Week 2 - Essay Question - INTL 5645 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Week 2 - Essay Question - INTL 5645 - Assignment Example there were certain policies and campaigns that arose and they helped with the maintaining and the building of the economic, social, political and cultural wellbeing of China and its people in general (Tanner, 102). These leaders were influential even after they were not in power. Leadership at the time was categorized by generation titles (Sklarew, 35). The first political leader, Mao Zedong was categorized as the first generation leader, Deng Xiaoping taking the second generation title and Jiang Zemin taking the third generation title. Mao Zedong was a soldier, statesman and a Chinese Marxist theorist who led the nation to a higher standard. He made his nation turned out to be a communist revolution state. Mao was the founder of (PPC) ‘People’s Republic of China’, and it is through his involvement in politics that he converted China from what it was at the time to a undemocratic socialist state. Under the regimes of the three political figures, there arose the rise of industry and business becoming nationalized under the state ownership and reforms particularly in the socialist fields being implemented in all aspects of the everyday life of the people. There was the use of military ideologies implemented by the political figures. Taking for example Mao, he proclaimed the formation of the PPC and after ensuring that the reunification of China was a success, went ahead to enact the removal of the land reform (Wong, Yiu-chung, 24). This was done while still overthrowing the  landlords who followed the system and the land sectioned into communes. Mao then again proceeded to lead a political campaign that was to be nationwide (MacFarquhar, 202). This campaign came to be known as the  Ã¢â‚¬ËœGreat Leap Forward’. It was meant to make the country modernized. A major setback that led to the initiation of the Cultural Revolution was the widespread famine. Mao collaborated with people in power that he knew would make the economy of the nation rise to another level

