ACT Score Comparison for California Colleges

Lets Talk About Sex Education Essay - 1571 Words

Comprehensive sex education should be taught in public schools. The youth of today cannot make educated decisions regarding sex if they are not properly educated. Not educating America’s youth in all aspects of sex education is comparable to allowing them to drive without being taught. This choice of not allowing comprehensive sex education is schools is dangerous and can have life long consequences. These consequences will not only affect the individual but can ultimately affect America. It is vital for Americans to begin giving their youth the education that is needed. Pre-teenagers and teenagers are having sexual intercourse or participating in other sexual acts. According to the Center of Disease Control in 2009 46% of students have†¦show more content†¦Teen births and sexually transmitted infections have long-term effects and directly affect America. America’s youth needs sex education in schools. Family has always been the main educators when it comes to sex. The issue with that is that what is being taught is only for their children not to have sex. There is no discussion to cover any other aspects (Richardson, 1995). Most students are learning about sex from being in school, their friends and the media. If the youth is only hearing not to have sex from their parents and educators then the majority of what they are learning is coming from the wrong places. Media and peers of their own age cannot be accurate sources of information (Richardson, 1995). If parents are unable or unwilling to discuss sex with their children then the gap has to be filled. Comprehensive sex education allows students to cover many diverse topics involving sex. This education explains what sexually transmitted infections are, transmission and prevention. Another important factor is comprehensive sex education discusses the different types of contraceptives and the proper way to use them to increase effectiveness (Landry, 2003). Comprehensive sex education prepares the youth for peer pressure, what are inappropriateShow MoreRelatedPersuasive Essay On Abortion723 Words   |  3 PagesI’d like to discuss something that should be a totally uncontroversial topic. Unfortunately, it has become a bit controversial over time. Let’s be honest for a minute, if you think about it, over a billion couples will have sex with one another and rightfully so. My philosophy is that all these men and women should be free to decide for themselves whether they want to or not conceive a child. Whether or not they want to start a family. They have the right to make that decision for themselves. InRead MoreShould Condoms Be Given in Schools Essay745 Words   |  3 Pagesaborted in this country. Many which are born to young people with little or no education about condom use and sex. With a little education about condom use and safe sex many of these unnecessary pregnancies could be prevented. Many parents do not edu cate their children about sex; therefore the burden usually falls on the schools. Condoms should definitely be readily available in the school system, along with a Sex Education program that includes how and why to use condoms properly. Some of usRead MorePros And Cons Of Pornography731 Words   |  3 Pageshealth programs, states in the article â€Å" Let’s Talk about Sex.†, â€Å"†Sexuality is a great thing. It’s not something you should be afraid of.†Ã¢â‚¬  (Lobron, par. 21). Pornography and sexual contact is a part of daily life for many citizens over the age of sixteen and should not be punished just because people participate in watching sex acts through the internet. According to the article â€Å"Watching Porn Not a Big Deal, Study Suggests.†, â€Å"Watching porn promotes casual sex and infidelity, and curbs relationshipRead MoreDana-Hall Case Study Essay1035 Words   |  5 PagesDana-Hall, is a well known and respected all-girl boarding and day school (6-12 grade) competing in a time period in which social attitudes towards single sex education is shrinking. Measures of demographics and social trends indicate a clear shift towards a co-educational school env ironment. This new reality, where demand is decreasing faster than supply, results in declining numbers of potential female applicants over which the last four all-girl boarding and day schools are aggressively competingRead MoreSex Education in Schools657 Words   |  3 PagesSex Education in Schools Nineteen-fifty five marked the debut of sex education programs in schools in the United States. Along the years, many have argued whether or not sex education should be taught in schools. Many believe that the education of sex encourages students to engage in sexual activities which lead to a higher number of pregnancies and sexual transmitted diseases (STD’s).The U.S. is the leading country in teen pregnancies and STD’s As the number of unplanned pregnancies and sexuallyRead MoreAll Schools Should Teach Sex Education Programs962 Words   |  4 PagesAll Schools Should Teach Sex Education Programs Young children have curious minds to many things, and even though they are told â€Å"no† or to â€Å"stay away†, they tend to act on that curiosity. This also applies to sex. Kids see it on the television, hear it in music, see it on the Internet and start asking about it. Some parents believe that teaching a Sex Education program should just consist of abstinence and nothing more, due to the belief that exposing young children to sexual activity would encourageRead MoreSex Education : Encyclopedia Of Gender And Society946 Words   |  4 PagesConnell, Erin. Sex Education. Encyclopedia of Gender and Society. Ed. Jodi O Brien. Vol. 2. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2009. 745-748. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 30 Sept. 2015. This article has a really good explanation and a history behind. Sex education began during the 19th and early 20th centuries. This type of education debate or reveals a range of attitudes, values and also belief about the children, adolescent, sexuality, and gender. During WWI soldiers were infectedRead MoreEssay on Teenage Pregnancy and Prevention1320 Words   |  6 PagesTherefore, implementing an in depth sex education class covering parenting in schools will allow teens to fully understand he consequences of having protected or unprotected sex. All children deserve love and care from their parents. The United States has a higher rate of teen pregnancy than other countries because one is not open to talk about sex with a child once puberty emerges. The Telegraph (2007) reads that the Dutch is more open with children about sex, however, some of the approaches thatRead MoreLet s Talk About Sex1410 Words   |  6 Pages2017 Let’s Talk About Sex Living in a world where sexual imagery is produced rapidly throughout the media makes controlling what children are exposed to difficult. Rather than trying to control what a child is exposed to, it is important to know what children learn, especially when it comes to sexual health and sexuality. Many teenagers who are sexually active are not provided with educational resources informing them of the risks and consequences that come with having sex and unprotected sex becauseRead MoreSex Education Is A Process Of Building A Strong Foundation For Sexual Health1166 Words   |  5 PagesSex Education According to Rhiannon Lucy, â€Å"Sex education is a process that begins at birth and continues until the day you die. It is a process of building a strong foundation for sexual health†. There are many misconceptions and non-factual opinions that accompany along the topic of sexual education, even though it may constantly discussed. Sex may includes sexual development, reproduction, intimacy, gender roles and relationships. At home parents may be nervous when discussing this particular topic

