Formal Communication - 1208 Words

Formal Communication Formal communication can be considered as communication efforts that are â€Å"dressed up† to fit customary rules and ceremony For example, in a written letter, the formal communication style will demand that the layout of the piece of written communication follow a specific format that includes the date, header, salutation, body of the letter, close, signature lines and any indicators of enclosures all placed neatly upon company letterhead or personal stationery. By contrast, an informal piece of written communication can be as simple as a jotted note to a friend on a torn slip of paper Formal communications are mostly written, although they may now also include formal presentations that are on computer disk, video tape†¦show more content†¦Such formal communication is well established and planned. For example, reports and data from staff are organized are generally submitted in prescribed templates and according to a set schedule. Communication focused on a company’s strategy and direction, which originates from company executives, is funnelled through the organizational chart and changed in such a way to be relevant to each department and manager. What starts out as â€Å"high-level† communication on corporate strategy needs to be thought out through planning sessions so that the communication provides direction and is actionable for the individuals who implement the tasks of the strategy. The better the communication the better employees and staff will understand what is expected and required of them. advertisement Communicate Better, Lead Better Successful people are good communicators. Enhance your communciations skills with the guide to Being an Effective Communicator. Informal Communication in the Workplace On the other hand, informal communication in the workplace satisfies a variety of needs, particularly social and emotional, and are not based on the positions individuals occupy within the organizations. As a result, the communication is not managed or planned in any organized fashion. It’s more relaxed, casual and tends to be spread by word-of-mouth quickly throughout a department or organization because it’s not restricted to approvals andShow MoreRelatedFormal and Informal Communication2242 Words   |  9 PagesFORMAL AND INFORMAL COMMUNICATION Theoretical review 1. What is communication? a. Verbal communication b. Non-verbal communication c. Interpersonal communication d. Organizational communication 2. Types of organizational communication:- a. Formal b. Informal 3. Types of formal communication 4. Types of informal communication 5. Advantages and disadvantages of formal communication 6. AdvantagesRead MoreFormal and Informal Communication in an Organization1343 Words   |  6 PagesQuestion 3 A) Briefly explain the formal communication channels and spontaneous communication channels? * Communication channels Messages are transmitted through channels of communication channels as discussed. * Formal communication channels, follows the chain of command and is recognized as official. One way to view formal communication within organizations. * Vertical communication is the flow of information both up and down the chain of command. It involves an exchange ofRead MoreA Formal Meeting Of Downward Communication Essay1003 Words   |  5 Pagesof communication have the ability to communicate productively and effectively with employees. Although, a manager may try to avoid forwarding bad or negative news to employees, a time will come to deliver unpleasant information. Therefore, using professional and courteous methods can maintain motivation within the workplace. Storybook #1 Summary: â€Å"Communication Challenges†: A Get Your Team to Talk to Each Other Adventure (Kriseyda Sanchez) During a formal meeting of downward communication, ToddRead MoreFormal And Informal Modes Of Organizational Communication Essay1919 Words   |  8 Pages ASSIGNMENT-1 Q1) Theoretical underpinnings of formal and informal modes of organizational communication. a) Formal and informal modes of communication are explained below Formal modes of organizational communication are of four types they are: 1) Upward 2) Downward 3) Horizontal 4) Diagonal 1) Upward Communication: Upward communication is the process of flowing information from lower levels to higher levels in an organization. ItRead MoreThe Usage Of Sending Text Messaging And Apps Have Influenced Students Formal Writing And Way Of Communication1257 Words   |  6 Pagesare two groups of people that are either ‘for’ or ‘against’ the way text messaging and apps have influenced students’ formal writing and way of communication. One group of people believe that texting and applications have a negative effect on formal writing because abbreviations and textspeak seep into essays. The other view point on texting and apps are that they do not affect formal writing and help to communicate people quickly and more efficiently. Jenna Wortham writes for the New York Times, hasRead MoreFormal Written Communication1023 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ In this booklet I will be: P1- Describing different types of formal written communication used in the uniformed public services. ‘An annual report is a comprehensive report on a companys activities throughout the preceding year. Annual reports are intended to give shareholders and other interested people information about the companys activities and financial performance.’ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annual_report (22/01/15) Annual reports in the police The Office of the Police andRead MoreThe Organization Chosen To Conduct Detailed Research Is1304 Words   |  6 Pagesconcept of formal and informal mode of organization are as follows: Formal mode of communication is a structure of passing of information and messages amongst positions in an organization through formally nominated channels. It follows a selected channel in an organisation. It is generally defined in an organization’s endorsed documents, like procedure manuals and organizational structures, to guarantee that all the employees at the workplace comprehends with it. The stream of communication is controlledRead MoreDisadvantages Of Gossip1317 Words   |  6 Pages Teamwork and communication work hand in hand, gossip however, is the consequence of poor communication and the death of teamwork. The Business Dictionary defines teamwork as ‘the process of working collaboratively with a group of people in order to achieve a goal’.1 Communication is defined as the act or process of exchanging and sharing information, ideas and feelings.2 Gossip can be described as a form of informal communication but more accurately it has been defined as trivial writing or talkRead MoreDifference between formal and informal communication2611 Words   |  11 PagesThis research compares formal and informal organizational communication structures, specifically focusir^ on salience, channel factors, and channel usage. The major hypotheses of this research were partially supported with data collected from a large, technically oriented governmental agency (n = 380). Differences Between Fbrmal and Informal Conuniinication Channels J. David Johnson William A. Donohue Charles K. Atkin Mtchtgan State Untverslty Sally Johnson Lansing Community College Read MoreFormal And Informal Modes Of Organizational Communication Essay1792 Words   |  8 PagesASIGNMENT Part 1 Q1 Theoretical underpinnings of formal and informal modes of organizational communication (LO 1 †¢ Outline the basic concept of Formal and informal modes of organizational communication.(14 marks) FORMAL COMMUNICATION:- A sort of verbal presentation or record proposed to impart data and which complies with secure proficient rulsandared and process and abstain from utilizing slang phrasing. The principle kind of formal correspondence inside a business are1.Downward where data moves

Essay about Reader-Response vs. New Criticism - 962 Words

New Criticism vs. Reader-Response A piece of work can be evaluated in plenty of ways. Critique methods such as Reader-Response, Deconstructive Criticism, New Criticism, and many others act as examples of literary evaluations. All of the critique methods share similarities, but differ in other ways. Reader-Response and New Criticism, for example, share characteristics but they are also two very opposing things. Reader-Response focuses on attention towards the text influenced by the reader’s thoughts. New Criticism aims towards the text with no influence, but the text alone. The two methods share the same features such as excluding the author’s intentions and recognizing details from the texts, and they also contrast by having a different†¦show more content†¦The criticism encourages the reader to explore his thoughts while reading a text. A person may read something over and over again and interpret a different meaning every time. For Reader-Response, the type o f focuses required comes from the reader. Personal experiences and opinions are what trigger the message of the text. They help the reader understand the text better because now they have involved themselves within the text, not just the content by itself, like New Criticism, for example. These factors are what make the responses subjective. For example, the quote from The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien says, â€Å"He should’ve carried her up the stairs to her room and tied her to the bed and touched that left knee all night long,† (618). The quote can be interpreted in a few ways. â€Å" . . .And touched that left knee all night long,† could be comparing the action of ‘touching’ to sexual relations. The quote could also be taken in a literal sense, having the knee actually touched by the character’s hands. Another part of the quote, â€Å" . . .tied her to the bed . . .† could possibly mean that he wanted to keep her in be d all night and spend time with her; however, in a literal sense, he probably truly could have wanted to tie her to the bed. As stated earlier, defining the meaning of a text for reader-response criticism requires the reader to state what they probably thinks the words mean. Furthermore,Show MoreRelatedCritical Analysis Of Trifles By Susan Glaspell1016 Words   |  5 PagesPerspective: Readers Response Criticism to â€Å"Trifles† by Susan Glaspell The play written by Susan Glaspell in 1916 is based on the murder of John Wright where the prime suspect is his spouse; Minnie Foster. â€Å"Trifles† is fixated on the investigation of the social division realized by the strict gender roles that enable the two men and women to have contending points of view on practically every issue. This is found in the way the men view the kitchen as they consider it as not having anything of significantRead MoreConstructing Essay Test772 Words   |  4 Pagesstudent time but a significant increase in labor in time and scoring. GENERAL TYPES OF ESSAY ITEMS* EXTENDED RESPONSE ESSAY ITEM- is one that allows for an in-depth sampling of a student’s knowledge, thinking processes, and problem solving behavior related to a specific topic. RESTRICTED RESPONSE ESSAY ITEM- is one where the examinee is required to provide limited response based on a specified criterion for answering the question. LEARNING OUTCOMES MEASURED EFFECTIVELY WITH ESSAY ITEMS* Read MoreMLK vs. Obama1461 Words   |  6 Pages Martin Luther King Jr. vs. President Obama Martin Luther King Jr. and President Barack Obama have both written and performed their fair share of speeches throughout their respective lives. The two speeches that are being compared are President Obama’s â€Å"A More Perfect Union† speech and Martin Luther King Jr.’s â€Å"Letter from Birmingham City Jail† letter. President Obama spoke this speech while his was campaigning for the presidency in February of 2007, while his was running against Senator HillaryRead MoreThe Evolution Of The Human Race1681 Words   |  7 PagesFaith Vs. Fact The universe is a vast and endless portal of knowledge and experience whose origin and creation is not fully proven. There are two ideologies that the human race has adopted into giving reason for our existence as well as our evolution; this being, religion, and science. Science and religion have been in a conflicting battle against each other in discovering truth about the universe and their main ideas disregard the other making them ultimately incompatible. Throughout historyRead MoreCatcher In The Rye Literary Conflict1087 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction: J.D Salinger’s bestselling novel ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ depicts a troubled teenage boy who conflicts with the society of the 1950s. Holden Caufield’s cynical way of narrating the story with his constant criticism about other people and the ugliness of the world, introduces the readers to a judgemental and critical protagonist. ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ was based on Salinger’s life experience after WWII. While Holden disliked the society in the story, Salinger personally disliked the societyRead MoreThe Nameless Governess in The Turn of the Screw: Hero or Villain?1181 Words   |  5 Pagesfor things to have been fabricated to make her own self look better. Also to prove to herself how and why she did the things she did, to justify them. We know, as readers, the filtering from Governess to story-teller to audience leaves room for different interpretations and retelling or rewriting of the events. One critical response by Edmund Wilson regarded the Governess as hallucinatory. Suggesting that the ghosts she saw were so detailed that they were of her own imagining. â€Å"The governessRead MoreEssay on Like water for chocolate6961 Words   |  28 Pagesof one-to-one relationships between the word (signifier) and the thing that the word represents (signified); in short, realism appeals to our ideologically constructed sense of the real and addresses the reader in such a manner as to incite a â€Å"Yes. That’s it, that’s how it really is† response. Realists are often impelled by social reform, often focus on people in social situations that require compromise, develop characters that are unheroic— flawed and unable to be â€Å"true to themselves†--, andRead MoreAnalysis Of Howard Zinn s Indians History Of The Us And Larry Schweikart s, Patriots1516 Words   |  7 PagesHistory 2112 Critical Analysis Paper #1 Dr. Pitts James Hamby Monday-Wednesday 8:30pm Patriot’s vs. People’s Howard Zinn’s, Peoples’ History of the US and Larry Schweikart’s, Patriots’ History of the US are two analytical views on history that most people would consider politically conflicting. Zinn’s Marxist book was widely praised by liberal activist and Schweikart’s book is greatly publicized by conservatives like Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck. These two widely known historians turned theirRead MoreSusan Sontag s Notes On Camp1945 Words   |  8 PagesAlexander Pope himself was a central poetic figure and The Age of Johnson (1750-1798). The primary focus is of course the Augustan Age, where Pope’s work is prevalent. The Eighteenth century brought a new war of words, with a quarrel in 1690’s France in L’Acadà ©mie Franà §aise, putting in to place a new historical sense of culture across Europe. The ideology is that classical authors and learning could not be improved upon or surpassed by modern writers, instead they should look to imitate the greatRead MoreRealism and the Humanities 1718 Words   |  7 PagesRealism was first established in France during the late eighteenth/ early nineteenth century to describe literary and visual works where the aim was to create something that accurately showed the world as it was. Nineteenth century Realism was a response to nineteenth century Romanticism, which caused many novelists to focus on the lives and suffering of middle class citizens (â€Å"Realism.† The Bloomsbury Dictionary of English Literature). Realism, though, is not just that simple, because there are

