Essay about Racism and Jealousy in Othello - 762 Words

Racism and Jealousy in Othello The theme of racism is strongly depicted in William Shakespeares Othello. It depicts the attitude of European society towards those that were different in colour, race and language. In Europe, people of white complexion were the majority and all other races were considered to be less important and inferior. There are several characters in this play that portray this mentality. These characters include Brabantio, Roderigo and Emilia. But by far, the face of racism in this play is that of Iago, who makes his intentions crystal clear in his soliloquy where he states I hate the Moor, (I, iii, 379). Throughout the play, Iago lays forward a number of reasons for his hatred, which leads to the ruin of†¦show more content†¦His behaviour and speech indicates clearly that he is jealous of success (Othello becoming a general, Cassio becoming his second-in-command) as well as the happiness of Othello and Desdemona. An example of this is crying out to Brabantio that ...your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs - (I, i, 118); Which has strong, vulgar imagery. He is able to manipulate the entire course of the play through deceit and treachery. Cassio was chosen to be Othellos first lieutenant in favour of Iago, and this angered him deeply. He hates Othello for overlooking him, but he also hates Cassio for being chosen ahead of him to the spot that he wanted. Iago is successful in ruining Cassio and causing him to lose his reputation and thereby Othellos respect. Eventually, despite the success of his endeavours, he still attempts to have Cassio killed by successfully convincing Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair by saying that Cassio is jealous of him: O, beware, my lord, of jealousy. It is the green-eyed monster that doth mock the meat it feeds on (III.iii.169-70). Iagos ultimate objectives are made clear. He wants Cassio and Othello to die, and being the ruthless villain he is, he will stop at nothing to fulfil his desires. There is also the indication that Iago suspects that Othello may have been involved with his wife: And it is thought that twixt my sheets, Hes done my office. (I, iii, 380-81), although this is likely to beShow MoreRelated Racism in William Shakespeares Othello Essay1059 Words   |  5 PagesRacism in William Shakespeares Othello The play, Othello, is certainly, in part, the tragedy of racism. Examples of racism are common throughout the dialog. This racism is directed toward Othello, a brave soldier from Africa and currently supreme commander of the Venetian army. Nearly every character uses a racial slur to insult Othello at one point in the play. Even Emilia sinks to the level of insulting Othello based on the color of his skin. The character that most commonly makes racistRead MoreRacism In Othello Analysis829 Words   |  4 Pagesof Racism in Othello.† Shakespeare Quarterly, vol. 44, no. 3, Oct. 1993, p. 304. In this article, the author relates the idea of primal scene to racism in â€Å"Othello†. Primal scene is a psychoanalysis theory by Sigmund Freud. This theory claims once a child imagines or sees their parents having sexual relations they will be unable to repress this image from reappearing in their mind. The author rela tes this theory to the play â€Å"Othello† byRead MoreWhy Is Shakespeares Othello Still Relevant in Todays Audiences?940 Words   |  4 PagesWhy is Shakespeare’s â€Å"Othello† still relevant in today’s audiences? â€Å"When you begin a journey of revenge, start by digging two graves: one for your enemy, and one for yourself.† – Jodi Picoult. Othello is a very well-known Shakespearian text and is still relevant to today’s audiences. The themes in â€Å"Othello† are still applicable to today’s many audiences; Betrayal is a key theme presented in Othello, and is also still relevantRead MoreOthello, The Moor Of Venice, Is One Of The Principal Tragedies1180 Words   |  5 PagesOthello, the Moor of Venice, is one of the principal tragedies by Shakespeare. This tragedy contains many themes which are important in society today. Many aspects of people s lives have changed, but the way people think is still the same . Shakespeare s Othello wants to underline the psychological and social impact of racism; and the power of manipulation as well as jealousy. These are the most important themes throughout this drama. Othello takes place in Venice, Italy. He was a black generalRead MoreThemes in Shakespeares Othello Essay1155 Words   |  5 PagesOthello was written by Jacobean playwright William Shakespeare in 1603. It proved a huge success when first performed in 1604, in front of a huge audience. The story is one of Shakespeare’s great tragedy themed plays. Othello is the black protagonist and highly esteemed Venetian general. Iago is the ambitious but scheming villain of the play. When Othello promotes a man called Michael Cassio over Iago, he is furious and launches a malicious campaign against Othello. Meanwhile, Othello has marriedRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare1515 Words   |  7 PagesShakespeare’s Othello is seemingly about the blooming affection between a man and a woman. However, it is a love story gone wrong—or is portrayed as so by the author. In the historical context of Othello, which is set during the Turkish-Venetian war in the 16th century, it i s essential to emphasize that Othello is the love story between Othello, the Moorish general, and Desdemona, the Venetian lady. This racial difference is most problematic to the eyes of the white Venetian society, allowing charactersRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare997 Words   |  4 PagesRacism, love, betrayal, and jealousy are feelings that happen all the time in todays society, many people do not know how to handle it sometimes, and they get emotionally hurt for a long time. Othello is possibly the most famous literary exploration of the warping powers of jealousy and suspicion. At the same time, it s among the earliest piece of work that deals with race and racism. With Othello being a supreme commander of the Venetian army, he never felt like he fit completely in, and the girlRead MoreAnalysis Of Othello By William Shakespeare1171 Words   |  5 PagesBODY PARAGRAPH 2 JEALOUSY Jealousy is a major component of both the text and the appropriation, as jealousy is what drives Iago to plot against Othello. Jealousy is largely present in the appropriation too, the breaking point for Hugo comes at the moment when his dad, who is the coach, presents Odin with the award for ‘Most Valuable Player’, and announces to the team that â€Å"I love him (Odin), like my own son†. It is at this point that Hugo starts conspiring against Odin. Odin receiving the M.V.PRead MoreEssay about Racism and Cultural Differences Exposed in Othello1322 Words   |  6 Pages Othello, from the onset, is shown to us a play of love and jealousy. There is however more to this play than just love and jealousy; there is underlying racism, hate, deception, pride, and even sexism between these pages. Othello is a transcendent play, one that will survive the perils of time simply because it is still relevant. Even today, over 400 years later, there are still issues of racism and sexism. Hate is as natural as love in humans and Othello gets right to the root of that. WeRead MoreO and Othello Comparison929 Words   |  4 Pages‘Othello is one of the brilliant plays written by William Shakespeare. It is the story of man named Othello and how his mind was twisted and manipulated by a man named Iago and how Iago made Othello think that his wife Desdemona was cheating on him with his lieutenant Michael Cassio, which results in many deaths. Tim Blake Nelson has creatively restructured ‘Othello’ into a film to appeal to a teenage audience. It still contains the same central ideas which are racism, jealousy and deception which

Evidence-Based Practice Free Essays

The term Evidence-based practice is relatively new, yet in the last decades, EBP had a great impact on nursing practice, education and as a science in general. There is a broad agreement by scholars and publications upon EBP definition as â€Å"problem-solving approach to clinical decision-making that integrates the best available evidence and clinical expertise, along with patient preference and values† (Hain Haras, 2015). Meanwhile, ethics is rooted in ancient Greek philosophical inquiry of moral life and relates to a system of principles that can considerably change previous thoughts, actions, and decisions (Doody Noonan, 2016). We will write a custom essay sample on Evidence-Based Practice or any similar topic only for you Order Now More particularly, The nursing code of ethics stands as a central and necessary mark of a profession. It functions as a general guide for the profession’s members and as a social contract with the public that it serves. The code list nine provisions that makes explicit the primary goals, values, and obligations of the nursing profession and expresses its values, duties, and commitments to the society of which it is a part. The relationship between evidence-based practice and ethics is obvious in many ways Empirics and ethics are fundamental patterns of knowing in nursing: Empirics and ethics are actively participating in being fundamental patterns of knowing that shaped nursing as distinguish discipline. We gain empirical knowledge from research and objective facts. This knowledge is systematically organized into general laws and theories. One of the ways we employ this knowledge is through the use of evidence-based practice (EBP). likewise, ethical knowledge helps one develop our own moral code; our sense of knowing what is right and wrong. For nurses, our personal ethics is based on our obligation to protect and respect human life. Our deliberate personal actions are guided by ethical knowing (Vaughan, 2014). The â€Å"Code of Ethics for Nurses† can guide us as we develop and refine our moral code. Certainly, empirical knowledge is essential to the purpose of nursing, but nursing also required to be alert to the need to express the uniqueness of individual and to have an appropriate parameter that can judge and appraise these evidence on ethical manners. The knowledge of ethical code can provide answers to the moral question during the application of EBP. According to Carnago ; Mast (2015), each pattern of knowledge in nursing is separated but interrelated and interdependent to each other, and none of them alone should be considered sufficient. The overall purpose of EBP and nursing code of ethics is almost identical: The second provision of the code clearly states that â€Å"The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group or community† (ANA, 2015). This commitment is to the health, well-being, and safety of the patient across the lifespan and in all settings in which health care needs are addressed. The principle of beneficence, which promote the well-being of others and non-maleficence which refers to the †obligation to not inflict harm on others. Once again, many statements in our Code reflect this important concern for avoiding harm to those we serve. The nurse upholds patients’ interests by influencing and managing those who provide direct care and fostering positive team approaches to facilitate safe, quality care. Similarly, the definition of evidence-based practice emphasize the use of best available evidence which most probably will benefit the patient and ensure the safety of that course of action through utilizing only approved and extensively tested evidence. While, a great attention to preserve the uniqueness of individual values and preferences. the Code of Ethics basic principles and definition of EBP simultaneously stress the importance of using best current evidence that ensures achievement of the desirable outcome (Stokke, Olsen, Espehaug, Nortvedt, 2014). To conclude, Nurses encounter and address many ethical dilemmas on a daily basis. Since nursing actions aim to improve the health and wellbeing of patients which best manifested by using EBP, it is inevitable and expected that nursing practice has an ethical dimension. Nurses, therefore, have a duty to develop not only an awareness of the ethical dimension of practice but also strategies to practice ethically. Fortunately, The original ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses With Interpretive Statements was released in 2001, and it was revised in 2015. This update ensures that the Code of Ethics continues to be relevant to the transformations in health care delivery and modern clinical practice advances. No matter how important technical and scientific expertise in nursing may be, providing nursing care must always be characterized as an ethical founded undertaking. By incorporating evidence-based decision making and intersecting it with traditional principles of ethics (beneficence, non-maleficence and justice), nurses are fostering care strategies for individuals and populations while addressing underlying systems issues that may impact care including facilitating a culture of safety that supports reporting errors and near misses which is vital for modern date practice (EBP) and promoting a healthy work environment of respect and c How to cite Evidence-Based Practice, Papers

