Thursday, December 26, 2019

A New Tool For Smoking Secession Campaigns - 896 Words

A new tactic for smoking secession campaigns, display a demonstration that compares a set of healthy lungs, verses a smoker’s lungs. It shows an air pump inflating the lungs as if they were breathing on their own. The healthy, ripe, pink, plump set of the non-smokers lungs inflate in and out, expanding without to ease. The pair of lungs that have been tarnished by cigarette smoking has a dark appearance and exerts more effort with minimal results. For some, this is enough to lay the habit down, right then and their. For others, the addiction out ways the logical intuition or factual evidence provided. Despite the fact that smoking is proven harmful to human health, people still find it hard to quit. Many factors come into play in regards to the smoking cessation process. Smoking cessation methods can be a resolution in regards to cigarette smoking, and the health hazards associated with it. For most smokers, the task of quitting is extremely difficult to say the least. This i s because the habit is considered physically addictive. There are two main concepts linked to the dependence of cigarette smoking. The first is the oral fixation. Often times, smokers recognize that even with nicotine alternatives, they still are mentally longing for a habit that keeps them busy or they have the urge to have something physically in their mouth. The same concept applies to when infants have to be weaned off of a pacifier. The second is nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive substance thatShow MoreRelatedEssay about Summary of History of Graphic Design by Meggs14945 Words   |  60 Pagesalphabet became influential throughout the whole world. - The Latin alphabet came to the Romans from Greece by way of the ancient Etruscans. - The letters Y and Z come from the Greek alphabet. - Roman brush writers wrote notices and political campaigns on walls. - Around 190 BC, parchment paper, made from the skins of domestic animals, came in to use. - Vellum, the smoothest form of parchment, is made from the skin of newborn calves (LOL). - The codex replaced the scroll, as it consisted of

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Short Story - 1180 Words

All of their corpses lay upon the ground. At eternal rest they lay silent. The remains are bloodied and sliced to the point of no recognition. Time is still, and I stand in the room adjacent from the carcasses. My head is spinning, my breath is quick. The knife in my hand suddenly feels as if it’s one thousand degrees. The smell of iron creeps into my nose and shakes me to the core. I become so shaky that the seemingly ablaze knife comes loose and falls to the ground. A crisp three clicks fills my ear, and I suddenly am standing with a revolver to my head. My unevenly buttoned shirt dances in the wind as I stand here. The small grains of dirt and small rocks beneath my feet feel as though they are digging into my skin deeper and deeper†¦show more content†¦He can see them dancing around the living room playing and pretending. They were only children, yet their god given gift of life was ripped from them. This sudden rush of memory brings him to point of anger one can not explain. He begins to quake with anger. The shaking gets more and more violent the more he thinks of his innocent children in their soon to be graves. His hands shake so much so that as time stands silent, I can hear the small metal parts inside of the pistol rattling and reminding me once again that I am dying within the next few minutes. If he were to pull the trigger at this very moment, the bullet would miss my head by miles. With every passing second, the military gets more and more anxious. Each soldier howling and screeching. One soldier had the nerve to yowl into the lieutenant’s ear. He had no reaction. It’s as if he had heard nothing at all. As everyone around me chants and screams for my imminent death, the lieutenant has no movement. The howling and screeching is so loud, another country could surely hear. Yet, he remains still with a cold blank face. He can tell I am in pain and wish for my death. He wants me to suffer just like his newly murdered family. He will make me wait until I can’t wait anymore. The worst part is that it’s working. The pain grows as I wait to be killed. The more I stand on my aching feet waiting for the Lieutenant to pull the trigger, the more I just want him to end my life. I don’t deserve the life with which IShow MoreRelatedshort story1018 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Short Stories:  Ã‚  Characteristics †¢Short  - Can usually be read in one sitting. †¢Concise:  Ã‚  Information offered in the story is relevant to the tale being told.  Ã‚  This is unlike a novel, where the story can diverge from the main plot †¢Usually tries to leave behind a  single impression  or effect.  Ã‚  Usually, though not always built around one character, place, idea, or act. †¢Because they are concise, writers depend on the reader bringing  personal experiences  and  prior knowledge  to the story. Four MajorRead MoreThe Short Stories Ideas For Writing A Short Story Essay1097 Words   |  5 Pageswriting a short story. Many a time, writers run out of these short story ideas upon exhausting their sources of short story ideas. If you are one of these writers, who have run out of short story ideas, and the deadline you have for coming up with a short story is running out, the short story writing prompts below will surely help you. Additionally, if you are being tormented by the blank Microsoft Word document staring at you because you are not able to come up with the best short story idea, youRead MoreShort Story1804 Words   |  8 PagesShort story: Definition and History. A  short story  like any other term does not have only one definition, it has many definitions, but all of them are similar in a general idea. According to The World Book Encyclopedia (1994, Vol. 12, L-354), â€Å"the short story is a short work of fiction that usually centers around a single incident. Because of its shorter length, the characters and situations are fewer and less complicated than those of a novel.† In the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s DictionaryRead MoreShort Stories648 Words   |  3 Pageswhat the title to the short story is. The short story theme I am going conduct on is â€Å"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’ by James Thurber (1973). In this short story the literary elements being used is plot and symbols and the theme being full of distractions and disruption. The narrator is giving a third person point of view in sharing the thoughts of the characters. Walter Mitty the daydreamer is very humorous in the different plots of his dr ifting off. In the start of the story the plot, symbols,Read MoreShort Stories1125 Words   |  5 PagesThe themes of short stories are often relevant to real life? To what extent do you agree with this view? In the short stories â€Å"Miss Brill† and â€Å"Frau Brechenmacher attends a wedding† written by Katherine Mansfield, the themes which are relevant to real life in Miss Brill are isolation and appearance versus reality. Likewise Frau Brechenmacher suffers through isolation throughout the story and also male dominance is one of the major themes that are highlighted in the story. These themes areRead MoreShort Story and People1473 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Title: Story Of An Hour Author: Kate Chopin I. On The Elements / Literary Concepts The short story Story Of An Hour is all about the series of emotions that the protagonist, Mrs. Mallard showed to the readers. With the kind of plot of this short story, it actually refers to the moments that Mrs. Mallard knew that all this time, her husband was alive. For the symbol, I like the title of this short story because it actually symbolizes the time where Mrs. Mallard died with joy. And with thatRead MoreShort Story Essay1294 Words   |  6 PagesA short story concentrates on creating a single dynamic effect and is limited in character and situation. It is a language of maximum yet economical effect. Every word must do a job, sometimes several jobs. Short stories are filled with numerous language and sound devices. These language and sound devices create a stronger image of the scenario or the characters within the text, which contribute to the overall pre-designed effect.As it is shown in the metaphor lipstick bleeding gently in CinnamonRead MoreRacism in the Short Stor ies1837 Words   |  7 PagesOften we read stories that tell stories of mixing the grouping may not always be what is legal or what people consider moral at the time. The things that you can learn from someone who is not like you is amazing if people took the time to consider this before judging someone the world as we know it would be a completely different place. The notion to overlook someone because they are not the same race, gender, creed, religion seems to be the way of the world for a long time. Racism is so prevalentRead MoreThe Idol Short Story1728 Words   |  7 PagesThe short stories â€Å"The Idol† by Adolfo Bioy Casares and â€Å"Axolotl† by Julio Cortà ¡zar address the notion of obsession, and the resulting harm that can come from it. Like all addictions, obsession makes one feel overwhelmed, as a single thought comes to continuously intruding our mind, causing the individual to not be able to ignore these thoughts. In â€Å"Axolotl†, the narr ator is drawn upon the axolotls at the Jardin des Plantes aquarium and his fascination towards the axolotls becomes an obsession. InRead MoreGothic Short Story1447 Words   |  6 Pages The End. In the short story, â€Å"Emma Barrett,† the reader follows a search party group searching for a missing girl named Emma deep in a forest in Oregon. The story follows through first person narration by a group member named Holden. This story would be considered a gothic short story because of its use of setting, theme, symbolism, and literary devices used to portray the horror of a missing six-year-old girl. Plot is the literal chronological development of the story, the sequence of events

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Planning in Healthcare Services

