Sylvia Plaths The Elm Speaks Essays

Sylvia Plaths The Elm Speaks Dutch elm disease is one of the most devastating shade tree diseases the earth has ever seen. It is a wilt disease with an extremely high fatality rate. The disease is characterized by gradual yellowing of the leaves and defoliation. This is caused be a fungus which is transmitted from diseased trees to healthy trees by insects known as bark beetles. In the 1962 villanelle The Elm Speaks confessionalist Sylvia Plath compares her depressed emotional state with Dutch elm disease, which killed millions of Elm trees around the world. In the fourteen stanza poem written only one year before her suicide, a bitter Plath cries out with pain. The theme of depression originates from the loss of love in her marriage to Ted Hughes. The poem is extremely rich in metaphorical language from beginning to end. In many ways the poem is designed to fit the definition of a villanelle. The Elm Speaks is a free verse poem with chaotic meter. While living in London, Sylvia Plath had a massive elm tree in front of he house that became the subject of this poem. In the first stanza, she mentions her great tap root, which is the very bottom of the elms roots. This line symbolizes that she has reached the very bottom of her depression. She describes her depression further in stanza two as a sea of dissatisfactions, or the voice of nothing meaning it is raging inside of her. At the same time she has an empty feeling which is driving her mad. Afterwards, in stanza three, she compares love to a shadow, a dark reflection of someone which is not real and can not be touched. Till your head is a stone, you pillow a little turf creates the image of a grave stone in stanza four. The sounds of poisons in stanza five refers to what Hughes, her husband, has done to her and how it burns inside of her killing her like arsenic. In stanza six she expresses that she has been through a lot, but she has always gotten through it. In stanza seven, however, she admits that she has broken down and can not and will not take her pain anymore. Next, in stanza eight she describes the moon, which is normally calming, as merciless, meaning that even the few things in life she used enjoy are now driving her insane. Similarly, in stanza nine, she talks about dreams and how they possess and endow her. In other words she feels as if she is trapped inside an ongoing nightmare. In the tenth stanza she confesses that she is holding everything in and that nightly it flaps out which means she cries herself to sleep. She is terrified of her depression and its effects on her, which she admits in stanza eleven. Next, in stanza twelve she portrays the faces of love as pale irretrievable saying that one can never find love, it is out of reach. For the second time in the poem, in stanza thirteen, she admits that she can not take the pain she is suffering anymore. Finally in the last stanza, she uses sexual imagery that for the most part states, the fact that they got together has killed her. The later years of Plaths life, when she wrote The Elm Speaks, were very tragic. She suffered from a vast number of mental illnesses, including being bipolar or manic depressive. Her moods were constantly up and down, one minute happy the next sad. Just one year before she wrote this poem she suffered through her second miscarriage, which was shortly followed by an appendectomy. Through all of this her husband Ted Hughes abused her both mentally and physically, driving her deeper into her depression. During these difficult years she wrote Ariel, a volume of poetry mainly concerning subjects such as injury, victimization, parasitism, alienation, brutality, war, cannibalism, death in all forms, torture, murder, suicide, mental illness, and anger. Only one week after Ariel was completed she viciously committed suicide by putting her head in the oven after making her children breakfast on the morning of February eleventh, 1963. In her poetry it is obvious that suicide was something she had been considering for a long time, becoming an obsession or even an addiction. Throughout The Elm Speaks Plath generates a basic them of depression. She presents herself as being the victim of a horrible love relationship that has ruined her. She uses many different techniques to help create her theme. The first, and most obvious, is her word choice. She uses words such as fear, madness, poisons, arsenic,

