The Invention Of Designer Babies - 902 Words

In Mary Shelley’s, Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein becomes fascinated with the secret of life and sets out to discover what life truly is. Thinking he discovered the secret to life, Victor successfully creates a living creature out of old body parts. Unfortunately, the creature becomes dangerous and goes on to murder Victor’s family and friends. Though Frankenstein is fictional, with modern technologies, the creation of designer babies is an increasing reality. Designer babies are genetically engineered in vitro for specially selected traits, which can vary from lowered disease risk to gender selection (â€Å"Ethics of Designer Babies† 1). With the possibility of designer babies becoming a reality, many ethical arguments have come into play. Within these arguments the pros and cons of designer babies are discussed and many ethical issues are brought up. There are many pros involved in the creation of designer babies. First, a popular argument is, scientists wou ld have the ability to prevent diseases, such as Huntington’s disease and Down syndrome, by directly manipulating genes and implanting â€Å"healthy† genetic sequence into human germ cells (Resnik). Additionally, some people argue that natural selection fails to achieve perfection. Natural selection is the process in which species adapt to their environment. Natural selection leads to evolutionary change when individuals with certain characteristics have a greater survival or reproductive rate than other individuals in anShow MoreRelatedThe Invention Of Designer Babies1257 Words   |  6 Pagespotential to genetically modify embryos has created controversy whether this procedure if ‘morally correct.’ ‘Designer babies’ have been created by screening embryos for genetic diseases. However, ‘Designer babies’ has also been used to contain selected desired qualities such as eye colour, hair colour and skin complexion. The question rema ins, â€Å"where is the line drawn for ‘designer babies?’† In Vitro Fertilisation â€Å"In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is a procedure in which eggs (ova) from a woman s ovaryRead More Lets Hit Pause Before Altering Humankind?746 Words   |  3 PagesWith modern technology comes the breakthrough of the decade by altering the human genes. This altering gene invention is called CRISPR/Cas9. However, this invention in the beginning stages of altering genes, began with rats until perfection. The process began early with the embryo stages to edit the genes. With the introduction of CRISPR surrounds a lot of controversy. Some people believe editing genes is playing with the hands of God and refuse to believe in CRISPR. With the article, â€Å"Let’s HitRead MoreNew Ideas And Inventions Of The World s Technology Essay981 Words   |  4 Pagesideas and inventions are generated every day for people’s convenience, and nearly nothing seems impossible. One of the largest grossing markets today are physical appearance and health.Because of these technological adv ancements, people are able to essentially â€Å"Design a baby† by altering DNA and choosing which physical traits they want their children to have. This idea of genetic modification was introduced by the U.S. in 2000 when the first â€Å"designer baby† was born. The first Designer baby was AdamRead MoreHuman Enhancement Should Be Discontinued1627 Words   |  7 PagesJose Cruz ESL51 Designer Baby Throughout history science has played an important role in society to help the human species strive and achieve numerous accounts of greatness. However; in today s society science has expanded into new territories trying to achieve human perfection, by using technology to create what they think a perfect baby should be. Genetic Engineering or known to the public as designer babies is a term used to describe the use of technology to modify embryos and choose specificRead MoreGenetic Engineering Is Responsible And Manipulating The Genes Of An Organism1707 Words   |  7 PagesA couple, a man and a woman, sit in front of a screen. The woman said, â€Å"Let’s choose brown hair and grey eyes for him.† â€Å"Oh! He needs to be tall and smart,† replied the man. What the couple is doing is designing their future baby. It might sound crazy to be able to engineer one’s children genetically, but technological advancements in the medical and scientific fields have a llowed this as a possible option for potential parents. Genetic engineering is controlling and manipulating the genes of anRead MoreOur Posthuman Future : Consequences Of The Biotechnology Revolution1163 Words   |  5 Pagesquestion that we added in our PowerPoint was, â€Å"Is there a difference between new drugs being invented with unknown side effects, and designer babies?† Using the first part of critical thinking the first question asked among the group was, â€Å"What can we say about this comparison?† After thinking about the invention of new drugs, the side effects, and designer babies, we were able to progress on to the second step, which was to reason this question out. Reasoning meant elaborating more on the questionRead MoreGene Review : Gene Editing1665 Words   |  7 Pagesediting CRISPR-Cas9 has been the most precise of them all. As soon as it is perfected it will be the next biggest invention. With every new invention there is an issue. One of the big issues with CRISPR-Cas9 is designer babies. Many people think that once CRISPR-Cas9 becomes mainstream that it will led to families picking the gender, appearance, intelligence, and personality. Designer Babies will led to issue in society. The IFV is extremely expensive and only the rich will be able to afford it. TheRead MoreVitro Fertilization : A Type Of Assisted Reproductive Technology1578 Words   |  7 Pagesdesigning these babies in a specific, customized way outside of the female body. In â€Å"The Three-Parent Baby’s First Step,† Neurobiology writer, Kenan Malik touches on this is common misunderstanding among those who are against in vitro fertilization because they are somehow under the impression that the personality traits and physical features of babies can be picked or chosen while going through the in vitro process. Malik discusses the new British law stating the allowance of three parent babies. â€Å"ManyRead MoreThe Possibilities of Brave New World in Our Society942 Words   |  4 Pageslike the society much like in Brave New World. It all starts with the genetic modification of bacteria leading up to genetically modified humans, and then eventually having children being conceived in test tubes. All these studies, experiments, and inventions being done today are the stepping stones to a controlled society in Brave New World. Genetic modification in our world all started with the genetic modification of bacteria according to Theresa Philips of Nature Publishing Group. After bacteriaRead MoreEugenics -Not the Way of the Future Essay721 Words   |  3 Pageslives of unborn innocent babies. It shown not be accepted as discrimination The idea of eugenics is today very controversial, because in the past it had been used in order to justify discrimination and injustice against people who were thought to be genetically unhealthy. But now eugenics has become all so more popular with the discovery and invention of In vitro fertilisation (IVF), which consists of fertilising the female egg and male sperm ‘in glass’, thus a test tube baby. â€Å"We now have discrimination

Reality Television and the Dance World Essay - 890 Words

A great deal of the world possesses a vague sense of the existence of the dance world, but they do not know much past that. The assistance of reality television shows, such as Dance Moms, So You Think You Can Dance, and Dancing with the Stars, present the inner workings of the dance community to the general public. Unfortunately, the publicity can change how society perceives the dance world. Reality television affected the dance world by contributing an air of commercialism to it, influencing younger dancers to suppose the main focus should be in the eye-popping tricks rather than artistry, and it drives audiences focus on the glitzy costumes and dazzling on stage performances rather than exhibit the sweat, blood, and tears that go into†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"(Young dancers) want to turn out eight pirouettes and do fouettes all over the place- but then we make them understand how difficult it is just to stand on one foot,† said Victoria Flores Cook, co-owner of D enise Wall’s Dance Energy in Virginia Beach, VA, (Real n.p.). This yearning to learn the flashy, over-the-top tricks has made it harder for young dancers to focus on their artistry as well. These dancers that watch the flips, turns, and leaps on television begin to think that all dance is about is the tricks and how high you are able to put your leg. Performing the aerials and dozens of turns does not give the audience a sense of the dancer’s â€Å"unique voice and vocabulary,† as Michaels puts it. Thus, losing the artistic ability to just stand on stage with a presence and focus that makes the audience hold their breath; so when the leaps and the legs do show up, the audience is even more amazed. Though the onstage performance is a rewarding experience for both dancers and choreographers alike, reality television shows have become more focused on the flashy, high-gloss performances rather than providing for the audience a look into the grueling rehearsal proces s that leads into the spectacular of the performance. â€Å"These days you can’t swing a sequined dress without hitting a dance reality T.V. show,† (Macel n.p.). Shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars may give short clips of a lift that needs work or a fastShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Television On Society s Society1583 Words   |  7 Pagesvery powerful source in today’s society, especially, television. Through technological advancements, television has given people the ability to access almost any program at their fingertips. Shows like Dance Moms, So You Think You Can Dance, and Dancing with the Stars acquire exponential ratings and leave quite the impact on their viewers. As such, viewers around the globe, both young and old, are inspired to dance and keep dancing. Dance is an expressive art form, which allows people to communicateRead MoreAnalysis Of The Zuni Turkey Dance1119 Words   |  5 PagesThe Zuni Turkey Dance is an Native American Indian dance performed to entertain and to get people knowledgeable about their cultural heritage. It appeals to unfamiliar and familiar people. This dance appeals to an audience because it is a form of entertainment. Entertainment can be defined as a performance that pleases and audience. In the Zuni Turkey dance we can see the art of ;dancing, drums/musical instruments begin played ,costumes, and hymns.The performers are enthusiastic and full of energyRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie D I V O R B N E904 Words   |  4 PagesRoseanne uses her television series to show how women really were like in the 1980s. They were pretty much in control of the family and relationship. They rejected all stereotypes of the man being the king of the house. The women had the power and authority to back them up. In another episode titled â€Å"D-I-V-O-R-C-E† Roseanne tries to convince her husband Dan to go on a romantic dinner. She goes out of her way to convince Dan to suit up with a tie and go out to dinner with her. In the episode RoseanneRead MoreEssay about Functions of Dance in Society1516 Words   |  7 PagesQuestion: What are some of the functions of dance in society? Select two or three examples from diverse periods and support your arguments through observations and readings from this course. Dance in the Troubled times. Dance has been functioning in our society for centuries. It is undeniable to claim that dance has never crossed your path because it appears in our daily lives such as in school, television, parks, clubs, places of worship, parades etc. Dance was able to alleviate the numerous problemsRead MoreThe Positive and Negative Effects of Reality TV1031 Words   |  4 PagesFactor, reality television can impact many lives everyday. Growing up in the era of the growth of reality television, I’ve seen many shows that influence and affect other teenagers and people more and more every day. The variety of shows seem to find something to interest anyone, leading to positive and negative effects. They are produced on more channels daily causing people to wonder how reality television is impacting our world today and what the future holds for it. Reality television is nonfictionRead MoreMovie Analysis : Dance Moms 951 Words   |  4 Pagestraits and unique characteristics that give both consistency and individuality to a person’s behaviour (Feist and Feist, 2009). Slide 2: Abby Lee Miller The hit reality television show, ‘Dance Moms’ shows the life of a junior elite dance team taught by Abby Lee Miller. Throughout the show, Abby is portrayed as a loud and aggressive dance teacher obsessed with her team winning. Abby is most notably known for her aggressive and non-empathetic approach to creating amazing dancers, but is constantlyRead MoreThe Reality Of Television Shows1276 Words   |  6 Pages This Is What The Reality Of TV Is. The popularity of reality TV shows lately do not amaze me, in the society today, people admire excessive pride than high moral standards. A lot of shows which need to be cancelled portray and teach a lot of bad behaviors. Although these reality TV shows may make us laugh or even amaze us with its characters, who are bad influences to the society especially children. These shows gives us a picture of how people are drasticallyRead MoreConflicts of Race, Class and Gender Under the Hidden Patriarchal System on Dance Moms2951 Words   |  12 PagesINTRODUCTION Dance Moms, in its fourth season on Lifetime, a channel whose main demographic is women, featuring dance studio owner/dance teacher Abby Lee Miller, is the flagship â€Å"maternal television† program to be examined in this paper. Abby is famous for the pyramid, a system in which she ranks her favorite dance students (top of the pyramid) and least favorite (bottom) directly in front of the students and their mothers. These three groups of females, particularly the mothers and AbbyRead MoreThe Censorship Of Ray Bradbury s Fahrenheit 4511481 Words   |  6 PagesFahrenheit 451, characters are forced to be nothing or more than then rest of the civilizations that are living there. Women are usually the ones who stay at home watching television and the men are out working, the best job you can get is working for the government. Children usually go to school, at school they usually watch television about subjects instead of reading about them from books. The main character , Guy Montag, is a fireman who goes around with his crew burning down the houses of the manyRead MoreThe Popularity of Reality Shows Among Young People1480 Words   |  6 Pagesimpact on various aspects of private and public life. The media (especially television) has become an important type of leisurely activity and entertainment in our lives. Television heroes stormed into our lives like new best friends. We talk about them all the time and we try to be and act more like them every passing minute. We are constantly surrounded with different media images and messages. Within one hour of television viewing, we can be faced with more â€Å"images† than a man in pre-industrial

