Monday, January 20, 2020
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World Essay -- Film Review, Boy meets Girl
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World tells the classic story of boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl but first must overcome problems which the girl brings from her past that interferes with their relationship. Initially defeated, sad boy realizes that this girl is ââ¬Å"the oneâ⬠and so goes into battle for her once more, and this time he is victorious. Where Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is fresh and unique is in the combination of styles and influences from comic books (Scott Pilgrim originally being a comic before being made as a film) and video games, particularly styles of video games popular during the early era of home video consoles in the 1980s and 1990s for which the intended audience of the movie, whose childhoods largely occurred in that period, would feel a deep nostalgia. Costume design, props, and the stylized gestures and vocal delivery of the actors (pp. 125-130, 139-146) all contribute to creating a feel reminiscent of said ââ¬Å"old-schoolâ⬠video games. D irector Edgar Wright structured the editing of the film so as to create the feel of a continuous stream of action, as though the romance is seen as a never-ending, fast-paced conflict. Sound (pp. 279-280) and visuals (p. 118) are also used in such a way as to create the sense of a universe which is deliberately unrealistic and as direct as possible a translation of the original comic book into film format. Although the film uses a restricted narration (p. 93), with the audience only seeing events as far as Scott can see them, the extensive use of visual and sound cues, as well as the deliberately formulaic plot structure and references to many old video games and classic ââ¬Å"boy-meets-girlâ⬠stories, the general structure and plot (pp. 80-82) of which the audience is assumed to b... ... and substitutes the common traits by the use of unique and innovative elements from a different medium. The style and the pop culture references (especially to video games) which the film is full of helps connect with the target audience, and also show the significant of how fantasy, video games and comic, can stylistically distribute a classical convention to the distinct overall formal system (pp. 56-58, 60-61). In other words, this film that incorporates stylistic elements of comic books and video games to tell a story which is already familiar fodder for movie audiences also makes it especially relevant to an audience demographic raised with video games and manga. Perhaps such prophetic in the integration of stylistic elements from different forms of popular entertainment media into film, can be something which audiences in the future may well come to expect.
Saturday, January 11, 2020
Oil, War and U.S. Foreign Policy. Essay
The war against Iran by the Anglo-American powers has been in planning since 1990s as part of their Greater Middle East strategy. A number of sources have recently reported plans by the Iranian government to institute a Tehran oil bourse and this might be the hidden agenda behind the evident march to war by the Anglo-American powers on Iran. The oil bourse argument is a red herring which diverts the attention of people from the real geopolitical grounds which is behind the real motive for the march to the war which is a high risk game on the nuclear weapon. In 1996, two neo-conservatives, Douglas Feith and Richard Perle who later played an important role in the formulation of the Pentagon policy in the Middle East under the Bush administration authored a paper which was presented to the elected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The advisory paper, ââ¬Å"A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realmâ⬠, had the intention of making Netanyahu to make ââ¬Å"a clean break from the peace processâ⬠. Feith and Perle also demanded Netanyahu to strengthen the defense of Israel against Syria and Iraq and to attack Iran as the prop for Syria. More than a year before the declaration of the former US president George W Bush of his ââ¬Å"shock and aweâ⬠operations against Iraq, he made his January 2002 State of the Union address which is now infamous to the Congress in which he Iran, together with North Korea and Iraq as members of the ââ¬Å"axis of evilâ⬠trio. This occurred before anybody in Tehran had even considered establishing an oil bourse in trading oil in various currencies. According to Engdahl, the US believed that the Tehran oil bourse would be the casus belli, which would trigger the pushing of Washington down the road to the potentiality of annihilation of Iran, which seems to be based on the notion that trading on oil openly to other nations in other currencies would make Tehran set in to motion a chain of events in which buyer after buyer, nation after nation, would come to buy oil no longer in US dollars but in euros. This in turn according to an argument, would lead to a panic in selling of the US dollars on the world foreign exchange markets and also lead to the collapse of the role of the US dollar as the reserve currency, which is one of the pillars of the ââ¬Å"US Empireâ⬠. According to Engdahl in his book, A Century of War, the creation of ââ¬Å"petrodollar recyclingâ⬠in 1974, which is a process where the by then US secretary of state Henry Kissinger was deeply involved, led to oil price hike of 400% and this was orchestrated by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Engdahl puts it that US dollar did not manage to become a ââ¬Å"petrodollarâ⬠even though Kissinger emphasized the process of ââ¬Å"recycling petrodollarâ⬠. According to the author, what Kissinger was referring to was the initiation of a new phase of global hegemony of US in which the export earnings from the petrodollar of OPEC oils lands would be recycled back to the hands of the major London and New York banks and later re-lent in the form of US dollars to other nations which are deficient in oil such as Argentina and Brazil and this led to the creation of what was soon to be known as the Latin America debt crisis. By this time, the US dollar had been a fiat issue since August 1971 following the abrogation of the Bretton Woods Treaty and refusal by the then US president Richard Nixon to redeem US dollars which were