Monday, September 30, 2019
Backstroke and Easy Roll
Easy Roll Easy roll is a newly designed Simple Machine that is useful to everyone. It is durable, useful, convenient and helpful! Various things can be put inside the Easy roll like shopping bags, food and beverages for outings, books and notebooks and other things that fit the machine. The companyââ¬â¢s main goal in making the machine is to solve our problems. Usually, in rainy seasons, we complain that our things get wet. With the help of their product, our things will be protected because of the covering provided by the machine. Another problem is the weight of what we are carrying.With the use of the Easy roll, what we will be carrying will weigh less and it would be easier to move them to places. There is also a small compartment at the lower part of the inside of Easy roll so that people could separate some objects desired to be separated. It has different parts which has different uses. It is also composed of different simple machines like the wheel and axle, screws, and a wedge. The wheel and axle in Easy roll is the wheels for it to easily be moved from one place to another. The screws are the ones that hold some parts together. The wedge is the zipper because it splits the plastic cover into two.Backstroke HISTORY OF BACKSTROKE Backstroke is an ancient style of swimming, who owes most of what it has to Harry Hebner. It was the second stroke to be swum in competitions after the front crawl. The first Olympic backstroke competition was the 1900 Paris Olympics men's 200 metre. Backstroke has a similar speed to butterfly. Race times for the butterfly are superior to those for the backstroke mostly because the former allows a racing start from poolside and the latter does not. In races beyond 200 meters, backstroke would actually be the faster of the two, though it mainly depends on the stamina of the swimmer.The maximum swimming speed for backstroke is around 1. 89 meter per second. Due to its position on the back, backstroke uses some different muscle s in the upper body than other styles. WHAT IS BACKSTROKE? A swimming stroke performed on one's back, especially one using alternating overarm strokes and a flutter kick For starters, backstroke swimming obviously requires the individual to FLOAT ON HIS BACK, and this is something that most beginners are slightly hesitant to do. The breathing pattern here can be more relaxed, as compared to other swimming strokes, as the persons head will always be above the water Tips for Backstroke SwimmingUse Your Shoulders Your shoulders play a very important role while backstroke swimming, and you need to move them around completely and forcefully. The manner in which your shoulders move should resemble the motion of a person rowing a boat. You must also try to achieve as much distance with your arms as possible while rotating your shoulders. Kicking You need to be constantly kicking down into the water in order to propel yourself forward. In backstroke swimming, your heels are entering the wat er first, so you must ensure that you never stop kicking. If you happen to stop kicking, you will find your lower body heavier to drag and manage.All basic backstroke swimming techniques require rapid and constant movement of the legs. Free Breathing Your head will always be above the surface of the water, so you can breathe as you want. Proper Backstroke Swimming Technique Positioning your Body make the transition from the starting position to swimming as if you are lying flat on your bed (with a pillow underneath your head). Push your stomach out and up toward the ceiling while placing the midriff as flat as you can. Head Movement Once you leap from your starting position, the head will lead the way and support you on the water.Relax your neck as you propel through the water, which will in turn keep the head steady without jerking it too much. A common mistake is that most beginners keep the head too high up from the water. This mistake can occur when your head is too far backward s in hopes of keeping water away from your face. Arms Movement You raise the right arm and guide with the thumb till the arm reaches the same level as the shoulder. Turn the right palm outward so that the little finger guides the entire movement. While the right arm is doing its job, your left hand is extending to your side, leading the way, and helping you balance the entire body.The little finger of your right arm goes in the water first, taking the entire arm inside with it, you will bend the right elbow, flex your left arm's wrist and push your left hand towards the feet. Keep pushing with your left hand till the elbow is straight again and being lifted to mimic what the right arm just did. Follow the same technique as the right arm and begin another stroke Legs and Feet Movement Keep your legs together, as close as possible throughout the entire stroke. Use Flutter Kick Common Backstroke Mistakes Head Position: Tucked Chin A common mistake that you might come across is tucking your chin while swimming backstroke.This forces your head to come high out of the water, creating resistance as you swim. Another problem you might face: Your body always wants to be in alignment. In other words, your feet want to be under your head. If you look forward and tuck your chin, your feet want to drop underneath you to the pool floor. Itââ¬â¢s nearly impossible to keep your hips afloat if you tuck your chin. If you look up, though, your feet want to be stretched out behind you. HOW TO FIX? Relax your neck. If you do, your body will straighten out. Youââ¬â¢ll notice that your eyes are now looking straight up toward the sky or ceiling.If you have a really bad habit of tucking your chin, try to push your chin up toward the ceiling more. Feel the water start to splash slightly over your forehead Common Backstroke Mistakes Body Position: Flat Torso If youââ¬â¢re like many other backstrokers, your shoulders might stay flat in the water as you swim. This can lead to sho ulder injury. To pull water in this position, youââ¬â¢ll reach behind you and strain your shoulders. Also, youââ¬â¢re not pulling as much water as you can because your arm is at a poor angle to grip the water. Instead, you should have an extensive shoulder rotation.Rotating your shoulders will ease any strain while pulling. It will also make your pull stronger, since youââ¬â¢ll be able to get a better catch. HOW TO FIX? Rotate your hips and shoulders simultaneously. To exaggerate this rotation, try a drill called ââ¬Å"Barrel Roll. â⬠Push off the wall and leave your arms at your sides. As you kick, rotate your body from side-to-side like a barrel floating and rolling in the water. Try to make the transitions are as smooth as possible. Take it slow. As you rotate, tap your shoulder to your chin. This will let you know if youââ¬â¢re rotating as far as you can.Common Backstroke Mistakes Legs: Bent Knees Youââ¬â¢ve probably seen someoneââ¬â¢s knees breaking the surface of the water while swimming backstroke. Even though itââ¬â¢s easy to see, it hard to feel. Kicking with bent knees is inefficient. Kicking like this creates resistance in the water, creating an inefficient, non-rhythmic stroke. HOW TO FIX? Keep your legs as straight as you can. Kick from your hips. To practice this, grab a board and hold it over your knees. Keep your arms straight so that you can steady the board, and relax it over your legs. Allow the board to float on the surface of the water as you grip it.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Cushy Armchair New Objectives and Rules Essay
As you know, my name is Alison Sampson. I am the new director of Cushy Armchair. I come from Cabletronica U.S. with the purpose of guiding Cushy Armchair to a new era in this changing industry. We will begin with some small steps, all involving ââ¬Å"greater consolidationâ⬠in order to achieve economies of scale and scope. In order to adapt and to be more competitive, we must focus our efforts to reduce cost, speed product design and improve technology transfer. Specifically, we most work in production, design (fabric & Style), sales and distribution (advertising), and procurement. Requested Activities â⬠¢To Purchasing Manager: oWorld Furnitureââ¬â¢s procurement division In New York, will be responsible to contract all chair glide-mechanisms, as well as fabric orders in excess of HK$35,000. This will help us to reduce our raw material cost. â⬠¢To Marketing Manager: New York advertising specialist will work together with us in launching new advertising campaigns. In this way, we can all share knowledge and come up with the best decision. â⬠¢To Design Manager: New York staff will be included in any substantial design and feature changes. In order to accomplish our ultimate goal of having everything in one place. Conclusion Even though I havenââ¬â¢t yet had the opportunity to meet with almost anyone, I will contact you over the next days to discuss the impact of these policy changes and the changes coming ahead. Do not hesitate to contact me if I have not called you yet. You will receive this MEMO in your native language over the next couple of days. I hope you share my observations and concerns for the future of Cushy Armchair, and I trust you will welcome these changes.
