Substance Abuse And Its Effects Essay - 2001 Words

Substance abuse has long been a major problem in our society, with estimations reaching as high as 250 million people worldwide that have used the illicit drug at least once in 2014, and causing more than two hundred thousand drug-related deaths each year (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2016; hereafter UNODC). However, it is not just forbidden substances that are a major cause of harms to individuals but also commonly used recreational drugs, such as alcohol and tobacco products that account for millions of deaths each year. These statistics and particularly the contribution of legal drugs to an overall ‘drug epidemic’ have caused an increasing concern in the validity of current drug classification system. For instance, Nutt, King and Phillips (2010) have recently questioned the accuracy of the present UK classification system under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (MDA) owing to a lack of specificity and transparency of classification processes, and have proposed a new rationale for drug harm estimation. The most controversy was caused by their alcohol ranking as the most harmful substance. In this essay, report on harmful drugs by Nutt et al. (2010) will be briefly introduced. Then, the controversies and criticisms that followed their findings will be presented. Finally, the critical evaluation of both arguments will follow with concluding notes on the implications of Nutt et al. findings for the UK drug classification system. Nutt and colleagues (2010) aimed withShow MoreRelatedSubstance Abuse And Its Effects1707 Words   |  7 PagesAccording to Dictionary.com, substance abuse is defined as a â€Å"long-term, pathological use of alcohol or drugs, characterized by daily intoxication, inability to reduce consumption, and impairment in social or occupational functioning; broadly, alcohol or drug addiction (dictionary.com).† Substance use can include anything from alcohol to any variety of drugs, prescription or illicit. Responsib le alcohol use is considered being no more than 3 drinks for a woman and no more than 5 for a man in aRead MoreSubstance Abuse And Its Effects1575 Words   |  7 PagesSUBSTANCE ABUSE Researchers state that almost half of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia in the United States also self-medicate with alcohol and other drugs (Elements Behavioral Health, 2014). This is suggested due to individuals attempting to lessen the symptoms of their disorder. As discussed previously symptoms can include hearing and seeing things that others don’t hear or see, problems falling asleep or staying asleep and problems with concentration and memory. In an effort to lessenRead MoreThe Effects Of Substance Abuse1111 Words   |  5 PagesOpiate abuse in the United States is an epidemic. It is argued whether addiction is being handled correctly, and if the amount of resources for combating addiction should be increased. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, â€Å"The number of past-year heroin users in the United States nearly doubled between 2005 and 2012, from 380,000 to 670,000† (2014). This nation-wide increase of heroin abusers leads to another i ssue: how to treat them. One method of treatment is giving them another medicationRead MoreSubstance Abuse And Its Effects On Society1285 Words   |  6 PagesSubstance abuse has existed since the start of civilization and it is an ever present entity in the modern era as well. Distilled beverages were the main drinking source in many cases even safer to drink than water in early civilizations, for instance during the Middle Ages. Many substances were also used in medicine derived from certain plants for anesthetics such as opioids from poppy seeds. In addition, nicotine and tobacco products and other hallucinogenic substances were used for recreationalRead MoreThe Effects Of Substance Abuse On Children1364 Words   |  6 Pagesare 50% more likely to abuse substances (Promises Treatment Center). Bullying is the act of physical or verbal tormenting over a set amount of time, usually targeted at one person or a group of people. Bullying is an international issue that ruins the victi m s emotional well-being. Those who are victims of bullying can turn to drugs or other substances as a form of coping; people who bully can be shown to have abusive tendencies with these substances as well. Substance abuse is defined as being dependentRead MoreThe Effects Of Substance Abuse On Children1443 Words   |  6 Pagessubstance it can lead to impairment or distress in many different ways such as, â€Å"recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home, recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous, recurrent substance-related legal problems, continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of the substance† (Susic, 2007). According to the Foster CareRead MoreSubstance Abuse And Its Effects On Society Essay1579 Words   |  7 PagesAmerica’s silent killer, substance abuse. Substance abuse affec ts the user and everyone that they are around and most of the time the user doesn’t even realize nor care that it affects other people because they are consumed by the substances. These substances have the power to dramatically change people’s lives, such as the physical toll it takes on our body, the ways in which it corrupts our metal process, and the detrimental effects it has on our social lives. Most substances that are used in our societyRead MoreThe Effects Of Substance Abuse On The Community844 Words   |  4 Pageseven some adults tend to try and find a short term fix to a long term problem. leading many students to substance use. Many of them use drugs and alcohol to help distance themselves from the stress they are faced with. A community with a large number of substance abusers is almost guaranteed to come with more violence, theft, and even gang activity compared to a community where substance abuse is low. Having students stay away from drugs will greatly lower the violence and theft in the communityRead MoreSubstance Abuse And Its Effect On Education1348 Words   |  6 PagesSubstance Abuse and its Effect on Education Drug abuse is a serious public health problem that affects almost every community and family in some way. Each year drug abuse causes millions of serious illnesses or injuries among Americans. A study done in John Hopkins University School of Medicine, found that individuals who are unemployed have higher rates of substance abuse than those who are regularly employed. Five hundred and fifty nine participants, who were unemployed, at least eighteen yearsRead MoreThe Effects Of Substance Abuse On Adolescents1651 Words   |  7 Pagesthis time, there can be a lot of room for error or misjudgements. One very common bad decision is substance use and abuse. Although drug and alcohol use is common and many users don’t develop a dependence on the substances, the adolescents who end up developing the disorders of substance abuse and dependence make substance use a major public health concern (Sanchez-Samper, Knight, p. 83). Substance abuse can lead to many developmental problems in ad olescents. Problems experienced by adolescents who

Essay on Research on Legalizing Marijuana - 1492 Words

Legalize It Lobdell 1 Legalize It Legalizing Marijuana has been a controversial and extremely volatile topic ever since the 1970’s. Many people hold strong beliefs regarding this topic and the subsequent laws that have been passed in certain states for the use of the recreational drug. However, marijuana is not just a recreational drug, but has many different wonderful medical purposes for the American people. Marijuana should be legalized for recreational and medical purposes throughout this country. This â€Å"drug† should be legalized throughout this country because unlike many of the legal substances that the United States provides, no one has died or been hospitalized for the use of marijuana. Additionally, marijuana would be an amazing†¦show more content†¦But some dismiss this fact because individuals believe that the United States would need somewhere between â€Å"†¦ 4 to 10 times more cannabis than it needs to cover domestic consumption.†(CQ Researcher 530) Even with a high demand of consumptions the United States government would be able to regulate and tax the marijuana accordingly to help stimulate the economy. â€Å"If you made it licit, and taxed it, the price would collapse.† (CQ Researcher 530) Stating that it would be harder to sell on the streets making the product more of a pharmaceutical drug instead of a street drug. In 2005 cigarette smoking had declined drastically, â€Å"†¦378 billion cigarettes sold in the United S tates was the lowest number since 1951, when the nations population was about half its present size.†(CQ Researcher 530) Marijuana was not only more safe than the effects and harm of alcohol but also it is more safe than the effect of tobacco as well. Although marijuana has its perks, it is still a drug and can very well have its down sides. â€Å"Long term marijuana use can be addictive for some people† (CQ Researcher 531). For those people who smoke marijuana 27 out of 30 days, critical skills related to attention, memory, and learning were significantly impaired, even after they had not used the drug for at least 24 hours. But although these side effects will happen, they will however not kill you, unlike the effects of alcohol andShow MoreRelatedReasons for Legalizing Marijuana841 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Reasons for Legalizing Marijuana Abstract Marijuana can be used by the public for many purposes. Medicine is an important part of our lives and marijuana has been tested to cure cancerous cells as well as help people with their epilepsy. Using marijuana for medical purposes is one major aspect that people should take into consideration for legalizing it. Marijuana’s market has also been brought to many people’s attention because it has been poised to grow faster thanRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1269 Words   |  6 PagesAbu Matar 1 Mahmoud Abu Matar English Composition 2 Research Paper 14 April 2015 Legalizing Marijuana Marijuana is most commercialized drug in the world, so why not just legalize it? Although there are legal restraints against marijuana, 1 in 3 Americans have tried it, out of curiosity at least once. Multiple studies have proven that, marijuana is psychologically and physically healing. Medical marijuana should be legalized for its beneficial advantages, such as, treating or preventing health conditionsRead MoreLegalizing Marijuana For Recreational Use926 Words   |  4 PagesLegalizing Marijuana in Texas for Recreational Use The well known debate over the legalization of marijuana for recreational use in The United States has been ongoing since 1935. Recently Colorado and Washington have legalized the use of marijuana for recreational use. By doing so, the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana has become more of an issue than it already was and now brings other states to question whether or not they should legalize marijuana (Breecher). Which brings aboutRead MoreMarijuana Decriminalization and Legalization636 Words   |  3 PagesThe validity of marijuana decriminalization (and even legalization) is illustrated in the following analysis of the social, fiscal, political, and medical attributes and conceptions associated with the drug. Marijuana has been used for thousands of years, in 2008; archeologists discovered over two pounds of cannabis in a 2,700-year-old grave of a shaman found in Central Asia. (Armentano, 1) Should marijuana be legalized or at least decriminalized in America? The f ollowing information may give theRead MoreThe Legalization Of Recreational And Medical Use Of Marijuana1237 Words   |  5 PagesThe legalization of recreational and medical use of marijuana is still a controversial social issue faced by the United States. Although marijuana was seen as a dangerous drug back in the 1900’s, research has revealed the truth about marijuana, making the drug less frightening towards Americans. Now in the year 2015, marijuana is generally more accepted by Americans and many more see marijuana in a positive manner. Although marijuana does have some negative side effects, the side effects are notRead MoreThe Legalization Of Marijuana Should Not Be Beneficial1240 Words   |  5 PagesThe legalization of marijuana is such a growing debate in the United States, whether it’s on television, in the classroom, or in your own kitchen; you may find yourself debating about it with someone. You are either for it, against it, or indifferent. Either way you still have an opinion of some sort about the legalization of marijuana. Christopher Beach and William Bennett are no different. The release of their article on called â€Å"Legalize Juggernaut† on WeeklyStandard.com timing is perfect sinceRead MoreThe Legalization of Marijuana Essay868 Words   |  4 Pagescontroversial topics in the news today is the legalization of marijuana. Supporters believe that the drug is not harmful and can have numerous benefits. However, opponents argue that marijuana can lead to addiction and other more dangerous drugs. In the end, marijuana should be legal based on economic, medicinal, and philosophical factors. First, the legalization of marijuana would have a tremendous economic impact. Since â€Å"marijuana is thought to be the second most profitable cash crop in theRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1714 Words   |  7 PagesApril 2016 Drugs in the United States There has been controversy centered around the thought of legalizing drugs in the U.S and the effects of legalizing or not legalizing drugs. There are several drugs such as cocaine, heroin, opium, to name a few, with the most common being marijuana. The question raised on this topic is whether we should prohibit drug use, making it illegal or only allow marijuana to be legal. Discussions on this topic mention that drugs will be available in the market despiteRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay1474 Words   |  6 PagesMarijuana has always been a big deal in society, ever since it has become known as a street drug. In the current year of 2016, not only citizens abuse marijuana, Celebrities, professional athletes, and college students all abuse the substance for its benefits. We are becoming more aware how recently this year that marijuana has been legalized in ten countries and twenty five states in the United States of America. That is one half of our country that is able to use this substance. By legalizing marijuanaRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?924 Words   |  4 PagesMarijuana is contervisol topic all around the world, some countries like Amsterdam and states in the United States have legalized marijuana, and this has put preasure onto other countries to legalize. Marijuana is also referred as weed, herb, and pot and is derived from a plant called cannabis sativa, also known as hemp plant. The cannabis plant produces THC, which stands for tetrahydrocannabinol, and there are over 85+ individual cannabinoids, which are found in marijuana, but THC is responsible

