Lancelot by Walker Percy Essay Example

Lancelot by Walker Percy Paper Walker Percy’s novel Lancelot, tells the story of Lancelot Lamar, a very sad and depressed lawyer who finds himself locked up in a psychiatric facility in the aftermath of a fire that took place in his home, Bell Isle. When the story opens, Lancelot claims to have no recollection of the events that led to the fire. As the story continues and he begins to open up to his psychologist, whom he refers to as Harry, the events leading up to the fire begin to unfold. He tells the reader his story little by little, explaining his journey from living a humdrum, monotonous lifestyle to becoming a murderer. In telling his story, he also shares some of his philosophies and life lessons. Many of them are actually very interesting and applicable to life. One of the first questions that Lancelot asked in the book is â€Å"Have you noticed that the narrower the view the more you can see?† This quote basically explains how being placed in a compromising position in life allows you to see things differently. Hence why you may see more then you did before. It is quite amazing how being forced to view things from a different position can make you see an extremely different picture and even learn and understand more than you did before. I can personally agree with that statement because of my own life experiences. My paternal grandfather was barely a part of my dad’s life and therefore not really a part of my life either. When he got sick and my dad decided to take on the medical responsibility, I couldn’t understand his decision. It wasn’t until my grandfather passed away that I realized why my dad chose to do it. My dad was unfortunately in a really tough position and my grandpa’s sickness forced my dad to look at things much differently and be mature enough to forgive him for his wrongdoings. I definitely do believe where you are at a specific point in time can determine how you see things and how you make your next move. We will write a custom essay sample on Lancelot by Walker Percy specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Lancelot by Walker Percy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Lancelot by Walker Percy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer After discoveri

Free Essays on Roaring 20s

The Roaring 20s refers to the "golden" decade of growth between 1920 - 1930 in post-war America. America in the 1920s was full of prosperity, growth, and was considered a crossroad of the traditional and modern. Such as the Fundamentalists of "old school" religion clashing with the Modernists of new religion. Standard of living rose greatly, and for the first time, more of the population lived in urban areas, rather than in the rural farms. The decade of 1920 brought forth many positive changes in America that altered it to meet the changes of society. The so-called "roaring 20s" of the 1920s America can be seen as an accurate portrayal of America, for America was becoming a contemporary society; America began progressing at a rapid pace. The decade of the 1920s included many changes, inventions, and developments which transformed a traditional American society into a modern American society- a society in which the conflict of traditional v. modern had lasting effects on American so ciety. Such cultural changes which conflicted with past tradition would include the invention of the automobile, the changing role of women, the role of science and religion, as well as new technology that were introduced and furthered in the decade of the "roaring 20s". [12] Around this period, America was bouncing back from the recession of war. In this post-war America, America slowly began to make progression after the First World War. Henry Ford perfected the assembly-line production to where this famous Rouge River Plant was producing a finished automobile every ten seconds. Sports were buoyed by people like home-run hero Babe Ruth and boxers Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier. In 1929, when the bull market collapsed, 26 million motor vehicles were registered in the United States, or 1 car per 4.9 Americans. New industries came about as a result from the automobile- industries such as tires, cloth/fabric, roads (construction), and glass. These ... Free Essays on Roaring 20s Free Essays on Roaring 20s The Roaring 20s refers to the "golden" decade of growth between 1920 - 1930 in post-war America. America in the 1920s was full of prosperity, growth, and was considered a crossroad of the traditional and modern. Such as the Fundamentalists of "old school" religion clashing with the Modernists of new religion. Standard of living rose greatly, and for the first time, more of the population lived in urban areas, rather than in the rural farms. The decade of 1920 brought forth many positive changes in America that altered it to meet the changes of society. The so-called "roaring 20s" of the 1920s America can be seen as an accurate portrayal of America, for America was becoming a contemporary society; America began progressing at a rapid pace. The decade of the 1920s included many changes, inventions, and developments which transformed a traditional American society into a modern American society- a society in which the conflict of traditional v. modern had lasting effects on American so ciety. Such cultural changes which conflicted with past tradition would include the invention of the automobile, the changing role of women, the role of science and religion, as well as new technology that were introduced and furthered in the decade of the "roaring 20s". [12] Around this period, America was bouncing back from the recession of war. In this post-war America, America slowly began to make progression after the First World War. Henry Ford perfected the assembly-line production to where this famous Rouge River Plant was producing a finished automobile every ten seconds. Sports were buoyed by people like home-run hero Babe Ruth and boxers Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier. In 1929, when the bull market collapsed, 26 million motor vehicles were registered in the United States, or 1 car per 4.9 Americans. New industries came about as a result from the automobile- industries such as tires, cloth/fabric, roads (construction), and glass. These ...

Artificial Intelligences beneficial impact on economy, education and healthcare

Artificial Intelligence's beneficial impact on economy, education and healthcare Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to prove to have a beneficial and fast-paced impact on education, healthcare, and economy. The measure of the impact artificial intelligence will have on the global economy is bolstered by its successful application into industries. As researchers continue to develop the efficiency and reliability of AI, the application of AI into industries will grow exponentially; therefore, the impact could be incalculable. Desjardins states, â€Å"By 2030, AI is expected to provide a $15.7 trillion boost to GDP worldwide- the equivalent of adding 13 new Australia’s to the global economy†. A boost of this size indicates that vast technological advancements are expected to be made as well. This will create benefits aside from the monetary value. Increased trade between countries will result, which will lead to specialization and competition. A healthy competition between industries encourages innovation as they compete for the consumers’ dollar, and innovation is the heart of technology. The economic boost improves and supports international relations as well. The ef ficiency of AI can impact many parts of the economy such as manufacturing. Rather than humans occupying the jobs, machines are more consistent, reliable, and productive. Lohr presents â€Å"a series of charts and graphs that track AI- related trends over time. They include measures like the rate of improvement in image identification and speech recognition, as well as start- up activity and job openings†. Not only does AI create beneficial developments in economy, but as well as image identification and speech recognition. It also promotes entrepreneurship and new jobs. Therefore, rumors of replacing medical jobs in the future are no longer needed. AI has shown some improvement in healthcare, but researchers say the possibilities of a greater healthcare system with AI involved. Pearl states that â€Å"[u]sing consensus algorithms from experts in the field, along with the data that oncologists enter into a medical record, a computer can review dozens, sometimes hundreds, of established treatment alternatives and recommend the most appropriate combination of chemotherapy drugs for a patient†. Having various ways to cure a patient helps improves the chance of the medicine curing the patient. It can improve the quality of care and STOP. He clarifies, â€Å"Visual pattern recognition software is estimated to be 5% to 10% more accurate than the average physician†. AI has shown a great impact on education and will continue to do so. Bernard states, â€Å"The Navy reported that the students who had worked with the digital tutor made enormous strides in their education, and that they consistently rested higher than students who had studied without the program’s benefit†. Using technology in the classroom hugely impacts on an individual student’s grade and as well as the classroom in a whole. Dickson indicates how â€Å"AI can also help take part in learner groups as a member and help sway discussions in the right direction by providing content, posing questions and providing alternative viewpoints†. Helping students learn beyond one aspect of a discussion can improve students’ education.

Global Business Entering Islamic Marketplace in Iraq Research Paper

Global Business Entering Islamic Marketplace in Iraq - Research Paper Example Since few decades,there have been significant advancements in almost every field due to achievements of human race in information and technology In the result,huge numbers of business organizations are putting efforts to enter into the international marketplace by expanding from home country to a new country In this regard, it is an observation that such trend has become common nowadays; however, organizations are confronting a number of challenges during their entrance into a new marketplace. Experts believe that it is happening due to a saying, â€Å"People don't plan to fail, they fail to plan† (Moore & Ellis, pp. 610-611, 2002). In addition, it has now become survival of the fittest where organizations are competing with each other on the international platform while coping up with the identified challenges. From this perspective, globalization has become a common notion now; however, it is still enjoying its significance and analysis has indicated that it will continue en joy such importance in the coming years as well. Unfortunately, individuals and organizations have been unable to acquire a clarified definition and understanding of the term globalization that is another major issue identified during the analysis of different global business concepts. According to the European Commission, â€Å"Globalisation can be defined as the process by which markets and production in different countries are becoming increasingly interdependent due to the dynamics of trade in goods and services and flow of capitals and technology† (Held, pp. 92, 2000). ... ion as a doubtful and vulnerable region for the international business; however, nowadays, there has been a significant alteration in perspectives of business experts, as the region has been able to attract huge number of investors and business organizations with its attractive trade and investment policies. In the result, one can observe huge investments and establishment of new businesses by multinational organizations in countries, such as UAE, Israel, Jordan, etc. Iraq is one of the major stakeholders in the Middle East; however, during the last few years, there have been adverse security conditions in the country that resulted in lack of interest of business organizations (Fleisher & Bensoussan, 2007). However, nowadays, business organizations are planning to enter into this Islamic country considering it a lucrative business marketplace for international business. In this regard, organizations will have to consider a number of factors that will be under discussion in following section of the paper. In particular, marketing is the most imperative component of every business planning, and it decides the success or failure of a business venture. In this regard, it will be important for a company to analyze different aspects of the region while creating its marketing strategies that will be crucial while entering into the new marketplace (Longenecker, 2008). In order to acquire a realistic understanding, the paper has chosen Starbucks Corporation as one of the case studies to suppose entrance of their coffeehouse stores in the Iraqi Islamic marketplace that will make it easier to understand different concepts embedded in the topic. Briefly, Starbucks Corporation (2011) has now become a leader in the coffeehouse business that has approximately fifteen-thousand stores

Spoken and Written Language, the Dual Route Model Case Study

Spoken and Written Language, the Dual Route Model - Case Study Example 1197). Thus, Coltheart and Rastle attempt to offer evidence to the utility of dual-route theory in analyzing the reading performance of young normal readers as well as children with reading impairment. Another significant article on the applicability of dual-route theory, Rapcsak, et al. offer establish with evidences that dual-route equation as well as a related multiple regression model can â€Å"accurately predict both reading and spelling performance in adult neurological patients with acquired alexia and agraphia. These findings provide empirical support for dual-route theories of written language processing.† (Rapcsak, Henry, Teague, Carnahan, and Beeson, 2007, p. 2519). Therefore, both the articles deal with the effectiveness of dual-route models to analyze the reading performance of people with reading impairment, although the strategy as well as the focus of these articles differs. It is essential to realize that both the articles deal with scientific studies about th e usefulness of dual-route models and they offer detailed information about the participants of the study, including the age, speech and language abilities, cognitive status of the participants, etc. In short, the articles deal with a common topic, i.e.

Skrzynecki and Lord of the Flies Essay Example for Free

Skrzynecki and Lord of the Flies Essay ‘A feeling of belonging depends on a strong relationship, developed over a period of time. ’ To what extent would you support this viewpoint? In your essay refer in detail to your prescribed text and at least ONE other related text of your own choosing. According to sociobiologists, the need for human connection and belonging is hardwired and genetically dictated. It defines ‘who’ and ‘what’ we are, and how we fit into the world around us. An individual’s sense of connection may be influenced by many factors, but one of the strongest of these is a strong relationship or relationships, which have been developed over a period of time. This human connection is instrumental in defining an individual’s place in the world as well as his or her sense of belonging. The notion that a feeling of belonging depends on a strong relationship is explored in Peter Skrzynecki’s prose poetry anthology Immigrant Chronicle (1975) – in particular the poems ‘Migrant Hostel’ in which the persona and his family struggle to gain lasting relationships at the hostel, and ’10 Mary Street’, the persona’s childhood home, in which strong familial relationships were forged – and William Golding’s prose fiction text Lord of the Flies (1958), in which a group of school boys stranded on an island gradually lose any strong relationships they may have had as their civilisation descends into violence and savagery. Both these texts memorably and distinctively explore how relationships and acceptance can shape an individual’s perceptions of belonging and not belonging. Set in the context of a post-war assimilationist culture, Migrant Hostel represents the immense sense of disconnection experienced by the persona and his family, given both their dislocation from their European homeland and their lack of strong relationships with the other members of the hostel. The migrants transitory existence is emphasised through the use of a migratory bird simile For over two years we lived like birds of passage, always sensing a chance in the weather while through the use of connotative language to highlight the personas disconnection, the poem provides an overall sense of helplessness and lack of autonomy in determining their own future Sudden departures from adjoining blocks that left us wondering who would be coming next thus constructing the hostel as a place of impotence and impermanence. This evident transience is perhaps symbolic of the migrants own fleeting sense of connection as they instinctively seek out members of their own culture, efficaciously conveyed through the use of a familiar analogy – â€Å"nationalities sought/each other out instinctively – like a homing pigeon/circling to get its bearings†. These superficial relationships thus serve to hinder the development of any lasting sense of belonging – regardless of a common history and identity – as, whilst for some migrants, their time in the hostel represents a new beginning, for others the sustained sense of alienation and despair, due to a lack of strong relationships, becomes too difficult to bear, as the final lines of the poem poignantly suggest through juxtaposition – â€Å"lives/that had only begun/or were dying†. Thus a feeling of belonging depends on a strong relationship, developed over a period of time. Standing in stark contrast to ‘Migrant Hostel’ is the poem ’10 Mary Street’, which portrays the persona’s strong feelings of belonging to his childhood home as a result of the strong familial relationships which were forged during his time there. The family’s domestic routine is depicted and their unity of existence is simply, but effectively conveyed in the first stanza through inclusive language â€Å"We departed/Each morning, shut the house/Like a well-oiled lock†, alluding to their sense of family security. The beginning of the second stanza alludes to the fact that, despite the family’s integration into mainstream society, their socioeconomic marginalisation continues. Through the simple use of connotation and onomatopoeia, the responder is positioned to recognise the mundane nature of the menial labour the persona’s parents nevertheless stoically endure – â€Å"From the polite hum-drum/Of washing clothes/And laying sewage pipes†. Consequently, it is in the context of the Skrzynecki family’s ongoing marginalisation that the sense of belonging afforded by the family home gains deeper significance. Feelings of nourishment and well-being are generated through combining a simile and cumulative imagery as the persona’s parents extend their nurturing to the family garden – â€Å"My parents watered/Plants- grew potatoes/ And rows of sweet corn:/ Tended the roses and camellias/ Like adopted children†. Thus, the persona’s strong sense of belonging as depicted in this poem is a result of the strong relationships with his family which were forged during his time there. While similar to Immigrant Chronicle on a superficial level, to the extent that both texts represent individual’s experiences of alienation and dislocation, Golding’s text Lord of the Flies explores representations of belonging, in terms of relationships, differently. Composed in the context of the Cold War nuclear arms power race, Golding’s text can be read as an allegory of the impossibility of human civilisation in which individuals are able to coexist without ultimately resorting to violence and savagery. The character of Piggy represents the scientific and rational side of society – portrayed in this text as a minority. From the beginning of the novel, Piggy has little by way of close relationships – â€Å"A storm of laughter arose and even the tiniest child joined in. For the moment the boys were a closed circuit of sympathy with Piggy on the outside. † It is in this moment that both the extent of Piggy’s alienation is highlighted while the disintegration into chaos and disorder is also foreshadowed through the breaking of Piggys glasses, a symbol of rational civilisation. When Piggy’s glasses are broken during a major battle between Ralph and Jack towards the end of the book, this destruction symbolises the ultimate desolation of civilisation on the island, and, with it, any sense of belonging that the boys on the island had attempted to inculcate. This destruction can be viewed as a decimation of any strong relationships that the boys may have had – particularly between Piggy, Ralph and Jack – and can be read as reason for the poignant lack of belonging on the island. Jack Merridew, who begins as the head hunter, comes to embody the spirit of chaos and destruction on the island. While it can be argued that it is Jack’s lack of a strong ‘familial’ relationship with Ralph and Piggy that incites his search for power, Golding implies that the human instinct of barbarism greatly outweighs that of civilisation. When Jack first realises how much power he has, any sense of belonging he feels to the other boys is annihilated, the moment when Jack and his hunters finally manage to capture and kill a pig, marking Jack’s descent into bestial savagery, – â€Å"Look! We’ve killed a pig – we stole up on them – we got in a circle –†. The hyphenation utilised in this dialogue is subtly indicative of Jack’s inevitable loss of any sense of civility as he develops a warped relationship to his barbaric activities, ultimately seducing the majority of the boys off to a separate camp, where their descent into primitive barbarism becomes evident – â€Å"The chief was sitting there, naked to the waist, his face blocked out in white and red. The tribe lay in a semicircle before him. While giving Jack a sense of power and self-importance, this new ‘tribe’, built on a mutual savage desire for food, has diminished the boys’ sense of friendship and camaraderie. It is this lack of a strong relationship developed over a period of time which is cause for their lack of a strong sense of belonging. Evidently it is clear, upon examination of Immigrant Chronicle and Lord of the Flies, that a feeling o f belonging relies heavily on a strong relationship developed over a period of time. In Skrzynecki’s poem ‘Migrant Hostel’, the persona’s evocative sense of isolation is due to his lack of any strong relationships as well as any attempts at establishing them. In contrast to this, ’10 Mary Street’ clearly provides a strong sense of belonging as a result of the persona’s strong familial relationships. In Lord of the Flies, the boys stranded on the island attempt to cling to their superficial relationships to each other, but, in the face of dwindling food supplies, eventually descend into savagery, diminishing their relationships and ultimately their sense of belonging.

American Drug Laws- Do They He :: essays research papers fc

American Drug Laws: Do They Help or Hurt? I believe the drug laws are in serious need of reform. We tend to forget that alcohol is a drug and that at one time it was prohibited without success. Also, I believe that a civil body of government rather than a criminal one should regulate drug use. It is a social problem, not a criminal one. As a largely victimless crime they should not have their civil rights taken away just because they like to take drugs which we have arbitrarily made illegal. Drugs are very expensive because they are illegal. Their procurement and use fuel crime and violence, which could be largely eliminated if organized crime did not have a monopoly and the free enterprise system could control the market. Potency regulated by licensed drug companies would prevent unusually pure substances from causing accidental overdose. There is an epidemic of unnecessary deaths from this cause. This problem is exacerbated by the fear users and bystanders have of seeking a highly effective antidote for drug poisoning that is universally available at hospitals. The U.S. drug laws violate our right to privacy, cost millions in tax revenue, overloads the criminal justice system, and are ineffective as a deterrent to drug use and trafficking. Laws that govern drug use are patently arbitrary and have their bases in racial prejudice and the comfort index of old male legislators. The first opium regulatory laws were enacted in San Francisco in response to Asian immigrants entertaining married white women in opium dens (Hamowy). The American and European tolerance for tobacco and alcohol use while fearing "counter-culture" marijuana, cocaine, and heroin is a strong prejudice based on ignorance of the comparative human misery caused by the inevitable misuse of mind-altering substances. Alcohol and tobacco cause more illness and death each year than all the illicit drugs combined. Legislative attempts to curb alcohol and tobacco use by children makes some of these very vulnerable people desire their use, but the age-restrictive and the accompanying time-of-purchase limits on widely abused drugs are the best that society has devised. Our knowledge of education techniques to encourage abstinence or moderate use of drugs is extremely inadequate. Laws for prevention of illegal drug use are wildly unsuccessful and have resulted in making drug-related criminals the majority of incarcerated offenders in U.S. prisons. The result of illegalizing use, and not necessarily abuse at all, is a 100% increase in drug criminals in the last ten years (Hamowy) for use of substances which have no more, and probably less, intrinsic potential for abuse.

Our Life Is Affected by Excess Clutter That Weighs Us Down

It was a necessary realization to me how much living among excess clutter could harm my health, physically and emotionally. We may think it is just a cleaning process, but the depth of the problem will open our eyes to realize how and why the effect of clutter weighs us down. Why it is hard to unclutter? Why can’t it be organized? Why is more clutter mounting up? Emotionally attached objects are hard to get rid of. New attractive items are found in markets all the time. Consequently, clutter can easily mount up in one’s life.Clutter and disorganization impairs productivity. By knowing these facts as problems, we can start searching for the solutions to make our life so much easier. I wanted to find solutions as I was living with excess clutter! I will be introducing a practical method to end excess clutter called â€Å"Danshari. † Danshari is a new notion of de-cluttering that has been prevalent in Japan. The idea includes the concept of removing the emotional bu rden that comes with having too many items.Furthermore, Danshari teaches people to let go of their burdens and make clear plans for a better future. We need to understand that clutter is created by unorganized people who are creating physical and mental danger for themselves. Physically, if one lives in a cluttered house, one probably doesn’t eat well, because the kitchen isn’t functional. The person most likely doesn’t even know what is in the refrigerator and whether or not their food is contaminated.People start to realize the need of de-cluttering when there is a distinct element of danger due to the excess clutter. However, unless one is highly organized, one would most likely understate the problem. People may think it is an issue of space when they approach the problem of de-cluttering. However, this subjectively viewed space problem can be solved by organizing accordingly by acquiring trash bags and containers. According to David F.Tolin, Director of the Anxiety Disorders Center at the Institute of Living in Hartford, CT, and an adjunct associate professor of psychiatry at Yale, â€Å"Hoarding is not just a house problem; it’s also a person problem. † (Tolin, Frost, & Steketee, 2007) The person needs to fundamentally change their behavior. The victims of this excess clutter problem would be the clinically defined hoarders; however, many people can find problems similar to the hoarder’s behaviors. I must state that the hoarders I am referring to are different from collectors, as an expert explains as follows: A definition of hoarding that discriminates clinical hoarding syndromes from collecting and normal saving involves: (a) the acquisition of, and failure to discard, a large number of possessions that appear to be useless or of limited value; (b) living spaces sufficiently cluttered so as to preclude activities for which those spaces were designed; (c) significant distress or impairment in functioning caused by the hoarding. † (Steketee & Frost, 2006) Hoarding has been reported in a variety of disorders. One of the problems is that hoarding involves the inability to discard worthless or worn out items.Some individuals firmly believe that all personal objects have emotional attachments. Consequently, they are unable to separate themselves from emotionally charged items that they feel holds some sort of personal memory. Those people may object to an uncluttering proposal because they may think and feel that all items are essential and they are unable to differentiate between essential and non-essential items. It is an understandable time consuming process; however, one must realize that failure to organize and de-clutter will often result in decreased feelings of well-being.Kupfermann (2011) in the New York Times article â€Å"The hoarder fights back,† opposes the notion that de-cluttering increases the level of mental health by demonstrating the traumatic experience of the d e-cluttering process at her house. Kupfermann (2011) argued that de-cluttering, Zen-like simplicity, or Feng-Shui practice would drain our feelings and leave us with emptiness. When Kupfermann was urged to clean her house for her child’s wedding, she reluctantly agreed to de-clutter objects with her minimalist friend who suggested going through the de-cluttering process.As Kupfermann’s memorable objects went into trash bags by the friend’s hand, she felt embarrassment, distress, and anger. After the friend declared gleefully there were ten containers to de-clutter, Kupfermann felt emptiness in her mind by losing irreplaceable memorial objects. Kupfermann (2011) addressed a noticeable drawback of de-cluttering, â€Å"Feng-shui experts will tell you that clearing the clutter is like weeding a garden to let the flowers emerge. Clear the decks and you'll make space to let new things into your life. Kupfermann opposed, â€Å"less is not always more; sometimes it re ally is less. † As a self-identified hoarder, Kupfermann falls into the expert definition of a hoarder; (a) the acquisition of, and failure to discard, a large number of possessions that appear to be useless or of limited value. It appears that Kupfermann’s feeling was fear that many hoarders experience. According to empirical evidence, many hoarder’s fear is derived from the belief that they must keep items in sight, otherwise they will lose or forget the personal value these items hold.Kupfermann experienced emptiness which made her feel insecure. The feeling of distress, insecurity, and anxiety caused by the notion of de-cluttering is the factor that interferes most with the hoarder’s problem of organization and systematization. Furthermore, compulsive buying disorder is featured in hoarding. Donald W. Black, MD, Professor at the University of Iowa, stated that compulsive buying disorder (CBD) is characterized by excessive shopping cognitions and buying behavior that leads to distress or impairment. Black, 2007) The study of hoarders’ brain activity by Tolin, Frost, & Steketee (2007) provides evidence that hoarders have difficulty in decision making, organizing, and planning. Hoarders’ brain activities were scanned and tracked while they looked at various possessions and made decisions about whether to keep them or throw them away. The items were shredded in front of them, so they knew the decision was irreversible. When a hoarder was making decisions about throwing away items, there was increasing activity in the orbitofrontal cortex, a part of the brain involved in decision making, organizing, and planning. Tolin, 2012) Moreover, since hoarding is associated with difficulties in organizing possessions, acquiring more clutter results in an endless chain of problems for hoarders. Materialism is another dimension that contributed to hoarding problems in today’s society. A new line of products always allures sho ppers despite the marketing strategy of manufactures. The shoppers can have the instant gratification of purchasing an item to improve social status and that will speak of their place in the tradition of affluence. It is apparent that oods have an important place in most consumers’ dreams, if not in their hearts. Yet it is not the goods themselves that people desire, but rather the benefit those goods provide, i. e. , an increase in comfort or pleasure, the ability to accomplish new tasks, and the perception of others when they regard what we own. Holdbrook (2002), the W. T. Dillard Professor of Marketing in the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University, defined materialism in his book, â€Å"Consumer Value : A Framework for Analysis and Research† reported on the importance a consumer attaches to worldly possessions.According to Holdbrook (2002), materialism is a value orientation in which individuals, 1) place possessions and their acquisition at the center o f their lives, and 2) believe that possessions lead to important life satisfactions. If one doesn’t see a hoarding problem, one might not identify hoarding behaviors as a high-priority problem. The awareness of a potential hoarding problem and its solution could be beneficial to anyone who is willing to consider an alternative living context and overcome problems of indecisiveness. The process may take a long time depending on the person; however, the advantages are multidimensional.As mentioned earlier, individuals who see objects as value refers to the emotional meaning attached to the possession. With items that have a personal symbolic meaning, such as a particularly important time in their life, a radically different decision making process as a result of organization and structure will most likely take considerable time. Kupfermann’s (2011) experience with her minimalist friend resulted in her rejecting the beneficial aspects of de-cluttering. Clutter should not be referred to as weeds, as those items hold some very important memories of people’s lives.Her friend was not attuned to Kupfermann’s feelings and item attributions, therefore Kupfermann had a traumatic experience resulting in the emergence of feelings and cognitions counter to the process of de-cluttering. One could argue that if the items are reassuring one’s feelings, one should keep the items and not necessarily discard them. It is important to take time to organize those memorable items. Through the process of organization, we will find out which objects reassure positive feelings and which do not. Memories are not in the objects themselves but they are within the individual.If one thinks every object reassures positive feelings, one is presumably living in the past, not in present. People will achieve a significant relationship with de-cluttering objects, finding essential objects in their life. The difference is how the individual took care of these memo rable items; whether to treat them as clutter or keep them as cherished memories, neatly organized and even beautifully displayed. If the item is important enough to keep as a memorable item, one would not just put the item somewhere that is hard to find, one would organize it and possibly proudly display the item.This type of cognitive attribution and style of thought is the difference between the collectors and the hoarders. Another possible drawback of this proposal would be the time for the decision making processes that will enter into making a choice between essential and non-essential personal items. A person may raise the question as to whether or not the decision to unclutter would be correct which may cause a certain level of distress. Most people think they don’t have enough time in their day. When will people find the time to organize and dispose of items when there are numerous simultaneous decisions that need to be made?People are proficient at making excuses. N evertheless, we should realize that in the long term, the time it takes to search and find a cluttered item will most likely be temporally similar as the process of de-cluttering and organizing. I would like to describe â€Å"Danshari (Yamashita ,2012)†, the notion of de-cluttering that is sweeping Japan. It is written with three chinese characters that indicates respectively, refusal, disposal and separation. The proposer, Hideko Yamashita, learned this notion through the study of Yoga which taught her to â€Å"let go,† as signified with the three chinese characters.There are psychological and religious dimensions mostly from zen which suggests the disposal of mental burden, along with the physical excess of clutter. As I am from Japan, this notion was easily accepted knowing the meaning of each chinese character. It is important to acquire the ability to distinguish what is essential to us and what is not essential in order to live positively with organized thought. It is the ability to make firm and logical decisions about what to keep and what to reject, and then engaging in the behavioral expression of disposal. One will gain control and personal reedom from the ability to emotionally separate oneself from those items that are no longer needed. There are many tips to being able to detach from emotionally charged objects. I will introduce a couple of tips; in regards to gifted items purchased by other people, if these gifts are undesirable, appreciate the kindness of the purchaser, then give the gift away to someone who can use it. When purchasing an item, consider if you already possess an item or similar item, and what is the purpose of the item you are considering purchasing. Key phrases to remember are â€Å"optimum amount,† â€Å"optimum quality†, and â€Å"optimum relationship. Keeping these concepts in one’s mind teaches a sense of function and practicality. Danshari (2002) teaches us to discard our lingering, ill ogical, and impractical senses. The de-cluttering practice allows us to realize and recognize the culminating effect of clutter, restricted space, and crowding which interferes with people’s ability to think clearly and act accordingly. As clutter becomes less prominent and cognitions become clearer and free of distraction, the mental condition improves and people’s quality of life improves. The most important impact achieved by Danshari (2002) is high self-affirmation.Humans are sensitive to environmental conditions. Living in a space where all objects suit one’s preference and need, one will feel welcomed by the space. Additionally, quality objects with the highest level of emotional attachment still remain by practicing the careful selection of memorable goods. Moreover, the Danshari (2002) practice will strengthen the ability for the discernible selection of activities and people. Danshari is also utilized as a training module to help people view themselves from another perspective on how much people cling to the past.By being able to re-orient themselves to the here-and-now, people will start to feel for the moment. References 1. Black. D. â€Å"A review of compulsive buying disorder† ncbi. nlm. nih. gov. World Psychiatry. 6 February, 2007. Web. 24 April. 2012 2. Tolin, D. F. , Frost, R. O. , & Steketee, G. â€Å"Buried in treasures: help for compulsive acquiring, saving, and hoarding. † Oxford University Press, 2007. 3. Holdbrook, M. B. â€Å"Consumer Value: A Framework for Analysis and Research† Taylor & Francis e-Library ed. Routledge. 2002. 4. Francine, J. â€Å"Minimalism around the World: Danshari. Miss minimalist, 11 Aug. 2011. Web. 19 April 2012. 5. Kupfermann, J. â€Å"The hoarder fights back. † Solo Syndication Ltd. News Paper article. January 2, 2011. 6. Tolin, D. F. â€Å"A Clutter Too Deep for Mere Bins and Shelves. † Nytimes. com. The New York Times, 1 January, 2008. Web. 28 April. 201 2 7. Steketee, Gail & Frost, Randy. â€Å"Compulsive Hoarding and Acquiring: Workbook. † Oxford University Press, Nov 2006. 8. Yamshita, H. â€Å"Danshari – Hideko Yamashita official site. † Danshari. com. Keiei Kagaku public, co, ltd. 20 April, 2010. Web. 26 April. 2012

Environmental Problems in El Salvador

With a total land mass of just 8,124 square miles, El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America. Like many of its’ neighboring countries, it possesses very few natural resources. Since the nation’s economy is based predominantly on agriculture, it’s no surprise that its’ citizens often experience â€Å"resource roller coasters†. In addition, its’ long history of inappropriate land tenure and ownership practices date all the way back to colonialism. Even more strikingly, â€Å"sixty percent of El Salvador’s population is expected to live in the capital by 2010. As a result, El Salvador has to deal with continuing environmental problems. The fact that the nation lies along the Pacific Ring of fire doesn’t help either, which subjects the country to frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. The environmental problems that El Salvador continually struggles with are deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution, contaminat ion and lack of bio-diversity. El Salvador is the second most deforested country in Latin American after Haiti. In fact, nearly eighty five percent of its forest has disappeared since the 1960's.Today, less than 6,000 hectares are now considered to be primary forest. Deforestation in El Salvador occurs as a result of timber exploitation for fuel. The nation’s high population relies heavily on the collection of fuel wood and subsistence hunting and agriculture. Since the end of the 1990's, the country’s deforestation rate has increased by eighteen percent. The environmental, social and economic effects of deforestation have been nothing short of devastating. To date, more than fifty percent of El Salvador isn’t even suitable for food cultivation.In addition, much of the country suffers from severe soil erosion. The massive deforestation that the nation has experienced has dislodged the top soil and has even changed the climate according to environmental experts. What used to be a heavily wooded region is now more like a desert. Deforestation is so severe in El Salvador that it has forced people into the capital city of San Salvador, where overcrowding has caused problems such as smog. â€Å"At least 11,000 Salvadoran children die every year because of respiratory ailments believed related to air pollution, according to one study. Although the El Salvadoran government has attempted to respond to the problem of deforestation, they have not been particularly successful. They have created deforestation laws, but due to lack of funds and management, the laws often go unenforced. In addition, soil erosion and infertility are quite prevalent in El Salvador. These problems stem mostly from poor agricultural practices. Farmers typically use a â€Å"slash and burn† farming method, which consists of cutting and burning down forests in order to use the areas for agriculture. This method destroys all vegetation and leaves the surrounding soil vu lnerable to extreme erosion.Unfortunately, since it is becoming more and more difficult to find land that is suitable for cultivation, farmers have no choice but to do this. Farming is their livelihood and quite frankly they will do anything to survive. What’s even more disheartening is the fact that the land that is suitable for cultivation has already been bought to use for construction of maquilas. In some cases, soil erosion has even buried communities in landslides and floods have submerged large areas of flat land. The soil is also unable to retain humidity causing drought conditions in the dry season.Most agricultural soil has even been acidified due to the irrational use of inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, and other forms of pollution. Luckily, the government has responded to this problem and is encouraging farmers to take advantage of improved agricultural technologies. These technologies include planting deep rooted grasses and trees on hillsides to control soil e rosion. However, farmers should not expect much financial assistance to take advantage of these new technologies because the El Salvadoran government simply does not have much to give.Thirdly, water pollution is another environmental problem that plague El Salvador. Despite receiving six feet of rainfall each year, most of the nation’s water is highly contaminated. In fact, thousands are killed each year due to water contamination, many of whom are children. At the same time, most of the citizens of the nation cannot afford bottled water. After the twelve year civil war destroyed much of the country’s infrastructure, poor areas became even poorer. Homes and water sources had been destroyed by militia during the war. After returning home, some citizens chose to hand dig wells in order to obtain drinking water.However, many others went to their nearest stream, river or pond to collect water. These unsafe and contaminated water sources caused many people to become ill wit h intestinal diseases. According to Ricardo Navarro, El Salvador’s government has failed to protect its’ most precious resource: â€Å"Farmers have cut down forests that used to store rain water. Ranchers have allowed their livestock to pollute rivers. Communities have put latrines too close to shallow wells. † Others, such as Marisol Prima Ponza, who runs a government dispensary that tracks the health of 375 children in several communities, believe that things are improving. There have been fewer cases of diarrhea,† she says. â€Å"For example, from January to August of this year I have only recorded 17 cases. † Ponza also added that these improvements are due to several projects that have been implemented to improve water conditions. El Salvador’s government can not claim that they have played a large role in any improvements though. In fact, sixty three percent of water improvement programs were financed through international loans and gra nts, twenty one percent through self-financing by ANDA and only sixteen percent with actual government resources.Many citizens and international groups alike have been putting pressure on the government to improve water conditions as well. In fact, March 22 is declared as World Water Day when thousands of people protest in the streets of San Salvador. They typically protest the four main components of the country’s water crisis: high cost of water, unjust distribution of water, contaminated water and environmental destruction. Despite some improvements, poor water sanitation continues to remain one of the main environmental problems of El Salvador. Another environmental problem that El Salvador must deal with on a daily basis is contamination.The nation’s soil is constantly being contaminated from the disposal of toxic wastes. Each day, El Salvador produces over two thousand metric tons of garbage. Over half of the garbage that is produced is disposed of illegally in o pen air dumps. In actuality, only two legal garbage dumps exist for the entire country to share. The whole country, especially the Greater San Salvador area contaminates a great deal of its garbage by â€Å"mixing organic with inorganic garbage, biodegradable or reusable materials with non-biodegradable or toxic waste. By doing this, many recycling opportunities are completely lost and the cost of recovering the recyclable materials would simply not be worth it. Unfortunately, the nation’s restrictions on any kind of waste disposal are quite lax and they do not provide people with the resources for proper disposal anyway. In addition, nearly half of the nation’s garbage is toxic waste which is harmful to human and environmental health. Factories and hospitals alike simply dump their garbage into nearby rivers and lakes which contaminates the water.Unfortunately, the response from the municipal government in San Salvador barely makes a dent in the problem. Nonetheless, if its model extended throughout the nation and made its way into the platforms of public officials as well as environmental organizations, then positive change would probably occur. For a country whose environment is badly deteriorating, this is a life or death situation and must be properly addressed. Garbage collectors themselves can be seen handling garbage with their bare hands on any given day, which subjects them to many types of infections.According to the garbage collectors themselves, there isn’t a very good communication flow between them and the environmental sanitation office. Many of the people that work at the mayor’s office are not even aware of a pilot project to separate garbage. In addition, the equipment that would be needed for the project would not even be affordable due to San Salvador’s poor economic conditions. Unfortunately, the mayor’s good intentions are simply not helpful without the proper funding and effort. Lastly, another environmental issue that affects El Salvador is the loss of bio-diversity.It’s not that the nation naturally lacks bio-diversity, but rather the result of many years of environmental abuse. In particular, the nation’s wildlife and native plant life are suffering due to soil degradation, poor water quality and subsistence hunting. Despite these problems, more than 508 species of birds, 121 mammals, 130 reptiles and amphibians, and over 2000 plant species were recorded in the nation in 1998. Even though these numbers have probably decreased since then due to the government’s lack of emphasis on natural resources training, they are still not devastating by any means.In fact, El Salvador encompasses over seven percent over the world’s total biodiversity. However, these plants and animal species are not going to save themselves. If the nation’s other environmental issues are not addressed then the distinction of some of these plants and animals is inev itable. The environmental problems in El Salvador are an important issue to the state because they all lead to others problems.For example, contamination has led to water pollution which has led to illness and people’s livelihoods depend on whether they are healthy enough to work. As mentioned several of times, the state has definitely not done enough to ddress the environmental problems in which they are suffering from. Even when they do address the problems and create plans to fix them, they usually lack the money to carry the plans through. Any money that they do have to fix the problem is typically obtained through international grant and loan programs, like the United Nations. Some improvements have been made in El Salvador, such as the integration of legal garbage dumps, but since only two exist, the improvements have not been immense. The environmental problems have weakened the economy and in turn, the weakened economy is what is preventing the problems from being fix ed.It’s not that the elected officials of El Salvador do not have goals and visions for their state, but it’s that they can’t carry them through economically. Perhaps educating the citizens of El Salvador about how to care for the environment and farm correctly is one of the first steps. International groups also need to continue to put pressure on the state through protests, such as they did on World Water Day and their funding needs to continue. By improving their environmental problems, El Salvador has the ability to prosper more than anyone has ever even imagined.

This is Your Platform

This is Your Platform Jane Friedman is a brilliant woman in the publishing world. Shed been editor of Writers Digest and the Virginia Quarterly. Now shes just an in-demand guru, and trust me, I read everything of hers that comes across my screen. One of her most famous posts on her blog is A Definition of Author Platform https://janefriedman.com/author-platform-definition/   Platform building requires consistent, ongoing effort over the course of a career. It also means making incremental improvements in extending your network. It’s about making waves that attract other people to you - not about begging others to pay attention. The following list is not exhaustive, but helps give you an idea of how platform can grow. 1) Publishing or distributing quality work in outlets you want to be identified with and that your target audience reads. 2) Producing a body of work on your own platform - e.g., blog, e-mail newsletter, social network, podcast, video, digital downloads, etc- that gathers quality followers or a community of people who are interested in what you have to say. This is usually a longterm process. 3) Speaking at and/or attending events where you meet new people and extend your network of contacts. 4) Finding meaningful ways to engage with and develop your target audience, whether through content, events, online marketing/promotion, etc. 5) Partnering with peers or influencers to tackle a new project and/or extend your visibility. I have taught classes on platform, and the most common confusion I see across those seas of faces is how to clearly define what platform  is, so that those writers can follow some magical formula to get it. Its not a well-defined path. Here is my definition of platform: 1) Platform is you and your work and the magnetism it has on the public. 2) Add to that your ability to develop a reputation. 3) And finally add to that your ability to maintain a momentum, because platform isnt something you build and expect it to remain structurally sound forever. Platform is a long-term goal. Jane summarizes it as An ability to sell books because of who you are or who you can reach. Yes, thats spot on. But theres also an unspoken understanding that platform cant erode. Platform has no laurels to rest upon . . . you have to work with it every day to keep it alive and well.

Examine broken blossoms significance as an early example of Hollywoods Essay

Examine broken blossoms significance as an early example of Hollywoods portrayal of Asian culture - Essay Example Movies were being made showing both existing and new trends in life. In the light of these, movies such as Broken Blossoms were made with themes or aspects that reflected other cultures. In this 1900s, Hollywood did not offer Asian culture much positivity in their movies. In most cases, they were viewed as outcasts, strange, and mysterious. This does not mean that Hollywood held anything against Asians; rather, it is possible that due to its short-termed experience with the culture, it might have misunderstood or misinterpreted it. All in all, these are examples of the earliest inclusion of Asian Culture in Hollywood. The following study text will evaluate the 1919 American silent film and in it highlight the different examples of Asian culture as applied within it. The film revolves around Cheng Huan, a Chinese, who leaves for the Anglo-Saxon lands to spread Buddha’s message. Upon getting to London, his dream of spreading Buddhism is endangered by the reality that he finds there; that everyone is too preoccupied with their individual lives. As such, his chances of succeeding are low. He however finds a way through when he meets Lucy Burrows. Burrows is the daughter of a fierce boxer, Battling Burrows. She seems unwanted and mistreated by her father. One evening, she is beaten and sent away by her father and when she is out there, meets Cheng Huan. Huan nurses Miss Burrows and as she recovers, they develop a mutual relationship. They are similar in that both seem misplaced in society. Their relationship is interrupted when Battling hears of their relationship and goes to get her. He drags her home, drunk. Once in her room, she fears her father’s temper and contemptuous behavior and locks herself in a closet to escape him. Battling however finds her and beats her lifeless. Cheng pursues the tow and by the time he accesses her room, it is too late. Coincidentally, Battling bursts into Miss Burrows’ room as he wants

Buddhism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Buddhism - Research Paper Example Buddhism Buddhism is a common religion that originated in northern India but is practiced throughout the world, making it the fourth largest religion. Though the exact date of its founding is unknown, many scholars believe that Buddhism was formed during the fifth century.Narrowing down the exact date is made difficult due to the fact that most people do not know when Buddhism officially began. Its beginning might have been when Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism who would later become known as Buddha, first began his journey to Enlightenment, or after he became enlightened and journeyed through India to share his teachings. Regardless of when Buddhism found its origin, it has become a way of life and a philosophy that has helped many people to grow in their spirituality. Considered less of a religion and more of a philosophy or spiritual path, Buddhism sets out to provide people with guidelines on how to live a happy, peaceful, and moralistic life. Even followers of other r eligious traditions can utilize the teachings of Buddhism to strengthen their primary beliefs and improve their lives. The main tenets of this tranquil tradition that are incorporated into daily life are found in two doctrines: the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. The Four Noble Truths are the foundation of Buddhism and state that life is suffering; suffering is caused by desire; suffering can be brought to an end; and the Eightfold Path is the path to follow to bring about the end of suffering. The Eightfold Path, as previously stated, is followed with the intention of bringing an end to suffering, but these eight concepts can be followed in any life or religious practice to promote happiness. Right View requires the follower to learn to see reality as it is, without illusions or wishes of how they want their life to look. Right Intention means to act morally and ethically for the good of everyone. Right Speech involves not being deceitful, not speaking maliciously or with the intention of hurting someone, but to focus on speaking only words of kindness and compassion. Right Action and Right Livelihood promote abstaining from harming sentient beings, which also means to avoid becoming involved in activities that may cause harm to others, such as working in meat production or manufacturing weapons. Right Effort means to relinquish unwholesome qualities and habits, and to develop wholesome qualities. Right Mindfulness is to be in contemplation of the present moment, which can be aided by Right Concentration, or the practice of meditation. Since Buddhism promotes the importance of all life, from a human to a tree to an ant, a concept like euthanasia is one that is looked down upon. Even though euthanasia is a voluntary procedure done for the sake of a suffering individual, it requires taking a life. Willingly or not, Buddhism finds value in each life and considers it bad karma for the individual taking the life and the individual willingly live giving u p their life (Knott, 2000). On the other hand, something like an organ transplant would be considered in an opposite light. A person who has already died would be receiving good karma by allowing their organs to save the life of another. However, an organ transplant as a result of euthanasia would be a complex scenario, one that would be open to many interpretations from many seasoned Buddhist practitioners. Outside of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, the beliefs of Buddhism are minimal, though may increase depending on which branch of Buddhism is being observed. The only other two tenets that are adhered by all Buddhism branches concern life and death. Reincarnation is a primary belief in Buddhism, so life does not necessarily have a beginning or and end, but â€Å"is a continuum with do discernible starting point. Birth and death are like a revolving door through which an individual passes again and again (Keown, 2009).† A new life beings when another life dies ; when another life dies, in lieu of an afterlife, it becomes reborn as another life. This cycle