Seventh Day Adventist Church

Introduction Gabriel and Sivan define fundamentalism as a term used to refer to strict adherence to a set of rules of a religious doctrine (1). Usually, fundamentalists break from a larger religious group to form a smaller group. This happens when two or more groups of people within a religious group differ in their opinions and fail to come to a point of agreement.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Seventh Day Adventist Church specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Fundamentalism originated in the United States of America in the beginning of the 20th century when the Protestant community split into various religious denominations. After detaching themselves from their parent groups, fundamentalists establish their own rules that guide them during their worship. A group of conservative Presbyterian theologians started the movement at Princeton Theological Seminary in the United States of America. Later on, it sp read to Baptist conservatives and other denominations. The main aim of the movement was to reaffirm and defend theological values against liberal theological challenges. Malise asserts that leadership of fundamental movements is by one or more charismatic leaders whose role is to ensure that believers know what is expected of them (2). The leaders also ensure that they preach their gospel to many people to convince them of the truth of the movement so that other people can join. Some religions such as the Jewish fundamentalist group limits its gospel to a certain community while other fundamentalist groups preach the gospel to all people regardless of their community and origin. The media has been very influential spreading religious doctrines. For instance, in modern societies, Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell and Oral Roberts among other television preachers have been able to pass their messages to millions of people. The media has therefore enhanced evangelism. Many charismatic leader s in the United States of America receive support from the modern fundamentalist movements that are widely spread. Discussion The split of religion into smaller groups is common in many countries all over the world. Even though splinter religious groups may continue with some religious practices of their parent religions, they usually have other characters that make them different. The main reason behind a church splitting into two or more groups is disagreements arising among the members of the church. When a certain group realizes that their ideas are not put into practice, they decide to put up their own church so that they can put into practice what they think fits them best.Advertising Looking for research paper on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Modernization has had major impacts towards splitting of religions. This is because there are those members of the church who do not want to embrace changes a rising from modernization and others subjected to changes. This brings in differences and may lead to divisions in the church if members do not take correct measures to deal with the issues (Malise 15). The Seventh -day Adventist Church Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA) is a Christian denomination. The theology of the church is marked by a conspiratorial and apocalyptic tone. SDA is a worldwide denomination with more than eight million members. The members have a feeling that the church acts as a spiritual home for them. The denomination began in the middle of the 19th century in the United States of America because of the Millerite movement. The movement was composed of people who believed in the teachings of William Miller. Miller believed in Jesus Christ’s second coming advent. Ellen White whose writings are still valued in the modern world was among the founders of the denomination. SDA followers observe Judio-Christians original seventh day, Saturday as their Sabbath da y. Their religious activities are carried out on Saturday making it different from other Christian denominations that recognize Sunday as their Sabbath day. The followers of the denomination hold the belief that Jesus will come back on earth again (General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist Church 1). Ammerman and Farnsley point out that some teachings of the SDA church are similar to those of Protestants (93). For example, they believe in the doctrine of the trinity that defines God as a composition of three divine persons, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Although the three persons are different, they live in unity. The three are eternal, equal and powerful. The Christian doctrine of the Trinity is regarded as a mystery in the religion. This is because one God exists as three persons. This means that that the nature of God the Son and Holy Spirit is similar to that of God the Father. God is described as powerful, omnipresent, eternal and holy. Christians hold the beli ef that biblical matters concerning faith and Christian practices are true and useful. They believe in the contents of the bible and see it as a guide and way to salvation. The aim of Christians is to ensure that the gospel reaches to as many people as possible. Long after missionaries spread the gospel to many parts of the world, preachers in the modern world travel from one place to another to preach the gospel.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Seventh Day Adventist Church specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Through the television, evangelists have been able to reach people all over the world. Many people have become Christian converts after hearing the gospel. Churches have also been established worldwide and act as central places of worship thereby enhancing the spread of the gospel. Ammerman and Farnsley point out that some teachings of the SDA Church differ from those of other Protestants. An example is the belief that the dead are just in an unconscious state. Christian’s believe that the soul of human beings is immortal (100). In addition, they believe that after an individual has died, the soul remains uncomprehending until the judgment day when the person will resurrect. This period is referred to as the intermediate state. The Seventh Day Adventist Church believes in an investigative judgment a unique character of the denomination. This is the belief that Christians have been undergoing a process of divine judgment since 1844. The origin of SDA denomination is related to the belief that Ellen White, a pioneer of the church describes as one of the main Adventist beliefs. Investigative judgment is important in understanding the concept of Heavenly sanctuary in the denomination. The terms investigative judgment and heavenly sanctuary are sometimes used interchangeably to mean the same. The teachings of heavenly sanctuary in the theology of the seventh day assert that va rious aspects found in the sanctuary or Hebrew tabernacle represent the reality of heaven. Jesus is regarded as the High Priest who sacrificed himself and whose blood cleanses sins of human beings. Organization of the Seventh Day Adventist Church The General Conference body found in Maryland in the United States of America governs the Seventh Day Adventist Church. All issues concerning the running of the church are taken care of in the central office of the Church. The body ensures that activities in the church run smoothly by ensuring good administrative conditions. The leader of the executive members of the General conference is the president. The church holds a General Conference meeting after every five years in which new members are elected in the office. Last Year’s meeting was in Georgia in the United States of America.Advertising Looking for research paper on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The church has a representative from of the government even though the General Conference is the head office. It is upon the members of the local church to choose the leaders who would represent them in the next level. Leaders are elected from one level to another until the highest level where executive leaders are elected in the General Conference who governs the church for the next five years (Land 70). The structure of the church goes through four main levels. First, a local church elects some of their members to represent them. In the next step, leaders are elected from the representatives of various local churches. The leaders form a union conference in the local areas. Collection of several conferences and mission in a wide geographical area form a division. General Conference is the overall governor of all SDA Churches in the world. The body has established offices in the regions called divisions, which administer church issues in their distinctive areas. The divisions are fu rther sub-divided into unions, conferences and missions. This is because the general conference cannot administer the large number of churches in the world successfully. They have to establish offices up to the local areas that will closely administer issues of the church. Leaders of local churches are expected to report any issues arising in the church to the higher level so that it finally gets to the knowledge of General Conference executive leaders. This eases the work of administering the church (Land 80). Challenges Seventh Day Adventist members face many challenges from other Christian denominations. They argue that some teachings differ from the accepted beliefs. For example, the way they perceive hell is different from other denominations. They believe Christian’s will be destroyed unless they get salvation, which is the only way to eternal Life. They hold the belief that human souls become immortal after people gain eternal life. According to them, God will destroy the wicked leaving behind the righteous people who will live forever. They also believe that the wicked shall be punished in the lake of fire before being destructed. Others do not believe in the existence of hell. They associate its origin with groups of non-believers. This is different from the original understanding of the concept of eternal life held by other churches that all people will be saved (General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist Church 11). The denomination also differs with others in their belief that professed Christians have been going through a process of divine judgment. When Jesus was crucified, the blood that he shed on the cross was a symbol that human beings were forgiven for their sins. Christians believe that God will always forgive his people as long as they repent. Judgment for people’s sins will take place after the second coming of Jesus Christ. According to the bible, Christians are sure that there is heaven and hell and the bible promises the m that God will destroy the world with fire. Finally, they disagree with others on the issue of Sabbath. Other denomination regard Sunday as the Sabbath day. The work of creation took God six days and he rested on the seventh day, the Sabbath (Evans 42). Evangelists face some challenges in their effort to spread the gospel the whole world. One of the greatest challenges is the language barrier. Many preachers use the media as a way of reaching out to as many people as possible. However, this may not meet the target because of language barrier. They mainly use English, which is not understood by all people. Unless those people get somebody to translate the message, they do not get the message. For evangelists travelling to remote areas to preach the gospel, they find it hard to communicate because they are neither understood nor do they understand indigenous languages of the locals. Accessibity is another problem. Some areas have poor transport systems making it difficult for people to travel to those areas. Others do not have roads at all and people are forced to walk for long distances. Finally, some people are so much for their culture that they cannot embrace new changes. Since the doctrine is against their cultural practices, they fear that they will annoy their ancestors and spirits by doing away with their culture. Converting such people is a challenge for many preachers (Land 80). Successes London states that members of the SDA church are very much concerned with the issue of health and diet (96). The doctrine puts major emphasis on wellness and health. Since the establishment of the church back in 1860, the issue of health and diet has been taken seriously. Members of the church are supposed to be vegetarians. They are supposed to abstain from eating meat from animals like pigs and shellfish that are described as unclean. The book of Leviticus in the Old Testament forbids Christians from eating pork, owl, donkey and other unclean animals. These are mai nly animals that lack hooves. In addition, the followers are not supposed to consume drugs and alcohol. They believe that drugs will make them impure and therefore unfit for entering the Kingdom of God. Members of the church are very much determined as they follow these doctrines keenly so that they can enter the kingdom of heaven. According to London, the pioneers of the church encouraged western communities to incorporate cereals in their breakfast (100). Research conducted in Bethsaida, Maryland in the year 2005 that was funded by the National Institute of Health showed that on average, Adventists lived longer than average Californians, approximately between four and ten years. Abstinence from smoking and drinking alcohol is the reason behind them living for long according to surveys done. They are not prone to diseases like lung and liver cancer caused by consumption of alcohol and tobacco, which lead to deaths of many people. Their low fat diet content also prevents diseases re lated to excessive fat in the body. Followers have a long expectancy period because they mainly take in healthy diets in addition to abstaining from substances that are harmful to their health. The church has established large hospitals and other institutions that provide health services to its members and the larger community. An example is the Hugly Memorial Hospital located in Texas. The hospitals have well trained specialists who deal with problems associated with health. They diagnose and administer treatments to patients. Other services like guidance and cancelling are also offered in the hospitals. Doctors advise patients on how to prevent occurrence of diseases as well as advising people on how to care for their patients especially those suffering from infectious diseases like tuberculosis, which can be spread from one person to another. The organization has managed to reduce death rates caused by various diseases because of their efficient health services (Evans 32). The de nomination runs academic institutions like Loma Linda University in California in which students are trained to be doctors. The organization equips students with knowledge on human health and general knowledge of what goes on in the world. It is a way of creating job opportunities in the country because qualified people are employed in the institution to teach students. The students will be in a position to earn living after completing the course. The church owns companies like Sanitarium Health Food Company in Australia. This is a fast growing company in Australia and the largest manufacturer of vegetarian and health products. The church contributes to the economy of the country by supplying its citizens with food. They have managed to spread the gospel to the whole world given that it is found all over the world. These are some of the successes of the Seventh Day Adventist church (Evans 32). Conclusion In spite of the challenges faced by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, they stil l aim at spreading the gospel to the whole world. Getting as many converts as possible is their goal. The group wishes to establish projects that will help it in spreading the gospel. These include activities like establishment of schools, hospitals and churches. Other projects based on the community include helping orphans, widows and the needy in the society. Such projects will motivate people into joining the organization (Ammerman and Farnsley 105). Works Cited Ammerman, Nancy and Farnsley, Arthur. Congregation Community. New York, NY: Rutgers University Press, 1997. Print. Evans, Robert. The seventh-day Adventist Church: Its History, Doctrines and Missionary Activities. London: Columbia Bible College, 1954. Print. Gabriel, Almond and Sivan, Emmanuel. Strong Religion: The Rise of Fundamentalisms around the World. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003. Print. General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists. Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual. New York, NY: Review and Herald P ub Assoc, 2005. Print. Land, Gary. Historical Dictionary of Seventh-Day Adventists. Washington: Scarecrow Press, 2005. Print. London, Samuel. Seventh-day Adventists and the Civil Rights Movement. New York: Univ. Press of Mississippi, 2009. Print. Malise, Ruthven. Fundamentalism: The search for Meaning. London: Oxford University Press, 2005. Print. 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Television Impact on Children Essay Sample

