Saturday, November 30, 2019

Vigee Le Brun Essay Example For Students

Vigee Le Brun Essay Elizabeth-Louise Vigee-Le Brun is noted as a very prominent woman/artist in theWorld of the Eighteenth Century art. She is known for her work as a portraitpainter. Her most famous works are included in the series that she had paintedat age twenty-four of Queen Marie-Antoinette. Vigee-Le Brun was a woman of somany talents. Before she died at eighty-seven years old, she was an accomplishedartist, exceptional musician, and a loving mother to her daughter Julie. Vigee-LeBrun was an unusually unattractive woman. She was charming and self-confidentwith an ability to present her sitters personas most advantageously. Vigee-LeBrun was very reputable because she managed to keep her head and professionalreputation in a time of political upheaval. (French Revolution). This allowedher to gain fame in France, Italy, Austria, and Russia. Vigee-Le Brun was suchan endowed artist that by the age of fifteen she could have supported herselfand her family, if her funds werent taken away from her by her s tepfather andunruly husband. Just nine years later she began her most famous portrait seriesof Marie-Antoinette. This series included Marie-Antoinette and herchildren at Versailles -1788, (shown below) the last portrait of thirtythat Vigee-Le Brun painted of the doomed queen. This painting still hangs atVersailles. Louis XVI said to Vigee-Le Brun, I have no knowledge ofpainting, but you make me fond of it. (Levey 280). Notice the paintingshown on the pervious page. Vigee-Le Brun was a painter of the Rococo period. We will write a custom essay on Vigee Le Brun specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Rococo is best described as an eighteenth century art style that placed emphasison portraying the carefree life of the aristocracy rather than on grand heroesor pious martyrs. Love and romance were considered to be better subjects for artthan historical or religious subjects. The style was characterized by a free,graceful movement; a playful use of line; and delicate colors. This isrepresented it the work Marie-Antoinette and her children at Versailles-1788. To describe the work in great detail you must first look atMarie-Antoinette. Her complexion is very fair and she is portrayed as anextremely feminine woman. Her femininity is also shown by her dress. The dressis a rich, red color with a low neckline, and surrounded by lace and ribbons. This could represent a life-line between Marie-Antoinette and theyoungest of her children because the baby boy is holding on to it for support. All babies need to feel this closeness with their mothers. Vigee-Le Brun couldhave used that to show Marie-Antoinette as a good motherly figure to the othermothers whom would have seen this work. Another symbol of her motherliness isshown because she is holding her children next to what could be the bed of oneof the children, most likely the babys crib. The dress is harboring a skirtthat is more than enough trouble for Marie-Antoinette to handle in one day. Thisgown is a representation of the aristocracy and of a womans power. She iswearing a large, matching hat with overbearing feathers. This is also arepresentation of power. The hat is a frequent characteristic in the series ofMarie-Antoinette. Another characteristic of the series is shown byMarie-Antoinettes legs and feet being rested upon a very decorated pillow. Thiscould show that she was of the aristocracy and her feet should be above the dirton the floor. Now we move on to the children in the painting. They are allwearing fan cy clothes, just as children of the aristocracy would. The oldestchild is looking up with a gaze in her eyes of admiration for her mother. Shelooks as if she is being shown as a young Marie-Antoinette. The young girlsdress is also like that of her mothers. It too, is a deep red color with asmall outline of lace and ribbon around the neck. The dress has an added bowaround the waist. This is done to show the dress as a dress of less maturity. .u388832d968a2222abe723b1980136e34 , .u388832d968a2222abe723b1980136e34 .postImageUrl , .u388832d968a2222abe723b1980136e34 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u388832d968a2222abe723b1980136e34 , .u388832d968a2222abe723b1980136e34:hover , .u388832d968a2222abe723b1980136e34:visited , .u388832d968a2222abe723b1980136e34:active { border:0!important; } .u388832d968a2222abe723b1980136e34 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u388832d968a2222abe723b1980136e34 { 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; } .u388832d968a2222abe723b1980136e34:active , .u388832d968a2222abe723b1980136e34:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u388832d968a2222abe723b1980136e34 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u388832d968a2222abe723b1980136e34 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u388832d968a2222abe723b1980136e34 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u388832d968a2222abe723b1980136e34 .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; } .u388832d968a2222abe723b1980136e34:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u388832d968a2222abe723b1980136e34 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u388832d968a2222abe723b1980136e34 .u388832d968a2222abe723b1980136e34-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u388832d968a2222abe723b1980136e34:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Tourism In Asia EssayThe daughter does look like a young version of her mother, yes; but she can notbe shown as overly mature because she is still a young lady. The bow simply downplays the power because of the child-like characteristic. The baby boy in thepicture is, as noted in the first paragraph, holding onto his mother with anurgency to fulfill the need of the mothers love and presence. The young boy,the middle child, is standing next to the crib of the baby boy with his fingerpointing to the crib of his younger brother. The young boy has very niceposture. His attire is also that of an aristocratic child. This is a symbol ofstrength and masculinity. (At least enough f or his age.) All of the children arenicely dressed and they all have very detailed faces; each is showing adifferent expression. (An expression that would relate to their ages.) They areall very beautiful children. It is difficult to convey an idea today ofthe urbanity, the graceful ease, in a word the affability of manners which madethe charm of Parisian society forty years ago. The women reigned then: theRevolution dethroned them. Elisabeth Vige-Le Brun, 1835. The theme ofthe work is to portray Marie-Antoinette through Vigee-Le Bruns portrait asmother-like to the other mothers and to the public whom would view her pictures. Elizabeth-Louise Vigee-Le Bruns goal through Marie-Antoinette and HerChildren was to create an image of the Queen that would appeal to thecommon folk. The composition of the portrait shows good relations between thechildren and their mother. The Rococo movement that is in play through this workhas that palette of the typical Rococo painting. It demonstrates the soft colorsand a playful use of the line. It shows the delicacy between each object andperson in the entire work. Through the series of Marie-Antoinettes portraits,Vigee-Le Brun had developed a relationship with the Queen. This, of course, hadits obvious advantages for Vigee-Le Brun. Through this relationship, Vigee-LeBrun was granted an acceptance into the Royal Academy. This was a greatadvantage for her because she was technically barred from the academy due to herhusbands profession. But, Vigee-Le Bruns relationship had made her presencearound the Queen in France too dangerous because of the Revolution. Due to this,she and her nine year-old daughter made a dramatic escape from Paris. Her timingwas so close that the night that she left was the same night thatMarie-Antoinette and Louis XVI were arrested. From this escape, she and herdaughter began twelve years of exile. Throughout these twelve years, she againcaptivated the nobilitys attention with her works. Her talent again gained heradmissions into several academies. One quote from a recent writer serves ascomplete closing for Elizabeth-Louise Vigee-Le Brun when her art ischaracterized as a conspicuous anachronism, typifying the final attempt byAncient Regime society to shut its eyes to unwelcomed realities, and to takerefuge in a world of make-believe and fancy dress. (Heller 60). BibliographyFiero, Gloria. The Humanistic Tradition: Faith, Reason, and Power in theEarly Modern World. 3 rd ed. Vol. 4. New York: McGraw Hill, 1998. 143-6. Heller,Nancy. Women Artists: An Illustrated History. New York: Abbeville PublishingGroup, 1991. 55, 58-66. Levey, Michael. Levey: Painting and Sculpture in France1700-1789. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1993. 278-96. Eighteenth Century. The National Museum of Women in the Arts. 24 Feb. 2000 (http://www.nmwa.org/index.htn). .