held in foreign central banks for gold. Due to the 400% increase in oil prices, nations such as Germany, France, and Japan suddenly had the reason to buy oil in their own currencies with the aim of lessening the pressure on their reserves of trade dollars which was rapidly declining. This led to the coming up of the Pentagon and US treaty partly with their secret diplomacy by Kissinger through bullying threats According to Engdahl, the US military were sent to Afghanistan for two main reasons; the first reason was to restore and control the worldââ¬â¢s largest supplier of opium in the world while at the same time use the drugs as a geopolitical weapon against their opponents especially Russia. The control of the drug market is an essential ingredient for the liquidity of the corrupt and bankrupt Wall Street financial market. U. S. Military and CIA Interventions in the Middle-East. Blom traces the origin of the current conflict from the brutal 1980-88 war which was between Iran and Iraq. At the time of the war, Kuwait was busy stealing oil from the Iraqi territory which was worth more than $2. 4 billion of oil. Soon after the battle, United Emirates and Kuwait started to exceed the production quotas that had been established by OPEC and this led to flooding in the oil market leading to a reduction on oil prices. This led Iraq to become deeply in debt and the then president Saddam Hussein declared this policy a threat to hi country by pointing out that Iraq was loosing billions of dollars each year due to the drop in oil prices. In an attempt to offset these loses, Saddam decided to gain possession of the two Gulf islands which were blocking Iraq from ownership of Rumaila oilfield. Kuwait continued to ignore Iraqââ¬â¢s territorial and financial demands and the OPECââ¬â¢s request to follow the quota system and this led to Iraq to form large number of troops who were posted along the Kuwait border. This led to the intervention of the US who viewed themselves as the worldââ¬â¢s supper power. After Iraq attacked Kuwait, US came to the defense of Kuwait by declaring that their interest was in protecting nations with whom they had longstanding and deep ties while at the same time, The White House declared their concern about the buildup of troops by Iraq. According to the author, United States had an official position on the Kuwait-Iraq border dispute. This is evident from the official statement that were found by the Iraqis in some of the Kuwait intelligence files which was a memorandum concerning a meeting between the CIA Director William Webster and Kuwait state security in November 1989. in the document, there was an agreement between the Americans and Kuwait that it was of great importance to take advantage of the deteriorating economic situation in Iraq with the aim of putting pressure on Iraqââ¬â¢ government so as to delineate their common borders. It is evident that US was involved from the beginning and advised Kuwait to apply pressure on Iraq so as destabilize the country economically. The CIA later denied these allegations saying that it was a fabrication. Blum puts it that the US has been behind the Kurdishââ¬â¢ slaughter of many innocent citizens and also encouraged the Shiite Muslims in Iraq to rebel. All these were done in an attempt to incite Saddam so that he could incite a coup which would result in to the intervention of the United States. The killings in the Persian Gulf by the American soldiers have been due to a voice command from George Herbert Walker Bush according Blum. The United States started supporting Afghan Islamic fundamentalists in 1979 in their bid to fight the Soviet Union. The US continued with their support despite the kidnapping of American ambassador in the capital city of Kabul in February 1979. American intervention according to Blom had some hidden agenda. The US was using lies and tricks to gain influence of Iraq so as to control the oil prices. In both cases, the authors recognize the use the use of tricks by the US government to make the Middle East unstable. Both the authors share a common view on the idea behind the control of Middle East affairs. In both cases, the authors acknowledge the use of military force in the wars in the Middle East and in both cases, it appears that US is the main cause of all these wars. The aim of the United States according to the two authors is to take control of the rich oil nations and make sure that they continue to price and sell oil in US dollars. They both acknowledge the pretence of the US to send their military force in these countries with the aim of restoring peace while in the real sense; the US is after establishing permanent military base in places such as Iraq so that they can control the resources of these countries. Under the Bush administration, there was a severe military attack in Iraq with the aim of removing Saddam from power with the pretence that he was behind manufacturing of nuclear weapons. After the attack, it became apparently clear that such a thing never existed in Iraq. Bush was only accomplishing a war that was started by his father against Saddam who had refused to consent to the demands of the United States. The Use of Torture in Iraq and Afghanistan. A lot has been said regarding what lies behind the shocking images of torture at Abu Ghraib which were released in 2004. many American were shocked by such images and novel with the exception of one American; Alfred McCoy who had been following the operations of the Central Intelligence Agency since the early 1970s, when the agency tried unsuccessfully to stop the publication of his book, The Politics of Heroin: CIA Complicity in the Global Drug Trade. McCoy had long been conducting study on the pioneering research by the CIA in to the methods of psychological torture. He writes that the CIA had started this project in the early 1950s with their initial study on the Chinese and Soviet methods of breaking and interrogating prisoners. The author has a negative image regarding the torture policies that America has used in the last decades. The CIAââ¬â¢s discovery of Psychological torture had its breakthrough in the 17th century. This was in contrast to the physical approach which they saw most of the times produced unreliable information or heightened resistance. Under the new psychological paradigm introduced by the CIA, the