To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate - Essay Example The cost of saving a life by preventing the occurrence of a condition such as tetanus and other preventable such as pertussis through vaccination is lower as compared to curing the condition. With this in mind, it is, therefore, vital to vaccinate children rather than spend tones of cash and other resources treating or attempting to cure a condition (Bloom et al, 2003). Statistics support this with facts, such as, child immunization saves roughly $5 and $11 in direct and social cost respectively (National Institute of allergy and Infectious Diseases, 2010). In addition, vaccines keep the body’s immune system alert in order to fight diseases and pathogens. In light of this fact, should a child be vaccinated and infected with a highly infectious disease, the child is less susceptible to the condition worsening. This is, in addition to having a reduced, incubation and contagious period. In turn, this protects those around the child from catching the infections by blocking the period and, at times, the child may not be contagious at all. Thus, this acts as â€Å"herd immunity† where the society protects everyone from infections by acting as barriers to transmission. Vaccination also helps children concerning overall mental and cognitive wellbeing. This is due to their susceptibility to brain damage stemming from common health conditions such as influenza. Due to vaccination, brain damage is avoided leading to a normal life for the child. In this regard, the overall quality of life is improved by eliminating threats from one’s body and environment. These include disease with high fatality rates, such as meningitis and those that lead to disability or impairment such as polio. On the other hand, vaccination should not be performed on children for a number of both valid and invalid reasons. Concerning valid reasons, the use of living organisms, despite being impaired or weakened, may

An analysis of the Heart of Darkness and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Essay Example for Free

An analysis of the Heart of Darkness and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Essay The â€Å"Heart of Darkness† by Joseph Conrad and â€Å"Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland† by Lewis Carroll tell a journey into a world which is a conflicting reflection of the protagonist’s â€Å"real† world. As the protagonists travel to new places, they are both presented with clashing views on prevailing themes in their lives. In the case of Marlow in the Heart of Darkness, he is faced with opposing ideas on the most vital components in imperialism – trade and slavery. As for Alice in Wonderland, the young girl is confronted with the challenge to accept the conflicting basis of maturity following both rational and irrational complexities in the society. In both of the novels, the relationship between the two worlds were portrayed as the struggles which people had to face in order to formulate their own personal ideologies based on their varying views presented by the society. Moreover, alienation (or the fact that each of the protagonists had to handle their struggles alone) was promoted as a necessary step towards the full appreciation of one’s social construction of reality. Clashing views on imperialism: Moral Responsibility vs. Pure Suppression In the Heart of Darkness, contrasting views of imperialism and slavery are challenged. Marlow, the protagonist of the story, comes from a world where the enslavement of the Africans is considered as essential and customary pieces of the colonial enterprise. The men who were working for the Company – upon which Marlow is also a part of – treats the blacks in an perverse, cruel, and often viciously violent manner. However, this harsh treatment is seemingly justifiable as Marlow’s world regards the slaves as uncivilized. Thus, the process of slavery is not seen as it is. Rather, it is often deemed as a vital part of the benevolent project of â€Å"civilizing† the natives. As such, prior to his journey upriver to see the fabled Kurtz, Marlow maintains his role of masking the slavery and violence by the socially accepted idea that the subjugation is based on legitimate backgrounds of moral responsibility. As Marlow meets Kurtz however, Marlow’s idea of the glamour of conquest and imperialism evolves into a struggle of morals. As he survives the river, meets the natives, and finally encounters the man that is reputed to be honorable and upright, his moral beliefs shatter. Technically, he is not faced with a world that’s entirely different from where he came from. Instead, what Marlow encounters is a setting where there is a whole new definition of conquest and trade – the main activities upon which he was engaged in. Basically, Kurtz was not the man Marlow and other people envisioned him to be. In conflict with the prevailing social definition of conquest for the Company, Kurtz saw the truth in imperialism. The presumed praiseworthy man was in fact a tyrant among the natives. He realized the fact that he was not trading but rather forcing the natives to find ivory for him. Moreover, Kurtz was open to the idea that he was – in no positive way – civilizing the natives. Rather, he was suppressing them, controlling them through intimidation and extreme brutality, and using them to his advantage, and the Company’s benefit. As a result, Marlow’s encounter with Kurtz only served as a perplexing experience where he had to question what the real purpose was behind acts of conquest and slavery: Are his actions just a tool for injustice and intimidation? Is there really no justifiable cause for intimidating the natives? To a certain degree, Marlow’s experience with the â€Å"other† world puts him in a crisis of whether he should continue believing that his world’s obviously unjust practices had a good and tolerable cause or not. Growing up: Tolerating the illogical and irrational In the story Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, conflicting views of maturity and growing up is presented. On one hand, the real world equates maturity as the state where logic and rationality is used in reasoning, interpreting, and in maintaining harmony in the society. In contrast however, the young Alice equates adulthood as to what she sees in Wonderland – a place where silly and illogical regulations are created on the basis of egoistic goals and ambitions, propelled by bad habits and wrong ideals that people willingly developed throughout the course of history. In Wonderland, Alice faces a new world – one wherein the ways of reasoning are every much in contrast of hers. To a certain sense, her new world is similar to the â€Å"real† world of adults because both are comprised of rules which are, most of the time, very confusing. A typical example is the character of the Duchess who always tries to find a moral in almost every thing that is happening around her. In the real world, adults are akin to the Duchess as they always try to live by the social norms which they created from their own interpretation of their society. Another complex idea is the tolerance of the senseless orders of beheading given by the Queen of Hearts. Such scenario can be equated to the devastating wars often prompted by political leaders who are supposed to propagate world peace and progress. Also in Wonderland, trials seem to be very irrational and unjust; in the same way, justice is as confusing in the real world where fairness and integrity are supposedly practiced and promoted. As Alice struggles to understand the complexity of what is happening in Wonderland, she challenges her own idea of what is rational and supposedly mature. Confronted with what’s hypothetically mature, Alice gradually evolves into a mature person who is able to formulate reasonable and valid interpretations of history and her present experiences. While Alice is confronted with odd events and curious beings in Wonderland, she tries to formulate reasons based on her social interactions with the creature and adjusts to the demands of the magical world. Through the interpretations that Alice forms from wonderland, she fulfills what is expected from a mature individual – the ability to tolerate the complexities of life. As she forms a basis of reasoning and logic, she then forms her own subjective norms which are, to a certain extent, still confined within the prevalent ideas in Wonderland. These norms allow her to define her identity and at the same time, give her the chance to adjust and adapt to the situations that she faces in a place where â€Å"everyone is mad†. Through her adventures, Alice ultimately grows up and matures. CONCLUSIONS Two worlds as struggles towards the formulation personal ideals In both of the novels, two opposing worlds were used as bases that will allow the main character to formulate his/her own personal ideologies and interpretations of prevailing themes in their lives. In the case of Marlow, the clash between the two worlds – or rather their definitions – gave him a chance to weigh his morals not merely on the more popular and conforming idea that African enslavement was natural and acceptable. Through his confrontation with Kurtz, he became enlightened. The experience somehow liberated him from his blind adherence to the society and showed him the real circumstances of his actions and that of his society. As for Alice, the conflict between the real world and Wonderland also gave her the chance to construct an understanding of maturity. From a child’s point of view of adulthood as something incoherent, illogical, egoistic, and irrational, Alice was able to realize that such complexities were part of real life and that tolerance to what is seemingly unreasonable must be achieved in order to be capable of surviving and adjusting to the different scenarios of living. As such, it can be noted that the incompatible relationships between the two worlds in each of the novels were presented as personal struggles towards the achievement of personal ideals formulated from varying views and interpretations that were present in the society. Alienation, an essential process for the social construction of reality It can be noted that both protagonists in the stories had to face alienation in the new worlds that they had to take part of. The fact that each of the protagonists had to handle their struggles â€Å"alone† promoted the theme of personal conflict in the novels. Furthermore, this alienation heightened the level of conflict which existed in the clashing relationship between the two worlds that the characters had to take part of. In the case of Alice, she had to face different situations with different characters and different modes of reasoning all on her. Through this loneliness, she was able to fully grasp the idea that maturity is complex and that life itself was full of complexities and â€Å"madness†. This realization led her to construct her own set of interpretations, definitions, and realities which paved her way towards maturity. Marlow, on the other hand, became alienated as he became exposed to a world where slavery among Africans was regarded as what it really is – a mere act of cruelty for the benefit of the White people. He was alienated in the sense that he formerly had a different – more consoling view of the â€Å"trade† that he was participating in. However, through this alienation, Marlow then achieved a more careful analysis of his society’s actions. By being exposed to the new world all on his own, he was given the chance to liberate himself from the beliefs that he was encompassed within. In general, both of the characters endured alienation as an essential component which emphasized the conflicting relation of the worlds that they were exposed to. This alienation prompted them to think beyond what they were used to and such allowed them to construct their social reality based on conventional and unconventional truths. References: Caroll, Lewis (n. d. ) Alice in Wonderland. Retrieved from Bedtime Story Classics (Accessed 06 Apr 2009 from http://www. the-office. com/bedtime-story/classics-alice-1. htm) Conrad, Joseph (n. d. ) Heart of Darkness. Retrieved from Project Gutenberg Website (Accessed 06 Apr 2009 from http://www. gutenberg. org/etext/526) Maatta, Jerry (1997) An Analysis of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. (Accessed 06 Apr 2009 from http://www. alice-in-wonderland. net/explain/alice841. html) __________ (n. d. ) Themes and Motives in Alice in Wonderland. (Accessed 06 Apr 2009 from http://www. alice-in-wonderland. net/school/themes. html) __________ (n. d. ) eNotes on Heart of Darkness – Themes. (Accessed 06 Apr 2009 from http://www. enotes. com/darkness/themes)

