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The Effects of Global Warming on the Earth - 990 Words

Global Warming Earth’s temperature is a vital aspect to Earth and its surroundings. The atmospheric temperature along with natural gases is the significant reasons why Earth inhabits all of its life. When there are changes that alter the natural affects of Earth’s environment there are factors that places the environment at risk. Increase warming of global temperatures account as a major concern of Earth’s surroundings. Global warming is a prominent source to consider how and why the environment, coastal zones, water resources, agriculture, food supply, and the health of human life have changed. There are numerous reasons why global warming has taken such effect over the environment, but natural causes and human activity are the main†¦show more content†¦Society should acknowledge the change on Earth involving increase temperatures and disasters that often occur to establish a concern in making sure that Earth is well taken care of. It is the responsibil ity of individuals to understand what is bettering our Earth and what is harming it. There are solutions to take control in decreasing global temperatures by using energy wisely, recycling and reusing materials to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that is being emitted into the atmosphere (West, 2011). Other ways to ensure that harmful gases are not being emitted into the atmosphere is to reduce traveling, purchase energy-efficient products, and enjoy nature by saving trees, that are responsible for the absorption of carbon dioxide. West (2011) states a single tree will absorb approximately one ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime; a natural contribution to our environment that humanity should appreciate in controlling global warming. Each one of these actions can tremendously help in reducing harmful gases emitted into the atmosphere that will assist in reducing atmospheric temperatures, resulting in a flourishing environment. In conclusion knowing what global warming is, what affects it and the effect it has on the environment is relevant to knowing our Earth. Global warming has a tremendous effect on the environment and it takes all of society to ensure that actionsShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Global Warming On Earth1577 Words   |  7 PagesTo sustain life on earth, the earth temperature must be maintain at a very delicate figure. But what if the unthinkable happens? What if the earth’s temperature was to increase by a just mere half a degree, maybe a full or even two or three, the effects could be devastating to the environment, to me and to you. Unfortunately we may have the opportunity to see the effects of the earth temperature rising a few degrees in this lifetime. According to scientist, for hundreds of thousands of years, a phenomenonRead MoreGlobal Warming And Its Effects On The Earth927 Words   |  4 PagesGlobal-Warming Mother Earth is burning as we speak; humanity has killed our precious Earth. Global-warming is a vicious killer that was created by the humans on this Earth, and there s no way to cure it. We,as humans, have the power to cleanse the Earth, but instead we destroy it. Heat is absorded by carbon dixide and greenhouse gases. A greenhouse gas absorb thermal radiation emmited by the Earth s surface. As the sun s energy reaches the Earth’s surface some of it goes back out into spaceRead MoreThe Effects Of Global Warming On The Earth901 Words   |  4 Pages What is Global Warming? Countless feel as if it is a natural phenomenon that the Earth cycles through. They are terribly mistaken. It is the effect of greenhouse gasses that are emitted by the machines we use today. These gasses are becoming trapped in the earth’s atmosphere, causing the temperature to rise. The effects of global warming are all around us and are becoming more prominent. There are already efforts in place to stop it and programs to â€Å"go green†. This climate change is a serious threatRead MoreThe Effects Of Global Warming On The Earth992 Words   |  4 Pagesthe Earth. Global warming is a problem that some people choose to ignore. They claim it doesn’t exist. Global warming is real. It is time for people to stop ignoring it and start finding a solution. What is global warming? Global warming is the result of certain gases building up in the atmosphere that block heat from escaping. These gases are causing a temperature rise in the Earth’s atmosphere and causing climate change. The rise in the Earth’s temperature has had many effects on the Earth itselfRead MoreGlobal Warming And Its Effect On Earth1612 Words   |  7 PagesName: Course: Title: Global Warming Introduction For over a hundred years, humans have understood the possibility of atmospheric warming due to anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. As early as 1896, Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius predicted that a doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide would raise average global temperatures by 4.95 degrees C (9.0 degrees Fahrenheit) (Valente, 1995). The greenhouse effect, a natural phenomenon that has allowed the development of life on earth, is thought by manyRead MoreThe Effects Of Global Warming On The Earth Essay1733 Words   |  7 PagesSave the Earth The Earth is slowly dying and we can save it, however, it requires some initiative. Global warming, or climate change, is a very real problem that may soon wipe out the Earth’s resources. Some of which include necessary items such as natural foods and water. This problem doesn’t just happen in some third-world country no one has heard of. This is happening right in our own back yards. This problem has a very simple solution: conserve energy, cut down on Carbon Dioxide emissionsRead MoreThe Effects Of Global Warming On The Earth Essay1320 Words   |  6 PagesGlobal warming is an increase in the earth’s average atmospheric temperature that causes corresponding changes in the climate and the may result from the greenhouse effect. Many people do not believe that this is true. There are multiple studies that provide information to prove global warming is factual. As the years go by, the more damage is being done to our atmosphere and it is affecting the earth. It i s not hard to believe that global warming affects the earth so negatively by the drastic changeRead MoreThe Effects Of Global Warming On Earth882 Words   |  4 Pages Global warming is an increase in the overall temperature of earth atmosphere. Earth s climate is changing, temperatures are rising, snow and rainfall are shifting, and more extreme climate like heavy rainstorms and high temperatures are already affecting the society and economy. Scientists are confident that many of the observed changes are happening because of the global warming. Warming and climate are changing and increasing every year. The main Cause are by people burning fuels to generateRead MoreThe Effects Of Global Warming On The Earth901 Words   |  4 PagesInconvenient â€Å"by Al Gore. In this video Gore is explaining about how the earth has became hotter than it ever has before. The ten hottest years we have ever had have been in the last fourteen years. According to the video the hottest year was in 2005. From Gore’s viewpoint we as the people are causing global warming by ourselves. Because we are the ones that are causing global warming it is having some major effects on the earth. You have Mt. Kilimanjaro, which over the years has had a lot of snow onRead MoreGlobal Warming And Its Effect On The Earth2122 Words   |  9 PagesWhat is global warming and what is the proof that it exists? The topic of whether global warming is real and what the consequences it may have has been heavily debated for quite some time now. The reason why it has been debated for such an extended amount of time is because there are still unknowns to confirm that global warming is a true threat to the earth. Many people do not believe in global warming because they truly do not know the basic concept of global warming. There are missing pieces to

The Important Qualities of a Good Roommate free essay sample

Important qualities of a good roommate In recent decades, a growing of Juvenile Is willing to choose foreign countries for their further education, and residences directly become their first choice after they reach the new land. However, most of them find too difficult to share a good atmosphere with their roommate Indeed, which mainly happens In North American. In terms to me, I used to share an apartment with two Canadian guys for three months approximately, and this experience will be an unforgettable experience with sadness and suffering unluckily. There is no doubt that roommates who have good and upper qualities will be acceptable and welcomed, and these superior qualities definitely help international students to find their ways in a new country. To begin with, a enthusiastic native Canadian will bring u a feeling of sweetness as u enter in a new room, and u will get a sense of family ship as they greet u sincerely because he Is the first new friend as u left your country. We will write a custom essay sample on The Important Qualities of a Good Roommate or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page However, most of students are not willing to chat or communicate with their roommate, which is due to the feeling of strange and self-approbation. Meanwhile, the exclusive circumstance of each culture will become the hindrance between communications for oversea dents as well. Further more, an updates investigation, which proceeded in UCLA illustrates that a roommate who is in low profile will share a better and friendly relationship with people easily, which compared to others who are intensively active failed.In my point of view, in order to get support and appreciation from roommates, u need to show respect to them, give them private space and not interrupt them frequently. As a result, a good community will come true. To sum up, a enthusiastic and generous roommate will bring u precious assistance during four years, which Is the precious wealthy u never received before.