Hemophilia Essay Research Paper Hemophilia Hemophilia is free essay sample

Hemophilia Essay, Research Paper Hemophilia Hemophilia is a genetically inherited hemorrhage upset which is caused when one of the plasma proteins ( needed to coagulum ) is losing or abnormally formed in the blood. The word Hemophilia comes from the Latin word hemo, intending blood and the word affection, significance: holding a inclination towards. Knowledge of haemophilia has been around since scriptural times ( due to the age of haemophilia it is unsure who the exact laminitis of the disease is ) but it wasn # 8217 ; t until the 1960 # 8217 ; s that scientists began to do new progresss towards calculating out what haemophilia was. There are two types of haemophilia: hemophilia A or factor VIII lack, and haemophilia B or factor IX lack. Hemophilia A is more common than hemophilia B with 85 % of those affected by haemophilia holding it. A individual with haemophilia does non shed blood harder or faster than a normal individual would when injured, but they bleed longer because their blood is unable to organize a h ouse coagulum. We will write a custom essay sample on Hemophilia Essay Research Paper Hemophilia Hemophilia is or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Small cuts are usually non a job, but sometimes shed blooding in the articulations occurs due to a individual # 8217 ; s organic structure growing. This consequences in swelling of the affected articulation and extreme hurting when the joint or musculus is moved. It is reported that one in ten thousand males get hemophilia A. It has been calculated that worldwide there are about 350,000 people with terrible or moderate haemophilias, although haemophilia B is 5 times less common that hemophilia A. All races, faiths, and economic groups are affected by haemophilia. Hemophilia is a hemorrhage upset which is inherited genetically. Due to the form of heritage, the upset by and large affects males merely. About one tierce of hemophilia instances come with a old household history. Womans with a haemophilic cistron are called bearers while work forces are either haemophiliac or normal. A girl of a female parent who is a bearer and a male parent who is normal has a 50 % opportunity of being a bearer herself. A boy of the same female parent and male parent has a 50 % opportunity of holding hemophilia. Most of the clip bearers are non affected by the disease, but sometimes there are minimum symptoms. Many times hemophilia is hidden for many coevalss if no affected males are born. Therefor the haemophilic cistron is carried through many coevalss of females who, because they have one X chromosome that is normal, do not suffer from the disease themselves. Other cases may have no family history, which would mean that the change in the X chromosome is a new one. This is called a mutation of the gene. Hemophilia has played an important role in Europe’s history, for it suddenly cropped up in the children of Great Britain’s Queen Victoria. It became known as the â€Å"Royal disease† because it spread to the royal families of Europe through Victoria’s descendants. Hemophilia first appeared in Victoria’s family in her eighth child, Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany. Throughout his short life, Leopold had suffered severe hemorrhages, and always was described as â€Å"very delicate.† Leading the life of a normal youngster was impossible for Leopold because any cut or bump could lead to death and it had been necessary to keep him always under strict surveillance. However, in spite of all protection, Prince Leopold died at the ag e of thirty-one, as a result of a minor fall. The disease then took off from there in the royal family. It was either given to a male descendant (causing him to be a hemophiliac) or a female descendant (causing her to be a carrier). The present-day royal family is unaffected by the disease. The treatment of hemophilia involves the simple injection of the deficient factor (usually found in blood derivatives or factor concentrates) directly into the individual’s vein. This will either prevent bleeding, or minimize the effects so that the patient remains free of disability and problems. If treatment is delayed the bleeding continues, causing more tissue damage, and eventually a permanent disability. If a hemophiliac has severe bleeding or surgery, a continuous blood replacement therapy is applied to maintain healthy levels of the clotting factor. Untreated, hemophilia is a lethal disease. At the beginning of this century the life expectancy of someone with hemophilia was less th an fifteen years. Today, with good treatment, and a fair amount of knowledge, a male’s life expectancy with hemophilia is only ten years less than a normal male’s life. This is only the beginning of treating hemophilia. With the recent genetic technological advances taking place, there is no telling what treatment or prevention methods scientists will think of next.

Adults Managing Mental Health

Question: Explain the scope and nature of dementia in adults, and consider the responses that might be taken to such conditions? Answer: Dementia in adults: Introduction: Adults often suffer from many metal disorders due to excess of workload, stress, depression, lack of family attention etc. Dementia is a mental disorder seen almost in adults, is a type of disease results in loss of memory and power of thinking that increase gradually. The patient affected by dementia could not be able to perform the daily woks (Colyer, 2011). In this topic we will discuss about the definition, types, causes and treatments of dementia in adults. Definition: Dementia is the disability of an affected persons loss of memory, thinking power eventually and failure to perform his daily functions and communicating. Types of dementia: There are many types of dementia seen in adults and the most common type is Alzheimers disease. Others are Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia, Parkinsons disease, fronto temporal dementia, syphilis and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease etc. Alzheimers disease related to shortest memory loss and word finding problems. Vascular dementia is cause due to injury to blood vessels and disease. Lewy bodies dementia is shows the primary symptoms of visual hallucinations and Parkinsons disease. Parkinsons disease is disorders in nervous system which affects the movement of the patient. Frontotemporal dementia has the symptoms of drastic changes in personality and language difficulties. Symptoms of dementia: Some common symptoms for dementia are recent loss of memory, difficulty in performing daily tasks, communicating problems, confusion, lack of taking any decisions, problem with conceptual thinking, mood swings, loss of interest in performing any work etc. Causes of dementia: Dementia mainly caused due to the death of brain cell in most of the cases. Head injury, brain stroke, tumor in brain can also be the cause for dementia. The cause of dementia also found associated with HIV. Depression, deficiency of vitamin, medications are some of the causes of dementia. There some recent developments in the cause of dementia those are vitamin D deficiency, serious brain injury, and lack of proper sleep (MacGill, 2015). Diagnosis of dementia: The first step for diagnosis concern with memory power and cognitive health. This can be done by asking simple questions. Basic tests associated with drawing and word could help to diagnose dementia. Mental tests, GPCOG test, MMSE (Mini Mental State Examination) are some of the tests to diagnose dementia. Recently developed tests are four biomarkers of dementia and physical abilities of the adults (Mahoney, 2011). Treatments for dementia in adults: Since dementia is mainly cause due to death of the brain cell there is no such effective treatment for dementia. I f symptoms shoe that dementia due to reversible cause and non degenerative cause; this can be prevent ed. Alzheimers disease symptoms can be reduced by medications. Some medicines for this are Donepezil, Alantamine, Rivastigmine and Tacrine etc. Brain train also helps decreasing the symptoms of Alzheimers disease (Fischer et al., 2011). Care from family members and friends is very much need in prevention of dementia in adults. There are some current developments in controlling dementia, they are drugs that prevent the brain cell death, taking nuts and oil with Mediterranean diet can prevent memory loss. Some risk factors for dementia are tobacco smoking drinking of alcohol, high cholesterol level, high blood glucose level etc. Conclusion: Dementia is a mental disease cause mainly due to the death of brain cells. It can also cause due to prolonged medication, HIV infection, depression etc. Since it is due to the death of brain cells there is no proper treatments but some medicines are available to prevent this. Adult having high cholesterol high blood sugar, taking alcohol and smoking are at high risk of getting this disease. There are some recent developments in treatment of this disease and are still more researches in this regard are going on. References list: Colyer, H. (2011). Dementia care a positive future: a postscript.Quality Ageing Older Adults, 12(2). Fischer, C., Schweizer, T., Joy, J., Jiang, D., Ringer, L. and Herrmann, N. (2011). Determining the Impact of Dementia on Antidepressant Treatment Response in Older Adults.Journal of Neuropsychiatry, 23(3), pp.358-361. MacGill, M. (2015).Dementia: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments. [online] Medical News Today. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/142214.php?page=2#tests_and_diagnosis [Accessed 15 Jul. 2015]. MAHONEY, D. (2011). Adult ADHD Associated With Dementia Risk.Internal Medicine News, 44(4), pp.22-23.

