Existentialism: American Beauty

Existentialism: American Beauty American Beauty is a movie that sets in suburban America. The story is about Lester, whom is a middle-aged writer working in a magazine company. He was having a midlife crisis where he felt lonely and numbed by continuous unchanging routine of his everyday life. In the movie, his wife portrayed as a successful real estate agent, but she was also going through her own midlife crisis in both her career and personal life. Lester’s daughter, Jane Bumham had alienated her parents and was going through puberty.They have a new neighbor who is a U. S. Marine Corps Colonel Frank Fitts, and he has a son, Ricky Fitts, who is a drug dealer. Lester was going to get fired from his company that he had worked for fourteen year. Lester managed to cut a deal by threatening the manager to give him a year’s worth of salary or else he would distribute the gossip news, which would sabotage the company. One day, he and his wife went to see their daughterâ€℠¢s cheerleading dance and during the performance Lester saw Jane’s friend Angela Hayes. He then starts having fantasies of her.On the other hand, his wife was also having an affair with a successful colleague. Disregarding his wife’s life, Lester started to make changes in his life after hearing Angela complimented him and suggested that if he worked out, she would like him even more. Therefore, he started working out after being fired from his job, and got a new job at a fast food restaurant. During work, he found that his wife was having an affair and he asked her for a divorce. On the other hand, the marine corporal, Frank, has trust issues with his son, since Ricky had a history of using drugs (smoking weed).One day, Frank starts to get suspicious about Ricky’s actions. Then when Lester called Ricky to get more marijuana, Frank saw them getting together in a room. He thought that they were sexually involved. In reality, they were just smoking weed. When Rick y went home, Frank abused him and mistakenly believed that he was homosexual, which caused him to kick Ricky out of the house. So Ricky decided to ask Jane to runaway with him to New York. At the same time, when Lester and Angela was getting intimate with each other, she suddenly confessed that she was a virgin.Lester realized that he shouldn’t be taking advantage of her and Angela started crying, so he comforted her. After the incident, both of them bonded and shared their problems. On the last scene of the movie, it showed Lester holding an old picture of his family reminiscing the past then Frank suddenly showed up with a gun and shot him. The movie, American Beauty, portrayed many existential themes from philosophers like Franz Kafka, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Jean-Paul Sartre. In the beginning of the movie, Lester indicates he lived like a dead man.He goes through the same routine everyday, which is similar to Franz Kafka’s character Gregor Samsa in the short story â€Å"Metamorphosis†. Before Gregor’s transformation into a metamorphosis, he was a salesman for a long period of time where he felt that had lost his character, goals and even estranged himself from his family. Lester and Gregor have committed themselves to the society, which caused them to be alienated by their families. In the beginning of the movie, Lester’s daughter critiqued her father as a â€Å"loser† and his wife also looked down on him.Gregor had similar situations, he was also alienated because his job required him to travel, and therefore, he couldn’t spend time with his family. According to Kafka, one has to go through alienation because that awakens us to blossom into a new life. He believes that an individual have to balance themselves between individuality and society. Even though Gregor’s transformation gave him a new life, it was too late for him to live for himself. On the other hand, Lester was lucky enough to experience the change when he heard Angela’s suggestion to get fit.This tip encouraged Lester to adjust his dull and melancholy life. He starts working out and live for himself, instead of living up to other people’s standards. Kafka’s view of existentialism is that an individual has the responsibility to find balance between leisure and work. Lester’s character has some similarities as Kafka’s life. Kafka was employed at an insurance company, where he had experienced the suffering from working in the dull cubical office. He used writing as a way to escape from the tedious life he had, and it was the only method that could explore his creativeness.Even though Kafka was not an existentialist, his writing depicted many existential themes and shared similar thoughts with other philosopher like Friedrich Nietzsche. Friedrich Nietzsche is a philosopher in the late 18th century. He has a great impact towards existentialism. His existential theme is about individua lity and constructing identity. Through his book called Gay Science, Nietzsche indicated that there were more liberation and freedom after religious wars and persecution ended. He believed that people were getting detached with religion.Even though the movie â€Å"American Beauty† did not have any religious related themes, it still portrayed the theme of liberation. It was freedom that saved Lester from being drowned by his miserable life, especially when he was being disregarded by his wife and alienated from his daughter. In addition, in the end of the movie, Ricky Fitts, the neighbor’s son was released from his father because of a misunderstanding. He was trapped under his abusive father’s rules and control. When Ricky was living under his father, he was like the â€Å"last man† in Nietzsche’s short story: Thus Spoke Zarathustra.The â€Å"last man† lacks passion and has no drive: â€Å" †¦ they do not like to hear the world ‘c ontempt’ applied to them. Let me then address their pride. Let me speak of them of what is the most contemptible; but that is the last man† (Soloman, 73). Lester also has similar characteristics of the â€Å"last man†. Before his transformation, he even confessed that he was living a life of a â€Å"dead man†. Nietzsche saw the â€Å"last man† among the middle class and he was afraid that they would be suffocated by the dreadful office space. This greatly relates to Lester’s working environment and the suburban area where he lived.Everyday felt like yesterday, nothing changes. There is no creativity or passion in Lester’s life and Nietzsche believed that people should be pushed and encouraged to break the cycle. Lester’s transformation speaks of Nietzsche’s existentialist theme: â€Å"we philosophers and ‘free spirits’ fell, when we hear the news that ‘the old god is dead. ’ As if a new dawn sho ne on us†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (68). The â€Å"new dawn† that Nietzsche mentions in his book have similar portrayal in the movie, which is Lester’s transformation of his new life. From a miserable and coward person, Lester changed into a new courageous and free spirited individual.He was able to confront his wife and make his own decisions without being afraid of her looking down on him: â€Å"It's a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself. Makes you wonder what else you can do that you've forgotten about† (American Beauty). Overall, Nietzsche’s theme reveals that people have the ability to make their own decision and put their destiny into their own hands just like what Lester did with his life. Similar to Kafka and Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre also emphasized the importance of individuality.He believes that â€Å"existence comes before essence,† people creates their own destiny and it is not God that controls our fate (206). He also explained that human nature did not emerge because God created us. Sartre did not believe in God; therefore, he believed human created the existence of human nature, like how Lester altered his life. Sartre also indicated that individuals should take responsibility towards their actions. Lester broke away from the society and left his past life to construct a new character without other people to disapprove his decisions.However, he also threw away all the responsibility as a father and husband. Lester quit his job and got a lower salary job, which left his wife in charge of the mortgage. Even before the transformation, the relationship between Lester and his daughter drifted apart causing them to ignore each other. He failed to take a responsibility as a father and nurture his child instead he tried to flirt with his child’s friend. From Sartre’s book Existentialism is a Humanism, he wrote: â€Å"Our responsibility is thus much greater than we had supp osed, for it concerns mankind as a whole† (208).He believed that an individual’s action could have a huge impact on others, just like how the neighbor, Colonel Frank Fitts killed Lester at the end of the movie. Frank has to live carry that guilt forever. It was his decision to kill and therefore it would be his responsibility to accept the blame. However the movie did not indicate what consequences Frank will be facing, or what kind of responsibility he will get after the murder. The director leaves the decision to the audience to decide what his fate is going to be. Lester did mess up his family and take no responsibility during his physical and mental transformation.In the end of the movie, when Angela, his daughter’s friend, told him that she was a virgin, he realized that he could not take advantage of her. This message reminded him that she was just a teenager that needed attention. He took a parental responsibility by comforting her and explored her frustra tions, which applied to Sartre’s theme of taking responsibility while making alternations in life. Through out the movie, American Beauty, it has exposed many existential themes that connected to multiple philosophers including Franz Kafka, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Jean-Paul Sartre.All of them emphasized the importance of individuality, passion and creativity, which was depicted in the movie, especially on the main character, Lester. He altered his life and cured his mid-life crisis. It was through existentialism where he was released from the trap of society and the controlled environment. In the end of the movie, every character found an answer towards the purpose of life. Even though Lester’s life ended getting shot in the head, he was actually happier than he was before and managed to live the life he wanted. Reference Solomon, Robert C. Existentialism. 2nd. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2005. Print.

Determinants of a Demand Curve:

Movement along the demand curve: There are many factors determining demand- the prime one being price. Price and quantity are the two components which form the demand curve. Any change in these two variables doesn’t cause a shift in the demand curve but a movement along what is already existent. When prices vary, quantity is altered. Usually, applying the law of demand, more will be consumed when prices drop and vice versa. When more goods are consumed due to a drop in prices there is an expansion in demand and when less is consumed due to an increase in price, it is said to be a contraction in demand. A shift in the demand curve: Factors which do cause a shift in demand include: consumer tastes, fashion and trends, income, population, income distribution, consumer expectations and technology. When there is a change in any one of these determinants of demand there will be an alteration in the demand curve. Since these changes are not a cause of changes in price, there will be a shift in the demand curve. When more is purchased at the same price, the demand curve will shift to the right as demand increases. When less is consumed at the same price, the demand curve will shift to the left, as there is a decrease in demand. How the determinants of demand can alter the demand curve are summarised below: 1. Consumer Tastes: consumers tastes and preferences change, which may be in favour of a certain product, increasing and decreasing demand for other goods and services 2. Income: an increase or decrease of consumer income will affect their disposable income and discretionary spending trends- increasing or decreasing demand 3. Population: the population of an area will affect demand. A larger population means more consumers and greater demand and vice a versa. 4. Income distribution: an even distribution of income will mean an increase for demand of luxury goods by low and middle income groups whereas an uneven distribution would lead to increased demand for necessities by low and middle income earners and a decrease in luxury spending. 5. Consumer expectations: expectations of future course pries, economic activity and government economic policies may affect demand. If there are expectations of a drop of prices in the future, consumers may choose to postpone current spending for the future. 6. Technology: Technology allows the production of new and better quality products and services, making other products and services obsolete by substituting them. Consumers may switch their demand for a superior or more convenient product or service which technology may bring along. E. g. : a newer mobile phone or a labour saving device.

Operating System Upgrade Plan

After the full investigation and the different failure scenarios have been taken into consideration a backup and disaster recovery plan can be considered Marriott, 2010). At this point a documentation of the Windows 2008 RE environment should be created and should include: Server configuration documents Server build documents Network diagrams Network device configuration SAN configuration Software documentation Service accounts and password documentation (Marriott, 2010). Windows Server 2008 RE has a built-in program that is a powerful backup system simply called Windows Server Backup that comes as part of the install.The Windows Server 2008 RE backup can backup and restore system, file, folder, and application data. Administrators can easily backup data to locally attached disk, network shares, and DVD writable media (Marriott, 2010). Describe operating system file and services security features. NUTS will be the chosen file service for HAS. NUTS is very popular and has been around since NT 3. 5. 1 The NUTS file system has all of the features needed and is highly reliable, scalable, secure, and manageable. NUTS is a good fit for HAS because of the healthcare facilities size and locations.NUTS not only supports large volumes, it will help with sharing permissions teens the healthcare facilities, 4 hospitals, 10 clinics, the physician's practice, and the research facility. Departments such as accounting and medical records do not need the same permissions and NUTS will allow for the correct paths to be setup (Marriott, et al. , 2010). Describe operating system configuration activities that support an appropriate hardware requirements solution. Before proceeding with the server installation certain prerequisites must be followed. Taking time to compile a list of needed items will allow for a faster installation.

