Negative Impact of Technology Essay Example

Negative Impact of Technology Essay How  information technology  is changing the family and how it might affect the future. Some of the ways that IT may affect the perceptions and behaviors of individuals are considered next. Critics of this technology argue that it is negatively affecting our family lives. Their concern is that because of increasing use of home computers, a growing number of family people are becoming addicted to computers and loosing  human interaction. Information technology is affecting our children is another family issue brought by the critics. Critics fear that soon our world will become electronic society, because the neighbourhood would loose intercommunion. Information technology has been brought into many families, such as SOHO. Families have transferred their homes to offices, however reducing the family conceptions at the same time. Because of the technology family and school are taken over by leisure activities and mass entertainment that is only technological not real. Since kids are using  information technology  for their possible leisure and entertainment time instead of possible social interactions. When we spend time on computers at home and converse with people around the world, critics argue that they are talking to an artificial community and they lack  real world  face to face  human interaction  due to talking through a computer network is greatly different from face to face contact. Working at home with this  information technology, we would certainly be concerned with work all the time at home that would affect the family. We will write a custom essay sample on Negative Impact of Technology specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Negative Impact of Technology specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Negative Impact of Technology specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Although using multimedia interface and emotional communication tools we can build up a better environment for communication that does not suffice the  real world. On the whole, it will make the people isolate and decrease social skills to be dependent on computers. Since school and family are the possible social gathering for children, increased use of  information technology  reduces possible human interaction  that degrades the possible psychological development for the children. Family and school are the two main socialization institutions for children.

The Life Above and Beyond essays

The Life Above and Beyond essays Dont Knock the Rap: A Response to Venise Berrrys Redeeming the Rap Music Experience Rap music has been getting a bad rap from parents, legislators, and other authority figures ever since it first hit the American pop music scene in the early 1980s. Adults tend to see rap as having a harmful effect on its listeners, promoting violence, free sex, a bad image of women, and racist attitudes towards Jews, Koreans, and whites in general. In Redeeming the Rap Music Experience, Venise Berry argues that this rap is not deserved. In her view, rap music is morally pluralistic. By this she means that rap music portrays a wide range of attitudes. Some of those attitudes are very positive. Others are negative. But the negative attitudes let us see the problems and struggles of the community that produces rap music: the young, mostly black, urban community. Berry begins by explaining that rap music is similar to other kinds of African American music in that it captures the feelings and struggles of the community that produces it. Sprituals, blues, and jazz captured the feelings and struggles of the slaves, the early 20th century blacks, and the late 20th century blacks as they moved from bondage to segregation to wanting to state their identities as African Americans. The community that rap music comes out of is struggling with feelings of low self-esteem and powerlessness. These kids have to struggle with poverty, racism, lack of opportunity, and with mainstream America seeing them as deviants (p. 615). So they express their anger and helplessness in angry, sometimes violent songs. ...

Delphi DBGrid MultiSelect (Explanation and Example)

Delphi DBGrid MultiSelect (Explanation and Example) Delphis DBGrid is one of the most widely used DB-aware components in database related applications. Its main purpose is to enable your applications users to manipulate records from a dataset in a tabular grid. One of the lesser known features of the DBGrid component is that it can be set to allow multiple row selection. What this means is that your users can have the ability to select multiple records (rows) from the dataset connected to the grid. Allowing Multiple Selections To enable multiple selection, you only need to set the dgMultiSelect element to True in the Options property. When dgMultiSelect is True, users can select multiple rows in a grid using the following techniques: Ctrl Mouse clickShift Arrow keys The selected rows/records are represented as bookmarks and stored in the grids SelectedRows property. Note that SelectedRows is only useful when the Options property is set to True for both dgMultiSelect and dgRowSelect. On the other hand, when using dgRowSelect (when individual cells cannot be selected) the user wont be able to edit records directly through the grid and, and dgEditing is automatically set to False. The SelectedRows property is an object of type TBookmarkList. We can use the SelectedRows property to, for example: Get the number of rows selectedClear the selection (unselect)Delete all the selected recordsCheck whether a particular record is selected To set dgMultiSelect to True, you can either use the Object Inspector at design time or use a command like this at runtime: DBGrid1.Options: DBGrid1.Options [dgMultiSelect]; dgMultiSelect Example A good situation in which to use dgMultiSelect might be when you need an option to select random records or if you need the sum of the values of the selected fields.   The example below uses ADO components (AdoQuery connected to ADOConnection and DBGrid connected to AdoQuery over DataSource) to display the records from a database table in a DBGrid component. The code uses multiple selection to get the sum of the values in the Size field. Use this sample code if you want to select the entire DBGrid: procedure TForm1.btnDoSumClick(Sender: TObject);var i: Integer; sum : Single;beginif DBGrid1.SelectedRows.Count 0 thenbegin sum : 0; with DBGrid1.DataSource.DataSet dobeginfor i : 0 to DBGrid1.SelectedRows.Count-1 dobegin GotoBookmark(Pointer(DBGrid1.SelectedRows.Items[i])); sum: sum AdoQuery1.FieldByName(Size).AsFloat; end; end; edSizeSum.Text : FloatToStr(sum); endend;