Television Impact on Children Essay Sample The Impact of Watching Television on Children Essay The Impact of Watching Television on Children Essay Watching television is steadily evolving into the most preferred pastime, irrespective of viewers’ age and gender. However, despite its unlimited entertaining and informatory opportunities, viewing television entails both positive and negative outcomes. Specifically, this activity is detrimental to language development in young children. Watching Television and Language Development Currently, television greatly influences the formation of children since their birth (Pagani, Fitzpatrick, Barnett Dubow, 2010, p. 426). Moreover, â€Å"The average amount of screen time increases with age† (Duch, Fisher, Ensari Harrington, 2013). Numerous research studies indicate that enormous children’s exposure to computer games, TV-based entertainment, playing programs, and television reduces their level of critical consciousness (Christakis et al., 2009; Tomopoulos et al., 2010). Moreover, such activities change their perception of the world, transform moral and ethical values, deteriorate their abilities to analyze and synthesize information, and retard language development (Christakis et al., 2009; Tomopoulos et al., 2010; Duch et al., 2013). In spite of the presence of insightful and educational programs, television does not promote sustained interest to the world, other people, diverse phenomena, and so forth. It evokes natural curiosity, which is immediatel y satisfied with superficial, distorted, or even completely incorrect information. The inner world of young children is still in its infancy; everything that they receive from communication and activities shared with adults plays a significant role in shaping their identity (Pempek, Kirkorian Anderson, 2014). Uncontrolled consumption of media information characterized by poor quality and inappropriate content prevents the formation of speech and articulation; it does not provide children with incentives necessary for the formation of motor skills and senses. Those who watch television too often are at a great risk of remaining without knowledge of the world. They experience difficulties in distinguishing reality from fiction, acquiring new knowledge, reading, and writing. Moreover, they are sometimes characterized by increased anxiety in conjunction with spontaneous aggression. In accordance with recent research studies, such as those by Christakis et al. (2009), Pagani et al. (2010), Duch et al. (2013), Pempek et al. (2014), frequent and long-term television viewing has multiple negative effects, replacing concrete sensual experience and hindering the development of language skills in young children. A child’s early involvement in watching television adversely affects one’s development, significantly lowers curiosity, and makes one passive (Pagani et al., 2010, p. 426). Children learn to speak by communicating with people not television. Their developing brain does not handle television speech with the same intensity as a conversation with a living person. Successful language development depends on a child’s psychophysical health, including one’s state of higher nervous activity, mental processes (attention, memory, imagination, and thinking), as well as physical (somatic) state. Prolonged TV viewing is fraught with slower devel opment of language, depletes vocabulary, worsens figurative speech, and decreases abilities to accurately articulate thoughts. In addition, watching television is associated with a sedentary lifestyle, which potentially leads to overweight, obesity, and other disorders. Furthermore, when a person utters words, all one’s body is involved in the process of speaking, making certain micromotions. Engaging one’s entire being (literally and figuratively) in the process of communication, an infant learns to speak at the level of consciousness, uttering various imitative sounds: cooing, babbling, to list a few. Before he or she promotes one’s first word, a baby trains the muscles of his body and face and learns to coordinate more than a hundred of muscles involved in articulation, focusing on adults. On the contrary, when he or she hears speech from TV loudspeakers, his or her body does not react to sounds. In the process of young children’s language development, live communication and interactions with family members cannot be substituted with watching television. During viewing television, children’s mentality is more directed towards visualization than verbalization (Christakis et al., 2009). Children watch TV silently; they do not communicate with others or practice speaking. Moreover, viewing television not only prevents the formation of speech and articulation. It blocks spontaneous creative games and natural movements, not giving children incentives, much-needed for the formation of motor skills and senses. A child develops through his or her bodily experience. A TV screen is an imaginary reality that cannot turn into a tangible experience necessary for the development. Unlike statements, television images cannot be confirmed or denied; they are visually presented to a viewer and not reality-oriented. Broadcasted information is designed for the anonymous audience since it does not require selective, logic, and critical thinking, appealing directly to emotions and abilities to recognize patterns. TV programs are often stereotypical ly constructed and do not encourage a child to develop one’s own imagination and creativity. Stories represented by animated cartoons do not encourage children to dream. Therefore, children’s vocabulary becomes scarce. They predominantly use exclamations, such as those occuring in TV comics, disjointed fragments of phrases, and ridiculous imitations of noise, accompanying them with robotic movements. Insufficient diversity of external stimuli can lead to the deficiency in the formation of brain functions. Being caused by watching television, language delay entails far-reaching detrimental ramifications (Tomopoulos et al., 2010, p. 1106). Language development is inextricably linked with the formation of cognition and thinking abilities in young children. Human cognitive skills and abilities to think conceptually form in the process of language development (Owens, 2010, p. 97). Speech, emanating from TV screens, remains a poorly understood set of strange sounds. According to research findings provided by Tomopoulos et al. (2010), long-lasting infants’ exposure to television results in worsened language development (p. 1108). Such an outcome negatively influences further development of young children. The researchers state that â€Å"lower effects on expressive compared with receptive language tests may reflect limited expressive language at age 14 months; it is possible that greater effects on expressive language might be seen for older children† (Tomopoulos et al., 2010, p. 1106). Researchers have identified that television affects the development of language skills because watching television dramatically distracts parents from communicating with their children (Christakis et al., 2009; Duch et al., 2013; Pempek et al., 2014). Communication is a â€Å"process of encoding, transmitting, and decoding signals in order to exchange information and ideas between the participants† (Owens, 2010, p. 436). As a result of redundant television viewing, children constantly experience the lack of communication at their early age though it is essential for the development of all mental processes, including speaking. Children’s development is characterized by their active exploration of the world and acquisition of practical and informative activities. In early childhood, communication with parents is vital and plays a key role in children’s cognitive development. Numerous research studies have confirmed that communication with parents and other family m embers positively affects the development of children’s speech (Christakis et al., 2009; Pagani et al., 2010; Duch et al., 2013; Pempek et al., 2014). Furthermore, cooperative games help a child fully realize his or her abilities and talents. Psychologists point out that parents should take part in games with their children instead of watching television. A child’s verbal behavior (language acquisition) evolves due to one’s interactions with family members and, thus, language is a product of verbal statements selectively supported within the first years of life. Beginning with simple forms of babbling in infancy, children’s verbal behavior gradually develops until it reminds adults’ language. According to Christakis et al. (2009), parents do not communicate with infants in a perceptible way, and television frequently leads to â€Å"significant reductions in discernible parental word counts, child vocalizations, and conversational turns for childre n 2 to 48 months of age† (p. 556). A recent research by Pempek et al. (2014) has estimated that background TV also makes detrimental impacts on language development in young children. For two years, scientists have closely monitored and analyzed the development of language skills in young children exposed to background noise of television. The researchers have obtained persuasive evidence that exposure to television violates the natural development of language skills in young children. According to Pempek et al. (2014), even if a child does not watch TV, he or she experiences difficulties in perceiving parents’ words due to extraneous sounds produced by background television. Parental teaching is interrupted by television noise and not effective. The study has confirmed the fact that the duration of dialogues and the number of words and phrases uttered in a television program do not promote language development. Childhood is associated with high emotional responsiveness to external sounds. Background television noise, especially speech, results in children’s slower reaction and lower concentration: a child cannot focus on communication with parents or other occupations. Audible speech of background television does not cause any images and sustainable experiences in young children. In conformity with the research findings, background TV is not only â€Å"distracting and disruptive to infants and toddlers, but it also reduces the quantity and quality of parent-child interactions† (Pempek et al., 2014, p. 219). Television has become an integral part of life for most of average families around the world; many parents do not consider it necessary to turn it off while communicating with their young children. The longer a TV set is on, the less attention parents pay to communication with their children. Background television can negatively affect the dynamics of language development and diminish the quality of relationships between parents and children. Therefore, the researchers s trongly recommend that parents turn off TV sets when they interact with their children (Pempek et al., 2014, p. 220). Contemporary studies have determined that, irrespective of their age, children spend a larger part of their vigilance on watching television in comparison with all other occupations, including homework assignments, communication with family members, and games with peers (Christakis et al., 2009; Pagani et al., 2010; Tomopoulos et al., 2010; Duch et al., 2013). Anyone who has turned out to be immobilized by television since one’s infancy will be silent while growing up. Verbal communication creates necessary conditions for the development of various forms of activity, cognition, and participation in teamwork, contributing to human successful socialization. Moreover, information obtained from TV programs does not promote the expansion of young children’s outlook. On the contrary, it is often extremely counterproductive, complicated, striking, or banal. In conclusion, although modern life is impossible without watching television, this extremely popular occupation is associated with both positive and deleterious consequences for young children. Recent research studies, such as those by Christakis et al. (2009), Pagani et al. (2010), Tomopoulos et al. (2010), Duch et al. (2013), have determined that the average amount of time spent on viewing TV programs increases with age, posing a threat to the development of children in general and their language skills in particular. Prolonged young children’s exposure to television decelerates their language development, impedes meaningful communication with family members, and diminishes cognitive abilities. Even background television is detrimental to language development. Taking into consideration the necessity for children’s harmonious development, it is essential to monitor and thoroughly control their exposure to television. Children Who Watch Television Spend Less Time Reading or Drawing Than Children Who Do Not It has always been thought that family plays the most important role in a child’s life; however, the situation has recently changed, and much influence is made by television. It is hardly possible to find a household without a television; usually there are even more than one screen in a house. Many children have TV sets in their rooms and consider sitting in front of a screen to be much better way of spending time than any other activity. In his article, Hoffman (2003) mentions that â€Å"the average American child spends every day about 3 hours in front of television and only 45 minutes he or she devotes to reading†. A six-month old baby can also stare at the screen without understanding anything. Baby’s attention is drawn by a number of changing pictures accompanied by sounds. By the age of seven-eight, watching television becomes more comprehensive; the child is able to realize what is real and what is not. At the age of eleven, the child is able to make concl usions, correlate deeds of characters with his/her own deeds, in other words, to distinguish good from bad and analyze the situation. However, it is necessary to be aware of the fact that if to allow watching television from the early childhood not limiting time, the child will spend the whole day in front of TV. As a consequence, it will be difficult for the child to distinguish reality from television story. Today’s children grow up with a stream of entertainment, and there is no space for reading and drawing. There are emerging concerns regarding time children spend watching television since it can make a huge effect on the development of a child’s perception. According to David (2013), in 2005, there were 40% of children, who read daily; however, in 2011, the percentage has reduced to 30%. It is caused by the fact that children’s eyes are glued to different devices. Children are no longer interested in reading books. However, we cannot blame them for spending time in front of screen rather than reading a story or drawing. In his article, Shapiro (2013) claims, â€Å"parents do not provide children with good reading behaviors, children do not feel comfortable with books†. There is no doubt that if parents start buying books and start reading themselves, this will encourage children. It is also necessary to add that drawing also plays a very important role in children’s development. With the help of drawing, children are taught to express their emotions and become more confident; however, within time, they lose enthusiasm for drawing, so it is vitally important to encourage them to draw. Since parents are usually very b usy and do not have enough free time to spend with their children, they are also expected to be busy; thus, this gap is filled with screen time. In her research, David (2013) claims, â€Å"children who read and draw for pleasure, have good memory, confidence, greater self-esteem and general knowledge. Reading and drawing build empathy, improve imagination and language development†. In the time of technological progress, parents should preserve the art of reading and drawing for pleasure. However, even though children spend not much time in front of television, it is necessary to control the quality of the programs. American Academy of Pediatrics (2010) claims that â€Å"even innocuous children’s programs use specific effects to concentrate children’s attention†. Usually, children who watch much TV are not able to concentrate since there is often much noise and silly voices on television. While watching television, little concentration is required. However, if you are reading or drawing, it is necessary to maintain attention for a long time. Concerning age peculiarities, children under 2 are not recommended at all to watch television. At that age, it would be much better to explore the world around and socialize with people. Nowadays, children have to teach to be still – to have a still mind and be able to concentrate on a story. The rhythm of life is really fast; as a result, children simply do not have a habit to read or draw. In such a s ituation, it is necessary to control time children spend in front of television. What is more, it is vitally important that parents review all the programs their children watch. Undoubtedly, there are some educational TV programs that make a positive impact on language development. Owing to this, children enlarge their vocabulary and become able to express their thoughts. It is recommended to stick to 2-hour limit, but it is also necessary to offer children alternatives to watching television. For example, children can be offered listening to music, reading, drawing, or even playing outdoors. The American Academy of Pediatrics (2010) consider †amount of time spent on watching television interferes with time spent in activities, that have positive influence on the children’s health and development, such as interacting with parents, reading, drawing, doing homework and active playing†. The ease of watching television is undoubted; as a result, children prefer being glued to television than engage into creative play. To play some games inside, children are required to prepare for the game and clean everything after. Regarding watching television, everything is much simpler: turning on and off. There is no doubt that watching television deteriorates children’s creativity. The research proved that children brought up in the community with no television were much more creative than those who had a TV set. It is necessary to engage children in appropriate activities. Again, it all depends on parents, because very often when they are under stress, they l ack desire to interact with children and simply put them in front of television. However, it would be much better if the parents devoted more time to reading or playing together with children; otherwise, there might occur such social ills as children’s lack of attention and concentration. At the same time, it is necessary to emphasize on the fact that electronic media is not always related to the amount of time spent on reading or drawing. On the contrary, television has not always contributed to television watching. In reality, there is a thought that the time children have spent on watching television has remained almost the same, but children started to read more. Viewing television in its turn makes an impact on the following media use: going to the cinema, listening to the radio, and reading comics. It means that children prefer spending little time reading and drawing. Reading for fun can be triggered by parents’ encouragement to read books, children’s motivation and intelligence. Undoubtedly, American children are not reading a lot; however, there is no chance to make children read and draw more by unplugging computer. It is important to mention that our culture is a text-based culture, and parents need to encourage reading in all possible ways. T he affordability and availability of different gadgets turned reading into a fun activity. Watching television has become an American national pastime. However, it is a well-known fact that there are a lot of activities that would make much better impact on children’s well-being. Television viewing is considered to interfere with such activities as interacting with parents, reading, drawing, and playing. It is easier for the child to perceive and remember the information he or she saw on screen than the information he or she heard. There are usually visual images on the screen. However, a lot of parents are confused about the fact that their child does not want to read, does not listen to the teacher in the class, and does not interact with other children. The explanation is very easy: the child is not interested in it, he or she is not used to creating his/her own images, and analyzing the situation on his or her own. It is also difficult to make decisions and a choice. Every person has to possess such skills and abilities to develop successfully. It is necessary t o encourage children to create their own show for the family audience. Children should be taught to do and create rather than be a consumer. A lot of children are no longer interested in arts and crafts since they got used to spending hours viewing bright entertaining commercials, which are trying to convince that happiness comes with the things they buy (Huffman, 2013). In that situation, it is recommended to expose children to a different type of entertainment that is not influenced by advertising. Billions of dollars are spent on marketing, which is aimed at making children loyal to their products. However, if the child spends too much time viewing television, then the risk of damaging brain is very high. According to the research, unlike reading and drawing, watching television does not advance cognitive functioning to a higher level.