Question: Discuss about thePlanning in Healthcare Services. Answer: Introduction Health Services in Australia operates in two models. The sector has service providers from the public and private sectors alike. The private sector health service providers may operate for profit basis or non-profit basis. The non-profit organisations generally operate as NGOs supporting the cause of Public Health in Australia. The healthcare industry is covered by group health insurance system that takes care of the expenses of the individuals. The health system of Australia focuses on quality, facilities and service. The cost of these facilities may invariably very high. Covering this cost might be out of the pocket of the individuals. Hence, the requirement of having the insurance policies in proper place (Health, 2016). Healthcare planning needs to be strategic planning and not ordinal planning. The reason for this emanates from the fact that the vector of a healthcare has to be specific to the needs of the patients and cannot be anything other. Since medical science is highly delivery oriented and time bound the need for maintaining timelines is extremely important. The slack in timelines may cost someone the life. Discussion Planning Planning is understood to be a roadmap of the entire program with emphasis on the destination, the means of reaching the same, and the timelines of covering the distance. The entire planning activity includes a monitoring process of the progress and the cost benefit of the entire process. The planning process is always futuristic in nature. This involves specifying the goals and determining the course of action for the same. Planning specific to the healthcare industry is oriented towards improving the general health standards of the entire population, just as we plan to do economic development in a sustainable manner. Sustainable development focuses on maintaining the existing social and ecological balance whilst ensuring all round growth of the economy. It ensures egalitarian concepts of the development and equality of access to healthcare for all. The infrastructure of the healthcare services should ensure that it is geared up to meet the volume of patients that is expected by the healthcare establishment (Qld, 2016). The two major approaches to the healthcare planning are Population and Institutional methodologies. The characteristics of these two methodologies are enumerated below. Population Methodology This approach aims to deal with the individual healthcare seekers. In short, it refers to the individual patients. A particular patient who approaches the hospital or clinic for treatment is required to be dealt in a particular way. It focuses on the aspects of the individual who need to be addressed for the problems. This approach can be dealt with an individual or a group of individuals. The group of individuals can be a community or a region that is seeking improvement in healthcare facilities (Jurgen Schmidt, 2009). Institutional Methodology This approach deals with the establishments that are providing the healthcare services. The up gradation and maintenance of the systems and facilities are covered under this approach. Institutions providing the facilities need to meet the expectation and requirement of the seekers of the services (Jurgen Schmidt, 2009). Case Analysis The analysis of the case merits itself on these broad principles. Changing Demographics of the Population The population is segregated into variety of factors. These include age, gender, grouping, cultural and ethnicity of the population and he socio-economic status of the persons being addressed. This factor also addresses the risks involved in the population like for a high age group population, the risk of falling sick is more than that of a population which is of a lower age group. The social habits like smoking and drinking gives rise to peculiar disorders and diseases that are different from a population that does not induce much into these habits. Food habits are another consideration. Populations that have traditionally high intake of calories and cholesterol are subject to different types of healthcare challenges than population that is predominantly vegetarian. (Harpera, Shahania, Gallagherb, Bowiec, 2005) The healthcare services need to be designed keeping these factors in mind. A faulty design may give rise to an excellent system, per se, but not geared up to meet the challenges of the population it is destined to address. Use of Technology The medical science is highly technology oriented. New developments happen every day in the field of medical sciences. Research and development is an integral part of the healthcare industry in finding newer solutions to the emerging trends of viruses and bacteria that emerge everyday due to change of strain. The changing environmental conditions are resulting in genetic mutation of the viruses that are causing the diseases. Also changes in the lifestyle and living mechanisms of the modern times cause newer types of medical disorders. They study the changes which require a continuous monitoring of the growth and development of the agents. The aim of the research is into finding the technological solutions to the problems. Technology plays an important part in the medical field. Many apparatuses are used for investigation of the health problems. Apparatuses have become more and more complex due to increasing complexity of the diseases and the nature of investigations that are being conducted. The stress today is more on non-invasive methods of investigation. For example, development of faster x-ray machines that capture digital image in minutes against old film based machine taking hours to develop. The entire speed of the treatment process improves in that case. Machinery improvements require doctors to investigate deeper and wider. Thus the development of technology has to be in sync with the treatment and investigation methodologies of the modern medical science (Harris, 2013). Modern Clinical Evidences Medical science of today focuses on many evidences that were not looked upon in earlier times. Hence the impacts of the advances of evidence and technology have resulted in the changes in the knowledge content of the medical science. There were medicines considered life saving in earlier times. Today many such medical compositions have been discarded due to other factors like them being carcinogenic or others. Medical facilities need to be organised and delivered in the same manner. The delivery models depend on the nature of treatment technology and style that the doctors choose to undertake (Green, Kreuter, Deeds, Partridge, Bartlett, 1980). Projecting the Future Since medical practitioners have role to understand the nature and criticality of disorders, it involves understanding the future of the medical sciences and diseases. The changes that require to be predicted involves understanding a part of social sciences whereby changes in tastes and preferences of the population need to be understood. Projected changes in social structures and human development need to be understood by the medical practitioners. a knowledge worker may take hypertension more casually than an industrial worker. If the future holds more space for knowledge workers, the response of the medical practitioners to the findings will have to be altered (Flower, 1996). Resource Allocation The net area of medical professionals for resource allocation needs to be looked into with the passage of time. The prioritisation of the allocation will depend on the changing face of medical science. With newer strains of agents developing and older strains developing resistance to chemicals, the priorities of the medical professionals require a change. The viewpoint of doctors and paramedics towards prioritising the resources need to be altered. Health service planning requires incorporating the change of priorities. The planning priorities for health needs and services are to be identified for allocation. (Markwell, 2009) Theories of Healthcare Planning There are two broad types of planning approaches undertaken in the Healthcare industry. These are Strategic Planning and Operational Planning. The considerations of both are very similar and overlap with each other. However, there are some points of difference as is enumerated in the short discussion below. Strategic Planning This refers to the planning activities that are done by the upper echelons of the management and are more decision oriented in nature. These are generally the types of planning done by the Government, the Medical Councils, and the WHO, to just name a few. The policy level planning actually creates the roadmap for the healthcare system of the entire nation. The local bodies are also involved in strategic planning for the areas and population pertaining to their domain. Such planning aspects include the decisions on number of hospitals per person, establishment of medical colleges, foreign aid in technology development, budgetary plan outlay, amongst others (Businessdictionary, 2016). Operational Planning This is done at the grassroots level where the actual healthcare is being administered. Such decisions are taken at micro level pertaining to a particular hospital or even a particular patient. What treatment is to be meted out, what line of diagnosis is to be followed, whether insurance claim would be admissible for the case or not, and other decisional things of this nature. These are translating the Strategic Planning into actions through the actual plan implementation. Allocation of human and material resources is a major decision factor in Operational Planning (Leoisaac, 2016). The approaches that are often taken with the theory of healthcare planning that address various aspects of the public life. It integrates itself to deal with various needs of the target population. The target is very important to be identified correctly as the solutions will vary according to the target, as the needs are different. Apart from the needs, the ability to assimilate the solutions and administer the medicines may also vary. The variations are according to demographics that include gender, age, ethnicity, medical conditions, pre existing aliments, etc. of the patients (Davis Sisson, 2009). These pointers hold good for the field of study of healthcare planning, be it through Population method or Institutional method. The theory of healthcare planning that governs our establishments is based on the theory of public welfare. This ensures that all citizens are treated at par irrespective of gender, orientation, ethnicity, livelihood, caste, creed, race and skin colour. The citizens of the country are entitled to receive the healthcare facilities instituted by the government and take advantage of the system of insurance that is instituted for the purpose. The Non-profit and the government healthcare centres are an integral part of the system. (Lgausa, 2016). Use of Resources Both the Population and Institutional Methods take cognizance of the optimal use of resources pertaining to the healthcare industry. The resources can be physical resources as in terms of hospital buildings, apparatus, facilities like operation theatres, services like ambulance, etc. The other forms of facilities that govern the industry are the facilities in terms of knowledge. This includes basic medical and para-medical knowledge and developmental knowledge (Europa, 2016). The developmental knowledge is closely linked to the Research and Development that is a part and parcel of the industry. The research is done by independent government and non-government bodies and pharmaceutical companies. The aim of the researches done by these two concerns varies a little. The agency based research work is generally with the aim of studying the trends in the medical world. It incorporates the changes in the genetic mutation of disease causing agents, the natural growth of newer strains of agents and development of resistance of the agents to existing methods of treatment. The pharmaceutical researches mainly target development of antidotes to the changes in the nature and strain of the agents. They are keener on inventing solutions to annihilate the developed agents so that their products can be prescribed by the medical practitioners and used by the patients. This has a business and profit motive behind it and hence the funding received is huge. However, both are of equal importance, as one is identification of the cause and the other is the identification of result. Communication The medical field is very sensitive to the nature of communication done by the practitioners in the trade. Doctors know certain uncomfortable facts about a patient. However, it may not be pertinent to explicitly spell that out to the patient or the family at a premature juncture due to psychological reasons. Again abstaining from stating the truth may lead to non-disclosure of facts and can invite legal and human rights issues. The line is very thin. Most hospitals today follow a practice of a spokes-team that communicates to the patients and relatives. The queries raised by the spokes-team are routed back to the practitioners and answers sought. A growing sense of inconvenience is reported in many cases due to the time lost in delay of communication. However, it safeguards the establishments from maligning of image or facing resentment from the kin of the patients, especially in cases of death, due to communication made directly by the doctors. The doctor may not have the clarity of understanding of the audience being addressed and the content of the statements could have been too candid or too ambiguous for the recipients (Amwa, 2015). The fragile aspect of communication is an important aspect of the medical science. Unfortunately, no medical course teaches this to the practitioners, who learn it by observation and experience. Conclusion In the afore-discussed article, we have dealt with the two strategic approaches of healthcare planning that rule the industry. The approaches need to be strategic and not organic so that it has a clear direction and thrust to meet the rational challenges posted by the ever changing scenario of medical sciences. The changes that are taking place have also been noted to include changes due to changing strains of agents causing the diseases and also the changes in the lifestyle of the entire global population. The two major approaches of Population and Institutional are affected by these aspects. The population methodology concerns the changes pertaining to the recipient of the treatment, either singly or as a community. The institutional methodology covers aspects dealing with establishments that transaction business of healthcare. The industry is a major global employer of people of much specialised skills and needs to be studied in detail for their technical and human competencies. References: Amwa. (2015). About Medical Communications. Retrieved 10 18, 2016, from American Medical Writers Association: https://www.amwa.org/about_med_communications Businessdictionary. (2016). Strategic Planning. Retrieved 10 18, 2016, from Business Dictionary: https://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/strategic-planning.html Davis, L. E., Sisson, M. W. (2009). A Strategic Planning Approach. RAND Initiated Research , 5 - 6. Europa. (2016, 06 08). Sustainable Use of Natural Resources. Retrieved 10 18, 2016, from European Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/natres/ Flower, J. (1996). The Future of Healthcare. Retrieved 10 18, 2016, from Well.com: https://www.well.com/~bbear/healthcare_future.html Green, L., Kreuter, M., Deeds, S., Partridge, K., Bartlett, E. (1980). Health education planning: a diagnostic approach. Palo Alto, California: Mayfield Publishing. Harpera, P., Shahania, A., Gallagherb, J., Bowiec, C. (2005, 04). Planning health services with explicit geographical considerations: a stochastic locationallocation approach. Retrieved 10 18, 2016, from Science Direct: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305048304000593 Harris, B. (2013, 01 24). 5 Ways Technology Is Transforming Health Care. Retrieved 10 18, 2016, from Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bmoharrisbank/2013/01/24/5-ways-technology-is-transforming-health-care/#1afe14ab1e26 Health. (2016, 08 31). Oveview. Retrieved 10 18, 2016, from The Department of Health: https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-overview.htm Jurgen Schmidt, K. E. (2009). Theories of strategic planning. Retrieved 10 18, 2016, from Health Knowledge: https://www.healthknowledge.org.uk/public-health-textbook/organisation-management/5d-theory-process-strategy-development/strategic-planning Leoisaac. (2016). Purpose of Operational Plan. Retrieved 10 18, 2-16, from Online Learning for Sports Management: https://www.leoisaac.com/operations/top025.htm Lgausa. (2016). Strategic Planning - Long Term Planning. Retrieved 10 18, 2016, from Strategic Planning - Long Term Planning: https://lgausa.com/strategic_planning.htm Markwell, S. (2009). Health service development and planning. Retrieved 10 18, 2016, from Health Knowledge: https://www.healthknowledge.org.uk/public-health-textbook/organisation-management/5d-theory-process-strategy-development/health-service-development-planning Qld. (2016, 02 25). Health service planning. Retrieved 10 18, 2016, from Queensland Government: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/strategic-direction/plans/health-service/