Friday, September 27, 2019
PROJECT IV Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
PROJECT IV - Essay Example average time (pit stop time) and number of wins for top 30 Sprint Cup Drivers (the Nextel Cup Series) for year 2008 (whole season) is taken for bivariate correlation and regression analysis. For this paper, the average time (pit stop time)1 and number of wins for top 30 Sprint Cup Drivers (the Nextel Cup Series) for year 2008 (whole season) is collected (Race results, 2008; Sprint Cup Drivers, 2008). Table 1: Driverââ¬â¢s Number of Win(s) and the Pit Stop Time in Appendix, shows the data for top 30 drivers for the Nextel Cup Series, 2008. In bivariate correlation and regression analysis , it will be determined whether average time of pit stops is related to the number of wins. Therefore, the average time will be taken as independent variable (x) and the number of wins will be taken as dependent variable (y). Figure 1 shows the scatter plot of Average Pit Stop Time and Number of Wins. From figure 1 , it can be seen that as the average pit stop time increases the number of wins decreases. Therefore, there is a negative relationship exists between the variables average time and number of wins. The value of sample correlation coefficient , r = -0.55 indicate that there is a negative relationship present between the variables average pit stop time and number of wins for top 30 Sprint Cup Drivers. The correlation is significant at level of significance, à ± = 0.01. For a two-tailed test at level of significance, à ± = 0.01 and degree of freedom 28, the critical value of r is à ± 0.463. The value of correlation coefficient r = - 0.550 is less than the left tail critical value of -0.463, therefore the null hypothesis of no correlation is rejected and the data provide sufficient evidence of correlation between variables average pit stop time and number of wins (Table 3: Correlation Matrix). The slope equal to -1.803 suggests that an additional second in average pit stop time decreases the number of wins of sprint cup drivers by approximately 1.8. The number of wins for
Analysis of The Christian and Bible Fundamentalism Essay
Analysis of The Christian and Bible Fundamentalism - Essay Example Christian and biblical fundamentalism refers to aspects based on ideologies that oppose the other theories that explain the nature. Scientific theories have been developed to explain the origin of life and the earth. Christian and Bible fundamentalists believe that the earth was created in seven, twenty four hour days. In addition, they believe that the other theories that explain the origin of earth are based on false ideologies. They focus on the creation account contained in the book of Genesis in the Old Testament of the Bible. They oppose biological theories of life and consider the people who formulate them as being directed by the evil. Christian fundamentalists argue based on the literal interpretation of the Bible. In this essay, Christian and Bible fundamentalism will be analyzed in detail. Fundamentalism refers to the total adherence to the values and doctrines of Christianity with respect to the literal interpretation of the Bible (Barrett & Kurian 45). Fundamentalism dev eloped from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, when the protestant movement strictly opposed the application of Christian doctrines to the current theories of science and philosophy. Fundamentalism has resulted to social and economic problems. The development of Christian fundamentalism was accelerated by the protestant movements in different countries. The aspect of fundamentalism developed from the United Kingdom and the United States of America in the 20th century. Christian and Bible fundamentalism started with the development of the social Gospel which was associated with the name of Walter Rauschenbusch in the United Kingdom (Gifford 2). Christian fundamentalists have been found to be extremists since they attribute all their lives and activities to the Christian faith. In the early days, Christianity was based on salvation with regard to matters that related to death, heaven and hell. However, with increased Christian fundamentalism, Christianity has been consid ered as a form of liberation from fear, hunger, ignorance, hell and other challenges that face the fundamentalists in their day to day lives. Christian and Bibl
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Explain the difference between descriptive and inferential statistics Essay
Explain the difference between descriptive and inferential statistics using examples of both to help illustrate your explanation - Essay Example Some of these functions include the standard deviation, median, means, kurtosis, and skew among others. This follows that for the cases of descriptive statistics the population parameters of intrinsic interest are estimated. For instance, calculation of the sample mean and standard deviation act as fundamental instruments or indicators, which are used in estimating the population mean and standard deviation respectively (SELKIRK, 2008). In most cases, these parameters have been cited to be biased in comparison with the ideal estimators; however, an element of utility in estimating the population parameters is attributed to them. Similarly, the descriptive statistics in most cases intends to describe a big chunk of data by providing a summary charts and tables; however, it does not attempt to make any relevant conclusion about the population attributed to the samples. This forms the distinctive feature of descriptive statistics (BLANK, 2008). For instance, a sample of 30 is selected randomly from a population of 300 and the parameters such as means and standard deviation calculated (CONWAY, 2003). These parameters will be used in approximating the population estimators and consequently used in graphs and charts to provide a summary of the data. This is uninformative. On the other hand, from the meaning of the word inference, inferential statistics is the process of reaching a conclusion regarding a parameter. In essence, inferential statistics is characterized by use of functions of the sample data, which help in drawing an inference that concerns a hypothesis regarding a certain population parameter. Some of the classic inferential statistics include z, t, and F-ratio among others. For the case of the hypothesis, we have both the null and alternative hypothesis. In this case, the expected value is immensely influenced by the sample size
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
The Ethics of Surveillance Cameras Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
The Ethics of Surveillance Cameras - Essay Example From when you walk out of your house, in most cities, you are being watched (Parenti, 2003). This is because the cameras are now installed in major city streets, gas stations, retail shops and transport systems such as trains. The use of surveillance cameras doubled in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City. These prompted frantic efforts, to curb terrorism, a major threat to security in this century. We are seeking to look at the ethics of surveillance cameras. Historically, the idea of watching the public by a select few, especially those who control us politically and economically can be traced to the Panoptical (Foucault, 1977). This was a kind of prison design, built in such a way that a single guard could watch the prisoners in a single gaze. This is a big way induces prisoners in a state of conscious and permanent knowledge that they are being watched. Foucault saw surveillance as productive machinery of continuous mind control, which is somehow what current surveillance cameras represent. Therefore, what we seek to argue here is that we need new ethics in the surveillance camera industry, because of the reasons below. This is because surveillance when done correctly and for the right reasons and people, then we can surrender apart of our civil liberty to privacy, for the sake of public security. Closed -circuit televisions when placed in public areas, give people a sense of security, reduce crime by up to five percent. Up to ninety percent of respondents saw no problem in having such surveillance in public areas. Surveillance done in the above manner, by the correct agencies, can be said to be ethical and legal. On the other hand, we can seek to look at the ethics of surveillance cameras, by looking at who does it and for what they will beà used to do, therefore the ethics of surveillance cameras. Ethics is defined by the BBC online, as a system of moral principles. This is what is good for the individual and society, therefore is responsible for holding the society together.Ã
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
The Practice of Sharing Housework Among Spouses Essay
The Practice of Sharing Housework Among Spouses - Essay Example According to Selle (2002), ââ¬Å"The Family: A Proclamation to the World teaches that fathers and mothers have specific, God-ordained responsibilities within an equal partnership, with neither husband nor wife seeking to dominate the other.â⬠(par. 1) It is actually a matter of taking the time to talk about the equal division of housework to ensure a smooth, stronger, happier and positive long-range relationship within the family. In USA Today (1998, 1), the discourse proffered that ââ¬Å"while the roles of females outside the household have changed dramatically as more women get jobs, responsibilities in the home have shifted only slightly, maintains Vicki Fitzsimmons, a professor of family economics.â⬠A survey of 450 married university employees and their spouses revealed that ââ¬Å"women are reluctant to give up territory to spouses or to lower their standards of cleanliness. Thus, the view of a wife as homemaker continues even though many women are the primary or co-breadwinners.â⬠The dilemma can actually be addressed by the spousesââ¬â¢ participation in the decision making regarding the division of housework. It is actually not a matter of the number of household tasks divided, but the quality of tasks both spouses agree to do. Further, commitment is tested on both partiesââ¬â¢ ability to perform their responsibilities to the best of their abilities. After all, marriage is a longtime commitment in life to supplement and complement each other ââ¬â especially in sharing housework.
Monday, September 23, 2019
Their eyes were watching God has been called an awakening Essay
Their eyes were watching God has been called an awakening novel.Discuss the meaning of this term and relate it to janie - Essay Example Janie returns her hometown draggled and tired out. Everyone is astonished to see her in this condition. She becomes the subject of criticism for porch sitters who gossip outside her friend Pheoby and her husband Sam Watsonââ¬â¢s home. However, Pheoby defends her and tries to comfort her by asking her what has happened during the last few months. She takes Janie to her house and offers her food and comfort and empathically listens to her story. A theme of judgment thus develops in the story. Porch sitters judged Janie in a wrong way by using harsh words and criticizing her past actions and current looks, whereas Pheoby, being a nice human and a good friend, chose to comfort her. Obviously Pheobyââ¬â¢s choice and actions were a lot better than those of the porch sitters. Janie begins telling her story from her early childhood when she used to live with her grandmother Nanny. One day she was in the backyard of her home when a boy named Johnny Taylor meets her and kisses her. After watching this grandma decides that Janie should get married to a capable man who can look after her and protect her. So she decides to marry her to Logan Killicks who is a much older man and can offer Janie protection and a potato farm. The author Hurston compares Janieââ¬â¢s life with a tree stating, "Janie saw her life like a great tree in leaf with the things suffered, things enjoyed, things done, and undone." (Chapter 2, Paragraph 1, Page 8) thus emphasizing the fact that Janie experienced sexual awakening in her grandmaââ¬â¢s backyard as she is amazed at the blooming pear tree. Hurston uses metaphors for Janie to express her beauty by stating, "She had glossy leaves and bursting buds and she wanted to struggle with life but it seemed to elude her." (Chapter 2, Paragraph 15, Page 11). In The Awakening, Edna is already married but she falls in love with another man, Robert. ââ¬Å"There was Robertââ¬â¢s reproach making itself felt by a quicker, fiercer, more overpowerin g love, which had awakened within her toward himâ⬠(Chopin, 1899, pg219). After her marriage with Logan, Janie didnââ¬â¢t find the true love she was looking for. She visits her home seeking grandmaââ¬â¢s advice saying, "Ah wants things sweet wid mah marriage lak when you sit under a pear tree and think" (Chapter 3, Paragraph 26, Page 23). But grandma just gives her a wait-and-see advice. This first marriage has only brought unhappiness and loneliness for Janie. At this point her dream of love and felicity dies and she begins to understand that "marriage did not make love." (Chapter 3, Paragraph 31, Page 25) Logan disregarded all of Janieââ¬â¢s feelings and desire for love and wanted her just to work on his farm like his first wife. Their relationship soon starts to get worse. Janie once told Logan, "If you can stand not to chop wood and tote wood Ah reckon you can stand not to git no dinner." (Page 45). Janie then meets Joe, a stylish and sophisticated man. After havin g been talking for many days they finally decide to run away and get married to each other. They arrive in town and get married. Soon Joe is elected as the mayor of the town and he gets himself busy in building and developing his new town, paying little or no attention to his wifeââ¬â¢
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Memo of Marketing Strategy Essay Example for Free
Memo of Marketing Strategy Essay Like water to fish, the basic reasons that determine the development of a company is called general environment, which includes: demographic reasons, cultural trends, economic climate, legal and political condition, specific international events, and technological change. General environment can be a threat or opportunity for companies, it depends on how deeply companies understand and make use of it. When companies can know the general environment they are facing, they will change their products and services in accordance with the culture they are facing. If companies do not understand the environment very well, they will lose a large sum of money. From my perspective, the three dimensions below are most vital. As for demographic reasons, it contains the attributes of individuals in terms of age, sex, marital status, income, ethnicity and other personal characteristics that may affect consuming patterns. In order to make money, knowing the demographic features of the areas are crucial. Since the new entrant Wall Street Deli is opening a few blocks away, it is necessary for us to keep our business information as a secret. Our advantage is that we have been in this area a long time, we know exactly what our customersââ¬â¢ attributes. Besides, economic climate has a remarkable influence on the business. American economy is in recession now, so Hometown Deli has to think of some ways to stimulate consuming. They can do some discounts like dinner specials or buy two and get one free. Next, the technology can be beneficial to firms but also creates threats, as technological changes force the restaurant to think of new technological strategies. When people are waiting in line, the restaurant can provide some services like upgrading customersââ¬â¢ electronic devices system. They can also provide some competitions for customers to play games in case they got bored. The Porterââ¬â¢s Five Forces Model indicates five most common threats faced by the firms in their local competitive environments. These are threat of entry, threat of rivalry, threat of buyers, threat of substitutes and threat of suppliers. Wall Street Deli is a threat of entry to Hometown Deli, the former may reduce the profits of the latter. In addition, when Hometown Deli cannot keep their competitive advantage and satisfy customers, Wall street Deli provides superior services, the former will lose as soon as possible. The rivalry influences Hometown Deli by fierce competitions and will reduce their profits. Plus, when the supplier Hometown Deli fails to satisfy buyers, customers will not consume and fire it. If the substitute Wall Street Deli offers approximately same or superior services and products than Hometown Deli, the former will not acquire their customers and profits. For Porterââ¬â¢s performance, Hometown Deli manages to use the cost of leadership strategy by gaining more market share in the price war. The firm sells their product either at average prices or lower prices than their rivals. They also use efficient distribution channels or mature services and products to make more profits. Another one is differentiation strategy. By creating unique products and services, the firms can attract more customers. They should be a leader of the scientific research, have a highly creative and skilled product development team, strong sales ability and influential reputation for innovation and quality. What is more, the strategy concentrates on achieving cost advantage and differentiation by developing their strengths and occupying narrow markets. By the way, it is not rational to exploit the three strategies at the same time, since no business can do everything well. Based on the markets and environment, firms should adopt different strategies. For Hometown Deli, it is essential to keep their recipe as a secret and provide same or even better services than they used to have.