Washington D.C as a world city Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Washington D.C as a world city - Essay Example This directly influences the social condition in the society and acts as a primary driver for social inequality. (Gibel, 2007) The problem with Washington has been the issue of Native Americans Versus the African Americans. A research work conducted at MIT and the Chicago University revealed that the filtering of candidates for issuing jobs was done based on whether the applicant had a white sounding name or a black sounding name and around 60-65 percent of applications were rejected in the case of blacks. Jews marched on Washington against racism on 20th of April 2002 (nkusa.org, 2002). The Jewish leader Rebbi Weiss delivered a speech on ethnic equality mentioning the advantages of social equality in the society and its affect on the all round development of the city. Not only this, the plague of racism even affected the law protecting bodies like the police, fire and municipal services. Police officials exchanged hundreds of racist messages through E-mails including segregated grou p meetings (adversity.net, 2005). In 2001 about 10 percent of the police force is involved in the investigation for law violation (adversity.net, 2005). The Racial discrimination in the society of Washington follows the models of racism. Individual racism where a person acts in such a way to degrade others based on race like a boss not hiring or promoting an efficient worker on the basis of race etc (William, 2002) were common. The lack of proper parenting for and injecting the evil thoughts of racism into children are resulting in racial discrimination in schools and colleges. The environment of social grouping also has a major impact. The differences in the power and influence are easily seen in the majority section of society (William, 2002).These racist policies embedded at organizational level is structural racism. The American psychiatric association stated that racial discrimination affects the mental health of a person and leads to further mental