Argument Against Gun Control :: Second Amendment The Right To Bear Arms

Gun Control is when you keep firearms plus guns away from people. Many people think that gun control is right because they think keeping people away from guns will reduce the amount of deaths each year. They also think that guns cause many of the deaths that had been committed each year. Also when ever people hear the word gun, the thoughts are of violence and negativity. Many people, myself included think gun control is wrong because we know that it is not necessary, since we know that guns were not involved in many of the deaths caused each year. While many other people disagree and think it is good because of the safety for people. In this essay I will tell you why gun control is unnecessary and why there shouldn?t be any gun control at all. There have been many gun control laws established throughout the U.S., but they vary from state to state. For example, in Colorado you can purchase any type of gun: handgun, machine gun, shotgun, rifle, automatic rifle, etc. at the age of 18, while in other places you would need a hunting license.1 I think this is unfair because when I?m at the age of 18 I would want to buy a gun, but I can?t because I?m living in California and another 18 year old could in Colorado. Also, another example is that in some states, they allow citizens to carry concealed weapons, while in other states citizens can?t. I don?t think this is fair at all because I think they should make laws that suits the whole U.S., and not make different laws in different states. Another reason that makes me think that they shouldn?t have different gun control laws in different places is because I knew a person that buys guns in New York, and some how got them over here and sells them to people by tripling the price. I have asked him how he got them over here, but he never told me how he did it. He told me that he has done this for many years until one time he got caught when he was selling them and was jailed for 6 or 7 months. If gun control laws were applied the same in every place he could of never have gotten the guns. This also means that criminals could have done the same thing that my friend had done, but not sell the guns but use them to do bad things.

Star Mars :: essays research papers

Star Mars Since the boom in space technology about 30 years ago, man has found the method for expanding his existence beyond the many once thought "unbreakable barriers." Together with this development in space technology came a large quantity of information and discoveries of the compounds of the universe, and scientific questions seemed to jump out in equal number. The question that captures the eye of the media today causing a bitter controversy is probably the most easy to understand, considering the complex astronomy jargon. Is life possible on Mars? The fact is we still don't know. "Some of the early arguments we now know to be almost certainly erroneous, but even the most recent pieces of evidence do not unambiguously demonstrate the existence of life on Mars." ( Sagan and Shklovskii 273) Some scientist believe man should look up in the sky searching for new habitats for future generations, since human kind today seems to be going backwards in many aspects of the earth's ecology. The first attempt would be to study the moon; the second, our neighbor planet. Unfortunately, our actual technology slightly provides strong, useful information about the red planet because of the vast distance between us. While people such as Steven Spielberg and George Lucas try to convince us with hundred million dollar movies that we are not alone, engineers and geologists like from the NASA-Stanford University team pursue, based on true evidence, the idea of possible life on Mars. However, the burden of proof is sometimes too heavy even based on real evidence. The tough debate started on August 1996, when scientists from the NASA-SU team announced that a meteorite found on the Antartica contained evidence of past life on the red planet. They supported their conclusion on the basis of organic molecules, carbonates, and minerals found inside the rock, which are basic components of living things. This announcement astonished the world, but not the critics who skeptically stated opposite explanations for each of the components discovered. The main discussion focused by critics like Allan Treiman arguing that "This scientist have lowered the standards of evidence rather than raised them, which is what you would expect for a claim this extraordinary." (qtd. in Begley and Rogers 58) The problem raises when it is proved that those kinds of minerals and organic molecules found in the meteorite, which fell from Mars about 13,000 years ago, can also be formed during nonbiological reactions such as very high temperatures. For us, the common magazine readers, it is difficult to deal with these two positions: the final acceptance of extraterrestrial life, which is the

What is Valium?

Valium, also known as diazepam, belongs to a group of prescription drugs called benzodiazaines. Valium is used to control agitation due to withdrawals for people suffering from alcoholism. It is also used to relieve muscle spasms, anxiety, and seizures. Diazepam comes in a tablet, a capsule, and liquid to take by mouth. It may be taken with or without food, 1-4 times a day and you must follow the prescription directions carefully. The Diazepam concentrate comes with a dropper, and it must be diluted with water, juice, or carbonated beverages. Some people mix it in applesauce or pudding before taking it. Diazepam may be addicting so doctors recommend that you do not take bigger doses than prescribed, and that you do not stop the medication all of a sudden because it may lead to withdrawals such as anxiousness, irritability, and sleeplessness. Before taking Valium you should tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to diazepam, alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium, Librax), clonazepam (Klonopin), clorazepate (Tranxene), estazolam (ProSom), flurazepam (Dalmane), lorazepam (Ativan), oxazepam (Serax), prazepam (Centrax), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), or any other drugs. People who have myasthenia gravis, severe liver disease, narrow-angle glaucoma, a severe breathing problem, asthma, epilepsy, a history of mental illness, drug or alcohol addiction, suicidal thoughts or behavior, should not take Valium. FDA recommends that a pregnant woman should not take Valium because it may harm the unborn baby. If a woman becomes pregnant while taking Valium, she must tell her doctor because Valium may cause low blood pressure, breathing problems, or addiction and withdrawal symptoms in a newborn baby if the mother takes the medication during pregnancy. Diazepam can pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby while breastfeeding. Sedative effects of Valium may last longer in older adults, and accidental falls occur more in elderly patients who take it. Any one on this medication should not drive or operate heavy machinery while under the influence of Valium. This medicine is not to be given to a child younger than 6 months old because it affects the chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety. Taking alcohol while on Valium can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug, and cigarettes may decrease its effectiveness. Side effects are common and sometimes obvious. They may include drowsiness, dizziness, lethargy, gait problems, mental confusion, vertigo, and impaired vision. If restlessness, constipation, difficult or frequent urination, or blurred vision are severe and don’t go away, you should contact your doctor immediately. If you experience seizures, shuffling walk, fever, difficulty breathing or swallowing, you should call your doctor and let him know. In case of an overdose you should call your local poison control center. If the victim is passed out or has stopped breathing, call 911. Do not let anyone else take your medications, and keep it stored out of reach of children. References Gerada C, Ashworth M.. ( 2003 August). Addiction Search. In Valium addiction, treatment, and withdrawal. Retrieved 4/20/2012, from http://www.addictionsearch.com/treatment_articles/article/valium-addiction-treatment-and-withdrawal_19.html. Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD . (1996-2012). MedicineNet.com. In diazepam, Valium. Retrieved April 30, 2012, from http://www.medicinenet.com/diazepam/article.htm.

Free Essays on Male Dominance Exposed!

Male Dominance Exposed! It’s a hot, sunny day and two beautiful women with humongous breasts, slim waists and long luscious legs, rip each other’s clothes off while splashing around in a shallow pool of water. The preceding sounds like an accurate depiction of just another day on the job for a porn star, however in this context it is not. Take this scenario and throw in an argument over beer tasting great or being less filling and you have the latest Miller Lite commercial. Sex appeal is one of the most effective forms of advertising in modern popular culture. Sexually influenced materials have normally been created for and by men and have a particularly overwhelming masculine theme, (Harris 91, 214). This androcentric view of a woman, measured only by her ability to stimulate and satisfy the male’s sexual appetite, continues to perpetuate three specific aspects of our modern Western society: male’s dominance over females, the phenomenon of eating disorders among women and t he increased amount of violence against women. An androcentric position can easily be seen through any number of popular magazine publications. I conducted a study of five different magazines, all accessible to buy while in line at the supermarket. The magazines: Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Shape and Maxim, are typical purchases for many of my friends and much of the United States. Of the five magazines, I choose twenty-five different advertisements to examine: ten of women only, ten of men only and five that were mixed sexes. Through comparison of the male and female’s physical appearance in each advertisement, I have found much evidence supporting androcentrism in mass media. There were many similarities among the advertisements. All of the models would be rated high on any physical attraction scale. They all are of average or less than average weight, average or above average height, have firm, clear skin, and healthy, beauti... Free Essays on Male Dominance Exposed! Free Essays on Male Dominance Exposed! Male Dominance Exposed! It’s a hot, sunny day and two beautiful women with humongous breasts, slim waists and long luscious legs, rip each other’s clothes off while splashing around in a shallow pool of water. The preceding sounds like an accurate depiction of just another day on the job for a porn star, however in this context it is not. Take this scenario and throw in an argument over beer tasting great or being less filling and you have the latest Miller Lite commercial. Sex appeal is one of the most effective forms of advertising in modern popular culture. Sexually influenced materials have normally been created for and by men and have a particularly overwhelming masculine theme, (Harris 91, 214). This androcentric view of a woman, measured only by her ability to stimulate and satisfy the male’s sexual appetite, continues to perpetuate three specific aspects of our modern Western society: male’s dominance over females, the phenomenon of eating disorders among women and t he increased amount of violence against women. An androcentric position can easily be seen through any number of popular magazine publications. I conducted a study of five different magazines, all accessible to buy while in line at the supermarket. The magazines: Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Shape and Maxim, are typical purchases for many of my friends and much of the United States. Of the five magazines, I choose twenty-five different advertisements to examine: ten of women only, ten of men only and five that were mixed sexes. Through comparison of the male and female’s physical appearance in each advertisement, I have found much evidence supporting androcentrism in mass media. There were many similarities among the advertisements. All of the models would be rated high on any physical attraction scale. They all are of average or less than average weight, average or above average height, have firm, clear skin, and healthy, beauti...

