Monday, September 30, 2019

Plant Growth Hormone Lab Report Essay

Introduction: Plant hormones and growth regulators are chemicals that affect flowering, aging, root growth, killing of leaves, promotion of stem elongation, color enhancement of fruit, prevention of leafing, and many other conditions. Very small concentrations of these substances produce major growth changes. All plants produce hormones naturally, and growth regulators can be applied by people to are applied to plants by people. Plant growth regulators may be synthetic compounds that mimic naturally occurring plant hormones, or they may be natural hormones that were extracted from plant tissue. In our plant growth experiment growth stimulants and growth inhibitors were used. Ideally the plants that received the growth stimulants should have grown larger than the others. Methods & Materials: The 3 plants used in the experiment were corn, peas, and beans. B-Nine, IAA, Gibberlic Acid, and a control substance were the growth regulators used. Gibberellic acid stimulates cell division and elongation, breaks seed dormancy, and speeds germination. Indoleacetic acid (IAA) stimulates internodal elongation, rooting, and leaf abscission. B-nine reduces internodal elongation. The control substance is the independent variable in the experiment. Four planting pots, which were divided into three parts, were used for planting the seeds. Two seeds from each type of plant were put in the soil of one compartment of the four planting pots. Each of the containers was labeled with the corresponding hormone, and each division of each container was labeled for the corresponding plant. The plants were then watered and stored. Next week the lengths of the plants were recorded, the hormones were put on the plants. One of the four types of hormones was added to each plant in its corresponding labeled container. The next week the plants were measured and lengths were recorded. The process of adding the hormones was repeated for four weeks in the same way as the week before, and also I measured my plant lengths in millimeters. The whole experiment took five  weeks to complete. Discussion: The experiment was not flawless due to many errors that occurred. As you can see from my results the beans did not grow at all therefore no data was recorded. The corn and peas that received the Gibberlic acid both grew more than the corn and peas that received the control substance. It looks as though the B-nine, which is supposed to reduce internodal elongation, may have actually stimulated internodal elongation. The IAA results in the corn were accurate, but the lengths of the peas that received IAA were less than that of the control. One error that may have occurred could have been the amount of water each plant received. Some plants may have been over watered, or not watered enough. This could have possibly affected the growths of each. Another factor may have been the light each plant was exposed to. I conclude that errors in the experiment may have affected the desired outcome of each plant.

Nowadays, Food Has Become Easier to Prepare Essay

Man, through the ages, has undergone many changes, from a period when he hunted for his food to the present era when man is dependent on preprocessed foods. During this period not only has man changed his mode of eating but his whole lifestyle as well. In pursuit of more in this competitive world, man no longer has time as he once had. He is caught in a race against the clock. A person who finishes more in lesser time is considered more efficient. This pressure to do more in less time has affected his eating habits as well and, as a result, man no longer has time to cook food. Early man’s only objective was to seek food to sustain him and his family. Nowadays finding food has taken a back seat to other priorities, such as career and education. Food is no longer of that importance. This is not an encouraging trend. People are too dependent on preprocessed or precooked food, which no longer has the freshness it once had. Such foods loose their mineral and vitamin content and are not as healthy as fresh food. That is why the number of diseases is also rising. People have also shifted to high calorie content food like French fries, pizzas, and ice cream, etc., which is causing obesity, fatigue, etc. As man is becoming busy and too involved in his busy schedule, he has no time even to take care of his own personal needs. Furthermore, cooking is an art which is dying out. People once enjoyed cooking . It was a means of eliminating stress and tension. People were once able to relax during this time and reflect on their lives. People may tend to argue that by using precooked and preprocessed food they are efficiently using time and can use this precious time saved for other purposes. But is it really worth it? This is a question whose answer can invite much speculation about whether by saving this little time we are inviting lots of other problems, which could easily be avoided. It is actually making our lives not simpler but more complicated. We have lost many of the simpler things in our lives, like the simple acts of selecting our evening meal, preparing it, and enjoying it with our loved ones, and we are worse off for it.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Gatsby Daisy Portrait

