Everyday Use Essay Essay

In â€Å"Everyday use† Maggie gained the most emotionally because she finally got something she wanted after years of feeling she didn’t deserve the things she desired. Dee, Maggie’s sister, usually could take what she wished from her mother’s home such as the churn top from a butter churn her family had for years. Meanwhile Maggie usually assumed it was the way life went and that other people were more deserving of the things they wished for than she was. When Dee asked her mother for two quilts their grandmother had handmade, her mother told her no and that the quilts were promised to Maggie. In this case Maggie finally gained something she wished for and was shown she deserved it too. Part of Maggie’s belief that she didn’t deserve the things she wanted sprung from her sister’s ability to get everything she asked for. Dee, as it would seem always received everything she asked for when she asked for it. When Dee was graduating from high school she requested a yellow organdy dress to wear on the evening of her graduation which her mother purchased fro her. This showed Maggie that Dee received many things she wanted, while she remained with the little she already had, never asking for much. When Dee asked her mother for the hand carved churn top their relatives had made her mother gave it too her with no problems, even though it was an important piece from their family. This gave Maggie another example of how her sister got things she would have liked to keep. Maggie often felt that she didn’t deserve as many good things as her sister got. Maggie was often stuck with lesser than that of what her sister received and believed that was how life worked for her. As a child Maggie was badly burned in a house fire while her sister escaped just fine, this resulted in her feeling insignificant and shuffling everywhere she went trying to hide her face. The fire having burned and scarred her made her believe she deserved the lower hand of all things in life. Maggie’s school was closed when she was young while Dee went on through full education, this made Maggie feel simple and uneducated. The advantage of her sister’s education made Maggie feel lesser and undeserving. Before the events in the story Maggie felt more like an outcast and unimportant. When Maggie’s mother gave the quilts to Maggie instead of Dee it shocked Maggie and helped her change her perspective on how she should be treated. Dee who always got what she wanted begged and begged for the quilts and expected to receive them. Maggie also expected so and believed her sister was more deserving of the quilts than she was, she told her mother to give the quilts to Dee. Maggie’s mother instead gave the quilts to Maggie shocking everyone and giving Maggie something she deserved for once. In the end Maggie was shown she deserved just as much as everyone else and that life didn’t always give certain people what they wanted. Her sister who had always gotten everything she desired was not given what she wanted for once. Showing her that their was a little fairness to the way things work. While Maggie received what her sister had asked for, getting something she wanted for the first time. This showed Maggie she deserved a little more than she was getting. Over all the event with the quilts broke Maggie’s mindset and gave her a new view on how she was treated.

How Did Manifest Destiny Manifest Itself?

