How Our Food Has Changed and the Impact of Those Changes Essays

How Our Food Has Changed and the Impact of Those Changes Essays How Our Food Has Changed and the Impact of Those Changes Essay How Our Food Has Changed and the Impact of Those Changes Essay How Our Food Has Changed and the Impact of those Changes What do we eat? Food. Sounds simple enough, but is it? It used to be that food was all you could eat, but today there is a plethora of â€Å"edible food like substances† in our grocery store (Pollan). In today’s world, the fact that it is sold in a grocery store doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s nutritious or healthful. I’m going to step back into the past and show how food has changed in the last 50 years and the impact that it‘s having on us. It’s not just what we eat or how we eat, but how it affects us in everything from our physical health to our mental health to our pocket books. Food that was available 50 years ago was vastly different from what is available today. There was more â€Å"real† food available. There was certainly the beginning of junk food back then, but it was different. The fast food places were almost non-existent. We had a limited amount of junk that we could buy. Homemakers were actually homemakers back then. They cooked from scratch a lot of the time and dinner was meat and potatoes, and a vegetable or two. Dessert was homemade. Only certain fruits and vegetables were available at any given time. It depended on what was in season at the time. Then came the era of â€Å"fast. † Everything was fast, including food. Fast food places were popping up on every corner. We were in such a time crunch all of the time that we starting rushing through not only the eating, but also the preparation of our meals. Housewives thought that all the convenience foods were a great idea. It now took half the time to prepare a meal compared to making it from scratch. Surely the food was good and nutritious. Ah, the time it saved. It was thought to be wonderful; but at what price? Food today is not as nutritious as it used to be. This is a contributing factor and, quite possibly, a major cause of the rapid rise in degenerative diseases. The fresh fruits and vegetables that are eaten now contain up to 50% less minerals than they did in the 1930’s. This, along with the widespread use of pesticides, is slowly poisoning the human population. Due to the fact that our bodies aren’t getting the optimum nutrition that they should, they are less able to detoxify effectively. Pesticides are poisons that the body has to deal with, even though the doses are minute. Their use has also increased and this is likely to have toxic effects on the system. Even the water we drink contains additives from farming and pharmaceuticals that puts a strain on our systems (Draper). People now have less energy but also have less to do physically. People are so tired all the time. Energy drinks are consumed in massive amounts. Even children as young as 10 years old seem to need the boost that stimulants give people to keep them going. That in itself is a problem. As a result of ingesting the high fructose corn syrup present in many, if not most, of these drinks, sugar consumption is way up. In the past 50 years there has been a 19% reduction in calorie intake for boys, and 29% reduction for girls, but increased sugar consumption! As a result, children are getting fatter and fatter. Computers, diet, TV and less exercise are some of the causes. These are big changes from 50 years ago (Draper). In elementary schools in the 1960s, the lunch ladies actually cooked lunch every day. Food such as meatloaf, macaroni and cheese (not from a box! , or soup and sandwiches were served, always with a vegetable, milk, and small dessert (Dolson). In 1989, it was shown that school meals had major deficiencies. Today, many school lunch menus are more similar to fast food restaurants, making healthy choices more difficult. In many schools, Middle/Jr. High students can also buy sports drinks, and high school students are allowed carbonated beverages (Dolson). Phy sical exercise is no longer as important as it used to be. It has been reduced by a full 50%! Potential major problems are being created in our children just by the lack of activity alone (Draper). Add that to the fact that our food is not as nutritious and filled with chemicals, and to our high sugar intake, and we have a real problem on our hands. Fully 2/3 of Americans is overweight or obese and suffers from diet related diseases, like diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Medicine is learning how to keep alive the very people for whom the western diet is making sick (Pollan). According to Dr. Mark Draper, there has been a 30% reduction in the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. And those we do eat are less nutritious, due to the processing. To increase shelf life, chemicals that are termed ‘additives’ are added. As Dr. Draper states, â€Å"At worst these are mild poisons, and at best they are chemicals the body does not see as food. † Nutrition is no longer considered important. Shelf life is now more important. It is estimated that somewhere between 70 to 80% of all food eaten is processed in some way. There are over 3000 substances that may legally be added to our food. How can we tell what and how much is safe to eat? Some, like salt, have been around for thousands of years. It is used to preserve food and enhance the flavor of foods (Dolson, Food Additives Whats Safe? ). It is one of the most widely used additives, but still not totally healthful. New food additives need to go through a very long process to get approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Most of the