Storytelling in Homer’s Odyssey Free Essays

Tall Tales Things need not have happened to be true. Tales and adventures are the shadow truths that will endure when mere facts are dust and ashes and forgotten. –Neil Gaiman The escapades of wily Odysseus are ingrained into the hearts of countless children. We will write a custom essay sample on Storytelling in Homer’s Odyssey or any similar topic only for you Order Now The bedtime story of one man’s journey home and the obstacles he faces along the way forever lives on in youthful imagination. Alas, a problem arises when mythology-loving children grow up. Vocabulary and comprehension matures slowly over time, and, at some point, the youth is ready to delve into the feast that is Homer’s unabridged poetry. As the reader devours book after book of The Odyssey, he or she finds comforting familiarity in the stories, the characters, and the monsters, but something is not quite right. While hearing of Odysseus’ adventures as a child, the action was spoken from the steady voice of a omnipresent narrator, but in Homer’s work, the poet often speaks through Odysseus as a storyteller recounting his glorious past. This is when the disillusioned youth comes to a devastating conclusion: Odysseus is a liar.Homer distances himself as the poet from the more fantastic tales that the reader recognizes from youth: the Lotus eaters, the Laestrygonians, the Cyclops, Scylla and Charybdis, Circe, Aeolus and the winds. All these wondrous tales are told from the deceitful, crafty mouth of Odysseus. To the Phaeacians, he is a illustrious adventurer ready for derring-do at all times. To the knowing Athena, he claims to be a Cretan fugitive. And to Eumaeus and Telemachus, he in all his craftiness asserts that he is (while still a Cretan) a beggar who fought alongside the great Odysseus on the Trojan shore.Odysseus adopts these facades for different motives, but the response to his stories are unanimously positive. Through his stories, Odysseus does not sacrifice his integrity, rather he gains honor. When the eager reader reaches Book IX, he or she reaches some of the most familiar events in Homer’s lore. Homer, through Odysseus’ account to the Phaecians, crafts some of the most thrilling action in the poem. Daring escapes, clever plans, and terrifying beasts are woven into a tapestry of wonder and enchantment. Yet for the great storyteller that he is, Odysseus s hesitant to relate his tale. â€Å"But now you wish to know my cause for sorrow / and thereby give me cause for more† (Homer 158). As exaggerated as the following account is, Odysseus seems to be truthful about his grief. Whether or not his men perished as he claims is not certain, but death was the end to their stories nonetheless. Odysseus honors the memory of these men by spinning a yarn so great that his men become immortal in his story. This does not, however, mean that he wishes to present his shipmates as faultless.He freely lays blame on the crew for releasing King Aeolus’ winds. By doing this, Odysseus proves his skill as a raconteur by showing man’s greedy nature and the consequences that are a result. Odysseus’ goal is not to raise himself up as the greatest of heroes either. He freely admits to his follies and to the deaths that heavy his heart with guilt. Odysseus confesses to his own human weaknesses saying, â€Å"Now, being a man, I could not help consenting† (189), when tempted by Circe to forgo his return home to Ithaca, putting his men in danger in the process.He even tells how one of his men, Eurylochus, blamed Odysseus for the death of his shipmates at the hands of the Cyclops, â€Å"That daring man! They died for his foolishness! † (190). He willingly admits to being overpowered by lust in the case of Circe, but he also tells of his tactical genius concerning the Sirens. Odysseus’ story is not a matter of boastfulness, rather a matter of honor, his own and that of his fallen comrades. Clearly, the Phaecians are satisfied with the narrative, â€Å"He ended it, and no one stirred or sighed / in the shadowy hall, spellbound as they all wereâ₠¬  (241). So impressed by the story and empathetic to Odysseus’ losses, in fact, that King Alcinous almost immediately loads his ship and has a Phaecian crew sail him back to Ithaca. The Phaecians are so entertained and enamored by Odysseus’ eloquence that they believe any word that flows from his lips, no matter how ludicrous. Odysseus does not set out to deceive his hosts, quite the opposite. When King Alcinous asks him to relate his travels, he does not want facts, he wants a story. After incurring the wrath of Poseidon one last time, Odysseus awakens on an Ithaca that he does not recognize thanks to Athena’s deviousness.When confront by the goddess in disguise, Odysseus â€Å".. . answered her / with read speech–not that he told the truth, / but, just as she did, held back what he knew, / weighing within himself at every step / what he made up to serve his turn† (250). After claiming to be a Cretan fleeing his homeland after murdering a courier, Athena reveals herself to her favorite Odysseus. Then, surprisingly, she does not chastise him for lying, instead she praises him for his gift of deception, â€Å"Whoever gets around you must be sharp / and guileful as a snake; even a god / might bow to you in ways of dissimulation. You! You chameleon! † (251). Athena is not condoning Odysseus deceit, she is commending him. This prioritization of wit and cleverness over straight honesty is harder for modern readers to fully grasp than it would have been for the Greeks hearing the lovely recitation. Using the guise of a Cretan once more (fittingly because as the famous Cretan Epimenides once said, â€Å"All Cretans are liars,†) Odysseus tests the swineherd’s, Eumaeus’, loyalty and hospitality.Odysseus hints that Eumaeus’ master may be closer than he expects (263). In direct contrast to the Phaecians response, Eumaeus does not let himself believe the words of the stranger, how ever silver-tongued he may be. Eumaeus responds to the hidden Odysseus’ message of hope with pessimism concerning lonely Penelope, old Laertes, and absent Telemachus. In the manner of Greek hospitality, Odysseus and Eumaeus share a meal, wine, and stories, and while Eumaeus’ origin may not be as mythic as Odysseus, who is to say it is factual?His background is shared gracefully enough that even the esteemed Odysseus complements Eumaeus’ skill, â€Å"That was a fine story, and well told, / not a word out of place, not a pointless word† (275). When Tele machus returns, Odysseus carries on his charade. In the guise of a old beggar, Odysseus tests Telemachus’ valor saying, â€Å"If my heart were as young as yours, if I were / son to Odysseus, or the man himself, / I’d rather have my head cut from my shoulders / then to suffer the pestilence that is the suitors† (304). In rebuttal to this harsh insult, Telemachus explains that Odysseus left him too young to prevent the suitors from swarming to Penelope. It is then that Athena deems it time to reveal Odysseus’ true form. This revelation and reunion is not only touching, but it also fills Telemachus with a pride and hunger to face the suitors. Odysseus disguised himself on Ithaca for almost four days before enacting revenge on the suitors who dishonor his home. Why would he wait so long? Why not burst through the doors right away and start cutting down men one by one?Odysseus never claims to be the strongest, the boldest, or even the bravest, but everyone knows that Odysseus is the wiliest. It is Odysseus, the master tactician and master of disguise, not a rage-filled berserker that reclaims his throne. It is safe to assume that Odysseus’ stories are not factual, but that in no way justifies the statement, â€Å"Odysseus is a liar. † His purpose in the story to the Phaecians is not to recount his travels verbatim, rather he only wishes to convey the bravery of his men and the sadness in his heart. By the end of his tale, the hall is silent with grief.His reason for acting as a Cretan outlaw is not treachery, but an exercise in his great skill. He hides himself to his friends and family not out of malice, but so his intellectual stratagem banishes the suitors to Hades, not brute strength. Odysseus’s slyness and wit are to be admired, not admonished. When he announces his identity to the Phaecians, he does not cite his brute strength or skill in warfare as his gifts. He exclaims proudly, â€Å"I am Laertes’ son, Odysseus / Men hold me formidable for guile in peace and war: / this fame has gone abroad to the sky’s rim† (158). While heroes such as Achilles and Heracles establish their place in legend and eternity among Elysian fields with force and passion, Odysseus forever immortalized himself in the epics of the Ancients and the storybooks of children because of he is a â€Å"man of twists and turns† who knows how to tell a good story.Works Cited Gaiman, Neil. The Sandman Vol. 3: Dream Country. New York, New York: DC Comics, 1991. Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fitzgerald. Garden City, New York: Doubleday ; Company, 1992. How to cite Storytelling in Homer’s Odyssey, Papers