How did Manifest Destiny manifest itself? Manifest Destiny manifested itself in several ways during the period 1840-1896. Almost every major crisis or notable event was somehow related to manifest destiny. To understand the meaning of Manifest Destiny, we need to go back to its origins. The term Manifest Destiny was first used by John O? Sullivan in July-August 1845, in the Democratic review; â€Å"our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions† O? Sullivan said this while asking Congress for the annexation of Texas.The annexation followed quickly after but O? Sullivan? s use of sentence was barely noticed. Later in 1845, O? Sullivan reused the phrase but this time it created an extremely influential political idea. The general idea of Sullivan? s phrase was that God gave the United States of America territory so that the American people could travel westwards and settle on land that was right fully theirs. We can notice that Manifest Destiny is a racial doctrine and it put forward the white supremacy. Some people say, that the idea served as a justification for the expropriation of Native American lands.This theory cost the death of many Whites, Blacks and Native Americans. O? Sullivan created the perfect excuse for politicians like Polk, to push forward their plans of expansion in the West. James Polk was the 11th President of the United States and was in charge during both of the annexation of Texas and the Mexican War. He is one of the only presidents that competed his agenda while he was in his office. He was the last president before the outbreak of the Civil War. He is mostly remembered for his foreign policy success. The only reason Polk was not criticized a lot about the war was that he put forward Manifest Destiny.He stated that he was fighting for the Americans so that they could move westwards into new land. While the Mexican war was going on, Polk managed to increase the size of Texas, gain new territories of California, Nevada and Utah. This war of two years resulted in the treaty of Guadeloupe. According to different Sources, the treaty of Guadeloupe gave the USA an area of land from 900,000 square miles. Because of all this new and unpopulated land, the American government was keen on populating these areas to get for example more export availabilities. This caused a lot of Americans to move west because it was a new opportunity for them.From 1940 to 1962, four new laws were put through which encouraged people to move westwards. The Religion of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, more commonly known as the Mormons was another cause why the western borders were shaped by Manifest Destiny. The Mormons claimed that people from Jerusalem were helped by god to get to the western hemisphere 600 years before Jesus Christ was born. According to Smith, the western land was rightfully the property of the Mormons and therefore rese mbles with the doctrine of Manifest Destiny. Smith died before being able to bring his people west.The LDS were persecuted so much because of their beliefs in Ohio and Illinois, that when Brigham Young took over, he started going westwards. The plan was to escape was to create a religious state in Utah. On the way to the West, they were attacked by both Native Americans and other Whites (mostly Mormons). When they arrived, Young founded Salt Lake City and became governor of Utah. It was in Utah, where the Mormons fought bitterly against other religious movements because of their previous hounding. The Oregon Boundary Dispute was another incident that was the cause of manifest destiny.It had been a problem since 1818 when the USA and Britain claimed that the Oregon territory was their own. To avoid war, the two countries occupied the territory and waited for a permanent solution instead. In 1844, there was another presidential election and Polk was a candidate. He promised them that he would fight for the boundary to be put at 54 40-north latitude. At the same time, war tensions were at an all time height because both countries wanted land and were ready to fight for it so therefore the Treaty of Washington was signed. It gave the USA and Britain, equal amounts of new land.Westward travel was made easier because railroads were built around America. It was the country with the most developed railroads and they were built quickly around the country. In the end, America had over 30,000 miles of railroads. Following the railroads, a Transcontinental Railroad was built between 1863 and 1869. Americans didn? t want to cross salt flats and deserts so they wanted to be able to assert their right of manifest destiny. The railroads meant that Americans could now go around America until the Rockies in the far west. Before people didn? go into the west but the railroads made it easy to get there and people found resources in the ground which gave them money and the opportu nity of a new way of living. A lot of people from the east who fought in the Civil War moved to the west because they saw a new opportunity of prosperity. This also helped the transcontinental railroad. Like a lot of other events, which were related to manifest destiny, minorities were abused. It was the Irish and the Chinese, which spent the most time on the railroads but in the end, it was the whites, which benefited the most from the economical growth.Behind this national triumph, the Native Americans and the Chinese immigrants were completely socially excluded. Another aspect of manifest destiny is the American reaction when gold was discovered in California. It was found at the Sutter? s mill by James Marshall in 1848. The gold rush lasted from 1848 to 1855 and it was a huge boom for California. Manifest Destiny developed in a completely different idea during that period. The WASP? s were actively looking for gold and they tried to prevent the minorities from finding any expens ive resources. The Whites also benefited from the treaty of Govt.While the whites found minerals, the water of the Native Americans was poisoned and not clean so therefore they suffered from disease and sometimes-even death. Native Americans also died of smallpox and other rear diseases At the start of Manifest Destiny, less then 20,000 people lived in California. By 1855, there were over 300,000 gold seekers. Because of this massive increase, anti-foreigner laws were passed. Racist ideas were passed on in generations and the tax for immigrants got increased so that they would move out of America. Manifest Destiny was again used as an excuse for white supremacy.Sometimes, the government just took land and said that God told them to. After a few years, California became its own state when all the Native Americans were gone. People, which were pro- slavery, argued that manifest destiny allowed them to bring their slaves into the new land. In their point of view, they helped the slaves because they gave them food and a few supplies but in fact the slaves were treated badly and it wasn? t right to do it. Before the Mexican war, there had been 15 pro-slavery states and 15 anti-slavery states. In 1850, the Missouri Compromise took place. The compromise included: The admission of California as a free state * The Texas dept. would be taken to the federal government * A better Fugitive Slave Act (FSA) * The continuation of slavery but the abolition of slavery in Washington DC In the Kansas-Nebraska problem, manifest destiny manifested itself in several ways. Because Kansas was on the border between the South and the North, there was a big problem for the government whether to allow slavery or not. There was a public outcry when Douglas, who was the runner up for the presidency as a democrat, repealed the 1820 Missouri Compromise.Obviously, the north didn? t want any more slave states. To oppose the idea of Kansas, the northerners shipped people to Kansas while the sout h send people over the border into the state. Eventually a fight broke up and there were murders. In the end, unfortunately for Douglas, the problem he had caused was the end of Manifest Destiny. So instead of getting stronger and unifying the democrats, Douglas had split the party into two. When the conflict came to an end, when the west had been populated, the land taken and the American Indians killed, manifest destiny was just not what it had been before.There was no more land to capture but unfortunately that didn? t mean the end of Manifest Destiny. According to Turner? s theory, the frontier drew and promoted some types of people which wouldn? t have risen as high without the frontier. It could almost be called the survival of the fittest. The ones that adapted best got the most out of their own situation. Jameson on the other hand claimed, that the frontier held back the revolutionaries so when the frontier was gone, the people ceased to be revolutionary. To oppose this theo ry, Turner argues because of this, these men and women flourished.The difference between the two men was that Jameson looks at the frontier as a very active agent, which formed the people while Turner states that the frontier attracted people which were looking for a new opportunity. Manifest Destiny had a lot of serious consequences for Native Americans, since the expansion into the West by the Americans meant the occupation and annexation of Native American land. This land was sometimes even used to expand slavery. The Americans only recognized parts of the Indian territory and this was supported by the Washington Administration which was signed by Henry Knox who was the Secretary of War.As a conclusion, manifest destiny manifested itself during almost every major event in the period 1840-1896. It was the reason of every conflict, in the minds of every pioneer and behind every political move towards the expansion of the United States of America. It had three main components but mo st saw the doctrine as a literal thought. Many said that it was a White man? s yoke to bear. A minority saw in it a sense of a mission. They saw a historical need that America needed to expand to be able to rule the whole continent. Yet for all these rather positive aims, Manifest Destiny had its dark side.The negative thing about Manifest Destiny is that apparently it gave the whites the right to burn, kill and raze anything that came in their way of expanding into the west. No one thought about what they were doing to the Native Americans until after they were dead. I think, the Americans used manifest destiny as a rallying cry, which said: â€Å"We are superior, we are better than you. † In other words, America manifested itself to satisfy the hunger for land that the American people had at the time. It served as a way to greaten the United States of America and please its people.

