Saturday, August 31, 2019

Welfare and Drug Testing

The welfare program was designed to be a temporary solution to help families in need to get back on their feet, and meet their basic needs. It Is estimated that 50 to 80 percent of family based services involve drugs or alcohol abuse (Chug 2001). Some advantages of mandatory drug testing for welfare recipients are that it fosters self-reliance, averts abuse of the welfare system, gives people an opportunity to receive treatment, and ensures correct allocation of tax dollars. So why not drug test the recipients before a person an get qualified for services? Drug abuse has been a problem in the United States for a very long time.In the beginning before there were regulations narcotics were freely used In elixirs and other medical and homemade remedies. It was not until the effects of these drugs were known, and the damage was already done that government regulations were put into place. It has been determined that the use of drugs has been the main cause of most crimes in the United St ates. Statistically it has been shown that nearly half of the current inmate population has some history of drug abuse. It has been brought to the attention of legislators that there is a drug abuse problem within the welfare system.When the welfare reform act of 1996 was passed there was a provision stated to allow drug testing on an as needed basis. This protocol has not been widely used, and seems to have been forgotten, until now that is. The government has identified a problem within the welfare system, and would like to recoup some of the losses, and also help some of the individuals that do have a problem. Welfare was meant to be a temporary fix† to help a person get back on their feet. If a drug problem Is present, a person will tend to stay on the system, not be employable, and use the benefits for which they were not Intended.To get this issue in check law makers would like to see people be drug tested before being approved for benefits, and periodic random tests whi le they are receiving them as well. There are also provisions for persons who have a drug problem to receive the treatment they need. This pale chart represents the results off poll Fox News did In 2010. The question was, â€Å"Do you Delves welfare recipients snouts De Aragua tested There are many different types of tests used to detect drugs in a person's yester. The type of testing used will be determined on the types of drugs being tested for and the cost effectiveness and time allotment.Some states are proposing the individual will pay for the testing, but will be reimbursed once the results come back negative. Other states are proposing the amount of money they will save by cutting back on benefit fraud will be more than enough to cover the costs of testing. The most cost effective and time efficient method of testing is urinalysis. This test can be administered in an office setting and the results are available immediately. The only down fall to this test is it can be beat b y taking herbal supplements that are made to mask the drug.It is also not accurate in testing for substances like cocaine and alcohol as they are not testable in the urine after 3 days. Hair testing is another option. This test is administered in a clinical setting, and requires small amounts of hair taken from different areas of the head. One inch of hair gives the clinician sixty days of history, and cannot be faked. Blood tests also require a clinical setting and a laboratory to read the results. With the last two options of testing turnaround time an be days, weeks, or months, and can be quite expensive.There are already a few states such as Michigan, Florida, and New Hampshire that have this protocol in place. The strongest argument for the testing of individuals is having such a program in place will help reduce the miss use and miss appropriation of taxpayer's monies. Governor Rick Scott, R Florida, states † It's not right for taxpayer money to be paying for somebody's drug addiction, On top of that, this is going to increase personal responsibility, personal accountability. We shouldn't be subsidizing people's addiction. (Scott, 2011). The state of Florida approved this bill that took effect July 1, 2011.Governor Scott also stated â€Å"It's the right thing for taxpayers,† Scott said after signing the measure. â€Å"It's the right thing for citizens of this state that need public assistance. We don't want to waste tax dollars. And also, we want to give people an incentive to not use drugs. † (Scott, 2011) It is perceived it would help reduce domestic violence and other drug related crimes. Individuals would also receive intervention and care they might not normally have access to without this program. If an individual were to fail a drug test they would be given the option to enter a state treatment program.If the person was to refuse treatment or have a second offense after completing the treatment they would lose their benefits fo r a period of one year. As with all new laws trying to be passed there are also those who are against it. Opponents of drug testing believe that it is violating the constitutional protections in the Fourth Amendment. The Fourth Amendment to the U. S Constitution states, the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated.Columnist William Safari in The New York Times writes, Not only is my home my castle, my body is my citadel. Unless I give you a probable cause to suspect me of a crime, what goes on in my home and body and mind is my business Robin Merrill of Maine Equal Justice, which provides legal services for the poor states, â€Å"Random drug testing is very questionable legally with respect to constitutional issues. If the government has the right to drug- test people based on receipt of aid from public assistance programs, what is to stop en government Trot requiring Aragua tes ting Tort anyone won receives a student loan or any other government benefit?This law would create a very slippery slope with respect to infringement on people's right to privacy. † Another point in question is will this really save the tax payers any money? How much will the added administrative personal and the testing itself cost? The Miami Herald reports that the savings in Florida could reach one hundred thousand dollars, but no reports of administrative costs have been reported. Adversaries also raise the question about discrimination and alienation. They believe that singling out individuals because of their financial status could be disastrous and have negative effects.Cutting off families benefits because of the actions of an individual could do more harm than good. Just because an individual has a substance abuse problem, how can you prove they are not using their benefits appropriately? (Dona 2005) Whether you are in favor or opposed to welfare recipients being drug tested, the issue is one that most people will encounter on Election Day. People who are in favor say testing will allow people to get help that otherwise would fall through the cracks. It would also raise the UN employment rate by allowing those individuals to become better qualified to obtain and keep Jobs.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Essay

Little Women, written by Louisa May Alcott, is a novel based on a family of four girls, Margaret â€Å"Meg† March, Josephine â€Å"Jo† March, Beth March, and Amy March, and of their family values. Little Women demonstrates strong events based on several family values. The story of the March family is set in New England during the civil war. Throughout this point in time the little women are to survive with out a father figure, as their father has gone to fight in the war. Over long periods of time, the four March sisters had to face the fact that they were very poor and could not receive every thing that they wished for. As the March family stayed home awaiting the return of their father, they were very lucky to receive the â€Å"fatherly† support from an old, wealthy neighbour, Mr Laurence. Overtime the girls formed a tight bond with Mr Laurence and his grandson Laurie. As the March family continues through the hard times in life, they are blessed by the friends hip of family and friends. In the Novel the four sisters show that they are very unselfish and are capable of sharing what little things they have with others. Even though the girls realise (Amy especially) that they are suffering poverty and are not able to receive everything that they wish, they are very grateful for what they have. The March sisters tend not to make a fuss mainly because whilst their father is away life gets tough with only a mother figure around. â€Å"Not far away from here lies a poor old woman with a little new born baby. Six children are huddled into one bed to keep from freezing, for they have no fire. There is nothing to eat over there; and the oldest boy came to tell me they were suffering hunger and cold. My girls, will you give them your breakfast as a Christmas present?’ pg 20 In the chapter A merry Christmas this here is a great example of how generous the March family is even though the have so little themselves. The girls were very disappointed to give their food away but knew that there was a family suffering severely without any food, so they decided to the right thing. In Little women the four March sisters show loyalty by looking out for each other. Through the hardest times in life the girls manage to stick by each other and along the way on their journey they learn from their mistakes. Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy are not your everyday type of sisters who may fight a lot with one another. The girls infrequently have fights because they are so alike, they are so kind to one another and share anything they have for that is all that they do have. â€Å"I let the sun go down on my anger; I wouldn’t forgive her, and today, if it hadn’t been for Laurie it might have been too late! How could I be so wicked?’ said Jo half aloud, as she leaned over her sister, softly stroking the wet hair scattered on the pillow. As if she heard, Amy opened her eyes, and held out her arms, with a smile that went straight to Jo’s heart.’ Page 115. Even though the girls make mistakes they learn from them and are persistent never to make that same mistake again. Through out the novel looking out for each other is a true family value and by doing this the girls manage through life a lot easier. Life becomes more interesting when family and friends are together. It’s not until later on in life when the March girls realise that their next door neighbours are not close and that they ought to become neighbourly with one another. It is here in the novel where all the sisters begin to loosen up and enjoy the new company of the ‘Laurence boy’. At first the girls are a bit timid because they are embarrassed by the fact that they are so much poorer to Laurie, but after first impressions the girls really begin to bond with Laurie and they form a tight friendship. ‘We are not strangers, we are neighbours, and you needn’t think you’d be a bother. We want to know you, and I’ve been trying to do this ever so long.’ Page 70.Through the novel it is important to be able to have the love and support of friends and family so that it makes life easier through the difficult and depressing patches. In conclusion Marmee only wants best for her girls, but in her eyes this does not mean the wealthiest man that the girls can get their hands on this means, happiness and security from the one they tend to spend their rest of their lives with. â€Å"Money is a needful and precious thing,-and, when well used, a noble thing,-but I never want you to think it is the first or only prize to strive for. I’d rather see you poor men’s wives, if you were happy, beloved, contented, than queens on thrones, without self- respect and peace.† If along the way the girls did not have one another and there values then Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy would struggle more then what they already do. Through out the novel family values are very important and are expressed in many ways, not only through family but close friends too. The March sisters go through life with the love and support of each other and share an amazing journey.

Friday, August 30, 2019

How much impact did Martin Luther King have in changing civil rights for black Americans? Essay