Alexis Romano Mr. Emra Honors American Literature (5) 23 January 2012 Portrait of Daisy Buchanan Wife of Tom Buchanan, cousin (once removed) of Nick Carraway, and love interest of Jay Gatsby are all titles once held by Daisy Buchanan, an intriguing character in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic â€Å"The Great Gatsby. † Throughout the novel, Daisy oozes thoughtlessness; she has an unspoken essence of charm, but once she gets the attention she craves she acts on another personality trait of hers, her frivolous disregard for other people’s emotions.While these characteristics are part of what define Daisy, a more fitting description of Daisy’s essence would be her practicality. In the first chapter, Daisy hopes that her daughter will be less commonsensical than she is, in chapter eight the reader finds out that Daisy was under the impression that Gatsby came from a wealthy background, and again in the eighth chapter, the issue of Daisy’s undying astutenes s rears it’s head. Within the first seventeen pages of the novel, Fitzgerald has already addressed Daisy’s need to remain grounded and realistic.After giving birth to her daughter, Pammy, Daisy remarks: â€Å"I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool. † Daisy is hoping that her daughter never develops the everlasting practicality that she was cursed with. At this point in the story, Daisy has already sent her â€Å"Dear John† letter to Gatsby, and begun a relationship, then marriage with the well off Tom Buchanan.Daisy is wishing that she had been less pragmatic and more foolish by taking a chance and staying with Gatsby rather than being safe and marrying Tom. Daisy hates that she cannot allow herself to be happy with Gatsby without the security of Tom’s money. By hoping for a foolish daughter Daisy is hoping for Pammy to make deci sions based on love and whatever makes her happy rather than the seemingly fundamental things that Daisy was concerned with. Even Gatsby knew that Daisy was a very ground minded individual who always ad the future in mind; he loved her regardless. â€Å"He had deliberately given Daisy a sense of security; he let her believe that he was a person from much the same stratum as herself—that he was fully able to take care of her. â€Å" Gatsby understood Daisy enough to know that without a promise of wealth, Daisy wouldn’t allow herself to associate with him, so as to avoid any impractical romance beginning with a man who couldn’t support her style of living later in life.She began her romance with Gatsby under the false pretense that he had the amount of money necessary for Daisy to live comfortably, which was the number one priority on her list. Daisy did not realize that she was living unrealistically, so her obsession with remaining grounded and practical was n ot a problem. Also in chapter eight, Nick (the narrator) tells how â€Å"there was a quality of nervous despair in Daisy’s letters. † While Gatsby was in the war, Daisy was left to examine every possible blemish in their relationship.At any moment while he was abroad Gatsby could have changed his mind about loving Daisy, which brought out Daisy’s most circumspect mindset. This point in the novel shows how despite being in love with Jay Gatsby, Daisy will not allow herself to fully be with a man who cannot take care of her. Another point in chapter eight where her levelheadedness is evident is when Nick brings up what Daisy wanted: â€Å"She wanted her life shaped now, immediately—and the decision must be made by some force—of love, of money, of unquestionable practicality—that was close at hand. It is clear that while Daisy really did believe in love and wished to find it, she was much too practical, allowing money to be just as crucial to the relationship as the chemistry between herself and either Tom or Gatsby. Daisy eventually chooses between real unadulterated love and her perpetual practicality by dating, and later marrying Tom Buchanan. â€Å"Doubtless there was a certain struggle and a certain relief. Although Daisy doesn’t have feelings as strong for Tom as she does for Gatsby she allows the aspect of money to sway her opinions on which man to be with, once again showing how painfully prudent she is. While reading â€Å"The Great Gatsby† it was easy to fall into Fitzgerald’s trap of becoming emotionally invested in the story. I became a close friend of Gatsby (my favorite character), rooting for him in his relationship with Daisy, his friendship with Nick and any and all of his shady business endeavors. Being so biased in Gatsby’s favor makes it hard for me to determine whether or not I liked or disliked Daisy.On one hand, she didn’t have the strength to take a chance and f ollow her heart, by waiting for Gatsby while he fought in the war; but on the other hand she was able to make unromantic, unidealistic decisions to ensure that in the future she would be taken care of and protected, which I can respect. Ultimately, I think that my loyalty to my dear friend, Gatsby, overpowers my respect for Daisy’s businesslike way of decision making, leaving me to decide that there were more moments in the novel when I disliked Daisy than moments when I had respect for her ability to make difficult decisions.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Summary essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

Summary - Essay Example In order to convince the public, she used facts, statistics, and name calling to present her arguments. Emma Watson delivered a game-changing and persuasive speech about feminism at the United Nations assembly (â€Å"Emma Watson’s UN speech: has it been effective?†). The much talked about speech was highly admired and went viral in the social media, as well as elicited mixed reactions. She delivered the speech six months after her appointment as the Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations. She did this in an attempt to promote and push the new United Nation’s HeForShe project. The primary reason for the speech was to discourage stereotyping of women in the society. In addition, Emma’s motive was not only advocate the empowering of women, but also liberate some men in the society. Her sole mission was to encourage both sexes to identify as feminists. This speaker addressed all forms of violence and discrimination faced by women and girls in the society. She argued that not only women, girls and transgender that suffered discrimination, but some men too fell victims to these acts. She invited men to join the conversation of feminists since this issue concerns them as well. Her sole intention was to get a large number of men and boys to commit to joining the gender equality campaign. In addition, according to Hashempour (â€Å"Emma Watson’s UN speech: has it been effective?†), she told the world that in order to achieve gender equality and eliminate harmful and destructive stereotypes the idea of masculinity must change. Moreover, Watson used one of the strategies of propaganda to convince the public of her ideas. She adopted the name-calling to get the attention of her audience and project her ideas as favorable (Class Notes Week 8). She mentioned statesman Edmund Burkes and quoted his condemning words that aimed at

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Gross Domestic Production Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Gross Domestic Production - Essay Example From the above equation employee compensation, operating surplus and mixed income added together are referred to as factor income. It is therefore evident that this method involves adding up income earned by factors of production. This is another method used in calculating GDP and the method involves adding up the unit rise in prices of products in the production stages. Therefore this method involves adding up contributions of the factors of production that add value to a product. Value is added either through services rendered and goods used to process final products. However calculation of GDP using the above three methods should be the same, the expenditure method is commonly used in many countries to calculate GDP due to the availability of data, the following is an analysis of changes in GDP due to increase in production and change in price. The following information on the production of a good is provided, Lenovo produces 10,000 units of a product with a market value of 2,000 each in 2009 December; however no units are sold until spring of 2010. The following are the requirements: For this reason therefore the Lenovo products produced and not sold in this year will increase the level of investment in terms of an increase in inventory, the following is a summary of the calculations: Given that 10,000 units were produced and the market price of these products is 2,000 then it is possible to determine the GDP level increase as a result of this production, the value of these products is determined by multiplying the quantity produced and the prevailing market price, and the following formula is used: Value of products = quantity X price (Obstfeld (1997)) Substituting the values as follows: 10,000 X 2,000 = 20,000,000 dollars From the above calculation therefore it is evident that the GDP level in 2009 will increase by 20,000,000 dollars, this increase will be as a result of the increase in investment in the year 2009. b) GDP increase in 2010: The GDP level will be affected in 2010; there will be an increase in consumption in this year

