7 Questions to Expect in an Exit Interview

7 Questions to Expect in an Exit Interview About to leave your job? You might be asked (or required) to do an exit interview. This can be frustrating or intimidating. After all, you’ve got your outgoing checklist all but complete, and you already have one foot in your next opportunity. You think the hard part is behind you, and now there is one more task standing between you and the door! Don’t panic. Instead, think of your exit interview as a valuable opportunity for both you and your employer to learn something and grow. All you need to do is be prepared to give thoughtful, diplomatic answers to a few typical questions. Remember, you’ll be less stressed and the whole experience will be more productive if you are prepared. Think of this as an opportunity to let HR know exactly how the company is succeeding and failing. The information you provide can really make a difference for the coworkers and new hires you will leave behind.Here are a few questions to expect.1. Why are you leaving your current positi on?This question could also take the form: â€Å"Why did you begin looking for another job?† or â€Å"What, ultimately, made you accept this other job?† Be prepared to say what was your largest motivating factor for wanting to leave, specifically. If it’s your awful boss, find a way to say that without trashing that person. You won’t look good if you go negative. Keep it classy and succinct.2. Do you think you were adequately prepared/equipped to do your job well?In each of these questions, it is important to be prepared to provide specific examples. These will be much more resonant and will equip HR to actually make a change in company policy for the future. Did you need some valuable training that you didn’t get, perhaps? Is there a particular program, or other set-up that you really needed in order to perform? Again, be as specific as you can.3. How would you describe the culture of our company?This can get tricky. But prepare a tactful, honest answer, and you can get through it. The more prepared you are to answer, the less you’ll be caught off guard into saying something rash.4. Can you describe your relationship with your manager?This doesn’t mean: â€Å"Did you like your boss or not?† This means, how did your working styles overlap- did they clash or complement each other? Were you given the support and challenge you felt you deserved? Were you set up to succeed?5. What did you like/dislike most about your position here?No one knows better than you. Try not to pick petty things like cool office perks (or lack thereof). Think about how you can help make this company better when you leave.6. What should we require of your replacement?For example,  what skills, experience, and qualifications should they be looking for to replace you? What expertise or training do you wish you’d had? What do you have and know that would be hardest to replicate in a new employee? What magic synthesis of skills (i.e. multitasking and computer programming languages, or people skills and Excel) made you the perfect hire?7. What could we have done to keep you?This question is the most blunt and inviting of a frank response. Sometimes you’ll get the more generic: â€Å"What is the one thing about this company that you would change?† But if you get the candid question, you should feel free to give the honest answer. What would you have needed in order to stay? More money? More responsibility? An extra team member? Benefits packages? More growth opportunities? You can do a lot of good for the next employee- not to mention your current team- if you give a thoughtful answer to this question. Then skip your way out the door and off into the sunset!

Battle of Island Number 10 in the Civil War

Battle of Island Number 10 in the Civil War Battle of Island Number 10 - Conflict Dates: The Battle of Island Number 10 was fought February 28 to April 8, 1862, during the American Civil War (1861-1865). Armies Commanders Union Brigadier General John PopeFlag Officer Andrew Foote6 gunboats, 11 mortar raftsapprox. 20,000 men Confederates Brigadier General John P. McCownBrigadier General William Mackallapprox. 7,000 men Battle of Island Number 10 - Background: With the beginning of the Civil War, Confederate forces began making efforts to fortify key points along the Mississippi River to prevent Union attacks south. One area that received attention was the New Madrid Bend (near New Madrid, MO) which featured two 180-degree turns in the river. Located at the base of the first turn when steaming south, Island Number Ten dominated the river and any vessels attempting to pass would fall under its guns for protracted period. Work commenced on fortifications on the island and adjacent land in August 1861 under the direction of Captain Asa Gray. The first to be completed was Battery No. 1 on the Tennessee shoreline. Also known as the Redan Battery, it had a clear field of fire upstream but its position on low ground made it subject to frequent flooding. Work at Island Number Ten slowed in the fall of 1861 as resources and focus shifted north to the fortifications under construction at Columbus, KY. In early 1862, Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant captured Forts Henry and Donelson on the nearby Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. As Union troops pressed towards Nashville, the Confederate forces at Columbus came under threat of being isolated. To prevent their loss, General P.G.T. Beauregard ordered them to withdraw south to Island Number Ten. Arriving in late February, these forces began work to strengthen the areas defenses under the guidance of Brigadier General John P. McCown. Battle of Island Number Ten - Building the Defenses: Seeking to better secure the area, McCown commenced work on fortifications from the northern approaches to the first bend, past the island and New Madrid, and down to Point Pleasant, MO. Within a matter of weeks, McCowns men built five batteries on the Tennessee shore as well as five additional batteries on the island itself. Mounting a combined 43 guns, these positions were further supported by the 9-gun floating battery New Orleans which occupied a position at the western end of the island. At New Madrid, Fort Thompson (14 guns) rose west of the town while Fort Bankhead (7 guns) was built to the east overlooking the mouth of a nearby bayou. Aiding in the Confederate defense were six gunboats overseen by Flag Officer George N. Hollins (Map). Battle of Island Number Ten - Pope Approaches: As McCowns men worked to improve the defenses at the bends, Brigadier General John Pope moved to assemble his Army of the Mississippi at Commerce, MO. Directed to strike at Island Number Ten by Major General Henry W. Halleck, he moved out in late February and arrived near New Madrid on March 3. Lacking the heavy guns to assault the Confederate forts, Pope instead directed Colonel Joseph P. Plummer to occupy Point Pleasant to the south. Though forced to endure shelling from Hollins gunboats, Union troops secured and held the town. On March 12, heavy artillery arrived in Popes camp. Emplacing guns at Point Pleasant, Union forces drove off the Confederate vessels and closed the river to enemy traffic. The following day, Pope began shelling the Confederate positions around New Madrid. Not believing that the town could be held, McCown abandoned it on the night of March 13-14. While some troops moved south to Fort Pillow, the majority joined the defenders on Island Number Ten. Battle of Island Number Ten - The Siege Begins: Despite this failure, McCown received a promotion to major general and departed. Command at Island Number Ten then passed to Brigadier General William W. Mackall. Though Pope had taken New Madrid with ease, the island presented a more difficult challenge. The Confederate batteries on the Tennessee shore were flanked by impassable swamps to the east while the only land approach to the island was along a single road which ran south to Tiptonville, TN. The town itself was sited on a narrow spit of land between the river and Reelfoot Lake. To support operations against Island Number Ten, Pope received Flag Officer Andrew H. Footes Western Gunboat Flotilla as well as a number of mortar rafts. This force arrived above the New Madrid Bend on March 15. Unable to directly assault Island Number Ten, Pope and Foote debated how to reduce its defenses. While Pope desired Foote to run his gunboats past the batteries to cover a landing downstream, Foote had concerns about losing some of his vessels and preferred to commence a bombardment with his mortars. Deferring to Foote, Pope agreed to a bombardment and for the next two weeks the island came under a steady rain of mortar shells. As this action ensued, Union forces cut a shallow canal across the neck of the first bend which allowed transport and supply vessels to reach New Madrid while avoiding the Confederate batteries. With the bombardment proving ineffective, Pope again began to agitate for running some of the gunboats past Island Number Ten. While an initial council of war on March 20 saw Footes captains refuse this approach, a second nine days later resulted in Commander Henry Walke of USS Carondelet (14 guns) agreeing to attempt a passage. Battle of Island Number Ten - The Tide Turns: While Walke waited for a night with good conditions, Union troops led by Colonel George W. Roberts raided Battery No. 1 on the evening of April 1 and spiked its guns. The following night, the Footes flotilla focused its attention on New Orleans and succeeded in cutting the floating batterys mooring lines leading it to drift away downstream. On April 4, conditions proved correct and Carondelet began creeping past Island Number Ten with a coal barge lashed to its side for added protection. Pushing downstream, the Union ironclad was discovered but successfully ran through the Confederate batteries. Two nights later USS Pittsburg (14) made the voyage and joined Carondelet. With the two ironclads to protect his transports, Pope began plotting a landing on the east bank of the river. On April 7, Carondelet and Pittsburg eliminated the Confederate batteries at Watsons Landing clearing the way for Popes army to cross. As Union troops commenced landing, Mackall assessed his situation. Unable to see a way to hold Island Number Ten, he directed his troops to begin moving towards Tiptonville but left a small force on the island. Alerted to this, Pope raced to cut off the Confederates sole line of retreat. Slowed by fire from the Union gunboats, Mackalls men failed to reach Tiptonville before the enemy. Trapped by Popes superior force, he had no choice but to surrender his command on April 8. Pressing forward, Foote received the surrender of those still on Island Number Ten. Battle of Island Number Ten - Aftermath: In the fighting for Island Number Ten, Pope and Foote lost 23 killed, 50 wounded, and 5 missing while Confederate losses numbered around 30 killed and wounded as well as approximately 4,500 captured. The loss of Island Number Ten cleared the Mississippi River to further Union advances and later in the month Flag Officer David G. Farragut opened its southern terminus by capturing New Orleans. Though a key victory, the fighting for Island Number Ten was generally overlooked by the general public as the Battle of Shiloh was fought April 6-7. Selected Sources History of War: Battle of Island Number 10CWSAC Battle Summary: Battle of Island Number 10New Madrid: Battle of Island Number 10

