East Asia Past and Present Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

East Asia Past and Present - Essay Example Similarly, historical assessment and analysis from the perspective of a specific nation requires recognizing major events which occurred in the country’s history. Therefore, by identifying the key historical events which occurred in Japan between the period of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, this paper highlights how these events contributed to the challenges posed by the modern Western world in order to examine the mechanism through which Japan responded to these challenges and why it chose to do so. The challenges posed by the modern Western world during the period of the late 19th century while, progressing towards the 20th century was characterized by the acquisition of superior military prowess and alliance. The influence of this factor meant that the political scenario during the period was dominated by Western powers. This aspect of the analysis aims to incorporate the political and militia factors which contributed towards the shaping of world affairs during the time and the manner in which they posed challenges. Most importantly, during the early 20th century Japan combated against Russia in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. The implications of this war transpired in a positive fashion for Japan as it military skills and techniques enabled the country to hold a superior position amongst Asian nations. Similarly, Holcombe states that Japan’s military prowess intriguingly did not coincide with widespread economic or technological progress, for example, the nation was only able to initiate significant infrastructure developments in 1872 with the launch of the railways yet, the military strength of the country was rising despite of these claims (227). In the period between 1880 and 1905, Japan achieved three critical military milestones, the production of locally produced rifles in 1880, becoming a

HUM 102 Week 1 Individual Assignment Humanities Today Paper Essay Example for Free

HUM 102 Week 1 Individual Assignment Humanities Today Paper Essay When learning about people and their cultures, it becomes inevitably to recognize how people are the result of their traditions, their stories, their ideas, and their words. It also becomes necessarily to learn about how people from past generations created the world they lived in and how this world made them the way they were. Learning about humanities is more than studying about past cultures. Each generation leaves a creative legacy, the sum of its ideas and achievements. This legacy represents the response to the effort to ensure individual and collective survival, the need to establish ways of  living in harmony with others, and the desire to understand everyone’s place in the universe (Fiero, 2011). The study of Humanities is the study of the people and how they learn and documented their human experiences through art, music, architecture, philosophy, and literature. Defining Humanities â€Å"The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences† (University of South Florida, 2014). The primary definition of the singular form â€Å"humanity† refers to being â€Å"humane† that  means civilized and well-educated. Humane people recognize and practice concepts like â€Å"hospitality† and â€Å"justice†, even though its definition may vary in different places. The word â€Å"humanity† also refers to the â€Å"human race†. Using the word â€Å"humanities† it usually refers to the field of study within university settings, a group of subjects scholars study, discuss and debate including history, music, art, languages, philosophy, religion, and literature. (Behling, 2012) There are qualities that distinguish the humanities from other modes of human inquiry and expression. The humanities engage in critical evaluation of visual, literary, communication and performing arts. In other words, the humanities critically analyze the human experiences HUMANITIES TODAY 3 across cultures that engage all modes of understanding such as intellectual, imaginative, and emotional. The study of humanities goes beyond just practicing the arts. It is the intense analysis of the art and its outcomes as well as how the imagination, emotions, and uncertainty affect the human being. The humanities explore the relationship between the insubstantial and hidden meanings. It provides expression to all forms of human experience using all modes of understanding. The humanities capture the idea that is not just to study the arts but to engage with other modes of understanding including rational, intellectual, and critical mode as learned from social sciences. The humanities understand the role of individuals in exploring the human conditions. It reflects on the form and the content of all modes of expression including language, visual, auditory, or tactile. The study of humanities attends to the aspects of human experience that cannot be measured. For instance, when learning a new language. The humanities recognize the general patterns of literature, linguistic, visual and performing arts throughout history. It also constructs and evaluates oral and written discussions in a logical form. The Current Developments in Politics, Socioeconomics, and Technology The arts, music, architecture, philosophy, and literature, are some of the disciplines of the humanities. These disciplines offer models and methods for addressing dilemmas and acknowledging ambiguity. They can help individuals face the tension between their concerns; promote informed discussions of conflicts; and place current issues in historical perspective. These disciplines of humanity give voice and artistic shape to experience, balancing passion and rationality while exploring issues of morality and value. The study of humanities provides the HUMANITIES TODAY 4 scenario in which expressions, interpretations, and experiences can be recognized in areas explored by shared interests (The Ohio Humanities Council, 2015). The visual arts employ a wide variety of media, ranging from traditional colors used in painting, to wood, clay, marble, plastic and neon used in sculptures, to digital media, including photography and film. The form of the art work depends on the manner in which the artist manipulates the elements of color, line, texture, and space. Artists manipulate form to describe the visible world or to create worlds of fantasy. (Fiero, 2011) There is a strong relationship between the arts and politics. In response to current political events within society, the arts may adopt certain social dimensions focusing on the controversy and on inspiring social changes. For instance, Alexander Pushkin, (who died in 1837 at the age of 37), was a famous Russian writer who used his talent to irritate Russian officials by  composing extremely arrogant and independent material which made fun of major and minor dictators (Wikipedia, 2015). The Arts are a form of expression used to manifest all types of emotions – in earlier and current times. It is a talent inspired by the free spirit of those with the capacity to express it. The major elements of music are melody, rhythm, and harmony. However, while literary and visual texts are usually descriptive, music is almost nonrepresentational: it rarely has meaning beyond sound itself. Dance is the art form made by the human body as a way of expression and performance oriented. (Fiero, 2011) Information collected by the Department of Education of the United States revealed that students involved in band or orchestra during their middle and high school years demonstrated to have higher levels of math proficiency by grade twelve. This data also showed that students who participate in school band have the lowest levels of current and lifelong use of alcohol, tobacco, HUMANITIES TODAY 5 and illicit drugs when compared to other groups within society. (Music Empowers Foundation, 2015) The architecture and its planning are fundamentally based in society. The built  environment affects the everyday actions of the people and their understanding of cultural values, social relations, institutions, and distributions of power. The failure of architects and planners to learn from the stories that are part of the people’s lives and to actually link the community values in their work is at the core of many urban dysfunctions present in current times. (Bartholomew Locher, 2007) In terms of philosophy, the search for the truth through reasoned analysis, and history make use of prose to analyze and communicate ideas and information. In terms of literature,  content and form are usually interrelated. The subject manner or form of a literary piece determines its genre. For instance, a long narrative poem that recounts the adventures of a hero constitutes an epic while a formal speech in praise of a person or thing constitutes a tribute. (Fiero, 2011) Conclusion The humanities today gives you the capacity to interpret ideas, a greater creativity, the ability to analyze things from different perspectives, the development of a richer understanding of other people’s feelings and experiences as well as human nature, the ability to listen and think,  and how to engage with expressing oneself. HUMANITIES TODAY 6 References Bartholomew, K. Locher, M. , University of Utah (2007). People Place: Humanities-based Pedagogy in Architecture and Planning. Retrieved from http://faculty. arch. utah. edu/bartholomew/Bartholomew_Locher. pdf Behling, D. , Huffington Post (2012). On Studying the Humanities: What Does it Mean to be Human? Retrieved from http://www. huffingtonpost. com/david-behling/humanities- majors_b_1569600. html? Fiero, G. , (2011). The Humanistic Tradition, Book 3: The European Renaissance, The Reformation, and The Global Encounter. McGraw-Hill, New York, NY. Music Empowers Foundation (2015). Why Music? Retrieved from http://musicempowersfoundation. org/why-music The Ohio Humanities Council (2015). What Are The Humanities? Retrieved from http://www. units. miamioh. edu/technologyandhumanities/humanitiesdefinition. htm University of South Florida. College of Arts and Sciences (2014). What is Humanities? Retrieved from http://humanities. usf. edu/undergraduate/ba/ Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia (2015). The Arts and Politics. Retrieved from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/The_arts_and_politics.

Greenspan: The Man Behind Money Essay -- Essays Paapers

Greenspan: The Man Behind Money In Justin Martin's book Greenspan: The Man Behind Money, the life of Dr. Alan Greenspan, a man whose expertise in economics has dramatically influenced the state of the U.S. economy, is told from a historical perspective and in a semi-chronological order. Alan Greenspan grew up in New York City's Manhattan. After his parents divorced he went to live with his mother and her parents. Greenspan's father rarely visited, yet when he did, Greenspan was extremely happy. This detail struck an emotional cord in that it was evident Greenspan strived to succeed not only for himself but also for the approval of his father. Greenspan's father was a NY Stock Broker and published a book entitled, Recovery Ahead, a book about President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal and the state of the economy. The book had the following inscription: "May this my initial effort with a constant thought of you branch into an endless chain of similar efforts so that at your maturity you may look back and endeavor to interpret the reasoning behind these logical forecasts and begin a like work of your own. Your Dad." (4) This would eventually become Greenspan's mission in life. Although he saw his father few times during his adult life, his father surely new of his son 's success through all of the media attention Greenspan received over the years. Greenspan was influenced by his mother, books, and by mentors in his life. While in attendance at Columbia University, Greenspan took a seminar on business cycles, taught by Arthur Burns. On the first day of class, Professor Burns asked the following question, "What causes inflation?" then said, "Excess government spending causes inflation." Greenspan having read John Maynard Keyne... ...strife of the poor was received with boo's and anger. He quickly realized the insensitivity of what he had said and apologized. The book mentions that from his educational background, work experience, and his time at his Economic firm Alan Greenspan was destined to become Chair of the federal reserve, but regardless of the career he had chosen, it seems that Greenspan was destined to succeed-period. After reading this book, I am not only thoroughly impressed by Chairman Greenspan, but I also understand Economics from a historical standpoint and its affect on my life-past, present, and future. Justin Martin went to great lengths to, in detail, explain the principles behind economics in such a way that made it easy to understand and enjoyable to read. Works Cited Martin, Justin. Greenspan: The Man Behind Money. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Perseus Publishing, 2000.

Explication of Phllip Larkin’s “Cut Grass” Essay

In Cut Grass, Philip Larkin uses onomatopoeia, color and flower symbolism, and punctuation to show that death is inevitable, and is unaware of specific circumstances. By contrasting the cut grass with the typically vibrant, lively month of June, Larkin shows the harsh nature of death, and its disregard towards its surroundings, while simultaneously providing a sense of hope once death does arrive. In the first stanza, Larkin uses onomatopoeia to create a vivid image of mown grass. The sharp sounds of â€Å"cut grass† imply fierceness, while the next phrase â€Å"lies frail,† is reminiscent of helplessness and weakness. He continues to parallel sounds by using phrases such as â€Å"brief is the breath,† and â€Å"exhale,† whose sounds resemble their respective actions. Through his use of onomatopoeia, Larkin connects the reader to the grass, and thus evokes sympathy. While the reader is sensitive towards the death, it nonetheless continues, regardless of the liveliness of â€Å"young-leafed June.† Larkin also contrasts the â€Å"brief breath† with â€Å"long death† to show that life is relatively brief when compared to the eternity of death. He makes the majority of the poem, in describing death, one sentence, from â€Å"long, long†¦Ã¢â‚¬  until the end, in order to illustrate the prolonged and slow dying. He describes the death â€Å"at summer’s pace;† a lazy and dawdling movement that disregards its blooming surroundings. He shows that death is unavoidable, and is continually occurring, even at supposed joyful moments. However, Larkin also ends the poem with movement, to show that death, although inevitable, is not necessarily final, and that there is potential for an afterlife. The repeated reference to white also serves to show the two sides of death; while it is pure and innocent, it is also melancholy. By personifying death, Larkin shows that though one can evaluate death from different perspectives, it inevitably returns to the unfair and merciless nature of death. He also mentions â€Å"chestnut flowers,† â€Å"white lilac,† and â€Å"Queen Anne’s lace,† three white flowers, to represent the two sides of death. Larkin personifies the white lilacs, which are typically symbolic or youthful frankness, to bow to death to show that death is unyielding to its subordinate, youth. However  Ã¢â‚¬Å"white hours,† â€Å"and chestnut flowers† serve to depict a luxurious, pleasant atmosphere, which also describes death. Thus, Larkin shows a glimmer of hope for a future after death, and allows the reader relief and relaxation when approaching death. In using the symbolism of white and flowers, onomatopoeia, and relevant punctuation, Larkin is able to portray death as both eternal and hopeful, and to restore a sense of relief around death’s depressing nature.

