Charles Bukowski’s Diction

Diction refers to the writer's distinctive vocabulary choices and style of expression in a poem or story. A secondary, common meaning is more precisely expressed with the word enunciation – the art of speaking clearly so that each word is clearly heard and understood to its fullest complexity and extremity. Diction has multiple concerns; register words being either formal or informal in social contexts. Literary diction analysis reveals how a passage establishes tone and characterization. Knowing this, how can we apply this conception to Bukowski's works? It's simple: What is most important about Bukowski's works is the accessibility.His works are written in plain language which makes them a fast read, and â€Å"easily† translatable (although the bests are always the originals). Charles Bukowski's style is reportedly one of the most imitated in the world due to its simplicity, and has influenced numerous writers in the realism movement, which doesn't mean that this styl e is an easy choice, mostly because his writing was, among other peculiarities, heavily influenced by the geography and atmosphere of his home city (Los Angeles) and is marked by an emphasis on the ordinary lives of poor Americans, the act of writing, alcohol, relationships with women, and the drudgery of work.His voice is from people who occupies a place among those outcasts, outlaws, madmen and solitaries whose outspoken visions achieved against all odds a global presence. Henry Miller, Samuel Beckett, Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Hubert Selby Jr. and William Burroughs were some authors who, as Bukowski, made use of these themes to expess their own points of view in a very particular way, being Bukowski the most â€Å"objective and clear† and non-scholarly one of them.Yet, even among such outsiders, he remains outside, a consummate loner, since the others, unlike him, reveal in their various styles a certain hard-won haggling with literature that was, to him, the stuff of dupes. The tone of most of Bukowski's works is autobiographic and often reffers to his feelings of a permanently disfigured boy in early adolescence by painful boils, so severe that they had to be surgically lanced.He also worked in a succession of heartbreaking menial jobs, culminating in a numbing nine-year stint in the U. S. Post Office, facts that would give him a lot to write about, especially his feelings in relation to these facts. He perfectly depicted the depravity of urban life and the downtrodden in American society. Bukowski relied on experience, emotion, and imagination in his work, using direct language, violence and sexual imagery.He writes with a nothing-to-lose truthfulness which sets him apart from most other autobiographical novelists and poets. He has established himself as a writer with a consistent and insistent style based on what he projects as his ‘personality,’ the result of hard, intense living and the sense of a desolate, abandoned world. In addition to desolation, Bukowski’s free verse tackles the absurdities of life, especially in relation to death.The subject matters of this world are also drinking, sex, gambling, and music; the Bukowski style, however, is like a crisp, hard voice; an excellent ear and eye for measuring out the lengths of lines; and an avoidance of metaphor where a lively anecdote will do the same dramatic work. Furthermore, his grace with words gives a comic gleam to even his meanest revelations. Bukowski’s poems give the impression that they're best appreciated not as individual verbal artifacts but as ongoing installments in the tale of his true adventures, like a comic book or a movie serial.They are strongly narrative, drawing from an endless supply of anecdotes that typically involve, for ex: a bar, a skid-row hotel, a horse race, a girlfriend, or any permutation thereof. Bukowski’s free verse is really a series of declarative sentences broken up into a long column, the sho rt lines giving an impression of speed and terseness even when the language is sentimental or cliche. Maybe that is the reason of way the readers feel so close to him, as we're talking to a close friend.The fact is that, with his own simple diction, which is so direct and easy understandable (but yet deep, sensitive and real at the same time) we can really feel ourselves in what he's talking about, even if we have no idea of what it is like to be in his shoes. In the end, we relate his experiences as the world and people as they really are, and we can't hide from it any longer. it's true: pain and suffering helps to create what we call art. given the choice I'd never choose this damned pain and suffering for myself but somehow it finds me as the royalties continue to roll on in.

Critique on Article “The Ends of Happiness” Essay

Dr Karl Giberson is a professor at Eastern Nazarene College with a PHD in Physics from Rice University. A man approaching his fifties at the writing of this article, Giberson’s solution to his mid-life crisis was to write an article â€Å"The Ends of Happiness†. His article was well written and he tries to impart his experiences with happiness to young adults. In the article, Giberson claims that happiness should be the end result of our efforts and he provides a compelling argument why we should not get caught up in our pursuit of happiness through materialistic gains. However, his arguments to back his thesis are inadequate due to an inherent contradiction in his supporting point and one unproven assumption in his article. Giberson (2006) uses the Candy Experiment with children to prove his point that our ability to withhold satisfaction leads to a â€Å"life time of happiness† (para. 5). He further explains that â€Å"unpleasant means can yield satisfying ends† (2006). This implies that our happiness will increase if we are able to set aside the things that make us happy, and work towards our goal. However, in his later argument, the author seems to imply that the happiest moments in his life, were times when he did not work towards materialistic gains. For instance, he claims he â€Å"lived well†, when he â€Å"left work early† and spent his time with his family (Giberson, 2006, para.12, 13 & 14). This illustrates his point that the most memorable moments in life comes from relationships as opposed to material gains (Giberson, 2006). While the latter argument supports his thesis, the former contradicts it by implying that happiness is something to be achieved through materialistic gains. This is shown in Giberson’s example about a student graduating with â€Å"greater earning power† (2006) and how this ability â€Å"is the formula for a lifetime of happiness† (Giberson, 2006, para. 5). Furthermore, Giberson’s argument seems to be contingent on one major assumption. That happiness gained from acquiring things, is less meaningful than happiness gained from spending time with family and friends. To illustrate his point, he cites evidence from his own memories. He states that memories gained from family time are clearer than the memories of â€Å"buying his first car† and â€Å"cashing his first paycheck† (Giberson, 2006, para.14). Giberson then applies this line of reasoning to back his thesis by showing us how happiness from material gains alone reduces our overall happiness as our social interactions decrease (Giberson, 2006). However, such opinionated evidence provides weak support to his thesis and even though he did not plan on writing a scientific article, using personal memories to validate such a major assumption weakens his argument substantially. In conclusion, Giberson has indeed written a well-structured editorial with many coherent and interesting points. However, contradicting arguments and one unsupported assumption in the article has undermined his thesis and weakened his argument. Giberson’s thesis would have fared much better had he quoted from valid sources instead of his own personal experiences. Reference Giberson, K. (2006, Mar. – Apr.). The Ends Of Happiness. Science & Spirit, 17, 6-7.

Divorce Rates in America

America’s Divorce Rates: Why Are They So High? The sanctity of marriage is a tradition that has been entered by generations over the past thousands of years. In the United States alone, 2,200,000 people choose to enter the lifetime commitment of marriage every year. Yet, less than half of that population is expected to keep that commitment. In a 1999 Rutgers University study, it is said that only 38 percent of Americans consider themselves happy in their married state, which has decreased from 53 percent 25 years ago.With the current, alarming statistic of over half of marriages resulting in divorce, there is much reason to take notice of how these numbers got so high. Although I personally have not grown up in a divorced household, I sought to understand why so many other people have, and in turn possibly gain knowledge to avoid becoming a part of the divorced population as well. In Steven Nock’s article, â€Å"America’s Divorce Problem,† he encloses the important point that â€Å"Divorce is not the problem, but rather a symptom of the problem† (1 Nock).With varying symptoms such as the feminist movement in the 1960s, an increase in financial dependence, increased career mobility, and the overall changed perception of marriage, the divorce rates have increased rapidly since the 1960s and deserve further explanation. The overall family structure has been challenged, and fault lines in American families have widened since the 1960s and the 1970s, which is when the divorce rate doubled.In the magazine article, â€Å"The Pursuit of Autonomy,† Alan Wolfe states that â€Å"the family is no longer a haven; all too often a center of dysfunction, it has become one with the heartless world that surrounds it. † While this statement may be a slight exaggeration of the family perception, reasons remain for the rapid increase of 30 percent in the divorce rate since the 1960s. Discussed in Barbara LeBay’s article, †Å"American Families Are Drifting Apart,† there are supposedly four main societal changes that occurred in the 1960s, which have greatly impacted today’s traditional family structures in America.Such societal changes include the sexual revolution, women's liberation movement, states' relaxation of divorce laws, and mobility of American families and are said to be responsible for many of our family alienations. During this time frame, society’s youth fled from the confines of family, while other family members sought to keep them close and as a result, it is said that there were most likely more problematic issues between children and parents during the 1960s and early 1970s than ever before.More importantly, the women's liberation movement in the workplace played a large role in changing the values and perceptions of family structure in America. Before this time, men were the assumed leader of each household and were given the largest responsibility of advancing i n their careers to make a living, while women were for the most part financially dependent upon them. However, starting in the 1960s women with a college degree could live independently and establish a life for themselves.There was a new recognition in society that civil rights meant equal rights for everyone, including women (243 Finsterbursch). Women sought sexual equality, which included a wider range of career opportunities and promotions that were once available only to men. By having this form of financial independence, women also had more of the freedom to break away from destructive or unhappy marriages. Although this movement is an important and productive one, it also impacted the traditional notions of marriage.Marriage had suddenly become a â€Å"choice,† rather than a â€Å"necessity,† and the entire concept of divorce became less of an issue. Another great change during this time period was the increase in mobility of families in which many family members were no longer living in the same household with one another. Men and women began to move to wherever they could advance in the corporate ladder in the shortest amount of time. Despite how far it was from where they grew up, college students took more jobs away from home, jeopardizing family unity.People needed to invest lots of time and energy to recreate their lives without the support of their family with these relocations, and still today many are willing to sacrifice their family relationships in order to advance in their careers. Barbara Lebay makes the important point that strangely, the more financially independent people become, the more families scatter and grow apart and tolerance levels decrease as their financial means increase (1 Lebay).In relation to this observation, Joseph Ducanto makes a similar point about the financial effects of divorce on poverty, along with the idea that while fixing the divorce system will not eliminate the future of poverty, certain changes can help to bring the problem into an easier resolution. In the article, â€Å"Divorce and Poverty are Often Synonymous,† there is praise for the concept of prenuptial agreements due to the fact that in recent years, prenuptial agreements have been adopted by many states of the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act.The adoption of this Act is said to â€Å"significantly strengthen the legal basis for acceptance and enforcement of these agreements within marital proceedings† (90 Ducanto). In today’s society, the need and importance of prenuptial agreements signifies our priority of finances being a common theme to marriage termination. Often times, who makes the money in the family and just how much can determine whether a marriage will stay together or not, an issue that was not common before the 1960s. The accumulation of marriage and divorce laws over the years are also said to have affected our increasing divorce rates.Since the 1970’s, all states have had access to what are called â€Å"no-fault divorces,† with the only real restriction being a waiting time limit of a few months to a year. The motivation for this concept came from the movement of people who felt this would benefit women and children who were stuck in verbally or physically abusive marriages. However, in Steven Nock’s article, â€Å"America’s Divorce Problem,† he discusses that many believe that the facility of this idea has also created somewhat of a â€Å"divorce culture† to the United States in which the traditional sanctions of marriage are no longer respected as much.Others also disapprove of the no-fault divorce saying that it often leaves women dependent, harms the interest of the children, and deteriorates the general social welfare (1 Nock). Although I personally have not grown up in a divorced household, I sought to understand why so many other people have, and in turn possibly gain knowledge to avoid becoming a part of th e divorced population as well.With varying symptoms such as the feminist movement in the 1960s, an increase in financial dependence, increased career mobility, and the overall changed perception of marriage, the divorce rates have increased rapidly since the 1960s and 1970s. During this time, there came the beginning of what some would describe as a â€Å"divorce culture† for America in which divorce was not seen as such a serious matter, with even the electing our first divorced President of the United States, Ronald Regan.Although events and movements of this era such as women’s empowerment in the workplace are very important to history, they have also impacted the traditional notions of marriage. Marriage has become a â€Å"choice,† rather than a â€Å"necessity,† and the entire concept of divorce is much less of an issue. This new attitude on divorce has clearly prevailed to current times and will hopefully correct itself throughout more changes in ev ents to our society. Works Cited Ducanto, Joseph N. â€Å"Divorce and Poverty Are Often Synonymous.   American Journal of Family Law  24. 2 (2010): 87-94. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 19 Apr. 2011. Finsterbusch, Kurt. Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Social Issues. New York: McGraw Hill, 2011. Print. LeBey, Barbara. â€Å"American Families Are Drifting Apart. †Ã‚  USA Today Magazine  130. 2676 (2001): 20. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 20 Apr. 2011. Nock, Steven L. â€Å"America's Divorce Problem. †Ã‚  Society  36. 4 (1999): 43-52. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 19 Apr. 2011.