Effect of Adolescent Cannabis Use on Brain Functions

Effect of Adolescent Cannabis Use on Brain Functions Cannabis Use During Adolescence: A Review of Impacts on Brain Functions and Associated Outcomes Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the social acceptability of cannabis usage in the United States, with several states having already legalized recreational use of the substance and several more projected to do so within the next several years (Leyton, 2016).   Concurrently, there has been an increase in the amount of adolescents who report using cannabis, with recent data indicating that 39% of high school seniors report using cannabis within the past year and 6-7% reporting daily or near daily cannabis use (Johnston & O’Malley, 2015).   Despite increasing utilization of cannabis products for pain management and other ailments (Hwang & Clarke, 2016), some in the scientific community have expressed concern about the potential ramifications of recreational legalization of cannabis.   Chief amongst these concerns is the idea that adolescents will have very easy access to increasingly potent cannabis and synthetic cannabis products (Sobesky & Gorgens, 2016), as a great deal of research has indicated that the use of cannabis poses several risks specific to individuals in the adolescent age range (see Levine, Clemenza, Rynn, & Lieberman, 2017).   This paper will summarize the research examining the impact of cannabis use on the developing adolescent brain and potential associated outcomes, particularly in the areas of cognition/executive function, anxiety and depression, psychotic disorders, and future substance use/dependence.   The Adolescent Brain To understand the impact of cannabis use on the developing adolescent brain, it is first necessary to understand the changes taking place in the brain during this developmental period.   Not surprisingly, the period of adolescence is a time of tremendous change in the circuitry of the brain.   According to Arain et al. (2013), there is a significant amount of neuronal plasticity in the brain during adolescence, meaning the â€Å"wiring† of the brain is extremely adaptable to learning and experience.   Such plasticity, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, lends itself to difficulty thinking rationally and critically, often leading to the impulsive decision-making that is characteristic of the adolescent years.   In addition, the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, the system responsible for regulating human responses to stress, also undergoes significant development during the period of adolescence.   Within this system, the amount and duration of adrenocorti cotropic hormone (ACTH) and glucocorticoids released in response to stress increase significantly as compared to other life periods (Romeo, 2013).   Shortly before puberty, a â€Å"surge† of synaptogenesis and neuronal growth occurs in which grey matter in the brain thickens substantially.   From this point throughout the period of adolescence, the brain is continually rewired through dendritic pruning and increased myelination of synapses, particularly in the prefrontal cortex (Arain et al., 2013; Lubman, Bonomo, & Yucel, 2007).   In addition, white matter increases are seen in the corpus callosum (Arain et al., 2013).   Taken together, these changes increase the efficiency of communication within the brain, allowing for the eventual development of more complex cognitive functioning, including improved impulse control, operational thinking, and working memory (Hart, 2007; Lubman et al., 2007).   In addition to the constant rewiring of brain circuitry that occurs during adolescence, the levels of three neurotransmitters – dopamine, serotonin, and melatonin – change during the adolescent period (Arain et al., 2013).   According to Dahl (2003), dopamine and serotonin levels decrease during adolescence, resulting in emotional dysregulation, mood disruptions, and difficulties with impulse control.   Melatonin levels, on the other hand, increase, which in turn increases the amount of sleep that adolescents need to be fully â€Å"re-charged.†Ã‚     Given the massive changes that are occurring in the brain during the period of adolescence, it is a time in which the brain is especially susceptible to the use of substances, (Lubman et al., 2007) including cannabis.   Cannabis’ Action in the Brain Before discussing the specific impacts of cannabis use on the adolescent brain, it is important to understand how cannabis acts in the brain in general.   First, the brain has an endogenous cannabinoid system (endocannabinoid system) made up of the ligands anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) and cannabinoid receptors known as CB1 and CB2 receptors (Moreira & Lutz, 2008).   CB1 receptors are located throughout the brain, but are particularly populous in the front region of the cerebral cortex, the basal ganglia, the cerebellum, the hypothalamus, the anterior cingulate cortex, and the hippocampus; CB2 receptors are generally found throughout the body’s immune system (Hill et al., 2010; Iversen, 2004).   The endocannabinoid system plays a role in a number of processes, including the regulation of the HPA axis stress response (Hill et al., 2010; Lee & Gorzalka, 2015), neural plasticity, and learning and memory (Lu et al., 2008).   According to Iversen (2004), the psychoactive component in cannabis is Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).   THC, as well as increasingly popular synthetic cannabinoids, act as agonists on CB1 cannabinoid receptors in the brain.   Because CB1 receptors are generally presynaptic rather than postsynaptic, cannabinoids control the release of certain neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine, L-glutamate, ÃŽ ³-aminobutyric acid (GABA), noradrenaline (norepinephrine), dopamine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT).   The use of exogenous cannabinoids, such as marijuana or synthetic marijuana products, leads to an unnaturally long-lasting activation of CB1 receptors, ultimately inhibiting the release of the aforementioned neurotransmitters in selected areas of the brain (Iversen, 2004).   In addition to its impact on CB1 receptors and associated neurotransmitters, THC also appears to trigger the firing of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area of the brain and the nucleus accumbens – areas of the brain that are heavily implicated in the brain’s reward circuit associated with drug use.   This effect is also seen with heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, and nicotine, suggesting that THC may also act on the opioid receptor system within the brain (Iversen, 2004). Impact on Cognition and Executive Function Tasks The literature has focused on several larger areas of impact regarding cannabis use during adolescence, one of these being the potential impacts on cognition and tasks of executive function.   As previously mentioned, the brain undergoes a significant amount of change in the adolescent years, including the frequent re-wiring of neural connections through neural pruning processes, particularly in the prefrontal cortex.   According to Filbey, McQueeny, DeWitt, and Mishra (2015), cannabis use during adolescence disrupts this normal pruning process through its modulation of neurotransmitters and inhibition of microglial processes.   This results in abnormal connectivity within the brain, including a decrease in white matter volume and integrity (Gruber, Dahlgren, Sagar, Gonenc, & Lukas, 2014; Jacobus et al., 2009). Such changes result in a number of cognitive impacts, including increased impulsivity, poorer reaction times, and increased errors on executive function tasks (e.g., planning, organization, self-regulation, etc.) (Becker, Wagner, Gouzoulis-Mayfrank, Spuentrup, & Daumann, 2010; Gruber et al., 2014).   Indeed, studies have indicated that individuals who begin marijuana use in early adolescence are at an increased risk for developing deficits in attention (Ehrenreich et al., 1999) and visual processing (Tapert, Granholm, Leedy, & Brown, 2002), and exhibit a decreased full scale IQ and verbal IQ in adulthood (Meier et al., 2012).   Memory also appears to be affected by adolescent-onset cannabis use (Tait, Mackinnon, & Christensen, 2011), likely via its impact on the hippocampus – a part of the brain heavily implicated in memory functions.   Animal research has shown that the hippocampus is affected by cannabis use especially during the period of adolescence.   In rats, adolescent exposure to cannabis impacted the microstructure of the hippocampus as well as abnormalities in the way that proteins are expressed in the hippocampus (Quinn et al., 2008).   Specifically, it appears that exogenous cannabinoids bind to CB1 receptors and inhibit the release of glutamate, thus contributing to deficits in short-term memory (Hart, 2007) and negatively impacting performance on memory-related tasks (see Levine et al., 2017).   Some animal studies indicate that lower levels of cannabis use (those most reflective of the actual amount that adolescents use) are not predictive of long-lasting hippocampal changes.   However, because current cannabis products are continuing to increase in potency (Levine et al., 2017), hippocampal changes and subsequent memory problems are topics of concern, especially with regard to adolescent users of cannabis.   Working memory also appears to be impacted by cannabis use, particularly in individuals that began using cannabis before the age of sixteen.   Becker et al. (2010) used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine performance on a working memory task in individuals who began using cannabis before age sixteen (early-onset) as compared to individuals who began using cannabis after the age of sixteen (later-onset).   Results of this study indicated that early-onset cannabis users exhibited increased cortical activity in the parietal lobe as compared to later-onset cannabis users.   The researchers concluded that this increased cortical activity indicated decreased cortical efficiency in response to challenging working memory-related tasks in early-onset, but not later-onset, cannabis users (Becker et al., 2010).   Such findings are consistent with a number of studies indicating that an earlier age of onset of cannabis use is associated with greater risk of negative impacts on cognitive functioning during adulthood (Ehrenreich et al., 1999; Fontes et al., 2011; Meier et al., 2012; Pope et al., 2003).   Impact on the Development of Anxiety and Depression Several studies indicate a connection between adolescent-onset cannabis use and the development of both anxiety and depressive disorders (e.g., Brook, Rosen, & Brook, 2001; Degenhardt et al., 2013; Fairman, 2015; Hayatbakhsh et al., 2007; Patton et al., 2002; van Laar, van Dorsselaer, Monshouwer, & de Graaf, 2007).   Though past researchers have speculated about the directionality of this relationship, studies have consistently indicated that adolescent-onset depression is not predictive of later cannabis use (e.g., Degenhardt, Hall, & Lynskey, 2003; Moore et al., 2007; Womack, Shaw, Weaver, & Forbes, 2016), negating the idea that depressive and/or anxiety symptoms lead to engagement in cannabis use as a method of symptom relief.   Instead, such findings promote the idea that cannabis use during adolescence, in combination with other potential risk factors, increase the risk for the development of anxiety and depressive symptoms in adulthood (Levine et al., 2017).   As with the cognitive changes discussed in the previous section of this paper, it is early-onset use of cannabis that appears to be riskiest with regard to the development of future anxiety and depressive symptoms (Hayatbakhsh et al., 2007; Patton et al., 2002).   In an interesting study by Spechler et al. (2015), fMRIs were used to examine activity in the amygdalas of adolescent users of cannabis.   The researchers showed participants images of both angry and neutral faces, a well-known test of amygdala activity and a well-regarded index of emotional processing.   Results of this study indicated that compared to the control group, adolescent cannabis users exhibited increased amygdala activity in response to the images of angry faces whereas the control group showed the same amount of amygdala activity when shown images of neutral faces.   Spechler et al. (2015) concluded that adolescent cannabis use is associated with increased hypersensitivity to negative affect.   However, in this case, the directionality of the relationship is unclear: it is possible that the sensitivity of the amygdala pre-dated the cannabis use and the cannabis use was engaged in due to its anxiolytic effect.   Conversely, it is possible that cannabis use led to increased sensitivity in the amygdala.   Either way, it appears that adolescent cannabis users are overly sensitive to negative affect and the potential threat that accompanies it, which may explain the increased incidence of depressive and anxious symptomatology in this population.    There are several potential neurobiological mechanisms explaining the relationship between adolescent cannabis use and the development of anxiety and depressive symptoms.   One possibility is the impact of exogenous cannabinoids on the HPA axis system.   The endocannabinoid system regulates the responsivity of the HPA axis, which, as previously mentioned, undergoes significant development during the adolescent years (Hill et al., 2010; Lee & Gorzalka, 2015; Romeo, 2013).   Studies with both human and rodent subjects have indicated that the use of exogenous cannabinoids during adolescence has the capacity to alter HPA axis stress responses, thus impacting emotionality and the development of anxiety-related symptoms (Lee & Gorzalka, 2015).   Lovelace et al. (2015) discuss another neurobiological mechanism that may underlie the relationship between adolescent cannabis use and the development of anxiety and depression.   In a rodent study, these researchers examined maladaptations in the prefrontal cortex due to cannabis use by looking at presynaptic plasticity at glutamatergic synapses in adolescent rats.   The results indicated that exposure to exogenous cannabinoids during adolescence led to over-activation of CB1 receptors, which led to permanent changes in synapses in the prefrontal cortex.   