Sex and sexuality a cultural taboo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Sex and sexuality a cultural taboo - Essay Example (Bristow 2) Sex is the physical course of action of the process of intercourse where as sexuality is how you feel, perceive or experience it. Studies have shown that when individuals move from one culture to another, the impact of culture on the sexuality of females is much greater than that on males. Christensen and Carpenter, (as cited in McAnulty and Burnette, 2006) argue that recently more information is being accumulated on the subject of sex and how it differs across different cultures and this will increase the knowledge database on the subject which wasn’t available in such a quantity in the past, the information provided by studies conducted on such matters gives proof that there is not much unevenness between the cross-cultural practices of men and women but when comparing the two one can conclude that that women tend to be at variance a lot more across those cultural margins in comparison to the male individuals. The basic concept and understanding of sexuality cann ot be altered in any manner no matter how much the society attempts to do so (Aggleton 188). The impact of sexual cultural practices on general health and the lives of its members: People have varying cultural practices regarding sex and sexuality; their beliefs and culture depend upon their religion, beliefs, social customs and area in which they are living. Where their cultural practices offer benefits, they also pose high risks for the individuals undergoing them e.g. FGM is mostly done in unhygienic conditions and also without anaesthesia, it is an extremely painful procedure and if things don’t go well, it could result in infection, diseases, infertility or even death. Also it permanently deprives the child of sexual pleasure for without her genitalia she will never be able to enjoy her sexual life. It is a cultural norm for those people, and any girl who is not circumcised loses her chance of marriage as it is considered disgraceful to marry a girl who is open. The topi cs of sex and sexuality are considered taboo topics in most cultures as well as religions. The youngsters when growing up and going through physical change have many questions regarding sex and sexuality but are unable to discuss them since it is an unmentionable topic they are inquisitive about their sexuality and how they perceive themselves in that manner but they end up keeping their queries and fears to themselves since they don’t have the opportunity to discuss. Female circumcision is a brutal practice and requires our attention to be curbed. The various cultural practices can be better explained as follows: Male circumcision: Circumcision is basically a small operation performed on the male`s penis to remove the skin covering the tip of his penis (Milos & Macris 1994). It was thought that young babies don’t have their senses fully developed and are unable to feel pain which is why it was recommended that circumcision be performed preferably on infants. But later it was discovered that infants are fully capable of experiencing pain and they can very well feel the excruciating pain inflicted upon them during the circumcision process (Northrup 2004). Circumcision has been practiced for

Health and Diet Essay Example for Free

Health and Diet Essay Pienso que llevo una vida sana, ya que mi dieta es sana y balanceada. Tambien hago deportes regularmente y no tengo problemas de salud. Tambien evito la comida grasosa. Me considero estar en buena forma, ya que practico deportes y siempre estoy activo y en forma. Ademas me encanta la education fisica en el colegio. Un habito que tengo es que, me muerdo las unas a veces me muerdo las unas pero solo cuando estoy nervioso. Normalmente, como bien y me gusta la comida casera que es sana, me gusta comer ensalada y pasta en el fin de semana y de vez en cuando bebo agua o leche pero generalmente bebo naranjada y tambien tomo sopa y me encanta el pescado especialmente para la cena o la comida. En mi opinion las comidas saludables son los alimentos frescos y nutritivos, como las legumbres que contienen vitaminas. No obstante la comida procesada no es saludable ya que es rica en grasa y sal que sube la presion arterial. Asi que comer bien es muy importante pra estar en forma y para mantenernos sanos. Me gusta hacer ejercicio. Juego al futbol regularmente y tambien hago pesas dos veces a la semana, ademas duermo bien y descanso lo suficiente y no veo mucho la tele. Recientemente jugue un partido de baloncesto y corri mucho ya que era un campeonato y por suerte ganamos. Creo que por esto no tengo muchos problemas para estresarme. En las proximas semanas me gustaria dejar de comer comida rapida espeicialmente las patatas fritas y empezare a comer frutas que son mas deliosas ademas, me gustaria ir al gimnasio mas a menudo y deberia de levantarme mas temperano. Para no llegar tarde al colegio. Quiero estar mas en forma ya que asi podria tener mas energia para usar usarla en mi colegio. Si mi colegio me ayuda a estar sano y en forma porque me ensena a comer bien y puedo practicar deportes como el futbol o el rugby. Tambien hay muchos profesores que me dicen que hacer cuando estoy enfermo. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Spanish section.

Hamlet: Shakespeare Tragic Hero :: Shakespeare Hamlet Essays

Hamlet: Shakespeare Tragic Hero   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, the main character is a classic example of a Shakespearean tragic hero.   Hamlet is considered to be a tragic hero because he has a tragic flaw that in the end, is the cause of his downfall.   The play is an example of a Shakespearean tragic play because it has all of the characteristics of the tragic play.   As defined by Aristotle, a tragic play has a beginning, middle, and end; unity of time and place; a tragic hero; and the concept of catharsis.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the main reasons this play is considered a tragic play is because the main character is a tragic hero.   Hamlet's tragic flaw is he spends too much time thinking and not enough time acting.   This is the opposite of Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, in which the tragic hero spends too much time acting, and not enough time thinking.   Hamlet dwells too much on whether or not to act on something, and by the time he decides to act, it is too late.   When Hamlet finally decides to kill Claudius, he sees him praying and decides to wait longer.   The next time he gets a chance to kill Claudius he takes it, but by then it was too late.   Hamlet was killed as well.   He could have prevented his downfall if it wasn't for his tragic flaw.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another reason Hamlet is a classic example of Shakespearean tragedy is because it incorporates the idea of catharsis.   Aristotle defined catharsis as the purging of the emotions of fear and pity.   In the play, Claudius has the emotion of fear because he is afraid of Hamlet knowing that he killed his father.   Claudius knows that Hamlet is capable of killing him.   He knows that he cannot kill Hamlet to protect himself or to prevent the people from knowing who killed the king because the people love Hamlet too much.   Claudius feels pity after he sees the "Mouse Trap" because he realizes what he had done was wrong now that Hamlet knows the truth behind the matter.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hamlet is a tragic play because it has a beginning, middle, and end, and takes place in a short period of time.   The play has a specific beginning, which consists of Hamlet seeing his father and considering what to do about it.   The middle is one of the actions that he took, the "Mouse Trap."   This set the course for the end, which was when the whole ending fencing scene takes place, when Hamlet and most of the other main Hamlet: Shakespeare Tragic Hero :: Shakespeare Hamlet Essays Hamlet: Shakespeare Tragic Hero   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, the main character is a classic example of a Shakespearean tragic hero.   Hamlet is considered to be a tragic hero because he has a tragic flaw that in the end, is the cause of his downfall.   The play is an example of a Shakespearean tragic play because it has all of the characteristics of the tragic play.   As defined by Aristotle, a tragic play has a beginning, middle, and end; unity of time and place; a tragic hero; and the concept of catharsis.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the main reasons this play is considered a tragic play is because the main character is a tragic hero.   Hamlet's tragic flaw is he spends too much time thinking and not enough time acting.   This is the opposite of Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, in which the tragic hero spends too much time acting, and not enough time thinking.   Hamlet dwells too much on whether or not to act on something, and by the time he decides to act, it is too late.   When Hamlet finally decides to kill Claudius, he sees him praying and decides to wait longer.   The next time he gets a chance to kill Claudius he takes it, but by then it was too late.   Hamlet was killed as well.   He could have prevented his downfall if it wasn't for his tragic flaw.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another reason Hamlet is a classic example of Shakespearean tragedy is because it incorporates the idea of catharsis.   Aristotle defined catharsis as the purging of the emotions of fear and pity.   In the play, Claudius has the emotion of fear because he is afraid of Hamlet knowing that he killed his father.   Claudius knows that Hamlet is capable of killing him.   He knows that he cannot kill Hamlet to protect himself or to prevent the people from knowing who killed the king because the people love Hamlet too much.   Claudius feels pity after he sees the "Mouse Trap" because he realizes what he had done was wrong now that Hamlet knows the truth behind the matter.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hamlet is a tragic play because it has a beginning, middle, and end, and takes place in a short period of time.   The play has a specific beginning, which consists of Hamlet seeing his father and considering what to do about it.   The middle is one of the actions that he took, the "Mouse Trap."   This set the course for the end, which was when the whole ending fencing scene takes place, when Hamlet and most of the other main