Book Review Gone Girl Free Essays

The deception and Lies, that were motivated by the secrets that Amy and Nick were hiding, are what led to the demise of their marriage. The Sir Walter Scott quote â€Å"O what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive† is a perfect way to sum up this story. Amy creates the ultimate act of deception In the novel when she tries to frame Nick for her murder, that she fakes. We will write a custom essay sample on Book Review: Gone Girl or any similar topic only for you Order Now Amy decides to frame Nick after she learns that he has been having a secret affair. Once Amy is on the run, because she faked her murder, the tables of deception turn n her when she is robbed by two people she befriended while she was hiding out. Amy flips the tables back on a man she had been deceiving since high school, Despond. Despond is blind to Amoy’s deception because he loves her and he loves to help women with issues. Amy uses Despond for his money and a new hideout and he willingly gives it to her. She tells Despond these horrific stories of Nick and paints him out to be this abusive monster that she Is fleeing from. Little does Despond know that Amy has also painted this same facade for him, she tells her parents and Nick that Despond is this creepy ex and that he tried to kill himself over her when they were back in high school. Amy is then forced to live up to Deacon’s ideals of a perfect women when he has her stay with him and he restricts what she’s eating and tries to get her to be loving and affectionate with him. While Despond thinks he Is In control, It Is really Amy who has the cards In her hand. She eventually ends up betraying Despond when she murders him and runs back to Nick. She paints yet another picture of Despond as this monster who was holding her hostage and she fled from. Amy is constantly deceiving everyone in the story, she even ends up getting screwed over herself because of all the lies. Amy gets the true final say, in the story, when she finally traps Nick by Impregnating herself with his old sperm she had saved which forces Nick to stay In this loveless marriage. Had Amy not lied and deceived Nick numerous times she might have been able to save her marriage but she is so used to being deceitful that I don’t think she even realizes that just being truthful might have been the easier route to take. â€Å"You can put a face behind a mask but be careful because someone else might be retesting. † is a warning that Nick needed. Nick is a man who is betrayed many times In this story. Initially you almost feel sympathy towards him until you learn of his Infidelity. For Nick he never realized all these deceitful things Amy was doing Amy and then the public causes him to lie to his sister and many more people. Nick and Amy are very self absorbed and because Nick is so self absorbed throughout the entire book he ultimately never sees any of the lies Amy tells him. He also ends up flipping the tables on Amy when he gives these interviews depicting a husband who till loves his wife and Just wants her to return safely. Amy falls for it because that is all she wanted in the first place, for him to need her and miss her and want her. Amoy’s return is what makes Nick believe that he will be freed from this marriage but it ultimately is what causes him to become trapped in the marriage. Nick is so consumed with screwing over Amy as bad as she did to him that he never realizes that Amy is always two steps ahead of him. While he pretends to be this loving husband in the beginning he is really cheating on Amy, and Amy is planning on ramming him for her murder because of the infidelity. While Amy is deciding on her next move after she’s in hiding, Nick pretends to be this loving husband who misses his wife to get her to come back. When Amy comes back and realizes Nicks true intentions, to try and get her to confess to Deacon’s murder, she pretends to be completely oblivious to it so she can trap Nick in their marriage. The characters almost play a game of cat and mouse throughout the whole story. They are constantly trying to get over on each other and in the end it may seem like Amy wins but the truth is there were so many lies and so much deceit that happened that no one really ever got what they wanted. Nick will never love Amy and ironically he grew to hate her more when she came home then before she left. The sad thing is that Amy thinks that Nick will Just learn to accept the fact that he is trapped and learn to love her again once the baby is here but he will only end up resenting her even more because of the fact that he is trapped. While these lies were created to save and protect a marriage, they only ended up destroying it and that is the true irony of the story. How to cite Book Review: Gone Girl, Papers

Electronic Health Record in Clinical Research

Question: Discuss about the Electronic Health Record in Clinical Research. Answer: Introduction: In the article titled Electronic health records based phenotyping in next-generation clinical trials: a perspective from the NIH Health Care Systems Collaboratory, researchers Richesson et al. (2013) have presented the findings of the Health Care Systems Collaboratory program. The said program was initiated in the year 2012 with the aim of engaging health care systems as partners in all activities associated with that of discussing and developing tools and technologies required for conducting pragmatic clinical trials or PCTs. The researchers have commented that the sole objective of the NIH Common Fund behind forming the Health Care Systems Collaborator was to find effective methods for conducting the research works in the following manner: Utilizing those electronic healthcare records that have already been collected during the clinical research works, The integration of all research findings in the said EHR system, with the aim of facilitating further research works. The researchers have presented the details of the core principles based on which the NIH Health Care Systems Collaboratory groups are currently operating, along with some of the previous experiences reported by other experts conducting research work in EHR-Based Phenotyping during clinical research activities. In fact, the researchers have also presented a brief discussion on the data standards that are currently being utilized by the NIH Health Care Systems Collaboratory groups for the utilization of the data presented in the HER (Kahn et al. 2012). Thus, it can be said that the article would be of prime importance to those who aim to conduct further studies in the said domain. References Kahn, M. G., Raebel, M. A., Glanz, J. M., Riedlinger, K., Steiner, J. F. (2012). A pragmatic framework for single-site and multisite data quality assessment in electronic health record-based clinical research. Medical care, 50. Richesson, R. L., Hammond, W. E., Nahm, M., Wixted, D., Simon, G. E., Robinson, J. G., ... Laws, R. L. (2013). Electronic health records based phenotyping in next-generation clinical trials: a perspective from the NIH Health Care Systems Collaboratory.Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association,20(e2), e226-e231.

Aristole Essays - Ancient Greek Philosophers, Philosophy Of Science

Aristole ARISTOTLE Aristotle was born in 384 BC and lived until 322 BC. He was a Greek philosopher and scientist, who shares with Plato being considered the most famous of ancient philosophers. He was born at Stagira, in Macedonia, the son of a physician to the royal court. When he was 17, he went to Athens to study at Plato's Academy. He stayed for about 20 years, as a student and then as a teacher. When Plato died in 347 BC, Aristotle moved to Assos, a city in Asia Minor, where a friend of his named Hermias was the ruler. He counseled Hermias and married his niece and adopted daughter, Pythias (wierd names, huh). After Hermias was captured and executed by the Persians, Aristotle went to Pella, Macedonia's capital, and became the tutor of the king's young son Alexander, later known as Alexander the Great. In 335, when Alexander became king, Aristotle went back to Athens and established his own school, the Lyceum.Since a lot of the lessons happenned when teachers and students were walking, it was nicknamed the Peripatetic school (Peripatetic means walking). When Alexander died in 323 BC, strong anti-Macedonian feeling was felt in Athens, and Aristotle went to a family estate in Euboea. He died there the following year. Aristotle, like Plato, used his dialogue in his beginning years at the Academy. Apart from a few fragments in the works of later writers, his dialogues have been wholly lost. Aristotle also wrote some short technical writings, including a dictionary of philosophic terms and a summary of the doctrines of Pythagoras (the guy from the Pythagorean Theorem). Of these, only a few short pieces have survived. Still in good shape, though, are Aristotle's lecture notes for carefully outlined courses treating almost every type of knowledge and art. The writings that made him famous are mostly these, which were collected by other editors. . Among the writings are short informative lectures on logic, called Organon (which means instrument), because they provide the me ans by which positive knowledge is to be attained(They're not my words, I'm quoting him). His writing on natural science include Physics, which gives a huge amount of information on astronomy, meteorology, plants, and animals. His writings on the nature, scope, and properties of being, (I know what one of them means!) which Aristotle called First Philosophy (to him it was Prote philosophia), were given the title Metaphysics in the first published version of his works (around 60 BC), because in that edition they followed Physics. His belief of the Prime Mover, or first cause, was pure intellect, perfect in unity, immutable, and, as he said, the thought of thought, is given in the Metaphysics. Other famous works include his Rhetoric, his Poetics (which we only have incomplete pieces of), and his Politics (also incomplete). Because of the influence of his father's medical profession, Aristotle's philosophy was mainly stressed on biology, the opposite of Plato's emphasis on mathematics. Aristotle regarded the world as made up of individuals (substances) occurring in fixed natural kinds (species) (more confusing quotes, yippey!). He said each individual has its built-in specific pattern of development and grows toward proper self-realization as a specimen of its type. Growth, purpose, and direction are thus built into nature. Although science studies many things, according to Aristotle, these things find their existence in particular individuals. Science and philosophy must therefore balance, not simply choose between, the claims of empiricism (observation and sense experience) and formalism (rational deduction). One of the most famous of Aristotle's contributions was a new notion of causality. Each thing or event, he thought, has more than one 'reason' that helps to explain what, why, and where it is. Earlier Greek thinkers thought that only one sort of cause can explain itself; Aristotle said four. (The word Aristotle uses, aition, a responsible, explanatory fact or is not th same as the word cause now.) These four causes are the material cause, (the matter out of which a thing is made); the efficient cause, (the source of motion, generation, or change); the formal cause, (the species, kind, or type); and the final cause, (the goal, or full development, of an individual, or the intended function of a construction

