Exploring how Japanese managers adapt in the United States Essay

Exploring how Japanese managers adapt in the United States - Essay Example This in turn makes the organizations to send their local professionals to foreign countries. This however happens most of the time. In order to survive in a foreign country, one of the things that will make it easy for you is to understand the culture of your host country. This enables smooth and effective communication. In understanding the culture of that given country, the most important thing that the Japanese learn is in particular what each society and what they display mean. Cultural adaptations should be on the key front when these manager of organizations decide that they are to send their employees to work in a foreign country (Hoecklin 1995). By implementing a moderate level of cultural adaptation in main settings, professionals create more effectual business relationships, in that way furthering tactical corporate goals. Globalization generates new business opportunities for multinational corporations (MNCs) These MNCs increasingly employ expatriation approaches to make t heir entrance in to markets that are new easy and to administer their coworkers. As much as the responsibility of the worker who is sent to a foreign country is very important, the strategy in which they adapt in is surrounded with a lot of danger. Additionally, the emigre also posses multiple risks for instance if their result outcome is low, this leads to major financial hitches to the organization. (Hodgetts 2005). Many expletory studies of how Japanese emigres become accustomed to working in the United States after a while have been conducted at length. The final results recommend that the managers of Japanese origin adapt ways that are way above their normal concrete and vigor in their stay in the United States. It is also to be noted that the bigger the group of emigres, the... For managers to be effectual in becoming accustomed to their know-how and practices in an overseas country, it is clear that they must have fine technical knowledge in management, excellent understanding of local culture that is culture-specific knowledge in addition to high-quality cross-cultural communications abilities. even though it may be fair to presume that all à ©migrà © managers sent abroad have to necessarily be technically capable which may differ in some cases, it should be comprehended that being able to function well in one’s own culture does not automatically imply that one can do well in a different culture. This possibly will not just be due to the lack of cultural knowledge. To be efficient as a manager in one’s own culture does not usually necessitate one to question lots of the cultural suppositions behind one’s actions or to recognize the cause’s actions, whether they are technically necessary or culturally pleasing to attain good outcomes. To be able to transplant management or technical processes in a different culture, or to expand such processes from zero or from accessible local processes, would necessitate one to question many essential suppositions and to set up the fresh premises based on fine perceptive of in cooperation technical and cultural requirements. It is this final feature of technical capability, which is often tricky to identify. Though, such competence are most probably there in people who are inventive in their own culture, such as those who are capable of setting up novel processes and systems to manage with environmental changes at home and to augment organizational efficiency otherwise, such capability could also be found in people who have already a triumphant track record in cross-cultural management.

Nutrition - Food Essay Example for Free

Nutrition Food Essay Thesis Statement Most of the college students have unhealthy food preferences. Topic Outline I.Influence of Media A. Calorie-dense foods are extremely rewarding to consume. B.Causes greater snack food consumption. II.Income of an individual A.Eating healthy is expensive. B.Low income individual eat and buy cheaper foods. III.Convenience A.Fast and easy access 1.Delivery services 2.Ready to eat foods a. frozen foods 1.)TV dinners 2.)shelf-stable products 3.)prepared mixes B.Saves time Food, in order to serve its purpose, should first be consumed. Under normal circumstances, food is consumed only if it is palatable enough for the consumer. It therefore becomes a great responsibility of one who prepares and serves food to make the food palatable besides being nutritious and safe. Food habits do not develop in a vacuum. Like other forms of human behavior, they are the result of many personal, cultural, social, and psychological influences (Williams, 1974). Nowadays, teenagers choose food they like without considering about it contains. Because of busy life, they choose fast food, snack which is non-nutritive over nutritive-rich ones like rice, meat, and do not care if it shortens their life, damage their health or cause many diseases. There are numerous factors that affect the food habits of each person within a culture. Some of this is the societal factor and the lifestyle factor. In societal factor, the food production and distribution system are responsible for the availability of foods which differs from region to region and country to country. Food availability influenced by the socioeconomic and political systems. On the other hand, in lifestyle, both availability and control of food at the societal level affect the lifestyle factors of individuals. These factors includes income, occupation, place of residence, regional differences, religious beliefs, health beliefs, physiological characteristics, puberty, gender, person’s state of health and lastly, the household structure and composition (Kittler Sucher, 2004).

William Shakespeare and His Works Essay -- William Shakespeare biograp

William Shakespeare, the figure to whom the most influential works of literature in history are credited, was born in April of 1564 (the exact date is approximated as April 23rd, also the date given as his death fifty-two years later) in Stratford, England to John and Mary Shakespeare. He grew up in relatively middle-class surroundings, attending grammar school and studying Latin, logic, and literature, from which he graduated to marry a woman by the name of Anne Hathaway. With Hathaway he had three children, two girls and a son, and as a playwright and poet, Shakespeare went on to enjoy moderate success in his time, writing thirty-seven (known) plays and several works of poetry. Of course his plays would be well underappreciated during his time (as with all great artists), but later, such titles as King Lear, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Macbeth would only begin a list of some of the most appraised scripts ever written (Armstrong, 1-5). While these plays carry the weight of Shakespeare’s legacy, he was also a dedicated poet. During the years of the black plague in the late 16th century, theaters were closed from 1592 until 1594, and Shakespeare spent his time writing lengthy poetry, including Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucree, and continued work on his sonnets, a volume of poems which he wrote over a span of about a decade. This book of sonnets has raised some of the most captivating questions in all of literature, as their vagueness and mysterious allusions have puzzled critics for centuries, who attempt to use them to piece together parts of Shakespeare’s life, of which relatively little is known. One of the most frequently investigated questions is that of Shakespeare’s sexuality; the so... ...ne or the other, some fascinating truth about the author himself, as though he intended to leave it there. After all, when one gives the book of sonnets to a loved one as a traditional gift, does one bare in mind that the sonnets praising love and beauty are more than likely written to a man, while those written to a woman are of darkness and remorse? Certainly, at least hopefully, not. Whatever the case may be, the sonnets were written from the heart, with an honest pen and a true heart, something that can be appreciated by any generation. It has been said that Shakespeare can be seen as â€Å"nothing less than the inventor of the human,† (Keevak, 68). What Shakespeare did intend to leave us with was something beautiful that can be appreciated in whatever context we may chose to present it, so long as the humanity that these works contain is preserved.

Just plain good for us

Benefits Water Is Just plain good for us, but It is thought that It helps flush nasty toxins and waste through our system, Glenn organs Like the liver and kidney an easier time doing their job. Purified water can address water contamination and can ensure safe drinking but our other product- Detect water has the following benefits: Lemon Lemon helps stimulate and regulate the digestive track (which is why it's so helpful with constipation, heartburn and gas), stimulates bile production, and thins out bile, which allows It to flow more freely.Bile is produced by the liver and ends up in the small Intestine to break down lipids (fats) that wave consumed. A medium-sized lemon that weighs about 1 50 g provides the ERDA (recommended dietary allowance) of vitamin C for an adult non-smoker (about MGM). Smokers require about 50% more of this vitamin. Vitamin C stands out in the lemon's composition, only slightly less than orange. Lemons have virtually no proteins or fats and about 8. 23% car bohydrates.However the most interesting components of lemons from a dietary and therapeutic dominant are not its nutrients, but rather Its so called accompanying substances or These are substances that lack any calories , and they are neither vitamins nor mineral salts, so they cannot be qualified as nutrients. Organic acids (between 6 and 8%) among which citric acid is predominant, followed by lesser amounts of malice acid, acetic acid, and formic acid. These acids potential the action of ascorbic acid or vitamin C. And have a significant antiseptic effect.Flavorings, among which whispering and dosing predominate. These are found In the peel and pulp of the lemon. They perform physiological roles: -Antioxidants Protecting the capillaries -Intransigence Terseness: these are the substances that give citrus fruits their unique aroma. They are found primarily in the peel. The most abundant of these is d-limonite with its proven detoxifying and anthropogenic effects. Although the lemon affects the entire body, Its clinical applications derive particularly from Its effect on the blood: – Anta anemic: It Improves Iron absorption. Improves blood fluid, thus preventing thrombosis. DÃ ©butant, facilitating the elimination of toxins from the blood Anemia: Lemons should form a regular part of the diet of anyone suffering from anemia. Although its iron content is very low, it is a very potent anti-anemic since it increases the absorption of iron supplied in other plant-based foods. Excess uric acid: the lemon is highly effective in eliminating uric acid, which Is waste product generated constantly within t he body and must be eliminated In the urine. Excess uric acid Is deposited In the joints causing arthritis and rheumatic pain.It produces nephritis(inflammation) in the kidneys. Kidney stones: lemon treatment is very effective in helping dissolve kidney stones, particularly when these are formed of uric acid salts (rate). Infections: because of their vitamin C a nd photochemical content, lemons improve the body Immune system's ability to resist infections. Lemon use is appropriate for an aromatic Lorene found in the lemon, particularly in the PEEL, has bee shown capable of neutralizing certain carcinogens Cucumber Eating a cucumber is like drinking a glass of water.Bearing in mind that 96% of its eight is water, a 250-g cucumber contains egg of water. However, this does not mean that it is of little nutritional value! Those 10 grams of solid material in a 250-g cucumber are of great biological value and healing power. PROPERTIES AND INDICATIONS: Cucumbers are among the most water-rich foods, and as a result only contain 13 kcal/100 g. Their protein (0. 69%), carbohydrate (1. 96%), And fat (0. 13%) content is very low. They also contain small amounts of provocation A, and vitamins B. C. And E.Their high dietary and therapeutic value resides in their minerals, which are highly alkaline. They contain potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron, as well as various trace elements, most notably sulfur. Helps the body flush out toxins because it contains the organic compound citrine, which is an amino acid that has been shown to help the liver and kidneys filter and get rid of ammonia. Ammonia comes in external forms, but is also a by-product of the proteins our bodies are burning up constantly for energy, and it's quite damaging to our cells.Cucumbers have the following medicinal properties: ALKALINE: They neutralize excess acidic waste produced in the body as a consequence of the consumption of animal-based foods. DÉBUTANT: They facilitate of the elimination of waste substances from the bloodstream through either the urine or the skin. DIURETIC: They increase urine output. LAXATIVE: Given their high water content (0. 8%), They facilitate the movement of the feces through the intestine. Honey The benefits of honey go beyond its great taste.A great natural source of carbohydrates which provide strength and energy to our bodies, honey is known for TTS effectiveness in instantly boosting the performance, endurance and reduce muscle fatigue of athletes. Its natural sugars play an important role in preventing fatigue during exercise. The glucose in honey is absorbed by the body quickly and gives an immediate energy boost, while the fructose is absorbed more slowly providing sustained energy. It is known that honey has also been found to keep levels of blood sugar fairly constant compared to other types of sugar. s a great natural source of carbohydrates which provide strength and energy to our bodies, honey is now for its effectiveness in instantly boosting the performance, endurance and reduce muscle fatigue of athletes. Its natural sugars play an important role in preventing fatigue during exercise. The glucose in honey is absorbed by the body quickly and gives an immediate energy boost, while the fructose is absorbed more slowly providing sustained energy. Honey can be a powerful immune syst em booster. Its antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties can help improve digestive system and help you stay healthy and fight disease 1 .Next time before you go for a workout, take spoon of honey to enable you to go for the extra mile. 2. If you are feeling low and try honey. Spread it on a hot toast or replace the sugar in your tea with it for a refreshing surge of energy. 3. If your kids are finding hard to cope with the physical strain from the buzzing activities at school, prepare them some sandwiches with honey, butter and ham to make sure they have enough energy to sustain through the day. My kids are delighted when they see me prepare warm honey water in their bottles. They couldn't care a bit about the health benefits of honey, but simply love the taste of it!