Should You Believe Every Word in an Infomercial

Should You Believe Every Word in an Infomercial Never Believe Everything You’re Told on Television One Should Be Always Skeptical Nineteenth-century humorist Stephen Leacock once said that advertising is â€Å"the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it.† In a society in which advertising – lies, basically – is the standard, it’s a shame that Americans are still so impervious to the deception they face every single day in print and digital advertising, billboards – and especially infomercials. These advertising films bearing lie after lie after lie serve to promote a product in an informative and supposedly objective style. But it’s possibly the most subjective thing a person hears all day, and the everyday person – well, a â€Å"consumer† in this case – should not believe every word (or even most of what they are being told) in an infomercial. To begin with, one should always be skeptical of what an infomercial tells them because the video is fundamentally an advertisement – and advertisements generally lie, or at least embellish. Advertisements exploit the emotions of the viewer, the potential buyer, into thinking the product being promoted is the best thing ever made, an item that will make their lives better longer, solve all their problems and heal their illnesses; the be-all, end-all item – the product everyone will be soon be buying! In other words, it’s one big lie. Now, of course, some infomercials will tell fewer lies than others, and some of them may actually serve to truly help people. Nonetheless, advertisements generally always embellish in some way or another, so they should never be trusted entirely. One should generally be skeptical of what an infomercial tells them, regardless of how great and perfect and awesome it sounds because they cannot test the product – most of the time – before purchasing it. The infomercial generally tells them to â€Å"buy now and save 25 percent off the whole price,† so they impulsively buy the item before considering its value and credibility – to see if it works, basically. The buyer has no way of knowing this if all they have to go by is the infomercial itself. They could be thinking they are buying a one-of-a-kind pair of sunglasses that protects them from ultraviolet sun rays, that cannot break or scratch. But they don’t know this is the case – not until they purchase them and see for themselves. The infomercial will make tons of promises validating what they are saying, but the consumer could never know for sure. This is one major reason a person should never believe every word of an infomercial: They have no way of telling if what they are being told about the product is true or not. They have to just rely on what the seasoned, greedy businessman is telling them; and that is never a smart way to make a purchase. Infomercials Are Never Objective A person at home should never entirely trust what an infomercial tells them for another very important reason: if the item is as good as the infomercial says, the potential buyer will likely have already heard about it from another person – through word-of-mouth marketing, perhaps the oldest form of advertising in the world. If something works and people like it – consider the car, the Internet, Netflix, Apple computers, coffee, writing pens, almost anything – they will tell other people about it, and others will purchase the item, too. People believe friends and family members, and they are generally distrusting of salesmen. But, unfortunately, infomercials cater mostly to gullible, elderly women sitting at home, with nothing but a phone and credit card in their hand. They will believe anything. In conclusion, infomercials should rarely be trusted in entirety; one should never believe all they are told in a video advertisement. One should never trust every word in any advertisement, either. Because they are not objective, because they can easily lie about a product’s value and workability, and because word-of-mouth advertising is always the best source of truth, the words of infomercials should not be believed – only looked at with utter skepticism. Not all advertisements are lies, of course, though many do embellish a product’s usefulness in order to convince the customer to buy this product. Once again, Stephen Leacock knew exactly what he was talking about when he postulated that advertising is nothing more than tricking people into taking their money. But it’s the way it is, perhaps the way it will always be; but people should still, nonetheless, be skeptical. One should never believe everything they are told.

Homeless essays

Homeless essays Being homeless means having no where to turn to, no shelter of your own, completely living on the streets. Homelessness is a shock to many, because it depicts someone just like us in our own society lacking the necessities we take for granted. These people who we often stereotype as bums, crack heads, losers and bagladies face the darkness we all fear. But truly, who are we to judge people? They too are humans, but are just not as fortunate as others may be.In North America, homelessness is a result of lower income individuals being unable to afford housing and other necessities to sustain a decent life. Homelessness is caused by several factors, some being divorce, drugs involvement, loss of job or just simply being unable to afford shelter. ( Cohen, page 75). Divorce, which took its toll on the United States during the 1970s , leading up to 1980s where over a half of marriages ended up in divorce.( Landau,page 24) With a lot of families being separated, and one income being stretched to provide for a family it creates financial hardships. Women were now forced to bear an unclear burden. The burden of feeling depressed, taking care of her children with no physical home, and the fear of their children are taken away from her. Drugs are a horrific contributing factor of homelessness on its own. It did not only leave that single mother high and hopeless but even that confused nine year old girl.(Landau, page 71).Homelessness affects everyone in a family especially the children because they are lacking a stable environment. Many are either on the streets with their families or are locked out of their homes. (Landau, page 74). Its not only that nine year old girl that is left alone, hungry, cold and terrified. Many teenage boys face this horrible dilemma. With no positive guidance, these young people are left to face the ugliness of the...

Population Resource Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Population Resource Environment - Essay Example To address this issue, a proposed energy plan to drill the ANWR has been revisited. Data results that the US Geological Survey released estimated a 95% chance that 11.6 billion barrels of oil is present in the area (Corn, 51). This proposal caused the conservationists to react because of the possible negative impact on the preserved natural environment. Analyzing the pros and cons of the proposal, I have come to stand against oil drilling in ANWR because of the negative implications it may bring on the environment and the less established positive implications that the proposal presents. The said wildlife reserve is a federal protected area which aims to make every living thing in that environment to live under its natural environment circumstances and conditions. It is protected and isolated from human intervention to avoid unnatural wildlife disturbance. Though the oil drilling plan proposes to drill on the wilderness part of the ANWR, the drilling will still cause a disturbance in the other areas of the ANWR. A restriction in the habitat of the fauna living in the area caused by the development may result to a decline in the herds (McKinney, et.al., 193). The Inupiat tribe living in the borders of the area might also be affected since their cultural tradition is linked to the caribou, which they believe will be endangered by the development (McKinney, et.al., 193). The oil that can be produced by the development, according to the US Energy Information Administration, will lower the world price of oil by no more than $1.44 per barrel (Lavelle, Arctic Drilling). This indicates little impact on the oil market making the development insignificant. This issue is a matter of development against natural environment preservation. We have to understand that one of the major reasons on why natural calamities have an exaggerated effect on our surroundings is because of human intervention itself. It is sad that human beings are very

Psychological Perspectives from the Movie Girl, Interrupted Essay

Psychological Perspectives from the Movie Girl, Interrupted - Essay Example Although there are several characters in the movie showing symptoms of different types of mental disorders, this paper will only focus its discussion only to one mental illness, the â€Å"borderline personality disorder (BPD)†. Primarily, this paper intends to compare this movie against the real manifestations of BPD if these were properly presented. Secondly, this paper would try to relate the title of the movie to the plot of the movie. Thus, at the end of the day, after reading this paper, it is expected that the readers must have learned some good knowledge about â€Å"borderline personality disorder† since this paper will highlight the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of BPD, a favorable input for this psychology class. The summary of the plot begins to revolve around the main character in the person of Susanna Kaysen (portrayed by Winona Ryder), â€Å"a young girl of eighteen, raised in an unstable environment starting with her parents† (Filme para 2013). â€Å"Her mother showed signs of mood swings while her father showed very inappropriate aggression† (Filme  Ã‚  2013). Her life was not like that of any other ordinary normal eighteen years old would experience. Susanna was portrayed to display â€Å"damaging behaviors like stormy relationships with her parents and dangerous activities like having sexual activity with many men in a day† (Filma 2013). She was also shown â€Å"to display self-destructive behaviors when she attempted to commit suicide by drinking aspirin and a bottle of vodka which caused her to be put in a mental institution† (Filme   2013).  

Week 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Week 4 - Essay Example ected is accurate, all the team members should evaluate the operational descriptions of the data and ensure they are all correct, can be easily understood and completed. Therefore, awareness of the reliability and validity of the data collection tool used in quantitative research project is vital (Joint Commission Resources, Inc., 2008). Ensuring that the data collection tool is accurate is very crucial in qualitative research. Using consistent data collection tools increases the validity and consistency of the data collection. For example, a different person should collect the same data one has obtained at a different time. One cannot assume the blood pressure measurements taken are all accurate unless he or she is certain that the sphygmomanometers are often calibrated and all the doctors and nurses are well trained to provide best practice on taking blood pressures. A well cross-examined questionnaire will ensure that there are no shortcomings that lead to the collection of unreliable data. One is advised that if he or she cannot get a reliable collection tool, he should ensure that they carry out a pilot test first to avoid the difficulties. To improve on the reliability of data collection, training should be undertaken to all those who are providing data in correct procedures of data entry. Collecting unreliabl e data will lead to wrong results of the qualitative research (Chambers & Wakley, 2005). Cultural background is important in ensuring that one gets the information that one requires. When interviewing Ms. Li some of the cultural considerations that are important to remember include the preference of Asian Americans to herbal medicine, intimate partner violence or abuse among Asian Americans and the belief that the human body is whole and that each part is intimately connected, therefore when sick the whole body should be treated. The abuse assessment screen refers to a screening tool that is used to evaluate indications of abuse or violence against