The struggle of black people in America for freedom, justice, and self-definition stretches from the colonial and early nineteenth-century slaveholding era to the twenty-first century, but its intensity has varied from one period to the next. One of the most intense periods occurred in the 1950’s and 1960’s, when struggling was usually associated with the psychological and strategic use of nonviolence. Martin Luther King (MLK) was one of many Civil Rights leaders that bought publicity to the movement and issued nonviolence through marches and boycotts. Nevertheless, the Civil Rights Movement (CRM) would have occurred with or without Martin Luther King Jr., but without King, the CRM would not have had the same impact on society. The first major campaign King was involved in was the Montgomery bus boycott, which occurred in the 1955-56. The bus boycott was started by the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) who instructed Rosa Park to refuse to give up her seat for a white person. NAACP constructed a legal court case against the segregation laws and the black people of Montgomery began to take direct action against bus companies by refusing to travel on the buses. This was affecting bus companies because more than half of their consumers were black people and so profit would be lost. King bought publicity to the bus boycott with his leadership and took the limelight away from the NAACP, who were behind the success of integration of buses. It was not the bus boycott alone that integrated buses, the NAACP taking litigation to the Supreme Court was vital because it changed desegregated buses. The bus boycott alone wouldn’t have changed segregation laws. According to Sanders, King was being credited for the integration of buses when it should have gone to the NAACP for starting the bus boycott and the activist, â€Å"it was a protest of the people†¦ not a one-man show.† This portraying King in being a glory-seeker who was only interested in self-promoting and gaining fame because it was the NAACP, rather than King who bought success to Montgomery. If black Americans were going to escape poverty and second class citizenship they would need education. Segregation of schools was claimed to be fair and equal, however, the black children attending black schools had poor funding compared to white children attending white schools. Oliver Brown with the help of the NAACP, not MLK, challenged the integration of school by drafting a successful court case to the Supreme Court, who declared that segregation was against the law and the constitution of the USA. The Board of Education in Topeka and other education boards had to be forced to integrate public schools. However, according to River Editors, â€Å"101 Southern politicians vowed to fight the decision, arguing it was contrary to the Constitution.† This showing that Southern politicians refused to implement the constitution. This may be the reason why in 1956 that there were six Southern states that did not have a single black child attending schools where there were white children. The NAACP are significant to the CRM because the organisation presses for civil rights legislation. Without the NAACP, the success of integrating schools and buses would not have happened. The organisation is vital to the CRM. NAACP had a great impact in changing the civil rights for black Americans because they gave them the chance of being educated in schools that would be for whites and to seat on buses without having to get up their seats for white people. American democracy was a model for those countries struggling against Soviet oppression so the treatment of black Americans portrayed America into being brutal to minority within its borders. There were communist propaganda used against the capitalism America, majority of them mentioning Jimmy Wilson. Dudziak states that Jimmy Wilson was â€Å"the centre of international attention† for being sentenced to death in Alabama for stealing less than two dollars of change. This was thought to be the most severe consequence of American racism. The petty crime bought to surface international concern because Wilson’s case received international coverage. There were critical articles being published in newspapers all across the world and the communist used Wilson’s story as propaganda. The Jimmy Wilson case bought publicity all around the world due to communist propaganda and aided the CRM. This showing that King is not the only one to bring publicity to the CRM. The March on Washington which was organised and successfully lead by King without the support from President Kennedy and Roy Wilkins. The aim of the March was to encourage to pass a civil rights bill through public relations, media attention gave the March national exposure because it impressed people all around the world. The March may have had a part in passing the Civil Rights Bill (CRB) of 1964 as it showed a united nation. President Kennedy death could be also credited in passing the CRB. When President Kennedy was assassinated, the bill was left in the hands of Vice President Lyndon Johnson. The civil rights bill passed could be a way to honour President Kennedy. The situation in Selma was that only 23 black Americans were registered to vote when there were 29,000. King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) made Selma, Alabama, the focus of its efforts to register black voters in the South. The March, protesters were attempting to March from Selma to the state capital of Montgomery and were met with violent resistance by state and local authorities. The world watched, the activists being attacked harshly when they were fighting for the right to vote. Selma made people at home feel uncomfortable with the state and local authorities’ treatment to innocent people. Along with the Civil Rights Bill, the Voting Rights Act was one of the most significance pieces of civil rights legislation. Its effects greatly reduced the disparity between black and white voters in the U.S. and allowed a greater number of African Americans to enter political life at the local, state and national level. According to Sanders, â€Å"Johnson a nd Congress probably would not have passed the Voting Rights Act without Selma.† This shows the importance of Selma had on the CRM because the Voting Rights Act is important because it takes away the second class citizenship and takes a leap to equality between the whites and blacks in America. Selma was about more than winning a federal act; it emphasised the political pressures King was negotiating between movement radicalism. Selma was a key to improving lives for black Americans since it was publicly televised around the world showing the treatment of innocence people making a stand for equality. It pushed the Voting Rights Act to enable black people the right to vote. However, Sanders also states that â€Å"Selma had raised a great deal of money because Selma was in the headlines, then the SCLC left and spent the money to the North.† The untrustworthy leadership of King had left the people in Selma to fund on their own for the right to vote. This shows that King cannot be trusted when he makes a public stand to help people in need. King and his SCLC were unsuccessful in Chicago, they overestimated the racism in the North. Coordinating Council of Community Organizations (CCCO) had encouraged and supported the SCLC in Chicago and were both out-witted by Mayor Daley. Black people living in Chicago lived in racial inequality, majority of black people in Chicago were living in slums. There were less press coverage on the Chicago Freedom Movement (CFM) and the federal government did not help the CFM because President Johnson was an ally of Mayor Daley, who threatened to fine people a great lot of money if they joined in the marches. This limited the activist because they couldn’t afford paying the fine when they are living in poverty. However, what occurred in Chicago was the purpose of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which is a legislation to provide equal housing opportunities. It made it legal for someone to be decimated for their race, or national origin when buying a house. It was a federal crime to force o r threaten injure, intimidate, or interfere with anyone because of their race, colour, religion, or national origin. Overall, King is the one radiant name of the fight for racial equality that everyone knows, he stole the limelight from those that have been forgotten or who were not accorded the recognition they deserved. King played a wonderful leader for the CRM because he bought publicity through his peaceful protest and winning the Nobel Peace Prize. To have a day for himself shows the impact he made to the life of black Americans during the CRM. King may have helped the CRM before his assassination, but was given too much credit because others, such as Ralph Abernathy, Claudette Colvin, Kasturba Gandhi, Malcolm X and etc. where forgotten. After King’s death the life of black Americans did not brighten up because the fight for equality still occurring with new leaders.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 27

Questions - Essay Example 2. Notice our lecture begins the SWOT analysis in Chapter 3 with the external environment –  an environmental scan of the opportunities and threats. The internal analysis begins in the next lecture –  Chapter 4. Why is that? Why do you begin your SWOT analysis externally, not internally? The external analysis is more important than the internal analysis for a number of reasons. The external environment analysis takes into account non-controllable factors that affect the company but which the company cannot control. If the company does not take them into consideration, they could affect the very operations of the company. An internal analysis, on the other hand, only seeks to address issues within the company- meaning that these are concerns that the company is in a position to control. 3. As a corporate â€Å"strategic planning†Ã‚  resource, is it better to have assets or competencies. Give an example †¦Ã‚  a different one than your classmates’  examples. And, do not say â€Å"both† or â€Å"it depends.† Pick one and explain it. Strategic assets are basically a corporation’s own resources. Core competencies, on the other hand, refer to a company’s best capabilities. In essence, strategic assets are worthless until they are converted into products that can be used by the company’s customers. Competencies are quite important as they can be used by businesses to leverage their strategic resources and generate a unique advantage over business rivals (Rumelt, 2011). Competencies are the more valuable choice. 4. Give an example of a product-market and why it fits the criteria for a product-market. Each student must give a â€Å"different†Ã‚  example –OR– disagree with another student’s example explaining why the disagreement. One input per student, please. A "product market" refers to the distinct society demographic to which a business targets its newly created products. For instance, a new range of age defying

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

MGT 672 ROLLS ROYCE VS GE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

MGT 672 ROLLS ROYCE VS GE - Essay Example It helps in achieving the objectives of organizations as a whole. A strategy refers to the coordinated means by which an organization pursues its goals and objectives (book_study, n.d.) In this context, the strategies of the two leading companies in the aircraft engine industry-GE and Rolls Royce assumes significance. GE is the market leader in aircraft engine sales. It is a highly diversified conglomerate with exposure in business of light bulbs, medical devices, commercial jet engines, home mortgages, broadcasting and self storage facilities. The sale of aircraft engines accounts for less than 10% of its revenues. In contrast, Rolls Royce holds the second position in aircraft engine sales. 74% of its revenue comes from this industry. Therefore, business strategy in the aircraft engine industry is the key for Rolls Royce, while corporate strategy assumes much importance for GE (book_study, n.d., p. 10). This paper aims to study these two companies of the aircraft engine industry and comment on the differences in strategies adopted by them. From the findings of the study, the paper draws conclusions regarding the differences of business strategy and corporate strategy. ... Depending on the position of the resources in the continuum, an organization has to decide on the set of businesses it should operate and other design criteria. General nature of resources gives wide scope of business. Co-ordination is achieved through transfer of resources. Size of corporate office is small and financial control system is adopted. Specialized nature of resources narrows the scope of business. Co-ordination is achieved through sharing of resources. Size of corporate office is large and operating control system is adopted. (Collis, Montgomery, Campbell & Goold, 1999, p. 4-6) Vision & Strategy of Rolls Royce: Rolls Royce is a global company that believes in the principle of sustainable development. The Global Code of Business Ethics of Rolls Royce includes continuous improvement of production facilities, being world class in health, safety and environment management and being socially responsible. Social progress depends on economic development which can be brought abo ut by fresh, dependable and inexpensive energy and transport system. Rolls Royce has strong R & D facilities and record of innovation. It uses these strengths to develop efficient energy and transport system. Through the application of consistent business strategy, Rolls Royce has matured during the previous 2 decades. â€Å"Civil aerospace, Defense aerospace, Marine and energy† are the four global markets in which Rolls Royce operates. Of these global markets, civil aerospace accounted for almost 45% of the underlying revenue in the year 2010. (Our consistent strategy, 2011) The core characteristics underlying the strategies of Rolls Royce are as follows: Closeness to customers: Rolls Royce is an organization highly focused on its

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Concert Report Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Concert Report - Movie Review Example When the conductor emerged as well, glorious clapping for a minute gave way to absolute silence in preparation for the first movement. It seems as though people who frequent classical music performances always know when to clap to respect the performers. This probably comes through knowledge and experience of the work, knowing the interludes and spaces in between the movements. The concert hall was comparable to a large church in size and was composed of wood paneling, high ceilings, and a large gold decorative piece behind the performers. On both sides of the stage was seating for patrons, and in front of the stage sat a row of flowers that gave way into a sea of interested listeners. The echo of the music was wonderful coming from the ceiling and the walls, as well as the audience applause. In part, knowing that people have gathered in venues like this concert hall and enjoyed this kind of music for hundreds of years contributed to the pleasure of attending the concert. The work I enjoyed most was Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 in F Major. Because Beethoven was important in the transition from the Classical and Romantic eras of classical music, the symphony shares characteristics of both periods in the same musical composition. The composition is airy, light, and fanciful; it has many contrasts and variations. In this way, it exemplifies the characteristics of the Classical era. However, in spite of these Classical characteristics, the work is also emotionally expressive, with many highs and lows, and it displays a certain style that makes it immediately identifiable as a Beethoven symphony. In this respect, it follows the Romantic tradition. These two identities cannot be easily resolved or separated, which complicates the classification of the work as either distinctly Classical or distinctly Romantic. This composition is my favorite precisely because it is so varied and so difficult to define exactly in terms of where it belongs in Beethovenà ¢â‚¬â„¢s repertoire, let alone the history of classical music. The movements are different from one another, which makes the performance not repetitive, but continuously exciting in that the piece is always developing upon itself, always expanding in its complexity and never contracting. The first movement in the piece, for instance, has its climax in an unusual place. It is not during the development section, as is customary in Beethoven’s works, but at the start of the recapitulation phase. There is a substantial crescendo as the start of recapitulation. This variability and uniqueness in the piece makes it one of my favorite sonatas, particularly in the Beethoven corpus. The instrumentation for the Ninth Symphony is quite large. From one count, there were two flutes, two clarinets, two oboes, two bassoons, two trumpets, four horns, timpani, and some strings, which is a relatively large group of instruments. Both as a conductor and as a composer, it must be difficult to man age that many performers. However, utilizing a large number of instruments is an important part of achieving complexity in one’s artistry. A polyphonic performance like the one put on by the performers invites complexity more than any other kind of texture. In terms of the mood conveyed by the piece, it seems like most people were emotionally affect at some parts. Being such an artistic composition, and having very high and

