Media Violence In Childrens Lives Essays - Criminology,

Media Violence In Children's Lives Media Violence in Children's Lives During the past decade, America has witnessed an alarming increase in the incidence of violence in the lives of children. On a daily basis, children in America are victims of violence, as witnesses to violent acts in their homes or communities, or as victims of abuse, neglect, or personal assault. The causes of violent behavior in society are complex and interrelated. Among the significant contributors are poverty, racism, unemployment, illegal drugs, inadequate or abusive parenting practices, and real-life adult models of violent problem-solving behavior. At the same time that there has been an increase in the number of reported violent acts directed at children, there has been an increase in the amount and severity of violent acts observed by children through the media, including television, movies, computer games, and videotapes, and an increase in the manufacture and distribution of weapon-like toys and other products directly linked to violent programming. In response, Governing Board appointed a panel of experts to guide the development of initiatives and resources to assist teachers and parents in confronting the issue of violence in the lives of children. This position statement addresses one aspect of the proble -- media violence -- and is the first in a series of projects the Association plans to address this important issue. We have chosen to address the issue of media violence first because, of all the sources and manifestations of violence in children's lives, it is perhaps the most easily corrected. The media industry ought to serve the public interest and ought to be subject to government regulation. The responsibility of adults and of public policy to protect children from unnecessary and potentially harmful exposure to violence through the media and to protect children from television content and advertising practices that exploit their special vulnerability (Huston, Watkins, & Kunkel, 1989). Television and other media have the potential to be very effective educational tools for children. Research demonstrates that television viewing is a highly complex, cognitive activity, during which children are actively involved in learning (Anderson & Collins, 1988). Therefore, supports efforts to use media constructively to expand children's knowledge and promote the development of positive social values. Supports measures that can be taken by responsible adults to limit children's exposure to violence through the media is an important details Such efforts include but are not limited to: ? legislation requiring reinstatement of guidelines for children's television by the Federal Communication Commission, including requirements for videotapes and elimination of television programs linked to toys ? legislation limiting advertising on children's programming, and standards for toys to ensure that they are not only physically safe but also psychologically safe ? legislation enabling the development of voluntary television-industry standards to alleviate violence in programming, specifically exempting such efforts from anti-trust regulation ? promotion of more developmentally appropriate, educational programming that meets children's diverse needs for information, entertainment, aesthetic appreciation, positive role models, and knowledge about the world (Huston et al., 1989) ? development and dissemination of curriculum for teachers to improve children's critical viewing skills and to teach nonviolent strategies for resolving conflicts ? development of resources to assist parents in the constructive and educational use of media with their children During early childhood, the foundation is laid for future social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. During this formative period, young children are particularly vulnerable to negative influences. In most instances, children have no control over the environmental messages they receive. Up until age seven or eight, children have great difficulty distinguishing fantasy from reality, and their ability to comprehend nuances of behavior, motivation, or moral complexity is limited. This special vulnerability of children necessitates increased vigilance to protect them from potentially negative influences. Parents are ultimately responsible for monitoring their children's viewing habits; however, parents cannot be omniscient and omnipresent in their children's lives. Parents need assistance in protecting their children from unhealthy exposure to violence. Therefore, limits must be placed on the content of programming directed at children. Restricting violence in children's pro gramming should not be considered censorship, any more than is protecting children form exposure to pornography (Carlsson-Paige & Levin, 1990). Likewise, industry standards to limit violence in children's programming should be developed as

Medium vs. Media

Medium vs. Media Medium vs. Media Medium vs. Media By Sharon Medium originates from the Latin meaning middle, midst or means and this sense has carried through its various meanings. The 16th century meaning of intervening substance gave rise to the 19th century meaning of enveloping substance, a term often used in scientific experiments. Since the 18th century, medium has also meant intermediate agency (which no doubt is responsible for the medium who communicates with the other side). The mass media also share this origin. Radio is a medium (or means) of communication. With the advent of national broadcasting of radio programs in the 1920s, the term mass media was born. Given its Latinate origin, many people wonder about the correct plural of medium. Merriam Webster Online states that media is the correct plural of medium in almost all cases. However, many people also use media as a singular noun when referring to the mass media. Here are some quotations from newspapers: platform, Periscope, as a gathering place for gamers. Facebook has also been scrambling to get in on the growing medium, courting individual gamers and adding the ability to tip streamers on Facebook Live as part of its â€Å"gaming (www.nytimes.com) News media finally calls out Trump on his lies. Outrage over the Trump administrations policy of separating children from their parents at the border is clearly growing, and it looks as if the media are a driving force behind it. Finally, were saying what everyone has known for Were quick to condemn the culture of entitlement for sports prima donnas, but weve created the same cozy cocoon for media stars. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Homograph Examples10 Colloquial Terms and Their Meanings20 Tips to Improve your Writing Productivity