Cezanne’s Apple Notes and Quotes Essay

Schapiro’s psychoanalytic approach, that is, his search for the underlying meaning and relevance to the painting, * Thesis: While Schapiro’s argument shows a well-considered analysis of the artist’s life as a source of interpretation of Cezanne’s work, much of it is based on suggestion and fantasy. As in all historical interpretation, Cezanne’s work should be viewed within the context of the artist’s historical and biographical framework, but with a formalist analysis of the works that enables the viewer to interpreted not only their personal value, but their intended communication. riticism of Cezanne’s art cannot and, I believe, should not be limited by critical schools of thought. Also, though perhaps it has been the nature of critics to make vastly differentiating interpretations of Cezanne’s work, both forms of analysis add to the richness of the dialogue that can expand one’s preconceived notions of the work and widen the scope of understanding and perspective. Contrary to views of critics such as Roger Fry whose formalist analysis deduces Cezanne’s works as only a problem of form and color, Schapiro seeks more symbolist meaning within the subject matter chosen by the artist. * Schapiro argues that the objects placed within the still-life display â€Å"a game of an introverted personality who has found for his art of representation an objective sphere in which he feels self-sufficient, masterful, free from disturbing other spheres. Schapiro believes that fruit is never the theme, rather, they are a symbol of his emotion and personal concerns. * Schapiro makes the case against a purely formal interpretation: â€Å"It might be supposed that in still-life painting the meaning of the work is merely the sum of the denotation of the separate parts, yet there may be connotations and a comprehensive quality arising from the combined objects and made more visible and moving through the artistic conception. †¦ (i. e. black clock 1870, still w. compotier 79-82, blue vase 83-85, still w. cupid 95, or pples and oranges 95) There is in still like a unity of things like the unity of a scene of action, one must recognize the context of the objects in reality, their connection with a mood or interest or type of occasion. (24) * Cannot look at these as purely sexual, an element in a painting serves more than one function. Apples could be chosen means of emotional detachment and self-control, the fruit providing an objective field of colors, and sensuous richness lacking in his earlier passionate art and not fully realized in his later nude paintings. Sexual displacement could be an unconscious factor. Certainly, Cezanne has a strange relationship with the human figure in his earlier works. In his early works, sexual gratification is directly displayed or implied. A modern Olympia (1873), Bacchanal, and his other pictures of the nudes show that he could not convey his feeling for women without anxiety. In his painting of the nude woman, where he does not produce an old work, he is most often constrained or violent. there is no middle ground of simple enjoyment. In Leda and the Swan, the writer argues that it is a striking instance of the defusing of a sexual theme through replacement of a figure by still-life objects. Cezanne’s fruit is not yet fully part of human life. Suspended between nature and use, it exists as if for contemplation alone. (25) In Cezanne’s painting of landscape, too, and sometimes of the human being, we recognize the same distinctive distance from action and desire. He seems to realize a philosopher’s concept of aesthetic perception as a pure will-less knowing. * The still-life objects bring to awareness the complexity of the phenomenal and the subtle interplay of perception and artifice in representation. (19) Still-life eng ages the painter in a steady looking that discloses new and elusive aspects of the stable object. At first commonplace, it may becomes in the course of that contemplation a mystery, a source of metaphysical wonder. (20) Still-life calls out a response to an implied human presence. The represented objects, in their relation to us, acquire meanings from the desires they satisfy as well as from their analogies and relations to the human body†¦ They are a symbol or heraldry of a way of life. (23) * Yet, though the nature of the Apples seems to deserve far richer analysis of simple line and form, the use of apples as a restraint of Cezanne’s â€Å"morbid fantasies† (29), seems to evoke some fantastical properties of its own. * Apple as a displaced erotic interest? Apple has erotic sense–symbol of love, an attribute of Venus and a ritual object in marriage ceremonies. The apple is a natural analogue of ripe human beauty (6). Philostatus, Greek writer of 200 AD, describes a painting of Cupids gathering apples in a garden of Venus, which serve as the source of Titian’s painting of the cult of Venus, and indirectly Rubens’ picture of putti carrying a parland of the fruit. * Apples (1875) For Cezanne, the apple is equivalent to the human figure. He could project typical relations of human beings as well as qualities of the larger visible world–solitude, contact, accord, conflict, serenity, abundance and luxury–and even states of elation and enjoyment. * In passing from the painting of fantasies to the discipline of observation, Cezanne made of color–the principle of art allied to sensuality and pathos in romantic painting but underdeveloped in his own early pictures of passion–the beautiful substance of stable, solid object-forms and a deeply coherent structure of the composition. It is extremely doubtful that he could have reached his goal had he followed Delacroix in his choice of subjects. But in the self-chastening process, the painting of still-life–as latent symbol and intimate tangible reality–was, perhaps more than his other themes, a bridge between his earlier and his later art. (33)

The Etymology of Geometry Terms

The Etymology of Geometry Terms Theres an anecdote about how the philosopher-mathematician Pythagoras overcame a students natural dislike of geometry. The student was poor, so Pythagoras offered to pay him an obol for each theorem he learned. Eager for the money, the student agreed and applied himself. Soon, however, he became so intrigued, he begged Pythagoras to go faster, and even offered to pay his teacher. In the end, Pythagoras recouped his losses. Etymology provides a safety net of demystification. When all the words you hear are new and confusing, or when those around you put old words to strange purposes, a grounding in etymology may help. Take the word line. You put your  ruler to paper and draw a line against the straight edge. If youre an actor, you learn your lines line after line of text in a script. Clear. Obvious. Simple. But then you hit Geometry. Suddenly your common sense is challenged by technical definitions*, and line, which comes from the Latin word linea (a linen thread), loses all practical meaning, becoming, instead, an intangible, dimension-less concept that goes off at both ends to eternity. You hear about parallel lines that by definition never meet each other except they do in some warped reality dreamt up by Albert Einstein. The concept you have always known as the  line has been renamed line segment. After a few days, it comes as something of a relief to run into an intuitively obvious circle, whose definition as a set of points equidistant from a central point still fits your previous experience. That circle** (coming possibly from a Greek verb meaning to hoop around or from a diminutive of the circular Roman circus, circulus) is marked with what you would have, in pre-geometry days, called a line across part of it. This line is called a chord. The word chord comes from the Greek word (chordà ª) for a piece of animal gut used as a string in a lyre. They still use (not necessarily cat) gut for violin strings. After circles, youll probably study equiangular or equilateral triangles. Knowing the etymology, you can break those words up into component parts: equi (equal), angular, angle, lateral (of a side/sided), and tri (3). A three-sided object with all sides equal. It is possible that youll see triangle referred to as trigon. Again, tri means 3, and gon derives from the Greek word for corner or angle, gà ´nia. However, youre far more likely to see the word trigonometry trigon the Greek word for measure. Geo-metry is the measure of Gaia (Geo), the Earth. If youre studying geometry, you probably already know you must memorize theorems, axioms, and definitions corresponding with names. Names of Shapes cylinderdodecagonheptagonhexagonoctagonparallelogrampolygonprismpyramidquadrilateralrectanglespheresquare andtrapezoid. While the theorems and axioms are pretty much geometry-specific, the names of shapes and their properties have further applications in science and life. Beehives and snowflakes are both dependent on the hexagon. If you hang a picture, you want to make sure its top is parallel to the ceiling. Shapes in geometry are usually based on the angles involved, so the two root words (gon and angle [from the Latin angulus which means the same thing as the Greek gà ´nia]) are combined with words that refer to number (like triangle, above) and equality (like equiangular, above). Although there are apparent exceptions to the rule, generally, the numbers used in combination with the  angle (from the Latin) and gon (from the Greek) are in the same language. Since hexa is Greek for six, youre unlikely to see hexangle. Youre far more likely to see the combined form hexa gon, or hexagon. Another Greek word used in combination with the numbers or with the prefix poly- (many) is hedron, which means a foundation, base, or sitting place. A polyhedron is a many-sided three-dimensional figure. Construct one from cardboard or straws, if you like, and demonstrate its etymology, by making it sit on each of its many bases. Even if it doesnt help to know that a tangent, the line (or is that line segment?) that touches at only one point (depending on the function), comes from the Latin tangere (to touch) or the oddly shaped quadrilateral known as a trapezoid got its name from looking like a table, and even if it doesnt save a lot of time to memorize the Greek and Latin numbers, instead of just the names of shapes if and when you run into them, the etymologies will come back to add color to your world, and to help you with trivia, aptitude tests and word puzzles. And if you ever do run into the terms on a geometry exam, even if panic sets in, youll be able to count through in your head to figure out whether its a regular pentagon or heptagon that you would inscribe with a traditional five-pointed star. * Heres one possible definition, from McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Mathematics: line: The set of points (x1, . . ., xn) in Euclidean space.... The same source defines line segment as A connected piece of a line. ** For the etymology of circle, see Lingwhizt and the possibility of an ancient Indo-European word for millstone, another round flat object.