Peer Review Worksheet free essay sample

Read the essay completely once. Then, read it again taking all of the following into consideration. Be honest, constructive, and appropriate in your comments Read objectively Do not offer comments like â€Å"Cool,† Great,† â€Å"I liked it,† or anything else that does not include a scholarly explanation or justification for the comment Feedback is important, especially at this critical first stage Help your classmate think outside the box; does what you read bring something to mind? If so, tell them. This is the kind of creative banter that inspires imagination. 1. Check the paper’s MLA style – are changes needed to the (make bold your answer): heading? yes/no title? yes/no page numbers? yes/no margins? yes/no font? yes/no page length? yes/no any explanations to these answers? 2. Read the paper from beginning to end for understanding (make bold your answer): Rate the paper on a scale of 1-5 for enjoyment12345 Rate the paper on a scale of 1-5 for understanding12345 3. We will write a custom essay sample on Peer Review Worksheet or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Locate the thesis statement and copy/paste here: Within John H. Banzhaf III’s essay, â€Å"Lawsuits against Fast Food Restaurants Are an Effective Way to Combat Obesity†, there is an overwhelming theme of foregoing personal responsibility. Banzhaf, an American legal activist, preaches the importance of the public being made aware of the dangers of fast food. However, he seems to willingly overlook the responsibility that the public holds to itself for the sake of frivolous litigation. He himself has stated that improving one’s personal health is dependent on one’s own desire to do so, while pushing lawsuits that plead the ignorance of the public. 1 Banzhaf is often compared to Ralph Nader for his public health advocacy. However, he seems to opportunistically advocate the use of excessive legal action for  personal gain, even though he seemed to once stand for the public welfare. Rewrite the thesis statement in your own words here: Banzhaf is an American legal activist, who makes the public aware of dangers in fast foods. However his uses excessive legal action for personal gain, though he appears to stand for the public welfare. The author contradicts himself in the public eye about the issues on obesit y, with statements of â€Å"one’s personal heal is dependent on one’s own desire to do so. † 4. Look at individual paragraphs (make bold your answer): Does each paragraph build on the main idea(s) of the essay?  yes/no Do the paragraphs transition well into one another? yes/no Would you recommend any reordering of sentences or paragraphs to better construct the essay? yes/no Does the conclusion bring this discussion to a logical end without restating word-for-word the thesis? yes/no 5. Consider the supporting textual examples (make bold your answer): Did the writer use examples to support their argument? yes/no Are these claims accurate? yes/no Are any examples properly cited? yes/no Any explanations to these answers? 6. What is this essay’s greatest strength? I enjoyed reading your thesis and conclusion. I like the use of words to explain your point throughout the entire paper. 7. What is this essay’s greatest weakness? The second paragraph on the introduction may need more back ground information on the author. However I didn’t see any â€Å"greatest weakness† in the essay. 8. Say at least one thing constructive to the writer about this essay. I enjoy your way with words, and how the flow of the essay goes, with the disagreement with the author’s point of view. I am currently working on my writing flow as well and visually seeing your essay, creates a new way for me to construct my essay papers in the future.

A SUMMARY OF GENE THERAPY essays

A SUMMARY OF GENE THERAPY essays A SUMMARY OF GENE THERAPY Many diseases seen today are the result of a defective gene in the DNA of the patient and can not be cured using the traditional methods such as antibiotics and antiviral medication. The victims are now looking to gene therapy as a potential cure for their problems. Bob Williamson introduces us the concept, procedures, and problems associated with gene therapy in his article, Gene Therapy. Along with the appearance of the recombinant DNA technology, it becomes possible for human beings to isolate, study, and change gene in the laboratory. Gene Therapy is the process of replacing a defective gene inside a patients DNA with a working gene that will produce the correct gene products. The genetic diseases in which a single known gene does not function properly, such as sickle cell anaemia, thalassaemia and Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, are most suitable to be treated with the gene therapy. There are two types of gene therapy in curing these diseases, patient therapy and embryo therapy. In the process of the patient therapy, the first step is identifying the defective gene and isolating a normal counterpart. To obtain correct gene action, it may be necessary to put it into the correct site on the host cell chromosome, or even to delete the defective gene, and the DNA can then be replicated each time the host cell divided. But if the new cell is injected directly into the patients body, it will be subject to the bodys immune system that will recognize it as foreign and target it to be destroyed along with the healthy DNA that it is carrying. So the cells extracted from the patient are to be treated and adding the new gene in a test tube in the laboratory to make sure that the DNA is inserted in an appropriate place in the genome, and the cells can then be returned to the patients body. Now it is possible to offer the parents an antenat...

Free Essays on Death Row

â€Å"At 8:00 p.m. it was nearing the end of John Evans’ last day on death row. He had spent most of the day with his minister and family, praying and talking of what was to come. At 8:20 he was walked from his cell down to the long hall to the execution room and strapped in the electric chair. At 8:30 p.m. the first jolt of 1900 volts passed through Mr. Evans’ body. It lasted 30 seconds. Sparks and flames erupted from the electrode tied to Mr. Evans’ leg. His body slammed against the straps holding him in the chair and his fist clenched permanently. The electrode then burst from the strap holding it in place. A large puff of gray smoke and sparks pored out from under the hood that covered his face. An overpowering stench of burnt flesh and clothing began pervading the witness room. Two doctors then examined Mr. Evans and declared that he was not dead. The electrode was then refastened and Mr. Evans was given another 30-second jolt. The stench was nauseating. Again the doctors examined him and found his heart still beating. At this time the prison commissioner, who was talking on the line with Governor George Wallace of Alabama, was asked to cancel the execution on the grounds that Mr. Evans was being subject to cruel and unusual punishment. The request was denied. At 8:40 p.m. the third charge of electricity was passed through Mr. Evans body. At 8:44 p.m. he was pronounced dead. The execution took 14 minutes. Afterward officials were embarrassed by what one observer called the â€Å"barbaric ritual.† The electric chair is supposed to be a very humane way of administering death, if there is one† (Zimring, & Hawkins, 1986, p.1). Every Western Industrial nation has stopped executing criminals, except the United States. Most Western nations have executed criminals in this century, and many were executed after World War II. Then executions suddenly decreased (Clay, 1990, p.9). This is partly because the people in many European cou... Free Essays on Death Row Free Essays on Death Row â€Å"At 8:00 p.m. it was nearing the end of John Evans’ last day on death row. He had spent most of the day with his minister and family, praying and talking of what was to come. At 8:20 he was walked from his cell down to the long hall to the execution room and strapped in the electric chair. At 8:30 p.m. the first jolt of 1900 volts passed through Mr. Evans’ body. It lasted 30 seconds. Sparks and flames erupted from the electrode tied to Mr. Evans’ leg. His body slammed against the straps holding him in the chair and his fist clenched permanently. The electrode then burst from the strap holding it in place. A large puff of gray smoke and sparks pored out from under the hood that covered his face. An overpowering stench of burnt flesh and clothing began pervading the witness room. Two doctors then examined Mr. Evans and declared that he was not dead. The electrode was then refastened and Mr. Evans was given another 30-second jolt. The stench was nauseating. Again the doctors examined him and found his heart still beating. At this time the prison commissioner, who was talking on the line with Governor George Wallace of Alabama, was asked to cancel the execution on the grounds that Mr. Evans was being subject to cruel and unusual punishment. The request was denied. At 8:40 p.m. the third charge of electricity was passed through Mr. Evans body. At 8:44 p.m. he was pronounced dead. The execution took 14 minutes. Afterward officials were embarrassed by what one observer called the â€Å"barbaric ritual.† The electric chair is supposed to be a very humane way of administering death, if there is one† (Zimring, & Hawkins, 1986, p.1). Every Western Industrial nation has stopped executing criminals, except the United States. Most Western nations have executed criminals in this century, and many were executed after World War II. Then executions suddenly decreased (Clay, 1990, p.9). This is partly because the people in many European cou...

Financial Management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Financial Management - Research Paper Example Apple Inc, on one hand, is a multi national corporation in California that designs, develops, and sells computer hard ware, software and digital electronics. The best known electronics of this company are Mac, iPod, iPhone, and the iPad. The selling of these electronics and other products is through its online retail store, retail stores and direct sales force. Amazon.Com Inc, on the other hand, operates as an online seller internationally but headquartered in Seattle, Washington, in addition, this online seller company operates such websites as amazon.com and amazon.ca (Gutow, 2011). These websites enable retailers to sell their products through online advertising. In addition, Amazon offers other services such as website development, marketing, and company branded credit cards. In 2008, the financial challenges that faced the world led to reduced profits by these two tech companies. The profits reduced because the two companies’ products are not basic necessities that are co mpulsory for human survival. Basic necessities are food, housing, and basic health care. To the contrary, iPhones, iPod and iPad are that a human being can survive without and, therefore, forgone (Higham, 2009). Financial analyst and other world leaders, however, put in place measure that saw the crisis recede and thus an increase in consumer purchasing power. The measures worked because, in mid 2008, the crisis slightly diminished shown especially by improving sales in the New York stock market (Michalowski, 2011). Elsewhere, sales reports of leading multi-national businesses across Europe were picking up. Apple thus diversified four strategies to help it recover the lost profits. Apple marketing strategies were product design, price of products, promotion and their distribution. In product design, Steve Job, the Apple Chief Executive Officer, creativity contributed to more sales. He designed specifically, the operating system MAC OS X, which helped distinguish the Apple computer f rom other competing PCs. He was also responsible for the Mac Book Air, the first lightweight and thin laptop computer. More creative products developed were iPods, iPhones, iPad and iTunes. These products were bought in large numbers because the consumer enjoys media and entertainment at his or her convenience. Further, they substituted other devices like TVs and some laptops. Concerning the price, Apple products though expensive, are quality and durable. Various consumer research companies rated the products as the most fairly priced products in the world. Apple-loyal consumers also care little about the price they had to pay to buy an advanced release of Apple product. In addition, they bought Apple product whenever launched and released to the market regardless of the financial situation. In promoting its products, apple made its products known in conferences, meetings and in US trade expos where they would showcase these new gadgets (Buonopane, 2010). The final strategy is distr ibution strategy in which newly released products that customers are unaware of were located in specialized stores. In these stores, a customer who bought these new releases took some time with an Apple expert who was educating and providing customer service. The education on new products was to ease the switching to them. In comparison, other Apple’s less expensive products that required less consumer

Sexual Harassment in the Work Place Research Paper - 2

Sexual Harassment in the Work Place - Research Paper Example This paper highlights that the actions carried out include patting, touching the other person in sensitive areas like buttocks or breast area. The behaviors can also include the use of unwelcomed bodily contacts to the other party. Verbal behaviors can also be termed to be sexual harassment to some extent. The use of comments to the other person on their clothing, body or looks cold easily make the uncomfortable and this might not go down well with them. The use of offensive jokes especially if they are sexually oriented can also be included in this category of behaviors.From this study it is clear that non-verbal behaviors  can easily be confused with those of physical behaviors, non-verbal behaviors do not necessarily have to involve physical action. This category involves behaviors such as repeatedly glancing and staring at a person in a manner that makes him or her feel uncomfortable or even the use of obscene gestures towards other people. It might also involve the display of sexually suggestive photos and pictures that can humiliate or embarrass the other person. There are several ways that can be used I the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace. Some prevention techniques might involve the use of legal actions in the court of law while others might involve the use of disciplinary measures that have been set by the organization. The following are some of the ways that can be used in the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace.

