Psychological Conditioning On Alcoholic s Anonymous

Psychological Conditioning in Alcoholic’s Anonymous James M. Vrionis College of the Desert Intro to Psychology 12/3/2013 Psychological Conditioning in Alcoholic’s Anonymous 1 Psychological Conditioning in Alcoholic’s Anonymous James M. Vrionis College of the Desert Addiction to drugs and alcohol has changed the lives of millions of Americans. According to Alcoholics Anonymous: Addiction will play tricks on the mind, forcing it to get stuck in an emotional and intellectual limbo. This limbo paralyzes rational associations by replacing a traditional outlook on life to one of an addict. The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. In order to grow emotionally its important to analyze our own actions and behaviors according to the Alcoholics Anonymous book. The Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous; the stories of experience, strength and hope come together to form a compilation of success stories(Alcoholics Anonymous, 2001, p. 562-566). This books treatment for the disease of addiction is a series of reconditioning interpretations and a understanding of behaviors. The treatment for psychological issues that have been coped with by means of addiction is enough for a free life time membership to A.A. The A.A. way of life is relatively simple but many still relapse again and again. Those that work the program recondition their mind and eventually find serenity. Often, more times thanShow MoreRelated Alcohol and Drinking - Treatments for Alcoholism Essay examples1903 Words   |  8 PagesTreatments for Alcoholism      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Where can alcoholics receive help? â€Å"Hospitals, psychiatric agencies, public-welfare departments, and social agencies, among others are often reluctant to provide care and treatment for problem drinkers† (Plaut, 53). Although it is difficult to help these problems drinkers, many people will give all they can to help these problem drinkers. â€Å"The provision of treatment to problem drinkers is complicated because they differ from one to another in so many ways†Read MoreAlcoholism Analysis1434 Words   |  6 PagesBridget Kelly November 19, 2000 Research Paper Elizabeth Antalek One out of thirteen adults are considered to be an alcoholic or suffer from a drinking problem. 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Comparing Shakespeares Shall I Compare Thee to a...

Poetry Comparison There are certain themes and ideas which appear over and over again in literature, no matter what the genre or form. Poems which were written centuries apart can echo similar ideas about life and humanity. Love is one such theme which presents itself repeatedly as seen in the poetry of William Shakespeare and that of Robert Burns. Each poem, though written more than two hundred years apart, explains what it feels like for the poet to feel love for the singular object of their affection. The poem Shall I Compare Thee to a Summers Day by Shakespeare and Burns A Red, Red Rose share common images and themes with the intention of instilling in the reader the impression of their love and in explaining the depth of their emotion for the beloved as well as the respective poets ideas about the very nature of love and how it can be both passionately fulfilling and devastating. William Shakespeares 18 Sonnet, more popularly known as the Shall I Compare Thee sonnet, is about a lover who is spea king to his beloved. Most sonnets serve this same function; to profess love from the sonneteer to some individual whom he loves. In these poems, the lover always uses the most amazing adjectives to describe the woman, or sometimes the man, that he loves. The poet describes every component of his beloved, such as her hair and her lips and her eyes. Although not a sonnet, Robert Burns poem has the same function; it is a love poem from the unnamed narrator to theShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Themes of Love in Romantic and Victorian Poetry899 Words   |  4 PagesThe Themes of Love in Romantic and Victorian Poetry Within this essay I shall be comparing the themes of love used in ‘Red, Red Rose’ by Robert Burns, ‘Remember’ by Christina Rossetti, ‘So We’ll Go No More A-Roving’ by Lord Bryon, ‘Sonnet XVIII’ by William Shakespeare and ‘Sonnets from the Portuguese XLIII’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. To do this I will analyse the different themes of love portrayed by each poet, how the love is declared and explore the ways in which

Political dynasties in the philippines free essay sample

Last 2011, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago introduced the Senate Bill 2649, also known as Anti-dynasty bill which guarantees the Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines which states that â€Å"The state shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law. † Political dynasty can be put in effect when a person who is a spouse to an incumbent official runs for an elective office within the same province or district as soon as the term of the incumbent officer comes to an end (Santiago, 2011). The said bill has been posted both in the House of Representatives and the Senate waiting for approval; however, Manila Bulletin published an article last November 23, 2013 regarding the Speaker of the House of Representatives Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. treating the anti-dynasty bill an â€Å"ordinary bill† since he noticed that the bill may have the same fate as the Reproductive Health bill and the Marcos Victims’ Compensation bill where it has the least priority, but were eventually approved into law. Putting the anti-dynasty bill in the least priority may trigger the citizens’ lack of patience when it comes to reform and hopelessness for a good future for the next generation of Filipinos thus political dynasty in the Philippines should be eradicated because it blocks the way towards progress, creates a gap between citizens and authorities as well as takes away the citizens’ right to choose when voting. Firstly, political dynasty should be eradicated in the Philippines because it blocks the way towards progress through economic power. Economic power breeds political power, and by economic power is economic monopolization such as landowning system, taking over industries such as mining, logging, sugar and tobacco production and linking to banks, financial institutions and tying up with international businesses (Tuazon, n. d). Having these advantages blocks the chance of civilians to have their own place in the economy of the country. A perfect example of these is the Cojuangcos, where the President of the Republic of the Philippines is very much related to. The Cojuangcos are known in the business, society and political sectors in the country. For once they hold the major share of the San Miguel Corporation led by business magnate Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. known to many as Danding, according to Forbes as of July of this year. Furthermore, according to The Varsitarian, they are well-known land owners of the 6,435-hectare sugar plantation in Tarlac, famously known as Hacienda Luisita which was involved in so many controversies between its owners and farmers for so many years. The political reign of the Cojuangcos started in the 19th century (What’s new, 2010) with Danding’s grandfather, Melecio Cojuangco as the Representative of the 1st district of Tarlac on the 1st Philippine Legislature back in 1907 (Cojuangco Clan, 2007). Nevertheless, the way the Cojuangcos carved both in business and in politics can help the future generation of Cojuangcos in preserving their name in both fields. However, not all political dynasties enter the business sector in the country, such as the Belmontes in Quezon City, leading them are the Belmonte patriarch, Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.  , who is the current Speaker of the House of Representatives and has been in the political world since 1992 being also the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Moreover, he served Quezon City for three successive terms, specifically from 2001 to 2010 (Vera Files, 2013) and was awarded by the Local Government Leadership Awards the Most Outstanding Mayor of the Philippines duri ng his term (Leadership Information, n. d. ). Following his footsteps in the political world is his daughter, Maria Josefina Belmonte, famously known as Joy Belmonte to her constituents being the two-time Vice Mayor in Quezon City, the same municipality that her father served for a long time (Vera Files, 2013). She has also been involved in many advocacies such as the Quezon City Protection Center for Women, Children and LGBT as well as YGREEN QC or Youth for a Green Quezon City (Vice Mayor, n. d. ). This father and daughter duo is a perfect example that not all dynasties in politics have conquered the economy of the country as well. Secondly, political dynasties create a gap between citizens and authorities. Political dynasties have been creating private armies to intimidate rivals in politics thus intimidating its constituents to ask for help to authorities when they need one (Kenewas Trajano, 2013). Furthermore, with their power, they can manipulate sectors in the government thus creating the abuse of the absence of check and balance (Simbulan, 2007). Many political dynasties are known for holding agencies in the government secretly to sustain their political power, creating alliances to those agencies to keep their power in place, just like what former president Gloria Arroyo who is also a part of a political dynasty, did on the 2004 general elections for instance, where she called Commission on Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano to manipulate the votes of the presidential elections in some of the parts of the country. Evidently, transparency among the votes was blocked because of this event. Former Gloria Arroyo is also a part of a political dynasty, starting with her father, who also became President of this country, Diosdado Macapagal and two of her sons are in the politics as well. On the contrary, being a member of a political dynasty doesn’t mean corruption and manipulation automatically, there are still good members of dynasties who serve well in the world of politics (Facts on Political Dynasties, 2013). One dynasty that can be named is the Cayetano dynasty, former Senator Rene Cayetano, the patriarch of the family started this dynasty. Moreover, the Cayetano patriarch created a number of Senate Bills with an objective of addressing justice for criminal cases and restraining corruption such as the Supreme Court issued Administrative Order 51-96 wherein there will be an assigned criminal courts in the Metro and other cities to address cases involving crimes and the trial must be finished within 60 days (Renato L. Companero Cayetano, n. d. ). Having this kind of reputation, his children decided to follow their father’s footsteps in politics, two Cayetanos are in the Senate today, one is Pia Cayetano and the other is Allan Cayetano, known director Lino Cayetano also joined the wagon as the Representative of Taguig. Indeed, the three siblings continued their father’s legacy through numerous acts of public service, Senate Bills that creates a bridge to the citizens. Without a doubt, the Cayetanos are the proof that a political dynasty doesn’t create a gap between citizens and authorities such as government agencies. Lastly, political dynasties should be eradicated because it takes away the citizens’ right to choose when voting. Evidently, there are many political dynasties in the Philippines. According to the Center for People Empowerment in Good Governance (CENPEG), 94% of the provinces today have a political dynasty that is 73 provinces out of 80. Additionally, in the 2010 elections alone, there are 178 dominant political dynasties taking over the government and 100 of these dynasties came from old elites and 78 of these dynasties came from EDSA People Power I and after Marcos’ 1987 elections (CENPEG, n. d. ). Indeed, having these statistics clearly shows how political dynasties created the politics in the Philippines and how they are continuing ruling and taking over the power. Although this may be true, having a politicaldynasty is a traditional politics (Cabigao, 2013). Studies show that since 1903, dynastic candidates have a bigger chance of winning the elections versus non-dynastic candidates; the study showed that the chance a dynastic candidate can win is 30% (Cabigao, 2013). According to Cabigao, citizens base their votes on campaigns based on personalities and dynastic support. Nevertheless, it is still up to the citizens to choose who to vote, even if the candidate came from a political dynasty or not. On the whole, it is clear that the eradication of the political dynasty in the Philippines will have a very long process; however it is also clear that it is the time for the country to have a just and clean politics so that the next generation of Filipinos may experience a government that is truly democratic. In a conference led by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, they said that â€Å"Political authority exists for the common good. It is not to be exercised for the sake of private and family interests or simply for the interests of a political party. †