Economic Reasons for Legalizing Marijuana

Economic Reasons for Legalizing Marijuana The war on drugs- no matter how you feel about it- is undoubtedly expensive. A great deal of resources go into catching those who buy and sell illegal drugs, prosecuting them in court, and housing them in jail. Critics of the war on drugs believe these costs are especially exorbitant when it comes to marijuana, a substance that is widely used and, according to numerous scientists, no more harmful than legal drugs such as tobacco and alcohol. Theres another cost to the war on drugs, too- the revenue lost by governments that cannot collect taxes on the sale of illegal drugs. In a 2010 study for the Fraser Institute, economist Stephen T. Easton attempted to calculate how much tax revenue the Canadian government could gain by legalizing marijuana. In 2018, for many of the reasons Easton outlined in his study, Canada passed the Cannabis Act, which legalized the adult use of recreational marijuana. Revenue From Marijuana Sales Eastons study estimated that the average price of 0.5 grams (a unit) of marijuana sold for $8.60 on the black market, while its cost of production was only $1.70. In a free market, a $6.90 profit for a unit of marijuana would not last for long. Entrepreneurs noticing the great profits to be made in the marijuana market would start their own grow operations, increasing the supply of marijuana, which would cause the street price of the drug to fall to a level much closer to the cost of production. Of course, this doesnt happen because the product is illegal; the prospect of jail time deters many entrepreneurs and the occasional drug bust ensures that the supply stays relatively low. We can consider much of this $6.90 per unit of marijuana profit a risk-premium for participating in the underground economy. Before Canada legalized cannabis, this risk premium was making a lot of criminals, many of whom had ties to organized crime, very wealthy. Marijuana Taxes Easton argued that if marijuana were legalized, the excess profits produced by the risk-premium could be transferred to the government: If we substitute a tax on marijuana cigarettes equal to the difference between the local production cost and the street price people currently paythat is, transfer the revenue from the current producers and marketers (many of whom work with organized crime) to the government, leaving all other marketing and transportation issues aside we would have revenue of (say) $7 per [unit]. If you could collect on every cigarette and ignore the transportation, marketing, and advertising costs, this comes to over $2 billion on Canadian sales and substantially more from an export tax, and you forego the costs of enforcement and deploy your policing assets elsewhere. Supply and Demand One interesting thing to note from such a scheme is that the street price of marijuana stays exactly the same, so the quantity demanded should remain the same as the price is unchanged. However, its quite likely, in places where cannabis use is currently criminalized, that legalization would change the demand for marijuana. We saw that there was a risk in illegally selling marijuana, but since drug laws often target both the buyer and the seller, there is also a risk (albeit smaller) to the consumer interested in buying marijuana. Legalization would eliminate this risk, causing the demand to rise. From a public policy standpoint, this is a mixed bag: Increased marijuana use can have ill effects on the health of the population, but the increased sales bring in more revenue for the government. By legalizing marijuana, governments can have some control over how much marijuana is consumed by increasing or decreasing taxes on the product. There is a limit to this, however, as setting taxes too high will cause marijuana growers to sell on the black market to avoid excessive taxation. When considering legalizing marijuana, there are many economic, health, and social issues to analyze. Although one economic study should not be the basis for a countrys public policy decisions, Eastons research does conclusively show that there are economic benefits to the legalization of marijuana. With governments scrambling to find new sources of revenue to pay for important social objectives such as health care and education, you can expect to see more leaders exploring the idea of legalization.

The Cape Cod and a Continental Climate Research Paper - 45

The Cape Cod and a Continental Climate - Research Paper Example Cape Cod was amongst the initial places established by Europeans in North America. Its Native American inhabitants were devastated by diseases hold by Europeans, parting the survivors more or less dependent in the face of deficiency. Aside from Barnstable and Yarmouth (1639) Sandwich (1638) the Cape's fifteen towns urbanized gradually. The final township to be recognized on the Cape was Mashpee in 1880. Provincetown was an assembly of huts until the 18th century. A great deal of the East-facing Atlantic seacoast of Cape Cod comprises of wide, sandy beaches. In 1961, a considerable section of this coastline previously scheduled for accommodation division was prepared as a division of the Cape Cod National Seashore by President John F. Kennedy and was consequently protected from progress. Cape Cod has numerous stunning species of plants and animals. The normal quality of Cape Cod attracts loads of people which are an assorted range of terrestrial, wetland, aquatic, and marine plants th at are uniquely adapted to life in the coastal environment. Plants native to Cape Cod has moderate plants that are well adapted in the areas of famine along with plants for moist and wet areas, shades and the sun. Also, it includes salt-tolerant plants. A list of some native Cape Cod plant species is such as American white water lily, cardinal flower, coastal sweet pepper bush, common buttonbush, swamp milkweed and many more. Through Cape Cod field trip, there is beach grass named ammophila in the dunes, it helps in the construction of sand dunes. Animals in Cape Cod ordinarily comprise of amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles.

Rehabilitation for Runners Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Rehabilitation for Runners - Essay Example PHASE 2 Continue as above and add: Appropriate shoe orthotics. For example, arch supports may be worn. Posterior leg stretching Gastroc Strecth. Keep involved leg back with the knee straight and heel on the floor. Slowly bend front knee and lean into wall until stretch is felt in the calf of the back leg. Hold for 20 seconds and repeat 5 times. Soleus Strecth. Similar to the gastroc stretch, however keep both knees bent and heels on the floor. Lean into wall until a stretch is felt in the lower calf. Hold for 20 seconds and repeat 5 times. Anterior leg stretching Anterior Tibialis Stretch. In a or sitting position, cross the involved leg over the uninvolved leg. Pull the toes in a direction that will gently stretch the tissue on the top of the. Hold 20 seconds and repeat 5 times. Anterior leg strengthening Toe Taps Sit in a chair with arms resting on thighs. Begin to tap toes by lifting up foot except for the heel and returning it to the floor as fast as possible. You should start to feel the muscles in the front of the ankle working. Continue tapping for 20 seconds and repeat 5 times. PHASE 3 Limited running on treadmill or track surface at low speed, distance, and level plane Patient education: learn to recognize symptoms of shin splints in order to prevent reoccurrence and be able to administer self treatment to the area when symptoms return. PHASE 4 Return to sports Continue with stretch and strengthening of leg and ankle muscles. REFERENCES Sports Injury Clinic. (2008). Shin splints treatment and rehabilitation. 28 July, 2008 (Online). Available at: http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/lowerleg/shinsplints/rehabilitation.php Plone Open Source Content Management System. (2007) Physical Theraphy...Pull the toes in a direction that will gently stretch the tissue on the top of the. Hold 20 seconds and repeat 5 times. Toe Taps Sit in a chair with arms resting on thighs. Begin to tap toes by lifting up foot except for the heel and returning it to the floor as fast as possible. You should start to feel the muscles in the front of the ankle working. Continue tapping for 20 seconds and repeat 5 times. Sports Injury Clinic. (2008). Shin splints treatment and rehabilitation. 28 July, 2008 (Online). Available at: http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/lowerleg/shinsplints/rehabilitation.php The leaflet aims to help athletes specially runners on shin splint intermediate rehabilitation. Shin splints are most common among runners, particularly those just starting a running program. If an athlete has a flat arches, his/her feet may have a tendency to roll too far inward (pronate) when running which can contribute to shin splints (Mayo, 2006). It is commonly used as a "garbage can" term to include a variety of exercise-induced leg pathologies but actually represents a very specific problem.

US Macroeconomic policy 2006-2008 Research Paper

US Macroeconomic policy 2006-2008 - Research Paper Example With the global political situation ever changing, foreign policies fluctuation in split second, the economy has suffered too over the recent years. This paper describes the United States of America's macroeconomic polices in the recent years and their impact on the people. We shall consider the past three years and look at how the changing economic policies changed business interests and how they impact the overall economic situation of the state. In 2006 U.S economy was still suffering from the effects that the hurricanes such as Katrina had on the U.S. economy and because of their reverberations in 2006. The health of the national economy was facing threat, due to the severe beating that the infrastructure took-most notably the infrastructure for energy. For the preceding year and a half, energy prices had surged worldwide. When the storms hit at the end of August, economic activity had been quite robust for several years, supported by monetary accommodation and strong productivity growth. Real GDP had grown steadily at, or above, its potential or long-run sustainable pace, which is estimated at around three and a quarter percent. This pattern continued even during the third quarter-immediately following the hurricanes-when real GDP grew by just over four percent. In the fourth quarter, growth did drop sharply to about 1 percent. However, a good deal of this slowdown appears to have been due to several temporary factors, non e of which were related to the hurricanes. In 2006 the US economy was facing a great deal of un-certainty; the economy appears to be approaching a highly desirable glide path. First, real GDP growth currently appears to be quite strong, but there was good reason for it to slow to around its potential rate as the year progresses. Second, it appears that US economy operating in the vicinity of "full employment" with a variety of indicators giving only moderately different signals. The Fed raised the federal funds rate by 25 basis points a total increase of 350 basis points. However, once the rate got to 4 percent, the issue of exactly how much accommodation actually remained in the economy became more of a judgment call. As a result, some further policy firming was needed to keep the risks to the attainment of both sustainable economic growth and price stability roughly in balance. The U.S. Economy and Policies in 2007 In 2007 the data showed payroll employment growing at a rather robust pace for all of last year. Moreover, the unemployment rate had declined by half a percentage point over the past year; this suggests a degree of tightness in the labor market, The decline started toward the end of 2005 and residential investment has fallen-in absolute terms-by a total of 13 percent. This sector alone which represents only a small fraction of U.S. real GDP-subtracted a hefty 1 percentage points from real GDP growth. Housing starts have followed a similar pattern, reaching a climax in January 2006 and then falling by roughly 40 percent through January of 2007. In addition to housing, weakness in

