Learn 7 Facts About the Sistine Chapel

Learn 7 Facts About the Sistine Chapel Michelangelos Sistine Chapel ceiling is one of the most influential artworks of all time and a foundational work of Renaissance Art. Painted directly on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, the masterpiece depicts key scenes from the Book of Genesis. The complex narratives and skillfully painted human figures stunned viewers when the painting was first unveiled to the public in 1512 and continues to impress the thousands of pilgrims and tourists from around the world who visit the chapel every day. Below are seven essential facts about the Sistine Chapel ceiling and its creation. The Paintings Were Commissioned by Pope Julius II   In 1508, Pope Julius II (also known as Giulio II and Il papa terribile), asked  Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapels ceiling. Julius was determined that Rome should be rebuilt to its former glory, and had embarked on a vigorous campaign to achieve the ambitious task. He felt that such artistic splendor would not only add luster to his own name, but also serve to supersede anything that Pope Alexander VI (a Borgia, and Julius rival) had accomplished. Michelangelo Painted Over 5,000 Square Feet of Frescoes   The ceiling measures about 40 meters (131 feet) long by 13 meters (43 feet) wide. Although these numbers are rounded, they demonstrate the enormous scale of this nontraditional canvas. In fact, Michelangelo painted well over 5,000 square feet of frescoes. The Panels Depict More Than Just Scenes From the Book of Genesis The ceilings well-known central panels depict scenes from the Book of Genesis, from the Creation  to the Fall to shortly after Noahs deluge. Adjacent to each of these scenes on either side, however, are immense portraits of prophets and sibyls who foretold the coming of the Messiah. Along the bottoms of these run spandrels and lunettes containing the ancestors of Jesus and stories of tragedy in ancient Israel. Scattered throughout are smaller figures, cherubs, and ignudi (nudes). All told, there are more than 300 painted figures on the ceiling. Michelangelo Was a Sculptor, Not a Painter Michelangelo thought of himself as a sculptor and preferred working with marble to almost any other material. Prior to the ceiling frescoes, the only painting hed done was during his brief stint as a student in Ghirlandaios workshop. Julius, however, was adamant that Michelangelo - and no other- should paint the Chapels ceiling. To convince him, Julius offered as a reward to Michelangelo the wildly lucrative commission of sculpting 40 massive figures for his tomb, a project that appealed much more to Michelangelo given his artistic style. The Paintings Took Four Years to Finish It took Michelangelo a little over four years, from July of 1508 to October of 1512, to finish the paintings. Michelangelo had never painted frescoes before and was learning the craft as he worked. Whats more, he chose to work in  buon fresco, the most difficult method, and one normally reserved for true masters. He also had to learn some wickedly hard techniques in perspective, namely painting figures on curved surfaces that appear correct when viewed from nearly 60 feet below. The work suffered numerous other setbacks, including mold and miserable, damp weather that disallowed plaster curing. The project was further stalled when Julius left to wage war and again when he fell ill. The ceiling project and any hope Michelangelo had of being paid were frequently in jeopardy while Julius was absent or near death. Michelangelo Didnt Really Paint Lying Down   Although the classic film The Agony and the Ecstacy,  depicts Michelangelo (played by Charlton Heston) painting the frescoes on his back, the real Michelangelo didnt work in this position. Instead, he conceived and had constructed a unique scaffolding system sturdy enough to hold workers and materials and high enough that mass could still be celebrated below. The scaffolding curved at its top, mimicking the curvature of the ceilings vault. Michelangelo often had to bend backward and paint over his head - an awkward position that caused permanent damage to his vision. Michelangelo Had Assistants Michelangelo  gets, and deserves, credit for the entire project. The complete design was his. The sketches and cartoons for the frescoes were all of his hand, and he executed the vast bulk of the actual painting by himself. However, the vision of Michelangelo toiling away, a solitary figure in a vacant chapel, isnt entirely accurate. He needed many assistants  if only to mix his paints, scramble up and down ladders, and prepare the days plaster (a nasty business). Occasionally, a talented assistant might be entrusted with a patch of sky, a bit of landscape, or a figure so small and minor it is barely discernible from below. All of these were worked from his cartoons, however, and the temperamental Michelangelo hired and fired these assistants on such a regular basis that none of them could claim credit for any part of the ceiling.

