The New Age essays

The New Age essays There is no doubt that over the years the life of the typical American teenager has changed. I feel it is partly due to the expansion and evolvement of the American society. Technology mostly has broadened our society and I feel teenagers have just adapted to it. I also feel society has basically set the standards for teenage life. They have given us the Internet, thus giving us new opportunities to make money, learn more, and know more about modern technology than the baby boomer generation. You hear the older generations (people 40 and older) disagreeing with how we are living our lives. They think we should be living our teenage years the way they lived theirs; working at the convenience store on the corner, the town diner, or the local gas station, etc. They dont seem to understand the new technologies. When they were growing up everything seemed to be black and white; things werent as complex. Many adults have been left behind with the rapid advances in technology. Now -a-days kids first jobs are repairing computers and making $50 an hour with a click of the mouse. I feel that it comes down to a feeling of jealousy. In a way, our parents wish they could be the ones who are technologically informed. They want to be the ones making $50 an hour. Granted a teenagers life isnt all wonderful. Along with the advances in technology, kids form of rebellion has advanced. Being a teenager myself I cant say that I am proud of living in this category. Now a days all you see on TV is the crimes being committed by teenagers, the drug abuse, the bad things being done; you never see the good things being done by teenagers mainly because the bad gets more notoriety than the good. And because of the advancement in rebellion we cant go back to the good ol days of the status-quo. Teenagers have helped contribute to this by committing adult crimes. They have put themse...

Why ACT Reading Paired Passages Are So Hard

Why ACT Reading Paired Passages Are So Hard SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Paired passages on the ACT are a relatively new phenomenon, first announced by ACT, Inc in spring of 2013. Just as the changes to the new SAT have made it resemble the ACT, so have some of the changes to the ACT made it more like the SAT. What are paired passages, why are they suddenly on the ACT, and what’s the best way to prepfor them? Read on to find out. feature image credit: Pencil Biting by Walt Stoneburner, used under CC BY 2.0. ACT Reading Paired Passages: The Origin Story As far as I’ve been able to research it out, the first time any mention of two short passages (paired pasages) appeared in the â€Å"preparing for the ACT† manual was 2012-2013 (in 2011-2012, the Reading section was still made up of â€Å"four prose passages† with questions that asked about individual passages). For a long time, however, despite the fact that as early as June 2014 the ACT was including paired passages on official test administrations (as per PrepScholar co-founder Allen Cheng, who took the ACT then), the only place with official practice for ACT paired passage questions was the ACT website, which provided 9 paired passage questions (3 of which asked about multiple passages). Most prep books (including The Real ACT, 3rd (and current) edition, Kaplan's ACT Premier 2014 guide, the ACT Black Book, and Meltzer's The Complete Guide to ACT Reading) do not include paired passage practice questions, let along any strategies to deal with them. As of July 2015, the new 2015-2016 "Preparing for the ACT" guide finally includes a test with paired passages and 10 questions on these passages (incuding another 3 on both passages). Fun fact: as I was looking through the new guide, I noticed that the ACT Reading questions looked really familiar, and so I double checked with Allen's June 2014 booklet (acquired through TIR) and confirmed that yes, the test included in the "Preparing for the ACT: 2015-2016" guide is the (US administered) June 2014 ACT. Why Does This Make Paired Passages on ACT Reading Extra Difficult? I don’t mean to climb on my soapbox, but I see this as more than a â€Å"minor† change. We at PrepScholar have always stated that the best way to practice for the ACT is to use actual ACT Reading practice questions, because only the ACT words the questions (and answer choices) in that certain way. If there are no (or relatively few) questions to practice with, how are students supposed to prepare for the test? Moreover, how can the scores of students who took the ACT without paired passages on the Reading section (any student who took the ACT prior to June 2014) be compared to those of students who are taking the ACT with paired passages (any student who took the test June 2014 or later)? For the most part, answering a question about multiple passages is more difficult than answering a question about just one passage, because nswering questions on multiple passages requires you to synthesize more information and juggling multiple perspectives in your head, as you try to keep track of who said what where and when did she say it. This is definitely a valuable skill to develop, particularly for students heading to college. However, ACT Reading is already a big time crunch (35 minutes to answer 40 questions), and going from 4 to 5 passages, even if those passages are now 2/5 shorter, is not insignificant. chubby soapbox by daretoeatapeach, used under CC BY 2.0. This is clearly a photorealistic portrait of me done as I was writing this article. Clearly. Paired Passage Question: A Comparison Below is a comparison of a paired passage question with a single-passage question, modified to be on the same topic. For each question, I list the steps needed to successfully answer the question. Paired passage example (adapted from an ACTual ACT Reading question): Based on these two passages, which pair of phrases best compares Stark’s relationship to Science and Banner’s relationship to Science? F. Aimless researcher versus idle dreamer G. Fascinated onlooker versus pragmatic worker H. Casual alchemist versus thoughtful artist J. Indifferent outsider versus sarcastic farmer How do you answer this question? You must go through Passage A and find information about Stark’s relationship to Science, then go to Passage B and find information about Banner’s relationship to Science, then compare the two, and then see which answer matches reality. That's a four step process. When answering a comparable question on a single passage, you only have to go through two steps. Take the following (adapted) ACT question: Stark’s approach to the task of converting the junk in the cave to a functioning energy source can best be described as: F. reluctant until his companion’s plans inspire him.G. enthusiastic until his companion’s error puts them both in an awkward position.H. apprehensive until he discovers his error is not a devastating one.J. thrilled until he remembers that his companion is a poor planner. All you need to do in order to answer this question is go through the passage and find information about Stark’s approach to converting junk into functioning energy source and then see which answer matches reality. What Can I Do To Practice Paired Passages? Since there are so few official sample questions out there, this makes it difficult (but not impossible!) to create tailored advice. I recommend starting with my article on how to attack paired passages in ACT Reading, which goes into great detail on this very topic. In short, though, here are the takeaway strategies from that article: 1. Answer questions on individual passages first. As I discussed above, questions on single passages are generally less complex than those on multiple passages, which makes them better to tackle first. In addition, answering questions on a particular passage may lead to your finding information that is useful for answering multipassage questions. 2. Guess on all multi-passage questions. If you’re not aiming for above a 31 on Reading, you can safely skip/guess on the 3 questions per ACT Reading section that ask about multiple questions, and still have some room for other errors. Choose your favorite letter pair (A/F, B/G, and so on) and go for it! 3. Eliminate three wrong answers (yes, that good old standby). Answer choices to questions on multiple passages tend to be relatively complicated, but this means that they can also be easier to eliminate, since if any part of the answer choice is wrong, then the whole thing must be wrong. 4. Practice with official SAT paired passage questions. Currently, there are 8 free official SAT practice tests that contain ACT-length paired passages. Each set of these paired passages has around 12 questions, for a total of 95 paired passage questions (yes, I did actually go in and count it). That's exactly 5x as many questions as compared to the 19 total (not just free, but TOTAL) official paired passage questions provided by the ACT. What’s Next? Want to make sure you're practicing ACT Reading as effectively as possible? Find out more about paired passages and strategies to help answer questions on multiple passages here. How should you approach passages in the first place? Our blog has explanations of three different ways to approach the passage on ACT Reading. Want to improve your ACT Reading skills? Read our series of targeted articles on big picture, little picture, and vocab in context questions - articles about function and inference questions on ACT Reading are coming soon! Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Reading lesson, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Improvements of public Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Improvements of public - Assignment Example In order to provide a safe environment and to meet the unique needs of the aging population the city had started a project regarded as Age Friendly New York City. Under this project a total of 59 initiatives were made to attain the purpose of building a comfortable and livable city for the older adults. One of the major changes made by the New York City is the adoption of swimming hours for the older population. They have allotted a time slot to the senior citizens and during this time slot only the senior citizens are allowed to swim in the Jefferson pool (PBS NewsHour 1). This improvement is very good for the health and the social life of the senior citizens. Another significant change the New York City has made to its public places is of changing the most populated and famous street called Broadway Boulevard. The aim of making these changes was simply to deal with the traffic related issues that were occurring to the ever growing population of New York City. These changes included the addition of street furniture as well as separate lanes for bikers (Ullman 1). Other changes includes the addition of two separate lanes for moving vehicles and two separate lanes for parking purposes and changes were even made to traffic signals to manage congestion. New York City has even worked for the knowledge and learning of its citizens in order to help them in becoming literate individuals. One of the major moves that were made by New York City was the reopening of a reading room in the Bryant Park. The reading room has been there since the period of 1930s and it was later reopened during the period of 2003 (Bryantpark.org 1). Its initial purpose was to help individuals gain knowledge in order to help them in findings jobs. Various changes have been made to the New York City since its inception and all these changes have been guided by the government’s desire to make New York City a livable area for its citizens. In order to help the older

