The Effects Of Technology In The Veldt By Ray Bradbury

The Veldt Essay The Veldt by Ray Bradbury depict the effects of technology as dangerous to the children and to the society by making it seem like â€Å"The Veldt’ presents technology as something that makes life easy maybe too easy. In fact, technology makes life so easy that its not even really living any more, according to George. Most of the technology in The Veldt seems to ruin the perfectly fine way of life that existed before. So, the kids arent reading anymore or even going out to play; instead, theyre just playing with the newest cool gadget, the nursery. But despite all the cool tech, its clear that in The Veldt, the more technology you have, the more dissatisfaction you have, because you start ignoring your family and start†¦show more content†¦They are so dependent on the Happy Life Home that their own parents are rendered valueless to them. On the other hand, perhaps consumer technology is just too powerful and addictive. Bradbury’s story might as well describe to day’s culture, in which children and parents alike watch TV during dinner, text message during conversations, and are constantly distracted by their technology. One would rather be in front of a screen than another human being. To Bradbury, the power of technology spells the end of family, and the end of meaningful human relations. If everyone has a nursery to create his or her own world, there may no longer be any need to have real conversations, to foster real relationships, with real people, in the shared, real world. In portraying the destruction of the Hadley family, Bradbury is voicing a fear that the consumerist world we are building will result in the destruction of the very idea of family and all the values love, respect, loyalty, companionship that make possible our humanity. It will be a sad day for the human race when people pick technology over people. It is a good thing that this type of technology is not around. The crutch of technology in this book is astronomically larger than in really life, but one can already see the crutch forming. The crutch is the addiction to cell phones, the internet, and social media in the 21st century. It will be crazy to see how much bigger this crutch gets, and Show MoreRelatedTechnology and Family Issues in The Veldt by Ray Bradbury Essay1493 Words   |  6 Pagesfew hours—the tantrum he threw!† (Bradbury). This line of the story explains the wanting of the family’s children back against technology. It also shows that the technology is winning because of the desire to keep playing in the nursery. â€Å"The Veldt† is a short story written by Ray Bradbury who was born on August 22, 1920 and passed away on June 5, 2012. He was very interested in the science fiction genre and Edgar Allan Poe (Kattelman). Kattelman states that Bradbury, â€Å"as a young child was influencedRead MoreCritical Analysis of The Veldt1235 Words   |  5 Pages â€Å"The Veldt† by Ray Bradbury deals with some of the same fundamental problems that we are now encountering in this modern day and age, such as the breakdown of family relationships due to technology. Ray Bradbury is an American writer who lived from 1920 to 2012 (Parad owski). Written in 1950, â€Å"The Veldt† is even more relevant to today than it was then. The fundamental issue, as Marcelene Cox said, â€Å"Parents are often so busy with the physical rearing of children that they miss the glory of parenthoodRead MoreFamilial Relationships in The Veldt by Ray Bradbury1474 Words   |  6 Pagesprocess. When technology adversely affects their lifestyle, this universal process accelerates. Ray Bradbury, an acclaimed writer and a known opponent of Silicon Valley, has published books in order to enlighten the world on the inadequacies of technology. Bradbury says, â€Å"People are walking around the streets with phones to their heads talking to someone ten feet away. Weve killed two million people with automobiles. Were surrounded by technology and the problems created by technology (HarperCollinsPublishers)Read MoreImagery And Symbolism In The Veldt By Ray Bradbury843 Words   |  4 PagesThe Veldt Essay In todays culture, people use technology to their advantage all the time. They use it to hack, to learn the latest gossip, or to see breaking news around the world. But, occasionally they get captivated and instead of an accessible apparatus, it becomes a necessity and a lifestyle. In the story, The Veldt, Ray Bradbury uses imagery, symbolism, and internal conflict to express that misuse of technology can lead to unforeseen disadvantages. Ray Bradbury uses imagery of where theRead MoreThe Veldt: Science Fiction or The Inevitable Future1315 Words   |  6 Pagesfamilies lived a technology- free life: waking up by the sounds of birds, communicating face-to-face, and walking in order to travel. Today, it is almost impossible to find means of entertainment not involving a colored screen. This demonstrates how modern technology has corrupted society. Despite the advantages of technology, it has contributed to an inactive population that is unable to think for themselves. Ray Bradbury was born on August 20, 1920 in Waukegan, Illinois. Bradbury won the PulitzerRead MoreSymbolism And Imagery In The Veldt By Ray Bradbury824 Words   |  4 PagesThe Veldt Essay In todays culture people use technology to their advantage all the time. They use it to hack, to learn the latest gossip, or to see breaking news around the world. But, sometimes they get obsessed and instead of a handy tool, it becomes a necessity and a lifestyle. In the story, The Veldt, Ray Bradbury uses imagery, symbolism, and internal conflict to express that misuse of technology can lead to unforeseen disadvantages. Ray Bradbury uses imagery of where the characters are andRead MoreTechnology In Fahrenheit 451 And The Veldt By Ray Bradbury1370 Words   |  6 Pagesin Fahrenheit 451 and â€Å"The Veldt† by Ray Bradbury this idea is aggressively rejected. The characters in Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451, live in a society where technology negatively impacts their family and relationships with each other. Similarly, the characters in Bradbury’s short story, â€Å"The Veldt† are captivated by technology which has a huge toll on their family and relationships. Fahrenheit 451 and â€Å"The Veldt† by Ray Bradbury discusses the negative impact technology has on family and relationshipsRead MoreSimilarities Between The Sound Of Thunder And The Veldt1439 Words   |  6 PagesThe short stories both written by Ray Bradbury â€Å"A Sound of Thunder† and â€Å"The Veldt† share many similarities as well as differences. â€Å"A Sound of Thunder† is about a man that assumes the name Mr. Eckels who goes on an expedition sixty-five million years into the past to hunt dinosaurs. When they are hunting they cross paths with A Tyrannosaurus rex. Eckels and the others kill the reptile and Eckels becomes traumatized. He then proceeds by stepping on a path a crushes a butterfly under his boot accidentallyRead MoreAnalysis Of The Veldt By Ray Bradbury726 Words   |  3 Pagespeople count on technology and think it is improving the world for families. In the story â€Å"The Veldt† Ray Bradbury, the renowned author, believes the opposite and that being dependent on technology is going to damage the world. Through characterization and symbolism, Bradbury conveys that overlying on technology can be harmful for families. Through the use of characterization, Bradbury characterizes the children as spoiled and disrespectful because of the influence of technology. After the fatherRead More##k Of Parenting Children In The Veldt By Ray Bradbury754 Words   |  4 Pagesdiscipline their kids. In The Veldt, Ray Bradbury uses this parental dilemma to prove his thought that lack of discipline in children leads to grave consequences. His story was written in the 1950s, parenting was a lot more different then it is now, meaning parents were a lot stricter and more involved in their children’s lives. But, Bradbury started to notice that change in the coming years when it came to raising children. So in The Veldt, Bradbury uses the effect of spoiling children, lack of

Childhood Obesity How Has This Become A Problem

Childhood Obesity: How Has This Become a Problem and What Can Be Done to Fix it? Childhood obesity is affecting 1 out 3 kids in our society. These children are being classified as being obese or overweight. Obesity has gained recognition as an important worldwide public problem and in the U.S., appears to be overtaking tobacco use as the number one cause of preventable death (Dennison, B. A., Edmunds, L. S., Stratton, H. H., Pruzek, R. M. (2006). This is the first time we have ever seen our children in this state and the percentage of overweight or obese children is growing at a rapid rate. If something is not done about this issue, this generation will be the first generation to not outlive their parents because of the health issues that arise because a person is overweight or obese. Children are not being entertained outside anymore while getting exercise; the entertainment is inside on the TV, computer, or video-game console (Kid’s Health). Many kids are spending less time outside exercising than previous generations. In today’s world, a quick a nd easy solution to a problem is the most common answer; this is true for our electronics and our food choices. Families have little to no free moments to prepare nutritious, home cooked meals(Kid’s Health). Our goal has to be finding ways to prevent children from becoming overweight. This is the parent’s responsibility. Parents have to learn to adopt a way to lead a healthy lifestyle of eating healthy and exercising for theirShow MoreRelatedChildhood Obesity: A Gowing Problem Around the World649 Words   |  3 PagesObesity is a growing problem all around the world for far too many children. Obesity means a person has too much body fat. Body fat is measured by a person’s body mass index. When one is measuring a person’s body mass index, they are finding their height and body weight then comparing it to the recommendations made by doctors for each age and gender. After doctors calculate it, they then find a percentile rank to determine present and futu re health issues. Around the world, childhood obesity hasRead MoreChildhood Obesity And Its Effects On America1394 Words   |  6 PagesHave you ever wondered what are the major causes of obesity? The CDC (2017) states that one out of every five children in the U.S. are overweight or obese, and this number is continuing to rise. Wilson (2016) states that many children who are obese develop health complications, such as joint, gallbladder, and sleeping problems. The majority of children who are obese as kids tend to be obese as adults. Reason being, many children develop bad eating habits by learning from their surroundings. WhenRead MoreBackground and Methodology of the Research Process to Problems in Health Care1003 Words   |  5 PagesMethodology of the Research Process to Problems in Health Care Childhood Obesity HCS/465 August 2, 2012 Donald Steacy Introduction The purpose of the paper is to show how to develop and understand methodology of the research process when pertaining to health care. The process consists of retrieving a peer-reviewed article and applying the research methodology to the article selected. The article selected for the research methodology was Childhood Obesity: A Global Public Health Crisis writtenRead MoreChildhood Obesity : An American Epidemic1263 Words   |  6 PagesChildhood Obesity: An American Epidemic America is facing a serious challenge! Children’s health is becoming a critical concern. Childhood obesity has become an â€Å"epidemic disease† that has rapidly grown over the years in the United States. According to the National Center for Health Statistics in 2011 states that, â€Å"childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years. In 2012, more than one- third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese†Read MoreChildhood Obesity : A Condition Of Being Grossly Fat And Overweight937 Words   |  4 PagesChildhood Obesity. Childhood Obesity is a condition of being grossly fat and overweight. When someone exceeds a certain weight for a given height they are considered obese. Lifestyle issues such as too little activities and too many calories from drinks are main contributors of childhood obesity. People eat for two reasons and those are either comfort eat or appetite eat. A study have shown that kids who go without breakfast before school are more likely than classmates to be inactive, unfit andRead MoreChildhood Obesity : A Low Diet And Lack Of Physical Exercise1132 Words   |  5 Pages Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is associated with a poor diet and lack of physical exercise. Determining the level of a healthy weight in children is calculated by using a growth chart, such as the standard growth chart developed by the Center for Disease Control. An accurate assessment is easily determined by measuring the weight and height of a child. Body Mass Index, or BMI, is also used to further determine a healthy weight for an individual. Once the determination is made byRead MoreTaking a Look at Childhood Obesity1842 Words   |  7 PagesWhat does childhood obesity means? Obesity can be defined as a condition in which the body carries abnormal or unhealthy amounts of fat tissue, leading the individual to weigh in excess or 20 percent more than his or her ideal weight (Health Illness).Obesity in America is an ever-growing problem and has boosted America to the number one spot in terms of obese population. It also stands as the most prevalent medical issue in American Children . In the past thirty years, obesity has affected manyRead MoreObesity The Problem Of Children!. Are You Aware Of1662 Words   |  7 Pages Obesity the problem of children! Are you aware of that over million American children are struggling with obesity? Obesity is a serious medical and psychological condition that affects children, adult, and elderly people. According to WHO, People who are above the normal weight for their age and height are called obese. Being overweight an early age has been global problematic. As Cause, high number of obesity results from an abnormal intake of unhealthy food and drink and also unable toRead MoreFat Kids Or A Fat Future?961 Words   |  4 PagesFat Kids or a Fat Future? In the last fifty years, obesity amongst adults in the US has been a recognized fact, but has neglected to acknowledge is that children are also suffering from this as well. Thirty percent of American children are considered to be obese/overweight. (SOURCE). If this fact is shocking what is even more shocking is the grim future that this very real issue is going to lead to. Although this is a very recognized and highly publicized issue in the US it hasn t changed thatRead MoreA Brief Note On Fighting Against Childhood Obesity1504 Words   |  7 PagesNCOF: Fighting Against Childhood Obesity In 2006, about 15% of all children and teens, ages 6-19, were obese (Eberstadt 45). How do you maintain a healthy weight? A healthy weight is reached by balancing the number of calories you eat with the number of calories you use. Weight gain occurs when the number of calories you eat is greater than the number of calories you use (Beliefnet 1). The National Childhood Obesity Foundation (NCOF), is working to eliminate childhood obesity by promoting physical