Culture and Politics of the country of Mexico

Culture is the way of life of a given people. It entails how people behave and perceive different life issues. It includes aspects like religion, ethnicity, customs, language, beliefs, and food among other aspects that define a people. Culture varies from one place to another depending on the circumstances surrounding a place, for instance, climate and environment and how people perceive things.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Culture and Politics of the country of Mexico specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Politics on the other hand entails the process by which a group of individuals come together and make collective decisions. It could also be seen as a way through which state or governmental affairs are run. This piece of work will give an in depth discussion of the culture and politics of Mexico. Mexico has an interesting culture. Just like any other aspect, culture in Mexico has undergone a lot of changes espe cially as from the 20th century. People’s lifestyle, particularly those in the cities, has become similar to that experienced in Europe and the United States of America. In regard to language, Spanish is widely used in Mexico. However, there are a total of 62 indigenous languages that have been recognized by the Mexico government as national languages. Another cultural aspect in Mexico is art. Mexico is a country that is known for its folk art. The art has its origin from indigenous and Spanish crafts. There is a lot of pottery and garments embroidery. Pre – Columbian architecture is widely spread in the country. In Mexico, religion is left open and there is no one religion that is made official. However, Catholicism has the largest membership, approximately 83%. Protestantism has 9% followers of the total population including Jehovah’s Witness and Seventh-day Adventist. Buddhism, Islam and Judaism are also proclaimed in Mexico although to a small extent. The et hnic groups include the Mestizos and about 52 indigenous ethnic groups (Joseph and Henderson 47). In regard to politics, Mexico government is a federal republic, led by President Felipe Calderà ³n who was elected in the year 2006. The government is founded on a congressional political system and thus the President has got a lot of powers and heads the state, the government as well as well as a multi-party structure. The federal government is deemed to represent the United Mexican States. It is divided into three branches; the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary. The government follows the political constitution of the United Mexican States, of 1817 (Wasserman 99).Advertising Looking for report on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There are about seven political parties in Mexico the main ones being the Institutional Revolutionary Party, the National Action Party, and the Party of the Democratic Revol ution. All political parties are required to promote democracy in the country and to act as a medium through which the citizens can participate in public office affairs. Every individual who has reached 18years has a right to vote. In Mexico, there are usually different levels of elections, that is, the presidential elections, the congressional elections, and the State elections. There have been considerable changes in the Mexican politics all aimed at making the country better. However, there exist some political disputes due to varying views by different agencies. This has affected the country’s economy. For this reason, there ought to be a positive move taken by the President, the politicians and the political parties irrespective of the compromise that each unit ought to make for the best of the majority (Starr and Council on Foreign Relations 25). A map showing Mexico Culture and Politics (including the Government, Economy and Population) Source: https://www.factmonster .com/atlas/north-america/mexico Works Cited Joseph, Michael Gilbert, and Henderson Timothy. The Mexico Reader: History, Culture, Politics. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2002. Print. Starr, Pamela, and Council on Foreign Relations. Challenges for a Post election Mexico: Issues for U.S. Policy. New York: Council on Foreign Relations, 2006. Print.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Culture and Politics of the country of Mexico specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Wasserman, Mark. Everyday Life and Politics in Nineteenth Century Mexico: Men, Women, and War. Albuquerque, New Mexico: UNM Press, 2000. Print. This report on Culture and Politics of the country of Mexico was written and submitted by user Noel V. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Is Political Analysis a Scientific Enterprise Should It Be

Is Political Analysis a Scientific Enterprise Should It Be According to Fay (1996)1, the study of political science involves a close analysis of dates, governments and politics. This discipline concerns with the study of human behavior and all issues related to politics as observed in controlled environments. This means that it would be very difficult to reproduce results through experimental methods.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Is Political Analysis a Scientific Enterprise? Should It Be? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Many scholars have argued that the study should be based on observations rather than experiments. Historically, most advances and conclusions in political science are derived from observations of the general trends of nation’s politics and government. The fact that the results from studying a variety of governments of a given number of nations limits the probability of obtaining reproducible results and thus limits the study of political science t o be classified as a scientific enterprise. Political analysts utilize a variety of means to obtain their research data. Most primary data is obtained through historic records and official documents. The secondary materials have been traditionally derived from results of surveys, case studies, statistical analyses and experimental models and research buildings. Political science builds its theories on critical observations of political elites, individuals and groups, as well as institutions. These patterns are drawn, generalized before the theories are being created. The correlation between the study of political science and science is a subject to debate due to some specifications that scientific studies and models stipulate as mandatory in all scientific models. This paper analyzes some of the scientific requirements in a scientific enterprise and then correlates them to the model and research methods used by political analysts to draw its conclusions Literature review The definit ion of political science has changed over the years since the 1950s. Initially, the discipline had been comprehensively descriptive in nature, but has since relied on statistical methods. Political analysts have over the years rejected political science as a science based on two approaches: practical and philosophical objections. In the first one believes that political behaviors are very complex and therefore mislead researchers having made the data collection quite hard. Philosophical objections, on the other hand, base their arguments on the fact that human reasoning cannot be objectively quantified. This leaves observations and perceptions by the researchers as the only alternative (Rosenberg, 2012)2.Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Political analysis lacks a standard methodology for quantifying the validity of its measurements and therefore makes it hard for ob taining testable results. The complexity and uniqueness of the political analysis make the results of the study unreliable. According to Cherry (2010)3, reliability is a measure of consistency of a given measurement. For a test to be reliable, it must deliver similar results on a regular basis. The results are independent of the reason for administering the test, but should be approximately similar every time the test is done (Cherry, 2010)4. Unfortunately, mathematical quantification is not possible in political analysis when making approximations about the reliability of a given test. Two aspects are normally considered in science: inter-later and internal reliability. In order to assess the first one, a minimum two independent judges should score the test. The scores are then analyzed to establish the consistency of the rater’s approximations. The best way to test inter-rater reliability is to assign each rater to test a score (Silva, 2010)5. Then, the test administrator c omputes the correlation between two ratings to establish the degree of inter-rater reliability. On the other hand, internal reliability is a measure of consistency of test results conducted on the same test. The researches compare test variables, which measure the same construct to establish the tests internal consistency(Cherry, 2010)6. On many occasions, these tests involve very similar or repetitive questions that are utilized to assess the reliability. Since the questions are identical and are structured to answer the same phenomena, the researcher must provide answers to the question in a similar fashion meaning that the test has internal consistency (Cherry, 2010)7. Political analysis lacks a standard methodology for quantifying the validity of its measurements and therefore makes it hard to obtain testable results. Additionally, science capitalizes on knowledge to explain how phenomena is the way it is. As a result, theories and testable predictions based on empirical reliabi lity are created. The more similar observations are observed, the more the theory is deemed to be testable and therefore correct. Poor consistency of the human behavior thus reduces the rate of testability of the theories and consequently reduces the reliability of the results (Silva, 2010)8.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Is Political Analysis a Scientific Enterprise? Should It Be? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Political analysis is a social study and involves numerous examples of complex human behaviors. Human beings are neither identical nor interchangeable. Their complex nature makes them lack a general conclusion based on the results of the methodology used. In science, generalization is a must concept and relies on the building relationships between two or more facts and utilizes empirical generalization to reach a credible conclusion (Buttolph Reynolds, 2012)9. Since humans cannot be put in a Petri dish in an effort to control their behaviors to study certain variables, the validity of the results obtained is thus questionable. It would be important to look at the definition of variability as an important factor in quantifying scientific studies (Silva, 2010)10. Validity is defined as the ability of an instrument to achieve its goals. Tests should be valid in order to ease interpretation, and provide accurate application of the results. Validity is a measure that uses research methods that can demonstrate the existence of a predefined relationship between the test and the behavior it is supposed to measure. There are two types of validity measures: content and face validity. In case the elements of the test represent the whole range of possible results the test should cover, then the test have content validity (Silva, 2010)11. Content validity draws the test questions from a wide pool of items covering a wide range of topics. Face validity, on the other hand, is a component of cont ent validity that is determined when the person assessing the instrument makes a conclusion that measures the desired element or trait in the test (Cherry, 2010). Quantification While scientists insist on quantifiable tests, Political analysis, being a social science, relies on behaviors, values, beliefs and so on to make conclusions. This implies that their results cannot be measured accurately. Measurement is a fundamental element of science and although generalizations and assumptions are common, the quantification process must be illustrated clearly.Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Some political scientists vehemently criticize this approach by citing the scientific methodologies that have been employed historically in science. Galileo, for instance, used a crude telescope to view the moon and other planets. Scientific developments in astronomy were developed from the foundations he discovered through more and more precise observation instruments. Another fundamental element of science is the ability to offer transmissible knowledge. Scientists insist that scientific knowledge must be transmissible or, in other words, they must be explicit enough to allow other scholars to analyze them and replicate their results. Unfortunately, the methodologies used in social sciences are basically based on objective and systematic observations. This means that a fundamental goal of science is left out since the results obtained cannot be verified. The theories constructed from these verifications of public inspection and results are not in a credible position to explain why phenomena behave the way it does (Fay, 1996). In the scientific world, the knowledge is used to describe things and facts, for example, how things are created and why they are what they are. On the other hand, political analysis depends on causal relationships which derive their results from correlations in order to establish useful and important information. These however fail to explain issues related to why and how (Fay, 1996)12. Falsifiability During the development of theories, it must be quite clear whether the theory is falsifiable or not. Science insists that an empirical theory fails to satisfy the fundamental of science if it cannot be proved to be either right or wrong through various tests. When a theory is found to be wrong, it gives the researchers the motivation to look for alternative theories through elimination of the previous theory. The truth is that no political setting is interchangeable. If we argue from this point, it means therefore that the results we will obtain from analysis of a political setting will be subjected to alterations once an identical study is carried out. This would consequently lead to situation where theories will be formulated today and dismissed the following day. Political analysts use case studies to come up with comprehensive theories but fail to generalize them being afraid of criticism from independent similar theories. The Organization of the American Political Science Association (2006)13 reported new developments in the scientification of political analysis. In the early 1960s, most political analysts used scientific means to build on the behaviorism during the early foundations of political science as a discipline. However, over the years, these theories have been challenged by different authors owing to their nature of lack of reliability and generalization. The line between facts and values has been a nightmare to most political scientists and other social scientists for a long time. Some held on the ar gument that values are facts, but in the real scientific world, a clear distinction between the two must be established. Epistemology As one of the key pillars of philosophy, epistemology concentrates on propositional knowledge. The political analysts utilize this approach by classifying certain elements of beliefs and values to be true or false. The results produce normative knowledge which deals with the evaluation and recommendation of what should be rather than what it is, or how it came to be. On the other hand, real science aims at creating a non-normative kind of knowledge which is based on facts or, in other words, the objective determination of what things are. While the real scientific world insists on knowledge being cumulative, the research methods used by previous experiments and results should be used as foundations of new work. Political analysts deal with variation in the settings of political arenas, governments and institutions in such a way that the conclusions fr om different studies yield different results. In their words, the repeatability, reliability and validity of the data obtained cannot be used to make a general observation. By presenting a systematic a systematic and well reasoned anticipation, science is able to make accurate predictions for future occurrence of events. Thus, science is in a position to generate predictions for the future. Social analysis fails in generalization of its theories and therefore most of its conclusions cannot be used to predict the occurrence of future events (Fay, 1996)14. Science relies on parsimony in an effort to give other researchers a chance to choose between alternatives. Scientists therefore prefer methodologies that give a vivid explanation of phenomena while maintaining few parameters. In real scientific research, deductive arguments must not necessarily be reached. These relate to arguments that are proved to be true through the use of a series of logical statements to derive a conclusion b ased on true premises (Buttolph Reynolds, 2012)15. Although deductive reasoning is used in political analysis, inductive reasoning prevails in most research work making inferences though observations and propositions (Buttolph Reynolds, 2012)16. This brings the issue of probabilistic explanation. In science, it is required that 100% accuracy be met prior to making any predictions. The use of inductive reasoning therefore forbids this practice of making prediction based on previous findings. In other words, every situation in political analysis requires an independent research and conclusion. For example, if a researcher was to research about the political situation in a country, say Britain, it would be wrong to make inferences about the United States using the results of the study. On the other hand, a scientific experiment could be reproduced to another similar case. For example, the behavior of bacteria inside a Petri dish could be used to make general conclusions about the beh avior of all similar bacteria. From the given example, several observations can be made. The situation of political institutions in Britain and America are likely to change with time. By the time the study was taken, several parameters such as the nature of economy and the general perceptions of the respondents will have changed. The scientific study of bacteria in the same environment and conditions will yield similar results day-in-day-out. We therefore concluded that the Petri dish experimental results are reproducible, valid and reliable. Reliability is important in this case in order to assess the practicability and efficiency of the materials used to gather the data (Martin, 1994)17. Conclusion The paper analyzed the scientific approach of research and made equal comparison to the study of political science. The scientific approach look more tangible and reflective results compared to the social science approach. The paper concluded that political analysis therefore cannot be classified as a scientific enterprise. For a long time, the study has based its reflections on descriptions obtained through observations. The fact that these systems are undergoing transformations to include statistical inferences suggests the birth of a new approach to the subject. At the moment, the scientific requirements for a theory to satisfy the discussed expectations of a scientific study do not allow the prevalent method in political analysis to be described as a scientific approach. Deductive reasoning may not be practical in political analysis since every time the research is carried out, the probability of obtaining different data is high. Bibliography Buttolph, J Reynolds, T H, 2012, Political Science Research Methods, 7th edn., sage Publications, http://college.cqpress.com/sites/psrm/Home/chapter2.aspx Cherry, K, 2010, Reliability and Validity, viewed on http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/f/validity.htm Fay, B, 1996, Contemporary philosophy of social sci ence: a multicultural approach. Blackwell, Oxford. Martin, M, 1994, Readings in the philosophy of social science, MIT Press, Cambridge. Rosenberg, A, 2012, Philosophy of social science, Westview Press, Boulder, CO. Silva, E, 2010, Racism without racists: color-blind racism and the persistence of racial inequality in the United States, Rowman Littlefield Publishers, Lanham. The Organization of the American Political Science Association, 2006, Proceedings of the American Political Science Association, Vol. 1, pp. 5-15, First Annual Meeting, 1904. Footnotes 1 Fay, B, 1996, Contemporary philosophy of social science: a multicultural approach. Blackwell, Oxford. 2 Rosenberg, A, 2012, Philosophy of social science, Westview Press, Boulder, CO. 3 Cherry, K, 2010, Reliability and Validity, viewed on http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/f/validity.htm 4 Cherry, K, 2010, Reliability and Validity, viewed on http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/f/validity.htm 5 Silva, E, 201 0, Racism without racists: color-blind racism and the persistence of racial inequality in the United States, Rowman Littlefield Publishers, Lanham. 66 Cherry, K, 2010, Reliability and Validity, viewed on http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/f/validity.htm 7 Cherry, K, 2010, Reliability and Validity, viewed on http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/f/validity.htm 8 Silva, E, 2010, Racism without racists: color-blind racism and the persistence of racial inequality in the United States, Rowman Littlefield Publishers, Lanham. 9 Buttolph, J Reynolds, T H, 2012, Political Science Research Methods, 7th edn., sage Publications, http://college.cqpress.com/sites/psrm/Home/chapter2.aspx Cherry, K, 2010, Reliability and Validity, viewed on http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/f/validity.htm 10 Silva, E, 2010, Racism without racists: color-blind racism and the persistence of racial inequality in the United States, Rowman Littlefield Publishers, Lanham. 11 Silva, E , 2010, Racism without racists: color-blind racism and the persistence of racial inequality in the United States, Rowman Littlefield Publishers, Lanham. 12 Fay, B, 1996, Contemporary philosophy of social science: a multicultural approach. Blackwell, Oxford. 13 The Organization of the American Political Science Association, 2006, Proceedings of the American Political Science Association, Vol. 1, pp. 5-15, First Annual Meeting, 1904. 14 Fay, B, 1996, Contemporary philosophy of social science: a multicultural approach. Blackwell, Oxford. 15 Buttolph, J Reynolds, T H, 2012, Political Science Research Methods, 7th edn., sage Publications, http://college.cqpress.com/sites/psrm/Home/chapter2.aspx Cherry, K, 2010, Reliability and Validity, viewed on http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/f/validity.htm 16 Buttolph, J Reynolds, T H, 2012, Political Science Research Methods, 7th edn., Sage Publications, http://college.cqpress.com/sites/psrm/Home/chapter2.aspx 17 Martin, M, 1994, Re adings in the philosophy of social science, MIT Press, Cambridge.

