Miles Davis Research Paper

The King of Jazz â€Å"I’m always thinking about creating. My future starts when I wake up every morning. Everyday I find something creative to do with my life† (Davis 4). Miles Davis is the individual that made jazz the way it is today. Miles Davis still is a leading and influential figure in jazz ( Davis 1). When most people hear the word trumpet, they automatically picture Miles. His weird personality and his bizarre characteristics, make him a legend in the music scene. Davis explored many different sides of jazz, and went out of his way to be different.Growing up in St. Louis, he picked up the trumpet at a very young age. Shortly after picking up the trumpet, he enrolled at Julliard School of Music. After two years at Julliard, he left and started his career. His success escalated quickly (Davis 1). Miles Davis should be considered one of the most influential jazz musicians because of his weird traits, his ability to bring up young musicians, and his creation of ma ny styles in Jazz. Many people that Miles associated with speak of his interesting personality. He forced himself to hang with different crowds of people. Miles always seemed full of energy, and excitement when I talked to him. His words always had meaning, deep meaning† (Hentoff, Nat). These weird traits are what make Miles, Miles Davis. â€Å"I was a weird son of a bitch. Always saying the strangest things to Diz. He would always just look at me with this dumb stare. The cat eventually learned to not ask me questions no more† (Miles, 2). Miles Mckinney 2 talks about his interesting personality in his own autobiography. Davis was an interesting man, with many strengths and weaknesses, which eventually wrecked his life.His drug life was terrible; it was making him act weird, and develop traits that he wouldn’t have normally taken on. â€Å"The different drugs I was taking was messing me up. Even my idols looked down on me. They was disappointed at me, and the de cisions I was making,† says miles in his autobiography (Miles 2). Miles was well known for many things he said and did. His personality will live on, as well as his music. Different musicians were always going in and out of Davis’s band. He would always have the youngest, hotshot player in the area he was living in.All of the people that Miles was playing with brought something new to their sound. If he didn’t like the way they played, or if they didn’t bring anything new and complex to the table, Miles would have them out of there in an instant (Miles, 5). Kenny Garrett was only 18 when he started playing with Miles. I met Dr. Garrett in February of 2012, and got the chance to ask him many questions about his experience with Miles Davis. When I asked about his experience with Miles, he replied with an answer that was powerful. â€Å"Playing with Miles was unlike anything I have ever experienced in my life.Every note meant something to him. When we were p laying, there was energy unlike no other. If he didn’t like the way you were playing something, he would let you know exactly how to fix it. I learned more than I ever have before, playing with him†, replied Dr. Garrett when I spoke with him. He had the ability to make a musician grow, and develop unlike anyone. Although he gave them freedom, he allowed them to develop into fine musicians. He was an inspiration to them, and watched as they succeeded (Hentoff, Nat). Mckinney 3 Miles was at the forefront of many different eras of Jazz.Because all of the people in and out of his band, he always had a new sound. The different sounds that his band produced, called for new eras in jazz (PBS, 5). The most important style of jazz that Miles lead was â€Å"Cool Jazz†. His quartet, with the help of Charlie Parker, got heavy into bebop music. This style was widely copied around the United States, and became huge. Later in his life, Davis was big into the electric side of mu sic. He recruited electric piano player Chick Corea, and his band sounded unlike anything other. He started bringing in guitar players, and really used technology as a catalyst in his music (Miles, 5).In his career, Miles went through so many stages and styles. You can listen to his music, and tell what year the album was recorded. These vast eras that he was a part of makes him an extremely influential musician. Although Miles struggled with different obstacles in his life, he should still be considered one of the most influential people of all time. Many of the things he did in the old days, still live on in the music scene today. Not only did he have a unique personality but also was a fine teacher, and formed new styles of jazz in his playing.His songs still blast in many peoples’ homes, and his licks are still played by many musicians today. His most famous album, Kind of Blue, recorded and released in 1959, still sells five-hundred thousand copies a year. Davis died on September 28th 1991, in Santa Monica, California (PBS, 5). He died doing what he loved, and did best. His name, and his music will continue to touch people every day. Miles Davis will live on, in a legendary manor. He is by far one of the most influential people to have walked on this earth.

Lorrie Moore

In the story â€Å"How to Become a Writer†, Lorrie Moore takes the reader through what seems to be her own Journey on how she became a writer. The story is told in Second Person. The way she writes, in second person, she seems to take the reader personally through her Journey on â€Å"How to Become a Writer†, but you, the reader are the character. Moore writes about how â€Å"you† will apply to college, â€Å"you† will show up to the wrong class, and â€Å"your† mother will not understand this writing gig.Her style eems to draw the reader in hanging on for the next thing that will happen in â€Å"your† life. She effectively makes the audience feel like they are at college, in the wrong class or that they are simply standing in their kitchen showing their mom the haiku they wrote at the ripe age of fifteen and she stares at them â€Å"Blank as a donut† (Moore p. 652) and she says â€Å"How about emptying the dishwasher†(Moore p. 652). The common theme of this story is that â€Å"you† are always struggling with a plot, and o one quite understands â€Å"your† writings.This struggle is a relevant struggle for Moore, as well as many young college students. Through out the short story she explains this common trend of â€Å"no plot† and even still you read on and can not help thinking is there a point to this story? The no plot theme seems to take a deeper role. As most will struggle with the choices of life and a fair amount of people will even feel as if they have remained stagnant and really not done too much.Moore really drives this point home. She makes the reader really relate. College students can especially relate. With all the dysfunction a college student endures with choosing what to do and then like Moore having second thoughts and changing their major. This story was witty and sarcastic. Leaving you with a perm-a-grin, because you can totally relate. The style of writing was som ething unusual for me to be reading but I greatly enjoyed it. Although weird it was intriguing.

Widget Airlines

Imagine Widgets Airlines, Inc. operates 18-seat commercial flights between New York City and Washington, DC. After 10 seats have been sold on each aircraft, the company has reached the break-even point. Should Widgets consider offering a discounted fare for seats 11 through 18? Yes. Widgets Airlines, Inc. should offer a discount on the remaining seats. What are the advantages and disadvantages of not offering a discount on seats 11 through 18? The advantages of selling at a discounted price are that they would sell their seats faster depending on the price they are selling at.This could be a beneficial by gaining more customers who travel for business on a weekly basis especially on Thursdays. The disadvantage of not offering discounts is that the flight will have empty seats because the price is too high. Even though the company will lose profit initially, the airline will develope a good reputation for low fares and fair treatment; as a result, they will continue to get business. W hat are the advantages and disadvantages of offering a discount on seats 11 through 18?The disadvantages of offering a discount include: unhappy customers (who feel that the discount wasn't good enough, aka insignificant). Another disadvantage is that the company will lose revenue . The advantages include: happy customers (who are glad to have been able to save money and to not have to mess with rebates), selling the seats more quickly, boosting the company's reputation with the promotion, and possibly securing the loyalty of frequent fliers. How would you decide how much of a discount, if any, could be offered? What effect would the discount have on the financial statements of Widgets Airlines, Inc.?We will decide how much of a discount would be offered by comparing the other competitors. For example if the other competitors sell more tickets base on a %20 discounted rates for specific days, the company will adjust its discount rates at %25 on those days. Widgets would not lose any revenue because it is all profit at this point. This would only bring in more customers especially the ones who fly on a weekly basis. The financial statement will stay the same because all companies offer discounts at some point and this would show on the income statement.

The Old Testament and the Church Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Old Testament and the Church - Essay Example The beginning of this fulfillment is in the death and resurrection of Jesus in the New Testament (Lesson 6.1). Moreover, in order to better understand the New Testament, one needs to study the Old Testament because the salvation that Jesus brought was first offered to the Israelites. As this salvation was universally offered to Gentiles in the Old Testament, Jesus Christ offered the same salvation to the Gentiles in the New Testament. The new Passover that happened with Christ in the New Testament was the same as the covenant that God made with Moses and the Israelites during the Passover in the Old Testament (Lesson 6.1). Another reason for the need to understand the Old Testament before one can fully comprehend the New Testament is the unity between the two Testaments in terms of Jesus Christ as the Word of God incarnate. The Old Testament was actually devoted to the Holy Spirit speaking through the prophets and predicting the arrival of Christ through figurative language. The fulf illment of the word of the prophets in the Old Testament is the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the New Testament (Lesson 6.1). Question 2. Describe with examples the use of the term â€Å"scriptures† in the New Testament. ... Examples of the mention of â€Å"Scriptures† by Jesus include the following passages: â€Å"Scripture cannot be annulled† (Jn. 10:35), â€Å"This Scripture must be fulfilled in me† (Lk. 22:37), and â€Å"But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled which say it must happen this way?† (Mt. 26:54). These passages clearly show how much Jesus acknowledges the authority of the Scriptures of the Old Testament while indirectly telling the reader that He is the fulfillment of these Scriptures. Paul, in his epistles also used the term â€Å"Scriptures† repeatedly. He mentioned in 1 Cor. 15:3-4, â€Å"†¦Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures† and â€Å"that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures.† From this passage, we can see that Paul believed that Jesus was the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Scriptures. Moreover, there are many other instances where the word â€Å"scriptures† a re quoted in the New Testament, such as in the case of 2 Peter 3:16, where it states â€Å"There are some things in them [the letters] hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures† (Lesson 6.1). This specific passage, however, is trying to tell us that the scriptures can be â€Å"twisted† or modified but they are not destroyed for it is those who twist them that undergo destruction (Lesson 6.1). This means that the scriptures themselves can never be destroyed, but a wrong interpretation of them can lead to the destruction of the one who misinterprets it. Question 3. Explain why the Church teaches the unity of the Old and New Testaments. The Church teaches the unity of

Ariel Sharon- Crimes against Humanity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ariel Sharon- Crimes against Humanity - Essay Example The peacemaker image of Ariel Sharon is just one side of the story. Actually speaking, there is much about Ariel Sharon that makes him a controversial figure. Most of the world does know only the good things about Ariel Sharon. Yet, it is a fact that Ariel Sharon was involved in multiple crimes against humanity. Ariel Sharon was involved in many acts of gross human rights violations which lead to the killing of a number of innocent Palestinian civilians. Hence, it is a historical fact that Ariel Sharon happened to be an Israeli leader that committed multiple crimes against humanity and was directly responsible for the death of a number of Palestinian civilians. Everybody knows that in the 1948 war, Israel won almost seventy-eight percent of the territory that happened to be the home to thousands of Palestinians. Even after conquering these large tracts of the Palestinian territory, there was a section of the Israeli army that was not satisfied with this victory. There were many officers in the army of the newly found state of Israel who believed that Palestinians needed to be repressed and scared with the use of force. The purpose was to keep the Palestinians so scared that they do not dare to raise a voice against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. The other objective of the Israeli army was to take over such Palestinian territories that were yet not under their control, like Gaza, and the West Bank. Thereby the army of Israel planned an aggressive military strategy against the Palestinians that involved large-scale attacks and massacre of the innocent Palestinians.  

