Is Good spech

This can be seen in many areas, from the struggle for women's rights, to the oppressive e racism that caused the great Civil Right's Movement. Throughout these hard times, there have always been those who have stood up and fought for what they believed in.One of these great people woo old have to be Doctor Martin Luther King Jar. Despite the crippling racism, and the horrible treatment he faced as an African American, King stood tall and strong, leading the African Americans in the fight t gag insist racism. Time and time again he stood before crowds, protesting against the injustice they f aced. Before one of these large crowds, he gave one of the most memorable speeches in American whist ROR; his â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech. In his speech, he stressed how, despite all the hatred and injustice of the time, he still had a dream.His dream, across the nation, all would put aside the past and become united. His dream across the nation, men and women would not be judged by the co lor of their skin, b UT by the content of their character. His dream, despite the disdain and judgment of the time, in the futz ere across the nation everybody would be able to join hands and become brother and sister, united . His speech became an outstanding inspiration, and motivated the people to see each other as equal s, thus ending the Civil Rights Movement. King stood against injustice, and for the belief all are equals.However, in toad Yes society this still does not ring true. Does living on the street, living paycheck to paycheck, or begging for food and change seem equal to living in mansions, swimming in grand pools, and feasts Eng every day? Injustice Cushman 2 in today's society being no longer found in violence and insults, but found in if nuances. Entertainers earn far more than public servants, creating a huge inequality gap. Those who sacrifice so much, and devote themselves to doing the right thing, they struggle more than those who o focus inwards, and devote th emselves, to themselves.Statistically speaking, 23% of the homeless population is made up Of veterans, this being between 1 30,000 and 200,000 veterans without a home o n any given night. These men and women devoted their lives to America, to protecting every single India viaduct's freedom in this nation. What greater sacrifice can there be? Additionally, a recent example of annual military pay came in at $38,734. Compare this to a football athlete in the NFG who makes $1. 9 m lion annually. America is paying a man with a football jersey and helmet more than a man in a comb t helmet and uniform.America has promoted paying a man more to catch a ball, then a man who is putting his life on the line for his country. How immoral does this seem? Furthermore, the base of all if notion in society has to be education. Who gives education? Teachers do. Elementary teachers, who have given the foundation of success, earn an annual average of $56,130 nationally. Actors of the likes of R Bert Dow ney Jar. And Changing Datum however, make a net worth of 550 million. A pretty boy actor on a screen will make hat much more money than a teacher with a white board.Where would the j justice be in this? Men and women dedicated to the betterment of this nation are making very Ii title money, especially compared to those who simply dedicate themselves to a franchise or producer. Public servants such as teachers, law enforcement officers, and military personnel e ran substantially less income than entertainers. Thus, this becomes my dream. My dream features America proportioning, giving more money to those who sacrifice the most, because they truly have e earned it.My dream, those ho are putting their lives down on the frontline for their brothers and sister s will earn the same as those putting their names onto a movie contract. My dream, teachers, giving t he most valuable tool to our community, education, will earn the same as a man running into an end z one with a ball in his hands . My dream, public servants who serve as the basic function for this who ole nation, will earn the Cushman 3 same income as those who solely entertain this nation.

Admissions Essay Essay

There have been several people with prominent impacts on my life, but why focus only on the people who have influenced me? Let us broaden the scope to include all worldly matter. Then I make no hesitation in stating that my canine companion, Toby, has been my greatest influence. Toby, a vivacious miniature schnauzer, is at a well-ripened age of eleven. He is not the same dog he was when he was younger. He sleeps about 18 hours a day and it is impractical to take a nap on the couch with him, because his snoring is loud enough to be fooled with the reverberation of my dad after a long day of golf. However, just before 5 o’clock in the afternoon, only the gray hairs scattering Toby’s black coat give away his old age. It is around this time every day that Toby begins his racket of letting you know that it is getting â€Å"close† to his dinnertime of 6 o’clock. Toby’s daily reminders guide me to take a stand against the common adolescent breakfast fast. They are also a source of accountability in my quest to keep a positive outlook on all things that I encounter in my life. See more: Satirical essay about drugs While Toby may be an ordinary dog, he and I share something that I have never had with another human. Toby and I communicate better than any two humans do. To a third party, it seems as though I am carrying on a conversation with a non-responsive dog therefore essentially speaking back and forth to myself. However, I assure you that Toby responds back in his own way. What makes our communication so superior is Toby’s masterful ability to express himself non-verbally. This allows me to open up to him and not have to worry about him responding with insensitive or uninsightful utterances. I have learned through Toby that when a person goes to another human to talk they would rather that the person speak less and listen more. I have also found my canine companion to be dependable. He is at my feet when I need him on a cold night to do the job my comforter is supposed to do. After having one of â€Å"those† days I can count on him to be there when I walk through the door and not running to the corner. I use this example of dependability and apply it to my daily life by being there for others as  Toby has been there for me. It may, to some, be a bit silly to consider a dog influential, but these people must not have had the privilege of owning one of man’s very own best friends. I like to think that if our world had more children with dogs like my Toby, it would also have more children learning the core values that aid in responsibility and kindness.

Post Colonial Essay

PostColonial Literature Essay 3. With reference of at least two short stories from the course, consider in what ways either Desai, Munro, Galgut and Rushdie’s stories are Postcolonial texts. You may consider issues such as home and homelessness, absences in the text, place, positionality or anything you feel is relevant to your attempt at decoding postcolonial identities. Post-colonial literature can be considered as a body of literary writings that reacts to the discourse of colonization. Post-colonial writers focus on issues such as de-colonization and the political and cultural independence of people formerly subjugated to colonial rule. However post-colonial literature cannot be described only by the definition above, many other issues have to be considered in order to fully understand post-colonial texts. In order to understand post-colonial texts, one has to focus on two post-colonial writers: Anita Desai and Damon Galgut. To begin with, Anita Desai is an Indian novelist and short story writer, especially noted for her sensitive portrayal of the inner life of her female characters. Desai prefers the concerns of Westernized, middle-class characters rather than those facing the majority of India. Desai has comments on her work â€Å"My novels are no reflection of Indian society, politics or character. They are my private attempt to seize upon the raw material of life. † â€Å"Diamond Dust†(2000), a second Desai’s short story collection, features a selection of tales set in North America and India, Indian characters and concerns figure in all of them, illuminating Desai’s thematic preoccupation with the psychological effects on multiculturalism. A short story called â€Å"Five Hours to Simla or Faisla† was written by Desai. Shubha Tiwari in â€Å"Critical responses to Anita Desai† argues that â€Å"Five Hours to Simla Or Faisla is one of the most successful stories in this collection because of the clarity of the motives in it. It is a humorous story about the adamant attitude of a Sardarji causing a good deal of tension to the travelers on the way to Simla. † In my opinion, â€Å"Five hours to Simla or Faisla† can be called as a post-colonial text for many reasons. First of all, I think that key character is a crucial thing while talking about post-colonial texts. A key character in this text is really important as short stories tend to be more interesting in characterisation. In this story the key character is the mother’s character as it shows tradition-bound patriarchal culture in India: mother’s responsibility to take care of children and not having a say in the family, being less important than the father / husband. At that stage Desai tries to focus on middle-class women in contemporary India as they attempt to overcome social limitations. Writers’ qualification is also very important in post-colonial texts as it reflects why the author chose to talk about this particular subject in their text. Desai’s qualification is feminine and we can see why mother’s ( the wife’s) character is such an important thing in this short story. Her qualification is also somehow engaged in as to why her daily life is occupied with the complexities of modern Indian culture from a feminine perspective, while highlighting the female Indian predicament of maintaining self-identity as an individual woman. Being an immigrant, Desai sees differences between her culture and Western world. Talking about the mother’s character, she tries to show the limited opportunities for women in Indian society; she tries to find the dissolution of traditional Indian values and Western stereotypes of India. Talking about central characters, we can consider family as central characters in this story as Desai focus on family relationship so much in this text. She talks from a third person perspective â€Å"she†, â€Å"he† and she never mentioned family member names, so she place very long distance between readers and family-unnamed characters makes a little bit difficult to talk about them for readers. Secondly, language/style is also really important in post-colonial texts. Desai’s literary language is not her native language, but English. She uses fluid language and a less flaky, descriptive style. She writes in a very natural way. This text is really interesting in linguistic terms, for example Desai in this text uses words such as kohl which means German politician who served as chancellor of West Germany. We can see here that Desai tries to focus on her real roots as her mother was German. Thirdly, it is worth to talk about identity in this text as identity is a key issue in post-colonial text. Desai use this story to solidify, through criticism and celebration, an emerging national identity, which she has taken on the responsibility of representing. Desai in this text represents post-independence India while she is talking about traffic jam. Traffic jam is like a symbol (symbolism is also an important thing in most post-colonial texts) of the stagnancy of the Indian society: India had never formerly existed and so it a huge issue – national identity crises in India. Traffic jam also symbolizes that members of a postcolonial society have an identity which has been shaped jointly by their own unique cultural and community history, intertwined with that of the colonial power. Desai tries to show cultural and social changes that have swept India since its independence from Britain in 1947. Key passages also play a vital role in post-colonial texts. The text I have chosen is: †She did not need to draw upon her thumb juices for long. The news of the traffic jam on the highway had spread like ripples from a stone thrown. From somewhere, it seemed from nowhere for there was no village bazaar, marketplace or stalls visible in that dusty dereliction, wooden barrows came†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (p. 122) I think that this passage shows that the market place finally appeared in Indian society. Market place at this stage is very important as it represents the centre of the community; it connects community together again after British oppression; it is like a sense of community even in stagnancy; it represents a whole nation again. It is always important to look at the title in post-colonial texts. The â€Å"Five hours to Simla or Faisla† title is no exception. Of course, we first look at Five hours to Simla because it makes sense for us- and the text in general represents it, but when we are looking deeper in the text context we make sure that Faisla is an important part of the title too. Faisla in English means judgment/ verdict, so how it is relative to this text? Traffic jam as I said is a symbol of stagnation of the Indian society. It also represents that Indian people are waiting someone to take control of India; to connect all religions together into one India identity/ into one native India. India was damaged by being colonized, so who will bring this country together? Indian people really need someone to take a verdict/leadership. Opening and ending of the text are essential parts of analysis of the post colonial texts too. Desai ends her text with no great judgment and resolution. Short story writers are tend to leave things open. They can’t really solve the problems, but they can represent the problems from all angles and allows people to judge. Another short story, which I would like to analyze is â€Å"The Lover† from â€Å"In a Strange Room† (2010) written by Damon Galgut, a South African novelist. I will start with a speaking person. The narrator is sometimes referred to in the first person singular, sometimes in the third. All this makes connection and at the same time disconnection in one’s mind, especially because Galgut is free and easy with conventional punctuation. Galgut writing style and punctuation is unusual in a way that he does not use any questions marks. Identity is also very important figure in this text. We can see that identity in this text is a migrant identity- the main character in this text is lost in this world, â€Å"he has not made a home for himself†. By this text, the author means that the character has not found a place in the world that he could call home, he doesn’t feel right, and is trying to find a place where he would feel accepted and content. Therefore he travels to Zimbabwe, without having planned anything â€Å"No particular intention brings him to Zimbabwe, all those years ago. He simply decides one morning to leave and gets on a bus that same night. † He also tries to find this place, that in his imagination he could call home. In the text the narrator says â€Å"Somebody has a map and knows which way to go†, he refers to how other people are different than him in a way that they have planned their routine, and have a place they can call home, whereas he hasn’t got any routes or plans, as he feels lost. In my opinion, him travelling around, symbolizes the fact that he is lost. He is trying to change his surroundings, he is trying to find a community, home, to find someone to love. â€Å"If I was with somebody, he thinks, with somebody I loved, then I could love the place and even the grave too, I would be happy to be there. † He emphasizes the fact that he is desperately trying to find a lover, a person who he would love, and that that person would make the surrounding right for him, that only then he would feel happy in the place. The character feels guilt, because he is trying to find a place that he could call home, and a person that he could call his lover, but fails to do that, and therefore he feels guilty. The title â€Å"The Lover† reflects the whole point of this story. In my opinion, the title refers to that person that the main character is looking for throughout his journey. That person in my opinion is the Irish woman that he meets in the hotel and starts his journey. We are told that the moment when they leave the hotel, him and the Irish woman, is the moment when the â€Å"real journey begins†. Sometimes it happens as you leave your house, sometimes it’s a long way from home. † We are told that even though the main character of the story has travelled for a while, his journey has only begun at that time when he, and his ‘lover’, leave the hotel, to go to Malawi. Even though there is no evidence that the woman is feeling any romantic feelings for him, his jo urney only begins now, and this Irish woman gives him hope, and he thinks that she could be her lover, in my opinion. Class issues are very obvious in this text. The officials at the border of Malawi are described as very ignorant, and incompetent. This is due to the fact that when they were told by the tourists, that they were informed by their embassy that they wouldn’t require a Visa. After that the officials shouted at them, and told them that they were wrong, and sent them back to get the Visa. This shows that the officials aren’t well informed, and also badly mannered. This goes to show that the stereotype that most African’s are very narrow minded is still very much true. They wouldn’t allow foreign people to go through the boarded without a Visa, even though it wasn’t required, but they did allow some South African’s through without a Visa. In conclusion, I believe that in order to understand post-colonial text you may consider issues such as identity, story title, characters, language, style, key passages, home and homelessness, place and etc. References: Anita Desai (2000). Diamond Dust, â€Å"Five Hours to Simla or Faisla†. Damon Galgut (2010). In a Strange Room, â€Å"The Lover†. Hart, Jonathan; Goldie Terrie (1993). â€Å"Post Colonial theory†. In: http://books. google. com/books? id=CTJCiLG9AeoC&pg=PA155#v=onepage&q&f=false Word count: 1,967.