Workflow design and management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Workflow design and management - Case Study Example The fourteen day period that is taken up during the assessing of whether a student is qualified or not for credit transfers is impressive but can still be considerably improved. Downloading the application form and attaching supporting information before submission is vital for the commencement of the process. It is also very important that the Clerical Officer counter-checks the applications to ensure that all the forms are appropriately filled, and all supporting information attached. This considerable cuts out the time that would have been wasted on application forms not properly completed. There is, however, an overloading of the same Clerical Officer on aspects of the entire process that would have otherwise been done away with. Instead of having the clerical officer making photocopies of the application form AS 41c and supporting documents according to the number of subjects the student is claiming credit transfer, it would be more efficient if the students were to be involved. The students should be required to make applications depending on the number of subjects they are claiming credit transfers. This would reduce the work-load of the Clerical Officer. The time spent in sending the forms back and forth could also be reduced by making use of an integrated system of analysis. A system that connects the Clerical Officer to the teachers directly would be effective. When the Clerical Officer inputs data of students who have applied for credit transfers to the system, the teachers could have access to the same system, but in terms of the department. The teachers would then indicate into the same system whether a certain application has been accepted or denied. The clerical Officer would then generate the appropriate letters. As the letters are being signed by the Programme Leader, the applications would then be returned back to the Clerical Officer by the Department

A Critique of Plato's Just Society using the Notion of Fairness from Essay

A Critique of Plato's Just Society using the Notion of Fairness from John Rawls - Essay Example He viewed that there could be a harmony or just society, only when these inequalities were either factored in or eliminated, and this notion of 'fairness' will be presented as a fundamental critique of Plato. The most explicit discussion of the tripartite part of the soul, and the primacy of reason therein, occurs in the fourth book of the Republic (435b). One of the first preliminary aspects of the soul, is that although the parts of the soul are distinct in their virtues, Socrates also stresses that in the functioning of these parts, the soul must be considered as a â€Å"whole† [Plato, 1992, p. 436a]. What is implied by this, is as follows. If for example, one desired food, and this desire originated in the appetites, it would still require reason both to discern the means of satisfying this desire, but also it would require reason to know when one has had enough for the sake of health in which case, reason would act upon the ‘will’ to suppress desire, so to sp eak. This is a ‘chain of command’, so to speak, which will be explored both as it is outlined in this section of the Republic, but also in terms of how this is established in the three classes of the state [Haworth, 2004, p. 13]. Further, it is important to similarly stress that the appetites are as necessary for reason for the sake of surviving. In other words, someone who had no appetite would starve, just as someone who had no ‘will’ or ‘spirit’ would have no discipline to stop eating or drinking. Thus, Socrates stresses that although reason is given privilege within the scheme of the soul, he also stresses that all three aspects constitute the ‘whole’, and this ‘whole’ is necessary for surviving. In some ways, his position on the soul can be said to be a refutation of Thrasymachus' position from the beginning of the dialogue where he argues that the just society is the one ruled by the â€Å"stronger† [Adams and Dyson, 2003, p. 4]. Socrates defines this relation, using, for example, the compulsion to â€Å"drink† extending from the appetites or the â€Å"irrational† [Plato, 1992, p. 439d] part of the soul: â€Å"Doesn’t that which forbids in such cases come into play – if it comes into play at all – as a result of rational calculation, while what drives and drags them to drink is a result of feelings and diseases? Apparently† [Plato, 1992, p. 439c-d]. Although the surface appearance, suggests that there is a complete opposition between the appetites on the one hand, or, desire, impulse, etc.., and on the other hand, the rational component of the soul, it is as though there is a harmony of opposites which Socrates is arguing here. What is implied by this, is as follows. Even though reason and irrationality are opposed, they are united in the very functioning of the soul. While the appetites are controlled through the â€Å"spirit† or the will [Plato, 1992, p. 440a], it is reason which makes the decision concerning how much control, or when to control the appetites. Again, it is important that we have appetites, and that they are necessary for survival, which reason is aware of, for the same reasoning, that is, for the sake of surviving or health, they must also be controlled. In keeping with Socrates example of drinking, it is often the case that an alcoholic, who is overcome by their appetites, may end up dying or being sick at the very least. Thus, the relationship between the parts of the soul, can be described as created a