The word 'God' and its meanings Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The word 'God' and its meanings - Essay Example e inferred herein that since God can be perceived to bear the ultimate potential of creation and of knowledge in all, God’s might and intellectual capacity must be far beyond the measure which men could possibly hold in depths of thought or imagination. For Christians, this view of God corresponds to the unseen Creator and Father who neither has a beginning nor an end and who is widely known for His unconditional love for mankind despite the weak nature of the latter. As a full manifestation of this love, Christians believe that this same God established a ‘covenant’ with men in the ancient times through the prophets and carried out His plan of salvation at the expense of the death of Christ by crucifixion in order to save human souls from the perilous evil of committing sins, upon repentance. A Gnostic group called the Marcionites claim that â€Å"the Christian Gospel was wholly a Gospel of Love to the absolute exclusion of Law† (Gray, 2002) so that this leads to the notion that the God in whom Christians express their prayerful faith is even magnified as a loving God who is, above all, a merciful Redeemer and not a ruthless Punisher. On the other hand, the dictionary-based definition coincides with the manner â€Å"Allah† or the God of Islam is depicted as â€Å"the Almighty Creator and Sustainer of the universe† where, in the 112th chapter of Qur’an, the text reads â€Å"In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate† and includes that Allah is â€Å"the One God, the Everlasting Refuge, who has not begotten, nor has been begotten, and equal to Him is not anyone† (WAMY Series). Similar to the illustration of God via the Christian principle, the image of Allah prevails as God with abundant reserves of mercy and an unparalleled God of providence whose existence is considered infinite on both ends of time. Among the monotheistic systems of belief such as those adhered to by Muslims and Christians, the concept of God appears to converge on the

Because current policies aimed at limiting drug abuse do not work, we Essay

Because current policies aimed at limiting drug abuse do not work, we should legalize drugs and instead teach people to use them responsibly - Essay Example It has been suggested, and in some cases demonstrated, that legalizing or at least decriminalizing less harmful drugs, such as marijuana, can help to reduce the violence, significantly decrease the numbers of people incarcerated for drug use, allow more individuals to remain a contributing member of society and free up funds and manpower to combat against more harmful substances. It was believed by the economists that such a discussion would bring out the obvious factors that will lead to the legalization, regulation and taxation on marijuana, bringing out the benefits of each side and, at the least, justifies the reasons for maintaining the prohibition against the substance. This group of economists was also joined by Nobel Prize winning economist Milton Friedman who argued that there is no logical basis for the prohibition against marijuana. (Friedman, 2005) The vast majority (85%) of America’s teenagers report that marijuana is easy to get every year, indicating that the sales have not been reduced by the laws and enforcement endeavors, leading many government officials to begin wondering whether we are simply throwing away billions of tax dollars to no effect. Over half of the prisoners in jail are there for drug ‘crimes.’ This causes overcrowding which results in the early release of dangerous, violent criminals. This creates more of a public safety problem than does drug use. It is illogical from a societal view and inhumane to individuals who are marked as a criminal for life for activity that causes no harm to others. Those who are addicted receive little or no therapeutic help in prison. Instead of imprisoning people that need help, rehabilitation programs are a much more effective method to treat the problem but a rehabilitation system will not succeed if drugs continue to be illegal.   Drug abusers will hardly seek help from the same government that tosses