Economics 1- General Motors Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Economics 1- General Motors - Essay Example he question directly, the cost structure of the combined entities, as General Motors, improved after the mergers, with the trimming of costs and improving profit margins even when the level of revenues remains constant. Economies of scale is possible only with a certain minimum critical size of firms in an industry such as the automobile industry. The company continued its acquisition binge in the ensuing years. Management decisions that improved operations included reduction of costly factory errors with the establishment of a testing laboratory, and setting up of facilities for research and development, which turned out to be the most complex in the industry at the time. These contributed to improved efficiency and productivity. During the 1920s the big car manufacturers were GM and Ford, followed by Chrysler in 1925 (American Motors was formed only in 1954). At that time only Ford posed a semblance of competition to GM. GM proceeded with some major innovations in management systems using policy coordination from the top, policy direction through top-level committees, and delegation of responsibilities - practices that were to become standard in business management theory and practice. In the late 1920s, GM introduced the synchromesh gears by Cadillac, the shatter-proof safety glass, and the V-16, the first car type with a 16-cylinder engine, setting standards in power and performance. Then it pioneered in innovations in styling and engineering, capped by the discovery of the automatic gear. GM also developed the independ4ent front wheel suspension and the automatic transmission under Sloans leadership before the WWII. In the 1950s GM introduced the V-8 engine with a higher compression ratio, power steering , air-conditioning systems, safety belts, among others. In short, the company outdistanced its competition through design and engineering as demonstrated in the functional quality of cars it produced. In the area of marketing strategy, GM boss Sloans

What attributes of eco-labels are important to consumers Essay

What attributes of eco-labels are important to consumers - Essay Example The authors used an online discrete choice/ choice-based conjoint to investigate the drivers that influence consumer preference on over eco-labels (Delmas & Lessem, 2014). Consumers cannot assess the environmental qualities of a product until it arrives at the market. The presence of eco-labels seeks to bridge this information gap between manufacturers and consumers by presenting the ingredients and environmental qualities of a certified product. The environmental attributes of a product are essential to consumers since they influence their purchasing decisions. Eco-labels influence consumers’ preferences on products. A research that used a discrete choice experiment and a latent class choice model to investigate the significance of consumers’ preference for wine back labels and identify the correlation of these labels relative to price confirmed this (Mueller, Lockshin, Saltman, & Blanford, 2010). The research established that simple eco-labels statements derive positive customer response while eco-labels with difficult messages like the chemical ingredients of a product derives negative responses (Mueller, Lockshin, Saltman, & Blanford, 2010). More so, the presence of private benefits in eco-labeled products derives positive consumer responses (Delmas & Lessem, 2014). Such benefits may include health benefits, increased durability, and high quality. In this context, such factors will affect consumer’s willingness to buy cleaning products. Health attribute influences consumer preferences for eco-labeled products. Developed countries like America offer eco-labels health claims through independent agencies. Various studies derive that most consumers always prefer healthier products. The increased customers’ demand for healthier food products has led to the use of eco-labeling (McCluskey & Loureiro, 2003). The authors conducted an empirical study on consumer preferences and willingness to buy various types of food

Marketing Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Marketing - Case Study Example A large store has always been a dream for Don Martin. Therefore, an increase in sales volume was also essential. Lastly, Don Martin experienced financial difficulties and he wanted to keep his money. This research paper is focused on marketing implications of the company and deals with the analysis of possible solutions for Don Martin Limited. Economic, social and political factors of the modern world are intimidating factors for many businesses. There is a need to develop innovative and challenging solutions in order to satisfy the needs and wants of the modern customers. Marketing Implications of Don Martin To succeed in different segments, Don Marti had to develop a different conception for his company. Advertising in mass media was one of the first and foremost measures taken by Don Martin. It is an incredible thing, but he spent more than $100,000 on advertising. So, the customers were aware of goods provided by the Company, but there was not enough high-quality services provide d for the customers. That was the biggest challenge for Don Martin. The modern customers are very much concerned about money, because they do not want to spend extra money. There were a few options suggested by Don Martin. Some of them were credit offering for the customers or delivery services. Nevertheless, these solutions were not beneficial enough, because gas cost much; there was a need to pay for the office et cetera. Credit option was a good solution, but the Company’s developer had to pay much money for tracking correct crediting and so on. Don Martin met many challenges and it was very important to find a complex and innovative best solution. There were also many challenges in HR management. People had to work 12 hours four days a week and though employees liked their job, the employer had to put much efforts to satisfy their needs. Moreover, there were a lot of manufacturers and there was a necessity to unite some lines together. Don Martin made many attempts to imp ress his customers with volumes of sold goods. There were a lot of competitors, which were offering the same goods to the customers. It was really hard to compete in the business world and there was an option either to offer business for rent or to sell it right away. Price increase was a bad solution, because other stores offered the same goods at lower prices. It was really difficult to find the best solution and it took much time for Don Martin to decide whether he needed to sell something right in a right way. Don Martin tried to think harder and chose an integrative solution, which can be profitable in the future. He wanted to initiate his developments in motorcycle sphere. Income Statements of Don Martin Limited In the result of these combined actions and invented solutions, income statements of Don Martin were the following ones: Gross profit increased for 5.6%, sales wages increased for 2.2% (11.6% to 13.8%), advertising increased for 2%, balance of selling and delivery incr eased for 1%, occupancy increased for 2.2%, general and administration costs decreased for 1%, accounts receivable and credit increased for 3%. Total expenses reached 37.5% last year and profit loss 1.9%. Therefore, with the company’s growth Don Martin experienced numerous challenges and he had to pay more different expenses, but at the same time he had an opportunity to gain more profits. A company’

The neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia Research Paper

The neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia - Research Paper Example An adult diagnosed as having schizophrenia will go to a completely separate facility and will see a very different specialist—though the doctor will still likely be a specialist. What is most unfortunate about the current mind set and treatment set-up is that neither allows for comprehensive understanding of these neurological disorders or for continuous treatment of them. What is most relied upon for diagnosing neurological disorders at present (outside of the symptoms themselves) is the prevalence of the suspected disorder among the patient’s immediate and distant family. The thought is that such disorders are largely hereditary, and so if several other members of the family have this particular disorder, then the patient likely has it as well. More recent research could definitely shift that thought process, however. According to research, there is a clear overlapping of various symptoms and developmental delay between many of these disorders. The symptoms themselves (i.e. developmental delay, cognitive impairment, social impairment, etc) are seen across the spectrum of disorders, and where they differ is in their severity. With that kind of overlapping, treatment of one disorder could most certainly benefit from understanding of treatment of another disorder. As we well understand, more comprehensive understanding of a disorder allows for more creative and more effective treatment options. Obviously, with more and better treatment options, doctors are more likely to be able to better the quality of life for their patients. At the end of the day, is that not the end goal of all medical understanding—to improve the quality of life for the patient? Administrative set-up for treatment facilities is also limiting the medical community’s ability to treat their patients. While studies are showing that neurodevelopmental disorders cross the age spectrum from children with ADHD to adults with bipolar disorder, treatment facilities only al low for treatment of one or the other. What happens to those individuals who develop what becomes labeled as one disorder as a child, and then continues to need treatment as an adult? Often times these adults are re-diagnosed with a different disorder and are subjected to a completely new set of lifestyle rules and treatments. More comprehensive understanding of these neurological disorders as being on a spectrum and having overlapping symptoms (and possibly treatments), would allow for doctors to take information of a childhood disorder and factor that in to treatment of the adult patient. Better communication between facilities would also surely result from better comprehension given that members of the medical community already have well-established policies of working with other members who may offer insight in to what would help their individual patient. The connection of the information in this article to my personal major and career aspirations were strongly felt by me. As a psychiatric social worker, it will be my duty to understand both what individuals’ symptoms indicate in terms of illness and comprehend the way those symptoms are felt by the individual. That is to say, how the symptoms present themselves and what they mean to and for the client. Aside from my duties, being a psychiatric soc

Not sure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Not sure - Essay Example In this activity, students were required to write about themselves on the pieces of paper and throw them to one another. This helped the students understand one another’s background and lifestyle in general. I also introduced myself to others and asked them what I wanted to know about them. This activity filled confidence in me so that I could communicate better. I learnt almost all conversation with my team members after this class rather than learning the professional words from the lecture. I learnt how important it was to be good at communication and to be able to engage with teams to get a better understanding of a new field. Since I had not done any prior readings, I did not completely understand this unit’s structure despite the fact that my unit coordinator had clearly explained everything. Besides, I was busy in few advanced professional expressions. I was eager about making a time management plan so that I was clear about the assignment submission due dates, h omework requirements and the prior reading required. It would help improve my efficiency and time management skills. Week 2 In week 2, I liked the searching activity in which I had to use the library resources together with my team members. We discovered a lot of information about our studies by accessing the online data available at the ECU website. I found out that this online library tool enabled us to locate a variety of sources. We could easily locate references of a specific year by looking at the sources for its year range. Our team did a referencing exercise including both end-text and in-text referencing following the referencing guide of ECU. We also reviewed our first pieces of reflection and exchanged views upon that with one another. For example, my team members liked my management plan’s format whereas I liked the terminology abbreviation memorizing process proposed by my mate. This activity helped improve our formatting and research skills, and also improved my ability to cooperate with my team. There was also an activity that our team did which was least interesting. It comprised two scenarios with the same set of questions about the ACE theory of Kathleen Reardon. Understanding it with real examples would have been easier than the case study in the book. Since I had done the pre-reading of the chapter â€Å"Persuasion†, I knew its importance and features already, along with the strategies needed to make effective persuasions. This part went smoothly. However, I needed to develop competence in the theoretical part of the persuasion along with their relevant terms. The learning I have gained from the online library searching activity will help me in the studies in the future and will also improve my cooperation and communication skills. I have also learnt the strategies of persuasion that I will use in my professional career in the future. Most importantly, I have developed good interpersonal skills. Week 3 Week 3 was about managem ent of stress and time. In this week, we did an activity i.e. Exercise 4B that attracted me because it was very much real; we gave a life stress test that helped us identify our stress conditions by answering different questions about our life events. I calculated my scope by ticking off many boxes of life events that were related to me and that might cause stress. I thought I would score the highest since I thought of myself as a highly stressed person, but I was surprised to learn that I had scored the lowest. I learnt that everybody experiences stress, and that

1. What is the purpose of the poem2. What does the poem mean and how Essay

1. What is the purpose of the poem2. What does the poem mean and how does it reveal that meaning3. Which is more important for the poem, form or content Why is this question a concern at all for the reader - Essay Example was simply based on making a description of a wreath being given to someone, who the author indicated as most familiar of his ways, as a token of appreciation and praise. Upon closer evaluation, one could establish that the one being referred to by the author, who is acknowledged as â€Å"Of praise deservà ¨d, unto Thee I give† (Herbert 2nd line) could possibly be God, the all omniscient and all knowing. Accordingly, one concludes that the purpose of the poem was to give honor and praise, possibly to God, who is all knowing and worthy of being glorified through the garland of flowers. The author seems to be expressing a problem in living his life. Through the verses: â€Å"My crooked winding ways, wherein I live,— Wherein I die, not live† (Herbert 4th and 5th lines) indicate a predicament faced by the author in disclosing that he exhibited living in crooked and winding ways; contrary to the general expectations of people to live in straight or supposedly righteous ways. This fact was again evaluated using the following lines: â€Å"for life is straight, Straight as a line, and ever tends to Thee† (Herbert 5th and 6th lines). Finally, one arrived at the conclusion that the author could be sending the message to God through the following verses: â€Å"Give me simplicity, that I may live, So live and like, that I may know Thy ways† (Herbert 9th and 10th lines) – for who else could have the power to enable one to provide a simpler life than the omnipotent God and who else is most mysterious that God that people who sometimes express the need to know more of His ways to understand Him better. The poem was effectively structured by using words that are repetitive to give emphasis to the message being relayed. As one would observe, the last words in the most of the lines in the poem are used as starting words for the next lines: In rhetorical analysis, this is called anadiplosis, which means â€Å"a rhetorical term for the repetition of the last word of one line or

GOVT 480 DB7 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

GOVT 480 DB7 - Essay Example nd especially those pertaining to terrorism started and even fusion centers were set up by the Department of Homeland Security to ensure this is taken with the seriousness it deserves. The purpose of the local law enforcers is to report to the state and fusion offices suspicious cases of terrorism activities or other national intelligence from the local level and then work together from there (Cordner and Scarborough, 2010). Not all information on the progress and the step by step measures to be taken should be shared with the local law enforcers by the state. This is so because there are some of the local enforcers who are supporters and followers of the terrorists and act as their moles hence providing them with important security and intelligence information and if this happens to be the case then it may jeopardize the intelligence and action to terminate the terrorism activities. In this regards therefore, national intelligence information provided to the local enforcers should be limited to the basics and not specifics in as much as their help is appreciated. Cordner, G. and Scarborough, K. (January, 2010). â€Å"Information Sharing: Exploring the Intersection of Policing with National and Military Intelligence.† Journal of the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security, vol. VI (1). Retrieved from:

IBM Research Topic Essay Example for Free

IBM Research Topic Essay Mission Statement-Suitability for IBM The mission statement of IBM is suitable for the organization, and that not only because it sufficiently refers to the features a mission statement must have, but also because it expresses a spirit of success, teamwork and customer consideration, a spirit that only big companies can generate. Mission Statement-Strengths and weaknesses Though much important a mission stetement is, it can develop some strengths and weaknesses regarding mostly the customers of a company, the workforce and its shareholders. These three groups of people constitute a larger framework of groups, which has a legitimate interest in the fortunes of a company, the stakeholders of a company. Customers-Strengths In the market of information technology, customers will expect the most advance information technology from a company in order to fulfill their needs. Customers will also demand a flexible range of products and services (after sales service) to suit their needs. By reading the mission statement of IBM it is more than visible that the company fulfills these demands and provides strengths to its customers (â€Å"we strive to lead in the creation and manufacture of the industry’s most advance information technologies†, â€Å"we translate these advance technologies into value for our customers through our professional solutions and services worldwide†). Generally the mission statement of IBM expresses a spirit of marketing orientation, and customer devotiation. Customers-Weaknesses It is extremeny difficult to pinpoint any weaknesses regarding customers generated from the mission statement of IBM, since the company’s mission statement expresses a spirit of marketing orientation and customer service (â€Å"we translate these advanced technologies into value for our customers through our professional solutions and services worldwide†). However one could say that extremely high technology and development might create such a specialisation that may lead to non-user friendly products, which would not sufficiently serve the needs of the customers. This could be encountered as a weakness. Workforce-Strengths The workforce of a company will expect to operate in a friendly and teamwork enviroement, in which opportunities for training and career development will be given. The mission statement of IBM complies with these expectations, and so provides strengths to the workforce. Since the product line of IBM is highly technologically advanced (â€Å"development and manufacture of the industry’s most advance information technologies) the workforce of IBM will have the opportunity of being trained and having developed their career in the future. Apart from this, the mission statement itself expresses the team spirit that exist in IBM and is being expected from the workforce (â€Å"At IBM, we strive to lead in creation†¦.†. Workforce-Weaknesses Apart from the strengths that are generated from the mission statement of IBM a few weaknesses can also arise. By reading the mission statement of IBM you can easily observe the tense the company has to invest in the development of the company (technology, services) in order to lead in creation, development and manufacture of the industry’s most advance information technologies and so to serve by a more fruitfull way the needs of its customers. This however can have a negative impact on some expectations of the workforce. Employees might expect some profits of the company to be given for the use of raising wages rather than investing for the development of the company. Employees might expect shorter working hours and more standardised products and services. The non-confrontation of these expectations can be considered as weaknesses.