When and why did the Sinatra Doctrine replace the Brezhnev Doctrine in Essay

When and why did the Sinatra Doctrine replace the Brezhnev Doctrine in Soviet policy towards East-Central Europe - Essay Example The name of the document many have come up as a joke but its implication on the nations of Eastern Europe was not a joke. This doctrine had widespread effect on these nations and allowed them to control their own internal affairs. This was not possible under the Brezhnev doctrine which was being followed earlier by the Soviet Nation. Before the new doctrine came up; Soviet Nation exerted tight control over the internal affairs of the nations which came into the purview of Warsaw Pact. Brezhnev doctrine was used as a justification by Soviet Nation to justify the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and also that of Afghanistan in 1979. The main reasons which have been cited for this shift in Soviet policy have been the huge economic problems which were being faced by the Soviet Nation; the rising anti-communist and the anti- Russian feelings which were coming up in these nations and the disastrous effects of the Afghanistan war on the economy of Soviet nation. All these reasons made it almost impractical for Soviet Union to exert its forced will on all the neighbouring countries. This doctrine had far reaching consequences on the neighbourhood of Soviet Nation. The entire Soviet block was transformed as a result of this policy. The most dramatic and visible effect has been the destruction of the Berlin Wall in Germany. East Germany government was no longer receiving the support of Soviet Union and this policy made it clear that the country will not affair in the internal affairs of these countries. This led to the ouster of communist governments in East Germany, Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria. The communist party in Romania also suffered the same fate. This policy in fact signalled the end of cold war and Europe was no longer divided after this policy was announced. This paper aims to study the reasons for replacement of Brezhnev doctrine by the new Sinatra doctrine. The reasons for this dramatic shift in the policy of Soviet Union have been discussed and debated in this paper in the coming sections. Brezhnev Doctrine The Brezhnev Doctrine as a foreign policy for Soviet Union was first defined and clearly established in 1968. (Kovalev, 1968).It was defined as a necessity by Soviet Union in times when forces which are hostile to socialism try to convert a socialist country into a capitalist one. This was considered by Soviet Union not as a problem of the concerned country but a problem which was common to all the socialist countries and effort should be made by all socialist countries to prevent such forces which are disruptive to socialism from gaining power in any country. (Brezhnev, 1968) This doctrine was felt necessary to be defined by Soviet Union in order to justify the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968 and also to justify various other soviet military interventions like the invasion of Hungary which took place in 1956.Before this policy was defined; these invasions were considered as inappropriate and improper. Soviet Union was

Response to Coments on DQ1 KS and MB W10 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Response to Coments on DQ1 KS and MB W10 - Essay Example I would not recommend a buy decision on such a stock because it is never wise to make investment decisions when not all the information available. The investor should seek the information using advanced search techniques such as using professional databases. DQ2 When investors analyze the value of a stock the trends and events occurring in the industry influence the price of the common stock a lot. Microsoft belongs to the computer industry. They are the market leaders in the operating system software segment. The company belongs to an industry that is currently booming in terms of sales. The company also has a diversified product portfolio that includes products such as the Xbox 360 which is one of the top selling game consoles in the marketplace. On the other side of the coin is General Motors. A company that struggled so much recently that they decided take the bailout money and the dishonored their shareholders making the shares of the common stockholders virtually worthless afte r the bankruptcy decision. The P/E ratio of Microsoft in comparison to GE clearly shows that the investor community values Microsoft as a better investment than GE. References Dun & Bradstreet (2011). Key Business Ratios. Retrieved June 7, 2011 from Dun & Bradstreet database.

Civil Rights Movement in the US Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Civil Rights Movement in the US - Essay Example It lasted until national civil rights legislation was passed in the mid-1960s. African-Americans and other racial minorities rejected this regime. They resisted it and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded in 1909. It struggled to end race discrimination through litigation, education, and lobbying efforts. Its crowning achievement was its legal victory in the Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education (1954) that rejected separate white and colored school systems and by implication overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson.Invigorated by the victory of Brown and frustrated by its lack of immediate practical effect, private citizens increasingly rejected gradualist, legalistic approaches as the primary tool to bring about desegregation. In defiance, they adopted a combined strategy of direct action with nonviolent resistance known as civil disobedience, giving rise to the African-American Civil R ights Movement of 1955-1968. Notable legislative achievements during this phase of the Civil Rights Movement were passage of Civil Rights Act of 1964, that banned discrimination in employment practices and public accommodations; the Voting Rights Act of 1965, that restored and protected voting rights; the Immigration and Nationality Services Act of 1965, that dramatically opened entry to the U.S. to immigrants other than traditional European groups; and the Civil Rights Act of 1968, that banned discrimination

Exam Notes - Strategic Management Analysis Essay - 1

Exam Notes - Strategic Management Analysis - Essay Example The company engages in the business of producing electric vehicles that are more efficient and appealing to many users than the steam cars. It exists to improve the environmental conditions that the previous locomotives have degraded due to the high level of greenhouse gases that they emit into the atmosphere. Despite the rigidity and complexity of the motor industry, Better Place Company cooperates with all stakeholders to control a sisable market share and beat competition. For example, the company targets corporate clients to be the potential buyers of electric vehicles it intends to manufacture. This group of stakeholders is imperative because the targeted consumers can influence the operations in the company by either propelling it to success in the market or reducing its dominance if they refuse to purchase the products. Governments are the second major stakeholders for the company. They include national governments and local authorities of the country and specific areas where the company operates a franchise. For instance, the company operates in the United States and intends to open branches in Israel, Denmark, Japan, Canada, and Australia among others globally. The branch in Israel is very significant to the company because it specialises in research and development to improve the quality of output. This means that the company must work with the respective government of each country to ensure uninterrupted operations and sustainability. These governments are equally important because their policies, in areas of taxation and electric utility may affect the company. The other important category of stakeholders for this company is its suppliers. This group includes car manufacturers, battery companies and venture capital firms whose contributions and influences to the company are immense. For example, venture capital firms are important to the organisation because they provide the much needed capital for startup. For instance, they helped the company to r aise a total of $200 million to initiate the business (Etzion & Struben 2011, p. 2). Battery manufacturers, including Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd, A123 Systems and Automotive Energy Supply Corporation are also significant because they would provide connectivity for the electronic vehicles with switching stations, positioned to charge and swap batteries so that the vehicles would change them at convenience (Etzion & Struben 2011, p. 6). In addition, there has to be battery chargers at each station capacitated to charge the batteries within the shortest time possible. The car manufacturers such as General Motors, Ford, Subaru, Mitsubishi, and Toyota would provide experts who will contribute to the development of the electric cars (Etzion & Struben 2011, p. 12). Figure1: Stakeholder Analysis Topic 2 - Industry and Scenario Analyses In this scenario, the analysis is on Porter’s five forces, including the suppliers, potential entrants, buyers, substitutes, and competitive rivalry th at have a remarkable impact on the progress of the company (Porter 2008, p. 3). Certainly, the company understands that changes in the means of transportation came from the need to counter the increasing animals’ wastes and nuisance that they caused in urban centers. Other changes that necessitated the manufacturing of electric vehicles were the adoption of clean energy and other liquid fuels, which include ethanol, kerosene and gasoline in addition to petrol (Etzion & Struben

Apply decision-making frameworks to IT-related ethical issues Essay

Apply decision-making frameworks to IT-related ethical issues - Essay Example Viruses, Trojan horses, backdoor-exploits, miscellaneous phishing techniques and so on (The 10 Most Common Internet Crimes). Also, lack of practice of information security and high cost of computer systems and implementation of everything, such as computer systems themselves, creating networks, preparing personnel, and so on. These factors became the start-up for lots of â€Å"very intelligent and smart criminals† and non-criminals, who simply used gaps in laws and technological possibilities to make money, and even â€Å"intelligent sportsmen† who tried to find and exploit weaknesses in computer systems not for money and profit/not ONLY for money, but for interest. Then situation changed due to progress: computer systems came in use for more wide variety of purposes, more of sensitive data is being treated in them, more people got involved into using of computer systems, and more possibilities to steal or destroy data appeared. Then begun era of malware and IT-criminals. These type of criminals are using their knowledge ant intelligence to make their own egoistic profits in ways such as stealing money, performing miscellaneous harmful actions in order to achieve financial goals or to blackmail the victim. The electronic information contained on the computer’s hard drive could also be the target. Trade secrets, financial information, personal correspondence, or other critical data could be utilized - sold to competitors, used to commit bank fraud, or even used for blackmail.(Sharpe, 2006) For example, there is a Phishing – a crime, targeted to steal a financial data, like a credit card number, PIN, CVV, CVV2 codes, etc. in order to direct steal money/to make purchases using stolen data. Generally, there are 3 ways of Phishing: A provoking e-mail letter or SMS, which tries a targeted person to reveal his/her data. For example, it could be a letter about safety of account, or new great discount for customers, or

To what extend can it be argued that blogs encourage active citizens Essay

To what extend can it be argued that blogs encourage active citizens - Essay Example ontain reflections about daily life and produced by individuals with the primary audience being other bloggers that the individual links with on a regular basis. However, the blogs do not have any restriction on access and can therefore available to anyone. Even as a majority of blogs contain personal reflections, blogs that have had profound influence on society due to their wide readership are those that focus on matters of public interest. This essay focuses on the role played by blogs targeting public interests in order to assess the role such platforms play in encouraging active citizens (Herring, Scheidt, Wright and Bonus, 2005). The ability of blogs to attract public interest and therefore influence the way people interact and can be seen from the popularity gained by Instapundit.com written by Glenn Reynolds. The blogger a law lecturer at the University of Tennessee, had by March 2005 reached the hundred-millionth page hit plus a further 200,000 more hits on a daily basis. Given that Reynolds’ blog is dedicated to the commentary of current public affairs, it indicates the attraction of citizens to such blogs as a platform for them to contribute in what is going on around them. This further indicates the ability of blogs to generate popularity by attracting readership in most cases through their sharp, partisan commentary on current public affairs (Griffiths 2004). Further, a single blog has the ability to introduce readers into new debates and topic discussions through hyperlinks that lead readers to other topics that they might find interesting. Although there are those with the view that specific blogs attract people with similar views to engage in discussion and that those with opposing sentiments are silenced (Cohen 2006), the hyperlink to others provides a means through which diverse views on matters of current affairs can be debated. Bloggers in most cases comment on what others are saying by linking their views with those who hold different

Terrorism and Homeland Security Quiz Assignment

Terrorism and Homeland Security Quiz - Assignment Example Terrorism and Homeland Security Quiz Force multipliers, in terrorism, is the process and means that aid in augmented activities in terrorism. The five types of force multipliers in terrorism are: religion, media, transitional support, technology and recruitments as discussed. Religion offers an auspicious environment for member groups to have a common ideology towards a certain goal. Religion offer doctrines used to recruit and train new members. Members have to respect the belief systems of the group such that they can even sacrifice their bodies in order to uphold the teachings. The terrorism groups use various religions such as Islam through quoting verses in the Quran that encourage killings. (Chandra, 2003). The terrorism groups use media to convey their message to the wider world, which enhances their survival, and as a means to elicit fear to the populace (Hamm, 2007). The terrorism groups use media to convey a message of ill intentions that lead to fluctuations in moral behaviors, in the society. The transitional support provides an opportunity to the terrorist to carry out an attack through offering financial support and military empowerment (Hamm, 2007). The terrorist groups use this support to deviate from the law; thus establishing their guidelines in order to control various localities within their dispensation in order to enhance their dominance. Terrorism takes advantage of the rapid advance of technology in the contemporary world, which allows inventions of explosive devices that terrorist groups use to make sophisticated bombs. Terrorist inculcate various technological skills in their training in order to make such explosive devices.

