Wednesday, December 25, 2019

A Society Without Drugs - 1263 Words

A Society without Drugs Have you ever wondered of how wonderful our society would be, if we are able to get rid of Illegal Drug Usage in our community? Despite having tough anti-drug laws, the U.S. has the highest level of illegal drug use in the world. As per the World Health Organization s survey of legal and illegal drug use in 17 countries, U.S report the highest level of drug usage (CBS news). The second-most abused category of drugs after marijuana among young people is the usage of prescription drugs (CBS news). Prescription drug abuse is the Nation s fastest-growing drug problem, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified prescription drug abuse as an epidemic. Misuse of prescription drugs is seen mostly†¦show more content†¦However, translating that concept into actionable objectives and measurable results is a difficult task. While Progress has been made, we have more to be done. It will take more than just money, prisons, cops, treatment centers and learning progra ms to curb the illicit drug usage from our society. The people are the main problem and it will take the people who know the relationship between drugs and crime to care enough to do something about it. It will take people who care enough to say no to drugs. We must act now to prevent a future drug epidemic. Working together, we can succeed. Let us all come together in creating a path to a healthier and stronger nation. The first step in tackling the problem of Illicit Drug usage and prescription drug abuse is to educate parents, youth, and patients about the dangers of usage of illegal drugs. We know that prevention works. Community programs have been effective in encouraging prevention at the local level and parents can serve as positive role models by talking with their children about the dangers of drug use. Through effective prevention programs we can decrease emergency room visits, and lower rates of chronic disease, improve student achievement, and enhance workforce readiness. Let us all join as one community and get involved today and talk with our kids, students, athletes about the benefits of avoiding drugs and alcohol; eliminating unused orShow MoreRelatedThere Is Hope for the Drug Addicted932 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, â€Å"Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain; they change its structure and how it works. These brain changes can be long lasting and can lead to many harmful, often self-destructive, behaviors† (NIH, WEB). Many people in society struggle with drug abuse. â€Å"An estimated 208 million peopleRead MoreAldous Huxley s Brave New World1564 Words   |  7 Pagesreligion-deprived, heavily medicated, and industrialized society. Most of the new world’s society members, known as the â€Å"World State,† are content, although several characters are not satisfied as they can’t experience being fully human; happiness that is created by using the drug Soma hides the truth and creates a false sense of happiness. With the utilization of Soma and coveting happiness over truth, Huxley’s novel is a warning of what our society could become with technological advancements if theyRead MoreConnecting Sociological Theory and Social Issues765 Words   |  4 PagesConnecting Sociological Theory and Social Issues Drug abuse is a topic of sociological significance because it is all around our daily lives whether we want it to be or not. Drug abuse today can influence or impact our family, community, and the economic and political life. Whether the drugs that are being abused are prescribed or recreational it can lead to bad consequences that the abuser may not have intentionally caused. It is also an important aspect to social life which sociologists canRead MoreThe Drug Of The Pharmaceutical Industry1081 Words   |  5 Pagesincreased the longevity of our lives in society and eradicated diseases such as chicken pox and hives, but has created an addiction to prescription drugs in America. The concept of prescription has made society to believe that taking pharmaceutical drugs comes without a consequence. Though these drugs come with consequence, the positive effects of the pharmaceutical industry helped eradicate diseases that would be a potential threat to our lively hood in today’s society. The pharmaceutical industry supportsRead MoreHow Society Is Affected By Drug Usage In Sport?1540 Words   |  7 PagesDrugs have been a problem in our society for years. They have been used and abused by many groups, including amateur and professional athletes. Drugs are also used for recreational use not just for performance enhancement. Society is directly influenced by the usage of drugs in sport. A study in 2002 showed that An estimated 3 million people aged 15 or older reported that they used marijuana or hashish at least once in the year before the survey This shows that 12.2% of all Canadians either haveRead MoreBrave New World Literary Analysis845 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"people† of the society rely on drugs, sex, and brainwashing to keep peace in the society. In Brave New World drugs are the main way of keeping the society functioning normally and without chaos. Huxley describes the drug’s effects on society and the people as â€Å"Euphoric, narc otic, pleasantly hallucinant †¦ All the advantages of Christianity and alcohol; none of their defects.†(Page 53). Huxley predicts that his actual society will be dependent on drugs to keep the peace and happiness. The drugs used in BraveRead MoreThe Signs Of Addiction And Addiction898 Words   |  4 Pages Families can do different things that can help with addiction. According to Alcohol and Drug Abuse Affects Everyone in the Family (2015), families can learn the facts about drugs and addiction so they can know what to expect. The family needs to make sure they get help for themselves other than getting help for the addicted person, but also learn what they can do to help the addicted family member. They would maybe need to get a family intervention and always look for a long term recovery. The familyRead MoreIs The War On Drugs?1252 Words   |  6 Pagesdiscussing is the War on Drugs. I will discuss the War on Drugs in relation to mass incarceration and to what cons equences the War on drugs has caused among people and society itself. I have always been interested by the War on Drugs. However, slowly realizing, I only knew so much about the issue. As I further researched I learned what the term, â€Å"War on Drugs† really means. The â€Å"War on Drugs† is about the prohibition of drugs in society. Therefore, I strongly believe that the Drug War is a very controversialRead MoreGunnar Monical. Professor Greg Murray. Egl 101-13. 17 March1401 Words   |  6 Pagesconditions such as anxiety and ADHD, but also have the power to be abused by teenage party goers that crave a cheap thrill. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institute on Drug Abuse states that roughly 20% of people in the United States 12 and older have recreationally used prescription drugs at least once in the span of their lives (Fahey and Miller 546). It is safe to say that the modern party scene is transitioning from the traditional marijuana a nd alcohol use to the new deadlyRead MoreThe Effects Of Drug Abuse On American Soil Essay1539 Words   |  7 PagesIn a day and age where there is no clear or apparent bad guy, the United States battles an elusive foe on our home soil. The current epidemic of drug abuse claims the lives of thousands of Americans without any discrimination or bias. The decades old â€Å"war on drugs† has done little to hinder the devastating carnage of widespread drug abuse decimating today’s youth. This affliction hits home for almost all of us to at least some extent. The enemy is known, we as a country however have yet to devise

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

World War I And Great War - 1447 Words

World war one was one the biggest wars in recorded history. It lasted from 1914-1918 and was a brutal conflict in Canadian history. More than 60,000 Canadians died in this war. When the First World War began in the year of 1914, some believe that it would last for a long time. Many young individuals in Canada and others saw this war as a privilege to travel, adventure, and great beauty. Some individuals were afraid that the conflict would be over before they could get into the battle. Many people signed up dreaming that they would have the honour of fighting for the British Empire, to which Canada belonged. The somewhat â€Å"Great War† was different in the dreamy vision than it was in reality. This war took the lives of more than 8 million†¦show more content†¦Some of the causes of world war one are imperialism, militarism, nationalism, and alliances. Imperialism is when one country rules over another through establishment of colonies. Imperialism resulted from Indus trialization, which was needed for raw goods and markets for manufactured goods. The countries fought with each other over colonies. Militarism was used for building a strong military and in order for that country to have its interests dominate the government. In the past, war was seen as something that was acceptable to solve conflicts and enhance a country. Some examples of imperialism include: naval arms race between Great Britain and Germany. Nationalism is a strong feeling of loyalty and protection of culture and need of ethnic group to have a country that is their own. Alliances are countries that form cooperative groups in order to protect everyone’s interests. However, the most significant cause of world war one was industrialization, which had fueled imperialism, and Nationalism. Together they both caused three factors that led to war: German unification, territorial rivalries, and economic competition. The Great powers were prepared to participate in the war because in the 15th century, some European nations were expanding their territory forcefully. Countries that were powerful used imperialism by creating colonies all over the world in order to create empires. They used the land and resources of the nations that were weak and controlled by the great

