What Is the Effect of Media Violence on Children - 1314 Words

Yasser Abdelaziz Ms. Williams English 1010-18 13, December 2010 The Effect of Media Violence on Children Although very little research was done on it in the past, media violence has sparked much controversy in recent history. As technology becomes more advanced, new methods of uncovering the media’s effects on children have emerged. Advances in Neuroscience, for example, can become tools to understanding the effects media violence has from a psychological standpoint. The brain in its underpinnings from an MRI scan can suggest whether an individual is scared, aggressive, or desensitized after being exposed to some stimulus, which include TV and Videogame violence. In an article entitled â€Å"Media Violence and Social Neuroscience: New†¦show more content†¦The three internal states (affect, arousal, and cognitive) deal with the psychological perspectives individuals may experience when in presence of media violence. a. Arousal b. Cognition c. Affect 3. Desensitization III. The Cure of the Symptoms A. Community Effort 1. Pediatricians’ Advice In an article entitled â€Å"Violence and Suffering in Television News: Toward a Broader Conception of Harmful Television Content for Children† found on the Pediatrics Journal website, Dr. Walma Van Der Molan writes, â€Å"Pediatricians are in good position to inform parents, educators, policy makers, and broadcasters of the potential harmful effects of violent news and to suggest ways to enhance children’s understanding of such news information. Pediatricians could take action within their own practice, for example by including news consumption in the assessment of children’s media histories and by preventing children from watching violent news during their stay in the hospital. However, they could also engage awareness of the negative consequences of violent news within other domains†(1773). 2. Family Monitoring In an article entitled â€Å"Television violence and children,† found on the Essortment website, Williams writes that parents should limit the time their children spend watching television, so that they can be less exposed to news and violence.Show MoreRelatedMedia Violence Essay1320 Words   |  6 PagesMedia Violence Media violence is one of the most debated public issues society faces today. Television screens are loaded with the glamorization of weapon carrying. Violence constitute as amusing and trivialized. Needless portrayals of interpersonal violence spread across the television screens like wild fire. Televisions spew the disturbing events such as children being assaulted, husbands inflicting domestic abuse on their wives and children succumbing to abuse by their parents. Scenes of betrayalRead MoreThe Effects Of Media Violence On Children974 Words   |  4 Pagesmany kinds of media, like Internet, video game, television and film. It is generally believed that some of the bad information such as violent content in the media can have a negative effect on people, and it can end up causing some social problem. It is clear that children are more likely to be influenced by media violence than other age groups because of their world outlook and personality are not formed. Furthermore is if me dia violence does have some profound influence on children, this will leadRead MoreFor years there’s been a contended debate on whether or not violence in the media harms children.800 Words   |  4 PagesFor years there’s been a contended debate on whether or not violence in the media harms children. On television, thousands of murders are being broadcasted to children who are in Elementary School, they are witnesses to hundreds of thousands acts of murder and general violence. In Media Now, ethics come to play and discussions regarding the question who is truly responsible for media effects comes into play? Watching too much violent TV and playing too many violent video games takes a toll on childrensRead More Children and Violence: An American Media Controversy Essay1014 Words   |  5 PagesChildren and Violence: An American Media Controversy As censorship of the American media has broken down over the years, the amount of violence allowed to be shown in movies, on television, and in video games has skyrocketed. From coast to coast in our nation, this saturation of hostility in our media has caused many contentious debates between scholars, parents, students and government officials alike. In this controversy, the central argument revolves around the effects violent media hasRead MoreResearch Paper Outline on Violence in Media Contributes to Violence in Children888 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction The media is generally seen by people as a way of conveying the truth. If something is seen on TV, has been heard on the radio or something has been read in the newspapers then it is perceived as being the truth. Throughout history the media has been used as a tool to convey different messages to people. The issue of the behavior of children when exposed to violence on media has been an issue to be debated upon and studied for a very long time. There are many devices that children have accessRead MoreThe Effects of Media Violence on Children Essay1367 Words   |  6 PagesTelevision.† Television violence had a role in the childs behavior. Media violence can have a lasting impression on children, teenagers and adults not only through television, but also through video games. In the past two decades, there has been a significant increase in violent behavior in the United States (Merino 1). This is the result of exposure to violence. More than half of television programs and vide o games contain some type of violence. Perez Daly says, â€Å"’... children are likely to see 8,000Read MoreEssay on Media Violence: Censorship Not Needed1591 Words   |  7 PagesMedia Violence is a Menace, but Censorship Not Needed      Ã‚  According to John Davidsons essay Menace to Society, three-quarters of Americans surveyed [are] convinced that movies, television and music spur young people to violence. While public opinion is strong, the results of research are divided on the effects of media violence on the youth in this country. Davidson wrote that most experts agree that some correlation between media violence and actual violent acts exists, yet the resultsRead More The Negative Impact of Exposing Children to Media Violence Essay1448 Words   |  6 PagesImpact of Exposing Children to Media Violence On April 20, 1999 at Columbine High School, 13 people were killed and another 23 were wounded in one of the worst school killing incidents ever (Skeesis). Since the 1980s, overall homicide rates in the U.S. have declined. However, homicide rates for ages 14-17 have increased quite dramatically during this time period (Fox). Among other numerous potential causes, violence in the media may play a role in this increase in youth violence. Today, there isRead MoreInformative Speech Outline, Children and Violence Essay1264 Words   |  6 PagesInformative Speech Outline #2 Topic: Children and TV Violence General Purpose/ Goal: To inform. Specific Goal: I want my audience to know more about TV violence and children’s exposure to it. Thesis Statement: My informative speech is going to inform you about the definition of violence, how the media rates violence, and children’s exposure to media violence. Organizational Pattern: Topical INTRODUCTION I. Mahatma Gandhi said, â€Å"An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.† Read MoreViolent Media Is Good For Kids1324 Words   |  6 PagesWhen it comes to the topic of violent media, some of us would readily agree it’s a controversial subject as to whether kids should or shouldn’t be exposed to it. This is because many children who view violent media react negatively rather than not being affected at all. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of what effects does it have on children. Whereas some are convinced that it is a healthy alternative for kids to express themselves, others maintain that it causes kids

The Mexican American War Of Mexico - 2607 Words

The Mexican-American War was the war between the United States and Mexico that took place in 1846 through 1848 over disputes of land. By the time that the United States invaded Mexico, Mexico had very few resources left to defend its nation, causing the United States to win the war and making it possible for it to claim half of New Mexico’s national territory. However, prior to the Mexican-America War, tired and exhausted Mexico was fighting a few battles of its own. The City of Mexico was living in fear due to the destruction Comanche Indians and their allies brought upon Mexico. During the 1830’s through 1840’s, prior to the Mexican-American War, Comanche Indians, Kiowa’s, and other Indian allies invaded and attacked Mexican settlements by using tactics such as raids. These raids claimed the lives of many Indians and Mexicans, destroyed most of Northern Mexico’s economy and slowed down Mexico’s growth. The raids by the Comanche Indians were what eventually shaped the outcome of the Mexican-American war. Indian raids by the Comanche and their allies like the Kiowa’s generated many problems for Mexico’s agricultural, commercial and ranch life during the 1830’s. As a result, Mexico’s ability to defend itself declined when centralism, militarism, and American imperialism were devastating the nation. Development on both sides of the Rio Grande in the 1830’s through the 1840’s, like Mexico’s swing to dictatorship in 1835, and the power struggle between civil and militaryShow MoreRelatedThe Mexican American War Of Mexico1255 Words   |  6 PagesDid you know that in the Mexican-American War, the US took half of Mexico s land? After Mexico s independence from Spain in 1821, the northern lands of Mexico were rarely used. America saw this as an opportunity to expand by seizing Mexico’s northern lands, and took it. They accepted Mexico s offer to live in Texas, and soon Texas became overrun with Americans. They influenced Texas to go against Mexico, and eventually Texas was won by the US in battle. After that, Mexico and America began havingRead MoreMexican American War : Mexico Essay1233 Words   |  5 Pages Mexico, whose official name is Estados Unidos Mexicanos or United Mexican States is our neighbor to the south, the U. S. and Mexico share 1,989 miles of border territory (â€Å"How Long,† 2015). Mexico is made up of 31 states and one federal district. Prior to the Mexican American War in 1846, New Mexico, California, Texas, Arizona, Colorado and Utah were also part of the Mexican territory, which was about one third of their territory (â€Å"Mexican-American War,† 2009) The population in Mexico is estimatedRead MoreThe Mexican American War : A War Between Mexico And The United States1229 Words   |  5 PagesMonica Vela Kerry Jones Composition II November 24, 2014 The Mexican-American War was a war between Mexico and the United States that initiated in 1846 and finished in 1848 in the wake of the U.S capture of Texas, which Mexico considered part of its land. After independence from Spain in 1821, Mexico inherited the provinces of California, New Mexico and Texas. Enervated and virtually bankrupt after the war, the new Mexican government could not control its northern territories that were thousandsRead MoreThe Mexican American War, Spanish Guerra De 1847770 Words   |  4 PagesThe Mexican-American War The Mexican War, Spanish Guerra de 1847, or Guerra do Estados Unidos a Mexico, are different names for the Mexican-American War. Many incidents happened even before the war officially began. Eisenhower simply and bluntly stated: â€Å"The fact is that Mexico stood in the way of the American dream of Manifest Destiny.† Manifest Destiny was just one of the causes that pushed us to war with Mexico. The first battle was at Palo Alto, a fort that was in the disputed zone. ThereRead MoreMexican War/US Land and Territory600 Words   |  3 PagesMexican War/US Land and Territory The Mexican American War caused many people to lose lives and could have been avoided. President Polk wanted more land and liked the idea of expanding the US. As a result of the war, the US had acquired more than 525,000 square miles of land. Many historians believe that the Mexican War was an unnecessary attack on a weaker country. The Mexican war had many causes and effects but ultimately Mexico lost. The Mexican American war happened for many reasons. AroundRead MoreEssay about The Mexican War as an Exercise in American Imperialism1152 Words   |  5 PagesThe Mexican War as an Exercise in American Imperialism The US government believed firmly in the doctrine of Manifest destiny, the government argued that they had the right and duty to expand through North American because it was necessary and inevitable. During the 19th century Mexico dominated a large amount of North America which was inhabited by American settlers and the American government aimed to expand the USA from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and wereRead MoreMexican American War : The United States784 Words   |  4 Pages Mexican-American War The Mexican-American War is one of the deadliest wars in U.S. History. This war was a Battle driven by Manifest Destiny for the Americans to acquire the territory of Texas that they felt belonged to them. But Mexico refused to give up the territory to the United States. The war consisted of several issues between the United States and Mexico that couldn’t be negotiated or resolved without the use of force. After a border incident between Mexican and American troops. PresidentRead MoreMexican American War And The United States1102 Words   |  5 Pagesthe most important war in the history of United State was the â€Å"Mexican-American War†, also called by Mexicans â€Å"the United State Invasion†. The war begun in the 19th century when the United State expansion cause disagreements with the Mexicans. One important character in the United State side was the president James K. Polk who served during the war time. Beside Mexico side the president Santa Anna le d Mexico to the first the battle of Mexico with Texas which later one bring the war between this twoRead MoreThe Mexican American War Essay1223 Words   |  5 PagesUnited States of America has been through many wars, wars concerning many things such as land oil, pride and respect. However, when the United States went to war with Mexico, it was planned over greed. The Mexican- American war was a war provoked by the United States, in efforts to expand the coasts of the country. Mexico was a small under privileged country who had previously to the war had already lost part of their country (Texas). Needless to say this war was cut throat and violent, it was howeverRead MoreThe Mexican-American War Essay870 Words   |  4 Pagesdisregard for the toll a war can take on human lives. When the Alamo was fought back in February 1836, it was about the independence of Texas from Mexico. In retaliation of the death and destruction of human life, Sam Houston retaliated in April and killed 630 Mexican soldiers and took General Santa Anna prisoner (Tindall Shi, 2010). This was the start of the independence of Texas and the quest for annexation into the United States, which ultimately led to the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848. This