Case study examining a firm in the US from a microeconomic standpoing Research Paper

Case study examining a firm in the US from a microeconomic standpoing - Research Paper Example Apple operates in both oligopoly and monopolistic conditions. Apple Inc. is American technological company with headquarters in Cupertino, California. Apple is a huge, tremendous corporation that is the business of design and selling smartphones and computers. Apple is also a strong competitor in the business of offering online services. The company was founded in 1976. The three founders of Apple are Steve Jobs, Ronald Wayne, and Steve Wozniak. The company became Apple Computer Inc. in 1977. The name was changed to Apple Inc. in 2007. Currently, Apple is the second largest information technology based on revenue earned. It is bettered by Samsung Electronics, which holds number one position. The company employs 72,800 employees who are permanent and work full time. It has 425 retail stores that are found in over fourteen countries. Moreover, the company is responsible for operating its online businesses, which are Apple and ITunes stores. The company enjoys brand loyalty and high revenues. The paper examines Apple Inc. from a macroeconomic perspective. Supply and Demand have a direct influence on business operations. Supply affects the amount of products in the market, which will eventually affect the price of products. Price increase with a decrease in demand.. Demand refers to the desire of consumers to obtain a service or product. The interplay of supply demand leads to the price elasticity, which explains how changes in price affect demand for products and services. Apple is a multinational company, which means United States and global economic conditions affect its operations. It is obvious Apple is affected by the dynamics of supply and demand, which are at the center of all markets. Apple Inc. has been affected by increase in the number of people who have use computers and smartphones. The increased demand for smartphones and computers is due to the need for growth. In response, the company has been able to register

Water and Sustainability Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Water and Sustainability - Term Paper Example Extensive research focusing and elaborating the significance and need of the freshwater bodies have expanded considerably during the past decade, although such critical information and knowledge gained has not been integrated so far, for the development of an efficient water management framework. However certain countries and regions such as North America, Chile, South Africa, the E.U. and Australia among others are an exception to this general rule, since these regions have witnessed the successful establishment of appropriate policies and approaches aimed at preventing the deterioration of freshwater and protecting the environment from further damage. In the face of adversities, and innumerable setbacks in the form of political and socio-economic measures, these policies are indicative of a struggle at the international level, to ensure better management of water together with the protection of the priceless ecosystems. Many water experts in the U.S. and other countries have argued that water markets, tradable water rights, and related economic approaches are important policy tools for improving the long-term sustainability of water uses and ecosystems. Water in existing times, has become an extremely rare and hence precious commodity, which supports the basic survival and sanitation needs of billions of people across the globe. The current issues related to environmental degradation which has taken a toll on global water bodies, has confronted the human population with strategic issues related essential for the sustenance of life on earth.

Trade and investment issues between China and other econmies Essay

Trade and investment issues between China and other econmies - Essay Example However, after 1978, the country has experienced actual growth of more than 9 percent annually. In the topmost years, Chinas economy grew more than 13 percent. For the last 15 years, the nation has increased its per capita income (Zhuli and Mohsin, par. 1). Furthermore, some experts are even predicting that in about 20 years, the economy of China will be larger than US. An IMF research team that recently examined the sources of Chinas growth reached a surprising conclusion. The constant productivity increase was the driving force behind Chinas economic boom. According to Zhulu and Mohsin (par. 5), productivity gains in the years 1979 to 1994 accounted for more than 42% of the growth of China. By the early 1990s, it had overtaken the capital as the most important source of that growth. A traditional development view in which capital investment takes the lead is marked from this. The productivity jump originated in the reforms of the economy begun in the year 1978. Additionally, the much earlier study on the development of the economy have suggested an important role of capital investment in the growth of the economy. It has also proposed a sizable portion of the recent growth of the country is in fact accredited to capital investment that has made China more productive. The meaning of this is that better technology, new machinery, and more infrastructure investment has helped China to raise its output. Higher productivity has performed the most recent economic miracle in China, Zhuli and Mohsin (par. 10) state. The countys productivity increased at a yearly rate of 3.9 percent during 1979 to 1994, compared with 1953-1978s 1.1 percent. Output growth productivity share exceeded 50 percent. Such explosive growth is outstanding. Chinas economic growth rate of almost 4 percent puts the country in a class by itself (Zhuli and Mohsin, par. 10). Pre and post-1978 China experts indicate that market-oriented reforms embarked on

Anti-Social Behavior in Social Housing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Anti-Social Behavior in Social Housing - Essay Example There are certain standards that social housing landlords must comply with according to the government and authorities. These are set forth by the Tenant Services Authority, or TSA. They are responsible for the regulation of the performance of landlords and preventing and stopping anti-social behaviour in their housing systems (Communities and Local Government (2010). According to Communities and Local Government (2010, pg. 1), "The TSA Standards on ASB build on The Respect Standard for Housing Management, launched in August 2006. The Respect Standard outlines the core components essential to delivering an effective response to ASB and building stronger communities, such as accountability, leadership, giving greater resident empowerment, and supporting community efforts at tackling anti-social behaviour. CLG proposes to work with social landlords and tenants to update the Respect Standard, in the light of the TSA Standards, to ensure that it remains a key sector led driver of good practice on ASB." According to Communities and Local Government (2007), "Anti-social behaviour includes a wide range of problems. It can broadly be defined as behaviour that is capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to an individual/s or the wider community. Local agencies have the tools and powers to tackle anti-social behaviour." They clearly should do so. This particular article suggests that these people of authority step in and do something to alleviate the problem. There are many different options to do so, and it just takes careful planning and action to carry it through. These plans could significantly impact social housing and anti-social behaviour (Communities and Local Government, 2007). Wilson, W. (2010). Anti-Social Behaviour in Social Housing. Library House of Commons. Retrieved May 16, 2010, from http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/lib/research/briefings/snsp-00264.pdf Social landlords are housing authorities that are trained to be registered social landlords. When it comes to tenants who exhibit anti-social behaviour, these registered social landlords have a lot of power that they can exercise. The 1996 Housing Act, the 2003 Anti-Social Behaviour Act, and the 2004 Housing Act help led to this increase in power and authority (Wilson, 2010). Also according to Wilson (2010), "The Government has published a leaflet (February 2010) which explains where to go for help to tackle anti-social behaviour and how to help solve anti-social behaviour problems in neighbourhoods: Tackling Anti-social Behaviour. Alongside the launch of this leaflet, John Denham announced the opening up of a programme of Government training to anyone suffering from anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhood. In October 2009 the Home Secretary announced another tranche of measures to control anti-social behaviour. These included an increased emphasis on prosecuting for