Monday, December 9, 2019

Hearts of Darkness Post Colonialism Essay Example For Students

Hearts of Darkness: Post Colonialism Essay The cultural relativism (Which basically says that right and wrong are culture-specific) was a strong sensibility during the nineteenth century which is why it was addressed in this story. Modern readers of Hearts of Darkness may find the racial slurs used throughout the story to be offensive. However, in the nineteenth century things were different. For example, the word Niger was just a variation on the pronunciation of the word negro which is the Latin for black. Conrad was probably not aware that it would eventually become a derogatory term. In some ways, Hearts of Darkness sis blistering critique tot colonialism. The story takes place at a time when it was pretty evident that colonialism was not functioning as it should. On the surface it looked like it was the height of the empire when it reality colonialism in Africa was not thriving. Conrad portrays British imperialism through Marrow, who is glad to see the vast amount of red on the Companys map; which represents British territory, Marrow is grateful that the real work is done there; meaning salvation, religion, culture and commerce Conrad takes advantage of his position and the position f the colony. He portrays the reality of colonialism of the District Manager, a real imperialist. Marrow finds that the fact that the manager is never ill is his only positive quality. Marrow basically puts Kurt on a mental pedestal because he is essentially the one bringing civilization. He brings civilization through Imperialism and to the savages. However, he still managed to reap more reward, in the shape Of ivory. Marrows opinion of Imperialism is altered several times based on his experiences with witnessing the lengths the Imperialists would go for profit. When Marrow meets Kurt he realizes that Kurt himself has been conquered by the darkness and this changes his opinion regarding Imperialism. The roles of Quartzs fiance and his African mistress are significant characters in the story. The Europeans dont realize that Kurt lives a life of sin and consider him to be pure which contrasts with Marrows knowledge of his corruption. Conrad builds Quartzs hence up to symbolize the lack of presence of the British from the events in Africa, She is distraught about Quartzs death and ponders what might have been, had Kurt not died. Quartzs mistress does not appear to be grief-stricken, but is not happy as she is the only native still standing after Marrow sounded the steamers whistle. Quartzs fiancà ©s claimed she knew him best, but this was just an illusion as she was not aware of the sinful life he lived. The memory she has of Kurt is a lie: since Marrow did not tell her the truth. The women in Hearts of Darkness have two sets of characteristics. R-iris, they have the accepted Victorian values and then they have the post-colonial values. The Victorian reading would portray Curtis fiance as feminine, beautiful, saintly ND mourns Kurt for a long time. The innocence her character displays would suggest her purity. She would have represented civilization. On the hand, Quartzs mistress would be portrayed as masculine, savage and very careless of the fact that her loved one was leaving. His African mistress would have symbolized the savage unknown that was Africa. The post-colonial reading would show Quartzs fiance as a foolish woman who was mourning a man she barely knew. Her innocence would suggest how naive she really was and her faith was based upon a lie. His mistress would be depicted as erotic who lives independently after Quartzs passing. She would have represented the fact that Africa did not need Britains salvation which was very contrary to the British belief, Concords view of African culture as other was based on the tact that British imperialism very present during the nineteenth century. .u1805c82da0a7edb2775125f3089fbe75 , .u1805c82da0a7edb2775125f3089fbe75 .postImageUrl , .u1805c82da0a7edb2775125f3089fbe75 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1805c82da0a7edb2775125f3089fbe75 , .u1805c82da0a7edb2775125f3089fbe75:hover , .u1805c82da0a7edb2775125f3089fbe75:visited , .u1805c82da0a7edb2775125f3089fbe75:active { border:0!important; } .u1805c82da0a7edb2775125f3089fbe75 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1805c82da0a7edb2775125f3089fbe75 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u1805c82da0a7edb2775125f3089fbe75:active , .u1805c82da0a7edb2775125f3089fbe75:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1805c82da0a7edb2775125f3089fbe75 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1805c82da0a7edb2775125f3089fbe75 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1805c82da0a7edb2775125f3089fbe75 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1805c82da0a7edb2775125f3089fbe75 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u1805c82da0a7edb2775125f3089fbe75:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1805c82da0a7edb2775125f3089fbe75 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1805c82da0a7edb2775125f3089fbe75 .u1805c82da0a7edb2775125f3089fbe75-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1805c82da0a7edb2775125f3089fbe75:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Conservation Of Water In The Tucson Water Basin EssaySomeone from Africa would probably not appreciate Concords portrayal of Africa as being other or insignificant especially when compared to Britain, Concords Hearts of Darkness is very representative of what was significant to those in the nineteenth entry including colonialism and imperialism It was essentially a good story for the transition from the nineteenth to the twentieth centuries based on the fact that certain topics that were once unheard of in the nineteenth century may be considered in the twentieth century.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Robinson Crusoe

Robinson Crusoe can be viewed as a classical example of the eighteenth century novel because of the themes that the author explores and the form that this literary work takes. In particular, one can argue that Daniel Defoe explores such issues as individualism and the role of Protestantism in the life of a person.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Robinson Crusoe specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Furthermore, the writer prefers realistic description of the main character. Moreover, this novel is presented in the form of autobiography which is also a characteristic of the eighteenth century literature. Furthermore, one can say that this book is a powerful story of a person who is forced to display his best qualities in order to survive. First, it should be mention that this novel emphasizes the importance of individualism and self-sufficiency of a person. At the beginning, the protagonist dreads the idea of being com pletely isolated from the rest of the world. However, later he is able to reconcile himself with this thought. He says, â€Å"it was possible I might be more happy in this solitary condition than I should have been in a liberty of society, and in all the pleasures of the world† (Defoe 20). To a great extent, this situation gives him an opportunity to discover some of his best qualities. Moreover, this work throws light on several principles of Protestantism. First of all, one should mention that this movement rejects the idea of luxury and sensuality. In turn, Robinson Crusoe also mentions the things that he does not need, namely, â€Å"pride, ambition, avarice, and luxury† (Defoe 200). Moreover, labor is essential for the protagonist because it enables him to retain his humanity. To some degree, this is an example of Protestant work ethics. Furthermore, it is important to focus the way in which Daniel Defoe describes the events of the novel. One can say that he prefer s the tradition of realism which only began to emerge in the eighteenth century. For example, the author provides very detailed description of Crusoe’s attempts to sustain himself on the desolate island. In particular, the readers can see how difficult it is for the protagonist to construct a boat or grow food. In this way, the author wants to show that individualism is closely related to painstaking labor and hardships.Advertising Looking for essay on british literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Finally, much attention should be paid to the form of this novel. It has the elements of an autobiography as well as diary. Such literary technique was very widespread in the eighteenth century. Robinson Crusoe can be regarded as one of epistolary novels along with such works as Clarissa and Pamela written by Samuel Richardson (Spacks 107). This approach enables the writer to explore the inner world of the main character s. Yet, Robinson Crusoe differs from these novels, because unlike other authors, Daniel Defoe pays much more attention to the realistic description of the main events. These are the main aspects that can be identified. Although, Robinson Crusoe has the characteristics of a conventional eighteenth century novel, this works produces a power impression of the readers. By looking at a person, who is left to his own device, Defoe is able to create a powerful story of hardship and struggle. This novel explores such issues as individuality and religion and it shows how the values of the eighteenth century people were shaped. Overall, this novel provides a realistic description of a person’s struggle at the time of difficulty. Works Cited Defoe, Daniel. Robinson Crusoe, London: Windmill Books, 2009. Print. Spacks, Patricia. Novel Beginnings: Experiments in Eighteenth-century English  Fiction, New Haven: Yale University Press, 2006. Print. This essay on Robinson Crusoe was written and submitted by user Hayes Ramirez to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Stay on the Cutting Edge with an Online Degree Essays

Stay on the Cutting Edge with an Online Degree Essays Stay on the Cutting Edge with an Online Degree Essay Stay on the Cutting Edge with an Online Degree Essay The corporate world – and pretty much every other industry – is an ultra competitive playing field where those in the workforce must distinguish themselves in order to climb the ladder of success. It seems as though no matter how good we are at our jobs – no matter how educated we are and how much experience we have – there is always someone younger, better, more experienced, more educated that is ready to take our place. This information can either cause us to exist in a constant state of paranoia or empower us to be proactive in staying on the cutting edge of our chosen profession and remaining committed to remaining in the game for as long as we choose to do so. One of the ways that we can sharpen our skills and stay up on new developments in our particular industries is by the pursuit of a higher (or additional) degree. This, of course, is easier said than done for grown adults who are already deeply immersed in their career and all of the hours that this entails, as well as running a household and even raising a family. In such a situation, it would be next to impossible to imagine fitting in a weekly commute and the time necessary to sit in a classroom to an already overflowing schedule. But an online degree program can help. An online degree can be earned in practically every academic program through a variety of reputable, accredited colleges and universities. The work is the same; the papers are the same; the syllabus is the same; the only difference between an online degree program and a traditional degree program is the physical location where that degree is earned. An online degree student has the flexibility of at-home learning, logging on to complete their assignments when it is convenient for their schedule.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Manifest Destinys meaning to American expansion

Manifest Destinys meaning to American expansion Manifest Destiny was a term that came to describe a widespread belief in the middle of the 19th century that the United States had a special mission to expand westward. The specific phrase was originally used in print by a journalist, John L. OSullivan, when writing about the proposed annexation of Texas. OSullivan, writing in the Democratic Review newspaper in July 1845, asserted our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions. He was essentially saying the United States possessed a right granted by God to take territory in the West and install its values and system of government. That concept was not especially new, as Americans had already been exploring and settling westward, first across the Appalachian Mountains in the late 1700s, and then, in the early 1800s, beyond the Mississippi River. But by presenting the concept of westward expansion as something of a religious mission, the idea of manifest destiny struck a chord. Though the phrase manifest destiny may seem to have captured the public mood of the mid-19th century, it was not viewed with universal approval. Some at the time thought it was simply putting pseudo-religious polish on blatant avarice and conquest. Writing in the late 19th century, future president Theodore Roosevelt, referred to the concept of taking property in furtherance of manifest destiny as having been belligerent, or more properly speaking, piratical. The Push Westward The idea of expanding into the West had always been attractive, since settlers including Daniel Boone moved inland, across the Appalachians, in the 1700s. Boone had been instrumental in the establishment of what became known as the Wilderness Road, which led through the Cumberland Gap into the lands of Kentucky. And American politicians in the early 19th century, such as Henry Clay of Kentucky, eloquently made the case that the future of America lay westward. A severe financial crisis in 1837 emphasized the notion that the United States needed to expand its economy. And political figures such as Senator Thomas H. Benton of Missouri, made the case that settling along the Pacific would greatly enable trade with India and China. The Polk Administration The president most associated with the concept of manifest destiny is James K. Polk, whose single term in the White House was focused on the acquisition of California and Texas. Its worth nothing that Polk had been nominated by the Democratic Party, which was generally closely associated with expansionist ideas in the decades before the Civil War. And a Polk campaign slogan in the 1844 campaign, Fifty-four forty or fight, was a specific reference to expanding into the Northwest. What was meant by the slogan was that the border between the United States and British territory to the north would be at north latitude 54 degrees and 40 minutes. Polk got the votes of the expansionists by threatening to go to war with Britain to acquire territory. But after he was elected he negotiated the border at 49 degrees north latitude. Polk thus secured the territory that today is the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and parts of Wyoming and Montana. The American desire to expand into the Southwest was also satisfied during Polks term in office as the Mexican War resulted in the United States acquiring Texas and California. By pursuing a policy of manifest destiny, Polk could be considered the most successful president of the seven men who struggled in the office in the two decades before the Civil War.  In that period between 1840 and 1860, when most occupants of the White House couldnt point to any real achievements, Polk had managed to greatly increase the territory of the nation. Controversy of Manifest Destiny Though no serious opposition to westward expansion developed, the policies of Polk and the expansionists were criticized in some quarters. Abraham Lincoln, for instance, while serving as a one-term Congressman in the late 1840s, was opposed to the Mexican War, which he believed was a pretext for expansion. And in the decades following the acquisition of western territory, the concept of manifest destiny has been continually analyzed and debated. In modern times, the concept has often been viewed in terms of what it meant to the native populations of the American West, which were, of course, displaced or even eliminated by expansionist policies of the United States government. The lofty tone which John L. OSullivan intended when he used the term has not carried into the modern era.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Summary Report - Electronic Privacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Summary Report - Electronic Privacy - Essay Example David shows the audience how surveillance can be malicious if it lands on the wrong hands. He reveals how a former employer steals his fired employees phone records, a woman who loses his job due to mistaken identity. He also shows how a man discovers that his rental car company was tracking him every move. While most people will take the freedom they enjoy for granted, David utilizes the documentary to remind us that freedom is a precious thing and should not be taken for granted. Many people would want to keep their email conversations to themselves, the text messages we send to remain a conversation between ourselves and the recipient but that is not the case anymore. The governments super machines sift through all this communication data and archive them. The documentary also introduces to the viewers to the little known department of AOL, which works closely with law enforcement agencies on request for individuals information. These companies are monitoring the employees, shoppers and diners observed and analyzed. Bank records and financial statements, communication trends and patterns, are being monitored stored and archived for future references if need is. It is clear now that with technology comes with challenges and one of them is the loss of

