Why I chose the MPA program COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

Why I chose the MPA program COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog This week, a few of us  are writing about our experiences in our respective degree programs. To kick things off, Ill share my insights into the  Master of Public Administration, a.k.a. MPA, which is one of SIPA’s most demanded programs. The MPA  curriculum was built to give public affairs professionals the analytical and managerial skills to solve increasingly, complex real-world situations and shape local- and national-level policies and projects. One of the programs biggest advantages is its focus on local and national projects based on a global perspective, which comes in handy when you consider that more than 50  percent  of the student body is constituted by international students like myself. I believe this is what makes this program truly unique: being able to discuss with my classmates how policies related to similar areas may have completely different implementations and results based on the geographical location. I can still recall my amusement while listening to one classmate describe maternity leave in Egypt and another one talking about the same policy in Japan. Also, my Chinese colleagues are always surprised when I describe how corruption is such a big issue in Latin America and how different it is from their home country. While we learn anecdotally about ground-level policy from one another, were learning a lot in the classroom as well.  To build quantitative foundations is something that will consume most of the first year at SIPA. However, it certainly pays back when you start applying your knowledge in more practical classes during your second year. The high-level discussion that students have about various issuessuch as rebound effects or energy demand elasticity  in my Economics of Energy classare only possible because we had such a strong preparation in our first-year Econ classes. That is something that really surprised me at SIPA: how the school systematically  balances the curricula between theoretical classes and more practical ones that give students the hands-on practice required to prepare them to be the leaders in the major fields of public affairs. The curriculum also draws on the international strengths of SIPA to ensure that these public affairs officials are prepared for the rapidly globalizing context of local and national policy issues. One recurrent question received at the Admissions Office regards the difference between the MIA and the MPA. The MPA and MIA have some overlap, especially regarding basic classes such as economics and statistics. Nonetheless, they are essentially different programs. While the MIA curriculum develops international affairs professionals who understand complex transnational issues and can manage real-world organizations, the MPA curriculum focus on training public affairs professionals to understand the complex issues shaping local, national and global policies, and to lead the change inside and outside governmental institutions. In addition, the MPA does not require students to fulfill the foreign language proficiency, as the MIA does. Moreover, both masters  degrees have different core classes. For example, while the MIA program requires students to take Conceptual Foundations of International Politics, MPA students have to take Politics of Policymaking.  In this sense, my past experience working for the government in Brazil and my desire to be better prepared to take a leading role in the government were fundamental in my decision to choose  the MPA over the MIA program. It is really important to analyze each  programs curriculum and decide which one will best fit your educational objectives. This is also valued for the choice of concentration and specialization. Since SIPA offers such a huge variety of classes, it is important to have a good idea of the tools you will need to fulfill your professional dreams, so you can best choose your track at SIPA. If you’d like to speak with a current MPA student (like myself!) to learn more about its advantages,  submit the Connect With A Current Student form  and well be happy to talk with you. [Top photo courtesy of Eloy Oliveira]