interrogators used two essential techniques; self-inflicted pain or disorientation so as to make the victims feel responsibility of their own suffering. The first stage of psychological torture involves the use of non-violent methods to by the interrogator to disorientate the subject. After disorientating the subject, the second stage involves simple self inflicted discomforts which may be in form of standing for many hours with the arms in extended position. Although psychological torture is less brutal due to the fact that there is no touch, the torture leaves both the interrogator and the victim with deep psychological scars. Victims normally require long-term treatment in order to recover from the trauma far much more than the physical pain. On the part of the interrogator, they may suffer from dangerous expansion of ego which may eventually lead to escalating cruelty and lasting emotional problems. According to McCoy, torture was conducted by the CIA directly and also indirectly through outsourcing. The use of torture is against humanity since it involves forcing the subject to confess in criminal cases with the assumption that they are guilty prior to trail. The CIA also used this method to serve as a deterrent to other potential offenders. According to the author, torture did less in bringing any trustworthy information or truthful confession neither did it prevent other people from breaking the law in any significant way. Following the September 11 bombing of the Twin Towers in the US, the administration of the former President George W. Bush allowed US intelligence service and the military to use torture as the only means to ââ¬Å"quickly obtain informationâ⬠. They did this by creating a category of prisoners who they claimed fall outside the protection by any treaty or law obligations and are deemed to be tortured. According to the CIA, they argue that this policy which considered the most abusive approach to interrogation is the most efficient and effective quick way to get information that is accurate and useful. From McCoyââ¬â¢s book, he clearly puts it that torture is always not a good way of producing reliable information. The experience from Colonel John Rothrock, who was heading a combat interrogation team in Vietnam, reported that ââ¬Å"he doesnââ¬â¢t know any professional intelligence officers of my generation who would think this [torture] is a good idea,â⬠but the US under the Bush administration failed to listen and this led to death of many innocent people in the name of state security. These torture cases were concealed from the general public and the Congress when CIA was busy for the past half of the century developing and applying a sophisticated form of psychological torture which were meant to go against investigation, prohibition or prosecution and this made it very successful. Americans have found themselves have found themselves in six separate accounts of this same moral quagmire in the last 50 years period. The first was the exposure of the CIA sponsored torture which took place in South Vietnam in 1970, Iran in 1978, Brazil in 1974, Honduras in 1988, and the cases in Iran and Iraq. Each of these cases was exposed at different times and as each case fades, the agency resumes with their lethal work in the shadows. The role of torture in the geopolitics of the Middle East is to divert attention on the real issue. While the CIA was busy torturing prisoners in Afghanistan and Iraq, they were at the same time busy exporting opium to other countries. The use of torture was also a means of making sure that no information was leaked to the public. Another role that torture play is to make the subject confess to what the interrogator expects them to do. Also the use of torture by the CIA was to make people from Middle East to desist from any corporation with those who could get in to their secret conducts in these countries. An example is when McCoy was doing a research for his book in the mountains of Laos; a group of CIA machineries attempted to kill him and even threatened his translator to stop working for him. While these were happening, the CIA was secretly transporting opium using Air America helicopters to South Vietnam. Use of torture helped the Americanââ¬â¢s to exert great influence in the Middle East as those who experienced the tortures gave their experiences once they were out of the prison. The psychological damage was so much that the victims could not become normal again. This coupled with the killings of many people during the war led to weakening of these nations such that American control of oil and drugs like opium could be easy. All these acts were conducted with the aim of building an ââ¬Å"American Empireâ⬠. Works Cited. Alfred McCoy. A Question of Torture: CIA Interrogation, from the Cold War to the War on Terror (American Empire Project).
Friday, January 3, 2020
Hydraulic Fracturing Fracking for a Better World Essay
In recent years there has been great concern over the growing demand for energy, and the lack of non-renewable energy resources to meet the demand in the future. In addition, the question of ââ¬Å"sustainabilityâ⬠ââ¬âthe ability to balance social, economic, and environmental needs in energy production to meet both current and long-term requirementsââ¬âhas come to the fore. It is clear that America must expand energy production quickly, and that we must develop renewable, sustainable energy sources to meet long-term demand and protect our future. There are many proposed solutions, such as wind and solar power. But the technology for these resources is not yet fully developed, making them, at best, low-output alternatives. Because renewable sources areâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦These arguments include environmental concerns and doubts as to whether hydraulic fracturing is economically sustainable. By first addressing the arguments against hydraulic fracturing, I will be able to effectively argue for its continued use and expansion in its current form. Finally, I will support this argument by addressing the need for a clean fuel in the US to bridge the gap between non- renewables and renewable energy in the future. The use of hydraulic fracturing dates back to 1947, when Stanolind Oil conducted an experimental fracturing in Kansas. Although this experiment was relatively small compared to the processes