Monday, December 2, 2019

Oedipus The King Essays (582 words) - Oedipus The King, Oedipus

Oedipus The King Oedipus the King Why Didn't His Foster Parents Tell Him The Truth? Oedipus the King is the story of a man who was betrayed. Betrayed by the very people who gave him life and the very people who raised him. Oedipus was born to Laius and Jocasta the king and queen of Thebes. When Oedipus was born, they consulted an oracle that told them that he would grow up to kill his father and marry his mother. Fearing for their safety and the safety of their kingdom they had a servant take the infant to the mountains and leave him on the mountain to die. The servant felt sorry for the infant and gave him to a shepherd who in turn gave him to Polybus and Merope the king and queen of Corinth, who raised him as their own. When Oedipus was older, some men at a banquet who were drunk told him that I am not my fathers' son. (860) Oedipus confronted Polybus and Merope and they were enraged by these accusations. They convinced Oedipus that the accusations weren't true, so as for my parents I was satisfied (865). However, something was still gnawing at him. He consulted an oracle for himself and the oracle told Oedipus what the oracle told Laius and Jocasta. After he heard that prediction, he left Corinth ne ver to return. If Polybus and Merope had told him the truth when Oedipus came to them he wouldn't have left Corinth and have set into motion this tragic chain of events. What were Polybus and Merope afraid of? Where they afraid of how Oedipus would have reacted if he knew that they weren't his birth parents, did they think that he wouldn't have understood and wouldn't have appreciated what they did for him. I think that Polybus and Merope have to share some of the blame for this mess, because they were not truthful. Oedipus thought he had avoided the curse by going the Thebes. By defeating the sphinx, he was the hero of the town. He was doing a noble thing by wanting to help his country by trying to find out who or what was causing this plague. When Oedipus finds out the truth he resists it, but he was relentless in his pursuit of it, He wanted to discover the truth in order to help his people but he refuses to believe that he's the cause of it, What are you saying - Polybus was not my father? Then why did he call me son? You were a gift years ago - know for a fact he took you from my hands (1114). Oedipus tried to avoid the prophecy he heard, and it ended up costing him almost everything O god - all come true, all burst to light! O light - now let me look my last on you! I stand revealed at last - cursed in my birth, cursed in marriage, cursed in the lives I cut down I with these hands (1307). He should have just stayed in Corinth and made a life for himself rather than try to get away from tho se silly predictions, his life may have been a completely different story. As he destroyed the sphinx by answering its riddle, he destroyed himself by answering the riddle of his own birth. We are all born into a world we did not choose or create, stumbling blindly toward self-awareness and often knowingly deny who we are for shame or sake of others. English Essays

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Neighbors essays

Neighbors essays On the street where I live, I see vibrant azaleas and blooming roses in my neighbors flowerbed. I see kites gliding through the sky on a cool spring afternoon as if they were angels on a cloud. I see the beautiful skyline of Memphis, TN and the bright lights of the Memphis Bridge as I look off of my balcony. I see large boats sailing down the Mississippi River. I see children playing and riding their bicycles, smiling as if it were the greatest day of their life. I see people walking, jogging and roller-skating on the river walk. I see some people lying on blankets just enjoying the moment, leaving the stress and pressures of their jobs and the world behind them, taking time out to enjoy family and self. I see fathers playing catch with their sons and mothers reading novels. When I look down my street I see happiness. On the street where I live, I hear crickets chirping, bees buzzing and birds singing. I hear the horns of cars, tug boats and trolley trains as they pass my apartment building. I hear dogs barking and howling to the screeching sounds of the fire truck sirens. I hear construction workers yelling, jackhammers pounding the concrete and the shifting gears of dump trucks driving away. I hear the up-tempo roar of motorcycles drag racing down the street. I hear the sounds of a trumpet coming from the Taylors apartment two doors down from mine. At twelve p.m. I hear the bells ringing from the local Catholic Church. I hear the sounds of the inner city. On the street where I live, I smell the aroma of mesquite bar-b-que. I smell sweet bubble gum ice cream as my son eats his favorite dessert. I smell freshly cut grass and the stench of mulch in the air. I smell fragrant flowers and honeysuckle overridden by the smell of burning oil at the local refinery. On the street where I live, I feel a cool breeze off the river blowing in my face. I feel the vibration from the train as it crosses the bridge. ...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