Popper's Falsificationism versus Hempel's Confirmation Theory Essay

Popper's Falsificationism versus Hempel's Confirmation Theory - Essay Example According to Carl Hempel, deductive logic is a device for preserving truth. Therefore, positive evidence is used to confirm a hypothesis. On the other hand, Karl Popper objected that it was logically impossible to confirm or justify theories by using claims of science and observation. Hempel asserts that if the premises of a deductive argument are true, then the conclusion must also be true. Therefore, logical arguments should start from some foundation while, according to Popper, theoretical claims are known to have extended beyond the particular observations that were used to support them. According to Popper’s falsification theory, experience, more specifically, sensory experience is a foundation for arriving at a subsequent observation could always prove the best confirmed theory false. Hempel and others, who supported the confirmation theory, had a strategy of showing how claims of science might be justified by being derived from sentences that could be confirmed or inval idated by observation. On the other hand, Popper, argued in favor of an alternative in which scientists should strive to falsify hypotheses, in reference to the bold hypotheses that make strong claims about the world.... Logic of science must be universal. The scientific method must be formal, and should rest not on specific assumptions about the way the world is, but it must be sufficient. Therefore, given a set of premises rules of logic are sufficient to decide whether a conclusion follows and there is no need of other information (Kincaid 23). Always logic of science should allow us to do something similar, and that is to decide whether a hypothesis is confirmed given the data. Similarly, according to Hempel, a new law is looked by following a process, whereby a guess is made; consequences are computed about the guess to see what would be implied if this law that was guessed is right. Then, the result of computation is compared with nature to see if it works. Agreement will constitute good evidence only when it is known that there is not a more reasonable rival that predicts what ha already been observed. As much as confirmation is only one part of acceptance, and acceptance of a theory requires more than knowing whether a specific batch of data supports a particular hypothesis, multiple tests, the scope of the data, the logical and evidential ties with other hypotheses can be factored in order to make it practical (Kincaid 24). In shifting the emphasis entirely to falsification, Popper rejects the generally accepted aspect of science that experience, more specifically; sensory experience is a foundation for arriving at a subsequent observation because it could always prove the best confirmed theory false. He rejects the qualitative notion of evidence in confirmation. He argues that claims of the logic of science are generalizations from scientific practice. However, scientific practice is diverse in terms of time and fields.

Government as a Social Tool or Business Partner Essay

Government as a Social Tool or Business Partner - Essay Example It should be noted that when the governments prioritizes corporate subsidies and allocate less fund for welfare payments, it just emphasizes that corporations are much needy than the public. This is even more strongly felt now that the country is operating on a tight budget. Theory then states that the private sector should be solely responsible for the provision of social programs. This paper opts to offer an insight to this issue by looking at the economic argument for and against corporate welfare. It is irrefutable that corporate welfare is one of the most debated social and economic issues. The term "corporate welfare" is coined by Ralph Nader in 1956 in order to describe the "benefits conferred on corporations as compared to any corporate payment, or goods or services provided, to the government." With this definition, Nader looks beyond the benefits conferred and costs incurred by a particular program by looking at the government's costs and benefits. For example, if a program involves the government giving more to private companies than it gets back, then it is considered as corporate welfare. ... Corporate welfare can take the form of direct grants to business, programs that provide research and other services for industries, and programs that provide subsidized loans or insurance to business. A good example is the Ohio Loan Law in 1837 which "required the State to give tax revenues to private canal, turnpike, and railroad corporations while permitting them also to charge tolls" (Nader 1999). Others include the Market Access Program for the agricultural department, the Advanced Technology Program, and Technology Reinvestment Program (Stansel n.d.). These moves emphasize these companies importance to the local government. The common argument for corporate welfare is more economic than social. It should be noted that tax perks like tax holidays and tax breaks are commonly used by governments in order to encourage the inflow of foreign direct investment. This is more apparent in developing countries where the economy is largely dependent on foreign players. The main argument for this is that "economy is dependent on business stability and that corporate development is directly linked to job growth" (Perryman 1996). When tax breaks are offered, companies can operate more efficiently by cutting down on operational costs. Tax breaks are also potent ways to attract more companies thereby increasing the locality's production and income. The presence of corporate subsidies also ensures the stability of the business sector. When the government provides corporate welfare, it in fact, works in ensuring that companies continue to operate efficiently. It should be noted that corporate welfare includes provision o f funds, projects, and programs which aids business organizations in research and development, marketing, and in their production efforts.

Service Quality and Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Service Quality and Leadership - Essay Example revealed that comprehending the novel distribution, as well as marketing trends currently will help businesses to make better decisions and reach more individuals. I have learned that when companies want to prepare their online stratagems, hoteliers usually approach companies who have the capacity to guide them on selecting the top trends that their businesses can follow. These include mobile, conversations on social media, along with channel management where a number of the most important trends for the hospitality industry are emerging. I have come to ascertain that the mobile trend is the primary reason as to why communications have turned out to be increasingly individualized and client-customized. This trend can refer to not just smartphones that have the capacity to access the Internet. Perceptibly, hoteliers are supposed to take mobile into consideration as a significant marketing channel, but ought to additionally be conscious of the trend to develop on-property in the midst of the introduction of NFC, along with additional device-activated services. The hospitality service industry has been able to make use of the mobile trend by starting with an optimized website for mobile along with booking engine that consider client experience across manifold mobile pieces of equipment, counting tablets. Companies today make the most out of the mobile trend with an exceptional website that is specifically designed to obtain mobile guests to whatever they are looking for swiftly and effectively with the capacity to have bookings on various pages. The hospitality service industry thinks of the mobile trend as its individual channel so that companies have the aptitude to present special rates, endorsements, product depictions, in addition to the tracking particularly for these marketplaces. Most hospitality companies function with websites that have geo-locality services, for instance, Gowalla and Foursquare to give promotions. Companies also take part in free