Rebooting My Life Essay Example For Students

Rebooting My Life Essay Have you ever wondered what it would be like to move away from your home to a new place, to do something you want to do? When I was eighteen, I found out all the horrors and pleasures upon moving from Cameron, Oklahoma where there isnt even a general store we only had on convenience store to Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania where they had a Starbucks on every corner; just to attend culinary school. The day my adventure began still resonates with me. It was a clear summer day of July 2008; not even a cloud in the sky . The warmth of the sun bearing down on my pale skin,and the gentle breeze rolling in like a ocean wave across my hair, while my mother and I sat outside her modern brick house, which, always seemed to smell like homemade marinara; The smell so intoxicating it could make the meanest of people happy. Since i just graduated about a month ago, so we began to talk about the future and what i wanted to do with my life. Mother asked, Where would you like to go for college?   I replied, I would like to go to culinary school at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.   Looking appalled, she exclaimed, Why would you wanna go to Pittsburgh!   I said that i heard about this school form an advisor that came to my school my last year. I tried to explain my reason; However, with everything i said she seemed increasingly upset. I could see her soft chocolate brown eyes widen from behind her thick, plexiglass-like glasses, and she constantly ran her hands through her short, golden brown hair, just like she did whenever she became upset. Even though she was upset, she still maintained good pose. not a single wrinkle in her emerald green shirt that transitioned into black. ot even a wrinkle on her translucent pale skinned face. Standing, she brush some dirt off her black slacks,stormed off, her black and emerald shoes stomping to showing her anger . I knew the battle will be rough. After hours of fighting, I finally convinced her to let me go. Couple of weeks later she took me the the bus station, a cold, bleak place that smelled like iron and sawdust, and housed sad and lonely people. My mother bought me a ticket and kissed my forehead just like we all do when we say goodbye to a loved one. She walked out, got into the car, and she drove away I felt a loneliness sink in for the first time; I felt sad almost to the point where i could just sit down and cry. Looking around at all the empty green and yellow plastic chairs. I grabbed my bags and sat down,waiting for my bus to arrive, and my life to begin. I finally arrived a hour later, I got on the bus to begin my 14 hour trip while looking around at the people they all looked like they should have been on Unsolved Mysteries. I feared the worst, and not sleeping a wink the whole way there. When I finally made it to Pittsburgh, I took a shower, for I stunk so badly that a skunk would not even come around me. Then I made my way out in the streets of pittsburgh. The streets were alive with all the people and loud sounds of city life. It was all like a dream come true. I made my way to the Art Institute where, I met my advisor Kelly; she wore a long red flowing dress and reddish black high heels, her hair as black as night, her eyes were the prettiest hazel eyes I had seen. She lead me up to a room to fill out paperwork. while I applied for my financial aid she went to check something for me . .u0bd026d2b4fad8604f4fe7698d790eb1 , .u0bd026d2b4fad8604f4fe7698d790eb1 .postImageUrl , .u0bd026d2b4fad8604f4fe7698d790eb1 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u0bd026d2b4fad8604f4fe7698d790eb1 , .u0bd026d2b4fad8604f4fe7698d790eb1:hover , .u0bd026d2b4fad8604f4fe7698d790eb1:visited , .u0bd026d2b4fad8604f4fe7698d790eb1:active { border:0!important; } .u0bd026d2b4fad8604f4fe7698d790eb1 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u0bd026d2b4fad8604f4fe7698d790eb1 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u0bd026d2b4fad8604f4fe7698d790eb1:active , .u0bd026d2b4fad8604f4fe7698d790eb1:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u0bd026d2b4fad8604f4fe7698d790eb1 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u0bd026d2b4fad8604f4fe7698d790eb1 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u0bd026d2b4fad8604f4fe7698d790eb1 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u0bd026d2b4fad8604f4fe7698d790eb1 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u0bd026d2b4fad8604f4fe7698d790eb1:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u0bd026d2b4fad8604f4fe7698d790eb1 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u0bd026d2b4fad8604f4fe7698d790eb1 .u0bd026d2b4fad8604f4fe7698d790eb1-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u0bd026d2b4fad8604f4fe7698d790eb1:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Maggie Obituary EssayShe came back a couple minutes later, and she told me that I did not have enough money to attend this semester. I was devastated! So worried about what I could do for money, at that moment i got up and left the institute. Walking down the street that smelled like fresh water and good food due to some food vendors that seem to be around every corner, i started to cry. I keep telling myself that i made it this far,and to not be able to afford my schooling. I became determined, the more i thought about what happened, and what i needed to do to make it in ,and get my diploma A couple of months passed I had stayed in the city, and found me a job as a alternative model; for a modeling group in city. It was fun dressing up in different outfits, even though some of the outfits looked old and tethered they were as soft as newborn puppys fur, smelling like fresh linen and lavender. Even though I had the money I needed for enrollment, the paperwork filled out, and i have been talking to kelly for the past couple months about my enrollment i was still scared, like a child lost in a store not able to find my mother. Nerveless I enrolled in school. I went every semester for that next two years. Even though the first couple months was rough trying to balance work and go to classes, but i surpass that, while remaining a model on the side to keep up my financial needs. I felt great at my graduation to see all the red and white caps and robes like a abstract painting from a museum. I knew that even though I had a rough and scary time getting to this point; i had finally succeeded in my goal, to become a licenced cook. Just like Walt Disney said All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.   I believe in that now that i have experienced it for myself.

Influence of Management Style on Employee Behavior

Introduction The influence of managerial style on employee behavior is manifested in a number of fashions including the leadership styles adopted by managers in the management of their employees. The behavior of employees significantly affects their conduct, attitudes and interactions with customers when in essence this behavior is largely dictated by the management style of top executives within the organization.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Influence of Management Style on Employee Behavior specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A number of leadership styles can be adopted in the running of organizations; a leadership style refers to the methodology and approach adopted by management in the provision of organizational direction, implementation of set targets and motivation of the human capital. Lewin, (1939) Autocracy In the running of day today matters within the organization, management may be autocratic or authoritarian, this management style has been misused by some managers (especially the general manager in the second resort) to mean ordering people around or bossing employees around and this has got absolutely no place in the contemporary leader’s repertoire. It may be likened to the phrase â€Å"I want you to†¦..† It finds application in instances when the management informs employees on what is to be done. Adler et al (2008) The most appropriate situation to use this style is perhaps when the employees have all the requisite information at their disposal on how they want a particular task executed and there is minimal time to execute this task. This approach should only be used in rare occasions because if management wants to influence and inculcate higher levels of commitment and motivation, then the democratic or participative style should be applied. The authoritarian style is the one applied by the general manager of the second resort visited by the resea rcher in Fiji. In this resort, he was found screaming instructions to the workers and the first impression was that the manager was overbearing on the employees and dictatorial. Instead of motivating the employees in his resort, he keeps complaining and whining about them calling them lazy and reprimanding them in public. He blames their culture for failing to inculcate desirable work values in them and blames everything around him including what he considers an odd and impossible system of owning land around the country. This also caused him to be at odds with the local chief. The effect of this leadership style is seen clearly when the researcher (a customer in the resort) leaves with less enthusiasm having sampled a paltry 23 bulas out of the possible 41.Advertising Looking for coursework on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Asked about his future plans, the manager is quick to discount any involvement of the locals in improving performance and instead recommends that he intends to bring in hired expatriates from Auckland in New Zealand to teach the locals on how best to be hospitable. His mentality of blaming the local culture is mistaken because in the previous resort visited by the researcher, employees were very pleasant to customers and highly motivated and this was as a result of their hospitable culture (the Fijian culture). Democracy The democratic approach by contrast is the one that involves both the leader and the employees in the decision making process. Hofstede (1977) It can be represented by the phrase â€Å"lets work together to solve this†¦..† this is what is being applied by the general manager in the first Fijian resort. In this resort, an impressive 39 bulas (greetings) were sampled out of the possible 41 and this indicated a labour force that is not only highly motivated but also one with high levels of job satisfaction, this pleasantness translates directly in the way employees treat their customers as was experienced by the researcher. The use of this management style does not show weaknesses but instead builds a strong rapport and understanding between the employees and their leader. Intelligent managers are able to understand that they do not have all solutions to the organization’s problems, they may have part of the solution but the employees (being competent and skillful) have the other solutions. In order to tap into their resourcefulness therefore, the manager in the first resort works in close collaboration with his employees and instead of being quick to introduce new ideas sees that the existing ideas are working well and therefore builds on them. In his own words, he has done absolutely nothing to change the employees natural hospitality rather he has taken advantage of the available local assets that he found in their traditional culture and village life. Reference List Adler, N., Gundersen A. (2008).Inter national dimensions of organizational behavior. Mason, OH:Thomson.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Influence of Management Style on Employee Behavior specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Hofstede, G. (1977). Culture and Organizations: Software of the Mind, New York: McGraw-Hill. Lewin, K., LIippit, R. and White, R.K. (1939). â€Å"Patterns of aggressive behavior in experimentally created social climates.† Journal of Social Psychology, Vol.10, 271-301 This coursework on Influence of Management Style on Employee Behavior was written and submitted by user Mohammed Drake to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Hemp Legalization Essays - Biofuels, Hemp, Herbs, Sustainability

Hemp Legalization Essays - Biofuels, Hemp, Herbs, Sustainability Hemp Legalization Hemp Legalization As I read over this article, I became more and more furious with the government. Ralph Nadar, the presidential candidate for the green party, talked about his plan to legalize the growth of commercial grade hemp, but the government showed how overbearing it is. One thing that the government said was that if the growth of commercial grade hemp did become legalized, then there would be so man rules and regulations on the growth of it that if would be virtually impossible to grow. The article mentioned that by legalizing the growth of commercial grade hemp, it would raise the economy of the U.S. by bringing in more money by producing stronger rope and more paper than and tree or plant. One fact that the article failed to mention that the growth of commercial grade hemp would produce more oxygen in the air and also make the ground more fertile in off seasons. The article shows that the government is just trying to find ways to keep the economy from booming and the environment from being clean.

