Meaning of life Essay

A man once said†¦ â€Å" A man once said to the universe: Sir do I exist However, replied the universe the fact has not created in me a sense of obligation†. The great Philosopher Stephen Crane explained his work in existentialism by writing this quote. Existentialism is the philosophy and cultural movement that holds the starting point of philosophy. Thinking must be the individual and experiences of the individual. The quote that Stephen crane wrote, talks about how just because he exist the universe isn’t going to change just because you only exist. Your te one that has to give your life meaning. The philosophy of existentialism does not have a specific school or books. But it is a way of living your life as you want but still knowing what the consequences are. The most important human activity is decision making. Through our choices, we create our lives and become ourselves when you wake up every morning you think for yourself and make your own decision using your own thoughts and actions. No one lives forever therefore make your time worthwhile enjoy your life how you like to live it don’t let anything or anyone make decision for you. Today’s living is much commercialized. It’s all around you and always trying to convince you to do what they want, and buy what they want. The movie â€Å" Fight Cllub† is based off of the theory of existentialism. As the movie starts tyler durden is just going through the motions of living life. He keeps the same routine day in and day out. He goes to work. He hates his boss. But never has the courage to stand up for him self he does whatever the boss tells him to without questioning her. Then he goes back to his apartment that he has identical to the ikea magazine. All of his furniture, carpets, cups, covers, and chairs exactly as the pictures on the ikea magazine. He’s sitting back letting the commercializing life take over him. He doesn’t know who he is. As the movie proceeds tyler durden starts getting fed up of how he’s been living life. The moment that he himself blew up his apartment was because he wanted a whole new start and starts taking control of his life. This is where I believe he starts living the theory of existentialism. After he blows up his condo he moves to a old abanded house, and gets rid of al his commercialized material. All this came from fighting. When he fought in the â€Å"fight club† it wasn’t about winning or losing it was about letting yourself free. Fighting brought the men some indrenalum and for those minutes they fought they felt alive and forgot about all their problems. In this society Living in today’s society you have to follow a certain set of rules just to fit into the â€Å"normal† people a lot of humans in this society just sit back and watch their lives go by in their movie tyler durden helps me understand that instead of us just being spectator and watching things through our TV and magazines we should go out and be participating members of what ever you would like to do. In the book â€Å" the stranger† Meursault helped me understand the concept of existentialism. When Meursault’s mother dies. Meursault has to ask his boss for sometime off because his mother has died. Meursault tells his boss sorry for taking the time off. This makes me think that he really didn’t care that his mom passed away he seen it as a set back to his usual life. â€Å" Maman died. Or yesterday maybe I don’t know, I got a telegram from the home† when I read this it immediately gives me an impression of a lack of emotion towards the death of his mother. This lack of emotion shows the existentialist idea that we all die, it doesn’t matter what life we have while we are alive we simply exist, as Meursault did. As you keep reading the novel, You take notice that Meursault doesn’t like introducing himself with neighbors. It seems to me as if Meursault simply acts to fill his time. He is a single man that has a lot of time to fill. And he finally starts figuring out that his weekends pass by particularly slowly. The way I started noticing is Meursault started to us short sentences to convey an atmosphere showing emotion and feelings. You could really take notice of this between page 21 and 24, at the end of chapter two, when Meursault is giving a very descriptive narrative of the life outside his window on a typical Sunday. He ends the chapter by saying â€Å"one more Sunday was over†¦ nothing had changed†. Throughout the entire book â€Å"the stranger† Meursault is a very laid back guy that doesn’t let many things effect his actions. He believes everyone is just here to fill in some spots. That there is no meaning in life. Since everyone will die. But at the end of the book he is put in front of death. And this is where all his emotion comes out. He now understands that he had been mistaken that he never had anyone close to him in his life. The natural human nature is to interact with other humans, and once he was put in front of death he wished people knew who he was.

Motaba Virus – Immune System and Operation Clean Sweep

The mercenary camp was in the Motaba River Valley of Zaire was bombed to stop the virus from spreading. 2. No I would have removed all the people and disinfected all of them so the virus would stay in the forest and nobody would die. 3. Sam Daniels and his crew were sent out to the Motaba Valley because there was a level 4 virus. 4. The conditions in the Motaba valley were sad, smoky, poor and there were dead people everywhere. 5. The symptoms of the mystery disease at Motaba Valley were blistering everywhere, sever headaches and bleeding from every orifice. 6.No the virus that caused the mystery disease at Motaba Valley was not airborne. 7. A. The tribesman’s explanation of why the disease was affecting the tribe was because it was the gods punishment for cutting down the rain forest. B. No I don’t think the explanation makes any sense because mother nature couldn’t be happy with the loss of the plants and forest. 8. They wore thick space suits and multiple airl ocks, ultra violet light rooms and workers must be intensely trained. 9. The virus got to the U. S. by the monkey that Jimbo traveled with from the forest. 11.The electron microscope shows about the Motaba virus in Kidney cells, and it showed it was invaded, multiplied and killed the cells. 12. Jimbo is the owner of the infected monkey, and the monkey with the virus kills many people. 13. Rudy is the store owner of the animal store, and she is around these animals all the time. 14. Robby tried to find out if Jimbo had any contact with animals or how he got sick before he died. 15. A. Jimbo got infected by the virus by a monkey spitting on his mouth. B. Rudy got infected by the monkey scratching him. c. Jimbo’s girlfriend Alice got infected by kissing Jimbo. D.Henry got infected by blood splattering on him. E. People at the movie theatre got infected by being coughed on by someone with virus. F. Robby got infected by being stabbing herself with the needle. G. Casey got infecte d by taking his suit in an infected area. 16. A. The Motaba virus mutated because it became airborne. B. The Motba virus was so dangerous because it becoming airborne made it a lot easier to spread a lot faster. 17. A They forced the people to stay in town and they couldn’t leave their houses. B. Family members had to endure that they will eventually die because of the spread of the virus, the sick ad to be tested and would most likely die. 18. Operation clean sweep was the bomb that is powerful but not nuclear and is dropped on the California area, killing the disease and virus. 19. Many government officials thought it was necessary because the virus wouldn’t spread and kill millions. 20. Yes I think it is acceptable to kill a few lives to save the human population. Sometimes you have to take desperate measures when there’s a deadly virus going around. It would be better to take a few lives than kill the whole human population.It makes sense to kill the people with the virus (because there were few) and save the rest of the population. They could permanently kill off the virus by killing the people with it and saving other people form getting it. I think it would be necessary because to save a whole population would be essential over saving a few people. 21. I think that if there was a positive and known solution that would help the cause by sacrificing the animals, then it would be necessary so not so many people would die. 22. Danielle’s prevented the success of Operation Clean Sweep by flying there airplane right in front so they couldn’t bomb the city.And by telling them they found the cure. 23A. They determined the identity of the virus by drawing blood from an infected person. 23B. They determined the cause of the disease by analyzing blood and putting it under a microscope and they found tons of ebola viruses in the blood. 23C. They tracked the spread of the virus by keeping track of who had it, how they got it, when and where. 24A. Finding the host of the virus was critical and finding the anti-serum because they had to create the anti-serum from the monkey’s blood. 24B.Danielle’s was so intent on capturing the monkey in California because that’s how they would find the cure for the virus, since the monkey was indeed the virus carrier. 25A. A host cell is a living cell in which a virus reproduces. A primary host or definitive host is a host in which the parasite reaches maturity and, if possible , reproduces †¦ 25B. The monkey could have been referred to as virus carrier or infected living organism. 26. After capturing the monkey, Daniells and his team were able to find the cure to the virus and vaccine. 27. They used that room because they did not want the virus to spread anymore. 8. A. Antiserum is blood serum containing polyclonal antibodies. B. Antiserum is used to pass on passive immunity to many diseases. C. Passive antibody transfusion from a previous human surv ivor is the only effective treatment for Ebola infection. D. An antigen is a toxin or other foreign substance that induces an immune response in the body, esp. the production of antibodies. E. Antibodies in the antiserum bind the infectious agent or antigen. The immune system then recognizes the antibody and the antigen and antibody work together to fight off viruses in immune systems. F.Antibodies in the antiserum bind the infectious agent or antigen. The immune system then recognizes foreign agents bound to antibodies and triggers a more robust immune response. The use of antiserum is particularly effective against pathogens which are capable of evading the immune system in the unstimulated state but which are not robust enough to evade the stimulated immune system. The existence of antibodies to the agent therefore depends on an initial â€Å"lucky survivor† whose immune system by chance discovered a counteragent to the pathogen, or a â€Å"host species† which carri es the virus but does not suffer from its effects.Further stocks of antiserum can then be produced from the initial donor or from a donor organism that is inoculated with the pathogen and cured by some stock of preexisting antiserum. G. They gave a lot the monkey and they wouldn’t have been able to find a cure that works that fast and be distributing it out to everyone to save currently sick people. It would have taken at least a month to find a cure and those people that were in the hospital would have died and not have been saved in real life. H.They gave a lot the monkey and they wouldn’t have been able to find a cure that works that fast and be distributing it out to everyone to save currently sick people. It would have taken at least a month to find a cure and those people that were in the hospital would have died and not have been saved in real life. They make the process of the antiserum look like an easy and fats process when really it takes months. It is a dif ficult task that takes an extremely long time. It’s not likely that they would find a cure in two days and not logical.They couldn’t pass on the cure that quickly to save the people that were currently in he hospital. They would have had to do many tests t find the cure to the virus it would not have taken just two days. 29. I thought the movie was good, but parts were not realistic. It showed how dangerous ebola really was and how fast it could spread. The government would probably take desperate measure to save the whole population. Ebola spreads so quickly and kills so fast. The movie was a good representation of ebola, how it spreads and how quickly and dangerous it is. 30. A. Yes viruses kill and they scare man and are deadly and fast moving.B. Everyone was so fearful and hopeless that if It happened today everyone would freak out and live in fear. C. It’s significant because man doesn’t have all fears but most would have a fear of deadly virus becau se it’s unknown and unseen, D. I think that man will ultimately dominate because there are so man doctors and scientist searching for viruses. That if an outbreak happened they would have a cure so fast with all the technology being created. A virus is a deadly, killer but I don’t see an outbreak in the future because of all the technology and there hasn’t been an incident for decades.