Selected poems by William Carlos Williams pp. 2009-2017.&.Selected Essay

Selected poems by William Carlos Williams pp. 2009-2017.&.Selected poems by e.e. cummings pp 2173-2179 - Essay Example It is the time when the tired frost of winter begins to give way to the solar prowess of the summer months. Many a poet and writer have used it as a metaphorical device for their works. As a symbol of rebirth, spring can affect a joyous sense of elation. Conversely, no birth or rebirth can occur without first something, person, or epoch dying, disappearing, or withering into desuetude. Modern psychology, in the context of patient and cultural interpretation, has assigned to spring this dichotomous quality of bringing in the new and hastening away the old. The work of Carl Jung is particularly applicable in this instance. His analysis of the mother-maiden archetype comprehended spring as one of the many symbols of this primeval human mental construction. To this category belongs the goddess, especially the Mother of God, the Virgin, and Sophia [wisdom]†¦[This] archetype is often associated with things and places standing for fertility and fruitfulness: the cornucopia, a ploughed field, a garden†¦.[Its] evil symbols are the witch, the dragon, the grave, the sarcophagus, deep water, death, nightmares, and bogies. (81-82) For Williams, the image of the widow, or the aged wife and mother, stresses the cyclical and temporal aspect of the Jungian conception of spring. The â€Å"new grass† and the â€Å"masses of flowers† remind the narrator of when she lived happily with her now deceased husband. They resurrect memories of having a family and loving one another (Williams 1998). They had once lived happily together. Rather than symbolizing birth and things anew, the widow is troubled by her spouse’s absence. Instead she bemoans the â€Å"[red] cherry branches† for â€Å"the grief in my heart is stronger than they / for though they were my joy / formerly, today I notice them / and turn away forgetting.† The pain endures. Yet Williams, after underscoring the widow’s sorrows, draws attention to her son who

Real Estate Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Real Estate Law - Essay Example While denying Steinichen's motion for new trial, the trial court ruled that Steinichen gave up her right to point to the special master's report and the trial court's judgment by running out to object to the report before the trial court adopted it. On further appeal, Steinichen argues that this ruling was error. Thus, the Trial court's judgment was reversed and the case was remanded to the trial court for it to address the merits of Steinichen's motion for new trial(http://www.lexisone.com/lx1/caselaw/freecaselawaction=FCLRetrieveCaseDetail&caseID=7&format=FULL&resultHandle=ae14b712d0559ea22a3d8054440e2522&pageLimit=10&xmlgTotalCount=89&combinedSearchTerm=adverse+possession&juriName=Georgia&sourceFile=STATES;GACTS accessed on 21 October 2009). At issue is title to a rectangular-shaped piece of real property with dimension of 25 feet by 75 feet in Hoschton, Georgia. The appellant filed an appeal to quiet title against the entire world with regard to four contiguous parcels of real property. The appellee and the owner of the property adjacent to that of appellant, Larry Stancil, filed an answer and counterclaim in which he contended he held fee simple title to the property at issue. Consistent to OCGA 23-3-63, the case was presented to a special master who quieted title to three of the four Tracts in Stancil after ruling that Steinichen had failed to present evidence-establishing title to those parcels. As to the fourth parcel, the special master ruled that Steinichen had failed to carry her burden of proof to establish title, and that Stancil had presented sufficient evidence to establish adverse possession under color of title as well as prescriptive title without color of title. The trial court figured an order assuming the findings and the testimonial of the special master and announced Stancil as the holder of fee simple title to all the property in dispute. This appeal follows the denial of Steinichen's motion for new trial (http://www.lexisone.com/lx1/caselaw/freecaselawaction=FCLRetrieveCaseDetail&caseID=7&format=FULL&resultHandle=ae14b712d0559ea22a3d8054440e2522&pageLimit=10&xmlgTotalCount=89&combinedSearchTerm=adverse+possession&juriName=Georgia&sourceFile=STATES;GACTS accessed on 21 October 2009). Appellee's Argument Steinichen does not take issue with the trial court's finding that she was not able to prove her title to the disputed tract. Instead, she maintains that the manifest was deficient to back up the conclusion that Stancil had gained the property by adverse possession. "To establish title by adverse possession, whether by twenty years or seven years under color of title, a party must show possession not originated in fraud that is public, continuous, exclusive, uninterrupted

Selected poems by William Carlos Williams pp. 2009-2017.&.Selected Essay

Selected poems by William Carlos Williams pp. 2009-2017.&.Selected poems by e.e. cummings pp 2173-2179 - Essay Example It is the time when the tired frost of winter begins to give way to the solar prowess of the summer months. Many a poet and writer have used it as a metaphorical device for their works. As a symbol of rebirth, spring can affect a joyous sense of elation. Conversely, no birth or rebirth can occur without first something, person, or epoch dying, disappearing, or withering into desuetude. Modern psychology, in the context of patient and cultural interpretation, has assigned to spring this dichotomous quality of bringing in the new and hastening away the old. The work of Carl Jung is particularly applicable in this instance. His analysis of the mother-maiden archetype comprehended spring as one of the many symbols of this primeval human mental construction. To this category belongs the goddess, especially the Mother of God, the Virgin, and Sophia [wisdom]†¦[This] archetype is often associated with things and places standing for fertility and fruitfulness: the cornucopia, a ploughed field, a garden†¦.[Its] evil symbols are the witch, the dragon, the grave, the sarcophagus, deep water, death, nightmares, and bogies. (81-82) For Williams, the image of the widow, or the aged wife and mother, stresses the cyclical and temporal aspect of the Jungian conception of spring. The â€Å"new grass† and the â€Å"masses of flowers† remind the narrator of when she lived happily with her now deceased husband. They resurrect memories of having a family and loving one another (Williams 1998). They had once lived happily together. Rather than symbolizing birth and things anew, the widow is troubled by her spouse’s absence. Instead she bemoans the â€Å"[red] cherry branches† for â€Å"the grief in my heart is stronger than they / for though they were my joy / formerly, today I notice them / and turn away forgetting.† The pain endures. Yet Williams, after underscoring the widow’s sorrows, draws attention to her son who

Telecommunications Law and Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Telecommunications Law and Policy - Essay Example This has created issues of KableCom potentially running out of bandwidth available for customers, resulting in outages and delays. KableCom should now introduce the â€Å"Unlimited Stream Plan.†   Under this Plan, customers will be able to choose three streaming cloud apps from a short list of approved sites that have paid KableCom for the opportunity to participate. Customers will be permitted unlimited streaming on the three sites they select without accruing data charges. It is, therefore, necessary for KableCom to implement data caps and migrate from unlimited data plans to data-use pricing model, however, many plans shall still have unlimited talk and texts. With a, Internet as down from 4G to 2G (throttling) are on their download (2 GB per). One data is speed - 4G data are significantly than 3G users through a short interval. One potential solution under consideration by KableCom is allowing content providers or app developers to pay carriers so that their services do not count against a customer’s monthly data limit and essentially buying traffic for their content. However, the Internet is designed for all content and services to be treated equally. Because this solution would give KableCom an unfair advantage over its clients, at some point it should be viewed as net neutrality issue. Data-use pricing model shall monitor data usage and make sure customers stay under their data cap. The provision different tariffs model enable customer decide whether they need to consider upgrading to a higher plan or if usage is typical. Using the current app store KableCom should provide free apps that gives options for ones total usage for the current period or a help site for to customers see where they using the most data bundles. Other useful tools to be provided free of charge to KableCom’s customers is third-party apps designed to help them monitor their bandwidth usage. One such app is Onavo Extend; it gives one a breakdown of

Early childhood education Essay Example for Free

Early childhood education Essay Friedrich Wilhelm August Froebel (1782-1852) was a German educator born in Oberweisbach. He is known as the founder of â€Å"Kindergarten† and was one of the most influential educational reformers of the 19th century. Froebel had a difficult childhood. His mother died when he was still young, and his father, a pastor, and stepmother neglected to care for him. Finally, an uncle took over his care and ensured that he receive a high school education. It was there that young Froebel grew up with a love for nature and strong Christian faith, which led him to seek happiness and unity in all things. Froebel’s faith also led him to think as an educationalist. Froebel studied at the University of Jena for a short time. In 1805, while studying architecture in Frankfurt, he was persuaded to become a teacher by the model school at Frankfurt. He then studied with Pestalozzi at Yverdon, before returning to the University of Gottigen and Berlin in Germany. Froebel believed that there was something missing in Pestalozzi’s theory- the ‘spiritual mechanism’. According to Froebel, this was the basis of early childhood education. â€Å"Pestalozzi takes man existing only in appearance on earth,† he said, â€Å"but I take man in his eternal being, in his eternal existence. † (Shapiro, 1983, p. 20. ) Froebel took a break from studying to join the army for a year from 1813-1814. Afterwards, he received a position at the mineralogical museum in the University of Berlin. Two years later, he founded a school at Greisheim (which later mover to Keilau) which he called the Universal German Educational Institute. It was there that he taught his methods to other teachers. Froebel opened the first Kindergarten in the year of 1837 in Bad Blankenburg. Later, he also founded a Kindergarten training school at Liebenstein. Froebel felt that children, like plants in a garden, need to be cared for and shielded from outside influences. Froeble believed that children need to imitate a teacher’s values and morals. Therefore, teachers need to be respected, receptive, and easily approachable. Among Froebel’s subordinates, however, there were constant disputes, which he was unable to control. He encountered more problems when the Prussian government did not approve of his ideas. In 1851, an edict was issued, which forbade the establishment of Kindergartens. This decree was repealed almost 10 years later- in 1860. Froebel was not alive at that time and had no idea of the impact he left on the school system worldwide, and especially in the United States. The philosophers of his times, Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1762-1814) and Friedrich Wilhelm Schelling (1775-1854), also influenced Froebel’s educational ideas. He placed an emphasis on self-activity, physical training, and pleasant surroundings in the development of children. His most important work was the book he wrote in 1826 called Menschenerziehung (tr. The Education of Man, 1877). References: Lilley, Irene M. , (1967). Friedrich Froebel: A Selection from His Writings. Kilpatrick, William H. , (1916). Froebels Kindergarten Principles Critically Examined. Retrieved from http://www. uv. es/EBRIT/micro/micro_221_12. html Froebel, Friedrich. (1896). The Education of Man, trans. W. H. Hailman. New York: Appleton. Retrieved from http://www. answers. com/topic/friedrich-wilhelm-august-fr-bel.