Facilitators of Disclosures of Domestic †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Facilitators of Disclosures of Domestic. Answer: Introduction Systems can be considered as the sets of partitioned parts connected with each other to work towards a shared objective. The heftiness issue is expanding at a quick pace in offspring of America and other European nations. Corpulence is considered as an insidious issue on the grounds that there is no distinct answer for this issue. A few scientists have likewise presumed that framework believing is an exceptionally tedious process and it is difficult to get it. The current paper would fundamentally talk about the contention whether the systems thinking strategy can prove to be valuable in building up an answer for supportability or sustainability challenges. The paper will also bolster the contention which supports the claims that framework believing is helpful in managing the underhanded issue. The specific thinking approach centers around the individual parts and the interconnected relationship between the parts to deliver a solution to the issues. The paper will likewise examine th e appropriateness of systems thinking in managing the issue regarding domestic violence. After critically analyzing the real sense and the scopes of the systems thinking strategy, the current paper will apply the technique in evaluating how can it lead to potential solution to such issues. The system thinking technique or strategy is exceptionally helpful in managing the issues of supportability or sustainability since this strategy evaluates various critical aspects from a naturally visible broader perspective as opposed to looking at a shorter dimension (Van Dyk and Pretorius, 2014). These days, the system or framework thinking has been utilized by different academicians and professionals. Be that as it may, there is a noteworthy contrast in the customary speculation approach and framework thinking approach. Conventional investigation approach concentrates on the aspects that are being considered while framework thinking approach searches for an interconnected relationship between the distinctive constituents of the framework (Arnold and Wade, 2015). One cannot deny the fact that the entire world is moving towards being industrialized and globalized. In such scenario of globalization, the world needs to confront a few complexities in the upcoming years. In this regar d, the system or framework thinking would eventually help in managing the mind boggling issues. And moreover, the framework test would prove to be a fundamental utilization of the system or framework thinking technique. The critical aspects of system analysis comprise of reason, components, and capacities. The initial segment is framework testing; it depicts the reason for which the aspect of system or framework thinking has been embraced (Leischow and Milstein, 2006). The next aspect takes a shot at various components of framework considering. At long last, there is have to see the interrelationship between various components. An individual might state that techniques and data innovation have rolled out a transformational improvement to the manageable society. Creative strategies and innovation have given computational answers for the most complex issues of the world (Jonker and Karapetrovic, 2004). Supportability challenges should be unraveled in an alternate way. A framework approach is useful in finding an interrelationship between innovation, human conduct, and natural effects. In current society, there is a move from computational deduction to framework considering. Computational speculation i ncludes the utilization of programming and calculations to discover the arrangement every intricate issue. There is one confinement or impediment with the systems believing that the experts endeavor to take care of the considerable number of issues with the assistance of calculations (Jonker and Karapetrovic, 2004). There are sure issues which can't be comprehended through calculations. For those issues complex framework thinking has been developed. The system thinking strategy center around the process through which one constituent of the framework will connect with one other constituent of the framework. The idea of framework thinking influences it to empower to take care of the mind boggling issue confronted by the general public. It can be taken as an instance that the systems thinking technique is extremely helpful in managing the issue which include interrelationship between various performers to take care of the mind boggling issues, repeating issues which have not been unraveled even after the past endeavors (Monat and Gannon, 2015). Manageability challenges are likewise called the versatile difficulties since effectively settled conventions and methods are not efficient to be connected to such circumstance. There is an absence of bound together strategy or way to deal with manage most underhanded supportability challenges. In this regard, the systems thinking technique might prove to be helpful in changing the past ment al models to manage the issues of supportability since it contains process, a domestic violence and set of aptitudes (Monat and Gannon, 2015). Domestic violence Domestic violence has been chosen as the wicked problem as the problem has now been perceived as one of the most critical worldwide wellbeing and societal issues. Generally, domestic violence has been conceptualized in the form of incorporating various diverse types of mischief and violence including physical, sexual, passionate, verbal, mental and money related manhandle (Smith, 2017). In any case, more as of late, there has been a more prominent acknowledgment of the inborn unpredictability that underlies domestic violence. The potentially identified outcomes of encountering domestic violence are broad and domestic violence is not characterized by sexual orientation, age, social class or ethnic gathering (Guterman, 2004). The effect of domestic violence on the lives and soundness of those influenced is currently all around recorded inside the writing, and this incorporates expanded mortality and horribleness both physical and mental sick well-being, influencing both the short and longer-term well-being and prosperity of the casualty or survivor (Rose et al., 2011). Domestic violence additionally applies an inconvenient effect on the well-being and prosperity of more extended relatives that even include youngsters (Holt et al., 2008). Close by an expanding accentuation on the part of societally helping experts as far as successful help and administration of domestic violence, there has been a developing collection of research which has concentrated on a portion of the key difficulties related with domestic violence inside societal conditions all the more by and large. For instance, look into has been led to investigate the issues identified with the exact account of the occurrence and predominance of domestic violence in particular situations (Boyle et al., 2006), the distinguishing proof and powerful help of instruction, preparing and bolster needs of all the more proficiently sorted out and prepared experts (Leppakoski et al., 2014), the obstructions and em powering agents to the compelling recognizable proof and administration of domestic violence over a scope of settings, the effect of domestic violence on the wellbeing and prosperity of survivors and the encounters of domestic violence survivors inside societal frameworks. Within the Australian context, the issue of domestic violence is boundless over all societies, ages and financial gatherings and the larger part of the individuals who encounter these types of savagery are ladies (Patty, 2016). The latest information on individual wellbeing found that numerous men and ladies involvement with slightest one experience with viciousness in their lifetimes. The ABS overview evaluated that a considerably huge number of both male and female individuals encounter some type of domestic violence since the adolescence period (Parliament of Australia, 2014). Men are much more inclined to encounter physical and domestic violence on account of an outsider. Be that as it may, the dominant part of ladies experienced physical savagery by somebody known to them, for the most part, a cozy accomplice or closely related individual. A Systems Thinking Approach for Domestic violence The system thinking technique might give approaches to manage the many-sided quality of domestic violence issue and it will be a fresh start for the social insurance and societally assisting professionals. The framework approach has been extremely helpful in managing with different societal issues, for example, psychological well-being, and substance abuse. The technique has a splendid history in the recent years. Such a technique evaluates the issues from a more extensive point of view to discover the interrelated connection amongst various levels. The approach likewise considers the significance of conditions and situations under which a particular choice and the effect of those conditions amid the utilization stage. While managing underhanded issues under framework approach even a little change in one component can have a major effect on alternate components. In managing with domestic violence issue, the main undertaking of the social well-being professionals is to coordinate limi t with intricacy. Numerous experts keep away from the exchange with the victims over the domestic violence issue since they have an expansive stack of such victims, less learning about the practices utilized for the domestic violence issue and least assets. The professionals are required to transform the approach while managing the domestic violence issue. Domestic violence is an intricate issue and the social well-being professionals need the data regarding the most potential solutions and procedures to manage this issue. They have to guide the victims in a successful and enhanced way. These experts can lessen the unpredictability of the domestic violence issue by concentrating on the causes and procedure as opposed to result. The professionals related to management of such issue need to enhance their correspondence with the victims and the abusers (if possible) on the grounds that numerous victims stay ignorant about the avoidance systems, the process of reporting, and the methods to deal with the problem either legally or socially. The professionals can get to the hazard, contemplate the present conduct of victims and abusers, persuade them for an adjustment in conduct, set objectives and help them in fighting against the boundaries. The fundamental goal of the systems thinking technique is to make an air which empowers corresponden ce, input, and change. A social education group comprising of specialists can assume the liability to build the mindfulness about the reasons and outcomes of domestic violence in the psyches of individuals. The professional experts associated with the management of this issue should concentrate on long haul behavioral change in both victims and abusers. Just the execution of strategies is not imperative but rather the assessment of those approaches is likewise vital. The systems thinking technique might likewise assist different partners and chiefs with thinking about the eventual fate of different methodologies base and potential expenses related with them in view of considering the possibility that situations. The systems progression displaying has additionally helped a few countries in managing the issue of domestic violence and sexual abuse. The systems thinking contends that an individual will not be able to put the whole duty of domestic violence reduction on the shoulders of the family members. The legal authorities and the professionally engaged organizations additionally need to comprehend the issue of domestic violence in a more critical manner. Additionally, families, educational institutes, social groups, and communities all need to meet up to cooperate to dispose of the domestic violence issue. Conclusion The current paper has thoroughly discussed the components, scopes, and potential implementations of the systems approach in addressing and solving different problems especially the sustainability issues. It has been observed that rather than focusing merely on the results of an issue, the systems approach attempts to concentrate on assessing the backgrounds, potential reasons, drivers, and engaged factors in order to develop a comprehensive understanding so that more efficient strategies can be developed. In this regard, domestic violence has been chosen as the wicked problem as it has been identified as one of the most crucial and problematic societal issues. As per the premise of the formulated discussion and evaluation, one might say that the systems thinking strategy is particularly helpful in managing sustainability challenges and especially those which are related to domestic violence. The customary technique utilized for managing the issue of domestic violence might not lead t o successful outcomes under different circumstances. The issue is developing persistently at a quick pace. The legal authorities and the social well-being experts need to invest more time, conduct more extensive research, extend the levels of interaction with the victims and the abusers (if possible), and push to create different goals for the application of systems thinking strategy in managing the issue of domestic violence under different circumstances and engaging diverse factors. References Arnold, R. and Wade, J. (2015). A Definition of Systems Thinking: A Systems Approach.Procedia Computer Science, 44(1), pp.669-678. Boyle, A., Jones, P. and Lloyd, S. (2006). The association between domestic violence and self-harm in emergency medicine patients. Emergency Medicine Journal, 23(8), pp.604607. Guterman, N. (2004). Advancing Prevention Research on Child Abuse, Youth Violence, and Domestic Violence.Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 19(3), pp.299-321. Holt, S., Buckley, H. and Whelan, S. (2008). The impact of exposure to domestic violence on children and young people: A review of the literature. Child Abuse and Neglect, 32(8), pp.797810. Jonker, J. and Karapetrovic, S. (2004). Systems thinking for the integration of management systems.Business Process Management Journal, 10(6), pp.608-615. Leischow, S. and Milstein, B. (2006). Systems Thinking and Modeling for Public Health Practice.American Journal of Public Health, 96(3), pp.403-405. Leppkoski, T., Flinck, A. and Paavilainen, E. (2014). Assessing and enhancing health care providers response to domestic violence. Nursing Research and Practice, 7(2), p.8. Monat, J.P. and Gannon, T.F. (2015). What is Systems Thinking? A Review of Selected Literature Plus Recommendations. American Journal of Systems Science, 4(1), pp.11-26. Parliament of Australia (2014).Domestic, family and sexual violence in Australia: an overview of the issues. [online] Aph.gov.au. Available at: https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1415/ViolenceAust [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]. Patty, A. (2016).Companies review paid leave to tackle domestic violence. [online] The Sydney Morning Herald. Available at: https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace-relations/companies-review-paid-leave-to-tackle-domestic-violence-20161121-gsudd7.html [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]. Rose, D., Trevillion, K., Woodall, A., Morgan, C., Feder, G. and Howard, L. (2011). Barriers and facilitators of disclosures of domestic violence by mental health service users: qualitative study.The British Journal of Psychiatry, 198(3), pp.189-194. Smith, J. (2017).The seeds of terrorism are often sown in the home with domestic violence | Joan Smith. [online] The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jul/10/seeds-terrorism-sown-home-domestic-violence-islamic-state [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]. Van Dyk, D. and Pretorius, L. (2014). A Systems Thinking Approach To The Sustainability Of Quality Improvement Programmes.The South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 25(1), pp.71-16.