Famous Person whom you would Consider a “typical” American Essay

Name a famous person whom you would consider a â€Å"typical† American. What characteristics of this individual do you think make her or him typical? Do you consider these characteristics a stereotype? Why, or why not? I think if I had to choose one typical American it would have to be the ‘typical’ ideal American. I do not think that in today’s society that there is a ‘typical’ American.So if I was going to pick a famous person it would have to one from history, Abe Lincoln, for example. He stood for freedom, equality, and upholding the values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; the values our country was founded on. I think that when he was alive he embodied the characteristics of a typical American because he worked hard to provide for his family and fought hard to stand up for what he believed was right for our country.I consider these to be all wonderful characteristics to have but when applied to the ‘typical’ Ame rican it does seem to be stereotypical or even a little unfair. It is hard in this day and age to embody all of those things that he did. America is a country made up of so many different people with different backgrounds and cultures that we are truly a melting-pot. I think it is time that we redefine the ‘typical’ American to no definition at all. Everyone who is American is ‘typical’, it is what makes this country so great.Resource: Module 4 of Psychology and Your LifeWrite a 200- to 300-word summary describing a time when you had to test a theory. This theory may be something you have tested at work, school, or at home.Answer the following questions in your summary:What type of informal research method did you use?   How was your research method similar to research methods used by psychologists? If given another opportunity, what would you have done differently? Describe one ethical issue mentioned in the text that you have encountered. Why is informe d consent necessary for ethical research? I work in a hotel and I am in charge of getting the housekeepers organized and  working on an acceptable time line. I noticed that they were taking too long to clean the rooms so that I could rent them out again. I decided to do an informal time-motion type study. I would record how long it took them to do the rooms for about a week.I noticed that on one of the days they had planned to do something after work and their room per hour rate went way up. Rechearchers use similar methods when working in the employment settings to see if they can improve morale and production. I probably would not have done much differently. I started motivating them in different ways to make sure that their room rate went up. The only difference was that when we told them about the study, they seemed to move faster. Next time I will just tell them that we are recording their cleaning times and get the results I want, rather than having to give extra incentives. I do not think that there were any moral issues involved in this test. I guess someone could say that I should have let them known that their performance was being recorded. I would not have found the results I did if I had informed them, and as an employee of a company you should expect your performance to be reviewed. If this were a different type of test I can understand how many people want there to be informed consent especially if there is some sort of invasive testing or something that disrupts your normal life.

Finance and accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Finance and accounting - Essay Example These will be the history, revenues and the major operations of the particular business. One of the globe’s biggest confectionery business is called Cadbury and besides its being one of the world’s largest it occupies the first or the second position in about 20 of the global 50 largest confectionery markets. It also holds position one as the most vastly spread as well as largest upcoming markets business as far as confectionery companies are concerned. It is home to approximately 45,000 employees as well as having direct business operations in around 60 nations. Cadbury Company was founded in 1824, courtesy of John Cadbury. He began by selling cocoa and tea in the United Kingdom. The operations of the company revolve around gum, chocolate and candy today. Some of the brands going across the globe, local and regional areas as favourites are with the inclusion of Flake, Dairy milk, Green & Black in chocolate, Crease Egg, Dentyne and Trident among others. As per 2009’s half annual results, the revenue of the business base improved by 4%. The 4% growth was as a result of a sturdy growth in the sales of chocolate while the trends showed improving candy and gum business. These half year results of revenue from confectionery business were shared as follows: On the other hand, there is the Standard Chartered Bank which was established in the year 1869 following a merger of Standard Bank and Chartered Bank. Thus, Standard Bank was founded in 1863 in British South Africa while the Chartered in 1853 in India, China and Australia. The aim of the two companies was to maximise upon expanding largely on trade and to gain worthwhile profits through financing the goods movement across Asia, Africa and Europe. This bank has a branch network translating to about 1,600 branches as well as outlets and around 5,500 Automated Teller Machines in well above 70

Writting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Writting - Essay Example Every intercultural conflict should be resolved accordingly in order to avoid bad consequences. Here the differences in beliefs should be taken into account and each belief should be respected. In some cases if the person came to another country and his/her beliefs contradict the beliefs of the citizens of this country, the conflict can occur. A person also may appear in the group of people with the religious beliefs different from his own. In these cases the majority is usually recognized as right if conflict occurs. However, the cases can be different and every case should be considered separately. In the situation under consideration, a teacher wants to make his student kill frogs saying that it is necessary to pass the course. First, no course may have a task to kill animals and frogs are animals. There are people who are responsible for these and the teacher can’t and should not make his students kill animals to pass the course, especially if the person has religious beliefs that do not allow him to kill animals. In this case it is necessary the student should apply to college administration with the complaint and the request to resolve the

Movie Adaptation essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Movie Adaptation - Essay Example Several scenes in this movie depict self-reflection. For instance; Griffin Mill a movie executive is stalked and threatened by a screenwriter whom he rejected. Mill sets out to find his stalker and kill him. He later gets a note informing him that he killed the wrong man. Mill offers his stalker to make his movie for silence. The greediness of Hollywood movie makers is brought out here. Mill then betrays Cahain, the mysterious writer, by getting into a romantic affair with Cahain’s girlfriend, June. June later tips Mill on the whereabouts of Cahain giving Mill the chance to murder him. Mill and June fall in love and live together depicting the immorality in Hollywood. 2) Double Indemnity (1994) Double Indemnity by Billy Wilder is considered a noir movie. In most noir movies, the male lead characters are considered weaklings. The motivations behind the deeds of the male lead character are inspired by the sexual appeal of a female character. The femme fatale character is clearly brought out in Double Indemnity. In this case, a treacherous woman makes a man commit a crime that will benefit her by using her sexual charms (Blair 58). There are promises of sex and money to the man if the deal is successful. Double Indemnity like every noir movie is in black and white. Elements of noir movie are incorporated in the movie Double Indemnity. To begin with the movie is in black and white. The movie is about Walter Neff, an insurance agent who gets into an affair with Phyllis the wife of Dietrichson, his client. Phyllis, the femme fatale, and Neff conspire and come up with an insurance scam that will make Mr. Dietrichson loss fifty thousand dollars. Neff is controlled by the urge to go to bed with Phyllis thereby succumbing to her request. Neff and Phyllis plan to escape if the scam goes through and Mr. Dietrichson murdered. Later Neff confesses on being part of the scam when Phyllis accuses him of being the mastermind. Sex has been used as a symbol of self destruct ion on the part of Neff. 3) The Silence of the Lambs Clarice Starling, a trainee in the FBI, is tasked to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Hannibal â€Å"the cannibal† upon being interviewed admits of his knowledge on where to find Buffalo Bill, a man who skins women and then wears their skin. In this movie, telling who the protagonist is and who the antagonist is can be a problem. Starling and Lecter play an important role. Starling seeks the help of Dr. Lecter who is locked up in a mental hospital. He likes her and offers her the details she needs on tracking down Buffalo Bill. Clarice Starling’s vulnerability gives the movie a turn when Dr. Lecter realizes that they have a lot in common; her parents died when she was still young while he was abused as a child. He likes her and is ready to help her at all costs. 4) Maltese Falcon (1941) In the novel Maltese Falcon, Miss Wonderly walks into Spade’s and Archer’s office premise after Effie informs Spade. Mis s Wonderly finds Spade all alone in the office. She tries to inform about her visit but takes moments before speaking. After a while of narrating her problem to him, Archer walks in, and Spade introduces him to her as his partner. In the movie, Miss Wonderly presents her case to Archer and Spade who are together in the office. There are several alterations noted. In the

Islam in the Performing Arts Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5500 words

Islam in the Performing Arts - Research Paper Example As religion has always created a great deal of influence over people and developing their opinion about participation in different forms of performing arts, that is why permission to act or to participate in any forms of performing arts does differ to a great extent among them. What is a religion? According to Durkheim, â€Å"†¦a religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden – beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community†¦all those who adhere to them.† (Cipriani and Ferrarotti, 2000, p.2) Durkheim’s observation regarding the role of religion as a catalyst for social unity is relevant in this context as religious permissibility of acting can help to a great extent in spearing morality across society. Thus, acting in film or theatre has received a special focus from different religious disciplines and at the same time, this issue has also raised several debates and arguments concerning this argument. Apart from this factor, as every religion goes through a process of maturity (Roof and McKinney, 1987, p. 108), it gradually develops certain forms of prejudices that create pressure over followers of such religion. Keeping in mind the factor of general humane morality factor, every religion provides some kind of restrictions over people but in the general social context, those aspects are often misrepresented and finally those emerge as strict regulations for people in every society Thesis Statement: In this context, the important question arises if it is permissible under the laws of Islam to act in film or theater or if it violates the rules of morality as laid down in the philosophical approach of Islam.