Project Management and Operations

Project Management and Operations Introduction Operations management deals with management of a production process of goods and services in an organization. Operations function is central to any business because it deals with merchandise.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Project Management and Operations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As a whole, operations management contributes to the organizational strategy through cost reduction, customer satisfaction, reduction of risks resulting from operation failures, reduction of the amount of investment, and providing a basis for future innovation. Employees are useful determinants of success of an organization. They need to be adequately motivated to ensure execution duties in the organization’s strategic plan. Equity theory Pay satisfaction is a central element of employee attraction and retention. Pay adequacy and equity are the determinants of pay satisfaction. Equity theory requires employ ees to be evaluated through comparison of the ratio of their inputs and outputs with the ratio of input and output of other employees. The inputs take different forms. For instance, what the job contributes, extra role behavior exhibited by the employee and personal contributions. How to distribute the pay rise In most cases, the management distributes annual pay rise uniformly to all employees. In such cases, it is computed as a percentage increase of current salaries of the employees. However, the hard working employees might feel unmotivated since non hard working employees also receive the same share. As an alternative, management often distributes the pay rise based on performance of the employees. This ensures equitable distribution of the pay rise. There are steps that the engineering manager needs to follow to achieve this equitable distribution. First, the manager needs to come up with a budget for the pay rise. Assume that the department intends to spend $10,000 on the pay rise this year. Second, the manger should distribute the annual rise based on the results of performance reviews conducted recently.Advertising Looking for case study on project management? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The analysis assumes that the total number of employees in the department is 10. The table shows the ratings of employees during the previous performance review. It also shows the distribution of pay rise. Employee Performance ratings from previous review Classification The percentage of salary increment Tom Atkinson 82% Excellent 16% Tony Montana 79% Excellent 16% John Smith 70% Excellent 16% Michael Legend 64% Average 9% Ali Sinor 60% Average 9% Hamer Courtney 55% Average 9% Hansalik Edward 50% Average 9% Highland Jack 45% Marginal 5% Nugent Johanna 39% Marginal 5% Sears Sandra 33% Marginal 5% From the table above, employees in â€Å"excellent† category receive 16 % of the total budget of the increase. In â€Å"average† category receives 9% and in â€Å"marginal† category receives 5% of the total budget. This distribution can further be differentiated according to each employee’s ratings. The strong performers receive more than weak performers in each category. The table shows these adjustments. Employee Performance ratings Classification Percentage of increment Amount received Tom Atkinson 82% Excellent 18% 1800 Tony Montana 79% Excellent 16% 1600 John Smith 70% Excellent 14% 1400 Michael Legend 64% Average 12% 1200 Ali Sinor 60% Average 11% 1100 Hamer Courtney 55% Average 8% 800 Hansalik Edward 50% Average 7% 700 Highland Jack 45% Marginal 6% 600 Nugent Johanna 39% Marginal 5% 500 Sears Sandra 33% Marginal 3% 300 In the above table, the salary increment is further differentiated so that employees who scored more receive more salary increment. The last column shows the amount which each employee receives from the increment.

Tempted by Addictive Shows Heres Why to Avoid Them.

Tempted by Addictive Shows Heres Why to Avoid Them. Last Wednesday afternoon, I received a thought-provoking promotional insert along with my ATT phone bill. It reads: HBO INCLUDED FOR LIFE* ATT unlimited wireless plans come with entertaining movies and addictive shows on HBO. ® I interrupted my housemate’s lunch with my expression of shock: â€Å"Can you believe this? ATT is promoting addictiveness as a reason to get HBO?!! Shouldn’t that be a reason to stay away?† Personally, I have avoided purchasing DIRECTV and such because I am extremely susceptible to binge watching. I’m fine if I don’t start watching, but as soon as I do, I’m hooked. Therefore, the word â€Å"addictive† turns me off. I don’t want it. Do you want to be addicted? Take this 2-question survey. I’m curious. How would you answer these questions? (function(t,e,s,n){var o,a,c;t.SMCX=t.SMCX||[],e.getElementById(n)||(o=e.getElementsByTagName(s),a=o[o.length-1],c=e.createElement(s),c.type="text/javascript",c.async=!0,c.id=n,c.src=["https:"===location.protocol?"https://":"https://","widget.surveymonkey.com/collect/website/js/tRaiETqnLgj758hTBazgd4HXOA_2BAL8aRSL3LZJKxLaJ9EoTH45eK6fxmvPGgncNd.js"].join(""),a.parentNode.insertBefore(c,a))})(window,document,"script","smcx-sdk"); Drug Marketing vs. TV Marketing Historically, companies have attempted to promote products based on the claim that the products are NOT addictive. Perhaps the most apt example is the marketing of OxyContin, a drug introduced in 1996 by Purdue Pharma, which has become famous for its addictive properties. A 2009 paper in the American Journal of Public Health, The Promotion and Marketing of OxyContin: Commercial Triumph, Public Health Tragedy, points out that â€Å"a consistent feature in the promotion and marketing of OxyContin was a systematic effort to minimize the risk of addiction in the use of opioids for the treatment of †¦ pain.† This misrepresentation resulted in successful lawsuits against Purdue to the tune of $634 million. Can you imagine a drug company’s promoting a painkiller with â€Å"It comes with highly addictive properties!†? Probably not. Most people would choose a different drug. At least my phone company and HBO will not be sued for misrepresentation. They own the addictive nature of the TV and video â€Å"drug† straight out. But why would addiction be a selling point? To investigate more, I researched the phenomenon of â€Å"Netflix Addition,† which runs rampant and is growing with every season. It turns out that binge-watching shows like those on Netflix releases fairly substantial amounts of the pleasurable neurotransmitter, dopamine. And the sense of accomplishment from finishing an episode, or a season, releases another pleasurable neurotransmitter, serotonin. The combination is a sure recipe for addiction. The Perils of TV Addiction Why is this pleasurable cycle a problem? Sleep Deprivation Well, for one thing, it makes us spend more time than we know we can reasonably afford to spend watching TV. We say we will stop and then we don’t, often staying up until the wee hours of the morning. As if this sleep deprivation weren’t enough, the light from the shows can boost serotonin and make us feel wide awake, thus decreasing the quality of any sleep we do get. Relationship Strain We frequently ignore calls from friends and family when we’re in the middle of a show or a binge, thus missing out on real connections and distancing people we love. Maybe we even lie to them about how much we’re watching. In actuality, watching shows is a poor substitute for true emotional connection. But we forget that in our addictive haze. Health Consequences While caught up in addictive shows, we sit for long periods and maybe skip the gym, often eat low-nutrient easy-to-grab foods, and maybe even forgo basic self-care because somehow watching just a few more minutes of that show seems more important. Career Blocker – Don’t let this happen to you! Netflix, Amazon or HBO addiction is not conducive to top workplace performance or a successful job search. In addition to not sleep deprivation, there is a part of your brain that will be occupied with wanting to get back to that show you were watching instead of focusing on your job or other important tasks. If you find yourself indulging, how about taking a week off from all those so carefully crafted addictive shows that suck your attention and time? During that week, track whether you sleep more, whether your focus and job performance improve, and whether you stop avoiding the true priorities in your life. If you’re a job seeker, consider this: Getting a blast of dopamine and serotonin with the simple push of a button might seem like more fun than rewriting your resume or LinkedIn profile, but the results you’ll get are ultimately unsatisfying at best, and harmful at worst. While you might enjoy a temporary blast from that next episode of Stranger Things, doing something positive for your long-term goals will ultimately be way more fulfilling. 🙂 Log in to Reply

Palm Islands as Eighth Wonder of the World Essay

Palm Islands as Eighth Wonder of the World - Essay Example The author of the paper is  really interested in Palm Jumeirah, the self-proclaimed ‘Eighth Wonder of the World'. Jumeirah Palm Island Jumeirah Palm Island is located in the coastal area located in Dubai, specifically, on the Jumeirah coastal area. The main residence of the area comprise of United Arab Emirates (UAE) people and the South Asians. Though it is the smallest, Jumeirah Palm Island is the original among the three palm islands. What makes the place lovable and a place to miss are its shapes and surrounding marine environment. Like the other two palm islands, Jumeirah Palm Island is shaped like a palm tree with a crescent top, giving it a complicated structure. In the actual description, the island consists of a trunk and a crown with 16 fronts. Breakwater is provided by an 11-kilometer crescent island which surrounds the trunk and the crown. The crescent is build of natural rock meant to provide habitats for marine life and encourage the development of a natural ree f. The island is 5 Km by 5 Km with a total area greater than that of 800 football pitches combined. There is a 300-meter (980  ft) bridge that connects the crown to the mainland while the connection between the crescent and the top of the palm has been achieved through the construction of a subsea tunnel. The length of Dubai coastline doubled due to the construction of this island. In conjunction to with Palm Deira and Palm Jebel Ali, Jumeirah has extended into the Persian Gulf hence increasing the shoreline of Dubai by a total distance of 520 kilometers (Al Darmaki Ibrahim 124). Jumeirah is of great social, cultural and economic significance. The island is meant to feature themed hotels, apartment buildings, marinas, beaches, restaurants, various retail outlets and three types of villas namely Canal Cove Town Homes, Signature Villas, and Garden Homes. Some of the hotels are already operational and others are yet to be opened. By early October 2007, the island was already the worl d's largest artificial island, with 75% of its properties ready for hand over and 500 families already living in it. By the end of 2009, a total of 28 hotels had been opened on the Crescent (CIA 125). Since its construction, the place has been growing to be a very active tourism attraction site and a busy commercial center. The construction of the Palm Jumeirah, Palm Deira, and the Palm Jebel Ali are actually part of the government’s plan to attract tourists and foreign money into its tax-free economy. This means that the residents and government of Dubai and UAE, in general, are already seeing some benefits of the island. According to Chris O'Donnell, Nakheel’s chief executive Jumeirah has already created a national asset with a value of as much as $23 billion (CIA 135). The complexities associated with the place are financial wise. The total cost for constructing the island was US$12.3 billion and maintaining it is a costly expenditure as well. However, the economic gains from the place are enough to maintain it, as indicated by the aforementioned financial worth of the island. The fact that the island is located offshore means that no one was displaced during its construction. However, there arose conflicts in regard to the construction of the island and the survival of marine life.

Sources of Mali Crisis and Causes of Military Intervention Research Paper

Sources of Mali Crisis and Causes of Military Intervention - Research Paper Example Most of them were serving in the Gaddafi army and as such carried alongside with them an assortment of arms. Also, since they had just returned from a revolutionary war in Libya, these returnees were still motivated by their combative instincts to propagate the same war in Mali3. The Malian government, as well as the military, was caught unawares by the events. Their army was too weak and incapacitated to contain the insurgents. That aside, a large group of foreign Arab fighters, who are also linked to Al Qaeda, were infiltrating Mali at the same time. It is this unfolding that supposedly inspired United States and France to push for regional military intervention in Mali through the UN Security Council. The extremist groups in Mali operating in Mali are regarded as outright threats to the security of the entire world. There are three major armed Islamist groups operating in the northern Mali. They include AQIM, Ansar al Dine, and MUJAO. The origin of AQIM is traced back to the 1990s civil conflict in the nearby state of Algeria. As per now, this group has been in existence in the northern Mali for close to a decade. It is linked with the numerous and constant attacks and kidnapping of Westerners. They do this mainly in a bid to demand for ransom for their release. In 2007, AQIM is linked with the bombing that wrecked Algeria, which also included an attack on U.N. office in Algeria’s capital Algiers. The leader of AQIM, Abdelmalek Droukdel, remains widely at large although there are reports indicating that he could be cased somewhere in Timbuktu. This group has been among United States designated Foreign Terrorist Organization for close to a decade now4.... That aside, a large group of foreign Arab fighters, who are also linked to Al Qaeda, were infiltrating Mali at the same time. It is this unfolding that supposedly inspired the United States and France to push for regional military intervention in Mali through the UN Security Council. The extremist groups in Mali operating in Mali are regarded as outright threats to the security of the entire world. There are three major armed Islamist groups operating in the northern Mali. They include AQIM, Ansar al Dine, and MUJAO. The origin of AQIM is traced back to the 1990s civil conflict in the nearby state of Algeria. As per now, this group has been in existence in the northern Mali for close to a decade. It is linked with the numerous and constant attacks and kidnapping of Westerners. They do this mainly in a bid to demand ransom for their release. In 2007, AQIM is linked with the bombing that wrecked Algeria, which also included an attack on U.N. office in Algeria’s capital Algiers. The leader of AQIM, Abdelmalek Droukdel, remains widely at large although there are reports indicating that he could be cased somewhere in Timbuktu. This group has been among the United States designated Foreign Terrorist Organization for close to a decade now. The other group is the MUJWA whose emergence is traced to in the latter parts of 2011. It was born as a splinter faction of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and is also reported to be engaged in kidnappings and terrorist attacks in the region.

