Identify and briefly explain three reasons Essay

Due to rational thinking and the culture of todays’ society become less traditional, it could be that there is less time in people’s lives to believe in a Religion. As going to Church and worshiping takes time out of someone’s daily routine where they may feel they are needed more. The growth of state and democracy (disengagement) means that the state and the church are not as influenced by one another as they used to be, this means that there is not a great amount of pressure on people to attend church by the state. Religion on its own is not enough of a force for people to attend church meaning it is less influential. It could also be that due to the forward thinking of today’s society and like Grace Davie says, that people today are far more inclined to take a personalised view on religion, and that churches such as the Church of England are not in decline but are more privatised in the household home. 02) Using material from item A and elsewhere assess the view that, while the Church of England is declining, other religions and spiritual movements are flourishing. I aim to show that even though statistics say that attendance is declining in religious worship, that actually it may not be that religion is declining but the way worship is happening now has changed and there is in fact many more forms of religion. In item A it states that from a report by the Bible society that by 2025 only 87,800 people will be attending church, compared to the one million plus that attend church now. Weber and Comte also said that eventually religion would wither away due to the world changing and accepting science and science beliefs such as New Age and Scientology over religious explanations of the world, and the less emotions and traditions which are according to Weber the main characteristics of religion. As well as rationalism like Comte also conveys in a different way. Steve Bruce also says that religion is in decline as he took Comte’s ideas and made his own modernity thesis which said that Modernity was the main route for religion declining and that it was indeed declining. However  it was only declining because of certain key processes which are rationalisation the idea that rational thinking in the shape of science has replaced religious influence, disengagement the idea that the church and wider society are separate and not involved with each other, fragmentation of social life the idea that religious institutions have been pushed out of many institutions such as education and politics, loss of community the idea that community is being replaced by society and religious pluralism the idea that industrialisation has fragmented society into a marketplace of religions. Steve Bruce says that because of his thesis it is that religion is in decline, especially those of the traditional kind such as the Church of England this is because for religious decline to be happening due to the key processes happening all at ponce acting on each other. Bruce also says religion isn’t undermining education welfare and social control and as a result society is not learning about religion as they were pre modernity and so religion is declining as it is not being taught as it was before. It can also be argued that the religions such as the Church of England are not declining and spiritual movements are not flourishing just coming to light. This may be because the stats used to prove the decline in the Church of England by the bible society and others haven’t been collected by systematic collection. It may be that those who collect the data are only counting the heads that enter the church they don’t take into account those who aren’t able to make it to church. Such as those who worship by themselves in their time but also those who can’t make it to church, such as the elderly and instead worship privately and watch songs of praise. Stark and Bainbridge also supports this in their work but also disagree with Bruce when he says that during medieval period there were more religious people as they say that yes more people attended church in those tomes but they weren’t religious, they only attended as they had to because the squire made them, as they wanted to keep their pay and jobs. They were actually very disrespectful in the church service by belching and farting in the pews, now you don’t get those who don’t want to be in church in church and so religions such as the Church of England haven’t declined it is only those who are truly religious that now go to church. Grace Davie is another sociologist who believes that religions such as the Church of England are not in decline as she believes that society now doesn’t always leave enough  time for people to attend a place of worship but they do so privately. Private worship means that people may believe that as they don’t go to church or the place of worship they aren’t religious and assume religion is in decline however this is not true they are just choosing to worship in private. Due to the belief of crisis of meaning and uncertainty brought on by the postmodern or high modernity era that it is said we live in, it is true that spiritual movements are flourishing and coming to light. This is mainly because when people are searching for meaning and certainty they look towards the future for this and new spiritual movements can normally give this certainty but can also give a person an insight into themselves and help them discover themselves as an individual and what their meaning in the world is. In conclusion I believe that religious movements are not in decline as the supporting evidence is more and uses more historical and correct data than those who say religion is declining. It is also true that Bruce did not make his thesis based on data but based on what he thought, meaning that those for not in decline were more supported and there theories backed up by solid evidence and data.

Health Disparities Among Filipino Americans Essay

Health Disparities:Focus on the Filipino-American Population in the USA As a Filipino-American nurse living in Los Angeles, California, this writer has been a witness and an active participant in the multifactorial influences/aspects that affect the Filipino-Americans, in health and illness. Being a grandmother of wonderful grandkids has brought me further exposure to the plight of elderly Filipino-Americans in the United States of America. The Institute of Medicine’s Report on Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial/Ethical Disparities in Health Care states that cultural bias is one contributor to racial and ethnic minorities having higher rates of poor health outcomes than Whites in the case of disease; even when income, employment status and insurance coverage are controlled. A survey of current literature suggests that as a group, Filipino-Americans are comparatively under-studied vis-a-vis health and health care disparities in the United States. The literature that does cover the subject suggests that Filipino-Americans (as a group) do experience disparities in health and health care. Javier (2007) noted that on a national level, Filipino-Americans are the second largest Asian/Pacific Islander (API) population. Within this population, Filipino-American youth and adolescents in the US show disparities compared to Anglo and other API groups in regard to gestational diabetes, rates of neonatal mortality and low birth weight, malnutrition in young children, obesity, physical inactivity and fitness, tuberculosis, dental caries and substance abuse. Within Los Angeles County, Bitler and Shi (2006) analyzed disparities across groups based on health insurance, health care use and health status. While they did not focus on Filipino-Americans as a discrete subpopulation, they noted that differences in the prevalence of chronic health conditions across different immigrant racial and ethnic groups were reduced after controlling for such factors as family income, net worth and neighborhood characteristics. One possible conclusion is that in neighborhoods that are co-populated densely by both Latino and Filipino-American households with similar earnings and employment characteristics (such as in Historic Filipinotown), Filipino-Americans fare about the same as their Latino neighbors when it comes to chronic disease. This demonstrates that working class and lower income Filipino-American households in LA County suffer from health problems more than other API opulations in the County. Taken together, these studies lend support to the perception among Filipino-American community leaders in Los Angeles that (1) persistent disparities in health and health care do exist for Filipino-Americans relative to other groups; and (2) Filipino-Americans are not adequately researched for ethnic-specific tendencies in health and health care access. A report published in November, 2007 by The Historic Filipinotown Health Network of Los Angeles, California analyzed responses from a series of focus groups and over 400 surveys administered to health care providers, youth, residents, seniors and workers in Historic Filipinotown in central Los Angeles. The study sought to understand how culturally-based experiences and perspectives of Filipino/Filipino Americans in central LA influence this population’s health. The report examines the relationship between cultural themes that came up in the survey and the actual health status and healthcare service use patterns of Filipino/Filipino Americans. Though specific to the Filipino community in Los Angeles, the findings are relevant for Filipino communities throughout the United States. From the report this writer has been able to collate substantial data for this paper on US health disparities focusing on the older Filipino Americans. Elderly Filipino-Americans, like other ethnic minorities in the US, are not exempt from the disparities within the health care system. Health care access, utilization and assimilation in the US health care delivery system can be very challenging particularly for the newly-arrived immigrants. They tend to rely on their families for support since the majority of them are not eligible for government health care funds and social security benefits. In addition to financial constraints, lack of mobility or minimal English proficiency and tenacious adherence to their own Filipino cultural and health beliefs can create a barrier to health care utilization. â€Å"Bahala na† basically means â€Å"whatever will be, will be. As a way of supporting good health and in responding to illness, Filipinos have this unusual ability to accept things as they are. This position enables many Filipino-Americans to accept, and endure, great suffering including suffering from illness or injury. â€Å"Hiya† refers to a deep impulse to protect against a loss of face, especially if there are differences of opinion in a group on a sensitive matter. Such protection can be for one’s own sake or for another person. One example is misunderstandings due to language barriers. Some patients may not express it openly, but feel shamed or embarrassed in front of health care providers when they cannot understand or be understood properly. Further, older Filipino-American patients have difficulty in communicating effectively with health care providers. This can turn into an urgent problem if and when Filipino-Americans suffer from a high incidence of chronic and/or serious illness (such as diabetes or TB). â€Å"Kapwa† suggests â€Å"togetherness† and equality of status regardless of class or race. Cultural norms energize Filipinos to care for others in every sense, as fellow human beings. This type of relationship supports a structure of familism (tight-knit extended family structures). Caring for the health of each member within one’s family or kinship network is thus a top priority. The Filipino-American population has the highest percentage (27%) among Asian Americans of grandparents living with and caring for their grandchildren who are under 18 years of age. Conversely, there is a preference among families to provide direct care to their aging parents at home, regardless of the sacrifices required, rather than moving them into a convalescent facility. In America, this same commitment is extended by Filipino-Americans beyond their kinship groups to neighbors, friends and even strangers. The tradition of putting the group first and looking out for other group members has helped make Filipino-Americans have such a prominent presence as recognized professionals and workers in the U. S. healthcare sector. According to Periyakoil and Dela Cruz (2010), Filipino-Americans who have been in the U. S. A. for a long time are more acculturated to the American health system than those who recently migrated. The less acculturated immigrants adhere more to traditional systems of medicine and prefer indigenous healing practices, such as the use of complementary and alternative medicine. Before seeking professional help, Filipino older adults tend to manage their illnesses by self-monitoring of symptoms, ascertaining possible causes, determining the severity and threat to functional capacity, and considering the financial and emotional burden to the family. Filipino older adults tend to cope with illness with the help of family and friends, and by faith in God. Most of these first-generation immigrants initially resort to traditional medicine and healing methods are passed on from one generation to another. Traditional medicine is regarded as a viable alternative to Western medicine especially among the uninsured and undocumented. Such examples of cultural and health beliefs cause great concern since these older adults only seek medical care when their illness is already very serious or in an advanced stage; missed opportunities for optimal treatment and care result. Thus, to promote stronger health outcomes for the Filipino-American population, knowledge of their cultural strengths and assets, as well as language and other difficulties as immigrant people is imperative. Policymakers should be engaged to take a more culturally informed and sensitized approach to health care reform, focusing particularly on reducing existing disparities among Filipino-Americans in the USA. References Ad Hoc Committee. (2005). Ethnic diversity and cultural competence.