The Fall Of Communism In Russia Essay Example For Students

The Fall Of Communism In Russia Essay The Fall of Communism in RussiaThe Reasons for the fall of Socialism/Communism and the Troubles of Starting the New Democratic System in the Russian Federation Lets not talk about Communism. Communism was just an idea, just pie in the sky. Boris Yeltsin (b. 1931), Russian politician, president. Remark during a visit to the U.S. Quoted in: Independent (London, 13 Sept. 1989). The fall of the Communist regime in the Soviet Union was more than a political event. The powerful bond between economics and politics that was the integral characteristic of the state socialist system created a situation that was unique for the successor states of the Soviet Union. The Communist regime was so ingrain in every aspect of Soviet life that the Russian people were left with little democratic tradition. Russia faces the seemingly impracticable task of economic liberalization and democratization. This is combined with the fact that the new administration must address human rights issues, such as living conditions and the supply of staple goods in this new form of administration makes the prospect of a full democratic switch seemingly impossible. We will write a custom essay on The Fall Of Communism In Russia specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now To fully underezd the scope of the transference of governing power in the Russian Federation, one must first look at the oldSocialist/Communist regime, to see the circumezces under which it fell gives a good view of why this transference is almost impossible. In the beginning Communism seemed to the people of Russia as a utopian ideal. The promise of the elimination of classes, of guaranteed employment , The creation of a comprehensive social security and welfare system for all citizens that would end themisery of workers once and for all. Lenins own interpretation of the Marxian critique was that to achieve Communism there would first have to be a socialist dictatorship to first suppress any dissent or protest. Through coercive tactics this new government seized power and in 1917 Lenin came to power. Under his rule the Soviet Union underwent radical changes in its economic doctrines adopting a mixed economy which was termed the New Economic Policy also referred to as NEP, this economy called for some private ownership of the means of production, but the majority of industry was made property of thepeople, which meant the majority of the means of production was controlled by the government. Lenins government made many achievements. It end ed a long civil war against the remnants of the old Czarist military system and established institutions in government. During this period, and in fact throughout the majority of the Communist rule, censorship and the subordination of interest groups such as trade unions was imposed to stop dissension and increase conformity to the new governments policies. Lenin died in 1924, and was quickly followed by Joseph Stalin as head of the Soviet Communist Party, the oppressive reforms started by Lenin were continued and at length became completely totalitarian. Stalin became the most powerful man in Russia. He controlled to bulk of all the political power and with that he started a ruthless campaign of removing all opposition to the Communist rule. During this period called the Great Purge Stalin systemically executed anyone who stood in his path. Millions of people were arrested and either harassed or killed. The economic status of the Soviet Union was yet again changed and the entire system became controlled by the government. All private ownership ended. A mass program of industrialization was commenced, and the strength of the Soviet Military was subeztially increased. The citizens during this period endured great hardship. Agricultural production output diminished resulting in food shortages, these shortages were enha! nce by the mass ex portation of food, this was done to pay for industrial imports. Stalin also put the production of what he called production goods such as manufacturing machinery over basic consumer goods such as clothes and other staples. During this period the Second World War broke out and drained most of what was left of the already impoverished state. Yet after the war national unity was strengthened as well is the Soviet military machine. The Soviet Union became a super power, the U.S. being the only country more powerful than it. After the death of Stalin in 1953 Nikita Khrushchev became First Secretary of the Communist party. Stalins death marked the end of supreme power for the head of the party, and Khrushchev condemned Stalins actions as unnecessary and harmful to the process of moving the Socialist government to its goal of pure Communism. During this period the public was given a say in the government, albeit an extremely minor one, and the judicial system eased its aggressiveness allow ing a defendant a better chance of defending themselves. Khrushchev concerned himself with bettering the plight of the individual, attempting to increase the supply of food and making goods such as home appliances, making automobiles somewhat available, and providing more housing. A new policy of efficiency and quality control was brought in. Leadership was somewhat decentralized to allow common managers and directors more power to run their production units. Although Krushchev started a process of slight reform he was dismissed due to in part a massive shortage of grain and dairy products, and the fact that he had started to seize more power and His efforts to streamline party organizations produced chaos and conflict among party administrators. He was also blamed for the Russia defeat during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and of not accomplishing anything toward thereunification of Germany under East German rule. After the ousting of Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev became the Soviet Commun ist Party Secretary General in October of 1964. Under his administration the majority of the decentralization of power was destroyed bringing a centralized form of control back into effect. Krushchevs denouncing of Stalins policies was criticized and slowly some of Stalins political disciplinary policies were restored. Stalin was named a war hero. There began an outright attack on dissidents from the literary and scientific community. During this time there was an inefficient use land, labour and resources which resulted in an economic slackening. In this time what was supposed to ultimately be a classless society became classed as bureaucrats were paid for loyalty with material wealth, allowing them a better ezdard of living, because of this public interests were placed secondary to personal gain. The 1980s saw a dramatic drop in the Soviet citizens alreadyimpoverished ezdard of living. This caused strikes and public outcry against the administration which threatened the stability of the Soviet Union. The people were angry at the fact that the Communist Party had not lived up to what it had promised which was in return for their obedience they would receive employment, free health care, and a level of comfort. March 1985 marks a turning point in the Communist rule of Russia. Mikhail Gorbachev is elevated to the position of General Secretary. He is aware of the current social upheaval occurring and that change must occur if Communism is to survive. He begins a program called Perestroika which was the organizational restructuring of the Soviet economy and government apparatus. Gorbachev discovers that this change will depend on other changes, among others a more tolerant and open political environment , morepublic influence over governmental and military institutions. This called for major long term change of the political system. Hebegan a policy called Glasnost which emphasized openness with regard to discussion of social problems and shortcomings. .uf9cc2ec6d832d1c0e6544021bb3570ec , .uf9cc2ec6d832d1c0e6544021bb3570ec .postImageUrl , .uf9cc2ec6d832d1c0e6544021bb3570ec .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uf9cc2ec6d832d1c0e6544021bb3570ec , .uf9cc2ec6d832d1c0e6544021bb3570ec:hover , .uf9cc2ec6d832d1c0e6544021bb3570ec:visited , .uf9cc2ec6d832d1c0e6544021bb3570ec:active { border:0!important; } .uf9cc2ec6d832d1c0e6544021bb3570ec .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uf9cc2ec6d832d1c0e6544021bb3570ec { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uf9cc2ec6d832d1c0e6544021bb3570ec:active , .uf9cc2ec6d832d1c0e6544021bb3570ec:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uf9cc2ec6d832d1c0e6544021bb3570ec .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uf9cc2ec6d832d1c0e6544021bb3570ec .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uf9cc2ec6d832d1c0e6544021bb3570ec .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uf9cc2ec6d832d1c0e6544021bb3570ec .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uf9cc2ec6d832d1c0e6544021bb3570ec:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uf9cc2ec6d832d1c0e6544021bb3570ec .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uf9cc2ec6d832d1c0e6544021bb3570ec .uf9cc2ec6d832d1c0e6544021bb3570ec-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uf9cc2ec6d832d1c0e6544021bb3570ec:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Overpopulation EssayThe purpose of these reforms was to elevate the Soviet ezdard of living in order to reaffirm the citizenrys loyalties to theCommunist party and to enable the rebirth of the Soviet economy and ideal. State control was lo! osened and individual initiative encouraged. He expanded the authority of the Soviet presidency and transferred power from the Communist party to popularly elected legislatures in the union republics. In international affairs, he withdrew Soviet troops from Afghaniez, normalized relations with China, signed a series of arms control agreements with U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush. During this period of change strong Nationa listic opinion started in the republics of the Soviet Union causing major upheaval. In 1991, as the Soviet economy deteriorated, Gorbachev faced competing pressures from hard-line Communists,from free-market reformers, and from nationalists and secessionists seeking independence for their republics. The hard-liners, who included many top government officials, staged a coup in August, placing Gorbachev under house arrest, but within three days the reformers had restored Gorbachev to power. He immediately resigned as Communist party general se! cretary, suspended party activities, and placed reformers in charge of the military and KGB. After allowing Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to become independent republics. Nationalist forces became stronger in the republics as the year went on. The USSR voted itself out of existence in December 1991, and Gorbachev resigned his position as president of the USSR. Under theCommunist Regime there were immense social problems. In the period before G orbachev all religion was dismissed. Although the citizens were still allowed to practice their religion it was made extremely difficult for them by the government and the official attitude towards religion was that it was a relic of the past and Atheism was encouraged. There was a subeztial amount of alcoholism mostly due to the