Time of Lies Abstract Iconography in Maus Essay Example

Time of Lies: Abstract Iconography in Maus Paper Time of Lies: Abstract iconography in â€Å"Maus† Art Spiegelman’s graphic memoirs â€Å"Maus I† and â€Å"Maus II† present an approachable and sensory biography, a detailed and authentic retelling of a Holocaust survivor’s experience. The pictorial style of the memoir encourages the reader to visualize the text and more vividly relate to the experiences portrayed in the literature. The graphic and artistic aspects of the text employ devices that are unique to comics, in style and sequence, while drawing the characters as mice, which are visually simple, rather than realistic human representations of the characters. By exploring various levels of detail within the memoir’s iconography, Spiegelman expresses a story in accessible terms and presents a unique perspective to the story of Vladek Spiegelman. However, the animal representations that are common throughout the memoir are increased in complexity within pages 41-47 of the â€Å"Time Flies: Auschwitz† chapter of â€Å"Maus II. † In this first section, Spiegelman applies abstract elements to a metafictional section of the memoir, expressing the complexity of assembling the work and characterizing his process. The abstract elements of â€Å"Time Flies: Auschwitz† bring into question Spiegelman’s opinion of his work, while exploring his identity and perceptions of reality. The tone at the beginning of â€Å"Time Flies: Auschwitz† is strained and mournful. Immediately, it is revealed that Vladek passed away in 1982 and Spiegelman presents a scene in which he is working on â€Å"Maus† series, a technique that falls under the category of metafiction. In the second panel, Spiegelman’s drawing of himself declares the metafiction by saying, â€Å"I started working on this page at the very end of February 1987† (Spiegelman II, 41: 2). We will write a custom essay sample on Time of Lies: Abstract Iconography in Maus specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Time of Lies: Abstract Iconography in Maus specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Time of Lies: Abstract Iconography in Maus specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Spiegelman, within the panels, presents a calculative sequence, a series of statistics that presents chronological and biographical information about his personal life, the Holocaust and â€Å"Maus. † Also considerable is the fact that this is the only time Art Spiegelman personally addresses the reader; in many ways, â€Å"Time Flies: Auschwitz† is Art’s story. The fifth panel of the first page of the section reveals Spiegelman sitting on top of a mass of mouse corpses, wearing a mouse mask. The tone is dark as Spiegelman says, â€Å"In May 1968 my mother killed herself. She left no note. ) Lately I’ve been feeling depressed† (Spiegelman II, 41:5). Many aspects of this section are different from the rest of the graphic memoir. Even aspects of medium are different, as Spiegelman write all of the dialogue of pages 41-46 in standard text, rather than the dialogue throughout the rest of the memoir, in which all the letters are capitalized. This suggest s a different level of reality that complements the presence of metafiction. The animal iconography used in Vladek’s recounting of his story is quite simple. For example, all Jews are mice and all Germans are cats within the memoir. By creating iconographical uniforms for certain kinds of people, Spiegelman suggests the universality of the Holocaust story and allows the reader to more easily identify with the characters. In â€Å"Understanding Comics,† graphic novelist Scott McCloud says, â€Å"The ability of cartoons to focus our attention on an idea is, I think, an important part of their special power, both in comics and in drawing generally. Another is the universality of cartoon imagery. The more cartoony a face is, for instance, the more people it could be said to describe† (McCloud 31: 3-4). This argument is supported by the iconography presented by most of â€Å"Maus. † There is virtually no difference between the faces of mice, between cats, between pigs, etc. Therefore, the reader identifies characters by their actions and other appearance. McCloud says, â€Å"Our identities and awareness are invested in many inanimate objects every day. Our clothes, for example, can trigger numerous transformations in the way others see us and in the way we see ourselves† (McCloud 38: 6). This theme is displayed, for example, in Artie’s vest and elderly Vladek’s eyeglasses. By presenting iconography that is uniform, Spiegelman takes away the complications of a personal account and literally dehumanizes the characters involved, therefore telling a Holocaust story that is unique. In the first section of â€Å"Time Flies: Auschwitz,† Spiegelman introduces iconography that is far more complex than the animal iconography used in other chapters. The use of iconography is at its most abstract even though this is the section of the memoir that involves the exposition of Spiegelman’s process. Here, Spiegelman presents human characters that wear various animal masks. This abstract aspect of Spiegelman’s portrayed â€Å"reality† suggests that uncertainty of identity is a theme that is important to Spiegelman. McCloud writes, â€Å"When pictures are more abstracted from ‘reality,’ they require greater levels of perception, more like words† (McCloud 49:3). The struggle of identity that comes with the presence of an author within a work cannot easily be expressed in dialogue alone. In the first section of â€Å"Time Flies: Auschwitz,† Spiegelman utilizes abstract iconography to represent the sense of disorientation that is felt by the character. Here, pictures replace words to express Spiegelman’s emotional motivation, which can best be portrayed visually. However, it is entirely possible that Spiegelman is expressing generalizations in the form of concealed human faces, therefore complementing the uniformity of ethnic groups throughout the memoir. As Art is barraged by questions from the press on page 42 of â€Å"Maus II,† he creates a discussion about the interpretation of his work. When asked what the project’s message was, Art says, â€Å"I-I never thought of reducing it to a message. I mean, I wasn’t trying to CONVINCE anybody of anything. I just wanted—† (Spiegelman II, 42: 2), further suggesting that the first section of â€Å"Time Flies: Auschwitz† is an exposition of Spiegelman’s artistic process in creating the memoir. Spiegelman is struggling with the complexities of creating his art. McCloud says, â€Å"Personally, I think we all have something to say to the world. The real question is, ‘will anyone listen? ’† (McCloud 178: 4). This statement can be applied to â€Å"Time Flies: Auschwitz† in that Art struggles with the fear of how his work will be perceived by others. As Art receives more pressuring questions from the reporters, he begins to shrink, eventually to the size of a child. Art declares the metaphor by saying, â€Å"they’re gone. Sometimes I just don’t feel like a functioning adult† (Spiegelman II, 43:1). Art, in child form, walks through the streets filled with surreal concentration camp victims to see his shrink. The corpses work as icons to represent the nameless guilt that is affecting Art. During the session with his psychologist, Art remains in child-sized form as he explores the struggles of trying to visualize and occupy the experience of a person in Auschwitz. When Pavel mentions the book, Art says, â€Å"My book? Hah! What book Some part of me doesn’t want to draw or think about Auschwitz. I can’t visualize it clearly, and I can’t BEGIN to imagine what it felt like† (Spiegelman II, 46:1). Perhaps Spiegelman uses iconography as a solution to this problem. By making the visual elements of the story and the characters less detailed, Spiegelman takes an objective approach to the haunting experience. As Art walks home from his appointment with Pavel, he begins to brainstorm his project again, no longer distracted by his guilt and the memories of his father. Art says, â€Å"Gee. I don’t understand why†¦but these sessions with Pavel somehow make me feel better†¦Maybe I could show the tin shop and now draw the drill press. I hate to draw machinery† (Spiegelman II, 46: 8-10). Here, the moment-to-moment closure displays Art’s slow increase in size. Spiegelman suggests that Art can be himself when he is successfully concentrating on his book. Then, on the next page, Art shrinks immediately upon hearing his father’s voice on the tape recorder, suggesting that it is the memory of his father that causes him to feel small. McCloud writes, â€Å"In the eighties and nineties, most of the counterculture of independent creators, working mostly in black and white, stayed to the right of mainstream comics art while covering a broad range of writing styles† (McCloud 56: 1). This statement can be applied to most of the â€Å"Maus† series. Spiegelman’s graphic memoir utilizes iconography that is simple in appearance yet complicated in interpretation. In the first section of â€Å"Time Flies: Auschwitz,† however, Spiegelman incorporates complex iconography that suggests themes of identity and guilt, process and focus. The tone of this section is dark and evokes a sense of disorientation that is expressed through pictures as well as dialogue. Spiegelman seems to be posing a question, not only about the implications of his book, but the implications of his own memories of his father, and how the reader can relate to these elements. While wearing a mask of identity, Art gives an acceptable answer, â€Å"Who am I to say? † (Spiegelman II, 42: 3).