used today, it served as a catalyst for advances in hydraulic fracturing. Just two years after the first test of hydraulic fracturing, Halliburton was granted a patent for the new ââ¬Å"Hydrafracâ⬠process. In each gas well that was treated with the new fracturing process, production increased by 75 percent. This type of breakthrough attracted many followers, and soon the process was utilized on thousands of gas wells across the US (ââ¬Å"The Historyâ⬠). The spread of hydraulic fracturing followed the discoveries of shale deposits. The largest deposit is the Marcellus Shale, located in the northeastern part of the US, centering on the state of Pennsylvania. Other areas with significant shale deposits include Texas, North Dakota, Michigan andShow MoreRelatedHydraulic Fracturing Is Risky And Dangerous For The Environment1153 Words à |à 5 Pagesthe lives of the poor residents in third world countries. But what if I told you that thereââ¬â¢s a place in the United States that didnââ¬â¢t have fresh water? A place that didnââ¬â¢t get the attention the residents of Flint did. Well there is. Everywhere there is Hydraulic Fracturing, there is a risk that your tap water will become polluted. Hydraulic Fracturing is risky and dangerous for the environment and not worth the benefits of natural gas. Hydraulic Fracturing is a process that involves drilling a wellRead MoreLaws 310 Course Project1187 Words à |à 5 PagesLAWS 310 ââ¬â THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT Hydraulic Fracturing 10/12/2013 Ã¢â¬Æ' TABLE OF CONTENTS What is Hydraulic Fracturing 2 Enivromental Issues 2 Water Contamination 2 Management of Waste Water 3 Air Quality Issues 3 Fracking Chemicals 3 State and Federal Laws 4 Federal Regulations 4 State Regulations 4 U.S. Energy Needs 5 Conclusion 5 Referrence Page 6 Ã¢â¬Æ' Hydraulic Fracturing What is hydraulic fracturing or fracking, and is it safe for our environment? What types of environmentalRead MoreThe Effects Of Hydraulic Fracturing On The Environment1695 Words à |à 7 PagesDangers of Hydraulic Fracturing Despite its many advantages, hydraulic fracturing poses serious threats to the environment. Some of the commonly identifiable effects of hydraulic fracturing include water pollution, over depletion of water resources, noise pollution, air pollution as well as contributing to land movements such as tremors and earthquakes (Boudet et al. 57). According to Boudet et al. (58), fracking presents challenges that prompted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to commenceRead MoreHydraulic Fracturing And Its Effects On The Environment1087 Words à |à 5 Pages Hydraulic Fracturing Maya Murray Mr. Iwasaki Chun MYP Chemistry Essay 3 May 2015 Maya Murray Mr. Iwasaki Chun MYP Chemistry 3 May 2015 Hydraulic Fracturing ââ¬Å"Our country will have drilled and fracked our way down a blind alley for a short lived energy boomâ⬠(qtd. In â⬠¦). Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is the process of drilling and injecting fluid into the ground at high pressure in order to fracture shale rocks to release natural gases inside. Many people are referringRead MoreFracking : Too Many Fracking Problems1631 Words à |à 7 PagesToo Many Fracking Problems ââ¬Å"Fracking ensures that the age of oil-and it s princely hydrocarbon cousin, the natural gas molecule-will not end because we have run out of fossil fuels. But it may end because burning these wonderful fuels puts the planet farther down a path we don t want to head downâ⬠. Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a petroleum mining method to reach remote gas under water that is located in the crust of the earth. Fracking uses a blend of water, sand, and chemicals. HydraulicRead MoreThe Process Of Hydraulic Fracturing1387 Words à |à 6 PagesIntroduction: The process of hydraulic fracturing can be understood at different geographic scales such as the local, national and global. In order to better understand this process, the ways in which these scales influence hydraulic fracturing need to be deeply considered. The original purpose of hydraulic fracturing was to benefit the national and local economy plus environment of the United States, but due to the large interdependencies and networks of our world today, impacts at a global scaleRead MoreTypes Of Wells Can Be Used For Drill Holes Deep Into The Earth1566 Words à |à 7 Pagesthe United States, there are three types of oil and gas wells; horizontal, directional, and vertical. All three types of wells can be fracked. Horizontal drilling is normally used to drill holes deep into the earth, for the hydraulic fracturing process. Fracturing or ââ¬Å"frackingâ⬠uses a high pressure water mixture that is injected deep into the ground through pipes to create fractures that release the oil and natural gas from the shale deposits. The gases are directed into wells that have been builtRead MoreThe United States Energy Industry Essay1431 Words à |à 6 Pagesreserves in many parts of the world are being depleted, the availability of a viable alternative such as natural gas is becoming increasingly important. So too is the lure of the future possibility of energy independence for countries both developed and developing. In the last decade, oil and natural gas development have rapidly expanded in the United States, fundamentally reshaping domestic energy production. It is abundant both within the United States and around the world. Currently, natural gasRead MoreFracking : How Fracking Effects People1222 Words à |à 5 Pages How fracking effects people Hydraulic fracturing began in 1947 and still happening until now. People have used fracking to produce more than one million oil and natural gas wells since 1947. Currently fracking accounts for 50% of locally produced natural gas and 33% of local petroleumâ⬠(Engelder 274). It proved that fracking is valuable because people can get too much natural gas and petroleum from fracking. There are 2.5 million frac jobs that hadRead MoreFracking the World: The Marcellus Shale Essay1162 Words à |à 5 Pagesthe benefits of fracking for natural gas worth all the damage it is causing? To better understand the points I am hoping to make with this research paper, you must first have a general idea of what Hydraulic fracturing is and its process. ââ¬Å"Hydraulic fracturing ââ¬Å"frackingâ⬠is a technique for tapping unconventional oil and gas reserves that are otherwise inaccessible. In the early 2000s, energy companies began combining horizontal (or directional) drilling with hydraulic fracturing to tap these reserves
