Friday, November 29, 2019

The Benetton Group Essay Example For Students

The Benetton Group Essay Benetton, the world famous clothing producer, once again dives into social issues that the United States may not be ready for. The Italy based group is well known for their shocking world issue advertisements that only bear the company logo. In fact, Benettons advertisements traditionally do not feature the clothes it sells; only the issues play the lead role. After years of controversy over ads such as AIDS, war, interracial relationships, and priests kissing nuns, it may be time for Benetton to campaign about something other than controversial social issues, like clothes. On January 1, 2000, Benettons new advertising campaign wasnt about sweaters or pants, but about convicted murderers that are on death row. The death row ads feature portraits of American death row inmates in prison uniforms with the slogan Sentenced to Death. The ads give the inmates name, date of birth, crime, and expected method of execution. Within the campaign, inmates also talk about topics ranging from their childhood to their dreams, everything except their victims. According to CNN, victims rights advocates are outraged as well as are the individuals that lost loved ones to the profiled inmates. Once again, Benetton is faced with another controversy that could perhaps worsen their already poor US market share. According to the New York Stock Exchange, where The Benetton Group is publicly traded, it seems that the company has lost over ten dollars per share since their peak of 50 15/16 in January.This decrease could be attributed to many things, but perhaps the most significan t was the February announcement that Sears would immediately pull Benetton designed clothes from all 400 of its stores that had been selling the Benetton USA line. The Benetton USA line was specifically designed for Sears when the two companies joined last summer to introduce a new line of juniors, kids, and mens apparel. Troubled by the campaign, Sears renegotiated its contract with Benetton to gain the right to preview future Benetton ad campaigns. A revised clause in the contract also gave Sears the ability to withdraw from the deal without penalty if the two parties were unable to agree on future campaigns, according to CNN. Regardless of these changes, the controversy was too significant for Sears to ignore due to the hundreds of consumer complaints that poured into the store after the campaign released. According to the February 21, 2000 article in Advertising Age, a Sears spokesman said the chain allied itself with Benetton because We thought they were past that and had come to a point where they were interested in selling merchandise. The whole episode is tragic, for the victims, for Sears and for Benetton. We will write a custom essay on The Benetton Group specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now However, Sears is not the only one taking action against the company. According to CNN, it was announced on February 10, 2000 that the state of Missouri was suing Benetton for ads featuring death row inmates that reside in Missouri prisons. Missouri claims that the company deceived the state when it used the death row inmates as part of its ad campaign. The state thought the inmates were being interviewed for a project sponsored by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. In addition, according to the February 19, 2000 article in The Economist, a Benetton spokesperson in New York admitted that payment was made to two inmates for the rights to their likeness. The state accuses Benetton of fraudulent misrepresentation, trespass by deceit and trespass by exceeding the scope of consent. Although the problems with Sears and Missouri could have significantly decreased the overall value of Benetton, the fact remains that consumers ultimately decide the fate of a company by whet her or not they shop there. It seems that sources such as CNN, Wall Street Journal, and Advertising Age, among others, have touched upon US consumer reactions to the new ad campaign. Overall, it is not being accepted well in the United States and an already weak market will continue to weaken as long as Benetton refuses to change its US advertising techniques. According to the Washington Post, Benetton is standing by its campaign. In fact, its US director of communications stated, Once again, its very hard for people to see what were doing and understand that its

Monday, November 25, 2019

Right-Skewed Distribution What Does It Mean

Right-Skewed Distribution What Does It Mean SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Studying statistics? Then you've likely heard the phrase "normal distribution" when describing data. But what about the phrase "skewed right"? What does a right-skewed histogram look like? And what causes it? In this article, we give you examples of histograms skewed to the right and explain how these differ from normal distribution graphs. Feature image: Monika Wahi/Wikimedia Commons What Is Normal Distribution? Before we explain what it means when data is skewed right, let's review the definition of normal distribution. With normal distribution, two or more variables share a direct relationship to make a symmetrical data set, on which the left half mirrors the right half. These graphs are called bell curves due to their clearly defined, bell-like shape: On a normal distribution graph, the mean (average), median, and mode are all equal. These points all represent the center of the data, or the peak of the graph. What Does Skewed Right Mean? While normal distribution is one of the most common forms of distribution, not all data sets follow this basic curve. In other words, some histograms are skewed to the right or left. With right-skewed distribution (also known as "positively skewed" distribution), most data falls to the right, or positive side, of the graph's peak. Thus, the histogram skews in such a way that its right side (or "tail") is longer than its left side. Example of a right-skewed histogram. On a right-skewed histogram, the mean, median, and mode are all different. In this case, the mode is the highest point of the histogram, whereas the median and mean fall to the right of it (or, visually, the right of the peak). Note that the mean will always be to the right of the median. Graph A is skewed right, while Graph B is skewed left. With right-skewed graphs, the mean always comes to the right of the mode (i.e., the peak). (Asitgoes/Wikimedia Commons)[ These features ultimately make it difficult to assign a typical value as there is no clear center point on a right-skewed graph. By contrast, with normal distribution, because the mean, median, and mode are all equal and come at the center of the data set, you can easily use this value to more accurately generalize the data. What Causes a Right-Skewed Histogram? Data skewed to the right is usually a result of a lower boundary in a data set (whereas data skewed to the left is a result of a higher boundary). So if the data set's lower bounds are extremely low relative to the rest of the data, this will cause the data to skew right. Another cause of skewness is start-up effects. For example, if a procedure initially has a lot of successes during a long start-up period, this could create a positive skew on the data. (On the opposite hand, a start-up period with several initial failures can negatively skew data.)