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Intellectual Quotes About Wisdom and Success

Intellectual Quotes About Wisdom and Success Wisdom and knowledge are the foundation of all progress. Without the thinkers, scientists, and leaders of the past, we would not be where we are today. The quotes below capture some of their insights about wisdom and success. Sir Winston Churchill Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm. Socrates The life which is unexamined is not worth living. The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. Mahatma  Gandhi Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. Benjamin Disraeli I must follow the people. Am I not their leader? Walter Scott For success, attitude is equally as important as ability. Thomas Jefferson Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. Albert Einstein Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value. Bill Gates Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they cant lose. John Keats Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter. Henry David Thoreau All this worldly wisdom was once the unamiable heresy of some wise man. Its not what you look at that matters, its what you see. Lord Chesterfield In seeking wisdom thou art wise; in imagining that thou hast attained it- thou art a fool. Elizabeth Barrett Browning Gods gifts put mans best dreams to shame. Alfred Lord Tennyson Dreams are true while they last, and do we not live in dreams? Confucius Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men. Ralph Waldo Emerson All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better. Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. George Bernard Shaw We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future. Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. Success does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time. William Wordsworth Wisdom is ofttimes nearer when we stoop than when we soar. Saint Augustine Patience is the companion of wisdom. Anton Chekhov Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice. Franklin D. Roosevelt Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort. Plato The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself; to be conquered by yourself is of all things most shameful and vile. Henry David Thoreau Good for the body is the work of the body, and good for the soul is the work of the soul, and good for either is the work of the other. Charles Dickens Have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires, a touch that never hurts. John Muir In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks. Buddha To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to ones family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control ones own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him. Lao Tzu The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

Friday, November 22, 2019

What are the Romance Subgenres (And How to Pick One)

What are the Romance Subgenres (And How to Pick One) What are the Romance Subgenres? (And How to Pick One) You might think you know how a romance story goes. Boy meets girl. Boys fails girl. Boy gets girl. Seems simple enough, right?Not so fast. The landscape of romance is extremely rich and diverse, with many branches of subgenres and subcategories. And, though that elusive Happily Ever After is a staple in romance, how the couple gets there is a fascinatingly different story in each subgenre.This post will break all of the romance subgenres down for you - and give you some extra tips on how to find the one that’s the perfect match for you as a writer. So if you’re ready to see all of the various ways that the course of true love doesn’t run smoothly, let’s begin. Everything you wanted to know about romance subgenres - and more! Then all that’s left is to put pen to paper and get started creating your Happily Ever Afters! Good luck, and remember: love will make the world (and the genre) go round and round.Do you have a favorite subgenre of romance - and if so, what is it? Tell us in the comments below!

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Does the assumption and implementation of corporate social Essay

Does the assumption and implementation of corporate social responsibility makes businesses more successful - Essay Example It encompasses two broad views in general. The first one is that the companies share the wealth they create with either the society they operate in or other under privileged societies. The other is managing their activities in a more ethically and morally responsible way. It is the voluntary exceeding of the society's expectations of the business and it is agreed that it is majorly affected by how the company manages its core businesses. (Baker) Corporate Social responsibility is extremely important to a company's business. According to a survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Corporate responsibility is affecting the relationship between companies and their various stakeholders, such as investors, customers, vendors, suppliers, employees, communities and governments. (Doebele, 2005) Underlying principles The Corporate responsibility trend is being driven by a large number of factors. Companies which do not engage in social responsibility might be viewed as unethical as peoples t rust in large organizations is already waning. The rise in the corporate governance movement, globalization of businesses and the competition presented by rivals all contribute to a firms increasing interest in corporate responsibility. The benefits of corporate responsibility may prove never ending for an organization. ... They include environmental management, issues management and stake holder's management. There will be times when two or more of these management areas will be integrated to form one areas of concern. Foreg in 1994 BHP Billton's shareholders were concerned about the company causing environmental damage in Papua New Guinea. (Gail Thomas, 2006) There have been multiple arguments in favor of supporting corporate social responsibilities for businesses. It has been said that practicing a business enables many things in the society and businesses are dependent upon a healthy, well-developed and economically sound society for its proper functioning. Improved quality of life for employees and citizens should be one of the top priority for all ethical businesses and this is only fulfilled if they practice giving back to the society or caring capitalism as Niall Fitzgerland, chairman Unilever calls it. Since the main responsibility that the company owes is towards itself, the company has to ens ure that fulfilling responsibility is both beneficial to itself and the society, but ensures that the company survives in the long run. People in favor of corporate social responsibility clearly state that CSR enhances the view of the company in the eyes of the customers and generates a loyal customer base. Others state that fulfilling CSR also provides unmatched promotion and publicity for the company which is again very necessary for the success of the company. Last but not the least practicing social responsibility raises the morale and self esteem of the employees of the company and they feel good about the contributions and are more likely to work efficiently and develop into diligent workers. Boyle and Boguslaw (Boyle, 2007,

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Fetal Alcohol Synodrome Essay Example for Free