Story Of Joe Odd Interpretation Essays - Criminology, Free Essays

Story Of Joe Odd Interpretation Essays - Criminology, Free Essays Story Of Joe Odd Interpretation THE STORY OF JOE odd. (Simon, M) This is the story of Joe Odd, written by a mentally ill patient in a secure mental asylum. It is possible to pick out several psychological themes, these of which I intend to assess. The story of Joe Odd is clearly a case of social In and Out groups, where in society groups emerge where people have more influence than others. Clear evidence from the text proves my statement: People who lived in the boxes thought Joe was very strange because they all watched television. At first they said, why dont you live in a house like us? but Joe didnt want to. So they broke his windows and made up bad stories about him We can learn from this extract above that there is an element of labeling, and the fact that poor Joe Odd once labeled, is prone to increased labeling. Labeling is a very powerful which tends to stick to that person it has been attached (unless he/she adapts to the social norms which society labeled that person with.) Then another social worker wrote a report about how Joe had lived in a hut with the door and windows barred up. So the doctor hung another label round his neck saying Persecution Complexand gave him some pills because they made him feel better, Joe didnt like the pills because they made him feel strange, and he wouldnt take them, so the doctor hunt an Unco-operative label round his neck. From this extract we can assume that Joe Odd thought negative of himself due to the excess labeling, and ended up believe himself as a stereotypical being. One night he thought he heard a voice in his head saying, come with me. I know a beautiful place, come with me I cant. Im very ill; cant you see all these labels round my neck? (Joe Odd) Joe Odd believed himself to be out of the social norm, and mentally ill because of his labels, which tell him it is not right to live on a hill and be himself. The labels tell him to watch television in a box house. Psychological evidence can be given for all of the above extracts and evaluations to back up my points. The experiment which was conducted by H.Tajfel was based around the In and Out groups. He proved that easy to trigger offoutgroup discrimination could be. The experiment showed how a group of boys would rather end up with less money, rather than allowing another group to have more money than them. We can relate this to the text, as shown that people in a town, would rather have Joe Odd locking and barring himself up at home, rather than let him voice his opinion about how beautiful the sunset was and how it was different from their monotonous TV. The idea of stereotyped expectations (Banuazizi and Mohavedi, 1975), the idea of which people are given a situation, and because of conditioning that they have had with that particular experience, which could have been influenced by many different means (media or learnt through people) the person will act and take on the deemed suitable role according to the situation. This shows in the text with evidence that Joe Odd, finally believing himself to being ill after having too many attached labels by the society for him to handle. He later threw away these labels and returned to a land where he became his old normal self again. Szasz (1972) claimed the medical model was wrong and made criticisms, and said people cannot be mentality ill at all. He suggested that the human brain had more of a decease than disease of the mind. When related back to Joe Odd, we see might assume that the normal people misdiagnosed Joe Odd, penalty of which lead to him being wrongly labeled. The normal people however could not acknowledge their mistake, instead increasing the number of labels on Joe Odd to try and equate for his character. Assessing the idea of in and out groups, my evaluation is that Joe Odd fell victim to real life prejudice. Joe Odd lived a normal life in his eyes, doing normal activities, just living out his life in a