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Construction - Contemporary studies (sustainability, legislation, Essay

Construction - Contemporary studies (sustainability, legislation, built enviroment, protect plant and wildlife) - Essay Example Also, this would also help the public to understand the penalty applicable if any blatant violations of the regulations are made. European Commission in its sixth and the present action plan for the environmental management termed as â€Å"Environment : 2010 Our future Our Choice† has identified nature and the biodiversity as two priority areas that need to be given proper attention to ensure sustainable development in a region. In this connection various action plans in the form of regulations and community participative strategies are being formulated and put these ideas into practice. As builders and construction contractors are the most involved group with the nature and biodiversity , an awareness on the acts relating to the legislations and regulations would help the plan the development process without infringing the prevailing regulations and norms (Begon et al, 1996, Ratcliffe, 1977). The significant legislations by the UK government to manage construction while preserving the wildlife are as follows. This legislation is exclusive to England and Wales inorder to strengthen the protection given to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and other wildlife locations. The duty of its strict enforcement is rested with the government ministers and officials of both England and Wales. This is the important legislation that has strong implication on construction contractors. It is now considered as criminal offence to disturb and damage those nesting birds and species which is protected under various schedules. The legislation have been brought into force for England and Wales inorder to protect various species of the trees. The local planning authority would place a order on the protection of certain trees or their group for the proper conservation of these biomass for the purpose of better living environment. This regulation is applicable in England and Wales and provides adequate protection to

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Dangers of Underage Drinking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Dangers of Underage Drinking - Essay Example Almost a third of college students exhibit a high-risk alcohol consumption behavior. The authors claim that these behaviors lead to the excessive alcohol consumption that not only affects the performance of the students but also drives them to alcohol dependence. Combined with environmental cues and exposure to stress, past sexual or physical abuse, college students are likely to continue drinking up to the alcohol dependency level (McGuiness & Kelly, 2012).   Exposure to stressors such as memories of abuse complicates treatment or recovery and may cause treated individuals to start drinking again. Individuals consume more alcohol if they face severe stressors. McGuiness & Kelly (2012) also note that lack of social support also serves to increase the rate of alcohol consumption. Users hope to get a time off from the difficulties they face in life though alcohol consumption.The article documents treatment options that are most viable for college students. The motivation enhancement therapy is one intervention that seeks to identify the causes of the drinking behavior, sources reasons for abstaining from alcohol consumption and the emphasis on the dangers of alcohol consumption. The prevention of relapse entails the identification of stressors such as financial stressors, relationship issues and environmental cues (McGuiness & Kelly, 2012). From this identification, there is an implementation of coping strategies as well as measures to curb the influence of the surrounding environment.

Monday, November 18, 2019

The opportunities and challenges that a Chinese firm faces while Essay

The opportunities and challenges that a Chinese firm faces while entering into Saudi Arabian market - Essay Example The present research has identified that in the recent times, it has been observed that increasing number of firms are going global which includes sectors like manufacturing, service, art, music and film among others. International business leads to enhanced flow of capital, services as well as ideas across the world. Consumers are offered with new choices and the companies are facilitated to innovate various new products as well as services. It has also been observed that international business assists in offering challenging employment opportunities to the people. Those transactions that are carried out in or with countries abroad in order to content the goals of the individuals, companies as well as organizations are referred to as international businesses. There are numerous types of international businesses such as export-import trade, foreign direct investment, licensing, and franchising and management contracts. It has been observed that since the past thirty years of operatio n, the volume of international trade has augmented from $200 billion to more than $7.5 trillion. In comparison to the global exports, there is rise in the sales of the foreign affiliates by a significant amount. The best thing that can be identified in the context of international business is that it has been successful in creating a network related to global connections that is capable of binding two countries, institutions as well as individuals because of trade, financial markets, technology as well as living standards. In the context of this study, the Chinese firm which is into retail sector wants to enter into Gulf Cooperation Council based country i.e., Saudi Arabia is considered. The Chinese firm will hire a consultant in order to gain advice on making such a move. The consultant will try to identify and offer advices on the challenges as well as opportunities when undertaking such a move into gulf countries. The project will begin with industry-specific characteristics. In order to do so, diamond model will be used. The project will also try to identify the general business contexts both national (China) as well as international (Saudi-Arabia). This will be conducted with the help of the PESTEL analysis. The next logical step followed after having identified the business context is to identify the most

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Performance Enhancing Drugs and the Banned Substances List