Fetal Alcohol Synodrome Essay Introduction It sounds simple: women who drink excessively while pregnant are at high risk for giving birth to children with birth defects. Therefore, to prevent these defects, women should stop drinking alcohol during all phases of pregnancy. Alternatively, women who drink alcohol should not become pregnant unless and until they can control their drinking. More than 20 years ago, when fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) was first described in the published medical literature, there were high hopes for its prevention. In fact, this has not been simple, and the biomedical and public health communities are still struggling to eliminate a birth defect that should be absolutely preventable. HISTORY Although references to the effects of prenatal exposure to alcohol can be found in classical and biblical literature, fetal alcohol syndrome was first described in the medical literature in France by Lemoine et al. in 1968. Researchers in the United States soon also published a landmark report describing a constellation of birth defects in children born to alcoholic women (Jones and Smith, 1973). FAS has since been described in most countries of the world. Briefly, FAS refers to a constellation of physical abnormalities, most obvious in the features of the face (see Figure 1-1) and in the reduced size of the newborn, and problems of behavior and cognition. These latter features lead to the most concern. The degree of abnormality in any one measure can vary greatly between individuals and can change with time in the same individual. For example, people diagnosed with FAS can have IQs from well within the normal range to the severely mentally retarded range. The physical anomalies can be slight or quite striking. Some people with FAS live fairly normal lives if given adequate and structured support throughout their lives, whereas others are severely impaired. The defects may or may not be apparent or easily diagnosed at birth. Although the manifestations of the damage might change with age, FAS never completely disappears and, as with many developmental disabilities, there is no cure, although there might be some amelioration in some individuals. FAS does not refer to signs of acute alcohol exposure or withdrawal at birth. Newborns can have blood alcohol levels high enough to affect acutely their central nervous system function and not have FAS. Newborns can also have no alcohol in their bloodstream at time of delivery but still have FAS. FAS is not a drunk baby. The costs of FAS and related conditions can be quite high—for the individual, for the family, and for society. Three groups have tried to estimate these costs, and these estimates vary greatly (Bloss, 1994). These estimates are problematic, because of uncertainties regarding the incidence and prevalence of FAS and uncertainties related to the full extent of health (and other) problems experienced throughout the lifetime of people with FAS. Estimates of the occurrence of FAS in North American communities range from 0 per 1,000 (incidence; Abel and Sokol, 1987, 1991) to 120 per 1,000 (prevalence; Robinson et al. , 1987), although rates in several of the most complete studies are similar—on the order of 0. 5 to 3 cases per 1,000 births. Assuming an annual birth cohort of approximately 4 million, this translates into 2 to 12 thousand FAS births per year in this country. As described in the report, there is a lack of longitudinal data on the extent of possible problems of adults with FAS. Therefore, cost estimates for the United States range from $75 million (Abel and Sokol, 1991) to $9. 7 billion (Harwood and Napolitano, 1985). The total lifetime cost per typical case of FAS for a child born in 1980 was estimated to be $596,000 undiscounted1 (Harwood and Napolitano, 1985). These incidence and cost figures are offered not as established facts but they are intended to emphasize that regardless of the details, or any one specific estimate, the costs of FAS to the individual and society are high. FIGURE 1-1 Photographs of children with fetal alcohol syndrome. SOURCES: Figures 4C and 4D: Reprinted with permission from Jones et al. (1973). Copyright 1973 by the Lancet Ltd. Figure 4B: Reprinted with permission from Clarren and Smith (1978). Copyright 1978 by the New England Journal of Medicine, Massachusetts Medical Society. Since publication of the papers by Lemoine and by Jones and Smith, the biomedical, public health, research, and public policy communities have devoted much time and energy to a fascinating problem of teratology (the study of the effects of chemical exposure on the developing fetus), neurobiology, disease prevention, and social disarray. The U. S. Public Health Service has spent millions of dollars in research, public education, and service programs related to the topic. Important concepts have been established through research. For example, well-controlled research studies on rats, mice, and nonhuman primates have demonstrated that alcohol exposure causes FAS. However, while alcohol is the necessary teratogen, it alone may not be sufficient to produce FAS in humans or birth defects in animals. As with most teratogens, not every fetus exposed to significant amounts of alcohol is affected. The outcomes might be modulated by numerous biologic and environmental factors, such as nutrition, threshold, timing, genetic susceptibility, pattern of alcohol exposure, or fetal resilience. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the factors that influence the expression of alcohol teratogenesis. Public education campaigns have taught many women and their partners, as well as the medical community and society at large, that excessive alcohol consumption is dangerous during pregnancy. Reduction in the occurrence of substance abuse during pregnancy, reduction in the incidence of FAS, and an increase in the questioning of patients by health care providers about alcohol and other drug use are goals of the Public Health Services Healthy People 2000 initiative (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1991). See Table 1-1. Prevention of birth defects as a salient public health goal presents some exemplary success stories. A good example is the advocacy for and impact of rubella immunizations for children and women of childbearing age with no history of natural rubella or rubella immunization. An outbreak in the United States in the mid-1960s resulted in an estimated 20,000 children born with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). CRS occurs in 20 to 25 percent of babies born to mothers who get rubella in the first trimester of pregnancy and results in congenital heart disease, deafness, mental retardation, and other fetal abnormalities. An estimate of the lifetime cost of CRS is about $330,000 per case. With widespread introduction of rubella vaccines in the late 1960s and the requirement for rubella immunization prior to school entry, the number of reported cases of CRS in the United States hit a low of 225 in 1988. As another example, new findings that folic acid deficiency during pregnancy can result in neural tube defects have led to recommendations that grain be fortified with folic acid to prevent these birth defects. Availability of effective prevention strategies led to public policy debates and recommendations for action. The emergence of crack cocaine as a major medical and public health problem in the 1980s led to worries about a generation of crack babies who would cost the medical care system, primarily neonatal intensive care wards, huge amounts of money and who would overburden the education and social service systems with problems attributable to prenatal exposure to cocaine. Further research has shown that crack cocaine can lead to serious obstetrical complications and that some of the exposed newborns do have problems. TABLE 1-1 Examples of Healthy People 2000 Goals Relevant to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Objective 1987 Baseline. Target 2000 Incidence of FAS (per 1,000 live births) 0. 22 0. 12 Abstinence from alcohol during pregnancy 79% Increase by 20% Screening by obstetrician/gynecologist for alcohol use 34% 75% Referrals by obstetrician/gynecologist for alcohol treatment 24% 75% Screening by obstetrician/gynecologist for drug use 32% 75% Referrals by obstetrician/gynecologist for drug treatment 28% 75% Cocaine-exposed children have not been followed as extensively or for as long a time as alcohol-exposed children; what data have been published show some effects of prenatal cocaine exposure at three years of age, but the problems do not seem to be nearly as devastating as predicted, nor as severe as the long-term problems associated with alcohol exposure. In fact, some of the long-term effects associated with prenatal cocaine exposure may be due in part to the concurrent use of alcohol during pregnancy. The federal government invested millions of dollars in demonstration projects for services for substance-abusing women. Some of these programs included services for women who abuse alcohol, but the emphasis was usually on drugs, particularly illegal ones, other than alcohol, or on polydrug use. The attention to crack cocaine and its effects on the fetus is curious given that the percentage of pregnant women who drink (approximately 20 percent) far exceeds the percentage who use cocaine (approximately 1 percent; National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1994). At the time, however, the cocaine epidemic and its potential risks to unborn children led to heated public policy debates. Policies of mandatory urine testing in delivery wards, and subsequent removal of a child from the care of a mother who tested positive for illegal substances, were instituted in many places (Blume, in press; Chavkin, 1990). The unintended negative consequences of these actions have led to a reconsideration and reversal of these policies more recently. THE FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAS RESEARCH As will be described in many parts of this report, FAS is a complicated health and social problem, involving many different sectors of the government. The U. S. Public Health Service (USPHS) contains the agencies with primary responsibility for research in the area. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has the lead role in research on FAS. However, NIAAA is a relatively small institute of NIH. The NIAAA appropriation in 1993 was $177 million, compared with more than $400 million for the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and slightly less than $2 billion for the National Cancer Institute (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1993). NIAAA programs related to FAS include very basic animal research, which has been the mainstay of research in this area; clinical and epidemiologic research on the effects of low to moderate alcohol use by pregnant women; and prevention research. The alcohol and pregnancy program at NIAAA included $9. 8 million to $13. 5 million for approximately 70 grants in each of fiscal years 1990-1994. Most of these research grants were RO1, investigator-initiated awards. NIAAA funds one fetal alcohol research center. In addition, many research programs sponsored by NIAAA have ancillary importance to FAS, for example, the research it funds on the epidemiology of drinking by women or on general approaches to the prevention and treatment of alcohol abuse. As an example of the level of commitment by NIAAA to this issue, the prevention research program at NIAAA has ranged from $15 million to $19. 8 million annually in recent years. As the lead research agency on alcohol, the institute and the USPHS can serve as a bully pulpit for the prevention of FAS and other alcohol-related problems. In fact, this has been the case. The U. S. Surgeon General first issued a warning against the dangers of alcohol during pregnancy in 1981. In addition to funding and conducting research, NIAAA publishes information for the public on FAS, sponsors research workshops on FAS, and has its staff speak at public meetings. Other NIH institutes fund research relevant to, but not directly about, FAS. For example, NIDA funded a $4 million National Pregnancy and Health Survey on substance abuse, including alcohol, during pregnancy. The data on alcohol were a small part of the entire project. In addition, NIDA funds epidemiologic and clinical research on the effects of substance abuse during pregnancy, and alcohol is frequently one of the substances used by these populations. A rather large study funded by NIDA was the Perinatal 20 demonstration project assessing prevention of substance abuse during pregnancy. Although the major purpose was to look at the abuse of illegal substances, some data were collected on alcohol use, as well. Another key USPHS agency involved in FAS work is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The FAS Prevention Section is housed in CDCs National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. CDCs role is to collect data to define the scope of the problem; support the development and evaluation of FAS prevention projects; and build state capacity for coordinated, state-based FAS surveillance and prevention programs (CDC submission to IOM committee). The CDC maintains and analyzes surveillance programs that include FAS, such as the Birth Defects Monitoring Program. In addition, CDC sponsors and supports efforts to prevent FAS. The CDC currently has FAS prevention and surveillance projects supported through states and universities. As with NIAAA, CDC has ancillary programs related to maternal and child health, alcohol abuse, and epidemiologic surveillance that can support and inform FAS programs. Other agencies in the USPHS maintain important programs related to FAS, but these programs have much less emphasis on research. The Indian Health Service, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) fund services or demonstration projects directly or indirectly related to FAS. At this time, no agency has been able to support research on the clinical aspects of FAS, on the medical treatment of children with FAS, or on the education and remediation of these children. A notable USPHS program is the Pregnant and Postpartum Women and Their Infants (PPWI) initiative. This program was authorized by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, passed by Congress in 1988. The demonstration grant program focuses on the development of innovative, community-based models of drug prevention, education, and treatment, targeting pregnant and postpartum women and their infants (National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health, 1993). The program is funded jointly by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) of SAMHSA and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of HRSA. It has funded 147 demonstration projects. The most common drug addressed was cocaine, followed by alcohol and polydrug use. Because demonstration projects are rigorously evaluated only infrequently, the nature, utility, and transferability of their findings are difficult to assess. The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), a part of SAMHSA, was charged by Congress to support grants for residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment for pregnant and postpartum women and their infants (information provided to the committee). CSAT funded 31 residential projects in 20 states in the PPWI program and 34 projects in 24 states in its Residential Treatment for Women and Their Children program. The five treatment programs that serve Native American women include comprehensive services specific to FAS. In addition, CSAT has other activities, such as its Treatment Improvement Protocols, relevant to FAS, but the abuse substance of focus is usually cocaine or opiates, not alcohol. CONGRESSIONAL INTEREST In recognition of the seriousness of this problem, which affects both the health and the societal functioning of many Americans, several times in the past few years, members of Congress have introduced legislation related to FAS (see Table 1-2). The bills have focused largely on creating an interagency task force on FAS and increasing resources for prevention programs and prevention research. These bills, with one exception, have never been passed. The U. S. Congress mandated in Section 705 of Public Law 102-321, the ADAMHA Reorganization Act, that the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences conduct a study of FAS and related birth defects. TABLE 1-2 Congressional Bills Related to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) or Women and Alcohol Bill No. and Date Introduced Bill Name Major Sponsor Overview H. R. 1322 3/7/91. Comprehensive Indian Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention and Treatment Act Campbell (D-CO) Authorize services for the prevention, intervention, treatment and aftercare of American Indian and Alaskan Native children and their families at risk for FAS and fetal alcohol effect (FAE). Authorization of grants to Native American tribes for training, prevention, and intervention programs. Convening of FAS/FAE task force including federal representation and representation from Native American tribes. Would have authorized $10 million annually for FY 1993-1995 and $15 million annually for FY 1996-2000. S. 923 5/7/93 Comprehensive Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention Act Daschle (D-SD) Expand resources for basic and applied epidemiological research related to FAS/FAE. Establish programs to coordinate and support national, state, and community-based public awareness, prevention, and educational programs on FAS/FAE. Establish and facilitate a national surveillance program to monitor the incidence of FAS/FAE and the effectiveness of prevention programs. Establish a task force to foster coordination among federal agencies that conduct FAS/FAE research, prevention, and treatment. H. R. 3569 11/19/93 Women and Alcohol Research Equity Act of 1993 Morella (R-MD) Provide for an increase in the amount of federal funds expended to conduct research on alcohol abuse and alcoholism among women. Would have authorized up to $23,250,000 to enable NIAAA to increase such research. H. R. 3783 2/2/94 Comprehensive Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention Act Richardson (D-NM) Establish a comprehensive program to help prevent FAS and FAE and to coordinate federal efforts to prevent FAS and FAE. CDC to coordinate and support applied epidemiologic research on FAS and FAE. NIAAA to conduct and support basic research targeted to developing data to improve prevention and treatment of FAS and FAE. Develop a plan to disseminate diagnostic criteria to health care and social services providers. Establish an interagency task force on FAS and FAE. SAMHSA to support, conduct, and evaluate training programs for professionals; and prevention and education programs for the public. S 170 1/5/95 Comprehensive Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention Act Daschle (D-SD) Establish interagency task force on FAS and FAE. Organize a program of basic research on services and effective prevention, treatment and intervention for pregnant alcohol-dependent women and those with FAS or FAE [Originally introduced as S. 1821 in previous session but died in committee. ] H. R. 1649 5/16/95 Comprehensive Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention Act Richardson (D-SD) Establish a program for the conduct and support of research and training and the dissemination of health information about the cause, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of FAS and related conditions. Establish an. Interagency Coordinating Committee on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Develop uniform criteria for the collection and reporting of data on FAS and related conditions. NOTE: CDC = Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; NIAAA = National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; and SAMHSA = Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health funded the project. This report is in response to that mandate. The Committee to Study Fetal Alcohol Syndrome was convened in mid-1994. Committee expertise included pediatrics, developmental psychology and neurology, obstetrics, nosology, teratology, epidemiology, sociology, substance abuse prevention and treatment, and psychiatry. The charge to the committee was to improve the understanding of available research knowledge and experience on: †¢ tools and approaches for diagnosing FAS and related disorders, †¢ the prevalence of FAS and related disorders in the general population of the United States, †¢ the effectiveness of surveillance systems, and †¢ the availability and effectiveness of prevention and treatment programs for these conditions. As part of its work, the committee assessed and reviewed U. S. Department of Health and Human Services agency research on the topic and provided guidance for the future. SOME IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS Before going further, some clarification of terms is warranted. Several terms are used in this report to refer to drinking patterns and problems. The terms used here are intended to be consistent in spirit with an earlier IOM report Broadening the Base of Treatment for Alcohol Problems (IOM, 1990), particularly in their emphasis on the heterogeneity of alcohol problems, the course of alcohol use disorders, patterns of consumption, and etiology. In this schema, alcohol consumption is seen as ranging from none to light to moderate to heavy. Alcohol-related problems (e. g. , medical, legal, social, psychological) also range from none to mild to moderate to severe. Research has pointed to a positive correlation between level of alcohol consumption and level of alcohol problems, with the most severe problems generally seen at the highest levels of drinking. This relationship is, however, variable across individuals; that is, in some cases, severe problems can be seen at comparatively moderate levels of drinking. The fourth edition of the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV; 1994) defines alcohol use disorders as alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse. In general, these terms refer to maladaptive patterns of drinking and consequences which constitute a syndrome, usually associated with moderate to heavy alcohol consumption and moderate to severe alcohol-related problems (Edwards et al. , 1981; IOM, 1990). In DSM-IV, alcohol dependence is diagnosed when the individual meets three or more of the following seven criteria in a 12-month period: (1) tolerance; (2) withdrawal; (3) drinking in larger amounts or over a longer period than intended; (4) persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down on drinking; (5) a great deal of time spent drinking or recovering from alcohol effects; (6) declining involvement in social, occupational, or recreational activities because of alcohol use; and (7) use of alcohol despite knowledge of a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem caused or exacerbated by that use. Alcohol abuse is a less severe syndrome characterized by significant adverse consequences associated with alcohol use and is diagnosed when at least one of the following four criteria is met recurrently during a 12-month period: (1) failure to fulfill major role obligations because of alcohol use; (2) recurrent alcohol use in situations when it is physically hazardous; (3) recurrent alcohol-related legal problems; or (4) continued use despite social or interpersonal problems. In addition, the symptoms have never met the criteria for alcohol dependence (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence have fairly specific meaning in DSM-IV. However, these terms are frequently used as umbrella terms for maladaptive patterns of alcohol use. In this report on FAS, the committee has chosen to use alcohol abuse as an umbrella term to indicate heavy drinking, including binge drinking, that is risky for the given individual circumstances. If it is clear that a strict DSM-IV diagnosis is intended, it will be so noted. Similar conventions will be used for substance abuse, which is treated very similarly in DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). DSM-IV does not define the term alcoholic, but the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence does (Morse et al. , 1992). Alcoholism, too, is used but only occasionally in this report. It should be noted that there are no specific levels of consumption associated with alcohol abuse, either as used in DSM-IV or as an umbrella term in this report. Survey data from 1992 show that approximately 4 percent of all women and approximately 4 percent of women between the ages of 30 and 44 years of age could be considered to satisfy the DSM-IV criteria for alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence (Grant et al., 1994). As described in the report, the relation between levels and patterns of drinking during pregnancy and the risk of delivering an infant with FAS is complex. In this report, terms such as heavy drinking and heavier drinking are used to refer to levels of drinking associated with the highest risk for delivering an infant with FAS. Binge drinking is used to refer to a pattern of episodic heavy drinking, which is also associated with higher risk for FAS. Terms such as risk drinking, or moderate drinking are used to indicate lower levels of drinking, usually not associated with FAS, but which may be associated with alcohol-related effects in infants. It is important to note that definitions of these terms have varied across studies, settings, and samples. In particular, operational definitions of terms used to describe the level and pattern of drinking in studies of pregnant women frequently have not corresponded to definitions for women in general, which in turn often do not correspond to definitions for men. For example, a prospective study of the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure defines heavy drinking as an average of one or more drinks per day (Day et al. , 1989); a seminal FAS prevention intervention project defined heavy drinking as five or six drinks on some occasions and at least 45 drinks per month (Rosett et al. , 1981); large-scale surveys of drinking in women usually define heavy drinking as two or more standard drinks per day, where a standard drink contains approximately 0. 5 ounce of absolute alcohol); some clinical research projects define heavy drinking in women as four or more drinks per day (Wilsnack et al. , 1994), which differs from parallel definitions of heavy drinking in men (six or more standard drinks per day). The lack of consistency in terms regarding level of alcohol consumption across studies has led to confusion regarding the relationship between specific levels of drinking and risk for fetal alcohol syndrome and alcohol-related effects (see Abel and Kruger, 1995 for a review of this problem). The committee defines the relevant history for diagnosis of FAS (see Chapter 4) as one of a pattern of excessive intake characterized by substantial, regular intake or heavy episodic drinking. Evidence of this pattern may include: frequent episodes of intoxication, development of tolerance or withdrawal, social problems related to drinking, legal problems related to drinking, engaging in physically hazardous behavior while drinking, or alcohol-related medical problems such as hepatic disease. REFERENCES Abel EL, Kruger ML. Hon v. Stroh Brewery Co. : What do we mean by moderate and heavy drinking? Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 1995; 19:1024-31. Abel EL, Sokol RJ. Incidence of fetal alcohol syndrome and economic impact of FAS-related anomalies. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 1987; 19:51-70. Abel EL, Sokol RJ. A revised conservative estimate of the incidence of FAS and its economic impact. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 1991; 15:514-524. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: 4th Edition. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 1994. Bloss G. The economic cost of FAS. Alcohol Health Research World 1994; 18:53-54. Blume SB. Women and Alcohol: Issues in Social Policy in Alcohol and Gender. R. W. Wilsnack and S. C. Wilsnack (eds. ). New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Center of Alcohol Studies, in press. Chavkin W. Drug Addition and Pregnancy: Policy crossroads. American Journal of Public Health 1990; 80:483-487. Clarren SK, Smith DW. The fetal alcohol syndrome. New England Journal of Medicine 1978; 298; 1063-1067. Day NL, Jasperse D, Richardson G, Robles N, Sambamoorthis U, Taylor P et al. Prenatal exposure to alcohol: Effect on infant growth and morphologic characteristics. Pediatrics 1989; 84:536-541. Day NL, Robles N, Richardson G, Geva D, Taylor P, Scher M et al. The effects of prenatal alcohol use in the growth of children at three years of age. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 1991; 15:67-71. Edwards G, Arif A, Hodgson R. Nomenclature and classification of drug- and alcohol-related problems: A WHO memorandum. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 1981; 59:225-242. Grant BF, Harford RC, Dawson DA, Chou P, Dufour M, Pickering R. Epidemiologic Bulletin No. 35: Prevalence of DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence: United States, 1992. Alcohol Health Research World 1994; 18:243-248. Alcohol (wine, beer, or liquor) is the leading known preventable cause of developmental and physical birth defects in the United States. When a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy, she risks giving birth to a child who will pay the price — in mental and physical deficiencies — for his or her entire life. Yet many pregnant women do drink alcohol. Its estimated that each year in the United States, 1 in every 750 infants is born with a pattern of physical, developmental, and functional problems referred to as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), while another 40,000 are born with fetal alcohol effects (FAE). Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a condition that results from alcohol exposure during pregnancy. Problems that may be caused by fetal alcohol syndrome include physical deformities, mental retardation, learning disorders, vision difficulties and behavioral problems. The problems caused by fetal alcohol syndrome vary from child to child, but defects caused by fetal alcohol syndrome are irreversible. There is no amount of alcohol thats known to be safe to consume during pregnancy. Early diagnosis may reduce the risk of problems, including learning difficulties and substance abuse. Signs and Symptoms Fetal alcohol syndrome isnt a single birth defect. Its a cluster of related problems and the most severe of a group of consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure. Collectively, the range of disorders is known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Fetal alcohol syndrome is a common — yet preventable — cause of mental retardation. The severity of mental problems varies, with some children experiencing them to a far greater degree than others. Signs of fetal alcohol syndrome may include: Distinctive facial features, including small eyes, an exceptionally thin upper lip, a short, upturned nose, and a smooth skin surface between the nose and upper lip Deformities of joints, limbs and fingers Slow physical growth before and after birth Vision difficulties or hearing problems Small head circumference and brain size (microcephaly) Poor coordination Mental retardation and delayed development Learning disorders Abnormal behavior, such as a short attention span, hyperactivity, poor impulse control, extreme nervousness and anxiety Heart defects low birth weight failure to thrive developmental delay organ dysfunction facial abnormalities, including smaller eye openings, flattened cheekbones, and indistinct philtrum (an underdeveloped groove between the nose and the upper lip) . Epilepsy poor coordination/fine motor skills poor socialization skills, such as difficulty building and maintaining friendships and relating to groups lack of imagination or curiosity learning difficulties, including poor memory, inability to understand concepts such as time and money, poor language comprehension, poor problem-solving skills behavioral problems, including hyperactivity, inability to concentrate, social withdrawal, stubbornness, impulsiveness, and anxiety. The facial features seen with fetal alcohol syndrome may also occur in normal, healthy children. Distinguishing normal facial features from those of fetal alcohol syndrome requires expertise. Doctors may use other terms to describe some of the signs of fetal alcohol syndrome. An alcohol-related neurodevel.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Neil Young In Halifax :: Free Essay Writer

