Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Polands Count Casimir Pulaski and His Role in the American Revolution

Polands Count Casimir Pulaski and His Role in the American Revolution Count Casimir Pulaski was a noted Polish cavalry commander who saw action during conflicts in Poland and later served in the American Revolution. Early Life Born March 6, 1745, in  Warsaw, Poland, Casimir Pulaski was the son of Jozef and Marianna Pulaski. Schooled locally, Pulaski attended the college of Theatines in Warsaw but did not complete his education. The Advocatus of the Crown Tribunal and the Starosta of Warka, Pulaskis father was a man of influence and was able to obtain for his son the position of page to Carl Christian Joseph of Saxony, Duke of Courland in 1762. Living in the dukes household in Mitau, Pulaski and the remainder of the court were effectively kept captive by the Russians who held hegemony over the region. Returning home the following year, he received the title of starost of ZezuliÅ„ce. In 1764, Pulaski and his family supported the election of StanisÅ‚aw August Poniatowski as King and Grand Duke of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. War of the Bar Confederation By late 1767, the Pulaskis had become dissatisfied with Poniatowski who proved unable to curb Russian influence in the Commonwealth. Feeling that their rights were being threatened, they joined with other nobles in early 1768 and formed a confederation against the government. Meeting at Bar, Podolia, they formed the Bar Confederation and began military operations. Appointed as a cavalry commander, Pulaski began agitating among government forces and was able to secure some defections. On April 20, he won his first battle when he clashed with the enemy near PohoreÅ‚e and achieved another triumph at Starokostiantyniv three days later. Despite these initial successes, he was beaten on April 28 at Kaczanà ³wka.  Moving to Chmielnik in May, Pulaski garrisoned the town but was later compelled to withdraw when reinforcements for his command were beaten. On June 16, Pulaski was captured after attempting to hold the monastery in Berdyczà ³w. Taken by the Russians, they freed him on June 28 after forcing him to pledge that he would not play any further role in the war and that he would work to end the conflict. Returning to the Confederations army, Pulaski promptly renounced the pledge stating that it had been made under duress and therefore was not binding. Despite this, the fact that he had made the pledge reduced his popularity and led some to question whether he should be court-martialed. Resuming active duty in September 1768, he was able to escape the siege of Okopy Ã…Å¡wiÄ™tej Trà ³jcy early the following year. As 1768 progressed, Pulaski conducted a campaign in Lithuania in the hopes of inciting a larger rebellion against the Russians. Though these efforts proved ineffective, he succeeded in bringing 4,000 recruits back for the Confederation. Over the next year, Pulaski developed a reputation as one of the Confederations best field commanders. Continuing to campaign, he suffered a defeat at the Battle of Wlodawa on Sept. 15, 1769, and fell back to  Podkarpacie to rest and refit his men. As a result of his achievements, Pulaski received an appointment to the War Council in March 1771. Despite his skill, he proved difficult to work with and often preferred to operate independently rather than in concert with his allies. That fall, the Confederation commenced a plan to kidnap the king. Though initially resistant, Pulaski later agreed to the plan on the condition that Poniatowski was not harmed. Fall from Power Moving forward, the plot failed and those involved were discredited and the Confederation saw its international reputation damaged. Increasingly distancing himself from his allies, Pulaski spent the winter and spring of 1772 operating around CzÄ™stochowa. In May, he departed the Commonwealth and traveled to Silesia. While in Prussian territory, the Bar Confederation was finally defeated. Tried in absentia, Pulaski was later stripped of his titles and sentenced to death should he ever return to Poland. Seeking employment, he unsuccessfully attempted to obtain a commission in the French Army and later sought to create a Confederation unit during the Russo-Turkish War. Arriving in the Ottoman Empire, Pulaski made little progress before the Turks were defeated. Forced to flee, he departed for Marseilles.   Crossing the Mediterranean, Pulaski arrived in France where he was imprisoned for debts in 1775. After six weeks in prison, his friends secured his release. Coming to America In late summer 1776, Pulaski wrote to the leadership Poland and asked to be allowed to return home. Not receiving a reply, he began to discuss the possibility of serving in the American Revolution with his friend Claude-Carloman de Rulhià ¨re. Connected to the Marquis de Lafayette and Benjamin Franklin, Rulhià ¨re was able to arrange a meeting. This gathering went well and Franklin was highly impressed with the Polish cavalryman. As a result, the American envoy recommended Pulaski to General George Washington and provided a letter of introduction stating that the count was renowned throughout Europe for the courage and bravery he displayed in defense of his countrys freedom. Traveling to Nantes, Pulaski embarked aboard Massachusetts and sailed for America. Arriving at Marblehead, MA on July 23, 1777, he wrote to Washington and informed the American commander that I came here, where freedom is being defended, to serve it, and to live or die for it. Joining the Continental Army Riding south, Pulaski met Washington at the armys headquarters at Neshaminy Falls just north of Philadelphia, PA. Demonstrating his riding ability, he also argued the merits of a strong cavalry wing for the army. Though impressed, Washington lacked the power to give the Pole a commission and a result, Pulaski was forced to spend the next several weeks communicating with the Continental Congress as he worked to secure an official rank. During this time, he traveled with the army and on Sept. 11 was present for the Battle of Brandywine. As the engagement unfolded, he requested permission to take Washingtons bodyguard detachment to scout the American right. In doing so, he found that General Sir William Howe was attempting to flank Washingtons position. Later in the day, with the battle going poorly, Washington empowered Pulaski to gather available forces to cover the American retreat. Effective in this role, the Pole mounted a key charge which aided in holding back the British. In recognition of his efforts, Pulaski was made brigadier general of cavalry on Sept. 15. The first officer to oversee the Continental Armys horse, he became the Father of the American Cavalry. Though only consisting of four regiments, he immediately began devising a new set of regulations and training for his men. As the Philadelphia Campaign continued, he alerted Washington to the British movements that resulted in the abortive Battle of the Clouds on Sept. 15. This saw Washington and Howe briefly meet near Malvern, PA before torrential rains halted the fighting. The following month, Pulaski played a role at the Battle of Germantown on Oct. 4. In the wake of the defeat, Washington withdrew to winter quarters at Valley Forge. As the army encamped, Pulaski unsuccessfully argued in favor of extending the campaign into the winter months. Continuing his work to reform the cavalry, his men were largely based around Trenton, NJ. While there, he aided Brigadier General Anthony Wayne in a successful engagement against the British at Haddonfield, NJ in February 1778. Despite Pulaskis performance and a commendation from Washington, the Poles imperious personality and poor command of English led to tensions with his American subordinates. This was reciprocated due to late wages and Washingtons denial of Pulaskis request to create a unit of lancers. As a result, Pulaski asked to be relieved of his post in March 1778. Pulaski Cavalry Legion Later in the month, Pulaski met with Major General Horatio Gates in Yorktown, VA and shared his idea of creating an independent cavalry and light infantry unit. With Gates aid, his concept was approved by Congress and he was permitted to raise a force of 68 lancers and 200 light infantry. Establishing his headquarters at Baltimore, MD, Pulaski began recruiting men for his Cavalry Legion. Conducting rigorous training through the summer, the unit was plagued by a lack of financial support from Congress. As a result, Pulaski spent his own money when necessary to outfit and equip his men. Ordered to southern New Jersey that fall, part of Pulaskis command was badly defeated by Captain Patrick Ferguson at Little Egg Harbor on Oct. 15. This saw the Poles men surprised as they suffered more than 30 killed before rallying. Riding north, the Legion wintered at Minisink. Increasingly unhappy, Pulaski indicated to Washington that he planned to return to Europe. Interceding, the American commande r convinced him to stay and in February 1779 the Legion received orders to move to Charleston, SC. In the South Arriving later that spring, Pulaski and his men were active in the defense of the city until receiving orders to march to Augusta, GA in early September. Rendezvousing with Brigadier General Lachlan McIntosh, the two commanders led their forces towards Savannah in advance of the main American army led by Major General Benjamin Lincoln. Reaching the city, Pulaski won several skirmishes and established contact with Vice Admiral Comte dEstaings French fleet which was operating offshore. Commencing the Siege of Savannah on September 16, the combined Franco-American forces assaulted the British lines on Oct. 9. In the course of the fighting, Pulaski was mortally wounded by grapeshot while leading a charge forward. Removed from the field, he was taken aboard the privateer Wasp which then sailed for Charleston. Two days later Pulaski died while at sea. Pulaskis heroic death made him a national hero and a large monument was later erected in his memory in Savannahs Monterey Square. Sources NPS: Count Casimir PulaskiPolish-American Center: Casimir PulaskiNNDB: Casimir Pulaski