Overall, mice exposed to exogenous cannabinoids during adolescence showed a loss of presynaptic plasticity, which impacts the brain’s ability to adapt to changing environments and thus may contribute to an increased vulnerability of psychopathology during adulthood (Lovelace et al., 2015).   In an interesting rodent study conducted by Rubino et al. (2008), researchers found that exposure to THC during adolescence was associated with decreased density and function of CB1 receptors in the ventral tegmental area, the nucleus accumbens, and the amygdala.   These areas of the brain are implicated in emotional processing and reward and are thus implicated in the development of depressive symptomatology.   The behavior of the rats in this study also mirrored depressive symptomatology.   Specifically, rats exposed to THC during adolescence exhibited both â€Å"behavioral despair† (which the researchers defined as time the rats were immobile) and anhedonia (as measured through decreased consumption of sucrose).   Taken together, it appears that several neurobiological mechanisms are at play in the connection between adolescent cannabis use and the development of anxiety and depressive symptoms.   Impact on the Development of Psychotic Disorders A substantial body of literature has indicated a connection between the use of cannabis during adolescence and the later development of psychotic disorders (e.g., van Os et al., 2002; Henquet et al., 2005; Stefanis et al., 2004).   This is especially true for individuals who are already genetically predisposed to develop psychotic disorders (Henquet et al., 2005) though the connection has also been found in individuals that do not have this genetic predisposition (van Os et al., 2002).   As with the impact on cognition and on anxiety/depressive symptoms, it appears that early-onset cannabis use (Arseneault et al., 2002; Moore et al., 2007) as well as heavier (i.e. daily or near-daily) use pose the greatest risk for the later development of a psychotic disorder (Moore et al., 2007; van Os et al., 2002). Rubino and Parolaro (2014) discuss the possible neurobiological mechanisms behind the connection between adolescent cannabis use and the development of psychotic disorders.   In general, it appears that the use of exogenous cannabinoids during adolescence disrupts the maturational processes occurring in the brain during this time, especially in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex – two areas of the brain that are implicated in the psychotic disorder schizophrenia, in particular.   The endocannabinoid system itself undergoes a significant amount of change during the adolescent years; thus, exogenous cannabinoid exposure during this time period has the potential to alter the long-term functionality of CB1 receptors, which then impacts the activity of several neurotransmitters implicated in psychotic symptomatology, especially dopamine (Rubino & Parolaro, 2014). Additionally, being exposed to cannabis during the adolescent period has been shown to disrupt prepulse inhib ition (the ability to accurately perceive and process stimuli) and down-regulate GABAergic activity in the prefrontal cortex – both symptoms commonly seen in individuals with schizophrenia (Morales-Muà ±oz et al., 2014; Zamberletti et al., 2014).  Ã‚   As previously mentioned, individuals who have a genetically predisposed vulnerability to develop psychotic disorders are at an especially high risk to do so if they engage in cannabis use during adolescence (Henquet et al., 2005).   For example, individuals who have a specific variant of the gene for catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), which breaks down dopamine – the neurotransmitter implicated in schizophrenia – are at a much higher risk for developing the disorder if they used cannabis during adolescence as compared to individuals who do not have that specific variant of the gene for COMT (Caspi et al., 2005).   Another gene that influences the relationship between adolescent cannabis use and psychosis is the ATK1 gene, which affects dopamine breakdown in the striatum.   According to DiForti et al. (2012), cannabis users with a certain variant of the ATK1 gene were seven times more likely to develop psychosis as compared to individuals with this gene variant w ho did not use cannabis.   Clearly, in individuals that already possess these specific genetic variants, cannabis use during adolescence can be the trigger that leads to the expression of these genes and the development of psychotic symptoms and/or disorders.   In addition, adults with psychotic disorders who used cannabis during adolescence are at a greater risk for relapse of psychotic symptoms, poorer adherence to treatment, and increased rates of hospitalization related to their diagnosis (Hunt, Bergen, & Bashir, 2002; Lewis, Tarrier, & Drake, 2005; Wade et al., 2006).   Impact on the Future Development of Substance Use Disorders   Several studies have indicated a link between adolescent cannabis use and the later development of a substance use disorder.   Again, this relationship is especially strong for individuals that engage in cannabis use in early adolescence and who engage in heavy (i.e., daily or near-daily) use (Fergusson, Boden, & Horwood, 2006; Hall & Lynskey, 2005; Stuart & Green, 2008).  Ã‚   Past researchers have speculated upon various explanations for this trend, including the so-called ‘gateway hypothesis.’   In general, the ‘gateway hypothesis’ assumes that individuals who use â€Å"harder† drugs such as heroin and cocaine almost always started their use of substances with using cannabis, and that this link is explicitly causal (Van Gundy & Rebellon, 2010).  Ã‚   This hypothesis is based on research findings indicating that the use of cannabis during adolescence often predates the use of other illicit substances, including heroin, methamphetamines, and cocaine (Fergusson et al., 2006).   Though the causality of this link has been repeatedly questioned in the literature (e.g., Morral, McCaffrey, & Paddock, 2002; Van Gundy & Rebellon, 2010), many researchers have attempted to explain the mechanisms behind the early use of cannabis and the later use of other substances and/or development of a substance use disorder.   There are countless potential psychosocial explanations for this connection (e.g., peer pressure, propensity toward risk-taking behaviors, availability of substances, etc.); however, for the purposes of this paper, the potential neurobiological mechanisms behind the connection will be discussed. The major possible neurobiological mechanism behind the connection between early cannabis use and the later development of a substance use disorder has to do with the effect of cannabis on the brain’s opioidergic system.   A great deal of animal research has indicated that the endocannabinoid system and the opioidergic system are intricately linked.   For example, Pickel, Chan, Kash, Rodriguez, and Mackie (2004) and Rodriguez, Mackie, and Pickel (2001) found that CB1 receptors and  µ opioid receptors are found on the same neurons in both the striatum and the ventral tegmental area, and Cossu et al. (2001) and Ledent et al. (1999) found that animals without CB1 receptor genes do not self-administer opioids. Drawing upon this clear connection between the endocannabinoid and opioidergic brain systems, Ellgren, Spano, and Hurd (2007) investigated the hypothesis that cannabis exposure during adolescence changes opioid-related neural functions and leads to increased likelihood of later opioid use.   Findings of this research confirmed that rats exposed to THC during the adolescent period self-administered greater amounts of heroin compared to the control group.   Moreover, findings indicated that rats exposed to THC in adolescence showed a persistent disturbance in the activity of enkephalin, which is the endogenous opioid neuropeptide associated with reward behaviors and hedonic states.   Findings also indicated that THC exposure led to changes in the functions of  µ opioid receptors such that heroin use was more reinforcing (via dopamine release) for rats exposed to THC during adolescence as compared to the control group.   Taken together, these results indicate that cannabis use during adolescence leads to a greater vulnerability to the reinforcing effects of opioids during adulthood, potentially leading to a greater risk for dependence and likelihood of relapse of substance use disorders.   Conclusion Despite the increasing popularity of cannabis use, both for medicinal and recreational purposes (Hwang & Clarke, 2016; Leyton, 2016), it is important to consider the resulting increased availability of cannabis to individuals during the sensitive period of adolescence.   Given the profound changes occurring in the brain during adolescence (Arain et al., 2013; Dahl, 2003; Hart, 2007; Lubman et al., 2007), teenagers are particularly susceptible to the influence of substances, which may lead to lasting changes in the brain’s functioning.   Such changes are associated with poor outcomes in several areas, including deficits in performance on executive function tasks (Becker et al., 2010; Ehrenreich et al., 1999; Fontes et al., 2011; Gruber et al., 2014; Meier et al., 2012; Pope et al., 2003; Tapert et al., 2002), an increased risk for the development of anxiety and/or depressive symptoms (Brook et al., 2001; Degenhardt et al., 2013; Fairman, 2015; Hayatbakhsh et al., 2007; Patt on et al., 2002; van Laar, van Dorsselaer, Monshouwer, & de Graaf, 2007), an increased risk for the development of a psychotic disorder (Arseneault et al., 2002; Caspi et al., 2005; DiForti et al., 2012; Henquet et al., 2005; Moore et al., 2007; Rubino & Parolaro, 2014; Stefanis et al., 2004; van Os et al., 2002), and an increased risk for future substance use/dependence (Fergusson et al., 2006; Hall & Lynskey, 2005; Stuart & Green, 2008).   Such considerations may have important implications for policy development related to the legalization of cannabis.   References Arain, M., Haque, M., Johal, L., Mathur, P., Nel, W., Rais, A., Sandu, R., & Sharma, S. (2013). Maturation of the adolescent brain. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 9, 13. Retrieved from http://proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/docview/1364721614?accountid=11620 Arseneault, L., Cannon, M., Poulton, R., Murray, R., Caspi, A., & Moffitt, T. E. (2002). Cannabis use in adolescence and risk for adult psychosis: longitudinal prospective study.  Bmj,  325(7374), 1212-1213. Retrieved from https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C15&q=Cannabis+use+in+adolescence+and+risk+for+adult+psychosis%3A+longitudinal+prospective+study&btnG= Becker, B., Wagner, D., Gouzoulis-Mayfrank, E., Spuentrup, E., & Daumann, J. (2010). The impact of early-onset cannabis use on functional brain correlates of working memory.  Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry,  34(6), 837-845. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2010.03.032 Brook, J. S., Rosen, Z., & Brook, D. W. (2001). The effect of early marijuana use on later anxiety and depressive symptoms.  NYS Psychologist,  13(1), 35-40. Retrieved from http://proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/docview/619826104?accountid=11620 Caspi, A., Moffitt, T. E., Cannon, M., McClay, J., Murray, R., Harrington, H., Taylor, A., Arseneault, L., Williams, B., Braithwaite, A., Poulton, R., & Craig, I. W. (2005). Moderation of the effect of adolescent-onset cannabis use on adult psychosis by a functional polymorphism in the catechol-O-methyltransferase gene: Longitudinal evidence of a gene X environment interaction.  Biological Psychiatry,  57(10), 1117-1127. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.01.026 Cossu, G., Ledent, C., Fattore, L., Imperato, A., Bà ¶hme, G. A., Parmentier, M., & Fratta, W. (2001). Cannabinoid CB1 receptor knockout mice fail to self-administer morphine but not other drugs of abuse.  Behavioural brain research,  118(1), 61-65. Dahl, R. (2003). Beyond raging hormones: The tinderbox in the teenage brain. In Cerebrum: The Dana forum on brain science, 5(3), 7-22.   Retrieved from http://www.ccoso.org/sites/default/files/import/beyond-raging-hormones.pdf Degenhardt, L., Coffey, C., Romaniuk, H., Swift, W., Carlin, J. B., Hall, W. D., & Patton, G. C. (2013). The persistence of the association between adolescent cannabis use and common mental disorders into young adulthood.  Addiction,  108(1), 124-133. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.04015.x Degenhardt, L., Hall, W., & Lynskey, M. (2003). Exploring the association between cannabis use and depression.  Addiction,  98(11), 1493-1504. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/10.1046/j.1360-0443.2003.00437.x Di Forti, M., Iyegbe, C., Sallis, H., Kolliakou, A., Falcone, M. A., Paparelli, A., Sirianni, M., La Cascia, C., Stilo, S. A., Marques, T. R., Handley, R., Mondelli, V., Dazzan, P., Pariante, C., David, A. S., Morgan, C., Powell, J., & Murray, R. M. (2012). Confirmation that the AKT1 (rs2494732) genotype influences the risk of psychosis in cannabis users.  Biological Psychiatry,  72(10), 811-816. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.06.020 Ehrenreich, H., Rinn, T., Kunert, H. J., Moeller, M. R., Poser, W., Schilling, L., Gigerenzer, G., & Hoehe, M. R. (1999). Specific attentional dysfunction in adults following early start of cannabis use.  Psychopharmacology,  142(3), 295-301. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002130050892 Ellgren, M., Spano, S. M., & Hurd, Y. L. (2007). Adolescent cannabis exposure alters opiate intake and opioid limbic neuronal populations in adult rats. Neuropsychopharmacology,  32(3), 607-15. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.npp.1301127 Fairman, B. J. (2015).  Contributions to the epidemiology and mental health consequences of cannabis smoking  (Order No. AAI3619011). Available from PsycINFO. (1664224820; 2015-99040-239). Retrieved from http://proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/docview/1664224820?accountid=11620 Fergusson, D. M., Boden, J. M., & Horwood, L. J. (2006). Cannabis use and other illicit drug use: Testing the cannabis gateway hypothesis.  Addiction,  101(4), 556-569. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2005.01322.x Filbey, F. M., McQueeny, T., DeWitt, S. J., & Mishra, V. (2015). Preliminary findings demonstrating latent effects of early adolescent marijuana use onset on cortical architecture. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 16, 16-22. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/10.1016/j.dcn.2015.10.001 Fontes, M. A., Bolla, K. I., Cunha, P. J., Almeida, P. P., Jungerman, F., Laranjeira, R. R., Bressan, R. A., & Lacerda, A. L. T. (2011). Cannabis use before age 15 and subsequent executive functioning.  The British Journal of Psychiatry,  198(6), 442-447. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/10.1192/bjp.bp.110.077479 Gruber, S. A., Dahlgren, M. K., Sagar, K. A., Gà ¶nenà §, A., & Lukas, S. E. (2014). Worth the wait: Effects of age of onset of marijuana use on white matter and impulsivity. Psychopharmacology, 231(8), 1455-1465. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/10.1007/s00213-013-3326-z Hall, W. D., & Lynskey, M. (2005). Is cannabis a gateway drug? testing hypotheses about the relationship between cannabis use and the use of other illicit drugs.Drug and Alcohol Review,  24(1), 39-48. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09595230500126698 Hart, H. (2007). Alcohol, drugs, and the adolescent brain.  Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology,  49(12), 883. Retrieved from http://proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/docview/195605999?accountid=11620 Hayatbakhsh, M. R., Najman, J. M., Jamrozik, K., Mamun, A. A., Alati, R., & Bor, W. (2007). Cannabis and anxiety and depression in young adults: A large prospective study.  Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry,  46(3), 408-417. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/10.1097/chi.0b013e31802dc54d Henquet, C., Krabbendam, L., Spauwen, J., Kaplan, C., Lieb, R., Wittchen, H., & Van Os, J. (2005). Prospective cohort study of cannabis use, predisposition for psychosis, and psychotic symptoms in young people.  BMJ: British Medical Journal,  330(7481), 11. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38267.664086.63 Hill, M. N., Patel, S., Campolongo, P., Tasker, J. G., Wotjak, C. T., & Bains, J. S. (2010). Functional interactions between stress and the endocannabinoid system: From synaptic signaling to behavioral output.  The Journal of Neuroscience,  30(45), 14980-14986. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4283-10.2010 Hunt, G. E., Bergen, J., & Bashir, M. (2002). Medication compliance and comorbid substance abuse in schizophrenia: Impact on community survival 4 years after a relapse.  Schizophrenia Research,  54(3), 253-264. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0920-9964(01)00261-4 Hwang, J. K., & Clarke, H. (2016). Cannabis and pain: A review.  Journal of Pain Management,  9(4), 395-413. Retrieved from http://proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/1949290907?accountid=11620 Iversen, L. (2004). How cannabis works in the brain. In D. Castle, & R. Murray (Eds.),  Marijuana and madness: Psychiatry and neurobiology; marijuana and madness: Psychiatry and neurobiology  (pp. 19-40, Chapter xvi, 218 Pages) Cambridge University Press, New York, NY. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/10.1017/CBO9780511543630.004 Retrieved from http://proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/docview/620584373?accountid=11620\ Jacobus, J., McQueeny, T., Bava, S., Schweinsburg, B. C., Frank, L. R., Yang, T. T., & Tapert, S. F. (2009). White matter integrity in adolescents with histories of marijuana use and binge drinking.  Neurotoxicology and Teratology,  31(6), 349-355. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ntt.2009.07.006 Johnston, L. & O’Malley, P.M. (2015). Monitoring the Future: National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975-2014. Bethesda, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Ledent, C., Valverde, O., Cossu, G., Petitet, F., Aubert, J. F., Beslot, F., Bohme, G. A., Imperato, A., Pedrazzini, T., Roques, B. P. Vassart, G., Fratta, W., & Parmentier, M. (1999). Unresponsiveness to cannabinoids and reduced addictive effects of opiates in CB1 receptor knockout mice.  Science,  283(5400), 401-404. Lee, T. T. Y., & Gorzalka, B. B. (2015). Evidence for a role of adolescent endocannabinoid signaling in regulating HPA axis stress responsivity and emotional behavior development. In  International review of neurobiology  (Vol. 125, pp. 49-84). Academic Press.   Retrieved from https://www-sciencedirect-com.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/science/article/pii/S0074774215000987?_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_origin=gateway&_docanchor=&md5=b8429449ccfc9c30159a5f9aeaa92ffb Levine, A., Clemenza, K., Rynn, M., & Lieberman, J. (2017). Evidence for the risks and consequences of adolescent cannabis exposure.  Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry,  56(3), 214-225. http://dx.doi.org.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/10.1016/j.jaac.2016.12.014 Retrieved from http://proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/docview/1875567972?accountid=11620 Lewis, S. W., Tarrier, N., & Drake, R. J. (2005). Integrating non-drug treatments in early schizophrenia.  The British Journal of Psychiatry,  187, s65-s71. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.187.48.s65 Leyton, M. (2016). Legalizing marijuana. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 41(2), 75-76. http://dx.doi.org.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/10.1503/jpn.160012 Retrieved from http://proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/docview/1819128922?accountid=11620 Lovelace, J. W., Corches, A., Vieira, P. A., Hiroto, A. S., Mackie, K., & Korzus, E. (2015). An animal model of female adolescent cannabinoid exposure elicits a long-lasting deficit in presynaptic long-term plasticity.  Neuropharmacology,  99, 242-255. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.04.034 Lu, A. T., Ogdie, M. N., Jà ¤rvelin, M., Moilanen, I. K., Loo, S. K., McCracken, J. T., McGough, J. J., Yang, M. H., Peltonen, L., Nelson, S. F., Cantor, R. M., & Smalley, S. L. (2008). Association of the cannabinoid receptor gene (CNR1) with ADHD and post-traumatic stress disorder.  American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics,  147b(8), 1488-1494. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.b.30693 Lubman, D., Bonomo, Y., & Yucel, M. (2007).   Drug use in young people; short-term effects and long-term harms. In Gilvarry, E., & McArdle, P. (Eds.).   Alcohol, Drugs, and Young People: Clinical Approaches, Clinics in Developmental Medicine No. 172. London: Mac Keith Press, pp. 18-50.   Meier, M. H., Caspi, A., Ambler, A., Harrington, H., Houts, R., Keefe, R. S. E., MacDonald, K., Ward, A., Poulton, R., & Moffitt, T. E. (2012). Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife.  PNAS Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America,  109(40), E2657-E2664. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1206820109 Moore, T. H. M., Zammit, S., Lingford-Hughes, A., Barnes, T. R. E., Jones, P. B., Burke, M., & Lewis, G. (2007). Cannabis use and risk of psychotic or affective mental heath outcomes: A systematic review.  The Lancet,  370(9584), 319-328. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61162-3 Morales-Muà ±oz, I., Jurado-Barba, R., Ponce, G., Martà ­nez-Gras, I., à ngel Jimà ©nez-Arriero, M., Moratti, S., & Rubio, G. (2014). Characterizing cannabis-induced psychosis: A study with prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex.  Psychiatry Research,  220(1-2), 535-540. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2014.08.010 Moreira, F. A., & Lutz, B. (2008). The endocannabinoid system: Emotion, learning and addiction.  Addiction Biology,  13(2), 196-212. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/10.1111/j.1369-1600.2008.00104.x Morral, A. R., McCaffrey, D. F., & Paddock, S. M. (2002). Reassessing the marijuana gateway effect.  Addiction,  97(12), 1493-1504. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1360-0443.2002.00280.x Patton, G. C., Coffey, C., Carlin, J. B., Degenhardt, L., Lynskey, M., & Hall, W. (2002). Cannabis use and mental health in younger people: Cohort study.  BMJ: British Medical Journal,  325(7374), 1195-1198. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/10.1136/bmj.325.7374.1195 Pickel, V. M., Chan, J., Kash, T. L., Rodriguez, J. J., & MacKie, K. (2004). Compartment-specific localization of cannabinoid 1 (CB1) and ÃŽ ¼-opioid receptors in rat nucleus accumbens.  Neuroscience,  127(1), 101-112. Pope, H. G., Jr., Gruber, A. J., Hudson, J. I., Cohane, G., Heustis, M. A., & Yurgelun-Todd, D. (2003). Early-onset cannabis use and cognitive deficits: What is the nature of the association?  Drug and Alcohol Dependence,  69(3), 303-310. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/10.1016/S0376-8716(02)00334-4 Quinn, H. R., Matsumoto, I., Callaghan, P. D., Long, L. E., Arnold, J. C., Gunasekaran, N., Thompson, M. R., Dawson, B., Mallet, P. E., Kashem, M. A., Mastuda-Matsumoto, H., Iwazaki, T., & McGregor, I. S. (2008). Adolescent rats find repeated Δ⠁ ¹-THC less aversive than adult rats but display greater residual cognitive deficits and changes in hippocampal protein expression following exposure.Neuropsychopharmacology,  33(5), 1113-1126. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.npp.1301475 RodrÄ ±ÃŒ guez, J. J., Mackie, K., & Pickel, V. M. (2001). Ultrastructural localization of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor in ÃŽ ¼-opioid receptor patches of the rat caudate putamen nucleus.  Journal of Neuroscience,  21(3), 823-833 Romeo, R. D. (2013). The teenage brain: The stress response and the adolescent brain.  Current Directions in Psychological Science,  22(2), 140-145. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0963721413475445 Rubino, T., & Parolaro, D. (2014). Cannabis abuse in adolescence and the risk of psychosis: A brief review of the preclinical evidence.  Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry,  52, 41-44. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2013.07.020 Rubino, T., Realini, N., Guidali, C., Braida, D., Capurro, V., Castiglioni, C., & Parolaro, D. (2008). Chronic Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol during adolescence provokes sex-dependent changes in the emotional profile in adult rats: behavioral and biochemical correlates.  Neuropsychopharmacology,  33(11), 2760. Sobesky, M., & Gorgens, K. (2016). Cannabis and adolescents: Exploring the substance misuse treatment provider experience in a climate of legalization. International Journal of Drug Policy, 33, 66-74. http://dx.doi.org.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/10.1016/j.drugpo.2016.02.008 Retrieved from http://proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/docview/1813639780?accountid=11620 Spechler, P. A., Orr, C. A., Chaarani, B., Kan, K., Mackey, S., Morton, A., Snowe, M. P., Hudson, K. E., Althoff, R. R., Higgins, S. T., Cattrell, A., Flor, H., Nees, F., Banaschewski, T., Bokde, A. L. W., Whelan, R., Buchel, C., Bromburg, U., Conrod, P., Frouin, V., Papadopoulous, D., Gallinat, J., Heinz, A., Walter, H., Ittermann, B., Gowland, P., Paus, T., Poustka, L., Martinot, J., Artiges, E., Smolka, M. N., Schumann, G., & Garavan, H. (2015). Cannabis use in early adolescence: Evidence of amygdala hypersensitivity to signals of threat.  Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience,  16, 63-70. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2015.08.007 Stefanis, N. C., Delespaul, P., Henquet, C., Bakoula, C., Stefanis, C. N., & Van Os, J. (2004). Early adolescent cannabis exposure and positive and negative dimensions of psychosis.  Addiction,  99(10), 1333-1341. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2004.00806.x Stuart, E. A., & Green, K. M. (2008). Using full matching to estimate causal effects in nonexperimental studies: Examining the relationship between adolescent marijuana use and adult outcomes.  Developmental Psychology,  44(2), 395-406. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.44.2.395 Tait, R. J., Mackinnon, A., & Christensen, H. (2011). Cannabis use and cognitive function: 8†year trajectory in a young adult cohort.  Addiction,  106(12), 2195-2203. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03574.x Tapert, S. F., Granholm, E., Leedy, N. G., & Brown, S. A. (2002). Substance use and withdrawal: Neuropsychological functioning over 8 years in youth.  Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society,  8(7), 873-883. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1355617702870011 Van Gundy, K., & Rebellon, C. J. (2010). A life-course perspective on the gateway hypothesis.  Journal of Health and Social Behavior,  51(3), 244-59. Retrieved from http://proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/755695027?accountid=11620 van Laar, M., van Dorsselaer, S., Monshouwer, K., & de Graaf, R. (2007). Does cannabis use predict the first incidence of mood and anxiety disorders in the adult population?  Addiction,  102(8), 1251-1260. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.01875.x Van Os, J., Bak, M., Hanssen, M., Bijl, R. V., De Graaf, R., & Verdoux, H. (2002). Cannabis use and psychosis: a longitudinal population-based study.  American journal of epidemiology,  156(4), 319-327.   doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwf043 Wade, D., Harrigan, S., Edwards, J., Burgess, P. M., Whelan, G., & McGorry, P. D. (2006). Course of substance misuse and daily tobacco use in first-episode psychosis.  Schizophrenia Research,  81(2-3), 145-150. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2005.09.010 Womack, S. R., Shaw, D. S., Weaver, C. M., & Forbes, E. E. (2016). Bidirectional associations between cannabis use and depressive symptoms from adolescence through early adulthood among at-risk young men.  Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs,  77(2), 287-297. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/10.15288/jsad.2016.77.287 Zamberletti, E., Beggiato, S., Steardo Jr, L., Prini, P., Antonelli, T., Ferraro, L., Rubino, T., & Parolaro, D. (2014). Alterations of prefrontal cortex GABAergic transmission in the complex psychotic-like phenotype induced by adolescent delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol exposure in rats.  Neurobiology of disease,  63, 35-47.