Managing People Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Managing People - Term Paper Example Strategic human resource management should be adopted by the company in order to address the issues in its operations. The starting point of all the issue for any company is its relative strength in terms of strategic management—the clarity of the goals of the company in line with its mission and vision, in order to create good strategies in order to meet those goals. Without the goals and clear strategic direction, even those which are perceived to be the best human resource practices will mean nothing if they would not play a role in fulfilling a company’s objectives FTL’s lacks strategic direction as a company until Steve Davidson has started to craft a vision, as according to the case, â€Å"Steve had considered Anders management style to be too ‘seat of the pants’ and worked hard with his management team to create a vision for the business (Mason 2000, 11).† The company’s lack of strategic direction leads a cluttered approach to human resource management as evident in the policies which do not support any concrete corporate objective for the company. Because the company lacks strategic direction, an organizational structure is not tailored to support any strategy to fulfill a corporate objective. This leads to a corporate structure that often leads to conflicts, and one that does not utilise an integrated approach to the company’s operations. The shift of organizational structure from individualised jobs to work teams in order to promote a team working culture is vital in order to address the integration issues that arise from customer frustrations and lack of ownership. Structure plays a huge role in the organization’s processes, as stated in the case, â€Å"After the training had been completed there was a noticeable improvement in attitude between and within teams, although changes in staffing and team structures tended to undermine the benefits (Mason 2000, 14).† Communication is very vital to

Effect of Alcohol on Reaction Times: Experiment

Effect of Alcohol on Reaction Times: Experiment The experiment tested whether alcohol had any effect on reaction time. Abstract Objective: The experiment tested whether alcohol had any effect on reaction time. Method: Subjects were required to identify the threshold at which a flickering light became constant (critical flicker fusion threshold) using a computerised flicker fusion system.   Frequency increased at a rate of 4 hertz per second.   Critical flicker fusion threshold is a well accepted and documented non-invasive measure of reaction time.   Ten female subjects were tested under control conditions and following ingestion of 2 units (80 mg) alcohol.   It was hypothesised that alcohol would cause an increase in reaction time, which would translate to a delay in recognising the critical flicker fusion threshold, thus higher frequency results. Results:   Ingestion of 2 units (80mg) of alcohol was associated with an increase in mean critical flicker fusion threshold from 14.6 hertz to 15.4 hertz (p Conclusion:   2 units of alcohol had the effect of increasing reaction time by an average of 0.2 seconds, which has serious implications for the consumption of alcohol prior to tasks involving complex motor skills such as driving. Introduction Alcohol and its effects Alcohol is believed to be the oldest drug used by humans, predating even the use of opium by 2000 years to around 8000 BC (Kerr, Hindmarch 1998).   Whilst legal age limits exist for the purchase of alcohol in the United Kingdom, it is widely regarded within the Western world as an acceptable drug. In recent household studies in the UK it was found that 75% of men and 60% of women consumed at least one alcoholic drink per week.   In addition, 40% of men and 23% of women were found to have exceeded the national recommendations on alcohol consumption within the previous week (Office for National Statistics 2005).   The Institute For Alcohol Studies ranks the United Kingdom as 9th in per capita consumption of pure alcohol within European Nations, with 9.6 litres of pure alcohol being consumed per capita in 2002 (Institute for Alcohol Studies 2005). Alcohol is known for its psychoactive effects, which include alterations in vision, motor tasks and skills such as car driving and flying.   In addition it is repeatedly shown, whether anecdotally or via scientific measurements, that a strong correlation exists between alcohol consumption and violence. Alcohol is known to be a contributory factor in road accidents, with 9% of casualties showing evidence of alcohol consumption, this figure rising to 31% when considering pedestrians (The Scottish Office Central Research Unit 1998).   Research carried out in the 1980s by the Transport Research Laboratory indicated that alcohol was involved in 35% of fatal road traffic accidents, with the figure falling slightly to 31.5% in a similar study completed in 2000 (Tunbridge, Keigan James 2001).  Ã‚   However neither of these reports explained why the association existed between alcohol and road traffic accidents, whether resulting in death or not.   Of import for this report is the association between alcohol and reaction time.   The majority of alcohol consumers can identify a slowing down of their faculties following alcohol consumption, regardless of claims to the contrary.  Ã‚   Research has shown that alcohol impairs the ability of individuals to carry out complex motor tasks. One example involved bus drivers being asked to drive a vehicle through a narrow space, or highlighting the fact that the gap was too narrow if necessary.   It was shown that alcohol consumption was correlated with a reduced ability to accurately guide the bus through the gap, coupled with an inability to accurately gauge the width of the gap.   Hence bus drivers who had consumed alcohol were more likely to judge a gap as to be wide enough when it was not, than those who had not consumed alcohol and whose spatial awareness remained intact (Rang, Dale Ritter 1999a). Recommended stopping distances at 30 miles per hour are 23 metres / 75 feet, of which 9 metres / 30 feet are the ‘thinking distance’.   This is based on an average reaction time of 0.7 seconds when the car is travelling at 44 feet / second.   Therefore if reaction times increase, stopping distances will do so also, with serious implications in an accident. It has been indicated by some research that low levels of alcohol consumption have very little effect on reaction time if attention could be focussed on a single objective (Jaaskelainen et al. 1996).   Where attention needs to be divided between task objectives, even low blood alcohol levels were found to impair performance.   This suggests that alcohol is not going to greatly impair reaction time during simple tasks, but complex tasks which require several aspects to the performance would be much more likely to be impaired.   This was further supported by the research of Bartholow et al which found that response times per se were relatively unaffected by the presence of alcohol but the ability to respond appropriately to tasks that required complex attention were (Bartholow et al. 2003).   Indeed the authors implicate alcohol in impairments of cognitive processing, rather than the motor responses that result from these processes.   They cite data from studies that have sho wn that alcohol acts to reduce the ability to respond to stimuli as well as interpret and process the correct relevance of these stimuli.   This inability to respond fully to cues from the environment is described as the attention-allocation model, as the brain is selective in which cues are actually attended to and processing within the brain.   Further research has indicated that alcohol can sometimes actually improve the ability of subjects to resist distraction from a task (Erblich, Earleywine 1995) but this is not in keeping with the majority of research. Given the existing data this experiment was designed to assess the ability of female subjects to respond to a change in a single form of stimulus.   There was no distraction, nor a divided attention focus required, in an effort to ensure that the effects of alcohol on reaction time, if any, were more obvious. Flicker fusion threshold The human eye is capable of distinguishing between intermittent stimuli such as flickering light, up to a threshold, which is usually around 16 Hertz.   The frequency at which the human eye is no longer able to distinguish individual stimuli is defined as the critical flicker fusion threshold.   It is at this frequency that the individual stimuli have fused to form a single continuous stimulus.   The flicker fusion threshold will vary between individuals depending on their eyesight, hence the use of a number os study participants.   It will also vary between an individual’s readings depending on their reaction time at each stage – ie the time at which they actually consciously register that the hitherto flickering stimulus has now become constant and are able to respond to this knowledge.   The purpose of this experiment was to use the measurement of critical flicker fusion threshold as a correlate to reaction time.   For this experiment the experimental hypothesis was that alcohol acts to increase the reaction time of female subjects. The null hypothesis was that alcohol has no effect on the reaction time of female subjects.   Thus it would be expected that an individual with a slower reaction time would give results indicating a higher critical flicker fusion threshold, measured in hertz.   In other words it would be expected that the frequency at which subjects indicated that the flickering light (for full details of methodology please see below) had fused into a single light would be higher under alcohol conditions than control.   This would not be due to an enhanced ability to differentiate between flickering and constant light, rather a delay in the ability for this change to register and be processed by the brain, and the subject to press the button. Method Ten female subjects aged from 18-35 years, with a body mass index of 19-28 were selected as part of an open experiment into the effect of alcohol on reaction time.   All subjects were informed of the purpose of the experiment prior to taking part and were required to complete medical questionnaires to exclude medication that might affect the results of the experiment.  Ã‚   Known negative effects of alcohol consumption were also excluded and subjects all had a history of regular alcohol consumption of at least 2 units, once per week. Subjects were required to refrain from eating or drinking for the 2 hours prior to each test, which took place on consecutive days, with the control (no alcohol) test taking place prior to the alcohol test.   The 2 hour nil by mouth regulation was put in place in an effort to standardise the absorption of the alcohol by reducing stomach contents to a more uniform amount, thus providing a similar surface area available for alcohol absorption in each study participant. On arriving at the test room subjects were required to complete a health and safety questionnaire and were again reminded of the aims and purposes of the experiment.   Subjects were free to leave at any time, and signed consent forms to allow their results to be used.   Following the initial briefing subjects were given a training briefing on the specialised equipment and allowed to take a small number of practise tests to familiarise themselves with the equipment requirements.   Following this training period a five-minute break was allowed. For the test itself each subject was required to drink 250ml of pure orange juice, with a five-minute timespan being allowed for the drink to be consumed.   Forty minutes after the drink had been consumed subjects critical flicker fusion threshold was tested using the Model 12021 Flicker Fusion System (Lafayette Instruments). This time scale was used as the 2 units of alcohol would have reached a peak blood alcohol concentration of approximately 80 mg/100 ml 45 minutes following ingestion (Wilson, Benjamin Sreenivasan 2003).   Assuming absorption and metabolism at the accepted 4 mmol/l per hour (Rang, Dale Ritter 1999b), the alcohol would be expected to have been removed completely from the body within 6 hours (Wilson, Benjamin Sreenivasan 2003). Subjects were requested to look in to the binocular eye piece at two white simultaneous lights.   The use of a separate light for each eye was used to prevent differences in eye focussing from causing conflicting critical flicker fusion thresholds. The initial flash frequency of 4 hertz was set to ascending at a rate of 4 hertz / second.   The subject was provided with a push button connected to a 1 metre cable and was required to push the button when the flickering ceased and the lights became fused to a single light emission.   The point at which the button was pressed was taken as the critical flicker fusion threshold.  Ã‚   Each subject was required to undertake ten reaction time recordings. The experimental procedures on day 2 were identical to day 1, except that 2 units of alcohol (vodka), approximately 80mg of pure alcohol, had been added to the 250ml of pure orange juice that the subjects were required to drink.   A further ten reaction time recordings were made using the flicker fusion system. Results Each subject was able to provide 10 reaction time recordings, which ranged from a minimum of 11.5 Hertz (subject 9, recording 6, no alcohol) to a maximum of 19.4 Hertz (subject 3, recording 8, with alcohol).   The mean for the control / no alcohol test was 14.6 + 3.6 Hertz.   The mean for the alcohol test was 15.4 + 4.0 Hertz. Tables 1 and 2 below show the individual reaction times of each subject participant on the two tests. Table 1. Reaction times of 5 female subjects with and without alcohol, as measured by critical flicker fusion threshold Subject 1 Subject 2 Subject 3 Subject 4 Subject 5 Reaction test number None Alcohol None Alcohol None Alcohol None Alcohol None Alcohol 1 15.0 17.2 14.3 16.9 18.2 18.1 13.4 17.5 12.5 13.1 2 14.1 13.6 15.5 17.2 17.9 19.3 14.4 14.9 12.9 12.5 3 16.2 16.2 15.8 16.7 16.5 18.5 14.8 14.5 12.3 12.8 4 13.6 16.1 16.3 17.9 17.7 17.9 14.3 14.8 12.8 12.6 5 12.5 14.3 14.9 15.5 16.9 18.9 14.9 13.5 12.4 12.4 6 13.8 15.5 15.7 16.1 17.4 18.3 14.1 14.6 12.6 12.9 7 12.0 14.8 15.4 18.5 16.0 17.6 15.1 14.9 13.1 13.5 8 11.8 12.9 14.8 17.1 17.3 19.4 15.3 15.1 13.9 13.2 9 12.9 12.7 15.7 16.7 18.0 17.9 13.3 13.5 12.8 12.6 10 13.0 15.8 15.0 17.8 16.7 18.9 16.7 14.7 14.1 11.9 Mean 13.5 14.9 15.3 17.0 17.3 18.5 14.6 14.8 12.9 12.8 Median 13.3 15.2 15.5 17.0 17.4 18.4 14.6 14.8 12.8 12.7 Table 2. Reaction times of 5 female subjects with and without alcohol, as measured by critical flicker fusion threshold Subject 6 Subject 7 Subject 8 Subject 9 Subject 10 Reaction test number None Alcohol None Alcohol None Alcohol None Alcohol None Alcohol 1 13.9 15.1 16.5 15.6 12.8 14.5 13.6 15.5 16.5 15.4 2 16.5 15.9 14.3 15.1 12.6 13.5 14.9 14.2 15.9 18.1 3 14.2 14.6 12.9 14.0 12.4 12.4 15.0 14.8 15.7 14.6 4 14.9 15.5 13.9 16.8 12.0 12.6 15.8 14.8 15.2 16.8 5 14.1 15.6 13.5 16.7 13.1 13.8 14.7 13.9 16.4 16.5 6 16.5 15.8 13.4 18.1 13.5 14.2 11.5 16.7 16.2 16.4 7 13.2 13.3 13.9 15.1 12.3 14.2 15.4 14.6 16.8 15.8 8 14.5 15.6 14.2 15.8 12.9 14.6 15.3 16.1 17.1 16.2 9

