Health Policy Reflection Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Health Policy Reflection - Research Paper Example When comparing the United States’ health care system to the Canadian health care system one of the most prominent recognitions is that the United States charges considerably more for the same procedures. Mack (2011) indicates that the average cost of an appendectomy in the United States is $8,000. This is compared with Canada where the average cost of this operation is $5,000. There are a variety of reasons for this price disparity. One of the most prominent recognitions is that in the United States considerable amount more money goes towards administrative costs. These costs extend to the medical professionals as well. It’s recognized that many qualified medical professionals leave Canada to pursue higher paying jobs in the United States. While United States medical administrators and physicians receive higher salaries, this does not directly translate into improved quality of care. Another prominent difference between the United States and Canadian health care systems is the type of medical interventions that are implemented. In the United States there is considerable emphasis placed on expensive interventions. For instance, United States medical treatment regularly involves tonsillectomies, knee replacements, and MRIs. While these interventions are implemented in the Canada, the Canadian health care system places more focus on treatment at the primary care physician level. Klune (2011) indicates that in great part the Canadian primary care system is able to treat these issues before they become more large-scale and require expensive interventions. A final consideration is the nature of attitudes and socioeconomic conditions within the United States. An amount of research has argued that one of the major reasons the United States must spend more on health care costs than Canada is because the United States crime rate is higher (O’Neil 2007, p. 42). This higher

GI tract symptoms Essay Example for Free

GI tract symptoms Essay Nick has complained of â€Å"burning and prickly pain† in his feet, dizziness when he is standing or sitting, weak refluxes, being clumsy, vision changes, hearing changes, and trouble focusing. His symptoms are considered both sensory and motor.Nick’s symptoms are most likely due to peripheral nerve damage not central nervous damage. The component of the reflex arc that is most likely to be damaged is the integrating center. One or more regions of the CNS relay impulses from the sensory to the motor neurons, meaning that the impulses don’t ever reach the effectors and the motor neurons. The parasympathetic division of the ANS would be causing Nick’s GI tract symptoms because it is in controls of the inner workings of the body. The ANS control blood pressure by sensing a rise or fall in the about of blood pumping in the veins. Depending on that amount it either causes them to constrict o dilate at needed. During physical stress the part of the brain that interacts with the ANS to initiate the rapid heart rate and respiratory rate, elevated BP and extreme sweating is the prefrontal cortex. The Adrenergic receptors regulate the closing of sphincters and relaxation of the organ walls. Polyneuropathy is an appropriate term to use to describe Nick’s symptoms because his symptoms are caused by damage to more than one nerve. The symptoms that indicate polyneuropathy are the decreased ability to feel pressure or pain, burning and tingling in his feet, decreased refluxes, being clumsy and the dizziness. Nick’s symptoms indicate a peripheral polyneuropathy rather than a CNS lesion of the brain or spinal cord because they are symptoms related to sensation loss or weakness of certain areas. Symptoms related to the somatic reflexes are the weakness of reflexes, loss of pressure sensation and burning/tingling in his feet. Symptoms related to the autonomic reflexes are dizziness when sitting to standing and his GI tract symptoms.

The Indian Policy Response :: India Trade Globalization Agriculture Essays

The Indian Policy Response Socio-economic implications of Globalization in India - What India wants from WTO - What is required of India by WTO - Analysis of policy response in two crucial areas Agriculture and Pharmaceuticals. An ethical framework covering the issues that are discussed and a common policy response is suggested. In the early nineties, India embarked full speed on a path of liberalization and globalization by reducing trade barriers and non-trade barriers alike, demolishing the existing quota-licensing regime. As a logical step in that process, it joined the WTO in 1994 at the end of Uruguay round of talks. Major changes in existing laws and enacting new laws had become imperative to comply with the WTO agreement. But substantial resistance to the acceptance of the WTO regime have erupted in areas of Agriculture, Pharmaceuticals. India as a founder of the ITA (Information technology Agreement) under the aegis of WTO has significant advantages as well as some critical obligations. This paper analyses the moral arguments of the policy response to these critical issues and attempts to synthesize a common position based on ethical perspectives. Agriculture Before we discuss the policy imperatives of the WTO response, a brief background on the nature and state Indian agriculture is necessary. Indian economy is agrarian in nature where nearly 70% of the population is dependent upon agricultural income. At the lower end of this strata are the vast majority of poor farm labourers who do not own the land but work in the fields and farms to earn their livelihood. In the middle layer, we have a large number of marginal land owners and small farmers who labour as well as employ other labourers to produce. In the higher end there a small number of large farmers and farm corporations who employ mechanised as well as very labour intensive farming. The politically powerful lobby of big farmers utilize power, irrigation and fertilizer subsidies of the government at the same level as the small farmers. The number of crops produced by this huge agricultural base is limited comparative to the other developed countries, because of various historical an d climatic conditions. Since the agriculture is labour intensive and most of the farming is done by small farmers owning small land tracts, the productivity is low and costs are high. While some states subsidize power and irrigation, the central government provides fertilizer subsidies and procures the farm products at minimum support prices to supply poor urban consumers to ensure food security through a Public Distribution System.

Bi sexuality of emily dickinson Essay examples -- essays papers

Bi sexuality of emily dickinson The inner-workings of Emily Dickinson’s mind continue to be an enigma to literary scholars, worldwide. Dickinson’s agoraphobia caused her to live a solitary and secluded life in her Amherst, Massachusetts home for a large portion of her life. â€Å"She rarely received visitors, and in her mature years she never went out† (Ferguson, et. al.; 1895). It is also known that she was in love with a married man (no one knows for sure exactly who this man was) who eventually ended their relationship and this left her very distraught. Some scholars believe that at one point in her life, Dickinson suffered a nervous breakdown, possibly caused by the break-up of the relationship. A woman named Rebecca Patterson exposed the most dramatic and shocking revelation about Emily Dickinson’s life. Patterson’s discovered that many of the emotional love poems that Dickinson wrote were addressed to women. She published her findings in a 1951 book entitled The Rid dle of Emily Dickinson. It was later found out that Dickinson wrote many letters of sexual fantasy and longing to several women. The most notable of these women was her good friend and sister-in-law, Sue Gilbert. The discovery of Dickinson’s affection for woman does not contradict the fact that she was deeply in love with a man at some point in her life. There are many love poems that Dickinson wrote to men. In today’s society, Emily would probably be considered a bi-sexual. Homoerotic thoughts and tendencies were not a possibility during Dickinson’s time because the idea of homosexuality had yet to be socially constructed. That is the reason she had to hide the true intentions of her poetry. The love poems that Dickinson wrote to men are distinc... ... life. The last four lines in the poem specify the seeking of an emotional attachment to a woman. Dickinson’s reference to the other woman’s heart as a home implies that fact. Other examples of her poetry show that Dickinson was not receiving the emotional support she needed from heterosexual relationships, so she looked for it elsewhere. Emily Dickinson’s poetry not only contributed extensively to the world of literature but it also helped inspire the female voice to break free from the shackles of oppression that society placed upon it. Her writing told women that it was o.k. for them to express their feelings, hardships, and desires no matter how taboo the subject might have been or how negatively society would have perceived them. For these reasons Emily Dickinson’s writings and poetry will continue to be studied and admired by women for generations to come.

