Tobacco in America Essay Example For Students

Tobacco in America Essay Tobacco in AmericaEveryday 3,000 children start smoking, most them between the ages of 10 and18. These kids account for 90 percent of all new smokers. In fact, 90 percent ofall adult smokers said that they first lit up as teenagers (Roberts). Thesestatistics clearly show that young people are the prime target in the tobaccowars. The cigarette manufacturers may deny it, but advertising and promotionplay a vital part in making these facts a reality (Roberts). The kings of these media ploys are Marlboro and Camel. Marlboro uses afictional western character called The Marlboro Man, while Camel uses Joe Camel,a high-rolling, swinging cartoon character. Joe Camel, the smooth characterfrom R.J. Reynolds, who is shown as a dromedary with complete style has beenattacked by many Tobacco-Free Kids organizations as a major influence on thechildren of America. Dr. Lonnie Bristow, AMA (American Medical Association)spokesman, remarks that to kids, cute cartoon characters mean that the productis harmless, but cigarettes are not harmless. They have to know that their adsare influencing the youth under 18 to begin smoking(Breo). Researchers at theMedical College of Georgia report that almost as many 6-year olds recognize JoeCamel as know Mickey Mouse (Breo). That is very shocking information for anyparent to hear. We will write a custom essay on Tobacco in America specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The industry denies that these symbols target people under 21 and claim thattheir advertising goal is simply to promote brand switching and loyalty. Manypeople disagree with this statement such as Illinois Rep. Richard Durbin whostates If we can reduce the number of young smokers, the tobacco companieswill be in trouble and they know it (Roberts). So what do the tobacco companiesdo to keep their industry alive and well? Seemingly, they go toward a marketthat is not fully aware of the harm that cigarettes are capable of. U.S. News recently featured a discussion of the smoking issue with 20teenagers from suburban Baltimore. The group consisted of ten boys and ten girlsbetween the ages of 15 and 17. When asked why they started smoking, they gavetwo contradictory reasons: They wanted to be a part of a peer group. They alsowanted to reach out and rebel at the same time. When you party, 75 to 90percent of the kids are smoking. It makes you feel like you belong, says DevonHarris, a senior at Woodlawn High. Teens also think of smoking as a sign ofindependence. The more authority figures tell them not to smoke, the more likelythey are to pick up the habit (Roberts). The surprising thing is that these kidsknow that they are being influenced by cigarette advertising. If these kids know that this advertising is manipulating them, why do theystill keep smoking? The ads are everywhere, especially in teen-orientedmagazines, such as Rolling Stone and Spin. The ads also fuel some of the reasonsthe children gave for starting. They represent rebellion, independence,acceptance and happiness. These are all the things a young person, betweenchildhood and adolescence, needs and desires. This type of advertising, on topof peer pressure, is the mystery behind the rise in adolescent smoking. How do we stop the future of America from smoking? Here are three thingsthat the experts recommend. Try to convince your children that smoking is notcool. Talk to your kids at a young age about the dangers of smoking. Identifyfamily members who smoke and ask them to stop (Thomas). Children are the most valuable commodity we are given in life. Lets try toeducate them while theyre young to be independent thinkers and to not be swayedby the tobacco companies who are trying to take advantage of their mind and body. .uca79dd7643f4cf8e6b576dbb97434e11 , .uca79dd7643f4cf8e6b576dbb97434e11 .postImageUrl , .uca79dd7643f4cf8e6b576dbb97434e11 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uca79dd7643f4cf8e6b576dbb97434e11 , .uca79dd7643f4cf8e6b576dbb97434e11:hover , .uca79dd7643f4cf8e6b576dbb97434e11:visited , .uca79dd7643f4cf8e6b576dbb97434e11:active { border:0!important; } .uca79dd7643f4cf8e6b576dbb97434e11 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uca79dd7643f4cf8e6b576dbb97434e11 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uca79dd7643f4cf8e6b576dbb97434e11:active , .uca79dd7643f4cf8e6b576dbb97434e11:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uca79dd7643f4cf8e6b576dbb97434e11 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uca79dd7643f4cf8e6b576dbb97434e11 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uca79dd7643f4cf8e6b576dbb97434e11 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uca79dd7643f4cf8e6b576dbb97434e11 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uca79dd7643f4cf8e6b576dbb97434e11:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uca79dd7643f4cf8e6b576dbb97434e11 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uca79dd7643f4cf8e6b576dbb97434e11 .uca79dd7643f4cf8e6b576dbb97434e11-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uca79dd7643f4cf8e6b576dbb97434e11:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Psychological Explanations Of Anorexia EssayWorks CitedBill Clinton vs. Joe Camel. U.S. News World Report. 2 Sep. 1996: 12. Infotrac. Online. 27 Oct. 1996. Selling Tobacco to Kids. America. 17 Feb. 1996: 3. Infotrac. Online. 27 Oct. 1996. Roberts, Steven. Teens on tobacco; kids smoke for reasons all their own. U.S. News World Report. 18 Apr. 1996: 38. Infotrac. Online. 27 Oct. 1996. Thomas, Roger E. 10 steps to keep the children in your practice nonsmokers.American Family Physician. Aug. 1996: 450. Infotrac. Online. 27 Oct. 1996. Breo, Dennis L. Kicking Butts-AMA, Joe Camel and the Black Flag war ontobacco. JAMA, TheJournal of the American Medical Association. 29Oct. 1993: 1978. Infotrac. Online. 27 Oct. 1996. t