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Discuss the image of the post-war family in realtion to parethood, Essay

Discuss the image of the post-war family in realtion to parethood, suffering and Vergangenheitsbewaltigung in timm's Am Beispiel meines Bruders and Treichel's Der Verlorene - Essay Example The presentation of post-war society within the family domain in the two novels will be closely analysed in this essay, with regard to the family image, in order to ascertain what life was like and why family traits and painful emotions were present, as Weigel suggests above. Firstly, guilt and shame will be presented as a means of suffering within the family. Secondly, the effects of these emotions will provide a continuation into issues of parenthood and how ghosts from the past affect upbringing. Finally, Vergangenheitsbewà ¤ltigung will be examined in relation to language and generational gaps in order to determine how the past is dealt with in each novel in order to decipher how each author depicts the family image during this period and the traumatic effects this has had on offspring born after the war. Traumatic experience can be defined within the family setting through suffering. However, it is necessary to examine what it is to suffer and the consequences of it. This can be categorised by guilt, something that, according to Clarke, is â€Å"The feeling of having broken an internalised code of conduct or morality. To experience guilt is to feel pricked by conscience at this transgression, even if the individual is not called to accounts by others.†2 If suffering is symptomatic of guilt within the post-war image of the family, then let us now consider the meaning of shame. Undoubtedly, guilt is concerned with the inner-feelings of the individual while shame is how the individual believes himself to be considered by others. Lynd describes this notion as follows, This definition can be clarified further by alluding to Sartre, who points out that those who are guilty feel the force of a judgemental gaze by others, thus evoking emotions of shame with regard to their actions.4Therefore, the two emotions merge and emphasis is used accordingly, within the two novels, in order to nuance the

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Bias in Abstinence-Only Education Essay Example for Free

Bias in Abstinence-Only Education Essay In addition to being an ineffective deterrent to unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, abstinence only education prevents young women from making well informed decisions about their sexuality.   Cases of teen pregnancy and STD/HIV infections is on the rise despite the government allocating funds for abstinence only programs.   This paper seeks to look at the government policies with regard to abstinence-only education programs and its relationship with unwanted pregnancies. It is a known fact that sexual abstinence is being practiced in all countries in the world as a sure way of preventing sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy.    Men and women of all ages who are not ready to accept the risks that accompany sexual activity embrace abstinence which is a normal and acceptable practice.   As a way of expressing love, affection and tenderness, majority resort to intercourse and sexual activity. Sex is also being used by couples to strengthen their relationships.   However, it has often been argued that using sex to cement relationships can distort one’s judgment.   Among women, having sex may strengthen the feeling of love but do not actually cement or deepen the relationship. Exploring sexual behavior within an environment of deep commitment where having children is considered as a possibility is always rewarding.   Majority of people are however not prepared for commitment hence opt for abstinence until they develop a stable relationship. Abstinence is 100% effective in protecting an individual from sexually transmitted.   However, if the majority of the population could realize its effectiveness, then we would not be having such headlines like the ones we have seen in the past of teen births being on the rise.   However, abstinence is not an easy practice considering how strong sexual drives are among humans. The rate of teen births steadily declined since 1991 and this could have been because of the intensive educational campaigns that were initiated during that period.   These campaigns included encouraging people to use contraceptives and condoms and enlightening people on the risks of Aids and sexually transmitted diseases.   However, today statistics now show an increase by 3% in teen births the first time ever in 14 years. (Wilson, Kelly, Patricia,2005) Is it that the sex education programs that the government adopted are no longer working? The government has tried to show some effort in curbing STDs and unwanted pregnancies. The first federal abstinence-only program was enacted in 1981 and this was designed primarily to support pregnant and parenting teenagers.   This came through the adolescent Family Life Act which was also passed the same year. AFLA also funded â€Å"abstinence-only† programs meant to encourage responsibility and self discipline among teenagers (Abstinence Only Programs 2008, p.2). Abstinence-only program’s purpose was to teach the general population and especially the teenagers how they stand to gain from abstinence. It also sought to teach abstinence from pre-marital to all schooling children.   The abstinence-only program was supposed to teach the values of abstinence with regard to unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.   According to this program, the expected standard of human sexual activity revolved around a mutually faithful monogamous relationship.   However, with all these well clarified goals, current scientific research shows that this program is ineffective. A study of ‘abstinence-only-until marriages’ program inferred that the classes fail to serve its goal of delaying the onset of sexual activity the young people.   An evaluation of 11 of these programs showed that they do not have a lasting positive effect on the asexual behavior of young people (Ibid 4).   Instead of a positive effect on the young people they showed a negative willingness to use contraceptive because the program emphasized on contraceptive failure. It has often been reiterated that abstinence-only programs endanger the youths because adolescents are denied complete information.   These programs fail to provide contraception information and in some cases, they have been accused of providing wrong information which may lead to youths forgoing contraceptive use. Teens are exposed to pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases because of lack of responsible sex education.   Only safer sex intervention can reduce unprotected sexual intercourse as compared to abstinence only programs.   The Federal Fund for abstinence -only programs have negatively influenced schools.   Avery good example involves the Gloucester High school in Massachusetts with the summer vacations beginning 17 girls at the school are expecting babies (Kathleen Kingsbury, Wednesday June 18, 2008). This proves further the failure of the program to curb pre-marital pregnancies.   In order to reduce the prevalence of this at the school a local pediatrician advocated for the prescription of contraceptives.   However, this has been met with hostility.   Amazingly it is the desire of these teens to get pregnant and this only proves how distorted their perception towards life is.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The American Experience :: essays research papers fc

The Bomb: â€Å"The hydrogen bomb can’t be done, or if it can be done, it will take too long, or if it can be done and doesn’t take too long, it will require too large a fraction of the nation’s scientific manpower, or if it doesn’t require too large a fraction of the nation’s labor force, it will be too massive to deliver, or if it is deliverable, we oughtn’t to make it.† The ideas had existed since the early 1900’s; the research started in the 1930’s, and by 1938 nuclear fission had been demonstrated experimentally. The possibility that nuclear fission could be used to create weapons of mass destruction was almost immediately evident to scientists. In August of 1939 Albert Einstein wrote a letter to President Franklin Roosevelt recommending that the United States begin research on the development of nuclear weapons. Thus, at the height of World War II, President Roosevelt launched a crash program to design and build the atomic bomb. The Soviet Union at the time was struggling economically because of the war and â€Å"physics was not yet a matter of great interest to the powers-that-be.† After witnessing the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in July of 1945 the priorities of Soviet government changed significantly. Faced with this new atomic threat, Stalin instigated a drastic acceleration of nuclear research with the aim to b uild a bomb of his own. Yakov Borisovich Zeldovich was appointed to lead the Soviet atomic bomb project, and two years later, a second theoretical group was created to â€Å"verif[y] and improve calculations made by Zeldovich’s group.† The second group consisted of Andrei Sakharov, Semyon Belenki, Vitaly Lazarevich Ginzburg, and Yuri Romanov and was led by Igor Tamm. After two months of â€Å"lick[ing] Zeldovich’s anus† Tamm’s group took a turn in a new direction: Sakharov’s â€Å"first idea.† Sakharov’s design was completely different from the â€Å"dead end† that Zeldovich’s team was struggling with. Surprisingly, it is very similar to Edward Teller’s 1947 â€Å"Alarm Clock† design even though Sakharov had had no connections with the West and had come up with his design, which he called the â€Å"Layer Cake,† completely independently of Teller. Stalin maintained a limited amount of trust in the Soviet scientists, and as a form of insurance, when the Soviet Union had obtained documents describing the US design for the atomic bomb he gave orders to build it â€Å"as early as possible.† Scientists at the Installation soon received detailed descriptions of the US bomb, â€Å"Fat Man† and began building it immediately.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Airline Industry Essay