Essay --

The Discourse on Inequality by Jean-Jacques Rousseau Jean Jacques Rousseau though a philosopher in the eighteenth century sense, was not what would now be called a ‘philosopher.’ Nevertheless he had a great deal on influence on the philosophical workings of his time and indeed of every subsequent period that followed him. Not only this but also he exerted his influence in the fields of literature, politics etc. Irrespective of the credibility one attaches to him as a philosopher, one cannot over look his influence as a primary social force. Rousseau was a philosopher that appealed to one’s good sense, one’s heart and so for this purpose has been termed as a Romantic philosopher. Others have accredited him with producing facts and ideas that are entirely non-human but nonetheless have been derived from human emotions and other related aspects of an individual’s life. He has also given rise to a political philosophy of sorts, which is a far cry from the absolute monarchies that prevailed in that time. However experts point out that this philosophy is only a weak attempt at democracy and so has been termed as ‘pseudo-democratic’ by many of them. Those that consider themselves true reformers have been divided into two groups; one that follows the ideals of John Locke and the other that associates itself with the premises presented by Rousseau. Therefore it has been often suggested that Hitler is an outcome of Rousseau whereas Roosevelt and Churchill belong to Locke. Though his literary career started rather late and was full of eventualities, Rousseau’s second essay a â€Å"Discourse on Inequality† (1754) remains largely popular to this day. This is because it consists of ideas that were unheard of at the time. However it must be noted t... ...ecause of the Industrial Revolution. Since having more ensures a certain position for an individual in the society thus it brings about social inequality in the environment. The above analysis shows that Jean Jacques Rousseau’s Discourses do consist of some valid and thought-provoking ideas. One is forced to consider the very institutions that one blithely takes for granted and in the process realizes that these man made institutions are responsible for bringing about social inequality in the society. Thus one can say that the argument which suggests that Rousseau’s theory is correct in assuming that institutions bring about inequality and serve to trap the modern human race. Bibliography 1. Ritter, Alan (Ed.). Rousseau's Political Writings: Discourse on Inequality, Discourse on Political Economy on Social Contract. New York: WW Norton & Company, 1999.

Jacksonian Democracy Essay

The Jacksonian democrats saw themselves as the guardians of the United States Constitution, political democracy, individual liberty, and equality of economic opportunity. However, were they really all they claimed to be? They did attempt to increase the power of lower classes while decreasing the influence of the rich and powerful. Economically, they benefited from governing during a time of huge advances in transportation, which boosted commerce and helped the common man. The Jacksonian democrats portrayed themselves as saviors of the common people, but this is a controversial subject. They were unusually wealthy, supported equality between white men only, enacted devastating economic policies, and disregarded the capability of the federal government. The Jacksonians saw themselves as guardians but as for the people, only a select few may have seen that. During the Jacksonian reign, numerous advancements sped up the growth of the United States. A market revolution occurred as cash-crop agriculture and capitalist manufacturing replaced artisan economy. Despite the prosperity, a split was emerging between the industrializing, urban north, agrarian, rural South, and the expanding West. The Jacksonians passed the Tariff of 1828, which opened opportunity for western agriculture and New England manufacturing, but was damaging to the South. Andrew Jackson believed that the US bank placed too much control into the hands of a wealthy few (Document B). Therefore, Jackson vetoed the bank’s re-charter in 1832. In attempt to benefit the lower, working classes, he placed the federal money in â€Å"pet† state banks. This attempt weakened the national currency. Like most Jacksonian economic policies, it failed. Jacksonians tried to assist only the whites through economic policies but failed in that also. Foreign visitors viewed that in America, every man is free and independent (Document D), but there was great division in American attitude. Disturbances and riots broke out across the country by minorities (Document E), because they were not included in the equality efforts of the Jacksonians, which were focused on white males. Jackson’s hypocrisy and brutality in his Indian removal practices showed the non-universal  principles held by the democrats. The unconstitutional, uneven power in the three branches of government was revealed when Jackson violated chief justice Marshall’s decision on the Cherokee when he forced them out. Resulting in the â€Å"Trail of Tears†(Document G) Fearful of angering Southern voters, Jacksonians veered away from extending equality policies to slaves. Women as well received little betterment during the Jacksonian era. Although viewed as defenders of all common men, Jacksonian democrats shunned minorities and only assisted white me n. Andrew Jackson was the first president to fully use the powers of the executive branch and establish it as an equal if not superior branch. Henry Clay viewed Jackson as dictatorial and unconstitutional and tried to make others see that, but Jacksonian propaganda continued to portray Jackson as a common man. Jacksonian democrats did not keep the three branches of government separate and equal, like it says in the constitution. Jacksonians were strict constitutionalists, vetoing things that did not benefit the whole country and eliminating the bank. However, they also participated in the burning nationalism existing at the time. Jacksonians believed in a firm union. In the compromise Tariff of 1832, they reduced the previous tariffs, but also included a Force Bill, which authorized the President to use arms to collect dues in South Carolina, which goes against the Jacksonian belief in states’ rights and their disbelief in a strong military. Jacksonian democrats were above all outstanding propagandists. They were able to portray themselves as defenders of the common man, while they usually tended to be anything but common. They were wealthy and often thought that ‘common man’ officials were inefficient and corrupt. They also tried to further reform movements but ended up hurting the economic opportunity. Although often supporters of states’ rights and individuality, they also were strong nationalists. Jacksonians strived to preserve the unifying principles that the Constitution contained, but acted in opposition of it when they asserted the overwhelming power of the executive branch. Jacksonian democracy did allow more people to vote than ever before and made government more directly responsible to the people. Finally, they established a strong executive, directly responsible to the people, and  increased faith in government. Overall, Jacksonians honestly attempted to help common Americans.

Democracy in American History essays

Democracy in American History essays There are many events in United Stated history that prove democracy had worked in this country. I researched five different examples in American history where the American people got what they wanted. The five things I choose to discuss are the fight for womans voting rights, Civil rights movement, Prohibition, Education, and Gay and lesbian rights. Winning Suffrage, the right to vote, had been a focus of woman reformers since the Seneca Falls convention in 1848. Woman have tried many things though out American history to gain woman voting rights. Woman have challenged the 14th amendment and pushed for an amendment to let them vote but all this did not work until the 1900s. People like Carrie Chapmen Catt organized committees to help push for the amendment. Finally in 1919 the nineteenth amendment was ratified, after 72 years of work the woman got what they deserved. In the 1873 many people wanted prohibition which is the banning of selling alcoholic beverages. Committees like the Woman Christian Temperance Union founded in 1873 promoted prohibition. But by the mid 1920s only 20 percent of the American people supported prohibition because it increased the crime rate. So in 1933 it was repealed by the 21st amendment. Education was another issue that stirred peoples concern about the future of there children. In 1963 a presidential commission issued a report on education entitled A nation at risk. The report showed American schools scores lagged behind those of other nations schools. It also showed that an average 17 year old could not tell Russia from Florida on a map or fill out a job application. The commission recommended increasing school year , long school days , increase pay for teacher , and emphasis on math and English. Finally in 1991 President bush announced a bold new education initiative called America 2000 which stated that people can choose to send there children to privat...