How can leaders increase employee productivity through motivation Essay

How can leaders increase employee productivity through motivation techniques and approaches - Essay Example There is overwhelming amount of literature based on studies conducted by various researchers over the years which point to the fact that over and above the conventional motivation techniques and practices which mainly involve financial motivation such as higher pay packages, bonuses etc. contemporary leaders are increasingly focusing on developing innovative motivation techniques. This study aims to assess and examine the various factors which leaders can use to motivate their employees, the significance and relevance of motivation, and the role of leaders in motivating employees. This is achieved through an extensive literature review – comprising of theoretical perspectives, case studies and meta-analysis. The results revealed that there is a direct and positive relationship between motivation and employee performance and productivity. On the basis of this study it is recommended that organizations and leaders introduce innovative motivational strategies and practices and constantly challenge the employees to help them stay motivated. â€Å"In motivating people, youve got to engage their minds and their hearts. It is good business to have an employee feel part of the entire effort . . . ; I motivate people, I hope, by example—and perhaps by excitement, by having provocative ideas to make others feel involved.† Human resource is one of the most critical and integral part of an organization. It has been observed that a talented pool of highly motivated workers plays a key role in steering an organization towards successful accomplishment of its goals (Sims, 2002; Wiley, 2010; Daft and Marcic, 2010; Frey and Osterloh, 2002). Hence it is imperative for managers to ensure that the employees are managed effectively and adequately motivated to ensure better performance and productivity. Enhancing employee performance and productivity entails provision of adequate training and education to the workers, ensuring a positive work environment, and

The Life of Harriet Tubman Essay Example for Free

The Life of Harriet Tubman Essay Originally named Araminta, or Minty, Harriet Tubman was born in early 1819 or 1820 on the plantation of Anthony Thompson, south of Madison in Dorchester County, Maryland. Tubman was the fifth of nine children of Harriet Rit Green and Benjamin Ross, both slaves. Edward Brodas, the stepson of Anthony Thompson, claimed ownership of Rit and her children through his mother Mary Pattison Brodas Thompson. Ben Ross, the slave of Anthony Thompson, was a timber inspector who supervised and managed a vast timbering operation on Thompsons land. The Rosss relatively stable family life on Thompsons plantation came to abrupt end sometime in late 1823 or early 1824 when Edward Brodas took Rit and her then five children, including Tubman, to his own farm in Bucktown, a small agricultural village ten miles to the east. Brodas often hired Tubman out to temporary masters, some who were cruel and negligent, while selling other members of her family illegally to out of state buyers, permanently fracturing her family (http://www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/hwny-tubman.html). At age six, Araminta was old enough to be considered able to work. She did not work in the fields though. Edward Brodas, her master, lent her to a couple who first put her to work weaving she was beaten frequently. When she slacked off at this job the couple gave her the duty of checking muskrat traps. Araminta caught the measles while doing this work. The couple thought she was incompetent and took her back to Brodas. When she got well, she was taken in by a woman as a housekeeper and baby-sitter. Araminta was whipped during the work here and was sent back to Brodas after eating one of the womans sugar cubes. As was the custom on all plantations, when she turned eleven, she started wearing a bright cotton bandana around her head indicating she was no longer a child. She was also no longer known by her basket name, Araminta. Now she would be called Harriet, after her mother. At the age of 12 Harriet Ross was seriously injured by a blow to the head, inflicted by a white overseer for refusing to assist in tying up a man who had attempted escape. Adulthood In 1844 at the age of 25, she married John Tubman, a free African American who did not share her dream of escaping. Since she was a slave, she knew there could be a chance that she could be sold and her marriage would be split apart. Harriet dreamed of traveling north. There, she would be free and would not have to worry about having her marriage split up by the slave trade. But, John did not want her to go north. He said he was fine where he was and that there was no reason for moving north. She said she would go by herself. He replied that if she ran off, he would tell her master. She did not believe him until she saw his face and then she knew he meant it. Her goal to achieve freedom was too large for her to give up though. So in 1849 she left her husband and escaped to Philadelphia in 1849. When she crossed the border she said,† I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person now that I was free, there was such glory over everything, the sun came up like gold through the threes, and over the fields, and I felt like I was in heaven† (The Secret History of Dreaming 185). Accomplishments After escaping from enslavement in 1849, Tubman dedicated herself to fighting for freedom, equality, and justice for the remainder of her long life, earning her the biblical name Moses and a place among the nations most famous historical figures. She became an Underground Railroad conductor after she had escaped to the north. She went back and helped free more than 300 slaves during 1850-1858 (The Story of Harriet Tubman: Conductor of the Underground Railroad). During the Civil War, Tubman worked for the Union army as a nurse, a cook, and a spy. Her experience leading slaves along the Underground Railroad was especially helpful because she knew the land well. She recruited a group of former slaves to hunt for rebel camps and report on the movement of the Confederate troops. In 1863, she went with Colonel James Montgomery and about 150 black soldiers on a gunboat raid in South Carolina. Because she had inside information from her scouts, the Union gunboats were able to surprise the Confederate rebels. At first, when the Union Army came through and burned plantations, slaves hid in the woods. But when they realized that the gunboats could take them behind Union lines to freedom, they came running from all directions, bringing as many of their belongings as they could carry. Tubman later said, I never saw such a sight. Tubman played other roles in the war effort, including working as a nurse. Folk remedies she learned during her years living in Maryland would come in very handy. Tubman worked as a nurse during the war, trying to heal the sick. Many people in the hospital died from dysentery, a disease associated with terrible diarrhea. Tubman was sure she could help cure the sickness if she could find some of the same roots and herbs that grew in Maryland. One night she searched the woods until she found water lilies and cranes bill (geranium). She boiled the water lily roots and the herbs and made a bitter-tasting brew that she gave to a man who was dying-and it worked! Slowly he recovered. Tubman saved many people in her lifetime. Harriet Tubman, after a life of helping people, died at age 93 on March 10, 1913, at Auburn, New York.

Business Analysis of Comestibles Aldor S.A.