Service Operations Management Team Project Essay

Service Operations Management Team Project - Essay Example The third member will be given the task of both internal and external communication and the identifying of new service opportunities for the organization. The member will be engaged on mobile communications and the linkages to the social sites including Facebook and Twitter. The fourth member, will be responsible for marketing, and will have to work together with the third member to leverage on the communication capabilities. The project will majorly pursue Mobile marketing because it has been realized that majority of the target customers are on mobile communication platforms. Every organization and project team requires a decision on the appropriate timings in order to realize the strategic plan. Since this project involves consultancy, it is easier for the project management process to run by dividing the tasks into four subtasks, logistics, co-ordination, communication and marketing. For example, the coordinator will only be concentrating on the decision on the timings of event. When a client needs to be attended to by the organization, the coordinator will decide on the timing of when the client will be attended to depending on the available work force and other resources. The member in charge of logistics will therefore be of great significance when the resources are required, for example, transporting the staff members to the site to offer the consultancy services. In order to get information from or pass information to the clients, suppliers and other service providers, the member in charge of communications does the communication on the various ch annels to present the consultancy services to them and offer necessary information. During the service delivery, the person will maintain the contact with the client until the service is completely delivered. There will be need for the person to collect the opinions of the clients from the communication channels concerning the quality of services they receive from

European Business Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

European Business Environment - Essay Example The Eurozone Since inauguration, the European Union has undergone economic crises. Resolutions could be seen through changes and charters within authorities and structures of the institutions. Such resolutions would be undertaken through impeding of European Union economic integration. Economic integration encompasses key steps. The preferential economic territory would lower the customs tariffs in the midst of the member countries. A free trade zone would be created to eradicate the internal customs imposed on certain commodities among the state parties. The custom union ensured recognition of a common trade strategy, and similar tariffs applied for the third countries. The common market establishes common regulations on commodities and enhances the free movement of commodities, services, and workforce. The Economic Monetary Union (EMU) formed a common market via a universal currency unit. The union determined a common monetary policy, which depended upon coordination among the memb er states’ economic policies, deficit and public debt, and monetary policies (Arestis & Sawyer 2011, p. 28). The common currency unit and monetary policy establishment and the Eurozone would be independently governed by ECB (European Central Bank). There would be implementation of harmonization of fiscal and other policies of the economy to complete the economic integration. In other words, the European Zone has basic institutional features. 1. Commercial and economic integration and inflow of financial resources. This involves the integrated and freedom in the markets. 2. Common currency, the Euro. 3. The open financial, institutionally separated markets have differential regulations and taxation. 4. The non integrated markets: the labor market’s rules remained national despite the determination of European institutional architects. This was as a result of cultural and political factors and real constrains. For instance, there would be the rigidity of the many countri es housing market. The European Union role is to endow migration freedom and equivalent rights to migrants. 5. Common fiscal parameters, which was a Maastricht criteria. The heterogeneous structures in the institution are the vital reasons of crisis within the Eurozone. It would be right to justify that the citizens of the Eurozone have had a negative response to the Euro. After the approval, of the unit of the common currency, the prices of services and commodities skyrocketed and the Eurozone exhibited a weak performance. The Euro has caused considerably indefensible macroeconomic inequalities within the states, and the Eurozone lacks an organizational structure to undertake the crisis situation (Arestis & Sawyer 2011, p. 30). In the year 2008, the approval process of the treaty of Lisbon was still on till 2009 when it became effective. Immediately after the Lisbon treaty became enforced, a general notion got developed that it would provide the turning point for the European Union to overcome the crisis. The treaty would be expected to optimize working methods and modernize institutions to tackle challenges effectively and efficiently (Franz & Sinn 2010, p. 102). The global financial crisis began to influence the European Union states unenthusiastically. The total public debt of Greece was almost 125 percent of its national income. These macroeconomic indicators in Greece would be explained by the Maastricht criteri

Human Relationships Essay Example for Free

Human Relationships Essay Writers use many subtle things to develop many themes of their novels. The relationships a person has with individuals around him affects the way other people think about him. In the book One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, Russian writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn uses human relationships to ignite certain emotions within the reader towards certain characters. These emotions occur each time the character appears and this is used by the reader to judge the character by the types of relationships he has. By the end of the book, these feelings have developed and support the theme of existentialism in the novel. Human relationships between the prisoners and the people outside give the reader automatic first impressions of the characters in the book. Mainly, the packages sent in by these people outside show that the prisoners have someone who cares for them. Packages are seen as a luxury item by the prisoners and one of the main things mentioned during character introductions is whether the characters receive packages or not. This one fact changes the way the reader views the character. If the prisoner receives no packages from home, the reader feels pity for the characters and feels the isolation that these camps are designed to maintain. On the other hand, if the prisoners do receive regular packages, they are viewed with the same eye as privileged individuals of high society. This is important to keep the overall mood of the novel constant because any sudden surprises which cause any sort of excitement may ruin the bleak atmosphere of the novel. Sudden surprises include a character doing something which may be considered foolish in the camp. One example of this is when Caesar says to Shukov, You keep it, Ivan Denisovich (Solzhenitsyn, 179) when Shukov brings him his bread. The foolish notion of giving away food is immediately dissipated in the mind of the reader when Caesars package is cleverly intertwined in to the text as fancy stuff (Solzhenitsyn, 179) a few lines later. Another example of the readers impression being manipulated is Fetyukov. By the time Shukov mentions that Fetyukov had three children outside but theyd all disowned him when he was arrested so there was no one to send him things (Solzhenitsyn, 56), Fetyukovs actions have created the impression of a runt with no pride who only wishes to pass his sentence with as much comfort as possible. However, when the sentence is mentioned, understanding floods the readers mind and the reader is forced to go back and think about what Fetyukov must be thinking when he scavenges things from the prisoners and the reader considers it justified for Fetyukov to act this way.