The poem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The poem - Essay Example The period idolized the imagination as the highest of human capacities. This was largely because of its creative abilities and as a means of reacting to sweeping change in every aspect of life. It also esteemed nature because of the creative element inherent in it and because of the manifestation of the imagination that could be found within it. This refers to the idea that we create what we see, reflecting a growing awareness of our co-existence with our environment. The world was full of symbols and signs that would portend future events and actions which were knowable through their relationship to the myths and legends of antiquity. The period had some overlap with the transcendental movement as well in which everything encountered in life had a higher spiritual meaning. These concepts of using natural symbols to convey a deeply spiritual idea by pushing the reader’s imagination can be traced through much of Dickenson’s poetry. By avoiding titles, she forces her readers to pay closer attention to what the poem says as a means of identification at least. Once she has her reader engaged in her poem, she then uses natural imagery to make a closer connection with the reader. This can be found in lines such as â€Å"invisible as music / But positive as sound† (This world is not conclusion 3-4); â€Å"They went to God’s right hand / That hand is amputated now† (Those dying then 3-4); and â€Å"Tell all the truth but tell it slant / Success in circuit lies† (Tell all the truth but tell it slant 1-2). In each of these lines, Dickenson encourages her readers to create a mental image analogy of her idea, but this also requires the engagement of the imagination at the same