Saving Habits Changed Due to Harsh Economic Times

Have Spending/Saving Habits Changed Due to Harsh Economic Times Abstract Food insecurity is a serious issue in most countries in the world. It has been assumed that only people from third world countries experience food insecurity. However, people in first world countries are also at risk due to rising cost of living. Although costs of basic goods have risen with time, wages have remained the same.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Have Spending/Saving Habits Changed Due to Harsh Economic Times? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More People faced with food insecurity in third world countries seek food aid. For example, Kenyan government declared food insecurity a national disaster in 2011 due to influx of refugees from Somalia and drought (United Nations, 2011). As a result, international organizations donated food stuff. Many people in first world countries do not seek food aid when they are faced with food insecurity. In San Diego, over 3.7 million adults were faced with food insecuri ty in 2009 (California Food Policy Advocates, 2011). However, most of them did not ask for food aid. Causes of food insecurity include low income, high cost of living and increased unemployment rates. Although most victims of food insecurities do not ask for aid, a few of them have been very vocal. Some humanitarian organizations have continued highlighting the issue. (Jewish Community Foundation San Diego, 2011) In this paper, various causes and side effects of food insecurities are identified. The extent of the problem is analyzed to provide a clear situation in San Diego County. Coded words are used to provide an analysis of food insecurity. This paper use coded words from transcripts of interviews conducted in San Diego to identify the causes and financial implications of food insecurity. Hypothesis The hypothesis is that several residents of San Diego County in California who are faced with food insecurity have changed their spending and saving habits due to poor income and ris ing cost of living. Several people earn salaries which are not enough to cater for basic commodities including food. Other people are not employed at all. This is a serious matter which contributes to food insecurity in several families (United Nations, 2003). The cost of living has risen in recent years. Costs of basic commodities have almost doubled in the last decade.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Business owners have capitalized on the rising demand for food to enrich themselves. Increased food prices impact negatively on low income earners. Most people have stopped saving and adjusted their spending habits. Method of research The research method used in this paper is coding. This method is used to organize and analyze key words and phrases which are considered to be important for the research. Results of the coding have been provided. They were obtained fro m transcripts of interviews conducted in San Diego County. Results of the research are presented on a page after the interview transcript. At the end of the research, a conclusion shall be drawn to explain if the hypothesis was supported or not. The interview used in the research was conducted within thirty minutes (Berg, 2009). Interview Transcript I am a 36 year old man living and working in Bostonia town in San Diego County. I have grown in this town from childhood when my family bought a house here. My father was employed as a ranch attendant Yes, I have a family, a wife and two three children, two boys and a girl. I work in a cigarettes factory. I have been working there for the last 15 years and still standing. My job is not good because I earn a poor salary. I would say 2008 was the worst year which I experienced food insecurity. In 2001, there was a serious food shortage in some store but they were not expensive as it was in 2008. I would always think and ask myself if a day would pass without worrying about food for my family. The economic depression contributed much of the rising prices. Here in Bostonia, food and other basic commodities were very expensive compared to any other year. Most of my friends and colleagues were complaining about expensive foods and basic commodities but they still went to stores and bought them.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Have Spending/Saving Habits Changed Due to Harsh Economic Times? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Generally here in Bostonia, foods stuff and other commodities were just expensive but they were available in stores and food outlets. Even currently, there are plenty basic commodities but many people cannot afford them because of low income. People who work in a store, factory and ranches upcountry have poor salary. In the last ten years, there has been no significant salary increment from most employers. Immigrants have provided chea p labor making it hard for residence of Bostonia to ask for salary increment. No, business owners are not entirely responsible. I believe they sell their commodities based of market rates because this problem is not in Bostonia alone but also in several parts of San Diego County. Sometimes last year I went to Lake View to visit a friend and I found out that they were also complaining about expensive food. He actually told me that they have started to spend less money on luxury to enable them cater for essential commodities. He also told me that many people with poor salary are faced with food insecurity. This is not a case of Bostonia alone. My son once companied about my recent modified expenditure. My daughter has been also nagging to her mother to be taken her out over the weekends. My wife too has had a share of her complains. I have not been taking her out frequently as I used to in the last ten years. I have reduced my savings due to expensive commodities and risk of food inse curity being faced every single day. In fact some months I don’t save at all. In my family, we have always had three meals a day but in recent times I have opted to skip lunch occasionally to ensure that I spend less money because I have a poor salary. This has enabled me to afford all the requirements of my family. My children go to school where they are provided with lunch. Though I sometimes skip lunch, my children have their three meals a day. My wife has no formal employment. Her job is to provide baby sitting services. This job is not entirely reliable.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More She does not like the idea of spending less in basic commodities but I always talk her out. She understands because she knows everything is expensive and we need to spend less money on everything. No I am better than most people in Bostonia because I have a stable job although with a poor salary. Those people with no formal employment are faced with food insecurity day in day out. They are forced to spend less money on everything because of their low income. Most of them don’t save any money for future use. I heard that some people in other towns were given donations to save them from food insecurity. Everybody believed that in United States people are not supposed to rely on food aid but due to expensive commodities, people have been forced to do anything which might help them to survive. People here work overtime or do two different jobs to increase their income. However, not everybody get these extra jobs. I have not worked two jobs all my life but I have worked overtime t o increase my income. My wife on the other hand can accomplish more than one task in a single day but she does not always get the jobs When she is not working she does her chores at home including cooking and laundry. We cook in the house all week round. Sometimes as a family, we eat in food outlets. But this only happens when we have something special to celebrate about. To cook ensures that we spend less rather than eat in restaurant which is expensive. No we don’t save much when we cook in the house but we ensure that we avoid the expensive restaurants. Food insecurity is an issue which should be keenly addressed by the government. No, not through food aid but by empowering people to come up with way of increasing their low income or supplementing their poor salary. This will ensure that they can still buy the expensive basic commodities and avoid food insecurity. Employers too should improve the poor salaries they give their employees based on their performance. Data.   Code sheet Analysis The results of word coding show that hypothesis of the research is supported. Total frequency of keywords and phrases which were identified is high. These words and phrases have shown that the person who was interviewed is faced with hard economic time which has forced him to reduce expenditure. High frequency of words likes ‘expensive’ and phrases like ‘spend less’ support hypothesis of this research. Out of 16 words and phrases which were analyzed, the highest five in descending order are; Expensive 11, Job 8, Food Insecurity 7, Poor Salary 6 and Spend less 5,. The numbers show that food insecurity is a big concern to people in San Diego County. Foods have become expensive forcing people to spend less money on other needs. This is because foods consume most of their income. Poor salary was also mentioned frequently. This means that poor salaries contribute to food insecurity. The results concur with a report from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, (2003) which mention poor income and unemployment as the main causes of food insecurity. Most participants mentioned the word expensive more than any other word or phrase studied. According to Jewish Community Foundation San Diego (2011), poor salaries and unemployment are the main causes of food insecurity. Low income earners in the area have stopped saving. More people relied on food donations 2008 while schools have started feeding programs to combat food insecurity (Jewish Community Foundation San Diego, 2011). A press release by California Food Policy Advocates (2011) showed that families earning less than $ 36,000 a year struggle to afford nutritious food. This is an indication that salaries and income play a vital role in food security. Net income determines the quality of food people eat. Furthermore, the press release indicated that people relying on CalFresh increased in 2009. This is contrary to the results obtained from this study whic h shows that few participants mentioned ‘donations.’ Most people in San Diego are proud and do not want to be associated with donations. Although a good number of people are faced with food insecurity, few of them seek donations. These people spend less money on nutritious food. ‘Skip lunch’ was mentioned as a way of reducing cost of food. Restaurants 1, Donations 1, and Eat out 1 had the lowest frequency. This shows that many people avoid eating in restaurants to reduce their spending on food. They cook at home to cut costs. Summary and Conclusion From the results, ‘insecurity,’ ’expensive,’ ‘food, ‘spend less’ and ‘poor salary’ recorded the highest frequencies. On the other hand, ‘Restaurants,’ ‘Donations,’ and ‘Eat out’ had the lowest frequencies. I conclude that the high frequency of the word ‘expensive’ and the phrase ‘spend less’ show that people have been forced to spend less money on food because they are expensive. This has forced them to stop saving and concentrate on buying food. Fewer hits were recorded for restaurants, and eat out showing support of my conclusion that people in San Diego have stopped eating luxuriously due to escalating food prices. The hypothesis I drew at the beginning of this research is supported by the findings. References Berg, B. L. (2009). Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences (7th ed.). Boston: Allyn Bacon. California Food Policy Advocates, (2011). More Low-Income Californians Struggle to Put Food on the Table 210,000 Low-Income Adults in San Diego County are Food Insecure. Web. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, (2003). The state of food insecurity in the world. Rome, Italy: Viale delle Terme di Caracalla. Jewish Community Foundation San Diego, (2011). Feeding the Hungry in San Diego. Web. United Nations, (2011). Eastern Africa Drought Humanitarian Report. Web.

Free Essays on Meat Is No Good

Meat Is Useless Meat is Useless Eating meat is part of the daily life of billions of people all over the world. Every day thousands of animals are killed for the production of meat food for people. However, studies have shown that meat is not essential for our existence and gives us nothing more than the other foods on the market. Meat consumption may not harm you or the surrounding environment immediately but there are consequences and sooner or later they will appear. A meatless diet is healthier than a diet containing meat. According to surveys and examinations of the contents of the food products, meat contains more fat than non-meat foods. Since it is very difficult for our bodies to process high quantities of fat and it is being accumulated in our bodies, fat consuming causes many health problems. According to the American Heart Association, the fat in the food we eat should be no more than 30 percent of the total calories we consume daily. However, this is very difficult to achieve when meat is part of our daily meal plan. The only way to stay healthy and continue eating meat is to put a limit on the amount of meat we consume. Unfortunately, nowadays most people are often tempted by the taste and appearance of the meat products on the market and it is very difficult for them to resist. That is why the solution of a balanced diet can not be practically used. Moreover, it has been recently proven that many diseases are commonly prevented, consistently improved, and often cured by a low-fat vegetarian diet. Among them are diseases such as kidney stones, prostate cancer, breast cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, strokes, diabetes, peptic ulcers, obesity, hemmorhoids, salmonellosis, and many others (American Heart Association). Cholesterol can be found in every meat product. This is another particular reason proving that meat is bad. Cholesterol blocks the arteries and ma... Free Essays on Meat Is No Good Free Essays on Meat Is No Good Meat Is Useless Meat is Useless Eating meat is part of the daily life of billions of people all over the world. Every day thousands of animals are killed for the production of meat food for people. However, studies have shown that meat is not essential for our existence and gives us nothing more than the other foods on the market. Meat consumption may not harm you or the surrounding environment immediately but there are consequences and sooner or later they will appear. A meatless diet is healthier than a diet containing meat. According to surveys and examinations of the contents of the food products, meat contains more fat than non-meat foods. Since it is very difficult for our bodies to process high quantities of fat and it is being accumulated in our bodies, fat consuming causes many health problems. According to the American Heart Association, the fat in the food we eat should be no more than 30 percent of the total calories we consume daily. However, this is very difficult to achieve when meat is part of our daily meal plan. The only way to stay healthy and continue eating meat is to put a limit on the amount of meat we consume. Unfortunately, nowadays most people are often tempted by the taste and appearance of the meat products on the market and it is very difficult for them to resist. That is why the solution of a balanced diet can not be practically used. Moreover, it has been recently proven that many diseases are commonly prevented, consistently improved, and often cured by a low-fat vegetarian diet. Among them are diseases such as kidney stones, prostate cancer, breast cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, strokes, diabetes, peptic ulcers, obesity, hemmorhoids, salmonellosis, and many others (American Heart Association). Cholesterol can be found in every meat product. This is another particular reason proving that meat is bad. Cholesterol blocks the arteries and ma...

Music in The Heart is a lonely hunter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Music in The Heart is a lonely hunter - Essay Example Virginia (2005) rightly enlists the character of Mick Kelly when she remarks â€Å"Mick Kelly, a tomboyish adolescent who shuts out the real world with music and dreams of fame and distant lands† (Virginia Spencer Carr, 2005). Reading through the novel, one can realize that McCuller has portrayed her characters as appealing sympathy of the readers and they are really the prototype figures representing the author herself. Especially, the character of Mick has a clear connotation with the author’ personal life where she herself was much interested and wished to be proficient in playing piano. To an extent, one can infer that Mick is the true representative of McCuller who had to leave the greatest desire of her life half way. As McCuller started her musical lessons at the age of six, she makes her character Mick also to begin her musical lessons at an early stage of life. While analyzing the personal life of the author, it is understandable that some fatal diseases drove her away from fulfilling her driving passion to become a concert pianist. But regarding Mick, it is the poor state of her family that stands on her way from leading her to the vast and impassioned realms of music. Being haunted with diseases, McCuller was forced to seek other fields, such as writing dramas, casting, directing and producing them. Actually, it was a submission to her fate and the same submissive nature is expressive in Mick’s character and she could not really bear up the prospect of losing her musical lessons.