Performance Enhancing Drugs and the Banned Substances List Evaluate the suggestion that performance-enhancing drugs should be removed from the IOCs banned substances list Performance-enhancing drugs refer to substances that are used to improve any form of activity: ranging from physical to psychological performance in humans. The use of these drugs have continued to evolve and has been facilitated by advances in doping strategies despite improved drug testing detection methods and advances in scientific research. Athletes use these drugs to improve appearance and to enhance performance in sports (Wiefferink, 2014). The decision to use performance-enhancing drugs is underlain by a number of beliefs and values. Some of these include gaining muscular strength and improving performance. Others involve expectations about friends use of these drugs. Research also indicate that the use of these drugs is related to self-esteem, academic performance, use of other drugs, knowledge of other people who have used them, dissatisfaction with ones own appearance and frequency of gym visits (Wiefferink, 2014). It is important to note that, sportsmen are celebrities who are admired by many people. As such, every thing that they do is admired by many people. Thus, when they use drugs and eventualy excell in their sporting life, they motivate most youths into doing the same. Without minding about the dangers of substance abuse, most youths have been influenced by sportmen into drug abuse. Among notable athletes who have been poven to be using performance-enhancing drugs include Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod) who was given a 211 game suspension that lasted for the rest of 2013 season and the entire 2014 season for using performance enhancement drugs (Claudia Shane, 2014). Such as a suspension should be a lesson to both upcoming and professional sportsmen of how performance enhancing drugs can kill ones profession. Moreover, these drugs kill the reputation of the individual as most people do not give credit to his performance but instead blame and give credit to the drugs that he used. It is because of the facts above that many sports organizations such as international Olympic committee have come to ban the use of performance-enhancing drugs. They have put in place very strict consequences for people caught using them. To make this effective, the body has a list of banned substances (James, 2011). Interestingly, performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) are not restricted to illegal drugs or prescription medications, such as anabolic steroids. However, they include dietary supplements and a variety of compounds that are available at grocery and health food stores and online and are used to enhance performance among athletes. Performance-enhancing drugs such as Anabolic Agents that includes Testosterone have a number of effects to the user. This drug is primarily used to treat delayed puberty, some types of impotence, and wasting of the body caused by HIV infection or other muscle-wasting diseases (Claudia Shane, 2014). This drug has however been used by athletes to enhance their performance. The potential physiological and psychological side effects of anabolic steroid abuse are as follows: First, this drugs leads to acne which refers to a long-term skin disease that occurs when hair follicles are clogged with dead skin cells and oil from the skin (Wiefferink, 2014). The drug can also lead to male pattern baldness and liver damage. Other physical effects include premature closure of the growth centers of long bones especially among the adolescents. This may result in stunted growth and disruption of puberty in children. On the other hand, the psychological effects of using anabolic agents include increased aggressiveness and sexual appetite. This may at times result in abnormal sexual and criminal behavior (Jason, 2008). Withdrawal from anabolic steroid use can also lead to depression, and in some severe cases, suicide. Another category of performance-enhancing drug is Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, and other Related Substances. These compounds are primary medically used to treat cancer. They are also used to aide growth in those born prematurely (Wiefferink, 2014). The presence of an abnormal concentration of a hormone, its metabolites, relevant ratios or markers in ones sample is deemed to contain a prohibited substance unless one can demonstrate the concentration was due to a physiological or pathological condition (Jason, 2008). The effects of these drugs are as follows: The use of peptide hormones, growth factors and other related substance can result into hypertension, blood cancers/leukemia and anemia. It may also lead strokes, heart attacks and pulmonary embolism. The drug can also lead to feminization which refers to the development in an organism of physical characteristics that are usually unique to the female of the species (Wiefferink, 2014). Other physical problem includes thyroid problems. On the other hand, human growth hormone when used as a performance-enhancing drug can lead to: Severe headaches, Loss of vision and acromegaly which refers to protruding or enlarged jaw, brow, skull, hands and feet. Other conditions include high blood pressure and heart failure (Claudia Shane, 2014). It may also lead to diabetes and tumors. In some cases, this drug can lead to crippling arthritis. There is also the Beta-2 agonist that is primarily medically used to treat conditions such as asthma and other respiratory ailments (Wiefferink, 2014). The physiological effects of this drug include palpitations, headaches and sweating. Other effects include nausea and muscle cramps. It may also lead to nervousness. Diuretics are another category of performance enhancing drug. It is used in the treatment of conditions such as hypertension, kidney disease and congestive heart failure (James, 2011). However, when it is taken without medical supervision, it results in potassium depletion and possibly even death. The physiological effects of this drug include; dehydration, muscle cramps and dizziness which may lead to fainting. Other effects include drop in blood pressure and loss of coordination and balance. In the list of IOC banned drugs also include stimulants. The primary medical use of stimulant is to treat conditions such as Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD/ADHD), asthma, narcolepsy, and obesity. However, the effects of this drug include; insomnia, anxiety and weight loss (Wiefferink, 2014). Stimulants may also lead to dependence and addiction, dehydration, tremors and increased heart rate and blood pressure. Other effects include increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and cardiac arrhythmia. Narcotics have also been banned by IOC. When taken in small quantity, narcotics have medical uses that include relieving severe pain and inducing sleep. However, when they are taken in large quantity, it is a medical emergency and can lead to respiratory depression and even death. The effects of narcotics include: a false sense of invincibility, nausea and vomiting and increased pain threshold. The drug may also lead to failure to recognize injury and decreased heart rate (Jason, 2008). Other effects include physical and psychological dependence that leads to addiction. The use of performance enhancing drugs also has a lot of negatives on an individuals social life. First, with regards to ones family life, there is the possibility that the rest of the family may feel embarrassed or ashamed at ones addiction to substance enhancing drugs. The family is always bothered about the fate of the victim (Claudia Shane, 2014). This may lead to rejection, stigmatization and even sense of guilt. Those who use drugs may at times feel that their family has pushed them out. Performance enhancing drugs may also significantly affect ones education. A child or a young person who is suffering from an addiction will have a lot of problem with his school life, relationships with other children and their home life (Claudia Shane, 2014). This may lead to truancy. Performance-enhancing drugs may also interfere with ones employment or professional life. Most people who use performance-enhancing drugs may not productive at work. As such, they may stop being punctual and efficient at work. Similarly, they may neglect their appearance and personal hygiene. They may also display erratic or unacceptable levels of behavior that may highly impact on the reputation of the organization that they are working (Wiefferink, 2014). Athletes on the other hand may boycott physical exercises and this may interfere with their performance. In some severe cases, drug addicts may start being absent for no good reason. They may also fail to complete their duties. In most instances when they are financially down, they may resort to stealing from not only the company but also their individuals so as to get money to purchase the drugs. Performance-enhancing drugs may also affect an individuals health and wellbeing. Performance enhancing substances such as alcohol and caffeine which is fine on an occasional basis or in moderate amounts are normally harmful when consumed to the point when one becomes addicted (Jason, 2008). Cigarette smoking may heavily impact on the life of the user because it affects ones respiratory system. Addiction to drugs affects the victims personality and behavior in a variety of ways. However, this very much depends upon the type of substance used and the amount; their psychological makeup before the addiction and physical health and their lifestyle. Thus, some performance-enhancing substances have a greater effect than others upon mental health (James, 2011). For example, heroin is stronger than nicotine. It will therefore have a bigger impact upon the brain. It is also worth pointing out that, most people are different in regard to psychological makeup. This implies that people are affected differently by these drugs. Thus, one person may experience a greater level of damage than another person using the same substance. This is due to their brain chemistry. Finally, the cost of performance-enhancing drug not only affects the sufferer but can also encompass family, friends and the society as a whole. Such costs include costs of policing, drug addiction help lines, support groups and rehab clinics. Indirectly there is lost revenue in the form of tax and national insurance contributions each time an addict either loses their job or is unable to work. This means a drop in revenue collection and an increase in welfare benefits, e.g. unemployment benefit. In conclusion, performance-enhancing drugs have adverse effects on the lives of the users. As this paper observes, the effects of these drugs are not only felt by the user but by the immediate family members, friends, workmates and the society as a whole. Therefore, no substance-enhancing drug should be removed from the IOCs list of banned drugs. Instead, more research should be done on how to counter the use of these drugs. There is also need for sensitization among sportsmen on the dangers of these drugs. References Claudia, L. R., Shane, C. (2014). Drug abuse in athletes. Retrieved 2 14, 2017, from US National Library of Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4140700/ James, H. (2011). The Ripple Effect of Doping in Sports. Retrieved 2 14, 2017, from The Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-h-hibbard/the-ripple-effect-of-dopi_b_693078.html Jason, M. (2008). Performance enhancing drugs in sports: The dark side of performance psychology. Retrieved 2 14, 2017, from Australian Psychology Society : https://www.psychology.org.au/inpsych/ped/ Wiefferink, C. (2014). Social psychological determinants of the use of performance-enhancing drugs by gym users. Retrieved 2 14, 2017, from Oxford Academic: https://academic.oup.com/her/article/23/1/70/835589/Social-psychological-determinants-of-the-use-of