Military Coups and Public Satisfaction Research Paper

Military Coups and Public Satisfaction - Research Paper Example Military coups were a common occurrence all over the world especially in the1930's till 1990's (Ken and David 8). This was the most common form of change in regime. Some of the military coups were successful while others were not. Some were led by the military while others were initiated by civilians. Most of the past military coups were bloody and resulted to loss of lives. Only a limited number of them were bloodless. Today, most military coups are bloodless as they are well executed. History has it that earlier military coups were as a result of power. Those who led the violent attacks were mainly focused on gaining control and power (authority) of the nation. This is why most of the military coups then were bloody and resulted to lose of life. The focus of the military coups has changed today. Due to human civilization and development, military coups today are mainly driven by the need to improve the livelihood of people. The usurpers do so not for personal gain, but for the benefit of many. The purpose of this case study is to look at the public opinion after military coups. Public opinion involves the citizens' acceptance or rejection of the new regime. It may also include passive or active participant in the affairs of the new regime. It should be noted at some point in the lives of citizens of a nation... 3. The public will openly accept the new regimes after the military coup. It should be noted at some point in the lives of citizens of a nation they feel like their leaders are not considerate of their basic needs. This case study will try and express such disparities and how the occurrence of a military coup may be a blessing to citizens of a nation. Although some military coups have negative short term effects, the long term effects are beneficial and may overwrite these negative ones. To properly understand this case study, a theoretical framework will be advanced in form of a graph as below: Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5 Figure 1 In the first phase, it is assumed the nation has just participated in democratic elections. As a result of the elections, they got a new government. The new regime performs well until phase two when its performance stagnates. Due to bad governance and corruption, the performance of government stars to depreciate as shown in phase three. The depreciation continues till the ation reaches where it was before it got the new gorverment.Phase four is the initiation of a military coup. The main reason for the given by the ursurpers will be widespread corrution and bad governance. All though the military coup is meant to rectify the situation, it ennds up making the situation a little bit bad as shown in phase four. Phase five depicts the nation is now trying to overcome the effects of the military coup. Literature review Ken and David define a coup is the unexpected and unlawful deposition of a regime, usually done by a

The important elements of marketing plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The important elements of marketing plan - Essay Example Other important applications include informing the details of the company to the sales personnel, suppliers and others so that they become aware of company's goals and achievements. Feasibility study is an important phase in the development process. It enables the developer to have an assessment of the product being developed. It refers to the feasibility study of the product in terms of outcomes of the product, operational use and technical support required for implementing it. Economic Feasibility: It refers to the benefits or outcomes. We are deriving from the product as compared to the total cost we are spending for developing the product. If the benefits are more or less the same as the older system, then it is not feasible to develop the product. The development of the new product should greatly enhance the accuracy of the system and cuts short the delay in the processing of the product. The errors can be greatly reduced and at the same time providing great level of security. Hence, we do not need any additional equipment. Operational Feasibility: It refers to the feasibility of the product to be operational. Some products may work very well at design and implementation but may fall in the real time environment. It happens most of the time with feature films. It includes the study of additional human resources required and their technical expertise. Technical Feasibility: It refers to whether the product that is available in the market fully supports the present trend. It can be used to study the pros and cons of using particular kind of feature film for the development and it's feasibility. It also studies the additional training need to be given to the people to make the product work. A qualitative and quantitative research is must in developing an good feature film. Qualitative research is more of collecting data, conducting interviews, using documents and to understand and explain social phenomenon. Quantitative research involves is of development of natural sciences to study natural phenomenon. Survey methods, formal methods, econometrics, etc., are some of the examples of quantitative research. Qualitative research methods are more often used as it involves observation of data that helps in finding solutions to the problems. Qualitative research has been categorised into three categories named as positivist, interpretive and critical. Positivist research methods involves attempt to test theory that to understand the predictive element of the phenomena. It involves formal propositions, hypothesis testing, measuring of quantifiable variables, etc. In this type of research it is assumed that the objectives are given in reality and can be measured by their properties. Interpretive research method involves sharing of information and social constructions such as language. Interpretive method is used to understand the meaning of the given information that was assigned to the researchers. Critical research as the name implies concentrates more on the critical view of the subject. It highlights the critical viewpoint of the situation that has to be analysed. Implementation

Midterm Essay Question Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Midterm Question - Essay Example There was competition in leadership between Austria and Prussia before the Napoleon’s domination in which Prussia won as it was better organized and progressive even though Austria had a larger territory to dominate. Otto von Bismarck is known to have led Prussia in Germany’s unification. He managed to bring reforms in Germany enabling to take Austria by them joining and also making the Prussia military be well trained to the coming wars. There was the France and Germany war known as Franco-Prussian war to which the Prussians side won. This showed how Otto von Bismarck had trained them well by giving them the equipment and led to the border emergence between Germany and France. Unification exposed Cultural, political religious ‘social and political in the new nation (Pohlsander 52). The westward shift from the French contributed to the German unification as the states joined to form one government. This would not have been achieved if France could succeed in the division of Baden and Bavaria states whose government ship were not strong .This could have led to stopped the forces of these states unification. The unification of the states led to political borders as they had won the war from France and proved to have a strong military force. Through this they saw the need of nationalism as majority of the population in the Reichsland period spoke German dialects to which German justified its annexation on nationalistic grounds. The Germany’s military strategy was to control Alsace region to the mountain range, the Thionville and Metz in order for the protection of Germany. The military had also planned to control the Thionville and Metz during the war. By developing the strategies it guided them through the Franco-Prussia war in 1871.This also contributed to the defeat over France. According to Pohlsander (27), the military had interest in some states like the Alsace-Lorrain which had iron-ore and

Discussion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 53

Discussion - Essay Example Most people have a reluctance to find reliable and trusted resources about important national and government events. Studies also reveal that facts have little effect in changing people and their perception towards the government operations. Political ignorance has been paramount for a number of years and people often base their opinions based on beliefs rather than democratic ideals and human intelligence. Facts ought to dictate beliefs and preconceived notions. People should dedicate time to learn more about the government and its policies. People tend to seek consistency as they interpret information to their beliefs. Through motivated reasoning, people should strive to accept that the sophistication of governance alters existing norms to incorporate structural or political development. Through E-government portals, the public should access any government events or services. E-governments are responsible in ensuring effectiveness in government delivery services as well as simplifying the compliance of citizen participation and government regulations. Through the e-government orientation, citizens will participate in government activities and strengthen their trust. This action will also ensure cost-effective business practices and responsive, streamlined government services are achieved. The access of information will allow people to access various government services and information. People will also participate in democracy and cause a great impact as to how the government can interact efficiently with its citizens. The e-government has various benefits regarding the participation of the public. More people will have free access to various platforms in which they can express their opinions in the government. For example, a certain minister may choose to get opinion about certain amendments to the constitution that he or she may wish to make. It is important that the public participate in these proposed new

Midterm Essay Question Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Midterm Question - Essay Example There was competition in leadership between Austria and Prussia before the Napoleon’s domination in which Prussia won as it was better organized and progressive even though Austria had a larger territory to dominate. Otto von Bismarck is known to have led Prussia in Germany’s unification. He managed to bring reforms in Germany enabling to take Austria by them joining and also making the Prussia military be well trained to the coming wars. There was the France and Germany war known as Franco-Prussian war to which the Prussians side won. This showed how Otto von Bismarck had trained them well by giving them the equipment and led to the border emergence between Germany and France. Unification exposed Cultural, political religious ‘social and political in the new nation (Pohlsander 52). The westward shift from the French contributed to the German unification as the states joined to form one government. This would not have been achieved if France could succeed in the division of Baden and Bavaria states whose government ship were not strong .This could have led to stopped the forces of these states unification. The unification of the states led to political borders as they had won the war from France and proved to have a strong military force. Through this they saw the need of nationalism as majority of the population in the Reichsland period spoke German dialects to which German justified its annexation on nationalistic grounds. The Germany’s military strategy was to control Alsace region to the mountain range, the Thionville and Metz in order for the protection of Germany. The military had also planned to control the Thionville and Metz during the war. By developing the strategies it guided them through the Franco-Prussia war in 1871.This also contributed to the defeat over France. According to Pohlsander (27), the military had interest in some states like the Alsace-Lorrain which had iron-ore and

Impacts of toursim on locals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Impacts of toursim on locals - Essay Example The Social Exchange Theory (SET) seeks to explore the â€Å"exchange of resources between individual and groups in an interaction† where â€Å"actors supply one another with valued resources† (Ap 1992, p. 668, cited in Andriotis 2009, para. 3). The theory, an eclectic approach that includes psychology, sociology and economics, studies tourism under a social psychological and sociological lens (Yutyunyong 2009). An individual will engage in exchange when: a) there is value to the reward, b) it is perceived that the exchange will result to a valued reward, and c) the perceived cost is not more than the perceived reward (Skidmore 1975, cited in Jennings & Nickerson 2006). Under SET, inhabitants of a place tend to â€Å"have a positive attitude to tourism as long as the perceived benefits exceed the perceived costs† (Yutyunyong 2009, p. 2). SET purports that a person seeks reward and avoid punishment, thus, he acts with expectation of profit in mind (Yutyunyong 2009) . People participate in the exchange as it promises enhancement of economic life of the people (Yutyunyong 2009). Inhabitants uphold tourism in the area when the benefit they receive from tourism exceeds the negative effects (Yutyunyong 2009). Under this theory, relationship among individuals is formed with an underlying cost and benefit objective (Yutyunyong 2009). Thus, if an individual sees that the cost would be more than the perceived benefit, the individual will abandon the relationship (Yutyunyong 2009). The relationship is equitable when the cost is equal to the benefit (Yutyunyong 2009), the notion of equity which Emerson (1962, cited in Yutyunyong 2009) believes to be main concern of the theory. The theory seeks to understand the exchange of resources between individuals in the process of interaction wherein the object of the exchange possess a value that is measurable, with mutual transference of cost and benefit on both parties (Ap, 1992; Madrigal, 1995, cited in