Many people become Obsessed with Appearance Essay

Many people become Obsessed with Appearance - Essay Example Obsession with appearance is often referred to as Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) or imagined ugliness in which an individual begins to notice flaws in their body design, such as facial features or body structure, until these thoughts become a long-term obsession (Phillips, Didie, Feusner and Wilhelm, 1112). Obsession generally involves a relatively harmless belief, based often on the aforementioned media influences including celebrity worship and plastic surgery-related media, which turns into a lasting fixation on the perceived problems and can lead to disastrous social consequences such as the inability to function in society. This obsession with appearance can also stem from the natural course of aging in which the skin begins to lose its elasticity, tooth begin to lose their bright white faà §ade, and lines begin to appear on the face around the eyes and mouth. Because society tends to create a portrait of perfection by which most members of society are expected to conform, in which youthful complexions are regarded as being satisfactory and aged appearance unsatisfactory, even older adults can become obsessed with appearance and find difficulty adjusting to social environments. Even though the aging process is a natural outcome of life experiences and decades of exposure to different elements, and many of their older peers share these same facial features, many people find it difficult to cope with the aging process and long for the days when their faces were youthful. These people who become obsessed with appearance are often drawn toward cosmetic surgery as a means to remove these fixations or, fail ing to act on the obsession, they face depressive disorders or have thoughts of suicide. Further, every human being maintains measurable levels of serotonin in their brains, which is a chemical neurotransmitter, which is, from a clinical perspective, highly important in regulating

Importance of Wearing a Condom Essay Example for Free

Importance of Wearing a Condom Essay The aim of using a condom is to ensure that there is no contact between the sexual fluids that come from a man’s penis and the sexual fluids, blood or ‘lining’ inside his partner’s body (vagina or anus). Using a condom prevents transmission of sexually transmitted diseases/illnesses (STIs) – from man to woman and from woman to man or from man to man. Using a condom prevents unwanted pregnancy and allows couples to plan when they have children. If used correctly, a condom stops HIV passing from an infected person (who may not know he or she is infected) to an uninfected person. Condoms can also stop someone with HIV being re-infected with the virus. Without a condom, STIs and HIV can pass from one body to another – man or woman. During penetrative intercourse without a condom (in other words, where sexual fluids mix as a result of contact between genitals), a man’s body can pick up HIV from an infected partner – or a woman’s body can pick up HIV from an infected partner. Condom use is always crucial because HIV and some other STIs have no symptoms – they are invisible. Another advantage is that condoms delay ejaculation, increasing the length of penetrative sexual intimacy and pleasure. Many people have already contracted HIV. Using condoms correctly can protect them from re-infection and from increasing their viral load. Condoms also keep their partners or spouses safe from infection during intercourse. Condoms, used properly and with confidence (every time): * Can prevent (re-)infection from many STIs, including HIV. * Can protect fertility (some STIs, with few evident symptoms, can cause infertility in women and men). * Can enable you to plan pregnancy – or prevent it. * Can help you avoid anxiety and risk and let you choose health, safe pleasure and to care for your body (whatever sex you are) and for your partner’s body (whatever sex they are).

Lord Of The Flies :: essays research papers

Lord of the Flies Essay   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jack Merridew is a symbol for savagery. From the very beginning, he seems to harbor emotions of anger and savagery. At first, he is the leader of his choir group, who become hunters as the book progresses. Finally, his savage personality and ability to tell people what they want to hear, allows him to overtake Ralph as chief. The three points I will be talking about in this essay are Jack’s character, Jack’s symbolism, and the moral or lesson Golding is trying to teach us throughout the story.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jack Merridew is a young boy, probably the same age as Ralph, possibly older. On pg. 20 Golding describes Jack as “…tall, thin and bony; and his hair was red beneath the black cap. His face was crumpled and freckled, and ugly without silliness. Out of this face stared two light blue eyes, frustrated now, and turning, or ready to turn, to anger.'; Jack’s eyes are always used in the novel to depict his emotions, as they are in the quote above. When the boys land on the island they are all wearing their school uniforms, but Jack and his choir are wearing cloaks and caps. Oddly enough, Jack is one of the only boys whose last name is learned. I think the author does this to make Jack stand out. He is a very important character because throughout this whole novel, Golding depicts this island and savagery to everyday life. Jack is the perfect character to play this role due to his temperament and power hungry acts. Jack is solely concerned with hunting, and cannot see the necessity of other things that can keep them alive. Fire, an important necessity, is carelessly abused and treated by Jack. His whole existence and survival depend on fire yet his mail goal is to hunt and kill. His controlling and persuasive behavior, allow him to take over the chief position towards the end of the novel.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The novel, Lord of the Flies is a novel involving a great deal of symbolism. Different characters provide different symbols. Jack is a symbol of savagery and anarchy. Golding relates this to the evil and cruel people in the world. When Jack first arrives on the island he is excited to have rules for their new settlement. Jack exclaims on pg. 33 “ We’ll have rules!'; he cried excitedly. “Lots of rules!…'; Jack changes his view on rules towards the end of the story because he rebels from Ralph’s leadership and starts his own clan.

Lg Hr Policies

LG ELECTRONICS LTD {draw:frame} A great working environment will allow you to exercise and develop all of your skills, and you'll be duly rewarded too! LG Electronics creates working environments that enable all its employees to demonstrate their capabilities, focus on their own work, and create value. HR Principles {draw:frame} Creativity and autonomy An individual's creativity is the basis for value creation. LG Electronics respects diversity and autonomy, allowing each of its employees to exercise their creativity to the full. Emphasis on competence Competence is the basis for performance. LG Electronics sees competence as the most important factor in its personnel decisions. Performance-based rewards Rewards based on performance are essential for human motivation. LG Electronics evaluates performance results fairly and rewards them accordingly. Equal opportunities Equal opportunities build trust among people. LG Electronics ensures equal opportunities regardless of gender, race, age, religion, or nationality. Long-term perspective Maintaining a long-term perspective is the foundation for LG's human resources policies. LG's human resources programs are designed with a long-term perspective and implemented with dedication and persistence. {draw:frame} Training Through its education centers worldwide, LG Electronics offers diverse educational programs to its employees according to rank and job to encourage growth and development and mold them into â€Å"the right people† for the company. They do this by equipping them with the professional capabilities that the company needs and enabling them to apply the latest technologies to their work. Rewards LG Electronics offers its employees a competitive, unique rewards system that takes account of their working situations by nation, region, and job. This rewards system motivates employees to perform better by helping them to enhance their quality of life. LG's rewards system consists of fixed salaries and flexible salaries. Fixed salaries are determined every year through a fair evaluation process. Flexible salaries are immediate rewards given to individual employees for their performance and competence.

Managerial Economics and Globalization Essay

Abstract This paper will describe the details of a fictitious business and will assess the current environmental scan factors while determining the factors that will have the greatest impact on plant operations and management’s decision to continue or discontinue operations. Thirdly, this paper will evaluate the financial performance of the company using the information provided in the scenario; consider all key drivers of performance, such as company profit or loss for both the short term and long term. Also, a recommendation as to how the company can improve its profitability and develop a brief plan to implement the recommendations. Lastly, this paper will assess the circumstances in which the company should discontinue operations while providing a set of reasonable rationales. 1. Briefly describe the details of the fictitious business that you created for this assignment. The fictitious business in this assignment is named TopShop, which is an American multinational retailer with its main headquarters in New York. It is a high end fashion brand that specializes in fashion clothing, shoes, make-up and accessories. Currently, TopShop has 150 workers for its factory in New Jersey, and has hired a consultant to offer some advice that could help it make a decision as to whether it should shut down completely or continue operations. In addition, TopShop has 100 workers that produce 6,000 units of output per month (working 20 days / month). The daily wage (per worker) is $70, and the price of the firm’s output is $32. The cost of other variable inputs is $2,000 per day. The firm’s fixed cost is â€Å"high enough† so that the firm’s total costs exceed its total revenue. The marginal cost of the last unit is $30. 2. Assess the current environmental scan factors. Determine the factors that will have the greatest impact on plant operations and management’s decision to continue or discontinue operations. The environmental scan factor refers to the macro environment and is the activity of acquiring information about events and relationships in a company’s outside environment, the knowledge of which would assist top management in its task charting the company’s future course of action. (Aguilar,1967). Comparably, finance, marketing, and operations will have the greater impact on plant operations and management’s decisions in determining if the operation continues its business. First, finance is responsible for acquiring financial resources at favorable prices and allocating those resources throughout the business, as well as budgeting, analyzing, investment proposals, and providing funds for operations. Secondly, marketing aims to analyze and determine consumer demands in the future, then selling and promoting its products and services. Thirdly, operations are responsible for production of goods and customer services in business. In addition, the production of goods or services supply could transform inputs into outputs (Michaels, 2011). Inputs such as capital, labor, and information are used to create goods or a service. That is why companies take measurements at various points in the transformation process and then compares them with previously established standards to determine whether corrective action is needed. In other words, the three factors; finance, marketing and operation can work in the study and interpretation of the political, economic, social and technological (PEST analysis) events and trends which influence a business, an industry or even a total market. In summary, they have the greatest impact on plant operation and management’s decision. 3. Evaluate the financial performance of the company using the information provided in the scenario. Consider all the key drivers of performance, such as company profit or loss for both the short term and long term. Be sure to show the calculations that helped you reach your conclusions. Topshop’s financial performance is in trouble. A decision was made to hire Mr. Blake Lively as a managing consultant to offer suggestions to improve Topshop’s financial performance. Based on the data given, Blake considered the following key drivers of performance and the financial analysis. The details are following: 100 employees produce 6,000 units in a month. The price is $32 The total revenue per day = 6,000*$32 = $192,000 Daily wage per employee = $70 Total wage in one month = 20days * 100 employees * $70 = $140,000 Total variable cost = variable inputs + total wage in one month = $2,000*20days+ $140,000 = $180,000 per month. AVC=TVC/Q=$180,000/6,000=$30 per unit Net income=Total Revenue-TVC=192,000-180,000=$12,000 Based on the analysis of data, Topshop could continue its operations in short term because the $32 price is more than AVC $30, and the revenue received per month is $12,000. However, in the long term, Topshop should seriously consider the option of shutting down completely. The main reason being that the firm’s fixed cost is high enough so that its total costs exceed its total revenue, and the price must be less than AVC. Under this situation, the firm has no other recourse but to close its operation. 4. Recommend how the company can improve its profitability. Then, develop a brief plan to implement the recommendations. Every business can improve its profitability by aiming to increase profitability, reduce costs, consider the price, and expand the market. Buy more effectively One of the most obvious routes to increasing the profitability is to buy more effectively. It makes sense to review a supplier base regularly and to determine if a firm can buy the same raw materials more cheaply or efficiently. However, it must be ensured that the cheaper raw materials will not reduce quality of product and service (He, et al., 2007). Manage your costs Close management of the costs can drive firm’s profitability. Most businesses are capable of fining some forms of waste to reduce, however it is important to be mindful and not cut costs at the expense of the quality of products and services. Pricing considerations It is a good idea to regularly examine the pricing. Changes in the marketplace may help increase the price without risking sales. However, it is essential to test any price increases before they are made permanent. Expand your market Moving into new market areas can transform a business and if handled correctly, can significantly increase the profitability. However, bear in mind that developing new products and services and selling in new markets can be risky – and mistakes can prove very costly. 5. Assess the circumstances in which the company should discontinue operations. Provide a rationale with your response. To qualify for presentation as a discontinued operation, all of the following conditions must be met: 1. The operations and cash flows of the component have been or will be eliminated from the ongoing operations of the entity as a result of the disposal transaction and 2. The entity will not have any significant continuing involvement in the operations of the component after the disposal transaction 3. A description of the facts and circumstances leading to the expected disposal, the expected manner and timing of the disposal and the carrying amounts of the major classes of assets and liabilities included as part of the disposal group (if not reflected separately on the face of the statement). 4. The gain or loss recognized and, if not separately presented on the income statement, the caption in that statement in which the gain is included. 5. If applicable, the amount of revenue and pretax profit or loss reported in discontinued operations. 6. If applicable, the segment in which the long-lived asset or disposal group is reported. References Aguilar, F. J. (1967). Scanning the Business Environment. New York, NY: McMillan. Michaels, R. J. (2011). Transactions and Strategies. 1st Edition. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning. He, Y. Q., Chan, L. K. & Wu, M. L. (2007). Balancing productivity and consumer satisfaction for profitability: Statistical and fuzzy regression analysis Original Research Article. European Journal of Operational Research, 176(1), 252-263 Drake, M., Gerde, V., & Wasieleski, D. (2011). Socially responsible modeling: a stakeholder approach to the implementation of ethical modeling in operations research. OR Spectrum, 33(1), 1-26. doi:10.1007/s00291-009-0172-9