Case Study of Elvis Presley Essay Example For Students

Case Study of Elvis Presley Essay The Case Study of Elvis Presley Kelly Cobban University of Phoenix The Case Study of Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley was a wildly known performer from the 19th century. With this fame comes the public display of every aspect of his personal life, the good as well as the bad. Anyone who has knowledge of Mr. Presley also knows that he died of a drug overdose while sitting on the toilet of his bathroom in Graceland but what many do not know is the discrepancy behind the details of exactly why. Substance abuse covers a wide range of substances. Any brain-affecting substance is classified as a drug and this includes caffeine and nicotine on top of alcohol (Hansell Damour, 2008). Due to this the DSM IV-TR classifies substance abuse as substance related disorders. Mr. Presley died of such a disorder. Elvis Presley Elvis Presley is viewed by many to be the â€Å"King of Rock and Roll† and his charisma and music left an impression on music forever (Meyer, Chapman, Weaver, 2009). Through the fame he acquired he also brought his personal life into the spotlight as well. He was very attached with his mother who died from hepatitis and had a drinking problem herself and bouts of depression with fits of anger separating them (Meyer, Chapman, Weaver, 2009). His relationship with his father was strained because of the jail term he served when he was just a child (Meyer, Chapman, Weaver, 2009). Many count the separation and finally divorce from his wife, Priscilla Beaulieu, as his downfall because he simply gave upon life and his behavior took a turn for the worse. He began more dangerous behavior of sleeping around, his sleep schedule was reversed so that he would sleep during the day and party all night, and he began to use drugs heavily (Meyer, Chapman, Weaver, 2009). Many knew of his substance abuse problem due to the fact that he would show up to concerts drunk and break out into laughing fits or cancel shows altogether due to drug use (Meyer, Chapman, Weaver, 2009). His behavior fluctuated from highly irrational to depressed (Meyer, Chapman, Weaver, 2009). He also displayed abnormal behavior through spending money without regard to anything or anyone and then donating the purchases right after (Meyer, Chapman, Weaver, 2009). During the last three years of his life he was prescribed over 19,000 doses of various prescription medications, such as codeine, morphine, Valium, Quaaludes, and Demerol and his reason for these drugs was tooth problems (Meyer, Chapman, Weaver, 2009). The discrepancy as to the cause of death comes from various physicians. The coroner that performed the autopsy ruled the cause of death as cardiac arrhythmia and stated the amounts of drug within his body were too low to state drug overdose as the cause (Meyer, Chapman, Weaver, 2009). However the toxicology report states that he died from polypharmacy or the use of too medications by a single patient and many use this to dispute the initial cause of death (Meyer, Chapman, Weaver, 2009). Whatever the reason as to the cause of death drugs played a vital role in the event. DSM IV-TR The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV-TR) is the manual used by those in the field to diagnose mental disorders among the population. The last major revision was done back in 1994 and since the next copy, DSM-V, is not set to appear until 2012 a text revision was done in 2000 to give us the current reference of DSM IV-TR (APA, 2010). It is within this reference that the definitions are given to diagnose an individual with substance abuse. .u0ae203a1db3ffc4b8c7a54f3830cbf05 , .u0ae203a1db3ffc4b8c7a54f3830cbf05 .postImageUrl , .u0ae203a1db3ffc4b8c7a54f3830cbf05 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u0ae203a1db3ffc4b8c7a54f3830cbf05 , .u0ae203a1db3ffc4b8c7a54f3830cbf05:hover , .u0ae203a1db3ffc4b8c7a54f3830cbf05:visited , .u0ae203a1db3ffc4b8c7a54f3830cbf05:active { border:0!important; } .u0ae203a1db3ffc4b8c7a54f3830cbf05 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u0ae203a1db3ffc4b8c7a54f3830cbf05 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u0ae203a1db3ffc4b8c7a54f3830cbf05:active , .u0ae203a1db3ffc4b8c7a54f3830cbf05:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u0ae203a1db3ffc4b8c7a54f3830cbf05 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u0ae203a1db3ffc4b8c7a54f3830cbf05 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u0ae203a1db3ffc4b8c7a54f3830cbf05 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u0ae203a1db3ffc4b8c7a54f3830cbf05 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u0ae203a1db3ffc4b8c7a54f3830cbf05:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u0ae203a1db3ffc4b8c7a54f3830cbf05 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u0ae203a1db3ffc4b8c7a54f3830cbf05 .u0ae203a1db3ffc4b8c7a54f3830cbf05-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u0ae203a1db3ffc4b8c7a54f3830cbf05:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The theme of Guy de Maupassant story The Necklace EssayDue to the fact that there is no black and white definition of such disorders this manual gives the foundation for what needs to be present to give an accurate diagnosis. Substance Abuse Drug abuse or what are otherwise known as substance related disorders in the DSM IV-TR, is a major problem among the population of the United States of America (Hansell Damour, 2008). To classify major, at least one quarter of the population will, at some point in their lifetime, meet the criteria for substance abuse disorders which makes substance misuse the most common of all mental disorders within the DSM IV-TR (Hansell Damour, 2 008). Everyone within this country will be personally affected by a substance related disorder in their lifetime and with such a staggering topic that places economic and social price in the billions, individuals need to look into ways of providing help to those in need (Hansell Damour, 2008). The DSM IV-TR has two classifications for diagnoses of substance use. The first, and less severe, is substance abuse and is roughly similar to addiction (Hansell Damour, 2008). The second is substance dependence and in order to distinguish between the two one must become aware of the three C’s (Hansell Damour, 2008). These criteria describe three features of a pathological drug relationship: a pattern of ongoing use of a substance despite experiencing negative consequences, a pattern of compulsive use (that is, significant time and resources are devoted to the substance), and a loss of control over use of the substance, such as using the substance in greater amounts or with greater frequency than intended (Hansell Damour, 2008, p. 314). Substance abuse consists of the first C whereas substance dependence contains all three (Hansell Damour, 2008). Through these criteria one can see why substance related disorders affect so many within this country and have a profound impact on so many others. Conclusion Elvis Presley died at a young age by today’s standards and he also has a mental disorder classified by the DSM IV-TR as a substance abuse disorder. The DSM IV-TR is the reference manual that is currently in place to assist those in the psychology field to place diagnoses on individuals. According to this text, substance related disorders are classified as the most common of all mental disorders out there. In order to determine which level of substance use the individual has one must beware of the three C’s. Mr. Presley had the second and most severe of the two levels: substance dependence. Due to this dependency it cost him his life. References American Psychological Assiciation, 2010. DSM IV-TR the current manual. Retrieved May 16, 2010 from http://www. psych. org/mainmenu/research/dsmiv/dsmivtr. aspx Hansell, J. Damour, L. (2008). Abnormal psychology (2nd ed. ). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Meyer, R. , Chapman, L. K. , Weaver, C. M. (2009). Case studies in abnormal behavior. (8th ed). Boston: Pearson/Allyn Bacon

