Sunday, September 30, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
Process at a Restaurant
On an average night at the small restaurant, dozens of families and couples treat themselves to an unusual dinner out, but the routine for the employees, such as myself, is nothing special. The guests are hospitably welcomed with a cordial greeting upon entering, and pleasantries are exchanged. Our particular restaurant features a cash register, where a cashier will record the guests’ selections, repeat them back to guarantee correctness, and announce the total for the dinner. After the payment is received, the customers’ order is taken and sent to the kitchen. Following its arrival through the stove-side printer, the meal will be reviewed by the cook, who will then proceed to prepare it. To start his practice, he will reach into the fridge and pull out all the required condiments, choosing the food with the soonest expiration date. Then, he begins to prepare the meal, often juggling as many as ten orders at a time, all while the servers continue to holler commands at him. When the meal is finally finished, the cook places it on the heated partition. The waiter will continue examine the food, checking for accuracy by comparing the dish with the ticket’s message. As soon as the inspection is complete, he or she matches the food with the correct table location and briskly carries out the dinner.
Upon arriving at the table, the server repeats the name and basic contents of the dish back to the guests in order to place the meal in front of its correct recipient. Afterwards, he or she waits patiently to ensure that the food is correctly prepared to the customers’ liking and goes to fetch any other items they desire. Once this is complete, the waiter heads back to the server station, checking on the customers every so often, and repeating the process multiple times that night.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Structural Analysis of "The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society"
One of the main structural elements that Kozol utilizes in the essay is varying syntax. Kozol includes sentences of differing lengths in order to emphasize certain key points more clearly than others. For example, at the start of nearly each paragraph Kozol opts to use short, choppy introductory sentences. This repeated structural formatting serves not only to draw attention to the opening lines, but also works to convey the way in which illiterates cannot even understand simple sentences, such as the ones featured. The cut off remarks describe the limitations the illiterate are forced to struggle with while actually serving as an example of those struggles in themselves. This tactic works to add depth and understanding to the essay as a whole. For instance, an example of this structural recurrence is present in the sentence, "Illiterates cannot travel freely" (24). This point proves that if an illiterate individual is unable to understand this extremely basic sentence, they would have immense difficulty getting by in another country, or even another town for matter.
On the other hand, Kozol uses mainly long, complex sentences to make up the remainder of most of the paragraphs. These long sentences are juxtaposed with the previous short ones to create a contrast of the seemingly straightforward difficulty the illiterate face and the majorly troublesome reality that ensues from the unfortunate condition. The drawn out text emphasizes the way in which simple tasks can become drawn out for the illiterate due to their inability to read and write. The sentences' lengthy structure makes them strenuous to read, reflecting the strenuous nature of the predicaments for the illiterate. For example, the usually easy task of looking up a phone number becomes a unmanageable hassle for illiterate individuals, as Kozol states,"Even if they can find the names of friends, few possess the sorting skills to make use of the yellow pages; categories are bewildering and trade names are beyond decoding capabilities for millions of nonreaders" (17). This reflection and all those like it work to depict the relentless difficulties for the illiterate that prove themselves lengthy and complex.
Moreover, Kozol includes thought-provoking questions throughout the essay which break up the existing format. The rhetorical questions are often placed together in a long string, representing the never-ending series of frustrating questions illiterate individuals inevitably ask themselves regularly. Kozol illustrates this inconvenience in the paragraph regarding travel, quizzing readers, "Where will they go? How will they get there? How will they get home? Could it be that some of us might like it better if they stay where they belong?" (24). This reflection adds perspective for the literate audience reading the essay, as everyone has been placed in a situation where they have been faced with numerous questions. Concentrating only on the visible structure, the questions resemble the short introductory sentences I previously discussed and similarly provide straightforward analysis of the hardships faced by the illiterate.
Random Post About Converse Shoes
When many people think of basketball shoes, brand names Nike, Reebok, or Adidas come to mind, nonetheless the most popular, best-selling basketball shoe of all time is the iconic Converse All-Star Chuck Taylor.
The Converse Rubber Corporation initially opened for business in 1908, but opting at first to make galoshes and work-related rubber shoes exclusively. Eventually, however, the company looked to expand their line of products, and with the popularity of basketball, the Converse Corporation saw a market in developing a shoe that people could wear while playing the sport. Consequently, after a great deal of research and development, the earliest version of the All Star basketball shoe was created and produced in 1917, originally coming in natural brown colors with black trim.