The Performing Arts and the Social Sciences Free Essays

Music Storytelling: When all of the slaves were freed in The Invisible Princess, there was â€Å"music and dancing and storytelling. † Visual Art: Faith Ringgold says that â€Å"art is about more than just technique and style. It’s about ideas† ( Talking to Faith Ringgold, p. We will write a custom essay sample on The Performing Arts and the Social Sciences or any similar topic only for you Order Now 23). She gets her ideas from events that are happening around her. (Refer to the painting on pp. 23-24. ) Creative Drama: Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for his â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech. The class can spin ideas from the book and research other African Americans who made a big impact on the freedom of their race. From here, the class can stage a production play. Language Arts: The Invisible Princess is an original fairy tale. The conflict in most fairy tales is good vs. evil. Fairy tales originated from dreams. Social Studies: The location of the terminals on the Underground Railroad are all across the United States. Tar Beach is set in Harlem during the Great Depression. Science — Cotton was grown on most of the large plantations in the South. The students can learn about the production of cotton and the other industries related to it. 2. Harry Sue by Sue Stauffacher, Illustrated by Sue Stauffacher. Yearling (April 10, 2007) Harry Sue is the moving, heartfelt, and sometimes funny story of a girl desperate for her mother’s love, and how compassion, resilience, and friendship can help a person survive just about any hardship that life can dish out. The Performing Arts and the Social Sciences Language Arts: Early on in the book, Harry Sue says, â€Å"Everybody has a back story, Fish. Garnett, Mary Bell, Homer, me. Remember that when you’re eyeballing a new con. The real story starts somewhere in the past. † (p. 23) This can be a good writing exercise for students; they will think about their â€Å"back stories† and create a narrative. Drama: There are parts of the story that are especially suited to a live performance, such as the standoff between Harry Sue and Granny in the basement, or one of the meals that Baba and Harry Sue share together in the art room. Students can learn their lines and to rehearse their scenes for a performance. Social Studies: Baba shares with Harry Sue his experiences and terrible personal loss as one of the â€Å"Lost Boys of Sudan. † The students can learn about the Sudanese civil war that resulted in thousands of refugees, and the story of how many of these boys were brought to the United States to start a new life. As a child of an incarcerated parent, Harry Sue is at greater risk of dropping out of school, abusing drugs and alcohol, experiencing mental illness, and committing crimes than children whose parents are not imprisoned. Students can research children of prisoners and and report on their findings. As an extension, the students can brainstorm what they can do as a class to help children of prisoners in their own community. Science: With a T-5 spinal cord injury, Homer Price is a quadriplegic. Unable to use his four limbs, he can only use the parts of his body above the neck: his head, mouth, and tongue. J-Cat introduces Homer to a device that allows him to draw using a light pen held in the mouth. With technology, Homer is again able to work out his inventions on paper. Students can research advances in spinal cord injury technology, and how severely disabled people like Homer are using these technologies to better their lives. Harry Sue finds solace in Mrs. Mead’s garden, and at the end of the story, she gardens with Moonie Pie and the other children at Baba and J-Cat’s day care center as a way of healing her heart and her brain. Students can research gardening or horticultural therapy and how it is used. In the spring, plant a Harry Sue flower garden with native flowers and plants that are as tough and resilient as Harry Sue. Art: J-Cat compares Homer’s situation to that of the great artist Henri Matisse toward the end of his life. When Matisse was no longer able to hold a paint brush, his assistants fastened a pencil to his hand so he could continue to draw. He also used large scissors to create the body of work known as cutouts. Students can explore the late work of Henri Matisse via the public library and the Internet. Students can then create their own cut paper collage inspired by the work of Matisse. BOOKS FOR GRADES 4-8 1. The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, Yearling (December 1, 1985) In The Egypt Game, April Hall, an insecure and lonely 11-year-old, comes to live with her grandmother and surprises herself when she forms an immediate friendship with her neighbor Melanie Ross. April and Melanie, who share an unusual interest in ancient Egypt, use their intellect and vivid imaginations to develop an elaborate game of â€Å"Egypt. † Gradually, the game becomes more and more real, and frightening things begin to happen in the neighborhood. The children are faced with a soul-searching question: Has the game gone too far? The Performing Arts and the Social Sciences Language Arts: Each participant in The Egypt Game chooses an Egyptian name and its hieroglyphic symbol. Students can research library about the gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt. They can select an Egyptian name for themselves and create its hieroglyphic symbol. They can also compose a paragraph telling why they selected their particular names. Mysteries are solved in The Egypt Game and The Gypsy Game. At the end of The Egypt Game, April and Marshall’s picture is in the newspaper along with a story about how Marshall helped the Professor save April. Students can write the article that appears in the newspaper. They can include quotations from each of the children of â€Å"Egypt,† various people from the neighborhood, and the Professor. Theater Arts: The characters in the book commune in a vacant lot where they play a game where they play specific roles as they try to reenact ancient Egyptian rituals. Students can learn about drama and how to study and act out a character. A play production of the book can also be staged. Social Studies: April and her friends conduct research about Egyptians and Gypsies before engaging in their games. Students can be asked to name other ancient cultures that they have studied, such as the Incas and Aztecs, and the ancient Babylonians, Chinese, and Greeks. Students should be equipped to speculate on which of the cultures would most likely interest April and Melanie and why. The Egypt Game, the children decide to perform an Egyptian â€Å"Ceremony for the Dead. † They think they will mummify the bird. Students can research the process of mummification, and how scientists determine the age of ancient mummies. 2. Adam of the Road (Puffin Modern Classics) by Elizabeth Janet Gray. Puffin (October 5, 2006) Adam of the Road is the story of eleven-year-old Adam who wishes to be a minstrel like his father, Roger. The story takes place in thirteenth-century England. Adam with his minstrel father, Roger, and his faithful cocker spaniel, Nick, are on their way to the Fair of St. Giles. Even good minstrels like Roger are not kept by their masters during the summer months and are forced to travel the countryside in search of work. While walking along the great roads of southern England, Adam’s dog, Nick, is stolen. As he tries to catch the thief, he becomes separated from Roger. So begins a time of adventure for Adam. During nearly a year, while Adam continues to look for his dog and his father, he meets many strangers — jugglers, minstrels, plowmen, and nobles — who try to convince him that their life is best. Instead, Adam chooses to be a minstrel and is completely happy when he is reunited with his beloved father and his dog. The Performing Arts and the Social Sciences Language Arts: The English used in the book is mostly the terms used in the time of its printing, and outdated words are to be encountered. The book is for seventh grade Language Arts and fits well within an interdisciplinary unit on the Middle Ages. There are also 29 other books cited in the book, as well as excerpts from poetry. Students can research such literary pieces and that could be an aid to them in learning about the literature of Medieval Europe. Performing Arts: Music is a vital aspect of this book, as the main character is a singer and also a harp player. Moreover, the minstrels in the book also are singers. There is a great deal of singing here, and many characters are described as singing famous songs of that time. Social Studies: When the students are studying Medieval Europe in social studies, they can be reading Adam of the Road and researching life in the Middle Ages in Language Arts class. In the book, the presence of minstrels and knights in specific are interesting points to tackle. History: The book is set in Medieval Times and students can also research about the significance of that era and how we can relate the events in that time to our time today. There can be sessions where students can compare and contrast the past and the present. Science: Science as we can deduce, is not yet as advanced in the book as it is today. People back then travel by horse-drawn vehicles such as carriages and horse carts. Students can research about how transportation evolved and the Medieval Times may be their starting point. REFERENCES Pat Scales, Director of Library Services of the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities in Greenville, SC. http://www. randomhouse. com/catalog/display. pperl? isbn=9780517885437view=tg Colleen Carroll, Education Consultant, Curriculum Writer and Author. http://www. randomhouse. com/kids/catalog/display. pperl? isbn=9780375832741view=tg http://www. randomhouse. com/teachers/catalog/display. pperl? isbn=9780440422259view=tg Deborah Gaulin 1997. http://www. sdcoe. k12. ca. us/score/adam/adamtg. html Aunt Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky by Faith Ringgold, Illustrated by Faith Ringgold. Dragonfly Books (1995) Harry Sue by Sue Stauffacher. Illustrated by Sue Stauffacher. Yearling (2007) The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, Yearling (1985) Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray. Puffin (2006) How to cite The Performing Arts and the Social Sciences, Papers