The Pollution Caused by Cruise Ships Essay Example

The Pollution Caused by Cruise Ships Paper These ships carry up to 3,000 passengers who spend enormous amounts of money at tourist locations around the world. It is estimated that millions of dollars are generated and placed into the tourism markets annually. This is great news for local communities that depend on the cruise ship industry in order to survive, however it is bad news when it comes to the environment. Cruise ships create a massive amount of waste which ends up polluting our water ways and sending vast levels of pollutants into the air as well. These large ships typically produce around 170,000 gallons of waste water, 21 ,OHO gallons of sewage, 6,400 gallons of bilge water, and 1 ton of solid waste per day ((Brooks ; Dunn, 2012). Unfortunately, these waste products are dumped into our oceans, seas, rivers, and lakes. There are numerous laws, regulations, and guidelines to prevent such things from happening but most of the cruise ship operations have found a way to work around them. They understand that states such as Alaska and Washington prohibit dumping of waste materials in their waters. The cruise ship corporations have taken advantage of the relaxed laws of places like British Columbia (B. C. ) which for the most part allows them to release their waste products into their water areas. This presents a dilemma for the cruise ship industry because they ultimately have to decide between making a profit and being environmentally sound. Corporations such as the cruise ship industry have an ethical responsibility to et all environmental regulations and laws regardless of where they are sailing. We will write a custom essay sample on The Pollution Caused by Cruise Ships specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Pollution Caused by Cruise Ships specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Pollution Caused by Cruise Ships specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Corporations have an obligation to the general public and that includes making sure they are meeting standards set forth by the government. Environmental groups have a major influence on the general public and can create enough pressure where the reputation of a company is tarnished and sales start to decrease. It would be to a corporations advantage to show the general public that it is going above and beyond meeting environmental needs regardless of the rules in a particular country, Tate, etc. When sailing in international waters cruise ships should go by the strictest of all guidelines. Ethically, a corporation should set the standard for all others to follow. They cant allow relaxed rules to be an excuse for creating environmental damage. The general public would feel betrayed to learn that a company built on having good, clean, vacation fun is in fact dirtying up the water ways. Coos of such corporations should exercise due care and professional skepticism. They should ask how my actions will affect the water ways in the future. In addition, executives should question the rules of other countries and do everything in their power not to take advantage of weak laws. Rot cities depend on tourism to generate revenue within their communities. It is of the most importance to balance the needs of tourism against the needs of maintaining an environmentally safe society. Compromise is essential in the effort to reduce as much waste going into our waters as possible. These tourist destinations should always work with the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop reas onable plans that can e accomplished slowly in order to prevent pollution now and in the future. It is understood that cruise ships will always have waste products to get rid of so decisions should be based on what is good for the environment not solely on tourism. The responsibility to maintain a clean and healthy environment is up to everyone. Corporations have a major responsibility as well because they can influence the thoughts, ideas, and beliefs of the average citizen. If a major corporation promotes the idea of improving air and water quality then it can influence the actions of other corporations. The cruise ship industry is in the position to set the standards for all to follow. They have the ability to show others that no matter the location or circumstances that a standard set of rules should always be followed. They should not let profit get in the way of doing the right thing. In the long run doing what is expected is more important than profit. The general public would accept a rise in ticket prices for a cruise if they were informed that it is because of the environmental rules they are trying to follow. Profit is the main goal of any organization, but it should not come at the expense of peoples health and well being. If the proper research is conducted and coordination between countries is established then it should be no reason why environmental needs should not be met. The general public is the first priority of corporations and every effort Of compromise should be attempted.

Top Tips on How to Write a Screenplay

Top Tips on How to Write a Screenplay Top Tips on How to Write a Screenplay We’ve looked previously at the elements of a screenplay, but what about writing one? Are there any rules about how to do this? Well, not exactly. But we do have some great tips to share, so check out our guide below to find out more about writing scripts and screenplays. 1. Read Other Scripts Maybe you want to write a script because you’re a big fan of cinema. But have you ever tried reading a movie rather than watching one? This is a great way to see how most movie scripts use a three-act structure, as well as offering insights on how to write and format dialogue. An example of screenplay formatting. Try reading different types of script, too. For example, as well as reading the screenplay for your favorite movie, you can read one for a short film and an episode of a TV show. This will give you a better sense of how screenplays can vary and what you might want to write. 2. Create a Screenplay Outline Once you have an idea of the story you want to tell, you’ll be ready to outline your screenplay. This is like a blueprint for the screenplay proper. The amount of detail in an outline may vary, but it should include a breakdown of each act and scene you plan to include in the finished version. This will let you work out and finalize the story before you write it up in screenplay form. 3. Show, Don’t Tell Having a narrator in a screenplay is fine when done well, but it’s almost always better to use action to drive the story forward. So, instead of relying heavily on exposition, you should: Use strong action verbs wherever possible. For example, instead of saying someone is â€Å"running,† you could use a more descriptive term like â€Å"galloping† or â€Å"dashing† to reflect the tone or character of the scene. Let characters show who they are through dialogue and action. If you see your protagonist as â€Å"combative,† for instance, include a scene to establish this early on via the action (e.g., a confrontation between characters). Avoid unnecessary exposition by presenting story information as part of the action. If a character is talking at length about something that happened in the past, for example, you could instead insert a flashback to show the audience what happened. The key is that film and TV are primarily visual media, so â€Å"telling† the audience something is often a missed opportunity. By foregrounding action, on the other hand, your screenplay will become more dynamic. 4. Focus on the Writing It can be tempting to fill a script with stage or camera directions if you have an idea of how it should look. But unless you’re also directing the final version, this may not be your job! You should, of course, describe the action as best you can. But you can leave out mentions of close ups or instructions about scene transitions for now. These are usually added later in a shooting script, which comes after a studio has already bought a screenplay (or spec script). Summary: How to Write a Screenplay If you want to write a screenplay, there are a few things you might want to do: As well as watching movies and TV shows, read a range of scripts to get a sense of how they are presented and constructed. Outline the story, breaking it down by act and scene. This can help you work out story issues before you begin the screenplay. Remember that film and TV are visual media. As such, it is best to avoid too much exposition. Instead, use action to drive your story forward. Don’t worry about stage or camera directions in the first draft (unless you will be directing it yourself). Focus first on action and story. And, finally, don’t forget to have your screenplay checked by a professional to make sure it is error free and easy to read throughout.

How to Get Ready to Take a Compass Writing Skills Test

How to Get Ready to Take a Compass Writing Skills Test How to Get Ready to Take a Compass Writing Skills Test The Compass test is a computerized system for evaluating students’ incoming skill levels, used mostly by postsecondary institutions. It’s used to identify the courses that any given student should be placed in as well as academic areas that need more attention. One of these areas is writing skills. Each test uses two parts: a Placement Test and a Diagnostics Test. As the name suggests, the Placement Test, in the end, shows what courses you should be taking. On the other hand, the Diagnostics Test shows your weaknesses and indicates areas that you should improve. Here are the points that will be evaluated during each part of the test for writing skills: Placement Test Diagnostics Test Knowledge of mechanics: punctuation, grammar and sentence structure; Rhetorical skills: organization, style and strategy. Spelling. Capitalization. Verb agreement. Organization. Usage. Punctuation, etc. How to Get Ready Are you one of those people who prefer to deal with situations head on? Or do you want to be carefully prepared for any occasion? To show good results on any test, you should be thorough with your preparation. If you care about further education at all, some time and effort is necessary to stay prepared. Research your test: determine what kind of questions you’ll get; how much time you’ll have to respond and see what other students think about the test. This will give you a general idea of what to expect. Practice on sample tests: there are numerous similar tests, although online tests are better, because they show you where you made mistakes. If you repeatedly make the same kind of mistakes, you should work on those areas. Study: if you know your trouble areas, its best to focus on this material before the test. You dont know exactly what you’ll need, so you have to know everything. Hire a tutor: it may be an extreme measure, but it’s also a good idea to take the results of your practice test to someone who can point out your errors and explain how you can avoid them next time. These are the basic routes you can take to prepare for the writing skills test. But there are also other tricks that will assist you in the process. What Else You Can Do When you know what to expect, the Compass Writing Skills test is fairly easy, since you only need to identify errors. So, if writing is your thing and you want to pass this test with flying colors, consider revisiting everything that involves writing skills: mechanical skills, planning (brainstorming, outlining), clear and concise reasoning, constructing an argument, synthesizing information from different sources. Most of these skills apply to custom essay writing, but even if you’re taking a multiple choice test, they’ll be helpful in identifying errors. Essentially, they’ll help you to see the problem and know how to fix it. Knowing the right answer also helps to choose the right variant. Obviously, there are many things you can do to get ready to the Compass Writing Skills Test, on your own and with somebodys help. But only your motivation, efforts and promptness will help you be truly prepared.

