The Truth About Video Games Essay - 1415 Words

The Truth about Video Games Since the industry of video games has been around, people have been skeptical about video games and their effects to our society. People are so used criticizing video games, claiming that they only corrupt our families, ruin our social lives, and make us and our children more violent. People that are against video games also claim that spending your time reading books is a better and more beneficial alternative. But to blindly claim these things while there are so many benefits for playing video games is really absurd. In the essay â€Å"Games† written by Steven Johnson he talks about multiple advantages that there are to playing video games over reading books. Shigeru Miyamoto, a renowned video game designer, once†¦show more content†¦During the study, conducted from May through August, 2002, the surgeons also played three video games for 25 minutes while the researchers assessed their gaming skills.†(JAMA and Archives Journals). The report concluded that the t op 33 percent of video gaming skill surgeons made 47 percent fewer errors, performed 39 percent faster and scored 41 percent more points overall on the video game than the bottom 33 percent. Data collected also pointed out that training surgeons with video games can, in fact, make surgeons perform better while handling different types of surgical procedures. Books are great to find written instructions on how to perform surgery, yet, surgeons may not be able to perform an actual surgery without flaw because they have not had the experience necessary beforehand. From this data collected the authors concluded that video games may be of use to help train surgeons and serve as a practice or learning tool as well. All in all, playing video games can improve hand-eye coordination and also serve as a learning tool. Video games can also teach problem-solving skills and enhance current ones. Many games out there are mindless and require no skill to play. But most require someShow MoreRelatedThe Truth About Video Games1124 Words   |  5 Pagestechnology has developed rapidly, video games have become more realistic in terms of violence. These games and systems have reached second in demand in the media industry following television (Rottenberg et al. 30). The human species is an inherently violent species in this generation. When we play video games for extended hours at a time, the game removes us from reality into a new dream world killing and fighting monsters, enemies, and villains. Most humans believe video games do not cause violence; howeverRead MoreThe Truth about Video Games and Violent Children 1222 Words   |  5 Pages Violent video games are not training kids to be murderers. The video game industries have been called against and blamed for making kids more aggressive and violent fo r years. Although recent studies show that violent video games have been useful for kids to get their anger out. Only some kids were found to be aggressive after violent video game play, but they had three specific traits that lead to this aggressive behavior (â€Å"Violent...). Not all kids are affected by violent video games, but peopleRead MoreCorrelation between Gun Violence and Video Games in the Article, The Truth About Video Games and Gun Violence by Erik Kain753 Words   |  3 PagesThe article, â€Å"The Truth About Video Games and Gun Violence† by Erik Kain discusses how video games and gun violence correlates. The author opens up with someone by the name of Aaron Alexis who resorted to gun violence while playing video games that contained violence. There is a violent video game that scares parents and behavioral experts. There has been a debate on whether people who play video games later have violent behavior. Throughout the years, video games continue to show i mages portrayingRead MoreGrand Theft Childhood the Surprising Truth About Video Games and What Parents Can Do1827 Words   |  8 PagesIn â€Å"Grand Theft Childhood,† Professors Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl Olson do a good job of investigating whether violent video games are bad for kids. They present both sides of the argument in an unbiased way. In the early chapters of â€Å"Grand Theft Childhood† Kutner and Olson take on the relation between depictions of violence and their effects on child behavior by arguing that amount of crime decreased dramatically during the peak of violent penny gaff viewing in England. Penny gaffs were inexpensiveRead MoreViolent Video Games in the Twenty-First Century: The Truth Essay1649 Words   |  7 Pageshalf-truth. The nation would come to see a cause for teen violence where there was none. Fear, in this case, would result in one of the many half-truths that are still heavily debated to this day. Although this half-truth regards video games resulting in teenage violence, the effects of video games on children and teenagers do not generally result in future adolescent violence problems. The relation between teenage violence and violent video games covers an immense area for argument. A video game’sRead MoreThe Effects of Video Games on Children1610 Words   |  6 PagesMany participants also suggested that the games caused the children to have strong imaginations, while a few disagreed. 61.0% said that electronic games did not cause the children to lack good behavior. The survey also showed that electronic games do not cause the children to be skilled in terms of their self expression, and do not cause them visual stress. On the issue concerning obesity, the percentage of the respondents who said that electronic games caused children to be obese was equal to theRead MoreEssay about Video Games and Violence: Cause, or Scapegoat?1116 Words   |  5 Pagescoming out about video games is bad. A student tried to kill his fellow classmates, and he was an avid Call of Duty player. A study has been released that proves that playing video games will turn you into a criminal. The many benefits of games and gaming, such as their possible applications to education and their ability to tell more complex stories than other forms of media, are almost universally ignored. I know better, though. Between the lifetime I’ve spent playing and loving video games, and theRead MoreVideo Games Effects On Teenagers1716 Words   |  7 Pagesform, and video gaming is a huge part of our culture. You can ignore or embrace video games and imbue them with the best artistic quality. People are enthralled with video games in the same way as other people love the cinema or theatre† (Serkis, n.d.). Video games have shot onto the scene within the past 50 years. With technology advancing as fast as it has today, video games are becoming more and more realistic, as well as inherently more violent. The pressing question of today’s video games is, areRead MoreVideo Games: A Scapegoat for Youth Violence Essay examples1265 Words   |  6 Pagesmost recen t medium are video games. Aided by crime-saturated news reports, a lot of people are convinced that video game violence transfers to real-life youth crimes like the school massacres. They think that violent video games make people violent, but that is not the case. Violent people play violent video games. Not everyone who plays video games are violent, but those who already are violent will play them as an outlet for their frustration and rage. If anything, video games keep violent peopleRead MoreVideo Games : Stay Away From Art957 Words   |  4 PagesThe discussion about videogames having the credit to be considered art is already dated. When presenting his reasons, Eric Zimmerman - the author of the text Games, stay away from art. Please- makes it clear that the subject is not only old but also pointless. Some of his motives contradicts at some point of the article, but all that we can conclude of clear way is the discussion that video games wheater or not can be considered art will never debunk its cultural value in the media and in the life

Canada s Health Care System - 2023 Words

Many know that Canada has a universal health, but they don’t fully understand the aspects of their health care system and how it works for them. Canada’s health care system is based around the Canada Health Act and aims to provide care for all medical necessary health services. With it being a universal health system it allow all citizens access to health care and that also means that it is publicly funded system. There has been many challenges that Canada has faces with the universal health system, but are continuing to find ways to improve their system for their citizens. As with any other countries health system there are pros and cons. Canada has found a system that work for them and they citizen and are continuing to ensure that their†¦show more content†¦Canada’s health care system is based around the ideas that it will provide coverage for all â€Å"medically necessary and hospital physician services† (The Washington Post). This includes p reventive care and medical treatment in a primary care setting and allows rights to use of a hospital, dental surgery, and any additional medical services (Canadian Health Care). There is also private insurance that can be purchased or employer-sponsored insurance to provide coverage for supplementary needs. Many Canadian, about two-thirds, will choice to take advantage of this supplementary insurance because many provinces and territories health insurance plan will not cover dental care or drug cover (The Washington Post). Health service are covered through the public health care plan, but since it is still limited in what they will cover, many will seek additional coverage with a private insurance or an employer sponsored insurance. Canada has a universal public health system, but identifies itself more as a national health insurance program (Health Canada). Canada’s health system is made up of all its provinces and territories health insurance plans to create a collection of socialized health insurance plans. Each province and territory has its requirement for their health insurance plan, but there are a few shared common features and basic standard of coverage (Canadian Heath Care).