Leadership Approach Essay

Various theoretical approaches have been conducted to determine the impact of leadership and the key attributes of effective leaders. The five research approach comprise of the trait approach, behavior approach, power-influence approach, situational approach, and integrative approach. Although each approach has its merits and issues, the focus of this paper will be the situational approach. Overview The situational leadership approach views leadership in relation to a specific context. The study suggests that for every situation a specific leadership style is appropriate. In situational leadership, the factors that affect the leadership style include the situation, the organization, the followers, the timing and the nature of work (Yukl, 2010). By assessing these factors, leaders make decisions on their leadership style. In addition, situational leadership has two subcategories. The first one reviews the similarity or differences of leadership within an organization. This study involves using comparison between situations and the differences or similarities between approaches. The second study evaluates the correlation between leadership traits, skills and attributes to leadership effectiveness (Yukl, 2010). Finally, the study by Paul Hersey and Kenneth Blanchard in 1969 provided a matrix of communication for use in this type of leadership. The matrix recommends the use of four influence competencies such as telling or directing, selling, delegating and participating. Each style is adapted to the follower’s maturity or competency. â€Å"The four styles suggest that leaders should put greater or less focus on the task in question and/or the relationship between the leader and the follower, depending on the development level of the follower† (Changing Minds, 2012). Strengths and Weaknesses The strength of the situational approach of research is that it provides a variety of study iterations, thus allowing for the researchers to control certain parts of the study. Moreover, the situation is observable and results are easy to understand. Thus the study provides flexibility and control in modifying various factors within the control situation. For instance, by manipulating a certain control situation, researchers can review the leaders’ reactions and methods to resolving the issues put forward. The weaknesses of using this approach are that it contains too many variables. Endless numbers of variables can be factored in to a situation and thus, can create confusion in the study. Moreover, the approach does not clearly distinguish between leadership and management and given a situation, managers can act as leaders and vice versa without further clarification. Examples of Situational Leadership Situational leadership exists in __________, a financial service firm, and the author’s current employer. Situational leaders use four influence competencies such as telling or directing, selling, delegating, and participating. Each style must be applied to the appropriate situation being affected and the audience or group being addressed (Changing Minds, 2012). The examples will be based on the author’s observations of her direct superior, the Senior Partner of the company, (â€Å"Eric†). As senior partner, Eric is in charge of the company’s strategic direction. Thus, he delegates authority to various skilled and competent individuals. In everyday business, Eric uses the delegating and participating style. He understands that the branch managers and senior staff are skilled to handle every day issues. However, in times of uncertainty and stress, for instance, the possible stock market decline, Eric shifts his style to more of a telling or directing style. This telling or directing style is typically used in lower competency and low trust group of followers. Even though Eric realizes that the senior staff members are well trained to handle stock market declines, Eric looks at the situation and modifies his behavior and communication style to a more directive leadership. Conclusion The situational approach in studying leadership provides an overview of the use different traits, skills and communication styles in order to fit into the situation. Although this approach has its merits and weaknesses, it is the most widely used leadership study. Regardless of the approach used in study or leadership style, the most important factor is the leader’s accountability for the outcome of the decisions made. Reference Changing Minds, (2012), Hersey and Blanchard’s Approach, Retrieved from: http://changingminds.org/disciplines/leadership/styles/situational_leadership_hersey_blan chard.htm Yukl, G. A. (2006). Leadership in organizations (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.

An Intriguing person George Bernard Shaw Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