Standardized Testing Essay -- Standardized Testing Essays

Standardized Testing Scholar Bill Ayers believes standardized testing in schools does not accurately measure what is necessary to be successful in life. Ayers insists that Standardized tests such as the American College Test (ACT) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) measure specific facts and function which are among the least interesting and slightest important information that children should know. In an article titled â€Å"Testing the Right Way for Talent†, written by Hugh Price, argues the fact that standardized tests fail to capture the qualities that are necessary to be successful in the business world. Another article labeled â€Å"Implementing NCLB Assessment and Accountability Requirements in an Imperfect World† composed by Stuart Kahl, is in agreement with both Price and Ayers. According to Bill Ayers, Hugh Price and Stuart Kahl, standardized tests are uncalled excuse for a traumatic and stressful time in a child’s life. Hugh Price and Stuart Kahl are among the large majority of people who do not believe one test is able to accurately measure what a child knows. Price states, â€Å"High-stakes standardized tests, like the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the SAT, fail to capture the qualities most essential for success in the corporate world, such as creativity, drive and leadership† (Price). Price claims that although these tests are able to rate children in topics such as Math, English and History, what really makes one who they are is more than book smarts, but their personality and leadership skills are also necessary. In addition to Price believing this fact, Kahl also articulates against standardized testing. In his article that analyzes The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Kahl is aware of the fact that ... ...ort and a motivation behind the tests may as well perform better than those who are not. Whatever the reason may be, many people, including Price, Kahl, and Ayers do not support standardized testing. These authors all have one opinion in common; they are all against testing for the sake of the children, because of the pressures kids already endure without the pressures of testing. They all claim that tests may be an unfair way to rank children in the world today due to: teachers not teaching children the right material in preparation for the test, family upbringing, and even worrying the children would affect the test results. As Ayers indicates, one single test could not determine where a child stands in the business world, due to the fact that the test analyzes specific topics on school and nothing about their personality or more personal traits.

