Thursday, October 31, 2019

Policy Theory - Disparities and access to healthy food in the United Essay

Policy Theory - Disparities and access to healthy food in the United States - Essay Example also another assumption that political systems in any society are stratified into different groups with some people being the decision makers who directly make the laws and policies. There are others who are influential and play a part in advising the decision makers based on their interests and opinions. Lastly there are the rest of the people who are combined in one large group with minority power and influence despite their numbers. The role of the large group is to implement the decisions made by the decision makers as well as to vote for them otherwise they highly remain to be seen and not heard. In order for the disparity in access to healthy food in the country to be addressed properly and changed, those with the power have to be aware of the issue and should be influenced to use their power to make and amend policies surrounding the issue. In order for this to have, advocacy based on strategy is necessary to ensure that the elite use their power and wealth to target the issue directly. The first of these strategies is to develop relationship with the decision makers or the influential. The influential are bound to raise the issue to the decision makers making them take notice and pass policies (Barker, 2008). It is also important to form alliances with other important partners and especially in the economic sector. They can assist in decision making with the political elite or use their economic power to make the decisions happen in case of any resistance. This may not be easy and the population may need to shift their social norms and accommodate the elite if they are to win them over. In case the decision makers are the political leaders, they may be needed to increase political will towards the leader and strengthen their base of support. This is likely to meet their approval and they may readily make the policy changes. Lastly is to ensure to have evidence in form of research lined up to back the claim for a need for policy change or new policy

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Deviance and Social Control Experiments Essay Example for Free

Deviance and Social Control Experiments Essay An interesting assignment was assigned to us this week, one that I was excited and a little nervous to get started on. Our society is quite dependent on what is â€Å"normal. † Normal is following a routine, one that was set only by you and no others. Normal is to dress in what is considered socially acceptable, not garb that would throw you into a social outcast setting. But what happens when you defy these norms and start to step out of the box? At home my husband and I have established a routine that works well for us. Simple chores, such as, loading and unloading the dishwasher and laundry are split equally between us. Another routine that took shape shortly after we were married was where we sat in relation to the television. I sat on the long couch on the middle cushion; he sat on the love seat with the recliner. I have no idea where this tradition came from but I was excited to shake it up. I started sitting in the recliner. No words were spoken about it beforehand; it was just claimed as mine. This behavior merited a few odd looks and that was that. I suppose to think this behavior was odd is to know my husband. The most laid back person I have ever met, he shies away from confrontation on any level. I brought up the subject a few days into the experiment and he simply shrugged his shoulders and said that it was just a place to sit. We have since fallen back into our routine but now we both have an unspoken knowledge that it is indeed, just a place to sit. When it comes to fashion sense, mine falls under classy yet comfortable. I was excited to see that fashion could play a role in this assignment and actually chose to utilize the entire week. Being a stay at home wife means that there is hardly a dire need for me to leave the house. Errands can be accomplished in one day. However, I do enjoy the library and frequent it often, but instead of visiting in casually comfortable clothing I wore a party dress. Not just a party dress but one with ridiculous shoes, rain boots. I felt so silly at first but boldly embraced my fashion choice as the day wore on. Many patrons of the library stole glances but didn’t say much. I was feeling sad for myself, I was finding that standing out is much harder that I imagined but also admiration for those who do it daily and have no tribulations. As I was leaving a little girl came and grabbed my poufy skirt and told me she liked my dress and I found it to be an instant mood booster, one that made this little experiment well worth the challenge. My mother and I have a wonderful relationship, one that took years and years of teenage angst and stubbornness to overcome. These days, however, we are thick as thieves. I call her daily just to chat and she is a shoulder to cry on during hard times. She is, in no way, soft spoken but in her aging years has gotten to be much calmer. We rarely fight or argue anymore and when we do we simply get off the phone. One day I called her and talked to her in a loud voice. As I did I was having flashbacks to my teenage years where, it seemed, all I did was talk to her like this. She was instantly upset with me and asked why I was mad and yelling. I wasn’t yelling just talking loudly and since it happens so rarely anymore she mistook it for yelling. We have maybe a minute long talk and she hung up. I was severely upset and hated doing this experiment. I had no idea it would upset her so much and that, in turn, would upset me. I called her back immediately and informed her of the assignment. She thought it was hysterical. She laughed so hard but I feel it was more out of relive than anything else. Overall, this assignment was enjoyable. I learned how to step out of routine and that sometimes that is ok. It is not going to shake up life as much as would be expected. I learned that fashion is in the eye of the beholder. It is not something that should hold as much pressure as magazine emphasis and that sometimes a little girl knows all the right words to turn your day upside down. I learned how sensitive my mother can be and also, how sensitive that makes me. I learned not to take myself to seriously because nobody else does.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Implications Of The Policy Ineffectiveness Proposition Economics Essay