Why is it hard to build a good relationship? :: Ethical Issues, Lying, Cheating

The word relationship is defined as the way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected, or the state of being connected. In daily life, we always have a relationship with other people. Biologically, our relationship with parents is made up when we were born. Also we are making a new relationship with a friend, boss, and girlfriend, but there some factors that it makes hard to keeping a relationship such as lying, cheating, and misunderstanding. Most of our relationships are built on trust other people. However, different perspectives can lead us to the hierarchical relationship. On the other hand, in different circumstances, people can be changed, so it gives a chance to get closer each other. Our daily life relationships are built on trusting other people. Generally, many people think that trustable relationships don’t have secrets, and don’t lie to each other. In addition to that we may feel more comfortable to have a trustable relationship, because they are always willing to help each other by telling the truth. When I was in high school, I remember one of my best friend who is extremely nice and positive person that I know. I had an unstable relationship with my girlfriend. He always stands by me, and tried to help me out every single time. I could tell him everything about my relationship, because I know I can trust him, and he gave me some superb advices to recover my relationship. In Kite Runner, we can find the relationship between Baba and his son Amir. Baba always protects Amir, and Amir feels very pleasant to have Baba as his father, because they trust each other. Amir says, â€Å"wanted Baba all to himself† (13), and thinks that â€Å"how lucky he was to have Baba as his father† (39). Baba also had a trust on Amir, since he won the kite tournament that â€Å"agreed to everything Amir asked† (81). After Amir won the kite tournament, Baba opened his heart a little bit, because now trusts Amir about that he can stand up himself a little bit. However, Baba said, â€Å"There is only one sin, And that is theft†¦ When you tell a lie, you steal someone’s right to the truth†(225). But it turns out he lied to his son Amir that he have another brother, who name is Hassan, Amir going to â€Å"reconcile†(226) the image of Baba that he haven been thinking of.

Macbeth a tragic hero Essay

A Tragic Hero is a common figure in many of Shakespeare’s works. A Tragic Hero is usually a figure of royalty, fame or greatness. This person is predominately good, but falls from prominence due to personality flaws that eventually lead to self-destruction. Macbeth’s major flaws are his ambition and impressionability. Due to their flaws, a Tragic Hero’s actions are often atrocious and cause them to battle with their conscience after their desires have been accomplished. These battles with their conscience evoke empathy from the audience. A Shakespearean Tragic Hero will always lose their life in the end of the play as a result of re-establishment of what is good in the play. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the title figure of the play can be seen as the Tragic Hero. There are many factors which contribute to the decline of Macbeth. The three main factors which contribute greatly to Macbeth’s degeneration are the prophecies which were told to him by the witches, Lady Macbeth’s influence and ability to manipulate Macbeth’s judgment, and finally Macbeth’s long time ambition which drove his desire to be king. Macbeth’s growing character decays from a noble man to a violent individual. When the play begins, Macbeth’s greatness is already established. Macbeth has already earned the title of Thane of Glamis and will soon become the Thane of Cawdor. The fact that he has these titles demonstrates to the reader that Macbeth is good and an important figure of responsibility. He is also addressed as â€Å"Valiant cousin, worthy gentlemen.† (Shakespeare 1:2 26), â€Å"Brave Macbeth, well he deserves that name.† (Shakespeare 1:2 18) and as â€Å"Worthy Thane.† by King Duncan. They way in which he is addressed by the influential members of his country further informs the reader that Macbeth is respectable. However, after Macbeth interacts with the three witches, his curiosity is stirred by their prophecies, especially their prediction that he will become king. He commits murder in order to fulfill their prophecy and then returns to the three witches a second time for reassurance. The three witches, with the aid of three apparitions, then revealed to Macbeth in Act 5, Scene 1 the following prophecies: Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff! Beware the Than of  Fife!†¦Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Be bloody, bold and resolute. Laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth†¦Be lion-mettled, proud and take no care who chafes, who frets or where conspirers are. Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him. (Shakespeare 4:1 80-107) Because of these predictions, Macbeth believes that no one can harm him. However, this is a false sense of security. Macduff, who was born by a Caesarean section and therefore was not born of woman, ultimately killed Macbeth, thus revealing that the witches predictions were only half-truths. Macbeth’s good nature is increasingly defeated by one of his major flaws-ambition. His ambition and desire to become king leads Macbeth to take rash and sudden actions that are immoral. This includes ordering the murders of his friend Banquo and his son and Lady Macduff and her children, as well as personally handling the murder of King Duncan. His ambition is also displayed by his willingness to kill anyone who threatens his power. Macbeth is largely influenced not only by the three witches, but by Lady Macbeth as well. Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to murder the king, Duncan. She helps plan out the murder and even offers to do it herself. When Macbeth changes his mind and decides not to carry out Duncan’s murder, Lady Macbeth questions his masculinity and love for her. [We will proceed no further in this business.] †¦From this time such I account thy love. Art thou afeard to be the same in thine act and valor as thou art in desire? Woudst thou have that which thou esteem’st the ornament of life and live a coward in thine own esteem, letting â€Å"I dare not† wait upon â€Å"I would†, like the poor cat I’ th’ adage?†¦When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than you were, you would be so much more than a man†¦They have made themselves and that their fitness now does unmake you†¦ (Shakespeare 1:7 34-62) After Lady Macbeth accuses him of acting like a coward, he agrees to continue with Duncan’s murder. Macbeth is a prime example of a Shakespearean Tragic Hero. He is represented as a good man who, through his major character flaws- ambition and impressionability- falls from grace. After struggling with his conscience over the evil deeds he had committed throughout the play, Macbeth is killed and the rightful heir to the throne is restored to power.

Home Theater Systems

The development of in-home theater surround sound speakers has evolved drastically in the past decade, turning people's generic living areas into replicas of movie theaters. Home theater systems were initially four-channel audio systems created originally by Dolby Digital Surround systems.With the increase in technological advancements throughout the past decade, Dolby Digital has released ts highest speaker system of seven-channels. At first, during the early 50's and 60's the movie industry found that the more channels of sound that was added, the higher enjoyment and response was given back by the audience. Therefore, as a result speakers were added behind the audience for the surrounding sounds and the left and right speakers were then used for the music. The invention of the home theater system generally relates to the reproduction of stereophonic sound.More particularly to the reproduction of the stereophonic sound associated with a video image of some sort. Images and sounds a re reproduced so hat dialog is localized to the video image and ambience or surrounding sound effects are reproduced in a manner that immerses the listener or consumer in realistic or three-dimensional sound field. In previous attempts to reproduce these sounds, numerous monophonic and stereophonic sound systems have been developed in an attempt to achieve reliable sound reproduction. 1] Monophonic audio refers to the reproduction of sound through only one channel. When using monophonic audio you cannot tell which direction the sound was produced.