John Coltrane free essay sample

This study documents and analyzes cyclic patterns used as melodic vocabulary in John Chlorates improvisations from compositions of 1965 to 1967. The analysis is categorized in two distinct sections. The first section analyzes melodic vocabulary that Is derived from the cycle of descending major thirds progressions found In the compositions of 1 959 to 1960. The second section analyzes melodic vocabulary that is derived from Nicolas Solemnitys Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns using the theoretical terminology incorporated In the treatise. Musical examples consist of patterns from the Thesaurus and excerpts from selected Improvisations of John Coloration as transcribed by Andrew White. Important scholarly contributions relevant to the subject by Carl Hollowed, Lewis Porter, David Dempsey, and Walt Whiskies are Included. Every effort has been made to cite Interviews with musicians and commentaries by writers contemporary to that period of time with special emphasis on the Important influence of Theologies Monk, Males Davis, and Ornate Coleman. John William Chlorate was born in Hamlet, North Carolina, on September 23, 1926.Two months later, his family moved to High Point, North Carolina, where he lived in a fairly well-to-do part of town. He grew up in a typical southern black family, deeply religious, and steeped in tradition. Both of his parents were musicians, his father played the violin and ukulele, and his mother was a member of the church choir. For several years. Young Chlorate played the clarinet. However with mild Interest. It was only after he heard the great alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges playing with the Duke Longtime band on the radio, that he became passionate about music.He dropped the Loraine and took up the alto saxophone, soon becoming very accomplished. When Chlorate was thirteen, he experienced several tragedies that would leave a lasting Impression on him and would have a great Impact on the music of his later years. Within a year, his father, his uncle, and his minister all died. He lost every important male influence in his life. After graduating from high school in High Point, he moved to Philadelphia in 1943, where he lived in a small one-room apartment and worked as a laborer in a sugar-refinery.For a year, Chlorate attended Orenstein School of Music. Then in 1945, he was drafted into the Navy and sent to Hawaii where he was assigned to play clarinet In a band called the Melody Makers. Upon his return from Hawaii a year later, Chlorate launched his music career. With all those years of constant practice in High Point behind him, possessing a powerful inner strength from being raised in a deeply religious family, and with a foundation in musical theory and an innate curiosity about life, Chlorate was well prepared to seriously enter a battle. In small bars and clubs around Philadelphia. It became a tradition in many of the clubs at this time for musicians to walk the bar (I. . To walk on top of the bar while playing ones instrument). Chlorate was ashamed of having to go through this display every night. To any serious musician, it was an incredibly humiliating experience to someone like Chlorate, who was developing a type of religious fervor for his music, it was devastating. In addition to the negative self-image this experience engendered, critics criticized his music as being too bizarre.Chlorate became very depressed, and searching for a way out, he turned to heroin. Heroin was a very popular drug among black musicians in the forties. It was a uniting force that, initially, brought them together, but in the end caused lives and careers to disintegrate. In 1949, Dizzy Gillespie invited Chlorate to play in his big band. Gillespie had been a very influential and important figure in the bebop movement. Bebop was a style of jazz, popular during the late thirties and forties. It incorporated faster tempos, and more complex phrases than the Jazz of earlier years.For the first time in many years, Chlorate felt some sense of stability in his life. However, after a two-year stint with Gillespie, Chlorate was asked to leave because of his unreliability due to his heroin addiction. Again, Chlorate was reduced to walking the bar, and playing in seedy clubs. Depressed and dejected, his addiction grew. It was during this time that Chlorate became very interested in eastern philosophies. When he was not studying or playing he spent most of his time reading and attempting to satisfy his growing philosophical curiosity about life.It was an inborn curiosity to a certain extent, but one that had also developed from events from his early life such as his religious upbringing, and the early deaths of the most important men in his life. Life was getting back on track for him, as he finally felt the influence f positive forces. At this time, he met Anima, a Moslem woman, and an able musician. More than anyone, she was able to help Chlorate pick up the broken pieces of his life. They were soon married. In the mid-flies, he was invited to play with Miles Davis and his quintet.The collaboration that developed would change his life. Miles Davis had received acclaim at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1955. Davis was dubbed the rising star of the new avian-garden movement, cool Jazz. Cool Jazz was a striking contrast to the more traditional Jazz popular during the forties. It emphasized experimentation with hordes, keys, and modes, improvising on scales rather than on sequences of chords, producing music that at times was very bizarre. This new movement was the beginning of an experimental stage of Jazz that was very popular during the sixties.The partnership between Davis and Chlorate proved to be an incredible learning experience for Chlorate. He began to develop a style distinctly his own. Chlorate poured out streams of notes with velocity and passion, exploring every melodic idea, no matter how exotic. This became known as Chlorates sheets of sound period, in which he would explore the scales of the saxophone at a speed that no one had ever The Davis band did very well for a time, and made several recordings; however, in late 1956, Chlorate was fired from the band because of his debilitating heroin addiction. At this point, Chlorate almost gave up music. He actually went to the New York Post Office, and filled out an application to be a postman. He and Anima moved from New York to Philadelphia in November of that year and lived in his mothers house there. Again, his life reached a low. Drugs and alcohol controlled him. Chlorate legalized at this point that he needed to choose between drugs or music. He chose music. For two-weeks, he locked himself in his room and went through a very painful withdrawal. When he left that room, he was a cured man, and never touched heroin or alcohol again.During those two weeks, Chlorate had undergone a spiritual rebirth that would send him on his quest to find the mysterious sound . This transformation was documented on his album A Love Supreme (1964), considered by many to be the best recording of his solo career. On the album cover, Chlorate wrote- During the year 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening which has guided me to a richer, fuller, more productive life. At that time, in gratitude, I humbly asked to be given the means and privilege to make others happy through music. I feel this has been granted through His grace. ALL PRAISE TO GOD. The album is divided into four parts: Acknowledgment, Resolution, Pursuance, and Psalm. Each part details a different element of his spiritual Journey. Chlorates God was not Christian, Muslim, or Jewish; his God was simply a force that provided unity and harmony. He believed that his humanity, his music, the material world, and God were all one, and that feeling of unity governed his life. In 1957, Chlorate embarked on the most important learning experience of his life an apprenticeship with the High Priest of Bebop, Telethons Monk.Chlorates style had been developed with Miles Davis, but it was still somewhat reserved. With Monk, he was transformed into a legend. Monk would provide Chlorate with the key to unlock all sorts of musical doors and free the dark and the beautiful visions Chlorate had seen throughout his life. With the Telethons Monk quartet, Chlorate learned many techniques that he incorporated into his distinctive style. Instead of concentrating on he melodies, the group focused on the harmonic structure of a song. At this time, Chlorate was stronger than ever.With his mature style, and new sobriety, he was ready to set out on his own. At the end of 1958, Telethons Monk disbanded the group; Chlorate was about to set out on one of the most highly regarded solo careers in the history of Jazz. In the same year, he recorded over twenty different albums with various artists, and though not famous yet, was widely respected by his fellow musicians. His most important work from this period was Blue Trance (1957), one of the first of his albums that would be ideal acclaimed. Critics began to laud him, and regularly gave him good reviews.In 1957, Doom Circle wrote in Down Beat magazine His playing is constantly tense and searching; always a thrilling experience. After the dissolution of Monks group, The Jazz world of the sixties belonged to Chlorate. He pushed the limits of music, while attracting ever-bigger audiences. It was during this time that Chlorate searched for the mysterious sound. He once said that the sound for which he was searching was like holding a seashell to his ear. However one describes the strange sound, it notation some essential truth for him, existing as an omnipresent background hum behind the fade of everyday life. With the John Chlorate quartet (pianist McCoy Toner, drummer Elvin Jones, and Reggae Workman on bass), he incorporated tribal music from Africa, India, and the Middle East with that of the new avian-garden movement, free Jazz. Free Jazz or the New Thing, like the counter-culture of the sixties, was a nonconformist movement. It purposely avoided the structured sounds of the cool Jazz and bebop movements. Instead, it was devoid of any structure, direction, or tonality, and was characterized by random improvisation.As the sixties progressed, Chlorate experimented more and more with different combinations of sounds and instruments. He became obsessed with trying to communicate his musical vision. In 1968, Alice Chlorate (his wife at the time) stated l think what he was trying to do in music was the same thing he was trying to do in his life. That was to universalism his music, his life, his religion. It was all based on a universal concept, all-sectarian or non-sectarian. In the mid-sixties, Chlorate began to take LSI fairly regularly, in an effort to help him explore in greater depth both himself and his music.For Chlorate and his quest, LSI was a remarkable tool to dig deeper into his own being so he could discover the essential and absolute truth at the center of his being. Long time fans, however, viewed his music in this period as being too radical, and too far-out. Chlorate felt he was losing control over his music; his experimentation was so far-ranging on that he did not know in what direction he wanted to go. Through it all, he never abandoned the search for the mysterious sound. In late 1966, Chlorate knew that there was something wrong with him. He didnt feel right, and by early 1967, he stopped performing in public.He knew that his death was imminent. In May of 1967, Chlorate was taken to the hospital, suffering from extreme stomach pain. He was ordered to stay at the hospital, but left anyway. On Monday, July 17, he passed away. The cause was liver cancer. John Chlorates music both led the way and reflected the enormous varieties of experimentation and development of American Jazz of the sasss and asss. Today, his influence is heard in the recordings of almost every young Jazz musician. A man of mysticism, whose life was dedicated to sharing his vision of music with others, Chlorate was clearly a creative genius.

Business Objectives, Ethics and Reputation

I love you Essays

I love you Essays I love you Essay I love you Essay Worst Nightmare Dreams seem so real sometimes that you will wake up out of your sleep Just to make sure they arent real. Nightmares are the ones that really make you do it though. They are so scary. You can have a nightmare about a monster, someone dying, or maybe even somebody breaking into your house. I have had plenty of nightmares, but there is one that I really want to talk about. My all-time worst nightmare was my whole family dying. It was the scariest thing that has ever happened. Luckily it was Just a dream though. One night I was sleeping and I started to dream that me and my whole were going on a vacation in an airplane. I dont even know where we were going. We were flying on a private plan so we were all playing board games and Just laugh and having a good time. It was one of the best times because for the first time since I was little my WHOLE family was together. My family and I were so anxious to get where we were going. We were flying over the ocean and the plane started to rock. The pilot came on the loud speaker and said he was having technical difficulties, but everything would be okay. My family tried no to panic, but nobody likes to hear that Then the oxygen masks fell and the pilot asked us to place them on our faces. Everyone was panicking and I started to cry because I dont like scary situations. My mom and Dad were trying to comfort me but it wasnt working. All of a sudden the plane started rapidly going down. Then BOOM, we crashed! We crashed in to the water. All I remember is being the only one alive and the plane was in pieces. My family member were all dead, every single one of them, I was freaking out. I didnt know what to do. I was in the middle of the ocean with no way to call anyone, no boats around, no food or anything to drink, and I had no life Jacket all I could do was hold on to a piece of the plane. At that point, I woke up because it seemed so real. That was the worst nightmare Vive ever had because my family means the world to me. I cant lose them all at once. Im so glad it was Just a nightmare because I would be lost without my family. Nightmares are so scary. I never want to have another one. I love you By evocable 234

Is Openly Carrying Guns A Justifiable Act Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Is Openly Carrying Guns A Justifiable Act - Essay Example The 2nd Amendment, which states, "a well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed" gives people the liberty to arm themselves with weapons for their own self-defense. This right is respected by some states to the extent that people should expose the guns they are carrying, so long as they were legally acquired. One camp, such as that of Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) considers themselves responsible gun owners and claims that they do not use the gun until it is necessary. They believe that the sight of guns is enough to dispel any untoward incidents by criminals. Because of this, so many people were enticed to buy guns for themselves. VCDL’s issuance of gun permits increased dramatically from 3,000 in 1994 to 180,000 in 2009. However, some people may not react positively to this since guns are very tempting to just use at one’s whim if that individual is impulsive. I t may go off accidentally hurting even the owner, or someone within peripheral distance. If the gun carrier is prone to temperamental outbursts, then it is worse, since if he is provoked, then he has his gun to vent his temper with. Responsible gun owners are aware of this and vehemently deny that they are that weak. They even advocate for the law of first investigating the background of whoever wants to buy a gun before releasing it to just anyone who may have the impulse to use it any which way he wants. This is where people call upon the 14th Amendment. It is clearly stated in Section one of this amendment that: â€Å"No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws†. This amendment, or Incorporation Doctrine, advocates the Bi ll of Rights to balance off whatever laws that may override the rights of others. In this case, the 2nd Amendment may give the right to people to â€Å"bear arms† however, it should also respect the rights of others who do not advocate gun ownership in the belief that it is not necessary. This conflict causes a huge confusion that may leave people divided, and the government, in a â€Å"fence-sitting† position. President Obama was known as the most anti-gun president. NRA or National Rifle Association protested against him for gun control laws. Obama’s stand was that guns are harmful and should not be openly carried even if it is licensed in order to prevent it from firing at anyone, whether intentionally or not. The NRA organization claims that its members are responsible gun owners who are discerning about gun use and are against loosely selling firearms to just about anyone. Seven states have ruled that any gun manufactured in their state is exempt from gun c ontrol laws. This implies no background checks, no age restrictions, no requirements for sellers to check out before releasing guns to buyers. This is their interpretation of the second amendment right. This ruling may be abused by some people who may claim that the gun they own was manufactured in that state, hence they do not have to go through thorough background check before being issued a permit. The federal government may also be suspected of concealing weapons so that these would be exempt from gun control laws because Obama has not done anything regarding NRA’s protest, and seems apathetic to the issue. Personally, I am not in favor of the Open Carry gun policy of some states. I do respect their belief of