Implications Of The Policy Ineffectiveness Proposition Economics Essay The Phillips Curve states that inflation depends on expected inflation, cyclical unemployment and supply shocks. It is given by the following equation: The inflation expectations can be either adaptive or rational. Early New Classical Economics was largely based the assumption of adaptive expectations, which assumes that people form their expectations of future inflation based on recently observed inflation. This assumption implies that in absence of cyclical unemployment or supply shocks, inflation will continue indefinitely at its current rate. It also implies that past inflation influences the current wages and prices that people set. If we suppose that the stock of money in the economy increases, the adjustment towards the long run equilibrium takes time. In each period that agents find their expectations of inflation to be wrong a certain proportion of their forecasting error would be incorporated into expectations. This means that the long run equilibrium in the economy would only be reached asymptotically. The government would then be able to maintain employment above its natural level. Rational Expectations: However, many economists disagree with the assumption of adaptive expectations. New Classical Theory replaced the assumption of adaptive expectations with that of rational expectations. Under this assumption, anticipated monetary policy would have no effect on economic activity. However, stochastic shocks to the economy could have short run effects on economic activity. This theory known as the Policy Ineffectiveness Proposition was proposed in 1976 by Thomas J. Sargent and Neil Wallace. According to the proposition monetary authorities cannot affect the output if the changes are anticipated. Under this proposition, the only way monetary authorities can affect the real economy is by making monetary policy less predictable. However, this would increase the variability of output around its natural rate and is hence not a desirable policy aim. Policy Ineffectiveness Proposition and the Sacrifice Ratio: An important implication of the Policy Ineffectiveness Proposition is that the monetary authorities can reduce inflation without any output or employment cost. If policymakers announce a reduction in money growth, rational agents will lower their inflation expectations proportionately. This is known as the Costless Disinflation Proposition. This in turn implies that the sacrifice ratio, which is basically the loss in output for a reduction in inflation by one percentage point, should be equal to zero. Empirical Evidence: Estimates of the cost of disinflation vary widely. These estimates measured in terms of the sacrifice ratio have extreme values. While some economists argue that a sound monetary policy can reduce inflation without any costs, others estimate that sometimes the sacrifice ratio may have very high values. Sargent (1982) examined the measures that brought extreme inflation under control in several European countries in the 1920s including Austria, Hungary, Germany, and Poland. According to him, in each case the inflation stopped abruptly rather than gradually. He studied these countries because of the dramatic change in their fiscal policy regime, which in each instance was associated with the end of a hyperinflation. He also noted the rapid rise in the high-powered money supply in the months and years after the rapid inflation had ended. For Austria he suggested that currency stabilization was achieved very suddenly, and with a cost in increased unemployment and foregone output that was comparatively minor. From the data for Hungary, he inferred that immediately after the stabilization, unemployment was not any higher than it was one or two years later. He posited that this could be because the stabilization process had little adverse effect on unemployment. For Poland, he noted that the stabilization of the price level in January 1924 was accompanied by an abrupt rise in the number of unemployed. Another rise occurred in July of 1924. He argued that while the figures indicated substantial unemployment in late 1924, unemployment was not an order of magnitude worse than before the stabilization. The Polish zloty depreciated internationally from late 1925 onward but stabilized in autumn of 1926 at around 72% of its level of January 1924. At the same time, the domestic price level stabilized at about 50% above its level of January 1924. The threatened renewal of inflation has been attributed to the governments premature relaxation of exchange controls and the tendency of the central bank to make private loans at insufficient interest rates. The stabilization of the German mark was accompanied by increases in output and employment and decreases in unemployment. While 1924 was not a good year for German business, it was much better than 1923. From the figures, he couldnt find much convincing evidence of a favourable trade-off between inflation and output, since the year of spectacular inflation, 1923 was a very bad year for employment and physical production. According to the data, there was an evident absence of a trade-off between inflation and real output. However he suggested that the inflation and the associated reduction in real rates of return to high powered money and other government debt were accompanied by real over-investment in many kinds of capital goods. He concluded his findings by stating that the essential measures that ended hyperinflation in each of Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Poland were, first, the creation of an independent central bank that was legally committed to refuse the governments demand for additional unsecured credit and, second, a simultaneous alteration in the fiscal policy regime. These measures had the effect of binding the government to place its debt with private parties and foreign governments which would value that debt according to whether it was backed by sufficiently large prospective taxes relative to public expenditures. In each case that he studied, once it became widely understood that the government would not rely on the central bank for its finances, the inflation terminated and the exchanges stabilized. He further saw that it was not simply the increasing quantity of central bank notes that caused the hyperinflation, since in each case the note circulation continued to grow rapidly after the exc hange rate and price level had been stabilized. According his findings for the four countries, one may conclude that his studies supported the costless disinflation proposition. However there have been other studies that do not support this proposition. In his paper What determines the sacrifice ratio?, Laurence Ball investigated à ´Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Ã‚  Considers several OECD countries. à ´Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Ã‚  Finds that the cost of ending moderate inflations can be high. Sacrifice ratio = cumulative output lost due to the permanent reduction in the inflation rate associated with the disinflationary policy. à ´Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Ã‚  Average sacrifice ratio = 0.77%: each p.p. reduction in inflation is associated with a 0.77 p.p. loss of output. à ´Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Ã‚  Sacrifice ratio larger when disinflation slower, and in countries with greater nominal wage rigidity. à ´Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Ã‚  Does not support costless disinflation proposition The New Keynesian Stanley Fischer (1977) applied the insights of Franco Modigliani to the model employed by Sargent and Wallace. Fischer therefore introduced the assumption that workers sign nominal wage contracts that last for more than one period, wages are sticky. The outcome is that government policy can be fully effective since although workers rationally expect the outcome of a change in policy, they are unable to respond to it as they are locked into expectations formed when they signed their wage contract. It is not only possible for government policy to be used effectively but its use is also desirable. The government is able respond to random shocks to the economy to which agents are unable to react, and so stabilise output and employment. Since it was possible to incorporate the rational expectations hypothesis into macroeconomic models whilst avoiding the stark conclusions that Sargent and Wallace reached, the policy ineffectiveness proposition has had less of a lasting impact on macroeconomic reality than first may have been expected. This applies much more generally. Any consistent set of government policies will be learned and anticipated by a population with Rational Expectations. Since they are anticipated, they will not come as a surprise. Instead, people will shift their short-run aggregate supply curves in such a way that production will be back at the NAIRGDP and unemployment at the NAIRU. If the policies are designed to move the economy away from the NAIRGDP, then they will be ineffective regardless what mix of fiscal and monetary policies they are. This leads to the general Policy Ineffectiveness Proposition. Policy Ineffectiveness Proposition Any consistent government policies designed to influence the economy to a level of production other than the NAIRGDP will be ineffective if the population have rational expectations The essential measures that ended hyperinflation in each of Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Poland were, first, the creation of an independent central bank that was legally committed to refuse the governments demand for additional unsecured credit and, second, a simultaneous alteration in the fiscal policy regime.37 These measures were interrelated and coordinated. They had the effect of binding the government to place its debt with private parties and foreign governments which would value that debt according to whether it was backed by sufficiently large prospective taxes relative to public expenditures. In each case that we have studied, once it became widely understood that the government would not rely on the central bank for its finances, the inflation terminated and the exchanges stabilized. We have further seen that it was not simply the increasing quantity of central bank notes that caused the hyperinflation, since in each case the note circulation continued to grow rapidly after the exchange rate and price level had been stabilized. Rather, it was the growth of fiat currency which was unbacked, or backed only by government bills, which there never was a prospect to retire through taxation. The changes that ended the hyperinflations were not isolated restrictive actions within a given set of rules of the game or general policy. Earlier attempts to stabilize the exchanges in Hungary under Hegedus,38 and also in Germany, failed precisely because they did not change the rules of the game under which fiscal policy had to be conducted.39 In discussing this subject with various people, I have encountered the view that the events described here are so extreme and bizarre that they do not bear on the subject of inflation in the contemporary United States. On the contrary, it is precisely because the events were so extreme that they are relevant. The four incidents we have studied are akin to laboratory experiments in which the elemental forces that cause and can be used to stop inflation are easiest to spot. I believe that these incidents are full of lessons about our own, less drastic predicament with inflation, if only we interpret them correctly. Costless immediate disinflation is not possible in an economy with long- term labor contracts. This paper sets out a simple contracting model of wage and output determination and uses it to calculate sacrifice ratios for a disinflation program, under the assumption that announced policy changes are immediately believed. Under this assumption disinflation with a structure of labor contracts like those of the United States would be less costly than typically estimated. The model is then modified to allow for the slow adjustment of expectations of policy to actual policy; sacrifice ratios then approach the ranges typically estimated. The sacrifice ratio for the current disinflation is calculated in the last section: the current disinflation was somewhat more rapid and less costly than previous estimates suggested. The calculated sacrifice ratio is consistent with the predictions of the simple contracting model. Inflationary expectations and aggregate demand pressure are two important variables that influence inflation. It is recognized that reducing inflation through contractionary demand policies can involve significant reductions in output and employment relative to potential output. The empirical macroeconomics literature is replete with estimates of the socalled sacrifice ratio, the percentage cumulative loss of output due to a 1 percent reduction in inflation. It is well known that inflationary expectations play a significant role in any disinflation program. If inflationary expectations are adaptive (backward-looking), wage contracts would be set accordingly. If inflation drops unexpectedly, real wages rise increasing employment costs for employers. Employers would then cut back employment and production disrupting economic activity. If expectations are formed rationally (forward2 looking), any momentum in inflation must be due to the underlying macroeconomic policies. Sargent (1982) contends that the seeming inflationoutput trade-off disappears when one adopts the rational expectations framework. The staggered wage-setting literature provides evidence that even if expectations are formed rationally, wage and price determination will have backward-looking and forward looking elements. The backwardlooking element reflects last years contracts on this years prices whereas the forward-looking element reflects next years contracts on this years prices. Taylor (1998) presents a detailed account of the staggered wage and price setting literature, and the exercise will not be pursued here. Calvo (1983) shows that in a world of stochastic contract length, the costless disinflation result extends to a world of staggered wage contracts with forward-looking expectations. Stopping inflation is then a matter of a resolute commitment on part of the government to a credible disinflation program. In this literature, the costless disinflation result extends to a world of staggered wage contracts with forward-looking expectations. Stopping inflation is then a matter of a resolute commitment on the part of the government to a credible disinflation program. It is likely that in an economy there are both forward- and backwardlooking elements in inflationary expectations. Chadha, Masson, and Meredith (1992) (henceforth CMM), provide a unified framework to test for expectations formation in a single specification. CMM use a Phillips curve framework to consider two benchmark cases: a Phelps-Friedman adaptive expectations model which places a weight of unity on past inflation (complete inflation stickiness) and a rational staggered contracts model based on Calvo (1983) that places a weight of unity on expected inflation (inflation is independent of past inflation). These two extremes are nested in one specification where current inflation is a weighted average of past and expected future inflation.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Thomas Mores Utopia as a Social Model Essays -- Thomas More Utopia

Thomas More's Utopia as a Social Model   Ã‚  Ã‚  In his famous work Utopia, Sir Thomas More describes the society and culture of an imaginary island on which all social ills have been cured. As in Plato's Republic, a work from which More drew while writing Utopia, More's work presents his ideas through a dialogue between two characters, Raphael Hythloday and More himself. Hythloday is a fictional character who describes his recent voyage to the paradisal island of Utopia. Throughout the work, Hythloday describes the laws, customs, system of government, and way of life that exist in Utopia to an incredulous and somewhat condescending More.    Throughout the work, Hythloday presents a society organized to overcome the flaws of human nature. This society has been carefully thought out by More -- as the author of the work -- to help avoid the problems associated with human nature. Individual human appetites are controlled and balanced against the needs of the community as a whole. In other words, More attempts to describe a society in which the seven deadly sins are counterbalanced by other motivations set up by the government and society as a whole.    More seems to think that the seven deadly sins will be fairly easy to overcome. Pride, for instance, is counterbalanced in several ways in his social system. For instance, he makes sure that all people wear the same clothing, except that the different genders wear different styles, as do married and unmarried people. More also makes individuals fairly interchangeable within the social system -- one carpenter, for instance, seems to be more or less like another to him, and can find work anywhere that carpenters are needed. He also says that the Utopians encourage their ci... ...en consumed by lust for power due to the way in which he was raised, others in his society would have been. No society can control the motivations of all individuals involved to such a degree as to completely eliminate power-lust in all of its members.    More's Utopia, then, presents a nice theory, but one too abstract, too Platonic, too rationalistic, and with too little understanding of real human motivations to be workable. However, it is hardly a useless or worthless work -- it contains many profound psychological insights, quite a bit of humor, and many very good points. I doubt that it is workable as a complete social system, however.    Works Cited: More, Sir Thomas. Utopia. New York: Washington Square Press, 1965. Marlowe, Christopher. The Tragedy of Doctor Faustus. Ed. Louis B. Wright. New York: Washington Square Press, 1959.   

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Should the Chinese Government Ban the Internet Censorship?