Biography of Bobby Seale, Black Panther Party Co-founder

Biography of Bobby Seale, Black Panther Party Co-founder Bobby Seale (born October 22, 1936) co-founded the Black Panther Party with Huey P. Newton. The organization, which was the most well-known group launched during the black power movement, stood out for its free breakfast program and emphasis on self-defense- a departure from the nonviolent philosophy advocated by civil rights activists. Fast Facts: Bobby Seale Known For: Co-founder, along with Huey P. Newton, of the Black Panther PartyBorn: October 22, 1936 in Dallas, TexasParents: George and Thelma SealeEducation: Merritt Community CollegeSpouse(s): Artie Seale, Leslie M. Johnson-SealeChildren: Malik Seale, Jaime SealeNotable Quote: â€Å"You dont fight racism with racism, the best way to fight racism is with solidarity. Early Life and Education Bobby Seale, the first child of George and Thelma Seale, was born on October 22, 1936. He grew up with a brother (Jon), a sister (Betty), and a first cousin (Alvin Turner- the son of his mother’s identical twin). In addition to Dallas, the family lived in other Texas cities, including San Antonio. Seales parents had a rocky relationship, separating and reconciling repeatedly. The family struggled financially and sometimes rented out parts of their home to other families to earn additional income. Seales father, George, was a carpenter who once built a home from the ground up. He was also physically abusive; Bobby Seale later described being whipped with a belt by his father at age 6. When the family moved to California, George Seale struggled to get carpentry work or join a union, as unions often excluded African Americans during the Jim Crow era. When George Seale did manage to enter a union, he was one of just of three black men in the state with union membership, according to Seale. As a teenager, Seale hauled groceries and mowed lawns to earn extra cash. He attended Berkeley High School but dropped out to sign up for the US Air Force in 1955. After a conflict with a commanding officer, Seale was dishonorably discharged. However, this setback did not deter him. He earned his high school diploma and made a living as a sheet metal mechanic for aerospace companies. He also worked as a comedian. In 1960, Seale enrolled in Merritt College, where he joined a black student group and his political consciousness took hold. Two years later, he met Huey P. Newton, the man with whom he would start the Black Panthers. Founding the Black Panther Party At a 1962 demonstration against the Kennedy Administrations naval blockade of Cuba, Seale befriended Huey Newton. Both men found inspiration in black radical Malcolm X and were devastated when he was assassinated in 1965. The next year, they decided to form a group to reflect their political beliefs, and the Black Panthers were born. The organization reflected Malcolm X’s philosophy of self-defense by any means necessary. The idea of armed African Americans proved controversial in the broader United States, but as the civil rights movement waned following the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., many young black Americans leaned towards radicalism and militancy. The Black Panthers were particularly concerned about racism in the Oakland Police Department, but before long, Panthers chapters sprang up nationwide. The Black Panther Party became most well known for their 10-point plan and free breakfast program. The 10-point plan included culturally-relevant teaching, employment, shelter, and exemption from military service for African Americans. Legal Battles In 1968, Bobby Seale and seven other protesters were charged with conspiring to incite a riot at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. When the trial date arrived, Seales lawyer was ill and unable to appear; the judge denied the request to delay the trial. Seale claimed the right to defend himself in order to advocate for his own constitutional rights, but the judge did not allow him to give an opening statement, cross-examine witnesses, or speak to the jury. Seale contended that the judge had denied him his right to counsel, and he began to speak out in protest during the proceedings. In response, the judge ordered him bound and gagged. Seale was chained (later strapped) to a chair, with his mouth and jaw strapped shut, for several days of the trial. Ultimately, the judge sentenced Seale to four years in prison for contempt of court. That sentence was later overturned, but it did not mark the end of Seale’s legal troubles. In 1970, Seale and another defendant were tried for killing a Black Panther believed to be a police informant. The hung jury resulted in a mistrial, so Seale was not convicted of the 1969 murder. As his court battles unfolded, Seale wrote a book tracing the history of the Black Panthers. The book, published in 1970, was titled Seize the Time: The Story of the Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton. But the time Seale spent behind bars awaiting the outcomes of various court cases had taken a toll on the group, which began to fall apart in his absence. The settling of the court cases saw Seale take charge of the Panthers again. In 1973, he changed focus by putting his bid in to become the mayor of Oakland. He placed second in the race. He left the Panthers the following year. In 1978, he wrote his autobiography, A Lonely Rage. Later Years In the 1970s, the black power movement subsided, and groups like the Black Panthers ceased to exist. Deaths, prison sentences, and internal conflicts spurred by initiatives like the FBI’s Counterintelligence Program played a role in the unraveling process. Bobby Seale remains politically active, giving talks on his life and activism at college campuses and other venues. More than 50 years after the Black Panthers formed, the group continues to influence politics, pop culture, and activism. Sources â€Å"Bobby Seale.† PBS.org.Bennett, Kitty. Bobby Seale: Black Panther leader was one of the Chicago Eight. AARP Bulletin, 27 August, 2010.Glass, Andrew. Kennedy imposes naval blockade of Cuba, Oct. 22, 1962. Politico, 22 October, 2009.Seale, Bobby. â€Å"Seize the Time: The Story of the Black Panther Party.† 1970.

My Experience in Moving to Los Angeles from Palestine Essay

My Experience in Moving to Los Angeles from Palestine - Essay Example It was in this context of understanding that I experienced my most embarrassing moment. During the first few weeks living in Los Angeles, I explored many parts of the city. Walking through Los Feliz in Hollywood one afternoon I was approached by a man, later revealed to be a photographer, who asked for a moment of my time.â€Å"You have a very beautiful personality and image,† he said. Taken aback I have walked away, but he quickly interjected, â€Å"I would love to have you model!† I was perplexed, as I had never envisioned myself as the model type, and after-all he had just met me, how would he even have an inkling of my personality. Still, I secretly found his invitation flattering and was intrigued at where the opportunity could lead. The following weekend I arrived at his studio. Still new to the city, entering into this unfamiliar situation compounded my generalized anxiety. I knew nothing about modelling and this soon became abundantly clear. As I walked into the studio the photographer was there. â€Å"Hi† I sheepishly said. He seemed preoccupied and instructed me to go with his assistants to an adjacent room. Everyone at the studio moved confident and efficiently as if this was industry standard. As I walked into the adjacent room I was surrounded by a group of people who measured my size and then hold up a dress. I could feel the eyes of the other people in the room staring intently at me waiting. Slowly I felt a thrust of blood shoot throughout my face, as I nervously tightened my hands into fists as if it might stabilize my embarrassment. They were going to undress me.