How Authentic And Religious Are Virtual Rituals Essay

How Authentic And Religious Are Virtual Rituals - Essay Example The accessibility of information online has drawn more people to virtual religious places, thus pulling them further away from offline, real-life religion. Connelly attests to this observation when he states that the lack of Buddhist teachers and learning centers, among other factors, has facilitated the growth of an online Buddhist ritual â€Å"Second Life†. Helland views a ritual as an individual or communal engagement undertaken for sacred reasons, which allows a person to have contact with the supernatural. A ritual can also be performed as a form of expressing social cohesion and preserving culture. In terms of social cohesion, Connelly states that through Second Life, feel like they belong to a community in which there are expressive involvements. The problem with online rituals as Helland states is that a person may decide to develop individual religiosity and deviate from what their traditional religious authority prescribes. These cyber rituals allow for some form of religious freedom that some strict religions are not comfortable with. According to Helland this raises the question of authenticity and authority of the people carrying out the rituals and the rituals themselves. Judging by this form of evaluation, Second Life would seem legitimate because, as Connelly states, most of the facilitators are ordained priest in real-life, who lead meditation rituals at Buddha centers.7. That aside, many questions are asked about the authenticity of the symbols found online and the sacredness of online space. The seriousness or level of religiousness of these symbols and the rituals they are used in is what bothers many religious observers. Although many people who are involved in online rituals claim that these rituals are as valid as real-life physical rituals, this issue remains to be a subject of debate. According to Connelly the symbols used in Second Life include donation boxes, statue of Buddha, incense, and meditation cushions8. These symbols, a mong others are a representation of the actual artifacts found at the Buddha Center. Virtual pilgrimages according to Helland are one of the most common points of disagreement between participants and observers9. The fact that such pilgrimages are called â€Å"virtual pilgrimages† makes observers hold the view that they are unreal. Here, it appears that observers measure the authenticity of pilgrimages using physical presence. In essence, this argument holds that a pilgrimage could only be valid if a person went physically to a place that is recognized as sacred by their religion. On the other hand, believers and practitioners of online religion believe that a spiritual journey does not have to bet physical, it can be metaphorical. For example, in addressing silent meditation in Second Life, Connelly states that while participants are meditating online, they are represented by avatars10. These avatars sit cross-legged in a room and they form a semicircle facing the statue of Buddha. Participants in Second Life even prostrate three times before entering the temple, in addition to using such words as â€Å"Namaste† at the final chime, in order to thank the facilitator. Yet, the availability of exceptionally good images and sounds that allows someone to make an electronic pilgrimage inside their head is real to those who believe. Helland states that there are those web developers who take the virtual sacred travels more real by, for example, connect with the actual places. This way, these developers can place sacred words or prayer items that can be read to the online audience during the virtual pilgrimage. In silent meditation, according to Connell

Reverse Logistics Processes

Reverse Logistics Processes Definitions â€Å"The process of planning, implementing, and controlling the efficient, cost effective flow of raw materials, in-process inventory, finished goods and related information from the point of origin to the point of consumption for the purpose of conforming to customer requirements.† Logistics is defined by The Council of Logistics Management What is Reverse Logistics? We refer to the term reverse logistics as all activity associated with a product/service after the point of sale, the ultimate goal is to optimize or make more efficient aftermarket activity, thus saving money and environmental resources. As equally as Logistics deal with the set of events that move the product to customer, the reverse process moves the product at least on step back in the supply chain. The objective is to regain the value or proper disposal, when the product returns in the opposite direction. The sold goods get returned due to improper quality control measures leading to damage, recalls, hazardous materials and obsolescence.,   It involves collection, transportation disposal of returned , damaged /surplus goods through reuse, resale, or repair. Importance Of Reverse Logistics. Reverse logistics responsiveness and quality has a direct a positive effect on the companies economic performance.   Companies have to accept returns in the shape of products or materials as a legal obligation. As organizations offer warranty along with sale of items, and to minimize the cost of warranty and sale price, the reversals become inevitable for sustaining customer satisfaction and quality assurance. The closer the company is to the end customer, the greater the size and scope of reverse logistics issues. .The worldwide legislations on hazardous materials (WEEE and ROHS), demand reverse logistics for repairables. Size Of Reverse Logistics It is difficult to estimate the cost in Reverse logistics management as many   companies do not have systems to estimate. Research says it is around 4% of the cost of logistics, based on a survey sample.. Return Percentages The reverse logistics process can be divided into two categories depending on the areas of reverse flow which in turn comprises of primary products, or primary of packaging. A Company has varied disposal options to choose once a product has been returned. The company looks primarily to return it to the supplier for a full refund. In case of goods not used may be resold to a different customer or at an outlet store. If goods do not meet required quality levels, then it may be sold to a salvage company that will export the goods to a foreign market. Common Reverse Logistics Activities : Activites that comprise of reverse logistics include:, Refurbishing, Recycling , landfill, repackaging, returns processing and salvaging Key Reverse Logistics Management Elements Gatekeeping Compacting Disposition Cycle Time Reverse Logistics Information Systems Centralized Return Centers Zero Returns Remanufacture and Refurbishment Asset Recovery Negotiation Financial Management Outsourcing Strategic Use Of Reverse Logistics The strategic usage of Reverse logistics among the retailers and wholesalers is to reduce the risk of buying products that may not be hot selling items. In some industries goods are distributed with the understanding that retuning the goods for credit is allowed if they are not sold. This encourages retailers to carry a huge stock thereby shifting the risk of having unsold goods (obsolescence) goes to the company. The retail seller at the nearest reach to the customer exploits the situation ordering a huge consignment and resulting in heavy returning. An example of the strategic use of returns in the market is the sale of newspapers and magazines, and the sellers carry more stock for a considerable incentive. By doing this the reseller were allowed to return the goods within the stipulated time frame. This facilitated the customers to the inventory low and purchase things in time. Every business aims to lock the customers in and not to opt for to another supplier. There are many ways developed by the supplier to link themselves to the customers not to switch to another supplier. One important service that a supplier can offer to his customer is the ability to accept the defective goods immediately and refund the amount timely. Every retailer needs to have a strategic vision of the logistics in order for him stand updated in the market. The retailer in business of electronic toys can easily get off business if they do not have the knowledge or vision of reversal logistics. Several surveys have estimated that a larger part of the profit was due to the improvised strategies. How An Effective Strategy Can Be Developed: The best methodology for an effective reverse logistics to be framed and implemented would be working on the existing process in the business. The traceability and quality management system will identify goods timely and correctly outlining the features of a product in details and the reasons of defect with a solution of a product when returned. The reverse logistics process can be managed through a tailored program called Enterprise resource planning system. A tailored ERP system can provide varied information related to the returned inventory. It can give the number of returns from the customer, identify the reasons of the returned goods, check the course action to be taken and deal with the product and allocate resources in dealing with the product. An ERP system, equipped with robust processes, should be sufficient to manage its reverse logistics strategy. The other crucial aspect in reverse logistics is the concept of collaboration. It works efficiently with a effective collaboration involving a larger visibility. Sharing of information, supporting integrated decision making should be a vital feature of the collaboration. Constant communication and shared processes with a common vision should be practiced for a successful designing and implementation of Reverse Logistics. This has become a integral part of any business in day to day life which may results in many benefits to the company. Every retailer, manufacturers and producers need to create the necessity of reviewing the logistics followed. They can work on their existing systems that trying to find ready made solutions. The companies have developed various simple and effective strategies for running a successful Business. The various steps or factors involved while defining at effective reverse logistics Security Shipping and Receiving Labour The Return Policy Inspect Returns Assign Disposition Real Examples or Practical Examples of Effective Reverse Logistic. Reverse logistics is also applied for a different non-commercial cause and used for a reason of charity or   gain a mileage augmenting advertisement returns. Such donations get a goodwill to a company and act as a substitute for ads .Henna Anderson Co s Hannadowns   campaign retrieves   used clothes from the customers and gives an offer on the new purchases. The returned clothes reach the less-privileged ones. As a second example, Kenneth Cole Productions makes offers to customers returning old shoes and given away to the needy. Nike shreds the retrieved old shoes and converts them into basketball courts and tracks. Business Implications Despite the costs, companies do accept returned goods, with original receipt or a fees, as Returns Management is an important strategic tool in a competitive environment. Return policies are in place to influence purchase decision of a customer. Return management is a strategy similar to reverse logistics involving a decision on how the return will be dispositioned. When returns are a liability and restrictions are too many in land filling, then disposal is a less attractive   option. Difficulties Of Reverse Logistics Companies budget for   what is known as â€Å"Brand Equity† to attach an image   to products and can not afford to reduce the value of primary investment   , by having their product appear in a flea market. The difference in the objective of the manufactures and retailers exists due to the different strategies followed in managing returns. For Eg, In case a retailer wants to return a good to the manufacturer and he would disagree for varied reasons as follows: Condition of the item,Value of the item and the promptness. The assumption by the retailer for returns sent back in pure , pristine conditions and any damages must have occurred in transit or must be manufacturing defects, leads to criss cross of purposes. The inefficiency of the reverse logistics is indicated by the amount of returns inventory being held in the warehouse and clearly denotes the way the firm is handling returns. Unfortunately, some symptoms that cannot be identified and observed are as below. These have been defined by Dr. Dawe. For most firms processing returns is not a priority.Focus is on new generated products revenue and returns received are in more number to the processing or disposal. Declined value of the returns due to obsolescence (computers , fashion ware). Company policies making it difficult to handle returns as the â€Å"junk† damages quality products. Conclusion First, develop strong reverse logistics strategies. Second, clearly outline financial, corporate, branding, marketing and other objectives. Treat it as another business; and not a simple operation. Give it goals, give it objectives, give it resources, give it executives and let it be part of the â€Å"Lifecycle† design for your products and your customers. References Curt Barry, â€Å"How to Develop a Reverse Logistics Strategy: 8 Tactics to Try.† Catalog Success Magazine, 2003.+http://www.fcbco.com/articles-whitepapers/Reverse-Logistics-Strategies.pdf Reverse Logistics Executive Council, http://www.rlec.org. Stefan E. Genchev, Reverse logistics program design: A company study Business Horizons, Volume 52, Issue 2, March-April 2009, Pages www.logisticsit.com/absolutenm/templates/ http://ideas.repec.org/a/aes/amfeco/v10y2008i24p192-209.html http://www.reverselogisticsprofessional.com/ http://www.sciencedirect.com/science http:www.mhhe.com/browsersox-scm Hawks, Karen. VP Supply Chain Practice, Navesink. Reverse Logistics Magazine Winter/Spring (2006). http://www.rlmagazine.com/edition01p12.php Rengel, P. Seydl, C. (May 2002). Completing the Supply Chain Model. Retrieved on 2008-04-25. Harrington, Ryan, VP GM for Reverse Logistics / Projects, NYK Logistics. Reverse Logistics Magazine. Winter/Spring (2006). http://www.rlmagazine.com/edition01p14.php Greer, 2004 Rogers, 2002 Mollenkopf D., Russo I. and R. Frankel, 2007 The returns management process in supply chain strategy. http://veltusresearch.com/Documents/Mollenkopf%20etal-07-Returns%20Mgmt%20Strategy%20(Italy).pdf. Retrieved 2008-05-05. Reverse side of logistics: The business of returns. http://www.forbes.com/2005/11/02/returns-reverse-logistics-market-cx_rm_1103returns.html. http://dictionary.bnet.com/definition/reverse+engineering.html http://www.clrb.com.br/publicacoes/academico_framework.pdf