Qing Yuan ESL114 Section G Ryan Salvador May 3, 2012 Should the Chinese government ban the internet censorship? Since the birth of internet, people have been bombarded with different kind of information every day. Internet is a network that connects the data of different private computer networks and organizational computer groups from people or organizations around the world (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). As a result, people are looking forward to having access to any kind of websites of their interest, and receiving the latest information about what is happening around their countries or around the world.However, things cannot be as perfect as expected. It is noticed by many people that many countries have set barriers to the internet in their own areas. China, which has the largest population of web users among the world, has created the most advanced surveillance system for internet monitoring (Rohde, 2011). The system is known as â€Å"Great Firewall†Ã¢â‚¬â€also called â €Å"the Golden Shield Project†, and is designed to sift out pornography and commercial frauds, but simultaneously blocks certain search terms for the government’s own purposes (McDonald, 2012).However, nobody is satisfied to be a frog in a well which can only perceive scenario above the wellhead but nothing beyond. So the internet censorship has provoked a fierce controversy in the society. Many people including some groups of experts argue for humans’ equal rights to know true and latest resources of information around them. The Chinese government should no longer conduct their censorship program because every person has the right and freedom to know what is going on around them.If the Chinese government insists on this project, people would be trapped in a vicious cycle because the continuity of information blocks would affect the next generation which doubles its effect on people’s ignorance and it would do nothing but fool its own people. First, in Ch ina, people’s words online are carefully inspected which means people do not have the freedom to say what they want, but rather only what are permitted by the Chinese government.According to a study by the Language Technologies Institute at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, more than 16 percent of all messages which are posted by web users in China are considered â€Å"unqualified† and get deleted (McDonald, 2012). The Chinese government explained to the media that the â€Å"Great Firewall† sifted out words or names that it evaluates as politically odorous. However, due to the matter of fact, it is not that reasonable, but rather private contains emotions of the government.For example, Sina Weibo, a most popular micro blogging site in China whose users surpassed 300 million, is required to inspect those bloggers whose have more than 100,000 followers (McDonald, 2012). If there are any posts that disobey the government’s rules must be deleted withi n five minutes. â€Å"295 terms with a high probability of being censored,† said the Carnegie Mellon team. So words like â€Å"Tibet†, â€Å"Dalai Lama†, â€Å"Ai Weiwei† (outspoken artist), â€Å"Liu Xiaobo† (imprisoned Nobel laureate), and even â€Å"Egypt†, â€Å"Jon Huntsman† (the former American ambassador), and â€Å"Playboy† (the magazine), etc. are banned (McDonald, 2012).As a result, some people have invented some subversive lexicons to refer to the words prohibited such as using â€Å"grass-mud horse† to replace a four-letter word of obscenity, using â€Å"river crab† to replace â€Å"harmony† which is also banned because it was used to refer to websites deletion by the government, and using phrase â€Å"Buying soy sauce† to indicate someone who is involved in scandals like embezzlement and bribery. The phrase â€Å"Buying soy sauce† came from the mouth of a government official who w as involved in a political scandal and wanted to show his innocence through the TV interview (McDonald, 2012).So if the government insists on such obvious and self-deceiving procedures, people would finally uncover the truth and thus lose trust in the government because many insightful people like who use VPN to â€Å"scale the wall (also a subversive word which means to browse foreign websites)† and have known some truth of some political issues or more people who are studying abroad where has no such internet-defending programs know the truth as well. Maybe this kind of methods worked before, but it would not work anymore as people are familiar and proficient in computer science.If the government stops their unacceptable programs right now, the status of the society will be much more stable, or the controversial would be more serious and finally trigger something unimaginable. Second, the Chinese government censors some websites which are considered vicious and unbeneficial to them, so they block websites just because they are not in government’s whitelist. In 2009, The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology posted new regulations on domain management institutions and internet services providers because them want to have a deeper control over domain name registration (Hornby and Le, 2009).The Chinese government explained this is beneficial for an on-going anti-pornography program by creating a list of so called â€Å"whitelist. † However, this policy did not mention the treatment of overseas websites. In fact, foreign sites that have not registered could also be blocked such as Google's YouTube, Twitter, Flickr and Facebook. The reason is these sites are thought politically sensitive and containing unreasonable schemes by the Chinese government (Hornby and Le, 2009).However, as many web users who used VPN to get access to foreign websites have already known that the websites such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter are highly reco gnized in the U. S. Many popular stars like NBA players often update their newest progress in preparing for the play-off on Twitter, which is often referred to as a trustworthy resource by sports channels like ABC and ESPN. Also, YouTube is even a normal educational tool in some world-famous universities as its sources are updated frequently and carefully (Hornby and Le, 2009).Many of the videos like the videos on cultural diversities and new-born social phenomena etc. are authoritative. They are often in the forms of a real interview with famous experts in the places where the issues happened like the case of Trayvon Martin, people can find many videos on YouTube which are interviews hold by some sociologists. As a result, blocking websites that the Chinese government considered vicious is detrimental to people’s development in learning advanced thoughts and real educational resources from foreign countries some of which are recognized as much more better in high-level educa tion than that of China.If the government continues to do things arbitrarily like this, people would lose trust in their government because they do have the ability to consider what kind of information is true and what kind of information is of plot. In conclusion, the Chinese government should stop their internet censorship because it really affects people’s common lives both in freedom of communication and education. The importance of relieve the inspection on internet is obvious and necessary. If the Chinese government moderates the censorship, people can obtain easier access to foreign resources.As people’s educational levels are higher and higher along with the rapidly-developing status of China’s economy, people are getting more insightful in absorbing more advanced technologies and methods. For instance, teachers can use foreign websites such as YouTube which has huge amount of authoritative resources in college education. Many people have realized that s tudents in China’s colleges know little about realities about some big issues around the world and also have big obstacles in English skills which are not beneficial to students’ development.Also, if students get such progress in education, there will be more opportunities for them to get jobs abroad which can not only enhance Chinese people’s skills in international business but also relieve the pressure in competition for jobs. Finally, stopping the internet censorship helps the Chinese government to win people’s trust and is also educationally, economically beneficial to a large number of Chinese people. References: Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (n. d. ). Internet. Retrieved from http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/internet Hornby L. and Le, Y. 2009, December 22). China to require internet domain name registration. Retrieved from http://www. reuters. com/article/2009/12/22/us-china-internet-idUSTRE5BL19620091222 McDonald, M. (2012, March 13). Wat ch your language! (in china, they really do). New York Times. Retrieved from http://rendezvous. blogs. nytimes. com/2012/03/13/watch-your-language-and-in-china-they-do/? ref=internetcensorship Rohde, D. (2011, November 18). China’s newest export: Internet censorship. Retrieved from http://blogs. reuters. com/david-rohde/2011/11/17/chinas-newest-export-internet-censorship/

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

the Saatchi Gallery

As an art gallery that exists both in actuality as well as virtually, the Saatchi Gallery is second to none in the volume and quality of work housed on its website and in its halls. In fact, Saatchi represents the standard against which all other galleries are measured, and indeed may itself be the definitive source for accessing contemporary art of all styles. The gallery uses several methods to publish the creative work of the thousands of artists that utilise its services as a means of promoting themselves. In its online form, a wide variety of rooms exist in which artists may not only post samples of their work, but also interact with the other artists and with the art lovers that frequent its cyber-halls. Such rooms as the Stuart Room, provide a place for students of the visual arts to display their own work and form networks to promote and discuss art. The Crits Room allows other artists the opportunity to critique the works placed there on display, while a room exists in which street artists have the freedom to create and display their works without prejudice, but rather with acclaim. Other resources on the site also allow for the actual creation of artistic pieces, such as the availability of an online studio. In addition to this, the gallery (both London- and online-based) hosts a wide variety of exhibitions based on important historical or cultural themes. It includes culture-based themes such as â€Å"USA Today: New American Art,† â€Å"Germania: New Art from Germany,† and â€Å"New Britannia. † Exhibitions are also held under such themes as â€Å"The Power of Paper† and â€Å"Shape of Things to Come† in order to underscore the strength of these respective artistic mediums. The Saatchi Gallery therefore offers more than a portal to viewing art: it is a means of creating, exploring, and understanding current art as well as shaping its direction for the future. Showdown The Saatchi Gallery hosts its artist â€Å"Showdown† as a means of promoting and rewarding artists that demonstrate themselves as possessing extraordinary talent. It is also a means of getting popular opinion on the works of these up-and-coming artists. Over a one-week period, Saatchi accepts one piece of art work from each artist that chooses to enter the contest. Submissions are accepted between 9:00 a. m. on Monday until 6:00 p. m. on the following Sunday. Voting then begins, and each visitor to the site is allowed to rate the quality of each piece of work submitted. Visitors may vote on as many pieces as they wish, but are allotted only one vote for each individual piece. They indicate their preference for a particular work by rating it on a scale of one (1) to ten (10). After the scores are tallied, a duel begins between the two artists who have attained the highest scores. These two leaders vie for a chance to enter the final showdown, where the winners of twelve such rounds go head to head for the final prize of ?1000 for the winner and ?750 for the runner up. Entrance into this event on the Saatchi website is free and easy, and it holds the promise of furthering the careers of not just the talented winners but also of the wide variety of talented entrants whose works will be seen by Saatchi’s large viewing audience. The competition is also a means of exposing young artists to the triumphs and pitfalls that are likely to attend them throughout their entire artistic career. Therefore, artists not only get the chance to benefit monetarily, but also the chance to develop as a professional businessperson. Art Fair The Saatchi Gallery acts as a means of informing the public about the plethora of art events that take place annually around the globe. Within its pages, it is possible to find the profiles of those organisations that host and promote art shows in the various cities, regions, and countries of the world. Local, regional and international events are promoted on the site daily, with images, descriptions, and other critical information that enables the selective art lover to determine the likelihood of the event to suit his/her preferences. Saatchi welcomes all event hosts to utilise this resource as a means of getting traffic to their art shows or fairs, as well as to their website. In fact, this resource is offered free of charge to such art fair event planners, and they are welcome to use as many pages as necessary to aptly describe their fair and reach out to their intended audience. Upon choosing a username and password, event hosts are able to create a profile of their event that includes various dimensions. In addition to venue, hours, tickets/prices, directions and exhibitor profiles, space is granted for the inclusion of information about sponsors and also to upload pictures, images, or other graphics that will enhance the appeal of the event in the eyes of the public. Furthermore, the Saatchi gallery supports the editing of such event profiles so that pertinent information regarding the fair may be added at any time after the initial posting. This resource’s value has already been discovered by hundreds of artistic organisations, and the benefits gained by their use of the service have been incalculable. With this service, Saatchi offers next-generation methods of on-demand promotion to meet the requirements of 21st century art aficionados. Photographers The breadth and scope of the Saatchi Gallery’s influence in the world of art can be gauged by the variety of artistic genres to which it extends its facility. Saatchi extends all courtesies granted to artists also to a large number of photographers, and caters especially to those photo-artists who have gone unrecognised despite having produced consistently solid and meritorious work throughout their careers. The gallery bars no photographer on grounds of his/her cultural, national or ethnic background. Rather, cultural diversity is encouraged and fostered in the international artistic forum that the Saatchi Gallery has become. Photographers are welcome to upload their work to the website after completing a short registration process. Images should be uploaded as jpg files of a size no greater than 2 megabytes. Upon uploading, their work becomes viewable by the millions of viewers already frequenting the site, and accessible to the hundreds of art-oriented websites that link to Saatchi Online. For any photographer, this resource is invaluable in its ability to vivify their career as an artist. All are given the freedom to create their own profiles online and upload up to eight (8) pieces that they believe are most representative of their artistic talent and creative posture. Photographers are also allowed the chance to make contact with those interested in their work, and this group may range from admirers to potential buyers. The gallery also enhances the networking capabilities of these photographers with respect both to their work and to the work of others in their field. It allows them the chance to converse with photographers and critics alike as a means of gaining inspiration or of improving the quality of their future work. Saatchi Online is therefore an indispensable tool for the improvement of artistic photography careers on an international scale.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Controversial Nature Of The Subject Of Sufism Religion Essay Essay Example