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Triangles and Polygons on SAT Math Strategies and Practice Questions for Geometry

Triangles and Polygons on SAT Math Strategies and Practice Questions for Geometry SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips 25 to 30% of the SAT math section will involve geometry, and the majority of those questions will deal with polygons in some form or another. Polygons come in many shapes and sizes and you will have to know your way around them with confidence in order to ace those SAT questions on test day. Luckily, despite their variety, polygons are often less complex than they look, and a few simple rules and strategies will have you breezing through those geometry questions in no time. This will be your complete guide to SAT polygons- the rules and formulas for various polygons, the kinds of questions you’ll be asked about them, and the best approach for solving these types of questions. What is a Polygon? Before we talk about polygon formulas, let’s look at what exactly a polygon is. A polygon is any flat, enclosed shape that is made up of straight lines. To be â€Å"enclosed† means that the lines must all connect, and no side of the polygon can be curved. Polygons NOT Polygons Polygons come in two broad categories- regular and irregular. A regular polygon has all equal sides and all equal angles, while irregular polygons do not. Regular Polygons Irregular Polygons (Note: most all of the polygons on the SAT that are made up of five sides or more will be regular polygons, but always double-check this! You will be told in the question whether the shape is "regular" or "irregular.") The different types of polygons are named after their number of sides and angles. A triangle is made of three sides and three angles (â€Å"tri† meaning three), a quadrilateral is made of four sides (â€Å"quad† meaning four), a pentagon is made of five sides (â€Å"penta† meaning five), and so on. Most of the polygons you’ll see on the SAT (though not all) will either be triangles or some sort of quadrilateral. Triangles in all their forms are covered in our complete guide to SAT triangles, so let’s look at the various types of quadrilaterals you’ll see on the test. With polygons, you may notice that many definitions will fit inside other definitions. Quadrilaterals There are many different types of quadrilaterals, most of which are subcategories of one another. Parallelogram A parallelogram is a quadrilateral in which each set of opposite sides is both parallel and congruent (equal) with one another. The length may be different than the width, but both widths will be equal and both lengths will be equal. Parallelograms are peculiar in that their opposite angles will be equal and their adjacent angles will be supplementary (meaning any two adjacent angles will add up to 180 degrees). Rectangle A rectangle is a special kind of parallelogram in which each angle is 90 degrees. The rectangle’s length and width can either be equal or different from one another. Square If a rectangle has an equal length and width, it is called a square. This means that a square is a type of rectangle (which in turn is a type of parallelogram), but NOT all rectangles are squares. Rhombus A rhombus is a type of parallelogram in which all four sides are equal and the angles can be any measure (so long as their adjacents add up to 180 degrees and their opposite angles are equal). Just as a square is a type of rectangle, but not all rectangles are squares, a rhombus is a type of parallelogram (but not all parallelograms are rhombuses). Trapezoid A trapezoid is a quadrilateral that has only one set of parallel sides. The other two sides are non-parallel. Kite A kite is a quadrilateral that has two pairs of equal sides that meet one another. And here come the formulas- mwahaha! Polygon Formulas Though there are many different types of polygons, their rules and formulas build off of a few simple basic ideas. Let’s go through the list. Area Formulas Most polygon questions on the SAT will ask you to find the area or the perimeter of a figure. These will be the most important area formulas for you to remember on the test. Area of a Triangle $$(1/2)bh$$ The area of a triangle will always be half the amount of the base times the height. In a right triangle, the height will be equal to one of the legs. In any other type of triangle, you must drop down your own height, perpendicular from the vertex of the triangle to the base. Area of a Square $$l^2 \or {lw}$$ Because each side of a square is equal, you can find the area by either multiplying the length times the width or simply by squaring one of the sides. Area of a Rectangle $$lw$$ For any rectangle that is not a square, you must always multiply the base times the height to find the area. Area of a Parallelogram $$bh$$ Finding the area of a parallelogram is exactly the same as finding the area of a rectangle. Because a parallelogram may slant to the side, we say we must use its base and its height (instead of its length and width), but the principle is the same. You can see why the two actions are equal if you were to transform your parallelogram into a rectangle by dropping down straight heights and shifting the base. Area of a Trapezoid $$[(l_1+l_2)/2]h$$ In order to find the area of a trapezoid, you must find the average of the two parallel bases and multiply this by the height of the trapezoid. Now let's look at an example: In the figure, WXYZ is a rectangle with $\ov{WA} = \ov{BZ} = 4$. The area of the shaded region is 32. What is the length of $\ov{XY}$? [Note: figure not to scale] A. 6B. 8C. 12D. 16E. 20 First, let us fill in our given information. Our shaded figure is a trapezoid, so let us use the formula for finding the area of a trapezoid. area $=[(l_1+l_2)/2]h$ Now if we call the longest base q, the shortest base will be $q−4−4$, or $q−8$. (Why? Because the shortest leg is equal to the longest leg minus our two given lengths of 4). This means we can now plug in our values for the leg lengths. In addition, we are also given a height and an area, so we can plug all of our values into the formula in order to find the length of our longest side, q. $32=[(q+(q−8))/2]2$ $32=(2q+2q−16)/2$ $64=4q−16$ $80=4q$ $20=q$ The length of $\ov{XY}$ (which we designated $q$) is 20. Our final answer is E, 20. In general, the best way to find the area of different kinds of polygons is to transform the polygon into smaller and more manageable shapes. This will also help you if you forget your formulas come test day. For example, if you forget the formula for the area of a trapezoid, turn your trapezoid into a rectangle and two triangles and find the area for each. Let us look to how to solve the above problem using this method instead. We are told that the area of the trapezoid is 32. We also know that we can find the area of a triangle by using the formula ${1/2}bh$. So let us find the areas for both our triangles. ${1/2}bh$ ${1/2}(4)(2)$ ${1/2}8$ $4$ Each triangle is worth 8, so together, both triangles will be: $4+4$ $8$ Now if we add the area of our triangles to our given area of the trapezoid, we can see that the area of our full rectangle is: $32+8$ $40$ Finally, we know that we find the area of a rectangle by multiplying the length times the width. We have a given width of 2, so the length will be: $40=lw$ $40=2l$ 20=l The length of the rectangle (line $\ov{XY}$) will be 20. Again, our final answer is E, 20. Always remember that there are many different ways to find what you need, so don’t be afraid to use your shortcuts! Whichever solving path you choose depends on how you like to work best. Angle Formulas Whether your polygon is regular or irregular, the sum of its interior degrees will always follow the rules of that particular polygon. Every polygon has a different degree sum, but this sum will be consistent, no matter how irregular the polygon. For example, the interior angles of a triangle will always equal 180 degrees (to see more on this, be sure to check out our guide to SAT triangles), whether the triangle is equilateral (a regular polygon), isosceles, acute, or obtuse. All of these triangles will have a total interior degree measure of 180 degrees. So by that same notion, the interior angles of a