Applications of the Human-AI Collaboration in Manufacturing

Applications of the Human-AI Collaboration in Manufacturing The world witnessed an unprecedented spectacle in the beginning of 2018. The Google Assistant had booked an appointment at a salon on the user’s behalf. This showcased the immense potential and scope of the technology we are looking at. Artificial Intelligence has always been portrayed as a technology which can be nurtured to make redundant human activities faster and more effective. However, the flip side of the coin suggests that there is a growing apprehension among the masses that it may eat up into their jobs and probably even be harmful in the long run. What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)? As per the book, â€Å"Artificial Intelligence: A modern approach†, by Stuart Russell and Peter Norvig, Artificial Intelligence(AI) refers to computer systems that think and act like humans, and think and act rationally. The concept was first introduced, in 1960, into the manufacturing industry by General Motors to ensure workplace safety through the development of Unimate Robot. Scope for collaboration of AI with Humans Manufacturing is a capital intensive business and this had led to companies searching for cheap labor. In the wake of increasing wages and high demand for products as a result of high disposable income, it is imperative that AI is introduced into the system to facilitate increased productivity and thereby address the present requirement. Artificial Intelligence works pretty well on its own and is known to increase productivity when applied in industries. But, research data proves that the use of AI as a replacement to redundant human activities can only help i n achieving a short-term productivity rise. Its ability to adapt continuously to varying tasks is something to be pondered upon. A collaborative environment where, both humans and AI combine, can prove to be more productive and lead to better results as opposed to individual involvement. Creativity is a domain where humans take lead and outperform machines, and machines have the ability to process large amount of data. Hence, it is essential that a combined effort be employed. In order to harness this potential, there must be a system where machines are taught adequately and the industrial process must be designed to integrate this partnership into it. Applications of the Human-AI Collaboration in Manufacturing General Electric has developed a new technology, called, Predix, which involves Human-AI collaboration. This technology can be employed in the predictive maintenance of equipment. Digital models of the equipment may be developed and continuous data is retrieved during its operation. This data is analyzed to predict mechanical issues that may arise out of continuous operation. Consequently, the downtime of the equipment, due to breakdown, may be reduced which translates to increased productivity. Mercedes had developed a robot to assist its employees in the production line. There was an increase in demand of customized S-Class sedans and Mercedes was not able to keep up with it, using normal robots. Hence, they developed a robot with a human touch, called Cobots so as to assist the human workforce in manual labor and simultaneously incorporate the customization required. The worker controls the operations but the task is performed by the robot. Role of Humans in the collaboration Humans play a pivotal role in training AI-enabled systems on how to go about its work. Machine-learning algorithms must be trained in a way to bring about the desired result in a desired manner. Moreover, machines must also be trained to interact with humans so as to maintain a sustainable balance while working to increasing the productivity. AI assistants are now being trained to incorporate human characteristics so that a better workplace is ensured. Another task that humans would perform is to explain the process by which the machine arrived at its action. The complex processing in the back-end needs to be explained in simple terms to people who work with the machines. Humans are also bound to explain the cause behind a fatality or accident caused by AI assisted machines. Humans must also ensure that the AI assisted machines are functioning normally and safely. Abnormal breakdowns can occur and this may lead to huge losses. Human intervention in such scenarios helps to take prompt decisions and ensures sustainable and smooth running of the process. Engineers also ensure that machines identify human presence and don’t cause harm to them. Road Map for India India is the sixth largest economy and is one of the fastest growing. Application of AI is essential for the future. The government has supported many new innovations in this field and new startups are coming up. In the latest Budget 2018, Niti Aayog has proposed a National Program on Artificial Intelligence for national development with a positive outlook on manufacturing sector. This would help in utilizing the emerging scientific talent in India and come up with new innovations. Productivity and downtime is the major issue in Indian manufacturing sector and AI collaboration is the right step forward. New startups and foreign investments have started coming up and the future is certainly looking bright. The stage is set for AI to take over manufacturing industry and transform the way it functions. It requires a subtle balance of both human and machine participation to effectively achieve the objective of streamlined and effective manufacturing. Humans should indeed be receptive of this technology rather than being apprehensive, because the advent of this technology will open the door for a large number of opportunities. It is upon us to grab this opportunity by acquiring the required skills and blending into the digital world. This was the same when smartphones and other devices were developed and this should be the way ahead. There might be an imminent danger to humans, in a scenario where machines turn out to be more intelligent than humans. But, this idea seems to be a little far-fetched considering the present situation.

Using Cell Phone While Driving Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Using Cell Phone While Driving - Assignment Example Thus, when drivers are seen dialing or talking on the cell phone while driving, people especially their passengers cannot be comfortable just sitting in their seats but are more than irritated and react. When cell phone use is mixed with driving, people support the idea of giving penalties to motorists who are ignoring the law of its prohibition while their wheels are in motion. This is deemed necessary especially for younger age drivers as they are the group who most uses cell phones while driving either at night or during the day (Vivoda, et al. 1). In Virginia, when a teen is caught speeding with a cell phone on her hand, she could be fined an additional of $50. In New Jersey, She is fined $ 100 to 250 (Rusell, Michael 1). To the careful drivers and concerned citizens, additional fines are just and necessary to remind drivers to get rid of the cell phone while driving for them to concentrate on the road. Doing two things well at the same time is impossible as claimed by Douglas Al exander, a transport secretary (Topsfield, James 3). Divided attention may distract the driver’s ability to recognize or react appropriately to any number situations which could happen on the road such as the crossing of pedestrians from elsewhere, speeding, or the change of traffic lights and the likes. In addition, fines may tell the driver that the consequence of his negligence use of the cell phone on the road is too great to ignore. Penalties are said to reduce this form of offense. Although this may be true, there are still many motorists who violate the law of cell phone use. Many believe that the fine is not enough to have teeth on violators. They could easily pay the amount and be freed of the offense.

Abandoned Vehicle Problem Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Abandoned Vehicle Problem - Assignment Example This research paper explores statistical information and data to provide an overview of the situation by focusing on the information gathered from various cities across the Kingdom. Proposed recommendations provided in the research focus on the placement of environmental regulations, Environmental Management Systems (EMS), government policies and vehicle recycling systems to garner desired results. Furthermore, the negative effects of abandoned vehicles are also discussed and the environmental and economic sustainability of proposed recommendations is examined to draw appropriate conclusions. Introduction The issue of abandoned vehicles that are often left by their owners on a plethora of public sites has been a cause of major concern for law enforcement agencies and city administrations across the globe. This problem is most prevalent and its environmental, economic and social impact most visible in numerous developed nations. Much of the abandoned vehicles do not carry any sources of identification thereby, making it an impossible task for concerned authorities to trace back their owners. According to a report submitted to the UK parliament by the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (2004: p46) the quantity of automobiles abandoned by their owners in the United Kingdom increased from 1500 to 2000 in period lasting from 2001 to 2003. However, it can be rightfully stated that the existing situation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with regards to the problem under discussion is much worse. As per the statistics presented by Lt. Col. Zaid Al-Hamzi of Jeddah traffic department for 2011, the number of abandoned vehicles taken away from the streets of Jeddah during the year amounted to a staggering 2,836 automobiles (Arabia MSN). The gravity of the situation is defined by assessing the costs of vehicle abandonment that have to be paid for by society, which can be examined in the light of economic and environmental impacts of vehicle abandonment. Joyce and Milner (2005: p139) note that extensive ramifications of this issue include critical concerns regarding the safety of general public and the occurrence of criminal activities. Additionally, the difficulties associated with disposing abandoned vehicles must also be highlighted. These issues involve aspects related to the costs incurred on repair of roads and highways that are damaged due to the presence of abandoned motor vehicles and the expenses borne by administrative and law enforcement authorities in transporting said vehicles to designated locations or junkyards. In order to examine the problem of abandoned vehicles in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in a comprehensive manner, this research undertakes the assessment of the topic by highlighting its core aspects. Therefore, the succeeding sections of the paper present a statistical overview of the issue in the nation, possibilities of resolving the problem, analysis of vehicle recycling systems, a thorough discussion of the negative effects of abandoned vehicles and the sustainability of proposed recommendations. Moreover, the concluding remarks of the study provide guidelines for directing the course of subsequent researches on the issue. Abandoned Vehicles in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – A Statistical Overview As identified in the preceding section of the paper, instances of motor vehicle abandonment are on the rise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with 2,836 vehicles removed by the Jeddah traffic department in 2011 (Arabia MSN). An analysis of this statistic indicates