Business Analysis of Comestibles Aldor S.A. Executive Summary It is not common when a company like Comestibles Aldor S.A. opens itself to investors. Aldor is an extremely liquid company that is extremely successful and ambitious, but wants something more. It is the type of company that looks for something else, someone that is willing to put more than money into a company, an individual that feels they are part of the organization. This type investor will not only invest money, but themselves. They will immerse themselves in a product they believe in and keep the companys vision of bringing joy to the world. At Aldor we believe that if an individual has a stake in something, they will work as if it was theirs, but if they like the product, it will be part of their life. The company has managed to go into over 60 countries but it is going to try a new approach, something that is innovative like the rest of the company; something unprecedented. We want to present to the world the joy of life and we are looking for someone to help us do so in another country, Canada. As in every new market, Canada poses new challenges, challenges for which we need an investor from the country itself to launch the product. At Aldor we believe that having someone from within the country that knows the market, how it operates and more importantly, how people think, is only a recipe for success. It is the essence of what we believe in and it is the essence of what you will too. We are presenting to you Videns Joy, a product that keeps the companys vision of bringing joy to the world and a profit that few companies are able to offer. It is in a recession like the one we are in that we are able too see a hole in the market, a gap that has yet to be filled. Fortunately we have an answer, the product we are about to present will not only satisfy this gap but will give you the opportunity to be part of it. Videns Joy will consist of a new chewing gum that will not only enhance the way people live, but it will become part of their life. Videns will present the consumer a less expensive, more nutritious and more convenient way of being healthy while giving them a natural boost. It is this chewing gum that will set the benchmark of health products and the way they are ingested. One hand cannot clap by itself, it needs another one, we want this other hand to be you. To launch a one-year campaign in Canada and produce Videns Joy, we will need to expand the factory and buy new machinery. At a cost of 1.4 million, will be able to do so with some of the best machinery in the confectionary industry. To advertise the product for one year we will also invest 1.4 million on advertisements ranging from TV ads to billboards and pamphlets. The cost of raw materials for one year with a production of 30 tons per month will be 4.5 million for the entire year. For a total of 7.3 million we will be able to bring this product to the country with an aggressive marketing campaign. This cost will be divided in two; we will pay 3.65 million as well as the investing party. A return on investment of 10.5 million is expected by the end of the year. To be divided equally among Aldor and the investor. 25% royalties of the net profit from the subsequent years will be given to you, the investing party. INTRODUCTION The Company Comestibles Aldor S.A. was founded in 1991 by Raif Aljure; the company produces candy which it sells in over sixty countries around the world. Aldor manufactures candy for other companies and has a competitive advantage that is virtually impossible to beat. Manufacturing over 200 billion pieces of candy, it is the biggest candy company by quantity and volume in the world. Specializing in products that range in cost from $.01 cent to $.25 , it appeals mostly to the bigger part of the population in the world, those that have limited resources. The company has expanded at a such rapid rate that it has outpaced its current market. The plant currently runs at full capacity and produces over 300 tons of candy per day. At this point, the market for its products is saturated, and with the development of the new chewing gum Videns Joy, the company is now expanding its market segment. Currently the most expensive product the company manufactures, Videns has a cost to the consumer of approximat ely one quarter of a dollar. It is a phenomenon similar to the case of Walmart at a lesser degree. The market for low-cost candy is saturated and the biggest consumer, children between the ages of 8 to 17 years old is already familiar and consuming the product in the countries the company sells. With a monopoly in the majority of Africa, Aldor has reached its peak with the current products it sells. Our people â€Å"With More than 2000 skilled and experienced employees committed to working as a team . While keeping an open mind towards a changing world. Through its research and development, Aldor is constantly searching for new ideas and products, which keep it one step ahead of the competitors. Aldor has a professional team devoted to standard control, thereby assuring high quality products.† Agility and flexibility â€Å"Aldor is agile and flexible, it adapts to the consumers and clients needs, taking into account different cultures, beliefs, demands and international commerce dynamics resulting form globalization† Mission â€Å"Our main promise and commitment: Research, create, and develop innovative and fun products for our customers. We are a dynamic, innovative and flexible company with an international vision. We will continue to grow, open up new markets and bring fun and joy to life.† Vision â€Å"Since the very beginning, Aldor has opened up markets in different countries, offering innovative products to people of different cultures. Its marketing division is constantly looking for new opportunities, studying the worldwide consumer, needs and preferences. Aldors international vision enables it to position itself with its products in more than 60 countries throughout the five continents† The Plant â€Å"Colombia is recognized as the second most productive land for sugar cane plantation in addition, it is recognized for the purity of its sugar. With one of the most modern plants of America, inaugurated in June of 2004, and under a 280,000 sm. We produce 300 tons per day of sugar confectionery: lollypops with different fillings, hard and soft caramels. Today we produce more than 2 hundred billions of lollypops a year, demonstrating growth in a global market that changes constantly. We have extended our products through the development of international brands maintaining a global thought with local performance. Our quality management system is certificate by SGS. de Colombia S.A. in fulfillment of the requirements of ISO 9001: 2.000 since February 20 of 2,004 and initially certified since January 21 of 2002 with ISO 9001: 1.994.† Why we will be successful? After commenting our idea with numerous individuals that have influence over many people and have established companies that are now in the billions of dollars, we have received an unanimous opinion, one that has success written all over it. Now, opinions have in reality no real monetary value, no matter if the individual is the wealthiest in the world or a worker at a fast food restaurant, but they are important. On a recent trip to Colombia, one of our team members Josà © F. Del Corral conducted numerous survey and studies on the idea we are offering. The results were exorbitant and expected. PRODUCTS Since its very beginning in 1991, Aldor has been characterized as having a dynamic production infrastructure that is pivotal to both a productive and efficient confectionery manufacturing process. Today, our company is viewed as one of the best candy production plants in the world. Our products range from filled and chewy candies to a variety of lollipops that have been distinguished because of the addition of different fillings and extracts, all manufactured in plants and facilities that are internally owned and managed. Aldors major products are lollipops with several varieties including chewy centered, gum centered and solids. The gums filled lollipops are made with different fruit flavors including watermelon, cherry, blackberry, mango and wild fruit with both juicy and sour features. Lollipops that were first launched by Aldor include the Yoguetas. This is a variation of lollipops that are very unique to the industry. Not only do these lollipops have gum-filled centers, they also include fruit flavored and chewy centers along with assorted yogurt-filled middles. Products that include gum contain forty percent of gum base and composed of PVAC to sometime include synthetic or derivative wax. In addition, gum also contains polyols that results from the hydrogenation of sugar with the major one being Xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that aids in preventing cavities and help to whiten teeth by neutralizing the PH level in the mouth. In rare cases when Xylitol is unavailable, other sugars or derivatives of sugar namely sorbitol and manithol are sometimes used in bubble gum manufacturing primarily because of its very long molecular strength. PRODUCT INTRODUCTION In keeping with the companys history of innovation, Aldor intends to introduce a line of candy products that aims to satisfy the healthy trends of our current lifestyles by promoting the inclusion of not only cavity-fighting but health-conscious alternatives to the regular candy offerings. According to investigations made by different agencies the percentage of people suffering from health troubles due to eating disorders and bad consumption of food keeps growing every day. As a result, many people have chosen to consume products with very little or no preservatives compare to what they previously consumed. This has revolutionized the food market and has lead to the evolution of new restaurants serving only organic food. Other existing ones have managed to change their menu to include more natural choices. Today, the choice of natural products is a trend that continues to increase and consumers are open to try foods that are consistent with their every day diet. In keeping with this revelation, we have chosen to produce candies with botanical extracts and infusions that have the potential to become an integral part of the daily diet of our consumers. Such approach to market will not only have a significant impact on the kids market but also the adult market as well. With this innovative idea, we plan on giving customers the pleasure of enjoying a hundred percent natural candy alternative that will at the same time will give them a sensation that will be consistent with that of maintaining a healthy lifestyle along with the ultimate comfort and relaxation at the same time. We have focused our research and developments around finding botanical extracts that will fit into the lifestyles of potential customers within our target market. We have decided to include the following extracts into our product offerings. Green Tea Extract Dental techniques have improved greatly in the past few years, but once teeth have been damaged by cavities they can never be restored to their original condition. It is of the highest priority, therefore, to prevent cavities from developing in the first place. By the end of the 19th century, it had been determined that cartes are caused by cariogenic bacteria. Cavity production begins when the cariogenic bacteria first produce non-watersoluble glucan from sugar or other foods, and this glucan adheres to the tooth enamel as hard plaque. They then feed on sugar to generate acids such as lactic acid in the plaque then these acids dissolve the tooth enamel. In order to prevent cavities it is necessary to keep plaque off the teeth by brushing. However, experiments have shown that green tea catechin can suppress the process by which cariogenic bacteria create glucan. Experiments have also shown that that green tea catechin can destroy cariogenic bacteria, making it antibacterial. Green te a catechin then not only suppresses the formation of plaque by the cariogenic bacteria but also kills the bacteria themselves. It has also been known for some time now that small amounts of fluorine can strengthen teeth and help prevent cavities. As a result, many cities across the world have added fluorine to their drinking water. Green tea extract, however, contains natural fluorine that is thought to help prevent cavities. Various reports have shown a reduction in cavities among grade school children who drank green tea after lunch. We strongly feel that kids will have a natural gravitation toward candy with green tea extract while parents will have the peace of mind while giving candy to their kids. Halitosis or bad breath is caused by a number of bacteria that flourish in the mouth. Green tea is also known to kill other oral bacteria besides those causing cartes and therefore as a result, possess the ability to prevent bad breath by destroying the cause of bad breath. It is also reported that the consumption of green tea is often recommended as a good treatment for diarrhea. Research has also shown that catechin is a powerful sterilizing agent for many types of bacteria that cause food poisoning. Green tea extract contains caffeine which, when taken in the proper quantity, simulates every organ in the body. It has a particularly strong effect on the central nervous system, the heart, and liver. This reaction is even more pronounced when one is sleepy or tired. The consumption of green tea will help clear a dull mind after rising in the morning or after a prolonged period without sleep. The power to stimulate and awaken the mind comes from caffeine. It is also said that the amou nt of caffeine contained in normal servings of green tea can stimulate the skeletal muscles and facilitate muscular contraction. As a result, it is quite helpful and recommended to consume green tea in the middle of the work day in order to refresh the mind and restore the body. The caffeine in green tea is mostly extracted in the first infusion of the leaves, but the quantities in subsequent infusions will still be greater than coffee. And since green tea caffeine combines with catechin in the brewing water, its action is said to be rather milder than other caffeine-containing beverages. Green tea is known for its rich source of anti oxidants and having a high extract is also said to help repair the effects of aging from environmental factors Kava Kava Kava is sedating and is primarily consumed to relax without disrupting mental clarity. The kava extract has been known to be a herbal medicine against stress, insomnia, and anxiety. Research has shown that kava may be effective in treating ovarian cancer and leukemia. Study shows that kava compounds inhibited the activation of a nuclear factor that led to the growth of cancer cells. The Aberdeen University researchers published in the journal The South Pacific Journal of Natural Science that kava methanol extracts had been shown to kill leukemia and ovarian cancer cells in test tubes. Kava has been known to relax aching muscles, calm nerves, create a general feeling of well-being, induces a feeling of peace, relaxation and contentment, enhances mental alertness and concentration, reduces inhibitions, and has historical use as an herbal aphrodisiac. Kava has an effect on the nerve centres, at first stimulating and then depressing, ending with paralysis of the respiratory centre. The irritant action and insolubility of the resin has lessened its use as a local anesthetic, but for over 125 years kava root has been found valuable in the treatment of gonorrhea both acute and chronic, vaginitis, leucorrhoea, nocturnal incontinence and other ailments of the genitourinary tract. Being a local anesthetic it relieves pain and has an aphrodisiac effect. As kava is a strong diuretic it is useful for gout, rheumatism, bronchial and other ailments, resulting