USS Langley - The US Navys First Aircraft Carrier

USS Langley - The US Navys First Aircraft Carrier Laid down on October 18, 1911, at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, CA, USS Langley (CV-1) began its life as the Proteus-class collier USS Jupiter (AC-3). Its keel-laying ceremony was attended by President William H. Taft. Work continued through the winter and the collier was launched on April 14, 1912. The US Navys first turbo-electric-powered ship, Jupiter joined the fleet in April 1913, under the command of Commander Joseph M. Reeves. USS Jupiter Shortly after passing sea trials, Jupiter was sent south to the Mexican coast off Mazatln. Carrying a detachment of US Marines, the Navy hoped that the ships presence would aid in calming tensions during the 1914 Veracruz crisis. With the situation diffused, the collier departed for Philadelphia in October, becoming the first ship to transit the Panama Canal from west to east in the process. After service with the Atlantic Fleet Auxiliary Division in the Gulf of Mexico, Jupiter was switched to cargo duty in April 1917. Assigned to the Naval Overseas Transport Service, Jupiter sailed in support of US efforts during World War I, and made two cargo voyages to Europe (June 1917 and November 1918).   During its first Atlantic crossing, the collier carried a naval aviation detachment commanded by Lieutenant Kenneth Whiting. These were the first American military aviators to reach Europe. Returning to coaling duties in January 1919, Jupiter operated in European waters to facilitate the return of troops serving with the American Expeditionary Forces following the end of the war. Later that year, the ship received orders to return to Norfolk for conversion into an aircraft carrier. Arriving on December 12, 1919, the ship was decommissioned the following March. The US Navys First Aircraft Carrier Work began immediately to convert the ship, which was renamed in honor of aviation pioneer Samuel Pierpont Langley on April 21, 1920. In the yard, workers reduced the ships superstructure and built a flight deck over the length of the ship. The vessels two funnels were moved outboard and an elevator constructed for moving aircraft between decks. Completed in early 1922, Langley was designated CV-1 and commissioned on March 20, with Whiting, now a commander, in command. Entering service, Langley became the primary test platform for the US Navys budding aviation program.    USS Langley (CV-1) - Overview Type: Aircraft CarrierNation: United StatesBuilder: Mare Island Naval ShipyardLaid Down: October 18, 1911Launched: August 14, 1912Commissioned: March 20, 1922 Specifications Displacement: 11,500 tonsLength: 542 ft.Beam: 65 ft.Draft: 18 ft. 11 in.Speed: 15 knotsComplement: 468 officers and men Armament 55 aircraft4 Ãâ€" 5 guns Early Operations On October 17, 1922, Lieutenant Virgil C. Griffin became the first pilot to fly from the ships deck when he took off in his Vought VE-7-SF. The ships first landing came nine days later when Lieutenant Commander Godfrey de Courcelles Chevalier came aboard in an Aeromarine 39B. The firsts continued on November 18, when Whiting became the first naval aviator to be catapulted from a carrier when he launched in a PT. Steaming south in early 1923, Langley continued aviation testing in the warm waters of the Caribbean before sailing to Washington DC that June to conduct a flight demonstration and show its capabilities to governmental officials. Returning to active duty, Langley operated out of Norfolk for much of 1924, and underwent its first overhaul late that summer. Putting to sea that fall, Langley transited the Panama Canal and joined the Pacific Battle Fleet on November 29. For the next dozen years, the ship served with the fleet off Hawaii and California working to training aviators, conducting aviation experiments, and taking part in war games. With the arrival of the larger carriers Lexington (CV-2) and Saratoga (CV-3) and the near completion of Yorktown (CV-5) and Enterprise (CV-6), the Navy decided that the little Langley was no longer needed as a carrier. Seaplane Tender On October 25, 1936, Langley arrived at Mare Island Naval Shipyard for conversion into a seaplane tender. After removing the forward section of the flight deck, workers built a new superstructure and bridge, while the aft end of the ship was altered to accommodate the ships new role. Re-designated AV-3, Langley sailed in April 1937. Following a brief assignment in the Atlantic during early 1939, the ship sailed for the Far East, reaching Manila on September 24. When World War II began, the ship was anchored nearby at Cavite. On December 8, 1941, Langley departed the Philippines for Balikpapan, Dutch East Indies before finally making for Darwin, Australia. World War II During the first half of January 1942, Langley aided the Royal Australian Air Force in conducting anti-submarine patrols out of Darwin. Receiving new orders, the ship sailed north later that month to deliver 32 P-40 Warhawks to Allied forces at Tjilatjap, Java and to join American‑British‑Dutch‑Australian forces gathering to block the Japanese advance into Indonesia. On February 27, shortly after meeting with its antisubmarine screen, the destroyers USS Whipple and USS Edsall, Langley was attacked by a flight of nine Japanese G4M Betty bombers. Successfully evading the first two Japanese bombing runs, the ship was hit five times on the third, causing the topsides to burst in to flames and the ship to develop a 10-degree list to port. Limping towards Tjilatjap Harbor, Langley lost power and was unable to negotiate the mouth of the harbor. At 1:32 PM, the ship was abandoned and the escorts moved into sink the hulk to prevent its capture by the Japanese. Sixteen of Langleys crew were killed in the attack.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Freedom of Assembly in Hong Kong Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Freedom of Assembly in Hong Kong - Essay Example This research study examines the restrictions on the right to freedom of assembly in Hong Kong with particular emphasis on the ruling in Leung Kwok Hung and its importance to the rationale for restricting freedom of assembly. A comparative analysis is conducted with reference to Hong Kong’s case law and international jurisprudence relative to freedom of assembly. This study is therefore divided into two main parts. The first part of the paper will examine Hong Kong’s freedom of assembly regime and the second part of the paper will examine the international jurisprudence on freedom of assembly. Hong Kong’s Freedom of Assembly Law Overview The Sino-UK Joint Declaration of 1984 which provided for the transfer of Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China (PRC or China) contained an undertaking to maintain the pre-existing fundamental human rights including freedom of assembly. China implemented the Basic Law 1997 which reflected its undertaking under the Joint Declaration of 1984 to maintain a one country, two system framework with respect to its sovereignty over Hong Kong. This meant that Hong Kong could continue to adhere to the laws in place at the time of the handover. Shortly after the handover of Hong Kong however, China reneged on some of its key guarantees under the Joint Declaration and among its broken promises, announced that there would be restrictions on a number of freedoms including freedom of assembly.... uding freedom of assembly.5 With the handover of Hong Kong in 1997, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China.6 The SAR government amended and repealed parts of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance (BORO) 1997, the Public Order Ordinance and the Societies Ordinance, laws that were previously introduced by the British government prior to the handover to China, in 1992 and 1995. The amended law provides that demonstrations comprised of at least 30 persons must first obtain police approval. Secondly the Public Order Ordinance and the Societies Ordinance stipulate that associations are required to register under the approval of the SAR government in order to obtain legal status. Moreover, national security is the broad basis upon which the police may refuse to permit an association or a demonstration.7 B. Current Law on Freedom of Assembly Essentially, the Basic Law 1997 as promulgated on behalf of the SAR retains for Hong Kong, the fundamental freedoms and rights existing in Hong Kong at the time of the handover to China. As a result the Basic Law and BORO provide the primary methods by which the executive and the legislature exercise their respective authorities. Likewise the two instruments also guarantee Hong Kong residents civil rights protection such as the freedom of association, of assemble, of procession, free speech, free press and freedom of demonstration.8 Freedom of Assembly is provided for in Article 17 of BORO and is characterized as Freedom of Peaceful Assembly. Article 17 provides that: The right of peaceful assembly shall be recognized. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of this right other than those imposed in conformity with the law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Contrast essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Contrast - Essay Example The method of giving solution to problems was the same in math and physics. The two had the same way of presenting answers. To be specific, both classes had utilized various formulas to explain phenomena and outcomes. In the mathematics class, numbers and variables were utilized to answer mathematical problems. For example, algebraic expressions were used by the teacher to describe a relationship which varies over time (â€Å"What†). In physics, numbers and variables were also employed in explaining a scientific problem. For instance, in determining the amount of force exerted in an activity, Newton’s law of motion was applied by the instructor. In the classroom, the teacher always associated the formulas used in actual setting. The application of the formulas in real life was emphasized. Even in small dealings, the professors would find a way to relate it to the topic whether in math or physics class. For instance, my math teacher had chosen a classmate of mine who was a businesswoman to illustrate the importance of addition and subtraction. In contrast with the mentioned similarities, the two classes essentially differed in the practical application of its topics. In the physics class, actual experiments were conducted to personally experience the truthfulness of the formulas. To test the students, the teacher included practical exams wherein students were tested if they really know how to perform the experiment and how well they understand the lesson. In another case, a student was called to explain and demonstrate a topic in front of the class. It was some sort of an oral exam. However, in the mathematics class, there was no actual experiment. It was just all about trial and error in a piece of paper. The professor never entertained the idea of calling students to answer a mathematical problem on the board. He never conducted an oral exam. What the

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Stirling Sports Essay Example for Free

Stirling Sports Essay Stirling Sports opened their first Store on Dominion Road in Auckland in 1964. The first Stirling Sports franchises were awarded in 1983 after Stirling Sports had invested almost 20 years in developing the best sports retail stores in New Zealand. Stirling Sports Dunedin’s mission statements asserts, ‘The Dunedin community speaks positively about their Stirling Sport experience’. Their logo is ‘We love our sport’, an apt summary of the passion held by management and staff for their products, service and the specialist knowledge they provide. Stirling Sports is the one of the New Zealand leading retailers of sporting goods. Stirling Sports has a huge range of sports clothing and mens and womens shoes, supporter gear and more. In 2004, Russell and Sue became aware of an opportunity to purchase the Stirling Sports Dunedin area franchise and made the decision to buy within a week. Since they originated from the Otago region, this was an opportunity ‘to come home’. After some negotiation they successfully acquired the franchise and began to determine how best to manage the two operations. After some deliberation, the  decision was made that Sue would move to Dunedin and manage that store, while Russell continued to manage the Kapiti store. Russell and Sue decided to buy the franchise with the existing staff at the Dunedin store. The store had to become profitable, so changes needed to be made. However, the change in structure and process did not suit everyone and staff left. Previously, the store had been managed from Auckland, so some having the manager on-site was very different from the previous management style. Stirling Sports adopts marketing strategies based on the seasonal nature of  various sports, student population migration during semester and holiday periods, public holidays and festive seasons Christmas is one of the biggest financial periods with equipment, clothing and shoes being in demand for Christmas gifts. In-store specials, glossy flyers, and newspaper and radio advertising are all useful means of marketing their products to all of their customer segments. The March/April period is the second-largest cash-flow period with the beginning of winter sports, such as rugby, soccer, netball, volleyball and basketball, traditionally boosting sales. September/October is also a peak period, with the focus particularly on fitness and getting ‘back into shape’ after the ravages of winter lifestyle choices. Sports such as cricket, tennis and softball also begin which may require the purchase of new equipment, uniforms and speciality footwear. Many sports are now played all year round, which is beneficial in maintaining an acceptable level of monthly sales in addition to seasonal cash-flow peaks. RETRIEVED FROM HTTP://STIRLINGSPORTS. CO. NZ Rebel Sport is a well known brand name throughout New Zealand and Australia. Until 2006, Rebel had no big-box sports competitor, prompting the use of the well-known slogan No ones got more sports gear. However, Lane Walker Rudkin, owners of sports franchise Stirling Sports, have announced plans to launch several large format stores across the country, beginning with a store in Christchurch, which opened in mid-2006. This followed the collapse of a deal between Briscoe Group and LWR a year earlier, which would have seen Briscoe buyout the Stirling franchise. Since Stirlings big box launch, Rebel has dropped their original slogan, which has been replaced with Lets Play, backed by a new  marketing campaign which targets a wider audience from the traditional club-orientated team sport audience. The company is also continuing their aggressive expansion programme, launching several smaller-format stores such as Napier and Taupo to allow branches to reach further into provincial areas. Briscoe Group. (n. d. ). Retrieved March 15, 2014 from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Briscoe_Group The latest retail customer satisfaction report for New Zealand from research organisation Roy Morgan Research reveals that Rebel Sport has emerged as the  sports store with the highest percentage of satisfied customers. Rebel came in at at 82. 0 percent for the 12 months to December 2009 (up 4. 4 percent points from the 12 months to December ‘08). Stirling Sports was third with 77. 5 percent (down 2. 9 percent from the same period). â€Å"The category as a whole has performed below the average for all non-food stores. It seems all sports stores need to close the gap in improving their levels of satisfaction. † Sports Link. Sporting Goods Outdoor Retailing. (May 17, 2010). Retrieved from http://www. mysportslink. net/rebel-sport-leads-the-way-cms-837.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Jim Morrison :: essays research papers

Jim Morrison "Friends can help each other. A true friend is someone who lets you have total freedom to be yourself— and especially to feel. Or not feel. Whatever you happen to be feeling at the moment is fine with them. That's what real love amounts to— letting a person be what he really is.... Most people love you for who you pretend to be.... To keep their love, you keep pretending— performing. You get to love your pretense.... It’s true, we're locked in an image, an act— and the sad thing is, people get so used to their image— they grow attached to their masks. They love their chains. They forget all about who they really are. And if you try to remind them, they hate you for it— they feel like you're trying to steal their most precious possession." - Jim Morrison (1943-71) Jim Morrison Jim Morrison is often thought of as a drunken musician. He is also portrayed to many as an addict and another 'doped up' rock star. These negative opinions project a large shadow on the many positive aspects of this great poet. Many famous authors influenced Jim’s music heavily. You must cast aside your ignorance and look behind the loud electric haze of the sixties music. You must wipe your eyes and look through the psychedelic world of LSD. Standing behind these minor flaws, you will see a young and very intellectual poet named Jim Morrison. Jim Morrison's distraught childhood was a contributing factor to Jim's fortune and his fate. As a young child, Jim experienced the many pains of living in a military family. Having to move every so often, Jim and his brother, and sister never spent more than a couple of years at a particular school. Jim attended eight different schools, Grammar and High, throughout his schooling career. This amount of traveling made it hard for a young child to make many friends. In high school, Jim had an especially hard time; "The only real friend he made was a tall but overweight classmate with a sleepy voice named Fud Ford ". Although there seems to be many negative aspects of Jim's child hood, many positive aspects did arise, as well. The traveling done by the Morrison family brought Jim through many different experiences and situations. For instance, while driving on a highway from Santa Fe with his family, he said he experienced, "the most important moment of my life".