261 Intro to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Professor Ramos Blog

261 Intro to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Quick Write Quick Write Some claim that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a masterpiece and one of the greatest American novels. Others disagree with this assessment. Based on what you have learned, which side do you agree with? Analysis of Literature The Five Moves of Analysis Mark Twain (1835 1910) Huck Finn

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 122

Summary - Essay Example The speech "I have a dream" is chronologically crafted through the saddening history of the black people staying and living in the US. The speech begins by identifying the African-Americans as slaves. The speech also starts by celebrating the Emancipation Proclamation that set the black Africans legally free. In his speech, Martin Luther King quickly reflects on the present times and points out that the black people are still in poverty and face injustices, segregation, and police brutality. All the vices are present despite having passed the Emancipation Proclamation 100 years ago. In his "present day" part of the speech, the King urges the people not retaliate by bitterness, physical violence and hatred while trying to solve the injustices he points out in his speech (Teaching American History n.d.). "I have a dream" part which is most famous, speech, the King hopes for a better future through quotations from the bible. American songs and the declaration of independence further reinstate his hopes for a better future that is to come. King speaks poetically and with power and gives the reflection of the country where all people are equal. The white and black people work together with equal

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morisson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morisson - Essay Example It depicts the sort of stereotypical communities we live in and the unconventional family settings that shape the fabrics of the modern society. Pecola, hailing from Ohio, sets to see the world through a different pair of eyes. Consequently, she plunges herself into the flaws of misguided perceptions that leads her down the road of failure. The new blue eyes that she dreams of helping us to see the norms and tradition of beauty without distraction in the lines of racial segregation. Morrison keeps the reader enchanted to the realization of the facts that form the core of our society for so many years. He uses the theme of beauty to focus on the consequences of the decision made by Pecola. Amazingly, it is the way that the society appreciates human dignity by in accordance with the allocation of favorable materials or acquisition. Supposedly, those deemed beautiful get better chances in life, and that is the primary driving force for Pecola (Mbalia 28). She believes that beauty lies in the possession of blonde hair and blue eyes. Toni Morrison captures the stigma that we embrace and questions its credibility as the only way of acceptance of some level of beauty in the society. Throughout the history, the society deems everyone as equal but that ideal case ceases to exist when in a real life situation. Its scripts shine boldly in the books of literature, state and federal laws. On the contrary, the practices of the society are entirely different from the writings in the books.  Pecola represents a section of the community that thrives to find a sense of belonging in a narrow-minded society. Conversely, Claudia was the antagonist in accordance with the story of her life (Mbalia 30). She grew to be fond of herself and proud of whom and what life made her. Clearly, she embraces her life and heritage that shows how powerful beauty besets upon someone that embraces it. Claudia

Product Development block Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Product Development block - Essay Example It will discuss diets from a collection of foods that a female is required to take for effective weight reduction. In addition, the mechanisms and norms that one should develop along with health dieting in order to achieve a standard healthy weight will be analyzed. Whole grains- whole grains consist of food such as wheat, oats and bulgur. These kinds of foods are rich in fiber. This kind of food are highly recomeneded as they cause the consumer to feel full for a longer period of time as compared to other types of foods. Therefore they reduce the average capacity one would eat other meals. As a result, the person reduces the chances of gaining weight. Moreover, whole grains can improve the overall health status of a female. This is because they reduce the conversion rate of carbohydrates to sugar (TURNER, N. 2010, p. 576). Grains are a good source of carbohydrates.In a day, four servings of every grain taken in moderation is advisable for healthy living. Broccoli and green beans among others have the same response as whole grains. They make the consumer fill satisfied for a longer time therefore reducing their feeding habits. A female taking vegetables is more likely to remain healthy and avoid gaining weight. In addition, vegetables are low in calories. In a day, a female is advised to take at least two to three servings of fruit. Healthy living requires each female of course to ensure fruits taken are fresh. They should avoid peeling the fruits as this ensures they maximize on the fiber found in the skin of the fruits. Fruits and vegetables are good sources of vitamin A and C. On average, females are advised to have 3 to five servings of vegetables in a day. A serving of vegetables comprises of a cup of leafy raw vegetables, half a cup of cooked vegetables and a glass of fresh juice or fruit. One can take one or two fruits in a day. Commercial bottled juices are not advised as they contain high calorie content and unnecessary

Federal Highway Act Essay Example for Free

Federal Highway Act Essay The accounting part of the airline industry focuses on the financial statements. The financial statements are composed of the balance sheet, the income statement, and the statement of cash flows. The customers and the general public are more interested in the passenger ticket prices as well as the cargo shipping rates. The following paragraphs expounds on some of the many issues on the United States Airline Industry. In the article The Future of American Transportation Policy, the Federal Highway Act of 1956 was an important milestone in the history of American airline transportation and travel history.   For, it focused on the finished the interstate highway system. Finally, the completion occurred in the early 1990s which where the general agreement on transportation among the Americans had faded away. Many economists had expressed their concern over the American government’s management the transportation infrastructure. (Dilger, 2003). And, in the article The Law on Securities, was approved into law within the market economy development and the entrepreneurship program as the 1989 era closed. It was again revised in June of 1990. For, many airline companies trade their shares of stocks in Wall Street and other stock markets to any one who wants to own a part of airline companies. This law gives the guidelines on the issuance of treasury bills, commercial notes and bonds. This law gives a wide interpretation on how people can ‘buy’ a share of an airline company. Meaning, any airline company that has a profit character can freely offer its shares to the moneyed public. These shares are generally divided into ordinary (common) shares, preferred (as to dividend payments), cumulative, non –cumulative, bearer and registered shares of stocks. In addition, the airline companies can also enter into a creditor –debtor relationship when it offers bonds and other short term liability securities. However, the stocks offered in the stock markets must be branded as profitable in order to sell like hotcakes. To accomplish this, the airline companies offer to the interested investors free copies of their income statements that show that they have been making (passing) the grade because profits is the bottom line of the company for the past year or years of actual airline operations. And, to further give credence to the airline companies’ balance sheet and income statements, the companies attached an auditor’s reported that the financial statements are fairly presented. On the other hand, an auditor’s report stating that the financial statements are adversely presented means that the financial reported issued by the company are falsely  presented. Also, an auditor’s report that gives a â€Å"no opinion† portion shows that the financial statements have not been audited for one reason or another (Skof Vukmir, 1993). Further, the article The CEO as an Organization Designery states that Professor Germeshausen, a Professor Emeritus in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology opined that many senior officers in the airline companies can comfortably assess ahead of time the effect ad influence of their many policies on the stableness, growth nuances and the monetary behavior of the organizations that they manage and are responsible for. (Keough Doman, 1992) Also, the article A Problem –Finding Approach to Tactical Planning states that questions should be answered by the airline managers for tactical planning in terms of strategic planning environment. Some specific and important questions that could be asks include â€Å"What Corporate planning information is needed by top management and corporate planners to give direction to the company tomorrow? † should be renovated to the better â€Å"What tactical plans are needed by middle –level managers to insure a high level of sales (such as an annual increase in prior sales by a minimum benchmark of fifteen percent). Another good question would be to â€Å"did the company generate profits generated after deducting total costs and expense from the net sales? † One way of answering this question well is for the managers to implement a budget. A budget will state the maximum costs and expenses that the company will pay and the projected net sales and collections of accounts receivables in advance (a month or more ahead of the actual use of the expenses and cots). The budget shows the estimated amounts that will occur in the future such as the budgeted sales, budgeted purchases, budgeted production, budgeted administration expenses, the budgeted marketing and promotion expenses, budgeted balance sheet and other budgets. In addition, the planning strategy using the â€Å"what if this happens? †, and the accompanying â€Å"what must be done to win here? † approach will be a very useful tool to plan for a future action to resolve a future problem in terms of cost, expenses, sales, production and the like. To resolve this, the company must continuously update its information database because lack of information may result to a wrong decision or interpretation of data.

Importance of Faith in Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne Essay

Importance of Faith in Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne In Young Goodman Brown, the main character, Goodman Brown has a bout with his own faith. He ends up losing this battle because of the wickedness in everyone else’s hearts. He begins by wanting to be the evil one, then progresses to be the faithful one as the night in the woods goes on. His name has a lot to do with the character in the story. The â€Å"Young† in his name is to symbolize innocence, and â€Å"GOODMAN† is pretty self-explanatory. He goes off in to the woods and comes with a lost faith in everyone else in the town. Goodman Brown decides he wants to go off into the woods for one last night of evilness before married life really kicked in. He says, †What a wretch am I, to leave her on such an errand!†¦Well; she’s a ...

Modern Feminism and Violence Against Women Essay -- Gender Studies

The 20th century has seeing many progresses for women across the world. Prehistory showed that women could not vote, educational institution excluded them, and work outside the home was limited. Women today live longer and are more educated, enjoy more job opportunities, and earn a little higher salary. However, we still live in a world were society is run by religious laws, customs, and male dominances. These traditions and customs still limit women mobility and women are still regarded as subordinate to men and violence against women still exists despite having many strives in the 20th century. In many countries around the world women still find themselves limited from education, employment, health care, political influences, wage equality, and rights solely due to their gender. Whereby, violence against women is regarded as unfair treatment towards women and it reflects the inequality which still exists in our society today between genders. However the invention of modern feminism has been the naming and exposure of the violence women endure. Modern feminism would argue that violence against women is not just related to men in power, nor that women enjoy violence and domination, and or that victim of abuse invited the violence on themselves but rather rape and any other act of violence against women is a social and societal, historic and cultural, and economical issue that is rooted in the relationship of power and dominance between men and women which is infused in a patriarchy society. The main focus of this paper is to explore how violence against women is viewed in modern feminism. First, the term modern feminism and violence against women will be defined. This paper will be using term such as gender which refers to h... ..., D. (2010). Counting woman abuse: a cautionary tale of two surveys. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 13(3), 265-275. doi:10.1080/13645579.2010.482263 Dekeseredy, W.(2011). Feminist contributions to understanding woman abuse: Myths, controversies, and realities: Aggression and Violent Behavior. Retrieved on February 19, 2012, from, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359178911000541 Roberts, D. E. (1994). SYMPOSIUM: GENDER ISSUES AND THE CRIMINAL LAW. FOREWORD: THE MEANING OF GENDER EQUALITY IN CRIMINAL LAW. Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology, 85(1), 1-14 Nayak, M., & Suchland, J. (2006). Gender Violence And Hegemonic Projects. International Feminist Journal Of Politics,8(4), 467-485. doi:10.1080/14616740600945024 VanNatta, M. (2005). Constructing the Battered Woman. Feminist Studies, 31(2), 416-443