Dear Love free essay sample

No, Im not talking about the movie, or the book. Im talking about the six Ohioans who make up the band. Far outside the mainstream, this group is widely known by hardcore enthusiasts in the heart of the country. Now signed to Rise Records, the band has released their debut album, â€Å"Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord.† This is a breath of fresh air in the cramped world of metalcore. Many groups have jumped on the bandwagon with the genres recent success, copying the likes of As I Lay Dying and offering nothing new. But The Devil Wears Prada rises above and is rewriting all the rules. Through a mix of melodic guitar riffs and devastating breakdowns, this is possibly the most well-balanced band in metalcore. Other aspects of their style separate them from the new crop of metalcore bands, too. The Devil has a rare sixth member, keyboardist James Baney. We will write a custom essay sample on Dear Love or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He adds a new layer and, with guitarists Chris Rubey and Jeremy DePoyster, make the dark music take on an almost epic form. The lyrics are nothing short of genius, either. A large percentage is Christian-based, another innovative feature for a hardcore band. Most songs are based on themes of strength and perseverance as well as the need for forgiveness in the world. They spread a positive message of hope, something once unheard of in the usually gruesome, bloody lyrics of hardcore music. The vocals may seem overshadowed by these other components but are not to be forgotten. The contrast between the almost grindcore screaming and screamo singing is perfect. Songs like â€Å"Texas is South† and â€Å"Modify the Pronunciation† are ideal examples of this style. The menacing, fast-paced growls of lead vocalist Mike Hranica mix seamlessly with DePoysters backup singing. All these elements combine for a spectacular album, but that isnt enough to compete with other hardcore bands live shows are just as imperative to overall success. If possible, the members of The Devil Wears Prada have mastered this too. The high-energy, up-tempo show is probably the best in the business. Their energy keeps the crowd involved and frontman Mike Hranica works wonders controlling the fans. All things considered, The Devil Wears Prada has quickly become one of the greatest and most innovative metalcore bands of all time. Any fan of the genre simply must pick up their album.

McTeague Frank Norris Expression of Social Darwinism free essay sample

The theory of Social Darwinism avows that biologically superior humans endure, while genetically inferior individuals die out. Author Frank Norris, a proponent of Social Darwinism, asserted that one should remain within his inborn social class. In his view, if one acts contrary to his inherited societal state, then Social Darwinism will level him back to his innate societal class. Frank Norris expressed this theory in his novel McTeague. Through his conceptualization of Social Darwinism, Frank Norris illustrated the downfall of Trina and McTeague, and Maria and Zerkow, and the prosperity of Old Grannis and Miss Baker. Despite their white European ancestry, McTeague and Trina changed their financial status too abruptly, which ultimately led to their demise. For example, when Trina wins the lottery, the McTeagues quickly climb the social ladder. Accordingly, an abrupt financial deviation ensues with McTeague and Trina. Trina’s penny-pinching tendencies worsen, while McTeague spirals into an unemployed drunk. We will write a custom essay sample on McTeague: Frank Norris Expression of Social Darwinism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Eventually, when Trina continues to deny him money, McTeague brutally murders her. After escaping the authorities, McTeague digresses back to the life of a miner, his natural occupation. In spite of their white heritage, the McTeagues’ hasty transformation of social status serves as a prime example of Norris’ view of Social Darwinism. Unlike the McTeagues, Zerkow and Maria represent the marital union of the lowest ancestral classes of society, which confirms their destiny to fail. Zerkow, a Jew, marries Maria based on a financial fallacy. As Maria’s memory of the gold dishes depletes, Zerkow’s lust for the gold dishes intensifies. Maria’s continual denial of her fictitious family affluence infuriates the Jew, and he eventually cut her throat. The downfall of the marital union results from Maria and Zerkow’s biological inferiority. According to Norris, Zerkow’s and Maria’s marriage, biologically speaking, is naturally bound for catastrophe. Contrary to the previous examples, the union of Old Grannis and Miss Baker exemplifies the proper integration of wealth and lineage. While the other characters in the novel attempt to fill prevailing voids in their lives through monetary means, Old Grannis and Miss Baker fill their void with authentic love. The fulfillment of this void comes when Miss Baker brings Old Grannis a cup of tea. Norris portrays the prosperity of Old Grannis’ and Miss Baker’s union, as a result of their biological superiority. The elderly white European couple possesses a genetic disposition for opulence and material comfort. Incorporating elements of Social Darwinism, Frank Norris demonstrated the breakdown of hereditarily inferior couples and the success of intrinsically superior couples. McTeague and Trina brusquely rose in social class, so the couple parted in death. Among the bottom barrel of society, the marriage of Zerkow and Maria, likewise, resulted in dissolution. Finally, Old Grannis and Miss Baker endured successfully due to their Anglo-Saxon heritage. Despite Norris’ views expressed in the novel, survival of the fittest theories should not be applied to human civilization.

Essay on Bambi

Essay on Bambi Essay on Bambi Essay on BambiThe scene begins with the owl falling asleep and ends up with the squirrel waking up and looking back down on the owl. The owl symbolizes the night life of the nature. The owl is sleepy and falls asleep immediately just as it stops and sits on the trunk of the tree. The owl is also a symbol of wisdom which though is not always awaken that gives possible implications to the awareness of characters of the film and their ability to stay sober and awaken all the time.Steadily the camera moves upward and shows the squirrel which wakens up just as soon as the owl falls asleep. The scene implies the awakening of the nature with the awakening of the squirrel. The squirrel is vivid and active in contrast to the slow and sleepy owl. In such a way, the contrast between two types of characters clearly shows the contrast between the active and vivid squirrel and the slow, passive and sleepy owl.The meaning of the scene is quite symbolic because the transition from sleep to awakening and vice versa implies the unstoppable lifecycle which continues on and on day and night regardless of the change in the physical environment. As the owl falls asleep, the life does not stop. On the contrary, the squirrel wakes up and starts a new active life, when the owl is just sleeping being tired after the night.In such a way, the scene reveals the unstoppable lifecycle and the contrasting lifestyle of the characters depicted in the film in the particular scene.

Traditional china Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Traditional china - Essay Example None, therefore, could function independently. Secondly and most importantly was that energy flowed through the body following certain distinct channels found deep within the body (Zhao, 12). In traditional china, it was believed that one fell sick as a result of the very channels through which energy passes are blocked. Consequently, the body parts working together were the reason why an individual became well or sick. In the event that the body parts did not work in harmony, one thus became sick. Most of the medicines used in traditional China were basically herbs (Tsang, 78). The traditional healers mixed a variety of herbs to effect a healing. This was done for a variety of diseases and none of the herbs could be said to be of a specific nature. A number of diseases were thus treated and become well. Many as the best have described medicine and healing in traditional china in many years. Scientists have also used the traditional medicines to develop more sophisticated drugs. In different countries, especially in America, these forms of healing and even the medicine have been used as direct alternatives of the actual drugs

Ostia antica Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ostia antica - Essay Example During the early Augustan period, a monumental theatre was constructed by Agrippa along with an adjacent rectangular double-colonnaded portico3 with a large space in the center to offer the audiences a retreat as they reached the interval or the end of the show4. In the second half of the second century, a trade center was made out of this structure that was further divided into several parts that appear to be the offices of traders. There was a unique mosaic in each office, revealing different kinds of commodities that the overseas clients purchased5. The Temple of Rome and Augustus is one of the landmarks which have preserved the Augustan period over the centuries. Roman sculptors carved its Italian marble faà §ade6, which not only reveals the building’s significance but also the amount of skill needed to achieve it. The horrea warehouses were the commercial buildings of extreme importance in Ostia. Ostia was like a bridge in Rome, which was used for different types of commodities, which imparted a need to store the imported goods. Commodities received in Ostia were numbered and catalogued before they were sent for Rome7. The audiences can also have a view of the imperial Roman lifestyle from the Bath buildings that provided the slaves and working men and women with retreat as they had a place to get together in a good environment8. The most common example of the Roman architecture of all time is the Roman tabernae. It is a very flexible and ordinary architectural unit often in the form of a single room that appeared like a â€Å"tall, deep, barrel-vaulted chamber open in front almost to its full width†9 in its enhanced form. Tabernae served many purposes that included but were not limited to frontage of apartments, market-places, and street shops. Owing to the constructors’ liking for the pattern and texture of it, brickwork was frequently employed in the decoration of the concrete buildings10. â€Å"In urban architecture it was

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

Art History - Essay Example Plate with Peony Design and Dish with String of Camellias were both plates. These two pieces of ceramic came from the Arita region Saga Prefecture, Japan. Plate with Peony Design is dated to approximately 1650-1700 A.D. The Dish with String of Camellias is dated around fifty years later at approximately 1700-1750 A.D. The Plate with Peony Design caught my eye, because of the bold colors. The background is of mustard yellow, with slightly darker yellow swirls. On this background green leaves are accentuated with dark maroon peony flowers. There is no white, only a vivid amount of darker colors, devoid of any hint of pastel. Generally a pattern or representation of flowers is delicate, but this plate was strong and bold. One could definitely see the Japanese influence. In contrast, the Dish with String of Camellias has a white background. Camellias encircle the outside of this plate, but do not touch by making a full circle. A blue chord connecting the flowers covers a little more than half of the plate. The flowers are detailed, especially the orange and white striped blooms. The camellias are also solid orange, a drab yellow, white, and blue. Once again you can see the Japanese influence by a strong depiction of the flowers. The contrast between the two plates is dramatic. While Plate with Peony Design is covered with strong background color, Dish with String of Camellias’ background is white. Whereas the Plate with Peony Design has a crowded, almost blurry design, Dish with String of Camellias has detailed flowers in order. The reason for these drastically different appearances is the plates are of different wares. Plate with Peony Design is a Kokutani ware. These wares were known for there over glazed enamels. Kokutani wares were made during the period this piece was made, so can be defined as such. Kokutani wares were made with dark reds, greens, and yellows. These are the same colors making up this plate. In