Crime prevention Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Crime prevention - Essay Example Today in the world there is an increasing debate on the topic of firearms regulation. Different states in the United States of America have allowed people to carry their own weapons for self protection. This law was adopted first by the state of Florida and many people believed that this law would lead to disastrous effects.But it did not have a negative impact as many had thought and many states then followed in implementation of this law. It came to be realized with time that carrying firearms had a positive effect on the crime prevention. There are many reasons to this effect. The crime committers have a fear that they will be counter attacked hence this leads to a decrease in the crime rate. There is a second thought to this as well. People believe that this can lead to an increase in crimes because even normal people under pressure might be subject to committing crimes and due to the easy availability of weapons they would more easily be able to commit crimes. Carrying of firear ms thus has both effects. It increases the crime rate as well but it has a greater effect in decreasing the crime rate. People choose to carry weapons as a crime prevention method so as to increase their quality and standard of life. It provides them with security and it opens for them a path which makes them self dependant. They can themselves take care of their life and property and save themselves from different criminals. Carrying of firearms is very essential for people because at times when there is no police in sight and people need greater protection and safety these weapons are their sole helpers which provide them with a greater security where they can protect them by themselves. People also consider it important to keep firearms at their house because this helps them to guard themselves against robberies. Weapons to people act as tools and these laws which empower people to carry weapons actually help in decreasing crime rate. But then it has negative impact as well. Open allowance of carrying weapons can lead to deaths without any reason that is if the gun gets fired unintentionally this may lead to the death of the person himself or of others who are along with the person. But in the end it can be said that despite of the negative impact the carrying of firearms has it still has greater benefits and it is essential for one to carry weapons with him for self protection (Worsnop 1994). 2. Discuss the fundamental concepts of community crime prevention, providing specific examples of such programs. How did it arise Who participates and why Provide characteristics and demographics. Community Crime Prevention is a department of major concern to the authorities these days. Social Crime Prevention these days is handled by the authorities efficiently and professionally. New strategies are being implemented to involve the community towards the betterment of the criminal activities in the society. This involvement of the community can not only help the individuals living in the community to realize their duty but also help to decrease the rate of criminal activities occurring in a certain area. Different strategies formulated by the authorities urge the communities to work towards the betterment of the society. The community plays a major role in limiting the criminal activities in the area. The community works in cohesion with the authority to avoid the crimes. The authority gives specific instructions to the community members which are to be followed by them to lessen the criminal activities. These instructions include the installation of Closed Circuit Televisio n Cameras, the structure in which the house is built and the cohesion of the community. The community acts together to improve the situation in a society. It acts to

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Literary Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Literary Analysis - Essay Example As might be expected from such a summary, the action of the story goes much deeper than the simple activities of a woman tending her favorite plants within the strictly defined space of a cottage garden. Steinbeck’s fluid style and gentle suggestive use of language highlights a deeper meaning to the story, particularly when the reader reaches the final lines in which it is seen that Elisa is â€Å"crying weakly – like an old woman.† With his use of imagery and action, Steinbeck highlights Elisa Allen’s isolation and frustration both within her garden and through her relationships with others such as the tinker and her husband, Henry. Elisa’s garden quickly illustrates the degree to which Elisa herself is isolated from the rest of the world. Elisa, like her flowers, is completely enclosed within the garden space which is marked by a low fence. This fence stands between her and the other characters throughout much of the story. This is symbolic of how she is enclosed and isolated from the rest of the world. This isolation is also emphasized by the setting described: â€Å"The high grey-flannel fog of winter closed off the [valley] from the sky and all the rest of the world.  Ã‚  On every side it sat like a lid on the mountains and made of the great valley a closed pot† (Steinbeck). This setting indicates that even if she were to leave the garden, Elisa would still find herself cut off from the rest of society. Her isolation is also made clear as she watches her husband talk to strangers not far away but is prevented, by custom and expectation, from joining them despite her own curiosity about what they are saying. In a similar way, Steinbeck forces the reader to make a mental link between the chrysanthemums in the garden and Elisa’s tremendous frustration with her life. He does this first by pointing out the manner in which she works with the flowers, â€Å"The chrysanthemum stems seemed too small and easy for her energy†

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Unemployment issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Unemployment issues - Essay Example Unemployment is one of the biggest evils engulfing society all over the world today. With most countries being in a state of recession, jobs are hard to find for even some of the most deserving individuals. This leads to major problems for the country and its population which include lower standard of living, poor health, lower GDP and national income, and a generally depressed society. However, this issue may have an even deeper impact upon a household in which the sole bread winner is unemployed. While such households may experience financial problems, they also experience an array of other types of distress. These pressures may be social, emotional, and psychological; the psychological stress and pressure that unemployment causes, may be its most undesirable and disturbing factor towards a person’s health and well being (Lien, 1988). This paper aims to explore the impact of unemployment upon the psychological position and state of an individual and their family members. It will explain the various psychological pressures that a person experiences while being unemployed and compare the mental health and thoughts of an unemployed person to an employed person. The paper will explore the realms of this issue and determine whether an unemployed person is mentally worse off than an employed person or whether unemployment has no intense impact upon a person’s mental state.... Hence, he/she can indulge in undesirable activities and develop a negative mentality. It is usually said, that people who have a lot of time on their hands are those that indulge in activities such as drugs, crime, fraudulent behavior, extra-marital affairs, and other negative thoughts such as disbelief upon religion or suicidal thoughts. Without a lot of positive and productive mental activity, a person’s mental health is seriously at risk. The availability of excessive free time causes a person to ponder over the smallest things and cause a great array of confusion for him/herself. This may cause a person to stray from their religious beliefs, lose hope in life, or start focusing upon the negative points of everyone around him/her. Such situations cause rifts between families, friends, and make a person difficult to live with. Moreover, having very little productive mental activity causes an unhealthy body as well, and vice versa (Eisenburg, 1988). Upon interviewing Mr. John , a Bachelors degree holder who was unemployed for two years, the following views were recorded: â€Å"I was unemployed for a period of two years after attaining my Bachelors Degree. When I say my friends pursuing successful careers, it gave me a sense of hopelessness and despair. I lost my self-esteem and my endurance to continue with life. I was in a deep state of depression.† Such views make it evident that unemployed people lose a sense of their self-worth because they are not able to prove themselves in any field. Hence, besides the financial problems that go along with the situation, it gives the unemployed person a sense of hopelessness and despair when they see other people succeeding in their careers and they are unable to make any improvements in their