Neil Young in Halifax   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I was getting ready for school one morning when my father said that my cousin Jennifer was on the phone and she wanted to know if I wanted a ticket to the Neil Young concert coming up in Halifax. I said I did and I kind of forgot about it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It was Halloween night and I was listening to an old Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young album when I looked at the release date when I realized that in a mere five days I was going to witness a legend in his finest form. Some say the Neil Young is playing the finest guitar of his life these days. Some people say that he's just an old man who can't sing, never could sing and should have retired a long time ago. I on the other hand see him differently. He is man who doesn't care about his appearance, doesn't care about what other people think about him. He is an entertainer. He is a healer. He is a Canadian. He is a man. When I picture myself at fifty I picture myself like him. We left for the concert on Tuesday morning and we arrived in the city at about noon. My uncle drove me and my cousin Edward up. We bummed around the city for a while and then we went to Jen's place where we were staying. There were a few other people from Inverness staying there as well. My uncle, Edward and I left for the concert at around quarter to seven. We kind of got lost. We got to the show at around seven thirty. While we were in line waiting to get in I could here the band that was performing. It was then that I realized what I was about to experience. I stumbled to my seat, half looking a my feet, half looking at the band on stage. I can't remember their name but they were good. As soon as we sat down the band ended their set and the lights came on. Then we just sat their for a while and I saw a lot of people that I knew from Mabou.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The lights went out and the place started to rumble with excitement. Moist came out on stage and started playing their set. When the band started to play Push I ran down to the front along with just about everyone else. But we were pushed back by the security. So we just sat in our seats for the rest of their set. The lights came back on and their were a bunch of guys on stage who were