Marijuana and Alcohol Essay Example for Free

Marijuana and Alcohol Essay It shouldn’t be much of a surprise that alcohol and marijuana comprise the two most commonly abused drugs by young adults in America. But while many would ask why young adults use these drugs, it’s more important to understand how these drugs affect the body. What exactly do these drugs do to the body and how does the body process them? Are the effects always negative? Does the amount consumed make a significant difference? First I will give a brief history of each drug, followed by the physiological processes of digesting each drug in the body, and I will conclude by examining the short and long-term effects of prolonged use of each substance. My goal is to give honest explanations about the effects of each drug using the most recent and accurate scientific data and statistics. To understand these drugs more effectively, it is important to give a brief history of each. Marijuana use has been documented as early as 2737 B. C. in ancient China. It spread through India, North Africa, and Europe as an â€Å"agent for achieving euphoria† and as a medicine for a variety of illnesses (â€Å"History of Marijuana†). It was first introduced in America in 1611 in Jamestown, Virginia. Up until the 20th century, it was never made illegal in the United States because the users didn’t seem to cause harm to themselves or others while on the drug. It wasn’t until the 1930’s that legislation was introduced to portray marijuana as a dangerous, addictive drug that would lead to narcotic addiction. 40 years later, in the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, marijuana was legally classified as a Category 1 drug (the same category as LSD and heroin). During the Reagan administration, very strict marijuana laws were passed in attempt to further discourage teenagers from using the drug. The end result was a decrease in usage in the short term, but there has been a steady upward trend of usage since the early 1990’s (â€Å"History of Marijuana†). The history of alcohol also dates back thousands of years. Fermented grain, fruits, and honey have been used for alcohol production since 7000 BC. Again, the first documented use is in China. Gradually, the use of alcohol spread through India, Babylon, and Europe. By the 16th century, the British government actually encouraged alcohol use for â€Å"medicinal purposes† (â€Å"Alcohol: A Short History†). Not coincidentally, alcoholism became a widespread problem for Great Britain during that time period. But it wasn’t until the late 19th century that attitudes around the world starting changing in regards to alcohol. A movement for prohibition was rising and by 1920, the United States had outlawed production and distribution of alcohol. 13 years later, in response to an enormously uncontrollable black market for alcohol that the government indirectly created, Congress repealed the law. Today, alcohol is widely used by not just those legal to buy it, but also by teenagers and young adults. An estimated 15 million Americans (all ages) suffer from alcoholism and 40% of all deaths due to car accidents involve alcohol. (â€Å"Alcohol: A Short History†) It is important now to focus on the physiological process of digesting marijuana in the body. An article titled â€Å"How Marijuana Works†, written by Kevin Bosner gives extensive detail on how the body processes the drug. Marijuana is most commonly ingested through smoke. The strongest chemical in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannnabinol), which gives a â€Å"high† feeling to users. When smoke from marijuana is inhaled, THC goes into the lungs and is exposed to millions of tiny sacks called alveoli. The alveoli are responsible for the gas exchange between capillaries and lungs. THC enters the alveoli where it is transferred to the blood stream, which then brings the compound into major organs like the brain. Typically, THC reaches the brain within seconds after it is inhaled. After THC reaches the brain, it affects the neurotransmitters in the brain by mimicking and blocking the actions of the neurotransmitters. When neurotransmitters are blocked, the transfer of neurons across the synapse is hindered. This slows down reaction times and cognitive ability. It is also important to note that the brain does have cannabinoid receptors, which process THC, a cannabis chemical. The cannabinoid receptors when activated can have an effect on short-term memory, coordination, learning, and problem solving. The cannabinoid receptors are normally activated by a neurotransmitter called anandamide. THC mimics the actions of anandamide and therefore can bind to cannabinoid receptors, activate neurons, and affect the body and mind. Cannabinoid receptors exist in seven different places in the brain: hippocampus, cerebellum, basal ganglia, amygdala, hypothalamus, neocortex, and brain stem. Each place in the brain controls different functions in the body and each is affected in a different way by the cannabinoid receptors. When THC binds with receptors in the hippocampus, it affects the short-term memory. When THC binds with receptors in the cerebellum, it can affect one’s coordination. THC can affect unconscious muscle movements when its binds to receptors in the basal ganglia leading to a loss of motor coordination skills. People also feel anxious and nervous when ingesting marijuana due to the effect THC has on the amygdala, which is responsible for anxiety, emotion, and fear. When THC binds to receptors in the hypothalamus, it affects one’s appetite, which explains why people tend to get hungry when they feel high. THC impairs problem-solving abilities when THC binds to receptors in the neocortex, which is primarily responsible for â€Å"higher cognitive functions and the integration of sensory information† (â€Å"How Marijuana Works†). Lastly, the effect it has on the brain stem can reduce the sensation of pain. Alcohol, on the other hand, is processed in a different way than marijuana. Alcohol can only be ingested orally, usually in a liquid form that goes straight down the mouth through the esophagus and into the stomach. The Brown University Health Center gives an in-depth discussion of the digestion process of alcohol in an article titled â€Å"Alcohol and Your Body. † Once in the stomach, the alcohol flows through the walls of the stomach into the bloodstream and on to the small intestine. From there it flows into the liver. In the liver, a compound called gastric alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) metabolizes the alcohol. The amount of ADH a person has will determine how well the body can process the alcohol. The more ADH the body has, the better it can process the alcohol. A normal, healthy liver can process about half an ounce of pure alcohol every hour. If the rate of alcohol ingested exceeds 1 pure ounce every hour (about 1 standard drink per hour), the rest of the alcohol continues through the blood stream and flows to the heart. When it enters the heart, alcohol reduces the heart rate, which lowers the amount of blood being pumped through the body. This lets the capillaries relax and as a result, blood pressure goes down. The heart rate will return to normal shortly after the alcohol passes through the heart, but the blood pressure could remain low for up to a half hour after the alcohol goes through the heart. After passing through the heart, alcohol flows through the pulmonary artery into the lungs. After the gas exchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide, the blood, which is now oxygenated but still contains alcohol, flows back to the heart through the pulmonary vein, and then out of the heart through the aorta to the rest of the body. It then reaches the brain and retards the transmission between nerve cells that control the ability to think and move. This causes many of the side effects associated with being drunk: fuzzy thinking, impaired judgment, blurred vision, and rubbery muscles. Alcohol also reduces the production of antidiuretic hormones. These hormones prevent the body from making too much urine. A loss of these hormones results in too much urine. Too much urine causes lower levels of liquid, vitamins, and minerals in the body, which is why many people feel so thirsty when they drink and especially the day after they drink. The flow of alcohol throughout the body will continue until the liver can produce enough ADH to metabolize all the alcohol. Obviously, the more alcohol consumed, the more intense the side effects of drunkenness will become (â€Å"Alcohol and Your Body†). Now that the physiological process of alcohol and marijuana is clear, it is necessary to compare the effects of each substance. â€Å"Marijuana vs. Alcohol†, an article published on saferchoice. org, outlines both the short and long-term effects. Beginning with the short-term effects (effects felt immediately within minutes of consuming either drug), both drugs impede brain function and cause some similar side effects. However, there are some key differences between the two drugs that must be addressed. First, an excess of alcohol consumption in one sitting can lead to death. If the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) gets too high, (usually . 4% or above) it can slow down the heart to the point where the contractions stop all together causing cardiac arrest. It can impede brain function to the point where unconscious breathing no longer continues resulting in death. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 37,000 people are killed annually in the United States from alcohol abuse (â€Å"Marijuana vs. Alcohol†). The CDC does not even have a category for people killed from marijuana use. There has never been a case of an individual dying from a marijuana overdose. Another differing effect is the impact each drug has on brain cells. It has been well documented that alcohol kills brain cells, but marijuana has not been proven to kill brain cells and in fact, a growing number of studies in the medical community indicate that marijuana has properties that protect brain cells (â€Å"Marijuana vs. Alcohol†). Alcohol can also have damaging effects in its behavioral components. According to â€Å"Drugs of Abuse and The Elicitation of Aggressive Behavior, an article written by Peter Hoaken, â€Å"alcohol is the drug with the most evidence to support a direct intoxication-violence relationship. † On the other hand, marijuana was shown to reduce the likelihood of violence during intoxication. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism also reports 25-30% of violent crimes in the United States have a link to the use of alcohol (â€Å"Marijuana vs. Alcohol†). There is no comparable statistic for violent crimes with a link to marijuana because the government doesn’t track violent crimes related to marijuana use. It is a rare occurrence. Alcohol use has also been shown to contribute to domestic abuse and sexual assault. Obviously, alcohol does not directly cause this problem but those are who more prone to that kind of behavior will likely act on it during alcohol intoxication. The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) declared alcohol to be the most commonly used chemical in sexual assault crimes. Interestingly, RAINN’s website gives information about all drugs that are linked to sexual violence and marijuana does not even have a category on their website because it has never been associated with sexual assault crimes (â€Å"Marijuana vs. Alcohol†). Clearly, in the short term, the effects of marijuana are less dangerous than alcohol when both substances are used to get intoxicated. But there is another component to the discussion: alcohol is not necessarily used for intoxication. Most adults drink a beer, or a glass of wine with dinner. The drink or two does not cause any of the serious effects associated with â€Å"drunkenness†, but rather might relax the individual by slightly lowering heart rate and blood pressure. While there are a small minority of people of who use marijuana in this way, (perhaps a small dosage before a meal to improve the taste) it is in no way as widely used in this manner as alcohol. Most people smoke marijuana with the sole purpose of intoxication. So it begs the question, can a drink or two daily be good for the human body? There have been a number of studies in the last decade to suggest that it is indeed beneficial to have a drink or two daily. According to an article â€Å"Alcohol is Good For You? † in the New York Times, there is general consensus in the scientific community that a couple drinks a day ward off diabetes, dementia, and even lowers the risk of heart attacks. The article goes on to say though that a growing number of scientists are starting to question whether this is causation or correlation. Many scientists believe that moderate drinking is not something healthy to do, but rather something that healthy people tend to do. That being said, there are certain factors that lead scientists to the belief that a low amount of alcohol consumed daily can be beneficial: alcohol increases HDL cholesterol which has anticlotting effects and alcohol also reduces the heart rate and blood pressure lowering stress on the body. All in all, more studies are being conducted to determine whether or not there is true causation between moderate drinking and marginal health benefits. However, even the largest proponents of moderate drinking acknowledge the limitations in truly proving causation. The study would be costly and in order to avoid bias and controversy, the study would have to be financed by the government and the government would likely avoid the issue because it is controversial. In terms of marijuana though, there is no group of respected scientists that recommend smoking a joint daily for health benefits. There have been studies showing that smoking moderate amounts of weed may not be as harmful as was originally thought, at least to some parts of the body. But again, it still isn’t recommended. According to an article in Scientific American called â€Å"Casual Marijuana Smoking Not Harmful to Lungs†, smoking one joint per day over long periods of time does not decrease lung function. The study compared the effects of cigarette and marijuana smoke on the lungs over twenty years. Obviously, tobacco was revealed to have negative effects on the lungs, but with pot-smokers, lung capacity was not affected at all and even in some cases seen to have mild improvement. Scientists believe though that this may the effect of the â€Å"deep breathing† that marijuana users often do to sustain a better â€Å"high. † Also, the typical marijuana smoker might smoke one joint per day while the typical cigarette smoker ingests between half a pack and two packs per day. Although the study shows some neutral and slightly positive effects of marijuana on the lungs, they also go on to say that chronic moderate marijuana use, meaning those who smoke up to a joint per day for years, has also been associated with anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and depression. Again, it is hard to prove direct causation between marijuana and mental illnesses, but there certainly is a correlation. The article also says that marijuana affects learning and memory, as well as everyday functioning and alertness. These long-term effects are not necessarily shocking, but depending on the age of the marijuana user, the long-term effects can be extremely detrimental. According to â€Å"Adolescent Pot Use Leaves Lasting Mental Deficits†¦Ã¢â‚¬  an article in Science Daily, marijuana use has much more serious effects on adolescents. The study followed a group of teenagers, documenting their IQ at age 13 and age 38. There was an average decrease of 8 points in those who started using pot chronically (at least once a week for a few years) before 18 years old. There was not a similar decline in those who started using the drug after 18. Worst of all, the damage was irreversible. Many of the ones who lost IQ points stopped smoking marijuana after age 18, but never recovered the cognitive ability they lost due to marijuana. Those who smoked chronically before age 18 were also more likely to suffer from mental illnesses at some point in their life. Many of the same losses in cognitive functioning are associated with underage drinking as well. One of the main reasons the drinking age in the United States is 21 is because it has been proven in numerous studies that alcohol abuse as an adolescent impairs cognitive ability and hinders brain function. Generally speaking for drinkers of all ages, one of the largest long-term effects of chronic alcohol abuse is a wide variety of cancers. Alcohol abuse can cause cancer of the stomach, esophagus, colon, pancreas, liver, and even the prostate (â€Å"Marijuana vs. Alcohol†). In comparison, marijuana has not been associated with any forms of cancer. There is another alarmingly serious consequence associated with alcohol abuse that has not been found with marijuana abuse: addiction. Alcohol is a very addictive substance. It is not uncommon for the body to go through alcohol withdrawals after continuous drinking over even a short period of time. Common alcohol withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, twitchiness, sweating of the palms, and headaches. Marijuana has not been shown to cause any physical withdrawal side effects. There might be a psychological addiction, but no physical symptoms of withdrawal in the body (â€Å"Marijuana vs. Alcohol†). In conclusion, neither drug is recommended in large amounts over a long time period or any time period for that matter. Clearly though, in the short-term, the effects are far less grave and dangerous with marijuana. Alcohol overdoses are deadly. Marijuana â€Å"overdoses† will cause to you to pass out at worst, but will not kill you. Alcohol in large quantities makes people more violent, and can often to lead to sexual assault. Marijuana does neither. Prolonged abuse of either substance though leads to declining cognitive function. Excessive marijuana abuse leads to depression, schizophrenia, and other mental illnesses. Excessive alcohol abuse can lead to liver failure, cancer, sometimes depression, and many other diseases. Most importantly, both drugs are especially damaging to adolescents because they affect the development of the brain. Overall, these two drugs, when used in moderation, won’t kill you, and might even have some beneficial effects. For example, marijuana is often used as a medicine: many people recovering from chemotherapy use it to relieve nausea and increase the appetite. One or two drinks of alcohol per day can lower the risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, and stroke. The big difference between the two is that alcohol has been studied for decades now. The consensus on alcohol is clear: too much is bad and it is acceptable in moderation. Marijuana has not been studied as extensively and more research will need to be done to determine concrete side effects or benefits associated with long-term usage. Obviously, it is not as harmful as originally thought when it was first made illegal in 1970 and classified as a Category 1 drug. Nobody today thinks marijuana is as dangerous as LSD and heroin. That being said, many more studies need to be done before the scientific community can come up with a general consensus about the long-term effects of habitual usage of the drug. Works Cited Adolescent Pot Use Leaves Lasting Mental Deficits; Developing Brain Susceptible to Lasting Damage from Exposure to Marijuana. ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 27 Aug. 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. http://www. sciencedaily. com/releases/2012/08/120827152039. htm. Alcohol and Your Body. Rep. Brown University Health Education, n. d. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. http://brown. edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/alcohol,_tobacco,__other_drugs/alcohol/alcohol__your_body. php. Bosner, Kevin. How Marijuana Works. HowStuffWorks. N. p. , n. d. Web. 18 Nov.