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

All My Sons :: All My Sons by Arthur Miller

1. In the play â€Å"All My Sons,† by Arthur Miller, the word ‘father’ means the personification of goodness and infallibility to Chris Keller. There was a strong relationship between Chris and his father, Joe. Everything Joe had done in his life was for Chris. His entire factory was intended for Chris once he retired. 2. Throughout the play, there was question of Joe’s innocence in the death of twenty-one pilots, who were flying planes that had parts from Joe’s factory. Chris strongly believed that his father played no part in those deaths and that the blame lay solely on Joe’s partner, Herbert Deever. At the end of the play, Chris’ realization that his father was guilty brings about anger and then remorse, when Joe commits suicide due to his guilty conscience. Joe has done everything in his life for his sons. 3. Once his elder son Larry died in the war, Joe devoted his life to his younger son Chris. â€Å"KELLER. †¦Because what the hell did I work for? That’s only for you, Chris, the whole shootin’-match is for you.† Many businesses are handed down from generation to generation. Joe felt his role in life was to build a business that his son could take over once he got too old to run it. His love and hope for Chris blinded Joe’s ability to make a thoughtful and rational decision regarding faulty parts from his factory. This resulted in the death of the pilots’. Joe completely disregarded the lives that his parts would be affecting because all he cared about was his son. The love that Joe displayed to his son was returned in the love and respect that Chris had for his father. â€Å"GEORGE. †¦But you know him. You know in your heart Joe did it. CHRIS. Lower your voice or I’ll throw you out of here.† George Deever’s confrontati on with Chris about his father’s guilt demonstrated Chris’ belief that his father was not guilty of any crime. He refused to believe that his father played a role in shipping the defective parts to the government. This only reinforced the idea that there was a strong father son bond between Joe and Chris. 4. The moral values that were instilled in Chris blocked him from believing that his father was capable of anything else but good. These values prove to be the eventual down fall of Joe.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Gambling: poker and slot machines Essay

