Review of Parrot in the Oven Essay

Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida is a coming of age novel written in 1996, by Victor Martinez. The story is set in California and is told from the point-of-view of a fourteen year old, Mexican American boy. Manuel Hernandez, like many young men, struggles with identity. Manny’s life is hard. He has two older siblings and a baby sister. His mother does not work. His father is unemployed and an alcoholic. The main provider and only person in his house that can keep a steady job is his older sister. His older brother cannot hold a job long. As would be expected, Manny’s family lives in the projects. Project life brings its own problems. The Garcia boys live in Manny’s neighborhood. They constantly terrorize and beat him. Manny does not fight back. He realizes that he is outnumbered and too afraid to do anything. This could be one of the reasons Manny joins a boxing club in school, and later joins a gang. Family life is not much better for Manny. Throughout the story Manny deals with an alcoholic father and a borderline obsessive compulsive mother that have both become bitter and resentful. Manny’s brother is rarely home, but when he is he is often drunk. His older sister is resentful that she must carry the family. At one point in the story she gets pregnant and soon loses the baby. Chapter nine shines light on a key aspect of Manny’s character. As the title implies, Manny is naive. He lives in a predominantly Latino community where racial discrimination is non-existent. In this section of the book, Manny’s boss urges his daughter to invite Manny to her birthday party. She reluctantly agrees. Manny tells his brother, Nardo, about the party. Nardo and their sister try to explain to Manny that white people do not usually interact with Mexicans socially; he is most likely being used. Manny does not listen. He is in lust. Needless to say, the party ends badly. A terrible home life, hormones and identity issues lead Manny to gangs. He takes the beating, as a form of initiation, so that he can kiss a girl. He is not entirely sold on the gang culture but feels that he should hang out with the members. On his first run with Eddie, a gang member, he witnesses Eddie assault a woman and steal her purse. At that moment he recognizes that Eddie is the guy that knocked up his sister. Frozen in place, Manny realizes that gang-life is not for him. He goes home and watches his sisters sleep, knowing that although life at home is rough there is nowhere else he would rather be. Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida exposes many aspects familiar to first- and second-generation Mexican American families. Many young minorities might be able to relate to Manny’s struggles. Even though the book deals with ugly issues like abuse, alcoholism, racism, teen pregnancy and gangs, the book also provides a space for discussion around identity, self-esteem and pride. I would definitely recommend this book to students.

Importance of Education Essay

My father barely finished high school and my mother has only a sixth grade education. I was raised primarily by my mother and because of her limited educational background we faced great difficulties. As a young child I was placed into foster care with two of my siblings because after a fire occurred in our apartment building our mother did not have the resources to keep us from being homeless. We eventually reunited with our mother but not before being traumatized by the separation and the abuse imposed upon us by our foster family. As I grew up and faced many difficulties I realized a large part of our struggles as a family was our inability to progress out of poverty. I believe one of the main barriers to that progression was my mother’s lack of education. She did not have the skills and abilities that would allow her to pursue a career that could improve the lives of her children. As I am writing this essay my mother and younger siblings are currently homeless due to another fire that has happened at their Brooklyn home just two nights ago. Luckily I have my wife as a support system to aid me in assisting my family through this difficult time. I was always considered a smart child but due to a lack of resources in my home life I eventually faltered in school. In High school I became disengaged. I felt alone and disconnected from my family, friends, classmates and teachers. There was no one for me to communicate with and so I started to hate school and life. As I reflect on my past I realize that if I had a mentor or a better support system then I may not have made some of the mistakes in high school that I did. As a black man I am very proud of myself for overcoming the many obstacles I have faced in my life. Five years ago I would not have thought it would be possible for me to apply to University. It is only through hard work, persistence, dedication and a little bit of luck that I am not uneducated, unemployed, serving time or dead like a lot of the people I grew up with in Brooklyn. I am the first member of my family to attend college. I am also the only person from my group of childhood friends to be graduating from college. I think this is a great achievement but one that needs to happen more frequently in minority communities.