Yoko ono louisiana

She was also married to John Lennon until he passed away! As her 80th birthday approached this year, she presented her most diverse and extensive range of oeuvres including 200 objects, films, music, photographs, poems, etc. at at Louisiana. Her works are not only within art, but also performance, music, peace and feminist movements – she's equally talented in all of them. The exhibition, which is the greatest one she has ever had in Europe up until now ncluded some of her most recent works as well as some of her earliest ones.It reflected how important her oeuvres have been to the development of contemporary art on a global scale. The essential elements of her oeuvres are not only objects but also ideas that she transmits through verbal instructions. Consequently she builds an interesting relationship with her viewers. She is the initiator and gives viewers an active role inviting them to use these instructions to interact in the creative process of her works if they are perf ormable, or gives them food for thought if they are utopian.The thematic range of these ideas is enormous as they can be poetic, crazy, clever, social criticisms and involve subtle sense of humour. At Louisiana she invited her visitors to â€Å"Watch the sun until it becomes square† and create a painting on a transparent plastic surface using water drops and a sponge. She also invites everyone to write a wish and hang it on the â€Å"Wish Tree† – Everyone's wishes will be collected and sent to her â€Å"Imagine Peace Tower† in Reykjavik where millions of wishes from across the world are saved.I must admit some of her works almost provoked reactions such as â€Å"Is she serious? † and â€Å"This is a Joke† sometimes – but art is art, and often comes in rather rare forms that play with our minds. She is unique in her own ways and her works are strongly One area played her music ranging back to songs, videos, concert recordings and poste rs from when she first met Lennon until her last remix album mies, I'm a Witch† released in 2007 – I find it quite astonishing that she is as active as she is considering her age – Good Asian genetics I guess.Yoko mentions herself that exhibiting at Louisiana was a must in life to consider herself a â€Å"made† artist, which is one of the main reasons her exhibition here was so unique and special. One of her major architectural installations â€Å"En Trance† was there, which hadn't been seen for years. It consists of a wall with six different entrance options that lead to different experiences such as crawling under/through different structures, seeing yourself hundreds of times in a mirror and even watching a woman fall quite ridiculously while attempting to get through one of the entrances.

Behind Bars essays

Behind Bars essays Capital punishment, better known as the death penalty, is a sentence for many of today ¡s murderers. The death penalty is the most effective way to punish a murderer spite the contradictions of life without parole. The death penalty also is fairer to the victims and their families. It is sometimes less expensive, and does not give the killer a second chance to be back out on the streets. To dispute contrary belief, there is not a very big risk of wrongful death. On the down side there are also morality and Christianity factor involved with the penalty. The death penalty is fairer to the victim and the families of the victim. In a homicide the right to live has been taken away by the murderer. No victim has ever said,  ¡kill me I want to die. ¡ Therefore, it is only proper and fair to the killer to have his life taken away also. Morality also plays a big part in the right of a murderer. Morality is defined as the principles of right and wrong. As human beings, we deserve the right praise of the good deeds accomplished and punishment for the wrong doings. Punishment can range from being yelled at to the death penalty depending on the seriousness of the crime. In the United States if one is sentenced to murder, he or she is actually getting off lighter than in other countries. There are five methods of execution used in the United States: lethal injection, electrocution, lethal gas, hanging, and the use of a firing squad. Lethal injection is when a criminal is given a lethal dose of an anesthetic. During this process the victim dies of respiratory and cardiac arrest while he or she is asleep.  ¡The second method used is electrocution. There is an initial blast of 2,300 volts lasting for eight seconds. Followed by a low-voltage jolt of 1000 volts for twenty-two seconds and finally a jolt of 2,300 volts for eight seconds. The murderer is diagnosed unconscious immediately, or within the first eight s...

Satis House Essays

Satis House Essays Satis House Essay Satis House Essay Pip first goes to see Miss Havisham when he is called by her to go and play at Satis House. He had heard of Miss Havisham before up in town, as an immensely rich and grim lady who lived in a large and dismal house. As Pip enters the house for the first time the size of the house becomes apparent to the reader but also the fact that it has no heart. As Pip meets Miss Havisham for the first time, he describes her as the strangest lady I have ever seen, or shall ever see. It is also evident to Pip that she is very wealthy and is described as wearing rich materials-satins; he is also aware of the fact that everything she is wearing is white but has become a faded yellow: But I saw everything within my view which ought to be white long ago, and had lost its lustre, and was faded and yellow. The extraordinary state of her clothing also says a great deal about her state of mind. Pip is terrified by her peculiarity and appearance and describes her as like wax work and a skeleton and corpse like. These are horrific images for a young child and would be very intimidating for an adult let alone a young child: I should have cried out if I could. This frightening a scary image of Miss Havisham has an even stronger influence on Pip by the fact he is a boy made sensitive by Mrs Joe. On Pips second visit to Satis House, Miss Havishams relations are at the house as it is her birthday, trying to secure some of Miss Havishams money. She uses Pip to spite them by making them think that Pip will get all her money. This shows her cynical attitude as she enjoys infuriating her relatives. On his second visit to the house Pip and Estella play cards for Miss Havishams entertainment but she gains more pleasure by drawing Pips attention to Estellas beauty and she encourages him to admire Estellas splendour. Miss Havisham watched us all the time, directed my attention to Estellas beauty, and made me notice it the more by trying her jewels on Estellas breast and hair. This is Miss Havishams cruel and heartless way to gain revenge on all men with Estella. Miss Havisham has expectations for Estella to break all mens hearts as Compeyson broke her own heart. This is the reason she uses Pip for practice for Estella when she is older, to hurt and break the hearts of men. She encourages Pip and makes him believe Estella is intended for him. This is her main influence on him; she makes Pip believe Estella is intended for him and that she is Pips benefactor. Miss Havisham would often ask me in a whisper, or when we were alone, Does she grow prettier and prettier Pip? This is an example of Miss Havisham constantly developing the thought in Pips mind that Estella is intended for Pip. She points out Estellas outstanding beauty to Pip, constantly nurturing his growing love for her. Estella is Miss Havishams weapon against men: Break their hearts, my pride and hope, break their hearts and have no mercy. This is what she is using Pip for. As Pip falls deeper in love with Estella the more he becomes a victim to Miss Havisham and her cynical plan to hurt men through Estella. Miss Havisham debatably has the largest influence over Pip than any of the four women in the novel. This is because of one reason; this is because of one reason. She makes Pip unhappy with whom he is. Now, it was coarse and common, and I would not have Miss Havisham and Estella see it on any account. Although it is Estella who makes Pip unhappy about his social class and background and the prospect of him being a blacksmith and makes him want to be something he is not it is Miss Havisham who makes Estella treat Pip in this appalling manner. I felt more than ever dissatisfied with my home and with my trade and with everything; and that was all I took by that motion. Miss Havisham frequently throughout the novel plays up to Pip that she is his benefactor one example of this is when Pip is in preparation to leave for London and he visits Miss Havisham to tell her the good news. His visit coincides with the visit of Miss Havishams relatives. She makes Sarah Pocket remain in the room while Pip and Miss Havisham talk about London and Miss Havisham encourages Pip to believe she is his benefactor to spite Sarah and her relatives She quite gloated on these questions and answers, so keen was her enjoyment of Sarah Pockets jealous dismay. So this makes Pip more certain that Miss Havisham is his benefactor and that surely Estella is intended for him; resulting in more misery for Pip. The strange and bizarre nature of Miss Havishams behaviour is understood when Herbert Pocket reveals her life story. She was tricked out of a small fortune by her fianci Compeyson who then jilted her on their marriage day. This explains her desire to hurt and break hearts of all men through Estella. This also explains why Miss Havisham is so vengeful maybe verging on insane. Her role in the novel is to instil the belief into Pip that he and Estella are meant to be and her encouragement to Pip of being his benefactor. Miss Havisham towards the end of her life realises the enormity of her actions as she has ruined Pip and Estellas lives. She, like Mrs Joe, shows remorse and begs Pip for his forgiveness My name is on the first leaf. If you can ever write under my name, I forgive her, though ever so long after my broken heart has turned to dust-Pray do it! So Miss Havisham does show genuine repentance to Pip. Thus also at the end like Mrs. Joe is presented as sadly human. Miss Havisham and Mrs. Joe shape and mould Pip into the person we are familiar with in the novel. Their influences are vital for Pips character and the plot throughout the story.