The Canterbury Tales Essay -- Literary Analysis, Geoffrey Chaucer

Through The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer is able to ironically portray the life friars lived throughout the 14th century. Geoffrey Chaucer was born around 1345 and lived in London. (Strohm par 1). He grew up being trained as a civil servant and diplomat. Around 1366 Chaucer married Queen Philippa of Spain (Encyclopedia of World Biography 483). Through being appointed to Parliament, he traveled to many different countries on diplomatic missions and was influenced by the contrasting types of writing (Strohm par 3). These experiences helped Chaucer to gain knowledge about diverse types of people and English writing, which influenced the way he wrote The Canterbury Tales (par 1). When Chaucer wrote, he often mocked and satirized people he saw on their fashion and etiquette, which had a large part in the way he wrote about certain pilgrims in his novel (par 2). Between the years of 1387 and 1400, Chaucer devoted most of his time to writing one of his most famous pieces, The Canterbu ry Tales. This tale is about thirty pilgrims on a journey to the Shrine of Thomas Beckett at Canterbury (par 7). Each pilgrim is expected to tell four stories; two story for the journey to the shrine and another two for the journey back home. The host is the pilgrim that decides upon the best told story. Whoever relates the best tale receives a meal at Bailey’s Inn. Unfortunately, Chaucer died around 1400 before being able to complete each of the pilgrims’ stories (Strohm par 3). In the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer introduces the Friar as someone who, although is meant to live by God’s deeds and the church, is controlled by his own greed. The tale which the Friar later narrates is appropriate because throughout the story it is evident that... ...that they are both lecherous. This is exemplified through the summoner in the Friar’s prologue. In â€Å"The Friar’s Tale,† the Friar states: He was a thief, a summoner, and a pimp. And he had wenches in his retinue, / . . . / He and these wenches made a gang at it Then he would fetch forth a fictitious writ, Summon them both before the Chapter-bench. (Coghill 295) This description of the summoner overall states how the summoner commits the sin of having sexual intercourse with many women. When the summoner is caught by some men, he blackmails them into letting him go free of charge. The Friar is like the summoner because just as the friar repels the vows of his church, the Friar does as well. Overall, it is evident through â€Å"The Friar’s Tale† that both the summoner and Friar are alike in more ways than one. This is shown through their greed, and habits of lying.

