Free Essays on Irving Berlin

to Marie from Sunny Italy. In that year, he changed his name to Irving Berlin. By 1909, he was working as a staff lyricist on Tin Pan Alley. In 1911, the song "Alexander's Ragtime Band" catapulted a 23-year-old composer named Irving Berlin to international stardom. He soon began composing his own tunes as well as lyrics, but he never learned to play a piano properly or to read music. On a conventional piano, he used only the black keys. Throughout his career, he relied on an instrument called a transposing piano, which made it possible to change keys with the shift of a lever. After composing a tune, Berlin either sang or played it for an assistant, who would then transcribe it into musical notation. In that way, he produced a lifetime catalogue of some 1,500 songs, including such long-forgotten numbers as Father's Beard and You Cannot Make Your Shimmy Shake on Tea, along with more enduring hits. He once said that he composed "under a nervous strain," adding, "more often than otherwise, I feel as if my life depends on my accomplishing a song.... Free Essays on Irving Berlin Free Essays on Irving Berlin Irving Berlin With a life that spanned more than 100 years and a catalogue that boasted over 1000 songs, Irving Berlin epitomized Jerome Kern's famous maxim, that "Irving Berlin has no place in American music - he is American music". (2) Irving Berlin was born Israel Baline in Eastern Russia on May 11, 1888.. He was one of eight children born to Leah and Moses Baline. When Irving was five his family decided to move New York City to escape the persecution in Russia. Irving’s father died when Irving was just eight years old, this unfortunately forced Irving to make the decision to take to the streets of the lower East Side of New York City, in search of employment. Some of the jobs Irving worked as were a busker, singing for pennies, then as a singer / waiter in a Chinatown cafà ©. While working in Chinatown Irving got his first big break, he earned his first songwriting credit with the words to Marie from Sunny Italy. In that year, he changed his name to Irving Berlin. By 1909, he was working as a staff lyricist on Tin Pan Alley. In 1911, the song "Alexander's Ragtime Band" catapulted a 23-year-old composer named Irving Berlin to international stardom. He soon began composing his own tunes as well as lyrics, but he never learned to play a piano properly or to read music. On a conventional piano, he used only the black keys. Throughout his career, he relied on an instrument called a transposing piano, which made it possible to change keys with the shift of a lever. After composing a tune, Berlin either sang or played it for an assistant, who would then transcribe it into musical notation. In that way, he produced a lifetime catalogue of some 1,500 songs, including such long-forgotten numbers as Father's Beard and You Cannot Make Your Shimmy Shake on Tea, along with more enduring hits. He once said that he composed "under a nervous strain," adding, "more often than otherwise, I feel as if my life depends on my accomplishing a song....

How Studying Abroad Can Change Your Life

How Studying Abroad Can Change Your Life You have already read about the inspiring experience of Judy Su and Ellen Wall who studied in Denmark. Both of them enjoyed the time spent abroad and advice you to go for it as well. However, you may still think how will I actually benefit? What studying abroad can give me and how can it influence my personal development? Our great big world is getting smaller by the day. The Internet allows us to connect with people and cultures around the world with almost no effort. In fact, you probably already have social connections with people of different races and in different countries. So, why is studying abroad so life-changing? Make New Connections Although Twitter and Pinterest might connect you with people around the world, there is nothing better than actual face-to-face interaction. Study abroad allows you to finally meet all those people in real time. In addition, you can make new friends with people who are very different from you, giving you better perspective of your own life. And, you can make important connections that will help you become more successful in your future career. Become Fluent In Language According to the Department of Labor, translators and interpreters are expected to be one of the top 15 fastest growing occupations in the nation over the next 20 years. In fact, a study by MIT showed that learning a foreign language brings in an average of 2% more annual income, with more exotic languages (Chinese, Arabic, Russian) earning considerably more. By studying abroad, you get the best possible language training by being fully immersed in your language of choice. You’ll have more earning potential and a better chance for employment upon graduation. Find Out Who You Are Odds are good that you have spent most of your life in one country, one state, or even one city. You may not have had a lot of opportunities to try things outside of your comfort zone. Studying abroad gives you the option to try new things in a relatively safe environment where there are few impacts on your â€Å"regular† life. That means, if you try something and fail (or don’t like it), it won’t matter as much as if you were back at home with the people you grew up with. Learn To Be An Independent Leader Studying abroad is a perfect way to learn the ropes of being on your own. You’ll learn great life skills of making travel appointments, connecting with local help resources, and getting a job. You’ll learn to know what you want and how to get it through skills of discipline, hard work, and determination. By the time you come home, you’ll have more motivation to succeed and leadership skills to bring people along for the ride. Solve Problems Studying abroad is not always easy. It can be frustrating experience as well. You might feel homesick. School tasks, policy and life in general might be totally different in your host country than in your homeland. Don’t stress. Studying abroad gives you the opportunity to use these trials as tools for growth. And, when you return home, you’ll have a much better perspective on what are â€Å"real problems† and what are â€Å"mere inconveniences†. Gain Global Perspective More than any other lesson, study abroad teaches you that your actions never happen in a vacuum. By living in a different culture, you realize that human experience is universal. You’ll find out that people who look and think differently share the same core values and priorities as you do. And, you’ll also discover that people who are geographically separated still have incredible influence on each other. This global perspective will help you be a more compassionate leader and also will make you a better employee and citizen in future. Studying abroad is often spoken of by college students as one of the most â€Å"life-changing experiences† they had during their course of study. The reason for that is learning new skills in new environment, which eventually last longer and are more relevant in your life than those you obtain during regular college classes. What do you think you could gain from a study abroad program? Have you completed one already? What advice would you give a new student preparing to study abroad? Please, share your thoughts with us!

International Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 14

International Business - Essay Example Corruption refers to abuse of power or position by government officials in order to attain illegitimate personal gain. Corruption is a complex political, social and economic phenomenon that affects all nations since it undermines democratic institutions and slows down economic development since investors shy away from investing in countries that are deemed to be corrupt. Corruption occurs in the forms of bribery, nepotism, extortion, patronage, embezzlement and influence peddling. Corruption is closely linked to organized crimes such as drug trafficking, terrorism and money laundering. Corruption is perceived to be widespread in some nations than others due to the historical, cultural and differing levels of economic development. Countries with more developed economies and histories of British rule are perceived to be less corrupt due to traditions and values of democracy and good governance inherited from Britain rule. The definition and legislation on corruption differs across nations since there are different sanctions and penalties for engaging in corruption. Some countries define corruption as the bribery of public officials while others define corruption as the soliciting and acceptance of gifts. In other nations, corruption is broadly defined as the abuse of public office for personal gain while others define corruption as the possession of unexplained wealthy. In many nations, the civil and criminal law provide for provisions that determine corruption related offenses and enforcement measures such as penalties and jail terms for engaging in corrupt activities. In other countries such as emerging markets, there are anti-corruption agencies that are responsible for investigation of corruption-related offenses and making recommendations for prosecution of the offenders. Active and passive corrupt practices are criminal in countries like Singapore, China and Hong Kong and bribery of public officials in

Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI career Research Paper

Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI career - Research Paper Example 1-5). Nowadays, the FBI is synonymous with national security, and individuals working for the FBI are considered to be serving their country. Because of this, many people desire to have a career working for the FBI, and a substantial proportion of these envision themselves as being a special agent. However, the importance of the work that the FBI is involved in necessitates a high level of security and skills, and consequently, there are strong restrictions on who can have a career with the FBI, particularly as a special agent. The creation of the FBI occurred because there was no nationwide group that was responsible for gathering intelligence, and no organization was present among state- or city-wide institutions. The jurisdiction of the FBI has grown since its inception, especially following the increased focus on counter-terrorism after the September 11 terrorism attack. The FBI is a part of the United States Department of Justice, and contained 11,633 special agents in 2003. The number of agents is an indication of how specially trained these individuals are, and the amount of time and money that is spent in ensuring agents are fully ready for any occasion (Jefferys-Jones, 2007, pp. 1-5). Agents within the FBI fulfill a variety of roles, and often work unusual hours in difficult conditions. However, careers within the FBI are not limited to special agents and many other positions exist. As an organization, the FBI focuses on serious crimes that occur within the borders of the United States and on terrorism. The first step to becoming involved with the FBI as a career is determining what field to pursue. There are a number of different roles that a person can undertake in a career for the FBI. These include working as a linguist, within a hostage rescue team, as a professional staff member or as a special agent. Working in the FBI, regardless of an individual’s role, involves a high degree of dedication and independence. All applicants need to have a four-year degree, although there is no restriction on what the degree can be in, as well as three years’ experience working in the professional world. These are important criteria, as they show how dedicated, motivated and committed the individual is. Applications for the FBI are often much higher than the number of vacancies, and consequently it may take an applicant many years of reapplying to be successful. In terms of skills and training, the approach to entering a FBI career is varied. Many people desire to enter the FBI from an early age, and consequently are able to tailor their learning around this. Studying law as a degree and being involved in extra-curricular activities at all levels of schooling can work to the candidate’s advantage. However, the FBI hires from a wide range of different fields, and people are not required to have any experience with law or criminal justice to become a part of the FBI, or to be a special agent. As there are many application s each year, the most important part about being accepted into an FBI career is to be exceptional and to stand out. Of these positions, perhaps the most widely recognized is that of a special agent. Being a special agent is a highly specialized and demanding job; consequently, there are a large number of qualification requirements before an individual is able to begin training as a special agent. All people desiring to become an FBI special agent must pass a physical fitness test, consisting of four individual assessments as well as meeting