Leonardo Da Vinci Perpetual Machine Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Leonardo Da Vinci Perpetual Machine - Assignment Example The model presented in the picture is probably the simplest among them, but it is definitely as good as others are. The main purpose of such layout was to create asymmetry using additional physical effects. This hypothetical perpetual wheel would revolve around its axis, and the metal pellets placed in the sections of the wheel would roll over, creating unevenness in load distribution and making the wheel keep on moving. However, eventually, Da Vinci admitted that the construction of a working perpetual machine is impossible. Commenting this conclusion, Da Vinci wrote that, interpreted into modern language, when the pellet (i.e. the weight) placed in one of the sections â€Å"moves farther from the pivot, the gravitational torque on it increases, but also the moment of inertia of the wheel is increased at the same time, which makes the gravitational torque less effective in increasing or sustaining motion of the wheel† (Simanek). In other words, the obtain effect is eventually zero. Moreover, Da Vinci concluded that every mechanical system inevitably loses its power through friction (Capra). Later, and especially at the dawn of the 20 century (intensive industrialization), the inventors tried to improve older prototypes of perpetual machines, but these attempts proved to be failure due to laws of physics (e.g. the principle of perpetual motion virtually violates two first laws of thermodynamics (Roy). In the end, the idea of a mechanism producing free energy without any outside sources or fuel was condemned as

NAT and PAT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

NAT and PAT - Essay Example ccounting Theory (PAT) is an objective theory aiming at predicting accounting practices and policies that are chosen applied by firms as well as the effects of such, on the firms after the implementation. Under this theory, available data and statistics in the firm are analyzed to enable the firm to derive applicable conclusions based on the results. The main purpose of the results of the analysis is to create an understanding when predicting accounting policies across differing firms. On the other hand, Normative Accounting Theory (NAT) is a subjective kind of theory with an aim to describe the economic future of a given firm or investor. This is the theory that usually attempts to tell economists what they should do. This theory does not solely use predictive values to make evaluations, but it also considers the logical consistency of the rationality of individuals. Therefore, as positive accounting theories tend to make predictions of the events of the real world, normative accoun ting theories tend to inform people about what they should do (Coetsee, 2010). PAT has two different perspectives that include the efficiency perspective and the opportunistic perspective. Under the opportunistic perspective of PAT, there are three elements including the bonus plan hypothesis, debt covenant hypothesis as well as the political cost hypothesis. The bonus plan hypothesis of PAT has the assumption that the manager with the bonus plan has a high likelihood of using accounting methods intended to increase the current period reported income. As such, this makes a prediction that a manager will be rewarded on the basis of their performance. Debt covenant hypothesis, on the other hand, tries to put a limit on the managers ability to transfer assets to new creditors, themselves or new shareholders. Political cost hypothesis, on the other hand, refers to how a firm would react to the possibility of regulation of other regulators as well as other interest groups and how these

Changing Identities in Cyberculture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Changing Identities in Cyberculture - Essay Example so that the computer mimics a real life encounter by using the facilities of the pixels instead of the human body and the voice. The important difference between direct human contact and human contact through the medium of computers is that the usual physical aspects of communication are largely missing. Visual and aural aspects are not there, and the style of the individual is expressed through a number of substitute clues, such as the choice of font, a pseudonym usually with some reference to popular culture, and sometimes an â€Å"avatar† which is a pictorial representation of the self. The advantage of these devices in contexts like Multi Media Online Roleplay Games(MMORPGs) are obvious, and provide many people of all ages with entertainment in which a small caricature of the self interacts with other players, and with artificial intelligence characters to fight goblins or track down aliens, or build castles or any amount of artificial social activities at the whim of the games designer. These social spaces provide a setting where people can operate in an artificial world, adopting the customs and cultures that develop there, and in effect creating a new identity specifically for that subculture in cyberspace. The internet offers children and adults alike to play in a carefree and anonymous way, and for many this is a much valued respite from the demands of an increasingly pressurized daily life. There are some critics who see this opportunity as something potentially dangerous, and especially for the young. (Anderson et al., 2007) Without doubt the presence of paedophiles and people who prey on under age computer users is a worry. Children identify quite closely with the characters that they play, and they need to... This essay focuses on the arrival of the internet, that has opened up a whole new dimension of communication which was inconceivable even fifty years ago. People can now not only access a world-wide store of information and communicate with contacts, but also exchange and share personal photographs online. Such possibility to post public and private messages were analyzed in the essay. It allows to develop real friendhips and relationships over time, and this is an important lifeline for many lonely or disabled people, as well as a healthy and normal development phase for young people. Although the technology that makes all this possible has changed, the process is no different than the business man donning a suit to go to work and some jeans to go out and have a barbecue with the neighbors. The persona is adjusted to suit the context that is presented to the person. The potential for the development of neuroses and extreme or abusive personalities exists in cyberculture and are disc ussed in the essay in details. However, the danger of physical harm coming to a person chatting via a computer is considerably lower than that of a person in a dangerous neighborhood, or even simply sitting in a pub or going to a rock concert. To conclude, the researcher stets that the ability to try out and maintain different internet personas is allowing people to experience a wider range of social roles and gain superior social skills, and so for this reason, cyberculture is something that we should all embrace with open arms.