Polymers and its applications

Polymers and its applications ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I take this opportunity to present my votes of thanks to all those guidepost who really acted as lightening pillars to enlighten our way throughout this project that has led to successful and satisfactory completion of this study. We are really grateful to our HOD for providing us with an opportunity to undertake this project in this university and providing us with all the facilities. We are highly thankful to Mr. Harminder Singh for his active support, valuable time and advice, whole-hearted guidance, sincere cooperation and pains-taking involvement during the study and in completing the assignment of preparing the said project within the time stipulated. Lastly, We are thankful to all those, particularly the various friends who have been instrumental in creating proper, healthy and conductive environment and including new and fresh innovative ideas for us during the project, their help, it would have been extremely difficult for us to prepare the project in a time bound framework HISTORY:- Polymers were discovered long before anyone understood what they were. It wasnt until 1920 that German chemist Hermann Staudinger (1881-1965) made his macromolecular hypothesis, suggesting that polymers are actually giant molecules formed by the permanent attachment of countless smaller molecules. INTRODUCTION:- A polymer is a large MOLECULE composed of repeating structural typically connected by chemical bonds like covalent bonds. Polymers are composed of very high molecular masses formed by the combination of large number of simple molecules. GEOMETRY:- Polymers (or macromolecules) are very large molecules made up of smaller units called monomers or repeating units, covalently bonded together. Monomers / Repeat Units The identity of the monomer residues (repeat units) comprising a polymer is its first and most important attribute. Microstructure:- The microstructure of a polymer (sometimes called configuration) relates to the physical arrangement of monomer (which I have explained above) residues along the backbone of the chain. CLASSIFICATION OF POLYMERS:- On the basis of structure- LINEAR POLYMERS BRANCHED POLYMERS CROSS-LINKED POLYMERS On the basis of molecular forces Elastomers Fibers Thermoplastics Thermosetting polymers Thermoplasts: These are the polymers which can be easily softened repeatedly when heated and hardened when cooled with little change in their properties. When heated due to the absence of cross links, they become free to move and and can be moulded into any desired shapes. EXAMPLES- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Polystyrene and Polymethyl methacrylate Thermosets:- These are the polymers which undergo permanent change on heating and can not be remoulded into our desired shape. On heating their cross links get highly linked with each other and becomes hard and infusible. EXAMPLES-Bakelite,formaldehyde etc. PROPERTIES:- Tensile strength Higher tensile strength holds a greater weight before snapping. Tensile strength increases with polymer chain length and crosslinking of polymer chains. Melting point The term melting point when applied to polymers, suggests not a solid-liquid phase transition but a transition from a crystalline or semi-crystalline phase to a solid amorphous phase. Boiling point The boiling point of a polymeric material is strongly dependent on chain length. The polymers with a large degree of polymerization do not exhibit a boiling point because they are decomposed before reaching their respective theoretical boiling point. FUN FACT: The polymer inside disposable diapers is called sodium polyacrylate. It can instantly absorb about 800 times its mass in water. APPLICATIONS OF POLYMERS:- Molecular science has developed enormously in recent eras. Molecular science has a major role in our lives. It has become a necessity in our daily routines we shall talk now about the basic applications of polymers without which life wasnt that easy. We are going to discuss some of the main polymers used in our lives. RUBBER:- HISTORY OF RUBBER: Natural rubber, obtained from the sap of the hevea tree. Rubber was named by the chemist Joseph Priestley who found that a piece of solidified latex gum was good for rubbing out pencil marks on paper. TWO TYPES OF RUBBER ARE THERE:- NATURAL RUBBER VULCANIZED RUBBER (SYNTHETIC RUBBER) NATURAL RUBBER:- Natural rubber is a polymer of isoprene (2-methyl-1, 3-butadiene), with a joined network structure.There is no cross links between the polymer chains. It is not hard and tough. It becomes sticky and soft when heated. It can be easily deformed but regains its original shape after the stress is released. It involves a addition reaction in which one double bond in isoprene open to form a new bond with next unit forming a large chain. VULCANIZED RUBBER:-. A chemical reaction of sulfur (or other vulcanizing agent) with rubber or plastic to cause cross-linking of the polymer chains; it increases strength and resiliency of the polymer chemically; the process involves the formation of cross-linkages between the polymer chains of the rubbers molecules. It was invented by Charles Goodyear in 1839.The formation of cross links formed at the time of vulcanization at the reactive sites makes rubber hard, tough with greater tensile strength. It has very high elasticity, resistance to oxidation and organic solvents. The sulphur bridge in this figure prevents the slip of the chains and rubber can be stretched to a limited extent and when tension is removed the chains try to coil up regain its original shape. OTHER TYPES OF RUBBER:- NEOPRENE RUBBER:- USES: used as insulator, making conveyor belts, printer roller belts are also made from it. SBR (Styrene Butadiene Rubber):-Known as BUNA-S USES: it is used for making automobile tyres and footwears. NITRILE RUBBER:- Recognized as BUNA-N USES:-it is used for making oil seals, manufacture of hoses and tank linkings. REACTIONS INVOLVING IN THERE FORMATIONS:- PLASTICS OR POLYHALO-OLEFINS:- A very useful but common commodity of our life. But nowadays it has become a serious problem due to its problem of degradation which is a process which is a time consuming process. These are called polyhalo-olefins because they are derived from halogen substituted olefins. POLYVINYLCHLORIDE-(PVC):- Its monomer is unit is vinyl chloride. it is prepared by heating vinyl chloride in an inert solvent in the presence of peroxides (eg.dibenzoyl peroxides).It isa hard horny material. It is a thermoplastic polymer and its plasticity can be increased . Fig 15.0 USES:- It is used in manufacturing of rain coats, hand bags, curtain clothes, toys Artificial flooring. As a good insulating material in wires and other electrical goods. For making gramophone records. TEFLON:-(POLYTETRAFLOUROETHYLENE): Tough material resistant to heat and chemical actions such as acids and bases. It is an addition polymer of tetraflouroethylene.It is bad conductor of heat. USES: It is used as a material resistant to heat and chemical attack in household works. For coating articles and cookware to make them non-sticky as non stick utensils For making gaskets, pump packaging, valve, seals, non-lubricated bearings, etc. POLYESTERS:- Fibers represent a very important application of polymeric materials, including many examples from the categories of plastics and elastomers.It involves ester linkages TYPES OF POLYESTERS(FIBRES):- TERYLINE:-It is a polymer of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. Also known as Dacron. USES:- For making cloth by mixing with cotton. For making magnetic recording tapes. NYLON66:-Monomers are hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid. USES:- Used for making bristles of brushes. In textiles and also for making sheets. It is blended with wool to make socks and sweaters. NYLON 6:- its monomer is caprolactum made up of cyclohexane. USES:- It is used in the manufacture of tyre ,cords, fabrics, and ropes. CONCLUSION:- We have tried to give a brief information on polymers .Polymers are everywhere around us and we tried to show a glimpse of polymers applications which are commonly used in our lives like plastics nylon and day to day used commodities. MATERIAL AND FIGURE REFRENCES:- http://www.plastiquarian.com/top.htm http://www.csua.berkely.edu/~ranga/school/me223/nylon.gif http://www.openlearn.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=2937 http://www.britanica.com/EBchecked/topic/468696/polymer http://www.polymertalk.com/history_of_polymers.php http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/silicone http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/branching_%28chemistry%29 http://www.polymertalk.com/classification_of_polymers.php http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=vq=cache:Wbn5XOJDt:www.cmse.ed.ac.uk/MSE3/Topics/MSE3-polymers.pdf+intoduction+of+polymershl=engl=insig=AHIEtbQ22RNSIoIyoXUP9HtDd-nakz-w http://www.cem.msu.edu/~reusch/VirtualText/polymers.htm

Symbols of Evolution :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

Symbols of Evolution Two billion years ago two prokaryotes bumped into each other and formed the first multi-cellular organism. 65 million years ago an asteroid hit the earth and dinosaurs became extinct. Three days ago, in your notebook, you drew a mess of squiggles which to you represented Jackson Pollock's painting, Number 1, 1948. You wrote the word entropy on the upper left hand corner of the page. On the bottom right hand side you wrote, Creativity is based on randomness and chance. This paper will not try to determine why the dinosaurs became extinct or what caused two prokaryotes to form the first multi-cellular organism. Instead, it will ask you that which is, perhaps, a more difficult question: Why did you write what you wrote in your notebook? If human recorded history only represents 10,000 years of a universe which has been evolving for 15 billion years, then does a question pertaining to such relatively recent human practices as writing and artwork matter? Yes! These symbol making processes matter because of what they can tell us about our identity and our place in the evolutionary process. This essay will explore the notion that human identity is based almost entirely on representing life symbolically, and grapple with the idea that we exist because of the symbols which we create. It will then go on to explore how symbol-making resembles the biological process of evolution in the way it prizes and incites both messiness and reproduction. Finally it will synthesize these two ideas: symbol-making tied to human identity and symbol-making resembling the biological process of evolution in order to provide a backbone for the idea that humans might evolve in such a way that the cultural transfer of information could take plac e as a part of the process of biological evolution. Reason I: Because after all the discussion, something was still missing. It'd be difficult for me to tell you exactly what, because we discussed concepts about evolution quite thoroughly. But nonetheless, I was feeling empty. And so I guess what I was trying to do was tell myself a story on paper, trying to fill the emptiness that all the other stories created. The only way that humans can communicate with each other is through words and signs. In his book entitled, Literary Theory, A Very Short Introduction, Jonathan Culler shows how large a part signs play in who we are by stating that "instead of thinking of life as something to which signs and texts are added to represent it, we should conceive of life itself as suffused with signs, made what it is by processes of signification.