Colony Collapse Disorders in the Honeybee Colonies Case Study

Colony Collapse Disorders in the Honeybee Colonies - Case Study Example Colony collapse disorders (CCD) is rather a new term in the field of environmental studies. Many environmentalists resolved to employ the phenomena of CCD in order to provide an explicit understanding to the continued deterioration in the number of honeybees in the bee colonies. The fall in the number of honeybees has led to low production of honey in the field of apiculture. Reduction in the population of bees has also posed a major setback to the field of crop production and agriculture in general. This is due to the fact that many plant varieties especially those that yield fruits majorly rely on the activities of the honeybees in achieving pollination. With much concern on this despair, scientists have embarked on research activities to configure the mess beyond CCD in the honeybee colonies. One of the most noted causes of CCD in the honeybee colonies is excessive use of pesticides in agriculture. The use of pesticides such antibiotics, miticides and neonicotinoid have direct or indirect impacts on the population of the honeybees in the bee colonies. Excessive use of pesticides such as the antibiotics, miticides and neonicotinoid pesticides is one of the factors that have led to the colony collapse disorders in the bee colonies. Antibiotics also known as antibacterial are drugs that used to kill bacteria that attack bodies of animals and human beings. Antibiotics also kill fungi and parasites that attack the bodies of animals and human. Miticides are a class of pesticides that used to kill mite. ... According to Johnson (2011), the increased level of use of antibiotics among beekeepers in controlling parasites and fungi that attack their bee colonies has led to tremendous effects of CCD in the honeybee colonies. Johnson (2011) in reference to the research findings of the USDA confirms that a single celled parasite called Nosem ceranae developed resistance to the antibiotics hence dire effects of the parasite on the bees continue to exist. The existence of these parasites in the honeybee colonies have resulted to unbearable stress on the bees in the affected colonies. The increased stress in the honeybees leads to reduction of immune system in the bees, leading to death of the affected bees (Johnson, 2011). According to Johnson (2011) in reference to the report of USDA, stress development in the honeybees disrupts the social system of the affected bees in their specific colonies. Johnson (2011) notes that chemical contents such as the imidacloprid found in the neonicotinoid pesti cides have substantial impacts on the colony collapse disorders in the honeybee colonies. Referring to the report s of USDA, Johnson (2011) connotes that the use of neonicotinoid as insecticide in plants leaves toxic residues on the plants, which in turn poisons young bees whenever they suck nectar and pollen grains from the infected plants. Even though the neonicotinoid has no direct impact on the health of honeybees, it adversely affects the bees upon excess consumption. The cumulative effects of excess the neonicotinoid chemicals leads to impairment in the navigational power and foraging ability of the honeybees (Johnson, 2011). In addition, Johnson (2011) reports that cumulated

Can the direct targeting of civilians ever be morally justified Essay

Can the direct targeting of civilians ever be morally justified - Essay Example The Second World War caused numerous consequences to different nations owing to its magnitude and scale involving a vast geographic proportion of the world economies. It has been noted in this regard that the Second World War had been commenced with the participation of the then topmost nations of the world, which apparently signified the polarized world of the 20th century, where one side was apparently stronger and powerful than the other side. Comparing the casualties caused due to the First and the Second World War, especially those suffered by the civil societies around the world excluding the military property losses, historians revealed that area bombing campaign in the latter had a more devastating result. To be noted, the concept of area bombing was first developed by the British military during the war, where they had planned to attack certain specific areas of Germany as a part of their war strategy. The decision of Britain to attack German civil areas through the bombing strategy was mainly with the intention to deindustrialize the conditions of Germany and to make the nation weak from within. To be precise, with the civilians being affected due to the warfare, it was quite likely to increase threats for domestic social as well as political unrests. Also, with the destruction of such a huge proportion of civilians, Germany would eventually become weak to afford the continuously rising need for soldiers to fight its enemies. This further meant that Germany will not be able to attack or pose a threat to any other nation during the Second World War. Therefore, it can be apparently observed that the intention behind area bombings by British on German civilians was to make the country vulnerable both economically as well as socially, with the expectation that it would eventually drive the nation away from participating in the wars. Apparently, this area bombing approach taken by the British military against Germany,

Sales Control Essay Example for Free

Sales Control Essay There must be efficient control of all food and beverage items issued from the various departments. 2. The system should reduce any pilfering and wastage to a minimum. 3. Management should be provided with any information they require for the costing purposes. 4. The cashier should be able to make out the customer’s bill correctly. 5. The system should show a breakdown of sales and income received in order that adjustment and improvement may be made. The main control taking methods 1. Order taking methods. 2. Billing methods 3. Sales summary sheets. . Operational statistics. Triplicate checking system This is an order taking method used in the majority of medium and large first class establishments. The food check consists of three copies. On taking the food order it is written from top to bottom of the food check. When only a table d’hote menu is in operation the customers would initially only order their first and main courses. The operation for an a la carte menu is similar, although customers may order by course according to their requirements. 1. The top copy of the food order goes to the kitchen and is handed to the aboyeur at the hotplate. . The duplicate goes to the cashier who makes out the customer bill. 3. The Flimsy or third copy is retained by the waiter at his/her sideboard as a means of reference. Any checks or bills that have to be cancelled should have the signature of either the headwaiter or supervisor on them, as should checks and bills which have alternatio n made on them. FLOW CHART OF FOOD AND BEVERAGE CHECK Control box Kitchen Food and beverage Service area Top copy Top copy after service Food copy- Top copy (BOT)Top copy Dispense Bar 1. 2. 3. 4. BeveragesTop copy after service Control Marry all duplicates with originals- bills and summary sheet Cashier 1. 2nd copy food or drink 2. Bill 3. Bill and payment. 4. Receipted bill. Manual systems Using hand written duplicate or triplicate checks for ordering from kitchen and bar and for informing the cashier. Often used with a cash till or cash register. This system is found on many high- level restaurants and in popular catering Duplicate checking system. This is a control system that is more likely to be found in the smaller hotel, popular price restaurants and cafes. It is generally used where table d’hote menu is in operation and sometimes a very limited a la carte menu. There are two copies of each of these food checks, each set being serial numbered. The top copy of the food check is usually carbon – backed but, if not a sheet of carbon must be placed between the top and duplicate copy every time a fresh order is taken. The top copy of the set of food and drink checks is made up of a number of perforated slips, usually 4-5 in number. There is section at the bottom of the food and drink check for the table for the table number to be entered. When writing out a customer’s order a different perforated slip should be used for each course. The server must remember to write out the number of covers and the price of the meal or the dish concerned on each slip. Before sending each slip to the hotplate see that the details ate entered correctly on the duplicate copy together with the price. Since the duplicate copy acts as the customer’s bill, the waiter must ensure that everything served is charged. Duplicate order pad with perforated sections 672464| | | | | | 672464| | | No of person waiter no table no price| | | QUICK SERVICE: Name of the establishment Table no 4No of covers 2 Retour 1 Roast chicken En place 1 poached chicken Date 2/2/12Sign DS Accident: It occasionally happens that the waiter may have an accident in the room and perhaps some vegetables are dropped. These must be replaced without any extra charge to the customer. Here a check must be headed accident. It will show the number of portion of vegetables required and should be signed by the headwaiter. No charge (N/C) is stated on the check to ensure that no charge is made to the customer. Name of the establishment Table no 4No of covers 2 Accident 1 Vegetables N/C Date 2/2/12Sign DS CASH HANDLING EQUIPMENT E. P. O. S (Electronic point of sale) It is a sophisticated system of point of sale to provide the quality of information to the management for control function. Advantages 1. Fewer error is there as the information entered will be more accurate because mistake in the sequence of entries required for a particular transaction are not permitted. 2. Transaction can be done more quickly and this may be achieved by single key entry of prices, elimination of manual calculation and automatic calculation of price tags. . Training time may be reduced from days on the conventional cash register to hours with the electronic systems. 4. Instant credit checking is possible by having terminals compare the account number with a central computer file or through on-line a connection. 5. Electronic system provides more direct and detailed information in a computer readable form. 6. Additional security system features such as locks wh ich permits the ECR (Electronic cash register) to be operated only by authorized personnel.

