Thursday, October 31, 2019

Black box Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Black box - Essay Example Communities as well as families can be deeply affected by the death of a member. A black box is a device or theoretical constructs with proverbial or given characteristic input, output and data transfer methods that are unknown or such-and-such constituents and means of operation. It is a closed computer program and its implementation is "opaque", hence the term black box. Â  Today the boxes store data on memory chips and are painted bright orange in order to make them easier to find amid crash debris or on the bottom of the ocean. Needless to say, these devices are well protected with good safety meaures. For instance, they have been equipped with self-activated ultrasonic beams that broadcast the boxs position underwater for up to 30 days. Today, most black boxes, majority of which are being manufactured by L-3 Aviation Recorders, in Sarasota, Fla., are capable of recording more than 250 types of digital data, or parameters, per second, and store them all for 25 hours before writing over them. In addition, the latest models of black boxes can also store 180 minutes worth of conversation, as compared to the 30-minute recording capacity of its earlier counterparts. Both kinds of data are stored in stacked semiconductor dynamic RAM memory boards. The information recorded, the sampling rate, and the order in which the data are stored differ from each black box.The hardwares and softwares needed to read and analyze the data from a black box are provided by the manufacturers. At times, the manufacturers even send a representative from the company to facilitate the analysis and interpretation of data from a black box.They may have their work cut out for them if the box is dented, twisted under high heat, or has damaged cable interfaces. In such cases, they must rebuild the interfaces or find other ways to extract data from the wreckage. If the box is damaged, it can take weeks or months to

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Social setting Essay Example for Free

Social setting Essay Discuss the degree to which Suskind has offered a strong image of the social setting in the novel Perfume and estimate the importance of a sense of social context for the novel as a whole. In the novel Perfume Suskind offers the reader a vivid and comprehensive view of 18th century French society during the pre revolutionary period. While the main focus of the plot involves the development of the protagonist, Grenouille, the characters he encounters enable Suskind to present a satirical view of the Age of Reason by revealing the folly of individuals from different levels of French society. The novel may also be viewed as a fable which foreshadows the coming revolution which will tear apart the social hierarchy. As well as offering a satirical critique of society, the strong image of social setting lends credibility to the fantastical elements of the novel. This is achieved through a variety of narrative techniques, including vivid imagery. Suskind employs imagery to highlight the satirical nature of the work. This can be clearly illustrated in the way Suskind sets the scene at the beginning of Perfume: The peasant stank as did the priest, the apprentice as did his masters wife, the whole of the aristocracy stank, even the king himself stank, stank like a rank lion and the queen like an old goat (Suskind p. 4) The parallel structure juxtaposing peasant with priest; apprentice with masters wife suggests that while the social structure of 18th century France was hierarchical and the fact that everyone stank equally badly was actually a kind of leveler. The reference to the hierarchy leads the reader to consider that this social structure will be torn apart by the French Revolution. While the novel is set some 40 years prior to the revolution, the reader is aware that this society is soon to be subject to a bloody revolution in which the distinctions between the social classes will be shaken to their foundations; this description of the smell is an ironic indication while some felt superior to others in this society, in fact everyone was human: everyone stank. Another example of this technique used to draw attention to the satirical aspect of the novel can be found in the orgy scene which may be viewed as an allegorical foreshadowing of the revolution as chaos ensues when hierarchy and propriety are cast aside and people succumb to their baser emotions: they fell down anywhere with a groan and copulated in the most impossible positions and combinations: grand-father with virgin, odd-jobber with lawyers spouse, apprentice with nun, Jesuit with freemasons wife all topsy-turvy, just as opportunity presented. (Suskind p. 247 Suskind again uses parallel structure to emphasize the juxtaposition of individuals from different social classes and ages which the breakdown in the social hierarchy. The narrator takes the same slightly amused tone as he describes the shocking scene for the reader as though delighting in the impropriety. The narrative voice encourages the reader to take an objective view of the proceedings and reflect that this abandonment to sexual desire is triggered by something which they are not aware: the perfume. Another example of the way Suskind highlights the gullibility of human beings is illustrated through the setting described as Grenouille is pursing the scent of the girl from the rue de Marais : And while from every side came the deafening roar of petards exploring and of firecrackers skipping across the cobble-stones, rockets rose in tote sky and painted white lilies against the black firmament. Thronging the bridge and the quays along both banks of the river, a crowd of many thousands accompanied the spectacle and aahs and oohs and bravos, even some long lives although the King had ascended his throne more than 38 years before and the high point of his popularity was long since behind him. Fireworks can do that. P. 39 Suskind satirizes the way human beings can be manipulated by something as simple as fireworks. The scene is quite ironic as the reader is aware that the people who are cheering for the king will be rejoicing as his son, the next king is executed in 30 years. Suskind suggests the simplicity of people through the vocalizations mentioned aahs and oohs. The use of the simple short sentence at the end of this description amplifies the narrators ironic stance. Suskind offers a satirical portrait of the middle class through the character of Baldini. He represents the kind of person who cannot accept the new ideas emerging during the age of reason. Baldini is an old man who seems to be having trouble adjusting to changes in society. On page 58-59, the internal monologue of Baldini suggests his frustration with the world. What was the need for all these new roads being dug up everywhere, and these new bridges? What purpose did they serve? . This shows that Baldini is confused about the new developments in the world. Baldini also has issues with the new scientific discoveries that have been made. The latest is that little animals never before seen are swimming about in a glass of water and the earth is no longer round like it was, but flat on the top and the bottom like a melon- as if it made a damn bit of difference! . This internal monologue illustrates that Baldini doesnt approve of the changes and the new discoveries that have been recently made. He seems to have trouble accepting that things are changing and old theories have been overturned. The church is also presented satirically. This is achieved in Suskinds characterization of father terrier. Father Terrier claims that he is a man of reason, but is part of the church. The church is not based on reason. Suskind mocks Father Terrier because he wouldnt take logic to its natural conclusion. He is also presented comically when he hitches up his cassock. He is also outsmarted by the wet nurse because when she claims that Grenouille is a devil child he says that it is impossible for him to be the devil because he has not been exposed to the outside world. When he decides to smell Grenouille, he realizes that the wet nurse was right and he doesnt actually have a smell. As soon as he realizes this he gets rid of Grenouille. The presentation of the Marquis creates satirical view of the nobility and emerging interest in science. He is described as an enlightened idiot. He believed the theory of the fluidium letale which is totally absurd.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Neo Realism Of Pather Panchali Film Studies Essay