Malorie Blackman’s Noughts and Crosses Essay Example

Malorie Blackman’s Noughts and Crosses Essay Example Malorie Blackman’s Noughts and Crosses Paper Malorie Blackman’s Noughts and Crosses Paper Essay Topic: Literature In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (c. 1595) and Malorie Blackman’s 2001 Noughts and Crosses, the theme of forbidden love is greatly conveyed throughout both texts. The themes are similar in each text, regardless of the severe differences in era which are highlighted contextually throughout each of the works. Forbidden love is the foundation to which the downfalls of characters occur and is a key component to the storylines of both texts. In both works, the character’s downfalls are greatly contributed to by those surrounding the main protagonists. This allows for the surrounding characters to stand out as the causes for the bad happenings in both texts, as it is they who make the love forbidden and perhaps thus more desirable to the protagonists. Sacrifice is a key theme in both works which helps to convey the way that both couples’ love is extremely important to the characters. Sacrifice is shown in Romeo and Juliet when they sacrifice their own lives because they are forbidden to be together. Romeo and Juliet sacrifice themselves because of what they believed in. The sacrifices also show that they would rather die than live without their love being allowed and accepted by the people around them. Juliet’s last words, â€Å"There rust and let me die†, emphasise the sacrifice that she makes upon learning of Romeo’s death. The words ‘let me’ show that Juliet wishes to be left to die, much in the way that she wanted to be allowed and left alone to love and be with Romeo. The idea of Juliet being allowed to die shows that she is making the sacrifice of her life as it is, in her mind, the only thing left that she can do which will be her own decision. She shows here that she wishes not to live without Romeo and without their love. The idea of Juliet lacking control over her future was a key concern in the Elizabethan era in which the play was written. This is down to the fact that young women like Juliet would have had decisions on big life choices often taken out of their hands. Fathers (or the head of the family) would often have the final say over who the daughter marries. This is shown in Juliet’s situation where her family have intentions for her to marry Count Paris, whilst she wishes to marry Romeo. Sacrifice is also conveyed in Romeo’s death in which before dying he says ‘here’s to my love. ’ This allows the link between the couple’s sacrifice and their love being forbidden to become apparent through the way that Romeo states that his death is for his ‘love. ’ Shakespeare’s use of the word ‘Here’s’ conveys that Romeo is killing himself for his love. Additionally, the word ‘here’s’ would usually be used in a kind of toast or tribute towards something. This allows for Romeo to glamorise his death by it being down to the love forbidden between the couple. The sacrifice in Romeo and Juliet coincides with Shakespeare’s famous genre of tragedy, which is conveyed throughout a number of his works but especially in Romeo and Juliet. David Scott Kastan suggests in his analysis that â€Å"Tragedy, for Shakespeare is the genre of uncompensated suffering. † I would agree with this idea as Shakespeare has incorporated this theory into Romeo and Juliet. The idea of the suffering being ‘uncompensated’ relates to the couple’s situation since they do not get any reward or gain for what they have endured in the end. This point relates to the couple making their individual sacrifices of life as these acts are uncompensated and unrewarded; they gain nothing from their actions. This idea of uncompensated sacrifice is down to the matter of their love being forbidden. The love being forbidden between the two characters results in the sacrifice of their own lives which shows how passionate both characters are about their love. It is conveyed in the language before each death that their sacrifices clearly link to their love being forbidden and frowned upon by others. Similarly, in Noughts and Crosses, Callum sacrifices his life for what he believes in. The ultimatum to sacrifice his life for the life of his baby or his baby’s life for his, results in Callum deciding to be executed. Much like in Romeo and Juliet, Sephy and Callum’s situation is out of their hands and out of their control. The people around them force the couple to make the decision as to who to sacrifice. Callum’s explanation that â€Å"He pulls the hood over my head. I try to pull back. Im not trying to run away. I just want to see her One last time † highlights his desperation to see Sephy for the last time. This conveys Callum’s love for Sephy and his position shows where the couple’s forbidden love has gotten him. This helps to highlight the way in which the couple’s love is truly forbidden and shows the extent of punishment for making their love known by having a baby. â€Å"I’m not trying to run away† shows the way in which Callum faces up to his inevitable sacrifice in the moment of it. Highlighting that he is ‘not’ trying to run away shows that he has accepted his fate to be executed. This shows the way that Callum has come to terms with the sacrifice he must make and in this he shows that he truly would rather save his unborn baby’s life than live on himself. The ellipsis conveys the tone of Callum’s thoughts as, whilst he clearly shows acceptance of his situation, its fragmentation highlights the way he feels about Sephy and it shows how he is much weaker and more emotional when it comes to thinking about her. The ellipsis at the end of the sentence could also represent the end of Callum’s life, as though it is to be continued. This idea could foreshadow the future after his death, conveying the way that his death could alter the views upon Noughts and Crosses being segregated in the future. Much like in Romeo and Juliet, the couple have to sacrifice something regardless of what they choose, whether it be their unborn baby or Callum himself. Whilst Romeo and Juliet would have not lost a physical person if they had not have sacrificed themselves, they would have lost out on the love that they wished to share together. The sacrifice of Callum’s life in Noughts and Crosses shows the way that the couple are forced into making a sacrifice in order to stand up for what they believe in. It also shows the extent of how forbidden their love really is, how seriously the people around them perceive it and how they are controlled by those around them to the point of a forced sacrifice. The outcomes postliminary to the sacrifices in each novel can give an array of answers as to whether the characters’ actions and decisions in the end benefitted each of society’s harsh beliefs around them. The characters surrounding the two couples in each text contribute a great amount to the outcomes and the decisions that the main protagonists make throughout the novels. This conveys the way in which the great sacrifices of life in each text affect the characters surrounding the main protagonists and shows these characters’ reactions to the events that they have partly caused. It allows the remaining characters in the texts to question whether the love was forbidden enough for lives to be lost. In Romeo and Juliet, after the couple sacrifice their lives, it is clear to see that the families put their feuds aside. Upon realising that the pair’s death was down to their love being forbidden by the families, Capulet refers to Montague as ‘brother Montague. The use of the word ‘brother’ highlights Capulet’s desire to resolve the feud. He has realised what has been lost because of the families’ differences. Referring to Montague as ‘brother’ may also indicate the way that Capulet feels guilt and remorse for what the situation has resulted in. In religious terms, ‘brother’ can also be used as a way to refer to a respected fellow male of the same faith. Since the play is set in Catholic Verona, it is possible that Shakespeare uses this language to suggest the respect from a religious perspective that Capulet wishes to show for Montague. This highlights that the families are not so different and shows that they do share similarities, regardless of their great feud. When Capulet exclaims ‘Poor sacrifices of our enmity! ’ Shakespeare demonstrates that Capulet understands exactly why Romeo and Juliet sacrificed themselves. The word ‘our’ shows that he accepts the shared blame for the deaths of the pair. The word ‘enmity’ connotes friction and hostility, which evidences the severity of the feud. The exclamation point after ‘enmity’ also helps to portray Capulet’s heartache and remorse as it makes his statement more dramatic and as though he has come to a great realisation. The tone created by the punctuation results in the strong, powerful man seeming helpless and remorseful, allowing the audience to recognise Capulet’s downfall just as he has. On the contrary, Callum’s death in Noughts and Crosses does not seem to affect the surrounding characters to the same extent as the tragedy in Romeo and Juliet does. Whilst Romeo and Juliet choose to sacrifice themselves, Callum is forced into execution after refusing to allow his unborn child to be executed. This may explain the neutral reaction after his death, because it was planned and intentional. After Callum’s death, it is clear to see Sephy’s upset and grievance, as expected. However, the situation in society does not change. In the sequel to the novel, Callum’s death is shown to have had an effect on society and shapes what will be accepted for the future. However, in the first of the Noughts and Crosses series, in the little time after Callum’s death, no characters responsible seem to feel remorseful. Blackman points out that â€Å"The deputy Prime Minister [Kamal Hadley] was unavailable for comment’’, making it clear that Kamal Hadley wishes to make no comments publicly about the execution of Callum McGregor. Since this is the last statement made about Kamal in the novel, it is unclear whether he refuses to comment because he does not care about Callum’s death or whether he refuses because he is guilty and remorseful. From Kamal’s attitude towards Callum throughout the novel, it is likely that he is careless and thoughtless of his death. However, it seems unusual that a man of such power and firm beliefs, would not make a statement or speech justifying his reasons for giving the pair this ultimatum in an attempt to get the public on his side. On the other hand, it could also be argued that there is no comment made because, despite what happened, Sephy gives her baby daughter Callum’s last name: ‘’Miss Hadley has issued a statement that her daughter†¦ will be taking her father’s name of McGregor. † The fact that Sephy is able to issue a statement whilst her father is not could show that she is the stronger one out of the two of them. It shows that, despite what has happened, she will continue to stand for what she believes in and not be put down by the beliefs of those surrounding her. Kamal’s failure to make a statement could be down to embarrassment as, despite killing Callum, he has not stopped his daughter from doing the unthinkable by having a child with a Cross. Although at this stage in the series there are no sure indications of how the events will effect society, Blackman foreshadows the events of the following books by incorporating such bravery and self-belief into Sephy’s character, right up until the end of the text. The forbidden love in both texts is ushered along by characters that could be considered as assistants or helpers to each couple in their different situations. Friar Lawrence comes across clearly as the helper in Romeo and Juliet in the way that he supports the couple. He believes that their love could be beneficial for both characters’ families, remarking that In one respect I’ll thy assistant be, For this alliance may so happy prove To turn your household’s rancor into pure love. Here, Friar Lawrence expresses the fact that he seeks to be an ‘assistant’ for the couple. He explains his reasons for believing that he should be, by expressing that he thinks the love could have a positive outcome for both families. The word ‘alliance’ connotes the idea to join and unite. This conveys Friar Lawrence’s want for unison and peace between the two families and shows that he believes the pair’s ‘alliance’ could help to achieve this. The word ‘rancor’, connoting bitterness and spite, describes the rottenness of the relationship between the two families. Friar Lawrence then uses ‘pure love’ to describe the way that the families could become if united. The use of ‘pure’ connotes innocence, fairness and also conveys religious imagery. The religious imagery here could be used to convey the way in which the couple’s love would be pure and not tarnished or affected by the evil in those around them. The religious imagery is contextually relevant to the setting of Romeo and Juliet as Roman Catholic Verona was obviously notably religious. It could also be used to indicate that Friar Lawrence expects them to marry and be a respectful, traditional couple of the time. The words ‘rancor’ and ‘pure love’ are a stark contrast. It allows for the two feelings to be conveyed and show the way in which the families will over time transform from feelings of bitterness and hatred to feelings of friendship and unison. This conveys the way that Friar Lawrence has good intentions for the couple, allowing the reader to see that he is a character with a good heart in the play, striving to do the right thing. Friar Lawrence clearly does not approve of the feud that the families have with each other. Similarly, in Noughts and Crosses, Jasmine Hadley does not seem to believe in the segregation between Noughts and Crosses, despite her ex-husband greatly believing in it and being a strong proponent of the cause. Jasmine proves this from the beginning of the novel when she shows herself to be a good friend of a Cross, who also works for her family. Jasmine is much like Friar Lawrence in the way that she also acts as a kind of assistant for Callum and his family without them knowing. However, whilst Friar Lawrence is open with Romeo and Juliet about assisting them, Jasmine is not. She secretly helps the family out of fear that she may be negatively affected and judged if people find out that she, as a Nought, is helping a Cross. This is demonstrated through her confession that â€Å"I did everything that was humanly possible to make sure Ryan McGregor wouldn’t hang. And that’s not to leave this room. Here Jasmine proves that she does have a guilty conscious towards the way that the crosses were treated. Her specification of ‘Humanly possible’ suggests that Jasmine did absolutely everything she could. However, this is contrasted by the possibility that Jasmine could have spoken up against what was happening as a well-respected Nought woman, and could have used her power to try and negotiate a change in how the Crosses are being treated. This shows the way in which Crosses would not speak out against the segregation and unfair treatment even if they wanted to. It highlights the way in which even they felt threatened to share their opinions and beliefs. This conveys the way in which even the Crosses found it hard to speak out against a firm, in place system. Jasmine’s insistence that â€Å"And that’s not to leave this room† backs up the idea that Crosses were afraid to speak out for what was right. Jasmine shows that even she is fearful of what would happen if people knew that she attempted to help a Nought family. Both novels convey helpers or assistants that attempt to help the different situations along the way. Friar Lawrence does it because he openly believes that it is the right thing to do. On the other hand, Jasmine Hadley acts upon her guilty conscience for the unfair way that the Noughts are treated. This conveys the way in which Friar Lawrence as a helper is selfless and helping for the best intentions, whilst Jasmine Hadley is helping because of her guilty conscience and inability to speak out for what she believes is right. Both works have clear themes of forbidden love shown throughout each text. Whilst the texts are both written by two very different writers and set in extremely different times, the themes and ideas are still similar throughout. The strong link between the two texts is the way in which the surrounding characters impact each of the situations and alter the end result of both texts. Without the surrounding characters, there would be no forbidden love and thus no storyline for either of the texts. Both texts provoke thought amongst the audience as to whether the dramatic acts of that characters will alter the society’s views in each of the texts, or whether life will stay the same; cruelly ignoring what has been lost and what has been broken beyond repair.