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census Essay Example for Free
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census Essay The media is an industry where the competition is intense and it has been used by the government individuals, organizations, institutions, society, and family etc. for various purposes. However, due to the increasing competition in the industry, many at times the functions and duties which the media owes to the society are significantly overlooked. There are various functions of the media some will be discussed later on in this paper. The aim of the media has to a fearfully large extent shifted from fulfilling its roles to the society, rather their focus is often on how much entertainment they can offer to their audience and how much money they can make and how quickly they can make it. Entertainment and money making is definitely key in the existence, survival and growth of this industry, nevertheless, this should not be achieved by inappropriately portraying a groupââ¬â¢s identity in any form. DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS Construction ââ¬â To make or create, by putting together ideas, components or arguments. Group Identity ââ¬â This refers to a personââ¬â¢s sense of belonging to a group. Media- Are communication channels through which news, entertainment, education, data or promotional messages are disseminated. Media includes every broadcasting and narrow casting medium such as newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, billboards, direct mail, telephone, fax and internet (business dictionary, 2015). THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY BY TAJFEL TURNER (1979) This theory was propounded in order to understand the psychological reasons and basis for inter- group discrimination. The components of this theory goes thus: Categorization- This is the process of putting ourselves and others into categories, our self-image is associated with the categories we belong to. Identification ââ¬â This is the process by which we associate ourselves with certain groups of people. Nevertheless there are some groups we donââ¬â¢t want to be identified with (out groups) and there are some we would want to be identified with (in groups). Comparison- This is the process through which we compare our groups with other groups, thereby creating a positive bias towards the groups in which we are members of. This aspect of this work will focus on two salient functions of the media amidst the various ones there are. Social heritage function- The onus lies on the media to transmit positive racial and ethnic values about every existing race and ethnic group. The act of highlighting and spotlighting the various negativities of races and ethnic groups should be avoided. Surveillance function- This is the duty the media owes to the society in circulating news and information when necessary, the media is responsible for providing information about events. THE CONSTRUCTION OF GROUP IDENTITY BY HOLLYWOOD (A STUDY OF THE LATINO RACE) There are five acclaimed races in the world: 1) Mongoloid (Asian and American Indian) 2) Caucasoid (European) 3) Australoid (Australian and oceanic) 4) Negroid (East African black). 5) Capoid (South African black) The Latinos could be said to belong to the Mongoloid race and most of the 315 million people who live in the United States of America are either immigrants or have ancestry to another country. In actual fact, the only truly American people are the Native ones. This country is based on the idea of migration in pursuit of a better social and economic life. According to U. S. Census Bureau (2012), there are roughly 52 million Hispanics/Latinos living in the United States, representing approximately 16. 7% of the total population of United States of America, and making them the nationââ¬â¢s largest ethnic minority. Among Hispanic subgroups, Mexicans rated as the largest at 63%, followed by Puerto Ricans (9. 2%), Cubans (3. 5%), Salvadorans (3. 3%), Dominicans (2. 8%), and the remaining 18. 2% were Colombians, Guatemalans, Portuguese, Honduras, Ecuadorians, Peruvians, Brazilian. The main reason for their migration has been either that they are politically endangered or have financial problems. For instance the Cubans who ended up in America wanted to escape from the political conditions in their country. Escaping from the communist government practiced in Cuba, they were considered as ââ¬Ëpolitical refugeesââ¬â¢ in America for three and a half decades until 1995. As a result of Americaââ¬â¢s opposition to the Cuban government, they were treated in America better than almost any other ethnic group. This has also been partly because of their high level of education and professionalism before migration (Martins, 2006 as seen in Mousavi Sadeghi, 2013). Latinos, Mexicans in particular, mostly live in the Southwest; almost half in California and Texas. Puerto Ricans are mostly in the East and Cubans are in Florida. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, legal Hispanic household income is only 75 percent of White American income. There is also a high rate of poverty and unemployment among them, and their socio economic status is at a low level. The cause for this situation is partially their jobs being the lowest paid ones, their low education level, and employment discrimination (Camarillo and Bonilla, 2001). They are present in the news, advertisements, election campaigns, political debates, television and films. The common major feature that is present in all of these portrayals is the problems related to them that should be solved and not to be glorified, exaggerated or exploited by Hollywood. Before now African Americans were more likely to be portrayed as domestic workers in Hollywood. African Americans played major roles in television sitcoms such as ââ¬Å"Beulahâ⬠in the 1950ââ¬â¢s and ââ¬Å"Gone with the windâ⬠in 1939. In recent times Latinos have increasingly replaced African Americans as Hollywood domestics. Hollywood has presented an incorrect reality of the Latino people to the American people and to the world at large, it has exaggerated a poor image of this particular race. Although the Latinos who live in America get more roles to play in Hollywood, most of these roles are mentioned in the next paragraph. The Latino female is often presented as a temptress, vamp, lustful, promiscuous, unfaithful, manipulative, of loose morals or submissive at times in relation to a white male fantasy, low class, serving the whites. A list of Ten Latino Female artists who have played the role of a maid in Hollywood Movies/series. Jennifer Lopez ââ¬â Maid in Manhattan, 2002 Aida Linares- Clueless, 1995 Lupe Ontiveros- As good as it gets, 1997 (She has played an estimate of 150 maid roles on television). Consuela-Family Guy, 2005-till present Nadine Valesquez-My name is Earl, 2005-2009 Paz Vega- Spanglish, 2004 Kate Del Castillo- La misma Luna, 2007 Adriana Barraza- Babel, 2006 Catalina Saavedra, The maid, 2009 Roselyn Sanchez, Devious Maids, 2013- till present Pania Ramirez ââ¬â Devious Maids, 2013 till present THE MEDIA, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL CHANGE INITIATIVE (MDSCI)ââ¬â¢S SIX YEAR STUDY REVEALS SOME STATISTICS. Among the racial and ethnic groups studied in the Media, Diversity, and Social Change Initiativeââ¬â¢s report, released August 2014, Latinos made up only 4. 9% of movie characters across 100 of 2013ââ¬â¢s top-grossing films. According to the U. S. Census Bureauââ¬â¢s estimates, there are roughly 52 million Latinos in the U. S. as of July 1, 2011, or just over 16% of the current U. S. population. That number is on track to reach 132. 8 million ââ¬â or about 30% of the U. S. population ââ¬â by July 1, 2050. LATINOS THAT ARE DEPICTED IN TOP-GROSSING MOVIES ARE MOSTLY NAKED. While the study does note that ââ¬Å"Hispanic females (37. 3%) were more likely to be featured in popular films than were white females (29. 6%) or Asian females (32%),â⬠Latinas are also more likely than females among any of the other groups studied (37. 5%, to be precise) to be shown partially dressed or nude on the big screen. LATINOS ARE ALSO HIGHLY LIKELY TO BE SEXUALIZED. The sexualization of Latinos does not stop with women. Latino men were the most likely among the studied groups (16. 5%) to be depicted wearing ââ¬Å"tight, alluring or revealing clothing. â⬠DANGERS OF THE NEGATIVE PORTRAYAL OF RACE ETHNICITY BY THE MEDIA ?Since there is a tendency to believe what is represented or depicted by the media; as particular races or ethnic groups are often negatively portrayed, others who are not acquainted with such group of people are bound to believe they are actually the way the media has presented them. ? Another danger of negative portrayals of race/ethnic groups by the media is that the younger ones from such groups may not be able to see themselves better than the way the media has portrayed them. For example if a race is continually depicted as a maid or as vulgar murderer the younger generation of such groups may not see anything wrong with being that way and could actually end up as same. ? This particular race have existing challenges of employment, poor education; the continuous depictions as such does not help solve these problems, but only worsens them. ?It could be difficult for people who are negatively portrayed to keep relationships with or amongst other races who are depicted as superior to them. THE NOLLYWOOD CONSTRUCT OF ETHNICITY (A STUDY OF THE YORUBA, AND NORTHERN NIGERIANS) The founding fathers of Yoruba films in Nigeria i. e. Herbert Ogunde, Moses Olaiya (Baba Sala) Based their works on the constructive values of the Yoruba ethnic group without leaving their audience entertained. In recent times Nollywood has neglected the transfer of social heritage function in the production of Yoruba films. More often than necessary abusive statements, raining of curses and the invention of such and rascality has been synonymous with Yoruba films. The very rich Yoruba culture which the world could learn from is often being tarnished by our film industry. However there are various Yoruba producers who focus on spreading the positivity of the Yoruba culture i. e. Tunde Kelani, Tade Ogidan, Yinka Afolayan. Men from the Northern part of Nigeria are also often times portrayed as either a gateman or the security man of a well-established family. The character who could actually be Yoruba speaks like a man from the north to convince the audience that the gateman is a man from the Northern part of the Country. Little does Nollywood know that many of the gatemen in Lagos which I can speak for are not even Nigerians. I have observed that most of the gatemen/security men in reality are actually from Niger Republic many of them look like Nigerian Northerners, are able to speak Hausa language but they are not Nigerians. RECOMMENDATIONS ? Every race has some sort of value and norms that could be positive, the media should hereby seek out such and spread them. ?The media needs to respect the fact that every human person has dignity and should be portrayed as such. ?They never should never assume that a particular race or ethnicity is less than the other, regardless of the socio economic status of such groups. ?The media should seek to solve the challenges faced by some races and ethnic groups rather than exploit them. ?The media should be reminded that they are socially responsible to the society, thus they should be mindful of what they feed the society with.