living and working conditions. There was also a subeztial amount of crime. There was extreme discrimination against women. There ..was a strong sexist attitude and women found it hard to find decent employment, and most women were expected to also take care of household duties as well. Women were also very scarce in government. Relations among the different ethic grouped which lived within the Soviet Union were very tense and sometimes openly hostile. The fact that the Russian language was the language in which all political transactions had to occur in and it was encouraged tobe learnt, with the purpose of trying to make a single Soviet culture made this tension even stronger. The education system in the Soviet Union also caused tension because it was set up around a motive to teach students to be obedient to the Communist Party and to be Atheist among other things. Also students were assigned jobs when they graduated and this caused considerable stress on them because they had to take the job assigned to them, and if it was an undesirable one it could ruin their chances for advancement in the future. This was such a tense issue that graduates were sometimes prone to commit suicide. The health care system was under funded. Most hospitals were under staffed and the equipment was outdated, medical supplies were also scarce. This lead to the gradual decrease of the life expectancy of a citizen. Poor ezdards of sanitation and public hygiene lead to an increased annual death rate and a drop in the birth rate. All of these factors in a way, lead to the disintegration of the Communist Regime, taking into account all of the social problems and the years of mismanagement of the countries resources, we can see why the economy slowed and citizen support for the government diminished. Boris Yeltsin was named President of Russia by the Russian Republics Supreme Soviet in 1990. He immediately resigned fromthe Communist party and declared Russias independence. In 1991 he became the first President of the Russian Republic by popular vote. He helped found the Commonwealth of Independent States, which ended any attempts to preserve the USSR. He moved to end state control of the economy, privatized most industries and among other things outlawed the Communist Party. Beginning in 1992 the conflict between Yeltsin and his political opponents intensified. Yeltsin suffered a series of defeats at thehands of the Russian Constituti onal Court, chaired by Valeriy Zorkin. The court overturned Yeltsins decree creating a Russian ministry of security and internal affairs and lifted portions of Yeltsins ban on the Soviet Communist party. In 1993 the court repealed his ban on the National Salvation Front, a communist-nationalist organization that had called for Yeltsins removal. In 1993 Yeltsin announced on television that he had issued a decree declaring special presidential rule. But when the decree was published there was no mention of special presidential powers. Vice President Aleksandr Rutskoy sharply criticized Yeltsin for issuing the decree and for using a referendum to gain popular approval of reform policies. Yeltsin asked Rutskoy to resign as vice president, and when Rutskoy refused, Yeltsin removed Rutskoys powers of office, despite p! rotests by the Supreme Soviet. Yeltsin won the support of the majority of Russian voters who participated in the April 1993 referendum, but the referendum did little to end his power struggle with parliament. In September, Yeltsin attempted to break the power deadlock by dissolving parliament and calling for new parliamentary elections. In turn, parliament voted to impeach Yeltsin and swore in Rutskoy as acting president. Led by Rutskoy and chairman of the Supreme Soviet Ruslan Khasbulatov, hundreds of legislators and anti-Yeltsin demonstrators occupied the parliament building in Moscow. On September 28 Yeltsin ordered troops to barricade the parliament building, and in the following week security forces, acting in support of Yeltsin, clashed with pro-parliamentary demonstrators, who were mainly hard-line Communists and nationalists. On October 4 Rutskoy and Khasbulatov surrendered. In February 1994 they were granted amnesty by the lower house of parliament, despite Yeltsins opposition. In December 1994 Yeltsin sent Russian military forces into the region of Chechnya, which had declared its independence from Russia in 1991. Since that time Russia had made only minor military efforts to reclaim Chechnya. This useof military force is an example of the fact that true democracy can not exist in Russia, these tactics are Soviet-era coercive measures. During the bombing of Grozny Russian-speaking suffered as much as the natives. This was demonstrated the worst of the Yeltsin Regime. Yeltsin was using the war to expand his political base and appear as a strong leader. Over 20,000 civilians died during this conflict, which in a sense achieved nothing. The Russian economy has been put through sweeping reforms which have only proved to through it into disarray. This mainly due to the fact that because the Soviet government has no experience in Democratic/Capitalist styles of governing, and the 70 plus years of Communist rule has left a huge dent in the Russian economy. The old style of government has left behind a legacy of corruption, price distortions, inefficient public industries and financial instability. This, combined with the need for much more extensive political reform makes this task almost impossible. The process of democratization of Russia occurred to quickly. This was done in the hopes that the fast privatization of industry would hinder any chance of re-nationalizing the economy, and basically forcing this new change. At the same time privatization has contributed greatly to the popular belief that this new system is unjust. State assets were distributed disproportionately to insiders, to people willin! g to circumvent the law, and insome case to criminals. Official corruption and the lack of enforced laws and clearly defined property laws has lead to public dissension. One of Yeltsins greatest mistakes was moving economic reform ahead so quickly while not addressing the need for immense political reform at the same time. The Russian economy is in disarray, and the ezdard of living for the average citizen is as low if not lower than during theCommunist rule. This had bred many social problems which, in effect, mirror those of the Communist administration. Religious and ethnic animosity and the lack of proper education in this new political and economic system has lead to public discontent and a rise in the alcoholism problem. There has been recent improvements in the distribution of wealth. There have been improvements in the privatization process, especially in the building sector, this could bring the expansion of small-scale property ownership, which is also an important step towards private ownership. There is also a stronger entrepreneurial spirit among lower class society. Yet with the lack of any experience in private proprietorship and private business practices the population of the Russian Federation is still not taking to the new system. For too many years it was imprinted on them thateverything must be publicly owned. Much of this can to attributed to the Communist tradition of not communicating with the public, which is a core part of any democratic system, the pub lic participation and communication in and with government. With the apparent lack of public participation in government, and in turn the lack of communication by the government with the people we can see that the Russian Federation is far from being democratic. The government acted too quickly in its economic reforms with not enough practical experience in Democratic/Capitalistic to pull it off. We saw that some of the majorcontributing factors in the fall of communism was the dissension of the citizens due to the fact that the government did not live up to its promise of a better life and the failure of the government to properly deal with social problems. The other factors were economic, many of which we can see are apparent in the new system. In its current situation we are seeing the same factors. Unless these problems are addressed quickly and resolved effectively we will see the decline of yet another Russian governmental system. On looking at the past we can see that the Rus sian public must overcome many hurdles in order for them to truly embrace Democracy and enjoy the promises of a better life that it has made. The government must promote theeducation of its citizens and communicate more efficiently with them. There is a long road ahead for the Russian Federation in this enormous task, and at this time it almost seems impossible. BibliographyFunk Wagnalls. Gorbachev, Mikhail Sergeyevich; Russia; United Soviet Socialist Republic; Yeltsin, Boris Nikolayevich; Communism; Commonwealth of Independent States. Microsoft Encarta Ed. Microsoft Corporation. 1997 Ed. .ubc7b9936a81f611a5507efee7c2ae6fd , .ubc7b9936a81f611a5507efee7c2ae6fd .postImageUrl , .ubc7b9936a81f611a5507efee7c2ae6fd .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ubc7b9936a81f611a5507efee7c2ae6fd , .ubc7b9936a81f611a5507efee7c2ae6fd:hover , .ubc7b9936a81f611a5507efee7c2ae6fd:visited , .ubc7b9936a81f611a5507efee7c2ae6fd:active { border:0!important; } .ubc7b9936a81f611a5507efee7c2ae6fd .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ubc7b9936a81f611a5507efee7c2ae6fd { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ubc7b9936a81f611a5507efee7c2ae6fd:active , .ubc7b9936a81f611a5507efee7c2ae6fd:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ubc7b9936a81f611a5507efee7c2ae6fd .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ubc7b9936a81f611a5507efee7c2ae6fd .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ubc7b9936a81f611a5507efee7c2ae6fd .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ubc7b9936a81f611a5507efee7c2ae6fd .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ubc7b9936a81f611a5507efee7c2ae6fd:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ubc7b9936a81f611a5507efee7c2ae6fd .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ubc7b9936a81f611a5507efee7c2ae6fd .ubc7b9936a81f611a5507efee7c2ae6fd-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ubc7b9936a81f611a5507efee7c2ae6fd:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Prostitution and Its Unfortunate Aftermath EssayFunk Wagnalls. Russia, United Soviet Socialist Republic; Yeltsin, Boris Nikolayevich; Communism; Commonwealth of Independent States. The World Almanac and Book of Facts ed. Funk Wagnalls Corporation. 1996 Ed. Columbia University Press. Communism The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations Ed. Columbia University Press. 1996 Ed. Columbia University Press. Gorbachev, Mikhail Sergeyevich; Russia; United Soviet Socialist Republic; Yeltsin, Boris Nikolayevich; Communism; Commonwealth of Independent States. The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia Ed. Columbia University Press. 1996 Ed. Internet Web Page. Everything about Russia (History Section). Http://WWW.RUSSIA.NETInternet Web Page. CNN Interactive (Russian Archive). Http://WWW.CNN.COMM. F. Goldman, Russian and the Eurasian Republics Building New Political Orders. PP 14-25 and 34-45. H. Brand, Why the Soviet Economy FailedA. B. Ulam, Looking at the Past: The Unraveling of the Soviet Union

