Museo de la muñeca del Dr. E: Feliz Navidad!!

Museo de la muñeca del Dr. E: Feliz Navidad!!: Antique Doll Collector Magazine

Blog Post: Supply Chain Management Nightmare by RaShawn Moss

Blog Post: Supply Chain Management Nightmare

      Whenever I mention that my college major is Global Supply Chain Management, I find myself always having to explain what it is and its role in the world of commerce. I try to sound prideful when I tell them that it “is the art of providing the right product, at the right time, right place, and for the right cost to the customer”. Usually, there is a brief silence followed up with “that sounds boring but probably pays well”. Before I found this article, I would have agreed. The article I have chosen to write about is “The Cargo Theft Threat” by author Jared S. Palmer http://www.inboundlogistics.com/cms/article/the-cargo-theft-threat/.

      In the article, the author talks about how cargo is strategically stolen by violent gangs, crime syndicates, and possibly terrorist groups. The author also discusses how the thieves find out about loads, where are they targeted, and how to transport them internationally. These operations are very complexed and well organized. They even produce false government documents like a Bill of Laden to get through customs. Majority of readers may not realize how increasingly serious this issue has become internationally. $30 billion in cargo is stolen annually in the United States alone (Palmer). Just imagine how this effects our economy. As a consumer, we may pay a little extra for a certain product due to the retailer having to recoup money spent to have a replacement shipment sent by a second trucking company. Then there is a ripple affect where the retailer loses the customer, the trucking company loses the retailer’s business, and the insurance company charges the trucking company a higher premium because they are now considered high risk. Looking back at the original “Fast N Furious” film, some would probably agree that most fans were rooting for the wrong team. Where is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson when you need him? It is not likely that he would show up and save the day in the very much overexaggerated but entertaining way that he does. However, we do rely on the National Cargo Theft Task Force (NCTIF). The NCTIF is a combination of various organizations such as trucking companies, insurance providers, and law enforcement that work together to find solutions to this growing problem (Palmer). For more information about the NCTTF, go to www.nationalcargothefttaskforce.org.

      A list of proposed actions that could be used to prevent theft, is also given in the article. For example, providing additional screening and training would help employees recognize internal threats as well as external.  Applying additional locks and GPS will discourage some thieves from making attempts. Most importantly, the author states that companies need to report incident. Some companies do not report thefts because they prefer to avoid the negative perception that may come with it. Waiting to respond increases the chance that goods are not recovered.

   The cargo theft epidemic has been a problem for many years. The number of cargo thefts will continue to grow so long as the worldwide economic crisis continues to grow. Demand and increased prices determine what cargo thieves target. As more companies become more pro-active and report more thefts, the NCTTF will be able to keep record of the incident and the cost. This info is given to the government who decides to give more funding and create stricter laws. Until then, cargo theft will continue to be a Global Supply Chain Management nightmare.

    

     

Blog Post on Nurse Burnout by Maeghen Erick

 . The article that I chose is “Why Good Nurses Leave the Profession” by Nachole Johnson on May 6, 2015. I chose this article because I am a CNA. I have worked in the medical field as a CNA for 10 years. When I first became a CNA, I wanted to go to school and get my degree in nursing. That was 10 years ago. Now when people ask me if I am going to school for nursing I laugh and tell them that you couldn’t pay me enough to be a nurse. I tell them that I don’t want to end up crazy. But there are a lot more reasons why nurses leave the profession.

Poor Management: This is one of the biggest issues nurses have with their bosses. Nurses feel that management doesn’t listen to anything that they have to say. They feel that management is not supportive of them. They feel like management favors one shift over the other. Well I for a fact that lots of people feel this way. There could be many different reasons that management acts the way that they do. But you will never know those reasons unless you are a manager or you find out for sure from a manager.

Lack of Advancement  Without a Degree: After going into the profession, many nurses find out that you are not able to move up the corporate ladder without an additional degree. Then there is the time away from work just to get that other degree. But when you get that degree, you will feel accomplished. You will then have what you need to move up the ladder.

Underpayment: Nurses work anywhere from 4 to 16 hour shifts. From 3 to 6 days a week. They work holidays and weekends. They sacrifice vacations and family events. Nurses always are picking up overtime to meet the needs of the patients. It’s no wonder nurses feel like they are over worked and under payed.