Determining Avogadro’s Constant and Faraday’s Constant

Determining Avogadro’s Constant and Faraday’s Constant List of Apparatus Name of Apparatus Quantity Uncertainty Electronic Stopwatch 1  ±0.2s Ammeter 1  ±0.01A Wires with crocodile clips 1 D.C power source 1  ±0.01V 300cm3 Beaker 3 Copper strips 2 Sand paper 1 Graphite rod 2 pH probe/data-logger 1  ±0.2 Electronic weighing balance 1  ±0.001 DATA COLLECTION: The electrolytic cell used in this investigation is illustrated in Fig 1: Fig 1 Diagram of electrolytic cell used in investigation In this investigation, a current is passed through the solution with copper as the cathode and graphite as the anode. After a set amount of time, the circuit is disconnected and the mass of the cathode is measured. Following which, calculations are made so as to determine the Avogadro’s and Faraday’s constant. Qualitative Observations When the D.C power source was turned on, bubbles were formed at the Graphite anode. As the reaction progresses, powdery substance gets suspended in the solution and a black solid deposits can be found at the bottom of the beaker and there is a visible decomposition of the graphite electrode. As the reaction progress, a pink layer of copper forms on the copper strip. The copper strip is originally brown in colour while the graphite electrode is black in colour. Eventually, as the graphite electrode decomposes, the graphite molecules will turn the copper (II) sulphate solution from blue to black in colour. However, when the copper sulfate solution is filtered, it is noted that there is a decrease in the intensity of the blue colour in the filtrate after the electrolysis. The initial pH of the solution is 2.75, after the electrolysis is carried out, the pH decreases to 2.10. Data Collection Constant variables Time Interval/s( ±0.2) 300 Voltage/V 4V Current/A( ±0.01) 0.25 Cathode Trial 1 Initial mass/g ( ± 0.001 g) 1.315 Final mass/g ( ± 0.001 g) 1.279 Change in mass/g ( ± 0.002 g) 0.036 Chemical equation for reaction at the anode: 2H2O (l) à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚  O2 (g) + 4H+ + 4e (aq) Chemical equation for reaction at the cathode: Cu2+ (aq) + 2e à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   Cu (s) Calculations for cathode Calculations Error Propagation Change in mass(Cu) = 0.036g Mols of (Cu) = =5.7 x 10-4 mol Number of mol of electrons- Using mol ratio Cu2+ (aq) + 2e à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   Cu (s) Number of mol of electrons =11.4 x 10-4 Charge flowing through circuit Number of electron charges in circut= Where is the elementary charge, the charge of one electron Number of electron charges in circuit = Number of mol of electrons Where L is the Avagandro’s constant Equating the number of mols of electrons obtained form the copper mass data and the number of mol of electrons from the current- Faraday’s constant = = 67000 C % ±ÃŽâ€ Mol of Cu = % ±ÃŽâ€ Mol of Cu = = 5.6 % % Uncertainty of number of mol of electrons = % uncertainty of Mass(Cu) =5.6% % uncertainty of number of mol of electrons =5.6% % ±ÃŽâ€ charge flowing in circuit = Percentage error Percentage error for Faraday’s Constant = = = 30% Percentage uncertainty of faraday’s constant =5.9% Percentage systematic error in Faradays’ constant =%error-%random error = 24.1% Percentage error for Avogadro’s Constant = = 30% Percentage uncertainty of Avogadro’s Constant =5.9% Percentage systematic error in Avogadro’s Constant =%error-%random error = 24.1% Conclusion In conclusion, the calculated value of Faraday’s constant is mol-1 and Avogadro’s constant is. As seen above, the percentage error for both Faraday’s constant and Avogadro’s constant are both 30% and after subtracting the error due to instrumental uncertainty, the % systematic error obtained is 24.1%. This shows that the experimental values calculated differ greatly from the literature values, indicating that there has been a significant amount of systematic error, which has caused the calculated value to be much different from the literature value. As percentage error of both Faraday’s constant and Avogadro’s constant are much larger than their respective percentage uncertainties, this indicates that the sources of systematic error are significant and cannot be ignored Evaluation Type of error Limitation Improvement Systematic Oxidation of copper occurs naturally when the copper strip is exposed to oxygen and when it is heated in the oven. Even when sand paper is used to scratch off the layer of copper oxide on the surface of the, it is difficult to completely rid of all the copper oxide. The formation of copper oxide will affect the reaction when electrolysis occurs and will affect the change in mass of the copper electrode, which is the dependent variable in this experiment. Even when the copper strip is immersed in the copper (II) sulphate solution, after a period of time, it will eventually start to form a layer of copper (II) oxide which will not be involved in the electrolysis reaction. This will reduce the amount of copper which will undergo reaction, causing it to reduce the eventual calculated Faraday’s and Avogadro’s constant. It is impossible to prevent the oxidation of copper from happening however, this systematic error can be minimised. Other than ensuring that the layer of copper oxide is scratched off by rubbing the copper strip excessively with sandpaper. The time for which the copper stays in the oven can be minimised or hair dryer can be used instead to blow the water off. Systematic When the graphite electrode starts to disintegrates as the reaction progresses, fragments of graphite will be dispersed throughout the entire solution. As copper (II) ions move towards the copper strip to plate it, some of the graphite fragments may end up attached to the copper strip as well and are unable to fall off as a layer of copper plates over the graphite fragments. This can be observed in the experiment when the copper strip is removed at the end of the experiment; black fragments of graphite are observed on the copper strip. The graphite fragments would easily reach the copper strip mainly because they were quite near each other. Hence, the graphite fragments could easily move towards the copper strips and attach to them. In order to minimise this from happening, the experiment should be conducting in a 500cm3 beaker, with the copper strip and the graphite electrode held further away from each other. Also, the graphite electrode should be positioned below the copper strip so that as the graphite electrode disintegrates, the graphite fragments will simply sink towards the bottom of the beaker, hence it will be less likely for the graphite fragments to accidentally coat onto the copper electrode Systematic Fluctuations in the current. Whenever the 2 electrodes were moved, the current of the circuit changes. Hence, whenever the copper electrode was moved in order to be weighed, the current would fluctuate, resulting in an inconsistent current throughout the experiment. If the current deviates from the stated 0.25, the resulting Faraday’s constant and Avogadro’s constant will be affected as well. An increase in current will result in an increase in the Faraday’s constant and Avogadro’s constant calculated while a decrease in current will result in a decrease in the Faraday’s constant and Avogadro’s constant calculated. In order to prevent fluctuations in the current as a result of the shifting electrodes, a retort stand can be used to hold the electrodes in place and prevent them from moving. This is much more reliable than just using hands to hold the electrode, resulting in a reduction in the fluctuation of the current A rheostat can be used and included in the circuit in order to adjust the amount of resistance of the circuit so that the desired current can be achieved. As current is inversely proportionate to resistance according to Ohm’s law, the resistance of the circuit can be adjusted in order to ensure a consistent current of 0.3 throughout the experiment. Systematic Also, another source of systematic error in this experiment would come from the fact that, the reading on the ammeter does not indicate the actual electric current flowing through the electrodes and the electrolyte as this value may decrease due to power losses in the wires. That is the electrical energy would be converted to heat. However the resistance of the wires in the circuit was assumed to be negligible in this experiment for simplicity. This would lead to systematic error as we would consistently overestimate the magnitude of the current flowing through the electrolyte. This error can be avoided if the values of the resistance of the wires as well as the internal resistance of the power source were known and included in the calculations made. Systematic The copper electrode may undergo a process called passivation[1] where the metal forms a protective layer on its surface to protect it from outer factors such as water or air to prevent corrosion. Such a protective layer will result in a high resistance which will lead to a voltage delay. This process may also occur on the graphite electrode. During the reaction, in the presence of passivation, the initial rate of the increase in mass of the copper electrode will be slowed down; ultimately affecting the total gain in mass by the copper electrode, affecting the Faraday’s constant and Avogadro’s constant calculated. This process of passivation can be removed by allowing the reaction to progress for 5 minutes to avoid a voltage delay. 5 minutes was chosen because too short a time will be insufficient to remove the protective layer on the electrode and too long a time will result in the disintegration of the graphite electrode even before the collection of data has begun. As mentioned above, if there is too much graphite fragments in the copper (II) sulphate solution, they may come into contact with the copper electrode and affect its final mass as copper ions plate over the graphite fragments on the copper electrode. Random Error Due to time constrains, only one set of data was collected. This will result in the fluctuation of the value of the Faraday’s and Avogadro’s constant. In order to reduce the error, perhaps more sets of data can be collected, so that a graph of metal deposited against time can be plotted and the gradient will enable the determination of the two constants. [1] Metal passivation-en.w,wikepedia.org/Passivation_(Chemistry). Accessed- 26/2/2014)