What Is Your Position On The Death Penalty Philosophy Essay

What Is Your Position On The Death Penalty Philosophy Essay Does the death penalty serve as a deterrent to crime? Naturally, supporters of the death penalty believe that capital punishment acts as the best deterrent possible for decreasing instances of crime. Abolitionists however, think that the death penalty is no more of a deterrent than life imprisonment. The bottom line is that deterrence in regards to the death penalty is the theory about the mind of a murderer involving the psychological processes that exist (Costanzo, 2004). If so, why are crime rates in the United States comparatively high? What are some other countries responses to the death penalty? What is your position on the death penalty- should it be legal or should it be abolished? Why? Should youths who have been convicted of violent crimes be subject to the death penalty? Why or why not? Capital punishment is punishment by death for committing a crime. Capital punishment is often called the death penalty. It is most commonly used in convictions for murder. But it has also been used for such crimes as armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, and treason. About 60 countries-including the United States and many African and Asian nations-use capital punishment. Canada, Australia, and most European and Latin American nations have abolished it.   Table Capital punishment in the United States Throughout history, governments have executed criminals by a variety of methods. These methods have included hanging, crucifixion, stoning, beheading, and poisoning. Since the 1600s, shooting-often by firing squads-has been a common method of execution in many countries. Some countries execute criminals using electrocution or deadly gas. The most commonly used method in the United States is lethal injection. Lethal injection involves the use of drugs that stop the persons breathing and heartbeat. History of capital punishment. Governments have used capital punishment since ancient times. In 399  B.C., the Greek philosopher Socrates was condemned to death. He was forced to drink hemlock, a poison the people of ancient Athens used for the death penalty. Between the A.D.  400s and 1400s, thousands of people in Europe were executed were executed for crimes against the state and church. Most were hanged or beheaded. During the French Revolution (1789-1799), the revolutionary government executed around 40,000 people. One method of execution in France was the guillotine, a beheading machine. The use of capital punishment in many parts of the world declined during the 1900s. The United Kingdom suspended capital punishment for murder in 1965 and abolished it in 1969. Northern Ireland, however, which is part of the United Kingdom, kept the death penalty for several more years. By 1998, capital punishment had been banned in the entire United Kingdom for all crimes. Canada abolished the death penalty for murder in 1976 and for all crimes in 1998. By 1985, Australia had abolished capital punishment for all crimes. About 130 nations have formally abolished capital punishment or stopped using it. Many less developed countries continue to use the death penalty. The United States is the only industrialized Western nation where executions still take place. In the United States, the death penalty may be given as a punishment under federal law, military law, or the laws of 35 states. The decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in Furman v. Georgia (1972) greatly influenced the use of capital punishment in the United States. The court held that the death penalty, as it was delivered at the time, was cruel and unusual punishment. Therefore, the death penalty violated the 8th and 14th amendments to the Constitution. However, the court left open the possibility that the death penalty could be constitutional if it were conducted differently. The court stated that death penalty laws must be limited to certain crimes and applied according to fair standards. Following the decision, many states passed new laws to satisfy the courts requirements. In Gregg v. Georgia (1976), the Supreme Court upheld the use of capital punishment for people sentenced under new laws in Florida, Georgia, and Texas. The court ruled that the death penalty itself and the standards developed by the states were constitutional. Later in the 1970s, the court struck down laws that made the death penalty mandatory (required) for certain crimes. It also abolished the death penalty as a punishment for rape. More than 1,000 people have been executed in the United States since the Supreme Court upheld the death penalty in 1976. Thousands more are imprisoned on death row. Death row is where people who have been sentenced to death await execution. Many prisoners on death row are awaiting the outcome of legal appeals. In 2002, the Supreme Court ruled that juries, not judges, must decide sentences in capital punishment cases in which there was a trial by jury. That same year, the court ruled that it was unconstitutional to execute people who have an intellectual disability. In 2005, the court banned the use of capital punishment in cases where the offender (person who broke the law) was under 18 years of age when the crime was committed. In the early 2000s, some U.S. states reexamined their capital punishment systems. Evidence had shown that some prisoners on death row were actually innocent or had been tried unfairly. For example, in 2001, Illinois declared a moratorium (temporary halt) on capital punishment. During the moratorium, a commission reviewed the fairness of the system and found many flaws. Therefore, Illinois continued its moratorium. In 2003, Illinois Governor George Ryan commuted (reduced) the death sentences of all the prisoners then on death row in the state. He changed most of the sentences to life in prison without parole. Other states halted executions, at least temporarily, to study the method of lethal injection. In 2006, Governor Jeb Bush of Florida suspended the death penalty in the state. This suspension followed an incident in which prison officials had mishandled the lethal injection of a convicted killer. Bush appointed a commission to investigate whether lethal injection violates the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. In mid-2007, Florida resumed the death penalty. In 2006, a federal judge in California declared a halt on executions to determine the constitutionality of lethal injections. Executions in the United States were put on hold in September 2007 after two Kentucky death-row inmates challenged the current procedures of delivering lethal injections. The inmates argued that the method violated the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. In April 2008, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the current lethal injection procedures. This ruling permitted executions to resume in the United States. A number of U.S. state legislatures in the early 2000s considered laws to end their states use of the death penalty. New Jersey abolished death penalty in 2007. New Mexico did so in 2009. Print History of capital punishment subsection The debate over capital punishment. People often disagree about whether capital punishment is a moral and effective way of dealing with crime. Many people oppose the death penalty because they believe it is cruel. They believe it is not consistent with the ideals of modern society. Critics also warn that innocent people could be executed if they are mistakenly convicted or unfairly sentenced. Most critics favor life imprisonment as an alternative to capital punishment. Supporters of capital punishment believe that, in certain circumstances, a person who takes a human life deserves to lose his or her own life. Supporters also argue that the threat of capital punishment deters (discourages) people from committing serious crimes. However, studies have not consistently shown that the death penalty has a greater deterrent effect than life imprisonment. Print The debate over capital punishment subsection ______________ Contributor: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Ã‚  Robert W. Taylor, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Criminal Justice, University of North Texas. How to cite this article: To cite this article, World Book recommends the following format: Taylor, Robert W. Capital punishment. World Book Advanced. World Book, 2011. Web.   4 Feb. 2011. To learn about citing sources, see Help. Extracts from Beccarias an Essay on Crimes and Punishments BECCARIA, An Essay on Crimes and Punishments (Edinburgh, 1788), pp. 49 sqq., 70 sq., 111 sqq., 169. World History 93. What are in general the proper punishments for crimes? Is the punishment of death really useful or necessary for the safety or good order of society? Are tortures and torments consistent with justice, or do they answer the end proposed by the laws? Which is the best method of preventing crimes? Are the same punishments equally useful at all times? What influence have they on morals? These problems should be solved with that geometrical precision which the mist of sophistry, the seduction of eloquence, and the timidity of doubt are unable to resist. If I have no other merit than that of having first presented to my country with a greater degree of evidence what other nations have written and are beginning to practice, I shall account myself fortunate; but if, by supporting the rights of mankind and of invincible truth, I shall contribute to save from the agonies of death one unfortunate victim of tyranny or of ignorance, equally fatal, his blessing and tears of transport will be a sufficient consolation to me for the contempt of mankind.  .  .  . It is evident that the intent of punishments is not to torment a sensitive being nor to undo a crime already committed. Is it possible that torments and useless cruelty, the instruments of furious fanaticism or of the impotency of tyrants, can be authorized by a political body which, so far from being influenced by passion, should be the cool moderator of the passions of individuals? Can the groans of a tortured wretch recall the time past or reverse the crime he has committed? The end of punishment therefore is no other than to prevent others from committing the like offense. Such punishments, therefore, and such a mode of inflicting them ought to be chosen as will make strongest and most lasting impressions on the minds of others with the least torment to the body of the criminal.  .  .  . Use of torture The torture of a criminal during the course of his trial is a cruelty consecrated by custom in most nations. It is used with an intent either to make him confess his crime or explain some contradictions into which he has been led during his examination; or discover his accomplices; or for some kind of metaphysical and incomprehensible purgation of infamy; or finally, in order to discover other crimes of which he is not accused, but of which he may be guilty. No man can be judged a criminal until he be found guilty; nor can society take from him the public protection until it has been proved that he has violated the conditions on which it was granted. What right, then, but that of mere power can authorize the punishment of a citizen so long as there remains any doubt of his guilt? The following dilemma is a frequent one! Either he is guilty or not guilty. If guilty, he should only suffer the punishment ordained by the laws, and torture becomes useless, as his confession is unnecessary. If he be not guilty, you torture the innocent; for in the eye of the law every man is innocent whose crime has not been proved.  .  .  . A very strange but necessary consequence of the use of torture is that the plight of the innocent is worse than that of the guilty. With regard to the first, either he confesses the crime which he has not committed and is condemned, or he is acquitted and has suffered a punishment he did not deserve. On the contrary, the person who is really guilty has the most favorable side of the question; for if he supports the torture with firmness and resolution, he is acquitted and is the gainer, having exchanged a greater punishment for a less.  .  .  . Arguments against capital punishment The punishment of death is pernicious to society from the examples of barbarity it affords. If the passions or the necessity of war have taught men to shed the blood of their fellow-creatures, the laws, which are intended to moderate the ferocity of mankind, should not increase it by examples of barbarity,-the more horrible since this punishment is usually attended with formal pageantry. Is it not absurd that the laws which detect and punish homicide should, in order to prevent murder, publicly commit murder themselves? What are the true and most useful laws? Those compacts and conditions which all would propose and observe in those moments when private interest is silent or combined with that of the public. What are the natural sentiments of every person concerning the punishment of death? We may read them in the contempt and indignation with which every one looks on the executioner, who is nevertheless an innocent executor of the public will, a good citizen who contributes to the advantage of society, the instrument of the general security within as good soldiers are without. What, then, is the origin of this contradiction? Why is this sentiment of mankind indelible, however one may reason? It is because in a secret corner of the mind, in which the original impressions of nature are still preserved, men discover a sentiment which tells them that their lives are not lawfully in the power of any one, but of that necessity only which with its iron scepter rules the universe.  .  .  . The past full of mistakes If it be objected that almost all nations in all ages have punished certain crimes with death, I answer that the force of these examples vanishes when opposed to truth against which prescription is urged in vain. The history of mankind is an immense sea of errors in which a few obscure truths may here and there be found.  .  .  . That some societies only, either few in number or for a very short time, have abstained from the punishment of death is rather favorable to my argument, for such is the fate of great truths that their duration is only as a flash of lightning in the long dark night of error. The happy time has not yet arrived when truth, as falsehood has been hitherto, shall be the portion of the greatest number. I am sensible that the voice of one philosopher is too weak to be heard amidst the clamors of a multitude blindly influenced by custom; but there is a small number of sages scattered on the face of the earth who will echo me from the bottom of their hearts; and if these truths should happily force their way to the thrones of princes, be it known to them that they come attended with the secret wishes of all mankind; and tell the sovereign that deigns them a gracious reception that his fame shall outshine the glory of conquerors, and that equitable posterity will exalt his peaceful trophies above those of a Titus, an Antoninus, or a Trajan. The benevolent despots How happy were mankind if laws were now to be first formed, now that we see on the thrones of Europe benevolent monarchs, friends to the virtues of peace, to the arts and sciences, fathers of their people, though crowned, yet citizens; the increase of whose authority augments the happiness of their subjects by destroying that intermediate despotism which intercepts the prayers of the people to the throne. If these humane princes have suffered the old laws to subsist, it is doubtless because they are disturbed by the numberless obstacles which oppose the subversion of errors by the sanction of many ages; and therefore every wise citizen will wish for the increase of their authority.  .  .  . Would you prevent crimes? Let the laws be clear and simple; let the entire force of the nation be united in their defense; let them be intended rather to favor every individual than any particular classes of men; let the laws be feared and the laws only.  .  .  . From what I have written, results the following general theorem of considerable utility, though not conformable to Custom, the common legislator of nations: That a punishment may not be an act of violence, of one or of many, against a private member of society; it should be public, immediate, and necessary; the least possible in the case given; proportioned to the crime, and determined by the laws. How to cite this document: To cite this document, World Book recommends the following format: di Beccaria, Marchese . Extracts from Beccarias An Essay on Crimes and Punishments. Readings in Modern European History: A Collection of Extracts from the Sources Chosen With the Purpose of Illustrating Some of the Chief Phases of the Development of Europe During the Last Two Hundred Years, Volume 1: The Eighteenth Century: The French Re. Boston: Ginn and Company, 1908. World Book Advanced. Web. 4 Feb. 2011. ANOTHER VIEW: Do not expand New Hampshires death penalty Anonymous. The Union Leader. Manchester, N.H.: Feb 2, 2011. pg. A.7 Abstract (Summary) [] the abolition of the death penalty does not jeopardize our states ability to protect people from dangerous criminals, as we have available to us the sentence of life without the possibility of parole (which the minority report of the Commission to Study the Death Penalty in New Hampshire referred to as death by incarceration). [] in the midst of all our discussion on legislation, let us never fail to express our support for the families and friends of victims of terrible crimes.   Ã‚ »   Jump to indexing (document details) Full Text   (672   words) Copyright Union Leader Corporation Feb 2, 2011 THE NEW HAMPSHIRE House of Representatives soon will consider two bills, HB 147 and HB 162, which seek to expand the death penalty in our state. As Catholic bishops, and as citizens of New Hampshire, we urge the members of the House to vote against these bills. Like other citizens of our state, our hearts are broken by the inconceivable and monstrous crimes that prompted these bills. We pray for the victims and their families; we honor the bravery and nobility of the police officers; and we, too, seek a just punishment for the guilty. However, we believe that just punishment should not involve the taking of yet another life. It was surely no accident that life was the first of the inalienable rights affirmed by our nations Declaration of Independence. The right to life is the foundation of all the human rights we possess. Unfortunately, in our time, the value of human life and human dignity is constantly under attack. During the century we just concluded, we saw war and bloodshed on a scale never before witnessed in human history. We live in a culture where the taking of the most innocent of lives those of unborn children in the womb is tolerated, made legal, and even encouraged, and a world where the elderly and infirm are subtly encouraged not to be a drain on their families or society. In the face of all this, it is evident that to restore what Pope John Paul II called a culture of life, our society ought to employ the strongest measures available. One of the measures available is the restriction and eventual abolition of the death penalty. By no means does this assertion of the respect for the life of criminals minimize the requirement that justice be done to them through proportionate punishment, nor does it dissolve the distinction between innocence and guilt. Indeed, the abolition of the death penalty does not jeopardize our states ability to protect people from dangerous criminals, as we have available to us the sentence of life without the possibility of parole (which the minority report of the Commission to Study the Death Penalty in New Hampshire referred to as death by incarceration). Instead, our states refusal to kill capital offenders would be a sign of the states confident moral integrity, not of its weakness to govern and protect. When the state ends a human life although a non-lethal alternative exists, it suggests that society can end violence with more violence. We know that this is not the case. As Pope Benedict XVI has said, killing the guilty one is not the way to rebuild justice and reconcile society. On the contrary, there is the risk that the spirit of revenge is fueled and that the seeds of new violence are sown. We therefore should end the use of the death penalty, not only for what it does to those who are executed, but for what it does to all of society. By having the courage and rectitude to spare the lives of those who are demonstrably guilty and, instead, imprison them for life, we develop and support a culture appreciative and protective of the value of every human person. By refusing to expand the death penalty in this state, we proclaim a moral goodness that moves beyond the influence of reaction to chilling crimes and toward a civil ethic that respects the intrinsic value of every human person from conception to natural death. For these reasons, HB 147 and HB 162 should not become law. Finally, in the midst of all our discussion on legislation, let us never fail to express our support for the families and friends of victims of terrible crimes. Let us show our gratitude and appreciation for members of law enforcement who bring criminals to justice. Let us all as Pope John Paul II challenged, commit to live as people of life and for life. . John B. McCormack is bishop of Manchester. Francis J. Christian is auxiliary bishop of Manchester. Indexing (document details) Subjects: Capital punishment,   Violence Author(s): Anonymous Document types: Editorial Section: OPINION Publication title: The Union Leader.  Manchester, N.H.:  Feb 2, 2011.   pg. A.7 Source type: Newspaper ISSN: 07455798 ProQuest document ID: 2256312851 Text Word Count 672 Document URL: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=2256312851sid=1Fmt=3clientId=74379RQT=309VName=PQD ANOTHER VIEW: Do not expand New Hampshires death penalty.  (2011,  February  2). The Union Leader,A.7.   Retrieved February 4, 2011, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID:  2256312851). ethal Injection and the F.D.A.; [Editorial] New York Times. (Late Edition (East Coast)). New York, N.Y.: Jan 28, 2011. pg. A.30 Abstract (Summary) When it reaffirmed the constitutionality of capital punishment three years ago, a splintered Supreme Court said it believed lethal injection carried neither substantial nor objectively intolerable risk of inflicting serious harm.   Ã‚ »   Jump to indexing (document details) Full Text   (412   words) Copyright New York Times Company Jan 28, 2011 Capital punishment means lethal injection. The administration of a barbiturate as part of a fatal dose of drugs is meant to render a convict unconscious before other drugs stop his or her breathing and heart so the execution can somehow be construed by a judge as being neither cruel nor unusual. Sodium thiopental is at the heart of this story. A fast- and short-acting general anesthetic, it has been used to put convicts under and make executions methodical. For more than a year, however, a shortage of the drug has widened the gap between the reality of carrying out executions and support for them in American law. In October, a majority of the Supreme Court wrongly insisted there was no evidence that the shortage had any bearing on whether an execution can be done constitutionally. Now the evidence is impossible to ignore. We strongly oppose capital punishment on many grounds. Even with judicial blessing, the conduct of executions in this country is a shambles. In Arizona and Georgia, the sodium thiopental used in executions has possibly been ineffective and almost certainly been illegal. It came from Dream Pharma, an unlicensed British supplier, run from a driving school. The batches carried a date of 2006. They were likely made by a company in Austria that went out of business. The drug is said to be effective for only a year. As a foreign-made drug without approval by the Food and Drug Administration, it is prohibited by federal statute. The F.D.A. initially suspected the drug from Dream Pharma of being adulterated or mislabeled and refused to let it be imported. Then it let the drug enter the country but with the warning that the agency hadnt reviewed the drugs identity, safety, effectiveness, purity or any other characteristics. This month, the F.D.A. stated: Reviewing substances imported or used for the purpose of state-authorized lethal injection clearly falls outside of F.D.A.s explicit public health role. In the meantime, the only American manufacturer of sodium thiopental formerly described as F.D.A.-approved has announced it will no longer make the drug. It planned to produce the drug in Italy, but the Italian government has said it wont permit the drugs export for use in executions. When it reaffirmed the constitutionality of capital punishment three years ago, a splintered Supreme Court said it believed lethal injection carried neither substantial nor objectively intolerable risk of inflicting serious harm. How can the justices be confident in that conclusion now? Indexing (document details) Subjects: Capital punishment,   Anesthesia,   Supreme Court decisions,   Editorials Capital punishment Companies: Food Drug AdministrationFDA Document types: Editorial Column Name: Editorial Section: A Publication title: New York Times.  (Late Edition (East Coast)).  New York, N.Y.:  Jan 28, 2011.   pg. A.30 Source type: Newspaper ISSN: 03624331 ProQuest document ID: 2250674721 Text Word Count 412 Document URL: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=2250674721sid=2Fmt=3clientId=74379RQT=309VName=PQD Lethal Injection and the F.D.A  :[Editorial].  (2011,  January  28). New York Times   (Late Edition (east Coast)),   p.  A.30.   Retrieved February 4, 2011, from Banking Information Source. (Document ID:  2250674721).