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Business Law Assignment Essay

This essay will explain the following four questions. First, would registration with the SEC be required for Dakota Gasworks securities? Second, Did Emerson violate Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and SEC Rule 10b-5? Third what theory or theories might a court use to hold Wallace liable for insider trading? Finally, under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, who would be required to certify the accuracy of financial statements filed with the SEC? Would registration with the SEC be required for Dakota Gasworks securities? Why or why not? Reliant Energy has registered securities and faces a takeover attempt, or third party tender offer, then the SEC’s tender offer rules will apply to the transaction. The filings required by these rules provide information to the public about the person making the tender offer. The company, Dakota Gasworks, is experiencing the takeover so they must file with the SEC its responses to the tender offer. These rules set time limits for the tender offer and provide some protection to shareholders. Did Emerson violate Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and SEC Rule 10b-5? Why or why not? Moreover, Emerson did violate rule 10b-5 of the Securities exchange act, in where it protects against insider trading; which is the purchase or sale by person with access to information not available to those whom with those they deal or general traders. The person passing the information of the takeover, Emerson, violated this rule by passing information that wasn’t regularly available to general traders. What theory or theories might a court use to hold Wallace liable for insider trading? Furthermore, the theory behind the prohibiting insider trading is that is undermines investor confidence in the fairness and integrity of the securities markets. The SEC claims that finding and prosecuting insider trading violations is one of its enforcement priorities, and all investors need to be aware of the danger in trading from spoken knowledge that is not  publicly known to people who base their trading on this information. Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, who would be required to certify the accuracy of financial statements filed with the SEC? Finally, the intent of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act is to protect investors by improving the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures made pursuant to the securities laws, and for other purposes. The Act requires all financial reports to include an internal control report. This is designed to show that not only are the company’s financial data accurate, but the company has confidence in them because adequate controls are in place to safeguard financial data. Year-end financial reports must contain an assessment of the effectiveness of the internal controls. The issuer’s auditing firm is required to attest to that assessment. The auditing firm does this after reviewing controls, policies, and procedures during a Section 4040 audit, conducted along with a traditional financial audit. Under Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the CEO and CFO of public companies are required to certify the accuracy of financial statements filed with the SEC. References: 1. Miller, Roger & Jentz, Gaylord (2010) Fundamentals of Business Law: Summarized Cases 8th Edition, Cengage Learning. 2. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002. (n.d.). The Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002. Retrieved December 19, 2012 from http://www.soxlaw.com/

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Should a Woman Be More Educated

SHOULD A WOMAN BE MORE EDUCATED THAN A MAN OR SHOULD A MAN BE MORE EDUCATED THAN A WOMAN? August 13, 2012 SHOULD A WOMAN BE MORE EDUCATED THAN A MAN OR SHOULD A MAN BE MORE EDUCATED THAN A WOMAN? Thesis: Education is the key to success and therefore every woman or a man should be equally allowed to be educated if they so desire, the reason is society achieves more with both educated women and men and also educated women can make a family stronger whiles educated men can influence the nation with their leadership skills and enthusiasm.Another reason is that women are like role models in their homes and also in the eyes of their children. Their passion and love they have for their children is so unique that nothing can stop a mother’s love and care for children and society. I. Keeping a girl child in the kitchen as some societies do and some cultures accept is not a better way to raise a great generation, For as the saying goes, educating a woman will help you raise a nation but educating a man will help you give good counsel. II. It is true that men are known as the head of the family yet without an educated woman in the house, the house is always empty.III. Research have proven that at a time when women are consistently outperforming men in college enrollment and completion, women tend to value higher education more highly than men do and believe it has had a more positive impact on their lives, according to the results of a survey that was released in march 2010 by the Pew Research Center. IV. Some part of this world do not agree that a woman should be educated especially where I come from In Africa called Ghana, the belief is that a woman’s place is in the kitchen and the man needs to be more educated but I on’t agree to that and my stand in this argument is that â€Å"The woman should be more educated or equally educated because the pride of a nation is how their women are educated as well as the men. The public seems to be undecided ab out the impact of changes in the gender makeup of the student body. A majority of people surveyed welcomed the fact that more women than men were graduating from college and this makes me happy as woman because society makes us feel like we belong to the kitchen but not to be highly educated in some parts of the world. .Conclusion: I believe that everyone should be given the chance to a higher education regardless of culture traits, country or tribal differences, for when you raise a woman, you have raised a nation, even though men still take their positions in the home as the leaders and the decision makers, without an educated woman, a house will collapse and loose its sense of great direction. REF: http://chronicle. com/article/Women-Value-Higher-Education/12871http://www. statcan. gc. ca/pub/89-503-x/2010001/article/11542-eng. htm http://www. good. is/post/women-make-less-than-men-at-every-education-level/

Friday, November 8, 2019

Sherman Antitrust in 21st Century essays

Sherman Antitrust in 21st Century essays Sherman Anti-trust in the 21st Century Whilst approaching the Twenty- first Century, America has taken significant strides in the advancement of high technology. With the unveiling of this new frontier comes continued innovation and government regulation. One aspect of the government in particular, the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890, has impeded the progress of exploration into this new field; for the effectiveness of government is a nefarious hindrance to the efficiency of technology. Thus comes the age old question of who governs and to what ends. As a solution government should adopt a more Adam Smith approach to the regulation of high technology; the Sherman Anti-Trust Act should be amended by the legislature to allow more leeway for the technological and dynamic computer industry. The result of such an amendment, especially in a world economy such as ours, would allow American computer companies to thrive and compete with foreign companies as well as lead the way into the technological future of the Twenty- fi rst Century. In the age of reform as a result of public sentiment, Congress passed the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890, named for Senator John Sherman. The one hundred and eight year old Sherman Act forbids monopolizing a market or engaging in any restraint of trade. Today unlawful restraints fall under three categories: 1) having too large a market share; 2) tying the sale of one product to another; 3) predatory pricing. For the past century the federal government has been pursuing a populist attack on big businessesRCA, U.S. Steel, IBM, AT however, due to government intervention and anti-trust investigation on the basis of the outdated Sherman Act, many of these cutting edge businesses were hindered in their progress for success. ...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Tobacco and the Origins and Domestication of Nicotiana