Gambling is a game in which winning is completely or mostly dependent not on the art of play, but on luck. It has long been recognized as an adult pastime but in recent years, however, gambling has increased significantly among adolescents who have grown up in a culture more tolerant to gambling than any previous generation. Movies, TV shows, and more acceptable online betting have helped embed gambling in youth culture. Poker tournaments and lotteries have become social activities at university campuses that best assemble friends and create enormous interest among them. For many people, such gambling activities are harmless, but for others, a simple game of chance may turn into a serious problem or life-impeding addiction. Although many students may feel that they are in control of the situation, unconsciously their behavior is changed, and is in the hands of arbitrary betting. Young and ambitious students are heavily affected by long-term gambling, not realizing its dreadful payoffs. These can result in unexplained absences at home and university. These threaten their academic performance, lead to financial bankruptcy and moreover, have negative impact on overall health. Gambling is one of the oldest avocations of humankind. Due to the cave drawings illustrating gambling and the dice that have been found during archeological excavations, historians believe that gambling existed even in tribal societies. Gambling is also mentioned in the mythology of ancient Greece. According to one of the legends, after defeating the Titans, Zeus and his brothers Poseidon and Hades became masters of the universe. They decided to throw dice in order to divide the universe among them. King Henry VIII, known for his intelligence, was also an avid gambler. In spite of this he banned gambling in his country after he discovered that his soldiers were playing more than practicing. In more recent history, people played to predict the abundant of harvest. On the other hand the attitude towards gambling of the most popular religions is mostly negative. Nowadays gambling is classified as a highly addictive compulsive disorder with neurological causes. People believe that a string of losses makes a win more likely. They believe that a winning hand should always substitute a losing hand. This is what they tend to believe, but their beliefs do not create more chances of winning. The brains of people anticipating a win in casinos appear to react much like those taking euphoria-inducing drugs. Neuroscientists claim that the parts of the brain that respond to the prospects of winning or losing money while gambling are the same as those that appear to respond to cocaine and morphine. Researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to map the brain responses of twelve men while they participated in a game of chance involving winning or losing money. They found that in the gambling experiment, blood flow to the brain changed in ways similar to that seen in other experiments during an infusion of cocaine in subjects addicted to that drug and to low doses of morphine in drug-free individuals (â€Å"Gambling Affects Brain Like Drugs†). Gambling seriously captures the whole brain and has a strong negative impact on it. Ann Klinestivet from Milton, W. Va provides a vivid illustration of brain damage from slot machines (Lehrer). Having been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease; she was desperate to find something that might calm the tremors caused by the terrible disease. She found relief in slot machines, but from time to time she needed more doses to stay calm and that is when she became an addict. Parkinson’s disease is caused by decreased dopamine, but slots machines served as a medication for Klinestivet, imitating the effects of dopamine, as it plays a core role in brain pleasure. She had lost huge amount of money and it could not continue any longer, so she was forced to stop. Her tremors worsened, though her addiction to gambling vanished. One of the biggest problems of gambling is that it may start off as innocent competition, for example, two teens playing a computer game, and one saying that he can beat his rival several times in a row or something of the sort. This might end up with further intensive competition, or turn into some kind of situation where money or anything of value will be included. The game itself seems to be not illegal or really addictive, but that is the proposal of the teen what involves gambling. Typically, student gambling involves lotteries, card games, and slot machines. It is said among students that gambling has been popularized and glamourized by poker games. Poker games have huge increase on television shows and all over the world in the twenty-first century. It is one of not many games that involve the individual skills of playing along with cards dealt. Many young poker players that took place in the World Series of Poker with the help of luck won the biggest tournaments in their lifetime and that serves as a motivation for beginners who are just starting. Students tend to think that poker may change their lives, and make them popular, moreover, reduce the need to study. An example could be Joe Cada, who at age twenty one, which is considered to be a legal age in the United States for gambling, became a winner of the Main Event at a poker tournament and received more than eight million dollars. Adolescents gamble for fun; to socialize, to relax, and to have the adrenaline rush in their bodies from time to time. They also gamble to escape home and university problems, to alleviate feelings of loneliness, and disconnection. Addicted gamblers care about nothing, but the game and its winnings. They may not get enough sleep, miss out all the daily activities; their main goal is to be in the game and try to win as much as they can. Usually the result is against them, because when losing a small amount of money, they try to gain it back and start gambling for more and more. It comes to the point when they realize that no money is left and they have lost quite a fortune. The most dreadful nightmare begins after they borrow money and bury themselves in debts. The National Council on Problem Gambling has estimated that approximately 6% of college students have a serious gambling addiction. A little over 5% suffer from bankruptcy and debts caused by regular gambling. Since 1975, the proportion of adults â€Å"who never gambled† has dropped from 1 in 3 to 1 in 7 (â€Å"Gambling & Spending†). Students who became the victims of gambling and lose most of their savings or even their parents’ money have higher rates of depression and noticeable changes in their behavior; they become less willing to be involved in any activity and most of their thoughts are related to gambling. ABC News has recently published a story about one college student, Ryan. Every single day, not depending on the activities he was busy with, he returned home until midnight and gambled on online poker sites till five in the morning. He eventually stopped doing anything and gained over 40 pounds, moreover, he could lose as much as $25,000 in a single night. Ultimately, his parents found out that he stole money from their savings and lost most of it, they decided to pull him out of university and now he is left with a $10,000 debt. Nowadays, a major issue in gambling among students is that the dedication to gaming is so important; they simply start spending nights in casinos, or other places gambling, in the meantime, forgetting about their family and studying. The urge to gamble is so addictive, that it becomes the most important daily activity. For instance, I have conducted a survey among students in the University of New York in Prague, and five students out of twenty four who filled out the survey claimed that they gamble several times a week and it affects their academic success. Only four students stated that they had never gambled in their lives, and all of them were females. My personal opinion is that women are less reluctant to gambling in general; they simply do not develop strong passion towards gambling. The same students who claimed that their academic performance is influenced by gambling, also acknowledged that gambling alters their relationship with relatives and friends. Instead of spending time with people who are willing to help you any time you are in need of it, they preferred to waste time in vain. Most of students who gamble in order to gain some profit, do not realize that â€Å"the house always wins† (Ocean, 2001). The ones who do not stop gambling even when losing, wait for the sweet win; the feeling of victory is so satisfying that most young gamblers are willing to expect it for long. The survey reports that sixteen students, which is almost 70% of people surveyed, after a win have a strong desire to come back and win more. Analyzing results of my survey it is clearly indicates the support of world statistics, even though later after survey, students confessed in not truly answering some of the questions. Some students are ashamed of their gambling habit and that slightly influences the results. Many addicted students realize that gambling addiction will cause serious problems in future life and to prevent it, they seek different treatments in the early steps of addiction. As the gambler’s mind is open to absorption and imaginative involvement, it can effectively be treated by hypnosis. This kind of therapy is considered not only to treat gambling addiction, but also to end depression and relieve stress. Hypnosis therapy helps gamblers to diminish their urge to gamble, and as a result, the players can decrease their addiction. In addition, hypnosis therapy teaches and helps a person to change his opinion about gambling. While the person is changing his mind about gambling, therapists try to develop new behaviors in the patient. They try to help the person to organize his day and fulfill it with activities not related to gambling. If the person is married, therapists try to make that person more related to his family and spend the time with his children, if he has them. For those who gamble because of tedium, therapists try to find other ways or activities to make them interested. It may also happen that the patient changes his mind, but gambling thoughts will still exist at a rudimentary level. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for problem gambling is also considered as an option for quitting gambling. It aims to alter threatening of gambling behaviors and thoughts, such as rationalizations and false beliefs. It helps gamblers deal with uncomfortable situations rather than escape them through gambling. Main goal of the therapy is to change ones thoughts toward gambling and look at it in a new way. Ben’s story is presented for illustrative purposes. Ben as a child believed that number seven was his lucky number, and throughout his student years he became an addictive gambler. He would always bet on his favorite number when he had a chance. Loss of all his money did not stop him and it continued to worsen. Linette, Ben’s cognitive behavioral therapist, helped him realize that his thought of number seven being his lucky number is an error that have occurred in his brain since childhood (Hartney). The other way to help preventing problem gambling could be effective awareness events and programs on gambling. Such kind of events and programs engage university and college students in a humorous and informative way. Coordinators of these programs explain the real chances of winning and losing, introduce the symptoms of problem gambling and offer certain ways to keep gambling safer. One of my friends who was just staring to get involved in the world of gambling, realized that the further it goes, the stronger he suffers from gambling. He decided to visit several awareness events on gambling. Later he told me that the program itself is made in a way to distract students from heavy gambling and explain all the negative effects of it. The reason it works out for most of the students who attend events is because hosts of those events repeat terrible affects so many times that it stays in gamblers’ mind for long. For many years student gambling has been a major topic of discussion. Much research and surveys have been conducted to understand the main reasons for students gambling. Clinical counselors and specialists claim that there are some ways to gamble responsibly, such as setting a time and a budget limit, accepting losses as the cost of entertainment and never borrowing money to gamble (Wallisch). However, the practice shows that even if gambling is done responsibly and handled in a proper way it is still harmful fun. Regrettable consequences of gambling include money problems, neglect toward responsibilities and loved ones, physical and mental health problems and even suicide risk. Thus, universities should have the opportunity to educate students and their parents on the risks of gambling and create an environment where the association of problem gambling with financial and interpersonal problems is clearly understood.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Free Essays on New Life