Modern Diplomatic History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Modern Diplomatic History - Essay Example In this paper, for the purposes of clarity, the researcher would define the first half of the nineteenth century from the years 1800 to 1850. In addition, the researcher would also try to look at the significant events in modern European history in these years, as well as the status of the major powers, in order to root out the causes of why no major war occurred in this period. One of the most important historical backgrounds of early nineteenth century Europe was the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars (McLynn 215). This war, which actually lasted from the years 1803-1815, actually proves to be the last major war between great European powers in the first half of the nineteenth century; in addition, this also set the tone for the establishment of the period of â€Å"Pax Britannica,† which would be a major reason why there would be no major war again in continental Europe until the second half of the nineteenth century, as the researcher would expound later in the paper (Fremon t-Barnes and Fisher 321). These wars were actually resulted by the creation of the French Empire by the French General Napoleon, which proved to be the last major challenge to the supremacy of the British Empire until the First World War. The final stages of the Napoleonic Wars (which covered the period of the early years of the nineteenth century) actually pitted the French Empire lead by Napoleon against various coalitions (from the Third to the Seventh Coalition) composed of the British Empire and its allies, most notably Russia, Prussia, Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden, and a number of German States (Fremont-Barnes and Fisher 259). At first, the French Empire (through the use of mass conscription and shrewd diplomacy) actually conquered most of continental Europe (except Great Britain), who at its peak created and/or controlled the client states of the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Naples, the Kingdom of Italy, the Swiss Confederation, the Confederation of the Rhine, the Low Countries, and the grand Duchy of Warsaw, among others (Fremont-Barnes and Fisher 15). However, constant warfare with the continental alliances, along with their failure to conquer the British Empire, actually brought about the downfall of the French Empire, resulting in Napoleon’s defeat at Russia and finally at Waterloo (Fremont-Barnes and Fisher 306). The Congress of Vienna, where the terms of the surrender of the French Empire, the reestablishment of the French Bourbon Monarchy, and the restructuring of Europe was discussed by the â€Å"Four Great Powers† (Prussia, United Kingdom, Austria and Russia), one of the greatest manifestation of diplomatic negotiation and compromise in Modern European History was witnessed (Chapman 1). Of course, these four great powers actually had their own territorial ambitions, as well as other objectives; however, the main objective among these powers was to resolve the issues caused by the French Empire, and by creating stability in Europe through the balance of powers (Chapman 16). There are many diplomatic provisions that were provided in the Congress of Vienna; however, this paper would focus on the most important provisions that would result to the relatively peaceful Europe for the next four decades (Chapman 55). As a result of the Congress of Vienna, Russia actually received the former French controlled Duchy of Warsaw,

Corporate Finance Company Profile GE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Corporate Finance Company Profile GE - Essay Example Moreover, company also acquired Vital Signs, Inc. and Merrill Lynch Capital in the year 2008 in order to strengthen its business operations. In the early 2009, GE also acquired an Italian corporate bank. An overview of GE’s product line is stated below: Energy: Due to the high consumption and growth in the energy sector GE deals in various energy products in more than 120 countries which is quite beneficial for the company’s future return and growth. GE business technique is based on customer’s loyalty, commitment and trueness. GE knows the customer’s needs and evaluate it with the introduction of new products in their range. GE’s vision is to make life fun and easy for consumers. GE not only working in the US but also exploring the market globally and serves the customers with pride. GE’s business strategy is to take competitive advantage over other competitors not only in the US but also in the global world. In order to meet the customer need and pay full attention to the every individual customer with end to end solution GE trained their staff and engaging them with the new and rising technology .This trick helps GE to generate more resources and maximizing overall profit. The main rival of the GE is Siemens AG (ADR), United Technologies Corporation, and Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV (ADR). GE is working on heightened regulatory and market scrutiny of corporate governance practices in order to communicate and represent the organization in a manner that pleases the shareholders, utilizing resources in a new and evolving compliance environment. Management should be eyeing the macro factors like Government’s policies, competition and tax rates where they operate business because local, national or international jurisdictions and new or changing regulations might create hurdle in their way. Company’s strong point is that they have sharpened their focus on sales, service and customer orientation and are eagerly looking forward to

Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Review - Essay Example The informal networks within the organization are rarely depicted (if they are known at all!) The background concepts you have seen before. Remember Appendix A? I am still amazed at how the work ÃŽ ¿f Randolph and Dess has persisted. We still use much ÃŽ ¿f the terminology they coined. Some distinction is made about the differences between line and staff personnel. The concept ÃŽ ¿f line vs. staff authority is not really addressed. Line authority is clear positional authority to make decisions relating to the work ÃŽ ¿f the firm. Classically this means the manager on the line producing the product. Line authority is real, legitimate authority--within the legitimate realm ÃŽ ¿f the manager. Staff authority is advisory--staff experts make recommendations that line managers may use or not. The information perspective--asks managers to assess the uncertainty in the external environment. Two possible strategies: design structures in the organization that increase information gathering about the environment. Or, design flexibility into the organization. Environmental uncertainty is affected by the complexity ÃŽ ¿f the external environment and whether that environment is stable or rapidly changing. Higher complexity and rapid change creates the most uncertainty. This harkens back to the idea that mechanistic organizations tend to be possible in very stable environments and organic organizations tend to be successful in complex, unstable ones--like the microcomputer industry. Randolph, W. Alan; Gregory G. Dess. The Congruence Perspective ÃŽ ¿f Organization Design: A Conceptual Model and Multivariate Research Approach. Academy ÃŽ ¿f Management. The Academy ÃŽ ¿f Management Review (pre-1986); Jan 1984 Management has a specific economic & social objective hence is can be applied everywhere. It is a continuous, multidisciplinary, dynamic process. "Management is a multipurpose organ that manages a business manages a manager and manages workers and work" as defined by Peter Druker.

Cango Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Cango - Essay Example With respect to the firm CanGo, it should be noted that the firm is aware of what industries it seeks to expand in; in addition to what industries they want to continue to remain a viable competitor. Therefore, if the firm is able to increase its sales numbers, the researchers within CanGo will find it necessary to conduct in depth analyses as a means of determining the best approach that should be made. With this accomplished, the research division, as well as the remainder of the firm, will have a means of understanding which markets are the most appealing, which require too high a level of investment, and which should be immediately engaged with. In this manner, Evolve Professional Business Consulting, has set out a baseline criteria through which CanGo should effectively research the options that are presented to them and make informed decisions based upon them. One of the most important steps that should be taken before the research itself is conducted is the question of who CanGo wishes to appeal to/sell to. Although this is something of a simplistic step, it is absolutely integral if the firm wishes to approach the research from an informed and effective standpoint. Far too many firms overlook this aspect of preliminary inquiry and set off to perform further research with incorrect assumptions that ultimately serve in misguiding the information that they are able to retrieve. Additionally, CanGo also should consider performing research for current and future sales; as a means of determining what movements in consumer markets are likely to impact the firm within the coming months and years. Market size is another fundamental aspect of business strategy and review of performance and projected business engagement that is essential in performing effective planning. As such, by identifying the target market, CanGo will be effectively able to seek to meet consumer needs within the current time frame; as well as in the near

Why I wish to become an osteopathic physician and why I think Ohio Essay

Why I wish to become an osteopathic physician and why I think Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine is a good choice f - Essay Example However, it is my conviction that an osteopathic physician is a bit different if not way apart from an allopathic physician in the sense that osteopathy is a more pragmatic, realistic and hands on approach towards physical maladies. Administering medicine or surgery does have their importance and relevance in the curing of disease, but more important and practical in any therapeutic approach is to exploit the body’s innate capacity to heal and cure itself. Human body inevitably has a quintessential and undeniable mechanical aspect associated with it and the body’s structures and functions are intimately related to each other. So, being an osteopathic physician offers to me the best of both worlds. To begin with, it allows me to approach a patient’s malady with a more noninvasive approach, using her and if required, aiding her intrinsic healing ability through osteopathic manipulation and approach. At the same time, it extends to me the confidence and reassurance that if the things get drastic and require a more imminent line of therapy, I can always resort to the allopathic and surgical aspects of my training to gain control. Osteopathy is an approach towards healing that is perfectly in consonance with my personal philosophy and beliefs about illness and healing.