Renal system

The renal system includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. (virtual medical center 2006) It consists of all the organs responsible for the formation and release of urine. The kidneys perform vital functions like getting rid of waste through the excretion of urine. It regulates the amount of water in the body and allows filtration of sodium and chlorides. (virtual medical center 2006) It maintains the volume and composition of body fluid. (renal system 2006) The kidneys are â€Å"bean-shaped organ located in the lower part o the belly, situated in the posterior wall of the abdomen. (renal system 2006)The left kidney is slightly higher than the right in the abdomen to allow for the liver. (renal system 2006) There are two distinct regions of the kidney; medulla and cortex. The blood supply is taken directly from the aorta thru renal arteries and returned to the inferior vena cava thru renal veins. (renal system 2006) The nephron is the unit of the kidney that acts and respon sible for ultrafiltration and excretion of the waste products. (renal system 2006) Urine, the filtered waste material, will be passed down the ureters and collects in the bladder. (renal system)The ureters are tubes lined with smooth muscle. The 25-30cm long tubes help carry the urine through the bladder. The urine will be forced forward with the help of the muscular tissue. (virtual medical center 2006) Then the urethral sphincter at the base of the bladder relaxes, the detrusor contracts, and urine is negated thru the urethra. (renal system 2006)The bladder is located in our pelvis and pyramidal in shaped. It stores the urine and releases it into a tube which extracted the urine out of the body. (virtual medical center 2006) It can normally hold up to 500mls of urine. It has three openings which includes two for the ureters and one for the urethra. (virtual medical center 2006) The main muscle of the bladder is called detrusor that contracts to allow the urine to flow. The nervous control of the bladder that sends signal and tell us that the bladder is full is located in the brain and spinal cord. (virtual medical center 2006) The blood supply of the bladder is from many blood vessels named vesical arteries, obturator, uterine, gluteal and vaginal arteries. (virtual renal system site)The tube that is located from the bladder neck to the top of the vaginal opening is the female urethra whereas, the male urethra is running from the bladder to the tip of the penis. Female urethra is more prone to infections from bacteria than male urethra due to it is shorter in size. (virtual medical center 2006) The blood vessels of the female urethra are the internal pudendal and vaginal arteries. The male urethra is supplied through inferior vesical and middle rectal arteries. (virtual renal system site)An acute renal failure is a disease of the kidneys and a common medical condition that complicates hospital and intensive care unit admissions. (virtual medical center 2006)    It occurs suddenly and initiated by primal causes like dehydration, infection, kidney injuries and chronic use of over the counter pain medications. (virtual medical center 2006) It is often reversible and with no lasting damage. In renal failure, kidneys are not functioning properly or not work at all. Kidneys are unable to filter waste, produce urine and imbalances fluids. The dysfunction of the kidneys results building up of toxins which produces complications. (Gunsch 2006)Renal failure symptoms include edema or the accumulation of fluid distinctive in swelling, decrease in urination, general ill feeling, exhaustion and headaches. (Gunsch 2006)Often, these symptoms were not experience by a person with renal failure. (Gunsch 2006) A person with renal failure can actually lead a normal life. The recovery of the patient with renal failure will be depending on the severity, treatment options and patient’s coping to the rigors of renal failure.But to some cases, dialysis and kidney transplant is needed. (Gunsch 2006) Management of the treatment includes general measures or monitors to prevent complications, treat precipitating cause, and can be treated with medications or may require dialysis.   (wirual medical center 2003)Mary is admitted to the ward with acute renal failure. She is very confused and anxious. She is accompanied by her husband and daughter. She has high blood pressure and a respiratory rate of 30. She also has low urine out put. Mary might have felt self pity and a burden to her family. In Roper et.al’s activities of living model (1918-2004), it stresses patient’s continual assessment, facilitation of normal activities of living and individualized care. It considers and respects the characteristics of a person prior to development. (Roper et.al 1918-2004)The â€Å"model of living† incorporates twelve activities that engaged a person whether sick or well. (Roper et.al 1918-2004) It includes maintaining a safe e nvironment, breathing, communication, mobilizing, eating and drinking, eliminating, personal cleansing and dressing, maintaining body temperature, working and playing, sleeping, expressing sexuality and dying   Ã‚  (Roper et.al 1918-2004)To be able to provide care for Mary without making her feel as a burden or imbecile, she should be given the chance to have her individualism. Although she should be given special care and attention, she should be given a part to the treatment she is undergoing. Like if in case she needs to take her medicine, she should be the one to take it but her family or the attendants should also notify her the appointed time that it should be taken. Communication is highly regarded in this situation as well. Through having conversation with the patient not only shows that you care for her but also makes her feel that she is not disgusting.Mary should also be given assistance in personal cleansing, dressing and maintaining to have a good environment but not to a point that her personality will be injured. Her family should be involved in every activities or treatment that she is undergoing. Mary could have a certain activity every week that will detach her in always thinking about her sickness that makes her confused and anxious.Certain social activities or programs should be conducted or if in case having a new learning experience like training for dressmaking, cosmetology, or the likes that will be useful as well when she’ s already well. Death issues should also be planned so that she will have a pain free and dignified death wherever possible. Spiritual emphasis is also helpful for Mary to cope up with the situation. Lastly, she should also be treated and informed that her sickness could be cured and not malignant.REFERENCES:Answers.com retrieved 13 October 2006, Kidney, Available at: http://www.answers.com/renal%20systemGunsch, J. 2006, What is Renal Failure?, Available at: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-renal-failure.htmN orthern Care Homes Directory 28 August 2000, Hulton Care Nursing Home, Available at: http://www.nchd.co.uk/Middleton/hulton_care.htmRenal System retrieved 13 October 2006, Available at: http://www.le.ac.uk/pathology/teach/va/anatomy/case4/4_1.htmlRoper, Nancy, et.al 1918-2004, Activities of Living Model, Available at: http://www.nursingtheory.net/gt_alm.htmlVirtual Medical Center 28 March 2006, Anatomy & Physiology of the Renal System, Available at: http://www.virtualrenalcentre.com/anatomy.asp?sid=14Virtual Medical Center   9 October 2003,   Renal Failure – Acute, Available at: http://www.virtualrenalcentre.com/diseases.asp?did=205Wikipedia retrieved 13 October 2006, Kidney, Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renal

Aids Related Stigma Essays - HIVAIDS, Health, Discrimination

Aids Related Stigma Essays - HIVAIDS, Health, Discrimination Aids Related Stigma Introduction Since the appearance of AIDS in the late seventies and early eighties, the disease has had attached to it a significant social stigma. This stigma has manifested itself in the form of discrimination, avoidance and fear of people living with AIDS (PLWAs). As a result, the social implications of the disease has been extended from those of other life threatening conditions to the point at which PLWAs are not only faced with a terminal illness but also social isolation and constant discrimination throughout society. Various explanations have been suggested as to the underlying causes of this stigmatization. Many studies point to the relationship the disease has with deviant behaviour. Others suggest that fear of contagion is the actual culprit. Examining the existing literature and putting it into societal context leads one to believe that there is no one cause. Instead, there would appear to be a collection of associated factors that influence societys attitudes towards AIDS and PLWAs. As the number of people infected with HIV increases, social workers are and will be increasingly called upon to deal with and serve PWAs. Although not all social workers chose to work with PLWAs, the escalating incidence of HIV infection is creating a situation in which seropositive people are and will be showing up more often in almost all areas of social work practice. This paper aims to examine AIDS related stigma and the stigmatization process, hopefully providing insights into countering the effects of stigma and perhaps the possibility of destigmatization. This is of particular pertinence to the field of social work due to our growing involvement with the HIV positive population. Association to Deviant/Marginal Behavior One of the most clearly and often identified causes of AIDS related stigma is its association to deviant behaviour. The disease has had and still does have a strong association for many to homosexuality, IV drug use, sexual promiscuity and other liberations of sexual practice (OHare, et al., 1996; Canadian Associacion of Social Workers, 1990; Quam, 1990 & Beauger, 1989). An especially strong association exists between homosexuality and AIDS. This is largely due to the fact that, in the early years of the disease, it was far more prevalent within the gay community and almost non-existent outside of it. In fact, until 1982 the disease was referred to as GRID or Gay Related Immune Deficiency. Even today, AIDS is often referred to as the gay plague (Giblin, 1995). Even though AIDS is now far less prevalent in the homosexual community and increasingly more outside of it, this link still remains strong for many. Along with the historical context of AIDS, the media is partly to blame for this not so accurate association. The Canadian Association of Social Workers (1990) reports that, often the media has not distinguished between gay and AIDS, so that public understanding of homosexuality and AIDS has become enmeshed (p.10). In recent years, the media has started to make more accurate distinctions between homosexuality and AIDS, but messages are still mixed and often ambiguous. The situation is quite similar in regard to IV drug use, prostitution, and other activities commonly associated with AIDS. This focus that the media has put on marginalized groups incorrectly places emphasis on high risk groups rather than high risk activities. As a result, the word AIDS alone conjures, for many, images of those who deviate from what society deems to be normal behaviour. Already Stigmatized Groups Many of the groups to which AIDS is associated have long histories of stigmatization before the appearance of AIDS. Homosexuals, in western culture, have almost always suffered the effects of being a stigmatized population. The same is true of prostitutes, IV drug users, and people of color (OHare, et al., 1996; Giblin, 1995 & CASW, 1990). It is significant to mention colored populations, as the parts of the world that are most severely effected by AIDS, such as countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, South East Asia, and Haiti, are mostly populated by races other than Caucasian. As a result, a strong association has been also been made between AIDS and people of color (Quam, 1990). The fact that AIDS is associated with already stigmatized groups has two principal effects. First and most obvious, is that societys negative attitudes towards the group in question are transferred to AIDS and PLWAs. Second, is an amplification of the existing negative feelings that society holds towards the groups associated with the disease (CASW, 1990). As a result, homosexuals, prostitutes, colored people and other groups associated to HIV infection

3 Types of Errors Involving the Correlative Conjunction Either

3 Types of Errors Involving the Correlative Conjunction Either 3 Types of Errors Involving the Correlative Conjunction â€Å"Either† 3 Types of Errors Involving the Correlative Conjunction â€Å"Either† By Mark Nichol When either and or are employed in a sentence to frame two alternatives, the correlative conjunction either is often misplaced, usually rendering the sentence more or less comprehensible but potentially introducing confusion. For each of the examples below, a discussion explains the problem, and a revision provides a solution. 1. She’s either criticized for being too fat or too thin. In this type of sentence, placing either before a verb that precedes two alternatives implies that the verb applies only to the first alternative and that a corresponding verb will appear before the second one, but that does not occur. To render such a sentence correctly, relocate the correlative conjunction to follow the verb, so that both alternatives can share it: â€Å"She’s criticized for being either too fat or too thin.† 2. Teachers would either be paid extra to supervise the sessions, or nonteaching staff would be employed.† This sentence does not pertain to two choices involving teachers, so the conjunction must precede, rather than follow, the subject so that it applies to the first alternative and or introduces the second one: â€Å"Either teachers would be paid extra to supervise the sessions, or nonteaching staff would be employed.† 3. We have seen many firms in which the manager reported either to the general counsel or a business leader. In this case, the sentence would be correct only if a complementary to preceded the phrase â€Å"a business leader.† Otherwise, transpose either and to so that the alternative phrases can share the single instance of to: â€Å"We have seen many firms in which the manager reported to either the general counsel or a business leader.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Farther vs. FurtherTime Words: Era, Epoch, and EonPeople vs. Persons

Plesiadapis Facts

Plesiadapis Facts Name: Plesiadapis (Greek for almost Adapis); pronounced PLESS-ee-ah-DAP-iss Habitat: Woodlands of North America and Eurasia Historical Period: Late Paleocene (60-55 million years ago) Size and Weight: About two feet long and 5 pounds Diet: Fruits and seeds Distinguishing Characteristics: Lemur-like body; rodent-like head; gnawing teeth About Plesiadapis One of the earliest prehistoric primates yet discovered, Plesiadapis lived during the Paleocene epoch, a mere five million years or so after the dinosaurs went extinct- which does much to explain its rather small size (Paleocene mammals had yet to attain the large sizes typical of the mammalian megafauna of the later Cenozoic Era). The lemur-like Plesiadapis looked nothing like a modern human, or even the later monkeys from which humans evolved; rather, this small mammal was notable for the shape and arrangement of its teeth, which were already semi-suited to an omnivorous diet. Over tens of millions of years, evolution would send the descendants of Plesiadapis down from the trees and onto the open plains, where they would opportunistically eat anything that crawled, hopped, or slithered their way, at the same time evolving ever-larger brains. It took a surprisingly long time for paleontologists to make sense of Plesiadapis. This mammal was discovered in France in 1877, only 15 years after Charles Darwin published his treatise on evolution, On the Origin of Species, and at a time when the idea of humans evolving from monkeys and apes was extremely controversial. Its name, Greek for almost Adapis, references another fossil primate discovered about 50 years earlier. We can now infer from the fossil evidence that the ancestors of Plesiadapis lived in North America, possibly coexisting with dinosaurs, and then gradually crossed over to western Europe by way of Greenland.