Tobacco and the Origins and Domestication of Nicotiana Tobacco (Nicotiana rustica and N. tabacum) is a plant that was and is used as a psychoactive substance, a narcotic, a painkiller, and a pesticide and, as a result, it is and was used in the ancient past in a wide variety of rituals and ceremonies. Four species were recognized by Linnaeus in 1753, all originating from the Americas, and all from the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Today, scholars recognize over 70 different species, with N. tabacum the most economically important; almost all of them originated in South America, with one endemic to Australia and another to Africa. Domestication History A group of recent biogeographical studies reports that modern tobacco ( N. tabacum) originated in the highland Andes, probably Bolivia or northern Argentina, and was likely a result of the hybridization of two older species, N. sylvestris and a member of the section Tomentosae, perhaps N. tomentosiformis Goodspeed. Long before the Spanish colonization, tobacco had been distributed well outside its origins, throughout South America, into Mesoamerica and reaching the Eastern Woodlands of North America no later than ~300 BC. Although some debate within the scholarly community exists suggesting that some varieties may have originated in Central America or Southern Mexico, the most widely accepted theory is that N. tabacum originated where the historical ranges of its two progenitor species intersected. The earliest dated tobacco seeds found to date are from early Formative levels at Chiripa in the Lake Titicaca region of Bolivia. Tobacco seeds were recovered from Early Chiripa contexts (1500-1000 BC), although not in sufficient quantities or contexts to prove tobacco  use with shamanistic practices. Tushingham and colleagues have traced a continuous record of smoking tobacco in pipes in western North America from at least 860 AD, and at the time of European colonial contact, tobacco was the most widely exploited intoxicant in the Americas. Curanderos and Tobacco Tobacco is believed to be one of the first plants used in the New World to initiate ecstasy trances. Taken in large amounts, tobacco induces hallucinations, and, perhaps not surprisingly, tobacco use is associated with pipe ceremonialism and bird imagery throughout the Americas. Physical changes associated with extreme doses of tobacco use include a lowered heart rate, which in some cases has been known to render the user into a catatonic state. Tobacco is consumed in a number of ways, including chewing, licking, eating, sniffing, and enemas, although smoking is the most effective and common form of consumption. Among the ancient Maya and extending down to today, tobacco was a sacred, supernaturally powerful plant, considered a primordial medicine or botanical helper and associated with Maya deities of the earth and sky. A classic 17 year-long study by ethnoarchaeologist Kevin Goark (2010) looked at the use of the plant among the Tzeltal-Tzotzil Maya communities in highland Chiapas, recording processing methods, physiological effects, and magico-protective uses. Ethnographic Studies A series of ethnographic interviews (Jauregui et al 2011) was conducted between 2003-2008 with curanderos (healers) in east central Peru, who reported using tobacco in various ways. Tobacco is one of over fifty plants with psychotropic effects used in the region that are considered plants that teach, including coca, datura, and ayahuasca. Plants that teach are also sometimes referred to as plants with a mother, because they are believed to have an associated guiding spirit or mother who teaches the secrets of traditional medicine. Like the other plants that teach, tobacco is one of the cornerstones of learning and practicing the art of the shaman, and according to the curanderos consulted by Jauregui et al. it is considered one of the most powerful and oldest of plants. Shamanistic training in Peru involves a period of fasting, isolation, and celibacy, during which period one ingests one or more of the teaching plants on a daily basis. Tobacco in the form of a potent type of Nicotiana rustica is always present in their traditional medical practices, and it is used for purification, to cleanse the body of negative energies. Sources Groark KP. 2010. The Angel in the Gourd: Ritual, Therapeutic, and Protective Uses of Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) Among the Tzeltal and Tzotzil Maya of Chiapas, Mexico. Journal of Ethnobiology 30(1):5-30.Jauregui X, Clavo ZM, Jovel EM, and Pardo-de-Santayana M. 2011. â€Å"Plantas con madre†: Plants that teach and guide in the shamanic initiation process in the East-Central Peruvian Amazon. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 134(3):739-752.Khan MQ, and Narayan RKJ. 2007. Phylogenetic diversity and relationships among species of genus Nicotiana using RAPDs analysis. African Journal of Biotechnology 6(2):148-162.Leng X, Xiao B, Wang S, Gui Y, Wang Y, Lu X, Xie J, Li Y, and Fan L. 2010. Identification of NBS-Type Resistance Gene Homologs in Tobacco Genome. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter 28(1):152-161.Lewis R, and Nicholson J. 2007. Aspects of the evolution of Nicotiana tabacum L. and the status of the United States Nicotiana Germplasm Collection. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution  54(4):727-740.Mandondo A, German L, Utila H, and Nthenda UM. 2014. Assessing Societal Benefits and Trade-Offs of Tobacco in the Miombo Woodlands of Malawi. Human Ecology 42(1):1-19. Moon HS, Nifong JM, Nicholson JS, Heineman A, Lion K, Hoeven Rvd, Hayes AJ, Lewis RS, and USDA A. 2009. Microsatellite-based Analysis of Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) Genetic Resources. Crop Science 49(6):2149-2159.Roulette CJ, Hagen E, and Hewlett BS. 2016. A biocultural investigation of gender differences in tobacco use in an egalitarian hunter-gatherer population. Human Nature 27(2):105-129.Tushingham S, Ardura D, Eerkens JW, Palazoglu M, Shahbaz S, and Fiehn O. 2013. Hunter-gatherer tobacco smoking: earliest evidence from the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. Journal of Archaeological Science 40(2):1397-1407.Tushingham S, and Eerkens JW. 2016. Hunter-Gatherer Tobacco Smoking in Ancient North America: Current Chemical Evidence and a Framework for Future Studies. In: Anne Bollwerk E, and Tushingham S, editors. Perspectives on the Archaeology of Pipes, Tobacco and other Smoke Plants in the Ancient Americas. Cham: Springer International Publishing. p 211-230.Zagorevski DV, a nd Loughmiller-Newman JA. 2012. The detection of nicotine in a Late Mayan period flask by gas chromatography and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry methods. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 26(4):403-411.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Constraints to the Development of Alternative Energy Essay

Constraints to the Development of Alternative Energy - Essay Example The cause of the problem has already been identified: the increase in the emission of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons. Both the absence and increased volume of greenhouse gases are seen to be detrimental to the environment as less of it might cause negative temperature which disallows the earth to sustain life. On the other hand, increased volume of greenhouse gases is the primary source of global warming. Some greenhouse gases are emitted as a byproduct of some materials with significant use to our everyday life. The example of this is carbon. Energy sources are of paramount importance to our daily life. Since the industrial revolution, we have relied heavily on energy to run our transportation and communication and many other aspects of our needs and wants. For commercial purposes, the use of energy has been significant especially in terms of firms’ profit. It was also â€Å"the process of industrialisation that brought about the conversion of fossil fuels into power, heat and light, thereby releasing within a mere 250 years carbon that had lain dormant underground for millions of years†. â€Å"It is these fossil fuels that are responsible for the vast bulk of carbon output† â€Å"Fossil fuels, the energy of modernization, which constitute about 70 percent of global energy output, now threaten the survival of life on Earth† and people believe that â€Å"the key to survival lies in conserving energy and switching to carbon-free or, at least, low carbon sources†. ... On the other hand, increased volume of greenhouse gases is the primary source of global warming. Some greenhouse gases are emitted as byproduct of some materials with significant use to our everyday life. Example of this is carbon. Energy sources are of paramount importance to our daily life. Since the industrial revolution, we have relied heavily on energy to run our transportation and communication and many other aspects of our needs and wants. For commercial purposes, the use of energy has been significant especially in terms of firms' profit. It was also "the process of industrialization that brought about the conversion of fossil fuels into power, heat and light, thereby releasing within a mere 250 years carbon that had lain dormant underground for millions of years" (Blowers, p.208). "It is these fossil fuels that are responsible for the vast bulk of carbon output" (Blowers, p.210) "Fossil fuels, the energy of modernization, which constitute about 70 per cent of global energy output, now threaten the survival of life on Earth" and people believe that "the key to survival lies in conserving energy and switching to carbon free or, at least, low carbon sources" (Blowers, p.209). Two Approaches The government has two approaches against climate change: mitigation which is prevention of further changes and adaptation which is preparation for the possible effects of climate change. In this paper we would be dealing with the mitigation approach particularly the development of alternative sources of energy. "Mitigation strategies involve the reduction of greenhouse gas sources or the enhancement of sinks. Examples of mitigation strategies include switching from fossil fuels to alternative energy sources, improved energy efficiency and planting trees to

Friday, November 1, 2019

Answer the following question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Answer the following question - Essay Example For this reason, the human action does not entirely rely on genetic transfer but also depends on the external factors that are non-biological in nature (Palmer & Donahoe, 1992). As Skinner asserts, relatively undifferentiated baseline behavior by successive contingencies of reinforcement can shape highly organized and complex behavior. The history of Skinners work contains an integrated and comprehensive experiment to reject an informed conceptualization that offers misleading knowledge about a behavior. He has successfully grasped the variable nature of the intended subject and specified an appropriate methodology woven within the scientific fabric of modern biology (Palmer & Donahoe, 1992). His assertion of operant behavior focuses on the action within the conscious control of the organism, either spontaneously or purposely. In his understanding of behavior, he conducted research using the Skinner box that held a small animal with various keys that an animal would press to obtain a reward. Additionally, he developed a cumulative recorder to establish responsive slope line (Palmer & Donahoe, 1992). Using a rat as the experiment object in a Skinner box, he set the generic nature of the concept of stimulus and response in the analysis of operant

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Questions 11 and 12 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Questions 11 and 12 - Coursework Example A price ceiling is not the equilibrium price. It is dictated by government and is below the equilibrium price. For any price that is below the market-determined price or what is also known as the equilibrium price, the quanity demanded is greater than the quantity supplied. It will then create a shortage. In a free market where government does not intervene, any shortage will result in an increase in price until it reaches market equilibrium. At the equilibrium price, the problem of shortage is eliminated because quantity demanded is equal to quantity supplied. If a price ceiling is imposed by government, the market forces are prevented from moving towards market equilibrium. Rationing coupons insure that consumers with the highest values get limited amount of a good supplied when price ceilings are imposed because the cost of the product is changed to the price in money plus the price in coupons (Schenk, n.d.). The cost of the coupon is equivalent to the ceiling price, which is below equilibrium price. This means that demand for the good or service will increase because of the lower price. However with rationing coupons, the buyers need to pay a higher price because they still need to pay an additional amount on top of the coupon price. This effectively weeds out consumers who cannot afford the additional premium over the coupon price; thus, decreasing quantity demanded and the shortage problem. The consumers who can afford the highest value or premium on top of coupon price will ultimately get the limited amount supplied because the suppliers will prefer to sell to them the good or service. An economic model, the expected utility theory helps both organizations and individuals in making decisions under risk (Thomas-Maurice, 2011). â€Å"The expected utility theory is a theory of decision-making under risk that accounts for a manager’s attitude toward