Despite the Australian context, The Removalists, is able to dramatize convincingly issues, which are relevant to any society

In the play, The Removalists, Williamson uses the Australian context to help dramatize various convincing issues, which are relevant to society. The use of typical colloquial language and idioms in the play are the only features particularly related to the Australian context. Other features such as setting, stagecraft, lighting, and costumes remain common and universal to all society. Together with the characters of Simmond, Ross, Kate, Kenny, Fiona and the removalist, the central themes of power, authoritarianism, violence, confrontation between sexes and prejudice are well illustrated. It is through The Removalists that Williamson make the audience aware of the corruption in society and contrary within life. The title of the play, The Removalists, directly and metaphorically suggests the police are â€Å"removing† the scandals from society through which abusive power is used. It also implies that the corruption of authorities and power within public forces is being removed from the control of law and order. These ideas of power are enhanced through characters and series of incidents of the play. The imbalance power relation is directly introduced in the beginning of the play when Simmond was â€Å"auditioning† Ross for his duty in the police force. Immediately, Simmond's relaxed sitting position in contrast with Ross' uncomfortable and uneasy standing position depicts the different power status between the two. The motion of Simmond â€Å"circling† Ross further distinguishes the different amount of power and authority held by each character. Other than the application of stagecraft, physical body language also plays an important part in portraying social issues. As particularly highlighted by the character of Simmonds, it is common that power and violence, some of which are illegal and invalid, are being overused within the society for various reasons. In the case of Simmonds, he viciously and repulsively beats up Kenny in order to gain power, establish control and obtain his desires and wants. His continuous use of violence and power throughout the play reflects the obsession of power within society. People are often blinded by the sense of power and authority that they simply strive greedily and endlessly for power and neglect the serious possible consequences that may bring in return. The sudden explosion of violence of Ross on helpless Kenny shows that everyone in society, even those of the least expected, do possess a certain kind of aggressive instinct within his/herself. This idea is enhanced through suspension atmosphere and the imagination of the audience while the violent bloody scene between the two characters occurred off stage. The use of silence and pause after the bashing furthermore creates tension, which highlights the hidden power and ability within people in society such as Ross. The misuse of authority and abusive violence by officials are prominently examined in The Removalists, mainly through the characters of Sergeant Simmonds and Constable Ross. The two police officers use Kenny as a punching bag in order to work out on their repressions and frustrations, and they can do so because they have come to take their own power as a matter of course. This effectively reflects that there are tremendous prejudices and pressures towards conformity in Australian society, which is reinforced by an implied threat of violence. Williamson also explores the unbalanced power held between different classes. For instance, as depicted by the character of Kate, who belongs to a wealthy high-class family, tends to have power and control over her sister, Fiona, who belongs to a rather low-class one. This is also reflected through the contrasting costumes wore by the two as Kate is â€Å"more expensively dressed and more elegant than her younger sister†, who has â€Å"an easy innocent sensuality†. Not only does Kate often manipulate and took advantage of Fiona's innocence, but Simmond also dominates Fiona and the prostitutes at the brothel. This shows that the ones positioned at the top of the hierarchy tend to hold control and scrutinize those at the bottom of the hierarchy. The attempt of solving problems with more violence in the end of the play after Kenny's death shows that part of society is tremendously corrupted by violence. Once a pattern of violence is accepted for any circumstances, it becomes acceptable in all circumstances. As a result, people will subconsciously apply violence in an uncontrollable manner just as â€Å"the fight almost takes on the air of frenzied ritual of exorcism†. Insults, assaults and aggressive use of words can also be seen as violence, as shown by Simmonds, who more often attack others verbally. He speaks of strong, harsh language, often containing swearwords and black irony in his speech to challenge and insult his target opponents. Perhaps in Simmonds' attitude to his junior, Constable Ross, especially after Kenny's death, aggression is expressed by the old towards the young. This reflects the deep and bitter resentment felt by the old against the challenge to their moral and institutional power. Knowledge and experiences are another important aspects, through which power is established. For instance, Kenny uses the knowledge of Kate's private life and adultery to gain control over Kate. Similarly, the power of the removalist is neither exerted nor influenced in any way for he holds evidences and knowledge of real situation and the illegal violence involved. He is prepared to use this power of knowledge if his status is being threatened. It is also this power of knowledge that Simmond has over Ross, Kate and Fiona's background that places him at a higher and more powerful status. The community itself is partially responsible for such corruption in society, as they are the ones who tolerated such to occur. The removalist is a representation of this, as he refuses to help out or get involved into the bloody situation between the police officers and Kenny, instead he allows the scene to happen. The attitude of the removalist being â€Å"if nobody interferes with me then I don't interfere with nobody†. This effectively reflects not only the attitude of the community against illegal acts and conducts but also shows their selfishness and ignorance. The victims, who are mistreated and encountered unfairness, are also to be blamed as they are often reluctant to complain or take legal action because they fear reprisals of one sort or another. The community simply has a natural unwillingness to cross swords with established power such as the police force. The result of their impotent rage will in turn be expressed in fresh acts of violence on other victims. Those law-abiding and decent members of the force are another factor that helps to give immunity to criminally violent police. As represented by Constable Ross, the decent members generally failed to take actions necessary to halt their law-breaking colleagues. Instead help the unlawful ones to cover up or even participate in the abusive violence with others. This is further enhanced by the removalist's rhetorical claim, â€Å"Do you think they'd [the police] come down and collar their own mates?†. Unlike a regular violent incident, police brutality embodies a corruption of the law itself. When the law itself is the culprit, people in the community have no security and no avenue of redress. On the other hand, in the past people's view and attitude towards â€Å"wife bashing† is rather negative. It is a common saying at the time that † Never arrest a wife basher if he missus is still warm†. At the level not so much of approval, but rather of unthinking social acceptance, is that the male-female relationship is rested on a frightening sub-stratum of violence. The popular language of sex is violent. The deep repression and frustrations expressed by Sergeant Simmonds in his outburst against Kate and Fiona are endemic in this culture. The society's code of aggressive masculinity involves the positive isolation of women in their role as sexual objects. This implies an inhuman violence in sexual relationships, against which women are fighting and protesting for in recent years. The continuous change of power among characters throughout the play effectively suggests that power is mostly created, recreated, depoliticized and routinized within one's language and action. This is displayed as Simmond's control over situation fluctuates as Ross and Kate challenges repeatedly challenges his power. Kate mainly gains her power by sharing with Simmond. Her approach of sitting on Simmond's desk and letting him to place his arm around her, are evidential of the loss and gain of power between individuals in society. Moreover, Williamson explores subtle ideas in regards to the prejudice and racism in society. This is depicted through insulting language and name-calling to those that are different to the norm in society and with a different ethnic background. For instance, Christians are being named â€Å"mick†, which is just as insulting to the extent of calling Afro-Americans â€Å"negro†. This reflects that certain unfair and irrational conventions in society are passed on from the past and remains in present days. Through the character, stagecraft and playwright, Williamson prominently provoked many subtle ideas and social issues. As he examines and manipulates different forms of power in the play, Williamson proficiently convey the idea that â€Å"power is a cancer that eats at the heart of all civilized society†. In order to overcome such corruption in societies, the most realistic solutions lie in the fields of education, and more humane, and human-centered urban development. Through The Removalists, Williamson not only highlighted many social issues, but also more importantly, initiated in the field of education to provoke the community of their wrongs and fraud.

Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids: Balance of Essential Dietary Lipids For Good Health Essay

Omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids are important lipids which are obtained by the body mainly from fish, nut, vegetable and seed oils. These are biomolecules which should necessarily be incorporated in the diet for proper development, physical and behavioral functions in humans and animals. Our ability to synthesize these fatty acids or to interconvert them from other molecules is averted by the absence of enzymes required for their production of transformation in the body. This class of fatty acids is characterized by an even-numbered aliphatic chain starting from a carboxylic carbon and ending in a methyl group. The structure possesses two or more all-cis double bonds (polyunsaturated), the first of which is located three or six carbons away from the methyl (omega) carbon, hence the name, omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). They are also components of the phospholipid bilayer which envelope cells and organelles and are converted to other molecules such as eicosanoids including prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes and other molecules implicated in immune reactions and signals. Also because of their health implications, they are subject of many research studies which aim to improve certain medical conditions, finding alternative sources and determining the optimum amounts in the diet for maximized health benefits. Lipids are a diverse class of biomolecules that are distinguished from the other classes because of their solubility in non polar solvents. This is due to the relatively large hydrophobic portion, usually consisting of an aliphatic hydrocarbon chain or ring attached to other functional groups. Being derivatives of carboxylic acids, they can undergo the same reactions typical of carboxylic acids. Thus, they may combine with alcohols to produce acyl compounds called esters. This very reaction allows for a diverse array of lipid structures. They find use as components of the cellular membranes aiding in protection and fluidity of the lipid bilayer; for energy storage because of their oxidation potential, because of this, they generate ample amounts of heat during fat burning; as body insulator because fat is a poor conductor of heat and prevents heat loss through the skin; as tools for molecular recognition between attached moieties (usually proteins) and the hydrophobic environment and protective covering of tissues among others. This large group is classified based on their structure as follows: (a) fatty acids and derivatives, (b) triacylglycerols, (c) wax esters, (d) phospholipids, (e) sphingolipids, and (f) isoprenoids (1). Triacylglycerols are esterification products of glycerol and three fatty acids. They are important components of adipose cells and are generally used as energy reserves. These molecules can undergo saponification reactions which produces carboxylate salts of soap. Phospholipids are the major structural components of membranes and find use as emulsifiers and surfactants due to the presence of a small polar head represented by the charged phosphate group. They may also be used as protective coverings of small molecules and probiotics (2). Wax esters are important components of leaves, fruit and animal fur. They may be combinations of many types of functional groups such as alcohols, aldehydes and sterols. Sphingolipids are hydrophobic amino alcohols which are generally found composing animal membranes. It is also found covering the myelin sheath of neurons and assists in the transmission of messages in the brain. The isoprene ring is characteristic structure of isoprenoids. They are distinguished from other lipid classes by a five carbon unit, methylbutadiene. Examples of this class include essential oils which are mixtures of terpenes giving fruits and flowers their characteristic scent; carotenoids which are plant pigments that have the structure of tetraterpene, vitamin E, vitamin K, ubiquinone and some hormones (1). The omega-3 and omega-9 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are very important examples of lipids belonging to the first group. Examples of this class are aptly called essential fatty acids because these molecules need to be supplemented in the diet since our body lacks the enzymes for its synthesis. These include the short chain PUFA which are in turn precursors of other long chain omega-3 and omega-9 PUFA. Fatty acids that can be synthesized in by the body because of existing pathways and enzymes are referred to as non essential fatty acids (3). This paper discusses the structure of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, their biochemical functions, products and applications especially in maintaining good health and tackles current discoveries regarding their transformation to new molecules, issues concerning increased dietary intake and health prospects. Nomenclature and structure Fatty acids are synthesized in the liver and adipose cytoplasm through the fatty acid synthase and malonyl CoA a precursor. The chain increases by two carbons at each round of the reaction catalyzed by a unique enzyme complex until it forms a saturated fatty acid containing 16 carbons (palmitic acid). Through a series of elongation, reduction, dehydration and desaturation reactions various types of unsaturated fatty acids are produced. The reaction can incorporate double bonds up to the ninth carbon in mammalian system since the required enzymes are lacking and so we depend on plant sources for these essential fatty acids (3). Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids Fatty acids are called such because of the attachment of a long hydrophobic tail made of an aliphatic chain to a carboxylic acid functional group. This carboxylic carbon is referred to, in nomenclature, as the ? carbon. The chain is terminated by a methyl group assigned as the ? position. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are characterized by the presence of conjugated alkene groups in the cis confirmation. Thus, the position of the double bond can be indicated from the carboxylic carbon or from the methyl end. Thus, linoleic acid, a fatty acid with eighteen carbons and with two double bonds at carbons 9 and 12 from the carboxylic end can be designated as 18:2? 9,12. The dietary profile of the intake of fatty acids also determines the fatty acid composition of the phospholipid double layer. The latter can be assessed by determining the profiles of lipids from erythrocytes and plasma lipids, as well as identifying the membrane fluidity using analytical techniques (5). Another method of measuring membrane fluidity includes the use of various fluorescent markers which can tag protein molecules that are embedded in the lipid bilayer. The tendency of the colored markers to mix depends on the ability of the proteins to move through the membrane as time passes. The FRAP method, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, can also be related to the fluidity of membranes since it can measure lateral diffusion. This technique takes advantage of the ability of laser to bleach a pre marked fluorescent portion. As the membrane moves, color is regained and visualized using video equipment. Probes attached to the membrane can also be detected by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy (1). Arachidonic acid is also an important fatty acid component of phospholipids. The high degree of unsaturation ensures that the lipid bilayer is flexible and fluid even at slightly lower temperatures. The characteristic four conjugated double bonds prevent solidification at physiological temperatures and typically undergo alkene reactions such as oxidation. Its pKa is also suited to regulate its solubility in the aqueous and hydrophobic portions of the cell. In the salt form, it can be solvated by water but reverts back to its hydrophobic form once the salt reacts with free H+ in solution (6). Eicosanoid synthesis Omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids are also synthetic precursors of autocrine regulators called eicosanoids. Arachidonic acid is central to many pathways in the production of eicosanoids. These arachidonic acid-derived molecules, which include prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes, are difficult to analyze because of their limited concentrations and short periods of activity. The molecules are usually released as a response to immune reactions triggered by infections and antigen attack (1). In addition, they trigger molecular cascades which can affect even the expression of lipid metabolizing enzymes and present perils in metabolic disorders (7). The eicosanoid synthesis is mediated by two groups of enzymes and is achieved through the pathways utilizing cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase (8). Prostaglandins feature a cyclopentane ring in its structure with alcoholic functional groups at carbons in position eleven and fifteen. They are named as PGXy (prostaglandins) classified according to letters (symbolized by X) while y (subscript) indicated the number of double bonds found in the structure. Different letter classes are indicated by similarities in the functional group attached to the core structure but the group derived from arachidonic acid is one of the most significant. They are important molecules that signify inflammation reactions during infection and pain and are involved in muscular contractions during birthing events and ovulation. Apparently, they also have varying roles depending on the type of cell and tissue where they are produced (1). In fact, both omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA find importance in the synthesis of prostaglandins. The products from each, however, have different actions. Prostaglandins resulting from omega-3 PUFA have anti-inflammatory functions, while that synthesized from omega-6 are inflammatory. Thus, the ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids is important because these molecules compete for the same enzymes and the synthesis products should complement each other (9). Thromboxanes are cyclic ether derivatives of eicosanoids whose name can be symbolized as TXZy. Z represents the class of thromboxane and y indicates, as in the case of prostaglandins, the number of double bonds. They are involved in platelet aggregation and vasoconstriction. Leukotrienes, on the other hand, are eicosanoid molecules originally isolated from white blood cells, hence the name. They are also classified according to groups symbolized by letters (X) and subscripts (y) denote the number of double bonds found in the structure (LTXy). They are also implicated in processes involving inflammation, bronchoconstriction, vasoconstriction and capillary permeability (1). The overexpression of cyclooxygenase and lipooxygenase enzymes which oxidize the double bonds of arachidonic acid to form eicosanoids has been implicated in possible tumorigenesis in the human brain such as in gliomas and meningiomas. Thus, their structures are used as models for designing drugs that target inhibitory sites on the enzymes. It is predicted that future medicines that aim to cure brain tumors may be based on blocking certain reactions catalyzed by cyclooxygenases and lipooxygenases in the eicosanoid synthesis pathway (8). Due to its importance in brain, eyesight development, physical and behavioral functions, alternative sources of these omega-3 PUFA are being tapped and utilized to produce fortified food. Arterburn et al. 2007) have assessed the possibility of utilizing algae as sources of these important fatty acids and found substantial amounts of synthesized arachidonic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in membrane lipids and blood cells using algal oil fortified capsule supplements and foods (10). Health benefits and issues Early studies in animals and human test subjects have already established the important roles that omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids play in health functions. A study by Carlson et al. 2003) reports that diets deficient in omega-6 fatty acids impairs the growth of infants by decreasing the synthesis of arachidonic acid whose products play roles in development and phospholipid synthesis (11). It was recently identified that brain lipids metabolism and synthesis has a large dependence on levels of omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA, specifically docosahexaenoic acid and other eicosanoids (12). The diet of infants can easily be devoid of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids, interestingly, it was observed that these fatty acids are transmitted to the fetus from the pool of nutrients of the mother. It is thus important to maintain balance of these fatty acids in lactating and pregnant mothers for the proper development of their infants (5). The role of omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA in the development of brain disorders such as schizophrenia is also attributed to the ability of these fatty acids to inhibit the phospholipid degrading enzyme phospholipiase A2 which is found to be increased in schizophrenic individuals (7). Various studies have also reported the beneficial effects of an omega-3 and omega-6 rich diet on physical, behavioral and even psychological health. On the contrary, Hakkarainen et al. 2004) monitors the effect of an increased omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid intake and reports that a positive correlation is observed towards anxiety, alcoholism and depression among male subjects (13). The relation of diseases which stem from genetic alterations such as cancer and their risks based on profiles of dietary intake of omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA are also being established. It has been observed that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids lessens the odds of acquiring prostate cancer by slowing down the growth of prostate tumor cells but is reversed by omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Similarly, inter conversion of omega-6 to omega-3 PUFA re-established the positive effects of omega-3 on prostate cancer (14). These reports acknowledge that a healthy diet can be used to minimize genetic predispositions to certain diseases. In addition, if coupled with a healthy diet, preventive lifestyle measures, adequate nutrients, avoidance of red meat, refined floor products and concentrated sugars, substantial sulforophane rich foods such as allium and broccoli, intake of minerals, folic acids, vitamins, antioxidants, carotenoids, probiotics and dietary supplements, these measures and precautions can ward of the risks of cancer (15).