What to do if your year starts off terribly

What to do if your year starts off terribly Most of us have high hopes every time we ring in a new year- we imagine that new opportunities, better luck, and greater fortune are just waiting for us as we end one year and start fresh in a new one. However, for many of us these high hopes are quickly met by a different reality when our year gets off to a bad start and we start to get the sinking feeling that maybe things haven’t changed all that much. Perhaps it’s a resolution that you set up for yourself that you’ve already dropped the ball on, or maybe it’s a goal that’s already starting to seem more and more unattainable as the days wear on, or maybe you’ve just hit a wall of plain bad luck.If any of this sounds familiar and you’re feeling as if your year is already off to a bad start, that doesn’t mean you have to give up or accept the grim fate that you’re inevitably going to have a bad year. There are effective strategies for turning things around if your new ye ar has gotten off to a bad start. The Muse published an article about what to do if your year gets off to a bad start, and the following tips can help you make your next move a smart one!Regroup and start over.One unfortunate side effect of having a bad start to a new year is that it can set you up with a negative mindset for the rest of the year, which can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy. You assume things are going to go bad, so you approach new opportunities and goals with the expectation that they won’t pan out. And guess what? You’re setting yourself up for failure to happen. Not a great way to face a new year!Instead of letting early failures or unfortunate occurrences derail you completely, take a moment to stop, regroup, and reset your head to a more positive, focused, and optimistic mindset. This way, you’re setting yourself up for a healthy pivot- away from bad luck and misfortune and towards ensuring that you approach each opportunity in a positive and productive manner, which will help set you up for future success.Learn from mistakes.More often than not, we’re the architects of our own misfortune. This means that when our year gets off to a bad start, there’s likely a reason behind it- and it’s one that stares us right in the face whenever we look in the mirror. Rather than accept defeat when our year gets off to a bad start, try and turn unfortunate events into learning experiences and figure out what we did wrong.Take time for some serious self-reflection when you hit a bad patch and determine what happened. Could you have done something differently to improve an outcome? Are there lessons that you can take with you as you encounter new experiences and opportunities throughout the year? If so, then turn these experiences into something valuable that can help set you up for a reversal of fortune as the year unfolds.Create a new path.The simple truth is that sometimes the grand plans we set for ourselve s don’t work out- whether it’s due to something we did wrong or something completely out of our control, life happens and sometimes our goals simply fall out of reach. Also, sometimes the things we want simply change. A goal you set for yourself at the end of last year may no longer reflect what you want in the new year as time goes on. That’s okay! The key takeaway here is to allow yourself to move away from a goal you set for yourself and embrace a new one, provided it makes sense to do so and it’s not just the result of you giving up.There you have it- some proven strategies for getting your year back on track if it starts off on the wrong foot. Use these tips to help ensure that you’re setting yourself up for a happy and successful year!

Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Project Management - Essay Example There is a great time lag between the conception of a facility and the actual construction and startup. Operating at designed capacity can cause rapid wear and breakdowns. Generally, operating at design capacity basically means operating at the organization’s productive limits. The designed capacity is 20,000 kg. Effective capacity Effective capacity of a facility is important in determining the extent to which a facility can produce. It is therefore defined as the ratio between design capacity and the expected capacity of the intended facility.It is worth noting effective capacity is affected by a firm’s production schedule, production mix, maintenance standards and age of equipment’s. The formula for effective capacity is given by: Effective capacity=expected capacity/design capacity. Effective=16000/20000=0.8=80% The effective capacity=16000 Actual output A production facility can produce a certain amount of product at a given time period. The actual amount of product that can be produced by a production facility at given time period is called actual output. This is different from amount that the facility could produce if it were to run at full theoretical capacity. Specifically, the actual output is given by: 60/100X20000=12000 kg Utilization Utilization is the percent of design capacity. It is given by actual output/design capacity =12000/20000=60% Efficiency Effective capacity is the actual output as a percent of effective capacity. It is given by the formula: actual output/effective capacity =12000/16000=75% B) Capacity of a system is its ability to produce goods or enhance the delivering of services over some time period. For a system to realize its full potential a proper capacity planning is inevitable. That is, the long term and short term plans to help the system achieve its full potential. Short term concerns relate to the variations in capacity requirements as a result of random, seasonal and irregular fluctuations in demand; while long term considerations relate to the overall level of capacity. There are several factors that affect a firm’s productive capacity. Some of these factors are within management’s control while others are not. Factors such as physical resources and utilization of labor are within the management’s control. Organization capacity also faces management challenges such as personal issues, technological maximization and output controls. A firm can profit significantly from efficient resources management. The actual output may be even less than the system capacity since it is affected by short-range factors such as actual demand. Therefore, managing actual output is important for effective production of a firm. As a project manager, I will advice the human resource manager to undertake the following strategies in managing the actual output and to cope with major changes in products and services. These options include; developing a new product line, expanding exis ting facilities and construction or phase out production plants. In some instance, the firm may be forced to use phase-in-strategy for introducing the next model of the same product or service to retain and/or improve its actual output. In general, the firm should be comfortable producing between 80 to 90% capacity utilization because of low fixed costs per unit and there is some scope to meet new orders or carry out maintenance and training. Efficiency should hold a more vital role as it can