Testing for Honesty

Testing for Honesty According to the Salvation Army, "charity begins at home." The Salvation Army realized that it had a problem with theft among its kettle workers, the people who collect money for the Army during Christmas season. Apparently, some of the kettlers were helping themselves to the Army's money before the organization had a chance to give it out. To put a stop to this problem the Salvation Army along with other business organizations implemented the use of honesty tests for prospective employers, which would aim at flushing out potential troublemakers.Honesty tests also measure an applicant's tendency toward drug use and violence. All three categories: honesty, drugs, and violence play are key role in companies' losses according to the makers of these tests. A company's loss can be huge when taking into consideration compound problems, such as the cost of employee drug use in terms of absenteeism, lost initiative, inattentiveness, accidents, diminished productivity, and employee violence c osts companies millions of dollars in damage, lost productivity and law suites.Newman, CA Army Reserve Training Center 2 October ...Honesty-test makers say that the only way to deal with these problems is before workers are hired, not after. Therefore, prospective employees should be subject to a pre-employment psychological test that will identify those prospective employees who will be likely to steal, who have a history of violence or emotional instability, or who have used illegal drugs in the past on a regular basis. It is believe that dishonest job applicants are clever enough to fool potential employees at a job interview. They have a way of conducting themselves that is probably superior to the low-risk person because they have learned what it takes to be accepted and how to overcome the normal interview strategy. Therefore, the high-risk dishonest person will get the job unless there is someway to screen them,

Definition and Examples of Amphiboly in English

Definition and Examples of Amphiboly in English Amphiboly is a  fallacy  of relevance that relies on an ambiguous word or grammatical structure to confuse or mislead an audience. Adjective: amphibolous. Also known as  amphibology. More broadly, amphiboly may refer to a fallacy that results from a faulty sentence structure of any kind. Etymology From the Greek, irregular speech Pronunciation:  am-FIB-o-lee Examples and Observations [T]he 2003 election reform law demanded that politicians acknowledge in their own voices their responsibility for advertisements they run on public airwaves. But five years later, the I approved has become a pivotal device in commercials for Congress and the White House, a place for candidates to make a declaration of intent, summarize the message or take a parting shot. . . .A University of New Hampshire rhetoric professor, James Farrell, was irked as far back as the 2004 Democratic primary campaign, the first time the disclaimers were required. Then, as now, he said, advertisement writers were coming up with awkward non-sequiturs just to slip in something extra.Mr. Farrell noted a current commercial for Representative Don Cazayoux, Democrat of Louisiana, in which the candidate said, I’m Don Cazayoux and I approved this message because that’s who I’m fighting for. That, Mr. Farrell said, is an amphiboly, a logical confusion created by a grammatical ambiguity.Of course, if asked, the candidate will say he means he’s fighting for the middle class, said Mr. Farrell, of the spot’s theme. However, one could easily conclude that the disclaimer addition refers to the candidate himself, as in, I’m Don and that’s who I’m fighting for.(Steve Friess, Candidates ‘Approve’ Ads and Get a Bit Creative. The New York Times, Sep. 30, 2008) Humorous Amphibolies Amphiboly is usually so recognizable that it is rarely used in real-life situations to make a claim seem stronger than it is. Instead, it more often leads to humorous misunderstandings and confusions. Newspaper headlines are one common source of amphiboly. Here are a few examples: Prostitutes Appeal to Pope Farmer Bill Dies in House Dr. Ruth to Talk About Sex With Newspaper Editors Burglar  Gets Nine Months in Violin Case Juvenile  Court to Try Shooting Defendant Red Tape Holds Up New Bridge Marijuana Issues Sent to a Joint Committee Two Convicts Evade Noose: Jury Hung. . . . Most of these cases of amphiboly are the result of a poorly constructed sentence: I like chocolate cake better than you. Although we normally try to avoid them, intentional amphiboly may prove useful when we feel obligated to say something we would rather not have to say, yet want to avoid saying something that is patently not true. Here are lines from letters of recommendation: In my opinion, you will be very fortunate to get this person to work for you. I am pleased to say that this candidate is a former colleague of mine. From a professor on receiving a late paper from a student: I shall waste no time in reading this. (John Capps and Donald Capps, Youve Got To Be Kidding!: How Jokes Can Help You Think. Wiley-Blackwell, 2009) Amphiboly in a Classified Ad Sometimes the amphiboly is more subtle. Take this newspaper classified ad that appears under Furnished Apartments for Rent: 3 rooms, river view, private phone, bath, kitchen, utilities included Your interest is aroused. But when you visit the apartment, there is neither a bathroom nor a kitchen. You challenge the landlord. He remarks that there are common bathroom and kitchen facilities at the end of the hall. But what about the private bath and kitchen that the ad mentioned? you query. What are you talking about? the landlord replies. The ad didnt say anything about a private bath or a private kitchen. All the ad said was private phone. The advertisement was amphibolous. One cannot tell from the printed words whether private modifies only phone or whether it also modifies bath and kitchen. (Robert J. Gula, Nonsense: Red Herrings, Straw Men and Sacred Cows: How We Abuse Logic in Our Everyday Language. Axios, 2007) Characteristics of Amphibolies To become a skilled perpetrator of amphibolies you must acquire a certain nonchalance toward punctuation, especially commas. You must learn to toss off lines such as I heard cathedral bells tripping through the alleyways, as if it mattered not a whit whether you or the bells were doing the tripping. You should acquire a vocabulary of nouns which can be verbs and a grammatical style which easily accommodates misplaced pronouns and confusions over subject and predicate. The astrology columns in popular newspapers provide excellent source material. (Madsen Pirie, How to Win Every Argument: The Use and Abuse of Logic. Continuum, 2006) The Lighter Side of Amphiboly Some amphibolous sentences are not without their humorous aspects, as in posters urging us to Save Soap and Waste Paper, or when anthropology is defined as The science of man embracing woman. We should be mistaken if we inferred immodest dress on the woman described in a story: . . . loosely wrapped in a newspaper, she carried three dresses. Amphiboly is often exhibited by newspaper headings and brief items, as in The farmer blew out his brains after taking affectionate farewell of his family with a shotgun. (Richard E. Young, Alton L. Becker, and Kenneth L. Pike, Rhetoric: Discovery and Change. Harcourt, 1970)

Engineering Design Flow Contributing To the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster Essay

Engineering Design Flow Contributing To the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster - Essay Example The researcher suggests that perhaps April 1986 was the worst tragedy in the global nuclear history, considering that Russia was among the leading nations as far as nuclear energy production was concerned. However, the Chernobyl plant encountered the worst engineering disasters that led to its decommissioning barely a decade and a half into operation. One of the nuclear reactors under test exploded under intense pressure, spewing tons of nuclear waste into the atmosphere. Several people, including plant technicians and engineers, absorbed significant levels of radiation from the accident. The team from Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and some government operatives initially briefed the locals about the impending disaster. Although the local people were told not to worry because the explosion was a slight problem that the plan engineers dealing with it, nuclear waste was already spreading across the entire area. The government had to evacuate all the residents of Prypiat city within 24 hours because of the radiation effect that resulted from the leakage of nuclear waste into the atmosphere. By magnitude, the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster was the worst accident in global nuclear history. Nuclear experts believe that Chernobyl and the area around it are still contaminated with nuclear waste presently. To understand the events and circumstances that led to the unfortunate accident, it is worth examining the real causes of the accident, whether it was human cause or the causes were beyond human control.