The color purple; shades of gender discrimination Annotated Bibliography

The color purple; shades of gender discrimination - Annotated Bibliography Example t of Alice’s work appears to be due to the fact that she herself was brought up in an area where there was forceful gender and color discrimination. Alice’s work stresses indirectly or directly upon the significance of women being independent within the male oriented society. The whole idea of the work according to Bates was depending upon vulnerability, behaviors and decisions which women envisage when held or caught up during challenging situations and there is clear appreciation for the kind of women who stand up for themselves and their own betterment. Harold bloom inspects the practical tone of Alice Walkers writing and points out the negligence of romanticism from her work unlike any other female author which makes her writing style rather straight forward and to the point. Harold considers her work portraying the strength of family and blood, self esteem, and spiritual bonding. Her work shows the difference between the circumstances faced by women in that time and women of this global era. Alice’s work shows her feminist nature by sketching a woman producing divergence in her duties of being an obedient and sacrificing wife, this attitude displayed in some of her characters created a hunger among African American women to become equal to men in society. Merriam Webster provides a good definition of deviant behavior as the one which is accepted as a norm. The use of it eludes the difference between the attitudes shown towards male and female. As females being considered, something disgustingly different from the norms of the society .Even though women at that time had started to recognize the powers and potentials gifted by God to herself having no proper rights of their own they were always in an arguable position. This study focuses on the importance of arts and its impacts on the relationships among men and women. This study scrutinizes the significance of arts even affecting the literary champs to produce some resistance against the silence

Film Festival Essay Example for Free

Film Festival Essay Houston, TX (Mar. 18, 2009) —The 2009 WorldFest-Houston proudly presents Food Fight as part of its award-winning documentary side bar. Food Fight is a fascinating look at how American agricultural policy and food production developed in the 20th century, igniting a California food movement that sparked a tasty, counter-revolution. The documentary dishes up topics including sustainable produce, farmers markets, school lunch programs and inner-city gardens. It’s a savvy, fast-paced investigation that chronicles the life and times of ‘slow foods movement’ pioneer Alice Waters and her landmark restaurant, Chez Panisse, which transformed an industry based on profits into a market based on wholesome flavor. Food Fight is a riveting, smart romp through the historic rise of the Organic foods trend. This culinary adventure cooks up a clever insider’s view of how the nation’s plates are forsaking processed filler foods for homegrown, healthy produce. Chefs Alice Waters, Wolfgang Puck and Suzanne Goin are featured. If you’re interested in the origins of America’s flavorful farmer’s market revolution, you can check out Food Fight which will screen during the WorldFest-Houston Film Festival’s run, April 17-26, at the AMC 30 Dunvale (2949 Dunvale, Houston, TX 77063). Enjoy the newest feature film from food activist and screen director, Chris Taylor, who will be available after the viewing to discuss the film’s highlights! WorldFest Houston, founded in 1961, is the third oldest Independent film festival in the United States. This annual event has evolved into a competitive Independent International film festival showcasing the rising stars of tomorrow. This year’s 42nd Annual WorldFest (April 17-26, 2009) will feature: 50 award-winning Indie films, 100 superb short films, 450 Indie filmmakers from around the globe, 6 Master Classes/Film industry seminars, 1 Grand Awards Gala Cocktail Reception with the filmmakers and a Closing Day Regatta/Barbecue VIP NASA/Space Center Houston Tour. Tickets are $6 for a single matinee (films before 6 pm) or $10.00 per single  evening admission and range upward based on packages that customers purchase. Film Buff $100, Silver Screen $150 and ultimate VIP Platinum Pass $500. Check www.worldfest.org for details. Tickets will be available mid-March online and up to theatre- capacity at show time at the Cinema Box Office. All films, seminars and events are open to the public. Opening Night Prices ~ $20 per person for Film Program book. $30 per person for Film, Program book and Champagne Reception at Renaissance Hotel after the film