from heart troubles. Kava is an essential and integral part of life in the Pacific Islands often thought of as one of the most precious gifts from the Earth. Not only is it a pleasant drink that can be a safe alternative for alcohol. Kava Root was actually becoming more popular than Prozac in Europe. Some scientist and herb researchers feel as though kavasinfringement on pharmaceutical s ales deeply concerned the drugcompanies. In turn, they became determined to do their best to tarnish the spotless reputation of kava. It once an ancient, safe and effective herbal supplement. Kava has not been shown to be physically addictive. It has been used safely for over 3,000 years, without any reported withdrawal symptoms whatsoever. Kava gum will be marketing to the age group ranging from 40 years and up. It will be targeting Canadian citizens that may suffer from arthritis of the joints and may be hesitant to use costly and addictive pharmaceutical pain relievers that must be prescribed from a physician. Individuals that may have suffered from a minor sprain or bruise, who do not have the time for an appointment with their primary physician and are looking for quick and effective relief with a delightful taste. Kava gum will also induce a feeling of peace, relaxation and contentment. Also enhancing mental alertness and concentration, Kava Gum would seem to be extremely usef ul to consumers with anxiety and social barriers. Kava could be given to patients of therapist and physiologist to help cope with social problems and cut down the supply of addictive and dangerous psychiatric and anxiety drugs. â€Å"We wont go over the details here, but a study was conducted in Germany that did a great job of making the world think that Kava caused liver damage, when in reality, this highly-publicized â€Å"study† seemed to be aimed at only doing whatever it could to damage the 3,000 year-old reputation of Kava. This alone shows the fear that pharmaceutical companies have over kava† . They refused to let a cheap yet highly effective herb surpass the production of the variety of additive and costly drugs. Aldor is certain that if kava is given a chance to prove itself on a wide based scale, that the gum will help people out with multiple ailments and will not tarnish the Canadian population with another drug for younger generations to tarnish themselve s with. Acai Berry The health benefits of the Acai berry is widely known and is now backed by scientific research into the fruits properties. Acai is a rich source of anthocyanins and other phenolics and phyto-nutrients and are amongst the most nutritious foods of the Amazon. Acai berries are rich in B vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Acai also contains oleic acid (omega-9), a beneficial fatty acid. Potassium is the mineral most abundant in the Acai berry that is also rich in copper and unusually high in manganese. Only a small portion of berries supply far more than the body needs of this ultra-trace mineral. Anthocyanins are compounds that have potent antioxidant activity, allowing for the neutralization of potentially harmful free radicals. The famous research regarding the French Paradox attributes anthocyanins as being the antioxidant that protects the French from heart disease. The French are known to consume large amounts of coffee, nicotine, sugar, white flour, cheese and saturated fats, yet they have a very low rate of heart disease compared to neighboring countries like the UK and Denmark. The red wine grape, due to its anthocyanins is what is believed to be responsible for the very low incidence of heart disease. While red wine has good quantities of anthocyanins, the Acai berry has been shown to contain many times more than the anthocyanins levels of red wine. By neutralizing these free radicals, anthocyanins from the Acai berry may actually serve to maintain the healthy function of numerous systems and organs. Some of the anthocyanins that have been found in Acai include cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-glucoside-coumarate. Other phenolics include catechin and epi-catechin (the same compounds in green tea), quercetin derivatives and other flavonoids. It is likely that the synergistic effects of these compounds, as present in Acai fruit are responsible for its potent antioxidant activities. In Brazilian herbal medicine, the oil of the Acai fruit is used to treat diarrhea; an infusion of the grated fruit rind is used as a topical wash for skin ulcers; and, the fruit seeds are crushed and prepared in an infusion for fevers. In the Peruvian Amazon, an infusion of the toasted crushed seeds is used for fever. In Colombia, where the trees grow along the Pacific coast line, it is called naidà ­ and the fruit is turned into a common and popular drink. The Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) assay, a test developed for the USDA by scientists at Tufts University to measure the antioxidant speed and power of foods and supplements measures the total antioxidant activity of a biological sample. The ORAC scale is used in human, agricultural, food and pharmaceutical products, as well as food ingredients and is quickly becoming the accepted standard for comparing antioxidant potential in foods and supplements. For the average person to cope with all the reactive oxygen and free radicals they will encounter on a daily basis, foods and beverages totaling an ORAC value of at least 2000 units per day are needed. Its been estimated that eighty to ninety percent of the worlds population fails to consume even half of this level. Acai is reputed to be extremely high on the ORAC scale and provides levels multiple times that of many anthocyanin-rich fruits and vegetables, such as cherries, cranberries and mulberries. Easily the most common use of the Acai fruit by Amazonians is the dark purple juice. This juice is extracted from the small round fruit by soaking the seeds in water to soften the thin outer shell and then squeezing and straining them to produce a very tasty, dense purple liquid. Acai liquid is typically served fresh and ice cold with (or sometimes without) sugar and tapioca flour. It is a nourishing and refreshing drink that is also used to produce ice cream, liquor, mousses and sweets in general. Consumption of up to two liters per day of this highly nutritious juice has been recorded amongst indigenous populations. The Acai juice has been and remains an extremely important part of northern native South American diets and has become very popular throughout all socio- economic levels. Acai gum is designed to act as an antioxidant and remover of toxic substances left over in the human system from smoking, alcohol, drugs, and foods with many preservatives. With the help of the acai palm, which is a species of palm tree in the genus Euterpe cultivated for their fruit and superior hearts of palms. Global demand for the fruit has increased dramatically over the past several years. Acai is now cultivated as an antioxidant primarily. Eight species are native to Central and South America, from Belize southward to Brazil and Peru, growing mainly in swamps and floodplains. Acai palms are tall, slender palms growing to 15-30 meters. The overall marketing goal of the antioxidant remover is to eventually offer the gum in Canadian health and fitness centers and spas. This goal may only be achieved after success has been demonstrated in the all-natural supermarket aisles. Health conscious individuals understand the importance of having a cleansed system, which in return greatly raises the ability to produce muscle and cut fat. Many people enjoy chewing gum while they work out because they are able to keep their mouths moist. Also if the gum can cleanse the body and encourage muscle growth then most gym goers would be interested in spending a dollar per pack. Another option is to offer the product to supplement stores such as GNC, Vitamin world, and any other health stores looking to offer there customer a relief from awful tasting body cleansing drinks that cost over $50 for every bottle. Our gum cost only cost 15 cents to have in Canada and is being sold for 50 cents to the retail stores. One could buy fifty packages of our product to compare cost, then having over a years supply to help assist the customer to live a healthier life. Rhodiola rosea Rhodiola rosea is a popular plant in traditional medical systems in Eastern Europe and Asia with a reputation for stimulating the nervous system, decreasing depression, enhancing work performance, eliminating fatigue, and preventing high altitude sickness. Rhodiola rosea has been categorized as an adaptogen by Russian researchers due to its observed ability to increase resistance to a variety of chemical, biological, and physical stressors. Its claimed benefits include antidepressant, anticancer, cardioprotective, and central nervous system enhancement. Research also indicates great utility in asthenic conditions (decline in work performance, sleep difficulties, poor appetite, irritability, hypertension, headaches, and fatigue) developing subsequent to intense physical or intellectual strain. The adaptogenic, cardiopulmonary protective, and central nervous system activities of Rhodiola rosea have been attributed primarily to its ability to influence levels and activity of monoamines and opioid peptides such as beta-endorphins. Rhodiola rosea, also known as golden root, is a member of the Crassulaceae family and grows across the Arctic, the mountains of Central Asia, the Rockies, the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Carpathian Mountains, Scandinavia, Iceland, Great Britain and Ireland. It is believed that it could also be a natural elixir. Rhodiola rosea may also be effective for improving mood and alleviating depression and early stage studies on people have shown some efficacy in improving physical and mental performance, alleviating fatigue, and reducing high-altitude sickness. A possible mode of action involves what could be described as â€Å"optimizing serotonin and dopamine levels†. It is said that this apparently happens by inhibition of the enzyme monoamine oxidase, which supposedly ties in with an effect on endorphins, the bodys natural opiates. The chemical composition and physiological properties of Rhodiola species are to a degree species-dependent, although some overlap in constituents and physiological properties does exist in many Rhodiola species. Twenty-eight compounds have been isolated from the roots and above-ground parts of Rhodiola rosea, including twelve novel compounds. The roots contain a range of biologically active substances including organic acids, flavonoids, tannins, and phenolic glycosides. The stimulating and adaptogenic properties of Rhodiola rosea were originally attributed to two compounds isolated from its roots, identified as p-tyrosol and the phenolic glycoside rhodioloside. Rhodioloside was later determined to be structurally similar to the known glycoside salidroside found in several other plant species. Salidroside, rhodioloside, and occasionally rhodosin are used to describe this compound and are considered to be synonyms. Additional glycoside compounds isolated from the root include rhodioniside, rhodiolin, rosin, rosavin, rosarin, and rosiridin. These glycoside compounds are also thought to be critical for the plants observed adaptogenic properties. The adaptogenic properties, cardio-pulmonary protective effects, and central nervous system activities of Rhodiola rosea have been attributed primarily to its ability to influence levels and activity of monoamines and opioid peptides such as beta-endorphins. Rhodiola rosea has also been shown to moderate against stress-induced damage and dysfunction in cardiovascular tissue. Treatment with Rhodiola rosea extract prevents the decrease in cardiac contractile force secondary to environmental stress in the form of acute cooling and contributes to stable contractility. The new product is named Energize and is primarily made of the herb Rhodiola rosea. Rhodiola rosea is a plant known as the golden root, member of the Crassulaceae family that grows in cold regions of the world, the perennial plants grows in areas up to 2280 meters elevation. Rhodiola may help induce weight loss by activating the bodys store of adipose lipase, a key enzyme that helps burn its fat stores. A Russian study found that participants who consumed Rhodiola rosea lost 20 pounds in three months, compared to just 7 pounds in those who took placebos. Rhodiola rosea also strengthens the immune system by reducing the effect of stress, which is known to weaken the bodys ability to defend against illness. Studies have shown that Rhodiola may be of special benefit to athletes; it appears to help normalize heart rate after intense exercise, and increases protein synthesis and blood flow throughout the body. It may also lower blood pressure and decrease stress-induced arrhythmia. There have been no toxic side effects associated with this substance to date, and no tolerable upper limit has been established. Energize gum has the benefit of being a credited weight loss tool; it contains none of the sometimes deadly drugs that are the main ingredient of the major weight loss scam programs. All they contain is harmful drugs like Ephedra, Chitosan, and hoodia. Many deaths have been reported in past five to ten years ever since the skinny craze started as a result of these weights loss drugs. If there is a perfect weight loss/stress-relieving herb this could be it. In Energize weve managed to formulate the two essential elements needed by most people to lose weight and truly feel great. Not only does it have the ability to lift the stress that causes your body to crave foods of comfort and store more fat. It also has the power in of itself to make you cut weight in fewer than three to six months. All one must do is chew this gum before and after a workout routine or a ru n around the neighborhood with your dog, then you will be on your way to losing some serious weight while enjoying the refreshing taste and teeth whiting effect of our newest product. We plan to offer this product to Canada in the main supermarkets and herb + vitamin stores. We hope to carry the product along side all the powerful and unhealthy weight loss pills that are sold throughout the country. Aldor is confident the Energize gum will make its consumers feel significantly better daily and have the same result if not superior to its competitors. St Johns wort St. Johns wort is a long-living plant with yellow flowers whose medicinal uses were first recorded in ancient Greece. It contains many chemical compounds. Some are believed to be the active ingredients that produce the herbs effects, including the compounds hypericin and hyperforin. Preliminary studies suggest that St. Johns wort might work by preventing nerve cells in the brain from reabsorbing the chemical messenger serotonin, or by reducing levels of a protein involved in the bodys immune system functioning. St. Johns wort has been used over the centuries for mental conditions, nerve pain, and a wide variety of other health conditions. Today, St. Johns wort is used for anxiety, mild to moderate depression, and sleep disorders. In Europe, St. Johns wort is widely prescribed for depression. In the United States and Canada, there is public interest in St. Johns wort as a treatment for depression, but it is not a prescription medicine. In the United States and Canada, St. Johns wort products are sold mainly as capsules, tablets, teas, and liquid extracts where specific types of chemicals are removed from the herb, leaving the desired chemicals in a concentrated form. Scientific evidence co-funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and two other components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Institute of Mental Health and the Office of Dietary Supplements regarding the effectiveness of St. Johns wort for depression