Alcohol Is a Legal Drug Essay - 588 Words

What is drug? A drug is a chemical substance that acts on the brain and nervous system, and changes a individuals mood, emotion or state of consciousness (Health Service Executive 2013). Drugs classified by the effect they produce: †¢ Stimulants, such as cocaine, make people feel full of energy; †¢ Depressants (or sedatives), such as heroin, make people feel relaxed; †¢ Hallucinogens, such as LSD, make people see, feel or hear things that are not real (Health Service Executive 2013). Legal drugs. Under Irish law, most drugs are illegal. However, some drugs are legal, they include: †¢ caffeine †¢ alcohol †¢ cigarettes (Health Service Executive 2013). What is alcohol? Alcohol is a legal, sedative drug which can alter feelings (Drugs.ie n.k).†¦show more content†¦Additionally CO2 produced by fermentation makes the bubbles in beer and some types of wine. From consumption to abuse. In 2011 World Health Organisation produced report based on the 2008 figures, in relation to alcohol drinking patterns (WHO 2011). The figures showed that an average Irish adult consumes 13.4 litres of pure alcohol per annum, compared to 12.2 litres to European adult. In addition to World Health Organisation survey, Health Services Executive in 2010 issued publication presenting 20 years of analysis of alcohol consumption in Ireland by Hope (Byrne 2010). In this publication it states that, Hope’s study shows that alcohol consumption per adult increased from 9.8 litres of pure alcohol in 1987 to 13.4 litres in 2006. Furthermore consumption per adult had risen to a high of 14.3 litres in 2001. Correspondingly there was a slight decrease in consumption per adult between 2004 and 2006, due to a greater increase in the adult population than in alcohol sales. Burne (2010) noted that, Ireland has a relatively high proportion of abstainers from alcohol. Ramstedt and Hope’s 2005 study of drinking habits in seven EU countries (Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Germany, UK, France and Italy) participating in the European Comparative Alcohol Study (ECAS) showed that at 23%, Ireland had by far the highest proportion of abstainers(Byrne 2010). Overall high abstainers numbers are good news, however if one to include abstainers statistics intoShow MoreRelated Legal Drugs? The Problems of Alcohol Essay1946 Words   |  8 Pages Heroin, Cocaine, and Marijuana are all recognizable variations of drugs. â€Å"A drug is a chemical substance that affects the central nervous system, causing changes in behavior and often addition† (â€Å"American† 431). The affects a drug can have on the central nervous system as well as other parts of the body can be very devastating, but bodily damage is just one result of drug use. When a person abuses a drug it can cause them to act in a way that hurts themselves or others often resulting in problemsRead MoreMarijuana vs. Alc ohol in the United States Essay843 Words   |  4 PagesMarijuana vs. Alcohol In The United States Marijuana and alcohol are the two most threatening drugs used in America today. Marijuana is the most illicit drug while alcohol is the most abused. Both were illegal during the prohibition but when the constitution was ratified in 1933 alcohol was made legal while marijuana remained illegal. It does not mean that because alcohol is still legal it’s less dangerous than marijuana. Both drugs lead to serious risks and should be taken with caution if usedRead MoreDrug And Alcohol Testing On The Workplace1663 Words   |  7 PagesDrug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace Due: Monday Dec 1, 2014 COMM-220-F Rebecca Walsh By Brett Tate and Brandon Bracko November 17, 14 Introduction People often question drug and alcohol testing in the work place. It is a controversial subject that has a range of mixed emotions. But where do you draw the line when it comes to crossing the boundaries of prying into one’s personal life? This report will explain the legal, and ethical issues surrounding the topic of drug and alcohol testing inRead MoreThe History of Drug Prohibition Essays953 Words   |  4 Pages Drug prohibition was not always accepted as it is today. Indeed, until the early twentieth century, there were few drug laws at all in the United States. Before the Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914, one could buy heroin at the corner drugstore; even Coca-Cola contained small amounts of cocaine until 1903 (Vallance 4). Some of the most proscribed drugs today were sold like candy and (quite literally) soda pop. What caused the sudden shift to prohibition? Prohibitionists often point outRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?972 Words   |  4 Pagesfolks argue that marijuana is a gateway drug and impairs judgement, causing people to act recklessly. However, extensive studies have been conducted on the effects, risks, and benefits of marijuana, and have proven marijuana to be safer than alcohol and most prescription, over-the-counter, and illicit drugs. Despite the extensive research and evidence backing up marijuana s mere harmlessness, it is still a hot button topic in America. Marijuana should be legal for both medical and recreational purposesRead MoreIntroduction Of Drugs And Alcohol Essay1392 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction to Drugs and Alcohol 2 Overview 2 I. Workplace Factors 3 II. Workplace Performance Behavior 4 III. Workplace Role 5 RECOMMENDATION 6 Workplace Policies and Drug Testing 7 Policy and Regulations on Alcohol and drug abuse 7 Employee Education/Health Promotion 8 Works Cited 9 â€Æ' Employer’s Guide for a Drug-free Workplace Introduction to Drugs and Alcohol In order to understand drug and alcohol use, it is important to be clear about what we mean by the terms ‘drugs’ and ‘alcohol. Alcohol is a legalRead MoreLegalization Of Drugs911 Words   |  4 Pageslegalization of illicit drugs has been a popular topic of debate. While there is often concern about the potential toxicity and the habits that may form, drugs are not necessarily the problem. In fact, the legalization of illicit drugs may be the answer to some of society’s problems. More drugs should be legalized because the drug is not the cause of the problem, our behavior is. Also, when compared to other substances that are legal we see the same social ills arise. If drugs were legalized crime wouldRead MoreLegal vs. Illegal Drugs1288 Words   |  6 PagesWhich are worse- Legal or Illegal Drugs? Drugs are a common part of everyday life. In fact, it is highly likely that there are drugs of some sort in your cupboard. They are classified into two categories: legal and illegal. Legal drugs include alcohol, tobacco, and pharmaceutical drugs, while illegal drugs include marijuana, amphetamines and heroin. The media often portrays a biased, negative view on illegal drugs, however legal drugs often have the same effects as illegal drugs, if not worse. Read MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1638 Words   |  7 PagesCannabis Should Be Legalized in the United States In 1920 when alcohol prohibition began the war against cannabis had been going strong for a decade. In 1910 the Mexican Revolution created a surplus of Mexican immigrants in the United States; American citizens were frightened by the Mexican culture, including their recreational use of cannabis (Marijuana Legalization, 2015, para 7). Politicians continued to use fear and racism to grow disapproval and hatred of cannabis. Beginning in 1915 twenty-nineRead MoreThe Rise Of Drug Prohibition975 Words   |  4 PagesDrug prohibition is rarely viewed negatively by many Americans. The failure of drug prohibition has sparked some debate in the last fifty years, however, the ignorance about illegal substances has led to little discussion on alternatives to prohibition. Legalizing all drugs would be a better alternative than perpetuating the failed war on drugs. The drug war has negatively impacted many lives by demonizing users and corrupting public officials. Criminalizing alcohol did not work in the 1920s and