As a freshmen just coming out of highschool, I am now beginning a new life in a whole new environment surounded by people I really do not know is a really scary feeling. And I know that is probably not half of what I may have to face as a freshmen. In highschool as a senior I was the â€Å" top dog†. Everyone wanted to hang with us and be around us because we were in the â€Å"in crowd†. And now I am like the little fish in a big pond. And as a freshmen, right now the only people I know are those I knew from highschool. And that is a scary feeling not knowing if you will be able to fit in with the other students around you. While in highschool I remember how underclassmen used tok ask upperclassmen where a certain class was or how to get somewhere and they used to give them the wrong directions on purpose and that was pretty mean. And now that I am here the first thing that ran through my mind was what if I asked someone for directions to one of my classes or something and they give me directions somewhere completely different. I have been told all through highschool that college professors are totally differently from teachers in highschool. I was told that they just get in front of the class, talk the whole period, and while they talk we take notes and take the test. I am used to a teacher who takes the time and explain things until we have a good understanding of it and helps the students out when necessary. And I know that the professors are not going to carry us on their shoulders and guide us through every little detail, but not knowing if they are going to take the time and actually help us when needed is a thought to think about. I graduated 13th out of 150 students and my grade point average was 3.6. And compaared to all the fears in the world you may have to face while going to school, I feel not being able to sucessfully pass all my classes and keep my grade point average up to where I want... Free Essays on New Life Free Essays on New Life As a freshmen just coming out of highschool, I am now beginning a new life in a whole new environment surounded by people I really do not know is a really scary feeling. And I know that is probably not half of what I may have to face as a freshmen. In highschool as a senior I was the â€Å" top dog†. Everyone wanted to hang with us and be around us because we were in the â€Å"in crowd†. And now I am like the little fish in a big pond. And as a freshmen, right now the only people I know are those I knew from highschool. And that is a scary feeling not knowing if you will be able to fit in with the other students around you. While in highschool I remember how underclassmen used tok ask upperclassmen where a certain class was or how to get somewhere and they used to give them the wrong directions on purpose and that was pretty mean. And now that I am here the first thing that ran through my mind was what if I asked someone for directions to one of my classes or something and they give me directions somewhere completely different. I have been told all through highschool that college professors are totally differently from teachers in highschool. I was told that they just get in front of the class, talk the whole period, and while they talk we take notes and take the test. I am used to a teacher who takes the time and explain things until we have a good understanding of it and helps the students out when necessary. And I know that the professors are not going to carry us on their shoulders and guide us through every little detail, but not knowing if they are going to take the time and actually help us when needed is a thought to think about. I graduated 13th out of 150 students and my grade point average was 3.6. And compaared to all the fears in the world you may have to face while going to school, I feel not being able to sucessfully pass all my classes and keep my grade point average up to where I want...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Biography of Garrett Morgan, Inventor of the Gas Mask