Understanding Plant Sub-cellular (Organellar) Metabolome

Understanding Plant Sub-cellular (Organellar) Metabolome Abstract Dissection of organismal metabolomes into smaller subunits of life holds the potential to unravel the minuscule details of operative metabolic pathways and metabolic compartmentation at the sub-cellular level. Although metabolomes have been characterized at tissue, cellular, and cell-population types, little efforts have been put forth in sub-cellular metabolomes. In the post-genomic era, significant advances have been made in predicting plant protein and transcriptomic localization to subcellular organelles through computational approaches. For obvious challenges such as, difficulty in pure preparations of organelles, shared metabolites among them, and associated complicated regulations in them delimits the growth in this area. We summarize the recent efforts and progresses made in directions of understanding the plant sub-cellular (organellar) metabolomes. Keywords: organelle, plastid, mitochondria, vacuole, proteomics, nonaqueous fractionation, The metabolic compartmentation adds a complex dimension to subcellular metabolomes Systems biology approaches, including bioinformatics, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics have begun to contribute to our growing knowledge of cellular signaling and metabolism. However, the extensive and unique metabolic compartmentation is characteristic of eukaryotic cells, such as plant cells, thus rendering the analysis of compartmented metabolic networks complicated by virtue of separation and parallelization of pathways and intracellular transport (Wahrheit et al., 2011). Consequently, the study of plant cellular metabolomic networks becomes even more challenging (Toubian et al., 2013). Although the single cell and single-cell type metabolomics studies (Misra et al., 2014) bring in homogeneity in preparations to reflect on cellular (micro-metabolome) as the basic unit of life, the subcellular (nano-metabolome) pose a great deal of challenges for their investigation. Major plant subcellular structures include but are not limited to apoplast, cell plate, cell wall, endoplasmic reticulum and related structures, endosome, Golgi apparatus, microfilament, microtubule, mitochondrion, oil bodies, nucleus, peroxisome, plasma membrane, plastid and related structures, and vacuole. Metabolic pathways are highly segregated in different subcellular organelles (Browsher and Tobin, 2011). Undoubtedly, the compartmentalization of plant metabolites, add another complex dimension to principal regulatory aspects in plants, apart from the temporal dimensions. In addition, the diffusion of metabolites, the role of active transport by membrane-based transporters, and limitations in labeling and visualization of metabolites in cells render the localization even more difficult. Moreover, the genetic variation within these organelles have a widespread effect on the stochastic variation in primary metabolism with discrete impacts that differed from the organelle effect on the average metabolome (Joseph et al., 2015). As such, pathways of communication between v arious organelles of a plant cell are quite complex and interdependent, for example the rampant signaling between organelles such as chloroplasts and nuclei (Jung and Chory, 2009). Thus efforts to understand their individual metabolites would aid in understanding of these complex regulatory exchanges, in addition to what is established at the levels of transcripts and proteins. Omics-based approaches in identifying subcellular functionalities are powerful resources There have been considerable efforts to catalog the information content in organelles starting from imaging based approaches to omics-based systems biology perspectives. For instance, the aim of the plant organelles database (http://podb.nibb.ac.jp/Organellome) is to promote the understanding of organelle dynamics such as organelle function, biogenesis, differentiation, movement and interactions with other organelles (Mano et al. 2013). Although, genomics-based efforts are much more prevalent. Such as a unique database of RNA-editing sites found in plant organelle genes with the results mapped onto amino acid sequences and 3D structures (Yura et al. 2009) are available. In addition, to catalog fluorescent protein expression, public repositories such as the Maize Cell Genomics (MCG) database, (http://maize.jcvi.org/cellgenomics) have bene developed that represents major subcellular structures and also developmentally important progenitor cell populations (Krishnakumar et al., 2014). A nother noteworthy approach was the use of subcellular organelle expression microarray to study the organic acid changes in post-harvest Citrus fruit (Sun et al., 2013) and organelle membrane proteome during germination and tube growth of lily pollen (Pertl et al., 2009). In addition, proteomics efforts have revealed secretome, extracellular matrix, cell wall (14), vacuoles, plastids, and peroxisomes-specific changes in plants are catalogued (Liley and Dupree, 2007; Dai and Chen, 2012). Similarly, proteomics-based approaches for characterization of seed proteomes have been reviewed recently (Repetto and Gallardo, 2012). Rapid subcellularfractionationin combination with targeted proteomics allowed for measuring subcellularproteinconcentrations in attomole per 1000cells of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Weinkeeop et al., 2010). The importance of the spatial resolution of plant cellular metabolomes have been realized (Sumner et al., 2011). However, such efforts and databases are missing for plant subcellular metabolomes. Recently, the need for understanding the challenges in cellular compartmentalization for successful plant metabolic engineering was identified (Heining et al., 2013). The enrichment of other omics-based subcellular localization tools would allow understanding of the metabolic pathways operative in them for tinkering them for commercial success. Some widely used computational approaches for proteome level assignment of localization include, Some widely used prediction programs are: TargetP, http://www.cbs.dtu.dk/services/TargetP/, Predotar,http://www.inra.fr/predotar/, iPSORT, http://hc.ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp/iPSORT/, and SubLoc, http://www.bioinfo. tsinghua.edu.cn/SubLoc/, etc. For example, LocDB is a manually curated database with experimental annotations for the subcellular localizations of proteins inA. thaliana (Rastogi and Rost, 2011). Recently, the Peroxisome database (http://www.peroxisomeDB.org) was released which serves as a huge resource for cross-lineage comparison of functiona l genomic and metabolomic information on organisms such as fungi, yeasts, plants, human and lower eukaryotes, with an ensemble of 139 peroxisomal protein families and ~2706 putative peroxisomal protein homologs (Schlà ¼ter et al., 2010). On the other hand, databases such as SUBA (Heazlewood et al.,2007) are excellent inventories of subcellular compartmentation supported by experimental evidence mainly drawn from organellar proteome studies, which enable the integration of experimentation and prediction (Tanz et al., 2012). In the AraGEM genome-scale model ofArabidopsismetabolism the vast majority of reactions are assigned to the cytosol (1265 reactions in the cytosol, with 60, 159, and 98 reactions assigned to mitochondria, plastid, and peroxisome, respectively) (de Oliveira DalMolin et al.,2010). However, there are no available collage of information on subcellular metabolomes of plants to our knowledge, and hence this effort. Plant subcellular metabolome studies revisited: non-aqueous fractionation (NAF) methods There has bene several successful attempts at obtaining the qualitative and quantitative snap shots of sub-cellular metabolomes in plants. These efforts relied on fractionation of the or isolation of pure organelles followed by characterization of the metabolomes by gas chromatography mass-spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography- mass spectrometry (LC-MS) among other approaches. Cell fractionation and immunohistochemical studies in the last 40 years have revealed the extensive compartmentation of plant metabolism from protein-based information (Lunn, 2007). Majority of the classical studies in compartmentation of plant metabolism focused on plastids, mitochondria, and vacuole and reflected on their structural and functional heterogeneity operative primary metabolic (photosynthesis, respiratory etc.) pathways (Lunn, 2007, Bowsher and Tobin, 2011). Plastids are involved in carbon and nitrogen metabolism, in particular nitrate and ammonium assimilation, the Calvin cycle, oxidative p entose-phosphate pathway, glycolysis, and terpenoid biosynthesis, and these have been reviewed from a metabolic perspective (Tobin and Bowsher, 2005). Thus plastidial proteomics have interested researchers for a long time (van Wijk and Baginsky, 2011). Analysis of the chloroplast proteome confirmed indicated biosynthesis of fatty acids, lipids, amino acids, nucleotides, hormones, alkaloids, and isoprenoids, Calvin cycle enzymes and proteins belonging to the light-harvesting apparatus and photosynthetic electron transport chain (van Wijk, 2004). Protoplast fractionation in combination with enzymatic determination of metabolites has been widely used to quantify a subset of metabolites like adenylates, phosphorylated sugars and Calvin cycle intermediates in different compartments(Kueger et al., 2012). The metabolomes of highly purified barley vacuoles isolated from mesophyll cell protoplasts by silicon oil centrifugation revealed the presence of 59 primary metabolites and ~200 secondar y metabolites by GC-MS and FT-MS (Fourier transform-mass spectrometry) such as amino acids, organic acids, sugars, sugar alcohols, shikimate pathway intermediates, vitamins, phenylpropanoids, and flavonoids, of which 12 were found exclusively in the vacuole (Tohge et al., 2011). Similarly, a single vacuole of single cell of the alga Chara australis revealed the localization and dynamics of 125 known metabolites(Oikawa et al., 2011). In plants, vacuoles are known for detoxification of xenobiotics (Coleman et al., 1997). In addition, the analysis of subcellular metabolite levels of potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum) indicated that either the cytosol or apoplast leads to a decrease in total sucrose content and to an increase in glucose and hexoses accumulate in the vacuole independently of their site of production (Farre et al., 2008). Furthermore, in the medicinal plant Catharanthus roseus, LC-MS analysis of the phenols from isolated leaf vacuoles detected the presence of three caffeoy lquinic acids and four flavonoids(Ferreres et al., 2010). Another example of the use of vibrational (Raman) spectroscopy in metabolomics was exemplified in the localization of ÃŽ ²-carotene by its 1150 and 1515 cm−1 Raman bands with subcellular resolution (~550 nm per pixel) in the cells of alga Euglena gracilis. Complementary single-cell MS data were also recorded which indicated the colocalization of ÃŽ ²-carotene and the plastids containing internal antennae of photosystem II (Urban et al., 2011). Non-aqueous fractionation (NAF) is the most widely used method for studying metabolite pool sizes at a subcellular level in plants(Kueger et al., 