AgamemnonS Apology To Achilles Essay Example For Students

AgamemnonS Apology To Achilles Essay From the very beginning of the poem, the character Achilles is one of the major foci of the story. His actions of lack of actions have enormous effects upon how the plot unfolds. Starting with the fight with Agamemnon and his withdrawal from the battle, to the death of Patroklos, and finally to the slaying of Hektor, Achilles and his emotions decide the fate of many Greek and Trojan warriors. It is his struggle against his anger, pride, loyalty, and love that make this poem one of a tragic nature, rather than just a gruesome account of a war. Although the reputation of Achilles claims him to be the perfect warrior, strongest of the Greeks, the poem spends more time on the man than on his reputation. I think the most obvious presentation of this occurs in the final book and is consistent with the character earlier in the poem. We will write a custom essay on AgamemnonS Apology To Achilles specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now I believe the most speculation about inconsistencies in Achilles character would center on his savageness towards the Trojans, especially Hektor, after the death of Patroklos, and his sensitivity towards Priams plea for his sons body. It could be considered odd that Achilles is so understanding to Priam and the burial of Priams son, when not that long ago Achilles was dragging the body of Hektor around the grave of Patroklos. This is the same corpse that Achilles vowed to feed to the dogs, the man who slew Achilles dearest companion and led him to swallow his pride and return to the battlefield. I believe that this is not the same Achilles we saw prior to the death of his loving companion Patroklos. After Patroklos rode off into battle and was cut down by a mix of divine intervention and Hektor, grief and the desire to revenge the death of Patroklos consumed Achilles. Thus I feel his behaviour throughout these books where he is moved to battle is a function of his personality acting under tremendous pain and grief. A better place to view Achilles is in the first book. The argument that Achilles presents at the beginning of the poem is very rational and heartfelt and surprises me that it took ten years for it finally to get mentioned. Achilles sheds light on the fact that all the Greeks are at Troy to fight over the pride and honour of Agamemnons brother and is brave enough to stand up to the king and call him greedy and selfish. His lack of hatred towards the Trojans as a people is easily seen in his statements about how the people of Troy had never wronged him prior to the conflict. This sympathy for the Trojans comes back in the final book where Achilles promises Priam twelve days of cease-fire to mourn and bury Hektor. This action, as I have said earlier, seems strange when set so close to the death of Hektor, but in context with Achilles earlier, it is not hard to believe that he would do this. Achilles is a very passionate man, not just in warfare but in his feelings for his close friends and family and for people in general. Of all enemies, the Trojans are very hard not to like or at least be pitied. All the Trojans, except for Paris, are good-hearted family men who are defending their homes, wives, and kids from destruction just because foolish Paris refuses to give up his beautiful wife. I think author intends that reader feel sorry for the people of Troy. After the last book, the reader is left with an image of Achilles that is hard not to respect. Achilles graciously puts away his anger and welcomes the father of the enemy, showing his skill of hospitality, which was also seen in the welcoming of the embassy from Agamemnon. Then Achilles mourns with Priam, returns the corpse of Hektor, and offers the king relief from fighting so the people can properly bury Hektor. This is a very mature Achilles we see here. I think the reason for him being slightly more mature in this last book than in earlier books is not to do with the book being a later addition, but rather that Achilles grows up. .u3c9341e8a528628fa353ab10c6cf22b4 , .u3c9341e8a528628fa353ab10c6cf22b4 .postImageUrl , .u3c9341e8a528628fa353ab10c6cf22b4 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u3c9341e8a528628fa353ab10c6cf22b4 , .u3c9341e8a528628fa353ab10c6cf22b4:hover , .u3c9341e8a528628fa353ab10c6cf22b4:visited , .u3c9341e8a528628fa353ab10c6cf22b4:active { border:0!important; } .u3c9341e8a528628fa353ab10c6cf22b4 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u3c9341e8a528628fa353ab10c6cf22b4 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u3c9341e8a528628fa353ab10c6cf22b4:active , .u3c9341e8a528628fa353ab10c6cf22b4:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u3c9341e8a528628fa353ab10c6cf22b4 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u3c9341e8a528628fa353ab10c6cf22b4 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u3c9341e8a528628fa353ab10c6cf22b4 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u3c9341e8a528628fa353ab10c6cf22b4 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u3c9341e8a528628fa353ab10c6cf22b4:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u3c9341e8a528628fa353ab10c6cf22b4 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u3c9341e8a528628fa353ab10c6cf22b4 .u3c9341e8a528628fa353ab10c6cf22b4-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u3c9341e8a528628fa353ab10c6cf22b4:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: optimism in candide EssayAchilles is a man of noble principles all throughout the poem. His argument with Agamemnon is a testament to that. When Achilles refuses the gifts of Agamemnon that were offered to him, Achilles shows that his principles rank higher than desire for fame on the battlefield. The only point at which I think he compromises his principles is when he allows Patroklos and his men to go off and fight and refuses to go himself. I think that, at that point in the story, he is putting foolish pride before his loyalty and love for his friend. This is the tragedy of human flaws and the shortsightedness that goes along with anger. This scene in the story is one of transition, not just in the turn of the war, but in the maturing of Achilles as he finally begins to follow the path of his destiny. He chooses a fate of death over dishonour, truly a heros decision. Then after he avenges his fallen companion and the blood lust has left his system, he shows his growth and new understanding of loss in the touching scene with Priam. The last book is not an all new Achilles, but instead the same Achilles who is perhaps wiser due to the lessons that only death can teach. The tragedy of the Trojans is that they are good people who are destined to fall to the Greeks because of one woman, but the main tragedy centers on Achilles. Forced out of battle by an argument with a despicable Agamemnon, forced to linger and watch his comrades die, and, finally, forced into a destiny of early death and the loss of his dearest friend. Yet, as tragic as his character is, Achilles still is human enough to grant an old man a wish, though it hurts him to do so. Book 24 is not about Achilles the fighter or the hero, but rather the noble man that he is all throughout the poem.

The Bottled Leopard Essay Example

The Bottled Leopard Essay Within the inner recess of man’s subconscious is a leopard bottled and contained by morals and the social order. However, from time to time the cork pops, and the leopard emerges and is seen, wild as ever. An example of this is described by Patrick Goldstein in the article â€Å"Violence Sneaks into Punk Scene†. This article describes the atypical activities of the youth, who seize the opportunity to un-bottle the leopard. Three perspectives of violence had been postulated to explain human behavior regarding violence in general. In this regard, a synthesis and an amalgamation of the three perspectives discussed are necessary to completely and entirely elucidate the atypical behavior demonstrated by these specific individuals.Three perspectives on violence were written by Sigmund Freud, John Dollard and David Riesman. Sigmund Freud, in his perspective, said that man has an inherent desire for aggression which is to be seen as part of man’s instinctive endowment an d which he uses to assert himself in his environment. John Dollard, on the other hand, relates violence with age, saying that the more mature man becomes, the greater the inhibition and thus the lesser violence is perpetrated in response to instigation. Lastly, David Riesman views the individual as part of a group, a social being, and as an isolate and desolate creature. Man is therefore under the influence of the needs of the group where he belongs, each of which he knows either directly or indirectly. He therefore seeks to act in conformity with the goals of this group whether or not these people are present. All in all, these perspectives apparently point to the fact, that though the reasons may be different, given the right stimulus, man loses all the calm and charm brought about by morals and social order.The discrepancies of the forms of these stimuli are amazing. In the article, the only stimulus the boys needed was the opportunity, created by there being together in a club i n which a certain kind of dance (slam) whose â€Å"object is to knock each other down† took place. This then ends up in fights, injuries, and vandalism. Since their objective in this activity is to â€Å"knock† others down, it also implies that this activity causes feelings of anger and consequently creates channels for the un-bottling of the leopard. Some, however, just reach out and hurt others for reason unknown and there are also those who inflict injuries on themselves.In Sigmund Freud’s perspective on violence, he challenges the ideal picture of modern man in a civil society. He declares that inside man, the â€Å"desire for aggression has to be reckoned as part of their instinctual endowment†. He refers to the aggression as an â€Å"endowment†, as a result, pointing to an asset which man uses to assert him and dominate the environment. These facts of aggression, he claims, can not be disputed by anyone â€Å"in the face of evidence in his o wn life and in history†. Indeed, further evidence of this is seen in Goldstein’s article, where it is said: â€Å"The senseless violence, vandalism and even mutilation at some area rock clubs reads like reports from a war zone.† Freud therefore asserts that the leopard is inherent in man and that â€Å"when those forces in the mind which inhibit it cease to operate, it manifests itself spontaneously†. These forces of inhibition vary among morals, shame, and disgust shown by the people whom he feels the need to be liked by. These forces act as a leash and in the absence of which, order and tranquility quickly gives way to aggression and anarchy.Freud further declares that though this aggression awaits temptation or provocation. It also asserts itself in situations in which the intended aim â€Å"might as well have been achieved by milder measures.† This is shown in Goldstein’s article by a fan who says: â€Å"’All they want to do is fi ght. And next time I’m gonna be ready to give ‘em one’†. In this case, the fan here carries this aggression which he wishes to express because of some form of provocation. He does not however consider that in retaliating, he becomes part of them and becomes a nuisance to others, just as he feels now. A milder option would be simply to avoid the dancers and carry out activities away from them. After all, there are those others in the audience who â€Å"dance in a loose circle around the action†. This way he does not disturb others and does not become part of them.While Freud’s theories explain man’s inhumanity to man, it does not explain the self inflicted injuries and torture expressed in the article: â€Å"†¦ a couple of girls carved X’s into their arms with broken glass†. Man does not assert himself with self affliction; he in fact needs the body to assert himself. Freud’s theory, however, did not cover this behavior. The animosity between the demands of instinct and the restrictions of civilization makes Freuds views on man’s aggressive or destructive instincts particularly complex. In part this is because impulses of hatred, anger and aggression are, from Freud’s perspective, rooted in self-preservation. In Freud’s vision of man and society, violence is deemed as the basis of our existence on two levels; the violence in the uninhibited instinct and the violence which our culture practices against one another. Without at least some amount of compulsion and at least an equal amount of restraint in the gratification of impulses, harmony can neither be achieved nor maintained.The perspective of John Dollard gives further insight into the forces of inhibition expressed by Freud. Dollard declares that this inhibition is greater in adults â€Å"resulting from several sources of instigation†. The adult, having being exposed over time to various opportunities or ins tigations for aggression, has now programmed his response to that which is more generally acceptable in the society. His response is therefore not dependent on the instigation but on what holds in his environment. That’s what makes him acceptable in his society. The adolescent, on the other hand, who is less exposed and has less knowledge of the society to which the adult is exposed, resorts to aggression against frustrating forces, as expressed in the article thus: â€Å"†¦ these idiots kept punching us in the back. Finally I got fed up and started hitting these guys, even though they were bigger than me†. At this point the young man was focused on aggression. He does not even consider the size of the people, which he would have done under normal circumstances as he expressed in saying â€Å"†¦ even though they were bigger than me.† However in becoming mature, the youth would learn that which is acceptable in the society and respond accordingly.John D ollard’s perspective, however, still does not capture the self afflicted torture expressed in the article. This cannot be captured in other part of â€Å"the predominant behavior symptoms of adolescence† which he refers to as â€Å"substitute response for those goal-responses which suffer interference†. For self afflicted torture cannot be a substitute response for interference as it lacks a goal. John Dollard elucidates the need for acceptance inherent in man.David Riesman declares, in his perspective of violence, that peer-group, reinforced by the mass media, and the relaxation of older patterns of discipline in children gives rise to what he called â€Å"other-directed† character in which â€Å"contemporaries are the source of direction for the individual – either those known to him or those with whom he is indirectly acquainted, through friends and through the mass media†.   Dependence on these is planted early in life due to continuou s exposure to these influences. He further explains that the goals towards which the other-directed person strives shift with guidance from the source, permitting a close behavioral conformity â€Å"through an exceptional sensitivity to the actions and wishes of others† and â€Å"not through drill in behavior itself, as in tradition-directed character†.This perspective of the situation is the most compelling as it explains the group action of the boys, which shows the other-directed behavior. This is expressed in the article where violence is blamed on â€Å"†¦ organized Huntington Beach-area punk gangs who make a practice of pummeling each other and slam dancing at area clubs.† The perspective therefore takes violence beyond just the individual but to the individual as a part of a group and his need to be accepted in the group. The individual therefore does not act independently, rather, it strives to synchronize with the group. Also like non-other, this p erspective explains the action of those who inflict injuries on themselves as reported in the article where a girl â€Å"broke a bunch of beer bottles in the sink and ran her hands through the glass† and â€Å"girls carved X’s into their arms with broken glass†. In all these cases, people acted in an other-directed manner driven by the â€Å"need for approval and direction from others† which is now the â€Å"chief source of direction and chief area of sensitivity†. Thus, even when alone, the other-directed person conforms to the â€Å"others† and seeks acceptance.Beside the bottled leopard is the need in man to be accepted. Man carries this as a social being. This drives man to violence and thus un-bottles the leopard when the group to which he wishes to synchronize with is violent. It can, however, cause a stronger hold on the leopard if the group is not violent. Nonetheless, there are still selected situations wherein the leopard emerges, bringing surprise to all even the man himself. Notably, man should always remember that how much he knows himself determines how often will this occur.;;