Biography of Garrett Morgan, Inventor of the Gas Mask Garrett Morgan (March 4, 1877–July 27, 1963) was an inventor and businessman from Cleveland who is best known for inventing a device called the Morgan Safety Hood and Smoke Protector in 1914. The invention was later dubbed the gas mask. Fast Facts: Garrett Morgan Known For: Invention of safety hood (early gas mask) and mechanical traffic signalBorn: March 4, 1877 in Claysville,  KentuckyParents: Sydney Morgan, Elizabeth ReedDied: July 27, 1963 in Cleveland,  OhioEducation: Up to sixth gradePublished Works:  The  Cleveland Call, a weekly African American newspaper that he established in 1916, which became the  still-published Cleveland Call and Post in 1929Awards and Honors:  Recognized at the Emancipation Centennial Celebration in  Chicago, Illinois, in August 1963; schools and streets named in his honor; included in the 2002 book,  100 Greatest African Americans  by  Molefi Kete Asante; honorary member of  Alpha Phi Alpha  fraternitySpouse(s): Madge Nelson, Mary HasekChildren: John P. Morgan, Garrett A. Morgan, Jr., and Cosmo H. MorganNotable Quote: â€Å"If you can be the best, then why not try to be the best?†Ã‚   Early Life The son of former slaves, Garrett Augustus Morgan was born in Claysville, Kentucky, on March 4, 1877. His mother was half-Native American and half-white (her father was a white minister named  Rev.  Garrett  Reed), and his father was half-white, the son of the Confederate Colonel John Hunt Morgan, who led Morgans Raiders in the Civil War. Garrett was the seventh of 11 children, and his early childhood was spent attending school and working on the family farm with his brothers and sisters. While still a teenager, he left Kentucky and moved north to Cincinnati, Ohio, in search of opportunities. Although Morgans formal education never took him beyond elementary school, he worked to give himself an education, hiring a tutor while living in Cincinnati and continuing his studies in English grammar. In 1895, Morgan moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he went to work as a sewing machine repairman for a clothing manufacturer, teaching himself as much as he could about sewing machinery and experimenting with the process. Word of his experiments and his proficiency for fixing things traveled fast and he worked for numerous manufacturing firms in the Cleveland area. In 1907, the inventor opened his sewing equipment and repair shop. It was the first of several businesses he would establish. In 1909, he expanded the enterprise to include a tailoring shop that employed 32 people. The new company turned out coats, suits, and dresses, all sewn with equipment that Morgan himself had made. Marriage and Family Morgan married twice, first to Madge Nelson in 1896; they were divorced in 1898. In 1908 he married Mary Anna Hasek, a seamstress from Bohemia: it was one of the earliest interracial marriages in Cleveland. They had three children, John P., Garrett A., Jr., and Cosmo H. Morgan. The Safety Hood (Early Gas Mask) In 1914, Morgan was awarded two patents for the invention of an early gas mask, the Safety Hood and Smoke Protector. He manufactured the mask and sold it nationally and internationally through the National Safety Device Company, or Nadsco, using a marketing strategy to avoid Jim Crow discrimination- what historian Lisa Cook calls anonymity by dissociation. At the time, entrepreneurs sold their inventions by conducting live demonstrations. Morgan appeared in these events to the general public, with municipal fire departments and city officials representing himself as his own assistant- a Native American man called Big Chief Mason. In the south, Morgan hired whites, sometimes public safety professionals, to stage demonstrations for him. His newspaper advertisements featured smartly dressed white male models. The gas mask proved very popular: New York City quickly adopted the mask, and eventually 500 cities followed suit. In 1916, a refined model of Morgans gas mask was awarded a gold medal at the International Exposition of Sanitation and Safety and another gold medal from the International Association of Fire Chiefs. The Lake Erie Crib Disaster On July 25, 1916, Morgan made national news for using his gas mask to rescue men trapped during an explosion in an underground tunnel located 250 feet beneath Lake Erie. No one had been able to reach the men, 11 of them had died as had 10 others attempting to rescue them. Called in the middle of the night six hours after the incident, Morgan and a team of volunteers donned the new gas masks and brought two workers out alive and recovered the bodies of 17 others. He personally gave artificial respiration to one of the men he rescued. Afterward, Morgans company received many additional requests from fire departments around the country that wished to purchase the new masks. However, the national news contained photographs of him, and officials in a number of southern cities canceled their existing orders when they discovered he was black. In 1917, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission reviewed the reports of heroism displayed during the disaster. Based on news reports that downplayed Morgans role, the Carnegie board decided to give the prestigious Hero award to a minor figure in the rescue effort who was white, rather than to Morgan. Morgan protested, but the Carnegie Institution said he hadnt risked as much as the other person had because he had safety equipment. Some reports say the Morgan gas mask was modified and used in World War I after the Germans unleashed chemical warfare at Ypres on April 22, 1915, although theres no strong evidence for it. Despite Morgans popularity in the United States, there were dozens of other masks on the market by then, and most used in WWI were of English or French manufacture. The Morgan Traffic Signal In 1920, Morgan moved into the newspaper business when he established the Cleveland Call. As the years went on, he became a prosperous and widely respected businessman and was able to purchase a home and an automobile, invented by Henry Ford in 1903. In fact, Morgan was the first African-American to purchase an automobile in Cleveland, and it was Morgans experience while driving along the streets of that city that inspired him to invent an improvement to traffic signals. After witnessing a collision between an automobile and a horse-drawn carriage, Morgan took his turn at inventing a traffic signal. While other inventors had experimented with, marketed, and even patented traffic signals, Morgan was one of the first to apply for and acquire a U.S. patent for an inexpensive way to produce a traffic signal. The patent was granted on November 20, 1923. Morgan also had his invention patented in Great Britain and Canada. Morgan stated in his patent for the traffic signal: This invention relates to traffic signals, and particularly to those which are adapted to be positioned adjacent the intersection of two or more streets and are manually operable for directing the flow of traffic...In addition, my invention contemplates the provision of a signal which may be readily and cheaply manufactured. The Morgan traffic signal was a T-shaped pole unit that featured three positions: Stop, Go and an all-directional stop position. This third position halted traffic in all directions to allow pedestrians to cross streets more safely. Morgans hand-cranked semaphore traffic management device was in use throughout North America until all manual traffic signals were replaced by the automatic red, yellow  and green-light traffic signals currently used around the world. The inventor sold the rights to his traffic signal to the General Electric Corporation for $40,000. Other Inventions Throughout his life, Morgan was always experimenting to develop new concepts. Though the traffic signal came at the height of his career and became one of his most famous inventions, it was just one of several innovations he developed, manufactured, and sold over the years. Morgan invented a zig-zag stitching attachment for ​the  manually operated sewing machine. He also founded a company that made personal grooming products  such as hair dying ointments and the curved-tooth pressing comb. As word of Morgans life-saving inventions spread across North America and England, demand for these products grew. He was frequently invited to conventions and public exhibitions to demonstrate how his inventions worked. Death Along with many others, Morgan lost most of his wealth with the stock market crash, but it didnt stop his inventive nature. He developed glaucoma, but at the time of his death he was still working on a new invention: a  self-extinguishing  cigarette. Morgan died on August 27, 1963, at the age of 86. His life was long and full, and his creative energies were recognized both during and after his lifetime. Legacy Morgans inventions have had a tremendous impact on the safety and well-being of people all over the world- from miners to soldiers to first responders to ordinary car owners and pedestrians. Another ongoing legacy is his weekly newspaper, originally named the  Cleveland Call and now called the  Cleveland Call and Post. His achievements as a son of slaves, against all odds and in the face of Jim Crow era discrimination, are inspiring. Case Western University awarded him an honorary degree, and his papers are stored there.   Sources Asante, Molefi Kete (2002),  100 Greatest African Americans: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books.  ISBN  1 of Garrett Morgan. The Business History Review 86.2 (2012): 211–34. Print.Evans, Harold, Gail Buckland, and David Lefer. Garrett Augustus Morgan (1877–1963): He came to the rescue with his gas mask. They Made America: From the Steam Engine to the Search Engine: Two Centuries of Innovators. New York City: Little Brown, 2004.  Garner, Carla. â€Å"Garrett A., Sr. Morgan (1877-1963) BlackPast.†Ã‚  BlackPast, 29 Jan. 2019.King, William M. Guardian of the Public Safety: Garrett A. Morgan and the Lake Erie Crib Disaster. The Journal of Negro History 70.1/2 (1985): 1–13. Print.PBS, Garrett Augustus Morgan. Public Broadcasting Service.Smart, Jeffrey K. History of the Army Protective Mask. Natick, Massachusetts: NBC Defense Systems: Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command, 1999. Print.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Paper Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Paper - Assignment Example In this case, it is not the role of the media to create the advertisement or generate the desired message. It is the responsibility of the advertiser to formulate the message, and then present it to the media for conveying to the society. Nevertheless, the fact that the media represents, rather than creates events, does not remove the ethical responsibility on the side of the media (Ap.org, n.p.). Therefore, it is the responsibility of the media to ensure that it avoids any form of misrepresentation of the events being reported to the society, through ensuring to accurately represent the event, without any â€Å"inaccuracies, carelessness, bias or distortions† (Ap.org, n.p.). The theory of Act Non-consequentialists can support this position, owing to the fact that it requires that each ethical case is addressed on a case-by-case basis. Thus, the ethical representation of the events by the media should be evaluated on a case basis. From what I hear from you Molly, the media is in the business of making money, and thus is there to represent the events created by anyone, regardless of the ethicalness of the events. While I agree with you completely that the media does not create events but rather uses the events created by other people or agencies to generate money, I really do not agree with you on the opinion that the job of the people working in the media is simply to â€Å"fill spots of air time and advertisements†. In fact, I hold a contrary opinion, to the effect that, although the media people are in the business of making money, they owe the society the ethical duty of care, requiring them to uphold ethics in every aspect of their events representation. Now if you may, please tell me how the media can effectively expedite its role of making money, and at the same time remain ethical. Tawania Reese, I support your opinion on the