quadrilateral- whether kite, square, trapezoid, or other- will always add up to be 360 degrees. Why? Because a quadrilateral is made up of two triangles. For example: One interior angle of a parallelogram is 65 degrees. If the remaining angles have measures of $a$, $b$ and $c$, what is the value of $a+b+c$? All quadrilaterals have an interior degree sum of 360, so: $a+b+c+65=360$ $a+b+c=295$ The sum of $\bi a, \bi b$, and $\bi c$ is 295. Interior Angle Sum You will always be able to find the sum of a polygon’s interior angles in one of two ways- by memorizing the interior angle formula, or by dividing your polygon into a series of triangles. Method 1: Interior Angle Formula $$(n−2)180$$ If you have an $n$ number of sides in your polygon, you can always find the interior degree sum by the formula $(n−2)$ times 180 degrees. If you picture starting from one angle and drawing connecting lines to every other angle to make triangles, you can see why this formula has an $n−2$. The reason being that you cannot make a triangle by using the immediate two connecting sides that make up the angle- each would simply be a straight line. To see this in action, let us look at our second method. Method 2: Dividing Your Polygon Into Triangles The reason the above formula works is because you are essentially dividing your polygon into a series of triangles. Because a triangle is always 180 degrees, you can multiply the number of triangles by 180 to find the interior degree sum of your polygon, whether your polygon is regular or irregular. Individual Interior Angles If your polygon is regular, you will also be able to find the individual degree measure of each interior angle by dividing the degree sum by the number of angles. (Note: $n$ can be used for both the number of sides and the number of angles; the number of sides and angles in a polygon will always be equal.) $${(n−2)180}/n$$ Again, you can choose to either use the formula or the triangle dividing method by dividing your interior sum by the number of angles. Angles, angler fish...same thing, right? Side Formulas As we saw earlier, a regular polygon will have all equal side lengths. And if your polygon is regular, you can find the number of sides by using the reverse of the formula for finding angle measures. A regular polygon with n sides has equal angles of 120 degrees. How many sides does the figure have? 3 4 5 6 7 For this question, it will be quickest for us to use our answers and work backwards in order to find the number of sides in our polygon. (For more on how to use the plugging in answers technique, check out our guide to plugging in answers). Let us start at the middle with answer choice C. We know from our angle formula (or by making triangles out of our polygons) that a five sided figure will have: $(n−2)180$ $(5−2)180$ $(3)180$ $540$ degrees. Or again, you can always find your degree sum by making triangles out of your polygon. This way you will still end up with $(3)180=540$ degrees. Now, we also know that this is a regular polygon, so each interior angle will be this same. This means we can find the individual angles by dividing the total by the number of sides/angles. So let us find the individual degree measures by dividing that sum by the number of angles. $540/5=108$ Answer choice C was too small. And we also know that the more sides a figure has, the larger each individual angle will be. This means we can cross off answer choices A and B (60 degrees and 90 degrees, respectively), as those answers would be even smaller. Now let us try answer choice D. $(n−2)180$ $(6−2)180$ $(4)180$ $720$ Or you could find your internal degree sum by once again making triangles from your polygons. Which would again give you $(4)180=720$ degrees. Now let’s divide the degree sum by the number of sides. $720/6=120$ We have found our answer. The figure has 6 sides. Our final answer is D, 6. Luckily for us, the SAT is predictable. You don't need a psychic to figure out what you're likely to see come test day. Typical Polygon Questions Now that we’ve been through all of our polygon rules and formulas, let’s look at a few different types of polygon questions you’ll see on the SAT. Almost all polygon questions will involve a diagram in some way (especially if the question involves any polygon with four or more sides). The few problems that do not use a diagram will generally be simple word problems involving rectangles. Typically, you will be asked to find one of three things in a polygon question: #1: The measure of an angle (or the sum of two or more angles)#2: The perimeter of a figure#3: The area of a figure Let’s look at a few real SAT math examples of these different types of questions. The Measure of an Angle: Because this hexagon is regular, we can find the degree measure of each of its interior angles. We saw earlier that we can find this degree measure by either using our interior angle formula or by dividing our figure into triangles. A hexagon can be split into 4 triangles, so $180 °*4=720$ degrees. There are 6 interior angles in a hexagon, and in a regular hexagon, these will all be equal. So: $720/6=120$ Now the line BO is at the center of the figure, so it bisects the interior angle CBA. The angle CBA is 120, which means that angle $x$ will be: $120/2=60$ Angle $x$ is 60 degrees. Our final answer is B, 60. The Perimeter of a Figure: We are told that ABCE is a square with the area of 1. We know that we find the area of a square by multiplying the length and the width (or by squaring one side), which means that: $lw=1$ This means that: $l=1$ And, $w=1$ We also know that every side is equal in a square. This means that $\ov{AB}, \ov{BC}, \ov{CE}, and \ov{AE}$ are ALL equal to 1. We are also told that CED is an equilateral triangle, which means that each side length is equal. Since we know that $\ov{CE} = 1$, we know that $\ov{CD}$ and $\ov{DE}$ both equal 1 as well. So the perimeter of the polygon as a whole- which is made of lines $\ov{AB}, \ov{BC}, \ov{CD}, \ov{DE}, and \ov{EA}$- is equal to: $1+1+1+1+1=5$ Our final answer is B, 5. [Note: don't get tricked into picking answer choice C! Even though each line in the figure is worth 1 and there are 6 lines, line $\ov{CE}$ is NOT part of the perimeter. This is an answer choice designed to bait you, so be careful to always answer only what the question asks.) The Area of a Figure: We are told that the length of the rug is 8 feet and that the length is also 2 feet more than the width. This means that the width must be: $8−2=6$ Now we also know that we find the area of a rectangle by multiplying width and length. So: $8*6=48$ The area of the rug is 48 square feet. Our final answer is B, 48. And now time for some practical how-to's, from tying a bow to solving your polygon questions. How to Solve a Polygon Question Now that we’ve seen the typical kinds of questions you’ll be asked on the SAT and gone through the process of finding our answers, we can see that each solving method has a few techniques in common. In order to solve your polygon problems most accurately and efficiently, take note of these strategies: #1: Break up figures into smaller shapes Don’t be afraid to write all over your diagrams. Polygons are complicated figures, so always break them into small pieces when you can. Break them apart into triangles, squares, or rectangles and you’ll be able to solve questions that would be impossible to figure out otherwise. Alternatively, you may need to expand your figures by providing extra lines and creating new shapes in which to break your figure. Just always remember to disregard these false lines when you’re finished with the problem. Because this is an awkward shape, let us create a new line and break the figure into two triangles. Next, let us replace our given information. From our definitions, we know that every triangle will have interior angles that add up to 180 degrees. We also know that the two angles we created will be equal. We can use this information to find the missing, equal, angle measures by subtracting our givens from 180 degrees. $180−30−20−20$ $110$ Now, we can divide that number in half to find the measurement of each of the two equal angles. $110/2$ $55$ Now, we can look at the smaller triangle as its own independent triangle in