Monday, November 11, 2019

Why You Should Purchase A PC

Computers are capable of doing more things every year. There are many advantages to knowing how to use a computer, and it is important that everyone know how to use them properly. Using the information I have gathered, and my own knowledge from my 12 years of computer experience, I will explain the many advantages of owning a computer and knowing how to use a PC and I will attempt to explain why you should purchase a computer and learn how to use one properly. Webster’s New World Compact Dictionary defines a computer as â€Å"an electronic machine that performs rapid, complex calculations or compiles and correlates ata† (†Computer. ). While this definition gives one a very narrow view of what a computer is capable of doing, it does describe the basic ideas of what I will expand upon. We have been living through an age of computers for a short while now and there are already many people world wide that are computer literate. According to Using Computers: A Gateway to Information World Wide Web Edition, over 250 million Personal Computers (PC’s) were in use by 1995, and one out of every three homes had a PC (Shelly, Cashman,& Waggoner, 138). Computers are easy to use when you know how they work and what the parts re. All computers perform the four basic operations of the information processing cycle: input, process, output, and storage. Data, any kind of raw facts, is required for the processing cycle to occur. Data is processed into useful information by the computer hardware. Most computer systems consist of a monitor, a system unit which contains the Central Processing Unit (CPU), a floppy-disk drive, a CD-ROM drive, speakers, a keyboard, a mouse, and a printer. Each component takes a part in one of the four operations. The keyboard and mouse are input devices that a person uses to enter data nto the computer. From there the data goes to the system unit where it is processed into useful information the computer can understand and work with. Next the processed data can be sent to storage devices or to output devices. Normally output is sent to the monitor and stored on the hard-disk or to a floppy-disk located internal of the system unit. Output can also be printed out through the printer, or can be played through the speakers as sound depending on the form it takes after it is processed. Once you have grasped a basic understanding of the basic parts and perations of a computer, you can soon discover what you can do with computers to make life easier and more enjoyable. Being computer literate allows you to use many powerful software applications and utilities to do work for school, business, or pleasure. Microsoft is the current leading producer of many of these applications and utilities. Microsoft produces software called operating systems that manage and regulate the information processing cycle. The oldest of these is MS-DOS, a single user system that uses typed commands to initiate tasks. Currently Microsoft has available operating systems that use visual cues such as icons to help enter data and run programs. These operating systems are ran under an environment called a Graphical User Interface (GUI’s). Such operating systems include Windows 3. xx, Windows 95, and Windows NT Workstation. Windows 95 is geared more for use in the home for productivity and game playing whereas Windows NT is more business orientated. The article entitled â€Å"Mine, All Mine† in the June 5, 1995 issue of Time stated that 8 out of 10 PC’s worldwide would not be able to start or run if it were not for Microsoft’s operating systems like MS-DOS, Windows 95, and Windows NT (Elmer-Dewitt, 1995, p. 50). By no means has Microsoft limited itself to operating systems alone. Microsoft has also produced a software package called Microsoft Office that is very useful in creating reports, data bases, spreadsheets, presentations, and other documents for school and work. Microsoft Office: Introductory Concepts and Techniques provides a detailed, step-by-step approach to the four programs included in Microsoft Office. Included in this package are Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, and Microsoft PowerPoint. Microsoft Word is a word processing program hat makes creating professional looking documents such as announcements, resumes, letters, address books, and reports easy to do. Microsoft Excel, a spreadsheet program, has features for data organization, calculations, decision making, and graphing. It is very useful in making professional looking reports. Microsoft Access, a powerful database management system, is useful in creating and processing data in a database. Microsoft PowerPoint is â€Å".. a complete presentation graphics program that allows you to produce professional looking presentations† (Shelly, Cashman, & Vermaat, 2). PowerPoint is flexible enough so that you can create electronic presentations, overhead transparencies, or even 35mm slides. Microsoft also produces entertainment and reference programs. â€Å"Microsoft’s Flight Simulator is one of the best selling PC games of all time† (Elmer-Dewitt, 50). Microsoft’s Encarta is an electronic CD-ROM encyclopedia that makes for a fantastic alternative to 20 plus volume book encyclopedias. In fact, it is so popular, it outsells the Encyclopedia Britannica. These powerful business, productivity, and entertainment applications are just the beginning of what you an do with a PC. Knowing how to use the Internet will allow you access to a vast resource of facts, knowledge, information, and entertainment that can help you do work and have fun. According to Netscape Navigator 2 running under Windows 3. , â€Å"the Internet is a collection of networks, each of which is composed of a collection of smaller networks† (Shelly, Cashman, & Jordan, N2). Information can be sent over the Internet through communication lines in the form of graphics, sound, video, animation, and text. These forms of computer media are known as hypermedia. Hypermedia is accessed through hypertext links, which are pointers to the computer where the hypermedia is stored. The World Wide Web (WWW) is the collection of these hypertext links throughout the Internet. Each computer that contains hypermedia on the WWW is known as a Web site and has Web pages set up for users to access the hypermedia. Browsers such as Netscape allow people to â€Å"surf the net† and search for the hypermedia of their choice. There are millions of examples of hypermedia on the Internet. You can find art, photos, information on business, the government, and colleges, television chedules, movie reviews, music lyrics, online news and magazines, sport sights of all kinds, games, books, and thousands of other hypermedia on the WWW. You can send electronic mail (E-Mail), chat with other users around the world, buy airline, sports, and music tickets, and shop for a house or a car. All of this, and more, provides one with a limitless supply of information for research, business, entertainment, or other personal use. Online services such as America Online, Prodigy, or CompuServe make it even easier to access the power of the Internet. The Internet alone is almost reason enough to become computer literate, but there is still much more that computers can do. Knowing how to use a computer allows you to do a variety of things in several different ways. One of the most popular use for computers today is for playing video games. With a PC you can play card games, simulation games, sport games, strategy games, fighting games, and adventure games. Today’s technology provides the ultimate experiences in color, graphics, sound, music, full motion video, animation, and 3D effects. Computers have also become increasingly useful n the music, film, and television industry. Computers can be used to compose music, create sound effects, create special effects, create 3D life-like animation, and add previous existing movie and TV footage into new programs, as seen in the movie Forrest Gump. All this and more can be done with computers. There is truly no time like the present to become computer literate. Computers will be doing even more things in the future and will become unavoidable. Purchasing and learning about a new PC now will help put PC’s into the other two-thirds of the homes worldwide and make the transition into a computer age easier.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Globalization Argumentation Essay