Rimbaud And Ginsberg Essays - Counterculture Of The 1960s

Rimbaud And Ginsberg Essays - Counterculture Of The 1960s Rimbaud And Ginsberg Rimbaud and Ginsberg as Modern Poets Anyone who has read a fair sampling of modernist poetry or studied some representative visionary poets has found the experience something of a revelation. Immediately exhilarating for some, initially intimidating for others and, for all of us, a profound departure from traditional literature. According to Rimbaud, for a poet to be absolutely modern he must become a visionary and a poet makes himself a visionary through a long, boundless and systematized disorganization of all the senses. All forms of love, of suffering, of madness, he searches himself, he exhausts within himself all poisons and preserves their quintessences. Rimbauds most notable work, A Season in Hell is the perfect example of how his choice of lifestyle lent the necessary experiences to be closer to God and ultimately creative poetry. Through the use drugs and other devices, Rimbaud was able to unearth the core of his soul while still being able to capture divine inspiration on paper before delirium set in. Allen Ginsbergs greatest work Howl is similar to A Season in Hell in that it ultimately captures Ginsbergs life experiences as the reader can but only grasp the means by which such a seemingly chaotic life is conducive to ingenious literature. Among the many similarities between these two poets, the first would be that there was an absent father and a domineering mother. For most, this situation would lead to a child trying to attain control over his surroundings. For Ginsberg and Rimbaud, however, this family life helped create the starting point for their need to understand their world around them. Both Ginsberg and Rimbaud had many mentors in their early years. Rimbauds relationship with Verlaine allowed him to express himself sexually and poetically thus giving him the necessary material to fuel his disorganization of the senses. Among Ginsbergs many mentors, Jack Kerouac, William S. Burrows and Neil Cassidy, who were equally obsessed with poetry, sex and drugs, helped him to develop his literary voice. The similarities between Rimbauds use of absinthe and Ginsbergs experimentations with Benzedrine, marijuana and homosexually, believed that he, like Rimbaud, was ultimately working toward a great poetic vision which Kerouac called The New Vision. In literary terms, Ginsberg follows in Rimbauds footsteps with the use of symbolism and free verse. From what weve studied in class, the bulk of these poets works resemble a colorfully adventurous diary documenting the adventures of two of literatures greatest visionary poets. In William Carlos Williams introduction to Howl he writes Allen Ginsberg, who has gone in his own body through the horrifying experiences described from life in these pages. The wonder of the thing is not that he has survived but that he, from the very depths, has found a fellow whom he can love. And, in a statement, that could adequately describe Rimbauds work he writes hold back the edges of your gowns, Ladies, we are going through hell. After a Season in Hell and Howl, both poets mellowed out considerably and began to travel the world. Rimbaud, finding his love of gunrunning in Africa and Ginsberg finding his physical love, Peter Orlovsky. What can we, as the readers, conceptualize about these poets lifes works? Why did Rimbaud give up writing? Did he, perhaps, get so close to God that the light was too bright and he decided to be content in a more mundane career. Did Ginsberg attain his own level of expectations in his lifes work or did the events that led up to the creation of Howl alter his future work? What we are left with in these poets great works is merely a glimpse, however haunting and beautiful, into two human beings attempt to view life in the most spiritual light attainable. Ginsberg writes: I high on laughing gas Ive been here before The odd vibration of The same old universe The universe is a void In which there is a dream hole The dream disappears The hole closes Its the instant of going Into or coming out of Existence that is Important-to catch on To the secret of the magic Box. When I was fifteen years old, I discovered the book of Rimbauds work in my high school library and was discouraged from reading it by a poet friend of mine twelve years my senior. He,

40 Million Years of Dog Evolution

40 Million Years of Dog Evolution In many ways, the story of dog evolution follows the same plot line as the evolution of horses and elephants: a small, inoffensive, ancestral species gives rise, over the course of tens of millions of years, to the respectably sized descendants we know and love today. But there are two big differences in this case: first, dogs are carnivores, and the evolution of carnivores is a twisty, serpentine affair involving not only dogs, but prehistoric hyenas, bears, cats, and now-extinct mammals like creodonts and mesonychids. And second, of course, dog evolution took a sharp right turn about 15,000 years ago, when the first wolves were domesticated by early humans (see a gallery of prehistoric dog pictures). As far as paleontologists can tell, the very first carnivorous mammals evolved during the late Cretaceous period, about 75 million years ago (the half-pound Cimolestes, which lived high up in trees, being the most likely candidate). However, its more likely that every carnivorous animal alive today can trace its ancestry back to Miacis, a slightly bigger, weasel-like creature that lived about 55 million years ago, or 10 million years after the dinosaurs went extinct. Miacis was far from a fearsome killer, though: this tiny furball was also arboreal and feasted on insects and eggs as well as small animals. Before the Canids: Creodonts, Mesonychids, and Friends Modern dogs evolved from a line of carnivorous mammals called canids, after the characteristic shape of their teeth. Before (and alongside) the canids, though, there were such diverse families of predators as amphicyonids (the bear dogs, typified by Amphicyon, which seem to have been more closely related to bears than dogs), prehistoric hyenas (Ictitherium was the first of this group to live on the ground rather than in trees), and the marsupial dogs of South America and Australia. Although vaguely dog-like in appearance and behavior, these predators werent directly ancestral to modern canines. Even more fearsome than bear dogs and marsupial dogs were mesonychids and creodonts. The most famous mesonychids were the one-ton Andrewsarchus, the largest ground-dwelling carnivorous mammal that ever lived, and the smaller and more wolflike Mesonyx. Oddly enough, mesonychids were ancestral not to modern dogs or cats, but to prehistoric whales. The creodonts, on the other hand, left no living descendants; the most noteworthy members of this breed were Hyaenodon and the strikingly named Sarkastodon, the former of which looked (and behaved) like a wolf and the latter of which looked (and behaved) like a grizzly bear. The First Canids: Hesperocyon and the "Bone-Crushing Dogs" Paleontologists agree that the late Eocene (about 40 to 35 million years ago) Hesperocyon was directly ancestral to all later canids- and thus to the genus Canis, which branched off from a subfamily of canids about six million years ago. This western dog was only about the size of a small fox, but its inner-ear structure was characteristic of later dogs, and theres some evidence that it may have lived in communities, either high up in trees or in underground burrows. Hesperocyon is very well-represented in the fossil record; in fact, this was one of the most common mammals of prehistoric North America. Another group of early canids was the borophagines, or bone-crushing dogs, equipped with powerful jaws and teeth suitable for scavenging the carcasses of mammalian megafauna. The largest, most dangerous borophagines were the 100-pound Borophagus and the even bigger Epicyon; other genera included the earlier Tomarctus and Aelurodon, which were more reasonably sized. We cant say for sure, but theres some evidence that these bone-crushing dogs (which were also restricted to North America) hunted or scavenged in packs, like modern hyenas. The First True Dogs: Leptocyon, Eucyon, and the Dire Wolf Heres where things get a bit confusing. Shortly after the appearance of Hesperocyon 40 million years ago, Leptocyon arrived on the scene- not a brother, but more like a second cousin once removed. Leptocyon was the first true canine (that is, it belonged to the caninae subfamily of the canidae family), but a small and unobtrusive one, not much bigger than Hesperocyon itself. The immediate descendant of Leptocyon, Eucyon, had the good fortune to live at a time when both Eurasia and South America were accessible from North America- the first via the Bering land bridge, and the second thanks to the uncovering of central America. In North America, about six million years ago, populations of Eucyon evolved into the first members of the modern dog genus Canis, which spread to these other continents. But the tale doesnt end there. Although canines (including the first coyotes) continued to live in North America during the Pliocene epoch, the first plus-sized wolves evolved elsewhere, and re-invaded North America shortly before the ensuing Pleistocene (via that same Bering land bridge). The most famous of these canines was the Dire Wolf, Canis diris, which evolved from an old world wolf that colonized both North and South America (by the way, the Dire Wolf competed directly for prey with Smilodon, the saber-toothed tiger.) The end of the Pleistocene epoch witnessed the rise of human civilization around the world. As far as we can tell, the first domestication of the Gray Wolf occurred somewhere in Europe or Asia anywhere from 30,000 to 15,000 years ago. After 40 million years of evolution, the modern dog had finally made its debut!

