Wednesday, October 30, 2019

The Contribution Of Feminist Criticism To Opera Studies Essay

The Contribution Of Feminist Criticism To Opera Studies - Essay Example In order to defend the position of a woman and stop discrimination, feminism penetrates all the spheres of life. As the old values of the society have been formed for a long time and are reflected in the works of art, it became necessary for the strugglers for human rights to make feminist movement influence the sphere of art. Old plots of classical art creations are very popular today and widely used by producers for their performances. However, feminists claim that many of these plots should be modified. The trouble is that they plunge us into the past values and traditions feminists did their best to change. As the plots are too old, the representation of women is usually too discriminative and reminds men about their dominance in the past. Under such influence the efforts of feminists risk to come to nothing, thus they consider it necessary to impose their effect on the sphere of the modern art. The given paper will provide the overview of the feminist influence in the sphere of mass media and demonstrate how the modern opera is affected by the feminist movement. The main argument of feminists is the â€Å"male gaze† that can be traced in modern performances. Notwithstanding that feministic mood penetrated many fields, the sphere of film-making remained almost unchanged. It keeps using motives, which are considered to be classical, in spite of the fact that they were formed in the patriarchal society. A woman continues playing secondary role. Boetticher explains: "what counts is what the heroine provokes, or rather what she represents. She is the one, or rather the love or fear she inspires in the hero, or else the concern he feels for her, who makes him act the way he does. In herself the woman has not the slightest importance."1 If to trace the literary works on the topic, it becomes clear that the problem was started to be considered by the strugglers for women’s rights already in 1970s. The work by Mulvey titled "Visual Pleasure and Narrat ive Cinema" discussed the secondary role and discrimination of women. The author states: "in their traditional exhibitionist role women are simultaneously looked at and displayed, with their appearance coded for strong visual and erotic impact so that they can be said to connote to-be-looked-at-ness," and as a result contends that in film a woman is the "bearer of meaning, not maker of meaning.†2 The author draws the readers’ attention to the theory of Lacan that explains how the performances contributes to gender discrimination by depicting women as objects for sexual exploitation. Mulvey emphasizes the importance of re-consideration of the plots used to make performances. She states that the radical changes in the film-making structure are crucial as it is the only way to eliminate gender discriminative motives from modern performances. The issues of women discrimination in opera was discussed in the book by Catherine Clement. The feministic work â€Å"Opera: The und oing of Women† were created at the end of 1970’s. The author strongly believes that in opera women are oppressed and men dominate over them. She underlines that women in opera are portrayed as victims, who cannot express their own feelings and who sacrifice their lives for their beloved men. The life of these women in most situations has a tragic end. Really, it is possible to trace that most of the female protagonists appear in difficult circumstances and they are always unhappy and dissatisfied. In order to prove that it is enough to overview the most famous plots that are depicted in opera. The main heroine of â€Å"Tosca† Floria has committed suicide after she got to know about the execution of her beloved. The opera â€Å"Madam Butterfly† is rather popular, but if to consider it from critical point of view, it is plot is

Monday, October 28, 2019

Muslim Women Essay Example for Free

Muslim Women Essay The more and more I study about Muslim Women and the obstacles they face, I become angered. In writing this paper, I’ve found that there is no substantial evidence in any Muslim or Islamic writings that states that women should be treated as slaves or insubordinates. Women are to be respected, protected, and loved; no matter what religion or color they may be. So, my paper will focus on these three things, but the lack of it. What is the definition of respect? Respect is a positive feeling of esteem or deference for a person or other entity. When you respect a person, you will show it through actions and deeds; without any conjuring. I’ve noticed that Muslim women aren’t respected too well within their own religion. The Sharia Law is the moral code and religious law of Islam which deals with many topics such as prayer, fasting, diet, sexual intercourse, hygiene, etc. It is considered the infallible law of God; there is no human interpretation. The two sources of this law are the Quran and Mohammed; the last source is part of the human interpretation that many state the Quran doesn’t possess. According to the Sharia, women aren’t equal to men unless it is in religious duties such as prayer, fasting, and making hajj. Contrary to what most Muslim men believe, a woman is not created for the purpose of a Muslim man. Rather, they are both created for each other. They are to help, support, and cleave to one another through their life and Islamic religion. Some Muslim men have taken the Quran and made it to be a falsity to their perception and added to it. This addition has caused many Muslim women to be disrespected and abused. Many Islamic religions are filled with much domestic violence. Take Bibi Aisha’s case, her husband was part of the Taliban and she never had a chance to see him. During his time away, her in-laws beat her, tortured her, and made her sleep with the livestock. The abuse became too much, so Bibi ran away, but her father returned her back to her in-laws. Due to her disappearance, her husband returned and he proceeded to torture her in front of the community by removing her ear and nose. She was left in the desert to bleed to death. She ran to her uncle’s house and he turned her away, but her father-in-law took her to the Americans (military) where they tended to her wounds and protected her. You can find her picture on my blog for this class. When I see her, I see a woman of strength and perseverance. It’s said to say, but this incident which brought her much pain, seems to have blessed her. It is because of the mutilation of her face that she is free and in a better place. It is well known within the Islamic culture that domestic abuse is hardly unique. Many Muslim women deal with this atrocity daily, due to the thoughts of Muslim men. Most Muslim males believe that Muslim women are slaves or property. Most husbands believe its right to beat their wives and treat her with disdain. An often-quoted verse in the Quran says a husband may chastise a disobedient wife, but this is open to several interpretations. What is the definition of protection and love? Protection is to cover or shield from exposure, injury, damage, or destruction and love is a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. I can’t say that I see these actions practiced within the Muslim culture. If anything, Muslim women are caused to feel scared, unsafe, unprotected, and abused. The most common form of abuse is emotional and mental abuse. This can include verbal threats, intimidation, neglect, extreme jealousy and possessiveness. The worse of the two is the mental abuse which causes severe psychological harm. It destroys her self-esteem, self-worth, and causes many to have nervous breakdowns and become suicidal. Some of the factors that make Muslim men abusive Muslim women are: 1. Economic hardship, political oppression experienced outside the U.S., problems with the children, or an inferiority complex. 2. Some Muslim men accept the idea that its normal for a man to hit his wife and that she is no more than a piece of his property. 3. It’s generational; habits are picked up after watching their own fathers abuse their mothers. 4. Some abuse their wives because they want them to be more modern and less Islamic. SO they have their wives remove their hijab (Islamic dress), while others turn to abuse in order to keep their wives traditional; which is the exact opposite of the former. In a marriage, the Quran is very clear on procedures in discipline for Islamic wives. First, there’s peaceful discussion between the two about the problem and resolutions. If this doesn’t work, the next step is for the husband to be more stern and focused. If the disobedience persists from the wife, the husband will leave the bed which is a form of punishment for not only the wife, but also the husband. If that doesn’t work, then other family members will become involved and try to help in resolving the issues and being fair to both parties. This is not totally true because the Muslim religion is male dominated and gender-controlled. The males within the family will be the first and last to define choices of resolution. Remember, Muslim women really don’t have rights. Whether it’s within their family, job, mosque, or society. There is no balance when it comes to gender or to resolving life’s issues in the Muslim culture. During this whole process, Muslim women keep quiet due to feelings of depression and hopelessness. They began to feel like no one will help them and they are constantly aware of their co-dependence to their husbands. Financial independence is something that is always in the forefront of their minds, but it’s always tainted by the images of control in the Muslim culture. So, they make a decision to stay in bondage to keep their homes, children, and the love of their husbands; the latter is questionable. Some Muslim women see the abuse as a fact of life and learn to live with it. So, what does the abuse and control have to do with Women’s Studies? Well, throughout the class we focused on many different types of situations that involved women; whether good or bad. The control and abuse that is present in the Muslim culture reminds of gender prejudice and gender discrimination. Both are one in the same, but speak of different influences. Gender prejudice is a belief that women are the weaker of the sexes emotionally and physically and must be protected from the world outside. I know that males are expected to be the providers and to dominate the decision making in the home, but there sh ould still be some form of balance. Balance is needed in everything; whether it’s life, work, or play. We all need to have a sense of structure or rules, but there must be a state of adjustment. In reviewing gender discrimination, you will find prejudicial treatment based upon groups or individuals due to their gender or sex; there is no protection factor involved. Gender discrimination can affect both men and women, but women are usually at the receiving end, since most cultures in the world are patriarchal and male-dominated. This isn’t a far cry for religions because mostly all religions are male-dominated. You will find women aren’t seen as being equal to men within the scope of religion. It is partly due to how man has interpreted their religious readings or scriptures, and twisted it to be a form of evil and disdain. Yes, there are places within scripture that speak of women being unclean due to their monthly or being untouchable after childbirth. But is it because the woman is evil, or is it a form of protection for her and anyone that she may come into contact with? All in all, I see the Islamic religion as being so gender biased that it causes me to become angered. This religion seems to prevent Muslim women from nurturing their true identity and blossoming into women of self-worth and self-esteem. Hiding one’s face can make a person feel unworthy and disconnected. It’s a joy to feel positive about yourself and who you are. Being able to feel good about your looks and your body can be very uplifting to the psyche and soul. What puts a damper on that? Having a father, brother, husband, or any male to make you feel that your very essence is despicable and dirty. Hopefully, in the 21st century, things will change and get better. Until then, it’s up to us to become more aware of the many differences of cultures and religions. These differences could cause or society to become cold, unloving, and aloof. I don’t believe our world should be this way. If anything, love should prevail and the worship of a power stronger than you should cause you to love everyone even the more. Bibliography Roald, Anne S. (2001). Women in Islam: The Western Experience. Routledge. Suad Joseph, Afsaneh Najmabadi, ed. Encyclopedia of Women Islamic Cultures. Brill Academic Publishers. Women and Violence. Welcome to the United Nations: Its Your World. United Nations Department of Public Information, Feb. 1996. Web. 07 Dec. 2011 American Muslim Women Unveil, and Explain Why: NPR. NPR: National Public Radio. 19 Oct. 2011. Muslim Clerics on the Religious Rulings Regarding Wife-Beating. Jihad Watch. 15 Nov. 2011.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Physician- Assisted Suicide Essay -- Essays Papers