Development of Forensic Science Methods

Development of Forensic Science Methods The Criminal Justice System of England in the 18th century initially consisted of perpetrators being privately prosecuted by their victim, with the victims playing the role of the criminal investigator; gathering and submitting evidence, paying fees to cover the expenses of the constables time in order to apprehend the suspect, filing charges with the local magistrates and presenting evidence to the grand jury. However, the development of the CJS has resulted in professional bodies gathering and submitting evidence, alongside the representation of victims in court by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), victim support services and there are an array of specialist courts in existence who handle cases specific to their knowledgeable subject. The Contribution of Forensic Science to Police Investigation As cited by Pyreck (2007, p. 4), The National Institue of Justice (NIJ. 1998) defines forensic science as the application of scientific knowledge to the legal system. Thornton (1997) observes, Forensic comes to us from the Latin forensus meaning of the forum. In ancient Rome, the forum was where governmental debates were held, but it was also where trials were held. It was the courthouse. So, forensic science has come to mean the application of the natural and physical sciences to the resolution of conflicts within a legal setting. The Home Office Report (2005, p. vii) proposes that factors such as the degree of integration and communication between police and scientific support appeared to be important in determining retrieval rates. Forensic science was initially a conventional means to corroborate suspected offenders, however due to procedures such as DNA testing; the report goes on to state that there is an increase in the proportion of volume crime offences detected using foren sic evidence. In the UK, it is estimated that, for directly detected volume crimes, the main evidence securing the detection was forensic in more than one quarter of cases. Databases such as AFIS and NDNA run systems which provide comparable results from forensic evidence to apprehend offenders on the system; with a detection rate of attaining perpetrators in seven in ten cases, which can render to be the solution to a further 0.4 open cases on the system. Fingerprint evidence can be found 41% of the time at scenes of vehicle crimes, 45% of non-residential burglaries and one in three residential burglary scenes; with 10% of scenes providing DNA evidence. However, it proves to be difficult to collect forensic evidence when scenes are inaccessible, have been purged or the offender has been vigilant. It can also be difficult to convict suspects with a positive DNA match when there is insufficient evidence or the individual provides a legitimate alibi. The use of forensic measures in co urt however, have proven to impact cases in a positive light; namely for theft, murder and burgulary cases, with an increase of 17% for burglary; alongside this, the appraisal of DNA and fingerprint evidence augments a jurys decision to convict in cases of homicide and rape. Methodology Applied when Gathering Blood Spatter Evidence and Other Samples in Criminal Investigation Forensic Scientists can gather a more accurate profile of the perpetrator and how the crime was committed by gathering and analysing the following specimens: Hair analysis Fiber Analysis Glass Fragments Paint Chips Analysis Soil Analysis Ballistics Toolmarks Bitemarks Fingerprints Footwear Tire Impressions Blood Spatter Analysis DNA Analysis Blood, Semen, and Saliva (DNA matching and typing; blood-spatter analysis Nonhuman DNA (dog, cat, deer, whales) Drugs (drug identification, forensic pathology) Explosives (bomb and arson identifications and source traces) Fibers (fiber typing, source identification, and matching) Hair (hair typing and matching) Fingerprints (fingerprint matching, AFIS, etc.) Bones (gender and age typing, identification of remains; weapon identification) Wound analysis (weapon typing; physical movement patterning) Firearms and ammunition (ballistics and tool-mark identification) Powder residues (shootings, suicides) Glass (glass typing and matching) Foot, tire and fabric impressions (impression typing and matching) Paint (paint typing and matching in automobile collisions, hit and run) Petroleum products (product typing and matching) Plastic bags (typing and matching; garbage bags as suffocation device or when used in transports) Soils and minerals (mineral typing and matching; forensic geology) Tool marks (tool identification and matching; homicides, burglary, home invasions, etc.) Wood and vegetative matter (plant typing and matching; plant DNA) RAPD matching; limnology, Forest Service Lab Insects, larvae, maggots; forensic entomology; time of death; location analyses) (Kiely, F. T. 2006, p. 50) One of the underlying principles behind forensic analysis is the concept that when two individuals come in contact with one another, or if an individual comes in contact with an object, there is a high probability of transfer of biological material (skin, hair, etc.). The transfer does not always have to be as obvious as blood, (Missouri State Highway Patrol, p. 22). Due to this, it is important to collect samples from all those whom have been in contact with the victim and the scene of the crime to avoid wrongful implications by eliminating those individuals whom do not match the suspects DNA profile. Analysing Blood, Semen and Saliva Samples Hair is a biological specimen of the body and may be associated back to its source through DNA analysis (although DNA is not always successfully extracted from hair), (Missouri State Highway Patrol page. 30). Alternatively, materials stained with blood, semen, saliva can be collected, be ensured to be air dried before placed in a paper bag and sealed, then tagged with the identification of the contents, exhibit number, initial and date. For porous material such as cloth and leather, investigators are advised to cut the area containing the stain; however for nonporous materials such as glass and metal, stains are removed via a cotton swab that has been moistened with water; and for liquid stains, a clean cotton swab is immersed in the sample. In terms of collecting semen samples, when the specimen is not drying-out, alternatively, condoms are to be frozen. When collecting a Buccal (Oral) swab, two to four swabs must be vigorously rubbed on the interior of the cheek for a minimum of 30 secs to a minute to recover epithelial (skin) tissue; which must then be labelled with the individuals names. The Application of Fingerprint Identification When fingerprint evidence found in a body of water is collected, it should remain in the original water. A watertight container should be lowered into the water and allowed to fill. This allows the evidence to be placed in the container without exposing it to the air. If fingerprint evidence found in water is allowed to dry before processing, the likelihood of developing prints of value dramatically decreases. (Missouri State Highway Patrol) page. 17)The Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) is a database which stores fingerprints that have been taken from suspects, whether they have been incarcerated or not; due to which perpetrators are easily identified, without having a definitive suspect, as their prints are already present on the system. Latent fingerprints on nonporous materials deteriorate rapidly upon prolonged exposure to high temperature and humidity. Consequently, items should be processed and/or forwarded to a laboratory as soon as possible A ruled scale should be used when photographing latent prints. Latent prints on materials are to be handled with gloves and placed in a cellophane protector, whereas latent prints on surfaces such as plastic cards, metal plates and glass bottles are dusted with finger print powder and then extracted with lifting tape and placed on a 3 x 5 card, which contrasts in color with the dusting powder used. Behavioural Science Support As cited by Alison and Rainbow (2011), the crime scene is presumed to reflect the murderers behaviour and personality in much the same way as furnishings reveal the homeowners character (Douglas et al., 1992: 21) (Alison, L. and Rainbow, L. 2011 p. 19) Full verbal case briefing and access to the SIO/investigation team All relevant statements Crime reports Any officers reports/status reports Pathology and forensic reports/findings Full set of crime scene and pst -mortem photographs Available analysis (e.g. telephony, palynology, entomology, etc) Relevant maps Visit to all relevant scenes; allows the BIA to gain fuller understanding of the decision-making process of the offender. Such information is not routinely available from (the above mentioned methods), where often the evidential focus is too restrictive to provide the necessary behavioural perspective. (Alison, L. and Rainbow, L. 2011 p. 25) Behavioural Investigative Advisors (BIAs) provide a theoretical perspective in investigations via the use of forensic psychology to support investigators by implementing methods such as crime scene assessment; DNA screening; suspect prioritisation; familial DNA; nominal pool generation; interview strategy; media strategy; offender background characteristics; and investigation strategy, (Newburn, T. Et al. p.. 658). In order to perform an accurate evaluation, BIAs require case materials such as: Please refer to Appendix. 1: Example of the BIAs work. The BIA are able bodies whom provide expertise in offender profiling to connect cases where correlating physical evidence is not evident. The Serious Crime Analysis Section (SCAS) of the NPIA, through their mandate to collect and analyse a range of sexually motivated offences throughout the UK, now has more than 16,500 offences on ViCLAS (Violent Crimes Linkage Analysis System) database, (Alison, L. and Rainbow, L. 2011 p. 25). Appendix Appendix 1: Example of the BIAs work. (Alison, L. and Rainbow, L. 2011) Case Study 2, folder 1FF, 194528.jpg

The Culture of Montserrat ::

The Culture of Montserrat Culture on the island of Montserrat can be most easily characterized through the examination of the many natural forces influencing the lifestyles and customs of its people. Montserrat’s physical features have played a crucial role in shaping the attire, diet, shelter, and crops of the island’s inhabitants. Volcanic rocks and native plants scattered throughout the island were the source of a number of customs that remain prevalent in contemporary Montserratian culture. Prior to colonization by the British, the island of Montserrat was occupied by a number of Amerindian groups from Venezuela who made their living through fishing and cultivation. There is evidence from a small artifact found in the soil from roughly 500 B.C.E. that the first inhabitants of Montserrat were the Ciboney, known as the ‘stone people.’ The Arawaks arrived on the island around 400 C.E. and built their villages near the coastline. These were a peaceful people who made their living fishing and gardening, and made ceramic vessels, stone tools, and conch shell adzes. While the Arawaks had a few centuries on the island, at the time of European contact the Caribs had gained dominance by driving them to the north. By 1500 the cannibalistic Caribs practiced both permanent and shifting cultivation and built their villages and gardens near the coast with a pole framework and leaf thatch. Caribs grew a mix of economic plants for cultivation, including many from South America and some from the Old World, which modified Montserrat’s vegetative cover in addition to some structures, composed of saplings, reeds, and foliage. The Carib name for Montserrat was Alliouagana, meaning â€Å"island of the prickly bush,† which most likely referred to the native species of Acacia. When Montserrat was first settled in 1632, British colonial officials believed the land and people of their island colonies to be profitable machines and this view greatly determined the way in which a culture based on agricultural production and slave labor emerged. The British had sent Irish Catholics from St. Kitts to colonize Montserrat and these people were growing tobacco and sugar by 1654. By the 1650s, English and Anglo-Irish landowners formed the wealthy ruling class, and Irish indentured servants formed the bulk of the population. The Culture of Montserrat :: The Culture of Montserrat Culture on the island of Montserrat can be most easily characterized through the examination of the many natural forces influencing the lifestyles and customs of its people. Montserrat’s physical features have played a crucial role in shaping the attire, diet, shelter, and crops of the island’s inhabitants. Volcanic rocks and native plants scattered throughout the island were the source of a number of customs that remain prevalent in contemporary Montserratian culture. Prior to colonization by the British, the island of Montserrat was occupied by a number of Amerindian groups from Venezuela who made their living through fishing and cultivation. There is evidence from a small artifact found in the soil from roughly 500 B.C.E. that the first inhabitants of Montserrat were the Ciboney, known as the ‘stone people.’ The Arawaks arrived on the island around 400 C.E. and built their villages near the coastline. These were a peaceful people who made their living fishing and gardening, and made ceramic vessels, stone tools, and conch shell adzes. While the Arawaks had a few centuries on the island, at the time of European contact the Caribs had gained dominance by driving them to the north. By 1500 the cannibalistic Caribs practiced both permanent and shifting cultivation and built their villages and gardens near the coast with a pole framework and leaf thatch. Caribs grew a mix of economic plants for cultivation, including many from South America and some from the Old World, which modified Montserrat’s vegetative cover in addition to some structures, composed of saplings, reeds, and foliage. The Carib name for Montserrat was Alliouagana, meaning â€Å"island of the prickly bush,† which most likely referred to the native species of Acacia. When Montserrat was first settled in 1632, British colonial officials believed the land and people of their island colonies to be profitable machines and this view greatly determined the way in which a culture based on agricultural production and slave labor emerged. The British had sent Irish Catholics from St. Kitts to colonize Montserrat and these people were growing tobacco and sugar by 1654. By the 1650s, English and Anglo-Irish landowners formed the wealthy ruling class, and Irish indentured servants formed the bulk of the population.

Plastic Surgery Essay -- Plastic Surgery Cosmetic Surgery

Have you ever considered having plastic surgery? After reading this paper you might want the surgery or you might not. Plastic surgery, a form of art, can reconstruct your body and renew your confidence but can you accept the risks involved?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Plastic surgery ranges from one- thousand dollars to three- thousand dollars or more depending on the surgery (Body fat reduction: Suction-Assisted Lipectomy). There are plenty types of plastic surgery. One type is called liposuction. The best candidates for liposuction are of relatively normal weight with pockets of excess fat in particular areas. They should be physically healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in your expectations. An important thing is to have firm and elastic skin. â€Å"Loose, drooping skin won’t reshape to your body’s new contours, and may require an additional procedure to surgically remove the excess skin. It will leave visible scars'; (Liposuction).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Before you decide to go through liposuction try diets and weight loss programs. If you can’t loose a certain buldge then liposuction is a good alternative (Thigh Liposculpture). Liposuction is started by making a small incision, (about half an inch or less), in the skin, often in or near the buttock crease or a previous scar. The small suction rod, called a cannula, is inserted and connected to a vacuum source with a suction tube. The vacuum sucks the fat out and leaves everything else intact (Thigh Liposculpture). Usually the surgery takes about an hour or two, but the time required may vary considerably from thirty minutes to several hours, depending on the amount of work your having done. â€Å"If your procedure is not too extensive – that is, if no more than one and a half pints of fat and fluid will be removed – liposuction can be performed under local anesthesia, which numbs the area, combined with a sedative to make you drowsy'; (Lipos uction).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A benefit of having liposuction done is that fat is removed and gone forever. It can offer a new shape for people who thought it was impossible. â€Å"Liposuction will not, however, prevent you from gaining weight in the future, and will not keep you fit and in shape. In order to assume good skin contour, you must be conscientious about wearing the support garments recommended be your doctor'; (Thigh Liposculpture). Does the fat come back? â€Å"Fat cells are not though to regenerate, and ... ...ressed because she saw other women with breast and cleavage she used to have. So she decided to go through reconstruction. The danger of silicon gel was circulating widely so she went to a doctor that reconstructs breast from a women’s own body fat (Nemeth, Mary).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Reconstruction by using the woman’s own body fat is dangerous. First, the surgeon opens your abdomen and cuts through your muscles. They have to redirect your arteries and take the fat out. Then, the surgeon reconstructs their breast with the fat. As Carolyn Haltrecht said, â€Å"It took me the whole summer to admit to myself that I’m not very happy with the way I look and there’s nothing wrong with plastic surgery'; (Nemeth, Mary). According to Marcia Angell, â€Å"Polls indicated that the great majority of women with breast implants were pleased with the results'; (Angell, Marcia).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, There are many risks involved in plastic surgery. Although you look like you have always wanted to after plastic surgery, is it worth all the possible effects that could take place? Think hard before you make changes on your body.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"In short, you cannot meet the future if you look like the past'; (Neimark, Jill).