BIOMETRICS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

BIOMETRICS - Essay Example Biometric technology is an effort to diagnose the problems and fill some of the loopholes in the security setup. As of now it is being said that it’ll be almost impossible to change the biometric features of human body, which in turn will help the security people to prepare a reliable database and identify the people with criminal background. Biometrics is one of the latest applications of IT and helps us in many different cumbersome tasks in an effective manner. The term biometrics has been used since the 20th century. Biometrics refers to the field of development of mathematical methods which are applied in data analysis of problems in biological sciences. The term biometrics has been widely used in two aspects, characteristics and processes. Automated recognition for an individual requires the measurement of certain biological/behavioral characteristics of them. This is where the term â€Å"biometrics† discusses characteristics. The second is biometrics as a process, where it refers to automated methods which are used to identify individuals based on their different measurable characteristics and behaviors (as said above). Before we study different biometric systems and their implications, it is important to know the structure of a biometric system. A typical biometric system comprises of the following five integrated components: 2. The signals read through these sensors are processes through â€Å"signal processing algorithms†. These algorithms perform quality control activities on the data that has been collected through the sensors. â€Å"Biometric identification sounded like a way to prevent unauthorized users from accessing company property or info. But you may be surprised to learn how businesses are actually using the technology.† (Stuart, 2007) Biometrics has a wide variety of applications. One of the most notable one existing today is â€Å"identification† of individuals/beings. Biometric

Nonprofit Reflection Questions 1 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nonprofit Reflection Questions 1 - Coursework Example Likewise the leader of a non-profit organization must have extreme qualities and special qualities as compared to a leader of a usual organization because non-profit organizations require more than just being a leader. In a non-profit organization the head is not just entitled to lead the people but he has to effectively manage and take care of the limited financial resources and the increasing need of the people for shelter, food, etc. These non-profit organizations must have a very strong leadership for its sustenance. The leader must be multitalented; he must have decision making power, effective communication skills, tactical planning skills, financial management, etc. It is of utmost importance that leadership qualities must be taught to the leaders and heads of the non-profit organization so that the head can build the spirit of his team and motivate them to continue their efficient work and also attract and inspire the donors to continue donating funds and also make the board members and employees realize the importance and the value of the work they are doing (BoardSource, 2007). The different posts in the non-profit organizations have different responsibilities and the duties of the various posts must not be interchanged or mixed and if the duties are confused the organization cannot work properly. It is the responsibility of the board members and the chair of the board to have a proper check on the work of the employees and the ongoing projects. The basic duty of the board is to motivate the employees and keep the spirit of the employees warm and strong. It is also the duty of the board to arrange fund raisers, manage the finances, initiate different programs and grow the organization. The chief executive officer of any organization plays a major in fact the most important role in the management of the organization. The chief

Parental Decisions Impact Childhood Obesity Essay Example for Free

Parental Decisions Impact Childhood Obesity Essay Society, in general, has drastically changed over the past century. Growth and expansion have paved the way for new technological advances, but not with some downfalls to go along with it. One such downfall of new technology would be the â€Å"convenience factor† (convenient stores for junk food, convenient to watch television, play video games, watch a movie, talk or text on a cellular phone as opposed to physical exercise, convenient for parents to stop by fast food as opposed to healthy meals). Lack of parental controls in these areas in conjunction with the â€Å"convenience factor† has lead to childhood obesity. This is an increasingly growing disease and will continue to be so if society does not stop being so convenient. The American Society today has become â€Å"obesogenic’, characterized by environments that promote increased food intake, unhealthy foods, and physical inactivity (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). People (children and adults) spend more time in front of televisions or computers and less time exercising. We drive a car everywhere we go as opposed to walking or riding a bicycle. Children play more video games instead of playing hide and seek, which requires them to run around, being active and getting exercise. We lead busier lives so time does not allow for spending it in the kitchen preparing healthy meals. Parents live such hectic lifestyles which often lead to dining or getting take out at a fast food restaurant, making them guilty of contributing to childhood obesity. Children with obese parents are likely to follow in their parents footsteps and become obese themselves. Overweight and obesity result from an energy deficiency. This incorporates taking in too much food (too many calories) and lack of exercise; thus defining obesity. The imbalance between calories consumed and calories used can result from the influences and interactions of a number of factors, including genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors. Studies indicate that certain genetic characteristics may increase an individuals susceptibility to excess body weight. However, this genetic susceptibility may need to exist in conjunction with contributing environmental and behavioral factors (such as a high-calorie food supply and minimal physical activity) to have a significant effect on weight. Genetic factors alone can play a role in specific cases of obesity. The genetic characteristics of the human population have not changed in the last three decades, but the prevalence of obesity has tripled among school-aged children during that time. Because the factors that contribute to childhood obesity interact with each other, it is not possible to specify one behavior as the cause of obesity. Behaviors include energy intake, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. Home, child care, school, and community environments can influence childrens behaviors related to food intake and physical activity (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009). Parents in the workplace often lead demanding, hectic lifestyles that have a direct reflection on home life activities. Activities, such as eating habits for their children, are a casualty of their fast-paced environment. Such lifestyles lead to quick unhealthy meals, such as stopping at a fast-food establishment and consuming a high caloric meal. These types of meals are historically unhealthy with no nutritional value. Nutritional items, such as fruits and vegetables, are limited at these types of establishments. Healthy, home cooked meals are not the â€Å"normal† routine for parents to provide their children of this era. Time does not allow for parents to prepare healthy, home cooked meals. â€Å"The evidence is compelling that the obesity epidemic is largely caused by people’s eating unhealthy food and consuming bigger portion sizes. These unhealthy behaviors are not just a matter of poor decisions individuals make; rather, the environment in which people live determines behavioral choice† (Isaacs Swarts, 2010). Parents’ workplace habits can directly affect their children’s daily eating routines. Children are relying on parents to provide them with healthy meals. There are many things parents can do to assist children in developing healthy eating habits. Offering fruits and vegetables, dairy products or whole grain items as nutritious snacks, as opposed to allowing them to submerge themselves in chips or sugar filled snacks, is a viable alternative to an unhealthy diet. The obesity rate for children would decrease if parents would make time to plan a healthy weekly menu. By doing so, parents are ensuring that their children get the daily recommended amount of fruits and vegetables in their diet, thus making for a healthier child. Parents should lead by example. Children need to see parents eating different things, to encourage the child to want to try new food items. â€Å"Children and adolescents are dependent on their parents for both economically and emotionally during much of this period of rapid growth† (Davies Fitzgerald, 2008, pg. 25). One of the best ways to decrease obesity in children is to increase physical activity levels throughout the entire family. Parents, at home or at the workplace, are faced daily with busy schedules, long hours and time management issues (i. e. nsuring all required daily activities, such as household responsibilities, errands are completed). These tasks are direct contributors for the lack of time set aside for physical activity with their children. Also, parents’ daily work schedules do not allow much, if any, time to incorporate a daily physical exercise routine for their children, let alone to monitor such activities. Parents should act as role models by setting examples for their children, such as allowing their children to see them exercise and being active themselves. By â€Å"leading by example†, this should encourage children to emulate them. According to the American Heart Association and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (Payne, 2010), children should get at least 20 minutes of regular vigorous exercise that makes them sweat and breathe hard. With the apparent lack of physical activity, parents need to create an environment that is conducive to building a daily regime of physical activities that slowly grow over time. â€Å"Minutes spent playing kickball with friends during recess count toward the hour-long daily goal, as does climbing trees in the backyard after school. It doesnt have to be all at once,’ says Nancy Brown, CEO of the AHA. ‘Kids should be doing things appropriate for their age, so that [exercise] becomes a behavior and a natural part of what they do’† (Payne, 2010). Providing just small increments of daily activity that is geared towards the child’s age category can foster a lifetime of behavioral changes that could prevent the onset of obesity at a later age. Another factor in the saga of fighting childhood obesity is the issue of safety and having a safe environment in which to add physical activity. Advocate for well-maintained, safe sidewalks and bike paths in your neighborhood, and volunteer to supervise the use of school facilities after hours. Children are more likely to want to play outside—and youll feel more comfortable with them doing it—if its safe, so attend neighborhood association or city council meetings to request proper upkeep of nearby sidewalks and paths. Also, consider gyms and tracks at local schools as options for physical activity after hours and on weekends. Often, schools are willing to make gyms and equipment available on the weekends but simply need parents to volunteer to supervise, Brown says† (Payne, 2010). This avenue of taking facilities that already exist and adding in a safety factor so that they may be used more often could reach into a vast majority of neighborhoods and schools that are currently excluding physical education programs. This seemingly mundane action by a few sets of determined parents could catch on and create new and exciting ways in which physical activities could be introduced to children. In today’s day and age of electronics, technological advances in this area continue to rise at record numbers. Features and upgrades to many electronic devices are geared toward a more convenient, user friendly target market. Such markets, unfortunately from a health perspective, are focused on our children. Convenient and satisfying methods of entertainment, such as television, movies, video games, talking/texting on cellular phones, computers, etc. far outweigh pure physical activity and exercise. Parents’ lack of control in these areas, as opposed to physical exercise, is a factor in childhood obesity. Children would rather be sedentary playing electronic games on a television, cellular phone or computer, as opposed to playing games requiring physical exercise, such as hide and seek or kickball . â€Å"The media may shape childrens food choices and caloric intake, including exposing children to persuasive messages about food, cuing them to eat, and depressing satiety cues of eating while viewing. According to estimates by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), children between 2 and 11 years are exposed to 25,600 advertisements per year, of which 5,500 (or 15 per day) are for food or beverages. A 2009 content analysis of foods advertised during childrens television programming revealed that most foods marketed to children are high in salt, sugar, and fat and low in nutritional value, and that healthy food are virtually invisible† (Jordan, 2010). This barrage of brain-altering subliminal messaging towards newly forming minds lends credence to how other areas of technology are creating pathways to enter impressionable youths. We live in a world that is technology driven in which new devices are created frequently to make life more convenient. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that television viewing by children older than two years be limited to two hours per day or less avoided altogether for children younger than two years. Surveys of United States parents found that most families do not adhere to these recommendations† (Jordan, 2010). These families that provide this amount of television viewing for their children use it as a virtual nanny to keep the child entertained and distracted throughout the day. In today’s health conscious society, there are many reasonable alternatives to just keeping a child zoned out in front of various electronic devices. One such alternative that is catching on with many families is the Nintendo Wii. â€Å"The AHA and Nintendo recently teamed up to promote the use of the Wii Fit to help Americans meet recommended physical activity guidelines. The goal of the partnership is to teach people how so-called ‘active-play’ video games encourage regular exercise. If youre having a tough time getting your child to play outside, consider buying a video game that requires the child to get moving, Brown suggests† (Payne, 2010). The use of this new video game device has provided many families with not only an opportunity to exercise, but to also interact as a family unit. Interacting together provides an environment that can create future positive habits that might help in the obesity battle. Following recent studies on childhood obesity, it has been found that â€Å"In the United States, childhood obesity is on the rise; the percentage of obese children aged 6 to 11 more than doubled in the past two decades, while the percentage of obese adolescents aged 12 to 19 more than tripled, during the same period as well† (Li Hooker, 2010). Medical contributors to childhood obesity, such as genetics and/or heredity, are considered uncontrollable and unchangeable to the health and well-being of a child. The imbalance between calories consumed and calories used can result from the influences and interactions of a number of factors, including genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors. Studies indicate that certain genetic characteristics may increase an individuals susceptibility to excess body weight. However, this genetic susceptibility may need to exist in conjunction with contributing environmental and behavioral factors (such as a high-calorie food supply and minimal physical activity) to have a significant effect on weight. Genetic factors alone can play a role in specific cases of obesity† (CDC, 2009). Battling all these convenience issues will prove to be a lengthy social problem to be solved, but for the sake of future generations of children that will probably be the first to not outlive their parents, it is one that should have the highest priority. Parents establishing controls over guidelines set forth and constant monitoring of such to decrease childhood obesity is not a â€Å"sprint†, but more comparable to a â€Å"marathon†. This requires lifestyle changes both for the parent and the child. Constant monitoring on the parent’s part, along with both parent and child â€Å"staying the course† now will produce dividends for the future of a healthy America. We are all creatures of habit. In the end, the goal should always be for these changes to become second nature. We live in a society driven by a constant; change. Growth and expansion will continue to generate new technological advances, with downfalls associated. One such downfall, the â€Å"convenience factor† (convenient stores for junk food, convenient to watch television, play video games, watch a movie, talk or text on a cellular phone as opposed to physical exercise, convenient for parents to stop by fast food as opposed to healthy meals) will have a direct correlation between parental decisions and the health of children for future generations. Lack of parental controls in these areas in conjunction with the â€Å"convenience factor† will produce childhood obesity cases at record numbers. This increasingly growing disease will continue to be so if society does not stop being so convenient.