Immunology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Immunology - Essay Example The fourth fraction, F4, has a low concentration of protein. This is because in this fraction, serum was not diluted. Therefore, aggregation of proteins could not occur because of lack of hydration of protein. Protein concentration of F1 was 5.90mg. This increased till 14.56mg protein concentration for F3. Fraction F5, which is a mixture of F2 and F3 had a protein concentration of 16.00mg – the highest. Purification by ammonium suphate precipitation is useful for large protein samples. It is a cheaper process. However, the resulting protein obtained is not very pure. Moreover, this technique requires additional purification steps. The results of purification through ion exchange chromatography (IEX) are shown in section 3 of the results. The purification of IgG was performed. IgG accounts for only 10% of the serum proteins. Yet, the concentrations of IgG in fraction F2, F3 and F5 were 2.08, 1.42 and 2.80 mg/ml respectively, which are relatively high. IEX is a cost effective process and results in higher protein recovery. It has high resolving power. The percentage yield of protein for all fractions is given in section 4. A higher yield of IgG is seen in fractions F2 and F5 compared to fraction F3. A machine error may be the reason behind this. This is because the reading for F2/F3 and F5 was taken on different spectrophotometers. The results of the Single Radial Immunodiffusion assay and precipitin arcs are shown in section 5. In figure 1, purple precipitin arcs confirm the presence of IgG. Multiple arcs for F3 and F4 indicate the presence of contamination in these protein fractions. In figure 2, the precipitation ring is observed. It is seen that as the diameter of the ring increases, there is a decrease in the protein (antigen) concentration. Moving further away from the center, IgG concentration

Food and Culture Report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Food and Culture Report - Assignment Example The most prominent nutritional ailment is obesity, which has a higher prevalence among African-Americans, as compared to any other group in the United States. These facts have motivated the interest on focusing on this ethnic group’s health habits. Approximate number of people belonging to this group living in the U.S. According to the 2011 U.S Census Bureau estimates, African-Americans number approximately 40 million and account for 14.1 percent of the total population in the United States.1 Traditional Food Habits Core or Staple Foods When African slaves were brought into the United States, they carried along their food practices and styles of cooking. Some of the staple foods they brought along include okra, peanuts, sesame seeds, rice and black-eyed peas. The slaves also learned to prepare the food provided by their masters such as pork, vegetables and cornmeal. They also used molasses as a sweetener in food dishes and drinks such as iced tea. These are still being applied to date. African-Americans also celebrate their cultural holidays through the promotion of unique cooking, characterized by ethnic styles which are sometimes referred to as soul food.2 For instance, fish has always been considered a staple food among the African-Americans. ... Food Preparation Methods and Seasonings Many African-Americans prepare food using a frying or barbecuing method and serve the prepared dishes with heavy sauces and gravy. They also prefer making baked goods from scratch, as opposed to using commercial mixes, which come pre-packaged in a box. Meal Composition and Cycle It is customary for African Americans to consume a lot of food for breakfast. In the morning, they prefer eating grits, sausage, ham and freshly baked biscuits with syrup and butter. Lunch usually consists of bologna, which is eaten in sandwiches. The dinner is normally baked chicken with corn bread, baked ham, green vegetables, rice, candied yams and baked macaroni and cheese. Dessert is comprised of fruit cake and/or apple pie. Foods Associated With Superstitions Most of the superstitions revolve around the consumption of black-eyed peas. If the black-eyed peas are served with greens the food represents money i.e. the peas represent coins while the greens represent no tes.2 If the corn bread is added to the black-eyed peas and greens meal, this represents gold. If eaten with stewed tomatoes, it represents health and wealth. The culture dictates that for one to witness everyday luck, they should eat at least 365 black-eyed peas during New Year’s Eve. Foods Used For Therapeutic Purposes Most contemporary African Americans have become more health conscious and realize the significance of ensuring that their diets contribute to their well-being.3 This has resulted in an increase in the addition of fruits and vegetables in every dish. They have also ventured into healthier and lighter cooking with the traditional fattier foods being left for special holidays and occasions. Foods for Traditional Celebrations

Analysis Of The Korean War History Essay

Analysis Of The Korean War History Essay The KoreanWar was a military action between north and South Korea for the unifying of the Korean peninsula; both countries have had different ideological agenda under western and eastern ideological power. The republic of Korea (South Korea) was supported by the united nation, NATO, and the USA on the other hand, the democratic people republic of Korea (North Korea) was supported by china and the Soviet Union. The Korean War was a war of west versus the east different philosophy and consideration, but fought far from the major superpower mainland. A war considered as an embarrassment for the international community, many lives were harvested and it did started and ended with accomplishing nothing from the unifying. The Korean peninsula was occupied by the Japaneses for almost 35 years under an iron fest till the defeat of the Japanese in the World War II in 1945. Korean conflict, With Japan on the tremble to surrender, it was necessary for the superpowers to agree upon a future Asian policy that can both assure security for superpower nations and spread principles and influence over strategic zones in the pacific. After the Hiroshima atomic bomb Japan was completely under the US influence which made the soviet deliberate the advantage of occupying Korea, which in adjacent to the communist alley china.At the Potsdam conference, the USA, made plans to invade the Japanese mainland and they have been more than happy to leave Manchuria and Korea to the Soviet Union. But now with war actually coming to sudden end , US urgently reassessed its future interest in Asia and came rapidly to a decision that America must share with the USSR the occupation of Korea (Jeremy Isaacs Taylor Downing, 2008), therefore both soviet union and the USA agreed to secure the Korean peninsula by dividing it to north and south using the 38th parallel, and that the USSR shall occupy the n orth next to it ally china and the US the south, Korea polarized as the two power blocs north and south (Jeremy Isaacs Taylor Downing, 2008). Each countries started to execute the viewpoint systems of their dominate as a consequence in the south foremost nationalist and members of the anti Japanese resistance had formed a provisional government but at least half of them were communist therefore US and the UN called for a free election in which USSR and the communist party disapproved it and boycotted , US government preferred to support a conservative group that was made up of professionals and those educated in America or by American missionaries (Jeremy Isaacs Taylor Downing, 2008). The American had their nominee, Rhee, whom considered a significant assets since he was educated in America and was not tented by the relationship with the Japanese but he was tenaciously against the communist. On the other hand the USSR had, Kim, who opposed the Japanese and participated with the red Armey in the WWII, he was known for viciously putting down all opposition to communist rule. As a result Rhee and his party won the election pole against the communist in the south which escalated the tension between the two Koreas at that time the 38th parallel became an official political border between the south and the north, the communist and the capitalist. As tense increased both sides of the Korean peninsula made major infiltration across the border, in the south communist activist were arrested and imprisoned furthermore in the north anti-communist where put down. Accordingly USSR and US tactically withdrawals from their military zones at the front line leaving only advisors. In China, Mao Ze Dong, have successes in winning the civil war and forming a communist Chinese republic. Maos reviled that the west and America are chines biggest nightmare mentioning the years of humiliation china faced under the last dyne sty of Chinese empire and the colonelcies era of china. The Chinese soviet friendship relation lunched then a new chapter in the cold war I Asia leaving US provoking danger through this relation specially after the soviet successes into breaking the atomic monopoly of the USA, as quoted by Charles Murphy , president Truman special counsel in his respond to the scenarios that might goes, what I read scared me so much that the next day I did not go to the office at all , I sat at home and read this memo over and over wondering what in the world to do about it (Jeremy Isaacs Taylor Downing, 2008). The war, The purpose of unifying Korea was the essential passionate for both Korean leaders; however Kim was more greatly obsessive about it because of the corrupted Rhee government and non-match able military experience. Kremlin was always anxious for the US response also Stalin sought after to respect the mutual treaty with the US, however the crises in Berlin plus to the communist victory in china along with the equivalence atomic power of the US-Soviet stimulated a new calculation that the US response will be carefully measured, Mao Ze Dong, responded to this permission that US would not start a third war over such a small territory (Jeremy Isaacs Taylor Downing, 2008) . June, 25, 1950 an astonishing attack from the North Korean military into the South Korean border, the unmatchable soviet tank and military equipments forced the South Korean forces to withdraw fast for not being able to meet the confront. Immediately the US and the UN requested the international community to condemn the attack and appealed for sending troops into South Korea a demand which challenged by protest from the soviet and Chinese behave. The absence of the soviet from the UN meeting allowed the call to pass. Kim, Mao, and Stalin were surprised from the response of the USA to fight over a small area. However the American did not see it this way, they distinguish a threat for their national security and international order also they predict a prevail of the communist ideology which they had to stop, President Truman quoted we are fighting for our national security and our survival (Jeremy Isaacs Taylor Downing, 2008). June, 28, 1950 after three days from the beginning of the invasion North Korean army entered Seoul, the US army first battalion under the command of general MacArthur landed in Osan tackling the Korean army whom equipped with soviet tools, the first American in the cold war to confront a communist directly were small members unit deployed in the hills near the Korean town Osan (Jeremy Isaacs Taylor Downing, 2008), they admit defeat which was a disaster news to Washington whom ordered general Mac Arthur to send larger troops and start an air strike and navy bombardments. In the first military confrontation of the cold war, solders of the most powerful nation on earth had been humiliated by the soviet equipped troops from a tiny country (Jeremy Isaacs Taylor Downing, 2008), the only success for the UN-US forces were by air strike however kim troops contunied to push the allied forces to the southern corner around a city of Pusan. September, 1950 massive bombardement by the US navy ehich lead north Korean army to trumple, the situation turned in fevaor of the UN-US.rhee and general MacArthur decided to librate the capital seoul first after that they can marsh towards the 38th paraelle . in few weeks both Rhee and the general aimed to re-unite korea quating we have not got this far to stop where the fight began (Jeremy Isaacs Taylor Downing, 2008). October, 1950 US troops crossed the 38th paraelle and advanced into communist territory, pyonyang falls the only communist capital ever to fall to the west in cold war (Jeremy Isaacs Taylor Downing, 2008),as a result china determine to help north korea. November, 1950 chinese lunched full scal asult against US-UN troops, USA wanted to avoid full confortation with china and they also did not want to inviate stailn to the war.therefore they withdrawls to the 38th paraelle line. War tragedy For the two superpowers shows of power ability and military thousands of US and chines solders were sacrificed , both north and south korea lost up to a million in death soldiers and civilians. Koreans economy were disastress and te result is what.