The Balkan States, 1876-1914 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Balkan States, 1876-1914 - Essay Example However as the event unfolded after 1908 as â€Å"in the ensuing Balkan Wars of 1912-13, Serbia obtained northern and central Macedonia, but Austria compelled it to yield Albanian lands that would have given it access to the sea. Serb animosity against the Habsburgs reached a climax on June 28, 1914, when the Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo by a Bosnian Serb, Gavrilo Princip, setting off a series of diplomatic and military initiatives among the great powers that culminated in World War I.† (US Department of State). The rising tension between the two entities and the resulting conflict thus brought about the World War I. Further it was also a conflict of interest as both the countries tried to legitimize their powers in the region. Austria being the country largely responsible for weakening Turks claimed to have more territory under its control whereas Serbia refused to budge to the excessiveness of Austria thus both the countries were at odd during Balkan wars. It is largely being argued that the nationalism was one of the main thrust behind the first and the second Balkan War as Nationalism worked as a force to compel Europe to go far war. Tracing the history of the region, it would be evident that right from the Ottoman rule in the region to the last Balkan war of 1990s, Nationalism has emerged in the form of various sub-identities and sub-cultures which virtually divided the region and brought about the bitter consequences of the war. It is also believed that Nationalism emerged within the Balkan region mainly due to the conditions of the social structure within the region. The region was largely village based with strong differences between the rural and the urban areas. Further, with influx of Turks, most of the population of Serbia especially embraced Islam which gave the issue of nationalism a whole new face in the region. The historical roots of this

Calculus Concepts Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Calculus Concepts - Assignment Example For instance, a function y +3x +2 = 0 is expressed with both dependent and independent variables. Although implicit functions can be converted to explicit functions, it may result to a complex function which may be hard to solve. Implicit differentiation is useful in differentiating implicit functions (functions not in the form y = f(x)). Given a function say , implicit differentiation demands we differentiate all elements of the equation with respect to x, even y variables but not treating y as a constant. This would give: In the second education, all functions of y are differentiated using chain rule where . Once the differential is performed is made the subject of the formula. Implicit differentiation is useful in performing implicit functions. Instead of putting y the subject of the formula and making the function a complex one, implicit differentiation assists in simplifying implicit functions. Logarithmic functions are useful in solving differential problems that involve complex product or quotient rule. In logarithmic differentiation, the function is expressed in the form of the natural logarithm, and it is implicitly differentiated. Given a function with a lengthy product that would give a huge sum while using the product rule, logarithmic differentiation comes in handy. For instance; One of the applications of Calculus is in curve sketching. Curve sketching involves using specific values of functions to estimate its structure. In curve sketching, we have the absolute maximum and a local maximum. The main difference between the two is that the absolute maximum is the maximum value of the function that takes over the whole domain. This means that in a given range, the absolute maximum is the largest value of the function obtained by performing a differentiation of the functions and equating it to zero. On the other hand, the local maximum is the largest value of the functions on a given section but not on the entire domain. The given image below

Management auditing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Management auditing - Essay Example This leads to the development of targeted objectives and standards, and the actual standards and objectives are compared to identify the potential gaps and flaws in the system (pickett, 2005). Management Auditing is applied at the core and structure of an organization with its basic emphasis on comprehensively examining the structure, functionalities and governing bodies, departments, division heads and all the major operations of an organization. Moreover, management auditing acts as a powerful tool that has the potential to ascend deep down into the core operations of management of any organization from a highest point to the lowest one. It further ensures that a sound and foolproof management is being conducted internally and strengthens on the enhanced relationship with the outside world only if the internal operations of an organization are run smoothly (Leonard). Management auditing is much frequently interchanged with Internal Auditing or even Operational Auditing. According to IIA Institute of Internal Audit’s CEO, the regulatory environments and complex business systems have evolved as a result of dynamic environment and for this internal audit function has been established to cope up with the solution to these problems. This system has been developed by the internal auditors and the corporate management, therefore this system is significant to the improvement of business performance and suggesting constructive ways of improvements to the line managers. (Wilson and wood, 1985). Management auditing ensures the efficient and managed workability of all business operations. It furnishes improvements and outlines suitable recommendations. It frequently strengthens and enhances the managerial efficiency. Moreover it delineates efficient methods and effective processes whilst designing responsibilities and duties of the work force and lastly it actively seeks the

Research paper on diabetes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Research paper on diabetes - Essay Example A number of major findings also contributed much to the contemporary knowledge of diabetes: taking out the pancreas will result in diabetes; the pancreas generates insulin in Langerhans’s group of cells; and giving insulin to a diabetic person is effectual medication (Pompei 39). The Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1923 was given to Banting and Best for their development of insulin and provision of insulin treatment to a teenager suffering from diabetes. It is now known that diabetes mellitus can be the outcome of lack of insulin, damaged insulin production, or resistance to the effect of insulin (Bertera 33). This knowledge was supported and enhanced by advancements in the capacity to measure levels of insulin in the mid-20th century. Some individuals with diabetes mellitus lack quantifiable insulin, whereas others, in spite of sufficient secretion of insulin, either do not produce it in a way that sustains normal physiological processes, or have organs unresponsive to its impact (Bertera 33). Nowadays it is known that a number of pathogenic mechanisms can lead to diabetes and that there is a vital connection between an individual’s genetic composition and environmental forces. Diabetes mellitus is a set of metabolic illnesses typified by high amounts of blood sugar because of defects in the secretion of insulin, insulin functioning, or both. ... Since the illness could be asymptomatic for a number of years, it is approximated that numerous older people with diabetes are not aware of their disease (Pompei 40). The commonness of this illness differs with ethnicity and racial affiliation. Hispanic whites and Hispanic blacks are roughly 1.8 times more prone to have diabetes than non-Hispanic whites (Pompei 40-41). In spite of an extended asymptomatic duration, diabetes is a severe illness related to reduced life expectancy and considerable morbidity. The kind of diabetes usually impinging on older adults is related to a rate of mortality almost twice that of individuals without this illness and a decade shorter life expectancy (Bertera 35). Inadequately regulated diabetes can be the source of dangerous deterioration in an older individual and is manifested by functional disability, muscle impairment, loss of weight, and fatigue. More permanent complications of this disease involve neuropathies, kidney failure, and poor eyesight. The prevalence of kidney disease, stroke, and cardiovascular disease is intensified, and the possibility of complete loss of eyesight is heightened roughly by 40% in older adults with diabetes (Bertera 35-36). Diabetes is one of the major serious illnesses, and hence one of the major public health concerns nowadays, and its overwhelming estimated growth is mostly because of the aging of the population alongside industrialization, urbanization, and the obesity outbreak. In the 1970s, the National Diabetes Prevention and Control Program was formed to advance education, raise awareness, and regulate and prevent complications by circulating empirical knowledge (Pompei 42). Findings from empirical research are being analyzed and disseminated on a regular

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

Mary Magdalene Essay Example for Free

Mary Magdalene Essay Do you know who i am? are you not attracted to my beauty? Many lovers have come and gone through my life. but a lot of people hate me. They say i am an adulterous woman. They say i have seven demons in my body. I hate this kind of life, you know. Nobody really loves me, and the burden of my sin is heavy upon me. I am Mary of Magdala. Just call me Mary Magdalene. I am in search of true love and acceptance. But who will ever love a sinner such as I? (walks sideways and to the center of the stage) Jesus I heard that a certain jesus has come to our town. He was healing the sick ones, and calling the sinners to repentance. Who is this man that He would even proclaim forgiveness for the sins of many? I must see Jesus! He must have answers to my questions! One day, a Pharisee named Simon hosted a feast and Jesus was one of the invited guests. I will not miss the chance to meet Jesus. I will prepare myself for the feast. (Mary removes the beads on her head, wears a veil and got ready with an alabaster flask of perfume) With this alabaster flask of perfume, I will annoint Jesus feet. (Many tries to see from afar the crowd at Simons place) Oh! There is a big crowd in Simons house. How could I possibly get inside? Oh, Ill wait until Jesus enters. By then, the crowd at the gate wil be ushered in. There is Jesus sitting near the host Simon. I tried to inch my way through the crowd until I finally knelt down at His feet. I wasted no time to pour the ointment on His feet and I wipe His feet with my hair. Then with a gentle voice he said to me, Woman, your sins are forgiven, your faith has saved you, go in peace. My heart rejoiced as I went away. The burden of my sins rolled away. Now Im free to obey Him. The next time I saw Jesus, He was haning on the cross, crucified between two thieves. My heart was crushed with grief. Who has done this crime? Who killed my Jesus? Can anybody tell me? Who killed Jesus? Was it the Hebrew children? A while ago, they were shouting: Crucify Hiim, (pause), crucify Him, crucify Him! Was it Pontius Pilate? he was the Governor who gave permission for His crucifixion. Was it the Roman soldiers? Torture of criminals is part of their profession. But Jesus wasnt a criminal! He was a sinless man. Who killed Jesus? Now its plain to see. It was really me! My sins! He died for my sins! Jesus, thank You for forgiving me at such a great price.