Neo Realism Of Pather Panchali Film Studies Essay The Bengali feature film Pather Panchali or Song of The Road in English was directed by Satyajit Ray and released in 1955. It was considered a landmark in the field of Indian as well as world cinema. Although it was director Rays debut effort it went on to win critical and popular acclaim from all around the world. The path breaking movie was also instrumental in winning the Best Human Document award at the Cannes Film Festival of 1956. Satyajit Ray had his first truck with neo-realism as far back as 1949, when Jean Renoir the famous director from France came to Calcutta to make the film The River. The neo-realistic influence that is apparent in most of his movies came from this association with the famed movie maker as also from the neo-realistic propensities of the then prevailing Italian cinema (Ruberto. L, Wilson. E Kristi. M 2007). Ray happened to take the famous director to various potential locations in the Bengal countryside. Later he went to London on official business. During the short time he was in London, Ray saw myriads of movies and seeing the film Bicycle Thieves made so profound an impression on him that he decided to be a movie maker, then and there (Robinson, 2003). Pather Panchali is considered to be neo-realist in its implications. The main reason for describing the movie as neo-realistic was the fact that it was filmed not long after the II World War when neo-realism held sway in most of Europe. What made the critics tack the label of neo-realism to Rays movie? Ray chose mostly natural locations while shooting Pather Panchali. He wanted the backdrop of each shot to speak for itself. Also, he totally refrained from the artificially exaggerated practices and gestures of the popular cinema prevailing in India. The movie is said to have amply demonstrated some affiliations with the traditions narration, representation as well as musical address prevailing in earlier times in an effort to articulate in an Indian identity of the day following independence (Vasudevan, 2000). In an attempt to dissociate himself and his creations from the commercial movies emanating from Bollywood, Satyajit Ray stated, The differences appear to emerge from evaluating the status of the narrative form through which the real would be articulated, through what means of representation, styles of acting, aesthetic strategies the real would be invoked. Here the popular compendium studio shooting, melodramatic, externalized forms for the representation of character psychol ogy, non- or intermittently continuous forms of cutting, diversionary story lines, performance sequences was not acceptable within the emergent artistic canon, for they undermined plausibility and a desirable regime of verisimilitude (Ray, 1976). Pather Panchali possessed all the essential characteristics of neo-realism as proposed by the great Italian movie maker Zabattini. The neo-realistic theory lays down the dictum that the filmmaker should not ever impose his own individual interpretation on the movie that he is making and should always remain a passive observer of the reality that he happens to be creating. It does not matter whether he is depicting misery or prosperity, the movie maker should always uphold the utmost objectivity, by subordinating logic to action at all times. Although, even the staunchest of the neo-realists were utterly unable to attain such total objectivity for the simple reason that the subjective element always had a tendency to creep into any artistic creation, they never stopped from trying to achieve it. The same thing holds true for Satyajit Ray when he made his debut film Pather Panchali. In fact Ray was virtually unable to keep the subjective element out of his movie. But he never made comments on his actions, characters or situations. He never pitches hints at his audience and never tells them just what to think and feel. At the same time he was not at all apprehensive about taking the appropriate stances. This is because he was predisposed not to his characters but to the drama of life itself. He had his own ways to suffuse life on to the screen in order to impart a shimmer of hope to all his characters. Pather Panchali and Bollywood movies : A contrast Bollywood movies are a far cry from the realism and objectivity of Rays movies When comparing and contrasting a Satyajit Ray movie to any Bollywood movie, there is nothing much to compare but there is a lot to contrast. The only factor a movie like Pather Panchali has in common with a Bollywood movie is that both are shot in India and is about life in India. The similarity ends there. While Rays movies are predominantly realistic, there is nothing even remotely realistic about Bollywood films. To make matters worse, Satyajit Rays art films received their due recognition from the cognoscenti and welcomed with open hands within the ambit of world cinema. Evidently, Rays movies were in stark contrast to the populist fare dished out to the masses. This further discouraged any scholarly discussion of Bollywood movies within cinematic and media study circles. Madhava Prasad (2003) a film scholar wonders about the significance of the term Bollywood (2003). It might be that being imitative Bollywood cinema needs to be rechristened to emphasize this derivativeness. In another context, Gokulsingh et al states that whereas Hollywood filmmakers strove to conceal the constructed nature of their work so that the realistic narrative was wholly dominant, Indian filmmakers made no attempt to conceal the fact that what was shown on the screen was a creation, an illusion, a fiction. Genre While movies like Pather Panchali comes under the genre of art cinema or parallel cinema, Bollywood movies come under the genre of Masala meaning a mixture of hot spices. The main characteristic of the Masala genre is the song and dance sequences, a critical factor in defining the particular genre. But audiences that invest social realism into cinema find it difficult to accept the genre as they are extraneous constructions of the real (Dudrah, 2002). It might be interesting to note that the term Bollywood does not signify Indian cinema as a whole but is confined to those movies emanating from Mumbai, the erstwhile Bombay (Corliss, 1996). Budget Any film begins with a budget which in turn necessitates financial backing. Another factor that delineates Pather Panchali and Bollywood movies is the matter of budgeting. Pather Panchali was shot with the meager budget of $3000 while Bollywood spends incredible amounts to make musical extravaganzas. Even a single dance scene from a Bollywood movie costs tens of thousands of dollars. Satyajit Ray could not afford even what to a Bollywood producer is an insignificant sum. The government of Rays home state contributed the lions share of the production costs of Pather Panchali. This never happens with Bollywood films. Film distributors around India are standing ready to advance princely amounts of cash to a masala movie emanating from Bolllywood. Monroe Wheeler, the then head of the prestigious Museum of Modern Art was greatly impressed with high levels of quality prevalent in Pather Panchali although what he saw at the time of his visit to Calcutta in 1954 was an incomplete footage. La ter Wheeler asked John Huston, the American movie director who was on a visit to Calcutta to look into the progress Rays debut movie. At Hustons favorable feedback, the Museum of Modern Art provided Ray with additional funds. Still three years had elapsed before the movie went into post-production (Mehta, 1998). Screenplay The screenplay for Pather Panchali was based on the Bengali novel of the same title by the popular novelist Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay. The novel was about the simple lives of people inhabiting the Bengal countryside of the period. Such a theme is generally anathema to Bollywood directors. Again, the scripts of Bollywood movies tend to be involved, complicated and resemble the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that somehow come together at the very end. In contrast Pather Panchali did not have even a whole script (Robinson, 2003) as it was solely based on Rays notes and drawings. His theme was simple enough with seemingly random sequences of trivial as well as significant sequences pieced together, a practice that is foreign to the mindset of Bollywood movie directors. Rather than dishing out a fare to assist the moviegoers to escape from the harsh realities of life even it is for a few hours as is the case with Bollywood movies, Ray wanted the script à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦to retain some of the ra mbling quality of the novel because that in itself contained a clue to the feel of authenticity: life in a poor Bengali village does ramble (Ray, 1976). Quite unlike a Satyajit Ray movie, a bollywood film is replete with a plot that is extremely melodramatic in its connotations. Most of such movies follow a regular formula with ingredients that is often mindblogging to a serious movie goer. Such formulae is replete with love triangles, family ties, irate parents, corrupt politicians, conniving villains, kidnappers, golden hearted prostitutes, siblings long lost, sudden reversals of fortune, impossible coincidences and what not. Musical score The musical score consisting of Pather Panchali was prepared by the sitar maestro Ravi Shankar who at that time was at the initial stage of his musical development (Lavezzoli 2006). The background score, in the best tradition of Indian classical music, was something that was truly plaintive and exhilarating (Hoberman, 1995). A sound track that was based on the ragas of classical music and did not contain any songs to portray dance sequences was singularly at variance with the inane capers of Bollywood and something that was happening for the first time in the annals of Indian cinema. A Bollywood movie is an epitome of mediocrity with nothing to relate it with life as lived in India. The main emphasis is on musicals consisting of catchy tunes and words accompanied by a series of song-and-dance sequences. Even the theatricl trailers made to promote a movie have their emphasis on song and dance scenes The standard of a movie is based on mainly on the quality of the songs it features. In fact one major factor of movie promotion with Indian commercial movies in general is to release the songs that a movie contains far ahead of its release. A Satyajit Ray movie appeals to the filmgoer for the aesethetic sense it imparts. To see Pather Panchali was to have what MSN Carta defined as a cerebral experience (MSN Encarta).To understand such films the audience should have a sound notion of what a true movie should be as also expect them to be of a high standard. But it is not at all so in the case of Bollywood movies. Plagiarism in Bollywood Movies Bollywood script writers and music composers have a tendency to plagiarize from western sources and from Bengali and Malayalam movies of India which are of a comparatively high standard. Plot lines, ideas, tunes as well as riffs are fair game for Bollywood (Ayres Oldenburg, 2005). In the past Bollywood could get away with impunity as the movies were largely unknown to non-Indian viewers with the result that none had the faintest notion that ones materials was beeing plagiarized (Dudrah, 2002). Well known Bollywood Director Vikram Bhatt put it succinctly when he remarked Financially, I would be more secure knowing that a particular piece of work has already done well at the box office. Copying is endemic everywhere in India. Our TV shows are adaptations of American programmes. We want their films, their cars, their planes, their diet cokes and also their attitude. The American way of life is creeping into our culture. and also If you hide the source, youre a genius. Theres no such th ing as originality in the creative sphere. However some copyright violations were indeed resulted in litigation. For instance the Bollywood movies Zinda in 2005 and Partner in 2007 were taken to court for having plagiarized from the Hollywood movies Oldboy and Hitch respectively. Accolades Another point to note is that Rays films remains an important part of world cinema and he has received more accolade than any other Indian moviemaker. Noted critic Basil Wright made this comment after viewing Pather Panchali for the first time: I have never forgotten the private projection room at the British Film Institute during which I experienced the shock of recognition and excitement when, unexpectedly, one is suddenly exposed to a new and incontrovertible work of art (Chapman, 2003). For instance the noted film critic Constantine Santas opined that Ray developed a distinctive style of film-making (Santas, 2002). Moti Gokulsing and Wimal Dissanayake stated that the basis of Rays works is comprised of strong humanism and visual lyricism (Gokulsing Dissanayake, 2004). Roy had the singular honor of establishing himself as an auteur of cinema with his very first movie (Santas 2002). In contrast no Bollywood film has ever won an international award, won any critical claim or even special mention from anywhere in the world except in those pulp magazines singing paeans to the movie moguls of Bollywood and their mediocre creations; this in spite of the fact that Bollywood churns out more movies per annum than any other country in the world. Although Bollywood movies are immensely popular with India and Indians living abroad, many South Asians eye them with derision labeling them as maudlin and unrealistic. To quote Edward Johnsons aside as he was commenting on the film posters of Bollywood movies, Indian cinema has a reputation in the West founded more on myth than reality. Art directors such as Satyajit Ray are given fulsome praise whilst the majority of commercial cinema receives nothing but ridicule and the entire industry is pilloried as specious drossà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦(Johnson, 1987:2). Even scholarship in India which, at times, was dismissive of popular films as Technicolor fantasies catering to the masses. To them Bollywood movies were characterized by dance and music, melodramatic content, lavish production procedures and over emphasis on spectacles and stars. And this is why Bollywood films have attained box-office success and raving audiences within India as also globally and not because of aesthetic excellence or on any grounds of merit. . The evolution of Bollywood Cinema with its constant interruptions of dance and song sequences is cited as a critical feature distinguishing it from other cinemas (Gopalan 2002); it is often also cited as an impediment to serious cinema as well Bollywood apologists complain that their movies are evaluated in the glum shadow of European cinematic forms, epistemologies and aesthetics and that in the confines of these rubrics Bollywood movies become poor imitations of art, exhibiting a total lack of realism of any sort and so remain shallow spectacles of fanatastic settings and music. Conclusion In the latter half of the 20th century filmmakers as well as screen writers of a serious mien became frustrated with the then prevailing musical movies. They wanted to reverse this trend and take the Indian movie to a higher and saner realm. They wanted to develop an altogether new genre of movies that portrayed reality from an aesthetic perspective (Roy, 2008) and not mediocre escapist fare. The pioneering efforts of Satyajit Roy gave birth to a number of highly aesthetic and unforgettable movies from avant garde directors like Mrinal Sen, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Shyam Benegal and Girish Kasaravalli. And while it lasted no good thing lasts for long it was a real relief from the artifice universally distributed from the gaudy sets of Bollywood.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Controversial Television Advertising Essay -- TV Media

Controversial Television Advertising We all know from our personal experience that one person’s idea of something offensive often differs from another’s. This essay is to determine the consequences towards negative advertising towards certain controversial products/services and why they are so offensive. All major media organizations need advertising to exist, that's how they pay their bills. At the same time, though, each organization sets its own advertising standards. Some ads a media company will simply refuse to accept (Peart, Karen N). Concerns have been raised about Beer advertising, Cigarette advertising, Sex advertising, Political advertising, and food advertising to children. Alcohol advertising is a primary concern for many Americans who believe that alcohol advertising in media directly influences the frequency of underage drinking. While drinking among youth and young adults has declined over the last six years, a recent study by the Justice Department found that 25% of 15-17 year olds said they drink. Junior and senior high school students drink 35% wine coolers, and consume 1.1 billion cans of beer annually. An alcoholic beverage industry sponsored poll of parents found that 73% of respondents believed that alcoholic beverage advertising is a major contributor to underage drinking (Century Council, 1990). It is also one of the most heavily advertised products in the United States. The alcohol industry generates more than $65 billion a year in revenue and spends more than $1 billion a year on advertising. The advertising budget for one beer -- Budweiser -- is more than the entire federal budget for research on alcoholism and alcohol use. Unfortunately , young people and heavy drinkers are the primary targets of... ...udewijn de Blij. (06/07/2006). Tobacco advertising www.factsheets.globalink.org Nick Higham, BBC media correspondent (04). Confusion over junk food ads. Dr. Joseph Mercola with Rachael Droege (05). Four Ways Junk Food Marketing Targets Your Kids Wikipedia. Sex in Advertising. Pediatric Studies Link TV Advertising with 'Global Fattening' (March 29, 2006) Campaign for Tobacco free kids. â€Å"Still Targeting kids† www.tobaccofreekids.org Christopher Gilson & Harold Berkman (1980). Advertising. Shanto Iyengar & Markus Prior (June 1999). Political Advertising. Gregory Rose, Victoria Bush, & Lynn Kahle (1998). Journal of Advertising Wayne Friedman (2/2006). Courting Kids, Networks Aim Younger. David Waller, Kim Fam, & Zafer Erdogan (2005) The Journal of Consumer Marketing. Vol. 22 Breast for Success. Dahila Lithwick (2004)