Competition in Energy Drinks, Sports Drinks and Vitamin-Enhanced Beverages Essay

The problem which I will be looking at in this report is whether the energy drink, sport drink and vitamin-enhanced beverages are able to be sustainable in the beverage industry. Of the four companies to be discussed; will all of them still be around in 10 years? During the mid-2000’s these alternative beverages enjoyed rapid growth; they had premium prices and high profit margins that made them an important part in the lineup of their brands (Thompson, p. C-75). The strength of these companies had been growing strong but had a slight decline in recent years. SWOT for the Industry Strength: Product Expansion – many new products have been developed Distribution Channels – Can use convenience stores, grocery stores Able to deliver with carbonated soft drinks Weakness: Price is high compared to soft drinks Unhealthy ingredients Caffeine is not regulated – like in soft drink industry Opportunity: Consumer demand Supplier Channels – ingredients, cans, labels Product Innovation – provides differentiation Brand Loyalty – taste, image, energy boosting Brand building skills needed 2 oz. energy shots Threat: Economy Scientific evidence that some products are not healthy Effect people with heart arrhythmias and insomnia. Mix with alcohol Relaxed Drink Niche – abuse with prescription cough syrup As we look at this SWOT analysis of the alternative beverage industry we notice that there are some opportunities that they have created and are able to use in the future. Consumers’ choices are changing from the standard soft drink to alternative beverages. The key is to be sustainable by building up these products. The main opportunity to help with sustainability is to build brand loyalty. Try building up the knowledge and uses of your brands will help you gain the skills needed to continue building the brand. SWOT for PepsiCo Strength: Leads in US: Aquafina – mineral water Frappuccino – ready to drink coffee Tropicana – orange juice Gatorade – sports drinks Strong distribution Broad product line Weakness: Slow growth in Latin America and Japan Opportunity: Food division should expand internationally Threat: Coca Cola leading brand for carbonated drinks Living healthy awareness PepsiCo has grown to be a strong competitor in the global market of alternative beverages. This SWOT shows that they need to increase their growth in the markets of Japan and Latin America. As we discussed in the overall market they can learn how to increase their brand loyalty. SWOT for Coca Cola Strength: Leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor for non-alcoholic beverages Gaining distribution of new beverages such as Minute Maid, Dasani and Powerade Multi-year distribution agreement with Hansen Natural Corporation Weakness: Market share in alternative beverages Opportunity: New product development Introduction of existing brands into new country markets Threat: PepsiCo is slowly taking over the market with multi-line of beverages Increase trend in healthy living Globally they have been a top company in the beverage industry. They have been not as strong in the alternative beverage market. The experiences they have with the carbonated beverages can continue on with the new industry and increase their brand loyalty to the alternative side. The key is to expand their brands into the global market and make it sustainable. SWOT for Red Bull GmbH Strength: #1 seller of energy drinks Weakness: Lack of innovation Reliance on small product base Opportunity: Diversification of beverages to capture wider market opportunity Geographical expansion Threat: Other energy drinks such as Powerade and Gatorade Healthier drinks such as mineral water and juices Red Bull has been a leader in marketing of their product. This marketing prowess has made them the number one seller of energy drinks. I think that if they want to grow and be able to protect themselves from the big two they need to grab the opportunity to diversify into other alternative beverages. As they diversify they will expand into becoming a wider market. SWOT for Hansen Natural Corporation Strength: Monster Energy drinks propelled company sales in 2002 Monster Energy is second best-selling energy drink in USA Weakness: Brand name is not as familiar as the others Opportunity: Develop new products Threat: Competitors have bigger names in the industry. The Hansen Natural Corporation is in the earlier stages of development in this industry thus making them not as well-known as the others. They key that they have done is learned from Red Bull and market their product towards the younger male demographics. Building brand loyalty with the young males will help with the sustainability as that generation grows older they will continue to buy the product. Porter’s Five Forces of Competitive Position Rivalry among Existing Competitors: Beverage producers increased the market for alternative beverages by extending product lines and developing new products. Companies established consumer brand loyalty with an emphasis on advertising, sales promotions and endorsements. Switching costs are low for consumers. Rivalry among competitors is strong. Threat of New Entrants: The brands of: Coca Cola, PepsiCo, Red Bull, Hansen Natural have strong productdifferentiation & brand loyalty. Government policies are restrictive by the FDA regulations. Alternative beverage sellers need to have an efficient distribution system that can reach supermarkets and convenience stores. Threat of new entrants is weak. Bargaining Power of Buyers: Of the distributors; delis and restaurants had low switching costs from brand to brand, but also had less ability to negotiate for deep pricing discounts because of volume limitations. Consumers can obtain the products easily and are well-informed Buyers have stronger bargaining power. Bargaining Power of Suppliers: There are many supplier ingredients & are trying to sell the products. Some rare ingredients providers had an adequate amount of leverage in negotiations with energy drink producers. The producers are important customers of suppliers and they buy in large quantities Packaging is readily available from many suppliers. Suppliers are weaker. Threat of Substitute Products: There are many substitutes to alternative beverages such as tea, soft drinks, fruit juices, bottled water and tap water. Competitive pressure from substitute products is strong. As we look at the 5 forces I have decided that rivalry amongst the competitors is the strongest factor while the power of suppliers is weakest. New entrants are a weak force as the 2 big companies historical action is to purchase companies out when they get to be a nuisance in the market. The reason that suppliers have a low bargaining power is that if a company does not want to deal with you there is somebody else out there that is willing to take your place. The buyers (consumers) have a strong force because they are the ones who decide what they want to consume. It is easy to open up the door next to your product and grab the competitor’s product. The 2nd strongest force that I can see is the threat of substitute products. Just like the competitors; consumers have the option to pick a substitute beverage instead of your energy, sports or vitamin-enhanced drink. The reason I went with the rivalry is that we are talking about the sustainability of the market. Competition with fellow companies is healthy for a company and helps the products to grow compared to being the only option in the market. Choice for consumers creates the competition which helps make the whole market stronger. As the market become stable and has a consistent demand the companies will be able to expand their market. The generation that they have to market to be used to having product innovation and marketing innovation. â€Å"An ongoing stream of product innovations tends to alter the pattern of competition in an industry by attracting more first-time buyers, rejuvenating industry growth with concomitant effects on rivalry, entry threat, and buyer power (Thompson, p. 74)†. All of this helps with sustainability. Financial Analysis Net Income Changes | Pepsi – Co| Coca-Cola| Hansen| Between 2007-2008| -8. 9%| -2. 9%| -27. 7%| Between 2008-2009| 15. 7%| 17. 5%| 93. 2%| Between 2007 and 2009| 5. 4%| 14. 1%| 39. 7%| * All three companies had a bad change from 2007 to 2008. The economy at that time was at a low thus it does not mean that it was their fault. * Hansen had a big jump from 2008 to 2009 as they made an important transition of Monster Energy from a domestic North American brand into a truly international brand (Monster Beverage Corp. p. 3). They had a more reasonable change between 2007 and 2009. * Coke has a consistently higher level of net income with a more consistent change. * Pepsi-Co had a good change from 2008 to 2009. Gross Profit Margin | Pepsi – Co| Coca-Cola| Hansen| 2007| 54. 3%| 63. 9%| 51. 7%| 2008| 52. 9%| 64. 4%| 52. 1%| 2009| 53. 5%| 64. 2%| 53. 6%| * Shows a consistent percentage that the revenues can cover the expenses and are able to create a profit. | * The companies are consistent in their ability to achieve that margin. Coke has the highest percentage. | * They appear to have a good handle on covering their expenses with their revenues. | | Operating Profit Margin| | | | | Pepsi – Co| Coca-Cola| Hansen| 2007| 18. 2%| 25. 1%| 22. 5%| 2008| 16. 1%| 26. 4%| 13. 8%| 2009| 18. 6%| 26. 6%| 25. 8%| * Shows how much profit is earned on sales before paying interest charges and taxes. | | * The companies are consistent again with Hansen having a low year in 2008 but close with Coke. | * Coke was the consistent high company. | | | | | | | Net Profit Margin| | | | | Pepsi – Co| Coca-Cola| Hansen| 2007| 14. 4%| 20. 7%| 14. 6%| 2008| 11. 9%| 18. 2%| 9. 1%| 2009| 13. 8%| 22. 0%| 15. 9%| * A high net profit margin indicates a more profitable company that has better control over its costs compared to its competitors. * Coca-Cola is the higher ratio company with a consistent ratio that grew from 2007 to 2009. The other 2 companies are close in percentages and are lower than Coca-Cola. This shows that Coca-Cola is more profitable than the other two companies. Alternatives: * Coca Cola to improve. * Red Bull to improve * Hansen Natural to improve * PepsiCo to improve * Continue running the same Discussion of the Alternatives: Coca Cola One of the keys to help be sustainable is being innovative and building up a good image; this will help to recapture the market share lost in the energy drink market. Coca Cola should also try to create more rapid growth in vitamin-enhanced beverages and also by creating an â€Å"energy shots† product. Globally they can strengthen alternative beverage sales in Asia and their lack of competitiveness in European market. Coca Cola can use a combination of new flavors and formulations, line extensions, and brands; they can increase sales of the alternative beverages internationally by building a strong image and strengthen their distribution capabilities. Researching a country is important factor, so that you can see what that country looks for in an alternative beverage. Then produce that product and also market to their way of life. They could also try and introduce more flavors that people will enjoy and cut the ones that aren’t doing well. PepsiCo Sustainability can be strengthened by having a major image building campaign for their top product. Just like Coke they need to expand into energy shot branding by having Rockstar add energy shot to its distribution agreement. Another option is to negotiate for distribution rights to European and Asia-Pacific markets with Rockstar or launch its energy drink brands into attractive international markets. In the case it, they discussed that they had introduced a new lineup of alternative drinks known as Charge, Rebuild, Defend, and Bloodshot. As a consumer I have not heard of those brands; indicating to me that marketing of those new products needs an overhaul so that we, the consumers, are aware of such products. Another thing they could do is try to come up with new good tasting flavors for its SoBe energy drink line. Red Bull GmbH The Red Bull brand should improve the performance of its recently introduced energy shot. They need to continue to expand into rapidly growing markets for energy drinks. It is necessary for the company to maintain its lead in the U. S. and European energy drink market. A major key for Red Bull is getting additional product line extensions with the help of their R & D department. They also can develop sports drinks or vitamin-enhanced beverages that can further exploit the appeal of the Red Bull brand. Hansen Natural Corporation Hansen has an agreement with Coca Cola to be a distributor. To be competitive in the alternative beverage market you need to have a strong distribution system. When you have control over your own distribution it gives you the power to have good sales volume and increased market share. Placement on store shelves in the â€Å"first mover areas† is a key to increasing those sales and being in control of your distribution, and then you can set up good locations on store shelves. They also need to continue looking at being innovative in producing new and better products. Image is critical in the minds of consumers in choosing the brands they want. The image presented by the product’s name and emphasized in advertisements, endorsements, and promotions create demand for one brand over another. Finally, sufficient sales volume to achieve scale economies helps in becoming an important driver. They need to have sufficient sales volumes to keep marketing expenses at an acceptable cost per unit basis. Continue running the same That kind of alternative is not a good business decision in that progression is what drives the business environment. In a competitive environment those standing still will be passed or swallowed by the running beast as it goes by. As we seen in our SWOT, all four companies are not at a perfect state and have many opportunities at their doorstep. Recommendation: This case and the way in which has worked out is more about how the industry has a whole can be sustainable. Each one of the companies has similar options that are available to help be maintainable. The one company to me that stands out is the Hansen Natural Corporation because it has been innovative in their options in comparison to Red Bull, such as the size of the cans that they offer. They provide more products for the same or lower price point. I recommend that they develop a better distribution system for their product. It will help with the first mover area which they can move into. As they become stronger in their distribution system they will increase their opportunities to sell their products. Options of places to sell their products such as in vending machines will make their product available to an increased market. As these market segments grow the sales volume will increase with a stronger market share to become available. Brand image is strong to continue building by sponsoring the events to the consumers which you focus your products towards. Action Plan: Immediate: Research distribution channels and how to become â€Å"first mover area† company Short: Cancel agreement with Coke Mid: Set up the distribution channel system. Launch the new system. Long: Make adjustments to the system as the need arises. Conclusion: Competition in the Energy Drinks, Sports Drinks and Vitamin-Enhanced Beverages market will continue to grow as the companies continue to be innovative. I have looked at ways to help the companies be more sustainable. I discussed how Hansen Natural will be able to grow and prosper in the alternative beverage market. References Monster Beverage Corp. (2010, February 28). Annual Report. Retrieved March 6, 2013, from www. zonebourse. com/MONSTER-BEVERAGE-CORP-9771916/pdf/182022/Monster%20Beverage%20Corp_Rapport-annuel. pdf Thompson, A. A. , Strickland, A. J. , & Gamble, J. (2012). Crafting and executing strategy: the quest for competitive advantage : concepts and cases (18th ed. ). Boston: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Book Review: To Room Nineteen