Arbor Day Calendar by State and Date

Arbor Day Calendar by State and Date Each states Arbor Day celebration starts with the signing of an Arbor Day proclamation by local officials and Arbor Day activities related to trees and tree planting. Celebrations are held as early as January and February in some southern states and as late as May in northern locations. National Arbor Day is observed on the last Friday in April. These dates were promulgated using a variety of special criteria. Politicians have grabbed dates out of thin air; a states tree deemed to be of significant import use their date of legal canonization, but most U.S. states opted for a reasonable date in spring. April was the choice for most as Arbor Day and May in colder latitudes. National Arbor Day is on the last Friday of April and celebrated at the same time by 28 other states. You can find out when your states Arbor Day is celebrated by reviewing the following calendar: January Arbor Day Celebrations Floridas Arbor Day - Third Friday in January (State Tree: Cabbage Palmetto)Louisianas Arbor Day - Third Friday in January (State Tree: Baldcypress) February Alabamas Arbor Day - Last full week in February (State Tree: Longleaf Pine)Georgias Arbor Day - Third Friday in February (State Tree: Live Oak)Mississippis Arbor Day - Second Friday in February (State Tree: Southern Magnolia) March Arkansas Arbor Day - Third Monday in March (State Tree: Pine)Californias Arbor Day - March 7-14 (State Tree: California Redwood)New Mexicos Arbor Day - Second Friday in March (State Tree: Pià ±on)North Carolinas Arbor Day - The Friday after March 15 (State Tree: Pine)Oklahomas Arbor Day - Last full week in March (State Tree: Eastern Redbud)Tennessees Arbor Day - First Friday in March (State Tree: Yellow Poplar) April Arizonas Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: Paloverde)Colorados Arbor Day - Third Friday in April (State Tree: Blue Spruce)Connecticuts Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: White Oak)Delawares Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: American Holly)District of Columbias Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (District Tree: Scarlet Oak)Idahos Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: Western White Pine)Illinois Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: White Oak)Indianas Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: Tuliptree)Iowas Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: Oak)Kansas Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: Cottonwood)Kentuckys Arbor Day - First Friday in April (State Tree: Tulip Poplar)Marylands Arbor Day - First Wednesday in April (State Tree: White Oak)Massachusetts Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: American Elm)Michigans Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: Eastern White Pine)Minnesotas Arbor Day - Last Fri day in April (State Tree: Red Pine) Missouris Arbor Day - First Friday in April (State Tree: Flowering Dogwood)Montanas Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: Ponderosa Pine)Nebraskas Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: Cottonwood)Nevadas Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Trees: Singleleaf Pinyon and Bristlecone Pine)New Hampshires Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: Paper Birch)New Jerseys Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: Northern Red Oak)New Yorks Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: Sugar Maple)Ohios Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: Ohio Buckeye)Oregons Arbor Day - First full week in April (State Tree: Douglas Fir)Pennsylvanias Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: Eastern Hemlock)Rhode Islands Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: Red Maple)South Dakotas Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: White Spruce)Texas Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: Pecan)Utahs Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: Blue Spruce) Virginias Arbor Day - Second Friday in April (State Tree: Flowering Dogwood)Washingtons Arbor Day - Second Wednesday in April (State Tree: Western Hemlock)West Virginias Arbor Day - Second Friday in April (State Tree: Sugar Maple)Wisconsins Arbor Day - Last Friday in April (State Tree: Sugar Maple)Wyomings Arbor Day - Last Monday in April (State Tree: Cottonwood May Alaskas Arbor Day - Third Monday in May (State Tree: Sitka Spruce)Maines Arbor Day - Third full week in May (State Tree: Eastern White Pine)North Dakotas Arbor Day - First Friday in May (State Tree: American Elm)Vermonts Arbor Day - First Friday in May (State Tree: Sugar Maple) September Virgin Islands Arbor Day - Last Friday in September November Guams Arbor Day - First Friday in NovemberHawaiis Arbor Day - First Friday in November (State Tree: Kukui) December South Carolinas Arbor Day - First Friday in December (State Tree: Cabbage Palmetto)

International stll wine trade Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

International stll wine trade - Essay Example Data is the information that is gathered for analyzing, interpreting and making conclusion based on the available information. The source was from â€Å"database of international business statistics† which is accessed across the countries. The important features in the research are the demand and the years of the product production. The first then observations show the demand of the product in the market prior to the introduction of globalization. The subsequent years shows the impact of globalization to the product demand. One of the limitations is the misuse of the data. This involves the use numbers in a biased manner so as to suit the researchers predetermined hypothesis and hence ease in making conclusions that are not scientifically justified. The wrong numbers used lead to misleading graphs and charts being drawn and this encourages error in conclusions (Boudreaux 2008). Statistics are normally based on probabilities hence the results vary from when the each variable could have been used. This makes the results to be amendable and/or provisional. The data collection is always narrowed by moral, financial and practical constrains that affects the conclusions to be drawn. The statisticians/researchers are do not completely agree on superlative methods hence inconveniences. Data manipulations required before estimation is the arrangement of the data in an increasing total over the years of trading. The demand for the products over the periods of marketing should increasing conform the validity of the analysis (Selkirk 2012). The last ten observations highlight the impact of globalization on demand and the sales of the company product. The total sales amounted to 2701M, a mean sale of 245.55M, a median sale of 246M and a mode sale of 262M. From the above descriptive statistics, it is clearly shown that the total sales have increased substantially overtime i.e. from sale of 1177M to 2701M. This is 1524M sales increment

The Mentally Ill Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Mentally Ill - Essay Example The Mentally Ill A. Journal Writings I am a psychiatric nurse from a local community hospital and was taking care of Patient X (not the real name to protect confidentiality of patient information). Patient X was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was treated with clozapine (Clozaril), an atypical psychotropic drug used to treat psychotic symptoms, hallucinations, and breaks with reality (NIMH, 2012, 6). For a period of four weeks, I usually give Patient X a 200 mg oral preparations of clozapine twice a day as ordered. After series of inpatient medication regimen, Patient X’s symptoms of schizophrenia decreased and the patient is now stabilized. With this, Patient X requested to be discharged and be treated through outpatient commitment. I told Patient X that I will relay his request to the health care team and will inform him of the decision made. Upon discussing it with the health care team, we were put in a dilemma whether to grant Patient X’s request to respect his aut onomy and independence or denied it to uphold the principle of nonmaleficence because the client might not take medications on time or not take medications at all and may result to an imminent threat or danger to self or to others due to relapse of schizophrenic symptoms. In addition, putting Patient X, who is receiving clozapine, on an outpatient commitment may present a serious harm as a WBC check every week or two is necessary to avoid occurrence of agranulocytosis or loss of the white blood cells that help a person fight infection. B. Ethical Dilemma In responding to a psychiatric patient’s request of discharge and treatment on an outpatient commitment, which ethical and legal principle should be considered – the legal right of a patient and the ethical principle of autonomy and independence or the professional responsibility of the nurse to do no harm and practice paternalism? C. Ethics Paper Summaries. Elbogen and Tomkins authored the article entitled â€Å"From the Psychiatric Hospital to the Community: Integrating Conditional Release and Contingency Management† in 2000. The article proposed involuntary outpatient commitment with therapeutic jurisdiction as one possible solution for psychiatric recidivism in the community. The article also emphasized that clinicians find it hard to discharge patients and are often put in a dilemma whether the discharge decision will benefit the patient or will end up in a relapse of chronic mental illness. In addition, discharge from the psychiatric hospitals also corresponds in legal status changes which might predispose the individual to heightened stress and independent living (Elbogen & Tomkins, 2000, 428). Thus, the article had raised a question whether outpatient commitment can provide continuity of care and reduce incidence of rehospitalization. Elbogen & Tomkins (2011) found therapeutic jurisprudence framework as the key to analyze legal and beneficial mental health interventions for the ind ividual, conflicting values, and generated or implemented laws, policies and practice (p. 429). In patients with chronic mental illness, therapeutic jurisprudence preferred a discharge plan that maximizes convergence between self-determination, individual well-being, and public safety through integration of risk assessment technology and effective rehabilitative treatment, particularly contingency management. Absolute discharge might be the best promoter of self-determination as there are no strings attached; however it predisposed the patient for rehospitalization unlike outpatient commitment that discharged patient with therapeutic jurisprudence and reduced incidence of reho

Disclosure of information Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Disclosure of information - Essay Example I was taken aback by his/her early disclosure. That really turned me off. I know everybody has issues but I did not expect that he/she would tell me his/her domestic issue when he/she barely knew me. It is just too much information and too soon. And he/she is ruining the night. We we are supposed to have fun that night and not discuss domestic issues. With his/her early disclosure, the atmosphere suddenly became serious and problematic. I am no longer enjoying the date and could not wait to get off from that date. Especially when he/she mentioned that he/she wants to get married so that he/she can leave his/her house. I had the impression that this person is desperate and I am going to be used as an escape goat. It also gave me the impression that I will not be happy with this person because he/she has a lot of personal baggage. That if I will be in a relationship with this person, he/she will force me to settle down to serve his/her purpose of escaping her domestic issues. My relationship with that person literally ended on that night. Though he/she calls and texted afterwards, I no longer reply. He/She tried to set up us again but I am already avoiding him/her. His/her early disclosure about his/her domestic issues dampened the prospect of what could have been a wonderful relationship. It disappointed and frustrated my expectations too. I have been looking forward to be in relationship but the early disclosure tells me that this is going to be a problematic relationship and such, has to be avoided. The relationship did not progress after the first

The feasibility of producing frozen foods for export in Thailand Case Study

The feasibility of producing frozen foods for export in Thailand - Case Study Example Additionally, a similar analysis will be conducted for the four foreign countries. If economic conditions in these countries are feasible for foreign export, then the project is also feasible. Lastly, this research aims at proposing the best international business management tactics in those respective countries. Thailand is a country located in the Eastern part of the Asian Continent. The country has a lot of potential in its food industry because agriculture is one of the mainstays of the Thailand economy. Currently, the industry is dominated by the sale of fresh foods both within the country and also as exports. Very little has been done in the development of the ready- to - eat/ frozen foods section of the industry yet that country has more than enough resources and raw materials to start development in this line of business. Besides, there is a ready market in the country and outside for the products. Some of the countries that could be potential markets for frozen food from Thailand include the US, UK, China and Japan.1 The research topic deals with the introduction of frozen foods from Thailand into foreign markets. ... Therefore, there is a need for one to examine the feasibility of such a venture. This is because before one penetrates into a certain market there are a number of factors that need to be examined to ensure that the venture will be a success. Economic policies within the country of origin must be examined to certify that they favour the exportation of certain commodities. This ought to be examined against the backdrop of that country's economy. A researcher should examine how the Thailand economy is and what level of industrial growth has the country achieved. On top of that, one should ascertain that the country will be able to produce quality frozen foods and that it will be able to sustain that level of production. Some of the factors that could act as a deterrent to the success of exported products include; low purchasing power high wage costs poor climatic conditions availability of raw materials availability of product alternatives2 Therefore, the research should ascertain that these factors are not present in Thailand before it can give a go ahead to the production of frozen foods in the area. There is also need for research in this area because one needs to asses whether there is a ready market for the goods that will be produced by Thailand. In the process of examining this, one should look at consumer behaviour in target countries like the US and China and find out whether there will be a positive attitude towards goods from Thailand. In addition, the export potential of the product should also be assessed. Export market potential is the ability of a product to sell in foreign countries. This is normally assessed by analysing performance in the country of origin. Beside these,

Assess the significance of religious conflicts in creating a Essay

Assess the significance of religious conflicts in creating a parliamentary challenge to royal authority in the years 1529-164 - Essay Example The open conflict that developed between the King and parliament in 1629 arose from a series of clashes that had begun when Charles I succeeded to the throne in 1625, but its root course laid much deeper intensions that had existed since 1603. James had inherited a monarch with conditions of a mixed inheritance from his predecessors. On one hand, he had inherited a very stable system of government where the royal power was accepted and also exercised through a legal system which drew from the common law in the kingdom. There were also areas where direct power was exercised through the royal prerogative. The society he inherited was relatively prosperous and well ordered with characteristics of increased education and able administrators (Noble, Strauss, Osheim, Nauschel and Accampo, 2010). During the same time, he was the head of the Church of England and so he had the responsibility of very contentious issues that could affect individuals in the society. He was also faced with major financial problems which were worsened by the war against Catholic Spain and the rebellion in Catholic Ireland. Most of Elizabeth’s subjects welcomed the accession of James I into power because being a male protestant king with several children; he offered the prospects of security and stable succession. Catholics hoped that the respect for his dead mother, Mary queen of Scots would make him ease the persecution they suffered. The puritans on the other hand hoped that his upbringing in the Presbyterian church of Scotland would actually favor their plans for reform. However in the long run, both were utterly disappointed because James suspended the collection of fines for recusancy. However he re- imposed them in 1604 when he was faced with complaints in his parliament and thus feared the loss of income (Noble et al, 2010). His move led an extremist minority

Economic approach to explain the existence of prostitution Essay

Economic approach to explain the existence of prostitution - Essay Example As a result, the opportunity cost of forsaking a wife or a girlfriend for a prostitute is that, an individual is able cut on unnecessary expenses meant to please a girlfriend. Further, an individual would save on time that is wasted while trying to please a girlfriend or wife with picnics, dinner or visiting holiday resort (Merriam-Webster, 2013). In addition, the money that is channeled to a wife or girlfriend can be used for other personal gains such as improving one’s business venture. The cost benefit of accessing the services of a prostitute is that the buyer can select from varieties, and one is not compelled to stick on one seller. In essence, the quality that the buyer gets depends on how much the buyer can pay. The business is flexible in the sense that a buyer can assess the seller’s services depending on the amount the buyer can pay. In this context, the higher the quality of the services rendered, the higher cost for the buyer and vice versa. In the business of prostitution, the buyer is not interested in establishing a relationship, but to access the services of the seller on a short term basis. This is more convenient compared to a stable relationship where the buyer (male) is compelled to provide both material and emotional support. Numerous responsibilities often arise from a relation, and as a result, the prostitution business is on high demand at the present due to the buyers avoiding responsibilities of marriage and looking for short term pleasures.... However, it is the male who often feel pinched as a result of spending exorbitantly on gifts and other pleasantries while receiving none on return (Postrel, 2006). While, on the other hand, the sellers are professionals who only engage in satisfying the desires of the buyer in a short period where both come out winners. The buyer gains in terms of pleasure provided and commensurate with the payment while, the seller gains in terms of payment for services by the buyer. Buyers are often attracted to a quick delivery of services in which no attachment are formed so as to save on unforeseen expenses in the future that, is a product of a long term relationship. As a result, in terms of cutting on the cost of maintaining a relationship, prostitution offers an alternative for buyers to budget for pleasure rather than an impulsive spending influenced by relationship bonds (Postrel, 2006). On the other hand, the seller in this business often the women engage in the business for a number of re asons. It could be that the business pays highly, or it is a cheaper means of earning a living for those who engage in the business. Commercial sex as a business provides one of the easiest forms of employment in the sense that, one only need to provide a few minutes of pleasure to the buyer to earn some money (The Economist, 2013). However, the payment within the business often vary and is influenced by a number of reasons that include the nature of pleasure and risks exposed to the seller. There are sellers who earn meagre amounts from the business while others make millions from the same business. Commercial sex is competitive, and the seller needs to come up with appropriate business

Assess the significance of religious conflicts in creating a Essay

Assess the significance of religious conflicts in creating a parliamentary challenge to royal authority in the years 1529-164 - Essay Example The open conflict that developed between the King and parliament in 1629 arose from a series of clashes that had begun when Charles I succeeded to the throne in 1625, but its root course laid much deeper intensions that had existed since 1603. James had inherited a monarch with conditions of a mixed inheritance from his predecessors. On one hand, he had inherited a very stable system of government where the royal power was accepted and also exercised through a legal system which drew from the common law in the kingdom. There were also areas where direct power was exercised through the royal prerogative. The society he inherited was relatively prosperous and well ordered with characteristics of increased education and able administrators (Noble, Strauss, Osheim, Nauschel and Accampo, 2010). During the same time, he was the head of the Church of England and so he had the responsibility of very contentious issues that could affect individuals in the society. He was also faced with major financial problems which were worsened by the war against Catholic Spain and the rebellion in Catholic Ireland. Most of Elizabeth’s subjects welcomed the accession of James I into power because being a male protestant king with several children; he offered the prospects of security and stable succession. Catholics hoped that the respect for his dead mother, Mary queen of Scots would make him ease the persecution they suffered. The puritans on the other hand hoped that his upbringing in the Presbyterian church of Scotland would actually favor their plans for reform. However in the long run, both were utterly disappointed because James suspended the collection of fines for recusancy. However he re- imposed them in 1604 when he was faced with complaints in his parliament and thus feared the loss of income (Noble et al, 2010). His move led an extremist minority

Identification of managerial, financial, legal and ethical Case Study

Identification of managerial, financial, legal and ethical implications for Problem Identification in the Healthcare Sector - Case Study Example This creates a reluctance to utilize health care services preventatively which has long-term financial implications in terms of hospital and clinic profitability and, ultimately, on general society as well who must support government-sponsored health care. Statistics Immigrant Latino workers experience much higher traumatic injury rates, approximately 33 percent higher than U.S. domestic workers (Molina, 2011). This is due to the fact that immigrant Latinos are often not properly educated with specialized training and therefore are able to land only dangerous jobs in which they are often exploited by their domestic employer (Molina). In this situation, they are not being provided adequate health care insurance and thus have longer recovery times in the event of non-fatal, traumatic injury on the job. Lost productivity is one financial problem for the employer, however their lack of health insurance makes them reliant on government-sponsored systems that strain state and federal level budgets for health provision that impacts society as a whole.

Training Day (King Kong Clip) Essay Example for Free

Training Day (King Kong Clip) Essay During the process of envisioning and designing a film, the director, production designer, and art director (in collaboration with the cinematographer) are concerned with several major spatial and temporal elements. These design elements punctuate and underscore the movement of figures within the frame, including the following: setting, lighting, costuming, makeup, and hairstyles. Choose a scene from movieclips.com. In a three to five page paper, (excluding the cover and reference pages) analyze the mise-en-scà ¨ne I chose the movie clip entitled â€Å"King Kong†. It’s from the movie â€Å"Training Day† starting Denzel Washington. Training Day is a movie that comes straight from the streets it depicts a product of the match up between screenwriter David Ayer, who grew up in South Central Los Angeles, and director Antoine Fuqua, who grew up on the rough side of Pittsburgh. Both men are intimately familiar with the daily, potentially explosive face-offs between cops and criminals in urban America. The director Antoine Fuqua vision for this film was to bring the heat and intensity to the movie Training Day to the big screen. Fuqua wanted Training Day to look as authentic as possible, and he shot on location in some of the most infamous neighborhoods of Los Angeles. He also wanted to show the audience what officers in the rough neighborhoods of Los Angeles experience on the outside and also on the inside as they grapple with an amoral world of drug dealers, murderers, rapists and thieves. Fuqua wanted to show the audience a rough, undaunted, fast moving style of life on the other side of the legal line. With this film he was able to capture the mean streets of Los Angeles in an honest and revealing way, but also with a visual style that makes every scene exciting, whether it’s a major action sequence or just two guys in a car talking. Production Designer Naomi Shohan wanted the movie’s design to reflect the underlying relevance of the story because they filmed in all real locations. All the interiors done on stage were taken from the locations and researched in the neighborhoods with the help of the residents which also gave the film the authenticity of being in the â€Å"hood†. She became sort of an urban anthropologist, because everything the viewer sees is as it really is. The colors and textures used, change throughout the scene, but everything they used was taken directly from the neighborhood that you find yourself in throughout the clip. Cinematographers and art directors play a very important and creative role in film production. They work closely with the director and give a film its unique visual look and identity. The art director, David Lazan and cinematographer, Mauro Fiore, shot the film almost entirely in sequence, following the clock from the crack of dawn to a very dark night of reckoning. Compressing intense action and emotion into a brief time frame became one of their key challenges. They had to make sure the film felt like it was one single day unfolding which became the single biggest challenge during the production. Explain how the artists utilize lighting in the scene. How does the lighting affect our emotional understanding of certain characters? What sort of mood does the lighting evoke? How does lighting impact the overall story the filmmaker is attempting to tell? Describe the setting, including the time period, location, and culture in which the film takes place. Light can make a scene look more realistic by creating shadows and highlights. Washington’s character, Alonzo, is displayed as a powerful, yet currupt police officer who believes that he is untouchable. The way Alonzo dresses shows a look of dominance. In the clip I chose Alonzo (Denzel Washington) is on the dark and dominant streets of L.A, surrounded by gangs and the people of the community that he very well is suppose to have been protecting and serving. Alonzo tries to keep the tough guy look for most of the part only showing one emotion. However at this point of the film, Alonzo does not have the tough guy look as he have had when no one helps him in time of need. Explain what costuming can tell us about a character. In what ways can costuming be used to reflect elements of the films plot? Explain how hairstyle and makeup can help tell the story. What might hairstyle and makeup reveal about the characters? Discuss your opinion regarding the mise-en-scà ¨ne. Do the elements appear to work together in a harmonious way? Does the scene seem discordant? Do you think the design elements are congruent with the filmmaker’s vision for the scene? From the moment you set eyes on him you can relies that Alonzo is a feisty character, who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Denzels performance is absolutely riveting. Every scene hes in, hes got the audience captivated with his dark costuming and the character’s dark and dominant personality. Ethan Hawke (Jake Hoyt) provides excellent backup. Jake is a bright eyed and innocent rokkie who reports to his training officer for his first day on the job in narcotics in the LAPD. He never could have fathomed just how much he would learn on that very first Training Day. Overall, Training Day proved to send a powerful message and gave us a small glimpse of what is truly happening in our society, the effect that the epidemic of drugs and violence are having in our cities and the corruption that is happening among our most trusted police officers. Reference pages http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/training-day-20010917. Training Day (2001) Memorable Quotes. The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. Feb. 2011. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0139654/quotes.

The emergence of sociology

The emergence of sociology What social forces were at work that led to the emergence of sociology in the late 18th and early 19th Century? Sociology can be defined as the study of societies and their development in terms of their political decisions, ethics, economic development, religion and laws. It consists of the organization of collections of human bodies into forms of social life. The end of the 18th century was marked by the French Revolution, the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution initiated in England. The purpose of this essay is to discuss these social forces in terms of their contribution towards the emergence of sociology. The three major factors which influence the emergence of sociology as a sphere of study began in the late eighteenth century with the French Revolution, the period known as the Enlightenment and the industrial revolution. Each one of these influences has contributed to what Karl Polanyi , the Austro-Hungarian philosopher termed the Great Transformation in his book of the same name, one of the results of this great transformation resulted in the emergence of the science of sociology. History began to change in 1789 when the French Revolution broke out followed by the Enlightenment the creation of a new framework of ideas about man, society and nature. In addition, further economic and social changes were brought forward with the industrial revolution firstly in England and then in the whole of Europe. The French revolution had lasted for ten whole years and was the first modern and ideological revolution of its kind. It had a great impact on society because it changed its structure. It managed to eliminate the social distinctions between people and the feudal society.The power shifted away from the Church and came to hands of the people. This was the first time people were seen as citizens. In addition to this, the clerical hierarchy which had existed until then gave up its rights and property. These changes had a historical, political and social impact in the entire of Europe and not just France.Plato and Aristotle had become exterminally manifest in the social and historical world as a consequence of the revolution in France. Additionally, the French Revolution brought significant changes to the family since it was followed by the Declaration of Human Rights which stated that all humans are born free and equal. Changes to family-related issues were also brought into force. At the same time the Church lost much of its tremendous influence and power, which devolved to the people. The clerical hierarchy that had existed until then gave up its rights and property. Civil marriage and divorce were established. Civil marriage was another way for people to project their doubts upon the Church. A couple blessed by God could now follow different paths in their lives with the divorce being established and accepted. Education and religion were also subject to changes.. The second major event, that took place during the late 18th and early 19th century, was Industrialisation. The Industrial Revolution began in England in 18th century (1870) and brought several changes in societies, shaping them in the form they are today. It was the major shift of technological, socioeconomic and cultural conditions in the late 18th and early 19th century that began in Britain and spread throughout the world (Wikipedia, Internet encyclopaedia). At the end of the 18th century the world was experiencing a rapid population growth which led to an economic boom. As the demand was increasing, more workers were needed to cover the increasing demand. Production of goods increased. This was a different type of work before Industrialisation people were working in a traditional forms. Technology brought significant changes in the work place which led to great improvement and efficiency. Machines were now helping people in production and thereby improving time efficiency and production volume as well as the conditions under which people worked. Technological changes included the use of iron and steel, new energy sources. These changes in technology improved both the quality of the products being produced as well as the work-conditions of the workers in production. Fewer efforts were now required by the workers in terms of producing a good. Technology also improved transportation and hence trade and commerce between countries. Markets expanded even more since goods and raw materials that were scarce in one country could be supplied from another. Machines became the symbols of the new society and humanity could be seen to be all working into this machine. In addition, the area of communication also saw great improvement during this time period and people could now travel easier and reach their destination quicker. In the past, the only method people could communicate between them was through letters. This way of communication however, was both time consuming and uncertain since the letters were often lost somewhere in between. Fortunately, during the late 18th and early 19th century letters could be delivered faster and new ways of communication were developed such as the telegraph. These improvements also brought people and societies closer to one another. People moved to the cities were the markets began to emerge. The Enlightenment was a significant contributing factor to the emergence of sociology in the late 18th and early 19th century. The Enlightenment is considered to be the source of critical ideas, such as the centrality freedom, democracy, and reason as primary values of society. It is the creation of a new framework of ideas about man, society and nature, which challenged existing conceptions rooted in a traditional world-view, dominated by Christianity (Hamilton,23). The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement consisting of many philosophers. The most popular figures of this new framework were Charles Montesquieu (1689-1755), Jacques Tugot (1729-1781) and Jean Condorcet (1743-1794). They managed to challenge the traditional and existing conceptions of the world. The thinkers of Enlightenment aimed to teach people stop listening and following blindly the churchs opinion and decisions, and start thinking on their own. Challenge what they hear and develop their critical judgment. People were now advised to try and solve their problems on their own rather than wait for God to provide a solution for them. This new way of thinking was a big factor in economic growth. The iincreased education, through the emergence of upper class philosophers, the publishing of newspapers and the emergence of new types of media resulted in the arts, such a writing and painting to only develop, improve and flourish during that time period. Reaching to a conclusion, the French Revolution, the Industrial Revolutionand the Enlightenment were the three major factors that contributed towards the emergence of sociology in the late 18th and early 19th century. During this historical period,peoples lives became much easier and better. All these changes helped people become more open minded and created for them a life with more choices. , This important turning point in history led to a technological and economic boom. It also resulted in people learning to live in societies. A person who cannot live in society, or does not need to because he is self-sufficient, is either a beast or a God. (Aristotle, Politics) Bibliography Lecture and Tutorial notes Wikipedia-online encyclopedia Internet the rise of sociology Morrison, K. 2006. Marx Durkheim Weber. Bilton, T. Bonnet, K. Jones, P. Lawson, T. Skinner, D. Stanworth, M. Webster, A. 2002. Introductory sociology, 4th edition. Palgrave Macmillan

The Vietnam War: The Tet Offensive :: Vietnam War Essays

In the mid to late 1960's the Vietnam Conflict was greatly controversial. This is mainly due to the fact that it was an undeclared war and was being fought with unclear objectives. It was fought mainly by Viet Cong guerillas and the NVA from the North and by the USA and ARVN from the south. Throughout the conflict it appeared as if the South was prevailing; up until one climatic battle that turned out to be a failure militarily; it is known as the Tet Offensive. The Tet Offensive started with diversionary attacks on Khe Sanh on January 21. It began with a concentrated artillery barrage and entrenching troops around the perimeter so that they could prepare further assaults on Khe Sanh's defenses. This caused the US to move their troops up in order to defend against the enemy intrusion. By causing the US to move their troops from their positions in the other major cities, the North had created an opportunity for an attack on all of those cites. Then next step of the plan was to infiltrate the major cities of the South like Saigon and Hue with VC and NVA soldiers. It is amazing how effectively the VC and NVA snuck their soldiers into the cities, because only a small number of them actually got caught. They pulled this off by sending their men in slowly, mostly by twos or threes, disguised as refugees, peasants, workers, and ARVN soldiers on holiday. Their weapons were smuggled in separately in flower carts, coffins, and trucks that looked as if they were filled with food for the civilians. All-in-all the amount of troops in these cities equaled about 5 battalions. Once the North had accomplished its goals of distracting the United States soldiers and infiltrating its guarded cities they decided to attack; they chose a day designated for truce, the Vietnamese New Year of Tet. On January 31st, in the early hours of the morning, the NVA and VC troops and commandoes began the Tet Offensive by attacking virtually every major city and town; including most of the major bases and airfields. Most of the attacks made came by total surprise and caused a maelstrom of chaos among the US soldiers who attempted to defend their posts. An example of one of these attacks is the one launched against the US embassy in Saigon. In Saigon, nineteen VC commandoes attempted to blast their way through the main doors of the US embassy and killed two of the 5 MP's on duty.

Social&Technology Analysis of Revlon

Issues that may impact the industry include consumers' concerns about product safety and the use of animal testing by cosmetics companies[1]. In 1990, cosmetics giant Revlon became one of the first industry heavyweights to swear off all animal testing. Since then, Revlon has grown to be an animal-friendly empire, garnering awards for its products from magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Teen People, Allure, and In Style[2]. That is a signal that Revlon has an awareness of social responsibility and also showed their concerns about natural environment. Besides, with the income increasing, modern people are more willing to purchase personal care products and cosmetics for themselves. The age range of consumers is developing to both younger and elder. These trends are obviously seen especially in some developing countries and areas. Since the majority of personal care products are currently sold in the United States, Japan, Canada, and European countries(less than 20%of worlds population), the potential for sales of personal care products around the world is excellent. Increasingly, cosmetics/personal care is not an industry for women only; men purchase personal care products such as skin creams and hair care products/dyes and many men are trying cosmetics in an effort to improve their appearance. The market for hair colouring has expanded with teenagers and adults wanting more vibrant colouring options[3]. Revlon also shows its social responsibility according to charities. There are the most recent examples which are significant. Through November 2008, Revlon donated a percentage of their profits to the Rainbow Trust children’s charity. Another one is announced in May of 2009. Revlon said it would donate 10% of sales (up to $100,000) of its new color collection to fund women`s cancer program in partnership with the EIF, which full name is Entertainment Industry Foundation.

Health Risks of Genetically-Modified Foods Essay

Genetically modified (GM) foods, introduced to the American Public in 1996, involves taking the genes of the DNA of one plant or animal and transferring them to another species creating a new organism. Justification for this scientific manipulation revealed promises to eliminate world hunger, make plants resistant to pests and disease, and produce healthier foods. Agribusiness giants, like Monsanto, Bayer, and Syngenta include some of the companies first to bring products to the market. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) took the stance, that it is the food producer responsible for assuring food safety. Companies producing GM foods ultimately regulate themselves. These companies kept their research secret and not available for public scrutiny. Insufficient data illustrate the need for ongoing exploration by independent scientists to deem the products safe for human consumption. Jeffrey M. Smith discussed these issues in his book, Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Geneically Engineered Foods. GM of certain crops cause them to produce their own insecticide. A research study not performed by the manufacturer, involved GM potatoes fed to rats. â€Å"They developed potentially precancerous cell growth in the digestive tract, inhibited development of their brains, livers, and testicles, partial atrophy of the liver, enlarged pancreases and intestines, and immune system damage† (Smith 22). Additional information is warranted clarifying the exact cause. Another study revealed Monsanto’s MON 863 Bt corn fed to rats produced â€Å"significant changes in their blood cells, livers, and kidneys which might indicate disease† (Smith 26). Monsanto defends their GM corn as safe and deems it unnecessary to pursue further testing. No research conducted to date and the corn gained approval. Government and big industries continue with the development, endorsement and marketing of GM foods despite the potential health warnings. Study after study cited in Genetic Roulette by Jeffrey M. Smith , reveal health problems from every body system and even death. One investigations proved given a choice, animals would not eat GM foods. Rats that would not eat the GM tomatoes were force fed the tomato through a gastric tube. Several developed stomach lesions and seven of the forty died. The GM of the DNA of species results in widespread mutations. Soy allergies skyrocketed after the introduction of GM soy. Over half of the processed foods in the supermarket contain something made from soy. GM peas generated an allergic-inflammatory response. With some of the GM crops that produce their own insecticide, the fear of creating â€Å"super weeds† exists. â€Å"The United States and Canada do not have GM labeling requirements† (Smith 257). Exposing millions of people to unpredictable dangers of GM foods represents playing roulette. â€Å"The connections between the FDA and large agribusiness corporations are disturbing† (Teitel, Wilson 69). Large contributors to the Democratic and Republican parties include Monsanto and others. These companies employ trade and environmental administrators and government appointees in lucrative positions.