Apollo 13 Essay -- Apollo 13 Essays

Apollo 13 Questions 1.I’d first have to say that the head of mission control on the ground was definitely important in the salvaging of Apollo 13. He was faced with problem after problem yet he kept a somewhat level head through all of it and managed the engineers and other people involved back at Houston very well. Jim Lovell’s piloting skills played a rold in the crew’s survival as well. When he had to set the ship’s course for Earth manually it took a great deal of skill and patience and he deserves credit for that. Ken Mattingly might not have made it to space, but his extensive knowledge of the ins and outs of the spacecraft saved the lives of his friends when they had a power crisis. 2. One particular problem during the Apollo 13 mission was a build up of carbon dioxide in the spacecraft. The CO2 scrubbers designed to filter out the gas weren’t working properly and as time progressed and the astronauts breathed more the situation worsened. To solve this problem NASA pooled together some engineers to come up with a design for a makeshift filter using common items onboard the space craft and an existing filter from another section of the spacecraft. 3. The general public and the press seemed disinterested with the Apollo 13 mission. Since we’d already beaten the Russians to the moon, no one in the general public put much interest into NASA anymore. The space race was decided and the public lost interest in NASA With no audience for the story, the...

Narrative Voice In The Bell Jar

L. P. Hartley and Sylvia Plath both use the first person narrative to evoke a sense of tragedy for their protagonists, however, with Leo, Hartley uses the first person narrative to allow the reader to understand the unfortunate event in the life of twelve year old Leo. Some may say that the first person narration of Leo is both more personal and detailed than that of Esther. The reader sees the sophisticated world of Brandham Hall, contrasted with the closeness of Leo’s relationship with his mother, from Leo’s perspective.On the other hand, in The Bell-Jar the reader’s understanding of Esther’s life is limited by the cold and detached first person narrative, due to her descent into depression. It could be said that Esther is presented as repressing her emotions, yet her opinionated ways lead to her alienation. This makes her unreliable as the reader experiences the narrator’s life from her dysfunctional perspective. This makes it hard for the reader to connect to Esther, therefore limiting our empathy with her tragedy. In contrast, the reader sympathises with Leo as we see his youth and enthusiasm for life being destroyed, which enhances the tragedy.It could be said that Plath’s use of a simile to portray incongruity foreshadows Esther’s growing fear of â€Å"the bell-jar†. At the start of the novel, â€Å"The cadaver’s head, floated up behind my eggs and bacon at breakfast†. The reader is shocked due to the tragic inappropriateness of the cadaver’s head being connected to the mundane image of eggs and bacon. This dark humour, which arises from the absurdity of the two objects, could be perceived as foreshadowing the tragedy to come, due to Esther’s dysfunctional view of life.The humorous tone of the simile is increased as the narrator does not seem traumatized by such a shocking image being associated with an everyday object. It could therefore be argued that this reduces the t ragic effect from the situation. However, the cadaver’s head is always following her â€Å"on a string, like some black, nose less balloon stinking of vinegar† which could be argued is dragging her down. This macabre humour of the â€Å"nose less balloon† contrasts with the tragic tone of the novel and perhaps reduces our sense of Esther’s misfortune.The balloon could represent a â€Å"bell-jar† hanging over Esther’s life, always close enough to come down on Esther and never going to disappear. However, it could be argued that if Esther really wanted to, she could let go of the balloon and therefore release her connections with the bell jar, which may take the tragedy with it. The balloon could portray that the tragedy, strangeness and â€Å"the bell-Jar† is Esther’s own doing, as for a balloon to come down, all one has to do is pull, so this could be a metaphor for Esther’s life as a whole, which is tragic as we feel co mpassion for the young girl starring down the barrel of depression.Furthermore, the â€Å"cadaverous face† is mentioned on the last page of the novel. This structural feature, which Plath would have no doubt intended, indicates that the cadaver has followed her all her life, tragically limiting her chances of being â€Å"normal† which shows that Esther may never get out of the â€Å"bell-jar†, even when there is a little hope at the end of the novel. Narrative Voice in the Bell Jar L. P. Hartley and Sylvia Plath both use the first person narrative to evoke a sense of tragedy for their protagonists, however, with Leo, Hartley uses the first person narrative to allow the reader to understand the unfortunate event in the life of twelve year old Leo. Some may say that the first person narration of Leo is both more personal and detailed than that of Esther. The reader sees the sophisticated world of Brandham Hall, contrasted with the closeness of Leo’s relationship with his mother, from Leo’s perspective.On the other hand, in The Bell-Jar the reader’s understanding of Esther’s life is limited by the cold and detached first person narrative, due to her descent into depression. It could be said that Esther is presented as repressing her emotions, yet her opinionated ways lead to her alienation. This makes her unreliable as the reader experiences the narrator’s life from her dysfunctional perspective. This makes it hard for the reader to connect to Esther, therefore limiting our empathy with her tragedy. In contrast, the reader sympathises with Leo as we see his youth and enthusiasm for life being destroyed, which enhances the tragedy.It could be said that Plath’s use of a simile to portray incongruity foreshadows Esther’s growing fear of â€Å"the bell-jar†. At the start of the novel, â€Å"The cadaver’s head, floated up behind my eggs and bacon at breakfast†. The reader is shocked due to the tragic inappropriateness of the cadaver’s head being connected to the mundane image of eggs and bacon. This dark humour, which arises from the absurdity of the two objects, could be perceived as foreshadowing the tragedy to come, due to Esther’s dysfunctional view of life.The humorous tone of the simile is increased as the narrator does not seem traumatized by such a shocking image being associated with an everyday object. It could therefore be argued that this reduces the t ragic effect from the situation. However, the cadaver’s head is always following her â€Å"on a string, like some black, nose less balloon stinking of vinegar† which could be argued is dragging her down. This macabre humour of the â€Å"nose less balloon† contrasts with the tragic tone of the novel and perhaps reduces our sense of Esther’s misfortune.The balloon could represent a â€Å"bell-jar† hanging over Esther’s life, always close enough to come down on Esther and never going to disappear. However, it could be argued that if Esther really wanted to, she could let go of the balloon and therefore release her connections with the bell jar, which may take the tragedy with it. The balloon could portray that the tragedy, strangeness and â€Å"the bell-Jar† is Esther’s own doing, as for a balloon to come down, all one has to do is pull, so this could be a metaphor for Esther’s life as a whole, which is tragic as we feel co mpassion for the young girl starring down the barrel of depression.Furthermore, the â€Å"cadaverous face† is mentioned on the last page of the novel. This structural feature, which Plath would have no doubt intended, indicates that the cadaver has followed her all her life, tragically limiting her chances of being â€Å"normal† which shows that Esther may never get out of the â€Å"bell-jar†, even when there is a little hope at the end of the novel.