Physician- Assisted Suicide What can be more personal than the decision to end one's life in its final, painful days? Physician-assisted suicide is a justifiable suicide; â€Å"self-deliverance† and a person's liberty should not be taken away. On September 15, 2001 my negative attitude toward physician-assisted suicide changed drastically. My mother's parents are deeply in love and unfortunately have become very sick. My grandma was just diagnosed with Lou Gherig's disease one year before her death. My grandpa was always depressed because my grandma was in so much pain and was miserable. She was such a loving person and my mom was upset. When my grandma researched her illness, Lou Gherig's disease she realized that she would eventually be like a vegetable. Crying softly she looked up at our whole family and said, "Please I want to have PAS as soon as I get to "that" point in my illness. I love you all so much and don't want you to watch me die like that or spend a lot of money for som ething that cannot be helped." My grandpa loved her more than anyone can love a person and visited her in the hospital everyday. She was to "that" point in her life now and he was scared. Physician-assisted suicide is a justifiable self-deliverance because it helps those in pain avoid dying miserably. No person wants to live in pain or die in pain and PAS gives patients the mercy of dying painlessly. According to Kim, PAS allows patients a speedy death in peace and dignity (170). The author asserts that for many patients the pain they endure is too much to bear. Forcing people to suffer is immoral (Kim 171). No person that is terminally ill should want to suffer or allow their family members to watch them suffer. ... ...ainlessly than suffer. Physician-assisted suicide is a justifiable "self deliverance" because it helps those in pain avoid dying miserably. Works Cited Hawkins, Gail N., ed. Physician- Assisted Suicide. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002. 11-35. Kim, Clara S. Pros and Cons: Social Policy Debates of Our Time. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2001. 165- 182. Manning, Michael. Euthanasia and Physician- Assisted Suicide: Killing or Caring? New York: Paulist Press, 1998. 26-44. Sommerville, Margaret. Death Talk: The Case Against Euthanasia and Physician- Assisted Suicide. Quebec: McGill- Queen’s University Press, 2001. 205-217. Willke, J.C. Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia: Past and Present. Cincinnati: Hayes Publishing, 1998. 1-16. Gittleman, D.K. "Euthanasia and Physician-assisted Suicide." Southern Medical Journal. Vol. 92. 1999.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Industrial and organizational psychology Essay

Industrial organizational psychology is an area of psychology that focuses on studying people in their working environment. The role can also involve focusing on workplace dynamics and organizational structures. Through the use of industrial organizational psychologists, work places can improve the success of their organizationIndustrial organizational psychology first began in the earlier 20th century when it was found that troops returning from World War I needed therapy to regain morale. It wasn’t until after World War II that the field really grew, and as the 20th century progressed the use of a industrial organizational psychologist in the work place became more common. Those who work as an industrial organizational psychologist can expect to spend a lot of time working with statistics. As developing initiatives on behalf of businesses depends on science-based research, the industrial organizational psychology relies heavily on working with large numbers.There are many functions performed by industrial psychologists which include: Personnel Psychology is a subfield of Industrial and Organizational Psychology.[1] Personnel psychology is the area of industrial/organizational psychology that primarily deals with the recruitment, selection and evaluation of personnel, and other job aspects such as morale, job satisfaction, and relationships between managers and workers in the workplace.[2] It is the field of study that concentrates on the selection and evaluation of employees; this area of psychology deals with job analysis and defines and measures job performance, performance appraisal, employment testing, employment interviews. Personnel psychology is used in a variety of ways. Some of the most important functions it serves range from analyzing corporate culture and individual and group interactions to developing and evaluating employee selection and appraisal techniques. Other areas of use are assessing corporate leadership and employee motivation strategies, identifying causes and resolutions to internal conflicts, advising management of the potential psychological and social impact of corporate policies, and researching ways organizations can effectively manage cultural differences and leadership styles.[5] Personnel psychologists work in a variety of settings, including education, business, community, and agency environments.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Agriculture in Indonesia Essay

Agriculture in Indonesia supports the livelihood of the population. Every three out of five people live in rural areas and farming is considered a main occupation for many families. Around 45% of Indonesian workers are farmers. Rice is Indonesians primary staple crop. Indonesia today is the third largest rice producer totaling 64,398,900 tons of rice in all. Most of the rice produced in Indonesia is located in the island of Java. Before the fall of the New Order, they were most known for their contribution to Indonesians agriculture industry. The New Order introduced the Green Revolution rice technology to Indonesia. The Green Revolution was the foundation for economic growth in Indonesia. This Revolution controlled the water supply and improved fertilizers and pesticides. The Green Revolution moved Indonesia from being a major rice importer in the 1970s to being self-sufficient by the mid 1980s. Based on the population quickly increasing, Indonesia is finding ways to make food production more efficient and cheaper to support the population. Indonesia had the most rapid decrease in poverty due to the fast agricultural growth created by the Green Revolution. The production of crops became quicker and cheaper, allowing the sales price to decrease. Poverty stricken people now do not have to devote their whole paycheck towards paying for food, since the sales price has lowered. The availability of crops increased which also contributed to the decrease in price. Indonesia relies greatly on agriculture to feed the population and help decrease the poverty rate. Section 10 Works Cited . â€Å"Indonesia- Agriculture. † Encyclopedia of the Nations. N. p. , n. d. Web. 7 Mar 2012.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Free Essays on Spanish Armada

Due to rising tensions between England and Spain, in 1588 the two nations confronted each other in one of histories greatest naval showdowns. There were many reasons for the confrontation, but a few primary causations can be named. Firstly, there was an underlying conflict of Spanish Catholicism vs. English Protestantism. Phillip the II of Spain had the backing of the papacy and was ardently opposed to any kind of Protestantism. On the contrary, when Elizabeth became the Queen of England, she made Protestantism the official state religion and made attendance to the Church of England compulsory for all citizens. The religious rivalry between the two nations escalated steadily and eventually ended up in war. Prior to 1588, Spain had been fighting a Protestant rebellion in the Low Countries, and had been doing well. Opposed to the spread of Catholicism and Spanish rule, England saw it as her duty to send military aid to the Dutch Protestants. The war which had started as a Dutch rebellion had turned into a proxy war between the Spanish and the English. An already tense situation was made worse when Elizabeth executed Mary, Queen of Scotts, the Catholic wife of Phillip the II. The whole time that this religious rivalry was occurring, the problem of privateering was slowly gnawing away at the Spanish economy. Spain had established colonies in the new world and was exporting huge amounts of bullion to support her economy. The government of Spain absolutely relied on this money to make her economy function. The English crown actively supported privateering efforts which would serve two purposes: 1. to increase the wealth of England and 2. to detract from the wealth of Spain. These acts of privateering were a large cause of the showdown between Spain and England. There are two main reasons that Spain lost her Armada. First there was the issue of poor leadership. A few months prior to setting sail, the commander of the Sp... Free Essays on Spanish Armada Free Essays on Spanish Armada Due to rising tensions between England and Spain, in 1588 the two nations confronted each other in one of histories greatest naval showdowns. There were many reasons for the confrontation, but a few primary causations can be named. Firstly, there was an underlying conflict of Spanish Catholicism vs. English Protestantism. Phillip the II of Spain had the backing of the papacy and was ardently opposed to any kind of Protestantism. On the contrary, when Elizabeth became the Queen of England, she made Protestantism the official state religion and made attendance to the Church of England compulsory for all citizens. The religious rivalry between the two nations escalated steadily and eventually ended up in war. Prior to 1588, Spain had been fighting a Protestant rebellion in the Low Countries, and had been doing well. Opposed to the spread of Catholicism and Spanish rule, England saw it as her duty to send military aid to the Dutch Protestants. The war which had started as a Dutch rebellion had turned into a proxy war between the Spanish and the English. An already tense situation was made worse when Elizabeth executed Mary, Queen of Scotts, the Catholic wife of Phillip the II. The whole time that this religious rivalry was occurring, the problem of privateering was slowly gnawing away at the Spanish economy. Spain had established colonies in the new world and was exporting huge amounts of bullion to support her economy. The government of Spain absolutely relied on this money to make her economy function. The English crown actively supported privateering efforts which would serve two purposes: 1. to increase the wealth of England and 2. to detract from the wealth of Spain. These acts of privateering were a large cause of the showdown between Spain and England. There are two main reasons that Spain lost her Armada. First there was the issue of poor leadership. A few months prior to setting sail, the commander of the Sp...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Fggghgh Essays