Red Clouds Revenge Essay -- English Literature Essays

Red Cloud's Revenge Red Cloud’s Revenge is a historical novel about the grim recollection of detailed events and days/months before the showdown between the US Cavalry & Sioux Indians on the northern plains of 1867. Fetterman, Brown & Grummond rode out ahead of seventy-eight soldiers that day on December 21st 1866. In hopes of driving out some Sioux Indians and bring some scalps home. Many soldiers’ guard was down when Fetterman’s entire force disappeared over Trail Lodge Ridge. None of them were ever seen alive again. Seven months after the tragic bloodshed of the Fetterman Massacre by a band of Lakota; Sargent Seamus Donegan was stationed near Fort Phil Kearney recovering from the horror and bloodbath in which he participated. Several Sergeants searching for him after the Fetterman Massacre directed orders in expectation of Donegan. Traveling along the Bighorn River/Mountains to Fort C.F. Smith, two thirds away from his destination Seamus along with the small camp he stopped at was attacked by a band of Lakota Indians. Narrowly escaping with his life, Donegan set off again to Fort C.F. Smith and fatefully stumbled upon James W. Thompson’s path. Private Thompson told Donegan that Chief Iron Bull requested his presence at sundown. After his encounter with the Crow Indians and discussions of peace/alliance with Chief Iron Bull, Thompson then took Seamus to Fort C.F. Smith by horseback. Several silent days following Donegan’s arrival, his long time frie...

How animals save the planet Essay

Narwhals like these help scientists track global warming in the Arctic. These mythical looking tusked whales, also known as the â€Å"unicorns of the sea,† are measuring changing temperatures in Greenland’s arctic waters to track global warming. Climate scientists at the University of Washington attached thermometers and small satellite transmitters to the narwhals, who can dive far deeper than humans. As a result they found that waters in Greenland’s Baffin Bay are 0.9 degrees C warmer than formerly calculated. Dogs Working Dogs for Conservation in action. Humankind has long looked to its best friend to lend a helping nose – whether it’s a hunter tracking down prey or a police officer searching for drugs. Now groups like Working Dogs For Conservation and UK-based Conservation Dogs use dogs to sniff out endangered animals and plants – like jaguars in the Amazon or black bears in China – so researchers can track and save them. Birds Birds are natural recyclers. While our feathered friends in more urban areas have been known to utilize trash like string and paperclips in the building of their nests, male bowerbirds in Australia and New Guinea repurpose bright plastic containers and bottle caps to build their elaborate â€Å"bowers,† arched walkways carefully decorated and designed to attract female partners. Octopi A resourceful octopus searches for suitable shelter. Another animal recycler, the octopus is renowned for its intelligence and use of tools. Certain species like the veined octopus build shelters from sea shells, coconut shells, or more human debris. As this video shows, octopi enjoy hiding inside of glass jars they find on the ocean’s floor, putting what would otherwise be trash to good use. Rats An African giant pouched rat sniffs out a landmine. Like dogs, rats have a superior sense of smell. African giant pouched rats like the one pictured here sniff out land mines while being too light to  actually set them off. Anti-landmine organization APOPO dubs them â€Å"HeroRATS† for their ability to help the group find these environmentally hazardous, not to mention dangerous, weapons. Bees Bees use their keen sense of smell to detect environmental contaminants. Bees are widely talented and have a sensitivity to smells, tastes, and colors. They’re also highly communicative, using sound and dance to talk amongst themselves. It turns out that they can recognize specific types of chemicals and send off a certain buzzing sound depending on what chemical is released into the air. This is helping humans detect toxic chemicals in the environment and could be useful in detecting chemical warfare attacks. Sea Lions and Seals A sea lion measuring ocean conditions.  Like the narwhals, sea lions and seals can easily dive deep below the water’s surface to track climate change. Researchers at the University of California Santa Cruz rely on them to measure salinity, temperature, and other conditions so we can develop better models of ocean water circulation. Elephant seals in the Arctic measure temperature and have also been used to track the health of U.S. salmon populations. Mules A mule measures radiation levels.  Sarah and Little Kate are two mules that have been recruited to brave the conditions of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory outside of Los Angeles. A 1959 leak at the laboratory left radiation that may still linger in the area. Equipped with gamma radiation scanning equipment, the mules investigate the area and report back to government officials conducting this study. While it may not be ethical to subject animals to hazardous areas, the work they are doing may end up making the area safer for humans and animals alike.