Fresh Food vs. Canned Food Essay

I’ll never forget the time when I tasted produce from the fresh side like it came fresh picked out of the garden then compared to the taste of a canned produce that could have been sitting in a can full of water and oil for who knows how long. The look was simply unappealing to the limp, dull and soggy vegetable compared to the vibrant color, and crisp texture and overall taste of a fresh one. Eating is an activity that we as humans do at least two times a day. We live in a world where the variety of food is immense, and we are responsible for what we eat. â€Å"We’re looking at fresh foods, something that appeals to everyone. †(Andrea Reudi) We decide what we are about to eat and how it will affect our bodies. Have you ever tasted a canned food item and could immediately tell that it was lacking something because of the taste quality compared to if you had consumed a fresh item? For most of us we prefer to eat fresh food over canned food any day because of the fresh factor. Fresh food tends to have an effect that bring us into our souls and immerse ourselves into the freshness of the food than in a canned item you just would like to run away from. Because of the advances in food technology have dramatically changed the way we eat, the question we ask is eating fresh food healthier compared to canned food or is there even much of a difference. There is a dramatic difference when eating fresh fruit and vegetables compared to canned goods. The differences between eating fresh foods instead of canned foods are the differences in flavor, health benefits and the cost. Number of people believe that fresh foods are in greater quality to canned goods which is true and will be explained. The general impression is that fresh food —produce, in particular—is better for you than frozen or canned food because fresh food (provided it has not been overly steamed or overly boiled) arrives at your table with its appearance largely unchanged, and its nutrients—including fiber content—intact. Additionally, canned foods are notorious for being higher in added salt and sugar, and frozen meals are known for the additives they often require (such as emulsifiers and binders found in frozen desserts). Now imagine the same situation with a canned food arriving at your table with most of the qualities greatly changed from the bland taste in flavor, the dullness in color, and the limpness and floppiness in texture. It also may seem illogical to think that food processed a year or more before it is consumed could actually still be nutritious (Health library 1). Could you ever tell the difference in taste when it comes to the fresh taste in fresh foods like it was just newly pulled from the ground in a good harvesting season compared to the dull taste of food preserved in a can for as long as two years. Can you imagine eating something that was preserved in a can from two years beforehand tasting the same as when it was freshly harvested on the farm? The most notable difference between these two kinds of foods is their flavor. Fresh foods have great flavor and taste because they keep all their natural conditions. Canned foods however, lack a lot of its flavor characteristics because there are some other chemical products added to the natural foods so it can contain a long shelf life. It is logical that the fresh foods will have a greater taste and flavor when consumed just because of the time in which they have been prepared. Nutrients and vitamins are also greatly diminished in the preserving process. Comparing both types of foods we notice another difference. There are many nutritional differences between both of these that have a health factor that affects both of them. The heating process during canning destroys from one-third to one-half of vitamins A and C, riboflavin, and thiamin. For every year the food is stored, canned food loses an additional 5 to 20% of these vitamins (Diet: fresh foods vs. canned foods). That said there are a few minor drawbacks to purchasing canned goods over fresh. A study conducted by students at the University of California showed that canned produce experiences a significant loss in thiamin, B6 and riboflavin, three essential B vitamins. However, the amounts of other vitamins are only slightly lower in canned food than in fresh food. Canned foods lose some of the original fresh food nutrients when stored, and also it has to be tinned with many conservatives and chemical factors that prolong the shelf life and apparent freshness of the food, but could also become toxic if consumed too often. But on the other hand canned produce, is generally packaged only hours after it has been picked. The canning process that require high temperatures preserve the vast majority of the food’s nutrients. The Food and Drug Administration states that â€Å"When produce is handled properly and canned quickly after harvest, it can be more nutritious than fresh produce sold in stores†. Buying fresh foods have a lot of good qualities over canned foods, but there are other differences why buying fresh foods may have some shortcomings. Popular opinion suggests that fresh produce provides the most nutrients and health benefits over canned foods. However, closer study reveals that this actually may not be the case. What is referred to as â€Å"fresh† produce may not be as fresh as it appears. While it is generally accepted that fresh fruits and vegetables contain the most nutrients, it is important to remember that. Once a fresh produce such as a fruit or vegetable is picked, it undergoes a process of storing and shipping where it loses a significant percent of its nutritional value. Produce is often transported over long distances and then left to sit on store shelves. The time lapse between picking and purchase can cause fresh fruits and vegetables to lose some of their nutritional value as they are exposed to light and air. Their taste and texture are also diminished during this procedure. Frozen or canned produce, on the other hand, is generally packaged immediately after harvesting, when nutrient levels are at their highest. Statements issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the International Food Information Council (IFIC) report that nutrients in fruits and vegetables are generally not lost during canning or freezing, and that fresh, frozen, or canned versions of the same food have relatively equivalent nutrient profiles. The nutrients in produce remain largely intact regardless of how they are processed. The lycopene in tomatoes, for example, can be found in fresh tomatoes, canned tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, and frozen pizza sauce. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety & Inspection Service has also stated that there is little change in nutrient value during freezer storage of meat and poultry products. Well if nutrition isn’t the issue then what is. Yet another difference between these two types of foods is the cost. Canned foods are much more expensive than fresh foods. Here the benefit of buying tinned foods is that they are easier to find, for example, in a supermarket instead of the market like the fresh foods, and they require less work to prepare than fresh foods, just open and serve. Some drawbacks that come along with eating fresh foods are that, fresh fruit is a seasonal product in most areas. If a fruit is not in season, you may be able to purchase the fruit, but it will be prohibitively expensive. Another disadvantage to fresh fruit includes the shelf-life for fresh fruit is impractically short for many of us. This means not only that the fruit purchases is apt to go bad before it can be consumed, but also that more trips to the grocery store are required to keep good fresh fruit in the house at all times. Clearly, there are many differences and comparisons when buying fresh foods and buying canned foods. When comparing canned foods to fresh foods in the amount of nutrients still intact from the process and delivery to the store shelves it is clear that fresh foods contain nutrients throughout the handling process. Studies confirm that fresh fruits and vegetables straight from the garden or local farmer’s market remain the most nutritional of all produce options. But for those without the time or means to grow produce, canned or frozen products may be worth considering . One only has to taste the remarkable difference in a fresh food item compared to a canned item to recognize the dissimilarity in crisp taste compared to the wilted taste in a canned item. As we can see it comes down to a personal choice, based on the time each person has, the money and the importance he/she gives to his/her nutrition and health. Therefore, it is important that you consider your possibilities and choose the best type of foods for your convenience and lifestyle. Is there really any question as to the benefits of fresh foods that underhandly outweigh the benefits evaluated to canned food? But if there was any question you had to ask yourself it would be would you prefer the fresh, crisp taste of a fresh fruit or vegetable or would you desire the soggy, dull taste of a canned product.