Gender Inequality in Education Essay

Gender Inequality is the unjust behaviour or insights of people on the basis of gender. In regards to education, we can then say, gender inequality in education is the discrimination of individuals based on gender in schools. When talking about this gender inequality it is quite obvious that the ones being discriminated are the females. Education is a fundamental right, which should not be restricted to a certain gender, every human being, male or female has a right to education. No matter the form of inequality it is bad for an economy and well-being. The impact is more severe if when it is viewed from the perspective of gender and even more detrimental when the resources allocated are unfair against women. A society that its hierarchal organisation have a habit of placing men in choice making positions and women demoted to economic work that seeks limited work and does not give them the satisfactory resources of means of support is a society that is put in danger. (Ijaiya & I.O.Bal ogun) This issue of gender inequality in education is far more prominent in less developed countries, plus Nigeria where quite a number of readings have shown that under the backings of religion and tradition the men discriminate against women hence divesting them access to skills and education for useful activities. (Ijaiya & I.O.Balogun) In general education is well-defined as a long life progression through which a person’s progress is smoothed so that he can be beneficial to his society and to himself. From this definition, my concern here is the western education because it the most important form of education in the world which is more prominent and its achievement, regardless of what level one has attained is seen to be very significant to the development of an economy, since it allows people accomplish new tasks and to assess and adjust to new jobs. Gender inequality in education affects a lot of things in countries, it affects economic growth as it brings down the level of human resources because when some of the population that could have  contributed to somethings are not educated, they do not amount to much in the society. There has been a lot of concerns with women when it comes to education and it is not a new thing. History of Gender Inequality in Education For some time now, there has been a change in gender success all through education; in the late 1980’s underachievement by girls was common; girls were less likely than boys to gain one or more A-levels and also not likely to go on to advanced education. In the 1990’s there was a quick reversal; girls started doing better than boys. In the year 2006 10% more females were gaining more A-levels than males. This gender diversion has been viewed from a social perspective. (Gender and Educational Attainment, 2014) In the 1990’s gender discrimination was still evident in the society though women were attaining greater success throughout work and education. The Education Reform Act of 1998 (important piece of education in Wales, Northern Island and England) which brought coursework helped girls as they tend to be generally more organised and care about the how their work looks than the males. Feminists consider that the purpose of education ought to be to benefit and advantage disadvantaged women. In a feminists view this is not wrong as what that is what they seek. The 1998 Education Reform Act indicates clearly that women are to be given more chance to attain education. Some girls were interviewed in the 1970’s and others were interviewed in the 1990’s, it was found that main concern had changed, it had changed from marriage and love in the 1970’s to careers and jobs in 1990’s. From this it is quite obvious there has been an increase in career ambitions. Two things could have influenced this, contemporary socialisation from media and parents or achievement from course works. (Gender and Educational Attainment, 2014) A conceptual Issue Wellbeing and Gender Inequality, according to the World Bank a key determinant of wellbeing in a country is the presence of a stable economy and its growth. Inequality is frequently referred to as lack of equivalence. One of the concerns of gender inequality when it comes to education is that it could pointer to a whole great deal of violence against women, which might make it hard for them to talk about issues of power. If this  inequality is such that leads women into having little access to education as well as limited skills for dynamic employment, it will have an effect on them when it comes to poverty of the present and also of that of the next generation. An illiterate woman with restricted access to income cannot take care of her children in regard to nutrition and health; and a woman with so much work and has no regular access to income might use their daughter’s labour for survival which might end up depriving them of a chance to gain education. (Sheehan, 2012) Effects It is also observed that gender inequality in education may weaken development goals. It may avert increase in child mortality and fertility and the increase of education on the next generation. There is absolutely no doubt that education has a main impact on economic growth, as the more educated people in a society, the better the economy of that society. Studies have conventionally used years spent in schooling as a variable to measure education. There is a strong proof that quality of education is more essential than the quantity of education. Gender inequality in education influences education indirectly, through dissimilar ways such as by dropping the fertility rate, growing life span of population and social unity. Gender inequality has a negative impact on the outcome of education, which will also have a negative impact on the economy’s growth. These can happen in so many ways. Girls who are schooling in a school where there is high inequality might end up believing the re will inequality in the society, which might hinder their opportunity for success in life. These would lead to decrease in their performance in school. Gender inequality does not only manifest itself in education but also in other areas, like, politics, education etc. (Sheehan, 2012) While numbers of children not in school has dropped, and number of girls not in school has declined from 58% to 54% in 2010, in some countries there has been limited progress in children getting into schools, many which are girls, and girls from poor households continue being one of the groups at jeopardy of never attending school. In 2006 in Pakistan, 60% of children not in school were girls while only 12% of poor Hausa girls in Nigeria went to school. The odds of getting to school are not in favour of girls from poor households. Girls’ enrolment in Yemen is vividly much lesser than boys and the same case goes for Pakistan when  attendance is the case analysed. (Engendering Empowerment: Education and Equality , 2010) It is seen also that gender is not regarded as a serious issue compared to poverty, some officials in the South African Education Department said: Gender is not a primary issue to them because they deal more with poverty, whether one is male or female poverty is still poverty, they get to deal with hunger and that does not discriminate. From what they can see, gender is not an issue. Poverty is an issue also but to think it is more important that gender inequality in education is totally wrong, from what I have said earlier, the more educated people the lesser the chances of poverty, so, a way to tackle poverty is to tackle gender inequality in education first. Another South African is worried that focusing on gender will distract from the poorest needs, saying that there is a risk involved with having too much emphasis on gender issues, saying that it is an issue that would be taken well in resourced areas rather than areas with the majority being the poor. (Engendering Empowerment: Education and Equality , 2010) In conclusion, what this paper is saying is, Gender Inequality in Education is an ongoing issue that is declining but not going away anytime soon. It is a problem that comes with its own problems, meaning it affects economic growth and development. A way to decrease the number of inequality is to educate people especially those in the rural areas that the girl child’s education is just as important as the male’s child. Every individual male or female should not be discriminated on the basis of anything talk less of education, education is key. Say NO to Gender equality in Education. Works Cited Engendering Empowerment: Education and Equality . (2010). United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative , (pp. 15-25). Dakar. Gender and Educational Attainment. (2014). Retrieved from History Learning Site: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/gender_education_attainment.htm Ijaiya, T. G., & I.O.Balogun. (n.d.). Estimating the Impact of Gender Inequality in Education on the well-being of women in Nigeria. Kolhapur: Serials Publications. Sheehan, K. (2012). Does Gender Inequality in Education Affect Educational Outcomes? Connecticut.

Professor Howard Zinn’s purpose for writing “A People’s History of the United States”

1. In a nutshell, Professor Howard Zinn’s purpose for writing â€Å"A People’s History of the United States† was to offer a history of the United States (from the first settlers all the way to the mid ­1970’s at the time of publishing) that did not outright lie or â€Å"sugar coat† our country’s past. Furthermore, Zenn seeks to avoid manipulating our history as a means to calm the reader, albeit causing controversy when his book first debuted.Additionally, in the word’s of the author himself, â€Å"If history is to be creative, to anticipate a possible future without denying the past, it should, I believe, emphasize new possibilities by disclosing those hidden episodes of the past when, even if in brief flashes, people showed their ability to resist, to join together, occasionally to win. I am supposing, or perhaps only hoping, that our future may be found in the past's fugitive moments of compassion rather than in its solid centuri es of warfare.†By this, I’m confident one of his goals was to demonstrate the impact of the human spirit and how even though â€Å"A People’s History of the United States† is filled with the sad reality that conflict is always present in our society, it also shows that sometimes good triumphs over evil and that maybe history doesn’t have to repeat itself once more. 2.The thesis for pages 1 ­11 of, â€Å"A People’s History of the United States† essentially revolves around the statement, â€Å"It is enough to make us question, for that time and ours, the excuse of progress in the annihilation of races, and the telling of history from the standpoint of the conquerors and leaders of Western civilization. † This is a concise summary of pages 1 ­11, stating the claim of Zenn’s underlying argument in regards to all the information presented in the first chapter. 3. Howard Zinn held the now ­mainstream idea that traditional (school) history

