Why do you want to attend Pratt Essay Example for Free

Why do you want to attend Pratt Essay Having decided on a career early in life, I have always known that accomplishment of my professional goals would require the attendance of a quality art school that would offer me theoretical and practical foundation for a successful career. This is the reason why I chose Pratt and want to pursue a course at this school. In my conviction, the Pratt Institute in New York will offer me an excellent platform from which to move forward with my education and career goals. The rich history of the Pratt Institute that spans three very different centuries makes it interwoven with the history of art and design and helped the institute to build a strong academic program, which makes it attractive for people with a serious interest in design. I share the vision of the school’s founder, Charles Pratt, that a person who is true to one’s trade will eventually see this commitment pay off. On my part, I hope to apply the greatest effort to master the secrets of fashion design at Pratt so as to become a successful designer afterward able to leave an individual imprint on the history of fashion. Looking through pictures of models created by Pratt’s students on the institute’s website, I was impressed with the quality of their work. This strengthened my desire to attend courses at the school that teaches its students to produce work remarkable for innovation and quality. Besides, the location in New York City, an important center of fashion, is, in my opinion, a great advantage for am art school, as it gives students an opportunity to mix academic courses with first-hand experience of vibrant professional activity. I have long set my mind on a career in design. Since my childhood, I wanted no other career, being attracted by the fantastic world of designer clothing and the process of modelling. Fashion has riveted my attention for years. I regularly read professional periodicals devoted to this topic, trying to keep up-to-date with the news of the world of design. With the appearance of the Internet, I began to regularly browse a series of websites on design, such as www.dexigner.com, www.metrofashion-magazine.com and others. This helps me to stay abreast of the latest trends and search out the most valuable innovations in this field. To practise in the chosen area, I often draw fashion illustrations in an effort to put on paper various dreams and ideas about clothing. I hope that obtaining an education in fashion will help me realize these dreams on a more professional level and translate my ideas into mature, well-thought out collections. At this point in my life, I already have my future in fashion design mapped out, hoping that things will go according to the plans and I will be able to make all my ambitions come true. The start will be a Bachelor’s degree that I hope to obtain from the Pratt Institute that will provide me with the fundamental knowledge of fashion design and open the way to a professional career in design. As a next step, I plan to attend graduate school in Paris or London so as to improve my knowledge of this area in one of the world’s famous fashion capital. Combining this with the knowledge obtained in New York City, I hope to create my personal unique style that will be a combination of the best found in both Northern America and Europe. To crown my career, I want to create my own designer brand. This has to be a reflection of my personal style and world outlook, closely reflecting my own personality. At this point, I have a blueprint in mind as to what I want to do; however, it is still somewhat vague, and I hope, will become more definitive in the process of studying and working in this area. I feel the potential to become a great fashion designer, even if I am at the very start of my career. With an education from the Pratt Institute, I hope to realize my potential and to make my professional ambitions reality.

Lord of the Flies :: science

Lord of the Flies Through my reading of Lord of the Flies, I have concluded that the subject of the novel is adulthood. The focus of this novel is on peoples desire for a more civilized and structured society. In this novel, adulthood does not represent a state of existence, but life that seems to exist as rational and structured. At the beginning of the novel after the reader is introduced to Piggy and Ralph, they discover the beautiful conch, resting in the weeds of the shoreline. Piggy says, â€Å"We can use it to call the others. Have a meeting. They’ll come when they hear us. (p.12)†, gleaming with pride. This quote illustrates the adult imbedded in him, drawn from the influence of society. Living under the influence of leadership and politics, the suggestion of holding a meeting was instinctive and automatic. Piggy drew upon his lifelong experiences gained from his parents and other adult influences and applied it to a situation. Piggy decided that the situation lacked the order and structure that he was accustomed to. After the boys gathered into a mock assembly by the sounding of the conch, one yelled â€Å"A chief! A chief! (p.18)† in desperation for leadership in the midst of an awfully boisterous crowd. â€Å"Lets have a vote, (p.18)† yelled another. The boys were not accustomed to a society that was ungoverned as it was in the adult word. They wanted to recreate that structure to maintain that sense of order in the group of boys. Ralph won the vote for chief in account of his image. The boys’ saw that â€Å"there was a stillness about Ralph as he sat that marked him out (p.19)† and they sensed a certain hint of adulthood in his manner that they relied on at home. Under the constant leadership of adults, a child grows acquainted to their temperament and the boys saw this in Ralph. â€Å"With a convulsion of the mind, Ralph discovered dirt and decay. (p.82)† At home, the boys were raised with and became habituated to proper European mannerisms and dress passed down to them from parent and other adult mentors. To act upon these mannerisms and proper dress became second nature when around adults, though on the island, they had lost that adult influence. Suddenly, â€Å"Ralph was struck with this new mood of comprehension (p.82)† that he had lost that visible image of being proper that he had been raised with for so long.