Heart Failure Alert System Using Rfid and Gps

HEART FAILURE ALERT SYSTEM USING RFID AND GPS -AN EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR CONTINOUS MONITORING OF PATIENTS [pic] PRESENTED BY: ODUGU SIVA SUBRAMANYAM D. SANDEEP REDDY III/IV B. Tech, ECE III/IV B. Tech, ECE [email  protected] com [email  protected] com Mobile no: 8977631621 Mobile no:9494050980 GUDLAVALLERU ENGINEERING COLLEGEGUDLAVALLERU CONTENTS †¢ ABSTRACT †¢ INTRODUCTION †¢ OVERVIEW OF RFID SYSTEM †¢ GENERAL MODEL FOR HEART FAILURE ALERT SYSTEM †¢ WORKING ALGORITHMS †¢ CONCLUSION ABSTRACT: Now-a-days the deaths caused due to the heart failure have been of major concern . The majority of the deaths caused by heart failures are due to the lack of medical assistance in time. This paper gives an insight of a new technology that relates directly to the exploding wireless marketplace.This technology is a whole new wireless and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) enabled frontier in which a victim’s actual location is integral for providing valuable medical services. The paper will be demonstrating for the first time ever the usage of wireless telecommunications systems and miniature sensor devices like RFID passive Tags , that are smaller than a grain of rice and equipped with a tiny antenna which will capture and wirelessly transmit a person's vital body-function data, such as pulse or body temperature , to an integrated ground station.In addition, the antenna will also receive information regarding the location of the individual from the GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) System. Both sets of data medical information and location will then be wirelessly transmitted to the ground station and made available to save lives by remotely monitoring the medical conditions of at-risk patients and providing emergency rescue units with the person's exact location. This paper gives a predicted general model for Heart Failure Alert System.It also discusses the Algorithm for converting the Analog pulse to Binary data in the tag a nd the Algorithm for alerting the Location & Tracking Station. It discusses in detail the various stages involved in tracking the exact location of the Victim using this technology INTRODUCTION: It is tough to declare convincingly what is the most important organ of our body. In fact every organ has its own importance contributing and coordinating superbly to keep the wonderful machine the human body functioning smoothly.And one of the primary organs which thebody cannot do without is the heart, 72 beats a minute or over a trillion in a lifetime. The pump house of our body pumping the blood to every corner of our body every moment, thus sending oxygen and nutrients to each and every cell. Over a period of time, the heart muscles go weak, the arteries get blocked and sometimes because of a shock a part of the heart stops functioning resulting in what is called a HEART ATTACK.Heart attack is a major cause of death and in today’s tension full world it has become very common. Pre sently there is no mechanism by which a device monitors a person’s heart 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and gives him instant protection in case of problem. Our primary focus is on people with a history of heart problem as they are more prone to death due to heart failure. In the 1970s, a group of scientists at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (LLL) realized that a handheld receiver stimulated by RF power could send back a coded radio signal.Such a system could be connected to a simple computer and used to control access to a secure facility This system ultimately became one of the first building entry systems based on the first commercial use of RFID. RFID or Radio Frequency identification is a technology that enables the tracking or identification of objects using IC based tags with an RF circuit and antenna, and RF readers that â€Å"read† and in some case modify the information stored in the IC memory. RFID:RFID is an automated data-capture technology that can be u sed to electronically identify , track, and store information about groups of products, individual items, or product components. The technology consists of three key pieces:1. RFID TAGS 2. RFID READERS 3. HOST COMPUTER RFID TAGS: RFID tags are small or miniaturized computer chips programmed with information about a product or with a number that corresponds to information that is stored in a database. The tags can be located inside or on the surface of the product, item, or packing material. pic] The RF tags could be divided in two major groups PASSIVE: where the power to energize the tag’s circuitry is draw from the reader generated field. and ACTIVE: in this case the tag has an internal power source, in general a battery that could be replaceable or not, in some case this feature limited the tag lifetime, but for some applications this is not important, or the tag is designed to live more than the typical time needed. |type |Frequency |Read | Tag source |Applications | | |ra nge |range |power | | |LF |

