The Maya Calendar

The Maya Calendar What is the Maya Calendar? The Maya, whose culture in Central America and southern Mexico peaked around 800 A.D. before going into steep decline, had an advanced calendar system that incorporated the movement of the sun, moon and planets. For the Maya, time was cyclical and repeated itself, making certain days or months lucky or unlucky for certain things, like agriculture or fertility. The Maya calendar reset in December of 2012, inspiring many to see the date as an end-of-days prophecy. The Maya Concept of Time: To the Maya, time was cyclical: it would repeat itself and certain days had characteristics. This notion of cyclical as opposed to lineal time is not unknown to us: for example, many people consider Mondays to be â€Å"bad† days and Fridays to be â€Å"good† days (unless they fall on the thirteenth of the month, in which case they are unlucky). The Maya took the concept further: although we consider months and weeks to be cyclical, but years to be lineal, they considered all time as cyclical and certain days could â€Å"return† centuries later. The Maya were aware that a solar year was roughly 365 days long and they referred to it as a â€Å"haab.† They divided a haab into 20 â€Å"months† (to the Maya, â€Å"uinal†) of 18 days each: to this was added 5 days annually for a total of 365. These five days, called â€Å"wayeb,† were added at the end of the year and were considered very unlucky. The Calendar Round: The earliest Maya Calendars (dating from the preclassic Maya era, or about 100 A.D.) are referred to as the Calendar Round. The Calendar Round was actually two calendars that overlapped one another. The first calendar was the Tzolkin cycle, which consisted of 260 days, which roughly corresponds to the time of human gestation as well as the Maya agricultural cycle. Early Mayan astronomers used the 260 day calendar to record the movements of the planets, sun and moon: it was a very sacred calendar. When used consecutively with the standard 365 day haab calendar, the two would align every 52 years. The Maya Long Count Calendar: The Maya developed another calendar, better suited for measuring longer periods of time. The Maya Long Count used only the haab or 365 day calendar. A date was given in terms of Baktuns (periods of 400 years) followed by Katuns (periods of 20 years) followed by Tuns (years) followed by Uinals (periods of 20 days) and ending with the Kins (number of days 1-19). If you added all of those numbers up, you would get the number of days that had passed since the starting point of Maya time, which was sometime between August 11 and September 8, 3114 B.C. (the exact date is subject to some debate). These dates are usually expressed as a series of numbers like so: 12.17.15.4.13 November 15, 1968, for example. Thats 12x400 years, 17x20 years, 15 years, 4x20 days plus eleven days since the beginning of Maya time. 2012 and The End of Maya Time: Baktuns - periods of 400 years - are counted on a base-13 cycle. On December 20, 2012, the Maya Long Count Date was 12.19.19.19.19. When one day was then added, the entire calendar reset to 0. The thirteenth Baktun since the beginning of Maya time therefore came to an end on December 21, 2012. This of course led to much speculation about dramatic changes: some predictions for the end of the Maya Long Count Calendar included the end of the world, a new age of consciousness, a reversal of the Earths magnetic poles, the arrival of the Messiah, etc. Needless to say, none of those things happened. In any event, historical Maya records do not indicate that they gave much thought to what would happen at the end of the calendar. Sources: Burland, Cottie with Irene Nicholson and Harold Osborne. Mythology of the Americas. London: Hamlyn, 1970. McKillop, Heather. The Ancient Maya: New Perspectives. New York: Norton, 2004.

