around the topic sentence| | | | | | re fully developed with specific examples, details, explanations to reinforce the dominant impressions| | | | | | contain specific words to reinforce the dominant impression| | | | | | provide sentences that are clearly written| | | | | | GENERAL ISSUES -20 points| | use a consistent voice (NO ? YOU? )| | | | | | spell all w ords correctly| | | | | | increase coherence among sentences and paragraphs| | | | | | use commas and semi-colons correctly| | | | | | PERSONAL GOAL -5 points| | | | | | | | The personal goal is a composing issue that has challenged the writer previously

Saturday, January 4, 2020

Types of Columns and Architectures Classical Order

If your architect suggests a Classical order for your new porch columns, theres no need to return a blank stare. Its a good idea. An Order of Architecture is a set of rules or principles for designing buildings — similar to todays building code. Five Classical orders, three Greek and two Roman, comprise the types of columns we use even in todays architecture. In Western-based architecture, anything called classical means its from the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome. A Classical order of architecture is the approach to building design established in Greece and Rome during what we now call the Classical period of architecture, from roughly 500 B.C. to 500 A.D. Greece became a province of Rome in 146 B.C. which is why these two Western civilizations are grouped together as Classical. During this time period, temples and important public buildings were constructed according to five distinct orders, each using a defined pedestal, type of column (base, shaft, and capital), and a different style entablature above the column. The Classical orders grew in popularity during the Renaissance era when architects such as Giacomo barozzi of Vignola wrote about them and used the design. In Architecture the word Order signifies a composition (in the same style) of a pedestal, a column, and an entablature, together with their ornamentation. Order means a perfect and regular disposition of all the parts of a beautiful composition; in a word, order is the opposite of confusion. — Giacomo da Vignola, 1563 Heres a brief overview of what the orders are and how they came to be written down. The Greek Orders of Architecture When studying an era-by-era timeline of ancient Greece, the height of Greek civilization was known as Classical Greece, from about 500 B.C. The inventive ancient Greeks developed three architecture orders using three distinct column styles. The earliest known stone column is from the Doric order, named for architecture first seen in the Dorian area of western Greece. Not to be outdone, the builders in the eastern Greece area of Ionia developed their own column style, which is known as the Ionic order. Classical orders are not unique to each area, but they were named for the part of Greece where they were first observed. The most ornate Grecian order, the latest developed and perhaps the most well-known by todays observer is the Corinthian order, first seen in the central area of Greece called Corinth. The Roman Orders of Architecture The Classical architecture of ancient Greece influenced the building designs of the Roman Empire. The Greek orders of architecture were continued in Italian architecture, and Roman architects also added their own variations by imitating two Greek column styles. The Tuscan order, first seen in the Tuscany area of Italy, is characterized by its grand simplicity — even more streamlined than the Grecian Doric. The capital and shaft of the Composite order of Roman architecture can be easily confused with the Greek Corinthean column, but the top entablature is much different. Rediscovering the Classical Orders The Classical orders of architecture might have become lost to history if it were not for the writings of early scholars and architects. The Roman architect Marcus Vitruvius, who lived during the first century B.C., documented the three Greek orders and the Tuscan order in his famous treatise De Architectura, or Ten Books on Architecture. Architecture depends on what Vitruvius calls propriety — that perfection of style which comes when a work is authoritatively constructed on approved principles. That perfection can be prescribed, and the Greeks prescribed certain architectural orders to honor the different Greek gods and goddesses. The temples of Minerva, Mars, and Hercules, will be Doric, since the virile strength of these gods makes daintiness entirely inappropriate to their houses. In temples to Venus, Flora, Proserpine, Spring-Water, and the Nymphs, the Corinthian order will be found to have peculiar significance, because these are delicate divinities and so its rather slender outlines, its flowers, leaves, and ornamental volutes will lend propriety where it is due. The construction of temples of the Ionic order to Juno, Diana, Father Bacchus, and the other gods of that kind, will be in keeping with the middle position which they hold; for the building of such will be an appropriate combination of the severity of the Doric and the delicacy of the Corinthian. — Vitruvius, Book I In Book III, Vitruvius writes prescriptively about symmetry and proportion  Ã¢â‚¬â€ how thick the column shafts should be and the proportional heights of columns when arranged for a temple. All the members which are to be above the capitals of the columns, that is, architraves, friezes, coronae, tympana, gables, and acroteria, should be inclined to the front a twelfth part of their own height...Each column should have twenty-four flutes... After the specifications, Vitruvius explains why — the visual impact of the specification. Writing specifications for his Emperor to enforce, Vitruvius wrote what many consider the first architecture textbook. The High Renaissance of the 15th and 16th centuries renewed interest in Greek and Roman architecture, and this is when Vitruvian beauty was translated — literally and figuratively. More than 1,500 years after Vitruvius wrote De Architectura, it was translated from Latin and Greek into Italian. More importantly, perhaps, the Italian Renaissance architect Giacomo da Vignola wrote an important treatise in which he more thoroughly described all five classical orders of architecture. Published in 1563, Vignolas treatise, The Five Orders of Architecture, became a guide for builders throughout western Europe. The Renaissance masters translated Classical architecture into a new type of architecture, in the manner of Classical designs, just as todays new classical or neoclassical styles are not strictly Classical orders of architecture. Even if the dimensions and proportions are not exactly followed, Classical orders make an architectural statement whenever they are used. How we design our temples is not far off from ancient times. Knowing how Vitruvius used columns can inform what columns we use today  Ã¢â‚¬â€ even on our porches.   Sources The Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius Pollio, Translated by Morris Hicky Morgan, Harvard University Press, 1914, Book I, Chapter II, Paragraph 5; Book III, Chapter V, paragraphs 13-14 The Five Orders of Architecture by Giacomo barozzi of Vignola, translated by Tommaso Juglaris and Warren Locke, 1889, p. 5