Free Essays on Vouchers, School Choice, and Charter Schools :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

School Choice and Charter Schools    I am not so sure I am for or against the idea of school choice as much as the idea for educational equality. If school choice and charter schools are the way this country will gain equity in the schools then I am for school choice. I feel that the impoverished are not going to get the best education that is available to them in their area. If the town fifteen miles away is a much better school, both educationally and developmentally, then I believe that the student that goes to school A should have the opportunity to attend school B. Why should someone who was born into an underpriviledged home live an underpriviledged life? This child did not choose to be born into this family, so I believe we should give them some kind of choice in their lives. A good education, along with other assets that one can gain through education, is the answer to bettering one's life. It gives these childrenm the choice to make a different life for themselves and for their children.    I am not so sure that there is an ideal school choice program, but then again does there really have to be? Choice is choice. If I am given the opportunity to choose, I will most likely make the right decision or I will fix the mistake that I made. If people are given the chance to better their lives, they will take that opportunity, if they are smart. We, as change agents, are not responsible to hold the hands of those who do not take the bull by the horn! There is only so much people can do for others. Give them the choice, and if they take it greeat, and if they don't, what else can we possibly do.    I think the only responsibilty of the change agents are to inform the public of their choices. Let the public know what is out there, and what the benefits are to school choice. Most people are going to wonder why they should take the trouble to transport their children to a school that might be a little farther than the school in the neighborhood. I believe that it is also very important to give many choices. I think it would be a mistake to limit the students to certain schools. Free Essays on Vouchers, School Choice, and Charter Schools :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics School Choice and Charter Schools    I am not so sure I am for or against the idea of school choice as much as the idea for educational equality. If school choice and charter schools are the way this country will gain equity in the schools then I am for school choice. I feel that the impoverished are not going to get the best education that is available to them in their area. If the town fifteen miles away is a much better school, both educationally and developmentally, then I believe that the student that goes to school A should have the opportunity to attend school B. Why should someone who was born into an underpriviledged home live an underpriviledged life? This child did not choose to be born into this family, so I believe we should give them some kind of choice in their lives. A good education, along with other assets that one can gain through education, is the answer to bettering one's life. It gives these childrenm the choice to make a different life for themselves and for their children.    I am not so sure that there is an ideal school choice program, but then again does there really have to be? Choice is choice. If I am given the opportunity to choose, I will most likely make the right decision or I will fix the mistake that I made. If people are given the chance to better their lives, they will take that opportunity, if they are smart. We, as change agents, are not responsible to hold the hands of those who do not take the bull by the horn! There is only so much people can do for others. Give them the choice, and if they take it greeat, and if they don't, what else can we possibly do.    I think the only responsibilty of the change agents are to inform the public of their choices. Let the public know what is out there, and what the benefits are to school choice. Most people are going to wonder why they should take the trouble to transport their children to a school that might be a little farther than the school in the neighborhood. I believe that it is also very important to give many choices. I think it would be a mistake to limit the students to certain schools.

Analyzing the Tragedy of Dr. Faustus

Alfonso Villarreal Mrs. Bohn World Literature Honors April 9, 2012 Analyzing the Tragedy of Dr. Faustus The struggle between good and evil is arguably the most significant theme in the play. This struggle is most evident within the main character Faustus. He is torn and undecided about whether or not he should repent for sinning and return to God or follow through with the contract he signed with Lucifer. His internal struggle lasts almost the entire play, as part of him wants to be good serving God while the other part seeks the power Mephastophilis promises. Metaphastophilis himself has mixed motives and symbolizes this theme.On one hand he pursues Faustus’ soul, intending to carry it to hell while on the other he persuades Faustus to reject the contract because of the horrors he would encounter in hell. This theme, mostly existing within Faustus, provides interest and intrigue as to wonder if whether or not the highly intellectual doctor will finally come to his senses and repent. The play would be significantly less enjoyable if it followed a less interesting man, a man who morally feels no regret in giving up any chance of a positive afterlife for temporary powers. This indecision within Faustus also provides the central drama of the play.The struggle between good and evil is best symbolized by the Good and Evil Angels. Each angel struggled to pull Faustus towards its side as Faustus himself struggled between his human reason or logic and his lustful desire for power. Good and evil battle once more when Faustus encounters the Old Man in the final scene. The Old Man is another symbol which replaces the Good and Evil Angels from earlier scenes. He persuades Faustus to repent and renounce his powers while it’s not too late. Marlowe uses mythological allusions in a rather clever way in this particular work.They provide the audience with a more interesting play and extends the limits of the play’s subject if even slightly. One of the most s ignificant allusions was one performed in Faustus’ visit to Charles V’s court. Charles V pleads Faustus to perform sorcery for him, an allusion of Alexander the Great and his lover. Faustus performs a simple trick and Alexander suddenly appears before the emperor’s eyes. The purpose of this allusion is to show another great feat performed by Faustus and one that certainly brings interest to one of the most powerful men in the world.Marlowe was in some aspects a Renaissance writer and his work was a product of the age. He uses these allusions in the play to illuminate the transition between old beliefs and new ideas and knowledge. This transition served as one of the essential elements in the movement and Marlowe applies it with ease in his great work. â€Å"What art thou, Faustus, but a man condemned to die? † (IV, v, 25) The quote above addresses many essential aspects of the play. One of these aspects is the struggle between good and evil, a theme repre sented most by Faustus and his indecision. This quote indicates this theme of the play more than any other.Yes, Faustus is speaking his most troubled thoughts. What is he if not a fool who sold his soul for a temporary power only to perish in an eternal fire? Again it is evident that he struggles with his two most important principles, his lust for power and his reason. He ponders whether or not he made the right choice. The fact that he even struggles with this is ironic at the very least. One of the most intelligent men of his time is too blind to see the horror in Hell. This quote is also significant in that it represents his tragic fall as his corrupt morality prevents him from repenting in time and ultimately dooms him to an eternity in Hell.