Dear Elf Bernard, Head Elf Of Santas Workshop - 1762 Words

Dear Elf Bernard, Head elf of Santa’s Workshop, Fourteen days, four hours, and exactly forty-one minutes till Santa will be traveling around the world making everyone’s next morning full of joy. As I am aware, this is an exciting time year for elves. Many create the toys that will be unwrapped while others have the great pleasure of baking cookies, taking care of Santa’s reindeer, and of course the hardest job of all, working to read different letters from various of children around the world. Figuring that you are currently reading my letter, I know that you probably have piles of letter embroidered with name of the place all kids think about: to the north pole. Inside most of these letters, I know from writing a few myself, that many kids are asking the either one of two questions: â€Å"I’m I on the naughty list† or in other letters there are variations of â€Å"May I pretty please with a cherry on top get ____ for christmas†. However, today I am not writing about these main topics, I am writi ng you this to you in hopes that I can be enlightened of the magic of passion and creativity that you are so lucky to be surrounded by everyday. Moreover, you may be pondering this and wonder why I would be asking for a request such as this. I have just finished a semester of a passions within a creativity class and was hoping to share with you what I learned and hope to hear what your perspective may be. So, my current intention throughout the rest of this letter to show you something new

Democracy Aims of the Ninth Amendment Free Essays

â€Å"We the People of the United States†¦ do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. † Within those opening words, the framers of the U. S. We will write a custom essay sample on Democracy Aims of the Ninth Amendment or any similar topic only for you Order Now Constitution made clear their intentions for democracy in America and their disregard for previous despotic institutions. No longer viewing the individual†s highest duty to be obedience to the state, our founding fathers displayed a firm commitment to bolstering the significance and dignity of the individual. This new found faith in the ability of the populace to govern itself is known as democracy. Democracy itself is an ideal that was developed by the ancient Greeks around 500 B. C. Inherent in all of the freedoms of democracy are certain â€Å"inalienable rights† that are guaranteed to every citizen who resides under that democracy. Following the Constitutional Convention, Federalists, who supported the ratification of the Constitution, obtained the support by promising that an enumeration of the rights of all citizens that would be added as an amendment to the Constitution after it had been ratified, to Anti-Federalists who opposed ratification due to the lack of enumerated rights. In order to outline and expound upon those rights, the Constitution was amended almost immediately following its ratification in 1788. The Bill of Rights, as the first ten amendments have come to be known, was put into effect on the fifteenth day of December, 1791, and is a formal declaration given by the government to define the fundamental liberties of its citizens and thus limit its own power. The first eight amendments contain the essential rights of every citizen, as well as certain procedural precautions instituted to insure the protection of those rights. The enth amendment guarantees the limitation of federal control to those and only those powers granted it in the Constitution. Inherent in the ninth amendment is the vitality of democracy in the United States. The ninth amendment reads: â€Å"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. † Amendment nine, while protecting citizens from the infringement of the government on the unenumerated rights of the individual using rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights, also levels any implied hierarchy of rights making no single right of any greater importance than another. The preservation of democracy in America is vitally dependent upon the ninth amendment as illustrated by its inherent ideologies that made it an amendment, its modern judicial implications in relation to the topics of the day, as well as its ability to reinforce those attributes that keep a democracy operating. Once the Constitution had been put into effect and representatives had been sent to Congress, it was time for the amendments that had been promised, to be sent before Congress. The leader in the proposition of amendments to the new Congress was James Madison, the â€Å"Father of the Constitution. † Madison†s chief intention in proposing his amendments to the Constitution was to prevent â€Å"†¦ the abridgment of the freedom of the people by [the] gradual and silent encroachments of those in power. † Madison originally proposed fifteen amendments that were to enumerate all of the inalienable rights of United States citizens. Of those fifteen, twelve were accepted by Congress to be sent to the states for approval under the process outlined in the Fifth Article of the Constitution. What would become the ninth amendment was seen even then as innocuous, but Madison was able to support its importance asking, â€Å"If an enumeration be made of all our rights, will it not be implied that everything omitted is given to the general government? † Democracy, as a free-state, relies inevitably on the protection of the freedoms of the individual; because all of the freedoms that an individual has a right to cannot simply be listed, it is vitally important that those rights which are not spelled out in the body of law that protects the individual continue to be protected from usurpation by the government. Through inference this amendment implies in its own wording that the rights that are listed in the Bill of Rights are so important that they needed to be spelled out, but there are other natural rights belonging to United States citizens that were equally important, but too numerous to mention. These â€Å"natural rights† include the right to choose your own mate, the right to reproductive choice, the right to determine the manner of your child†s education, and even covers rights to personal privacy. Certainly no man would argue the personal, as well as democratic significance of these rights. Thus, Madison, foreseeing the possibilities of the rise of the federal government to the already massive position of power that it now occupies kept it from denying Americans