order to find the measure of angle z. Again, the interior angles will measure out to 180 degrees, so: $180−55−55$ $70$ Angle $z$ is 70 degrees. Our final answer is B, 70. #2: Use your shortcuts If you don’t feel comfortable memorizing formulas or if you are worried about getting them wrong on test day, don’t worry about it! Just understand your shortcuts (for example, remember that all polygons can be broken into triangles) and you’ll do just fine. #3: When possible, use PIA or PIN Because polygons involve a lot of data, it can be very easy to confuse your numbers or lose track of the path you need to go down to solve the problem. For this reason, it can often help you to use either the plugging in answer strategy (PIA) or the plugging in numbers strategy (PIN), even though it can sometimes take longer (for more on this, check out our guides to PIA and PIN). #4: Keep your work organized There is a lot of information to keep track of when working with polygons (especially once you break the figure into smaller shapes). It can be all too easy to lose your place or to mix-up your numbers, so be extra vigilant about your organization and don’t let yourself lose a well-earned point due to careless error. Ready? Test Your Knowledge Now it's time to test your knowledge with real SAT math problems. 1. 2. 3. Answers: D, B, 6.5 Answer Explanations 1. Again, when dealing with polygons, it's useful to break them into smaller pieces. For this trapezoid, let us break the figure into a rectangle and a triangle by dropping down a height at a 90 degree angle. This will give us a rectangle, which means that we will be able to fill in the missing lengths. Now, we can also find the final missing length for the leg of the triangle. Since this is a right triangle, we can use the Pythagorean theorem. $a^2+b^2=c^2$ $x^2+15^2=17^2$ $x^2+225=289$ $x^2=64$ $x=8$ Finally, let us add up all the lines that make up the perimeter of the trapezoid. $17+20+15+20+8$ $80$ Our final answer is D, 80. 2. We are told that the larger polygon has equal sides and equal angles. We can also see that the shaded figure has 4 sides and angles, which means it is a quadrilateral. We know that a quadrilateral has 360 degrees, so let us subtract our givens from 360. $x+y=80$ $360−80=280$ Again, we know that the polygon has all equal angles, so we can find the individual degree measures by dividing this found number in half. $280/2=140$ Each interior angle of the polygon will have 140 degrees. Now, we can find the number of sides by either reversing our polygon side formula or by plugging in answers. Let's look at both methods. Method 1: Formula $${(n−2)180}/n$$ We know that this formula gives us the measure of each interior angle, so let us use the knowledge of our individual interior angle (our found 140 degrees) and plug it in to find n, the number of sides. $140={(n−2)180}/n$ $140n=(n−2)180$ $140n=180n−360$ $−40n=−360$ $n=9$ Our polygon has 9 sides. Our answer is B, 9. Method 2: Plugging in answers We can also use our method of plugging in answers to find the number of sides in our polygon. As always, let us select answer option C. Answer choice C gives us 8 sides. We know that a polygon with eight sides will be broken into 6 triangles. So it will have: $180*6$ $1080$ degrees total Now, if we divide this total by the number of sides, we get: $1080/8$ $135$ Each interior angle will be 135 degrees. This answer is close, but not quite what we want. We also know that the more sides a regular polygon has, the larger each interior angle measure will be (an equilateral triangle's angles are each 60 degrees, a rectangle's angles are each 90 degrees, and so on), so we need to pick a polygon with more than 8 sides. Let us then try answer choice B, 9 sides. We know that a 9-sided polygon will be made from 7 triangles. This means that the total interior degree measure will be: $180*7$ $1260$ And we know that each angle measure will be equal, so: $1260/9$ $140$ We have found our correct answer- a 9-sided polygon will have individual angle measures of 140 degrees. Our final answer is B, nine. 3. Let us begin by breaking up our figure into smaller, more manageable polygons. We know that the larger rectangle will have an area of: $2*1$ $2$ The smaller rectangle will have an area of: $1*x$ $x$ (Note: we are using $x$ in place of one of the smaller sides of the small rectangles, since we do not yet know its length) We are told that the total area is $9/4$, so: $2+x=9/4$ $x=9/4−2$ $x=9/4−8/4$ $x=1/4$ Now that we know the length of x, we can find the perimeter of the whole figure. Let us add all of the lengths of our exposed sides to find our perimeter. $1+2+1+0.25+1+0.25+1$ $6.5$ Our perimeter is $6.5.$ Our final answer is 6.5. I think you deserve a present for pushing through on polygons, don't you? The Take Aways Though polygon questions may seem complicated, all polygons follow just a handful of rules. You may come across irregular polygons and ones with many sides, but the basic strategies and formulas will apply regardless. So long as you follow your solve steps, keep your work well organized, and remember your key definitions, you will be able to take on and solve polygon questions that once seemed utterly obscure. What’s Next? Phew! You knocked out polygons and now it's time to make sure the rest of your math know-how is in top shape. First, make sure you have working knowledge of all the math topics on the SAT so that you can get a sense of your strengths and weaknesses. Next, find more topic-specific SAT math guides like this one so that you can turn those weak areas into strengths. Need to brush up on your probability questions? Fractions and ratios? Lines and angles? No matter what topic you need, we've got you covered. Running out of time on the SAT math? Look to our guide on how to best boost your time (and your score!). Worried about test day? Take a look at how you should prepare for the actual day in question. Want to get a perfect score? Check out our guide to getting an 800 on SAT math, written by a perfect scorer. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Math strategy guide, you'll love our program. Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Personal statement of UC application Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Of UC application - Personal Statement Example Although I still consider myself a young person, I have been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to spend an entire summer interning for my father’s real estate firm in mainland China; performing the job responsibilities of an accountant. While in China, I was able to learn the rudimentary elements of basic business accounting while at the same time becoming accustomed to the Chinese laws that governed its implementation. There is no doubt that I have a great deal of further knowledge to be gained in this field by pursuing a major in accounting; furthermore, I am intrigued by the ways in which the lessons I learn from my education will be amenable to better performing accounting with relation to Chinese firms or American firms. Likewise, what intrigued me about this particular line of work was the precision that it involved. As opposed to many career choices I could make, accounting provides me with the rare opportunity to leverage my superior skills and intuition with mathematics alongside my interest in the law and how it governs financial regulation and actions within a firm or organization. Additionally, while working during my internship I noticed that I had the unique ability to concentrate and focus in a way that allowed me to handle complex levels of information. Additionally, once back within the United States, I began to work in my father’s Tea Shop managing the accounts and keeping the books for the business. Although this is the epitome of a small business and not nearly as complex as the skills that I will learn with relation to the degree I am pursuing, this experience has also taught me the overall importance of precision and certainty when dealing with the financial aspects of management as they relate to accounting. Although I have been fortunate to have a father that has entrusted me with such important tasks, I would very much like to grow beyond this and master the skills