Sir Isaac Newtons Role in the Enlightenment Essay -- Contributions of

Isaac Newton had a huge impact on the Enlightenment, he influenced it scientifically in many ways and he influenced faith and reason in a tremendous way. He was known more for his scientific achievements then his religious works.His background and education affected when he made these great achievements. Isaac Newton born on December 25,1642 in Woolsthorpe, England grew up, he was the most important physicist and mathematician of all time.1 Newton attended Cambridge where he studied mathematics. Although he was considered a genious he was also considered an eccentric who was unsociable, vindictive, absent-minded and paranoid, he was considered to have a mid-life mental illness caused by the death of his mother.2Newton was very modest to the extent he had his friends publish his papers.3Newton fled Cambridge to escape the plague, during this period he made many of his accomplishments.4 Also he was persecuted for his faith in God. Thousand of men and women who were good Christian s were thoroughly loyal to politics and the belief that science and religion aren’t compatible.Many men and women had nothing but dislike and even contempt.5 Just a few of his accomplishments so crucial to the Enlightenment and currently still important are; essentials of mathematics called Calculus, Optical law-white light is a mixture of colors, and the principle of the law of gravitation.Also he wrote Naturalis Principia Mathematica, better known as Principia Mathematica, which is the single most influential scientific treatise ever written.6 In fact if a single point was given to the beginning of the Enlightenment, it would be the year of Newton’s publication of this book.7It provided the underlying principle for the Enlightenment.8Not only d... ...l. 2. (Upper Saddle River: Simon and Schuster, 1998), 480 12. Donald, Ozmont and Turner. Western Heritage, 480. 13. Donald, Ozmont and Turner. Western Heritage, 480. 14. History of Science Society, Sir Isaac Newton 1727-1927, 17. 15. Donald, Ozmont and Turner. Western Heritage, 481. 16. History of Science Society, Sir Isaac Newton 1727-1927, 19. 17. Gay, Age of Enlightenment, 20. 18. Bell, Arthur E. Newtonian Science. (London: Edward Arnold Ltd., 1961), 19. 19. Christianson, Gale E. In the Presence of the Creator: Isaac Newton and His Times. (New York: Macmillan Publishers, 1984), ix. 20. Donald, Ozmont and Turner. Western Heritage, 413. 21. Donald, Ozmont and Turner. Western Heritage, 488. 22. History of Science Society, Sir Isaac Newton 1727-1927, 25. 23. Donald, Ozmont and Turner. Western Heritage, 489. Sir Isaac Newton's Role in the Enlightenment Essay -- Contributions of Isaac Newton had a huge impact on the Enlightenment, he influenced it scientifically in many ways and he influenced faith and reason in a tremendous way. He was known more for his scientific achievements then his religious works.His background and education affected when he made these great achievements. Isaac Newton born on December 25,1642 in Woolsthorpe, England grew up, he was the most important physicist and mathematician of all time.1 Newton attended Cambridge where he studied mathematics. Although he was considered a genious he was also considered an eccentric who was unsociable, vindictive, absent-minded and paranoid, he was considered to have a mid-life mental illness caused by the death of his mother.2Newton was very modest to the extent he had his friends publish his papers.3Newton fled Cambridge to escape the plague, during this period he made many of his accomplishments.4 Also he was persecuted for his faith in God. Thousand of men and women who were good Christian s were thoroughly loyal to politics and the belief that science and religion aren’t compatible.Many men and women had nothing but dislike and even contempt.5 Just a few of his accomplishments so crucial to the Enlightenment and currently still important are; essentials of mathematics called Calculus, Optical law-white light is a mixture of colors, and the principle of the law of gravitation.Also he wrote Naturalis Principia Mathematica, better known as Principia Mathematica, which is the single most influential scientific treatise ever written.6 In fact if a single point was given to the beginning of the Enlightenment, it would be the year of Newton’s publication of this book.7It provided the underlying principle for the Enlightenment.8Not only d... ...l. 2. (Upper Saddle River: Simon and Schuster, 1998), 480 12. Donald, Ozmont and Turner. Western Heritage, 480. 13. Donald, Ozmont and Turner. Western Heritage, 480. 14. History of Science Society, Sir Isaac Newton 1727-1927, 17. 15. Donald, Ozmont and Turner. Western Heritage, 481. 16. History of Science Society, Sir Isaac Newton 1727-1927, 19. 17. Gay, Age of Enlightenment, 20. 18. Bell, Arthur E. Newtonian Science. (London: Edward Arnold Ltd., 1961), 19. 19. Christianson, Gale E. In the Presence of the Creator: Isaac Newton and His Times. (New York: Macmillan Publishers, 1984), ix. 20. Donald, Ozmont and Turner. Western Heritage, 413. 21. Donald, Ozmont and Turner. Western Heritage, 488. 22. History of Science Society, Sir Isaac Newton 1727-1927, 25. 23. Donald, Ozmont and Turner. Western Heritage, 489.