Concert Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Concert - Essay Example For sure, today they are gender and race neutral. Moreover, it is their race and gender neutrality that has resulted into its popularity in urban areas. Hip hop music is rap music. Hip hop consists of stylistic rhythm music. This is usually accompanied by a chanted rhyming and rhythmic speech, rapping. Hip hop genre, like any of the music that developed as part of the hip hop culture, has got four distinct stylistic elements. These include, graffiti writing, scratching/DJing, break dancing and rapping/MCing. In addition, its styles include beat boxing, synthesis and instrumental tracks. Hip hop stylistic origins include dancehall, talking blues, performance poetry, dub, disco, rhythm and blues, funk, spoken word, toasting, the dozens, reggae and scat singing. Its styles also originated from the Bronx, New York (Hess, 78). The typical instruments that are synonymous with hip hop include, drum machine, beat boxing vocals, synthesizer, piano, guitar, turntable, DAW, rapping, sampler, bass guitar and drums. The derivative forms like old school jungle, break beat hardcore and trip hop. Hip hop is a very engaging type of genre. Usher was able to directly engage his audience. Indeed, the young audiences prefer solo artists like Usher. This is because as he solo’s they feel involved and sing and dance with him through the song. In addition, the choice of his message was highly timed thus contributing to the direct participation. Moreover, Usher performances are usually race neutral, and they are never controversial. Thus, the audiences often feel respected, and this drives them to join in the movements with the solo artist. The performance took place in a well lighted stage. This was consistent with the plain dressing style of Usher. With a blue jeans trouser, white T-shirt and a grey jacket, Usher delivered his message. In addition, he adopted for a quite movement coupled with mellow style. This visual imagery, together with the soft movement style adopted by

Technical Communication Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Technical Communication Analysis - Assignment Example Introduction to Hardware specific organization: Cisco is an American based multinational entity which specializes in the field of networking and internet connections on local and wide area network levels. It also provides solutions to enterprises of different kinds namely businesses, information technology, governmental organizations and various other sectors. The services provided by Cisco are up to the customers’ requirements fulfilling the factors of quality of Service factor, security considerations fulfillment, I.P solutions provision, and various other online resources sharing and connectivity. Differences: While the first paper (Routers) provides technical details, the second one is specialized and focuses on the guidelines to be followed. The clinical document further provides descriptions and stresses on the importance of documented works, records keeping which will facilitate the work in longer run and at the same time bring about more consistency in the working patt ern in health care sector. While one of them is core technical in its outlook, the second one is relatively easy to comprehend even for the ordinary reader, The first paper provides details such as the capacity, the technologies incorporated in each of the router, the range supported by each of the router and other details. The advantages served by each of them and also the shortcomings that each of them may suffer from. The clinical paper talks of the newsletters, magazines, and other periodicals which will serve to promote awareness and provide details about how the clinical sector operates, what possible improvements are possible and what efforts are being undertaken in this regard. The second notable feature of the clinical paper is the formulation of regulation pertinent to the contracts being made and the payers and other stakeholders. The clinical report provides dates on which various regulations were adopted and later on put into effective action for practical applicability in health care domain. Difference is in the form of the type of people who may have made this report. The router based report is pure work of technical experts, while the latter is more of the policy makers’ work. Other notable difference in each of these papers is relevant to the fact that the clinical paper recommends changes and in the policies through its study, while the technical report of routers does not explicitly mention any need for change as such. The clinical paper contains the area of history recording, which is relevant to the patients history, their family, their hereditary diseases if any, such historic event is missing or unaddressed in the routers related paper. Similarities: The similarities are that each provides details as to how they operate and how they facilitate connection establishment as in case of first paper, and the second in case of how to make the health care sector more vibrant. Other similarity in each of them is that of introduction to the field, although the first one is relatively technical, the second one is relatively easily to comprehend. Each of them is made to provide guidelines and the basic know how of each of the sector. Architecture design specialties: The architectural designs contain terms and concepts relevant to its usage and application. While security, customer needs fulfillment, quality

Importance of Constitutions to Democracy and Political Stability Essay

Importance of Constitutions to Democracy and Political Stability - Essay Example 39). That notwithstanding, the importance of constitutions for democracy and political stability cannot be overemphasized. Constitutions and democracy are inextricably linked; the existence and functionality of the either is heavily dependent on that of the other. Constitution and democracy have been defined differently by different scholars and institutions. Despite different definitions there are key elements of each concept that are agreeable across board. According to O'Neil (2010, p. 16), constitution is defined as a set of laws and principles that have been established within a state to facilitate the governing of the state. On the other hand, democracy is defined as system of government in which citizens are equal before the law and can influence the actions, laws, and public policy of that state. In democracies, people are sovereign and are the ultimate source of authority (Gaus and Kukathas, 2004, p. 43). It is important to point out that the near if not inseparable relation ship between constitution and democracy has resulted to the emergence of new concept- constitutional democracy. Constitutional democracy refers to the authority of the majority in which the powers, limits, and structures of government are based on the constitution; the government is limited by institutional and legal means so that individuals and minorities’ rights are respected (Gee and Webber, 2010, p. 274). Constitutions have for a long period of time proved to be important for democracy and political stability. This has assertion has, however, caused a raging debate on whether constitutions are important for democracy and political stability in equal measure across countries that uphold it, or they are more important in new or feeble than in long-standing democracies. Therefore, it is important to evaluate these arguments. To begin with, it is no doubt that constitutions are important for democracy and political stability as demonstrated by numerous democracies across the world. Constitution has been fundamental in inspiring democracy and political stability in most democracies across the world such as Japan, the United States, Israel, and Germany among other countries (Gaus and Kukathas, 2004, p. 60). This scenario has been attributed to several essential principles and characteristics of constitutions. The first one is the principle of consent or popular sovereignty; the constitution ensures that the government itself and the authority that it has, has been derived from the majority of the citizens. As such, democracy prevails as the â€Å"government is of, by, and for the people†. Along with that, political stability prevails because the incumbent government is in power courtesy of the governed consent. Secondly, the constitution limits the authority of the government and ensures that those in power operate within the limits. As a result, democracy is achieved while few or no instances of political instability can be witnessed. The powers of government are usually limited through procedural and institutional limitations such as checks and balances, separation of powers, leadership succession through periodic elections, and adherence to the due process of law (Gee and Webber, 2010, p. 275-6). Additionally, constitutions inspire democracy and political stability by ensuring that the fundamental rights and freedoms of all citizens including the minorities are protected. As noted, there is debate on whether

Racial Discrimination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Racial Discrimination - Essay Example Few countries have experienced as persistent and as institutionalized and formal a system of ethnic and racial stratification as has South Africa. Loosely divided into Blacks and Whites, with the former comprising approximately 90% of the population, assimilation such as which would lead to national unity and the subsequent negation of racism was offset by the institutionalization of racism. The Whites, non-native to the country and comprised of the earlier Dutch immigrants, Afrikaners and the later English ones, had, not only come to the country as colonizers but had, quite effectively, laid their absolute claim over the country through the assumption of control over its political and economic institutions and, in the process, denied the presence of the native population. South Africa's native population, comprising at least 75% of the country's inhabitants, were denied a political and economic presence in the country A system of ethnic stratification had, in essence, relegated them to the status of non-beings, to the extent that they were deprived of any and all conceivable basic human rights within their own country. They were no simply regarded as inferior but defined by the law as such. Within the context of the stated, the very notion of penetrating through the racial divide, of combating racism and of creating a society/nation founded upon the acknowledgement of the equal claim of all citizens to basic human rights, let alone equality per se, was a virtual impossibility. Indeed, the attainment of the stated was predicated on dismantling the apartheid system which had, not only institutionalized racism but which had effectively de-legitimized racial equality. As is amply clear from the foregoing, South Africa was founded upon a racist political and economic system. The White minority dominated over the majority and domination reached the extent of the dehumanization of 75% of the population. The remaining 15%, classified as nonwhites and comprised of the racially mixed Coloreds, Asians and Africans of various tribal origins, stood mid-way between the two. That does not mean to imply that that they were granted rights which, by any stretch of the imagination, were comparable to those enjoyed by the Whites but that they were not as dehumanized and as marginalized as were the Blacks. Even though the Apartheid system was dismantled in the 1990s due to the efforts of Nelson Mandela, later elected the country's first black leader, the fact remains racism still prevails. It prevails because of its long history in South Africa and s sustained by the fact that the Whites and the Blacks remain unequal insofar as socio-economic and educational status is concerned. Within the context of vast inequalities, assimilation remains a distant goal. Although Canada is as arguably a two-nation country as is South Africa, it is not a divided nation. South Africa's divisions are determined by race and Canada's by national and linguistic roots. The implication here is that the French and the English Canadians are not regarded as separate and unequal but different. While a case may be made for the fact that this hardly allows for assimilation and ultimately leaves Canada vulnerable to divisiveness, an equally strong case may be made for the fact that Canada's ethnic stratification is not predicated on this particular