Monday, September 23, 2019

Why Radical Islam Fears Bollywood Pop Culture Essay

Why Radical Islam Fears Bollywood Pop Culture - Essay Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that Islam serves as the third and final religion in the list of the three Abrahamic faiths with Judaism and Christianity as its predecessor beliefs. All these three religions cite their Scriptures not only to preach the teachings, but also exploit the same for their political, social and economic gains. It is therefore the famous maxim was invented that even the devil can cite Scriptures for his own purpose. The same could be applied on the purported extremist organizations including Al Qaeda and Taliban etc, and their satanic-minded leaders Osama bin Laden and his evil companions. By looking into the history of initial years of Islam, it becomes crystal clear that the faith has always been a religion of peace, kindness and compassion, which has treated even its worst enemies on the noblest principles of sympathy and humanity. However, like Judaism and Christianity, its reins and bridles came under the sway and control of the harsh and stone -hearted opportunists, who started exploiting the faith for their personal gains. The same is applied to Al Qaeda, which appears to be determined to create chaos, anarchy and disorder all over the world in the sacred name of Islam. Although the religious-minded people are justified in declaring semi-nude bodies, sexy poses and enticing gestures of women as strictly against the teachings of Islam, which are profoundly being exhibited through the platform of the Bollywood film industry. The Holy Scripture of Islam i.e. the Holy Qur’an asserts: â€Å"And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their zeenah (adornment/make-up) except what must ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their khimar (or piece of veil) over their bosoms and not display their zeenah except to their husbands, their fathers.† (24:31-32) Thus, the Muslim Scripture commands the women to observe chastity and veil in o rder to escape the evil and ignoble staring of the licentious people. Somehow, inclusion of the actors from the Muslim community in bulk serves as a certain impediment for declaring singing and dance as vehemently opposite to the true Islamic culture and civilization. For instance, the so-called Muslim actresses of Bollywood including Saira bano, Madho Bala, Nargis, Zeenath Aman, Parveen Boby, Shabana Aazmi, Tabbu, Soha Khan, Katrina Kaif and others have performed very bold and semi-nude roles in the Indian films; while the industry is also abundant in the Muslim heroes including Daleep Kumar, Shahrukh Khan, Naseer-ud-Din Shah, Salman Khan, Fardeen Khan, which also play(ed) the romantic and exotic roles that are against the Islamic teachings. Similarly, the Muslim lyricists, script-writers, directors and choreographers etc including Kaifi Aazmi, Javed Akhtar, Farah Khan and many others have also played their decisive part in the projection and promotion of Indian music, dance and ac ting sectors at large. The analyst Shikha Dalmia is of the opinion that the Indian films are very popular in all Muslim countries, and playing romantic and exotic roles through the Muslim actors and actresses particularly reveal different aspects of the contemporary Muslim showbiz personnel in modern life, participation of which is destroying the Al Qaeda efforts

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Welcome Remarks Essay Example for Free

Welcome Remarks Essay In behalf of the graduating class, it is my honour/pleasure to welcome all of you this afternoon to this solemn and joyous occasion. To our parents, guardians, friends and family, I express the deepest appreciation to you not only for your presence today but also for your endless love and support to us. I also like to extend our gratitude to our beloved teachers, faculty, and members of the ASIST for the patience and guidance you have shown to us which we will carry to face the upcoming chapters of our life. The next stage of our life is about to begin but without the supports from you, we may not have made it to this day. So again, thank you and welcome. To my fellow graduates, congratulation, I am honour to be here today graduating with all of you. These past four years has been an unforgettable journey which prepared us for what the future holds. Let’s take a moment to reflect on the bonds we developed during our time. Many of us will surely miss these years, on how we survived here together at ASIST, and the memorable and influential moments of our lives. We began high school as children and today we leave and say good bye as adults. Remember, four years ago we walked into this halls as nervous as we were on the first day of school we were so called the freshmen before and now here we are we’re leaving the school behind. We say good bye to our four sided classroom which we have known too well, to our 30 minutes lunches, to our teachers and for those who become part of it. The most important good bye we will say is to each other and the past we created as a class, and now we welcome the opportunities of the future. Today, it’s not only does this class graduate, but we also leave behind significant talents, wisdom and legacy. The skills and talents that once roamed these halls will be set out into this world, and I am confident they will be put to good use. We owe all of these to our beloved alma mater. Thanks to ASIST for providing us a high quality education, for helping us enhance these abilities. We are privileged to have attended this school. I am sure that the fine education that we received will stand us in good stead time and again. Thus I say so my dear friends let us not stop gaining knowledge. If we have done all that we could in high school, let us further our study by putting even more effort into our own chosen paths. For our knowledge is yet to grow  into true maturity. But for now, let us sit back, think and reflect. As we go on with our graduation rites today, it is time to gather all that we have learned and think about them. And celebrate for all our efforts in making it into this level. For surely, we would not have achieved a great feat such as this without the wits, the power, the strength, the brains and the dedication that would usher us into further development. Before I let my emotion sweep me away I would like to tell all my classmates who are sitting here with a square piece of cardboard on their head just one little thing. Thank you for all the memories. The fights, the team efforts, the assignments, the laughter, the tears, the prom, the photos; all of them. Wherever we go and whatever we do, may we always be friends when we meet again. We might have ended up today another chapter of our life, and soon to travel our own path but always remember that, â€Å"Every ending is just a new beginning†. Good luck and Congratulations my fellow graduates of the class of Fourth Year Emerald batch 2015. ASEAN 5-Year Work Plan on Education (2011-2015): 4 priorities 1. ASEAN Awareness; 2. (a) Increasing Access to, and increasing Quality Primary and Secondary Education; (b) Increasing Access to, and Quality of Education-Performance Standards, Lifelong Learning and Professional Development; 3. Strengthening Cross-Border Mobility and Internationalization of Education; 4. Support for other ASEAN Sectoral Bodies with an Interest in Education †¢ Many actions are consistent with targets expressed in the MDGs Brief Introduction †¢ â€Å"develop human resources through closer cooperation in education and life-long learning, and in science and technology, for the empowerment of the peoples of ASEAN and for the strengthening of the ASEAN Community† (ASEAN Charter) †¢ Social dimensions of development in ASEAN: promote greater educational cooperation among ASEAN Member States and strengthen education within them: (1) to narrow the development gaps, (2) to prepare youth for re gional leadership, (3) to increase the competitiveness of the people.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Structural conflict and consensus in Socialization

Structural conflict and consensus in Socialization Explain the relevance of socialization from both the structural conflict and the structural consensus perspectives. Discuss the efficiency and the pitfalls of each approach in relation to youth work. Both structural conflict and structural consensus theories approach the study of social life from a macro perspective, that is, both are concerned with the study of large-scale social structures, such as ideas and belief systems, and institutions, such as the family and education, in their attempts to examine and explain social life (Bilton et al. 1994: p. 10). From this perspective, a better understanding of a given society, and the relationships within it, can be gained through examining the function of social institutions and organizations in terms of the part they play in maintaining social structures within society. An example of this is the study of institutions which are agencies of socialization for example the family and the media to explore the part they play in the production and reproduction of social roles and values (Bilton et al. 1994: p. 12). Socialization, then, is the process through which individuals learn the ways of thought and behaviour considered appropriate in [their] society (Bilton et al. 1994: p. 12), and agencies of socialization function in both formal and informal ways to pass on to the next generation such norms of thought and behaviour. Much early socialization within the family is informal; children learn through observation and interactive experiences with siblings and adults around them the behaviour expected of themselves and others (Ibid). While there is also a degree of formal education within the family, it is within institutions such as schools that children gain much of their formal instruction of the roles and types of behaviour expected of young people in society. The concept of socialization is a useful one and relevant to those working in a range of professional fields, and in particular to those working with young people. This will become more apparent as we now look in more detail at the differences between the structural consensus and the structural conflict approaches. The key difference between structural consensus and structural conflict theories is that, broadly speaking, for consensus theories the values and norms of society that people learn through the process of socialization are shared by all members of society; that is, there is an agreement, or a consensus about, and commitment to, the ideas and beliefs prevalent in society among individuals (Fulcher and Scott 1999: p. 49). Conflict theories, however, argue that, rather than there being a consensus about ideas and beliefs in society, social life is fraught with conflict among different members and groups in society as they struggle with one another to attain or maintain power and control (Ibid: p. 61). This is obviously a simplistic outline of the core tenets of both approaches; however, it may begin to be apparent from this that both perspectives theories of socialization have potential relevance to individuals working with young people. A comparative analysis of both perspectives even at this stage reveals some of the issues encountered by formal and informal educators in this area. In relation to youth work, for example, a key issue for workers, it could be argued, is that of purpose. Is the proper purpose of youth work, as Mark Smith (1988: p. 106) has questioned, to promote the welfare of individuals, serve to secure the reproduction of the means of production and existing power relations, promote community or what? Conflict theorists would argue that socialization of young people in areas such as youth work serves to secure existing power relations; consensus theorists would argue that it serves to promote the welfare of individuals and society as a whole. Smith later concludes that informal educators should be committed [in their work practice] to that which is right rather than that which is correct. However, without a good understanding of conflict and consensus theories, it would be difficult to make judgements regarding the difference in practice between that which is right or correct. It will be argued later that there are, of course, limitations to the extent to which such knowledge is useful in practice, however, this essay will argue that a good understanding of the theories of socialization from the consensus and conflict perspectives can not only give us insight into issues faced by workers in this area, but also help our understanding of our own and our clients feelings and motivations, as well as the agendas and motivations of official institutions and agencies. The questions of purpose and motivation are, it can be argued, very important ones, and are questions into which a study of socialization from consensus and conflict perspectives can give us good insight. In the area of youth work, knowledge and understanding of the above perspectives can lead to healthy questioning of government purpose and motivation when, for example, reviewing official documents such as the DfEE 2001 consultative paper on English youth work. This paper details the governments key priority to help keep young people in good shape (DfEE: 2001: p. 13). Much of what is written in terms of this priority appears to make good sense; for example ensuring young people have access to a rich variety of personal growth experiences and helping them to make informed choices [and] expand their potential (Ibid: pp. 13-14). However, as we shall see, closer analysis of elements of this, and indeed other, official documents and government policies reveal, when studied with knowledge of conflict and consensus theories, underlying official issues and agendas. According to consensus theories, socialization into the cultural values and social norms of society is essential to the stability and cohesion of social structures (Fulcher and Scott 1999: p. 48). From this perspective, all individuals in society share a commitment to societys values, ideas and beliefs. In general we all want the same things and agree that they are the right things to want, for example to secure good employment, achieve our potential, and to contribute to the community. While we may be socialized into such norms and values through formal and informal means, we nevertheless agree that they are right and just. The priorities set out in the DfEE consultative document fit closely with such generally agreed aspirations. The documents authors assert the need to develop preventative strategies and actions which enable [young people] to make informed choices about a range of issues which include avoiding crime, protection from drug or alcohol related dangers, preventing teen age pregnancies and others (DfEE 2001: p. 14). In order to make informed choices about such issues, young people will be able to discuss them with youth workers who have a key role in keeping young people in good shape (Ibid) From a consensus perspective, the socialization of young people regarding these issues is unproblematic; society as a whole can only function effectively if all individuals are properly socialized into the agreed norms and values of society. From a conflict perspective, however, such strategies are not as unproblematic as they may at first appear. While consensus theory sees society as being held together informally by norms, values and a common morality (Ritzer 1996: p. 266) conflict theories argue that order in society stems from the coercion of some members by those at the top (Ibid). As stated earlier, analysis of perspectives such as conflict theories can lead us to question the motivations behind official agenda setting, as well as those behind our own actions and those of others, and here, examining documents such as the DfEE paper, we may begin to question the motivation behind such apparently worthy intervention strategies. The question we may begin to ask, when viewing the world from a conflict perspective, is, in whose interests are the implementation of such policies and strategies? Youth workers and others working with young people do of course want to help young people to live happy and fulfilling lives, and help them to stay safe and well, however, questions can be raised as to whose primary interests some inter vention strategies serve. While the majority may well agree that a state of disorder in society is in no ones particular interest, it is clear that it is certainly in the interests of those in positions of power and advantage to maintain order through effective socialization of individuals into the values and norms of society, in particular the values and norms of society that best suit their own interests. It is, to take what may be considered a more extreme view from the conflict perspective, far better to have good, hard-working, honest citizens paying taxes and refraining from crime, in particular property crime from persons with abundant wealth, than to have gangs of disaffected young people stealing money for drugs and falling pregnant in order to secure valuable government housing. It may now be apparent, then, that comparative analyses of theories of socialization from the conflict and consensus perspective help give us insight and understanding when approaching issues affecting work with young people. The examples above hopefully show the efficiency of this analysis in relation to official agenda setting and policy, however, as mentioned earlier, knowledge and understanding of theories of socialization can also help workers in this area better understand issues facing themselves and their clients. An awareness of whose interests are being served in relation to practice performed by workers with their clients can only work to ensure continued practice evaluation. An understanding of the conflicts in values and norms which many young people may encounter can help workers when making judgements within their own practice with regards to what is right as opposed to correct. One example of the above could be the possible conflict experienced by young people between the values and goals seen by individuals around them, and perhaps by the young people themselves, as fair and just, and the means available to them to embrace such values or achieve such goals. Sociologist R. K. Mertons (1938) theory of anomie addresses this experience of conflict, and suggests that if a society places great emphasis on achieving goals, and less on the appropriate means to obtain them, then an individuals commitment to approved means and thereforeconformity to social norms may be eroded (Fulcher and Scott 1999: p.49). Merton argues that the rift between culturally approved ends, and the means of attaining them, which he refers to as a situation of anomie, can result in individuals resorting to inappropriate means to achieve goals which they, along with the rest of society, agree are worthy. Here individuals have been effectively socialised into the norms and values of approp riate goal attainment, but not so successfully into the appropriate means by which to obtain them. From a conflict perspective, however, it could be argued that the social values placed on goal attainment, and passed on through socialization, do not necessarily serve the best interests of all members of society in the first place. The goal, for example, of buying a large house in an expensive neighbourhood will simply put more revenue the governments way in terms of council tax than will a smaller property, as well as more revenue to mortgage companies, power suppliers and so on. This essay has hopefully shown the relevance, and in the areas discussed, the efficiency of structural conflict and structural consensus perspectives in relation to youth work, however, as stated earlier there are obvious limitations to the extent to which such theories are of use in practice, not least because theories, while helpful, are more usefully conceptualised as tools to stimulate thought and discussion relating to policy and good practice. Finally, all theory is limited because the number of variables present in any given situation means that no theory can simply be taken as a model and then applied. Bibliography Bilton, T. et al., 1994. Introductory Sociology. 2nd edn. London: Macmillan. DfEE, 2001. Transforming Youth Work. London: Department for Education and Employment/Connexions. Also available from: Smith, M. K. (2001) Good Purpose [online] Introduction. Available from: http://www.infed.org/archives/developing_youth_work/dyw6.htm