Amy Tan’s “Two Kinds” and “Best Quality” Essay

Amy Tan’s â€Å"Two Kinds† and â€Å"Best Quality† depict a struggling and often stressful relationship between a defiant daughter and an overbearing mother. June Mei and her mother Suyuan engage in a destructive battle between what is possible and what is realistic. June, although headstrong, seeks her mother’s approval and adoration. Suyuan, although patronizing, yearns for her daughter’s obedience and best qualities. The relationship between mother and daughter falls victim to tension inherent in any mother/daughter struggle, especially between first-generation American daughters and their immigrant mothers (Yglesias 1). Their inability to understand one another largely stems from cultural differences; Suyuan is a Chinese woman who flees to America for a better life, while June is destined to demonstrate her self-worth as a Chinese-American. Due to distressed communicational nets, June and Suyuan maintain a staggering relationship, which ultimate ly ends in Suyuan’s poignant acceptance of her daughter’s individuality and cultural evolution. One of the most prominent cultural barriers June and Suyuan suffer from is communication. Suyuan remains a cultural alien in America because she is a first generation immigrant from mainland China (Xu 3). As a result, Suyuan speaks Chinese and broken English, while June speaks English and fractured Chinese. Furthermore, the communication barrier seems to be two-fold: between generations and cultures (Shear 194). The first generational and cultural gap materializes in â€Å"Two Kinds† when June announces her adolescent defiance by saying, â€Å"Why don’t you like me the way I am? I’m not a genius!† Her overbearing mother retorts in her fragile English, â€Å"Who ask you be genius? Only ask you be your best. For you sake †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Tan 597). This short dialogue is extremely significant as it reveals the cultural tension between Suyuan and June, thus causing a bitter mother/daughter conflict. June’s difficulty in comprehending her mother echoes S uyuan’s frustration at her inability to pass on the benefits of her accumulated wisdom and experience (Rubin 13). Suyuan’s frail English, concurrent with June’s adolescent will to defy her mother, illustrate the communication and culture nets they must overcome. Another example of their shared dilemma begins with June’s timid reaction to  her mother’s offering of her life’s importance twenty years later in â€Å"Best Quality.† Suyuan offers June her â€Å"life’s importance,† a jade pendant on a gold chain (Tan 221). Cultural and generational gaps illuminate the root of June’s uncertainty about this jade pendant Suyuan gives her after a Chinese New Year crab dinner. June reveals her bewilderment when she notices a bartender wearing a similar pendant. After asking him of its origin, he replies with, â€Å"My mother gave it to me after I got divorced †¦ I think she’s trying to tell me I’m still worth something.† June reflects, â€Å"I knew by the wonder in his voice that he had no idea what the pendant really meant† (222). This dialogue suggests there is a deeper, sadder miscommunication between June and her deceased mother. As June ascertains the meaning of Suyuan’s poignant offering by asking her aunties, her mother’s closest friends, she realizes â€Å"they would tell me a meaning that is different from what my mother intended† (222). Conversations with her â€Å"aunties† remind June of painful distances: â€Å"My mother and I never really understood one another. We translated each other’s meanings and I seemed to hear less than what was said, while my mother heard more† (Cheng 12). Her revelation is frightening, as she feels her mother’s words will be lost in a sea of translations and interpretations. This realization, although exacerbating her quest to gather her life’s importance, simultaneously opens her mind to the â€Å"Chinese† culture, thus slowly closing the cultural and generational gap felt between mother and daughter. Before reaching a blissful state of certainty, the pleasure of a life-altering epiphany, June engaged in destructive fights with her mother, ending in her embarrassment and Suyuan’s loss of hope. In â€Å"Two Kinds,† the conflict between Suyuan and June culminates after June’s piano fiasco when she decides she will no longer play. After Suyuan’s insistent struggle to get June to play the piano, the ultimate communicational barrier is stressed. June shouts through belligerent sobs at her mother, â€Å"You want me to be something that I’m not! I’ll never be the kind of daughter you want me to be!† Suyuan shouts back in Chinese bellowing, â€Å"Only two kinds of daughters †¦ obedient or follow own mind! †¦ Only one kind of daughter can live in this house. Obedient kind!† (Tan 153). These â€Å"two kinds† of daughters suggest Suyuan’s cultural expectations and customs which  contributes to the cultural net; her shouts in Chinese cause the communicational net, ending with the mother and daughter struggle. June responds with a devastating proclamation, leaving her mother, like her hopes, â€Å"blowing away like a small brown leaf, thin, brittle, lifeless.† As a result of June’s iron-will to assert her individuality, she fails her mother many times in the following years, including at a crab dinner twenty years later in â€Å"Best Quality.† At the beginning of the meal, everyone selects a crab until the last two are left for Suyuan and June. June, thinking it is the best and right thing to do, opts for the worst crab. However, Suyuan insists she take the better of the two crabs: â€Å"I knew I could not refuse †¦ that’s the way Chinese mothers show they love their children, not through hugs and kisses but with stern offerings of [food],† June recalls (232). This poignant moment is halted as the generational and cultural conflict between Suyuan and June intensifies during the crab dinner. During the meal, Waverly and June begin to bicker. However, Waverly gets the best of June, embarrassing her in front of her friends and family. Even worse, June remembers her mother telling Waverly, â€Å"True, cannot teach style. June not sophisticate like you. Must be born this way.