Bio Mechanical Analysis Of The Golf Swing Physical Education Essay

Bio Mechanical Analysis Of The Golf Swing Physical Education Essay Since hitting of the ball may be repeated an average of 50 times during an 18-hole course, or 300 times or more during a practice session by a professional, it is easy to understand that, for both professional and recreational players, injuries can occur either through overuse or bad technique through actions causing severe trauma (Kohn 1996). McCaroll (1990) found that professionals injured their self less frequently than that of amateurs, and that the causes of injury were due to poor swing mechanics. Injuries to these musculoskeletal structures are caused either by overload of tension, twisting of the tissues or the strain of the physical impact of hitting the ball (Stover 1976). The aim of this essay is to review and analyse the golf swing biomechanically to identify the correct technique to help prevent common golfing injuries. The golf swing will be broken down in to 6 phases; ball address, end of backswing, forward swing/acceleration, ball impact, early follow through, and late follow through. For each of these 6 phases the human body undergoes biomechanical stresses likely to provoke injuries, these injuries and their prevention will be discussed during each phase. Phase 1 and 2 Ball Address and End of Back Swing There are several factors to consider during the ball address to ensure an effective technique for force production and injury prevention. Bad posture can cause skeletal and joint misalignment, which will affect the pattern of stress imposed on tissue and the area of force distribution (McGinnis 1999). Therefore if the players posture is less then optimal they begin and end movement in an aberrant position and as a result the chances of accelerating joint wear are increased. The attainment of the optimal pre-stroke posture is achieved through a good starting position i.e. even weight distribution on both feet with a shoulder width stance. This will ensure a significant base of support that will promote stability and equilibrium to the golfer as the centre of gravity moves throughout the shot. Therefore allowing maximal potential kinetic energy to be generated through the club. If the stance is too wide truck rotation will be reduced placing greater strain on the spine, causing injury. Alternatively, if the feet are too narrow, reducing the base of support, it could lead the golfer to lose control of the swing due to a decrease in stability. To help prevent injuries to lower back during the entire swing it is essential to have good core stability. (Wilson 2005 p. 316) describes the core as  the ability of the lumbo-pelvic hip complex to prevent buckling of the vertebral column and return it to equilibrium following perturbation. As a result, core stabi lity is essential to help stabilise the body which in effect will help to support the antagonist of the abdominal, therefore preventing injury to the lower back. As joint mechanics are less than ideal with poor posture, joints will not effectively move around a central axis, therefore preventing angular motion. With poor posture, the stabilising muscles of the body (those that help maintain joint axis rotation), become long and weak. In opposition, the movement muscles of the body become overused, short and tight. A continuation of this cycle leads to further imbalance, increasing the chances of injury (Chek 1998). Once good posture is achieved there should be slight anterior flexion of the trunk at the hips and the shoulders, knees and feet must be aligned. The back must be kept straight while keeping the vertebral column perpendicular to the ground in the frontal plane (although the upper body of the player remains leaning forward towards the ball to allow a lower centre of gravit y to optimise equilibrium throughout the swing). If your centre of gravity is not distributed evenly when you take your setup due to a postural fault or incorrect stance the  centre of gravity may be too far back, which in effect will cause the legs to move before the backswing is complete. Consequently power is supplied by the arms and shoulders only, which again creates excessive force through the shoulder and elbow. In the second phase, the backswing, a simultaneous rotation to the right side around the spinal vertical axis of the knees, hips and upper limbs is executed. This raises the club to its highest point in order to obtain the widest possible arc of motion (Adlington 1996) Injuries related with the address and backswing of the golf swing are: Frontal flexion at the dorsolumbar spine rather than at the hips increases the possibility of vertebral hypermobility and unbalanced muscular stress during the backswing (Hosea 1996) Overextended, straight arms (especially the left) or hyperextend elbows and abnormally high muscular tension in the forearms (too tight a grip) reduces the effectiveness in creating speed in the downswing and can induce elbow and wrist injuries at ball impact (Gosheger 2003) A grip without interlocking hands or too loose a grip increases the danger of dropping the club causing a loss of accuracy on ball impact and injury of the elbow, wrist or hand through ground impact. An excessively long backswing may cause trunk over-rotation injury or throw the golfer off balance leading to ground collision injuries. Excess backswing also increases tension in the left thumb and right wrist. Excess arm/shoulder elevation on the backswing, with the left arm abducting the left shoulder, impinges on the subacromial tissues (tendons, bursa) and requires good stabilisation from the rotator cuff muscles. If the bursa continues to be impinged this could lead to the bursa becoming inflamed causing bursitis.( Jobe 1996) Leftward spinal lean, instead of being parallel to the ground, during the rightward weight shift increases the possibility of a conflicting spinal curve posture at the end of the follow through. The rightward weight shift abnormally collected on the outside of the right foot can cause a loss of equilibrium and right ankle sprain.( McCarroll 1990) Phase 3 and 4 Forward Swing/Acceleration and Ball Impact The third phase of the golf swing is characterised by the activation of an anatomical multi lever system which gives the club a downswing in a rotational, angular trajectory and a maximum speed. A lever system is rigid or semi-rigid object that is capable of rotating around a fulcrum (McLeste 2008). In a golf swing a third class lever is present and consists of the golf club and the golfers arm. Levers increase speed and power, therefore maintaining a longer lever will increase power production. If the lever is shortened due to flexing the elbow on impact it will take a greater force to obtain the same power. Therefore excessive force will be transferred into the elbow. If the fulcrum is so far off-set away from centre, a lot of muscular effort must go into the grip of the club at one end in order to move the club head at the other. These levers are activated in sequence from the ground level upwards; from the feet to the wrists. Prior to the completion of the backswing, good golfers are gathering kinetic energy from the ground upwards in preparation for the downswing. As the feet push into the ground forces are generated and then transferred back into the body, in turn accelerating firstly through the hips, shoulders, arms and then club head. This is an effective use of the kinetic chain by generating forces from the bottom up which will allow for an efficient smooth motion. If the kinetic chain breaks down due to inconsistency in the swing technique this could lead to injuries as the force is not being controlled and distributed evenly through the body. The risks for injuries in the downswing and ball impact occur in the zones of greatest muscular activity. There is also risk for injury to the elbows, wrists and hands if any of these 3 structures is held too stiff. (Kohn 1996) Injuries related with the down swing and ball impact of the golf swing are: Thoracic and abdominal muscular strains may arise after forceful upper body rotation on the downswing. (Stover 1976) The leftward weight shift can create considerable compressive forces on the left leg (hip, knee, ankle and foot) which are hazardous to individuals with osteoarthritis. (Hahn 1991) Lateral or medial epicondylitis (golfers elbow) can be sustained at impact if the grip is too tight or the elbows are held too tightly or are hyper extended. Grips size is therefore important as too small a grip will make the golfer grip tightly. Clubs of proper weight, length, and grip are therefore important in significantly reducing the vigorous forces generated within the  elbow (Kocker 2000) Excessive wrist flexion/extension in the downswing, or hitting the ground after losing equilibrium, can cause serious hand and wrist injuries. (Murray Cooney 1996). Phase 5 and 6 Follow Through and Late Follow Through The follow through is essentially the deceleration of the body after contact with the ball has been made. Deceleration by the body occurs as a result of the absorption of energy back up through the kinetic chain of the body. The danger for injuries to the lumbar dorsal zone arises if the deceleration stops too abruptly or if the final range of motion of spinal rotation is too prominent (Parnianpour 1988). Posterior shoulder injuries are most likely during the follow through due to the high inertia and large acceleration (Atwater 1979). At the very top of the follow through, the spine is rotated to the left, and the hips are fully facing the target which enlists the help of the abdominal muscles to support the spine, while the wrist joints abduct working the wrist extensors to drop the club behind the back. At impact, the body shifts back to the relatively symmetrical position for a very short time, then the centre of gravity shifts towards the target as the mass of the arms and club move in that direction. To golfer must dissertate and control this energy if he intends to remain on his feet. Research by Fleisig (1995) indicated that at impact the left foot (right-handed golfer) is supporting 80% to 95% of the golfers weight, therefore concluding it is essential for golfers to wear spikes to help control this energy. Gatt (1998) supports this theory stating they provide additional traction, allowing the forces generated by the lower body to be transferred into the club. Injuries associated with the early and late follow through are: Shoulder ligaments and rotator cuff muscles can experience excessive mechanical stress (tension or compression) in a forceful follow through (Hovis 2002) Injury to the hips or dorsolumbar spine may arise due to the deceleration of the follow through is too rapid (Parnianpour 1988) An excessively forceful drive, inducing a reversed C lordotic spinal curvature, may induce unusual high stresses on the dorso-lumbar vertebral bodies, in particular on the posterior joints (Batt 1993) An off-balance weight transfer or slide can cause an ankle or foot sprain as well as knee injury Injury Prevention Flexible muscles and tendons are extremely important in the prevention of most strain or sprain injuries. It is important to have a significant amount of muscular strength and muscle endurance as this will affect the magnitude of the loading and shock absorption on the body. Joint flexibility will affect the load pattern of segments (McGinnis1999).When muscles and tendons are flexible and supple, they are able to move and perform without being over stretched. If, however, muscles and tendons are tight and stiff, it is quite easy for those muscles and tendons to be pushed beyond their natural range of movement and therefore this will increase the risk of injury. When this happens, strains, sprains, and pulled muscles occur. In addition for the need for flexibility the following strategies aid to prevent golfing injuries: Dorsolumbar spine Injuries sprain, muscular strain, herniated disc and arthrosis (Hosea1996). Preventive techniques Straight back posture, maintaining joint alignment and weight transfer during the golf swing Speed control during trunk rotation (i.e. use of the kinetic chain) Reduction of the shoulder range of motion and trunk Effective use of angular motion Dorsolumbar conditioning through flexibility and muscular strengthening exercises Elbow, wrist and hand Injuries Epicondylitis (Golfers Elbow), chronic sprain, tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and fracture (Murry Cooney 1996) Preventive techniques Reduction of wrist flexor/extensor (grip) tension and loosening of elbows Reduction of excessive wrist motion Maintaining good balance during weight transfer Wrist and finger flexor/extensor conditioning for flexibility and strength Use of a counter-shock brace, a more flexible, lighter golf club (graphite) or club counter-shock device (Metz 1999) Shoulder Injuries Tendinitis, bursitis, glenohumeral instability, sprain (Jobe 1996) Preventive techniques Reduction of the angular shoulder displacement at backswing Control of excessive arm motion at follow through Conditioning exercises for flexibility (posterior capsule) and rotator cuff strengthening to help stabilise the shoulder joint (Hovis 2002) Conclusion In conclusion restrictions in the body in terms of flexibility, muscular strength, endurance, or power can create boundaries in the swing from a biomechanical viewpoint. In addition, biomechanical defects in the swing itself limit the potential and kinetic energy outputs of the body. Injuries to the upper limb account for the majority of golf-related injuries. Most injuries occur as the club impacts the ball and are muscle-related due to the high forces and strain applied during the downswing. An understanding of how the body moves biomechanically to harness these forces and the muscle activity achieved during the golf swing will help athletes and coaches to understand why these injuries occur and the ways to prevent them in the future.