Controversial Nature Of The Subject Of Sufism Religion Essay Essay Example Controversial Nature Of The Subject Of Sufism Religion Essay Essay Controversial Nature Of The Subject Of Sufism Religion Essay Essay 118, 119, 120 Fazlur Rahman, Islam ( London: Weidenfeld and Nicholson, 1966 ) , 131, 148,149 Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Sufi Essays ( London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd. , 1972 ) , 11-12, 15, 137, 138, 139, 147, 149 Tara Charan Rastogi, Islamic Mysticism Sufism ( New Delhi: Sterling Publishers Private Ltd. , 1982 ) , 1.. Titus Burckhardt, An Introduction to Sufism ( Wellingborough: The Aquarian Press, 1990 ) , 15, 16 In Arabic Inna liLlahi wa-inna ilayhi raji un. Martin Lings, What Is Sufism? ( London: George Allen A ; Unwin Ltd. , 1975 ) , 28,32 Haqiqa refers to the inner Truth or inner Reality that Sufis believe is at the bosom of Islamic disclosure. William Stoddart, Sufism The Mystical Doctrines and Methods of Islam ( New York: Paragon House Publishers, 1986 ) , 41, 66,67,83,74 Eisegesis, or the pattern of construing intending into a transition, bears a dramatic resemblance to Sufi methods of Quranic reading. Orthodox Muslims opposed to Sufism argue that Sufi readings are so eisegesis in other words the Sufis are imputing an inner significance which the poetries themselves do non incorporate. Fazlur Rahman in his work Islam provinces, the Sufis, in order to warrant their base, formulated ( Internet Explorer. verbally invented ) statements, sometimes rather notional and historically wholly fabricated, which they attributed to the Prophet. Rahman, 132,133,134.. J. Spencer Trimingham, The Sufi Orders in Islam ( Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1971 ) , 246.. Rahman, 140. Other writers besides agree with Rahman s place on this point. A.J. Arberry argues that Abu Hamid al-Ghazali brought about Sufism s rapprochement and assimilation with Orthodox Sunni divinity and spiritual jurisprudence, through a figure of Hagiographas consolidated in the Ihya ulum al-din, which was written between 1099 and 1102 A.D. A.J. Arberry, Sufism An History of the Mystics of Islam ( London: George Allen A ; Unwin Ltd. , 1950 ) , 74. . Ibn al-Arabi ( 1165-1240 A.D. ) was one of the great Sufi Masterss of all clip and is referred to as The Greatest Shaikh ( al-Shaykh al-Akbar ) . Muslim sentiment has ever been split about Ibn al-Arabi: for some he is a great heretic ; for others, a great saint. Ian Richard Netton, A Popular Dictionary of Islam ( London: Curzon Press, 1992 ) , 110.. Elliot Miller, Sufis The Mystical Muslims, Forward ( Spring/Summer 1986 ) , 17-23.. Martin Lings, What is Sufism? ( London: George Allen A ; Unwin Ltd. , 1975 ) , 84, 85, 99.. Dara Shikoh ( besides spelled Shukuh ) was a Sufi of the Qadiriyyah order and a devout Muslim harmonizing to Seyyed Hossein Nasr. Shukuh believed the Upanishads to be the Hidden Books to which the Quran refers ( lvi. 77-80 ) and wrote that they contain the kernel of integrity and they are secrets which have to be kept concealed. Nasr states that it is adequate to read Shukuh s interlingual rendition of any of the Upanishads to recognize that he was non merely interpreting words into Iranian but besides thoughts into the model of Sufism. However, as usual Nasr follows up with a statement denying that this is an effort to syncretise, one time once more uncovering a blazing neglect for the grounds presented, non to advert a complete deficiency of logical idea. The members of one popular order ( the Mawlawiyya ) begun by Jalal ad-Din Rumi ( d. 1273 ) are the beginning of the Western term whirling dervishes John Alden Williams, ed. , Islam ( New York: George Brazillier, 1962 ) , 155-156.. Idries Shah, Reflections Fabrications in the Sufi Tradition ( Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1972 ) , 1. ; Miller, 20..

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Differences Between the Antifederalists and Federalists essays

Differences Between the Antifederalists and Federalists essays The Articles of Confederation stirred up many problems between the states. The antifederalists, or people who opposed a strong federal government, came into quarrel with the federalists, who favored a strong federal government. The federalists differ from the anti-federalists in terms of social, economic, and political expression. Many differences arose between the federalists and the antifederalists concerning social issues. First of all, the antifederalists were from the poorer classes, while the federalists were from higher, more aristocratic classes. Antifederalists mainly consisted of uneducated people who made up the working class. Federalists, however, were aristocratic people who were cultured and well educated. Also, many popular figures were in conflict with one another, due to their antifederalist or federalist beliefs. Patrick Henry, a famous patriot and lawyer, provided support for the antifederalists. Being from Virginia, the largest and most populous of the states, Patrick Henry was a powerful figure. On the other hand, George Washington, James Madison, and John Marshall were all in support of the federalist side. James Madison, along with John Jay and Alexander Hamilton, wrote The Federalist, a group of propaganda essays written for the New York newspapers. Besides social differences, economic differences also widened the gap between the antifederalists and the federalists. The poor antifederalists were in conflict with the rich federalists. Antifederalists, for instance, consisted of people who were in debt. The debtors feared a strong central government would make they pay off their debts. Also, antifederalists also did not want the states to establish laws regarding tariffs and navigation. Antifederalists were poor; therefore, they created worthless money to pay off their debts. On the other hand, the federalists were wealthy people who were of noble birth. They immensely disagreed with the antifederalist act...

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Advantages Of The Atomic Bomb History Essay

Advantages Of The Atomic Bomb History Essay First, the war was brought to a quick end by using the atomic bomb on Japan. â€Å"A feeling of vindication and a desire to end the war strengthened the resolve of the United States to quickly and decisively conclude it.† (Atomic Bomb-Truman Press Release-August 6, 1945) The bombing of Pearl Harbor was still fresh in many American minds. Many Americans wanted to end the war. The Japanese resolve to fight was not very high during these following months. Their losses at Iwo Jima and Okinawa were extraordinary. Their navy and air force had been destroyed by America’s B-29s. This was part of the America’s air campaign to make bombing runs on military targets in Japan. Therefore, United States Pacific theater military leaders authorized the bombing of major cities. Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Kobe were all bombed. Hundreds of thousands of civilians died from these air strikes. The Japanese did keep their resolve even though many innocent people were dying. â€Å"Yet, Japanese resolve stayed strong and the idea of a bloody â€Å"house to house† invasion of the Japanese mainland would produce thousands more American and Allied casualties.† (Atomic Bomb-Truman Press Release-August 6, 1945) They thought their casualties would be much less than Americas and the ally’s casualties if they were to invade. Japan was relying more on numbers than the actual battle performance of a regular soldier. Japan believed they can use large amounts of civilians against well trained American and allied soldiers. In Potsdam of July 1945, the allies declared that Japanese must unconditionally surrender. Japan leaders rejected the declaration because they did not want to surrender by these terms. The President authorized the use of the atomic bomb after August 3, 1945. The President Truman rather have a country shell shock than have it being defiant. He wanted to end the war by destroying Japan’s cities and causing fear. Normal bombs canâ€⠄¢t achieve a quicker victory than atomic bombs because atomic bombs have a wider blast radius and power. He considered the atomic bomb as a weapon and he had no doubts that it should be used. Therefore, Hiroshima was bombed because it was the headquarters of the Fifth Division and the 2nd General Army. Hiroshima was a communication center, an assembly area for troops, a storage point, and had several military factories. 90 percent of the city’s buildings were damaged by the atomic bomb. Later, Nagasaki was bombed because the city was known to produce ordnance, ships, military equipment, and other war material. A faction called, â€Å"one condition† was lead by Togo who seized the bombing as a justification to surrender. Hisatsune Sakomizo, the chief cabinet secretary in 1945, called the bombing â€Å"a golden opportunity given by heaven to end the war.† (Debate: Bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki) No amount of courage, skill, and fearless combat could help Japan ov erpower the atomic bomb. The emperor was looking for peace and need a good reason do so because some of his generals wanted to continue this war. The threat of the Soviet Union joining the war was not enough to convince the generals, but the atomic bomb was. On August 14, the Japanese government accepted the American terms for surrender. The atomic bombs quickly persuaded Japan to surrender because of the overwhelming power and fear.