Iraq War Military History - Battle of Fallujah

Iraq War Military History - Battle of Fallujah The Second Battle of Fallujah was fought November 7 to 16, 2004, during the Iraq War (2003-2011). Lieutenant General John F. Sattler and Major General Richard F. Natonski led 15,000 American and Coalition troops against approximately 5,000 insurgent fighters led by Abdullah al-Janabi and Omar Hussein Hadid. Background Following escalating insurgent activity and Operation Vigilant Resolve (First Battle of Fallujah) in the spring of 2004, U.S.-led Coalition Forces turned fighting in Fallujah over to the Iraqi Fallujah Brigade. Led by Muhammed Latif, a former Baathist general, this unit ultimately collapsed, leaving the city in the hands of the insurgents. This, along with the belief that insurgent leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was operating in Fallujah, led to the planning of Operation Al-Fajr (Dawn)/Phantom Fury with the goal of retaking the city. It was believed that between 4,000–5,000 insurgents were in Fallujah. The Plan Located approximately 40  miles west of Baghdad, Fallujah was effectively surrounded by U.S. forces by October 14. Establishing checkpoints, they sought to ensure that no insurgents were able to escape the city. Civilians were encouraged to leave to prevent being caught in the coming battle, and an estimated 70–90 percent of the citys 300,000 citizens departed. During this time, it was clear that an assault on the city was imminent. In response, the insurgents prepared a variety of defenses and strong points. The attack on the city was assigned to the I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF). With the city cordoned off, efforts were made to suggest that the Coalition attack would come from the south and southeast as had occurred in April. Instead, I MEF intended to assault the city from the north across its entire breadth. On November 6, Regimental Combat Team 1, consisting of the 3rd Battalion/1st Marines, 3rd Battalion/5th Marines, and the U.S. Armys 2nd Battalion/7th Cavalry, moved into position to assault the western half of Fallujah from the north. They were joined by Regimental Combat Team 7, made up of the 1st Battalion/8th Marines, 1st Battalion/3rd  Marines, the U.S. Armys 2nd Battalion/2nd Infantry, the 2nd Battalion/12th Cavalry, and 1st Battalion 6th Field Artillery, which would attack the eastern part of the city. These units were joined by about 2,000 Iraqi troops as well.   The Battle Begins With Fallujah sealed, operations began at 7:00 p.m. on November 7, when Task Force Wolfpack moved to take objectives on the west bank of the Euphrates River opposite Fallujah. While Iraqi commandos captured Fallujah General Hospital, Marines secured the two bridges over the river to cut off any enemy retreat from the city. A similar blocking mission was undertaken by the British Black Watch Regiment south and east of Fallujah. The next evening, RCT-1 and RCT-7, backed by air and artillery strikes, commenced their attack into the city. Using Army armor to disrupt the insurgents defenses, the Marines were able to effectively attack enemy positions, including the main train station. Though engaged in fierce urban combat, Coalition troops were able to reach Highway 10, which bisected the city, by the evening of November 9. The eastern end of the road was secured the next day, opening a direct supply line to Baghdad. Insurgents Cleared Despite heavy fighting, Coalition forces controlled approximately 70 percent of Fallujah  by the end of November 10. Pressing across Highway 10, RCT-1 moved through the Resala, Nazal, and Jebail neighborhoods, while the RCT-7 assaulted an industrial area in the southeast. By November 13, U.S. officials claimed that most of the city was under Coalition control. The heavy fighting continued for the next several days as Coalition forces moved house-to-house eliminating insurgent resistance. During this process, thousands of weapons were found stored in houses, mosques, and tunnels connecting buildings around the city. The process of clearing the city was slowed by booby-traps and improvised explosive devices. As a result, in most cases, soldiers only entered buildings after tanks had rammed a hole in a wall or specialists had blasted a door open. On November 16, U.S. officials announced that Fallujah had been cleared, but that there were still sporadic episodes of insurgent activity. Aftermath During the Battle of Fallujah,  51 U.S. forces were killed and 425 seriously wounded, while Iraqi forces lost 8 soldiers with 43 wounded. Insurgent losses are estimated at between 1,200 to 1,350 killed. Though Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi was not captured during the operation, the victory severely damaged the momentum the insurgency had gained before Coalition forces held the city. Residents were allowed to return in December, and they slowly began rebuilding the badly damaged city. Having suffered terribly  in Fallujah, the insurgents began to avoid open battles, and the number of attacks again began to rise. By 2006, they controlled much of Al-Anbar province, necessitating another sweep through Fallujah in September, which lasted until January 2007. In the fall of 2007, the city was turned over to the Iraqi Provincial Authority.

Excel 1 Assignment-- Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Excel 1 -- - Assignment Example The new value was used to determine the percentage reduction for each category. The findings show that both salaries & wages and employee benefits reduced by 10%, while the supplies and services reduced by 1% each. There were no reduction in capital outlays, central services, and transfers because values were zero. Besides, the total expenditure Arapahoe County 2014 budget reduced by 5% ($256,027). The rationale for adopting such a method aims to reduce the funds that originated from the general funds because those were the only funds that were impacted. Besides, the approach ensured we keep intact the essential services. From the analysis of the budgetary expenditure of the County Attorney Department, it is apparent that a percentage reduction of 10% is likely to reduce to the general budget by 5%. Therefore, department needs to adopt and implement a reduction of 10 percent. A reduction of departmental salaries, & wages, and employee benefit will reflect a similar reduction margin for the Arapahoe County budget. Although the salaries, wages, and employees result in 10% reduction, the suppliers and services reduce by 1%. We need to reduce the expenditures originating from the general funds by 10 % to 1 %, which I think is possible to ensure our institutions is in a better position to handle the problem of increasing spending. The impact of these changes brings a reduction of the total budget by 5%, which is a significant step toward the realisation of spending adjustment. It should be noted that my recommendation did take into account all the source of expenditures that come from the general fund. Th erefore, this should not raise an alarm but should act as a model for future decision-making. The model aims to achieve exactly 10% reduction from the general fund to ensure availability of funds for another department that has scaled up their activities and hence need additional funds. For that reason, the department should provide some measures are in place to

Edvard Munch Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Edvard Munch - Essay Example One of Munch's most widely recognized paintings is "The Scream". The painting depicts the fear and agony that Munch carried with him as he came to terms with the loss of his family through death and illness. The figure is seen haunted by the dark figures lurking in the past as he gapes in horror at the future ahead of him. The colors are dark and surreal which merge to form a vaguely recognizable landscape. As the colors swirl into the central theme of the canvas, they distort and twist the face of the subject. A tortured soul gripped with the fear of the impending apocalypse with nowhere to run. Munch pulls us into the horrifying world of loss and torment and in doing so we begin to hear "The Scream". "The Kiss", painted in 1897, comes from Munch's middle life and is a continuing theme of the love and women that populate his art. In "The Kiss", we see the image of lovers wrapped in embrace, alone and secure. The picture develops the figures as one body, faceless and without form as they meld into an inseparable image. Joined. yet isolated, they are serene as they are set away from the window and the outside world.