Techniques of Team Building for Organizational Development

Techniques of Team Building for Organizational Development Abstract In organizational development the team building process can benefit the corporation by grouping people together with common skills and providing them with a clear and concise mission and common goal. Team building is also a function that does not end when the team comes together, but is an ongoing process that runs throughout the project. Teams are a necessary part of organizations and will be important far into the future. The knowledge of team cultures and dynamics can be an invaluable tool for organizations. Techniques of Team Building for Organizational Development A Review of Forming and Managing Teams within an Organization A team is a small number of people with complementary skills, who are committed to a common purpose, set of performance goals and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable (Gordon p. 489). Teams are also described as groups of two or more people who interact and influence each other, are mutually accountable for achieving common goals associated with organizational objectives, and perceive themselves as a social entity within an organization (McShane 2010, p. 234). Since the beginning of time there have been teams such as hunting teams, where each member of the team has a specific task, but the overall goal for the team was to kill an animal for food. When man began building large structures there were work teams that would be in charge of producing the stones for the structure, work teams that would be in charge of moving the stones from the quarry to the structures construction site, and work teams that constructed the structure. The purpose of building teams is to allow employees to participate in the planning problem-solving and decision-making to better produce products and provide services. When companies grow they become more complex, therefore having groups or teams within the company allows the company to perform tasks more efficiently and effectively. An example of this can be seen in the automotive industry. Small car companies can have as few as seven employees performing specific skills to produce one vehicle at a time. Over time if this company is successful and begins to grow it will need to hire more employees. These employees will need to be placed into teams with each team performing a certain task or group of tasks in a certain area such as a body shop, and engine shop, a chassis shop, or an interior shop. Each shop has a group of employees that specialize in a particular area in the company that is necessary to produce the product. When the company was small one person could build an engine in a day for one car, but as the company grew more people are required to build more engines for more cars each day. There are various different types of teams: work teams, project and development teams, parallel teams, management teams, transitional teams, virtual teams, and self-managed teams. Work teams perform operations like manufacturing, assembling, selling, or providing services (Gordon p. 490). Work teams are the most common type of teams because theyre the most basic. Project and development teams work on projects that take a long time and they have specific tasks such as research and development. The teams new members usually contribute expert knowledge and judgment to the project, so they must be trained in that particular area for the work that is being performed. These teams work on one project and then disband when it is completed. Parallel teams are made up of individuals who are picked from various different teams in the organization and brought together to work outside the organization temporarily. Parallel teams are different in that they are formed to produce a product or service that is not normally done within the organization. Management teams provide direction to and work within, to other teams under their leadership. Management teams are a group of managers responsible for different subunits were together form a team and establish should take a direction and manage the companys overall performance. Transnational teams have members in multiple countries and are different from other work teams because they are multicultural and geographically dispersed. Also transnational teams also tend to be virtual teams. A virtual team has members that are not located in the same location. They communicate through e-mail, telephone, or with a teleconference system. Virtual teams created difficult challenges because of the way they operate and communicate. Virtual teams are usually made up of self-managing professionals. Some of them are made up of individuals that are trained to do all or most the jobs for specific task and have no supervision. Usually, as with virtual teams, self managed teams make the decisions that are usually made by their supervisors. There are advantages and disadvantages of forming teams. Early studies have shown that under the right conditions teams make better decisions, develop better products and services, and create a more engaged workforce than do employees working alone (McShane p. 237). Most teams create an environment that promotes communication, motivation, and better work ethics. Most employees prefer to work in teams because it gives them a sense of belonging. The motivation to work can be strong when the team is part of the employees social identity and by being accountable to their team members who watches their performance and quality of work more than their supervisor would. The drawbacks of developing teams is that the teams take a lot of energy and resources to develop and that some of the members of the team may not be trained to the level of skills that are required to be at to perform the certain task asked of them. Another disadvantage of developing teams is that adding new members to an ex isting team may drawdown the process and quality of work performed by the team. Source: Retrieved from PM: Program Manager (Online) July August 2002 Issue p. 79 There are five stages of team development; they are forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjoining. Forming is when the members get acquainted with each other and figure out the benefits of staying in the team. During this stage the members learn about the evolving culture within the team and the social boundaries in its environment. The storming stage is when the members become more comfortable in the team that they begin to test the boundaries and become more competitive with each other. During this stage norms of appropriate behavior are established. Norms are the shared rules and expectations that are established to regulate the behaviors that are important to the members of the team. The norming stage is when the team members come together and gain trust within the team. As objectives are established the team members begin to form a consensus on the goals. During the performing stage the team member are resolving conflicts by themselves. The members adjust to changes in the environment easier than at any other time. The adjourning stage comes at the completion of the project, the members disband and move on to other projects and teams or as an old team they take on a new project and start the process all over again. Teambuilding is an ongoing process, even though the team is formed, the process of maintaining the team goes on throughout the project. The most important property of a team is cohesiveness. Cohesiveness is the degree to which a group is attractive to its members, members are motivated to remain in the group, and the members influence one another (Gordon 2010 p. 501). The two reasons why cohesiveness is important in the team is first, it contributes to the member satisfaction and second, cohesiveness has a major impact on the teams performance. An organizational planner may be called on by company to assist them in developing or managing their teams. To be successful in this you need to know about personal behaviors, team dynamics, and about the individual roles within a team. When constructing teams it is best to select team members who are trained to perform the required roles necessary for that job so they may become effective contributors to the team. There are two roles that must be performed within the team, first the team specialist is a role that is filled by an individual who has a particular job-related ski ll and ability, secondly the team maintenance specialists develop and maintain harmony within the team by boosting morale, giving support, providing humor, soothing hurt feelings, and generally exhibiting a concern with team members well-being. The most important facet for team effectiveness that an organization must know is that to enable the teams productivity and cohesiveness the members must have a clear and concise knowledge of what tasks and duties they are responsible for. As a team performs a job, the individuals within the team perform specific tasks the culmination of these tasks make up the jobs at the team is responsible for. Allowing team members to be involved with the leadership and decision-making process will also motivate them toward superior performance as well as assisting them in the understanding of what they are required to perform through clear communication. Being able to identify performance norms allows for adjustments in the team to achieve optimal output and member satisfaction. In an article about building a better team Kevin Mehok stated: Picking the right players is critical to building a solid team. There are so many aspects of this process. You need to have the right people for the right job (2010 p. 2). The following chart displays the high and low cohesiveness versus the high and low performance norms. (High cohesiveness and low performance norms shows that there is high goal attainment based on the groups perspective but there is a low task performance based on managements perspective. Source: retrieved from, /imagecache/book/28776/fwk-bauer-fig09_004.jpg>. Low cohesiveness and low performance shows that there is poor goal attainment and poor task performance. With high cohesiveness and high performance norms there is a high goal attainment and a high task performance whereas with the low cohesiveness and high performance norms there is moderate goal attainment and task performance. Non-cohesive groups with high performance norms can be effective from the companys standpoint; however they wont be as productive as they would be if they were more cohesive (Gordon 2010 p. 502). Being able to understand the teams cultural environment makes it easier to make adjustments if necessary to enhance the teams cohesiveness. Some of the cultural environments are the clan, adhocracy, market, and hierarchy. A summary of the Hawthorn White Paper (2009) described the four different cultures as in a clan when the members identify with the group like they would a family where the emphasis is on team and teamwork and the members are loyal and friendly. Adhocracy is when the members have a large amount of independence with an emphasis on developing cutting-edge products and services. Hierarchy is where tradition and formality are dominant values and the emphasis is on stability, rules, and efficient processes. Market is where the members are competitive, hard-working, and demanding with the emphasis on productivity and beating the competition. Teams that are operating effectively and efficiently can identify problems faster. This allows the members to feel more confident in the decision making process. Having confident team members also reduces constructive conflict. When building an effective team there are a few activities that can be performed to boost morale, communication, and trust, along with having a lot of fun. Activities can range anywhere from a simple 10 minute exercise to a week long adventure. Measuring how effective such one-time activities are in changing a culture is difficult, so team building now employs more subtle methods to break down mistrust, inadequate leadership, and weak communication among employees (Laff 2006 p. 1). The greatest effect of these activities is the members are awakened by the obstacles of working with others, this comes out at the end of the exercise when they discuss there experience with each other. Usually a company will hire someone to facilitate these team building activities. One of the activities is that Alan Chapman (2010) posted on his web site that a developer can facilitate. It is an experiment to explore the brains capability to estimate scale. Using sticky notes have the team members mark a distance of ten feet on the floor, a height of three feet on a wall, and a distance of one yard on a table. They must do this without a measuring device. Review the activities as appropriate for your purposes, points for example: What surprises did we find? What clues are there to peoples different abilities? What differences are there in guessing different types of scale? What creative methods were used in measuring? How does the brain guess something? In work/life how do we decide when to guess and when to measure, and are these the best criteria? How can we make our guessing more reliable? (If exercises are performed in teams) are team guesses more reliable than individual guesses? What merit is there in the Wisdom of Crowds in guessing and making intuitive judgments? At the end of the exercise the facilitator will provide an assessment of the effectiveness that the activities provided the organization along with possible follow up events to maintain team cohesiveness. Have a facilitator draw out the dynamics using the Socratic Method of learning to tie together what happens in the office setting with what the members just experienced. Also remember to remind participants that they are not at the office, many of the activities still contain some form of gaming (Laff 2006, p. 1). Training team members to operate in the environment around them and not to hide from it, ignore it, and to not fight it will further enhance their efficiency in the team. May organizations are looking to streamline their operations, one of the tools they can turn to is hiring team building facilitators to perform exercises and give feedback. Of all of the functions an organizational developer performs to analyze, troubleshoot, and coach an organization toward their optimal output, team building is one of the most effective.