How to Make Glow in the Dark Slime

How to Make Glow in the Dark Slime It only takes one more ingredient to turn normal slime into glowing slime. This is a great Halloween project, though its fun for any time of the year. Glowing slime is safe for kids to make. Difficulty: Easy Time Required: about 15 minutes Materials for Glow in the Dark Slime Elmers glue gel or 4%  polyvinyl alcohol  solution4% (saturated) borax solutionPhosphorescent zinc sulfide (ZnS) or glowing paintMeasuring cups/spoonsBowl or zip-top plastic baggieSpoon (optional) Make Glowing Slime Basically, you make glowing slime by adding zinc sulfide or glowing paint to normal slime. These instructions make a clear slime that glows in the dark. However, you could add zinc sulfide to any of the recipes for slime with different characteristics.The slime is made by preparing two separate solutions, which are then mixed. You can double, triple, etc. the recipe if you want more slime. The ratio is 3 parts PVA or glue solution to 1 part borax solution, with a little glow-in-the-dark agent thrown in (measurement isnt critical).First, lets prepare the glue gel or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution. If you have polyvinyl alcohol, you want to make a 4% polyvinyl alcohol solution. 4 grams of PVA in 100 ml of water is great, but the project still works if your solution is a different percent of PVA (just takes more or less). Most people do not have PVA sitting around their homes. You can make a glue gel solution by mixing 1 part of glue gel (either clear or pale blue) with 3 parts of war m water. For example, you could mix 1 tablespoon glue with 3 tablespoons warm water, or 1/3 cup glue with 1 cup of warm water. Stir the glow agent into the glue gel or PVA solution. You want 1/8 teaspoon of zinc sulfide powder per 30 ml (2 tablespoons) of solution. If you cannot find zinc sulfide powder, you can stir in some glow-in-the-dark paint. You can find glowing paint at some paint stores or glowing paint powder (which is zinc sulfide) at craft or hobby stores. The zinc sulfide or paint powder will not dissolve. You just want it mixed in really well. Please read the label on the paint to make sure it is safe enough for your purposes.The other solution you need is a saturated borax solution. If you are in a chemistry lab, you can make this by mixing 4 g of borax with 100 ml warm water. Again, most of us arent going to be doing the project in a lab. You can make a saturated borax solution by stirring borax into warm water until it stops dissolving, leaving borax at the bottom of the glass.Mix together 30 ml (2 tablespoons) of PVA or glue gel solution with 10 ml (2 teaspoons) of borax solution. You can u se a spoon and a cup or you can just squish it together with your hands or inside a sealed baggie. The phosphorescent glow is activated by shining a light on the slime. Then you turn out the lights and it will glow. Please dont eat the slime. The slime solution itself isnt exactly toxic, but it isnt good for you, either. Zinc sulfide can be irritating to the skin, so wash your hands after playing with this slime. It may be harmful if swallowed, not because ZnS is toxic, but because it can react to form hydrogen sulfide gas, which isnt great for you. In a nutshell: wash your hands after using the slime and do not eat it. Do not inhale or ingest the glow-in-the-dark ingredient, whichever you choose to use.Store your slime in a baggie or other sealed container to keep it from evaporating. You can refrigerate it if desired. The slime cleans up well with soap and water. Tips for Slime Success The glowing slime in the photo was made using  a glowing paint called Glow Away at Michaels craft store, for $1.99, that is good for many, many batches of glowing slime (or other glowing projects). Its safe, washes away with water, and is easy to mix into the slime gel. It was located with the tempera paints. Other products may work equally well, just be sure to check the label for safety information.Instead of zinc sulfide (the compound used to make plastic glow-in-the-dark stars), you can substitute any phosphorescent pigment. Be sure the product is marked phosphorescent (glows in the dark) and not fluorescent (glows only under black light).You can use Elmers non-toxic blue glue gel for this project, sold with school supplies, but there is a clear glue gel made by another manufacturer, plus there are red or blue glue gels with stars and glitter that you could use.Usually, borax is sold in stores right next to laundry detergent. If you dont see it there, try looking near household cleaning chemicals or on the insecticide aisle (note: boric acid isnt the same chemical, so its not a good idea to  make substitutions).

Outlined and it varies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Outlined and it varies - Essay Example However, in the case of emotion, it is usually much difficult to really create the link. For instance in making decisions through emotions, one can be driven by such factors like nostalgia while they might be well aware (through cognition) that such a decision is not really the best (Norman, 2005). The traditional hard science approach in decision making faces much antipathy in the conventional practical situation. It relies much on positivism and logical sense. However, in today’s science, decision making and decision calls for more than mere objectivism. The world is indeed inundated with many situations and options which have made human beings to be accustomed to different experiences. In this regard, in making decisions and designs, it is important to demonstrate a subjective mind that highly promotes experientialism. It is further realized that the reaction of human beings to design normally occurs in three different levels: visceral, behavioral and reflective. The viscer al level is very important as it creates the first impression in terms of appearance. In this case, one is attracted by what their see before they can consider such aspects like functionality. Secondly, people are also driven by behavioral factors which include the ability of the item to perform the required needs. Lastly, the reflective level regards the effects of the item on the self-image and satisfaction of the individual. The subjective and post-positivist approach is realized in the design of such products like watches and autos in which case the mere functionality of the item does not really drive people to be interested. In the technological field, image and sound are some of the most fundamental factors that drive people to purchase specific items like computers and phones. The designers of these products should therefore move away from the traditional focus on objectivism and realize the very importance of creating an item which lures people through sight, sound and perfo rmance. The products used in everyday life should therefore be designed in a way that evokes certain emotions on the users. Most designers still hold on to the traditional objective ideas regarding science where emotional concerns of the users are not given much consideration in the design process. However, companies like Apple have realized this crucial value and are not only enhancing functionality but also image and visual characteristics of their products. The results are basically the increase in sales as people tend to be attracted visual efficiencies of such products. The subjective orientation places much focus on creating experience on the part of the users. For instance, in information technology, the designers should make products which are identified with specific features such as efficiency. Therefore the present usability design places greater emphasis on such critical factors that create a mental attitude on the part of the consumers who are then driven to purchase su ch items. PHILOSOPHY--A CRASH COURSE Philosophy is normally a subject of many debates and questions regarding its very nature and its importance in conventional human practice. While some people normally feel that it is almost unnecessary owing to its excessive indulgence in rational argument, the core of the matter is basically with respect to the importance of philosophy in

Carbon dioxide emissions from existing housing stock Essay

Carbon dioxide emissions from existing housing stock - Essay Example The world community today has become increasingly conscious about the way we should treat our environment while carrying out routine jobs and business activities. The gaining popularity of green buildings, green technology and green standards of living are an indication towards the increasing consciousness for reducing the usage of substances harmful to the nature. The existing housing stock is another cause of worry for the environmentalist for couple of reasons. This study is an effort to look into the extent of carbon dioxide gases released by the housing stock and how some concerned citizens and organisations have taken up the task of minimising these emissions. Boardman (2007) contends that, "Of the homes we will inhabit in 2050, around 80 percent are already standing today and these have to be the main focus of carbon-reduction policies". This study is an effort to analyse the statement in right earnest and to understand the severity of the dangerous proportions it may acquire if we do not take the requisite steps for our future generations. In UK alone about a quarter of all carbon emissions are stated to be emanating out of the domestic building stocks1. This has resulted into efforts towards environment friendly housing. ... for Urban Design Information (RUDI) an independent body catering to the needs of researchers in the field of urban design and place-making, predicts that, UK might fall 'drastically short' of long-term targets towards reducing emissions without urgent action to cut carbon dioxide output from homes2. The Global Trends UK is not the only country facing the ill effects of carbon emissions. The Energy Information Administration, EIA (2008), a US government agency has come out with startling statistics pointing out the sources of carbon emissions in different parts of the world. As per the report from EIA titled, 'International Energy Outlook 2008', Carbon dioxide happens to be the most abundant anthropogenic (human-caused) greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Though studies point out that about 82 percent of the greenhouse gases are because of the energy consumption by the people and industries, but the EIA study points out that3 the building sector contributed to more than 48 percent of carbon emissions since 1990. This is an indication towards how the rapid pace of globalisation and industrialisation is adversely affecting the ecological balance around us. OECD, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, a group of 30 industrialised nations like USA, UK, Germany, Canada, Japan, Korea e tc, has been the torch-bearers of globalisation and industrial activities. The EIA report indicates that 'Carbon dioxide emissions per capita in the OECD economies are significantly higher than in the non-OECD economies (Figure). The figures indicate that if things continue with the existing pace the situation might be headed to uncertain times for the humanity. While the projected increase in the carbon emissions per capita is almost similar in OECD and non-OECD nations, the

Case Study 3 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

3 - Case Study Example This will cover the whole incident involving Brad Hutchinson. The cause and the circumstances of the incident will be highlighted. It is necessary to protect the reputation of the esteemed TV station. Additionally, the station personnel in the security department should help in investigating the incident in order to obtain substantial information to provide to the public. The incident has compromised the integrity standard, which every media employee should comply with all the time. The effect of this mundane act to the society is that the station will be associated with drug trafficking. The station usually condemns the vice of drug trafficking. This situation will compromise the moral stand of the station. The duty of care regulation for the media station has also been compromised because Hutchinson did not care to avoid criminal activities like indulgence in cocaine trafficking. This will imply that the station will file a case against him for his misdeeds. The other issue, which the station must contend with, is the connection of the station to drug trafficking because Hutchinson works like a WWES-TV station agent. In this regard, the station must engage its lawyer in order to establish the merits of the case and the evidence, which will corroborate the evidence of the police investigators. Pat Albright should be at the forefront in defending the name of WWES-TV station. Additionally, the station should fire Hutchinson immediately and seek another qualified news anchor to replace him. According to Berkman (2008), the station can outsource the news anchor from its peer TV stations or promote its employee to the position for a news anchor. Moreover, this move should be publicized in order to show the public that the station has a good employee disciplinary system. This incident will also erode all the strides the Hutchinson had made as a new anchor at the WWES-TV station. The incident will also affect the relationship of the TV station