2012), where NAF method is based on the enrichment of compartments within a continuous non-aqueous density gradient instead of purifying individual intact organelles. This method is associated with true metabolomics studies allowing the subcellular localization of a large number of metabolites to be analyzed in parallel (Farre et al., 2001, Krueger et al., 2011). Assessment of metabolome compartmentation of soybean leaves using non-aqueous fractionation by GC-MS of about 100 compounds indicated a greater number of compounds identified in vacuole when compared to cytosol or stroma (Benkeblia et al., 2007). Furthermore, the NAF method allowed the identification and quantification of the subcellular distributions of metabolites in developing potato (Solanum tuberosumL. cv Desiree) tubers which revealed that ~60% of most sugars, sugar alcohols, organic acids, and amino acids were found in the vacuole, the substrates for starch biosynthesis, hexose phosphates, and ATP were found in the plastid, while pyrophosphate was located almost exclusively in the cytosol (Farrà © et al., 2011). Similarly, in A. thaliana leaves, using NAF methods about 1,000 proteins and 70 metabolites, including 22 phosphorylated intermediates were separated into plastidial, cytosolic, and vacuolar metabolites and proteins which indicated that cytosolic, mitochondrial, and peroxisomal proteins clustered together. Metabolites from the Calvin–Benson cycle, photorespiration, starch and sucrose synthesis, glycolysis, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle grouped with their associated proteins of the respective compartment, indicating NAF as a powerful tool for the study of the organellar, and in some cases sub-organellar, distribution of proteins and their association with metabolites. Unfortunately, organelles extracted from whole tissue homogenates are generally originated from a range of cell types (Bowsher and Tobin, 2001), but from specific organs such as leaves. However, the single largest study depicting the compartmentalized A. thaliana metabolome (Krueger et al., 2011), revealed the subcellular distribution of 1,117 polar and 2,804 lipophilic mass spectrometric features associated to known and unknown compounds. In conjunction with GC-MS and LC-MS-based metabolite profiling, 81.5% of the metabolic data could be associated to one of three subcellular compartments: the cytosol (including mitochondria), vacuole, or plastids. Nonetheless, the authors conceded that localizations of several known metabolites and structurally undetermined compounds (unknowns) were difficult to unambiguously explain on the basis of three compartments due to either unresolved compartments, or the interconnections of subcellular metabolic networks. Advances in mass spectrometry based lipidomics have enabled the simultaneous identification and quantification of lipid species from complex structures at the tissue, cellular and organelle resolution levels (Horn and Chapman, 2012). The authors showed that at the nano scale, ‘direct organelle MS’ (DOMS) holds immense potential to profile lipids at the organelle level by extracting lipids from organelles in isolation, or from intact cells, within a capillary tip, followed by their identification and quantification using direct-infusion nanospray MS. Furthermore, it was underscored that fluorescent protein technology can be used to image subcellular dynamics of plant cell organelles at a spatial and temporal resolution, and to manipulate the distribution of fluorescent markers to identify the genes responsible for the inner activities of plant cells by means of light microscopy alongside genomics (Sparkes and Brandizzi, 2012). Conclusion and future prospects Although used in most instances, NAF is static, invasive, has no cellular resolution, and is sensitive to artifacts. (Looger et al., 2005), validation of NAF technique is understood to hold the key for successful implementation (Klie et al., 2011). Spectroscopic methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging and positron emission tomography (PET) provide dynamic data, but poor spatial resolution. Thus, genetically encoded fluorescence resonance energy transfer(FRET) sensors (i.e., green florescence protein (GFP)-based, enzyme based etc.) have been proposed for visualizing metabolites with subcellular resolution (Looger et al., 2005). Flux-balance modeling of plant metabolic networks provides an important complement to13C-based metabolic flux analysis. Recently, several flux-balance models of plant metabolism have been published including genome-scale models ofA. thaliana metabolism (Sweetlove and Ratcliffe, 2011). Approaches for flux balance analysis have been reviewed else where (Lee et al., 2011; Lakshmanan et al., 2012). To achieve greater insights into metabolic fluxes across subcellular metabolomes several flux analyses tools are available, such as FiatFlux (Zamboni et al., 2005), OpenFLUX (Quek et al., 2009) that are based on 13C-based analysis, OptFlux (Rocha et al., 2010), FluxAnalyzer (Klamt et al., 2013), YANA (Schwarz et al., 2005). Model SEED, FAME, and MetaFlux have included several routines to facilitate the reconstruction of genome-scale metabolic models (Lakshmanan et al., 2012). NAF methods for obtaining subcellular fractions allows direct quenching of metabolism by snap-freezing in liquid nitrogen, thus, the combination of NAF with metabolic flux analysis using13C labeled CO2is a very attractive approach for the future (Keuger et al., 2012). On the other hand, MALDI associated secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) imaging, on research-grade MALDI-MS instruments, MSI is possible with a spatial resolution of

The Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Essays -- Dai Sijie

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress is a marvelous novel, written by Dai Sijie, which himself was re-educated between 1971 and 1974 during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. In Dai Sijie’s Balzac and the Little Seamstress three separate accounts are given of an incident in which Luo and the Little Seamstress make love in an isolated mountain pool. Two of these perspectives are given by the participants while the third is provided by the old miller who observes their love making from a distance. Of all the accounts, I found the count of this incident of Little Seamstress most appealing as she is able to present at an imaginative description of this setting and allow the readers to understand her thoughts and feelings. In contrast the account of the Old Miller is more detached and is more focused about the physical beauty of the Little Seamstress, while Luo’s story to me is more focused on his own concerns and is desire to escape the remote mountain village which he ha s been sent. The Old Miller’s perspective conveys the sense that he is both transfixed by what he sees, but he feel shamed for being unable to take his eyes off the lovers. Their acrobatic movements in the water make him feel his age in the fact that he realizes he can never again enjoy such pleasures. What he focuses on is their nudity and their coupling. This is captured in the image of â€Å"their bodies entwined, whirling round and round in the water.† Feeling â€Å"rooted to the spot† he notices â€Å"the limpid water glittering in the sun exaggerated and distorted their obscene movements.† The miller’s account makes the reader feel like a voyeur and imagine the old man with his face â€Å"reddened.† He is overcome by the beauty of the Little Seamstress â€Å"her naked belly and un... ...h an injury on the Little Seamstress’s finger. A turning point comes up when they get back to the village and finds out that his mother’s been rushed to the hospital, which than he has to visit her for a month. Out of the three stories told by Luo, the Old Miller and the Chinese Seamstress, I find the Little Chinese Seamstress’s story more appealing than others. From my view, it shows a variety of meanings because overall, the Little Seamstress was not educated, but from this story I could tell that she gained knowledge and was able to use what she was capable of doing and you would not expect to gain feedback from a woman who just had relationship with a man. Luo’s story is also very appealing but it shows only concerns for himself and is own feelings. Whereas the Chinese Seamstress was more appealing and showed improvement of her ability to think independently.