Hemagglutinin and Food Poisoning from Beans

Hemagglutinin and Food Poisoning from Beans Not so fun fact: Did you know that eating soaked raw or undercooked beans can result in food poisoning? It can. The culprit is a plant lectin known as phytohaemagglutinin, or simply, hemagglutinin, a chemical known to cause agglutination of mammalian red blood cells and to disrupt cellular metabolism. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, phytohaemagglutinin is found in many types of beans, however, red kidney beans contain the highest levels of hemagglutinin. White kidney beans contain a third as much of the toxin while broad bean varieties contain only 10 percent as much hemagglutinin as red kidney beans. Thats still plenty, however, since you only need to eat four or five undercooked red kidney beans to get sick. Bean Poisoning Symptoms Symptoms start to appear within one to three hours after consuming the beans. They include nausea and vomiting followed by diarrhea and, in some cases, abdominal pain. Although the symptoms may be severe enough to warrant hospitalization, they resolve spontaneously within a few hours. Everyone is susceptible, regardless of age, gender or other factors. Preventing Bean Poisoning It is easy to prevent bean poisoning. The recommended procedure is to boil soaked raw beans in water for a minimum of 10 minutes. It is important that the water reach boiling or 100 °C (212 °F), since exposing the compound to 80 °C (176 °F) actually increases its toxicity about five times. What Is the Most Poisonous Compound? | Is Mistletoe Really That Poisonous? Share Your Experience Had you ever heard of hemagglutinin in beans or bean poisoning? Have you ever experienced this type of food poisoning? Here are replies from readers: I never knew about kidney bean poisoning until today! I made vegetable soup with dried bean mix (without soaking) in a Crockpot. The soup didn’t cook thoroughly even though it was on for over eight hours. Fortunately, my symptoms were mild - but still a very unpleasant experience.- Lea Here’s the drill, folks! Legumes have been a staple of humans and other critters for a long, long time. Look in any old cookbook (mine date back over a century) and guess how they prepared them. THEY SOAK THEM OVERNIGHT AND BRING TO A BOIL, THEN SIMMER UNTIL TENDER. Obviously, they only had fire for fuel and no electricity. I never knew about PNG until last year and have prepared many types of beans, including dry red beans. My main goal is to greatly reduce polysaccharide sugars which encourage anaerobic activity in the gut and, guess†¦gas! So, after 50 years of cooking and research, heres the magic recipe: Sort, rinse, and cover 1 lb. of beans with 2 inches of water. Add 4 tsp. of salt. Soak overnight or 6 to 8 hours. Bring to a boil, and boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and soak 4 hours. Now, discard water and rinse the beans. Cover beans with water and bring to simmer. Cook until tender. Drain and serve.Note: I use a pressure cooker (seven minutes at 15 lbs. for Pinto beans). Beans are an important part of my diet, almost every day!- JVPETC   I have this reaction to ALL legumes. It doesn’t matter how they are prepared or cooked. It also doesn’t seem to matter how little I consume. I have become extremely ill after consuming something that was made with a small amount of soy flour. I have also started to have a similar reaction to certain nuts. One of my frustrations is that soy seems to be a standard substitution in so many foods, and isn’t always listed. I read that if an ingredient is a common substitution (soy grits for corn, for example) that the substitution isn’t always listed. It is to the point that I can no longer eat foods that my family doesn’t make from â€Å"scratch† with known ingredients.- Paula I am so glad I found this site after waking up at 3:30 a.m. this morning with intestinal pain, nausea, diarrhea and feeling like I was about to pass out right on the bathroom floor. I had eaten dark beans I made from scratch in the crockpot two nights in a row. It was frightening because I couldn’t come up with a reason why this happened. Now I know.- Laurene  Ã‚   I’m just getting back to normal after two pretty awful days. My girlfriend made us a pinto bean and pumpkin casserole and three hours later I felt the first wave of nausea. An hour later I was projectile vomiting until I was just retching. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so ill before. The pinto beans had been soaked overnight and boiled as the instructions said to, but there must have been a few that didn’t cook properly. My girlfriend was absolutely fine and thankfully so is our baby, who had some mashed up. I had to take two days off work and have only just started back on solid food as I couldn’t stomach anything but water.- Jon  Ã‚   I just wrote to a major cooking magazine about the possibility of hemagglutinin poisoning from two slow cooker recipes they printed that called for uncooked navy beans. They answered that they had researched their recipes with the FDA and were told there was very little danger in using the recipe, as most such poisoning comes from red kidney beans. Have they gone bonkers or just don’t want to admit they printed recipes that could make people sick?- Jessica Deforest  Ã‚   I just ate some romano beans and I’ve never really cooked beans before so I didn’t know I had to soak and then cook them, I just cooked them. I threw out most of my dish but ate a significant portion of the meal. My stomach feels a bit weird so I guess I might get sick, but hopefully, it’s just a psychological reaction to learning about this, or it’s just that the beans are tough to digest because of my flawed cooking. Wish me luck.- Jaime Silta My adult son has just had a horrendous episode of acute poisoning that was incredibly intense. Luckily, he has excellent health generally. After eating a plate of shop bought ready prepared falafel with hummus, he was fine for three or four hours and then had a rapid onset of acute abdominal pain and diarrhea. He also had some blood loss with diarrhea. The pain was really severe and at one point I thought I would have to get an ambulance. He also began vomiting. Incredibly, this really severe and acute illness began to wear off after four or five hours. 20 hours later, he is feeling fine again, although obviously exhausted! I have always thought that the most severe food poisoning was associated with contaminated meat and dairy products and had no idea that beans could be so lethal!- Cate   I ate raw Romano beans I bought from the grocery store. They sold them beside the green beans that I’ve always eaten raw, so I thought it was just another type of bean. I ended up eating an entire bag of them, thinking they were good. BIG MISTAKE. I felt like throwing up five minutes later. They burned in my stomach. Went to bed, passed a lot of gas, my intestines were spasming. Woke up 6 hours later with abdominal pain. Drank Pepto Bismal. Went back to bed. Woke up an hour and a half later with extremely watery diarrhea. Had to pass water for stool several times.- Anonymous My wife has just had a severe attack of vomiting and diarrhea. The suspect is the falafel we had for dinner made from white butter beans, or dried runner beans. The recipe used from Claudia Roden’s book specifies making the rissoles from uncooked beans. They are then deep-fried. I found a 2008 article from the Independent called Beware of the Beans. A family using the same recipe (shallow fried, however) all came down with severe symptoms. Even white beans have enough lectin to cause problems.- Jeremy Cunningham

controlled Environment essays

controlled Environment essays What controlled environment did you spend time in? How long? When I graduated from High School I entered into the Merchant Marine Academy at Fort Schuyler in New York. From then until I was in my mid thirties I was involved with ocean liners, tankers and ships. For periods of one year at a time I would be on a ship traveling the world, making shipments and patrolling the seas. The controlled environment was both on the ship and in the academy. Once on the ship I had to obey the rules and morals taught to us in the academy. Was there an effort to separate you from your former identity? No not really. Contrary to the NAVY, ARMY or Marines our boot camp was less severe and did not include such physical conditioning. Our personalities were not changed because we were not in combat and did not have to learn to be a killing machine. What were the most important rules you had to follow? Besides not falling in the water, we had to obey almost everything our captain told us. Our captain was like our parents his wishes were our commands. The captain set the standards and the rules for us to follow. What were the least and less important rules you had to follow? There was a uniform but it was not very important that we followed it. As an officer we had to look respectable but usually the uniform requirements were not met. We also had a curfew but that was rarely followed and it was rare for a person to get into any trouble for breaking curfew. What were some of the make-dos the inmates made up for their deprivations with? Since there was no T.V. almost every night after dinner we held chess and checkers tournament. The games were fast paced and mostly just for fun, no money was ever wagered. We also drank a lot of beer when we were at sea for extended amounts of time. Which were accepted by the authorities and which were not? Well the chess tournaments everyone enjoyed and ...

How Teachers Can Achieve Happiness

How Teachers Can Achieve Happiness The stereotype around elementary school teachers is that they are always peppy and happy and full of life. While this may hold true for some elementary school teachers, it sure does not for all teachers. As you know, having a job in the teaching profession can be quite challenging. Teachers have a lot of pressure on them. Not only do they have to learn and teach the common core standards to students, but they also have the challenging job of making sure that their students are ready to be productive citizens once they get out of school. With all of this pressure, along with the responsibilities of  lesson planning, grading, and discipline, the job can sometimes take a toll on any teacher, no matter how peppy their nature. To help relieve some of these pressures, use these tips on a daily basis to help you deal and, hopefully, bring some joy to your life.   1. Take Time for Yourself One of the best ways that you can achieve happiness is to take time for yourself. Teaching is a very selfless profession and sometimes you just need to take a moment and do something for yourself. Teachers spend so much of their free time scouring the internet looking for effective lesson plans or grading papers, that they sometimes end up neglecting their personal needs. Set aside one day of the week for lesson planning or grading, and set aside another day for yourself. Take an art class, go shopping with a friend, or try that yoga class that your friends are always trying to get you to go to.   2. Make Your Choices Wisely According to Harry K. Wong in the book â€Å"How to Be an Effective Teacher† the way a person chooses to behave (as well as their reactions) will dictate what their life will be like. He says that their are three categories of behavior that people can exhibit, they are protective behaviors, maintenance behaviors, and enhancement behaviors. Here are examples of each behavior. Protective Behavior –These are people who are full of excuses, who complain a lot, and are good at justifying their behavior. You probably always see them in the teachers’ lounge complaining about everything and anything that is happening in their classroom as well as at the school. Maintenance Behavior – These are the people who are very hardworking and who spend a lot of time wishing (I wish I won the lottery, I wish I had a bigger classroom). They tend to get along well with others, and don’t complain or put people down in the teachers’ lounge. They are concerned with their own individual survival, health, and safety. Enhancement Behavior –These individuals enjoy active learning and participating in groups. They go to every teacher conference and meeting, and are known around the school as a leader. Now that you know the three types of behavior, which category do you fall into? Which type of teacher do you want to be? The way that you decide to act can greatly increase or decrease your overall happiness and well-being. 3. Lower Your Expectations Let go of the expectation that every lesson has to go exactly as planned. As a teacher, you will always have misses along with the hits. If your lesson was a flop, try to think of it as a learning experience.  Just as you teach your students that they can learn from their mistakes, so can you. Lower your expectations and you will find that you will be much happier. 4. Do Not Compare Yourself to Anyone One of the many problems with social media is the ease with which people can present their lives in any way they wish. As a result, people tend to only portray the version of themselves and their life that they want others  to see. If you are scrolling down your Facebook news feed you may see many teachers that look like they have it all together, which can be quite intimidating and result in feelings of inadequacy. Compare yourself to no one. It’s hard not to compare yourself to others when we have Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest in our lives. But just remember that it probably takes some of these teachers hours to create the perfect-looking lesson. Do your best and try to be satisfied with the results.   5. Dress for Success Never underestimate the power of a nice outfit.   While dressing up to teach a bunch of elementary students may seem like a bad idea, research shows that it can actually make you feel happier. So the next morning that you want an instant pick-me-up, try wearing your favorite outfit to school. 6. Fake it Weve all heard the expression, Fake it til you make it. Turns out, it might actually work. Some studies that show if you smile when you are unhappy, you can trick your brain into feeling like you are happy. The next time your students are driving you crazy, try smiling- it might just turn your mood around. 7. Socialize with Friends and Colleagues Do you find that you tend to be alone a lot when you are feeling unhappy? Studies found that the more time unhappy people spent socializing with others, the better that they felt. If you’re spending a lot of time by yourself, try getting out and socializing with your friends or colleagues. Go eat lunch in the faculty lounge instead of your classroom, or go for that drink after school with your friends.   8. Pay it Forward There have been so many studies conducted that show that the more that you do for others, the better you feel about yourself. The sheer act of doing a good deed can make a huge impact on your self-esteem, as well as your happiness. The next time that you are feeling down, try doing something nice for someone else. Even if its just holding the door open for a stranger or making extra photocopies for your colleague, paying it forward can really improve your mood. 9. Listen to Music   Studies find that focused listening to music that is upbeat, or even just reading lyrics that are positive, can improve your mood.   Classical music is also said to have a mood-boosting effect on people. So the next time you’re sitting in your classroom and are in need of a pick-me-up, turn on some upbeat or classical music. Not only will it help to boost your mood, it will help your students moods as well.   Ã‚   10. Express Gratitude A lot of us spend a lot of our time focusing on what we dont have, rather than focusing our time on what we do have. When we do this, it can make you feel sad and unhappy. Try expressing gratitude and focusing all of your attention on the positive things that you have in your life. Think about what is going right in your life, and all of things that you are grateful for. Each morning before your toes even hit the ground, say three things that you are grateful for. Here are a few examples of what you can do each morning to express gratitude. Today I am grateful for: My health and the health of my familyThat I have food, clothes and a roof over my headThat I have a wonderful job that helps me provide for my family You have the ability to control how you feel. If you wake up feeling unhappy then you have the ability to change that. Use these ten tips and practice them daily. With practice, you can form lifelong habits that can increase your overall happiness.