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Alcohol and Illicit Drug Abuse in Pregnancy

Alcohol and Illicit Drug Abuse in Pregnancy Amy Luman COM/220 February 10, 2010 Philip Fasso When a woman becomes pregnant, it is vital to her baby's health that she leads a healthy life. This includes eating plenty of nourishing food, fulfilling an adequate amount of rest, and exercising regularly. For a pregnant woman, pregnancy substance abuse is twice as dangerous. First, drugs may harm her own health, which interferes with her ability to support the pregnancy. Second, some drugs can directly impair prenatal development. During pregnancy, virtually all illegal drugs pose a danger. Even legal substances, such as alcohol, tobacco, and prescription drugs  are dangerous to expecting women. As many as one in 10 babies may be born to women who use illegal and prescription drugs during their pregnancies. While some prescription drugs may be necessary during pregnancy, alcohol consumption and illicit drug abuse is frightfully dangerous during pregnancy, and therefore pregnant women should value their value their babies and never misuse them. Healthy Lifestyle Pregnancy should be taken seriously and one should implement a healthy lifestyle to keep them and their unborn child safe. A pregnant woman’s lifestyle habits as well as her partner’s can gravely affect the health of their unborn baby. If the couple has already taken these precautions into action, it is encouraged and should be continued throughout the entire pregnancy. It is never too late for a pregnant woman to start thinking about making behavior changes, which in turn are good for her unborn child. Staying active during pregnancy is one stride closer to bearing a healthy child. Being active during pregnancy can have only positive effects on the expecting mother, with her feeling better and developing more energy. Physical activity can also help maintain muscle tone and strength for labor and birth. A great deal of benefits can come to a woman and her unborn by lightly exercising on a selected number of days a week. There are many types of physical activity and exercise, ranging from mild stretching to aerobic exercise. If an expecting mother is already involved in daily physical activities, there is no need for her to stop. If not, it is a good time for her to start doing something on a regular basis. Daily activities like walking up stairs, cleaning the house, and gardening are also good ways to keep active (Childbirth Connection, 2010). Making exercise an essential part of the day will in the end, only make a happy ending for both mother and her unborn. Being a healthy body weight is important before pregnancy. So eating a well balanced diet throughout pregnancy is very important to the health of oneself and child. Almost all pregnant women need to increase their intake of  protein, certain vitamins and minerals such as  folic acid  and  iron, and calories (for energy). Women who  eat  well and  avoid known risks  tend to have fewer complications during pregnancy and labor and are more likely to deliver larger, healthier babies. Eating a well-balanced diet, high in nutrients, is one of the most important things a woman can do to ensure the future  health  of both her and her baby (Isenberg, 2000-2009). Fetuses born to mothers who have unhealthy diets may be premature or have other problems at birth. In addition, recent research indicates that what a mother eats during the early months of pregnancy may determine her unborn child’s predisposition to certain diseases, such as diabetes  and cancer. Eating a balanced diet during pregnancy can help to  protect the health of both mother and baby. During pregnancy, a woman needs more of some nutrients, such as iron, calcium, and folic acid. For this reason, it is wise to start taking a multivitamin before pregnancy. Vitamins should be an essential part of every mother’s diet and daily routine when expecting. Prescribed multivitamins by one’s health care provider are very important to give the proper nutrients and prenatal care that an unborn child or fetus needs. It is proven that multivitamins, taken before one conceives, have a positive effect on the fetus’s chances of having birth defects. Although many drugs can potentially harm a pregnant woman’s fetus, some drugs are necessary for the wellbeing of both the woman and her fetus. Before making the decision to take any drug, whether it is prescription, over-the-counter, or a medicinal herb, a woman should always discuss both the hazards and advantages of the drug with her doctor to ensure the safety of both her and the fetus. A practitioner may suggest that a woman take certain vitamins and minerals during pregnancy (Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation, 2009). Alcohol Any type of alcoholic beverage can have many hazardous effects on the developing fetus. Consuming alcohol during pregnancy can cause a wide-range of physical and mental birth defects. When a pregnant woman drinks, alcohol passes through the placenta to her fetus. In the fetus’s immature body, alcohol is broken down much more slowly than in an adult's body. As a result, the alcohol level of the baby's blood can be higher and remain elevated longer than the level in the mother's blood. This sometimes causes the baby to suffer lifelong damage. Recent government surveys indicate that about 1 in 12 pregnant women drink during pregnancy and about 1 in 30 pregnant women report binge drinking† (March of Dimes Foundation, 2010, p. 3). FAS or otherwise known as feta alcohol syndrome is a dangerous condition that occurs when a fetus has been exposed to excessive amounts of alcohol prenatally. One of the most common defects is facial abnormalities, although other defects may have gr eater consequences on the individual's health. These defects occur as a result of exposure to alcohol  while in the uterus. An estimated one in 500 to one in 2,000 babies are born with FAS (Ladue, 2001). The common facial abnormalities of FAS include: short eye-slit fissures; a long, smooth upper lip groove; and a thin upper lip. The following picture represents a small child with these facial abnormalities. [pic] Other common physical problems include heart malformations and defects; a hollow at the lower part of the chest; permanent curving of one or more fingers; fusion of bones at the elbow; scoliosis; kidney malformations; and cleft lip and palate (abnormal openings in the lips or roof of the mouth). FAS affects children's height, weight, and head circumference. Many children with FAS are short and thin prior to puberty. As girls enter puberty, they remain short, but frequently gain weight and appear plump. Boys seem to remain fairly short and slender. So far, there has been no cure identified for FAS, but several treatment models are available. For the reason that CNS damage, symptoms, secondary disabilities, and requirements differ extensively there is no one treatment that works for everyone (Wikipedia, 2009). Although many women are aware that heavy drinking during pregnancy can cause birth defects, many do not realize that moderate or even light drinking also may harm the fetus. In fact, no level of alcohol use during pregnancy is safe. Therefore, pregnant women should by no means drink any alcohol, including beer, wine, wine coolers and liquor, throughout their pregnancy and while nursing. Also because women often do not know they are pregnant for a few months, women who may be pregnant or those who are attempting to become pregnant should not drink alcohol. Illicit Drug Use It should be obvious that Illicit and other prescription drugs are extremely harmful to the developing fetus, but disappointingly substance abuse  continues to be a problem worldwide and drug  abuse in pregnancy  is no longer uncommon. Nearly four percent of pregnant women in the United States use illicit drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, and other amphetamines, and heroin and virtually 90% of women who abuse drugs are of childbearing age and consequently substance abuse in pregnancy is increasing (Ludlow, Christmas, Paech, & Orr, 2007). These and other illicit drugs may cause various risks for pregnant women and their babies. Some of these drugs can cause a baby to be born too small or  too soon, or to have withdrawal symptoms,  birth defects,  or learning and behavioral problems. Tolerance and addiction to drugs and alcohol in pregnancy creates many potential problems for the mother, her fetus, and the obstetricians, anesthetists, pain specialists, drug, and alcohol specialists and neonatologists involved in her care. Pregnant women who use these drugs may also engage in other unhealthy behaviors that place their pregnancy at risks. Women who use heroin during pregnancy greatly increase their risks of serious pregnancy complications. These risks include poor fetal growth, premature rupture of the membranes (the bag of waters that holds the fetus breaks too soon), premature birth and stillbirth. As many as half of all babies of heroin users are born with low birth weight, use of heroin in pregnancy may increase the risk of a variety of birth defects. Most babies of heroin users show withdrawal symptoms during the first three days after birth, including fever, sneezing, trembling, irritability, diarrhea, vomiting, continual crying, and seizures. While heroin is usually sniffed, snorted or smoked, most users inject the drug into a muscle or vein. Pregnant women who share needles are at risk of contracting HIV and the hepatitis C virus. Such infections are capable of being passed on to the infant during pregnancy or at birth. Between 20 and 40 million Americans have used cocaine and five to six million are regular users. One million women of child-bearing age use cocaine (Blatt, Meguid, & Church, 2000). Cocaine use during pregnancy can affect a pregnant woman and her baby in many ways. During the early months of pregnancy, cocaine may increase the risk of  miscarriage. Later in pregnancy, it may trigger  preterm labor or cause the baby to grow poorly. As a result, cocaine-exposed babies are more likely than unexposed babies to be born prematurely and with low birth weight. Premature and low-birth weight babies are at increased risk of health problems during the newborn period, lasting disabilities such as mental retardation and  cerebral palsy, and even death. Cocaine-exposed babies also tend to have smaller heads, which generally reflect smaller brains and an increased risk of learning problems. Cocaine use during pregnancy can cause placental problems, including placental abruption. In this condition, the placenta pulls away from the wall of the uterus before labor begins. This will lead to heavy bleeding that can be life threatening for both mother and baby. The baby may be deprived of oxygen and adequate blood flow when an abruption occurs. Prompt cesarean delivery, however; can prevent most deaths but may not prevent serious complications for the baby caused by lack of oxygen (March of Dimes Foundation, 2010). After birth, babies regularly exposed to cocaine before birth may have mild behavioral disturbances. As newborns, some are jittery and irritable, and they may startle and cry at the gentlest touch or sound. These babies may be difficult to comfort and may be withdrawn or unresponsive. Other cocaine-exposed babies â€Å"turn off† surrounding stimuli by going into a deep sleep for most of the day. Cocaine-exposed babies may be more likely than unexposed babies to die of SIDS. Avoidance Virtually all illegal drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, pose dangers to a pregnant woman. Legal substances, such as alcohol and tobacco, are also dangerous, and even medical drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter, can be harmful. For her own health and the health of her baby-to-be, a woman should avoid drugs and alcohol as much as possible; from the time she first plans to become pregnant or learns that she is pregnant. Alcohol is one of the most dangerous drugs for pregnant women, especially in the early weeks. In the mother’s body, alcohol breaks down chemically to a cell damaging compound that is absorbed by the fetus. Heavy drinking during early pregnancy greatly increases the risk of a cluster of birth defects known as fetal alcohol syndrome. This cluster includes a small skull, abnormal facial features, and heart defects, often accompanied by impeded growth and mental retardation. Heavy drinking in later pregnancy may also impede growth (American Council for Drug Education, 1999). It is not known whether light to moderate drinking can produce these effects. However, even if the risk is low, the stakes are very high. Medical experts agree that a woman should avoid alcohol entirely when she decides to become pregnant, or at least when the first signs of pregnancy appear. Even such mild beverages as beer and wine coolers should be off limits. The Law Currently there is only one state, South Carolina that holds prenatal substance abuse as a criminal act of child abuse and neglect. Other states have laws that merely address prenatal substance abuse. Some of these states consider prenatal substance abuse as part of their child welfare laws. Therefore, prenatal drug exposure can provide foundation for terminating parental rights because of child abuse. Of these states include: Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. A number of states have policies that implement admission to an inpatient treatment program for pregnant women who use drugs. These states consist of: Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. In 2004, Texas made it a felony to smoke marijuana while pregnant, resulting in a prison sentence of 2-20 years (American Pregnancy Association, 2000-2010). Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for a pregnant woman to become addicted to prescription medications and other illegal drugs. A mother who uses drugs during pregnancy risks her life and her baby’s life. Studies have shown that consumption of illegal drugs during pregnancy can result in miscarriage, low birth-weight, premature labor, placental abruption, fetal death, or even maternal death. While some prescription drugs may be necessary during pregnancy, alcohol consumption and illicit drug abuse is frightfully dangerous during pregnancy, therefore; pregnant women should value their babies and never misuse them.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