Monday, August 26, 2019

Gambling in Australia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Gambling in Australia - Essay Example This has impacted on families, government, the society and employee, due to the addiction provided by the gambling activities. To control the gambling activities in Australia, states have been passing legislations that are aimed at regulating the gaming activities. The Papua New Guinea in 2007 passed one of these resolutions aimed at regulating land based and online gaming activities. This regulation was aimed at granting casino license to any gambling service provider based in Australia or foreign (Diaconu, 2010). The Vanuatu parliament had enacted such regulations in 2000, seeking to limit the players’ age limit and controlling the gaming activities through strict control of the gambling criteria. The problem of alcohol intake and smoking has been that as passive gaming increases, the rate at which the gamers smoke and take alcohol drastically increase. The drug addiction has led the Australian Gaming Council to undertake initiatives of sensitizing the gamers concerning resp onsible gaming activities (Australian Gaming Council, 2008). According to Fabianson (2010), the gambling activities and the alcohol related intake in passive gaming have been on the rise in low level education class of people, with males dominating the gaming activities. ... The Australian National Drugs Strategy, ANDS argues that gambling has resulted to increased rates of social problems. Gambling as the ANDS elaborates affects a larger population than the individual and pathological gambling is listed as an impulsive control disorder. The disorders are driven by the arousal, pleasure and gratification. The ANDS report elaborates that recurrent gambling behavior that leads to addiction results to significant disruptions in family, personal, vocational, social lives. The compulsive behavior has resulted to job losses as employees are addicted, and they have to take the gaming activity to fulfill the string desired in gambling addiction. This is aggravated by the heavy drugs intake that results from the passive gaming activities, and has exposed many gamers to health risks (Diaconu, 2010). The Australian gambling sector has however been instrumental to the economy of the country despite the social impact it has created. It is estimated that in 2001-2002 Australians gambled away AUD 13.8 billion (Clark, Cho & Hoyler, 2010). The gambling industry created more than 9000 new jobs in three years from 2001, and as Fabiasnson (2010) argues, gambling has been a good source of income to the government through heavy taxation, and other levies that result from gaming activities. Gambling clubs as Fabianson further elaborates have been involved in many communal based projects in initiating developments in many parts of Australian communities, as a requirement to channel part of their proceed to the public good. The gaming activities have been instrumental in the economy and development as a source of income to the governments in Australia. Despite the positive side of

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Classical and Modern Rhetoric Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Classical and Modern Rhetoric - Essay Example Classical rhetoric can be traced back to the ancient times beginning with Homer who is thought to be the father of oratory having inspired many in the art. Athens in 510BC consisted of democratic institutions that forced citizens to engage in public service and making oratory skills necessary. This decree gave rise to the formation of an assembly of scholars called Sophists who strove to educate people in the art of speaking and make them better speakers. Protagoras one of the first sophists taught his students the method in making the weaker part of speech or discussion the stronger argument. In 5th century BC, Corax of Syracuse described rhetoric as the art of persuasion. He wrote the first book on rhetoric and is thought to be the actual originator of rhetoric as a science. Pupils of Corax such as Tisias also mastered the art of rhetoric. Others included Gorgias, Thrasymachus and Antiphon who was the first to unify the theoretical and practical aspects of rhetoric. The 4th century great orator Isocrates developed the art of rhetoric into a cultural academic work, a doctrine having practical objectives. He lectured on public speaking as a way of self improvement. He aimed to distance himself from the Sophists whom he viewed as pretending to know more than they did. He accepted oratory as an art to be learned and excelled in, but also that it relied on ones own personal inclinations and interest to progress in the field and this included persistence, practice and following role models. He opined that public speaking was of more value when the speaker talked on noble ideas and posed critical questions that made people think. This had the effect of improving the character of the speaker and audience as well as providing them food for thought. His written speeches were models for his students to emulate. He wrote no handbooks on the subject of oratory but his speeches 'Antidosis' and 'Against the Sophists' are considered to be models of oratory, influencing later orators such as Cicero and Quintilian (Corbett p.496.) Greek philosopher Plato highlighted a technical approach to rhetoric. His work titled Gorgias debated the Sophistic view that persuasion could be independent from the art of dialectic. Plato emphasised truth over persuasion and noted that audiences will not improve simply by listening to flattering and coercive statements. In Phaedrus, he explained the underlying conventions that comprised the substance of rhetorical art. He indicated the differences between true and false forms of rhetoric. He suggested that dialectic produced true form of rhetoric where logic and rational arguments with persuasive power seemed much more effective and genuine way to get the message across and sway audiences. Plato's coinage of the word 'rhetoric' was his way of criticizing the Sophists assertions about teaching virtue through persuasive oratory. Plato's student was Aristotle (384-322 BC) whose work on rhetoric continues to be a subject of study. Aristotle described the purpose of rhetoric as being rather than persuasion. It was a process of uncovering all possible means of persuasion. Greater emphasis was placed on a persuasive gathering of truth to win an argument rather than swaying audiences by rousing their emotions. Aristotle considered rhetoric as the opposite of logic or as he describes it, the antistrophe of dialectic.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

A BALANCED SCORECARD FROM THE PUBLISHED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF JOHN Coursework

A BALANCED SCORECARD FROM THE PUBLISHED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF JOHN LEWIS - Coursework Example Nowadays, the employee co-owned business numbers nearly 76,500 employees (John Lewis Plc, 2011). Business activity of John Lewis Partnership is differentiated by several directions, including: John Lewis full line department stores and John Lewis at home stores, Waitrose supermarkets, Waitrose convenience stores, and online store (John Lewis plc, 2011). The first shop of John Lewis has been opened in 1864; for 147 years, the company has achieved unbelievable growth, by opening 35 John Lewis shops and enabling customers to enjoy shopping online through the corporate website johnlewis.com. (John Lewis Partnership, n.d). In order to understand what are the key drivers of the growth of John Lewis and what its pledge of success is it is critical to understand the whole picture of the company’s activity. For this purpose it might be helpful to use the Balanced Scorecard tool. According to the official sources, the balanced scorecard is defined as: â€Å"a strategic planning and management system that is used extensively in business and industry, government, and non-profit organisations worldwide to align business activities to the vision and strategy of the organisation, improve internal and external communications, and monitor organisation performance against strategic goals† (Balancedscorecard.com, n.d.). ... Strategy – Customer perspective Every profitable organization strives to achieve profit and/or maximize it. In Business-To-Consumer (B2C) model it is fairly difficult or even impossible to achieve financial objectives if the customer is neglected or treated by the company in not appropriate manner. John Lewis, being one of the UK’s retail giant, has achieved tremendous financial success mainly due to understanding â€Å"this rule of capitalistic world†. John Lewis is a company which strives to understand customer’s needs, to know their wants and relying on these, to continue to provide the best possible choice, value and service (John Lewis Partnership, n.d.). Thus, the company’s strategy is based on three pillars: 1. The best value, choice and service. John Lewis maintains competitive prices in order to retain existing customers and attract new ones, offers â€Å"an unrivalled product assortment† to customers, and provides excellent service through proper staff motivation (John Lewis Partnership, n.d.). 2. Accessible shops and service; John Lewis actively expands the territories of its shops in order to reach the maximum amount of potential customers. The key principles include easy access to shopping, either by visiting John Lewis’s locations or by ordering items through the website. Such multi-channel approach to retail enables company to increase customer’s satisfaction and loyalty to the brand. 3. Careful listening to what customers want (John Lewis Partnership, n.d.). John Lewis continuously maintains dialogues with its customers in order to understand what are their needs and wants, what are their interests and preferences. Thus, the company tracks its results in

Friday, August 23, 2019

D.H. Lawrence's 'British Family' - Mother & Son Research Paper

D.H. Lawrence's 'British Family' - Mother & Son - Research Paper Example Education and proficiency in specialized arts were the only way to attain a high social position which is reflected in Lawrence’s own life (Spartacus). His father was an illiterate coal miner while his mother was fairly educated. The mother therefore nursed ambitions for her children and left no stone unturned in procuring a better education for them. The emotions and sentiments to which Lawrence must have been exposed during his childhood are therefore reflected in the structure of his short story entitled ‘The Rocking-Horse Winner’. In this short story, the relationship as depicted by Lawrence between the mother, Hester and her son, Paul shows how social pressures can rob true love from such a sacrosanct biological bond. The mother allows her aspiration for riches and better social status override the true love for her children. Though leading a fair lifestyle, Hester has allowed unhappiness to creep into her household by building up an aura where the requiremen t of more ‘money’ always haunts the family. ... In her pursuit for more money she works as an artist in a studio but despite her best endeavors she fails to attain the level of success she desires although other artists in the business are doing so. She expresses her frustration during a conversation with Paul in which her obsession with the idea of ‘luck’ gets transferred into the child’s psyche. Paul, therefore starts believing that only good luck was the answer to all his problems and starts looking for it in and around the house and also by asking questions related to luck from his supposedly ‘lucky’ Uncle Oscar Cresswell, and the family gardener, Bassett. Paul gets obsessed with the idea of being lucky and getting rich, which he foresees as the solution to the family’s misfortunes. He starts believing that once he is rich, he can give money to his mother which would make her happy. Subconsciously, it is true love that he actually desires from his mother, the need for which was always fe lt by him as well as his siblings. D.H. Lawrence, in this story, has tried to depict a typical British family of that era which had forgotten the true meaning of family life in a bourgeois and vain society. Social standing and money preoccupied the minds of the average citizen as they tried to attain a false sense of superiority by acquiring material wealth. In this fruitless race, mothers’ forgot to attend to the emotional needs of their children while their husbands’ toiled at work. In Paul’s family, the situation has been portrayed very clearly by the author. The emotional lacuna that exists in Paul’s psyche leads him to a single obsession of getting lucky which he tries to find in an inanimate object, the rocking horse