all of those rights that even they take for granted, because they cannot be found specifically enumerated in The judicial implications behind the ninth amendment are innumerable, mainly due to the fact that on a regular basis the government does its best to work its way into the private lives of individuals and instruct them on how to better their conduct in the ace of social morality. One pressing issue facing the people of the United States today is that of doctor-assisted suicide. To date, it has been ruled that suicide is in essence self-murder and accordingly, if murder is illegal so must all forms of it be illegal as well, self and otherwise. However, in light of the unenumerated rights guaranteed to citizens by the ninth amendment, this â€Å"right to die† inherently belongs to the individual as it does ot infringe upon the rights of others. Another modern political debate is that of the legality of homosexuality. Seeing as how, regardless of their sexual orientation, homosexuals are citizens of the United States of America, they also have the right to decide for themselves the person with whom they engage in sexual relations. Sexuality is, therefore, one more of the unenumerated rights bestowed upon the people under the â€Å"innocuous† amendment. Wisely effected for this use, the ninth amendment was cited in the case of Roe v. Wade in the determination of a woman†s right to have an abortion. This right, while not enumerated in the Constitution is still a right of the people under the ninth amendment. The ninth amendment, while famously misunderstood and misinterpreted by Judge Robert Bork in his 1987 confirmation hearing, has only recently been utilized as a tool in the fight for the preservation of the individual citizen†s democratic rights. Bork demonstrated his ineptitude and his inability to be a Supreme Court Justice by stating that he could not logically view the ninth amendment from the mindset of the Constitution†s framers. The ability of a Supreme Court Justice to trust his own insinuations into the minds of our founding fathers is what allows them to make a clear, responsible and accurate assertion about the ramifications of the wording of the Constitution. Unenumerated rights are, by definition, rights that are not specifically listed and are, therefore, more or less unknown. If it was possible to enumerate all of the rights that are delegated to the people under the ninth amendment then it would have been done and the innocuity innate in its creation would be forever erased. As those rights remain constantly emerging and on the verge of emerging the Supreme Court will have to continue to expand its interpretation and better use the ninth amendment for the protection of the intrinsic rights of the American citizen. Democracy itself is reliant upon several things to keep it working: citizen participation, voluntary action and education. The ninth amendment strengthens the wide-spread participation of the citizenry by entrusting them with rights that are God-given, rights that are so innately human that they need not be itemized in the body of law that was created to itemize the inborn rights of all citizens. Any and every individual has the right to run for public office. Each individual is also capable of supporting which ever political party he feels best represents his own personal opinions. He also retains the right to keep those personal opinions to himself if he so chooses. Another characteristic of democracy is its faith and dependence upon education. Although widespread participation is a significantly substantial aspect of democracy, it alone does not ensure the proper maintenance of good government. An active populace is nothing if it is not an educated populace. Education is not an institution that can be left to sort itself out, either. Whether an individual should choose to attend public or private schools, continue to a college or university, or perhaps be taught directly by his parents at home is a right that remains his under the ninth amendment. Without the freedoms and rights that are built-into the educational systems of America by the ninth amendment, the ability of the nation to take action, keep informed, vote intelligently and produce leaders worthy of public trust and responsibility would be drastically diminished. The lack of force inbred in all democracies requires a distinct amount of voluntary action to replace it. The right of the citizen to participate or not to participate in the everyday workings of the democracy in which he lives is always his. The ninth amendment can in that manner work against itself, but thanks to the safeguard of education it can be assumed a majority of the individuals inhabiting a democracy are there of their own free will and there because they wish to cooperate with and for the established system and not against it. The successful operation of American democracy, as well as that of any other democracy, is dependent upon the rights granted to the people of the United States by the ninth amendment. In The Federalist, â€Å"Number 47,† James Madison said that, â€Å"The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny. † Madison proposed the Bill of Rights in order to avoid allowances for the federal government to secure a position of tyranny as well as to promote the permanent establishment of democracy. Amendment nine of the Bill of Rights is the amendment that best exemplifies the preservation of that new state of democracy in America by withholding from the national government all those rights that went unenumerated in the Bill of Rights, but which continue to be retained by the people. The right to personal privacy, the right to a choice of educational institutions, the right to receive an abortion, the right to choose your own sexual orientation, the right to follow the political party of your choosing and even the right to die are all bestowed upon the citizenry by the ninth amendment. Democracy, as an institution of sentiment, law and government, could not survive without the guarantee of the ninth amendment that the people shall retain those rights which were given them with birth and which will neither be denied nor disparaged. The increasing clarity of the ninth amendment will continue to provide boundless possibilities for the people of the United States to not only continue in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but also to inhibit federal interference with that goal. How to cite Democracy Aims of the Ninth Amendment, Papers