Too Many Tasks:  Nurses do a lot. They administer meds, take vitals, and do assessments. They also have to help the patients with dressing, bathing, and going to the bathroom. They can have anywhere from 4 to 14 patients. It’s all very time consuming. With multiple call lights going off and patients needing things all at the same time, nurses are getting stressed out fast. Nurses doing too many tasks at once are feeling burned out and the turnover rate is a lot higher.

Short Staffing: Bold subheadings and use a colon, but I think these are effective.  This is the greatest concern for nursing. So instead of the patient to nurse ratio being 4:1, it ends up being 14:1. Multitasking is what nurses do. But it is hard to do when you have too many patients. One call in or a person quitting throws the whole shift off to a bad day for whoever is working. Then nurses are eventually tired of working short and will then quit as well.

To Stay or Go? That really is the major question. It all comes down to whether you love your profession enough to put up with all the issues that come along with it. There is always going to be another profession for you to fall back on. But will it pay the same as nursing? Do you get your degree and try to move up the corporate ladder? These are all questions that you need to answer before you stay or go.

References

Miss Charlotte Bronte meets Miss Barbara Pym: Happy Birthday, Emily Dickinson! 186th!

Miss Charlotte Bronte meets Miss Barbara Pym: Happy Birthday, Emily Dickinson! 186th!: For the Belle of Amherst, an announcement below.  Immediately following is one of my tributes to her, published in my book, Sappho, I Should...

Part One: Vintage Holiday Decorating Ideas (A Must Read Guide!) | Ruby Lane Blog

Part One: Vintage Holiday Decorating Ideas (A Must Read Guide!) | Ruby Lane Blog

Why America’s Nurses Are Burning Out by Anok Abdelkarim Cm 107

            Published for Everyday Health, “Why America’s Nurses Are Burning Out” is an article that addresses the issue of nurses leaving the medical field. Written by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the article explains that nurses leave the field for the following reasons: bad administration and management, insufficient staffing and scheduling, work related stress, wanting a career as a nurse versus having a passion for nursing. Each of these issues are problems all nurses experience on the job. The nursing field is not meant for everyone. It takes commitment, hard work, dedication, patience, and the ability to differentiate between empathy and sympathy. For a nurse to be successful and committed to the field, the issues Dr. Sanjay Gupta discusses must be addressed and examined thoroughly. The article was written to target working nurses, stressed nurses, healthcare coordinators, healthcare administrators and mangers, and the Human Resources and Development Department.

This article is relevant to the public and targeted audience because nurses are the heart of healthcare, and for a hospital or medical facility to run effectively, issues concerning the nursing field need to be addressed. I am currently a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and a Certified Medication Aide (CMA). I am also enrolled as a full-time Nursing student at Kaplan. So, I know why nurses are burning out. I have experienced all the issues and problems the article addresses. However, I must agree with one issue and strongly disagree with another.

Dr. Gupta writes, “in order for nurses to feel satisfied and fulfilled with their work, the staffing issues must be seriously addressed from a very high level.” I agree with this point. The root of most problems with nurses, is the administration and Human Resources Department. I have worked at two nursing facilities since obtaining my CNA. I left my first job because of bad management. When I had issues, concerns, or questions – I felt that they were not addressed promptly or correctly. The individuals who held the higher-level position, had little no experience in the healthcare department. Thus, they were unable to connect with the nurses and nurse aides, or fully understand their concerns through a nurse or nurse aide perspective. Eva Francis, a former nursing administrator interviewed by Dr. Gupta says, “Nurses also need to be able to express themselves professionally about the workload, and be heard without the fear of threat to their jobs or the fear of begin singled out.” I strongly agree with this because often, the nurse or nurse aide who do go to management and express their questions and concerns, are not taken seriously. Instead, the “old-way” of doing things is the “right away” of doing things. To address this issue, administrator and Human Resource departments needs to have an open-door policy. This policy must be practiced, just as much as it’s preached. Nurses and nurse aides need to have reassurance that their problems and concerns will be addressed and considered by their leaders, without fear of begin fired or singled out.