REPORT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

REPORT - Essay Example Staff at the restaurant should address customers politely avoiding stereotypes along race or class. The FAMM model The Five Aspects Meal Model refers factors that play an important role in the restaurant to make the meal experience an entire process. These factors include the room, the meeting, the product, the management control system and the atmosphere. The meeting Service and service quality is considered as a ‘meeting’ depending on the way that the customer is treated. To understand the value of the meeting, a restaurant staff needs to have knowledge of social psychology and rules of etiquette. Higher education is vital for service staff to exhibit mature social interaction in the restaurant. Service staffs make the major contact between a client and the restaurant. A waiter should to explain to the client what is in the menu and the preparation time of meals in a friendly manner. Arrogant waiters can make the whole dining experience very boring to the client. Waite rs should also understand that customers might elevate their own social status in a restaurant. A customer can pretend to be successful and rich. (Kivela, 1994, pp 24).Waiters should be able to assist customers who are less experienced in hotel dining. A waiter who is more helpful than arrogant to an ignorant client will help the restaurant obtain a good reputation.(Finkelstein,1989, pp 34). The room Many meals are consumed in a room. The person offering meals in a commercial setting should improve the eating environment to meet the client’s needs in the best way. Decoration of the room should take into consideration aspects such as style, history of the room, and the design of the room. The created eating environment in a restaurant setting is called a ‘service scape’ (Bitner, 1992, pp102). Modification of the context of a room can influence our taste of wine (Hersleth et al., 2003, pp54). The beliefs and past experiences of a client while consuming food in the same environment changes depending on the context of the eating. Meals need to be in agreement with the overall style of the restaurant (Bowen &Morris, 1995, pp56).Restaurant interiors should also be in agreement with the type of food offered. The product The product component is made of the foods and beverages served in a restaurant including their combination. Waiters in a restaurant are able to use their theoretical and practical knowledge of food and drink to suggest on choice of wine and food. The main purpose of having immense knowledge of food and beverages by the customer is to be able to satisfy the client’s need for the perfect combination of food and beverages. A study by (Nygren, 2004, pp98) has shown that sometimes food and wine combinations fit together but occasionally they do not .The visual effect of the product also has an effect on the restaurant experience of the customer. A study by (Warde and Martens,2000pp210) shows that visual effect played a vital rol e in creating success for the restaurant. In some extreme cases, the appearance of the dish was an indicator of whether the restaurant had succeeded. The taste of the food should meet the expectation of the client.( Fine, 1992,pp104).Consumers of readymade food for example expect their food to taste good .Sensory characteristics of food is vital in any restaurant. The management control system. Leadership and economic issues are under the

Racial Discrimination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Racial Discrimination - Essay Example Few countries have experienced as persistent and as institutionalized and formal a system of ethnic and racial stratification as has South Africa. Loosely divided into Blacks and Whites, with the former comprising approximately 90% of the population, assimilation such as which would lead to national unity and the subsequent negation of racism was offset by the institutionalization of racism. The Whites, non-native to the country and comprised of the earlier Dutch immigrants, Afrikaners and the later English ones, had, not only come to the country as colonizers but had, quite effectively, laid their absolute claim over the country through the assumption of control over its political and economic institutions and, in the process, denied the presence of the native population. South Africa's native population, comprising at least 75% of the country's inhabitants, were denied a political and economic presence in the country A system of ethnic stratification had, in essence, relegated them to the status of non-beings, to the extent that they were deprived of any and all conceivable basic human rights within their own country. They were no simply regarded as inferior but defined by the law as such. Within the context of the stated, the very notion of penetrating through the racial divide, of combating racism and of creating a society/nation founded upon the acknowledgement of the equal claim of all citizens to basic human rights, let alone equality per se, was a virtual impossibility. Indeed, the attainment of the stated was predicated on dismantling the apartheid system which had, not only institutionalized racism but which had effectively de-legitimized racial equality. As is amply clear from the foregoing, South Africa was founded upon a racist political and economic system. The White minority dominated over the majority and domination reached the extent of the dehumanization of 75% of the population. The remaining 15%, classified as nonwhites and comprised of the racially mixed Coloreds, Asians and Africans of various tribal origins, stood mid-way between the two. That does not mean to imply that that they were granted rights which, by any stretch of the imagination, were comparable to those enjoyed by the Whites but that they were not as dehumanized and as marginalized as were the Blacks. Even though the Apartheid system was dismantled in the 1990s due to the efforts of Nelson Mandela, later elected the country's first black leader, the fact remains racism still prevails. It prevails because of its long history in South Africa and s sustained by the fact that the Whites and the Blacks remain unequal insofar as socio-economic and educational status is concerned. Within the context of vast inequalities, assimilation remains a distant goal. Although Canada is as arguably a two-nation country as is South Africa, it is not a divided nation. South Africa's divisions are determined by race and Canada's by national and linguistic roots. The implication here is that the French and the English Canadians are not regarded as separate and unequal but different. While a case may be made for the fact that this hardly allows for assimilation and ultimately leaves Canada vulnerable to divisiveness, an equally strong case may be made for the fact that Canada's ethnic stratification is not predicated on this particular

Riordan Gap Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Riordan Gap Analysis - Essay Example Consequently, changes within the company have left Riordan to cope with a mass of challenges. Current changes have led to a decline in morale, work ethics, and employee retention. The consistent two-year regression means that the company has to focus on increasing sales and profit, aligning the staff, reducing turnover rates and increasing job satisfaction. The R & D department has the challenge of developing three new products to meet the following year. The strategic choice at the function level is â€Å"how should total compensation help gain and sustain competitive advantage† (Milkovich & Newman 2004). The company is faced with creating a new rewards system that includes compensation, salary, and benefits. The cost of implementing such a plan is also a concern for Riordan. The problem is the company is divided into three groups that do not agree or have different perspectives on rewards motivation, how to disburse incentives and what department should receive compensation. Some chief officers do not agree that a compensation system should be implemented, which has lead to an even bigger dilemma. Ultimately, while the challenges are seemingly overwhelming, there is a silver lining of opportunities available to Riordan. â€Å"Managing compensation strategically means fitting the compensation system to the business and environmental conditions† (Milkovich & Newman 2004). The CEO has allocated $50,000 to higher a consultant. This allows the company the opportunity to develop a solutions study survey that can help with job satisfaction, decrease turnover, and increase employee morale. This study will identify the underlying issues leading to decreased employee satisfaction and recommend potential mitigations for addressing the issues. Equally important are the stakeholders’ needs and ethical dilemmas that have developed with the challenges and

Bloody civil war Essay Example for Free

Bloody civil war Essay The final two chapters of the novel, Ike tries to discover and understand the history of his own family and the way in which they had treated the blacks. He even attempts to make amendments to one of them, by sending some money. The brief chronicle that he finds of his family helps him reconstruct some parts of the history. He remembers for example, the little hut in which all the black people were herded together, and the way in which the whites manufactures bleaching substances for the blacks to use so as to change their color: â€Å"[†¦]the square, galleried, wooden building squatting like a portent above the fields whose laborers it still held in thrall 65 or no and placarded over with advertisements for snuff and cures for chills and salves and potions manufactured and sold by white men to bleach the pigment and straighten the hair of Negroes that they might resemble the very race which for two hundred years had held them in bondage and from which for another hundred years not even a bloody civil war would have set them completely free[†¦. ]†(Faulkner, 245) This forced change of hair color is very significant: the author emphasizes the fact that the whites wanted to transform the black and make them as themselves, a race however quite imperfect since it is the one that invented slavery. Neither the land nor the people can be bought, since they have been left to live free by the creator of the world. Man’s possession of land or of slaves only imaginary, since these primary things cannot be bought: â€Å"Bought nothing. Because He told in the Book how He created the earth, made it and looked at it and said it was all right, and then He made man. He made the earth first and peopled it with dumb creatures, and then He created man to be His overseer on earth[†¦]Because it was never Ikkemotubbes fathers fathers to bequeath Ikkemotubbe to sell to Grandfather or any man because on the instant when Ikkemotubbe discovered, realised, that he could sell it for money, on that instant it ceased ever to have been his forever, father to father to father, and the man who bought it bought nothing. † (247) In the family’s brief chronicle, Ike discovers many of the iniquities that were common at the time, in what regarded the black people. His grandfather had had sons and daughters of the black slaves, and never acknowledged them. Also, the contracts done between the blacks and the whites were invalid, since the black man had no way to claim his rights or to prove them, since he was usually even unable to read: â€Å"and it would seem to the boy that he could actually see the black man, the slave whom his white owner had forever manumitted by the very act from which the black man could never be free so long as memory lasted, entering the commissary, asking permission perhaps of the white mans son to see the ledger-page which he could not even read, not even asking for the white mans word, which he would have had to accept for the reason that there was absolutely no way under the sun for him to test it[†¦]†(256) Ike ironically observes the extent of the injustice done to the children that were not acknowledged because they were black, and the way in which they were usually simply given a sum of money to make amends: â€Å"So I reckon that was cheaper than saying My son to a nigger he thought. Even if My son wasnt but just two words. † (259) Thus, Faulkner’s novel is centered around the idea of the essential freedom given by nature to any creature. The bear is a symbol for this freedom, and his spirit is akin to that of the blacks and Indians: â€Å"[†¦]an old bear, fierce and ruthless not just to stay alive but ruthless with the fierce pride of liberty and freedom, jealous and proud enough of liberty and freedom to see it threatened not with fear nor even alarm but almost with joy, seeming deliberately to put it into jeopardy in order to savor it and keep his old strong bones and flesh supple and quick to defend and preserve it; an old man, son of a Negro slave and an Indian king, inheritor on the one hand of the long chronicle of a people who had learned humility through suffering and learned pride through the endurance which survived the suffering, and on the other side the chronicle of a people even longer in the land than the first. † (Faulkner, 267) The same ideas appear in the short story called That Evening Sun, but the author here emphasizes the barrier that existed between the blacks and the whites. The story, which has the same characters of the Compson family as The Sound and the Fury, is centered on a black servant called Nancy and on her agony at having been left by her husband and the terror that he might return and kill her. Nancy is terribly beaten by the police when she tries to claim her pay from a white man, and then locked up: â€Å"When you going to pay me, white man? When you going to pay me, white man? Its been three times now since you paid me a cent-‘ Mr. Stovall knocked her down, but she kept on saying, When you going to pay me, white man? Its been three times now since—‘ until Mr. Stovall kicked her in the mouth with his heel and the marshal caught Mr. Stovall back, and Nancy lying in the street, laughing. She turned her head and spat out some blood and teeth and said, ‘Its been three times now since he paid me a cent. ’†(Faulkner, 289) The story focuses on the impressive agony of the woman and her loneliness, as the whites refuse to comfort her in any way. The prejudices against the blacks are again obvious: as in The Bear, the villagers remark that a black person would never commit suicide, unless under the power of a drug: â€Å"He said that it was cocaine and not whiskey, because no nigger would try to commit suicide unless he was full of cocaine, because a nigger full of cocaine was not a nigger any longer. †(Faulkner, 291) The idea of the white people is that the black have no feelings and no inner life of their own, and that they live mostly like beasts, therefore could never have the impulse to suicide. The woman tries to cling to the children’s company in her distress and her fear of the husband that she thinks will come after her. The recurrent remark that she makes, saying that she is no more than a nigger is very significant. She underlies the fact that she is actually perceived as only a nigger, and that even she feels like that: â€Å"I aint nothing but a nigger, Nancy said. ‘It aint none of my fault. ’† (Faulkner, 296) She cannot escape her race, and, although she feels she has an inner life she does not have an identity to associate it with. The last fragment of the story is of utter importance: Quentin, the storyteller remains listening to the sounds made by Nancy after they live her house, and hints at the barrier between the white and the black. The whites merely live her and her problems, as she is not considered to be important enough for further consideration: â€Å"But we could still hear her. She began as soon as we were out of the house, sitting there above the fire, her long brown hands between her knees. We could still hear her when we had crossed the ditch, Jason high and close and little about fathers head. Then we had crossed the ditch, walking out of Nancys life. Then her life was sitting there with the door open and the lamp lit, waiting, and the ditch between us and us going on, dividing the impinged lives of us and Nancy. â€Å"(Faulkner, 300) Thus, Faulkner describes the lives of the black and white people in the Southern world with great insight, emphasizing the essential freedom of man as of nature, and the impossibility to possess or reduce them and limit their importance. Works Cited: Abadie, Ann J. Faulkner in Cultural Context. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1997. Clark, Jim. â€Å"On Faulkner. † The Mississippi Quarterly. http://www. questia. com/app/direct/SM. qst Faulkner, William. Collected Stories of William Faulkner. New York: Random House, 1950. Three Famous Short Novels. New York, Vintage Books, 1958. Singal, Daniel J. William Faulkner: The Making of the Modernist. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1997. â€Å"William Faulkner†. http://www. kirjasto. sci. fi/faulkner. htm