The simultaneous leadership in social science

Understanding the scope of drug use and addiction in the world includes knowing the prevalence among various populations and researching the many health and social consequences. The United States is both the largest producer of drug research in the world and the world’s only â€Å"drug-control superpower.†The simultaneous leadership in social science and world agenda setting is not the result of a symbiotic relationship between American research and policy making.During adolescence, friends and peers become far more influential than before, and intimate dating relationships become primary interests (Laursen & Williams, 1997).Along with these important developmental changes, however, come increased risks of pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease, and abuse by and toward dating partners (Leaper & Anderson, 1997).As well, alcohol and drug use and abuse enters the picture, which may contribute to the occurrence of the other risk behaviors (Milgram, 1993; National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, 1999). Although some of these developments are harmless, there is a growing awareness of the importance of education and prevention to increase teens' personal safety and responsibility.Not surprisingly, prominent adolescent risk behaviors are alcohol and drug abuse, unsafe sexual behavior, and dating violence-share many of the same contributing risk factors, although to important and differing degrees.These include problems related to the family, such as family conflict and violence, poor relationship attachment, early and persistent behavior problems, as well as peer and academic problems, such as school failure, peer rejection, and exposure to community violence. In addition to the above, teen pregnancy, early sexual intercourse, and risky sexual behaviors are associated with early onset of puberty, truancy, and delinquency (Kilpatrick, Acierno, Saunders, Resnick, & Best, 2000).In the absence of compensatory factors, such as education and social co mpetence, these varied risk factors can contribute to or become risk behaviors (e.g., alcohol use is associated with teen pregnancy and violence).Common Elements:A common family element found among teens who engage in these high risk behaviors is the amount of time spent without proper adult involvement or supervision (Dishion, Capaldi, Spracklen, & Li, 2005).Not surprisingly, children who grow up in caring and supportive homes are more likely to resist risky behaviors, while children who have grown up witnessing or experiencing alcohol abuse or violence in their homes, having poor family structure and insecure attachment-related experiences are more likely to be less resistant to these same risky, unhealthy behaviors.A description of the age, gender, and ethnic identities of youth who engage in high risk behavior is provided by the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance, which tracks data regarding many health risk behaviors for adolescents in the United States.According to this data, bl ack youth, for example, report significantly higher rates of sexual intercourse before age 13 than do Whites and Hispanics, while White youth report the highest levels of forced sexual intercourse. Black youth also report less alcohol consumption at last sexual intercourse and higher condom use than do White and Hispanic youth.Not surprisingly, males report more alcohol use before the age of 13 than females, across all ethnic groups (YRBSS). However, these data on prevalence of self-reported adolescent risk behaviors is descriptive only, and tells little about the contextual factors contributing to such risk.While looking closer at some of the factors that may contribute to the mentioned risk behaviors, the one can see that alcohol use among teenagers remains prevalent in today's society. A national probability sample of 4,023 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 found that 15% of the sample used alcohol, 10% used marijuana, and 2% reported hard drug use in the past year (Kilpa trick et al. 2000).Although some alcohol consumption among adolescents is considered normative, there is great concern for the number of teens who are exhibiting signs of alcohol abuse or dependence with 7% of the above sample meeting diagnostic criteria for alcohol, marijuana, or hard drug abuse or dependence.Trends in alcohol use reported in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicate that binge drinking (five or more drinks on one occasion during the 30 days prior to the survey) has shown little variation over the past several years, ranging from 31.3% in 1991 to 33.4% in 1997 to 31.5% in 1999 (Centers for Disease Control, 2000). Binge drinking continues to be a problem among youth and needs to be targeted specifically.