Free Essays on Business Plan

Can’t find a greeting card that suits you? Tired of writing out practically hundreds of Christmas cards each year? No one show up for that garage sale on Saturday? Uh-Oh. Sounds like you need our help. Personalize It! strives on providing simplicity and easing the burdens of the lives of our consumer by creating a flawless card, invitation, or flyer at the drop of a hat. We want your invitations to be for a party that everyone wants to go, the â€Å"Happy Birthday† card that creates a tear, and the signs that nobody could possibly miss. Our plans for this small business is to individually design and create personalized greeting cards, invitations, and flyers. We will make a wide variety of cards such as graduation notices, wedding invites, and party invitations, but our specialty will be holiday greeting cards. We can also produce simple, yet eye-catching, flyers for your next garage sale or for your band’s next concert. Our open door policy means that people can come to us with their ideas and leave with a product that will not only be personal, affordable, and dependable, it will be memorable. Personalize It! is an equal opportunity business making its expertise available to help its customers create their own products. Keeping in tune with the needs of the consumer, utilizing the latest technology and trends, all while ensuring that the client receives the individual attention they deserve is the vision and daily mission of Personalize It! Our goals include consistent, accurate achievement of the client’s wishes, competitive pricing for the quality of services provided, and significant profit made on each product produced. Founded in 2003 on a part-time basis, Personalize It! is a small business designed to meet the needs of the ever-changing social world. New York City is the current home with plans to expand to branch offices within four years. Personalize It! is invested in the community it reside... Free Essays on Business Plan Free Essays on Business Plan Executive Summary The Dark Side, is an after hours coffeeshop located on East Evans Avenue and South High Street. Hours of operation being 4 pm to 2 am, the intention is to attract people ages 15 to 30 years, mostly being students especially from the University of Denver. By offering three distinctive atmospheres within the coffee shop our goal is to satisfy the diverse needs among this age group. We will do this by implementing a study room, a lounge and a main room. On weekends we plan to host live bands on our stage in the main room. In order to attract international students, we are selling international newspapers and hosting international conversation groups. The coffee industry is growing, and we feel that our coffee shop will fit a set of needs that have not yet been met. 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Our distribution channel runs from producer to wholesaler to distributor to retailer to consumer, this is the most efficient way for our small business. Price stability is the pricing strategy that we have chosen, this ... Free Essays on Business Plan Business Plan Business Plan: Progressive Consulting What follows is a complete business plan for a hypothetical company. Please copy or save to your disk and use as an example in developing your own business plan. If you would like to read a series of articles jump to Web Marketing . For additional business aids click on The Practical Tools of Consulting 1. 0 Executive Summary Progressive Consulting will be formed as a consulting company specializing in marketing of high technology products in international markets. Its founders are former marketers of consulting services, personal computers, and market research, all in international markets. They are founding Progressive Consulting to formalize the consulting services they offer. 1. 2 Mission Progressive Consulting offers high-tech manufacturers a reliable, high quality alternative to inhouse resources for business development, market development, and channel development on an international scale. A true alternative to in house resources offers a very high level of practical experience, know how, contacts, and confidentiality. Clients must know that working with Progrssive Consulting is a more professional, less risky way to develop new areas even than working completely in house with their own people. Progressive Consulting must also be able to maintain financial balance, charging a high value for its services, and delivering an even higher value to its clients. Initial focus will be development in the European and Latin American markets, or for European clients in the United States market. 1. 3 Keys to Success Excellence in fulfilling the promise completely confidential, reliable, trustworthy expertise and information. Developing visibility to generate new business leads. Leveraging from a single pool of expertise into multiple revenue generation opportunities: retainer consu... Free Essays on Business plan Business Plan Business Plan: Progressive Consulting What follows is a complete business plan for a hypothetical company. Please copy or save to your disk and use as an example in developing your own business plan. If you would like to read a series of articles jump to Web Marketing . For additional business aids click on The Practical Tools of Consulting 1. 0 Executive Summary Progressive Consulting will be formed as a consulting company specializing in marketing of high technology products in international markets. Its founders are former marketers of consulting services, personal computers, and market research, all in international markets. They are founding Progressive Consulting to formalize the consulting services they offer. 1. 2 Mission Progressive Consulting offers high-tech manufacturers a reliable, high quality alternative to inhouse resources for business development, market development, and channel development on an international scale. A true alternative to in house resources offers a very high level of practical experience, know how, contacts, and confidentiality. Clients must know that working with Progrssive Consulting is a more professional, less risky way to develop new areas even than working completely in house with their own people. Progressive Consulting must also be able to maintain financial balance, charging a high value for its services, and delivering an even higher value to its clients. Initial focus will be development in the European and Latin American markets, or for European clients in the United States market. 1. 3 Keys to Success Excellence in fulfilling the promise completely confidential, reliable, trustworthy expertise and information. Developing visibility to generate new business leads. Leveraging from a single pool of expertise into multiple revenue generation opportunities: retainer consu... Free Essays on Business Plan Can’t find a greeting card that suits you? Tired of writing out practically hundreds of Christmas cards each year? No one show up for that garage sale on Saturday? Uh-Oh. Sounds like you need our help. Personalize It! strives on providing simplicity and easing the burdens of the lives of our consumer by creating a flawless card, invitation, or flyer at the drop of a hat. We want your invitations to be for a party that everyone wants to go, the â€Å"Happy Birthday† card that creates a tear, and the signs that nobody could possibly miss. Our plans for this small business is to individually design and create personalized greeting cards, invitations, and flyers. We will make a wide variety of cards such as graduation notices, wedding invites, and party invitations, but our specialty will be holiday greeting cards. We can also produce simple, yet eye-catching, flyers for your next garage sale or for your band’s next concert. Our open door policy means that people can come to us with their ideas and leave with a product that will not only be personal, affordable, and dependable, it will be memorable. Personalize It! is an equal opportunity business making its expertise available to help its customers create their own products. Keeping in tune with the needs of the consumer, utilizing the latest technology and trends, all while ensuring that the client receives the individual attention they deserve is the vision and daily mission of Personalize It! Our goals include consistent, accurate achievement of the client’s wishes, competitive pricing for the quality of services provided, and significant profit made on each product produced. Founded in 2003 on a part-time basis, Personalize It! is a small business designed to meet the needs of the ever-changing social world. New York City is the current home with plans to expand to branch offices within four years. Personalize It! is invested in the community it reside... Free Essays on Business Plan Business Plan Template Here's your sample Title Page. It's a great idea to put a color picture of your product right on the front. But leave room for the following information. [Your Company Name] Month, 19xx [month and year issued] Business Plan Copy Number [x] This document is confidential. It is not for re-distribution. [Name of point man in financing] [Title] [Address] [City, State ZIP] [Phone] [e-mail] [company home page URL] This is a business plan. It does not imply an offering of Securities. Table of Contents Here's a sample Table of Contents. Be sure to modify the page numbers when you’ve finished your Business Plan. Executive Summary 1-1 Mission 2-1 Company Overview 3-1 Legal Business Description 3-2 Strategic Alliances 3-3 Product 4-1 Current Product 4-2 Research and Development 4-3 Production and Delivery 4-4 The Market 5-1 Market Definition 5-2 Customer Profile 5-3 Marketing Plan 5-4 Sales Strategy 5-5 Distribution Channels 5-6 Advertising, Promotion, PR 5-7 Competition 6-1 Risk/Opportunity 7-1 Management Team 8-1 Capital Requirements 9-1 Exit/Payback Strategy 9-2 Financial Plan 10-1 Assumptions 10-2 Financial Statements 10-3 Conclusion 10-4 Exhibits 11-1 Executive Summary If the executive summary doesn’t succeed, your business plan will never sell investors. We recommend that you write the summary first and use it as a template for the plan as a whole. Since one of its primary functions is to capture the investor’s attention, the summary should be no longer than two pages. The shorter the better. Want to see what the pros think about raising money? Tune into The MoneyHunt Show (for info on showtimes, etc., go to moneyhunter.com/htm/show/show.htm). Mission Our company's missi... Free Essays on Business Plan „h Broad Market and Segmentation o We are going to go into three parts of Austria. The northern Limestone Alps, High Alps, and southern Limestone Alps. o There are about 10 resorts within these mountains and this is whom we will focus on. o Within Austria the mountains take up about 68% of the total land. o There is a high standard of living in Austria and this is why we are bringing a top of the line snowboard into the region. o Snowboarding is a male dominant sport in Austria making up 85% of the sport o The dominant race is Caucasian o Snowboarders in Austria are between the ages of 15 and 29 o Austrians are introduced to new products and product lines through rental shops „X So we will find rentals shops to sell our product to and sell our product in bulk to them each season „h Size and Trends o The ski resorts busiest time of the year is the first month and a half of the ski season o There are 9 million people living in Austria and it is a cold country that receives lots of snow annually and we plan on the snowboard distribution to be very successful. o Snowboarding was introduced in Austria in the early 1990 ¡Ã‚ ¦s so it is extremely new cold weathered sport compared to skiing o Snow sports are the most popular sport in Austria and there is a high demand for the newest sport, snowboarding o Statistically Austria ¡Ã‚ ¦s younger generation (15-24 years old) are more willing to try new products and/or sports „h Buying Criteria of Consumers o About 78% of the Austrian population has buying power, and are able to use the product themselves. o Rental shops are the best way for people to try the new products and we will entice them to buy them by letting them try them through the rental shops „h Receptivity to New Ideas o Skiing is the most popular sport in Austria, although there is an upcoming focus on snowboarding o We feel this is a good place to show off...