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Prevention of Terrorism and Business Continuity Essay

Prevention of Terrorism and Business Continuity - Essay Example The events availed a remarkable case of a widening interdependence of both the private and public sectors in confronting the present-day security challenges. Since the 9/11, the fight against terrorism has been a top political priority for both the government and businesses alike. Governments have a responsibility to prevent and disrupt terrorist attacks, which hinges on coordinated and collaborative relationships between the intelligence, security, and law enforcement agencies. The key motivation has not only been because of the suffering of the victims, but also because terrorist attacks are a direct assault on elemental values of human rights, rules of law, and democracy (Frias, Samuel and White 2012, 483). Terrorism bears a direct impact on the enjoyment of several human rights such as rights to life, liberty, and physical integrity. Terrorist attacks significantly destabilize governments; they also compromise peace and security, as well as social and economic development. One of the prominent themes in the human rights debate encompasses enhanced recognition of the link between business and human rights. The application of the law in relation to the prevention of terrorism often proves to be complex, especially regarding recognition of human rights as outlined by instruments such as European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and UN Charter on human rights. Businesses can wield immense power and bear a direct impact on governmental policies and enjoyment of human rights. Businesses bear an obligation to contribute to the promotion and safeguarding of human rights (Ganor 2005, p.149). The preface of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights outlines that all persons and every organ of the society shall endeavor to promote respect for human rights and basic freedoms (Zwitter 2011, p.20).

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Cultural Considerations Essay Example for Free

Cultural Considerations Essay This paper will examine and assesses the cultural concerns and influences of today’s societies with mixed cultures and the effect on the criminal justices system. The paper will address how the cultural concerns and influences affect justice and security administration and practice. The paper will show some contemporary methods by the police and security used in societies of mixed cultures. The paper will address how these influences and considerations relate to and affect nondiscrimination practices within the criminal justice system. Finally, the paper will address Sir Robert Peel’s nine principles and how they fit into today’s police departments. The military occupation of numerous countries in the Middle East and Europe has brought police practices into question. The local police forces have been trained by the military in which the rules are different. The free people are suffering abuse at the hands of the police in those countries. In those cases where militant law is present and security is more prevalent, the police appear to work more for the current occupying military than for that country’s government or the people. More than 200 cases of torture have either been investigated or court marshaled by the United States in violation of the United Nations anti-torture body in 2006. This increase in torture may be caused by racial, ethnic, and religious differences in the contemporary War on Terrorism (French Wailes, 2008). The abuse on that scale does not occur within the United States; however, a problem still exists with the assessment of police and security personnel. These practices are scrutinized by the military, governments, security agencies, and local and foreign police. Of course, these practices question discrimination and profiling. Profiling is one of the major concerns here in the United States. Some confusion exits between profiling and racial profiling. A person cannot be profiled by a police officer based on color, sex, religion, or culture. However, a person can be profiled if he or she matches the description of a suspect. The measures currently used to assess officers are objective and may disclose intimate aspects of the person tested. The standard for recognition in the United States is the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) that was established in 1979. Psychological testing is in place, however; standards are not set by CALEA, and each agency conducts their own testing (French Wailes, 2008). In 1973, the National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals recommended that every police agency follow a formal selection process that includes a written test of mental ability or aptitude, an oral interview, a psychological examination, and a background investigation. It was believed that introducing greater screening and standardization to the selection process would result in a more qualified police force. International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) developed several guidelines for pre-employment psychological evaluations. These recommendations address such issues as validation of testing instruments, compliance with legislation, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), using qualified psychologists familiar with the relevant research, and content of the written reports (Cochrane, Tett Vandercreek, 2008). Compliance with such acts as the ADA indicates the implementation of diversity in the testing process. A few of the most common comprehensive personality tests given to police officers during their psychological testing include the following: Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Openness (NEO) Personality Inventory, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2(MMPI-2), and Inwald Personality Inventory (IPI). Traits from the NEO Personality Inventory–Revised, which was based on the five-factor model of personality, have also shown to be predictive of police performance. The MMPI-2 and the IPI have been shown to be effective in predicting several job criteria for police officers as well (Cochrane, Tett Vandercreek, 2008). Today’s American policing and justice system is based on English principles and English common law. One such tradition was limited police authority. This gives way to liberties and freedoms and limits governmental authority. Another tradition was the localized police control as opposed to a national, centralized police force as experienced in many other countries. This turned out to be both an advantage and a detriment. The localization resulted in fragmentation and decentralization of law enforcement. The advantage was acquiring little national control (Walker Katz, 2011, p. 24). Peel believed that prevention of crime could be accomplished without intruding into the lives of citizens so he developed the nine principles of community policing. His first concept was the basic mission of police was to prevent crime and disorder. The prevention of crime makes the job easier of the police. Police presence is deterrence, therefore prevents crime from occurring. This is the basis for today’s community policing concept. The public must also approve of the actions of the police in the performance of their duties. The people must work voluntarily with the police in observance of the laws to maintain public order (History, 2002). The public must comply voluntarily with the laws and work with the police. Most people do what is morally correct; in turn the police also must do what is lawfully correct. The police are directed by the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights to safeguard every citizen’s right from interference from government. These philosophies are still observed today. If a citizen does not approve of the conduct of the police, a complaint is filed. If the public does not agree with a law, they work to make changes. If the public fails to observe the law, there are consequences, such an arrest or a fine. Another concept concerns the use of physical force to gain compliance. The public is cooperative with the police whereas physical force not need be employed. If compliance is not gained and physical force is required, the force will not be so great as to be considered excessive (History, 2002). The Constitution provides rights to the people and protects them from the police in this area. Laws in most states specifically write out what is considered â€Å"force,† when and how it can be used. Last, the police are specifically trained in the application of force through means of various weapons and hand to hand combat. This force is not to be excessive, not to be used as punishment, or in a punitive manner. The force used is that reasonable force to effect and arrest, to protect oneself or another from death or great bodily harm. The police serve both the public and the law, they shall not show impartiality, but to the law. The officers are also members of the public. Any interest the public has would also be interest to the police (History, 2002). In this case, the officer may come from any background may be either sex or any race. The officer must show fairness to members of other groups and not discriminate against those members or members of his or her own group. The officer shall treat everyone as equally as possible. The police are hired to uphold the law, at the same time serve the public. Peel’s theory indicates, when a conflict arises, the service to the law should outweigh the public service. This concept is contradictory to today’s practices. Policing has become â€Å"customer service†-oriented, where the customer is always right. The officers are members of the public, when they are in an off duty capacity, they are afforded the same rights as any other citizen. However, they should govern themselves as an upstanding citizen because they do represent the law. The final concept indicates the effectiveness of policing is the lack of crime and disorder. This concept is known as preventative policing. In today’s society, the crimes are not occurring where there is a high police presence. So, Peel’s principles are still used to some extent. The demographics have changed since his time. People and crimes have evolved. People’s values have changed, whereas they are tolerant of certain crimes. The attitudes toward police have changed. In a location where there is a strong police presence, fewer crimes occur. This is consistent with Peel’s concept. However, if the demographics of the neighborhood are less desirable, the people of the neighborhood indicate the police are prejudiced and do not want the police in the neighborhood. Thus, more crimes occur in this less protected neighborhood. If fewer police are present, the response time for an officer to an incident is longer because there are fewer officers and more calls. The ratio of officers to calls is higher. In these cases discrimination is blamed for the increased of police presence and the lack of it as well. The affected parties assume they are discriminated against because more police are in their areas, where more crime occurs. However, when the police are not present, they blame the police for the increase in crime because the police are not present. In conclusion, most of Sir Robert Peel’s principles can be applied to the organization of a police department today. In fact, many departments in England still work by his principles. Some need to be altered to accommodate today’s society to be more â€Å"customer† friendly. The United States Constitution and Bill of Rights need to be recognized, as well such as the Due Process Clauses to both the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments if his principles are applied.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Characters of Hamlet and Holden Essay -- compare, contrast, compari