Information And Communication Technology On Democracy Media Essay

Information And Communication Technology On Democracy Media Essay The development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has changed the world. The centrality of information in our society has resulted in many declaring that we have entered into a new stage of human existence, often referred to as the Information Age. The easy access to ICT provides new opportunities for individuals and non-institutionalized organizations to unite and coordinate in order to publish their message across international boundaries. There have been movements that have adopted ICT as a tool of democracy but the real question is whether or not ICT can function as a tool in assisting democratic movements and political parties to raise national or international awareness of their cause. E-democracy and electronic government can drastically alter the relationship between government and citizens and the way they communicate (Darin, 2005). Furthermore, ICT-usage could be developed significantly as a tool for publicizing information. Democratic movements have much to gain in adopting better media skills and a greater understanding of the dynamics of the contemporary media system and the internet. The Information Ages altered media sphere can entail new and positive opportunities for political groups and grass roots movements if they learn to master the information technology media logic. Technology has produced an altered definition of democracy. The concepts we know are based on the citizens rights and the competition of power but that definition has drastically changed. For instance, Benjamin R. Barber notes that digital technology is well-suited to enhancing democracy (Benjamin, 1998) therefore democracy itself needs to be given a new definition to adapt to how technology is influencing the term. On one hand, e-democracy is the use of technical tools particularly the Internet to allow citizens access to information; to take part in petitions, consultations, deliberation, referenda and elections; and communicate with each other to form e-communities and movements, and take part in e-campaigning and e-activism (Edemocracy, 2008). On the other hand, democracy is a political system that protects the people, a system that allows the replacement of political leaders, one that promotes the active participation of citizens in their countries political affairs. With the Information Age new ways of doing things have emerged; now there is digital democracy, E-government and E-governance concepts, all of which are dramatically changing the political environment. Power too has been impacted as a consequence of ICT. Political power is no longer in the hands of two or three but grass roots movements have become involved in politics creating a more balanced and more evenly distributed political power system. The interest in using technology to develop an electronic type of democratic system is more North American in origin than any from any other part. Declining rates of political participation in North America has called for the introduction of new innovative ways of getting citizens to participate in politics electronically. As a consequence of the origin of electronic democracy any future world electronic political advancement will depend on the North American political culture. Europe and other developing nations such as Chile are also implementing the electronic democratic system which will balance any Americanization that might have suffered world politics. ICT gives political parties better ways to target and reach voters. Website has been used as a tool giving parties the ability to become their own news reporters (Stephen, 12) and better inform their target audience. President Barack Obamas previous campaign is a symbol that using the media and internet can yield great results to a political candidate. The internet for instance, has been used for fundraising, as a social medium for reaching voters and as a way to promote their political ideologies targeting specific segments of the population. Technology makes democracy more accessible and has eased the process of participating in ones government. For example, in developed and developing countries the internet is everywhere (Andrew and Christopher, 271). Every department has its own website and the same is true for political parties. Moreover, social media channels such as Facebook, Youtube and Myspace has allowed the government and parties to interact with citizens and voters in a way never seen before. Therefore information technology makes democracy more affordable and accessible for anyone, regardless of income or social status and further allows government and parties to use technology as a tool of democracy. Access is perhaps the most notable impact that ICT has had on democracy. Having the ability to say what we think when we want has increased political participation in the last few years, at least electronically. For example, on Youtube there are countless videos of grass roots, individuals and non-governmental organizations talking and protesting about certain issues; without technology that would never have been possible. Moreover, as a consequence of technologys involvement in political affairs new political culture and ideologies will emerge which may further complicate the association between democracy and ICT. To conclude, this essay has highlighted some of the ways in which technology is creating positive impacts to democracy, be it through fundraising or its social media usage to reach targeted segments of the society. It has also given a definition of democracy and of e-democracy and finally, it shows how ICT makes it easier for one to voice ones opinions and participate in governance affairs which is the main principle on which democracy is based. Therefore, ICT does have a positive impact on all individuals, political parties, non-governmental institutions and grass roots movements if they learn how to use the new media and information technology to be more effective and proactive.

Living and Dying by the Sword (or) The Autonomy and Responsibility of P

Living and Dying by the Sword (or) The Autonomy and Responsibility of Paranoia Introduction The question is a common one. "Does an individual have the right to yell, ‘Fire!’ in a crowded theater?" The implications are not as simple. If one answers, "no," then one is, in effect saying that the constitutional right to free speech is not entirely correct. If one answers, "yes," then one is saying that is perfectly O.K. to an individual to be delegated the power to create mass hysteria. However, there is another side to this question. If an individual is permitted to yell fire, as perhaps one would be in a Lockian state of nature, one is as likely to be trampled in the ensuing hysteria as everyone else is. This situation, while quaint and hypothetical, does have its counterparts in history. The question of how much power ought an individual be allowed has been one that has been addressed by governments throughout the ages. The result of this power being abused has also been addressed throughout history, but not by governments, by the fates of those individuals who have abused that power. One result of power being abused is the creation of a kind of hysteria in a society that revolves around that individual who has created it. That hysteria also has the potential to turn on its progenitor and crush him in the ensuing stampede. Historically, this is the case of Maximilien Robespierre and Joseph McCarthy. Both men, in their own rights, created a sort of social hysteria, a hysteria that for each resulted in a social stampede. These stampedes ended up crushing these men who created them in the chaos and confusion that ensued. The question of these two men faced ... ...s, The Life and Times of Joe McCarthy 6. Buckley, et al., McCarthy and His Enemies 7. Eagan, Maximilien Robespierre: Nationalist Dictator 8. Buckley, et al., McCarthy and His Enemies 9. Feuerlicht, Joe McCarthy and McCarthyism, The Hate That Haunts America Bibliography - Belloc, Hilaire. Robespierre, A Study. G.P. Putnam and Sons. New York. 1927. - Buckley, William F. and Bozell, L. Brent. McCarthy and His Enemies: The Record and its Meaning. Henry Regnery Company. Chicago. 1954. - Eagan, James Michael. Maximilien Robespierre, Nationalist Dictator. AMS Press. New York. 1983. - Feuerlicht, Roberta Strauss. McCarthy and McCarthism, The Hate that Haunts America. McGraw-Hill Book Company. New York. 1972. - Reeves, Thomas C. The Life and Times of Joe McCarthy. Stein and Day Publishers. New York. 1982.

Cherokee Indians Essay example -- essays research papers

The Removal of the Cherokees After England's acceptance of the terms of the peace made with France and Spain in 1763, in which France gave Louisiana to Spain, the grants formerly made to the six English colonies were considered good only to the Mississippi River. During the American Revolution and soon there after these former colonies were considered good only to the Mississippi River. During the American Revolution and soon thereafter these former colonies, now states of the Union ceded their unoccupied western lands to the government of the United States, thereby establishing the so-called public domain. Of these states, the last to cede its western lands was Georgia, which in 1802 surrendered all claim to land included in the present states of Alabama and Mississippi. This cession was made by what was known as the Georgia Compact. It also provided that the United States should at its own expense extinguish for the use of Georgia the Indian title to all lands within the state as soon as it could be done peace ably and upon reasonable terms. The purchase of Louisiana the following year placed the United States in possession of a large amount of territory It seemed reasonable, at least to the white man, that these Georgia Indians, mainly the Cherokees and Creeks, might be induced to move. One reason given by President Jefferson for this purchase was that it would make a suitable area for a new home for large tribes east of the Mississippi owning fertile lands needed for settlement by the whites. Years earlier some parties of Cherokees had crossed the Mississippi and had gone into what is now northwestern Arkansas because of the abundance of game in that region. Some of them had settled there more or less permanently, and from time to time others came out to join them. President Jefferson believed that others, or perhaps the entire tribe, might be induced to migrate to the West. The year following the treaty for the purchase of Louisiana he instructed officials of the United States government residing in the Cherokee Nation to approach the chiefs and head men of the tribe with the suggestion that the Cherokees exchange their lands in Georgia for others beyond the Mississippi. The officials reported to the President, however, that the Indians showed no sympathy with the proposal and had expressed themselves as determined to retain their lands and remain i... ...te shall be formed within the limits of another state without the consent of the latter as well as of Congress. It was asserted that the Cherokees had, in adopting a constitution, sought to form a new state within the limits of Georgia. The President promptly asked Congress to provide for an investigation of this purported Indian state and for "arresting its designs". The first Cherokee principal chief chosen under the terms of the new constitution was William Hicks, the brother of the beloved Chief Charles Hicks, who had authored the constatution but had died in January of 1827. William served but a short time, and in 1828 he was succeeded by John Ross who had been a protà ©gà © of Charles Hicks for several years. Ross was only one eighth Cherokee and the rest Scottish, but he had been born and reared among the Cherokees, to whom he was deeply devoted. Well educated, with a keep mind and rare ability as a statesman, he served almost continuously as principal chief until his death nearly forty years later. During all these years he wielded a powerful influence in the affairs of the tribe; his life story during this long period is virtually a history of the Cherokee people.