Fggghgh Essays Fggghgh Essay Fggghgh Essay MEDALLION COUNCIL PROJECT REPORT FORM CATEGORY:Environmental Concerns PROJECT NAME:Green Holiday Party PROJECT DATE(S):December 20, 2012 FHSAA CLASSIFICATION: 8A_ MAIN GOAL(S) OF THIS PROJECT (give specific goals): * To celebrate the holidays in an environmentally sustainable way * To bring the school community together in order to create crafts from recycled materials * For budgeted alternatives on holiday celebration PROJECT DESCRIPTION (50-250 words): As an eco-friendly way to celebrate the winter holidays, Timber Creek Student Government decided to encourage their students to make the season â€Å"green†. To start this project, bins were placed in each classroom for a collection of recycled materials from students and teachers. SGA then gathered the collection of donated materials from Timber Creek and got crafty by turning them into differently designed recycled and biodegradable ornaments. This way, the students can learn more alternatives to decorate for the holidays by spending little to no money. The assorted ornaments were placed on all of the trees throughout the Timber Creek campus as display for everyone at the school. A separate set of ornaments, bracelets, bowls, and art were made by SGA and put on sale for one dollar in the courtyard for students to purchase during lunch and between classes. The students were amazed with all of the different things you could make with such cheap materials like newspapers, cardboard and plastic that the sales rate became surprisingly high. : The ornaments on the trees spread holiday cheer throughout Timber Creek. Timber Creek SGA showed the students that there can be budget-friendly and eco-friendly ways to celebrate the holidays. EVALUATION (Were your goals met? What changes would you make? ) The Green Holiday Party was an environmental and educational success. Timber Creek Student Government was able to sell over 100 recycled and biodegradable ornaments. All of the profits went towards charity to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital because all material was donated. Timber Creek students were very involved in this project by purchasing ornaments and walking around the courtyard to notice all of the different-looking ornaments made out of recycled material. The ornaments on the trees spread holiday cheer on the Timber Creek campus. To improve the project next year, SGA could consider asking for donations earlier than just a week prior to the project.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Distinctive Features of a Reflection Essay, Definition of a Reflective Essay

Distinctive Features of a Reflection Essay, Definition of a Reflective Essay How to Write a Reflective Essay Reflective essay  by definition is a kind of writing that requires the author to inform the reader about his or her attitude, idea or impression regarding a given topic. Alternatively, writing reflective essays is meant to help its author describe how a certain event, person or experience has impacted him or her; or to describe the process of his or her personal growth during an academic course or some other significant experience (this can be a journey, an important class etc). For example, you may be required to write about a person who has had a significant impact on your life or career – it can be your teacher, your parents or your friend. In this case, you will be writing to describe this person and explain how he or she has affected you and how your personality changed as a result. Distinctive Features of a Reflective Essay Reflecting the author’s inner world, relating feelings and emotions pertaining to the described events and experiences are the most important features of a reflective essay. As a matter of fact, the essay has received its name because its main purpose is to reflect the author’s personality. Very often this type of essay is mistakenly understood as informative essay and students merely give an account of events or experiences. A simple enumeration of facts doesn’t make the essay reflective; in order to become one, it has to reflect the author’s inner world in relation to the described events. Let’s take a look at a quick example. Let’s imagine you have visited Tibet last summer. In an informative essay, you would inform your reader how you prepared, how you got there, what means of transport you used etc. In a reflective essay, you would tell your reader how you got interested in going there, what feelings you experienced during your visit and how it affected you as a personality. In the first case you enumerate events one by one; in the second case, you share your thoughts and feelings with your reader. This is what makes a reflective essay different from other essay types. Educational Purpose This type of essay is normally assigned during high school and college years with the purpose of giving students the opportunity to analyze their own experiences and skills. In this case, the object of analysis is students themselves; this essay type allows them to contemplate about things they might have been taking for granted. Another case when this type of essay can be assigned is when there is a need to better understand the personality of the interviewee. Reflective essays are also written while applying for college. The high number of college applicants makes competition incredibly tough; as a result, college admission officers require prospective students to write such essays – only thus can they pick out best candidates. They are looking at a number of things, including maturity, learning skills as well as the ability to analyze and think critically etc. The need to do reflective writing arises in everyday life too; therefore developing this skill is critical. Reflective Essay Outline In its basic form, a reflective essay will take the common essay structure: Introduction: This section should be the shortest; usually only one paragraph that establishes the frame of your personal reflection in a clear and concise manner. This is often achieved using reflective statements, then pointed sentences that describe the key ideas of reflective essay. For example, â€Å"the structure instilled in me by my baseball coaches has made me more organized and focused throughout my academic career†, or â€Å"I believe my membership on the school debate team has been the single largest contributor to my research skills today.† Body: The body paragraphs are where you can be more creative with your space and structure. Some reflection papers resemble narratives in which the writer tells their story from the perspective of how their experiences have impacted their personal growth and development. In the body of the essay, it is important to use descriptive language to differentiate between simply a retelling of key events and a rich narrative that exhibits true personal reflection. Conclusion:  In your conclusion, typically another single paragraph, you should avoid simply restating the reflective statements used in the introduction. Instead, remind your reader of the links between your experiences and the impacts these experiences have had on your development in the areas targeted, whether you’re focusing on growth academically, professionally or otherwise. More about essay structure: How to Write a Well-Structured Essay Language and Tone A reflective essay is supposed to reveal your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. It requires your presence in the text of the paper. The use of personal ‘I’ in this type of paper is ok. You can also use other personal pronouns like ‘we’, ‘you’, ‘they’ etc. This will make your essay more personal. Most other essay types require objectivity and impersonality; however, this is not the case. Referencing is not needed in 9 cases out of 10; however, some reflective essays will require you to back up your claims by making a reference to a reputable source of information. Be prepared to run a background research to back up your claims and read instructions carefully. Choosing a Topic Deciding on a topic for your reflection paper can be difficult, and ultimately the topic must be based on what experiences in your life you think will best exhibit your growth in the way you intend to present it in your personal reflection. With that in mind, here are some ideas to get you started. These topic suggestions are separated into categories from easy, marked by simpler topics that can be developed in a shorter period of time or space, to difficult, which contain more complex themes and must be described in a longer and more drawn out format. Reflective Essay Topics Easy reflective essay topics: 1. A happy event from childhood or another time, and how it has affected your life. 2. An early memory, positive or negative that impacted the way you have grown up. 3. An event, like a celebration or holiday that has led to changes in the way you think or behave over time. 4. A new person in your life; what was your first impression and how did meeting them affect the way you have developed as a person? 5. Lessons learned through experiences in school Medium reflective essay topics: 1. A first job or internship; think about skills you learned and relationships you made and how they have impacted your life. 2. A complex relationship or first love; new emotions and experiences are often the catalysts for personal development and change. 3. Any experience that leads to self-improvement, from a mental, physical or emotional standpoint. 4. A family vacation or other family experience that led to self-discovery or change in your interaction with your family members. 5. The death of a close family member or friend and how it has affected you over time. Difficult reflective essay topics:   1. The first experience with a group of people different than you, and how gaining understanding led to a personal change. 2. An experience in which you feared for your own safety and how overcoming or surviving the event changed you. 3. A great accomplishment, such as athletic or academic excellence, and the personal steps necessary to accomplish it. 4. A lifelong regret that has affected your actions and attitude since the event. It is important to remember: while these suggestions are for varying levels of complexity, any topic can be described with more or less depth to fit the requirements of your unique personal reflection. Reflective Essay Format Depending on your school, subject, and even essay topic, you might be required to format your writing in accordance with different standards. Most typical referencing styles are MLA and APA. These referencing styles tend to evolve over time, so be sure to consult respective manuals for updates. We hope you find these tips useful when working on your project.   Our professional team of writers knows perfectly what it takes to write a perfect reflective essay. For best results, will be asking you to cooperate with your writer to provide your personal input, while the writer will then give your essay the necessary shape, will think of the introduction, essay organization, structure and language. The experience we have accumulated in the process allows us to complete this task effectively and within the deadline. guarantees you consistently high results with your essay writing, so save time for yourself order now! To get the idea of how much our services will cost for you, check out our Discount table.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Organizational Structure Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Organizational Structure Paper - Essay Example The organization under observance in this essay is Toyota. Toyota uses a matrix structure which is, arguably, an amalgamation of two models; traditional design and horizontal structure. To understand the matrix structure, let us first look into the traditional model and the horizontal model. This ways, the essay will cover multiple styles of organizational structure. Traditional model, also called functional design, is the conventional way of organizational structure. It adopts a centralized manner of task allocation and responsibility-sharing. Generally, traditional model uses a bureaucratic style, and lines of authority are well-defined (Organizational Structure, n.d.). When it comes to considering the customers, the traditional model fails to acknowledge customer feedback and opinions since the structure is strictly function-oriented. On the other hand, a horizontal structure has a flat layout. Also called a flat structure, functions in horizontal structure are spread out and ther e is less authoritative manner to it, while giving room to a greater span of control to employees. Unlike the traditional model, a decentralized approach is employed in a flat structure, whereby, there is increased communication and teamwork. There is room for customer feedback due to the emphasis on high levels of communication. In the last two decades, companies have shown a trend towards shifting to a horizontal structure since it encourages communication and feedback. The traditional model is rather a primitive style of organizational chart; companies in the 20th century were more bent towards the functional approach. However, towards the end of the century, the new-age style of designing the organizational chart was shifting towards being a flatter structure. Subsequently, modern organizations adopted an amalgamation of the primitive models, hence, the matrix model, which is partially centralized and partially decentralized in nature. The illustration below shows how a matrix-s tructured organizational chart would look like. At Toyota, the employees find themselves in an inter-connected group of personnel who know their functions while keeping communication at an optimum level. ‘The Toyota organization structure is designed to support teamwork. Toyota followed the power of coordinated team structures’ (Toyota, 2011). The chart below, clearly, shows how the functions are linked with each other, following a top-down design along with a flat structure. One common advantage of using a matrix-structure is that it allows for expertise and special staff to be efficiently employed, rather than undesired duplication of functions and hence, wastage of expertise. One of the ways that influence the organizational structure is to consider the vital organizational functions. The functions include human resource, finance, marketing, sales etc. During the design phase of the flow chart, the company must analyze the company goals and vision because that will p rovide the appropriate framework for the organization. The functions at Toyota include marketing, finance, operations, R & D etc. to save time, and allow processes to be completed in quick fashion, there needs to be fast communication along with a stringent quality control framework. The higher authority at Toyota needs to be involved in the functions while also allowing for middle managers to