At the end of the article, it’s stated that “when a person goes into nursing as a profession, it’s either because it’s a career path or a calling.” This is a quote from Jill O’ Hara, former nurse from New York who left the nursing field. What O’Hara states is true. Some people get into nursing because it is a calling for them. This is not a job, but a passion for them. A passion to help care for the sick. Other get into nursing because it is a career choice. It is a job, but not a passion for them. A job with steady income. Though I agree with O’Hara on her view on why a person gets into the nursing profession, I strongly disagree with her on another point. O’Hara also states that, “the career nurse can leave work at the end of the day and let it go, but the nurse who enters the field because she is called to it takes those emotionally charged encounters home with her. They are empathetic, literally connecting emotionally with their patients, and it becomes a part of the energetically.” I strongly disagree with this statement because empathy is a big part of the nursing field and the healthcare field. When a nurse can connect with his or her patient, the bond allows them to see the patient as their own family member or relative, rather than a patient or bed number. When a patient is seen as a human begin, rather than another patient, they are given the best care because the nurses knows them on a deeper level. The ability to have empathy for another human being is key to the medical field. In my experience, nurses who entered the field did so because it was a career choice, rather than a passion or calling, tend to be the nurses who run into issues with patient cares. These nurses are often unpleasant and “numb” to human emotion. As a CNA/CMA and nursing student, knowing what I know – I would choose a nurse who was called to nursing over a nurse who choose it as a career choice.

Overall, nursing is a field that resolves around patients and patience, love and kindness, and sympathy and empathy. The issues that are causing nurses to leave the field are fixable. These are issues that various hospitals and healthcare facilities across the USA need to address. Dr. Sanjay Gupta has done a great job of bringing these issues to light. Now it’s time for the higher level position individuals to meet their nurses halfway, to provide a better working environment for the mental and emotional sanity of the people at the heart of the healthcare system.

Reference

Gupta, S., Dr. (2016). Why America's Nurses Are Burning Out. Retrieved November 19, 2016, from http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/why-americas-nurses-are-burning-out/

Protecting Your Children from Predators; CM 107 Comp I Fall 2016

Protecting your Children from Predators

Unit 4 Assignment – Writing a Personal Document

            The article I chose was from Parents Magazine, and the author is Jessica Snyder Sachs, and the name of the article is "Protect your Child from a Predators."  Sachs goes into detailed description on how to protect your child from being the victim of child molestation, and goes into her own experience of being a victim of child molestation. Sachs also references other authors and their views on the subject matter. She references Robin Sax, author of “Predators and Child Molesters”, who is a former prosecutor who specialized in sex crimes against children.

The article goes into things all parents should know, like the prevention and warning signs that something or someone may be wrong in your child’s life. She specifies the importance of knowing who is in your child’s life, because the people closest to you and your children are the most likely suspects in regard to child sex crimes. People whom we likely don’t see as threatening are normally the suspects in these types of situations. About 90 percent of suspects are relatives of their victim, or acquaintances such as neighbors, family friends, teachers, and coaches.  I know this can make for an uneasy time when dropping the kids off in the morning for school, but there are preventative measures that are available to be used to safeguard your children from unnecessary dangers. One of the first things to do is to talk with your children and ask them about what is going on in their lives. I know getting to the point of asking your child about sexual molestation is not an easy subject, but it is a necessary step when it comes to protecting them from unsavory people. We want to take measures not to make the child think s/he did anything wrong, and the author goes into how not to approach the subject. You should not say, “You should have” to the child because it places blame on them and makes them think they did something wrong, or that the responsibility is completely theirs in protecting themselves. What you do instead is just ask open end questions of what is going on with them, is there anything anyone has done to you to make you feel confused or uncomfortable, and if so who are we talking about and what happened to make you feel that way? Also, try to remember not to blow up or attempt to shame your child by saying things like, “Your uncle wouldn’t do that” or even, “I’ll kill him!” because it causes kids to feel guilty and they will sometimes modify their story out of fear. It is our jobs to reassure our children that it is not their fault.

 Also as a parent, if someone makes you feel uneasy or uncomfortable around your child. It is your responsibility to keep that person away from your child. If this person is at your child’s school, report it to the principal. It is their job to monitor situations or staff members that may be questionable and they are there when you aren’t. This is something necessary to do, if you someone has not met the points of breaking the law, but you want to make the situation clear to administration that you are uncomfortable with someone. Recognize red flags, because only one in five children who are sexually molested will report it. If your child says he doesn’t want to be around a certain person take him seriously. Other things to look for are unexplained urinary tract infections, or redness in the genital area.

With this article, I’ve found lots of useful information to use going forward that I could not go into detail completely in this paper, but is a great read for any parent who worries like we all do about our children and their safety.