North Korea Essay Example for Free

North Korea Essay Institutions and businesses require legal documents to describe the securities they offer to both the participants and buyers. This legal document is referred to as a prospectus which normally contains promotional and informational materials. This means that the prospectus is a formal legal document that gives the details of cooperation and may also include the facts about a company which are vital to the perceived investors. In this paper we will focus on the development of a prospect us in North Korea. We will first focus on the promotional and informational materials relevant to the investors, traders, foreign government’s tourists and the general public. We will then highlight the country’s (North Korea) assets, attractions, and economy trends. Investors North Korea encourages international foreign direct investment. This is done through the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The DPRK encourages export and manufacturing which is controlled by state organized companies. These state organized trading companies are actually responsible for the distribution of goods onto the local market. Food and fuel are most vital need the country requires. At present, the country is still suffering due to food shortages. This implies that one can bring in back up generators and fuel since all imports of fuel, food or materials should be kept operational and they are also duty free(Flake Snyder 36). Investors should also note that there are no minimum levels of investment required. This means that negotiation, agreement of a feasibility report and provision with a committee which is a branch of the Ministry of Foreign. Trade is what one requires to accomplish. It has also been discovered that most of the foreign investors tend to process operations, handle imported materials and even add value then re-export the goods with some domestic sales through the trading companies. This is because they are capitalizing on the lower labour costs, proper dedication to the work as well as the low tax situation. Traders The trading pattern of North Korea reflects the nature of its local economy. The country is well known for the availability of raw materials namely iron ore, non ferrous metals as well as minerals. However, North Korea suffers from inadequate capital stock, crude oil and sophisticated technology. Most businesses in DPRK are controlled by the government. This is done through state trading companies and businesses of by Armed Forces since they are usually having a marked business interest hence involved in almost everything. The outside companies do develop project which can bring revenue (Cornell 64). These projects may include running hotels, restaurants and even bars. When people travel to big cities, they will stay in these foreign hotels or restaurants and pay very high prices. Therefore, foreign companies can bring luxury goods for instance liquor, cosmetics and other items such as American goods for use in the stores. Although we have put a stress on the goods having an impact on the visitors, they are also utilized by the local population and the number may increase in future. Traders should also realize that a private business such as fruit seller and other intra village trade is usually overlooked. If these small businesses are properly tapped and nurtured, they are likely to develop to the real businesses. As traders, we need at this point to ask ourselves what the North Koreans need? Clearly, on a large scale, everything is needed but only lots of micro opportunities are needed on small scale. For instance, second hand Japanese and America automobiles form China have been imported. Again, we note that consumer goods in small packs such as chocolates, cookies peanuts and even almonds are needed. This demand may increase in future due to the expected political change. Industries North Korea’s priories the development of agricultural and light industries. This policy is made possible by the fact that the preferential allocation of the investment funds by the state to the heavy industry. A substancial economy entirely depends on the quantity of the extraction of its main mineral resources. These mineral resources are mainly used as fuels, raw materials in the industry, metal processing and export (Hughes 74). North Korea wholly depends on coal as its main energy source since it lacks reserves of oil or gas. However, the production of coal has not been able to adequately rising demands and hence the persistent shortage of energy in the country. Tourist Attraction North Korea has much to offer tourists. These include the beautiful nature of the Miohang Mountains; Museums of Pyongyang, parks and monuments; the socialist society that preserves its own way of living the old heritage as well as the traditional of Korean culture. It is therefore important to realize the excellent tourist opportunities available in this rapidly developing country. The beautiful monuments such as palace of culture, national ark (which encloses the Diamond Mountains) and the ancient buildings form good scenery that attracts tourists. However, it is worth nothing that the main demerit in the tourist industry is the difficult in gaining entry to North Korea which is a closed country. Turning on the climate, it is established that North Korea has a moderate climate with four distinct seasons. These include the hotter summer season which also comprises of the monsoon season which runs form July to August; although quite sever in the northern parts of the country, the winter is generally chilly. The autumn and spring are usually considered as the best time to visit since the weather is dry and mild. The outstanding site of the country lies on the border with China which displays an enormous extinct volcano. This unique beautiful natural landmark is taken to be a sacred site to both North Koreans and South Koreans. This is because they believe that this site was where the son of the Lord of Heaven descended and established the first Korean Kingdom. Local traveling (inside North Korea) is strictly controlled by the government. Although some domestic flights are scheduled, they are only provided to foreigners. Again, trains do serve the major tourist destination but tickets are usually arranged through a tour operator since the timetables are not usually published. Buses are rare in the county and therefore the only way a tourist will get around to see the various sceneries is by oar. This implies that the tourist(s) will have to be in the accompaniment of an official driver and a guide. It is only unfortunate that one may not choose his or her accommodation while in North Korea. This means that the foreigner must stay in the specified tourist hotel since this is a strict rule of the country. The hotels are of reasonable standards although they come in four types; deluxe, first class, second and third classes. The tour operators usually organize accommodation for the tourists and therefore the visitors are not given a choice. In North Korea (even in Pyongyang) the healthcare standards are markedly lower than West Europe. This implies that all invasive procedures need to be prevented and especially ones travel insurance should be sufficient to cover any costs. For instance cholera is a risk in the country and therefore vaccination prior to travel is a must. Polio and Typhoid vaccinations should be considered. Again, it is vital to consider all water as a possible health risk and this means only bottled water is recommended for both washing and consumption. Tap water should only be used if it is boiled or properly sterilized. All dirty products should be avoided and if one has to eat meat then it should be thoroughly cooked. This will ensure that as a tourist, one stay healthy in North Korea. Infrastructure The domestic network of rail roads in North Korea operates on the axes of the Kaesung – Sariwon – Pyongyang – Shinuiju line along the West coast, the wonisan – Haungnam – Chongi in –Rajin line along the east coast, and the Pyongyang – Wonsan line linking the east and west. North Korea has also six lines linking with China and a line with Russia and this forms the international network of railroads. Currently, only four lines are in operation. These include the Shinuifu – Tandong (China) line, the Tumen River – Hassan (Russia) line, the Namyang – Tumen (China) line and the Manpo – jian (china). In North Korea, roads do play a secondary role in joining major harbors and railroads stations or even by places. However, roads also serve as major means of transportation where there marine and railroad transport is unavailable. Transportation of bulk cargo between regions faces a lot of difficult due to the mountainous terrain as well as the country’s industrial structure. This has been made more difficult due to the government’s transportation. This is because the government wants to control the people’s free movements as well as the use of oil. Also, trunk roads have been well constructed along the railroads. Economy Korea had once has timber resources. In the North conservation and reforestation programs assisted in the curbing of the impact of excessive cutting that was evident during the Japanese occupation. As mentioned earlier, North Korea has a great mineral wealth, which includes gold, iron ore, coal tungsten and graphite modern mining methods has therefore been instituted in the country. The minerals and metals therefore account for a substancial portion of the country’s export revenue. North Korea is specifically rich in iron and coal and other minerals such as copper, lead, zinc uranium, manganese, Gold and Silver which are of high economic value. The country comprises of the mountainous and rocky terrain which makes the Koreans land arable. This means that rice is the chief crop. We note that before dividing Korea, the colder and less fertile north primarily depended upon the South for food. This meant that Agricultural self – sufficient became the key focus of North Korean government and mechanized methods has to be introduced. However, North Korea has still suffered severe good shortages. In North Korea, livestock plays a minor role in agriculture because of the unsuitable for large-scale grazing. North Korea has drastically changed from a mainly agricultural society to an industrial one due to the availability of mineral resources as well as hydropower. This implies that majority of the national products is currently derived form mining and manufacturing. However, development in the North Korea has been impeded by the rigid economic system as well as the loss of trading partners after the collapse of the communist world. The government has again instituted a chain of economic reforms which are aimed at reviving the economy. As stated earlier, the major North Korea products include iron, steel, machinery, military products; textiles (synthetics, wool, cotton silk); and even chemicals. Industrialization of North Korea has been accompanied by improved infrastructure. We note that by the end of the Korean War, the railroad and paved highways were almost non-existent. The railroads have therefore been extensively reconstructed to pave way for industrialization. The Military economy in North Korea gives an unusually large share of national output. This means that the planners or designers have primarily focused on the heavy industry. North Korea is therefore a substantially urban economy therefore a giant portion of its total output comes form the cities. The urban assets in North Korea are therefore accepted to form the key component of DPRK national wealth. When importing raw materials and then processing them to produce products such as shoes or even soap, one should be aware of the process through which the products will be supplied to North Korea. This implies that a proper supply process should be known. If for instance, North Korea wishes to provide with less processed raw and intermediate materials, then such provisions should be available. This means that technical cooperation is very vital and this should be known by investors, traders, foreign governments, tourists, and even the general public. Again, to utilize the supplied materials adequately, production abilities plus technical levels need to be enhanced. The economic collapse in North Korea has led to the biggest crisis ever since the country was founded. However, North Korea authorities have held strong claims that natural disasters are responsible for the deteriorated economy. The rapid decline in foreign aid might have even worsened the economic development (An 95). This means that all of the sectors no longer function properly. Shortages of foreign exchange food, energy, daily necessities and raw materials seem to be a permanent problem in North Korea. A detailed analysis of the economic and living conditions in North Korea points out that most of citizens currently depend on the farmers’ markets and any other market transactions for basic needs. This may be one of the reasons as to why the authorities in North Korea have been unable to execute a detailed economic planning and hence weakening the country’s socialist planning system (Scalapino Lee 20). This economic difficulty in the country automatically limits its policy options. This point out that North Korea needs foreign assistance to remedy its current economic difficulties. The North Korea government has therefore recognized that it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain its policy of self-reliance and thus changed towards foreign investment. However, prospect for the North Korean economy seem to remain clouded by much uncertainty. The future prospects of the North Korean economy may be shaped through South Korean policy towards North Korea, the North’s intention to open and reform its ailing economy and the response of the United State and Japan. North Korea is currently showing an increasing tendency to embrace diplomatic relations with non –socialist countries a move some consider to be due to its need for foreign assistance. Promotion of foreign investment into its domestic market and an increase in North Korea’s exports could also boost the falling level of the foreign reserves. This implies that North Korea continues to become dependent on foreign assistance and trade (Lee Yoo 73). North Korea’s economic activities have remained under state control. This means collective agriculture and state –owned companied account for the majority of all economic activities. Apart from the political changes in China and Russia which adversely affected much of the financial support form these countries, floods and famine also led to serious disruption of the industrial structure (Suh Lee 33). North Korea’s coastline has a mixture of warm and cold ocean currents. It also has many rivers, lakes and streams hence the development of fisheries. Therefore, the major fishing grounds are in the coastal areas. Most large-scale storage and canning facilities are also located on the east coast. Smaller fishery cooperatives are also located along both coasts in traditional fishing centers besides the fisheries station. These aquaculture and fresh water fishing entirely takes place on regular cooperative farms. Modernization of fishing industry is necessary for North Korea to expand marine products. The government has therefore called for introduction of modern fishing implements and rationalizing the fishery labor system. This will also involve the expansion and modernization of the cold – storage and processing facilities in order to facilitate faster processing of catches. However, the slow progress in state investment and shortage of oil are the limiting factors in the marine output.