Commentary How to Tell True War Story Essay

Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried is a work of metafiction that manages to test fiction in its very nature through the chapter, â€Å"How to Tell a True War Story.† The blurred line between reality and the imagination is explored by the given account—the reader is alienated and forced to think, does the truth matter in a war story? This chapter alternates in narration between O’Brien as a soldier and as a storyteller, examines the duplicity of whether story truth or happening truth is more vital, and explores the reactions which listeners and readers alike are to gather from these stories. O’Brien opens the chapter with three powerful words which set the tone for his debate throughout the chapter, â€Å"This is true.† (O’Brien 67). Narration of this chapter continues in first person where O’Brien narrates a story, analyzes its validity, and moves on to tell another aspect of the story, taking it apart. This syntax mak es the reader feel interrupted and disoriented. You have barely had time to absorb the heartbreaking story before O’Brien switches gears, saying, â€Å"A true war story is never moral† (68). He sets qualifications for true war stories—â€Å"absolute and uncompromising allegiance to obscenity and evil† (69) and manages to clarify in his next pause in storytelling warning that â€Å"it’s difficult to separate what happened from what seemed to happen† and acknowledges people perceive things differently and thus will tell the stories differently (71). The stories are told with beautiful figurative language-personification, imagery, â€Å"war has the feel†¦of a great ghostly fog, thick and permanent. There is no clarity. Everything swirls,† and metaphor, in a tone where the reader is easily sucked in, only to be jarred awake with the factual and almost conversational tone of O’Brien’s analyses. To put things in context, the previous chapter, â€Å"Friends†, mentions Rat Kiley as the helpful medic for the dying friend. â€Å"Dentist† follows as a goodbye story to Curt Lemon. O’Brien includes foreshadowing and post-acknowledgement of both characters surrounding the chapter to bring them together and create an undercurrent within the chapter where the reader  is forced to see how the order, though on the surface seem random, is actually predetermined. The core theme that a true war story cannot be factually believed is repeated multiple times throughout the chapter. One finds that â€Å"true† in war story does not mean the happening truth, but how well it relates to the appropriate emotional response, or story truth. The ultimate example of this is the heroic story of a man throwing himself onto a grenade to save his comrades. Whether or not anyone survives, â€Å"Absolute occurrence is irrelevant. A thing may happen and by a total lie; another thing may not happen and be truer than the truth†¦That’s a true story that never happened† (83-84). The author leaves the reader with mixed emotions, where they may feel cheated from the happening truth, but they also experience the emotion the storyteller wants them to feel—the story reality that â€Å"a true war story is never about war† and there is always an deeper meaning to be discovered(85).

Pearl Harbor Turning Point in History Essay

We chose our topic by making a list of possible topics that interested us and looking at the topics that were suggested by our teacher. We then researched a little bit, reading books and articles about different topics and events that happened in history. We finally decided on The Attack of Pearl Harbor, because it interested us the most. I began my research by going to the library to find out as much information about Japan and America during that era. Then, i began to search online for specific documents that gave insight on the attack on Pearl Harbor. After that, i began to look up video and other primary source documents. From that, my project began to evolve. The road to war between the United States of America and Japan began on the surprise aerial attack on the United States Navy base in Pearl Harbor on December 7th 1941. This was the first step that brought the might United States into the Second World War Relations between the two countries started to detireate in the early 1930’s when Japan started to become aggressive in Asia, mainly in Manchuria in 1931 and tried to start conquering the rest of China into 1937. Japan in 1940 decided to allied itself with the â€Å"Axis† with countries like Germany. This alone made us extremely interested in the topic After deciding on the topic of The Attack Of Pearl Harbor, we researched more about this event by going to the library, researching online, reading books, reading articles, watching videos, and looking at pictures from that day. There were many primary and secondary sources about this topic, which made it easier to research. There were also many pictures, which was surprising considering this event occurred in 1941. We decided to do a website for our History fair project. Once we determined our topic we realized it would be very difficult to find some time to meet up and work on the project, that’s when we thought to do a website. It would easy for both of us to access, since we both have computers at home. Also we don’t have to always meet up to work on it. This gives us both more time to add more information to our website and make it better. Our project about Pearl Harbor relates to the National History Day theme of 2012, turning points in history, because the attack itself was a turning point within a turning point. World War 2 was a turning point in our history because it helped to stop communism and the spreading of Adolf Hitler’s power. And The Attack of Pearl Harbor is a turning point in the war, the point when the United States decided to take part in the war. Before the bombs hit us, we wanted to stay out of the war. But after Japan mercilessly bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, we knew it was time to try to put an end to the axis powers. Without this attack, we wouldn’t have joined the war, and the war wouldn’t have affected us. And without the bombing, the axis powers probably would’ve had a chance of winning, so the US joining the war was a big turning point.

A 3000 Portfolio Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

A 3000 Portfolio Assignment - Essay Example For instance, leagile might involve the use of lean strategies for managing the supply of high volume products that are also in high demand and opting to use agile (make-to-order) for every other thing (Pagell and Shevchenko, 2014, p. 50). The leagile system can also opt to have a flexible production capacity with the purpose of meeting demand surges or unexpected needs/requirements. Alternatively, leagile might involve postponing whereby forecasting is done using â€Å"platform† or essential products, and then the final customer order would determine the final configuration and assembly of products (Selviaridis and Norrman, 2014, p. 160). The case study for which we will use to analyse the leagile system of management is the Toyota Company particularly in the manufacture of its Scion line of cars. The Toyota Motor Corporation is an automobile manufacturer situated in Japan with its headquarters in the city of Toyota, Aichi.As of the last financial quarter of 2014, Toyota was the largest multinational company in the world in terms of revenue. As of 2012, in terms of production, Toyota leads companies such as General Motors and Volkswagen Group having produced its 200 millionth vehicle on the July of that year. The company’s origin dates back to 1937 when Kiichiro Toyoda founded it as a separate part of Toyota Industries owned by his father and its purpose was to manufacture automobiles (Sharma, Bhat and Routroy, 2014, p. 10). The multinational corporation produces its vehicles under five lines or brands. These are the Scion line, the Ran brand, Lexus and Hino brand. This study will focus on the Scion brand of v ehicles in analysing the Leagile system of supply chain management. Toyota produces the Scion brand of vehicles for the North American market, and the production started in 2002 with the first Scion models going on sale in

Schindler's List Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Schindler's List - Movie Review Example Events of the film are developed through the character of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman. From the beginning, Schindler is presented as a money making man who support Nazi Party and acts indifferent towards the afflictions of Jewish people. The event of Operation Reinhard in Krakow under the control of Amon Goeth affects Schindle’s mind deeply. As a result of this many Jews were transformed to force Labor camps, others were killed or shipped away. Killing of Jewish people in Nazi camps haunted Schindler’s mind and his mind undergoes some changes. He decided to save Jewish people through employing his company. Through his relationship with Amon Goeth, Schindler secretly recruits Jews and saves men, women, and children from death. The film keeps its difference from other war movies through its fact-based images. Its realistic presentation, especially the murder scenes force the viewers to the world of pity and fear. As Yosefa Loshitzky comments; â€Å"Schindlerâ⠂¬â„¢s List was evaluated in conjunction with only a certain type of image-a fact-based one that differed from earlier Speilberg productions† (Loshitzky, 27). The film makes available the realistic picture of human lust, greed, envy, anger, helplessness, and empathy and love.

Interrelationship of the Post-Conflict Resolution Tools Essay

Interrelationship of the Post-Conflict Resolution Tools - Essay Example History cites such evolutional wars as the First World War, Second World War and the Cold War among many others as having erupted from such differences in territorial power, economic empowerment and also political or military endowment of the incumbent countries. Conflict resolution and post conflict reconstruction have been cited as major efforts that characterize humanity in the event of a war or a conflict. Whenever a conflict arises, it is common sense for efforts to be made towards solving the conflict and possibly assuming peaceful relations between the conflicting parties be it nations, regions or even individuals. Conflict resolution is therefore said to be the mechanisms or efforts that are employed to minimize negative effects of a conflict while at the same time increasing the possible positive effects of the same conflict. Therefore, this means that a conflict always brings about both positive effects as well as negative effects. Different tools of conflict resolution hav e been in use over decades in the process of settling disputes that result in the conflicts. These tools are; political, military and /or economic tools. These tools are used at proximity with some of the tools being the best suited over a specific conflict over the others and others being far and least efficient in solving some types of conflicts. However, there are times that interplay of the different tools of conflict resolution and post-conflict reconstruction is best suited. Parties involved such are countries, regions or persons employ economic, political as well as military power to get to the solution of the issues that have caused the differences. In particular, the cold war of late 1940’s to 1990’s have seen the common play of the different tools as mentioned to realize solution to the conflict and reconstruction of the affected countries and regions after solution was found. Nevertheless, common questions as to what extent the different tools of resolution have been used in regard to the post-cold war are interconnected and their success in the purpose intended remains a critical subject of discussion. Moreover, discussions still rage in fire as to whether the tools have been more effective since the cold war or not. If yes, our study wills to justify why and if not then the study will equally find the reasons. Discussion Conflict resolution has been defined as mechanisms that are put in place not to avoid conflicts but rather the mechanisms that minimize the negative effects of the conflict while maximizing the positives resultant from such a conflict. The solutions that are sought as well as the means through which they are sought are considered in terms of being against dominance, oppression, exploitation and violence. The satisfaction of public needs for security, self-determination, identity and the quality of life among other basic needs must be realized in the mechanisms adopted for conflict resolution (Samson Et al, 1-3). Ther e are basic principles that govern conflict resolution tools and approaches. These include but are not limited to: integrative solutions, cooperative endeavor, non-violent mechanisms and proper understanding of all parties involved. While trying to get to the route genesis of the cold war, it is good for