The Importance Of Dams To Water Quality Environmental Sciences Essay

The Importance Of Dams To Water Quality Environmental Sciences Essay Water plays an exceptional significant role in the economy and in the life of all countries. It is of vital importance for the existence of people, animals and vegetation. The settling of people in different regions of earth has always been closely dependant on the possibilities for water supply parallel to those providing with food, shelter and heat. The increase in the population, development and enrichment of mankind in number of places has reached a level at which the water supply needed for the population, industry, irrigation and production of electric power has been brought to a critical point. Only one-fifth of the fresh water which is available is suitable for human consumption. There is uneven distribution of water regarding space, time and quality. That is why artificial redistribution of water is needed by undertaking expensive engineering in order to obtain water for given place in a defined quantity and quality. Definition of Dam Dam is a manmade barrier constructed to contain flow of water built across a river, lake, sea forming a reservoir behind it. They are mostly constructed from earth, natural materials, concrete rocks. Types of dams:- Arch dams Arch dams are made from concrete. They are curved in the shape of an arch, with the top of the arch pointing back into the water. Arch dams are usually constructed in narrow, steep valleys. They like all dams need good rock for their foundations, to resist the force of water on the dam. An arch shape is used for resisting the pushing force of the flowing water behind the dam. Buttress dams These dams are made from concrete masonry or both. The watertight upstream side supported is by triangular shaped walls, called buttresses. The buttresses are spaced at regular intervals on the downstream side. They resist the force of the reservoir water trying to push the dam over. The buttress dam was developed from the idea of the gravity dam, except that buttress dam uses a lot less because there are a lot of empty spaces between the buttress dams. Like gravity dams, they are made to suit to both narrow and wide valleys and they must be constructed on stable rock. Since 1945, 14 buttress dams have been constructed in the UK, mainly for hydroelectric schemes in Scotland. Cross-section through gravity dam (http://www.britishdams.org/about_dams/gravity.htm) Gravity dams -A gravity dam is made from concrete or masonry, or sometimes both. It is called a gravity dam because gravity is the force that holds it down to the ground stopping the water in the reservoir pushing it over. Cross-section through gravity dam A cross-section (or slice) through a gravity looks roughly like a triangular shape. Gravity dams are mostly used at sites which have narrow valleys, but they do need to be built on a stable rock. They can be constructed fairly on any terrain. There are more than 260 gravity dams in Britain. Masonry was used in many early dams, as far back as the 17th Century. However, concrete became more common from about 1900. Embankment dams their main features- There are several types of embankment dams; the designs have varying degree of inbuilt conservation. For e.g. Relating to the degree of seepage within the dam which is controlled by provision of filters and drains The use of free draining rock fill in embankment , The control of foundation seepage by grouting, drainage and cut-off constructions. The shape of dam looks like a small hill or pile. The hill or the pile is made up of impermeable  [1]  material, so that the water cannot pipe through the dam. The core of the dam is made up of clay or asphalt concrete; these types of dams are mostly used on wide valleys. The wide base helps water to exert less pressure on the foundation of the dams this is the main reason these dams could be built on soft soil. There are two types of embankment dams earth filled dam rock filled dam For rock filled dams the rock pieces are cut precisely to form a dam. Earth filled dams rock filled dams can further be divided into different categories of dams:- Concrete earth fill- Concrete is used in the core of dam as impermeable material. Asphaltic core rock fill-This type of dam is build with asphalt core (i.e. rock gravel) as the main fill material in the dam. Bituminous concrete face earth and rock fill-Bituminous concrete membrane is used in the water barrier for a dam as it is easy to maintain and economical viable. Types of spillways Spillways are structures which are found on or near dams, these structures are used when reservoir is full to pass floodwater safely, and in a controlled way, across a dam. There are 3 types of spillways:- Overflow spillway- These types of spillways are mostly created on gravity dam or a buttress dam. The spillway section in these dams are lower than the other sections of the dam allowing water to flow over its top and down from the front face of the dam. Side channel spillway- These types of spillways are used mainly with embankment dams. They are just located upstream and towards the side of the embankment dam. The water flows over the spillway, into a side channel of the dam and flows out safely through a tunnel Shaft spillways- This type of spillways is also known as Morning Glory, this spillway resembles like inverted funnel over a tower which looks like a shaft in the reservoir as soon as the water level rises in the reservoir it falls into the shaft and it is removed through the bottom of shaft via a tunnel. Shaft Spillway (http://www.britishdams.org/about_dams/shaft.htm) How are dams built? To build a dam some sequence of events are required for building the foundations of the dam and creating a reservoir. Dam is usually constructed across a river to create a reservoir in the valley which helps in storing the water that flows into it naturally. Sometimes, they are built across dry valleys, or valleys with small streams, to create a storage area for water that is transported from elsewhere. (I)Diverting the river flow from the site Streams and rivers are diverted to create a dry land for the construction of the dam. Small rivers, streams or canals are usually diverted through a tunnel, or a channel that is constructed around the side of the dam. Soft soils and rocks are removed to make a route, while harder rocks have to be blasted with explosives, to loosen up the soil and form soft debris. If dams are built across wide rivers with large volumes of flowing water. It would be impracticable and too expensive to construct a separate channel or a tunnel to divert the flow of water. Instead, a dry construction pit is formed on one side of the river, leaving the other side open for the water to flow through. The first portion of the dam is constructed in the dry pit. When it is finished, another dry area is formed on the other side of the river, and the remaining part of the dam is built. Meanwhile, the river flows through openings in the completed portion of the dam, and the reservoir can start to fill behind it (http://www.britishdams.org/about_dams/divert.htm) (ii)Constructing a foundation for the dam-A dam is usually built on a soil or on a hard rock foundation, different foundations are used depending on the type of dam and type of topography  [2]  around it. The foundation needs to be strong enough to hold and maintain the weight, structure of the dam, and the force of water pressure acting on the walls of the dam. The dam foundation generally needs to be below the ground level of the dam. To construct foundation soft soil and rocks need to be removed by excavation, drilling or by blasting rocks with explosives. Rarely, areas of weaker soils or rocks are found below the planned foundation level of the dam and this need to be removed and replaced with stronger materials for a stronger foundation. Some rock foundations have crevices  [3]  and fissures  [4]  in them. These have to be filled with grout or sealing material to stop water seeping out from the reservoir through the cracks, once the dam is made. This is usually done by drilling holes down into the weak rock with cracks and by pumping grout in them, which spreads outwards to fill up the cracks and making the rock hard. (iii)Building a dam (structure) -There are two major types of dam constructions (i) Concrete dams (ii) Embankment dams Concrete dams-As limited amount of concrete is required in a concrete dam, the concrete is mixed together in a special building called a concrete batching plant, which is built near the dam site. Sometimes for very large dams, there can be a number of batching plants. The concrete in the dam is placed by two different methods. (a) Pouring concrete -The traditional method of constructing a dam is to pour a wet mixture of concrete into a mould made in the required shape of the dam. The mould is usually made from sheets of timber it is also known as formwork. The mould is not made to the full length and breadth of the dam, as the dam is built upwards in small stages of about 1 to 2 metres at a time. The concrete is left to dry and harden before they can work on the next section on the top. The concrete needs to be transferred from the batching plant to the dam this can be done by number of methods. Like a system of conveyor belts is used from the batching plant to the dam site or sometimes the concrete is taken by the trucks to the dam site from where it is poured into skips which are then lifted to the top of the dam by cranes and poured. (b) Compacting concrete with rollers- Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) dams are formed by spreading a dry layer of mix of concrete and compacting and mashing it down using a heavy steel rollers. The dam is raised slowly step by step to about 600 mm. The edges of the dams are formed first, by making low concrete walls on the upstream and downstream sides of the dam. Concrete is then moved to the area between the walls and spread in a thin layer using bulldozers. Rollers are then driven over the concrete to compact it down and harden it up. (iv)Filling up the reservoir with water (v)Testing that does the floodgates and valves work (vi) Monitoring and recording the behaviour of newly built dam USES OF DAMS Water supply -This water is used to supply water to homes and factories. Reservoirs are designed in such a way to store the rain that falls during the rainier parts of the year, so that there is a continuous supply of water for the drier period Hydroelectricity- Waters in the reservoirs could be used to store water to feed hydroelectric power stations. Hydroelectric power is produced by using the potential energy from falling water to drive water turbines that in turn, turn electric generators. The reservoir water is stored at a height higher than the turbines, which are in the power station. Sometimes, the power station is directly in front of a dam, and pipes through the dam feed water directly to the turbines. In some other cases, the power station is downhill from the reservoir, and the water is fed to it through long pipes or tunnels called penstocks. Flood control-A reservoir can be used to control the amount of water flowing in a river after heavy rain or snow fall. The water level in the reservoir is kept low during the wetter periods of the year. When heavy rain occurs, it is gated by the dam and held in the reservoir like a collecting tank. When the reservoir gets too full, the floodwater can be passed downstream over a spillway. Sometimes, floodgates are used on top of spillways, and they can be fully or partly opened to control the amount of water let out into the river downstream. If dam werent there the water level in rivers can rise dramatically. Sometimes, the water flows over riverbanks or walls causing flooding of farmland, property, and in the worst cases, loss of life. Irrigation-Plants grow naturally on fertile soil that is watered by rain. However, in different regions of the world where the climate is very dry for some parts of the year, the soil becomes so dry that it restricts the growth of vegetation. This problem can be overcome by irrigation, a man-made system for watering the land. As water is released through spillway into downstream and to the drier parts Navigation -The construction of a dam across a river forms a reservoir that holds water raises the water level upstream, , and it slows down its rate of flow. This improves the navigation conditions upstream of the dam for ships and boats. Dangerous areas of rocks and sandbanks, previously in shallow water, become well covered, and rapids in the river disappear. Also, water from the reservoir can be released into the river downstream during the drier seasons of the year to make sure that it is deep enough for navigation all the year round. How do dams affect people and environment around it? Reservoirs are generally created to act as a resource or to give benefit to people. Rarely , inundation, or flooding of land and the management of the water in the reservoir can have an adverse effects on people, the wildlife ,the environment and the habitats, not only inside and around the valley, but also downstream of the dam or the spillway. The advantages and disadvantages of creating a new reservoir and a dam should be considered during the planning stages. Suitable methods should be decided and worked upon to eliminate or to reduce the disadvantages, so that the reservoir provides an overall resourceful benefit to people. These are some of the issues that are considered:- People- Peoples livelihood and their quality of living are also affected when the land is inundated by the reservoirs, on which they used to live and earn living .For some large reservoirs, or dams, hundreds of thousands of people have had to leave their homes and well established businesses had to migrate elsewhere and set up everything from scratch. In the past, there have been cases that many of these people that were forced to migrate for the betterment of society had not been given adequate compensation for their losses, and some had not even been given new places to live let alone the compensation. During relocation some of the communities who had been living together for a long time were broken up and moved to different areas due to construction of the dam, which also led to emotional and mental traumas. Some people made their living from farming and used the water from river for irrigation and some used the river for fishing. Majority of them suffered when they were relocated , as they were not given new land to work, if land was given it was far more less than they actually used to have or the land was infertile and the land was too far from a river so river could not be used for irrigation. They needed different skills to get another job and adequate training was not always provided. These days, authorities responsible for the dams are becoming more aware of these issues. Resettlement plans have been worked on, developed and applied to minimise the disruption