Nutrition - Ask and Answer - Characteristics of Life Essay

Nutrition - Ask and Answer - Characteristics of Life - Essay Example The following hypotheses were formulated: First, simple obesity among children is affected by the following environmental factors: educational levels of parents, familial inclination to obesity, and other health patterns. Secondly, a diet with low energy component and low glycemic index results into body mass loss. Thirdly, dietary treatment will involve change in the body mass, reduction in skin thickness and adipose folds, scapula, BMI, body fat content and waist hip ratio. Lastly, administration of dietary treatment will affect biochemical indicators like lipid profiles (Rozwoj, 2006). A sample size of 236 children with known simple obesity from Mazowsze region was used. The research was carried out by Gastroentorogical and Endocrinological Unit of the Institute of Mother and Child for10 weeks. Nutritional state was analyzed on the principle of investigating. Eight essential features and five anthropometric parameters were used besides common biochemical indicators for carbohydrate and fat metabolism. Evaluation was done prior to and after the commencement of the study. Studies were carried out on nutrition that comprised eating habits, composition of food, and the constituent nutritional content of food given daily covering a period of 10-14 for every child prior to the dietary treatment and 3 random days after. Collection of data on environmental factors was administered by a questionnaire (Rozwoj, 2006). It was found that environmental factors constituted major risk to obesity. A relationship was established between a normalized BMI z-score with respect to environmental factors which included paternal obesity (Chi (2) test with p-value less than 0.05). Also a positive correlation was found between relative BMI z-score and the anthropometrical factors. No distortions in carbohydrate metabolism were established except for fats (Rozwoj, 2006). The dietary treatment contained

Thursday, August 22, 2019

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Matrix Form of Structure Essay Example for Free

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Matrix Form of Structure Essay Organisational structure refers to the way that tasks and responsibilities are allocated to individuals and the ways that individuals are grouped together into offices, departments, and divisions. Mangers often describe their organisation by drawing an organisation chart which shows the structure of an organisation and the relationships and relative ranks of its profits and positions. When small businesses are started, they consist of an owner, manager and a few employees so an organisational structure is unnecessary at this stage. As an organisation grows to become an established business, it will adopt one of a number of organisational structures to implement its strategy. There are a number of different structures (the allocation of tasks and responsibilities to individuals) an organisation can choose. They include a functional structure, multidivisional structure or a matrix structure. The matrix structure is more complex than the other forms of structure. It combines different structural dimensions simultaneously, for example, product divisions and geographical territories or product divisions and functional specialism. The matrix structure has certain advantages and disadvantages: Advantages: 1.They are effective at knowledge management because they allow separate areas of knowledge to be integrated across organisation boundaries. Particularly in professional services organisations. Can be helpful in applying particular knowledge specialism to different market or geographic segments. E.g. for a particular client – people with particular knowledge specialism (strategy/organisational design) tied with people grouped with particular markets (industry sectors or geographic regions.  Example: education specialists – various age groups 2.Matrix organisations are very flexible because they allow different dimensions of the organisation to be mixed together. It is particularly attractive to organisations operating globally, because they of possible mix between local and global dimensions. For example, local marketing in geographical divisions and global product divisions. 3.The matrix structure replaces formal lines of authority with (cross matrix) structures or dual dimensions. This can lead to problems and disadvantages of the matrix structure. Disadvantages: 1.It will typically take longer to make decisions because of bargaining between the managers of different dimensions. 2.There may also be conflict because staff may find themselves responsible to managers from two structural dimensions. In short, matrix organisations are hard to control. 3.Jobs and responsibilities of staff across the matrix may not be clear, i.e. one ‘arm’ of the matrix may work for another ‘arm’ of the matrix (economic production volumes over local variations). 4.Cost and profit responsibilities can be unclear. Senior managers must be good at sustaining collaborative relationships across the matrix and strategically leading and guiding employees.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Grendel As Dynamic Character English Literature Essay

Grendel As Dynamic Character English Literature Essay John Gardners Grendel provides us with an in-depth look at the personality and mindset of a monster known to be an antagonist to mankind. The reader is seeing the world through the eyes of Grendel, giving the reader the feeling of having a very close relationship with him. Through this close relationship that the reader creates with Grendel, it becomes evident that Grendel undergoes a personality change throughout the novel as a dynamic character. Grendels development throughout the novel is highly influenced by his communication with the Shaper, Grendels mother, and the dragon. The first human to have a major influence on Grendel was the Shaper, a blind man who preaches to those around him. The first mention of the Shaper was in chapter one, when Grendel attacked Hrothgars meadhall. During Grendels attack, the flaws of human instinct become apparent. Instead of running away at the sight of a horrid monster, the citizens become frozen in terror like a dear in headlights. The only exception to these humans was the Shaper, who acted quickly and despite his blindness, was able to escape the building and run away from the danger. Grendel had admired the Shaper for being different from the other humans, and reacting properly and quickly, as well as for possessing knowledge Grendel wished he could have himself. Grendels envy for a mind like the Shaper causes him to fill with jealousy, so he subconsciously tries to mirror the ideology of the Shaper despite not being a human. The Shapers songs teach Grendel about the way that the humans live and function. To Grendel , it appears that everyone around loves and respects the Shaper, which is evident when Grendel explains that the people, and even the surrounding hills were hushed when the Shaper spoke. This popularity causes Grendel to wish that he could be like the Shaper even more, so that he can finally lose the feeling of isolation and gain acceptance among the humans. As Grendel analyzes the popularity and appeal of the Shaper, he begins to realize why people have are always running away at his sight. Grendel dives deep into himself to get a sense of the flaws in his own character, and subconsciously decided that he doesnt really need nor care about getting the approval of the humans because he isnt a human and shouldnt have to live by the expectations and standards that they have for themselves. (Gardner, letter) He was born not as a human, but as a monster that would never be able to live like the humans, and instead must follow his own role in society: to terrorize and kill humans. Although it was evident that Grendel cared for his mother, their relationship wasnt always perfect. She was very controlling, and attempts to keep Grendel at her side throughout the novel, but she loved him and was even considered a source of comfort to him (Grendel pg. 17). In chapter two of the novel, Grendel views his mother as a fat and lazy brute who is to unintelligent to able to speak the same language as the humans. As the mother tries to become more protective and sheltering of Grendel, he tries to break away from her more and treats her as truly a monster or animal instead of an equivalent to himself. He realizes that she is exactly what he wants to avoid becoming, so he begins to spend less time with her and instead spend more time with the humans, which starts to make him become more like a human than a monster. Grendel became more independent as he looked less to his mother for advice and began to think for himself, using his own thoughts and observations as a guideline. He starts to develop philosophical thoughts, and begins to question the meaning and purpose of life. At the points in the novel where Grendel is leaving or returning to the cave, his mind becomes restless with thoughts about the humans and what he should. The complexity of Grendels thoughts is synonymous with the complex design of the cave itself. Getting in and out of the cave is no simple process. Grendel describes the process as swimming up through the firesnakes, hot dark whalecocks prowling the luminous green of the mere., and continues by saying that he gulped churning waves and smoke, which implies that the mere is on fire. (Grendel pg. 9) The water is used as a symbol of the subconscious and emotion, which explains the thoughts that start to jump around in Grendels head as he is on his way in or out of his cave. Grendels thinking to himself is key to his development as an independent individual. He feels so dependent near the end of the book that he even ignores the warning of his mother. His mother wants to protect him and warn him of the danger he is getting into, but her warning only comes out as Warovvish. (Grendel pg. 145) Without trying to understand what she was saying, he shrugs her warning off as gibberish and continues with what he originally planned. Instead of relying on the advice and opinions of others, Grendel tries to sort everything out within his own thoughts. This causes him to become less and less dependent on other characters, which in turn allows him to become more of an individual. The final character to have a major influence on Grendels character was the dragon, who makes his first appearance in chapter five of the novel. Prior to meeting the dragon, the only being that Grendel ever met more powerful than himself was his mother. Grendel became so terrified at the site of the monstrous dragon that he could barely even speak. Grendel has never really felt this level of fear, and it makes him realize that there are more fearsome creatures to walk the planet than him. This fear also rationalizes the feeling of the terror the humans exhibit when encountering Grendel, so he now understands their fear of him. The dragon proves to be an incredibly smart philosopher, and when the dragon starts reading his mind, Grendel becomes even more afraid of him. He never felt fear like when he saw the dragon, so he didnt understand why the humans would run away in terror even if he were to do nothing wrong. He tells Grendel that the essence of life is to be found in the frustrat ion of established order, so he should continue terrorizing the humans. (Grendel pg. 67) The dragon proceeds to tell him that being terror to all humans that is actually important to their development. He goes on to explain that humans are constantly trying to destroy anything they consider to be evil, but evil is actually very important to them because without evil, the world would not be balanced. The dragon tries to explain to Grendel that he drives them to poetry, science, religion, all that makes them what they are for as long as they last (Grendel pg. 72).This means that Grendel is actually very important to human society, and without him, mankind would not be advanced as it is today. This confrontation with the dragon allows Grendel to rid himself of the doubts he had about the morality of killing humans, finally providing him with the reason and conformation he desired to continue with his role in society. Grendel has become one of the most important and developed characters throughout the history of literature, despite him being an antagonist. His thoughts often conflict with each other, but by the end of the novel, they become very deep and complex. After his confrontation with dragon, Grendel finally develops an understanding of his role in society, and the importance that he plays. Through the influence of Grendels encounters with the humans and other important characters throughout the book, he was able to undergo a change and become a much more intelligent, sophisticated being. In the beginning of the novel, Grendel was portrayed as being an unintelligent monster, isolated from the humans, having no understanding of his role and importance to society, but by the end of the book, Grendel has developed into a sophisticated being with a greater understanding of the world than the humans even have.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Social Self And Its Manifestations Sociology Essay