Thursday, December 26, 2019
Imperialism And Colonization The Heart Of Darkness
Imperialism and Colonization The Heart of Darknessââ¬â¢ author Joseph Conradââ¬â¢s idea that imperialism has an extensive impact on African natives and their ways of life is entirely correct; along with the idea that imperialism and colonization are simply a guise of a somewhat ââ¬Å"noble cause,â⬠used as a veil to shield underlying problems. This idea is portrayed through Conradââ¬â¢s use of touching on the time before, the period of, and the era following the harshly imperialized and unnecessary colonization of African natives in their lands. Conrad also used symbolism, imagery, and figurative language to bring light to the surface of what lurks inside of the Heart of Darkness in the Congo and the white manââ¬â¢s burden brought along with it. In the novel, the idea that noble cause is driving factor between pre and post-imperialism and colonization is just a way to justify ill-intended actions to be looked past and show the truth that help is not always accepted or needed; and some societies are perfectly content with how they live and do not mind not having towering cities with skyscrapers, numerous factories, or more modern implications. Most societies, like in the African Congo, would be content to have their original roots of no one in charge, freedom to do as they please in many aspects, and not live in fear of their lives being put into danger or being displaced due to white supremacy and invasive nature. Prior to imperialism and colonization ever even being in a thought in anyoneââ¬â¢sShow MoreRelated Theme of Colonialism and Imperialism in Conrads Heart of Darkness1008 Words à |à 5 PagesThe Theme of Imperialism in Heart of Darkness à à Of the themes in Conrads Heart of Darkness, imperialism and colonialism are probably the most important. While Heart of Darkness is actually set on the Thames River, the events Marlow describes are set on the Congo River. The Congo is the river that brought about the partition of Africa that occurred from 1880 to 1890 (McLynn 13). This event marked the beginning of the colonization of Africa. In 1884, European nations held a conference andRead MoreHeart Of Darkness, By Joseph Conrad1306 Words à |à 6 PagesWhat is the ââ¬Å"horrorâ⬠in Heart of Darkness, and what particular literary images develop that idea of horror in the novel? In Joseph Conradââ¬â¢s, Heart of Darkness, there can be many literary images found within that develop the idea of horror. Heart of Darkness is noted for its horror within the Congo between the Africans and the Europeans. The horror in Heart of Darkness is a contribution of many ideas that are formed and contributed from the European colonists. The purpose of this essay aims to argueRead MoreThe Darkness of Imperialism in In Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad567 Words à |à 3 Pages In Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, the interpretation of pre-colonial times is interesting in a way that supersedes other books Iââ¬â¢ve read because itââ¬â¢s very honest with how the world worked it that era. The central aim which the shipmates in Heart of Darkness are pursuing is the expansion of their home countriesââ¬â¢ empires. Yet many people are hurt in this enterprise, and itââ¬â¢s not only the colonized territories that are impacted negatively by imperialist Europe. Europeââ¬â¢s explorers thatRead MoreMajor Themes And Societal Importance Of The Heart Of Darkness1302 Words à |à 6 PagesMajor Themes and Societal Importance of the Heart of Darkness Conradââ¬â¢s Heart of Darkness is one of the most well known novels written about Africa in U.S history. This novel provides individuals with a look inside the horrid functioning of the Congo, highlighting many imperialistic, inhumane, and discriminatory acts that made it one of the most cruel and insatiable colonies in African history. Conrad expresses his anti-imperialist views through Marlow, illustrating the horrors Marlow witnessed onRead More The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad Essay1171 Words à |à 5 PagesThe Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad Marlow, an ordinary sailor with idealistic dreams, goes on a dark yet fascinating journey as a newly hired riverboat captain, traveling up the Congo River, seeking out the legendary chief of the Belgium trading company. When describing typical sites and events situated in the Congo, Joseph Conrad wrote The Heart of Darkness in a first persons view, with Marlow as the highlight character. As he writes on about Marlows experiences, he portrays typicalRead MoreThe Heart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad1166 Words à |à 5 PagesThe Use of Darkness in Heart of Darkness Everyone claims to be equal, and nowadays people are working hard to create equality regardless gender and race. Meanwhile, race and ethnicity become one of the most popular topics of modern literature. The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad depicts a story of colonization took place in the Belgian Congo through Marlowââ¬â¢s perspective. In this book, the author portrays the European ideas of civilizing Africa as well as the ideas of imperialism and racism.Read MoreEssay on Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness1276 Words à |à 6 Pagesdecolonization, Joseph Conradââ¬â¢s Heart of Darkness presents one of fictions strongest accounts of British imperialism. Conradââ¬â¢s attitude towards imperialism and race has been the subject of much literary and historical debate. Many literary critics view Conrad as accepting blindly the arrogant attitude of the white male European and condemn Conrad to be a racist and imperialists. The other side vehemently defends Conrad, perceiving the nove l to be an attack on imperialism and the colonial experience.Read MoreImperialism And Colonialism In Joseph Conrads Heart Of Darkness1302 Words à |à 6 Pagesstructures such as imperialism and colonialism can affect the way in which an individual experiences the world. Those born into the so-called ââ¬Å"First Worldâ⬠countries have been privileged in that they have not felt the burden of such societal structure, as compared to those born into those ââ¬Å"Second Worldâ⬠countries. These individuals have dealt with the pressures of Westernized society in such a way that their entire way of life has been transformed. Those whose countries hold values of imperialism and colonialismRead More The Evil of Colonialism and Imperialism in Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad1559 Words à |à 7 PagesColonialism in Heart of Darkness à à à A masterpiece of twentieth-century writing, Heart of Darkness exposes the tenuous fabric that holds civilization together and the brutal horror at the center of European colonialism. Joseph Conrads novella, Heart of Darkness, describes a life-altering journey that the protagonist, Marlow, experiences in the African Congo.