Political Aspects of the Classical Age of Greece

Political Aspects of the Classical Age of Greece This is a brief introduction to the Classical Age in Greece, a period that followed the Archaic Age and lasted through the creation of a Greek empire, by Alexander the Great. The Classical Age was characterized by most of the cultural wonders that we associate with ancient Greece. It corresponds with the period of the height of democracy, the flowering of Greek tragedy, and the architectural marvels at Athens. The Classical Age of Greece begins either with with the fall of the Athenian tyrant Hippias, son of Peisistratos/Pisistratus, in 510 B.C., or the Persian Wars, which the Greeks fought against the Persians in Greece and Asia Minor from 490-479 B.C. When you think of the movie 300, youre thinking of one of the battles fought during the Persian Wars. Solon, Peisistratus, Cleisthenes, and the Rise of Democracy When the Greeks adopted democracy it wasnt an overnight affair or a question of throwing out monarchs. The process developed and changed over time. The Classical Age of Greece ends with the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. Besides war and conquest, in the Classical period, the Greeks produced great literature, poetry, philosophy, drama, and art. This was the time when the genre of history was first established. It also produced the institution we know of as Athenian democracy. Alexander the Great Profile The Macedonians Philip and Alexander put an end to the power of the individual city-states at the same time they spread the culture of the Greeks all the way to the Indian Sea. Rise of Democracy One unique contribution of the Greeks, democracy lasted beyond the Classical period and had its roots in the earlier time, but it still characterized the Classical age. During the era before the Classical Age, in what is sometimes called the Archaic Age, Athens and Sparta had followed different paths. Sparta had two kings and an oligarchic government while Athens had instituted democracy. Etymology of Oligarchy oligos few arche rule Etymology of Democracy demos the people of a country krateo rule A Spartan woman had the right to own property, whereas, in Athens, she had few freedoms. In Sparta, men and women served the state; in Athens, they served the Oikos household/family. Etymology of Economy Economy oikos home nomos custom, usage, ordinance Men were trained in Sparta to be laconic warriors and in Athens to be public speakers. Persian Wars Despite an almost endless series of differences, the Hellenes from Sparta, Athens, and elsewhere fought together against the monarchical Persian Empire. In 479 they repelled the numerically mightier Persian force from the Greek mainland. Peloponnesian and Delian Alliances For the next few decades after the end of the Persian Wars, relations between the 2 major poleis city-states deteriorated. The Spartans, who had earlier been the unquestioned leaders of the Greeks, suspected Athens (a new naval power) of trying to take control of all of Greece. Most of the poleis on the Peloponnese allied with Sparta. Athens was at the head of the poleis in the Delian League. Its members were along the coast of the Aegean Sea and on islands in it. The Delian League initially had been formed against the Persian Empire, but finding it lucrative, Athens transformed it into its own empire. Pericles, the foremost statesman of Athens from 461-429, introduced payment for public offices so more of the population than just the rich could hold them. Pericles initiated the building of the Parthenon, which was supervised by the famed Athenian sculptor Pheidias. Drama and philosophy flourished. Peloponnesian War and Its Aftermath Tensions between the Peloponnesian and Delian alliances mounted. The Peloponnesian War broke out in 431 and lasted for 27 years. Pericles, along with many others, died of plague early in the war. Even after the end of the Peloponnesian War, which Athens lost, Thebes, Sparta, and Athens continued to take turns as the dominant Greek power. Instead of one of them becoming the clear leader, they dissipated their strength and fell prey to the empire-building Macedonian king Phillip II and his son Alexander the Great. Historians of the Archaic and Classical Period HerodotusPlutarchStraboPausaniasThucydidesDiodorus SiculusXenophonDemosthenesAeschinesNeposJustin Historians of the Period When Greece Was Dominated by the Macedonians DiodorusJustinThucydidesArrian fragments of Arrian found in PhotiusDemosthenesAeschinesPlutarch