In this way, Suntan's high and low points are drastically influenced by her social and physical situations. Suntan's life Is sprinkled with a series of high points all centered on her level of independence at that particular time. For example, her happiest moments In life transpire when she leads a semi-separate life from Mathew, she has a separate Job, friends, and apartment; her social and physical situations overlapped but were not dependent on Mathews at this time. Suntan's next moment of relief ensues when she comes across Mrs..Downtrend's motel, although the room itself was, â€Å"ordinary and anonymous† (Leasing 878) it's the social environment here that Susan craves; feeling detached from herself and almost reinvented gives her the temporary relief she needs to go home and be content with her life with Mathew and the children. Like a drug addict looking for her next fix Mrs.. Downtrend's motel will no longer feed Suntan's crave for solitude anymore, so she instead look s for a new relief and finds it in Fried's motel. Fried's motel is frequented by hookers and is a much worse establishment Han Mrs..Downtrend's, but here Fred lets her be and gives her the feeling that, â€Å"she was alone and no one knew where she was† (Leasing 883), which satisfies the social privacy she desires. Suntan's final moment of relief occurs when she decides to take her life away In Freed motel; In this way she leaves the world content with the relationships she's left behind including her husband and children, while ultimately entering a permanently new social and physical environment giving her the fresh start she was looking for.Although Susan had many high points that were influenced by her social and physical environments she also had many low moments that were influenced by the same factors. Susan experienced many low moments; all of these unfortunate events were in some way influenced by her social and physical environments at that time. The first low point Susan faces occurs after she becomes Mrs.. Railings and they start a family. After having children Susan quits her Job and transitions into becoming fully dependent on Mathew, this change In social and physical atmosphere coupled withMathews Infidelity causes the first crack In Suntan's character. Subsequently, years later Suntan's next low experience occurs when the twins go to school, instead of on her, this change in the social situation drives her to a new low mood. The next low point strikes when Susan finds out that Mathew knows about Fried's Motel, as it is no longer hers, â€Å"The peace in the room had gone. She was constantly trying to revive it, trying to let go into the dark creative trance (or whatever it was) that she found here. (Leasing 886); her last area of peace has been found causing the final break in her character. In conclusion, Susan Railings death can be seen as the fate of a women who couldn't handle the life of a housewife and loses her sense of self onl y to find it in death, which acts as the ultimate change of social and physical environment. To conclude with a quick recap, â€Å"To Room Nineteen† by Doris Leasing is a story of the events leading to a woman's death due to post marital depression.

The Legend of El Dorado

The Legend of El Dorado El Dorado was a mythical city supposedly located somewhere in the unexplored interior of South America. It was said to be unimaginably rich, with fanciful tales told of gold-paved streets, golden temples and rich mines of gold and silver. Between 1530 and 1650 or so, thousands of Europeans searched the jungles, plains, mountains, and rivers of South America for El Dorado, many of them losing their lives in the process. El Dorado never existed except in the fevered imaginations of these seekers, so it was never found. Aztec and Inca Gold The El Dorado myth had its roots in the vast fortunes discovered in Mexico and Peru. In 1519, Hernn Cortes captured Emperor Montezuma and sacked the mighty Aztec Empire, making off with thousands of pounds of gold and silver and making rich men of the conquistadors who were with him. In 1533, Francisco Pizarro discovered the Inca Empire in the Andes of South America. Taking a page from Cortes book, Pizarro captured the Inca Emperor Atahualpa and held him for ransom, earning another fortune in the process. Lesser New World cultures such as the Maya in Central America and the Muisca in present-day Colombia yielded smaller (but still significant) treasures. Would-Be Conquistadors Tales of these fortunes made the rounds in Europe and soon thousands of adventurers from all over Europe were making their way to the New World, hoping to be part of the next expedition. Most (but not all) of them were Spanish. These adventurers had little or no personal fortune but great ambition: most had some experience fighting in Europes many wars. They were violent, ruthless men who had nothing to lose: they would get rich on New World gold or die trying. Soon the ports were flooded with these would-be conquistadors, who would form into large expeditions and set off into the unknown interior of South America, often following the vaguest rumors of gold. The Birth of El Dorado There was a grain of truth in the El Dorado myth. The Muisca people of Cundinamarca (present-day Colombia) had a tradition: kings would coat themselves in a sticky sap before covering themselves in gold powder. The king would then take a canoe to the center of Lake Guatavit and, before the eyes of thousands of his subjects watching from shore, would leap into the lake, emerging clean. Then, a great festival would begin. This tradition had been neglected by the Muisca by the time of their discovery by the Spanish in 1537, but not before word of it had reached the greedy ears of the European intruders in cities all over the continent. El Dorado, in fact, is Spanish for the gilded one: the term at first referred to an individual, the king who covered himself in gold. According to some sources, the man who coined this phrase was conquistador Sebastin de Benalczar. Evolution of the Myth After the Cundinamarca plateau was conquered, the Spanish dredged Lake Guatavit in search of the gold of El Dorado. Some gold was indeed found, but not as much as the Spanish had hoped for. Therefore, they reasoned optimistically, the Muisca must not be the true kingdom of El Dorado and it must still be out there somewhere. Expeditions, composed of recent arrivals from Europe as well as veterans of the conquest, set out in all directions to search for it. The legend grew as illiterate conquistadors passed the legend by word of mouth from one to another: El Dorado was not merely one king, but a rich city made of gold, with enough wealth for a thousand men to become rich forever. The Quest Between 1530 and 1650 or so, thousands of men made dozens of forays into the unmapped interior of South America. A typical expedition went something like this. In a Spanish coastal town on the South American mainland, such as Santa Marta or Coro, a charismatic, influential individual would announce an expedition. Anywhere from one hundred to seven hundred Europeans, mostly Spaniards would sign up, bringing their own armor, weapons, and horses (if you had a horse you got a larger share of the treasure). The expedition would force natives along to carry the heavier gear, and some of the better-planned ones would bring livestock (usually hogs) to slaughter and eat along the way. Fighting dogs were always brought along, as they were useful when fighting bellicose natives. The leaders would often borrow heavily to purchase supplies. After a couple of months, they were ready to go. The expedition would head off, seemingly in any direction. They would stay out for any length of time from a couple of months to as long as four years, searching plains, mountains, rivers, and jungles. They would meet natives along the way: these they would either torture or ply with gifts to get information about where they could find gold. Almost invariably, the natives pointed in some direction and said some variation of our neighbors in that direction have the gold you seek. The natives had quickly learned that the best way to be rid of these rude, violent men was to tell them what they wanted to hear and send them on their way. Meanwhile, illnesses, desertion, and native attacks would whittle down the expedition. Nevertheless, the expeditions proved surprisingly resilient, braving mosquito-infested swamps, hordes of angry natives, blazing heat on the plains, flooded rivers, and frosty mountain passes. Eventually, when their numbers got too low (or when the leader died) the expedition would give up and return home. The Seekers of This Lost City of Gold Over the years, many men searched South America for the legendary lost city of gold. At best, they were impromptu explorers, who treated the natives they encountered relatively fairly and helped map the unknown interior of South America. At worst, they were greedy, obsessed butchers who tortured their way through native populations, killing thousands in their fruitless quest. Here are some of the more distinguished seekers of El Dorado: Gonzalo Pizarro and  Francisco de Orellana: In 1541,  Gonzalo Pizarro, brother of Francisco Pizarro, led an expedition east from Quito. After a few months, he sent his lieutenant Francisco de Orellana in search of supplies: Orellana and his men  instead found the Amazon River, which they followed to the Atlantic Ocean.Gonzalo Jimà ©nez de Quesada: Quesada set out from Santa Marta with 700 men in 1536: in early 1537 they reached the Cundinamarca plateau, home of the Muisca people, which they swiftly conquered. Quesadas expedition was the one that actually found  El Dorado, although the greedy conquistadors at the time refused to admit that the mediocre takings from the Muisca were the fulfillment of the legend and they kept looking.Ambrosius Ehinger: Ehinger was a German: at the time, part of Venezuela was administered by Germans. He set out in 1529 and again in 1531 and led two of the cruelest expeditions: his men tortured natives and sacked their villages relentlessly. He w as killed by natives in 1533 and his men went home. Lope de Aguirre: Aguirre was a soldier on Pedro de Ursà ºas 1559 expedition which set out from Peru. Aguirre, a paranoid psychotic, soon turned the men against Ursà ºa, who was murdered. Aguirre eventually took over the expedition and began a reign of terror, ordering the murder of many of the original explorers and capturing and terrorizing the Island of Margarita. He was killed by Spanish soldiers.Sir Walter Raleigh: this legendary Elizabethan courtier is remembered as the man who introduced potatoes and tobacco to Europe and for his sponsorship of the doomed Roanoke  colony in Virginia. But he also was a seeker of El Dorado: he thought it was in the highlands of Guyana and made two trips there:  one in 1595  and a second in 1617. After the failure of  the second expedition, Raleigh was executed in England. Was It Ever Found? So,  was El Dorado ever found? Sort of. The  conquistadors  followed tales of El Dorado to  Cundinamarca  but refused to believe that they had found the mythical city, so they kept looking. The Spanish didnt know it, but the Muisca civilization was the last major native culture with any wealth. The El Dorado they searched for after 1537 did not exist. Still, they searched and searched: dozens of expeditions containing thousands of men scoured South America until about  1800 when  Alexander Von Humboldt  visited South America and concluded that El Dorado had been a myth all along. Nowadays, you can find El Dorado on a map, although its not the one the Spanish were looking for. There are towns named El Dorado in several countries, including Venezuela,  Mexico, and Canada. In the USA there are no fewer than thirteen towns named El Dorado (or Eldorado).  Finding El Dorado  is easier than ever†¦just dont expect streets paved with gold. The El Dorado legend has proven resilient. The notion of a lost city of gold and the desperate men who search for it is just too romantic for writers and artists to resist. Countless songs, stories  books, and poems (including one by  Edgar Allen Poe) have been written about the subject. There is even a superhero called El Dorado.  Moviemakers, in particular, have been fascinated by the legend: as recently as 2010 a movie was made about a modern-day scholar who finds clues to the lost city of El Dorado: action and shootouts ensue.