To some, this argument may seem the most blatant form of mistruth, horrendous, even, in its lack of taste, a kind of literary sacrilege, in fact. Surely we have reached the end, one might say, when one can considerer comparing the immortal Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, with the adolescent protagonist of Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. Salinger’s hero has been compared to many literary figures, from Huckleberry Finn to David Copperfield. So many different attitudes have been taken toward him. Let’s stop talking about him and write something else. Isn’t the subject getting boring? Perhaps so, but Holden will not go away. He continues to pester the mind, and while reading A.C. Bradley’s analysis of Hamlet’s character, it was hard to resist the idea that much of what Bradley was saying about Hamlet applied to Holden as well. Perhaps the comparison is not as absurd as it first appears. Of course, there is no similarity between the events of the play and those of the novel. The fascinating thing while reading Bradley was how perfectly his analysis of Hamlet’s character applied to Holden’s, how deeply, in fact, he was going into Holden’s character as well, revealing, among other things, its potentially tragic nature. After demolishing the theories of other critics, Bradley concluded that the essence of Hamlet’s character is contained in a three-fold analysis of it. First, that rather than being melancholy by temperament, in the usual sense of â€Å"profoundly sad,† he is a person of unusual nervous instability, one liable to extreme and profound alterations of mood, a potential manic-depressive type. Romantic, we might say. Second, this Hamlet is also a person of â€Å"exquisite moral sensibility, â€Å" hypersensitive to goodness, a m... ...dy view holden as symbolizing the plight of the idealist in the modern world. Most importantly, however, it suggests why Holden Caulfied will not go away, he continues to remain so potent an influence on the now aging younger generation that he first spoke to, and why he continues to brand himself anew on the young. In fact, in this age of atrophy, in this thought-tormented, thought-tormenting time in which we live, perhaps it is not going too far to say that, for many of us, at least, our Hamlet is Holden. Works Cited Bradley, A.C. â€Å"Hamlet.† Shakespearean Tragedy. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1981. 89-174. Sanders, Wlibur, and Howard Jacobson. â€Å"Hamlet’s Sanity.† Shakespeare’s Magnanimity: Four Tragic Heroes, Their Friends and Families. New York: Oxford University Press, 1978. 22-56. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. New York: Washington Square Press, 1992.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

When people become very angry, they are said to be operating from their `dinosaur brain`

It has been said that the thing that sets human beings apart from all the other creatures in the animal kingdom is the fact that human beings have the ability for discernment and for logical thinking. In times were animals would be ruled by impulse and instinct, human beings are able to control these urges to a certain extent. As beings capable of suppressing baser instincts and impulses, human beings are expected to be above such primal instincts.It is for this reason that people who are very angry or emotional and give in to such baser instincts are said to be operating from their â€Å"dinosaur brains. † It is not to say of course that operating from one’s dinosaur brain means that one is also capacitated with the same intellectual capacity as that of those prehistoric animals. Dinosaurs were creatures that had smaller brains than today’s creatures and as such their thinking had not evolved to the same extent.This means that these animals only followed the bas ic instincts such as eating, mating and sleeping, offshoots of which are aggression in certain cases in order to preserve and protect. Therefore, any person who is operating from their dinosaur brain is simply exercising the functions that dinosaurs used to use in the underdeveloped brains. Feelings such as anger and hunger become the ruling considerations and logic is never part of the equation.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Charles Dickens Essay