Top 10 Medical Careers That Dont Require a Graduate Degree

Top 10 Medical Careers That Dont Require a Graduate Degree according to the experts over at bestmedicaldegrees.com, there are at least 30 promising career options for people  with an interest in a medical profession but without the time or resources for medical school. here are the top 10 highest paying careers that require a bachelor’s degree and either on-the-job training or professional certifications. take a look at the list and see which one will be right for you!10. dietician and nutritionist ($55k)professional dieticians and nutritionists are required to have bachelor’s degrees in nutrition science and will need some kind of partnership or mentoring from physicians or fellow dieticians. these partnerships allow access to patients so dns can practice the development and implementation of schedules and lifestyle plans. they may also work in hospitals, care facilities, or other clinic or gym settings where they can work directly with clients.9. cytotechnologist ($61k)with a  bachelor’s  degree and graduation fr om an accredited cytotechnology program, certified cytotechs work in laboratories where they research cells and cellular anomalies to contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and illnesses.8. medical sonographer ($64k)sonographers operate imaging equipment during diagnostic appointments or assist physicians and surgeons during procedures. you’ll need an associate’s degree and a professional certification.7. registered nurse ($68k)rns must be licensed to practice in hospital and physicians’ offices, but many schools are moving from a two-year diploma to a two-year associate degree or a bachelor’s of science in nursing. many medical institutions are reporting a shortage of nurses, so the job prospects are promising.6. nuclear medicine technologist ($70k)an associate or bachelor’s degree in nuclear medicine technology prepares you to operate scanners and administer drugs to assist in a diagnosis or treatment of various ailments.5. radiati on therapist ($75k)â€Å"rad techs† are responsible for administering radiation treatments, most often for cancer patients, and working alongside radiation oncologists and radiation physicists. jobs may be available in hospitals, cancer centers, and outpatient clinic settings.4. biomedical engineer ($86k)biomedical engineering is a relatively recently established field that involves the research and development of diagnostic medical technology, including imaging equipment, prostheses, and pharmaceuticals. a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and professional training on the job is necessary to secure a position in medical equipment manufacturing, hospital, or university settings.3. physician assistant ($90k)â€Å"pas† work closely with physicians to diagnose and treat patients; you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field like nursing and an accredited physician assistant educational program. this in-depth but highly supervised work may also help you discover whether you want to pursue a degree in medicine further down the road.2. cardiovascular perfusionist ($94k)a cardiovascular perfusionist is responsible for maintaining heart and lung functions during surgery, monitoring blood pressure, heart rate, respiration, and blood gasses. many work in operating rooms or intensive care units and have completed perfusion training programs in addition to a bachelor’s degree in health studies.1.   medical and health services manager/administrator ($40-110k)if you like a demanding environment and excel under pressure, a position as a medical and health services manager/administrator may be for you! administrators are expected to stay up-to-date on relevant policies and laws, technological changes, and the daily operations of physicians’ offices, hospitals and clinics.

Summary of Deconstructing America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Summary of Deconstructing America - Essay Example It is a nation without moorings, with no common heritage, no common language, and nothing to bind as a nation or as a cohesive cultural and social force. Respect for diversity is good, when it does not reach the extremes. There must be something tangible that holds American people together. Americans must develop the capacity to foresee the common good, not what is good from the viewpoints of Democrats and Republicans, according to Buchanan. With the increasing diversity, America has become the â€Å"melting pot.† Buchanan forecasts a deteriorating social order and demise of the identity of the country in due course. â€Å"Melting pot,† is on the verge of becoming myth, and forces of diversity can cause problems within the nation and tear the nation apart, according to Buchanan. He does not like of diversity. According to him, more diversity means, inviting dangers to the unity and integrity of the country. This is in complete contrast to the popular viewpoint that diversity is very important to America as it gives the opportunity to learn from each other. Religion, color and ethnicity are not the compartmentalizing forces. With imaginative and purposeful administration and by honest implementation of the laws, they can as well be the forces of unity and love between the communities. No immigrant will try to deconstruct the nation, as no one is interested in working against one’s own interest. Bucha nan believes firmly that diversity will destroy America. He does not favor the state identity and advocates that national identity must supersede it for the survival of the country. He strongly indicts those who take pride in asserting that America is a multicultural, multiracial, multiethnic, multilingual nation and therefore she is great. Buchanan argues, â€Å"Our day of reckoning is at hand. Time to mind our own business. Time to lay down the burden and come home. Time to put America first.†(263) He has no hesitation

Slaves no more Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Slaves no more - Essay Example The feeling of the black and white communities in the Richmond area and in other southern states of the USA is captured by this essay (Guelzo 36). Moreover, the essay captures the confusion of the black people concerning their freedom. For instance, one black slave commented that they had celebrated the Emancipation about twelve times yet they still worked for the white folks. The essay explores the domination of the white people in the actions and thoughts of the black slaves in Richmond. In this essay the author tries to argue that although the Negroes feel that they are free they still feel that this may not be true. The confusion created by the American Emancipation Declaration creates a panic for all residents in Richmond. For instance, a black nanny who was working for a white master is overjoyed with the Emancipation news. However, she is still afraid of her master and when she disobeys her master she is disciplined by her grandmother. In most instances, the author advances the argument that the Emancipation agreement brought about a feeling of freedom to blacks (Woog 88). Nevertheless, blacks in Richmond and other places such as Yorktown feel that they are not absolutely free. Fear still prevailed among the black community in Richmond and they only felt free when the American soldiers were around them. The author tries to bring out the irony brought about the freedom enjoyed by the blacks under the Emancipation Declaration. Even though, black people in Richmon d felt free when the declaration was declared they felt insecure and confused after the Yankees left their town (McComb 54). In my own view I think this essay tries to capture the first moments that occurred after the Emancipation Declaration followed by its implementation by the American forces then. Black slavery in the United States was savagery and thus it had to be ended by the government of the USA. The Emancipation Declaration in my own view gave blacks the strength and heart