Different theories of ageing

Different theories of ageing One of the most significant achievements of modern society is the rise in human longevity. Since 1800, life expectancy at birth has gradually increased over the subsequent two centuries, from forty years to nearly eighty years (Bongaarts 2006). These remarkable changes in human biology have produced challenges for scientists, doctors, sociologists and policy-makers. Over the last century, the growing realization of the changing demography of ageing has provoked sociological and biological research to explain the effects of these changes on society. The aim of this essay is to discuss how different theories of ageing have tried to approach older people and their circumstances. The study of ageing as social gerontology took root in the late 1940s, at a time of great social and demographic change. After World War 2, society in Europe and the United States of America (USA) had palpably changed, prompting sociological research into changes in ageing amongst other sociological phenomena (Vincent 1996). The modern political and economic environment viewed ageing, for the first time, as a problem for society (Jones, 1993). This view of ageing was at odds with the prevailing functionalist sociological theories of the time. Talcott Parsons was a key proponent of general functionalism, and viewed society from the macro perspective of needing functioning parts in order to maintain its well-being. The analogy was with the body of an organism just as the body has many specialized organs which are required for the body to function, society is also the sum of its parts: youth, family, education, labour force, professionals, religion, government etc. Society required these parts to be working together in order for society to function with equilibrium (Giddens 1993). The biology of ageing had been actively researched since the days of Darwin and Mendel, yet the interaction between ageing and society remained unexplored. Indeed, the Social Science Research Council in the USA concluded in 1948 that the scientific community had paid little attention to the interaction between biology and society (Achenbaum and Bengston). The first psychosocial theories on ageing and society took shape, and were published a decade later. Social scientists Elaine Cummins and William Henry published the first important study of aging in 1961. They advanced what they called the disengagement theory of aging. This theory was based on data from the Kansas City Study of Adult Life, in which researchers from the University of Chicago followed several hundred adults from middle to old age. The authors concluded from this study that growing old was a process of disengagement, whereby the tendency of ageing adults was to withdraw from society and live out their declining years with as little interference with others as was possible. Whilst these findings reflected the social practice of the day such as the granny flat or retirement home environment, the authors also proposed that this theory had advantages for the individual and society. According to Cumming and Henrys model, the major shift in interaction between the aged and the rest of society occurs when older people begin to realize their declining physical and cognitive functions and their mortality. They propose that this leads to removal, both consciously and subconsciously, from social networks. Simultaneously, society distances itself from the elderly, and the roles and responsibilities of these elderly members of society are passed along to the younger ones. From a sociological perspective, it has been suggested that disengagement has theoretical benefits (reference?). For the elderly, disengagement facilitates gradual withdrawal from society, whilst preserving social equilibrium. Ageing removes the capacity for older people to function as parents, professionals or working members of society, and therefore it promotes self-reflection for the elderly who are freed from roles of responsibility within society (ref?). Ultimately, it prepares the elderly for a decline in health and death. From the perspective of society, disengagement allows knowledge, responsibility, wealth and power to be transferred from the older generation to the young. The roles of the old and the young in society evolve, such that disengagement from roles of responsibility ensures that the younger population have jobs and roles into which to develop. It makes it possible for society to continue functioning after valuable older members die. Clearly, disengagement theory must be viewed in the context of the era in which it was developed. Largely, the theory of Cummings and Henry reflected the practice of the day. Elderly people in industrialized nations in the 1960s were encouraged to live out their declining years without interfering with progress and development. In rural settings, elderly people may still have contributed through the use of learned practical skills, although during a time of rapid technological advancement these skills were less valued than by earlier generations. This is a form of role discontinuity, whereby what is learned at one age may be useless or conflict with a subsequent period on ones life. This contrasts with contemporary views of ageing, whereby aged populations are more familiar with the technological advances of the second half of the last century. Retirement and disengagement in this context may not be to the benefit of society or the individual. Moreover, until recently few positive role models for elderly individuals existed. Those in the public eye and the media have tended to be youthful in appearance, hindering the socialization to old age. However, with the demographic growth and visibility of the elderly population has come more role models of active and healthy ageing. In this setting, disengagement of individuals before they reached the stage of imminent mortality, whilst they are still able contribute to roles in society, may cause both social and financial isolation and lack of self-worth. Loss of role through loss of spouse, divorce or retirement can lead to an erosion of identity and self-esteem (Rosow 1985). This, coupled with the relentless improvement in healthcare for the elderly, suggests that disengagement theory may be a product of the post-World War 2 era rather than universally applicable. These problems with the universal validity of disengagement theory were recognised within a few years. Activity theory can be viewed as a counterpoint to disengagement theory. Activity theory views old age as an extension of middle age, rather than a separate psychological and biological stage of life as proposed by disengagement theory. Activity theory actually pre-dates disengagement theory. In the 1950s Havighurst and Albrecht (1953 cited in Katz 1996) insisted ageing can be lively and creative experience. Any loss of roles, activities or relationships within old age, should be replaced by new roles or activities to ensure happiness, value consensus and well-being, and that this approach has benefits for the individual and society. The theory builds on the principle that the biological process of ageing can be modified by modern healthcare, and therefore the only differences between and old age and middle age are these modifiable biological processes, not societal wants and needs (schulz and rockwood). The basis of the theory is that there is a positive relationship between activity and life satisfaction, and the greater the role loss the lower the sense of self-worth or satisfaction (Lemon 1972). Therefore, a persons sense of self-worth is related to the roles held by that person i.e. retiring may not be so harmful if the person actively maintains other roles, such as familial roles, recreational roles, volunteer and community work. However, early research failed to substantiate a psychological benefit of continued engagement and activity. Lemon, Bengston and Peterson examined key elements of activity theory in a cross-sectional sample of future residents of a retirement community. In this study little connection was found between activity and satisfaction. However, this study suffers from similar criticisms as the Kansas City Study of Adult Life. The study group consisted of Caucasian, middle-class, married individuals interested in pursuing an active retirement. These issues ref lect a common problem with sociological research into the theories of ageing limited diversity of populations and the presence of confounding factors such as attitudes towards activity and engagement, limit the universal applicability of findings and determination of causality. A further problem with both these theories is their macro approach to the sociological phenomenon of ageing. Activity theory neglects the individual issues of inequality and heterogeneity between age groups. It is clear both activity theory and disengagement theory may be suited to certain individuals or groups on society, and may not be universally applicable. Whilst Phillipson (1998) sees these functionalist schools as important in shaping social theory, such functionalist theories may impose a sense of causality on aging by implying that an aged person will either disengage or will be active. Thus, it can be argued that these arbitrary social theories are a form of academic imperialism, whereby the activities of individual elderly people are dictated by macro-orientated theories rather than taking account of individual experiences or using inductive reasoning. Continuity theory incorporates aspects of activity theory and disengagement theory within the functionalist framework. Continuity theory