Many people assume flying is a fairly new endeavor. However, although the first few years of the 20th century were a risky time for flying, it did exist. It wasn’t until 1925 that flying became more common. This began when the Air Mail Act took place, which enabled the post master to contract with private airliners to deliver mail, developing the airline industry. Shortly after, the Air Commerce Act gave the Secretary of Commerce power to establish airways, certify aircraft, license pilots, and issue and enforce air traffic regulations (Harris, nd). Within ten years many modern day airliners such as United and American had emerged as great players in this up and coming industry. In 1938 the Civil Aeronautics Act was established creating the Civil Aeronautics Board. This board’s two most significant functions were determining airlines’ routes of travel and regulating prices for passenger fares (Harris, nd). The Federal Aviation Administration was created in 1958 to manager and regulates safety operations and in 1978 the era of unencumbered free market competition would finally take place due to the Airline Deregulation Act. Airliners have come a long way. With special accommodations such as first class, food and beverage available, and often times even radio or television. Often times, it is easy to find a deal for tickets such as packages. Some examples would be round a bout trips, or package deals on hotel rooms, inclusive food, and the trip back home. The Airline Industry Business model can be easily broken down into five models. First, the buyer and second is supplier power in the industry. â€Å"Airbus and Boeing dominate the jetliner market, so it makes it hard for other suppliers to have a lot of power in the industry, â€Å"(â€Å"Airline Economics, p.14, 2010). Different types of Carriers are demanded in the industry, depending on what it is used for. So, a lot of suppliers find it easy to get into the industry thanks to the buyers. â€Å"Competition from low-cost carriers such as Southwest Airlines tends to strengthen buyer power in the airlines market, where United Airlines, for example, has a Mileage Plus scheme (â€Å"Airlines economics†, p.14, 2010). A new entrant is something very hard to accomplish within the airline industry. New entrants can make it hard because, generally, a lot of established airlines hold a monopoly over slots at most airports (â€Å"Airline Economics†, p.14, 2010). Fourth, a good example of the Availability of Substitutes can be said to be boats, trains, or busses. However, in today’s economy with the oil prices sometimes flying wickedly high, it is the best way to travel, and it’s a lot more time saving. The final force is Competitive Rivalry. Highly competitive industries generally earn low returns because the cost of competition is high. With a lot of expenses being high today, different companies need to advertise so they’re not wasting seats. It is important to remember that fundamentally airlines are a service industry. Airlines perform a service for their customers – transporting them and their belongings (or their products, in the case of cargo customers) from one point to another for an agreed price (â€Å"Airlines Economics†, 2012). Airlines vary greatly. From a single aircraft carrying mail or cargo, to a full-service international airline many people depend on airline services. However, it seems that it is the Low Cost Carriers which continue to grow and bring in the crowds. Most of the passenger revenue (nearly 80 percent) comes from domestic travel, while 20 percent comes from travel to and from destinations in other countries (â€Å"Airlines Economics†, 2012). However, it is the frequent flyers, or the people who take more the 10 trips a year, who take up a significant portion of air travel. While they only account for 8% out of the total number of passengers in a given year, they make up 40 % of the trips. Rivalry in the airlines industry is strong, due in part to the sheer size of competitors and the difficulties in exiting the industry (Datamonitor, p. 14, 2011). Because the industry product is so minimal, high sensitivity is essential when considering pricing. Therefore, rivalry increases the more low cost carriers are in the market; these companies are capable of competing more intensely. Rivalry is also intensified where storage costs are high. Storage cost in this industry is equivalent to unsold seats on a flight, similar to unsold inventory in a manufacturing industry (Datamonitor, p. 22, 2011). A lack of diversity in the passengers increases the need for players to use their single core business to compete with. Rivalry in the U.S. airline industry is assessed strong (Datamonitor, p. 23, 2011). Some of the major rivalry in this particular industry would include AMR corporation, Southwest airlines, and United Continental Holdings. Since 1978, the airline industry has seen more than 180 bankruptcies (Alukos, p. 1, 2012). Currently, US Airways Group Inc. has decided to partner with AMR in the midst of their bankruptcies. In doing this, their hope is to minimize the amount of employees being laid off and put more money into creditor’s pockets. American Airlines has been at a competitive disadvantage for many years (Corridore, p. 2, 2012). In the last couple of months pilots retiring have taken its toll, with 240 in September and October 2011. The companies cash balances quickly drained out due to many lump-sum payouts. Oil prices have also taken its toll on airlines, peaking at its all-time high at $147.27 a barrel. Since then, the cost per barrel has receded going down 58% from the record high. However, it is thought to be possible for oil prices to climb, once again, over $100 a barrel over the next year, reflecting the view of Corridore that the oild market has again become more volatile (Corridore, p. 3, 2012). References Airline economics. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.avjobs.com/history/airline-economics.asp (â€Å"Airline economics,† 2012) Harris, A. (n.d.). The history of airline industry. Retrieved from http://traveltips.usatoday.com/history-airline-industry-100074.html Airlines Industry Profile: the United States. (2011). Airlines Industry Profile: United States, 1-42. Corridore, J. (2012, June 28). Standard & poors airlines. Retrieved from http://www.netadvantage.standardandpoors.com.ezproxy.ohiodominican.edu/NASApp/NetAdvantage/showIndustrySurvey.do?loadIndSurFromMenu=html Alukos, B. (2012, August 22). We believe southwest is making the right decision by repurchasing its own equity.. Retrieved from http://library.morningstar.com.ezproxy.ohiodominican.edu/stock/stock-analyst-report?t=LUV ®ion=USA&culture=en-US

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Framing Decisions Essay

Millhouse on his situation came up with his conclusion upon relying on the structure contained by how the selling was presented to him. No matter how, it is possible that Millhouse had been into a great deal of confusion when he was deciding. It was present in his mind that the company is in need of that supplementary part and is in search of materials that are of good quality. And that this seller has been instinctively conscious of the probable framing Millhouse could have in mind. At the same time, this seller has this skill to do sales talk and persuading a customer was indeed an easy thing on his part. He was capable to handle the situation. A good offer from the salesman was initiated and the selling price was specified: less than 40 cents a day just like the price of a soda. It was presented positively that at the end, the company would be satisfied by a high service utility by just spending likely of only a soda a day. The soda became the entity of assessment and it helped Millhouse comprehend the gains more gamely than the losses. He was also glad that he was not alone to see the benefits of purchasing these goods. He ended up deciding with this framework to buy them because he was swept away by the promises of the benefits presented by the salesman. In looking on the alternative sense, what if Millhouse thought of looking out for better material possible? What if he conducted first price comparison of same material? What if he made calculations in the aggregate expenditure upon purchasing them and rather compares it with the benefits it can give and or with some? The alternative frame could have come up with other results depending on how an individual reacts on a certain presentation of a problem. Factors affecting the alternative framework greatly molds our way of decision making. Also, group decisions may be at variance thoroughly from a one person decision in provisions of endings and/or procedures. So, it states clearly that one can strongly influence the other and by that, moral considerations are being deserted for one’s own good. References Framing. February 05, 2008 retrieved from http://framing. behaviouralfinance. net/

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Problems on Campus Essays

Problems on Campus Essays Problems on Campus Essay Problems on Campus Essay Chelsia Bell Professor Arnold English 1301-005 September 25,2012 Better Food, Healthier People Campus advisors, with very simple solutions, can solve the common health problem of bad food choices on the TJC campus. Replacing non-healthy foods in vending machines, serving healthier food in the cafeteria, and offering smaller sizes of soft drinks are all good solutions to this common problem. Everybody loves picking up a quick snack in between classes; however, sometimes the taste can throw us off and make us forget about the real picture. Most of the snacks in the vending machine are very good, but are also very high in calories, carbs, and definitely sugars. While you are enjoying your snack you have no care in the world about what you are putting in your body. If we would all just take a quick second to think about what are eating, I’m sure the amount of obesity among people, not just on campus but everywhere, would drop considerably. Replacing snacks like Reese’s, Kit-Kat, and chocolate bars with healthy snacks like the 100 calorie snacks and crackers, would easily make a significant change. Cafeteria food can sometimes be good and sometimes not so good. Because of budgets, cafeteria food could be minimum quality. They may serve whatever is cheapest at the moment with any concern about providing healthy food. Putting options like salads, baked stuff instead of fried, and serving smaller portions will also cut down on all the health problems on campus. Sometimes even juice instead of a soda can help. If the people in the cafeteria and the people over the food on campus would be more concerned about everybody else’s health, I’m sure the food choices would be a lot better. Healthier food choices equal a healthy person. Small, Medium, or Large are words that we hear most of the time when we order a soft drink. Most of the time the mediums are big enough to share with 2 people. Drinks have just gotten bigger and bigger. Offering the mini sizes of soft drinks in the vending machines would be a very good idea. Sodas are already not good for you in many ways, so the serving that comes in the mini size is plenty for anybody. It is usually difficult for me to drink a whole regular sized soda by myself. Food is always tricky. You just have to make sure you are the eating the right thing at the right time. The bad food choices on the TJC campus can easily be solved with help from supervisors and maybe even some sponsors. Nobody should have to be constantly worried about their health. Putting these better food options on campus can easily ease everyone’s mind.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Character Descriptions How To Write Them (in 3 Steps)