Training Key Areas Essay Example for Free

Training Key Areas Essay Introduction Employees bring talent, happiness, productivity measures an organization overall prosperity. Corporate responsibility has become an important value in large organizations. At State Farm Insurance, they requires high levels of employee contribution, promoting, diversity to provide to the community. Working towards positive culture will build the employee value and moral over time. Todays society requires businesses to account for its value on various levels, organizational achievements, community success, and personal growth of employees within State Farm. This paper will analyze key trainings that focus on legal requirements, diversity, and employee growth with larger organizations. Legal Requirements The different situations that can result in legal actions include failure to meet all training requirements, injuries sustained during a training session. It is vital that each organization uses the correct copyright material within orientation and that they obtain permission. If permission is not asked for or obtained, the organization is punished by law. State Farm Automobile Insurance Company is looking for ways to structure the workforce so as to minimize the expense of benefits. , State Farm Automobile Insurance Company may require overtime rather than hiring new employees. State Farm utilizes independent contractors rather than hiring employees. Some of their choices are limited by legal requirements. Fair Labor Standards Act requires employees to be paid for their overtime if the employee is nonexempt (Cretella, P, 2013). The Internal Revenue Service limits the definition of independent contractors so employees know the difference as a temporary and permanent employee. Diversity Great diversity training within State Farm’s organization provides employees with the proper tools needed to attract new employees and maintain a diversity workplace. The development of diversity training is more than race, gender, culture and ethics. These training programs are offered to each employee and increases the abilities of growth and reduces complaints and lawsuits filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). When a complaint is filed with the EEOC that can be for any violation against the Civil Rights Act Noe,R.A. 2008). The Civil Rights Act title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on color, national origin, sex, or race (Risser, Rita, 2008). Women, minorities, senior citizens, and disabled workers are treated equally in training session. Diversity recognizes and respects people’s differences and realizes the full potential of promoting different cultures to all employees, staff, students, and consumers. The requirements for organizational training is ensuring all employees are present and none of the materials presented are offensive. Organizations that do not report expenses or reimbursement as income may harm the organization and damage their reputation. Cultural sensitivity has become increasingly important providing a healthy and productive work environment. Although diversity training can’t change individual’s beliefs, it has the ability to increase awareness, impart knowledge and educate employees further as to how to accept differences among fellow employees. Diversity initiatives enacted by State Farm Insurance Companies help to optimize the money spent on employee salaries, benefits, recruitment and training. In addition, observers characterize diversity training in different ways. Its proponents consider it morally correct because it respects diversity, recognizing the value and contributions of every human being. Employee Growth State Farm is committed to retaining talented associates and inviting their best contributions. State Farm expects associates to be accountable for their development, with development plans built in collaboration with and support from team leaders. State Farm employees have a bias toward internal  growth, supporting people who demonstrate a commitment to their own development with developmental plans. Managers begin to work closely with employees to mentor and provide them with any desired qualities that he or she may possess and be trained to further advance within the organization. The end result is more stress free environment and increase self-esteem and have fewer turn overs. State Farm does not end training with the new employees. State Farm feels that there are always opportunities to connect with their employees to the company’s business needs and goals. Providing the employees with a structured training and development program ensures State Farm that employees are receiving experience and background knowledge consistent with trends, current topics relevant to the organization and any other needed support. State Farm employees are continuously receiving training also ensures that all of us have the same exposure to the organizations initiatives. State Farm invests in employee, which makes the employee feel valued and connected with the organization, resulting in the employee being more effective, creative, and loyal to the organization. Results from legal requirements, diversity, and employee growth  Continuously evolution of organizations and employee laws has shaped the way organizations conduct themselves. Creating a work environment that is open to diversity, enables the organization and employees to experience and develop respect for one another. Diversity in the workplace is when the organization has a diverse work place for women and minorities and all guidelines are met. State Farm implements the guidelines of the Civil Rights Act to having an open door policy for all new hires, knowledge, and untapped skills which ensures a bright future for employees and the organization (Cretella, P 2013). Successful diversity of the workplace enable organizations to gain new talents and skills from an untapped resource. The push for employers to acknowledge women, minorities, and those with that are disabled as viable assets will only enhance the success of State Farm’s growth. Conclusion The road is open for all business and or organizations both large and small for diversity, employee growth, and legal requirements which assists with how the organization is conducted. At the end, State Farm has implemented its resources on diversity, employee growth, and legal requirements not only eliminate unnecessary lawsuits but ensures that State Farm Insurance is the organization is reviewed as the employer of choice. Reference http://trainingtoday.blr.com/free-training-webinars- Cretella, Peggy, 2013 http://www.fairmeasures.com/ask/enews/articles/new330.asp- Rita Risser, 2008