Discuss the character of Banquo and his role in ‘Macbeth’ Essay

Banquo was one of Duncan’s brave generals. He was a man of honour and integrity. He held the same rank as Macbeth and they were very closely linked characters. They were courageous and loyal warriors. They both witnessed the Witches’ prophesies and their future successes were foretold throughout the play. Banquo had a generous spirit and a rational view of the world and had the attributes required by a good King, however, Banquo was an ambiguous character, in that he was sceptical of Macbeth’s manner following their encounter with the Witches. Macbeths’ beliefs worried Banquo, as he was a good man and he believed deeply in upholding God’s rule of order. Banquo sensed that the Witches’ prophesies prompted new reactions in Macbeth – further encouraging his ambitions towards kingship. Banquo’s first encounter with the Witches was quite unbelievable to him and he remarked to Macbeth, â€Å"What are these, So withered, and so wild in their attire, That look not like th’inhabitants o’th earth, And yet are on,t?† , Banquo’s words describe Macbeth’s startled and uneasy reaction to the Witches’ prophesies, touching moral confusion in Macbeth by saying to him, â€Å"Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear Things that do not sound so fair?† The half rhyme ‘fear’ and ‘fair’ echoes the Witches previous ‘fair’ and ‘foul’. Although Banquo was not afraid of the Witches, he still wanted them to speak to him but at the same time he wished to remain detached from them. He addressed the Witches, saying, â€Å"Speak to me, who neither beg, nor fear Your favours nor your hate.† The Witches in turn replied, â€Å"Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none.† The Witches directed most of their prophesies towards Macbeth and Banquo noticed how lost in thought his companion was because of this experience and remarked, â€Å"Look how our partner’s rapt.† When the Witches vanished, Banquo and Macbeth were astounded, wondering if what they had just witnessed was indeed real or just fantasy. When Banquo heard that Macbeth was to become Thane of Cawdor, in contrast to Macbeth’s excitement, he showed wariness and sensed that the Witches’ words might be deceitful by telling Macbeth, â€Å"And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s In deepest consequence.† Banquo is clear-sighted in his summary of the way of temptation. However, resisting the prophecies was a struggle, even for Banquo. He said to his son Fleance, â€Å"Merciful powers, Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature Gives way to in repose!† Banquo was clearly disturbed by all the strange events that had taken place. He was afraid to sleep and the Witches words returned to him in his dreams when he did so. After King Duncan was murdered, Banquo became very suspicious of Macbeth and was becoming concerned about his destiny. He spoke of this to the King’s son Malcolm, â€Å"In the great hand of God I stand, and thence Against the undivulged pretence I fight Of treasonous malice.† However, I criticize Banquo because of his passivity when he says, soon afterwards, â€Å"Thou hast it all now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all As the weird women promised, and I fear Thou play’dst most foully for’t:† It was obvious that Banquo suspected Macbeth’s involvement in Duncan’s death, yet he took no steps against Macbeth. I suspect this was because Banquo had ambition too, like Macbeth when he says, â€Å"May they not be my oracles as well, And set me up in hope? But hush, no more.† Macbeth’s prophecy had come true, so he hoped, perhaps it would all happen for him and he would father a line of Kings. Banquo’s inaction and suspicions of Macbeth attracted Macbeth’s attention as his soliloquy in Act 3 denotes, â€Å"Our fears in Banquo Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature Reigns that which would be feared.† Then at the end of his soliloquy he really expresses his innermost thoughts by saying, â€Å"Only for them, and mine eternal jewel Given to the common enemy of man, To make them Kings, the seed of Banquo Kings!† This showed that he was determined that no- one would interfere with his kingship. Macbeth saw Banquo as simply too strong and honourable a rival to be left alive. Here again, we see that Macbeth and Banquo were closely linked. They were both tragic and doomed with flaws within themselves. Macbeth became obsessed by irrational passions, then anger and fear took hold, resulting in Macbeth having Banquo murdered. Macbeth held a banquet to celebrate his kingship which Banquo had agreed to attend as chief guest. He was indeed chief guest, but only visible to Macbeth as a ghost, taunting him, driving him insane with guilt. Macbeth felt this ghost was real, but it was only an extension of the evil in Macbeth’s troubled mind. This hysterical reaction in Macbeth’s vision aroused the suspicions of the lords attending. All this behaviour exhibited Macbeth as totally deranged, however, it was Banquo who finally exposed Macbeth’s deceptiveness by appearing to him as an ‘avenging angel’ and deeply highlighting Macbeth’s guilt. There were contrasts in Banquo’s character. He was honourable to the King, yet, he was pathetic, unable to act when his suspicions of Macbeth’s evil were obvious. There is also evidence of contrast between Macbeth and Banquo in Act 2. I, when neither of them can sleep. Banquo was tormented by the Witches’ predictions and Macbeth was driven by them. Banquo really wanted what the Witches predicted, but at the same time he wanted to keep a clear conscience. He also observed how Macbeth changed from a loyal warrior into a self-seeking tyrant, but with everything happening so hastily he might not have had the time to act upon his suspicions and maybe he thought about the fact that his suspicions may have been wrong. Banquo clearly displays signs of ambiguity throughout the play.

Better Use Redneck with Care

Better Use Redneck with Care Better Use Redneck with Care Better Use Redneck with Care By Maeve Maddox A man speaking in a city board meeting in my town this week got into trouble for using the word redneck. He was arguing that shrinking city funds would be better spent on maintaining the local cable access channel than on Christmas lights in the town square. He stirred up a storm of protest when he referred to the city employees putting up the lights as highly-paid rednecks. The uproar got me thinking about this term, one of my least favorite group designators. As far as I can interpret the mans remarks, he wanted to convey the thought that the cable channel, as a means of communicating the workings of the city government, is of more value than mere seasonal display. So why did he choose to call the men putting up the lights rednecks instead of, say, workers? The mind functions in curious ways. Our thoughts reside there in layers upon layers. Sometimes what may seem like an insignificant word choice reveals a layer we may not even be aware of. The speaker came to Arkansas from California. He may not realize it himself, but his choice of the word redneck suggests an attitude of superiority towards the natives. For those readers who may not be familiar with the term, redneck in modern American usage is used chiefly to refer to a perceived type of Southern white person. The term has been used in other contexts with other possible origins, but the term, as popularized by standup comic Jeff Foxworthy, probably derives from the sunburned necks of outdoor laborers. Foxworthy, a native of Georgia, can use the term with impunity, rather as black comics can get away with nigger. Depending upon who is using it, the word redneck can be inoffensive or deeply pejorative. As used in country songs, redneck carries a connotation of pride along with the characteristics of patriotism, belief in God, self-respect, and independence. This kind of redneck probably drives a pickup truck and owns a gun. Hes not afraid of hard work and would rather go hungry than accept charity in any form. He mistrusts overeducated people and prefers the country or small town to the city. As used by outsiders, redneck seems to have replaced hillbilly as a word to stereotype Southerners. As a term of opprobrium, a redneck not only drives a pickup and owns a gun, he is loud, often drunk, ignorant, bigoted, xenophobic, and trashy. He dresses like a slob, speaks with a southern accent, fills his yard with junk, and has no appreciation of the finer things of life. The term has its uses, both in conversation and in writing, but it can be volatile and is best used with care. Youll find further information about redneck and other terms often applied in a pejorative sense to Southerners here (Update: page no longer online). Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Apply to, Apply for, and Apply withEmail EtiquetteNominalized Verbs