Essay --

Address: Block 257 Serangoon Central Drive #05-24, Singapore 550257 Phone: 83827470 E-mail: syng5@e.ntu.edu.sg ________________________________________ Career Objective I am a fresh graduate seeking a career in the civil engineering industries. With my background in Civil & Structural engineering, I believe that the skills I have acquired during the course of my education would be of value in a civil engineering and/or construction setting. Besides application of these skills, I also desire to progress in these skills and look forward to learn new skills during the course of my career. Being keen and enthusiastic individual, I pride myself on picking up new knowledge and skills. In conclusion, I am confident that my self-discipline, interpersonal skills, thus the ability to work and accomplish tasks efficiently in a team would be beneficial in any organization I am a part of. ________________________________________ Education Nanyang Technological University August 2011 – Current School of Civil and Environmental Engineering Bachelor of Engineering (Honors) in Civil Engineering CGPA: 3.49 During my course of study, I completed modules in Fluid mechanics, Mechanics of materials, Reinforced Concrete Design, Steel Design, Foundation Engineering, Structural Analysis, Computer Aided design, Transportation Engineering, CE management, Geotechnical Engineering, . Besides these core-engineering modules, I also completed modules in Human Resource Management, Marketing and went to Vietnam for a 6 months internship program with CapitaLand Vietnam. Singapore Polytechnic Apr 2006 - May 2009 School of Built Environment Diploma in Civil & Structural Engineering CGPA: 3.3 During my course of st... ...my specialization. I was exposed to site work which enables me to conduct various construction inspections, and coordinate with respective contractors to propose and rectify various projects. Hence these have enabled me to have a first-hand experience in site supervision. Having mentioned my work experience that is closely related to the field, I believe that I would be an asset to your company if ever I will be hired for the position. My strong dedication and experience to the field would make me an asset to your team. Attached herein is my resume with addition information for your kind consideration. I would be very willing to present myself for an interview at your most convenient time. I can be reached anytime via email at syng5@e.ntu.edu.sg or at my mobile, 83827470. Thank you for your time and consideration. Yours Faithfully, Melvin Ng Si Yong (Mr)

Expectations versus Reality in Stephen Cranes The Red Badge of Courage

Expectations versus Reality in Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage The notion that war is an exciting, romantic endeavor full of glory and heroism has existed for centuries.   Stephen Crane set out to demystify war through his novel The Red Badge of Courage, which traces the experiences of a young soldier in the American Civil War. Crane shows the true nature of war by contrasting Henry Fleming's romantic expectations with the reality that he encounters. This contrast between romantic vision and cold reality can be seen early in the novel, with Henry's departure from home. Driven to a "prolonged ecstasy of excitement" by the rejoicing crowd, Henry enlists in the army and says good-bye to his mother with a "light of excitement and expectancy in his eyes" (709). He anticipates a romantic, sentimental send-off reminiscent of Spartan times and even goes as far as preparing remarks in advance which he hopes to use "with touching effect" to create "a beautiful scene" (710). However, Crane presents a more realistic view. At the news of Henry's enlistment, his mother simply says "The Lord's will be done" and continues milking the cow, having previously urged Henry not to be "a fool" by enlisting (709). She then destroys his hopes by offering sensible,... ...es in anguish while his friend Jim suffers and dies. Today, many of the romantic myths about war have been destroyed through television and movies such as Born on the Fourth of July, which shows war with all its suffering, pain, and death. Yet it was Stephen Crane who, a century ago, deglorified war through the experiences of Henry Fleming. With his frequent contrasts between romantic vision and cold reality, Crane clearly portrays the true horrors of war. Work Cited Crane, Stephen. The Red Badge of Courage. Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Geroge McMichael, et al. 5th ed.Vol. 2. New York: Macmillan, 1993. 707-87.