Monday, October 28, 2019

United States’ Food Supply Safety Essay Example for Free

United States’ Food Supply Safety Essay The food supply of the Unites States is safe from contamination. This is evident through the regular surveillance and other efforts done by the authorities to keep the safety of the nation’s food supply especially from contamination. The safety of the food supplies starts at the farm and not in the grocery stores. According to the article of Sharon Durham in Agricultural Research entitled Food safety in the 21st century: Coordinated Monitoring of Animal Health, in the year 2003, the Agricultural Research Service or ARS as well as two other agencies under the US Department of Agriculture or USDA started a combined effort in protecting the health of the livestock of America as well as ensuring the safety of the food supply (Durham, 1). This research gives way of tracing the critical diseases in food production that involves animals. In addition, it improves general understanding of factors that causes food safety risks such as those in plants and other manufacturing plants. Also, scientific examinations help detect contamination at vital points in food production (Apgar, 1). On the other hand, the National Animal Health Monitoring System or NAHMS performs surveillance that seeks to identify as well as tackle animal health and food safety matters of major concern. Also, the US Customs and Border Protection or CBP and the Food and Drug Administration or FDA initiated new joint efforts in protecting the food supply of the nation. Through the Memorandum of Understanding or MOU signed last December 2003, the Customs agents are now allowed to examine foods that are imported to the United States (FDA Consumer, 1). Furthermore, the CBP and FDA issued a policy guide that tells their strategy in maintaining the continuous flow of food imports while increasing their safety. The policy guide deals with enforcing two regulations. These are first, it require an advance notice to the FDA for shipments of imported foods into the country. Second , it requires a registration with the FDA of local as well as overseas facilities such as manufacturing, processing, packing and holding services for consumption in the United States. These rules aim to boost the security in the supply chain yet it also involves additional cost and difficulty to transporters (Albright, 1). Meanwhile, the government seeks to enhance standards for industries to get extra money for bigger examination to improve the security of government amenities. National agencies such as Food and Drug Administration (FDA), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Defense (DOD), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are working together on bio-security plan. In addition, the EPA makes sure the safety of the water supply even from the terrorist attacks. The agency together with local water utilities performs evaluation of susceptibilities, to stiffen security within the vicinity of the facilities, to improve emergency response plans whenever attacks occur (Chapman, 1). Anyway, the food industry has been working vigorously also in ensuring the safety of the food supplies. There are several associations that participated in the Alliance for Food Security. They conduct meetings together with government agencies directing food security concern. The industry is sharing methods that a lot of companies are getting to improve their security, to full background checks on employees especially the new ones, and to limit the employees who have access to main zone of the facilities. Some members of the industry have worked strongly with the aforesaid government agencies to address queries concerning food. The FDA has the direct liability for guaranteeing the safety of the food products while CDC leads in conducting disease surveillance. They keep an eye on the occurrence of sickness in the US that is attributable to the supply of food. Moreover, programs such as the annual Food Safety Summit and Expo that is sponsored by National Food Processors Association and the National Restaurant Association help the tighten the security of the entire nation’s food network. Strategies to prevent intentional as well as unintentional food contamination are being laid out during this annual activity (Prewitt, 1). The food industry, itself, has its own programs in keeping the safety of the food supply and this id done in cooperation with the different companies. For instance is the Supplier Audits for Food Excellence or SAFE Program which is initiated through the assistance of more than two-dozen member companies (Johnston, 1). Further, the technological advancements today are a big help when it comes to ensuring the safety of the country’s food supply. The flourishing field of genetic engineering has started changing the daily American diet. Biotechnology has provided us with progress like foods with improved nutritional content and this time, FDA is controlling new food products to ensure their safety. References: Durham Sharon. â€Å"Food safety in the 21st century: coordinated monitoring of animal health†. Agricultural Research. October 2006. Available: http://www. findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m3741/is_10_54/ai_n16807530, http://www. findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m3741/is_10_54/ai_n16807530/pg_2. March 2, 2007. â€Å"Agencies team up to protect food supply U. S. Customs and Border Protection†. FDA Consumer. March-April 2004. Available: http://www. findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m1370/is_2_38/ai_114242021. March 2, 2007. Albright, Brian. â€Å"New cargo security regulations: present challenges to shippers, carriers: advance manifest and food safety rules could increase safety—and cost—of cross-border shipments Supply Chain Management†. Frontline Solutions. February 2004. Available: http://www. findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m0DIS/is_2_5/ai_113907155, http://www. findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m0DIS/is_2_5/ai_113907155/pg_2. March 2, 2007. Chapman, Nancy. â€Å"Industry secures food supply†. Prepared Foods. January 2002. Available: http://www. findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m3289/is_1_171/ai_81861689. March 2, 2007. Apgar, Toni. â€Å"A call to action-food poisoning and food supply safety†. Vegetarian Times. November 1996. Available: http://www. findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m0820/is_n231/ai_18810447. March 2, 2007. Prewitt, Mildred. â€Å"Safety summit: Securing U. S. food supply an uphill battle; Contamination and bioterror hot topics Food Safety Summit and Expo Legal Beat†. Nation’s Restaurant News. March 25, 2002. Available: http://www. findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_12_36/ai_84237780, http://www. findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_12_36/ai_84237780/pg_2. March 2, 2007. Johnston, Kelly. â€Å"Safety with a good bottom line Formulation Ingredient Challenges Food safety†. Prepared Foods. March 2002. Available: http://www. findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m3289/is_3_171/ai_83744775. March 2, 2007 Young, Frank E. â€Å"Safety first: protecting Americas food supply FDAs Year of Foods†. FDA Consumer. July-August 1988. Available: http://www. findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m1370/is_n6_v22/ai_6589510, http://www. findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m1370/is_n6_v22/ai_6589510/pg_2. March 2, 2007

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Puck and Bottom in A Midsummer Nights Dream Essay -- Midsummer Night

Puck and Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream      Ã‚  Ã‚   When James Joyce was a teenager, a friend asked him if he had ever been in love. He answered, "How would I write the most perfect love songs of our time if I were in love - A poet must always write about a past or a future emotion, never about a present one - A poet's job is to write tragedies, not to be an actor in one" (Ellman 62). I mention this because - after replacing the word "comedy" for "tragedy" and allowing a little latitude on the meaning of the word "actor" - Joyce is subconsciously giving A Midsummer Night's Dream's argument about the role of the artist. That is to say, an artist must be removed from the action, or, at least, not prone to normal temptations. This emotional distance gives the artist the type of perspective that Theseus likens to a madman's. It also, however, gives the artist a vantage point from which he can give the other characters' experiences meaning. Therefore, I will argue that, in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare se es the artist as someone who is removed from the play's main action, but gives meaning to the play's experience (for both the audience and the other characters). I will show this by examining the roles of the two counterpart artists: Bottom (who supercedes Peter Quince as Every Mother's Son's artist), and Puck (whose art is changing people's hearts and minds). My first four paragraphs show how Shakespeare uses Puck and Bottom allegorically to represent two different components of the artistic mind. Secondly, I show how Shakespeare leaves them emotionally distant from the main action of the play. Lastly, I will show how they end up interpreting the play, thereby, giving it meaning.    It is im... ...speare's Festive Comedy: A Study of Dramatic Form and Its Relation to Social Custom. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1972. Bonazza, Blaze O. Shakespeare's Early Comedies: A Structural Analysis*. The Hague: Mouton, 1966. Briggs, Katharine M. The Anatomy of Puck. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1959. Frye, Northrop. "Characterization in Shakespeare's Comedy," Shakespeare Quarterly: Vol.IV (1953), pp.271-277. Nevo, Ruth. Comic Transformations in Shakespeare. New York: Routledge, Chapman & Hall, 1981. Palmer, John. Comic Characters of Shakespeare. London: Macmillan, 1946. Rhoades, Duane. Shakespeare's Defense of Poetry: "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "The Tempest". Westport, CT: Greenwood Press,1986. Young, David. Something of Great Constancy: The Art of "A Midsummer Night's Dream". New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1966.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Five Sociological terms and concepts Essay

The purpose of this paper is to talk about the five sociological terms, concepts or theories that I feel have impacted my understanding of the social world. These terms, concepts and theories include the social construction of reality, sociological perspective, observational research, operational definition and debunking. I will define each concept and then briefly explain how the concept helped me understand the process by which reality is socially constructed. The first concept that impacted my understanding of the social world is the social construction of reality. The social construction of reality is our perception of reality is built for us by other people. It isn’t determined by other people but it is heavily influenced by other people. Things that influence our social construction of reality could be our parents, friends, neighborhoods we lived in, schools we attended and everybody and everything we came in contact throughout our lives. The social construction of reali ty helped me better understand how reality is socially constructed because it showed me how other people can influence an individual and shaped them into the person they are. The second concept that impacted my understanding of the social world is the sociological perspective. A perspective is the way to see the world. There are many different perspectives that include anything from The Historical Perspective to The Psychological Perspective. Specifically, The Sociological Perspective states that the world doesn’t consist of a reality that everyone sees in the exact same way. Everyone views situations from different angles. With The Sociological Perspective, it doesn’t matter who is right and who is wrong. The Sociological Perspective is only concerned with whether they are seeing the big picture. The Sociological Perspective exists so that we can view social reality from as many perspectives as possible instead of looking at it from your own. The Sociological Perspective helped me better understand how reality is socially constructed because now I actively use it look at situations, I now try to view situations from other peoples perspectiv es. The third concept that impacted my understanding of the social world is observational research. Observational Research is a tool that sociologists  use to gather data on certain subjects and theories. First there is Participant Observation. Participant Observation is the observation on a subject that is done personally the researcher. The second type is Naturalistic Observation. Naturalistic Observation is the observation of subjects in their natural environment usually without the knowledge of the subjects in order to get more accurate data. Observational Research helped me better understand how reality is socially constructed by producing data that opens our minds in the social world. The forth term that impacted my understanding of the social world is Operational Definition. Operational Definition is a definition that can be measured. Operational Definitions specify definitions as much as possible. It can be measured in many different ways, whether it be numerical or just a more specific definition of a word. Operational Definition helped me better understand how society is socially constructed by giving a more descriptive definition of different word that would otherwise would not have been measured. The fifth and final concept that impacted my understanding of the social world is Debunking. Debunking is one of Peter Berger’s motifs for sociological consciousness. Debunking is the examining of social beliefs to see if they’re supported by empirical evidence. It’s used to look beyond the facts and refers to looking at the behind-the-scenes patterns and processes that shape the behavior observed in the social world. Debunking helped me better understand how society is socially constructed by proving that things aren’t always what they look like until you look past the surface and see the things that shape our behavior in the social world. This paper’s purpose was to talk about the five sociological terms, concepts or theories that I feel have impacted my understanding of the social world. The paper included social construction of reality, sociological perspective, observational research, operational definition and debunking, all of which impacted my understanding of how society is socially constructed.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