Character Comparison Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Character Comparison - Term Paper Example George Gibbs is the son of the Gibb couple whose father is a doctor and who has one sister, Rebecca. He excels in the field of sports specifically basketball and he dreams of studying at the State Agricultural School. His plan changes when he started a relationship with Emily Webb and married her. Emily Webb is George’s neighbor and later his wife. She is good in school and also a good daughter and sister of Wally. After marrying George, she dies of child birth. The lives that Emily and George lived exemplify normal lives devoid of too much excitement or important events, although in this case this is the perfect manner that the writer can point out the importance of appreciating everyday life. In relation to the main focus of the play, the stage manager is the bearer of the important quotations in the play which connects the audience to the author. Wilder uses methods within the play that can be considered unique but due to the fact that not many author uses the discussion of the play as part of the play itself as what the stage manager and the actors acting as part of the audience are doing, the people who are watching the play are clearly guided toward the main point of the whole plot. Without the said technique, the audience can miss the point of the play. Another method Wilder used is symbols. Throughout the play there are different symbols that can be found. The time capsule represents the importance of history and the past to humanity. Another is the symbolism of monotonous activities in the town through the activities of the milkman and the newspaper boy. Another focus of the play is the journey of George and Emily. Through the course of the plot they develop and grow. There are important quotations presented in the play that described the growth of the two characters and the different personalities in the plot. The first quote expressed â€Å"So†¦This is the way we were: in our growing up and

Friday, October 18, 2019

Employability in a Knowledge Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Employability in a Knowledge - Essay Example Now a days education is not only looked upon a very fulfilling profession but has also become very competitive and lucrative. Given my abilities and interest areas, I feel that I possess all the pre requisites that are considered essential to succeed in this line. I have always been passionate about teaching and interacting with children comes naturally to me. Through this noble profession I will not be making a living but also doing something for the society as a whole. In my own small way I will be responsible for shaping the future of the nation. This thought is one of the major driving forces for my passion towards teaching. Also I , as an individual, has this thirst for continuous learning and development thereby broadening my horizon and enhancing my knowledge. I feel that this profession would fulfill this need of mine as one of the major demands of teaching as a profession is to continuously upgrade your knowledge and to be in synch with the changes and developments happening at around you. There is a need to constantly keep yourself updated and enhance your skills and knowledge if you have to succeed in the line of education. In order to succeed in a career of ones choice is it absolutely critical to understand how one can stay employable irrespective of the economic scenario and labor market conditions. ... a profession , one only needs to have the requisite qualification and skills that are required to fulfill the demands and the requirements of the concerned job. This definition is incomplete because it does not take into consideration the relationship between employability and the prevalent economic scenario. The economic situation of any country tends to have a significant impact on the labor markets thereby affecting the employability of people. It is a true case of demand and supply. During times of labor shortages, even the unemployed will be able to get decent jobs and when there are shortages of jobs, the highly employable people also might find themselves without any job. Secondly employability of an individual does not only depend on his qualifications but also how competent he is as compared with others who are applying for similar positions.These two important dimensions are not acknowledged in the definition provided by Hillage and Pollard. Drawing from the above argument the definition of employability given by Brown et al is more comprehensive and takes into account all factors that have a significant impact on this concept of as well as highlighting those aspects which graduates must consider to ensure the success of their professional careers. Firstly according to Brown at al employability is not only dependent on individual characteristics rather it possesses two dimensions namely absolute and relative. Therefore employability among graduates not only is a function of skills and qualifications but also depends on the capability of an individual to find and maintain different kinds of employments.The second important concept of employability as defined by Philips Brown is with respect to positional competition. He is of the opinion that employability

LOG503 MOD 3 SLP Assn - Logistic Planning Essay

LOG503 MOD 3 SLP Assn - Logistic Planning - Essay Example In this paper, the determination of maximizing logistics efficiency of Wal-Mart will be taken into concern. Logistic Operation of Wal-Mart An effective supply chain management has been viewed to be one of the core competitive advantages of Wal-Mart by which the company comply with the requirements as well as the demands of its valuable customers. The core competencies of Wal-Mart relating to its supply chain network encompass superior logistics management, purchasing power, appropriate retail decisions and effective cost control within distribution system. Contextually, Wal-Mart’s logistic system comprises assimilation of necessary information, transportation costs, excellent inventory management and efficient material handling as well as packaging among others. In order to determine the maximization of logistics efficiency of Wal-Mart through facility location planning, it has been apparently observed that majority of the outlets of the company are located in sub-urban areas, low-rent and close highway regions that helps them to transport as well as distribute its products in cost-efficient manner. One of the key features of logistics department of Wal-Mart has been identified to be ‘Cross Docking’ or direct distribution where stores obtain finished products directly from the manufacturing plant and helps to manage inventory system in an efficient manner. Maintaining effective interrelation with the suppliers along with efficient packaging and labeling of the products supported the organization to merchandize its product not only in the US but also in different regions throughout the globe. The company incessantly focuses upon partnering with its suppliers in order to increase its labeling functioning for enhancing its efficiency towards transporting goods from one distribution center to other retail outlets. It has been viewed that a majority of the distribution centers of Wal-Mart are located closely to its retail outlets that helps them to allocate its broad assortment of products in a cost-efficient manner (Surti, 2010; Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2012). Example, Analysis and Recommendation The effective logistic system and efficient supply chain management supports Wal-Mart to distribute its broad assortment of products from distribution centers to its different retail outlets in an effective manner. Thus, it can be affirmed that the company maximize its logistics efficiency through facilitating effectual location planning. For example, the private fleet of trucks that possess by the company provides point-to-point services according to the store requirements. In this similar concern, it has been viewed that the transportation mechanism of the company operates 24/7 in order to maintain fleet of 6,500 tractors and 55,000 trailers across the overall distribution centers within the US. Moreover, Wal-Mart emphasizes upon following leading-edge logistic systems in order to increase the satisfaction level of the customers a nd attain its predetermined business targets. The other example through which the company can maximize its logistics efficiency through facility location planning is the introduction of ‘DotCom’ center. This particular center supports the online distribution of the

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Construction Technology 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Construction Technology 2 - Essay Example Because the fire curves are modelled on the basis of design fires, the analysis becomes vulnerable to the difference between design fire parameters and the real fire situations that may occur. Furthermore, varying conditions and the global proliferation of standards for fire tests make it imperative that an approximate approach to different situations/standards, for structures (at sea and on land) be adopted. This work aims to analyse fire curves in terms of their vital components/features, simultaneously considering the critical levels at which these vital variables of the standard curves experience a change, with the associated consequences of such, regarding the effectiveness of fire curves at carrying out their function of fire resistance determination. A further look will be taken at the applicability of these curves at sea, with analysis involving a look at the means and extent to which these applications vary, in the approach associated with them. The level of fire resistance in structures (onshore) is generally assessed or analysed by the use of engineering fire design curves. Different types of fire curves and standards are adopted in various parts of the world. Different assumptions are also associated with these different curves. Technically speaking, fire curves are applied to determine the fire resistance rating of passive fire protection systems. This rating is a measure of the time over which a passive fire protection system can resist or withstand a standard fire protection test. Some of the most commonly used standard fire curves include the ISO-834 (BS 476 or DIN 4102), which are relevant to cellulosic structures. There are also the ASTM E119 and UL 1709(or Eurocode 1), applicable to hydrocarbon situations. Engineering design practice generally uses these curves in the context of design fire temperatures, which attempt to