Saturday, November 2, 2019

The Great Gatsby, Animal Farm or When I Whistle Essay

The Great Gatsby, Animal Farm or When I Whistle - Essay Example In Animal Farm, Napoleon is supposedly successful in the management of his farm, but fails to create the utopian society he envisioned because of his own fatal flaw, the desire for material comforts. Through these characters, both Fitzgerald and Wells are able to illustrate how a fatal flaw in the individual can contribute to their own downfall even while they make a more sweeping comment regarding the societies in which they were living. Both Jay Gatsby and Napoleon are seen as tremendous successes at some point in their life after building themselves up from dirt level. Gatsby has re-created himself from the son of a poor country man to a millionaire in New York through a long series of practiced moves designed to win him the girl of his dreams, Daisy. Napoleon has worked himself up literally from the dirt of his pigpen to the leader of a successful farm through a series of practiced moves designed to attain the equality of species he envisions. There is a moment in each story when each character seems to attain everything they have dreamed of. Gatsby hears Daisy tell him she loves him and envisions the two of them beginning a new life together. Napoleon wins the respect and admiration of the surrounding farmers as his farm proves to be more successful than any of the others around. Their use of skillful rhetoric to support their actions and desires is performed so well that it takes a long time before the truth is seen by readers and by other characters and even then, it’s only revealed slowly through the narration between the characters and the actions they undertake. This is illustrated most clearly in Nick’s summary of Gatsby’s last evening, â€Å"He had come a long way to this blue lawn, and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know that it was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity