Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Macroeconomics Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Macroeconomics Assignment - Essay Example 7). B: i. Figure: Labor Market (Parkin, 2012, p. 22) ii. Figure 2: Effect of greater immigration on Real GDP (Parkin, 2012, p. 23) iii. Due to relaxation of immigration laws large number of immigrants enters into the country and started to work as workers in various industries of the country. This increase in the number of immigrants increases the supply of labor in various industries. This increment in the number of labor supplied increases shifts the equilibrium point in the market for labor. At the existing equilibrium real wage rate (R1), there occurs excess supply for labour which causes the real wage rate to fall in the next period. The new equilibrium is achieved with the increased level of labor employment and lower level of real wage rate in the labor market. At the new equilibrium the amount of labor employed increases from L1Ã from L2Ã and the real wage rate falls from R1 to R2. These facts are evident from Figure 1. Again this increment in the employment of labor, g iven the production technologies and equipments, increases the total amounts of output produced in each industries and hence, given the number of total population in the country the real GDP of the country rises up. With the help of relaxation of the immigration laws the absolute number of workers available to the sector of production of goods and services in the country rises up. ... These technological advancements help producers of various goods and services to use available production techniques more efficiently and the productivity of each worker increases. Hence, the production function shifts up with the result that after the introduction of better and advanced techniques of production each worker produces higher level of output with the given levels of factors of production. With the same amount of labor employed (L) the output level rises up. These facts are clear from Figure 3 (Parkin, 2012, pp. 24-25). Figure 3: Technological change and shifts in Production Function (Parkin, 2012, pp. 35-36) ii. If the total amount of labor force employed in the process of production of goods and service remain constant in the economy, then in the face of technological advancement the efficiency of production of each of the worker will increase. This is because each worker is now given a better technology to work with which will raise the amount of goods and services pr oduced by each worker per hour. Hence, in the production sector of the economy greater amounts of goods and services will be produced at each point of time, in comparison to the previous period with no technological advancement. Hence, the volume of real GDP will rise up in the economy. Also given the total number of population in the economy, the volume of real GDP per person will rise up too (Parkin, 2012, pp. 35-36). iii. After the introduction of new technology in the process of production of various goods and services the real GDP and the real GDP per person rises up. Also the productivity of each worker or laborer rises up. This increase in the productivity plays the crucial role in the process of
Monday, October 28, 2019
Media studies coursework Essay Example for Free
Media studies coursework Essay This is a tabloid newspaper that has been designed for a certain variety of readers. It is a light hearted, easy to read institute that thrives on sex and scandal. Although the paper can be quite serious, for example where there are political issues to be discussed, they are constantly using humour in the paper to get the reader more involved with what they are reading. The chosen institute is the Daily Mirror a rival of many other tabloid papers like the Sun newspaper. The paper is dated Monday March 17 2003 and priced at 25 pence. The main news events are Michael Jacksons interview with Martin Bashir and the fact that there may not only be one Saddam Hussein on this earth. These stories are newsworthy because the war is currently in the public eye; also the public want to know about celebrities as it refers to scandal on the front page. The main focus on this particular front page is the interview that took place between Michael Jackson and Martin Bashir; it draws your attention straight away as there is a very strong coloured image that is bigger than anything else on the page. This story also gets the lead story headline that the reader is drawn to straight away as the font is black on a white background making it stand out. It is also in block capitals making it easy and clear to read. The coloured image of Jackson and Bashir has been given a third of the page but the whole story has been given over half the page. The headline that reads Split of truth works very well with the still image. The image that has been chosen is very strong because it shows that Bashir has been welcomed into Jackson house like a friend and he has gone and betrayed him. To the reader this is scandal, and then even better there is a very well known celebrity involved. There is also a side headline advertising that if you want the full story of what happened during the interview, there are another four pages that have been dedicated to the story. Over the black background, in white it says Bashir betrays Jacko the reader will want to know how exactly Jackson has been betrayed. This is the main point of this news event that Michael Jackson has been betrayed. This particular story is taking Jacksons point of view in consideration, and is taking the opportunity to only express one view. The interview of Michaels former wife has been used on the front page as this makes the report more believable; when the quote from his former wife was used on the front page it was not finished as this will make the reader want to buy the paper in order to read on. The secondary lead is the one concerning that there may be more than one Saddam Hussein. It has been dedicated about a quarter of the page. Lots of coloured images of Saddam Hussein have been used; making it go very well with the headline title Spot the difference this has been written in white in a stencilled army font. Then it has been placed over a dark background making it clear. The secondary headline is relatively small being careful not to take the attention away from the lead story. Below the headline it say Special report! this suggests to the reader that only this institute has the answers you are looking for and it is special because nobody else has it. Coming of the left hand bottom corner is a magnifier with a brief explanation of what the story is about. The main point of the article is that there is more than one Saddam Hussein, and the angle that is being taken is that the truth will be revealed. The small explanation is very short but suggests that lots of research has been done on the matter, making the evidence believable. The language used for the lead story is very informal as this reading material is for a wide variety of people. The headline Split of truth is almost a play of words to go with the split image, giving the story a less serious side. In this particular story, it has taken a biased angle of siding with Michael Jackson, you can detect this from the way in which the side headline says Bashir betrays Jacko although the paper has taken Jacksons point of view they still dont let the seriousness of the event overcome the story completely so they still refer to Jackson as Jacko a name that has been given to him originally from the media. The language used for the secondary lead is also informal, using words to play with there images like Spot the difference something that the naked eye cannot do, so they are trying to convince the reader that they have the evidence to prove what some say to be right, this almost show a biased angle suggesting that what they are saying is the truth. Humour has been used in both stories with the way it refers to Michael as Jacko and the way in which the secondary story has been set out. It has been used as this get the reader more involved with what they are reading, it is also more likely that it will stick in their head and they will tell others what they have read. The sentence length used for the headlines is short and snappy allowing the reader to remember what they have read. The paper is edited to welcome an audience of different race, class, gender, sexuality and religion. You can see this from any of the stories, nothing has been pointed at any of these issues, nor are there any innuendos that have been made to any of these aspects. The editors have to be careful not to offend anybody in this manor as many of there own readers are of different sex, class, religion etc. It is also open to reader of all ages as they include stars like Jackson who are loved by children all across the glob and the language is in a gossipy form making it easy to read and more fun. The audience are free to make any points they wish to, this is one reason why I believe it is good that the stories are bias, so the tabloid are able to make a reaction something which they would not be able to achieve if both sides of the argument were given. When the audience are reading this they are able to read it in an active way as only one side of the story has been expressed. The front page is set out in a very clear way making it easy for the reader to pick up on something if they disagree with it. The use of colour and catchy headline make the paper appear to be very attractive. On this front page Michael Jackson has been represented in a positive way, giving him a chance to tell his story of what happened. The overall view of the front page is that of the good features that are its focus, which dont just concentrate on one particular story but each one has a good point about it whether it be a catchy headline, attractive colour picture like the one of Michael Jackson and Martin Bashir that gives a strong image to the story or the use of humour, not only used in the main story but used in the second lead to. Excellent use of phases like special report definitely imparts the reader towards the news. The only bad point about this front page was for the secondary lead there could have been some use of quotation for the reader to see, although I think that the image that has been used is enough to make a reader pick up this particular tabloid paper. I believe that this front cover is successful in its target audience because there is something for everyone, it just depends on whether the reader would like to read something light hearted or a bit more serious.
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Explain How And Why The Jews W :: essays research papers
Explain how and why the Jews were persecuted in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. Explain why it was so difficult to stop the persecution of the Jews. Between the years 1920 and 1930, many stereotypes of Jews developed in Europe. All Jews were seen as large nosed, wealthy, obese, dirty, ugly, smelly, dishonest, greedy, and deceitful people. They were also seen as drunk, perverted, and seducing people. In fact any bad point you can say about anybody, they were classed to be. ââ¬Å"The only thing that Jews could understand was the whip.â⬠There was a lot of propaganda in Der Sturmer, a German magazine/ newspaper about the Jews. A good example of that is a cartoon of a stereotypical Jew hugging what could be taken for a young Aryan woman. There is a bottle of alcohol on the floor. This shows the Jew to be a perverted, alcoholic user. Looking at the propaganda on the Jews, all of the visual pictures of the Jews had elderly people on them instead of young Jews. They used old people because it is easier to make an older person look uglier than she/he actually is. à à à à à The ideas for these stereotypes originally formed when the Romans became Christians. These Christians were against those who remained ââ¬Å"traditional Jewsâ⬠. They tried to turn people against Judaism. The Christian stereotype of a Jew was a dishonest, scheming character, responsible for lots of evil things. During the Medieval period, myths developed, enhancing the general appearance of the stereotypes that had previously been formed. The Blood Libel was a myth that stated that Jews used Christian childrenââ¬â¢s blood to bake their Passover bread. This idea was often aroused when a Christian child went missing. The Black Death was supposed to have been caused by Jewish people poisoning the rivers and seas. This could not have happened, because otherwise it would also have affected the Jews themselves. à à à à à ââ¬Å"Life was very normal before the Nazis came to power,â⬠says a woman who was a Jewish girl born in 1921. Jewish children could go to a Yiddish speaking schools. There was little conflict between the two religions and 13 million Jews lived in Europe. In Germany, Jews formed 1% of the population. They had a sense of belonging to the German race. à à à à à After World War I, Germany was forced to sign, the Treaty of Versailles, which meant that she, was plunged into a desperate situation.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Elements of Homers Odyssey in the Coen Brothers Oh Brother Where Art
The Coen Brothersââ¬â¢ ââ¬Å"Oh Brother Where Art Thou?â⬠, loosely based on Homerââ¬â¢s classic adventure The Odyssey, is a film amusingly filled with themes of symbolism similar to those found in Homerââ¬â¢s epic, while still maintaining a sense of originality and style that they have become so renowned for. An exciting and entertaining blend of high adventure, humour, and heartfelt emotion, at first glance, the film barely resembles Homerââ¬â¢s poem: only certain elements are obvious, such as the main characterââ¬â¢s name and the three sirens by the river. However, a deeper and more intense analysis of the film and text exposes numerous, if not more subtle references. The adventures of the three main characters in the movie, Ulysses, Pete and Delmar include many encounters with characters similar to Homerââ¬â¢s Odyssey, such as the trio of Sirens, a Bible-salesman Cyclops, as well as other archetypes from southern folklore and pop culture such as the young blues musician, the Klan, and the infamous bank robber ââ¬Å"Baby Faceâ⬠Nelson. However, the biggest parallel between both pieces might have to be the strik...
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Culturally Poetic
Culturally Poetic Cultural identity is the collective personality of a people usually associated with a certain group or culture, or that of an individual in relation to certain behavior, thoughts, and influences. (Central Michigan University) These beliefs and shared characteristics allow a group to establish a common ground and in turn make them unique to others. A cultural identity may be national, ethnic, or even generational. Our identity is based upon our differences when compared to other groups. Cultural identity is essentially defined by differences rather than likenesses to others. The identifiable aspects of culture are historical, linguistic, and mental. These three factors may also be found in poetry and are related to the views that an author wishes to express. In my essay, I will seek to identify elements of culture in the following poems: ââ¬Å"Bullyâ⬠, ââ¬Å"What itââ¬â¢s Like to Be a Black Girlâ⬠, ââ¬Å"Self-Pityââ¬â¢s Closetâ⬠, ââ¬Å"Rite of Passageâ⬠, and ââ¬Å"The Pantherâ⬠, In Martin Espadaââ¬â¢s poem, ââ¬Å"Bullyâ⬠cultural identity is evident throughout the length of the poem. The poem is introduced by way of location, the time period, and the year, ââ¬Å"In the school auditorium / the Theodore Roosevelt statue / is nostalgic for the Spanish American Warâ⬠(713). The poet themes seemingly focus on change within American society. This theme is noticeably identifiable in the following stanza: But now the Roosevelt school is pronounced Hernandez. Puerto Rico has invaded Roosevelt with its army of Spanish-singing children in the hallways, brown children devouring the stockpiles of the cafeteria, children painting Taino ancestors that leap naked across murals. 714) Espada effectively provides contrast between Rooseveltââ¬â¢s belief of ethnocentrism and the invasion of the Spanish colonies by comparing the immigration of Puerto Rican families in a 1987 Boston, Massachusetts. At the poemââ¬â¢s ending we are able to envision a revenge of sorts with the children now invading Roosevelt himself. The following stanza is irony at its best and brings the ele ment of culture and change to the forefront, Roosevelt is surrounded by all the faces he ever shoved in eugenic spite and cursed as mongrels, skin of one race, hair and cheekbones of another. (714) This bit of irony is representative of the fact that change once experienced on the island of Puerto Rico now too is prevalent within America. Roosevelt is declared the ââ¬Å"bullyâ⬠by his conquest and those that were once without power are now empowered through change and assimilation. This poem uses historical factors to establish a cultural identity. Patricia Smithââ¬â¢s, ââ¬Å"What itââ¬â¢s Like to Be a Black Girlâ⬠(for Those of You Who Arenââ¬â¢t) approaches the idea of a black girl becoming a woman at a time when race matters were still prevalent. The author begins with a direct but conversation like tone to denote the importance of what is being imparted: First of all, itââ¬â¢s being 9 years old and/ feeling like youââ¬â¢re not finished, like your edges are wild, like thereââ¬â¢s something, everything, wrongâ⬠¦(672) The theme here is puberty based changes that takes place according to a ââ¬Å"black girl. â⬠The girl feels incomplete because her body is experiencing changes. Smith goes on to describe the girlââ¬â¢s desire to fit into society by wanting to have the physical traits of a white woman. The young girl is displeased with being black and seeks to change her appearance: â⬠¦itââ¬â¢s dropping food coloring In your eyes to make them blue and suffering Their burn in silence. Itââ¬â¢s popping a bleached White mophead over the kinks of your hair and primping in front of the mirrors that deny your reflectionâ⬠¦(672) She goes on to describe the Black Power Movement and the Motown era by mentioning ââ¬Å"itââ¬â¢s flame and fists and life according to Motown. â⬠As a blossoming young girl approaching womanhood she finds it not only difficult to become a woman, but a black woman. Finally, the girl looks forward to every womanââ¬â¢s dream of becoming a bride. This is evidenced in the final three lines: ââ¬Å"itââ¬â¢s finally having a man reach out for you/then caving in/around his fingers. The girl anticipates a completed transition when she will become married. This poem uses mental aspects to form cultural identity during a time or racial tension. Michelle Boisseauââ¬â¢s, ââ¬Å"Self-Pityââ¬â¢s Closetâ⬠focuses on the way that society views beauty, self-image, and self-confidence. Boisseau uses figurative speech, imagery, and perceived sounds throughout the poem to bring light to a poor self image. The theme of this poem is equated to as the poem states self-pity. What seemingly appears as others judging us blinds us to the fact that we judge ourselves far worse than others would. The closet so to speak is within the individual feelings of: ââ¬Å"Depression, loneliness, anger, shame, envyâ⬠(999) are the basis of self-pity. Feelings of self-loathing and self-hurt are evident in the following lines: after your vast and painful declarations subtle humiliations creeping up like the smell of wet upholstery, dial tone in the brain, the conviction that your friends never really loved youâ⬠¦(1000) The author seeks to express an inner fight a person struggles with when worried about the way others perceive them. The narrator uses the words, ââ¬Å"dial tone in the brainâ⬠to describe a continuous mode of embarrassment within herself. She is unable to part with a feeling of inadequacy and is therefore trapped by her very own self pity. This poem uses mental aspects by associating self-pity with not being able to identify with the status quo of our cultural identity. In Sharon Oldsââ¬â¢s, ââ¬Å"Rite of Passageâ⬠a mother examines the behavior of her son and his friend during his birthday party. The title of the poem allows the reader to relate the ââ¬Å"rite of passageâ⬠being the journey that her son will take toward manhood. Male maturity is the theme of the poem. What makes the poem ironic is her ability to view them as men though they are but six and seven years old. The following lines are quite imaginable to any mother noticing the machismo nature of young boys: As the guests arrive at my sonââ¬â¢s party they gather in the living roomââ¬â short men, men in first grade with smooth jaws and chins. Hands in pockets, they stand around jostling, jockeying for place, small fights breaking out and calming. One says to another How old are you? Six. Iââ¬â¢m seven. So? (811) In the last line we experience a typical conversation between two boys that are likely ââ¬Å"sizingâ⬠each other up; the six year old responds to the seven year old ââ¬Å"So? The mother then goes onto visualizing the boys as men with careers by stating, ââ¬Å"They clear their/throats a lot, a room of small bankers/they fold their arms and frownâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ One cannot help but to envision the boys as men at a table matching wits at an older age. The birthday boy as if chairman of the bank settles the dispute between his friends in the following lines: ââ¬Å"speaks up as a host/for the sake of the group. /We could easily kill a two-year old,/he says in his clear voice. â⬠The group agrees and the children return to playing or as the mother describes, ââ¬Å"â⬠¦they relax and get down to playing war, celebrating my sonââ¬â¢s life. Just as Smithââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"What itââ¬â¢s Like to Be a Black Girlâ⬠focused on a girl approaching maturity so did Oldsââ¬â¢ ââ¬Å"Rite of Passage. â⬠Olds uses mature language and terms to equate the behavior expressed by the boys as being their way of coming into manhood. The boys feel a need to intimidate each other with physical threats which showcases their immaturity on their way to adulthood. This poem identifies with the culturally defined behavior of a male having to prove he is a ââ¬Å"man. â⬠In Rainier Rilkeââ¬â¢s poem ââ¬Å"The Pantherâ⬠the poet uses the panther a wild animal to express personification and similes to express confinement. An obvious reason for the panther being the subject is because its color represents a seemingly dark nature and contributes to the poemââ¬â¢s tone. A panther is also known to be a solitary creature that stakes out its prey. The use of the panther represents a theme of entrapment that most readers are able to identify with. The pantherââ¬â¢s discontentment and longing to be free from his troubles is expressed as the cageââ¬â¢s bars. He has become so accustomed to seeing the bars that he no longer sees anything but what appears directly in front of him it is as if he has lost himself. The pantherââ¬â¢s desperation in a sense mirrors human personality. Rilkeââ¬â¢s offers her interpretation of this poetically by saying, His vision, from the constantly passing bars, has grown so weary that it cannot hold anything else. It seems to him there are a thousand bars and behind the bars, no world. (674) Rilkeââ¬â¢s makes us aware that although the panther is confined we are still able to see its power and its beauty. Though caged he is still himself though he feels ââ¬Å"paralyzedâ⬠by the cage; this feeling is interpreted in the following lines, ââ¬Å"As he paces in cramped circles, over and over/the movement of his powerful soft strides/is like a ritual dance around a center/in which a mighty will stands paralyzed. The idea of confinement is relatable to a prisoner or anyone trapped in a situation with seemingly no way out. The panther yearns for more and this is evidenced by his pacing and boredom with his life. In the end the panther has lost his soul and his excitement is reduced to the opening of his eyes ever so slightly . It seems that the panther takes his final glance that touches him inwardly to the point his body becomes tense and his heart is excited for a split second until he realizes his situation and no longer bothers to react. This idea is well expressed in the final stanza. Only at times, the curtain of the pupils lifts, quietlyââ¬â. An image enters in, rushes down through the tensed, arrested muscles, plunges into the heart and is gone. Rilke in ââ¬Å"The Pantherâ⬠and Boisseau in her ââ¬Å"Self-Pityââ¬â¢s Closetâ⬠both convey the message of an inner struggle within their subjects. The poems are able to speak to the reader on a personal level and make the connection of human emotion with their dark but personal nature. ââ¬Å"The Pantherâ⬠embodied a feeling of weariness and surrender that human often time encounter in not one but within all societies and cultures. Often times we find ourselves staying within the box or the status quo instead of stepping outside of the box-in this case the cage. In comparison, the five poems that I have chosen to review are full of impact and take on a deeper meaning. They touch on outward appearances as well as inner feelings. They were all able to bring out identifiable aspects that we are all able to connect with through either personal or secondary experiences. In contrast, ââ¬Å"Bullyâ⬠came from a historical standpoint, while ââ¬Å"What itââ¬â¢s Like to Be a Black Girlâ⬠and ââ¬Å"Rite of Passageâ⬠focused on what is accepted by society. Lastly, ââ¬Å"Self-Pityââ¬â¢s Closetâ⬠and ââ¬Å"The Pantherâ⬠dealt with inner struggles and the way that we tend to view ourselves when we take an inner look. Works Cited Central Michigan University. Cultural Identity as an Instrument. 8 May 2006. 3 November 2009 . Boisseau, Michelle. ââ¬Å"Self Pity's Closet. â⬠Mayer, Michael. The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009. 999-1000. Espada, Martin. ââ¬Å"Bully. Mayer, Michael. The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009. 713-714. Olds, Sharon. ââ¬Å"Rite of Passage. â⬠Mayer, Michael. The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009. 811-812. Rilke, Rainier Maria. ââ¬Å"The Panther. â⬠Mayer, Michael. The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009. 674. Smith, Patricia. ââ¬Å"What Itââ¬â¢s Like to Be a Black Girl. â⬠Mayer, Michael. The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literat ure. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009. 672-73
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Marketing Research Report Writing Tips
Marketing Research Report Writing Tips Marketing Research Report Writing Tips In every career, report writing tips are taught. These teachings or lectures are given in the colleges. The students are given time to learn about the reports, ask questions and after they have passed they now get employed. Here they learn more tips and they even learn how to apply those that they learnt in the colleges. Marketing research report writing tips are mainly important tips that all the students should learn. This is because they need to know how to help the people who have business and they have not learnt about writing the reports. They also need to show those people how to market their products. The students therefore while in school are taught a number of tips about the writing the marketing research reports. Some of them are as follows. The students should be able to capture the readerââ¬â¢s attention by writing a headline that is powerful in the report. A powerful headline will give many people interest to look at the report. Another thing the students should give a good introduction. This way he will be able to communicate whatever he wants to say. Another thing is that the research should be organized. The readers will be able to read the organized work and they will not be able to let their minds wander because the work is organized therefore they are able to follow up the research. The research also should not have mistakes. Therefore when one is writing the research before he presets it he should go through the work so as to remove the mistakes. This is because if the employer finds a mistake in the research he may not be interested in reading the research therefore if you had aimed to help the company then that will not happen. You should not make your report complex. Keep it simple so that you do not make the reader to start wondering what some of the things mean. Let them get the meaning straight forward. Avoid so much repetition of words. Repeating of words will bore the reader therefore the students as well as employees should avoid this. Ensure that the report you write is believable. Do not give the reader a benefit of doubt. When the reader is reading he wants to see how sure you are in the report that you wrote. Therefore ensure that it is believable. In order to keep the attention of the reader as he goes through the report, personalize the report and use the word ââ¬Å"you.â⬠This will keep the reader listening to you as well as keep the reader reading the report. This way especially the employee will have given at list the best report and if he has done a good job then there will likely be a promotion for him. If you need writing assistance you can get Marketing research report help from professional academic writers who are hired by .
Monday, October 21, 2019
Explore How Budget Deficits and Economy Health Relate
Explore How Budget Deficits and Economy Health Relate There is a relationship between budget deficits and the health of the economy, but is certainly not a perfect one. There can be massive budget deficits when the economy is doing quite well, and, though somewhat less likely, surpluses are certainly possible during bad times. à This is because a deficit or surplus depends not only on the tax revenues collected (which can be thought of as proportional to economic activity) but also on the level of government purchases and transfer payments, which is determined by Congress and need not be determined by the level of economic activity. That being said, government budgets tend to go from surplus to deficit (or existing deficits become larger) as the economy goes sour. This typically happens as follows: The economy goes into recession, costing many workers their jobs, and at the same time causing corporate profits to decline. This causes less income tax revenue to flow to the government, along with less corporate income tax revenue. Occasionally the flow of income to the government will still grow, but at a slower rate than inflation, meaning that flow of tax revenue has fallen in real terms.Because many workers have lost their jobs, theirà dependency is increased use of government programs, such as unemployment insurance. Government spending rises as more individuals are calling on government services to help them out through tough times. à (Such spending programs are known as automatic stabilizers, since they by their very nature help stabilize economic activity and income over time.)To help push the economy out of recession and to help those who have lost their jobs, governments often create new social programs during times of recession and depression. FDRs New Deal of the 19 30s is a prime example of this. Government spending then rises, not just because of increased use of existing programs, but through the creation of new programs. Because of factor one, the government receives less money from taxpayers due to aà recession, while factors two and three imply that the government spends more money than it would during better times. Money starts flowing out of the government faster than it comes in, causing the governments budget to go into deficit.
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Did My Jeans Just Rip Professor Ramos Blog
Did My Jeans Just Rip Back in middle school, I always wanted to wear skinny jeans. Wearing them would mean I was up there with the cool kids. But I knew that I was way too chubby, and wearing them would be a complete mistake. At the time I was struggling with a common issue known as obesity. An issue that is affecting many people physically and mentally around the world. Obesity can change our looks, lifestyles, and also change the way we feel. It has come to a point where we need to be smarter and more self-educated about the topic.à Furthermore the term obesity, is described as a medical condition that occurs when people carry excess weight or body fat that might affect their health. Many doctors determine obesity in a person by seeing if they have a high body mass index. A body mass index, or BMI, is an important tool that many doctors to determine whether a person has an appropriate weight according to their age, sex and height. In order for a person to become obese, they would have to be doing one of these factors according to the website, ââ¬Å"MedicalNewsToday. One factor is consuming more calories than our daily intake. The extra calories will be stored as fat, and can lead to more weight gain and obesity. For example, the amount for daily calories for men is 2,500, if I were to consume 2,550 I would gain weight ââ¬Å"surplus,â⬠and if I would consume 2,400, I would lose weight, ââ¬Å"deficit.â⬠Another factor is sleep deprivation, and is when you are not getting enough sleep. According to re search from the same website, people who miss sleep have increased the risk of developing obesity. When we miss sleep, our body produces ghrelin, which is a hormone that stimulates our appetite. Lastly, the obesity gene, which is also called the fat-mass and obesity-associated gene. In this gene there is also the ghrelin hormone, and it affects the release of growth hormones and how the body accumulates fat. People with this gene will have a greater risk of being obese, because it can damage the amount of ghrelin we have in our body. But there has to be a question, on why obese people continue to eat. According to the ââ¬Å"CanyonRanchâ⬠website, we like to eat more and more, because we are distracted. We can be watching TV, playing video-games, and we didnt even realize how much food we had put in our mouths. The second reason is our stress, which can increase our bodys release of the hormone cortisol. This hormone increases appetite and makes us crave for those fatty and sugary foods, which can lead to binge-eating. One day we might show a lack of motivation, maybe because of problems with school, work or even something with our families. The first thing we seem to do is think that eating will make all of our problems go away. For example, a teenager may have stress about an upcoming exam. Instead of studying, he would be seen wandering in the kitchen and constantly eating sugary foods like donuts or ice cream. In another example, a person may have just gotten fired, and now he thinks his life is over. He would drink a ton of beers, eat greasy and sugary food just so he can ignore his crisis. This is what can make someone more adapted to becoming obese, because we are constantly consuming food due to the stress of our daily life. In addition, obesity can also increase our chances at having many health issues and disorders. According to the website, ââ¬Å"WebMDâ⬠, obese people are 25% more likely to suffer mood and anxiety disorders than people who are not obese.à When we are obese, we may often not want to enjoy daily activities. An example is someone who is seen as obese, may not want to go to school because people would make fun of him. This is called anxiety, and can further lead to depression. When obese people have anxiety or depression, it makes it even harder for them to lose weight, in fact they would gain more weight. To a point, where this extra weight will make them more likely to have high blood pressure and also high cholesterol which can lead to heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. When you see someone who is overweight, the first thing you should do is try to help them. Making fun of them will only make their problem even worse, and self-esteem is important for losing weight.à à Moreover, the ability to lose weight and prevent obesity can be challenging. However, nobody said it was impossible to shed those pounds. Losing weight is not easy, but if you have a plan you will be motivated. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there isnt really a solution to obesity but we can promote healthy living behaviors. The first thing to do is to check your body mass index (BMI), which can tell you if you are maintaining a healthy weight. It is one of the most useful and accurate measures when it comes to obesity. Another thing is too eat healthier, which can be one of the most difficult things to do. When we go in our kitchen, the first thing we want to do is eat something sugary or unhealthy. But there is a solution, if you go to the ChooseMyPlate website, you can look up nutritional facts of foods, track calorie intake, plan future meals, and also find healthy recipes. This will ensure that you are eating healthy foods, and also tracking what you a re putting in your body. Lastly, we have to make sure we are getting a sufficient amount of rest. When we sleep, the essential regeneration processes occur in our bodies, which leads to the human growth hormone. This hormone stimulates the regeneration of body tissues, building of muscle, fat breakdown, and balances the blood sugar levels in our body.à Obesity is a very serious issue, and can damage a personââ¬â¢s ability to enjoy life. It takes away the foods we enjoy, the clothes we like to buy, and also the opportunities we want to have. Every time we go to the supermarket or restaurant, we have to make sure to realize what we are about to purchase or eat. At first it may taste good, but then we realize what it does to our body. Sometimes it may change our mood, increase depression, or even add weight. When you want to lose weight, remember that it may not be easy at first, but you have to stay motivated. Motivation is the key to anyoneââ¬â¢s success, even if it means preventing obesity.à WORKS CITED Brazier, Yvette. What is obesity and what causes it?, MedicalNewsToday, Nov, 2018, pp. 1-6 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323551.php Bailey, Eileen. The Link Between Anxiety And Obesity., HealthCentral, Dec, 2008, pp. 1-5, https://www.healthcentral.com/article/healing-hobbies Denoon, Daniel. Obesity Linked To Mood Disorders. WebMD, July, 2006, pp. 1-7 https://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20060705/obesity-linked-to-mood-disorders Scott, Jeffrey. Why Do We Eat Too Much?, CanyonRanch, August 2004, pp. 1-6, https://www.canyonranch.com/blog/nutrition/why-do-we-eat-too-much/