Correctional Institution, Criminology major Essay

Correctional Institution, Criminology major - Essay Example Among them is â€Å"protection from cruel and unusual punishment, including sexual harassment and other sex crimes† (Jacobson 118). To discourage sexual abuse in a prison facility, a correctional manager could take some steps by efficiently using the limited resources at their disposal which may include increasing time deducted on sentences for good behavior. This would encourage prisoners to adhere to prison rules with the hope of early release. The prison manager should practice wise deployment of staff taking in consideration the vulnerable locations and high risk times. Rape is a violent crime, therefore, stopping violent activities reduces chances of rape occurring. A correctional manager should endeavor to stop prison gang membership, activity or recruitment. These gangs encourage violent behaviors and operate on codes of silence. The correctional manager should also develop effective institutional policies and processes. These should provide guidelines on what is to be done in case abuse is reported, suspected, found happening or proven. These policies and procedures should instruct on how to deal with of fenders and victims. They should guarantee swift action and protection for the victim. The correctional manager should also encourage programs that prepare prisoners to live a contributing and law-abiding life after incarceration. These programs may incorporate activities that put the prisoners in controlled contact with the free world. This gives them a hint of free life and encourages them to adhere to rules to avoid longer incarceration and pursue early parole. Rape and other sex crimes in prisons occur due to many reasons. Facilities where prisoners are over-crowded have higher incidences of sexual abuse (Freedman 89). Understaffing of correctional facilities makes it hard to monitor prisoners’ activities. This creates space for indulgence in illegal and unethical

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Construction Technology 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Construction Technology 2 - Essay Example Because the fire curves are modelled on the basis of design fires, the analysis becomes vulnerable to the difference between design fire parameters and the real fire situations that may occur. Furthermore, varying conditions and the global proliferation of standards for fire tests make it imperative that an approximate approach to different situations/standards, for structures (at sea and on land) be adopted. This work aims to analyse fire curves in terms of their vital components/features, simultaneously considering the critical levels at which these vital variables of the standard curves experience a change, with the associated consequences of such, regarding the effectiveness of fire curves at carrying out their function of fire resistance determination. A further look will be taken at the applicability of these curves at sea, with analysis involving a look at the means and extent to which these applications vary, in the approach associated with them. The level of fire resistance in structures (onshore) is generally assessed or analysed by the use of engineering fire design curves. Different types of fire curves and standards are adopted in various parts of the world. Different assumptions are also associated with these different curves. Technically speaking, fire curves are applied to determine the fire resistance rating of passive fire protection systems. This rating is a measure of the time over which a passive fire protection system can resist or withstand a standard fire protection test. Some of the most commonly used standard fire curves include the ISO-834 (BS 476 or DIN 4102), which are relevant to cellulosic structures. There are also the ASTM E119 and UL 1709(or Eurocode 1), applicable to hydrocarbon situations. Engineering design practice generally uses these curves in the context of design fire temperatures, which attempt to

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

COOP WORK TERM ANALYSIS REPORT Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

COOP WORK ANALYSIS REPORT - Term Paper Example The number of people who are trying to commit crimes against kids through the internet, blogs, social media and other sites is rapidly growing. The cause of this is the use of technology amongst our children grows day by day. Software piracy; this is a case whereby someone copies software for personal use or distribution. This happens with programs that are not protected with malware protection, encryption keys or supplementary types of anti- piracy methods. These anti- piracy tools are, however, not perfectly foolproof since the Cyber criminals develop advanced ways of meandering with them. Anti- piracy methods will thus constantly be improved. Child pornography and Minor Assault; this is whereby an individual knowingly distributes, sells and buys child pornography via the internet. Child prostitution is also part of this since criminals have been using chat rooms to tempt minors into sexual encounters that are illegal. Computer Virus Transmission: a virus transmitter, who in this case is the criminal, creates a deadly virus that infects computers and causes them to function improperly. These viruses might also cause the computer to run irritating programs, or get access to a victim’s personal data. ‘Malware’ is the common name that is given to this software. Frequent types of malware are spyware, Trojan horses and Adware. Victims can without knowing download these programs via pop-up windows, websites and emails. Money Fraud; In this case, a victim is made to believe that he will be given money or some other valuable thing. â€Å"Phishing† scams entail creating replica emails while pretending to be genuine businesses like credit companies or banks that probe the victim to ascertain personal data. Computer Industry Espionage; this is the stealing trade secrets, or spying of individuals via technological ways for blackmail, corporate

Monday, October 14, 2019

Blood Brothers Essay Example for Free

Blood Brothers Essay Within a Blood Brothers. Compare the role of the narrator in the Play Blood Brothers and consider how you Would present the narrator to an audience if you were the director. The dictionary definition of narrate VT (a story) to tell, relate; to give an account of; (film, TV) to provide a spoken commentary for narration n narrator n The tradition of narration came from the Greek chorus. Their were thirteen people in the chorus; all singing and dancing. The chorus which served as the narrator, asked probing questions, and also gave great advice to the heroes. If there was any violence it was merely narrated, and not presented for fear of offending the audience. The purpose of the narrator is to let the audience know what is going on. Narration is one of the most important components of a story. The characters, plot, setting, and theme are also significant; however the narrator sets the mood and also the pace of the story, as well as predicting what might happen when the narrator is omniscient. In Blood Brothers the narrator plays a variety of roles for example sometimes he is at a higher status than them and also is sometimes very negative. The original Greek narrator was in a chorus which consisted of thirteen people, in the play Blood Brothers the narrator sang with the characters but he was much more involved and not separated, as the Greek chorus were. The Greek chorus usually stayed as part of the chorus or on the side of the stage. They knew everything about the characters and sometimes they could see into the future like in Blood Brothers when the narrator was preparing the audience for what was going to come next in throughout the play. They usually spoke the beginning and end of the play. He narrated the beginning of the play to set the scene and at the end he was the last one to speak before they in Blood Brothers case this was just after the twins died. In act 1 scene 1 the narrator is a storyteller. He also sounds, very negative in what he is saying as he says Brother parted from brother Wrenched apart A stone in the place of a heart which is negative. His mother gave him away because she didnt think she would be able to cope and also because of money as well as her other seven children. I feel that the narrator is being very harsh because the way he says A stone in the place of a heart but she knew that she might be able to cope with one more children but not with two as its only her to look after them. I dont think its good that the narrator manipulates the characters minds as it is coming away from the tradition so I dont think thats a good idea because as soon as one thing changes they change everything. In this scene Act 1 scene 3 the shoes the shoes Whats wrong with them on. On the table take them off take them off oh god you never put new shoes on a table Miss Lyons. You never know what might happen. The narrator is forcing the idea of superstitions and it makes the audience wonder if it will have any effects, as it appears to. Eventually he is also trying to enforce that as she was not very well educated and believe in superstition like that but as the educated ones know more and are better off so they dont believe in as much superstition as them. The narrator appears to be working in Mrs Lyons favour and against the mother. In act 1 scene 6 the narrator informs the audience he has also set up his plan on controlling the families, that the mother reminding the audience of the decision and is regretting giving her baby away, The debt makes it sound like its a business deal and is also a metaphor, Paid those words are both cold. The narrator is also blaming the mother for giving her child away. I think that it is her fault for giving her child but at the end of the day she knew she wouldnt be able to cope with any more children so she had to do something. The narrators main role throughout the show is to act as a constant reminder to us of the brothers tragic fate for example Shoes upon the table which is repeated throughout both acts of the show. In Act 2 scene 1 the narrator makes this scene particularly eerie. The idea of the devil being there all the time indicates something terrible might happen. Here he is playing the part of the devil theres no use clutching at your rosary, the Devils in the back yard, he can see thought the gaps in the curtains he sees it all, theres no use in hiding in the hall. When he raps at the knocker then he knows youre in; No you wont no youll never get away from him. This raises an evil issue as hes everywhere. The last two lines No you wont, No youll never get away from him. Is an eerie writing that is repeated for even more effect. From Act 2 scene 11 we notice from the first two lines that there is repetition. The only difference is of the back yard working class garden middle class. Devil in your bones getting into your ghostly running away from someone you can run hide but hell always find you when he rings at the chimes it builds up tension as he is saying that you will never get away from the devil even if you run hide hell always find you and is also showing the ghostly side of him, and again the idea of the negative within the play. From Act 4 Scene 1 we notice the narrator in a positive light as he comments The summers never ever going to end The devil is hardly visible. There is not much evidence of negative. The narrator also makes the audience happy which also makes the m unprepared for what is coming. In Act 4 scene 2 there is as difference as the social class has divided them because Mickey wanted to work but Eddie has a lot of money and doesnt have to work which causes frustration for Mickey. Again the narrator hints at the idea that the social class division may lead to a negative outcome. In this scene (Act 4 scene 3) Mickey is offered a job from Eddie but refuses it and is sad because he cannot find one himself, the feels that he has lost the sense of pride. Again this gives the audience even more clue that because of this Mickey and Eddie will be torn apart even more. In Act 5 scene 1 Linda got Mickey and Eddie takes over his fathers business. Gradually throughout the play the narrator is not warning + predicting but gradually taking over the whole character by being within that character. If I was the director I would dress the narrator in black as that is a dark colour and also can represent the negativity in the play. But I would also dress him in a lighter colour like yellow to show the happier side of the narrator. I would make him dress in red to show the devil side of him or give him a red fork so show that there is also a devil with in him when he is manipulating the characters to do bad things or talking in a cold tone. Id also consider putting him at a higher status I would make him stand on the balcony or on staging blocks as he seems to be controlling the families but I would also ask him to walk around so he would be in with the cast to show the equality in status at times. He would have a deep voice as many people see god as having a deep voice and as he is controlling the families and is a higher status and people see god to be in the sky. My narrator would appear at the beginning and at the end of the play. He would also appear to sing with the characters so he will be interacting with the characters. He would also be standing on the balcony at the side when he would be controlling the families I would also want him to interact with the characters as I want him walking around in between the characters when they are frozen and he is explaining to the audience what is happening. For the body language if I was showing the bad side of him I would make him stand in one place at a higher status staring down at the characters but if hes in a good mood I want him walking around interacting with the characters. I would also give him a strong accent as many people perceive god to have a strong accent and a deep voice. He will also talk loud as thats how many people see god. Conclusion The understanding of the narrator has helped me to analyse this dramatic technique by setting the scene, also explaining to the audience what is going on. I found it particularly useful to be able to compare the Blood Brothers narrator with the original Greek narrator and this produced me with even more understanding.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Psychological Effects Of Long :: essays research papers