Why Robots Might Soon Replace Truck Drivers

Why Robots Might Soon Replace Truck Drivers There are 3.5 million truck drivers in this country. But forecasts indicate that over the next 10 years, 1.7 million truck drivers might be out of a job and replaced with robots- the powers that be claim that driverless trucks would be safer and cheaper than the human-driven versions. It’s not just truckers. Analysts predict that, due to innovation in AI software and robot technology, the global workforce is in for a major change. 80 million American jobs alone are at risk in the next 10 to 20 years.The Drawbacks for the IndustryIf these predictions turn out to be accurate, then America is in danger of losing one of the last good-paying middle class jobs that does not require a college degree. Sure, other jobs would be created to maintain a driverless network- to help out with â€Å"the fleet†- but that might look like 1 human worker to every 10 driverless robots workers.It could also spur enormous demonstrations across the country. Imagine truckers ringing state capito ls with their rigs, demanding their jobs not be replaced. Particularly given the fact that driverless trucks are thought much more likely to roll out much faster than driverless taxis or other cars. In May of 2015, a self-driving truck hit the road in Nevada. And a whole convoy successfully drove across Europe using a technology called platooning, which allows trucks to connect via WiFi, GPS, and cameras with a lead vehicle setting speeds for the entire fleet.Prepare for the InevitableThe bottom line is this: the technology exists. The only thing standing in the way of a driverless trucking fleet is regulation. But given that the switch could save the industry about $168 billion annually (and could save quite a few lives), that’s only a matter of time.As Andy Stern, the former president of the Services Employees International Union, recently said to The  Guardian, this should lead to a critical discussion of wages, welfare, and employment in America- and could certainly mor e than justify an UBI, or Universal basic income. â€Å"From a business person’s perspective,† Stern says, â€Å"it’s about risk management. Do you want to ride around in an armored car and have guards with you? Do you want the Hunger Games? Or do you want a more fair and just society?†

Gangsters Paradise jerusalema, Broken BRICS, The Fall and Rise of the Essay

Gangsters Paradise jerusalema, Broken BRICS, The Fall and Rise of the West - Essay Example Smuggling and all types of antisocial activities were common in America before the development of its economy. According to some social science theories, antisocial activities in a country have direct relations with its economic growth. In other words, when a country develops rapidly, antisocial activities may come down whereas such things will be increased when the country fails to develop properly. Poverty, unemployment and uncontrolled inflation are the major reasons behind antisocial activities. For example, majority of the African countries are underdeveloped. Antisocial activities, internal clashes and ethnic violence are common in these countries. On the other hand South Africa is the most developed country in Africa. Antisocial activities and ethnic violence are less in South Africa compared to other African nations. In short, economic progress has direct connections with antisocial activities like smuggling and internal conflicts. America was once a victim of antisocial acti vities like smuggling because of the underdevelopment of economic growth. However, America was able to become the number fighter against smuggling now since the country was able to develop rapidly in recent times. It should be noted that America is the richest country in the world at present. As a result of that people in America are not much interested in encouraging antisocial activities like smuggling. Andreas argues these lessons from America tell us many things about the current international political economy (IPE) and the future of emerging economies.