Free Essays on Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte was known as one of the greatest military masterminds in the history of mankind. His strategies and tactics in the battlefield won him many wars and battle thorough out the European Continent. These victories and rise in the military power of France made it possible for the rise of a military dictator. Napoleon Bonaparte was also called â€Å"the child of revolution.† He, to some extent supported the ideas of the French Revolution and for a democratic state at first, but ended up in creating a military dictatorship in France. His self-esteem to take over Russia led to his defeat and then in his fall as the Emperor of France. Napoleon Bonaparte was not born French by birth. Infact he was born in Ajaccio, Corsica, on August 15, 1769. This was a small island, which France had annexed only a few months ago. He was the fourth child and second son of Carlo Bonaparte and Letizia Ramolino Bonaparte. They both belong to the noble Italian families. Napoleon’s original nationality was Corsican-Italian. At that time, he despised the French and thought they were oppressors of his native land. His father was a lawyer, and was also an anti-French. At the age of nine, Napoleon’s father sent him to a French military academy at Brienne-le-Chateau, near Troyes. In the school, he was hated by others and was also considered a foreigner. Thus without any friends in school, Napoleon concentrated on his studies. As a result, he excelled in mathematic. In 1784, Napoleon was selected for the ‘Elite Ecole Militaire’ Academy in Paris. There he studied the art of artillery and at graduating, in 1785, Nap oleon received a commission as a second lieutenant in the artillery and then he joined the French Army. In 1789, the French revolution started throughout the country. During the 1790’s, Napoleon spent most of his time in Corsica and serving under the Corsican National Guard. There, he joined a radical political society known as â€Å"t... Free Essays on Napoleon Bonaparte Free Essays on Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte, who is also known as the "little Corsican", was born on August 15,1769 in Ajaccio, Corsica. His family had moved there from Italy in the 16th century. His original name was Napoleone. He had 7 brothers and sisters. His original nationality was Corsican-Italian. He also despised the French. He thought they were oppressors of his native land. His father was a lawyer, and was also anti-French. One reason Napoleon may have been such a great leader and revolutionary because was he was raised in a family of radicals. When Napoleon was nine, his father sent him to Brienne, a French military government school in Paris. While there he was constantly teased by the French students. Because of this Napoleon started having dreams of personal glory and triumph. From 1784 to 1785 Napoleon attended the Ecole Militaire in Paris. It was there that he received his military training. He studied to be an artillery man and an officer. He finished his training and he joined the French a rmy when he was just 16 years old. His father died after that and he had to provide for his entire family. Napoleon was stationed in Paris in 1792. After the French monarchy was overthrown in August of that year, Napoleon started to make a name for himself and become a well known military leader. In 1792 Napoleon was promoted to captain. In 1793 he was chosen to direct the artillery against the siege in Toulon. Soon after that Toulon fell and Napoleon was promoted to brigadier general. Napoleon was made commander of the French army in Italy. He defeated many Austrian Generals. Soon after this Austria and France made peace. Afterwards Napoleon was relieved of his command. He had been suspected of treason. In 1795 he broke up a revolt and saved the French government. He had earned back respect and he was once again give command of the French Army in Italy. He came up with a plan that worked very well. He would cut the enemy's army in... Free Essays on Napoleon Bonaparte A French Citizen by Chance Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio, on the island of Corsica, on Aug. 15, 1769. It was by chance that the future ruler of France was born a French citizen. His family had migrated to Corsica from the Italian mainland in the 16th century. The island had been transferred from the Republic of Genoa to France one year before Napoleon's birth. His christening name was Italian. It was spelled Napoleone Buonaparte. As a boy he hated the French, whom he considered oppressors of his native land. Revolutionary Atmosphere at Home Napoleon was the second son in a large family (see Bonaparte Family). His mother was intelligent and beautiful. His father, Charles, was a lawyer who actively plotted against the French occupation of Corsica. Thus from childhood Napoleon was familiar with the ways in which revolutionists operated. This knowledge was to serve him in his rise to power. When he was nine years old, he was sent by his father to Brienne, a French government military school. A sensitive, lonely boy, Napoleon was constantly bullied by his French fellow students, who resented his gloomy, melancholy ways. Their cruelties, however, only made him withdraw into dreams of personal glory and military triumphs. Appointment in the French Army In 1784-85 he attended the Ecole Militaire in Paris. There he received training as an artilleryman and as an officer. When his course was completed he joined the French army as a second lieutenant of artillery. He was 16 years old. The next few years of his life were exceedingly difficult. His father had died, leaving young Napoleon with the responsibility of providing for the large Bonaparte family. He endured poverty and humiliation. Under the Bourbon monarchy there was little chance for advancement. An Opportunity to Get Ahead Napoleon was stationed in Paris in 1792. The French Revolution had been raging for three bloody years. It reached a climax on... Free Essays on Napoleon Bonaparte Was Napoleon Bonaparte the Saviour or the Destroyer of the Ideals of the French Revolution? With all the glory and the splendour that some countries may have experienced, never has history seen how only only one man, Napoleon, brought up his country, France, from its most tormented status, to the very peak of its height in just a few years time. He was a military hero who won splendid land-based battles, which allowed him to dominate most of the European continent. He was a man with ambition, great self-control and calculation, a great strategist, a genius; whatever it was, he was simply the best. But, even though how great this person was, something about how he governed France still floats among people’s minds. Did he abuse his power? Did Napoleon defeat the purpose of the ideals of the French Revolution? After all of his success in his military campaigns, did he gratify the people’s needs regarding their ideals on the French Revolution? This is one of the many controversies that we have to deal with when studying Napoleon and the French Revolution. In this essay, ! I will discuss my opinion on whether or not was he a destroyer of the ideals of the French Revolution. Certain individuals approved of Napoleon’s reign as the saviour of France. He finished and completed the Revolution by fulfilling the ideals the people of France demanded. A person such as one belonging to the bourgeoisie, or even a peasant would be very satisfied with the way Napoleon ruled over the country. He gave them equality, freedom, justice, and many rights. Such things never existed during the reign of the monarchs before Napoleon stepped in. A banker too would be very affirmative on how Napoleon had truly helped France in its economic problems. He made the franc the most stable currency in Europe, and the banker had witnessed that, as probably one of the bankers of the Bank of France. Another type of individual that agrees that Napoleon isn’t th... Free Essays on Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte, also known as the "little Corsican", was born on August 15,1769 in Ajaccio, Corsica. He was the greatest hero of France. His family had moved there from Italy in the 16th century. His original name was Napoleone and his original nationality was Corsican-Italian. Him in REALITY despised the French. He thought they kept his country down by severe and unjust use of force. His father was a lawyer, and was also anti-French. One reason Napoleon may have been such a great leader and revolutionary because he was raised in a family of radicals. When Napoleon was nine, his father sent him to Brienne, a French military government school in Paris. For one year Napoleon attended the Ecole Militaire in Paris. It was there that he received his military training. He studied to be an artilleryman and an officer. He finished his training and he joined the French army when he was just 16 years old. Napoleon was assigned to work in Paris in 1792. After the French monarchy was overthrown in August 1792, he was promoted to captain. In 1793 he was chosen to direct the artillery against the siege in Toulon. Very soon after Toulon fell and Napoleon was promoted to brigadier general. He was made commander of the French army in Italy and defeated many Austrian Generals. Soon after this Austria and France made peace, and Napoleon was released from his command, he was suspected of treason. In 1795 he broke up a revolt and saved the French government. He had earned back respect and he was once again given command of the French Army in Italy. He came up with a plan that worked very well (All of his plans worked very well). â€Å"He would cut the enemy's army in to two parts, then attack one side of them before the other side could help them†. After this Napoleon was almost impossible to stop. He made an unsuccessful attempt to invade Egypt, in 1799 he returned to France to find the Directory (the French Government) a mess. He overthrew the ... Free Essays on Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte was known as one of the greatest military masterminds in the history of mankind. His strategies and tactics in the battlefield won him many wars and battle thorough out the European Continent. These victories and rise in the military power of France made it possible for the rise of a military dictator. Napoleon Bonaparte was also called â€Å"the child of revolution.† He, to some extent supported the ideas of the French Revolution and for a democratic state at first, but ended up in creating a military dictatorship in France. His self-esteem to take over Russia led to his defeat and then in his fall as the Emperor of France. Napoleon Bonaparte was not born French by birth. Infact he was born in Ajaccio, Corsica, on August 15, 1769. This was a small island, which France had annexed only a few months ago. He was the fourth child and second son of Carlo Bonaparte and Letizia Ramolino Bonaparte. They both belong to the noble Italian families. Napoleon’s original nationality was Corsican-Italian. At that time, he despised the French and thought they were oppressors of his native land. His father was a lawyer, and was also an anti-French. At the age of nine, Napoleon’s father sent him to a French military academy at Brienne-le-Chateau, near Troyes. In the school, he was hated by others and was also considered a foreigner. Thus without any friends in school, Napoleon concentrated on his studies. As a result, he excelled in mathematic. In 1784, Napoleon was selected for the ‘Elite Ecole Militaire’ Academy in Paris. There he studied the art of artillery and at graduating, in 1785, Nap oleon received a commission as a second lieutenant in the artillery and then he joined the French Army. In 1789, the French revolution started throughout the country. During the 1790’s, Napoleon spent most of his time in Corsica and serving under the Corsican National Guard. There, he joined a radical political society known as â€Å"t...

Nolo (Irregular Latin Verb) Definition and Use

Nolo (Irregular Latin Verb) Definition and Use Nolo, nolle, nolui - to wish not to Nolo is an important verb because the imperative is used to form negative commands. To say dont in Latin, you use the imperative of nolo. Indicative PresentSingular1 - nolo2 - non vis3 - non vultPlural1 - nolimus2 - non vultis3 - noluntIndicative ImperfectSingular1 - nolebam2 - nolebas3 - nolebatPlural1 - nolebamus2 - nolebatis3 - nolebantIndicative FutureSingular1 - nolam2 - noles3 - noletPlural1 - nolemus2 - noletis3 - nolent Imperative PresentSg. 2. noliPl. 2. noliteFutureSg. 2. and 3. nolitoPl. 2. nolitotePl. 3. nolinto Subjunctive Present Singular1 - nolim2 - nolis3 - nolitPlural1 - nolimus2 - nolitis3 - nolint Subjunctive Imperfect Singular1 - nollem2 - nolles3 - nolletPlural1 - nollemus2 - nolletis3 - nollent Infinitive Present nolleParticiple Present nollens, entis Malo and Nolo are based on Volo: malo magis volo and nolo non/ne volo Irregular Latin Verbs Eo - to goFio - to becomeVolo - to wishnolo, nolle, nolui to be unwilling and malo, malle, malui to prefer are similar.Sum - to beDo - to giveFero - to carryEdo - to eat

Lurking in the shadows Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Lurking in the shadows - Essay Example So I try to put them at ease. I uncross my legs slowly so as not to draw their attention. I steady the rocking chair and I become very still. I am as still as a thousand year old stone; stiller, in all reality. I relax and then adjust my vision. I breathe softly, in measured breaths, and study these fascinating creatures anew. The distance is not close; indeed, there is an open field over which I must peer before reaching the edge of the wooded field where the doe keeps her fawn close by her side. The wheat in the open field rolls as the wind passes by, and the wooded field is studded with oak and pine. The fawn blends at times with the yellow of the wheat field and the brown of the woods. The fawn is at one moment visible and then nearly imperceptible; it is the down, with a darker brown color, that allows me to keep focused most precisely. The trees are crowded closely together, a shadow almost when compared with the brightly rolling yellow field of wheat, and the deer are perceptible only in their occasional movements.

Pre-modern and Modern Political Philosophy Essay

Pre-modern and Modern Political Philosophy - Essay Example Pre-Modern period: Locke and Hobbes Locke and Hobbes are representatives of â€Å"state of nature† political philosophy. On the one hand, â€Å"state of nature† is rather dangerous for the society. There is a lack of security for the society and in spite of the fact that people honor each other and keep their promises and the atmosphere is friendly and pleasant, violent conflicts may occur. Hobbes underlines an obligatory subjection of people to ever existent hazards and violence and no society may exist on the background of unsafe conditions for individual’s existence. Both, Locke and Hobbes underline that the evolution from the state of nature to the civil society does not disturb human nature. Moreover, they claim that when an individual transits from the nature of state to civil society he is improved for sure. Basically, their views of state of nature were different: for Locke state of nature is a peaceful place and for Hobbes it implies brutality, a place f or violence. Therefore, these phlosophers use theoretical tool of â€Å"state of nature† in two different ways: for Hobbes, â€Å"a common Power† is required for people to provide them with safety conditions for existence and avoid conditions of â€Å"Warre† (Hobbes, p. 75). ... Thus, further ideas of Hobbes about a sovereign imply that the latter is the protector of people, the supreme authority. For Locke, sovereign power should be in hands of citizens. In other words, position of Hobbes may be interpreted as relevant to the development of the States with authoritarian regime and Locke’s views are relevant to the States with democracies. Modern Period: Hegel and Marx For Hegel, history’s progression is the realization of absolute mind. In spite of the fact that this concise definition of concept of â€Å"history† was mainly criticized, it should be viewed as an objectification and abstraction of a more multifaceted definition. The main critic of Hegel’s history conceptualization was Marx. Hegel’s philosophy was considered by the latter as an â€Å"inapplicable† philosophy. Hegel’s valuable idea was about history’s progression as the progression of the Spirit from a state of a lesser to a greater freed om. Of course, materialist philosophy developed by Karl Marx contradicts with Hegel’s historical developments. While contrasting spiritual and materialistic philosophies of Marx and Hegel, it can be seen that the moving force for historical development for Marx is material production, not an individual. For Hegel, an important motive forces is mind. The main goal of the State for Hegel is its serving for the needs of people and protection of the private property. For him, the government represents the highest form of ethical life or, in other words, it regulates and corrects internal conflicts of the civil society. For Marx, the civil society is the â€Å"base† for mutual co-existence of productive

The Republic Of Panama Essay Example for Free

The Republic Of Panama Essay Thesis statement. Some economists believe that the Republic of Panama could become the next world business center but others are skeptical about it. Panama is a country in Central America that borders both the Caribbean and the Northern Pacific Ocean between Colombo and Costa Rica .The geographical coordinates of panama are 900 N and 8000 W. Panama has an interesting history as a former colony of Spain starting from the 16th century up to 1821 when it broke ranks with Spain to affiliate with Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela to form the Gran Colombia. This lasted up to 1830 but nevertheless, Panama remained under the control of Colombia. It was through the US backing that Panama was able to break free from Colombia in 1903 when in return, the Panama government signed a treaty with the US to usher in the construction of Panama Canal by the US army corps of engineers. The construction lasted from 1904 to 1914 and upon completion; the canal was to remain under the US control. It was until 1977 that an agreement was signed and subsequently ratified to complete the transfer of the Panama Canal from the US’ stewardship to Panama’s. This was after the deposing of the dictator Manuel Noriega in 1989 that the entire Panama Canal was transferred to Panama together with the areas supporting it, and the US military barracks – an exercise that was completely consummated at the turn of the 21st century. Panamanians have a project underway to double the canal’s capacity (Rigole, 2003).This project is already underway since it began in 2007 and is expected to come to conclusion at the end of 2015. The strengths of the Republic of Panama. Panama’s climate is that of tropical maritime and is hot, humid and cloudy with a protracted rainy season starting from May to January and January to May being the dry season. Based on this, Panama, a country that has 24.4% of its total land as arable land, has a steady food supply since it produces in large scale grain crops such as maize, rice, wheat, cassava, potato, sorghum, millet, and industrial crops such as sugarcane, coffee, tropical timber, peanut, oranges and sesame. Other foodstuffs that are indigenous to Panama include beef (and this is due to the large scale cattle rearing activities in the country), and fishing. The fishing industries thrive herein due to the preponderance of shrimps and lobsters. Although the agricultural output of Panama is not large enough to sustain large scale exports, yet it is reliable enough to sustain steady food supply to sustain the entire population of Panama. An economy that can sustain its population’s food demand stands a higher chance to develop economically to become a business center than its counterpart that lacks these prospects. The economy of Panama is fairing well with the major exports being melons, bananas, water melons, lobsters and shrimps, sugar, coffee and clothing. Of these total exports, the principle market is the US which is now procuring 44.5%. Its imports on other hand entail machinery and transport equipments, chemicals and chemical products, mineral and mineral products, electrical and electrical products and foodstuffs. Panama’s principle source of imports is the USA which makes up 27% of this. The currency used in Panama is balboa, with its mainstay of economy being the industrial sector which account for the 67.1% of the economy. The economic dominance of Panamanian industry is due to the fact that Panama is a country rich in mineral resources such as limestone, deposits of coal, molybdenum, copper, salt and clay. The industrial sector is mainly driven by the processing of paper and paper products, food and beverage processing, textiles and clothing, petrol refining, petroleum products, chemical refinery, light assembly and tourism. America, Spain, Netherlands Costa Rica, Japan, and Sweden form the major trading partners of Panama. The gross domestic product of Panama is 15.5 billion according to the 2005 estimates while the Purchasing Power Parity which is also known as the GNI was American dollar (USD) 7,310. The consumer price inflation remained at 2.8% according to the 2006 estimates. At the same time, unemployment was rated at 13.6% (Institute of Central Business, 32). Given the geographical size of Panama, it enjoys a favorable population of 3,287,500 according to 2006 estimate, and a steady population growth rate of 1.6 % according to 2006 estimate. The population occupying the urban area is rated 58%. However, this should always be checked against the availability of natural resources. A country that has a big population pitted against scarce national resources always experiences lapses in foreign investments since socio economic problems such as unemployment, overcrowding, explosion of diseases, and insecurity are always likely to ensue. Debts are always likely to set in as the government seeks to rectify the situation through foreign borrowing. Such states are always subject to inability to fund the public sector and government projects. Foreign investors shy away from such situations since the securities of their investment in such situations are always in danger of default. At such a time, the government will mostly seek to reverse the situation by selling its securities but this only worsens the situation since this will also lower the worth of these securities Panama’s population distribution is also fairly balanced. The age bracket between 1-14 years makes up 30% of the total population while the bracket representing 15-59 makes 61%. The bracket representing 60 and above accounts for 9%.The age distribution of Panama provides it with adequate labor force since the most productive age group falls under the bracket that ranks the highest. A country or any geo political entity that is about to be considered world business center must have a large working power. A country with a dense transport system, Panama has 116 airports of which 54 have paved runways, a comprehensive road network covering 11,643 km of which 4,028 are paved, 800 kilometers of waterways including the 82 km Panama Canal. In addition to the above, there are 5,764 merchant marines being served by 3 ports and terminals; the Balboa, Colon and Cristobal (Woods, 161). Panama enjoys a fairly balanced political leadership that has taken the form of liberal democracy. The government is well balanced with a clear system of separation of powers whereby the executive, the legislature and the judiciary are clearly separate and autonomous to exercise their duties without interference from any arm. In addition to this, under the aegis of the judiciary, the civil law system and the judicial review of the legislative acts recognize the importance of the International Court Justice. Panama plebiscites after every five years- a process which sees the president and his vice president either being installed into or exiting power depending on the verdict of the majority votes (Schreck, 189). International trade and investments thrive well in democracies and not in communist societies since the former entrenches the concept of free market or the liberalization of the market. Liberalization of the market allows free global flow of capital. Weaknesses of the Republic of Panama Reasons against the notion that Panama cannot arise to become the next world trade center are diverse. The most prominent one argues that as a country, it is still suffering the historical financial crisis of the 80s. In 1980, Panama had a high foreign debt that had accrued as a result of high import rate against the export rate. The explanation behind this was that its high consumption was on imports since there were no local industries. Since 1983 the country has been registering pluses, but the present situation is still tough since Panama has a standing debt which claims 81.2% of its GNP. Although this according to established economies is not very large, yet strictly speaking, Panama will not be able to extricate itself from debt since its debt- to- export ratio is high. The only recourse is to have the 1989 Braddy Initiative to offer Panama an extension implemented, but even this will take 39 years for Panama to clear the debt (World Bank, 217). Other social and health underpinnings can still stand in the way towards the establishment of Panama as world business center. Panamanian medical services are still below the World Health Organization’s standards since out of 10,000 patients, there are 17 doctors (2004 report).On another front, out of 1,000 people, only 13% are landline telephone subscribers. Similarly, out of 100 people interviewed, 16% were internet users, and out of 100 people interviewed, 4.6% were personal computer users. No form of foreign or domestic investment can effectively take place without proper social amenities, communication and communication services. BIBLIOGRAPHY. Institute of Central Business Studies. Mesoamerica. US: University of Virginia, 1982. Rigole, Mark and Langlois, Claude- Victor. Panama. Panama: Ulysses Travel Guides, 2003. Sarah, Kristina. Frommer’s Panama. Central America: John Willeys and Sons, 2007. Woods, Sarah. Panama. Panama: Bradt Travel Guides, 2005. World Bank. Poverty Assessment in Panama: Strategies for Poverty. Panama: WB Publication, 2000.

Marijuana in the Past and Present :: Free Essays Online

Marijuana in the Past and Present    Marijuana is a mixture of leaves, stems, and flowering tops of the Indian hemp plant Cannabis, it may be smoked or eaten for its hallucinogenic and pleasure-giving effects. Marijuana has not been proven to be physically addicting but, psychological dependence can develop.    Many users describe two phases of marijuana intoxication. During the first level the user will experience lightheadedness; next the user will experience peacefulness in the mind. Mood changes are often accompanied by altered perceptions of time. A person will think that hours have gone by, but in reality only minutes have passed. The thinking process usually becomes disrupted by incongruous ideas, images, and memories. Many users report an increase in appetite, heightened sensory awareness, and various hallucinogenic pleasures. The negative side effects include confusion, panic, anxiety attacks, fear, a sense of helplessness, and loss of self-control.    In the United States there were a number of successful efforts, especially in the 1970s, to reduce criminal penalties for possession and use of marijuana, but many of the resulting laws have since been modified or repealed. The smoking of marijuana is so casually taken for granted in much of our culture that many people assume that a marijuana offense these days will rarely lead to a prison term. The fact is that there are more people in prison today for violating marijuana laws than at any other time in the nation's history. Data provided by the Bureau of Prisons and the United States Sentencing Commission suggest that one of every six inmates in the federal prison system has been locked up for a marijuana offense. The number currently being held in state prisons and local jails is more difficult to estimate; an estimated guess would be an additional 20,000 to 30,000. A dozen or more marijuana offenders may now be serving life sentences in federal penitentiaries without hope of paro le. The number of prisoners condemned to die in prison may reach into the hundreds if you include middle-aged inmates with sentences greater than twenty years. Other inmates are serving life terms in state prisons across the country for growing, selling, or even possessing marijuana.    The vigorous enforcement of marijuana laws has resulted in four million arrests since the early 1980s. Due to mandatory-minimum sentences, many of those convicted are receiving stiff prison terms; even as violent criminals are released for lack of space.

Epiphone

The history of Epiphone started in 1873, in Smyrna, Ottoman Empire (now Izmir, Turkey), where Greek founder Anastasios Stathopoulos made his own fiddles and lutes (oud, laouto). Stathopoulos moved to the United States of America in 1903, and continued to make his original instruments, as well as mandolins, from Long Island City in Queens, New York. Anastasios died in 1915, and his son, Epaminondas, took over. After two years, the company was known as The House Of Stathopoulos. Just after the end of World War I, the company started to make banjos. The company produced its Recording Line of Banjos in 1924, and, four years later, took on the name of the â€Å"Epiphone Banjo Company†. They produced their first guitars in 1928. Epi Stathopoulos died in 1943. Control of the company went to his brothers, Orphie and Frixo. Unfortunately, they were not as capable owners as Epi. In 1951, a four month long strike forced a relocation of Epiphone from New York to Philadelphia. The company was bought out by their main rival, Gibson in 1957. It is extremely important to understand that all Epiphone instruments made between 1957 and 1969 were made in the Gibson factory at 225 Parsons Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan. These 1959–1969 Epiphone instruments were, effectively, identical to the relevant Gibson versions, and made with same timber, materials and components. These guitars were made by the same people, in the same place, and with the same materials and components as the contemporary equivallent Gibson guitars were. They even shared the same Gibson serial-number sequence! To note some of the specific examples of Gibson-made Epiphone instruments from this period: the Epiphone Casino was identical to the Gibson ES-330; the Epiphone Cortez was identical to the Gibson B-25; the Epiphone Olympic Special was technically identical to the Gibson Melody Maker; the Epiphone Sorrento was identical to the Gibson ES-125TC (except for a few cosmetic improvements! ), and the Epiphone Texan was (apart from a change in scale-length) an identical guitar to the Gibson J-45. All of the other Gibson/Kalamazoo-made Epiphones had some clear technical or cosmetic relationship with the relevant Gibson version. This wealth of information can, admittedly, be quite confusing so I direct any interested readers to â€Å"Gruhn's Guide To Vintage Guitars† (Gruhn-Carter, Miller-Freeman Press). Most of the specific information that you will need can be found here. Gibson eventually realized the folly in having two identical brands and, therefore, by 1970, Gibson commenced using the Epiphone brand as a budget-line and started having them made, initially, in Japan. Some confusion arises here because the first year or so of Japanese acoustic guitar production utilizes a label that denotes the address â€Å"Kalamzoo, MI†. At no point does this label say â€Å"Made In USA† but some confusion, especially on internet auction websites, still arises. It is equally important to understand that the overwhelming majority of Epiphone-branded instruments made since 1969 are, in essence, exploitation instruments are and are basically facsimilies of either Gibson (most commonly) or Epiphone guitars of the past. The vast majority of these facsimilies are very decent, budget-versions of the iconic instruments that they replicate and are, in may cases, exactly what a student guitarists needs, but they must not, in any way whatsoever, in terms of materials, components and intrinsic quality, be mistaken for the real item. In the hands of a good player the guitars may sound indistinguishable, but that doesn't grant them inherent equality. [edit]Casino Main article: Epiphone Casino The most famous Epiphone model introduced by Gibson after taking over was the Casino. The Casino was made in the same shape and configuration as a Gibson ES-330 guitar. It has a very heavy sound and is a very good rhythm guitar due to its fairly thick sound when strummed. It is a genuine hollow body electric guitar with single coil P90 pickups. Epiphone Casino VT The Casino is famous for being used by The Beatles. Paul McCartney was the first to acquire one and John Lennon and George Harrison followed suit soon after. Paul McCartney used his for the solo in Taxman and the Casino sound is very prevalent throughout Revolver and their later albums. John Lennon made his Casino one of his main guitars and used it for the rest of his time with the Beatles and into the '70s. Paul still uses his Casino, which has a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece, in concert and studio today. [edit]1970–present In the early 1970s, Epiphone began to manufacture instruments in Japan. From the 1980s, Epiphones were manufactured mainly in Korea but also in Japan by contractors licensed by Gibson. One of these contractors was Samick, which also built instruments under license for other brands and in its own name. Thus, a Korean-era solidbody Epiphone would have been built under license. The brand was primarily used to issue less expensive versions of classic Gibson models, in a manner similar to that of the Squier brand by Fender. Like all Asian-made copies, these guitars were constructed using different timbers (usually Nyatoh, for example, instead of Mahogany), were stuck together with epoxies rather than wood-glues, and were finished in hard, quick-to-apply polyester resin rather than the traditional nitro-cellulose lacquer used by Gibson. Nitro-cellulose lacquers are applied very thinly, and as a result, do not impede the resonance of the instrument as resin finishes do. Nitro-cellulose, being a solvent-based lacquer (as opposed to a catalyzed resin), requires many more very thin coats (but still results in a lighter, thinner finish because of much more hand-applied cutting and polishing) and is therefore much more time-consuming (and consequently expensive) to apply. Resin finishes are much quicker and cheaper to apply. These particular budget considerations, along with others such as plastic nuts and cheaper hardware and pickups, allow for a more affordable instrument. Although the decent Epiphone copies look (other than upon very close inspection) to be very much like the iconic, original instruments that they replicate, and often, in the hands of a good player, DO sound very, very close to the originals, they are not, as is the case with all of these budget brands, conceived and constructed to the same intrinsic quality. But it is a matter of budget – if you can look and sound close to how your favorite player sounds for a fraction of the cost then it is a good thing. Gibson, via their Epiphone brand, just like Fender via their Squier brand, bring a close approximation of the real thing to countless players who cannot afford, or justify, the expense of a professional-quality instrument. The result is that Epiphone and Squier have become the world's highest selling brands of electric guitar. Samick has stopped manufacturing guitars in Korea. In 2002, Gibson opened a factory in Qingdao, China, which manufactures Epiphone guitars exclusively. With few exceptions, Epiphones are now built only in the Qingdao factory. Unique Epiphone models, including the Emperor, Zephyr, Riviera and Sheraton, are built to higher quality standards than the company's â€Å"Gibson copy† line. Epiphone also produces a range of higher quality instruments under the â€Å"Elitist Series† moniker, which are built in Japan. The â€Å"Masterbilt† acoustics are manufactured in Qingdao.