Defining the Concepts of Class, Race, Gender Essay Example for Free

Defining the Concepts of Class, Race, Gender Essay Every society known to man has used either race, class, ethnicity, gender or all of the above to determine placement in civilization. Sometimes one or more of these categories comingle and we characterize this as: intersectionality. Finding the words, however, to define class, race, gender, or intersectionality is not an easy feat. Throughout the past few weeks we have read many articles that allowed us many clear descriptions. Prior to this course I would have described class as being a way in which society groups individuals based on economic positions or social status. In my opinion, sometimes political beliefs can attribute towards class placement as well. However, since reading the required texts and watching films based on class, we now know that there are other factors associated with class divisions. For example, we read in Brenda J. Allen’s â€Å"Social Class Matters† article that not only are these two viewpoints large contributors (economic political alliances) towards classes, but also geographic locations. This can be seen when visiting a typical trailer park, where many of its residents are presumably called â€Å"white trash†, or as depicted with lower income families who live in the projects or ghetto. Their locale most likely reflects their social status or class. Moreover, we have learned that these factors also define what class is to the general public: education, occupational position, and power. â€Å"Women without class† by Julie Bettie examines class theory by understanding the ways in which class identity is constructed. It has many illustrations of social class by way of education and occupational positions. The upper crust students of Waretown were typically children of white collar employees. The preps generally outperformed the las chicas, hard living, and often settled living students of this documentary, as exemplified in the titles placed on the over and under achievers. For example, â€Å"preps† is an abbreviation for â€Å"college preparatoryà ¢â‚¬  which was the type of advanced class the children of white collar workers of Waretown enrolled in to prepare for life after high school. While these courses allowed some students endless opportunities, other students in the exact same school attended seminars with lowered educational expectations. Instead these students were encouraged to attend expensive certification courses that upon graduation held them captive in low paying positions with debt remaining after completion. â€Å"The Death of the Social Class† by Pakulsky and Waters believes social class is no longer relevant in the United States. A principal reason for this message states that because slavery is now obsolete, we have the legal upholding of the United States Constitution, and we expect education to be attained by all races. As a result resources have become more prevalent among all races. Race, in the past, was a word that I identified as being someone’s skin color, however as I matured (both mentally and physically) and met individuals from other cultures I soon realized that race is a culmination of many things. Culture and ethnicity are quite influential in determining a person’s race as well. For example, not everyone with dark skin is African American, just as not ever fair skinned person is Caucasian. As exhibited in Cruz-Janzen’s For example in the article Racial formation in the United States written by Michael Omi and Howard Winant, we learn of the Louisiana law that states that if a person has 1/32nd â€Å"Negro blood, they are automatically considered Black or African American. Although Susie Guillory Phipps tells us she is majority Caucasian this law still classifies her as being Black and she unsuccessfully attempted to sue the state to change her vital records. There are many reasons why the government still requires race on legal paperwork. Some argue that some sort of racial classification system is required. One reason may be the government funded subsidies some companies receive as a result of employing a minimum amount of minorities. From a personal viewpoint, race matters because it is a way that people identify culturally with one another. Another reason may be from a biological perspective some diseases and/or illnesses may be common amongst certain races, therefore it would be beneficial medically to be aware of such traits. Women Without Class (Bettie) also identifies various races for the sake of case studies that were researched by the author. The female students identified culturally with one another but sometimes overlapped identities to interact with one another. As in the example of the student Starr who was from a working class background, however she identified with the cultures of the Mexican American â€Å"cholas† after moving to Waretown. This is an example of an extreme case in which the person felt the need to choose one particular group to socialize with because she did not feel as though she had much in common with the other non-Hispanic working class students she chose to interact with this social hierarchy. She gave in to conformity from her past actions to better fit the desires and social realities of her newly acquired friends. Gender is another social aspect that many people use to classify each other. It has been said that had it not been for ourselves questioning or labeling gender, it would not exist at all. â€Å"The Social Construction of Gender† written by Judith Lorber argues gender construction begins being cataloged after viewing the child’s genitals after delivery. Upon birth babies are treated differently based on sex and/or gender. An unintentional yet major classification occurs as soon as the baby is placed in his or her incubator. Nurses and other medical staff wrap the tiny babies in one of two colors – pink or blue. It has even been researched that our speech and tone changes according to the babies sex as well. If we see a baby boy, for example, we quickly begin to daydream of tossing the old pigskin around in the yard or rough housing the baby. For the baby girl, however, we speak in softer high pitched tones and fantasize about planning make believe tea parties with baby dolls as guests. In essence, Lorber believes that gender behavior is learned and is being taught – not necessarily an expression of how we see ourselves. Another gender specific study was examined in R.W. Connell’s â€Å"Gender Relations†. In this article we learned of 2 separate studies conducted. Barry Thorne’s research in which teaching roles in American elementary schools were mostly comprised of females and playgrounds were divided based on gender. The second study was performed by Dunbar Moodies, who researched South African mines that were, not surprisingly, dominated by the male workforce. Another theory learned in Connell’s article was that of trailblazing British feminist – Juliet Mitchell- who taught that there were four elements of gender that subjugate women. Those four facets were believed to be: production, reproduction, socialization, and sexuality. It is also demonstrated in more current literary findings unrelated to gender. For example, Black Picket Fences addresses racial stereotypes, but it also depicts women’s roles separately from male gender roles. Each story that is told from first person shares a journey that taken either from reformed bad boys or girls that have strayed along the beaten path and hooked up with the guy from the wrong side of the track. The males were sometimes peer pressured into joining gangs from lack of responsible male figures and as a result may have performed illegal acts. This clearly represents gender assignments. Intersectionality involves both social and cultural relationships that overlap between race, class, and gender. Perhaps the most obvious portrayal of this theme is Section 2: Biology and Families In Conley’s article â€Å"The Starting Gate† regarding the correlation between low birth weight babies and race it was determined that social standings in society is not based solely on genetics and biology. Instead we learn that other factors may influence our place in society as well. Things like our educational backgrounds and what occupations we choose to support ourselves combine with aspects that are outside of our control, like birth order and race, to decide the social class we will inherent. Women Without Class discusses the concept of some students becoming â€Å"upwardly mobile†. This concept is important because it shows how race and parental occupations sometimes do not decide what social class a person will be invited into. The â€Å"upwardly mobile† students were not necessarily white, and had parents who were blue collar workers as opposed to being a lawyer, doctor, etc†¦yet despite all of this; they were still able to join the social cliques of the elite. These girls were also able to develop a strong sense of class awareness. In fact, Lareau’s â€Å"Invisible Inequality† even states that race has very little to do with class social standings. The data collected from this investigation examines parenting styles all socioeconomic backgrounds from either Black or White families perspective. The researchers were able to map the connections between parent’s resources and their children’s daily activities. Middle class families, regardless of race, tended to take a more traditional approach to child rearing in comparison with lower class families who relied heavily on outside play and extended families for activities. Middle class parents also stressed language development and use of reasoning skills. These parents enroll their children in various age appropriate organized activities that govern family life and create massive effort for mothers. The parents view these activities as passing on important life skil ls to children. They asked leading open-ended questions that required insight and thought provoking answers. Whereas, working class and poor families believe that if they give a child love, food, and a safe environment they will grow to become responsible adults. They also participate in little organized sports or other activities and have much more free time. Working-class and poor parents issue many more directives to their children and some place a great deal of stress on physical punishment. A great example of this is the research of Harold McAllister, a 10 year old from a lower class black family. Harold’s mother asks very little questions of authority figures (such as the family doctor) and does not encourage Harold to be cognizant of his body and any health related questions he may have. He plays outdoors with his older cousins and occasionally attends church. For the most part â€Å"Invisible Inequality† is full of descriptions of race versus class status. However, with regard to birth order and geographic locations determining social status, it is also briefly mentioned in â€Å"Invisible Inequality†. For instance, when we are introduced to another research subject’s family, upper middle class black family – Alexander Williams, we learn that both of Alex’s parents are from small Southern towns and come from large families. This slight mention is yet another example of intersectionality as well. A more extreme example, genetically speaking Ms Phipps (mentioned previously) was considered legally Black; however her social status did not classify her by her race. Phipps identifies with the White race. The case illustrated the inadequacies that claim that race is merely skin color. We have all witnessed or been aware of racial conditioning at one point or another. We make assumptions based on race and classify a person’s race immediately according to their physical appearance. Biologically speaking, there are many factors that influential in determining a persons birth weight. Low income families have less medical care and are exposed to certain agents that prohibit normal growth of the fetus. Also contact with second hand smoke and lead based paints, etc. have been attributed towards low birth weight. Another factor involving biology is the responsibility many women from different racial backgrounds face. White women, for example, have long been expected to remain wholesome and keep the family bloodlines pure. Pressure to remain a virgin until marriage and pre-marital sex were heavily stressed among white women. This forced racial conformity as a means of biological deterioration for the white race. In conclusion, all of the articles and readings discussed previously support Conley’s summation that both genetic and biological starting points do not fully determine our social standings in class. Rather, they work cohesively with other reasons to establish these relationships. Section 3: Working Class Middle Class Identities Although class is especially important I would agree that other issues are becoming increasingly just as important if not more. Factors such as race and or gender influence personal outcomes. Both Women Without Class and Black Picket Fences provided various examples to support this theory.