à The story explores the historical period of colonialism in Africa to exemplify Marlows struggles. Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness is mostRead MoreKing s Ghost By Adam Hochschild Essay1521 Words à |à 7 Pagesthe Congo, his research and background was thorough and descriptive. Conradââ¬â¢s Heart of Darkness served as a primary influence to many people who seeked to further their knowledge on the predicaments surrounding the Congo. On the contrary, rather than displaying literary occurrences, he portrayed creativity in a hypothetical scenario to draw readers attention. Edward Said, author of ââ¬Å"Two Visions in the Heart of Darknessâ⬠, provides commentary on the work of Conrad exclaiming that Conrad provided readers
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Factors And Effects Of Obesity In America - 767 Words
The world is oversaturated with factors that are detrimental to an individualââ¬â¢s health, but it seems as though the things that are the worst for a person are some of the easiest items to get hold of. The nation is currently undergoing a health crisis with the opioid epidemic, very similarly to how the black community was ravaged by crack a few decades ago. The nation is plagued by factors such as obesity, high sexually transmitted disease rates, tobacco and alcohol use, hard drugs such as cocaine and crystal meth, and prescription drug abuse, such as the ongoing opioid crisis. Factors such as the previously mentioned affect society by affecting large numbers of individuals in society. The United States of America has more recently beenâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are not new to the country, much less the world. As long as people have been having intercourse, whether protected or unprotected, there have been sexually transmitted diseases. The rise of STDs is due to a high frequency of intercourse, multiple sex partners, and early exposure to sex (Henderson 2014). Since human beings procreate by sexual intercourse, sexual health is an issue that affects more than just one individual. Once an STD is contracted, if it is able to cured, it is much too easy for it to spread from person to person. A problem that often arises is that an infected individual would not tell the partner they are about to get involved with that the individual is carrying an STD. Unfortunate events such as the lack of communication about whether a partner has an STD or not is part of the reason behind the Center of Disease Control reporting that STDs are the common diseases in North America, outside of the flu and colds. If everyone in America contracted an STD that made them sterile, what would happen to the future of society as we know it? Although many do not realize it, the actions of one individual can easily affect the behaviors of a group which can grow larger and larger until society as a whole is affected. Factors such as marijuana usage, obesity, and sexually transmitted diseases can affectShow MoreRelatedChildhood Obesity Essay examples1472 Words à |à 6 PagesForty years ago in America childhood obesity was rarely a topic of conversation. A survey done in the early 1970s showed that 6.1% of children between the ages 12 and 19 were overweight. Eight years later the same survey was done and 17.4% were considered overweight (Iannelli). ââ¬Å"Childhood obesity epidemic in America is now a confirmed fact since the number of overweight or obese children has more than tripled during the last 30 yearsâ⬠(Childhood Obesity Epidemic). ââ¬Å"Over the last 20 years, the prevalenceRead MoreThe Effects Of Sugar On Our Health983 Words à |à 4 Pagesexcessive amounts of sugar are detrimental to our health. The more sugar we consume, the more research is conducted to show the harmful effects that this substance has o n our health. Over the past 20 years, the increase in fructose and sucrose has directly contributed to the global decline in health. Evidence supports the conclusion that sugar can have the same effects on the brain as addictive drugs. Releasing dopamine and lighting up the same parts of the brain as the narcotic, thus, making this substanceRead MoreObesity : Obesity And Obesity859 Words à |à 4 PagesAmericans that become obese increase astronomically. Because of the obesity rate in America, the country became the top fattest nation in the entire world. Because of the high obesity rate in America, many organizations created statistical websites to inform the public of the amount of overweight people in the country. Many clinical websites were established by doctors to inform people about the risk factors of obesity and how to treat obesity. There are many reasons why Americans are overweight, but theRead MoreObesity : Obesity And Obesity1472 Words à |à 6 PagesObesity in our society continues to grow at an alarming rate. America is the richest country but has the largest population of obese people in the world. ââ¬Å"Nearly 36.5% of Americanââ¬â¢s are obese (Adult Obesity Facts).