Fury and the Wrath Essay

The great thing about literature is that it is able to portray the feelings of a person, the feelings of a collective whole, and sometimes, even the emotions of the entire nation. Literature is known to reflect the dreams, aspirations, and capabilities of the people. As positive as that may sound, literature can also shockingly show what Man and Nature is capable of doing. The strengths of humankind as well as their weaknesses are shown in the pages of great literary works. The wonderful is written by great literary masters as well as the things that are horrifying. The beautiful and the ugly are shown behind every mask or agenda of the characters. Good and evil exists in reality, and it is but natural that it shall exist in the pages of literature as well. However, the question of what makes a person evil and what pushes him or her to do evil deeds is one which can be very intriguing. In William Shakespeare’s Othello, the Moor of Venice (which aside from being staged as plays has also been adapted into a film many times), one of the characters by the name of Iago is considered as one of the most famous literary villains that perhaps, there is no character which can surpass his cunning and his evil. There is a reason though as to why Iago acted as such, and whether his deeds are justified or not is a subject for argument and can be debated upon — but it still leaves the fact that he is evil through and through. In this essay, Iago’s character and evil complex will be analyzed as to why he is as acting as such in the first place. It is possibly because he is driven by hatred and it is through this hatred that he is unable to connect with his good and better side. A Brief Overview of William Shakespeare’s Othello, the Moor of Venice Othello is a famous and prominent man in Venice and has recently been proclaimed as general and married to Desdemona, one of the most-sought after ladies of Venice. Because of this, many turn against Othello because of three things mainly: One is he has won the respect of and honor from the Duke and the other government officials of Venice. Second, he has married Desdemona and that caused ripples of both jealousy and envy from many men of Venice, including Iago (who is already married) and Roderigo, another character in the play who is used by Iago for his evil plans. The third and last is that Othello is a Moor, and being a Moor in Venice says a lot about the history of the discrimination and hostility experienced by the Moors in the Venetian country. The turn of events against Othello is basically caused by jealousy and envy. In fact, the very famous lines of jealousy came from this play, â€Å"Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy! / It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock / The meat it feeds on† (3. 3. 170-172). In both the movie and the play, Iago plots and uses other people to make the downfall of Othello seem like he has nothing to do with it. In fact, the cunning and wily ways he does his acts seem that he is working for the good intentions of everyone — he helps Roderigo capture Desdemona; he helps Cassio try to win the good side of Othello; he helps Othello discover the affair of Desdemona and Cassio; and he helps Desdemona in trying to persuade her husband that she is innocent. Of course, the whole thing is a farce as he is actually the person behind all the conflict. There was never an affair between Cassio and Desdemona as Iago just made it up, and Cassio should not have been wronged in the first place if not for the plan of Roderigo and Iago. In short, the conflict and chaos of the play were solely caused by Iago, and the sad part is that the other characters actually fell for it. When the film concludes, Roderigo, Desdemona, and Othello are dead. Roderigo has been killed by Iago himself and cleverly done so; Desdemona is appallingly killed by Othello, and Othello in the end is stricken by grief and guilt that he commits suicide over the monstrosity which he has done over the murder of Desdemona. Meanwhile, Emilia (Iago’s own wife) is killed by none other than Iago himself. Cassio is wounded severely, and Iago is captured to be executed over the monstrosity he has caused. The Complexity of the Character of Iago The villainy and the character of Iago are very interesting to study as it gives such a great background over the psychological workings of an antagonist. Before that, however, there should be an acknowledgment that Iago is indeed evil and that he has indeed wronged the other characters of the movie. To say that he is the antagonist and that Othello is the protagonist is wrong since it merely implies that Iago wronged Othello only since Iago has wronged everyone in the movie. That is perhaps one of the reasons why Iago is such a classic and frightening villain since he has the ability to control all the characters and cause their downfall while there is clearly no offense which the other characters have done, most especially by Othello. This leads to the subject matter at hand — why did Iago hate Othello so much that he would waste his time, effort, and intelligence in plotting Othello’s downfall? This essay will give three reasons as to why Iago acted on such principles and beliefs. A Moor in Venice According to the book by Faith Nostbakken entitled â€Å"Understanding Othello: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents,† Moors in the time of the Elizabethan era were considered as low-lifes or inferior people. They would be the ones serving the English or the ones who would have jobs that are considered as unfit for an English person to have. Mostly however, they were treated as such because they have an entirely different religion than that of the English race, aside from looking different. They also have an entirely different upbringing because of their customs and traditions. Because Othello is Moor, this could be one of the reasons why Iago hates him so since he hates the race of the Moors. In fact, in the first scene and act of the play wherein Iago and Roderigo are talking and plotting against Othello, their contempt and discrimination for the person is very obvious with their language and reference to Othello. Because Othello is a Moor, Iago hates him. The Fight for the Power and the Glory When Roderigo and Iago were talking, the audience understands that Iago hates Othello because Othello supposedly stole the position of being a lieutenant (or general) from Iago. Othello has the power and the fame which Iago wants, and it is but natural that Iago gets infuriated with this situation. In Joan Lor Hall’s book, the character of Iago is analyzed and he is even regarded as being â€Å"honest† (72) since he is just being plain clear and straightforward over his wishes and desires. However, the problem resides in the fact that when Iago wanted to claim what he feels was rightfully his, other characters are hurt. This trait is what makes Iago an evil manipulator. Conclusion In conclusion, Iago’s evilness may be justified by the two aspects mentioned above, but no matter what, there seems to be an atmosphere in the play and in the movie that Iago’s action may have no reason at all. The fact that he hates Othello is a real wonder, and the reason why he hates Othello and why he acted the way he did is one which William Shakespeare could only answer. Works Cited Hall, Joan Lord. Othello: A Guide to the Play. Connecticut, Greenwood Press, 1999. Nostbakken, Faith. Understanding Othello: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents. Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2000. Othello. Dir. Olivia Parker. Perfs. Laurence Fishburne, Irene Jacob, Kenneth Branagh. Castle Rock Entertainment, 1995. Shakespeare, William. Othello. New York: Heinemann, 2000.