High School Cliques and School Violence Essay Example for Free

High School Cliques and School Violence Essay There is an overabundant amount of cliques in high schools throughout the United States. Many teenagers believe the only way to be recognized is to be affiliated with the popular crowd. There are many factors that bring about cliques in high schools. Some are based on wealth, style, and race. But in many cases there are cliques that are a combination of these elements. Socioeconomic status is often a big factor in joining cliques. Realistically, wealthy and the poor do not go hand and hand. The children of wealthy homes often degrade people that are poverty struck. Cliques divide people through class distinction. If you are not rich, you cannot have the latest fashions or be able to spend money as freely as others on things, such as, a tenth pair of Nikes. Fashion is another huge aspect of high school cliques. Nearly every high school girl dresses like a supermodel. They purchase tight fitting jeans with oversized belts and a matching shirt from stores like Abercrombie and Fitch, Guess, and American Eagle. Not to mention all the matching jewelry or bling. Boys, too, are caught in a similar trap. They also dress to impress when purchasing a polo shirt or baggy jeans from Polo, Gap, or Structure. The media influences all of these styles. Magazines, television shows, and especially MTV, influence teens on style. For example, a popular television show like, The Hills, advertises high end clothing by having all their actors model their clothing. Cliques are also formed by race. Far too many times people exclude others because of their ethnicity. I realize that people tend to have more in common with people of similar heritage. However, this is no reason to exclude other nationalities. People should try to regulate this by having diverse backgrounds within a specific group. For example a group can consist of Whites, Blacks, Asians, and Latinos instead of one nationality. This way, new things can be learned from other cultures and backgrounds. Cliques dominate the high school scene across the United States. There is a range of cliques in every high school. Some of these range from cliques of fashion to groups of privilege. Any clique can leave demoralizing imprints on a person who does not fit in. These imprints have led to countless incidents of school violence ranging anywhere from physical fights to trying to blow up an entire school with faculty and students inside or even mass shootings, such as the case that occurred at Columbine High School. Violence in schools needs to stop. Too many innocent people are being hurt and even killed in some cases. One way to stop the violence is to regulate cliques. A simple way to do this is try to make all students interact with one another despite their differences in wealth, fashion, and attitude. This will show the students who normally fit in what it feels like to be an outsider.

Historical Sites from the Battle of Saratoga :: History Saratoga

The Blockhouse was built in the late 1920's to serve as a visitor's center for the Historical Park which was then owned and operated by New York state and was located near where the Nielson House still stands today. It is said that the Blockhouse was built using lumber from barns and other structures that were present during the Battles of Saratoga. In 1938 the Battlefield became a National Historical Park and eventually a new visitor's center was built. The Blockhouse was then removed from the National Historical Park in the early 1960's and was relocated to a plot of land on Route 32 across the street from it's original location. After many years of discussion the Blockhouse was finally moved to a location on the river on Routes 4 and 32 in the Village of Stillwater. (W. Valosin, personal communication, May 5, 2002). It currently serves as a Visitor's Center and a Museum containing artifacts from the history of Stillwater, NY. The Saratoga Monument was built to commemorate the victory of the Battles of Saratoga. Construction began on October 17, 1877, which marked the 100th Anniversary of the surrender of General Burgoyne, and was completed after 10 years of construction (W. Valosin, personal communication, May 5, 2001). The structure can be seen before you enter the Village as it stands nearly 155 feet tall and contains 184 stairs ("Saratoga Monument", 2001) that lead to an observation level from which you can see the entire Village of Schuylerville. Over the years there have been many structural concerns, due to water damage, which had caused the Monument to be closed to the public on two different occasions. The first time was in 1970 where it remained closed until it reopened in the summer of 1981 after extensive repairs. Unfortunately there were again structural concerns, due to moisture, and the National Park service, which now owns the building, was forced to close the historical site once again in 1987. Now, after inspection has shown that it is structurally safe and it has been under repair for internal damage for more than three years, the Monument is scheduled to be reopened to the public May 25, 2002. ("Saratoga Monument", 2001). John Nielson built his house in 1775 or 1776, where he and his wife lived until they learned that General Burgoyne and his British troops were headed to the area in September of 1777. The American Army had set up Fortifications to wait for the British Army to arrive and used the Nielson House as a mid-level headquarters.