Le Petit Chef Essay Example for Free

Le Petit Chef Essay I believe she should take on the projects that have visible differentiation and also take on the high-end microwave oven with the fuzzy intelligence. It is apparent the competing companies are utilizing technologies that are cheaper and are still maintaining their success. Le Petit Chef products are perceived as quality products, which is something that the executives know and something their current customers know. Despite the company’s low returns, I still believe Gagne should go forward with the new high-end microwave oven because it will enhance the ease of use with minimal incremental costs. This microwave oven can also solve the problem with the variation in food quality, which should entice Gagne to go forward with the project. As far as other projects, they need to develop other projects that are all different from each other, which are visible to the retailer and potential customer. As far as handling the executive meeting, Gagne needs to tell them that she is scrapping those several projects in order to free up more funds, allowing more money to be used in other projects and enabling them to differentiate their line. Le Petit Chef’s poor performance can be attributed to a few things. The competition of the other companies developing products that directly competes with them such as Electrolux and Bosch-Siemens. Both companies have developed low-end microwave ovens that are seemingly very attractive to potential customer because of their brand recognition and the price of the products. Another explanation for their poor performance is the company’s lack to differentiate their lines. It is important to have visible differentiation for products so the retailer sees the difference of their products. If a product has a lack of visible differentiation, the retailer and potential client will question what is different with the product and why it is more expensive than the previous model. In order for the company to remedy the situation I feel they need to implement the 18-month project for their high-end microwave oven with fuzzy intelligence technology and further advertise and market the glitches that have been fixed. Further, they need to develop differentiated products in order to promote to their retailers and potential clients of their differences.

Gladiator Historical Accuracy

Gladiator Historical Accuracy The movie gladiator revolves around the life of Maximus Decimus Meridius. Maximus was the greatest Roman General in the Roman Empire. Marcus Aurelius was the emperor of Rome and near his death he told Maximus that he wanted the power to be shifted back to the senate, and not to his son, Commodus. The reason Marcus Aurelius did not want his son to rule is because he believes that Commodus will destroy the Roman Empire. When Commodus finds out that he will not become emperor, he suffocates his father. After Marcus Aurelius death, Commodus tells the Romans that he is the new emperor, but Maximus knows the truth. Commodus tells the soldiers to kill Maximus and his family before the power is given to the Senate. Before the soldiers could kill Maximus, he defeats all of the soldiers trying to murder him, and he escapes. Maximus goes home to see his wife and son murdered and hung in front of his house. He knows he cant stay in his house, so he starts to find somewhere else to live. While in the desert, Maximus collapses and he is captured by slave trainers. While in the slave camp, the captured slaves were tested to see what level they could perform. Maximus was called Spaniard because he refused to tell his name. When he finally showed the slave traders how well he fought, they immediately knew that they had an amazing fighter. In Rome, Commodus reopens the gladiatorial games in honour of his deceased father. A significant scene in the movie was when the gladiators were supposed to re-enact the battle between Rome and Carthage. The gladiators did not want to be defeated so they killed the defenders and the crowd enjoyed the twist. Commodus demanded the identity of the best fighter. Maximus removes his mask and Commodus is shocked to see that he is still alive. Commodus is unable to kill him because the crowd loves him. Commodus decides to force him to fight the Tigris of Gaul, the best fighter in Rome. While Maximus battles the Tigris of Gaul, Commodus releases the t igers on him. Maximus almost defeats the Tigris of Gaul when he saw Commodus vote for death. Maximus decided to spare the Tigris life to oppose Commodus. Commodus is angry to find out that the Romans start calling Maximus, Maximus the Merciful. After the battle, Maximus meets one of his former servants, Cicero and him tells him to tell his former soldiers that he is still alive, and wants them to battle for his freedom. Maximus plans an escape with Gracchus and Lucilla to reunite with his army. Commodus fears that his sister, Lucilla is betraying him so he threatens Lucius. Commodus discovers the plot and he sends his soldiers to kill Maximus and the other slaves. While in battle, Proximo, the trainer of the slaves, and Hagen are murdered, but Juba and the rest of the survivors are imprisoned. Maximus escapes only to find Cicero hung by Commodus soldiers. Maximus becomes captured and imprisoned again and has to face Commodus in battle. Commodus talks to Maximus before the battle and stabs him in the back to weaken him in the battle and he orders the guards to cover the wound with armour. While in battle Commodus tries fighting him but at one point Commodus sword is taken from his hand. Commodus orders Quintus to give him another sword, but Quintus refuses. Maximus kills Commodus while the whole Coliseum stayed silent. As the life of Maximus begins to fade, he tells the Romans to free Proximos slaves and let Rome be controlled by the Senate again. The movie ends with Maximus meeting his family in a field in his afterlife. Juba is at the end of the movie burying two statues of a woman and a boy that belonged to Maximus, and Juba says he will meet him in the afterlife. Historical Analysis- Gladiator Characters: Lucilla: In the movie, Lucilla is the daughter of Marcus Aurelius, and the sister of Commodus. In the beginning of the movie Marcus Aurelius tells her he wished she was a boy because she would rule Rome appropriately. Lucilla is very smart and is very interested in the politics of Rome. Commodus is in love with her and does not want anyone to have her. She understands his love and uses it to her advantage. In the movie, she does anything she can to distract Commodus and keep him happy in order to save Maximus. Lucilla, Maximus and Gracchus plot to kill Commodus The romantic relationship between Lucilla and Maximus is clearly evident, and it truly angers Commodus. Commodus becomes very suspicious and threatens Lucius. Lucilla informs Commodus about her plans in order to save her son, and Commodus captures Maximus. Maximus: In the movie gladiator, Maximus Decimus Meridius is a loving father and husband. He is the greatest Roman General in Roman history, and no one can defeat him. The character of Maximus was created by the writers of the movie, Unfortunately, there are no portraits with which to compare the Hero of Gladiator, the Spanish general Maximus. He never existed at all. (Ward, 2005). All of the scenes in the movie that involved Maximus were written in to make the movie more exciting and the love affair between Lucilla and Maximus never existed. Commodus: Commodus character was supposed to portray a mixture between the Caesars Nero and Caligula. Historians believe that he was worse. In the movie, Commodus is hated by the Senate and the people. In history Commodus is only hated by the Senate, he was quite loved by the people. In Gladiator, Commodus is murdered by Maximus during battle, but that is not true since Maximus never existed. Commodus had many attempts on his life, but only one man succeeded. Role of Different Groups: Caesars: In the movie Gladiator, the Caesar Marcus Aurelius had the most power and he was a noble Caesar. He did not want Commodus to gain power because he feared Commodus would ruin the city of Rome. Some Caesars shared their power with the Senate, some Caesars became dictators. Generals: A general had a very important role. The job a general was to lead their army to victory. During the ancient Roman times a legion would serve his general first and his Caesar second. This is demonstrated in the film when Maximus tells his former servant Cicero to get his army to fight for his freedom. Maximus knows the army will obey him. Gladiators: Gladiators were the lowest form of humans during the ancient Roman times. Gladiators were men who were mostly captured during war and were forced to fight. There is also a high accuracy in the way that the life of a gladiator is portrayed. Gladiators were men who were trained to die for the publics entertainment. They not only fought other gladiators but animals too. (Ilic, 2004). Government Structure/ Politics: The government during the ancient Roman times was based on the Caesar and the Senate. Many of the Roman people loved the Senate, but after seeing how corrupt they could be the Romans started to love Caesars more. For example Commodus was one of the emperors who although despised by the senatorial classes was loved by the military and lower classes. The reason is mainly financial. Commodus taxed the senators and was generous with the others. (The struggle between the Senate and the Caesars continued until the fall of the Roman Empire). (Ward, 2005) Work Cited Gil, NG. (2010, October). Economic reasons for the fall of rome. Retrieved from http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/fallromeeconomic/a/econoffall.html Ilic, KI. (2004, June). Gladiator fact vs. gladiator fiction. Retrieved from http://cssaame.com/jhs/gladiator_fact_vs_gladiator_fi.html Ward, AW. (2001, August). The movie gladiator in historical perspective. http://linkage.rockefeller.edu/wli/reading/gladiator.html

A Love Story :: essays research papers

It all started when I was 16 years old. While I was playing outside on my farm in California, I met a boy. He was an average kind of boy who teased you and then you chased them and beat them up. After that first meeting in which I beat him up we kept on meeting and beating each other up at the fence. That only lasted for a little while though. We would meet at the fence all the time and we were always together. I would tell him all my secrets. He was very quiet he would just listen to what I had to say. I found him easy to talk to and I could talk to him about everything. In school we had separate friends but when we got home we would always talk about what happened in school. One day I said to him that a guy I liked hurt me and broke my heart. He just comforted me and said everything would be okay. He gave me words of encouragement and helped me get over him. I was happy and thought of him as a real friend. But I knew that there was something else about him that I liked. I thought of it that night and figured it was just a Friend kinda thing that I was feeling. All through high school and even through graduation we're always together and of course I thought of it as being friends. But I knew deep inside that I really felt differently. On graduation night even though we had different dates to the prom I wanted to be with him. That night after everybody went home I went to his house and wanted to tell him that I wanted to see him. Well, that night was my big chance and all I did was just sit there with him watching the stars and talking about what I was going to do and what he was going to do. I looked into his eyes and listened to him talk about what his dream was. How he wanted to get married and settle down. He said how he wanted to be rich and successful. All I could do was to tell him my dream and cuddle next to him. I went home hurting because I didn't tell him how I was feeling. I wanted to tell him so bad that I loved him but I was too scared and frighte! ned.