The Joy of Pepsi Essay Example For Students

The Joy of Pepsi Essay The Joy of PepsiBritney Spears. Everyone knows who she is. So, of course, Pepsi chose her to be their ticket to obtain more Pepsi drinkers. After all, it is the soft drink of the new generation, right?I choose this commercial because it is obviously overt in the sexual tones for men and influential for the new generation (young girls and boys). This commercial is influential in almost any generation. This commercial is enjoyable for young men and older men, because Britney is dressed to impress and entertain them with her body, clothes and moves. The commercial is influential to teen and young girls, because they think if they drink Pepsi they can be like Britney Spears, and for many of them, if their idol (Britney) drinks Pepsi, then they should too. This commercial tells a tale for the older women too, because all the young men running around Britney in the footage instills the idea that if you act, dress and drink Pepsi like her, then men will be adoringly near. We will write a custom essay on The Joy of Pepsi specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The type of music and lighting used is easily explainable. The light and fun music is used to entertain and lighten the mood, making Pepsi seem fun and enjoyable. It has too be considered as ethical because nothing is offensive, or socially unacceptable, as we all learned in high school (if nowhere else), that we all have an emotional need to be accepted.The plan used to make this commercial was well planned and thought out. A commercial that makes everyone feel happy and want to go out and buy Pepsi, because it is the choice of a new generation, making the young feel important and the old feel young again.