Philosophy that was born during the Renaissance Essay

Humanism is a philosophy that was born during the Renaissance, beginning in Florence in the last decades of the 14th century. The theory introduced new ways of thinking that allowed people to question and interpret the Bible anyway they wish. Prior to Humanism, people lived their lives under the impression that it was all to serve god. It wasn’t until people began taking an interest in the work of Greek philosophers that true appreciation of human life became apparent. Humanism inspired people to believe that their life was meaningful and that they were capable of more than just working to please God. The key principle of the theory was that â€Å"human beings are not subject to God or any divine agency. They have no obligation to love, fear or obey any such supernatural agent.† (Victor A.Gunasekara) When the importance of human life prevailed, there was no longer a strained religious perception of earth and society and this is when the freedom of art and self-expression truly took form. Art was no longer a way of glorifying God, but a way of showing individualism and creativity within ones self. The origins of Humanism can be found in the Golden Age of Greek Philosophy. Xenophanes (580 BCE) said, â€Å"If cattle had hands and drew pictures of Gods, Gods would look like cows† making it patent that Gods are of our own making. When Protagoras (450 BCE) wrote, â€Å"Man is the measure of all things, of things that are that they are, and of things that are not that they are not.† he was accused of impiety and was banished for creating such freethinking sentiments that would be considered thoroughly unorthodox for his time. His words are metaphorical of us ‘knowing the world by our own proportion, from our point of view.’ He crafted the idealistic principle of human perception that shaped the humanism philosophy we know today. Humanism was not limited to mental thoughts and ideas on the value of human life, but shown physically through a spectrum of art mediums. The theory shaped various aspects of Renaissance art including the content, style and subject matter of all art forms. During the middle ages, well before Humanism took form, art was notable for glorifying and praising God. During this time, all art was assigned from the church and so the subject matter consisted of mainly biblical themes, stories and characters. Within these paintings, man wasn’t portrayed with anatomical accurateness, but as a small, off scale and minor element next to a much larger religious figure. Within almost all of Middle Age artworks, biblical figures were seen is the most powerful and most important; and so they were made to look exceedingly larger than people or children, who were painted on a much smaller scale. The importance of these religious figures was also shown through height and placement within the picture. They were often painted higher than other figures, adding to the overall impersonal and symbolic outlook of Middle Age art. Because most of the work at this time was so religious, people weren’t able to connect and view art for the purpose of enjoyment, but for worshiping a higher presence. Take the Ognissanti Madonna (1310) for example. The painter, Giotto, depicts Mary and her son with saints surrounding them. They’re portrayed as very large, while everyone else in the painting is very small. Neither of the two are life size nor are they anatomically accurate. However the most obvious aspect within the painting is the overstated size of the two most important biblical figures, Mary and Jesus. This was the conventional style of Middle Age art. The value of human life was never considered, nor was it illustrated through paintings or sculpture. During the late 14th century, Artists began looking at natural depictions of the world and ancient pagan culture. The notion of human form that characterized medieval art was supplanted with the concept of full anatomical accuracy. With the celebration of human life, precision of the human body within paintings and sculptures became a crucial part of depicting the realistic perception within art, one that was not justified by any singular religious context but ones desire for perfection. People began painting secular subjects and portraying man with the same importance that was used for religious figures within the Middle Ages. When the prominence of human life prevailed, people began taking an interest in the accurate portrayal of human characters. This provoked a range of pictorials to be created in parallel with the human form, reflecting the balanced and symmetrical form of the human body in art. Artists began creating precise proportions or the ’golden mean’ in order to establish symmetrical and harmonious composition within a varied spectrum of art mediums. The Golden Mean is the desirable middle between two extremes and is given the number Phi(= 1.618033988749895†¦) Commonly known as the ‘divine proportion’ to Renaissance artists, the Golden Mean was used for atheistic appeal and balance within architecture, but was often used effectively for other visual art forms, such as paintings or sculptures. Collective to the Greek mentality, the golden mean was considered an attribute of beauty that included symmetry, proportion and harmony. The Golden Mean can â€Å"be derived with a number of geometric constructions, each of which divides a line segment at the unique point where: the ratio of the whole line (A) to the large segment (B) is the same as the ratio of the large segment (B) to the small segment (C).† (http://www.goldennumber.net/golden-section/) Paintings, buildings and sculptures adapted and drew inspiration from classical roman structures (a time when the Golden Mean was recognized To Greeks as dividing a line in the extreme and mean ratio) during the High Renaissance period in order to interlace the crucial ascetic appeal that was desired when Humanism was at great interest. High Renaissance style architecture conventionally begins with Donato Bramante (1444-1514) who built the Tempietto at S.Pietro in Montorio, Rome in 1510. The Tempietto ‘’is an attempt at reconciling Christian and humanist ideals’’. With no limitations of Humanism on any particular art medium, Michelangelo’s sculpture of David in (1501) is a perfect example of its boundless effect on accurately conveying the human body with precise proportions and measurements. Other works relating to Humanism included The Birth of Venus (1485), by Botticelli. Prior to Humanism, the majority of art appeared two dimensional or flat. These artists were one of the first to begin adding vast details and highlighting the illusion of space, form and dimension in all art mediums. Combining these and taking into mind perspective (the notable technique of all Renaissance artworks) they ultimately crafted the image of humanist art; molding the backbone of the High Renaissance. In order to embrace this philosophy within art, artists needed to explore the relationship between the human body and mathematics. These artists are one of the many from the High Renaissance period to articulate this relationship physically through multiple art forms. Before the High Renaissance, there was Early Renaissance. During the mid 14th century, architects such as Leon Battista Alberti and Flippo Brunelleschi began taking an interest in proportion. The concept was that a building should be â€Å"fitted together with such proportion and connection, that nothing could be added, diminished or altered, but for the worse.† (Alberti) The rising theory of proportions was looked into by a number of artists and many architects such as Alberti and Brunelleschi over a long Period of time, but it wasn’t until Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man (1490) that people started to take it seriously. Not limiting himself to just art, but exploring the realms of math, music and science, da Vinci used his experience and knowledge to establish the link between art and mathematics. Some would say that his work acted as a catalyst towards the start of the High Renaissance and that he was able to pave the way for painters, sculptures and architects that were interested in creating realistic dynamics of human proportion within their art medium. When Michelangelo was commissioned in 1501 by the Board of Works for Florence Cathedral to sculpt David from marble, he used the opportunity to illustrate the true growth of the art movement and the influence of Humanism on various art forms. Michelangelo works against the medieval concept of humanity, a time where man was seen as sinful, immoral and ‘born of dirt’. He shows David before the fight, highlighting his ability as a human to make conscious decisions and a choice to commit himself to act. This depiction of man is one who can become godlike through his own intellect and power of will. Compare this David to Donatello’s David, made out of bronze during the 1440’s. Donatello depicts David as a young boy, looking rather effeminate in a shepherd hat and boots. He’s shown with a smug smile and his foot on Goliaths severed head subsequent to the battle. Donatello’s version of David is an interpretation of the biblical text. His feminine like physic serves the purpose of clarifying that his triumph in throwing the stone at Goliath was not of his own doing, but rather God’s will. He is created very close to the biblical story, having hat and boots typical of a shepherd, where as Michelangelo’s David’s complete nudity shows how he has stripped almost all biblical context from him, focusing entirely on the human entity. He is no young, scrawny boy that follows God blindly, but a man with the ability to make his own choices and fight his own battles. His full nudity shows the true beauty of the human anatomy, which fascinated Michelangelo. Not only has his work shaped the perception of humanity through symbolic catalysts, but through the riveting recreation of the human form with accurate proportions, illustrating the perfect use of the golden mean. It is clear that a grave amount of thought and work went into creating an accurate insight towards the human body. David’s hands and upper body are made slightly larger in order for the human form to look accurate and proportional when seen from the ground. The truthful portrayal of vein and muscle within the body highlights the humanistic elements within the sculpture. In contrast to this, Donatello’s David looks quite unusual and incongruous, although he was sculpted at a younger age than Michelangelo’s David, their anatomical differences are distinct in a way that can’t go unrecognized. Donatello’s work shows shoulders and a chest that are diminutive and slightly disproportioned to the rest of the body. Prior to Humanism, there wasn’t this striving focus for anatomical excellence within art for anyone unless they were a religious character holding the supremacy over man kind that everyone once believed they had. His work on David provided the humanist vision with its first and most prevailing artistic expression. He’s shown as a strong and heroic man, not a smug boy as shown in Donatello’s sculpture. The Birth of Venus, painted by Bottichelli in 1486 is a celebration of Renaissance Humanism, depicting the classical myth. The picture is very calming and somber, focusing on the true beauty of Venus with warm and soft tones. Venus, Goddess of Love, is shown emerging from the sea on a shell, parallel to the story of her birth. There is an emphasis on sea imagery that was used to please church authorities. Zephyr and Chloris are blowing her to the shore with wind, amongst a shower of flowers, while a Nymph, Flora, is reaching out to cover her naked body with a cloak. The nudity of Venus was very unconventional at the time; primarily, pictorials of naked women were only shown through portrayals of Eve; but here Venus stands; completely naked and not in a biblical context. In a time when almost all artwork was of Christian theme, the honest portrayal of Venus and the secular imagery had a crucial impact on High Renaissance art and was a catalyst for other artists to explore humanistic elements within their work. Venus, the goddess of love is depicted in human form with such magnificence and accuracy that humanist themes are not suggested, but a manifest to Botticelli’s audience. Godly figures began taking form of earthly beings and showing the true exquisiteness of the female body. There is a de-emphasis of deep space in order to stress the sense of pattern and beauty that defines the painting. Flora is not giving the cloth for just modesty, but giving her the ‘veil of wisdom’. She shows us how great intellectual gifts are always concealed from plain sight. Botticelli’s portrayal of the female body is used to further drive ideas of Humanism. Her physique is quite an accurate and refreshing portrayal compared to earlier years were nudity was not yet established in non biblical paintings. Her stomach is a truthful portrayal of what a women with some muscle tone in her abdomen would have, the legs and arms are somewhat shapely, showing the female body in its most natural form. Venus in this painting is both humble and pure. It’s plausible that one of the main themes within this painting, second to Venus’s birth; is the idea of beauty. The picture has a decorative quality to it; not only does it showcase the substantial change in art during the High Renaissance, but its symbolic of a rich classical history, reinvention and an earthly world view. It is through The Birth of Venus, and many other High Renaissance paintings, where the true impact of Humanism is made clear. Artists would incorporate Greek and Roman mythology as apposed to writing and painting about biblical texts. This was because humanists turned to the classics for inspiration, and so these were often the themes of High Renaissance art. The inspiration of Greek Philosophers inspired those within this period to strive less for divinity. This painting is one of the many to depict Roman or Greek deities, other famous works include Mars and Venus and The School of Athens. One of the most outstanding changes during the High Renaissance period was Architecture. The statement that man is the measure of all things is mirrored within different art mediums, showing a great point of difference within humanist and non-humanist architecture. Humanism meant that architects built not only churches, but palaces and buildings exposing ideals of classical styles. Humanism gave people a chance to look for inspiration from ancient Greeks and thus buildings took influence from the Ancient Classic period. One of the highlights in High Renaissance Architecture is the Tempietto, built in 1502 by Donato Bramante. The building marks the crucifixion site of St Peter and follows selected traditions from the Christian building the Martyria while employing classical principles that create a geometric ideal. Both ancient Greeks and ancient Romans employed the circular plan that governs the perception of the Tempietto. The devotion to symmetrical perfection makes it clear of Bramante’s conscious decision to recreate this in a way that is not only true to the humanist theory, but one that depicts the thoughts of the ancient roman writer Vitruvias, who studied and wrote about architecture and correct proportions within it. Bramante is really following this line of thought with the Tempietto. He’s created a radial building with a round structure that is very dissimilar to the traditional crucifix form of church, which is based on the ancient basilica. His work is considered almost nothing short of architectural brilliance, due to his innovative techniques at changing the orthodox designs of churches and buildings. The building is the perfect example of the relationship between ideal ancient geometry and the divine. Geometry was thought by the ancient Greeks and again later in the Renaissance to be a vehicle in which we can imagine the perfection of heaven. The Tempietto is a building that truly celebrates Humanism. It’s believed to show how man can produce exemplars on earth of the perfection of the heavenly, using correct geometrical structures and symmetrical portrayals. This is similar to that of the golden mean, while relating to the work of Michelangelo and Botticelli, where Humanism was celebrated through the accurate portrayal of the human form. The Humanist theory allowed Bramante to make these changes within architecture; he drew inspiration from classical traditions while making his own original decisions to enhance the symmetrical nature of the Tempietto. His work is similar to that of classical origins, but he allowed for variation. Greek and Romans would not put pilaster that pairs with the columns of the building, however Bramante did. By aligning the true columns with the false columns, he was able to maximize the radial quality and overall centrifugal theme of the building. The Tempietto shows a rhythm, one that was definitely inspired by classical antiquity, the Doric Order in particular. The columns of the Tempietto are a roman variant of the first level of the Coliseum. Depicting the styles of the Doric Order, there are triglyphs and metopes above the columns. Mitchell Beazley was literal when he wrote; â€Å"The emphasis here is on the harmony of proportions, the simplicity of volumes (cylinder, hemisphere) and the sobriety of the Doric Order. The circular plan symbolizes divine perfection. Inspired by ancient temples, the Tempietto is both a homage to antiquity and a Christian memorial.† Humanisms affect on architecture was one of the largest. Despite differing in architectural elements, different styles of columns were explored throughout all High Renaissance architecture, utilizing techniques that show proportion and highlighting themes of classical tradition. Nearly all buildings constructed after Humanism follow these principles and show a vivid influence of ancient Greek and Roman cultures. The Humanist movement allowed architects to make changes in what they were creating. They drew inspiration from classical architecture, traditions and even philosophies and refabricated it within new architectural masterpieces that shaped the Humanist theory in many inconceivable ways. Alberti and Brunehlleschi were a crucial aspect in the innovation of humanist architecture. They were no Greek philosophers, however they employed the idea of symmetrical excellence and inspired the creations of many renowned and prominent buildings including the Tempietto itself. Many great architects of the high renaissance period such as Bramante and Michalangelo were captivated by this idea and were thus able to shape traditions and techniques to produce the conventional high renaissance architecture style that we’re accustomed to today. Inclusive to classical traditions, architects began taking the beauty of human proportions and reflecting it through architecture, similar to the way humanist painters and sculptors depicted the human form with symmetrical perfection. Humanism was noted for 3 things. The revival of classical Greek/Roman art forms and styles, faith in the nobility of man as apposed to pure worship of religious or god-like figures; and finally the appreciation of the human body, that influenced almost all artists and architects of the era to portray this accurately in their work. Humanism shaped the art of the High Renaissance period through a change in architectural style and content; subject matter of paintings and sculptors; and a difference in the anatomical structure and proportions of man. People became important and an appreciation for human life fell apparent through a range of art where human history and perspective was no longer considered sinful, but was explored multiple times with a range of artists. Humanism provoked the study of classical and mythological traditions. Paintings began to depict Roman or Greek deities. Biblical figures no longer subjugated artworks with height and proportion, but became equal to man. Sculptors began creating humanist characters that were strong and noble, architects began referring to classical and ancient antiquity for new innovation towards humanist architecture†¦ the freedom of thought and self expression was at its highest.