Friday, September 20, 2019

Impact of Mobile Phone Technology

Impact of Mobile Phone Technology Modern Technology In the past two decades, technology has advanced and changed the manner in which people relate within family ties and social groups. Research suggests that in the 1990s, mails and letters were the most used channels for long distance communication and the postal services were very essential in fulfilling this duty. At the moment, communication has evolved from the use of land lines fixed in peoples homes to mobile phones carried everywhere to facilitate easy and quick communication. In this paper, the new possibilities unlocked by modern technology are examined and analyzed in an argumentative manner with close reference paid to mobile phones and communication. The mobile phone is a very interesting device that among all emerging trends in technology has captured the greatest number of audience with a great percentage of people owning one in reference to Elliott et al (25). The services offered by the mobile phone are so diverse from making of voice and video calls, sending text messages, to accessing social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp, and also taking pictures among many other functions. The rate at which this device has been embraced by consumers of all age has brought a controversial debate on its impacts and whether people are over relying on it. The debate majorly lies on the question of whether mobile phones have taken over real human interaction and changed the manner in which people relate. A person with a mobile handset can reach anyone they want to, despite of the geographical distance between them in an instant based on Elliot et al (85). Today, text messages and the WhatsApp application have revolutionized communication by enabling people to chat and send each other pictures and videos with a lot of ease. The current generation enjoys all these services availed by the modern technology and have a different experience from their parents and guardians who grew up in a different era. Take for instance, the manner in which people in the 1900s depended on newspapers for daily updates and every morning crowds of people could be seen grasping to get a copy. A hundred years later in the 2000s, the difference is notable as one can easily witness a mobile phone in every persons hand at any time of the day, performing different tasks with their device. In this controversial topic, there are two kinds of groups, those who would condemn the embracing of mobile phones and label them as an obsession while others label it as a necessity and defend its presence. In my opinion, the mobile phone is being misused and overused. The percentage of people owning a mobile phone in the United States is approximated to be at 70% of the entire population with the rates continuously increasing in each year. The major users of these devices range in between the age of 16 years and 30 years while those above this age bracket having a lowered dependency on their phones despite owning one. The major functions performed using the mobile phones by this dominant group include; WhatsApp chatting, taking of pictures, listening to music, playing games and accessing social media sites in the internet. According to research, individuals in the mentioned age group spend more than 50% of their time on the phone, and their subconscious mind is fixed on the functions they could be doing on their phones 75% of the time. It is practically impossible to separate some individuals from their mobile phones even at family gatherings and during outdoor activities as they remain engrossed in their handsets. This is the kind of attachment associated with the mobile phone as one of the most popular modern technology. The mobile phone is associated with the most amount of distraction based on psychological research which reveals how peoples brain responds to notifications from the phone. In most cases, people have set a notification sound on their phones which alerts them in case of an incoming message or call. The notification sound takes a minds attention from whichever activity it was performing to first respond to the incoming message or call. The amount of time taken to achieve a similar level of focus by the mind after such distractions from the phone could be significant in conclusion of the ongoing activity and thus such distractions are obstructions to progress. In the case of human interactions, mobile phones have been constantly viewed as obstructions to how people relate. In the present times, it is common to find people during a face to face conversation frequently checking their mobile phones for communication with people in other parts of the world according to research from Siemens (42). The intrusion of mobile phones in human interaction is to the extent of family set ups where teenagers and kids with mobile phones carry their handset to the table during meals and repeatedly get carried away from the rest of the family. It is such behaviors that cause parents and their kids to clash during family time as real family conversations cannot be addressed while the phones are at the table. The family bond is ruined and at times, the entire family is engrossed on their phones interacting with distant friends and ignoring family members. The vice in this act is that distant connections are nurtured at the expense of real life relations where family values and bonds should be first in the priority from Turkle (135). The mobile phone was invented to ease communication and improve peoples relations but it can be said to be doing the exact opposite. The handset created a platform for people to interact, exchange information and more importantly socialize. These functions are in relation to the positive side of using a handset as it was intended to perform. The real life facts on the immediate effect of handsets on peoples relationship suggest that mobile phones are harmful to couples relations. Technology is prevalent to introverted people who find comfort in inanimate interactions rather than personal relations. The introduction of the social media technology in the mobile handset, therefore, has caused people in the modern world to become antisocial in real life. Interactions are based online and people are more comfortable relating on the Facebook and WhatsApp platforms in comparison to personal face to face relations. The negative impact on dating couples brought by the mobile phone is the stress placed on relationships due to a diversification of attention to the distant population rather than the ones nearby. The platforms introduced by social media through the mobile phone also ruin relationships by enabling couples to cheat on each other through these avenues. The internet is a hub of all possibilities, dating sites and hook up sites have been established to connect people who may intend to find new lovers online. In this way, couples who intend to cheat are aided in this task by their mobile phones through the internet access. They are also able to hide these connections by erasing any evidence which may exist on their devices or by simply locking their phones with passwords and patterns availed in the handset during the infidelity process. Modern technology aims to make peoples lives convenient by introducing an easier way of doing things that is less stressful. A shift of attention from the mobile phone and its impacts on human relations suggests that the general incorporation of technology in individuals lives contributes to a significant percentage