Food Security in Sydney

Food Security in Sydney Debate There has been rising debate as to whether local food systems as opposed to lengthy commodity chains would substantially reduce the high reliance of food systems on oil and carbon footprint. As part of the heightening debate on peak oil and global warming, the concept of reducing food miles (distance covered by food from the farm gate to the plate) has been of critical consideration for movements that seek to promote ecologically sustainable food systems.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Food Security in Sydney specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There has been escalating concern on long-term debates about climate change, which has been caused by man, as well as on policies aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. These concerns have encouraged both academic researchers and activists to localize food systems. Peak oils have also been a debatable issue questioning the unsustainable dependence on non-renew able resources, oil, of conventional globalized food systems (Holloway 2007, p. 1-19). How Localized Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) differ from Conventional Globalized Systems Localizing food systems, also referred to as the shortening of supply chains, represents the apparent obverse of globalized food systems or lengthy commodity chains. It entails the shortening of food supply chains that link producers to consumers. Local alternative food networks (AFNs) unlike globalized food networks have re-embedded food production within the local context. Thereby, entailing a repeated return to artisanal methods and bringing about a reaction by certain consumers against standardized processed fast foods. As an alternative, traditional cuisines-slow food-are preferred based on the assumption that local food is of higher quality with more nutrient content than industrialized foods (Winter 2002, p. 23-32). The numerous human health scares reported in industrialized countries in the last ten years have been related to widely-present food bacteria, amounts of antibiotics used in intensive grain-feeding of ruminants, BSE (mad cow disease) associated with animal-sourced food wastes to feed animals and battery poultry production. As a result of great consumer-driven and state regulatory pressures, there has been rising concern on the traceability of foods and its local origin. Localized food systems are not associated with food scares about plant and animal diseases, animal welfare and pesticide but, this is the case of globalized food systems (Dixon, 2002).Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Localized food systems reduce inputs of energy and petrochemicals in food production. Marketing organized foods from a local level will achieve this. This is because; a lot of energy and petrochemicals are substantially used due to increased food-miles, thereby reta iling food products through conventional food systems such as supermarkets. Nutrition related disorders are associated with food products that are based on the conventional style of food production. Sydney is one of those cities where public health problems like obesity are a clear indication that conventional food products affect one’s biological and physiological make-up. Localized foods are natural as they are derived from their natural setting and have prepared through natural means. Therefore, they do not have components that alter one’s body composition (Pederson Robertson, 2001). Localized AFNs are associated with a connection of food consumers with their food while taking note of how and where it is produced. In a variety of ways, localized AFNs place much emphasis on re-connecting individuals with food supplies and reconstructing trusted, rather than feared food chains. The direct connections between suppliers and their consumers enhance food security in soci ally disadvantaged societies. Localized AFNs aim at assisting communities address food insecurity with regard to access to nutritious food. Local AFNs offer nutrition education services aimed at improving people’s abilities and facilities useful in food preparation. Local AFNs unlike conventional globalized food systems provide individuals with home-cooked meals as a way of guiding the community on appropriate food consumption behaviour (Kneafsey 2008). There is no spatial reference of product in globalized food systems. The customer relationship is weak as there is no assistance in trying to comprehend food origin. As a result, products under the globalized food systems are referred to as space-less products. Localized AFNs on the other hand offer variable consumer information on the place, product, production as well as the spatial conditions of production.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Food Security in Sydney specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The relationship with customers is diverse ranging from face-to-face contact to distance purchasing. The processing and retailing systems under the conventional globalized food systems are traceable but privately regulated. They are not transparent but are highly standardized. On the contrary, the local/regional processing and retailing outlets are highly variable, transparent and traceable. They are spatially referenced and possess high quality designs (Kneafsey 2008). The local alternative food networks place emphasis on quality. Producers are focused on coming up with appropriate strategies that would capture value-added, new socio-technical specialization areas for development and new producer associations. Globalized food systems on the other hand focus on intensive production, which is associated with reduced farm prices and bulky supply input to corporate processors and/or retailers (Hines, Luca Shiva 2002, p. 38-40). Local AFNs un like conventional globalized food systems support the local farmer. This they achieve by increasing direct sales and permitting farmers to by-pass centralized food distribution systems where supermarkets dominate. The local AFNs appreciate the efforts of the local farmer, which are not governed by hormones or related enhancers aimed at increasing production. Instead, they promote safe, nutritious and healthy food without looking into convenience (Coley 2009, p. 150-155). Localized AFNs protect local land for food consumption. This is very important in preserving the urban biodiversity and open-space for peri-urban fringes. The localized ATNs are considered to have potential ability in improving animal welfare like in the case of range egg production.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Food localization is an appropriate approach to employ in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting energy sustainability (Nichol 2003, p. 409-27). The institutional frameworks in globalized food systems have got highly bureaucratized public and private regulation. There are hygienic models involved aimed at enhancing standardization of food products. National CAP support (Pillar I) is realized. On a different note, localized food systems do not have standardization regulations for products as the food products are acceptable for human consumption since they are produced through acceptable and human friendly means. Instead, regional development together with local authority facilitation forms a network that is involved in infrastructure building. Local and regional CAP support-Pillar II-is realized (Hines, Luca Shiva 2002, p. 38-40). The association frameworks in localized AFNs are based on trust. These networks are both competitive and collaborative. On the other side, glob alized food systems are highly technocratic. The association frameworks involved are for commercial purposes only as they lack trust. It is therefore apparent that AFNs place great emphasis on food quality and not price. This enhances the establishment of relationships between food suppliers and producers, and consumers. The aim here is to capture better returns compared with the locked in contracts with supermarkets chains. Brunori (2007 p.20) demonstrates that re-localizing food at times involve combinations of symbolic, relational and physical aspects. The symbolic aspect emphasizes on trust, quality and transparency while the physical aspect entails the designation of a certain area as ‘local’ and the ‘relational’ which entail the development of a variety of relationships between consumers and farmers. Limitations of Localized AFNs Globalized food systems are changing to local alternatives that are already taking effect in most developed countries inclu ding Australia. It is true that localized AFNs importance in providing food from local areas has increased as seen in some developed countries where organic fruits and vegetables are found in box-schemes as well as on certain stalls in farmer’s markets. Despite the fact that AFNs have increased in popularity since the late 1990s in developed countries, and that academic and activist literature is continuously growing out of proportion with regard to the contributions of localized AFNs to food provision, there are various issues which limit the actual role of the AFNs in food provision (Nichol 2003, p. 409-27). Localized AFNs cannot be entirely separated from conventional food provision systems. Large supermarkets largely control a substantial share of food supply, delivery of information about food, and marketing. Supermarkets offer reduced prices to foods due to centralized distribution systems and economies of scale on paperwork, administration and advertising costs. Irresp ective of the fact that supermarket chains stock a range of fair trade products with the brand name ‘local food’, which are imported instead of being sourced locally, consumers continue to be highly influenced by such trends (Morgan, et al. 2006). Localized AFNs emphasize on quality, trust and safety with regard to their food systems. However, the global market trends influence consumers to the extent that most of the consumers buy food based on price or convenience. Dixon, an ANU-based researcher has presented significant research findings on consumer attitudes where convenience and price are first priority despite expressed interests by consumers desiring for social justice, higher levels of animal welfare and environmental sustainability. An example is the intensively farmed chicken in Australia. Most middle-class consumers were very much aware of the fact intensively farmed chicken were raised under poor conditions and were associated with negative long-term health effects due to the widespread usage of growth hormones. However, fast-food chickens were highly appreciated as they represented value for money. It was a convenient means through which one could provide a desirable meal for the family against tight family budgets (Dixon 2002). There is a highly held posit that localized AFNs are ‘trendy’ due to the fact that they mostly supply families with high income and who reside in the gentrified inner city suburbs or on the large outer lifestyle blocks in suburban rural areas. The actual relevance of the AFNs to low-income suburbanites has been contested through academic literature. As a result, the low-income suburbanites visit local and regional shopping complexes that are characterized by fast food outlets and supermarket chains (Renting, Mardsen Banks 2003, p. 393-411). There is limited public awareness on the range of localized AFNs and their importance in as far as improving system sustainability is concerned. Limited infor mation on localized AFNs affects the rate of acceptance by individuals. Individuals are not fully aware of the essence of quality, trust and safety compared to convenience and price (Renting, Mardsen Banks 2003, p. 393-411). Localized AFNs may be situated in distant areas thus increasing transport costs for individuals who prefer to travel to urban fringes instead of the local supermarket. The increased personal food miles contrary to systemic food-miles make it difficult for individuals to embrace localized AFNs. In addition to perceived high costs of products, increased transport costs makes it more difficult for people to visit the localized markets (Steel 2009). Food farmers are sceptical. In addition, they are not aware of how they should go about direct selling or getting into the localized market. Instead, they prefer the relative stability of supplying the supermarkets chains’ centralized logistic systems. The farmers also lack marketing and horticultural skills whic h are imperative for survival away from the conventional food systems. Research is limited in critical areas such as local embeddedness, which continues to prevail in food agriculture and industrialized globalized systems yet food agriculture and localized AFNs can be subjected to disembedding forces of technological change, money and capital (Morgan et al., 2006 p. 191). Localized AFNs lead to personal-household exploitation because low income families spend long hours of work on the AFNs. In addition, community- enterprise volunteers spend long hours during distribution and coordination of the AFNs. The many long hours spent on localized AFNs pose as a challenge because conventional food systems are fast and convenient; one does not need to spend too much time in production as there are systems put in place to help ease the workload (Pederson Robertson, 2001). Local biophysical factors such as soil quality, climate and loss of agricultural land due to urbanization are a huge chal lenge to localized AFNs as it becomes difficult to produce food within 100km of cities and industrialized regions in developed countries. It therefore becomes difficult for city dwellers to be locavores. Government regulation at the local, national and regional levels can greatly affect the AFNs. This is through local land use zoning and varied food industry regulation. These have a negative effect on localized farming. Such a situation can be observed in Sydney where 70% of high quality arable land has been found to be zoned for rural lifestyle (Renting, Mardsen Banks 2003, p. 393-411). The figure below illustrates this: Small-scale farmers face the challenge imposed by industrialized farming through unsustainable cost burdens for national hygiene inspection systems that ensure food safety. Such costs involve compliance costs in accordance with regular food inspections and global regulations like quarantine and trade rules stipulated by World Trade Organization (WTO). These regul ations have come about due to a need of promoting health and safety in industrialized farming where handling of food to enhance production is obvious (Steel 2002). Political factors are also a huge challenge to the localized AFNs. There is an apparent lack of political consciousness with regard to inhibiting the operation of the AFNs because of over-regulation. This inhibition is a reflection of political interests in industrialized agriculture in addition to lack of knowledge. As reported by Holden, pressures realized from globalization are a crisis for the local farmers. Changing trends in industrialized farming unconsciously affect the small scale farmer who is not part of the mix up and competition that is evident in delocalized networks (cited in Lawrence 2004, p.137) Case study of Sydney There has been growing debate over the implications of climate change and related climate change policies. Attention is now on the vulnerability of large populations in principal food-producin g regions within Sydney such as the Murray-Darling Basin. Environmental degradation, drought and soil infertility have taken a huge toll on these food-producing zones. A region that once enjoyed the surplus of rice production has not made substantial rice production for a season but instead, has resorted to imports so that it can cater for its import and export needs. There is current debate on social histories and politics of the driest continent holding a top position as a great rice exporter. Sydney (Australia) could also accomplish this despite the fact that climate and environmental changes were apparent. Appropriate strategies would take the country there. In addition, there is debate on peak oil amidst a declined domestic oil production in Sydney, thus, heightening the issue of food security in Sydney (Steel 2009). The Sydney Food Fairness Alliance and the Australian Conservation Foundation endorsed a campaign aimed at reducing food miles travelled so as to meet the consumpti on needs of Australian cities. Globalization has been associated with tremendous increases in volumes of traded foods. Imported food from rich countries like the U. S., Italy and France are cheaper hence, the reason why imports in cities like Sydney have grown relatively faster compared with exports for the last 20 years. Sydney is not only involved in the importation of luxury food such as Roquefort cheese; supermarkets have been involved in increasing the stocks of processed vegetables like Italian tomatoes, Vietnam prawns and China’s garlic. These foods are grown in Australia but globalization has made importation cheaper despite the great food miles involved (Hines, Luca Shiva 2002, p. 38-40). The 20th century was a time when Sydney enjoyed diverse food supply but, the people here took this for granted. Food security has occasionally been conflated with bio-security for the last 30 years to ensure that plant and animal diseases do not enter Sydney from elsewhere. This ac tion was part of Sydney’s international relations and trade policies with major concern on those that related to developing counties in the Asia Pacific. The recent climatic changes has affected Australia’s principal producing regions thus, food security has been of focus by the Australian government’s foreign aid and trade policies. As a result, this has affected Sydney as it is part of Australia and everything that affects Australia, affects Sydney too. Water and soil management are other sustainability issues which have made the issue of food security in this region worse (Holden 2004). In Sydney, localized AFNs are different from globalized food networks as they assist the local farmer to get returns for his or her efforts through directing. They connect consumers with suppliers contrary to what happens with the globalized conventional food networks. The most successful local AFN scheme is the Food Connect. It is aimed at connecting 800 consumer-subscribers with 80 farmers. The community supported agriculture scheme also aims at connecting consumers with the local farmer but as of now, it is at its infancy stage in this region. The localized AFNs are mindful of the local farmer in the same way they are concerned about quality food provision in the region. Localized AFNs are a direction towards a healthy population without nutritional disorders that are mostly attributed to industrialized food products (Steel 2009). Localized AFNs are not associated with wastes and inefficiencies as is the case with industrialized food products in Sydney. Wastes and inefficiencies are associated with the surpluses and large stocks evident in supermarkets. Around 40% of stocked food in Sydney’s supermarkets has been discarded when it passes its ‘use-by’ date. Households have also been found to waste up to one-third of bought foods (Gaballa Abraham 2007). Globalized conventional food systems are more popular among the people in Sydney due to challenges associated with localized AFNs. The localised AFNs in Sydney face huge challenges due to various reasons. To start with, overall farm incomes have been falling. This has been attributed to the squeeze between rising costs of production and falling prices. As a result, farm debts have escalated and the returns on food products have been very little. Thereby, agriculture has remained unattractive to most farmers. Anticipated fluctuations in oil price are expected to have a negative effect on the localized AFNs by affecting on-farm production costs and transportation of food. The uncontrollable rise in food imports has affected localized AFNs in Sydney as farmers have lost confidence in food sovereignty, in a nation that is susceptible to carbon footprint (Renting, Mardsen Banks 2003, p. 393-411). The popularity of localized AFNs in Sydney is continuously gaining momentum but is currently facing certain limitations. Since it is impossible to single out AFNs from glo balized food systems, supermarket chains in Sydney continue to control 70-80% of retailed food. Localized food systems are considered to be more expensive thereby; the supermarket chains are a great competition to the AFNs due to reduced costs of food (Morgan, et al. 2006). Food farms are mainly a venture of small-scale families and mainly specific migrant groups in and around Sydney are involved. Therefore, it becomes such a big burden for families to engage in such an involving task when they can easily obtain cheap food from the supermarket chains. The farmers lack the motivation required to engage in local AFNs due to time and changed customer attitudes as they prefer the conventional food stuffs (Adam 2002). Sydney continues to be the most productive region in Australia because of local climate and soil quality. The fact that increased urbanization has made agricultural land to be scarce hence challenging localized AFNs. However, this has been counteracted by the presence of tw o outer peri-urban fringes within the city. There is one which is within the vicinity of Hawkesbury River, northwest of Sydney’s city where fruit-growing extends west across the river up to the upland country. The other one is southwest of Sydney’s urbanized area on the edge of a wide rural transition region that leads to the grazing lands in the southern highlands, southwest of Sydney. Despite the fact that peri-urban districts exist to support localized AFNs, the future is uncertain due to climatic change ad environmental degradation. Agricultural land use has not been given much consideration due to the dire need of finding a balance with competitive uses for the peri-urban land. About 30% of land in Sydney is used for productive agriculture and transport systems that link suppliers to their consumers (Nichol 2003, p. 409-27). The case of Sydney is one that requires great strategic interventions so as to improve the local AFNs since peak oil may affect the globalize d conventional food networks with regard to increased prices. Sydney has all along relied on conventional food networks and because of this human activity has affected the environment. The government needs to put appropriate policies in place that will preserve the available arable land to enhance localized AFNs which have got more advantages than disadvantages as discussed in this paper. References Adam, K., 2002. Community Supported Agriculture. ATTRA. Web. Brunori, G., 2007. Local Food and Alternative Food Networks: a Communication Perspective. Anthropology of Food. Web. Coley, D., et al. 2009. Local Food, Local Food Miles and Carbon Emissions: a Comparison of Farm Shop and Mass Distribution Approaches. Food Policy, 34, 150-155. Dixon, J., 2002. The Changing Chicken. Sydney: UNSW Press. Gaballa, S., Abraham, A., 2007. Food Miles in Australia: a Preliminary Study of Melbourne. Web. Hines, C., Lucas, C., Shiva, V., 2002. Local Food, Global Solution. The Ecologist, 32 (5), 38-40. Holden, P., UK Soil Association. In Lawrence, F., 2004. Not on the Label. London: Penguin. Holloway, L., et al. 2007. Possible Food Economies. Sociologia Ruralis, 47, 1-19. Kneafsey, M., et al. 2008. Reconnecting Consumers, Producers and Food: Exploring Alternatives. New York: Berg. Morgan et al., 2006. Worlds of Food: Place, Power and Provenance in the Food Chain. Oxford: Oxford UP. Nichol, L., 2003. Local Food Production: Some Implications for Planning. Planning Theory and Practice, 4, 409-27. Pederson R. Robertson, A., 2001. Food Policies are Essential for Healthy Cities. UA-Magazine. Renting, H., Mardsen, T., Banks, J., 2003. Understanding Alternative Food Networks: Exploring the Role of Short Food Supply Chains in Rural Development. Environmental and Planning, 35, 393-411. Steel, C., 2009. Hungry City. London: Vintage Books. Winter, M., 2002. Embeddedness, the New Food Economy and Defensive Localism. Journal of Rural Studies, 19, 23-32.