and suffering caused to people during relocation, which used to live in the reservoir areas. Good plans make sure that fair compensation and employment opportunities would be provided. In some cases, efforts have been made to resettle migrants in their own chosen communities. Plants and animals Dams are generally constructed across rivers or lakes to store water that would naturally find its path to the lower reaches of the river and finally into the sea. The building of a dam upsets the natural flow of water and the balance of the river which affects the animal and plant life in and around it. some of the reasons how it may change the natural balance are :- At the upstream of the dam, the dam is made, river is flooded and it becomes a reservoir. The nature of the flow of the water downstream is changed. The dams generally accumulate sediments that normally flow downstream in a natural flow When the river valley is flooded with water, animals are forced to leave there natural habitat and plants and trees are cut. In some cases rare species have been extinct due to the negligence of the authorities. Now for some large projects, plans for nature reserves have been made .In some natural reserves same species of plants and trees have been replanted in them and some of the native affected animals have been moved there. However, the natural reserves can only really work when authorities carefully give a thought that how the plants and animals depend on each other in an environment. A dam across a river generally forms a barrier to fish that migrate, such as salmon, pomfret, sailfish. Fish passes should be included in the design of a dam. This would allow adult fish to swim upstream to spawn, and then come back downstream later with their young ones. Fish passes usually take the form of a fish lock or fish ladder. These fish passes need to be designed very carefully and precisely to make sure that the conditions are just about right for the fish to use them. Sedimentation- Rivers always carry sediments. When river is flooding a reservoir, the speed of the flowing water comes to almost a halt and the sediments fall down and get deposited on the reservoir bed. Over a number of years, the sediment in the reservoir can pile up, and form a hard rock which may reduce the space available for storing water in the reservoir. Most of the sediments that are held back in the reservoir would normally be moved downstream by the flowing water. If too much sediment is accumulated in the reservoir, the natural balance of the sediments in the river downstream can be changed, affecting people, wildlife and plants as far away as the river estuary, meets the sea. Farming land, which uses water from reservoirs for growing crops, can be deprived of its nutrients and silt which are normally accumulated when the river floods the reservoir. Nutrients are essential for fertilising the soil for agriculture. When designing a reservoir, the quantity and the quality o f sediment that will flow into the reservoir have to be monitored and controlled. The reservoir needs to be designed to reduce the amount of sediments that are deposited upstream, and to maximise the sediment flow downstream. Positioning spillways and outlet pipes and tunnels can control and regulate the flow of sediments downstream. Sometimes sediment is knowingly accumulated in the reservoir. Then at regular intervals, it is removed. This can be achieved by letting water flow out of the reservoir through the outlet pipes at the bottom of the dam, so that the sediments easily get flushed out. Water quality The quality of water can slowly deteriorate when it is stored in a reservoir as the water is stagnant .Flowing river water maintains a constant supply of dissolved oxygen. Dissolved oxygen is vitally needed to support aquatic flora and fauna, and to prevent some chemical reactions to pollute the water. There are many numbers of factors that can reduce oxygen levels in a reservoir, for e.g. organic material in the water can readily use up oxygen as it decomposes. The depth of the water in the reservoir, temperature difference between the water at the top of the reservoir and the bottom and its flow can also affect the oxygen levels. The type and the chemical nature of the land that is covered by a reservoir may affect the water quality. Pesticides and other chemicals from farms and toxic materials from industries can pollute the water. The streams and rivers flowing into the reservoir act as a major source of pollution as they may be carrying pollutants. The designers o f a reservoir and the dam have to consider all these factors and whether if any of these factors will have an adverse effect on the quality of the water. If the answer is yes, the designers need to include special safety measures to maintain good quality of water. Historical site- river valleys have high heritage values as throughout history people have settled in them. Many of the worlds archaeological sites, historical buildings and monuments can be found on the beds of these river valleys. Often these sites include sacred buildings such as churches, temples and their burial sites, which are areas of high sentimental values to the local inhabitants. Such heritage sites could be lost forever when a reservoir is made and the site is inundated with water. In the past, no such steps were taken in these dam projects to explore, preserve or save any of the local heritages. Recently, special measures have been taken in account for building of some projects. They have included following guidelines: Intensive archaeological investigations at the sites believed to have traces by ancient civilisations, before dam or a reservoir constructions proceeds. Relocation of burial sites with proper respect and dignity. Redesigning the structure of the dam, to minimise the loss of heritage site. The dismantling, relocation and re-erection of ancient monuments to preserve the interests of locals Safety and the maintenance of the dam In 1925, the two dams failed causing a flood that swamped a village in North Wales called Dolgarrog, this flood killed 16 people. The disaster was initially started when the Eigiau Dam, a small gravity dam failed. The released water from the reservoir of the broken dam flooded downstream and overtopped the reservoir of Coedty Dam which was an embankment dam; the high pressure of water inside the reservoir forced this dam to fail. Thus, releasing the huge volume of water that that swapped Dolgarrog and killed people. This disaster at Dolgarrog led the British government to pass the Reservoirs (Safety Provisions) Act in 1930 that introduced laws on the safety of the reservoirs. This act has been updated, and the current one is known as the Reservoirs Act, 1975. According to this acts all the dams in the United Kingdom that can hold at least 25,000 cubic metres of water would be maintained and looked after to ensure the safety of the general public. Under the Act, there is a usually Panel (or group) of civil engineers who are responsible for checking the safety and maintenance of these reservoirs and their dams. These are also known as Panel Engineers, and to qualify, these panel engineers need to be well qualified and vastly experienced in dam and reservoirs safety maintenance. After 10 years every existing reservoir is thoroughly checked that if they meet all their safety requirements. Panel Engineers are also required to actively participate with the new construction of dams and reservoirs, or i f the existing reservoirs needs to be repaired and changed entirely. According to this act reservoir owners are legally responsible for the safety and the maintenance of their reservoirs, dams. These dam owners are forced to employ suitably qualified civil engineers to make periodic checks on safety of the dam during the intervals between the Panel Engineers inspections. Safety check by Engineers Some of the safety checks are listed below Visual inspections An important part of a reservoir safety check is visual inspections. Unusual features like cracks on the surface of a dam may reveal important clues about the condition of the internal body of the dam which may not be visible to the naked eye of the inspector. On embankment dams, the civil engineers always look for hollows, bulges cracks and leaks on the outer face and on the upstream face of the dam, when the water is low. These features could possible indicate number of factors like the dam becoming more unstable, and that if there is a possibility that, with time, the portion of the slope could collapse, just like a landslide or the dam could crumble down on its own weight. Hollows on the dam can also indicate that floodwater has been overflowing the dam and slowly eroding the downstream slope. Engineers also look through or underneath the dam for any signs of water leaking. Water leaking through the dam can erode away the material inside the dam gradually creating a large cavity. This may lead to the collapse of the cavity itself which may reduce the stability of the dam. If the water is leaking under the dam or near the foot it can be a problem in its foundations in this case the entire dam needs to be reconstructed as the foundations get mushy and dam can collapse any second. Concrete dams have inspection galleries theses are tunnels running through the entire dams. These galleries just between 5-6 feet high just about big enough for a person to walk through. This helps engineers as the can inspect the conditions of the dam both inside and outside. The concrete surface is checked for signs of any erosion, deterioration, cracking or moulding. The engineers also look for the stability of the dam and look for any signs that could suggest that the dam or sections of it are moving. Checks are also made for any leaks on every part of the dam. Inspector checks the dam for all types of conditions, water pipes, valves and floodgates and even the quality of the water. The valves and gates are operated and greased regularly to check that they work and would work when required. Monitoring behaviour- Although dams look like a solid structure, they generally do move under the forces of nature, and which may cause water to seep through tiny pores in the structure. The height of an embankment dam actually reduced due to its weight over the years. Reduction of the height of dam is called settlement. A reservoir filled with water pushes a dam downstream a little and tries to make it slant and slide on its foundation. The structure of the dams is mostly made out of metal and concrete which may contract and expand the dam as the temperature changes throughout the year. Civil engineers have to often ensure the stability of dams by designing dams that can minimise water seepage and could withstand the effects of natural forces. Changes in the behaviour of a dam does not occur overnight, they occur slowly, and gradually so these changes cannot be detected by naked eye so the dam needs to be monitored regularly using scientific instruments that can measure changes at v ery small values . This way any unwanted behaviour can be detected in early stages before it causes a major structural problem. Some instruments are permanently fitted in dams, while others are generally taken to the site to make measurements. These are some the things that are monitored:- Seepage or leakage- A crack in a dam can indicate there would be increased leakage or seepage. In embankment dams, it could indicate that there is internal erosion of the fill material is taking place. Settlement- Optical instruments are used to measures levels on the crest of an embankment dam, to check if the height of the dam is reduced. If a crest appears to settle it can be a warning of problem a occurring within the body of the dam. The crest levels are generally designed to be of a certain height or above the normal full reservoir level. This ensures that the dam is not overtopped if in case it is flooded by excess floodwater or by waves on windy days. Tilting -Pendulums are installed in the vertically shafts of the dam to monitor any tilting in the dam Considering floods Dams are usually designed to hold back and collect water that flows into the valley behind it in the reservoirs; dams are also used to control the amount of water that passes out through it. Hydrologists are used to estimate the quantity and the quality of water that flows into a reservoir. Civil engineers use this information to find a location and plan the appropriate height of the dam. The dam needs to be of certain height, high enough to ensure that it will not be overflow excess flood water, unless it is designed to do so via tunnels or spillways. Accidental over toppling of water could damage the property downstream and in worse can be fatal or it could wash away part of the downstream side of an embankment dam which may affect the stability of the dam and it could collapse. These events can form catastrophic floods, as the water is released from the reservoir, could cause death and destruction to the people who live downstream. Floodwater is usually passed through a reservoir using a spillway, tunnels or safety canals safely. If people and property are at risk, spillways are opened safely so that they could pass the huge amounts of flood water controllably. Hydrologists often estimate the size and the danger of the flood by studying past rainfall records for the area and considering recent climate changes or the sudden change in the topography e.g. a large slope formed due to a landslide. They use this information to design new, better, efficient, spillways and also check the existing ones. Often, small-scale models are created to check the design. Checking for earthquakes- Every year there are more than 200 earthquakes are detected just alone in Britain. The majority of them are extremely small and have very small value on the Richter scale, but after regular intervals of every eight years at least a Magnitude 5 earthquake on Richter scale occurs. Luckily Magnitude 6 earthquake is about the largest and biggest that could ever occur in Britain, but the odds of that happening is very small or even negligible. A Magnitude 6 earthquake can easily damage structures that are poorly constructed, have weak foundations or that have not been designed to absorb earthquake shocks. If a dam fails during an earthquake it can be very serious, because the water released from the reservoir could cause havoc and severe flooding downstream. Due to this reason, new and existing dams in Britain are checked that if they could absorb the shocks of an earthquakes. There are a few handful dams in Britain which are believed to have been damaged or have been severely affected by earthquakes. The most important case was found in 1957 when the Black brook Dam, in Leicestershire, was severely affected by a Magnitude 5.3 earthquake. Tithe tremors of this earthquake caused heavy coping stones to shift and cracks and crevices appeared on the faces of this gravity dam which was constructed from concrete and masonry.