Concepts Regarding Truth And Falsehood Philosophy Essay

Concepts Regarding Truth And Falsehood Philosophy Essay The concepts regarding truth and falsehood are essential for valuing each situation that occur in life of any human being. All experiences of practice in everyday life are being constantly evaluated by perception resulting in ordering of the reality. Distinction between true and false allows for formation of statements and beliefs concerning not only individual but also general opinion developed in a certain culture. How do we know that something is true? Determination of false claims is far easier as they are simply defined as contradiction of truth. In my opinion there are no absolute distinctions between what is true and false exclusively regarding arts. In the remaining areas of knowledge the border between the truth and falsehood is more visible since the concept of truth can be proved in a variety of ways. Relating to major theories of truth it can be evaluated using basic tests such as pragmatic, coherence and correspondence test.  [1]  Socrates, Platos and Aristotles idea s about truth are consistent with correspondence theory.  [2]  According to Aristotle: To say of what is that it is not, or of what is not that it is, is false, while to say of what is that it is, and of what is not that it is not, is true.  [3]  The correspondence test demands that the statements correspond to what we observe in the world. To test, scientist examine the world and find evidence either directly through sense perception or via technological extensions of the senses.  [4]  One striking example illustrating this approach to the truth is the discovery of Gregor Mendel who has become famous for his study of the inheritance of certain traits in pea plants which substantially inflected the field of genetics.  [5]  His study was based on the sense perception and reasoning as he could have seen with his own eyes that the ratio of purple to white flowers of the pea plant was as he had expected. Consequently, using logics he has formulated the Law of Segregation and the Law of Independent Assortment which have been preserved in the modern biological science without major modifications. The basis of coherence test is consistency of the statements we make. To test, scientist look not at the world but at the knowledge claims themselves and, as mathematics does, examine them for consistency, freedom and contradiction.  [6]  On that ground mathematicians make assumptions which are based on earlier proves and thereafter test their reliability in practise. Therefore, the process of assignment of the truth in this area of knowledge relies on both coherence and pragmatics test. Pragmatics test demands that the statement work in practical terms. We accept certain assumptions without empirical proof, like axioms, because they happen to work. For example, we assume that nature is regular and understandable.  [7]  By and large, a fundamental unit that builds up mathematics as a science is reasoning due to which the statements considered as true have a very high validity. A complex approach to the truth mostly make use of the basic tools of logics such as deduction, indu ction or implication. Regarding the topic it must be examined in what ways the concept of truth can be approached in all areas of knowledge. It is a fact that using an equal pattern in order to distinguish between truth and falsity is impossible. An example illustrating this concern is the fact that it is popularly believed that the transfer in arts relies on a subjective perception of the perceiver. Nonetheless, regarding prominent creative power of William Shakespear most people feel that the intergenerational transfer of his dramas possess universal value being considered as immutable over centuries. With respect to the general understanding of truth which is assumed to be universal and eternal the phenomenon of Shakespears splendour can be explained. With reference to Hamlet, the creation of the protagonist contributed to formation of an image of a certain philosophical character which attitude towards life is associated with relativism and skepticism. On the whole, the problem raised in the drama is reckoned as universal since it concerns basic existential values experienced by any human being. One of the most famous citation in the world literature to be or not to be refers to the most frequent question undertaken by philosophers, yet impossible to resolve. The issue of uncertain ability to distinguish between what is true and false has a substantial value for me personally as in the recent time I have experienced this concern very sorely. The problem becomes far more elaborate when the only way of knowing responsible for the process of recognition of the validity of a claim are emotions. I started to deliberate to what extent should we base our belief that something is true on emotions when my intimate friend delivered me a message which included a quotation of my boyfriends statement which was characterised negatively towards me. Regarding unlimited trust toward the person I assessed this information as undoubtedly true. As a result, I mindlessly refused my boyfriends firm denial as I based my belief on the rule of womens solidarity. Nevertheless, too late have I realised that the major problem is that my assumption was stated using simplified schemas recorded by my sense perception and primary emotional confidence. On that account, s upported by the coherence theory I summarised analogous situations that occurred conducting on them detailed analysis. As expected, the test revealed that my friend lied to me consistently which was not detected by me due to having neglected reasoning which I consider the best way of knowing in terms of establishing the distinction between truth and falsehood. The question is how can we use reason to know whether information provided by intimate people is reliable or not. This can be briefly summarized reciting Steven Robiner who once said: What is absolutely true is always correct, everywhere, all the time, under any condition. An entitys ability to discern these things is irrelevant to that state of truth.  [8]   As far as I am concerned, there is a vague border between true and untrue in law. How can we verify whether a proposition of law is true? To my mind, regarding this field of science what is true equals what is approved and what is false means what is disapproved. Hence, the truth is generated by a certain group of people called lawyers. Does the fact of having graduated the law faculty mean that a person is capable of determination of true statements? The model of truth presented in law corresponds to the concept undertaken in one of Nietzsches essay  [9]  being a ground of his thinking in which he denies the concept of universal constants stating that what we call truth is only a mobile army of metaphors, metonyms, and anthropomorphisms.  [10]  This issue constitutes a dominant of Franz Kafkas novel The Process which highlights the problem of suffering of human being as a consequence of absurd legal procedures. Finally, taking into consideration poetry we should examine why there is usually one interpretation notwithstanding the fact that everybody is individual and so is the way of perceiving the world. Irrespective of this, at school we are presented a complex interpretation formed by authorities which is believed to be true and valid. The analysis of the literature bases on rhetorical devices which constitute actual advice how to understand the text. Nevertheless, it is still possible that some devices can be apprehended in multiple dimensions which may alter the general interpretation thus, to some extent undermine the authority. In spite of that possibility if I am received a poem during my finals I will be expected to deliver a concrete interpretation with the aid of concrete resources of language. Consequently, if I outline a proper rendition I will be awarded, but otherwise, if I develop my own version I will not be given points. In my opinion, in such a situation the image of truth created by Nietzsche  [11]  is right. According to him, truth is nothing more than the invention of fixed conventions for merely practical purposes, especially those of repose, security and consistence.  [12]  To conclude, the truth in poetry might be considered two-tailed, being either absolute as the official interpretation established by experts or relativistic which refers to subjective version generated by an individual. Settlement of the border between those to contrastive directions of analysis of the truth is very difficult as there is a conflict between universal truth which is approved by the majority and the opposing theory of Albert Einstein according to which everything is relative. Taking everything into account, the establishment of the universal border between truth and falsehood is not a simple task as the concern can be regarded in a variety of ways depending on the context. The difficulty is a result of the abstract nature of those concepts due to which there will always be some margin of error in the judgment. Even though my hypothesis was rather strict having considered several situations it should be restated. For the above mentioned reasons, I think that to a large extent there are no explicit distinctions between what is true and what is false as the only limits derive from theories which are a product of human reasoning which is not flawless likewise anything in the world.