Reference Page 

Sachs, J. Protect your Child from a Predator: Retrieved from: http://www.parents.com/kids/safety/other-safety-issues/protect-your-child-from-a-predator/ 

Blog Post Unit 4 assignment by Adriana Smith CM 107 Comp I Fall 2016, "Being a Good Boss"

Blog Post Unit 4 assignment

            Being a good boss is really important in a business, but what defines a “good” boss? It’s different for everyone, and my definition of a good boss is someone who is understanding, explains things well, and is  kind. In the article, “What It Takes to Be a Great Boss” by Steve Tobak, it brings up some really good points on what a great boss should act like. The audience that Steve is sending this message to is anyone who is interested in becoming a boss or would like a better themselves as a boss.

            Steve Tobak explains in this article that it’s hard to be a “great” boss. They are not easy to come by and everyone has different mindsets on what a great boss is. Experience and Perspective and Alignment are some key points in this article. The way we learn to be good at our jobs and be good bosses is observing others and learning what works and doesn’t work in a business or a household, even. Perspective is looking at something and knowing you don’t know it all. It’s hard when you’re young (myself included) to think that you don’t need help or anymore knowledge, but everyday we are learning something knew. Last but not least, alignment is saying that you need to have a goal or a plan and have structure to get to that goal.

            Going back to alignment, you need to have a clear plan to share the people in the business. My family’s business has a “Monday Morning Meeting” , where my father sits down with everyone else in the company and explains what needs to be done, what needs to be worked on and how we can make this week the best week in the business.

            The issue of having a “bad” boss is something everyone comes by sometime or another in her life. Also, everyone serves as a boss sometimes. Whether as a mother, business owner, or just in charge of anyone, you should have knowledge on how to be the best. 

            All in all, a “great” boss description is an opinion and it’s not going to be everyone’s. What you can do is be the best person you can and work really hard for what you want. The importance of a good boss is super because it sets the mood for the rest of the company.

REFERENCES:

Tobak, Steve (2016, October 26.) What It Takes to Be a Great Boss https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/284153

Blog Posts on Chosen Careers by CM 107 English Comp Fall 2016; The Importance of SDS Sheets by Shannon Lutton

Many people do not know how to read and understand an SDS sheet; some have never even heard of them. An SDS sheet is a tool used to identify the hazards of a chemical to humans and environmental hazards as well. They are formally known as MSDS sheets- material safety data sheets. It is very important for anyone using any type of cleaning products to know how to read and understand the SDS sheets. I found an article called “Are Safety Data Sheets for Cleaning Products used in Norway a Factor Contributing to the Risk of Workers Exposed to Chemicals”, written by authors: Abdulqadir M. Suleiman and Kristin V.H. Svendsen. Written in The International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 2014) It indicates that in Norway the SDS sheets lacked very important information regarding the safe use of chemicals. (I, Jomeh, 2014) Because of the “generic” information, many people have developed asthma. One of the most common problem the people of Norway have developed is Contact Dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis is an inflammation or rash of the skin caused by contact with a substance. (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2014) Cleaning people are the biggest group with the highest incidence of contact dermatitis. The National Federation of Service Industry (NHO service) which is an affiliate of the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise was in control of conducting studies of over 650 products. They categorized the products into different risk classes. They based the risk factors on hazard classifications, PH, and types of solvents used in the mixtures. They also included information in whether or not the mixture contained any substances with complex-making properties, and if the mixture has any impact on the environment. (I. Jomeh, 2014) There were many important factors that they did leave out.  A few important things that they did not include were:

·         Corrosive

·         Harmful-allergy causing

·         Toxic

·         First Aid for Possible Exposure

All in all, this was a useful and interesting article for those interested in this topic.

Local Holocaust Education Committee Programs

PROGRAMS OFFERED

BY

THE HOLOCAUST EDUCATION COMMITTEE

OF THE GREATER QUAD CITY AREA

SPEAKERS AND PRESENTERS

Authors, exhibits, Holocaust specialists and dramatic presentations are provided to schools, libraries, churches and other community venues through grants and collaboration with community groups.

INSTITUTES AND WORKSHOPS

Since 1993, Holocaust institutes and workshops have been offered to Quad City educators, students and community members.  Institutes are scheduled in the fall of odd-numbered years.

TRUNKS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

The Jeff Leibovitz Special Collection, housed at the Western Illinois University Quad City Campus in Moline, provides access to over a thousand resources, including sets of traveling curriculum cases focused on Making a Difference, Rescuers and Resisters, and Diaries and Memoirs. 

ESSAY AND ART CONTESTS

The Ida Kramer Children and the Holocaust Essay Contest and the Meyer and Frances Shnurman Holocaust Visual Arts Contest are open to students in grades 7-12.  Submissions are due annually on February 1.