The Psychological Effects of an Injury   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  With every injury it is important to remember that the athlete will be affected mentally. Not all athletes will act identically to the same injury. Although research shows there are factors that are commonly seen among athletes going through adjustment to injury and rehabilitation. There are three reactive phases of the injury and rehab process. They are reaction to injury, reaction to rehabilitation, and reaction to return to competition or career termination. The reactions fall into four time frames: short term, long term, chronic, and termination.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the scenario the athlete was diagnosed with a second degree ankle sprain. This would fall under the category of a long term injury. A long term injury is one where the rehabilitation time is longer than four weeks and may take up to a year. Some other examples of injuries in this category would be fractures, orthopedic and general surgeries, second and third degree sprain and strains, and debilitating injuries.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the reaction to the injury itself, there is a primary reaction followed by a secondary reaction. With this ankle sprain, a common primary reaction is that of fear. This athlete can be afraid of many things ranging from them never getting better to never getting to play again to being afraid of the unknown. In order to conquer this fear the athletic trainer needs to help reassure the athlete about their injury. This can be done by presenting the truth about the injury and rehab process in a manner they can understand and gaining the athlete’s trust in the athletic trainer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A common secondary reaction is anger. During this time the athlete may have an angry or hostile attitude and the person around the athlete at the time often takes the force of the anger. It is usually just a release for the athlete not a personal attack on the trainer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This athlete will also have reactions to their rehabilitation. Loss of vigor and irrational thoughts are the primary reactions to long term rehab. The thing the trainer needs to be aware of at this point in time is that the loss of vigor can be masked as depression. The athlete experiencing loss of vigor will not have the same spirit as they usually do, but they will not have the common signs and symptoms of true depression. The athlete needs to understand that these feelings are normal as long as there are no signs of clinical depression.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Examining for Aphasia Essay -- Assessment

Introduction Examining For Aphasia was created in 1954 by John Eisenson in New York (Eisenson, 1954). It was one of the first tests for assessing language impairment (Benson & Ardila, 1996) and provides a guided approach for evaluating language disturbances and other disturbances closely related to language function (Eisenson, 1954). The test was originally developed for use with a group of patients in an army hospital who had aphasia and other related disturbances. Over time, the original inventory was refined and improved until testing has ‘shown the applicability of various parts of the test as well as of the examination as a whole’ (Eisenson, 1954, p. 32) and gave rise to the commercial version. Purpose The purpose of Examining for Aphasia (EFA) is to examine adolescents and adults, particularly those whose language abilities have become impaired after normal language functioning had been established. Its main purpose is to ascertain the type and level of the language dysfunction (Eisenson, 1954). It aims to help the clinician discover what abilities remain, with the end goal of forming the basis of a program of retraining. It is the hope that following the examination, the clinician will have an overall view of the patient's level of strengths and weaknesses within each area of language function. Construction EFA is divided into two main parts – receptive and expressive. The first part includes items to test abilities and to expose disturbances in the patient’s capacity to deal with concrete materials, visual representation, and to recognize items. The second part tests expressive abilities, not verbal and non-verbal. Within both sections, the tests are further divided into ‘sub-symbolic’ and ‘higher symbolic’ levels, w... ...n addition allows clinicians to form a basis from which to plan intervention and set goals. References Benson, D. F., & Ardila, A. (1996). Aphasia : a clinical perspective. New York: Oxford University Press. Browndyke, J. (2002). Aphasia Assessment Retrieved 9 May 2012, from http://www.neuropsychologycentral.com/interface/content/resources/page_material/resources_general_materials_pages/resources_document_pages/aphasia_assessment.pdf Eisenson, J. (1954). Examining for aphasia : a manual for the examination of aphasia and related disturbances. New York: Psychological Corporation. Skenes, L. L., & McCauley, R. J. (1985). Psychometric review of nine aphasia tests. Journal of Communication Disorders, 18(6), 461-474. doi: 10.1016/0021-9924(85)90033-4 Benson, D. F., & Ardila, A. (1996). Aphasia : a clinical perspective. New York: Oxford University Press.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Intellectual Capitalism (Swot and Industry Analysis of General Motors)