Violence in Mass Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Violence in Mass Media - Essay Example Currently, the media has become a central element of the social environment. Through the television, radio, movies, video games and the internet, a significant number of the population, particularly children are exposed to high levels of violent content. Resultantly, the frequent consumption of violent content facilitates imitative learning thus leading to increase in aggressive and violent behavior in children. The prevalent in real-world aggression and violent acts creates a need to effectively mitigate the violent content by the media so as to ensure societal well-being. An ideal intervention strategy in mitigating media violence is parental/adult intervention. Parents can play a detrimental role in restricting children’s access to media violence. The violent media content can be substituted with non-violent media content so as to promote behavioral change thus reducing the violent culture (Humphrey & Palmer 45). Parents can also play a key role in promoting media literacy. Parents/adults can educate the youth regarding the effects of violence and the mechanisms used by the media to portray violence as acceptable, useful and detached from negative consequences (Humphrey & Palmer 44). Ideally, the parents can educate the youths on the impact of too much media violence and the difference between reality and fantasy. Considering the detrimental role played by parents in child development, parental intervention is an ideal way of mitigating the impacts of media violence in the society.

The Role of the United Nations in Defending International Human Rights Essay

The Role of the United Nations in Defending International Human Rights - Essay Example The United Nations is an organization which was founded in the year 1945, at the signing of the United Nations Charter by 50 countries, and it replaced the League of Nations, which was founded in 1919. Since 1948 there have been 60 UN peacekeeping missions, and thus far, close to 130 nations have contributed personnel at various times. As of the year 2007, there are now 192 United Nations member states, thus encompassing almost every recognized independent state. â€Å"From its headquarters in New York City, the UN and its specialized agencies decide on substantive and administrative issues in regular meetings throughout the year. The organization is divided into administrative bodies, including the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Secretariat, Trusteeship Council, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Additional bodies deal with the governance of all other UN System agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nationâ€⠄¢s Children Fund (UNICEF). The UN’s most visible public figure is the Secretary-General† (Wikipedia, 2007). The purpose of the United Nations from the very beginning was to maintain international security and peace, seek to develop friendly relations amongst all nations, try to tackle economic and social problems as well as humanitarian issues, and act as a hub for all nations to be able to act together so that as a result their actions could then be directed towards achieving good for the whole of the world.... The organization is divided into administrative bodies, including the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Secretariat, Trusteeship Council, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Additional bodies deal with the governance of all other UN System agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nation's Children Fund (UNICF). The UN's most visible public figure is the Secretary-General" (Wikipedia, 2007). The purpose of the United Nations from the very beginning was to maintain international security and peace, seek to develop friendly relations amongst all nations, try to tackle economic and social problems as well as humanitarian issues, and act as a hub for all nations to be able to act together so that as a result their actions could then be directed towards achieving good for the whole of the world. One of the most major goals of the UN is to defend international human rights, and they are by far the most representative and influential organization in the world in this regards. They have worked dutifully and consistently in order to provide the most stable and secure international human rights and they are constantly striving to even further improve in these areas. The importance of this particular role of the UN has always been evident and present, however more so than ever it has been in recent years, particularly in regards to the complexities and troubles that have been taking place internationally. One of the most recent and significant troubles is that of the invasion of Iraq by the United States, which occurred on March 20, 2003, and which resulted in the winning of a quick military victory and the ousting of the government of Saddam Hussein. Although both the United States and the

Medicare Fraud Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Medicare Fraud - Essay Example As a problem of major concern, Medicare fraud needs a qualitative and quantitative investigation approach. Thus, a mixed method study will effectively evaluate the extent of Medicare fraud and the factors that contribute to Medicare fraud. This draft proposal outlines strategies that can be used to evaluate the problem and possible solutions through a mixed method approach. Problem Statement Medicare fraud is one of the overarching problems in the healthcare industry resulting in losses of billions of dollars each year. It is actually claimed, â€Å"Medicare fraud costs the U.S. government approximately $80 billion a year (Stefanacci, 2010). Through quantitative approach, the researcher will be required to estimate the loss of revenue through Medicare fraud. Secondly, the researcher will be required to establish variation of involvement in Medicare fraud across different societies. The quantitative aspect of the study will establish the reasons or the social factors that contribute to Medicare fraud. Patterns of fraud cases across different population settings will also be interesting aspect of the research. Finally, the study will require establishing how medical and legal professionals contribute to Medicare fraud and d the factors that contribute to the involvement. ... What are the views of the people concerning the criminalization of Medicare fraud? (a) Do people consider Medicare fraud as a criminal activity? (b) Do people blame the authority for their misfortunes? 5. What is the role of medical and legal professionals in Medicare Fraud? Research Design The study will be conducted through a mixed method approach whereby the researcher will be interested in quantifying and interpreting different parameters related to Medicare fraud (Creswell, 2008). Choice for mixed methods was inspired by the nature of the problem and the expectations of the audience. For instance, the audience is interested in determining the extent of the problem and the factors that contribute to the problem. In addition, the researcher will be required to develop an explicit mathematical model that defines the relationship between various research parameters such as level of income and Medicare fraud. The qualitative aspect of the study will involve observing the problem and finding relevant literature that correspond to the research problem (Creswell, 2008). On the other hand, the quantitative approach will enable the researcher to quantify different research parameters. Population and Participants From an ideal point of view, healthcare industry needs a near-perfect system of tracking Medicare fraud for there to be meaningful results. Fraud in healthcare industry affects all taxpayers. The problem has also affected other sectors of the economy making it an overall economical problem. The problem becomes even more complicated due to lack of harmonized reimbursement formulas and implementation of information in the healthcare sector (Krause, 2010). The study will attract two sets of population. Firstly, the

Principles Of War Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Principles Of War - Assignment Example This made the Washington leave their advancement and come back to reinforce Knyphausen at Chadds Ford. In this respect, the Washington command was fooled making them abandon their position. The leadership of Washington made a big mistake by believing whatever statement they received. The statement made them recall their attacking troops back to east hence placing all their eggs in one basket. Therefore, Washington did not apply the principles of taking the advantage and positioning to defeat the enemy. Instead, they were deceived to advantage the enemy because they got the chance to march toward the south hence enabling them to strip the American defenses.Secondly, it is interesting how the British applied the principles that place the enemy in a position of disadvantage through the flexible application of combat power and this made them achieve what they wanted leading to their victory. For instance, the British penetrated the American center that caused panic on the two. The Britis h panicked because of the distance that separated them from the Americans. On the other hand, the Americans were defending their territory but could not do so for the long time since the British troops injured many of their men and suffered casualties. The Americans soldiers were wounded as well as their horses making them fall back to Birmingham meeting house. Because of the advantage that the British had gained against the Americans, Americans were forced to retreat and formed new lines in a half mile southeast

Foreign investment decisions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Foreign investment decisions - Essay Example One specific example of this occurs in the Latin America and Caribbean-OECD Investment Initiative. It’s noted that this initiative aims to, â€Å"increase the contribution of private investment to economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean† ("Latin america and," 2011). This demonstrates that significant sums are being invested in this developing region through private infrastructure projects. Still, another prominent area where money from industrialized regions are entering emerging markets can be witnessed in investment opportunities offered by major banking entities. One of the predominant examples in this context occurs as the European Bank for Reconstruction offers an opportunity for individuals to invest in a number of potential emerging markets ("Introducing three new," 2011). There is a distinction between less developed and emerging markets. In this context of understanding, it’s noted that emerging markets are those that demonstrate a level of advancement in their economic structure throughout a variety of barometers. Conversely, less developed regions are those that have not yet achieve these stages of economic