â⬠It is important to note that obesity is defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of ââ¬Å"30% or moreâ⬠(The Socioeconomic Causes of Obesity). People become obese over times for many reasons like feeling there is less of a need to exercise and eat healthy. There are also more fast food selectionsRead MoreWeight On Obesity1551 Words à |à 7 PagesAll the Weight on Our Shoulders America is in danger; this rising threat is obesity, which is growing as the leading cause of preventable deaths just behind tobacco. Throughout its history, America has seen many different conflicts and threats rise and fall and with each threat. Each generation has risen to the challenge time and time again. Now, itââ¬â¢s the new age generationââ¬â¢s turn to do the same. Obesity is a significant problem and it must be curbed or it will crush us under its weight. As the citizensRead MoreObesity And The United States1317 Words à |à 6 PagesObesity in the United States In todayââ¬â¢s world, obesity rate has been increased significantly. Among 196 countries of the world, the Unites States is ranked 19th, and one third of the population in the U.S. have obesity. Reason that people care about how much population is obsessed is that it is ââ¬Å"linked to many of the major causes of death in the United States, including heart disease, some types of cancer, strokes, diabetes, and atherosclerosisâ⬠(Himes 73). 19th of the world may not seem very highRead MoreThe Obesity Epidemic in America Essays1082 Words à |à 5 Pages Obesity among Americans has been a growing issue in the United States predominantly over the past decade. Many may argue Americanââ¬â¢s are obese because of poor food choices, over-eating, genetic disposition, lack of exercise, or the environment which one lives, while others blame it all on fast-food chains and restaurants. Throughout my research I have come to find a lot of facts and statistics about fast food consumption causing obesity. Statistics show that without a doubt the United States isRead MoreObesity Fast Food Nation Essay661 Words à |à 3 PagesFast Food Nation Obesity has grown into a rampant issue all over the United States, over the past few decades. Fast foods also have increased their outlets in the nation, in turn, depicting a success in the business venture. It is clear that fast foods have become quite cheap in comparison to healthy, homemade meals. Subsequently, people have turned to eat fast foods for economic reasons. Convenience is yet another reason behind peopleââ¬â¢s high indulgence in eating fast foods other than healthy,Read MoreChildhood Obesity And Its Effect On Children s Wellbeing And Health999 Words à |à 4 PagesChildhood obesity is described as a condition whereby excessive body fat interferes or affects childââ¬â¢s wellbeing and health. The condition is often diagnosed based on the Body Mass Index (BMI) since it is considerably difficult to determine the body fat directly. This condition is now recognized as a serious issue requiring public health concern owing to the increased of its prevalence among the c hildren. To avoid stigmatization, overweight is often used in children rather than obese (Ogden, 2014)Read MoreThe World s Fattest Nations1497 Words à |à 6 Pages It is 2014 and America remains one of the biggest nations in the world. This is illustrated through our land area coverage, gross domestic product, population etc. the list can go on and on; however; one area America takes the cake on is their large waistbands. We are a country that prides itself on large portions and producing foods of greasy deliciousness by the mass. It is not difficult to understand how we have become one of the worldââ¬â¢s fattest nations. There has been ongoing debate regarding
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Antigone character comparison Essay Example For Students
Antigone character comparison Essay I chose to focus on Creon from Antigone for my second paper. He is a very interesting character to me because he can be perceived in many different ways. For example, one person may view him as a horrible tyrant king due to his unwillingness to alter his decree. Another may see him as a king that made some wrong decisions but was looking out for the best interest of his new city and got more far more punishment than he deserved.I view him as a king who was trying to deal with his insecurities by gaining absolute power. I wondered why Creon had decreed that Polyneices could not be buried. He called him a traitor but it seemed odd that Creon would take such personal offense to his actions. Upon thinking I reached this conclusion; the city was the state and the state in Creons mind was himself. So, when Polyneices attacked the city he was attacking the very throne that Creon was holding. By not allowing him to be buried, the king was showing the rest of Thebes that he was not going to let anyone touch his throne; essentially sending out a warning to everyone lest they too should want to challenge him. He was a king who wanted to rule in absolute authority over his people and was a little scared that something might threaten his ability. This is why I believe he made the decree before he even entered the city and repeated it right after he arrived. He wanted them to know from the very start that he did not want to be challenged. On page 196 he says this, Nevertheless, I say to you at the very outset that I have nothing but contempt for the kind of Governor who is afraid, for whatever reason, to follow the course he knows is best for the State. He shows his desire for this absolute power again when Haimon comes to him and he tells his son that it good to be completely subordinate to him and in everything else according to his (Creons) will. On page 218 he screams out, Anarchy, anarchy! Show me a greater evil!One statement he made cleared up any doubt in my mind, proving that his desire was for absolute power. Ill have no dealings with law-breakers, critics of the government: whoever is chosen to govern should be obeyed, in all things great and small, just and unjust! (p. 217)Creons false pride is the result of his insecurities. He displays them often through out the play. Whenever someone disagrees with him he automatically assumes it is a plot against him. No, from the very beginning there have been those who have wishpered together, stiff-necked anarchists, putting there heads together, scheming against me in the alleys.