Friday, September 20, 2019
Definitions on the concept of nationalism
Definitions on the concept of nationalism Nationalism is a concept that is not easily defined. There are numerous definitions and forms of what is nationalism, and many of these definitions even overlap. However, there is no one definition that is more adequate than another. Keeping in mind that these definitions are constantly evolving, with thorough analysis and the juxtaposition of arguments set out by eight prominent scholars, a clearer definition of nationalism can be attained. To begin with, the most well know definition today is from Professor Anthony Smith. He states that nationalism is simply an ideological movement for attaining and maintaining autonomy, unity and identity for a population which some of its members deem to constitute an actual or potential nation (Smith, 2001). In this definition, Smith reveals what he believes the three main goals of nationalism are: autonomy, national unity, and national identity. Even Smiths profound definition has not been available for very long considering he was born in 1933. Although there is much argument on the definition of nationalism, Smith agrees that there is one main point of agreement and that is that the term nationalism is a modern phenomenon (Smith, 2001). Civic nationalism is basically defined as a group of people which have a certain loyalty to civic rights or laws and pledge to abide by these laws. Ethnic nationalism is basically a group that possesses a common culture, language, land, etc. It is more specific in terms of who can be in it (McGregor, 2010). Smith writes that every nationalism contains civic and ethnic elements in varying degrees and different forms. Sometimes civic and territorial elements predominate; at other times it is the ethnic and vernacular components that are emphasized (Smith, 2001). Smiths most popular argument features civic and ethnic types of nationalism as opposed to eastern and western types. Even more specifically, Smith makes the distinction between both civic and ethnic nationalisms. He also believes that Many modern nations are formed around pre-existing, and often pre-modern, ethnic cores (Smith, 2001). Smith is claiming that nations had pre-existing-origins prior to their new origins of their new nation. One of the most important arguments by critics is that the civic and ethnic viewpoint of nationalism collapses too much on the ethnic category (Shulman, 2002). Smiths definition seems to be the foundation for nationalism, although he ce rtainly was not the first to attempt to define it. Other scholars go in to more detail on certain elements of the definition, but most relate back to Smiths original definition. On the contrary to Anthony Smiths definition of nationalism pertaining to the civic and ethnic type, Hans Kohn has argued that the two main types of nationalism are eastern and western. His definition states, Nationalism is a state of mind, in which the supreme loyalty of the individual is felt to be due to the nation-state (Kohn, 1965). Kohns argument includes both eastern and western types of nationalism which refer to Eastern and Western Europe. Eastern nationalism conceived the nation as an organic community, united by culture, language and descent (McGregor 2010). This particular idea could possibly be related to Smiths ethnic type of nationalism. Western nationalism conceived the nation as a political and civic community, held together by voluntary adherence to democratic norms (McGregor 2010). Again, western nationalism could be perceived as a civic type of nationalism. This can be recognized as two similar classifications on two unfamiliar grounds. Kohn believes that national ism relates directly with eastern and western Europe and that it is also where the state of mind of nationalism originated. The main criticism of Kohns classification of nationalism is him being over simplistic. He certainly does not go into as much detail as Smith on the definition. He also relates only towards Europe which is why he is being identified as over simplistic. Next, Carlton J. H. Hayes definition of nationalism states, Loyalty and attachment to the interior of the group (namely the nation and homeland) are the basis of nationalism (Hayes, 1926). In this definition, a common cultural background and a common cultural group are considered the main factors in forming a nation (Naqvi, Ali). That remains true with most of the definitions of nationalism. Hayes definition of nationalism seems to be more specific to the ethnic ties toward nationalism. In other words, Hayes is saying that land, language, and blood are the basis of nationalism. He is saying that nation is something to be proud of (Naqvi, Ali). Hayes also believes that these ethnic qualities are the most important; even religion does not compare. à It is attachment to nationality that gives direction to ones individual and social postures, not attachment to religion and ideology. A human being takes pride in his national achievements and feels dependent on its cultural heritage, not on the history of religion and his faith (Hayes, 1926). This quote further proves Hayess view on nationalism and how it relates to ones culture and past, and specifically not related to religion at all. The reason Hayess definition is unique from others, is his emphasis on the fact that religion is not a factor in forming a nation. To further specify Hayess definition on nationalism he says, What distinguishes one human being from another are not their beliefs, but their birth-place, homeland, language and race. Those who are within the four walls of the homeland and nation, belong to it, and those who are outside it, are aliens. It is on the basis of these factors that the people have a feeling of sharing a single destiny and a common past. (Hayes, 1926). This quote goes hand in hand with Hayess definition of nationalism and just further explains it. According to Hayes, nationalism does not exist without that ethnic background. Furthermore, according to scholar Benedict Anderson, nationalism is, a new emerging nation imagines itself to be antique (Anderson, 2003). This is similar to how Anthony Smith and Carlton Hayes defined nationalism. It is mostly like Smiths ethnic nationalism, which focuses more on the origin of the nation. Anderson focuses more on modern Nationalism and suggests that it forms its attachment through language, especially through literature (Anderson, 2003). Of particular importance to Andersons theory is his stress on the role of printed literature (Anderson, 2003). In Andersons mind, the development of nationalism is linked with printed literature and the growth of these printed works. People were able to read about nationalism in a common dialect and that caused nationalism to mature (Anderson, 2003). Andersons definition of nationalism and nation differ greatly from other scholars. He defines nation as an imagined political community (Anderson 2003). He believes this because the nat ion is always conceived as a deep, horizontal comradeship. Ultimately it is this fraternity that makes it possible, over the past two centuries, for so many millions of people, not so much to kill, as willingly to die for such limited imaginings (Anderon, 2003). Not only is Andersons theory distinctive because of the printed literature theory, but also because it is the imagined political community. Another prominent Nationalist researcher, Ernest Gellner states that, nationalism is primarily a political principle that holds that the political and the national unit should be congruent (Gellner, 1983). Gellner was once a teacher of Anthony Smith. Although most scholars would agree that nationalism appeared after the French Revolution, Gellner further argues that nationalism became a sociological necessity in the modern world (Gellner, 1983). His argument is similar to the uniqueness of Benedict Andersons printed literature theory, but Gellner focuses more on the industrialization of work and cultural modernization to explain how nationalism expanded (Zeulow, 1999). Gellner believes that states only exist where there is division of labour, therefore the state comes before nationalism (Gellner, 1983). Like other scholars, Gellner believes that nationalism is a political force. Gellner also stresses the congruency of nation and politics. He does not believe one can occur without the other one. There are many criticisms to Ernest Gellners theory, including Anthony Smith saying, It misreads the relationship between nationalism and industrialization (Smith 1998). Not all of the critics view Gellners theory as a misread. Most agree that he is the father of nationalism studies and most say that his nationalism work was brilliant (University of Wales Press). One can usually relate their definition of nationalism with Ernest Gellner or Anthony Smith. Gellner stresses the importance of the political side, while Smith puts the importance on cultural. Neither are right or wrong, just a difference of opinion. Historian John Breuilly defends a more modern theory of nationalism, similar to Benedict Andersons. In reference to nationalism, he concludes, The rise of the modern state system provides the institutional context within which an ideology of nationalism is necessary (Breuilly 1985). Breuilly argues that the process of state modernization provides an important factor in understanding historical signs of nationalism (Cormier, 2001). Breuilly argues that nationalism does not have much to do with ethnicity or ethnic background, but rather more to do with political motivation. Breuilly is not the first scholar who believed that ethnic background had nothing to do with nationalism. In fact, Breuillys definition relates well to Gellners in the sense that they both argue in favor of political motivation. Nationalists are seen to create their own ideology out of their own subjective sense of national culture. (Breuilly, 1982). This particular quote is quite similar to Andersons imagined polit ical community theory in that Breuilly does not support the ethnic side of nationalism nearly as much as others nationalists. Breuilly criticizes most scholars due to the fact that they believe in national culture because he believes that there is no such thing. He believes that the political component of nationalism is by far the most important. Breuilly indicates in his definition the importance of the state system; hence the political force necessary for nationalism to occur. Next, Michael Hechter defines nationalism as a, collective action designed to render the boundaries of the nation congruent with those of its governance unit (Hechter, 2000). He further explains, Nation and governance can be made congruent by enacting exclusive policies that limit full membership in the polity to individuals from on one more favoured nations (Hechter, 2000). Hechter stresses the importance of the correspondence of the government and the boundaries of the nation; much like Breuilly in the sense that both of them indicate that nationalism requires congruency for it to take place. In Hechters book, Containing Nationalism, he expresses his belief that the reason nationalism occurs is because of self-determination. Hechter further explains his definition and clarifies that there are two different types of nationalism. The first one is of the ideology of freedom and he gives the example of the French Revolution. The second form is xenophobic or even goes as far as genocide (Hechter). This explains where the different views of nationalism come in; civic versus ethnic or eastern versus western. Furthermore, Hechter defines the two different types of nationalism to even more specific forms of nationalism that go beyond his original definition. These definitions include: state-building nationalism, peripheral nationalism, irredentist nationalism, and unification nationalism (Hechter, 2000). Hechter doesnt argue that there are two definitions of nationalism like other scholars do, but he concludes that nationalism is specific to the means of each and every situation. In Peter Alters definition of Nationalism, he states, Nationalism is a political force which has been more important in shaping the history of Europe and the world over the last two centuries than the ideas of freedom and parliamentary democracy or, let alone, of communism (Alter, 1994). His argument is similar to John Breuilly in the sense that he agrees that there is a strong emphasis on nationalism being a political force. Alter is saying that it has everything to do with being a political movement instead of the idea of freedom. In reference to nationalism, Alter states, It can be associated with forces striving for political, social, economic and cultural emancipation, as well as with those whose goal oppression (Alter, 1994). His outlook on nationalism seems much broader than other scholars. This particular reference virtually sums up many scholars definitions together. Alter does not seem to have a specific argument on nationalism, as in civic vs. ethnic or western vs. eastern but just an acceptance that nationalism could be based on all of these arguments. Again, Alter says, It can mean emancipation, and it can mean oppressionà ¢Ã¢â ¬Ã ¦ dangers as well as opportunities (Alter, 1994). There is no precise argument when he tries to define nationalism even though he does have the idea that nationalism is directly related to a political force. Alter also states that nationalism was important to shaping Europe, however most scholars agree with that statement to begin with. Most modern scholars would relate to Alters style of defining nationalism. In conclusion, the definition of nationalism is not easily defined and scholars that have tried to define it differ, in some amount of detail, from each other. Each scholar seems to have his own uniqueness and input to the definition, however, these definitions tend to pertain to one certain area of nationalism. According to the eight previous scholars, there are a myriad of styles of nationalism including: political, cultural, ethnic, civic, eastern, and western. Many aspirations are desired because of nationalism, including establishment of homeland, separation, expansion, etc. Although the definition of nationalism is essentially particularistic, scholars have been able to identify a few common ideologies. Some common ground includes; most scholars agree that nationalism started after the French Revolution. They also agree that nationalism occurs because of a desire for national independence. Scholars are always doing research and finding new things which will result in new defini tions. Most of the most protrusive definitions of nationalism have come about in the last fifty or so years, so no telling what scholars might come up with in future years.