Genes And Other Factors Of Happiness Psychology Essay

Genes And Other Factors Of Happiness Psychology Essay Genes and circumstances contribute equally to human happiness in the short term, but genes and neurotransmitters cause  80% of the range of happiness people feel in the long term, according to recent research in behavioral genetics and neurochemistry (Sharpe and Bryant 2008:1-9) 1. Genetic information derived from scientific explorations of genetic traits may have important links to understanding the basis for feelings of well-being and potentially the phenomena associated with human happiness. While non-genetic oriented research of social, political, public policy, theology and economic studies have addressed the impact of social and institutional environments on mass political attitudes and behaviors, there is a paucity of solid research on the interrelation and influence of genetic and environmental factors on these parameters. The neuroscience and genes experiments have entailed basic propositions of well being and happiness into human brain which has made science unique. On th e other hands, Social Sciences especially economics, political science, theology or public policy has endeavored different aspects and corners of happiness research which made the issue not much different from what gene, neuroscience and psychology researchers have got. This paper would discuss the inevitability of the Science -Social Science Nexus in Happiness research and the findings. Keywords: Happiness, Genes, Science Social Science Nexus, Factors of Happiness. Introduction: Across culture, people rate subjective well being as most important elements of their life and more important than material success (Diener, 2000)2. Subjective well being is equally treated here as Happiness. In this paper we explore neurogenetics determination and its relationships with social science research on happiness throughout our lives. The abovementioned classical saying from Diener has got great value in Happiness Research. Despite the fact, the invention of Genetics Research during late 1800s flames the fire on Nature versus Nurture debate which has caused a rift within the scientific community, with researchers and theorists passionately defending both sides of the argument. Furthermore the Social science Researchers on Happiness has raised more issues which has become complicated to the neurogenetics researchers and by thus the inevitability of Social science and science nexus in happiness research has become more realistic. This holds especially true in the discourse of the determination of ones happiness.Resaerchers debate Human biological make up, i.e., the happiness is determined by configuration of human genetics. Even happiness is known to be related to personality traits. However, to date, nobody has examined whether personality and subjective well-being share a common genetic structure (Weiss, Bates and Luciano, 2008)3. Its novel approach to scientific analysis fusing biology, psychology and sociology was convincing to some researchers, but also thought of as unsubstantiated and too restrictive by others. The divisive line between those that supported the study of genetics within human behavioral research and those that simply dismissed its findings only grew with time, as more controversial theories and concepts began to emerge. A result of this conflict between nature and nurture is a lack of communication between both sides of the argument. Researchers tend to view genetics and life events as separate entities working to determine which one has greater power over the other in shaping emotional status. Genetics theorists such as David Lykken and Auke Tellegen4 focus most of their experiments on data analysis and genetics testing, while proponents of life events research such as Richard Lucas and Sonja Lyubomirsky use more of the qualitative methods, surveying specific individuals, as was familiar to sociologists. Though the differences between the two sides are stark, the two arguments can work together. Through the revelation of behavioral genetics research it is undeniable that new, significant findings in the realm of sociology will emerge. It cannot be counted out as a major force within the development of human emotion. Nevertheless, the inability of the two sides of this conflict to work together has led to numerous holes in research and conclusions by both points of view. In this paper we intend to prove that behavioral genetics greatly influences human behavior and emotion and should be taken into account in all social science research on individual happiness levels. We will first outline the research on genetics with respect to happiness and how it has evolved. Then we will look at the response to the genetic research by those who argue that happiness is determined by life-events. The final part of the literature will be a discussion of the integration of genetics and life-events, which will include the research which as been completed and that which we believe will further the field. We will then conclude the paper with a summary of the arguments and which side our study has led us to. Methodology: The methodology adopted here is Content Analysis, historical data analysis and analysis of case studies. We have consulted data and analysis of previous reports by scientific and social science experts on happiness research. The methodology is completely based on secondary data analysis and interpretation. In analyzing those data, we have carefully selected data which are related to our themes. We have also used those data and figures to show the science-social sciences nexus of happiness research. Characteristics of Happy People: In her recent study, Lyubomirsky suggests that happiness is determined by three influences: 50% set point or genetic make-up; 40% intentional activity; 10% circumstance (Lyubomirsky 2007).5 In 1996, University of Minnesota researcher David Lykken studied 4,000 sets of twins born in Minnesota from 1936-1955.   After comparing data on identical vs. fraternal twins, he came to the conclusion that 50% of ones satisfaction from life comes from genes. (Lykken, D.   Happiness is a Stochastic Phenomenon.  Ã‚  Minn Psychological Science  7(3), 1996)6 Martin Seligman, PhD, at the University of Pennsylvania taught a single happiness-enhancing strategy to a group of severely depressed people.   These individuals had difficulty staying out of bed.   They were encouraged to log onto a Web site and engage in a simple exercise.   The exercise involved recalling and writing down three good things that happened every day.   Within 15 days, their depression lifted from severe to moderate to mild.   Ninety-four percent reported relief (Authentic Happiness2002).7 Richard Davidson, known by colleagues as the king of happiness research, has been studying the link between prefrontal lobe activity and the sort of deep bliss that people who meditate experience. According to Davidson (2001)8, happiness isnt just a vague, ineffable feeling; its a physical state of the brain-one that you can induce deliberately. As researchers have gained an understanding of the physical characteristics of a happy brain, they have come to see that those traits have a powerful influence on the rest of the body. Numerous studies (Kubzansky, Sparrow, Vokonas, Kawachi, 2001)9 have discovered that happiness or related mental states like hopefulness, optimism, and contentment appear to reduce the risk or limit the severity of cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypertension, colds, and upper respiratory infections as well. The benefits of being happy go beyond the temporary phase of feeling good. Happy people exhibit a high level of energy and can do attitude. They are emotionally intelligent and show more poise and grace in a crisis. Their immune systems are stronger, and they live longer and have more fruitful lives as a result. Over many decades, psychological researchers have begun to place more and more emphasis on understanding influences upon mental and emotional health and well-being. Some of Seligmans own research, for instance, had focused on optimism, a trait shown to be associated with good physical health, less depression and mental illness, longer life, and, yes, greater happiness. Perhaps the most eager explorer of this terrain was University of Illinois psychologist Edward Diener, a.k.a. Dr. Happiness. For more than two decades, Diener had been examining what does and does not make people feel satisfied with life. Seligmans goal was to shine a light on such work and encourage much, much more of it. A recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that people ages 20 to 24 are sad for an average of 3.4 days a month, as opposed to just 2.3 days for people ages 65 to 74. The earlier notion where you live makes you happy, has recently been challenged by the work of North and others (North  et al. 2008)10.  They suggest that  happiness can change and underscore the importance of exploring more deeply the role that family relationships play in facilitating such change and this is not related to economic status (Wenz, 1977)11. Similarly, the idea that  marriage increases happiness has been challenged by the evidence that married people may have been happier than single people because the former were happier to begin with. Scientific Research on Happiness: Genes and Happiness: Genes carry the instructions for the construction of neurotransmitters, their receptor and re-absorption portals. They also impart information on such things as their storage and release rates. Hence, genes can influence the prevalence, scarcity, and activity of serotonin and dopamine, and, in turn, whatever behaviors and feelings these neurotransmitters induce. For each of us, our happiness fluctuates within a small range that our genes largely determine. So concludes Dean Hamer in his review of studies on the role of genes in happiness or misery. Hamer12 directs our attention to two of the more than  300  known neurotransmitters, dopamine (the brains chemical for pleasure) and serotonin, the petrochemical for misery. Neurotransmitters pass information from the synapse or junction between a nerve cell and another nerve cell or a muscle. The nerve cells bulbous end releases them from storage when an electrical impulse moving along the nerve reaches it. Then they cross the junction to dock at the other nerve cells receptor, and either prompt or inhibit the impulses along the second cell. The first nerve cell reabsorbs excess neurotransmitters, but not necessarily all of them. Those that remain free-floating help create our happy or miserable states of being. How you feel right now is about equally genetic and circumstantial, says Hamer. But how you will feel on average over the next ten years is fully  80% because of your genes (Hamer  1996:  125).13 Further evidence for a physical/biochemical basis of happiness comes from neuroanatomy.  Richard Lane  and his colleagues preliminary research indicate that feelings of happiness, sadness, and disgust all co-occur with increased brain activity in the thalamus and medial prefrontal cortex. Greater activity near the ventral medial frontal cortex distinguishes happiness from sadness, whilst happiness correlates with significant increases in bilateral activity near the middle and posterior temporal cortex and hypothalamus. Lane concludes that, spatially distributed brain regions participate in each emotion (Lane, et al.  1997:930)14. Identical twins (those with the same genetic makeup) attain the same level of happiness  44  percent of the time. In comparison, fraternal twins, those who share genes as do ordinary siblings, reach the same level only eight percent of the time. Hamer adds: These data show that the broad heritability of well-being is  40  to  50% (Hamer  1996:  125)15. Studies by David Lykken and Auke Tellegen assess the happiness of twins over five to ten years, and show the slight impact of sex, age, race, and marital status, and the short-term influence of job loss or lottery winning. A recent report by psychologists Christopher Lewis and Stephen Joseph16 suggests that the Depression-Happiness Scale (which psychologists use to calculate happiness) measures happiness as a trait rather than a state, with subjects scores on the scale remaining relatively stable over a two-year period. Other studies show that a persons level of happiness remains stable over many years. Inherited genes account for the majority of this level. Figure- 1:  Happiness genes GENE ASSOCIATIONS DRD2 Alcoholism, Substance abuse, craving behavior, cocaine dependence, smoking, ADHD, parenting, Obesity, video gaming, sexual activity, posttraumatic stress disorder schizophrenia, Parkinsons, brain metabolism, BMI, executive functioning, love styles (EROS) pathological gambling. Pathological aggression, schizoid/avoidant behavior, criminal activity, politics party attachment. Energy, hypertension. Hyperphagia, growth, sexual maturation, brain development, depression, anorexia, bulimia, fibromyalgia, pain sensitivity, hunger, novelty seeking, extraversion, early onset sexual intercourse, defense style (lying), oppositional defiant disorder, panic disorder, developmental personality, Tourette Syndrome, Parkinsons, executive dysfunctioning, pleasure buzz ANNKI Smoking dependence, parental rule-setting, Schizophrenia, cognition deficit, alcohol and opiate dependence, pleasurable buzz, 5HT2A Eating disorders, obesity, Insulin resistance, love styles (romantic), suicide, ADHD, Panic disorders, impulsive aggression, cognitive impulsivity, anger, sweet tooth, antidepressant treatment outcomes, fibromyalgia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality, smoking behavior, cocaine dependence, BMI. OPRK1 (kappa -opioid receptor) Alcohol and heroin dependence. Pain mechanisms and tolerance. OPRM1 (mu opioid   receptorreceptor) Pleasure buzz, smoking addiction, heroin addiction, alcoholism, pain sensitivity, BMI, type 2 diabetes mellitus. COMT Psychiatric and affective disorders, alcoholism, substance use disorder, smoking, post-surgical pain, fibromyalgia, Parkinsons disease, ADHD. SLC6A3 Post-surgical pain, cocaine abuse, alcohol dependence, smoking behavior, juvenile delinquency, pathological aggression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, impulsive aggression, cognitive impulsivity. HTR3B Heroin addiction, migraine, impulsive behavioral aggression, cognitive -impulsivity, ADHD, alcoholism. NOS3 Pain mechanism, healing mechanisms, circulation, hypertension, cardiovascular. PPARG Type 2 diabetes, Obesity, Insulin sensitivity, Body composition, eating disorders, BMI, physical exercise, common metabolic disorders, body mass, waist circumference, inflammatory response, immune system. CHREBP Plasma triglycerides, triglyceridemia, obesity ,,improves plasma glucose, FTO Severe obesity, food intake, adiposity, body mass, energy intake, BMI, fat mass, pleasurable buzz. TNFalpha Inflammation, mortality, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, BMI, Immune response. PEMT Proinflamamtory, immunoregulation, apotosis, substance use disorder. MANEA Substance dependence LEPTIN-OB BMI, Schizophrenia, stress, obesity risk, food intake, craving behavior, diabetes, insulin sensitivity, adiposity, body composition, linear growth, metabolic factors, hyperphagia, cocaine dependence, lipogenesis, modulation of sweet substances, anorexia, bulimia, cardiovascular effects, fertility, sexual maturation, brain development, depression, fatty acid metabolism, hunger, MAO-A Pain