Book Report On Dostoevskys The Brothers Karamazov Essay -- Book Review

CHARACTERIZATION The main characters of Dostoevsky's novel The Brothers Karamazov are, as the title suggests, the members of the Karamazov "family," if it can indeed be called such. The only things that the members of this family share are a name and the "Karamazov curse," a legacy of base impulses and voluptuous lust. References to this tendency towards immorality are sprinkled heavily throughout the novel; phrases such as "a brazen brow and a Karamazov conscience," "voluptuary streak," and "Karamazovian baseness" abound. Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov, the father of the brothers Karamazov, is the embodiment and the source of this immorality. In him Dostoevsky creates such perversity and depravity that one can feel no positive emotions for the man. His physical appearance--he is "flabby" with "small, suspicious eyes" and a "long, cavernous mouth with puffy lips, behind which could be glimpsed small fragments of black teeth"--accurately reflects his foul, disgusting character. He has no respect for himself; he enjoys playing the part of the shameless "buffoon" for attention, even though the attention he receives is negative. Because he has no respect for himself, he can have no respect for others, either. He has no respect for women, for example; he is a despicable "voluptuary," and he satisfies his lust at any cost. He drives his wife to madness by bringing "women of ill-repute" into their house right in front of her. Even more shockingly, he rapes a mentally retarded woman, who later dies giving birth to his illegitimate son, Smerdyakov, who grows up as his father's servant. Fyodor is even more blatantly disrespectful to his three legitimate children. After his wife's death, he abandons them, for they "would have been a hindrance to his debaucheries." He is never a true father to any of them. When his oldest son, Dmitry, becomes an adult, Fyodor is even so cruel as to deny Dmitry his inheritance and instead use the money to seduce Grushenka, with whom his son is in love. It is Alyosha, the youngest brother, that is most successful in escaping the curse of the Karamazovs. Miraculously, he is almost the complete opposite of his father; he is an easygoing "lover of mankind" whom everyone likes. When t... ...ativity of the atmosphere. STYLE Dostoevsky's style is very realistic and straightforward. He almost never uses flowery or poetic language or figures of speech; his language is simple and spare, as if he tried to eliminate all that wasn't absolutely necessary. Similarly, he is unpretentious in his choice of words. He generally states things in the simplest terms possible. Contrastingly, however, his sentences are often fairly complex; despite their complexity, though, they are easy to understand and thus do not detract from his simplicity and straightforwardness. Because the book consists largely of dialogue, Dostoevsky changes his style frequently, for each of his characters has a unique style of speaking that complements his character. Dostoevsky writes Ivan's dialogue, for example, in a very verbose, complex style that reinforces Ivan's characterization as an intellectual. He writes Dmitry's dialogue in a very random, disjointed style that underscores Dmitry's tendency to allow his passion and his emotions to cloud his logic. Finally, he writes Alyosha's dialogue in a simple style very similar to his own, as Alyosha is himself simple and unpretentious.à ¿Ãƒ ½Oà ¯

The Subject of Love in Hawthornes Rappaccinis Daughter :: Rappaccinis Daughter Essays

The Subject of Love in Hawthorne's Rappaccini's Daughter Many spend their entire life looking for true love. It is that one love between a man and a woman that spurred spin-off stories of every kind for us to watch on TV or to read in books. Rappaccini's Daughter is a perfect example of this age old search for an inner peace, believed only to be found in a relationship with that "perfect" person. Giovanni sought this peace and believed he had found the one for him. Unfortunately, Giovanni was only led into disappointment after overcoming the obstacles that were in his was and then losing her after the fact. All of this leaves a question to be abswered; is it better to have love and lost than to have never loved at all? Giovanni felt a need to seek love in his life, only to find a young lady that inded caused him to seek her out. This young lady was of course Dr. Rappaccini's daughter, Beatrice, whom Giovanni first saw in the garden below from his window. This was only the beginning of the always painstakingly brutal process that two people encounter as they start on their journey toward the actual "in love" stage. Fortunatley for Giovanni, Beatrice did take a special interest in him. Beatrice came from a rather background. Her father had raised her as one of his many experiments. The downfall to this was the fact that she was a walking, talking poisonous flower created by Rappaccini, just like his other poisonous plants. Giovanni did not know this however. It was without this knowledge that he pursued her and they became well acquainted to each other. It would not be until later that Giovanni would find out this truth that few knew about. Giovanni was overwhelmed with this relationship that he had acquired with Beatrice. Their lives had almost come to the point of living and "breathing" each other. This is actually one of the first clues to Beatrice's lifelong handicap. It is her breath Giovanni notices that has such a sweet aroma to it, just as sweet as that of the aroma released from one of her father's plants. Giovanni had also noticed, the first day he peered into the garden, that Beatrice had touched and sniffed of all the plants which her father was so careful not to get close to or touch.

Changing patterns in marriage Essay

Using information from the items and elsewhere, examine the reasons for changing patterns of marriage, cohabitation and childbearing in the last 40 years (24 marks) According to the Office for National Statistics, the highest number of couples in 1972 was 480,000 and was due to the baby boom generation of the 1950’s reaching marriageable age and the fact that people chose to marry at a younger age compared to pervious generations. However the annual number of marriages in England and Wales then went into decline and reached an all-time low in 2005 when only 244,710 couples got married. This decline in the total number of marriages has been paralleled by a decline in marriage rates. In 1994, the marriage rate was 11.4 but has decline to 10.3 by 2004. The male rate declined from 36.3 in 1994 to 27.8 in 2004 whilst the female rate declined from 30.6 to 24.6. Fears about what marriage statistics reveal are exaggerated for four reasons: People are delaying marriage rather than reje cting it. Most people will marry at some point in their lives, but people are now marrying later in life, probably after a period of cohabitation. Women may delay marriage because they want to develop their careers and enjoy a period of independence. The BSAS indicates that most people, whether single, divorced or cohabiting, still see marriage as a desirable life-goal. People also generally believe that having children is best done in the context of marriage and few people believe that the freedom associate with living alone is better than being married to someone. Two fifths of all marriages are remarriages. Evidently these people are committed to the institution of marriage despite their previous negative experience of it. Despite the decrease in the overall number of people marrying, married couples are still the main types of partnership for men and women in the UK. Wilkinson notes that female attitudes towards marriage and family life have undergone a radical change or ‘genderquake’. She argues that young females no longer prioritize marriage and children. Educational opportunities and the feminization of the economy have resulted in young women weighing up the costs of marriage and having children against the benefits of a career and economic independence. Therefore the result of this is that many females, particularly middle-class, are postponing marriage and family life until their careers are established. Other feminist sociologists are sceptical about the value of marriage. Smith argues that marriage creates unrealistic expectation  about monogamy and faithfulness in a world characterized by sexual freedom. She argues that at different points in people’s life cycles, people need different things that often can only be gained from a new partner. Campbell, however, suggests that marriage benefits men more than it does women. A constant source of concern to the New Right has been the significant rise in the number of couples cohabiting. The proportion of non-married people cohabiting has risen sharply in the last 20 years from 11% of men and 13% of women in 1986 to 24% and 25% respectively. In 2007, the ONS suggested that cohabiting couples are the fastest growing family type in the UK. Around 2.2 million families are cohabiting couples with or without children. This family type has grown by 65% since 1997. However, New Right commentators claim that cohabitation is less stable than marriage. A report by the Institute for the Study of Civil Society claimed that cohabiting couples were less happy and less fulfilled than married couples, and more likely to be abusive, unfaithful, stressed and depressed. Although surveys indicate that few people see cohabitation as an alternative to marriage, the fact that cohabiting couples are much younger than married couples suggests cohabitation is seen my many participants as a test of compatibility and an introduction to marriage. Other research suggests that cohabitation is a temporary phase lasting on average for about 5 years. Approximately 60% of cohabiting couples eventually marry. Although cohabitation marks a dramatic change in adult living arrangements – as recently as the 1960’s, it was regarded immoral – cohabiting couples with and without children only accounted for 10% of households in 2006. Reasons for increase in divorce rates: Thornes and Collard: women value friendship and emotional gratification more than men do. If the husband fails to live up to these expectations, women may feel the need to look elsewhere. Hart: divorce may be reaction to the frustration that many working wives may feel if they are responsible for the bulk of housework and childcare. Beck and Beck-Gernsheim (1995): rising divorce rates are the product of a rapidly changing world in which traditional rules, rituals and traditions of love, romance and relationships no longer apply. In 1938, 6,000 divorces were granted in the UK. This figure had increased tenfold by 1970, and in 1993, numbers packed at 180,000. By  2000, this figure had fallen to 154,600 although the years 2001-2004 have seen a gradual rise to 167,100. Flouri and Buchanan’s (2002) study of 17,000 children from families that had experienced separation and divorce found that in families, their fathers were still involved in their children so the children were more successful in gaining educational qualifications and continued to seek out educational opportunities in adult life. In conclusion, the reasons for changing patterns of marriage, cohabitation and childbearing in the last 40 years are due to the fact that conjugal roles within marriages have differed and the ability to change marriage beliefs in an instant. Men and women, especially the middle-class, may fear the need to put their careers before starting a family, which therefore causes problems within marriage.

Foundation and history of nursing and how it affects practice Essay

In order to fully understand our heritage, nurses must learn our professional genealogy – from how the profession evolved from ‘traditional’ ministering of the sick to the professionals we are today. Our history gives us a perspective in the traditions we have as nurses and a legacy to pass on to new nurses as they enter the profession. We learn what has influenced, motivated, and affected nurses in the past so that we can use that knowledge to influence our perspective in making changes that will benefit those who enter the profession in the future. Over the years I have observed a change in how we, as nurse and the medical profession, address pain. When I started nursing, you medicated the pain. To put it simply pain was pain – you medicated to relieve the pain. There was not a qualifier by the patient as to their perception of the intensity. Follow up was subjective as you asked the patient if they felt better – we didn’t ask them to quantify the relief they perceived from the medication given. As nurses, we now have data that validates our actions in our plan of care for our patients through evidence based practice. We are not doing something â€Å"because that is the way it has always been done†. We have logic and rationality supporting our care. As a profession we have licensure within our states that includes validation of continuing education. Outside of our licensure we have specialty certificates that attests to the hard work and knowledge those nurses have to achieve their specific certificates of expertise. One things that can be observed in learning the history of nursing is that nurses, throughout history, as well as today, demonstrate a drive to not only better themselves, but to better the community around them. Nursing is far more than switching out a bedpan and passing pills. It has time honored traditions as well as modern scientific sustenance behind the care of patients. I am proud to be a professional nurse.

Honors Essay

For how I firmly am resolved you know; That is, not bestow my youngest daughter Before I have a husband for the elder: If either of you both love Katharina, Because I know you well and love you well, Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure. † In these lines, we are introduced to Baptista, a father who wants to find a husband for his oldest daughter, Katharina. The conflict of the play is also introduced as Baptista has decided that his youngest daughter cannot marry until Katharina does. These lines provide readers with some background information on Baptista and his daughters, as well as their familial relationship. They also reveal that while Baptista loves both of his daughter’s, he is at a loss for how to manage his oldest daughter, Katharina. Exposition Act 1, Scene 1 Lucentio: â€Å"Tranio, since for the great desire I had To see fair Padua, nursery of arts, I am arrived for fruitful Lombardy, The pleasant garden of great Italy;† In these lines, we get the first glimpse of where the setting is. The readers get a chance to see the descriptive environment of Italy with the â€Å"pleasant garden†. We are also introduced to Lucentio and Tranio in this part of the play where they are visiting this part of Italy because they had that desire to go there. Rising Action Act 2, Scene 1 KATHARINA: â€Å"Of all thy suitors, here I charge thee, tell Whom thou lovest best: see thou dissemble not. † BIANCA: â€Å"Believe me, sister, of all the men alive I never yet beheld that special face Which I could fancy more than any other. † KATHARINA: â€Å"Minion, thou liest. Is’t not Hortensio? † BIANCA: â€Å"If you affect him, sister, here I swear I’ll plead for you myself, but you shall have Him. † KATHARINA: â€Å"O then, belike, you fancy riches more:You will have Gremio to keep you fair. † BIANCA: â€Å"Is it for him you do envy me so? Nay then you jest, and now I well perceive You have but jested with me all this while: I prithee, sister Kate, untie my hands. † KATHARINA: â€Å"If that be jest, then all the rest was so. † In these lines, Katharina begins attacking Bianca for no reason at all. Katharina begins questions Bianca out of the blue about which of the suitors does she want the most while Bianca has no clue where this question is coming from, but Bianca assumes that Katharina wants one of the suitors for her and has been acting around her to get what she wanted. Climax Act 3, Scene 2 KATHARINA: â€Å"No shame but mine. I must, forsooth, be forced To give my hand, opposed against my heart, Unto a mad-brain rudesby, full of spleen, Who wooed in haste and means to wed at leisure. I told you, I, he was a frantic fool, Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behavior, And, to be noted for a merry man, He’ll woo a thousand, ‘point the day of marriage, Make friends, invite, and proclaim the banns, Yet never means to wed where he hath wooed. Now must the world point at poor Katherine And say, â€Å"Lo, there is mad Petruchio’s wife, If it would please him come and marry her! † In these lines, Katharina is upset that the groom has not arrived to their wedding yet. And she begins blaming Lucentio for her being forced to marry this guy when she knew what the groom’s plans were. Katharina says that all the groom did it for was the friends and fame of proposing to women then not showing up to the date of the wedding and this made her even more mad, like she wanted to kill somebody. Falling Action Act 4, Scene 1 KATHARINA: â€Å"I pray you, husband, be not so disquiet:The meat was well, if you were so contented. † PETRUCHIO: â€Å"I tell thee, Kate, ’twas burnt and dried away; And I expressly am forbid to touch it, For it engenders choler, planteth anger;And better ’twere that both of us did fast,Since, of ourselves, ourselves are choleric, Than feed it with such over-roasted flesh. Be patient; to-morrow ‘t shall be mended,And, for this night, we’ll fast for company: Come, I will bring thee to thy bridal chamber. † In these lines, Katharina and Petruchio have already married and now they are at Petruchio’s house where he will boss around all of his servants. And Katharina is trying to calm Petruchio down because one of the servants brought out burnt meat and he wanted everything to be perfect for his wife. Resolution Act 4, Scene 5 PETRUCHIO: Why, how now, Kate! I hope thou art not mad: This is a man, old, wrinkled, faded, wither’d, And not a maiden, as thou say’st he is. KATHARINA: Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes, That have been so bedazzled with the sun That everything I look on seemeth green: Now I perceive thou art a reverend father; Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking. In these lines, Petruchio seeks an elderly man in the direction they are heading. But Katharina eyes are blinded by looking at the sun for too long and she mistakes the old man for a little girl. But altogether this is after all the arguing that were going on and now they are spending time together on their way to Katharina’s father’s house.

How Are Dreams Presented in of Mice and Men? Essay

During the 1930’s in America, at the time of the Great Depression, John Steinbeck, an ordinary migrant worker wrote perhaps the shortest but well known novel – Of Mice And Men. I think Steinbeck was influenced by the poem â€Å"To A Mouse†, because the novel and poem are slightly alike. They both have dreams and determination but in the end, both are destroyed. In the novel, Steinbeck shows us that dreams are futile. You only have the dream because you are being optimistic and having a dream might make life seem easier for you. But if your dream is destroyed, then life seems difficult and meaningless. George and Lennie’s dream to own a ranch during the Great Depression seemed like a typical, futile American Dream of the migrant workers. â€Å"Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They ain’t got nothing to look ahead to. With us ain’t like that. We got a future.† But the closer Lennie and George came to achieving their dream, everything was suddenly lost – â€Å"the beak swallowed the little snake while its’ tail waved frantically†. This sentence shows us that things will suddenly change and the outcome of plans are not going to be what they were expected to be. The setting of the last and first chapters of the novel are exactly the same, but the sentence â€Å"the beak swallowed the little snake while its’ tail waved frantically† is seen as a warning by the reader that something unexpected is going to occur. â€Å"Suddenly Lennie appeared out of the brush, and he came as silently as a creeping bear moves.† This sentence indicates a change of Lennie’s behavior, which is shown using anthropomorphism, makes us think that something is going to happen and the tension starts to rise because Lennie usually moves and is described as a â€Å"calm, big bear†. Lennie’s actions make the read er imagine Lennie as being big, cute, cuddly and harmless – â€Å"he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws†. Steinbeck set the last chapter in the late afternoon when â€Å"already the sun had left the valley to go climbing up the slopes of the Gabilan mountains, and the hilltops were rosy in the sun†. He set the chapter at that particular time of the day because the day is coming to an end at that point, neither in the evening nor night because the day would have come to an end by then. He is telling us that as the day ends, the dream ends as well due to the death of Lennie by George’s love for Lennie. The dream of Curley’s wife was to be in the movies. â€Å"If I’d went, I wouldn’t be livin’ like this, you bet†. The reason Curley’s wife does not fulfill her dream to become an actress was because she met a producer who said â€Å"he was gonna put me in the movies. Says I was a natural†. He takes an advantage of her naivety and tricks her by convincing her that â€Å"he was gonna write to me about it†. But never did – â€Å"I never got that letter†. Because of her anger on her mother who she thought stole the letter – â€Å"I always thought my ol’ lady stole it. I ast her if she stole it, to o, an’ she says no†- and despondency she married Curley without even loving him just to revenge on her mother – â€Å"So I married Curley. Well, I ain’t told this to nobody before. Maybe I oughtn’ to. I don’ like Curley. He ain’t a nice fella†. Steinbeck tells the reader through this novel that women were treated as personal possessions and as providers for mans needs during those times. Throughout the novel, all women characters are presented as either a possession or provider. For example: even thought Lennie’s aunt Clara isn’t present in the novel as a character, she is described as a provider for Lennie’s needs – â€Å"That was your own Aunt Clara. An’ she stopped givin’ ‘em to ya. Your Aunt Clara give you a rubber mouse and you wouldn’t have nothing to do with it†- supports my point. Another example is seen with Curley’s wife who is shown as a personal possession to Curley – â€Å"’Any you guys seen my wife?’ he demanded†. Steinbeck tells the reader via this sentence that Curley is not looking after his wife as he should be and does not spend time with her considering that she is the onl y women on the ranch surrounded by men who see her as â€Å"jail bait†. Curley’s wife only seeks company, but as she is a young, flirtatious and beautiful woman – â€Å"She had full, rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes, heavily made up. Her finger nails were red† – the men fear her as they think she will get them in trouble. Also in the sentence – â€Å"Her finger nails were red†- the finger nails are red colour and red is seen as danger, meaning that it is dangerous to get involved with Curley’s wife. The quotes – â€Å"What’s the matter with me? Ain’t I got a right to talk to nobody? Whatta they think I am, anyways? I don’t know why I can’t talk to you. I ain’t doing no harm to you† and â€Å"Well, George says you’ll get us in a mess.† And â€Å"What kinda harm am I doin’ to you?† support my point. The sentence â€Å"Seems like they ain’t none of them cares how I gotta live† tells the reader that no one cared about wo men at those times. And also the fact that Curley’s wife does not have a name, but is only referred to as â€Å"Curley’s wife† and that Slim’s dog is given a name – â€Å"Lulu† – shows the reader that dogs were treated better than women at those times. The failure of Curley’s wife’s dream leads to her death, which also takes place in late afternoon, as the days ends so does her life. John Steinbeck tells us through this cyclical novel that dreams are futile. The closer the characters got to achieving their dreams, they suddenly lost them unexpectedly. â€Å"The beak swallowed the little snake while its’ tail waved frantically† tells the reader that the death of the snake was sudden and unexpected in the same setting as the first chapter. The dream was first mentioned in the same place and at the same time in the first chapter and it is mentioned again at the same time and place in the last chapter. By making the same setting in the first and last chapter cyclical and mentioning the dream in both chapters, Steinbeck tells us that as the day ends, the dream ends. And that whatever happened in between was futile. Therefore, John Steinbeck tells us that everyone had the American Dream to make life worth living, but society would let only few achieve it during the Great Depression of the 1930’s America.