Epiphany in Araby of James Joyces Dubliners Essay -- Joyce Dubliners

Araby: An Epiphany  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The story, "Araby" in James Joyce's Dubliners presents a flat, rather spatial portrait. The visual and symbolic details embedded in the story, are highly concentrated, and the story culminates in an epiphany. An epiphany is a moment when the essence of a character is revealed , when all the forces that bear on his life converge, and the reader can, in that instant, understand him. "Araby" is centered on an epiphany, and is concerned with a failure or deception, which results in realization and disillusionment. The meaning is revealed in a young boy's psychic journey from love to despair and disappointment, and the theme is found in the boy's discovery of the discrepancy between the real and the ideal in life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The story opens with a description of North Richmond Street, a "blind," "cold ... .. silent" street where the houses "gazed at one an-other with brown imperturbable faces." It is a street of fixed, decaying conformity and false piety. The boy's house contains the samesense of a dead present and a lost past. The former tenant, a priest,died in the ba... ...stern enchantment." His love, like his quest for a gift to draw the girl to him in an unfriendly world, ends with his realizing that his love existed only in his mind. Thus the theme of the story-the discrepancy between the real and the ideal-is made final in the bazaar, a place of tawdry make-believe. The epiphany in which the boy lives a dream in spite of the ugly and the worldly is brought to its inevitable conclusion: the single sensation of life disintegrates. The boy senses the falsity of his dreams and his eyes burn "with anguish and anger."   

Hofstede Cultural Difference Critiques Essay

Arguably, Hofstede’s work (1980, 1997) represents a pioneering approach of culture as a way of comparing international management frameworks. First of all, prior to offering any evaluations in regards to McSweeney’s criticism (2002a/b), it is crucial to identify the nature of Hostede’s work within the entire sphere of the culture approach itself. In contrast to the guarantors of the emic approach , whose main concepts tend to discard the equalization and standardization of dimensions in national cultures’ comparisons, the pillars of Hofstede’s work, which belong to the etic approach , are based on 5 dimensions whereby national differences are then measured. In other words, from the emic standpoint it is also arguable that the etic research methodology, as aiming to identify equalities among national differences, would risk throwing out the baby with the bath water . On the other hand, from the emic perspective, dividing the culture into a set of defined scopes stands as the only way to actually enable researchers to compare cultures . Having briefly introduced the shortcomings related to both approaches, McSweeney’s critiques can now be narrowed down to a specific scope, which is mainly encompassed with Hofstede’s research methodology. Research Validity  In light of the importance for any researches to provide clear definitions on the specific research concepts and key words, the first part of this essay will evolve on contextualizing the meaning of culture within Hofstede’s work, thus, giving ground to McSweeney’s relevant sources of criticism. Geert (1980) has defined culture as â€Å"the collective programming of the mind distinguishing the members of one group or category of people from another†. McSweeney essentially critiques Hofstede’s adoption of nations as means of cultural comparisons, scorning the territoriality uniqueness of culture in primis. In regards to this issue, Hofstede in a second stage (2002: 1356) acknowledges that nations are not the ideal elements for studying cultures, yet this is the only way researchers could have access to comparable units. Predictably, thousands of other author’s contributions in regards to the definition of culture would make this argument even more complex. For the sake of this analysis, emphasis would be given to the arguments in regards to the research methodology. Research Reliability: Research Sample The first criticism which may arise is likely to involve the representativeness of Hofstede’s research sample. In more details, he argues that 117,000 questionnaires for two surveys, covering 66 countries would be enough to ensure the research reliability. From my point of view, McSweeney’s critiques result founded when analysing the sampling framework in more details. CountryNumber of Respondents for Each Country Belgium, France, Great Britain, Germany, Japan and Sweden (6 countries)More than 1000 Chile, Columbia, Greece, Hong Kong, Iran, Ireland, Israel, New Zealand, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Turkey (15 countries)Less than 200 [Tab. 1] As it can be seen by the table (Tab. ), in 15 countries the sample size is composed by less than 200 respondents, which results to be extremely small compared to other countries with over 1000 respondents. To couple this argument, McSweeney discusses about the narrowness of the population surveyed as respondents were all IBM employees, mainly involved with the marketing and sales departments. Hofstede’s reply ( 2002), stating that this sample’s framework had only been used in order to isolate the national culture differences from both the organizational and occupational culture, seems however to give rise to other arguments. As McSweeney’s (2002a: 95-99) argues, respondents’ cultural framework is made up by three non-interacting and durable levels of culture (Tab. 2). At the first level, the assumptions which would free this model from any shortcomings would be that there is only one IBM culture and that there is also a common worldwide occupational culture for each job (Hofstede 1980a: 181). What are these assumptions based on? According to McSweeney (2002a: 96), these assumptions are â€Å"too crude and implausible to underpin Hofstede’s emphatic empirical claims† . Following the thread of his argument we come across a situation where assuming that an IBM employee, whether in a developed USA head office or a new opened branch office in Pakistan, will possess the same identical organizational and occupational culture does become hard to encompass. In response to this argument, Hofstede acknowledges that considerable differences exist at the â€Å"organizational level† (1991: 93), yet it redefines the entire organizational culture as a mere set of â€Å"shared perceptions of daily practices† (1991: 182-3), therefore distancing from the early-stage value-based definition. According to McSweeney (2002b), this is only a failed attempt to deliver a straightforward concept and definition of organizational culture. Back to Culture Hofstede’s vision of culture is often linked to two different concepts, unique national tendency and central tendency, respectively. In the first case, as pointed out by McSweeney, the national uniformity which Hofstede claims to have found, results to have no valid grounds as it derives from a very specific micro-level (IBM). Secondly, in regards to the claimed average tendency, the heterogeneity of questionnaires’ responses completely contradicts this conceptualization at the first place. As cited from Jacob (2005), â€Å"if exceptions to the rule are as numerous as the rule itself† to what extent could predictions based on that rule be reliable? In many countries, McSweeney argues, the typical IBM employee would at a high extent diverge from the general population. That is to say that an IBM employee in Taiwan would not necessarily reflect Taiwan’s population average individual, especially when we are talking about someone who holds a managerial position in a multinational firm. This concept brings us to another aspect of McSweeney’s criticism (2002a:92), â€Å"culture treated as a mere epiphenomenon, completely casual†, as conceptualized by Hofstede, it would look like something which moves along the history â€Å"enduring†, yet it is not subject to radical changes due to fluctuating social, economic and institutional trends (Tab. 3). Questionnaire and Dimensions Arguably, the questionnaire itself also presents some limitations. Firstly aimed to investigate the employees’ morale at IBM, it also resulted to reflect some values that, for Hofstede, could have been used to unveil the national cultural differences’ myth. Citing one of his research questions, â€Å"How long do you think you will continue working for this company? †(1980 Appendix 1) , it is obviously clear there would be differences in whether this question is being asked in a country, say, the USA, with plentiful employment vacancies, or in a country, say Thailand where at the time of the research the unemployment rate was comparatively high. Under these circumstances, it is extremely hard to assume that the respondents were not influenced by other social, political and institutional factors (See Tab. 3). Therefore, his research’s entire reliability could be easily questioned on this basis. Despite ensuring the confidentiality of respondents’ answers, employees’ foreknowledge of the end objective of the survey might have easily encouraged them to assume a more positive attitude in order to support their divisions’ reputation. Arguably, the responses analysed by Hofstede were situationally restricted (McSweeney, 2002a: 107). In more details, the questions only reflected values related to the workplace, furthermore the surveys were exclusively directed within the workplace and were not tested in non-work place locations for both same respondents and others. In light of the first purpose of the questionnaire, it is spontaneous to raise a question in regards to the validity of the dimensions found by Hofstede. Could it be possible that a specialized study in cultural differences would have delineated different dimensions? In his response, Hofstede acknowledged that, although there may be some other dimensions equally important for the structuring of a comparative cultural analysis, relative questions were simply not asked. McSweeney with reference to Triadis (1994) argues that bi-polar dimensions of national cultures should not be comprised of opposite poles (for example: Individualism – Collectivism), but depending on the situations they could coexist. Under these principles, the work of Schwartz (1992) appears to give a comparatively dynamic dimensions’ disposition. History and Research Validations In the last section of his book, Hofstede (1980: 326- 331) includes some historical and contemporary events which he states would validate his research findings. However, McSweeney (2002b) argues that these stories reveal nothing but justifications, leaving out the basics for an accurate confirmation. According to his analysis, Hosfstede’s assertion, â€Å"the more masculine a culture the more antagonistic are industrial relations, is flawed as the trends for working days lost in industrial disputes , in both Spain and the UK, result to vary enormously over time. In other words, we could argue that these fluctuations are highly influenced by political, economic and institutional changes. In the case of industrial relations’ disputes in Spain, after the death of Spanish dictator Franco in 1975, the level of working days was subject to a huge increase. Hofstede’s findings have also been validated by other studies, reflecting the same national cultural differences . This is one of the reasons why Hofstede’s work has so far been used in many disciplines as pioneer of the cultural approach in the sphere of comparative international management. Under these circumstances, as Hofstede states (2002 p. 1358), it is just not all about faith in his research, but it is the willingness of the society to accept his work as something which could be taken to a step further. In some cases, institutional factors, history, politics and economy do provide better explanations in this field, yet as Hofstede would argue, the cultural perspective does have his validity as it offers a complete different view on values embedded by people which do have an influence on their daily lives. Conclusion Arguably, some of Hofstede research framework’s features, especially the ones related to his research methodology, do present various shortcomings. However, the overall importance of cultural approach for national differences should be seen as undeniable (Koen, 2005). Nevertheless, it is worth pointing out that after all, the main argument merely evolves on Hofstede’s claims to have â€Å"uncover[ed] the secrets of entire national cultures† (1980b: 44). Despite his book title narrowing the scope of its findings down to the work-place, â€Å"Culture’s Consequences: International Differences in Work-Place Values†, Hofstede, in many of his publications, seems to overestimate his findings. It is extremely important to acknowledge and appreciate the enormous contribution that Hofstede has made to the entire society’s understanding of international cultural differences. On the other hand, it is also crucial to stay away from the â€Å"taken for granted† approach when coming across such a complex topic. As mentioned in the preface, etic and emic approach despite having a different vision on how to measure and analyse culture, they could still be seen as two complementarities which could be extensively used for a more thorough research. In addition, although admitting that limitations in research methodology do hamper the objectivity of findings, the etic approach still stands as the unique way to allow researchers to obtain comparable quantitative data. I do also appreciate the contributions made by McSweeney, whose criticisms have enabled me to adopt a more critical line of thought in analysing this interesting topic. At some extent we could assume that Hofstede’s research is still a â€Å"work in progress†, eventually other advocates of the etic approach will take it to a more universal level, as some of other authors in this field have already done. I would like to conclude this essay with a quote from McSweeney (2002a: 90), when he states that Hofstede’s work could be dismissed as a misguided attempt to measure the unmeasurable .