Black People and Roberta Essay

In Toni Morrison’s â€Å"Recitatif,† the story is about two girls, Twyla and Roberta. They grow up in an orphanage because their mothers could not care for them. Morrison makes it clear the girls come from different ethnic backgrounds but never states which one is black or white. At one point in the story Twyla comments, â€Å"We looked like salt and pepper. † I grew frustrated with the story and had to read it several times. I could never determine who was black and white and the lesson I learned should have been it doesn’t really matter. The story begins with Twyla’s mother dropping her off at the orphanage. She meets Roberta and they become best friends. The bond they share occurs because they were not considered real orphans. They were abandoned kids unlike the other children whose parents had died. One of the last times the girls see each other was the day of a visitation. On that night, Twyla’s mother was wearing â€Å"those tight green slacks that made her butt stick out. † Many people have labeled blacks as having larger butts. She could have been black, she could have been a heavy white woman with a large butt, or a Hispanic woman like me. But I automatically stereotyped and went with Twyla has to be black. During the visitation Roberta’s mother â€Å"had brought chicken legs. † Twyla notices Roberta does not eat the chicken legs. I always thought black people liked chicken more than white people which means Roberta was white since she did not eat the chicken. Or maybe she just wasn’t hungry. Shortly after that visitation Roberta’s mother came to take her home, leaving the girls devastated. They see each other several times throughout the years. At their first meeting, Roberta was rude and distant because she was high. Roberta tells Twyla she is on the way to see Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix was an infamous black guitarist. I thought at this point Roberta has to be black. However Hendrix’s band was interracial with a diverse audience. Roberta could have been white due to the diverse audience. I am a huge Hendrix fan and I am not black so why would I think Roberta is. Twelve years later they meet again at a grocery store. Roberta married a rich man and was extremely friendly to Twyla. Twyla cannot hold back her emotions and asks Roberta about the last time they saw each other. Roberta shrugs it off, â€Å"Oh, Twyla, you know how it was in those days: black—white. You know how everything was. † I can relate to this. In 1980, the Cuban Mariel Boat Lifts came over bring thousands of Cubans. I am Cuban but I was born here. Kids I had known since kindergarten treated me as if I just come over on the boats. It had a lasting effect on me and matured me beyond my years. The third time they meet is at the school where their children attend. Roberta and other mothers were picketing because they did not want their kids to be segregated. This led to a fight severing any last chance of a friendship for them as it would not be resolved until Twyla and Roberta meet for a final time. As the story ends I do not get a sense of closure. The question of which girl is white or black remains unanswered. It opened my eyes and made me question how prejudice I really am. I try to not stereotype as a result of what I went through as a child but I found myself doing just that. I can understand why Morrison wrote the way she. I am not sure what her goal was overall but to me it seemed as if she were teaching me about prejudices. â€Å"Recitatif† challenged me to not judge either girl by their race but accept them for who they are. In the end, what difference did it really make about the girls’ races? The story is about how their friendship develops and then deteriorates. Nothing more; nothing less.

Thier Eyes Were Watching God essays

Thier Eyes Were Watching God essays Janie Crawford, the main character of Zora Neale Hurstons Their Eyes Were Watching God, was an unusually independent woman as compared to the women of her time. The main plot of Janie's story comes from her life, which is permeated by her men. Though she evolved into an independent woman, Janie was married three times and didnt truly find love until she married her last husband. During her life Janies husbands: Logan Killicks, The Honorable Joe Starks and Tea Cake Woods became her lessons and her legacy; they were her men. Although the novel does not go into deep detail about the first man in Janies life, her life began with disaster through her father. His name is not given but it is noted that he was a white man (the school teacher) who raped her mother, Leafy. Ergo, Janie was raised by her grandmother (Nanny) with no real man in her life as she grew up. However her grandmother tried to raise her to get a good husband. The second man in Janies life was really the first physical encounter, though there was no major interaction between the two. Johnny Taylor was a young neighborhood man that steals a kiss from young Janie. As she enjoys the kiss and is just about to develop an initial opinion about men, Nanny walks in and catches Janie in the act. This incident will be an unfortunate prediction of her life. As with all of her men, just as things are going to progress to a stage of pleasantries and tolerance, the men are gone. This first real man in Janies life is Logan Killicks. Logan, her first husband was a farmer. This marriage was arranged by Nanny to ensure that her granddaughter would be well taken care of for life. Nanny didnt realize that the come-as-it-may lifestyle that she allowed to live would seriously conflict with the life of a farm wife. Logan expected Janie to be the perfect wife and farm hand ...

Differences Between Correlation and Causation

Differences Between Correlation and Causation One day at lunch a young woman was eating a large bowl of ice cream, and a fellow faculty member walked up to her and said, â€Å"You had better be careful, there is a high statistical correlation between ice cream and drowning.† She must have given him a confused look, as he elaborated some more. â€Å"Days with the most sales of ice cream also see the most people drown.† When she had finished my ice cream the two colleagues discussed the fact that just because one variable is statistically associated with another, it doesn’t mean that one is the cause of the other. Sometimes there is a variable hiding in the background. In this case, the day of the year is hiding in the data. More ice cream is sold on hot summer days than snowy winter ones. More people swim in the summer, and hence more drown in the summer than in the winter. Beware of Lurking Variables The above anecdote is a prime example of what is known as a lurking variable. As its name suggests, a lurking variable can be elusive and difficult to detect. When we find that two numerical data sets are strongly correlated, we should always ask, â€Å"Could there be something else that is causing this relationship?† The following are examples of strong correlation caused by a lurking variable: The average number of computers per person in a country and that country’s average life expectancy.The number of firefighters at a fire and the damage caused by the fire.The height of an elementary school student and his or her reading level. In all of these cases, the relationship between the variables is a very strong one.  This is typically indicated by a correlation coefficient that has a value close to 1 or to -1.  It does not matter how close this correlation coefficient is to 1 or to -1, this statistic cannot show that one variable is the cause of the other variable. Detection of Lurking Variables By their nature, lurking variables are difficult to detect. One strategy, if available, is to examine what happens to the data over time. This can reveal seasonal trends, such as the ice cream example, that get obscured when the data is lumped together. Another method is to look at outliers and try to determine what makes them different than the other data. Sometimes this provides a hint of what is happening behind the scenes. The best course of action is to be proactive; question assumptions and design experiments carefully. Why Does It Matter? In the opening scenario, suppose a well-meaning but statistically uninformed congressman proposed to outlaw all ice cream in order to prevent drowning. Such a bill would inconvenience large segments of the population, force several companies into bankruptcy, and eliminate thousands of jobs as the country’s ice cream industry closed down. Despite the best of intentions, this bill would not decrease the number of drowning deaths. If that example seems a little too far fetched, consider the following, which actually happened. In the early 1900s, doctors noticed that some infants were mysteriously dying in their sleep from perceived respiratory problems. This was called crib death and is now known as SIDS. One thing that stuck out from autopsies performed on those who died from SIDS was an enlarged thymus, a gland located in the chest. From the correlation of enlarged thymus glands in SIDS babies, doctors presumed that an abnormally large thymus caused improper breathing and death. The proposed solution was to shrink the thymus with high does of radiation, or to remove the gland entirely. These procedures had a high mortality rate and led to even more deaths. What is sad is that these operations didn’t have to have been performed. Subsequent research has shown that these doctors were mistaken in their assumptions and that the thymus is not responsible for SIDS. Correlation Does Not Imply Causation The above should make us pause when we think that statistical evidence is used to justify things such as medical regimens, legislation, and educational proposals. It is important that good work is done in interpreting data, especially if results involving correlation are going to affect the lives of others. When anyone states, â€Å"Studies show that A is a cause of B and some statistics back it up,† be ready to reply, â€Å"correlation does not imply causation.† Always be on the lookout for what lurks beneath the data.

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

Malnutrition - Essay Example The study focused primarily on children under the age of five and their caregivers. The sample population consisted of 1978 caregivers and 2201 children. Through a survey consisting of structured questionnaires, the researchers sought the caregivers’ input regarding their feeding practices, and this information, coupled with anthropometric measurements, helped the researchers to deduce the children’s overall nutrition and health status. The researchers discovered at least five prominent health-related problems that affected the children. These problems included widespread stunting among the children as a massive proportion of the children were underweight and wasting. Secondly, the researchers discovered that caregivers in the 7 counties breastfed their children for short durations particularly among children below 36 months. Another critical issue discovered in the counties was the lack of exclusivity in breastfeeding children under 6 months. With regard to breastfeedi ng, the researchers further discovered low prevalence of sustained breastfeeding up to the age of one year. Another critical problem was the inadequate delivery of complementary foods to some infants aged between 6 and 8 months. The last major issue discovered through the research was an increased prevalence of stunting among children who had never received breast milk, as well as those who had not been breastfed for at least 1 year. In addition, it was discovered that stunting was quite prevalent among children whose feeding practices comprised primarily of poor quality semi-solid foods (Zhou, Wang, Ye, Zeng & Wang, 2012). Based on these issues and findings, the researchers determined that poor feeding practices such as lack of exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first 6 months, provision of complementary foods between 6 and 8 months, or provision of poor quality foods, were the primary causes of malnutrition among most children in the 7 counties of China. The primary themes d iscussed in the article include poverty and ignorance, which detrimentally affect caregivers’ provision of superior quality nutrition to their children, particularly those under the critical age of 5 years. The authors hypothesize that there is a close link between poverty and ignorance on the feeding practices of children, and this subsequently results in malnutrition. As a consequence, Zhou, Wang, Ye, Zeng & Wang (2012) proposed the implementation of additional programs to enhance the level of knowledge on effective feeding practices among caregivers. The researchers further suggested that these programs should be implemented in all remote and impoverished regions of China so as to improve the overall health of children under the age of 5 years. The study’s main strength lies in its execution. The study comprises of comprehensive sections that examine different aspects that play a part in asserting the study’s hypothesis. The study, therefore, manages to affir m its hypothesis showing that there is a close link between feeding practices of children below 5 years of age and malnutrition (Zhou, Wang, Ye, Zeng & Wang, 2012). However, the study’s primary weakness involves the ethical requirement of informed consent for all participants. Although the researchers give details of the number of participants and the form of questioning used to

Managing fo results Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Managing fo results - Essay Example The research revealed the existence of several cultures and subcultures in Widney Cabs Ltd that matched the theoretical models developed by both Schein in the three level of classification i.e. Assumptions, Values and Artefacts and Denison’s classification that outlines four attributes namely: Involvement, Consistency, Adaptability and Mission. This study will evaluate and assess the different aspects of organizational culture that exist in Widney Cabs Ltd. The study examines these culture(s) and sub cultures in light of the relationship with models or classification from academic literature, existing knowledge and theories on organizational culture. Jacques (1951) defines organizational culture as the customary or traditional ways of thinking and doing things common to most members of an organization. There exists a significant level of formal knowledge on the subject of culture(s) and sub-cultures that exist in organizations and their effects on the organizational behaviour. Founders and leaders of organizations create these cultures, which are then developed and sustained by people. Organization’s executives generate and impart the organizations ideals. They also promote the core values that convey inclination to certain behaviors or effects. Norms on the other hand express acceptable ways of achieving set goals. Studies have shown that the development of organizational culture requires interaction within the membership. (Louis, Posner, and Powell 1983). According to Schein (1985), there are three levels of culture,the basic being Assumptions that form the foundation of culture. These assumptions are unconscious beliefs, thoughts, perceptions, and feelings. Next to these are the espoused values that consist of goals, philosophies. Lastly are the artefacts, which are physical manifestations, which may not be obvious to a lay observer of organizational