How does Thomas Hardy create and maintain Essay

How does Thomas Hardy create and maintain a sense of mystery and malignant, uncontrollable forces in â€Å"The withered arm† Thomas Hardy creates and maintains mystery and malignant, underlying forces by using symbolic descriptions of the setting, the atmosphere and the strange unguessable plot. Thomas Hardy sets the story in the fictional village of Holmstoke. Holm means home and stoke means fire. This gives two impressions, one of a nice cosy warm story, but it also gives the impression that fire is also connected with bad things like Hell and witchcraft. This makes you start to wonder what the story will be like. Thomas Hardy uses natural settings to contrast with unnatural events or behaviour. The heath is used a lot because of this. He also uses the heath because it helps create atmosphere and because it is outside he also uses the weather to reflect the characters mood. An example of this is when Rhoda and Gertrude cross the heath to see Conjuror Trendle and Rhoda does not want to and â€Å"would have done anything to escape this enquiry†, the weather and the atmosphere reflect her dread of what will happen. â€Å"The thick clouds made the atmosphere dark† and it was only early after noon and â€Å"the wind howled dismally†. Hardy also uses the weather to help him describe the changing of time like at the beginning of a paragraph. All the gossip was going on in â€Å"winter† and by the end of the paragraph it’s â€Å"in the spring† I think Hardy also uses the changing of the seasons as a sort of metaphor to symbolize the changing of the characters. An example is when Gertrude changes from a very beautiful, perfect, kind and caring girl to a scarred â€Å"irritable superstitious woman†. Hardy also has such large gap in time so the changes in Gertrude are more noticeable. Thomas Hardy also uses characters to help him create mystery and underlying forces especially Rhoda Brook. Rhoda is an outsider and she lives out of the village by herself with her son. She’s a little weird because she never mixes with people. People don’t really mix with her because of her sleeping with Lodge and having a baby. People think she is a witch. I think this is because people associate her with Trendle. When Gertrude needed to find Trendle the villagers told her to ask Rhoda and she realized that they thought â€Å"a sorceress would know the whereabouts of the exorcist†. But the mystery really begins when she has her vision and next day Gertrude shows her the mark from the vision which is on her arm. The vision is an important part of the story as it is the start of everything and caused everything. Rhoda can not control what is happening to so it helps maintain the uncontrollable forces which are all through this book. Thomas Hardy uses Conjuror Trendle a lot to help create mystery and uncontrollable forces. Just the fact that conjuror Trendle lives on the heath starts to make the reader feel a sense of mystery because the heath represents the weirdness or the story. Trendle also helps create mystery by doing magic in secret and not openly â€Å"He did not profess his remedial practises openly† and it also helps that he was in disguise. He was disguised as a dealer in furze , turf sharp sand and other local products†. He had to be disguised because people in that time were very superstitious. I think Thomas Hardy uses Gertrude to help create a sense of uncontrollable forces, this is because things are happening to her mentally and physically which she has no control over. Also because the things that are happening to her are unexplainable, it helps create and maintain malignant uncontrollable forces. Hardy illustrates this physically when her incredible beauty is which is described as â€Å"the light under a heap of rose petals† becomes ruined and scarred by her withered arm; and mentally when she turns from a very nice person to an â€Å"irritable, superstitious woman† Farmer Lodge is not in the story much but none the less is a very important character, because he is the main reason the whole story happens. He is the center of the love triangle of him Rhoda and Gertrude which is why everything happens. As we don’t see him much in the story this makes him more important as it helps add to the mystery. Hardy uses imagery to help the reader mentally see what’s happening and also to symbolise things. An example of this at the beginning of the booking â€Å"the lorn milkmaid† Hardy paint us the picture of a lot of milkmaids all sitting together gossiping. This gives the impression that the village is quite a close knit place and that one Rhoda Brooke is all by herself on the side not joining in this gossiping. This gives the impression that she is a sort of outsider which no one wants to be friends with which adds to the mystery. A very important image in the story is the withered arm. It creates mystery because the reader will wonder how it happened and malignant uncontrollable forces because the reader will wonder if Rhoda really is a witch. The main themes of the story are witch craft and passion. The passion is in the love triangle between Farmer Lodge, Gertrude and Rhoda. The witch craft is in the vision Rhoda sees and the physical and mental change in Gertrude. Passion and witch craft are the uncontrollable forces in the withered arm. I think one of the things Hardy is trying to say in this book is that life can’t always be explained. Thomas Hardy uses many different languages effects. He uses similes and metaphors, to describe Gertrude â€Å"her face as comely as a live doll’s† and her face â€Å"like the light under a heap of rose petals†. Hardy also uses extended imagery when he uses the river outside the executioner’s house to link him to the village, â€Å"it stood close to the same stream†. He also uses personification in describing the river â€Å"the waters of which emitted a steady roar†. Thomas Hardy shows us which characters are â€Å"common† and which aren’t by having the â€Å"common† ones use dialect. The only person not to use dialect is Gertrude. Another important factor in creating and maintaining a sense of mystery and malignant uncontrollable forces was the plot. The vision coming true and Rhoda beginning to doubt herself really draws the reader in to the story. I think it was a very effective ending giving no clear answers like yes, Rhoda was a witch or not or no, it was all a coincidence and leaving it up to the reader. That really helps maintain mystery In conclusion I think that by using the characters, settings and a strange plot, Thomas Hardy successfully creates and maintains mystery and malignant forces in the withered arm.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Michel Foucault Biography and Intellectual History

Michel Foucault Biography and Intellectual History Michel Foucault (1926-1984) was a French social theorist, philosopher, historian, and public intellectual who was politically and intellectually active until his death. He is remembered for his method of using historical research to illuminate changes in discourse over time, and the evolving relationships between discourse, knowledge, institutions, and power. Foucault’s work inspired sociologists in subfields including sociology of knowledge; gender, sexuality and queer theory; critical theory;  Ã‚  deviance and crime; and the sociology of education. His most well-known works include Discipline and Punish, The History of Sexuality, and The Archaeology of Knowledge. Early Life Paul-Michel Foucault was born to an upper-middle-class family in Poitiers, France in 1926. His father was a surgeon, and his mother, the daughter of a surgeon. Foucault attended Lycà ©e Henri-IV, one of the most competitive and demanding high schools in Paris. He recounted later in life a troubled relationship with his father, who bullied him for being â€Å"delinquent.† In 1948 he attempted suicide for the first time and was placed in a psychiatric hospital for a period. Both of these experiences seem tied to his homosexuality, as his psychiatrist believed his suicide attempt was motivated by his marginalized status in society. Both also seem to have shaped his intellectual development and focus on the discursive framing of deviance, sexuality, and madness. Intellectual and Political Development Following high school Foucault was admitted in 1946 to the École Normale Supà ©rieure (ENS), an elite secondary school in Paris founded to train and create French intellectual, political, and scientific leaders. Foucault studied with Jean Hyppolite, an existentialist expert on Hegel and Marx who firmly believed that philosophy should be developed through a study of history; and, with Louis Althusser, whose structuralist theory left a strong mark on sociology and was greatly influential to Foucault. At ENS Foucault read widely in philosophy, studying the works of Hegel, Marx, Kant, Husserl, Heidegger, and Gaston Bachelard. Althusser, steeped in the Marxist intellectual and political traditions, convinced his student to join the French Communist Party, but Foucaults experience of homophobia and incidences of anti-semitism within it turned him off. Foucault also rejected the class-centric focus of Marx’s theory, and never identified as a Marxist. He completed his studies at the ENS in 1951 and then began a doctorate in the philosophy of psychology. For the next several years he taught university courses in psychology while studying the works of Pavlov, Piaget, Jaspers, and Freud; and, he studied relationships between doctors and patients at Hà ´pital Sainte-Anne, where he had been a patient after his 1948 suicide attempt. During this time Foucault also read widely outside of psychology into shared interests with his long-term partner, Daniel Defert, which included works by Nietzsche, Marquis de Sade, Dostoyevsky, Kafka, and Genet. Following his first university post, he worked as a cultural diplomat at universities in Sweden and Poland while completing his doctoral thesis. Foucault completed his thesis, titled â€Å"Madness and Insanity: History of Madness in the Classical Age,† in 1961. Drawing on the work of Durkheim and Margaret Mead, in addition to all of those listed above, he argued that madness was a social construct that originated in medical institutions, that it was distinct from true mental illness, and a tool of social control and power. Published in abridged form as his first book of note in 1964, Madness and Civilization is considered a work of structuralism, strongly influenced by his teacher at ENS, Louis Althusser. This, along with his next two books, The Birth of the Clinic and The Order of Things showcase his historiographical method known as â€Å"archaeology,† which he also used in his later books, The Archaeology of Knowledge, Discipline and Punish and The History of Sexuality. From the 1960s on Foucault held a variety of lectureships and professorships at universities around the world, including the University of California-Berkeley, New York University, and the University of Vermont. During these decades Foucault became known as an engaged public intellectual and activist on behalf of social justice issues, including racism, human rights, and prison reform. He was very popular with his students, and his lectures given after his induction into the Collà ¨ge de France were considered highlights of intellectual life in Paris, and always packed. Intellectual Legacy Foucaults key intellectual contribution was  his deft ability to illustrate that institutionslike science, medicine, and the penal systemthrough the use of discourse, create subject categories for people to inhabit, and turn people into objects of scrutiny and of knowledge. Thus, he argued, those who control institutions and their discourses wield power in society, because they shape the trajectories and outcomes of peoples lives. Foucault also demonstrated in his work that the creation of subject and object categories is premised on hierarchies of power among people, and in turn, hierarchies of knowledge, whereby the knowledge of the powerful is considered legitimate and right, and that of the less powerful is considered invalid and wrong. Importantly, though, he emphasized that power is not held by individuals, but that it courses  through society, lives in institutions, and is accessible to those who control institutions and the creation of knowledge. He thus considered knowledge and power inseparable, and denoted them as one concept, knowledge/power. Foucault is one of the most widely read and frequently cited scholars in the world.