studies, especially the preliminary ones, are done on animals. There are many additives and chemicals that are said to be safe in any amount; and there are some that are said to be safe in small amounts, but in large amounts, they can cause cancer. That is worrisome, because we don’t know how much is really in our food. As if that wasn’t bad enough, America is having a love affair with sugar. But that is not a very sweet deal. Sixteen ounces of a sugar sweetened soft drink contains the equivalent of 12 teaspoons of sugar (TLC Cooking). Most are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, which is as bad, if not worse, than regular white sugar. If you read the ingredients on the packages of food sold in grocery stores, plenty of them have added sugar as an ingredient; some in more than one form. And this is even in foods that don’t typically taste sweet on the tongue, especially foods like low fat salad dressings, cream substitutes, and many seasonings. In the case of low fat products, a lot of the time when fat is taken out, sugar is added in. We now know without a doubt that sugar in your food, is taking a devastating toll on the health of the United States (Mercola). In Lick the Sugar Habit, author Dr. Nancy Appleton lists 76 ways sugar can ruin your health. Among them are: * Suppression of your immune system * Can cause a significant rise in total cholesterol and triglycerides * Feeds cancer cells * Contributes to obesity * Can cause gallstones, appendicitis, hemorrhoids and varicose veins * Can cause headaches and depression Can cause an increase in blood pressure Dr. Joseph Mercola goes into these in more detail at his website – http://articles. mercola. com/sites/articles/archive/2010/04/20/sugar-dangers. as px, or you can read Dr. Appleton’s book for the whole story. So, what does this mean for the human population? First of all, evidence is suggesting that life expectancy is being reduced; not increasing, as i s commonly reported. One of the more frightening aspects of this is the fact that young people are included. In fact, this generation of children is the first that are not expected to live as long a lifespan as their parents. Degenerative diseases are on the rise, represented by an increase in the body’s inability to cope with modern environmental challenges. Heart disease, cancers, arthritis, obesity, and diabetes are increasing significantly (Draper). Veterinarians know that grass or feed fed to animals needs to have sufficient nutrients or the animals will get sick. Many people are adamant about not giving their pets things that are bad for them, and yet popular opinion is that it’s okay to give our children a â€Å"treat† once in awhile. It would not be a problem if it truly was only â€Å"once in a while. The trouble is that children eat these things on a daily basis. What is the solution? Is there a solution? Of course there is. It will take awhile for things to turn around, but it can be done. We need to start by fortifying our processed food with additional nutrients in a form that is as close to food-state as possible. Processed foods make up approx 70% of the diet, and so w ould be the most effective way to get good nutrition to people at the present time. We would also need to: * Increase consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits (5-7 pieces per day). Gather more information on mineral contents of soil. *Create a sound nutritional base for well-being, regardless of current state of health. * Reduce consumption of processed foods. * Reduce stimulants: i. e. coffee, tea, colas, sugar drinks, energy drinks, etc. * Drink more water. Try to filter if possible. * Take a good multivitamin and mineral supplement, along with Omega 3 oils. * Many people would also benefit from extra Selenium and Vitamin C on a regular basis. *Get more physical activity on a daily basis (Draper). * Choose organic if you can afford it less pesticides and better tasting. Eat less sugar. * Forego fast food. For the long term, we need to improve our soil, so that it is possible to grow high nutritional status food. This could take up to 30 years, including research to identify the best way to accomplish this (Draper). In my opinion, one of the biggest changes we n eed to make is to greatly reduce the amount of sugar in our diet. If you could only do one thing, that would be the thing to do. Pesticides and lack of physical activity is most definitely not a good way to build health, but our systems are on sugar overload due to the saturation of sugar in our processed food. We could be taking care of two problems at once just by eating processed food less often. It all boils down to what we want out of life. When we are still young and healthy, it’s easy to think that this kind of thing will never touch us. But, do you really want to subtract years from your life in addition to spending your golden years in ill health? The way I see it, it doesn’t take much to live and eat healthier. One or two changes at a time can and will make a big difference. Your life may depend on it. Association, Organic Consumers. Mental Health Linked to Changes in Diet. 16 January 2006. Web. 6 March 2010. Center for Science in the Public Interest. 2009. Web. 18 April 2010. Claridge, CL, et al. Slow Movement. com. 2010. Web. 6 March 2010. Dolson, Laura. Are the Schools Feeding Kids Too Much Junk? 22 September 2004. Web. 13 April 2010 Food Additives Whats Safe? 14 February 2005. Web. 18 April 2010. Draper, Dr. Mark. How the Diet Has Changed Over 70 Years. June 2001. Web. 30 March 2010 Hicks, Betsy. Developmental Delay Resources. 23 February 2009. Web. 6 March 2010 Pollan, Michael. In Defense of Food. New York: The Penguin Press, 2008. Print. TLC Cooking. 2009. Web. 18 April 2010.