Power, Propoganda In Communist China Essays - Chinese Communists

Power, Propoganda In Communist China Essays - Chinese Communists Power, Propoganda in Communist China Propaganda in China during the Cultural Revolution took on many forms; there were mass Red Guard demonstrations in Tianamen Square in support of Mao Zedong, pictures of Mao were put up in every conceivable location from restaurants to the wallpaper in nurseries, and pamphlets and books of Mao's teachings were distributed to every Chinese citizen. One of these propaganda publications Quotations from Chairman Mao which later became known as the Little Red Book contained quotes from Mao Zedong and was distributed to every Chinese citizen. The history of the Red Book provides one of the best ways in which to analyze Chinese propaganda during the Cultural Revolution and see the ways in which the Chinese government was able to produce and effectively indoctrinate the Chinese people with Mao Zedong Thought. Official Chinese magazines from the period of 1967 to 1970 are filled with many pictures of citizens holding, reading, and memorizing the Red Book. This proposal will trace the rise and fall of images of the Red Book in the official Chinese publication China Reconstructs. This proposal will use a graphical analysis of pictures in this publication from 1966 to 1973 to show that propaganda was not just a tool of the Communist party but also a reflection of internal power struggles within the party during the Cultural Revolution. The Red Book was written several years before it became the object of national adoration and a tool for the Cultivation of Mao's personality Cult. The history of the Red Book and its meteoric rise from a hand book for military recruits to compulsory reading for all Chinese citizens, is closely tied to its developer Lin Biao's rise to power. Lin Biao was born in 1907 and was fourteen years younger then Mao; he joined the communist party in 1925 and until the communists captured control of China was at various times in charge of resiezce forces, and armies of communist soldiers. When the communists took control in 1949 Lin Biao was behind Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai, Chen Yun, and Deng Xiaoping in rank (Yan and Gao, 1996: 179). But eighteen years later during the height of the Cultural Revolution Lin Biao by winning favor with Mao by publishing and championing the Red Book and the Cult of Mao became second only to the Chairman in power and position (Ming-Le, 1983: 80). In 1959 Peng Dehua was dismissed as minister of defense and Lin Biao was appointed in his place. At an armed forces meeting for high cadres during September of that year Lin Biao, energetically started promoting the Cult of Mao saying, "Learning the writings of comrade Mao Zedong is the shortcut to learning Marxism-Leninism. Chairman Mao's writings are easy to learn and can be put to use immediately. Diligent work will pay dividends many fold." (Yan and Gao, 1996: 182) His references to "shortcut" and "quick dividends" in his speech went unnoticed at the time as few foresaw the effects of creating a Cult around Mao. But looking back on the Cultural Revolution and Lin Biao, we can see his using the Cult of Mao was indeed a shortcut that produced huge dividends both for himself and for Mao. Mao to the Chinese people was a symbol sovereignty and the construction of socialism; to them praise for Mao was fitting with his symbolic role in society. Starting in 1959 Lin Biao in front of military audiences in order to help buildup support for the Cult of Mao used such phrases as, "the dire necessity of acquiring Mao Zedong's thought," "to study the writings of Mao Zedong with questions in mind is to shoot arrows with target in sight," "we must arm our minds with Mao Zedong's thought" (Yan an Gao, 1996: 181). Lin Biao's goal of building up both himself and the Cult of Mao lead him in September of 1960 to pass a resolution at the meeting of the Military Commission, which called for more political education among the armed forces (Yan and Gao, 1996: 181) "Mao Zedong Thought is the compass for the Chinese people's revolution and socialist construction, the powerful ideological weapon against imperialism, and the powerful ideological weapon against revisionism

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer essays

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer essays A mischievous boy who does whatever he wants. The life of this boy is almost liberal to as an adult and his Aunt Polly isnt helping much. He decides that this life isnt for him and runs away with a couple of his friends. This story was based on the authors experience as a boy. The story was about a boy named Tom who like all boys in his society hate to go to school. The love, Becky Thatcher, breaks his heart and after this he witnesses a murder of the young Doctor Robinson to a Native American Injun Joe. Tom and Huck runaway and make an oath to never tell anyone of what they just seen. They find out that their funeral is going to take place and hurry to witness it. Rejoiced by all of his friends back at his home he decides to stay and not come back. After the Muff Potter trials began he began to feel really guilty and testified against Injun Joe. When Potter is acquitted Injun Joe escapes from a window. He flees to an abounded house. Tom and Huck decide to go look for treasure at the same house in that house and not aware of Injun Joes presence. Injun Joe is under the suspicion that someone maybe in that house as well other than him so instead of reburying the gold he decides to take it. Huck find him and watches his every move to nab the gold. Meanwhil e Tom goes off to the cave to have a picnic with his classmates. He and Becky Thatcher get lost in the cave and run into Injun Joe. The search party is sent and when they were just about to give up out comes Tom and Becky. Judge Thatcher locks the cave so Injun Joe can starve to death. Tom and Huck come back to the cave and discover a box of gold. It is invested in them and then Huck decides to runaway from civilization. Tom said if he comes back he can join his group to robbers. Obviously, Huck agrees. This story was based on the authors experience because, when he was younger, he would do a lot of the thing Tom and Huck would do. He would go have adventures w ...

What would the impact on globalisation be if the internet collapsed Essay

What would the impact on globalisation be if the internet collapsed for a prolonged period of time - Essay Example iduals had to consume goods and services imported from other countries; globalisation in the 1990’s also improved the capability of individuals to influence political institutions both within and outside the frontiers of their own country (Bimber 2002). Several analysts claim that the Internet is a dynamic society. Probably not unexpectedly as it provided the originality of the new digital media, there is trivial agreement on the specific changes that occurred. The unparalleled technical innovations that led to the creation of the Internet have been thought about from various views and perspectives, above all by professionals such as engineers and computer scientists. However, a substantial aspect of the success of the Internet, the production and development of management, and authority arrangements that have facilitated the interconnection of geographically scattered computer units throughout the globe, is still something of an enigma (Cooke 1993). The processes that government officials, technocrats, entrepreneurs, and other elites in the area of leadership from multiple and diverse autonomous nations have been capable of influencing co-operations in an exceptional short period of time. These processes have prompted co-operation s to design and enforce policies and directive for the relatively stabilised functioning of the Internet, within intricate business-related and legal structures at the global lever are still under study (ibid). This research study aims to develop sound and well-documented answers to the possible impact of the collapse of the Internet and the affect this would have on globalisation, specifically in international politics and democracy. Several analysts have coined the term â€Å"electronic democracy† (Dimaggio 2002, 307) to imply two separate meanings. The first is the scheme and operation of digital information and communication technologies to improve democratic political means. The second is a new level of democracy, a level during

Strategic planning and control Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Strategic planning and control - Assignment Example In order to sell more in the beginning, the production capacity had also been increased, but the result demonstrated that the demand was only half of the production. So, I have learned that it is not necessary to utilize all the resources as inventory got larger and it is not good for the company. We need to observe the internal position of the organization which will enable us to determine how well the company can manage the competitive and external environment. I also came to know that a strategic planning and critical success factors need to be developed for the products and services. SWOT (strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, and threats) analysis must be carried out, which will allow the company to evaluate their strategic situation. The product life-cycle model needs to be taken into consideration in order to discuss how the cost of product can vary over a product’s life cycle. I also discovered that key performance indicators of the company need to be analyzed, through which we can know what factors are leading to its success and competitive advantage. I also learnt that working in a group is more beneficial than working as an individual as it comprises the ideas of four to five people and involve more communication and consequently leads to an enhanced decision making process. Soft skills need to be developed in order to resolve the conflict which arises in the discussion process within the group. At the same time, time management is also important for successful completion of a project. Strategic planning is defined as the method of defining the plans of the companies for achieving their missions. The strategy of an organization is therefore a derived approach towards attaining that mission. Organizational level and divisional level planning should be directly related to the strategic plan of the organization (Gates, 2010). Through the module, I came to know the elements of strategic planning and why it is important

Fiesta and Social Control in Rural Mexico Essay

Fiesta and Social Control in Rural Mexico - Essay Example 'The nature of things' do form the notion of mind. (Bacon 1960, first published in 1620). Stanley Brandes also enters in the field with the pre-conceived notion that fiestas do have the mechanism of social control and mechanism is thrust by power and persuasion. Following the steps of Bricker (1973) and Crumrine (1976) he believes that ceremonial life is also helpful in understanding the Mexican Indian ideas about humanity. The study of hierarchical order and his personal observation of rural Mexico provide him the bases to substantiate his hypotheses. The objective is to explore the paradox of the way the fiestas promote order and social control in Rural Mexico whereas, at the surface level the fiestas are the break from the rut of routine life and mostly are 'formless and chaotic' but in reality it helps to "reinforce the Brandes cites the early efforts of Robert Redfield (1930) and Elsie Clews Parson (1939) who tried to demonstrate the relationship of ideology and social behavior. The writers mentioned above became the victim of the biases of the methodology of qualitative descriptive research and jaundiced their point of view by romanticizing the Mexican folklore, giving the impression that Indians were 'free of psychic and social conflict.' In the later study of Gossen (1974) et al it comes out that ethnic identity is confirmed by the ceremonials, since the person who does not share the rituals and belief of its community is considered an outsider; providing Brandes the base to study fiesta as mechanism of social control. He found that fiestas are the mechanism of controlling process and it is maintained through power and persuasion. Persuasion to Brandes is "the totality of informal pressures and instructive procedures that lead people to conduct their lives with regard to particular standards." Persuasion is concept to bring to light the influence that social equals exercise on one other. Brandes defines power as, "Coercive and manipulative influences of formally constituted organs of church and state." The church and state become the active agents of supernatural to mobilize people for 'collective religious action' and the skills demonstrated in performing rituals and fulfilling the responsibilities on behalf of community is to exert their power over the community. The study is concerned with the 'fiesta cycle' in anthropological domain fiesta cycle is defined as rituals and folklorists call it festivals. The analysis pattern in the book is of 'Cycle's History' and its effect. The analysis tries to resolve two paradoxes. Ethic and aggrandizement of self have replaced the shared values of equality and the concept of 'shared poverty' in Tzintzuntzan. With the disappearance of the old cargo system the responsibility to bear the brunt of funding has been shifted to the community. The cargo system relied on two major principles; first was the individual responsibility and the nobles of the community were to sponsor, for longer or short period of time, fiesta and they also fulfilled the responsibility to take care of the sacred images, churches and chapels. The second was the hierarchal order, wherein, the