† June laments not only is she humiliated, but â€Å"betrayed† by her mother (Tan 232). This bitter and oppressive remark strengthens the mother/daughter conflict. There are moments of redemption in both stories, however. In â€Å"Two Kinds,† Suyuan offers the piano June played when she was a child, while in â€Å"Best Quality,† she gives June a jade pendant with a poignant message about her life’s importance. After these offerings many years later, Suyuan and June finally come to an understanding. For June’s thirtieth birthday, Suyuan decides to give her the piano she played as a child in â€Å"Two Kinds.† After their climactic argument at the piano bench, Suyuan never mentions June’s piano lessons again. This lack of communication seals the distance between mother and daughter. Once Suyuan closed the lid to the piano, June reflects the lid not only â€Å"shut out the dust and misery† but her â€Å"mother’s dreams† as well. Many years later, the birthday offer surprises June, feeling the offer was a â€Å"sign of forgiveness, a tremendous burden removed† (Tan 154). Suyuan’s generous gift opens an understanding between herself and her daughter. June takes this offer as a sign of not only forgiveness, but hope for a better relationship with her mother. Hope rekindles as June recalls, â€Å"after that, every time I saw the piano in my parent’s living room †¦ it made me feel proud, as if it were a shiny trophy I had won† (Tan 602). Similarly, â€Å"Best Quality† suggests reconciliation and an opening to June’s general sense of self. For example, upon giving June the jade pendant, Suyuan launches into a heartfelt message, â€Å"For a long time, I wanted to give you this necklace. See, I wore this on my skin, so when you put it on your skin, then you know my meaning. This is your life’s importance.† In this instance, June begins to understand herself, even if she does not fully understand her mother’s words. She implies her understanding by reflecting, â€Å"Although I didn’t want to accept it, I felt as if I already swallowed it† (235). The mother/daughter relationship mends further when June asks her mother, â€Å"what if someone else had picked that crab?† Her mother smiles and responds with â€Å"Only you pick that crab. Nobody else take it. I already know this. Everybody else want best quality. But you? You thinking different. Waverly took best quality crab, you took worst. Because you have best quality heart. You have style no one can teach, must be born this way† (Tan 234). This powerful, poignant message from mother to daughter mends the generational and cultural gaps poisoning the relationship. Thus, in â€Å"Two Kinds† and â€Å"Best Quality† there is a healing process with understanding but not before a cultural conflict can plague the relationship. Finally, the communicational and cultural barrier between mother and daughter almost breaks, broadening June’s understanding of her life’s importance and Suyuan’s hopes. The communicational barrier shatters completely when June reaches an epiphany in â€Å"Two Kinds.† As June begins to see Suyuan in a new light after the subtle offering of the piano as a sign of closure, she is revitalized and mature. After tuning the piano, June begins to play â€Å"Perfectly Contented,† the melody she butchered so many years ago during the talent show fiasco. She then notices â€Å"Pleading Child† next to it. As June recalls, â€Å"†Pleading Child† was shorter but slower; â€Å"Perfectly Contented† was longer but faster† (Tan  155). Finally realizing they are two halves of the same song, June becomes wiser. The two halves of the song serve as a metaphor about life to highlight the relationship between mother and daughter (Shen 244). The mother/daughter relationship involves two kinds of phases: a phase of barriers and a phase of maturity, understanding and redemption, the key ingredients to destroying cultural and co mmunicational obstacles. June’s epiphany shatters the communicational barrier, as she finally understands full-heartedly she is in another phase of her life, where the good intentions and hopes her mother have for her are genuine and true. A similar theme is portrayed in â€Å"Best Quality†, where June’s sense of self is truly realized. After her mother dies, she notices her father does not eat well. Without realizing it, she is already making the same dishes her mother used to make for her father. As she cooks the dish, she remembers her mother mentioning how hot things restore the spirit and health (Tan 235). June begins to realize her cooking is not only restoring her father’s spirit and health, but the spirit and health of her Chinese identity. In essence, she is slowly becoming like her mother, the same woman she resisted for many years. This duality is further accentuated when she hears the tenants upstairs. â€Å"Even you don’t want them, you stuck†, her mother says. June finally understands her mother’s meaning (Tan 236). Again, not only can she finally understand her mother, she begins to become her mother, feeling the regret of having noisy tenants. Finally, she fully becomes aware of her Chinese identity when she mimics her mother’s discontent for the tomcat on her windowsill: â€Å"†Get away from there!† I shout, and slap my hand on the window three times. But the cat just narrows his eyes, flattens his one ear, and hisses back at me† (236). This illustrates June’s moment of awakening. She is truly like her mother as she remembers Suyuan’s complaints, the same three slaps of the hand and finally, the same hissing as a retort. June recognizes her mother’s traits and how they shape her, thus completely shattering the cummunicational and cultural barriers between them. As a result of communicational and cultural barriers, June and Suyuan endure a stressful relationship. Although the conflicts between June and Suyuan are bitter and cold, there is a moment of forgiveness and reconciliation. â€Å"Two  Kinds† implies without a struggle for identity and understanding, one cannot live the two halves of human experience. Illuminated by her mother’s words, June begins to understand her life’s importance and herself as a Chinese-American. â€Å"Best Quality† depicts that understanding and how parental guidance combined with cultural experience can create character and, above all else, identity. Life exists in antitheses and paradoxes. Joy and sorrow, love and hate, pleasure and pain, success and failure, guild and redemption are all inextricably intertwinced as part of the human experience, each making the alternative possible. Tan’s â€Å"Two Kinds† and â€Å"Best Quality† reveals the human experience through a mother and daughter conflict going through two kinds of phases, a communicational and cultural barrier creating the conflict and the best qualities of one’s identity healing a broken relationship.