of laziness among people. Take a remote control for instance, it is meant to facilitate easy control of technological gadgets from distance and in the process it contributes to laziness. Research indicates that most people with remote controlled gadgets within their houses have less mobility and perform such tasks at the comfort of their seats denying themselves any physical exercise. At the moment, kids have gadgets within their houses such as play stations which they use to play games after school. These indoor games have denied the kids in the current generation from engaging in outdoor activities and games which are beneficial to their health. The importance of outdoor games has been lost due to technological games which slowly replace the physical aspect of child growth. Playing outside is very healthy to the development of kids according to medical practitioners since it offers children the chance to exercise and also interact with each other. Take for instance, kids engaging in a game of baseball with a neighboring child of the same age, this fosters new friendships and improves their physical health as well as their social skills. The games played on technological devices are also very addictive and in some instances harmful to the mind. Once a child begins playing the computer games, their minds get engaged with a sense of excitement which makes them to want to play it more. In this attachment, their brains can be harmed by an increased level of anxiety and loss of sleep when they reach this level of attachment. Technological advancements in the modern day have increased dependency on easy quick fix solutions for every human problem. The easy fix solutions to problems are beneficial to individuals who gain an easy way of performing stubborn functions such as cleaning among many other operations but the general result is negative. Take for instance, an introduction of a machine or robot which performs the task which used to be performed by a human being in the early days. The indirect result is that many people will be laid off in the process of easing a specific task through technological advancements of this kind. Modification is a superb inclusion in the modern technological world but too much embracing of technology in every service is detrimental to the jobs of some human beings. When technology is embraced in every sector, it solves some problems as it creates others. The ultimate aim of human beings is to fix their problems and not to transfer them to another field. Technology in this case offers new ventures for human beings to explore while directing them to new challenges as suggested earlier. Take the practical example of the introduction of plantation harvesting machines within a society that depends on agricultural labor as their main source of employment. The owner of the plantation enjoys a reduced labor cost solving one problem while the people of the society risk losing their jobs due to the introduction of a technological solution to their work place. The level of unemployment in such an area will definitely rise as the machine eliminates the need for physical labor. Technological solutions in such a case will solve one problem and create another one. Modern technology is creating more harm than good in other areas where their complexity is too high for all humans expected to utilize its services. There is a close difference between the ways in which modern technology should be applied and how human beings without the necessary knowledge apply it. Utilization of chemical fertilizers is an additional modern technology aimed at improving the manner in which people farm and the products grown from the farms. In the process of applying fertilizers, heavy chemicals used in its preparation require an informed procedure of application that will not be harmful to the soil or the crops themselves based on Elimelech and William (712). The wrong use of these fertilizers is the reason some crops have become extinct while the soils lose their productivity after a period of application. The inability of some farmers to follow the application instructions is responsible for the environmental degradation being experienced. The soil loses its natural fertility and is unable to sustain the growth of crops as it is required. In the long run, continued application of chemical fertilizers could lead to soil poisoning which eventually harms the health of other living organisms such as animals and even human beings. The climate on the other hand has been on the negative end of technology as pollution from companies with mechanical advancements is a common aspect in the modern world. These machines require a source of fuel to run them and in the process of operation, some produce smokes known to be harmful to the earths atmosphere. Mechanization in this essence brings a negative impact to the climate and as humans embraces its operations in their daily routines the world climate suffers the most. It would be wrong to label modern technology as a demon in the current society due to human beings obsession and wrong use of the inventions brought to them. The reliance placed by human beings is the part where vices are created and modern technology produces negative results that were not expected in the start. For instance, the mobile phones inclusion in the modern world can be a very beneficial tool in the society with its capability to connect people even in different localities. The vices of the use of mobile phones appear when people get addicted to their phones and in the long run misuse them losing sight of real life connections in reference to Elliott et al (113). According to research from Bertot et al (30), addictions are harmful to ones mental and emotional health as signs of anxiety and restlessness appear when people are detached from their items of comfort such as mobile phones. People who are used to carrying their phones everywhere display a sense of stress when they forget them at home and at times compare the feeling to being naked. In terms of couples, this may be due to insecurities of what ones lover might discover in their phones during their absence. The stress associated with the mobile phone in this case becomes negative and this solidifies the argument that modern technology should be limited according to Ayyagari et al (831). The solution to this kind of dependency on modern technology lies in replacement of the gadgets with other physical activities which can shift ones focus to social events and interactions. The elimination of modern technology in this century is an attempt close to impossible but limitation of time spent on ones devices, and restriction of how people apply mechanization in all their daily routines. References Bertot, John Carlo, Paul T. Jaeger, and Derek Hansen. The impact of polices on government social media usage: Issues, challenges, and recommendations. Government information quarterly 29.1 (2012): 30-40. Elliott, Anthony, and John Urry. Mobile lives. Routledge, 2010. Siemens, George. Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. (2014). Turkle, Sherry. Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other. New York, NY: Basic Books, 2011. Print. Elimelech, Menachem, and William A. Phillip. The future of seawater desalination: energy, technology, and the environment. science 333.6043 (2011): 712-717. Ayyagari, Ramakrishna, Varun Grover, and Russell Purvis. Technostress: technological antecedents and implications. MIS quarterly 35.4 (2011): 831-858.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