maintains the social-psychological that were developed from the Kansas City Studies. The basis of continuity theory is that individuals maintain a consistent pattern of behaviour as they age, by replacing lost roles of adulthood with similar ones, and by maintaining a constant attitude of adaptation towards the social environment. Life satisfaction is determined by the consistency between current activities or lifestyles with ones lifetime experiences (Neugarten, Havinghurst, Tobin 1968). This consistency in behaviour implies that central personality characteristics and core values become more pronounced with age. That is, that people who have always been passive and withdrawn are unlikely to become active upon retirement, and vice versa. Therefore, this theory does not advocate significant psychological change with age, unlike the other two macro theories. It is a micro-level theory, encompassing individual experiences and adaptations. However, micro theories suffer from the limitation if not being generalisable, and therefore not being able to be empirically tested on a broader scale. Moreover, by focusing on the individual, micro-theories may overlook the role of social factors in modifying the ageing process (you need references for these points). By contrast, the theory of political economy of old age is a macro-level theory that emerged as a reaction to functionalism, and focuses on social factors modifying ageing. The theory draws upon Marxist views of the capitalist nature of modern society and how old age was socially constructed to meet the needs of the modern economy (Estes 1979). This grew out of a wider move towards modernization in sociology, attempting to explain the changes in society as consequences of population ageing, industrialization and fertility decline. Therefore, socioeconomic and political factors, not individual factors, are the primary determinants of the experience of ageing. These include age and class, as well as gender, sexual orientation and race. As Phillipson (1998) points out, in the UK huge forms of social expenditure were allocated to older people. Consequently, not only were older people viewed in medical terms but in resource terms by governments. This built upon the idea of ageing as a burden to modern society, as Phillipson (1998: 17) states: Older people came to be viewed as a burden on western economies, with demographic change seen as creating intolerable pressures on public expenditure. The major focus of the political economy of ageing was an interpretation of the relationship between aging and the economic structure. In the USA, political economy theory was brought to prominence by the work of Estes (1979), and Estes, Swan and Gerard (1982). Similarly, in the UK, the work of Walker (1981), Townsend (1981) and Phillipson (1982) contributed to understanding age and ageing in modern British society. In the USA, Estes, Swan and Gerard (1982) state that the class structure is the major determinant of the socio-economic position of older people in society. Estes justifies this position by using a Marxist view of society to explain how a individuals social worth is dependent on their productivity. All subsequent policy towards age and ageing can be explained from this premise. Negative attitudes towards older people, and their impoverished position, can be explained by their loss of social worth brought about by their loss of a productive role in modern society. Estes (1 979) also claims that political economy theory highlights the role of the state in contemporary society. Since the state dictates the allocation of resources, this determines the allocation of retirement and pension schemes, and is therefore a further key determinant of social worth of elderly people. Phillipson (1982) builds on this point of view, ad goes on to state that retirement is linked to the timing of economic reduction of wages and enforced withdrawal from work, and hence many older people in the UK in a financially insecure position. Therefore, the state can determine the social position and future of its elderly citizens, and indirectly shape prevailing social and cultural attitudes to the elderly. Indeed, any discussion about change in the welfare state leads to further legitimisation of the burden stereotype of the elderly in society. Echoing this point of view, Townsend (1981) states that society creates the social problems of old age through structured dependency embedded in institutional ageism, through lack of material resources due to poverty, retirement policy, the negative consequences of residential care, and poor structure of community care. Townsend puts forward the idea that there is a structural perspective of rules and resources governing older people in modern society. Townsend claims that the approach is: one whereby society is held to create the framework of institutions and rules within which the general problem of the elderly emerge or, indeed, manufactured. In the everyday management of the economy and the administration and development of social institutions the position of the elderly subtly changed and shaped. (Townsend 1981: 9) Similarly, Walker (1981) argues for a theory of political economy of old age in order to understand the position of older people. In particular, Walker (1981: 77) builds on the idea that the structure of modern society propagates dependency among groups such as the elderly a social creation of dependency. Phillipson (1982, 1986) writes in a similar vein, and considers how capitalism helps socially construct the social marginality of older people in key areas such as welfare. The key argument of these writers within the Marxist school of thought is inequalities in the distribution of resources should be understood in terms of the distribution of power within society, rather than in terms of variation between individuals. In addition to the argument that social and governmental policy contributes to the socializing and marginalizing of old age, political economy theory criticizes the emphasis on community engagement and the consequent social devaluing of elderly people who cannot or choose not to engage in these activities. Activities such as participation in volunteer programmes and social work may be viewed as a way to meet public service gaps created by reduced public funding. Although the benefits of volunteering have been proposed by activity theory, from the point of view of political economy it is social and structural factors that influence the individuals decision to volunteer or participate. For example, elderly individuals who are also carers for their spouse or their grandchildren may not be able to take on additional social roles, and may leave the individual vulnerable to social criticism. Indeed, it has been noted that a paradigm of ageing that only values productivity and civic-engagem ent can stigmatise and disempower elders who cannot contribute to society because of illness, disability or limited time and resources (reference?). The life-course perspective is not necessarily a theory, but a framework of ageing as a lifelong process. It attempts to explain how ageing is shaped by earlier events, including social structure and history along with interactions with family and culture. Individual development of personality and cognition interact with these other factors affecting life-course. Time is the key variable, since it influences relationships in three ways: life experiences influence relationships, family events and family transitions influence individuals and interactions, and events in a broader social historical context also influence social role and values. Social context interacts with individuals and influences them and their relationships. This framework takes account of the diversity of roles and role changes across lifespan, since it views development as occurring at all stages and not just any one stage of life. It takes into account the gains and losses that occur through life-course, rather than viewing development as a linear process. Therefore, development is considered multidirectional, with stability or development in areas, and decline in others. For example, ageing may lead to impairment in short-term memory but not in creativity or social function. Therefore, this approach takes account of micro and macro levels of development and provides a framework to shape further sociological research into ageing. In conclusion, sociological theories of ageing have evolved alongside changes in demography and economics since the early 20th century. The functionalist theories of activity and disengagement approached ageing in the context of the prevailing view of the time. Although based on empirical evidence the observational studies from Kansas city these studies were limited to middle-class Caucasion populations and yet were extrapolated to macro-level theories. As such, both these theories suffered criticisms for their lack of generalisability, and newer theories were developed as an immediate reaction. In the context of economic troubles during the 1970s, the sociology of ageing began to be viewed in an economic perspective. The view of structural aspects of society interacting with healthy or unhealthy ageing has advanced sociological thought in this area, and laid the foundation for contemporary views of ageing. Current demographic issues such as the prevailing economic climate, declining fertility and improvements in healthcare have changed the sociological view of ageing. As such, these issues must be addressed as further research attempts to view life-course influences on ageing at both a macro- and micro-theoretical level.