The Health Effects of Smoking to Maori and Non-Maori Clients

The Health Effects of Smoking to Maori and Non-Maori Clients INTRODUCTION: The top leading cause of death for Maori and Non-Maori according to the Ministry of Health are Ischemic Heart Disease, Lung Cancer, Cerebrovascular Disease, and Diabetes. (Major causes of death (all ages) | Ministry of Health NZ, n.d.) The leading cause of Lung Cancer is smoking with an 80-90 percent ratio. This is an important topic to investigate for me because this is a life-threatening matter that only one can control, with the help of the family, friends and the organization, New Zealand can be a smoking free environment. Being the top 2 leading cause of death to Maori ethnic, it is a calling for me to focus on this paper by educating them on this matter. This paper primarily aims to decrease the mortality rate of lung cancer by improving the health awareness of the effects of smoking in the body, raise awareness of lung cancer and its symptoms, what are the Maori perception towards smoking, how to overcome the bad habit of smoking and to be aware of what the programs are that the government has to offer with regards to minimizing smoking. Health Effects of Smoking 1. Lung Cancer 2. Smoking is either the direct cause or a contributing factor in 30% Cancer: Esophageal Cancer Head and Neck Cancer Cervical, Ovarian, Breast Cancer Prostate Cancer 3. The effects of a second hand smoking B. The different insights of the Maori and Non Maori towards smoking, origin as to why Maori smoke C. Different programs to stop smoking 1. Nicotine Replacement Therapy 2. Practice Relaxation Techniques 3. Call for Reinforcements 4. Go online for Supports D. Smoke Free by 2025 A. Health Effects of Smoking 1. The usual questions that we are running at the back of our mind are questions like how do we get lung cancer or why is it the top 5 leading cause of death to Maori and non Maori people? We all know that cancer can be genetic and can also be acquired if we have bad habits like eating carcinogenic foods and with lung cancer the risk factors would be smoking and air pollution. I have asked some people as to why do they smoke and their usual answers are smoking helps them cope up with the stressful life they have, may it be from work or at home, smoking for some others would make them relieve and relax. Sometimes youth experienced peer pressure or out of curiosity they’ll do it. But the harmful effects that the chemicals inside a cigarette are obviously not being mind. When we play with fire and our hand got burn, we will actually put away our hand from the fire and perhaps put the fire off unlike smoking it will affect our body in a long term process but once it will scar our lungs that would be irreversible to cure. Our body would be experiencing a lot of physical reactions to every smoke we puff. This chemical highly affects the blood pressure, and increases pulse rate which can lead to palpitations and heart burns thus leads to disturbance in the entire body. There are over 4000 chemical compounds present in cigarette smoke at around 40 plus chemicals are known to be carcinogenic while 200 of it are poisonous ones. Examples of these compounds are carcinogens, benzene, formaldehyde, pesticides, TSNAs, vinyl chloride, toxic metals, arsenic, and cadmium. These chemicals are very toxic which can cause cancer cells. Lung Cancer is the uncontrolled abnormal cell growths that start on attacking one lung or both lungs. The abnormal cells don’t convert to normal cells but rather they rapidly divide and formed into tumor cells. A Passivesmokingmeans you inhale the smoke of one person that smoke which leads to air pollution and increases the risk of lung cancer, but it is still much less percentage than if you smoke yourself. The effect to reduce lung cancer is through prevention, early detection and treatment. 2. Smoking is one risk factor that causes head, neck, esophageal, breast, cervical, ovarian and prostate cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, â€Å"smoking a pack a day doubles your risk factor for cancer.† DNA cells will be damage when smoke is inhaled in the body. My grandfather died of tongue cancer and he actually smoke like a pack of cigarettes each day. And before he died when he was still in the hospital he told my dad who was a smoker before that â€Å"if you love yourself and love my daughter (which is my mom) you need to quit smoking† so right there and then my dad never smoke again. Eighty-five percent of head and neck cancers are linked to tobacco use. Smoking can accelerate cancerous changes in the cervix due to HPV. While women who smoked for 25 years or more and were still smoking had twice the risk of developing ovarian cancer as those who never smoked. Fatty tissues in your breast can be the resting place of carcinogenic compounds who smoke thus links smoking triggers breast cancer. Prostate cancer is simply the uncontrolled and abnormal growth of cells in the prostate which cigarettes has carcinogenic compounds that triggers cancer cells and attacks any part of the body that are weak. (Eldridge,L. (n.d.). Health Effects of Smoking). This are the symptoms that you should watch out for and go direct consult your GP. 3. Passive smoking is the process where you breathe other people’s smoke or when you inhale somebody’s smoke. Back in the Philippines I myself have experienced this situation were all our neighbors are a chain smokers and I kept on telling them to smoke a little bit farther because my baby and I can smell the smoke. We have one of the worst air pollution back in our country thus leads to several of diseases like PTB, COPD, Lung cancer and Pneumonia. As an emergency nurse, I have witnessed a lot of patience who suffered from shortness of breath, coughing or vomiting blood and when I have assessed their habits one thing are common they are active smokers or victim of second hand smokers. That is why when I first step in New Zealand I fell in love with it not just because of its nature but it has a clean fresh air. Lung cancer and second hand smoking has been scientifically connected and linked since mid-1980s and the studies shows that there is a 20 percent increased risk of developing lung cancer to non-smoker who is exposed to second hand smoking. Just 30 minutes of exposure is enough to decrease blood flow to the heart. Around 350 New Zealanders are killed by others peoples tobacco smoke each year. Second hand smoke has been the cause of coronary heart disease, lung cancer, acute stroke, nasal sinus cancer, eye and nasal irritation. An adult who have never tried smoking and is living with a smoker has a 15 percent higher risk of death than those who are living in a smoke free household. Maori children are exposed greatly to second hand smoke than non Maori children. It was Captain James Cook who introduced smoking to Maori in the late 1700s. The Maori thought of him as a demon because his face was smoking and with fire so they poured water on him to check if the fire would go out and if not then he is a demon that needs to be killed. Tobacco is not a Maori tradition, but they became a heavy smoker when they adopted what was introduced to them. Compare to other ethnic groups in New Zealand, smoking to Moari is common most especially to areas in deprivation. In the 19th century most Maori women were painted or photograph with a pipe at hand while Pakeha women is seen with tobacco is unacceptable. In 1899 the MÄ ori newspaperTe Puke ki Hikurangi, the smoke products are used by men, women and the youth for Maori while the Pakeha rule only older men are allowed to smoke while women and young women are not allowed at all. (MÄ ori use of tobacco – MÄ ori smoking, alcohol and drugs – tÃ…Â «peka, waipiro me te taruk ino – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. (n.d.). Around 800 Maori dies each year because of the different diseases caused by smoking tobacco. There has been a 10 percent health gap inequality between Maori and non-Maori due to smoking. The Maori ethnic group actually spends around $260 million in cigarette taxes each year. The Moari leaders are straight forward although the community still control there decision or has a final say to their destiny. But the Maori principle will need mass mobilization and support to realize the benefits from such a commitment. (The Issues Health Secondhand Smoke CanTobacco. (n.d.). Programs to help stop Smoking are: Nicotine Replacement Therapy- it is an invaluable aid to help people to quit smoking. If you are a heavy smoker and wanted to quit, NRT is an helpful material because it gives a cessation somewhat like when you’re smoking. It includes a patch, gum, lozenges which the government of New Zealand offers low cost of NRT. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a proven efficacious and safe aid for smoking cessation. However, initiation of NRT use remains low, and among those who do use the products insufficient dosages and early termination is common. Practice Relaxation Techniques- Cardio exercises helps you relax and divert yourself from the cravings you are feeling and you must also give your mouth something to chew on like sugarless gum, or hard candy, raw carrots, or celery nuts or something crunchy and satisfying. Calls for reinforcements- this is a program were you ask counseling or someone’s help for moral support most especially from your family, friends and a support group. A chat on the phone or face to face conversation and talk about your cravings or other good things to laugh about. Go for online supports- there are a lot of online sites that would assist an individual who wants to quit smoking. Reading blogs and other successful stories of people who successfully finished the programs would help uplift the spirit of a beginner. Some sites are www.orakeihealth.com, ngati hine health trust in whangarei, koriri marae hauora in wellington and many more. Expressing yourself to others and reading articles to other story relaxes you and can encourage you push through the program process. A motivation to push forward for a better health. Smoke free environment by 2025 is the government programs and their goals are not to ban the cigarettes but tobacco will be difficult to sell and supply. They will increase the tobacco tax per annum. Extend smoke free areas like inside the cars with children, parks and sport fields, bus stops and other transport settings. This will protect the people from the exposure of the second hand smoking. The goal is attainable if everyone would cooperate in attending smoke free events, encouraging and supporting more people to quit, reaching out and giving education to family, school, community and organizations. Tell Maori and Non Moari to not smoke around children and teach children that smoking is harmful to the body. (Smokefree 2025 | Smokefree. (n.d.). Conclusion: The Maori ethnic has the highest incident rate of lung cancer and other diseases caused by smoking because majority of them have embraced smoking as part of their culture when introduced by the British colony. They have been living as a group or tribe in ancient days and today they’re living in an extended form family therefore if one family member is smoking it highly affects the smoker and the family member in a way of second had smoking and children seeing their family member smoke would think that smoking is acceptable and healthy. As a healthcare manager I would highly suggest that health education would be implemented to every facility or company twice a year. This would help the community reach out to each and everyone with no exception to its race, gender, age and social status. Health awareness would slowly help Maori individual accept and adopt that smoking is dangerous to our health. There has been an equal and fair treatment with regards to health care programs as far as I have researched. May it be a citizen or resident of New Zealand, a Maori or non Maori the service has been made for their convenience. Some facilities have even interpreters to help cater the needs of individual. I have observed that some bus stops, train stations don’t have no smoking signs which the public can smoke freely and that can harm other people. To help achieve the governments program of Smokefree by 2025 as an individual we should help our family members, friends, and colleagues educate them and help them go through the program on quitting smoking. References: Major Causes of Death (all ages). (n.d.). RetrievedOctober2014, from http://www.health.govt.nz/nz-health-statistics/health-statistics-and-data-sets/maori-health-data-and-stats/tatau-kahukura-maori-health-chart-book/nga-mana-hauora-tutohu-health-status-indicators/major-causes-death-all-ages Eldridge,L. (n.d.). Health Effects of Smoking. Retrieved from http://http://lungcancer.about.com/od/causesoflungcance1/a/effectsofsmoking.htm The Issues Health Secondhand Smoke CanTobacco. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cantobacco.org.nz/the-issues/health/secondhand-smoke MÄ ori use of tobacco – MÄ ori smoking, alcohol and drugs – tÃ…Â «peka, waipiro me te tarukino – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. (n.d.). InTe Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand – Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand is building a comprehensive guide to our peoples, natural environment, history, culture, economy and society. Retrieved from http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/maori-smoking-alcohol-and-drugs-tupeka-waipiro-me-te-tarukino/page-1 Smokefree 2025 | Smokefree. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://smokefree.org.nz/smokefree-2025 http://youtu.be/9LF7qoJdEXc