An Intriguing person George Bernard Shaw - Essay Example Shaw was asked by one person the reason for not decorating his house with cut flowers. In his reply Shaw stated that ,I do love children very much but I don’t cut their heads and keep them in my drawing room. What a great thinker? This shows the fact that he is extra – ordinary and indeed he loved nature from his heart. Even though Shaw was world renowned person in artistic and literature world, his humble nature and humanitarian attitude is what captivated my heart and soul He was a high thinking man but did not have a university education .He was self taught and had only local school education. He was born as a third child to a corn merchant called George Carr Shaw who was an alcholic.His parents had no money to spend on his education but still George with his intelligence brought about change in his personality and career. He was a world renowned playwrighter and his plays have a grand reptoire attached to it. He was acknowledged with the Nobel Prize in 1923 and that too after many struggling years as an artist. It is very interesting to note that he never accepted his prize money as he thought it was unworthy for him. This humility and humbleness in him have consistently influenced me in my daily life. It is extremely pleasing to notice how valuable and knowledgeable people like Shaw conducted their life with less pomp and luxury. He was an artist by heart and gave much respect and consideration to nature. The most praise worthy aspect of Shaw is that he was a vegetarian .This was an admiring quality in him that attracted me towards him. In the early times the European world was unaware of the spiritual side of being on vegetarian diet and the concept of non – violence. But even then Shaw was voluntarily a vegetarian loved all living beings as his fellow creatures. What an excellent and noble thinking! He is so elevated from his soul to consider all elements of nature precious and worthy of love. He was a lifelong pacifist, socialist an d vegetarian. He was an international icon in his waning years and whatever he said or did was considered with respect and awe by public. Every word delivered by him were considered with great respect and traveled through continents. He was regarded as a profound thinker with immense wisdom and morality. These golden qualities make him an exquisite personality in my eyes. He advocated that our dislike for a certain human being or a person does not give us the right to hurt them or injure them. I believe that every human being have a lot to learn from this noble man who is a genius and a brilliant humanitarian. He was a socialist and defended largely against landlordism, politics, militarism, prostitution, capitalism, hypocrisy and deceit Ironically till his thirty years of age he believed in atheism and judged the doctrines of Church absurd and menaingless.In 1890s, Shaw confessed that he believe n mystic theories and was a believer of cosmic power. This is another point which make him idealistic as I find I have the same values and beliefs .He was never a believer of idol worship and rituals but understood that loving and caring attitude towards living beings means a lot more than loving an unknown identity. He propagated that the life has a meaning and the cosmic power did not make us for nothing. We are supposed to attempt self sacrifice as we are bestowed with intelligence will and determination by the life giving force. The important concepts delivered by Shaw have to be understood and followed by young generation. We have a lot to learn and comprehend from this idealistic man. His thought needs to be pondered upon, analyzed and then practiced in life. Shaw ardently believed that God made us for a purpose and he wanted

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

Ethical analysis - Essay Example Even though practitioners are expected to keep the confidentiality of patient information, Richard’s case demonstrates a need to disclose the test results to his spouse. It is argued that, medical situations in which more harm would result from keeping patient information private justify breaching of the obligation of confidentiality (Cornock 18). Richard who has been away in Botswana for four moths contracted HIV and it is necessary that his wife knows the status of her husband so that she would be protected from contracting the virus. For this reason, I would contact the wife and disclose the results. However, the disclosure of Richard’s condition to his wife has to be done in the most appropriate and professional manner. This means that I will first try to counsel the husband as to why the wife needs to be informed about his condition. To protect the health of others from cross transmission of infections, practitioners are obliged to provide relevant information to the parties who are at risk of contacting a disease or infection (Kipnis 7). The decision to inform the wife is reached for the sake of her health. The wife would be informed in two ways. I would persuade the husband to inform the wife by himself and subscribe counseling sessions for the couple. It is possible that Richard could refuse this because he seems adamant to keep this information private. Therefore, I will contact the wife and arrange for a consultation and counseling session with her. During the meeting with Richard’s wife, I would inform her about the health condition of the husband in the most straightforward manner. This will be followed by a counseling session in which I will advice her that she and the husband would live positively regardless of his positive HIV status. My duty of care is towards the whole family. If the wife is informed about her husband’s condition, she would take measures of protecting herself from being infected by her husband. In this case, I

Executive Briefing Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Executive Briefing Paper - Essay Example Mentorship is not new to Burberry, although its experience is largely external, philanthropic, and along the line of corporate social responsibility. Presently, the Company is a corporate sponsor of IntoUniversity, a charity organisation dedicated to educating the youth through mentoring. Through its local learning centres, some of Burberry’s employees and managers are already dedicating time and effort as volunteers mentors and e-mentors, to Britain’s poor but deserving ‘young people [who] are inspired to learn’ (IntoUniversity, 2010). In 2011 alone, Burberry associates volunteered 5,500 hours of mentoring. For one particular Burberry associate, more than 200 young students were mentored globally in programmes ranging from three months to three years (Burberry Annual Report 2011/12, p. 64). Recent studies have highlighted the use of internal mentoring, as a technique to improve performance and enhance competitiveness. It is believed that by adopting intern al mentoring, the firm will benefit competitively. II. Proposition This paper proposes that Burberry engage in internal mentoring throughout the organisation until the highest levels, in order to enhance its competitiveness. Mentoring is seen as a tool not only for implementing social development programs external to the firm, but is also perceived as an effective instrument in pursuing the company’s strategic goal of remaining competitive. The viability of mentoring in Burberry will be discussed. III. Theoretical background Mentoring is ‘an intense and complex relationship where the mentor plays the role of peer and parent’ and functions as ‘teacher, advisor, sponsor, and friend’ (Ehrich & Hansford, 1999, p.93). Academic literature states that mentoring improves individual behaviour and performance, particularly in the training and encouragement of the young. However, the impact of mentoring on firm behaviour and outcomes has not been established, p articularly in the highest policy levels. Offstein, Shah and Gnyawali (2011) propose a model whereby the board of directors (BOD) mentors the chief executive officer (CEO), for the purpose of improving the CEO’s ability and motivation to ‘competitively engage the firm’ (p. 75). In the diagram that follows, the mentoring role of the BOD is depicted in terms of sponsorship, protection, and coaching or counselling. By providing legitimacy, a proper sense of discretion and risk-taking, and knowledge and learning, the mentoring exercise is expected to lead towards a greater firm competitiveness. Competitive behaviour is defined by their magnitude and complexity. Source: Offstein, Shah and Gnyawali, 2011, p. 80 According to the theory by Offstein, et al. (2011), competitive actions are ‘purposefully directed, specific, and observable.’ The model adheres to the principle that companies that undertake bold and complex competitive actions benefit as a result, because such actions disturb the status quo and establish new rules by which the competitive stage is reset. According to Schumpeter (1934) in his seminal study, first mover advantage (i.e., the advantage of being the first firm to undertake an innovation that defines a new competitive environment) generates abnormally high profits, until such time as other firms catch up and themselves pursue innovative actions in an effort to overcome the market leader. From the executive levels, mentoring by CEO to his division heads, and from them to the