Starting up a new consultancy business for healthcare staffing in the Thesis Proposal

Starting up a new consultancy business for healthcare staffing in the US - Thesis Proposal Example The American government accords top priority to this industry as it is the backbone of the nation’s progress. The report by the Industrial College of Armed Forces, Washington, suggests that in the US, healthcare is one of the â€Å"largest and most fragmented industries,† comprising â€Å"600,000† service providers of different types of care and it also accounts for â€Å"14 million jobs† (Healthcare: An Industry Analysis and Strategic Recommendation for the Future: Final Report 4). Thus, healthcare industry has high relevance in this country in terms of the revenue it generates and employment opportunities it creates. However, the industry currently confronts a lot of issues especially in the context of shortage of healthcare staff and particularly of nurses. This problem may entail shortfall in providing care to the patients, which may adversely affect the performance and reputation of the healthcare organizations. Therefore, filling up the vacancy of st aff is one of the primary concerns of various hospitals as well as other healthcare service providers in the US. Viability and Prospects for a Healthcare HR Consultancy: The report by the Industrial College of Armed Forces, Washington, further finds that shortage of primary care physicians has prevailed in the country since long and â€Å"the number per 100,000 has increased from 118 in the year 2006 to 120 in 2010† (7). On the other hand, the report by Price Waterhouse Cooper’s Health Research Institute indicates that current trends predict the nurse shortage by 2020 to be ranging from â€Å"400.000 to more than 1 million† (What Works: Healing the Healthcare Staff Shortage 6). Therefore, various efforts are underway in an attempt to bridge the gap in demand and supply of doctors and nurses. Such efforts include â€Å"promotional campaigns, flexible work-study programs for advanced degrees and leadership interventions that promote the value of nursing and teach ing† (23). Thus, a positive environment exists currently in the country in terms of job opportunities for nurses, which offers favorable conditions for recruiting nurses from overseas countries. At this state, launching a consultancy service for the recruitment of doctors and nurses from countries such as India, Philippines and China as well as other countries will be an attractive business opportunity in the US. World View (Why it is Important in the World): Abundant Resources: ` Developing Asian countries, especially India, Philippines and China are good sources today for talent hunting, especially in the areas of nursing. These countries are emerging as the economic powers of the future and coupled with it, many developmental activities have been undertaken in these nations in the past. These include improvement in the areas of education and technology and thus these countries have achieved great progress recently. Thus, they have talented and skilled workforce with a good sense of dedication and commitment to the profession they choose. Data on CGFNS, which is a qualifying test for nurses before they write the NCLEX examination in the US, for the years 2000 – 2006, indicates that â€Å"51838† Philippines, â€Å"24242† Indian and â€Å"1020† Chinese nurses appeared for the examination, for seeking immigration to the US (Brush 21). Thus, these countries are good sources for recruiting nurses for addressing the shortage of nurses in the US. Positive Environment: In the post

The impact of GMP on your job and work environment Essay

The impact of GMP on your job and work environment - Essay Example Ps are the current good manufacturing practices followed by pharmaceutical and biotech firms to ensure the products produced meet specific requirements for identity, quality, and purity. The cGMPs are regulated by FDA under 21 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 210 and 211. Subpart G of part 211, covers the aspects of labeling and packaging control. The failure to comply with any regulation in manufacture, processing, packing, or holding of a drug shall render such drug to be adulterated, as well as the person who is responsible for the failure to comply, shall be subject to regulatory action. Packaging is the art, science and technology of manufacturing goods for sale in a cost effective manner. In the context of pharmaceuticals the packaging must preserve the product from degradation or contamination and, leakage. The particular type of packing should able to identify the product. Every individual employed in the packing of a drug product shall have education, training, and experience, or any combination thereof, to facilitate the person to perform the assigned functions. Adequate number of qualified personnel are required to perform and supervise the packing processes. It is a requirement of GMP, that owner of manufacturing authorizations set up procedures for their packaging operations to minimize the risk of cross-contamination, mix-up or substitutions. Written procedures are indispensable for the receipt, identification, storage, handling, sampling, examination, and/or testing of labeling and packaging materials. These materials are representatively sampled and examined before use. An authorized packaging instructions for each product is required. These should normally include name of the product, description of its pharmaceutical form and strength, where applicable, the pack size, description of packaging operation, including any subsidiary operations, and equipment to be used. It should also comprise in-process controls, with instructions for sampling and

Report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Report - Assignment Example All these factors together with local conflicts have resulted in a poorer educational system in countries such as Africa and South Asia and in countries with a high population the situation is even worse (Crawford, 1995). Even those institutions which are backed by sufficient funding do suffer from certain shortfalls such as lack of appropriate teaching materials, shortage of teachers and less motivation programs for both teachers and students to completely enjoy the fruits of education (Notes). The teaching fraternity plays a vital role in the promotion of education among students, especially in the primary classes, and they should have access to the right teaching materials which would help to develop basic reading and writing skills of students. As if this is resolved students will have the confidence to excel and do better in higher classes as foundation is definitely the key to higher learning. Despite this understanding modern schools have shied away from providing the much needed encouragement for both teachers and students (Holmes, 2008, Notes). Additionally schools have also not been supported by suitable governmental policies and practices as they only focus on the economic or social outcomes of education. Unless the primary educational system is strengthened we will not be able to achieve the right benefits of education and it will merely remain only as a solution to global problems rather than as a means to realize the true potential of an individual (Carroll,

Going to a Foreign Country Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Going to a Foreign Country - Essay Example It is always difficult for one to go to a foreign land and spend time away from family and friends. But then again there are some decisions in life which require sacrifice of the highest order. If I ever go abroad to pursue higher education, I would face difficulty in the beginning coping up with the norms and behaviors of the society in which I have stepped into as well as dearly miss my friends and family members. However I realize that this is a short phase which would occur mostly in the starting and with things settling down, I will feel all at ease within the foreign country. In the pursuit of knowledge, I am ready to undertake such a visit to a foreign country but I know this beforehand that I would come back to serve my own motherland so that my country benefits from my education and related experience that I have gained in the foreign country. I have made it a point to dedicate myself whole-heartedly towards studies once I land in the foreign country. I would not indulge in acts which are unbecoming of a student and devote all my energies towards something constructive. I would find ways to interact with my peers and ask them for their help if ever I drop into some problem. I will proactively help my mates without their even asking for the same. I would make a schedule for myself so that I could study within my free time and also understand a little about the culture of the foreign country. I would communicate with people in their own language so that they feel I am a part of them.

The Massive Resistance and how it Failed Essay Example for Free

The Massive Resistance and how it Failed Essay After the supreme court case Brown v. Board of Education ruled that public schools in the United States were to be desegregated, Senator Harry S. Byrd of Virginia led a movement called the massive resistance, which aimed to prevent any sort of integration in the school system. Although at first the ruling in the case did not specify some time frame by which schools were to be desegregated, eventually the government became more adamant about educational integration. Byrd began the movement in February of 1956, two years after Brown v. Board. This movement basically aimed to continue some form of the Jim Crow laws, which denied African Americans of their rights, some of which were guaranteed by the constitution. Byrd eventually gained support of the Virginia General Assembly, and passed laws that prevented integrated schools from receiving state funds, giving schools incentive to remain segregated. The NAACP campaigned for integration in Washington D. C., and by 1958, federal law required schools in certain cities and counties in the state of Virginia to integrate immediately. The Governor of Virginia then ordered some of these schools to close, further prolonging integration. But some white families went to the U. S. Supreme Court, because their children were denied education by the closings, and the court ordered schools to reopen. Ultimately, the intent of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment was honored, and schools were federally required to integrate everywhere. The NAACP suing the state of Virginia on the grounds that it was not upholding the Brown v. Board ruling, and the intervention of the federal government overpowered the prejudices of Virginia’s figures of authority, and the massive resistance to integration failed. Works Cited Boydston, Jeanne. Lewis, Jan. McGurr, Michael. Making a Nation: The United States and Its People. Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 2003.