Principles Of War Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Principles Of War - Assignment Example This made the Washington leave their advancement and come back to reinforce Knyphausen at Chadds Ford. In this respect, the Washington command was fooled making them abandon their position. The leadership of Washington made a big mistake by believing whatever statement they received. The statement made them recall their attacking troops back to east hence placing all their eggs in one basket. Therefore, Washington did not apply the principles of taking the advantage and positioning to defeat the enemy. Instead, they were deceived to advantage the enemy because they got the chance to march toward the south hence enabling them to strip the American defenses.Secondly, it is interesting how the British applied the principles that place the enemy in a position of disadvantage through the flexible application of combat power and this made them achieve what they wanted leading to their victory. For instance, the British penetrated the American center that caused panic on the two. The Britis h panicked because of the distance that separated them from the Americans. On the other hand, the Americans were defending their territory but could not do so for the long time since the British troops injured many of their men and suffered casualties. The Americans soldiers were wounded as well as their horses making them fall back to Birmingham meeting house. Because of the advantage that the British had gained against the Americans, Americans were forced to retreat and formed new lines in a half mile southeast

Sense and sensibility on the major characters Research Paper

Sense and sensibility on the major characters - Research Paper Example Marianne outspoken and unrestrictive while Elinor is otherwise. Austen disapproves sensibility and shows regard for sense. Elinor does counseling and decision making. Elinor’s love is concealed. Marianne makes mistakes. Marianne’s love is expressed. Marianne sees no attraction in Edward and ignores Colonel Brandon. Willoughby appears as a hero to Marianne. She realizes that she herself was responsible for her dilemma. Edward is a principled man. Willoughby’s real personality comes to forefront when he maliciously makes fun of Colonel Brandon. He was a flirt and devious person. Marianne and Willoughby demonstrate the theme of sensibility through their love bondage. The love bondage between Elinor and Edward demonstrates the theme of sense. Conclusion Elinor succeeds because of using sense. Marianne fails and learns to use sense in place of sensibility to be successful. Realizing her fault, she marries her true partner, Colonel Brandon. Sense has an edge over sensi bility. Effects of Sense and Sensibility on Major characters Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen portrays a number of characters that shape the story of the novel. The characters in Austen’s work describe life and journeying through the course of life with the help of sense and sensibility. Austen draws a line between ‘sense’ and ‘sensibility’. According to Austen, these terms are different from one another. In the novel, the character of Elinor, who is also the protagonist of the work, shows sense while Marianne’s character shows sensibility. Elinor and Marianne are sisters, but have different personalities. The major characters of the work are Elinor Dashwood, Marianne Dashwood, Edward Ferrars and John Willoughby. Other characters of the story circulate and help these characters to develop and get to a certain destination. Austen describes sense as rationality, reasoning and responsibility while sensibility as expressive, emotional, impetuo sity and passion. Elinor is successful based on her sense while Marianne falls short because of her sensibility. Sense and Sensibility draws a clear distinctive line between sense and sensibility with the support of two major characters of the novel that are Elinor Dashwood and Marianne Dashwood. Elinor is older than Marianne and stands for sense because of her qualities such as reasoning, self-control, accountability towards family and society and consideration of others’ betterment. However, Marianne stands for sensibility because of her qualities such as emotionalism, naturalness, outspokenness, impetuously and unnecessary expressiveness (Armstrong 53). Elinor loves Edward, but keeps her feelings concealed, and makes use of rationality while Marianne outspokenly and unrestrictive makes known about her feelings about Willoughby. The difference between their personalities is portrayed through their behaviors towards the men they love. However, this cannot be said that Elinor using sense never shows passion and Elinor using sensibility never talks intelligent. Elinor is passionate in her love, but her style is diverged from Marianne. Austen being against the sensibility of eighteenth century points towards the importance of sense in her novel. From Elinor’s success, she proves that sense is not a negligible characteristic while she disapproves sensibility by showing the failure in Marianne’s relationship to Willoughby (Lauber 21). In her portrayal of Elinor, she draws a picture of a woman who is able to succeed being restrictive and

Psychology and Personality Essay Example for Free

Psychology and Personality Essay The study of personality has a broad and varied history in psychology with an abundance of theoretical traditions. The major theories include dispositional trait perspective, psychodynamic, humanistic, biological, behaviorist, and social learning perspective. However, many researchers and psychologists do not explicitly identify themselves with a certain perspective and instead take an eclectic approach. Research in this area is empirically driven, such as dimensional models, based on multivariate statistics, such as factor analysis, or emphasizes theory development, such as that of the psychodynamic theory. There is also a substantial emphasis on the applied field of personality testing. In psychological education and training, the study of the nature of personality and its psychological development is usually reviewed as a prerequisite to courses in abnormal psychology or clinical psychology. Personality Paper Personality is connected with Darwins Theory of Evolution. It generally explains why there are personality differences between individuals.[ Schacter, Daniel; Gilbert, Daniel; Wegner, Daniel (2011).] Personality also refers to the pattern of thoughts, feelings, social adjustments, and behaviors consistently exhibited over time that strongly influences ones expectations, self-perceptions, values, and attitudes. It also predicts human reactions to other people, problems, and stress.[ Winnie, J.F. Gittinger, J.W. (1973)][ Krauskopf, C.J. Saunders, D.R, (1994)] There is still no universal consensus on the definition of personality in psychology. Gordon Allport described two major ways to study personality: the nomothetic and the idiographic. Nomothetic psychology seeks general laws that can be applied to many different people, such as the principle of self-actualization or the trait of extraversion. Idiographic psychology is an attempt to understand the unique aspects of a particular individual. The study of personality has a broad and varied history in psychology with an abundance of theoretical traditions. The major theories include dispositional trait perspective, psychodynamic, humanistic, biological, behaviorist, and social learning perspective. However, many researchers and psychologists do not explicitly identify themselves with a certain perspective and instead take an eclectic approach. Research in this area is empirically driven, such as dimensional models, based on multivariate statistics, such as factor analysis, or emphasizes theory development, such as that of the psychodynamic theory. There is also a substantial emphasis on the applied field of personality testing. In psychological education and training, the study of the nature of personality and its psychological development is usually reviewed as a prerequisite to courses in abnormal psychology or clinical psychology. Perspectives of Personality Many of the ideas developed by historical and modern personality theorists stem from the basic philosophical assumptions they hold. The study of personality is not a purely empirical discipline, as it brings in elements of art, science, and philosophy to draw general conclusions. Freedom versus determinism This idea seeks to answer whether humans have control over their own behavior and understand the motives behind it or our behavior is causally determined by forces beyond our control. Behavior is categorized as being unconscious, environmental, or biological by various theories. [Engler, Barbara (2008)]. Heredity versus environment Personality is thought to be determined largely by genetics and biology, by environment and experiences, or by some combination resulting thereof. Contemporary research suggests that most personality traits are based on the joint influence of genetics and environment. One of the forerunners in this arena is C. Robert Cloninger, who pioneered the Temperament and Character model.[ Engler, Barbara (2008).] Uniqueness versus universality This is the argument discussing the extent of each humans individuality Uniqueness or similarity in nature Universality. Gordon Allport, Abraham Maslow, and Carl Rogers were all advocates of the uniqueness of individuals. Behaviorists and cognitive theorists, in contrast, emphasize the importance of universal principles, such as reinforcement and self-efficacy.[ Engler, Barbara (2008).] Optimistic versus pessimistic Personality theories differ with regard to whether humans are integral in the changing of their own personalities. Theories that place a great deal of emphasis on learning are often more optimistic than those that do not. [Engler, Barbara (2008)]. Three Theories of Personality Development The study of personality is based on the essential insight that all people are similar in some ways, yet different in others.[ Phares, E.J.; Chaplin, W.F. (1997).] There have been many different definitions of personality proposed. However, many contemporary psychologists agree on the following definition: Personality is that pattern of characteristic thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that distinguishes one person from another and that persists over time and situations. [Phares, E.J.; Chaplin, W.F. (1997)]. Trait theories According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, personality traits are enduring patterns of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and oneself that are exhibited in a wide range of social and personal contexts. Theorists generally assume that a) traits are relatively stable over time, b) traits differ among individuals, and c) traits influence behavior. They consistently are used in order to help define people as a whole. Traits are relatively constant; they do not usually change. Traits are also bipolar; they vary along a continuum between one extreme and the other (e.g. friendly vs. unfriendly).[ Feist, Jess Feist, Gregory J. (2009).] Behaviorist theories Behaviorists explain personality in terms of the effects external stimuli have on behavior. The approaches used to analyze the behavioral aspect of personality are known as behavioral theories or learning-conditioning theories. These approaches were a radical shift away from Freudian philosophy. One of the major tenets of this concentration of personality psychology is a strong emphasis on scientific thinking and experimentation. Humanistic theories Humanistic psychology emphasizes that people have free will and that this plays an active role in determining how they behave. Humanistic therapy typically relies on the client for information of the past and its effect on the present, therefore the client dictates the type of guidance the therapist may initiate. This allows for an individualized approach to therapy. Personality Tests There are two major types of personality tests, projective and objective. Projective tests assume personality is primarily unconscious and assess an individual by how he or she responds to an ambiguous stimulus, such as an ink blot. Projective tests have been in use for about 60 years and continue to be used today. Objective tests assume personality is consciously accessible and measure it by self-report questionnaires. Research on psychological assessment has generally found objective tests are more valid and reliable than projective tests. Critics have pointed to the Forer effect to suggest some of these appear to be more accurate and discriminating than they really are. Issues within Testing Issues with these tests include, false reporting because there is no way to tell if an individual is answering a question honestly or accurately. Conclusion There are many theories on how a person develops a certain type of personality. A person’s personality is what defines them in all aspects of their life. People believe that you are molded into what you are today, but theories have proven that some people lead by example and some learn by example. If anyone is curious as to what type of personality they have, there are my types of assessments available to take that can tell you.