Global Warming and Drought in The Southwestern U.S. Essay

Pumphrey (2008) rightly observed that until fairly recently, no one would bought the idea that the world’s climate was changing, let alone that it was been influenced by human activities. The first insight into what is today known as global warming was first conceived by the Swedish scientist Arrhenius, who, late in the 19th century, suggested that the activities of the rapidly developing industries could cause the planet to warm up. Such ideas were often ignored, but over the course of the 20th century, opinions about climate change, â€Å"even rapid climate change† were becoming more apparent (Pumphrey, 2008, p. 1). As things stand now, there appears to be a growing pile of irrefutable evidences that point to the fact that human activities are affecting the heat/energy exchange between the earth, the atmosphere and space (Justus and Susan, 2006). The primary cause of global climate change has been attributed to the accumulation of carbon dioxide and other air pollutants in the earth’s atmosphere. These ‘green house gases’, as they are now known, form a blanket over the earth atmosphere, thus trapping the sun’s heat inside the planet and causing it to warm up (National Resources Defense Council, 2007). A substantial population of the world’s scientist have agreed that human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels, have increased atmospheric â€Å"concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) by 36% from pre-industrial levels of 280 parts per million (ppm) to 380 ppm over the past 150 years, leading to an increase in global average temperature of 0. 9oF over the past 100 years†. Consequently, there has been considerable increase in global average temperature and sea levels, decreases of sea ice in the Artic and melting of the planet’s continental ice sheets and mountain glaciers (Justus and Susan, 2006). More frightening, however, is the assertion by scientists that if green house gases continue to accumulate at the present rates, more rapid and devastating consequences could result within a short period of time. While scientists largely agree on the evidences pointing to a warming planet, the severity and ramifications of its consequences is often a subject of controversy, doubts and heated debates. The drought in the Southwestern U. S presents one such example of the controversies and uncertainties surrounding the consequences of global warming. In the history of the Southwestern U. S. , drought has been a relatively periodic occurrence, due to climate variability that characterizes this region. For example, after reviewing the history of climate changes in the region, Thompson and Anderson (2005) concluded that over the long term, the climate of the region is constantly changing and that in the â€Å"18,000 years since the last glacial maximum the southwestern United States has experienced conditions that ranged from much colder to somewhat warmer than today. Moisture conditions have also varied, both through time and across the region† (Thompson and Anderson, 2005). However, despite these assertions, scientists through several studies have pointed out that the present multi-year drought in the region is not another result of climate variability but a consequence of climate change. They assert that the present climate situation might be the new climate of the region and that drier and more sever droughts lies ahead if urgent measures are not taken. The proposed study intends to support and add weight to the contention that climate changes is already impacting the region and that increasing global warming will increase the severity of drought in the Southwestern U. S. Purpose Statement McNab and Karl (2003) observe that drought is a complex phenomenon that can be very difficult to define. They contend that the problem with defining drought derives partially from the fact that the term could be approached from different perspectives. That, notwithstanding, the central theme that underlie any definition of drought is the absent or deficiency of water. However, they point out that to completely define drought, the â€Å"component(s) of the hydrologic cycle affected by the water deficit and the time period associated with the deficit, must be specified†. The Southwestern U. S is a region vulnerable to droughts due to its variable climatology that derives from its peculiar topography. The entire Southwestern states of the United States fall into a climatic region generally known as the ‘subtropics’. These regions are known to be dry and susceptible to drought because the atmosphere moves water ‘out of those regions into higher planes’ (Thompson, 2007). It is argued that the evaporation is higher in subtropics and the moist air from here is transported to temperate regions at higher latitudes. This climatic condition sometimes causes excessive ‘dryness’ (drought) in these regions. The infamous dust bowl conditions of the 1930s and the severe droughts of the 1950s are typical examples. Pointing out the vulnerability of the region, Davis (2007) observe that â€Å"in some years, â€Å"exceptional drought† has engulfed the entire Plains from Canada to Mexico; in other years, crimson conflagrations on weather maps have crept down the Gulf Coast to Louisiana or crossed the Rockies to the interior Northwest† (Davies, 2007). Based on this argument, it is convenient to describe the present drought in the region as a result of such climatic variability. Unfortunately, recent data on global warming indicate otherwise. Scientists have shown that this time, the drought