New England DBQ essays

New England DBQ essays Even though the New England and Chesapeake regions were settled by people from the same country, they developed into very different societies because their original settlers were tremendously diverse. The Chesapeake region inclined more towards work and business, while the New England region was very family oriented. While the emigrants to the Chesapeake region came for financial reasons, the Puritans came to New England to run from religious persecution. And finally, the Chesapeake area was very unstable and under conflict while the North maintained law and order. Emigrants to the Chesapeake settled primarily for financial reasons, and the Puritans settled the New England area for religious matters. As we know, the Puritans originally settled in the Mass. Bay Area Colony and believed they were on a mission from God. God almighty in his most holy and wise providence hath disposed...we must knit together in this and work as one man (doc. A). The Puritans believed that they were an example for the rest of the world and that the eyes of all people are upon us. Emigrants to the Chesapeake region moved for financial reasons, most likely being young, indentured servants. Some of them believed that there was a treasure of gold in the colonies. They dug gold, washed gold, refined old, and loaded gold (doc. F). The emigrants were usually young, around ages 19-30 (doc. C) looking for a means of financial gain. Moving on, the Puritans of the New England area usually came to the New World with their entire families, while emigrants to the Chesapeake region were single, mostly young men. The Puritans hoped to establish communities in New England, thus they brought along their whole family. Joseph Hull, a minister, brought along his wife, 7 kids, and servants to the New World (doc. B). These people literally dug out their roots and planted them in the New World. On the other hand, emigrants to the Chesapeake region came to the bi...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Free Essays on Hick - Free WIll

An attempt to make the existence of an omnipotent and benevolent God coincide along with the existence of evil is known as a Theodicy. Theodicy according to our text means the justification of God’s goodness in the face of the fact of evil. Theodicy first divides the evil in the world into Moral evil and Non-Moral evil. Moral Evil is the evil that human being cause - either to themselves or to each other. Non-Moral Evil is the evil that is not caused by human activity - natural disasters, etc. The existence of Moral evil is explained by claiming, as many theodicies do, that God allows the existence of Moral evil because human beings have free wills. The existence of a free will is necessary for the proper worship of God, and to avoid the pitfalls of predestination. If we wanted the evil to stop, it is up to us to make it happen. Hick argues that there is a way that God can be omnipotent and benevolent, and still have evil exist in the world. It is because humans have free will. If we are to truly have free will, then we have to be allowed to choose evil. He thinks, also, that a world in which people have free will is the best possible world. Another objection he makes is that "omnipotent" has to be defined in a certain way to make this premise true. It would have to mean that there are infinitely many ways to create a universe and God is capable of creating all of them. But Hick says there are not infinitely many ways to create a universe; any universe must at least be logical. That is a restriction on the kind of worlds that can exist. My first reply to Hick is that we are not really free anyway. At first thought, there are limitations on what we can do both physically and mentally†¦ so FREE to me seems to be a little far fetched. When I think about free will in more simple terms, for instance, if we didn't have free will we would be puppets and not human beings, and in order to really have free will, one must be able to choose... Free Essays on Hick - Free WIll Free Essays on Hick - Free WIll An attempt to make the existence of an omnipotent and benevolent God coincide along with the existence of evil is known as a Theodicy. Theodicy according to our text means the justification of God’s goodness in the face of the fact of evil. Theodicy first divides the evil in the world into Moral evil and Non-Moral evil. Moral Evil is the evil that human being cause - either to themselves or to each other. Non-Moral Evil is the evil that is not caused by human activity - natural disasters, etc. The existence of Moral evil is explained by claiming, as many theodicies do, that God allows the existence of Moral evil because human beings have free wills. The existence of a free will is necessary for the proper worship of God, and to avoid the pitfalls of predestination. If we wanted the evil to stop, it is up to us to make it happen. Hick argues that there is a way that God can be omnipotent and benevolent, and still have evil exist in the world. It is because humans have free will. If we are to truly have free will, then we have to be allowed to choose evil. He thinks, also, that a world in which people have free will is the best possible world. Another objection he makes is that "omnipotent" has to be defined in a certain way to make this premise true. It would have to mean that there are infinitely many ways to create a universe and God is capable of creating all of them. But Hick says there are not infinitely many ways to create a universe; any universe must at least be logical. That is a restriction on the kind of worlds that can exist. My first reply to Hick is that we are not really free anyway. At first thought, there are limitations on what we can do both physically and mentally†¦ so FREE to me seems to be a little far fetched. When I think about free will in more simple terms, for instance, if we didn't have free will we would be puppets and not human beings, and in order to really have free will, one must be able to choose...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

War And Peace Essays - French Invasion Of Russia, War And Peace

War And Peace Essays - French Invasion Of Russia, War And Peace War And Peace War and Peace The famous Russian author Leo Tolstoy wrote War and Peace in 1865. It is a story about the lives of the Russian royal family from 1805 to 1815. This book depicts things and events that happened during the war. The novel describes the war with Napoleon in which many countries were involved such as Russia, Austrian, Prussia, Spain, Sweden, and Britain. However, the novel mainly focuses on Russia. It reflects the different views and participation in the war of Russian aristocracy. Showing the war, Tolstoy describes Napoleon's attack on Russia, the battle of Borodino, the slow retrieval of the Russian army, the conquest of Moscow by Napoleon, the fire in Moscow, and the retrieval of Napoleon's army during a deadly winter. Napoleon had to retreat from Russia under attacks by Russian peasants and horsemen on those who fell behind. His army also suffers from cold and hunger, since the Russians destroyed all food supplies. The takeover of Moscow by Napoleon proved to be useless, and in the long run, destroyed a large part of his army. Alongside with these historical events, Tolstoy describes the different classes of Russian society in the terms of their participation in the war and what kind of an impact war had on their lives. In the beginning of the novel, the Russian aristocratic class, which was in the czar's circle, wanted Russia to participate in the war. They wanted a quick victory and pride for the Russian nobility. They did not anticipate that the war would destroy homes, agriculture, and take many Russian lives. There are the good people, and of course, the bad. The good people being Natasha Rostov, a teenage girl who grows and matures throughout the book and Pierre Bezuhov, the son of Kirill Vladmirovitch Bezuhov, who speaks much of the novel expressing his purpose on earth. Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, the leader of the Bolkonsky family and a great war hero. The bad people are the protagonists themselves, as they torment themselves and Napoleon Bonaparte, (who, by some, is believed to be an impostor) the emperor and military leader of France, whom is bent on world domination. The Secondary characters are the families of Bolkonsky and Kuragin, Anna Pavolvna, a famous St. Petersburg socialite and Kutuzof, the military leader of the Russian forces. This class is shown in Anna Pavlova Sharer's salon, with its upper class aristocracy, who talk only in French, viewing the Russian language as uncivilized and useful only for peasants. They adopted French culture and wear French style clothing, and at the same time they want to fight Napoleon. However, the majority of this class doesn't want to participate themselves in the war, but want to win the war with the hands of the peasants. These aristocrats, despite their high education and power, will do nothing to help win the war. They live like parasites on the body of Russia's society. This is how Tolstoy describes this class in general, but he also depicts two representatives of this upper class, Andrew Bolkonsky and Pierre Bisuhov, who were the more intellectual ones, and whose lives and views of war and life changed as the result of the war. Depicting the Rostov family, who were also wealthy nobles, but were not in the czar's circle and lived in rural parts of Russia, Tolstoy showed a typical Russian family who were devoted to their country and Russian traditions. All of Tolstoy's sympathy is on their side and he presents them in a positive way. They sing Russian folklore, which the higher aristocrats would not dream of doing. Depicting this class, Tolstoy describes simple and eternal problems such as birth, love, forgiveness, and death. The main national characteristics are in the Russian peasants. Through these people, who hate war, we are shown that they are forced to participate in the war because the have no other choice. They show real heroism during war. Captain Tushin and a soldier, Timohin, give their lives to save their army. Historical figures such as Napoleon and Kutuzov oppose the views of the aristocratic class in the czar's circle. This class of people didn't like Kutuzov, who became the general of the Russian army. They thought he was too