Describing concepts of Microbilogy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Describing concepts of Microbilogy - Essay Example Food fermentation is the anaerobic conversion of carbohydrates to alcohol using microbes such as Saccharomyces spp, Lactobacillus spp. It results in products variety that can be preserved for long. Fermentation products include cheese, alcoholic drinks, sauer kraut among others. In agriculture, microbiology has improved soil characteristics and increase plant productivity. Biofertilizers that contain living organisms such as Rhizobium, Azotobacter help in nitrogen fixation, solubilizing phosphorous and stimulating plant growth hormones. Manure from animal waste contains microbes that help in soil aeration. They are cost effective and reduce soil pollution through use of inorganic fertilizers. Food preparation involves thorough washing of fruits and vegetables and cooking of foods. This ensures any harmful microbes are killed. Examples are milk pastuerization and boiling of drinking water. Utensils, pots and surfaces in cooking areas should also be thoroughly cleaned. Proper waste disposal reduces environmental pollution. Degradable matter is breakdown by microbes to form manure. Sewage water is drained into septic tanks where it is processed before discharge into rivers and streams. Nondegradable waste products are burnt and others recycled. A student is able to learn microorganism identification using the various characteristics of microbes. They are able to use differential, selective or enrichment media to grow microorganisms, gram staining and microscopy to identify cell structures, components and other morphological characteristics. Understand current and emerging topics in microbiology in relation to healthcare. Advances in microbiology diagnostic techniques have evolved. Research is ongoing on issues of drug resistance. Current research studies on use of microorganisms as gene vectors in disease treatment. Microorganisms are used for production of cellulose,

The Art of Calf Roping :: Expository Process Essays

The Art of Calf Roping It’s 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning. Jake and I are headed down the longest stretch of road in Texas. We have just pulled out of El Paso and are on the way to Fredericksburg to participate in the Frontier Days Rodeo. We were fortunate to have put together a decent run on our last draw and win enough day-money to keep us going for a while. Jake and I are rodeo-bums, to be specific, calf ropers. I am the one who tries to throw the loop of a rope around a calf’s neck and Jake is my partner, the best roping horse a cowboy ever mounted. By the way, how many understand the art of calf roping? I thought so. Let me walk through the steps of what it takes to put together that perfect run, not that I can do it that often. Contestants arrive at the arena an hour before the performance to draw the calf each will be roping. A large pen of calves is assembled, each calf branded with a different number. Corresponding numbers are placed in a hat and each cowboy draws his calf for the first go-around. There is always some cowboy who knows what rodeo string these particular calves are from and can discuss some trait of nearly all of them. For example, " number 16 breaks hard and heads straight to the far end of the arena. Number 8 will break hard but tends to veer sharply right on nearly every run. Number 21 breaks slow and many a good horse has run right past him". Having studied the calf, the run put together in my head several times, I am ready to rodeo. Jake is anxiously waiting and ready to be saddled. Mounting up, I pat Jake gently on the neck and we make several trips through the parking lot to get warmed up. The announcer calls my number and I walk Jake into the arena and check the calf in the chute to be sure he is the one we are to rope. I back Jake into the roping box and the judge stretches and secures the barrier. (The barrier is a small piece of rope pulled tight across the exit of the box designed to give the calf a 10- foot head start. If the horse leaves early and breaks the barrier, 10 seconds are added to the completion of the run).

Reaction Paper to Chapter 6: Sedative-Hypnotics: the Other Depressants

Rachel Johnson Chemical Dependence: chapter reaction paper 10/24/12 (due 10/23) Chapter 6: Sedative-Hypnotics: The Other Depressants Brief Summary This chapter described sedative-hypnotics. They were said to be depressants to the central nervous system that produce a calming effect and cause sleep. This category of drug is abused because it produces pleasurable responses and because it gives a feeling of relief from stress and worry. The chapter goes into detail explaining barbiturates and how they work, and specific barbiturates that have been popularly abused in the past.This chapter also explains how some sedative-hypnotics have been found to be physically addictive while others have not. Different types of tranquilizers are described, along with others antianxiety medications and these are both explained as being drugs that people abuse and become dependent upon. Categories of inhalants including aerosols are also discussed and described as not being physically addictive, but cre ating of a drunken-like state such as is obtained from alcohol use when they are abused.What was learned In reading this chapter I learned which drugs are included in the category of those that produce sedative-hypnotic effects. I also learned about many products that are not intended for ingestion that are used as drugs such as aerosols and commercials solvents, which produce sedative-hypnotic effects. Because many sedative-hypnotic drugs are used and abused by people to produce sleep, this chapter taught me alternatives that are healthier for getting to sleep that do not involve any drug intake.Overall I also learned how these types of drugs are different from other types and what separates sedative-hypnotics into their own category. Personal insights This was another overwhelming chapter for me because I did not even really have a grasp that this was a category of drugs before reading the chapter. Now I have a better-rounded grasp of what substances are included in the world of a bused drugs.I feel frustration after reading this chapter because it added so many more types of drugs and substances that are abused to how many I have already found out about so far, and I don’t feel like I will ever be able to keep all the differences between categories and individual drugs straight. How this chapter helped me in learning to understand the disease of addiction The biggest thing I took away from this chapter that helps me to understand the disease of addiction is that not all abused substances are addictive in every way.Some drugs/substances are not physically addictive, but they can still be abused because of the good feelings obtained through their use. This is true for aerosols and commercial solvents; no physical dependence has been found to these substances when abused, but they are continuously abused by people because of the feelings of euphoria they can produce. So I understand better that some abused substances do not produce physical addiction, bu t are still abused and still have very dangerous effects.

Ancient China Essay

Q1. How did China’s environment help a civilization to develop there? Because of the areas with a good climate and rich soil, China’s civilization was able to flourish. Although most of china is made up of mountains and deserts, there are some places like the river valleys with good climate and soil that is perfect for farming. These river valleys are formed by the Huang, Yangtze, and Xi Rivers. When they knew they could farm there, people began to settling along the Huang about 5000bc. They learned to make dikes and irrigation systems and started jobs like herding sheep and cattle. Sometimes, the dikes created would not be enough to hold the water, and the Huang would destroy towns and crops. The trials and rewards that the Huang River brought gave it its name, The River of Sorrows. Along with civilization came invasion. China’s civilization was invaded many times by nomads from Mongolia and Manchuria. But even if some of these invaders worked their way up to government, they kept the Chinese culture because it was so strong. Q2. What do we know of China’s first historic dynasty? The Shang Dynasty was China’s first historic dynasty. It began in the Huang River Valley at about 1500bc. They started off only ruling a small portion around the city of Anyang, but even though they didn’t rule certain places, they still promised to fight against all invaders. They had bronze weapons and chariots to help in battle. They slowly gained more power as the population grew, and by 1200bc, the Shang rulers became great. Q3. How was China governed during the Zhou Dynasty? The Zhou Dynasty began at about 1027bc and because of their strong dynasty, they ruled for 800 years. They took over the Shang Dynasty with the help of a few Chinese city-states whose leaders where very powerful, so the ruled their city-states independently. The Zhou Dynasty weakened because of small wars within kingdoms. By 400s bc the Zhou Dynasty was so weak the only ruled over their own city state. These years of weakening were called the Years of the Warring States. China’s government developed the Mandate of Heaven which said that each dynasty would have their own government. A dynasty could rule only as long as it kept its mandate. When a dynasty’s mandate was taken by the gods, the new ruler would have to defeat the old to begin his own dynasty.