The Northern Ireland Conflict

The Northern Ireland Conflict Every country in the world is searching to the peace and want to live a safely life, regard less their religion or their path if its Christianity, Islam or any other religion. Its an original desire in every one, to seek about peace. The country could face allots of conflicts and clashes between it self or with other country because of the geographical boundaries, economics issues, ethnic schism or because of breaking the agreements. But also these conflicts can be at the same country which is causes by ethnics groups or civil wars, for example: Lebanon, Iraq and Northern Ireland. These countries faced civil and ethnic wars, which that affect on people life. Its killed thousands of people in a short period, mutilated people appearance and genes destroy the country properties and wealth. Also it has a dangerous psychological effect on the children (victims) and the next generations, especially if the war was at the same country between the citizens. The most remarkable war, that happe ned in Europe since many years and makes noticeable changes in Christianity. It is the Catholics and the Protestants fight in the Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland governmental division of the United King of Great Britain and Northern Ireland located in the northeastern part of the island of Ireland (Encarta). And the remaining part of the island is a part of the republic of Ireland. The capital of Northern Ireland is Belfast .Northern Ireland population is approximately 55% Protestants which they are the majority and 45% Catholics. This country is divided depending on the religious and political lines. The split between the Protestants majority and the Roman Catholic minority made a deep conflict that influence the regions politics and economy. By the 17th century, Protestants British colonizer had dominated the regions Catholic, Gaelic residents. The entire of Ireland was part of the United Kingdom until 1920(Encarta). Then the civil ethnic war was breaking out between Loyalist ( unionist) Protestants and Nationalist Catholics. The Catholics wanted Northern Ireland to be reunited to republic of Ireland to the south and the Protestants wanted to remain in a part of the United Kingdom. Since the violence over 30 years ago, more than 3,600 people have been killed in the conflict (Film). The island was divided into tow regions, Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland; both were under United Kingdom controls. The British army was sending to equal the corruption, but the violence continued especially the bloody Sunday event, when the British groups opened the fire on a group of Catholic demonstrators and killed 14 people. The term used in Ireland and the United Kingdom to describe this conflict was the (Troubles). This term was to describe the violence of 1919-1923 (Encarta). But after the Friday agreements the conflict stopped on 1 march 1999. The agreement was to confirm the awareness of the human rights in the Northern Ireland (BBC). This fight had many causes: t he absence of organized government, every group wanted to control the country and the most essential cause is the ethnic schism. The region contained tow groups of people who are differed in political loyalty, religious practice and cultural morals (Cain). One of them believed that their land had been stolen, while the other was in a stable state of anxiety. Northern Ireland is still suffering from this conflict and its make the two groups in a suspicious between each other. The most essential outcome from this awful event, by bombing houses and killed innocent people, that make the children passed out the hates from on generation to another and make them suspect even in their friends and their neighbors, in addition, its makes them live unsafely life they can not trust any one near them and teach them how to make anomies from the other side. But who were suffered great lost from this conflict, are still trying to breaking the cycle of violence in Northern Ireland and they are baying the price of what their parents have done. Both sides Protestants and Catholics children had suffered from this conflict. Its makes deep changes in the children way of thinking and how they deal with other children from the other sect. and there are still many issues without solving, many children are remained angry and hurts. Like Grace, Colin and Mark those children are both Catholics and Protestants they lost one of their family members. Every one has his own story, every one of them lost one of their beloveds although they are from different sects but their suffering from the Trouble is one. (Grace) lost her father; he was killed in the conflict she lost him when she was two years and she still suffering from this conflict (un.org). Colin is an another case he is a Protestant boy he is 15 years old, Colin lives with his brothers and his father in the most litigious area in Belfast. In the top of Shankill road (Protestant side) the peace wall is divided the neighborhood out of the Catholic area. One a day Colin was walking back home from his school. He use to take the Protestant road but one time when he get lost out of the Protestant side a group of Catholic kids hit him harshly. This event keep Colin hates the Catholic children more and more. At the same period of Shankill notorious bombing when Colin was five years old, ten people were killed plus the bomber and 57 were injured. The unionist Irish Republican army claimed the reasonability of this bombing and it said that the target was not to kill the civilians but it was meant to exploit during the rival unionist group Ulster freedom fighters meeting. After what happened, the loyalists Protestant take the revenge by killing tow Catholic residents. And by the end of the week the killed 12more Catholics by other ways!! Colin and his family were affected by the Shankill bombing. Alife, Colins father was in the bombing area the fish shop when its exploded. Colin and his mother knew that Alfie could be one of the injured or killed people. Colins mother searched about Alfie but Alife were wondered thats why one of the men was wearing surgical gloves. The victim was taken to the hospital and he was totally covered. Then, the family knew that the man with the gloves was a Catholic man and he was the bomber. After this occurrence the McCrery family started to live in a great hectic and fear they become prisoners and strangers in their own home. At night, they looked all the windows and doors perfectly even if one of the family children waked up at night to drink water or to go to the bathroom they must wake their father first. The Troubles affected on McCrery in a negative way (un.org). Mark is a Catholic boy; he lost his father when he was just six years old. His father was shot and killed by Protestant gunman. Although that (Mark) became sixteen years old he remains deeply affected because of this conflict he still struggles and with his anger and hates. Mark does not share his sadness with any one he prefers to keep his bad memories for him self. The death of Marks was broadcasting in the televisions and newspapers but he does not need all these things to remember this awful tragedy. Marks anger started to become bigger and bigger with time even its stared to pulling him down into despair and hopelessness. The children who suffered from this conflict are trying to seek about solutions and keys to help them to overcome what they faced. They are deeply hurts every one have his bad memories that could affect his life or his personality and the hates the got can affect the whole generation and the whole country if the people did not try to establish and plan solutions. But the country and the responsible sides were aware of the solutions to help the Protestant and the Catholic children to deal with subsequences of this tragedy together. The responsible authorities associate the Wave Center and they supply it by equipments and psychologists to help the children to overcome what they have faced. The Wave social Center helps the children who are too self-conscious or embarrassed to talk with others. Every one inter this Center have missed someone in that conflict and they wished that this Center can help them to control their anger and emotions. Many Catholic and Protestant children participate in this Center and the main goal of this Center is to gather both the Catholic and Protestant children at the same place to make them deal with each other and make the both side talk about what happened to him and how is the Trouble affect on him and on his life also the other goal is to make the children able to feel in others and to obliterate the hate on them. Even who manage this Center lost his wife because of the bombing in 1993 since that time he decided to dedicate him self to these children. The Center arranges many act ivities to make the children express their feelings and talk about what is inside them and begin the process of recovering. By encouraging the children to draw sketches about soothing they love and talk about it and express what they feel from this picture or encourage them to record a home videos to talk about them selves and the one they have missed. Like Grace who recorded a video her bout her father. The video also contains a Box that includes her father things and pictures and she had talk about her memories with her father also she add that this Box is the only memory which is still from her father. The one she has missed in that conflict the Troubles. This video helps Grace to overcome this adversity, with a bravely soul. In addition, some projects in the Center encourage the boys and girls to remember the happy times and memories before the tragedy and how it affects on them (Film). And all these activities are surely will be published in a book to make the children that the y have done something valuable. Plus that traditionally Protestants and Catholics used to go to separate schools. But to destroy the racism the country have just recently opened a n integrated schools for the children and now they spend more time with each other to talk and discuss and exchange their Point views. Although only 4 percent go to these integrated schools, the mixing schools brought remarkable benefits because the Protestant and the Catholic can argue with each other about what happened which is excellent to know the both side opinions and feel other side emotions by what they pass through this conflict and make friends from the other sect to under stand their views plus corporate with each other to overcome the affection of what happened (Un). These new generation of Northern Ireland can change what their families have done and can raise their children on love and forget the hate. They can live in a happy life with each other although their different sect and they can fix what happened by forget it and do not think about it again. Also take it as a lesson to make them knew that they are one nation, one country and one union. And if what happened repeated again that will lose them a lot. Finally, I wonder why are the nations can not live in a peace? And until when we will live in this situation References: http://www.un.org/works/goingon/ireland/lessonplan_tolerance.html http://www.un.org/works/goingon/ireland/grace_story.html http://www.un.org/works/goingon/ireland/collin_story.html http://www.cain.ulst.ac.uk/ni/index.html By John Darby, (2003), Northern Ireland: the background to the peace process http://www.cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/peace/darby03.htm (UN) film about Northern Ireland fight