Advertising in Abercrombie Fitch

Advertising in Abercrombie Fitch Overview: Ad Description Appendix 1 shows a grey, white and black advert comprising of a plus-sized woman lying down on her right side. Her right arm is resting on the ground and folded to support her head. The woman has tilted her head to make her seem like she is looking forward and diagonally.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Advertising in Abercrombie Fitch specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More She has also let her short hair free to fall on her back. In terms of dressing, she has a grey T-shirt with the ‘Abercrombie Fitch’ text on her bust area and black fitting shorts, which reveal her thighs. In addition, she has body art on her right arm, upper left arm and just above her knees. The white text, â€Å"Attractive Fat† is placed just above the woman with the letter â€Å"F† partially hidden by the woman’s thighs. Although this is a denotative meaning of the advert, advertisements a re built around semiotics to help persuade consumers’ to purchase products while using the societal culture as leverage. Therefore, they have connotative meaning. With this in mind, this paper critically deconstructs the advert to reveal its connotative meaning. Obvious Message The obvious message or intent of the advert is trying to persuade plus-sized women in the western, liberal world into believing that Abercrombie Fitch brand of clothing is suitable for plus-sized women because the company’s clothes makes them feel attractive. The â€Å"Abercrombie Fitch† text on the woman’s bust area is a sign that the woman is modeling for the company’s clothes. In the fashion industry, manufacturing an image in advertisement seeks to persuade buyers to change their habits. Therefore, to reach to and persuade plus-sized women to accept Abercrombie Fitch clothes, the advert uses or ‘manufacturers’ a plus-sized woman who is a model of the targ eted population. This is in addition to dressing the woman in Abercrombie Fitch clothes that are seemingly attractive, liberating or ‘cool’ by societal standards to form an ideal plus-sized woman. More so, the ad creators focus on the target group insecurities to persuade them to purchase clothes. Ideally, the society does not consider plus-sized women as attractive. This makes them have low-self esteem and feel unattractive. The dress code of the woman in the ad exhibits an attractive person full of confidence. Markedly, although plus-sized, she is not afraid to wear clothes that show off her body, including her thighs and arms. In addition, her non-verbal codes show confidence. She is resting comfortably on the ground with her chin up. This makes plus-sized women believe that with Abercrombie Fitch clothes, they can deal with their weaknesses, feel attractive and confident. Convincingly, with the phrase â€Å"attractive Fat† written in white color to symboli ze a new beginning, Abercrombie Fitch is making a statement that their clothes will change the plus-sized women’s lives by helping them deal with their weaknesses.Advertising Looking for essay on advertising? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Hidden Message Critics argue that adverts create false expectations and so is the revelation of the hidden meaning of this advert. Although the advert seems to inform or insinuate to the plus-sized women that Abercrombie Fitch clothes will help them deal with their weaknesses, the hidden meaning reveals otherwise. The hidden meaning is that the clothes that Abercrombie Fitch Company is selling cannot make plus-sized women become confident, attractive or improve on their self-esteem. This is because these three traits come through being intelligent, practical and mature enough to discern societal expectations. In simple terms, the three traits are nurtured from within by controlling external influences and knowing what one stands for. This ensures that a person, whether plus-sized or not is confident and has a high self-esteem. These two traits make a person feel attractive. The hidden message is derived from the color code, particularly the permissive grey color. In the western world and most societies, grey symbolizes intelligence. Being emotionless and motionless, grey is stable and solid with a sense of composure and calm that offers relief from the chaotic world. Grey is conservative and elegant, but not glamorous. Grey is practical, a color of responsibility and maturity due to its association with grey hair in old age. It never seeks attention, but stays toned down and safe. The extensive use of the grey color even on the woman’s skin creates an association between the color and the message that the ad passes across. This makes it easy to connect the symbolic meaning of the color to the actual message to reveal the hidden meaning of th e advert. Therefore, being intelligent, practical and staying toned down or controlling external influences helps plus-sized women to nurture a high self-esteem and confidence from within, not the Abercrombie Fitch clothes. Conclusion: Social and cultural relevance The connection between the obvious and hidden meaning and the ad is derived from the advertisement’s social and cultural relevance. The advert creators are torn between persuading the target audience to attain advertisement effects and informing them as expected by the societal culture. The society knows that advertisements evoke false expectations and creates unrealistic role models. Therefore, there is a belief that advertisements should seek to inform. To avoid compromising on the effect of the advertisement, the designers inform the target audience in a subtle or hidden way. This becomes a defense mechanism against societal expectations in case people start criticizing the advert. The advert presents a liberal western and plus-sized woman with the probable benefits derived from Abercrombie Fitch clothes. In addition, as the societal culture expects, it uses the grey color to inform that the attributes they seek are nurtured from within, not by the clothes they wear.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Advertising in Abercrombie Fitch specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Appendix 1

Compare and contrast Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Compare and contrast - Essay Example Neal Caffrey is the star of the show who was a conman. He was a thief and forger for three years and knew all the tricks of the trade but then he got caught by the FBI. He was sentenced to four years in prison and his tenure was about to end in jail when he escaped the prison under maximum security and he found his girlfriend Kate. The agent who caught him was Peter Burke, caught him again and returned him to the prison. Caffrey actually tries to help Burke out this time; he is willing to give him evidence on another case but only if he meets with Caffrey in which he proposed that he would actually help Burke catch other criminals since he would know their tricks better and he would be released from prison on a work basis. Burke hesitates to accept this proposal however he ends up agreeing. This partnership starts the show with Caffrey promising to not escape his deal and help catch white collar criminals and they end up doing so successfully in many cases. ‘Suits’ is al so a US based television series that is now on its third season. It involves Mike Ross as its main character. Ross is a brilliant character who was aiming to be an attorney and this dream was crushed when he was expelled and had to drop out of college. He had a keen intelligence and a photographic memory and so even as a dropout he could help others; he did this by taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) for others. Therefore both Caffrey and Ross had an intelligent mind and a flair for doing the wrong thing and they need to make a living as well. Ross had to take care of his grandmother who he places in a nursing home and then he also agrees to transport marijuana for a friend of his; not just anyone but his best friend in the show who is Trevor. At the same time, Harvey Specter, who a top corporate lawyer in New York is promoted in a firm called Pearson Hardman law firm. He needs to take on an associate attorney and Ross accidentally sits for an interview for the post. This ho wever turns to be in his favor for two reasons. Firstly, the marijuana task turns out to be a sting operation designed to catch criminals. And secondly Specter is so impressed by Ross that he hires him despite knowledge of his dropping out. He likes him due to his wittiness, his knowledge and his desire. Only Specter’s attorney knows that Ross is a dropout but to the world, he has graduated from Harvard with a law degree. Both Ross and Caffrey are persuasive enough to be hired and convince men of great position and power to be on their side and keep their secret at the same time. However, at Specter’s firm, his partner and who is jealous of Specter isn’t convinced with Mike’s degree credentials and Ross faces not only those issues but the fact that his friend is a drug dealer and that keeps him linked to his past which was a failure. He is also confused about whom he loves by first dating his best friend’s ex-girlfriend and then a colleague Rachel Zane, and so his personality seems to be more complicated. And his complication catches up to him when his best friend returns and seeing that he is dating his ex-girlfriend, he tells on him regarding his credentials to his firm. He loses Jenny eventually as well due to his feelings for Rachel and things seem to be going berserk with him at work with accusations of also hiding evidence as well. His personal life seems to be displayed more than Caffreys’

Multi-generational Sustainability Perspectives and Practices Research Paper

Multi-generational Sustainability Perspectives and Practices - Research Paper Example In addition, this study aims at identifying the similarities and differences between the environmental perspectives between the two generations. The respondents were asked to rate the environment in their local community, their nation, and the world. Data was obtained through interviewing grandparents, parents, and fellow students. The data obtained was qualitatively analyzed to determine the similarities and differences in environmental perspectives between the two generations. The results, except for few surprises, were what one would expect. Most of the respondents believed that their local environments were to some extend satisfactory, while the global environment was in immense trouble. In addition, the respondents differed and concurred on some perspectives towards the environment Discussion People hold different perspectives about the environment. The way people perceive the environment determines the way they use natural resources, their consumption practices, recreation, tra vel, and food sources and storage. People’s perspectives on the environment have been divided into four classes: imperialism, utilitarianism, stewardship and romanticism. These groups of perspectives account for majority of the opinions and perspectives that most individuals hold about the environment. The opinion of stewardship holds that people have a certain responsibility and privilege in relation to their surroundings, as stewards of the environment. This is similar to what nearly all the grandparents and parents hold towards the environment. Most of the elderly noted that they believe that it is their duty, as human beings, to take care of the environment, and to treat anything that is on it with respect. One thing that came out of the interview with the elderly is that, the environment consists of both the living and non living things. The elderly consider the environment as sacred and that it is biblical to take care of it. They consider it a religious duty of every i ndividual to take care of the environment. These respondents viewed the environment as uncontrollable, unpredictable and powerful, and the only thing they can do is to be fatalistic, and accept the good and the bad that comes from it. This view implies that people can only be submissive in the face of environment. This submissive nature of the environment dates back to history, according to Nash (1967), and is based on the inability of the people to control nature and on the association of the environment with the supernatural. Just like stewardship, imperialism is connected to the biblical perspective of the environment. Some of the fellow students believe that the environment was created and given over to mankind to explore and rule over it. Among the youth and the parent respondents, they feel that there is no sacred bond that exists between God and the environment. They believe that by ruling over the environment and controlling it would earn them respect from God. This gives th e reason for the extreme actions against the environment while trying to control and rule over it. This can be attributed to the rapid increase in environmental degradation among the youths. Ancient imperialists practiced and offered sacrifices to God. One of the ancient imperialists suggested that conquering nature is the highest aspiration an