Blackfeet Perspective on Scalping Essays

Blackfeet Perspective on Scalping Essays Blackfeet Perspective on Scalping Paper Blackfeet Perspective on Scalping Paper 1904. This volume contains a story which depicts a couple fur trappers who were attacked by the Blackfeet, or so they claim. One of the fur trappers, John Colter, survived the attack and made it back to a fort where he retold his tale. The other trapper was apparently killed and scalped. The validity of this story is impossible to verify, but the fact that he could tell the tale and have it believed (or at least written about) provides an idea of how Indians could have been used as scapegoats. Early Western Travels: 1748-1846. Vol. VI. Cleveland: Arthur H. Clark Co. 1904 This volume called the Blackfeet â€Å"a ferocious savage race, who have conceived the most deadly hatred to the Americans† (28). Very helpful in showing opinions towards the Blackfeet. Early Western Travels: 1748-1846. Vol. VII. Cleveland: Arthur H. Clark Co. , 1904 This volume turned out unhelpful. Early Western Travels: 1748-1846. Vol. XXI. Cleveland: Arthur H. Clark Co. , 1904 This volume told a story of a white man with a small band of Blackfeet who invited a trapper to visit them. While in plain sight of a fort, the white man killed and scalped the trapper. How the man got away with this, it does not say. Editorial, The Richmond Examiner, July 5, 1864, http://infotrac. galegroup. com (accessed April 16, 2011). This newspaper column was discussing rules of engagement having little to do with Indians let alone Blackfeet. The opening statement describes how certain enemies were put to death â€Å"with as little ceremony †¦ as the backwoodsman does a painted Blackfoot or Comanche warrior when he is caught with a bloody scalp dangling from his girdle. † Showing me that in some areas the Blackfeet warriors were seen as constantly scalping and doing little else. Ewers, John. The Blackfeet: Raiders on the Northwestern Plains. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1958. Ewers spent a number of years living with and studying the Blackfeet tribe during the mid-20th century. Chapter seven â€Å"Raiding for Horses and Scalps† provided half a chapter worth of information discussing scalping from the Blackfeet point of view. The book provided excellent information but was still written by a white American and has difficulty encompassing the full Blackfeet opinion. Ewers, John. The Horse in Blackfoot Indian Culture, with Comparative Material from Other Western Tribes. Washington D. C. : U. S. Govt. Print. Off. , 1955. I decided to put this in the primary section because Ewers spent so much time talking with tribal elders and essentially writing ethnographies through them. The section on scalping in this book is short and provides only a small amount of basic information on the tradition. Gaines, Edmund P.. â€Å"It is Not an Act of War†¦ † The National Advocate, February 10, 1818, http://infotrac. galegroup. com (accessed April 16, 2011). Gaines describes an incident where seven people were massacred and scalped including a woman and infants. The gist of his article was to declare war upon the offenders because he has little confidence in friendly relations with the Indians. This publication in the early 19th century provided information on sentiment towards Indians. Grinnell, George Bird. Blackfoot Lodge Tales: The Story of a Prairie People. Williamstown, MA: Corner House Publishers, 1972. Grinnell spent a number of years with American Indians and was considered a close friend to the Blackfeet tribe. He also published a number of books on plains Indians. This particular book is his interpretation of a number of stories that were told to him by Blackfeet elders in which he tried to keep them as close to the literal translation as he could. I consider this a primary document because they are written oral tradition, even though they are translated into English. â€Å"Has Scalps by the Score. † The Owyhee Avalanche, April 28, 1899, http://infotrac. galegroup. com (accessed April 16, 2011). This article described a white man who scalped Indians for vengeance but I did not use it in final draft. King, Charles. â€Å"Indian Dances. The Sunday Oregonian, June 29, 1890, http://infotrac. galegroup. com (accessed April 16, 2011). In this article, King describes a number of dances performed by Indians and claims that across the nation tribes are pretty much all the same. This was great insight into how many white Americans felt about Indian tribes. But this showed me the possibility that if the Blackfeet are discussed in an article, it m ay not actually be the Blackfeet tribe. Lancaster, Richard. Piegan: A Look from Within at the Life, Times, and Legacy of an American Indian Tribe. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1966. This book was Lancaster’s interpretation of Chief White Calf’s life story. Chief White Calf was born in the 1860s and participated in scalping at sometime during his life. This was rather late for scalping, but it showed how integral it was to the Blackfeet as White Calf was rather blunt about it. â€Å"A Report was in Town Yesterday†¦ † Missouri Republican, July 16, 1823, http://infotrac. galegroup. com (accessed April 16, 2011). This article discusses a trapping party that was attacked by a group of Blackfeet. The author of the article claims that the recollection is doubted by those acquainted with the subject. This goes to show that in many cases the news articles of scalping could have been exaggerated. â€Å"Seven Years a Prisoner of the Black Feet Indians: A Horrible History. † The Wisconsin State Register, July 2, 1871, http://infotrac. galegroup. com (accessed April 16, 2011). I found this publication to be published in two different Wisconsin newspapers and one in San Francisco. The atrocity of the story adds to the sentiments towards Blackfeet Indians and shows that it was widely published. Works Consulted-Secondary Andrews, Ralph Warren. Indians as the Westerners Saw Them. Seattle: Superior Pub. Co. , 1963. Andrews discusses scalping in chapter five. He describes some methods and motives of scalping. This book was helpful for a basic overview and opinionated view on scalping, but gave little tribal specific information. Axtell, James. â€Å"Scalping: The Ethnohistory of a Moral Question,† in The European and the Indian: Essays in the Ethnohistory of Colonial North America. Edited by James Axtell. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1981. Axtell discussed the importance of understanding moral questions in context with their contemporaries. Although he did not discuss Blackfeet specifically, his work gave me a basis for assessing scalping rather than judging the act. Axtell, James. â€Å"Scalps and Scalping,† in Encyclopedia of North American Indians. Edited by Fredrick Hoxie. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. , 1996. netlibrary. com (accessed March 30, 2011). In this work Axtell provides a basic overview of the act of scalping in a very similar fashion to that of Andrews. It was very broad and not tribal specific. Bastien, Betty. Blackfoot Ways of Knowing: The Worldview of the Siksikaitsitapi. Calgary: University of Calgary Press, 2004. Bastien, as a current historian, sought to describe the ways the Blackfeet tribe keeps their history and understands the world. Using this in support of Grinnell’s works, helps with the validity of using the Lodge Tales as a primary source. Binnema, Theodore. â€Å"Allegiances and Interests: Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) Trade, Diplomacy, and Warfare, 1806-1831. † The Western Historical Quarterly 37, no. 3 (2006): 327. This article claims that the Gros Ventres tribe was often grouped with the Blackfeet by early fur-traders. Binnema claims that the Gros Ventres were much more violent than the Blackfeet attributing to their reputation. This article also attributes to the fact that when the Blackfeet tribe is mentioned, it may not actually be the Blackfeet. Binnema, Theodore. â€Å"‘Like the Greedy Wolf’: The Blackfeet, the St. Louis Fur Trade, and War Fever, 1807-1831. † Journal of the Early Republic 29, no. 3 (2009): 411-440. This article discusses relations with the Blackfeet up until the period of peace between them and white Americans. Binnema discusses a number of contributions to the violence but does not discuss scalping in depth. The article is useful in understanding relations, but not so useful in the argument for Blackfeet scalping. Conaty, Gerald T. Review of Blackoot Ways of Knowing: The Worldview of the Siksikaitsitapi, by Betty Bastien. Histoire Sociale 38, no. 76 (2005): 499. Used for background on Bastien. Dempsey, Hugh A. â€Å"Blackfoot† in Handbook of North American Indians. Vol. 13, pt. 1. Edited by Raymond J. DeMallie. Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 2001. 604-628. Dempsey provides a somewhat detailed overview of the tribe itself but spends little time discussing warfare let alone scalping. This was helpful in gathering details but not so much in the discussion of scaping. Kipp, Darrell Robes. â€Å"Blackfoot† in Encyclopedia of North American Indians. Edited by Fredrick Hoxie. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. , 1996. netlibrary. com (accessed March 30, 2011). This entry was only used for basic background knowledge of the Blackfeet. LaPier, Rosalyn. â€Å"Blackfeet† in Dictionary of American History. Vol 1. Edited by Stanley I. Kutler. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 2003. http://go. galegroup. com (accessed March 21, 2011). This entry was only used for basic background knowledge of the Blackfeet. Sherrow, Victoria. â€Å"Scalping† in Encylopedia of Hair. Westport, CN: Greenwood Press, 2006. 344-45. This entry did not provide any information on Blackfeet specific customs. Spitzer, Allen. Review of The Blackfeet: Raiders on the Northwestern Plains, by John C. Ewers. American Anthropologist 61, no. 1 (1959): 145-146. Used for information on Ewers. Washburn, Wilcomb E. Review of Letters and Notes on the North American Indians, by George Catlin. The American Historical Review 81, no. 5 (1976): 1243. Used for information on Catlin.

Richard and Saladin essays

Richard and Saladin essays Richard 1 and Saladin were both major leaders in the Third Crusade. They were both very intelligent at an early age, and possessed precocious political and military ability, which made them very successful. Richard was hot-tempered, cruel, and irresponsible, which made it easy for him to be despised by many. In contrast to Richard, Saladin studied poetry and was known as a saintly hero by the Muslims. He was even admired by the Christians for his honesty and bravery. Saladin and Richard had mutual respect for one another after the Battle of Arsuf, when they had made a truce. Both Richard and Saladin had great military and political abilities at an early age. Richard 1 was given the duchy of Aquitaine, his mothers inheritance, at the age of 11 and was enthroned as duke at Poitiers. Richards eldest brother, Henry the Young King, was simultaneously crowned as his father's successor. Richard and his other brother, Geoffrey, then learned how to defend their property while still teenagers. Richard was also six feet four inches tall, which gave him a great advantage militarily. Saladin, as a child, was a scholar who studied the Koran as well as poetry, and his scholarly ways would continue through his life. At the young age of fourteen, he entered into the service of his uncle who was a great and respected Arab warrior. Another mentor of Saladin was the Saracen chief Zenghi. Saladin learned his military lessons well and soon began to stand out among Nur ed-Din's forces. Richard had no filial piety, foresight, or sense of responsibility. He joined his brothers in rebellion against his father, who invaded Aquistaine twice before Richard proposed and received pardon. Afterwards, Richard was occupied with holding back people revolting in his own duchy. His harshness made the Gascons angry, and they later revolted. After Richard became heir to England, and to Normandy and Anjou, his father wished him to yield Aquitaine to his you...

Analysis and Evaluation of an Argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Analysis and Evaluation of an Argument - Essay Example Since then, the desire to develop anti-ageing strategies grew in him. He has done several researches and merged them with logic ideas. That is why he says that ageing is rather a curable disease is any other. His reasoning is based on the body tissue that results in metabolism. He said the effects of metabolism are what brings about growing old in human beings. He felt the need to enable people not to lose the ones they love anymore due to health issues, lack of liveliness, and the ability of functioning in ageing process (De Grey, 210). He felt this loss had to stop since the majority of the people that died due to old age always had agonizing and very expensive death. The expense was due to that old people were vulnerable to lots of diseases and there most of the time is spent with medical assistance. Old people are not productive. This is because they can hardly assist in any job. They are therefore seen as valueless in the society. Aubrey De Grey has developed seven biological related steps to help slow the ageing process of human being. These steps help to repair the damaged organs in the body ones the ageing process crops in the body (De Grey, 222). Accumulation of damaged organs in the tissue of the body is what brings about diseases and other problem that result in death in old age. Cellular damages occur seven ways in the ageing process. Therefore, the seven steps are to help clean the junk of the cells both inside and outside. As people age, there tend to be worn out cells that need to be removed and protein cross-linking in the body. The bad cells are the one that causes the diseases of old age and therefore, they need removal and the body needs to be induced to produce new one. Prevention is always said to be better than cure. Dr Grey uses the quote a lot and says that people should not wait until they develop ageing problems to be cured. They should be earlier precautions and preventions to old

Genetic testing for overall population health Assignment

Genetic testing for overall population health - Assignment Example On the downside, genetic testing could further complicate people’s lives in regards to their health status. It is likely that genetic tests will lead to the realization of genetic conditions that leave patients worried over their health. Such an observation negates the prospects of genetic testing. On the same note, genetic conditions and/or disorders that previously received no serious attention, or those that are not necessarily threatening, could now become the new focus of healthcare practitioners. This could translate to increased costs of healthcare, medical research, and development. Moreover, an ethical concern in this matter relates to possible interference with an individual’s natural and biological genome. For a nurse, it is important to create awareness and promote legal and ethical practices as far as genetic testing is concerned. In essence, nursing plays an important role in promoting overall population health (DeNisco & Barker, 2013). In this respect, a nurse with advanced knowledge is a key driver of the prospects of genetic testing. The idea is to ensure that nurses work under mutual grounds with their patients to ensure proper genetic testing and improved population

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Journal - Assignment Example e while women is receptive.In every culture, gender role is influenced by various sources including parental expectation, modeling by peers, and media images of male and female. For instance, Scandinavian culture appears to have a more egalitarian gender role such as norms of behavior and personal traits at home and work are not defined solely on gender.In contrat, Arabs have strict implication of gender role which expect women to cover head and walk behind husband.Across many cultures males are expected to be strong,independent, self – reliant, emotionally detached and women are taught to be nurturing, dependent, gentle and emotional.Gender role is the public expression ofone’s gender identity.In many cultures men learn to be aggressive and women learn to be passive.A family from the birth of a child imposes gender role on them and bring them up as male or female.Basically the attitude and behavior of male and female is molded according to the cultural environment he or sheis grown up