Thursday, September 19, 2019
The Civil Reserve Air Fleet :: essays research papers
Abstract The Civil Reserve Air Fleet is a partnership between the Department of Defense and commercial airlines where the airlines contractually commit a portion of their aircraft and crews to be used by the Department in the event of any level of military conflict. These aircraft can be ââ¬Å"called upâ⬠and required to respond quickly to provide airlift support to the Department of Defense. There are minimum required levels of participation in order for the airlines to be eligible, and in turn they receive peace time business including passenger and cargo movement approximately in proportion to their commitment level. The program is divided into three segments which include varying amounts and sizes of aircraft that serve specific purposes. There are also three levels of activation depending on the severity of the conflict, which also require different amounts and sizes of aircraft. This program has been in place for nearly 53 years, and has become an essential partnership required fo r an effective United States military. The following pages are an investigation various aspects of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet such as its purpose, history, and effectiveness. The Civil Reserve Air Fleet à à à à à The Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) is a network of select aircraft from several commercial airlines that are all committed in various amounts to the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide airlift resources when the capability of U.S. military aircraft is exceeded. This system is designed so that these carriers can provide military cargo movement and troop transportation to anywhere in the world on short notice in the event of a military conflict. In order for airlines to join the CRAF, they must commit at least 30 percent of their long-range passenger fleet and 15 percent of their long-range cargo planes (Fact Sheet, 2004). These aircraft must also be U.S. registered, capable of over water operations, and have at least four complete crews assigned for each aircraft (Fact Sheet, 2004). Airlines that participate in CRAF have provided vital support to our military since the Korean War (Graham, David, 2003). The Persian Gulf War was the first official activation of th e CRAF, where two thirds of the troops and one quarter of the air cargo was moved by commercial airplanes (Graham, 2003). Though not officially activated, the CRAF is currently supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, providing nearly double the amount of aircraft that the DoD has estimated for its most demanding war strategies. This paper will provide a brief explanation of the purpose of the CRAF, its history, the effectiveness of the program, and a quick look towards the future of the CRAF.
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Differences in Gays and Lesbians Essay -- Health, Diseases, HIV/AIDS
Differences in Gays and Lesbians HIV/AIDS is one of the leading causes of death according to the World Health Organization in 2004. Imagine the numbers of infection and death have steadily been increasing over the years, it probably has moved up in ranking. HIV is commonly transmitted by bodily fluids, but it is more highly transmitted when men have sex with men. I will be discussing the different variables that come into effect when gay men and lesbians are transmitted with HIV and how to avoid it. Gay, Bi sexual , and other males that have sex with men are , ââ¬Å"approximately 2% of the US population, yet are the population most severely affected by HIV and are the only risk group in which new HIV infections have been increasing steadily since the early 1990s,â⬠(CDC, 2006). In the year of 2006 in the United States , males who have sex with other males where accounted as more than half of the new HIV infections , ââ¬Å"53% ,â⬠(CDC, 2006). Males who have sex with males are known has MSM , MSM with previous known history of injection drug use were an additional, ââ¬Å"4% of new infections,â⬠(CDC, 2006). Towards the end of 2006 , more than half of the 53% were MSM or MSM that used injection drugs, accounted for the population living with HIV in the United States. The beginning of the epidemic in the United States the MSM have been a consistent representative of the biggest percentage of people diagnosed with AIDS and those living with the diagnoses. They sti ll remain the a big part of HIV and are learning different ways in remaining HIV free. The study was able to break up what ethnicity of homosexuals are getting infected and what are the age groups, the age groups are broken into 13-29, then 30-39, and 40-49. First the Caucasians accounte... ...ailable, one can take out penis before ejaculation. Oral sex on the anus should also use a dental damn in order to avoid fluids. Sharing sex toys between lesbians and males can be very risky such as a dildo , it can contain vaginal fluids, semen, faeces or blood on them. Make sure to keep them clean and to clean they very well every time. Also rough sex can lead to bleeding or breaks or cut in the lining of vagina or anus is very risky due to bodily fluids coming out. Mutual masturbation can lead to contraction of HIV if there is a wound on the hand of person performing it. If the sexual partner is an acquaintance the hands and fingers should be examined. For males penis to anus penetration HIV can be avoided by latex condom, there is still risk of infection. Making sure there is lubricant and anus is soft before entering is a good way to avoid bleeding and tares.
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Jose Rizal’s Family
Jose Rizal's parents, Francisco Mercado Rizal y Alejandro (1818ââ¬â1898)[8] and Teodora Alonzo y Quintos(1826ââ¬â1911),[8] were prosperous farmers who were granted lease of a hacienda and an accompanying rice farm by the Dominicans. Rizal was the seventh child of their eleven children namely: Saturnina (1850ââ¬â1913), Paciano (1851ââ¬â1930), Narcisa (1852ââ¬â1939), Olympia (1855ââ¬â1887), Lucia (1857ââ¬â1919), Maria (1859ââ¬â1945), Jose Protasio (1861ââ¬â1896), Concepcion (1862ââ¬â1865), Josefa (1865ââ¬â1945), Trinidad (1868ââ¬â1951) and Soledad (1870ââ¬â1929). Rizal was a 9th-generation patrilineal descendant of Domingo Lam-co (Chinese: pinyin: Ke Yinan), a Chinese immigrant entrepreneur who sailed to the Philippines from Jinjiang, Quanzhou in the mid-17th century. [9] Lam-co married Inez de la Rosa, a Sangley native of Luzon. To free his descendants from the Sinophobic animosity of the Spanish authorities, Lam-co changed the surn ame to the Spanish ââ¬Å"Mercadoâ⬠(market) to indicate their Chinese merchant roots. In 1849, Governor-General Narciso Claveria ordered all native families in the Philippines to choose new surnames from a list of Spanish family names. Jose's father Francisco[8] adopted the surname ââ¬Å"Rizalâ⬠(originally Ricial, the green of young growth or green fields), which was suggested to him by a provincial governor, or as Jose had described him, ââ¬Å"a friend of the familyâ⬠. However, the name change caused confusion in the business affairs of Francisco, most of which were begun under the old name. After a few years, he settled on the name ââ¬Å"Rizal Mercadoâ⬠as a compromise, but usually just used the original surname ââ¬Å"Mercadoâ⬠. Upon enrolling at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, Jose dropped the last three names that make up his full name, at the advice of his brother, Paciano Rizal Mercado, and the Rizal Mercado family, thus rendering his name as ââ¬Å"Jose Protasio Rizalâ⬠. Of this, Rizal writes: ââ¬Å"My family never paid much attention [to our second surname Rizal], but now I had to use it, thus giving me the appearance of an illegitimate child! ââ¬Å"[10] This was to enable him to travel freely and disassociate him from his brother, who had gained notoriety with his earlier links with native priests who were sentenced to death as subversives. From early childhood, Jose and Paciano were already advancing unheard-of political ideas of freedom and individual rights which infuriated the authorities. [11][12] Despite the name change, Jose, as ââ¬Å"Rizalâ⬠soon distinguishes himself in poetry writing contests, impressing his professors with his facility with Castilian and other foreign languages, and later, in writing essays that are critical of the Spanish historical accounts of the pre-colonial Philippine societies. Indeed, by 1891, the year he finished his sunset, this second surname had become so well known that, as he writes to another friend, ââ¬Å"All my family now carry the name Rizal instead of Mercado because the name Rizal means persecution! Good! I too want to join them and be worthy of this family nameâ⬠¦ ââ¬Å"[10] Jose became the focal point by which the family became known, at least from the point of view of colonial authorities.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Autocratic and Democratic Leadership Essay
There are many pros and cons of both autocratic and democratic government, not to mention, many obvious differences. Surprisingly, there are also some similarities between these two unique governing styles. Autocracy as defined by the Merriam Webster online dictionary is, ââ¬Å"A government in which one person possesses unlimited power.â⬠Opposingly, democracy as defined by Danzinger, professor and former chair of the department of political science at the University of California is ââ¬Å"A governance by leaders whose authority is based on a limited mandate from a universal electorate that selects among genuine alternatives and has some rights to political participation and oppositionâ⬠(173). Most leadership characteristics can be categorized into these two groups further separating them into two distinct leadership styles. An autocratic leader tends to lead with an iron fist similar to the style of a totalitarian government, whereas a democratic leader tends to take a slightly softer approach governing with consent and compliance from the people. Throughout this paper I will provide an analysis of basic characteristics of both autocratic and democratic government and leaders, as well as a brief overview of the positive and negative aspects of both governing systems. Each governing style is made to work within its own environment, governing its people and doing what is best for its country. Autocracy requires a lack of separation of powers, so the absolute ruler cannot beopposed by any other powerful source. For example, a checks and balancesââ¬â¢ system would deter an autocratic government because the leader would not have absolute power. Autocracies can take the form of a totalitarian/dictoral government, where a country is under the rule of one person. Many times, autocratic rulers work to better their countries only because it in turn provides great advantages for the rulers themselves. ââ¬Å"An autocratic government is one that maximizes the net income the ruling clique extracts from the remainder of the population; this extraction, in turn, is the difference between the tax revenues the regime collects and the amounts it spends on public services, military activities, and interest.