sensitivity, bipolar affective disorder, ADHD, alcoholism, Substance Use Disorder, violent behavior, juvenile delinquency, smoking, child abuse, suicide, criminal activity, posttraumatic stress disorder, anti-depressant treatment response, alcoholism, panic disorder, schizophrenia, pathological gambling. ADIPOQ Metabolic syndrome, adiposity, fat mass, energy intake, obesity, lipogenesis, type 2 diabetes, BMI. STS ADHD VDR Obesity, BMI, overeating, metabolic syndrome, anthropometric measures, schizophrenia, temporal lobe epilepsy, immune system, type 2 diabetes, physical activity, BONE DENSITY (OSTEOPOROSIS). DBI ANXIETY DISORDERS GABRA6 Autism, alcoholism, stresses response. GABRB3 Autism, alcoholism, stress. MTHFR   Cardiovascular disease, Homocysteine levels, obesity, fat mass, Schizophrenia. MLXIPL (CARBOHYDRATE BINDING ELEMENT) Plasma triglycerides, glucose craving behavior, obesity. VEGF Angiogenesis factor, cognition, tissue healing, pain sensitivity, oxidative stress. DRD4 Financial risk taking, nicotine withdrawal, ADHD, novelty seeking, Alcoholism, aggression, impulsivity, delinquency, memory deficits, anger, temperament, schizophrenia, sexual intercourse, drug abuse, extraversion, obesity, stress, emotional reactivity, infant attachment, oppositional defiant disorder, fibromyalgia, hyperphagia, alcohol craving, pathological gambling, panic disorder, developmental personality, Tourette Syndrome, Parkinsons. VMAT2 Antidepressant treatment outcome, Parkinsons, ADHD, cocaine and methamphetamine dependence, spirituality GOD Gene. CLOCK Circadian system, mood, bipolar, endocrine and metabolic rhythms, stress, reproduction, morphine dependence MELETONIN Sleep anxiety, alcoholism OREXIN Hyperphagis and energy regulation Source: Blum, K et.al. (2009)17 The abovementioned Table showed the genes and its associations with different Situations. Genetic factors may also contribute to the drug abuse-derived pleasure form; in one genomic study on rats exposed to chronic methamphetamine abuse, the SLC6A gene and its variants were shown to be altered upon exposure to methamphetamine (Kobeissy, et al., 2008)(Gold, et al., 2009).18 This disorder is due to genetic defects in the dopamine reward pathways. As a result of such defects the natural rewards are no longer sufficient to improve mood and provide pleasure, and affected individuals pursue an excessive amount of unnatural rewards such as from alcohol, nicotine, drugs, gambling, sex and risk taking in the form of dangerous sports, such bungie and base jumping, sky diving, extreme skiing, race car driving, video gaming and others to stimulate their reward pathways. The SLC6A gene is involved in cocaine abuse, alcohol dependence, smoking behavior, juvenile delinquency, pathological aggression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, impulsive aggression, cognitive impulsity and is a major component in the happiness gene map (see  Figure 1  and  Table 1). In 1995 Kenneth Blum coined the term RDS (Blum et al. 1996; Comings et al 2000; Blum et al. 2000).19 The fact that drugs of abuse such as alcohol, cocaine, speed and nicotine stimulate the release of dopamine explains part of the question of why humans become addicted to things; this does not explain why some people have serious problems with addictions. While environmental factors play a role, there is a significant variation in addictive potential among individuals exposed to the same environment or even substances ( Hoebel, Avena, Borcarsly, Rada, 2009,  Comings and Blum 2000).20  Ã‚   Another facet of certain environmental elements that may affect ones happiness and ultimately longevity is being in control. Langer (1989)21 carried out a landmark study that suggested that being in control resulted in greater longevity. In his study performed in a nursing home for the elderly, one group of subjects was given a plant and told to look after it, they were responsible for the plants health. Another group was also given a plant but told that the staff would look over the plant. Over the next 18 months twice as many of those who were not in control of their plants died compared to those in control of their plants. A test of this hypothesis has been successfully carried out by others in two strains of rodents. One strain liked drinking alcohol more than drinking water; the other strain did not. If the preference for alcohol was due to a defect in the dopamine D2 receptor, then increasing the level of D2 receptor in the reward pathways should eliminate the alcohol preference. This was accomplished by injecting copies of the D2 receptor gene directly in the nucleus accumbens. This resulted in a temporary over expression of the D2 receptors that lasted several days. The over expression of the D2 receptor gene reduces alcohol intake demonstrating that high levels of the D2 receptor gene are protective against alcohol abuse (Thanos et al 2001).22 Post (2005)23 suggests that altruism and volunteerism are associated with happiness, improved mood, enhanced self-esteem, and better mental and physical health; and that helping others, per se, may be a major part of the increased longevity seen in religious versus non-religious individuals. However others have rejected the idea that religion was a key factor. They concluded in their studies of over 8,832 subjects that volunteering, rather than its religious context, explained the beneficial effects and happiness (Musick  et al. 1999)24.  These findings are not so simple and cannot be taken without understanding that  we really cannot determine whether a confound drives an observed correlation. That is, that correlational data is always vulnerable to potential third-variable confounds. As we stated earlier, wealth does not necessarily correlate with happiness. In fact, as pointed out in Comings25 book  Did Man Create God,  a major reason for the lack of correlation between Gross National Product (GNP) and happiness is that people quickly adapt to a wide range of circumstances. He stated, Someone inheriting or winning a great deal of money may be temporarily be happier, but they soon settle back to their previous innate level of happiness. The same holds for those with progressively increasing yearly incomes. In support of this notion  Allen Parducci  (1995)26 suggested that after each raise, people adapt and return to a previous level of happiness (a set point genetically programmed), a phenomena he termed  hedonic treadmill. Figure-2 Source: Ibid, 2009 27 Psychology and Happiness: For most of its history, psychology has concerned itself with all that ails the human mind: anxiety, depression, neurosis, obsessions, paranoia, delusions, etc., and the behaviors they produce. The goal of practitioners has been to bring patients from a negative ailing state to a neutral normal state. Or, as University of Pennsylvania psychologist Martin Seligman puts it, from a minus five to a zero (Seligman 2002)28. In the tabe-1, we could see that DRD2 genes has associations with the psychological functions like Alcoholism, Substance abuse, craving behavior, cocaine dependence, smoking, ADHD, parenting, Obesity, video gaming, sexual activity, posttraumatic stress disorder schizophrenia, Parkinsons, brain metabolism, BMI, executive functioning, love styles (EROS) pathological gambling. Pathological aggression, schizoid/avoidant behavior, criminal activity, politics party attachment. Energy, hypertension. Hyperphagia, growth, sexual maturation, brain development, depression, anorexia, bulimia, fibromyalgia, pain sensitivity, hunger, novelty seeking, extraversion, early onset sexual intercourse, defense style (lying), oppositional defiant disorder, panic disorder, developmental personality, Tourette Syndrome, Parkinsons, executive dysfunctioning, pleasure buzz etc. At the same time, the gene like ANNKI has the effects on Smoking dependence, parental rule-setting, Schizophrenia, cognition deficit, alcohol and opiate dependence, pleasurable buzz. The gene 5HT2A has got associations with Eating disorders, obesity, Insulin resistance, love styles (romantic), suicide, ADHD, Panic disorders, impulsive aggression, cognitive impulsivity, anger, sweet tooth, antidepressant treatment outcomes, fibromyalgia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality, smoking behavior, cocaine dependence, BMI. Genes like OPRK1 (kappa -opioid receptor) has associations with the Alcohol and heroin dependence. Pain mechanisms and tolerance. OPRM1 (mu opioid   Receptor) has associations with Pleasure buzz, smoking addiction, heroin addiction, alcoholism, pain sensitivity, BMI, type 2 diabetes mellitus. COMT has associations with Psychiatric and affective disorders, alcoholism, substance use disorder, smoking, post-surgical pain, fibromyalgia, Parkinsons disease, ADHD. SLC6A3 genes are associated with Post-surgical pain, cocaine abuse, alcohol dependence, smoking behavior, juvenile delinquency, pathological aggression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, impulsive aggression, cognitive impulsivity. Heroin addiction, migraine, impulsive behavioral aggression, cognitive -impulsivity, ADHD, alcoholism is attached with the gene HTR3B. Pain mechanism, healing mechanisms, circulation, hypertension, cardiovascular are associated with the genes NOS3. Type 2 diabetes, Obesity, Insulin sensitivity, Body composition, eating disorders, BMI, physical exercise, common metabolic disorders, body mass, waist circumference, inflammatory response, immune system are affected with the genes PPARG. Plasma triglycerides, triglyceridemia, obesity ,,improves plasma glucose are asssociated iwth the genes CHREBP. Severe obesity, food intake, adiposity, body mass, energy intake, BMI, fat mass, pleasurable buzz are associated with the genes FTO. Inflammations, mortality, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, BMI, Immune response are associated with the gene TNFalpha. Proinflamamtory, immunoregulation, apotosis, substance use disorder are associated with the gene PEMT. Substance dependence is also associated with the gene MANEA. BMI, Schizophrenia, stress, obesity risk, food intake, craving behavior, diabetes, insulin sensitivity, adiposity, body composition, linear growth, metabolic factors, hyperphagia, cocaine dependence, lipogenesis, modulation of sweet substances, anorexia, bulimia, cardiovascular effects, fertility, sexual maturation, brain development, depression, fatty acid metabolism, hunger have great effects of the gene LEPTIN-OB. Pain sensitivity, bipolar affective disorder, ADHD, alcoholism, Substance Use Disorder, violent behavior, juvenile delinquency, smoking, child abuse, suicide, criminal activity, posttraumatic stress disorder, anti-depressant treatment response, alcoholism, panic disorder, schizophrenia, pathol ogical gambling are also affected by the gene MAO-A. Metabolic syndrome, adiposity, fat mass, energy intake, obesity, lipogenesis, type 2 diabetes, BMI has the same associations with the gene ADIPOQ. ADHD has the associations with the gene STS. Obesity, BMI, overeating, metabolic syndrome, anthropometric measures, schizophrenia, temporal lobe epilepsy, immune system, type 2 diabetes, physical activity, BONE DENSITY (OSTEOPOROSIS) has associations with the gene VDR. Anxiety Disorders has associations with the gene DBI. Autism, alcoholism, stress response has association with the gene GABRA6. Autism, alcoholism, stress has strongest associations with the gene GABRB3. Cardiovascular disease, Homocysteine levels, obesity, fat mass, Schizophrenia has associations with the gene MTHFR. Plasma triglycerides, glucose craving behavior, obesity has associations with the gene MLXIPL (CARBOHYDRATE BINDING ELEMENT). Angiogenesis factor, cognition, tissue healing, pain sensitivity, oxidative stress has associations with the gene VEGF. Financial risk taking, nicotine withdrawal, ADHD, novelty seeking, Alcoholism, aggression, impulsivity, delinquency, memory deficits, anger, temperament, schizophrenia, sexual intercourse, drug abuse, extrav ersion, obesity, stress, emotional reactivity, infant attachment, oppositional defiant disorder, fibromyalgia, hyperphagia, alcohol craving, pathological gambling, panic disorder, developmental personality, Tourette Syndrome, Parkinsons has association with the gene DRD4. Antidepressant treatment outcome, Parkinsons, ADHD, cocaine and methamphetamine dependence, spirituality GOD Gene has association with the gene VMAT2. CLOCK gene is associated with Circadian system, mood, bipolar, endocrine and metabolic rhythms, stress, reproduction, morphine dependence. Sleep anxiety, alcoholism is associated with the gene MELETONIN. OREXIN gene has associations with Hyperphagis and energy regulation. So from the above analysis what we could see is that several genes have had associations with the psychological orders and disorders of human body and mind. Genes like DRD2 and DRD4, ANNKI, COMT, SLC6A3, TNFalpha, PEMT, LEPTIN-OB, MAO-A, ADIPOQ, STS, VDR, DBI, GABRA6, GABRA3, MTHFR, VEGF, VMAT2, CLOCK, MELETONIN, OREXIN has associations with the Psychological disorders like Sleep anxiety, mood, bipolar, endocrine and metabolic rhythms, stress, reproduction, morphine dependence, cocaine and methamphetamine dependence, spirituality GOD Gene, Financial risk taking, nicotine withdrawal, ADHD, novelty seeking, Alcoholism, aggression, impulsivity, delinquency, memory deficits, anger, temperament, schizophrenia, sexual intercourse, drug abuse, extraversion, obesity, stress, emotional reactivity, infant attachment, oppositional defiant disorder, fibromyalgia, hyperphagia, alcohol craving, pathological gambling, panic disorder, developmental personality, Tourette Syndrome, Angiogenesis factor , cognition, pain sensitivity, oxidative stress, obesity, obesity, Schizophrenia, alcoholism, stress response, Anxiety disorders, bipolar affective disorder, ADHD, alcoholism, Substance Use Disorder, violent behavior, juvenile delinquency, smoking, child abuse, suicide, criminal activity, posttraumatic stress disorder, anti-depressant treatment response, alcoholism, panic disorder. But the most interesting thing is that not all the genes have the same disorders, rather each of the different genes has different syndroms which affects happiness of human being. But most interesting things is that more genes has associations with the same disorders like Schizophrenia of human being which seriously affects happiness. As well as more genes has the same affects like panic disorders which also affected happiness. In one hand, this is the genes associations with Psychology and happiness and on the other hands, there are more factors involved in the Psychology and happiness. James Montier29, a global equity strategist, has concluded with the almost same view of happiness where genes have the greatest associations with human happiness. About 50% of individual happiness comes from a  genetic set point.  That is, were each predisposed to a certain level of happiness. Some of us are just naturally more inclined to be cheery than others. About 10% of our happiness is due to our  circumstances.  Our age, race, gender, personal history, and, yes, wealth, only make up about one-tenth of our happiness. The remaining  40% of an individuals happiness seems to be derived from  intentional activity, from discrete actions or practices that people can choose to do. Economist Richard A. Easterlin30 at the University  was among the first to notice the paradoxical disconnection between a nations economic growth and the growth of its happiness. The Easterlin Paradox was once thought to be limited to rich