Its a Wonderful Life - Quotes, Values, and a Swim Gym

Its a Wonderful Life - Quotes, Values, and a Swim Gym On December 20, 1946 a post-war, sentimental Christmas film was first shown to a charity gathering. The main character in Frank Capras movie Its a Wonderful Life wants to travel and see the world when hes young - Italy, Greece, the Parthenon, the Colosseum - all traditional places to study architecture. Then he wants to build things  - skyscrapers a hundred stories high and bridges a mile long. George Bailey has the mind of an architect.   Although this quotable Hollywood classic is traditional Christmastime fare, Its a Wonderful Life continues to say plenty about American values, the housing sector, and the way we live. The Swim Gym A favorite scene in the movie is the graduation dance at the local high school. During the Charleston competition, the actors Donna Reed and Jimmy Stewart plunge beneath the gym floor into the swimming pool below. What a stunt! Was that just more Hollywood magic? Not at all. The Beverly Hills High School was used in that classic 1946 film scene, and the Swim Gym is still used today. The architecture works just the way it does in the movie - a gym floor covers a swimming pool and can mechanically roll aside with a key and a button. The system was designed by architect Stiles O. Clements and built in 1939 under the Work Projects Administration (WPA). The WPA was one of the top New Deal programs that helped America out of the Great Depression. The federal government paid millions of unemployed Americans to build schools, bridges, beaches, and hundreds of other public works projects. Like the Swim Gym, many of these federal projects from this era are still in use today, including the Levitt Shell in Memphis where Elvis Presley first performed, the art deco structures in Fair Park in Dallas, Texas, and many, many post office buildings throughout the United States. WPA projects often brought new ideas and artistry to everyday buildings and structures. The Beverly Hills High School Swim Gym is a great example of innovative public architecture paid for with government funds. The Film Also Explores Values But this film is much more than showing off the technology of the day. It begins with youthful dreams and fun, but the plot revolves around business values during the post-Depression, midcentury building boom in the United States. The ongoing conflict is between an unrelenting old businessman named Henry F. Potter and his local competition, the family business known as the Bailey Building and Loan. The character of George Bailey, who took over the business after his fathers death, explained the workings of his familys financial institution to anxious patrons who had just made a run on the bank: Youre thinking of this place all wrong. As if I had the money back in a safe. The moneys not here. Your moneys in Joes house...right next to yours. And in the Kennedy house, and Mrs. Macklins house, and a hundred others. Why, youre lending them the money to build, and then, theyre going to pay it back to you as best they can. Now what are you going to do? Foreclose on them? The arch enemy to the savings and loan lending system was the banker, Mr. Potter, who would have foreclosed on any rabble who could not pay. Back in 1946, the Baileys saw a community of people helping each other - to Potter, everything was money and business. Fast Forward to the 21st Century When Its a Wonderful Life is shown every year around Christmastime, we are reminded of the value conflicts between builders and banks. We remember our own 21st century housing crisis. Profit-driven practices in the banking and housing industry contributed to the 2008 financial crisis and economic downturn. Banks loaned money to people who could not pay it back, and lenders did this purely for financial reasons - the liability for those loans was shipped away from the community and sold for a higher investment return. Unlike the Bailey Building and Loan, 21st century banks were not investing in the community - profit was the only goal. The system may have made financial sense to some, but the scheme was unsustainable. Architecture is about building and design, but in most cases the business of architecture is about cost and value. What does this design cost compared to another design? Can One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan be built for less money if the symbolic height of 1776 feet is made up of a spire instead of full floors? What if we build an office building and cant lease the space? Could we make more money in this housing development if we overlooked accessibility and green design? What will we sacrifice to save money, to make money, or to advance a career? A Couple of Decent Rooms and a Bath In the end, Its a Wonderful Life is a cautionary tale, examining the values of a community and the strengths of its individual members. In our lives, we each have choices to make, and decisions have consequences. The undesirable Pottersville explored in the what if section of the movie has become a metaphor for the Las Vegas-ization of our urban landscape. Is there a Pottersville in your community? In addition to the fun at the swim gym, the other idea that makes this movie so uplifting is that the community of Bedford Falls did not succumb to urban decay and become the metaphoric Pottersville - in large part because George Bailey stood up for the common man. As Bailey tells Potter: Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble youre talking about...they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didnt think so. People were human beings to him, but to you, a warped frustrated old man, theyre cattle. When we think about building our communities, consider that people live in these built environments. The person is part of the architectural world. And, like Laugiers 18th century primitive hut, the architectural requirements are generally modest. Make sure that everyone has a couple of decent rooms and a bath. And a more modern actor like Brad Pitt would add, Make it Right. The power is in the person, and one person can make a difference. Source National Federation of State High School Associations. Beverly Hills Swim Gym combines diverse sports. http://old.nfhs.org/content.aspx?id6251

Committee of women in history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Committee of women in history - Essay Example This is an edited book, edited by Chaudhury and Boris, and is a collection of personal narratives by various former officials of Coordinating Council for Women in History. They have taken different routes to become women historians and had faced hard decisions of a family life, professional and of political activists in the earlier part of twentieth century. 20 women, who had been connected with this institution, Coordinating Committee of Women in History, came together to find many similar facts and interconnections in their lives. The social and cultural background of these historians had been totally different from one another, but the problems and difficulties they faced were almost identical and were threads of the same social fabric. The intention of the organization had been to encourage women to enter into the profession of historians and fight any kind of gender, social and cultural inequalities through political or social activities. This organization takes many steps to en sure that women are encouraged to become historians.These 20 historians, who have given autobiographical sketches, are the organizers and initiators of this organization, who had fought through discrimination and various battles in their private, professional and social lives.There are explanations how they launched into a career of professional historians. Most of the contributors are from middle class white society, but there are colored and working class women contributors too. These women pursued a career in a dogged way, breaking centuries of paradigm. They have a common ground other than their professional interest. They are hard working, noted and dedicated scholars. They have the strength and determination to rise above difficulties. They were persistent and braved all stormy weathers. They are slightly aggressive and show a healthy amount of pride and self-gratification. They are the intellectuals that any society would be proud of. They have struggled "to change the profession of history, to change historical scholarship, and to change the direction of our own history," (xiii). They had been working for social causes, women's liberations, and human rights, against racism, for peace etc. throughout, along with their professional careers. Determination to have a married life had its own implications on their intellectual lives. Some of them were raising their families while being dominated by men. The society as well as the profession were male dominated. The autobiographies offer throughout their narrative, many important details and reflective arguments about how they preserved their identities and dealt intelligently with many of them; how they continued playing their female roles of daughter, wife, mother, partner and the at the same time, continued their social role of political activists. Simultaneously, they also marched forward in their own chosen professional careers of teachers and researchers. They did not allow themselves to be marginalized or edged out of the race. They did not allow their creativity to dwindle in any way. They continued their resistance and fight throughout their working lives. The organization to which they belonged also gave them support and it remained their anchor through their struggle. There are diverse accounts about male dominated working places and organizations and the supporting role played by CCWH and other supporting institutions. It is more of a sisterly bonding, trying to understand each other's problems while going through more or less identical problems in life. Some of them talk about international cooperation they have received in the process. In a way these are the tales of triumph of emerging feminism in United States. Even though Western countries are far more advanced in gender equality, it is always not very easy to make much headway in an entirely male dominated society, not to mention profession. These voices are personal, political and professional and at the same time, feminine. The coherence they have achieved is praiseworthy. At

Statistics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Statistics - Essay Example As documented by the National Center for Education Statistics, NCES (2013), the years 1990 to 2011 saw an average drop from 12% to 7% of high school dropouts in the US. This shows that a majority of high school students increasingly appreciate the importance of graduating, thus the need for me to also strive to graduate. In support of this finding, it would be appreciated that school dropouts increasingly find it hard to secure employment. In 1990, 52.5% of high school dropouts were employed as compared to 49.8% in 2011 (NCES, 2013). Thus, with the aim of securing employment in future to attain financial independence, it would be important to complete my high school education. Completion would increase my chances of securing employment and therefore a brighter future. Interestingly, more male than female students consistently drop out of high school. As such, I appreciate the greater risk of dropout as a male student thus the need to take grater caution to ensure that I do not fall victim to factors that could hinder me from completing my high school education. Therefore, these statistics on high school dropout rates enlighten me on the importance of graduating from high

Master of Business Administration Personal Statement

Master of Business Administration - Personal Statement Example For deals worth more than three million dollars, I work with a team in order to come up with proposals and pricing strategies. All of the opportunities that I handle are highly competitive. My company is in the commodity business. This means that prices are the deciding factor whether we achieve deals or lose them. The role I play in the company is vital. When I bid on an opportunity, finding the right price is crucial to winning business. It is important to find the line between a low enough price to win business and a price high enough to make a profit. Personal accountability in this field is the only way to achieve positive results. It is imperative to remember while going after new business, that one must also retain current customers. The competitive personal computer market needs employees that inspire customer loyalty. This makes retaining customers a top priority for me. It is my goal to generate good relations with new customers, while maintaining the same constructive relationship with current customers. This aspiration sometimes can be tedious, but I work hard to accomplish this objective. A long term intention is to use my sales and marketing experience to pursue a career in product management. While I am comfortable with numbers, working with product management would be more fulfilling.