Character Descriptions How To Write Them (in 3 Steps) Character Descriptions: How To Write Them (in 3 Steps) Character descriptions - those key passages that describe what a character actually looks like - are almost as crucial to a written story as the characters themselves. If you’re writing a novel, you’ve probably created an awesome, vivid protagonist in your head: motivated, quirky, maybe even memorably named. But how do you convey all that to a reader without depleting the magic?Writing strong character descriptions actually requires quite a bit of finesse. If you skimp on descriptive passages, you run the risk of leaving your readers with forgettable characters. But if you get too descriptive, you wind up leaving no room for the reader’s own imagination. So what does it take to strike the right balance? We’ll tell you! Here are three cardinal rules on how to write character descriptions without falling off that tightrope. Do you know the three cardinal rules for describing characters? Find out in this guide! 1. Choose your words carefullyWhen writing character descriptions, it’s easy to get ahead of yourself. After all, this is the first time you’re introducing a character you’ve created from the ground up.But just because you know everything about them, doesn’t mean the reader needs to. Character descriptions aren’t about doling out every detail in lavish language - they’re about succinct characterization. Here are a few tips on how to achieve just that.Be descriptive in your languageWe’re talking about character descriptions, after all - it’s quite literally in the name. When describing a character that you see clearly in your mind, it’s easy to simply give a laundry list of attributes: she had black hair, brown eyes, and freckles. But that tells us nothing about the character and is frankly a waste of words.Sure, your protagonist might have brown eyes. But so does half the world’s population! And characterization is all about showing what makes a character unique.Sometimes, this can be done through word choice alone. Take this example from Huckleberry Finn:â€Å"There warn’t no color in his face, where his face showed; it was white; not like another man’s white, but a white to make a body sick, a white to make a body’s flesh crawl – a tree-toad white, a fish-belly white.†From this passage, we clearly understand how Huck’s father looks, as surely as if Twain had simply written, â€Å"He was white.† But through the use of figurative language and excellent word choice, another image sticks in our head: that of a sickly, grotesque drunk. Bonus points for the use of â€Å"tree-toad† and â€Å"fish-belly† - descriptors that match the tone of the adventure novel.Use adjectives sparingly Feel free to stretch the boundaries of what you’re describing and how you’re describing it. Rather than simply pointing out concrete characteristics or actions, feel free to describe abstractions, like this passage from Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere:â€Å"Mr. Croup likes words, while Mr. Vandemar is always hungry. Also, they look nothing alike.†Or, describe physical characteristics in an abstract way - that is, use similes and metaphors. In A Christmas Carol, Dickens does not describe Scrooge as a Christmas-hating miser. Instead, Scrooge is:â€Å"Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster.† How did Dickens turn Scrooge into a Christmas-hating miser without ever calling him one? Be biasedWhether you’re describing yourself to a friend or a friend is describing you to someone else, it’s very unlikely either of you would give a painstaking, perfectly objective account.. Biases exist in every aspect of life, so it’s okay to be biased in character descriptions, too.If a first person narrator is describing themselves, they might comment on their own attractiveness, like Humbert Humbert in Lolita:â€Å"I was, and still am, despite mes malheurs, an exceptionally handsome male; slow-moving, tall, with soft dark hair and a gloomy but all the more seductive cast of demeanor.†Or you could have one character describe another, which illuminates the attributes of the latter and the perception of the former. Take, for example, this particularly scathing description of one person by another from Jodi Taylor’s The Nothing Girl:â€Å"The only talents he possessed were delusions of adequacy.†This sentence succinctly describes a not-quit e-self-aware underachiever. But it also illustrates a narrator with a not-so-objective opinion of him.Show, don’t tellYup. The golden rule of writing applies here as well. At the end of the day, no matter what you decide to reveal to your audience, the most important aspect of character descriptions is how you reveal it. Regardless of how special, unique, or honest-to-god awesome your protagonist is, a reader forced to trudge through page after page of intensive description will find any character boring.Instead, think of how we learn things about other people in real life. Very rarely does the color of our eyes or the shape of our nose describe who we are. We don’t tell everything there is to know about each other - we show it, through our expressions, perceptions, actions, preferences, and even our stuff. Apply that same rule to your character descriptions, and your characters (and readers) will thank you for it.Are there any character descriptions that stand out to you? Leave any thoughts or questions in the comments below!

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Ethical Issues in Stem Cell Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ethical Issues in Stem Cell - Research Paper Example In body organs such as the gut, bone marrow, stem cells can regularly divide to repair and replace worn out cells (Moore 12). In contemporary biology, Stem cell research is one of the intriguing areas due to the expanding scientific discoveries. This has raised many scientific questions as well as ethical questions (Ethical issues 23). The first ethical issue is that regarding Human embryonic stem research. Human embryonic stem cell research is one field that has generated much concern and public debates. Cells that have the capability of developing into many different cells, also known as pluripotent stem cell lines, are usually isolated from few days old human embryos. The research offers a promise and hopes for new treatments for diseases such as Parkinson’s, diabetes and spinal injury. As new technologies and science advance, so do the ethical viewpoints and political controversies regarding these developments (Report on bioethics 17). This paper will discuss the ethical i ssues associated with Stem cell research as portrayed by various individuals and groups of people. Ethical Issues in Stem Cell Research Human cell research is connected to human cloning which is a subject of much debate currently. There is confusion in the public discourse about what an embryo is. This issue has been very critical in defining when human life starts. There are several attitudes arising from different religious groups and varying interpretations of philosophical philosophies. There are arguments in determining the rights and privileges that an embryo in early human life has. According to some people, an embryo is a living being whether it has developed human features or not. These people are therefore against destruction of embryos while retrieving stem cells. This is ethically unacceptable to their faith, but to other people, it is no big deal (Guinn 154). Those that are against human stem cell research believe that life begins after conception, at the zygote stage w hile those in favor of this kind of research acknowledge that life does not begin until a later stage of embryo development. The people supporting this research argue that the benefits to the community outweigh the apprehension for the young embryos. The Roman Catholic is one of the religions that raise questions about the destruction of the embryos. It declared that human life begins after fertilization and ends in natural death. The Greek Orthodox also follows this view and agrees that embryos are human beings. To them, taking the embryo and removing the inner cell mass is regarded as murder (Guinn 158). Protestants, Jews and Muslims support the view that life starts between fourteen and forty weeks after conception. The UK Human Fertilization and Embryology Act define this as the streak stage where further research on the embryo is not permitted. This issue is often debated on as some regard is as immoral while others think it is alright. There is a third group of paper that beli eve that the embryo deserves respect as a human being, but it is acceptable to use them in research if it is justifiable with the consent from the couple donating the embryo (Caplan 156). The opposition of stem cell research is associated with the opposition to abortion by the pro-life movement. However, not all members are against this research.

Friday, November 1, 2019

New York City Project Part 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

New York City Project Part 4 - Essay Example Similarly, the economic recovery of the city as reflected by the improved activities at Wall Street would enable the local government in attaining the projected revenue in the budget drawn (Hillman, 2009). Consequently, the ability of the New York City local government to deliver services to the population of the city is strong due to the availability of funds to finance the government operations. Indeed, the economic recovery within the city saw the revenue collection forecast for the fiscal year of 2012 exceeding by $2.4 billions that will be useful in closing the financial gap of 2013 financial year (Bloomberg, 2013). Similarly, the fiscal budget that has been prepared by the local government of New York City allows for future modification on the allocations that have been made to the different departments. This will help the city in avoiding the current shut down crisis that is facing the federal government organs currently. Furthermore, the reducing deficit projection in the bud get implies that the financial stability of the firm is strong in allowing the city to deliver it services to the public. This will boost the ability of the New York City local government in meeting it obligations and development objectives. The financial budget for New York for the year covering 2013 financial year has projected deficit of $1.6 billion that is a reduction of $0.4 billions of the previous year deficit projection of $2 billions. The city is projecting to collect revenue of $49.2 billions from the tax and levy fees it charges to business operating in the area against an expenses projection of $50.8 billions for the financial year 2012-2013. Consequently, the municipal government of New York City has come up with a plan of issuing a municipal bond to finance it core development projects for the 2013 financial year. This will help the municipal government of New York City in closing the deficit gap. Similarly, the revenue collection that exceeded the financial forecast of 2012 has been cited as the remedy that will be utilize in closing the deficit gap that is expected in the financial year of 2013. Another strategic measure that has been cited by the local government cabinet in solving the projected deficit is contracting private firms to undertake a number of the government tasks on a long-term basis due to the improving economic environment that will enable the firm to earn high revenues to settle for the contract (Seidman, 2008). The outsourcing mechanism that has been adopted by the municipal government of New York City will help in the necessary services to the public even with the limited financial resources been projected in the budget. One of the measures that should be undertaken by the New York City municipal government to reduce the budget deficit it is facing is to downsize the number of workers (Anderson, 2011). The recurrent expenditure of the city government is biggest proportion in the budget allocation. This implies that the city government is facing unsustainable labor force that is straining it financial resources. Thus, the government should eliminate some traditional job classifications that have been overtaken by adoption of information and technology platform with the various department of the government (Titos, Makondo, & Nsingo, 2010). This will help the municipal government of New York City to reduce the current budget deficit it is facing. The trend of the New York City budget over the last five years

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Annotated Bibliography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 5

Annotated Bibliography - Essay Example e (1990) reported that researchers generally ignored the importance of ‘motivation and individual differences’ in their bid to understand cognition, he asserts that college lecturers must consider these two concepts in their delivery of the various subject matter. Thus, he stressed the need for lecturers to consider not only students’ acquisition of knowledge but also their motivation to continue learning even after their college days are ended. He therefore advocated life long learning as a major aim of the college education system. Three underlying factors utilized by Mc Keachie (1990) and his associates to analyze cognitive psychology and motivation theory include firstly, the pre-knowledge that students bring to their learning experiences, secondly, the issue of ‘deep versus surface processing’ of learning which is determined by students active involvement in the learning process and thirdly, the importance of nurturing the intrinsic motivation of the learner. Specifically, Mc Keachie (1990) and his associates investigated the ‘learning strategies and motivational characteristics’ of students enrolled in Biology, English, Psychology or Sociology at three different colleges.(130) Special emphasis was paid to the rudiments of research in a natural setting. In general, the authors focused on the interest and achievement level of anxious students. The researchers concluded in spite of their inability to over-generalize due to the small sample size that supportive structures were needed early in the course and assistance must be given to students to develop effective learning strategy and study skills.(138) Furthermore, Mc Keachie (1990) posits that three items are of major importance in the teaching and maintenance/improvement of the motivation level of students, namely, finding out ‘what is in the mind of the learner’, the identification of ‘key concepts and their relationships’ and ‘student self-efficacy in mobilizing energies for