Tips for breaking through the barrier - Emphasis

Tips for breaking through the barrier Tips for breaking through the barrier You probably have something in common with everyone else whos ever had writers block: you eventually got going. The problem is, that may well have been because your report was due first thing the next morning and the alternative was the Job Centre. But imagine if something other than blind necessity could break through that wall of fear. If only there was something you could do to stop yourself spending the entire night before the deadline writing in a cold sweat and submitting something substandard. There is, says Emphasis CEO Rob Ashton. The key is to make the act of writing seem less threatening. In the writing process there comes a tipping point where the pain of not doing it outweighs the perceived pain of doing it, says Rob. The key to overcoming writers block is to bring forward that point to now, rather than midnight before its due in. Try these strategies to help you break through the barrier and youll be finished before you know it. Trick yourself Its actually possible for one part of your brain to fool another that it isnt afraid, according to Mark Forster, author of Do It Tomorrow and Other Secrets of Time Management. Forster suggests using the technique of telling yourself, Im not really going to write the [piece in question] now, Ill just and fill in the blank with an easy beginning task. For example: Ill just launch Microsoft Word, or Ill just get the research folder out. This simple act can be a breakthrough. Once youve taken that first action, you will have got over the initial step, says Forster. You may well find that you are hardly even aware that you are moving on to take some additional action. Map it out Facing down a whole unwritten document may be sending chills down your back, but the process of getting on with it can easily be broken down into non-threatening actions. One of these drawing a mind map is also a useful tool to make sure youve covered every who, what, when, where and how. Know your reader The best writing knows its audience, and realising how much you do know about your reader is a great motivational tool as well as helping you to write a document that will do its job. Filling in a reader profile questionnaire is another safe as well as highly effective place to start. Work in bursts When breaking through the block, youll feel less overwhelmed if you know youre going to stop at a certain point. Set a timer with an alarm for a short period of solid work, followed by a few minutes break, then a slightly longer stretch of work and so on. The more stressed you feel about the task, the shorter each burst of work should be. Gradually increase the work time between breaks until you reach your optimal length of time generally this will be no more than about 40 minutes. Stopping at the alarm even in mid-sentence may actually give you the urge to return to your writing. The mind craves completion and will want to get back to the task, says Forster. This helps you to build up a strong momentum. Listen to the Audio Tips interview with Rob Ashton here. And find out whats going on in our heads when writers block strikes here.

Labour rights for illegal immigrants Research Paper

Labour rights for illegal immigrants - Research Paper Example They are forced to work with unscrupulous employers for pittance, denied all benefits and allowances, including holidays and overtime pay, and made to live in constant and morbid fear of being caught and deported back to their countries of origin. Since they are marginalized and without support, they are often exploited by employers who use them as cheap laborers with little reward for their hard and arduous labor. Research Hypothesis: This paper will focus on the increasing number of immigrants that are specifically coming into the United States and the roles they play; both the positive and negative aspects of life in this country as well as to the significant reasons why they need to be supported by the native people here. Introduction: The US has always been a land of great opportunities for people coming from other underdeveloped countries of the world. Thousands of immigrants flock into the US in order to seek a better deal for themselves and their families and to get rid off p overty back home. â€Å"Individuals generally choose to emigrate to countries that are more technologically advanced, have greater resources and offer more opportunities† (Illegal Immigration 2010). But there are several risks and challenges involved. They think that entry into the United States is an end to all their poverty and misery and the start of a new and happy life for them as well as their families. However, the reality is just the opposite, as soon they start to realize that their problems have just begun, in terms of challenging work situations, risks of getting caught and deported and being marginalized in all walks of life when compared with native inhabitants. But the truth of the matter is that over America’s eventful history, the contribution of immigrants in this country has been immense. Most of the people who inhabit the United States have been immigrants at one time or the other, and it is only the North American Indians who could truly and justly call themselves the original inhabitants of this country. All others are immigrants who were lucky to gain immigration status over the course of time. It is believed that there are at least 10 million illegal Immigrants in the United States and their figures are increasing with each passing day. They are mostly employed in works, which require little education and less efficient skill sets. â€Å"Illegal immigrants make up a significant portion of the workforce in key industries. 1.4 million are employed in leisure and hospitality with another 1.7 million in construction and 1.0 million in manufacturing. In addition undocumented worker make up 25% of the total workforce in farming† (Legalization Has Many Perceived Benefits 2010). â€Å"It has accommodated an expanding labor supply that today includes 1.5 million immigrants per year whose spending on housing and consumer goods helps stimulate the economy and increase the demand for still more labor† (Immigration: impact on U.S. economy 2010). However, in true fairness to the immigrants, it should be said that they are contributing a lot to the economic development and progress of this nation, in all major areas of business, commerce and trade. â€Å"Illegal immigration into the United States is a highly profitable proposition for both employers and the U.S. government, and it also benefits Mexico, which

Look at attachment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Look at attachment - Essay Example I believe that Data is a ‘human’ being, technically speaking. Some leading philosophers have specified the primary features of a human being—rational, self-aware, and able to feel and express emotions—and Data possesses all of these. ‘He’ can even form relationships and is aware of the rights that he has. It is also correct to say that reproducing many of these machines will form a ‘race’, because this population will possess the basic aspects of a human race. Data has the right to refuse to undergo dismantling and reproduction. He is a free being, which implies that he has the right to decide for himself and his fate. He has what is called ‘free will’ or the competence to decide for his own welfare and happiness. Granting Data his right to choose will absolutely create precedence for other androids that will seek or fight for the same rights in the future. This movie is definitely metaphysical, for it discusses the notion of ‘being’. The concept of ‘being’ has long been a major problem of philosophy. It inflamed a number of remarkable philosophical debates. I think we should learn from the movie the ability to understand things that are not ‘human’, in the traditional sense of the concept. There are times that we should abandon our traditional knowledge or predetermined consciousness in order to go beyond the ‘reality’ that is in fact has been programmed for us. The JAG officer, I believe, therefore, is correct to grant Data the legal right to