Arguments for and Against Genetically Modified Food Essay Example for Free

Arguments for and Against Genetically Modified Food Essay Biotechnology involves any technique that uses living organisms or parts there of to make or modify products, to improve plants or animals or to develop micro organisms for specific uses (Dr Sriwatanapongse, www. afic. org) In the past century weve have been lucky enough to stumble upon one of the basic building blocks of organisms, DNA. In recent years scientists have been able to develop ways in which they can manipulate, alter, and transfer DNA in forms that can help improve our lives. One way in which DNA research has been used to improve our lifestyle, is by engineering the deoxyribonucleic acid into ways which can alter food supplies to make them bigger, taste better, resistant to pests and even make them have a greater concentration of nutrients. Of course this is great news to the human population, in terms of economic and life-saving values for third world countries, yet there are still disadvantages. With all the good news that comes from these altered crops, concerns are still among people. These concerns include; whether or not these alterations will affect humans in a negative way, or how they will impact the environment. Genetically engineering crops might play a significant role in increasing crop yield therefore allowing the world to feed more people while using less land. A recent study on bioengineered crops concluded that these crops are safe and can improve production dramatically. To date, total acres of biotech crops harvested exceed more than 1 billion with a proven 10-year history of safe use. Over the next decade, expanded adoption combined with current research on 57 crops in 63 countries will broaden the advantages of genetically modified foods for growers, consumers and the environment. (www. monsanto. com) Those opposing the genetically altered crops state that One major detriment to genetically engineered food is that there has been no adequate testing to ensure that extracting genes from useful functions will yield the same results in different applications and species (www. govhs. org). Predictions of future are that, consumers are able to get foods that last longer, taste better and are more nutritious than the current foods. There will also an even greater variety of foods all year round. These products will be made possible through genetic engineering, and some of them are already available. For centuries, farmers grew plants to produce special foods with unique characteristics: better taste, higher yield or greater resistance to drought or frosts. History shows, that five thousand years ago in Peru, potatoes were grown selectively. Plants, which produced potatoes with attractive characteristics, such as higher yields, were used to produce future plants. More than two thousand years ago, tree grafting was used by the Greeks to Gain a more fruit in orchards. Now, we have genetically engineered food that has been discovered and now offers a faster and more reliable method of establishing new traits in plants to provide foods that are better tasting, more nutritious or more in amount. Although all of this may seem futuristic, such crops do already exist. Not only have these crops been in laboratories for decades, but they have been in the market for years. Humans have only just begun to realize the benefits of these genetically altered foods. Genetically altered foods allow a wide selection of things to improve upon. Some altered abilities already exists in our fruits and vegetables, these include: pest, disease and herbicide. By using genetic engineering, plants that resist disease, pests or insects can be developed. This means that less chemicals, such as pesticides, are required. In the near future scientists hopefully will be able to improve the drought resistance of most crop species and could have major implications for crops grown in dry areas (www.abc. net. au/news). Weather resistance Plants could and can be developed to better withstand extreme weather conditions such as drought or frosts. Genetically engineering foods make crops easier to maintain and lower the cost in maintenance. One benefit of altered foods which is often overlooked is the Improved processing characteristics of these foods, leading to reduced waste and lower food costs to the consumer. Foods are being developed to contain more vitamins, minerals, protein and less saturated fat. For example, fruits and vegetables with higher levels of antioxidant vitamins may reduce cardiovascular disease risk and help reduce the risk of certain cancers (www. americanheart. org). The world population is expected to double to more than 10 billion people by the year 2050. Food biotechnology can help meet the increasing demand for food. By increasing a crops ability to withstand environmental factors, growers will be able to farm in parts of the world currently unsuitable for crop production. Along with additional food, this could also provide economies of developing nations with much-needed jobs and greater productivity. Genetically engineered foods seem to have solved all the problems farmers and growers have had for years. Unfortunately all the positive effects of altered foods seem to mask the reality behind these perfect crops. Some of the disadvantages of altered crops include the possibility of mutations. Plant breeders have induced mutations in selected plants by treating them with chemicals or radiation; however this is costly and unpredictable (Microorganisms, biotechnology and Disease). Genetic engineering changes the nature of the food eaten. It can cause unexpected mutations in an organism, which can create new and higher levels of toxins in foods. Genetic engineering can produce unknown allergens in foods. Some foods may be implanted with the ability to produce antibiotics. This may help the plant, but if these plants that are infected with bacteria emerge new strands of bacteria that may become resistant to the most advanced antibiotics, there will be a problem. With herbicide-resistant crops, weeds may evolve to also become herbicide resistant. The spread of diseases across specific species may also become a factor because of a loss of ? bio-diversity in crops. When crops are altered for specific abilities, they are then mass produced. They are the only type of species grown in field of thousands. Because of this, the species will only be able to pass on to all generations the same DNA. Once started, they may not be easily controlled or contained. It makes the crops hard to calculate. Unfortunately the biggest problem raised from new modified foods is the fact that the public is unaware of how it works and the results behind the genetically modified food. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the genetic code in living organisms. About twenty five years ago, scientists began to understand how DNA worked. From this ways for speeding up breeding processes were understood to a degree. Agricultural scientists today can identify the genes that carry specific traits they want, such as ? disease resistance or ? nutrient content and transfer those genes to a plant, therefore creating a transgenic organism. Genetic engineering is the process of artificially modifying these ? blueprints. By cutting and splicing DNA, engineers can transfer genes specific to one type of organism into any other organism. Some organisms have been enhanced through biotechnology such as; tomatoes, that go ? soft more slowly and so remain on the vine for longer. This gives them more colour and flavour. Also, virus resistant papyrus and squash, that make the crop more dependable. Genetically modified food seems to have already changed the world today. Many countries are already considering making more of their crops with genetically engineered properties. Scientists have gained a vast knowledge of genetic engineering and are now able to make many possibilities. Genetically engineered food has brought a lot of commercial benefits; increased crops quality, harvesting quantity, pest resistance, herbicide resistance, nutrient supplementation and more. Not only have the crops improved, but more crops are produced in less space. Although the benefits of bioengineering seem fantastic, there are still many mysteries left to understand in such a vast field of understanding. Genetic engineering might cause serious consequences to our future life as well next generations to come. Deeper insight into genetic engineering may be all that is needed for us to gain truly unlimited advantage from such a vast scientific field.

Its Time to Make Prostitution Legal :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

It's Time to Make Prostitution Legal Prostitution has long been called the world's oldest profession. For as long back as we have records, evidence can be found of people selling sex for some sort of gain. When the colonists were running around slaughtering the natives, they also were enjoying the pleasures of local prostitutes. In fourth century, Athenian orator Apollodoros stated "we have courtesans for pleasure, and concubines for the daily service of our bodies, but wives for the production of legitimate offspring and to have reliable guardians of our household property." And yet in "progressive" America, a land were people claim to be the most socially advanced, prostitution is an illegal act that results in the sheltering of rapists, drug dealers, and abusers. Legalization of prostitution could solve a lot of problems caused by its illegality, but it's unlikely that those rich old white guys in Washington are going to make the change. They prefer to ignore the issue, occasionally making the token gesture at trying to end it completely. Reality check folks, if prostitution has been around this long, it's not going anywhere. You can throw more laws at it, up the punishment, even do like Minnesota and post those arrested for prostitution (not those just found guilty) and stick their pictures on the internet, but you aren't going to change reality. Nevada has already seen the light...why not the rest of country? If this country were to legalize prostitution, we could make a fortune while also improving the health of our country and the "character" behind it all. Look at Nevada. Let's take prostitution off the streets by requiring services be offered in a brothel or on appropriate web sites. As for the common streetwalker, arrest them for solicitation, but just solicitation, no more tacking on the prostitution part. Change the law to require condoms and regular health checks and AIDS testing. Where prostitution is legal in Nevada, the number of AIDS cases among the workers is now down to 0 (where the illegal hookers have topped 25% infection...that's a one in four chance of paying to get AIDS). By having it legal, prostitutes will no longer have to fear going to the cops when they get raped or beaten.