Pros and Cons of Cosmetic Surgery Essay example -- Plastic Surgery Essa

Pros and Cons of Cosmetic Surgery Cosmetic Surgery is a great discovery that has been around for many centuries. â€Å"The history of plastic surgery origins in the early 800 B.C. when surgeons in India restored noses to persons who had them taken off as a form of punishment.† (History of Cosmetic Surgery, 2008) Many people have used over the years cosmetic and reconstructive surgery to enhance their physical appearance weather it be for health problems associated with birth defect or problems that they have developed over the years or to even alter physical appearances for instance nose jobs and tummy tucks. There are numerous types of cosmetic surgery that can be done today in the United States, over the year’s surgeons techniques have improved dramatically. There are a number of pro’s and con’s that go along with cosmetic surgery, such as the amount of recovery time and the initial cost of surgery. Statistics also show that cosmetic surgery has grown so rapidly over the years it is phen omenal people who receive cosmetic surgery goes up by the millions every year. While there can be many related health risks due to cosmetic sugary, many times cosmetic surgery is necessary and its is made more affordable than thought to be. There are many Cons’ that are associated with cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Some procedures can leave a person scared for life physically or even mentally. For instance, â€Å"Liposuction is the removal of fat cells to produce smoother contours, if to much fat and fluid is removed at once the patient could go into shock, bleed internally, or worst of all die.† (Margie Parent 2002) After some cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries sometimes it is found very common for a person to have a hard time adjust... .../history-of-cosmetic-surgery.html Parent, Margie. 2002. â€Å"The Pro’s and Con’s of Plastic Surgery Procedure.† Retrieved on January 28th, 2008. From www.ri.essortment.com/plasticsugeryp_rewz.htm Miami Beach 411. N.D. â€Å"A Guide to Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Costs†. Retrieved on January 28th, 2008. From http://www.miamibeach411.com/cosmetic/guide_2.html â€Å"History of Cosmetic Surgery†. 2008. Retrieved on January 28th, 2008. From http://www.ebreastaug.com/cosmetic-surgery/history.html Colins, Joan. N.d..†The Pro’s and Con’s of Plastic Surgery†. Retrieved on January 28th, 2008. From http://cseserv.engr,scu.edu/StudentWebPages/KNguyen/researchpaper.htm American Society of Plastic Surgery. 2008. â€Å"2007 Report of 2006 Statistics†. Retrieved on January 28th, 2008. From http://www.plasticsurgery.org/media/Press_Kits/Procedural-Statistics-Press-Kit-Index.cfm

The Industrial Revolution Essay -- Essays Papers

The Industrial Revolution Going to work for a full day isn’t much fun after working fifteen hours the day before! 60-70 hour work days are never pleasant in anybody’s mind. How is it that so many people did this during the Industrial Revolution? Was it because they wanted the extra money? Or was it because they wanted the high political or economic status? For some people these were the reasons, but for most it was because of one concern. Survival! The Industrial Revolution greatly changed the workplace and the proletarians. The Factory system was changed forever by the name of one man, Richard Arkwright. Even though Arkwright was not a great inventor, he used other peoples ideas to advocate his own ambitions to the next level. â€Å"He was the first who knew how to make something out of other men’s inventions, and who built them up into an industrial system.† (Mantoux 221) Arkwright personally dealt with John Kay’s flying shuttle. However, the invention he patented was not John Kay’s but a more sufficient and effective invention. He worked with the Spinning Jenny, which was invented by James Hargreaves. (Clare 10-13) Arkwrights use of the Spinning Jenny, became the basis on how to use inventions for producing max outputs (Mantoux 224). The Industrial Revolution was supported by the new and efficient inventions. Inventions were created by many and shaped the nations future. One of the most important inventions was the Steam Engine. The Steam Engine was initially created by Thomas Newcomen, but his invention was very clumsy and didn’t have a practical purpose (mantoux 225). However, James Watt managed to create a more efficient device, by creating rotary motion from inserting a crank and a flywheel (Claire 12-15). James Watt... ...he workplace gave rise to a new day and age. Without these necessary hardships then some might say we would be stuck in a world that wouldn’t know how to produce. In any regards the reason for the Industrial Revolution beginning and ending were because of one thing the will of the people wanted it. Works Cited Claire, John Industrial Revolution. China: Random House UK Limited, 1993 Eisenberg, Christiane. â€Å"Artisans† Socialization at Work: Workshop Life in Early Nineteenth-Century England and Germany.† Journal of Social History 1 May 1991: 45-57. King, Steven., and Geoffrey Timmins. Making Sense of the Industrial Revolution. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2001. Mantoux Paul. The Industrial Revolution in the Eighteenth Century New York: Harper Row Publisher, 1961.

Human Memory Organization. :: essays research papers

Human Memory Organization. Human memory organization, from the outside, seems to be quite a difficult thing to analyse, and even more difficult to explain in black and white. This is because of one main reason, no two humans are the same, and from this it follows that no two brains are the same. However, after saying that, it must be true that everyone's memory works in roughly the same way, otherwise we would not be the race called humans. The way the memory is arranged, is probably the most important part of our bodies, as it is our memory that controls us. I think that it is reasonable to suggest that our memory is ordered in some way, and it is probably easy to think of it as three different sections : short term, medium term, and long term memory. Short Term :  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This is where all of the perceptions we get come to. From the eyes, nose, ears, nerves etc. They come in at such a rate, that there needs to be a part of memory that is fast, and can sift through all of these signals, and then pass them down the line for use, or storage. Short term memory probably has no real capacity for storage. Medium Term :  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This is where all of the information from the short term memory comes to be processed. It analyses it, and then decides what to do with it (use it, or store it). Here also is where stored information is called to for processing when needed. This kind of memory has some kind of limited storage space, which is used when processing information, however the trade-off is that is slower than Short term memory. Long Term :  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Long term memory is the dumping ground for all of the used information. Here is where the Medium term memory puts, and takes it's information to and from. It has a large amount of space, but is relatively slow in comparison with the other kinds of memory, and the way that the memory is stored is dubious as we are all knows to forget things. There is quite a good analogy in Sommerfield (forth edition p24-p25). Short term memory is comparable to computers registers, medium term (Working memory) is like a volatile storage place for information, and long term memory is like hard disk storage. I think that this is quite a good way of describing our own memory hierarchy. It seems that when information is being processed, and then in turn stored, it is not being stored as raw information such as black, round etc.

A Synopsis of Christopher Taggi’s Movie 95 Essay

Renowned American film producer Cecil B. DeMille once said, â€Å"What I have crossed out I didn’t like. What I haven’t crossed out I’m dissatisfied with.† (â€Å"Cecil B. DeMille Quotes.† brainyquote.com. Brainy Quote, n.d. Web. 05 Oct.2012.) This persistent feeling of dissatisfaction is suggested in Christopher Taggi’s â€Å"95,† in which the protagonist is discontent with his current life condition and keeps driving on the highway to look for better opportunities. In fact, the author points out that in contemporary society people are dissatisfied because of their insatiable desire for wanting more. This sad reality is illustrated by the protagonist’s parents, who are constantly moving from one place to another to try find opportunies, the protagonist Hank himself, who desires more than what he already has, and the highway that symbolizes people’s everlasting demand. The unfortunate fact of people feeling dissatisfied because of their avaricious desires is demonstrated by the characterization of Hank’s parents. When Hank was young, he and his parents were continually moving from here to there. His parents were never satisfied with what they had and were always looking for opportunities that would give them better jobs and make them wealthier and happier. From Hank’s descriptions of his father† touching things absently† (4) and† his eyes clouded with the nowhere stare,† (4) the author suggests that his father doesn’t enjoy his life. Also, when they stopped for food during car trips, Hank noticed that his father would only have a glass of water. Even if his father explained that: â€Å"No sense in buying something you don’t feel like eating,† (4) Hank knew that his parents were poor. This justifies his parents’ motivation of constantly moving. His father also used to say: â€Å"Opportunity, it makes people rich, makes people famous. All you have to do is go out there and find it.† (4) Contrary to what his parents believed, even after all the years of searching, they never found the right opportunity and obtained what they wanted. This suggests that Hank’s parents, like many people in modern society, will not find happiness because they live with insatiable desires and therefore will not get the feeling of satisfaction in their lives. The characterization of Hank himself also shows how people in the contemporary society always want more. For example, when Hank woke up from his dream about his socks, he realized that† nothing good or special or wonderful has happened to him.† (7) This shows that Frank is idealistic and has superfluous expectations in life. Also, Hank has a nice girlfriend who cares about him and loves him, but he still thinks about how he would leave her even though there are no reasons for him to do so. When his girlfriend asks him if he was happy, he says, â€Å"Sometimes I am. Mostly, I guess I just feel like I can’t be really happy. Just missing something important.† (7) Another passage would be when his girlfriend asked him if he likes her, he answered:†sometimes I like you and maybe I think I even love you a little. And sometimes I hate you.† (7) We can see that Hank is uncertain about his feelings for his girlfriend and if she is the person that he wants to be with. Those are typical examples of a person who is not sure about what he wants and believes that there is always something better waiting for him. The thing that is missing for Hank is simply appreciating what he already possesses. From this reasoning, it is clear that great numbers of people from the twentieth century are just like Hank, they can’t find happiness simply because they are insatiable. The highway is an important symbol used by the author to signify the notion that contemporary people are dissatisfied and always want more. Hank and his parents used to drive on the highway because they wanted more than what they have and the highway offered opportunities. When Hank is driving with his girlfriend on the highway, he sees many billboards that attract him. Especially one billboard on which was written† LUCKY LEO’S FIREWORK EMPORIUM, it boomed in explosive neon colors. LARGEST SUPPLY OF FIREWORKS IN ALL DIXIE! FREE PARKING and DELICIOUS RESTAURANT. 20Ml.† (4) However, when Hank finally gets there, all he finds is the emptiness of an abandoned place. He could see that â€Å"the largest supply of fireworks in all of Dixie must have gone off simultaneously a long time ago. Only the charred, outer brick shell of the building remained.† (5) This suggests that people like Hank, who always wish for more will often get disappointed by the reality and then again return to their initial state of dissatisfaction. The symbolism of the highway proves how people in contemporary society feel dissatisfied because of their everlasting demand. Thus, Christopher Taggi’s â€Å"95† suggests that people in the contemporary society are suffering from dissatisfaction. This is demonstrated by the characterization of Hank’s parents, who always try to find a better life, Hank himself, who is never satisfied with what he already has and the highway that symbolizes how people believe that better things are waiting for them. Work Cited Taggi,Christopher. â€Å"95.† Voices of the Xiled: A Generation Speakers For Itself. Eds. Michael Wexler and John Hulme. New York: Doubleday, 1994. 210-218. Print. â€Å"Cecil B. DeMille Quotes.† brainyquote.com. Brainy Quote, n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2012