Difficulties students have when dealing with measurement concepts Term Paper

Difficulties students have when dealing with measurement concepts (length, area, volume, value (money), angle and time - Term Paper Example This necessitates the development of understandings based on the estimation and measurements of these attributes as well as, their existing interrelationships, additionally, the units and conventions related to the measurements and recordings on elapses of time and its duration is essential (Ser, Journeaux, and Larcher, 1993). Having in mind, measurement requires that students should be able to develop dexterity in the application of the various measuring instruments. Additionally, sound understanding of use of whole numbers and decimal number numerations and competency when using mathematical processes such as counting is essential (Barge, 2012). Notably, making sense of measurements necessitates that students need to formulate mind pictures and personal referents for different measures to assist in the estimation. However, research has indicated that students often experience problems involving different measures (Barge, 2012). Intriguing is the fact that students experience such p roblems and yet measurement is one of the most widely taught and relevant in all aspects of the curriculum. As noted, what makes measurement so difficult to student, and what can be done in order to help students master the concepts and skills which would be instrumental in ensuring proficiency in this field? This paper seeks to investigate the problems experienced by students in concepts of measurement involving length, volume, area value or money angle and time. In order to identify the problems faced by students in matters involving measurement, it is necessary that we all understand what measurement is all about. As Kamil and Clark, (1997) explains, measurement is a number which indicates a comparison between the attributes of the object under measurement and the same attributes of a given unit of measure. Often students are poorly informed on the on the differences between square, linear, and cubic centimeters. In early years, students have been reported of having difficulties in understanding that length remains the same when an object is moved to a different location either vertically or horizontally, or that volume also remains the same for a given quantity of water regardless of whether the container used is wide, short, tall and narrow. Similarly, students have experienced problems in comprehending that masses of a given objects remains unchanged irrespective of whether there is a change in the shape of the object. Students have been reported of having experienced problems since they confuse it with size, volume or quantity (Kamil, and Clark, 1997). Most common, the misconception that if an object is large then, it has a high mass is widespread amongst students. This often occur when the judgments are made based on the sight rather than on the feel. For instance, students often think that a tennis ball s much heavier than a golf ball since it physically appears to be larger than the golf ball. In relation to quantity, students have been reported of i maging that two foam balls are much heavier than a soccer ball since it appears that foam ball are many as compared to one soccer ball. Indeed, conservation is a concept that needs to be introduced in the classrooms if students are to effectively solve measurement problems. Additionally, students need many opportunities in order to overcome the impenetrability which seems to surround

Environmental Science Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Environmental Science - Research Paper Example According to all peer-reviewed scientific studies, if the quantity of greenhouse gasses being spewed into the air by automobiles, power plants and factories is not greatly reduced and quickly, the earth and its inhabitants will experience catastrophic consequences in the not too distant future. This paper will discuss the viability of various alternative fuels such as hydrogen, bio- fuels, solar, geothermal and nuclear sources which if put into practice on a wide scale would significantly reduce air pollution and perhaps circumvent the predicted effects. One solution to reducing automobile emissions may be found in vegetable fields. The conversion of corn or beets into ethanol is promoted by scientists as an environmentally and economically sound solution to global climate change concerns. However, this is hardly a new revelation. Rudolf Diesel, in 1897, fifteen years after the inventing the engine named after him said â€Å"The use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insign ificant today. But such oils may become, in the course of time, as important as petroleum and the coal products of the present time† (Boles, 2005). ... Bio-fuels are derived from a readily accessible source and emit no pollutants. The most familiar kind, Ethanol, is a vegetable oil which is most often be mixed with gasoline and bio-diesel. It can be burned by diesel engines without altering the engine. Ethanol, a ‘green’ fuel, could be used as a bridge to the future of consumption and energy production because it can be used in existing engines unlike hydrogen. Another by-product of the bio-fuels industry is tit will ‘fuel’ the growth of agricultural businesses. Regrettably, it takes significantly more energy (from high-grade gasoline) to create ethanol than it produces. It takes approximately70 percent more energy to produce a gallon of ethanol than is contained in a gallon of ethanol. In addition, â€Å"fossil fuel is used in the production of corn or any crop used for ethanol and by increasing ethanol production will increase degradation of vital agricultural and water resources and will seriously contr ibute to the pollution of the environment† (Pimentel, 1998, p. 5). European country’s both produce and consume close to 90 percent of the world’s bio-fuel. Brazil makes up most of the remaining 10 percent. Brazil produces more bio-fuel than it consumes and does not import crude oil. The South American nation is energy independent and among the lowest producers, by capita, of greenhouse gasses. The quantity of bio-fuels produced and consumed is predicted to grow significantly over the next decade. â€Å"It is possible that (bio-fuels) could represent as much as 20 percent of all on-road diesel used in Brazil, Europe, China and India by the year 2020† (â€Å"Biodiesel†, 2006). In the U.S., the production of bio-fuels grew six-times during a two year period