Lifes Right Turns on the Wrong Roads; Robert Frost and The Road Not Taken

Lifes Right Turns on the Wrong Roads; Robert Frost and The Road Not Taken Free Online Research Papers The skill to sustain a metaphor requires the crafting of words and complete control and command of a poem. Robert Frost’s poem â€Å"The Road Not Taken† shows how Frost has the ability to say one thing and mean another making him one of America’s leading twentieth century poets and four-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Robert Frost, through â€Å"The Road Not Taken†, will examine to decipher and interpret the nature’s message in regards to life’s choices. Frost uses such a natural setting that revels the symbolic significance of two roads almost life-like, helping the reader visualize the different paths one may or not take in life. The reader is drawn in such a way, actually feeling like he or she is at the cross roads looking down the two paths. With great skill and craftiness possessed only by a poet, Frost is able to write one thing and mean another with brilliant beauty leaving the reader in a totally different world. Beginning w ith the physical structure of â€Å"The Road Not Taken,† it is clear that Frost is attempting to relay a sense of structure that is often associated with rational decision-making. Once again Frost utilizes structure an underlying technique to capture the theme of the poem. It is undeniably true that Frost employs a number of techniques in â€Å"The Road Not Taken† to create such a subtle metaphor. In essence this poetic study will examine the symbolic choices offered by life in nature, but also within the choices made in regards to what path may best suit one’s own spiritual progress. In â€Å"The Road Not Taken,† one can see two paths that appear before Frost as he travels in the woods. Robert Lee Frost, (March 26, 1874 – January 29, 1963) was an American Poet born in San Francisco, CA to a journalist father, William Prescott Frost Jr. and mother Isabelle Moodie. Despite Frost’s association with rural, rugged city life he graduated from â€Å"Lawrence high School in 1892 and published his first poem in his high school magazine.† (Wikipedia Contributor) Frost attended Dartmouth College then returned home to teach and work at St. Lawrence University. Having met a young lady, Elinor, at St. Lawrence and later marrying her while at Dartmouth where he also attended for liberal arts studies for two years. (Wikepedia) Though he did well at Harvard, he left to support his growing family and work on his grandfather’s farm. These times are but a few that caused him to produce many poems that he would later become famous and start a career in his passion, poetry. Frost never graduated from college but received many honorary degrees from Harvar d to Cambridge Universities. During his lifetime, â€Å"Robert Frost Middle School in Fairfax, VA and the main library of Amherst college were named after him† (Wikepedia). Frost being well renowned for his artistic passion for poetic writings he was honored at the age of eighty-six to perform a reading of his poetry at the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy. His poetry is thus traditional, experimental, regional and historical. By far it is a great skill of poets to be able to write one thing and mean a totally different thing with elegance, beauty and clarity. Frost is a remarkable example of a poet’s ability to employ a metaphor. Though one may argue the metaphor of Frost’s â€Å"The Road† is rather easily grasped, but the beauty in which it is mastered is exceptionally exquisite. â€Å"The theme of ‘The Road Not Taken’ is one of reflection and this is conveyed through poetic structure and imagery as Frost looks back over his life and is contemplating the choices that he has made. He refers to the road that he has chosen as the â€Å"one less traveled by† and it has made all the difference.† (Schakel). One thing Frost subjects to is the choice he is faced with, two roads, two ideas and two possibilities of action. His poem deals with the choice between two roads and the results of the choice. It raises the evident question of whether it is better to choose a road in which many traveled or to choose the road less traveled and explore it himself. In the first stanza, Frost says, â€Å"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood† which is seemingly highly important. This line is a metaphor where Frost uses woods to represent life (Frost). Using this image helps the reader have a better understanding of the complexity of the problem with which he is faced. If someone was standing at the edge of the woods, (life) they might not be able to clearly see what was ahead of them because trees and branches and the path laden with leaves would obstruct the woods. Here he is at the foot of the woods and uncertain. Evidently he does not want to choose the wrong road and mess up his life. He is ‘scared’ to choose a path. This decision made will determine the outcome of his life. Once making this decision, he will be devoted to the road he chose and probably never be able to turn back. In the third stanza, he says, â€Å"both roads lay in leaves that no one had trampled down† (Frost). In other words, both roads are in about the same condition and what he does right there, with this choice, makes all the difference. Neither had been really worn down by traffic, but one a little more than the other. In verse eight, â€Å"because it was grassy and wanted wear† this shows that he does not want to be like everybody else, a follower. Instead he chose a different road and to be an individual, be himself, a leader. This is appealing because this road and this choice will make a great impact and significance in his life. This poem supplies the reader with a situation that each and every person has to face at least one in their life. One path may look just as hard, just as long and just as confusing as the next. With every step in life you must analyze the road and path ahead even if it looks confusing and frightening. Life is like those woods. No one can clearly visualize or predict what will happen in the future, only hope to choose a path that might lead to good fortune and happiness. This poem supplies you as the reader with a situation, a problem, a choice that each person has to face at least once in life. That situation being that everyone has to come face to face and struggle to put their life on the right road. These two choices may not be right or wrong. So forge ahead through the dense overgrowth of the world on the path and desire to be different, a leader and free from commonality. Choose the path carefully, walk softly so that you take life’s right turns, not on the wrong roads. Research Papers on Life’s Right Turns on the Wrong Roads; Robert Frost and "The Road Not Taken"Mind TravelTrailblazing by Eric AndersonBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XHip-Hop is ArtPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenGenetic EngineeringArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Bringing Democracy to Africa