UK Property Investment The WritePass Journal

UK Property Investment Executive Summary UK Property Investment , than they were in previous years. Furthermore, although there is still economic stagnation, certain industry sectors such as the services sector are now experiencing growth. The construction sector, however, is still seeing output falling and this may go some way to explaining the reason why the property industry is somewhat holding its own, showing stagnation, but not decline (Chegut, et al 2011). The commercial property industry operates in a slightly different way from the residential property investment industry. Therefore, for the purpose of this analysis, the overall property industry is looked at, with differentiations drawn between the commercial and residential property investment being made where appropriate (Pyhrr, et al 1999) Property investors, essentially, will make their money from either purchasing properties, renovating them in some way and then selling them on for a profit, or from purchasing an investment property and renting it to another on a weekly, monthly or annual return. More properties are finding themselves within the rental market and this is particularly common when it comes to commercial property, where a business may find it more advisable to rent a property so they will not have the initial capital outlay, or the risks associated with purchasing property, particularly the new start-up businesses. Businesses, in general, particularly those on the high street or smaller businesses looking to expand are nervous in the current economic climate and will therefore look towards mitigating their risks by renting property that they can release in the event that funds are not forthcoming. Approximately one half of foreclosure properties are rented, as opposed to one third of all residential pro perty, and when individuals find it hard to purchase property, the rental industry naturally booms. Trends have suggested that certain areas of prime property locations remain very much in demand, despite the economic conditions. For example, property in central London remains popular and buoyant for both residential and commercial purposes (Sing 2004). It is suggested that, overall, while the property market and, in particular, property prices have been relatively stagnant, over the years, there are still positive trends available for investors, with certain regions such as house prices in central London experiencing value growth, and rental income of commercial premises in popular areas also seeing periods of growth as organisations look towards reducing their costs by renting properties, rather than purchasing. Analysis of Industry By undertaking the PEST analysis looking at political, economic, social and technological issues in order to gain a greater understanding can be had of the ways in which the industry is operating. The PEST overview is contained in the appendix and is discussed here, in more detail, and an overview analysis is also provided. It can be seen that, despite the recent economic difficulty that has emerged, with many individuals being forced to sell property due to their inability to meet with mortgage demands, this has actually provided an opportunity for property investors (Lizieri, 2009). Many properties come to the market at below market prices and therefore make perfect targets for the investors. This also creates a broad range of individuals looking to rent properties, as they are unable to purchase. The more stringent lending conditions have therefore provided the property investment market with a growing target group of potential investors who are likely to be able to make the most of the trends in the property market, to ensure that their own investment business is buoyant (RICS. 1993). Opportunities for Graduates Drawing on the above analysis, it can be seen that there are multiple opportunities available to graduates looking to enter into property investment or, indeed, any other individual who may potentially be considering it as a real career option. Firstly, there are the opportunities available within the commercial property investment market, and in particular, looking toward facilitating the demand for the new small businesses which are emerging with government support and grants. As individuals become more likely to set up small businesses following unemployment, facilitating this by offering shared office space provides a good opportunity for new individuals entering the market. Secondly, there are opportunities within the residential property investment market, in terms of making the most of foreclosure properties by purchasing them at a low price and then selling them on, or renting them within the market (Harvey et al 2004). The real opportunities that exist for new graduates are in identifying where the growth areas are going to be both geographically and in terms of the types of properties, and then being able to claim the properties at below market prices. In order to achieve this, the individual will need to be astute and may be able to draw together a large amount of property data, in a relatively short space of time. Gap Analysis The key skills which will be vital for success within the property investment market include the ability to group together economically and to ascertain the likely ways in which prices are going to change, in this area, both geographically and in terms of the property types. This involves the ability to undertake strong economic analysis, including the use of simulation models, which will be a key skill that will enable young graduates to gain a competitive advantage, when entering the industry. Graduates also need to be able to analyse the surrounding sectors, as demand for commercial property, in particular, will reflect how other industries, are performing (Leone and Leger 2008). For example, if the retail industry is weak, then the demand for retail premises is also likely to reflect this. Using economic tools will enable a graduate, to identify potential growth areas and to ensure that they have property available, ahead of the competition. Conclusions The property investment market has generally been showing stagnation, in recent years; yet, the trends also indicate that certain areas of the property investment market are showing opportunities, with some of the negative factors driving the property market downwards, allowing property investors to benefit, such as by purchasing properties that are being sold by mortgage companies, following the failure to meet with lending requirements. Bearing this in mind, individuals looking to enter the property investment market need to have a particularly astute ability to analyse economic conditions; they will also need to understand the driving trends, rather than necessarily being merely knowledgeable in the area of property, in terms of bricks and mortar. References Acclimatise (2009) ‘Managing the unavoidable: Understanding the investment implications of adapting to climate change – UK commercial property’, Oxford: Acclimatise. Available at: www.acclimatise.uk.com/resources/reports British Property Federation (2011). IPD Annual Lease Review 2011 Chegut, A., Eichholtz, P., Kok, N. (2011). Supply, Demand, and the Value of Green Buildings. Working Paper, Maastricht Universiy, December 2011. Harvey A, Koopman S J and Shephard N (2004) State space and unobserved components models: theory and applications, Cambridge: Cambridge U P. Leone V and Leger L (2008) ‘Generating innovations in economic variables’, Applied Financial Economics Letters, 1-7. Lizieri, C. (2009) Towers of Capital: Office Markets and International Financial Services. 1st.ed.,Wiley-Blackwell, UK, pp. 344. Pyhrr, S.A., Roulac, S.E. and Born, W.L. (1999) Real Estate Cycles and Their Strategic Implications for Investors and Portfolio Managers in the Global Economy. Journal of Real Estate Research, Vol.18, No.1, pp.7–62. RICS (1993) Understanding the Property Cycle. Working Paper Two: A Literature Review. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, London, pp.47. Simpson M W, Ramchander S and Webb J R (2008) ‘The asymmetric response of equity REIT returns to inflation’, Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics,34, 513-529. Sing T F (2004) ‘Common risk factors and risk premia in direct and securitized real estate markets’, Journal of Property Research, 21, 189-207. Appendix Political The government and political situation is definitely looking towards stimulating growth within the property market and, as such, is considering ways of making it easier for developers to establish new property, both residential and commercial. In particular, there is evidence of political movements towards ensuring that the lower end of the market is revitalised to encourage first-time buyers. This will have an impact on property investors focusing on rental opportunities, as the easier it becomes to purchase, the less likely they will be to obtain rental income. There are also political efforts being made to encourage new businesses and this can be seen to be a positive option for commercial property investors, as new businesses will be more inclined to rent property and this will be more cost-effective, initially, and will allow the opportunity to grow rapidly, if they so choose. Economic The economic availability of mortgages and the reduction in the ability of individuals to borrow money, in order to purchase property, either residential or commercial will have a direct bearing on the property investment market. Property investors will have a much more willing customer base, as they have been unable to obtain sufficient finance to purchase their own property and are therefore looking towards rental property as an alternative. The more difficult economic times have resulted in many residential and commercial owners losing their premises, as a result of their inability to pay their mortgages and this also offers the opportunity for property investors who have sufficient cash reserves to purchase property at below market prices (Acclimatise 2009). Social Social changes and, more specifically, changes within the employment market also tend to encourage individuals to go into businesses and become self-employed, which ultimately provides an opportunity for the commercial property investors who are able to purchase premises that may be suitable for the new small start businesses. There is also a changing demographic trend for more single-parent families that are smaller and the increase in independent living within the older generation, thus placing a greater demand on rental premises that are smaller and will reflect the changing demographic (RICS 1993). Technological Technological drivers provide both opportunities and progress within the property investment market. Whilst this allows property investors to have a much greater access to potential customers, it also means that their customers have much greater access to the competition. Therefore, there is a need for organisations offering property investment services, such as rental property, to utilise technology in order to capture the broadest possible audience. Technology has also shifted the way which organisations are operating this has resulted in many cases of individuals working from home, or working from shared spaces, thus reducing the demand for traditional commercial premises (Simpson et al 2008).