Radio and European History Essay Example for Free

Radio and European History Essay Radio broadcasting has been viewed by governmental agencies across the globe as a contributing medium that served its growing audience. Across the years, radio broadcasting has provided entertainment and information to a diverse audience from local to, regional and international reach in commercial, social or political atmospheres. Radio broadcasting, according to Godfrey (2006), is a primary source material and an information tool as it directly observes and relates relevant events. Along with photographic records, physical remains and oral sources, radio and television broadcasts are potent sources of unfiltered evidence closer to an event, as Godfrey added. The acquisition of specific details that try to retain the images of an event through an actual experience has led Puddington (2003) to believe that media has challenged the shape of history. The significant claims on the importance of radio broadcasting drives home the idea that its classification as a primary source of data may is its contribution to history. More importantly, this paper shall strive to prove how radio broadcasting shaped European History as it gears up a strong hypothetical contention that radio broadcasting had a definite role in the shaping of European integration. The age of airwaves begun after the series of discoveries that led to the invention of the wireless telegraph. It soon signaled the birth of the radio telegraph that allowed a wide range of sounds, music and human voice to be transmitted in a new technology in 1914 according to Godfrey. Historically, it was also a crucial time fraught with misunderstanding and strife that divided Europe into armed camps. World War I broke out with Germany leading the war for control in Europe. History would recall that as early as 1872, Germany had entertained plans to control the European region as it dominated European diplomacy while France remained isolated from the rest according to Viault(1990). An ongoing international crisis had threatened to move the European powers closer to the brink of war by the 1900’s. Still in the throes of hectic plans and preparation, Germany had to content itself with waiting for a few more years before striking a match to light the flames of war. Earlier on, Europe was in its creative prime as artistic activities catered to a romantic era of the 1800 and onwards, a little over a century before radio ruled technology. It was also a century of inventions and research that became a turning point for technology to prosper. Europe while in an age of development was politically stocked under a conservative rule which soon gave way to a movement effectively fighting for reform. While Britain’s royal and upper classes rejected political democracy, France also became very authoritarian that soon culminated in the 1848 revolution which Viault (1990) related. A growing powerful ideology of nationalism also promoted a disintegration of the Austrian empire in Central Europe that soon resulted to a few alliances among nations while contributing to reckless disintegration across the regions of Europe. In effect, Europe was in mindless turmoil and at a crossroads during a century rich with creative thought yet devoid of an amplified objective. At the onset of World War I, wireless transmission proved to be an invaluable tool to the military although they were quite wary of its potential use in espionage and mass propaganda. Indeed this was the actual case as Ireland and Britain were able to recruit young draftees for World War I following the RMS Lusitania’s bombing off the coast of Ireland on the way to Lverpool by a German U-boat (Reader’s Digest, 2003). As the United States courted the use of radio for home entertainment, BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) used the radio for news and entertainment with immediate plans to isolate it from political pressures as it battles with pay for radio entertainers as reported by the NY Times (Jun, 28, 1925). Radio broadcasting was also seen among countries in Europe as serving well in fostering good-will and amity among the nations of Europe and paving the way for unity as reported again in the NY Times (Jun 7, 1931). Such movement was instrumental in the recruitment of soldiers to serve in the allied force against Nazi Germany. In a specter of a growing 2nd World War brought about by rising Nazi Germany’s plan for domination, the radio technology was already seen as a tool in war efforts. At the outbreak of World War II, radio broadcasting reached the height of international worth as it carried news from the battlefront into the homes of listeners worldwide. Radio Commentator Edward Murrow had created sensations with eyewitness description of London during German bombing raids according to Godfrey (2006). Murrow had also reported on the Buchenwald Concentration Camps on April 11, 1945 according to Puddington (2003) which was instrumental in calling an end to the genocide. War was soon declared over the airwaves as Adolf Hitler set his conditions for war and genocide in Europe over Radio Hamburg in Viault (1990). The radio’s instrumental contribution to defeat the enemy camp of Hitler was made clear as allied camps tried to disrupt German military communications signals. Germany retaliated by jamming the signals and broadcast yet heavily lost amidst allied Europe’s hands. After the war, efforts to curb Russian communism was in the mainframe of Europe’s Radio Liberation programs that prayed for a Stalin and communist era to end. In the dark days of anti-Stalin struggle, the radio broadcast was again used as a weapon of psychological warfare according to Puddington (2003). Under a movement to free Europe from any communist rule after defeating Nazism, the Cold War between the US and USSR became a regional problem in Europe. Radio Free Europe (RFE) was established as a secretly American-funded station whose main objective was to spread the evils of communism. The Russians however weren’t quick to believe any evil broadcasts against their leader who defeated the evil Hitler and the Nazis as Puddington reasoned. By the 1970’s, Radio Liberty in Europe had ranked as the most influential international broadcast station with an impressive staff of exile writers and a growing Soviet audience in Puddington (2003). Stalin’s death in 1953 created a widening room for anti-communism ideas that had sacrificed the radio station and many of its staff and workers in the interest of international peace and harmony. Poland had once pleaded to abolish Radio Liberty and Radio Free Europe in order to maintain diplomatic ties with Russia but other European countries opted for the propaganda movement against communism to remain heard. Shortwave broadcasts around the Czech Republic continued despite jamming from the Soviet communist regime. Likewise in West Germany, the country researched and studied the Soviet system of governance dedicated to the cause of freeing East Germany. Radio stations were tapped all around Europe as visible stars in an anti-communist sentiment. In a landscape of remembrance for the human efforts to attain peace and freedom, the advent of radio has ultimately provided an integral element in the unity and integration of Europe. Through radio broadcasting, information was disseminated across a wider population that became instrumental in creating an alliance among nations who desired for peace and freedom rather than dominion. The historical separation of European countries in the 19th century prior to the advent of radio technology was soon disbanded in an effort to create an alliance of nations. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights spoke of the right to receive and impart ideas and information regardless of frontiers. Radio broadcasting as the prevalent technology in an era fraught with wars and conflicts became a tool that united European nations to unite for a common cause of peace and freedom. Radio Broadcasting has therefore shaped the modern world’s history as a modern global tool that permitted countries to unite under a common goal for peace.

Hobbs :: essays research papers

Hobbes gives us his estimation of the nature of mankind by initially showing that all men are generally equal. The strongest man can be beaten by the weakest, if the weaker man uses some other force. When it comes to intelligence Hobbes claims men are even more equal, since all men are of equal experience, which is the only way to gain wisdom. Once Hobbes shows that all men are equals he goes on to explain their interactions. These interactions lead to a war of every man verses every man. If two men want something of which there is only one then this leads to each trying to destroy the other. Competition also rises when men want what others have. Men join forces in order to bring down a man who possesses more than they want him to. War also rises from diffidence, according to Hobbes. Men must always be on guard, because they cannot trust others not to attack them. This causes men to go out and conquer others, since one cannot survive if always on the defensive. Hobbes has one more reason for the state of war: glory. Men want others to look up at them with respect. In order to gain such a reputation, a man will try to conquer others to gain their respect and by example the respect of others. So Hobbes concludes that there are 3 basic causes for war: competition, diffidence, and glory. This all leads to a state of war, all versus all. The state of nature is constantly at war, which Hobbes claims is not merely battle, but even the threat of battle. This constant state of war leads to no form of industry or culture, since every man lives in fear of all others. Hobbes’s gives an example of this fear by pointing out that even today we lock our doors, because we do not trust our fellow man. He also shows how many savage tribes have been observed in this state of constant war, when no sovereign rules. Hobbes’s goes on to claim that even now men slip into this state of civil war between each other. Kings are constantly fighting over land and are always on guard against enemies. Hobbes’s says that there is no justice or injustice in this original state of nature, because there are no laws or sovereign to enforce them.

Reform Movement in the United States Essay

The protestant revival movement that began in the 1790s in New England caused reforms in America. Between 1825 and 1850, the United States government made reforms that greatly increased the influence of democratic ideals: universal suffrage and individual rights. Such reforms included prisons, churches, women suffrage, temperance, and education. Prison reforms expanded democratic ideals through the change in policies and mission statements. Debtor prisons were abolished, the number of capitol crimes was reduced, and prison became a place of reform as well as punishment. As shown in document A, the Fourth Annual Report, Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents in the City of New York, 1829, stated, â€Å"To confine these youthful criminals . . . where little can be leaned but the ways of the wicked.† It is saying that the prisons originally were bad and that reforming people would be useless and therefore the reform of the prisons would fix this problem and therefore be able to save individual rights and become clean. Church reforms also expanded democratic ideals through allowing freedom of religion and expansion of different sects. As Charles G. Finney in 1834 said, â€Å"When the churches are . . . awakened and reformed . . . the reformation and salvation of sinners will follow.† He is saying that because the church reformed, the people will reform in the same way. Therefore, by using this information, one can say that because the church’s rights were more readily expressed, the people would also have more individual rights. Woman suffrage was the most dominate traits that greatly increased the democratic ideals of United States. As woman rights began to increase, women showed that they were more independent as shown through the cult of domesticity. Women were original similar to the status of slaves because they had no voice. This is shown in the engraving by Patrick Reason in 1835 where a woman is in shackles. It shows the original status of women which changes slightly to more universal suffrage in America. Temperance also expanded democratic ideals in that it gave people more rights to form what they felt was correct. Because it was lead by women, a group of  society usually suppressed, it was unique in that women started to voice their opinions. In the painting â€Å"The Drunkards Progress, From the First Glass to the Grave† in 1846, it shows that women were most affected by it and that they were motivated to change it. Women were able to speak out and affect the world and that shows individual rights. Education also played a role in expanding democratic ideals. Education was improved through new textbooks, publicized, and improved teaching training facilities increase the average education of the masses. This created a more knowledgeable mass and therefore universal male suffrage was more possible. Through the reforms of prisons, churches, women suffrage, temperance, and education, democratic ideals were expanded. Democratic ideals of universal suffrage and individual rights were spread throughout America. The reforms between 1825 and 1850 expanded democratic ideals.

Should Public High School Students Have Access to “The Kite Runner”‘s Content

Should Public High School students have access to â€Å"The Kite Runner†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœs content? Khaled Hosseni’s famous novel, â€Å"The Kite Runner† is one of the most popular books of the decade. It is #1 New York Bestseller with sold more than 10 million copies. Even though the book has immense popularity, the book is banned in several countries including Afghanistan, Hosseni’s mother land because of its sexual orientation and the use of vulgar language. The government believes the novel will outrage the Afghan community and may lead to chaotic situation.Even though some advocates of banning the novel for education curriculum may argue that, the book contains rapes in graphic detail, the use of vulgar language, offensive language and ethnic tensions, these romantic critics are too dogmatic in their provincial ideology. Hosseni’s novel, â€Å"The Kite Runner† shouldn’t be banned from high school students because of its teaching about loyal ty, forgiveness, sacrifice and also provides an insight of real world alongside its immense popularity.Khaled Hosseni’s best-seller book, â€Å"The Kite Runner† shouldn’t be banned from high school curriculum. The book demonstrates different incidents which provide important lessons for the reader through its quotes. For example, when Amir talked about sin, Baba said, â€Å"No matter what the mullah teaches, there is only one sin, only one. And that is theft† (Hosseni, 17). Baba believed stealing is the only sin a person can commit; other crimes are just different form of crime.This demonstrates the discouragement of vice, exists in the novel, which has great impact on reader’s mind. Additionally, the book provides a depth insight of the real world. It demonstrates the depravity of the war, the importance of kinship and also encourages people to stand up for the truth and demolish the false. So that’s why the book shouldn’t be banned. On the other hand, the opponents of the idea argue to deny the access of book to public high school students for various reasons. The book contains a sodomy rape scene in graphic detail which is arguably inappropriate for high school students. †(Green, Tracy. It’s Banned Book of the Week? Why Kite Runner? www. authorexposure. com . Sept 30, 2009. Web. April 13, 2013. http://www. authorexposure. com/2009/09/its-banned-book-week-why-kite-runner. html) As Assef tries to teach Hassan a lesson, â€Å"Assef knelt behind Hassan, put his hand on Hassan’s hips and lifted his bare buttocks. He kept one hand on Hassan’s back and undid his own belt buckle with his free hand. He unzipped

Essay on English Primary Language

Essay on English Primary Language Essay on English Primary Language Uniting as One Judging from personal experience I would have to agree that English being the Native Language of the United States, should be something to strive for. Especially those who want to make a home and progress in this country. Not only is our constitution based upon the English Language, it also emphasized the fact that an individual should know English if he/she wishes to become a citizen. I believe that language disputes are all over the world, and there needs to be a change in order for us to become a greater country. It is obvious that communication is a problem in this country. Therefore, English should be a mandatory language for those living in this country. In order for all of us to communicate it is best for all living in the country to know one language. It would not only benefit this country, but to oneself as well. People who migrate to this country should strive to learn the English Language, so they can live a better life. There are a variety of jobs for those who speak more than one language. If those who migrate here only speak their native language or chose not to learn English, they’re not going to progress in life. The reason being why America is such a great country is because of the diversity that we have. That is why we are known as the melting pot. Since diversity offers a variety of ideals, and beliefs, it is beneficial to our country. I believe that the many different perspectives and views of a person is very important to this country. But it is hard for the majority of us to speak up, especially if one doesn’t know how to speak English. Speaking too many of my relatives, who are immigrants, they too agree that English should be mandatory. Their point of view based upon fact that people who migrate to this country are looking for a better life. From their experience they came into this country not knowing English and the only way to progress in any job is to know the language; Without having done so jobs would be limited and relatively hard to find. I see their struggles that they face, and I see that they try their best to be a part of this country. They came here to have th e best opportunities out there. Thus, being the reason why they learned the English Language. Becoming a citizen was my mother’s dream, and I am proud to say that she achieved it. She came into this country not knowing a word of Spanish. She told me stories that it was very hard for her