Steven Spielberg said about ‘Saving Private Ryan’ that, “I wanted to put chaos upon the screen’

Writing for a film magazine, analyse the methods used to make the opening battle sequence both shocking and realistic and comment on ho successful you think he was in meeting his objective. â€Å"I wanted to put chaos upon the screen. I wanted the audience to feel the same way as those green recruits that were just off those Higgins boats and never seen combat before. Ninety-five percent of them hadn't. It was complete chaos†. Internationally acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, Steven Spielberg's ‘Saving Private Ryan' is an unforgettable film that has profound and lasting impact throughout the world. Winner of five time academy awards including Best Director. ‘Saving Private Ryan' was first released on September 11th 1998 as a joint production of DreamWorks and Paramount pictures. Seen through the eyes of a squad of American troops, the story begins World War Two's historic and unforgettable D-Day landing then moves beyond Omaha Beach, as the eight American troops embark on a special, emotional but dangerous mission. Captain Miller must take his men through a journey like never before to find one man, one private, Private James Ryan, whose three brothers have been killed in combat. Spielberg enlisted the help of Tom Hanks (Captain Miller), who is best known nowadays for his astounding performance in The Da Vinci Code. Tom Sizemore (Sergeant Horvath), Edward Burns (Private Reiben), Barry Pepper (Private Jackson), Jeremy Davis (Private Upham) and Matt Damon (Private Ryan). Contributing to the height of realism Spielberg took an almost documentarian approach to filming. He refused to do any storyboarding prior to shooting, and using hand held cameras much of the time. † I wanted to hit the sets much like a newsreel cameraman following the solders into war†. Throughout the film Spielberg demonstrated the magnificent use of the hand held cameras, maybe the most remembered of these is the first battle scene, that we see when the American troops land on Omaha Beach. Unlike this film, other films of the war genre always seemed to follow the same concept, which was there always seemed to be a glory-figure, the one who always survived right till the end and lived happily ever after. He wanted break the convections of war emphasizing the sense of realism as much as he could. I think the realism is not showing people dying, blood and gore, to me realism shows the emotion of people, those families who lose two, three and even four children, in combat. It shows the devastation of not only solders but innocent people who lose their lives because of other peoples decisions†. In my eyes this film does show realism and how war effects people mentally and physically, and how you can be the most experienced solder or a new solder that has never seen war before and still the effects are the same. Saving Private Ryan' lasts for a remarkable time, of two hours and fifty minutes, the film takes the audience through travesty and triumph and through death and despair. Death, we see a lot of through out the film and blood and gore so if you haven't got a strong stomach I suggest that you don't watch this film. The question that I asked myself while watching ‘Saving Private Ryan' was yes, people are dying because it is war, but for what reason? To maintain your countries status, or to fight the fight that you should not be fighting. This film in my opinion challenges you, and lets you think for yourself, even though this film is just a mimic of what really happened and we know this, you cannot help to think that it's real (watching the action as though it is happening at the present time). We as an audience get emotionally attached to the characters, as we see then through the good times and the bad. Spielberg did this well. But my main reason for writing this review is to focus on the opening scenes, which are the most catastrophic, and highly effective scenes of all. So did Steven Spielberg (also the creator of other box office sensations which include Jaws 1975, Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981 and Jurassic Park 1993) manage to live up to this main aim and did he really succeed on putting â€Å"chaos upon the screen†? I am going to start by analyzing the opening scene, which the idea of the transition of present to past takes place. We first hear classical music which in, and the image of a translucent American flag, blowing in the breeze. Then it passes and the film begins with a selection of characters, all we hear is the very faint music and the sound of the ocean. There is no speaking, this often makes the audience concentrate on the body language of the characters because sometimes, you can tell more on how the character is feeling not by speech but by the emotion that comes through by the characters body language. We see an elderly man maybe in his late 70's leading them, as he stumbles along the path (we as an audience do not yet know that the old man is Private James Ryan). As the camera pans out we see an American and French flag, this gives us a clue to where we are. As it turns out we are in Collevile-sur-mer, Normandy France. Spielberg uses pathetic fallacy here, as we can hear the sea more, as it becomes more aggressive this could reflect the old mans feelings he might be anxious, nervous or even apprehensive. As the camera gives us a long shot from above we begin to see a white sea of headstones. Dramatic music begins to play, and increases in volume as more headstones are reveled. In my opinion the music reminded me of military music, the kind of music that would be played at a funeral of a past solder, a piece of evidence that backs that up is we see a man dressed in full military uniform, standing by one of the graves. So these two suggestions suggest that we are at the graves that we are at are something to do with past solders, and as we are in Normandy, France were part of the Second World War took place, it makes sense. Then we see another mid-shot of the graves and the old man. After walking down a few rows, the emotional man falls to his knees at the foot of a grave almost in a position that you might be honoring someone, he starts to cry. As an audience we feel for this unknown character but we are not entirely sure what is happening. This scene because it is shot in the present the color is vibrant. The camera zooms in to the old mans blue eyes, (suggesting that we are going into one of his memory's) this is called a detailed close up, where the camera focuses on one part of the body to show a specific emotion, and can often make the character appear isolated and detached from everybody else. Then the sounds of crashing waves dominate the scene, and it drowns out the sound of the music, and here we are now taken from present to past. The scene establishes a connection between the elderly man in the graveyard and D-Day. The date and setting are established a mood of fear and tension is created. The audience is given a cursory introduction to the some of the main characters. This scene leaves us too more unanswered questions than answered. Then, a flashback takes the audience and the character back to landing at Normandy on D-Day. All this film is just simply just a memory of Private James Ryan. Now the transition from present to past has taken place, we first see a deep focus shot of Omaha Beach with iron hedgehogs both in the foreground and stretching into the background. We then see from a long shot of the boats as they approach shore. About ten American soldiers in a Higgins boat waiting anxiously, again there is no talking it is all silent all but the sound of the boat and the crashing of the waves, creating tension. The long shot then cuts to a close up of Captain Miller's hand shaking this is a recurrent image, as we see this shot many times through out the film. And we also get close up shots of soldiers terrified expressions. When the boats to finally come ashore your ears are dominated by the sound of constant gunfire, which add to the confusion and devastation. Many solders are killed within seconds of leaving the boats. These soldiers act like pawns in a game of chess, there is no way that they are going to survive they in my opinion they are meant to be killed so the other solders have a chance of surviving. There's medium close up shots of solders being killed. The camera then switches up above, there is an over the shoulder shot of a German so the audience sees the battle from there perspective. Which gives a sense of power to the Germans and a sense of hopelessness to the Americans. But isn't war supposed to be fair? The Americans from their view look like pin pricks on a map; this makes the audience feel like the Americans are fighting a lost cause and this indicates the immense difficulty of the mission. So the various perspectives (German and American) give the overview of the carnage. As soldiers plunge into the sea the camera follows them, giving the audience yet again their perspective as they struggle both below and above the surface. The sound becomes muted, the sound of water fills or ears, this takes us back to what Spielberg said he that wanted us to experience war just like the soldiers. The use of handheld cameras in the battle sequence increases and emphasizes the impact caused and makes the opening scene very lively and this makes us, the audience feel part of the action as if we were making our way around the beach with the troops. † I wanted to hit the sets much like a newsreel cameraman following the soldiers into war†. Spielberg in this part of the film uses desaturated colour in contrast with the vibrant colour in the opening scene. It gives the effect that we are in a memory and in the past, looking back on events that have already taken place. It is just all, instant chaos. Another important aspect of the opening 24 minutes is Captain Miller's confusion. As Captain Miller stagers out the bloody sea. He stumbles and falls. We looks up at witnesses the chaos and around him. As we see the fear in his eyes even through he is an experienced soldier it can still effect a experienced soldier the same as a new soldier just coming into war. This is another point that Spielberg wanted to get across was you never get used to the turmoil, and watching people die before your eyes. It's still the same experience over and over again. Also the fact that if you did manage to survive it was only by luck. There is then an over the shoulder shot of Captain Miller, this shows the audience what war looks like from his perspective. The camera it is not at standstill it is all jerky and shaky because it was a hand held camera. As Captain Miller tips bloody water out of his helmet and replaces it making him look blood-splattered. As muted sound accompanies the slow motion, but the disturbing explosions can still be heard in the background. The facial expression of Captain Miller's shows true fear. His eyes show the question, why are we doing this, is there a point? The sound returns as a General shouts for instructions. Captain Miller finally pulls himself together and he resumes his responsibilities. All of this has it's effects on the audience as we are plunged into the horror of the D-Day landing at Omaha Beach, and we see Captain Miller and experience the senseless carnage through his eyes. Although not a raw recruit he is nevertheless shocked beyond belief. And we as an audience are given an insight into the true horror of war. As the end of the battle finally comes, it comes as a relief to the audience after the exhausting twenty minutes or so of loud gunfire and just immense no stop action. We are struck by the enormity of the event that has just taken place. We then get a close up of Captain Miller's hand shaking, as I said earlier this is a recurrent image. Then the camera zooms to a close up of his eyes again showing the audience his viewpoint. Gentle music quietly fades in. The waves sound peaceful after the prolonged noise of chaos and destruction. Also the melancholy music adds to the solemnity of the images. As Captain Miller rests Sergeant Horvath comments, â€Å"That's quite a view†, a sentiment that is echoed by Miller. This is not however referring to a nice view but a shocking and breathtaking view of the beach. As the camera rises and slowly pans to the left we begin to see the whole of the beach covered in dead bodies, and the scarlet water flowing feely. Then finally zooms on this one mans backpack of one soldier – Ryan. The final shot showing the name ‘Ryan' on the backpack of one of the fallen soldiers establishes a link between the sequence we have just seen as well as both the title and the plot of the film. So did Steven Spielberg fulfill his main aim for ‘Saving Private Ryan' which was â€Å"I wanted to put chaos upon the screen â€Å". In my eyes as a reviewer of ‘Saving Private Ryan' he did fulfill that aim, he showed from start to finish a sense of realism, and broke entirely away from the traditional convections of the film war genre. He used magnificent camera angles, which contributed a lot to the film as a whole. This film keeps you on the edge of your seat, and guessing what is going to happen next. I think the opening sequence prepared the audience for what followed because the horror in the opening scene and the devastation that you see is the same that you see, or even worse than through out the whole film. I would recommend this film if you want a film with a moral, and a meaning. But the one main issue that I had watching this film is the time it lasts for two hours and fifty minutes, so you do have to be dedicated to watching it from the start. The way that I would watch it is with the family on a Friday night with popcorn and a box of tissues. I would give this film a rating of 7/10, the main reasons why I didn't give 10/10 is because for me personally it was to gory, it lasted to long and I didn't have the patience, and it was one of those films that you would watch once and then never watch it again because there would be no need.