Breathing walls technology

In developed countries, people spend 90% of their lives inside buildings. During this time, the nature of the enclosed environment has direct impact on the lives of the occupants. It is therefore imperative that the buildings have conducive environment where this will impact the lives of the occupants. The buildings that are there today have serious problems about the indoor air quality. The US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) agrees to the fact that 30% of new or buildings which have been renovated have IAQ problems.This has been ranked as the most prominent problem. In regions where there is high climates like Japan, there has been need to utilize breathing walls technology; this has been achieved easily with the use of passive ventilation done at the surfaces of walls, an approach which has been deemed as a success. The installations of systems such as these have been seen to be effective and provide an easy way of providing a healthy and comfortable environment with higher ene rgy efficiency.With this in mind, this paper will therefore look at the development of â€Å"Breathing Wall† technology which is constructed using Aluminum sheets that form a multiple air-layered architecture. Studies that have been done in the past allude to the fact that passive ventilation systems can provide sufficient thermal insulation and provide a way where moisture can be transmitted for temperature-climate regions even when the amount of air being infiltrated increases as a result of strong wind in the outside. In this study, there is a practical passive ventilation system which is being considered.In this study, breathing walls were installed on the opposite sides of a scale mock-up house constructed outdoors and the properties of natural ventilation, thermal insulation, moisture transmission and indoor climate in natural weather conditions were analyzed extreme. Literature review There have been a lot of strategies that have been embraced so that the removal of ai r pollutants can be achieved. All in all, there are design strategies that have been employed from time immemorial in the quest to get conducive working and living environments for buildings.The first line of attack was the use of avoidance of products that contain solvents, glues and plastics. There is an increasing production of commercial products like paint, glues, materials, and systems. Exclusion is also another strategy that has been used in the past to eradicate corrosive elements from the walls of the buildings. Exclusion is another strategy that can be used to provide IAQ. The control of radon, as an example, requires that there be an airtight floor and basement system. The exclusion of radon from the interior environment must be a serious consideration for the design of an IAQ.The ventilation of living areas does aid radon control, but is important to have a design and build the ground floor or basement as airtight as possible so that penetration to the building can be av oided. The use of systems approach is another strategy that can be used to provide IAQ. The problem with this is the fact that these strategies cannot be used on their own. There is need to have a holistic approach in the provision of internal air quality. In the past there has been the approach of using offgas material and this has been a necessary approach.However, ventilation, air barriers, humidity control, and high surface temperatures can work together so that better IAQ can be achieved. This is better than using either approach independently. The use of â€Å"atmungsfaehig† or breathable walls then promised to be a better approach towards the getting of internal air quality. This was recommended by designers of healthy housing. This was especially recommended by the Baubiologie; the term is itself used in an imprecise manner in the English language (George, & Ritz, 1994). There has been confusion in the use of the term.A review of the literature shows that what constit utes a â€Å"breathing wall† is still not clear. Although breathing wall implies good flow of air, this is not always the case. When used scientifically, this term means that there is an open flow of vapor diffusion. This combination of properties makes it possible for a large amount of water vapor to be absorbed quickly. This regulates room climate and hence indoor air quality. Although other gases are also capable of diffusing through walls, water vapor is one of the very important determinants of air quality in a room. They determine the healthy of a room.In the design of healthy houses, the design of interior partitions and internal design is based on making sure that water vapor breathability is achieved. Breathing wall infrastructure The breathing wall is composed of a component which is core and is constructed using aluminum foils, and interior/exterior materials. The use of aluminum foils is chosen because they have high reflectance and low remittance thus they can co unteract the loss of thermal insulation capability due to the presence of several air layers. There are factors which must be considered in the construction of the breathing wall.These factors include: i. The number of internal fouls that should be included in the wall ii. The thickness of the wall is of paramount importance iii. The rate of flow of air through the wall should also be considered. This is important because it influences the thermal insulation capability. iv. The diameter of the hole and the spacing of each of the foil sheet is also important consideration as it influences the air flow rate and the transmission of the moisture (Jonathan, & Woodha, 1997). Design constraints There are design constraints which are used in the construction of the breathing wall technology.They are as follows: i. Continual indoor ventilation under natural conditions using no air-conditioning equipment. ii. The entire surface of the wall should be able to give proper ventilation (air infilt ration), which is controlled by heat recovery inside the wall in order to lower heat losses. iii. High thermal insulation capability iv. There should be no disturbance of the indoor air distribution v. There should be prevention of internal condensation by controlling the amount of moisture passing through the inner structure of the wall.

Exercise Your College Reading Skills

Exercise Your College Reading Skills Your college career depends largely on your ability to read well. However, its a fact that some of the most brilliant minds, including Albert Einstein, were not great readers. You may be frustrated if you understand advanced material but have trouble getting it from the page into your brain. Here are some tips on how to improve your reading skills and your grades. Indulge in Pleasure Reading Daily Sure, you spend most of your day reading textbooks and other course-related content. It is hoped that you enjoy at least some of what youre reading. However, set aside some time before bed to read something you truly enjoy. Choose a magazine, chick lit, a classic novel, or the hottest creative nonfiction. When youre engaged in what youre reading, youll be more attentive and naturally improve your reading skills. Allow Enough Time Scheduling regular study times throughout the week is a good idea anyway, but particularly if you find reading challenging. Leaving all of your reading assignments for the last minute makes you feel pressured to fly through the material, which is never good for deep understanding or long-term memorization. Read While You Listen Listening to an audiobook as you follow along with a print version can be an enjoyable experience. While it may sound like overkill, this double-input method is a great way to improve weaker reading skills. Hearing the words pronounced aloud as you read them will improve your retention of vocabulary and your comprehension. Just be sure that your audiobook is an unabridged version; otherwise, you may have a hard time skipping ahead to the right spot in your book. Read to Yourself You may not have access to a recorded version of your school texts. If your roommate is gone frequently or tends to wear headphones a lot, try reading aloud as you study. Hearing the words may increase your comprehension and retention of the material. Use a Reading App It may contradict what weve said above, but if youre an average reader, pronouncing words in your head as you read may slow you down. After all, you have the capacity to read words far faster than you can speak them. Therefore, while some people have reading difficulties that respond best to vocalization, others do better to quiet the voice in their head. An app like Syllable can actually teach you how to become a speed-reader. Eliminate Distractions Online Who can read when there are ads, links, pictures of cats, and other distractions on the margins of a webpage? Install a browser add-on or plugin that allows you to read a clean version of the primary content. Youll read faster and remember more of what you read. Use a Dictionary or Thesaurus If you understand every word that you read in college textbooks, youre probably a professor by now. Dont just skip over unfamiliar words. That one definition may clarify an entire paragraph. Make sure you have a dictionary or thesaurus site or app nearby whenever youre reading. Take Care of Your Eyes Even though youre young, youre staring at screens and pages for hours a day. Human eyes simply werent designed for so much effort. If you struggle even the slightest bit with reading, be sure to get an eye exam. Glasses or contacts might make a huge difference in your reading ability. Furthermore, dry eyes are a common affliction today, so always have a bottle of artificial tears on hand. You blink less when you stare at a computer screen, so youll need to replenish that lost moisture regularly. The more comfortable your eyes are, the better youll be at reading. Some people are natural-born readers, but that doesnt mean that you cant improve your skills significantly. Get into good reading habits and make use of the tools that are available to you. When you can read well, you can accomplish anything.