Importance of Nature

The Importance of Experiencing Nature The more technologically savvy our society becomes and as our cities become larger and more urbanized our connection with nature gets weaker and weaker. It is difficult to remember the natural beauty of a 100 year old oak tree while you dwell in the city where you are lucky to see a tree every three blocks. Our attitudes (especially people who live in very urbanized areas) tend to think that civilization surrounds nature instead of â€Å"wilderness [as] the element in which we live encased in civilization. (1) I am not stating that our technological advances are a bad thing, but we must remember the importance of nature. People need to experience nature. One reason is that the beauty of nature excites our senses, but it also is a perfect place to experience personal growth and meditation. From a logical standpoint though, learning more about nature can lead to growth as a society. As humans, we are constantly looking to be awed. We look to beaut y to do this. Nature offers the most pure form of beauty. Nature is stunning, yet not distracting. Our senses are enlightened by the magnificence of it yet we are not so distracted that we cannot think of anything else. It’s not the flash of a million colorful lights or the awe inspiring power of a larger than life sky scrapper. This kind of beauty demands your attention while the beauty of nature is humbly offered. A baby is a great example of our attraction to nature or just natural things in general. When there is a baby in a room full of people, people cannot help but stare and coo over it. We are attracted to them. I think a big reason for this is because they act so natural. They are not analyzing their actions, they are completely uninhibited. Society has not shaped them and told them what is right and wrong and how they should act. Everything is much more appealing in the most basic, natural form. Nature is the closest thing we have to perfection. There is no denying the fact that we love to stare at the oranges and yellows of a sunset or enjoy the deep greenish blue of the ocean. We fill vases with flowers in our home in hopes that it will make our home more appealing. Life should always be celebrated and beauty if part of life. We should look for it and admire it, especially in nature. A lot of this sense of perfection comes from a â€Å"higher, namely, of the spiritual element. †(2) Many religions are centered on the grace of their god(s) and are often believed that the perfection of nature is a reflection of the perfection of their god(s). In Christianity and Judaism, God was the essential creation of nature. In the bible â€Å"when a noble act is done-perchance a scene of great beauty†(2) will appear such as the rainbow that appeared after the flood that lasted for 40 days and nights in the story of Noah’s Ark. Perhaps why we are so attracted to natural beauty is it makes us feel closer to God. Or maybe just something bigger than ourselves. Nature has a spiritual quality to it which offers the ideal place to meditate. If one wants to learn more about themselves, then they should learn about nature because that is where we came from. It is hard to escape the sense of one’s predecessors†(1) when we spend enough time outside of civilization. We all once used to dwell among nature with animals and all other forms of life. Civilization is simply a wall which we have placed between us and nature. When we are in nature we have â€Å"striped away the human facade† (1) than stands between us and the universe and we can â€Å"see more clearly† (1) where we are. Thoreau stated in Walden â€Å"Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth†(3) and there is nothing more truthful than nature. Nature is as truthful as it gets. Alone in the woods, away from society and the people in it, one is allowed to escape the influence of society and influence themselves independently. There we can figure out who we truly are and not what society makes us believe we are. I constantly hear of people talking about the importance of having a diversity of people and ideas on earth, yet how can we have true diversity if we are unable to discover out natural selves free from society? Nature is not only the window into our history, but also to the core of our existence. Nature offers perspective to people and our place in this world. Some might view my past two arguments as exceedingly unsatisfying. Why should we care if it beautiful or if it helps us â€Å"discover† ourselves? But one argument cannot be denied: nature is the key to the survival of the human race. We use the stars to navigate, we till the land to plant our crops, trees provide us with oxygen, we use plants for medicine, and we drink the water from lakes and creek. The list goes on and on. â€Å"The endless circulations of the divine charity nourish man†(2) while nature never expects anything back. It is strange how we forget about nature when it is the essential factor to our survival. When people experience nature, they are more likely to join the effort to conserve it and its resources. If we learn to appreciate it, then we will want to take care of it. Ecological conservation and preservation is extremely important. Not only does nature offer important nature resources, but there have also been studies that suggest that people who spend more time outside are typically happy and healthier individuals. There has also been research that points to a correlation between stress levels and the amount of time spent outside. Nature provides us with general health and well being. Each year we build more buildings, more houses, and more roads. We do this so we can continue to progress as a society, but as we do this we must remember nature because it also helps us progress as a society. Without it, there would be no society. Nature is beautiful, insightful and necessary. We must never forget about it and we must always work to protect it.

Should cars be more efficient Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Should cars be more efficient - Essay Example The case for making the cars more efficient finds its roots in two of the larger global issues – modern world’s dependence on depleting fossil fuels, and the impact of emissions on global climate. The proponents of making cars more efficient stress on the impact of cars on these two factors, and the opponents base their opinion on the huge investments needed to do so, and behavioral aspect of technology improvements. While both arguments seem to be strong, in the larger interest of sustainable development, the case for making the cars more efficient definitely seems to have an edge, on the face of it. This paper evaluates the two sides of the argument - whether (or not) cars must be made more efficient. Arguments â€Å"For† making cars more efficient The proponents for making cars more efficient base their arguments on three main pillars – decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and helping climate control, and saving s for the consumer and the government. Below each of these pillars are discussed in detail. Decreasing dependence on fossil fuels: The global oil reserves stand at 1.33 trillion barrels and the current global consumption rate is 84 million barrels per day (Rogers, 2010). Accordingly, the current oil reserves are expected to last no more than 44 years. This clearly means that we need to work today to ensure that our dependence on oil can be gradually faded away. Amongst the uses to which oil is put, Gasoline accounts for nearly 45% of all oil use – and this is mainly for transportation purpose. According to McKinsey (2007), the road transport sector is the largest oil consuming sector globally and consumes nearly 32 million barrels of oil per day. Within the road transport sector, light vehicles (cars) were responsible for 10 million barrels of oil use per day. Another output from the McKinney study was to compare the oil demand due to different fuel efficiency of cars in Euro pe and US. Generally, cars sold in Europe are more fuel efficient than those in the US as the US customers prefer larger vehicles. It was found that the lower fuel economy of cars in the US was responsible for 37% extra demand for oil in the US. This means that if the cars in US were to be as fuel efficient as those in Europe, the demand for oil in the US could go down by 37%. Further, the study estimates that without improvements in fuel efficiency, this gap is expected to increase to 42% by the end of 2020. Therefore, the onus of reducing the global dependence on oil is largely on transportation sector and specifically on cars - it is a natural obligation for the transportation sector to reduce the consumption of oil. Therefore, cars must be made more fuel efficient so that we can reduce our dependence on these depleting resources and make them last longer than they would at current rate. Reducing GHG emissions and climate control: Estimates suggest that the transport sector is re sponsible for 27.3% of global energy demand. Table 1 shows the details of energy demand per sector. Although it is below other sectors by pure numbers, the reality is however slightly different. In the other sectors, power transmission losses (which are due to production constraints) get added due to which their weight appears to be more. Therefore, from a pure demand perspective, the transport sector is a significant silo for global energy dem

Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 42

Business - Essay Example The inventory at hand by this quarter is 86,400 fans that are calculated as 126% of the 2006 first quarter production levels. Due to the application of this cushion by Riordan, a viable production plan will be easily maintained without minor adjustments on the plan of 2005. Riordan requires the master production schedule (MPS) to help in the determination of the parts that will be needed weekly to meet its quarterly projected needs. The fact that this company uses a make-to-stock system makes it able to easily satisfy its customer demands without any delays in production. In case the inventory level drop to a given level, theres an automated system with a fixed order quantity method that I used to order parts. Whenever the capacity remains unremarkable, and theres a high reliability on the Riordans suppliers so that there are no significant delays in delivery, a flexible time fence is used (Soares & Vieira, 2009). At the Riordans Chinese facility, for a fan production, the material requirement plan (MRP) is usually based on the master production schedule (MPS). The MPS is used for the finished product that is the fans, and it also predicates the MRP. It is important that a well-reviewed production schedule is based on the inputs from every department so as to balance conflicting objectives, maintain inventory levels low and use resources efficiently. Soares, M., & Vieira, G. (2009). A new multi-objective optimization method for master production scheduling based on genetic algorithm. International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology,

How successful has Putin been in protecting Russias security, Essay

How successful has Putin been in protecting Russias security, maintaining its influence and creating an international climate favourable for its economic devel - Essay Example We talk about the nature of policy which the Russian government has put forward and which talks about two key issues. Firstly it tries to look at Russia’s response to the events of 9/11 and it talks whether it was a turning point in their development of policies and secondly the paper addresses whether the foreign policy put forward by Putin is pragmatic in nature. September 11 2001 changed the face of world politics as so was Russia’s policies with other countries. During the time of Yeltsin and even the pre 9/11 reign of Putin the foreign policies was strikingly different of what it was portrayed after 9/11. There were signals of friendship and protests at the same time. Protests over expansion of NATO and military action in Balkans showcase the stance of Russian policy. After 9/11 the scenario completely changed, terrorism has become the highest priority for all the western nations and Russia was no exception, Moscow subway bombings and Terror tragedy at Beslan confirmed the priority levels which Russia has for terrorism. After 9/11 happened it was Putin who first contacted Washington and thereafter it was ensured that contact with Washington remained at good level. When we compare the policies post 9/11 and before it we can see some marked changes in it. We can say that Moscow under Yeltsin was more of action than words. The 1997 and 1999 incidents of Bosnia led to the confirmation of fact that Russia under Yeltsin has self limiting quality. On the other hand Putin followed a cautious policy which did no good for the country as there was no clear orientations of the plan and that people were confused about his policies structure and its nature. But the events post September brought out a change in his style and approach towards west in general and USA in particular. His policy of cooperation can be said as the changes taking place in the international environment. Russia support to America on global

1- Studying Abroad, a Culture Shock. 2- Experience Of Traveling . 3- Essay

1- Studying Abroad, a Culture Shock. 2- Experience Of Traveling . 3- The Harmful of Air Pollution in Red Traffic Lights - Essay Example In his journal (article?), Dr. Kumar is trying to emphasize the importance of studying air pollution as a risk to human beings at the global level and convince the readers about the significance of this health risk at red traffic lights in particular. I think Dr. Prashant uses a good technique writing his paper, which includes pathos, logos, ethos, tons, purpose, and minds audience. And I am going to explain how he does that and where. Dr. Kumar first underlines huge impact of pollution for human health by stating that the World Health Organization has linked air pollution to â€Å"seven million premature deaths every year.† This technique consequently suggests that the paper and the science article are formal and professionally written to engage the readers’ attention. People around the world are not that curious to read about air pollution, however the fact of seven million premature deaths every year will make people want to know how to avoid that, as it made me. The author particularly uses the World Health Organization’s statement as a background information and support to emphasize the importance of his study on the air pollution. Also since Prashant Kumar is a Doctor from the University of Surrey, he got his master`s degree in Environmental Engineering and Management, which gave him more credibility or Ethos in readers’ eyes and made his arguments seem more valid to the audience. The reader is basically any person in our society who is concerned about their health but this article can relate more to the people who are more sensitive to air pollution like senior citizens, pregnant women and children. Pregnant women as an audience will be even more interested as Dr. Kumar emphasizes â€Å"seven million premature deaths every year.† In this way, the author may have been engaged in the emotions of the readers as well, so it can be said that there

Employee Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 3

Employee Relations - Essay Example internal environment & external environment. SWOT stands for S - Strength, W - Weaknesses, O - Opportunities, T - Threats and the analysis done through these four segments and is popularly known as SWOT Analysis. It helps in knowing the firms capabilities in the competitive environment in which it operates. The following diagram shows SWOT Analysis framework. The Trust employed around 1,000 staff in its Operations Supportive departments, which provides the technical, operational & professional and staff workers for the services like security, cleaning, maintaining the estate, managing the car-parking and also catering.  Ã‚   Unions’ rates up to 60%, having a membership of Unison, GMB, and TGWU represents the crafts work and skills of the employees.  Unions’ relation is good, along with 2 monthly meetings between the management and unions forms into a multi-union forum.   In the hospital, management teams have developed communication policy, this results in improving  in the feedback of staff through attitude surveys because of the relation with the top management. It is stated that the management will provide information to the staff about the changes which are going to prevail and what the reasons for such changes. Around 60% of the employees are stable in the job for more than 8 years. The groups work in an independent manner from each other and even from the organizations itself. In an effective way of management, the workers are developing demarcation and differentiating factors and their representatives of union are changing. There are issues regarding the delegatory, communicating, team-building, and employee empowerment  from the low to middle level of the members.   Those issues are subjected to be heated discussions among managers, union representatives and workers, particularly the changes which are â€Å"pushed†Ã‚  than negotiated.   There is a bad tendency of some supervisors and middle level managers to remove few