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 156
Summary - Essay Example These promotional activities range from the use of fliers, direct mail, newspapers and magazines, billboards, TV, social media, strategic advertisement and the use of a website among others. The business plan has emphasized the importance of creating awareness about the existence of the restaurant if customers are expected to come to the restaurant. For this reason, strategic advertising has to be done so that the most number of potential customers can be reached at one go. This business plan has also highlighted the objectives of the new business, as well as outlined the strategy and plan of action meant to achieve each objective. The costs, measures, and ranges have also been outlined in the business plan. Finally, the timings of each marketing activity have been clearly outlined. All promotional activities from January to December, together with the specific dates that these activities will be carried out have also been given in this business plan. The commuters represent a significant portion of expected consumers as well as customers from nearby businesses. There are at present approximately 15 other businesses in this shopping area including 2 banks, NSLC, Sobeys, a pharmacy and fitness center. Statistics Canada shows that the average Canadian spends about 17% of their yearly earnings eating outside the house. Each of these local businesses represents a consistent number of employees working each day with only a few options for restaurants. There are more restaurants that require a short drive but that may be less convenient for an employee who only has an hour for lunch or wants enjoy a nice meal after work with coworkers. Convenience will play a large role in attracting customers. We will send a mail and gift card which worthies $5 plus our food menu with price for each item and telephone number to every people who lives within 2 kilometers to let them know we are in your neighborhood. Since we are close to highway, we are going to build
Friday, October 18, 2019
Argentinian Financial Crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
Argentinian Financial Crisis - Essay Example Three years after the fiasco, Argentina's economy is growing steadily. The growth is still under 10%, but there is growth and a growing sense of safety and responsibility from the government, creating a very positive outlook for Argentina to emerge in years to come as a dominant presence in Latin America. Globalization is a series of links that a country has with foreign countries. Globalization in essence links a country's economy to other economies so that there is a web of interdependence throughout all linked economies thereby creating a global economy. In a recent report in Latin Business Chronicle (LBC), Argentina was ranked as the 'least-globalise' country in Latin America (Bamrud, 2005). LBC utilized 6 factors to measure each country's level of globalization. These factors included: This is an important Index that LBC created in that it allows investors, and other interested parties an opportunity to view Argentina in an extremely objective light. Remittances, money sent back home by family members working abroad, is an area that is steadily growing for Argentina. A report prepared by the American Immigration Law Foundation (AILF) states, 'remittances area sign of family values, a part of human nature. They are a form of helping one's family. Remittances increase both the income of the recipient and the foreign exchange reserves of the recipient's country. "If remittances are invested, they contribute to output growth, and if they are consumed, then also they generate positive multiplier effects," notes economist, Dilip Ratha in Global Development Finance 2003, a World Bank publication ("Role of Remittances", 2003). By using this 6-step process to cull globalization indexes, one can get a larger view of the financial status of Argentina. LBC report states that Argentina has the lowest import rates in Latin America, it has a low export rate, foreign investment is low (1.2% of GDP) and it has one of the lowest remittance rates in the region as well. Even tourism levels are down (Bamrud, 2005). While Argentina is not facing imminent meltdown, it is still toddling its way back from its financial disaster 3 years ago. However, its economy is rallying. According to the U.S. Department of State's website, Argentina had an annual real growth rate of +9% in 2004, and their GDP stands at $150.0 billion. To give a bit more background, globalization is supposed to help keep countries in line and disciplined because if they have solid economic practices, the assumption is that government will be favoured by foreign investment. If the government does not practice sound economic policies, the reverse is supposed to be true - monies will either not be invested, or will be pulled from that country (Blustein, 2003). This did not happen in Argentina in the years leading up to the crisis, in fact, due to inflated expectations and selective reporting of the country's true financial state, globalization helped to create the massive Argentine downfall. II. What Happened
National Consensus Project Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
National Consensus Project - Term Paper Example Where the patient suffers a terminal illness, it is wise to avoid expensive lifelong therapies which may also be very painful for the patient to undergo. If the patient does not specify prior to their illness/death the preferred treatment method, the family will try to avoid the patientââ¬â¢s death. In allowing doctors to subject patients to lifelong treatments, the family would have unintentionally caused the patient considerable trauma and pain. People should be advised to write wills as early as possible while still healthy enough to do so. Applying Saint Leo Universityââ¬â¢s core value- community- will make the patient aware of the need to create a socially responsible environment that challenges individuals to listen, learn and serve others. Through writing a will, the patient would have fulfilled the Community value. It is necessary to observe the core values of respect and integrity in convincing the patient to write down the will. Respect demands that the advisor listens and appreciates the patientââ¬â¢s views and beliefs. After the will is drawn, integrity requires the beneficiaries of the will to honor the patientââ¬â¢s desires and also the advisor to keep the previous promises made. Recuperative medical care and palliative care share a host of similarities. However, there are a number of fundamental distinctions between the two. The core distinctions between recuperative medical care and palliative medical care lie in the timing, care location, payment and the manner of treatment (Hospice Vs. Palliative Care, n.d.). Palliative care is offered by a team of professionals in institutions such as nursing homes, hospitals, and extended care facilities while recuperative medical care is offered in the patientââ¬â¢s home. Patients considered terminally ill are the only ones eligible for recuperative medical care while patients receiving palliative care have no time restrictions. Since palliative
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Masculinity as a Prerequisite of Traditional American Heroism Essay
Masculinity as a Prerequisite of Traditional American Heroism - Essay Example Considering the traditional American view of heroism, as brought forth by the novel ââ¬ËThe Big Sleepââ¬â¢ by Raymond Chandler and the film ââ¬ËThe Maltese Falconââ¬â¢ directed by John Huston, masculinity is a prerequisite. In the early way of thinking, male characters were seen to intervene on the behalf of the feminine ones (Cohen 1). This view has been portrayed in several early documented resources. Looking at Raymond Chandlerââ¬â¢s novel, ââ¬ËThe Big Sleepââ¬â¢, General Sternwood makes an intervention for her two daughters, Carmen and Vivian. Sternwood seeks the help of a private investigator, Philip Marlowe to intervene in an attempted blackmail against Carmen by Arthur Geiger, a bookseller (Chandler 10). He is further tasked with the responsibility of establishing about the whereabouts of Rusty Regan, Vivianââ¬â¢s husband who has since disappeared. The heroic characters in the entire incidence are masculine individuals. The case presents a situation whereby the feminine are not considered heroic. This presents a situation whereby the chances of having an ultimate masculine hero to be too high while their counterparts with very slim chances. The main role in the traditional setting of movies has shown a predictable pattern of masculine heroes. ââ¬ËThe Maltese Falconââ¬â¢, is a movie that reve als an iconic private investigator, Sam Spade dealing with three complicated individuals, all these people are working to obtain the Maltese falcon. The man is expressed as witty and capable of finding solutions. Despite losing his co-investigator, Spade gets to the length of conducting his independent investigations. Spade is systematic in his conduct and ends up unearthing several truths about the incidences surrounding the deaths of Arthur and Thursby. He successfully confronts law enforcers. The police question him concerning the murder of Archer and Thursby. These murders occur on the day when Miss Ruth Wonderly was meant to meet Thursby, while Archer had accepted to follow her in an effort to get her sister who had gone missing. The Falcon is a highly coveted treasure and attracts interests from different persons. Spade finds himself at the centre stage of all this despite the incidences surrounded by murder and suspicion. Spade was suspected by Archerââ¬â¢s wife to have ki lled him in order to inherit her, but he got out of the loop. Joel Cairo enticed him with $5,000 fee to find the falcon, he further pointed spade his gun as a threat so that he could look for it in the office. Spade was not cowed, he knocked Cairo down and when he was in his right mind he considered hiring Spade. His masculine power is shown when the movie shows him bringing Cairo down, this sends a message that the ultimate hero is a person with unmatched muscle power. Throughout the film, Spade appears bold, unshaken and cunning. He is a man whose heroism has been expressed by the treatment he gives to other characters and the prowess he depicts in handling every incidence. Masculine characters in the Chandlerââ¬â¢s novel depict some higher level of accomplishment. Marlowe is a man capable of engaging in investigations reliably. He is able to track the behind the scenes pornographic activities in Geigerââ¬â¢s bookshop. In this scene, it appears the source of the blackmail is the involvement of Carmen in pornographic activities. This incidence shows a situation where feminine characters are used for the benefit of the masculine ones. In the bookstore, the role of a