Computer Science Diploma Thesis

Computer Science Diploma Thesis The diploma computer science thesis is meant to demonstrate the ability to work on your own with methods of computer science in the scope of a larger project. Read more about computer science diploma thesis. If you need a diploma thesis on a similar topic and dont have time to write one by yourself feel free to contact our writing service team. The computer science diploma thesis is meant to demonstrate the ability to work on your own with methods of computer science in the scope of a larger project. In practical computer science, it is often done in the form of an extension of a larger software system, for example in the context of research done at the institute. In this case, it is compromised by an implementation and a written formulation of the theoretical basics. HOW TO WRITE A THESIS PAPER A detailed discussion of the computer science problem and an analysis of used computer science methods is at least as important as the analysis of the application field, although the diploma thesis is concerned with practical issues. Training Period and Definition of the Setting of the Task Depending on the previous knowledge of the graduand, the actual diploma work starts with a training period, in which the following must be done: Familiarizing with the literature on the chosen topic Familiarizing with the system environment, in which the implementation takes place Narrowing down the subject The result of this phase should be a short description that precisely defines the exact setting of the task and specific goals. Ideally, this description should already include a comparative presentation of possible solutions considering the literature, a short description of the chosen solution, and a working schedule. This procedure is supposed to avoid problems in understanding when defining the diploma thesis and serious false estimations in an expenditure of work and with these overdrawn working periods for diploma theses. Therefore, it is also true for external diploma theses, at which the institute is the second expert. Working on the Diploma Thesis The computer science  thesis should include the following items: Title Page Abstract (one page at most) Table of Contents Table of figures and table of tables if applicable Table of abbreviations (consists of all used abbreviations and symbols) Appendix if necessary Bibliography Declaration of independent work (signed), e.g.: With this, I declare that I have written this paper on my own, distinguished citations, and used no other than the named sources and aids. In the actual diploma thesis, the work will be done according to the working schedule. This means that first of all the chosen solution will be worked out in detail. Then, the system will be implemented. After that, the evaluating analysis and documentation follow. Finally, the results will be worked out in a written form. HOW TO WRITE A THESIS STATEMENT When grading the work, the quality of the implementation and formulation is as important as independent work in narrowing down the subject, literature research, and finding the solution. It is also important to critically evaluate the design alternatives from the point of view of computer science and the application field (this includes later self-criticism of the chosen alternative). For a practical work, the written formulation should include the following items: Introduction Introduction to the topic of the computer science  diploma thesis   Narrowing down the task   Answers to the questions: Why is the computer science thesis useful? What is the goal of the work? Determination and discussion of the starting point   What methods/techniques are already developed in this research area (literature research)?   Which conditions (for implementation: hardware and software among others) exist? Development of a (formal) solution model   Critical evaluation of the literature: What can be used?   Starting from the previous item, a concept for solving the task has to be developed   Justification of the solution concept: Comparision to alternatives!   This section must not include implementation details. Implementation of a  solution concept   Selection of tools (e.g. programming language)   Documentation of important design decisions   Critical evaluation of the implementation (test runs with measured run times, case study if possible, gaps in the implementation, future addition) Conclusion   Summary: What are the important results?   Future work: What can/must be done? The formulation is not supposed to be a documentation of the developed programs. It is intended to show the ability to work with or develop methods of computer science independently. Used results out of the literature have to be marked thoroughly to separate them from the own work. Programming language expressions like if a=b then s1 must be separated from common speech and other notations (like mathematical expressions) to avoid misunderstanding. If you need assistance with thesis writing, feel free to contact us or place an order and we will gladly help you.

Individual research brief Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Individual research brief - Essay Example Most of the company clients are famous and reputable restaurants, but it has not been selling to the general public as yet. Because the company has strong hold in the market of France, UK and Austria they would start their research from the same place. This would help them have a better understanding of what the general public is expecting from the product and what opinion they have about the restaurant quality of food that is on the list of Farina supplies. A research has to be conducted in the similar manner, the higher management of the company has decided to hire a team which could help them undertake the research and provide them with a research brief. They have had conversation over the phones and email correspondence which have highlighted the main research objectives. These research objectives would enable to target the right area and right target. Along with the target audience it will also help the researchers to find the methods they would adopt and what are the financial and procurement requirements for the research. In the end they would briefly explain their expected results and how long would they require to complete the research brief. The main objective of the paper is to observe and examine the attitude of the customer towards using Olive Oil at homes. It will give a wholesome view of the olive oil market along with the consumption of the product by the household and other users (Writings, 2014). The main objective have been divided further into three simple parts. The first part of the objective is to examine how oil are used in domestic settings, and what are the customer requirements. The objective to establish the understanding that how many households are using the product and how satisfied are they. It will also discover what kind of olive oil they are using and would also generate results of the expected product from the makers. The second part of the objective is to