Causes and Effect Essays - Walmart, Retailing, Criticism Of Walmart

auses and Effect 1. Lack cleanliness and tidiness -the store is always crowded and customers litter everywhere. -not enough labor hours to clean the big store -part time employees do not care about the stores cleanliness 2. Stores are not restocking shelves fast enough. - bad communication between front and back end of the store - some of the merchandise are not up to date - not enough labor hours to do routine stocking therefore shelves were left bare - Walmart has cut so many employees during recession that it no longer has enough workers to stock its shelves properly. - Walmart reduced the range of merchandise it carried to make stores less cluttered. Unfortunately, customers did not like the change, and Walmart added merchandise back but did not add enough employees back 3. Prices are not always as low as competitors. -there are stores who deal lower prices at similar sales -the production cost high that causes high prices. In oder to 4. Digital services need to be integrated with physical stores.( allowing online services) -the store is huge and hectic. -some customers do not like to waiting in line that caused by the slow worker. -parking place is far from the store. -fewer sales associates, less management, and longer lines at the check-out register.

Googling Out of Control Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Googling Out of Control Case Study - Essay Example In the modern day context, culture has a major role to play supporting different business organisations to fulfil their respective predetermined business targets. The significant concern of organisational culture is regarded as a valuable aspect that includes norms, rules, values as well as working systems of the organisations. The behaviour of employees is considered to be the other vital aspect that is included in the culture of an organisation. It has been apparently observed that every organisation has its own approach towards building an effective workplace culture. Organisation culture is directly responsible for enhancing the overall performances of the organisations by a greater level. In this regard, the example of Google Inc. will depict a clear picture based on the above mentioned facts. It has been viewed in this similar background that Google possess a working culture in its workplace that gives maximum liberty to its employees concerning dress, eat and behave as well as to perform in accordance with what they desire. This can be regarded as one of the vital and the major reasons for the effective performance of the company throughout the globe. With this concern, this paper intends to elaborate and critically analyse the organisational culture and â€Å"Googley way of working†. Brief Overview of the Company (Google) Google Inc. is popularly known as one of the most widely used search engines of the world. It was established in the year 1998 as a global technology company which mainly focuses on improving the approach through which people acquire relevant information about any subject matter or topic. In the year 201, the company shifts its area of focus on search and advertising through which the company succeeded to attain substantial revenues. It has been learnt that the company was founded by the duo of Sergey Brin and Larry Page who were students in Stanford College. The prime motto of the company is to organize and provide all the information and make accessible to all people throughout the entire globe. The company has its official headquarter in California and operates in almost different corners of the globe. It has gained the reputation to be called as the leading search engine of the world (Google, 2013). Critical Analysis of the Organizational Culture of Google and its Way of Working Organisational culture is regarded to be one of the vital aspects that directly impose significant impact upon the overall performance of the companies by a considerable level. The notion i.e. organisational culture is typically regarded as the collective behaviour of the people belonging to any particular organisation. It has been viewed that cultures of any organisation encompasses values, norms, beliefs and working system among others. An organisation is identified from its culture which needs to be effectively organised. Organisational culture may be defined as shared value that preserve by members of any organisation so that it can present itself differently from other organisations. Different organisations possess dissimilar sorts of organisational culture. There pertain numerous characteristics that can be observed to be involved in the formation of an effective organisational culture. In this similar context, innovation and risk taking approach of the employees is amid the v ital characteristics of an organisation’s culture. Detailed analysis of a particular task is another feature of organisational culture. The degree to which the employees of any organisation give attention in every detail is also a part of organisation culture. Furthermore it has also been noted that working in teams and delivering desired results are