Goyas Ghost's Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Goyas Ghost's - Movie Review Example As the French were allies, their troops were welcomed with open arms despite the diplomatic unease that was transpiring between the two countries. The official warfare started when in February 1808, Napoleon ordered the French commanders to capture key fortresses which would allow the country to gain dominance over its former ally. On 29th February, Barcelona was conquered by French and soon the Spanish power began to decline. Whenever there is a war, there are crimes, atrocities, some of which are recorded while the others are lost in time. There were innumerable incidents of bloodshed, torture, and rape along with other war crimes. Much of this was captured in the art of printmaker Francis Goya. The ‘Disasters of War’ is a collection of 82 prints made by Goya, which depicts the war along with its gory details. The prints are seen by many as a protest against the war. Another collection of Goya, painted between 1819 and 1820 represents his desolate outlook of humanity d ue to the things he had seen and experienced during the Peninsula war. These paintings became the inspiration for a movie released in 2006 by the name of Goya’s Ghosts. The movie Goya’s Ghosts directed by Milos Forman in 2006 presents the Spanish region during the War. The most important characters of the movie are Lorenzo, Ines, and Goya. Out of the three characters, only Goya existed in reality. The others are fictitious characters created only to present the movie through Goya’s perspective. Most of the focus during the movie is, however, not on Goya but rather on Lorenzo, Ines and other characters through which lives of the people during the war are represented. The movie depicts how the lives of even those who were not directly linked with the warfare were deeply affected. The whole generations were swept into poverty which forced them to enter the professions which they would not normally dream of. This is shown by the character of Ines who is first impris oned by the Catholic Church, which inflicts pain on her while she is naked.           

The Seattle Times Essay Example for Free

The Seattle Times Essay In one of the letters sent to the editor of The Seattle Times, one sender wrote â€Å"when someone uses binoculars to spy into his or her neighbor’s home, it is the same as crawling through the grass to peer into a window† as a reaction to the story about women blocking their windows with newspapers so as to keep peering neighbors out (Letters to the Editor: Creepy Couple Should Leave Neighbors Alone). The reaction of the letter-writer is guilty of the fallacy of â€Å"false analogy† wherein spying through binoculars is treated analogously with crawling in the grass in order to peer into a window. It is not valid to treat the use of binoculars for spying and peering into the windows after crawling in the grass as the same simply because these two things are entirely different. Peering into the neighbor’s window is far graver because the person behind the act is guilty of trespassing whereas spying through binoculars does not necessarily imply trespassing. In John McCain’s â€Å"Strategy for Victory in Iraq,† the post states that McCain â€Å"supported sending reinforcements to Iraq to implement a counterinsurgency strategy† at a â€Å"critical moment† when violence was at its peak â€Å"after four years of badly conceived military strategy. † The post then claims that the strategy â€Å"paid-off† in March of 2008 as violence considerably decreased. The post goes on to attack McCain’s presidential rival, Barack Obama, by saying that such â€Å"gains would be lost† if the policy of Obama of â€Å"withdrawing most of our troops† and leaving behind only a â€Å"small strike force† is implemented. The reason being argued to that claim is that Obama’s policy is the same strategy that failed in 2006 (Strategy for Victory in Iraq). Such line of reasoning is guilty of the fallacy of â€Å"questionable cause† or of â€Å"confusing cause and effect. † The fact that the decrease in violence in Iraq came after the counterinsurgency strategy suggested by McCain after 2006 does not necessarily mean that his strategy is ultimately the cause of the decline in violence. Moreover, even if it be granted that McCain’s strategy in the past did succeed and has been the primary reason behind the decline in Iraqi unrest, it is not necessarily true in all cases in all times. Conversely, the withdrawal of troops in Iraq does not necessarily mean that a rise in violence will certainly follow just because of a precedent which does not even clearly establish a firm connection between McCain’s strategies and the decline in Iraqi violence. In one of the blogs in the Los Angeles Times, Michael McGough makes the observation that â€Å"a majority of Americans would be willing to vote for a gay or lesbian candidate† because a recent poll indicates so. The statement is guilty of hasty generalization and appeal to popularity precisely because the author makes the poll as the basis of the general claim that a majority of Americans are willing to elect either a gay or a lesbian politician. Just because a poll with a few thousand of individuals as samples indicates that there are more Americans willing to elect a gay or a lesbian individual than those who do not favor that as far as the size of the sample is concerned does not necessarily hold true for the rest of the America population—a population millions more than the sample size of the poll. Further, just because the proposition is popular for a few thousands does not necessarily mean that it holds true for the majority of the larger American population. Lastly, many advertisements are guilty of the fallacy of â€Å"wishful thinking† since a number of these advertisements portray before the public the image of, say, the physique they should have and that, once buying the product being endorsed, the viewing public will have the same physique and image as the ones endorsing the product. For example, Nike has been advertising their products through the years with the use of athletes as product endorsers. In television advertisements, athlete-endorsers are shown wearing Nike products while performing in their sport. It is as if the viewers are being told that they can be like the athletes if they wear Nike sports products. References Letters to the Editor: Creepy Couple Should Leave Neighbors Alone. (2008). Retrieved August 27, 2008, from http://seattletimes. nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008135620_monletters25. html McGough, M. (2008). The Cleaverization of Michelle Obama. Retrieved August 27, 2008, from http://opinion. latimes. com/opinionla/2008/08/the-cleaverizat. html Nike Advertising. (2004). Retrieved August 27, 2008, from http://xroads. virginia. edu/~CLASS/am483_97/projects/hincker/ad. html Strategy for Victory in Iraq. (2008). Retrieved August 27, 2008, from http://www. johnmccain. com/Informing/Issues/fdeb03a7-30b0-4ece-8e34-4c7ea83f11d8. htm