Effect of Background Environment on Learning and Recognition

Effect of Background Environment on Learning and Recognition The effect of background environment on the learning and recognition of Chinese numeric characters Abstract Previous researches on human memory found that the context present at learning and testing can have a significant impact on how well information is remembered, suggesting that information learned in one context is better recalled when the same context is reinstated during testing (McGeoch, 1932; Godden Baddeley, 1975; Schwabe Wolf, 2009). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of classical background music on learning and recognition of Chinese numeric characters. Participants (N=60) were randomly exposed to four different situations over an established period of time while given a sheet consisting of nine Chinese numeric characters to remember. After remembering the list of numbers they were tested on their recall of the numbers either in the same environment they were learnt or in the alternative environment. Using a 22 between-subject designs analysis it was found that recall was better in the matching conditions. Additionally, numbers learned in a quiet conditio n produced more errors during recall in a noisy condition, suggesting that performance is worse when the environmental contexts are mismatched. These results suggest that the effects of background noise on memory retrieval can be eliminated when a dissimilar learning context is reinstated at test. These findings have important implications for educational concerns. Introduction The theory of working memory model considers the mind to have strictly limited attention resources in processing parallel steams of information, and can become overloaded when exposed to excessive amount of information. Early investigations of memory discovered that the context at learning and recall can have an impact on how well information is remembered, suggesting that information learned in one context is better remembered when similar context is reinstated during recall. Accordingly, in this context it has been established by prior studies that external stimuli such as background music would possibly interfere with cognitive processing. Previous researches that have tested recognition memory in an environmental context that is different from the learning context have produced inconsistent results. (Davidson, Powell, 1986; Banburry Berry, 1998) observed that background music enhance task performance on a variety of tasks. However, (Saufley, OtakaBavaresco, 1985; Klatte, Bergstro m Lachmann, 2013) found that students’ exam performance were not significantly better when learning and testing took place in the same environmental context, compare to a different context. This aspect of memory has been known as context-dependent memory (CDM). The CDM has been extended to different context and have received some previous attentions in the literature, including; olfactory stimuli (Pointer Bond, 1998; Cann Ross, 1989), alcohol states (Eich, 1980), and testing environment (Godden Baddeley, 1975), among many other context. Background music has been shown to be another potential context under which CDM seems to occur. In a number of studies changes in context between learning and testing have produced a significant affect during recall,whereas, in other studies this effects has not been shown (GeiselmanGlenny, 1977; Geiselman Bjork, 1980; Russo, Ward, GeurtsScheres, 1999; Smith, Glenberg Bjork, 1978; Smith Vela, 2001; Godden Baddeley, 1975; Smith, 1985; Fernandez Alonso, 2001). Nevertheless while external stimulus (such as music) appears to enhance individuals’ learning, it could be distracting to others. For instance, (Smith, 1985) examined the e ffect of background music on CDM. In which subjects were asked to learn a list of words under one of three background music conditions (Mozart piece, jazz selection or quiet condition). He concluded that participants who were exposed to the same musical context recalled significantly more words during testing. This provides evidence that the idea of background music can serve as an effective retrieval cue for earlier learned material and does produce CDM effects. According to the literature cited above, individuals tend to recall information better when the environmental context matches from encoding to retrieval. This was supportedin a study conducted by (Grant, Bredahl, Clay, Ferrie, McDorman Dark, 1998). In this study, the participants were instructed to study meaningful information under either noisy or quiet conditions. Then, they were asked multiple-choice and short-answer questions on the previously learned material. A reduction in recall was noticed in participants whose noise level was mismatched during learning and testing compare to those whose noise-level was matched. This suggests if the music played throughoutthe administration of the test and learning is the same, this will improves memory because similar background cues promote memory retrieval. Researches have also demonstrated the effects of background noise on task performance (Hygge, Evans Bullinger, 2002; Ylias and Heaven, 2003), underlining the harmful effects of noise as a distractoron an individual’s performance. Banbury and Berry (1998) found that performance was lower in the presence of background noise (taped office noise) compare to quiet conditions during recall. Also greater disruption was noticed when both learning and recall occurred in the same noisy environment. However, there has also been research contradicting these findings. Avila,Furnham and McClelland (2011) found no significant difference in task performance in the presence background noise. The present study considers the effects of background environment on learning and recognition of Chinese numeric characters. Three research questions are addressed. The first question is whether learning context affect recall. The second research question is whether testing context affect recall. And finally, the third research question that was addressed is to see whether there is an interaction between learning contexts and testing context. Also, in line with previous studies (Grant, Bredahl, Clay, Ferrie, McDorman Dark, 1998; Cann Ross, 1989; Smith, 1985), it was predicted that there would be an effect of context. It was expected that tasks performed in learn quiet-test quiet conditions would yield better results during recall than tasks performed in learn noisy-test noisy conditions, indicating that the background environment(Classical music) is a distracter to performance. The rationale for these predictions would be that background music could prevent full concentration on memo ry task; this could be because extra information during testing could be distracting to participants. Additionally, percentage error scores were expected to be significantly higher in the quiet-noisy condition during learning and recall, suggesting that background noise contribute to lower performance in memory. Perhaps this could be due to the fact that attention will be drawn to the background music while learning, therefore, leading to poorer recall during testing. Finally, performance was predicted to be significantly higherin no background noise condition. The rationale for these results would be that according to prior studies the presence of background noiseand changed environment during recall could impair performance, potentially through distraction. Method Design The first research question used a 22 between-subjects design to analyse the collected data. This was chosen to determine whether differences exist between different background situations (quiet and noisy) and whether one is more effective than the other. The independent variable was context at learning, with two levels; quiet and noisy. This addresses whether background music affects learning. The second research questions also used a between-subjects design. The independent variable was the context at testing, with two levels; quiet and noisy. This addresses whether background music affects recall at testing. The third research question addresses whether there this a interaction between context at learning and testing. For all the research questions the dependent variable was the number of errors. This was measured by counting the numbers of incorrect answers given by each participant. Participants Sixty participants (22 Males, 38 Females), ranging in age from 18 to 65 years old (M=29, SD=12. 1) participated in the study. The groups were randomly allocated from personal contacts of the researchers. Participants were divided into four groups each assigned to four different conditions. However, it is important to note that any Chinese participants or anyone with a previous knowledge of Chinese language were excluded from the study, due to the nature of the task. Materials (or Measures) The stimuli were the ‘noise’,which was played via Youtube throughout the study for a specific condition. Since classical music may cover a wide range of stylistic variances, the present study used Vivaldi The Four Seasonsthis was chosen as classical music is frequently heard in the radio and thus musical style would be familiar to the participants (VanWeelden, 2012). The test consisted of nine Chinese numeric characters,which were selected for the purpose of the study (appendix). In order to avoid practice destruction sheet (word search) was used, which was randomly selected on the Internet (appendix 7). Procedure The experiment was conducted in a room assigned by the researchers. Participants were given consent forms to fill out at the beginning of the study and were informed of their right to withdraw at any point (appendix 3,4). They were also given an instruction sheet, detailing what they were required to do (appendix 2). The study was an independent-measure design. All sixty participants were assigned to four different conditions. Each condition consisted of 15 participants and depending on their groups they were exposed to either a quiet or a noisy room with classical music being played in the background. Also, depending on the conditions the researchers explained to the participants that music would be played while they were given a sheet with nine Chinese numeric characters to remember the meaning of (appendix 1). The participants were then given five minutes to remember the meaning of each numeric character. Then, in order to redirect participant’s attention and to avoid pract ice subjects were given a distraction task of a word search to complete under three minutes. Then, they were asked to return to their respective room, depending on their conditions (quiet or noisy) and were allowed five minutes to identify the meanings of the same nine Chinese characters on a separate testing sheet presenting with symbols but no meanings (appendix 6). At the end of the experiment participants were debriefed (appendix 5) and instructed in the same verbal and written manner throughout the experiment. Result The analysis conducted a 22 ANOVA with learn (quiet, noisy) and test (quiet, noisy) conditions as between-subject variables were conducted on the percentage error recall. This was done In order to determine whether recall would be higher when the learning and testing context were quiet in comparison to noisy, and whether recall would be better when learning and testing context matched compared to mismatched. The mean and standard deviation for recall scores are reported in table 1. The results of the ANOVA confirmed that as predicted there was a significant main effect of context at learningF(1,56)=6. 287, P=0. 015, such that participants made significantly more errors in a noisycondition than in a quiet condition (M=22. 96 and M=11. 85 respectively). (See graph 1, figure 1). In addition, along with the prediction, there was not a significant main effect of context at test (p>0. 05),noisy condition produced more error compare to quiet condition (M= 21. 48 and M=13. 33 respectively). And finally, There was not a statistically significant interaction effect between learning and testing context, F(1,56)=3. 381, P=0. 071. This means that context at learning had the same effect at both levels of the other IV, context at test. Table 1. Percentage memory recall during quiet and noisy test conditions following quiet and noisy learning conditions. Figure 1: Estimated mean log of errors scores in Chinese numeric character recall task of context at learning. Discussion Our primary goal in this experiment was to examine the effect of background music on learning and recall. It was predicted that the detrimental influence of background music on memory retrieval would be lessened if the learning and retrieval environments matched. The present findings confirmed this prediction. The participants performed worse when the learning and testing context were dissimilar. This is in line with previous studies of impaired memory retrieval following background noise (Dalton Behm, 2007; Dobbs, Furnham McClelland, 2011). If, however, the learning and testing context were matched, this detrimental effect of stress disappeared. But, in confliction with some studies, the results provide no evidence for an interaction of background music and context effects in memory processes. Participants learned better in learn quiet-test quiet condition (M=11. 85), but did not necessarily recall higher when they were tested in a noisy condition (M=31. 11). Also, participants prod uced more errors in learn noisy-test noisy (M=14. 81) as opposed to learn noisy-test quiet condition (M=11. 85), suggesting that participants performed poorly when the learning and test context were mismatched. This can be supported by many studies (Fernandez Alonso, 2001; Schwabe Wolf, 2009). Although we focused mainly on the manipulation of the environmental (i. e. , external) context, it is important to note that the presence or absence of other stimuli can also be conceptualised as a change in internal context. In this study internal stimulus such as personality trait, emotional state and mood were not assessed during learning and recall. Also, mood, which can be affected by emotions and feelings, can improve or hinder with successful learning model of the engaged individual. Additionally, as mentioned before personality trait could be a factor that needs to be considered. The influence of music on memory performance has also been linked to personality types. A study piloted by Furnham and Bradley (1997) demonstratedthat pop music could be a distracter on the performance of introverts and extraverts. It was proposed that in the presence of music extravert would perform better than introverts. The findings determined that when pop music was played recall was severely le ssened for both introverts and extraverts. Also, it was shown that introverts recalled significantly lower than extraverts in the presence of pop music condition as well as introverts in the silent condition. Overall, introverts seemed to be easily distracted in the presence of background noise. This researchexposed evidence that overall background noise, such as music, TV and background conversation could improve performance in complicated cognitive tasks for extraverts, while it will considerably impair introverts’ task performance (Furnham Bradley, 1997; Dobbs, Furnham McClelland, 2011). A possible confounding variable in between-subjects designs in this experiment could have been related to individual differences, in which the participants’ characteristic differed one group to another, for instance the participants in one group may be older, smarter, then the participants in another group. This was somehow controlled by giving the exact same information to every participant and treated equally. Also, environmental variables may have affected the findings in which characteristics of the environment differed between groups, for example the groups were tested in different rooms, one group may be tested in a larger room and another group in a smaller room. However, we had no control over assignment of individuals to groups, as the groups were randomly allocated. It is important to note that the Chinese numeric characters where unfamiliar to the participants, these may have affected their recall regardless the condition their were set in, however, this needs to be taken into further consideration. A group of different ages were exposed to one task that had been designed to assess the participants’ ability ton how well they canremember unfamiliar Chinese characters. As Fernandez Alonso (2001) found that older participants recall better when they were tested in the same context, but no effects was shown for the younger participants. However, this had no impact on the direction of the data, but it makes the sample less reliable. In summary, the results of the present experiment indicate that the detrimental effects of background music on memory retrieval can be prevented when the environmental context at learning and testing match. These findings have important implications for educational concerns, to find out whether the negative impact of background music on learning or testing will be reduced if students are tested in the same room/context, instead of in an unfamiliar room. Word count: 2194

The Black Death :: Disease, Plague

The Black Death was one of the deadliest pandemic that hit Europe in history. The Black Death first emerged in the shores of Italy in the spring of 1348 (Gottfried,1). The plague came from several Italian merchant ships which were returning to Messina. Several sailors on board were dying of an unknown disease and a few days after arriving in Messina, several residents within and outside of Messina were dying as well (Poland 1). The Black Death was as deadly as it was because it was not limited by gender, age, or species. The Black Death was also very deadly because it could attack in three different forms: the bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic plague. Even though the bubonic plague can not be transmitted among humans, it was the most common of the three plagues. The bubonic plague occurs when fleas feed on the blood of infected rodents, which are usually rats (Poland 1). The bacterium that causes the infection is known as Yersenia Pestis. The fleas then pass the bacteria when they bite a human or when materials infected with Yersenia pestis directly enters the body through a wound. The names of this plague come from the swellings, also known as buboes, that appeared on a victim’s neck, armpits, or groin (Gottfried,1).The lymph nodes suddenly become painful and swollen with pus especially in the groin. Later, the skin splits and oozes pus and blood. Blood also comes out of the victim’s urine which, like the rest of the symptoms, smells horribly. These swellings (also known as tumors) could be as small as an egg or as big as an apple. Even though some people survived this disease, others would have a life expectancy of a week. The septicemic plague was transmitted in the same way as the bubonic plague. The septicemic plague was transmitted with direct contact with a flea bite. The only three hosts in which the disease could live in were in humans, rats, and fleas (Inspecta 1). Inside the rat flea, the bacteria Yersenia pestis multiply inside the flea which in turn, blocks the flea’s stomach causing it to be very hungry. As a result, the flea starts biting the host vigorously which in turn would spread the plague to the host. Since the bacterium is still blocking the flea’s stomach, the flea would still be hungry and therefore it would continue to bite other humans until it starves to death.