Operation Management Essay

Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to provide students with an understanding of the role and importance of operations management in the efficient and effective production of goods and services. It will enable students to realise that the ‘proper’ organisation of productive systems, and their interfaces with internal as well as external customers and suppliers, is essential if goods/services are to be produced on time, to cost and within the laws and regulations. Scenario. Impressive Burgers was established 10 years ago with the goal of providing fast take away food to their customers quickly and of a higher quality to that of their rivals. Each restaurant offered a simple menu structure with a choice of four set meal options. 1. Burger, Chips & Soft Drink 2. Cheeseburger, Chips & Soft Drink 3. Chicken Burger, Chips & Soft Drink 4. Vegetarian Burger, Chips & Soft Drink Customers were offered a choice of size of each meal: Regular, Medium or Large. The size of the chips and drinks portions varied but the burger size remained the same. Using this format they were able to serve each customer their order within 4 minutes from a ordering at the till to receiving their complete order to take away. Each restaurant places their orders with the suppliers directly based on the manager’s prediction for demand based on the reports generated by the restaurants own till system. These orders arrive in one shipment once every other week. The company has grown to a chain of restaurant operations and the management introduced a number of changes to the format 12 months ago in an effort to increase each business at each restaurants. The number of set meal options available on the menu was increased to offer more options to the customer and to attract customers seeking healthier options. The menu options were increased by a further three options: 5. Chicken Nuggets, Chips & Soft Drink 6. Chicken Salad, Garlic Bread, & Soft Drink 7. Hot Dog, Chips & Soft Drink In addition to these set menu additions the company also offered the option of changing the chips option on the set meals for either a Side Salad or for Potato Wedges. The restaurants themselves have not changed and the number of staff and machinery has remained at the same levels before the menu changes. Since these changes were implemented there has been a dramatic increase in turnover and the number of customers that are visiting each of their restaurants. However, overall profit has declined dramatically over the last 12 months and the company predicts that if it continues the company will report its first loss in its history within the next 6 months. The company is considering expanding its operations by opening a number of new outlets but want to identify the problems to the issues they are currently facing. The company has begun to investigate why the mixed fortunes have arisen and has identified a number of issues. Serving times have increased dramatically and it now takes an average of 9 minutes for a customer to be served and the number of customer complaints has increased. The main complaints include rude and agitated staff and incorrect or incomplete orders. The total value of stock held at each restaurant has increased by an average of 20% and waste has dramatically increased. The CEO of Impressive Burgers is worried about the current development and has recruited you as Operations Manager with the responsibility of rectifying the situation that the company is currently facing. Your first assignment as Operations Manager is to produce a formal report to the management which includes the following tasks: |Outcome |Assessment Criteria | |No(s) | | |1. Understand the nature and |explain the importance of operational management |1. 1 | |importance of operational | | | |management |explain the need to produce safely; on time; to cost; to | | | |quality and within the law | | | | |1. 2 | | | | | | | | | | |explain the link between operations management and | | | |strategic planning | | | | |1. 3 | | | | | | |produce a systems diagram to illustrate a typical | | | |business | | | | | | | | | | | | |1. 4 | |2 Understand the link between |explain the ‘Three Es’ (economy, efficiency and effectiveness) | | |operations management and | |2. 1 | |strategic planning |explain the tension between cost minimisation and quality | | | |maximisation |2. 2 | | | | | | |evaluate the significance of the five performance objectives | | | |that underpin operations management | | | | | | | | |2. 3 | | | | | | |explain linear programming | | | | |3. 1 | |3 Understand how to organise a typical production process | | | | |evaluate critical path analysis and network planning | | | | |3. 2 | | | | | | |explain the need for operational planning and control | | | | |3. 3 | | | | | | | | | | |produce a set of clearly defined operational outcomes | 4. 1 | |4 Be able to apply relevant | | | |techniques to the production |produce a network plan and indicate the resultant critical path| | |of an operational plan for a | |4. 2 | |typical business | | | | |explain how quality could be defined and maintained |4. 3 | |Assignment Tasks: | | | | | | |Assessment | | |Criteria | |You are required to produce a formal and written report to cover the underlisted tasks. | | | | | |Task 1 | | |Explain the importance of operational management in an organization such as Impressive Burgers and explain ‘Three Es’ (economy, | | |efficiency and effectiveness and its relevance in the industry in which Impressive Burgers operates. |1. 1,2. 1 | | | | |Task 2 | | |Critically evaluate Impressive Burgers’ approach to expanding their operation. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |1. 2,1. 3,1. 4 | | | | |Task 3 | | |Discuss the reasons behind the problems the company is facing and make suggestions for rectifying the situation. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |3. 1,3. 2,3. 3 | | | | |Task 4 | | |Considering the effects on the operations, identify ways in which the overall operation could be improved and expanded further. | | | | | | | | | |4. 1,4. 2 | | | | Grading Criteria The assignment will be graded into Pass, Merit and Distinction against the following criteria: Pass: A pass grade is achieved by meeting all the requirements defined in the unit outcomes. Grading Criteria The assignment will be graded into Pass, Merit and Distinction against the following criteria: Pass: A pass grade is achieved by meeting all the requirements defined in the unit outcomes. |Merit & Distinction | |M1 |Identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions | | |Identify areas relevant for each task in the assignment and respond accordingly and professionally | |M2 |Select and apply appropriate techniques | | |Evidence of processing and synthesised complex information/data. | | |Appropriate learning methods/techniques have been applied | | |Report should have proper citations and reference list to all sources including your field-visit observations, books, magazines and other | | |material used for research | | | | |M3 |Present and communicate appropriate findings | | |Present your views coherently and logically | | |Demonstrate real situations in your assignment | | | | |D1 |Use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions | | |Justify your ideas in a professional manner. | | |Propose realistic ideas for the future based on the current status | | |Learner presented CONCLUSIONS for all tasks/areas | |D2 |Take responsibility for managing and organizing activities | | |Show that you did the assignment alone and in accordance with the time. | | |Assignments referred will automatically achieve the minimum grade too for improper handling of task | |D3 |Demonstrate creative thinking | | |Demonstrate that you followed all the guidelines while doing the assignment and have utilised adequate and relevant words for the specific. | | |business environment | | |Apply innovation and creative thought in your work. | |Required Evidence | |†¢ Report (Your report should be approximately 1800 words and you are likely to be penalized if it exceeds 2000 words. If you feel it is essential to | |include detailed information, put it in an appendix and refer to this appendix in the text. Your sources of information should be clearly identified) | | | |Reading & Research Resources | |Lecture slides | |F Rowbotham et el (2007) Operations Management in Context | |S Brown et al (2000), Strategic Operations Management, Butterworth Heinemann. | |L Galloway L et al (2000), Operations Management in Context, Butterworth-Heinemann. | |J Heizer and B Render (2003), Operations Management, Prentice Hall. | |N Slack et al (2000), Operations Management, Pitman. | |D L Waller D L (1999), Operations Management — A Supply Chain Approach, Thompson | |Newspapers, trade journals, magazines | | | |Guidelines for Presentation | |All assignments must be word-processed using Times New Roman (12 point) and stapled in the top left hand corner. | |Page numbers must be included at the bottom of each page. | |Secondary sources should be acknowledged using the Harvard Referencing | |Students are requested to attach the ‘assessment activity front sheet’ on the top of each report with all personal information (name, and student number | |etc. ) accurately presented. | |Every report must have a front page showing the title, class and name | |The length of writing will be limited to about 1800-2000 words. | |Note: Assignment that did not follow this ‘Guidelines for presentation’ will not be accepted. | | | |Plagiarism Policy The college has strict penalty for plagiarism and the assignment will be cancelled if the assignment is observed for this. The definition| |and scope of plagiarism are presented below: Plagiarism occurs when a student misrepresents, as his/her own work, the work, written or otherwise, of any | |other person (including another student) or of any institution. Examples of forms of plagiarism include: | |†¢ The verbatim (word for word) copying of another’s work without appropriate and correctly presented acknowledgement; | |†¢ The close paraphrasing of another’s work by simply changing a few words or altering the order of presentation, without appropriate and correctly | |presented acknowledgement; | |†¢ Unacknowledged quotation of phrases from another’s work; | |†¢ The deliberate and detailed presentation of another’s concept as one’s own. | | | |All types of work submitted by students are covered by this definition, including, written work, diagrams, designs, engineering drawings and pictures. |

Summer Writing Assignment †College Essay

Among all the characters that I have encountered in books and movies, one persona stood out as the one I want to emulate the most. He went by the name Equality 7-2521 from the novel entitled â€Å"Anthem† by Ayn Rand. He appealed me the moment I read the book because he embodied what I am striving to be.His personality was the quintessence of the qualities I needed to be successful. When I read the book, I was utterly impressed by his determination, intelligence, and more importantly, his perseverance as an individual. He has a significant influence on me and I find him a great source of inspiration to struggle harder in the complexities of life.It was during my sophomore year that I read the book â€Å"Anthem.† At that time, I was in a predicament over whether I should concentrate on schooling or finding a part-time job.The reason why I had such qualms was that even I made endeavors to complete my school works properly and attempted to attain high scores, my poor Engli sh proficiency derailed my plans. I was discouraged by the inconsistency of my efforts and grades printed in my report card.The course of things changed when I read â€Å"Anthem.† I was impressed by the characteristics of Equality 7-2521, the protagonist in the novel. The story was set in a fictional world which was dominated by collectivism. Equality 7-2521, who was seeking for self-identification, struggled in a society that rejected individualism in favor of collectivism.Equality 7-2521 discovered a tunnel where he began hiding regularly to conduct scientific experiments. Later on, he invented the light bulb and decided to share his device with the World Council of Scholars, even though he knew the way he came to discover electricity was illegal and sinful. Subsequently, Equality 7-2521's presentation of the light bulb to the World Council of Scholars permanently severed him from society and forced him out on his own.The reason that the World Council of Scholars made this decision was that collectivism does not allow people to think or work individually but jointly. As a result, Equality 7-2521 was exiled yet he did not stop pursuing his goal. He kept studying in the woods and eventually discovered the meaning of individualism and the word â€Å"I.†As I read the book thoroughly, I realized the qualities that I must possess in order to achieve my ambitions. Equality 7-2521 had a worse situation than mine, but by the virtue of his positive attributes, he successfully pulled off his discovery. He believed in individualism and rejected the collectivist society around him. He was insightful, perseverant, truth-seeking, resolute, and intelligent. He was deeply curious and desired freedom to explore and think, and he was unafraid of the society of mindless drones around him.Equality 7-2521 represented the superiority of a singular intellect to the homogeneity of the masses, who could not think of themselves and were indistinguishable from one another . I plan to get a high score as well. I believe I could reach my aspirations if I exemplify the qualities that Equality 7-2521 had. The strong and firm character Equality 7-2521 held inspired me every time I face a dilemma in real life.Equality 7-2521’s story assured me that nothing is impossible and that I can succeed too even in my simple but unrelenting ways. Along this line, I should stay focused on my work and studies, and possibly make a significant improvement in the coming marking period.He had a tremendous impact on my personality, not only in my study habits, but also in the determination to confront difficulties. Whoever and whatever I am now, I owe it for the most part to Equality 7-2521 for transforming me to the kind of person I never imagined I could ever be. Life indeed is like a roller coaster with ups and downs to render it more interesting and breathtaking. And above all, what is of the essence is that Equality 7-2521 indirectly made me complete and unexpec tedly happy as well.

China has the largest population in the world Essays

China has the largest population in the world Essays China has the largest population in the world Essay China has the largest population in the world Essay Name: Instructor: Course: Date: China has the largest population in the world. With this population, there have been and still are many religious groups in the country including the Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Confucianism, and Taoists among other religions. Religion in China has a long History of both foreign and domestic religions. Islam is one of the foreign religions that China widely embraced. In a country of over a Billion people, Islam in the country may be seen a minority religious group. Nonetheless, Islam is present, and its pupation is amongst the highest in the world with over 20.3 million Islam followers. The Muslim community spans across several tribes each with the Hui and Uygur being the most dominant group of Muslims in the country. One of the earliest forms of Islam in China was Sufism that began in the late seventeenth century. This form arrived in China along the Central Asian trade routes with the sheiks of both Chinese and foreign origins. The enigmatic teachers and tradesmen were able to establish widespread networks and brother hood associations that included chiefly of the Naqshbandiyya, Qadariyya and the Kubrawiyya (Yang 186). The preachers of these associations tried to appeal to the Gedimu to which was the earliest form of Islam in the China. The Tang Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty saw no split in Muslim. It was during the Qing Dynasty that Sufism surfaced in China. A nationalistic movement in the country in the late 19th century saw a secularization of the religion influenced by the Wahhabi ideals of the Arabian Peninsula (Yang 190). The Yihewani has been considered another from of Islam in China. Many have also though of it as the alternative to Sufism and Gedimu Islam in China. The Tajik are the only Shiite Muslims in China. The total Muslim population in china is about 20.3 million. The ethnic groups in China that are Muslim include the Hui, Uyghur, Kazakh, Dongxiang, Kyrgyz, Salar, Tajik, Uzbek, Bonan and the Tatar. The Hui can be found all over the country, but they are mainly geographically associated with Ningxia, Qinghai and Gansu. The Uyghur’s geographical position is in the Xinjiang region of China. The Kazakh, Uzbek, Salar and Tatar can be found in the same area. The Dongxiang and the Bonan communities are concentrated in the Hexi corridor of the Gansu mountainous region. The The Hui is a distinct category of Muslims in the country because of various factors. For one, Islam in China has been propagated among the Hui people over 1300 years (Yang 182). In this sense, Islam in China has been considered a premise of the Hui people. For example, during the Qing Dynasty, Islam in China was referred to as the Hui religion (Goossaert Palmer 60). The Hui in many ways introduced Islam in China. Another distinctive feature of the Hui is that they are more closely related to the Han than any other Muslim community in China. The odd thing is that the Han are not Muslim, yet the Hui have adapted many of their Islamic practices and beliefs to the Han way of life. This has accorded the Hui community criticism from Muslims from other communities (Yang 183). The name Hui can mean, â€Å"To return†. The Hui have not been considered part of the Chinese people. This is because they descended from Persian, Arab, Mongolian and Turkish Muslim soldiers and merchants who settled in China in the 17th century (Yang 180). They then intermarried with the Han women how that is how they brought the Islam religion and became part of China. In the late Qing Dynasty, the Hui were a feared people in the fight against the dynasty’s tyrannical rule (Goossaert Palmer 36). They fought in the Xingjian region, drove away the Qing infidels, and imposed Islamic law under the rule Yaqub Beg in 1820 (Goossaert Palmer 37). Yang, Mayfair M. Chinese Religiosities: Afflictions of Modernity and State Formation. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2008. Print. Goossaert, Vincent, and David A. Palmer. The Religious Question in Modern China. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2011. Print.