Nasa Essay -- Essays Papers

Nasa October 1, 1958, the official start of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), was the beginning of a rich history of unique scientific and technological achievements in human space flight, aeronautics, space science, and space applications. Formed as a result of the Sputnik crisis of confidence, NASA inherited the earlier National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), and other government organizations, and almost immediately began working on options for human space flight. NASA’s first high profile program was Project Mercury, an effort to learn if humans could survive in space, followed by Project Gemini, which built upon Mercury’s successes and used spacecraft built for two astronauts. NASA’s human space flight efforts then extended to the Moon with Project Apollo, culminating in 1969 when the Apollo 11 mission first put humans on the lunar surface. After the Skylab and Apollo-Soyuz Test Projects of the early and mid-1970s, NASA’ s human space flight efforts again resumed in 1981, with the Space Shuttle program that continues today to help build the International Space Station. Building on its NACA roots, NASA has continued to conduct many types of cutting-edge aeronautics research on aerodynamics, wind shear, and other important topics using wind tunnels, flight testing, and computer simulations. NASA’s highly successful X-15 program involved a rocket-powered airplane that flew above the atmosphere and then glided back to Earth unpowere...

Leaders Creating Value in Organizations

Leadership in today’s world has a vital role for organizations in achieving and maintaining long-term success, to create sustainable values and to improve the quality of business. Without good leader any activity is doomed to survive in changing environment. Only purposeful leader with clear vision and openness to diversified world can effectively achieve goals, creating and keeping up certain values. Actually, leadership is about â€Å"understanding people, and mainly about the process of getting people all pointing and acting in the same direction. It is about listening, and making a real connection with the followers. It implies unique vision, making strategic choices, and designing and enabling an organization to conduct business.† (Leader Values)   In short, leadership has evolved to the creation of a culture around a shared vision and value system based on certain principles. Creating a vision that encompasses the ultimate goal of the organization gives direction to the purpose, processes, and employees. Through communicating this vision, the leaders are able to tie in the vision to the work processes, constructing a solid structure to bring focus to the organization’s goals. A clear vision creates an environment of support from lower management and as well as their subordinates. In other words, leadership can be defined as a way to influence others ideas. Values represent a leaders standards and what exactly a leader represents. Leadership has stood the test of time as a way to influence other actions, thoughts, and ideas. The primarily purpose of leadership is to create goals to follow and live by. Values play a central part of a leaders psychological makeup. Values are an important component of the moral reasoning process. Values also serve to organize attitudes, which are general and enduring positive or negative feelings about some person, object, or issue. Leaders value the relationships they hold with their co-workers and employees. A leader sees his or her relationship with others as the window to how effective they are at leading.   If they have good relations with others, then that reflects how they operate and who views them as valuable.  Ã‚   Although many leaders can have the wrongful impression that they are the ones that make things happen and that is untrue.   The realization that the leader does not know everything is an attribute that makes them a better leader.   A leader that is humble creates an environment that is relaxed and warrants the creation of better work and products from other employees. Trust of the leader among employees becomes a major responsibility in the office when leading others.   It is impossible to lead people who think that you are not trustworthy. A good leader knows that they must earn the trust of their co-workers rather than expecting it to be handed to them with their position within the office.   Leader must also give full support to his employee base in times of prosperity and ruin.   Employees must have a sense of confidence in their leader when decisions are to be made and operational changes that affects them as a whole. Effective leader is also good listener and communicator.   I think that employees find a grave difference between hearing and listening.   Listening involves taking time to understand not only the problem but also the details surrounding the situation that is occurring. A good leader is cultivated through hearing the troubles of employees at a deeper and more personal level.   Employees are conscientious that their leader take the time to know intimate details about them and this increases their loyalty and motivation to reach higher levels of productivity. This relationship also improves the work environment and enables employees to commit to their jobs, the corporation, and to their leader. Appreciation is another value-creating activity and is an esteem-builder that is irreplaceable by any other means.   It energizes people, and it makes them want to exceed their goals and commit to a lasting relationship to a particular company.   By creating a supportive atmosphere, it aids the overall productivity of the employees because they feel successful when the corporation succeeds. It is vital for leaders to â€Å"conduct their work in an ethical manner to earn and maintain the confidence of team members, colleagues, employees, employers, clients and the public† (Gray and Larson, 550). Leadership integrity must be firmly grounded in the company’s values and integrated into individual employee values.   Leaders must build a company culture based on its core values and supported by a storehouse of stories, by telling your people what the organization stands for, what it is trying to achieve and what is in it for them.   The changing world calls for leaders who will react openly to the introduction of new cultural identities and diversities and who will face ethical issues responsibly. â€Å"Leadership comes from within us, in the sense that deeply held values and principles provide the road map for the way we lead, and the way other people respond. Whether the leader is a person of impeccable moral fiber, or quite disreputable, it is always their personal value system that sustains them in their quest.† (Leader Values) First of all, we must realize, understand and communicate our own value systems, and must focus on balancing the interests and concerns of others, helped by understanding their value systems. This is a precondition to enable others to recognize, understand and then follow any leader’s activity. In conclusion, it is clear to see how many difficult characteristics a leader must possess, making the importance of the leadership role irrefutable.   Much like sheep needing a shepherd, a group needs a leader to guide them in the right direction.   In order to be classified as a leader, one must have a sense of drive, leadership motivation, integrity, self-confidence, and knowledge of the business.   It is with these characteristics that a true leader can accomplish the ever-important aspiration of getting a group of people to work with each other towards a goal and create sustainable value in organization. References:  §Ã‚   Leader Values. 4 E’s in Short. Leader Values Website, 2004 Gray, Clifford F.; Larson, Erik W. Project Management – The Managerial Pr