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, (MSO)

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, (MSO) Introduction Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSO) is a well renowned, brand name. When the Chief Executive officer is the â€Å"brand†, it can be difficult to separate their personality from the identity of the company they represent.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, (MSO) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The values of the company are bigger than those of the founder, this is evident from the continued success in fortune, especially after its founder was accused of business malpractices such as; insider trading. This was in contrast of what analyst had predicted. It is imperative for any company to take into account alternative strategies in enhancing personal and organizational effectiveness. External and internal elements of communication should encompass extensive research for better planning and implementation to identify, with common patterns of organizational behavior and consumer attitudes (Polk Wardwell, 2008). It would influence the strategy of sustaining its limelight, creating a competitive marketing strategy and restoring its image. Work Groups At MSO, teamwork within the work groups is emphasized to enhance multiple decisions; diverse experiences and collective judgment .For the team to exist individuals have to perceive themselves as part of the group. Thus, Martha Steward Living Omnimedia (MSO) in repositioning itself should take advantage of communication channels including social media to obtain customer feedback and build on them to improve its service and product delivery. Besides, through data obtained about employees should help the organization in identify areas to improve on. Rebranding, of any company is bound to fail if organization’s employees do not support it.Therefore, decisions made should incorporate suggestions from the people who identify most with the products. The effectiveness in employees’ performance en hances discipline, how employees relate with each other, their morale and instill motivation. Communications in a work group not only serve the need of informing, but also it is an important tool for controlling and an element of motivation. Therefore, for mutual and shared responsibilities among employees in the organization, effective communication in decisions made is critical for management at MSO to obtain positive feedback from their subordinates and other stakeholders. Communication The management should provide an elaborate communication strategy to strengthen performance and make employees feel part of the organization, become aware of ongoing trends and refute their fears about the organizations future goals. An organization is a society endowed with diverse employees of different backgrounds and culture. Hence, communication strategies are imperative in passing important organization information.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Top management at MSO has to identify fitting strategies in terms of management style, which can increase; employee’s motivation, creates satisfaction, and enhances organizations behavior and performance. In resolving disillusionment, and high expectations bestowed on them by the public, strategies such as; participatory management is essential in building trust, empowering and motivating an employee in performing tasks (Passikoff, 2006). Communication is therefore a key factor whether written or delivered orally. It is the only way; an organization’s stakeholders can express their expectations, suggestions, and any concerns or grievances they might have. In creation of a unique profile, proper communication input should emerge from the feedback obtained internally and externally. Rebranding Mason and Meyer (2006) indicate that rebranding as a process has direct impact on how the company is per ceived by external environment. Change, as an element in shaping most organizations impact on all parties in an organization and major adjustments should be expected. The management at MSO in managing organizations crisis, resistance, and formulating important decisions will help to move in the desired growth direction. Rebranding a powerful brand like Martha Steward would be more destructive especially to the morale of many employees than it would be constructive and careful deliberations should be undertaken to protect employees from feeling alienated. Martha Steward heritage as to be factored during the process of rebranding. This is simply because it would seem like an effort to counter negative publicity more than its efforts to reposition or globalize the brand (Passikoff, 2006). Although many other companies like Pepsi or Google have been successful in rebranding themselves, the rebranding of Martha Steward would be a move from a more individualized to a cooperate feel than m any consumers might not identify with. Instead, it should concentrate on striking a balance in building an identity from the individual and taking advantage of the appealing Martha’ public image. Conclusion Marketing strategies of an organization can be hinged on its branding and communication among other important strategies. These factors are important in enhancing the organizations’ consumer perception and forming strong collaborative partnerships with similar competitors. These strategies are not only important in enhancing organization services, and products, but also leverage an organization against its competitors and enhance employee’s morale.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, (MSO) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Reference List Mason, A. Meyer, M. (2006).Living With Martha Stewart Media: Chosen Domesticity in the Experience of Fan. Journal of communicatio n, (51),pp. 801-823 Passikoff, R. (2006).Predicting Market Success: New Ways to Measure Customer Loyalty and Engage Consumers with Your Brand, New Jersey: John Wiley Sons Inc. Polk, R. Wardwell, L. (2008). A Comparative Study of  Insider Trading  Regulation Enforcement in the U.S. and China Journal of Business Securities Law, (9), pp. 56-63

Home is The Best Place To Die Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Home is The Best Place To Die - Essay Example Familiarity with a hospice inpatient setting is known to influence preferences in patients with advanced illness. The unique components of home hospice, inpatient hospice, and transitions between these settings may have a fundamental role in the future of quality end-of-life care (Lysaght & Ersek, 2013, p. 171). In a recent study, patients receiving specialist palliative care who had experienced an inpatient hospice stay were more likely to choose to die at the hospice, whereas a majority of those who had never been an inpatient at the hospice chose home (Arnold et al, 2013). Evidence also suggests that people with first-hand knowledge of hospices reported a preference to be cared for at home in the last months of life but shifted towards a preference for the hospice when asked where they would like to be cared for in their last days. Place of death should be regarded as an essential goal in end-of-life (Kinoshita et al., 2015). A study conducted by Barclay,  Kuchibhatla, Tulsky, & Johnson, (2013) established that most Americans would prefer to die at home. Similarly, there are barriers to dying at home for most patients with limited resources. It is necessary to provide health care professionals and caregivers to terminal ill patients. Also, psychological and emotional support from family members and relatives is useful in improving their conditions. Lastly, to reduce these barriers, there is a need for provision of equipment and medications to the patients. Statistical surveys by Neergaard, Jensen, Sondergaard, Sokolowski, Olesen, & Vedsted, (2011) reported that majority (80.7%) of terminally ill cancer patients preferred their homes as place for end of life. A further research revealed that 70.8% of the public indicated that they would prefer their homes as the place to spend the last days of their lives (Wilson, Cohen, Deliens, Hewitt, & Houttekier, 2013). Similarly, Higginson & Sen-Gupta’s (2000) reported on 18 studies on

Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 13

Philosophy - Essay Example Yet though the senses are faulty the fault lies in the details about the objects of our senses. Therefore such an assessment does not rule out the existence of external objects that our sensed by our faculties. It is in this context that Descartes uses the images seen in dreams to raise the doubt about the existence of external objects. Descartes proposes that images that we see in our dreams quite often cannot be differentiated from external objects, and hence there is no totally reliable manner in which to ascertain whether a given image of an external object is reality or a dream image. In that case Descartes argues that there is no manner to ascertain whether all our images are dream images. In case all the images are dream images, then there are no external objects creating such images. Such being the case then the reliance on the senses to detect the existence of external objects is not without doubt and as such our senses cannot be trusted for such a purpose. This creates a doubt about the existence of external objects. (1) In my opinion Descartes is more successful in proving his own existence of self than in the arguments that he puts forth for the existence of God. In his argument in favor of the use of the faculty of reason, he provides its safe use in the detection of his own existence. If he can think about his own existence the he must exist. Even a malignant God would not be able to subvert this line of reasoning, as for the process of subversion the mind must exist, and so must he. This argument of Descartes in justifying his own existence appears to have been borrowed from similar arguments by St. Augustine several centuries before Descartes. His arguments in favor of the existence of God are more unique. He argues that the idea of God in an individuals mind could have been planted by God alone, and not by any lesser beings including him, with the reasoning that the idea of an infinite perfection could have been

Argumentative Research Paper on Gun Control Essay - 1

Argumentative Research Paper on Gun Control - Essay Example Americans generally feels that some gun control is necessary, however, people argue to what degree "Control" is necessary without taking their right to keep and own guns, the focus is then, is the right to own a guns is a inalienable right as outlined by the 2nd Amendment, "the right to keep and own a gun should not be infringed upon. Kleck and Kates (2001) have argued that â€Å"handguns are actually used by victims to repel crime far more often than they are by criminals in committing crimes - as much as three times more† (Kleck and Kates p.16). They have also pointed out that â€Å"Liberal allowances of concealed handgun carry by thirty one states have coincided with a reduction of thousands of murders, rapes and other violent crimes in those states† (Kleck and Kates p.17). Many people are of the view that the crime rates in America could be reduced with the help of gun control. They are forgetting the fact that the situation would be worse if the public deprived the opportunity to own a gun for their self defense. Gun control legislatures may prevent the public from owing a gun for self defense; however, these laws may not prevent criminals from owing or using guns for executing their missions. In other words, the absence of guns in the hands of general public for self defense will serve as a bl essing for the criminals in executing their plots easily. It is because of the above fact that public opinion polls consistently show their opinions against gun control laws. â€Å"Most Americans are skeptical that gun control can do much about crime and particularly dubious about the likelihood of disarming criminals through gun control† (Kleck and Kates p.112) â€Å"People also insist even if you do have gun laws it will not help control all the violence. They say there are still knives and weapons that can kill also† (Against Gun Control). Gun is not the only weapon used by people