Crusades :: Crusades Research Papers

Crusades The chapter on The Crusades gives the proper dates of the Holy War, yet does not discuss in detail the information it has. The text is watered down for the grade level and it is written from a Western European viewpoint. A viewpoint that never discusses the feelings and motives of those who were being attacked. The chapter emphasizes the Christian's motives for starting The Crusades as a way to defend their territories and to "free the Holy Land from the Muslim infidels" (Armento, 296). The text never discusses the underlying reasons such as "the ambition of princes' to carve a principality in the far East, [the] interest of Italian towns to acquire the products of the far East more directly and cheaply, and thousands [of people's] hope of acquiring [spiritual enlightenment]" (Barker, 11) by participating in The Crusades. Many of the leaders wanted to be known and many of the people were interested of the spices, silks and luxury items that could be found only in the Far East. The Holy Wars were meant to "reestablish the Roman Catholic Christianity in the Eastern Mediterranean basin, [but] The Crusades [were in reality] wars of European expansion" (Bentley, 474). Not only did believers feel that the Holy Land must be returned to them but in the process other territories would be conquered i n the name of the Roman Catholic Christianity. The text refers to the Crusades as "eight wars Europeans fought to free the Holy Land from the Muslims"(Armento, 296) and only communicates the Western European viewpoint. No other viewpoint is brought into the text to show both sides of the story. The text does not inform the reader about the Crusades as "eight wars the Muslims fought to defend Jerusalem." In Across the Centuries, Saladin is given power as ruler by the caliph. According to Elizabeth Hallam, "[Saladin] abolished the Fatimid caliphate and brought Egypt under the rule of the powerful sultan, [and when Nur ad-Din and his son died], Saladin made himself uncontested ruler of a unified Muslim Levant"(156). The information of how Saladin rose to power came incorrect from the lesson. There is not much said in the lesson about Saladin and none of his background is mentioned in the text. Once again the only the Western European viewpoint is portrayed to the readers. Not only is the text based only on the Western European viewpoint, but also omits information.

Wildfire Mitigation Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Forest Essays

Wildfire Mitigation Thesis: Politicians are proposing sweeping changes in bills, which have caused great controversy, in efforts to correct the problems that the Forest Service has faced in restoration projects. Are these bills necessary or is there a better solution that politicians are overlooking? Introduction: Humans have been changing the Western forests' fire system since the settlement by the Europeans and now we are experiencing the consequences of those changes. During the summer of 2002, 6.9 million acres of forests was burnt up in the West (Wildland Fires, 1). This figure is two times the ten year annual average, and it does not look like next summer will be any better (Wildfire Season, 1). Foresters have been trying to restore the forests back to their original conditions by thinning and prescribed fires but have encountered countless delays. Politicians are proposing sweeping changes in bills, which have caused great controversy, in efforts to correct the problems that the Forest Service has faced in restoration projects. Are these bills necessary or is there a better solution that politicians are overlooking? Changing Forest: The Western forests are drastically different from what they were like before the European settlement. In pre-European time, the forests were open and park-like with only 25-35 trees per acre surrounded by areas of open grasslands. One could easily ride a horse through the spacious forest. This, however, is not possible in today's forests. Today, for example the Ponderosa pine forests, have over 500 trees per acre, creating thick dense areas of trees, brush, and bushes (President Bush, 4). The pre-European forests were subject to frequent low inte... ...ewed 1 Nov. 2002 .<http://thomas.loc.gov/> Jungwirth, Lynn. "Opinion: Conservation is everyone's business." American Forest. Autumn 2002: 4. "Land of Fire." Scientific American Nov.2002: 10. Little, Jane. "Hogans of Hope." American Forest. Autumn 2002: 39-42. President Bush, George. "Healthy Forest: An Initiative for Wildfire Prevention and Stronger Communities." 22 Aug. 2002. Viewed 2 Nov. 2002.<http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/healthyforests/Healthy_Forests_v2.pdf>. "Step 1. Characterizations of the Watershed." Forest Service: 17 pars. Viewed 7 Nov. 2002. <http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/psicc/spl/south_platte_web/step_1.htm>. "Wildland Fires of 2002 Summary." National Fire News. 11 Oct. 2002: 1 pg. Viewed 2 Nov. 2002 .<http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html>. "Wildfire Season Heats Up Debate in Washington." Forest Source. Oct 2002: 1&5.

Particle Kinetics of Biological Aerosols During Impaction Essay

At the beginning of the 20th century, the study of aerosols, suspensions of solid or liquid particles in a gas, were the forefront of physical science because they represented the smallest observable division of matter. In fact, aerosols contributed to the early understanding of Brownian motion and diffusion, Millikan's measurement of electron charge, and Wilson's cloud chamber experiment for the study of ionizing radiation. During the first half of the century, aerosol research continued, and grew important after World War II and especially during the 1970s and 1980s, during which environmental awareness and a concern for health effects arising from air pollution in community and occupational environments, promoting the development of aerosol technology. The field expanded rapidly in the 1980s, including the involvement of aerosols in high technology production processes and a concern for aerosol contamination. The decade of the 1990s has seen increased research on the properties of ultra fine particles and on the effect of aerosols on global climate. Now, aerosol technology has become an important toll in understanding the effect we have on our environment and the impact of the environment on us. After all, there are multiple aerosols in our own surroundings, such as re-suspended soil particles, smoke from power generation, photochemically formed particles, salt particles created from ocean spray, and the water droplets or ice particles that form clouds, and include a wide range of phenomena such as fume, dust, smoke. Every aerosol varies in their ability to affect visibility as well as our health and quality of life, and understanding the properties of aerosols would enable us to comprehend so many natural processes, such as cl... ...DRUMs like the one displayed below, coating the surface with the sticky covering of your choice, and using a motor to rotate the DRUM, as the particles are drawn in by the vacuum, they are deposited onto the plate, and the plate rotates continuously, preventing the build-up of particles in one area. The dynamics of particle deposition on the circular DRUM are essentially the same as that of the impactor plate, because the width of the nozzle is so tiny compared to the surface area of the curved DRUM, that, despite the curve, in relation to the nozzle, the DRUM is essentially a flat surface. References * Reist, Parker C. Aerosol Science & Technology: Second Edition. New York: Macmillan, Inc, 1984. * Hinds, William C. Aerosol Technology: Properties, Behavior, & Measurement of Airborne Particles, Second Edition. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 1999.

Alphabet of Lines

Alphabet of Lines The â€Å"Alphabet of Lines† refers to the different styles of lines used in drafting to show different features about an object that is drawn. There are eleven main line types – visible, hidden, center, dimension, extension, leader, section, cutting-plane, phantom, viewing plane and break. Each line has a definite form and line weight. The standard thick line weight varies from . 030 to . 038 of an inch whereas the standard thin line weight varies from . 015 to . 022 of an inch. Visible lines are dark and heavy lines. They show the outline and shape of an object. They define features that can be seen in a particular view. Hidden lines are light, narrow, short, dashed lines. They show the outline of a feature that cannot be seen in a particular view. They are used to help clarify a feature but can be omitted if they clutter a drawing. Section lines are thin lines usually drawn at a 45 degree angle. They indicate the material that has been cut through in a sectional view. Center lines are thin lines consisting of long and short dashes. They show the center of holes, slots, paths of rotation and symmetrical objects. Dimension lines are dark, heavy lines. They show the length, width, and height of the features of an object. They are terminated with arrowheads at the end. Extension lines are used to show the starting and stopping points of a dimension. There should be at least a 1/16 space between the object and the extension line. Leader lines are thin lines used to show the dimension of a feature or a note that is too large to be placed beside the feature itself. Cutting plane lines are thick broken lines that terminate with short 90 degree arrowheads. They show where a part is mentally cut in half to better see the interior detail. Break lines are used to break out sections for clarity or for shortening a part. There are three types of break lines with different line weights. These are short breaks, long breaks and cylindrical breaks. Short break lines are thick wavy lines used to break the edge or surface of a part for clarity of a hidden surface. Long break lines are long, thin lines used to show that the middle section of an object has been removed so it can be drawn on a smaller piece of paper. Cylindrical break lines are thin lines used to show round parts that are broken in half to better clarify the print or to reduce the length of the object. Phantom lines are thin lines made up of long dashes alternating with pairs of short dashes. Their purpose is to show the alternate position of moving parts, relationship of parts that fit together and repeated detail. They can show where a part is moving to and from. They eliminate the confusion of thinking there may be two parts instead of just one. They also show how two or more parts go together without having to draw and dimension all. They show repeated details of an object and hence, provide efficiency and less chance of drafter error. Reference: An Alphabet of Lines. (2003). Retrieved July 21, 2011, from http://www. wisc-online. com/objects/ ViewObject. aspx? ID=mtl17903 Line Weights Line weights, or the varying line thicknesses used in engineering drawing, are essential in creating a drawing that communicates effectively. Line weights are a vital part of conventional technical graphics language. They are embodied to the extent of being defined in national and international standards. Line types and line weights allow drawings to communicate information that would otherwise be very difficult to convey. For example: hidden outlines, paths of motion, planes of symmetry, fictitious outlines such as major and minor diameters of screw threads, dimensions and projections, materials (hatching), and centers and imaginary intersections. Conventional practice is that only two different line weights be used on any one drawing. This is subject to discretion and some disciplines regularly use three, and occasionally four, different line weights. Consistency and clarity of communication are the deciding factors. Continuous thick lines range from 0. 35-0. 50 mm and are used for visible outlines, existing features, cut edges and general line work. Continuous medium lines are 0. 25-0. 35 mm and used when another level of line weight would assist the delineation e. g. internal line work, notes. Continuous thin lines vary from 0. 18 to 0. 25 mm. They are applied in fictitious outlines, imaginary intersections and projections, hatching, dimensions and break lines. Dashed thick lines are 0. 35-0. 50 mm while dashed thin lines are 0. 18-0. 25 mm. They are used in hidden outlines and edges. Chain thick lines are0. 35-0. 50 mm and they indicate special surface requirements or sometimes with a text component to indicate pipelines and services. Chain thin lines, 0. 18-0. 25 mm, are for center lines, motion paths and indication of repeated detail. Engineering drawings made on A4, A3 and A2-sized pages are at the smallest end of the range of document sizes that would reasonably be used. The appropriate pen group is from the fine end of the scale – 0. 18, 0. 25 and 0. 35mm pen widths. Reference: Line Weight. (n. d). Retrieved July 21, 2011, from http://www. cadinfo. net/intellicad/ line-weight Orthographic Drawing Orthographic projection (or orthogonal projection) is a means of representing a three-dimensional object in two dimensions. It is a form of parallel projection, where all the projection lines are orthogonal to the projection plane. It is further divided into multiview orthographic projections and axonometric projections. A lens providing an orthographic projection is known as an (object-space) telecentric lens. The term orthographic is also sometimes reserved specifically for depictions of objects where the axis or plane of the object is also parallel with the projection plane, as in multiview orthographic projections. With multiview orthographic projections, up to six pictures of an object are produced, with each projection plane parallel to one of the coordinate xes of the object. The views are positioned relative to each other according to either of two schemes: first-angle or third-angle projection. In each, the appearances of views may be thought of as being projected onto planes that form a 6-sided box around the object. Both first-angle and third-angle projections result in the same 6 views; the di fference between them is the arrangement of these views around the box. First-angle projection is as if the object were sitting on the paper and, from the â€Å"face† (front) view, it is rolled to the right to show the left side or rolled up to show its bottom. It is standard throughout Europe (excluding the UK) and Asia. First-angle projection used to be common in the UK, and may still be seen on historical design drawings, but has now fallen into disuse in favor of third-angle projection. Third-angle is as if the object were a box to be unfolded. If we unfold the box so that the front view is in the center of the two arms, then the top view is above it, the bottom view is below it, the left view is to the left, and the right view is to the right. It is standard in the United Kingdom, USA, Canada, and Australia. A great deal of confusion has ensued in drafting rooms and engineering departments when drawings are transferred from one convention to another. On engineering drawings, the projection angle is denoted by an international symbol consisting of a truncated cone labeled FR for first-angle and US for third-angle. Axonometric projection is a type of parallel projection, more specifically a type of orthographic projection, used to create a pictorial drawing of an object, where the object is rotated along one or more of its axes relative to the plane of projection. There are three main types of axonometric projection: isometric, dimetric, and trimetric projection. â€Å"Axonometric† means to measure along axes. Axonometric projection shows an image of an object as viewed from a skew direction in order to reveal more than one side in the same picture. Whereas the term orthographic is sometimes reserved specifically for depictions of objects where the axis or plane of the object is parallel with the projection plane, in axonometric projection the plane or axis of the object is always drawn not parallel to the projection plane. With axonometric projections the scale of distant features is the same as for near features, such pictures will look distorted, as it is not how our eyes or photography work. This distortion is especially evident if the object to view is mostly composed of rectangular features. Despite this limitation, axonometric projection can be useful for purposes of illustration. Reference: Orthographic projection (n. d. ). In Wikipedia. Retrieved July 21, 2011, from http://en. wikipedia. org/ wiki/Orthographic_projection