AIDS :: Health Medicine Medical HIV Essays

AIDS AIDS, a severe immunological disorder caused by a virus that leaves the victim unable to fight infections. The AIDS epidemic is becoming a severe health menace throughout the world, but particularly in Africa, mainly South Africa. In â€Å"Battling AIDS in S. Africa†, an article from The Chicago Tribune, Pooven Moodley’s discusses why AIDS in Africa is a world problem. He states that nearly 1,600 Africans become infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, each day. In 16 countries throughout Africa, the AIDS epidemic affects more than one-tenth of the adult population is infected, according to Peter Piot, the executive director of UNAIDS, in a statement made to the Security Council. With these devastating statistics, AIDS is becoming the first health and development issue to be considered a threat to global security, making it a world problem. AIDS is now at the top of the agenda of the organizations that make up the UN and the World Bank/IMF Development Committee. AIDS in Africa is such a world problem that the U.S. government has declared the crisis â€Å"a threat to U.S. national security† (Moodley). The rest of the world will also be affected; therefore, the disease will be threatening to other states in no time. This can be blamed on the â€Å"domino theory†. According to Moodley, a 1999 White House report stated, â€Å"As goes Africa, so will India, Southeast Asia, and so on†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Researchers and health professionals have many theories and opinions as to what caused AIDS to become an out-of-control epidemic. Piot discusses how AIDS is linked to poverty because of the costs of the drugs needed to control the HIV virus. According to Jon Jeter’s â€Å"South Africans Criticize Leader’s Views on AIDS†, an article from The Washington Post, he explains South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki’s views of the HIV virus and AIDS and how his beliefs do not help the fight against AIDS. Mbeki declares that AIDS is not caused by HIV and will not provide life-saving drugs to pregnant women to reduce the risk of mother-to-child infection. President Mbeki believes that the United States and pharmaceutical companies are part of a conspiracy to falsely link HIV and AIDS to promote the sales of antiretroviral drugs (Jeter). The issue of South Africa not trying hard enough to stop the spread of AIDS is also exhibited in an article fr om Village Voice.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Essay example --

With new technologies such as interactive smart-displays, touch screen kiosks, augmented reality, real-time data tracking, and more, Intel Corporation wants to bring your retail stores, headquarters, and store management processes, into the future. The world has seen rampant technology growth over the past decade. Since 2000, the percentage of the US population using the internet has grown 150%, with roughly 45% of North Americas’ population being regular online shoppers and virtually every person in North America has a cell phone plan and some form of mobile device. These are statistics that would have never been seen as little as 5 years ago. The world has become an interconnected powerhouse of technology, driven by the need and desire for new and innovative solutions to classic problems, and through this change, retail brick-and-mortar stores have been left in the technological dust. By implementing our â€Å"Connected Store† solutions to your retail franchise, we can guarantee an increased consumer base, higher foot traffic in local stores, increased workforce productivity, higher customer morale, more accessible management tools, more efficient, accurate data tracking, and, of course, a vast increase in sales percentages. All introduced through easy to use, intuitive software and hardware that is not only completely customizable and personalized, but upgradeable to ensure continued use for the foreseeable future. First and foremost, by utilizing our new video analytics technology we can gather vast amounts of anonymous customer metrics, such as age, gender, height and even average attention span, all in real-time through individual storefronts. By coupling this technology with dynamic digital signage and interactive kiosks and sa... ...eyond traditional environmental standards. This also enables retailers to power down devices when stores are closed, and turn them back on prior to opening. And of course, all of this can be monitored, controlled, and customized from a remote location of your choosing. By implementing Intel’s’ Connected Store solutions, you will be on the cutting edge of technology, seamlessly blending truly personalized, shopping experiences, with a mass customer appeal able to rival internet shopping. Combining unique, dynamic digital signage, interactive kiosks, mobile connectivity, and anonymous analytical data gathering with easy-to-use, intuitive software and hardware on both consumer and management ends of the retail shopping experience, Intel hopes to bridge the gap between online and offline shopping, bringing you closer to your customers, and your customers closer to you.