B minor Mass Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

B minor Mass - Essay Example His positive position in the society had offered him opportunities to improve with his craft, including Mass in B-Minor. The composition is greatly influenced by the composer’s religious views, his personal connections and traditions of his time. About Mass in B-Minor The Mass in B minor was composed by Bach for the Roman Catholic Church. Although it is quite peculiar to think why a devout Lutheran would compose a song for the Catholics, Bach’s relationship with the rest of the society and his roles on it could justify this contrasting idea. The work is consisted of 27 sections divided into four major sections, and six of them are distinctively unchanging and all of which were written in different periods of Bach’s life. Therefore, it is logical to assume that the work is basically â€Å"an anthology† of music written by Bach in the late years of his life (Towe, 1991: 46). The major sections, â€Å"Kyrie,† â€Å"Gloria,† â€Å"Symbolum Nicen um or the Credo,† and â€Å"Sanctus, Hosanna, Benedictus, and Agnus Dei† were written for different purposes in different times; although all of which have a lot to do with the religious proceedings of the Catholic Mass. As how Spitta (n.d.) reviewed the composition, the work is â€Å"the ideal and ‘concentrated presentiment’ of the development of Christianity from Sin (Kyrie), through Atonement with Christ (Gloria), to the Church proceeding from him (Credo) and the memorial supper - the culmination of the doctrine (Sanctus...)† (as cited in Jenkins, 2001); while a lay-man observation would notice the pattern of life Christ followed: birth, death, and resurrection. Kyrie and Gloria Initially, the Kyrie and Gloria were written separately; it was not until 1733 that the two collections were put into one and played in a single setting and became the â€Å"two fifths of the entire work† (â€Å"History,† 2007). Kyrie and Gloria served as a à ¢â‚¬Å"presentation piece to the Elector of Saxony and King of Poland† with whom Bach had indulgence of being the Court Composer (Towe, 1991: 46). The Kyrie is presented to have charming duets of sopranos and interplay or strings and organ (Aylesbury Choral Society, 2004), of which Bach first gained his fame. It started out with a group of choral sopranos, where the ambiance can be best described as an act of awaiting for a predestined suffering; an event where Jesus Christ is particularly famed for. Talbeck (n.d.) noted that the second part of the Kyrie has â€Å"fugal style weaves all voice parts beautifully around the text, portraying a community grounded in hope.† The major sections were divided into several cantatas, which probably were composed also at different times. Most notably, his â€Å"Gloria,† as how the Aylesbury Choral Society (2004) predicts, â€Å"was probably reworked from a now lost instrumental movement.† The cantatas have duets of teno rs, sopranos, a combination of both, and an exploration of other voice ranges to suit the purpose. Symbolum Nicenum The introduction of the â€Å"Symbolum Nicenum† has a slower tempo, where the strings were audibly significant, compared to that of â€Å"Gloria† and denotes ascendance to the throne. The original text is in Latin, but if translated into English, it is known to be the Apostle’s Creed (e.g. Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem as I believe in one God, Father Almighty in English). Thus, the Symbolum Nicenum is also known as the â€Å"

Critically assess the Role of Trade in Development Essay

Critically assess the Role of Trade in Development - Essay Example In the context of low developed countries, trade becomes crucial to i) reduce economic vulnerability and protect the environment and ii) to mobilize financial resources (UNCTAD, 2010). The role of trade in the economic development and national development strategies are countless. Broadly the decisive role played by trade in economic development is discussed under five major heads in this paper. The goods and services which are produced locally have access to a larger market and the demand expansion effect of trade make the economy capable of overcoming the constraints of its local and domestic market size. This case becomes more relevant in the case of small and medium sized economies who have limited domestic purchasing power. The increasing returns to scale as a result of access to international markets can further reinforce the benefit of operating at a higher output level. The manufactured goods propose better prospects for export earnings by allowing for a more rapid productivity growth and production expansion and also offer the promise of greater price stability as volumes expand, thereby avoiding the declining terms of trade which hinders the long run economic performance of many developing countries (UNCTAD 2002) Trade leads to acquisition of newly affordable goods that are necessary for technological dynamisms, poverty reduction and increasing economic development. Those goods would not available unless export or import occur properly and even if they are available, those may not be for the scarce domestic resources. The import-supply role of the imports like food, fuel, capital equipments, spare parts, intermediate inputs and machinery for long run investment are very critical in the context of low developed and developing countries where the agriculture sector is more predominant and the productive capacities of manufacturing industries are weak. If the foreign earnings from exports are appropriately