Genetically Modified Foods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Genetically Modified Foods - Essay Example enetic engineers have been successful in producing genetically modified crops and animals, although there are several limitations in their work due to the complexity of identifying genes that yield the desired traits. This paper seeks to examine the ethical implications of genetically modified foods. The pros of doing the research is because there are numerous published materials regarding the topic, which can be used for the research. However, there are cons that arise due to the fact that genetic engineering is still a recent development, dating back in the late 1960s compared to the old biotechnology which dates back in the 6000 B.C. This creates the possibility of lack of significant information in regard to the subject. Generally, genetically modified foods are significant in solving the problems of hunger that many nations are facing today (Buzzell and Nourse 1966). There is controversy whereby people try to look at food in different perspectives. Some view it as an important and sacred item that sustains life. This is true and therefore the assertion that living organisms that are used as food need to be allowed to grow naturally without interfering with their genetic makeup. However, it needs to be understood that these organisms are dependent on various natural factors for growth. Climatic changes have occurred due to global warming, leading to the occurrence of draught which was not a problem before. In order to counter such problems, genetic engineers are developing organisms that are draught resistant as well as fast growing, which are also significant in satisfying the rapidly increasing population globally. On the other hand, the society needs to be empowered economically in order for people to improve their standards of living. The fast growing genetically modified organisms are a major source of income for producers. (Buzzell and Nour se 1966). Even though growing genetically modified food is a solution to hunger, there are issues that arise due

International Cooperation to Save Aral Sea Article

International Cooperation to Save Aral Sea - Article Example This has beena source of health problems among the residents (Circle of Blue | WaterNews ). As a response, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon asks for an international cooperation, particulay involving the regional leaders of Central Asia, however this call has faced several oppositions especially to the proposed hydroelectric power plant in Tajikistan. Calls for regional and international cooperation to support environmental policies have never been easy; whether it is a climate change or other environmental issues. Culprits have never been kind enough to take responsibilities. Even in this case, Uzbekistan has not shown any sign of voluntary effort to save the sea. The United Nations should serve as the parent organization of all the countries and is just fitting to take the initiative. However, what we lack right now is the international environmental law that will cover such issues. Economists have also been in the pursuit of viable solution, particularly solutions that support the individual interest of the states. If we have such type of solution and strong environmental laws, international cooperation will be much more easier.

Muslim Women In Today’s World Essay Example for Free

Muslim Women In Today’s World Essay It is true that Muslim women are now discovering freedom from their old traditions and today the veil, as it is often called by the Western population has adopted many meanings for the Muslim woman. Some Muslims think of the veil as a symbol of modesty, while others place a huge emphasis on the hijab as a religious statement by Muslims. Many Americans pull back from the image of the way Muslims dress and think of it as a sign of terrorism and aggression which targets people who aren‘t Muslims, while some feminists, who are mainly American, while many Muslims, view the hijab with other signs of significance, which is the oppression and control of Muslim women. Ideas about Muslim women have been born by television programs that display women in Afghanistan, who are shrouded in a burqa, while being beaten because they are showing an ankle or a portion of their skin. Many Muslim men also are expected to dress in a modest style, wearing a turban, and other flowing garments. The way women Muslims dress is seen as sign of the larger restrictions they have to abide by in many under Muslim countries. About 10 % of the Muslim women population wears the veil or hijab. We realize that these amounts may be increasing while more people change to the Islamic religion. Its not for certain how many Muslim women wear the hijab out of the 10,000 Muslim women. Almost every Muslim woman who is asked, say that wearing the hijab was a decision they reached on their own. The Quran which is the Muslim holy book doesnt mandate that all Muslim women wear coverings on their heads. We learn from the Quran 4:124 that, â€Å"Misinformation and misconception about Muslim women proliferate in the world today among non-Muslims and Muslims. I hope that instead of falling into the typical stereotypes and cultural innovation, the information here will pique your interest and help you to understand the true stance Islam takes on gender issues and the role of women. † The topics concerning of women Muslim in Islam is extremely controversial. Various offerings and opinions about women Muslims must be should dealt with using caution due of the alternate opinions. We realize that the rights of Muslim women in the Quran and by the prophet Muhammad have made vast improvements when you compare the laws pertaining to women who live in Arabia before the change of Islam which was only after the death of the Prophet, while the rules directed at the women in Islam started to decrease, then turn back to the pre-Islamic ways. While the womens movement of the West started to increase in strength, during the twentieth century we know that the exact event took place, in the lives of the Muslims. Feminists who fight for the rights of women in the Muslim world during the twentieth century, up until around the 1980’s, usually were women with money. These modern day Muslim women used their feminism that was molded after the feminists who were from the West. The modern Muslims world that was brought on prior to the colonial period which was in the twentieth century began to turn from the Western models that were evident in society. The feminism that was apparent in the Muslim world started adopt Islamic styles that mocked the Western feminist ideas. This pertains not only to Muslim women. It pertains to all women throughout the whole portion of the third world. After removing the restraints that were present during the colonial imperialism, Muslim females living in the third world are growing rapidly, resistant against the cultural imperialism sold by Westerners. Women who live in the third world are finally coming to the conclusion that even though they have many ideas that are similar, because of the hard fight of Euro-American feminists, we realize that what is best for Euro-American women isn’t, of course, going to be the best solution for Muslim women. Muslim women have lately started to develop a Islamic feminism that was molded from the growing concerns of the higher classed Euro American females. The variances between Western feminism and Islamic feminism deals with the topic of the veil. The veil is a scarf or head covering that is usually worn by female Muslims. Many people view this veil as oppressive to women; a sign of a female Muslims obedience. It is often a surprise to Western feminists when they see that the hijab has started to become common throughout the Muslim world. You can see the veil worn by college women who display the veil as an important symbol of their Islamic identity. We learn from Islamic scholar, Dr. Zeenat Ali, that, (Zeenat, 2007) â€Å"The Mission of The New Muslim Woman is to help new Muslim women from all around the world in gaining knowledge about different issues in Islam from learning how to pray to the roles women have In Islam. We also learn that â€Å"The Mission of The New Muslim Woman is to help new Muslim women from all around the world in gaining knowledge about different issues in Islam from learning how to pray to the roles women have In Islam. Giving support and helping each other strive hard in pleasing our Rabb (Lord). Knowledge is the cure for ignorance. The more we learn and grow in our understanding of Islam, the more we can Insha Allah (God Willing) increase in Emaan(Faith). † We understand from listening to Isobel Coleman, that (Coleman, 2006)â€Å"The Mission of The New Muslim Woman is to help new Muslim women from all around the world in gaining knowledge about different issues in Islam from learning how to pray to the roles women have In Islam. Giving support and helping each other strive hard in pleasing our Rabb(Lord). Knowledge is the cure for ignorance. The more we learn and grow in our understanding of Islam, the more we can InshaAllah (God Willing) increase in Emaan (Faith). † We also understand that, â€Å"The Mission of The New Muslim Woman is to help new Muslim women from all around the world in gaining knowledge about different issues in Islam from learning how to pray to the roles women have In Islam. Giving support and helping each other strive hard in pleasing our Rabb (Lord). Knowledge is the cure for ignorance. The more we learn and grow in our understanding of Islam, the more we can InshaAllah (God Willing) increase in Emaan (Faith). † These criticisms are not without merit, and the ambiguity of the new constitution is a cause for concern. The centrality of Islamic law in the document, however, does not necessarily mean trouble for Iraqi women. In fact, sharia is open to a wide range of understanding, and across the Islamic world today, progressive Muslims are seeking to reinterpret its rules to accommodate a modern role for women. Iraqs constitution does not specify who will decide which version of Islam will prevail in the countrys new legal system. But the battle has already begun. Victory by the progressives would have positive implications for all aspects of the future of Iraq, since womens rights are critical to democratic consolidation in transitional and war-torn societies. Allowing a full social, political, and economic role for women in Iraq would help ensure its transition to a stable democracy. Success for women in Iraq would also reverberate throughout the broader Muslim world. In every country where sharia is enforced, womens rights have become a divisive issue, and the balance struck between tradition and equality in Iraq will influence these other debates. Prime Minister Tony Blair and author Salman Rushdie praised a British official on Tuesday for raising the difficult issue of whether Muslim women visiting his office should remove their veils. The comment by Jack Straw, a former foreign secretary who now is leader of the House of Commons, has plunged Britain into a debate over Islamic integration. Its important these issues are raised and discussed, and I think its perfectly sensible if you raise it in a measured and considered way, which he did, Blair said of Straw during an interview with British Broadcasting Corp. television outside his office. I think we can have these discussions without people becoming hysterical either way about it. Rushdie, (Rushdie, 1989) whose book The Satanic Verses, once led to death threats against him by Islamic clerics, told BBC radio that Straw was expressing an important opinion, which is that veils suck, which they do. I think the veil is a way of taking power away from women. Straw said in a newspaper column published Thursday that he believes the veils favored by some Muslim women inhibit communication and are a sign of division in society. At his constituency office, Straw said he asks that veiled women reveal their faces, adding that the women have always complied, and a female assistant is always present. On Friday, British media quoted Straw as going further, saying that he would prefer that Muslim women not wear veils at all. I just find it uncomfortable if Im trying to have a conversation with someone whose face I cant see, Straw told the BBC. Many Muslims in Straws parliamentary district of Blackburn, in northwestern England, reacted with outrage. The uproar also left many questioning whether Britains multicultural ideals can withstand the strains of a cultural divide that is increasingly tormenting much of Europe. The difficulty of the issue was obvious during the Blair interview when he was asked if he would prefer a Muslim woman he met took off her veil. Once led to death threats against him by Islamic clerics, he told BBC radio that Straw was expressing an important opinion, which is that veils suck, which they do. I think the veil is a way of taking power away from women. Straw said in a newspaper column published Thursday that he believes the veils favored by some Muslim women inhibit communication and are a sign of division in society. At his constituency office, Straw said he asks that veiled women reveal their faces, adding that the women have always complied, and a female assistant is always present. The difficulty of the issue was obvious during the Blair interview when he was asked if he would prefer a Muslim woman he met took off her veil. The veil represents a symbolic set of rules for the Muslim Woman and many choose to do away with the scarf, in order to voice their opinions about how they feel about wearing it, and the symbolic meaning behind the veil. We understand that, (Manarj, 1998)â€Å"There are some Muslims who make a big deal about trivial issues that border on ignorance. For example, we are told that the use of nail polish invalidates one’s ablution wudo hence, some women perform wudu before applying nail polish as a workaround. Also, we are told that perfume which may contain alcohol must not be applied to one’s skin, because it can get into the pores, and this is equivalent to drinking it (i. e. the alcohol); moreover, owning a TV or camera has also been deemed prohibited (haram) by some, and so on. In fact, there are those who do not tolerate anything that was not practiced or known to the inhabitants of seventh-century Arabia. These are strange ideas to associate with the most universal and rational religion in the world. Obviously, these alien notions fossilize Islam and constitute a serious misreading of the true Islamic messages. † There is a clear understanding that Muslim women think they must keep their bodies pure and by wearing nail polish and other feminine products, in some cases they feel that they are damaging their bodies by using harmful products. Modern Muslim women are changing their ideas about the way they live and dress as they adopt more western ideas and start to become modernized, in society. We learn that some of the most serious problems that we American Muslim women face include: domestic violence, abuse of divorce and child custody laws, abuse of the polygamy system, and isolation and exclusion from various aspects of Muslim life. We are going to provide a few anecdotal cases simply to illustrate the depth of the problems. We have given the women in the stories names to make it more personable, but their identities have been changed and their confidentiality is protected. The stories are shared simply to illustrate and give life to the specific suffering of American Muslim women today. These are true stories, these are real women who have suffered. These stories were compiled by speaking with Muslim community leaders, social workers, psychologists, lawyers, doctors, mostly in southern California, but throughout the United States. We also obtained information from a thing called Sistersnet, which is an E-mail network of Muslim women throughout the United States and other countries. But unfortunately, there is no database, there is no accurate information that exists as to the frequency of any of these abuses that occur. Further research of these issues is desperately needed Many Muslim are facing serious social changes as they mesh into society as a modern Muslim woman. They have came a long way from past traditions and have adopted a new way of thinking and style that reflects these changes. American Muslim women face many unique additional hurdles. We are discriminated against by both non-Muslims and Muslims in America. For instance, a woman who wears hijab, which is the traditional head-covering, is often taunted at work and on the street, and the careers of a lot of these women are actually jeopardizedthey are discriminated against at work and they are not given jobs. And, women who wear hijab in the United States are obvious targetsthey are obviously Muslims, and because of this they bear the brunt of the ignorance about Islam; they face sexual harassment, and often their actual physical safety is jeopardized. Muslims come from different backgrounds. In America, we have immigrant Muslims, who face a whole host of problems such as xenophobia. In the U. S. in recent times, there has been a growing hostility toward immigrants, and they are often erroneously blamed for all of the socio-economic problems that we face in the U. S. , and are harassed because of that. And we have a large African-American Muslim population, and they face additional hurdles, because being part of a racial minority in the United States, they have had to deal with the problems of racism, discrimination, segregation and the vestiges of slavery.