Saturday, October 19, 2019

The ways children and adults may respond to media content that Essay

The ways children and adults may respond to media content that contains explicit material - Essay Example These programs show objectionable and socially offending content including promiscuity, violence, drug abuse and occultism among others. This paper examines the complaints that objectionable media content has generated, emphasizing on critical analysis of the linkage between the contents and the objections raised by the society. Complaints to objectionable content Various media contents have generated negative criticism from the society. Some of the complaints originate from particular segments of the society while others elicit widespread criticism. In a research study investigating the reactions of the society to objectionable media content, Stephenson (2007) identified religion, race, and culture in addition to sexual orientation as the major factors determining how particular media content is received in the society. In American society, the minority groups have been raising concerns about how their image is portrayed in the media. In the movie industry for instance Adler, et al( 2007) noted that most African American males play violent and vulgar roles that portray them as hardcore criminals with an inclination of abusing hard drugs. In addition, many television programs focusing on black people portray the negative side such as poverty, crime and chronic disease infection in addition to broken and unhappy families. These programs have recently fallen under heavy criticism because they hardly show achievements or positive side of the black people in the community. The negative media publicity of the minorities, especially in developed countries has been attributed by Bushman and Cantor (2003) as the leading cause of reinforcing crime, drug abuse and other social problems, among the minority groups. In addition, they promote racial prejudice, where a particular race is regarded with scorn, suspicion and mistrust. Besides negative depiction of African Americans, portrayal of people from East Asian countries such as Japan and china in the media is equally bias ed compared to white actors. A study conducted by Stephenson (2007) established that most movies with male actors from oriental countries portray them as extremely violent and cold hearted with exemplary martial arts skills. Similarly, female actors from these countries are portrayed as delicate, weak and sexually attractive. This perception creates an impression that Asian females are incompatible with their violent, cold hearted and inhuman counterparts in romantic relationships. Sexually explicit and pornographic programs are some of the most heavily criticized media content in all segments of the society. In extremely conservative societies and religious groups, media programs that broadcast scanty dressing or behavior with sexual overtone are not allowed (Adler, et al 2007). Pornographic content is considered as the epitome of sexual immorality in most societies. Currently, restricting access to pornographic materials to the young people is among the top priorities in most coun tries. Sexually explicit media contents are attributed to promoting promiscuity and other adverse sexual behavior, such as pedophilia, rape and homosexuality. Effect of objectionable content on behavior High prevalence of violent crime, promiscuity, drug abuse and other social disorders have been credited to the negative influence of

Friday, October 18, 2019

The Cost of Benefiting From Corporate Social Responsibility Essay

The Cost of Benefiting From Corporate Social Responsibility - Essay Example Because the field is a relatively new effort by business and the effects of their actions are so far reaching, it is necessary to quantify what benefits a company derives from CSR as well as demonstrate to the public the benefit that society gains from it. The cost of CSR, sometimes met with a negative response, needs to be examined with an understanding that the benefits in some cases may be mutual and what may be good for society may also be good for business. Measuring the benefit that CSR has to a company has been complicated by the reluctance of business to embrace the concept and provide reasonable reports and audits. A forthcoming report from St. Andrews University contends that less than 4% of the world's major corporations produce CSR reports, and the results have been characterised by Rob Gray, professor from St. Andrews, as, "at best useless and at worst highly misleading" (qtd. in Edwards, 2006). There are, however, some economic indicators that can be used when comparing companies that have a strong CSR reputation to those that do not. Profits, revenues, customer loyalty, market response, worker safety, and legal liabilities can be examined for the impact they have on a business. Societal benefits that arise from worker and product safety, a clean environment, and ethical practices are readily apparent. However, more intangible benefits may not be as readily quantified, but may be reflected in better company reputation, brand l oyalty, and public perception. When measuring CSR as an overall effect on a company, there is some correlation between good company citizenship and lower profitability. Indicators that can be measured indicate an overall negative effect on top CSR companies and their annual net income growth (Laffer, Coors, & Winegarden, 2004, pg. 5). It may be misleading to infer that market leaders also have the most ambitious CSR programs, for as Laffer, Coors, and Winegarden, 2004, conclude, "It is likely, therefore, that the businesses that are inclined to engage in CSR initiatives tend to be those that are already financially successful and that can afford the added CSR overhead" (pg. 6). Short-term benefits from CSR that are realised by society may take place at the expense of a company's core mission of generating profits. However, when CSR traits are examined on an individual basis, the results may reveal benefits for both the company and society. Worker safety is a paramount consideration for a company with strong CSR traits. The demand of a safe workplace is a mainstay of worker advocates and has, in many cases, been forced upon business through increased regulation. Workers have benefited greatly from these actions as the work environment continues to improve. But has business also reaped rewards from investments in safety Or has safety had a negative effect on profit Alcoa, the world's largest aluminium producer, made a strong commitment to safety in 1987. Since then its accident rate has fallen by 90% and is 10 times better than its industry peers (Jackson & Nelson, 2004). During this same period, Alcoa has been able to outpace the industry and its nearest competitor, Alcan, in both revenue and profitability. Safety contributes to profitability through a

International Management Scholarship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

International Management - Scholarship Essay Example Kluckohn and Strodtbeck’s theory of culture points out six dimensions of culture that are there. These dimensions include identifying the nature of people, the person’s relationship to nature, person’s relationship to other people, the modality of human activity, the temporal focus of human activity and the conception of space. These six orientations were not clearly defined as well as they were not basically focusing on management. One's useful way of characterizing differences in cultures is the low context-high-context approach developed by Edward and Mildred Hall. Hall's Low-Context-High-Context Approach. In a low-context culture, the words used by the speaker explicitly convey the speaker's message to the listener. Anglo-Saxon countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and Germanic countries are good examples of low-context cultures. In a high-context culture, the context in which a conversation occurs is just as important as the wo rds that are actually spoken and cultural clues are important in understanding what is being communicated. Business behaviours in high-context cultures often differ from those in low-context cultures.

Criminal Evidence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Criminal Evidence - Essay Example The leading case in this area was R v Leatham 1where Crompton J famously remarked 'it matters not how you get it, if you steal it even, it would be admissible in evidence'.2 There were common law rules which allowed the judges to have the discretion to exclude evidence3 at a criminal trial, if this would jeopardise the position of the defendant.4.The standard of reasonableness to be exercised in this regard was that of the "Wednesbury" criteria.5 .Thus the position under common law was that illegally obtained evidence was admissible, given that it was credible, relevant and did not cause adverse inferences to be drawn against the accused.6 The PACE 1984 came into effect in January 1986 and brought changes to the common law position. The main section 78 7of PACE 1984 codified and consolidated the previous common law position.8 However the later body of case law that developed tended to discard the common law approach and develop an entirely new approach to the section, yet the court has not yet given an exhaustive set of guidelines for the section due to the different facts of each case.9Most of the early case law in this regard involved the exclusion of unfairly procured confessions although the position before the PACE 1984 had been very much the same.10 The position in the cases of r... misconduct by the police authorities in the cases of real evidence.11However the court showed some caution in cases involving Alcohol and DNA tests as there was a likelihood of the rigging of such evidence.12In the very controversial case of R v Nathaniel13 the court excluded the evidence of a blood sample of rapist taken four years ago which was promised by the police to be destroyed given that he was not convicted. They tried to use the sample again to convict him four years later but the court excluded this evidence and Lord Taylor CJ made it clear for the court, 'To allow that blood sample to be used in evidence at a trial four years after the alleged offences when the sample had been retained in breach of statutory duty and in breach of the undertakings to the defendant must, in our view, have had an adverse effect on the fairness of the trial. It should not in our view have been admitted.' This case has been followed wherever evidence has been retained in breach of s 64 (3B) of PACE in later cases of rape, murder and theft. For example in the case of Regina v Weir14 the accused was being charged of brutal murder on the basis of very convincing DNA samples which were obtained in breach of s64 (3B) of PACE and thereby the conviction of the defendant was quashed.. Recently however, in the Attorney General's Reference No. 3 of 199915 the House of Lords expressed dissatisfaction with this judgement and regretted not having convicted the accused despite the heavy amount of evidence involved. The Court said that " It must be borne in mind that respect for the privacy of defendants is not the only value at stake. The purpose of the criminal law is to permit everyone to go about their daily lives without fear of harm to person or property. And it is in the

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Analysis of Abortion Theme in Literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Analysis of Abortion Theme in Literature - Essay Example For instance, there are a lot of disputes with pro and con arguments concerning the legalization of marihuana, the animal deaths for the sake of scientific experiments, the problem of corruption or possible methods to reduce alcohol dependence and others. Within entire variety of such ‘everlasting’ matters there is also one that causes considerable interest from the point of view of morality, ethics, social aspect and medicine simultaneously. Its level of development is able to affect demography and living standards of any country dramatically. This pressing issue manages to bring sometimes undesirable changes to people’s lives. And finally, present query deals with human health condition, which can be damaged irreparably if required preventive measures are not used in time. The problem which the present paper is dedicated to is the matter of abortions in modern society. Statistical data The world statistics shows that the biggest percentage of women who are prone to obtain abortions goes to the group of girls under twenty five years old. Over 60% of all medical procedures are done on women who have never been married (Henshaw and Kost 11). Moreover, only 7% of abortions happen due to rape or health problems, meanwhile about 93% of all abortions are committed because of social reasons, when a woman deliberately and consciously desires to get rid of unwanted baby. Today the question about whether abortion is ethically right or wrong action still quite controversial issue. Hence, in some states of the USA authorities provide financial assistance to insolvent women for enabling them to obtain mentioned medical procedure. However, in some countries, such as Brazil, Peru, Bangladesh, Colombia and Mexico, abortion has official status of illegal deed. Philosophic and religious attitude The matter of abortions from the view of ethics has been always a disputable notion among numerous philosophers. Jane English differentiates own visions concerning m entioned issue due to the stages of pregnancy. Hence, she believes that in the early months of pregnancy a baby in a womb should not be considered as a person, this means that a fetus has no any rights and moral status yet and abortion may take place. However, if there are late months of pregnancy then abortion should occur only if labor may cause damage to woman’s health condition (qtd. in Hillar and Prahl 133). By contrast with English, Mary Ann Warren concludes that no matter what period of pregnancy is a fetus should be considered as an inseparable part of woman’s body, therefore she has a full right to make a decision. It should be mentioned that different religions also have own visions to the problem of interrupted pregnancy. For example, the Orthodox Church objects to abortions, while Jewish faith claims that â€Å"a fetus is hot considered a full human being and has no juridical personality of its own† (Zwerin and Shapiro 31). Reasons of abortion It is well known that a decision to give a birth to a baby is a serious and essential step that requires prolong and weighted reflections. There is no harder and more crucial issue for a woman than to make up own mind concerning the possibility of her potential child’s future life. Feeling a burden of huge responsibility, a lot of women are prone to find courage for interrupting pregnancy artificially. This happens because of several reasons, the major of which are the following: childbirth may damage