Evaluation of Maladaptive Behavior Essay Example for Free

Evaluation of Maladaptive Behavior Essay Maladaptive behavior is commonly observed in children who have troubled family lives or low self esteem (Maladaptive Behavior, 2003). In this case, there could be several reasons that the child is exhibiting and engaging in maladaptive behavior related to his environment at home. Using a variety of theories of moral development as well as a question-answer evaluation of the parenting styles of the child’s parents, the maladaptive behavior seen in the child as well as a solution will try to be understood. Different types of maladaptive behavior are attributed to different problems. While most parents simply believe that their child is misbehaving, maladaptive behavior is usually classified in groupings such as attention-seeking or revengeful, behavior inappropriateness (Maladaptive Behavior, 2003). The child being observed exhibits both types of maladaptive behavior, which can most likely be explained by moral development theories and poor parenting. For the behaviors such as repeating swear words, throwing food on the floor, drawing on the walls, and screaming in public, it is most likely a result of a self esteem or attention-seeking issue. The child is trying to get in trouble to get attention from the parents (Maladaptive Behavior, 2003). The child knows these behaviors are bad as Kohlberg states, â€Å"younger school-aged children tend to think either in terms of concrete, unvarying rules†¦or in terms of the rules of society†(Feldman, 2011; p. 311). However, the child also knows that participating in these behaviors will result in attention from the parents. The child is obviously aware that these actions are not societally accepted because it is likely that they have not observed them in their teachers, parents or other powerful authority figures (Feldman, 2011). In this area of maladaptive behavior, it would seem that the parents might have an uninvolved parenting style. To determine if this is true, the parents should be asked questions about their involvement with the child and how concerned they are with aspects of his development other than their role as a provider. The following questions would suffice: Do you believe that your only job is to feed, clothe, and shelter your child? (Feldman, 2011) Is there any child abuse or neglect in the family? (Feldman, 2011) How involved with your child would you say you are on a day-to-day basic, specifically related to disciplining their behavior? (Feldman, 2011) These would all be important to ask because if their answers indicate that they are neglectful, uninvolved in disciplinary as well as other areas of development, or confused on their role as a parent, they may be uninvolved parents. According to the textbook, â€Å"Children whose parents show uninvolved parenting styles are the worst off†¦their parents’ lack of involvement disrupts their emotional development, leading them to feel unloved†(Feldman, 2011; p. 317). This could make them act out in an attempt to get the attention of their indifferent or detached parents. The reasons behind the child’s behavior of hitting other children in daycare and ignoring direct commands from parents may be more along the lines of revengeful maladaptive behavior as it is intentional causation of harm to another student or person (Maladaptive Behavior, 2003). According to Piaget, children in the heteronomous stage, which happens in the early years of childhood, believe in immanent justice, â€Å"the notion that rules that are broken earn immediate punishment†(Feldman, 2011; p. 309). For this child, it is possible that he does not understand that his behavior is unacceptable even if he is mad at another student. This is probably the result of permissive parenting by the parents. The student most likely has never known that his behavior is bad because permissive parents such as his â€Å"provide lax and inconsistent feedback†¦and place little or no limits or control on their childrens behavior† (Feldman, 2011; p.316). To determine if this is true of the parents’ style of discipline the following questions could be asked: Do you expect a lot from your child in the areas of behavior? Would you ever be punitive or clear and consistent in your limits with your child? It they answer that they have few expectations, would rarely limit their children, or are inconsistent with their discipline it is possible that their permissiveness is causing the child to act badly in school and disregard their correction when it is given. Based on the observation of the parenting styles the child sees at home as well as the information from the moral development theories, it is clear that the parents are most likely at fault for their child’s maladaptive behavior. If they want their child to correct his behavior, they should engage in more authoritative parenting as children raised in this parenting style â€Å"fare best†¦are independent, friendly with peers, and cooperative† (Feldman, 2011; p.317). The parent should, as a part of this parenting style, be firm and set clear and consistent limits on their children. Additionally, induction, or discipline paired with explanation, can also be used so the child knows what they did and why it was wrong and can correct it in the future (Lee, 2013). References Feldman, R.S. (2011). Life span development: A topical approach. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Lee, M. (2013, April 1). Class #28: Prosocial Behavior, Values, and Spirituality. GPSYCH 160: Life Span Human Development – Section 8. Lecture conducted from James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA. Maladaptive Behavior. (2003). Retrieved April 8, 2013, from http://disease.disease.com/Therapy/Behavior/maladaptive-behavior.html