Overview of Celiac Disease and Gluten

Overview of Celiac Disease and Gluten WHATS IN YOUR WHEAT? BY AISHA ADIL Percolating deep into the abyss of gluten-related research studies, opinions and perspectives, and several news outlets, it is starting to seem that, despite the hype, gluten-free diets (GFD) may not necessarily be the answer to a healthy lifestyle. Although these diets are the only current nutritional treatment for gluten-sensitive patients, other treatment options are being speculated. But even outside of the scope of disease, the prominence of gluten-free diets in the general population is raising question marks about how hazardous gluten really is. It has only been about 10,000 years since wheat was introduced but it is only now that being gluten-free is apparently the path to a healthy life. Hence, questioning what is in your wheat invites the inquiry of gluten: what caused it to gain so much prominence and subsequently a downgrade in the past years? What else is involved besides gluten? It is surprising to realize that many gluten-sensitive individuals are subject to a combination of factors, rather than gluten alone, that give rise to their sensitivity. Many researchers are investigating other complex carbohydrates present in wheat with some even suggesting that these carbohydrates have a higher likelihood in causing intestinal distress than gluten. With several angles of research being conducted on the role of gluten in our lives, it is imperative that we evaluate the history of gluten over the years and our current knowledge to assess a question that is very simply-put but difficult to answer: is a gluten-free diet a healthy choice? The Underpinning of Civilizations and Celiac The discovery of seeds and domestication of crops cradled the development and flourishment of civilizations at the cost of celiac disease (CD), an illness triggered by the ingestion of gluten. Clinically, the existence of celiac disease dates back to 1888 but it was only a little less than a hundred years later in the 1950s that the consumption of wheat, barley, and rye were speculated as the cause of intestinal lesions. Gluten, the storage proteins that comprise much of our common sources of carbohydrates such as wheat, barley, and rye, was found to be at the center of inducing CD and later in time, non-celiac gluten sensitivity. While the latter disorder is a controversial matter in even being considered a medical condition, celiac disease patients show a hypersensitive reaction to gluten consumption. This autoimmune ailment, otherwise described as a condition that causes our bodys immune system to attack our own tissues, detracts individuals from proper nutrient absorption and sub jects them to abdominal pain, diarrhea, and swollen bellies. It can even reach the extent of destroying our intestinal villi, the brush-like surfaces of our small intestine. Recently, it has been found that CD arises when individuals, along with being exposed to gluten, have a genetic predisposition to CD, and, per Fasano and his colleagues nine years of research, a leaky gut; an unusually permeable intestinal membrane, that permits the entry of gliadins, undigested fragments of gluten. The immunology of Celiac Disease   Delving further into the pathophysiology of CD, the mechanisms underlying CD are more complicated than one might expect. CD patients harbor an inherited set of gene variants called histocompatibility leukocyte antigens (HLAs) that give rise to the hypersensitive reaction against gluten. 95% of celiac patients possess HLA-DQ2 and/or HLA-DQ8, proteins required for the primary establishment of CD. These proteins aid in developing an immune response in the face of microbial attacks. However, CD patients bodies secrete the tissue transglutaminase (TTG) that responds to and modifies ingested gluten proteins in a way that binds them with DQ2/8 proteins and initiates an immune response. Though this immune response should be protective, it unfortunately harms the intestinal cells and hinders the absorption of nutrients. We are not engineered to eat wheatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. gluten only came into the picture 10 000 years ago, with the advent of agriculture Alessio Fasano, University of Maryland School of Medicine The recent introduction of gluten perhaps explains why our body mounts an immune response against it it perceives gluten as a foreign invader such as a virus or a bacterium and activates the same defense as it does when an infection attacks our body. It therefore becomes tempting to propose that gluten should be eliminated from our diets completely but not so fast, says Fasano. Fasanos discovery of zonulin, a protein activated by gliadin in gluten and a capability of modifying the guts permeability, is seemingly a ray of hope. This protein is predictably what allows a leaky gut to occur, creating a loss of control as our intestine can no longer create a barrier against unwanted particles. However, zonulin is a controversial solution as clinical research and evidence on zonulin is scant. It is nonetheless suggested that zonulin modifies antigen traffic and may be involved in not only CD but in other, various immune diseases. Who knew gluten could cause controversy? Having gluten within the diet and experiencing gluten-sensitivity outside the context of celiac has also sparked controversies worldwide. This has been the case with Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS), another syndrome in the spectrum of gluten-induced disorders that results in both extraintestinal and gastrointestinal symptoms due to gluten-withdrawal. This syndrome is however not new as reports dating back to the 1970s and 1980s provide evidence of patients experiencing wheat or gluten withdrawal in the absence of CD. NCGS main controversy today lies within its unavailable etiologic background or evidence such as biomarkers or histological abnormalities to support its existence. Another