Differentiating Between Cedars and Junipers

Differentiating Between Cedars and Junipers Cedars and junipers are both evergreen coniferous  trees  belonging to the plant order  Pinales. They have many traits in common and are easily confused, in part because some trees commonly referred to as cedars are actually junipers. To sort out the confusion, it helps to take a closer look at the defining qualities of each tree. Cedar is the common name for a variety of trees, including both true cedars (those belonging to the genus  Cedrus) and false or New World cedars, which include a number of different trees from  separate but similar genera. Junipers are trees belonging to the genus  Juniperus. Some of these trees, despite being junipers, are commonly referred to as cedars, such as  Juniperus bermudiana, which is commonly known as the Bermuda cedar. True Cedars vs. False Cedars An important distinction needs to be made between true and false cedars. True cedars are members of the genus  Cedrus  and include species such as the Lebanon cedar, Atlas cedar, and Cyprus cedar. They are found in the Himalayas and the Mediterranean region and are often grown in parks and gardens. All true cedars are members of the pine family (Pinaceae). False cedars, sometimes known as New World cedars, are found in North America. They are members of the genera  Calocedrus,  Thuja, and  Chamaecyparis, all of which are part of the Cypress family (Cupressaceae). Some believe that these trees came to be called cedars because of their  aromatic wood, which resembles that of true cedars. Characteristics of Cedars Cedars are evergreen coniferous trees found throughout the world. They are usually tall and often feature fan-like foliage, small cones, or tiny pink flowers. The major cedars of North America- including the  Atlantic white cedar,  northern white cedar, giant sequoia, and western red cedar- all have flat, scale-like leaves and stringy bark.  They grow in the Northeast, Pacific Northwest, and along the Atlantic coast. The  Japanese red-cedar, originally cultivated in China, is used to produce strong, weather- and insect-resistant timber for building furniture and houses. Other cedars, including the Mexican white cedar and Australian red cedar, are also used to produce durable timber. The  Lebanon cedar- one of the true cedars- is mentioned numerous times in the Bible. It was supposedly used in the construction of Solomons Temple in Jerusalem. Characteristics of Junipers Junipers, like cedars, are also evergreen coniferous plants. Junipers, however, are  most commonly shrubs, though they can be trees as well. The plants often feature  berrylike, bluish, glaucous, bloomy cones on the tips of their shoots. Some junipers also have spiny needle-like leaves. Juniper trees, when they are fully grown, often resemble narrow columns. One of the best examples of this is  Juniperus virginiana, or the eastern red-cedar, one of the several cedars that are actually junipers. It is the most common juniper in eastern North America. The most common juniper in western North America is the Rocky Mountain juniper. All junipers produce small seed cones that resemble berries. The seed cones of the common juniper are sold as juniper berries. Juniper berries are a key ingredient in the production of gin.