Huckleberry Finn: A Free Spirit Essay -- essays research papers

Huckleberry Finn: A Free Spirit Huckleberry Finn is not an escapist, but a free spirit who only wants to live deeply disentangled from the bonds of society. An escapist is someone who flees from his/her responsibilities, while a free spirit is a person who knows no boundaries, and cannot be tamed by society. It may appear at first that Huck is an escapist, for he enjoys not having to go to school when living with his father. He escapes from the cabin and his father’s abuse; however, he escapes from his father’s cabin out of the necessity of survival, not because he didn’t want to accept responsibilities. Even though Huck did enjoy fishing and relaxing in the sun during his stay with Pap, it wasn’t the responsibility that he was escaping, but the rules that society had imposed on him. Huck didn’t mind learning new things and being knowledgeable, but he did not like to get dressed up, to have to go to school, to be well behaved and polite, and to learn good manners. â€Å"I was kind of lazy and jolly, laying off comfortable all day, smoking and fishing†¦and my clothes got to be all rags and dirt, and I didn’t see how I’d ever got to like it so well at the widows where you had to wash and eat regular†¦It was pretty good times up in the woods there, take it all around.† (p. 31) Living in the woods is harder work, having to catch food and build fires to stay warm, but Huck doesn’t mind work as long as he can do it how he wants to. Huck is always going against society and cannot liv...

Masculinity in Beloved

Bondage steals away the human characteristics of the slaves. They are treated by others on par with animals that the fine distinctions that inhabit their society are not only blurred from the vision of the observers but also from themselves. Masculinity as a human trait that defines the other half of human race is an expression of individuality and it is no wonder that any trace of such individuality is suppressed and disfigured beyond recognition in the era of slavery.In Tony Morrison’s Beloved, there is a lot of malevolence and violence but the masculinity is itself like a slave trying to buy its freedom of expression and more often than not failing to do so. The murderous rage and grief of Sethe which prompts her to behead her own daughter with a saw (how savage) and try to kill her other children is an expression of the brutality of Slavery that mother would want her children dead than suffer the same fate as her.It is the destruction of masculinity, which finds more expre ssion in Beloved than the ideal shape of Masculinity. The distinction between the genders is obliterated in their common suffering and pain. Halle, who is reported to be a witness to the molesting of his wife by the nephews of he school master who nursed their milk which was by natural right her other daughter’s and also hid in the attic as a mute witness to her punishment which left her scarred is an expression of helpless ness that pervaded the male of the species called Slaves.A father’s natural instinct to protect his children and a mate’s instinctive reactions to the suffering of his partner are the truest and most enduring qualities of Masculinity which are denied to Halle (which perhaps leads him to become the mad, invisible, melancholy loser of the book) The biggest blow to a man’s identity and his gender is, perhaps, when his own wife is taken as a mistress by the man who is also his master and he can do nothing about it. Stamp paid was a victim of such misery and he became apart of the under ground railroad which helped the Negroes escape to freedom.All that he asked in return for his assistance was that their homes remain open for him always. The lack of a family or the loss of his erstwhile family and the need to be seen as a savior/protector, which is the ordained role of male of the species according to the rules of nature drives stamp paid o be of help to all who need it. He is also Baby Sugg’s friend, and keeps frequenting 124. In fact he is instrumental in saving Denver and the other two boys the day school teacher comes to take Sethe and her kids away and Sethe in a fit of rage kills her elder daughter.The central character, which in all its multihued splendor or pain brings about the various stages of suppressed masculinity in Beloved, is Paul D. He is the still living sweet home man and he has a colorful past to say the lest. He along with his two brothers, Halle and Sixo plot their escape from Schoolteach er but are captured. He is captured and lie an animal in chains with a metal in his mouth is dragged to prison for allegedly trying to kill Brandywine. He escapes to north and since attaining his freedom; he is restless with the normal human and male emotions of finding a home and settling down.He reaches 124 and finds Sethe whom he has fancied from their time in Sweet home and chooses to settle down there with her as she had none to take care of her except Denver and Beloved. In spite of himself and against his wishes he becomes tempted by Beloved’s seduction and makes her pregnant. He leaves 124 after he learns from Stamp paid about the fact that Sethe had killed her own daughter. A person trying to run away from himself and his painful past does not want to be man enough to deal with a life with Sethe, which forever shall remain ensconced in the past of murder of her own blood.On the other end of the spectrum is Sixo, the indigo colored slave at Sweet home who has his soul mate in a slave yard 30 miles away and therefore he calls her the thirty mile woman. As he along with Paul D and F and the thirty-mile-woman plan to escape, Schoolteacher catches him and sets him on fire. It is mentioned that he laughs for the first time when he set on fire and as his legs are burning, he shouts Seven –O as his thirty mile woman has escaped and she is pregnant with his child.This one instance of defiance and mirth in the face of mortal danger is the only symbol of malevolent and idealistic black masculinity to be found in the entire book. Paul Garner, as the kind man who knew to treat his slaves with respect and trust their judgment in the plantation matters and who gave them the independence to marry and in the case of Halle, buy his mother’ s freedom comes across as a man who is quietly confident of his won masculinity and also in the fact that men in any race or tribe try to be responsible for their women folk and children.Black masculinity is the most mutilated under-current of the story Beloved that Tony Morrison is able to create pathos in the novel towards the travails of Slavery by bringing into sharp contrast the suppressed need of a man to be a man and the deathly anguish (like that of Halle sitting by a butter churn, with a vacant look on his face with butter smeared all over his face) when he is not allowed to be so.More tragic than the murder, loss or betrayal is the denial of basic human traits and the lack of identity, which Slavery forced upon the colored people and shall forever remain a blot on the history of all civilized nations, which permitted the inhuman practice.