Organisation behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Organisation behavior - Essay Example They, consequently, should perform as well as possible in order for the company to succeed in the market. Therefore, an idea that employee performance is better if those employees are emotionally intelligent is becoming more and more popular among businesses that will to be more adaptive to the ever changing market conditions and more competitive marketplace (Cherniss and Goleman 2001, 159). Since emotional intelligence has become such a popular concept among HR specialists, it is worth finding out whether this term is really related to employee performance. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to critically analyze some of the most recent works on the relation between emotional intelligence and employee performance with the purpose of determining whether there exists a strong dependence. The given work will try to determine whether it is really important for modern businesses to invest their resources in emotional intelligence and whether such investments will bring any profit. For this purpose, of course, the term itself should be defined in the first place. Definition A scientific study of emotional intelligence began, according to Ciarrochi, Forgas and Mayer (2001, 4), in 1900s. However, up until 1970, when intelligence and emotion were integrated in the field of ‘cognition and affect†, the studies of intelligence and emotions were separate. Finally, only in 1990s emotional intelligence became a subject of more profound research. The concept got popularized between 1994 and 1997 (Ciarrochi, Forgas and Mayer 2001, 4). However, several definitions of emotional intelligence have emerged in the process of the studies. Goleman (1998, 317), for instance, defines emotional intelligence as a â€Å"capacity for recognizing our own feelings and those in others, for motivating ourselves, for managing emotions well in ourselves and in our relationships." As such, emotional intelligence, according to this author, involves a person to have the following comp etencies: self- awareness, self- regulation, self-motivation, social awareness, and social skills. Self- awareness, self- regulation, self-motivation are, in this case, person’s ability to understand and manage own feelings and emotions. Social awareness and social skills, consequently, refer to the individual’s ability to understand emotions of the other and respond correctly. Another definition is given by Mayer and Solloway (1997, 3), who state that emotional intelligence is an ability â€Å" to perceive emotions in the self and in others, use emotions to facilitate performance, understand emotions and emotional knowledge, and regulate emotions in the self and in others.† So, it can be said that emotional intelligence refers to a person’s ability to understand the feelings of oneself and the others, as well as react and respond to those emotions in the most proper for a particular situation way. The next issue to find out is whether this ability really has a significant impact on job performance. Literature Review The opinion that emotional intelligence is related to job performance is supported by Nikolaou and Tsaousis (2002). These scientists conducted a research with the purpose of determining the relation between emotional intelligence, occupational stress and organizational commitment. The results showed that the higher emotional intelligence of an individual is, the lower is one’

Personal statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 7

Personal statement - Essay Example The future belongs to mobile devices and wireless network technologies, the earlier we equip ourselves for future, the better. My experience so far has taught me that everything is interconnected; there is no more the time of specialization. What I mean from this argument is that Steve Jobs studied calligraphy when he had no idea that he would be using his calligraphy in programming languages, there was something about the mathematics and the geometry of it that helped Jobs incorporate it in his computer topology and he admits that without that necessary knowledge he would not have been able to write operating systems in his own company NeXT. I have always been curious about how to relate operating systems (the software) with the hardware, there is something that captivates me how the software, an intangible thing, can run a hardware, much like the soul operating the human body. Learning should be easy when taught in a meaningful and productive way, plus when there are aspirations and expectations after the study program that one will be able to pursue his or her life passion without worrying about finances; this is nothing short of a blessing. I want to build a career in Networking and want to become a part of a well-known tech company like Google, Apple or Xbox. And for that I need my subjects carefully added to my curriculum vita so that my portfolio becomes hard to ignore for these companies. I have chosen this subject because at Birmingham City University, embedded systems and well equipped laboratories are used to create real-time systems, this includes specialist hardware training. It is required that development software and programmes should be updated, because each day the tech industry is becoming more and more competitive. Industry-standard software development and simulation tools are necessary for this type of knowledge, old programming knowledge is no good and when one desires a job in popular software companies then one needs to be on top

Boeing Essay Example for Free

Boeing Essay Vision People working together as one global company for aerospace leadership Boeing- The future of flight. Mission To be the number one aerospace company in the world and among the premier industrial concerns in terms of quality, profitability and growth Objectives To achieve the above goals and fulfil Boeing’s mission, the following objectives will guide company: †¢ Continuous improvements in quality of products and processes: Our commitment to steady, long-term improvement in our products and processes is the cornerstone of our business strategy. To achieve this objective, we must work to continuously improve the overall quality of our design, manufacturing, administrative, and support organizations. †¢ A highly skilled and motivated workforce: Our most important resource is our human resource: the people who design and build our products and service our customers. Given the right combination of skills, training, communications, environment, and leadership, we believe our employees will achieve the needed gains in productivity and quality to meet our goals. †¢ Capable and focused management To employ our technical and human resources with optimum efficiency, we must ensure that managers are carefully selected, appropriately trained, and work together to achieve our long-range goals. †¢ Technical excellence In a world of fast-challenging technology, we can only remain competitive by continuously refining and expanding our technical capability. †¢ Financial strength The high-risk, cyclical nature of our business demands a strong financial base. We must retain the capital resources to meet our current commitments and make substantial investments to develop new products and new technology for the future. This objective also requires contingency planning and control to ensure the company is not overextended should a severe economic downturn occur the plan period. †¢ Commitment to integrity Integrity, in the broadest sense, must pervade our actions in all relationships, including those with our customers, suppliers, and each other. This is a commitment to uncompromising values and conduct. It includes compliance with all laws and regulations. Boeing- Airbus market share The rivalry between these giants, the only manufacturers of large medium or long-range passenger aircraft, has today reached epic proportions. Airbus overtook Boeing five years ago to be number one, mostly through the success of its medium capacity long-haul Airbus A-330 and its shorter-range variations such as the A-340. This market share pie-chart of the two head to head competitors-Boeing and Airbus shows that Airbus is leading at the moment. Even though the number of orders is higher with Airbus in 2004 but the total revenues of Boeing is still much higher than that of Airbus. This is due to the fact that Boeing gains profit from other activities such as military aerospace, defence, and space businesses. With the launch of Airbus A380, the market share in the coming year will have slightly a change which is better for Airbus. However, Boeing will be able to regain its market share thanks to the new model of 7E7, Dreamliner and making the competition more aggressive.

Importance of Social Work

Importance of Social Work Social work involves working with some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people in society. It is working with individuals, groups and communities, putting into practice Social Work Values that aid people to overcome possible oppression they face. The actions of Social Workers are to promote social change, help solve problems and empower and liberate people to help enhance their well being. (British Association of Social Workers, 2002) It needs to be understood that Social Workers must be vigilant against the possibility of exploitation or oppression of Service users through unethical Practices. (Thompson, 2005: Pg 108) All Professional occupations are guided by ethical codes and underpinned by Values (Bishman, 2004) and from the very beginning of Social Work, the profession has been seen as firmly rooted in values (Reamer, 2001) (Cited by Bishman, 2004) Every person has a set of beliefs which influence actions, values relate to what we think others should do and what we ought to do, they are personal to us. (Parrot, 2010:13) Although society may been seen as having shared values we are all brought up with different personal values bases, this is an important point to consider when working with others, because our values can influence the way we behave. It would therefore be seen as foolish to underestimate the significance of values within the Social Work Profession. (Thompson, 2005: 109) Our Personal Values can change over time, and our behaviour can alter as a result of the situation we are in. From a young age one of the most important values instilled in me by my parents was to have respect for others, this should be carried throughout life as we should treat others the way in which we would expect to be treated. The importance of having a value base for Social Work is to guide Social Workers and protect the interest of Services Users. (Parrot, 2010:17) As a practising Social Worker it is important to recognise personal values and to be able to understand, situations will present themselves were personal and professional values can conflict. It was only when we had the speakers in that I began to question my own values. NISCC outlines a code of Practice for Social Workers to adhere to, from listening to the speakers in class one issue that was highlighted was that of partnership. Partnership is now a very evident part of everyday language of people involved in the process of providing care. (Tait and Genders 2002) However it is not always put into practice. Mr Y referred to being kept in the dark about his illness, he was eventually given a diagnosis, but it was never explained to him what the meaning of this diagnosis was or how it would affect his life. Social Workers have to exercise professional discretion, due to the nature of their work; judgements have to be made which involve values and consequences that make the worker accountable for their actions. (Thompson 2009) Partnership working is very important for people with a disability, I was able to recognise a conflict with my personal values when one of the Mr X spoke about a visit to the GP, where the GP was asking the carer how the Service User was feeling rather that asking them, from listening to this I was able to recognise that this is something that I have done in the past and possible infantilises the individual with comments such as referring to them as we dote or wee pet and I never thought that there was anything wrong with using these statements, however from the experience gained I can recognise that my personal values and the professional values are in conflict at this point. It is a way of oppressing this individual, and failure to promote their rights as an person. When viewing this in conjunction with the NISCC Code Of Practice, it was clear that there was a conflicting of values. NISCC states that as a Social Care worker we must protect the rights and promote the interests of service users and carers as the Disabled Movement states Nothing about us, without us. We need to consider the Service User perspective, one of the speakers stated effective partnership working should include the professionals and the Service user. Partnership is a key value in the professional value base underpinning Community Care. Braye and Preston-Shoot 200343) Partnership should be promoted in several ways such as keeping an open dialogue between professionals and Service Users, setting aims, being honest about the differences of opinion and how the power differences can affect them and providing the Service User with information that helps to promote their understanding. (Braye and Preston-Shoot 2003) In the case if the speaker who was not given a diagnosis for a long time and was just put out of the consultants office this key areas did not apply. Another issue that was striking was that of independence, initially my personal view was not of someone with a disability being independent, my personal experience in the past had led me to believe that people with a disability required a lot of help and were dependant on a carer to provide that help, I didnt view them as being in employment. Some of these values were quite dormant until I began working in the Social Care Field. The Speakers that we had in from Willow bank explained that they all have jobs and aim to be as independent as possible. This highlighted the conflict between my personal and professional values which I need to be aware of. The NISCC code of practice states a Social Worker should promote the independence of Service Users, this is one conflict that I can acknowledge with my personal values, I need to look at the bigger picture an view the service users as individual people with unique traits and interests it is important that they are not labelled due to their disability, It is viewed that it is society which disables physically impaired people, disability is something imposed on top of impairments by the way we are unnecessarily isolated and excluded from full participation in society. (Oliver 1996) My Personal view was that I believe that we should aim to do things for people with disabilities, I have often found myself carrying out tasks for them that I know they are able to perform themselves, when the speaker from sixth sense spoke about how she had been spoon fed and pushed around the playground as a child had gave her a sense of learned helplessness, it made me acknowledge my own actions. Again this is another area where my personal values conflict with the professional values. Respect for persons in an extremely important values, although I believe I was brought up to show respect for others by creating dependency in a way is disrespectful to the individual. The promotion of independence is important, it is crucial to see those with a disability as individual people. The NISCC code of practice highlights As a social care worker, you must respect the rights of service users while seeking to ensure that their behaviour does not harm themselves or other people. Keeping in line with the NISCC Code of Practice I need to actively challenge my own prejudices in order to ensure that I am promoting anti-oppressive practice. Being able to understand the value conflicts in practice can prove to be very beneficial. It can help us acknowledge the differences in the power structure, which can oppress the service user. Social Workers aim to empower the Service User, to help them help themselves. It is important that Professional values are always at the forefront to promote anti-oppressive practice. Social Work Practice is underpinned by laws, policies and procedures. It is important to always be aware of the Service Users perspectives, this will help ensure more effective and efficient practice. Both our personal and professional values need to be acknowledged for effective and efficient practice. It is of little use if Social Workers have a professional value base which doesnt inform or influence their practice, Social Work ethics can be understood as Values put into actions. (Banks, 2006)