Converse shoes would get their big break, though from the man Charles H. Taylor, a basketball player. Taylor saw massive potential for the shoe and in 1921, joined the Converse sales force. Furthermore, he later became a player and coach for the Converse All-Stars, the company's industrial league basketball team. Throughout his career with Converse, Taylor traveled all across the United States hosting basketball clinics and promoting the All Star shoe. His charismatic salesmanship skills aided the sales of the shoe drastically. In fact, due to his successful promotion of Converse All Stars, as well as his influential input regarding changes in the design of the All Star shoe, his name “Chuck Taylor” was added to the ankle patch in 1932. At this point the classic “Chuck Taylor” All Star basketball shoe was born!
When Chuck Taylor died in 1969, the dominant reign of the Converse Company came to an end. Modern rival companies, such as Nike, seized an opportunity to step in, and began to chip away at the market share and influence of Converse. They introduced new models with contemporary colored looks and high tech innovations like pumps and air cells. Although Converse responded by introducing chucks in a variety of hues, the majority of teams began abandoning their All Stars.
As the new companies continued to monopolize the shoe market, the Converse "Chuck Taylor" All Star, once the premiere shoe of elite basketball players now became the shoe of the counter-culture and baby boomers who refused to stop wearing their favorite pairs of chucks. The shoes became very popular with rock musicians, and younger generations wore them for their distinctive looks, colors, and comfort and as an alternative to the high priced high performance shoes made by Nike and other companies. They were considered a leisure shoe and now were purchased because they were fashionable. Converse responded by manufacturing chucks in hundreds of different variations that included prints, patterns, unusual colors, and special models for different age groups.
The brand began experiencing financial problems in the 1980s, continuing up to 2001 when they filed for bankruptcy. Nonetheless, the brand was eventually reestablished successfully and in the end was purchased by its rival, Nike.
Despite all of the innovations and changes in the athletic shoe industry, ‘Chuck’ Taylor athletic shoes continue to live on. As a matter of fact, 60% of all Americans own or have owned at least one pair of these sneakers and more than 800,000,000 pairs of chucks have been sold worldwide. Keeping their basic design since 1949, Converse All Star Chuck Taylor basketball shoes are the classic American sneaker, and remain a favorite shoe for people of every age all around the world.
Converse shoes would get their big break, though from the man Charles H. Taylor, a basketball player. Taylor saw massive potential for the shoe and in 1921, joined the Converse sales force. Furthermore, he later became a player and coach for the Converse All-Stars, the company's industrial league basketball team. Throughout his career with Converse, Taylor traveled all across the United States hosting basketball clinics and promoting the All Star shoe. His charismatic salesmanship skills aided the sales of the shoe drastically. In fact, due to his successful promotion of Converse All Stars, as well as his influential input regarding changes in the design of the All Star shoe, his name “Chuck Taylor” was added to the ankle patch in 1932. At this point the classic “Chuck Taylor” All Star basketball shoe was born!
When Chuck Taylor died in 1969, the dominant reign of the Converse Company came to an end. Modern rival companies, such as Nike, seized an opportunity to step in, and began to chip away at the market share and influence of Converse. They introduced new models with contemporary colored looks and high tech innovations like pumps and air cells. Although Converse responded by introducing chucks in a variety of hues, the majority of teams began abandoning their All Stars.
As the new companies continued to monopolize the shoe market, the Converse "Chuck Taylor" All Star, once the premiere shoe of elite basketball players now became the shoe of the counter-culture and baby boomers who refused to stop wearing their favorite pairs of chucks. The shoes became very popular with rock musicians, and younger generations wore them for their distinctive looks, colors, and comfort and as an alternative to the high priced high performance shoes made by Nike and other companies. They were considered a leisure shoe and now were purchased because they were fashionable. Converse responded by manufacturing chucks in hundreds of different variations that included prints, patterns, unusual colors, and special models for different age groups.
The brand began experiencing financial problems in the 1980s, continuing up to 2001 when they filed for bankruptcy. Nonetheless, the brand was eventually reestablished successfully and in the end was purchased by its rival, Nike.
Despite all of the innovations and changes in the athletic shoe industry, ‘Chuck’ Taylor athletic shoes continue to live on. As a matter of fact, 60% of all Americans own or have owned at least one pair of these sneakers and more than 800,000,000 pairs of chucks have been sold worldwide. Keeping their basic design since 1949, Converse All Star Chuck Taylor basketball shoes are the classic American sneaker, and remain a favorite shoe for people of every age all around the world.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
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