Anxiety Among Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy

Anxiety Among Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy REVIEW OF LITERATURE The review of literature in a research report is a summary of current knowledge about a particular practice- problem. (Nancy Burns 2002). A literature review is an organized writers presentation of what has been published on a topic by the scholars. The task of reviewing literature involves the identification, selection, critical analysis and reporting of existing information on topic of interest. The literatures found relevant and useful for the present study have been organized under the following headings. Literature related to prevalence of anxiety among patients receiving radiation therapy. Literature related to interventions used to reduce anxiety of patient receiving radiation therapy. Literature related to prevalence of anxiety among patients receiving radiation therapy. Donna B. Jeffe (2010) conducted a study among women who received radiation therapy over a period of five years in United Kingdom. The results showed that 35% of women had significant levels of anxiety or depression prior to radiation therapy. 75% women with high levels of anxiety prior to treatment recorded further high scores over the time period of five years. Out of six women who received radiation therapy, one had high anxiety scores during every follow-up. Very few of the womens with initial normal anxiety scores developed significant level of anxiety or depression over time. The study concluded that patients with little education showed higher levels of anxiety and depression over time and emphasized the need for education before radiation therapy. Andersen BL,Tewfik HH (2006) conducted a study to find the psychological reactions towards radiation therapy. Totally 45 patients undergoing external radiation therapy were included in this study. Pre and post radiation assessments of the subjects were done in the areas of state and trait anxiety, somatic complaints, and treatment side effects. Results showed increase in complaints and side effects reported by all patients at the treatment conclusion. Results also showed that (a) patients with an initial high level of anxiety reported a significant reduction, but they remained the most anxious subgroup; (b) patients with a moderate level of treatment anxiety before radiation therapy reported no change; and (c) patients with low levels of anxiety reported significant increase. The study concludes that patients who were either low or high in state anxiety were also characterized by more anger or hostility than patients with moderate level of treatment anxiety. Hans Geinitz, FrankB (2003) conducted a study to evaluate fatigue 2.5ÂÂ  years after radiation treatment in patients with breast cancer and to assess its relation to pre- and immediate post-treatment fatigue values. Totally 41 patients were included in this study whose fatigue value was evaluated during the time of radiation therapy. Out of these 41 patients, 38 were alive and free of cancer 2.5ÂÂ  years after radiation therapies, received the Fatigue Assessment Questionnaire, a visual analog scale on fatigue intensity as well as on cancer-related distress scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Health Survey per mail. All 38 patients returned their questionnaires. The values were compared to pretreatment and immediate post-treatment levels. Cancer-related distress values correlated with the patient fatigue scores. Results showed that Patients with functional impairment had slightly higher fatigue values. Patients with pretreatment elevated fatigue, anxiety or depression levels were at high risk for chronic fatigue. Barrie R. Cassileth Ph.D (2009) conducted a study to assess the effectiveness of experience on radiation therapy patients desire for information. Information giving and seeking were explored among 160 cancer patients who were receiving or about to receive radiation therapy. Eighty-two new patients and 78 experienced patients completed a questionnaire to find their knowledge of diagnosis and radiation therapy, expectations about treatment, self-assessment of the adequacy of their knowledge, and desire for additional information. Analysis showed that 92% of the patients reported detailed knowledge of diagnoses. Patients were optimistic about treatment: only one person thought that radiation might not be helpful; 50 percent of the patients had a thought that radiation therapy might cure their disease. Patients who had experience with radiation therapy shown with increased knowledge but they had diminished desire to seek information. Most experienced patients had accurate information, bu t many did not feel well informed. The desire among knowledgeable patients for more information might show the patients uncertainty about the radiation treatment. Lynn kilbride (2007) conducted a study to assess the frequency, severity of anxiety and depression among brain tumor patients between the period of surgery and radiation therapy. Totally 51 patients were included in this study whose anxiety and depression were assessed at three time points; post surgery, three weeks post surgery and prior to radiation therapy. Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale was used. Results indicated a heightened level of anxiety prior to radiation therapy. Five patients had significant depression at the time period between surgery and radiation therapy. Four of the five patients with scores consistent with depression had past histories of depression. The study concluded that a past medical history of depression is a significant predictor of depression before radiation therapy. Arthur peck, MD (2006) conducted a study to assess the emotional reactions of patients receiving radiation therapy. Totally 55 patients were included in this study. They were interviewed by a psychiatrist. The focus of initial interview was what they told when they were referred to have radiation therapy. Although 60% were informed by their doctors that they had cancer, all arrived at the treatment center without any preparation for the frequency, number, and the procedure of radiation treatment. Most of the patients believed that requiring radiation therapy was very bad news. They had the fear that radiation might cause further damage and possibly cancer. Few of them only expected it to be curative. Again the patients were interviewed after the completion of radiation treatment. The results showed that the incidence of depression and anxiety was even greater than their pretreatment interviews. More than one third of the patients judged the treatment to be ineffective; they were not realizing that their new distress resulted from the side effects of radiation treatment. In this study only one patient suffered damage due to radiation therapy and 60% were free of signs of cancer at follow up, 1 to 2 years later. This study concluded that patients before radiation therapy suffered from irrational fears of disability and death mainly due to their misconceptions about the radiation therapy. Thomas w.decker (2006) conducted a study to assess the impact of stress, anxiety and depression on quality of life of cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. Totally 82 outpatients who were undergoing radiation therapy were included in this study. The experimental group (34 patients) received some relaxation training and the control group (29 patients) received the standard education and counseling along with the radiation therapy. The results showed that there was significant (p Yu P. Chen, Ngan M. Tsang (2002) conducted a study to find the causes of interruption of Radiation therapy in patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Taiwan. A total of 3273 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients were treated at the Radiation Oncology Department from 1979 to 1996 were included in this study. Among these patients, 276 did not complete the full course of radiation treatment. The medical records of these patients were reviewed to determine the factors contributing to treatment interruption. Results showed that the acute side effects and complications caused by radiation therapy were the major factors influencing patients decisions to discontinue the treatment. This study suggested that more attention should be paid to take care of acute side effects of radiation ÂÂ ­therapy and also reinforcing the patient with education is important. Santhosh K.Chaturvedi (1998) conducted a study to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients receiving radiation therapy in India. A total of 100 patients referred to radiation therapy were included. All patients were administered the hospital anxiety and depression scale before starting the radiation therapy, after the completion of radiation therapy, and at 3-4 months follow-up. Anxiety and depression were detected frequently in patients receiving radiation therapy both prior to treatment and later during follow up. Frequency of anxiety significantly increased after initiating radiation therapy, but later reduced during follow up assessment. Hoyle Leigh (1987) conducted a study to assess the psychological factors affecting survival in cancer patients receiving radiation therapy. Totally 101 patients receiving radiation therapy were evaluated for anxiety, depression, and perception of the seriousness of their condition. In 3 years, the survivors were compared to the non survivors. The survivors had significantly higher mean trait anxiety (p Literature related to interventions used to reduce anxiety of patient receiving radiation therapy. Georgia K.B Halkett (2010) conducted a study to assess the effective communication and provision in radiation therapy and role of the radiation therapists. Health professionals have a duty of care to radiotherapy patients in providing them with adequate information before treatment. The aim of the study was to (a) explore how radiation therapists communicate with breast cancer patients during a radiation therapy planning appointment (b) determine what information is provided during this appointment and (c) explore radiation therapists perspectives on their role in providing patient information and support. A total of 110 radiation therapists were participated in this survey. They simulated 2 radiotherapy planning appointments and held 2 forums. The study concluded that Radiation therapists play an important role in communicating with patients and providing information, especially if patients exhibit anxiety and distress. Christie R. Eheman (2010) conducted a study to assess the information-seeking styles among cancer patients before and after treatment by demographics and use of information sources. Totally 731 cancer patients attending outpatient clinics for cancer treatments were surveyed during the pre treatment and post treatment period. The study evaluated the relationships between information-seeking style (active, moderately active, and passive styles) and demographics, cancer type, and health status for the pretreatment and post treatment periods and overall. The generalized estimating equations approach was used to model the log odds of more active to more passive information-seeking preferences taking into consideration both the pretreatment and post treatment periods. The results showed that prior to treatment, 17% reported an active information-seeking style, 69% were moderately active, and 14% were passive. Raymond Chan (2009) conducted a study to assess the effectiveness of orientation program on levels of anxiety and self efficacy among newly registered cancer patients who were waiting for chemotherapy or radiation therapy in a cancer centre in Australia. A randomized control study was used and interventions given like a face-to-face program which includes introduction to the hospital facilities, introduction to the multi-disciplinary team and an overview of treatment side effects and self care strategies. The aim of the study was to orientate patients to the cancer centre and to meet the health care team. Results showed improvement in self-efficacy of patients and demonstrated potential improvement in health outcomes. The study also reported that there were only limited studies on orientation program for cancer patients particularly with respect to the use of multidisciplinary team members. YvonneÂÂ  Zissiadisa (2009) conducted a study to assess the impact of more intensive written information in patients receiving radiation therapy. Totally 194 patients were included in this study. The experimental group (102) received more intensive information and control group (92) received the standard consultation. State trait anxiety scale was completed prior to their first consultation at the time of simulation and at the completion of radiotherapy. Information satisfaction questionnaire to assess the patients satisfaction was also completed at the time of simulation prior to radiation therapy. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the groups with regard to mean satisfaction scores with the overall information given. Results showed that more intensive information did not significantly change the patients satisfaction, anxiety scores. But the patients were generally very satisfied with the information they received but they were less satisfied w ith the information on lifestyle issues. Eva J.E. Christensen, B.Sc (2006) conducted a study to find the effectiveness of interventions to relieve pain and anxiety during radiation therapy. The main objective of this study was to assess the discomfort and anxiety during radiation therapy, which can increase patient motion leading to decreased treatment accuracy. Totally 2051 subjects were included in this study. They were given different interventions like placebo, hypnotherapy, aromatherapy, music therapy and guided imagery including pharmacological interventions. Results showed that guided imagery showed benefits in terms of pain. And the study concluded that relaxation therapies may decrease anxiety during radiation therapy, evidence supports the benefit of pharmacological interventions for pain and anxiety for specific radiological procedures and selection of common criteria for reporting pain and anxiety is valuable for further studies. Cartledge Hoff A, Haaga DA(2005) conducted a study to find the effectiveness of an education program on radiation oncology patients and family. Information was presented in oral and in written form. After the intervention, orientation program participants did not differ significantly from control group members in state anxiety, general distress, treatment adherence, or knowledge of radiation therapy. Orientation group patients reported greater satisfaction with clinic care, and the orientation group had significant utilization of the psychological counseling services within the clinic, as well as outside support. Jeff Dunnab,(2004) conducted a study to assess the effectiveness of targeted treatment education for cancer patients to promote adjustment through assisting patients to participate in treatment decision making, comply with treatment regimens and cope more effectively with treatment side effects. Totally 92 patients included in this study, randomized into experimental and control groups. The experimental group patients were given video information about radiation therapy. Pre test post test and follow up design was used. Results showed that there were no significant difference between the control and experimental group. However, patients in the intervention group reported high levels of satisfaction with the video and all reported that they would recommend the video to other patients waiting for radiation therapy. In the experimental group 90% of patients reported that most of the information received through the video was new to them. C.D.Linde, A.D.Stuart (2002) conducted a study to find the effectiveness of cognitive relaxation-visualization intervention in reducing the anxiety of patients receiving radiation therapy. Totally 88 female patients were taken for this study. The aim of the study was to find the effectiveness of the intervention in two groups. One group (N = 72) waiting for being pre-diagnosis and the other group (N = 16) before beginning radiation therapy treatment. Personal anxiety inventory was used to assess the anxiety. The results indicated that the intervention was effective in reducing anxiety for both the groups. It also concluded that patients had perceived the presence of an empathic individual during the time of diagnosis and before radiation treatment as being of greatest value. Taking interventions to reduce the anxiety before diagnosis and cancer treatment was very important. Lundberg pranne C.PhD,RN (2001) conducted a study among Buddhist patients with cancer undergoing radiation therapy to assess their feelings, satisfaction and coping with nurse provided education and support before radiation therapy. In this study 90 males and 89 females participated. The results showed that the most common feelings about radiation therapy of both the genders were acceptance and womens felt more anxiety compared to men. The most common ways of coping with the radiation therapy for both genders were rest, relaxation and communicate with their family or friends. The result showed that the satisfaction of patients with nurse provided education and support was higher among the men. The study concluded that when oncology nurses provide education to radiation therapy patients, it is very important that they should be well known about their patients characteristics including their cultural values and religious beliefs. D Haese S, Vinh-Hung (2000) conducted a study to assess the timing of provision of information to reduce anxiety and to improve satisfaction of cancer patients receiving radiation treatment. Two sources of informations were used (a) a booklet with a stepwise overall description of radiation treatment (b) teaching sheets with all the information about the radiation treatment site. Totally 68 patients were included in this study. They were randomly assigned to simultaneous information group and stepwise information group. Assessments were recorded before the simulation (p=0.02) and more satisfied (p=0.0001). Results showed that information given through a stepwise format leads to less anxiety towards the radiation treatment and patients were satisfied more before the simulation procedure. D haese S, Vinh-Hung (2000) conducted a study to assess the timing of provision of information to reduce anxiety and to improve satisfaction of cancer patients receiving radiation treatment. Two sources of informations were used (a) a booklet with a stepwise overall description of radiation procedure (b) teaching sheets with all the information about the radiation treatment site. Totally 68 patients were included in this study. They were randomly assigned to simultaneous information group and stepwise information group. Assessments were recorded before the simulation, 2nd week and at the end of radiation treatment. Results showed that information given through a stepwise format leads to less anxiety (p=0.002) and satisfaction (0.00001) towards the radiation treatment before the simulation procedure. Conclusion The review of literature enlightened the investigator to develop an insight into the radiation therapy anxiety, orientation program and its effects in the review of literature. Many studies were conducted to reduce the level of pre radiation therapy anxiety, particularly the education before radiation therapy have shown more significant results throughout the entire course of treatment. These reviews helped the investigator to gain a deeper knowledge of the research problem and guided in designing the study.

Philosophy of Milton in When I Consider how my Light is Spent and Borge

The Philosophy of Milton in When I Consider how my Light is Spent and Borges in Poema de los dones  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   Jorge Luis Borges espoused a philosophy that "all men are each other" (Stabb 52). His literature frequents the theme by finding the repetition of events that transpire regardless of the person involved. His becoming blind coincided with his appointment as Director of the National Library of Argentina, and he understood this "splendid irony of God" as another wrinkle in the circular repetition of existence. John Milton's formal use of the Petrarchan sonnet provides a balanced structure for him to blend his experience with the general human experience, but his effort promotes an inward, self-reflective goal of trying to find God's mandate when he becomes blind. While Borges universalizes his blindness in order to convey his idea of transindividuality in "Poema de los dones" ("Poem of the Gifts"), Milton responds to the permanence of his night by ultimately resigning to a justified ascetism, patience, and contemplation as he awaits God's command in "When I Consider how my L ight is Spent."    A graceful tug of war between continuity and schism, a changing fusion of the personal and the universal, and a tone of resignation direct Milton to the difficult acceptance of serving God by standing and waiting. Continuity within a set of lines shapes the theme by urging the poet to continue his faith in God. Contrasts in images and audiences define the differences between the soul-seeking author and the well-meaning orator.    Petrarchan sonnets usually invite the poet to propose a series of distinct statements from line to line. Milton deviates from the anticipated sentence divisions by merging one idea within m... ...Milton: A Structural Reading. London: Edward Arnold, 1974.    Borges, Jorge Luis. Borges: A Reader. Eds. Emir Rodriguez Monegal and Alastair Reid. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1981.    Miller, David M. John Milton: Poetry. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1978.    Milton, John. "When I Consider how my Light is Spent." The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Sixth Edition. Ed. M.H. Abrams et al. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1996.    Modern Critical Views: Jorge Luis Borges. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986.    Nicolson, Marjorie Hope. John Milton: A reader's guide to his poetry. New York: Octagon Books, 1983.    Stabb, Martin S. Jorge Luis Borges. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1970.    Wilson, A.N. The Life of John Milton. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1983.      