TEACHER SCHOLARSHIPS

Applications for the Rauch Foundation Teacher Scholarship, from $200 to $2,000, are due annually on April 1 or October 1 to support professional development.  The scholarship covers expenses for travel, housing, and/or registration for conferences, workshops or tours.

A BOOK BY ME

Youth, 18 years old or younger, interview, research, write and illustrate a 10-page book about a Holocaust survivor, liberator or rescuer.  

           

Promoting a higher awareness of the Holocaust as a unique historical event with universal implications for today

WEBSITE: www.hecqc.org

Writing Success from A Composition II Student

Plan for Success and Topic Ideas  by Rey Marquez, Jr.

 

My writing has improved over time, but it has been a journey. I have learned from reading many books, including Stephen King’s, “On Writing” that has helped shape my style and format. However, I still struggle at times. I use writing in my everyday life; mostly, writing at writing work emails, memos, and technology narratives. I have learned that my writing needs an overhaul. I take my time, nowadays, to submit any writing at work, or even personal. I find myself revising constantly. College Composition I course was a bit nerve-wrecking to me, because I did not know what to expect, or what the outcome would be.  The end result of that course was great. When I saw I was taking Composition II, my nerves came back. My weaknesses have always been brainstorming. I sit in front of my laptop, at a coffee shop or at home, and my fingers seem to freeze. I cannot think of a thing to say or write about, but before I put thought to Microsoft Word I have all these ideas flowing away – must be that my laptop is possessed. The aspects of my writing I wish to improve are learning how to brainstorm better, honing in on the right words to use and the flow of my sentences, and understanding what makes writing formal or informal. One of the most important things I learned in Unit 1 was the three “most important components of good writing: All writing, both formal and informal, needs to be clear, simple, and direct.” (KUWC, 2014) Using these three components, and coupled with my learning experiences for the rest of the course, will help me developed better communication through writing.   

 The problem I would like to solve is in my workplace and that is the communication aspect. There have been too many times where one department and another do not communicate, and when they do the communication is not received or read effectively. This communication gap is a major problem when dealing with issues that need to be addressed within a specified timeframe. I go back to being clear, concise and specific when writing to your audience.  Presenting this argument will come across smoothly if I present examples of when the communication was received and decoded incorrectly. I think that using Kaplan University’s Writing Center, which I am a huge fan of, I will develop a sound argument for everyone to use clear, concise and specific statements.

 

 

References

Kaplan Writing Center. (2014). Formal vs informal. Retrieved from

https://kucampus.kaplan.edu/DocumentStore/Docs10/pdf/style/formal_vs_informal.pdf

 

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: Happy Halloween!

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: Happy Halloween!: "Here comes Halloween, Halloween, Halloween . . . . .!!" Courtesy, Joe Spencer and Gethered Traditions

Why Writing is Relevant

Here is an October 2016 sample blog post from freshman rhetoric:


I am taking classes to get a degree in Business Management and writing will be very important for this field. I am currently a manager of a smaller business and I do type up a lot of documents. Some of these documents are professional in nature while another portion of them are very informal. Even if they are informal forms of writing they still need to be written properly so that the information is taken seriously. At my current job there really is not a lot of research that I have to do on any given topic. I am sure that if I go to a larger company where I will have to give presentations on topics and do some purchasing of equipment that I will have to do research. I feel that at every job you should be aware of what is expected of you from the beginning, you may not know all of the expectations but that is where a good relationship with your boss is good to have. You can also ask fellow co-workers what kinds of writing their jobs entail to kind of get a feel for what you may be doing.

Public Domain

Stephen King and Anne Rice Talk Writing and Reading from Youtube

Writers are the best writing prof of all; they literally live and breathe reading and writing everyday.  Below is advice from two of the masters.  Enjoy!


Anne Rice on Writing: Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw2KXX7WrOY




Stephen King. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8TkQvdJVbc

The Fierce, Forgotten Library Wars of the Ancient World

Remember I told you about the Library of Alexandria in class?  Well, here's how big a deal it was!

The fierce, forgotten library wars of the ancient world. Atlas Obscura.  Retrieved from http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-fierce-forgotten-library-wars-of-the-ancient-world?utm_source=Boomtrain&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20160831&bt_email=tsagariselle@yahoo.com&bt_ts=1472652490501

Welcome New KU Students!