Biography of Lewis Chesty Puller, U.S. Marine

Biography of Lewis 'Chesty' Puller, U.S. Marine Lewis B. Chesty Puller (June 26, 1898–October 11, 1971) was a U.S. Marine who saw battle experience in World War II and in the Korean War conflict. He was one of the most decorated Marines in U.S. history. Fast Facts: Lewis B. 'Chesty' Puller Known For: One of the most decorated U.S. Marines in history, serving in World War II and KoreaBorn:Â  June 26, 1898 in West Point, VirginiaParents: Martha Richardson Leigh and Matthew M. PullerDied: October 11, 1971 at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, VirginiaEducation: Virginia Military Institute (1917–1918)Spouse: Virginia Montague Evans (m. November 13, 1937)Children: Virginia McCandlish (b. 1938), twins Martha Leigh and Lewis Burwell Puller, Jr. (b. 1944) Early Life Lewis B. Chesty Puller was born June 26, 1898, at West Point, Virginia, the third of four children born to Matthew M. Puller and Martha Richardson Leigh (known as Pattie). Matthew Puller was a wholesale grocer, and Lewis had two older sisters and a younger brother. In 1908, Matthew died, and in the familys reduced circumstances, Lewis Puller was forced to aid in supporting his family at the age of 10. He continued on at school, but he hawked crabs at the local waterfront amusement park and then worked as a laborer in a pulp mill. Interested in military matters from a young age, he attempted to join the U.S. Army in 1916 to take part in the Punitive Expedition to capture Mexican leader Pancho Villa. Underage at the time, Puller was blocked by his mother who refused to consent to his enlistment. When war was declared with Germany at the start of World War I, Puller was 17 and he accepted an appointment to Virginia Military Institute as a state cadet, receiving financial assistance in return for later service. A mediocre student, he spent the summer at a Reserve Officer Training Corps camp in New York. Joining the Marines With the U.S. entry into World War I in April 1917, Puller quickly became restless and tired of his studies. Inspired by the U.S. Marines performance at Belleau Wood, he departed VMI and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. Completing basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina, Puller received an appointment to officer candidate school. Passing through the course at Quantico, Virginia, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant on June 16, 1919. His time as an officer proved brief, as a postwar reduction in the USMC saw him moved to the inactive list 10 days later. Haiti Not willing to forego his military career, Puller rejoined the Marines on June 30 as an enlisted man with the rank of corporal. Assigned to Haiti, he served in the Gendarmerie dHaiti as a lieutenant and aided in combating Cacos rebels. Formed under a treaty between the U.S. and Haiti, the gendarmerie possessed American officers, largely Marines, and Haitian enlisted personnel. While in Haiti, Puller worked to regain his commission and served as adjutant to Major Alexander Vandegrift. Returning to the U.S. in March 1924, he was successful in obtaining a commission as a second lieutenant. Navy Crosses Over the next four years, Puller moved through a variety of barracks assignments that took him from the East Coast to Pearl Harbor. In December 1928, he received orders to join a detachment of the Nicaraguan National Guard. Arriving in Central America, Puller spent the next two years battling bandits. For his efforts in mid-1930, he was awarded the Navy Cross. Returning home in 1931, he completed the Company Officers Course before again sailing for Nicaragua. Remaining until October 1932, Puller won a second Navy Cross for his performance against the insurgents. Overseas Afloat In early 1933, Puller sailed to join the Marine Detachment at the American Legation in Beijing, China. While there, he led the famed Horse Marines before departing to oversee the detachment aboard the cruiser USS Augusta. While aboard, he came to know the cruisers skipper, Captain Chester W. Nimitz. In 1936, Puller was made an instructor at the Basic School in Philadelphia. After three years in the classroom, he returned to Augusta. This homecoming proved short as he went ashore in 1940 for service with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines at Shanghai. On November 13, 1937, he married Virginia Montague Evans, who he had met a decade before. Together they had three children: Virginia McCandlish Puller (born in 1938), and twins Lewis Burwell Puller, Jr. and Martha Leigh Puller, born in 1944. World War II In August 1941, Puller, now a major, departed China to take command of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines at Camp Lejeune. He was in this role when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and the U.S. entered World War II. In the months that followed, Puller prepared his men for war and the battalion sailed to defend Samoa. Arriving in May 1942, his command remained in the islands through the summer until being ordered to join Vandegrifts 1st Marine Division during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Coming ashore in September, his men quickly went into action along the Matanikau River. Coming under intense attack, Puller won a Bronze Star when he signaled USS Monssen to aid in rescuing trapped American forces. In late October, Pullers battalion played a key role during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Holding back massive Japanese attacks, Puller won a third Navy Cross for his performance, while one his men, Staff Sergeant John Basilone, received the Medal of Honor. After the division left Guadalcanal, Puller was made the executive officer of the 7th Marine Regiment. In this role, he took part in the Battle of Cape Gloucester in late 1943 and early 1944. Leading From the Front During the opening weeks of the campaign, Puller won a fourth Navy Cross for his efforts in directing Marine units in attacks against the Japanese. On February 1, 1944, Puller was promoted to colonel and later took command of the 1st Marine Regiment. Finishing the campaign, Pullers men sailed for the Russell Islands in April before preparing for the Battle of Peleliu. Landing on the island in September, Puller fought to overcome a tenacious Japanese defense. For his work during the engagement, he received the Legion of Merit. The Korean War With the island secured, Puller returned to the U.S. in November to lead the Infantry Training Regiment at Camp Lejeune. He was in this role when the war ended in 1945. In the years after World War II, Puller oversaw a variety of commands including the 8th Reserve District and the Marine Barracks at Pearl Harbor. With the outbreak of the Korean War, Puller again took command of the 1st Marine Regiment. Preparing his men, he took part in General Douglas MacArthurs landings at Inchon in September 1950. For his efforts during the landings, Puller won the Silver Star and a second Legion of Merit. Taking part in the advance into North Korea, Puller played a key role in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in November and December. Performing brilliantly against overwhelming numbers, Puller earned the Distinguished Service Cross from the U.S. Army and fifth Navy Cross for his role in the battle. Promoted to brigadier general in January 1951, he briefly served as assistant commander of the 1st Marine Division before temporarily taking command the following month after the transfer of Major General O.P. Smith. He remained in this role until returning to the United States in May. Later Career and Death Briefly leading the 3rd Marine Brigade at Camp Pendleton, Puller remained with the unit when it became the 3rd Marine Division in January 1952. Promoted to major general in September 1953, he was given command of the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune the following July. Plagued by decaying health, Puller was forced to retire on November 1, 1955. One of the most decorated Marines in history, Puller won the nations second-highest decorations six times and received two Legions of Merit, a Silver Star, and a Bronze Star. Puller himself said he was uncertain how he came to be nicknamed Chesty. It may have been a reference to his big, thrust-out chest; chesty in the Marines also means cocky. Receiving a final promotion to lieutenant general, Puller retired to Virginia, where he died after a series of strokes on October 11, 1971.

Stop Smoking, Stop Killing Essays

Stop Smoking, Stop Killing Essays Stop Smoking, Stop Killing Paper Stop Smoking, Stop Killing Paper Cigarettes continue to be the most popular form of tobacco world wide. In 1993 the total cigarettes, (Facts About 3). This useless habit causes many problems in the United States today; cigarettes cause health problems, are extremely addictive, create health hazards for nonsmolers, and cause complications for women who smoke during pregnancy. Many people have tried smoking once or twice, but never continue. Other people who start smoking continue and become addicted to the nicotine. Many people believe that the power of nicotine has no effect on them, and think that they can stop at anytime;however, this is incorrect. If smoking continues, addiction usually develops before the smoker even realizes it; when this person tries to quit smoking, it is very difficult (N-O-T: Not on 1). One substance found in tobacco smoke, which can make it difficult to quit smoking is nicotine, a highly poisonous oily liquid that acts on the brain. It is poisonous,although, only in large amounts. Its poisonous properties make nicotine addiction very powerful. In 1988 the Surgeon General of the United States published a report concluding that nicotine in cigarettes is addicting inexactly the same sense as alcohol, cocaine, and heroin. Most former smokers have made at least one unsuccessful attempt to quit before finally succeeding, and many have to try several times, (Taylor 17). The quitting process is so hard vecause the body develops a dependency on the drug nicotine. This dependency is so great that people do not quit smoking even though they are aware that it may cost them their lives. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 419,000 American deaths are caused by cigarette smoking each year. Surprisingly, many smokers are aware of these statistics, but continue to risk theur lives anyway. In the United States, smoking is responsible for 1/5 of all deaths, and kills 1/2 of all long term smokers, (Troyer 33). These statistics are small compared to the number of people who suffer everyday because of smoking related illnesses. Thirty percent of all cancer deaths, according to the American Lung Association, are caused by smoking. Besides lung cancer, smokers also suffer from a number of other smoking related illnesses. The least significant effect that most smokers experience is smokers cough. Although smokers cough is not deadly , it is very painful and disgusting to others. It usually occurs early in the morning, because the smokers lungs are trying to cough up some of the harmful substances that have built up from the previous day of smoking. Many respiratory diseases are also attributed to smoking. These diseases occur because of bacteris growing in the lungs which makes it difficult for a persons immune system to fight viral infections. As a result, Smokers develop more flu, pneumonia, coughs, tuberculosis, and other breathing related problems than nonsmokers, (Troyer 33). Other potentially fatal diseases can result from smoking, such as cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular diseases are those that affect the heart and circulatory system, such as heart attacks, stroke, vascular disease, and aortic aneurysm, (34). With so many potentially fatal diseases attributed to smoking, smokers receive more than 1/2 of all medical care,(35). The effects of smoking are very costly to the economy. If the sale of cigarettes was banned the United States government would save billions of dollars each year. Opponents argue that banning the sale of cigarettes would eliminate nearly one million jobs in the tobacco industry, and rob the government of billions of dollars they receive from cigarette taxes. However, the truth is that each year 100 billion dollars is spent on somking related health care costs, which is twenty-three times greater than the amount that hte government receives from cigarette taxes. Most of these costs come from the cost of treating dieseases caused by tobacco and from the loss when workers are too ill (or have died) and cannot contribute to economic activity, (Taylor 17). if cigarettes were banned in the United States, the government could apend the money currently used to pay medical bills, on more necessary causes. Instead of this money being used for diseases which were knowingly brought upon by the smoker him or herslf, this money could be used in finding a cure for diseases that are not preventable. Perhaps the saddest effect of smoking is that on pregnant smokers and their babies. When pregnant women smoke, their babies are being forced to smoke, too. many women begin smoking at an early age and find it hard to quit even during pregnancy. Information given from Health Watch discribes smoking as a harmful gas and deadly substance thats passes throughout babys blood from mothers blood (2). This selfish act on the mothers part can result in miscarriage, stillborn (SIDS). When a pregnant woman smokes, the various chemicals, including nicotine and carbon monoxide , also affect the baby. These chemicals have a direcct effect on the growth of the fetus. The more the mother smokes during pregnancy, the lower the weight of the newborn infant. Smoking increased the risk(by more than 50% in light smokers and well over 100% in heavy smokers) taht the babys weight will be less than 2500 grams, (Tye 6). Such babies are more likely tio be stillborn, to need intensive care in the hospital, or to die in infancy. Not only does smoking gave dangerous and fatal effects on the baby, but the mother is at risk as well. The more a pregnant womean snokes, her risk of placenta abnormality and excessive bleeding increases. Also, nicotine may decrease mild production and make successful breast feeding more difficult, (Taylor 8). So if a mother would knowingly endanger her life and the life of the baby she is carrying, this woman would have no problem smoking in a room full of nonsmokers, endangering their lives as well. Many people who do not smoke so not enjoy being in a room where people are smoking. However, discomfort should be the least of their worries. Cigarette smoke carries carcinogens and other harmful substances. Many of these substances are poisons: tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide, arsenic, cyanide, and other deadly aubatances. Anyone exposed to secondhand smoke breathes in over four thousand chemical substances. Secondhand smoke kills 53,000 Americans each year. It is the third largest preventable cause of death . Only direct smoking and alcohol-related deaths rank higher,(Rumph 20). To demonstrate that nonsmokers are affected by the smoke, a study was done by the Americans for non Smokers Rights Foundation on children living in homes with parents who smoke. The study was compared with children living in homes with no smoking. The children living with smokers, had a ten percent lower amount of high density lipoprotein, which prevent against heart disease, as compared to children in non-smoking homes, (Rumph 20). Also, girls with parents who smoke have a lower ability to carry oxygen in the blood, while boys had a lower testosterone level than children living in non-smoking homes, (Houston 121). Although some progress has been made to reduce secondhand smoke in public places, it is not enough. There are no laws to protect people on the street or innocent children in their homes. The only way to protect innocent non-smokers is to ban the sale of cigarettes, so there would be no second-hand smike at all. Cigarettes are harmful to everyone. They result in addiction, fatal illnesses, birth complications, and death. Cigarettes create economic problems because of the high costs the government must pay for medical bills. cigarettes benefit no one, they only cause harm.