Development of Complex Societies Essay

In the early stages of the development of complex societies, many different factors had a powerful impact on the way the societies developed. In some areas of the world, religion was the primary force that led to the creation of organized societies. Other areas developed on trade routes that made it necessary to develop complex societies to incorporate the growth of different economic classes and the wealth they generated into the structure of the government. In each part of the world where complex societies emerged, the communities were responding to different types of challenges and the complexities each society created forced them to confront new challenges which then led to the great, complex societies of history. The urban society of Mesopotamia developed because of the engineering discoveries that allowed residents of the area between the Tigris and Euphrates to increase food production, while the predictability of the Nile River allowed the Egyptians and Nubians to build large , complex societies around their commercial and religious activities. Many simple early societies were based around farming. Through cultivating crops and the land, people learned they could settle down in one place instead of being nomads and support a larger population of people. These villages needed a social structure, but their sizes were limited by the amount of food they could produce. In Mesopotamia, especially Sumeria and Babylon, there is not much rainfall, but farmers learned they could artificially irrigate their crops using the fresh water in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers[1]. The large-scale engineering projects required greater social organization than the simple farming communities that came before, but they also resulted in increased food production that allowed them to build cities. The urban centers that resulted required more sophisticated organization to make sure that the population was productive: that building projects could be completed, that resources were distributed fairly, and that the city could continue to grow[2]. The division of labor also created different economic classes, which resulted in various social classes as well. Some merchants grew wealthy catering to customers who came to the city from other places, and community building projects required supervision, organization, and funding[3]. Such a large society could not exist as small farmers trading with one another. Political authority was needed to maintain order between the citizens and protect the interests of the entire community, especially the cropland that existed outside the city walls. An example of the way that authority influenced society is the codification of laws by Hammurabi, especially as they related to family relationships and how husbands could treat their wives. Upper-class people whose marriages represented political and economic alliances were subject to the same law, so that even if a husband had a right to punish his wife for a suspected affair, he could not do anything to her unless he caught her in the act. If he did act out on his jealousy, he would be punished. Hammurabi’s laws treated women like the property of their husbands and fathers, but they also described certain standards of behavior that citizens should be expected to follow for the sake of stability and to reign in people’s behavior[4]. The innovation of urban development also led to the Sumerian creation of military power, as each city-state had to protect its farmland and irrigation projects from one another and from outside invaders. Once the city-states had organized themselves into relatively peaceful social organizations united under a single government, their growing populations often led them to go out and try to conquer other city-states or areas with more resources to increase their wealth[5]. In Mesopotamia, the social organization created in the first cities led to the establishment of the first empires. Along the Nile River in northern Africa, small city states also emerged due to the increased production of food that agriculture made possible. Agriculture first developed in Sudan, where people first cultivated wheat crops and domesticated animals that roamed the grassland. The growing populations made these cities into cultural and commercial centers, as well, and they also required political authority to keep the peace and maintain the functioning of all of the complex institutions of a city: dividing up resources, keeping the peace, and protecting their resources from other city-states[6]. These cities were often ruled over by Kings who were not only thought of as political authority but were also considered to be divine themselves, so they also held a great deal of religious authority[7]. Over time, the grasslands became desert and agricultural activity centered along the floodplains of the Nile River in Egypt and Nubia. Egypt, particularly, had a very wide and predictable floodplain which attracted immigrants and allowed the population to grow. United under one ruler, who was also considered to be divine, Egyptian society became increasingly complex. Massive amounts of resources, especially wheat from the fertile harvests, had to be dealt with, marketplaces had to be managed, and armies had to be raised to protect the fertile land from invaders. The main organizing force in Egyptian society was its strong religious component. The Pharaoh was considered a god as well as a king, and the religious power he held was just as important as the political power. The colossal building projects that the Egyptians embarked on, such as the pyramids and temples, required a very complex society and highly skilled workers and engineers[8]. They developed a very complex writing system not only to keep commercial records, but also to record their spiritual beliefs and the history of their empire. Harkhuf used it to document his exploration of Nubia and opening of trade routes there, showing the high levels of complexity that each of those societies had risen to[9]. Both the African and Mesopotamian civilizations developed out of small farming communities who practiced small-scale agriculture. In both areas, advances in agriculture led to increased populations living in densely-populated cities, which allowed the people to divide labor and specialize in different things. The division of labor led to advancement in almost every area: from engineering and agriculture to art and, especially, the political organizations that organized the whole society and made all of those things possible. Both civilizations developed writing systems, originally developed to keep records, but soon used to express imaginations, beliefs, and to write down the histories of their nations. While Mesopotamian cultures were organized around the complex building projects needed to irrigate their fields, societies in the Nile River had other pressures. Their cropland was regularly fertilized and irrigated, so their complexity developed out of a need to organize the wealth of the city-state and the empire that came as a result. Without the pressure of constantly trying to keep their crops irrigated, the Egyptians organized around religious beliefs, which they expressed in their greatest building projects and influenced almost everything they did. The pressures that led smaller societies to develop more complex structures were different in each case, but they both resulted in the building of the first great cities which are necessary for the political, social, and technological innovations of complex society. Although the places they lived were very different, the Sumerians and the Egyptians both developed writing to record their progress, political innovations to maintain control of growing populations, and laid the foundations for great building projects and the great civilizations that would come after them. Bibliography Bentley, Jerry H. and Ziegler, Herbert F., Traditions and Encounters Vol. 1 from The Beginning to 1500, 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010 ———————– [1] Jerry H. Bentley and Herbert F. Ziegler, Traditions and Encounters Vol. 1 from The Beginning to 1500, 5th ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010), 25 [2] Bentley and Ziegel, Traditions, 27 [3] Bentley and Ziegler, Traditions, 33 [4] Bentley and Ziegler, Traditions, 36 [5] Bentley and Ziegler, Traditions, 29 [6] Bentley and Ziegel, Traditions, 50-51 [7] Bentley and Ziegel, Traditions, 52 [8] Bentley and Ziegel, Traditions, 53 [9] Bentley and Ziegel, Traditions, 56