Social Self And Its Manifestations Sociology Essay The self-concept involves how we think about and evaluate ourselves. In psychology self means the collection of cognitively held beliefs that a person possesses about themselves. However it is also seen that the self is an important tool with the help of which human beings make their mark in the society and manage themselves to satisfy and fulfil their needs. Traditionally the concept of self was seen as a tool which only represented the stable, genetically determined character or which later came to be called as personality. Though recently it was found that self keeps on evolving throughout the lifetime of person. With more developments in science and research it has been found that self is seen as dynamic and changeable, hierarchical, situationally and cognitively influenced and culturally constructed. In marketing field it is seen that every customer has a unique image of himself/herself. These self-images or perceptions of self have close relationship with personality, customers tend to buy those products and services whose images or personalities they can relate in a meaningful manner. The purpose of self is to gain social acceptance and play social roles, the society creates and defines roles, and the individual seeks and adopts them. For example farmer, soldier, businessman etc. are all various roles in a society pursued by individuals. Aristotle the Greek philosopher said man is by nature a social animal, an individual who is unsocial naturally and not accidentally is either beneath our notice or more than human. Society is something that precedes the individual. This is where the social self comes into picture. In social self a significant portion of self and its behaviour are socially directed and influenced. The social self and socialization comprise of an intrinsic bond w hich is inseparable when it comes to identity formation. Socialization is imminent and inevitable consequence of human existence in society, the reason why an individual receives inclusion into society is to produce social and cultural continuity. Thus it is seen socialization plays a vital role in the prevalence of a culture and without adequate forms of socialization, culture may cease to exist. An individuals life depends on other individuals, human infants are born unable to care for themselves. Their survival depends on another individuals efforts. Thus the relation with individuals is the key not only to survive but also to fulfil needs, desires, attain success and reach highest potential. Sociology and marketing are closely interrelated. Marketing involves creating the value for people, making it accessible, retaining old customers and attracting new ones. It is hard to create and spread it without understanding human relations and behaviour of consumers. Once marketers understand how consumers think, what makes them tick, why do they choose specific products and services compared to other ones then they will be able to pitch their product/service in more efficient and visible manner. This in turn will be beneficial for the company as well, as with increase in sales profit will rise and eventually more and more consumers will begin to buy products/services. So sociology and marketing do not involve focus groups or media, they involve real life observations and digging into human nature and nature of interactions. Social media and the digital technology are just enhancers of social behaviour. Human beings just keep interacting and express themselves and their opinions, in the current scenario which is powered by technology that makes it wider and allows them to reach more people. The motivations remain the same as before social media belonging and conviviality, to mention two most relevant drivers. Development of concept of self has two aspects:- The existential self this is the most basic part of self-concept, sense of being separate and distinct from others and the awareness of the constancy of self. According to psychoanalysts the existential self begins as young as two to three old and rises in part due to relation the child has with the world. For example when the child smiles and someone smiles back. The categorical self the self can be put in categories such as age, gender, size or skill. In early childhood the categories children apply to themselves are very concrete. Later, self-description also begins to include reference to internal psychological traits, comparative evaluations and to how others see them. Social Self and Self Image:- The social self is simply any idea, or system of ideas, drawn from the social life that the mind cherishes as its own. The social self involves how the society perceives the individual, and the ideal social self involves how the individual would like the society to perceive him/her. In a society individuals are unique and different from one another however their self is thoroughly socially constructed. The social self can include ethnicity, gender, age, and place of residence or any other categorization that helps characterize a persons identity. There are two types of socialization: primary and secondary. Primary socialization involves the beginning stages of accepting social ideologies like for example a childs embrace into cultural practices and norms. Secondary type of socialization manifests on primary and becomes the true test of identification and the social self. The social self exists within the parameters of subjective reality, but selfhood is a part of larger objective rea lity that is intrinsically connected with socialization. Without socialization the social self and identity would not exist. Social self is on-going process combining the I and the me. In this on-going process social self is influenced by four factors:- The I the unpredictable and unorganised self. Me the image of the social self seen through other peoples reactions. The generalized other organized set of information about the general expectations and attitudes of a social group. Significant others a person or persons who have great influence on ones behaviour and self-esteem. The social self maintains complete cohesion based on its societal influences, the generalized other and primary socialization respectively. A number of theories explain how people become socialized and develop a sense of self. The looking-glass self refers to the interactive process by which we develop an image based on how the individual imagines he/she appears to others. Other people act as a mirror, reflecting back the image we project through their reactions to our behaviour. Seeing oneself as how others perceive is only the beginning. Eventually one sees how others see us, but also takes on or pretends to take the roles of others. This act of role-taking forms the basis of the socialization process by allowing us to anticipate what others expect of us. The figure on next page (fig-1) shows the hierarchy of social self and the various components that govern social self. Fig-1 Throughout history individuals have been thought to have a single self-image and to be interested as consumers, in products and services that satisfy that single self. When consumer behaviour is taken into consideration, the idea of individual embodying a number of different selves suggests that marketers should target their products and services to consumers within the context of a particular self. Every individual has a certain image of himself or herself with certain traits, skills, habits, possessions, relationships, and ways of behaving. Individuals develop their self-images through interactions with people, initially their parents and then other individuals or groups with whom they relate over the years. It is the image people create of themselves that is the psycho-cultural basis of their strengths and weaknesses, triumphs and failures. For a nations self-image tends to be self-fulfilling. If individual thinks that he/she will be defeated, then he/she has already lost the cause. If one thinks he or she is inferior, then one will tend to lower standards and will be satisfied. Negative self-images, whether individual or collective, can cause untold social and cultural damage. Human beings have nothing to lose by creating and working for the most exalted and inspiring images of themselves, because, as scholar Dr. Perlas any social self-image is a self-fulfilling prophecy anyway. Some people may ask how one person can be a potent force for social transformation, but as the prominent leader in Indian nationalism Mahatma Gandhi once remarked if you like the world to change, you can before by being the change you want to see in the world. Today, seemingly immutable ideas about people and organizations are being directly challenged and transformed on an unprecedented scale. Indeed, as human beings are moving towards a post-modern global society they are breaking out of their parochial perspectives and are recognizing that organizations in all societies exist in a wide array of types and species and functions within a dynamic spectrum of beliefs and lifestyles. A significant leading light towards this expansive direction is the illumination provided us by the profound insights of scholar Dr. Nicanor Perlas. His radical message is that organizations are products of human interaction and imagination rather than some blind expression of an underlying natural order.   This contemporary insight is still shattering many beliefs-one of which is the longstanding conviction that bureaucracy, oligarchy, and other forms of hierarchical domination are inevitable. In direct contradiction to materialist and behaviourist doctrine, w here everything is supposed to be governed from below upward through micro determinist stimuli and physiochemical forces, the new ideational view upheld by scholar Dr. Perlas gives subjective mental phenomena a causal role in brain processing and thereby a new legitimacy in science as an autonomous explanatory construct. Future reality, in his view, is permeable, emergent, and opens to the minds causal influence. That is, reality is conditioned, reconstructed, and often profoundly created through individuals anticipatory images, values, plans, intentions, beliefs, and the like.   To a far greater extent than is normally acknowledged, he asserts that human beings create their own realities through symbolic and mental processes and, because of this consciousness evolution of the future is a human option. It is the image of which in fact determines what might be called the current behaviour of any organism or organization. The image acts as a field. The behaviour consists in gravitat ing toward the most highly valued part of the field. By deliberately changing the internal image of reality, people can change the world. This is what led Einstein to admit that imagination is more important than knowledge. All individuals hold self-images, images of their race, profession, nation, and cultural belief systems; the underlying images held by a civilization or culture has an enormous influence on its fate. Human beings also have images of their own potential as well as the potential of others. According to mind-body studies, merely an anticipatory image, for example, of a hostile encounter can raise ones blood pressure as much as the encounter itself. Similarly, numerous new studies now show that consciously constructed images can lead directly to such things as blood glucose increases, increased gastric acid secretion, blister formation, and changes in skin temperature and pupillary size. The positive image of the future is the single most important dynamic and explanatory variable for understanding cultural evolution: Any student of the rise and fall of cultures cannot fail to be impressed by the role played in this historical succession of the future. The rise and fall of images of the future precedes or accompanies the rise and fall of cultures. As long as a societys image is positive and flourishing, the flower of culture is in full bloom. Once the image begins to decay and loses its vitality, the culture does not long survive. Digital trends set to trigger changes in the social self:- 1. The inner circle: Individuals seek to mirror their social personals in the digital world. But so far, digital has forced individuals to bring together not only their social selves, but also their professional and familial ones, and present a single persona to everyone they keep in contact with online. The average Facebook user has 130 friends, from best friends to new acquaintances. Examples:  Google circles, Facebook Groups, Twitter Lists 2. Personalized news: It is seen that human beings currently create more information in a year than they ever have historically. Understandably, overwhelmed by the plethora of information online, people need ways to navigate relevant information and choose what to read. Already, RSS feeds and social networks facilitate the process through integration with news sites that allow users to generate passive status updates by posting content to the wall. Now applications that sort content based on digital friendship are emerging. The result is social reading is the new standard in online content consumption. Examples:  Percolate, News.me, Flipboard, Zite 3. Rent: Today one can get more entertainment for less. The average Netflix user spends over 11 hours per month watching movies. Digital has changed the sense of ownership and the behaviour of renting is extending into categories beyond media and car rental where human beings realize that their use for certain products is limited and therefore does not warrant a purchase like for instance infant clothes or art for home or office interiors. Examples:  Plumgear.com, Artsicle.com 4. Seamless transactions: People are always demanding that their processes become more efficient, quicker and safer, especially when it comes to their bank account. People can now carry at least one screen with them at all times. 40% of US consumers own a Smartphone, which has becomes so much more than a phone. Transactions are quickly becoming fully integrated with screens in multiple ways, from paying with their phones to executing financial transactions. Examples:  Bitcoins, Google Wallet, Monitise, Square Card, Facebook Credits 5. Home, body, web: Technology is fast reaching a tipping point where it is both sufficiently small and affordable to allow people to monitor their bodies and adapt to their environment automatically. Peoples interest in leading healthier lifestyles, and automating the process through technology and sharing results and experience, is increasing dramatically. Examples:  Nest.com, Jawbone Up 6. Ubiquitous accessibility: Market researchers and data analysts have found that data storage capabilities double every two years, so the demand for data and data accessibility is huge. With the increase in cloud computing usage, physical storage space is becoming obsolete. People access data from multiple devices, whether at home or on the go. Not long ago people stored their digital files locally, but the development of the cloud allows them to store larger amounts online. This is a storage solution that will become more prevalent as companies allow cloud access and service offerings drop in price. Examples:  Bitcasa, DropBox, Google Docs, Instapaper, iCloud, SkyDrive 7. The reliable subscription: Human beings are creatures of habit and they want availability of the products they love in their busy lifestyle. In the past decades people have become an increasingly time-starved society, limiting their availability to maintain routines. Subscription services are utilizing this opportunity to greatest extent possible.  Examples:  ManPacks, PlaneRed, Lollihop, Memberly 8. Short-term nostalgic obsessions: Nostalgia has always been embedded in culture and society. People like to analyse their recent life through check-ins and status updates and to enhance their tactile experiences by bringing digital things to life. As people become more immersed in digital objects, their desire to revisit the not-so-recent past will increase. Examples:  Little printer, Instaprint 9. Location-based discovery: Seeing the same place through someone elses perspective enriches it with new meaning. Interactive websites and mobile social apps are helping people to make creative archives on locations. Examples:  Trover, Foursquare Radar, Google Maps, Tour Wrist 10. Control over data: Data has become an intricate part of human life. People are now able to quantify all their digital actions and more services catering to specialized activities have emerged. People are becoming aware of the value of the data they share online, and may start making decisions differently. Examples:  Ford  Sync, LastFM, Goodreads, reading.am, Voy.url Manifestations of self in online social networks:- Over the past 5 years, online social networking sites (OSNs) like Facebook and MySpace have become a central, virtually unavoidable medium for social interactions. OSNs started by catering to specialized communities and niche groups but have since expanded their reach substantially, permeating virtually every stratum and demographic group in the developed world. As such, they now provide fertile, ecologically valid, and empirically tractable domains in which to examine on-going, real-world phenomena and processes in social and personality psychology. To map out the basic connections between self and OSN behaviour, two descriptive exploratory studies are observed and studied to examine how traits are expressed on Facebook, currently the most widely used OSN in the world. The personality correlates of self-reported Facebook usage and ways in which personality traits are expressed in terms of observable information found on Facebook profiles are also studied as well as the extent to which observers are sensitive to the ways in which personality is manifested on profiles. Two competing hypotheses have been proposed to describe the relationship between offline and online behaviour. The rich-get-richer hypothesis argues that individuals with pre-existing social structures and socially adaptive personalities will reap larger social benefits from Internet use and will use the Internet more for social communication than will individuals who are less socially adept. In contrast, the social-compensation hypothesis argues that individuals wh o struggle to make social connections in face-to-face interactions will use the Internet as a place to enhance their inter- personal lives by forging social relationships online. Some early research on aggressive behaviour online suggested that online personality could diverge from offline personality, but others have argued that those studies were based on forms of media in which users had no expectation for future interactions. Supporting the idea that online social processes mirror those conducted offline, recent research suggests that people largely use online tools to maintain their existing relationships, people who are liked in offline context are also liked online, and mirroring offline findings, those who use OSNs more frequently also possess greater social capital. Despite this research pointing to similar socialization processes in offline and online contexts, research focusing specifically on personality processes in online contexts is scarce. The deliberate processes by which personality traits become expressed in physical, aural, social, and virtual environments could play the same role in OSNs. Result and conclusion of the research:- In two studies, this research revealed a number of connections between personality and Facebook-related behaviour. Extraversion predicted not only self-reported frequency of Facebook usage, but also engagement in the site, with extraverts (vs. introverts) leaving observable traces of higher levels of OSN activity. Consistent with socialization in offline contexts, extraverts seek out virtual social contact and are more engaged during online social experience than are introverts. In the case of social networking sites, this engagement leaves behind a behavioural residue in the form of friend lists, picture postings, and so on. Similarly, rather than providing an opportunity for conscientious people to loosen their collar, OSNs may instead provide another haven in which low conscientious procrastinators can avoid getting down to work. Openness is also expressed as it is in the offline-world with evidence of exploring new activities, experiencing new people, and changing the photo- grap hic scenery. Thus, rather than being an escape from reality, OSN sites exist as a microcosm of peoples larger social worlds. The findings converged with other research to suggest that individuals are able to use observable profile information-be it the number of friends, photos, or another feature-to form accurate impressions of at least some basic personality traits. However, the research also showed that observers seemed to neglect some of the valid cues. These findings showing that some traits are manifested more clearly than others are consistent with the growing body of research showing that different traits are manifested in different contexts. Conclusion:- The society plays a crucial role in developing the self of an individual. Self has evolutionary as well as adaptable functions , the self can serve various psychological functions, having a self is not only knowing who you are, what you can do etc, but also how to get along in a group, observe and understand how to contribute in a group and make oneself visible and important figure. Everyone uses social comparison to understand how are they doing and how high or low do they stand in various situations. The social comparison is done to make oneself feel better by downward comparison and for improving oneself the individual has to look through upward comparison. The self-concept is formed from three major sources of information that humans obtain from others: words, feelings, and behaviours. What one thinks about oneself is often based on others comments, how one feels about oneself often comes from others emotional reactions towards individual and how an individual behaves is often in response to others reactions towards that individual. Another source of information that helps build or reduce self-concept is the set of internal standards used to judge ones performance. If these standards of ideal performance are too high, a person may feel that he or she does not measure up. Consequently, the person develops feelings that devalue a sense of worth, resulting in a low self-concept or self-image in that area. Children often learn these internal standards from watching how their parents, teachers, and peers judge their performance at school and at home. When social self is discussed, another important aspect is also considered which plays vital role in development of self, this aspect is socialization. Socialization is a sociological approach that attempts to explain how people learn cultural morals and the responses and emotions that differentiate human beings from animals that are driven merely by the drive to survive and reproduce. Socialization starts from the assumption that humans are more than animals that do whatever it takes to survive. Instead humans recognize that they are part of a group, and they observe other humans for guiding cues on how they should respond. When a baby is born it observes its mother to learn how emotions work and what the proper response to different events should be. Gradually as the child learns that it is a separate being from its mother and other humans it learns to think about its own reactions and responses and how they differ from those of other people. In this stage the child may deliberately test things out by trying a different response than the one approved by other people. Eventually, the child settles into a pattern of being able to regulate their own responses and empathize with what others want and how they respond. In this way socialization is a careful dance in which the developing human learns to balance their own independent desires and responses with those of t he people around them.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Characters Most Responsible for Juliets Death in Shakespeares Romeo and Juleit :: Free Romeo and Juliet Essays