CSS Virginia (USS Merrimack) in the Civil War

CSS Virginia (USS Merrimack) in the Civil War CSS Virginia was the first ironclad warship constructed by the Confederate States Navy during  Civil War (1861-1865). Following the outbreak of the conflict in April 1861, the US Navy found that one of its largest facilities, the Norfolk (Gosport) Navy Yard, was now behind enemy lines. While attempts were made to remove as many ships and as much material as possible, circumstances prevented the yards commander, Commodore Charles Stuart McCauley, from saving everything. As Union forces began to evacuate, the decision was made to burn the yard and destroy the remaining ships. USS Merrimack Among the ships burned or scuttled were the ships-of-the-line USS Pennsylvania (120 guns), USS Delaware (74), and USS Columbus (90), the frigates USS United States (44 ), USS Raritan (50), and USS Columbia (50), as well as several sloops-of-war and smaller vessels. One of the most modern vessels that was lost was the relatively new steam frigate USS Merrimack (40 guns). Commissioned in 1856, Merrimack had served as flagship of the Pacific Squadron for three years before arriving at Norfolk in 1860. Attempts were made to remove Merrimack before the Confederates captured the yard. While Chief Engineer Benjamin F. Isherwood succeeded in getting the frigates boilers lit, efforts had to be abandoned when it was found that the Confederates had blocked the channel between Craney Island and Sewells Point. With no other option remaining, the ship was burned on April 20. Taking possession of the yard, Confederate officials later examined the wreck of Merrimack and found that it had only burned to the waterline and most of its machinery remained intact. Origins With the Union blockade of the Confederacy tightening, Confederate Secretary of the Navy Stephen Mallory began searching for ways in which his small force could challenge the enemy. One avenue that he elected to investigate was the development of ironclad, armored warships. The first of these, the French La Gloire (44) and British HMS Warrior (40 guns), had appeared in the last year and built upon lessons learned with armored floating batteries during the Crimean War (1853-1856). Consulting John M. Brooke, John L. Porter, and William P. Williamson, Mallory began pushing the ironclad program forward but found that the South lacked the industrial capacity to build the needed steam engines in a timely manner. Upon learning this, Williamson suggested using the engines and remains of the former Merrimack. Porter soon submitted revised plans to Mallory that based the new ship around Merrimacks power plant. CSS Virginia - Specifications: Nation: Confederate States of AmericaType: IroncladShipyard: Norfolk (Gosport) Navy YardOrdered: July 11, 1861Completed: March 7, 1862Commissioned: February 17, 1862Fate: Burned, May 11, 1862Displacement: 4,100 tonsLength: 275 ft.Beam: 51 ft.Draft: 21 ft.Speed: 5-6 knotsComplement: 320 menArmament: 2 Ãâ€" 7-in. Brooke rifles, 2 Ãâ€" 6.4-in. Brooke rifles, 6 Ãâ€" 9-in. Dahlgren smoothbores, 2 Ãâ€" 12-pdr howitzers Design Construction Approved on July 11, 1861, work soon began at Norfolk on CSS Virginia under the guidance of Brooke and Porter. Moving from preliminary sketches to advanced plans, both men envisioned the new ship as a casemate ironclad. Workers soon cut down the burned timbers of Merrimack to below the waterline and commenced construction of a new deck and the armored casemate. For protection, Virginias casemate was built of layers of oak and pine to a two-foot thickness before being covered by four inches of iron plate. Brooke and Porter designed the ships casemate to have angled sides to aid in deflecting enemy shot. The ship possessed a mixed armament consisting of two 7-in. Brooke rifles, two 6.4-in. Brooke rifles, six 9-in. Dahlgren smoothbores, as well as two 12-pdr howitzers. While the bulk of the guns were mounted in the ships broadside, the two 7-in. Brooke rifles were mounted on pivots at the bow and stern and could traverse to fire from multiple gun ports. In creating the ship, the designers concluded that its guns would be unable to penetrate the armor of another ironclad. As a result, they had Virginia fitted with a large ram on the bow. Battle of Hampton Roads Work on CSS Virginia progressed in early 1862, and its executive officer, Lieutenant Catesby ap Roger Jones, oversaw fitting out the ship. Though construction was ongoing, Virginia was commissioned on February 17 with Flag Officer Franklin Buchanan in command. Eager to test the new ironclad, Buchanan sailed on March 8 to attack Union warships in Hampton Roads despite the fact that workmen were still on board. The tenders CSS Raleigh (1) and Beaufort (1) accompanied Buchanan. Though a formidable vessel, Virginias size and balky engines made it difficult to maneuver and complete circle required a mile of space and forty-five minutes. Steaming down the Elizabeth River, Virginia found five warships of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron anchored in Hampton Roads near the protective guns of Fortress Monroe. Joined by three gunboats from the James River Squadron, Buchanan singled out the sloop of war USS Cumberland (24) and charged forward. Though initially unsure what to make of the strange new ship, Union sailors aboard the frigate USS Congress (44) opened fire as Virginia passed. Rapid Success Returning fire, Buchanans guns inflicted significant damage on Congress. Engaging Cumberland, Virginia pounded the wooden ship as the Union shells bounced off its armor. After crossing Cumberlands bow and raking it with fire, Buchanan rammed it in an effort to save gunpowder. Piercing the Union ships side, part of Virginias ram detached as it was withdrawn. With Cumberland sinking, Virginia turned its attention to Congress which had grounded in an attempt to close with the Confederate ironclad. Engaging the frigate from a distance, Buchanan compelled it to strike its colors after an hour of fighting. Ordering his tenders forward to receive the ships surrender, Buchanan was angered when Union troops ashore, not understanding the situation, opened fire. Returning fire from Virginias deck with a carbine, he was wounded in the thigh by a Union bullet. In retaliation, Buchanan ordered Congress be shelled with incendiary hot shot. Catching on fire, Congress burned throughout the rest of the day exploded that night. Pressing his attack, Buchanan attempted to move against the steam frigate USS Minnesota (50), but was unable to inflict any damage as the Union ship fled into shallow water and ran aground. Meeting USS Monitor Withdrawing due to darkness, Virginia had won a stunning victory, but had taken damage amounting to two guns disabled, its ram lost, several armored plates damaged, and its smoke stack riddled. As temporary repairs were made during the night, command devolved to Jones. In Hampton Roads, the situation of the Union fleet improved dramatically that night with the arrival of the new turret ironclad USS Monitor from New York. Taking a defensive position to protect Minnesota and the frigate USS St. Lawrence (44), the ironclad awaited Virginias return. Steaming back to Hampton Roads in the morning, Jones anticipated an easy victory and initially ignored the strange-looking Monitor. Moving to engage, the two ships soon opened the first battle between ironclad warships. Pounding each other for over four hours, neither was able to inflict significant damage on the other. Though the Union ships heavier guns were able to crack Virginias armor, the Confederates scored a hit on their adversarys pilot house temporarily blinding Monitors captain, Lieutenant John L. Worden. Taking command, Lieutenant Samuel D. Greene drew the ship away, leading Jones to believe that he had won. Unable to reach Minnesota, and with his ship damaged, Jones began moving towards Norfolk. At this time, Monitor returned to the fight. Seeing Virginia retreating and with orders to protect Minnesota, Greene elected not to pursue. Later Career Following the Battle of Hampton Roads, Virginia made several attempts to lure Monitor into battle. These failed as the Union ship was under strict orders not to engage as its presence alone ensured that the blockade remained in place. Serving with the James River Squadron, Virginia faced a crisis with Norfolk fell to Union troops on May 10. Due to its deep draft, the ship could not move up the James River to safety. When efforts to lighten the ship failed to significantly reduce its draft, the decision was made to destroy it to prevent capture. Stripped of its guns, Virginia was set on fire off Craney Island early on May 11. The ship exploded when the flames reached its magazines.