A Nigger No Longer Caged :: Graduate Admissions Essays

A Nigger No Longer Caged I taught myself to read when I was twenty years old. The book I started with was I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou. I was raised in Huntington, West Virginia. Living in Huntington was like living at the bottom of a bottomless pit. The hills defining our valley town were four insurmountable walls, imprisoning me in that special hell reserved for children of miscegenation. My mother had broken one of Huntington's greatest taboos - she had mothered three children by a black man. After three kids and numerous beatings, my mother bravely left him. Disowned by her family and ostracized by the larger white community, her strength did not last long; she started on the long road to alcohol and drug dependency. My mother did not suffer in silence; instead, she passed on to us the tainted wisdom that her parents gave to her. Her most frequent reminder to us was, "You're not worth anything, you will never be worth anything, because you're niggers!" We rarely had food, and many winters we had no working gas for heat or hot water. My mother would conveniently go stay at her boyfriend's for weeks at a time. Sometimes she would leave me ten or fifteen dollars, and I would buy a week's worth of food: cereal and milk, hamburger, bread, and potato chips, and Little Debbie snack cakes. When that ran out, my brothers and I had some pretty crafty ways of finding more: talking my father out of some money, begging, or stealing. My mother had a house in the white part of town, about a block from the geographic dividing line, so we went to the white school. I was one of three blacks in the entire high school. I remember my welcome sign the first day of school: "GO TO HERSHEY HIGH NIGGER" spray painted on my locker, signed in red by the KKK. In my junior year the school decided to celebrate Black History Month by devoting one afternoon's history class to a discussion of Black achievements. I was so anxious and excited. I was hoping to learn something more than the words of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech. My excitement was quickly shot down as my teacher turned to the only Black in the class - me - and asked if I had anything to offer.

Misconceptions about Satanism :: Non-Christian Religions Satan

Misconceptions about Satanism   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Most religions like Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam have well defined meanings, one exception is Satanism. Most people have their own definition for Satanism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some people feel that non-Christian religions and all Christian denominations other than their own are forms of Satanism. This would imply that all Buddhists, Hindus, Moslems, and Jews. In fact at least 75% of the world's population would be Satanists.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Others feel that all religions other than Judaism or Christianity are inspired by Satan and thus are forms of Satanism. This would still leave the vast majority of people in the world being Satanists.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Large numbers of people feel that a wide variety of unrelated, benign religions (such as Santeria and other Caribbean religions, Druidism, New Age, Wicca, ect.) are forms of Satanism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Such definitions create great confusion. The following are recommended terms and descriptions for four essentially unrelated religions that have been called Satanism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first is Religious Satanism, This faith includes the recognition of Satan either as a deity or as a principle. Three main denominations exist: the Church of Satan, the Temple of Set, and the Church of Satanic Liberation. Other short lived Satanic groups currently exist and have existed in the recent past. According to Statistic Canada, the 1991 census found 335 Canadians who identified themselves as Satanists. The actual Number is probably significantly larger. A United States Department of the Army pamphlet #165-13 "RELIGIOUS REQUIREMENTS AND PRACTICES OF CERTAIN SELECTED GROUPS - A HANDBOOK FOR CHAPLAINS" (1978 - April) estimated that there were 10 to 20 thousand members of the Church of Satan in the United States. Accurate data is impossible to estimate, since the largest group (The Church of Satan) does not release its membership totals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is important to realize that the Satan they recognize has few if any point s of similarity with the Christian concept of Satan. The Satanists' concept of Satan is pre-Christian, and derived from the Pagan image of power, virility, sexuality and sensuality. To most Satanists, Satan is a force of nature, not a living quasi-deity. Their Satan has nothing to do with Hell, demons, pitchforks or profound evil.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The image of Satanism spawned by Christianity is called Gothic Satanism. It is an imaginary and profoundly evil religion that was invented during the late Middle Ages. Concepts included ritual killing of children, selling their soul to the devil, breaking crucifixes, conducting black masses, ect. It has never existed in the past, and does not exist today, except in the imagination of the public.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another form of Satanism is Teen Satanism: A syncretistic religion which is a blend of Religious Satanism, Gothic Satanism, ceremonial magick, and any

During those times when I have lost hope Essay

I cannot imagine life without Christina. In fact, I cannot remember a time in my life when she was not there with me or for me. More than best friends, we are like sisters. We shop together and we talk about everything and anything. And just like sisters, we too have our own fair share of misunderstandings and arguments but in the end, it is our bond of friendship that makes us kiss and make up. Christina was not my best friend when I was younger. In fact, we did not like each other. She was the type who was always hanging around with the cooler girls in school while I was the one who was always hanging around with the guys. So she was the princess and I was the tomboy. We could hardly look at each other because our crowds were of two completely different worlds. But an unfortunate event happened that made us talk to each other. You see, Christina and I were neighbors. And on that fateful rainy spring day, I got locked out of my house while my parents were out of town for a conference. I had to knock on the door of Christina’s house and her family let me stay until my parents got home. It was then that we realized that we were not really that different from each other. We liked the same movies and the same kind of music. From then on, we started hanging out in school and after school. Christina is a very optimistic person, the complete opposite of how I am. I always see the worse in things while she always saw the sunshine after the rain. During the lowest times of my life, she was there to cheer me up and always reminded me that there is no problem big enough that cannot be solved. She always told me that the problems that come my way are just challenges in life that I must overcome to become a stronger and more mature person. During those times when I have lost hope, her hug or simple pat on the shoulder would make everything alright because she makes me feel that I do not have to go through life alone. It is from Christina that I have learned that there is something good in every person and in every thing. I must admit that I am a very judgmental person but Christina has influenced me to be more open minded about how I perceive the people I meet and the things that I encounter. She would constantly tell me the cliche don’t judge a book by its cover and I would just laugh her off. But then she would remind me of the circumstances on how we started becoming friends. And she’s right that by her appearance alone, I will choose not to be friends with her. But she is also correct that since I took time to get to know her, I learned that her appearance alone does not define her entire being. Now, I am very careful with how I interact with people and that before I dismiss them and not want anything to do with them, I try to talk to them first and get to know a little bit of them to see if we have things in common. Another good thing that I have learned from Christina is how to take a break from school and all the other stressful extra-curricular activities that I have. I come from a very demanding family when it comes to school and my parents do not realize how much pressure they put on me to do well in school. So there are times when I would be awake for days, trying to prepare for an exam or a paper and would miss out on parties and shopping with friends. Christina taught me the importance of balance in life. For one, she is the type of student who can go to a party every weekend and yet still manage to get those A’s in school. She constantly reminds me that rest is important and that there is no use in studying all the time if I would be too tired or weary to take the exams. I have learned that there is a time for everything and that balance is essential to keep myself sane. But by far, the most important thing that Christina has taught me is how to love myself. My insecurities are like little battles for me everyday. When my boyfriend broke up with me for a girl who looked like a supermodel, all my insecurities started to envelope me. I started hating and doubting myself. There came a point when I found nothing good about myself and started wasting my life away. But Christina was there to pick me up and to shake some sense into my head. She, with some other friends, talked to me through some sort of intervention and told me all the good things that they see in me. They pounded in my head that unless and until I start seeing the good in myself, I will never be able to offer what I have to other people; and that if I didn’t believe in myself, then other people will start losing their faith in me as well. It was not easy to bounce back into the life I used to have: the more focused and idealistic me. But I am grateful that Christina was with me every step of the way, helping me collect the pieces of my life and putting them back together, as if completing a puzzle. Differences brought me and Christina together as friends. And it is differences that continue to bind us. I no longer consider Christina as my best friend but as my sister, someone that has shaped my life and continues to shape my life for the better. I just wish that someday I can give back to her everything that she has done for me as my way of saying how grateful I am that she is a part of my life.