Career in retail Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Career in retail - Essay Example 3. This position matches with the necessary skills that I have learnt as part of my education and would provide me with an ideal opportunity to put the skills to good use. Further, the job would be a good fit for me given my personality traits and other characteristics that would match the skill set requirements of the job. All in all, the job would be an ideal starting point for me and for my career into the Canadian retail industry. 4. The pros of the job are that I would be utilizing my educational background and put to use the skills that I have learnt. The job would entail training in the areas of business and management along with finance and contracting. This would enable me to pursue the related skill sets and gain valuable insights into these fields. The biggest advantage of this job is that I would be given responsibility over an entire Franchise and hence this would be an ideal start to my career in the Canadian Retail industry. 5. The cons of the job are that since the position entails responsibilities beyond the normal ones that are part of a job in the retail industry, I would have to ensure that I scale up my performance level and work longer and harder. Though I would not necessarily see this as a negative, the fact remains that this would certainly add to the burden and I have to put in that much more work to measure up to the specifications. 6. I believe that the salary being offered is reasonable considering my qualifications and the demands of the job. There is nothing in the compensation package to suggest that the salary being offered is below my expectations or is somehow not consistent with the job description. Further, I am enthused by the fact that the package involves perquisites that make up for any deficiencies in the monetary compensation. 7. http://www.olx.ca/retail-jobs-cat-386 This job posting is

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Criminal Evidence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Criminal Evidence - Essay Example The leading case in this area was R v Leatham 1where Crompton J famously remarked 'it matters not how you get it, if you steal it even, it would be admissible in evidence'.2 There were common law rules which allowed the judges to have the discretion to exclude evidence3 at a criminal trial, if this would jeopardise the position of the defendant.4.The standard of reasonableness to be exercised in this regard was that of the "Wednesbury" criteria.5 .Thus the position under common law was that illegally obtained evidence was admissible, given that it was credible, relevant and did not cause adverse inferences to be drawn against the accused.6 The PACE 1984 came into effect in January 1986 and brought changes to the common law position. The main section 78 7of PACE 1984 codified and consolidated the previous common law position.8 However the later body of case law that developed tended to discard the common law approach and develop an entirely new approach to the section, yet the court has not yet given an exhaustive set of guidelines for the section due to the different facts of each case.9Most of the early case law in this regard involved the exclusion of unfairly procured confessions although the position before the PACE 1984 had been very much the same.10 The position in the cases of r... misconduct by the police authorities in the cases of real evidence.11However the court showed some caution in cases involving Alcohol and DNA tests as there was a likelihood of the rigging of such evidence.12In the very controversial case of R v Nathaniel13 the court excluded the evidence of a blood sample of rapist taken four years ago which was promised by the police to be destroyed given that he was not convicted. They tried to use the sample again to convict him four years later but the court excluded this evidence and Lord Taylor CJ made it clear for the court, 'To allow that blood sample to be used in evidence at a trial four years after the alleged offences when the sample had been retained in breach of statutory duty and in breach of the undertakings to the defendant must, in our view, have had an adverse effect on the fairness of the trial. It should not in our view have been admitted.' This case has been followed wherever evidence has been retained in breach of s 64 (3B) of PACE in later cases of rape, murder and theft. For example in the case of Regina v Weir14 the accused was being charged of brutal murder on the basis of very convincing DNA samples which were obtained in breach of s64 (3B) of PACE and thereby the conviction of the defendant was quashed.. Recently however, in the Attorney General's Reference No. 3 of 199915 the House of Lords expressed dissatisfaction with this judgement and regretted not having convicted the accused despite the heavy amount of evidence involved. The Court said that " It must be borne in mind that respect for the privacy of defendants is not the only value at stake. The purpose of the criminal law is to permit everyone to go about their daily lives without fear of harm to person or property. And it is in the

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Career in retail Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Career in retail - Essay Example 3. This position matches with the necessary skills that I have learnt as part of my education and would provide me with an ideal opportunity to put the skills to good use. Further, the job would be a good fit for me given my personality traits and other characteristics that would match the skill set requirements of the job. All in all, the job would be an ideal starting point for me and for my career into the Canadian retail industry. 4. The pros of the job are that I would be utilizing my educational background and put to use the skills that I have learnt. The job would entail training in the areas of business and management along with finance and contracting. This would enable me to pursue the related skill sets and gain valuable insights into these fields. The biggest advantage of this job is that I would be given responsibility over an entire Franchise and hence this would be an ideal start to my career in the Canadian Retail industry. 5. The cons of the job are that since the position entails responsibilities beyond the normal ones that are part of a job in the retail industry, I would have to ensure that I scale up my performance level and work longer and harder. Though I would not necessarily see this as a negative, the fact remains that this would certainly add to the burden and I have to put in that much more work to measure up to the specifications. 6. I believe that the salary being offered is reasonable considering my qualifications and the demands of the job. There is nothing in the compensation package to suggest that the salary being offered is below my expectations or is somehow not consistent with the job description. Further, I am enthused by the fact that the package involves perquisites that make up for any deficiencies in the monetary compensation. 7. http://www.olx.ca/retail-jobs-cat-386 This job posting is

A Western Wind Essay Example for Free

A Western Wind Essay â€Å"Western Wind† by an anonymous Middle English lyric relates to A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway. In A Farewell to Arms Fredrick Henry has a stream-of-consciousness. In a stream-of-consciousness the writer approximates the rapid, often chaotic thought patterns of the character. Thinking about Catherine, in the rain, Henry refers to the poem Western Wind†. The poet of â€Å"Western Wind† wishes that his heart would heal from the pain of not being with the person that he loves. That is the same with Fredrick Henry. In his dream, Henry says, â€Å"Blow, blow, ye western wind† (Hemingway A Farewell to Arms 197). Henry is commanding the winds to blow the small rain back and maybe â€Å"That my sweet love Catherine down might rain† (197). During the war time it is raining â€Å"the big rain† (197). Obviously, the poet in â€Å"Western Wind† is also having some big rain because he wants â€Å"The small rain† (Anonymous â€Å"Western Wind† 2). It is obvious that the poet wishes for his heartache to go away because he says, Christ, that my love were in my arms, (3). This blatantly shows that he wishes to be with his love so she could ease his pains. Fredrick Henry’s pain is that he is lonely and only when they are together is when he has no pain. â€Å"Western Wind† â€Å"Western Wind† by an anonymous Middle English lyric relates to A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway. In A Farewell to Arms Fredrick Henry has a stream-of-consciousness. In a stream-of-consciousness the writer approximates the rapid, often chaotic thought patterns of the character. Thinking about Catherine, in the rain, Henry refers to the poem Western Wind†. The poet of â€Å"Western Wind† wishes that his heart would heal from the pain of not being with the person that he loves. That is the same with Fredrick Henry. In his dream, Henry says, â€Å"Blow, blow, ye western wind† (Hemingway A Farewell to Arms 197). Henry is commanding the winds to blow the small rain back and maybe â€Å"That my sweet love Catherine down might rain† (197). During the war time it is raining â€Å"the big rain† (197). Obviously, the poet in â€Å"Western Wind† is also having some big rain because he wants â€Å"The small rain† (Anonymous â€Å"Western Wind† 2). It is obvious that the poet wishes for his heartache to go away because he says, Christ, that my love were in my arms, (3). This blatantly shows that he wishes to be with his love so she could ease his pains. Fredrick Henry’s pain is that he is lonely and only when they are together is when he has no pain.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Why People Should Connect More With Nature Theology Religion Essay