Perform a Limited Risk Managment Study Coursework - 1

Perform a Limited Risk Managment Study - Coursework Example Privacy invasion: Using P2P networks or applications may give unauthorized users access to personal data either, by accessing personal directories or users give private information to whom they believe to be a trusted source or organization. When Medical or financial information, sensitive individual or corporate data is compromised, users are vulnerable to identity theft (Bidgoli, 2004). Vulnerability: Several P2P networks and applications ask users to open certain ports on the computers firewall to share files. Opening this ports provide attackers with channels to attack the user’s computer by utilizing any susceptibilities that may exist in the P2P connection. Service Denial: Downloading media files raise the capacity of traffic across the network. This may restrain the user’s internet access or inhibit the availability of certain applications in the user’s computer. The best ways to avoid these risks is by refraining from P2P networks and applications, but if a user insists on using them, they should have a proper and up to date antivirus program and they should have installed and enabled a firewall on their

How do the governments of the Communist East and the Capitalist West Essay

How do the governments of the Communist East and the Capitalist West perpetuate the Cold War - Essay Example Yet this perpetuation of the Cold War corresponds to the anticipation and autonomy to those subjugated in the East Germany and, on the other hand, the cruel existence of Communism to the Capitalist West. This particular transitional zone situates Alec Leamas, a spy of Britain coming up for the defection of one of his secret agents. The subjected man emerges over the border and seems to be set to make his 'run away' when, all of a sudden, he is chopped down in a bombardment of gunfires. Leamas is called again to London by his supervisor, Control (Cyril Cusack), anticipating him to be fired from his job. And then Control changes his mind to keep more Leamas in a Cold War. Though, Leamas is immediately started searching for a job and finally he got a tedious librarian job. With his only companion, whisky, for company, Leamas simmers in his own beliefs, buttressing the detestation not in favor of the British Secret Service. Nobody seems able to make a way into his shell (developed over the time when he was a secret agent) even though his associate librarian, Nan Perry, takes a predilection to him. Regrettably, Leamas beats up a storekeeper and finishes up in a lockup. Nan should like him nonetheless, and also the Leamas in return, since she congregates him on his liberation from jail. The interesting thing that took place is that, there is one more there to see his come back and he comes up to him in the park. Claiming to be from an aid organization which facilitates ex-convicts, Carlton (Robert Hardy) takes Leamas to a pricey lunch. This is completely gibberish for sure -- as a matter of fact it's an approach from the foe, inspecting a peeved previous secret agent and detecting if he'll defect. Leamas appears to undergo that he doesn't owe Britain anything and, rather grumpily, looks to believe (of course, by means of having the only purpose of wealth). After that Leamas circuitously moves towards Smiley's residence, for a get-together with Control. Everything turns out to be obvious Control sketches the plan, a deceitful and wicked endeavor to harm the reputation of the apex East German secret agent, Hans-Dieter Mundt. With eagerness, Leamas is rushed towards Holland for de-briefing by Fiedler, the second in power to Mundt. The bottom line of the arrangement is that Fiedler loathes Mundt and would wipe out him at all cost. By plummeting slight clues in his discussion with Fiedler, Leamas lets the spy to pencil in his own thoughts without so much delay - the unbelievable ability that Leamas has for spying and espionage, and his great understanding skills, embraces him in good stead as he intertwines a compelling story for Fiedler. Realizing the "certainty", Fiedler sent Leamas back to East Germany, where he looks forward to to overthrow Mundt in a closed trial and assessment. Leamas is an additional snag though since his persistence that Mundt couldn't have been a spy or espionage (he was leader of East German maneuvers and probably would have acknowledged). Fiedler still controls to induce an assessment however, completely influenced that Mundt is being disloyal to his State, and then the closed session starts on. It appears as though the court will rule alongside Mundt, ensuing in his carrying out, in anticipation of his defense representative presents an unforeseen and unanticipated