PERSONAL MICROMESSAGING ASSIGNMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
PERSONAL MICROMESSAGING ASSIGNMENT - Essay Example I asked him to describe at least one aspect of my communication style that stood out unique. My friend pointed out that many times my speech and behavior seemed quite incongruent with situation. As an example, he pointed out that I preferred to look away from the subject (my friend) while discussing some trivial issues. To learn more, I questioned my peer, a loan manager at another bank, to point out one positive aspect of my communication other than speech. This manager pointed out that I had the ability to draw anyoneââ¬â¢s attention during business meetings because of the excitement in my tone; however, such excitement in tone was absent during one-to-one meetings with clients. I felt my team members could give me critical feedback related to my communication style because of my frequency of interaction with them. I asked the most experienced team member to point out what aspects of behavior were annoying and had sometime triggered gossips among the group. My team memberââ¬â ¢s observation somewhat matches with my childhood friendââ¬â¢s observation. ... messages of being indifferent or least interested in what others want to say; another disadvantage of this behavior is that I indicate my disinterest in the words communicated by myself. My team member highlighted that this indifferent body language has caused argument within the team related to directions given by myself on specific task. Micromessages have the power to encourage and instill confidence in people when used in the right manner. The positive micromessages in my behavior correspond to my enthusiasm in tone and body language during critical business meetings, which inspires others to achieve what I want to achieve. I consider this aspect as microadvantage because it was observable and people perceived it in the right manner, meaning I do show much enthusiasm during team/business meetings in order to seek everyoneââ¬â¢s attention. This behavior appropriates what Young (2007) states, ââ¬Å"microadvantages act as catalysts that unleash potential and resultsâ⬠(p. 9 ). However, these messages also have the power to demoralize or challenge others confidence in me and their own decisions (Young, 2007). Considering my childhood friendââ¬â¢s observation, he probably felt upset or even offended at times, which was certainly not intended. This exercise has helped me to not only to identify the micromessages in my communication, but also how they impact the purpose of each conversation. I have realized the positive aspects of micromessages that I imbibe such as excitement in tone and body language during critical business meetings, and also the negative aspects such as looking away from the other person or not maintaining eye contact with others. With an awareness of these inequities in my communication styles, I have learnt how my behavior or actions hinder my work and
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Masculinity as a Prerequisite of Traditional American Heroism Essay
Masculinity as a Prerequisite of Traditional American Heroism - Essay Example Considering the traditional American view of heroism, as brought forth by the novel ââ¬ËThe Big Sleepââ¬â¢ by Raymond Chandler and the film ââ¬ËThe Maltese Falconââ¬â¢ directed by John Huston, masculinity is a prerequisite. In the early way of thinking, male characters were seen to intervene on the behalf of the feminine ones (Cohen 1). This view has been portrayed in several early documented resources. Looking at Raymond Chandlerââ¬â¢s novel, ââ¬ËThe Big Sleepââ¬â¢, General Sternwood makes an intervention for her two daughters, Carmen and Vivian. Sternwood seeks the help of a private investigator, Philip Marlowe to intervene in an attempted blackmail against Carmen by Arthur Geiger, a bookseller (Chandler 10). He is further tasked with the responsibility of establishing about the whereabouts of Rusty Regan, Vivianââ¬â¢s husband who has since disappeared. The heroic characters in the entire incidence are masculine individuals. The case presents a situation whereby the feminine are not considered heroic. This presents a situation whereby the chances of having an ultimate masculine hero to be too high while their counterparts with very slim chances. The main role in the traditional setting of movies has shown a predictable pattern of masculine heroes. ââ¬ËThe Maltese Falconââ¬â¢, is a movie that reve als an iconic private investigator, Sam Spade dealing with three complicated individuals, all these people are working to obtain the Maltese falcon. The man is expressed as witty and capable of finding solutions. Despite losing his co-investigator, Spade gets to the length of conducting his independent investigations. Spade is systematic in his conduct and ends up unearthing several truths about the incidences surrounding the deaths of Arthur and Thursby. He successfully confronts law enforcers. The police question him concerning the murder of Archer and Thursby. These murders occur on the day when Miss Ruth Wonderly was meant to meet Thursby, while Archer had accepted to follow her in an effort to get her sister who had gone missing. The Falcon is a highly coveted treasure and attracts interests from different persons. Spade finds himself at the centre stage of all this despite the incidences surrounded by murder and suspicion. Spade was suspected by Archerââ¬â¢s wife to have ki lled him in order to inherit her, but he got out of the loop. Joel Cairo enticed him with $5,000 fee to find the falcon, he further pointed spade his gun as a threat so that he could look for it in the office. Spade was not cowed, he knocked Cairo down and when he was in his right mind he considered hiring Spade. His masculine power is shown when the movie shows him bringing Cairo down, this sends a message that the ultimate hero is a person with unmatched muscle power. Throughout the film, Spade appears bold, unshaken and cunning. He is a man whose heroism has been expressed by the treatment he gives to other characters and the prowess he depicts in handling every incidence. Masculine characters in the Chandlerââ¬â¢s novel depict some higher level of accomplishment. Marlowe is a man capable of engaging in investigations reliably. He is able to track the behind the scenes pornographic activities in Geigerââ¬â¢s bookshop. In this scene, it appears the source of the blackmail is the involvement of Carmen in pornographic activities. This incidence shows a situation where feminine characters are used for the benefit of the masculine ones. In the bookstore, the role of a
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
First native women Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
First native women - Essay Example The basis for Lavell and Bedard for their claim of discrimination was how Aboriginal women would lose their Indian status when a non-Indian or a non-registered Indian married them. In addition, it meant that Lavellââ¬â¢s children would be deprived of their Indian status. Lavell argued that Section 12 (1) (b) discriminated the women gender, and the sections should be repealed, in relation to the 1960 Bill of Rights (5). Lavellââ¬â¢s case was the first that dealt with discrimination because of sex. Because of these discriminatory sections, many Indian women were denied their heritage, and not by the will, but because of an archaic law. Lavell did not like how the acts that were set to govern the Indian reserves were being operated, whereby it stated who is not and who is acknowledged as an Indian. Lavell was furious about how the Indian Act allowed the male Indian, who happened to marry out retained their status and were able to pass it on to their non-Indian wives and to their c hildren. The male Indian wives, even though they sometimes did not have First Nation ancestry; they were entitled to full status. The result of the discriminatory sections was the practical ostracism of more than ninety thousand women, their children and their spouses from their societies and traditional homelands (Lavell 7). It caused great emotional, psychological and economic suffering to the affected people. Lavell was not pleased with this outcome because when she married she was sent a notice submitting that she was no longer identified as an Indian as stated in Section 12 (1) (b) of the Indian Act. It is because she was a no native who had married David Lavell a native. These grave effects for enfranchised First Nation women made Lavell go to court to challenge the Indian Act. Lavellââ¬â¢s claim was supported by Bedard, who joined her in 1973 when she appealed for her case after losing it at trial. Lavell had lost her case on the basis that the Canadian Bill of right
The Postive and Negative Health Effects Essay Example for Free
The Postive and Negative Health Effects Essay What are possible effects of cell phones on teenagers? There are several ways in which cell phones can affect teenagers, such as educational, social and health, which can all be both positive and negative. Social effects of cell phones can be sex-ting, cyberbullying and social networking. Educational effects are effects relating school and education of a teenager. Health effects are health risks and benefits for a teenager while using a cell phone. There are many different effects of cell phones on teenagers but the ost important ones that are mainly looked at are educational, social and health. This essay will cover the positive and negative educational, social and health effects of cell phones specifically on teenagers. 2. 0 Discussion 2. 1 Positive and Negative Social Effects of Cell Phones on Teenagers Firstly, mobile infrastructure has changed during the past decade and this increase has become so apparent that you hardly ever come in contact with someone who does not possess a mobile phone or other mobile device. It is becoming increasingly easy and inexpensive for teenagers to contact friends and access information via their mobile phones (Reid and Reid 2007, p. 424). Teenagers run their social lives on cell phones and today, 77 percent of teenagers aged 12-17 report having a cell phone (Tippin 2012). Cell phones have become prominent aspect of teenagerââ¬â¢s everyday life; in fact the mobile phones have turned from a technological tool to a social tool. Especially text messaging has increased significantly and is teenagers most frequent way of communicating. Study shows that 63% of all teens said they exchanged text messages on a daily basis (Tippin 2012). As it is evident that majority of teenââ¬â¢s posses a cell phone it is important to understand the positive as well as negative social effects of it on teenagers. ââ¬Å"Research on cyberbullying sponsored by Opennet has found that teenager who are heavy cell phone users are more likely to engage in the practice of bullying online, as well as become bullied themselvesâ⬠(Osborne 2012). Cyberbullying is bullying with the intention to torment a person with the use of technology. Statistics show that 46 percent of heavy cell phone users experience cyberbullying on their phones (Osborne 2012). Cyberbullying through a cell phone can be a serious issue and can cause very negative effects on a teenager, in fact kids that are bullied are likely to experience anxiety, depression, loneliness, unhappiness, and poor sleep. Such negative effects of bullying are often overlooked, because many victims feel the need to hide the fact that they are being bullied, they become shy and fearful of further abuse. Typically they tend to become anxious, less confident, and quieter. As a result, bullying can be a hindrance to their academic performance. Therefore, bullying is a problem that if left unattended, can be a significant obstacle in childââ¬â¢s social development. (ââ¬Å"American Osteopathic Association,â⬠n. d). Even though there are negative social effects of cell phones on teenagers such as cyberbullying there are positive advantages as well. An obvious advantage of a mobile phone is that it can help teens to communicate with others. If a teenager was lost perhaps he or she can seek help immediately by a cell phone at any time, in any place and cell phones also allow its users to make long distance calls which makes it a lot easier for them to communicate with friends and family who are distant. With cell phones video and camera functions, teens now have more opportunities to record and report any criminal events which they have witnessed. These pieces of evidence could greatly help authorities solve crimes faster (Baker 2012). Cell phones are very useful devices for communication as well as they are compulsory as they used as safety devices especially in emergencies (Ravidchandran, 2009). Therefore it is important to understand the social effects of cell phones on teenagers because although it could harm teenagerââ¬â¢s development, it can also benefit as well as provide safety and security for the child. 