The Ultimate Tragic Hero King Lear English Literature Essay

The Ultimate Tragic Hero King Lear English Literature Essay King Lear, one of William Shakespeares greatest tragedies, depicts a society in grim circumstances. As with all tragedies, there exists a tragic hero  [1]  , one who possesses a fatal flaw that initiates the tragedy and all the sufferings that follow. In this play, the tragic hero is undoubtedly the title character, King Lear. The plot is driven by the power and consequence of losses, more specifically, the losses of Lear. In the course the play, King Lear, because of his flaws, loses his authority as a king, his identity as a father, and his sanity as a man. One loss builds on another, but moreover, his greatest loss, and what distinguishes this tragedy from all others, is his chance of redemption. Unlike other tragedies, there is no salvation for the tragic hero or any sign of optimism in the conclusion. This bleak portrayal of King Lear, through his losses, makes him the ultimate tragic hero, and the play an ultimate tragedy. The play begins with King Lears decision to divide his kingdom among his three daughters. This is the first sign of Lears loss the loss of authority. Wanting to abandon his responsibilities before his time, Lear claims, tis our fast intent / To shake all cares and business from our age, / Conferring them on younger strengths while we / Unburdened crawl toward death (I.i.38-41). It can be argued that his flaw is in his decision to prematurely abdicate the throne, going against nature. However, it is more crucial to realize that his major flaw is actually in his character, shown through his judgment in renouncing his power. Lear carries immense insecurity and egotism as he announces that he will offer the largest share of kingdom to the daughter who professes the greatest love for him. Goneril and Regan both proclaim in fulsome terms that they love him more than anything in the world, while Cordelia speaks from her heart in honest terms that she loves him exactly as a daughter should love her father. Valuing self-importance above all else, Lear is blind to the loyalty and love of Cordelia and instead, perceptive to the flattery of his two vile daughters. Furthermore, Lear is infuriated when Kent objects and protests to his decision: Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least, / Nor are those emptyhearted whose low sounds / Reverb no hollowness (I.i.153-155). This fatal flaw of insecurity and egotism induces Lear to make error in his judgment, resulting in the improper division of his kingdom and the loss of his two most loyal companions Cordelia and Kent. The consequences of this error build up throughout the play, leading to Lears ultimate tragic fall. Lears lost royal authority now transfers to his two daughters, Goneril and Regan, and they deceitfully use this power against him. Ironically, Lear also falls in status, to a level inferior to that of his own children. Goneril no longer loves him beyond all manner and Regan no longer is an enemy to all other joys as they have professed in the beginning (I.i. 61, 73). Instead, Goneril reprimands his father for the way his servants and knights have infected her home (I.iv.237). Regan follows suit, and insist that The old man and his people/ Cannot be well bestowed (II.iv.258). His daughters no longer even respect him. Lear has now lost his identity as a father, since he even confesses that [He] should be false persuaded / [He] had daughters (I.iv.227-228). Troubled and confused, Lear reveals his weakened sense of identity when asking Who is it that can tell me who I am (I.iv.224). Stripped of authority as king, Lear has now also lost authority as a father over his own flesh and blood. King Lears banishment from his daughters undoubtedly has tremendous psychological effect on him. He not only loses youth as he crawl toward death, but also loses sanity as his heartà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦break into a hundred thousand flaws and heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦go mad (I.i.41, II.iv.284-286). With so much suffering already thrown upon Lear due to his tragic flaw, it seems that Shakespeare has now shown pity and decided to set the stage for a reversal of fate. Losing sanity has given King Lear the opportunity to discover the truth and the core of humanity. With disapproval of Regan and Goneril, Lear heads outside, where a wild storm takes place. In this time of chaos, Lear meets Edgar as Poor Tom and gains profound revelation of man and life. Seeing Poor Tom bare, at humans most natural state, Lear questions, Is man no more than this? and realizes that the unaccomodated man is no more but such a poor, bare, forked animal as thou art (III.iv.103-104, 107-109). He continues with disrobing himsel f, and at the same time, removing himself from any social constraints. It is at the extreme low point that Lear strips of his rationality and relies on his inner instincts to fully grasp his identity and regain his humanity. He now understands the deep love of Cordelia and the disguise employed by his other daughters. The real King Lear finally emerges. Although Shakespeare creates this turning point for Lear, he is actually paving the way for a greater tragedy. Lear loses everything he has authority, family, and sanity, but now he faces his greatest loss the chance for redemption. After the storm, Lear is finally reunited with Cordelia as he struggles to regain his sanity. Cordelia  never loses her love for her father even after he has disowned her, and after seeing him, she cries, O my dear father, restoration hang / Thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss / repair those violent harms that my two sisters / have in thy reverence made (IV.vii.27-30). The mention of restoration signifies Cordelias ability to redeem Lear of his previous mistakes. When Lear wakes up, he admits, I am a very foolish fond old manà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I fear I am not in my perfect mind (IV.vii.61,65). This reveals Lears new regained understanding of himself and his admittance to his faults, a sign of the first step towards redemption. At this point, after all the turbulence, the audience takes a sigh of relief, feeling positive and seeing hope for Lear. Unfortunately however, this play does not leave any traces optimism. In the final act, Edmund captures Lear and Cordelia as his prisoners, and orders both to be killed. Lear escapes, but Cordelia, his loyal and loving daughter, dies. Lear finally realizes only Cordelia can give him a chance which redeem all sorrows that ever [he] have felt (V.iii.272-273). Her death breaks the last thread between Lear and happiness. He expresses his deepest sufferings and declares his sorrows when sees Cordelia has gone foreverà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Shes dead as earth (V.iii.265-267). With nothing left, not even the future and possibility for redemption, Lear loses the only possession that remains his life. King Lear is truly a tragic hero because he was so close to happiness after much torment, yet he is still unable to achieve salvation, and instead, he is subjected to complete deterioration, both mentally and physically. Is this the promised end? Kent, Lears loyal servant, questions at the end of the play (V.iii.270). Indeed, this is the tragic end of King Lear, a play displaying a world of corruption. King Lear, due to his tragic flaw of insecurity and egotism, makes an initial mistake that soon snowballs into a series of losses, including the loss of authority, identity and sanity. Just as he is about to redeem himself, he is deprived of that chance as he losses the only one capable of restoring him Cordelia. The play ends with the ultimate downfall of the tragic hero, as Lear dies in a state of grief. In this way, King Lear portrays not only the tragedy of a society, but more importantly, the tragedy of a man. Even though Lear has undergone much transformation and realized the meaning of humanity, the bleak society he lives in does not warrant him the opportunity for redemption. Through revealing his losses, King Lear illustrates the journey of the title character, an ultimate tragic hero.

Various Ekg readings :: essays research papers fc

Lab essay # 5   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are several different heart problems that show up as an abnormal EKG reading. For example, a heart block can occur when there is a delay in the signals coming from the SA node, AV node, or the Purkinje fibers. However, clinically the term heart block is used to refer to an AV block. This delays or completely stops communication between the atria and the ventricles. AV block is shown on the EKG as a delayed or prolonged PR interval. The P wave represents the activity in the atria, and the QRS complex represents ventricular activity. This is why the PR interval shows the signal delay from the AV node. There are three degrees of severity, and if the delay is greater than .2 seconds it is classified as first degree. Second degree is classified by several regularly spaced P waves before each QRS complex. Third degree can be shown by P waves that have no spacing relationship to the QRS complex. Another type of blockage is bundle branch block. This is caused by a b lockage in the bundle of His, creating a delay in the electrical signals traveling down the bundle branches to reach the ventricles. This results in a slowed heart beat, or brachycardia. On an EKG reading this is shown as a prolonged QRS complex. A normal QRS is about .8-.12 seconds, and anything longer is considered bundle branch block. Another type of abnormal EKG reading is atrial fibrillation, when the atria contracts very quickly. On the EKG this is shown by no clear P waves, only many small fibrillating waves, and no PR interval to measure. This results in a rapid and irregular heartbeat. On the other hand, ventricular fibrillation is much more serious and can cause sudden death if not treated by electrical defibrillation.