In the play Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, Juliet fakes her own death. Some responsibility for this goes to a number of characters in the play, with some characters being more influential and others playing small parts in the matter. Three stand out as contributors to her decision: Tybalt, Capulet, and Nurse. Tybalt did not take a direct role in Juliet’s ‘death’, but he set the course for incidents that lead to it. As a Capulet, he had long participated in the feud between his family and the Montagues. The day after he spotted Romeo at a party hosted by his family, he went out looking for him – and a fight. He accidentally murdered Mercutio, Romeo later killed him in revenge. Juliet, rather than being upset by Tybalt’s death, sobbed for Romeo, who was banished for the murder. The misunderstandings regarding Juliet’s grief led to a marriage she felt she could only escape by faking her own death. While Tybalt was not immediately involved in Juliet’s ‘death’, he played such a major role in starting the events that would ultimately lead to it that he must be deemed partly responsible. Capulet was far more direct a part of Juliet’s death than Tybalt was. Also a Capulet, he had fought with the Montagues on numerous occasions. He did not force Romeo to leave his party, but whether he was prepared to be friendly with the Montagues was another matter. Juliet believed that her father would never approve of her marriage to Rome, so she kept it a secret. As a result of being unaware that his daughter had already married, Capulet arranged Juliet’s marriage to Paris, Capulet assumed that she was crying in grief over Tybalt and would be heartened by getting married. When Juliet insisted she didn’t wish to marry Paris, he would hear none of it. He thought her ungrateful and disobedient, and he refused to change his plans. Juliet could see no way out except to fake her own death. Had Capulet been more understanding and flexible, Juliet’s fake death – and, later, her real one – could have been avoided. Nurse was a fickle character, her changeability was significant in partly causing Juliet’s pseudo death. Juliet confided in Nurse when she met Romeo. Nurse not only encouraged the marriage, but went as far as arranging it. However, when Capulet made plans for Juliet to marry Paris, Nurse told Juliet that Paris was better for her.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Using Ethos, Pathos and Logos in Advertisements Essay -- Advertising M

Using Ethos, Pathos and Logos in Advertisements An advertisement is a form of public writing in which the author uses writing strategies as a way to catch the attention of a reader and to persuade that reader to purchase what he or she is promoting. In order to create an effective advertisement, the author relies on the product’s credibility, uses reasons to convince the reader to buy what he/she is promoting, and attempts to appeal to the reader based on emotion. A way in which this can be achieved is through using three components of writing known as ethos, pathos and logos. As an example to illustrate how these strategies can be used as an effective method of persuasion, I have chosen to analyze an advertisement produced by a travel agency. In the ad, the author’s attempt is to use logos and pathos as his primary means of persuasion but touches on all three components of writing as a method of luring the reader into choosing Texas as the primary choice for a vacation destination. The author’s intent is to rely on this location to represent the travel agency as a source for planning the vacation. Using ethos is a way of appealing to the reader based on the credibility of the source in which the author is trying to promote. Credibility can be accomplished by using tactics to support reliability. First, the author attempts to establish credibility by relying on tradition and value. He accomplishes this in the advertisement by placing major emphasis on a man wearing a belt buckle. He states, "You look more closely. And see a grapefruit-sized rodeo championship belt buckle, dazzling in the sunlight. And you know at that moment, you must be in Texas" (McCALL p. 87). One may argue that the ad establishes the locatio... ...pathos is used as the most persuasive form to support the text of the advertisement. In analyzing the advertisement, it is clear that the author ties all these forms of writing together. In doing so, he hopes to gain the biggest audience by appealing to many different life styles. The author uses persuasion as a tactic, which is used to lure potential vacation hunters in to choosing his place of choice. He presents all forms of writing strategies (ethos, pathos, and logos) in the advertisement with the most concentration on logos and pathos. The author feels that the best way to persuade the audience of choice is to state the facts in the text, and then support those facts by appealing to the emotions, which is accomplished in the picture. In some cases, the author only selects one category of writing, which all depends on what he or she is trying to promote. Using Ethos, Pathos and Logos in Advertisements Essay -- Advertising M Using Ethos, Pathos and Logos in Advertisements An advertisement is a form of public writing in which the author uses writing strategies as a way to catch the attention of a reader and to persuade that reader to purchase what he or she is promoting. In order to create an effective advertisement, the author relies on the product’s credibility, uses reasons to convince the reader to buy what he/she is promoting, and attempts to appeal to the reader based on emotion. A way in which this can be achieved is through using three components of writing known as ethos, pathos and logos. As an example to illustrate how these strategies can be used as an effective method of persuasion, I have chosen to analyze an advertisement produced by a travel agency. In the ad, the author’s attempt is to use logos and pathos as his primary means of persuasion but touches on all three components of writing as a method of luring the reader into choosing Texas as the primary choice for a vacation destination. The author’s intent is to rely on this location to represent the travel agency as a source for planning the vacation. Using ethos is a way of appealing to the reader based on the credibility of the source in which the author is trying to promote. Credibility can be accomplished by using tactics to support reliability. First, the author attempts to establish credibility by relying on tradition and value. He accomplishes this in the advertisement by placing major emphasis on a man wearing a belt buckle. He states, "You look more closely. And see a grapefruit-sized rodeo championship belt buckle, dazzling in the sunlight. And you know at that moment, you must be in Texas" (McCALL p. 87). One may argue that the ad establishes the locatio... ...pathos is used as the most persuasive form to support the text of the advertisement. In analyzing the advertisement, it is clear that the author ties all these forms of writing together. In doing so, he hopes to gain the biggest audience by appealing to many different life styles. The author uses persuasion as a tactic, which is used to lure potential vacation hunters in to choosing his place of choice. He presents all forms of writing strategies (ethos, pathos, and logos) in the advertisement with the most concentration on logos and pathos. The author feels that the best way to persuade the audience of choice is to state the facts in the text, and then support those facts by appealing to the emotions, which is accomplished in the picture. In some cases, the author only selects one category of writing, which all depends on what he or she is trying to promote.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Facebook Addiction