Are Gmos Good for Our Health Essay Example for Free

Are Gmos Good for Our Health Essay So, its been a long day, your exhausted, really hungry, and dont think too much about what you want to eat. You just know that you will go for anything tasty that is fast and easy to make. Choosing what we we want to eat in this way should be familiar to all of us, its the American way: We want it and we want it now, and it always has to be better, faster, and last longer. Due to our forever growing population this demand only gets stronger and stronger; alas our creation of genetically modified organisms. The dominating corporate in charge called Monsanto promised to create this miracle food that will feed countries around the world, last longer, and make our diets healthier. After finding out that these genetically modified foods can cause health problems and arent provided enough for the malnourished, third world countries, can we really say that the creation of GMOs are living up to what Monsanto is telling us? One of the main defenses for GMOs is to help out third world countries; places where starvation and malnutrition hit the hardest. An article for Times magazine titled Grains of Hope illustrates all the excitement and hope that GMOs will solve world hunger. Reporting that the new GM strain in rice creates a new species of rice called Golden Rice. â€Å"This new rice produces beta-carotene, which the human body converts into Vitamin A. † â€Å" Nearly a million children die every year because they are weakened by Vitamin A deficiency and an additional 350,000 go blind† (Robbins, 2012, pg 1). You would think that this golden rice would be the answer to all malnutrition problems, but unfortunately it is not. According to a New York Times article titled Can GMOs Help End world Hunger? , â€Å"golden rice will not grow in the kinds of soil that it must to feed the hungry. To grow properly, it requires heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides. For the poor, developing countries it is unaffordable. Plus the heavy amounts of pesticides could travel into the bloodstreams of people and make them resistant to essential antibiotics. Research shows that â€Å"an eleven year old boy would have to eat twenty-seven bowls of golden rice a day in order to satisfy his minimum requirement for the vitamin† (Robbins, 2012, pg 2). The Monsanto Corporation and other biotechnology companies have invested billions of dollars to gain control over what we eat. Their main goal is not to feed the world but to retrieve maximum profit. Part of how their doing so is by monopolizing farmers. They do so by creating a Technology Protection System. This system creates â€Å"terminator seeds. †These seeds are altered so that they are sterile. Meaning that after the crop grows, it will not produce more seeds for farmers to harvest and grow next season. Instead, they have to buy more seeds over and over again. Due to the corporate patenting and monopolization of GM seeds, farmers also have to use excessive amounts of chemicals on their crops. â€Å"It is frequently argued that the high debt incurred by Indian farmers and resultant farmer suicides (over 250,000 since 1997) have largely resulted from the need to purchase costly pesticides and expensive seeds each year because they contain a terminator gene† (Todhunter,2012). In the earlier times of GMOs, many farmers couldnt wait to try out these products because the World Health Organization came out and said that they benefited agriculture productivity, human health and revived infertile crops. The World Health Organization stated in their article, Weighing in the GMO Arguments: For, â€Å"Genetically engineered resistance to pests and diseases could greatly reduce the chemicals needed for crop protection. Farmers are already growing maize cotton and potatoes that no longer have to be sprayed with bacterial insecticide. They also included that removing lignin found in trees will get rid of toxic chemicals in paper and wood made products, being healthier for people and the environment. WHO also goes on to add that â€Å"Genetic modification to become more tolerant of salt [found in infertile soil] and drought. † An article I found to support these findings called GM crops aid plant neighbours talks about a study done in china where they modified strains of cotton DNA so that the crops could make their own insecticide and solve pest problems. The results were positive, the insecticide Bacillus Thuringiensis, caused a reduction in the use of insecticide because it got rid of the cotton bollworm, a major pest to cotton. The newly engineered cotton also created greater biodiversity by attracting more lady bugs, causing the population of aphids, another cotton pest, to decrease. In the article, an advocate for organic farming shares that she agrees with the modified cotton because â€Å"organic farmers avoid pesticides by using natural processes to encourage beneficial predators. Getting rid of pests by introducing predators and reducing the use of pesticides is very similar to organic processes. † The new pest resistant crop may have been beneficial for a little while but as time went on they are began to build up in our bloodstreams. A recent study done by researchers from the University of Sherbrooke Hospital Centre in Quebec, Canada found that ninety-three percent of maternal blood and eighty percent of fetal cord blood test positive for the Bt toxin Cry1ab, Proving that transgenic materials are not effectively broken down and eliminated during digestion. Another harmful chemical 3-MMPA, showed up in 100 percent of pregnant womens bloodstreams. The chemical 3-MMPA is produced when our bodies metabolize gluphosinate, also found in GMOs. A study done in Europe found that gluphosinate can cause cancer, DNA damaged, and reproductive toxicity. Another recent study done by European researchers found that after feeding rats a diet of GM corn through out their lifetime have developed tumors all over their body and died prematurely. One thing Monsanto might try to tell you is that there are no long term affects to genetically modified products. Truth is, over years and years of Americans eating meat been changed overtime so that it is plumper and lasts longer has caused a growing epidemic that especially effects children. The additives we have been consuming were designed to have longer shelf lives, but the chemicals added also mimic human hormones that have estrogenic qualities and anabolic steroids. Because of these increased uses in poultry production children are starting puberty earlier and earlier. The article, Additives and Hormones in Our Food: A Growing Epidemic that effects Our Children, Includes a table showing how the trend of the onset age for puberty decreasing; showing that in 1970 the onset age for puberty was 12. 6 years old. In 2000, that number decreased to 9. 8 years old. Another growing the epidemic that is not only effecting Americas children but America as a whole is obesity. And guess what, chemicals added to our food are linked to that too. Based off of what Stephen Perrine, author of New American Diet, â€Å"We have all sorts of chemicals put into our newly, genetically engineered foods. † The Pesticides, antibiotics and growth hormones that make our food more resistant to diseases and environmental stress contain obesogens. According to Perrine, â€Å"obesogens can cause heart disease,diabetes,obesity and high cholesterol. Most of the obesogens come from pesticides, non-organic produce, and GM corn-fed beef and chicken. For many years, GMOs seemed to be a great idea because they benefited agriculture productivity, human health and revived infertile crops. The whole intention for the creation of GMOs are great, they have proven to last longer and get rid of major pests and all but the fact that these modified organisms have caused major health problems to our people and havent benefited our poorer countries as they were suppose to, the invention of genetically modified organisms have done more bad than good. With that, people should be more careful about what they choose to eat. So, the next time you head out to go grocery shopping, look for labels for 100 percent organic foods, or go to the farmers market where everything is locally grown.