Should You Come Clean About Lying on Your Resume [INFOGRAPHIC]

Should You Come Clean About Lying on Your Resume [INFOGRAPHIC] We’ve all embellished our resumes from time to time. We’ve put down Excel proficiency knowing full well that the only thing we know how to do is copy and paste into a spreadsheet. We’ve listed ourselves as fluent in Spanish even though we barely passed high school Spanish (don’t judge me). But where do we draw the line between stretching the truth and lying? And when do you we come clean about lying on our resumes? If lying on your resume gets you the job but also gets you fired, is it really worth risking your professional reputation? Let’s take a gander at this infographic to get a better idea of when you should come clean about lying on your resume:Â   Source: [GQ]

Weapons and Arrest Authority of U.S. Federal Agencies

Weapons and Arrest Authority of U.S. Federal Agencies More than a few eyebrows were raised in 2010 when the U.S. Department of Agriculture bought 85 fully automatic submachine guns. However, the USDAÂ  is just one of 73 federal government agencies employing full-time law enforcement officers who are authorized to carry firearms and make arrests in the United States. Brief Overview According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics latest (2008) Census of Federal Law Enforcement Officers, the combined federal government agencies employ about 120,000 full-time law enforcement officers who are authorized to carry firearms and make arrests. That is roughly the equivalent of 40 officers per 100,000 U.S. residents. By comparison, there is one member of the U.S. Congress per 700,000 residents. Federal Law Enforcement Officers are authorized by law to perform four specific functions: conduct criminal investigations, execute search warrants, make arrests, and carry firearms.From 2004 to 2008, the number of federal law enforcement officers with arrest and firearms authority grew by 14% or about 15,000 officers. The federal agencies also employ nearly 1,600 officers in the U.S. territories, primarily in Puerto Rico. The Census of Federal Law Enforcement Officers does not include data on officers in the U.S. Armed Forces, or the Central Intelligence Agency and the Transportation Security Administrations Federal Air Marshals Service, due to national security restrictions.The number of Federal Law Enforcement Officers has increased rapidly in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Since the 9/11/2001 attacks, the ranks of Federal Law Enforcement Officers grew from about 88,000 in 2000, to about 120,000 in 2008. Front Line Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Excluding 33 Offices of Inspectors General, 24 federal agencies each employed more than 250 full-time personnel with firearm and arrest authority in 2008. Indeed, law enforcement is the main function of most of these agencies. Few people would be surprised to see field agents of the Border Patrol, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service or the Secret Service carrying guns and making arrests. The complete list includes: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (36,863 officers)Federal Bureau of Prisons (16,835)Federal Bureau of Investigation (12,760)U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (12,446)U.S. Secret Service (5,213)Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (4,696)Drug Enforcement Administration (4,308)U.S. Marshals Service (3,313)Veterans Health Administration (3,128)Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (2,636)Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (2,541)U.S. Postal Inspection Service (2,288)U.S. Capitol Police (1,637)National Park Service - Rangers (1,404)Bureau of Diplomatic Security (1,049)Pentagon Force Protection Agency (725)U.S. Forest Service (644)U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (598)National Park Service - U.S. Park Police (547)National Nuclear Security Administration (363)U.S. Mint Police (316)Amtrak Police (305)Bureau of Indian Affairs (277)Bureau of Land Management (255) From 2004 to 2008, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) added more than 9,000 officers, the largest increase at any federal agency. A majority of the CBP increase occurred in the Border Patrol, which added more than 6,400 officers during the 4-year period.Officers of the Veterans Health Administration need arrest and firearms authority because they provide law enforcement and protective services for over 150 VA medical centers located nationwide.At the Cabinet department level, component agencies of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, employed about 55,000 officers or 46% of all federal officers with arrest and firearms authority in 2008. Agencies of the Department of Justice (DOJ) employed 33.1% of all officers, followed by other executive branch agencies (12.3%), the judicial branch (4.0%), the independent agencies (3.6%) and the legislative branch (1.5%).Within the legislative branch, the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) employed 1,637 officers to provide police services for the U.S. Capitol grounds and buildings. With full law enforcement authority in the area immediately surrounding the Capitol complex, the USCP is the largest federal law enforcement agency operating wholly within the nations capital.The largest employer of federal officers outside of the executive branch was the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC). The AOUSC employed 4,696 probation officers with arrest and firearm authority in its Federal Corrections and Supervision Division in 2008. The Not-So-Obvious Federal Law Enforcement Agencies In 2008, another 16 federal agencies not so typically associated with police powers employed fewer than 250 full-time personnel with firearm and arrest authority. These included: Bureau of Engraving and Printing (207 officers)Environmental Protection Agency (202)Food and Drug Administration (183)National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (149)Tennessee Valley Authority (145)Federal Reserve Board (141)U.S. Supreme Court (139)Bureau of Industry and Security (103)National Institutes of Health (94)Library of Congress (85)*Federal Emergency Management Agency (84)National Aeronautics and Space Administration (62)Government Printing Office (41)National Institute of Standards Technology (28)Smithsonian National Zoological Park (26)Bureau of Reclamation (21) * The Library of Congress Police ceased operation in 2009 when its duties were assumed by the U.S. Capitol Police.Most of the officers employed by these agencies are assigned to provide security and protective services at the agencys buildings and grounds. Officers employed by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors provide security and protective services only at the Boards Washington, D.C. headquarters. Officers serving at the various Federal Reserve banks and branches are hired by the individual banks and were not counted in the Census of Federal Law Enforcement Officers. And the Inspectors General Finally, 33 of the 69 federal Offices of Inspectors General (OIG), including the Department of Educations OIG, employed a total of 3,501 criminal investigators with firearms and arrest authority in 2008. These 33 Offices of Inspectors General represent all 15 Cabinet-level departments, as well as 18 other federal agencies, boards and commissions.Among other duties, officers of the Offices of Inspectors General often investigate cases of improper, wasteful or illegal activities, including theft, fraud and wrongful use of public funds.For example, OIG officers recently investigated the General Services Administrations outrageous $800,000 team-building meeting in Las Vegas, and a series of scams being perpetrated against Social Security recipients. Are These Officers Trained? Along with training they may have received in the military or other law enforcement agencies, most federal law enforcement officers are required to complete training at one of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) facilities. In addition to training in basic to advanced law enforcement, criminology, and tactical driving, FLETCs Firearms Division provides intensive training in the safe handling and justifiable use of firearms.

Urban Wildlife Contraversy in Canada Particularly in Calgary, Alberta Research Paper

Urban Wildlife Contraversy in Canada Particularly in Calgary, Alberta - Research Paper Example natural habitats, worldwide2, while we find that nearly two-thirds of the land available, has been used for human purposes alone, like building villages, townships or cities; for agricultural purposes; and also for other infrastructural developments, aimed, no doubt, to benefit human endeavour in leading a better life. All these actions, beneficial as they are to mankind, have resulted in an eradication and systematic degradation of the environment, and have caused massive damages on the surrounding biodiversity. So from the perspective of environmental ethics, human civilisation has been mainly â€Å"limited to the relations of man to man†3. However, in the recent times it has been noticed that there is an increasing awareness amongst various sections of the human population, that are willing to work towards protection of wild animals, and the preservation of environment, at large. Carnivore conservation, a controversial topic by itself, since most of the carnivores tend to kill livestock while occasionally preying on humans too, however has received a great deal of impetus in the last 15-20 years4. Since human economic interests and carnivores come into constant conflict, there have been increasing attempts by the conservationists to find a workable solution, which would serve to help both these warring factions co-exist, without causing harm to each other5. In the entire North American region that includes Canada, wolves were ruthlessly killed during the colonial rule. It is only recently that, owing to various wolf management programs, an increase in the number of these carnivores has been observed in various parts of Canada. This sudden surge in numbers over the past few years have however also led to rising number of conflicts with the humans (especially in the Alberta region of Canada), as these carnivores are now moving into the rural areas to kill livestock which form an easy prey. In order to protect the livestock, the farmers are now forced to opt for

Research about a company listed in the australian stock exchange Paper

About a company listed in the australian stock exchange - Research Paper Example The beverages portfolio of Coca-Cola Amatil not only includes the traditional carbonated drinks, but it also has fruit juices, coffee, flavored milks, energy drinks, mineral water and other beverage product lines. Around 30% of the shareholding of the company is owned by The Coca-Cola Company and the company’s total market capitalization fluctuates around $8 billion, entitling the company to be placed in the best 50 companies of Australian Stock Exchange. The above chart reflects the performance of Coca-Cola Amatil Limited over the past 12 months. The share price of the company ranged in between $10.5 to $12.5. In the 2nd week of August last year, the share price of the company slipped sharply and touched its lowest point at around $10.5. However, the company managed to recover its performance in the last week of September and touched the highest at around $12.5. Since then the share price is presenting reasonable performance and remains firm within a range of $11.5 and $12.25. The above chart shows the most recognized index of the Australian Stock Exchange which is S&P/ASX 200 represented by the symbol â€Å"XJO†. It is quite evident from the above chart that the performance of XJO worsened quite much as compared to its performance from the beginning of the year. The index dropped from 4,900 to around 3,900 points in the first week of October. Since then, the index is at the stabilizing stage and currently moving at 4,300 points. The above chart represents the comparative analysis of Coca-Cola Amatil Limited and the S&P/ASX 200 index which is represented by â€Å"XJO†. It is evident that the overall performance of Coca-Cola Amatil Limited (red) has remained better as compared to XJO which experienced a substantial slump in its performance through out the year. It can be concluded that Coca-Cola Amatil Limited remained successful in out-beating the overall market. 4. Check the

Juvenile delinquents Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Juvenile delinquents - Essay Example Most of society’s informal actions consist of education through counseling and corrective steps where the government or an NGO are involved. Society’s formal actions are more foreboding and can involve law enforcement agencies such as the police and law courts. There are many reasons for juvenile delinquents. The most common factor is the breakdown of family as a coherent unit. There can be nothing worse for a child than a situation where mature parental care is lacking. If such care is missing for a prolonged period of time, it will not take very long for the child to come across exploitative influence of anti-social elements. The reasons for juvenile delinquency other than lack of parental care such as choice of wrong company do exist. But they are rare. It is difficult to bring about a change in the behavior of an adolescent. Adolescence is a challenging period when a boy or a girl is in the process of becoming man or woman. The problem is compounded when the behavior of a young adult is not adequately moored to the balancing influence of mature parents or other caring elders. As an outsider, I can talk to the young offender and counsel him or her. I can tell him about the consequence of his erratic behavior. I can suggest he take his work or studies seriously and keep close to good and well-behaved group of friends. These groups could be found in every place. It is only a question of choice for the young offender (Thompson, William E & Bynum, Jack E). Nothing is impossible. It depends on society’s commitment on the level of control that it desires to enforce and the means it adopts to achieve them. A healthy society will have less problems of delinquency than a society where there is unacceptable level of ignorance (Thompson, William E & Bynum, Jack E). Family is the basic unit of society. If parents function with responsibility, the chances of juvenile