Treatment for Autism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Treatment for Autism - Essay Example Because the cause is uncertain, there is no precise remedy for the disorder. Treatment approaches are primarily for improvement, rehabilitation and education on appropriate social, vocational, and communication skills. This paper will discuss Asperger Syndrome in adults, their characteristics; impairments in social functions and social and emotional factors that affect their behavior. Likewise, this paper will talk about their direction towards diversity through possible employment. Treatment and management will also be highlighted. Asperger Syndrome Asperger Syndrome (AS) was initially recognized in the early 1940s by Austrian pediatrician, Hans Asperger. In his practice, he observed four of his young male patients with typical intellect and verbal communication development but demonstrating autistic traits. Abnormalities in social interaction and communication, together with restrictive and repetitive behavioral patterns were noted. It was in 1944 when the disorder was officially n amed Asperger Syndrome. Asperger Syndrome falls under â€Å"Pervasive Developmental Disorders,† as stated in Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) of the American Psychiatric Association (1994) (Myles et al, 2005). Asperger Syndrome is a developmental disorder under the scope of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). AS individuals generally have normal or superior intellect. The disorder is typified by qualitative impairment in communication, social interaction and cognition; peculiarities in sensory input; restrictive number of extreme and highly focused interests; and difficulties in organization and motor movements (Attwood, 2003). Asperger Syndrome characteristics may be manifested to a bigger or smaller extent. AS individuals may have a tendency to experience exclusion and isolation and may have difficulty understanding the world around them, eventually resulting in disappointment, despair, resentment and self-disrespect (Attwood, 2003). Common Characte ristics of Asperger Syndrome Adults Asperger Syndrome individuals frequently display a restricted ability for natural social communications, difficulty in initiating and maintaining friendships, repetitive behavioral patterns, and a narrow topic of interests. While a few of them may exhibit definite dilemmas in communication, such as poor nonverbal communication and obscure speech, several of these individuals demonstrate good and even higher cognition and verbosity. Asperger Syndrome comprises delays in gross and fine motor development, including walking abnormalities and peculiar gestures (Brasic, 2009). Individuals with Asperger Syndrome have normal or above average intellectual capacity but may not show social sensitivities or sympathy towards family and friends. Evidences were reported that AS individuals manifest excellence in the fields of music, mathematics, physics, and computer science. Whereas the delays demonstrated are usually devastating, several of these individuals e xperience optimistic results, particularly those performing extremely well in matters independent on social interaction (Brasic, 2009). Majority of AS individuals are actually proud to be diagnosed with the disorder. It is strongly believed that famous men of history such as Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison both have Asperger syndrome features (Hamilton, 2010). Qualitative Impairments in Reciprocal Social Interaction AS individuals are usually socially detached; not sensitive to the feelings of

Common Core State Standards Of Political Debate Research Paper

Common Core State Standards Of Political Debate - Research Paper Example It is recommended here that the information is used by allotting transparency measures. The government can place their respective reporting of the use of information regarding insider trading laws. Analysis: Voters ID Opponent Supporter Voter ID does not allow the poor people to be a part of the election because not everyone can afford to have federal passports as they are costly. There is another issue regarding voter seat in a different city which requires them to show the affidavit before voting. This is a lengthy process. It is the best way to make sure that there are no frauds in the election process. This will also bring uniformity in the election where all citizens can enjoy same rights and levels of service. Technologically advanced countries should have such services for its citizens (Spakovsky). Application: Voter IDs can be made online for each citizen because nowadays almost everyone has an access to computers. People who cannot afford to access online can take help from the social services and welfare departments to create voter ID. Government bailouts of corporations with the taxpayers money GE, Solyndra, Sun Power, GM etc., Opponent Supporter The money that could be used in order to initiate better programs for employment should never be used for bailing out the private corporations from getting bankrupt. Once these companies have already failed to meet their goals, it is predicted that they will fail yet again (MacDonald). In order to make sure that people continue working at the organizations and to maintain the overall GDP rate, the government can play its respective goal of helping corporations going towards bankruptcy by baling them out. Application: Government can keep a minimum amount of money that could be used for bailing out. Excessive money should not be paid to help the corporations. It is rather recommended that some of the assets of the corporation are put on legal auctions.

Gorbachev & Soviet Union Essay Example for Free

Gorbachev Soviet Union Essay The disintegration of the Soviet Union was an inevitable matter, and neither the 1991 coup could have prevented it even if it were successful. There were other factors too that contributed to the disintegration of the Soviet. However, Gorbachev had the power to prevent the Soviet from disintegrating, had he acted in a different way than he did after the coup. The coup fails On 19th August, some of the ministers who served Gorbachev, including the minister of defense, Yazov, the minister of internal affairs, Pugo and the head of KGB (Komityet Gosudarstvjennoj Biezopasnost), proclaimed state of emergency. They announced that Gorbachev’s health was a hindrance to his leadership duties, and that due to the poor political and economic situations in the country, a state committee had assumed economic powers. They also sent out messages that no one should disobey the orders of the committee. The leaders isolated Gorbachev in the president’s holiday villa at the Black sea. They also took over the radio and television stations, and instructed the military to roll over tanks in Moscow. The coup was however a failure as some of its members were not confident that it would be a success. Counterargument The failure of the coup radically accelerated the disintegration of the USSR. Also, all of the major organizations and mechanisms that were holding the USSR together, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the KGB, the military, the police, and the office of the presidency, were weakened. They also could not stop the disintegration of the Union because even before the coup was organized, already there were signs of its failure. Therefore, whether the coup happened or not, the disintegration would have occurred anyway. The failed August 1991 coup gave a sharp impetus to the process of the disintegration of the Soviet Union because by the end of the year the USSR had collapsed. Questions have been asked as to why the armed forces never intervened to stop the collapse of the USSR. The answer to this is because the coup and its aftermath increased splits in the armed forces, particularly along ethnic lines. There was also the belief that the coup attempt would fail and that the instigators of a military putsch would be punished. (Treisman 22) What Gorbachev could have done to prevent the disintegration Had Gorbachev acted differently, had he opposed and imprisoned the radicals instead of flirting with them, the USSR might have survived. The author says that the survival of the Soviet Union hinged on the personal determination of one person- Gorbachev’s ability to take advantage of all the powers at his disposal as president of the Soviet Union. Unlimited power as now concentrated in the hands of the general secretary/ president, who, being endowed with emergency powers could have carried out any reforms, completed perestroika, and achieved the same results within a very short time without disintegrating the Union. Gorbachev, like other leaders such as Yakovlev, or Shevardnadze, is said to have realized that the old system could not be maintained without bloodshed and institutionalized terror. The former leader was surrounded by opportunists, and narrow minded bureaucrats who couldn’t accept the end of their privileges. He did not get rid of his subordinates who were a threat to him and the Soviet. Many people did not want the Union to disintegrate, so they hated him because of his refusal to act despotically even if the stake was the future of the Soviet. Counterargument It is argued that perestroika would have been impossible without the leadership of Gorbachev. However, I disagree with this. Gorbachev would have introduced new reforms and enforced them on people, but this too failed. However, it is likely that the entire history of the Soviet Union would be different if someone else would have been in the position. Someone who understood what really needed to be done. Likewise, if someone outside the party leadership had suggested the sort of reforms that Gorbachev instituted, the powerful politburo would never have allowed the individual to remain in power. Because party officials recognized Gorbachev’s loyalty to the Soviet system and to socialism as a world view, they reluctantly endorsed perestroika. As a result of what would have been seen as mistaken judgment, party officials would therefore be extremely diligent in choosing future leaders of the party and would shy away from charismatic, forward thinking leaders. Instead, they would favor reactionary hard-liners for all leadership positions. If Gorbachev had followed the pattern set by Khrushchev and initiated reforms while keeping the reins of control tightly in his own hands, neither the central government nor the republics would have been in a position to quest or resist changes that resulted from the implementation of Perestroika. Another change that might have prevented the dissolution of the Soviet Union would have been for Gorbachev never to have introduced glasnost, which created an unfettered and critical media that in turn fostered a public ready to revolt. Without glasnost, the actions of Soviet leaders would have remained free of public reproach, and Gorbachev would have been able to force the people to comply with his reforms. An uninformed public would have trusted the Soviet government to act in their best interests. Aware of what Gorbachev could have done differently, the hard-liners would have been determined to avoid those same mistakes. With dissidents again in exile or strictly limited in their contact with the outside world and with tightly censored media, the hardliners would have been able to control ongoing influences on public opinion. All forms of Western media would have been banned from the Soviet Union. However, since the people had been exposed to liberalizing forces, the hard-liners would have been forced to resort to Stalin-like tactics to a stamp out all dissent and terrorize the population into submission. (Treisman 25) Conclusion In general, it could be said that Gorbachev’s strategies of leadership were unsuccessful. Although he made a difference in the history of Soviet Union, it is during his era that the soviet disintegrated. Although there were things that he could have done to prevent this, he preferred leading in his own way. His weaknesses are especially seen where the organizers of the coup were not immediately prosecuted. He was also unable to enforce the reforms that could have prevented the Soviet from disintegrating. He would also have denied people the freedom to demonstrate and rebel against authorities. This never happened, as the soviets had become enlightened and knew demonstrations and strikes were their key to freedom. The history of the Soviet Union should be a good indicator of the reasons why we need to choose leaders we can trust to lead us wisely. Works cited 1) Treisman Daniel, The Return: Russia’s Journey from Gorbachev to Medvedev, Daniel Treisman, 2009