Child Discipline

Forms of Discipline: What is best for the child? Children are like flowers, if well taken care of they will bloom. If ignored or tortured, they will wither and die. Child discipline is one of the most important elements of successful parenting. Today, many people have this notion that physical abuse is in no way a solution to helping children discern between right and wrong. Since generations children have been taught the art of discipline through physical punishment.Often this approach to disciplining has resulted in two outcomes, one is where the child becomes more tolerant and is willing to adhere to what he/she has been told, or the other which more often results in children developing a sense of anguish and desire to revolt. Physical punishment often destroys the psychological mindset of a child and can scar his/her childhood, resulting in them to grow up to be particularly irritable and frustrated individuals. Over the decades we have seen that fewer and fewer parents are resor ting to this sort of method of violence to discipline their children.However contradictory to all that has been stated, I believe that sometimes parents are caught in a situation when children cross all boundaries of discipline and spanking is the only effective solution. Therefore, it is imperative to do so. Nonetheless, before spanking is even taken into consideration; all the other non-violent forms of discipline should be used. If none work then finally the act of spanking can be justifiable. The act of spanking is not merely a punishment that should be conducted on a whim by parents; there must be reasoning and evidence of a clear sort of rebellion or revolt that requires such treatment.However in such a situation I am of the firm belief that dialogue or discussion is not the option that will placate the issue in the long run. I feel this approach may only last for a short period of time until the child feels that his or her parents have forgotten the issue and will once again go back on the same path. A spanking advocate says, â€Å"I don't think it hurt me, in fact, it helped me in the long-run. It made me look at consequences, things kids don't normally think about. I was always told, ‘Listen, or you'll have to feel it. I listened when I was told, and now, I'm grateful I was raised like that because I feel now I am much more respectful to my peers and my elders especially. † Thus, the act of a spanking induces a fear, a fear that is necessary for children to experience, as it is this fear that rings in a child’s mind when he or she is on the verge of pursuing a mistake he or she is aware is wrong. When a child is noncompliant, I agree that a spanking is desirable by any parent, however spanking works best when followed by a serene conversation with the child about why was he/she spanked.There are many parents today who do not know how to use this disciplinary action on their children. They usually end up excising too much or too lit tle control over their child without giving them a suitable reasoning. A ‘Fact sheet from the Rocky Mountain Family council’ states that â€Å"pairing reasoning with a spanking in the toddler years delayed misbehavior longer than did either reasoning or spanking alone. Reasoning linked with a spank was also more effective compared with other discipline methods. Talking with the child about what behavior is expected and why-with the potential of a follow-up spank-worked best. Hence, Spank a child only when necessary and in conjunction with reasoning and other forms of discipline. Reality is a question of perspective; the further you get from it the more plausible it seems. Being raised in a traditional Indian family, I have been exposed to all forms of disciplines depending on the situation. As a child, I was spanked when I did something wrong. Being spanked taught me respect and kept me in line. The way my parents disciplined me is an accepted method of punishment back home. It is only today that I understand the importance of what they did.Just as my parents did not have the intention to physically abuse me, the entire concept of spanking too is not directed towards hurting the child, it is more of a lesson taught to make the child realize his/her mistake. Hence, there needs to be a limit to how much parents can spank their kids. If the act is carried out on a daily basis, there are higher chances of the kid behaving inappropriately behind closed doors. At the end of the day these kids get so frustrated of being spanked everyday that they end up doing unnecessary things such as lying, cheating, bullying other people behind their parents backs.Research by Murray Straus, a Co-Director at the Family Research Laboratory at the University of Durham,  indicated that â€Å"frequent spanking (three or more times a week) of children 6 to 9 years old, tracked over a period of two years, increased a child's antisocial behaviour, measured in activities l ike cheating, bullying, or lying†. Hence, it is important for the parents to learn which behaviours deserve a spanking. For instance, spilling water, making noise, wetting-pants are normal behaviours all children tend to pick. They do not need to be spanked as these are all age-appropriate behaviours.A key concept of discipline is to identify the behaviour that is typical for the age of the child. Based on the behaviour, parents can then take appropriate actions. For instance, Lisa Berlin, research scientist at the Centre for Child and Family Policy at Duke University says, â€Å"We're talking about infants and toddlers, and I think that just, cognitively, they just don't understand enough about right or wrong or punishment to benefit from being spanked,†Ã‚  As Berlin states, it is pointless to spank an infant, however as children grow older and begin to understand the severity of the punishment, a spanking is desirable.Today, there is a common misconception that spanki ng is a form of child abuse. Some parents are actually afraid to discipline their own children using the same method used for their own upbringing. Who is correct in the notion of right and wrong discipline? Is there such a thing as a correct way to spank your child? In my opinion, there is. So, my objective is to show that there is a fine line between the two terms Spanking and Child abuse. A Cambridge Dictionary states that Child Abuse occurs â€Å"when adults intentionally treat children in a cruel or violent way. On the other hand, Spanking in the same dictionary means â€Å"to hit a child with the hand, usually several times on the bottom as a punishment. † In this way, the line between the two can be drawn where too much spanking results in bruises and scars on the child. Therefore, parents should not spank their children when they are angry themselves as the spank would turn out to be an unintentional smack. When this occurs, parents tend to accidently take out their frustration on the child.Primarily, this is when Spanking, a form of discipline, starts drifting towards the entire concept of ‘child abuse’. However, this misconception has led to many unwanted situations where parents have been sent to jail by their own children. In a general conversation with a waiter at IHOP in Charlottesville, I got to know that he spanked his child twice due to confidential reasons and the child sent his dad, Greg, to the court. In this way, mild spanking is an essential tool to bring the child on the right path of success.A pro-spanker, Leeanne, mother to three children says â€Å"I gave a spanking (more like a weak handed swatting) on the butt when my children were small a couple of times†¦. after that, just a warning and a look was all they needed to keep in line, because they knew they didn't want one. All three of my children have told me that they are ashamed of their generation and each have thanked me, at one point or another for tho se little spanks. (Again, I don't mean pain†¦ just attention getting and disapproval of their behaviour). †Ã‚  As claimed by her, I too believe that spanking causes no harm on the child.It is just the way the parent does it. Love your children more than you spank them. At the end of the day, that is all what a child needs in life. Other than that, I also carried out my own survey for this essay where I asked fifteen friends their opinion on spanking. Each of them said that they have been spanked in at least one circumstance. They all agreed that it is proper to discipline in this way. It is only now after coming to UVA and being so successful they have realized the importance of the punishments their parents used to give them.When I asked them at what occasions did they get spanked, one said, â€Å"I have done a lot of silly things in life that my parents have disapproved, they believe that not all negative behaviours require a spanking; but spanking is their number one choice when all other methods of discipline fail. † Life is all about making decisions, taking risks and then finally facing their consequences. Hence, their parents took the risk and landed on the safe end where their children are reaching the pinnacle of success.As stated, spanking shouldn’t be the only form of discipline used on children. Parents need to take into account all the other forms as well to teach their children right from wrong. Parents can inculcate discipline in their child by showing discontent to the unsuitable behaviour of the child. This usually has a lasting effect as they know that if they do it again their parents will be disappointed, which is usually harder to deal with. This type of punishment only gives you more of a guilt feeling and it remains till you are in good terms with your parents again.When parents give that silent treatment, it becomes very hard to live in the same house where parents are not in talking terms with their kids. Scold ing is another form which is widely used all over the world. If it becomes an everyday situation then it may lessen the effect on the child. The child may start considering this as a normal act for parents to shout at him/her and will start ignoring them. The aim of the parents to teach the kid a lesson and make sure he/she does not make the same mistake again would fail.However, if scolding is the only process used then parents need to also praise their children when they do something good as well. In this way, scolding and  praising should be balanced so that children understand the entire concept properly. Another very effective form of discipline is ‘Time-Out’. This is mainly used on young children. â€Å"A  time-out  involves temporarily separating a child from an environment where inappropriate behaviour has occurred, and is intended to give an over-excited child time to calm down. †Ã‚  This method can be very effectual if carried out appropriately.To o much of something doesn’t attain the goal it is looking for. Similarly, excessive scolding or use of time-out does not have the same effect on the child as a one or two time would. For example, a child throwing a tantrum can be put in time-out for him/her to calm down. After that, parents need to make sure they kindly explain the kid that whatever he/she did is not acceptable in society. Even in this case, age matters as a one year old cannot be asked to sit and listen to a long lecture as they do not have long attention spans.An American mother stated Once the child gets older and as they start experiencing the real world, parents tend teach them a lesson by withholding privileges. When they reach a certain age i. e. when they are in grade 5-6, they start to differentiate precisely between family and friends. Sometimes as they enter the teenage world, they begin to value friends over family. At this point, parents know that their kids are growing and might go on the wrong path if not taught a lesson at the right time. Hence, some of the techniques such as ‘if they come home later than expected then take away what they love the most’ are used.For example, if you come home late, you will not be allowed to watch TV for two days. This is usually used once the child is old enough to understand. In this way, as they grow older they learn how to make thoughtful decisions. A balanced approach should be used in order to raise the child in the right manner. By ‘balanced’, I mean that parents should spank their children only to a certain extent primarily depending on their age and the type of mistake committed by the child. Spanking along with other forms of discipline should be used in order to make the child realize his/her mistakes in life. Child Discipline GOALS OF EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE Discipline is the structure that helps the child fit into the real world happily and effectively. It is the foundation for the development of the child’s own self-discipline. Effective and positive discipline is about teaching and guiding children, not just forcing them to obey. As with all other interventions aimed at pointing out unacceptable behavior, the child should always know that the parent loves and supports him or her. Trust between parent and child should be maintained and constantly built upon.Parenting is the task of raising children and providing them with the necessary material and emotional care to further their physical, emotional, cognitive and social development. Disciplining children is one of the most important yet difficult responsibilities of parenting, and there are no shortcuts. The physician must stress that teaching about limits and acceptable behavior takes time and a great deal of energy. The hurried pace of today†™s society can be an obstacle to effective discipline. The goal of effective discipline is to foster acceptable and appropriate behaviour in the child and to raise emotionally mature adults.A disciplined person is able to postpone pleasure, is considerate of the needs of others, is assertive without being aggressive or hostile, and can tolerate discomfort when necessary. The foundation of effective discipline is respect. The child should be able to respect the parent’s authority and also the rights of others. Inconsistency in applying discipline will not help a child respect his or her parents. Harsh discipline such as humiliation (verbal abuse, shouting, name-calling) will also make it hard for the child to respect and trust the parent.Thus, effective discipline means discipline applied with mutual respect in a firm, fair, reasonable and consistent way. The goal is to protect the child from danger, help the child learn self-discipline, and develop a healthy conscience and an internal sense of responsibility and control. It should also instill values. One of the major obstacles to achieving these goals is inconsistency, which will confuse any child, regardless of developmental age. It can be particularly hard for parents to be consistent role models. Telling children to â€Å"Do as I say, but not as I do† does not achieve effective discipline.Parental disagreements about child-rearing techniques, as well as cultural differences between parents, often result in inconsistent disciplining methods. The physician needs to be mindful of these challenges and suggest steps that parents can take to resolve these differences (1). It is important that in teaching effective discipline, physicians do not impose their own agendas on the families they counsel. A balanced, objective view should be used to provide resources, and the goal should be to remain objective. This means using principles supported by academic, peer-reviewed literature.This is particular ly important when dealing with controversial issues such as disciplinary spanking. MEANINGS: Discipline means obedience to a superior authority. Accepting the norms of the