Man’s Flaw in War of the Worlds and Present Day Earth Essay

An interesting quote taken from Kepler starts out the book War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells: But who shall dwell in these worlds if they be inhabited?†¦ Are we or they the Lords of the World?†¦ And how are all things made for man? (Kepler, the Anatomy of Melancholy). This quote serves as a foreshadowing to what Wells considers to be man’s fundamental flaw, a flaw that still exists today on modern man, more than a century after War of the Worlds’s first publication and centuries more after Kepler’s time. According to Wells’s introduction, man’s first fundamental flaw is complacency â€Å"With infinite complacency men went to and fro over this glove about their little affairs, serene in their assurance of their empire over matter† (Chapter 1, p. 3). In War of the Worlds, man thought that they are the only inhabitants of the universe and remain complacent over the dangers that might be coming from places other than what they can comprehend. Little did they know that they are being watched by creatures from space just like how a scientist examines a microscopic organism under a microscope. Unfortunately today, man still suffers from this complacency. We have abused nature for the longest time thinking that its resources and its tolerance to our actions are boundless. Now, we are facing the ill effects of our wrong doings, our resources are dwindling, and our climate is rapidly changing. Vanity is the next flaw that Wells talk about in his introduction of the book. â€Å"Yet so vain is man, and so blinded by his vanity, that no writer, up to the very end of the nineteenth century expressed any idea that life might have developed there far† (Chapter 1, p. 4). Man became too preoccupied with his achievements that he hadn’t put it into thought that Mars is older than Earth and therefore could be more advanced than humans if indeed there is life on the red planet. Vanity is one of the oldest flaws of man, the Greeks shows this flaw perfectly through the myth of Narcissus, a mythological character whose name means self-admirer. Vanity is still among man’s flaw today, some people are so vain that they are willing to spend ridiculous amounts of money on cosmetics. They could have just used the money on other necessary things or better yet, to help the needy. Last is man’s flaw for being judgmental. â€Å"And before we judge them too harshly we must remember what ruthless and utter destruction our own species has wrought† (Chapter 1, p. 6). Wells questions that the Martians’s intent to take over the earth isn’t any different than what the humans has done over animals and even our own species. The same could still be applied today. Man by virtue, does not have the right to complain if indeed Martians invade the earth and do all those things that we do to our animals. In the book, Martians are just doing what they can do to survive, but man (in the real world) harms creatures even if it is not necessary for survival. All these flaws can be summed up to pride. In ancient Greek literature pride or hubris as they call it, is the fundamental flaw of man that causes his demise. Kepler and Wells advocate the same thing in their works

A Rumi of One’s Own Essay

Several years ago Kabir Helminski, a sheikh of the Mevlevi Order of Sufism, received a call from Madonna’s producer, who wanted to hire his troupe of whirling dervishes for a music video inspired by the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi. Helminski read the script, learned that a guy would be lying on top of Madonna while she sang â€Å"Let’s get unconscious, honey,† and wrote a polite letter declining the request. He also sent a package of books so that the singer might get a better sense of Rumi’s teachings. Like many Persian literary scholars, Helminski, who runs the Threshold Society, a Sufi study center in California, has had little success in convincing Americans that Rumi is about more than transcendent sex. (Madonna later recited Rumi’s poems on a CD, A Gift of Love, along with Goldie Hawn and Martin Sheen.) One of the five best-selling poets in America, Rumi, who was born 800 years ago in what is now part of Afghanistan, has become famous for his ability to convey mystical passion: his lovers are frequently merging into one, forgetting who they are, and crying out in pain. Yet his religious work—one book is popularly called the â€Å"Koran in Persian†Ã¢â‚¬â€is often ignored. To uncover and celebrate his heritage, UNESCO has declared 2007 the Year of Rumi; conferences about his work are being held in Istanbul, Kabul, Tehran, Dushanbe, and Ann Arbor. One of the featured speakers in Ann Arbor this fall will be Coleman Barks, an American poet who is largely responsible for Rumi’s American popularity as well as his reputation as an erotic soul-healer. Born in Tennessee, Barks freely admits to not knowing Persian (scholars call his best-selling works from the translations of others â€Å"re-Englishings†). While his poems are far more elegant and accessible than any previous English renditions, they tend to turn holy scenes into moments of sexual passion. Sometimes he takes out references to God and replaces them with â€Å"love.† As he explained in the introduction to his 2001 collection of poems, The Soul of Rumi, â€Å"I avoid God-words, not altogether, but wherever I can, because they seem to take away the freshness of experience and p ut it inside a specific system.† But Rumi, who spent most of his adult life in Konya, Turkey, based his life and poetry around that system. The son of an Islamic preacher, he prayed five times a day, made pilgrimages to Mecca, and memorized the Koran. Under the influence of an older dervish, Shams of Tabriz, he devoted his life to Sufism, an ancient, mystical branch of Islam. Sufis are less concerned with the codes and rituals of Islam than with making direct contact with God; as one scholar puts it, â€Å"Sufism is the core of the religion, the nut without the shell.† Still, the traditional Islamic texts are central to the faith. â€Å"I am the slave of the Qur’an and dust under the feet of Muhammad,† Rumi writes. â€Å"Anyone who claims otherwise is no friend of mine.† Rumi put forth an alarming quantity of writing—about 70,000 verses in 25 years—which affords translators the luxury of leaving out poems that might alienate the average American reader. In the introduction to his 2003 Rumi: The Book of Love,Barks jokes that his previous book of translations â€Å"achieved the cultural status of an empty Diet Coke can.† He gives the language a Southern hominess and an almost childlike simplicity: Love comes sailing through and I scream. Love sits beside me like a private supply of itself. Love puts away the instruments and takes off the silk robes. Our nakedness   together changes me completely. Starting with 50-year-old prose translations by the British scholar A.J. Arberry, Barks takes liberties to make Rumi’s language more accessible and universal. Occasionally this results in more than subtle changes in meaning. In one mistake, documented by the independent scholar Ibrahim Gamard, Barks mistranslates the word â€Å"blind† as â€Å"blond† due to a typo in Arberry’s version—inadvertently turning a scene about the abandonment of those who don’t know God (â€Å"Bright-hearted companions, haste, despite all the blind ones, to home, to home!†) into a part about resisting sexual lures (â€Å"I know it’s tempting to stay and meet these blonde women†). In Rumi’s time, it’s hard to imagine that there were many women with yellow hair; there wasn’t even a word for it. Barks’s wholesome soulfulness should be credited for bringing Rumi’s work to popularity, but in the process he leaves behind perhaps the most important part of the poems. â€Å"Rumi is not a great poet in spite of Islam,† says William Chittick, a Sufi literature scholar at Stony Brook University. â€Å"He’s a great poet because of Islam. It’s because he lived his religion fully that he became this great expositor on beauty and love.† There’s a sense in Rumi’s poems that he is at his emotional limits, simultaneously ecstatic and exhausted. His faith seems desperate, and almost tangible. Such devotion is striking because it’s inspired by God, not by the promise of sex as it sometimes appears in the translations. â€Å"He was the most important religious figure of his day,† says Jawid Mojaddedi, an Afghan-born Rumi scholar at Rutgers, whose translation of Book Two of Rumi’s Masnavi came out this month. â€Å"And yet people are shocked to find out Rumi was Muslim; they assume he must have spent his life persecuted for his beliefs, hiding in some cave in Afghanistan. We talk of clash of civilizations, and yet there’s this link that needs to be spelled out.† (Rumi’s success in America has actually boosted his popularity, Mojaddedi says, in parts of the Middle East.) But for many readers, Rumi’s Persian background has little bearing on the force of his poems. He has come to embody a kind of free-for-all American spirituality that has as much to do with Walt Whitman as Muhammad. Rumi’s work has become so universal that it can mean anything; readers use the poems for recreational self-discovery, finding in the lines whatever they wish. â€Å"It’s impossible to take Rumi out of context,† says Shahram Shiva, a Rumi translator and performance poet who regularly gives readings of Rumi’s poems, often in yoga studios. â€Å"Great art doesn’t need context,† he says. â€Å"The best thing for Beethoven’s popularity was when they put a disco beat behind Symphony no. 5.† Shiva recites Rumi to the accompaniment of flute, piccolo, piano, conch shell, and harmonica and belts out the lines in a deep, sultry Broadway voice. â€Å"Rumi’s one of the great creative beings on this planet,† he says, â€Å"a mixture of Mozart and Francis [of] Assisi, with a little Galileo thrown in, and maybe some Shakespeare and Dante.† In his most anthologized poems Rumi comes off as a saintly Tony Robbins, urging people to break barriers, stop worrying, touch the sky, make love, never surrender. It’s as if publishers worry that reading poetry is such a fragile enterprise that too much weight and context and not enough sex will scare everyone away. Helminski, who used to run a publishing company that put out Barks’s early books, noticed a consistent sensibility in the lines readers were requesting permission to quote: those suggesting that there’s no conventional morality, no such thing as ethical failure. The number one requested line was â€Å"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing / there is a field. I’ll meet you there.† â€Å"Our culture is so shame-ridden that when someone comes along and says, ‘You’re OK,’ it’s a great relief,† says Helminski. â€Å"Americans still have an adolescent relationship with Rumi. It will take some maturing before we move beyond the clichà ©s.†