On a Summer Day Essays - Sports, Beach, Recreation, Surfing, Leisure

On a Summer Day Essays - Sports, Beach, Recreation, Surfing, Leisure On a Summer Day Leaving the city before sunrise and travelling for lovely and relaxing scenery, I reached a distant town somewhere north bound of Luzon and found the perfect place for my weekend. I saw a mesmerizing view of the pellucid sea and lush mountains. It was around 9:00 in the morning and I felt the scorching sun warm the soft and fine white sand between my toes. I looked at the white fibrous clouds and blue skies above and saw birds circling in the air. A gushing wave came and hit the hefty rocks on the shore. I felt refreshed as the saltwater mist touched my cheeks and a gentle breeze patted my back. The beautiful beach is a pleasant place to unwind. I felt the company of cheerful people enjoying the heat and waves. On my left side, I saw a group of children building sand castles and heard the loud laughter of girls chatting. A little girl in flower-printed bathing suit perseveringly looked for and picked up the prettiest seashells on the shore. Under the green beach umbrellas that lined in rows, friends and colleagues talked with each other and took pictures of the captivating sea. On my right side, I saw a colorful spotted beach ball continuously bouncing in the air as teenagers actively play. With sunglasses and eyes sealed shut, white tourists lay on the sand and enjoyed the sweltering UV rays. Others enjoyed their swim with the cold water and playful waves. Many locals and tourists reveled in the fast and fun banana boat ride and sliced through the waves with red paddles through kayaking. Others found enjoyment in battling with the large waves with their colorful surfing boards. I took a 15-minute boat ride and reached another paradise. There were big and verdant palm trees which stand on the side, crystal clear water which was calm and gleaming white sand that spread far. Egrets flew down and pecked on small fishes in the water. The people in the area were fewer than those in the first resort I've gone to. Some were grilling hotdogs and others were slumbering under nipa huts. I walked on the smooth sand and sun-warmed rocks on the shore and felt the summer breeze in my hair. I rested on the white sunbath chair and felt quenched as the watermelon shake slipped down through my throat. I entered the nearest beach restaurant to satisfy my hungry stomach. The savorous aroma of chicken barbeque entered my nostrils and the smoke of the grill blew on my face as I sat on the last remaining chair. The customers were in great delight as the waiters served them bountiful seafood platter. I felt satiated as I devoured the freshly cooked lobsters and prawns, and the delicious grilled meat. Before I left, I tried their tourist-favorite creamy strawberry ice cream. I spent the rest of my day at the resort spa that offered a very serene and relaxing ambience. The very welcoming and friendly resort staff made feel at home. The scent of lavender and eucalyptus provided a soothing and sedative effect. The calming colors of the interior created a luxurious feel. The cozy and cool atmosphere gave me a good rest for the warm summer day. The aesthetic view of the beach from the spa was perfect. Indeed, it was an unwinding day for me to be far from the city and close to the picture-perfect scenery of the beach.

Neanderthal Burials at Shanidar Cave

Neanderthal Burials at Shanidar Cave The site of Shanidar Cave is located adjacent to the modern village of Zawi Chemi Shanidar in northern Kurdish Iraq, on the Zab River in the Zagros Mountains, one of the major tributaries of the Tigris River. Between 1953 and 1960, the skeletal remains of nine Neanderthals were recovered from the cave, making it one of the most important Neanderthal sites in western Asia at the time. Shanidar Cave Chronology Shanidar cave itself measures about 13,000 square feet (1,200 square meters) in area, or 75x75 ft (53x53 m) square. The mouth of the cave today measures about 82 ft (25 m) wide and about 26 ft (8 m) tall. The site deposits are about 46 ft (14 m) thick, which excavator Ralph Solecki divided into four major cultural layers, each separated by what Soleckis team recognized as discrete discontinuities. Layer A: Neolithic to ModernLayer B: Mesolithic to Pre-Pottery NeolithicLayer C: Upper Paleolithic or BaradostianLayer D: Middle Paleolithic or Mousterian Neanderthal Burials at Shanidar The lowest, oldest, and most substantial levels at Shanidar are the Mousterian levels, which represent a period of time when Neanderthals lived there about 50,000 years ago. Within these deposits were discovered nine human interments, at least some of which were deliberate burials. All nine of the burials at Shanidar were found beneath a cave rockfall, but the excavators were absolutely certain that at least some of the burials were purposeful. During the 1960s, that was a shocking statement to make, because Neanderthals were not considered humans, certainly not thought to be capable of caring for their dead. Considerably more evidence for Middle Paleolithic burials has since been recovered in other caves sites- at Qafzeh, Amud, and Kebara (all in Israel), Saint-Cesaire (France), and Dederiyeh (Syria) caves. Shanidar Burials Some of the skeletons from Shanidar exhibit evidence for interpersonal violence among Pleistocene hunters and gatherers, a level of violence also attested at El Sidrà ³n in Spain. Shanidar 3, a well-preserved adult male skeleton, had a partially healed injury to a rib. This injury is believed to have been caused by sharp force trauma from a stone point or blade. This is one of only a few known examples of Neanderthal traumatic injury from a stone tool- others include St. Cesaire in France and Skhul Cave in Israel. Experimental archaeology investigations by American archaeologist Steven Churchill and colleagues suggest that this injury resulted from being shot by a long-range projectile weapon. The skeleton known as Shanidar 1 was an older adult male, who survived a crushing fracture to his left eye socket, and the loss of his right forearm and hand. Archaeologists Erik Trinkaus and Sebastien Villotte believe this individual was also deaf, based on the presence of bony growths in his ears. Not only do these skeletons exhibit interpersonal evidence, they also indicate that Neanderthals cared for individuals who had been handicapped. Dietary Evidence Shanidar was the focus of early floral analytical studies, which presented what became a controversial interpretation. Soil samples taken from sediments near the burials contained an abundance of pollen from several kinds of flowers, including the modern herbal remedy ephedra. The pollen abundance was interpreted by Solecki and fellow researcher Arlette Leroi-Gourhan as evidence that flowers were buried with the bodies. However, there is some  debate about the source of the pollen, with some evidence that the plant remains may have been brought into the site by burrowing rodents, rather than placed there as flowers by grieving relatives. Recent studies by palynologists  Marta Fiacconi and Chris Hunt  also suggest that the pollen found in the cave is not dissimilar to pollen found outside of the cave. Microscopic studies of the calculus deposits- also known as tartar- on teeth from the Neanderthals at Shanidar found plant remains of several starchy foods that made up the inhabitants diet. Those plants included grass seeds, dates, tubers, and legumes. Some evidence suggests that at least some of the consumed plants had been cooked, and preserved starch grains from wild barley were also found on the faces of some of the Mousterian tools in the cave as well. Archaeology History The original excavations were conducted in the cave during the 1950s directed by American archaeologist Ralph S. Solecki. Later investigations of the site and on the artifacts and soil samples recovered from the site have been conducted by Trinkaus among others. Locally, Shanidar was until recently inhabited by Kurdish shepherds, but now it is managed by the local antiquities service and has become a popular Kurdish tourist destination. Sources Churchill, Steven E., et al. Shanidar 3 Neandertal Rib Puncture Wound and Paleolithic Weaponry. Journal of Human Evolution 57.2 (2009): 163-78. Print.Cowgill, Libby W., Erik Trinkaus, and Melinda A. Zeder. Shanidar 10: A Middle Paleolithic Immature Distal Lower Limb from Shanidar Cave, Iraqi Kurdistan. Journal of Human Evolution 53.2 (2007): 213-23. Print.Fiacconi, Marta, and Chris O. Hunt. Pollen Taphonomy at Shanidar Cave (Kurdish Iraq): An Initial Evaluation. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 223 (2015): 87-93. Print.Henry, Amanda G., Alison S. Brooks, and Dolores R. Piperno. Microfossils in Calculus Demonstrate Consumption of Plants and Cooked Foods in Neanderthal Diets (Shanidar III, Iraq; Spy I and II, Belgium). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 108.2 (2011): 486-91. Print.Nadel, Dani, et al. Earliest Floral Grave Lining from 13,700–11,700-Y-Old Natufian Burials at Raqefet Cave, Mt. Carmel, Israel. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 110.29 (2013): 11774-78. Print. Trinkaus, Erik, and Sà ©bastien Villotte. External Auditory Exostoses and Hearing Loss in the Shanidar 1 Neandertal. PLoS One 12.10 (2017): e0186684. Print.