Welcome to my new KU students.  All of my former students are also invited to contribute.  Just email you contributions to me.  We also have a couple videos for you, one for HU 250 in particular. Another is form CM 107.  We welcome course writing assignments you are proud of, original non fiction, fiction, prose, drama, and poetry under 600 words and original photos and artwork , or photos of original artwork.  Here's to a terrific quarter!!

HU 250 Realism in Art

Class Poem 2005

Class Poem

CM 220 Composition II

Kaplan University

Fall 05

“Let there be peace on earth.”

With every action and word,

Let this peace begin with me.

In these times of turmoil

That is what this world needs

To make it through.

Get plenty of rest, before you take a test.

Don’t eat right before you go to sleep.

Treat people with respect or

You may sow what you reap.

With love and compassion we will make it.

But make sure it’s sincere;

Don’t try to fake it!

Always keep your head high and your spirit higher.

Never let anyone tell you your worth,

Or what you’re thinking.

Always think of the long haul

And not immediate gratitude.

Remember the One beside you.

And always cover your mouth when you belch.

Class Poem CM 220

Class Poem CM 220 Composition II

Dr. Ellen Tsagaris

Kaplan University

To Rebecca Wee

April

“April is the cruelest month . . . .”

With warm, then bitter wind.

April Fools!---is a day of laughter and joy.

April comes in like a lion and out like a lamb.

Mary had a little lamb, who had a lion.

If  April is as bad as March, I’ll sure be crying;

I’ll be crying if April rains all month.

I hope there are very nice days in April.

I’m very sad that Easter is in March and not April this year.

My little boy turns 18 in April so it is bittersweet for me.

It is better bittersweet than sweet-sorrow.

Life is full of sorrow but April Showers will wash it away.

Then, I wonder, what if April never comes?

April I just around the bend.

As April approaches we can only think about the rain showers

That are gong to bring the pretty flowers in the spring.

I look forward to the warm April days

And the beautiful flowers to come in May.

When May comes, so does Mother’s day,

So no matter what month is at hand, grab each

Day and hold it dear;

You never know what tomorrow’s sorrows are creeping near.

April is the month where things begin to get beautiful;

You start seeing green grass, leaves on tress, and, now,

Even flowers start to bloom.

Awake, April is here; there is no gloom!

English 101 Collaborative Poems

English 101/ Poem  Section 102

Class Haiku

School is almost over

Man, my face hurts.

Playing on the beach,

One day you will see,

That all of this was

meant to be!

English 101/Poem Section 112

Untitled

The night was a cold, rainy,

windy one in which there

was going to be a big terror.

I own not a notion, I escape and ape content.

I don't own emotion, I rent.

Knowing nothing, nothing doing, doing something,

knowing something of a paradox.

Emotion is gone, do not know who to follow

no one is around.

You feel love, you love love, for love

Everyone wants to be loved

Oblivious to all your surroundings

This is a weird poem

I second that

Emotions from within blossom outwards

Oh no what to write

This such a fright!

The class has come to an end.

I wonder if I've made a friend?

Poetry is not my deal

enough with this spiel.

And yet, by morning, we'll inherit the earth,

Our foot's in the door.

We all sit alone in this world.

"It was a Dark and Stormy Night . . . "

CM 102 Collaborative Story

January 14, 2008

Part I:  Ellen Tsagaris’s Class:

Collaborative Story

In this exercise, all of you are going to begin a story. Directions:  I will write the first line, and then pass it to each person in the class.  Each one of you will write a few lines, and then pass it to the person next to you, until the entire class has had a chance to contribute.  Then, we will read what we have done.  Keep it polite, profanity free, and classroom acceptable, but have fun!

Line 1.   “It was a dark and stormy night! . . . . . . 

“It was a dark and stormy night.” And the moon was dark and shadowed.  The thunder woke me up, as it lit up the room.  The shadow of the tree scared me.  I scurried under the protective shield that is my comforter.  I tried so hard to control myself from running to the bathroom, leaving a trail behind me.  I nearly slipped on the puddle running from my legs.  I trembled at the thought of having to go downstairs to get a mop to clean up my accident.  But, since my brother was in the room beside me, I had to.  I knew he would wake up and never let me live it down, so I left it for him to step in.  I got back in bed and covered myself up and buried my body beneath the warm covers to wait out the storm till morning.

Comp I Class Poem 2002

Class Poem

CM 102 Composition I

Dr. Ellen

Winter Quarter 2002

Untitled

"These are the times that try men's souls . . ."

These are the times that go by quickly.