Shakespeares Macbeth and Hamlet as Tragic Heroes Essay -- Macbeth ess

Macbeth and Hamlet as Tragic Heroes      Ã‚   William Shakespeare has written many literary works - from his sonnets to his plays, each has it's own individual characteristics.   One popular characteristic that comes from his plays is the tragic hero.   The audience can always relate to the tragic hero and the many trials he faces.   Macbeth and Hamlet are just two of Shakespeare's plays that involve the tragic hero.   Through their nobility, tragic flaws, and dignity Macbeth and Hamlet prove to be tragic heroes.    Macbeth's nobility begins with the title, "thane of Glamis" (1.3.74).   After the original "thane of Cawdor" (1.3.110) dies, Macbeth gains this title as well.   Once the witches reveal the prophecy that Macbeth would be king, Macbeth murders the king and takes the throne for himself.   This reaches the height of Macbeth's nobility.   In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is thought of as a "worthy thane"(2.3.43.), however, this shifts to nothing more than a "hell hound"(5.8.4.) in the end.   Much like Macbeth, Hamlet is very powerful and has a high status in the country.   Hamlet is the Prince of Denmark and was named "most immediate to [the] throne" (1.2.109) by Claudius.   "Lord Hamlet"(1.5.112.) is well respected by the people of Denmark.   Claudius takes this into account and does not immediately kill Hamlet when he finds out he knows the truth about his father's death.   Similar to Macbeth, Hamlet starts out in a more noble position than he ends up.   Once Ha mlet begins to act crazy, others start to believe his "noble mind is here o'erthrown!" (3.1.153.).   The idea that both Hamlet and Macbeth begin with a high position and fall to their defeat leads to the development of the theme power corrupts, an important theme in... ...s honor by exchanging forgiveness with him.   In turn, the dignity of Shakespeare's tragic heroes is reestablished in the end, however, this does not change their fate.    The characteristics of Macbeth and Hamlet lead them to become tragic heroes.   The specific detail of these characteristics make Shakespeare's tragic heroes well defined in each of his plays.   By the time of their deaths, both Macbeth and Hamlet have realized their fate and accepted the consequences like a true tragic hero.    Works Cited and Consulted: Elliot, G.R. "Introduction: On `Macbeth' as Apex of Shakspearean Tragedy" in Shakespearean Criticism, Volume 3. Edited by Laurie Harris Gale: 1984 Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Edited by Norman Sanders. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994 Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Sylvan Barnet. New York: Signet Classic, 1998.

Gilgamesh, Persepolis and Hamlet: Exam Paper Essay

The following are the pool from which the three (3) questions on your Midterm Exam will be culled. As explained in the syllabus you are required to keep exam journals for the Gilgamesh, Persepolis and Hamlet readings, based on the separate questions listed on Blackboard for each text. You may use your Exam Journals together with your completed Freud Vocabulary when you take the Midterm Exam 1. Both Ophelia and Marjane experience bouts of deep depression. In what ways are the conditions that contribute to their respective depressions similar and how do they differ? What, other than the difference in their temperaments, might account for each responded to her sorrows? What events led to each young woman’s depression? What were the elements that helped Marjane recover that weren’t available to Ophelia? 2. Compare and contrast the friendship between Hamlet and Horatio to that of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. How did they meet and become friends?  What roles do Enkidu & Horatio play in helping Gil & Ham achieve their goals? How do Enk & Hor help their friends perceive the supernatural? Who mourns and eulogizes whom in Gil & in Hamlet? What might indicate that each relationship could have been homoerotic? 3. In what way might Freud’s concept of psychological resistance explain Gilgamesh’s response to Enkidu’s death? Hamlet’s response to the death of his father, King Hamlet? Use the technical Freudian terms for the psychological resistances and why you think they apply to each 4. Which Freudian concepts might help explain the underlying psychological reasons why the reigning mullahs instituted such harsh restrictions on the status and behavior of women in Iran? Use the technical Freudian terms for the psychological resistances and why you think they apply 5. Both Marjane and Hamlet sense that â€Å"there is something rotten† with the governance and policies of their native countries. What are the similarities and differences between how they respond to those wrongs? What did Hamlet  feel was rotten in Denmark? Marjane in Iran first under the Shah then under the Ayatollahs? How did each try to avoid dealing with those conditions? How did each try to accommodate their behaviors to those conditions? What actions did each take to try and correct the wrongs they perceived? 6. Describe the advantages and challenges that Gilgamesh, Marjane and Hamlet each experienced as a result of living the dynamics of a â€Å"Dual Identity?† What ways might their experiences been similar and how did they differ What conditions drove each to assume a dual identity? What were the natures of their respective dual identities? What did their respective dual identities allow them to do and what toll did it place on them? 7. Freud observed that ancient mythology ascribes to oracles and the gods effects that he claims are manifestations of the unconscious (eg. Parapraxes and Dreams). Citing examples based on your reading of Hamlet and Gilgamesh do you agree or disagree with his claim? Might specific instances of dreams and parapraxes represent manifestations of Gil’s unconscious? Might the Ghost and his reaction to Yorik’s skull represent manifestations of Hamlet’s unconscious? 8. In Gilgamesh sex plays a civilizing function. Freud claims that our sexual urges constantly threaten civilization. What are the pros and cons of each position and can they be reconciled? After Shamhat has sex with Enkidu the animals reject him. In what ways does heterosexual coupling lead to greater civilization? In what ways does Freud indicate that our aggressive, sexual urges (Id) can subvert civilization? Are these 2 views mutually exclusive or can they be reconciled? 9. Freud claims that the OedipalElectra dynamic plays a significant role in human development. How might understanding this dynamic help us interpret Hamlet’s actions? Ophelia’s actions? How might Hamlet’s unresolved issues with Gertrude, King Hamlet and Claudius explain his actions? How might Ophelia’s lack of a mother figure and relation to Polonius explain hers? 10. Based on the typology of Joseph Campbell, Lynne Milurn describes a typology of the Hero’s Journey. A. Apply her stages to the journey of: i. Gilgamesh & Enkidu’s from the poem’s beginning thru their journey to the Cedar Forest ii. Gilgamesh’s search for immortality iii. Hamlet B. In what ways do the aspects of Marjane’s journeys correspond and how do they deviate from Milum’s typology? Indicate those elements and characters of the Hero’s Journey present in Persepolis In what ways might they not follow the progression of stages that Milum details C. Can these same stages might be applied to the psycho-analytic (From the time one realizes the need to go to a therapist til one is cured) and or psycho-sexual developmental journey (from birth to adulthood) as described by Freud?