Background of the Story Essay

In a much lighter context, Giovanni’s room tries to intricately explain the reasons behind men becoming gays. The matter, discussed through experiential accounts brings the story into a more emotional presentation of the issue thus creating a more attractive environment of understanding for the readers to indulge into. Aside from this, the story written by James Baldwin also aims to reiterate the psychological background of the reasons behind the personality changes that are happening among men and how the situations in their lives particularly affect their decisions and their relationships. The story begins in a narration of the main character, David, as he describes Giovanni’s room. Giovanni is primarily one among the few men whom David had been deeply involved with. The room of Giovanni has been described to have been always dark and less lighted. Perhaps signing about the privacy and the intimacy that the room represents, Giovanni’s room remains to be an ideal depiction of the relationships between men that occurred in that specific place in the story. As the story goes on to, David’s character shows a particular confusion in his gender especially with regards his relationships with both men and women. Basing from his background, it could be observed that he has been rather placed in that particular situation especially based from the past experiences that he has been dealing with as he grew towards his maturity that both involved the relationship of his mother and his father. From the said background, it could be noted that being a gay or being a bisexual, as the story suggests on the main character, could simply be sourced out from having a less guiding father thus making him more vulnerable to life challenges especially with regards gender issues. A Social Connotation of the Story UNTIL 1861 homosexuality was an offense punishable by death in England. In fact, the possibility of imprisonment for homosexual acts was not lifted there until as recently as 1967. Many other Western countries have a similar history. In recent years, however, laws and attitudes have greatly changed. In California, by way of example, a candidate for San Francisco’s office of mayor promised to appoint homosexual to city boards and commissions in proportion to their share of the population, estimated at about 15 percent. As a result, homosexuals gave her their support at the polls. Men and women prominent in public life can now be homosexuals quite openly. Many clergymen are self-confessed â€Å"gays,† freely advocating such a way of life. Homosexuality no longer is viewed by many as having the stigma it used to have. It has achieved a degree of â€Å"respectability. † Since the First World War, the authority of the priests and clergy of Christendom has been challenged. People are no longer willing to accept without question what the churches say. They have demanded greater freedom, especially as far as morality is concerned. Why, then, do people become homosexuals? What is behind the ever-increasing surge in their numbers? There is hardly an issue that has been more hotly contested in recent years. The Roman Catholic report mentioned earlier comments: â€Å"Most young people appear to pass through a phase when the homosexual tendency is dominant; but the emotional growth can be halted at this stage. † Teen-age years are years of stress. Young boys and girls often find it difficult to relate to one another without embarrassment at that time of life. So we often see polarization—groups composed exclusively of boys or of girls. Most are able to make the necessary adjustments and achieve a balance in sexual life. Sadly, however, there are many pitfalls. Commenting on some of these, the secretary of the Responsible Society in England said: â€Å"We are very worried about the strident proselytizing going out to teenagers from militant homosexual campaigners. There is overwhelming evidence in the American Masters and Johnson survey that homosexuality is learned behavior. † High schools and universities are a natural ground for such development. The Little Blue Book passed to Oxford, England, students has this to say: â€Å"Many gays ‘come out’ (i. e. start being open about being gay) when they are at college or university. Leaving home perhaps for the first time, is often an escape from certain pressure and expectations. Furthermore students tend to be more tolerant and open-minded towards homosexuals, at least on a superficial level. † Scotland’s Glasgow University’s free guide to ‘gay sex,’ entitled â€Å"Gay Scene,† offers the following advice: â€Å"If you find that you are sexually attracted to people of the same sex as yourself, the best thing to do is to accept it. † One incensed parent is reported as saying: â€Å"There are many young students who could be corrupted by this sort of material. † In other words—homosexuality can be prevented, just as it can be learned. There is one additional aspect of homosexuality that is often pushed into the background. It concerns the incidence of venereal diseases among homosexuals. How serious is this problem? VD clinics in England get an unexpectedly high rate of homosexuals. Said one health visitor: â€Å"I think that’s because they are more promiscuous, making more casual encounters than other people. † Bearing out this fact as a worldwide problem, in New York city 55 percent of the cases of infectious syphilis in 1977 occurred among homosexual males. Free-lance medical writer Terry Alan Sandholzer reported: â€Å"Syphilis in gay men has been estimated to account for as high as 50 percent of reported cases in large cities and about a third of the cases nationally. † Surely that is a high price to pay for sexual â€Å"liberation. † As homosexuality has come out into the open, so there has been a concerted effort to impart a new image to the practice. The word â€Å"homosexual,† with its accent on â€Å"sex,† has been viewed disapprovingly. Into prominence instead is the term â€Å"gay. † The Concise Oxford Dictionary notes that this word, used in this sense, is a euphemism, a mild word substituted for a harsh or direct one. The same can be said of â€Å"homophilia† and â€Å"homophile,† as sometimes used. If one were going to enter the homosexual world, then it would be wise to face the facts about VD in that world. Certainly, as the story of Giovanni’s room displays the actual life of homosexual, it could not be denied that such course of life has its consequences. Likely, such course of life, even though sourced out from a primary confusion, it could not be denied that it simply cannot be lived without the counteracting results that such acts brings about to the individual involved in the said situation. A Reflection Based on Other Writings Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Self Reliance and Khaleid Housinni’s Kite Runner could be well connected to the social description of the story of Giovanni’s room. At some point, the authors of the said selections choose to show the human society as a primary source of distress that affects the life of most human individuals. Self-reliance particularly notes how people resort to certain acts so as to survive several challenges in life that they face every now and then. In the same way, the story of the Kite Runner notes the fact that people are indeed in direct receiver of the situations that are happening in the society. The way that they are able to face such issues, whether personal or social, is the reflecting element that usually identifies who they are and what they particularly believe in. (Housinni, 2003, 18) Obviously, such idealism in personal development is derived from a rather psychological perspective that identifies social and personal sociology to be particularly connected with each other. How could this idealism be observed in particular? The naturalistic approach in observation could then be further applied. This fundamental research methodology is known to divulge and aid the psychologist in his or her critical analysis of the human behavior and characteristics while in socially acceptable public domain in his or her course of interacting with other individuals in their aspect of addressing their sociological needs. In this aspect of human interaction, psychologist try to significantly analyze the human nature as shown by their actions both involving the verbal and non-verbal communication style and how individuals manifest their motives while adhering to the social values and cultures pertaining to public communication. Naturalistic observation is commonly an actual observation of subjects mainly while they are in their course of social interaction specifically while they are in the public place. In the course of implementing this method, the researcher must also observe social values and cultural manners thus preventing any offensive act during the observation. In addition, the concept of personal privacy and inappropriate intrusion should also be constantly observed while the researcher is observing the subjects. All of these limitations must be implemented while the researcher observed the subjects in an isolated nature keeping his or her presence unnoticed and ideally absent to the personal space of the subject during their interaction. (Houssini, 2003, 18) The only aspect to be focused on in this project is the psychological behavior of the subject as manifested by their very intricate details such as gestures, voice, reaction, facial expression and impression and others. If applied within the situation of David in Giovanni’s room along with the other selections, it could be observed that humans particularly show who they are with the things that they choose to engage in with their daily activities. The people they mingle with also characterizes their personal attributes thus giving a reflection of their past and how they have been particularly molded by the experiences that they have been dealing with at present. Among the most compelling relation of the stories towards each other are the death of the supposed partner [lover; Giovanni and brother; Hassan] characters who for some reason had the chance of living but had to let go to let their counterparts live. Undeniably, the removal of their character within the said stories aim to press on with the possibility of those whom they left to change their ways thus create a much better life for them. However, with either a false or faithful hope that this would happen, the ones that they left to live actually made it through life with lies and pretentious acts still living within the secrets that they once kept back when they still had both Hassan and Giovanni in their lives. The contemporary life of human individuals has indeed caused a much easier process of concealing what they really are inside. Just to be able to secure themselves from all the possible insecurities that the society might imply on them, many among men and women today intend to pretend someone who they are not simply to be accepted by others. The fear of being rejected and bemused by those closest to them makes them fearful of the possible things that may happen of they open up to others the reality of their identity as a person. This indeed is an indication of fear due to social norms. If negatively taken, as seen on both stories, this particular aspect of living with the society would only bring one towards the foolish happiness that is brought about by being falsely accepted by the community that one particularly lives in. A Connection with the Kite Runner The whole theme of the story of â€Å"The Kite Runner† revolved around the lives of two young children who were from different classes of the society. Social prejudice of the economic status of people has been the main reason why the problem of diversity in Afghanistan has risen as portrayed in the story. This factor indeed contributed so much to the story’s complication, which resulted to the guilt driven emotions of the main character Amir, when he was not able to come to the rescue of his friend Hassan. In this story, a clear display of the society’s major problem on prejudice and equality has been shown. Concentrating on the more personally based assessment of the situation as portrayed by Amir, the social problems depicted in the story makes it easier to understand why people take lesser courage in making a change in the present social situation, be guilty later on and then set goals in making a change in a less complex and fearful way. Yes, in a concise display of events, the author tried to help the reader’s picture out the most important events of the situation that would likely connect the story with the intense effect of social diversity to individuals in the society. The consequences are shown to be much dreadful enough to keep a person from moving on with his own life, because of the fact that the lack of courage that drives a person to ignore the things that are supposed to be done by him in the first place. Certainly, an inner healing is necessary for certain situations such as this. It is normal for a person to feel down from not being able to complete or live up to a certain self-expectation. However, inner healing is not that easy to find. As for the main character of the story, it could be noted that the healing of his conscience mainly came form the fact that he had to come back to Afghanistan to find his find with a plan of making it up to him in any way he could. Although he was not able to do the said task as he has expected things to come along, he was still able to help himself regain his clear conscience through helping the son of his friend Hassan to have a change of life under his care. As it could be noted, the story was plotted to show the deeper individual effects of the social differences among men as well as the effects of war on relationships between people. The existence of such issues has made the characters reflect the actual situation of individuals in the society especially focusing on the Afghanistan society. (Howard, 2003, Internet) One more them of the story, which should be given attention, is the picture of reality portrayed by Amir. His lack of courage in doing things that they know should be done is a problem by many people today. Although they know that something within their power could change several situations in the society, their fear of several elements in the society keeps them from doing any courageous change. This was shown when Amir failed to save his friend Hassan from the hands of the bully, Assef. As a result, his conscience has not made him completely relieved from moving away from Afghanistan ever since. Instead, he was continuously haunted by the past and the things that he was supposed to do for his friend (Kirszner, 2001, 90). At the same picture, several people today find it difficult to forget the past especially the situations that involves them with the things that they were supposed to do and yet they did not have much of the courage that it takes for them to do it. As a way of relieving the pain brought about by the past, people tend to find ways in which they could still change what happened. As for the situation of Amir, he tried to return to Afghanistan to supposedly make it up with Hassan. As it could be noted from the overview of the story, although Amir was not able to make it up to his half brother Hassan, he was able to clear his conscience by taking care of the son of Hassan instead. In the same way, people today find a way to heal their aching hearts through returning back to what has happened in the past and later on try to change things for the people that they were supposed o help before. This way, their conscience is then cleared off from the shortcomings that they incurred against others before. As mentioned earlier, people tend to get hurt from many things. Usually, their experiences of several different situations they have been involved with, brings them the discouragement that they ought to feel after not being able to do what they were supposed to. This then brings them several psychological disturbances that keep them from moving on freely with their lives. The fear of doing what they should have done before might have been governed by several factors in the society that kept them from being able to complete their supposed tasks before (Hill, 2000, Internet). Certainly, because of the said elements, doing what is right might not have been that easy. Aside from this, it is quite easier to understand that the situation is harder to deal with when it is happening at the actual time. The lack of time to think things over makes it harder for a person to realize what should be immediately done to solve some things (Coon, 2001, 54,55). This is naturally what happened to Amir upon seeing the bully beat his friend. Along with fear and panic, he was not able to come up with the possible solution that he was supposed to apply during the said situation. People tend to lack courage when they are faced with the actual crisis. However, after some time of thinking things over, they begin to realize that there could have been better results if they did have the courage to do their ethical responsibilities regarding the situation. What is meant by redemption and healing? Naturally, this means recovery from any possible scourge that has been experienced by one in the past. Being healed, means being able to cure what has been causing one the pain that is felt in an emotional state as for this matter (Coon, 20001, 56). Hence, healing does not only involve mere mind works. It has to involve actions that would help the individual free himself from the guilt that he is feeling from within his conscience. Basing from how the main character tried to resolve his personal issues regarding his past shortcomings against his friend, coming back to the origin of his guilt feelings has helped him realize the possibility for him to clear his conscience from the guilt that has mainly plagued his thoughts for a long time. As for the present situation of the society, to redeem themselves from the psychological and emotional disturbances brought about by the past, people opt to find ways by which they can still change things even though the change may not be done directly to the people they have once failed to help (Coon, 2001, 58). The changes that this certain courageous act by an individual that naturally results to betterment of many or even of a few would then help that individual to regain his clean conscience thus clearing him from all the guilt that has been keeping him from moving on with his life before. Several issues that divide it to several classes govern the society today. Aside from the race, economic status makes it harder for an individual to deal with the society in a fair way. Yes, today, the main reason why people tend to separate themselves from others is the existence of social prejudice. What is prejudice? According to the article entitled, â€Å"They found the solution to the problem of race†: â€Å"Education is the key to ending present condition of prejudice. When this key is missing, prejudice often results. Prejudice is a prejudgment, a judgment arrived at before persons have really examined the evidence regarding the matter involved. Then, because of their prejudice, they are inclined to discriminate against others. (Awake! 1999, 14) Certainly, the social division makes it harder for people to deal with each other in a fair way. In the same way, the governments and the non-government organizations, which are supposed to give answers to the said social issues, have a hard time finding ways by which they would be able solve the disturbances. As a result, they have to deal with the guilt that they gain from not being able to give answers to the most important issues in the human society. To be able to clear their guilt, they tend to solve the issues after several years when the pressure on the issue is already lessened and the attention of the society towards the issue has already been shifted to other problems (Coon, 2001, 60). Prejudice however remains to be the main reason why people are having a hard time dealing with a divided society. Basing from actual accounts in the society, prejudice is a major problem that makes it harder for people to find peace and security in their own communities. As it has been portrayed in the story of the â€Å"Kite Runner†, the divisive culture of people cannot be easily dealt with. As a result, more roots of social issues arise from the very said social illness. It is a responsibility of everyone else in the society to face the challenge of acting against the effects of prejudice. By being completely free from the thoughts of being superior from others should help everyone realize that they have to stand for their fellowmen when they are faced with the oppression of prejudice like that of the situation between Hassan and Amir in the story. For this reason, it would be more possible for people to avoid the guilt of not being able to complete their responsibilities to their fellowmen. Healing and redemption is an essential part of the society’s recovery from the effects of social prejudice. Individuals who have been naturally involved in the deeper effects of the said social issues are the ones who are supposed to find ways by which they could be able to handle their inner distress brought about by social inequalities. Changing how the world views not everyone with differences in an unequal manner may be that easy to deal with, but a single person’s courage of taking the lead to make a change on how people deal with prejudice is a great step towards a fairer society that does not divide society based on several classes of differences. Conclusion The readings featured within this analysis actually note the social issues that are primarily making up the human population today. Naturally, such particular issues have subjected many into a certain situation that caused them to readjust their thoughts with regards the people that they meet with every now and then in their own communities. Considerably, such situation causes many to be subjected to several pretensions that they need to do, just to keep the reality of their personalities. Understandably though, there are some individuals who suffer deeply from this particular situation, some who are less able to adjust themselves to the living that society actually demands of them. For so many reasons, facing these particular situations require that one be most capable of showing who he really is even in the middle of adversaries. Being strongly attached to one’s own personal being and identity actually makes one more susceptible to the different challenges of human living, This would then allow them of becoming the best person that they can even in the middle of hard situations. This is what is being implanted to the thoughts of the readers through the narration of the stories of Amir and David as well as that of the statements of Ralph Waldo Emerson. These writings actually make it certain that people are directly affected by the situations that they are facing everyday. Undeniably, they are given the chance to react considerably in the process pf change in life. This is actually a matter of change and learning. Sometimes though, the learning in this process actually involves other people who are at times subjected into being involved in the lesser state of the relationship among the ones who are facing the dreadful situation of pretension. However, their existence, although lesser is indeed noted of its importance to those whom they shared their lives with. References: Ralph Waldo Emerson: Self-Reliance (1841). http://www. wsu. edu/~wldciv/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_2/emerson. html. (June 30, 2008). James Baldwin. (2000). Giovanni’s Room. Delta Publications. Khaled Hosseini. (2003). The Kite Runner. Riverhead Books. Austen, Roger (1977). Playing the Game: The Homosexual Novel in America, 1st ed. , Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Company. ISBN 978-067252287X. Guidelines for Psychotherapy With Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients. http://www. apa. org/practice/glbt. pdf. (July 3, 2008). Why is there war. (2000). Awake! Brooklyn New York. 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