A short back ground history of Ibn Battuta Essay

At a time when most men traveled by animal, the ability to travel 75,000 miles over a span of 30 years during the 14th century remains a remarkable achievement. When asked to name the historic individual who covered such a great distance, most will first mention Marco Polo, the legendary traveler who recorded his exploits in The Adventures. There was, however, another person who traveled longer distances far earlier than Marco Polo. In fact, he traveled 75,000 miles and visited 44 different countries and, due to the strict westernized recording of history, Ibn Battuta’s travels have been all but forgotten. Even Battuta’s visit to China is virtually unknown while Polo’s journey to China remained historically revered despite the fact that even to this day there remain lingering, unresolved questions as to whether or not Marco Polo truly visited China. However, if the myth sounds interesting enough, it will eventually be reported as fact. Marco Polo’s status as a mythical folk hero eliminates much criticism and scrutiny regarding his travels. Yet, Marco Polo’s travels remain famous regardless of the controversy that surrounds his journeys and the equally lengthy debate among scholars. It is not uncommon for influential non-western people to be seemingly erased from historical accounts. In the United States, history is chronicled from a western perspective with Western Europe being presented as the epicenter of the world. As such, individuals from other cultures are often viewed in a peripheral manner and not provided with the same depth of historical coverage. Marco Polo was a hero whose birth origins are in the Western World; because of this, his feats are given great credibility. In the case of Battuta, a Moroccan by descent, his achievements are glossed over despite spending 17 years in China. It will be the goal of this essay to shift scholarly and historical attention from Marco Polo to Ibn Battuta by examining his travels in China in comparison to Marco polo’s. Additionally, this essay will prove that two travelers definitely visited China. A short back ground history of Ibn Battuta Muhammed ibn Abdullah ibn Battuta or Ibn Battuta was born in Tangier, Morocco to a Muslim family in 1304. He started his travels when he was around 20 years old and continued to travel for almost 30 years. (Dunn 14). Battuta, according to Francis, belonged to the religious upper class of the Mohammedan community and received a traditional religious and scholastic education from theologians (Francis 2). His travels commenced in 1325 when Ibn went on a pilgrimage to Mecca that continued on until he had crisscrossed 75,000 miles of the world (Kegan 1). He stopped in most Muslim cities along his route and paid homage to holy sites in Damascus, Syria, Hebron, Jerusalem and Bethlehem in the face of many obstacles he met along the way (Monteil 30). A short back ground history of Marco Polo Marco Polo was a famous Silk Road traveler in 1254-1324 has surpassed the fame of all other world travelers because of his well regarded writings claimed he reached beyond Mongolia and China (Polo, 1854: B). Marco Polo was born of a family of nobles and was a Venetian by origin with a high degree of education that included a basic knowledge of theology derived from Latin principles. At the young age of 18, Marco Polo also set forth in his journey to China with his father Nicolo and uncle Matteo. They continued on their journey until they reached the dwelling of Kublai near the present day Peking in 1275 where the Mongol Great Khan Qubilai or Kublai was delighted to see them (Jackson 82). Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo’s travel in China Both travelers recorded their personal observations of the various societies they discovered in the Far East. These observations display their fond interest in the salient issues concerning the society, religion, treatment of women, and cultural habits and practices. Acquiring the experiences for these observations were not without problems, however, as both Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta encountered many adversities on the way to their respective destinations. For example, Ibn dealt with a number of obstacles and this prompted the redirection travels and circumvented his original plans to remain in the Middle East region of the Maldives (Spectrum 26). This ultimately led to his traveling to China and, it must be noted, that his travel to China was far from an easy journey. Specifically, Battuta’s journey to China was difficult, lengthy and arduous, but he ultimately succeeded and reached Sumatra and Vietnam before finally arriving in the Fujian Province in China sometime between1345-1346 (Francis 235). According to Wolfe, the rulers of China during the period were the descendants of Genghis Khan and the Mongol Dynasty (Wolfe 68). Jackson also supported Marco Polo’s verifiable account that the descendant of Genghis Khan, Kublai or Qubilai Khan was the head of the Mongol empire during this timeframe (Jackson 85). Muslims and other foreigners were welcomed into China during that time where an â€Å"open door† policy was exercised (Dunn 260). As such, Battuta recorded the fact that Chinese cities like Quanzhou and Guangzhou in the southern coast and sea ports welcomed him (Donkin 135). Other ports along the Malay Peninsula were also open to Muslim travelers and traders and Malay rulers encouraged these Muslim traders to settle in their ports and bring the advantages of a strong trading economy with them (Wolfe 68).