An Analysis of the Myth and Issues of Our Organic Food System

An Analysis of the Myth and Issues of Our Organic Food System In the last decade, a new fad has been sweeping the nation: Organic Foods. All around America organic markets like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s are popping up, offering a variety of organic produce, grass-fed beef, cage-free eggs, and all natural cosmetic products. People switch to organic products usually out of a desire to eat healthier, and take a stance on conventional agriculture and meat products. Food markets such as Whole Foods do indeed feel more welcoming when you step inside. As compared to most food and drug stores, you are greeting with warm lighting and earth colored walls and floor, instead of fluorescent lights and linoleum floors. The meat section has elaborate details, depicting pastoral settings of cows on wide, open grazing fields, and chickens running wild. Every object in the produce aisle is traced back to the place where it was grown, and the â€Å"USDA Organic Certified† label is printed on most everything. In this setting, consumers feel they a re eating the healthy alternative, with no synthetic hormones, pesticides, or GMOs. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. These foods do indeed come from organically certified farms, but these farms are not as airtight in regulation as one might assume. In reference to these welcoming organic products and their origin, Michael Pollan, author of Omnivore’s Dilemma, states â€Å"Theyre organic by the letter, not organic in spirit if most organic consumers went to those places, they would feel they were getting ripped off.† In the organic system, there are tons are loopholes allowing them to sell less than organic products to the consumer. And we fall for it. Today, we import more food from around the world than ever before. We have dissolved ourselves from a time where spices were one of the most valuable commodities to a time when we can walk into our local food and drug store and have everything we could want from all around the world at our fingertips. While this may seem like a dream come true compared to the old days, it does not come without severe consequences. Higher food prices come as a result, chemicals are being sprayed in mass amounts, from synthetic hormones to preservatives, and carbon emissions are at an all time high due in part to the use of fossil fuels used to transport these food stuffs from all around the globe. This is not sustainable. Many see organic farming as a feasible way to fix this mess. However, organic farming is not as different to regular agriculture as one might think at first. Upon further inspection, organic farming standards are not airtight, and leave plenty of room for harmful pesticide spraying. The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) requires that these chemicals and pesticides must come from a â€Å"natural source†. Take Rotenone for example. Rotenone was a chemical used for spraying organic produce for decades. In her article Mythbusting 101: Organic Farming Conventional Agriculture, Christie Wilcox writes â€Å"Because it is natural in origin, occurring in the roots and stems of a small number of subtropical plants, it was considered safe as well as organic. However, research has shown that rotenone is highly dangerous because it kills by attacking mitochondria, the energy powerhouses of all living cells.† Rotenone was linked to Parkinsons Disease in rats and can also resul t in death for humans. This was allowed because of it’s â€Å"natural source†, but natural does not always mean good for you. These chemicals that come from a natural source are then lightly processed, if at all. NOSB is an organization that also votes on proposed pesticides allowed for organic farming, so the list is always changing. Another troubling aspect about these chemicals is that the volume that they are sprayed is not monitored by the government. A lot of these chemicals are sprayed in heavy volumes, which can pose serious health hazard to people and the environment. This is because often times these chemicals are not as strong as conventionally used pesticides, so it takes more to have their proper effect. So then what is the point of these organic foods? The organic food market has made $52 billion in the last couple years worldwide, so it is most obviously turning a profit. Is certified organic food becoming widely available to provide the masses with a healthy, ethical alternative, or are corporations like Whole Foods painting these beautiful pictures of to gain a profit? It could possibly be a mix of both. Organic foods are not bad, despite what it might sound like, and do often provide a healthier alternative for consumers. However, these corporations are using a â€Å"supermarket pastoral† to sell their products that makes it easier to cover up what’s going on behind the scenes. As Michael Pollan states, â€Å"Supermarket Pastoral is a most seductive literary form, beguiling enough to survive in the face of a great many discomforting facts.† In order to ensure a healthier organic market with more accessible information, the organic food market must have different standards and more monitoring from the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). As of now, the USDA still allows some GMO’s to be used in organic farming, but the screening process allows them to slip by unnoticed. USDA organizations like National Organic Program (NOP) set the regulations for organic food, grant certificates, and do investigations when certified organic farmers are under suspicion of violating code. But the level of regulation that actually exists is extremely lenient. This makes it so that the organic label is misleading, due to the product being treated with substances that are not truly organic. Once an organic farmer is certified organic, they must comply to a production plan. This plan is then approved by a certifying organic agent. Once the certification is granted, a farmer cannot be penalized if there is an unintentional us e of GMO’s or inorganic pesticides used on the plants as long as it is unintentional. This in turn creates a loophole that farmers can slip through, allowing them to use these inorganic substances as long as it is â€Å"unintentional† by nature. The products they put out can then be labeled organic even though this statement lacks truth, and their names are untarnished. If suspicion arises that an organic farmer is abusing their production plan, and intentionally using pesticides, the USDA will step in. The USDA requires that â€Å"certifying agents test five percent of their certified operations each year. The certifying agents themselves determine which operations will be subjected to testing. (Henri Miller).† These testing policies are supported by organic communities and federations. The USDA’s response to why they impose such minimal testing is that an increase of testing would result in higher operating and production costs for organic farmers beyond the high expenses they already pay. This is turn would lead to higher prices in food markets. The fact of the matter is that organic food is already much more pricey than their chain-store counterparts, which makes organic food barely accessible to those in the low income bracket. And is higher prices something the public wants to pay for more widespread testing? It would certainly b e better for those who can afford it, but it does not make much sense economically. â€Å"Wordy labels, point-of-purchase brochures, and certification schemes are supposed to make an obscure and complicated food chain more legible to the consumer (Pollan, 136).† While organic labeling certainly does clear up some of the confusion of point source, it could be doing more. For example, â€Å"free-range chicken† may not be what it seems. Tyler Cowen discusses this example in his article Can You Really Save the Planet at the Dinner Table? Which appeared on Slate.com, â€Å"though we feel good about eating free-range chickens—and are willing to pay more for them—many of those birds dont fare much better than their peers: They often receive only a few inches of additional space in factory farms and then a few weeks time to step outside through a tiny door—and most chickens stay inside, having learned a fear of the unknown.† The same can be said for organic milk. There are mass quantities or organic milk being produced in factory farms. Horizon, the largest organic dairy label was exposed by the Cornucopia Institute for having 4,000 10,000 cows in factory farms producing milk for the company. The company created the false sense that their cows were kept on green pastures with access to pristine grazing lands. The truth is, many more of their cows not in farming factories were being kept in southern Idaho in grassless conditions. Here they were milking thousands of cows that â€Å"spend their day milling around a dry lot a grassless fenced enclosure (pollan, 156).† When the USDA investigated complaints of the operation, they sent in the same agent that had originally approved the operation in the first place, as per policy. Eventually, due to the Cornucopia Institute filing legal cases against the company starting in 2004, Horizon was decertified and now remains under close speculation from the U SDA. Another myth that consumers are failing to realize is that organic farming is not always best for the environment. This is true for all agriculture, as pollutants from pesticides, fertilizer, and nutrients from unturned soil from the farm are swept away by rain and erosion, causing them to seep into the waterways surrounding them. This causes severe damage to rivers, lakes, and other water works, and is called nonpoint source pollution. Organic farms are not innocent of this either. And if while keeping in mind ecological preservation, it seems to make less sense to switch completely over to organic farming as more land would have to be cleared and cultivated for these farms to exist. A way to help this dilemma would be to support local organic farms, which are less likely to spray harmful pesticides. This in turn helps to promote local economy, and would also spark a decrease in fossil fuels being used and carbon emissions being emitted to transport large quantities of food from across the country. However, this switch would not come without consequences. It would mean a cut in the variety in food available year round, such as no bananas in the dead of winter. Berries and other out of seasons produce could still be frozen however. But these sacrifices are relatively little compared to what we would be gaining a more ethical, economically beneficial, and environmentally safer way to eat organically. On top of switching to small, local organic farms, there could also be tightening in the USDAs regulations on large-scale certified organic farmers. A possible way to do this without increasing production costs for organic companies would be the create government ince ntives and possible tax breaks for farmers to use better forms of pest control. Money could be saved simply by growing what is in season, considering it takes less pesticides to produce. When it comes to labeling, the â€Å"supermarket pastoral† may be a beautiful way to subdue our interests, but should be more transparent when it comes to where our food is sourced, including livestock and dairy products. Like Pollan says, we should be able to weigh out the pros and the cons in what we are eating. Organic farming is a step in the right direction, but like most things, could use some refining. It’s not an easy matter, Especially when large corporations like Monsanto show no interest in backing down. But if we were to work towards these guidelines, we would be closer to becoming healthier, for ourselves and for planet earth.