Friday, October 18, 2019

Supreme court decisions and discussions on the exclusionary rule Research Paper

Supreme court decisions and discussions on the exclusionary rule - Research Paper Example The exclusionary rule was initiated from the Weeks v. United States 232 U.S. 383, 34 S. Ct. 341, 58 L. Ed. 652 (1914) case where a Federal agent had carried out a search without warrant in order to collect proof of gambling in Freemont Weeks’ residence. The evidence proved Weeks guilty but since the search was illegal or warrantless, conviction of the accused was repealed. Weeks was found guilty of fraudulent mail related activities and his house was thoroughly searched and documents seized by the Federal and local officials. Before this case the validity of evidence was judged by its truthfulness. There were two major reasons given for this law. First, it involved the deterrence rationale which specified that ‘the rule was necessary to deter law enforcement personnel from violating the Fourth Amendment or to â€Å"police the police†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Hensely and Snook, 2006, p.160). The second reason concerned due process argument or the fairness rationale. This included that the federal government cannot attain convictions with the help of lawless actions. Thus any evidence collected unconstitutionally would not hold for a case even if the accused is found guilty on the basis of that evidence. The rule was formed through this case and was subject to controversies since then. The controversies found existence in Warren, Burger and Rehnquist courts. In fact Lee Epstein and Thomas Walk observe â€Å"the exclusionary rule provides yet another example of Warren Court’s revolutionary treatment of the rights of the criminally accused† (Hensely and Snook, 2006, p.160). In fact in the Wolf v Colorado case the Vinson Court declined to apply this law because most of the states had not adopted the rule and there were other options to ensure sustenance of the Fourth Amendment. In the Warren Court the case of Mapp v Ohio (1961) enforced the exclusionary rule (Hensely and Snook, 2006, p.161). On the other hand individuals cannot receive Fourth Amend ment protection unless they are not able to demonstrate the reasons behind their expectation of privacy regarding the place where searches and seized are happened. According to the Supreme Court of US individuals can have a rational expectation of privacy respect to their own bodies, homes, business offices and others personal properties. Individuals can also enjoy a reliable expectation of privacy in terms of their automobiles. Generally people do not possess reasonable expectation of things like â€Å"vehicle location and paint, garbage left at roadside for collection, public place, bank records and the things left open at public place† (LII, 2010). Miranda warnings come into question with respect to the Fifth Amendment where the suspect when retained for any interrogation should be given a warning before questioning. This warning refers to the right of a criminal suspect to remain silent during interrogation and the warning must be given to him with respect to the use of a ny statement against the person which may be termed as self-incrimination during the trial. this rule can protect the suspect against any â€Å"psychological ploys†

Human Biology Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Human Biology - Coursework Example These two are components of the autonomic nervous system. These two systems work in a reverse manner to the body so as to enhance its adaptability to the environment (Mader, 2006). In this regard, the parasympathetic nervous system assists in the conservation of the body’s physical resources and the maintenance of normal body functions. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the regulation of ‘flight or fight’ responses such as increasing the heart rate and enabling an individual to escape a potential dangerous situation. The motor neuron performs the role of impulse transmissions from the Central Nervous System to other glands and muscles spread within the body (Mader, 2006).. It is composed of dendrites, cell body, myelin sheath, node of ranvier, and synaptic knobs. The dendrites facilitate the transportation of nerve impulses from neighbouring neurons into the cell body. The myelin sheath assists in the nerve fiber protection, insulation as well as a faster transmission rate of the nerve impulses. The nodes of Ranvier assist in nutrient uptake and expulsion of waste products. It is composed of a cell body and synaptic knobs. It is responsible of the transmission of electrical impulses created by stimuli reaction from other nerves. In this regard, it assists the brain in the processing of information. Nerve impulse initiation from one end to the other along a neuron is made possible due to the electrical differences across the neuron’s membrane (Mader, 2006). In this regard, an un-stimulated neuron is normally polarized. In this regard, there is an electrical charge difference between the inner parts and outer region of the membrane. The polarization of the membrane is achieved by the maintenance of surplus potassium ions on the inner region and surplus sodium ions on the exterior region of the membrane (Mader, 2006). Leakage channels allow the leaking of specific amounts of potassium and sodium ions across the membrane. At

Employment law Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Employment law - Research Paper Example Lastly, the candidates should provide references (Wrycza 150). After submitting the job application form, the applicants wait for the short listing of successful applicants who will have to undergo an interview. The interview format refers to how the interview is going to be conducted. It should be pre-planned. The interview program and questions should be written in advance to save time and avoid embarrassment. Questions that are not permissible should be exempted. For example, religion, race, tribe, genetic information, marital status, nationality origin and arrest records. Candidates may also be required to fill an E.E.O.C form. However, this should not require information that can lead to discrimination for example, race, disability, genetic information, religion or pregnancy. Successful candidates should affirm their readiness to abide by the conflict of interest policy for the company. This will include all areas of their responsibilities towards the company. Employees should s ign the employee acknowledgment form prior to employment. This states that they are ready to abide by the company’s rules and safety policies they have read. Outside employment According to Burton (123), there is an outside employment policy that guides on employees having an outside employment. They are allowed the outside employment on condition that it does not interfere with their performance in their duties. These include CACFP-related responsibilities. It should also be done off the current employer’s premises and outside the employee’s functional work schedule. Job post policy There are policies that guide and protect both the employer and employee postemployment. The Family Leave policy grants employees to take a family leave after working for at least one year with minimum of 1250 working hours within the 12-month period prior to the leave application. The Family pregnancy policy entitles maternity leave for expectant mothers. The sexual harassment poli cy aims at maintaining a working environment that is void of any form of sexual harassment. Allegations of sexual harassment are taken seriously and legal action taken against the accused be it a fellow employee or the employer (Sunshine Village 7). The harassment policy provides for the maintenance of a working environment that is void of any form of harassment. Complains of such should be urgently treated as grievances Personal appearance is important. All staff employees should be neat and clean while on duty. Attention should be paid on grooming, cleanliness and tidiness in hair, clothing and general personal hygiene. Employees must present a good professional outlook. In the manufacturing job, dust coats are won. However, they should be clean and neat. The E.E.O.C. provides that no one should be denied employment on discriminatory grounds. These include disability, race, sex, age among others. All applicants must have equal opportunity to employment. The handicap/ disability po licy requires that persons with disabilities should not be denied employment, promotion, transfer or be discriminated against due to their disabilities as along as they can demonstrate ability to cope and perform in the employment. Medical examinations should only be conducted after employment. No employee should also be fired to their medical conditions or disabilities that may be revealed from this. The human resource department issues out the current benefits sheets to employees. Benefits entitled to employees may

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Social Issue about Abortion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Social Issue about Abortion - Essay Example Boonin finally highlights a number of arguments that oppose abortion. In doing this, he focuses on arguments which do not depend on the notion that all human fetuses have the right to live. This book is relevant to this topic because it critically examines abortion as a social issue. The book is also relevant because it discusses the moral permissibility of abortion according to people’s different terms. The book is a credible source for this topic because it is written by a reputable author who is a renowned professor of philosophy. Dworkin, a highly reputable and distinguished scholar, successfully shows how abortion and euthanasia are social dilemmas. In the process, he explains how the two issues provoke eruptive controversy. Dworkin’s approach is philosophical in nature and his arguments are concise moral overviews of the issues of abortion and euthanasia. The character of human dignity and the meaning of life are a major focus of the author. Dworkin’s book is an excellent piece that is very relevant to this topic because it examines all sides of the arguments that either support or are against abortion. In doing so, Dworkin breaks down both arguments and gives convincing reasons behind them. He further explains why people fail to even understand their own arguments about the issues of abortion and euthanasia. The author concludes by advising society on how to reconcile its values of individual liberty and life. Lee addresses the moral issue of abortion by focusing on unborn human life. One question that is brought to the forefront by the author is whether unborn human beings are only considered persons after birth. The author brings forth the debate of when individual humans come into being. In the process, he discusses whether to consider unborn human beings as persons during gestation or after birth. The book is relevant to this topic because it

Analyze the Keystone XL pipeline project(what are the main facts of Essay

Analyze the Keystone XL pipeline project(what are the main facts of the story, key issues, theoretical relationships, alternatives, cost and benefits.) - Essay Example It was mainly to ensure that the project implementation would be in the best interest of the nation. In 2012, the Department of State denied TransCanada a permit to begin the project. It stated that a span of sixty days was not sufficient to collect the information on the benefits of the project to the nation. Subsequently, the company collaborated with Nebraska department of environment quality and conducted an impact assessment. It was done to determine the best location the pipeline would pass with minimal environmental impacts. In May 2012, TransCanada made an application for the presidential permit. The US department of state was obligated to either accept or deny the company the permit taking into consideration whether the project is beneficial to the people. Many factors were being considered such as security, culture, foreign policy and environmental impacts (Yuan, 2011). In 2014, the Department of State invited members of the public to comment on the factors that would be considered of national interest. Moreover, it is also consulting with different agencies such as department of Justice, Defense, Commerce and Energy to ensure that the correct decision is made on the permit application. TransCanada is facing much opposition from community-based groups and the environmental organizations. It is mainly because of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the usage of oil sands crude. Furthermore, this will lead to the prolonged dependence on fossil fuel by the United States. Emissions of greenhouse gases accelerate the effects of global warming as it results to the destruction of the ozone layer. Community groups are strongly opposing the project because it is being constructed on their lands thus affecting their ability to produce food through farming. Furthermore, there will be no land to graze their cattle. Keystone XL pipeline project poses a high risk to the neighboring community because the potential of spillage is huge. Eighty-eight