8 Reasons Why People Drink Soda Essays

8 Reasons Why People Drink Soda Essays 8 Reasons Why People Drink Soda Paper 8 Reasons Why People Drink Soda Paper Essay Topic: The Bean Eaters 8 Reasons Why People Drink Soda 16 Reasons To Give Up Soda Drinking [pic] Most of us drink soda. Some drink more than others. And probably many regular soda drinkers are aware that soft drinks are bad for the health. At the same time, United States ranks first among countries in soft drink consumption. I think we need to know more about this drink that we love so much. And so here are 8 reasons why we drink soda: 1Its Very Tasty! The taste could be one thing that gets us addicted to drinking soda, it is delicious. In fact, it is so good, that many people drink it with every meal! Its Everywhere! [pic] Even if you wanted to drink something else, you would be hard-pressed to find it as prominently displayed in vending machines, at fast-food chains, and supermarket checkouts. You might not realize how ubiquitous Coke, Pepsi, and the like are in our society until you try to stop drinking soda. 3Convenience, Grab-n-Go! The most addictive thing about soda is the co nvenience. If you want something quick or are in a hurry, it is so easy to grab and convenient to drink. 4Promotion and Advertising [pic] Soft drinks are heavily consumed in part because companies promote them vigorously Billions of dollars are spend on advertising sodas and market them everywhere in stores, restaurants, gas stations, museums, and even schools. 5Soda Habit For some people, drinking several sodas a day is a force of habit. You know drinking soda is a habit when you find yourself going to the grocery store at 10 p. m. because your refrigerator is tapped out. 6It Is Cheap Soda may be pretty inexpensive when compared with fruit juice and milk. With combo meals, a large soda is only an extra dollar, and you get fries! Thirst Often people drink soda to quench the thirst. However, this is probably the worst time to drink soda, because when you are very thirsty or dehydrated you have low levels of saliva. And saliva helps to neutralize acids (soda is the most acidic beverage you can buy) and wash your teeth clean. 8Caffeine Addiction Many soft drinks contain caffeine and caffeine is mildly addictive. This f act is part of the reason soda is such a hard habit to break. If youre addicted to the caffeine in soda, youre really having two habits the soda habit and the caffeine habit. 6 Reasons To Stop Drinking Soda These were reasons why we drink soda and here are 16 powerful reasons to give up soda drinking. Do you know the extent to which drinking carbonated, caffeinated, sugared, or artificially sweetened beverages harms your body? Giving up soft drinks can be one of the best things you can do to improve your health. 1Soda Is Useless. First of all, there are no nutritionally beneficial components in soft drinks. Soft drinks mostly consist of filtered water and refined sugars. Yet the average American drinks about  57 gallons of soft drinks  each year. Weight Gain Obesity [pic] Many people either forget or dont realize how many extra calories they consume in what they drink. Drinking a single 330 ml can a day of sugary drinks translates to more than 1lb of weight gain every month. S everal scientific studies have provided experimental evidence that soft drinks are directly related to weight gain. The relationship between soft drink consumption and body weight is so strong that researchers2  calculate that for each additional soda consumed, the risk of obesity increases 1. 6 times. According to the results of high quality study3  reducing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages helped reduce body mass index in the heaviest teenagers. 3Diabetes [pic] This is a consequence of #2. Anything that promotes weight gain increases the risk of diabetes. Drinking soda not only contributes to making people fat, but it also stresses the bodys ability to process sugar5. Some scientists now suspect that the sweet stuff may help explain why the number of Americans with type 2 diabetes has tripled from 6. 6 million in 1980 to 20. million today. Rapidly absorbed carbohydrates like high fructose corn syrup put more strain on insulin-producing cells than other foods. When sugar enters the bloodstream quickly, the pancreas has to secrete large amounts of insulin for the body to process it. Some scientists believe that the unceasing demands that a soda habit places on the pancreas may ultimately leave it unable to keep up with the bodys need for insulin. Also, insulin itself beco mes less effective at processing sugar; both conditions contribute to the risk of developing diabetes. Interestingly, women who consumed a lot of fruit juicewhich is high in natural fructosewere not at increased risk of diabetes, leading researchers to speculate that naturally occurring sugars may have different metabolic effects than added sugars. They also speculate that vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals in fruit juices may have a protective effect against weight gain and diabetes, counterbalancing the adverse effects of sugar. Researchers from Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston and Harvard Medical School4  analyzed data from the Nurses Health Study II, a trial tracking the health of more than 51,000 women. None of the participants had diabetes at the onset of the study in 1991. Over the following 8 years, 741 women were diagnosed with the disease. Researchers found that women who drank one or more sugary drinks a day gained more weight and were 83% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who imbibed less than once a month. 4Weakened Bones And Risk Of Osteoporosis Frequent consumption of soft drinks may also increase the risk of osteoporosis,6  especially in people who drink soft drinks instead of calcium-rich milk7. High soda consumption (particularly cola15) in children poses a significant risk factor for impaired calcification of growing bones. In the 1950s, children drank 3 cups of milk for every 1 cup of sugary drinks. Today that ratio is reversed: 3 cups of sugary drinks for every cup of milk. Tellingly, osteoporosis is a major health threat for 44 million Americans. Most experts now say that the real culprit is sodas displacement of milk in the diet, though some scientists believe that the acidity of colas may be weakening bones by promoting the loss of calcium. Dental Caries And Erosion Soda eats up and dissolves the tooth enamel8. Researches9  say that soft drinks are responsible for doubling or tripling the incidence of tooth decay. The acidity can dissolve the mineral content of the enamel, making the teeth weaker, more sensitive, and more susceptible to decay. Sodas acidity makes it even worse for teeth than the solid sugar found in candy. Dental experts continue to urge that people drink less soda pop, especially between meals, to prevent tooth decay and dental erosion. 6Kidney Damage People who down sugary drinks dont feel as full as those who consume the same amount of calories in solid food. This theory was born out by researchers at Purdue University who, in 2000, gave 15 volunteers 450 calories a day of either soda or jelly beans for a month and then switched them for the next month, while monitoring their total calories. The candy eaters compensated for the extra calories by eating less food and maintained their weight; during the soda phase, the volunteers ate more and gained (MSN Health) There is good evidence that cola beverages can increase the risk of kidney problems, more so than non-cola sodas. Researches clearly demonstrated that large quantities of cola result in enhanced kidney stone formation16-17. If youre wondering exactly how soft drinks cause kidney stones, its because of their acidity and radical mineral imbalances. Your body must buffer the acidity of soft drinks with calcium from your own bones. As this calcium is eliminated through your urine, it slowly forms kidney stones. In a study published in the journal Epidemiology14, the team compared the dietary habits of 465 people with chronic kidney disease and 467 healthy people. After controlling for various factors, the team found that drinking two or more colas a day (whether artificially sweetened or regular) was linked to a twofold risk of chronic kidney disease. 7Increased Blood Pressure Experts have reasons to believe that overconsumption of fructose, particularly in the form of soft drinks, leads to an increase in blood pressure22. 8Likely To Cause Heartburn Soft drink consumption is a strong predictor of heartburn20-21. 9Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factor Soft drink consumption is a significant risk factor for developing of metabolic syndrome18, a combination of the symptoms such as high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance. 10Harmful Effects On Liver There is evidence that consumption of too many soft drinks puts you under increased risk for liver cirrhosis similar to what chronic alcoholics have19. 11Impaired Digestive System Soda, no matter who makes it, is the most acidic beverage you can buy, with a pH of about 2. 51, about the same as vinegar, but the sugar content disguises the acidity. To put that into perspective, consider that battery acid has a pH of 1 and pure water has a pH level of 7. Interesting fact:  A pH below 4 or above 10 will kill most fish and very few animals can tolerate waters with a pH below 3 or above 11. Why does that matter? Throughout the digestive system, that starts from the mouth and ends up at the anus only the stomach can resist an acidic environment up to pH 2. 0. But before the acidity of soft drink reaches the stomach it passes through all the other organs involved in the digestive system thus causing an abnormal acidic environment. The linings of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus are highly sensitive to acids. The phosphoric acid present in soft drink competes with the hydrochloric acid of the stomach and affects its functions. When the stomach becomes ineffective, food remains undigested causing indigestion, gassiness or bloating (swelling of stomach). 12Dehydration Another problem with sodas is that they act as dehydrating diuretics. Both caffeine and sugar cause dehydration. Caffeine is a diuretic and causes an increase in urine volume. High concentration of sugar is drawing off water because your kidneys try to expel the excess sugar out of the blood. When you drink a caffeinated soda to quench your thirst, you will actually become thirstier. 13High Caffeine Content Another advantage of avoiding sodas is that you will avoid the unnecessary caffeine. Soda drinks are a major source of caffeine in the American diet. High doses of caffeine can cause irritability, restlessness, tension, insomnia, high blood pressure, gastrointestinal disturbance, excessive urination, irregular heartbeat and other side effects. 14Toxins Aspartame If you think diet soda is better think again. The poison in diet soda is an artificial sweetener aspartame. Aspartame is made up of three chemicals: aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol. It is used because its about 200 times sweeter than table sugar. Despite US FDA approval as a safe food additive, aspartame is one of the most dangerous substances added to foods. After you drink an aspartame-sweetened product, aspartame breaks down into its starting components: phenylalanine, aspartic acid, and methanol (that further converts to formaldehyde and formic acid, which are known carcinogens. . There are over 92 different health side effects associated with aspartame consumption10-13. 15Possible Cell Damage Ability A new health scare erupted over soft drinks recently amid evidence that they may cause serious cell damage. Research  from a British university suggests a common preservative E211, known as sodium benzoate, found in drinks such as Fanta and Pepsi Max has the ability to switch off vital parts of DNA. Sodium benzoate occurs in small amounts naturally in berries, but is used in large quantities to prevent mould in soft drinks. 6There Are So Many Healthy Alternatives! [pic] Soda replaces healthier drinks. By drinking soda, you cut the intake of fresh juices, milk, and even water and deprive yourself from essential vitamins and minerals. Water. Water is the best drink in the world. Tea. Any kind of tea herbal, green or black is rich in antioxidants, which were shown to protects the body form many health problems. 100% Juice. Fruit juice can be also useful for flavoring your water and teas.