2. 2 Positive and Negative Educational Effects of Cell Phones on Teenagers Secondly, the topic of cell phones affecting teenagersââ¬â¢ education is very controversial. Cell phones can be a major distraction to learning when students use them improperly. Cell phones can affect teenagersââ¬â¢ grades by being distracted with sending text messages, playing games on their phones and receiving zeros if they are caught cheating during a test. When texting teenagers use short acronyms such as laugh out loud (LOL), be right back (BRB), talk to you later (TTYL) which can significantly lead to a decline in their language and grammar skills. (Connie, 2012). Edutopia, an educational website, conducted an online poll regarding this issue of whether text messaging harms students writing skills. Out of 3359 votes, 1788 votes (53%) chose ââ¬Å"Yes, I believe students are carrying over the writing habits they pick up through text messaging into school assignments. â⬠851 votes (25%) chose ââ¬Å"No. I believe students can write one way to their friends and another way in class. They can keep the two methods separate. â⬠613 votes (18%) chose ââ¬Å"Maybe. Although text messaging may have some impact on how students write, I dont think its a significant problemâ⬠(Ring, 2009). As it is evident that the majority voted that students are using their habits they have picked up through text messages in school assignments, it shows the decline of teenage students grammar skills. Although cell phones can have such a negative effect on teenagersââ¬â¢ education it can also provide positive benefits such as an aid for learning. With a cell phone, the students could make organizers, research work and do their projects. Cell phones have applications which can be installed individually and there are thousands of useful apps that a teenager could use at school for education, such as dictionaries to define words and phrases. Students can now take part in a mobile device learning program called ââ¬Å"Hotsteat,â⬠which allows students to post comments on a Twitter-like feed from a question posted by a professor, and can be accessed through a mobile device with the app. Another program called ââ¬Å"Remind101â⬠whichà is a free site that is created for teachers and students to create text, reminders for projects quizzes, test, labs, class activities and homework. Teacher have to create an account and upload all class projects, activities, homework and assignments, then students can log in to the website, subscribe to their class and automatically receive all reminders (Dunn, 2011). Therefore, it is important to understand the educational effects of cell phones on teenagers because although schools report that studentââ¬â¢s mobile phone use disrupts teaching and reduces studentââ¬â¢s attention in class, which results in a negative educational outcome. It is also important to understand the benefits that cell phones bring to teenagers education by having organizers, notes, reminders and discussion groups all at their finger tips. For these reasons, teenagers get more encouragement to initiate their learning. 2. 3 Positive and Negative Health Effects of Cell Phones on Teenagers Lastly, ââ¬Å"teenagers who overuse cell phone texting or social networking Web sites have disturbingly high rates of a wide range ofà healthà riskà behaviorsâ⬠(Jancin, 2011). Gaby Badre, M. D. , Ph. D. of Sahlgrens Academy in Gothenburg, Sweden conducted research on the affects of cell phone usage on sleep patterns in teens. Research focused on two groups: a control group of three men and seven women compared with variable group of three men and eight women. When compared the control group against the variable group, Badre found that adolescents with excessive cell phone habits are more habituated to disrupted sleep, restlessness, stress, more c onsumption of stimulating beverages and fatigue (ââ¬Å"American Academy of Sleep Medicineâ⬠2008). According to Badre, addiction to cell phone is becoming common. Youngsters (teenagers) feel aà group pressureà to remain inter-connected and reachable round the clock. Children start to use mobile phones at an early stage of their life. There seem to be a connection between intensive use of cell phones and health compromising behaviour such as smoking, snuffing and use of alcohol (ââ¬Å"American Academy of Sleep Medicineâ⬠2008). Dr. Frank conducted a survey which was completed by 4,257à teensà at 20 schools in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Based upon the responses these ââ¬Å"hypertextersâ⬠who are teenagers that have self-reported texting an average of 120 or more times per day on school days are ââ¬Å"twofold more likely to have ever tried alcohol, 43% more likely to be binge drinkers, 32% more likely to be current users of marijuana, and 40% more likely to have tried cigarettes than kids who texted less or, as was true for 22% of students, not at allâ⬠(Jancin, 2011). This shows the significant impact of cell phone effects on teenagersââ¬â¢ health, but although there are so many negative health effects of cell phones there are just as much positive effects. Certainly it is true that for teenagers, cell phones offer openings for conversations as well as ways of keeping up appearances by looking busy, appearing confident, popular, or relieving meeting boredom. And phones, like smoking, can be used as a defence mechanism, attention speaking behaviour as well as a way to stand out from the ââ¬ËLonely Crowdââ¬â¢ (Cross, 2006) Texting with cell phones can provide health education, to campaign against smoking and behavior. For example in New Zealand an experiment was conducted with two groups, first group received text message support and the other group did not receive any text messages. The results showed that the number of people who stopped smoking was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group which did not receive text message based support. ââ¬Å"Add this to the Action on Smoking findings five years ago and there is a real case for hailing mobile phone effectiveness in limiting smoking amongst Teenagersâ⬠(Cross, 2006) Although in this program cell phones did not provide direct health benefits but by constantly texting teenagers and giving them support it significantly decreased the number of smokers. Therefore it is important to understand the health effects of cell phones on teenagers because although mobile phones can have negative effects such as lead teenagers into drinking and drug use, it can also have positive effects and be used as a defence mechanism to cope with anxiety. 3. 0 Summary Cell phones are a tool of convenience and that is why almost 80% of all teenagers use one (Tippin, 2012). However having cell phones can be very negative effect on teenagers, ââ¬Å"research on cyberbullying sponsored by Opennet has found that teenager who are heavy cell phone users are more likely to engage in the practice of bullying online, as well as become bullied themselvesâ⬠(Osborne 2012) and teenagers that are bullied are likely to experience anxiety, depression, loneliness, unhappiness, and poor sleep. These social effects of cell phones on teenagers can also affect their health. Gaby Badre, M. D. , Ph. D. of Sahlgrens Academy in Gothenburg, Sweden conducted research and found that adolescents with excessive cell phone habits are more habituated to disrupted sleep, restlessness, stress, more consumption of stimulating beverages and fatigue (ââ¬Å"American Academy of Sleep Medicineâ⬠2008), which all contribute to negative health effects. Teenagers advantage of having cell phone at their finger tips can affect their school grades by being distracted with sending text messages, playing games on their phones and receiving zeros if they are caught cheating during a test. But having a cell phone now makes people reachable in almost any location and this makes individuals easier to contact. Ease of access is not the only benefit of cell phones; they offer features that have many other benefits. Cell phones have become an important part of society today, while schools think that cell phone usage should not occur in schools, it is imperative that they acknowledge that cell phones are extremely important to the safety of our children in school. Several schools state that you could use the telephone in the main office to call home in an emergency, but if there ever was a true emergency the phone in the main office would be surrounded by people trying to get in contact with their loved ones and chaos would be lurking. Having a cell phone enables them to contact loved ones with ease during an emergency. Also computers at schools can malfunction and stop students from getting information. However, new technology on cell phones allows them to access the internet and enable them to complete research with ease. Cell phones have organizers which help students write down their homework and help them to keep organized. 4. 0 Conclusion Cell phones are great invention. However, most schools in Ontario ban cell phone use at schools although, as it was stated in ââ¬Å"The Japan Timesâ⬠article ââ¬Å"banning cell phones does not succeed in teaching students how, when and where an adult would use aà cellà phone (ââ¬Å"The Japan Timesâ⬠, 2008). Therefore, schools should not simply ban cell phones because of their negative effects on teenage students but teach them when and where the appropriate time and place is to use one. Schools should also look at positive side of cell phone use on teenagers because they can be a great educational tool. As Lisa Baker has mentioned ââ¬Å"some high schools take advantage of educational games for cell phones. Educators can teach students how to use their phones as research tools, which encourages youth to take more initiative in their own learning (Baker, 2012). There are also social and health effects of cell phones on teenagers, which can be both also negative as well as positive. Before looking at negative effects of cell phone on teenagers, we should understand why they were first invented and the benefits they bring to our daily life. Therefore, although there are so many effects of cell phones on teenagers it is important to understand the main ones that are mainly looked at such as social, educational and health effects.