Proposition 19 Essay

The legality of marijuana has been the subject for debate and controversy for decades. With the new generation, the number of supporters of marijuana legalization has increased dramatically. In the United States, legalizing marijuana is a major concern because it is the most frequently used illegal drug. Nearly 98 million Americans over the age of 12 have tried marijuana at least once. Politicians have thought of legalizing marijuana to increase revenue by imposing taxes. At the forefront of this idea is California, which is currently the most populous state in the United States yet has the highest budget deficit of all states. Also, California has the 5th highest unemployment rates exceeding 12 percent. In 2009, the California economic crisis became severe as the state faced bankruptcy. This budget shortfall has caused the state to look for ways out. California’s way out of a huge budget deficit begins with Proposition [5] Proposition 19 also known as the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 would legalize various marijuana activities, allow local government to regulate these activities, allow for marijuana related government axes, and authorizes various criminal and civil penalties by local government. The California ballot for Proposition 19 opened on November 2, 2010 in California, hoping to change the fate of marijuana legalization in America forever. The bill failed, but only trailed the outcome by nearly 500 votes. 4] Among the arguments for the passing of Proposition 19 was that legalizing marijuana in California could reduce drug-related violence, based on a study conducted by the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy. In addition some believe that it would help alleviate the drug war in Mexico. Based on the theory adopted by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy that up to 60% of Mexican drug cartels’ profits come from sales of marijuana, legalizing the drug in nearby California would drastically cut their funding. As a result, supporters of this argument believed that legalization would lead to a decrease in drug-related violent crime in Mexico. [3] Also cited were a savings of $960 million per year in law enforcement costs, and a generation of $350 million a year in state and local tax revenues. Supporters also argued that passing the measure would result in additional benefits including tourism and spinoff ndustries such as cafes and paraphernalia. Based on California’s wine industry, proponents of this theory anticipated that legalizing marijuana in the state could generate up to $18 billion, including the creation of 60,000-110,000 Jobs. [4] Perhaps one of the most well-known arguments for the legalization of Marijuana is to treat conditions including pain and nausea caused by HIV/AIDS, cancer and other conditions. When presented with all the information above it’s easy to see why so many people can rationalize their decision to support Proposition 19. Increasing revenue and employment rate’s while decreasing law enforcement costs and crime, ll by providing the public with a safe â€Å"wonder drug† to aid in a variety of ailments. What could e better? Untortunately though all these claims seem viable none ot them can escape scrutiny. To address Marijuana as a potential drug, scientific evidence needs to be provided to substantiate the claims. To date the evidence is not sufficient for the marijuana plant to gain FDA approval, for two main reasons. First, there have not been enough clinical trials showing that marijuana’s benefits outweigh its health risks in patients with the symptoms it is meant to treat. The FDA equires carefully conducted studies in large numbers of patients (hundreds to thousands) to accurately assess the benefits and risks of a potential medication. [5] Also, to be considered a legitimate medicine, a substance must have well-defined and measureable ingredients that are consistent from one unit (such as a pill or injection) to the next. This consistency allows doctors to determine the dose and frequency. As the marijuana plant contains hundreds of chemical compounds that may have different effects and that vary from plant to plant, its use as a medicine is difficult to evaluate. However, THC-based drugs to treat pain and nausea are already FDA approved and prescribed, and scientists continue to investigate the medicinal properties of cannabinoids. Regarding the supposed economic benefits of taxing marijuana, some comparison with two drugs that are already regulated and taxed, alcohol and tobacco is worth considering. People dont typically grow their own tobacco or distill their own spirits, so consumers accept high taxes on them as retail products. Marijuana, though, is easy and cheap to cultivate, indoors or out, and Proposition 19 would allow individuals to grow as much as 25 square feet of arijuana for â€Å"personal consumption. â€Å"Why would people volunteer to pay high taxes on marijuana if it were legalized? The answer is that many would not, and the underground market, adapting to undercut any new taxes, would barely diminish at all. This bill also implied that marijuana would be regulated and controlled by the initiative. In fact, the law provides for no regulation or control, but leaves it up to local governments to initiate such controls and or regulations. In addition, there are no provisions to tax marijuana cultivation or use in the initiative. Instead, such taxation, f it ever happens will be left to local governments. In fact, a provision of the initiative specifically prevents the state of California from taxing marijuana sales any more than the usual sales tax in contrast to cigarettes and liquor. 1] Since the enforcement of locally enacted taxation will be next to impossible, there will never be any significant revenue produced through this initiative. Another major conflict is that this bill would create a state law that conflicts with federal drug laws. On the surface, this does not seem to be a big deal, since President Obama has stated that e won’t enforce the federal law in California. Howe ver, there is another issue that could cause the loss of billions of dollars to the state. Public contracts and grants require grantees to effectively enforce the drug-free workplace requirements (which includes marijuana use) outlined by the federal government’s Federal Workplace Act of 1988. Not only may schools lose their federal grants, but medical research institutions, could lose millions of dollars annually The current healthcare and criminal Justice costs associated with alcohol and tobacco far surpass the tax revenue hey generate, and very little of the taxes collected on these substances is contributed to offsetting their substantial social and health costs. For every dollar society collects in taxes on alcohol, for example, we end up spending eight more in social cos ts That is hardly a recipe tor fiscal health A recent Rand Corp. report, â€Å"Altered State,† found that it is difficult to predict estimated revenue from marijuana taxes, and that legalization would increase consumption but could also lead to widespread tax evasion and a â€Å"race to the bottom† in terms of local tax rates. Perhaps the biggest concern is safety on the roads. In 2010 a comment was made by a formal General Sergeant that â€Å"driving under the influence of Marijuana is much like being under the influence of Alcohol. In response an experiment was conducted by two local Los Angeles Journalists who decided to take a car and drive stoned. With the help from the California Highway Patrol the highway was closed to the public and several obstacles were arranged simulating how a driver might need to operate in heavy traffic. The experiment, said one of the Journalists â€Å"was to see how impaired I was after smoking pot† California has more drivers than any other state, 22 million of hem. So the big concern was if legalizing marijuana would make the roads less safe. The proponents of Proposition 19 insist it won’t. The common conception among supporters is that the impairment is rather slight like taking an antihistamine. The journalists certainly found that driving and drugs don’t mix. One of them nearly veered off the highway through a test course. â€Å"l wasn’t 0k, so that was kind of shocking to me† said one of the drivers. But safety seems to be a big reason support for proposition 19 dropped. 1 percent opposed and 39 percent supported in a poll conducted before the bill was denied in 2010. 5] To give credibility to the tests conducted by the Journalist’s we can explore the affects Marijuana has on the brain. When marijuana is smoked, THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body. THC acts upon specific molecular targets on brain cells, calle d cannabinoid receptors. These receptors are ordinarily activated by chemicals similar to THC called endocannabinoids, such as anandamide. These are naturally occurring in the body and are part of a neural communication network (the endocannabinoid system) that lays an important role in normal brain development and function The highest density of cannabinoid receptors is found in parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement. Marijuana over activates the endocannabinoid system, causing the high and other effects that users experience. These include distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and disrupted learning and memory. Because it seriously impairs Judgment and motor coordination, marijuana also contributes to accidents while driving. A recent analysis of data from several studies found that marijuana use more than doubles a driver’s risk of being in an accident. Further, the combination of marijuana and alcohol is worse than either substance alone with respect to driving impairment. As a recreational drug, marijuana is not quite as benign as most of its proponents would claim. Heavvy marijuana use results in long-term effects on the brain, including lower responses in those areas which are affected by THC. Although users are able to compensate somewhat through the use of other brain areas, the long term effects of his damage, as user’s age, has not been determined. This damage may be responsible for impairments noted in short-term and long-term memory, along with a host of possible other psychiatric illnesses. Regular use of marijuana use by young people can nave especially negative long lasting impact on the structure and tunction of their brains. A recent study of marijuana users who began using in adolescence revealed a profound deficit in connections between brain areas responsible for learning and memory. And a large prospective study (following individuals across ime) showed that people who began smoking marijuana heavily in their teens lost as much as 8 points in IQ between age 13 and age 38; importantly, the lost cognitive abilities were not restored in those who quit smoking marijuana as adults. [4] A proportion of marijuana users become addicted and suffer from classic withdrawal symptoms upon abstinence. For a minority of users, marijuana is a gateway drug, and they proceed to use and abuse more powerful psychostimulants. Besides its effects upon the brain, Marijuana raises heart rate by 20-100 percent shortly after smoking; this effect can last up to 3 hours. In one study, it was estimated that marijuana users have a 4. 8-fold increase in the risk of heart attack in the first hour after smoking the drug. This may be due to increased heart rate as well as the effects of marijuana on heart rhythms, causing palpitations and arrhythmias. Marijuana use can lead to increased risks for respiratory cancers and may have some adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular effects in some users. Marijuana smoke has been placed on the California Proposition 65 list of carcinogenic materials, as required by California law for materials proven to cause cancer. 5] Marijuana use during pregnancy has been shown to result in lower child intelligence, while increasing the incidence of mental health problems. The idea that marijuana is a harmless recreational pastime has been disproved through continuing scientific research. Although this bill was denied the continued support for legalizing Marijuana is great, ensuring that this is a topic that will be an issue of debate for years to come. In my opinion we don’t need all the problems that will result from the passage of Proposition 19 . This bill would established a legal â€Å"right† to use marijuana, potentially endangering the lives of thers through allowing intoxicated individuals to perform crucial driving Jobs. In addition, this bill could result in the loss of billions of dollars in federal grants and contracts to schools and hospitals, which would be unable to comply with federal drug-free workplace requirements. Contrary to the claims of proponents, Prop 19 would neither regulate, control, nor tax marijuana, but merely provides the legal right of local governments to create their own hodgepodge of local laws and ordinances, which would be virtually impossible to enforce. Although marijuana use does not egatively impact all users, it does have numerous adverse health effects on a significant percentage of individuals, which will result in increased medical and social costs to the people of California. This was a poorly written initiative that needs to make drastic revisions before it can be considered, in addition to the conduction of more scientific research needs to be done to determine future health risks for the users.