Otherness and the Nature of Jealousy in Othello Research Paper

Otherness and the Nature of Jealousy in Othello - Research Paper Example There is a reason it is called a monster. Jealousy transforms love into a rage that can have deadly consequences. The monster that Othello becomes destroys the love that he held for Desdemona and eventually destroyed the vessel of that love, Desdemona herself. From the perspective of a clinical discussion of the emotion of jealousy, the nature of jealousy is a complex system of emotional programs that have evolved as responses in reference to threats to procreative responsibilities (Lewis 122). This response is intended to protect the line of male succession, thus it is seen more often and more dangerously in men. In addition, it has only been in recent history that women have had a right to demand fidelity in their mates. While men have guarded fidelity in women with lethal prejudice, women have only been allowed to express jealousy in regard to their mates through cultural norms in the last few centuries of human history. In discussing the nature of the jealousy expressed by Othell o, it is necessary to understand the cultural position on the relationships between men and women during the period of the play and the period in which it was written. According to Lewis, â€Å"cues of a situation trigger an emotion mode, but embedded in that emotion mode is a way of seeing the world and feeling about the world related to the ancestral cluster of associated elements (122). The way in which an emotion is perceived and is reacted to is dependent upon both the visual cues that suggest the appropriateness of that emotion and the historical cultural values that define that emotion. One might believe that an emotion is experienced in the same way no matter the cultural location, but this is not true. The emotion develops upon the beliefs on how a culture has framed its expression and appropriateness. As an example, love is an emotion that seems relatively similar in all cultures. However, that can be argued. Love is a feeling that can be tied to desire, that can be tied to mutual experiences, or that can be tied to dependency. In cultures where people marry through arrangement, love can develop between two people who are put together and learn to feel for one another. In other cultures, love is something that develops once the physical attraction has been established. Therefore, it must be understood that an emotional exploration is going to be relevant to the culture through which the emotion is expressed. Jealousy, in Othello, is defined by two cultures, the culture that Shakespeare writes about and his own culture. The gender relations during the time of Shakespeare were defined by a wide variety of dynamics. In literature, the idea of romantic love was highly visible, but literary love is influenced by the realities of the dynamics of the time period. The possession of the female gender was also highly important in calculating the reaction of jealousy. The patriarchal society designates the female as an object, rather than the subject of her li fe. While it is true that the realities of the gender relationships were more complicated than the patriarchal ideals defined, it is the ideology of the patriarchal society that allows for the extremes in jealousy that can be defined when a woman is a possession rather than an individual. The 17th century philosopher John Locke stated that men had no more control over the lives of women than they did over men. However, he also later

Latin Music Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Latin Music - Assignment Example He founded the country’s first permanent orchestra the Orquesta Sinfà ³nica de Mexico (1928) and the National Symphonic Orchestra (1947) (Parker 115). As the director of Mexicos National Conservatory of Music, Carlos headed projects for assembling aboriginal folk music. He wrote a book about electronic music â€Å"Toward a New Music,† (1937) and conducted a series of concerts with the NBC Symphony Orchestra in 1939 (Parker 9). He composed six symphonies out of which symphony no. 2 Sinfonà ­a India (1939) is amongst his best and most frequently performed works. Hearing the symphony is an exotic experience. It turns out that Carlos was an expert of blending folk with contemporary because this symphony offers a variety of flavors. Usually symphonies involve pauses or breaks because these are layered according to the composition of instruments but Sinfonia India is different. Upon hearing this symphony it becomes obvious that there are no breaks despite that it is a three movement composition. This informs about Carlos’s intention of breaking the norms and moving beyond the conventional style of composing and conducting for forming his own trademark style. This symphony has a Mexican feel probably due to the very empowering use of conventional Mexican instruments like drums and strings. A striking feature of Sinfonia India is the clarity of sounds and rhythmic attribute but the most enjoyable aspect is the folk element because it gives the symphony a nationalist aura for which Carlos is noted for. The symphony’s mood is pleasant and uplifting. It begins vibrantly but the meters change rapidly encouraging a soft and soothing somewhat melancholic melody by the middle and again mood becomes cheerful when the entire piece from the opening gets repeated. Last part is quite accelerated one and this is the most exciting part because a variety of instruments are introduced. Repetition turns out to be a much

Business Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 24

Business Law - Essay Example If there are intensions to incorporate the business then one has to confirm with the state filing office whether the name has already been claimed or it’s in use. The companies can share a name if the other businesses offer different services and goods and also located in different regions (Minniti, 2008). The name of the business should be rich in words which reflect the business functions. In the social media the name of the business should be claimed early enough in the naming process. Registering the business name should involve the process which is known as DBA trade name or name. This process does not provide the protection of the company’s trademark but it allows the government to record that the business is done as a name other than a personal name (Minniti, 2008). As the company’s owners we should apply for trademark protection since the name is the most valuable asset in any business. The company should comply with the food laws regarding the manufacturing of ice cream in the U.S. The company is based on the FDA food code 2009: chapter 3 which states that all food should be unadulterated, safe and honestly presented (Curtis, 2013). The American law also states that milk products such as ice cream should comply with Grade A Standards, the law specifies that frozen milk products like ice cream should be obtained pasteurized and this is specified in 21 CFR 135- frozen desserts. The law as well states that the food packages should be in excellent condition in order to preserve the integrity of the product and ensure that the contents are not exposed potential contaminants and adulteration. The company will also comply with the consumer protection and food allergen labelling act of 2004 which stresses all the ingredients of the products to be stated clearly in normal names that are well known to customer to

Applications of Social Pedagogy

Applications of Social Pedagogy In continental Europe the idea of social pedagogy has evolved as a form of social work practice (Midgley, 1997). But the idea of social pedagogy has a quite unfamiliar meaning to those from the UK. As a result its contents can be initially hard to understand. Starting at the broadest level, pedagogy refers to the study of education, methods of teaching and related fields. At the highest level, Moss and Petrie (2002) describe pedagogy as being fundamentally composed of four aspects. The first is the development of theory, the second involves policy, the third the education and training of workers and finally what children actually do on a daily basis. Two of the most important levels are those of training and theory. Pedagogy theory at an academic level takes in a variety of different disciplines such as criminology, social history, sociology and psychology (Moss Petrie, 2002). At the level of training, those undertaking training in pedagogy take courses in a variety of different courses including drama, art, music and a range of other practical subjects (Moss Petrie, 2002). At the lower level of everyday training and practice, pedagogy can be seen to operate in different ways across European countries. For example in Belgium there is a five year course which is ultimately focussed on academic work and further study. In Denmark there is a single profession who are trained to work with all children up to the age of 18. In France, however, pedagogues are trained for children of different age-groups, for example one group is from 18 months to 6 years old. Despite these differences, European countries still mostly have the idea that there is some overarching theory and framework behind their practice, something that is missing in the UK. This is because pedagogy is backed up by the body of knowledge known as pedagogics and practitioners are aware that they are drawing from a common pool of ideas (Moss Petrie, 2002). Across all these different European countries, however, some commonalities can be drawn out. One of the most important is the holistic approach that is central to European pedagogical practice (Hill, 1991; Tuggener, 1993). It is a reflective approach that aims to bring into practice aspects of the whole child. What this means is that the childs emotional state, their history, their thoughts and feelings all of these are taken into account by the social pedagogue. The second aspect of social pedagogy which is extremely important is that the interaction with the child is seen as relational (Moss Petrie, 2002). The social pedagogue is not just carrying out actions on the child, but is engaging in a dialectic process with them. There is a cross-over here from the professional to the personal. These factors provide quite a contrast to the situation in the UK. Here the profession of social work is very fragmented, with an underlying assumption that working with children can be little more than child-minding. As a result the working conditions and pay are relatively low (Cameron, 2004). Similarly levels of training are much lower than in the European context. It is useful to examine the idea of reflective practice in greater detail to see how it can be applied to everyday practice. Pedagogy sees every incident that occurs as having the potential for learning (Moss Petrie, 2002). A pedagogue will, therefore, analyse a particular incident to search for ways in which learning can be extracted. If the outcome was not ideal, then other ways of dealing with the situation will be explored. In the same way, children are encouraged to have the same attitude towards incidents that occur as the pedagogue does. They should be encouraged to think how they might have acted differently and what the incident means to them. The pedagogue, therefore, needs to provide a comfortable space in which this type of reflective questioning can occur. Two major aspects that have emerged from the study of continental European social pedagogical practice are a holistic approach to children and youths along with engaging in reflective practice. A holistic approach taps directly into many of the key roles of the social worker as identified by TOPPS (2004) in the national occupational standards. For example Key Role 1 of preparing for work with individuals and families will involve finding out about a persons background, a vital step in understanding them holistically. A second example is Key Role 3 which is supporting individuals and representing their needs. Without a holistic understanding of individuals wider psychosocial circumstances, it is not possible to carry this out effectively. The second major aspect important in European social pedagogy is the use of reflective practice. Again, this ties in with many of the key roles. For example Key Role 6 is to demonstrate professional competence, as part of this critical reflection on the social workers own practice is an important component (TOPPS, 2004). Further, as part of Key Role 6 it is recommended that the social worker reflects on outcomes. As a central part of social pedagogical practice this will be directly relevant to this Key Role. Also, Key Role 1 requires the social worker to reflect on their own background and how that will affect the relationship (TOPPS, 2004). Clearly the use of reflective practice will be important in this context. Further, Key Role 4 requires that the social worker evaluate their own practice effectively. As part of this they are required to reflect on their own decisions and whether these resulted in the desired outcomes. Again, reflective practice in a social pedagogical form will address this Key Role. In conclusion, it is clear that many aspects of continental European social pedagogy can be used in the British context. In particular both reflective practice and a holistic approach are congruent with the national occupational standards for social workers. References Cameron, C. (2004a) Building an integrated workforce for a long-term vision of universal early education and care, Policy Paper 3, Leading the Vision series. London: Daycare Trust/Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Hill, M. (1991). Social work and the European Community: the social policy and practice contexts. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Midgley, J. (1997). Social welfare in global context. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. Moss, P., Petrie, P. (2002). From childrens services to childrens spaces: public policy, children and childhood. London: Routledge Falmer. TOPPS (2004). National Occupational standards for social work. Leeds: Topss England. Tuggener, H. (1993) The role of the social pedagogue: An outline of a European model. Child and Youth Care Forum, 22(2), 153-157.