Why People Should Connect More With Nature Theology Religion Essay In the twenty-first century, people have practically forgotten how important it is to connect with nature. Despite all the technological advances and scientific inventions that make us believe we have nothing in common with the rest of the animal world, we are still part of the planets fauna, whether we realize it or not. Needless to say, back when humanitys main achievements were the invention of a round wheel, or specific tools for farming agriculture, people were very dependent on nature and paid a lot of attention to the changes of its course. Now, with the technological revolutions and discoveries that made our past history, we seem to pay extremely little attention to nature, getting more and more disconnected from it every day. However, the links that were initially there, couldnt just disappear and there is a number of important reasons in favor of the statement that people should try to get back to basics and connect with nature more than they do today. First of all, nature has historically been the home for human beings, just like it remains a home for animals and plants (of course, with the exception of those that are kept in zoos and greenhouses). Nature is able to show us true beauty, without modifications, exaggerations and falseness. After all, isnt is a little ironic that people go to galleries and exhibitions to look at paintings of colorful flowers, mighty woods, green hills and fast clear streams; those simple things that they can easily observe in real life if they just get outside their urban environment that looms around them? Or the fact that people purchase recordings of calming sounds of nature, like what youd hear at night in the woods damped quavering of an owl, ringing flare of crickets and susurrus rustle of bushes. What we are in fact doing is trying to deceive our minds and make ourselves believe that we ARE in the wood, next to those owls, crickets and bushes, while we are instead trapped inside our tiny, wel l-furnished and packed-with-technology apartment. Secondly, in the era of absolute informational chaos and noise, it becomes more important than ever to be able to pause from the crazy pace of life and relax. Finding silence and peace in the global vacuum of competitiveness, haste and strain, is very challenging. We go to doctors to treat us for depression, insomnia and anxiety. We ask for prescriptions and pills, while what we should be doing instead is turning to nature for help. What can be more relaxing and stress-free, than a cup of warm herbal tea with fresh honey, on the porch of a cozy wooden country house with a view of a small natural lake, or little green forest, or beautiful mountains? Its the cheapest, simplest and most accessible treatment one can think of. We laugh at those freaks hugging trees in the park, or walking barefoot on the grass. However, these people remember something very important; something, most others have forgotten somewhere along the race to progress and prosperity: the key to being healthy, emotio nally sustained and resistant to everyday stress, is staying connected to nature and allowing ourselves to put all business on hold and take a break. Nature is about balance and harmony things we lack most living inside the swirling pit of urbanized cities. Sometimes, we escape, but so rarely and so abruptly, that such escapes can hardly help us re-establish our links with nature. People should seriously consider changing their routine and getting out into nature more regularly. When was the last time you took a walk to the nearby pond, or spent a weekend outdoors doing active sports? When was the last time you went hiking, or fishing, or took your family or friends for a picnic in the nearby park? We should try to move our weekly entertainment, as well as our holiday celebrations, parties and friendly gatherings, from homes, pubs and restaurants to lake shores, mountains, parks, forests, ponds, rivers and groves. The beautiful landscapes of America are incredibly rich and diverse and this is our true natural wealth that we unfortunately often forget about. Many parents and teachers today can remember hours spent in the great outdoors, called in only for dinner or when the last ray of summer light disappeared. Bookworm that I was, I can personally remember being told many days, Its a much too beautiful day to be inside. Go read that book in a tree! Today, childrens lives seem to be structured much differently, a world where the phrase Go play outside has been replaced by television programs, computer time, and Wii Fit. Modern humans lived in nature for most of their long history. Even once colonization into cities occurred, people were surrounded by nature in the fields and farms where they lived. And until thirty or so years ago, children still spent the bulk majority of their free time in contact with nature. Urbanization brought about parks and playgrounds to play in; fields, forests, and empty lots to explore; and even in nearby backyards. Children freely played, explored, and interacted with nature without restriction. Todays world is much different. Children no longer freely explore the world around them, and many have extremely limited contact with nature at all. Fear for safety, structured lessons and activities, and electronics are some of the main inhibitors to natural discovery that involve children today. Spontaneous interaction with nature is most often limited, at best. Free play in nature encourages children to create games with their own invented rules, conduct experiments with nature, and learn lessons that arent taught by anyone. These types of no rules situations promote inventive play and give children a deeper understanding of nature. While playground equipment is a perk of modern urbanization, its uses are more finite than those nature provides. Although equipment can be open-ended, imagined as a castle one day and a boat the next, nature is ever changing. Crossing a stream one day might become searching for treasures under river stones another day as the stream dries up. Tactile outdoor experiences teach children differently than a lesson or even reading about a subject can. Besides the educational benefits, connecting with nature has more benefits than might be obvious. Research shows that children who are allowed to explore outdoors are socially and emotionally happier and healthier. Unstructured outdoor play is also touted as one of the most direct ways to combat childhood obesity, a very real and prominent problem for children. Vitamin D exposure from the sun is known to help prevent a host of diseases, as well as treat and prevent depression. Richard Louv, author of  Last Child in the Woods, has coined a phrase to sum up the current state of the modern child: nature deficit disorder. He believes that contact with nature can aid in preventing and treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and that children need regular contact with nature to stay physically and emotionally healthy. I highly recommend his book if you are interested in learning more about these ideas. Outdoor play gives children the opportunity to value nature, and see it as an important part of of our world. This is a tangible way to ensure that we help them developing environmental stewards who will be both appreciative and respectful of nature as they grow. Here are a few ideas for incorporating natural play into childrens everyday lives: * Find a nature trail (or any place in nature, really) and encourage children to play, rather than just hike. Help children make up a game or collect bugs or leaves * Allow children a small patch of land as their own. This can be in a backyard or a school yard. One school where I worked had a childrens garden in the strip of land that ran right next to the side of the school building. Let them use their imagination to dig, garden, build, etc. * Invest in a few inexpensive outdoor exploration tools: bug box, magnifying glass, butterfly net, shovel, spade, and compass * Rather than working indoors, take lessons outdoors. Learn about water cycles from the true source, use nature to teach about categorization, or compose a symphony of nature sounds. Even a language or math lesson is more fun when done outside on a beautiful day Outdoor play gives children the opportunity to value nature, and see it as an important part of of our world. This is a tangible way to ensure that we help them developing environmental stewards who will be both appreciative and respectful of nature as they grow. Images used during study Stopping to experience our natural surroundings can have social as well as personal benefits, says Richard Ryan, coauthor and professor of psychology, psychiatry and education at theUniversity of Rochester. While the salubrious effects of nature are well documented, from increasing happiness and physical health to lowering stress, this study shows that the benefits extend to a persons values and actions. Exposure to natural as opposed to man-made environments leads people to value community and close relationships and to be more generous with money, find Ryan and his team of researchers at the University of Rochester. The paper includes four experiments in which 370 participants were exposed to either natural or man-made settings. Participants were encouraged to attend to their environments by noticing colors and textures and imagining sounds and smells. In three of the studies, participants were shown a selection of four images on a 19 inch computer screen for two minutes each. Half of the subject viewed buildings, roads, and other cityscapes; the other half observed landscapes, lakes, and deserts. The urban and nature images were matched for color, complexity, layout, and lighting. In a fourth study, participants were simply assigned at random to work in a lab with or without plants. Participants then answered a questionnaire assessing the importance of four life aspirations: wealth and fame (to be financially successful and to be admired by many people) and connectedness and community (to have deep enduring relationships and to work toward the betterment of society). Across all four studies, people exposed to natural elements rated close relationships and community higher than they had previously. The questionnaire also measured how immersed viewers were in their environments and found that the more deeply engaged subjects were with natural settings, the more they valued community and closeness. By contrast, the more intensely participants focused on artificial elements, the higher they rated wealth and fame. To test generosity, two of the studies gave participants a $5 prize with the instructions that the money could be kept or given to a second anonymous participant, who would then be given an additional $5. The second participant could choose to return the prize money or keep it. Thus, subjects had nothing to gain if they chose to trust the other participant, and risked losing their money. The result? People who were in contact with nature were more willing to open their wallets and share. As with aspirations, the higher the immersion in nature, the more likely subjects were to be generous with their winnings. Why should nature make us more charitable and concerned about others? One answer, says coauthor Andrew Przybylski, is that nature helps to connect people to their authentic selves. For example, study participants who focused on landscapes and plants reported a greater sense of personal autonomy (Right now, I feel like I can be myself). For humans, says Przybylski, our authentic selves are inherently communal because humans evolved in hunter and gatherer societies that depended on mutuality for survival. In addition, write the authors, the richness and complexity of natural environments may encourage introspection and the lack of man-made structures provide a safe haven from the man-made pressures of society. Nature in a way strips away the artifices of society that alienate us from one another, says Przybylski. Lead author Netta Weinstein says that the findings highlight the importance of creating green spaces in cities and have implication for planners and architects. Incorporating parks and other representations of nature into urban environments may help build a stronger sense of community among residents, she explains. By contrast, to the extent that our links with nature are disrupted, we may also lose some connection with each other, the authors warn. This alienation may help explain other research showing that urban as compared to rural dwellers show more reservation, indifference, and estrangement from others. On a personal level, Weinstein says the take home message from the research is clear: We are influenced by our environment in ways that we are not aware of, she says. Because of the hidden benefits of connecting with nature, people should take advantage of opportunities to get away from built environments and, when inside, they should surround themselves with plants, natural objects, and images of the natural world. The more you appreciate nature, the more you can benefit, she says.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Reflections on Shevchenkos Kateryna Essay -- Poetry Analysis

Purpose Statement The purpose of this research paper is to discover why Taras Shevchenko uses of women in his poetry. Along with the poem â€Å"Kateryna†, women are used quite heavily by the author. The women in his poetry appear to symbolize the czarist imposition of serfdom in the Ukraine. The irony was written when his own freedom was purchased by a friend. Women are usually seen as becoming impregnated by Moscals and then abandon by their impregnators. Shevchenko desire is to reveal how the czars imprison the Ukrainian people just as women are put into a prison by the seduction of the soldiers from Moscow. Problem Statement Taras Shevchenko, through his poem, "Kateryna," was addressing the issue of Petersburg imposing serfdom upon the Ukraine. He used the symbol of women who gave themselves to the Moscals soldiers. The problem Shevchenko perceived was twofold. He was concerned about how Ukraine purity was being filed by the introduction of Russian genes by these women's pregnancies. The second was Russian interference into everyday Ukrainian life as symbolized by the pregnant women being abandoned by the Moscal soldier. Introduction Not taking into account all challenges and difficulties, Taras Shevchenko, ninetieth century Ukrainian romantic national poet, wrote in Ukrainian and about Ukraine. He demonstrated that the Ukrainian language deserves literary attention and in turn rekindling a latent Ukrainian national spirit. George Luckyj writes â€Å"Shevchenko provided in his poems the raison d’à ªtre of the modern Ukrainian nation. The mythic poet became a national prophet†. Thus his first importance to Ukraine is clear: his works for the first time proved the intellectual maturity of the Ukrainian language and culture. Although... ...uel before your grief. (Shevchenko) Works Cited "Early Ukrainian Identity: The Case of Taras Shevchenko." Perspectives Student Journal of Germanic and Slavic Studies. Winter 2004. Web. 4 May 2012. Luckyj, George S.N. "The Archetype of the Bastard in Shevchenko's Poetry." Shevchenko and the critics, 1861-1980. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1980. pp. 386-394. Rudnichenko, Nataliya. Being a women in Ukraine. Welcome to Ukraine n.d. Web. 5 May 2012. Shevchenko, Taras. "If You but Knew." 1961. Shevchenko Poetry. Taras Shevchenko Museum. n.d. Web. 6 May 2012. Shevchenko, Taras. "Katerina." 1960. Electronic Library of Ukraine Literature. University of Toronto. n.d. Web. 5 May 2012. Zheleznova, Irina, John Weir and Olga Shartse. "Selected Works by Taras Shevchenko." Spring, 1984. The Modern Language Journal , Vol. 68, No. 1 (Spring, 1984), pp. 89-90.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

alcoholism :: essays research papers

For most people who drink, alcohol is a pleasant accompaniment to social activities. Moderate alcohol use—up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women and older people—is not harmful for most adults. (A standard drink is one 12-ounce bottle or can of either beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.) Nonetheless, a large number of people get into serious trouble because of their drinking. Currently, nearly 14 million Americans—1 in every 13 adults—abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. Several million more adults engage in risky drinking that could lead to alcohol problems. These patterns include binge drinking and heavy drinking on a regular basis. In addition, 53 percent of men and women in the United States report that one or more of their close relatives have a drinking problem. The consequences of alcohol misuse are serious—in many cases, life threatening. Heavy drinking can increase the risk for certain cancers, especially those of the liver, esophagus, throat, and larynx (voice box). Heavy drinking can also cause liver cirrhosis, immune system problems, brain damage, and harm to the fetus during pregnancy. In addition, drinking increases the risk of death from automobile crashes as well as recreational and on-the-job injuries. Furthermore, both homicides and suicides are more likely to be committed by persons who have been drinking. In purely economic terms, alcohol-related problems cost society approximately $185 billion per year. In human terms, the costs cannot be calculated. Many people wonder why some individuals can use alcohol without problems but others cannot. One important reason has to do with genetics. Scientists have found that having an alcoholic family member makes it more likely that if you choose to drink you too may develop alcoholism. Genes, however, are not the whole story. In fact, scientists now believe that certain factors in a person’s environment influence whether a person with a genetic risk for alcoholism ever develops the disease. A person’s risk for developing alcoholism can increase based on the person’s environment, including where and how he or she lives; family, friends, and culture; peer pressure; and even how easy it is to get alcohol. Any concerns you may have about discussing drinking-related problems with your health care provider may stem from common misconceptions about alcoholism and alcoholic people.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Graffiti: Art Or Vandalism Essay