in the region is not just a passing phase in climatic conditions, it is a reality that has come to stay. It is evident that this time, it is the base climate that is changing and dire consequences looms ahead. Supporting the argument that the aridity in the Southwestern U. S is different this time, Davis (2007), point out that â€Å"Lake Powell had fallen by nearly eighty feet in three years, and crucial reservoirs along the Rio Grande were barely more than mud puddles. The Southwestern winter of 2005-06, meanwhile, was one of the driest on record, and Phoenix went 143 days without a single drop of rain†. Noting that some scientists have regarded the present situations as the worst drought in 500 years and with the several scientific evidences showing the link between global warming and severe drought, Davis concluded that the present climate condition is not â€Å"simply episodic drought but the region’s new ‘normal weather'† (Davies, 2007). Statement of the Problem Both global warming and droughts portend grave dangers for both the region and the world at large. Despite the sometimes dissenting voices in the science world, there is unanimous certainty that the planet is warming up. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its 2007 report stated that it is ‘unequivocal’ that the planet is heating up and that, with utmost certainty, the warming is caused by human activities. It is clearly understood that increased global temperatures will facilitate the propagation of certain deadly bacteria and the spread of diseases. For example, Kolivras and Andrew (2004) carried out a study that revealed that the presence and spread of four diseases; hantavirus, plague, dengue and coccidioidomycosis in the Southwestern U. S could be attributed to the increased in temperature in this region. Again, it is clear that higher global temperatures will lead to increase in the incidence and severity of droughts which will affect agricultural production, causing global food crisis. Also, the melting of continental and Artic ice, due to global warming, will cause flooding and other devastating problems that will affect millions of people globally. Persistent drought, on the other hand, also severely impacts a society. Besides the shortage of food and water that characterizes drought conditions, Davis (2007) also point out that drought rapidly destabilizes the natural ecosystem. Buttressing this fact, he observed that, without sufficient moisture to produce protective sap, â€Å"millions of acres of pinyon and ponderosa pine have been ravaged by plagues of bark beetles; these dead forests, in turn, have helped to kindle the firestorms that have burst into the suburbs of Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Denver, as well as destroyed part of Los Alamos† (Davies, 2007). However, despite the frightening consequences of droughts and/or global warming, the real issue here is the misunderstanding of the problem at hand. A clear understanding of the real cause and nature of the drought in the Southwestern United States will greatly help in containing the problem before it get out of hand. In a study for the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Richard Seager and other scientists point out that all the models used for the third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicated a general decrease in rainfall in the subtropics during the 21st century and gradual drying up of the region with increasing concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (Seager et al, 2007). The present drought in the region is therefore, evidently a consequence of a much bigger problem, the realization of this fact is important in shaping public attitudes and opinions required for finding a lasting solution to the problem. Theoretical Framework The states of the Southwestern United States fall in a climatic region known as the subtropics. The climate in these regions is characteristically dry because the atmosphere moves water out of these regions. Moist air from these regions is often transported to temperate regions at higher latitudes. This phenomenon is referred to as the â€Å"Hadley cell† (Thompson, 2007). This flow of moist air away from subtropics induces rising air over the equator and descending air over the subtropics. The descending air over the subtropics suppresses precipitation, which further increase dryness of the regions. With global warming, the blanket of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere heat up the air over the subtropics enabling it to carry and transport more moisture away from the region. Furthermore, with increasing global temperatures, ‘Hadley cell’ (the flow of air out of the subtropics) expands pole ward, bringing the United States Southwestern region under the increasing influence of descending air, further compromising precipitation and further worsening drought. The link between reduced precipitation and drought was established by McNab and Karl (2003) who asserted that â€Å"precipitation can be considered to be the carrier of the drought signal and stream flow and ground-water levels can be considered to be the last indicators of the occurrence of a drought† (McNab and Karl, 2003). It has been argued that whilst past droughts in the region was because La Nina brought ‘cooler ocean temperatures to the equatorial Pacific, which resulted in drier conditions over North America’, the present drought is caused by changing climatic conditions characterized by increasing global temperatures that enable more moisture to be transported out of the region and suppressed precipitation.