Managing the Digital Enterprise Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Managing the Digital Enterprise - Essay Example It demonstrates the degree of innovation of an organization and their responsiveness to the consumer needs and changes in taste preferences. With the introduction of technology, e-business models have been developed that allow businesses to demonstrate their abilities and responsiveness using web based centres. Thus, a business model whether tradition or e-business model demonstrates the approaches adopted by an organization to make profits. In this paper, the business models of Dell and Amazon companies will be analysed to demonstrate how each of the approaches have affected the performance of the businesses. In implementing the business models, these organizations have their specific community and target audience in sight, which affects the nature of their models. The target audience served by the organizations websites will also be analysed to demonstrate how the companies use their sites to attract their customers. Dell and Amazon business models The development of web dependent business models as have been done by both Dell and Amazon requires the understanding of the characteristics of web-users. Consumer behaviours constantly change and is influenced largely by the current occurrence in the market, competition and the entry of new players in the industry. Companies conduct studies on consumer behaviours to determine the nature of their web contents as exhibited by both dell and Amazon. Websites therefore incorporate business news, entertainment articles and educational activities aimed at attracting and arousing the interests of the consumers. In organizations that conduct online shopping, procurements, sales and advertising like Amazon and most recently Dell, a proper e-business model is of great significance (Kuballa, 2007). Dell Corporation launched their e-business approach in 1990s and this has enabled it to make inroads into new markets while designing products that suit the specific needs of the consumers. According to this model, the company main tains a virtual operations and sales system in which it operates without any physical outlets and intermediaries to link it with the consumers. With its sound supply chain management approach, Dell can sufficiently serve the orders of its consumers within 24 hours of receiving the order (Fife & Pereira, 2006). One of the business models used by Dell involves the employment of e-business in enhancing its supply chain management thus enabling the company to meet the consumer’s needs in time. In 1996, Dell Corporation opened its website www.dell.com for online selling purposes and designed it specifically to allow for interactive approaches with the consumers (Kha, 2000). The business model as practiced by Dell Corporation is also punctuated with consistencies in the development of new innovative products, which are availed on the company’s website for consumers to review. The innovative approach focuses on the key competencies of the company and the ability of the consum ers to make their personal inputs on the products online before making their orders (Fox, 2000). Amazon has cut a niche for itself as one of the leading online book and music seller controlling a large percentage of the total books sold online worldwide. The success of the online

Book Analysis for the book I, Che Guevara Essay

Book Analysis for the book I, Che Guevara - Essay Example Ernesto Guevara used the word as ‘comrade’ because he was deeply influenced by principles of Marxism. He was responsible for ending rule of then ruler Batista and was commander of his guerilla warfare force. He played key roles in government where he advocated his policies designed for welfare of people. He had travelled across countries in his younger days which he chronicles in his diaries. This travel brought him closer to people, which helped him understand their problems, poverty and life. His revolution extended to Bolivia where he met his end in a military execution. His ideology, philosophy, his deep love for his country and his martyrdom has made him a hero worldwide. His life and death are viewed as an enigma and his love and selfless efforts for the betterment of his people makes him the most revered revolutionary so far. Che was executed in Bolivia in the year 1967 at the age of thirty-nine. Military officers and leaders present in Bolivia during the time rem ember him to be very intelligent, calm and charismatic although his appearance was ragged and dirty. The book ‘I, Che Guevara’ starts from the day of execution of Che. This is a history based political fiction presumes that Che was not executed on October 9th, 1967. He disappeared only to reappear as an old man who has travelled across to spread message of revolution among people. He appears in coastal villages and starts having intellectual conversations with inhabitants, eventually bringing them together to form a political party. Author John Blackthorn has successfully established the premise in the book. John Blackthorn is an alias Gary Hart took up for writing novels. Representing Democratic Party he was elected as senator. Later he was a front runner candidate for Democratic Party for presidential elections. However he had to withdraw his nomination because of his alleged extra marital affair with model Donna Rice. He withdrew from active politics only to return a s consultant on national security. He has authored and co-authored many books under his alias John Blackthorn. His active role in government when he was elected helped him considerably while writing his books. ‘I, Che Guevara’ although a political fiction, is reflection of Hart’s creativity and understanding of international affairs, which makes the book an interesting read. History does not have ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ and yet when we look back and reflect on the subject we find several dots to connect to make a complete picture. Che Guevara or Ernesto Guevara appears on the scene as Ernesto Blanco. Although he is old and white haired he still holds a charismatic personality and engaging talks. He travels throughout his country to find that there is no or minimal change in people. He hides himself from soldiers and military for a considerable time and when he realizes that people have nearly forgotten him then appears on the surface. The plot revolves around Che’s resurfacing, his bringing of people together in yet another revolution and leading people from the front. What do you think about Revolution in Cuba? I said. What revolution is that senor? They said. What revolution is that? That’s the revolution to save your skinny little ass! I said. Oh senor, they said, there is no revolution in the world that can save my skinny little ass. 1 There is an entire generation who gets inspired by Che’s fiery speeches and fights revolution shoulder to shoulder with him. However when he wants to question people about any such revolution,

Menigitis research paper Essay Example for Free

Menigitis research paper Essay Meningitis is a bacterial infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. A family who lived in Geneva, Switzerland was first diagnosed with the disease in 1805. It was not until 1866, that the disease traveled its way into the United States. Professor Anton Weichselbaum discovered the cause of cerebro-spinal meningitis illness in 1887. There are five types of meningitis: bacterial meningitis, viral meningitis, parasitic meningitis, fungal meningitis, and non-infectious meningitis. Bacterial meningitis and Viral meningitis are the two most common and serious types of meningitis. Bacteria meningitis is caused by bacteria. There are several types of pathogens that can cause bacterial meningitis: Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Listeria monocytogenes. Some of the symptoms of Bacteria meningitis are nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light, and confusion. Bacteria meningitis can be life threatening and result in the need of medical attention. It is also contagious and can be treated with antibiotics. Viral meningitis is more common, than Bacterial meningitis and is sometimes referred to as â€Å"aseptic meningitis.† Viruses, like enteroviruses and herpes simplex viruses, cause viral meningitis. Viral meningitis occurs mostly in children younger than the age of five. The most common cause of viral meningitis is enteroviruses, which is most often spread from person to person through fecal contamination. There is no specific treatment for Viral meningitis. It is just like any other virus, it runs its course for about 7 to 10 days. To prevent from getting Viral meningitis, you should wash your hands thoroughly, especially after changing diapers and using the bathroom, and avoid sharing items with sick people or when you are sick, such as eating utensils. Both bacterial and viral meningitis show similar signs and symptoms, but bacterial meningitis is more severe and fatal. There are vaccines for some of the types of bacteria that cause bacterial meningitis. There are no vaccines for the most common cause of viral meningitis, so the best way to prevent it is to not get a viral infection. Works Cited Page 1. 2.http://www.ehow.com/about_5234584_meningitis-first-discovered_.html 2. 3.http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/9276.php 3. 4.http://www.news-medical.net/health/History-of-Meningitis.aspx 4. 5.http://www.meningitis-trust.org/meningitis-info/types-and-causes/ 5. 6.http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html 6. 7.http://www.nmaus.org/meningitis/viral-or-bacterial.htm

John Quincy Adams :: Biography Biographies Essays

John Quincy Adams Hello, I'm John Quincy Adams. I grew up in Braintree, Massachusetts, and when I became an adult I traveled with my father on his diplomatic missions until I became interested in political journalism at Harvard and eventually became he sixth president of the United States. During my lifetime, from 1767 to 1848, the United States was desperately trying to make allies, as the country was in it's infancy. I followed my father's footsteps, as I was working in foreign relations before I became President. I have experienced many great events, such as when I was appointed as minister to the Netherlands, a mere three days later I witnessed the French invade the country and overthrow the Dutch Republic. This was thought of by many as an attempt for the French to show the United States how strong it was, without exerting any force on them at all. On a different occasion, when I was appointed minister to Russia, I was the leading negotiator for the Treaty of Ghent with the British, which ended the War of 1812. These negotiations gained respect for the United States and me as a diplomat. I am a likable person wherever I go. When I was a kid, our family was very closely knit, as we all helped manage the farm, except for my dad, who was usually away in foreign countries. This didn't affect me very much since I joined up with him when I was 11 on his operations after my persistent asking. As President, I worked scrupulously to work out problems and provide leadership for the country. This was acknowledged by my fellow officials in office and by the country, as I'm thought of as a person with integrity and honesty. Louisa Catherine Adams, my wife, holds a special place in my heart. She has always been trustworthy and nice. As a child she had to deal with ill health frequently, (which often recurs), and as First Lady she held brilliant parties for my Cabinet and friends. Louisa and I had four children, but sadly they all died before they could have children of their own, all for various reasons. My only real enemy to speak of is Andrew Jackson. Before my administration, Jackson and his followers accused me of promising Henry Clay a cabinet post in return for his support. After I was elected, and I appointed Clay Secretary of State, Jackson's strong followers in Congress called it a 'corrupt bargain'.