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Employment law Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Employment law - Research Paper Example Lastly, the candidates should provide references (Wrycza 150). After submitting the job application form, the applicants wait for the short listing of successful applicants who will have to undergo an interview. The interview format refers to how the interview is going to be conducted. It should be pre-planned. The interview program and questions should be written in advance to save time and avoid embarrassment. Questions that are not permissible should be exempted. For example, religion, race, tribe, genetic information, marital status, nationality origin and arrest records. Candidates may also be required to fill an E.E.O.C form. However, this should not require information that can lead to discrimination for example, race, disability, genetic information, religion or pregnancy. Successful candidates should affirm their readiness to abide by the conflict of interest policy for the company. This will include all areas of their responsibilities towards the company. Employees should s ign the employee acknowledgment form prior to employment. This states that they are ready to abide by the company’s rules and safety policies they have read. Outside employment According to Burton (123), there is an outside employment policy that guides on employees having an outside employment. They are allowed the outside employment on condition that it does not interfere with their performance in their duties. These include CACFP-related responsibilities. It should also be done off the current employer’s premises and outside the employee’s functional work schedule. Job post policy There are policies that guide and protect both the employer and employee postemployment. The Family Leave policy grants employees to take a family leave after working for at least one year with minimum of 1250 working hours within the 12-month period prior to the leave application. The Family pregnancy policy entitles maternity leave for expectant mothers. The sexual harassment poli cy aims at maintaining a working environment that is void of any form of sexual harassment. Allegations of sexual harassment are taken seriously and legal action taken against the accused be it a fellow employee or the employer (Sunshine Village 7). The harassment policy provides for the maintenance of a working environment that is void of any form of harassment. Complains of such should be urgently treated as grievances Personal appearance is important. All staff employees should be neat and clean while on duty. Attention should be paid on grooming, cleanliness and tidiness in hair, clothing and general personal hygiene. Employees must present a good professional outlook. In the manufacturing job, dust coats are won. However, they should be clean and neat. The E.E.O.C. provides that no one should be denied employment on discriminatory grounds. These include disability, race, sex, age among others. All applicants must have equal opportunity to employment. The handicap/ disability po licy requires that persons with disabilities should not be denied employment, promotion, transfer or be discriminated against due to their disabilities as along as they can demonstrate ability to cope and perform in the employment. Medical examinations should only be conducted after employment. No employee should also be fired to their medical conditions or disabilities that may be revealed from this. The human resource department issues out the current benefits sheets to employees. Benefits entitled to employees may

Analyze the Keystone XL pipeline project(what are the main facts of Essay

Analyze the Keystone XL pipeline project(what are the main facts of the story, key issues, theoretical relationships, alternatives, cost and benefits.) - Essay Example It was mainly to ensure that the project implementation would be in the best interest of the nation. In 2012, the Department of State denied TransCanada a permit to begin the project. It stated that a span of sixty days was not sufficient to collect the information on the benefits of the project to the nation. Subsequently, the company collaborated with Nebraska department of environment quality and conducted an impact assessment. It was done to determine the best location the pipeline would pass with minimal environmental impacts. In May 2012, TransCanada made an application for the presidential permit. The US department of state was obligated to either accept or deny the company the permit taking into consideration whether the project is beneficial to the people. Many factors were being considered such as security, culture, foreign policy and environmental impacts (Yuan, 2011). In 2014, the Department of State invited members of the public to comment on the factors that would be considered of national interest. Moreover, it is also consulting with different agencies such as department of Justice, Defense, Commerce and Energy to ensure that the correct decision is made on the permit application. TransCanada is facing much opposition from community-based groups and the environmental organizations. It is mainly because of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the usage of oil sands crude. Furthermore, this will lead to the prolonged dependence on fossil fuel by the United States. Emissions of greenhouse gases accelerate the effects of global warming as it results to the destruction of the ozone layer. Community groups are strongly opposing the project because it is being constructed on their lands thus affecting their ability to produce food through farming. Furthermore, there will be no land to graze their cattle. Keystone XL pipeline project poses a high risk to the neighboring community because the potential of spillage is huge. Eighty-eight

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Cripple Essay Example for Free

Cripple Essay Often times, people with disabilities feel sorrow and unfortunate. Nancy Mairs faces sclerosis, a serious condition that limits her ability to do regular, everyday tasks. In her essay, Mairs stresses the meaning of the word â€Å"cripple† to the point in which she defines her own meaning of the term. With the use of rhetorical strategies, Mairs presents herself as a strong, proud individual despite her disabilities. Mairs’ specific language choice reveals that she is not ashamed of her condition. She begins by explaining the first impression of the word â€Å"cripple. † She says, â€Å"People—crippled or not—wince at the word ‘cripple†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Ã¢â‚¬ (line 8). Mairs purposely uses the word â€Å"wince† to emphasis shock and horror of others’ reaction towards the word â€Å"cripple. † This word choice provides an indication of people’s negative thoughts on the word â€Å"cripple. † In contrast, however, Mairs explains that most people do not react as strongly with the words â€Å"handicapped† or â€Å"disabled. Although others may disagree, Mairs reveals that the word â€Å"cripple† provides a neutral connotation that is appropriate to describe herself: a person with an illness. Later on in the text, Mairs reveals that â€Å"cripple† seems like a â€Å"clean word, straightforward, and precise† (line 15). It is evident that she does not feel the slightest offence of being called a cripple. Instead, she feels that it is the appropriate word that best describes her condition. At the same time, Mairs has strong attachments to â€Å"cripple† in relation to who she is as an individual with such difficulties. Mairs’ use of tone creates a stern, serious, and confident attitude that reflects a prideful feeling of being a â€Å"cripple. † She says, â€Å"Mine is one of them. Whatever you call me, I remain crippled. But I don’t care what you call me, so long as it isn’t ‘differently abled’†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (line 36). Mair’s short sentences evoke a powerful tone that reflects her indifference towards society’s assumption of who she is: a weak, helpless, and unfortunate individual. However, oppositely, she presents herself as a strong, prideful woman. The tone in this passage reveals Mairs’ feelings toward society’s sympathetic attitudes to those that are physically disabled. Clearly, Mairs does not feel bothered by what others think of her. It is apparent that she takes her situation very lightly as long as no one refers to as â€Å"differently abled† because it describes a person without capability. She strongly presents herself proud and independent individual being as opposed to what society assumes her to be. Unlike society’s attitudes towards the disabled, Mairs presents herself with strength and pride regardless of her condition. Throughout her essay, she changes a new meaning of the word â€Å"cripple† from a horrifying meaning to her own, personal definition. As she delivers her point, Mairs feel that the word â€Å"cripple† is a part of her in regard to who she is: a person with in illness. At the same time, Mairs reveals a sense of acceptance of her condition.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Activation of the G Protein-coupled Estrogen Receptor