DEMOGRAPHICS Demographical breakup of the vandals that are tinting Los Angeles city buildings and freeway structures will allow a more detailed and clear analysis of the motivational factors behind their acts. This will allow better strategy making and provide a clear understanding of the ways to create awareness among these groups that vandalism is a crime and that they should not be engaged in such activities. The different demographical factors on which research was done are as follows: Age Group Under 15 4% 15-19 46% 20-25 38% 25-35 9% Over 35 3% The pie chart displays the information contained in the table above left. It can be seen very clearly that the general age group to which most of the vandals belong to is the 15-25 age group (combining the two most populated age groups: 15-19 and 20-25). The 25-35 age group accounts for 9% of the vandals in Los Angeles. There are negligible number of vandals in the under 15 and the over35 age groups. This finding strongly suggests the fact that there are a large number of high schools and university students (predominantly undergraduate students) involved in these acts of vandalism. The fun and pressure part is probably the main influence in the 15-25 age groups. Youngsters in this age group are also likely to be influenced by peer pressure and local groups of mischief-creators. The under 15 age group contributes 4% to the total vandal population of Los Angeles. When further research was carried out, it was found out that this group consists mainly of the poor children thriving around in slums or on roadsides. It was found that these children were paid to carry out these activities of graffiti spraying. Thus, money was the most important factor in motivating the people in this age group to continue vandalism. It should be noted that there is a relatively small percentage of vandals in the 25-35 age group which predominantly suggests that this age group is composed of the professional vandals. Read more:  Essay About Vandalism These professional vandals may be groups of people who may be involved in street crimes and mischief. It is possible that these people may not be enrolled in any schooling or university program. Similarly, for the over 35 age group comprising of 3% of the total vandals, it can be estimated that most of these people are either mentally ill or belong to mischief groups. (California Vandalism Charges) The age is an important demographical characteristic of the vandals since it will influence the marketing strategies greatly. However, the occupation of the vandals is also an important factor due to the fact that two different people belonging to the same age group may have to be appealed to differently depending upon their occupation. Our next research will provide a detail into the occupation of the vandals researched above.   Occupation Occupation Students 44% Labor Industry 7% Professional Workers 1% Federal Servants 1% Unemployed 37% Others/Undisclosed 10% (California Vandalism Charges) As suggested by previous demographical finding, the occupational breakup of the vandals also conforms to the fact that there are a majority of students and unemployed people involved in these mischievous acts. This gives a strong support to the fact that the strategies that will be used to combat these activities should be directed mainly towards high school and undergraduate students and people belonging to the 15-25 age groups without any records of enrolment in any school, college or university. This is due to the fact that there is a very negligible presence of professionals or federal servants in these activities. Furthermore, the 10% vandals with undisclosed occupations look like mainly the poor and the underprivileged people. These people have no occupation and therefore they thrive either on charity or by doing acts such as these in return for money. The next characteristic, income group, will further testify to the above findings. Income Group Weekly Income $0-$100 66% $101-$250 23% $251-$400 1% $400-$800 1% >$800 0% Others/Undisclosed 9% The suggestion in the previous findings that a large portion of the vandals are either students with only pocket money as their source of income, or they are the poor people thriving on charity, is supported strongly by the income breakup table. There is a strong indication of the fact that the people involved in these activities are poor people motivated by the monetary rewards for committing these acts of graffiti spraying and there are other students and mischief makers who either do it for the â€Å"fun† of doing it or under serious pressure from other mischief-maker groups. The distribution of the vandals with regard to the area they thrive in will complete the picture of the nature of the vandals and will enable us to propose more accurate marketing strategies to curtail the mischievous activities of graffiti spraying. (California Vandalism Charges) Area Area-wise Breakup Downtown 15% East and Northeast 14% Echo Park & Westlake 8% Greater Hollywood 1% Harbor Area 11% Los Feliz & Silver Lake 1% South 23% San Fernando Valley 22% West (The Westside) 2% Wilshire 3% (List of districts and neighborhoods of Los Angeles) The research carried out on the area-wise demographics of the vandals population has led to the same conclusion which was repeatedly being observed in the previous researchers. As the graph displays, the majority of the vandals either belong to those areas which house the largest number of skyscrapers and freeway structures or belong to the most populated and poor areas (signifying the fact that the graffiti sprayers are poor people paid to do the job by other people). Thus, the general picture of a vandal can be sketched to be either a college student or a poor person threatened with the consequences of poverty without any means of survival motivated by monetary gains to do the graffiti spraying. MARKETING STRATEGIES Since the demographical research has led to the conclusion that a great majority of the people involved in these acts of graffiti tagging belong to the 15-25 age group and they would generally be either enrolled in a school, college or university program or would be thriving the streets of Los Angeles, we would like to propose a two-fold marketing strategy. (From Vandal to Artist) The first fold of the strategy would be targeted towards the student population and the college graders for whom graffiti spraying is a matter of fun or it is due to the â€Å"joining the bandwagon† effect. We propose that this category of graffiti sprayers should be treated differently with different marketing strategies since they are quite different from the other category. This group predominantly consists of students of various ages and enrolments: from middle school students to undergraduate students. There is a possibility of there being graduate students as well. But for simplicity, we are considering that the general range of this category is from the middle age students to undergraduate students. The marketing strategy to use with this category is simple yet effective. Organizing concerts and mass awareness programs at campuses are perhaps one of the most effective ways in tackling out the problems in this category of graffiti sprayers. Since the motivation factor behind their activities is majorly fun and the â€Å"bandwagon† effect and there is no real purpose behind their activities, we believe that if they are provided alternative platforms to display their creativity and ability to mix and match colors, they will not resort to vandalism on Los Angeles buildings. It is probably the lack of outpouring opportunities that has fuelled their activities to such a great height. Using mass advertising campaigns within the campus will be an effective advertising strategy that will pay off in the long-run. Since, it is the campus where students spend most of their time away from home, constant exposure to banners and billboards condemning vandalism and regarding it as a heinous crime will instill in the graffiti sprayers a degree of shame and deter them from committing the same activities the next time. (Graffiti Removal) Since we cannot be sure as to the number of schools and colleges in which students involved in vandalism are spread a good marketing strategy would be to advertise on books, stationary and all those items that are connected with high school and college students. Advertising may not cost a lot if done intelligently: placing billboards and banners at the entrances of coffee shops and locations where lots of students gather may be an effective way to communicate the message that â€Å"vandalism is a crimeâ€Å". Furthermore, it can be ensured that college principals and influential teachers in schools and colleges reinforce this message in their discussions repeatedly. It will serve as a deterrent for students to remain involved in graffiti spraying and in the long-run will turn students involved in graffiti spraying into critics of vandalism themselves. Competitions can be arranged to invite students in graffiti contests where they can compete against each other in graffiti painting and color matching. (From Vandal to Artist) This will be an opportunity for students involved in graffiti spraying to put their energy into these competitions so that their attention can be diverted to more productive work. It is no doubt that a student having graffiti skills will show up when such competitions will be organized. Offering prizes for outstanding paintings and graffiti work will give a boost to their morals and a promise of repeated contests in the years to come will make them eager to practice their graffiti skills personally and productively rather than on the walls of Los Angeles buildings. For the next set of graffiti sprayers – the poor people paid by others to do the job, since money is their only motivational factor – we propose a different marketing campaign. These people do not have any means of work and so they resort to whatever work they can get in return for money. Thus, their main motivational factor is the money being provided to them by other parties for spraying graffiti. The local city council can gather these people under one roof and organize an awareness campaign which should also provide work and labor opportunities for them. Since, their unemployment and poverty leads them to resort to such activities, ensuring that they are engaged in respectable work will eliminate their tendencies to continue with vandalism and will automatically curb the percentage of people with such demographics involved in graffiti spraying. (Graffiti Removal) It is possible that networking amongst this category of vandals will get the message across more easily and strongly. Thus, we strongly recommend that the Los Angeles council should use word-of-mouth communication to stress upon the immorality of vandalism. They should give rewards to the people who give details about the people involved in vandalism and should take the emotional appeal to marketing as their tool to restrict vandalism in this category. These people can be provided the means to live a respectable life and enjoy a future one can look forward too. Even though the population of such people may be large – since Los Angeles is already a big city with a population of 13 million people – to be supported by the city council on its own, trying is better than not doing anything. On the whole, we believe that these marketing strategies, if implemented hand in hand, will be a greater success than if implemented one after the other. Since these two categories summarize 89% of the graffiti sprayers, there will be just the need to combat other professional and mischief-makers through the local police and law enforcement agencies. We believe that the above strategies have great potential in reducing the amount of graffiti on Los Angeles buildings and freeway structures and that proper communication strategy can always be effective in communicating the message across. We believe that the described marketing strategies will reduce graffiti spraying on Los Angeles buildings by at least 89% which will be a significant reduction in the graffiti on Los Angeles buildings and freeway structures. (Graffiti Removal) Works Cited 1. California Vandalism Charges. (n.d.). Retrieved June 29, 2008, from Vandalism Cases: www.lacriminaldefenseattorney.com/Vandalism.html 2. From Vandal to Artist. (n.d.). Retrieved June 29, 2008, from Business Week: www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/jul2005/sb20050718_049224.htm 3. Graffiti Removal. (n.d.). Retrieved June 29, 2008, from CleanLink: http://www.cleanlink.com/sm/article.asp?id=601&keywords= 4. List of districts and neighborhoods of Los Angeles. (n.d.). Retrieved June 30, 2008, from Wikipedia.org: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_districts_and_neighborhoods_of_Los_Angeles