Brain Development :: Child Development, Neurons

Child development is crucial throughout the early years, during this time the development of the brain occurs. The development of the brain contributes to the functioning of the body. The anatomy of the brain is made up of neurons and divided into four different lobes. The temporal, frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes control a variety of cognitive functions. The brain controls simple functions such as fine and gross motor skills, vision, and memory. According to Meadows (1993, p.263), at all sorts of levels in the brain there are programs for functions such as breathing, sleeping, and producing coherent language. Brain development in children is vital during the early years. During the early years, children brains are active enabling children to learn a variety of information. Many studies have been conducted and they have concluded a healthy lifestyle, physical activity, and exposing young children to a variety of education material assist with child development. The first few y ears of a child’s life is crucial as far as his intellectual as well as socio-emotional abilities are concerned (Bose, 2000). Brain Development Brains and the more nonessential parts of the nervous system are made up of neurons (Meadows, 1993 p. 266). The brain is made up of neurons, axons, dendrites, and synapse. They all have their individual job that contributes to the functioning of the body. The weight of the brain increases as a child develops into adulthood. According to Siegler & Alibali (2005, p13), the changes in the size of the brain make it possible for advanced thinking. The neurons are the functioning core of the brain (Brotherson, 2005). The brain begins to develop in the mother’s womb and continue to develop as the child develops. The neuron has branches protruding from the cell sending signals to the synapse and axon. The synapse and axon shapes the brain which allows connections to be made. Young children learn new information when they follow the same routine on a regular base. If a parent repeatedly calls a child a certain name, then connections form that allow the child to recognize that name ove r time and he or she will begin to respond to that name (Brotherson, 2005). Through repetitive experiences the axons and synapse strengthen causing learning to take place. The brain is divided into four major lobes: the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and the temporal lobe. Each lobe contributes to cognitive development in young children.

“My Personal Tutor” : A Software For Children

Choosing educational software for children is certainly not an easy task. Because so many options are available, it is easy to be overwhelmed by all the vividly colored packages, the intriguing characters, and fantastic claims of academic enhancements. How in the world does one actually choose? Fortunately, all is not lost. A software package is available, which truly encompasses those qualities, and does so without assaulting the purchaser†s pocketbook. My Personal Tutor by Microsoft, is a budget sensitive, educational enhancement package for children, with exciting graphics and an incredible academic framework. For this reason, a recent review of this program stated that â€Å"Microsoft has made a great contribution to children†s learning† (Dr. Toy). In fact, My Personal Tutor is the best choice of children†s educational software. The activities in My Personal Tutor facilitate learning in vital academic disciplines. Because of the technological advancement of our society, today†s students require more strength in critical thinking, reading, and math skills than ever before. This three CD set is dedicated to enhancing skills in those areas. For example, in Turru†s Sea Quest, the student further develops thinking skills in order to advance through the game format. By solving unfinished sentences, analyzing and completing number or shape patterns, challenging memory with matching, and matching analog compared to digital time, the child assists Captain Scratch in setting free the endangered sea creatures. In another CD, Sam†s Hide & Seek, the child strengthens reading skills in a virtual museum, with six separate rooms where the child plays interactive word games or reads stories in order to help Sam find his friends. However, the word games are not simple mindless entertainment. For instance, by solving incomplete sentences a story emerges. During this process, an amusing, vividly colored picture is painted depicting the story the child is creating. In another challenging exercise, the student reads stories and answers questions relating to the story content in order to gain points, thereby fostering comprehension. Finally, in a third CD, the child†s world becomes an incredible space station where the goal is to help a new friend, Spy, capture alien stowaways. In Spy†s Space Station, traditional math of the past is transformed into exciting activities, which virtually hold the child hostage with interest. To illustrate, in the Astro Disco, one of the six areas in the space station, the dancers are victims to zero gravity. The student†s job is to fit the helpless dancers with the proper number of gravity boots, so they may come down from the ceiling. Once the task is complete, the appreciative dancers take the floor, performing an exciting dance for their rescuer. In a different area, the student may choose to solve currency equations in order to purchase clothing for the undercover alien police. What†s more, in yet another area, the child recycles space junk by sorting according to greater than, equal to, or less than, in order to make tools needed for the station. Although the academic tutorials within this set are comprehensive and truly without compare, the overall success of this set lies in its ability to captivate and sustain the student†s attention. Through well-designed game objectives, My Personal Tutor generates long term interest. All the activities are designed as a means to an end, regardless of whether that end is setting free endangered sea creatures, finding hidden friends in a museum, or catching alien stowaways on a space station. The goals are met methodically, through a sense of teamwork with the lively characters in their respective worlds. The interactive characters are encouraging throughout the challenge, supporting the player, and encouraging him or her to continue. After the player has met a goal, an exciting celebration takes place. Even more, if the child has permission, he or she can print a colorful picture as a memento of the success. Irrespective of the shower of accolades by children, parents too have many reasons for excitement about this set. Parents can feel confident that the purchase of this set is a cost-effective enhancement to the child†s education, as well as an excellent source of reinforcement for vital social skills. The price of $14. 95, after the rebate, is trivial in comparison to all that is included in this set. In fact, with more than 1000 multimedia tutorials, over 70 learning objectives, adjustable levels of difficulty, and ongoing progress reports (Microsoft Kids), justifying a price of even five times that amount would be easy. However, educational enhancement is not the only quality this set encompasses. Many implicit lessons are delicately woven into the activities. Specifically, setting and methodically working toward a goal. In fact, every activity within this set is goal oriented. In addition, the ideal of working together is effectively designed within all the game formats. In other words, this set truly encompasses the full range of essential skills necessary for success in the first and second grade levels. Therefore, My Personal Tutor surpasses the parent†s expectations for an educational enhancement program. A common goal among parents is that their child be healthy, happy, and ultimately reach his or her maximum potential. It is believed that a sound education will help open doors in order for that dream to become a reality. To that end, parents often devote much time and effort to improving the quality of their child†s education. Therefore, it is understandable for a parent to have high expectations of an educational enhancement program purchased for their child. My Personal Tutor fulfills even the highest of such expectations. My Personal Tutor provides an incredibly comprehensive academic framework, consisting of strengthening exercises in critical thinking, reading, and math skills. These tutorials are skillfully designed in such a manner as to reframe the concept of such disciplines. Through the activities in this set, exercises in math, reading, and critical thinking are transformed from drudgery into a mission filled with fun and excitement, where the child works with others in order to meet a goal. What more could a parent ask for? For this reason, My Personal Tutor by Microsoft is the best choice of children†s educational enhancement software.

Walking Alone – Original Writing

Dew clings to the harsh pale grass. The cool droplets of water stick to my bare legs as I brush past, silently, stealthily. Where am I going? It'll come back to me in a moment. I'll just follow my instinct. Right, if I'm automatically taking this direction to Wherever, then this is the right way. Wearing my jacket was a good idea. I had to rummage to find it. I can't remember the last time I wore it. I can't even remember when I was last out of town for a weekend. That would be nice; a weekend out with a few friends- not that I'd ask. They'd probably be busy anyway. Ok, I cannot get distracted. I shall walk on. Left, right, left, right. I'm starting to enjoy this monotony. Yes, this is rather pleasant, rather agreeable. I look around for some sort of landmark, or something to help me recognise where I am. I won't admit to being lost because that would call into the question of my destination, which, to be honest, is still unbeknownst to me. I'll just meander along this way. God, I'm knackered, I could use a chocolate bar. Yes, a chocolate bar is what I need, along with a nice drink. But not until I get there, I must keep on going. Oh, a house. It's a tall looming house, with ivy crawling over it, its brambles resembling long green tendrils, or fingers, curling crispy and brown at the tips. What's that scuttling across the front porch? A grubby, greasy blur darts past. I lean forward as if to grab it, but it's gone before I'm even close. I force myself upwards, and see a door in front of me. The faded red paint is flaking. I reach my hand towards it and absentmindedly begin to peel it back. I wonder why I've never seen this house before. I wonder why I haven't seen any of this area before whatsoever. A chill overcomes me, engulfing me in a stuttering shudder. It's cold, and late. It must be gone five in the morning by now. Oh well. A bleak throng of clouds tumble over the night's sky, devouring any lingering traces of warmth. I pull my jacket tighter around me and shiver again, glancing around, praying, pleading, for some form of refuge. The house is not an option, it's someone's home. I can't break in. Not now, anyway. I trudge towards a large wooden gate. I thwack it open, shocking myself as I do so. An ear-piercing screech of pain comes from the gate, like a toddler protesting against eating the remnants of her cereal. I guess my thwacking skills aren't quite up to par, the gate's stuck. What now? Onwards again? Alright, I'll stomp my feel around a bit to restore some warmth to my pathetic shell of a body. That's better, slightly. Argh, my eyes! Some plonker has his headlights on full and he's facing me head-on. Perhaps I should step out the way. Oh, he's slowing down. My rescuer, maybe? That would be nice†¦ What the hell do you think you were doing, standing in the middle of the road at this ungodly hour? † â€Å"I see spots†¦. † I whimper. The man's face is weathered and tired. It reminds me of Father Christmas, now he's a lovely bloke. A dreamy smile is wafting onto my face. The man looks at me as if I'm deranged and creepy, and then accelerates off into the night. I'm shivering. I am literally shivering. I desperately need shelter before I get pneumonia. That house. That old, ruinous house. I turn around, stumbling over a rock. There it is, standing tall and imposing, yet strangely familiar. Whoever owns it has made a hapless attempt at remodelling it, adding a modern extension and painting the wall. Well, some of it at least. The path has deep, cavernous cracks and so I have to be careful not to cut my bare feet on the fragments. A desolate flowerbox hangs by a window, the flowers long dead. I examine it closer, noting the what-used-to-be-dark-green-but-is-now-discoloured-pale-turquoise crusty paint on the criss-crossed wood. Again, I feel a faint wave of familiarity- like an echo from the past. With a shudder I glance around fleetingly for a side entrance. A swing. An old, plastic-y swing, with faded yellow rope, neglected and left to rot in the grass for the next millennia. A child's laughter, my laughter. A hot summer morning: we were having a barbeque. I swung on this swing. I lived in this house. The memories come flooding, hitting me with a wave of nausea. I look up at the house, my house, my poor, poor house. Mutilated, derelict, left piteously to ruin. It's ugly, horrific. My once beautiful house is looking like a dump. This grass was once green, and this porch was once magnificently up kept. Memories. I now know why I didn't recognise it at first. All those memories, those awful memories, blocked out for all these years. I clutch my head and keel over, onto the callous ground. There is an immense pressure on my head. Bottled up for all these years, it's finally unleashed on me again. I convulse and vomit, thus further disfiguring the house. Another sharp burst of pain in my side. I'm in agony, reliving the past. I'm dying. I'm dying at the place of my birth; whoever came up with the Circle of Life must be smug. I convulse one more time and pass out, my head in a fug of trapped memories, waiting to be recollected.