Monday, October 14, 2019
Introduction Of Ghana Culture And Social Situation Politics Essay
Introduction Of Ghana Culture And Social Situation Politics Essay This section wills analysis the changes of culture and social aspects in Ghana under globalization process. First of all, as mentioned above, introduce the background of Ghana in both sides. And then focus on the cultural globalization. After introduce the definition, the importance and the relationship between culture and cultural globalization, begin discuss a crucial question Is Ghana has more to gain than to fear from cultural globalization. In social area, it will make a concrete analysis of each specific question, using employment situation, education and mortality rate as examples. General discussion about culture and cultural globalization Globalization offers an opportunity to the spread of language and culture from foreign country. The Cola-Cola, McDonalds and Subway can be founded in majority cities throughout the world. It is essential to discuss the definition of culture in order to understanding the cultural globalization. According to a Ghanaian, their cultural policy documents already offer a unambiguous response to any doubts about the definition: culture is a invisible thing which distinguish Ghanaian from other people (Audrey Gadzekpo 2005) Beside this, as German nonpositivist sociologist Georg Simmel ()points out the culture referred to the cultivation of individuals through the agency of external forms which have been objectified in the course of history. In addition, culture is an essential part of a nation, no matter it rich or poor. For the Ajay Bhatt, there are three points to support his views (Bhatt 2010). (1) The group solidarity depends on the foundation of culture, it remain the integrity of socia l relationship; (2) Culture has offer the new ideas to the people especially the younger generation; (3) Culture produces new ideas. By summarizing above, the significance of culture could hardly be overlooked, it is crucial to the whole country. Along with the world culture development fusion, a new phenomenon appeared-cultural globalization. It usually defined as the rapid movement of ideas, attitudes, and values across national borders (Sofree 2003-2012). Cultural globalization has the same characteristics with culture and can easily be found anywhere in the daily life. Introduction of Ghana culture and social situation Ghana was the first African country on the continent to achieve independence from the British colonial rule .And it used to be called Gold Coast until 1957. It is an ethnically diverse country that is deeply influenced by ancient Kingdoms of the Akan. The Ghanaian culture is a mixture of six ethnic groups. Among these groups, the Akan occupies the leading position (Miss West Africa Ghana). However, there have been many changes in social and culture aspects in Ghana in the preceding decades. For instance, the building of European architectural styles can be found everywhere in the country. In social area, the media of Ghana is one of the most free in Africa and has been described as one of the most unfetteredà ¼Ãâ BBC News 2012à ¼Ã¢â¬ °. The large numbers of films and music from western society flow into Ghana could benefit from this. The background culture situation in Ghana A case study is Ghana, for instance, one of the most popular movie in Ghana is called American Boy, this film directed by Ghanaians (Nairaland Forum 2012). Even more remarkably, the latest film in the blockbuster movie series Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows remained the No.1 movie and rakes in over $50.3 million over Thanksgiving weekend in 2010, according to Ghana Business News (2010). Beside this, the famous singer Lady Gaga always generated a lively discussion in every major forum and portal in Ghana, such as Omgghana and Hitbanger. Interestingly, other aspects expect for entertainment area in Ghana have the same condition. According to the Africa guide, Ghanaians composed of six ethnic groups, including the Akan (Ashanti and Fanti), the Gurma , the Ga-Adangbe, the Guan ,the Mole-Dagbani ,and the Ewe. In the past year of Ghana, a stranger always identified by his ethic origin or home town, for example that Ashanti man or the Ewe carpentry-master (Foster 1965). However, as the International Organization for Migration points out Ghana already become the principal destination to the refugee population in the West Africa sub-region. And in the context of globalization, Ghanaian migration has becoming increasing popular. It means people from various countries are pouring into Ghana and ethnic lines are no longer distinct. The globalization changes peoples way of thinking. In fact, compared to other black African nations, Ghana was more promising and prosperous and it more suitable for globalization (Manuh,T 2005). Is Ghana has more to gain than to fear from cultural globalization? Through the introduction of background in Ghana, the changes really exist in cultural aspects. However, increasing scholarly attention is now devoted to a question: Is Ghana has more to gain than to fear from cultural globalization? In fact, some scholars like David Rothkopf, the managing director of Kissinger Associates and an adjunct professor of international affairs at Columbia University, concerned about the question for a long time (The Statesman 2007). As Rothkopf argues, the America is trying to control the world with language, the common telecommunication and the food safety standards. The developed countries will use their own ideas, products and brands to replace the traditional way in poorer countries. Others like S.K. Boafo, suggested that the external culture such as films, music and language from America may have a significant threat to the traditional culture in Ghana (The Statesman 2007). As the minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, he point out that there are some negative impacts of foreign influences on Ghanaian culture in the last fifty years. For example, people in Ghana especially the younger generation more easily accept the western pop than the traditional folk song. Indeed the UNESCO als o supports their views, a meeting called protection and promotion hold by UNESCO in October 2005 (The Statesman 2007). The meeting was concern the cultural diversity and drafter worried the gap between developing and developed countries. Another supporter is Audrey Gadzekpo, she argues the culture as a useful linkages between the past and present, but under the globalization background, this type of link become more and more tenuous for the past five decades. The media violence in Ghana is a specific example. The researchers draw conclusions from more than 1000 studies that there is a positive association between violence entertainment and aggressive behavior. In other worlds, the violence and pornographic in the media contributes to the development of instability of the society and affects children and young people in Ghana. In fact, the media violence is a reality for the whole world However, it is the truth of the cultural globalization in Ghana? As we all know, the cultural invasion is very common in modern time. But as Kwame Anthony Appiah says the so-called cultural invasion can sometimes lead to innovation, various cultures and new ideas. Cultural Globalization focuses on the influence and infiltration between different regions, countries and nations, which reflects the generality of the development. A powerful example of this point is Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana. Kwame Anthony Appiah always realized it, he says what can you tell about peoples souls from the fact that they drink Coca-Cola? (Divestiture Implementation Committee 2004) Indeed, these companies like Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana (TCCBCG) contribute a lot of culture changes. TCCBCG has donated much money to built hospital, it not only offers more job opportunities to poor people but also promote the development of medical health. In Ghana as the Cultural Minister suggests people must correctly deal with cultural globalization and the most effective way to Western culture is keep the good thing in it. To sum up, as he says But as aspects of our old cultures change, adapt, maybe disappear, we have the opportunity to create something new drawing on the heterogeneous, cosmopolitan nature of modern Ghana and the modern world to create something that is a unique mixture of both (The Statesman 2007). To conclude, the answer about the question mentioned above is depending on Ghana as a active recipient or only a passive recipient. General discussion about Social globalization We cannot ignore the fact that world is so deeply interconnected and influence each other. For Akhila Kolisetty, majority of people have not realized what the social change is and how it affects both individuals and whole country. As a current student of London School of Economics, she suggested the first thing is defined the social globalization. Globalization can be classified according to the different functions into three categories: economic, political, social and culture.(Ali Datko).All of them are interdependent, but always influence each other. As Datko define the social globalization, it talk about the human interaction within cultural communities, and consist of topics like family, religion, work and education. But besides that, there is another definition about social and cultural globalization A process in which the constrains of geography on social and cultural arrangements recede and in which people become increasingly aware that they are receding(Robertson, 1992:7). In Ghana, the effect of globalization is all-pervasive. For instance, Ghana has experienced a continuous growth at their high-technology sector including the telecommunication and information technology at the early of 21st century (Edward Opoku-Dapaah, 2002). However, Opoku-Dapaah was pessimistic about social globalization. According to him, these advanced technology which comes from western countries maintain and extended the gap between rich and poor. To the contrary, other member such as international community and Ghanaian elite were optimistic about it. As Opoku-Dapaah points out, the key word is weather they mastered the technology. The labor market The globalization can offer a number of benefits for social situation in Ghana. The strongest evidence is labor market. As we all know, the situation of employment is urgent nowadays not only for graduates but also for normal people. Employment becomes one of the major social issues in every country. More and more people pay great attention to it. However, in this situation, Ghana experienced a dramatically decrease in their unemployment rate (Graph 1 from: indexmundi ).The graph gives information about historical data for Ghana unemployment rate from 1997 to 2000. It is clearly see that the percentage dropped from approximately 20% in 1997 to about 11% in 2000.Though it only for a portion of time, but it still very representative of the total situation. In 2005 the unemployment rate in Ghana is 12.9%. Additionally, the percentage averaged 12.05% from 2001 to 2005, then reaches the peak at 12.90% in December of 2005 and touches the bottom at 11.20% in December of 2001. In addition, the changes like this can have a positive impact not only to individuals but also to society. Like Joblistghana, one of the website which is using for job-hunting, they provide beyond 500 job opportunities to candidates. For example, if a father find a place to do the work, he can offer the better learning environment to children and development the familys living standard. In addition, the structure of labor market has been changed in a globalised world. Industry in Ghana occupies approximately 25.3% of total GDP. Without doubt, it offers more job opportunities to Ghanaians. The last point about labor market change is the spirit of innovation, as we all know the creative ability is the soul of an enterprise. Education The adult literacy rate in Ghana was 75% in 2007, with males at 87.2% and females at 67.1% (Education: about Ghana). However, during the colonial rule the figure was only 11%. Emefa Amoako explores the relevance with education in developing countries such as Ghana. As a result, he found the globalization have significant influence to the national education policy processes. In fact, the globalization not only a unique challenges but also an opportunity to the whole society. The fast development of globalization means some professionals who engage in education area flow into Ghana, and they always have professionally trained (Richard Joseph 2005).For the large number of outflow from other countries in Africa, it easier to find a satisfying job if they pass local certification examination such as university educators and doctors. All of them make significant contribution to the development of Ghanas education undertaking. It is one of the reason why adult literacy rate in Ghana growing and changing so quickly. Medical and Mortality rate As mentioned above, the social globalization means doctors, nurses and other health care professionals flow into Ghana. Like all the other nations in Africa, Child-mortality is a very serious social problem during these years. At the same time, it is the most comprehensive and complex indicators of social development. The definition of child mortality is the probability of dying between the exact ages of one and five. As the graph below shows the mortality rate deceases from 79.40% in 1988 to 28% in 2008, and the same situation occur in male child. As the research from Bloom Projects International, there are no evidences to show the relationship between infant mortality rate decrease and country size, economic growth and location except medical conditions (Bloom Projects International From 2012). In fact, better treatments in Ghana rely on the high-technology and medical expert to a great degree. At this point, Ghana as a beneficiary rather than a victim in social globalization proce sses. Graph 1 Unemployment rate in Ghana(%) (http://www.indexmundi.com/g/g.aspx?c=ghv=74) Graph2 Ghana mortality rate(per 1,000 female children age one) (http://www.indexmundi.com/facts/ghana/mortality-rate)
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Ballistics :: essays research papers
In 1784, someone using a flintlock pistol shot Edward Culshaw. In those days, there were no bullets, as we know them. Gunpowder and a ball of lead were put into the gunââ¬â¢s muzzle and packed with paper wadding. A spark made when the gunââ¬â¢s hammer struck some flint at the back end of the barrel ignited the powder. When the constable examined Culshawââ¬â¢s wound, he found a piece of newspaper used as wadding to pack the powder in the killerââ¬â¢s gun. The prime suspect in the killing was a man named John Toms. When a piece of newspaper found in Tomsââ¬â¢ pocket was compared with the piece found in the wound, the pieces fit together like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Based on the evidence, Toms was easily convicted. The Toms case was probably the first in America in which ballistics was used to solve a crime. à à à à à Much like in Toms case, most investigations start with a crime having been committed. Forensic ballistics and firearm investigation start when there are bullets, cartridges, a weapon, or any combination of the above found at a crime scene. With the evidence, a crime lab can search for clues on these items that could lead to a suspect or possibly prove that the items were used in the crime. By comparing the markings on bullets or cartridges found at the scene with those fired from a suspectââ¬â¢s weapon, a ballistics expert can often determine if the rounds came from the same weapon. Just the act of cycling a cartridge through a weapon without firing it can leave permanent scratches in the case that are unique to the weapon. à à à à à When a suspectââ¬â¢s weapon is examined in the lab, it will be test fired into a box filled with cotton or a tank of water to provide the examiner with the bullets and cartridges with a known history. Using a microscope, the known cartridges are compared with the ones in question. With some patience, skill, and a little luck, experts can definitively say that a certain firearm and no other fired this bullet, or ejected this cartridge. à à à à à The value of luck cannot be overstated. A bullet may leave the muzzle of a weapon at over a thousand feet per second and slam into a concrete wall. This may deform the round beyond all recognition. Just about anything can and does happen to flying projectiles.