family, society, the commands of elders and obeying them is also discipline. Discipline means accepting punishments for violation. Discipline also means training of mind and character, developing self-control and the habit of obedience. In the entire universe, there is an order and discipline. The stars, the planets, the earth on which we live, the moon and the sun we see, move according to a system of discipline.We can see that plants, insects, birds and animals too observe discipline in their lives, only man who has a thinking mind finds it difficult to observe discipline. Discipline could be divided into two broad categories, external and internal. External discipline is that which is imposed by outside authority. It is often linked with authority and force. Discipline in the army is one such. Soldiers do not h ave a say in it except implicit obedience. As Tennyson says â€Å"Theirs not to make reply. There’s not to reason why, theirs nut to do and die†.A soldier in a war field cannot ask for reasons. He has to obey commands; otherwise, the war is lost. Our ancient educational system believed in enforcing discipline by force. They used to say, if you spare the rod you will spoil the child. But that view is not correct. It will produce only negative results. That is why discipline has taken a new shape in schools and colleges now. It is call self-discipline. It is discipline by acceptance, not by imposition. We live in a democracy. Democracy is based on the will of majority of its citizens.It has to be accepted and obeyed. Otherwise democracy loses its meaning and leads to anarchy. Family customs and traditions, laws of the society, and moral and spiritual laws of the religion are all to be obeyed. That is discipline. Discipline demands obedience to commands fro leaders, respe ct for women, devotion to god etc. Though discipline starts at home, there is much more need for it in schools. Schools are nursing places for various virtues and values. Discipline in the classroom, on the playground and elsewhere in the school is all important.Force has no place in student discipline. Teachers are to be first disciplined, so one, who cannot control oneself, cannot control others. Students emulate teachers in all ways. It is more so in the matter of discipline. They observe discipline by acceptance not by force. Some argue that discipline limits freedom and that also kills the man’s initiative. This is a wrong view. Indiscipline cannot bring order of growth. Self-discipline or discipline by acceptance is self-control. One controls his emotions and desires and gives room to listen to other’s points of views.Man has many desires and impulses. If they are allowed free play without discipline, it will end in chaos. Nature and society are best disciplinari ans. Violate their laws, and you are in for punishment. Put your finger in fire. It burns, no matter who you are. There we learn discipline by experience. That is why Gandhi has rightly said that discipline is learning in adversity. It is therefore necessary that, if you wish to achieve anything enduring in life, you have to be first disciplined in life. Lack of discipline is like a ship without a rudder. Child Discipline Forms of Discipline: What is best for the child? Children are like flowers, if well taken care of they will bloom. If ignored or tortured, they will wither and die. Child discipline is one of the most important elements of successful parenting. Today, many people have this notion that physical abuse is in no way a solution to helping children discern between right and wrong. Since generations children have been taught the art of discipline through physical punishment.Often this approach to disciplining has resulted in two outcomes, one is where the child becomes more tolerant and is willing to adhere to what he/she has been told, or the other which more often results in children developing a sense of anguish and desire to revolt. Physical punishment often destroys the psychological mindset of a child and can scar his/her childhood, resulting in them to grow up to be particularly irritable and frustrated individuals. Over the decades we have seen that fewer and fewer parents are resor ting to this sort of method of violence to discipline their children.However contradictory to all that has been stated, I believe that sometimes parents are caught in a situation when children cross all boundaries of discipline and spanking is the only effective solution. Therefore, it is imperative to do so. Nonetheless, before spanking is even taken into consideration; all the other non-violent forms of discipline should be used. If none work then finally the act of spanking can be justifiable. The act of spanking is not merely a punishment that should be conducted on a whim by parents; there must be reasoning and evidence of a clear sort of rebellion or revolt that requires such treatment.However in such a situation I am of the firm belief that dialogue or discussion is not the option that will placate the issue in the long run. I feel this approach may only last for a short period of time until the child feels that his or her parents have forgotten the issue and will once again go back on the same path. A spanking advocate says, â€Å"I don't think it hurt me, in fact, it helped me in the long-run. It made me look at consequences, things kids don't normally think about. I was always told, ‘Listen, or you'll have to feel it. I listened when I was told, and now, I'm grateful I was raised like that because I feel now I am much more respectful to my peers and my elders especially. † Thus, the act of a spanking induces a fear, a fear that is necessary for children to experience, as it is this fear that rings in a child’s mind when he or she is on the verge of pursuing a mistake he or she is aware is wrong. When a child is noncompliant, I agree that a spanking is desirable by any parent, however spanking works best when followed by a serene conversation with the child about why was he/she spanked.There are many parents today who do not know how to use this disciplinary action on their children. They usually end up excising too much or too lit tle control over their child without giving them a suitable reasoning. A ‘Fact sheet from the Rocky Mountain Family council’ states that â€Å"pairing reasoning with a spanking in the toddler years delayed misbehavior longer than did either reasoning or spanking alone. Reasoning linked with a spank was also more effective compared with other discipline methods. Talking with the child about what behavior is expected and why-with the potential of a follow-up spank-worked best. Hence, Spank a child only when necessary and in conjunction with reasoning and other forms of discipline. Reality is a question of perspective; the further you get from it the more plausible it seems. Being raised in a traditional Indian family, I have been exposed to all forms of disciplines depending on the situation. As a child, I was spanked when I did something wrong. Being spanked taught me respect and kept me in line. The way my parents disciplined me is an accepted method of punishment back home. It is only today that I understand the importance of what they did.Just as my parents did not have the intention to physically abuse me, the entire concept of spanking too is not directed towards hurting the child, it is more of a lesson taught to make the child realize his/her mistake. Hence, there needs to be a limit to how much parents can spank their kids. If the act is carried out on a daily basis, there are higher chances of the kid behaving inappropriately behind closed doors. At the end of the day these kids get so frustrated of being spanked everyday that they end up doing unnecessary things such as lying, cheating, bullying other people behind their parents backs.Research by Murray Straus, a Co-Director at the Family Research Laboratory at the University of Durham,  indicated that â€Å"frequent spanking (three or more times a week) of children 6 to 9 years old, tracked over a period of two years, increased a child's antisocial behaviour, measured in activities l ike cheating, bullying, or lying†. Hence, it is important for the parents to learn which behaviours deserve a spanking. For instance, spilling water, making noise, wetting-pants are normal behaviours all children tend to pick. They do not need to be spanked as these are all age-appropriate behaviours.A key concept of discipline is to identify the behaviour that is typical for the age of the child. Based on the behaviour, parents can then take appropriate actions. For instance, Lisa Berlin, research scientist at the Centre for Child and Family Policy at Duke University says, â€Å"We're talking about infants and toddlers, and I think that just, cognitively, they just don't understand enough about right or wrong or punishment to benefit from being spanked,†Ã‚  As Berlin states, it is pointless to spank an infant, however as children grow older and begin to understand the severity of the punishment, a spanking is desirable.Today, there is a common misconception that spanki ng is a form of child abuse. Some parents are actually afraid to discipline their own children using the same method used for their own upbringing. Who is correct in the notion of right and wrong discipline? Is there such a thing as a correct way to spank your child? In my opinion, there is. So, my objective is to show that there is a fine line between the two terms Spanking and Child abuse. A Cambridge Dictionary states that Child Abuse occurs â€Å"when adults intentionally treat children in a cruel or violent way. On the other hand, Spanking in the same dictionary means â€Å"to hit a child with the hand, usually several times on the bottom as a punishment. † In this way, the line between the two can be drawn where too much spanking results in bruises and scars on the child. Therefore, parents should not spank their children when they are angry themselves as the spank would turn out to be an unintentional smack. When this occurs, parents tend to accidently take out their frustration on the child.Primarily, this is when Spanking, a form of discipline, starts drifting towards the entire concept of ‘child abuse’. However, this misconception has led to many unwanted situations where parents have been sent to jail by their own children. In a general conversation with a waiter at IHOP in Charlottesville, I got to know that he spanked his child twice due to confidential reasons and the child sent his dad, Greg, to the court. In this way, mild spanking is an essential tool to bring the child on the right path of success.A pro-spanker, Leeanne, mother to three children says â€Å"I gave a spanking (more like a weak handed swatting) on the butt when my children were small a couple of times†¦. after that, just a warning and a look was all they needed to keep in line, because they knew they didn't want one. All three of my children have told me that they are ashamed of their generation and each have thanked me, at one point or another for tho se little spanks. (Again, I don't mean pain†¦ just attention getting and disapproval of their behaviour). †Ã‚  As claimed by her, I too believe that spanking causes no harm on the child.It is just the way the parent does it. Love your children more than you spank them. At the end of the day, that is all what a child needs in life. Other than that, I also carried out my own survey for this essay where I asked fifteen friends their opinion on spanking. Each of them said that they have been spanked in at least one circumstance. They all agreed that it is proper to discipline in this way. It is only now after coming to UVA and being so successful they have realized the importance of the punishments their parents used to give them.When I asked them at what occasions did they get spanked, one said, â€Å"I have done a lot of silly things in life that my parents have disapproved, they believe that not all negative behaviours require a spanking; but spanking is their number one choice when all other methods of discipline fail. † Life is all about making decisions, taking risks and then finally facing their consequences. Hence, their parents took the risk and landed on the safe end where their children are reaching the pinnacle of success.As stated, spanking shouldn’t be the only form of discipline used on children. Parents need to take into account all the other forms as well to teach their children right from wrong. Parents can inculcate discipline in their child by showing discontent to the unsuitable behaviour of the child. This usually has a lasting effect as they know that if they do it again their parents will be disappointed, which is usually harder to deal with. This type of punishment only gives you more of a guilt feeling and it remains till you are in good terms with your parents again.When parents give that silent treatment, it becomes very hard to live in the same house where parents are not in talking terms with their kids. Scold ing is another form which is widely used all over the world. If it becomes an everyday situation then it may lessen the effect on the child. The child may start considering this as a normal act for parents to shout at him/her and will start ignoring them. The aim of the parents to teach the kid a lesson and make sure he/she does not make the same mistake again would fail.However, if scolding is the only process used then parents need to also praise their children when they do something good as well. In this way, scolding and  praising should be balanced so that children understand the entire concept properly. Another very effective form of discipline is ‘Time-Out’. This is mainly used on young children. â€Å"A  time-out  involves temporarily separating a child from an environment where inappropriate behaviour has occurred, and is intended to give an over-excited child time to calm down. †Ã‚  This method can be very effectual if carried out appropriately.To o much of something doesn’t attain the goal it is looking for. Similarly, excessive scolding or use of time-out does not have the same effect on the child as a one or two time would. For example, a child throwing a tantrum can be put in time-out for him/her to calm down. After that, parents need to make sure they kindly explain the kid that whatever he/she did is not acceptable in society. Even in this case, age matters as a one year old cannot be asked to sit and listen to a long lecture as they do not have long attention spans.An American mother stated Once the child gets older and as they start experiencing the real world, parents tend teach them a lesson by withholding privileges. When they reach a certain age i. e. when they are in grade 5-6, they start to differentiate precisely between family and friends. Sometimes as they enter the teenage world, they begin to value friends over family. At this point, parents know that their kids are growing and might go on the wrong path if not taught a lesson at the right time. Hence, some of the techniques such as ‘if they come home later than expected then take away what they love the most’ are used.For example, if you come home late, you will not be allowed to watch TV for two days. This is usually used once the child is old enough to understand. In this way, as they grow older they learn how to make thoughtful decisions. A balanced approach should be used in order to raise the child in the right manner. By ‘balanced’, I mean that parents should spank their children only to a certain extent primarily depending on their age and the type of mistake committed by the child. Spanking along with other forms of discipline should be used in order to make the child realize his/her mistakes in life.