Mexico City Essay example -- History Geography Mexico Essays

Mexico City Like an enormous living museum, Mexico City provides an extraordinary showplace for the thousands of years of human cultural achievement that Mexico has attained. It ranks as one of the world's great capitals and is a must for anyone craving to understand Mexico's complex past, its fast-paced present, and its ever challenging future. The size and grandeur of the city are staggering. It is not only the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Western Hemisphere, but, by some accounts, has also become the largest city in the world. Before we look at present day Mexico City, let us look into it deep and storied past. La Ciudad de los Palacios   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mexico City was founded over 700 years ago by the Aztecs. Instructed by their god of war, Huitzilopochtli, they journeyed to Lake Texcoco, where they were to look for an eagle eating a snake perched on a cactus growing from a rock or cave surrounded by water. They found this in 1325, and so began the city of Tenochtitlan. Although the land surrounding them was marshy and snake infested, the Aztecs came up with an ingenious way a planting crops. They created chinampas, or floating gardens, by bunching twigs together and stacking mud on top. These gardens were placed in shallow lake areas and rooted down by the crops or small trees planted in the middle. The Aztecs were a very religious people, as well, and built many temples, including the great Templo Mayor. Cannibalism was a key element of their religion, as they believed that it was necessary to feed human hearts to the gods to ensure that the sun would rise everyday. The Aztecs would find these less than willin g human hosts in the numerous battles they fought. Due to an increasing population, estimated to be at 250,000 in the late 1400’s, the Aztecs were forced to expand their empire well beyond the cities original boundaries. As the Aztec warriors conquered these other outlying tribes, tribute payments were gained, leading to the cities massive wealth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Aztecs lived like this for 200 years until Spanish settlers, under Hernan Cortes, came and conquered the Aztecs in 1521. The Spanish were in awe of the cities tremendous wealth, and, thanks to superior weapons and tactics, easily defeated the Aztecs. Upon victory, the Spanish were quick to raze the entire city. The city was rapidly reconstructed as a Spanish city, and in the 15... .... There are small salsa clubs and crowded discos, as well as live concerts featuring the world's most popular stars. Ballet, theatre, folkloric shows, opera and philharmonic orchestras are also common. Boxing and wrestling events are held on most weekend nights. At Garibaldi Plaza the numerous Mariachi bands often play into the wee hours of the morning. Mexico City is very old, the worlds largest city, the financial, political and cultural center of Mà ©xico, the nightlife capital of Mexico, one of the worlds great cities, one of the world's most difficult cities to drive in, filled with exciting things to see and do, and an energetic metropolis as well as an incredible place to visit. This is truly one of the most interesting and diverse cities in the world. Bibliography http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761569238/Mexico_City.html http://www.allaboutmexicocity.com/allaboutmexicocity.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico_City http://www.tourbymexico.com/df/df.htm http://www.mexicocity.com.mx/mexcity.html http://www.go2mexicocity.com/ www.wikitravel.org/article/Mexico_City http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=mexico_city%401

Vacant Chapter 18 Twelve Years Later

â€Å"It's something I want to do, babe.† Emily stands silent, looking at me like I'm a two-headed monster. â€Å"Please say something.† I really can't handle the silence. â€Å"It's crazy, I know. Just say it's a bad idea.† I feel like a balloon deflating. My wife slowly moves to where I pace in front of the couch. â€Å"Ethan, after fifteen years together, you still have the ability to surprise me.† Her expression has softened. This means she's going to let me down easy. That's just Emily. She never says no, never yells, and never makes me feel guilty†¦ she'll just phrase something so I realize how fundamentally bad the idea is; and trust me, there have been some terrible ideas over the years. â€Å"You are the most virile, yet sensitive, man I know†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Here it comes, the compliment followed by the let-down. â€Å"Let's make the appointment.† I know I look like, as Mark would say, â€Å"a total douche† right now. My son has many great qualities, but his honesty is often overwhelming. Nevertheless, I find that he's rarely wrong. â€Å"Um, what?† I need clarification, because it sounds like she just agreed to this. â€Å"I said, set up the appointment. We have been through so much, and we know what it's like, Ethan. If we can provide someone else with the opportunity to live in a safe environment, to grow, and be part of a family, then let's do it.† Emily wants to do this; with no reasoning, and no explanation, she agrees to this life-changing idea. I know my wife is an extraordinary person, and today she proves there are no exceptions. â€Å"Should we talk to Mark first?† I want this to be a family decision, and this affects our son as well as Emily and me. â€Å"Your son takes after you in the compassion department, sweetheart. I don't think we have anything to worry about. As a matter of fact, I think you'll find him to be a little excited about the news.† As usual, it seems my wife may be privileged to information I am not. â€Å"It will be hard, Emily.† She smiles. â€Å"Nothing worth doing is ever easy, Ethan.† â€Å"Welcome to Cornerstones Ministries, Mr. Parker.† â€Å"Thanks, Erin, I'm excited to do this.† â€Å"We are exceptionally pleased that you have returned to us as a mentor. As you know, sometimes our stories don't have happy endings. So, to have one of our own be a success and want to come back and mentor†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I almost think she'll cry. â€Å"It's special to us to have you here, Ethan.† After Mark was out of the toddler stage, I decided to volunteer for ongoing work with kids placed in â€Å"the system.† They were there for a variety of reasons, not just those abandoned by their parents or abuse/neglect cases. I was supposed to do tutoring, mentoring, or classroom/school assistance, but honestly, I just wanted to take the kids to a ball game or whatever, just to give them something normal. Tanner was my fifth Buddy. â€Å"I have something a little different this time, Ethan – if you're up for it.† My previous Buddies had been kids from group homes where there was no family involvement. â€Å"Tanner is seven. He lives at home with his mom.† Erin's face begins to redden a bit. â€Å"She has a terminal cancer diagnosis; they've given her about six months. There's no family, so Janice has decided to begin working with us for possible foster placement or adoption.† Erin sets down her pen and looks at her hands. I can tell this one has gotten to her. â€Å"We need someone to fill the void. Jan is so sick, and she can't do much with Tanner. Is this something you think you could handle?† The way she's looking up at me tells me there's something else. I give her a look that suggests I expect as much. â€Å"He†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I take a deep breath, bracing for whatever it is. â€Å"He's also autistic.† I went to the library and read every journal article I could get my hands on. If I was going to mentor this kid, I wanted to know what I was in for. Emily was awesome, too. She gave me a lot of strategies for working with him given his limited communication capabilities and responsiveness. Erin also recommended I take a course in dealing with behavior as Tanner had frequent†¦ meltdowns. While a typical child has tantrums, he would have fits lasting hours. No amount of coaxing or pleading would make a difference. Tanner would harm himself and others in the process, but it never detoured our decision to keep him. The first month was a little rocky, and by rocky I mean there were huge fucking boulders. However, it never crossed my mind to give up on Tanner. Not only was this kid watching his mother die, he couldn't even express how he was feeling about it in a typical manner. His expression manifested in screaming and biting instead of crying or saying he was sad. Outings were always†¦ interesting, to say the least. The last seven months had been better, though. I'd learned what his triggers were by meeting with his behavior therapist so I could keep up with his program and provide some consistency. The last couple of months, we'd gone to a restaurant, eaten an entire meal, and left again without a tantrum. There was definite progress. Last week, Erin had called with news that Janice was in the hospital and being moved to hospice. They would provide comfort and care in her final days. Erin let me know they were going to set up some panel interviews for prospective foster families and asked if I could join them. While none of the families were bad, none of them were good – at least for Tanner. When I asked them how they would deal with his special needs, there was usually a long pause, followed by an unsure smile. That told me they had no clue, and that worried me. Emily and I went to Cornerstones the day after I came home with the idea of taking Tanner. She said I was there when she needed me, and now someone else required my attention. Erin was encouraged by my – our – decision to take Tanner. She felt he would continue to make strides with our family, even after Janice passed. There seemed to be a collective sigh of relief that a plan was in place. â€Å"So, it's official. The Family Services worker approved your application. You will be Tanner's foster family for the next year. At the end of that year, should you still wish to pursue it, you can petition for adoption. The judge granted and signed a temporary placement order for Tanner to live with you. When Jan has†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Erin can't finish, but I know what she's getting at, so I finish for her. â€Å"Then, we'll get permanent guardianship.† â€Å"Yes.† The judge signed the order for temporary guardianship at 3:07 this afternoon. Janice has been in a drug-induced coma for the last three days, and has no knowledge of Emily's and my intent to foster Tanner. â€Å"Do you think we should go see Janice and tell her? I know she's unconscious, but then I'd at least feel like we were somehow asking for her bless – â€Å" I don't finish as Emily's phone rings with Erin's special ringtone. â€Å"When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change, 'cause you're amazing just the way – † Fucking Bruno Mars. â€Å"Hello.† We left the courthouse ten minutes ago – Erin must've forgotten to tell us something. I glance to Emily as she listens to Erin on the other end of the line. Her smile softens and then her face turns grim. I suddenly wonder if there is a problem. I look up in the rear-view mirror at Tanner. He's sitting stock still and perfectly straight in the seat, looking out the window. Mark can tell something is wrong, but he stays silent waiting for us to say something. â€Å"Oh.† Then, Emily nods as if Erin can see her. Her eyes are turning glassy and I know what that means. I pull over to the side of the road. Tanner begins to rock since the car has stopped and then starts to moan. The longer we sit still, the louder his moans get. I reach for Emily's hand, my silent question waiting for verification. â€Å"She passed at 3:12 p.m. It's like she knew, Ethan.† Emily begins to cry while Tanner groans. â€Å"She knew he was okay.† I think Tanner knows, too. People assume he doesn't understand because he can't express it, but I think he does. Now, I'm torn. Do I comfort my wife or my new son? â€Å"Let's move to the back seat,† I whisper. We sit on the shoulder of Route 35, in the back seat of our two-year-old Corolla, embracing each other. Emily and I sandwich our boys between us as Tanner continues to rock and hum. â€Å"This, too, shall pass,† my wife whispers as she – we – hold our new family together and continue living.