Activation of the G Protein-coupled Estrogen Receptor Activation of the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor ameliorates salt-induced vascular remodeling Abstract The mRen2.Lewis (mRen2) female rat is an estrogen- and salt-sensitive model of hypertension which may reflect the higher pressure and salt sensitivity associated with menopause. We previously showed in salt-loaded mRen2 female rats that activation of the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) does not lower blood pressure but attenuates renal damage. The current study hypothesized that GPER protects against vascular injury in this model. Intact mRen2.Lewis female rats were fed a normal (0.5% Na+) or high salt diet (HS; 4% Na+) for 10 weeks and treated with vehicle or the selective GPER agonist G-1 for the last two weeks of the study. Systolic blood pressure was measured by tail cuff plethysmography, and aortic sections were mounted on a wire myograph or formalin-fixed for histological analysis. Systolic blood pressure increased with HS (137  ± 2 mmHg, n=7 to 224  ± 8, n=9; P0.05). While aortic reactivity to phenylephrine and acetylcholine were not different between groups (P> 0.05), chronic G-1 treatment reduced vasoconstriction to angiotensin II (Pex vivo G-1 vasorelaxation (P Introduction Sodium balance plays an integral role in cardiovascular homeostasis. A high salt diet is considered a major risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality independent of other cardiovascular risk factors (Beil et al. Blood Pressure, 1995). Excessive salt intake has been associated with vascular remodeling, including the reorganization of the extracellular matrix and hypertrophy and/or hyperplasia of vascular smooth muscle cells. Although vascular remodeling is considered a protective adaptation to a higher wall stress, it contributes to the development of hypertension by creating a thicker, less compliant wall. Aortic stiffness, which contributes to isolated systolic hypertension in human subjects, is an excellent example of the complications presented by vascular remodeling (Lemarie et al. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 2009). The ability of estrogen to attenuate vascular remodeling in injured arteries may at least partly occur via activation of the classic steroid receptors ERÃŽ ± and ERÃŽ ² in VSMC and endothelial cells (Xing et al. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 2009). Brouchet et al. showed that estrogen’s protective effects on vascular remodeling were abolished in female ERÃŽ ± knockout mice (Brouchet et al, Circulation, 2001). Moreover, in porcine aortic smooth muscle cells, the downregulation of ERÃŽ ² protein levels by mRNA antisense oligomers abrogated the inhibitory effects of estrogen on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation, migration, and proliferation (Geraldes et al. Circ Res, 2003; Xing et al. Am J Physiol., 2007). However, the protective effects of estrogen on vascular injury are evident in both ERÃŽ ± and ERÃŽ ² knockout mice, suggesting that another receptor may be necessary (Iafrati et al. Nat Med. 1997; Karas et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1999). The novel G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) is a membrane-bound receptor linked to acute signaling pathways (Revankar et al. Science, 2005; Thomas et al. Endocrinology, 2005). Our previous studies showed that GPER activation lowers blood pressure in ovariectomized mRen2.Lewis rats and attenuates salt-induced renal and cardiac remodeling in intact mRen2.Lewis rats (Lindsey et al Endocrinology, Jessup et al, PLOS one, 2010 and Lindsey et al Hypertension). Therefore, this novel receptor may play an important role in mediating estrogenic effects in the vasculature. In the current study, we hypothesized that chronic GPER activation is protective against aortic remodeling due to salt-sensitive hypertension. To test this hypothesis, we utilized mRen2.Lewis (mRen2) rats, a unique congenic model of hypertension in which HS profoundly elevates blood pressure in females (Chappell et al, Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol., 2006). We compared aortic remodeling in high salt-fed rats with or without treatment with the selective GPER agonist G-1. Because estrogen modulates oxidative stress to attenuate vascular remodeling in injured arteries (Hayashi et al, Biochem Biophys Bes Commun, 1995; Xing et al. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 2009) and GPER reduces oxidative stress in the kidneys of female mRen2 rats (Lindsey et al. Hypertension, 2011), we further determined whether the effects of HS and G-1 were mediated by modulating oxidative stress. To further elucidate the cellular mechanisms responsible for vascular remodeling, we uti lized primary cultured female rat aortic smooth muscle cells to determine the effects of salt on cellular hypertrophy. Methods Animals All procedures were approved by the institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Hemizygous mRen2.Lewis congenic female rats were obtained from the Wake Forest Hypertension Center breeding colony. Rats had free access to food and water in a temperature-controlled room (22  ± 2 °C) with a 12 hour light to dark cycle. At five weeks of age, the normal salt diet (NS, 0.5% Na) was switched to high salt (HS; 4% Na), as previously described (1, 2). The selective GPER agonist G-1 (400  µg/kg/day; EMD Chemicals, Gibbstown, NJ) or vehicle was administered for two weeks beginning at 13 weeks of age via subcutaneous osmotic minipump (Model 2ML2; Alza Corporation, Palo Alto, CA). Blood pressure was measured via tail cuff plethysmography (Narco Bio-systems, Houston, TX). Animals were randomly assigned to three experimental groups: intact NS (n=7), intact HS+vehicle (veh; n=9), and intact HS+G-1 (n = 9). Vascular Reactivity. After sacrifice, the upper thoracic aorta was submerged in formalin for histology and the lower portion used for vascular reactivity as previously described (Lindsey et al Endocrinology). Aortas were equilibrated with 2 g tension and the responses to 1 uM phenylephrine, 1 uM acetylcholine, 10 nM angiotensin II (Ang II), and 3 uM G-1 were measured. Histology. Formalin-fixed aortas were embedded in paraffin, cut into 5 um sections, and mounted on slides. To evaluate aortic wall thickness, slides were stained with hematoxylin and images analyzed using ImagePro software (XXX company, XXX city,XX state). Aortic medial area was calculated by the subtraction of the area of the inner border of the lumen (inner area) from the area of the outer border of the tunica media (outer area). Collagen staining was performed using picrosirius red and images were taken using a Texas Red fluorescent filter. The medial area was selected and the mean luminosity was recorded for each section. The NovaUltra Orcein Elastin Stain Kit (IHC World, XXX) was used for elastin staining. For analysis of oxidative stress, sections were immunostained with an antibody against 4-hydroxynonenal as previously described (Lindsey et al Hypertension). For analysis of brightfield images, positive staining was identified and the percent of positive pixels in the medial a rea recorded. For all analyses, the average of four cross-sectional measurements was calculated for each animal. Cell Studies. Aortic smooth muscle cells were isolated from adult f emale Lewis rats by explant method. Aortas were excised, cleaned of fat, cut longitudinally, scraped of endothelial cells, laid luminal side down in a cell culture dish containing Medium 199 (Invitrogen, XXX) and 5% fetal bovine serum (Gibco, XXX), and cut into small strips. Cells were subcultured up to four passages. When cells reached 80% confluence, the medium was switched to Medium 199 without phenol red or fetal bovine serum and sodium chloride (Sigma) was added to the increase the concentration to 152 mM, 160 mM, and 182 mM. Add NaCl to make high salt CS medium (152, 160, and 182 mM), Normal medium 142 mM NO, I find 117 mM Add 0.02 g NaCl to 50 ml of normal medium, that makes 152 mM Add 0.045 g NaCl to 50 ml of normal medium, that makes 160 mM Add 0.11 g NaCl to 50 ml of normal medium, that makes 182 mM After 5 days of exposure to high sodium medium, cells were harvested for further experiments. Cells were harvested using trypsin to obtain single cell suspensions. A sample was taken for determination of cell number and diameter using XXX cellometer (XXX company, XXX city, XXX state). Mean cell diameter was determined on 200 randomly chosen cells in each sample. The remaining cells were lysed in XXX with protease inhibitor cocktail (XXX company). Cellular protein content was determined in duplicate using bovine serum albumin as a standard (Bio-Rad Protein Assay Kit). Results As previously reported, a high salt diet (HS) significantly increased systolic blood pressure in intact mRen2 female rats (Figure 1A). Chronic treatment with the selective GPER agonist G-1 for two weeks did not influence blood pressure. G-1 did not influence the aortic response to acetylcholine (Figure 1B) or phenylephrine (Figure 1D). However, G-1 treatment in vivo amplified the vasorelaxant response to ex vivo application of G-1 (Figure 1C) and decreased the vasoconstrictor response to Ang II (Figure 1E). Salt-sensitive hypertension in female mRen2 rats significantly increased aortic thickness, as determined by the media/lumen ratio (Figure 2A-B). This remodeling was associated with a significant decrease in lumen area but no change in the external diameter of the aorta (Figures 2C-D). Chronic G-1 significantly attenuated remodeling, as evidenced by a decreased media/lumen ratio and an increased lumen area, with no change in external diameter. The average measurements for all groups are graphically represented in Figure 2E. In order to determine whether extracellular fibrosis was altered by HS and G-1, aortic sections were analyzed for collagen and elastin content. Figure 3 shows that picrosirius red staining was similar in all groups (Figure 3). Elastin staining was significantly decreased by HS but this effect was not reversed by G-1 (Figure 4). Elastin Breaks Space between elastin fibers Sections were assessed for proliferation using antibodies against proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Ki-67. No evidence of immunostaining was found in the medial sections of aorta for these two nuclear proteins necessary for cellular proliferation (data not shown). However, in comparison to aortas from normal salt-fed rats, HS aortas showed a significant increase in oxidative stress as measured by staining for the lipid peroxidation product 4-HNE (Figure 5). In addition, chronic G-1 treatment significantly attenuated 4-HNE staining. Aortic smooth muscle cells were isolated and cultured in order to determine the Effects of HS and G-1 on cellular hypertrophy. Discussion The present study demonstrated that estrogen receptor GPER activation attenuated salt-induced increase of aortic wall thickness in mRen2 rats. The mechanism for the G-1 effect most likely involves counteracting oxidative stress and reducing vascular smooth muscle cell hypertrophy. This study demonstrating GPER-induced vascular protection nicely complements our previous work showing similar results in the kidney and heart (ADD REF). Interestingly, GPER’s renoprotective effects were also associated with a reduction in oxidative stress. Moreover, the beneficial effects in the heart were similarly independent of alterations in the extracellular matrix but directly associated with a reduction in cardiomyocyte size. Vascular GPER protein is clearly expressed in both endothelial and smooth muscle cells of the aorta (Lindsey et al, Endocrinology, 2009; Ding et al, Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, 2009; Gros et al, Hypertension, 2011). In native vessels, the extracellular matrix (ECM) is composed mostly of collagen, elastin and proteoglycans. These proteins inà ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡uence cell functions and play an important role in maintaining vessel structure by providing tensile strength (collagens) and elasticity (elastin) (Lemarie et al. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 2009). One of the earliest steps of vascular remodeling is the reorganization of the ECM. In the current study, we have shown that HS increased collagen levels and suppressed elastin content in the aorta, indicating increased stiffness and less elasticity. Most importantly, the finding that G-1 ameliorates salt-induced collagen increase, without altering salt-induced decreases in elastin content, suggests that GPER activation protects against the remodeling process via suppressing collagen levels, instead of elastin. The amount and composition of collagen depends on a balance between synthesis / deposition and degradation. The exact effects of GPER on collagen protein expression, degradation, or both remain to be investigated. Another important step during vascular remodeling is the hypertrophy and / or hyperplasia of the VSMCs (Lemarie et al. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 2009). To address this possibility, we used primary cultured ASMCs isolated from female mRen2 rats. We found that both cellular protein content and cell size increased in high salt media (160 mM and 182 mM), indicating that high salt induces cellular hypertrophy. The cellular protein content of 152 mM media-treated cells is significantly higher than that of normal media (142 mM)-treated group. However, the cell size has no significant difference. One possible explanation is that the protein started to accumulate inside cells, but cells had not begun to enlarge yet. More importantly, we found G-1 abolished the hypertrophy of cells. The hypertrophy appears to result from an increase in the rate of protein synthesis and / or a decrease in the rate of protein degradation (Berk et al, Hypertension, 1989; Gu et al, Hypertension , 1998). Future studies are required to determine the effects of GPER activation on protein expression, degradation, or both. We further looked into the possibility of salt-induced proliferation in ASMCs. Although it has been shown that GPER induced the activation of MAPK signaling and cellular hyperplasia in VSMCs, other studies have demonstrated that G-1 inhibited serum-stimulated growth in VSMCs lacking ERÃŽ ± and ERÃŽ ² (Haas et al, Circ Res, 2009,; Ding, Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, 2009; Gros et al, Hypertension, 2011). In our study, we did not observe any evidence of Ki67 or PCNA staining in the medial layer of aortas from any group, although significant staining was found in the adventitia. These results are supported by our in vitro studies which show no change in cell number in response to HS. The finding that G-1 attenuates aortic thickening and cellular hypertrophy, without altering blood pressure, suggests that GPER has protective effects in the cardiovascular system that are independent of blood pressure. One possible mechanism is acute increases in oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is linked to damage within the vasculature and may contribute to vascular remodeling (Hayashi et al, Biochem Biophys Bes Commun, 1995; Xing et al. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 2009). To address this possibility, we first stained 4-HNE, a marker for oxidative stress, in the aorta. We found significantly stronger staining of 4-HNE in HS-fed rats. However, this was attenuated by G-1 treatment, suggesting that GPER activation attenuates salt-induced oxidative stress. To further confirm this finding, we used tempol, an antioxidant, or G1 to treat ASMCs and measured several hypertrophy parameters. Tempol or G-1 treatments abolished the increase of both cellular protein con tent and cell size. Broughton et al demonstrated that G1 reduces NADPH-dependent oxidase activity in isolated carotid and intracranial arteries of normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats (Broughton et al, Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, 2010). Elucidation of the underlying mechanisms of GPR 30 to attenuate reactive oxygen species within aorta awaits future studies. Another possibility is that HS stimulates renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in mRen2 rats. Ang II increased medial thickening of aorta due to VSMC hypertrophy without increase in cell number (Owens et al, Circ Res, 1982 1983). However, GPER activation may reduce expression of the angiotensin II (Ang II) AT1 receptor (AT1R) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) but increase the expression of ACE2. Alterations in ACE and ACE2 may increase the ratio of Ang-(1-7) to Ang II in tissues (Lindsey et al, Gender Medicine, 2011). Ang-(1-7) inhibited vascular remodeling in rat jugular vein grafts (Wu et al, J Int Med Res, 2011). In the present study, the HS medium (152, 160, 182 mM) was made by simply adding sodium chloride to normal medium (142 mM). This increases both sodium concentration and osmolarity in the medium. It is likely that increased osmolarity plays a significant role in salt-induced hypertrophy. Future studies using mannitol are needed to rule out this possibility. In summary, this study showed a beneficial effect of the GPER agonist G-1 in salt- and pressure-induced vascular remodeling. These protective effects of G-1 may be due to suppression of oxidative stress and associated cellular hypertrophy. What about aldosterone? 1.Chappell MC, Westwood BM, and Yamaleyeva LM. Differential effects of sex steroids in young and aged female mRen2.Lewis rats: a model of estrogen and salt-sensitive hypertension. Gender medicine 5 Suppl A: S65-75, 2008. 2.Lindsey SH, Yamaleyeva LM, Brosnihan KB, Gallagher PE, and Chappell MC. Estrogen receptor GPR30 reduces oxidative stress and proteinuria in the salt-sensitive female mRen2.Lewis rat. Hypertension 58: 665-671, 2011.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Eulogy for Friend :: Eulogies Eulogy