Wuthering heights Essay Example for Free

Wuthering heights Essay Should Wuthering Heights be considered relevant in todays society? I say, yes. Although I must admit, I was very close to hating this book, not only because of the confusing situations which occurs and my dislike towards all characters, but also for much more reasons that I dont wish to point out at this moment for that we shall be here for a terribly long time if I did. However, I must also admit, the context of this book, Wuthering Heights, have portrayed many relevant themes that are still existing today, even as I speak. Catherines decision of marriage is one example. My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary Nelly, I am Heathcliff. In this quote, Catherine was well aware of her love for Heathcliff claiming that they both have the same souls. She had no income or property of her own. Her physical comfort depends on the will of her father and brother and the most crucial decision of her life, to marry Edgar Linton, is determined by the fact that if she were to marry Heathcliff, they would become beggars. In my opinion, this is a case of forbidden love. Catherine and Heathcliff cannot be together as their statuses are simply too far apart. Many has pointed out that this is irrelevant today as currently, we have the freedom to marry whoever we like. Statuses and class arent considered as important anymore. But is this so? That nowadays we could say I do to whoever we desire? In the book Forbidden Love, by Norma Khouri, told on the accounts of a true story in the small town of Jordan, there is a much similar situation. Dalia, a Muslim, was in love with a Catholic man called Michael. In Jordan, it is considered extremely immoral for two people with such different beliefs to be together. As a result, Dalia was honorably killed when her secret relationship was discovered. Here, this is much like the account of Wuthering Heights. Although it is fair to argue that both stories are different; one deals with religion and honor killings when the other with statuses. However the concepts of the two are very much alike as both revolve around the idea of forbidden love. Love that can never be equated. Perhaps the procedure of murder or revenge would not appear in every situation such as this, but most definitely it will end painfully tragic. The heartbreaking story of Dalia  and Michael was real. It only happened several years ago. As I have heard in your speeches, many have pointed out that the scene of Catherines ghost was much irrelevant as opposed to todays society for that we now do not believe in the supernatural. I find this argument rather hypocritical. If I remember correctly, only a few years back, was there not a reality TV show starring John Edwards which was such a big hit, it attracted millions of viewers around the whole globe? Mr. Edwards claimed, through his television show, that he could communicate with the souls of the dead. This not only brought the attention of numerous but also their belief in him. Many say that his so-called communications is probably just a sham and arent genuine. Whether he really beholds such powers or he was simply making up his sixth sense, I do not care for that he is a person that I neither like nor like to know more of. I am merely mentioning this troublesome man to prove my point. Not of the existence of the supernatural or that ghosts do really appear through your window, but of our beliefs in it even today. As modern day citizens, our acceptance of the paranormal is still very strong. If it wasnt so, then wouldnt the ratings for a reality show of communications with dead spirits be extremely low and unpopular much like the opposite of the results of Mr. Edwards multi-million making one? Here, in the story of Wuthering Heights, the use of a ghostly scene was to attract the readers attention making the book sound interesting and engaging. Bronte addresses the bond between Catherine and Heathcliff in a spiritual way. Thus, making their love towards each other almost inseparable. As children, they had a bond that grew out of similar needs. They grew up protecting and trying to shelter each other from the abuse of Hindley and Joseph. Consequently, they developed an eternal friendship, love and affinity. One could say that they were soul mates even children. Bronte expands the notion of eternal love by creating the supernatural aspect in the story. This is illustrated when Heathcliff contacts Catherines spirit after she dies. Their souls are eternally joined so as a result, Heathcliff cannot live in this realm without her. Only their souls joined together make one. Heathcliff eventually dies to reunite his soul with Catherine. Another aspect which is relevant today and forever it shall remain relevant  is selfishness. Catherines selfish character was depicted when she wanted both Edgar and Heathcliff at the same time. In the beginning, she was introduced as a high spirited character who was wild. However, she drastically changes throughout the book. When she hurts her leg and is forced to stay at Thrushcross Grange, she returns to Wuthering Heights as a well dressed and dignified lady. She was easily swayed to the superior lifestyle of the Lintons and began to look down upon Heathcliff. She even laughs at his rough and dirty appearance and says I didnt mean to laugh at you. I could not hinder myself Heathcliff. Shake hands at least! What are you sulky for? It was only that you looked odd. If you wash you face and brush your hair, it would be alright. But you are so dirty! I as a reader was left surprised and cheated with this reversal. However, she becomes more and more selfish by the minute and even tries to change Heathcliff and begins to feel that he is in fact, beneath her. This is one of the reasons why she starts to look at Edgar in a new light. He, unlike her family, was refined, gentle, rich and handsome. When he asked her to marry him, she accepted, knowing very well that she loved Heathcliff. Ive no more business to marry Edgar than I have to be in heaven. If the wicked man in there had not brought Heathcliff so low, I shouldnt have thought of it. It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now, so he shall never know how I love him; and that not only because he is handsome, Nelly, but because he is more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same, and Lintons is as different as a moonbeam from lightening or frost from fire. We could her marriage to Edgar was for all the wrong reasons. Catherine even confides to Nelly, he shall be rich and I shall be the greatest woman of the neighborhood and I shall be proud of having such a husband. It is evident that Catherine throws away love for her own selfish wants and materialistic motives. She wanted Edgar for his life and riches and Heathcliff for his soul. She didnt want to choose between the two and she never really did. She toyed with both of them by marring Edgar while still loving Heathcliff. Thus, she caused pain for the two men, by causing Edgar to be jealous and Heathcliff desiring revenge. Catherines passion towards Heathcliff ruined many lives. Later in the story, she suffers from the results of the selfish and naive decisions she makes. I wasnt sorry for her not only because I find her very much annoying, but because I felt that  she deserved it they were the bad choices that she must live with. Her character was childish and spoilt who loved to be in the centre of attention. It is not surprising why she wanted to be the most powerful woman in the neighborhood. The character Catherine, not only gives us something to hate and despise, but to also learn from. Throughout the whole story she was indeed very selfish and very rarely has she ever used her head to decide. Thus, this lead to the suffering of not only her, but many additional innocent lives in both Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. My point here is selfishness is something that only destroys happiness of not simply you, but others as well. This theme is not only relevant, but should be considered everyday. In conclusion, I still think that Wuthering Heights is a relevant text and should be studied by teenagers through high school. Even though I shall be feeling somewhat sorry for them, the book portrays the some of the most significant qualities of mankind. That is something that I cannot argue against.