Iberian Landscape In Jamon Jamon Film Studies Essay

Iberian Landscape In Jamon Jamon Film Studies Essay Explain how Bigas Lunas use of the Iberian landscape in Jamà ³n, jamà ³n contributes to our perception of the films themes. Arguably one of the main concerns of the early 1990s cinematic work of Spanish-Catalan director Bigas Luna is that of place or space (Smith, 2000, 89), and it is within this context that the following discussion of Jamà ³n, jamà ³n (1992), the first film belonging to his Iberian Trilogy, will be placed. If location is key in setting up expectation with regard to theme in Spanish cinema (Jordan Allinson, 2005, 36), the way in which Bigas Luna utilizes the rural locale of Los Monegros is therefore central to the audiences ability to engage with the thematic discourse. In relation to Jamà ³n, jamà ³n, Deleyto (1999, 270) emphasizes the complex use of filmic and real space as the main device with which the principal themes of gender roles and national identity are communicated, themes which form part of what Fouz-Hernà ¡ndez (2005, 189) argues is an overall strategy to scrutinize Spanish stereotypes, or Spanishness (ibid., 189), from the viewpoint of both an outsider and insider. Consequently, by focusing specifically on the two aforementioned themes, the analysis in-hand will examine the Iberian landscape in terms of its allegorical function, whereby it continually negotiates the binary oppositions of femininity and masculinity, nature and manufacture, as well as geography and culture. Ultimately, as the concept of theme corresponds to the focus which unifies the central concerns of a film (Boggs, 1996, 10), I aim to show that it is this dynamic and ubiquitous integration of setting which, by aiding audience perception of the themes of gender and national identity, facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of the filmic work as a whole. Hochbergs (2007, 57) analysis of perception indicates that as film constitutes a communicative process, initiating an early connection with the audience is key to cinematic understanding; a type of engagement which is immediately evident in Jamà ³n, jamà ³n. In the opening sequence, the camera pans down from behind the silhouette of a bull hoarding to reveal a sparse panorama of Los Monegros, however as its bareness gives limited indication as to the location other than that of rural Spain, the setting is instantly set up as a symbolic mar de tierra, donde la aridez hace que todos los elementos destaquen (Alegre, 1991, 10. Consequently, the geographical landscape functions as an allegorical space against which stereotypes can be constructed, in turn alluding to the thematic treatment of characters, rather than as individuals, as symbols of certain kinds of Spanishness (Deleyto, 1999, 270). In highlighting its starkness as the means by which the audience is steered towards acknowledging the representative function of the characters, the geographical setting is performing an active role in the thematic narrative and can be viewed as a protagonist itself. A traditional reading of the earth as a signifier of fertility and motherhood, whilst rendering this seventh character inherently feminine (Deleyto, 1999, 273), is juxtaposed with the historical as well as visually apparent reality of Los Monegros as a terreno [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] de secano (Madoz, 1850, 193). As a result, the landscape evokes an opposition between nurture and destruction which is subsequently mirrored in Carmen and Conchita; the former, an embodiment of mother-earth who uses her sexuality to provide for her daughters whilst the latter is a signifier of the arid land, given her excessive displays of voracious motherhood (Deleyto, 1999, 285). As Hochberg (2007, 26) states that symbolisation makes possible pe rception at a distance, the allegorical use of the natural surroundings can be understood as a way of drawing audience attention to the problematic representations of motherhood and femininity that thread throughout the film. The imagery connected with Silvia further demonstrates how the landscape is used to communicate a thematic narrative on gender roles. In her first joint appearance with Josà © Luis, the visual association between the hills and Silvias curvaceous breasts (Fouz-Hernà ¡ndez, 2005, 193) reinforces the link between the land and femininity, with the backdrop of the naked feminine surroundings figuratively mirroring Silvias nude upper body and thus affirming female spatial dominance in the scene. Equally, Silvia occupies a more central and superior physical position in the frame, as Josà © Luis is seen crouching down in order to taste her breasts. As Monaco (2009, 160) argues that the power of film lies in its capacity to state rather than suggest, the use of the Iberian locale to emphasise femininity can be understood as a direct attempt by Bigas Luna to thematically undermine dominant machismo in Spain, and in doing so is calling for the audience to rethink the overall relevance of Spa nish stereotypes. By describing his Iberia as a space in which [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] locality is lived with uniquely sensual vividness (Smith, 2000, 107), Bigas Luna acknowledges a sexualised interpretation of the filmic setting. Hence, with sex central to the macho ibà ©rico stereotype (Holder, 1998, 35), the landscapes relation to male virility must be examined, specifically the films thematic portrayal of a stereotypical, almost grotesque version of Spanish masculinity (Jordan Allinson, 2005, 168). Given that our analysis considers the question of spectator perception, it can be proposed that it is precisely by Bigas Luna using the landscape to play with audience expectation that our focus is drawn to the thematic relevance of exaggerated displays of male sexuality. The shots of the Osborne bull hoarding, in both the opening sequence and the scene where Josà © Luis forces himself on Silvia, present a unique perspective from which to view Aragons paisaje desolado (Santabria, 2007, 16); expressly, via the rear outline of the bulls genitals. Whereas from the roadside the observer could straightforwardly identify the image and, in the case of a Spanish audience, its meaning as a famous brandy advert (Vilarà ³s, 1998, 235), viewing the bull hoarding from behind renders its significance difficult to decipher. Furthermore, the cameras focus on the bulls paquete, whilst rendering the perspective oversexed, also shows it to be fractured and so, as it sways unsteadily before the inherently feminine landscape, the shot captures a symbolic destabilization of stereotypical Spanish machismo. Consequently the manipulation of point of view in relation to the landscape (Deleyto, 1999, 273) is a way of asking the audience to take similarly critical view of Jamà ³n, jamà ³ns representation of excessive masculinity. Paradoxically, the relationship between men and the rural landscape contributes to the thematic commentary on gender roles and stereotypes, in turn highlighting the binary complexities associated with Bigas Lunas use of setting. In Raà ºls opening sequence, the use of a travelling shot across the dry land followed by an extreme long shot stresses the framing of him in these arid surroundings, with the distance blurring the boundaries between land and men (Fouz-Hernà ¡ndez Martà ­nez-Expà ³sito, 2007, 21). Given that Monacos (2009, 197) treatment of the diachronic shot indicates that unlike close-ups which deprive us of setting, long shots serve to emphasise context over drama and dialectic over personality, Jamà ³n, jamà ³ns thematic concern for stereotypes over individuals is thus resonated in Bigas Lunas negotiation of the geographic space. Furthermore, as the role of cinematography, and in particular camera movement, is key to how we perceive film by revealing the ideas and images that characters represent (Jordan Allinson, 2005, 46), Raà ºls engagement in a mock bullfight, a stereotypically Spanish and male activity (Jordan Morgan, 1994, 59), illustrates how the use of cinematographic conventions that incorporate the dynamics of setting serve, in effect, to define Raà ºl as the quintessential macho incarnate. Nevertheless, it can be argued that any masculine association of the landscape is merely established in order for it to be interrupted by femininity, as the opening sequence then cuts to Conchitas underwear factory where a female employee, Silvia, runs a sewing machine across a pair of mens briefs, then to another eating a ham sandwich. Given that psychologically the cut is the truer approximation of our natural perception (Monaco, 2009, 172), Bigas Lunas use of it here thus encourages the audience to make an instinctive association between both the preceding and subsequent image; the dramatic interruption by these feminine images figuratively implying male castration and the undermining of the machismo image which precedes it and thus reverting back to a reading of the landscape as inextricably feminine. The encounter in the cinematic space of femininity and masculinity reveals a further allegorical use of the rural landscape as a vehicle for thematic communication. The way in which both the huge bull hoardings and the Sansà ³n advertisement image of Raà ºls crotch penetrate the feminine soil as well as Raà ºls use of this poster to demonstrate his worthiness to Silvia, suggest a bold masculine invasion of the feminine panoramic. Yet, no matter how imposing these symbols of masculinity initially seem against the female landscape, they will never match the vast physical scale of Los Monegros given the immenses à ©tendues de terrain quon y trouve (Berthier, 2001, 30). Subsequently, the central position which appears to be given to the male is shown to be no more than an illusion (DLugo, 1995, 71), as it can be suggested that it is the female terrain which in fact enables these emblems of masculinity to be erect in the first place and therefore holds the power to castrate. Rob Stone (2002, 195) proposes that by flailing so dramatically at machismo Jamà ³n, jamà ³n destroys audience identification with the characters, nevertheless it is this exaggeration, maintained via Bigas Lunas allegorical use of the landscape, which contributes to the films thematic treatment of national identity. In the night-time bullfighting scene Rauls genitals are obscured by the darkness of the physical environment, with the sole light emanating from the moonlight of Mother Nature. Yet, instead of her glow framing the naked male body it delicately highlights the bulls horns and so this gentle treatment of the bull, a phallic emblem and symbolic representation of masculinity in Spain (Jordan Morgan, 1994, 59), combined with a refusal to reveal Raà ºls paquete, weakens the Spanish stereotype of potent machismo. Given the existence of a stereotypical notion of national identity in which male virility in particular is central (Morgan-Tamosunas Jordan, 1994, 60), the landscap es role here in challenging the validity of masculine phallic dominance can be understood as a way of highlighting the issue of problematic national identity in post-transition Spain. The juxtaposition of the rural landscape with the manufactured setting, a space of non-Spanish, globalizing [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] capitalism (Fouz-Hernà ¡ndez Martà ­nez-Expà ³sito, 2007, 21), further evokes the ambivalence of national identity; an opposition which is reflected in the male protagonists association with setting. Whilst Raà ºls establishing shot sustains his visual association with the natural surroundings, Josà © Luis is situated within the artificial setting of his family home, a space highly reliant on external symbols of purchasing power (Fouz-Hernà ¡ndez, 2005, 192). Consequently, the initial relationship the males hold with their environment renders them personifications of the tensions between the old (Raul) and the new (Josà © Luis) in postmodern Spain (Fouz-Hernà ¡ndez Martà ­nez-Expà ³sito, 2007, 20). Subsequently, the clash between the manufactured and natural setting in the filmic space reinforces the discord of national identity, including frequent shots of lorries as symbols of consumerism crossing Aragà ³ns barren terrain and the underwear factory drawing Raà ºl away from his traditional ham warehouse, a space which is a showcase of hyper-Spanish and hyper-masculine associations (Jordan Allinson, 2005, 167). In addition, the use of Raà ºl body as a vehicle for commercial consumption via the underwear advertisements which litter the rural panoramic, helps undercut his strength as the physical embodiment of the prototypical macho ibà ©rico (Morgan-Tamosunas Jordan, 1998, 78) and therefore the waning relevance of this image in 1992 Spain. The binary opposition between manufacture and nature can be interpreted as a way of highlighting the national [Spanish] struggle between traditional and contemporary definitions of economic culture and identity (DLugo, 1995, 69). The infiltration of modernity is not simply presented as oppressive, as both Raà ºl and Silvia actively want to occupy the commercial space, with Raà ºl aspiring to own a Mercedes and Silvia desiring a shoe cupboard, both in parallel with Conchita as a representation of consumerism. As such, rural Aragon as an allegory of traditional Spain, is shown to be a place where the only possible escape is via materialistic transactions, reflecting late twentieth century capitalism (Holder, 1998, 33). The characters participation in both the manufactured and natural space thus alludes to a definition of national identity which is no longer based on static traditions, but one that is changing through globalisation, as the postmodernist deconstruction of identity [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] means recognition of the fact that Spanishness is a shifting concept, encompassing plurality and contradiction (Labanyi, 1995, 397). The final perspective from which the Iberian landscape will be examined is revealed by Freixas (1992, 36) interpretation of its resonance not only in geographical but also cultural terms. Consequently, the barren space of Aragon can be seen as a canvas on which cultural references are painted in order to reinforce the themes of gender roles and national identity. The binary conflict of the physical landscape, as both manufactured and natural, nurturing yet destructive, is characteristic of Dalis painting Naturaleza Muerta, Viva. Likewise, the positioning of the factory, cars and coke can as symbolic dashes of globalisation against the natural space brings to mind the paintings primary interpretation of an erasure of boundaries (DLugo, 1995, 72), thus echoing the theme of problematic Spanish national identity in relation to globalised post-modern context. Bigas Lunas omnipresent allegorical use of the bull and the pig, two animals closely related to Spanish gastronomy and culture (Fouz-Hernà ¡ndez, 2005, 193), equally reinforces a cultural reading of the landscape. The Osborne bull itself, by historically transcending its original commercial connotations, became an integral part of Spains cultural landscape (Fouz-Hernà ¡ndez Martà ­nez-Expà ³sito, 2007, 22). Likewise, the geographical setting and the cultural significance of the pig are fused in the final sequence in a reworking of Goyas Duelo a garrotazos; la rà ©fà ©rence au peintre aragonais [Goya] dont le tournage sest prà ©cisà ©ment effectuà © dans la rà ©gion natale de ce dernier [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] signalant une filiation artistique (Berthier, 2001, 60). Consequently, Bigas Lunas parodic choice of a fight with hams instead of cudgels renders el famoso jamà ³n [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] a ser arma no del macho excelente y excesivo, sino de su opuesto (Vilarà ³s, 1998, 235). F urthermore, the aftermath of the duel sees the women return as a central focus to simultaneously bring together the thematic discourse in a parting pieta; the shot panning out to reveal the vastness of Los Monegros, its aridness evoking the power of mother earth which has drained the life from the men which stand before it and thus undercutting the myth of Spanish machismo in a culturally prestigious environment (Deleyto, 1999, 281). Monaco (2009, 172) affirms that we are seldom interested in the intervening filmic space, yet the cinematographic pan draws our attention to just that, therefore its use in the final sequence can be seen as a way of emphasising the resonance of both the geographic setting and its cultural implications. In conclusion, as film corresponds to a one-way system of communication which is composed with the intention of relaying a desired message (Monaco, 2009, 162), the discursive use of setting to reflect the dualities of gender and national identity constitutes a conscious attempt by Bigas Luna to thematically engage with the audience. By rendering femininity dominant and so subverting Spanish machismo, the Iberian landscape acts as the platform on which a critique of Spanish stereotypes is constructed. Furthermore, the juxtaposition of the natural versus the manufactured setting acts as a means of connecting with a Spanish audience through self-referential reflections on the process through which their identity has been reshaped by multinational capitalism (DLugo, 1995, 69). Hochberg (2007, 26) argues that our perception of a films themes comes not only from what we see but from what we do not see, therefore it is both the recurrent visual presence of the geographic landscape alongside its symbolic and cultural associations which renders it an effective device in aiding our understanding of the thematic discourse of a film which contempla irà ³nicamente los ritos de una cultura que [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] està ¡ intentando desojarse de lo negativo del pasado pero tratando de no sustituir lo bueno tradicional por lo malo moderno (Evans, 2004, 41).