Analysis of the Nation of Brazil and Its Classification as A Developed Nation or Not

Analysis of the Nation of Brazil and Its Classification as A Developed Nation or Not In this project I have collected, analysed and evaluated evidence to help me to decide whether Brazil is a developed country or a developing country. Introduction to Brazil Brazil is the largest and most influential country in South America with a population of about 176 million, which is greater than the combined total for the whole of the rest of the continent. Brazil takes up almost half of South America. The 6,448km long Amazon River runs through the North of Brazil and is the second largest in the world, and the Amazon Basin is the largest River Basin the world. The River and over a thousand tributaries drain an area of 6,150,000km and carry one fifth of the worlds fresh water out to sea. In the North East, Brazil has arid deserts with rolling grasslands in the South. The Amazonian Rainforest covers more than one third of Brazil and its exploitation has become a major environmental worry. Brazil borders the Atlantic Ocean down the eastern side with the following countries bordering the North and West: French Guiana; Suriname; Guyana; Venezuela; Columbia; Peru; Bolivia; Paraguay; Argentina; and Uruguay. Brazil lies between 5 North and 30 South of the Equator. So, it is possible to stand with one leg in the Northern Hemisphere and the other in the Southern Hemisphere! The Equator, therefore, runs through the extreme North of Brazil with Macap and the Mouths of the Amazon on its line. Brazils correct title is The Federal Republic of Brazil and its 26 states are administered from its capital, Bras, which was purpose built and now has a population of between 1 and 1.9 million people. However, S Paulo has 17 million inhabitants. (See population map). The highest point in Brazil is Pico da Neblina which is 3014m (9,888 ft) above sea level. Brazils main language is Portuguese and its main religion is Catholic Christianity. Brazilian society is a vibrant, diverse mix of cultures. Brazils share of the Amazon basin, occupying half of the country, has a model equatorial climate. The 150-200cm (59-79 inches) of rain are spread throughout the year, although some periods are rather wetter than others according to the region. (See rainfall map) Temperatures are high, with almost no seasonal variation, but scarcely ever rise above 38 (100). The Brazilian plateau, which occupies most of the rest of the country, has far greater temperature ranges. Rain falls mainly between October and April. However, the Northeast, the least productive region of Brazil, is very dry and in past years has been suffering from severe drought, which compounded its problems. (See map on rainfall) The southern states have hot summers and cool winters, when frost may occur. The currency used on Brazil is the Real. 1 real = 100 centavos. The average wage per person per year is about ,570. The following evidence I have gathered describes how Brazil may have become a developed country. Economy Brazil has one of the worlds major economies and is now the ninth wealthiest country in the world. Economic reforms in the 1990s have bought some stability to the countrys finances. Reforms have included privatisation and the opening up of its markets. During the 1960s and 1970s, GDP expanded by an average of 11% a year. At this time the country enjoyed massive industrial growth, but then the Boom and Bust pattern hit and Brazil went bust! It became the worlds greatest debtor. The economy underwent major diversification and industrialisation, and today Brazil is a significant producer of cars and computers. In fact, Brazils car industry is acclaimed as being the success of the decade. Economic reform, initiated in 1990, enabled Brazil to reschedule its debts, but a steep recession followed in 1990-1992. The launching of the new currency, the re, in 1994 was the fifth attempt at monetary stabilisation since 1986. It contributed to the dramatic reduction of inflation from around 50% a month in 1994 to around 80% a year in 1995 and less than 20% a year in 1996. Economic growth of 5.7% in 1994 was the highest since 1986. This boosted regional confidence and facilitated the launch of MERCOSUR, the common market with neighbouring Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. In 1995, a fractious Congress blocked constitutional reforms of the tax and social security system, but finally agreed to end state monopolies in such sectors as telecommunications and oil, thereby reviving the governments privatisation programme. Rio de Janeiro is a major city on the East Coast, and although not the biggest, was once the capital city of Brazil. It was the area where the earlier Portuguese settlers (who have always claimed that they discovered it) landed and immediately began cultivating the rich soil. At this stage, it was all tropical forest in the area, but over many centuries it has been cleared and it is now Brazils political and economic heartland. Many people enjoy the white sandy beaches of Copacabana, which is overlooked by Sugarloaf Mountain. Many centuries of colonisation, conflict and slavery, and massive immigration from Europe have left Brazil a Country full of many different races and cultures. Lying mid-way between Salvador in the North and Porto Alegre in the South, and occupying only 7.7 per cent of Brazils total area, Rio De Janeiro supports over 30 per cent of its population. The annual carnival in Rio takes place over fives days where parades, balls, street dancing and samba and bossa nova music fill the streets. Brazil is also revered for its football prowess, having won the world cup 5 times. Vast sugar cane plantations mean that alcohol production is huge, and when oil became scarce and expensive in the early 1970s it caused many to use industrial alcohol as a fuel for the vehicles they then began building. Politics Brazil is a democratic federal republic with 26 regional parliaments and a national congress. Brazil became independent of Portugal in 1822 giving the country the opportunity to develop to its best potential, and current borders were established. Women in Brazil have had the vote since 1934 and in 1993, Brazilians voted to retain directly elected presidents. In 1997 the constitution was changed to allow a president to run for re-election. Reformists want provisions to curb tax evasion, and were successful in 1995 in ending state monopolies and allowing foreign investment in telecommunications, oil, mining and shipping. Many also want to see changes in the electoral system in order to curb the increasing involvement of small parties in government. In October 2002, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, popularly known as Lula, won the elections and became president. A former shoeshine boy he will head Brazils first left-wing government for more than 40 years. At his inauguration in January 2003, Lula promised to make major political and economical reforms and pledged to eradicate hunger. He also pledged to tackle corruption and Brazils economic woes, improve education and create 10 million jobs. He plans to rid Brazil of its reputation for the biggest gap between rich and poor in the world. He did warn that this might take him longer than his initial 4-year term. Plans to develop nuclear weapons have now been abandoned by the military. Industry Local industry is well developed, making Brazil dominant in the region. Major industries include, Agriculture, Mining, Iron and Steel, Motor vehicles, Oil and Mineral refining, Chemicals, Wood pulp and paper, Machinery, Food processing, Consumer goods, Textiles, Rubber processing and Fertilisers. Brazil is one of the worlds most important steel producers, and it has large deposits of gold, silver and iron. Agriculture and Products Brazil has a huge, successful agricultural base and produces the worlds largest quantities of coffee and Soya beans. It also has immense natural resources. It also produces Cereals, Cassava, Sugar, Oranges, Cocoa, Rice, Cotton, Tobacco, Bananas, Rubber, Timber, Iron ore, Bauxite, Manganese, Crude oil and Natural Gas, Coal, Chromium, Nickel, Tin, Zinc, Gold, Silver, Diamonds, Phosphates, Salt, Quartz crystal, Beryllium, Graphite, Titanium, Tungsten and Asbestos. Exports Total products exported are valued at $58.2 billion. Brazil has previously built its wealth on the exports of coffee, but more recently on sugar exportation and that of its other many natural resources. Brazil is now one of the largest sugar and orange juice exporters. Other products exported are Sugar, Machinery, Animal feed stuffs, Coffee, Cocoa, Iron ore, Motor vehicles, Soya beans and oil, Oranges, Iron and Steel, Chemicals and non-ferrous metals. Resources Under the military, Brazil commissioned several power stations from former West Germany. Energy from these has been more expensive than expected, but the construction of the Angra-2 nuclear station was approved in 1996. Hydropower has been more successful, accounting for 90% of electricity generation. An agreement to build a 2,200km (1,370 miles) pipeline from the Bolivian gas fields to Brazils industrial south was signed in 1996 and put out to private tender. Ethanol is being made from sugar in an attempt to reduce petrol imports. Within the agricultural sector, Brazil is the worlds largest producer of coffee and the third largest producer of maize (corn). The total amount of electricity generated is 251bn kW/h. of this 93% is generated by hydroelectric power and 6% is thermal. The total electricity capacity is 56.21 million kW. In the South, the forces of the Paran and Paraguay Rivers have been harnessed to form the worlds largest hydroelectric project, the Itaip Dam. Regional divide Brazil can be divided into 5 regions (see regional map) North, Northeast, Centre West, Southeast and South. The North has several resource sites, from which the following materials are mined: Gold Bauxite Lead Copper Tin Iron Nickel Diamonds Common Salt (Sodium Chloride) Oil But the north does not have any industries. This is because of the enormous Amazon Rainforest and the inability to build upon it. In the Centre West, there is a similar amount of resources, which also includes zinc, limestone and quartz. As in the North, the Centre West does not have any main industries. Down in the South there are not as many resources as in the North and Centre West, but there are many industries. Moving back up into the South East there are many resources such as Iron, Nickel, Oil, Gold, Quartz etc. and also quite a few industries which include Textiles/Clothing, Iron and Steel sites and a shipbuilding site. Finally, in the Northeast of Brazil there are many resource sites and industrial sites. These include Bauxite, limestone, sea salt and oil refineries, mechanical engineering and textiles and clothing. Communications A vast road network is being built to link the main centres of Brazil, and five river systems are being harnessed for a total of 8,000km (5,000 miles) of waterways. The antiquated railways are increasingly unreliable. S Paulos metro is being extended to cope with the citys rapidly expanding population. Media Brazil is the largest exporter of TV programmes. South Americas biggest media market is home to thousands of radio stations and hundreds of T.V channels. The constitution guarantees a free press and vigorous media debate about controversial political and social matters is common. Media ownership is highly concentrated. Globo and Abril dominate the market and have interests in T.V and radio networks newspapers and pay T.V operations. Education Education follows the French system with a bachillerato (baccalaur) at the end of secondary schooling Society Brazil has targeted eco-tourism as a major growth area. The government is encouraging foreign investment in tourist facilities in Amazonia. Health There is a free health service available. This chapter includes evidence to suggest that Brazil may not yet be a developed country, but may still be developing. Politics The reduction of the fiscal deficit is a key objective. The government aims to dramatically reduce overstaffing at all levels of government, reduce social security payments and address the problem of the high real level of interest rates. The 1988 constitution, detailing promises for a better future, has proved to be unworkable in practice. The state cannot afford its social security, health and pension commitments. The proliferation of local governments, designed to check federal power, has led to a duplication of functions and is very expensive. Former President Collor de Mellos 1992 impeachment for fraud underlines the depth of the problem of corruption in Brazil. Many are now demanding an end to parliamentary immunity: under the current system, elected officials cannot be prosecuted unless they have been suspended from office by a two-thirds vote. The military, in power between 1964 and 1985, was responsible for human rights abuses, particularly against Amazon Indians. Its economic mismanagement left Brazil with a legacy of huge debts and inefficient state industries. Regional Wealth The government is facing increasing pressure to redress what some say is one of the worlds most unfair distributions of wealth. Much of the countrys arable land is controlled by a handful of wealthy families, a situation which the Movement of Landless Rural Workers (MST) seeks to redress by demanding land redistribution. It uses direct protest action and land occupation in its quest. Society Social conditions are harsh in the big cities of Rio de Janeiro and S Paulo, where a third of the population lives in favelas or slums. In the 1970s a major drive was initiated to move settlers to the Amazon region. This caused considerable damage to vast areas of the rainforest. The high rate of destruction of the Amazon by loggers and cattle ranchers remains controversial today. However, these government sponsored migration programmes have now been halted. Many people work in fields for little pay, while a few rich landowners benefit from the huge profits. The ownership of consumer goods is not high. Out of 1,000 people: 278 own a T.V, 83 own a VCR, 13 own a PC. A lack of money, health and education forces over 500,000 girls into prostitution. Many street children are murdered by vigilante groups, who believe they are cleaning the streets. 