One Day In September Essay Example for Free

One Day In September Essay Analyze how the opening sequences of two documentary films help to establish genre and narrative. The two documentaries Im going to discuss are called one day in September and when we were kings these are both documentaries about well known sporting events. One day in September is about a group of Israeli athletes in the Olympics who are captured and held hostage by Palestinians whereas when we were kings is based on two boxers from America who compete for their country in Africa in 1974 called George Forman and Muhammad Ali. They are both an example of a well known competitive sport. One day in September opens with a short clip of Munich where the Olympics is due to be held it is presented as if it is advertising it as a holiday destination. The music at first is very cheerful and light with a narrator describing Munich and its attractions this is known as non diagetic sound. There are quick clips of the lifestyle and scenery in Munich to give you a general idea of what Munichs culture and lifestyle is like. It soon changes very serious and dramatic credits with a man quoting Well nobody could foresee what later on happened this leads the viewers to think already that this is not going to be a usual day. The credits slide onto a very dark blurred background with distorted reports on what seem to have happened in the background, this effect intrigues the audience to what actually happened on that day in September. When the credits finish the music changes back to the calm, peaceful music as before and the audience see slides of what appears to be a happy couples marriage. The viewer can already sense that these people are going to be involved. A woman is narrating over these short clip and goes straight in to talking past tense saying It was only a year and three months that I was married to Andrà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Spitzer this gives the audience the impression that they are not married anymore. The narrator carries on discussing her marriage and how she met Andre Spitzer this creates a bond between the audience and the narrator to leave a bigger effect on the viewers. The shot then changes to a prisoner however you cannot see his face, the sound then changes into tension building music to create suspense between the audience and this prisoner this also shows us black and white images of were he lives over these shots the prisoner goes directly into who he is and describes his past and his training. The camera shots keeps us curious into who he is and what he has done while the suspense of the music engages us into what happened one that day in September. The audience then go back to Andrà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Spitzers wifes perspective however the music stays the same building up the suspense while the point of view changes from the goodies to the baddies. The documentary then changes into a anonymous male describing what was about this Olympics that made it different from all the others for Andrà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ and his team. The sound then changes to an upbeat feel good song showing clips of the Olympics which confuses the audience slightly to what went wrong.