â⬠(Niskanan, 182). Basically, out of the increase in output that results from the net income extracted from the population, the leader obtains more resources for his or her own purposes than for the general public. Also, since the public population is a source of tax-income for the leader, the leader then hasà incentive to protect his or her people from warfare, terrorist attacks, etc. Hence, the monopolization of income tax can actually have a positive affect on the general public. The public is also benefitted because they obtain the income they have made that has not been taken in taxes. A commonly used phrase people use when talking about autocratic governments is, ââ¬Å"An absolute ruler fails absolutely,â⬠but is this necessarily the case in an autocratic government? Unlimited power of a ruler may only be considered dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands. The term autocracy has become synonymous with the title of dictator, however, not all dictatorships are necessarily a negative form of government. For example, Hugo Chavez, leader of Venezuela has created the Bolivarian Revolution, ââ¬Å"A close replica of Franklin Rooseveltââ¬â¢s New Deal-a progressive income tax, public works, social security, cheap electricity-makes him wildly popular with the poor. And most Venezuelans are poorâ⬠(Palast 42). On the other hand, many people argue that Chavez is in fact a bad leader. A common view of the American government portrays Chavez as a threat to global oil prices and regional economy. Just like there is a good and bad side to autocratic leaders, ther e are many pros and cons when closely examining an autocratic government. Many may argue that an autocratic style of government is corrupt and unjust. However, there are many positive aspects of autocracy. Decisions are made quickly without strenuous contemplation from other political powers. For example, if a dictator wanted to pass a law making it illegal to wear blue jeans in his or her country he could pass the law without consent from anyone else. If a president wanted to make the same law, it would have to be overseen and contemplated by numerous other parties before passing. Not only is an autocratic government quick to make decisions, it also defines a clear bottom line. Topics of controversy are not left up to the interpretation of the public, and differing opinions are not expressed because the public population of an autocratic government is generally discouraged from expressing individual opinions. Unfortunately there are also many negative aspects of autocracy. Mainly, ità has the potential to ignore the needs of the majority. Ultimately, all decisions are left up to the leader, creating a potentially skewed outcome as far as the needs of the public go. The views and norms of a whole state can be held solely in the hands of one person and needless to say may have quite a negative effect. Irrational decisions can also be made, with virtually no hope of being stopped. If an autocratic leader happens to be having a bad day and makes an irrational and harsh decision, it may have a negative impact on all of the country. One may wonder why the citizens of an autocratic government would tolerate such a harsh and extreme leader, why not just overthrow him?The same logic of collective action that ensured that there are no social contracts in the historical record whereby large groups agreed to obtain the advantages of government also implies that the masses shall not overthrow an autocrat simply because they would be better off to do so. Historical evidence from at least the first pharos through Saddam Hussein indicates that resolute autocrats can survive even when they impose heinous amounts of suffering upon their peoples. When they are replaced, it is for other reasons (Mancur 23). The opposite of autocracy could be thought of as democracy. Democracy is a widely accepted form of government that works for the people by allowing them to choose their own representation. Not only are the people represented by a leader of their choice, but are also able to give opinions as to the on goings of their country. ââ¬Å"Democracy is a sign of the existence of a strong civil society that is based on various intermediary groups, from womenââ¬â¢s associations and labor unions to cooperatives and trade councils. Such groups serve as probably the most effective tools for communicating social demands to decision makers.â⬠(Gangi 41). Democracy is said to have originated in medieval Europe as a cause of three main points;First, late medieval Europe had numerous political characteristics that distinguished it from other major world civilizations. These characteristics the most important of which were representative assemblies constituted as a basis for liberal democracy which provided Europe with a predisposition toward democratic political institutions. Second, the ââ¬Ëmilitary revolutionââ¬â¢ of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries led to the strengthing of monarchal power in countries relying on domestic resources to finance modern armies.à In these countries, medieval constitutionalism was done away with and expansive autocracies were built demolishing the predisposition. Third, in countries that avoided the military revolution, military modernization did not destroy constitutional government, and a liberal political outcome became more likely (Downing 3). Much like autocracy requires a lack of separation of powers, democracy needs a separation of powers. A democratic government is divided into three branches. The executive branch consists of the presidential party which in turn consists of the president, the vice president, and all the cabinet members. This branch assists in carrying out the law. The president is allowed to pass or veto a bill sent by the legislature. The legislative branch or ââ¬Å"Bicameral Congressâ⬠consists of the Senate (100 seats, one-third are renewed every two years; 2 members are elected from each state by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (435 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)â⬠(https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/print/us.html). The legislative branch writes laws on a bill so they can be sent to the senator, and then to the representatives, and then to the president. The judicial branch is in charge of the court systems consisting of the ââ¬Å"Supreme Court (nine justices; nominated by the president and confirmed with the advice and consent of the Senate; appointed to serve for life); United States Courts of Appeal; United States District Courts; State and County Courtsâ⬠(https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/print/us.html). The judicial branch applies the law by hearing and making decisions on various legal cases. Just like any other government, democracy can vary from country to country. A democratic government may come in many different forms such as participatory democracy, representative democracy, electoral democracy, liberal democracy, etc, hence there are near endless positive and negative aspects. Singapore practices an electoral democracy where ââ¬Å"All citizens periodically vote in order to select political leaders from among alternative contendersâ⬠(Danziger 173), meaning that the government picks the candidates that the citizens can vote for. In 2006 the Freedom Houseà described America as a liberal democracy which is a government where ââ¬Å"Citizens enjoy not only electoral democracy but also these extensive political rights and civil liberties regarding participation, personal freedoms, and oppositionâ⬠(173). However, I feel that America is better categorized as a representative democracy where ââ¬Å"Citizens elect people to represent them in the political process and to allocate values on their behalfâ⬠(172). Because of all the different conditions in the many types of democracies one may wonder what exactly defines democracy. One of the key characteristics of American democracy is universal suffrage. Universal suffrage consists of the right to vote regardless of race, religion, gender, social status, economic status, etc. Suffrage has been a continually developing aspect of democracy for centuries. According to Wikipedia, African American suffrage began in 1866, and womenââ¬â¢s suffrage began in 1920. A second democratic characteristic is equality of all people. Within the US Constitution it is implied that under a democratic government each person is entitled to equal protection under the law, freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, etc, along with various other economic, social, cultural, civil, political, and group-oriented rights. Democracy bases itself on providing fair and equal opportunities for all people regardless of their race, sex, religion, economic/social status, etc. The idea of American democracy fully supporting equality brought many immigrants here, with promises of equal opport unity. Along with all the rights and privileges citizens of a democratic government have, there are also some negative aspects. The larger democracies get, the more difficult voting and vote tallying becomes. For example, during the Gore vs. Bush presidential elections the vote counts in Florida were misinterpreted, and many people thought the outcome of the election was skewed due to vote fraud. Also, democracy is hailed as one of the most fair governments, but catering to the needs of only the majority actually excludes the minority. No matter how minuscule the minority may be, they are still be exploited by the majority. Lastly, the larger a democratic system becomes, the less peaceful and efficient it becomes. Mancur Olsen gives a good example of this negative aspect ofà democracy in his essay Autocracy, Democracy, and History. If there are say five similar people, each of them will get about a fifth of the gains from the creation of a peaceful [democratic] order. â⬠¦The advantages of such an order are so large that one fifth of the gains could eaisly exceed the total sacrifice. Moreover, when there are only a few people in a group it will be clear that the welfare of each person depends on whether each other individual acts in a group-oriented or anti-social way. Thus each person by making clear that the cooperation by others will bring forth cooperation from him but that non-cooperation will not, can increase the likelihood that others will match his behavior. This not only increases the probability of peaceful [democratic] interaction but even makes it easily possible that cooperation will reach an ideal or group optimal extent (Olsen 3). Hence, democracies work better for relatively small groups. Mancur argues that a democracy is better than raw anarchy, but democracy is still far from perfect. (2)In conclusion, both autocratic and democratic governments have many strong and weak points. Some negative aspects of autocracy such as income tax monopoly can have a positive affect on a whole countryââ¬â¢s population, while some positive aspects of democracy such as majority ruling can have negative affects such as excluding the minority. The pros and cons of a government are what ultimately define that governmentââ¬â¢s basic structure. If a government has a disorganized electoral system, power could potentially fall into the wrong leaders hands. If a government has a very strict electoral policy, the people may be misrepresented due to the fact that they do not have full freedom to choose their leader. Each governmental style works for the betterment of their citizens whether it is by strict rule, or lax rule. All in all, governments working towards the betterment of their citizens, are truly working towards the betterment of the human population as a whole. Works Cited ââ¬Å"Autocracy.â⬠Merriam-Websterââ¬â¢s Online Dictionary. 2004. . Danziger, James. Understanding the Political World: A Comparative Introduction to Political Science. New York: Pearson Education Inc, 2007. Downing, Brian. The Military Revolution and Political Change: Origins of Democracy andAutocracy in Early Modern Europe. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1992. Gangi, Akbar. ââ¬Å"The Struggle Against Sultanism.â⬠Journal of Democracy 2005: 16.4. ProjectMuse Scholarly Journals Online. Wayne State University Library. Wayne State University Library, Detroit, MI. 16 Apr 2007. Olsen, Mancur. ââ¬Å"Autocracy, Democracy, and History.â⬠Online working paper #22, 1991. 2 April 2007. Niskanan, William. Autocratic, Democratic and Optimal Government: Fiscal Choices and Economic Outcomes. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publications, 2004. Palast, Greg. ââ¬Å"Hugo Chavez.â⬠The Progressive. July 2006. 10 April 2007. ââ¬Å"United States.â⬠cia.gov. 2007. The World Fact Book. 4 April 2007. .