FACEBOOK ADDICTION SPEECH GOAL : I WOULD LIKE MY AUDIENCE TO UNDERSTAND THAT FACEBOOKING IS ADDICTIVE. INTRODUCTION : WHO DOESN'T HAVE ANY FACEBOOK ACCOUNT? MOST OF US ARE ON FACEBOOK BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS IN IT. RIGHT? TODAY, I WANT TO SHARE LITTLE THINGS ABOUT HOW THIS AFFECTS OUR DAILY LIFE. FACEBOOK ALLOWS US TO STAY CONNECTED WITH ONE ANOTHER, EXPRESS OURSELVES THROUGH PROFILE ACTIVITIES, INTERESTS, MUSIC, ETC. THIS ALSO ALLOWS US TO SEE OUR FRIENDS THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED FOR A QUITE WHILE†¦AND A GREAT ADVANTAGE FOR THOSE WHO ARE LIVING FAR AWAY FROM THEIR HOME TOWN WITH RELATIVES AND CLOSE FRIENDS. FACEBOOK HELPS US TO BUILD OUR SOCIAL LIFE SINCE WE COULD INTERACT WITH OUR MUTUAL FRIENDS WITH OTHERS AND MAY START A GOOD REALTIONSHIP WITH THEM. FACEBOOK GIVES US SO MUCH REASONS TO JOIN THE SITE, TO SIGN IN, AND NOT TO LOG OUT. IT HAS SO MANY FEATURES THAT A PERSON CAN DO IN ONE SITE SUCH AS PLAYING ONLINE GAMES ON FACEBOOK TOGETHER WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND RAISE YOUR FARM ON FA RMVILLE.SPEAKING OF FARMVILLE, ONCE YOU'VE STARTED TO PLAY THAT GAME, YOU WOULD HAVE TO MAINTAIN YOUR FARM FOR YOUR ANIMALS AND IT WOULD GET INTENSE WHEN YOU START LOSING YOUR COINS AND SO ON. I MIGHT NOT HAVE PLAYED THE GAME BUT BASED ON MY INTERVIEW FROM A PERSON WHO ACTUALLY SPEND HIS WHOLE NIGHT ON FARMVILLE, THOSE WERE THE ONLY THINGS HE COULD SAY ABOUT FARMVILLE AS I ASKED HIM, HE WAS QUITE BUSY PLAYING IT. A LOT OF FUN APPLICATIONS YOU CAN USE ON FACEBOOK WHEN YOU GET BORED. BUT THESE COOL APPLICATIONS TAKES A PERSON'S VALUABLE TIME USING IT.ONCE YOU'VE START USING ANY APPLICATION ON FACEBOOK, YOU'D HAVE TO GET TIME TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN LEVEL AND NOT TO LOSE YOUR POINTS. THESE TIME OF HOURS YOU'RE SPENDING ON ONE APPLICATION CAN ALREADY MAKE ONE SET OF DINNER ROLLS FOR SNACKS. AND NOT ONLY THAT, OF COURSE, AFTER PLAYING YOU'D GONNA CHECK YOUR NOTIFICATIONS AND NEWS FEEDS. THEN, YOU MIGHT ALSO LOOK AT YOUR FRIENDS NEW PHOTOS AND GIVE ATTENTION TO SOME NEW POSTS AND MOST LIKEL Y GIVE A COMMENT ON SOMEONE'S WALL. A QUESTION FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S ON FACEBOOK, DO YOU USE FACEBOOK FOR 5 MINUTES OR MORE THAN 20 MINUTES?BESIDES USING FACEBOOK ON YOUR PC, DO YOU ALSO OPEN IT ON YOUR SCHOOL'S LIBRARY OR YOUR CLASSMATES' LAPTOP, OR EVEN ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE MORE THAN ONCE PER DAY? IF YES, YOU ARE A FACEBOOK ADDICT. YOU WILL ALSO FIND YOURSELF LOOKING UP TO OTHER'S PROFILE, CHECKING ALL THEIR ACTIVITIES, MIND OTHER PEOPLE'S BUSSINESSES BETWEEN HOURS OF COMMITTED TO WORK. NOT ONLY THAT, YOU WOULD ALSO FEEL THAT LIFE WITHOUT FACEBOOK IS TOTALLY WORTHLESS. BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCE, I STARTED OUT SIMPLE ON FACEBOOK, KEEP IN TOUCH WITH MY FRIENDS, CHECK NOTIFICATIONS AND MESSAGES AND THEN LOG OUT AFTER 5 MINUTES.BUT NOW, IT'S ALREADY A MIRACLE IF I GET OFF AFTER 15 MINUTES. I GET INVOLVED IN MY FRIENDS'S LIVES THAT I ALMOST NEGLECT THINGS IN MY PERSONAL LIFE. ALL MY HOMEWORKS WERE PILED UP BECAUSE I GET LOST ON FACEBOOK. I tell myself that I am only going to get on for five minutes; however, as soon as I look at the New's Feed, it's all downhill from there. I SEE MY FRIENDS NEW UPLOADED PHOTO ALBUM AND I MUST SEE ALL THE PHOTOS INSIDE IT. NEXT THING I KNOW 5 MINUTES BECOMES 30 MINUTES TO AN HOUR.I become so interested with my friends' activities that I don't consider the time I spend on Facebook. I could be doing my homework or something more productive, but instead I am consumed with Facebook to the point where I wonder if it is an addiction. BEFORE IT REACHES TO A POINT WHERE IT WILL LEAVE US IN A COLD SWEAT WHEN WE'RE LOGIN OUT ON FACEBOOK, WE SHOULD Get off the computer WHEN WE GET BORED, INSTEAD GO FOR A WALK, HIT THE GYM OR SEE A MOVIE. THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO DO IN LIFE THAN WATCH OUR HATCHING EGG GROW. REALLY!

Organizational change Essay

Organizational change is everywhere, and its pace is increasing. Its objectives or why it is important is because after certain years of existence and evaluations there are areas and aspects in the organization that needs to be improved. Taking for example its quality of work life, at a certain point it needs to be elevated from where it was before. It can happen that during hiring time people are designated to wrong positions. Organizational change will enable the company to put the right people in the right place, to make them better people as their efficiency and utility will be to the maximum. In this way the company can adjust salary scale on the basis of the performance or output of employees. In the same way also in terms of personnel management, it can be an occasion for studying more specific positions for possible promotion or for trimming down extra baggage. Competition is so tight and for a company to meet the demands of the market an organizational change is important to have a higher quality of productivity and to improve certain strategies as to be in tune with the times. Technology comes and after sometimes new innovations are on the line again, to remain in ones business beliefs and practices the company will be left behind. Organizational change is important as it seeks to enhance its beliefs, values, attitudes, also its structures so that the organization can better adapt to competitive actions, technological advances, and the past pace of other changes in the business world. Another necessity for organizational change is brought about by some failures in the past in the training and orientation of the employees. The attempt to bring them to work without being able to let them carry or support the vision and failure to let the employees see that they are the central element of the organization brings poor result. Organizational change therefore is crucial to allow interplay of structure, technology and people working in it, to result to a higher quality of work life, adaptivity, effectiveness, better marketing strategies, and excellent productivity.