Immigration And The Debate On Immigration Essay - 1448 Words

in the debate was about immigration. Every year, thousands of immigrants come to the United States, some document and some undocumented. They have different reasons for wanting to come to America, whether it is for jobs, the policies and laws of the United States, the economy, or even refugees from countries which are going through a civil war. There are many different opinions on immigration and what to do with illegal immigrants. Many citizens believe that taxes increase due to illegal immigrants who use federal programs, like welfare. Others believe there are many who come to America who are dangerous, in gangs, and cause crime and poverty. And still others believe that we have laws in place to take care of illegal immigration, however, the country does not enforce those laws. Donald Trump said he was going to build a wall between the United States and Mexico when elected president. Not only was he going to build a wall but he was going to have Mexico pay for it (COMPELLING MEXICO TO PAY FOR THE WALL, n.d.). He also promised to deport approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants and have any immigrants who decide to come to the United States to do so legally (LoBianco, 2015). Even though this a controversial subject, the millennial generation is more acceptable to immigration compared to the older generation. Jeff Guo writes in the Washington Post â€Å"First, younger generations have grown up with more diversity, so they likely feel more comfortable withShow MoreRelatedimmigration debate920 Words   |  4 Pagesthe US. III. The Debate: An Economic Opportunity Republicans have been reluctant to afford illegal aliens any type of relief regardless of the reasons they are here. 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On the 15th of August 2012, President Obama began a policy calling for deferred action towards certain young individuals whoRead More The Immigration and Job Loss D ebate Essays1170 Words   |  5 PagesThe Immigration and Job Loss Debate A debate that always seems to raise its ugly head when the issue of foreign labor is discussed concerns the types of jobs that immigrants take and whether they are actually taking these jobs away from American workers. I look at it as jobs they are left with, not ones they are taking. The debate always shows an American family that has been displaced or lost their livelihood because they can no longer compete with cheaper labor. In reality the jobs thatRead MoreCons for Debate for Arizona Immigration Laws Essay1185 Words   |  5 PagesDebate Speech: 4 Minute: Cons By adopting the same anti-immigration laws as Arizona, Florida would be violating the very values of the constitution. My first point is the violation of civil rights. 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