Sunday, September 15, 2019
The Host Prologue: Inserted
The Healer's name was Fords Deep Waters. Because he was a soul, by nature he was all things good: compassionate, patient, honest, virtuous, and full of love. Anxiety was an unusual emotion for Fords Deep Water. Irritation was even rarer. However, because Fords Deep Water lived inside a human body, irritation was sometimes inescapable. As the whispers of the Healing students buzzed in the far corner of the operation room, his lips pressed together into a tight line. The expression felt out of place on a mouth more often given to smiling. Darren, his regular assistant, saw the grimace and patted his shoulder. ââ¬Å"They're just curious, Fords,â⬠he said quietly. ââ¬Å"An insertion is hardly an interesting or challenging procedure.â⬠ââ¬Å"Any soul on the street could perform it in an emergency. There is nothing for them to learn by observing today.â⬠Fords was surprised to hear the sharp edge marring his normally soothing voice. ââ¬Å"They've never seen a grown human before,â⬠Darren said. Fords raised one eyebrow. ââ¬Å"Are they blind to each other's faces? Do they not have mirrors?â⬠ââ¬Å"You know what I mean ?C a wild human. Still soulless. One of the insurgents.â⬠Fords looked at the girl's unconscious body, laid out facedown on the operating table. Pity swelled in his heart as he remembered the condition the poor, broken body had been in when the Seekers had brought her to the Heeling facility. Such pain she'd endured Of course she was perfect now ?C completely healed. Fords had seen to that. ââ¬Å"She looks the same as any of us,â⬠Fords murmured to Darren. ââ¬Å"We all have human faces. And when she wakes up, she will be one of us, too.â⬠ââ¬Å"It's just exiting for them, that's all.â⬠ââ¬Å"The soul we implant today deserves more respect then to have her host body gawked at this way. She'll already have far too much to deal with as she acclimates.â⬠ââ¬Å"It's not fair to put her through this.â⬠Bythis, he did not mean the gawking. Fords heard the sharp edge return to his voice. Darren patted him again. ââ¬Å"It will be fine. The Seekers needs information and-ââ¬Å" At the wordSeeker, Fords gave Darren a look that could only be described as a glare. Darren blinked in shock. ââ¬Å"I'm sorry,â⬠Fords apologized at once. ââ¬Å"I didn't mean to react so negatively. It's just that I fear for this soul.â⬠His eyes moved to the cryotank on its stand beside the table. The light was a steady, dull read, indicating that it was occupied and in hibernation mode. ââ¬Å"This soul was specially picked for the assignment,â⬠Darren said soothingly. ââ¬Å"She is exceptional among our kind ?C braver than most. Her lives speak for themselves. I think she would volunteer, if it was possible to ask her.â⬠ââ¬Å"Who among us would not volunteer if we were asked to do something for the greater good? But is that really the case here? Is the greater good served by this?â⬠ââ¬Å"The question is not her willingness, but what it is right to ask any soul to bear.â⬠The Healing students were discussing the hibernating soul as well. Fords could hear the whispers clearly: their voices was rising now, getting louder with their excitement. ââ¬Å"She's lived on six planets.â⬠ââ¬Å"I heard seven.â⬠ââ¬Å"I heard she never lived two terms as the same host species.â⬠ââ¬Å"Is that possible?â⬠ââ¬Å"She's been almost everything. A Flower, a Bear, a Spider-ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"A See Weed, a Bat-ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Even a Dragon!â⬠ââ¬Å"I don't believe it ?C not seven planets.â⬠ââ¬Å"At least seven. She started at the Orgin.â⬠ââ¬Å"Really? The Orgin?â⬠ââ¬Å"Quiet, please!â⬠Fords interrupted. ââ¬Å"If you cannot observe professionally and silently, then I will have to ask you to remove yourselves.â⬠Abashed, the six students fell silent and edged away from another. ââ¬Å"Let's go on with this, Darren.â⬠Everything was prepared. The appropriate medicines were laid our beside The human girl. Her long dark hair was secured beneath a surgical cap, exposing her slender neck. Deeply sedated, she breathed slowly in and out. Her sun-browned skin had barely a mark to show for her accident. ââ¬Å"Begin thaw sequence now, please, Darren.â⬠The gray-haired assistant was already waiting beside the cryotank, his hand resting on the dial. He flipped the safety back and spun down the dial. The red light atop the small gray cylinder began to pulse, flashing faster as the seconds passed, changing color. Fords concentrated on the unconscious body: he edged the scalpel through the skin at the base of the subject's skull with small, precise movements, and then sprayed the medication that stilled the excess flow of blood before he widened the fissure. Fords delved delicately beneath the neck muscles, careful not to injure them, exposing the pale bones at the top of the spinal column. ââ¬Å"The soul is ready, Fords,â⬠Darren informed him. ââ¬Å"So am I. Bring her.â⬠Fords felt Darren at his elbow and knew without looking that his assistant would be prepared, his hand stretched out and waiting; they had worked together for many years now. Fords held the gap open. ââ¬Å"Send her home,â⬠he whispered. Darren's hand moved into view, the silver gleam of an awaking soul in his palm. Fords never saw an exposed soul without being struck by the beauty of it. The soul shone in the brilliant lights of the operating room, brighter than the reflective silver instrument in his hand. Like a living ribbon, she twisted and rippled, stretching, happy to be free of the cryotank. Her thin, feathery attachments, nearly a thousand of them, billowed softly like pale silver hair. Though they were all lovely, this one seemed particularly graceful to Fords Deep Waters. He was not alone in his reaction. He heard Darren's soft sigh, heard the admiring murmurs of the students. Gently, Darren placed the small glistening creature inside the opening Fords had made in the human's neck. The soul slid smoothly into the offered space, weaving herself into the alien anatomy. Fords admired the skill with which she possessed her new home. Her attachments wound tightly into place around the nerve centers, some elongating and reaching deeper to where he couldn't see, under and up into the brain, the optic nerves, the ear canals. She was very quick, very firm in her movements. Soon, only one small segment of her glistening body was visible. ââ¬Å"Well done,â⬠he whispered to her, knowing that she could not hear him. The human girl was the one with ears, and she slept soundly. It was a routine matter to finish the job. He cleaned and healed the wound, applied the salve that sealed the incision closed behind the soul, and then brushed the scar-softening powder across the line left on her neck. ââ¬Å"Perfect, as usual,â⬠said the assistant, who, for some reason unfathomable to Fords, had never made a change from his human host's name, Darren. Fords sighted. ââ¬Å"I regret this day's work.â⬠ââ¬Å"You're only doing your duty as a Healer.â⬠ââ¬Å"This is the rare occasion when Healing creates an injury.â⬠Darren began to clean up the workstation. He didn't seem to know how to answer. Fords was filling his Calling. That was enough for Darren. But not enough for Fords Deep Waters, who was a true Healer to the core of his being. He gazed anxiously at the human female's body, peaceful in slumber, knowing that this peace would be shattered as soon as she awoke. All the horror of this young girl's end would be borne by the innocent soul he'd just placed inside her. As he leaned over the human and whispered in her ear, Fords wished fervently that the soul inside could hear him now. ââ¬Å"Good luck, little wanderer, good luck. How I wish you didn't need it.ââ¬
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Cohabitation Before Marriage Essay
Does living together before marriage help or hurt relationships? This question has plagued couples for the last few decades, as both the numbers of those living together without being married and the rate of divorce has grown. I think living together before marriage can only help people avoid divorce, as they are given the chance to see what it is like to live with either the specific person, or a person for the first time. This also brings up the questions of why divorce rates are up and whether it has anything to do with living together before marriage. I bring certain prejudices about it, believing that living together before marriage does not negatively impact couplesââ¬â¢ ability to stay together after marriage, as I have seen it work many times. In the end, I will attempt to make the connection between the two, if there is one, or explain why people think there may be. SOURCES: Hurley, D. (2005, April 19). Divorce Rate: Itââ¬â¢s Not as High as You Think. The New York Times. Divorce Statistics Collection. Retrieved August 9, 2008, from http://www. divorcereform. org/nyt05. html Knadler, J. (2005, December). Is Five Years the New Forever? Cosmopolitan. Vol. 239, Iss. 6; pg. 149-152. Kramer, E. (2004, October). COHABITATION: JUST A PHASE? Psychology Today. Vol. 37, Iss. 5; pg. 28-29. Whether because of the instinct to procreate, emotional desire, or compulsion to follow social norms, human pair-bonding leads often to marriage. Defined as a social institution, religious sacrament, and personal commitment, marriage continues to evolve, growing to include a more relaxed attitude to divorce and the practice of cohabitation before marriage. Both of these subjects have sparked heated debates, with the issue of cohabitation before marriage being the latest movement in the realm of matrimony. While many opponents of cohabitation before marriage cite a lack of core family and moral values that have sanctified union through marriage for millennia, recent studies have shown that cohabitation before marriage is not only increasing in popularity, but may be beneficial compared to marriage first, as evidenced by the increasing divorce rate among married couples, the decrease of overall marriages, and the ever-changing landscape of marriage throughout history. Marriage between a man and a woman has long been the backbone of social cooperation and society itself. Marriage offered greater economic stability, the opportunity to produce heirs, and was often utilized as a tool to strengthen alliances between groups. Marriage echoed the foundational desire for societal regulations and norms, and like society, marriage continuously evolved, redefining itself and its purpose. From the days ancient Mesopotamia to Greece and Rome, marriage was largely a civic obligation. However, the proliferation of polytheistic religions as ultimate moral authorities transformed marriage into an expression of faith. Until the emergence of modern nation-states, most marriages were conducted under one or another religious regime. Starting with the Protestant Reformation, ââ¬Å"most states took over their dominant religionââ¬â¢s marriage laws; debate has ensued ever since whenever a nation deviates from the still powerful religious rules that sanctify marriageâ⬠(Miller, 1999). Despite these dogmatic rules, outlawed actions such as unmarried cohabitation and divorce have become commonplace among couples, and the cause and effects are mixed. According to an analysis of new census figures by The New York Times, married couples, whose numbers have been declining for decades as a proportion of American households, have slipped into a minority in the United States. The American Community Survey, released in October by the Census Bureau, found that ââ¬Å"49. 7 percent, or 55. 2 million, of the nationââ¬â¢s 111. 