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Cell Phones And Academic Performance English Language Essay

Cell Phones And Academic Performance English Language Essay The adoption of cell phones by young generation has been a global phenomenon in recent years. Thus, with the emergence of this technology almost everyone has tried to adopt these cell phones. We found in this research that cell phone usage had a negative impact on students GPA. Students using their cell phone during class, they also receiving and sending text messages during their class so they were able to pay less attention to lecture and thus it had negative impact on students performance. Key terms: Cell phones usage, Academic performance, GPA Introduction Since the commercialization of cellular phones technology, the use of this communication device has rapidly increased. Today, the global cellular phone market now stands at approximately 1.8 billion subscribers, and is forecasted to reach 3 billion by the end of 2010 (Reid and Reid, 2007). In Pakistan total subscribers for cell phones till 12 September 2012 have reached to 120,513,430 (Pakistan Telecommunication Authority). The adoption of cell phones by young generation has been a global phenomenon in recent years. This cell phone was originally created for adults for business use (Aoki Downes, 2003). It has become an integral part of adolescents daily life and one of the most popular forms of electronic communication. In todays world almost every student is having cell phone in their pocket, clipped to a belt, or hidden in a brief case or purse and knows perfect usage of it. As technology is growing every day at very fast rate, and is bringing positive and negative effects for soc iety and so is with cell phone technology that has brought both positive and negative effects. It is commonly observed that these cell phones have also become status symbol for youth and they have indulged themselves in the competition of having best and most updated cell phone with maximum features. Todays youth prefer cell phones more as compared to internet or any other social activity. Not only young people own cell phone, they have symbolic and affective investment in them (Lobet-maris, 2003) and they also want to upgrade it as soon as new model is launched in the market. Cell phones are that much involved in our life that the person who own cell phone is tend to be thought socially connected, independent, modern and in demand by the society. One of the most used applications of cell phones by our young generation is text messaging and these cellular network companies have also played a vital role in negatively affecting our young generation by introducing a number of packages for text messaging and calls also. Students of today are master in fastest text messaging and are seen text messaging while at home, at university, traveling ,in classroom and specially while studying. Communication with fellow students, professors, parents, and everyone else is just a click away. In New Zealand study 56% of high school students reported that the most important reason for using a cell phone was to talk and text with friends and family (Netsafe, 2005). This research paper explores the impact of cell phones` usage on students academic performance. We examined the affect of mobile usage on the grades among university students. Literature Review Cell phones and academic performance: The invention of the fixed telephone in the late 19th century in the United States changed the way that people interacted and communicated (Marilyn, 2005). This has been paralleled in the early 21st century by the advent of the cell phone (Marilyn, 2005). This is extremely similar to the fixed telephone in the early 20th century, where telephone engineers explained that the telephone was made for the business world and not for social conversation (Flinchy, 1997). The growth of cell phone technology is demonstrated by the fact that in 2002 the number of cell phone users worldwide, surpassed those of fixed-phone users (Srivastava, 2005). In 2005, the number of cell phone subscribers worldwide will reach 2 billion (Deloitte Research, 2005) and in Australia will reach 19.2 million (Fisher, 2005). And in Pakistan total fixed phone subscriber by December 2011 reached to only 3,098,117, less than mobile phone subscriber that were 120,151,253 till December 2011 (Pakistan Telecommunication Au thority). In Norway in 1999, 80% of 13 to 20-year-olds owned a cell phone, while in the United Kingdom in 2001, 90% of young people under the age of 16 did so (www.capacitybuilder.co.uk). In 2003, in Italy, 56% of children aged 9 and 10-years-old owned cell phones and of the 44% who didnt, all expressed a desire to own one (Guardian Unlimited, 2003), and amongst teenage girls in Tokyo, the adoption rate is almost 100% (Srivastava, 2005). In Australia in 2004, a survey by iTouch found that 50,000 children aged between 5 and 9 years of age owned a cell phone, one third of children aged 10 to 13-years old and 45% of 13 to 15-year-olds also owned the device (Allison, 2004). Surveys have consistently shown that young people even prefer their cell phone to television or the Internet (Enpocket, 2005; Hession, 2001). It is childrens favourite method of communication (Livingstone Bober, 2005) with younger adolescents (school years 7 to 9) more attached to their cell phones than older adoles cents (school years 10 to 12) as they reported needing to return home to collect their phone if they forget it (Matthews, 2004). Young people also save text messages which they value and cherish (Taylor Harper, 2003).Thus, with the emergence of this technology almost everyone has tried to adopted these cell phones. The main issue for teachers is the disturbance created in class room due to cell phone calls and texting. The functionality of SMS lets students send and receive messages unobtrusively (Geser, 2004). Combining this with the ease of hiding the device due to its small size, makes it very difficult for teachers to control. Because of the short time frame in which an answer is expected to a message (Kasesniemi Rautiainen, 2002), the excitement of finding out who has called and what the message is (similar to snail mail letters), young people are reluctant to turn off their cell phone during class time. In an Italian survey of 9- and 10-year-olds, 86% of students who owned cell phones kept them on during lessons (Guardian Unlimited, 2003). The New Zealand survey also found that 66% of students who took a mobile phone to school kept it turned on at school (Netsafe, 2005). Campbell (2006) found that students and faculty view the ringing of cell phones in class to be a serious problem. It is clear that if students are spending time texting, they are not paying attention to the class lecture, will not be able to understand the topic and will not be able to produce good result in class, this will have impact on their grade points. Through common observation today students are busy with this technology, spends 90% of their time with cell phones and dont pay attention to their studies. And if they pretend to their parents that they are studying in their room, they are actually dodging their parents, it is such a small device that they can easily hide them and lie with their parents. Students are trying to make as many friends whether girl or boy as they can, keeping themselves busy all day and night, as these network companies for their own profit have introduced a lots of cheap packages for call and messaging. All these activities in which students have en gaged themselves in todays world are demolishing their present and future. Students are using this technology not only for text messaging in class but also use it as source of cheating in examination. Students have always cheated via taking notes into class, or writing notes on hands (Ling, 2000a). For example, 12 students at the University of Maryland were caught cheating during an accounting exam (Anonymous 2003). With many cell phones now incorporating a digital camera or video, there is a danger in schools, colleges and universities that inappropriate pictures will be taken because of the portability and discrete nature of the camera (Marilyn, 2005). Pictures can be taken quickly without the knowledge of the person being photographed. Stealing of cell phones is also an issue which can impact on school staff (Williams Williams, 2005). Most victims of mobile phone theft are under 18 years of age and the phones are stolen by the same age group as well. This can put additional strain on school administration if the theft occurs at or near school and staff are expected to investigate (Marilyn, 2005). After explaining negative aspect there are some positive impact also, it helps students to stay connected with their group members when assigned some group work from their teacher. In school it also helps teacher to tell their parents about any serious problem happened to the students and also helps teacher to text their parent if they are absent from school. Students are supposed to use mobile phones whole night texting their friends. It is interesting to note that there are few common family rules about young peoples use of the cell phone. In fact, many adolescents (58%) reported that there were no rules set by their parents about their cell phone use, and only 12% reported that their parents used removal of their cell phones as punishment (Matthews, 2004). In New Zealand, this increased to 26% of young cell people reporting being threatened, with the phone being confiscated, as a form of punishment (Netsafe, 2005). It has been found that some young peoples sleep is disturbed when friends call them on their cell phone to talk or when a text message is deposited (Anderson, 2003). In New Zealand 11% of young people reported being woken every night by a text message or voice call (Netsafe, 2005). Probably because of the sleeping issue it has been found that the most common rule set by parents (56%) was that children have to leave their cel l phones out of their rooms at night. Ten percent of young people also reported that their parents frequently had to ask them to stop using their mobile phone late at night with 12% saying that this was the most common disagreement between them and their parents (Matthews, 2004). Along with academic performance cell phones have also positively and negatively affected social relationships. With the emergence of mobile phones individuals are able to stay connected with their friends, family and relatives living abroad. In addition to keeping up with social relationships, individuals have also been able to increase productivity with their work because they can be hundreds of miles away from the office, and still have instant access to their e-mail, documents and contacts wherever they are (Tully, 2003). A trend that is becoming more apparent is present absences; this is the concept of how an individuals presence in a social setting changes regardless of their physical presence, they are only half-present (Fortunati 2008). After a ring or buzz of their cell phone, they are drawn away somewhere else, away from their present situation and/or conversation. Through observation, researchers have found that individuals typically will not hesitate to interrupt an ongoin g conversation to answer the ringing of their cell phone. Cell phones have given a new way to individuals to form new relationships and to strengthen existing ones. Teens admitted spending nearly an equal amount of time talking as they do texting each month. The feature is so important to them that if texting was no longer an option, 47 percent of teens say their social life would end or be worsened especially among females (54 percent compared to 40 percent of males) (CTIA Survey 2008). Before the emergence of mobile technology, individuals have regular interaction with one another. As they have very little telephonic contact with one another so they are used to visit each other homes regularly. Even if any one of the family member is in hospital, their loved ones even if out of city make a visit instantly or the next day but now with the emergence of cell phones people are supposed to just ask about their health on phone call with their cell phones. Hypothesis Cell phones` usage will have a negative affect on students` academic performance. Model Cell phone usage Academic performance Methodology The data was collected by distributing questionnaire to students of different universities in Pakistan with the ages ranging between eighteen and thirty. A sample size of 150 students was taken in which 65 respondents were male and 85 respondents were female. The survey consisted of 24 questions, including cell phone impacts on students academic performance and social relationship. Multiple choice questions were asked. The reliability of the instrument was calculated by using SPSS. The instrument was personally administered to the sample. Demographic information (e.g., age, gender, university, degree, GPA) was also collected. Results After successfully collecting the data through distributing questionnaires in different universities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, we have inserted that data in SPSS software data sheet and run desired functions necessary to know that what impact does independent variable (cell phone usage ) have on dependent variable (students academic performance). We have evaluated students academic performance by considering their GPA. From the correlation results as shown in TABLE 1, we have find that cell phone usage is having negative impact on students GPA i.e. (r= -0.303, p TABLE 1 Correlation Results M S.D 1 2 3 4 Age 21.487 1.8672 1 Gender 1.58 0.49521 -0.184* Cell phone usage 3.267 0.4512 0.045 -0.149 1 GPA 1.9911 0.57583 -0.154 0.246** -0.303** 1 **. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed). *. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed). TABLE 2 Regression Results Predictor Academic performance(GPA) ÃŽÂ ² Ά Sig. Step 1 Age -0.27 0.164 Gender 0.205 0.006 Step 2 Age -0.26 0.167 Gender 0.169 0.020 Cell phone usage -0.212 0.072 0.001 The table 2 shows the regression result of dependent and independent variable. In step 1 control variables i.e. age, gender is shown and in step 2 independent variable i.e. cell phone usage is shown. In horizontal line we have dependent variable i.e. academic performance measured using students GPA. The fluctuation in students academic performance (GPA) due to cell phone usage is 72%. The impact of cell phones usage on student academic performance is negative i.e. (ÃŽÂ ² = -0.212). Which implies that the student whose usage of cell phone is more is having low GPA i.e. showing poor academic performance. Discussion In this research paper we have evaluated that what impact students cell phone usage has on their academic performance by considering their GPA. Students age and gender is also taken into account while running analysis using SPSS. Cell phone usage is taken as independent variable and students academic performance is taken as dependent variable. Questionnaires are given to be filled by students of different universities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad between the age of 18 and 30. The data collected is analyzed by using SPSS software and evaluated the impact of cell phones usage on students academic performance. The result shows that cell phones usage is negatively impacting students academic performance. This means that the students who are using cell phone more are having low GPA. On asking questions on how much time they spend on using their cell phone and in how many classes they use cell phone, we have found that there is negative relationship of these two questions with students GPA. That is the students who are using cell phone almost 7-10 hours and those also who use cell phone during their most of the classes are having low GPA. On asking random questions we have found that one of the most used feature of cell phone is text messaging used by 67% students (female 37% and male 30%). Almost 81% students (female 46%, male 35%) are using standard text messages as compared to multimedia messages or other. 43% students (31% female and 13% male) say that they put their mobile phone on silent mode while attending class. 35% students (20% female and 15% male) say that they occasionally receiv e or send text messages while the class was in session. 55% students (35% female and 20% male) agree on policy that mobile should be kept by students but they should set it in vibration mode. 61% students (40% female, 21% male) say that they do not use night packages on their cell phone. 42% students (23% female, 19% male) say that they use day packages on their cell phone. 67% students (39% female, 27% male) say that they spent 10% of their pocket money on cell phones. 56% students (32% female, 24% male) say that they sometimes use their cell phone while doing their assignments. As results show that those students who spend most of their time on cell phone are achieving low GPA, which is in accordance with the literature and common observation. Students are using their cell phone during class, they are also receiving and sending text messages during their class so they will be able to pay less attention to lecture and thus it will have negative impact on students performance. Some students are also using night packages on their cell phone which will make them unable to be attentive in their morning class or may be unable to attend the first class. It is better to activate missed call alert on their cell phone and put it off during class and when they will on it they will receive message of all the calls they missed when the cell phone was off. In last concluding all cell phone usage is significantly impacting our youth who are misusing this technology, and thus showing poor academic performance and demolishing their career opportunities.