Activism Awareness Essay

Do you think celebrity activism is a positive or negative thing? That’s the question. To me, I think celebrity activism has a very positive effect on society and should become more popular. More celebrities should become activists because activists have a long successful history, celebrity activism helps draw attention to all different kinds of issues & activism gives celebrities an opportunity to use their wealth for the good of something greater than themselves. Celebrity activism really helps out the less fortunate and gives back to the community. Since a lot of celebrities got their fame from the fans & paparazzi, they should be thanking them anyways. As you can see, celebrity activism should be applauded as it stimulates awareness and attracts attention to all different kinds of purposes. First off, celebrity activists have been successful for a while. According to the authors of the article, celebrities have a â€Å"long history of using their fame to support their favorite causes and charities,† which shows that is has been successful. (Chittom) This is an important statement because it shows that celebrities that actually devote time to helping out causes and events result in a strong and positive way. Since celebrity activism has been around for a while, that must mean something. Activism wouldn’t be around for this long if it was pointless and is ineffective on society. For example, the article states that in the 1980s the overnight success of Band Aid and USA for Africa raised significant funds for famine relief in Africa. If that much progress was made in the 1980s, imagine how big of an effect celebrity activism has on the world today. Secondly, celebrity activism helps raise awareness for many different causes. This being said, celebrity activism helps draw attention to â€Å"environmental, medical, political, and social issues.†(Chittom) One well known activist who raised awareness for all kinds of categories is an Irish singer, Bono. He was part of a music group called Band Aid. The group had a top selling single and all profits went to famine relief in Ethiopia. In two decades, Bono has become the busiest and most involved celebrity activists. Bono has been involved in raising awareness for multiple of the categories I listed above, along with a whole bunch of other activists. So if people think celebrity activism only helps out only one cause, they’re wrong. As you can see, celebrity activism helps out a big variety of problems and issues. Lastly, celebrity activism gives celebrities a chance to use their fame for something else besides benefiting themselves. Activism is â€Å"an opportunity for celebrities to use their wealth and notoriety for something greater them themselves.† (Chittom) This means that way too many celebrities care about themselves. They don’t give any consideration for the people who are less fortunate than they are. Maybe they don’t have the time, but they might just be ignorant instead. Activism allows celebrities to get involved and work for something to help make a difference for others. So, the bottom line is if celebrities chose activism, it would let them help out other people instead of just caring about themselves. Now, celebrities lack at being spokespeople for events because their busy careers and lifestyles doesn’t allow them to fully commit or it results in celebrities showing â€Å"negative publicity.† (Belanger) This being said does weaken my argument and point of view because it is all true. A lot of celebrities don’t have spare time whatsoever. Some celebrities have every day of their life planned for the next year ahead or maybe even more than that. But being said from the two authors who said this, they also stated that there is a positive side to activism, since they have such a â€Å"high profile status,† (Belanger) they can bring attention to many kinds of causes. So even though celebrities might not be fully committed, even a little bit of dedication can help make a change. To sum everything up, celebrity activism is a very good thing and increase and become more common. Celebrities should consider participating in activism because it really does help in giving back to society. Since celebrities are so popular, it can help draw attention to events that originally not get a lot of attention. Now that you’ve hear my argument, do you think celebrity activism is a positive or negative thing?

Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie

Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie is a story which gives many symbolisms in an attempt to draw the connection between reality and illusion, fact and fiction. More importantly, the characters in the story appear to face certain difficulties in relating to reality, or accepting reality at the least. It goes to show that the story is one which emphasizes the shortcomings of human beings or their dire attempts to understand the things that go beyond the capacity of their minds to comprehend.There are several symbolisms or images in the story which highlight the attempt to bridge reality and fiction, to the point that creates an image of the surreal. For instance, the fire escape scene in the beginning part of the story illustrates Mr. Wingfield’s world of illusion bridged by the fire escape towards the real world. The bridge which is symbolized by the fire escape appears to be a one-way passage, although this would have to vary in context especially in terms of the pe rception of every character. For example, Tom sees the ‘bridge’ as the escape route away from the illusory world of Laura and Amanda and into the real world.On the other hand, Laura sees the bridge as the way that leads straight into her world, one which is a path that gives an escape from the world of reality (Bluefarb, p. 515). This variation in the interpretation of the ‘bridge’ or of the fire escape tells us something which can hardly be noticed on first reading. Given the observation that there is a difference in the perception of Tom and Laura about the fire escape and, hence, their desire to go for the real world or the illusory world, it tells us that The Glass Menagerie initially presents the ways in which people could prefer one over the other (King, p. 09).It gives us the initial impression that certain individuals may prefer the world of illusions over the world of reality, and the other way around can also be said about other people. In the lon g run, the disparity regarding the appreciation of either worlds by certain individuals tells us that one can hardly express one’s ‘world’ to others when others are unwilling to be a part of that world. The case of Tom and Laura presents the contrast wherein one wants the real world whereas the other wants to get away from it.It’s not only a simply disparity of beliefs or of inclinations. It is also a disparity of what one abhors or seeks to get away from which, ironically, does not apply to everybody else. Tom also has the habit of going to movie houses watching films, one which symbolizes his desire to escape reality and go towards places which can draw him nearer to a world of fantasy. His routine of escaping his apartment and proceeding to the movies tells us how his preference for the movies has become ‘habituated’, thereby pushing Tom to lose his interest for the real world.It pushes him to the point of having more interest for the movie s than having more interest for his life in the apartment. More importantly, it pushes him to the point of having more interest for the world of fantasy, or of illusion, than having more interest in the real world. Mr. Wingfield’s absorption into the thought of long distance voices from people he could not see but only hear through his telephone company led to his abandonment of the family.This symbolizes the idea that one’s responsibilities towards those who are dearest to the person can be overridden by one’s desires in life. Mr. Wingfield symbolizes the modern man who is willing to abandon one’s family just to pursue the things that one is inclined to do and the things that one is beholden to. It symbolizes man’s weakness before the bigger things that lay before him, the things which can bring both realizations to one’s aspirations and destruction to one’s beloved family. Jim O’Connor is another character in the story which represents something interesting.Despite the fact that Jim is more of an ‘average man’ lacking any outstanding qualities in life, he is a person who Laura sees as the representation of reality—the reality which Laura fears and seeks to escape. For Amanda, Jim is the type of person who symbolizes her youthful days, the times when she gone frolicking with many men. Apparently, Amanda and Laura see Jim as a person who reminds them of quite different things. For Amanda, Jim is reminder of her younger days. On the other hand, he is a fearful reminder of the real world for Laura.This situation gives us the impression where two people have differing interpretations of the importance or role of other people in their lives. One person can reflect differing reminders to others, which is indeed ironic precisely because there is only one person where the ‘reminders’ emanate from. This goes to show that the things which sow fear into our hearts and cast reminders of our younger days can only do so through the ways in which we comprehend those things. It can then be said that the ways in which we relate others to our fears and memories depend on the way in which we appreciate others.That is one of the symbolisms being taught to us by The Glass Menagerie, giving the readers the idea that the ways in which we view the world really depends on how we appreciate the world, and that the divide between the world of illusions and the world of reality is either diminished or reinforced depending on what we make out of that apparent division. Laura’s glass menagerie is perhaps one of the most obvious objects of symbolism in the story which further highlights the apparent division between the real world and the illusory world.Laura’s glass collection symbolizes who she is, relating to those glass objects very strongly as if she and her glass collection are one and the same beings (Gunn, p. 370). For the most part, whatever that the glass menageries represent is also the same representation for Laura. For example, the time when Laura told Jim that the unicorn is different from the rest of the glass menageries can also be said to symbolize how Laura is different from other people. Laura also pointed out that even though the unicorn is different from the rest, it does not complain out of that difference.That can also be said to directly represent Laura’s view that even though she is seen as different from other people she does not even bother complaining about that. There is also the time when Tom accidentally broke some of Laura’s glass menagerie after rushing to go to the movies which symbolizes the instance where Tom broke his responsibilities to Laura. It should also be noted that glass, when shone upon with light, refracts that light into a spectrum of colors like a rainbow. In the same manner, the life of Laura, when penetrated by other people—like Tom, Amanda and Jim—will also show th e different sides of Laura.The variety of her glass collections tells us that she is indeed not only a dull person living a monotonous life. Rather, the inner part of her self will reveal the multitude of personalities she has once shone into by the light of others. Perhaps it can also be said that Laura has the capacity to reveal to others the many sides to her personality if only those who are close to her will have the time to pause for a while and give her enough attention. One of the more interesting parts of the story is the scene where the horns of Laura’s unicorns are broken off, making the unicorn just any other ‘normal’ horse.That scene symbolizes the idea that one need first be ‘broken’ in order to become normal just like other people. That idea very much applies to Laura since she is seen as an ‘unusual’ individual trapped in her world of illusions. The part where Jim breaks the heart of Laura can also be said as the part whe re the horn of the unicorn is broken off, thus making Laura any other normal person in the real world. Breaking a person is oftentimes needed just to awaken that person back to the real world where ‘normal’ people live.Glass is also said to be a very delicate object that can easily be broken when not properly taken good care of. In the story, it is obvious that the glass menageries of Laura represent her delicate personality, one which can easily be shattered into many pieces and never to be put back to their original state again once broken (Rogoff, p. 89). And like the case when the unicorn’s horn was broken, the time when Laura seemed broken after Jim’s revelation would separate her from her world of illusions for the rest of her life.In real life, people do not change quite easily to the point that they would first have to experience a life-shattering moment in their lives. Sometimes it requires an experience which is truly life-changing in many ways, one that challenges the very personality of the person in both heart and soul, mounting into like an insurmountable challenge that pierces right through one’s emotions. The hardest part of it all would have to be the part where everything seems to be unclear, the part where everything seems to be in their harshest levels, thus prompting one to almost give up on life.Yet those who are able to transcend the hardest moments in life are perhaps those who are able to break away from their shells, out of their world of fantasies and illusions and into the real world, taking them back to a normal life where they rightfully belong. Indeed, the glass collections of Laura deeply represent her personality, and that whatever happens to the glass objects has something to do with Laura as well. Given the fact that the glass objects are ‘clear’, it can also be said that one can easily see through the personality of Laura no matter how hard she may try to hide it in her illusory world (Scheidler, p. 5). With that in mind, it should be the case that people close to Laura should very well be able to understand her situation and comprehend her feelings without difficulty. Apparently, this is certainly not the case as those people close to her even have a hard time putting enough attention to Laura. That is so because each of the individuals in the story do not share the same world that Laura has. Tom, Amanda and Jim all have their own respective ‘worlds’, so to speak. There is also hardly any ‘convergence’ among the worlds of the characters as each of them is busy trying to live with the world that they each live in.Perhaps the most intriguing analysis of the symbolisms in the story is that they transcend the characters in the story. That is, the symbolisms in the story actually represent the life of the author, Tennessee Williams, given the fact that the story is a ‘memory’ play. If indeed it is the case that The Glass Menagerie represents the life of Tennessee Williams, then it can hardly be doubted that for at least once in his life the author has experienced moments in his life where he was broken, taking his life back to the real world away from the world where his illusions once defined who he is (Loney, p. 9). In conclusion, there are many ways of interpreting the symbolisms and imageries in The Glass Menagerie inasmuch as there are numerous symbols and images in the story where representations can be made. Nevertheless, the substance of the story tells us that the story as a whole reflects the idea of breaking away from the world of illusions in order to be truly normal.