The Wagner Act Essay Example for Free

The Wagner Act Essay Prior to the enactment of the Wagner Act, the United States already had several labors. The Railway Labor Act, which was passed in 1926, required employers to enter into collective bargaining agreements with unions. It also prohibited discrimination on the part of the company against the unions. The RLA however, only applied to railroads and was subsequently amended in order for airlines to be included. Thus during this period, while it was legal to form unions, companies were not prohibited from firing employees for being union members. In 1993, at the behest of then President Franklin Roosevelt, the National Industry Recovery Act was passed. Among the provisions, specifically Section 7(a), employees were not only given the right to form unions but that joining or non-joining of a union would not be used as a requirement for employment. That particular section also required companies to abide by conditions of employment such as the number of work hours and minimum wage as set by the President. However, the Act came under fire due to concerns of its effectiveness as was eventually overturned by the Supreme Court in May 1935. In order to address the issue of employers and unions, the Wagner Act or the National Labor Relations Act was passed in 1935. Named after its proponent, Sen. Robert F. Wagner, the Act incorporated Section 7(a) of the former NIRA. This particular section became the pillar of the Wagner Act. Aside from giving employees the right to form unions, the Wagner Act also defined what it considered as unfair labor practice by an employer. Under Section 8, an employer is said to have committed unfair labor practice if it: interferes, restraints or coerces an employee from joining, dominates or interferes in the formation of a union, discriminates an employee for being part of a union, seeks reprisal against an employees for filing unfair labor practice charges, and refuses to enter into a collective bargaining agreement with the unions. With the passing of the Wagner Act, two important things happened. First, membership in unions began to increase dramatically. From a mere 10% prior to the act, more than 30% of the total US workforce became union members by the 1950s. The second was the formation of the National Labor Relations Board. The NLRB is the agency that is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Act. By approving the Wagner Act, it was seen that the government was ready to go against the private sector by giving employees the right to form unions and enter into collective bargaining agreements. All these however changed after World War II. As a result of the war, certain groups raised the issue of balancing the power enjoyed by both the labor sector and the companies. Thus in 1947, the Labor-Management Relations Act or Taft-Hartley Act was passed. The Taft-Hartley Act is considered as an amended to the Wagner Act. Although the Taft-Hartley Act retained some of the provisions of the Wagner Act there were also some changes implemented.   Notable changes include the delay or suspension of a strike if it would lead to a national emergency situation. The act also excluded employees who were at the supervisory level from being covered by the provisions of the Wagner Act. A closed shop or a company that hires only union members was also banned. The Taft-Hartley act also protected non-union members from being discriminated by union shops. A union shop is a company that although allows non-union employees to join, eventually requires these employees to eventually join a union. While maintaining the list of unfair labor practice by employers stated in the Wagner Act, the Taft-Hartley Act now included a list of unfair labor practices by unions.   Among others, the amendment required unions to give a 60 days notice to mediators of a planned strike and enter into good faith negotiations with employers. The Taft-Hartley Act further protected employers from facing reprisals from unions if it expressed adverse opinions against the unions. The Act also made it illegal for companies to practice featherbedding. That is, forcing employers pay certain individuals wages despite doing no work. Under the amendment, the primary functions of the NLRB was now to prevent and find solutions to unfair labor practices that is by either the employers or the unions.   The NLRB was also tasked to determine if employees prefer to be represented by union for the purpose of conducting collective bargaining with the company. Currently, the NLRB is divided into two sectors. The Board, which is composed of five individuals, has the task of deciding on cases based on records under administrative proceedings. The General Counsel on the other hand, is in charge of investigating and prosecuting unfair labor practice cases. The General Counsel is also the group tasked to supervise the processing of cases in the field offices. The Board and General Counsel is independent of each other. Another law worth mentioning is the Landrum-Griffin Act or the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959. While it did not make sweeping changes like the Taft-Hartley, it nevertheless amended the Wagner Act by including additional unfair labor practices not included in the Taft-Hartley. The idea behind the Landrum-Griffin Act was to give further protection to the union members from their leaders. The Landrum-Griffin Act enabled a more open selection of union leaders. It also gave members the right to file legal charges against the union without fear of reprisal. While it is clear that the three laws mentioned are pro-labor, the passing of the Taft-Hartley Act tilted the scales somewhat in favor of the employers. However, membership in unions continued to increase despite the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act mainly because of the protection afforded by these laws. As seen from the laws that have been passed, the focus has always been on the employees. While the Wagner Act curtailed the abuses likely to be done by the companies, the Taft-Hartley Act restrained unions from becoming abusive and becoming a much bigger problem. The Landrum-Griffin Act effectively gave back the power of the union to its members and served as a warning for union leaders to ensure that their interests is in line with the general membership. While some sectors are saying that it may be time to repeal or amend these laws, particularly the Taft-Hartley Act, such a decision may not be good for now. While union membership may not be as high as it was before, the reason may not be entirely because of the provisions set forth in these laws. Currently, the labor force of the US is facing competitions form automation and outsourcing. Most companies nowadays prefer to use labor from countries outside the US since the wages are cheaper and the labor laws are lenient compared to those in the country. While the law encourages employers and unions to discuss collective bargaining agreements, it does not prevent companies from laying-off employees in the event of a financial problem. The labor union in the US has come a long way in order to be where it is right now. The laws, first and foremost, have always been there in order to protect the workers and ensure good working conditions. Union leaders should make good use of the provisions under the law. The Wagner Act and its amendments, the Taft-Hartley Act and Landrum-Griffin Act, were not enacted for aesthetic purposes. Unions should remind employers on why it was enacted in the first place. References National Labor Relations Act. National Labor Relations Board. 14 April 2008. http://www.nlrb.gov/about_us/overview/national_labor_relations_act.aspx

Essay --

In modern society, the advanced technology sets a trap for people, especially for students. Therefore, students go to the trouble of calling and texting over and over again, which dose does much harm to students' physical and mental health. As for study, students spend so much time in calling or texting that they waste a lot of time that should be spent on study. On the other hand, taking cellphone with you all the time is bad for your body health. So, as students, you should not take cellphones at to school. First of allï ¼Å' playing with cellphones really makes students waste a lot of time. Now, many students lower their heads, staring at the screen of cellphone and texting. Usually, if students take cellphones at to school, they are not old enough to control themselves and can not help using phone, even get the habit of living with cellphones. Over time, they will be increasingly dependent on mobile phones. Then, they are calling or texting, all the time but not communicating with their friends classmates or teachers face to face, which has a bad influence on students' study. According to study, Japanese students always get higher grades than other countries. The reason is that Japanese teachers and students spend much time together--the usual year is about 40 days longer than in other countries. (Glenn Zorpette. n.d.) But, now, students spend less and less time in sharing ideas and thoughts with classmates and teachers, which makes their study terrible. What's more, th ere are lots of violent games that attracts students a lot. And they are addicted to games and even imitate characters in games. As a result, they become violent or fierce, which could have a bad effect on students' mental health badly. In t... ... become more and more terrible and your brain can be influenced badly. What’s more, most cellphones have high radiation which must do much harm to your body.(The Harm of Phones’ Radiationï ¼â€° Students usually use cellphones on the bed and do not take then them away before sleeping, just putting it closed to your head. Then, the radiation influences your brain little by little. Maybe when you notice that, there is something terrible happening. Therefore, we should know the disadvantages of taking cellphones, and leave them at home. All in all, as for students, the most important thing is study but not using cellphones. I believe that we students can lead a colorful school life without cellphones. We just spend more time study or other activities to spread our horizon. So, we students should not take cellphones at school but put our heart into meaningful things.

College Students and Suicide

College Students and Suicide College Students and Suicide By contrast, only 15. 3 percent of Americans overall have had such thoughts, the World Health Organization’s World Mental Health Survey Initiative reported last February. The survey, part of a wider-ranging continuing study on student suicidal behaviors being conducted by David Drum, a professor of education psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, questioned 26,000 undergraduate and graduate students at 70 U. S. institutions. The results raise the startling suggestion that suicidal thoughts could be a common experience on par with substance abuse, depression and eating disorders, Drum said. The survey defined considering suicide as having at least one episode of suicidal thinking at some point. Slightly more than half of students said they fit that category, which is known as suicide ideation. When researchers asked about more serious episodes, 15 percent said they had â€Å"seriously considered† attempting suicide. More than 5 percent of students said they had actually attempted suicide, which is the second-leading cause of death for college students, compared to its ranking of ninth among the U. S. population at large, according to the National Alliance on Mental Health. 2 â€Å"Relief from emotional or physical pain† was the top reason students cited for suicidal thinking, followed by problems with romantic relationships. A generalized desire to end their lives was next, followed by problems with school or academics. The study extrapolated that at an average college with 18,000 undergraduate students, 1,080 of them would seriously contemplate taking their lives in any year, numbers that pose troubling issues for college administrators. The survey identified growing levels of distress among college students and diminishing resources to handle the consequences. They found that half of students who had had suicidal thoughts never sought counseling or treatment. We know only a quarter of suicide patients are our clients, which means 75 percent of them never come through our doors,† said Chris Brownson, director of the Counseling and Mental Health Center at the University of Texas. Drum and other researchers said colleges needed a new model, shifting the emphasis from narrowly focused treatments involving suicidal students and a small number of mental health professionals, to one hat involved the entire campus in addressing student stresses. Suicide is a public and mental issue. The focus on dec reasing the numbers needs to be on prevention, building resilience in students and creating supportive communities. In college students, the warning signs of depression which ultimately leads to suicide are, a previous suicide attempt, talking about suicide, and drug or alcohol abuse