China Dolls Essay

The case started with the dilemma faced by the protagonist, Jeffry Cheong when both of his major clients KiKi and Houida (European fashion houses) was writing to Jeffry to inform him that they may be looking forward to China as the prices are very competitive. Jeffry Cheong was managing director at Haute Couture Fashions Bhd (HCF). Loss of its major two clients (KiKi and Houida) would be catastrophic to HCF as now the financial statement of HCF showed HCF has been experiencing falling margins and profit over the last few years. HCF was established in 1974 by the Tan family with the first fully equipped factory in Penang Island. The founder was Tan Boon Kheong with a skilled master cutter, trained by British master cutter in the 1950 in Penang. He started the HCF with a small but successful business tailoring men’s clothing in Argyll Road, Penang until his retirement in 1980. Peter Tan, the eldest son of Tan Boon Kheong was left to Europe when he was 20 years old and returned t o Malaysia with a wealth of experience of both men and women’s fashion. During that time, there was a trend of European clothes manufacturers looking at Asia for outsourcing. By having that opportunity, Peter started his business venture, especially with the European fashion houses. Due to limited production capacity, the second factory was opened in Butterworth in July 1980. HCF’s sales continued to experience growth throughout the early 1980s to mid 1990s and number of customers had also increased. Thus, in 1990, HCF opened its third factory in Jitra, Kedah. In 1995, due to non-stop increasing demand for its clothes, the fourth factory was opened in Chieng Mai, Thailand. However, in 1998, Peter Tan decided to shut down the Penang Island factory to cut operating costs due to loss suffered by the HCF during that year. After few years, its profitability increased progressively and HCF pulled itself out of the loss making situation. Issues 1. Possibility of losing two major clients Currently, China is moving towards emerging market economic which means its economic is changing dramatically. This country was once socialist states but have been largely transformed into capitalism-based system, partly through a process of privatization. China is the largest emerging market and its economy continues to grow at a remarkable rate as well as its role in  international business. China has population of 1.3 billion, one fifth of the world’s total population. Due to that, China is offering low labour cost. From that offer, operating expenses can be reduced and then the revenue will be increased. Therefore, many companies looking forward to outsource from China as the prices are very competitive. When Jeffrey was informed that their two major clients was going to China to â€Å"contract manufacture†, it could contribute a major loss to the HCF as KiKi and Houida have generated a big percentage of sales to HCF. At the same, HCF has been experiencing falling margins and profits over the last few years. 2. Moving operations to China As suggested by Elaine, the sales and marketing Director, HCF should consider to expand its manufacturing in China. By doing that, HCH could able to retain KiKi and Houida as its customers and supply the clothes at lower prices. However the issue is whether to set up HCF own factory in China or joint venture with a Chinese manufacturer. The details on these two possible ways of expanding into China are as follows:- HCF own factory Joint venture Cost RM 15 million RM 2.4 million Time taken to be able to serve the customers 18 months 6 months Risk Lower Higher Dependency Independence Loose its independence Factory capacity Similar capacity as in Malaysia One and half times as in Malaysia Table 1 As showed in table 1, both ways have its own advantages and disadvantages to the HCF. Thus, it was very critical decision for the management to choose the best way of expanding operations in China. 3. Closed down current factories (resale, pulling down or board up) If HCF decided to move in China, then the factories in Malaysia and Thailand need to be closed down. This is because, if they were choose to maintain the current factories while having the new one in China then a lot of costs need to be incurred. According to Financial Controller, Daniel Tan, the factories in Butterworth and Penang have a reasonable value as its equipment were only recently purchased in 2007. In addition, HCF would be able to sell the land for a significant profit as they were located in a fast developing area. The factories would be able to sell around RM 8.5 million. Unlike, factories in Jitra and Chieng Mai have very low resale value as it were located in rural areas. Since it was difficult to sell these two factories the only option would be to shut down the factories. To do so, the factories have to be pulled down that would cost HCF RM 1.2 Million. If not, the factory would become a haven for d rug addicts. In another way, HCF can choose to board up the factories for a cost of RM 200 000. Moreover, Daniel expects minimum redundancy payments around RM 3.0 million besides the above expenses. If HCF were to completely close down the Malaysian operations, a large number of employees will have to be retrenched and to be sad enough many of them have been with HCF for more than 10 years.