We all just turn in our research papers and

See how it goes.

These are the times that we pay our tolls.

These are the times that we live timely.

These are the times to set new goals.

These are the times to plan for the future.

These are the times we remember the good times we had.

These grading times shiver us to the bone.

These are the times we won't be alone.

These are the times we make new friends.

These are the times we hope never end.

These are the times we eat and get fat,

Go to Spring Break for just one week.

Damn!

Oh well.

These are the times to give your life to God.

These are the times when we must sit and reflect

About all the things that are to come.

These are the times to make your dreams come true.

If you believe in yourself you can achieve all the goals you want.

This is just one of those days when my mind is  blank!

Why Social Networks enable and enhance greater communication in classrooms and promote learning | Visual Learning Center by Visme

Why Social Networks enable and enhance greater communication in classrooms and promote learning | Visual Learning Center by Visme

An Apologia for Countess Erzebet Bathory: A Paper on Vampires I will be Presenting Soon

An Apologia for Countess Erzebet Bathory: A Paper on Vampires I will be Presenting Soon: In difficult and dangerous times, people often turn to monster tales for comfort, especially stories of immortal supernatural monsters and ...

MISS PYM'S DAY OUT (Patricia Routledge) (1991)

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Greetings!

Welcome to any GEC conference attendees and presenters visiting our blog!!

An Amazing Paper on Animal Over Population; Thanks, Andy!!

                                                               

                                                               Pet Overpopulation

                                                              Andrew Parker

                                                              Kaplan University

                                                         Pet Overpopulation 

            We arrived back at my friend’s house at about 2 am on a Monday morning, our normal 6-hour journey had taken almost 8-hours because of the snowy weather.  Often we would visit friends in Kansas City in late January because everyone was so busy over the holidays it was easier for our friends to celebrate a late holiday with us. He unpacked and we said goodbye, with a few inches of snow on the ground, I preferred to drive the gravel roads home the highways tended to be more slippery.  It was not to cold but it was windy and I was glad I was familiar with the road, because the wind whipped the snow making it harder to see so I just stayed in the middle and watched for the light poles and road markers to keep centered.  They were only 3 stop signs on the side roads back to my place, it normally took 20 minutes, tonight it was going to take longer, I was in no hurry and had not come this far to have problems.  As I neared the second stop sign, I saw the familiar bus stop on the corner, as I slowly drove past the bus stop I saw what looked like a big box with something sticking out of the end.  I slowly drove past and up the hill and watched the object in my rear view mirror, curiosity had got the best of me and when I came to another road I pulled a U turn to go back and check it out. 

         I parked near the bus stop and walked over to the box, I thought I heard something and told myself it was probably just sounds from the wind.  It appeared to be a metal or plastic crate sticking out of the back of the box, it was jammed so I yanked hard on the crate while trying to hold the box, it came loose and needless to say I was lucky not to end up at the bottom of a ditch.  It was wrapped in what looked like a plastic sheet with a blanket or rug under the plastic, I removed the ropes that held it in place and heard what I thought were little barks.  In the sparse light of the streetlamp I saw at least 4 little faces and more commotion within, I grabbed the handles and pulled it over to my car.  Raised my trunk and grabbed a flashlight, 6 puppies in total, kind of looked like little shepherds, but I was not sure. They were shivering a bit but looked no worse for wear, there was some dog food and two empty bowls in the bottom of the crate so I grabbed the blanket and plastic and put it over my backseat and grabbed 2 or 3 pups at a time and put them in the car.  Driving back was pretty strange realizing I had 6 puppies with me, the only thing I could think was someone abandoned them there knowing that kids would be coming to the bus stop that morning for school and would find the pups.  As a Dog owner and animal lover this left a lasting impression on me, my dog at home was in for quite a surprise.  I did keep one male and my friend I traveled with took a puppy and he was able to get rid of one other to friends.  I was so touched I would have kept them all if it was possible.

             Based on my experience I strongly believe:   A free spay/neuter program should be provided to all pet owners, the goal is to decrease the amount of unwanted births and raise the animal’s quality of life and reduce costs for all in the community.