Analysis of Newspaper Research Report Essay

There are two main purposes for research. They are to learn and gather information/ evidence. Statistics helps us to understand how to collect, organize, and interpret numbers or other information about a topic (Bennett, Briggs & Triola, 2009). The study that I have chosen is fast food and childhood obesity. This research paper will list and/ or describe the statistical procedures, list the conclusions of the study, describe the processes used to make the determination and provide the level of significance. The percentage of overweight children and adolescents in the United States has nearly tripled since the early 1970’s.† More than one and five children between the ages of 6 and 17 are now considered overweight† (Currie, Pathania, Moretti, Vigna, 2009). Research has shown that people who eat fast food consume more calories than people who do not eat fast food. Those who eat fast food also consume more fat, saturated fat, and sodium (salt), while consuming fewer fruits, vegetables, and milk. Child hood obesity has been linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety and poor academic performance. â€Å"While there have been many discussions about fast-food’s effects on obesity, this appears to be the first scientific, comprehensive long-term study to show a strong connection between fast-food consumption, obesity, and risk for type 2 diabetes† (University of Minnesota, 2005). This research paper shows the correlation between fast food restaurants and increased childhood obesity. This research paper also shows the correlation among children and the proximity of fast food restaurants near a school. The study reached a very alarming conclusion that involves the children’s health of America. The study came to the conclusion that point to a significant effect of proximity to fast food restaurants on the risk of obesity. The presence of a fast food restaurant within a tent of a mile of a school is associated with at least a 5.2 percent in the obesity rate in that school ( relative to the presence at .25). The effect at .1 mile distance is equivalent to an increase in daily caloric consumption of 30 to 100 calories due to the proximity of fast food (Currie, Pathana, Moretti, Vigna, 2009). One possible explanation is that proximity to fast food reduces the costs of fast food, principally travel costs. A second explanation is that easier access to fast food tempts consumers who have self-control problems. The fact that the effects are larger for teens and fall off more quickly with distance suggests that travel costs are more important for teens. I feel like the conclusions are appropriate. This study had many graphs to show the correlation between childhood obesity and the distances among the schools. This research was very informative. I feel like the findings are statistically significant because living in today’s society, you can see how fast food is linked to childhood obesity. For instance, in today’s society where there are two parent’s working, it is so easy for them to go to McDonald’s or any fast food restaurant. Many parents are busy with trying to juggle the workforce ,family and other extracurricular activities that the family has. I am guilty myself at times of not wanting to cook and just stopping by somewhere to pick something up because it is fast and cheap. I was at a fast food chain the other day and wanted something healthy. I looked on the menu and a salad cost three times more than a value meal. Everyone wants us to eat healthy including our kids but when you look at the prices, you can see how children are obese. I can also say that you have to burn more calories that you take in. This research paper has shown the effects on fast food and obesity. America has to step up and take responsibility for our children’s health. The parent’s has to also step up and take responsibility. Children only mimic what they see their parents do. I think if fast food restaurants lower their prices on the healthy foods maybe the obesity epidemic will slow down instead of increase. This will cause the link between childhood diabetes, high blood pressure, depression and other diseases to decrease. Children also need to pick up their physical activities. With today’s society, the television and video games are babysitters for some parent’s. Even though fast food contributes to obesity in children, there are other factors that come into play. References Bennet, J.O., Briggs, W.L., & Triola, M.F. (2009).Statistical Reasoning for Everyday Life (3rd ed.). Boston. MA: Pearson Education, Inc. Janet Currie, Stefano Della Vigna, Enrico Moretti & Vikram Pathania,( 2010). â€Å"The Effect of Fast Food Restaurants on Obesity and Weight Gain,† American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 2(3), pages 32-63, August. University Of Minnesota (2005, January 19). 15-year Study Shows Strong Link between Fast Food, Obesity and Insulin Resistance.