Healthcare in the U.S .Health Literacy, public health messaging Essay

Healthcare in the U.S .Health Literacy, public health messaging project in which you have been involved - Essay Example Communication then proves to be vital in disseminating information that help reduce the transmission of the deadly virus while as this information also helps in reducing social stigma. Messages in HIV/AIDS campaigns are; creating awareness to the public on overall effects of HIV/AIDS, telling on the advantages of voluntary testing and counseling. Other messages include  encouraging the use of condoms to help curb the spreading of HIV infections and STD’s. As well as informing the public on the improvements and developments made on treatment of HIV/AIDS. Messages on voluntary testing and counseling and those of encouraging the use of condoms have proved to yield many positive results. These  process yield results  because the use interpersonal means of communication is incorporated. In interpersonal communication, one can relay message to the recipient on an individual basis or targeting of small groups of people. It is deemed to be the most effective way of passing the message since sensitive matters that relate to sexual behaviors  are  highlighted (Ruggiero, 2007). In addition, when relaying the message there is an easier harmonization of the content of the message considering the application of the existing traditions, norms, and values? These words became active because time does not bind the use of interpersonal means of communication. People who need tests or counseling can visit the relevant centers at their convenient time. These messages have proved also to be effective since the number of people who engage in irresponsible sexual acts that may lead to spreading of the virus has greatly reduced. Also according to recent research, the number of people who use condoms as a form of protection has increased (Singhal, 2003). However, messages on creating an overall awareness on the effects of HIV/AIDS and the developments on treatment did not seem to have been affected too many people. It  is

Citizens Have to a Guaranteed Minimum Income in a Democratic Society Essay Example for Free

Citizens Have to a Guaranteed Minimum Income in a Democratic Society Essay Although abuse of the system are inevitable, social welfare payments are essential to protect the rights citizens have to a guaranteed minimum income in a democratic society Discuss. Social welfare is an essential element of an advanced society. Good systems are always abused, but that does not mean they are faulty. In my opinion, the two main reasons why welfare payments are necessary are as follows: First of all, critics forget that there are many forms of welfare besides payments to the unemployed. Their negative opinions harm those who are not capable of earning a wage, such as single-parent mothers, the disabled, and the sick. Moreover, the unemployed have the right to an income, too. They are not always at fault for not having a job, and in most cases the tax they have paid in the past entitles them to assistance. The second reason is that crime increases when people have no means of support. The desperately poor inevitably turn to crime, which is not only dangerous but costly. Policing the streets is more expensive than providing welfare. A policemans wage is four or five times higher than a dole payment. Certain members of society believe that people should look after themselves. They point out that welfare increases dependency on others and destroys dignity. This may be true, but in the case of the unemployed, the relief payments are usually temporary. It is surely the fault of the government if there are long-term unemployed. Welfare critics also believe that it is the responsibility of a victims family to provide financial assistance. However, it is too expensive to provide complete help for a severely disabled person. To conclude, it is vital to understand the need for welfare in a modern democratic society. Without welfare payments the poor are destined to become poorer. The first duty of a government is to provide a financial safety net for all disadvantaged persons, and that includes those without work.