The Benefits of FFA Membership Essay -- Expository Essays Research Pap

The spacious, mute auditorium is suddenly turned into a buzzing social center as the large double doors are swung open by thousands of enthusiastic young members of the National FFA Organization. Although the topics of their conversations may range from discussions on recent use of Global Positioning Satellites in tractors, to arguments over the greatest country singer of all time, these young people all have one thing in common. They are all wearing the blue corduroy jacket of the FFA, proudly displaying the FFA emblem on the back, embroidered with blue and gold thread. These members are standing in the center of Freedom Hall; the main auditorium used to hold the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. They are anxiously awaiting the first session of the first National Convention to be held in Kentucky. Amidst the sea of blue and gold, one member stands silently in awe of the multitude of people. The sleeves of his blue jacket hang stiffly at his side and the copper zipper shines brightly; both signs of a brand new jacket-- a brand new FFA member. His face looks passive as if he really doesn't know how to react, but the sparkle in his eyes betrays his excitement. This is the first FFA activity he has attended as a high school freshman. To the average person, the boy looks quiet and shy. However, a seed of strength is beginning to take root inside this young man. Through being involved in this convention as well as many more FFA activities in the young man's career in FFA, a world of possibilities is opening up for his future. The National Future Farmers of America program was started in 1929 by a group of young people desiring an organization in which they could take agricultural education classes, practice their l... ...eles Times, 5. Retrieved on March 20, 2002 from Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe (Newspapers) on the World Wide Web: http://www.lexisnexis.com/universe.htm. Prominent Former Members of the FFA. (2001, September 13). National FFA Organization. Retrieved March 19, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http://www.ffa.org/htm Sheshadri, T. (2001, December 26). Student recognized for agricultural acumen. The San Diego Union Tribune, N1-4. Retrieved on March 20, 2002 from Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe (Newspapers) on the World Wide Web: http://www.lexisnexis.com/universe.htm. Tenney, A. (1977). The FFA at 50. Alexandria, VA: Future Farmers of America. West, S. (2001, September 20). FFA more than cows, plows. The Houston Chronicle, 6. Retrieved on March 20, 2002 from Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe (Newspapers) on the World Wide Web: http://www.lexisnexis.com/universe.htm. The Benefits of FFA Membership Essay -- Expository Essays Research Pap The spacious, mute auditorium is suddenly turned into a buzzing social center as the large double doors are swung open by thousands of enthusiastic young members of the National FFA Organization. Although the topics of their conversations may range from discussions on recent use of Global Positioning Satellites in tractors, to arguments over the greatest country singer of all time, these young people all have one thing in common. They are all wearing the blue corduroy jacket of the FFA, proudly displaying the FFA emblem on the back, embroidered with blue and gold thread. These members are standing in the center of Freedom Hall; the main auditorium used to hold the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. They are anxiously awaiting the first session of the first National Convention to be held in Kentucky. Amidst the sea of blue and gold, one member stands silently in awe of the multitude of people. The sleeves of his blue jacket hang stiffly at his side and the copper zipper shines brightly; both signs of a brand new jacket-- a brand new FFA member. His face looks passive as if he really doesn't know how to react, but the sparkle in his eyes betrays his excitement. This is the first FFA activity he has attended as a high school freshman. To the average person, the boy looks quiet and shy. However, a seed of strength is beginning to take root inside this young man. Through being involved in this convention as well as many more FFA activities in the young man's career in FFA, a world of possibilities is opening up for his future. The National Future Farmers of America program was started in 1929 by a group of young people desiring an organization in which they could take agricultural education classes, practice their l... ...eles Times, 5. Retrieved on March 20, 2002 from Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe (Newspapers) on the World Wide Web: http://www.lexisnexis.com/universe.htm. Prominent Former Members of the FFA. (2001, September 13). National FFA Organization. Retrieved March 19, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http://www.ffa.org/htm Sheshadri, T. (2001, December 26). Student recognized for agricultural acumen. The San Diego Union Tribune, N1-4. Retrieved on March 20, 2002 from Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe (Newspapers) on the World Wide Web: http://www.lexisnexis.com/universe.htm. Tenney, A. (1977). The FFA at 50. Alexandria, VA: Future Farmers of America. West, S. (2001, September 20). FFA more than cows, plows. The Houston Chronicle, 6. Retrieved on March 20, 2002 from Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe (Newspapers) on the World Wide Web: http://www.lexisnexis.com/universe.htm.

Burger King Case Study Essay

Burger King or McDonalds? In the United States, these two companies equally compete for consumers. Americans usually favor one company over the other or just choose to eat at whichever is more convenient to them. For the American people, Burger King is as common of a household name as McDonalds. However, in Japan, the Burger King brand is one that is not very well known. Burger King has been trying to tap into the Japanese market for some time now. McDonalds, KFC, and Pizza Hut are the leading fast food market chains as of today, but Burger King is trying to make it into this region of the world. With U.S. markets saturated, and the mad cow disease scare slowing sales of Burger King in Europe, it is so important for Burger King to saturate another market, Japan. Much research has been done to think of new and effective ways to penetrate the Japanese market through marketing. Our group of researchers have put together an in depth report on the issues within the marketing of Burger Kin g in Japan. They have discovered the main cause for this need in marketing and what needs to be done to solve Burger King’s marketing issues. Situation Analysis There are many differences between eastern and western culture regarding the restaurant industry. In Western Culture space is more easily attainable. It is easier for new companies to enter the market in the restaurant industry because it is more accepting of diversity. Food trends in this culture differ dramatically from eastern culture. In the western culture, significance of food is not greatly valued and is offered in access creating more waste. The western culture is vast and heterogeneous. Many cultures are accepted creating a vast variety of fusion food sold here in the west culture. In restaurants a bigger variety of different food can be found on the menu. In the Eastern culture, food defines the culture. Each country has it’s own unique and cultural dishes that signifies the past. The middle easts favorite top meat ingredient is lamb and it is substituted for beef. Also most of the Middle East is Islamic so that means that many of the of their dietary rules are obser ved because of religious factors. In Asia, food and culture is divided into three main regions: southwest (India), southeast (Vietnam) and northeast (Japan). India uses more vegetarian ingredients such as beans, rice, and spices. Vietnam focuses on stir-frying, steaming, or  boiling when preparing their food. In Japan, many use the spices they used for their for religious ceremonies. Also in Japan, space is very limited due to overpopulation of people. The Japanese market is maxed out making it very challenging for new companies such as restaurants to enter the restaurant industry. To the Japanese consumer, the significance of food is valued and they feel it is important to not waste it. The norm of their culture is to conserve and not let anything go to waste. Food is offered in small portions for this particular reason. Japan has a very homogeneous culture. They are set in the ways that they do things and don’t deviate from their way of life. In Japan’s restaurant industry, it is more common to see rice and vegetables on the menu. In the case study one of the reasons why Burger King is unsuccessful in Japan is because they are trying to push western culture in an eastern market. Burger King doesn’t understand that they have to tailor their menu to meet the needs of the eastern pallet. They are not offering the foods that appeal to the people of Japan. There are number of other reasons why BK has not become successful in Japan: Weak advertising. Upon researching commercials for Burger King in Japan, it is apparent that their advertising doesn’t appeal to their consumer market. Forcing higher prices than their competitor (McDonalds). McDonalds has been established for more than 25 years and is the most popular hamburger restaurant. Most consumers are price conscious There is no market place for them because they haven’t completely established their brand. BK in Japan does not look like they have established any goals as to how they want to present their brand No differentiation among competitors They haven’t fully achieved brand recognition They’re trying to be an upscale restaurant which doesn’t fit the market. Targeted market is too narrow only catering to a younger crowd They need to reach out to the older population.  The cost of having flame broil grills is not cost effective.  BK is hiding the most unique characteristics because it’s too expensive to build it in front of the restaurant. The budget promotion costs are being  overlooked while opening too many stores. BK is just wants to try to take over the competitor market when in reality they are failing. Problem Definition The problem with Japan is brand image. Burger King wants to expand without building a brand that the Japanese consumers are willing to spend extra money for a burger. Analysis of Alternatives Focus on â€Å"freshness† Burger King has stated that its main focus is producing traditional burgers. Instead of the typical two pickles and some ketchup, focus on the nutritional value such as fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles. Fix branding image Differentiate themselves as a more upscale restaurant A example, better training of the staff and cleaner facilities. This may avoid burger wars. Appeal to younger generation Studies have shown that the younger generation is willing to spend more money on nice things. Burger King should try to target this market by becoming an upscale burger restaurant. Also, anime commercials may attract a younger crowd. Place flame broiled grills in front of store. With the gas restrictions are becoming more lenient, having customers visibly see how burgers are made will attract more customers and provide free advertisement just by word of mouth. Attract customers by smell. Venting the exhaust from the grill will release the smell of burgers cooking into the public. This could reach the customers 5 sense of smell, touch, see, taste, and hear. All of this elements could attract more customers to a delicious flame broiled Whopper. Continue integrating Burger King into existing stores Building â€Å"stand-alone† restaurants is expensive. By adding small restaurants into high traffic areas (train/gas stations) it will be a great selling location because of the high volume of customers stopping and waiting. Also, land is so scarce in Japan, partnering will help minimize costs and provides  a definite location for the restaurant. Adding Japanese influence into store. May become more relatable to the culture so customers will be dining in a comfortable environment. Sponsor shows Sponsor physical challenge show comparable to MXC (Most Extreme Elimination). Making the obstacle courses resemble Burger King. Example: have some customers jump on Whoppers or placing the Burger King Emblem to help positively advertise working out with burgers. Themes in restaurant The rock and roll theme is creative but the drawbacks are that they’ll only be known as the rock and roll themed restaurant. A Burger King could be known as a themed restaurant by having different themes in each restaurant. One themed restaurant can have revolving carts where the consumers can sit down and just pick their order off a conveyor belt right by their table. Recommendation Top Recommendation Ranking 1. Fixing brand image 2. Promote freshness of ingredients 3. Adding flame broil grills in front of restaurants 4. Integrate Burger King into existing stores such as gas station or train station 5. Focus on Millennial demographic 6. Promote Japanese culture in restaurants 7. Spend more on promotional advertising 8. Attract customers by smell 9. Sponsor Shows 10. Theme in different restaurants SWOT Analysis During the research it can be said that Burger King in Japan is trying their best to become a real competitor in the fast food industry. I believe that Burger King has the ability to succeed if only better decisions are made. It is evident that many BK restaurants are being developed in a rapid amount of  time. A Japanese proverb â€Å"wishing to eat the fugu, but wishing to live too† states that â€Å"Fugu is a delicious fish which has a poison in it which leads to death if eaten, so in order to eat it has to be prepared by a skillful cook who knows how to properly get rid of the poison. This proverb illustrates situation when there is a bit of risk in taking the action and expresses concern about the outcome†. In all seriousness, it is a risk to rapidly open BK restaurants without the concern of not reaching its potential goal of succeeding. Burger King Japan needs to sit down and focus on how they want to show the consumer what the BK industry is about. Next, corpo rate should consider thinking outside of the box and adding more cultural options instead of buns and beef. I have discovered that a black bun burger â€Å"Kuno Burger† has made it’s way to Japan. Further research on the success needs to be analyzed. Did the consumers like it? Did they know it existed? How did you advertise the sandwich? What will happen if you add rice dishes on the menu? Or fish sandwiches? Also, I believe a way to help Burger King find its target market is by asking individuals what they would like to see, taste, hear, smell, and touch. Maybe have more events and a taste testing between two competing burger restaurants. One target market can be tourists visiting Japan. Some tourists are thrilled to see that their comfort zone is all of a sudden changed because of cultural influences. McDonalds has successfully changed its menu to fit more of the consumer needs which has proved to be the top restaurant to beat. Burger King needs to be more aware of their tactics and build a better team to figure out how to attend to all customers from all around the world (whether the want something familiar or something new). In conclusion, Burger King has to reconsider its standpoint in Japan. It has proved to establish itself successfully in other countries. In the maxed out market economy of Japan, Burger King can has potential to grow. Corporate needs to band together to better figure out the brand image before expanding itself too thin.