High School Cliques Essay

The school environment causes natural polarization of peoples with similar backgrounds, attitudes, or any other factors that would form certain peer groups, or ‘cliques’. This is particularly observable in the High School setting, as the predominant social groups are composed of adolescents who are beginning their socialization process. This socialization forms various groupings or factions that are highly noticeable in High School. The modern media, who continually builds on and establish the perceived cliques and groups in movies, shows, and other media venues, is repeatedly echoing the reality. This has created stereotypes of High School cliques, such as: (1) the popular group, (2) athletes, (3) nerds, (4) racial segregation, (5) pop-culture groups like rockers and hip-hop, (6) outcasts, and (7) other groups. The converging elements of a particular faction can be varied and numerous. These cliques can be students who eat together, or hang out with each other after class. Racial profile can also be a strong factor, as with the social class and background. Even personal preference and culture can bring together different kinds of peoples. High school youth converge because of the reason that they find something in common with the group that they are with. The first clique in High School is the popular student. Usually they are the student leaders or even cheerleaders and well-known members of the student body. They can be socially advantaged as they are driving newer cars or organizing fancier parties. They can be part of the group on the merit that they are simply popular in the batch. These students are usually the first ones remembered and recalled in reunions or gatherings. They are seen as role models, or at the other extreme, a source of jealousy and hatred. The second group, the athletes, can overlap with this first group, because basketball and football players can be highly popular in High School. Another High School clique are the nerds, who are the most participative in class or gets the highest grades in any subject. They would congregate in the canteen and converse about math or politics or any other academic topic. They are stereotyped as being shy and wearing big glasses, and are very grade conscious and studious. Apart from this group, other cliques can be divided according to culture lines, like rockers or hip-hops. They are usually secluded and non-conventionalists, and would gather on their own parties and gatherings. Another notable group are outcasts, who are usually the but of jokes, and would have severe emotional and psychological problems. Some would also note that racial background would be a strong determinant in formation of cliques. Asians or African Americans or Caucasians would most likely hang-out with each other, which does not imply discrimination, but merely cultural identification. They also form different and very distinguishable cliques in High School. High School is the stage of life wherein social interaction is at its most dynamic, as young adolescents are placed in a social environment outside their homes, and forced to polarize into different groups. Although these High School cliques can be regarded as mere stereotypes that may not always necessary be apparent in a social context, there is a ring of truth in the observations. Since the school is a hodgepodge of different backgrounds and cultures, it is natural for the youth to find people they are familiar and comfortable with. This reality, coupled with media hype, reinforces the perception that different High School cliques do exist.

Human Rights and Same-Sex Marriage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Human Rights and Same-Sex Marriage - Essay Example Those who argue that same-sex marriages should be considered a civil right and should be treated just like any heterosexual monogamous marriage are doing so based on the principle of the Equal Protection Clause. This is, however, a flawed argument. It is absolutely wrong to consider that one’s constitutional rights ensure equal treatment in the area of marriage. One must understand with regard to equal treatment, the Constitution does not make reference to social relationships such as families, marriages, friendships, and the like (McVeigh and Maria-Elena 899). Two friends, who decide to consider their relationship a marriage, cannot go to the courts and demand equal protection rights just because they decided to consider their friendship a marriage. To do so is tantamount to saying that just because some people at a certain sports event pray together before the start of the event; courts are required under the equal protection law to allow these sports event goers to redefine the event as a religious ceremony. The government, as an example, recognizes a relationship between two contracting parties, one of whom agrees to mow the other’s lawn. However, the law governing the contracts does not define beforehand what kinds of contracts can be drawn. The law, instead, merely makes clear how binding a consensual contract is, and what legal obligations both agreeing parties have in fulfilling the contract

TV Series Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

TV Series - Research Paper Example However, these days, there are various services that would allow that individual to watch any episodes they missed, including the DVR. The DVR allows individuals to record a program, which they can watch at a later time. The availability to services like Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon which provide similar features, also contribute to this lack of urgency. In a brief description, a television program is a segment of content intended for broadcast on television; the United States uses an audience measurement system developed by the Nielsen Company, in an effort to determine the size of the audience and the arrangement of television programming. This decline in television ratings affects the life span of the shows themselves. I always pondered the question of how a TV show makes money, and then I read an article about TV Commercials which are a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization, which conveys a message, usually to advertise a product or service. From what I understood companies look at TV ratings to see if they have something to gain from advertising within the specific TV program. This research is worth a lot of money. Advertising companies pay to air their advertisements on TV programs using the information interpreted from Nielsens figures. Network executives also use Nielsens figures to see if scheduling decisions are paying off or not. Just because a show has millions of viewers don’t always mean that it is successful, it may make it popular to certain crowds but in order to be a financial success it needs to be above the network average and stable. Thats why some shows with a steadfast fan base still get canceled (How TV ratings work). In 2011 Comcast, the No. 1 cable company has launched their on-demand podium Xfinity TV on Demand, in an effort to compete against DirecTV and Netflix making Comcast the only pay TV provider to offer recent episodes from existing shows from all the

Adoption of New Technology Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Adoption of New Technology Systems - Essay Example In this study, their effective application in promoting adoption of a new Electronic Health Records System, EHR, at a nursing institution will be discussed. It is the role of the nurse leaders to ensure that the EHR system being introduced is fully understood by the nurses, and also make it known why it is a necessary innovation (Mooney & Boyle, 2011). In this case, for instance, it would be effective to explain to the nurses that the government, through its Health Information Technology for economic and Clinical Health Act is offering professionals in the healthcare context 44,000$ over five years if they successfully demonstrate the use of EHR systems. Additionally, failure to meet this will see the Medicare reimbursements reduced by 1% annually. In this way, the nurses will understand that the EHR systems are more of a regulation with benefits in the healthcare context. In facilitating less resistance and higher chances of adoption of the EHR systems, it would be wise to apply the Roger’s theory of diffusion of innovations. Its first element is relative advantage. Relative advantage is simply the level to which an innovation is better, in a measurable way than the concept, it is replacing (Rogers, 2003). In short, the leader should highlight the benefits of the EHR systems. One of them is that unlike traditional methods of recording patient information, they store all information about a patient in one place. This includes treatment history, immunization dates, laboratory tests, and radiology images. This makes the task of tracing patient information simpler for the nurse. Again, EHR systems are bound to cut costs for both patients and providers. This is because their digital nature requires less storage space, faster retrieval, and easier transfer (Bates, 2010). The second element in Roger’s theory is

Biotechnology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Biotechnology - Essay Example (Paine, et. al., 2005). Another example is the BT corn, which genetically modifies corn crops to protect it from predatory pests such as caterpillars. Much controversy has surrounded biotechnology and biotechnology crops from the start. There are many critics argue that it worsens the lot of farmers rather than improve it because it creates a pattern of corporate dependence. Taking the BT-corn example, after some time, pests would develop a tolerance to modified strain in the corn crop and farmers will have no choice but to purchase new pesticides from the corporations at prices that will exploit their lack of choices. Environmental advocates, on the other hand, warn of the hazards of biotechnology on biodiversity and other life-forms. For example, environmentalists assert that the corn that is keeping pests away is also killing the Monarch butterfly. According to Kloppenburg and Burrows (2001), â€Å"given the increasing commodification of science and technology and the reality of where purchasing power lies, it is naive to expect a new tool such as biotechnology ever to fall outside corporate control.† 2. a. ... Because it is not possible to conduct research on human bodies, using animals in laboratory experiments is justified as a reliable way of ascertaining the risks to human health and to the environment. However, research involving animals must be done in a responsible manner so as to avoid any unnecessary cruelty upon the animals and to ensure that the laboratory experiments are done with the least possible damage to them or to other life systems. b. The dose-response curve refers to an x-y graph designed to measure the effects on a life-form or organisms as a result of exposure to stressors or chemicals, tested over a given period of time and in varying doses. The objective is to determine whether or not a certain chemical is beneficial, and the levels or doses that it is beneficial, as well as the doses at which it is already harmful. The dose-response curve is often used to aid in the crafting of environmental or health regulations. c. LD50 is the dose required to kill 50% of a samp le population within a given time frame. It is also called the median lethal dose. A low LD50 is dangerous because it means that only small doses are required to exterminate half of the sample. Conversely a high LD50 is conventionally deemed to be safer. The problem however with this baseline is that it only measures death and not other toxic effects that do not necessary lead to death. 3. I agree that the precautionary principle is an important environmental principle, and one that should be prevail over market considerations and free trade invocations. Scholars like Adler oppose the precautionary principle, as his problem with it was that it was not responsive to the threats of biodiversity