Impact of British Colonialisation on Indian Culture Essay

Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony, and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by colonizers from the metropole. Colonialism is a set of unequal relationships between the metropole and the colony and between the colonists and the indigenous population. The colonial period normally refers to the late 15th to the 20th century, when European states established colonies on other continents. During this time, the justifications for colonialism included various factors such as Christian missionary work, the profits to be made, the expansion of the power of the metropole and various religious and political beliefs. WHY COLONISE INDIA? Britain discovered the Indian sub-continent when it was looking to expand its vast empire. The East India Company was formed and came to recognize that India was a hub of trade and home to many natural resources. This situation made India an attractive colony to Britain as it seemed unquestionable that Britain would benefit from the situation. Britain did benefit from the situation; however, notwithstanding the obvious injustices associated with colonization, India also experienced positive impacts that continued even once India gained independence from Britain in 1947. It is important to note that although India gained independence all ties with the British nation were not cut. Britishers earmarked that no person in India was beggar. The country is of high wealth, high moral values, and people of caliber and thought to break the backbone of the nation i.e. cultural and spiritual heritage and therefore they proposed to replace old and ancient education system, for if the Indians thin k that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self esteem, their native culture and they will become what britishers want them, a truly dominated nation. IMPACT OF COLONIALISATION The impacts of colonization are immense and pervasive. Various effects, both immediate and protracted, include the spread of virulent diseases, the establishment of unequal social relations, exploitation, enslavement, medical advances, the creation of new institutions, and technological progress. Colonial practices also spur the spread of languages, literature and cultural institutions. The native cultures of the colonized peoples can also have a powerful influence on the imperial country. Impact of British rule in India had been widespread throughout the country and affected the cultural, technological, religious, social, political and economic state of India. India had persistently tolerated the British rule for 200 prolonged years, with their everlasting impression been forever etched upon the succeeding Indian citizens. Impact of British rule in India, in this context, is one that had perhaps emerged forth right from the 16th century, when British missionaries had sailed to easte rn soil to spread Christianity, much before the British East India Company. The negative impact of British rule in India was mostly visible in the economic aspect which occurred as a result of de-industrialization and destruction of rural economy. Initial Impact of British Rule in India British invasion on India was not the first of its kind; India has prior to British arrival, been host to pellets of ruthless foreign invasions. The British, in this regard, were the last to arrive in India. However, when it came to the power game, it undoubtedly was the British and the British East India Company, who completely captured Indian power and people. They covertly and efficiently expanded their empire with the competent aid of Indian soldiers. Indians had joined the East India Company army solely for the reason that they received salary on the first day of every month, very much unlike the Indian emperors and their system of reign. As such, impact of British rule in India already had begun to do its work, with the very first Christian missionaries arriving to India, with the intention to turn a majority of population into Christians. They tried to cast Christianity in the light of a better religion and with economic inducements convinced the poor Indians into Christianity . POSITIVE IMPACT 1. Modernization and industrialization During British occupation, India was modernized and industrialized. British industrialists invested huge amounts of capital in the region. The British East India Company built the world’s third-largest railroad network, which connected regions and enabled the country to develop a modern economy. Western culture also improved Indian culture with the development of a road network, telephone and telegraph lines, many dams and bridges and irrigation canals. During British occupation, these developed systems of transportation and communication benefited the British, rather than Indians. But they were put in place for Indian culture to take advantage of when the country finally achieved its independence. 2. Education Indian culture benefited from Western culture in the area of education. During British occupation, many schools and colleges were built throughout India. Literacy increased and, for the first time, the poorest classes of society had access to knowledge. 3. Employment The presence of Western traders in India increased the demand for goods and services in India. As a result of the British living in India, Indian artisans, weavers and craftsmen were steadily employed. Although they were deprived of the full profits of their labors, these artisans and craftsman grew in numbers, and the Indian labor force became more skilled and handy. By the time the British left the subcontinent, a greater percentage of Indians had acquired skills to make a living. 4. Establishment of churches gave importance to port cities The very foremost impact of British rule on India was the religious impact, as was established by the missionaries and their establishment of churches in every possible corner of the country. In this regard, the port cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai gained enough importance, due to their accessibility for navigational purposes. They were later turned into the 3 cardinal presidency towns. The keen attempt of British Christians to turn several bunches of Indians into a complete unfamiliar religion was successful, though only in parts. Some had gladly accepted it, in fear of inviting the rage of the company, while others had turned hostile, in turn giving rise to collisions and difference of opinion. 5. Socio-Cultural Impact of British Rule in India The socio-cultural impact of British rule upon India was also another intense impression that had lasted throughout their rule, never for once losing their significant status. From every field of living, be it in education, art, architecture, painting, literature, poetry, drama, novels or even Indian religion and philosophy, the whole Indian set-up had suffered a gradual change. The conventional and simple society, prevalent in India, respected and dreaded the British rulers. British aristocrats travelled throughout India in separate â€Å"Europeans Only† First-Class Railway Carriages. They had for themselves separate waiting rooms in most of the major railway stations. They also came to set up elite schools for their children. In most of the theatre halls, the balcony was earmarked for the whites and the local maharaja. Their significant passionate pastime, during late 19th and early 20th centuries, appeared to be hunting animals and birds in Indian jungles. As such, the popu lation of tigers, lions and elephants slumped down because of indiscriminate hunting. 6. Creating Unity One of the first impacts that colonisation had in India was the development of unity. When Britain first acquired India as a colony the country was divided. The British imposed system impacted India by bringing more equality to the country as the caste system which outlined social hierarchy was adapted. It is also significant that Britain accepted all of the religions of India which also allowed unity to prosper. 7. Leading Towards Democracy India has also experienced positive impacts from the institution established and then left behind by the colonizers. The institutions established by the British Raj and then inherited by India helped lead to democracy in modern day India. The assistance of these institutions assisted India in becoming the world’s largest democracy today. It is also of note that Britain first introduced India to early capitalism through colonization. Britain transformed India into an agricultural based capitalist economy and established forms of private ownership. These actions led India into creating free trade and competitive business. 8. Sports Another positive impact of colonisation can be seen in sport in India. During the colonial period Britain brought the sport of cricket to India. Cricket today brings enthusiasm to millions of Indians and is celebrated around the country. India as a nation has also emerged as a prominent team in cricket tournaments as India has successfully beaten many other countries. Cricket also serves to connect much of the Indian population as the sport is celebrated nationally. 9. Setting up of railways The British had introduced the system of Railways in a chain method, with the whole of the country staying witness to placing of railways tracks, railway platforms and railway carriages. Indeed India railways, postal services, legal and judicial systems and other government-based services have all been derived primarily from the British administration. British rule virtually had helped unify India, which till then was quite fragmentary. The in-built inferiority complex was the characteristic trademark of the mass of the native population, till Mahatma Gandhi. 10. Introduction of English language Introduction of English language which was infact intended to create a class of people appreciative of English culture and life style indirectly helped Indians to acquire a link language. Although introduction of helped in developing an efficient bureaucracy for the british government, it gave Indians an opportunity to know western concept of rights and freedom and the extent of discrimination practiced against them by British. Exchange of ideas among Indians speaking variety of languages became possible. 11. Other positive effects * Stamping out of infanticide * Stamping out of ritual burning of widows (Sati) * Abolishment of slavery * Elimination of dacoits from highways * Legalization of remarriage of widows * Introduction of penal code for equality NEGATIVE IMPACT 1. Development of constitution Development of our constitutional framework is to a great extent based on the legacies of the British colonial rule. Our constitution was formed in protest to britishers because at that time India was under the slavery of British raj otherwise the picture of our constitution would have been different. 2. Slaves and indentured servants The labour shortage that resulted inspired European colonizers to develop a new source of labour, using a system of indentured servitude. Indentured servants consented to a contract with the European colonizers. Under their contract, the servant would work for an employer for a term of at least a year, while the employer agreed to pay for the servant’s voyage to the colony, possibly pay for the return to the country of origin, and pay the employee a wage as well. The employee was â€Å"indentured† to the employer because they owed a debt back to the employer for their travel expense to the colony, which they were expected to pay through their wages. In practice, indentured servants were exploited through terrible working conditions and burdensome debts created by the employers, with whom the servants had no means of negotiating the debt once they arrived in the colony. 3. Impact on health Encounters between explorers and populations in the rest of the world often introduced new diseases, which sometimes caused local epidemics of extraordinary virulence. For example, smallpox, measles, malaria, yellow fever, and others were unknown in pre-Columbian America. 4. Economic Impact of British Rule in India Impact of British rule in India however was not restricted only to these spheres; the economic impact was yet another domain which practically had drained out the native populace, creating a forever draught in 1947. The chief aim of these settlers was to make India an agrarian country that would supply an industrialised England. As such, the Indian farmers suffered with their land revenue, most of which were ruthlessly being seized by the hyperbolic Zamindar class. Each passing year further tightened the economy, making Indians go insane to the nerve; Indian local-manufactured products were sold in tremendously cheap rates in Britain, making the native money-making policy even harder. The world-over societal degradation also had spilled in India, like the World War I or the Great Depression of the 1930s. The situation had become so very dreadful that there could not be found any out of such an entangled mess. 5. Constructive Impact of British Rule in India Amidst all these alarming states and conditions, the imperial rule were compassionate enough to introduce European education in India. This ground-breaking impact of British rule in India truly has benefited India in the long run, carving out a prestigious position of India in the world map. Knowledge of English was essential to earn a job in the British bureaucracy, in the British trading firms and of course in the British Army in the officer level. Many dignified concepts like parliamentary democracy, the European scientific ideas, industrialization and liberal human philosophy permeated into the Indian brain. 6. Resource Drain One of the primary goals of colonialism was the establishment of a resource-generating system through which natural resources from colonized regions were gathered and traded by the colonizing nation. This process reduced the availability of natural resources in the colonized nations, leading to times of hunger, poverty and need. Some colonies were heavily farmed, with food stores shipped to feed populations elsewhere while locals survived on less. Further, this created a system where a colonized country could be farmed for its natural wealth, but receive no monetary benefits. 7. Dismissal of Hinduism Religion provided the needed rationale for this cruel plunder. All native Hindus were dismissed as heathens or pagans ‘ despicable creatures who don’t have to be treated like human beings till they take their fateful decision to embrace Christianity. According to the missionaries who came to India to play second fiddle to the British Imperial rulers, Christianity was the only true religion. Jesus Christ was the only true God. All other religions like Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and many other traditional faiths and religions in India had to be eliminated to save the souls of India and Indians. All facets and all aspects of Hindu religion and Hindu society were dismissed as idolatry and superstition, in order to advance the noble Christian pursuit of salvation for the barbarous heathens of India. Along with Christian religion came the rest of British or Western culture, thought and customs and the gradual end of traditional ways of life. Thus our traditional rel igions and cultures were gradually subverted or eliminated. CONCLUSION Today India is the largest provider of services in the world in large part due to colonisation; however, it is uncertain if without colonisation this would be possible. The Indian population is able to compete in the service sector due to the positive impact of the English language being left behind post British rule. When colonisation was occurring in India schools were established which taught and offered instruction in English. It is also of note that the East India Company had a positive impact by establishing some services such as rail throughout the country. The British rule introduced the railways, the press, and the western system of education, clubs and associations all of which shook the prevalent socio-economic order. But the processes of exploitation unleashed by them destroyed the possibilities of development of industries and a modern economic system in India. The British rule rather systematically destroyed the native industries of India for the benefit of the industries in Britain and their market in India. Even though it sought to tie down the people it ruled to colonial backwardness, it released new historical forces within the Indian fold by throwing the traditional economic system and socio-cultural order out of gear. It gave birth to the desire of material advancement and better amenities and living conditions of individuals. Also it gave birth to a spirit of inquiry in the minds of Indian intellectuals who came in contact with western education. Both the social reformists and the conservatives took a fresh and critical look at their own society and culture as a reaction to western interpretation of the same. REFERENCES: * Positive & Negative Effects of Colonialism | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8505011_positive-negative-effects-colonialism.html#ixzz1pZTzR700 * nos.org/317courseE/L-35%20COLONIALISM%20IN%20INDIA.pdfSimilar * www.kwintessential.co.uk/†¦/india/†¦Impact-of-Colonisation-in-India/†¦Cached * en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_colonialism * Government of India, Report of the Education Commission 1964-66, Delhi, 1966. * D. Warriner, Land Reform in Principle and Practice, Oxford University Press, 1969 * Maddison, â€Å"The Historical Origins of Indian Poverty†

Traditions and Beliefs

A  tradition  is a practice, custom, or  story  that is memorized and passed down from generation to generation, originally without the need for a  writing system. Traditions are often presumed to be  ancient, unalterable, and deeply important, though they may sometimes be much less â€Å"natural† than is presumed. Some traditions were deliberately invented for one reason or another, often to highlight or enhance the importance of a certain institution. Traditions may also be changed to suit the needs of the day, and the changes can become accepted as a part of the ancient tradition. Folk Beliefs, otherwise known as â€Å"Superstitious Beliefs†, forms part of a people's value systems and culture. They basically reflect the customs, traditions, and mores of a group, which has been based on religious beliefs, opinions, or popular old practices. Also they tell of how a people view the unknown and the Means to appease the gods that control the future. Filipinos still adhere to numerous widely-held folk beliefs that have no scientific or logical basis but maybe backed-up by some past experiences (yet can be dismissed as mere coincidence). Some are still practiced to this day primarily because of ‘there's nothing to lose if we comply' attitude while the others are totally ignored for it seemed downright ridiculous. A number of Filipinos have Folk Beliefs about life, family, luck, wealth, etc. Some of which were presented by the four groups last Monday, April 26, 2010. I have noticed that almost all groups presented folk beliefs about courtship and marriage. Courtship is one that is still being practiced among the strictest of the Filipino families. This is performed by the male (who is the suitor since it is wrong to do it the opposite way) visiting the home of the female. In the olden days, courtship doesn't start until the male suitor had obtained permission from the parents. This was done with the male suitor being accompanied by another respectable elder and approaching either the father or the mother of the female and obtaining permissions days in advanced to visit at a particular day and time. Nowadays this form of getting the parent's permission is still being practiced in the provinces, however, due to western influences, there are ome variations more adaptable to the modern times. One alternative is to make a phone call, asking for the parents' or guardian's permission through an elder to schedule a visit. Another way is for the suitor to approach the parents in a public place, and informally asking for permission to visit. Either way, it is to show proper respect to ask for permission prior to the formal visit. Proper ly greeting the parents by placing the back of the right hand of the parents to the suitor's forehead is practiced to show respect. This is called pagmamano in Tagalog. When the permission has been granted, the suitor whether accompanied by a friend or an elder will visit the girl's home and offers gifts. Gift bags or boxes of goodies or Filipino snacks purchased from a local store and flowers are generally given. The snacks or other goods are offered to the family of the girl then the flowers and special sweets (like chocolate or candies) are given to the girl. In a strict Filipino home, during courtship, the parents are present during the first visit. This is the opportunity to get to know each other. This is sometimes called courting the parents first and winning their hearts and approval then letting the boy or suitor court the girl. Subsequent visits are then scheduled if all went well during the first visit and, depending on how long the courtship will last; the answer is given by the girl with the parents' knowledge as well. After the courtship stage and the girl decides that she also would like to take the suitor's offer of love and commitment, then the girl will give the favorable answer to the suitor. At times it takes months before the answer is given. In the olden days, strict parents would sometimes give a series of tests, having the suitor do some chores like fetching some water from the well, cutting firewood to be used for cooking dinner, helping the father of the girl do some yard or farm work. Nowadays, a more modern approach is being performed by the suitor whereby he offers gentlemanly help to the parents, sometimes carrying groceries as he sees them walking down the streets, offering them a ride if he happens to be driving their way, doing other favors that can help win their favor and better his chances of getting the girl's love as well. After the girl announces to the parents that she is ready to be engaged the parents would be around to congratulate the suitor. From then on, the suitor is treated like a member of the family. Sometimes, even before marriage, the suitor is introduced to the friends and relatives of the girl's immediate family as future part of the family or future son-in-law. Engagements may take longer than a year, and then the date shall be set for marriage. During the waiting period they are free to go on dates, at times with a chaperone. Nowadays, after the first few chaperoned dates they can date on their own, especially those who live in the cities where it is not as strict as in the rural areas of the country. When the two decides that they are ready to get married, then the pamamanhikan (official request of the male and his parents or guardians for the girl's hand in marriage) begins. This is usually done in the evening after dinner. Then, if the parents of the girl agree, they will give them their blessings and set the date of the wedding. The engagement sometimes last from several months to a couple of years due to extensive preparations. The majority of Filipino weddings are now Catholic weddings, but some native traditions remain. Most have special â€Å"sponsors† who act as witnesses to the marriage. The principal sponsors could be godparents, counselors, a favorite uncle and aunt, even a parent. Secondary sponsors handle special parts of the ceremony, such as the candle, cord and veil ceremonies. Candle sponsors light two candles, which the bride and groom use to light a single candle to symbolize the joining of the two families and to invoke the light of Christ in their married life. Veil sponsors place a white veil over the bride's head and the groom's shoulders, a symbol of two people clothed as one. Cord sponsors drape the yugal (a decorative silk cord) in a figure-eight shape–to symbolize everlasting fidelity–over the shoulders of the bride and groom. The groom gives the bride 13 coins, or arrhae, blessed by the priest, as a sign of his dedication to his wife's well-being and the welfare of their future children. The four groups, as far as I can remember, presented more beliefs and traditions about death, marriage, life and luck. These were: †¢ The table should not be cleared while an unmarried woman is still eating because she might end up an old maid. †¢ Do not sweep your floor at night or else you are sweeping your luck out of the house. †¢ If one cuts his fingernails at night, a member of the family will die. †¢ One must not organize teams of 3 or 13, otherwise one member will die. †¢ Eating Pancit on their birthday will enable them to live longer. †¢ The use of the word â€Å"Po† or â€Å"Opo† means â€Å"Yes† in a very polite manner. It is usually said by a young person to an elder. Holding a family reunion to celebrate a birthday in the family, fiestas, for Christmas or New Year's Celebration. †¢ One must be able to have â€Å"handa† during feast days. The first belief tells me that when you clear the table while an unmarried woman is still eating, that woman will stay single all her life. I still don’t believe in such belief because I have met and seen single women getting married even if this clearing of tables while they ate happened to them. This is also my very first time to hear such belief. The second belief is one I heard when I was still very young. I was at my grandfather’s house at Negros Oriental one summer. One night, there housemaid swept the floor and was scolded by my grandfather’s sister for doing such act. I wondered why and so I asked my parents about it. They, too, didn’t know why sweeping floors during night was not allowed. Now, I know why. I still don’t believe in such belief although luck in that house has gone in and out. I believe it’s just coincidental when someone sweeps during the night and then you become very unlucky in the future. The third belief is somehow coincidental for me when you cut your fingernails and someone in your family dies. I have also tried a lot of times already cutting my nails at night and I have also tried losing a member of my family already but I don’t think it was because of what I did. I don’t see any connection between cutting fingernails during the night and death. With the fourth belief, I have heard this since I was in my grade school years. I still hear such until now. I usually go around with two of my very close friends. We always take pictures of ourselves yet not one of us has died, fortunately. I was told that whoever is in the middle will die first. It sounds pretty scary at first especially when I was still very young and innocent. However, as I grew up and hear such, it becomes lame to me and somehow funny because I have had lots of experience already with having two friends with me. The group presented this by three people who was about to take a picture of themselves and then their friend told them they shouldn’t be three otherwise the one in the middle will die. And so they invited more people to join them so they wouldn’t be three. The fifth belief tells me that eating Pancit will make your life longer. I always hear such especially during festivities and celebrations. On birthday celebrations, there is always pancit on the table because it is said that this will make you live longer on earth. They always say â€Å"pansit, pampahaba ng buhay†. I’m pretty sure it is such because pancit is long. We don’t usually practice such tradition in our family. The sixth belief shows respect to the older people when you say Opo or Po. It is our tradition to say such. We also â€Å"mano† or kiss the right hand of an older person when we greet them. Actually, you don't really kiss that hand. You just bow a bit, and gently take the older person's right hand with your right hand, and move it towards your own forehead. Sometimes, it's the back of their hand that touches your forehead. In our family, we practice such tradition as a sign of respect. When we got to our province in Negros and get to meet with the very many relatives of ours, we â€Å"mano† every older relative. Other relatives of ours especially my aunts and uncles who are in their late 20’s and early 30’s wont let us â€Å"mano† them because they don’t want to be â€Å"old†. The seventh and eight traditions have been practiced for years by almost all Filipinos. These happenings bring family members together especially those who are living away or are working in different places and rarely have the chance or time to come home. The presence of family visitors and reuniting members delight the other members of the family, aside from stories and gossips to tell. And, if a visitor is a foreigner or a relative who comes from abroad, the family is very proud especially when the neighbors are around, and offers everything just to please the visitor. Once the visitor is gone, the family will either praise or mock the visitor. It’s mostly not the presence but the presents. We always celebrate feast days by having handa and inviting people to eat inside the house. In our family, we do the same during our village’s fiesta. We invite friends, relatives and neighbors to dine and celebrate with us. Such tradition brings families and friends closer and patches up the times you missed together. With the very many traditions and beliefs of the Filipinos, I can say we only practice a few. Our family is not the type who believes in such beliefs. We only practice those traditions that are very common like celebrating festivities and occasions and giving of gifts during special days. I don’t believe in these beliefs because they sound ridiculous for me but I respect them and the people who believe in them. We were not raised believing in folk beliefs because they are mere stories and doesn’t have any connection with the real world. Sometimes, I wonder why people have made so many beliefs. Is it their way of scaring people especially beliefs about death and misfortune? I believe it is only you who can bring luck to yourself and it is not harmful to believe and practice such beliefs and traditions. I just learned that folk beliefs are not real and not practical and one’s life must not always work around with beliefs.