Black like me Essay

A middle-aged white man from Mansfield Texas named John Howard Griffin is the main character and author of Black like Me. He was a man deeply committed to the cause of ending racial discrimination. In 1959, Griffin decided to take a pertinently extreme measure just to understand the plight of the black people. He underwent medical treatment to change the color of his skin and temporarily become a black man. Griffin’s experience was funded by George Levitan, the owner of Sepia, a black oriented magazine in return for an article about it. Griffin sets out for New Orleans. He finds a contact- Sterling Williams, an articulate, soft-spoken, and engaging shoe shiner. Along the way, Griffin experiences oppression, hardship, and prejudice. It is impossible to find a job, he is forbidden from ordering a drink at the soda fountain and he wasn’t allowed to use a restroom used by whites. Clerks refuse to cash his checks as well. Griffin travels to Alabama and into the Deep South and Mississippi and finds that the condition is even worse for blacks. He finds their condition alarming. Black communities seem defeated and run down. All day long, the word â€Å"nigger† seems to echo everywhere he goes. After two months of a depressing life as a Black man, Griffin stops taking his medication and lightens his skin back to its original color. He notices that when he is a white man, whites treat him with respect and blacks treat him with suspicious fear; when he is a black man, blacks teat him with generosity and kindness and whites seem to look at him with contempt and hostility. The article is published in 1960 and he was called to do interviews. The article is published around the world and he receives both congratulatory mails and hateful reprisals. Mansfield consists of many racists so Griffin and his family moved to Mexico in August of that year. Griffin issues a plea for tolerance and understanding between the races so as to avoid the possible outbreak of terrible violence. II. A critique on the book Black like me is more of a memoir rather than a novel; it is an autobiographical memoir in particular. It springs out from the author’s real experiences as well as his personal opinions rather than from mere imaginations or artistic creativity. The book itself stared from a research project. Griffin ostensibly desires to experience hoe it is to be like a black man so that he may understand firsthand the hardships and obstacles that they encounter in their daily lives. The books main theme is racial discrimination. Griffin’s quest for equality and social justice led him to temporarily change his identity from a white man to a black one. This transition is one clear proof to the crucial importance of one’s skin color as a factor in determining one’s position in this world. Griffin writes about the hardships of finding shelter and food as a black man; the difficulties of cashing a check despite the fact that he didn’t change his identity; riding a bus or even just finding a restroom where blacks are allowed to use. Blacks and whites behave differently when in one another’s company. Whites look at blacks with contempt and hostility and blacks treat whites with suspicious fear. This behavior is different however when they are with their groups and just among themselves. They treat each other with respect, kindness and generosity. Neither race has an understanding of the other. Griffin’s Black like Me explores the themes of segregation, racism and the capacity of humans to love their fellowmen. In this novel, there is the presence of men who made a different stand. P. D. East, Sterling Williams, George Levitan, Adele Jackson, and Sam Gandy support Griffins advocacy; A proof that there is some goodness in this world. Black like me is a short book, but considered one of the finest pieces of literature ever produced. The social message of the author’s experience is clearly advocated through the narrative structure of the book. III. 3 incidents that I personally find interesting and why? †¢ When Griffin underwent a medical treatment – the ultraviolet radiation combined with oral medication to darken his skin pigmentation. I find it personally interesting because it is a rare occasion that a person will consider doing the same experiment as Griffin did. He did a pertinently extreme measure just to feel exactly how it is to be like a black man. The medical procedure that Griffin underwent is neither tested nor safe. He experienced pain and other side effects from his exposure to the ultraviolet as well as with the medication. †¢ When Griffin spends the day working on the shoe shine booth together with Williams and Joe and that they only have raccoon meat and rice eaten out of a tin can for their meals. This spells the gap between a white man eating in a luxurious restaurant and a black man who regards having enough to eat, no matter how crude the meal is, as a mark of dignity. †¢ When a white bully follows Griffin around, calling him names and threatening him. This incident only proves the material difference between whites and blacks. This incident portrayed the constant threat of violence, prejudice and oppression. In this particular scenario, he is treated like an animal being chased away just because the color of his ski is black.

Benefits of Medical Marijuana Essay

Marijuana is perhaps one of the most controversial herbs rendered illegal by United States laws. Several sectors in the society advocate for the legalization of marijuana. These arguments usually point out to the medical benefits that marijuana contains. The supposed medical benefits of marijuana have been scrutinized by several scientific researchers and some of these claims have been supported by studies. By looking objectively at these medical claims can help people be more aware of the facts and the actual benefits that marijuana offers if there are any. Medical Benefits of Marijuana Medical marijuana, according to some studies can help relieve pain, nausea and muscle spasms. Although these illnesses may be simple symptoms of more serious diseases, they are being experienced by a number of patients that are suffering from hepatitis and cancer among others. In this regard, medical marijuana can be a cheaper alternative for the treatment of these medical conditions (Legal Reefer, 2004). Another medical condition that marijuana can help treat is glaucoma, which impairs the vision because of intra-ocular pressure damage. The reason behind this is that marijuana helps relieve the pressure felt in the eyes, thereby preventing glaucoma from worsening and leading to eventual blindness. Glaucoma, interestingly, is the leading cause of blindness in the United States. With the use of marijuana, therefore, this cause of blindness can be mitigated and more people can cherish their sight for a longer time in their lives. Glaucoma and the pain associated with it can be relieved with marijuana (Legal Reefer, 2004). Other illnesses that marijuana helps treat includes tremors, unsteady gait, muscle pain, multiple sclerosis and spasms. Multiple sclerosis is one of the most debilitating neurological illnesses that afflict young adults in the US. With the help of marijuana, those who are suffering from epileptic seizures also find help. Arthritis, dysmenorrheal, depression and migraines also benefit from treatment with marijuana. The Legal Reefer (2004) reports that some courts and agencies of the US government have verified these findings. Two compounds, Cannabidiol and Caryophyllene, are present in medical marijuana. These two compounds are responsible for the medical effects of marijuana. Cannabidiol helps relieve inflammation, nausea, inflammation and convulsion (Grlie, 1976). In addition, it also helps inhibit the growth of cancer. Caryophyllene, on the other hand, is responsible for reducing tissue inflammation. It usually comes in the form of oil and applied on the inflamed body part (Grlie, 1976). Even if the issue of legalizing marijuana is contentious in the United States, medical practitioners are coming to a consensus that medical marijuana is needed helpful in relieving up to 250 medical conditions. This number is too huge to be ignored by the greater majority in the society. Legalizing Marijuana The literature in support of medical marijuana is robust and continues to grow. Medical marijuana has been shown to aid in the treatment of symptoms for AIDS and cancer. It can also serve as an immuno-modulator and analsgesic. Furthermore, it can help treat asthma and other emotional and bipolar disorders (Lucido, 2008). The American College of Physicians (2008) have also come up with a position paper in support of research concerning medical marijuana and the exemption of medical marijuana from the prosecution of the law. In their paper, the organization cited the health benefits of marijuana in stimulating appetite, in treating glaucoma, neurological and movement disorders and its use as an analgesic. The position of the ACP gives credence to the claims that marijuana can really function as a good medicine. The ACP, however, noted that there are adverse effects associated in marijuana. If smoked, marijuana can increase the heart rate of the user and help decrease the blood pressure. In addition to this, there are other psychoactive effects that are of a more serious nature. These may be manifested in short-term memory impairment, reduction of motor skills, attention and reaction times. There may also be some difficulties in organizing and processing information given to the one who used marijuana. These effects are more severe for those who orally take medical marijuana. So this is certainly an adverse effect that should be carefully taken into account in the case that marijuana is approved as a medicine (Joy, Watson & Benson, 1999). Smoked marijuana also has important adverse effects similar to tobacco. If marijuana is smoked on a regular basis, it can help induce cancer, lung problems, pregnancy problems and even bacterial pneumonia. When taken orally, medical marijuana has less lethal toxicity than other psychoactive drugs being used in the world today. Since medical marijuana will not be prescribed for smoking, then the dangers posed by the adverse effects will be mitigated and will be contained. In fact, these adverse effects are also within the acceptable range of effects present in other forms of medication. Marijuana: To Legalize or to Remain Illegal? With the support of the ACP for the continuation of research for the medical implications of marijuana. With such support, the impetus for legalization will be picked up by those who are advocating for the legalization of marijuana. Another reason why people are pushing for the legalization of marijuana is the perceived economic benefits that it will bring to the government. Marijuana has often been compared with alcohol, which also have harmful contents but is being allowed to be marketed all over the country. If the government could legalize it, then it can derive huge revenues from the taxes and sales derived from marijuana. As it stands now, it is illegal. So the ones who benefit from the marijuana trade are the black market and organized criminals (Gerber & Sperling, 2004). Marijuana is similar to alcohol and tobacco. The major difference is that marijuana offers therapeutic and medicinal effects while tobacco does not and alcohol only helps enhance health minimally. According to Herer and Cabarga (1998), those who are getting rich through the black market want it to remain illegal because if it becomes legal, the money will then have to be transferred to the hands of the government. Conclusion What is needed now is to strike the right balance between maximizing the medicinal effects while mitigating the negative effects of marijuana. The answer to the question of legalization would be a controlled legalization. Marijuana could be used for medicinal purposes and alternative treatment. This means that it would have to be recommended by licensed physicians and that there should be a regulation in using it in the same way that certain narcotic pain killers are regulated in the market. Marijuana should not be offered as an over-the-counter medicine or offered like tobacco or alcohol as this would only make the negative effects of marijuana more prevalent in the society. With government legislation and strict implementation of the law, the medicinal values of marijuana would be used by society while its negative effects would be avoided. Reference American College of Physicians (2008). Supporting Research into the Therapeutic Role of Marijuana. Philadelphia: American College of Physicians. Retrieved 25 September 2008 from http://www. acponline. org/advocacy/where_we_stand/other_issues/medmarijuana. pdf. Grlie, L (1976). â€Å"A comparative study on some chemical and biological characteristics of various samples of cannabis resin†. Bulletin on Narcotics 14: 37–46. Herer, J. & Cabarga, L. (1998). The Emperor Wears No Clothes: Hemp and the Marijuana Conspiracy. New Jersey: Ah Ha Publishing. Joy, J. E. Watson SJ, Benson JA. (1999). Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base. National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine. Washington, DC. Legal Reefer. (2004). Marijuana Offers Medicinal Benefits. Retrieved 17 June 2008 from http://www. legalreefer. com/article4. shtml Lucido, F. (2008). Therapeutic Effects. Retrieved 25 September 2008 from http://www. medboardwatch. com/wb/pages/therapeutic-effects. php