“Good Country people” and “Where are you going, Where have you been?” Essay

There are many similarities between the short stories â€Å"Good Country People† and â€Å"Where are you going, Where have you been?†, most notably their characters. Both stories contain a female protagonist, and a male antagonist, whose confrontations start out relatively normal, and progress to more and more surreal and twisted endings. Their main characters, Hulga and Connie, are shockingly similar, and yet strangely different, one a 15 year old wishing to be older and beautiful, the other a bitter 32 year old, wishing to be younger and ugly. These stories tell the tales of impressionable young women who are tempted by the delights of strange men, only to prove to themselves in the end how naive they really are. In â€Å"Where are you going, Where have you been?†, Connie starts out as most teenage girls seemingly would – she wants to be more daring, to appear older, to experience more of the world. She sneaks away from childish pursuits, to the teenage or adult world, to drink and kiss boys rather than shop for school clothes, to see movies in a steamy car instead of in a theater. She talks of being beautiful as if it were her only good grace – beauty, to her, is the ultimate goal. She wants to be older, and more beautiful, and this is her downfall. Her foolishness, and her naivety is what appeals to Arnold Friend in the first place. Arnold Friend, a stranger, appeals to her early on in the story. He is older, more powerful, and smarter. She is frightened, of course, but intrigued, and it is her yearning for the adult world, and the adult life, that, in the end, causes her downfall. She is suckered in by the convincing conman who uses his words to appeal to her weaknesses. She is tricked into being what Arnold wants her to be by his smooth words and his faà §ade of confidence. She’s toyed with, played for the naà ¯ve fool she is, who is far too young for the world she wants to be a part of. Only at the very end of the story does she begin to realize what she has gotten herself into. She shows her true colors once she is confronted. In â€Å"Good Country People†, Joy is a relatively normal girl with some not-too-normal problems. For one thing, her leg got blown off when she was younger in a bizarre hunting accident. This physical change made her completely self conscious, and essentially ruined her life. She could no  longer be happy being herself, because she sees herself as true ugliness now. Thus, she feels forced to make herself what she thinks she is. She hates beauty now, and changes everything about her to seem ugly. She’s been to college, and yet still acts childish. She’s trying to be young, and ugly. And Manley Pointer notices this quality of her, and takes advantage of her. No matter how ugly she tries to be, he still tries to (or at least pretends to) like her for who she is. Hulga is, regardless of her ugly campaign, extremely flattered, and lets her guard down long enough for Manley to get away with her glasses, her leg, and more importantly, her dignity. She is also played f or a fool based completely on her own insecurities. She too is a victim of a conman who notices that things aren’t always what they seem. Connie and Hulga are very similar, as characters, and yet very different all the same. They both have their insecurities, and they are both easily preyed on by conmen and smooth talkers, but their insecurities are in entirely different realms. They both want what the other has, and due to this, they are constantly trying to be someone else, not themselves, and this is what makes them so easy to attack. They don’t know who they really are, and they think they want to be something else. This naivety is their downfall – they pretend to be something else, join a group they shouldn’t be in, and they are tempted by the men in these groups. But, when the tables turn, and their men aren’t what they appear to be, Connie and Hulga revert completely, from relatively confident phonies to sniveling little girls, helpless and hopeless, in their fake lives. These two women are seemingly innocent, random bystanders picked by older smarter conmen. However, one could easily hold them responsible for their own fates. Not that the victim in a crime is to blame, but, honestly, if you leave your car door open, with the keys inside, and the motor running, while you go inside a store for a few hours, how can you possibly seem shocked when it gets stolen? These two women, whether they believe it or not, are waving hundreds of flags at these conmen – â€Å"Please target me!†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"Take my leg!†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ By openly flaunting their insecurities and by allowing themselves to be charmed to the point of trusting the conmen, they are, if not wholly, then at least partially responsible for their own fates. They reached their  own conclusions, and they got what they deserved. Connie and Hulga are the same person, essentially – a woman with different problems wishes to be something that they are not, and wiser and smoother conmen see this, and take advantage of them. In the end, they are proven to be the phonies that they really are, and are left more vulnerable, and more open, than they were before they tried to infiltrate the world in which they didn’t belong. If there were a shared moral to these stories, and there is most definitely not an obvious one, they’d both be somewhere along the lines of â€Å"Be happy with what you have, because you might not belong anywhere else†, and in the cases of Connie and Hulga, this moral fits perfectly. They are the same person with different circumstances, and they are so easily preyed on by the wiser smoother conman. As these stories blatantly state, be happy with what you have. You might not fit anywhere else, and one day, someone might just call you on your bluff, to disastrous conseque nces.

The Trendy Green Drink the marking techniques on the packaging Arizonia green tea has used to appeal to its target audience.

The Trendy Green Drink the marking techniques on the packaging Arizonia green tea has used to appeal to its target audience. Having seen the packaging, the consumer picks up the drink out of curiosity, while other iced tea drinks have flashy fonts or colors for packaging, 'Arizona' Green Tea maintains its oriental look, providing a contrast that attracts the eye of the consumer and sells itself. The tea comes in a bottle with a light green opaque film around it. The film is illustrated and the top to the bottle is secured with a paper seal colored with an intricate and geometric design. The two other main ingredients follow the Green Tea wording on the label. The wording Green Tea itself is written in both English and Chinese.The target consumers are people still in or just out of college, therefore in their late teens to their late twenties. With a pale green background the bottle's illustrations are of a tree growing small pink flowers, as well as a golden sculpture and a blue river flowing in the back.English: Empty can of Arizona Green Tea littering ...The seal is around two inches in height and reache s the neck of the bottle. The 'Arizona' label itself is white and placed at a right angle, the rest of the wording is a dark green or black and a relatively smaller font.The illustrations on the film are simple and not intrusive, they provide the bottle with a calm look that high to mid-classcollege or recently graduated student might enjoy. By having not cluttered the bottle with very colorful or flashy images and given it, a simple, delicate design, the bottle seems calm. In a college or graduate student's life many things are changing and the students often try experiencing new non-traditional things, and the "packages record changing hairstyles and changing lifestyles" (Hine p.71). These new experiences may include less western ideas or products. 'Arizona' Green Tea does not thrust itself upon you but provokes a curious person to try it because it appears different. The tree illustrated on the bottle has tranquility provided by the simple curves with which it was draw and the li mitation to two colors, brown for the branches and pink for the flowers. The paper seal is intricate; contradicting with the rest of the bottle, keeping it from being too simple and therefore bland. In a way it is similar to many other products that have a tendency to "sell their bottle rather than the drink." (Hine p.72) The attraction to the product is brought around by a simple marketing idea, being unique.By having mentioned directly on the label the two other main ingredients, ginseng and honey, it gives a 'bonus' to the drink. It suggests that the product will provide you with energy and has been sweeten by a more health conscious sweetener. When someone twenty-years-old buys a beverage, usually they areattracted to caffeine, although in high school this was almost strictly done in order to be cool, during the college years its ideally to have more energy to work, ginseng is an alternative to caffeine and alternatives can be attractive. By the this time, often the person will have turned more health conscience as well, honey being natural, suggestively, has many advantages over other sweeteners. Usually in areas like Southern California, the target group of around the late teen to late twenties, try to become more educated as far as their health is concerned, regardless of whether it is or not, if it sounds more nutritious, it becomes more popular hence the reasoning for adding honey to the label.The 'Arizona' label itself is cleverly placed and colored, thus giving it the opportunity to be a larger font and yet not disrupt the tranquility set by other images. The white color allows the wording to blend in with the green background, especially with the position it has over the tree. The strong color contrast with the tree and the similarity with the pale green allows it to be large, easily read and not intrusive. This is another marketing trick although harder to accomplish, it tells the consumer the product name, without it being offensive.The words 'Gr een Tea' have a small font, but by having accompanied it with Chinese words, it gives the bottle animported look, which attracts the consumer group, a group who is always looking for new things. The two Chinese words on the bottle although small, give the suggestion that the product is not only meant for the average American but perhaps for an East Asian consumer. This makes the drink's package more daring in a way; because it suggests that it was not put on the self to satisfy only this target consumer (you). Thus, the age group can take it as having been challenged to try a new experience. In much the same way this is similar to the groups that wore jeans because they "stood strongly in opposition to the dominate conservative, middle-class consumer-oriented culture of American society," (Davis p.88) the drink and many other products help people in the age group, to in way, rebel against racist, 'only if its made in the USA' type and therefore in their view be different and more in ternationally aware.For its oriental, tranquil looks, suggestively more health conscience ingredients and international wording 'Arizona' green tea has gained popularity. It now follows the line of many other drinks which have entered this age group over the years, it appeals first to a few, who want to be different and then to almost everyone else to be more like the rebellious. 'Arizona' Green Tea has not only established a market for its product, but has become popular.