One lesson we witness in A Kestrel for a Knave also aims to teach the pupils about facts. However this lesson is taught by Farthing who is caring and a more fatherly teacher and this is communicated by his name. Mr Farthing has used his kind personality to gain some respect from the boys in the class. Although the lesson has the same content as the lesson in Hard Times during the lesson it becomes obvious that Farthing’s teaching is different. He manages to involve Billy, who is normally quite shy and lacking motivation, positively in the lesson. Farthing teaches in a more relaxed way and lets the lesson flow as well as welcoming input from the boys. He encourages Billy to participate and makes him feel special as he has something interesting to share. Farthing lets Billy’s thought tumble out and does not cut him short. Billy tells all about his bird, which he has raised and trained, and Farthing seems genuinely interested † ‘Jesses, how do you spell that?’ † He writes words on the board, allowing the whole class to learn about Billy’s unusual talent. Billy becomes the teacher for a while and as Farthing is not controlling like Gradgrind he allows this to happen. The lesson becomes full of individuality as Billy shares his unusual hobby and his confidence grows. This would never have happened in a lesson taught by Gradgrind, he would never encourage a pupil to take over his position and would think a pastime like Billy’s ridiculous. The way in which Farthing nurtures Billy’s thoughts reflect the way in which Billy has nurtured Kes. The time and devotion that Billy has shown the bird is matched, although on a smaller level, by the way Farthing waits for Billy to talk and persist to question him gently as if he knows Billy has a lot to share. Another contrast between the two schools is the way in which Billy and his classmates’ behaviour changes depending on the teacher, whereas Gradgrind’s pupils are always the same. The different methods of teaching present at Billy’s school become obvious when the PE teacher Sugden is introduced. Sugden is a bully and again Hines has highlighted the teacher’s personality with his name, as Sugden is a thug. Billy dislikes PE and does not have a PE kit, as his family cannot afford to buy him one. He arrives late to the lesson as he has been talking to Farthing. Instead of discreetly giving him a kit to wear Sugden mocks Billy in front of the other boys. The way in which Billy is treated provokes him to answer back and be cheeky. Sugden’s verbal bullying brings out the negative aspects of Billy’s personality. Not only does Sugden verbally bully his pupils but as a big man he does not hesitate to physically abuse them too. â€Å"He hit Billy twice with the ball, holding it between both hands as though he was murdering him with a boulder.† The whole lesson is a bullying game for Sugden. There is an absence of skills taught and so the lesson consists of a game of football in which Sugden is the captain of one of the teams as well as being the referee. He bullies the opposing team as well as his own teammates if they make mistakes. His attitude is immature and shows no sportsmanship or fairness, two lessons which should always be reinforced in PE lessons. His negative attitude has a clear affect on the boys, who leave the lesson cold and uninspired. The education system presented by Charles Dickens is extreme and unnecessarily harsh. However the title Hard Times makes it seem like Dickens is writing honestly about a time which lead to harsh methods of education. He highlights the naivety of the people as now teaching methods have improved and young people are encouraged to be themselves and achieve the best that they can. Satire is used by Dickens to emphasize the mistakes of the system. Charles Dickens could of attended a school like the one in Hard Times and so I think he aims to make the problems obvious to people who otherwise might not notice the wrongs in society. Barry Hines also writes the truth about the education system in his era and I think he also aims to highlight the incorrectness of the organization. However Barry Hines writes more realistically as the book is more recent and therefore easier to relate to. Both authors present systems, which now seem very wrong but at the time they were thought of as acceptable. Both books probably contain memories of the authors’ school days and particularly in A Kestrel for a Knave the scenes seem very believable. I could conclude that neither system would be justifiable now but in their time the schools seemed fair.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Georg Baselitz, Creator of Upside-Down Art

Georg Baselitz, Creator of Upside-Down Art Georg Baselitz (born January 23, 1938) is a Neo-Expressionist German artist best known for painting and exhibiting many of his works upside down. The inversion of his paintings is a deliberate choice, aimed at challenging and disturbing viewers. According to the artist, he believes that it makes them think more about the grotesque and often disturbing content. Fast Facts: Georg Baselitz Full Name: Hans-Georg Kern, but changed his name to Georg Baselitz in 1958Occupation: Painter and sculptorBorn: January 23, 1938 in Deutschbaselitz, GermanySpouse: Johanna Elke KretzschmarChildren: Daniel Blau and Anton KernEducation: Academy of Visual and Applied Art in East Berlin and Academy of Visual Arts in West BerlinSelected Works: Die Grosse Nacht im Eimer (1963), Oberon (1963), Der Wald auf dem Kopf (1969)Notable Quote: I always feel attacked when Im asked about my painting. Early Life and Education Born Hans-Georg Kern, the son of an elementary school teacher, Georg Baselitz grew up in the town Deutschbaselitz, in what would later be East Germany. His family lived in a flat above the school. Soldiers used the building as a garrison during World War II, and it was destroyed during a battle between Germans and Russians. Baselitzs family found refuge in the cellar during the combat. In 1950, the Baselitz family moved to Kamens, where their son attended high school. He found himself heavily influenced by a reproduction of Interlude During a Hunt in Wermersdorf Forest by 19th-century German realist painter Ferdinand von Rayski. Baselitz painted extensively while attending high school. In 1955 the Art Academy of Dresden rejected his application. However, he began studying painting at the Academy of Visual and Applied Art in East Berlin in 1956. After expulsion due to socio-political immaturity, he continued his studies in West Berlin at the Academy of Visual Arts. In 1957, Georg Baselitz met Johanna Elke Kretzschmar. They married in 1962. He is the father of two sons, Daniel Blau and Anton Kern, who are both gallery owners. Georg and Johanna became Austrian citizens in 2015. Lothar Wolleh / Wikimedia Commons / GNU Free Documentation License First Exhibitions and Scandal Hans-Georg Kern became Georg Baselitz in 1958, when he adopted his new last name as a tribute to his hometown. He began painting a series of portraits based on observations of German soldiers. The focus of the young artist was the German identity in the aftermath of World War II. The first Georg Baselitz exhibition took place in 1963 at Galerie Werner Katz in West Berlin. It included the controversial paintings Der Nackte Mann (Naked Man) and Die Grosse Nacht im Eimer (Big Night Down the Drain). Local authorities deemed the paintings obscene and seized the works. The ensuing court case was not settled until two years later. Various Signs (1965). Hans-Georg Roth / Getty Images The controversy helped propel Baselitz into notoriety as a rising expressionist painter. Between 1963 and 1964, he painted the Idol series of five canvases. They focused on profoundly emotional and disturbed renderings of human heads echoing the emotional angst of Edvard Munchs The Scream (1893). The 1965-1966 series Helden (Heroes) represented Baselitz at top form. He presented ugly images that were designed to force Germans to confront the ugliness of their violent past during World War II and political suppression in East Germany. Upside-Down Art In 1969, Georg Baselitz presented his first inverted painting Der Wald auf dem Kopf (The Wood on its Head). The landscape subject matter is influenced by the work of Ferdinand von Rayski, Baselitzs childhood idol. The artist has frequently stated that he turns the works upside down to irritate the view. He believes that people pay closer attention when they are disturbed. While the paintings displayed upside down are representational in nature, the act of inverting them is considered a step toward abstraction. Some observers believe that the upside-down pieces were a gimmick to draw attention to the artist. However, the prevailing view saw it as a stroke of genius that rattled traditional perspectives on art. St. Georgstiefel (1997). Mary Turner / Getty Images While the subject matter of Baselitz paintings stretches far and wide and defies simple characterization, his upside-down technique quickly became the most easily identifiable element of his work. Baselitz was soon known as the pioneer of upside-down art. Sculpture In 1979, Georg Baselitz began creating monumental wooden sculptures. The pieces are unrefined and sometimes crude, like his paintings. He refused to polish his sculptures and preferred to leave them looking like rough-hewn creations. BDM Gruppe (2012). FaceMePLS / Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons 2.0 One of the most celebrated of Baselitzs sculpture series is the eleven busts of women he created in the 1990s designed to commemorate the bombing of Dresden during World War II. Baselitz memorialized the rubble women he saw as the backbone of efforts to reconstruct the city after the war. He used a chain saw to hack away at the wood and help give the pieces a crude, defiant appearance. The emotional intensity of the series echoes the 1960s paintings of the Heroes series. Later Career In the 1990s, Baselitz expanded his work into other media beyond painting and sculpture. He designed the set for the Dutch Operas production of Harrison Birtwistles Punch and Judy in 1993. In addition, he designed a postage stamp for the French government in 1994. The first major U.S. retrospective of the work of Georg Baselitz took place at the Guggenheim in New York City in 1994. The exhibition traveled to Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. Georg Baselitz continues to work and produce new art in his 80s. He remains controversial and is often highly critical of German politics. Georg Baselitz exhibition at White Cube Gallery (2016). rune hellestad / Getty Images Legacy and Influence The upside-down art of Georg Baselitz remains popular, but arguably his willingness to confront the horrors of World War II in Germany in his art has the most enduring impact. The emotional and occasionally shocking subject matter in his paintings exerted a powerful influence on Neo-Expressionist painters around the world. Oberon (1963), one of the most recognized masterpieces by Baselitz, demonstrates the visceral impact of his work. Four ghostly heads stretched into the center of the canvas on elongated and distorted necks. Behind them, what looks like a graveyard is drenched in a bloody red color. Oberon (1963). Hans-Georg Roth / Getty Images The painting represents the rejection of the prevailing winds of the art world in the 1960s directing young artists toward conceptual and pop art. Baselitz chose to dig even deeper into a grotesque form of expressionism laying bare the emotional horrors that continued to impact post-war Germany. Discussing the direction of his work, Baselitz said, I was born into a destroyed order, a destroyed landscape, a destroyed people, a destroyed society. And I didnt want to reestablish an order: Id seen enough of so-called order. Sources Heinze, Anna. Georg Baselitz: Back Then, In Between, and Today. Prestel, 2014.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