Eulogy for Friend My name is Deborah, and I’m one of Ron’s many friends. Karen asked me to share about Ron from a biker’s point of view. At many memorial services, eulogies are sort of like fish stories. Mean people are suddenly remembered as good-natured, self-centered people as generous, sinners as saints. Positive traits are exaggerated, negative ones swept under the rug. But today, it’s not necessary to stretch the truth. With Ron, what you saw was what you got. He refused to play games with people, and he was adamant that he â€Å"didn’t have time for nonsense† like politics and petty disputes. What he DID have time for was people. He was amazingly attuned to other people’s feelings. In my case, Ron would always notice if I started getting tired and quiet while we were riding. He noticed before my husband of 30 years did—before I did myself!—and would invariably stroll over with a handful of Tootsie Roll Pops and pink bubble gum to give me a sugar shot. Once he discovered that I shared his enthusiasm over Tootsie Roll Pops, he always made sure to keep a big enough stash to â€Å"cover† me on trips. He was attuned in other ways as well. On group rides, I usually take the tailgunner position at the end of the pack, which means that I sometimes have to babysit unskilled riders who constantly speed up and slow down, or who fall back so far that the rest of the group vanishes from sight. I usually don’t mind, but now and then when somebody who should know better rides like that, it drives me crazy. Ron would always sense when I was getting frustrated, and at the next stop he’d say, â€Å"Why don’t I ride at the back for a while and give you a break?† He didn’t make a big deal out of it, but he helped keep rides fun for many of us. Ron was master of a thousand small kindnesses. He also took setbacks in stride, small and large ones alike. One time we were heading south toward Austin, and Ron and Karen were riding in front of me. Suddenly there was a small and colorful explosion on the road behind their bike. I looked down and saw pills--lots of little pills!--bouncing in every direction. Then two more explosions occurred, and this time I saw that the bottles were coming from their T-bag. Eulogy for Friend :: Eulogies Eulogy Eulogy for Friend My name is Deborah, and I’m one of Ron’s many friends. Karen asked me to share about Ron from a biker’s point of view. At many memorial services, eulogies are sort of like fish stories. Mean people are suddenly remembered as good-natured, self-centered people as generous, sinners as saints. Positive traits are exaggerated, negative ones swept under the rug. But today, it’s not necessary to stretch the truth. With Ron, what you saw was what you got. He refused to play games with people, and he was adamant that he â€Å"didn’t have time for nonsense† like politics and petty disputes. What he DID have time for was people. He was amazingly attuned to other people’s feelings. In my case, Ron would always notice if I started getting tired and quiet while we were riding. He noticed before my husband of 30 years did—before I did myself!—and would invariably stroll over with a handful of Tootsie Roll Pops and pink bubble gum to give me a sugar shot. Once he discovered that I shared his enthusiasm over Tootsie Roll Pops, he always made sure to keep a big enough stash to â€Å"cover† me on trips. He was attuned in other ways as well. On group rides, I usually take the tailgunner position at the end of the pack, which means that I sometimes have to babysit unskilled riders who constantly speed up and slow down, or who fall back so far that the rest of the group vanishes from sight. I usually don’t mind, but now and then when somebody who should know better rides like that, it drives me crazy. Ron would always sense when I was getting frustrated, and at the next stop he’d say, â€Å"Why don’t I ride at the back for a while and give you a break?† He didn’t make a big deal out of it, but he helped keep rides fun for many of us. Ron was master of a thousand small kindnesses. He also took setbacks in stride, small and large ones alike. One time we were heading south toward Austin, and Ron and Karen were riding in front of me. Suddenly there was a small and colorful explosion on the road behind their bike. I looked down and saw pills--lots of little pills!--bouncing in every direction. Then two more explosions occurred, and this time I saw that the bottles were coming from their T-bag.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Vonneguts Simple Style in Vonneguts Cats Cradle Essay -- Cats Crad

Vonnegut's Simple Style in Cat's Cradle The simple style with which Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. writes his novels belies the complexity hidden behind his sentences. Vonnegut's novels, as a result, are amazingly easy and, to many, enjoyable to read, yet they contain messages that go to the very root of humanity, messages that are not hidden underneath flowery prose. The success of Cat's Cradle, like all of his novels, relies on this simplicity to reveal its messages about religion, death, and apocalypse to the reader. Cat's Cradle is composed of a series of short, very direct, and seemingly simple sentences, that, when combined, form a surprisingly complex novel. Cat's Cradle, like most of Vonnegut's novels, is not very wordy. Vonnegut will almost always say things directly; for example, when discussing the history of San Lorenzo, he writes, "Subsequent expeditions came for gold...found none, burned a few natives for entertainment and heresy, and sailed on" (89). Vonnegut uses a very direct and flippant manner when he writes of things that others might not confront, such as the cruelty of the conquistadors. He does not try to hide his messages subtly, so his readers get the full meaning out of his novel, even if they are reading the book merely for entertainment. One does not have to search through his novel word-for-word to find Vonnegut's themes. Instead, Vonnegut sends his themes via simplicity and exaggeration. For Vonnegut to convey his ideas successfully to the reader, he must use a simple style to do s o; his point of view is so contrary to the norm that simplicity is the only way for him to get hi... ...continue trying, because it is human nature to risk destroying the world to further one's own ends. Cat's Cradle depends on Vonnegut's simplicity and other literary techniques, like exaggeration, to make its point. Man's destructive nature is made quite clear in this excellent novel, and unnecessary words and sentences would have destroyed the clarity of Vonnegut's message. The message, and the readability of the novel, are more important than if the novel is of the same literary caliber as the likes of Shakespeare and Hemingway. Vonnegut's simple sentences, combined with exaggeration, irony, and elements of science fiction, make his novels, and the messages contained within them, very powerful, and very enjoyable to read. In this way, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. has established himself as a literary master. Vonnegut's Simple Style in Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle Essay -- Cat's Crad Vonnegut's Simple Style in Cat's Cradle The simple style with which Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. writes his novels belies the complexity hidden behind his sentences. Vonnegut's novels, as a result, are amazingly easy and, to many, enjoyable to read, yet they contain messages that go to the very root of humanity, messages that are not hidden underneath flowery prose. The success of Cat's Cradle, like all of his novels, relies on this simplicity to reveal its messages about religion, death, and apocalypse to the reader. Cat's Cradle is composed of a series of short, very direct, and seemingly simple sentences, that, when combined, form a surprisingly complex novel. Cat's Cradle, like most of Vonnegut's novels, is not very wordy. Vonnegut will almost always say things directly; for example, when discussing the history of San Lorenzo, he writes, "Subsequent expeditions came for gold...found none, burned a few natives for entertainment and heresy, and sailed on" (89). Vonnegut uses a very direct and flippant manner when he writes of things that others might not confront, such as the cruelty of the conquistadors. He does not try to hide his messages subtly, so his readers get the full meaning out of his novel, even if they are reading the book merely for entertainment. One does not have to search through his novel word-for-word to find Vonnegut's themes. Instead, Vonnegut sends his themes via simplicity and exaggeration. For Vonnegut to convey his ideas successfully to the reader, he must use a simple style to do s o; his point of view is so contrary to the norm that simplicity is the only way for him to get hi... ...continue trying, because it is human nature to risk destroying the world to further one's own ends. Cat's Cradle depends on Vonnegut's simplicity and other literary techniques, like exaggeration, to make its point. Man's destructive nature is made quite clear in this excellent novel, and unnecessary words and sentences would have destroyed the clarity of Vonnegut's message. The message, and the readability of the novel, are more important than if the novel is of the same literary caliber as the likes of Shakespeare and Hemingway. Vonnegut's simple sentences, combined with exaggeration, irony, and elements of science fiction, make his novels, and the messages contained within them, very powerful, and very enjoyable to read. In this way, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. has established himself as a literary master.