Friday, October 25, 2019

The Nuremberg Trials Essay -- Essays Papers

The Nuremberg Trials On June 22, 1945 representatives from France, Great Britain, Russia, and the United States started to plan the prosecution of the main Axis war criminals. These representatives had to establish a fair way of trying the criminals because the world had never seen a situation like the one at hand. The result of the meeting was the International Military Tribunal. The Tribunal’s constitution set forth the principles the defendants were subject to. The panel of Allied representatives decided to hold the trial in Nuremberg. Nuremberg was chosen because the city served as the center of Nazi activities and offered nice facilities (Keeshan 3). Lawyers from the Allied powers submitted an indictment to the Tribunal on October 18, 1945. The indictment charged twenty-four Nazi leaders with crimes committed during World War II (Keeshan 9). The trials were set to start in the middle of November in 1945. Allied troops with the help of some German citizens restored the city because the city was in ruins prior to the scheduled starting date of the trial. The Nazi leaders were incarcerated in Nuremberg in August 10, 1945 (Keeshan 13). A defendant named Robert Ley committed suicide two weeks before the start of the trial. Therefor, an Allied guard was placed at the door of each Nazi leader’s prison door to stop them from killing themselves. When the November trial date finally arrived the city was restored, the defendants were secured and the trial was ready to begin (Keeshan 20). The brutal crimes that the defendants were on trial for revolved around the "Holocaust." It is important to understand the meaning of the word holocaust when viewing the defendant’s case. The definition of hol... ...onot 498). The rest of the guilty defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment including Rudolf Hess. Hess was the deputy to the Fuehrer and successor to Hitler after Goering. Hess hung himself in 1987. The men sentenced to death were killed on October 16, 1946 and their ashes were put into a river outside of Munich. Symbolically, "the center of the Nazi movement became the grave of its leaders (Conot 507)." Works Cited - Bosch, William. Judgement on Nuremberg. Chapel Hill, NC: U. of North Carolina Press, 1970. - Conot, Robert. Justice at Nuremberg. New York: Harper & Row Press, 1983. - Keeshan, Anne. Justice at Nuremberg. New York: Marvel Press, 1950. - Rosenbaum, Alan. Prosecuting Nazi War Criminals. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1993. - Smith, Bradley. The Road to Nuremberg. New York: Basic Books Publishers, 1981.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Building Community within Organizations

It is already given that the one constant thing in life that nobody can stop is change. This proven fact is applicable much more in the world of running a business organization. In order for the company to strive and compete in the industry it is involved in, there is the necessity for it to instill, from time to time, alteration in company policies, in the framework of its organization and almost in all of the aspect of its whole structure.When situation like this happens, the changes in the policies of the company — be it retrenchment or simple adaptation of new operational procedures or even technology – the most affected by this change is the frontline of the operation. These people are those who belong to the rank-and-file officers and staff members of the firm. Moreover, if the change in policy is a major one that affects the whole member of the organization, intelligent skills and knowledge is a necessary tool so that everyone can cope up with it.The question tha t underlies this statement is: â€Å"What are the effective actions that the employees and leaders alike should do so to counteract the negative side effects of the change and also to parry the blows to their personal and organization’s well-being. † Members of the organization would surely experience the change while it takes place and this call for an intelligent and effective style of leadership and communication on the part of the management.From the vantage point of the employee who is affected through loss or change in the policy of the company, he should have coping mechanism to avert the negative impact of the change. And from the vantage point of the management, good leadership is needed so as not to alienate the workforce and make the changes have a slight impact in them. Ways of Coping from the Vantage Point of Employee Since it is inevitable that a company or an organization will apply changes in its company policies mainly to keep abreast with the stiff co mpetition in the market, every employee of any firm should have a coping mechanism in the light of this.It is them best to follow the advice of the team of Sparks, Baret and Lehndorff (2000) who said in order to bring out the best in anything or everybody, one must know more than the work required of him. Using this advice to avert any catastrophic effect of any change happening in an organization, the employee will have something to fall back on to if ever the alternation in the company policy will deem his position and role in the organization is no longer needed.To go more deeply in this very effective mechanism of averting and coping with the changes happening in a company, the employee, if he knows more than the work he is performing for the company, will have a place to go to if ever his position will be deemed no longer needed by the firm. A good example of this is when an order delivery boy knows how to cook or function in the kitchen of the restaurant he is working for. Bes ides knowing how to drive a delivery van this employee may also participate in the kitchen in preparing food for example during the lull moments when there is no delivery.If ever the times comes when the company will phase out its delivery service and this means the driver will no longer be in need by the company, that employee, because of his experience in working in the kitchen, can be absorbed by the kitchen department so as to lessen the impact of the change in the policy of the firm. Thus saying, this means that an employee should make it to himself to know more about the company that he works in. By knowing different kinds of work in a particular organization, the problem of being absorbed by different department will be not a hassle or a problem.This also avert the point where in the employee can lose his job and part with the organization. Furthermore, if the employee knows many things or have various experiences in various kinds of work, the event of losing an organization or his job will, in a way, not a problem for him. As they say a man of jack of all trades is better than being just a master of one. In an event that an employee is retrenched because of organizational policy, he will not have any trouble finding another work even if the new job is not related to the previous job that he used to perform.Using the set example above, a driver of a delivery van for example may be retrenched for any possible organizational or policy change happening in his company. But since he knows also how to be a mechanic or a helper in the company he used to work with, he may find another job in another firm as a mechanic or even just a helper in the kitchen. Giving this example, it is thus cannot be over emphasized the need for an employee to know more than what he does in his particular organization.Even though this knowledge regarding another line of work is not related to his present job, the use of this may come in the future considering that his tenure in the company is not permanent or changing according to the policies of the management. Transition from Job Loss Wilson (2004) said that when someone is faced by a major loss like being fired or terminated, that person will experience an expected series of sequence of emotions known as Kubler-Ross stages.These grieving emotions will start at denial, bargaining, anger, despair and finally, acceptance. A person who suffered a job loss does not usually experience these emotions in this sequence. They may come in different variation, yet understanding the sequence of this emotional stage can help the person bounce back from the traumatic experience of losing his job. Nevertheless, this is not just the whole picture of the situation that the person must know to pull himself back from a major loss.It is also important to know the four truths as Wilson (2004) enumerated them: †¢ Most people who experience career losses feel like you do †¢ There will be predicable stages in your career transition †¢ As an adult, you will continue to grow and change †¢ There really is a best way to approach finding a new job Wilson (2004) added that by exploring these four truth about a job loss will help create for a person a more realistic expectation.And by doing so, there is likely that the person will slide in the â€Å"paralyzing isolation, frustration, or depression† which usually comes after a major set back like a job loss. Doing and understanding these four truths then will be a capital for that person to create a tremendous opportunity in finding a new job or a career. Leadership During the time of change in company policy and transition from the old process of working to the new one, leaders act as catalysts of change. They are necessary member of the organization since they shoulder the strength of the company in general.Leaders have the ability to set and influence the point of view and opinions of their subordinates. As Philips & Schmidt (2004) said it is therefore not at all surprising that for a long time every organization and corporation are spending big amount of money just to enhance their worker’s skills on leadership. In this light, in an event when a company has set it organizational system it is therefore important that there is a leader, characterized as having transformational skills, to support these changes.This quality of leadership is necessary if not crucial for the company itself since the skills of these people have the capacity to help motivate the working spirit of the employees affected by the change. Moreover, transformational leaders help the organization shift from the old system to the new system when a major change takes place. One of the advantages of having a transformational leader when a change takes place in an organization is the given sensitivity he already has for those who either will be affected by the change or to those who will lose their jobs.Considering that this kind of leader n o longer has control over the retrenched workers or employees, his quality of being aware to the effects of the changes will greatly help those who are left behind to continue their work. Awareness about the effects what happened to the organization will be the ground on which this leader will lead his subordinates to continue being motivated doing their jobs. The good thing about this kind of leader is that he is aware that many, if not most, of the employees will surely lose their enthusiasm to work for the company.Knowing this, the leader then can initiate open communication with his subordinates about what is the real goal of the change and therefore erase the doubts in the mind of the employees that the organization is not really there for them. What is even more effective about this kind of leader is that he knows that he is there to stand before his employees and workers as somebody to be emulated upon. Whatever his actions and attitude towards change will surely be the gener al sentiments of those who fall under him.In this light, changes may take place inside the organization yet the transformational leader will always lessen their impact on the working ethics and habits and also motivation of the workers. References Philips, J. and Schmidt, L. , (2004). The Leadership Scorecard. Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, UK. Sparks, L. , Baret, C. & Lehmdorff, S. (2000) Flexible Working in Food Retailing: A Comparison Between France, Germany, Great Britain and Japan. London: Routledge. Wilson, D. G. (2004). Back in Control: How to Stay Sane, Productive, and Inspired in Your. Sentient Publications, US