Brief History of Computer Essay Example for Free

Brief History of Computer Essay ?First programmable computer: The Z1 originally created by Germanys Konrad Zuse in his parents living room in 1936 to 1938 is considered to be the first electrical binary programmable computer. The first digital computer: Short for Atanasoff-Berry Computer, the ABC started being developed by Professor John Vincent Atanasoff and graduate student Cliff Berry in 1937 and continued to be developed until 1942 at the Iowa State College (now Iowa State University). On October 19, 1973, US Federal Judge Earl R. Larson signed his decision that the ENIAC patent by Eckert and Mauchly was invalid and named Atanasoff the inventor of the electronic digital computer. The ENIAC was invented by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly at the University of Pennsylvania and began construction in 1943 and was not completed until 1946. It occupied about 1,800 square feet and used about 18,000 vacuum tubes, weighing almost 50 tons. Although the Judge ruled that the ABC computer was the first digital computer many still consider the ENIAC to be the first digital computer. Because of the Judge ruling and because the case was never appealed like most we consider the ABC to be the first digital computer. However, because the ABC was never fully functional we consider the first functional digital computer to be the ENIAC. The first stored program computer: The early British computer known as the EDSAC is considered to be the first stored program electronic computer. The computer performed its first calculation on May 6, 1949 and was the computer that ran the first graphical computer game. The first personal computer: In 1975 Ed Roberts coined the term personal computer when he introduced the Altair 8800. Although the first personal computer is considered to be the Kenback-1, which was first introduced for $750 in 1971. The computer relied on a series of switches for inputting data and output data by turning on and off a series of lights. The Micral is considered to be the first commercial non-assembly computer. The computer used the Intel 8008 processor and sold for $1,750 in 1973. The first workstation: Although never sold the first workstation is considered to be the Xerox Alto, introduced in 1974. The computer was revolutionary for its time and included a fully functional computer, display, and mouse. The computer operated like many computers today utilizing windows, menus and icons as an interface to its operating system. The first laptop or portable computer: The first portable computer or laptop is considered to be the Osborne I, a portable computer developed by Adam Osborne that weighed 24 pounds, a 5-inch display, 64 KB of memory, two 5 1/4 floppy drives, and a modem.

The Role of Acupuncture in Fertility

The Role of Acupuncture in Fertility Acupuncture is a traditional medicine form that has been around for over 3000 years, originating in China and is used in to treat various health problems such as back and joint pains, relieve stress and regulate the flow of chi or energy in the body of the person that avails it. Acupuncture makes use of very thin needles inserted in different pressure points throughout your body to achieve energy flow regulation and promote health and well-being. Apart from this, the use of acupuncture has also been used to help people having problems in fertility. It can be used to help you conceive if you are having problems doing so. Over the years, more and more treatments aiming to address fertility and conception problems and help individuals and couples get pregnant. Some of these treatments have worked in one way or the other, while some have been proven to be ineffective and are eventually no longer used or prescribed. Among these treatment methods, traditional Chinese medicine procedures such as acupuncture and others are still used in the Western world and is gaining popularity for its benefits not only for helping couple in terms or fertility and conception but also for their general health status. What is Fertility? Conception? Fertility is the word that is used to denote your capacity to get pregnant (if you are a female) or impregnate (for males). It is usually connected to your capacity to perform the roles and responsibilities associated either with motherhood or fatherhood. However, the word conception is used to point out to a state when that capacity to get pregnant is taken advantage of, resulting to the creation of a fetus and therefore pregnancy. These are all part of the natural order of things and are considered to be both responsibilities and privileges as well. The Problem of Fertility and Conception One of the most exciting phases in the life of an individual is when he or she is able to procreate and bring forth a child in to the world. If you are a woman, getting pregnant usually is correlated to your sense of completeness and ability to perform your biological role of motherhood. Likewise, if you are a man, being a father confirms your virility and your ability to procreate and start a family. Therefore, conception is not only a burden and role placed upon the woman, but also upon the man as well because they have shared responsibilities in the process of conception. However, this is usually clouded when either of you are faced with problems with fertility and conception, resulting to decreased ability to get pregnant and bring forth a child. The usual problem of fertility and conception also puts a strain into a relationship, with partners focusing and stressing over the need to conceive. When you are stressed, it usually causes a disruption in the flow of your chi (or energy), and can bring about changes in how your body functions. This change in bodily function can affect levels of specific hormones that are responsible for fertility (as with ovulation in females and sperm counts and motility in males), and eventually in conception. Also, stress can also take its toll on the body by altering blood and oxygen flow to vital parts of the body that plays a role in fertility, conception and pregnancy. Moreover, lifestyle and dietary patterns have also been shown and proven to play a significant role in your fertility by altering nutritional and oxygen level and delivery to other cells of your body. By having patterns that are less than ideal, your fertility, and subsequently, capacity to get pregnant may also be affected. Fertility and Acupuncture As previously mentioned, problems with fertility or more commonly called infertility, is due to a number of causes. In females, one of the most common factors associated with fertility is the presence of spasms in the uterus and fallopian tubes and miscarriages. Acupuncture in fertility is usually used to address these problems. Also, since fertility is related to hormonal levels, acupuncture can also be used to treat problems with hormones (specifically the thyroid hormone) which are also pointed out to be root causes of infertility. This can be seen when hormones responsible for the general sense of health and well-being are being affected, creating what you call as a â€Å"feel-good† state. Likewise, acupuncture is also used as a form of treatment for people with infertility from usually unknown causes. These all help place acupuncture in the mainstream, allowing it to be used side-by-side with more medically-traditional treatments. For women, acupuncture has been seen to improve hormonal levels that are highly important for fertility such as the luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones. This can contribute greatly to higher chances of pregnancy, as was supported by research studies. In males, acupuncture has been seen to increase the fertility of males as it contributes to the increased number and volume of sperm cells with normal characteristics and reducing the number of defective ones. Moreover, this can also help improve sperm motility, causing it to reach its destination faster than other sperm cells. Benefits of Acupuncture in Fertility Because of its ability to realign and create a sense of normalcy in your energy flow or chi, acupuncture can bring about a lot of benefits for you as you go on your way to improving your fertility and become pregnant. As it balances those aspects of your mind and body that creates a problem in your state of fertility and ability to conceive, acupuncture combined with proper diet and a good physical environment can help you attain pregnancy. Moreover, the following aspects are also improved, contributing to increased fertility. 1. Acupuncture helps you reduce stress levels. Because of the burden you face in becoming pregnant, psychological form of stress is not uncommon. This can create a less than favorable impact on fertility since the presence of stress can lead your body to release hormones that may interrupt normal mechanisms that are related to proper ovulation and menstrual cycle. Acupuncture helps in this area by increasing the release of the hormone beta endorphin, allowing you to feel more relaxed and calm and decreasing your stress and anxiety levels. Also, because of this, the blood flowing to the uterus is improved, and oxygen and nutrient supply to the ovaries are maximized. When this happens, your menstrual cycles are regularized, ovulation cycles are normalized and fertility is improved. 2. Acupuncture increases the strength of your immune system. Sometimes, problems with fertility is caused by a problem with the immune system, making it less favorable for fertility to thrive and pregnancy to occur. Acupuncture treatments can help you treat the root cause of immune system problems and ensuring that your body is at its best possible condition necessary for fertility and conception. 3. Acupuncture can help in regulating your hormones related to fertility. As mentioned in the previous section, when you are stressed, the body decreases its release of an endorphin that is necessary in controlling pain sensation and affecting the ovulatory processes essential for fertility and conception. Hormones such as the gonadotropin releasing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and the luteinizing hormone are regulated, contributing to fertility. 4. The quality of your egg cells are improved after acupuncture treatments. Because of its ability to normalize bodily functions, and in effect the function of your endocrine glands, acupuncture can help improve the quality of your egg cells, resulting to better chances of successful conception and pregnancy. Also, it has been shown that through regular treatments with acupuncture, women who are experiencing anovulatory cycles can achieve normalized menstrual cycles and that hormonal disturbances are also resolved. 5. Side effects of medications may be reduced through acupuncture treatments. One of the most common medications prescribed to older women who want to become pregnant is Clomid. However, one of this drug’s effect is the thinning of your uterine lining, decreasing your chances to successful pregnancy. Acupuncture serves a reversing agent for this by causing your uterine lining to thicken and allowing it to maintain a uniform appearance and functioning. Because of this, blood flow to the arteries in the uterus is improved, allowing more oxygen and nutrients to be distributed to the uterus and its linings which are conducive to promoting fertility and pregnancy. 6. Acupuncture may be used concomitantly with in-vitro fertilization (IVF) for better success rates. Because of its capacity to increase and improve blood flow to the uterus, acupuncture is often used as a concomitant therapy to IVF. This is because acupuncture is seen to cause a thickening in the uterine lining that is rich in oxygen and nutrients, and also by causing this lining to be more uniform in structure. Blood flow to the ovaries are also increased, ensuring better quality of the egg cells. 7. Uterine contractions are decreased. During implantation, there is a tendency for your uterus to contract, which may cause you to lose the pregnancy. Acupuncture treatments, when given regularly, may help in reducing these contractions during implantation, allowing the embryo to grow and become a fetus that can carry on to term. 8. Acupuncture also helps fertility in males too. This is because with acupuncture, sperm appearance, count and motility is increased. The above-mentioned benefits of acupuncture in fertility may be achieved through regular treatments and observance of modalities that are set in place to ensure that you can best take advantage of the role of acupuncture in pregnancy.