Oryx & Crake Summary Essay

Xenotransplantation is the transplantation of living cells, tissues or organs from one species to another such as from pigs to humans ( Medical grafting). Such cells, tissues or organs are called xenografts or xenotransplants. The term allotransplantation refers to a same-species transplant. Human xenotransplantation offers a potential treatment for end-stage organ failure, a significant health problem in parts of the industrialized world and worldwide shortage of organs for clinical implantation. It also raises many novel medical, legal and ethical issues. A continuing concern is that pigs have different lifespans than humans and their tissues age at a different rate. Disease transmission (xenozoonosis) and permanent alteration to the genetic code of animals are a cause for concern. Genetic engineering, recombinant DNA technology, genetic modification/ manipulation (GM) and gene splicing are terms that are applied to the manipulation of genes. It involves the isolation, manipulation and reintroduction of DNA into cells or model organisms, usually express a protein to reach desired effects. Cloning is the process of creating an identical copy of something. Genetic recombination is the process by which a strand of DNA is broken and then joined to the end of a different DNA molecule. A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using the genetic engineering techniques generally known as recombinant DNA technology. Why Oryx and Crake Was Written â€Å"Every novel begins with a what if and then sets forth its axiom. The what if of Oryx and Crake is simply What if we continue down the road we’re already on? How slippery is the slope? What is our saving graces? Who’s got the will to stop us?† –Margaret Atwood Settings in Oryx and Crake Pre-Catastrophic Society: Games With Virtual Reality And Virtual Violence Society Fixated on Physical Perfection and Longevity, Virtual Elimination Of The Middle Class (produced a gap between rich and poor), Disappearance Of Safe Public Space, People Live In Either Tightly Controlled Compounds Of The Elites Or Dangerous Pleebands, Almost Everything Is For Sale, Medical Advancements, Life Is In The Hands Of Large Corporations, Private Security Forces, Scientific Advancements: Genetic Engineering & Xenotransplant, Technologically Driven, Extreme commercialization and commodification of life and the commodification of human life and sexuality in prostitution and online child pornography. Jimmy and Crake spend a lot of their free time playing online computer games such as Kwiktime Osama (a reference to Osama bin Laden) and Blood and Roses, or watching live executions, Noodie News, frog squashing, graphic surgery and child pornography. Post-Catastrophic Society: Naturalistic society Science vs. Anti-Science â€Å"Please don’t make the mistake of thinking that Oryx and Crake is anti-science. Science is a way of knowing, and a tool. Like all ways of knowing and tools, it can be turned to bad uses. And it can be bought and sold, and it often is. But it is not in itself bad. Like electricity, it’s neutral. The driving force in the world today is the human heart – that is, human emotions. (Yeats, Blake – every poet, come to think of it – has always told us that.) Our tools have become very powerful. Hate, not bombs, destroys cities. Desire, not bricks, rebuilds them.† –Margaret Atwood Plot Summary of Oryx and Crake The protagonist of Oryx and Crake is Snowman, clad only in a bed sheet and a Red Sox cap, who appears to be the last human being on Earth. He’s not entirely alone, however; strange hybrid beasts such as wolvogs, pigoons and rakunks are roaming freely. As well, a group of what he calls Crakers—strange human-like creatures—lives nearby. They bring Snowman food and consult him on matters that surpass their understanding; thus, Snowman comes across as a post-apocalyptic hermit guru. As the story develops, these assorted lifeforms are revealed to be the products of genetic engineering. In flashbacks, we learn that Snowman was once a young boy named Jimmy, who grew up in the early 21st century. His world was dominated by multinational corporations which kept their employees’ families in privileged compounds separated from a global lower moiety of pleeblands. Shortly after Jimmy’s family moved to the HelthWyzer corporate compound (where his father worked a s a genographer) Jimmy met and befriended Glenn (later known as Crake), a brilliant science student. Atwood’s satirical take on current society is presented most pointedly in the jaded activities of these two youths. Jimmy and Crake spend a lot of their free time playing online computer games such as Kwiktime Osama (a reference to Osama bin Laden) and Blood and Roses, or watching live executions, Noodie News, frog squashing, graphic surgery and child pornography. One of Glenn’s favourite pastimes is an online game called Extinctathon, a trivia game which requires immense knowledge of extinct animal and plant species. Using the codenames Thickney (Jimmy) and Crake (Glenn), they both play as teenagers. It is not until they are both in university that Jimmy discovers that Crake has worked his way up to become a Grandmaster. On another trip through the dark underbelly of the Web, they come across an Asian child pornography site, where Jimmy is struck and haunted by the eyes of a young girl. Unknown to Jimmy, Crake is similarly affected by the sig ht of this young girl. Crake eventually finds this girl (or a woman who could be her) and hires her, as both a prostitute and a teacher of the Crakers. Her name is Oryx. Jimmy identifies the haunting memory of the young girl with Oryx, though it is never made clear as to whether or not the two are the same person. Oryx eventually becomes intimately involved in the lives of Jimmy and Crake, and both fall in love with her. Oryx, however, views their relationship as strictly professional and only admires Crake as a scientist and â€Å"great man†. For fun and affection she turns to Jimmy, though her feelings for him are not as clear. The two hide their relationship from Crake, and Jimmy is often plagued with the thought of Crake finding out about his betrayal. Crake uses his prominent position at a biotech corporation to launch a project to create the Crakers. His goal is to create a peaceful society that will live harmoniously with each other and nature. These genetically engine ered humans are leaf-eating herbivores and they only have sexual intercourse during limited breeding seasons when they are polyandrous. Thus, many of the apparent conflicts in human culture are replaced with a mockery of intelligent design. At the same time, Crake creates a virulent genetic pandemic that, apparently, killed off all humans except for Jimmy. Jimmy was unknowingly vaccinated with the intention of acting as a guardian for the Crakers. Thus, Crake represents a mad scientist; he is maddened by the troubled society that he lives in. His rationale is that he is heroically saving intelligent life from an inevitably dying society. In the story’s climax, Crake’s perfected â€Å"hot bioform,† present in one of his company’s products, is activated and spreads throughout the world. When called to account for his actions by Jimmy, Crake kills Oryx by slitting her throat. In rage and panic, Jimmy shoots Crake, resulting in his being left to obsess over his vanished world and unanswered questions. Jimmy contemplates abandoning the Crakers but is constantly haunted by the voice of Oryx, and reminded of his promise to her to watch over them. Though Crake opposed and belittled human religion, Sn owman instills the Crakers with his own invented religion revolving around Crake and Oryx. Oryx becomes the guardian of the animals and Crake the creator god. Crake suffers from unremembered night terrors. During visits, Jimmy hears Crake screaming in his sleep. Crake claims to not remember them. This forms one of the book’s most profound ironies. Crake is a leader in the most advanced (and corrupt) health care system in human history, and Jimmy is unable to save humanity by simply getting Crake’s head examined. At the same time, however, Crake attends a university referred to as Asperger’s U, referring to the university’s high population of incredibly intelligent, socially awkward people, which might suggest that his idea was not the product of insanity or something ‘wrong’ with him, but rather the knowledge that everything else around him was wrong. During Snowman’s journey to scavenge supplies, he is uncomfortable wearing shoes now that his feet have become toughened without them. He cuts his foot on a tiny sliver of glass. Infected by who-knows-what descendant of transgenic experiments, his body cannot fight back, and his leg becomes inflamed.Returning to the Crakers, he learns that three ragged true humans have camped nearby. He follows the smoke from the fire and watches as they cook a rakunk. Uncertain of how he should approach them (Blast them to bits to protect the Crakers? Approach with open arms?) he checks his now unworking watch and thinks, â€Å"Time to go,† leaving the reader to speculate as to what his actions and future will be. Literay Works Coral Ann Howells argues that Oryx and Crake is in some ways a sequel to Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale in that it carries the national catastrophe in the earlier novel to global level[5]. A major reference seems to be to the â€Å"Last Man† topos in science fiction, which was inaugurated by Mary Shelley’s The Last Man, also a post-apocalyptic novel, whose main character is the only survivor of a plague that has killed off all other humans. George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) had a working title that relates it to Shelley’s book: â€Å"The Last Man in Europe†[6]. Other references, of course, include Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818/1831) as well as Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels[7] (1626/1635). Gulliver’s Travels is also the source of one of the two epigraphs and puts emphasis on the claim that the speculation about the near future in Oryx and Crake serves to make a point about the present state of the world. Swift’s speaker as quoted by Atwood says: â€Å"my principal design was to inform you, and not to amuse you† (Oryx and Crake, Epigraph). The second quotation from Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse (1927) refers to the absence of safety in the word, pointing to Snowman’s existence in the world af ter Crake’s catastrophe.