90% of these murders go unpunished. Amerindians suffer prejudice from most other peoples in Brazil. Since 1900, 87 Amerindian groups have become extinct as a result of disease, starvation or the forceful taking of their land by miners, settlers and loggers. The Amerindian population today is estimated at just 220,000. Migrants from the poor Northeast suffer considerable discrimination in Brazils larger cities. Health Brazils Aids programme has become a model for other developing countries, having succeeded in stabilising the rate of HIV infection and cutting the number of Aids-related deaths. However, it is a controversial programme since it involves bypassing the big drugs firms to produce generic copycat Aids medicines. There may be as many as 2,000 street children who are HIV positive. The major causes of death are Heart diseases, Cancers, Accidents and Violence. There are 681 patients per doctor. Only 2.8% of the GNP (Gross National Produce) is spent of health. The public health system is limited. Less than 20% of hospitals are state-run and private care is very expensive. The World Bank has criticised the under-financing of preventive health care. On average, only 15% of the health budget is allocated to child health, immunisation and other preventive programmes. Reported malaria cases tripled between 1980 and 1990; 90% are in Amazonia, mainly in settler towns. Leprosy and parasitic skin infections are also becoming more common, again often affecting settlers. Unfortunately, the building of the Itaip Dam caused the lake it created to drown a set of waterfalls and this created a breeding ground for malaria-carrying mosquitoes. The forest contains many plants that provide the basis for many valuable products, the most important ones being those for medicines. The bark of chinchona supplies the quinine to treat malaria, for example. Other plants supply substances used in the fight against cancer. Brazil nuts too are of-course famous all over the world. The constant stripping and attacking of these natural resources is doing much harm. Economy Brazil has a history of boom and bust, with its attempts at development hampered in the past by high inflation and one of the biggest foreign debts. It has had to be bailed out in times of crisis. The total value of Brazils debt is a staggering $250bn! () Chaotic finances of the states threatens national economic stability. Foreign investment is deterred by corruption, the fragility of economic reforms and preferences given to national companies in the sale of state companies. Congressional opposition delays urgent tax and social security reforms and privatisations. Savings and investment rates are about half those of leading East Asian competitors. Despite enormous natural and economic resources, Brazil still has 32 million of its people living below the poverty line, and has not begun to tackle the problem of homelessness and street children in Rio, S Paulo and other large cities. An estimated one to five million families remain landless, while nearly 80% of farmland is owned by 10% of farmers. Brazils large wealth disparities have been growing during the last decade. Relatively low levels of unemployment conceal large-scale underemployment, and the UN classifies over 50% of the population as suffering poverty. The large numbers of poor rural migrants who move to the cities live in the favelas, or shantytowns. Favelas are now also appearing in the countryside. The wealthy like to drive European cars, holiday in Paris or ski in Switzerland, where most of them keep their money to avoid scrutiny and interference in their accounts by the government. Brazil experienced an energy crisis in 2001. It is a country very dependent on water to fire its hydro-electric power stations, so when they had droughts so bad that the reservoirs were drained dry, they had a major catastrophe on their hands. At that time, hydroelectric plants and reservoirs produced over 90% of the countrys electricity supply, and the dry weather and insecure infrastructure issues caused major shortages. In 2002, they introduced some energy rationing, even declaring public holidays in an attempt to keep the demand for power by the large industries down. This in turn has led to a more immediate need for an alternative fuel source, and to not keep all ones eggs in one basket so to speak. They are currently importing oil from Venezuela and Argentina. Many large foreign firms have placed serious bids for the rights to drill and excavate for oil in the rich off-shire reserves 6,560 feet below the waters surface off Brazils Atlantic Coast. BP Amoco, for example, won a bi d for an area located 186 miles from the mouth of the Amazon River. A second, third and fourth round of bids was even more successful, with large investments being made in Brazils oil reserves. Aid Brazils main aid donors are the USA and the EU. The World Bank provided $2 billion in 1996 for environmental, basic sanitation, road building and anti-poverty projects. As well as official aid, much comes from NGOs, (non-Governmental Organisations) mainly for environmental and housing projects. Education Not all children in Brazil are registered. Of those that are; 90% receive Primary education, 19% receive Secondary education and only 12% receive Tertiary education. The adult literacy rate is 84.9% of all registered people compared with 99% in the UK. State schools enjoyed a good reputation until the 1950s, but have declined since then. Most middle-class parents now send their children to private schools. The wealthy send theirs to Switzerland or France. Millions of the poor receive little education especially those living in the Northeast and Amazonia, and the urban poor. Brazils three million street children have no schooling at all. Public degree courses work on credits, as in the USA. Of Brazils 95 universities, 55 are administered by the state. Sao Paulo University is the most prestigious. Communications In Brazil, only 49 out of 1,000 people own a car and only 75 out of 1,000 people own telephones. Media Although there is now no official censorship, TV and radio operating licences are awarded as political favours, and state advertising is so extensive that it cannot fail to influence editorial policy. Media ownership is also highly concentrated, 3 main companies own 293 daily newspapers. There are 19 state owned TV stations and 218 independent stations. There 2000 independent radio stations, but only 1 state owned. Environment Federal agencies charged with protecting the Amazon are insufficiently funded, understaffed and accused of corruption. The Amazon rainforest contains an estimated 90% of the entire worlds plants and animals and is the most complex ecosystem known. However, the demands of agriculture are leading to its destruction at a rate of 4 square km (1.5 square miles) per hour, or 35,000 square km (13,510 square miles) per year. As a result of such massive clearances, usually for conversion to cattle pasture, vital genetic diversity is being lost. Brazil faces other environmental problems. Opencast bauxite mining is polluting rivers and threatening the livelihoods of indigenous Amerindians. In the cities, widespread industrial pollution and untreated sewage are major problems. Crime The total population in Prison is 87,053. There is no death penalty. There are 2 murders and 3 rapes per 100,000 people. Urban life in Brazil can be violent. The incidence of armed robbery and drugs-related crime is rising. Human rights abuses by the police are frequently reported. Death squads, uncontrolled by the government, target street children in particular, especially in Rio, S Paulo and Recife. Since 1985, the rate of street child murders has been rising. However, international condemnation of the crimes has led to action in some areas. In the countryside, violent land disputes are common. Landless workers are repeatedly displaced and indigenous peoples driven from land to which the government has, in theory, guaranteed their rights. Tourism Brazils border with Argentina and Paraguay, boasts a natural wonder of the world, the massive Iguazu Falls. This is a remarkable sight much bigger than the Victoria Falls in Africa or North Americas Niagara Falls. Yet, the rest of the world barely knows of its existence. If marketed correctly, this could be a major tourist attraction. Brazil needs to extend this tourist resource and do more with it. Its 2,000 km (1,240 miles) of Atlantic beaches, the folklore and music of the north-east coast, and the annual Mardi Gras carnival in Rio de Janeiro are Brazils major attractions. However, the increasingly affluent and international audience now controls the carnival. The largely Afro-Brazilian residents of Rios favelas, or shanty towns, can often no longer afford to take part in the parades that originate in their culture. However, Brazilians show little interest in Eco-tourism, preferring to visit Amazonia for the duty-free shopping zone in Manaus. Brazil is still a relatively cheap destination for European and American tourists. Despite this, visitor numbers are declining, falling from 0.5% to 0.1% of the world market since 1970. Many visitors have been put off by the negative publicity generated by the conditions in the shantytowns and by Brazils past human rights record. Housing shortages in Brazil mean that about 25 million people live in sprawling shantytowns, called favelas that surround the cities. Most of the homes are built by the families themselves, sometimes from waste materials but more often from wood, bricks and cement bought from builders merchants. For the population who live in the favelas, 70% have no running water, 60% have no toilets or drains and 52% have no waste collection. Conclusion On analysing the evidence found, I have drawn the following conclusions. I think that Brazil is still a developing country despite its enormous agricultural/resource exports and its current attempts to repay its immense $250bn debt. There is such a massive divide between the rich and the poor, with the poor being in the majority that no developed country would have allowed this to remain for such a long time. A developed country would not have accrued such a high debt and would have used its natural resources to its advantage. There needs to be an equal distribution of the countrys wealth. I feel that in order to address some of Brazils problems, there needs to be a major re-allocation of land so that the very poor have a fighting chance of earning a decent living from working the land and selling the produce. There needs to be a massive campaign to re-educate the whole population of Brazil, which should address the need world-wide to stop destroying the rainforest, and all its natural plants. I think Brazil is no where near being a completely developed country. I believe that its only just started developing.