Semiotic Analysis of selected scenes from essays

Semiotic Analysis of selected scenes from essays Western Films are the major defining genre of the American film industry, a nostalgic eulogy to the early days of the expansive, untamed American frontier and the borderline between civilization and the wilderness. They are one of the oldest, most enduring and flexible genres and one of the most characteristically American in their mythic origins. This indigenous American art form focuses on the frontier west that existed in North America in the 19th and early 20th centuries and are often set in the American frontier during the last part of the 19th century (1865-1900) following the Civil War, in a geographically western setting with romantic, sweeping frontier landscapes or rugged rural terrain. The Searchers (1956) is considered by many reviewers to be a true American masterpiece of filmmaking, and the most influential and perhaps most admired film of director John Ford. It was his 115th feature film, and he was already a four-time Best Director Oscar winner [The Informer (1935), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), How Green Was My Valley (1941), and The Quiet Man (1952)], all for his pictures of social comment rather than his quintessential westerns. The films themes include racism, individuality, the American character, and the opposition between civilization, exemplified by homes, caves, and other domestic interiors and the untamed frontier wilderness. The film begins with a frontier cabin door opening onto the wilderness. The black silhouette of a frontier woman moves from the darkness, with a forward-tracking camera, through the door to the brightly sunlit wilderness outside through which Monument Valley is seen. Moving excitedly to the porch, she notices a man approaching, in the centre of the frame, who slowly rides in from the desert in a mythic entrance - the man is framed between two distant buttes. The scene presents the visual and iconic motif of the framed doorway and the indexical threshold between the two worlds. T...

Why You Should Not Follow Your Passion

Why You Should Not Follow Your Passion Who would ever suggest that you should not follow your passion on your blog?  Surely this post is about to commit some kind of blogging sacrilege. But bear with me. Passion about blogging is an admirable thing. We are passionate about it here; thats why we build . But when it comes to the actual content marketing and writing, you might do well to be cautious about letting your passion be your guide. Why Passion Can Be Dangerous It seems to go against the zeitgeist of content marketing now, suggesting that you might approach passion cautiously. But passion can be deceptive and can get you into trouble if it is what youve based your entire blogs existence on. Passion is the quickest to develop, and the quickest to fade. – Robert Sternberg 1. Passion Isnt Always Consistent Passion is like the moon; it waxes and wanes (though not as consistently). When you only blog what youre passionate about, youll find you might have 10 posts in one week and then nothing for a month. If passion is your sole motivation and guide, youll never make it blogging. Youll start, but not finish. Youll be inspired once in a while, and flounder the rest of the time. 2. Passion Gets Bored Are you passionate about getting in shape? After months at the gym, if passion is your only motivation, youll get tired of the repetition. Passion quickly gets bored with how things are. Passion is too often motivated by measurable results. It isnt always interested in the day-to-day building blocks; it prefers the exotic dream, the what if. 3. Passion Is Inspired By Big Moments Passion is motivated by Big Moments. It is motivated by the day you lose 60 pounds, or the day you close the deal at work. Its motivated by the thought of getting 500,000 visitors to your blog every day. It isnt motivated by the unsexy work it takes to get to those big events.

The trend of agricultural expansion in the US South and its relation Research Paper

The trend of agricultural expansion in the US South and its relation to the slave movement from 1850 to 1860 - Research Paper Example This is critical since the agricultural items help individuals to acquire the energy that allows them to perform productively. The products especially cotton helps in improving trade and production of clothes that are basic needs (Mudlak 989). This means that agriculture contributed to the wellbeing of individuals in the southern state in the early years of 1860s in the United States. Agriculture is the economic backbone of a nation making it fundamental to embrace creative and innovative ideals. This enhances quality, quantity and effective processing of the produce to allow consumers to attain value. It is also critical to ensure that the agricultural produce exudes great nutritional value to boost an individual’s wellbeing. Nations that seek to develop vibrant economies as apparent in economic growth, expansion, developing an appropriate work force and healthy setting should upgrade agricultural practices. They should adopt the conventional farming practices that are technological driven. This increases the magnitude and quality of agricultural produce as evident in early days of 1860s in US. Poor understanding on how agricultural practices were enhanced in the southern part of US impedes growth in several settings. Poor knowledge has affected food safety and production of crops. Lack of knowledge hinders production of quality agricultural products with appropriate nutritional content (Boyer 2). This study equips various stakeholders with information on the expansion trends of agricultural production in the southern part of US in the period between 1850s - 1860s, and its relationship with slavery. The research allows people to understand the significance of agriculture to the economy and societal process. This is critical because agriculture contributes to food security, job creation, interdependence and development of effective health standards from 1860s. It played