(to the sentry, p. 201) When the sentry and Teiresias suggest that he might be doing the wrong thing he accuses them both of being paid off as part of a conspiracy against him. When Haimon asked him to change his decree Creon accused him of being sold out to a woman. Even with Antigone he doesnt sentence her until she insults him (p. 209). Creon will not accept the idea that he might be wrong on an issue because if he does in his eyes it would make him a weak king (something he fears being) and that is why he resists changing the law so avidl y. I also noticed that whenever someone made a good point, he would quickly change the subject and accuse that person of treason. His insecurities are further displayed when he denies responsibility for Antigones death twice (pp.212, 227). In the end he gives into his own humanity and stops pretending to know everything. Unfortunately his false pride and insecurities led him to complete disaster but there is hope of him learning this very painful lesson in the end. In conclusion, Creon proves he is quite human in with his insecurities and his delusions. Interestingly enough these attributes caused his downfall as well as almost all dictators (who also desire absolute power). I would have to say that Sophocles knew human nature vBibliographyAntigone .u4e6d52bb19a92423eebf1a7152cda2bd , .u4e6d52bb19a92423eebf1a7152cda2bd .postImageUrl , .u4e6d52bb19a92423eebf1a7152cda2bd .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4e6d52bb19a92423eebf1a7152cda2bd , .u4e6d52bb19a92423eebf1a7152cda2bd:hover , .u4e6d52bb19a92423eebf1a7152cda2bd:visited , .u4e6d52bb19a92423eebf1a7152cda2bd:active { border:0!important; } .u4e6d52bb19a92423eebf1a7152cda2bd .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4e6d52bb19a92423eebf1a7152cda2bd { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4e6d52bb19a92423eebf1a7152cda2bd:active , .u4e6d52bb19a92423eebf1a7152cda2bd:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4e6d52bb19a92423eebf1a7152cda2bd .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4e6d52bb19a92423eebf1a7152cda2bd .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4e6d52bb19a92423eebf1a7152cda2bd .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4e6d52bb19a92423eebf1a7152cda2bd .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4e6d52bb19a92423eebf1a7152cda2bd:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4e6d52bb19a92423eebf1a7152cda2bd .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4e6d52bb19a92423eebf1a7152cda2bd .u4e6d52bb19a92423eebf1a7152cda2bd-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4e6d52bb19a92423eebf1a7152cda2bd:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Rise Of The Networks Essay
Monday, December 2, 2019
This Report Will Give A Greater Understanding Of The Information Needs
This report will give a greater understanding of the information needs of a business. I will be looking at the: - Material Flow and Information Flow The annual report Information needs For this, I will be using Bathtoys Ltd, to give an example of what information is required for the annual report. 1.0 Overview of Communication in Business A business has to have a defined flow of information, either internal or external to the business. In addition, the business needs to be co-ordinated, so that the right people get the correct information and at the right time for the profitability of the company. The information within the company needs to be collected to show the shareholders and Companies House (the government) what the company has been up to over the year since the last annual report. 1.1 Design of Information Flow Find Customer Wages Customer 2.0 What information needs to be Stored For the annual report you need to collect information over the year, and summaries the information for the report. This report will inform the shareholders and the government were the managing director has guided the company over the past year. It will show were the management has spent money, and were money has come in to the company. This is the type of data the company needs to collect, were it comes from and the reason it is collected: - The finance department needs information on what money is in the bank now ? this information comes from the bank, it will indicate the viability of the company. The finance department also needs to know what the financial situation was the same time last year ? this information comes from the annual report made the previous year, it will show if the company made more profit over this year. This indicating the strength of the company. The sales department collects information on the money coming in from sales of the plastic ducks ? this information is taken from the sale of the ducks, which has been stored on computer over the past year. This method enables sales and finance to have free access to the same information. You use this information to create a chart (profit and loss), which shows the strength of the company. The purchase department collects information on the total cost of purchases of supplies and equipment over the year ? this is summarised from the weekly/monthly orders. Used in the profit and loss chart. The finance department collects information of the amount of wages, rent, electricity, and tax the company has paid over the year ? this is taken from the amount the bank has released to pay these payment requests. Used in the profit and loss chart. The net profit will indicate what the company has made over the past twelve months, this is summarised from the above. This information will show the profitability and viability of the company. And if the money that the shareholders invested in the company ? by buying the shares the company placed on the market ? are still worth what they paid. 2.1 What to do with the Information This information is collected together for the use of the shareholders; they can see if the company is being run to a satisfactory level and take action if it is not. One of the actions they can chose if the company is not heading the way they would like is to demand changes in the management of the company i.e. fire the managing director. The annual report can indicate to the management if what they said they were going to accomplish in the last annual report is what actually happened, and if not it should indicate what went wrong. 3.0 Why use a manual system to construct the reports Firstly it is to ensure that there are no mistakes with any part of the annual report. There is no sensitive information that anyone can use for the benefit of other companies, shareholders do not own shares in one company and could decide to give the information to your competitors. There are multiple reports, one for the shareholders, another for Companies House and the management of the company (to show were they can improve the day to day running of the company) all using
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