Is the film version of ‘Of Mice and Men’ inferior to the original novel Essay

‘Of Mice and Men’ was written in 1937 during the great depression, by John Steinbeck. Steinbeck was born in 1902 in California; some of his other novels are The Red Pony, Cup of Gold, To a God Unknown, In Dubious Battle, Canary Row, Sweet Thursday and various others. After months of ill health, John Steinbeck died of heart failure in December 1968 and is buried in Salinas, California. The film was directed by Gary Sinise, and runs for approximately 115 minutes and was made in the USA. Of Mice and Men is suitable for adaptation as the plot line is not too complicated and the scenes will be relatively easy to make, on the other hand there are several problems, a various amount of the scenes in the book cannot be adapted for the film, such as when Lennie hallucinates by the river. The opening sequence opens with George and Lennie’s escape from Weed, this is set in a big open field, with vibrant colours this will get the audiences attention as vibrant colours give the impression of danger. The camera starts of in a long shot, this is important as it shows the audience her ripped dress, then the camera zooms in to a close up to show the tears and fear on her face. The opening in the film is much more dramatic to the one of the novel, the director choose the include this section because it gives a contrast from George being in a combined place on the train, to having dramatic colours and wide open space, this makes the film more dramatic and exciting for the audience. In the novel Curley’s wife and Curley are never seen together, they are always looking for each other, the incident with Crooks is not included. In the film Curley’s wife does not have red mules, and is not heavily made up, she is wearing white and pink this gives her the look of femininity and innocence, which will give a different portrayal of the character to the novel. She is always seen in doorways, for example when she sees George, the camera uses a mid shot so the audience can see both their reactions, Curleys wife is looking outside like she is looking out for Curley, she is giving him no eye contact this shows us that she is not trying to lead him on. George is giving her eye contact, this might be making her feel nervous as she starts the fiddle with her dress. In the novel she is shown as being a dangerous, flirty character whereas in the film she is made to be totally different, the director has chosen to portray her sympathetically this is because this will enforce more of a reaction when she dies, this makes the audience feel sympathy for her. George and Lennie are presented with more sympathy in the film than the novel, the novel is less extreme. When Lennie has the fight with Curley the camera is in mid shot and Lennie is sitting down, this makes him look more vulnerable. The director uses a strong use of sound in the scenes of the fight, the punches are made to sound loud, this can make the audience relate to Lennie. A close up is then on Georges face to show his concern for Lennie, then a extreme close up of Lennie is used, this is very dramatic way of showing a characters emotions, the audience can see Lennie’s angry eyes and almost makes the audience feel scared as he has blood on his face when he is breaking Curley’s hand, this makes the film superior the reading the novel as the camera shots and sound can make more of an effect on the audience and makes Lennie and George more three dimensional, whereas the novel makes them seem more one dimensional. The beginning of the novel is very different as Steinbeck sets the scene in clear detail, he creates a peaceful atmosphere by using nature ‘the leaves lie so deep and so crisp that a lizard makes a great skittering if he runs among them’. Unlike the novel the film shows an exciting and tense atmosphere. At the beginning of the film the director chooses to show George on a train, this scene is not included in the book because it would only work in a film, the director uses a haunting shilling melody lingering in the background, the camera shot focuses on a lonely figure crouched in the corner. By using this scene at the beginning it grabs the audience’s attention and a spirited mood is set in the audience, he sets a stark contrast between that scene and the one that follows. This scene shows George sitting in the dark, which shows more about him than in the novel it shows that George is in the dark. The film relates to Steinbeck descriptive prose well, but some scenes could have been presented more like the book. In my opinion the film does do the film justice, but some characters could have been presented more like the characters in the book, for example Curley’s wife, she is presented to be a flirty and dangerous character in the book and presented as a feminine vulnerable character in the film. The scenes are set in different ways but are successful in giving the audience the same amount of emotion as in the novel. The scenes that are in the novel that are not included in the film are not important and they are replaced with scene of the same importance that are easier to make. Overall the film is a good adaptation of the novel.

Human Health Risk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Human Health Risk - Essay Example The Safe Drinking Water Act calls for security plans of water systems utilizing groundwater sources. The process involves in protecting the surface area above an aquifer from contaminations infiltrating into the groundwater (http://www.lenntech.Com/groundwater /contamination.htm#ixzz0XC smocST, retrieved 18 Nov. 09). Pure water comprises of indispensable chemical constituents of water. Drinking water generally contains a certain quantity of minerals, which it gets from its source, storage conditions, treatment, supply, and household plumbing system and their conditions. These minerals and components mostly take place at very low degrees and do not present a major risk to human or animal health (http://earthsci.org/teacher/basicgeol /groundwa/groundwa.html, retrieved 20 November 2009). A broad range of chemical compounds can lead to contamination of groundwater if released to the underground environs. They are organic and synthetic compounds, inorganic compounds, like pesticides, and other pollutants. Since drinking water arrangements obtain their water from groundwater origins so if the source is polluted then naturally the drinking water is also contaminated (http://earthsci.org/teacher/basicgeol /groundwa/groundwa.html, retrieved 20 November 2009). Groundwater is in constant motion; even though the rate of its movement is normally slow than the water movement in a stream. The reason behind the slow motion is that the ground water has to pass by the complex passages between open spaces inside the rock. Initially the groundwater moves down as a result of the pull of gravity. Groundwater can also move up as it flows from high-pressure regions to low pressure regions (http://earthsci.org/teacher/basicgeol/groundwa/groundwa.html, retrieved 20 November 2009). The chemical contamination mentioned above is known as "point sources" of water contamination. Chemical pollution in water will have the same effect as that of any other kind of

Walt Disney Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Walt Disney - Essay Example Combining all these aspects will create better perspectives that can be used for future decision-making. First, the marketing capabilities of Walt Disney are a critical asset that translates short-term and long-term benefits. In particular, the brand name Walt Disney is considered as one of the most recognisable names in the market. It has been observed that the company has successfully attracted the market composed of consumers aged 12 years old and below. Indeed, the strategy of enticing children is an effective instrument in expanding the market. For instance, parents are likely to go with their children in acquiring the services offered by Walt Disney theme parks. Second, the decision to expand the operations of Disneyland to Hong Kong has some perceived weaknesses. As mentioned previously, Walt Disney has suffered consecutive setbacks in its overall operations. Despite the growth in the theme park sector, the company is still burdened by the lack of financial flexibility caused by the decline in revenues. Third, the market in Hong Kong provides several potentials including the possibility of encompassing the market in Mainland China. With its sheer population, China has the capacity to improve the attendance in Disneyland. In addition, the clients based from other Southeast Asian countries make the proposition more lucrative. The projected annual increase in attendance will assure growth revenues. Apart from the ticket sales, Walt Disney merchandises including the other products will be easily sold. The strength of the market of China and the improving economy will eventually boost the spending power of Chinese and will result to increase in visitors. Finally, establishing... After discussing the salient points that were assumed, it is important to provide a solution to the main problem. As stated, the concern of Walt Disney before pursuing the investment is on risk minimization and benefit maximization. The analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats sums up the suggested methods. In maximizing the benefits of the project, it is important to consider the strengths and opportunities of the company. The brand name that Walt Disney has nurtured will be conspicuous once the investment is manifested. Identification is the first step towards recognition and experimentation. Similarly, the potentials of the forecasted increase in attendance have to inspire Walt Disney to expand its services and embrace the other needs of the customers in theme parks. In minimizing the risk, Walt Disney has to be adept in translating the weaknesses and threats to positive drivers. First, the lack of financial flexibility has to drive the company towards securing better financial loans and advantageous partnerships. Without the needed resources, the company can still make the investment possible through the efficient allocation of resources. Second, the impending threat caused by the government can be neutralized by forging win-win deals with the government. This has to be done without curtailing the function of the government to protect the consumers. With some positive forecasts and government intervention, Disneyland Hong Kong is only a few years away. Contrary to the popular notion, the presence of potentials provides no guarantees to success. In fact, the situation becomes more complicated and thorough and critical analysis of the situation is required.

Neurological Disorders Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Neurological Disorders - Essay Example Migraines can be caused by variations in the brainstem and the interactions it has with the trigeminal nerve, which is the main pain pathway. Another cause may be an imbalance in brain chemicals such as serotonin since it helps regulate pain in the nervous system.Some of the signs of migraines include Vision disturbances that occur in both eyes and can involve blurred vision, seeing stars, eye pain, a temporary blind spot, and tunnel vision. Sometimes one may experience yawning, nausea, a problem in finding the right words or even difficulty concentrating.Precipitating factors include external stimuli, psychological factors, and physiological phenomena. Stress is a commonly recognized trigger phenomenon associated with a migraine attack. The sufferers are sensitive to changes in both eating and sleeping patterns. Vasoactive substances such as alcohol, tyramine, nitrate, and caffeine are also precipitating factors. Estrogen and progesterone in women play a great role in occurrence and timing of migraine attacks.Migraines don’t have a specific cure. The goal is to treat the symptoms immediately by changing and avoiding triggers. If one experiences regular migraines, they may be prescribed medicine to minimize the number of attacks. The medicines may include blood pressure medicines, antidepressants, and seizure medicines.Analgesics are drugs designed to relieve pain. There are various types of analgesics: acetaminophen (available without a prescription) and a various opioid analgesics.