Q2) : What information is provided and how can this be useful in understanding your chosen company’s strategic situation? The profile covers many different areas that pertain to the strategy of the General Motors ranging from history to a swot anaylsis. History- the history of the firm will allow us to study how General Motors has acted to fulfill its mission in the past and thus give us clues to their future decisions. The history section of the profile basically lists all of the investments and divestment of GM since its inception in 1909.The list is too long to put into this case, but the lists shows that GM is not by any means strictly a car company. The list also shows that General Motors has been an international company for over 90 years. So strategically speaking GM is mildly protected from some shocks, but as we saw in 2009, they are not protected from very large global shocks to the automobile industry. Products and Services- The report also lists the car types of ca rs (12) and brands (11) they produce.Along with the finished automobiles they are actively involved in the inputs that are necessary for the production of the automobiles. They also provide a financial service for the automobiles. Revenue analysis- The revenue analysis section states the revenue figures for the company from the last two years also showing the percent increase. The section also breaks down these figures into different business segments such as GM North American and GM Asia.These more detailed figures can be used in conjunction with market share and growth of entire market to form a strategy plan for the company. For example if South America’s market is largely made up of local brands and growing at a very fast rate, it would be more beneficial for GM to concentrate their production and capital there instead of a saturated market like that of the United States. SWOT- This section included the most information from a strategic stand point. It includes strengths and weaknesses as well as opportunities and threats.An example of the firms strengths would be â€Å"strong market position and brand portfolio†. A weakness would be â€Å"underfunded pension funds†. Strengths and weaknesses are characteristics of the firm as opposed to opportunities and threats which are characteristics of the firm’s environment. One of GM’s opportunities is â€Å"increased demand for cars in BRIC nations†, and one of their threats is â€Å"intense competition†. The SWOT framework is used ideally to strategically take advantage of a firms opportunity with their strengths.For example, GM should use their strong brand image and profits from strong market positions around the world to fund a stronger entrance into Brazil, Russia, India, and China. Also the converse of that strategy would be to avoid weaknesses and threats to the firm. Q3): Based on the information provided, what are the three most important things you can say about your company’s industry? 1) The effect of the financial crisis on the American Automobile market. Obviously the crisis had a major effect on the automotive market, but the effect is underestimated in the news.According to the industry report in the business source complete database the amount of passenger vehicle decreased by six million units from 2006 to 2009, so even if the saturation level of the market is at the 2006 level which is very unlikely since the population has grown since then, the U. S. market has not reached the pre-crisis levels saturation. These levels paired with renewed customer confidence and the ease of attaining credit will fuel an increase in the U. S. utomobile market. Although the increase may be gradual, it is still a realistic goal for an established brand such as GM. 2) The emergence of China as the largest automobile market in the world. As a result of increasing incomes paired with sales incentive and decreased tariffs caused by China joi ning the WTO has resulted in a booming automotive industry in China. Even though the year-to-year growth of car ownership in the nation is over 30% the market has very low saturation levels.Only 35 people per 1000 own cars in China which compared to the United States, 600 per 1000, shows there is ample room for growth in the market. Most major car manufacture has a presence in the market, but political forces limit the penetration of these companies. According to report in Business source complete, the Chinese government is even pressuring domestic companies to grow and force out foreign competition. But this goal of the Chinese government cannot be realized until the smaller local manufactures can somehow combine so they may compete with larger foreign firms. ) Environmental issues are also a main concern within the industry. This issues stems from two areas Gasoline and CO2 emissions. Gasoline a major factor pertaining not only to the consumption of cars but also the type of car t hat is demanded by consumers. While the United States gasoline prices are relatively lower than other nations, car producers world-wide are still producing different cars in the wake of high gas prices. The low emission car is the new fad in the industry and has jointly led to the production of the alternative resources cars.The combination of high gas prices and threat of damaging the environment from combustible engines has increased the consumer’s demands for automobiles to run off of alternative resources. This new development plays well into the strengths of GM because General Motors is already heavily devoted to R&D. Q4): Based on the information provided, how would you characterize the company’s competitive situation? Well I think the best way to answer this question will be to separate each answer due to the three questions. ) The financial crisis almost crippled the entire U. S. automobile industry with the both GM and Ford receiving bailout money for the Unit ed States government, but the crisis could have a created an opportunity for GM. As I stated earlier, car registration is down six million since 2006 but population has not decreased so there must be a portion of the car market that wants a car but did not have the means during the financial down turn. GM may use this period of time to gain the re-emergence of this demographic to gain market share in a semi-saturated market. ) Although China has become the largest automobile market in the world, I do not think that GM has a strategic position in the market. However, GM may be able to be very profitable in because the market is growing so fast, but the fasted growing segments are luxury cars and SUV which do not create a strategic advantage for General Motors. Also, the Chinese government will heavily regulate the growth of the market as well as give every possible advantage to the domestic manufactures. 3. ) The change in demand due to environmental pressure is an interesting factor in the automotive industry.Toyota has been the market leader in electric and alternative fuels but that doesn’t necessarily give them strategic leverage in the market. The environmental pressures will just create another segment of products for the industry much like SUV or Sedans so having experience with the technologies will not necessarily create a boost in Market Share. GM’s commitment to R&D will enable them to compete, and the use of their strong brand and supply chain management will help GM gain market share. Q5) :What useful information is provided to help you understand the competitive situation of your company?The market research report listed in Business source complete was written by Marketwatch which is also the same company that produced the company profile used in the second question. Instead of a stagnant overview of the companies past this report deals with recent moves within the industry by all of the major companies within the industry. The repor t starts off with an industry update which is the details of new investments and operations of major automotive manufactures around the world. General Motors announced to invest $450 mil in additions to one of its plants in Argentina. MarketWatch: Automotive) The investment seems like a good choice for the company since the region is growing so fast. However, the article also reports BMW’s $200 mil investment into the same region so competition will be fierce in the future especially in South America. (MarketWatch: Automotive) Along with the potentially bad news from BMW, the report also includes a recall from Toyota involving over 7 mil cars globally. The recall could signal to General Motors to act quickly, so they may be able to capture market share from Toyota’s unsatisfied customers.After the industry overview, the next section is a comment on movement within the industry away from Navigation systems. The introduction of free Google Maps paired with the popularity of the cell has severely decreased the demand from in dash and even after-market navigational systems. General Motors may be able to use this information and decrease the models in production with navigational systems, so sales are not affected by unwanted accessories. The next section is simply a report featuring some of the companies’ performances.General Motors’ metrics were not reported in this issue. The report mainly included foreign companies mostly in Europe. For example, Audi’s sales increase 14%, BMW sales increase 12%, and Renault sales decrease 29%. (MarketWatch: Automotive) These figures are very useful in understanding the competitive situation of General Motors because they allow the company to benchmark it’s success against it’s competitors. Q6) What three items did you find that are most interesting to you? Why? 1) Who may be responsible for the growth of the Chinese Automotive industry?Article from Manufacturing Engineer about Ch inese manufacturing was wrong, China’s growth in production and consumption has grown faster than estimates and this could be fueled by western investment. Companies all over the world including GM wanting to capture market share in what is now the largest market for automobile in the. According GM China’s president, GM’s plan to penetrate the market is to use Chinese researchers in China. (Nick Santhanam) I found this interesting because a side effect of the penetration into the market could be the training and development of domestic researchers within China.The two problems restricting China’s automotive manufacturing industry growth are lack of graduate level researchers and a highly fractioned industry. Both of these problems may be solved by foreign joint ventures with Chinese companies. 2) I also found it strange how the market leader in this industry is the slowest to change. The companies specialize themselves to the point where there products la ck demand in the market, and their brand and market share lose value. Ford Motor Co. was the first company to mass produce the automobile and through this innovation captured the majority of the U.S. ’s market share. However, the overemphasis on mass production sacrificed choices for the consumer which allowed General Motors to penetrate the market. General Motors then gained almost 50% of the U. S. market share by the 1960’s. But the entrance of the Asian manufactures decreased their market share slightly at first. General Motors first case was about the bankruptcy of general motors and the companies revival through a government buyout and an ipo which lead to a decrease in 40b in costs at the same levels of revenue.The case asks are these profit margins and growth figure robust or are they just because the market is recovering and the company is on a short leash. Another thing that is very interesting is how slow the companies respond to market changes especially whe n they are the market leader. The article was an interview with GM China’s president. He describes how GM will penetrate the market by taking advantage of the â€Å"talent† from local universities. He believes that the best way to innovate in China is to use younger local researcher to develop products for the Chinese market. General Motors: Leading US Car Maker Emerges From Bankruptcy. (Cover Story). †Ã‚  General Motors: Leading US Car Maker Emerges From Bankruptcy(2012): 1-16. Business Source Complete. Web. 9 Apr. 2013. â€Å"SPECIAL REPORT: Automotive Manufacturing. (Cover Story). â€Å"Manufacturing Engineer  84. 6 (2005): 26-27. Business Source Complete. Web. 9 Apr. 2013. Nick Santhanam, et al. â€Å"Automotive Innovation In China: The View From General Motors. †Ã‚  Mckinsey Quarterly  1 (2012): 85-92. Business Source Complete. Web. 9 Apr. 2013.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

By Using the Structural Functionalist Approach Essay

Rule by the people is what a democracy is made of, this might be achieved by having the party in power elected into office into office by the majority, the term democracy and the practice itself is diverse in each country but it has similar features which characterize all forms. This essay explains the impact or contributions of political parties in a Liberal Democracy using the Structural functionalist Approach. It will also converse the important roles that these political parties play in every political structure, specifically in Zambia. To start with, it will explain what the terms Liberal, Liberal Democracy and Political Parties are; it will also explain the Structural functionalist Approach. Thereafter, the works and critiques of having Political parties will later be discussed. According to Emerson (1920), Liberal is that mind or attitude which wills to understand and respect other people`s behavior, opinions it implies vigorous convictions, tolerance for the opinions of others and a persistent desire for sound progress, Democracy is Rule by the people, especially as a form of government; either directly, as in Ancient Greece, or through elected representatives as in many modern societies (representative democracy). Franà §ois (1998). Therefore Liberal Democracy refers to a broad array of related ideas and theories of government that consider individual liberty to be the most important political goal. Partridge, 1866). A political party According to Schlesinger (1992) is a group organized to gain control of government in the name of the group by winning election to public office. The Structural functionalist Approach is an approach that studies, analyses and views structures and systems in any social setting with regards to the role or functions they play in the development of any society. A political party being a structure in a political system has a vital role or function it plays in society. A liberal democracy may take various constitutional forms: it†¦

All Quiet on the Western Front Essay

Paul Baumer’s experiences of the war transforms him into someone of whom some may describes as lacking in expression, immoral, and maybe even a systematic automaton. These traits are often emphasized throughout his duty in World War II and are even furthermore supported through harsh traumatic incidents. But like all young adults, his innocent mind was concealed from the true face of war, and before such time, he was like any other teenage boy. It is evident that he was particularly interested in school and would sometime recollects back to his regular life, such as things â€Å"that [is]at home in the draws of [his] writing table lies the beginning of a play called ‘Saul’ and a bundle of poems† (19). However, once he joined the army, he lose all sight of such pleasure and as the global conflict drags on deeper, his range of expression begins to narrowed into what was only necessary, and his daily routine soon becomes systematic. He changes so much that he ceased to see the light of all things, and his thoughts and actions soon turns into that of immoral kinds. However, even though the darkness of war soon engulfs most of his conscience, there still lies a small light of hope, the light of his genuine human soul. Many cannot realize the terror war brings, and often, the soldiers are the one who are the most affected. The journey endured in combat can draws one’s hopes out and input fear and reinstall the human instincts as one thinks purely of survival. But unlike most, Paul began such journey at a very young age, and was not yet ready to experience the world. He has yet to even see the real world, but quickly jumps into the middle of the world’s largest conflict. The training camp was the first step to the extraction of his personality. After weeks of preparations for the front, Paul and his friend soon realized that â€Å"what matters is not the mind but the boot brush, not intelligence but the system, not freedom but the drill† (22). The boys soon divert back to their ancestor’s state of mind, an era where survival of the whole is the first priority while anything else comes afterwards. Beneath the wall of apathy Paul has built up, there still exists a spark of humanity. Paul can still feel things like grief and over the death of friends like Kat, where Paul is stunned to learn that Kat is dead, â€Å"Do I walk? Have I feet still?† Paul’s emotions, although restricted, are still there. Paul tries to preserve himself and his soul throughout the war in the hopes of making the world a better place. Although he knows that he probably won’t succeed in his goals because he and the rest of his generation are so beat down by the loss and horror of war, â€Å"†¦we will grow older, a few will adapt themselves, some others will merely submit, and most will be bewildered; the years will pass by and we shall fall into ruin† the fact that he still hopes and cares, â€Å"But perhaps all this that I think is mere melancholy and dismay, which will fly away†¦ enough to want to fix the problems that started this war and maybe even prevent others from going through this ever again† shows that even at the worst of times, shows that Paul manages to preserve his humanity (294). In another occasion such as when one of his comrade, Kemmerich, dies, he channeled his thoughts toward the justification of Muller claiming his soon deceased friend’s boots. Although Paul did express some sympathy towards his dying friend, it seems almost artificial as he quickly turned his attention towards a more important matter, at least in his mind, the matter of Kemmerich’s belongings. He begins to speculates about who should claim what and should they really be claiming it. Of course, the rule of survival conjures up in his mind, and he remembered that â€Å"†¦the boots [were] quite inappropriate to Kemmerich’s circumstances, whereas Muller [could] make good use of them† (21). He even went further to justify the claim by stating that, â€Å"we have lost all sense of other considerations, because they are artificial. Only the facts area real and important for us. And good boots are scarce† (21). This presents a concept derived from the war, in which personal thoughts and individualism is limited and physical survival is accentuates. In a indirect way, his last thought depicts the barbarism of war, that way Man steps back in development and his conscience becomes simple; he only view upon on his needs and nothing else. For war is a two sided coin, with one side, the objective is seen as the motive, while on the other side, a sacrifice must be made to achieve the objective. But ignorantly, we ignore the mean and only focus upon the end. We hope that our actions, the vision of our â€Å"better world† will be achieved, and that the world will become more peaceful. But our efforts are in vain, and our hope is nothing more than a child’s dream. War is a cycle, of which will never end. It’s there to resolve problems momentary. It’s there to break us down, and remind us that we are nothing more than savages who seek power and land. What others may see as normal and moral may be view differently by those who is not in their position. Frequently throughout Paul’s journey as a soldier, his actions were often viewed upon as immoral; in that he gave little thoughts to his action, almost to the extent that he could not think of the situation any other way. In a specific incident, one of his younger comrade was badly wounded and would eventually die, so he and Kate agreed upon that â€Å"[they] ought to put him out of his miseryâ €  (72). Many of a third perspective may deem that as inhuman, to shoot some just to shorten their pain. Perhaps in his view, he was helping the poor lad by ending what would be a week or so of hell before he dies. But such thoughts may lead one to wonder if he may even think himself as a being greater than other, one who is has the authority to decide for the life of another. Humans are defined by our extension of complex thinking and our ability to empathize another. But in this case, Paul has yet to know how the pain of being severely injured, and only thought upon his assumptions. If he was in any other position, his first normal reaction may have been to carry that boy to the nearest help. As the war drags him into more the intensified front, he soon comes across â€Å"[young recruits] flock together like sheep instead of scattering, and even wounded are shot down like hares by airmen† (130). He sees some died right in front of him and some who runs out due to claustrophobia. However, in none of these occasions did he mourn for the dead, or even consider emotions such as sadness and sympathy. Perhaps it was due to the fact that he may have encountered numerous of such sight. When Paul sees the young recruits being kill due to lack of experience, he