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

A Sample Position Paper

A SAMPLE POSITION PAPER Globalization: A Transition to What? Barber, Benjamin R. Introduction to Jihad vs. McWorld (New York: Ballantine Books, 1996) Kobrin, Stephen J. â€Å"Back to the Future: Neomedievalism and the Postmodern Digital World Economy,† Globalization and Governance (London: Routledge, 1999. After the bloody clashes between anti-globalization protesters and the police in Genoa, globalization is once again on the world's agenda and it is here to stay. A dream to some and a nightmare to others, globalization is a widely debated issue among journalists and scholars, among intellectuals of all profiles, business people and decision-makers alike. Benjamin R. Barber, Walt Whitman professor of political science, and Stephen J. Kobrin, professor of multinational management, both join the discussion, each giving his own vision of what the post-modern future of this globalized world might look like. In â€Å"Jihad vs. McWorld† Barber's fragmented and at the same time integrated world is â€Å"terminally post-democratic† (20). It is pulled apart by two opposing forces: disintegrating ethnic hatreds and unifying mechanisms of global economy, none of which cares much for civic society and civil liberties. In Barber's terminology Jihad stands for the blind parochialism of any kind, but primarily for tribal instincts that tear countries apart and cause bloody wars. McWorld epitomizes the world of consumerist capitalism unified by commerce, entertainment and consumerism that knows no borders. Although Jihad seems like a more obvious threat to democracy, McWorld is no less dangerous because both are enemies of the sovereign nation states and of democracy. Barber warns that democracy might be collateral damage from the confrontation between globalization and parochial fragmentation. While Barber is primarily interested in the fate of democracy, Kobrin gives a great deal of attention to the problem of state sovereignty in the increasingly integrated world. In â€Å"Back to the Future: Neomedievalism and the Postmodern Digital World Economy† the key issue is the anticipated transformation of state sovereignty into new forms of political loyalty. Kobrin argues that sovereign state as we know it-firmly defined within certain territorial borders-is about to change profoundly, if not to wither away. National markets are too small to be self-sustainable which challenges the meaning of territorial boundaries between states. Both authors acknowledge that sovereignty, defined as unambiguous authority, is threatened. Whereas Barber finds that alarming, Kobrin takes this as a historical inevitability; modern state system, based on mutually exclusive jurisdiction, may be an anomaly rather than a historically privileged form of political organizations. Kobrin argues that we should look at the medieval world for the answers to how the future might look like. Medieval analogy offers a world of overlapping multiple authorities and absence of fixed boundaries. It is a world of multiple political loyalties-to emperors, to the pope, to feudal lords-which are complex rather than linear. Kobrin's modern analogy is European Union, with its overlap of national, regional and supra-national authorities. The medieval metaphor seems attractive, but Kobrin forgets that the world of the Middle Ages was highly decentralized rather than unified, and in that sense radically different from our own. Medieval feuds, as economic units, were self-sufficient and isolated-everything that modern markets are not. Kobrin himself argues that the integrated economy requires a strong central authority, perhaps not yet in the form of world government but certainly through stronger international organizations such as WTO. Clearly, this is a different kind of authority than a pope or an emperor might have had in medieval world. Is medieval analogy applicable at all? If we follow Kobrin's reasoning, it appears that the new world will require more rather than less authority. Nation-state's sovereignty may be eroding, but, as a result, we have an increasing supra-national authority instead of a loose authority of the medieval type. Barber, on the other hand, may be launching an artificial dichotomy. While McWorld sounds like an apt metaphor for globalization, Jihad seems to be a superficial, emotionally charged term with multiple meanings. Barber draws on Yeats and Mary Shelly to define this â€Å"heritage of race,† the force of tribal instincts, ancient hatreds, and fundamentalism. Although doubtless poetic, the concept of Jihad, as described by Barber, is confusing. He takes a few examples of ethnic conflict, such as Bosnia or Rwanda, and declares they are but a manifestation of the tribalisation phenomenon, but he does little to support his thesis. Did Bosnia really fall apart because of ancient, tribal hatreds? Barber overlooks the fact that peoples of Bosnia have been living peacefully with one another much longer than they have waged wars. Reducing complex conflicts to an oversimplified, poorly defined phenomenon such as Jihad helps Barber support his shaky Jihad-McWorld dichotomy but does little to persuade the reader that Jihad exists as such. Barber's and Kobrin's views seem diametrically opposite whereas it may simply be that they are considering different issues. There is little common ground between them in terms of problems they are interested in. They both take McWorld for granted, though. Neither challenges globalization nor tries to imagine the world as something other than globalized, digital, and integrated. Even Barber who laments over the destructiveness of Jihad admits that McWorld is the winner in the long run. Although they have different agendas, they are telling essentially one and the same thing-the future belongs to McWorld. What with democracy, Barber asks? Everyone will be a consumer, but what will happen to citizens? For Kobrin, however, the problem does not exist; just as we have civil societies within states today, in the future they will be replaced by global civil society with its mixture of state and non-state actors, NGOs, transnational movements. Are Barber and Kobrin debating at all? Their visions of the world in the future are not mutually exclusive. Barber comes up with a bold notion that not even nations constitute main players today, but tribes. His description of balkanization, tribalization and awakening of atavistic forces among peoples evokes images of dark Middle Ages. Barber warns that our civilization is beginning to resemble medieval past in which the world consisted of warring fiefdoms unified by Christianity; in our world, Bosnian Serbs and alike wage their ethnic conflicts while both the aggressors and the victims eat the same BigMacs, wear jeans and watch MTV. It seems that he is also looking at the world through medieval prism, albeit from its dark side. It is precisely the dark side that Kobrin avoids confronting. He is intentionally focused on the practicalities of managing the world in the future so he lefts out of the picture the unpleasant details. Fragmentation is one of the issues that he chooses not to consider although he acknowledges that some authors, such as Kaplan offer a less optimistic vision of the world torn by refugee migration, private armies, collapse of nation state and civil order with it. Kobrin's only response to this grim prophecy is little more than hope: â€Å"One hopes that such an age is not part of the neomedieval metaphor, hat a new and more terrifying barbarian is not on the horizon† (183). Walled communities and private security forces that he admits appear increasingly today could be, Kobrin still hopes, only â€Å"ephemeral products of a world in transition and not a permanent characteristic of the postmodern era† (183). Barber, Benjamin R. Introduction to Jihad vs. McWorld (New York: Ballantine Books, 1996) Kobrin, Stephen J. â€Å"Back to the Future: Neomedievalism and the Postmodern Digital World Economy,† Globalization and Governance (London: Routledge, 1999.