Only in Vegas

Replicated natural wonders of the world, indoor man-made waterfalls, simulated pirate ship battles, a dolphin habitat, and indoor gondola rides are a few of the small attractions that place modern day Las Vegas as a hotspot on the US map. In fact, there are so many small attractions blended with large attractions that the experience of Las Vegas itself has become an attraction. Disregarding traditional methods and exploring outrageous ideas in the areas of engineering, architecture, and planning, this city has become a very accepted destination that has become a marketing phenomenon.For a city that is in the middle of nowhere, it has a made quite an impression on the people it draws. It is no surprise that this city has had a history of prosperity and boom. The first main draw of the area known as Las Vegas was water. Water was not in over abundance compared to other cities, but the mere presence of spring water was a marvel for that region of the Mojave Desert. In the late 1820†™s, explorers on the Old Spanish Trail went into unexplored areas searching for the very thing that area known Las Vegas had to offer them, water.Water in the area had produced vegetation, and Las Vegas apparently flourished with it. The presence of water positioned Las Vegas on the map of the Old Spanish Trail. It shortened the path between Santa Fe and Los Angeles, and became a marked location on this increasingly traveled route. This area is repeatedly referred to as an oasis: Las Vegas was named accordingly, as its meaning in Spanish is â€Å"The Meadows. † Minerals were rich in the area, and according to local government history, Mining began in the late 1800’s.This, the railroad boom in the 1900’s, and a man name William Clark led to railroads being placed through the prime spot of Las Vegas because of its location between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles, the climate of the general area, and of course, its abundance of water and vegetation among the vast desert. Railroads required workers, and workers required the usual: a place to sleep, eat, and of course, drink and seek entertainment. This led to the earliest of saloons and markets, building toward a city.According to the City of Las Vegas government, â€Å"Las Vegas was founded as a city on May 15, 1905, when 110 acres of land situated between Stewart Avenue on the north, Garces Avenue to the south, Main Street to the west, and 5th Street (Las Vegas Boulevard) to the east, are auctioned off. † This auction allowed for more relocation of people into the town. â€Å"In 1911 a gas plant, power company, and telephone system were projected† (Durnke 263). Las Vegas was starting to grow. â€Å"The modern attitude of Las Vegas, along with the rest of the American West, favors more exclusiveness.In March, 1909, the Las Vegas Promotion Society was organized at a citizens' meeting attended by fifty persons at the Opera House. ‘ Its purpose, as stated in the opening res olutions, was to make known Las Vegas' resources and to encourage new enterprises and industries† (Durnke 264). Shortly after, a city government was formed, and railroads and mining continued. Later, in 1931, construction of the Hoover Dam began and led to a further influx of workers. The population was estimated according to Clark County records to stand around 8000 between the period of the completion of the Hoover Dam in 1935 and 1940.Water, convenience, and work led people into this city prior to 1931. Later, with World War II under way, many military installations were established in the desert due to its attractive resources, including its low-priced energy available from the Hoover Dam. Defense industry was started, and a further opportunity for workers emerged. After the war was over, the post industrial society took advantage of the amenities offered by Las Vegas, and the entrepreneurs did the same. Gambling had previously been around in many states. It managed to rec eive a discerning reputation in the public eye. There were moral issues, and scandals involved.States were hot and cold with respect to certain types of gaming and lotteries; this eventually led to prohibition in 1910. Nevada officially legalized gambling in 1931. This was at the time when the construction of the Hoover Dam began. Nevada capitalized on the expected tourism that the Hoover Dam would bring. They capitalized very well. Entrepreneurs saw the enormous returns on gambling as a great opportunity to develop casino and hotels. They did just that, and followed an immediate boom in tourism, especially from California, where gambling was illegal, but the desire to do so was very prominent.Profits from gambling funded the elaborate themes and designs of Las Vegas attractions. Service industries arose from their inevitable need, and the marketing of Las Vegas was underway. Tourism became the niche that Las Vegas acquired. In fact, the number of tourists according to the 2009 Exec utive Summary was just under 36. 5 Million in 2009, down 3% from 2008. This small drop in tourism appears to have been heavily due to decreases early in the 2009 year, and has actually risen in the past 4 months of 2009. While tourism has risen since 2000, the population has risen as well.In 2000, according to the US Government Census, the population for Las Vegas and the surrounding metropolitan areas was over 1. 3 million and it is estimated that the 2008 population was over 1. 8 million. In the City alone, the 2000 population was 478,434 compared to the 2008 estimate of 558,383. Tourism is the main focus of Las Vegas, and it has had problems along with solutions to ensure that tourism remains high. One of the largest problems with Las Vegas was not that tourism was very high, but extremely seasonal and high at only peak times. Las Vegas used a superior marketing strategy that ensured its survival in the non-peak season.The Las Vegas Convention Center was built to attract visitors during these seasons of slow times. This ensured services offered by businesses a year round opportunity. The attempt to build consistency was a success. Many factors allowed for the convention center to become an ideal site for conventions and seminars. Among these were the desire to be in Las Vegas, the climate, landscape, incentives, inexpensive flights, rooms and convenience of transportation. This strategy to maximize occupancy year round has led to an 81. 5% occupancy rate year round in 2009 alone.Furthermore, having consistent visitors has allowed Las Vegas to offer permanent entertainment and resident performers. This has additionally furthered tourism. Another problem that Las Vegas has encountered is the deterioration of its downtown. Las Vegas was built on money and ideas, as long as both are around, newer and better things will come. â€Å"In he nearly 50 years since Bugsy Siegel built the Flamingo Casino, Las Vegas has indeed become a place unlike anything ever seen b efore- a city relentlessly reinventing itself as a caricature of itself, constantly trying to out-Vegas Vegas† (Goodman 91).This was apparent in the downtown of Las Vegas and something needed to be done about it. The Freemont Street Experience was introduced, and brought some life back to downtown. â€Å"In a further attempt to conquer the elements, a 100ft-high-canopy, called the ‘celestial vault’ has been erected over the city’s main street as part of a downtown revitalization project† (Goodman 88) This revitalization is a strategy to attract more attention back to this area. Cheaper rates in different areas have allowed Las Vegas to target all groups of people based on income.They have more recently targeted the college crowd for spring break. â€Å"‘We've been getting a relatively younger crowd down here on Fremont Street because they're beginning to discover we're here,’ said Golden Gate owner Mark Brandenburg. ‘The Fremont S treet Experience is pretty much an all-night party scene with free light shows, music entertainment and it's really an attractive place for spring break’† (Hillgrove 1). More recently, in the past few years, Las Vegas has drawn a more significant of spring breakers than other years. Las Vegas is currently the top destination for travel booked through Travelocity's site, pulling in 9 percent of the tickets booked on Travelocity for March 14 through April 26. In February, Travelocity named Las Vegas one of the ‘Top Eight Value Destinations for Spring Break,’ citing a 5 percent drop in average airfare and a 34 percent drop in average daily room rates from last year. † (1) Much of the downtown area offers these low rates in an attempt to build occupancy and remain open. Downtown is not the boom that it once was, but it remains open and has more plans in the future to continue to do so.It is just one example nationwide what happens to older areas, when bet ter planned modern areas are given the opportunity to develop. â€Å"The next generation of architects would do well to look beyond themed architecture and ironic formalism and to examine the story unfolding behind the neon light. We need to think of our cities not as hollow shells, good only a settings for marketing a fictionalized past, but as places where we can build centers of prosperity for a real future and real people† (Goodman 94).It will be very interesting to see what is in store for the downtown area in the future. Las Vegas does not have as many urbanization problems as one would initially expect for a city with tourism exceeding 36 Million visitors per year. This is probably due to the numerous amounts of suburbs in conjunction with the numerous amounts of ongoing projects. They face problems that any city would face with a large amount of tourism, but they successfully have the money to tend to most immediate problems, or they have accepted them as a way of lif e.According to the 2009 Executive Summary, Clark County had gaming revenues of almost 9 Billion Dollars last year, with just over 6 Billion from the strip and downtown Las Vegas. Apparently the only problems are those that can’t be immediately fixed with money. Ironically, the same thing that the early explorers sought this land for is the same thing that may be its next problem. Water shortage has become an issue due to the large growth of the city. It is estimated that the city and suburbs will reach over 2 million permanent residents by 2020. To meet the looming water crunch, the city, along with the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), proposes to build a 285-mile pipeline to haul groundwater from six valleys in eastern Nevada. The $2 billion project would mean sinking up to 195 production wells as deep as 1700 ft. below the surface to bring more than 50 billion gallons of water per year to the parched desert metropolis† (Hutchinson 1). This has been causing a de bate, and seems to be the biggest problem facing the city at the moment.The question will be whether pumping the water from the ground will be their best solution, or if it will see more heated debate. It seems that water may be the most valuable resource to the west in the near future. It will be interesting to see how a city this size will continue to grow with water shortages, and what lengths the city will go to for the purpose of ensuring this water supply. The city of Las Vegas has much to offer the rest of the world, and is very significant. It is well known across the world due to major publications, events, and movies that are based in Las Vegas.It is a place that can be easily recognized by its elaborate design, luminescent skyline of gorgeous hotels, and distinctive architecture. Las Vegas has set many trends and standards for gourmet dining, intricate theme based settings, and attractive shows. It sites â€Å"14 of the nations 15 largest hotels† according to the C lark County Government, and is also a very popular place to have anything from an inexpensive and quick wedding to one fit for a queen. It really is known as a place where anything can happen.Many other States have used the model of Las Vegas to design certain areas of their cities. The gaming model for instance has shown to be successful, and many new towns are opening up to lotteries and casinos simply to issue jobs and retain wealth for the education and the state and city. Ohio is an example of one of these recent candidates. This model is not only hoping to create jobs, but also influence and expansion of other service industries that can produce income and stimulate the local economies. Las Vegas is home of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, also known as UNLV.Las Vegas lies only 30 minutes from the Hoover Dam, a little over an hour to the Mojave National Preserve, 2 hours to Death Valley National Park, 3 hours to the south cove of Lake Mead, only 4 hours to Los Angeles, and roughly 6 hours to either the Grand Canyon National Park or Phoenix. If you are looking for an adventure, Las Vegas is a great hub to make the first stop on your excursion. Las Vegas is a city thriving on tourism built by money and gambling, but offers much more beyond the realm of casinos. It is an experience. I choose this city because it represents freedom and exploration in a natural form.One can go to Las Vegas and explore freely all it has to offer. One can explore not only the city, but the vast desert around with amazing national attractions waiting miles away. It is a way to experience the west in a fun and comfortable environment with so much perfection and beauty. I have experienced many trips to Las Vegas, and each was unique. I have taken trips for wilderness and exploration, others strictly for music or entertainment. I have gone on business; I have gone to visit friends and socialize. I have learned something about myself and loved it and every time.