How can Amazon Web Services (AWS) reduce cost in the healthcare Term Paper

How can Amazon Web Services (AWS) reduce cost in the healthcare industry - Term Paper Example Additionally, the ever rising healthcare costs are one more concern that needs to be dealt with and also improving the quality of service to patients. Efforts are being made to try and reduce for patients and information technology acting as the primary enabler for this. It will be quite interesting to observe how these services will contribute towards and address these matters in the health industry. The aim of this paper is to discover the present-day state and trending of these services in the healthcare industry. Problem identification and definition Healthcare organizations and hospitals are experiencing difficult times, having to cope with increasing service and product demands within their inadequate budgets, while at the same time complying with healthcare restructurings and regulations. For all the inventions transforming the healthcare business, there is still one area where it remains nearly universally late; the application of information technology. Most healthcare syste ms are based on analogue workflows which comprises of paper-based health records, duplicated test results, and handwritten note which are usually inefficient and inconvenient in one way or another. As a result, information retrieval and updating remains slow, this in turn, leads to incompetent provision of treatment and patient care (Bower, 2012). Problem solution Amazon Web Services (also known as AWS) is a pool of remote computing services (that are also referred to as web services) that all together form a cloud computing platform and services, accessible over the Internet via Amazon.com (Tyrrell, 2009). Amazon Web Services provide a complete set of application services and infrastructure that enable one to run virtually anything in the cloud: this represents everything from big data projects and enterprise applications to mobile apps and social games. These services, to name a few include: the amazon simple storage services known as S3: Amazon S3 offers an extremely durable and accessible store for an assortment of content, extending from media files to web applications. It lets you offload your whole storage arrangement onto the cloud, where you can gain from Amazon S3’s pay-as-you-go pricing and scalability to manage your growing storage needs, distributing your content straight from Amazon S3. Another important service is the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud, EC2, which allows the renting of virtual computers to, different users, which to run their personal computer applications. A user can launch, create and terminate server instances paying for the services by the hour therefore the term elastic. Another valuable amazon service is the database storage which enables users to store and access large amounts of data. Whether one is keeping pharmaceutical data for scrutiny and analysis, fiscal data for pricing and computation, photographs for resizing, S3 is the best location for storage of original content. One can then send these contents to EC2 for r esizing, computation, or other large scale analytics without sustaining any data transfer charges for transferring the data between the services. (Soman, 2011 Pp. 78) There is a lot of conversation on Amazon web services and how these services could be used in a way to benefit healthcare practices. The healthcare industry, through Amazon Web Services, is able to reduce costs, improve care, and realize business suppleness amongst other

Personal Statement for Masters Degree of Computational Finance Essay

Personal Statement for Masters Degree of Computational Finance - Essay Example As I walk down the crowded streets of downtown Chicago, I am always left wonderstruck at the high rising skyscrapers. I imagine the elegant office interiors and debonair lives of CEOs and Presidents of various affluent companies nested in these massive buildings. And then I stand there feeling totally elated because I know it is the wonderful field of Finance that has resulted in these modern wonders. From a singleton in a society to the society itself and consequently the world at large; everyone is affected by the variables of finance. And it is this very power and reaches that the field of finance possesses, inspires me every minute to master its various nuances. Whenever I retrospect my own life, I distinctly see the roller coaster ride that I have been through. I have faced innumerable challenges, including certain events so critical and stressful, that it could have ended my career in a miserable state, had I not managed them effectively. But I have carved my way out of every problem I faced, and today I strongly believe that I possess all the skills necessary to take up any challenge and surface to the solution successfully. Quite interestingly, on observation, it is evident that the most important causes for my success in all the challenges I have faced are my alacrity for finance, management, and mathematics. My decision to take up finance as my major for my under-graduation was not by chance, but rather by choice. Since the very beginning of my school days, I have been proficient in mathematics. I have always remained to be a topper of my class in all mathematics-related subjects. I have always wanted to enter and consolidate in a field that blends both mathematics and finance. At the outset, I must confess that my GPA does not fall in the very top percentage of my class. However, I strongly feel that my GPA does not truly reflect my knowledge in the domain. I have taken advanced courses during my under-graduation which justifies the fall in my final GPA.

Narcissism Essay Essay Example for Free

Narcissism Essay Essay On the Yahoo! homepage they have two news sections; the first is called trending now and the other is a slide show of articles called Today. Apparently todays (April 8th) top ten trends are the New Delhi Super bug, Federal Home loans, Tax Refund Delays, diabetes, and six celebrities. The top twelve items of today are price shut downs, new super food for spring, social media career tips, and nine celebrity related topics such as Bieber wears a daring soccer ensemble and Carrie Underwoods marital secrets. Hopefully upon evaluating these trends of the day you draw the same conclusion that I came to: only seven of the above twenty two trends are actually important and the rest is insignificant information about the celebrities (the beautiful, rich, and famous) that we so admire. With a media that focuses on the wealthy and beautiful, it is no wonder that we honestly believe that to achieve success we must emulate these celebrities. And with materialism and vanity comes inevitable narcissism a trait that has replaced empathy in our declining society. The societal norms of the ideal life and person have been redefined over the years, leading to Americans abandon[ing] the vision of themselves as part of an interconnected social system and instead turn[ing] to the narcissistic pursuit of the self as a source of value (Twenge, 65). America was founded on the principles of liberty, freedom, and fundamental equality (Twenge, 69) these ideas establishing a foundation for independence from Britain, not narcissism. But during the self exploration eras of the sixties through the eighties these powerful ideas were supplemented by the new values of self admiration and self expression [ ], which faded, [and were] replaced by a more extraverted, shallow, and materialistic form of narcissism (Twenge, 69). These ideals have been shaped by the change of the definition of personal success, and successful parenting. In the 1920s mothers were given a survey and instructed to list the traits they wanted their children to have, [the mothers] named strict obedience, loyalty to church, and good manners (Twenge, 75); when this survey was presented to mothers in 2004 they listed (in order of importance) to be well-liked or popular, to be successful, to work hard, to think for himself/herself, [and] to obey as the most important traits. This change in parenting has instilled a change within Gen Y, a 2006 poll of children finding that kids believe the most important things in the world (Twenge, 93) are to be a celebrity, be good looking, and be rich (Twenge, 94); it is the shocking truth, popularity and celebrityism have now become synonymous, and Gen Y believes that in order to be happy they must be rich and famous or in other words, become a celebrity. In my own family it is clear to see this change: my 13 year old brother has dreamed of becoming a billionaire since he was a small child, when I asked him why he wants to be a billionaire and how he plans to achieve that stature of wealth he replied simply stating that if he was a billionaire hed have the best life and would be famous, and though he has no idea how to get there hes confident hell be able to do it. We fixate on celebrities because they are the better versions of ourselves, or who we hope to become. Celebrities represent fame, wealth, glamour, and beauty; the very traits we most covet. The media tells us that they are who we want to be our brains interpret the ceaseless supply of information as synonymous to importance, proven by the fact that we collectively hit up OMG news, celebrity twitter accounts, and gossip sites over 140 million times a month. All we want as humanity is respect and admiration. Before in my grandparents generation, becoming a doctor or profitable entrepreneur might have earned you these, but now in the 21st century if I tell my peers that I want to do AIDS research in Africa, they look at my like Im off my rocker. It seems that only celebrities, like Football stars who work so hard for their hundred million dollar paychecks, are the only ones who can acquire widespread awe for their immortal talents. The key difference is that previous generations may have been interested in the so called fabulous life of celebrities, [but ] kids today actually believe fame is achievable (Austin). Generations past may have admired celebrities such as Judy Garland or Robert Redford, but they acknowledged that realistically they would never make it to Hollywood. Todays generation honestly believes that they are special that they are capable of doing absolutely anything they want to, and mommy and daddy will help them. A three year old that I babysit next door decided that she wanted to name her new kitten Clara, after herself ; I asked her why she would want that and she replied because I am the greatest person in the world, and I want my kitty to be too. I was quite shocked when I heard this, and I found myself questioning what inspired this change in thought. The answer is simple: technology and the media. Today it is easy to become famous with virtual resources such as YouTube, Second Life, American Idol, Tumblr, and etcetera. Just within the last month, a thirteen year old named Rebecca Black became viral for her hit song Friday, going from 200 views to 200,000 plus overnight now named the worst song ever written by YouTube commenters. The girl with auto tuned vocals, shitacular dance moves, and awkward friends that look like they are twelve has now become famous for being hated. Yet, when interviewed she thinks that her song is an accomplishment [ ], even though they called me a whore and hate the song it is going to be stuck in their heads (YouTube Good Morning America) this statement only emphasizes the fact that no one cares what dick they have to suck (the popular fame achieving method these days), what names they will be called, what they are famous for as long as they become famous. I, personally, am dumfounded by extreme many teens are willing to go for the sake of fame. When a freshman keys COCK SUCKER into a juniors car, and dumps hot dogs all over it too all because the junior hooked up with the freshmans friend-with-benefits while drunk, I know that my generation is in trouble. And maybe it is not my position to care about how other people choose to spend their time, but in reality we are the generation that needs to eradicate AIDS, that needs to end the fighting in Iraq, that must find an alternative to gasoline but instead we sit on our asses tuned in every evening to MTV fantasizing about becoming the next Paris Hilton, Ke$ha, or P. Diddy complete with the Big Barbie Mansion and $150,000 Porsche.