1 million households in 2005 were made up of married couples ââ¬â with and without children ââ¬â just shy of a majority and down from more than 52 percent five years earlierâ⬠(Hurley, 2005). This trend shows that less and less heterosexual couples are choosing to get married, instead preferring to cohabitate and have children without marriage. Cohabitation can have many important benefits that marriage cannot, even if it comes with no religious sanctification or government protection. Cohabitation before marriage can be for a variety of reasons. Some couples may use it to see if they can live with the person, while others may do it simply out of convenience, and still others may do it for more practical reasons such as to save money. Susan Sassler, a sociology professor at Ohio State University, interviewed undergraduate and graduate students who had been living with a romantic partner for at least three months and asked them why they decided to move in with their partners. Fewer than a third of interviewees reported discussing their ideas for the future before making the move, and even fewer had mentioned marriage in their discussions with their partners; nearly a fifth specifically stated that they werenââ¬â¢t using cohabitation as a trial for marriage, and the most commonly cited reasons for moving in together were ââ¬Å"saving money, convenience and the need for housingâ⬠(Kramer, 2004). This study helps show that cohabitation before marriage is not necessarily anything more than a practical move on the part of the couple. Whether or not the couple gets married seems to be secondary to the mutually beneficial arrangement that can allow many young couples to pursue personal and professional goals more easily with the support system offered by such a thing as marriage, with the freedom offered by being single. In the United States, it is widely believed that one in two marriages will end in divorce, so while many couples live together out of sheer practicality, cohabitation may be a good way to avoid the increasing divorce rate. The rate of divorce today is considered to be roughly 43% by the National Center for Health Statistics but was moved back up to around 50% by the Census Bureau in 2002. Most recently, according to the New York Times, it has been revised downward to just over 40%. (Crouch, 2005) This lower figure could be due to the fact that less people are getting married and choosing instead to cohabitate, but it cannot be denied that less people are getting and staying married than ever before. The proliferation of cohabitation before marriage could be for a great number of reasons, including the increasingly fast pace of society, a more cynical view of traditional morality, or even the more evolved view that couples do not have to sanctify their union through religion or law. Studies on successful cohabitation are difficult to perform, and no concrete statistics such as divorce rates offer clear-cut answers to its ultimate success or failure. However, moving past religious and social dogma that often frowns upon cohabitation before marriage, it would seem to be preferential for young couples to do before getting married, and many have. According to Jessie Knadler of Cosmopolitan Magazine, ââ¬Å"many couples today live together before they marry, roughly 70 percent versus less than 5 percent 40 years agoâ⬠(Knadler, 2005). While this number suggests that virtually all couples that marry live together first, it also leads to a pitfall that cohabitating couples must avoid, namely seeing marriage as the next logical step in the relationship. As evidenced in the Sassler study, many of these cohabitating couples are doing it out of practical reasons, sharing money, bank accounts, bills, and such; to move this arrangement into marriage without a strong foundation is a risky mistake that ends in divorce nearly half of the time. The casual acceptance of divorce in todayââ¬â¢s society seems to offer couples an easy way out whenever they so choose, unlike a few short decades ago when divorce was considered taboo. Divorce ultimately costs not only the couple, but also society as a whole, in legal fees and wasted court time. While breakups are rarely pleasant, they can prevent many of these personal fights from entering the public arena. The success of any marriage, relationship, or partnership depends on the trust and commitment of those who enter into it. Cohabitation can be a good way to lead to marriage, but it takes work and honesty between both partners. If the partners see a future with each other, marriage is the next logical step. However, if they are living together out of convenience, perhaps marriage is a bad idea. And, while marriage continues to evolve and to some degree evaporate, human relationships will always be too complex and diverse to generalize. REFERENCES Crouch, J. (2005). Divorce Rates. Divorce Reform Page. Americans for Divorce. Retrieved August 9, 2008, from http://www. divorcereform. org/rates. html Hurley, D. (2005, April 19). Divorce Rate: Itââ¬â¢s Not as High as You Think. The New York Times. Divorce Statistics Collection. Retrieved August 9, 2008, from http://www. divorcereform. org/nyt05. html Knadler, J. (2005, December). Is Five Years the New Forever? Cosmopolitan. Vol. 239, Iss. 6; pg. 149-152. Kramer, E. (2004, October). COHABITATION: JUST A PHASE? Psychology Today. Vol. 37, Iss. 5; pg. 28-29. Miller, M. (1999, March/April). What is Marriage For? : A Conversation with E. J. Graff. UU World Magazine. 37 pars. Retrieved August 9, 2008, from http://www. uua. org/world/0399feat3. html
Friday, September 13, 2019
Nursing Research Portfolio Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
Nursing Research Portfolio - Assignment Example Indeed, although I had difficulties earlier in the interview and field observation, the hardship I experienced during the creation of the codebook was more difficult because it was much longer. I had to read the transcript over and over again in order to get a ââ¬Å"feelâ⬠of the thoughts in the interview, and then I had to read them again in the coding of the transcript, and then again in the creation of the codebook. Looking at the steps, they can be almost considered as easy; however, what made them rather difficult was the fact that I grew tired of my transcript, to the point that I almost could not get new ideas in the succeeding times that I read it. Nevertheless, when I allowed myself some rest and then revisited the paper a few days after, I was able to appreciate the paper better. Somehow, the patterns and the recurrent concepts became more apparent and coding became a little easier. In addition, there were also some methodological/analytical insights that I realized f rom the coding process. One of these realizations is the fact that all the qualitative data are related to each other, although seemingly unconnected. Indeed, a response to one question could actually a supporting idea for another response in a later question. Another realization involves the fact that the researcher affects the way by which the coding is carried out, not only in the selection of methodology but in the actual choice of concepts itself. From my experience in the coding of my interview transcript, I observed that the interpretive process is shaped by my own spiritual beliefs and orientation. An example of this would be my inclusion of the principal characters involved in the maintenance/observation of religion and spirituality. Some people may have overlooked this aspect of the transcript, but because I believed that religion and spirituality involves a collective effort, I included the said principal players. Furthermore, when I compared my codebook with those of my group mates, I observed some significant differences. For example, my group mates included the characteristics of a spiritual person, as well as the different perceptions of spirituality, but these were not included in my code book. Also, my group mates did not include the principal characters involved in the maintenance/observation of religion and spirituality. I also noticed that the transcripts of my group mates did not really explore the role played or the influence of the workplace in the maintenance of religion and spirituality, which was, ironically, supposed to be the main topic of the coding exercise. Perhaps, the most basic explanation for these differences lies in the fact that I am different and unique from my group mates, and that although we share the same religion, we may not have the same spirituality. Week 6: Reflections on the Thematic Analysis If I thought that the creation of the codebook was difficult, then I guess I was greatly mistaken because it would seem th at the thematic analysis was much more difficult. I had two options in making the thematic analysis: I could either present the themes with written summaries and data excerpts illustrating the themes or I could choose to present my thematic analysis with the use of a concept map and a narrative describing the said map.
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Explanation of Quote Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Explanation of Quote - Essay Example One of these is the application of fluid to patients. There are many who have debated on the role of the application of fluids to patients at various times of nursing care. In the view of Gonzales (2008), ââ¬Å"Choosing the right fluids at the right time can make the difference between survival and death.â⬠The common implication is that the administration of fluid to patients on timely basis may either contribute to their deaths or survival. In this essay, this assertion opined by Gonzales (2008) is critically assessed using academic and other professional journals and literature on nursing practice. Explanation of Quote First, it is important to make meaning of some of the major terms used by Gonzales (2008) in the quote. Most importantly is the term, fluid resuscitation. Fluid resuscitation results out of fluid deficit, which also occur as a result of excessive fluid loss in patients with serious ailment. Clinical methods of restoring fluid to patients therefore constitute f luid resuscitation (Oââ¬â¢Neill and Perrin, 2002). There are a number of fluids that come to play under fluid resuscitation. Common among these are blood products, crystalloids, colloids, Albumin, Hydroxyethyl starches, Dextrans, Perfluorocarbon emulsions and Hemoglobin-Based Blood Substitutes (Curran, 2012). For Gonzales (2008) to state that ââ¬Ëchoosing the right fluids at the right time can make the difference between survival and deathââ¬â¢ is a direct resonance to fluid resuscitation. Imperatively, she wants to imply that the right application of fluid resuscitation at the right time can save a patientââ¬â¢s life. The logical contradiction to this statement could also be given as the wrong application of fluid resuscitation at the wrong time could cause death. Having mentioned a number of fluids that may be used in fluid resuscitation, there is the implication that selection is an important process in fluid resuscitation and should therefore not be taken lightly. Ag ain, knowing the right time to apply fluid resuscitation is very important. So if fluid resuscitation cannot be said to be out rightly good or bad unless in context to the manner in which it is applied, then what are the benefits and risks of the fluid options in fluid resuscitation? In the case of Gonzales (2008), the fluid options given are Colloid and crystalloid in trauma population. Below are some thoughts. Benefits of Colloid and Crystalloid in Trauma Population Trauma is a common situation that health practitioners and especially nurses deal with in their daily duties as healthcare providers. The National Institute of Mental Health (2012) posits that trauma comes in different forms. According to the Institute, there are two major forms of trauma and that ââ¬Å"physical trauma includes the bodyââ¬â¢s response to serious injury and threat whereas mental trauma includes frightening thoughts and painful feelings.â⬠In most cases, physical trauma cases are those that requ ire fluid resuscitation. On the benefits of using colloids as fluid resuscitators for patients suffering trauma, Kumar and Clark (2002) are quoted as stating that normal saline such as sodium chloride, which is a type of crystalloid ââ¬Å"is useful for both short-term fluid replacement and when the fluid lost has been mostly sodium chlorideâ⬠(Oââ¬â¢Neill and Perrin, 2002). This means that crystalloids are very benefitial in cases
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