(1, Premise) Globalization effects on economy, administrative, and geographical system of the nations in an effective manner. In today’s more challenging and competitive business era, globalization is one of the most important factors that have a direct or indirect effect on the economic, administrative, and geographical system of the nations in an effective and proper manner. There are rapid changes in the economics of the nations, due to globalization. In addition, different kinds of issues are developed or created by the globalization to the countries. Also, these are effecting the nations directly or indirectly. For example. High risk investment in other countries is considered a significant issue. (1, Conclusion) â€Å"After the globalization of the worldwide market, foreign investors faced the high risk to invest in the other nation due to the differences in administrative, geographic, economic, culture and demographic condition of the countries.†(Lynch & Gemini, 2010) (2, Premise) Globalization contributes to the improvement of technology that helped national companies. There are various technological improvements that create effective contribution in the globalization of markets and production. It is identified that the use of computers help the companies to adopt globalization and improve its market share in the global market. In computers, the use of the internet helps companies go global and add extra features to their production and operation activities. (2, Conclusion) â€Å"Through international technology, companies are also able to achieve competitive advantages over national and international competitors in an effective way.† (Mobius, 2012) (3, Premise) Globalization provides options of companies to improve their business through enter in the new country market. One improvement in technology related to change in the transportation technology helped the companies make globalization of markets  and production. The development of commercial jet aircraft and super fighters and development of ship transportation help companies simplify the trans-shipment from one mode of transport to another. (3, Conclusion) â€Å"Globalization helps companies to improve its market presence in the global market and introduce new production plants in different countries of the world to provide the right product to the right customers at the right time with the lowest cost† (Peng, 2009). (4, Premise) Globalization provides options of the companies to improve their position to attract or reach the new market and more customers. Technology is helpful for companies to generate global opportunities through attracting global customers for products and services. Changes in the telecommunication and introduction of the World Wide Web help companies connect with the global customers in an effective way and develop the opportunities in order to improve the market. There are various global marketing trends a global company needs to fulfill. The changing demand of customers, changes in advertising media and attraction for global customers are all important. In order to reach this target, global marketers need to target global advertising in order to attract global customers in an effective way. (4, Conclusion) â€Å"Through the targeting global advertising for the products and services, companies can also increase its customer base in the international market and can achieve competitive advantages over competitors in national and international market† (Shan, 2012). The first premise is an example of inductive reasoning as it is intended only to be so strong that, if the conclusion is different with premises. First premise: globalization impacts on countries economy, administrative, and geographical system, but the conclusion states differences that after the globalization, foreign investors face the high risk of investment in other countries due to the differences in countries’ administrative, geographic, economic, culture and demographic condition (Swenson, 2005). In addition, deductive argument is thought to be completely guaranteed of the premises truth, which means the conclusion is similar to the premise. Premise 2 is the example of the deductive argument as the premises and conclusion is the same, which the globalization or internationalization contributes into the improvement of technology as international technology reached of the companies that helped companies to achieve competitive advantages. References Lynch, M. & Gemini,C. (2010). Wealth: How the World’s High-Net-Worth Grow, Sustain, and Manage Their Fortunes. USA: John Wiley & Sons. Mobius, M. (2012). Passport to Profits: Why the Next Investment Windfalls Will be Found Abroad and How to Grab Your Share. USA: John Wiley & Sons. Peng, M.W. (2009). Global Business 2009. USA: Cengage Learning. Shan, W. (2012). The Legal Protection of Foreign Investment: A Comparative Study. USA: Hart Publishing Limited. Swensen, D.F. (2005). Unconventional Success: A Fundamental Approach to Personal Investment. USA: Simon and Schuster.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Why Marijuana over Tobacco †English Persuasive Essay

Why Marijuana over Tobacco – English Persuasive Essay Free Online Research Papers Why Marijuana over Tobacco English Persuasive Essay About 50 percent of incoming college freshmen have admitted to using marijuana. And about 40 percent of them smoke it on a regular basis. The question is why is marijuana illegal and tobacco legal? Marijuana has been known as a â€Å"gateway drug†, meaning it leads to use of other harder drugs. This is not true. It truly depends on the person whether they are going to do other drugs. People who smoke marijuana do not have a higher chance of getting addicted or even trying cocaine or heroin than non-users. Many negative facts have been told of marijuana, mostly by the tobacco industry, which are false. Why is the tobacco industry so concerned with marijuana and its negative effects? It is because the tobacco industry is trying to take some of the attention off of their product and point the finger at marijuana. Marijuana is healthier, safer, and has more medical use than tobacco does. Most illegal drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, are mixed with many different chemicals, but not marijuana. Marijuana is grown from the ground. No chemicals are added during or after the growing process, just sunlight and water is needed for the plant to grow. Once the plant reaches its peak, it is taken down and hung up to dry for a long period of time. After that it is ready to be enjoyed and smoked by its users. But in tobacco they mix in many unneeded harmful chemicals. One of these chemicals is nicotine, which is highly addictive. This is the chemical that keeps the tobacco smokers coming back for more, and more, which keeps the tobacco companies happy and well paid. You may ask, why is this chemical in tobacco? The reason is just so tobacco users cannot quit smoking when they try, but are stuck smoking until they die. Today millions of young kids, teens, and adults are addicted physically to tobacco and yet it is impossible to become physically addicted to marijuana. Physical addiction is where the body thinks it needs the nicotine to survive, so when you just stop the body is not used to not having it in your system and withdrawal symptoms may occur. When one tries to stop the use of tobacco products withdrawal symptoms may occur including rapid pulse, increased hand tremor, insomnia, nausea, physical agitations, anxiety, illusions, and seizures (Internet Mental Health). These symptoms may occur for months after stopping the use of tobacco. Also, tobacco also leaves radioactive materials in your lungs, which over time is what causes cancer (Erowid). No radioactive materials are present in marijuana smoke. The tar in marijuana smoke only contains 33% as much tar as tobacco (Erowid). Also when marijuana is smoked, it breaks down other tars in your lungs, including other marijuana and tobacco tars. Tobacco makes the lungs air passages smaller and cause them to constrict, unlike marijuana. Continuous tobacco use causes the air passage ways to eventually close up making it impossible to breath. And in the end tobacco kill you. Another negative effect of nicotine is that it causes negative effects on the heart and circulatory systems. What the nicotine does is causes the veins and arteries in your body to constrict (Erowid). This may lead to a stroke or heart attack. Tobacco use causes the body many problems. There has never been an overdose of marijuana. To overdose on marijuana you would have to smoke over a pound in an hour of high quality marijuana. That is physically impossible. This is true because the active chemical in marijuana is THC. â€Å"THC is one of the few chemicals for which there is no known toxic amount† (Lycaeum), meaning content of THC in marijuana is not high enough to cause death. Tobacco, on the other hand, can kill a person by an overdose. People have managed to overdose by using dermal patches and smoking tobacco at the same time (Erowid). Nicotine is a dangerous drug and should not be used at all. Medical marijuana has been used for years. It has been found as far back as 1,600 years ago. Marijuana was used for many different reasons. Patients suffering from glaucoma may receive marijuana to ease the pain in the eyes. For patients in chemotherapy marijuana has been used to give them their appetites back and reduce the nausea (Erwoid). People with severe headaches may also be prescribed marijuana. Marijuana can be used on patients with sleeping or eating disorders too. Yet in most states it is illegal to even prescribe marijuana. But yet in 1988 our own DEA’s administrative Judge Frances Young said, â€Å"Marijuana is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man.† He also said â€Å"marijuana in its natural form is far safer than many foods we commonly consume† (National Academy Press). Tobacco has no medical uses at all. Some say it relieves stress and helps reduce the appetite. Other than that, tobacco has no use of any kin d at all. Many people think that marijuana makes you less intelligent. The largest study of cannabis to date showed that they are wrong. It was proven that heavy long-term users scored slightly higher on IQ tests, had a lower illness rate, lower chance of developing cancer, and an increased life span compared to non-users (Erowid). So smoking some marijuana before a test actually will increase your ability to think. In fact, it said the cannabis smokers have been known to outlive non-smokers by up to 2 years (Erowid). We have all heard that smoking cannabis causes Cancer. Not only is this a lie but also users of marijuana have lower rates of producing lung cancer then non-users. â€Å"Not one case of lung cancer has ever been successfully linked to marijuana use† (Erowid). In 1975 researchers at the Medical College of Virginia found that cannabis can help fight against benign and malignant cancers. This proves that marijuana does not cause cancer, but it could prevent or even cure it. What about tobacco though? Tobacco does cause lung cancer. Tobacco leaves tar in the lungs that are radioactive. These radioactive materials morph over time into very harmful materials that causes cancer to be produced (Erowid). Cannabis is the number one used illegal drugs. If it is not addictive then why do people who try it come back? This is because it is safer than all the other drugs. Cannabis has been used all over the world for many reasons. The Indians smoked it at ceremonies to relax and have a good time. Where legal, doctors prescribe it to their patients for a number of different reasons. Some famous artists and musicians use marijuana on a regular basis to enhance their creativity. Others just use it because they like to relax and have fun. Nothing is wrong with smoking marijuana for any reason at all, but using tobacco is just suicide. What you have been told in the past may contradict the facts about marijuana. Smoking tobacco makes no sense and needs to be stopped. So do not just stand there in the tobacco smoke filled room and get out and smoke some marijuana. Research Papers on Why Marijuana over Tobacco - English Persuasive EssayUnreasonable Searches and SeizuresThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyDefinition of Export QuotasGenetic EngineeringBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfThe Spring and AutumnPETSTEL analysis of India