Religion in Russia

Religion in Russia Russia has experienced a revival of religion since the start of the new millennium. Over 70% of Russians consider themselves to be Orthodox Christians, and the number is growing. There are also 25 million Muslims, around 1.5 million Buddhists, and over 179,000 Jewish people. The Russian Orthodox Church has been particularly active in attracting new followers due to its image as the true Russian religion. But Christianity wasnt the first religion that Russians followed. Here are some main historical periods in the evolution of religion in Russia. Key Takeaways: Religion in Russia Over 70% of Russians consider themselves to be Russian Orthodox Christians.Russia was pagan until the tenth century, when it adopted Christianity as a way to have a united religion.Pagan beliefs have survived alongside Christianity.In Soviet Russia, all religion was banned.Since the 1990s, many Russians have rediscovered religion, including Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Slavic Paganism.The 1997 law on religion has made it more difficult for less established religious groups in Russia to register, worship, or exercise the freedom of religious belief.The Russian Orthodox Church has a privileged position and gets to decide which other religions can be officially registered. Early Paganism Early Slavs were pagans and had a multitude of deities. Most of the information about the Slavic religion comes from the records made by Christians who brought Christianity to Russia, as well as from Russian folklore, but there is still a lot that we dont know about the early Slav paganism. Slavic gods often had several heads or faces. Perun was the most important deity and represented thunder, while Mother Earth was revered as the mother of all things. Veles, or Volos, was the god of abundance, since he was responsible for the cattle. Mokosh was a female deity and was associated with weaving. Early Slavs performed their rituals in the open nature, worshiping trees, rivers, stones, and everything around them. They saw the forest as a border between this world and the Underworld, which is reflected in many folktales where the hero has to cross the forest in order to achieve their goal. Establishment of the Russian Orthodox Church In the tenth century, Prince Vladimir The Great, the ruler of Kievan Rus, decided to unite his people and create an image of Kievan Rus as a strong, civilized country. Vladimir himself was an ardent pagan who erected wooden statues of deities, had five wives and around 800 concubines, and had a reputation of a bloodthirsty warrior. He also disliked Christianity because of his rival brother Yaropolk. However, Vladimir could see that uniting the country with one clear religion would be beneficial. The choice was between Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, and within it, Catholicism or Eastern Orthodox Church. Vladimir rejected Islam as he thought that it would pose too many restrictions on the freedom-loving Russian soul. Judaism was rejected because he believed that he could not adopt a religion that had not helped the Jewish people hold on to their own land. Catholicism was deemed too stern, and so Vladimir settled on Eastern Orthodox Christianity. In 988, during a military campaign in Byzantine, Vladimir demanded to marry Anna, sister of Byzantine emperors. They agreed, providing that he is baptized beforehand, which he agreed to. Anna and Vladimir married in a Christian ceremony, and upon his return to Kiev, Vladimir ordered the demolition of any pagan deity statues and a country-wide baptism of his citizens. The statues were chopped and burned or thrown into the river. With the advent of Christianity, paganism became an underground religion. There were several pagan uprisings, all violently squashed. The North-Eastern parts of the country, centered around Rostov, were particularly hostile to the new religion. The dislike of the clergy among the peasants can be seen in Russian folktales and mythology (byliny). Ultimately, most of the country continued with dual allegiance to both Christianity and, in everyday life, to paganism. This is reflected even now in the highly superstitious, ritual-loving Russian character. Religion in Communist Russia As soon as the Communist era began in 1917, the Soviet government made it its job to eradicate religion in the Soviet Union. Churches were demolished or turned into social clubs, the clergy was shot or sent to camps, and it became forbidden to teach religion to ones own children. The main target of the anti-religion campaign was the Russian Orthodox Church, as it had the most followers. During WWII, the Church experienced a short revival as Stalin looked for ways to increase the patriotic mood, but that quickly ended after the war. Russian Christmas, celebrated on the night of January 6, was no longer a public holiday, and many of its rituals and traditions moved to the New Years Eve, which even now remains the most loved and celebrated Russian holiday. While most main religions were not outlawed in the Soviet Union, the state promoted its policy of state atheism, which was taught at school and encouraged in academic writing. Islam was at first treated slightly better than Christianity, due to Bolsheviks view of it as a center of the reaction. However, that ended around 1929, and Islam experienced similar treatment as other religions, with mosques shut down or turned into warehouses. Judaism had a similar fate as Christianity in the Soviet Union, with the added persecution and discrimination, especially during Stalin. Hebrew was only taught in schools for diplomats, and most synagogues were closed under Stalin and then Khrushchev. Thousands of Buddhist monks were killed during the Soviet Union, too. In the late 1980s and in the 1990s, the more open environment of the Perestroika encouraged the opening of many Sunday schools and a general resurgence of interest in Orthodox Christianity. Religion in Russia Today The 1990s marked the beginning of a revival in religion in Russia. Christian cartoons were being shown on main TV channels, and new churches were built or old ones restored. However, it is on the cusp of the millennium that many Russians began associating the Russian Orthodox Church with the true Russian spirit. Paganism has also become popular again, after centuries of repression. Russians see in it an opportunity to connect with their Slavic roots and rebuild an identity different from the West. In 1997, a new law On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations was passed, which acknowledged Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Judaism as traditional religions in Russia. The Russian Orthodox Church, which nowadays acts as a privileged religion of Russia, has the power to decide which other religions can be registered as official religions. This has meant that some religions, for example, Jehovahs Witnesses, are banned in Russia, while others, such as some Protestant churches or the Catholic Church, have considerable problems with registration, or limitations on their rights within the country. There have also been more restrictive laws adopted in some Russian regions, which means that the situation with the freedom of religious expression varies across Russia. Overall, any religions or religious organizations that are considered non-traditional according to the federal law, have experienced issues such as being unable to build or own places of worship, harassment from the authorities, violence, and denial of access to media time. Ultimately, the number of Russians who consider themselves to be Orthodox Christians is currently at over 70% of the population. At the same time, over a third of Orthodox Christian Russians do not believe in the existence of God. Only around 5% actually attend church regularly and follow the church calendar. Religion is a matter of national identity rather than faith for the majority of contemporary Russians.