How to effectively explain why you have gaps on your resume

How to effectively explain why you have gaps on your resume Job gaps happen, because life happens. Maybe you’ve gotten laid off (or even fired). Maybe you took some time off from working to attend to personal matters, like a health issue, or caring for a child or family member. Our careers aren’t always constant, linear paths. But unfairly or not, having gaps can put you at a disadvantage against other candidates that have been working constantly in the field, picking up steady experience and a continuous progression through the ranks. Let’s explore how to maximize your resume to show that you’re just as qualified, gaps and all.Consider whether you should mention it at all.If the gap happened in the past, and you’re currently (or recently) employed, then you don’t need to talk about your gap at all unless asked. Don’t jump the gun just because you’re anxious about it- your interviewer might not even bring it up!Be honest†¦Sure, a few fake dates may go unnoticed by the resume reader. But they might not. And if your hiring process involves a background check, or you get tripped up when talking about your experience in person at a job interview, it’s going to be an embarrassing (and likely costly) mistake. If you’ve been out of the workforce for two years, acknowledge that fact, potentially in your cover letter, always emphasizing that you’re ready to jump back in.If an interviewer asks you why you left your last job (which is a while ago) and you happen to have lost your job, it’s okay to admit that. People get the downsizing factor- it happens to most people at some point. But again: emphasize that your skills and experience have grown and that you’re excited about this new opportunity.†¦but finesse dates if you have to.Instead of using specific months of employment, go with the year. You won’t be able to hide a gap of a year or more that way, but if you’ve been out of the game for more than a few months but less than a year, it can be easier to obscure that to the reader.Be careful of the kind of information you reveal about your gap.This applies especially if you took time off to have a kid or had a medical issue in the past. Interviewers aren’t allowed to discriminate against you on the basis of family status or physical disability, which means they can’t ask you about those things. If you go ahead and mention them yourself, though, then you’ve opened that door. So, it’s important to tread carefully. Instead of saying, â€Å"I took some time off to treat my clinical depression,† say something vague like, â€Å"I took time off for a family health issue, but now that things are better I’m so ready to put my store manager hat back on.†Tweak your resume format.Not every resume has to have the traditional job experience + skills + education format, with your work experience moving backwards chronologically. If you’re trying to set a narrative for your resume around a gap in employment, put your skills up front, taking care to spotlight ones that directly relate to the job at hand. The hiring manager needs to know, first and foremost, that you’re a good fit for the job. So you can make that connection easier if you show that you have the skills.If you have a fairly long work history, in the experience section you can emphasize only the most relevant jobs (â€Å"Relevant Work Experience), omitting ones that are way back or just not very applicable to this new job. That way, you’re not setting the expectation that every bit of your work experience is listed on the resume.Look for other kinds of experience to highlight.Maybe you volunteered while you were out of work. Maybe you took classes in coding that bumped your skills up to the next level. Look outside the usual job experience bullet points to show that you may have a gap, but you haven’t been totally out of it. Anything you can use to show that you’ve been building in the meantime will help you make the case that you’re ready to seize this new opportunity.So if you have a gap on your resume, don’t despair. It can feel intimidating to know you’re up against people who don’t have the same issue, but always remember that you’ve got great experience and skills. It’s all about showing how you plan to use those to overcome whatever challenges have come your way.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Americans share the basic beliefs that comprise American political Essay

Americans share the basic beliefs that comprise American political culture yet disagree on many issues along the lines of class, race, gender, and religion - Essay Example It is wrong to discriminate or victimize a person due to their opposing or different cultural orientations. On the contrary this should be used to enhance unity in the nation. Differences in race have been the cause of serious chaos and fights with certain races having been treated as inferior over the others. The fight against racism has yielded well and in the recent past the charges for racial prejudice are quite high. Religious tolerance is witnessed in many parts of the world although there has been serious conflict between Muslims and Christians in some parts of the world e.g. Nigeria. Americans vote along established political lines that have been drawn over the years. Candidates running for the prime positions such as the president have always tried to align their quest and bid to rule the land with the established political cultures so they can reap abundantly and gunner the needed votes. What is funny is that despite people in the United States have differences that range from gender, race, religion and culture but when it comes to elections they always vote in a certain manner that can be predicted easily by political analysts. This paper will therefore look deeply at the factors that are considered in the voting systems in the US and the aspects of unity and thinking that bind the people in the society. The people who vote have interests which are common and the problems that they face in the society are closely the same regardless of the racial, religious or cultural differences that they may be having. This can literally explain the reason why they will form a certain voting culture that can be used to determine how they can vote in an election. During election, the Americans will use their democratic rights and since they are not bound by any law to vote for a certain candidate they will choose their preferred one. However, after analyzing the voting trends the voting must align to a certain trend. This trend is a representation of the