Monday, November 4, 2019

Annotated Bibliography for Journal of Economic Perspectives

Shiller, R.J., 2010. Speculative prices and popular models. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 4(2), pp.55-65. The author provides the reader with rational expectations, especially in the economic revolution. People hold a lot of expectations for future economic variables, which influence their fundamental purchase behaviors. When prices drop, it is evident that demand in the market increases. Consumers will rush to satisfy their preferences with the affordable commodity at that time. When prices increase, demand decreases, as consumers tend to withdraw their constant purchase behaviors and only consume what is available and affordable at that time. This source highlights the rational expectations model, and the author emphasizes the importance of businesses to relate to gross oversimplification. Profitability will not increase when prices are increased, without considering the purchase ability of prospective consumers. This is a credible source, and the article goes ahead to highlight significance in understanding how the markets work, for the sake of making decisions based on speculations. Market dynamics should be studied and interpreted for business success. IMF. 2017. Supply and Demand: Why Markets Tick Retrieved from: https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/basics/suppdem.htm The source provides information in regards to the different forms of transactions which take place in the market. In most cases, buyer –seller relationships and availability dictate the market prices, as well as trends which affect the profitability of all market participants. This is a credible source as it explains the different competitive models in the market, such as perfect competition, oligopoly market features, monopolistic market and monopolies which dominate trade in the market. The author provides distinct information in regards to quantities, determining aspects of prices, and what suppliers are willing to offer a different price ranges in the markets. The main benefit of this source is that it complements all other research work in the same field, which makes it credible. This website source helps the reader to understand different price impacts on market demand. The market conditions always need to be safeguarded, not to oppress the small scale trader and at the same time, maintain optimal levels of competition. Connor, D. 2017. Why Falling Home Prices Could Be a Good Thing Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/10/upshot/popping-the-housing-bubbles-in-the-American-mind.html This magazine article helps a long way, in helping the reader to understand the market specifics and dynamics which help shape competition and efficient market structures. The author engages the reader in rhetoric. For example, the article begins by asking; supposing there was a way which can be used to pump up the economy, for the sake of reducing inequality, would this be of help in ending depression? This magazine article helps in the identification of the impact of lowering prices both for consumers and businesses. Homes have been used to symbolize the largest assets and the ones considered most significant by the citizens in the nation. While some of these are luxuries, some are necessities such as food and clothing. According to this source, businesses cannot just thrive through a reduction in prices of their commodities. For profitability to be realized, a lot of other strategies need to be combined with a price reduction, for the sake of success.   Batra, R.N. and Ullah, A., 2014. Competitive firm and the theory of input demand under price uncertainty. Journal of Political Economy, 82(3), pp.537-548. This journal article is a credible source of information. First, the behavior of the competitive business has been emphasized, as well as the problems facing the same analyzed. Making decisions under tight economic times has proven to be very difficult for most organizations. The input demand function is downward sloping, but this only happens when the production function is also at its best. This source is highly relevant and beneficial to use, considering the ability of the author to examine firm behavior. It also highlights contributions made by other theorists, which makes it entirely relevant. The question of demand, price, and profitability has been approached from different angles. The focus of this source is about the impact of a drop in prices, which may either lead to profitability or losses. Demand and supply functions are essential in determining the profitability of organizations in the competitive industry.   Economics. Supply- Demand Market Equilibrium. Retrieved from: https://thismatter.com/economics/market-equilibrium.htm After considerable review of this source, it is evident that it cannot be termed credible in the research process. The topic under consideration has been sufficiently addressed by the source. However, a lot of weaknesses are still evident hence making it less adequate for the process. For example, the source does not have an author who can claim responsibility for the material.   It is only website specific but does not have details on its day of publication, author, publisher or even its complementary sources. The source explains how price increases lead to a shortage of buyers, leading to decreased demand in the long run. The aspects of equilibrium quantity and price have also been addressed. There is a need to adhere to all relevant aspects which make a source credible.   Data provided in the source is adequate and correct, but cannot be considered peer reviewed. Shiller, R.J., 2010. Speculative prices and popular models. The Journal of Economic  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Perspectives, 4(2), pp.55-65. IMF. 2017. Supply and Demand: Why Markets Tick. Retrieved from:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/basics/suppdem.htm Conor, D. 2017. Why Falling Home Prices Could Be a Good Thing. Retrieved from:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/10/upshot/popping-the-housing-bubbles-in-the   American-mind.html Batra, R.N. and Ullah, A., 2014. Competitive firm and the theory of input demand under price  Ã‚  Ã‚   uncertainty. Journal of Political Economy, 82(3), pp.537-548. Economics. Supply- Demand Market Equilibrium. Retrieved from:   https://thismatter.com/economics/market-equilibrium.htm

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Improving Decision Making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Improving Decision Making - Essay Example The company's defence that the price was part of a "random price test" and could be refunded solidified the suspicion further it was into dynamic pricing activity, as similar instances were far too many. Just like the company offered $51 less by Amazon than its own usual price on a dedicated bargain website (ramasastry, cnn.com). An analysis can be done from figures provided as quarter wise sales data, of a particular book sold through this portal, (Niles, R., ojr.org). It shows that the company had skimmed high earnings through a dynamic pricing policy in the first quarter sales. Eleven and twelve copies of the same book were sold at the prices of $11.02 and $11.50 each respectively while in the second quarter the same book sold sixteen and eleven copies each at the prices of $11.02 and $11.70 respectively meaning a highly elastic nature of the book's demand can be computed at a elasticity demand- coefficient of two, which is greater than unitary. It may be noticed here that there was an increase in sales of the books even when the prices charged were higher. If total earnings based on variable pricing quarter - on - quarter are considered , then they range from 15% to almost as high as 40%. This is where the marketers like Amazon.com have the opportunity to maximize their earnings from unsuspecting custome rs through their dynamic pricing strategy as even against a higher price Amazon sold more number of copies. The remaining quarters also showed a similar effect. Benefits & disadvantages The benefits of dynamic pricing comprise of stimulating demand which helps to churn inventory quicker translating into more revenue and greater margins. The new focus is on target pricing, with technology profiling the price sensitivity of customers to determine the selection of groups which can be discriminated on pricing. . It is believed by the company to help in maximizing the total revenue for the company. The associates and partners of Amazon even share historical data of their dynamic pricing. (Liquid commerce, information-age.com). The disadvantages are also quite a few such as customer loyalty start disappearing once regular customers find out that they are being overcharged in contrast to a new customer offered a lower promotional price . This could drive customers to bargain counters where everyone is treated fairly and there is no discrimination through dynamic pricing. The other drawback of this method may be a legal threat incase it appears that the firm is violating an titrust laws or not having a fixed price policy. Conclusion However, it may be an end of an era of list prices where the product life cycle is short, (Strategic interactive marketing, managing change.com), the distance minimized and delivery lead times lessened with the help of technology and modernization. Industry experts have reportedly observed dynamic pricing to be a boon to high fixed and low marginal cost industries and also as a necessity for e commerce (Weiss, R., M. & Mehrotra, A., K.,