War, Peace, the Homefront, and Uncle Sam :: Personal Narrative Writing

War, Peace, the Homefront, and Uncle Sam I. In our house when I was growing up, there were three WWI posters that my great aunt had saved in her attic. My father rescued and framed them, hanging the posters in the hallway at the top of the stairs. I walked past them on the way to my room which was at the end of this hallway. There was no way I could avoid Uncle Sam trying to recruit me every time I went up the stairs. He never budged, determined to enlist me before I could even read. I had the sense that he was measuring every ounce of my patriotism: I Want YOU for US Army, he called out, pointing and glaring straight at me as I made my way up the stairs. I always continued forward, nearing closer to that long, protruding finger as though responding to his beckoning, feigning my conscription, only to turn the corner to my room. There is some speculation as to whether Uncle Sam was a real person. (Many historians point their fingers to Samuel Wilson, a meat packer from Troy, New York, who during the War of 1812 provided large supplies of meat to the US Army. Soldiers noticed that the crates of meat were marked with the letters "U.S." and it was then said that the meat was from "Uncle Sam" Wilson.) I knew he was real because Uncle Sam appeared before me in many forms. At night, if the hall lights were not on, Uncle Sam’s white stars would stand out, glowing softly. When I was sick the red YOU became demonic, hurting me if I looked at it for too long. In the late afternoon when the sun had drifted into the hallway and hit the walls in a slant, half of the poster would be cast in shadow, sometimes leaving Uncle Sam’s face concealed in darkness, yet his hand would be exposed, dangling in the sun. In the morning if it wasn’t overcast, if the light filtering inside the house was bright enough, I could see my reflection in the glass as I came up the stairs, my face on top of his. II. Uncle Sam has disappeared. He no longer urges civilians to enlist in the military. Today, Uncle Sam has been replaced with slick, sensational ads, often enhanced with computer graphics. At the end of these commercials, the slogan "Be all that you can be" is sung, the last "be" drawn out so it lingers in your head after the commercial break is over.

AussieBum Reflection Essay

AussieBum is an Australian male underwear and swimwear brand. The company is based in Sydney’s inner-west and has become one of Australia’s most sought after brands. Originally just a hobby for company founder Sean Ashby, AussieBum started in the corner of his living room. As time progressed and his brand became popular, operations moved out of his living room and expanded into a company warehouse. After being shunned by Australian retailers, the company moved online. Once word got out about the Australian surf-cultured underwear, the rest of the world became interested. AussieBum’s prime function is selling men’s underwear and swimwear to a target market of young men aged between 16 and 39. At this stage, AussieBum would be in the maturity stage of the Business Life Cycle because it has already expanded and grown to be a large company. At this stage it is focused on the selling of its products before renewing it’s brand. AussieBum have hit the mark with their marketing and brand strategy, which allows them to mature for longer. The company has a goal to turn over more than $20 million dollars in a year. AussieBum also wants to see more people wearing their products. AussieBum has a partnership as its ownership form. This is the best structure as it allows the company to be guided by two people rather than dictated by one. It also leaves the two leaders answerable to each other so that there is no misguided activities or ideas that are not regulated or thought through well enough. A major challenge was faced during the initial stages of the company. They were shunned by Australian retailers, which gave them no opportunity to launch their brand in stores. They reciprocated their downfall into success by launching a website which has enabled them to become a global company. The e-business approach was a positive move for AussieBum. Consumers purchase AussieBum’s products online from anywhere in the world, easily allowing the company to go global. Originally the e-business model as adapted so that the company could get their brand in the public eye without having a retailer carry it. AussieBum’s marketing strategy has been simple, but unique. There have been no television or radio advertisements; instead there have been several online campaigns to promote the company. In relation to the four P’s, they have always let their product do the marketing work. By having their products on show in the public eye, it has made the public aware of the brand. The prices are not as expensive as exclusive brands, but carry the same level of design and quality, making it an affordable alternative. By having their product in the right place, the product is promoting itself. The promotion of the business is mainly done in the online world. Photo-shoots are done with attractive, well-built Australian models in Australian environments e.g. Bondi Beach and used on their websites and other internet sites like Facebook and other social networks. I believe that AussieBum’s marketing strategy has been extremely successful. Their strategy proves the power of the consumer. They strategy has made their product highly desirable and sought after across the world. The increasingly higher popularity of the internet over the years would have helped their strategy to be successful. Sean Ashby can be considered an entrepreneur as he demonstrates qualities that are essential to their success. By being resilient and using initiative, Sean was able to re-group after being rejected by Australian retailers and use his initiative to start an online portal for his brand, eliminating the need for a retail outlet. He has also had the determination to be able to keep working on his company to bring it to the success levels that it is experiencing. I would suggest that the company attempt to move their brand into elusive Australian department stores e.g. Myer and David Jones to boost their profit. From reading the AussieBum article, I have learned to think outside the box and not to ‘stick to the status quo’. Sean Ashby has proved that there are more ways to make a retail brand successful than just selling it in stores. He also proved that there better ways to connect with the consumer than just advertising. AussieBum Mission Statement: AussieBum aims to bring a burst of energy and uniqueness to your underwear. We spice up what’s underneath. AussieBum will make you feel confident and proud to show what’s hiding. We want you to be excited about AussieBum shopping, and get excited to wear AussieBum.