Free Essays on Epicureanism

Pleasure and happiness, sensuality and desire, friendship and free will, these are among a few of the central themes behind this philosophy. Epicureanism is an ethical and moralistic doctrine that is concerned with justice and virtue, in a psychological sense. Reason responsibility and the mechanics of freedom are ethical and moral principles of this epistemology. Epicureanism introduces the view that pleasure is the ultimate good in life. This Philosophy was described by Epicurus as "the art of making life happy†. The purpose of life, according to Epicurus, is personal happiness and by happiness he means not that state of well being and perfection of which the consciousness is accompanied by pleasure, but pleasure itself. In addition this pleasure is sensuous for it is such only as is achievable in this life. This pleasure is the immediate purpose of every action. The pleasure of Epicurus is a state, "the absence of pain and anxiety". The magnitude of pleasure reaches its limit in the removal of all pain. When such pleasure is present, so long as it is uninterrupted there is no pain either of body or of mind or of both together. Conceiving the highest good to be happiness, and happiness to be found in pleasure, to which the natural impulses of every being are directed. But the aim is not with him, as it is with the Cyrenaics, the pleasure of the moment, but the enduring condition of pleasure, which, in its essence, is freedom from the greatest of evils, pain. Pleasures and pains are, however, distinguished not merely in degree, but in kind. The renunciation of a pleasure or endurance of a pain is often a means to a greater pleasure; and since pleasures of sense are subordinate to the pleasures of the soul, the undisturbed peace of the soul is a higher good than the freedom of the body from pain. Virtue is desirable not for itself, but for the sake of pleasure of soul, which it secures by freeing men from troub... Free Essays on Epicureanism Free Essays on Epicureanism Philosophy I A Brief Summary of Epicurianism Combining the pleasure-seeking teachings of Aristippus and the atom theory of Democritus, Epicurus’ philosophy answers the questions of how best to live one’s life and approach death. Epicurus’ Principle Doctrines emphasize the school of thought that the natural pursuit of please does not make one an intrinsically evil, corrupt person. However, though many today misconstrue his message as an approval of sensory overindulgence, his texts advocate the merits of restraint: â€Å"No pleasure is a bad thing in itself, but the things which produce certain pleasures entail disturbances many times greater than the pleasures themselves†(Gill). The teachings of Epicurus state that the fulfillment of one’s basic needs unlock the door to a life of pleasure. To spend one’s life in a state of anxiety due to the pursuit of excessive merriment will have an inverse effect, wasting one’s life in an unpleasant state instead of enjoying simple pleasures (The Philosophy Garden). Indeed, the original writings that shape the epicurianistic philosophy repeatedly sing the praises of intangible pleasures such as wisdom and the peace of mind one deriv es from living a just life. In response to the question of how one should make the moral decisions to live a respectable life, Epicurus advocates situational truth over universal truth, as his statement that â€Å"There never was such a thing as absolute justice, but only agreements made in mutual dealings among men in whatever places at various times providing against the infliction or suffering of harm.† illustrates (Cook). As with most philosophies, the Epicureans have guidelines regarding death and eternity as well as life. According to the Epicurean philosophy, one need not worry about gods or an afterlife. Embracing the atomic theory, Epicurus believes that while alive, people have soul atoms as well as physical atoms. Upon death, however, th... Free Essays on Epicureanism Pleasure and happiness, sensuality and desire, friendship and free will, these are among a few of the central themes behind this philosophy. Epicureanism is an ethical and moralistic doctrine that is concerned with justice and virtue, in a psychological sense. Reason responsibility and the mechanics of freedom are ethical and moral principles of this epistemology. Epicureanism introduces the view that pleasure is the ultimate good in life. This Philosophy was described by Epicurus as "the art of making life happy†. The purpose of life, according to Epicurus, is personal happiness and by happiness he means not that state of well being and perfection of which the consciousness is accompanied by pleasure, but pleasure itself. In addition this pleasure is sensuous for it is such only as is achievable in this life. This pleasure is the immediate purpose of every action. The pleasure of Epicurus is a state, "the absence of pain and anxiety". The magnitude of pleasure reaches its limit in the removal of all pain. When such pleasure is present, so long as it is uninterrupted there is no pain either of body or of mind or of both together. Conceiving the highest good to be happiness, and happiness to be found in pleasure, to which the natural impulses of every being are directed. But the aim is not with him, as it is with the Cyrenaics, the pleasure of the moment, but the enduring condition of pleasure, which, in its essence, is freedom from the greatest of evils, pain. Pleasures and pains are, however, distinguished not merely in degree, but in kind. The renunciation of a pleasure or endurance of a pain is often a means to a greater pleasure; and since pleasures of sense are subordinate to the pleasures of the soul, the undisturbed peace of the soul is a higher good than the freedom of the body from pain. Virtue is desirable not for itself, but for the sake of pleasure of soul, which it secures by freeing men from troub...

The Music of Josquin des Prez Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Music of Josquin des Prez - Research Paper Example that he did not compose what his patron wished – he composed when and what he wanted and that the reason as to why he frequently changed his jobs was that compared to his counterparts, he demanded a higher pay. Josquin was mostly celebrated for his motets and chansons and was very particular about his songs – if anyone tried to alter them, he became very furious. His contemporaries admired his composing skill greatly. These included Cosimo Bartoli a Florentine mid-century composer who asserted that Josquin’s standing was equivalent to Michelangelo’s stature in sculpture, as well as Martin Luther who confessed that the mastery that Josquin had was so great that it defied comparison with the endeavors of his counterparts. Additionally, Heinrich Glarean, a theorist and humanist from Switzerland, in his judgment of Josquin, confessed that Josquin’s skill was utterly versatile, so endowed with a natural vigor and acumen that he was able to do anything pertaining music. Glarean adds that this polyphonist’s songs gracefully and fluently expressed the moods of the heart matchlessly (Knighton & Fallows 15). In their commentary on Josquin’s artistic and historical position in music development, Davison and Apel compares him with Raphael, his contemporary in painting history (225). Another writer by the name Charles Joseph gives a commentary on Josquin’s inventiveness arguing that what has made his music to be so popular is its intriguing compositional logic. Josquin expertly integrates the simplest motivic cells into great melodic compositions of architectural perfection. Consequently, composition and analysis teachers have always advocated that their students examine his works thoroughly (Judd 299). Another person who praises Josquin is Henricus Glareanus. While analyzing his melodic structure and modal mixture, Glareanus pays tribute to Josquin praising this prince of the perfect art for his handling of the modes producing profound pathos, sonorous beauty

Coping with the Death of Own Child Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Coping with the Death of Own Child - Essay Example One of the most difficult losses to bear is a child's death. According to Wayne Wolfram (2006), a "child's death is often viewed as tragic" because "unlike an adult's death, it is [perceived as] unnatural"(Wolfram, 2006, sec.3 para.2). This is the common sentiment because in the normal scheme of things, a child does not die young and without yet gaining the opportunity of living a "full life"(Wolfram, 2006, sec.3 para.2). In a normal situation, no parent ever desires his or her child to be taken by death at a young age thus for those parents who have suffered from child loss, the sorrow of eternal parting leaves them truly empty and heartbroken. A child comes from the parents. The mother gives birth and lovingly works hand in hand with the father to raise the child. It is therefore quite appalling that all the efforts of parenting will only end up useless as the child early departs the world for eternity. Nevertheless death happens. Whether young or old, it comes at the appointed time and the next best thing for people to do is accept it as part of the natural course of things in this mortal life. Learning therefore how to survive a great tragedy such as losing someone whose presence we greatly value is essential. Grief is universal. It cuts across culture, gender, race and religion. Although the expression varies for each individual and is expressed in utterly diverse ways depending on one's culture and religious beliefs, bereaved parents experience and feel the same universal pain. Whatever sorrow parents feel upon the death of a child is similar to what is being felt by those who have experienced loss. Losing a child either through circumstance or disease is devastating. The grief that fathers and mothers undergo is an ordeal that can at times leave them debilitated and desperate. The sadness needs therefore to be expelled. Like those who have suffered from a loss at some point in their lives do, parents who have lost a child go through the standard stages of mourning. Going through the process of grief is vital in order for the bereaved parents to finally be able to move on with their lives. A great amount of knowledge about the different stages of mourning is a major requirement in coping with a death of a child or a loved one. According to Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (as cited by Knealing, 2002), people go through five stages of mourning after "death touches their [lives]" (Knealing, 2002). The stages are identified as follows: Stage 1 DenialLosing a child can be a shocking experience. In consequence, bereaved parents commonly find the truth of the matter hard to immediately absorb and accept. This tendency to block and dissociate one's self from reality is a "defense mechanism" (About Grief and Bereavement, n.d.) many individuals find useful when dealing with death, dying or great loss. This is a natural and helpful reaction as the loss is still too painful to acknowledge. Such somehow buffers the upsetting truth and helps parents who have lost a child to move on and look into other important concerns such as specific funeral requirements and preparation as well as carry out other daily tasks necessitating keen attention. Stage 2 Anger Anger is imminent when bereaved parents commence dealing with the veracity of death in the family. Some parents