          The focus will be in three main areas, controlling and regulating the population, increasing quality of life for the animal, and reducing costs for all.  #1 Controlling and regulating the massive numbers of unwanted and abandoned animals and reducing the amount of unplanned births.  The sheer amount of animals far exceeds the ability to properly care for them and provide them with a good quality of life.  The real problem is supply and demand, it is a numbers game that the animals are sorely losing, The American Humane Association, previously the American Humane Society states: “Animal shelters both public and private, are faced with an incredible burden: What to do with the overpopulation of dogs and cats that they cannot find homes for.” (AHA, 2013).  Approximately 3 million animals a year are destroyed because of the lack of proper homes and the space and resources to properly house and care for the animals.  ASPCA figures show animal homelessness is a serious issue, “Each year almost 7.6 million animals enter animal shelters nationwide and nearly 3 million don’t make it out”.  (ASPCA, 2016).  They also state: “Only 10% of animals who enter shelters are spayed or neutered.” (ASPACA, 2016.)  This seems like an awfully low number based on the sheer amounts of animals that are abandoned or stuck in the shelter system as a last resort for a good life.

       #2 Increasing life quality for animals should be the priority of any health related program, the large amount of suffering that the animals experience could be greatly reduced.  There are also many health benefits pets of both sexes can acquire through proper sterilization and also more control for pet owners and less stray pets causing a nuisance in public. Both females and males benefit from being sterilizes, less hormones effect both sexes and make them easier to control, can also reduce marking and spraying and can lessen aggressiveness.  It can provide your pets, cats or dogs, a healthier, longer life with reductions in some cancer and other infections. Three main reasons to Spay/Neuter: Reducing the huge overpopulation of dogs and cats, millions of unwanted animals, there just is not enough homes for these animals, Spay/Neuter can increase the quality and length of your pet’s life, Sterilizing your pets will make them easier to control and reduce the problems caused by running free.  The goal is to reduce the suffering of dogs and cats by reducing the sheer number of unwanted animals.  Many dogs and cats are destroyed yearly because of the lack of good owners and proper homes for them, it is strictly a numbers game and the animals are sadly losing. 

        #3 Reducing costs for the pet owners and the community, also saving time and resources for families, local pet health centers and city or county shelters and services.  I believe by reducing the massive number of animals that it would save money for owners by reducing problems related to health and reproduction cycles and the better control the hormones at work on both sides.  The animal would be less likely to wander and be injured or impounded or impregnated, better control means less vet bills, less fines and fewer hours spent searching and desperate to find your pet.  It would reduce the need for more shelters and city and county services and the great amount of labor hours spent feeding, housing and caring for all the animals.  And all the hours spent by animal control and public and private volunteer agencies that provide some options for these desperate pets.  The ASPCA states, “A key to getting funding for spay/neuter programs from sources such as city councils, county general funds, health departments, and other government entities is meeting these agencies' needs and speaking their "language." “By this we mean addressing issues that concern these public organizations, such as: Cost savings to departments and taxpayers, Reducing animal-related complaint calls to police and animal control, increasing Public safety and health” (ASPCA, n.d.). 

            Certainly all pet owners have rights and no one wants to force more laws and taxes on a public that is already overregulated.  It is an ethical choice that we make as humans to help and assist these companion animals who cannot help themselves.  Reducing the vast number of animals would reduce cruelty from abandonment, puppy and animal mills and animal hoarding.  The author states, "Pet overpopulation is largely due to the infrequency of spaying and neutering done by pet owners. When a cat or dog is not spayed or neutered, the number of offspring it can produce is astonishing. According to ASPCA statistics, a fertile dog produces a litter of 4 to 6 puppies on average, while a fertile cat produces 1 to 2 litters of 4 to 6 kittens per year.  (Torbett, 2014).  We certainly cannot stop all unwanted dogs and cats from being born or eliminate all cruelty to our companion animals, but we need to be proactive.  To persuade people to realize by simply having our animals sterilized we can all do our part, small as it may be, to help reduce the vast numbers of animals and increase both the quality of life for the animals and the people of the community.

                                                              References

ASPCA (2016) http://www.aspca.org/animal-homelessness/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-

         statistics (Retrieved April 21, 2016)

ASPCA. (n.d.). Cost Savings from Publicly Funded Spay/Neuter Programs. Retrieved April 22,

      2016, from http://www.aspcapro.org/resource/spay-neuter-outreach-promotion-public-

      funding- starting-program/cost-savings-publicly-funded

Spaying / Neutering. (2013). Retrieved April 22, 2016, from

       http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/adoption-pet-care

Torbett, E. (2014).   "Spaying, neutering necessary for pets", ProQuest Education Journal.

          Kaplan Library, Publication: The Daily Athenaeum, West Virginia University,     

         University Wire [Carlsbad] Retrieved April 21, 2016