Problem Solving Activities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Problem Solving Activities - Essay Example ESPN is the largest source of money for Disney and  is believed to be the worlds most valuable media asset. According to www.forbes.com , the company is worth more than $40 billion as of 2012. Therefore one may beg to ask where all this money for ESPN comes from. According to bloomberg.com, the companys revenue hit a $9 billion in 2012 above any other cable network in the world and was projected to hit $11 billion as of the end of 2013 due to increased subscriber charges. Apart from being a sports channel, the company also broadcasts news relating to sporting events and its websites gives fixtures for the next sporting events. This ensures that its customers do not miss scheduled sporting events. One of the major sources for ESPNs money is the customer subscriptions. This is executed worldwide where the moment cable TV customers access the channel, the provider gets revenue which is paid by the customer. For example, many DSTV subscribers are able to watch ESPN at different channels through customer subscriptions, the company gets substantial revenue which enables it manage its day to day operations. Monthly subscriptions make up the largest source of revenue for ESPN standing at almost 60% of the total revenue for the company. In 2012, the company charged the cable TVs the largest amount of money per subscriber regardless of whether the subscriber watched the channel or not. At 4.6 dollars per subscriber, it was the highest in US and the charges continued to increase by up to 17.9% in 2013 meaning that the money generated will continue to increase for 2013. The other source of money for ESPN comes from advertising. In advertising, the company has up to three avenues for making advertising money. These are digital advertising, magazine advertising and television advertising. Of these, television advertising is expected to net up to $4 billion in 2013 the largest share, followed by digital adverts at 700

Discussion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Discussion - Assignment Example This strategy shows that the company is socially responsible. Another demographic group that the firm warns should not smoke its product is pregnant women. Once again the label of the cigarette box states that cigarette smoking is dangerous for women that are pregnant. These two packaging warnings are examples of how Phillip Morris has adapted to the social cultural environmental force. The demographic target market of Phillip Morris is smokers between the ages of 18-35 years of age. The creation of the Marlboro Man is an example of character that was created by the company to adapt to the social cultural force by creating a character the common person could relate too. These smokers are more receptive to changes of brand. Older smokers tend to purchase the same brand of cigarettes every day. It is important for cigarette companies such as Phillip Morris to achieve customer retention due to the fact a daily smoker that stays with your company and purchases a daily box at $6 generates $2,190 in retail sales yearly. Older smokers are important as well and the firm should show appreciation for their business. In the future the company may make further cultural adaptations to comply with the needs of different cultures

Assignment paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Assignment paper - Essay Example In this essay, my main focus will be on the critical analysis of my cultural gift giving practices in the U.S and the gift giving practices in the Chinese culture. The U.S gifting season is also the traditional holiday season. This season begins during the Thanksgiving, moving to the Christmas and ends with the New Year Eve. The St. Valentines Day has also been included in this season by the modern media (Gifts and Ideas 1-3). The act of giving gifts to family members, friends and business associates is dictated by the American customs and culture. These are covered by well thought out gifts depending on the occasion. Due to the cultural melting of the American culture, there has been a lot of influence on the other minority ethnic groups in America such as the Hispanics, to also adopt and incorporate the modern American cultural elements of gifting and celebrations within their own cultural celebrations. Various gifts are given by the Americans as gifts to other during various occasions. The most common gifts given out include cards, flowers, food items, gift baskets, chocolates, cakes, wines, spa gifts and perfumes among other. The main reason for giving out these gifts is for appreciation purposes. Gift giving is also a common practice in the American culture during the Christmas period that usually marks the birth of Jesus. During this period, gift giving usually crowns the occasion, and it becomes the most important ritual performed. To begin with, there is the gift giving session done by the parents to their children where the latest gadgets are usually given out to them. Other people also buy different kinds of gifts such as CDs, jewelry, books and gourmet food among other gifts to their relatives, parents and lived ones. Another occasion in America during when gift giving is done much is during the mothers day that usually falls on the second Sunday of May, each year. According to the American culture, mothers should be given

Youth and gambling problem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Youth and gambling problem - Essay Example The third group involves individuals with some kind of neurological or Neuro-chemical dysfunction. This group is highly vulnerable to problem gambling due to impulsivity and attention deficits (Blaszczynski 2000). Such importance and high emphasize on problem gambling lead to the discussion of impacts that these gambling patterns have on the youth which is the major part of our society and upcoming future. The gambling behaviors in youngsters are closely related to their exposure to gambling in their childhood. They start gambling as an adoption of behaviors they experienced in childhood and if they win in the start their greed to win more empowers them to continue gambling. In the losing phase, they are more likely to win back what they had lost earlier. This urge and empowerment leads to desperation and motivation to bring more money with legal or illegal activities and stay in the game. Such desperation mostly resulted in illegal activities like cheating, stealing, robbing, nonpay ment of debts and so on (Hales 2006, pp. 305-307; National Research Council (US) 1999, pp. 169-171). Effects of Problem Gambling on Youth: Health effects: The younger generation is often exposed to other dangers when they involve in gambling within casinos, gaming zones and other areas covered by private owners. The addiction of gambling alone brings psychological disorders, attention deficits, depression, violent behaviors and aggression. In addition to these threats to psychological and physical well being of younger generation, alcohol, cocaine, heroin, tobacco and other addictives available in the play premises also affect their habits and behaviors towards the addictive things.... The increasingly easier opportunities for gaming and wagering available to clubs, hotels, casinos, gaming zones and increased games of chance like X-Lotto, scratch-tickets, sports betting, internet gambling, Bingo etc. in such places exposes gambling to the younger generation more prominently than ever. Advancements in technology resulted in some easier modes of accessibility to gambling. Internet and mobiles are the best sources of easily available components to youth for card games gambling, betting and so on. The increasing use of electronic gaming machines (EGM) in such places help the owners to attract more youngsters and involve them in gambling easily. The impacts of gaming and wagering due to the high exposure of electronic gambling to the youth has been a point of debate among the researchers in legislative, social, economic and cultural fields. Sports bars and ‘events based wagering’ are two important areas of discussion for their impacts on the youth as these are specifically aimed to target younger population. We can say that problem gambling cannot be described simply as a social behavior as generic, neurological, psychological and biological effects are also involved in describing the problem gambling behaviors. The negative impacts discussed are important to be addressed and restricted. Problem gambling may influence a child’s social, personal, economic, financial and educational life negatively. Hence, awareness and restrictions on gambling for children and younger population is necessary. The role of parents, elder siblings and teachers cannot be ignored in this regard as youngsters tend to adopt behaviors which they observe in their loved ones.