Criminal Behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Criminal Behavior - Essay Example An investigation of male and female criminal activity will see a shift in female behavior that has been influenced by social and cultural pressures, and a narrowing of the gap between male and female perpetrators. Recent decades have seen an increasing prevalence of female criminals and the crimes that they commit have become more violent. During the 10-year period from 1986 to 1997 the adult male correctional population increased by 67 percent, while the women's population increased by 100 percent (Demographic trends, 2008). Still, crime is an activity that is dominated by males as 5 percent of them are under some form of correctional supervision in the US compared with only 1 percent of the female population. However, female crimes have become more violent in nature. In 1989, 13 percent of the crimes committed by females were violent in nature, but that number had increased to 17 percent by 2002 (US Department of Justice, 2004). In addition, in the year 2000 women constituted 6.7 percent of the total state and federal prison population, and that number had increased to 7.2 percent in 2007 (US Department of Justice, 2008). Data from a variety of sources verifies that women have become more a ctive in crime in a more violent fashion. The contrast between male and female crime and the shift in demographics in recent years can help give an indication of the motivations that underlie criminal activity. Emotion has a far lesser impact on a man's decision to commit a crime than it does for a female. When men commit a crime it is often the result of learned behavior that has been the result of social interaction. Ramoutar & Farrington (2006) report that, "According to social learning theory, if individuals have ample opportunity to observe aggressive or violent behaviour, this will increase the chance that they will learn to value violence and incorporate it into their behavioural repertoire" (p.562). These behaviour patterns are learned from parents, family members, social networks, and promoted through the culture of the popular media. The male dominated society has traditionally tolerated male violence and males are responding to the motivation of perpetuating the existing social norms (Women's Aid, 2005, p.7). Soc ial and cultural norms are at the foundation of the difference in male and female demographics in regards to the types of crimes committed. Women commit violent acts as a means of reacting to their socially repressed status, while males commit violent acts as a learned behavior and minimizes the act based on society's acceptance of male domination. While social learning is a factor that impacts a male's decision to commit a crime, it is also a factor that discourages women from criminal activity. Social control theory further states that "human beings have a natural tendency to engage in antisocial behavior, irrespective of gender" and that strong community, family, workplace, and social ties all contribute to a person's reluctance to engage in criminal activity (Li & MacKenzie, 2003, p.279). According to Corbett (2007) there are significant "informal pressures and sanctions placed on women by family to conform to appropriate gender prescribed behaviours that discourage deviance" (p.258). Women have traditionally been perceived as the 'weaker sex' and sheltered from the male dominated activities associated with