Frdric Bazille essays

Frdric Bazille essays Frdric Bazille was born in 1841 to a rich middle-class Protestant family of wine producers near Montpellier, France. In 1859 he began to study medicine in Montpellier and in 1862 continued his medical studies in Paris. While in Paris, he began to study painting part-time at Charles Gleyres studio where he met Monet, Renoir, and Sisley. After failing his medical exams in the spring of 1864, he enrolled as a full-time student of Gleyre. Gleyre emphasized the importance or originality, and Bazille once said, Thanks to Gleyres teaching, I shall at least be able to boast that I have not copied anybody. While in Paris, Bazille became close friends with Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, Manet, and Sisley, sharing studios with Monet in 1865 and Renoir in 1866. Bazille was an ardent supporter of his friends works. In fact, when Monet was in dire financial straits, Bazille bought one of his paintings and tried to help sell others. He also took the main financial responsibility of paying the rent in his studios due to his financial background. Manet and Courbet influenced Bazilles impressionistic style paintings. He painted numerous portraits of friends and members of his family along with landscapes. His quiet clear landscapes and harmonious family scenes in muted colors made him one of the most significant representatives of Early Impressionism. Some of his best works include Family Reunion, The Terrace at Mric (Oleander), and Bazilles Studio. In August of 1870, following Frances declaration of war against Prussia, Bazille enlisted. On November 28th, Bazille was killed in a minor skirmish at Beaune-la-Rolande in Burgandy, cutting short a promising career. He was 29 years old. ...

Partnership Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Partnership Analysis - Essay Example These can be used with strategic intent, especially for gaining competitive advantage. We take the case of Ford Motor, the second largest car maker in the US. While Ford has built many IS with strategic aspects, we focus on the IS for supplier – Ford relations. Managers can use value chain analysis to identify opportunities to use IS for competitive advantage (Porter, 1985, 2001; Shank and Govindarajan, 1993). An organization (in our case, Ford) can be thought of as a big input – output process. This can be represented schematically as follows: Ford Motor purchases automobile components and services from automotive companies in the industry. So at the left end in the schematic, supplies are purchased and brought into Ford. Ford then integrates those supplies (components) and makes cars, which it markets to customers. Ford then provides customer service after it sells the cars. In this entire process, there are opportunities for people in Ford to add value in various stages of the process. For example, supplies can be acquired more effectively and value can be added. Some other examples are adding value in making cars and improving sales. This process of adding value throughout the organization is called the Value Chain of the organization. Value Chain Analysis is the process of analyzing the organization’s value chain to find out where value is added to products and services, and the costs of adding value. Since IS can automate many activities in the Value Chain, Value Chain Analysis is used widely in using IS for strategic competitive advantage. In this, one has to first draw the Value Chain and then flesh out each of the activities where value is added. Then costs are determined for such value addition activities. Then one has to compare and benchmark these activities with those of the competitors. Then one can use the appropriate IS for gaining competitive advantage. IS can be used at any

Having Sex, Getting Sex and Getting Gotten Essay

Having Sex, Getting Sex and Getting Gotten - Essay Example It is also true that individuals in a relationship the feel they are over benefiting also report lower levels of satisfaction (Cohen, 2006). This theory seems to ignore the idea of attachment and relationships. It seems to be treating sex as a business relationship as is described in the text. That seems extreme when even the social exchange theory, which says that intimacy is the product of a reward-cost history in the interaction between two people, understands that intimacy is involved. It is believed that intimacy is relative. Not all intimate relationships are the same. The social exchange theory is an attempt to explain all intimate relationships, not as irrational or selfless, but as a product of the fact that people love those who offer more rewards and fewer punishments than others. The loved one must not only be desirable but must reciprocate one’s attentions. This theory would say that people who fall in love begin by engaging in a kind of bargaining process wherein assets and debits are evaluated and matched. Looking for love means searching for rewards and punishments. Research does seem to support bo th the social exchange theory and the equity hypothesis as explanations for the first phases of pair formation. Several surveys indicate that both parties in an demonstrated that both members of an inequitable relationship were unhappy. The question that comes from this is, it there no such thing as unconditional love? The social exchange theory does the best job of describing liking rather than love. Our text does not even get to the point of liking the individual rather it is liking of the act or intercourse and possibly exploiting another to get it or being willing to be exploited to get it (Stevins-Long & Commons, 2002). Again, this writer goes back to developmental stages. The adolescent may begin in this equity bargaining stage of