Interest Groups and Democracy Essay

There is no doubt that interest groups play an important role in a democratic society. However, while some are essential in enhancing democracy in the society, some undermine democracy. Democracy can be described as a form of political leadership in which all policies and decisions are arrived at based on the principle of majority rule. In a democratic country, the citizens elect their political representatives after a specified period of time. Democratic election of representatives is governed by the principles of fairness, political equality and freedom where all the individuals who are eligible voters exercise their rights to make a choice between political partners. Interests groups, otherwise known as pressure groups play an important role in the establishment of pluralism in a democratic society. There is no doubt that the political representative in any society does not provide sufficient representation of all the interests in the society. In any society, there are diverse opinions and interests that the modern democratic structures in the political parties cannot adequately deal with. This is because of the structures of political parties which aggregate the interests of the society to establish an entity that has the ability to govern the entire country. This makes them disabled to dealing with some basic democracy issues affecting some individuals in the country. The interest groups in such democratic societies enable such individuals’ interests and opinions to be heard and have an influence of the decision making process (Hrebenar, 1999). Proponents of pressure groups in a democratic society have argued that these groups triumph over the deficits that are inherent in any democracy. It is important to note that there are many factors in the political structures in the society that results into inadequacy in democratic processes and consequently the deficit. One of these factors is the infrequent in which the elections of political representatives are carried out. In many democracies around the world, election of representatives is carried out after five or so years. For this reason, the majority have an opportunity to participate in a democratic process and influence the decision making process once in a few years. Moreover, the minorities in the society may not be fairly represented in the political parties and therefore have no influence on the democratic processes. In such cases, interests groups play an important role in proving a solution to these inadequacies in the democratic process. Although there are other remedies to the deficits in a democracy, there is no doubt that interest groups enhance democracy (Golden, 1998). The most important facet of democracy is the participation of the masses in all democratic processes. Interest groups in a society play an important role in promoting political participation in the society. Although voting is the most basic process in a democratic society, it does not provide the people with the ability to influence the politics of the country. People may participate in the voting process but may not have the strength to express their views individually to their representatives. Moreover, the political parties may not have all the powers to influence the people to participate in essential political practices such as voting. By people coming together which are facilitated by interest groups, they can push forwards their ideas and feelings about a policy issue. Other than influencing each other in making the right decision in the voting process, individuals within an interest group have the ability to take collective actions which will have a greater influence in the decision making process (Jordan & Maloney, 2007). For example, interest groups who are opposed to gay marriages and abortion can campaign for representatives in the legislature who are pro-life. In so doing, they will be able to influence the outcome of the elections and consequently the decision made by the legislature. This may be the only way through which individuals opposed to such activities in the society can be heard in a democratic society. The same is true for individuals supporting gay marriages and legalization of abortion. Interest groups also mobilize individuals with certain opinions about governance and decisions made in a democratic country to protest against political decisions that they are not satisfied. Through these street protests, the masses are able to express their dissatisfaction thus enhancing democracy (Bosso, 2003). Interests groups play a complementary role of political parties. It is common for a large number of citizens to rally behind a particular political party but are not satisfied by the running of the party. The majority may be unhappy with the position held by their political party on key issues on governance and legislation. Through pressure groups within the political party, they can influence the position of the party on the issues which may not be possible if an individual member of the party seeks to influence the party’s position. For example, individuals within a party may use pressure groups to influence the party’s position and include environmental protection or health care as one of the party’s political agenda. These issues may not be part of the party manifesto but if it is in the best interest of the party and the general public, interest groups can be used to incorporate the issues into the political agenda (Chaskin, 2003). Proponents of interest groups on a democratic society argue that they disperse the powers of the government. Pressure groups in a country have diverse opinions on key issues affecting the society many of which conflict. Due to the presence of these divergent and conflicting pressures on the government, the authorities and policy makers are compelled to listen to the suggestion brought forward by the interest groups. This way, the government acts as a mediator between interest groups with conflicting issues. This introduces the aspect of bargaining and compromise which is important in any democracy. It has also been observed that in some democratic countries such as Britain, the people representatives, who are the members of parliament are impaired in their ability to scrutinize the activities of the central government. In such countries, the interest groups play a major role in enhancing democracy by ensuring that the people representatives are informed of public satisfaction with the government activities. The interest groups in this case act as informal researchers who give briefing to the people’s representatives. The existences of interest groups that promote the welfare of marginalized individuals promote democracy by combating the elite’s interests in the society and ensuring that the disadvantaged are heard. In other words, the interest groups empower the citizens to fight for their democratic rights (Greenwood, 2007). In a democratic society, the interest groups provide an important linkage between the people and the government. Due to this link, the government is more responsible and remains focused on the interests of the general public while promoting democratic citizenship. They provide a vital channel through which information flows from the public to the government and the reverse. They inform and advise the government as well as the public on appropriate actions to take concerning emerging issues in the society (Ehrman, 1972). Despite these important roles played by the interest groups in promoting democracy in the society, some people have argued that they undermine and distort democracy and political systems in a country. For example, the interest group may represent a minority group in the society but be powerful enough to influence the decision in the country. This undermines the basic principle of democracy, majority always rules. This happens when the minorities through the powerful interest groups are able to influence decisions and policies that are against the will of the majority. These undemocratic practices that are promoted by interest groups are very common in trade unions and pressure groups with commercial and business affiliations. In many cases, the level of influence by a certain interest group in the country is determined by the financial and economic position of the pressure group or its members. In many cases, the influence and the position of the general society are not comparable and may be out of proportion (Keohane at al, 2009). Some interest groups are either too powerful or may promote corruption in a country. This limits its ability to promote the democracy and the interests of the general public. For example, interest groups pushing for the interests of the manufactures may be too powerful to influence decisions that favor the manufacturers at the expense of the public. Moreover, such interest groups may finance political campaigns in anticipation that they will obtain favors in the long run. Secret financial affairs and corruption have also been cited to demonstrate how interest groups undermine democracy (Sudbery, 2003). Opponents of the participation of interest groups in democracy maintain that they promote the inequalities in the society because of the high likelihood of them being influenced by the socially and economically advantaged members of the society. Marxists argue that the principle role of interest groups in a democratic society is to maintain the status quo or make the social divide worse. They also argue that the view of the government as a mediator between the conflicting interests as a cover-up of the real nature of power. Interests groups can also cause stagnation of democratic evolution in a society where one interest group blocks introduction of new issues in the society. This may limit social and economic development in the society. It is also important to note that the interest groups are subject to individualistic interests. This is mainly because the election of officials and running the affairs of the group in not always done democratically. It makes no sense how interest groups promote democracy whereas their structures are not democratic (Jordan & Maloney, 2007). In conclusion, interest groups play a major role in promoting or undermining democracy in a country. They are therefore good and at the same time bad in any democratic society. However, the large number of interest groups around the world indicates that they are successful in their mandate. They enable the general members of the public to have an influence on the decision making processes thus enhancing democracy, but can have negative effects if not well regulated.