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Womens Rights in Africa and Where They Are Now Research Paper

Womens Rights in Africa and Where They Are Now - Research Paper Example This has in turn resulted in an imbalanced society, in which men occupy all the positions of leadership at the expense of women who perform basic home management roles (Oduyoye 12). The research looks forward to exploring exploitations leveled against women. It further investigates how the modern day African societies reverse the effect of such retrogressive beliefs, which have contributed to the rejection of women human rights in the societies. In doing the research analyses a number of sources primary of which are films and videos obtained from YouTube and other digital video disc formats. These videos depict the different forms of women maltreatment and the rights denial mechanisms that the African women face in their daily lives. Research methods In my research project, I have opted for numerous methods of carrying out the assignment. The audio methods become my first priority due to its efficiency and in my research project; the audio comes in video terms. ... This is because, after the practice the young girls are immediately given out for marriage to elderly men (Ogundipe-Leslie 21). The research also uses secondary sources, which include books and newspaper articles, which recount the struggle of the African woman for liberty and equal opportunity in the society. These seek to depict the progresses made by different governments in the continent to level the playing ground for both sexes thus uplift the status of the girl child thus that of the African woman by extrapolation Violation of African women's rights The violation of African women's rights started back in the eighteenth century when women were viewed as second-class citizens. Gender inequality did not start in Africa, but rather started in the advanced continents of Europe and America. However, the women in these continents overcame the oppression and gradually liberated themselves from the bondage. Sadly, Africa is still evolving in terms of gender equality (Breneman 140). The stubbornness of this gender inequality is due to strong cultural beliefs that Africa strictly follows, hence placing women in their old traditional place of the weaker vessels. The challenges that African women undergo are numerous challenges, and to begin with, genital mutilation tops the list. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Female genital mutilation has another name of female genital cutting or circumcision, and the world health organization (WHO) describes it as a process through which the external female reproductive organs or genitalia is either partially or entirely cut off. Approximations of up to 140 million women, or probably more pass through this intolerable procedure every year, globally. Africa alone practices the FGM on roughly 3 million young girls yearly (Toubia & Anika

Monday, October 7, 2019

Shown in the instruction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Shown in the instruction - Essay Example Atoms link up to form molecules. These atoms might either be of the same element or of different elements. Depending on the characteristics of these atoms, molecular or ionic bonds are formed. The number of electrons present in each atom is what really determines the kind of bonds to be formed. Electronegativity is the tendency that an atom has to attract electrons in a chemical bond. An ionic bond is formed when the elements involved have significantly different electronegativity. This means that the probability of ionic bonds being formed is higher when the difference between the electronegativity of the two elements is greater. It is also important to note that electrons are lost and gained by atoms in order to obtain a stable electron configuration. The atom with lower electronegativity loses an electron to the one with higher electronegativity. The net charge of the atoms then becomes positive or negative due to the loss and gain of an electron respectively. The two atoms thus charged oppositely attract each other and this is an ionic bond formed. Atoms are then interconnected through attraction throughout a substance. Substances whose atoms are bonded in this way are termed as ionic. These substances have common characteristics although they might differ slightly due to factors such as the strength of the bond formed. Covalent bonds are formed when atoms share electrons forming molecules. Sharing of electrons depends on the orbitals among other properties. Quite a number of theories have been formulated to explain how covalent bonds are formed. Electrons are shared to obtain a stable electron configuration. Many molecules of this type then make up molecular substances. Molecular substances generally occur as gases, liquids or solids with low melting points. This is because the intermolecular forces of attractions are relatively weak. The

Sunday, October 6, 2019

Chapter 13 Factual Review Questions # 1, 3, 5, and 9 Assignment

Chapter 13 Factual Review Questions # 1, 3, 5, and 9 - Assignment Example The company, at large suffers from this and so does the worker. This situation is not beneficial for the company. People start Internal Politics for their personal gain. The motive can be promotion, ego, insecurity, ambition, power or even acceptance. The need to be promoted is always the prime reason for creating the internal politics. For example: there is an opening for a new managerial position and there are two candidates. Now, Candidate A is well known to be the optimum manager and Candidate B knows it. So he will start spreading rumors about the A candidate and it will reach the ears of the boss. In contrast, candidate A will spread some rumors about candidate B and makes sure that it reaches the ears of the Boss. In short both of these candidates will try to uproot the other to get the best job. They cannot be loyal to the organization as well because they will prefer their personal interest always. It can be risky for the growth of organization. The total quality is always affected by the internal politics. First of all, the productivity of the company is strongly decreased. The employees spend more time on politics than on their own work. The morale of the employees is always down. The backbiting, rumors and buck passing are the biggest hurdles in the success of companies. The competitive energy of the company is low. There are always many conflicts among different groups of people and this makes the situation very difficult. The loss of total quality will mean that the customer satisfaction level will be lower than usual and the company will bear several heavy losses. And the company will also lose it’s focus from the important factors that really matter. Internal Politics is bad but this does mean that it cannot be used for the benefit of the company. If a company sits idle for too long then it will soon die. A good company will always encourage conflict

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Smoking in public places should be banned Essay

Smoking in public places should be banned - Essay Example Thus, they become passive smokers. This argumentative paper tends to persuade the reader that smoking in public should be banned by throwing light upon the hazards of passive smoking. Just like active smokers are apt to acquire many diseases, same is the case with passive smokers especially those who are actually living with the smokers. When in public, smoking does not only irritate others but tends to impart many illnesses to those around like sore eyes, sore throat causing smoker’s cough, nausea, headache, and trouble to people with asthma. This is not fair to the non-smokers because they are inhaling smoke and impure air for no reason of their own. This smoke is of two types: side-stream smoke and mainstream smoke. Side-stream smoke is one which rises from the tip of the cigarette while mainstream smoke is that which the smoker exhales. There are around 4000 toxic chemicals and gases present in both types of smoke which when inhaled by others in public cause many illnesses . â€Å"Non-smokers can get affected by breathing in cigarette smoke at home, at work, in bars and other smoky environments outside the home†¦About 2.2 million people in UK are exposed to passive smoking in their places of work†, states Gardezi (2005, p.30). ... Those children are at increased risk of SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome; lung infections such as pneumonia; ear infections; and more severe asthma.† The 2006 U.S. Surgeon General’s report also states that second hand smoke is a major cause of sudden death in children and chances of SIDS is greater for children who are exposed to second hand smoke either at homes or in public (American Cancer Society, Inc., 2010). This is because some children are born with weak immune system while in others the immune system may become weakened due to diseases, infections and medications, states Young (2009, p.32). Toxic gases in the polluted air weigh heavily on the poor immune systems of young kids thus making them ill quite rapidly. Another hazard connected to public smoking is that it tends to inspire other immature minds like those of young kids and youngsters. Their frail minds accept public smoking as pop culture and they also start following the same trend. Mature people under stand the hazards related to smoking but young minds are not familiar with the hazardous nature of smoking. Children tend to have less-developed ability of decision-making or critical thinking so they cannot realize what is wrong with what they are watching and their minds learn or absorb every act they see. Wishik (1963) state in their research that, â€Å"As one looks around to see 18 and 19 year old boys and girls smoking, one is impressed with the number of them who have already become heavy smokers.† This increase in the number of young smokers is due to the pop culture that is imparted by their elders to them. Public smoking is an important example of pop culture that tends to destroy young minds