Friday, August 16, 2019

No Laughing Matter: a Comprehensive Overview of Nitrous Oxide Abuse

No Laughing Matter: A Comprehensive Overview of Nitrous Oxide Abuse Ryan Ardelle Anatomy & Physiology, Period 3 Mr. Syvret Due: March 14, 2013 SUBSTANCE OVERVIEW The issue of inhalant abuse is a multifaceted problem, stretching across many communities and locales in the entirety of the United States. Inhalants as a class of drug vary widely, ranging from volatile solvents and aerosol propellants, to more broadly, any drug delivered by inhalation. Nitrous oxide straddles these categories, as it finds use not only a common dental analgesic, but also as a propellant, in such uses as whipping cream, automotive racing, and rocketry.As a result, nitrous oxide is found in many forms: medical-grade, food-grade, and industrial-grade, with various purities (Erowid). Commonly known as â€Å"laughing gas,† nitrous oxide wears many hats and goes by many names. For example, those who use nitrous oxide in automotive racing or rocketry applications know it as NOS (Alai). In this usage, nitrou s oxide is applied as a powerful oxidizer, allowing a vehicle’s engine to combust gasoline more rapidly, with an associated increase in horsepower (Winter). This form of nitrous oxide is packaged with many additives to not only improve its performance but also to deter its abuse (Erowid).When abused recreationally however, nitrous oxide finds many more colorful nicknames, such as â€Å"hippie crack† and â€Å"nangs† (Erowid). It is a true gas, existing as a gas under atmospheric pressure at room temperature, although it assumes a liquid state when compressed in a gas cylinder (Alai). Nitrous oxide is a strong oxidizing agent with a density of 1. 9kg/m 3, and it has a linear molecular form consisting of two atoms of nitrogen and one atom of oxygen (Winter). Nitrous oxide has no color and has a sweet odor, familiar to anybody who has tasted whipped cream (Erowid).Nitrous oxide is commercially manufactured by heating ammonium nitrate to 240C. Impurities such as amm onia and nitric acid in addition to excess water vapor are removed through an extensive gas scrubbing process. Food-grade nitrous oxide is often stored in white, 8-gram cylinders with a sealed metal puncture cap and packaged in boxes of 100 cylinders. Medical-grade nitrous oxide is stored in French-blue cylinders and is pressurized to ~4400 kPa at room temperature. The Pin Index Safety System configuration for nitrous oxide cylinders is 3-5 (Banks and Hardman). HISTORY OF NITROUS OXIDE ABUSEBritish chemist and Presbyterian minister Joseph Humphrey first synthesized nitrous oxide gas in England in 1772. Priestly later published his work in a 1776 journal, â€Å"Experiments and Observations on Different Kinds of Air† (Priestly). This publication proved extremely intriguing to the scientific community, leading to additional research and Humphry Davy’s influential 1800 book, â€Å"Researches, Chemical and Philosophical: Chiefly Concerning Nitrous Oxide. † Throughout the remainder of the nineteenth century, nitrous oxide’s usage as a recreational drug became increasingly popular.Traveling medical shows and carnivals featured affectionately named â€Å"Nitrous Oxide Capers,† in which attendees paid a small fee to inhale a minute’s worth of gas (Brecher). In 1844, Dr. Horace Wells, a British dentist, first demonstrated the use of nitrous oxide as a dental anesthetic. His initial testing on a patient at Harvard Medical School was unsuccessful, resulting in the public dismissal of nitrous oxide as a legitimate anesthetic. Nevertheless, nitrous oxide had a sudden resurgence in the dental community in the early 1860s, thanks to a series of dental institutions opened by lecturer and showman Gardener Quincy Colton.These practices utilized nitrous oxide as their primary form of dental anesthesia, henceforth standardizing its usage in the United States (Erowid). METHODS OF ADMINISTRATION Nitrous oxide is administered via inhalation o f compressed gas. Users most frequently obtain nitrous oxide from small, 8-gram canisters used to charge whipped cream dispensers. These canisters are readily available for purchase in most restaurant supply stores, on the Internet, and in head shops across the nation (Narconon).Once obtained, the contents of the canisters are released into empty whipped cream dispensers or into a balloon. A pressure release valve, or â€Å"cracker†, must be used in order to safely siphon the gas into a balloon (Erowid). These valves are also available for purchase online or in head shops (Narconon). Users with access to larger cylinders of nitrous oxide sometimes inhale the gas through a nasal hood or anesthesia mask, as used in dental surgery. However, this method is extremely dangerous without proper medical supervision, as users can inhale larger amounts of gas without access to fresh oxygen.As a result, the vast majority of nitrous oxide users prefer to use the aforementioned whipped cre am dispenser or balloon methods of inhalation (Wagner, Clark, Wesche, Doedens, and Lloyd). Whipped cream canisters and standard latex party balloons have a maximum capacity of approximately three 8-gram cylinders. Depending on personal preference, users can fill their vessel of choice with one, two, or three cylinders at a time (Creamright). Once the whipped cream dispenser or balloon is filled to the user’s liking, the gas inside is rapidly inhaled into the user’s lungs.The gas is often held in the lungs for twenty to sixty seconds to induce hypoxia and enhance the euphoric effects. The gas is then exhaled normally, and the user resumes regular respiration of room air (Erowid). IMMEDIATE EFFECTS Once inhaled, nitrous oxide is immediately absorbed through the lungs, dissolving directly into blood plasma. Within ten to fifteen seconds, nitrous oxide molecules replace oxygen molecules in the user’s lungs, thereby stimulating a euphoric sensation. Users then experi ence a brief â€Å"high† usually lasting between thirty seconds and two minutes with a standard dose (Erowid).Symptoms of nitrous oxide abuse include slurred speech, impaired coordination and balance, difficulty thinking clearly and processing information, unresponsiveness to verbal and painful stimuli, and occasionally loss of consciousness. Assuming the user returns to regularly breathing room air after the initial gas inhalation, these symptoms should subside within two minutes. The onset and peak effect timing of nitrous oxide is determined by the quantity consumed (Narconon). Nitrous oxide inhalation impacts the function of numerous physiologic systems.First, nitrous oxide decreases tidal volume and increases respiratory rate following activation of the central nervous system. Myocardial depression and an increase in central sympathetic outflow also occur following nitrous oxide inhalation. Inhaled nitrous oxide may produce the second gas effect, as nitrous oxide has a m ore rapid rate of diffusion across alveolar basement membranes than nitrogen gas. This rapid exit of nitrous oxide from the alveoli initiates a concentration of other alveolar gases, thereby accelerating the uptake of nitrous oxide into the bloodstream (Banks and Hardman).The primary method of nitrous oxide elimination is via the exhalation from the lungs. Nitrous oxide exits the body entirely unchanged in chemical formula and structure. Small amounts of nitrous oxide diffuse through the skin and the renal system, and anaerobic bacteria in the GI tract reduce any outstanding nitrous oxide into nitrogen gas (Erowid). ACTION ON THE BRAIN Nitrous oxide causes vasodilatation, resulting in an increase in cerebral blood flow and causing a corresponding increase in intracranial pressure (Erowid). Unlike most inhalants, nitrous oxide does not augment the effects of non-depolarizing neuromuscular blockers.Accordingly, nitrous oxide does not produce the same neuromuscular depression experienc ed with other inhalant abuse. Nitrous oxide activates opioid receptors in the periaqueductal grey of the midbrain, stimulating a release of norepinephrine and activation of 2-adrenoceptors in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord (Banks and Hardman). LONG TERM EFFECTS Risks involved in nitrous oxide inhalation revolve primarily around displacing oxygen. Although nitrous oxide does not bind with hemoglobin and instead dissolves into the blood, continued inhalation of pure nitrous oxide without supplemental oxygen can lead to hypoxia.Nitrous oxide-induced hypoxia is especially dangerous because users may not realize that they asphyxiating themselves – the impulse to breathe is triggered by a build-up of carbon dioxide, rather than a lack of oxygen (Banks and Hardman). Aside from hypoxia, there are relatively few physiologic dangers associated with nitrous oxide abuse. The most significant of these effects is Vitamin B depletion and deficiency. This can potentially lead to acute or chronic paresthesia, the sensation of â€Å"pins and needles,† and can inhibit the activity of methionine synthetase, thereby interfering with DNA synthesis in leukocytes and erythrocytes.However, Vitamin B and Folate supplements can prevent these side effects (Banks and Hardman). Nitrous oxide can also induce potentially dangerous airspace expansion in the body, such as pneumothorax or bowel obstruction, due to its rapid diffusion properties. Other potential side effects include respiratory depression, apnea, hypotension, cardiac arrhythmias, dizziness, neuropathy, nausea, vomiting, ileus, bone marrow depression, and malignant hyperthermia. Pregnant women should not use nitrous oxide, as the gas diffuses into the placenta and can cause fetal depression (Erowid).A few cases of frostbite on the vocal cords have been recorded following direct inhalation of nitrous oxide from a canister (Banks and Hardman). Also, nitrous oxide users are at risk of traumatic fall injuries such a s broken extremities and concussions due to impaired balance and possible loss of consciousness (Narconon). STATISTICS Nitrous oxide abuse is most common among younger adolescents aged 16-17, although abuse does occur among older individuals. A 2011 study from the University of Michigan showed that 13% of 8th grade students reported abusing inhalants at least once (National Institute on Drug Abuse).A similar study from the University of Virginia revealed that nitrous oxide was one of the top five substances abused by adolescent inhalant users (Narconon). According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the rates of inhalant abuse â€Å"increased steadily from 3. 4 percent at age 12 to 5. 3 percent at age 14, then declined to 3. 9 percent by age 17 from 2002-2006. † Data from this study also showed that â€Å"adolescents age 12 to 17 represented 48 percent of all substance abuse treatment admissions reporting inhalants. Among these adolescent admiss ions reporting inhalant abuse, 45% had a concurrent psychiatric disorder (SAMHSA). Erowid. com, a popular website that provides information on psychoactive drug use, conducted a series of online surveys in September 2009 in a study examining the possible presence of contaminants in nitrous oxide chargers. One of the surveys asked regular nitrous oxide users their preferred method of inhalation; 46% preferred using a cracker with a balloon, 34. 4% preferred inhaling directly from a whipped cream dispenser, 11. % percent preferred a whipped cream dispenser with a balloon, 1. 7 % preferred a cracker with a bag, 0. 7% preferred a whipped cream dispenser with a bag, and 5. 0% preferred other methods (Erowid). Nitrous oxide is not physiologically addictive, although certain individuals can use it compulsively. While psychological addiction is possible, the only symptom of withdrawal is the desire to inhale more nitrous oxide (Dartmouth College). Furthermore, statistics on inhalant-related deaths are difficulty to determine, as most deaths are severely under-reported.Most of the time, death is attributed to cardiac or respiratory failure subsequent to inhalant abuse. Studies from the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse between 1990 and 1993 revealed an average of 15 inhalant abuse-related deaths per year in the state of Texas. Of those deaths, 94% of victims were male, and 91% were Caucasian, on average (National Inhalant Prevention Coalition). Most recreational nitrous oxide-related deaths are caused by hypoxia when users affix masks without oxygen or place bags over their heads to concentrate the gas (Erowid). EFFORTS TO ADDRESS ABUSEThe topic of inhalants has been addressed by multiple small grass-roots efforts in local communities, but has also seen national discussion. Although no national legislation is in place restricting the sale, consumption, and distribution of nitrous oxide, several states and municipalities have passed laws in an attempt to curb u sage. Most of these laws specifically target underage consumption and sale of nitrous oxide to minors (Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics). For example, the Article 34 Title 7  § 3380. 5a-5b of the New York State Controlled Substances Act states: a) No person shall use nitrous oxide for purposes of causing intoxication, inebriation, excitement, stupefaction or the dulling of the brain or nervous system of himself or another. (b) No person shall sell any canister or other container of nitrous oxide unless granted an exemption pursuant to this subdivision. In no event shall any canister or other container of nitrous oxide be sold to a person under the age of twenty-one years. â€Å"Any person who violates any provision of subdivision four or five of this section shall be guilty of class A misdemeanor† (New York State Legislature).A number of non-governmental organizations such as the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition work to educate the public on the facts and dangers of inhalant abuse. These organizations frequently lobby on the state and federal level in attempt to pass more restrictive anti-inhalant abuse legislature. These preventative efforts have helped to several states integrate inhalant abuse education into primary and secondary school health education curricula (National Inhalant Prevention Coalition). Works Cited Alai, Nili N. â€Å"Nitrous Oxide Administration. † Ed. Rick Kulkarni.Medscape Reference, 30 Jan. 2012. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. . Banks, Amelia, and Jonathan G. Hardman. â€Å"Nitrous Oxide. † British Journal of Anaesthesia: Continuing Education in Anaethesia, Critical Care, and Pain (2005): 1-4. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. . Brecher, Edward M. â€Å"The Consumers Union Report on Licit and Illicit Drugs. † Consumer Reports Magazine 1972. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. . â€Å"Drug Facts: Inhalants. † Inhalants. National Institute on Drug Abuse, Sept. 2012. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. . Erowid Nitrous Oxide Vault. Erowid, 21 Feb. 2013. W eb. 4 Mar. 2013. . â€Å"Frequently Asked Questions. † Nitrous Oxide Whipped Cream Chargers. Creamright, 2013. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. . â€Å"Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas). † Health Promotion. Dartmouth College, 21 Jan. 2009. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. lt;http://www. dartmouth. edu/~healthed/groups/dapa/otherdrugs/no. html>. â€Å"Nitrous Oxide. † Nitrous Oxide. Narconon, 2013. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. . Priestly, Joseph. Experiments and Observations on Different Kinds of Air. Vol. 2. London: n. p. , 1776. 6 vols. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. . â€Å"Public Health. † Laws of New York. New York State Legislature, n. d. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. . â€Å"Statistics on Inhalants Show Young Teens at Risk. † SAMHSA News. SAMHSA, Mar. 2008. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. . â€Å"US Nitrous Oxide Laws. † State Laws Concerning Inhalation of Nitrous Oxide. Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics, May 2002. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. . â€Å"View Point. † National Inhalant Prevention Coalition Quarterly Newsl etter.National Inhalant Prevention Coalition, 2013. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. . Wagner, Scott A. , Michael A. Clark, David L. Wesche, David J. Doedens, and Alan W. Lloyd. â€Å"Asphyxial Deaths from the Recreational Use of Nitrous Oxide. † Journal of Forensic Sciences 37. 4 (1992): 1008-15. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. . â€Å"Winter, Mark. â€Å"Nitrous Oxide. † WebElements Periodic Table of the Elements. WebElements, n. d. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. .