issue is that NCGS patients also report symptoms similar to those found in Irritable Bowel Syndrome patients (IBS). This is an area where personal experience and anecdote really trumps the medical evidence thats emerged Dr. Jason Tye-Din, gastroenterologist at Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Australia. Although this condition is raising conflicts between personal beliefs and medical advice, further research proposes that NCGS patients may be intolerant to other components of wheat such as FODMAPS and fructans rather than just gluten. FODMAPS, a group of sugars that are either poorly absorbed by the small intestine or completely indigestible, can be found in foods high in fructose such as apples and mangoes, dairy products, and fructans such as onions and garlic. Several studies such as Peter Gibsons and Biesikeierski and colleagues, in 2011, suggested that gluten is the culprit after all. Both well-designed studies subjected IBS patients to a gluten restriction challenge followed by a reintroduction of gluten. The results suggested that IBS patients do have NCGS given that they experienced stomach ailments when treated with gluten. These studies were however, criticized for their small numbers of participants and limited statistical evidence. Further well-designed and more detail-o riented studies in 2013 revealed that NCGS patients did not experience symptoms from gluten but rather with a FODMAPs diet. Accordingly, it seems that a FODMAPs-free diet is more effective but also more complicated than a gluten-free diet. Studies from 2011 have also convinced millions of people that being gluten-free makes them feel better. Research on FODMAPs however, does not have enough data to provide a definitive answer either; most of it is unclear or preliminary. Many studies are currently underway and will require time before a conclusive answer is available. Going Gluten-Free Conversely, with an increasingly growing belief that gluten-free diets are healthier, there is an increased consumption and demand for gluten-free foods in the market. Food companies are using the common perceptions that gluten-free products are healthier to advertise their products as such and that too, at an elevated price. These products may even be nutrient-poor and miscellaneous about their sugar, salt, and saturated fat composition. Economic markets respond to meet the growing demand hence it is no surprise to Catherine Cross, a writer of the Canadian Medical Association Journal, that gluten-free stamps are appearing more frequently on both healthy and unhealthy products. This therefore leads us to question whether the gluten-free products we buy are actually healthy. Besides our deep percolation of the pathogenesis and underlying mechanisms of wheat components and their effects on gluten-induced disorders, answering this question involves additional enquiry into the markets ex pansion of gluten-free products. After investigating and comparing the nutritional quality of 3213 gluten-free and non-gluten free products across 10 food categories, Wu and his colleagues in 2015 deduced that gluten-free products have, on average, lower protein levels, and an overall poor quality due to a high composition of sugar, salt, and saturated fats. Cross delved further into this matter suggesting that conventional gluten-free flours such as potato, rice, tapioca, and sorghum contain more calories and carbohydrates, and are also unfortified, an absence of intentionally increased essential micronutrients. Put differently, there is a large body of evidence suggesting that being gluten-free is not always healthier given the substitution of fat and sugar to compensate for the absence of gluten. However, further insight into whether this gluten-free diet is a better option can be better understood from CD patients bound to this diet. Groups of researchers including Lee and colleagues, and Singh Whelan all present similar data and conclusions of the limited availability of gluten-free products in parts of the US and in London, UK as well as their increased price compared to standard counterparts. Furthermore, Nascimento and colleagues in 2014 percolated consumer perceptions and suggestions of celiac consumers in Brazils Santa Catarina, and found that along with low availability and high prices, individuals experienced poor palatability and social life restrictions leading to hindrances in adhering to the gluten-free diet, and overall dissatisfaction with employing the diet. Other studies, such as Hallert and colleagues also suggest higher levels of nutritional deficiencies, especially of fibre and B vitamins. Conclusively, these studies and observations provide a greater set of limitations than advantages in employing a gluten-free diet which raises the ultimate question: how do we stay healthy? Fasano suggests that it depends on how one wants to become gluten-free. If one employs a natural gluten-free diet without substitutes and consume only fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats, it may be beneficial and may alleviate their symptoms of gluten-sensitivity. But a gluten-free diet with gluten-free pasta or cakes may result in adverse effects. Alexandra Anca, a Toronto dietitian, also suggests that if one desires a healthy-eating lifestyle, it is better to get back to the basics. While celiac patients are bound to gluten-free diets but nonetheless are on their way to alternative treatments, those who seek healthy lifestyles should focus on whole and less-processed foods, says Melanie McGrice, an Australian dietician. Overall, employing a healthy lifestyle is complicated given the interplay of the food markets increasingly diverse production of gluten-free products and the less well-known facts and studies about CD and NCGS. Embarking on this journey nonetheless requires a careful consideration of how you want to become healthy will you go old-school with the fresh fruits and vegetables? Word Count: 1796