Social And Cultural Aspects Of Thailand Cultural Studies Essay

Social And Cultural Aspects Of Thailand Cultural Studies Essay Historical background: Thailand has a wide variety of fauna and flora and boasts wide ethnic diversity as well. Thanks to its abundant resources and fertile land, it has attracted peoples of many countrys, who have settled and thrived here. The origin of the Thais is not agreed on amongst academics. Three decades ago it could be said with presumed certainty that the Thais originated in northwestern Szechuan in China about 4,500 years ago and later migrated south to their present homeland. However, this theory has been altered by the discovery of remarkable prehistoric artifacts in the village of Ban Chiang in the Nong Han District of Udon Thani Province in the Northeast of Thailand. These include evidence of bronze metallurgy dating back 3,500 years, as well as other indications of a culture far more sophisticated than previously believed by archaeologists. It now appears that Thais might have originated here in Thailand and later scattered to various parts of Asia, including some parts of China. Siam is the name by which the country was known to the world until 1939 and again between 1945 and 1949. On May 11, 1949, an official proclamation declared that the country would henceforth be known as Thailand. The word Thai means Free, and therefore Thailand means Land of the Free. The Monarchy: The words of the Thai Royal Anthem, performed at most official ceremonies and before the start of every movie, may strike a Western ear as somewhat archaic. After all, the system of absolute monarchy ended in 1932, following a revolution staged by a small group of disaffected civil servants and military men. Since then, Thai kings have ruled under a constitution; their powers theoretically no greater than those of European monarchs. Yet, since he was officially crowned in 1946, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej has assumed the role of constitutional monarch and has worked tirelessly on behalf of his people, gaining a measure of personal devotion that is probably more intense than that felt for any of his all-powerful ancestors. It has been said that Their Majesties King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit are the hardest working royal couple in the world with a work load once estimated to be equal to at least one function every day of the year. Of the several institutions that form the foun dation of modern Thai life, the one His Majesty represents is not only the most visible but also the most revered. His Majesty has devoted himself to public service and made enduring contributions to Thailands development, initiating vital royally-suggested projects such as crop rotation, fish breeding, irrigation, natural watershed programs, dairy farming, reforestation, road building, and the establishment of self-help villages. His Majesty has traveled countrywide by helicopter, jeep, train, boat and on foot, often to the remotest corners of his Kingdom, in pursuit of his projects. He is held in high esteem nationwide for his profound interest in his peoples welfare. Her Majesty Queen Sirikit frequently accompanies His Majesty and shares a close interest in the welfare of rural Thais. Her Majesty has wholeheartedly helped establish foundations such as SUPPORT which assists Thailands rural population to produce and sell traditional craft products for supplementary income. The Thai monarchy is revered and regarded as the central, unifying element in the pillars of the nation. King Bhumibol was born on December 5, 1927, ascended the throne on June 9, 1946, and married Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on April 28, 1950. Their Majesties have four children; Their Royal Highnesses Princess Ubol Ratana, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and Princess Chulabhorn. The Royal Couple are conscientiously assisted by their children, who frequently accompany them and represent Their Majesties at official functions and ceremonies. The Flag: Thailands national flag, ceremoniously raised each morning at 08.00 and lowered at 18.00 in every town and village. The flag is composed of five horizontal bands of red, white, and blue. Outer bands of red representing the nation enclose equal inner bands of white evoking religion. The blue band, occupying the central one-third of the total area, symbolizes the monarchy. The harmony of design expresses the complementary nature of these three pillars of the Thai nation. The tri-colored flag, first introduced by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) in 1917, replaced an earlier design which featured a white elephant on a red background. Public Hollidays: Most national holidays and festivals are of a religious nature and serve to evoke a sense of devotion to the monarchy, the religion, and the nation. Some are celebrated by the lunar calendar and thus vary in date from year to year, while others are celebrated according to the solar calendar. Bank Holidays for 2010 are: Thai culture and customs Informality and general friendliness in relationships of all age, economic and social groups characterize the Thai culture and people. Thai people are tolerant of almost all kinds of behaviour and never expect foreigners to understand the intricacies of Thai social customs. A Thai greeting In Thailand people do not normally say good morning, good afternoon, good evening or good night. They greet each other with the word Sawadee, and instead of shaking hands, they put their palms together in a prayer-like gesture and bow slightly. It is customary for the younger or lower in status to begin the greeting. When taking leave, the same word and procedure is repeated. This gesture is called a Wai. If you are greeted with a Wai you should reply with the same gesture, though it is not necessary to return a Wai to a child. Think of a Wai as you would a handshake. Initiate a Wai because of sincere pleasure at an introduction. You will not cause offence if you Wai inappropriately in Thailand, but you may create confusion. Dont return a Wai from waiting staff, drivers or other help. You might hope to strike a blow for equality, but will in fact cause embarrassment. A Wai to your teacher (any kind of teacher) is definately appropriate; any smiles you receive in return are of appreci ation. Sanuk means fun One of the first things you will notice when you visit Thailand is the Thai peoples inherent sense of playfulness and light heartedness. Sanuk is the Thai word for fun, and in Thailand anything worth doing, even work, should have some element of Sanuk. This doesnt mean Thai people dont want to work or strive. It is just that they live more in the moment, and do their best to enjoy it. The famous Thai smile stems partly from this desire to make Sanuk. The concept of saving face Thai people have a refined sense of public image and believe strongly in the concept of saving face. That is, they will go to great lengths to avoid confrontation and endeavour not to embarrass either themselves or other people (unless of course it is Sanuk to do so!). The ideal face saver does not bring up negative topics in conversation, or talk in an argumentative, judgemental or aggressive manner. Raising your voice or losing your temper will never be constructive in Thailand. It will result in loss of face for everyone involved, and you may be ignored as a result. You may notice Thai people smiling in the face of anothers misfortune. This is not a sign of callousness, but an attempt to save face for the person suffering misfortune. Saving face is the major source of the famous Thai smile. It is the best possible face to ease almost any situation. Social status in Thailand According to simple lines of social rank defined by age, wealth, and personal and political power all relationships in Thai society are governed by connections between Phu Yai (big people) and Phu Noi (little people). When meeting someone new a Thai person will automatically make an assessment regarding their Phu Yai or Phu Noi status. They may ask quite probing questions in order to place them. A set of mutual obligations requires Phu Noi to defer to Phu Yai through demonstrations of obedience and respect. In return Phu Yai are obligated to care for and offer assistance to Phu Noi they have regular contact with. Phu Noi may ask Phu Yai for favours such as financial help or assistance securing employment. It would cause Phu Yai some loss of face to refuse these favours. When eating out in restaurants, Phu Yai will normally settle the bill. Examples of automatic Phu Yai status include: adults over children, bosses over employees, elder classmates over younger classmates, elder sibling s over younger siblings, teachers over students, military over civilian, Thai over non-Thai. As a visitor to Thailand you may be assigned Phu Yai status as a sign of courtesy, stemming somewhat from assumptions regarding your wealth and education. Do not be offended by these assumptions. If you are lucky enough that Thai people hold you in high regard, take it as a compliment. Mai Pen Rai never mind Mai Pen Rai means never mind (or more literally its nothing). Symbolising Thailands unofficial national philosophy these three little words help to calm the heart of a nation. Mai Pen Rai enables the Thai people to retain their composure, keep smiling and be happy in everything they do. Thai people care little about trifling things. If they are frustrated, instead of getting angry they simply say Mai Pen Rai and solve the problem by some other means. Thai people believe strongly in avoiding confrontation, which is one of the reasons travel in Thailand is such a pleasure. To the Thais, foreigners over-worry, see trouble where there is none, and are constantly fretting over the future. When Thai people think about their future, they are optimistic. If they are not so happy now, they believe they are sure to be in their next life! Concept of time in Thailand The Mai Pen Rai philosophy is well demonstrated by the Thai concept of time. Estimates of time, in terms of the past or the future, can be vague or even wildly inaccurate in Thailand. Thais are often late for appointments, but nobody seems to mind waiting. Traffic jams are common, restaurant service, and hotel check-in procedures can seem slow and inefficient, but you wont see Thai people getting upset about it. In fact, most Thai people find it pathetic to see a person childishly expressing their irritation. Such behaviour will set you apart as someone less than properly evolved. The best thing to do is to relax and let things proceed at their natural pace. Trying to pin Thai people down about times will generally get you nowhere. If you must ask when will we be ready to leave? or when will this job be done? go ahead. But be prepared for an answer that proves wrong, not because of bad planning, but simply a different attitude towards time. Thai business customs In business circles some Thai people will have a reasonable command of English. However, most Thais do not feel comfortable speaking English. Address a Thai man or woman by their first name, not their surname, using the prefix Khun instead of Mr or Mrs. It is not considered informal or familiar to call Thais by their first name. Although Thai people appreciate punctuality when conducting business, there is a differentconceptHYPERLINK http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.horizonmuaythai.com/Thailand/culture.html#timesa=Dsntz=1usg=AFQjCNGM8gGK4onIOzD8qdDEh5sO7ma2LQ HYPERLINK http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.horizonmuaythai.com/Thailand/culture.html#timesa=Dsntz=1usg=AFQjCNGM8gGK4onIOzD8qdDEh5sO7ma2LQofHYPERLINK http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.horizonmuaythai.com/Thailand/culture.html#timesa=Dsntz=1usg=AFQjCNGM8gGK4onIOzD8qdDEh5sO7ma2LQ HYPERLINK http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.horizonmuaythai.com/Thailand/culture.html#timesa=Dsntz=1usg=AFQjCNGM8gGK4onIOzD8qdDEh5sO 7ma2LQtimeHYPERLINK http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.horizonmuaythai.com/Thailand/culture.html#timesa=Dsntz=1usg=AFQjCNGM8gGK4onIOzD8qdDEh5sO7ma2LQ HYPERLINK http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.horizonmuaythai.com/Thailand/culture.html#timesa=Dsntz=1usg=AFQjCNGM8gGK4onIOzD8qdDEh5sO7ma2LQinHYPERLINK http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.horizonmuaythai.com/Thailand/culture.html#timesa=Dsntz=1usg=AFQjCNGM8gGK4onIOzD8qdDEh5sO7ma2LQ HYPERLINK http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.horizonmuaythai.com/Thailand/culture.html#timesa=Dsntz=1usg=AFQjCNGM8gGK4onIOzD8qdDEh5sO7ma2LQThailand. Deadlines are often overlooked and it is necessary to allow for this when scheduling meetings. Dont contradict or criticise people in public. An essential tool for success in Thailand is patience. A person who lets inconveniences pass and forgives easily is respected. Dos and donts in Thailand Loud voices, calling attention to yourself, pointing at people or things, throwing or dropping things, and making big hand gestures all seem graceless to the Thai sensibility. Preferred modes of comportment are those that reflect the quiet, subtle and indirect as opposed to the loud, obvious and direct. Although the southernHYPERLINK http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.horizonmuaythai.com/Koh%20Phangan/people.htmlsa=Dsntz=1usg=AFQjCNFO_U149i3qhoxZw4kCnw5vfMHhwQ HYPERLINK http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.horizonmuaythai.com/Koh%20Phangan/people.htmlsa=Dsntz=1usg=AFQjCNFO_U149i3qhoxZw4kCnw5vfMHhwQThais can at times be alarmingly direct in their interactions with others. The monarchy remains highly respected throughout Thailand and visitors to the country must be respectful also. Avoid disparaging remarks or jokes about the royal family; they will not be appreciated. All Thai people love their king, HYPERLINK http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.horizonmuaythai.com/Thailand/monarchy.htmlsa=Dsntz=1usg=AFQjCNGHxdr0A9teNyRnx41X2lBm06yLSwHMHYPERLINK http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.horizonmuaythai.com/Thailand/monarchy.htmlsa=Dsntz=1usg=AFQjCNGHxdr0A9teNyRnx41X2lBm06yLSw HYPERLINK http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.horizonmuaythai.com/Thailand/monarchy.htmlsa=Dsntz=1usg=AFQjCNGHxdr0A9teNyRnx41X2lBm06yLSwKingHYPERLINK http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.horizonmuaythai.com/Thailand/monarchy.htmlsa=Dsntz=1usg=AFQjCNGHxdr0A9teNyRnx41X2lBm06yLSw HYPERLINK http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.horizonmuaythai.com/Thailand/monarchy.htmlsa=Dsntz=1usg=AFQjCNGHxdr0A9teNyRnx41X2lBm06yLSwBhumibol; if you want to know why, ask them politely. Public displays of sexual affection are not acceptable in Thailand, although this may be changing with the younger generation in some areas. Thai people are extremely offended by public nudity, along with just about everyone else in the world. Thai people are modest in this respect and it should not be the visitors intention to reform them. A polite man in Thailand will not touch a woman. The feet in Thailand are considered spiritually as well as physically the lowest part of the body. Dont step over peoples legs, even in a crowded place such as on a train; wait politely for them to move out of the way. Do not point things out or pick things up with your feet. And do not wave your feet around peoples heads! If you accidentally touch someone with your foot, apologise. Food in Thailand is often eaten on the floor. Stepping over food is really a bad thing in Thailand. Shoes are not worn inside peoples houses, or in some guest houses and shops. If you are not sure watch other people. A pile of shoes at the entrance is your clue to remove yours (socks are OK). To Thai people wearing shoes indoors is disgusting. Show respect for religious symbols and rituals, and avoid touching spirit houses and household alters. Thai people, particularly those in rural areas, can be highly superstitious and may feel the need for lengthy ritual should you contaminate their sacred areas. Do not stare at Thai people. They may be smiling, but still do not look into their eyes too long. Particularly in rural areas young and old may react violently to such a gesture, which is considered a rude insult. During normal conversation most Thai people do not look directly at one another, and will avoid anything but the briefest eye-to-eye contact. Phu Nawy (little people) often keep their head bowed when conversing with Phu Yai(big people) as a sign of respect. As a foreigner it can be hard to know if you have a persons attention. And it is difficult to hear what people are saying if they speak with their back to you. Laundry and bathing Modest dress and a clean, neat appearance will create a very good impression in Thailand. Keep up with your laundry and you will receive better treatment everywhere. Most Thai people bathe in cold water. This is not a problem, as it is almost always hot enough for you to feel the need to cool down. Most Thais shower and put on fresh clothes at least twice a day. You will be more comfortable and sleep more soundly in the hot and humid climate if you do likewise. Many washrooms in Thailand do not have showerheads fitted to the wall. There is a cement trough or other kind of water reservoir provided for use. A plastic or metal bowl is used to sluice water over the body. This water is meant for cleaning and should remain clean for other peoples use. Do not contaminate this water. And do not climb into the reservoir in order to bathe! In rural areas many Thai people still use rivers and streams, or will bathe from an outdoor reservoir at home. When bathing in view of others men wear underpants. Women should wear a Pha Sing (cotton wraparound). Nude bathing in public view is not acceptable. In Thailand the squat toilet is the norm except in hotels and guesthouses geared towards foreigners. If you have never used one before it may take a bit of getting used to. Contrary to what some people seem to think, these are flushing toilets. They are flushed in the same way as western toilets, i.e. by dropping water through the hole. The difference from Western-style toilets being, you must scoop water with a bowl from a nearby reservoir and drop water through yourself, rather than release water from a tank using a lever. You can chuck water all over the place in a Thai toilet, so when you are finished it is a good idea to rinse the floor of any sand or mud you may have brought in on your feet. Thai people do not normally use toilet paper, prefering to rinse themselves thoroughly with soap and water. If you absolutely must use paper dont drop it down the toilet. Place it in the bin provided. If there is no bin provided, find another facility. Plumbing in Thailand simply isnt desig ned to handle paper, and in most places you will cause a great deal of inconvenience if you drop anything other than your natural waste through the toilet.

Omar Epps Essay -- Actor Love and Basketball Movies Essays

Omar Epps In the movies, Love and Basketball, and The Program the viewer can see various similarities that develop. One of the obvious comparisons can be seen in how the actor Omar Epps performs and the similar situations he’s faced with. In both films, he goes through struggles and reveals the life of a highly recruited athlete. The Program is produced by Samuel Goldwyn, Jr., while Love and Basketball is produced by Spike Lee and Sam Kitt. Love and Basketball is a movie that combines a love story with how basketball affects the relationship of two high school sweethearts. The two main characters in the movie are Quincy and his girlfriend, Monica. Quincy is played by Omar Epps and the story begins with showing how he is a very talented athlete in the central part of Los Angeles. He goes to a high school by the name of Crenshaw and is the leader of their well-known basketball team. By the end of his senior year, many colleges around the nation want him to come and represent their school. Quincy eventually tells all of his fans and supporters he has chosen to go to the University of Southern California. In the mean time, his soon to be girlfriend, Monica, is also expected to attend the same college. Later in the movie, Quincy and Monica get together and problems start to rise. Because Quincy is so popular with all the girls on campus he ends his relationship with Monica and starts his quest for the right girl to m arry. On another note, throughout the movie a very noticeable trait that Quincy displays is his confidence. For instance, Quincy always seems to get what he wants and his attitude towards everything is he will eventually be the best. This is mostly seen in his actions around girls and on the bask... ...et with Autumn because he is confident in his capabilities. Another correlation between the two films is the family problems they face. Each character comes from a home where the parents aren’t together anymore or they really never knew them. Lastly, Omar Epps is rewarded with the girl of his dreams in each motion picture, and it ends in a fairy tale fashion. Looking at each movie, the observer can see why Omar Epps was chosen for the main roles. He does a great job of presenting a college athlete faced with hardships and how to deal with adversity. His actions in both movies are comparable and because he plays an athlete, they have the same general theme. Each performance feeds off the other and after making The Program, Spike Lee and Sam Kitt probably thought Omar Epps would be perfect for Love and Basketball. In the end, he did a pretty good job.