Lyrics in Rap Music

Lyrics in Rap Music In this essay I am going to discuss and take an in-depth look at the topic of the role and importance of the lyrics in rap music, which are often violent, sexually explicit and sexist in content. In order to understand the role these lyrics play in rap music, it is necessary to consider the musical style that goes with them and even the hip-hop culture that gave us rap music. This culture, including rap music, originated in the USA, but its appeal has become international. In the first introductory section I will analyse the terms rap music and rapper, and I will briefly discuss the origins of rap music. This section will introduce some important artists in the genre, mentioning their backgrounds and especially how they started their careers as rappers. Usually rappers begin singing in the streets, which might be a way of trying to escape from their difficult lives. Nonetheless in their lyrics they describe what could be taken as the real facts of such lives. So one question is: do their lyrics consist of violence, sex and sexism because this is an accurate reflection of the typical experiences of their own lives? What made them sing such songs? In order to be able to answer this question, I will include some simple lyrics as examples of some typical rap songs. Then, in the second part of the essay I will focus on the listeners and how rap music influences them. Overall, my intention is to discover exactly what is the significance of the lyrics in rap music within the context of this musical style as a whole. Generally the term rap refers to a street poetry, using slang language and phrases to express the singers feelings and show to the audience their point of view about life. Rap music therefore refers to the musical style in which such poetry is performed, which is very rhythmical usually without much accompaniment. The people that perform and usually also compose this poetry are rappers. The rappers in their music usually talk about the realities of their lives and their social environments; such realities include racism or the difference between male and female, violent events and feelings, and sexual attraction and activity, in other words everything that they have experienced, lived through and seen for themselves. But why is this? Why do they emphasize such aspects of their lives and not others? This relates to another question: is rap music intended as pure entertainment or is it more a music of social protest? The reason that I chose to work on this topic is that I find music in general and especially rap music really interesting. I myself play guitar and piano. For performance, I like songs with clear melody that can be easily performed and played on piano and guitar. However, I do not like mainstream pop music, which is mostly written to formulas with clichà © lyrics. Rap music is something very different, something I have never tried to perform or to explore, so in this essay I am trying to get to know it better, including its history, and also to share with readers my research. CHAPTER ONE: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LYRICS OF RAP MUSIC Rap music became widely known in the U.S.A. in the nineteen eighties, as a reaction against the disco music of the seventies. It was then and it remains today a predominantly black or African-American style of music, in which the lyrics are very important. This can be seen in the following summary of the history of rap: Rap evolved from African people in general and black people born in the U.S. in particular. Its origins can be traced to West Africa where tribesmen held men of words in high regard. Later when slaves were brought to the New World, the captives mixed American music with the beats they remembered from Africa. Another origin of rap is a form of Jamaican folk stories called toasts. These are narrative poems that tell stories in rhyme. Over a hundred years later, rapping was a street art. Just as doo-wop in the 1950s, rap began in inner-city schoolyards and street corners in the 1970s. Early raps were boastful tales, and put-downs directed at other rappers. This music style was slowly growing in popularity among black teens in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. As early as 1974 neighborhood block parties in New York featured early forms of rapping. But it wasnt until the commercial success of Rappers Delight by the Sugar Hill Gang in 1979 that major record labels took not ice of this explosive new sound. However, although the lyrics are particularly important in rap, many would say that the essence of rap is in its beat. For example, William Eric Perkins says, the foundation of rap music is the beat. The beat is the structure around which the lyrics are developed, and samples of selected phrases from previously recorded music, jingles, solos, and so on play second fiddle. In rap vernacular, those with the dope beats produce the deffest raps. Of course rap was and still is mainly a young persons type of music, and both the performers and the audience were and are youthful. Young people are often rebellious in spirit, and music is one of their main ways of expressing their rebelliousness: Rap music has stampeded through America like no other form of music since the creation of rock music in the 1960s. Like other popular styles, it has a history that is closely aligned with the rebellious attitude of its young creators; youth who rejected the contemporary music prevalent during the late 1970s (disco). However, rap is not only a rebellion against early forms of music and the lifestyles associated with them. Sometimes it is also music of social protest. At least, it is very realistic and the opposite of escapist. Mostly rap music is a means of expression. It is music of the street. In their lyrics rappers express their fears for their community, the reality of their lives, and they describe both the positive and negative sides of everyday life. Some artists come from environments that are impoverished and unhealthy, so music gives them a way of coping with reality, their violent and hard life. In this way they find a kind of shelter in their songs even though these songs describe their life and how hard it is. Thus they express their feelings through their music. Rap music differs from the other kinds of music, because of the great emphasis it puts on the words and lyrics. As said above, it is a kind of street poetry. This emphasis on words is because the songs are about real life. The rappers delivery is more like rhythmical speech than actual singing, although there is also a kind of very simple melody. The lyrics are not simple love songs, but reflect the complexity of reality. Eminem, the famous white rapper, who has had quite a hard life, is a good example of the way rappers make their actual lives the source of their songs. Shortly after he was born, his father abandoned him and until age twelve he and his mother lived in public housing. As a teenager he became interested in rap music, something that caused him to abandon school in the ninth grade and start performing with groups. The lyrics of Eminem have been criticized for being violent and offensive towards other celebrities. For example: Sometimes I just feel like my father, I hate to be bothered With all of this nonsense its constant And, Oh, its his lyrical content the song Guilty Conscience has gotten such rotten responses And all of this controversy circles me And it seems like the media immediately Points a finger at me (finger at me).. So I point one back at em, but not the index or pinkie Or the ring or the thumb, its the one you put up When you dont give a fuck, when you wont just put up With the bullshit they pull, cause they full of shit too When a dudes gettin bullied and shoots up his school And they blame it on Marilyn (on Marilyn) and the heroin Where were the parents at? And look where its at Middle America, now its a tragedy Now its so sad to see, an upper class ci-ty Havin this happenin (this happenin).. Then attack Eminem cause I rap this way (rap this way).. But Im glad cause they feed me the fuel that I need for the fire To burn and its burnin and I have returned There is a kind of aggression behind these lyrics which also allows the audience to identify with the anti-establishment attitude. They are also typical in the way they relate many different things together, including events in the news such as high school shootings, drug use, the media, middle America, and so on. Another famous rapper is a twenty-six year-old, Curtis James Jackson III, known as 50 cent. 50 cent is an American rapper who has lived a hard life. Curtis James Jackson III grew up without a father and was raised by his mother. His mother was only fifteen years old when she gave birth to him. He was born in South Jamaica. His mother who was a drug dealer died at twenty-three years old, leaving an eight year old boy who was raised by his grandparents. In early teenage he was dealing drugs, until he was arrested. He continued selling and hiding drugs, a fact that brought many problems and he was arrested a second time. However when he stopped he devoted himself to his career as a rap singer. Something that increased his popularity was his collaboration with Eminem. It is common and quite usual that rappers use violence and sexism in their lyrics. As mentioned above, violence is a means of expression of physical force either against ourselves or others and especially the weaker ones, while sexism is an attitude and belief of a person, usually male, that he is superior to or stronger that others, usually female. Sometimes a sexist attitude is communicated in lyrics that are sexually explicit. It is possible that the rapper did not deliberately intend to be sexist in the defined sense, but this is just part of his assumptions and his intention to be as realistic as possible. For example, the song called  «Candy Shop » by 50 cent is all about sexual activity and is apparently addressed to a girl, at least at the beginning, rather than to the audience itself (as in Eminems song above). However a little later the pronoun you is dropped and replaced by she as though 50 cent is now sharing his sexual experiences with his audience. Give it to me baby, nice and slow Climb on top, ride like you in the rodeo You aint never heard a sound like this before Cause I aint never put it down like this before Soon as I come through the door she get to pulling on my zipper Its like its a race who can get undressed quicker Isnt it ironic how erotic it is to watch em in thongs Had me thinking bout that ass after Im gone I touch the right spot at the right time Lights on or lights off, she like it from behind So seductive, you should see the way she wind Her hips in slow-mo on the floor when we grind As Long as she aint stopping, homie I aint stopping Dripping wet with sweat man its on and popping All my champagne campaign, bottle after bottle its on And we gon sip til every bubble in every bottle is gone Here we can easily understand the sexual innuendo. Whether it is actually sexist or not is a matter of opinion, probably the singer believes that it is just about the two sexes that want to have a bit of fun. Niggaz With Attitude (N.W.A), a five member band whose lyrics are openly violent (and refer to guns), are much more politically motivated. They have attacked even the police and FBI. Moreover the N.W.A has given to rap music its criminal image and raises the whole question of authenticity. This band has captured the essence of young black male rage. You dont really think youre gonna get away do you? We havent spotted them yet But theyre somewhere in the immediate vicinity. A 100 Miles and Runnin. MC Ren I hold the gun and You want me to kill a mutherfucker and its done in. Since Im stereotyped to kill and destruct Is one of the main reasons I dont give a fuck. Chances are usually not good Cause I freeze with my hands on a hot hood. And gettin jacked by the you-know-who. When in a black and white the capacity is two. Were not alone, were three more brothers, I mean street-brothers. Now wearin my dyes, cause Im not stupid, mutherfuckers. Theyre out to take our heads for what we said in the past. Point blank They can kizz my black azz. I didnt stutter when I said Fuck Tha Police. Cause its hard for a nigga to get peace. Now its broken and cant be fixed. Cause police and little black niggers dont mix so Now Im creepin through the fall. Runnin like a team. Well, see, I might have slayed yall. So for now pack the gun and Hold it in the air. Cause MC Ren has a 100 Miles of Runnin These lyrics express not only a lot of violence and rebelliousness, but also they use a typical kind of black slang. This is an expression of identity. As the song continues, it brings in the FBI as a way of proudly suggesting that N.W.A. is really important, or dangerous. The lyrics even comment sarcastically on how some of the enemies of black people are wearin our T-shirts! Runnin like a nigga I hate to lose. Show me on the news but I hate to be abused. I know it was a set-up. So now Im gonna get up. Even if the FBI wants me to shut up. But Ive got 10 000 niggas strong. They got everybody singin my Fuck Tha Police song. And while they treat my group like dirt, Their whole fuckin family is wearin our T-shirts. So Imma run til I cant run no more. Cause its time for MC Ren to settle the score. I got a urge to kick down doors. (The complete lyrics of this song are included in the Appendix.) This band is considered as one of the most violent bands in the decade of the eighties. Their lyrics were showing and describing a criminal life and a strong opposition to the police. Even the name of this band is openly aggressive using the N-word (which is taboo for white people) and the word attitude in a sense which means aggressive or rebellious. This allows young black people in the audience to identify strongly with the band, because it seems to represent black people standing up for themselves and asserting their power. Although this is not political in the sense that the Black Power movement was, nonetheless it is openly rebellious, and extremely realistic. CHAPTER TWO: HOW RAP AFFECTS ITS AUDIENCE Hip-hop [the term for the youth culture that includes rap music] is and will always be a culture of the African-American minority. But it has become an international language. So who are typical listeners to rap? Although rap is liked and appreciated by many people, it seems mainly intended for young black males. So do black females like it for the same kinds of reason? What about young white people (male and female)? What about older people? To what extent does the appeal of rap change from group to group? It is obviously difficult to answer these questions without carrying out wide research. However, the last question above matters because, as was seen in the last chapter, rap lyrics are important and express the experiences of rappers quite realistically, and it is possible that listeners with the same kinds of social experience will respond to rap more completely. For example, if we imagine a rich forty-five year old white woman living in St. Petersburg, the typical rap lyrics may not be so important to her as to a black eighteen year-old living in Harlem, New York. But here we have to remember an important point that was made by W. E. Perkins quoted in Chapter One: in rap, he says, The beat is the structure around which the lyrics are developed, and samples of selected phrases from previously recorded music, jingles, solos, and so on play second fiddle (see note 2, page 5 above). Probably it is this beat and also the possibilities of expressive dancing that go with it that makes ra p so widely popular. However, rap cannot be really rap without the lyrics playing a big part. So we can ask: when people choose to listen to rap music, what exactly is it that they identify with rap? Is it simply the musical style, fast rhythmical speaking with a very basic melody, or is it something else, the spirit of this kind of music? Someone who likes rap might turn on the TV and hear a rap song advertising, for example, breakfast cereal, but certainly they would not consider this to be real rap. For a song to be real rap it is not enough to imitate the musical style, but the lyrics must also be about the kinds of things that rappers sing about. These lyrics need to be realistic and unsentimental. This implies that people who are drawn to real rap are interested in the picture of life that it communicates and not just in the beat, even if they do not share that kind of life themselves. Of course they also enjoy the musical style, but this is most likely because that musical style is very effective in communicating what the lyrics say. It is also very energetic, and in performance is accompanied by a certain style of movement. Young people love to express themselves through dancing. However, dancing itself is not a socially meaningless kind of expression. Typical rap dancing is both masculine and African in spirit. Katrina Hazzard-Donald says, I was ambivalent about the hip hop phenomenon [which includes rap] until I noticed the dancing that accompanied the rapping; It was energetic, athletic, and noticeably male dominated, using a very African movement vocabularyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Like most African dance styles, these [styles] exhibit angularity, asymmetry, polyrhythmic sensitivity, derision themes, segmentation and delineation of body parts, earth-centeredness and percussive performance. Thus this kind of dancing is also an expression of the culture of the intended rap audience, young black males, not of their poverty or of crime or drug use, but their African roots. For them this dancing is a way to celebrate their identity. Other kinds of audiences can try to imitate this style of dancing but it will never mean the same thing to them, even if they really love it. What in my opinion makes rap widely popular, especially amongst young people, is its energy. For some types of audience, this energy is a kind of social rebellion. Rebellion is usually not explicit in the lyrics, but in the attitude of the performers (as the name of N.W.A, Niggas With Attitude, says). Through this, black listeners gain a sense of confidence, even power, and of pride in their identity. ANALYSIS Rap, as was said above, is part of hip hop culture. According to Katrina Hazzard-Donald, Hip hop appears at the crucial juncture of postindustrial stagnation, increased family dissolution, and a weakened struggle for black economic and political rights. Might one expect the pressures of mutually antagonistic social forces such as high unemployment, heightened job competition, and expectations of conspicuous consumption to influence both the popular expressive culture and the culture-creating apparatus of the community? I say yes. It is no coincidence that many youth of the hip hop generation have never known the relative security that some of their parents and even grandparents knew. This quotation says that the general economic and social situation affects a cultural expression like rap music. Therefore we can also assume that rap music reflects the general economic and social situation. It was shown in Chapter One that the lyrics of rap are often about violence or poverty, trouble with the police, and so on the kind of the things the rappers and their main intended audience meet in their every day lives. In Chapter Two it was seen that the style of dance is also an important part of the appeal of rap. Probably this dance style also expresses the socio-economic situation, but in a much more indirect way than the lyrics do. It can be argued that it is the rap dance style that makes rap more positive and optimistic in spirit than the lyrics on their own suggest it would be. Therefore, while it is true that rap lyrics, consisting of violence, sex and sexism, are an accurate reflection of the typical experiences of the rappers own lives, the audience experiences this realism in relation to a whole musical style that expresses energy and a sense of identity, especially African roots. It is both these elements together that make up the great appeal of rap. According to Anthony Bozza,  Hip-hop, in comparison to other African-American musical traditions blues, jazz and rock and roll has remained truest to its roots for the thirty years it has existed. It is possibly the most potent, least altered African-American cultural expression in history. Hip-hop has evolved technically, but its basic theme has survived: self-improvement with style. The earliest rap records, like those released a week ago, were about getting money, living better, having a party, having sex, defying mainstream society, and looking really good while you do ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Rap broadcast inner-city realities and established rebel stance that no hardship would keep the minorities who pioneered hip-hop from living, to the fullest, on their own terms. While this message of rap is probably strongest and most meaningful for young black people, and perhaps also for the youth of other relatively poor minority groups such as Hispanics in the USA, it is also easy to see how it makes rap music attractive to young people in general. CONCLUSION In conclusion, we have seen that violence, sexism and sexually explicit language do exist in the lyrics of rap music, and that this is part of the realistic use of inner-city realities, as Bozza calls them. However, to understand the role these lyrics play in rap music it has been necessary to understand their context, especially rap dancing and the wider hip-hop culture. In this context such lyrics are part of what Bozza calls the rebel stance. What attracts young people to rap is not the lyrics in themselves but the whole image that rap creates, as well as its sense of energy and identity.