Saturday, October 12, 2019
A Floral Engagement :: essays research papers fc
A Floral Engagement A Floral Engagement From the brides bouquet to the beautiful centerpieces few people realize the time, effort, and consideration that goes into the planning a wedding. The floral patterns and arrangements are just one part of the battle, but if you think about how many flowers are in a wedding then it is easy to see that they are the hardest part of putting a it together. Did you ever think about how many flowers are actually in a wedding? The bouquets and flowers are a very important part of a wedding day. A bridal bouquet should be a reflection of style and should compliment the brideââ¬â¢s dress. It adds that special touch to create the mood desired for the wedding. Flowers should show true depth and add beautiful colors and to a wedding dress. Brides usually try to find bouquets and floral patterns that have a completely unique elegance that reflects them for their special day. There are many things a bride has to do before her wedding day in order for her floral decisions to contrast nicely. Like determining her wedding style or theme, so that all the flowers in the church match the types of things (music, decorations) in the wedding. Hiring a wedding consultant, if she plans to use one to help her out with things including the floral arrangements. Deciding on a color scheme, this way there are not too many contrasting colors in the flowers at the wedding/reception. Planing the reception, like where itââ¬â¢s going to be and climate matters for certain types of flowers. Selecting the dress and headpiece, so that the bouquet matches perfectly. Selecting a professional florist, so she gets the best quality service for a reasonable amount of money. Selecting the bridesmaids' dresses, according to the color scheme, of course, they have to match all the flowers and bouquets also. Deposits have to be paid and contracts have to be signed so that there is no con fusion on what the bride wants, and is going to get. Having both mothers coordinate and pick their dresses, so that they match the color scheme as well. Selecting the men's (groom, and groomââ¬â¢s men) wedding attire so it matches the theme and color scheme. Then finalizing all the details with the florist. Believe it or not, there are a lot of considerations to think of when planning on what kind of flowers and arrangements they want.
Friday, October 11, 2019
Deception Point Page 7
Gabrielle ran a hand through her straightened black hair. ââ¬Å"I hear the White House campaign staff is as confused as we are. The President is offering no explanation for his vanishing act, and everyone over there is furious.â⬠ââ¬Å"Any theories?â⬠Sexton asked. Gabrielle gazed at him over her scholarly glasses. ââ¬Å"As it turns out, I got some interesting data this morning from a contact of mine in the White House.â⬠Sexton recognized the look in her eyes. Gabrielle Ashe had scored some insider information again. Sexton wondered if she were giving some presidential aide backseat blow jobs in exchange for campaign secrets. Sexton didn't careâ⬠¦ so long as the information kept coming. ââ¬Å"Rumor has it,â⬠his assistant said, lowering her voice, ââ¬Å"the President's strange behavior all started last week after an emergency private briefing with the administrator of NASA. Apparently the President emerged from the meeting looking dazed. He immediately cleared his schedule, and he's been in close contact with NASA ever since.â⬠Sexton certainly liked the sound of that. ââ¬Å"You think maybe NASA delivered some more bad news?â⬠ââ¬Å"Seems a logical explanation,â⬠she said hopefully. ââ¬Å"Although it would have to be pretty critical to make the President drop everything.â⬠Sexton considered it. Obviously, whatever was going on with NASA had to be bad news. Otherwise the President would throw it in my face. Sexton had been pounding the President pretty hard on NASA funding lately. The space agency's recent string of failed missions and gargantuan budget overruns had earned NASA the dubious honor of becoming Sexton's unofficial poster child against big government overspending and inefficiency. Admittedly, attacking NASA ââ¬â one of the most prominent symbols of American pride ââ¬â was not the way most politicians would think of winning votes, but Sexton had a weapon few other politicians had ââ¬â Gabrielle Ashe. And her impeccable instincts. The savvy young woman had come to Sexton's attention several months ago when she was working as a coordinator in Sexton's Washington campaign office. With Sexton trailing badly in the primary polls and his message of government overspending falling on deaf ears, Gabrielle Ashe wrote him a note suggesting a radical new campaign angle. She told the senator he should attack NASA's huge budget overruns and continued White House bailouts as the quintessential example of President Herney's careless overspending. ââ¬Å"NASA is costing Americans a fortune,â⬠Gabrielle wrote, including a list of financial figures, failures, and bailouts. ââ¬Å"Voters have no idea. They would be horrified. I think you should make NASA a political issue.â⬠Sexton groaned at her naivete. ââ¬Å"Yeah, and while I'm at it, I'll rail against singing the national anthem at baseball games.â⬠In the weeks that followed, Gabrielle continued to send information about NASA across the senator's desk. The more Sexton read, the more he realized this young Gabrielle Ashe had a point. Even by government agency standards, NASA was an astounding money pit ââ¬â expensive, inefficient, and, in recent years, grossly incompetent. One afternoon Sexton was doing an on-air interview about education. The host was pressing Sexton about where he would find funding for his promised overhaul of public schools. In response, Sexton decided to test Gabrielle's NASA theory with a half-joking response. ââ¬Å"Money for education?â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Well, maybe I'll cut the space program in half. I figure if NASA can spend fifteen billion a year in space, I should be able to spend seven and a half billion on the kids here on earth.â⬠In the transmission booth, Sexton's campaign managers gasped in horror at the careless remark. After all, entire campaigns had been sunk by far less than taking a potshot at NASA. Instantly, the phone lines at the radio station lit up. Sexton's campaign managers cringed; the space patriots were circling for the kill. Then something unexpected happened. ââ¬Å"Fifteen billion a year?â⬠the first caller said, sounding shocked. ââ¬Å"With a B? Are you telling me that my son's math class is overcrowded because schools can't afford enough teachers, and NASA is spending fifteen billion dollars a year taking pictures of space dust?â⬠ââ¬Å"Umâ⬠¦ that's right,â⬠Sexton said warily. ââ¬Å"Absurd! Does the President have the power to do something about that?â⬠ââ¬Å"Absolutely,â⬠Sexton replied, gaining confidence. ââ¬Å"A President can veto the budget request of any agency he or she deems overfunded.â⬠ââ¬Å"Then you have my vote, Senator Sexton. Fifteen billion for space research, and our kids don't have teachers. It's outrageous! Good luck, sir. I hope you go all the way.â⬠The next caller came on the line. ââ¬Å"Senator, I just read that NASA's International Space Station is way overbudget and the President is thinking of giving NASA emergency funding to keep the project going. Is that true?â⬠Sexton jumped at this one. ââ¬Å"True!â⬠He explained that the space station was originally proposed as a joint venture, with twelve countries sharing the costs. But after construction began, the station's budget spiraled wildly out of control, and many countries dropped out in disgust. Rather than scrapping the project, the President decided to cover everyone's expenses. ââ¬Å"Our cost for the ISS project,â⬠Sexton announced, ââ¬Å"has risen from the proposed eight billion to a staggering one hundred billion dollars!â⬠The caller sounded furious. ââ¬Å"Why the hell doesn't the President pull the plug!â⬠Sexton could have kissed the guy. ââ¬Å"Damn good question. Unfortunately, one third of the building supplies are already in orbit, and the President spent your tax dollars putting them there, so pulling the plug would be admitting he made a multibillion-dollar blunder with your money.â⬠The calls kept coming. For the first time, it seemed Americans were waking up to the idea that NASA was an option ââ¬â not a national fixture. When the show was over, with the exception of a few NASA diehards calling in with poignant overtures about man's eternal quest for knowledge, the consensus was in: Sexton's campaign had stumbled onto the holy grail of campaigning ââ¬â a new ââ¬Å"hot buttonâ⬠ââ¬â a yet untapped controversial issue that struck a nerve with voters. In the weeks that followed, Sexton trounced his opponents in five crucial primaries. He announced Gabrielle Ashe as his new personal campaign assistant, praising her for her work in bringing the NASA issue to the voters. With the wave of a hand, Sexton had made a young African-American woman a rising political star, and the issue of his racist and sexist voting record disappeared overnight. Now, as they sat together in the limousine, Sexton knew Gabrielle had yet again proven her worth. Her new information about last week's secret meeting between the NASA administrator and the President certainly suggested more NASA troubles were brewing ââ¬â perhaps another country pulling funding from the space station. As the limousine passed the Washington Monument, Senator Sexton could not help but feel he had been anointed by destiny. 8 Despite having ascended to the most powerful political office in the world, President Zachary Herney was average in height, with a slender build and narrow shoulders. He had a freckled face, bifocals, and thinning black hair. His unimposing physique, however, stood in stark contrast to the almost princely love the man commanded from those who knew him. It was said that if you met Zach Herney once, you would walk to the ends of the earth for him. ââ¬Å"So glad you could make it,â⬠President Herney said, reaching out to shake Rachel's hand. His grasp was warm and sincere. Rachel fought the frog in her throat. ââ¬Å"Ofâ⬠¦ course, Mr. President. An honor to meet you.ââ¬
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