Ethnic Polarization and the Duration of Civil War

Ethnic Polarization and the Duration of Civil War Introduction The article discusses the relationship between the civil war duration and ethnic polarization. The arguments in the article provide that civil wars are key barriers to the development of the economy. Civil wars lead to the destruction of infrastructure, loss of human life and have an effect on future prospects for investment.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ethnic Polarization and the Duration of Civil War specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The causes of civil wars can be analyzed in relation to their onsets, the duration of the wars, as well as the incidence of civil wars. Civil wars may start randomly, after which conflicts emerge. Factors such as a country having mountains where rebels can hide also contribute to the onset of civil wars. Civil wars may also emanate from low per capita income; this makes a civil war last longer than it would have lasted if the per capita income was high. Lack of democrac y may also trigger a civil war as rebels form militia groups in order to oust an undemocratic regime (Montalvo Reynal-Querol 123-143). Literature Review The available literature indicates that certain factors can be attributed to the onset of civil wars. One of the methods used in the estimation of the civil war onset includes logic regression, which analyses some of the causes as high population, with high primary commodity exports, as well as a population that is highly dispersed. Inequalities in incomes, ethnic differences and political liberties may not be significant risk factors for civil war. The available literature also indicates another probable causes of civil war which is oil exports in a country. An analysis on the incidence of civil war shows ethnic polarization as one of the factors affecting the incidence of such wars (Montalvo Reynal-Querol 123-143). Analysis by Montalvo and Reynal-Qureol shows that democracy and export have little impact on civil wars. In terms o f duration of civil wars, Gates and Strand estimate that major factors influencing this issue are political instability, parallel conflicts and autocratic regimes. Studies also indicate that income inequality can be regarded as a main cause of civil wars (Montalvo Reynal-Querol 123-143). Method/Methodology Certain methods can be used to explain the relationship that exists between civil wars incidence and ethnic polarization. One method, which can be utilized, is the traditional ration form, which defines a quadratic based cost function, contest success function, as well as pure contest equilibrium.Advertising Looking for essay on ethnicity studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Another model that can be employed to establish relationship between conflict and ethnic polarization, is taking a country that consists of two social groups. This model shows that the discovery of a natural resource may trigger violence b etween the two groups. The methodology used to establish the relationship between civil wars and ethnic polarization is also based on measuring the duration in relation to years, months, weeks, as well as days (Montalvo Reynal-Querol 123-143). Methods such as Kaplan-Meier estimation of the survival function can be used to establish the relationship existing between ethnic polarization and duration of civil wars. Based on this method, survival function of countries that have low ethnic polarization tends to be dominated by nations with high ethnic polarization (Montalvo Reynal-Querol 123-143). Results As indicated in the results provided in the article, ethnic polarization has a profound impact on civil war duration. More pronounced ethnic polarization indicates that the civil wars will last longer than expected. Therefore, ethnic disparities within a population may cause civil wars that may even last for decades. Attention should be directed at polarized countries in order to come up with measures, which will ensure civil wars do not take a toll on the population (Montalvo Reynal-Querol 123-143). Montalvo, Jose Marta Reynal-Querol. Ethnic polarization and the duration of civil wars. Econ Gov 11 (2010):123–143. Print.

JetBlue Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

JetBlue - Case Study Example Trends within the US airline industry such as crude oil pricing and passenger fees, post 9/11 and pilot shortages have substantial effects on the performance and strategies of airline companies. Prices of crude oil have increased considerably in last few years, which has had a substantial effect on the pricing of passenger fees. For instance, in 2008, crude oil prices rose to a record $140 per barrel and this price swell caused airlines to labor to offset fuel costs. Many companies were forced to implement new passenger fees to cater for the surge in fuel prices. However, while fuel prices are currently low, airlines continue to increase revenue by passing costs to its customers. Shortages of pilots have also forced companies to adjust their strategies. As baby boomers retire, the airline industry suffers a shortage of pilots. Prior to becoming captains, pilots have to gain sufficient flight hours. The International Air Transport Association asserts that airlines need nearly 3,000 ad ditional pilots each year, which is far more than training schools provide (Thompson et al., 2010). Post 9/11 aviation security also influences airlines’ strategies. After the 9/11 terror attack, Congress implemented the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATS). This led to the creation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and established that federal employees should be in charge of airport security at all airlines (Kaplan, 2006). This forced airlines to institute numerous layers of security. JetBlue’s strategic intent   David Nelleman founded JetBlue with the view to bring humanity to air travel. The aim was to offer lowly discounted comfort and service to customers. The company’s philosophy was to delay flights instead of cancelling them entirely. The firm was the first airline to publish a bill of rights for its passengers. This document outlines its policies with regard to the airline’s customers. It launched electronic ticketi ng to enhance convenience and offered additional services such as in-seat television, as well as PayPal payments for tickets. In order to enhance its customer and shareholder value, the airline established rapid and strategic growth initiatives. In 2000, the firm made a rather chancy decision by starting services in New York’s JFK Airport, which was already quite congested. JetBlue took advantage of the lighter 8 to 9am flight window to offer appealing flights to young and wealthy New Yorkers and those travelling to the city. In 2008, JetBlue launched Terminal 5 at JFK to offer customers more efficacy and convenience, while also saving them up to $50 million in fuel, vouchers and labor. Between 2003 and 2008, the airline launched service to numerous destinations such as Portland, Fort Lauderdale, and San Diego among others. By the end of 2007, JetBlue had expanded its operations to more than 53 destinations (Thompson et al., 2010). However, this impressive growth did not imme diately trickle down to add shareholder value.    JetBlue’s financial objectives While JetBlue showed immense promise, its stock values dropped by 50% in a span of five years ending December 2007. This is because between 2003 and 2007, the company’s operating expenditure increased by 222%. This is primarily because of jet fuel (532% rise) and interest expenditures (658% rise). Rather than handling the interest expendit

Not ablicable Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Not ablicable - Essay Example This not only increases the temperature on earth’s surface but also the temperature prevailing over the oceanic region of the world. This remarkable rise of temperature is on account of pollution occurring all over the world. The polluted atmospheric condition over the earth is capable to develop infrared radiation. The main gases present in the earth’s atmosphere are water content, Ozone, Carbon dioxide, Nitrous oxide and methane. These gases are termed as Green House Gases and have certain roles to increase the temperature on Earth’s crust. The industrial transformations and development have increased the production of greenhouse gases in the atmospheric air and is considered as one of the main reasons for the global warming. This phenomenon has observed from the middle of the twentieth century. The concentration of the gaseous media of the atmospheric air has great influence to increase global warming. This is affected in accordance with two principles. One is by the direct emission of infra red radiation from the gaseous constituents of atmospheric air and the other is indirectly through clouds. The solid and liquid particles present in the atmospheric air are responsible for the indirect process to develop the global temperature. These solid and liquid suspensions present in the atmospheric air are generally termed as ‘aerosols’. They are universally originated gases substances and the carriers of these substances to the atmosphere are wind. During their travel with wind the aerosol substances undergo tremendous chemical and physical changes naturally. The characteristic features such as Physical, Chemical and concentration of aerosols present in atmospheric air are also taken in to consideration while thinking about the indirect influence on global warming. The risk management Cycle The risk management cycle points out the volume of risk factor caused due to the nuclear emission occurred from the nuclear power plant