Historicist the shawl Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Historicist the shawl - Essay Example The Nuremburg Laws prohibited Jews for marrying non-Jews, made it illegal for a Jew to own a radio, bicycle, or business, and requiring them to wear a yellow Star of David on all their clothing and outerwear. One survivor described it as â€Å"yellow as the Star sewn onto Rosa’s overcoat† (Ozick, 3). This forced every Jew to adopt a Jewish element their personality creating a collective identity for all European Jews, before being isolated in a ghetto or camp. The Shawl, many Jews felt trapped because of neighbor actions. Rosa did not want to chance giving her child to a stranger, despite the child’s Aryan appearance (Orick, 3). Jews became pariahs under Nazi rule. Harsh penalties were handed down to people gave comfort to Jews, even death. No citizen, save a few brave souls, tried to help the Jews under Nazi rule. The collective identity created propaganda making the non-Jewish turn on Jewish neighbors they had previously lived with in peace. After creating a collective identity it was easier to move the Jews into ghettos and camps. With the exception of a small percent, all Jews were moved into ghettos, and then moved to camps. A few Jews escaped through the help of Aryans, but many more were killed before reaching the ghetto. The deportation to ghettos was a transit point with the end of the line being a camp. By creating the illusion that Jews were sub-human, Nazis could isolate masses in ghettos and camps. Due to the Jewish collective identity, it was easier for Nazis to persecute all Jews in the Third Reich. One survivor explains â€Å"‘not all victims were Jews, but all Jews were victims’† (UN). Using propaganda against the Jews, Germans and non-Jews felt that it was not wrong to exterminate Jews. Those who did feel any guilt about the way Jews were treated buried that emotion under fear of what the

Respond to classmate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Respond to classmate - Essay Example Next to be considered is conciseness. When communicating, be sure you are not beating around the bush. Be direct and to the point while communicating. Following conciseness is consideration. Be aware who needs the information and consider all those who need to know. When considering your communication you need to be concrete and use specific facts and figures along with clarity so those you are communicating with will have no possible confusion. Lastly, Courteous and correctness go hand in hand. As a communicator you should be courteous of the listener and uses correct language and also in messaging use correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, and accurate facts and figures. Using these seven C’s can guide and promote effective communication in the workplace.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In my workplace, communication is a must. As a Title one paraprofessional, I am working with several teachers to help those struggling students to improve in reading, writing, and arithmetic. If I was given the students and teachers did not consider what the students’ needs were I would not know what to teach them. It is my job to collaborate with each grade to better the students time and help them progress. It is also courteous on the teacher’s part to keep us in the loop so we can be correct and concise in who needs extra help. Without proper communication, I would fail in helping those students to progress and learn. Communication is essential in every aspect. Nordmeyer, Billie. Keys to Building Effective Communication in the Workplace. Everydaylife.globalpost.com. Retrieved from http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/keys-building-effective-communication-workplace-1575.html I agree with the seven Cs presented in this article and wondered if they talked about delivery methods too?   There are times it is difficult to deliver all the information in a concise manner if there are a lot of details to be discussed.   About a week ago I was trying to explain a situation at

Written Grammar assisgnment-Rhetoric Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Written Grammar assisgnment-Rhetoric - Assignment Example Isn’t it the students who are the future of the workplace? Our society has become highly dependent on mobile technology (Vess, 2013). This triggers the argument, ‘is mobile technology in schools productive or a hindrance?’ It is true that if mobile devices are improperly used, they can be hazardous in school (Chadband, 2012). However, BYOT/BYOD is already an integral part of a students’ life that it would be ineffective to throw out mobile devices completely. In fact, throwing out mobile devices would have a negative impact on students in school causing them to rebel and hence hindering effective performance. If the present workforce is an indication of the future, then today’s students’ need the freedom to work with their own mobile devices (Vess, 2013). As the number of students using mobile technology increases in school districts, it is up to the school administrators to deliver and offer training programs for teachers in the use of mobile devices (Schaffhauser, 2014). In conclusion, BYOT/BYOD in schools is inevitable. Mobile technology and devices are already a part of a student’s lifestyle, and developing their technological skills within a school setting will prepare them for the workplace and even put them in leadership positions. Therefore, the aim for schools now, is to embrace and integrate new ways of teaching using mobile technologies and devices. Schaffhauser, D. (2014). Report: Most Schools delivering BYOD programs, training teachers in mobile device usage. Retrieved Jan 2, 2015 from http://thejournal.com/articles/2014/03/27/report-most-schools-delivering-byod-programs-training-teachers-in-mobile-devices-usage.aspx Vess, B. (2013). Mobile Devices in the Classroom: The Argument for BYOD Implementation. Retrieved Jan 2, 2015 from

The underground water in the uae area and their quality, distribution Case Study

The underground water in the uae area and their quality, distribution and their effects in plantation - Case Study Example The need for water in agriculture, domestic and industrial use remain the primary areas where significant volumes of water are necessary to run the economy of U.A.E not to mention sustaining the livelihood of about 1.4 million people living in U.A.E (Heard-Bey 98). Because of poor quality water in most underground water sources, U.A.E have to contend with desalination of water as show in appendix A. While U.A.E has the least number of rainfall in the, a characteristic of many nations in the Arab Peninsula, the Emirates have the highest number of water use. The amount of water use per-capita in the U.A.E is the highest as compared to any part of the world. Despite the high rate of water use in U.A.E, there demand for water outstrips the supply given that U.A.E has less surface water. The primary source of water in the U.A.E is underground sources, which contribute to meeting the demand of water for domestic, industrial, and agricultural use. The underground water sources provide the h ighest amount of water from well such as one figure 1 depicts. Even with water quality being low due to salts, underground water remain significant resource. ... While the U.A.E have a varying landform, there are several aquifers. Appendix B shows a representation of the main aquifer system in U.A.E that provide underground water sources. In the U.A.E, the primary aquifer system that determine the distribution of underground water consist of alluvial aquifer system, the Batinah coastal plain aquifer, and the deep carbonate aquifer system. The alluvial aquifer system is made of sand, cobbles boulders, and pebbles and stores underground water of nearly 5,280 x 10 9 cm3. The second aquifer system—the Batinah Coastal Plain Aquifer—consist of course sand, boulders, and gravel. In this aquifer system, well sunk are shallow and allows drawing of water because water levels are high and often above the sea level. The third category of aquifer systems is the deep carbonate aquifer system. This system has thick carbonate rocks that stretch across the southern part of Abu Dhabi. This aquifer demonstrates the characteristics of a system unde r an artesian condition. Statistics from the U.A.E Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries reveal that all the seven Emirate have close to 76,000 sources of ground water. These wells produce water used for domestic purposes across the U.A.E. The cumulative production of water from these underground well totals to 137.5 Mm3. Most of the underground water sources have an age between 12,000 and 40,000 years pointing to water deposits that have taken long time to accumulate in the aquifers. Across the U.A.E, the main underground sources of water belong to three aquifers, which represent one of the factors that influence the distribution of underground water. Other factors that play a role in determining

Leonardo da Vinci Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Leonardo da Vinci - Research Paper Example Largely self-educated, Da Vinci went on to fill thousands of dense and neatly penned secret commentaries and theories, a number of which have been descriptively difficult to interpret. Though his ideas and findings had no direct influence on later science, the very combination of intellect and imagination to create such inventions as a flying machine [aircraft] based on the physiology of a bat would later enter the world of manufacturing with the ultimate assembly of a number of powered engine machines like the automated bobbin winder. A polymath with an "unquenchable curiosity" and "feverishly inventive imagination," Da Vinci’s intellect, energy, and bravery in confronting problems and/or questions his time cut him uniquely among the rest as perhaps the most diversely talented individual that has ever lived. Indeed as art historian Helen Gardner (1970) notes, Da Vinci’s personality was without precedent, not only with regards to the scope and depth of his interests, bu t also in terms of the mystery as well as how remote his observations were; for the empirical methods he employed were far much beyond the workable designs of his time. His private life was kept much way from the public limelight, drawing much speculation from a section of scholars, more so about his sexuality. With reverence for sight (â€Å"knowing how to see†) as the most important aspect of human life, Da Vinci saw art and science as complementary rather than distinct, in effect, summing up his intellectual acumen that traversed across fields of study (Freud, 2012). Accordingly, he spent a great deal of time testing scientific laws, dissecting bodies, those humans as well as animals, structuring his observations, and finally releasing his thoughts in the thousands of manuscripts that have more than divided scholars on the specificity of his vision. Probably due to